Hong Kong: Correctional services work reviewed The Correctional Services Department, in its annual review, said today that the number of new admissions to correctional facilities including detainees, remand prisoners and convicted individuals increased 30% to 17,268 in 2023, up from 13,246 in 2022. At a press conference, Commissioner of Correctional Services Wong Kwok-hing said the average daily penal population at correctional facilities had increased to 8,498 persons in 2023, compared to 7,613 persons in 2022. The average daily occupancy rate rose from 67% to 75%. Moreover, the average daily number of remand prisoners hit a new record high since 2000 of 3,096, up from 2,666 in 2022. Mr Wong said that to ease the strain on Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, capacity at Stanley Prison and Tung Tau Correctional Institution had been deployed to accommodate adult male remand prisoners. He added that the department will begin the partial redevelopment of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre in mid-2024 to increase its capacity for adult male remand prisoner by 410 places, thereby helping to alleviate overcrowding. The commissioner said that the number of admissions to correctional institutions owing to involvement in offences relating to black-clad violence and the contravention of the National Security Law stood at 950, rising from 829 in 2022. As at the end of 2023, the number of individuals in custody owing to involvement in offences relating to black-clad violence or contraventions of the National Security Law was 776, an increase of 49% compared to a year earlier. To deal with very hot weather conditions, the department has been exploring and introducing new measures in recent years to improve air ventilation in correctional institutions. Last year, it commissioned a works department to apply a cooling coating on the rooftops of some buildings at two institutions in order to test the coatings heat-reducing effect, with favourable results being observed. The department said it will discuss the wider application of the cooling coating at suitable correctional facilities with the works department concerned, subject to the availability of resources. On its rehabilitation work, the department said it had launched a variety rehabilitation programmes under Project PATH to address the special rehabilitation needs of those in custody owing to involvement in offences relating to black-clad violence and contraventions of the National Security Law. It has also launched a series of educational activities to enhance knowledge of Chinese history among young persons in custody, and their sense of national identity, and has established flag-raising teams among such young persons. Mr Wong also mentioned that the department set up Multi-purpose Family & Rehabilitation Service Centres in Sha Tin and Tuen Mun last year, as well as Parent-child Centres at Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, Tong Fuk Correctional Institution and Stanley Prison. Through its Rehabilitation Pioneer Project, the department organised 12 community education activities designed to disseminate key messages to young people in relation to safeguarding our country and home, and leading a law-abiding and drug-free life, as well as around offender rehabilitation. Last year, a total of 41,683 youth participants joined such activities, up from 23,777 in 2022. The department also launched an official Instagram account to let more young people understand its work and significance. Mr Wong revealed that the department expects to recruit about 55 correctional officers this year, and that year-round recruitment for assistant officers will continue. To promote the application of innovation and technology, and high-quality development, the department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation last year to deepen co-operation and promote sustainable development of smart prisons. This story has been published on: 2024-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China's Yunnan donates solar-powered streetlights to Myanmar Xinhua) 09:04, February 22, 2024 A donation ceremony for China-aided solar-powered streetlights is held in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 21, 2024.(Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) YANGON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A donation ceremony for China-aided solar-powered streetlights was held in Yangon on Wednesday. At the ceremony, 40 sets of solar-powered streetlights, donated by China's Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, were handed over to a ward administrator of Thaketa Township, Yangon. Lamp posts will be installed in necessary places in Thaketa Township, which will benefit local residents, U Htin Lwin, ward administrator of Thaketa Township told Xinhua. The donation is aimed at making night travel safe and smooth for people, saving electricity bills and protecting the environment. Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries implemented 24 donation projects in Myanmar since 2022. The projects were conducted to optimize infrastructure, develop manufacturing industry and agricultural technology, and facilitate natural disaster relief. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) At the Prague meeting in 2022, you and [Azerbaijani president] Aliyev reaffirmed your commitment to the Alma-Ata Declaration, and it is necessary for Azerbaijan to dispel ambiguities. I think it is more than necessary for Azerbaijan to dispel any ambiguity regarding the territorial integrity of Armenia. French President Emmanuel Macron said this at Wednesdays joint press conference with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyanand addressing the latter. "As far as maps are concerned, then conscientious work should be done for border delimitation and demarcation, which will serve as a basis for the withdrawal of forces from both sides of the border. We also call for the implementation of the decision of the International Court of Justice of November 17, 2023. According to this decision, Azerbaijan must ensure that persons who have left Nagorno-Karabakh since September 19, 2023 and who wish to return can do so safely, unhindered, and quickly. We want the South Caucasus to be a region of peace, integration and cooperation, and it is necessary for communication channels to be factors assisting integration and not division. I have visited Central Asia and I want communication links between Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the European Union to develop. And I welcome your "Crossroads of Peace" initiative in this shared ambition. We will also discuss issues aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. France will continue to support infrastructure development in Armenia with the participation of our companies. We will also continue to develop cooperation in the field of defense. France has given its consent for the delivery of defense military equipment. And in this area France will continue in the spirit of responsibility, not wanting any escalation," said Macron. He noted that France also continues its humanitarian commitment to the refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh, providing 29 million euros in aid in 2023. "France will continue to resolutely support the development of relations between the European Union and Armenia. Here, too, we are making progress in favor of sovereignty and our common strategic interests. The observation mission of the European Union has been strengthened. It aims to contribute to stability, delivering unbiased information to the international community and the security of vulnerable populations in military contact zones. Armenia should also take advantage of the European instruments of peace. The European Union and Armenia want a timetable for a new partnership," said the French president. Today's event also shows the depth of existing relations between our countries and peoples, because they are not only political, economic, human, cultural ties, but I think we are connected by a deep, emotional connection. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this at Wednesdays joint press conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for this important initiative. "With your permission, I should also emphasize that this year we have a similar event with a very deep context. This year is the 100th anniversary of Charles Aznavour, and I hope that in September in Yerevan we will participate together in the gala concert dedicated to Aznavour's 100th anniversary. And I want, Mr. President, to emphasize once again my invitation to you to visit the Republic of Armenia on a state visit," Pashinyan said, noting that the relations between Armenia and France are at an exceptional dynamic stage, in which Macron's personal role is special. Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia-France ties are deepening economically and politically, and stressed Macron's contribution to creating a favorable environment around Armenia. Also, Pashinyan expressed his special thanks for France's support in the resilience of Armenia. "You emphasized that in the field of defense, in fact, we have established new relations, which is essential for ensuring security and stability in the region. In that regard, it is known that there are criticisms, and I want to emphasize that the Republic of Armenia, as I said, recognizes the territorial integrity of all its neighbors. And in this sense, the development of the defense capabilities of the Republic of Armenia cannot cause worries for anyone, because our only task is to form the right balance in the region and only to protect the legitimate, sovereign, internationally recognized territory, borders, territorial integrity, and independence of the Republic of Armenia and increasing the resilience of our country," the Armenian PM added. In addition, Pashinyan expressed his special thanks to Macron for his support to the democratic reforms of Armenia. "In this context, we are indeed entering a new dynamic phase in our relations with the European Union. And here I must emphasize the support of France and personally you, because the European Union is also of key importance for the implementation of democratic reforms and development of institutional capacities of our country. Of course, today I will also have the opportunity to share with you thoughts about our region and the international situation. The last time we had a discussion was in Granada, and during this time some developments have taken place. Also, I would like to share some information with you about the meeting and other discussions that took place in Munich a few days ago. And of course, there are many issues on our agenda and, fortunately, our agenda of bilateral relations and our cooperation on international platforms is very positive, very extensive. And it is important to have this opportunity here, although we do not forget that our main mission today is to honor the memory of all the heroes who sacrificed their lives and contributed to the independence and statehood of France," said Pashinyan. Young man throws stone at Armenia government building window Armenia premier meets with Kirants village residents of Tavush Province (PHOTOS) RFE/RL: Putin loses in Armenias Yerevan, wins in Gyumri in Russia presidential election High-tech minister on removing Russia TV channels from multiplex: Armenia's dignity is at core of decisions Kazakhstan FM considers it necessary to increase trade with Armenia Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs discuss new logistical opportunities Armenia 2041 Foundation launches Galvanizing Diaspora program Kazakhstan FM notes Armenias Crossroads of Peace projects importance for Middle Corridor Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs sign 2024/25 action plan Armenia PM is in Tavush Province, meeting with residents of Voskepar, Baghanis, neighboring villages Archaeologists find inscription of King Antiochus I of Armenian Yervanduni Dynasty, in Turkey Kazakhstan FM is in Armenia (PHOTOS) Rolls-Royce Ghost to be retired and replaced by new Alpina sedan Ardshinbank cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback! Withdrawal from lawsuits against Azerbaijan in international courts will cause irreparable damage to Armenia, Armenians EU Council to discuss assistance to Armenia, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization 7,825 Karabakh residents who left Armenia since September 2023 have not returned, new data say Armenia to submit application for EU membership? Archaeologists discover where legendary British warship that disappeared in 17th century sank Large number of Russians came from Georgia to Armenia to vote in presidential election, envoy says Stoltenberg: NATO hopes to have stable peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia Belgorod attacked by two rockets during the day: there are dead and injured Media: Elon Musk's company is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence Shooting in Pennsylvania: at least three dead, gunman took hostages MEPs appeal to EU leadership to protect cultural heritage of Artsakh Armenians New talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled in Qatar on Sunday India's national elections will be held from 19 April to 1 June Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty Iran calls for formation of international coalition against Israel Biden told Aliyev of US commitment to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Stoltenberg will meet in Yerevan with the President and Prime-minister of Armenia Turkish Foreign Ministry issues anti-Russian statement on Crimea issue Zakharova: There is a historical answer to Armenia's doubts about sincerity of Russia's intentions Zakharova: Moscow discusses with Armenia dragging Yerevan into anti-Russian course Zakharova: Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on real needs of the country, not on "flirting" with West Amazon and Microsoft suspend their cloud products in Russia Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Armenia deputy FM: There has been considerable regress regarding visa facilitation with EU Deputy FM: As landlocked country, Armenia recognizes vital importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders FM: Armenia made every effort to prevent de-Armenianization in Karabakh FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023 Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan Armenia FM: Still not many tangible results on fundamental issues, we are still negotiating with Azerbaijan European Commission official underscores provision of assistance to people affected by Karabakh conflict Peter Stano: Armenia can apply for EU membership MFA: Genocide prevention agenda is among Armenias priorities Russia holding presidential elections US intelligence warns of potentially devastating new pandemic Newspaper: Birth rate in Armenia 19% lower than last year Stoltenberg: NATO sought to maintain stronger relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan Georgian Prime Minister to visit Armenia Premier receives IMF Armenia mission chief Anne-Laurence Petel-led delegation to arrive in Armenia FM: Armenia looks into prospects of further deepening partnership with EU New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development Russia is world leader in nuclear technology, Putin says Vardges Sureniants Salome painting returns to National Gallery of Armenia exhibition Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia Sunak: There is historic opportunity to put an end to Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict Armenia authorities, who paid $6M for Snoop Dogg concert, still dont know when this postponed event will be held Deputy economy minister: Matter of opening India-Iran-Armenia trade corridor being discussed Armenia official: Trade with India amounted to $380M in 2023 ICC NCA head: India considers Armenia an important bridge to enter larger markets Anne-Laurence Petel welcomes resolution on EU-Armenia relations India ambassador: We are happy that our relations with Armenia are developing in defense sector also Indians are now 2nd largest community in Armenia after Russians, envoy says India-Armenia business forum kicks off in Yerevan Armenia parliament speaker on European Parliament resolution: We thank European partners for this important step PM: European Parliament resolution is another opportunity to discuss vision of Armenia's future Azerbaijans next target in Karabakh is Artsakh State University Russia deputy FM in Turkey, discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations 14-karat gold LEGO piece sells for over $18,000 Newspaper: Armenia to leave CSTO on Putin's reelection day? Young lords 1,200-year-old tomb with treasure discovered in Panama European Parliament resolution demands Azerbaijan troops withdrawal from Armenia territory European Parliament adopts resolution proposing to consider possibility of Armenia's candidacy for EU membership Russia MFA spox: We are concerned by Armenia leaderships sometimes offensive rhetoric on CSTO topics Armenia government plans to have Kapan city airport serve international flights as well Zakharova on Russian border guards removal from Yerevan airport: Hardly meets Armenia security interests Armenia defense minister, Austria envoy, military attache discuss enhancing cooperation (PHOTOS) Armenia official: Those 4 villages in Tavush Province are not in our administrative territorial division European Parliament passes resolution proposing to consider possibility of EU membership candidacy to Armenia The Kremlin comments on PM Pashinyan's statements about possibility of Armenia leaving CSTO US envoy to Armenia underscores empowering women to participate meaningfully at all levels of conflict prevention RFE/RL: Armenia ready to find solutions, including in most problematic areas of Tavush Province, government says The number of Team mobile subscribers is over 1 million Netflix's new mini-series Supersex becomes target of criticism on social media Young man throws stone at Armenia government building window Armenia premier meets with Kirants village residents of Tavush Province (PHOTOS) RFE/RL: Putin loses in Armenias Yerevan, wins in Gyumri in Russia presidential election High-tech minister on removing Russia TV channels from multiplex: Armenia's dignity is at core of decisions Photos taken by Armenian satellite are used by various departments of Armenia: Minister Kazakhstan FM considers it necessary to increase trade with Armenia Apple has already started production of new generation AirPods When will they go on sale? Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs discuss new logistical opportunities Armenia 2041 Foundation launches Galvanizing Diaspora program Kazakhstan FM notes Armenias Crossroads of Peace projects importance for Middle Corridor Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs sign 2024/25 action plan Armenia PM is in Tavush Province, meeting with residents of Voskepar, Baghanis, neighboring villages Archaeologists find inscription of King Antiochus I of Armenian Yervanduni Dynasty, in Turkey Kazakhstan FM is in Armenia (PHOTOS) Kim, Kourtney, Khloe Kardashian congratulate brother Rob on birthday: The best brother in the world It works for 744 hours without recharging and costs $96: Blackview introduced Oscal Modern 8 smartphone Rolls-Royce Ghost to be retired and replaced by new Alpina sedan Ardshinbank cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback! Celine Dion does not give up, continues to fight rare disease Withdrawal from lawsuits against Azerbaijan in international courts will cause irreparable damage to Armenia, Armenians 165 cases of measles recorded in Armenia so far in 2024 Barely dressed Bianca Censori goes for walk with her mother EU Council to discuss assistance to Armenia, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization SpaceX is building network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence 7,825 Karabakh residents who left Armenia since September 2023 have not returned, new data say Armenia to submit application for EU membership? Turkey Super Lig: Fenerbahce footballers, Trabzonspor fans clash La Liga: Barca beat Atletico Ligue 1: PSG win 6-2, Mbappe scores hat-trick Serie A: Inter, with Mkhitaryan, play draw with Napoli Archaeologists discover where legendary British warship that disappeared in 17th century sank Large number of Russians came from Georgia to Armenia to vote in presidential election, envoy says Stoltenberg: NATO hopes to have stable peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia "Girona" lost to "Getafe" and 10 points behind Real Madrid (video) "Tottenham" suffered a defeat (video) FA Cup: Manchester City reach the semi-finals (video) Belgorod attacked by two rockets during the day: there are dead and injured Media: Elon Musk's company is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence Premier League: Ten most expensive clubs Shooting in Pennsylvania: at least three dead, gunman took hostages "Real" was stronger than "Osasuna", Vinicius' double (video) MEPs appeal to EU leadership to protect cultural heritage of Artsakh Armenians Bayern's willful victory (video) New talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled in Qatar on Sunday FA Cup Coventry's sensational win (video) Mobile app that helps prevent diabetic ulcers is developed "Pyunik" defeated BKMA and became the first (video) "Urartu" defeated "Alashkert" (video) India's national elections will be held from 19 April to 1 June Specialised MRI can predict who will develop treatment-resistant schizophrenia - study Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty Iran calls for formation of international coalition against Israel Biden told Aliyev of US commitment to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Khachanov and Agassi meet in Glendale (photo) Stoltenberg will meet in Yerevan with the President and Prime-minister of Armenia America's Cup. Levon Aronian advances to the final Turkish Foreign Ministry issues anti-Russian statement on Crimea issue How Armenian Vardavar became topic for Disney? Kathleen Sarnelli Kapukchyan on Mickey Mouse Funhouse's recent episode, her inspirations Zakharova: There is a historical answer to Armenia's doubts about sincerity of Russia's intentions Zakharova: Moscow discusses with Armenia dragging Yerevan into anti-Russian course Zakharova: Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on real needs of the country, not on "flirting" with West An American man has a tapeworm in his brain Arsen Zakharyan's first goal for Real Sociedad (video) Ronaldo's goal brings victory for Al Nasr (video) Amazon and Microsoft suspend their cloud products in Russia NASA completes tests of 3 lunar probes that will be sent to Moon together with Nova-C module James Webb discovers the first pair of merging galaxies, a phenomenon that should not have happened at the time Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Armenia deputy FM: There has been considerable regress regarding visa facilitation with EU Deputy FM: As landlocked country, Armenia recognizes vital importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders FM: Armenia made every effort to prevent de-Armenianization in Karabakh Painter Frida Kahlos personal notes used in new documentary about her Brain Communications journal: Improving sleep quality reduces migraine frequency, research shows What should you pay attention to when buying a smartphone? FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership Champions League: Quarterfinal pairs are known Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Google mocks iPhone for not having Circle to Search feature Jessica Biel prefers to tell sons the truth about periods FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023 Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things Cartier presents carbine watches studded with diamonds Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus Kylie Jenner wears stunning red dress Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan Khloe Kardashian goes too far with filters in new photo Why do iPhone 15 prices continue to decrease in China? Autism journal: Generosity toward strangers linked to autism spectrum disorder, study finds Armenia FM: Still not many tangible results on fundamental issues, we are still negotiating with Azerbaijan EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan have announced that the new partnership agenda has already been launched in the Partnership Council. Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Armenia, stated about this stated this during Thursdays presentation of the summary report and official website of the EU-Armenia Civil Society Platform. This is largely about exploring and using the potential of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. This is a very important document, which is on the way to implementation. But in reality we can achieve higher results together, so that we can respond better to the aspirations of the Armenian people and businesses to have a better life. A life based on values, mutual respect, territorial integrity, and territorial development principles, added the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia. EU High Representative Borrell noted that he wants to visit Armenia to make the first proposal of that agenda, Maragos said, adding that he believes their presence in Armenia will be most welcome. Also, he noted that there are already certain results of the work towards the new agenda. We will strengthen cooperation in security. The EU has asked its High Representative and the European Commission to consider the possibility of improving the relations between the EU and Armenia in all domains. This is exactly what is being done with colleagues in Brussels, added the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia. I would like to wish that our cooperation, our allied relations would be preserved, strengthened; it is important for our countries, it stems from the interests of our peoples. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin stated this at Thursdays event dedicated to the Defender of the Fatherland Day, in Yerevan's Victory Park. He added that the Defender of the Fatherland Day symbolizes very important values for everyone: patriotism, love for the motherland, and willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of the motherland. "On this day, we pay tribute to those who stand in the positions of protecting the interests of our countries, who gave their lives while defending the fatherland," the Russian diplomat noted. Kopyrkin added that this day is full of special significance in Armenia because it also symbolizes the deep traditions of combative brotherhood. "This is another occasion to remember the Great Victory that the peoples of the Soviet Unionthe Armenian people, the people of Russia, and other peoples of the Soviet Unionachieved in the deadly fight against Nazism," he emphasized. According to him, the present times are very difficult, Armenia and Russia are facing very serious challenges, and therefore respect for the defender of the fatherland is demanded more than ever. The Russian diplomat noted that January 28 is Army Day in Armenia. "On that day, it was felt how the respectful attitude was shown towards the serviceman, the defender of the fatherland. Today [wreaths] were laid. We [i.e. Armenia] are very happy that our Armenian colleagues, representatives of the Ministry of Defense are here. We usually celebrate this holiday together," Sergey Kopyrkin said. In the USSR, February 23 was celebrated as the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy, where many Armenians of the older generation had served. The date of the next meeting between the deputy prime Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan has not yet been decided, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told reporters Thursday. Reflecting on the process of delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Armenian deputy PM said: "You know how complicated the delimitation process is. It should be solely about topographic maps, which are professional maps because in many cases, many people confuse schematic or methodical maps with topographic maps, which have a different quality and logic. Second, in fact, the process of delimitation is not only work with maps; it is first of all the identification of the legal basis and support on the basis of which this or that map was drawn up. Moreover, not every body has the right or during the USSR had the right to make or print a map. All these nuances are very important and should be addressed in our work." According to the Armenian deputy premier, there are high-level agreements recorded on a legal basis, particularly in Prague and Sochi, where there is a clear reference to the Almaty declaration of 1991. "It means that we have to deal with the process of reproducing the border line of identification as of December 1991," Grigoryan added. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's working visit to France continues. On Thursday morning, the Prime Minister visited the "Elite Club of Political Dialogue," where he had a meeting with the heads of a group of large French companies operating in various fields. The Prime Minister referred to the rates of economic development of Armenia, the prospects of economic activity, the programs implemented by the Government in the field of economy, the steps to improve the business environment, the opportunities for investment programs, the PM's office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. In his speech, the Prime Minister noted that by the results of 2023, the revenues of the state budget of Armenia have almost doubled compared to 2018. the increase is more than 90 percent. "This means that many significant changes have taken place to reduce the shadow economy and improve the competitive situation in the country. In 2023, the economic growth in Armenia was 8.7 percent, which is obviously a high indicator. In 2022, our economic growth was 12.6 percent, in 2021 - 5.6 percent," said Nikol Pashinyan. The Prime Minister noted that a significant improvement in jobs has taken place. "Since 2018, 180,000 new jobs have been created in Armenia. And that's about a 30 percent increase in total jobs. The year 2023 was also significant in that we made significant progress in terms of GDP per capita, and in fact, we are now in the first place in the South Caucasus. Of course, the investments and economic cooperation we have with France are very significant and important for us. Of course, the rather long and noticeable presence of Pernod Ricard in the Republic of Armenia was already mentioned, and also a number of other companies operate in the banking system of Armenia, in the management of pension funds. I want to mention the presence of "Veolia" company in Armenia. And we recently discussed that we should intensify and deepen our cooperation in the water sector. With the results of the extraordinary elections of 2021, we have set a task to ensure an average annual economic growth of 7 percent, and we hope that new French companies will also come to Armenia, will operate in various fields, because we also need support for implementing the ambitious plan of 7 percent economic growth, said the Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that significant projects are being implemented in the field of economic modernization. "In terms of investment programs, I would like to draw attention to the program of building 300 schools and 500 kindergartens in Armenia. We are interested to see construction companies that may be interested in participating in those tenders. There is the North-South project, which is a project worth 1 billion USD or more," said the Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan drew the attention of French companies to the "Academic City" project. "We want to create and establish a new city in the field of higher education. We have already started concrete works in that direction. I have to record that we are interested in serious investment projects in the field of manufacturing industry. The field of information technology continues to be one of the leading branches of our economy. And now the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of High-tech Industry are in discussions with the sector to see how we can improve the legal regulations of the IT sector to make our country more attractive in that sense, Pashinyan said. Next, issues related to cooperation and the possibilities of implementation of projects in the fields of construction, infrastructure development, agriculture, tourism, high technologies, and industry were discussed. The Prime Minister answered the questions of the companies participating in the meeting. Nikol Pashinyan had separate meetings with the heads of Thales, IDEMIA companies operating in the field of latest technologies, Pernod Ricard, and Societe des Troia-Valles operating in the field of tourism. At the moment, we can record that there is still no agreement on the noted matters. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vahan Kostanyan told this to reporters Thursday in the National Assembly of Armeniaand referring to the fact that Armenia has received the latest version of Azerbaijan's recommendations regarding the peace treaty. "We hope that a meeting between the foreign ministers [of the two countries] will take place, where all issues will be discussed. At the moment, there is no agreement between the parties on fundamental issues. At the moment, discussions are underway between the delegations led by the ministers regarding the next meeting on the text of the peace treaty," said Kostanyan. When asked what is preventing the successful course of negotiations, he responded: "I cannot give an assessment on what is hindering Azerbaijan. [But] I can reaffirm that the Armenian side is interested and remains willing to normalize relations with Azerbaijan. The fact that the meeting [between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders] took place [recently] in Munich can be considered positive, but, ultimately, we need to move from meetings and discussions to more practical actions, and the agreements that were reached in the last 2-3 yearsin particular, around three principlesultimately, to give it a documentary record." Kostanyan noted that agreements on non-use of force were reached several times, but unfortunately they were violated by Azerbaijan. And regarding the view that the Western platform was considered preferable for the negotiations, the Armenian deputy FM said: The term Western platform is a little incomprehensible to me. At the moment, there are discussions about the timeframes and place. When there will be a final agreement, we will naturally inform the public." 20:12 The police on Friday claimed to have arrested 'a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader' along with 10 others on charges of running a sex racket in a hotel in West Bengal's Howrah district, while the state's main opposition party denied any association with the accused individuals. According to police officials, Sabyasachi Ghosh, whom they claimed as a local BJP leader, along with his 10 associates, was apprehended during a police raid at a hotel in the Sankrail area on Thursday evening. The incident has sparked a political furore, with the ruling Trinamool Congress accusing the BJP of shielding leaders involved in the sex trade. In a statement, the BJP denied any association with the accused, labelling the arrest as a 'desperate attempt' by the police to deflect attention from alleged incidents of sexual abuse in Sandeshkhali, where women have accused TMC leaders of the offence. "During the police raid, two minor girls and four women were rescued from the hotel owned by Sabyasachi Ghosh. The four women were taken to Liluah Home and the two minors to the Child Welfare Committee. The arrested people had been running the sex racket by bringing in girls and women to the hotel located near National Highway 116," a police official said. An officer of Sankrail police station claimed Sabyasachi Ghosh is 'associated with the BJP's Howrah unit'. "The investigation is still on. We are waiting for more leads," he said on condition of anonymity. Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha claimed that the TMC is trying to weave a narrative to show the BJP in poor light which will have no takers. "The TMC is desperately trying to wriggle out of Sandeshkhali fire, which has engulfed the ruling party and established the role of their local satraps in exploiting women and committing atrocities on locals for years," Sinha, a former BJP state president, told PTI. Referring to Ghosh's arrest, Sinha emphasized that if anyone is found guilty, the law will take its course, asserting that the BJP will not shield wrongdoers, unlike the TMC. Later in the evening, the BJP, Howrah unit in a statement denied any association with Ghosh and dubbed it as an attempt by the Bengal police to divert attention from Sandeshkhali, which has been on a boil for the last two weeks. The riverine area of North 24 Parganas district was in the news since ED officials were attacked by a mob, when they went to search the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5 in connection with a corruption case. 'Our West Bengal unit denies having any association with the accused as we wish to put on record that Sabyasachi Ghosh holds no position in the party.This is yet another desperate attempt by the WB police to distract from the issue of rape and torture in Sandeshkhali in order to protect Mamata Banerjee,' the statement signed by Howrah district BJP unit Chief Ramaprasad Bhattacharya said. 'People of West Bengal want to know where is Shahjahan Sheikh. This is the only question Mamata Banerjee and West Bengal Police need to answer,' the statement added. The ruling Trinamool Congress, which has been facing opposition flak over alleged sexual abuse by some of its leaders in Sandeshkhali, slammed the saffron camp over the 'arrest of its leader for alleged involvement in flesh trade'. '@BJP4Bengalleader Sabyasachi Ghosh caught running a PROSTITUTION RACKET of MINOR GIRLS in his hotel in Howrah's Sankrail. The Police arrested 11 accused & rescued 6 victims from the spot. THIS IS BJP. They don't protect BETIS, they protect PIMPS!' the TMC posted on X. TMC state youth wing President Sayani Ghosh posted 'BJP is working overtime to malign Smt Mamata Banerjee's image. The same BJP's Howrah Kisan Morcha Secretary Sabyasachi Ghosh has been arrested from a hotel in Sankrail for running a prostitution racket involving minor girls'. -- PTI BusinessWire India Washington [US], February 22: The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is delighted to welcome Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director at Infosys to its Board of Directors. As CEO and MD, Parekh sets the strategic direction of one of India's most notable information technology (IT) giants, while nurturing a strong leadership team to drive its execution. Parekh is an industry veteran with nearly three decades in the IT services industry, executing business turnarounds and managing successful acquisitions. Speaking on Parekh's appointment to the USISPF Board, USISPF President and CEO, Dr Mukesh Aghi said: "Salil's recent addition to the USISPF Board accentuates the success story of Indian IT giants in the U.S. For years, Infosys has been a household name in India, and IT services are one of India's biggest exports to the United States. In an era of digital economy and digital trade, Infosys' success in the U.S. is a testimony to the growing synergy in tech ties and how India's robust tech talent plays an integral part in strengthening and growing the tech sector in the United States." USISPF Chairman John Chambers congratulated Parekh and said: "I'm thrilled to have Salil, a leader with a great track record in the IT industry, join the USISPF Board. Infosys' impact in the American tech industry has been extremely important, and the company played a vital part in India's near USD 200 billion software exports for 2023. Salil and Infosys' participation on the USISPF Board will help forge a critical reliance for our two economies by consolidating digital trade, ultimately further establishing India as an innovation partner to the world, which is our organization's core mission. I look forward to seeing Salil's leadership in driving digital transformation further support the exciting next chapter of the U.S.-India story." Commenting on his addition to the USISPF Board, Parekh said: "I am delighted and honored to be inducted into the board of USISPF. India and the US have bilateral ties that have deepened significantly over the years. I wish USISPF continued success in building stronger collaboration between both nations that will help scale the future of our economies, industries, and trade." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 22: Salzer Electronics Limited (BSE: 517059, NSE: SALZERELEC), a capital goods engineering Company offering total and customised electrical solutions, is happy to announce that it is establishing a Smart Meter manufacturing business in Coimbatore. The cutting-edge smart meter factory is also backward integrated with Salzer's existing Coimbatore factories, which have been manufacturing crucial electrical components for Smart Meters. This provides Salzer with a distinct strategic edge in terms of cost control, supply chain management, and Smart Meter quality assurance, while also demonstrating the company's commitment to addressing India's growing need for innovative energy management solutions. This New smart meter manufacturing plant will have an annual production capacity of 4 million smart energy meters, which will be increased to 10 million smart energy meters in Phase 2. This facility will provide employment to approximately 1000 people at its full capacity. India is seeing exceptional demand for Meters, which is projected at 250 million units initially, with a potential increase to 350 million metres during the next three years, because of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) launched by Government of India. As per Astute Analytica, India Smart Meter market is likely to reach $3.27bn by 2031 growing at a CAGR of 34.57% in the period 2023 to 2031. Salzer is well-positioned to help meet this need by modernising and improving the country's energy infrastructure. Commenting on this development, Rajesh Doraiswamy, Joint Managing Director, Salzer Electronics Ltd. said, "I am pleased to announce the building of our new Smart Meter manufacturing facility. This investment underscores our commitment to innovation, and bringing in new products as and when opportunity arises." We take pride in saying that Salzer will be contributing its part to the creation of a smart interconnected energy grid in India. We have already received BIS certification for our Single Phase Smart Energy meter. The first batch of smart meters is expected to roll out in Q1 FY25, from the new facility. This Investment will provide the company with a competitive edge in the market, protect its intellectual property, and generate substantial revenue, thereby contributing to the Company's future success. "I would like to thank the entire Salzer team and all our stakeholders for their hard work and support, which enables the Company to keep moving forward." * Salzer is a Leading player offering Total and Customized Electrical Solutions in Switchgears, Wires & Cables, and Energy Management business. It is the largest manufacturer of CAM Operated Rotary switches & Wire Ducts in India. The Company caters to a wide range of products with four in-house manufacturing facilities, located in Coimbatore. * The Company has a wide distribution network locally and globally, exporting to many countries. In India, Salzer markets its products through its own distributors and more than 350 local distributors of L&T. The Company has a strong R&D team that focuses on developing and commercializing the technologies of the products, and as a result, can offer total customized electrical solutions to its customers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SRV Media New Delhi [India], February 22: Apex University, Jaipur, a premier institution dedicated to academic excellence, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with a vision to foster educational opportunities for CRPF personnel and their families. In recognition of the immense sacrifices and contributions made by the CRPF to safeguard our nation, Apex University is extending a scholarship covering 40% of the tuition fee per year for eligible candidates. Additionally, two seats are explicitly reserved for the wards of CRPF personnel in the courses/programs offered by Apex University. The scholarship program aims to facilitate access to quality education for the wards of CRPF personnel, empowering them to pursue their academic goals and contribute positively to society. By reserving seats and providing financial assistance, Apex University seeks to ease the educational burden on CRPF families and foster a supportive environment for their academic endeavours. "We deeply value the dedication and service of CRPF personnel in ensuring the safety and security of our nation. This scholarship program is a token of our appreciation for their sacrifices and a way to support the educational aspirations of their children," said Dr. Ravi Juniwal, Chairman of Apex University. Courses and programs offered under this scholarship program encompass a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to engineering, management, law, arts, and sciences. Applicants interested in availing themselves of this scholarship opportunity are encouraged to apply through the university's admission process. The university's official website and admission portal will outline eligibility criteria and application procedures. Apex University, a pioneering institution, is a part of the esteemed Apex Group with a rich legacy spanning 59 years. With an unwavering focus on delivering quality education at affordable fees, Apex University continues to uphold our tradition of excellence. In line with their commitment to innovation, Apex University has introduced cutting-edge courses such as B.Tech in Computer Science with specializations in AI, ML, Data Science, Full Stack Development, Cloud Technology, and Information Security. Situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the university offers a diverse array of programs across various disciplines, providing students with immersive and holistic educational experiences. Boasting state-of-the-art facilities, a seasoned faculty, and a dedication to research and community engagement, Apex University empowers students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to excel in today's rapidly evolving global landscape. For further information about the CRPF Wards Scholarship Program at Apex University, visit: https://www.apexuniversity.co.in/?utm_source=Online+PR&utm_medium=ANI&utm_campaign=brand To apply, visit - https://admissions.apexuniversity.co.in/?utm_source=Online+PR&utm_medium=ANI&utm_campaign=apply+now To know more about the latest fee structure - https://www.apexuniversity.co.in/fee-structure.php?utm_source=Online+PR&utm_medium=ANI&utm_campaign=fee (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 22: SBI Life Insurance, India's most trusted private life insurers, launched an exclusive 24x7 Inbound Helpline for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to provide global accessibility of after sale services. Customers residing anywhere outside India can leverage this premium service* by dialing the dedicated helpline number: +91- 022 6928 9090. This initiative reinforces SBI Life's commitment to serve its diverse customer base with unparalleled convenience and support, regardless of geographical boundaries. The newly introduced inbound helpline for NRIs aims to provide seamless assistance and guidance on various life insurance products and services offered by the company. With round-the-clock availability, NRIs can now easily connect with experienced and knowledgeable customer service representatives to address their queries, concerns, and insurance needs anytime, anywhere. SBI Life 24x7 Inbound Helpline for NRIs marks a paradigm shift in customer support within the private life insurance space, making its products & service accessible round the clock in two languages -English & Hindi, to start with. The inbound helpline for NRIs will offer a wide range of services, including policy-related inquiries, premium payment assistance, claims assistance, and product information dissemination. Whether NRIs require assistance with policy renewals, fund allocations, or understanding insurance benefits, the dedicated helpline ensures prompt and efficient resolution to their queries, enhancing overall customer satisfaction. Speaking of the launch of SBI Life 24 X 7 Inbound helpline for NRIs, Amit Jhingran, MD & CEO, SBI Life Insurance said, "At SBI Life, we understand the importance of staying connected with our customers, regardless of the geographical boundaries. We recognise that our valued NRI customers and prospects need seamless support service, transcending time zones. The launch of the exclusive 24x7 Inbound Helpline for NRIs, underscores our dedication to providing exceptional service & support to our valued customers. This initiative is a testament to our dedication of delivering unparalleled service to our global family of policyholders." He further added, "With this initiative, we aim to further strengthen our relationship with customers globally, by offering them convenience in access to assistance and information on our comprehensive range of insurance solutions, round the clock. Our untiring commitment to serving our customers better is rooted in our belief that personalised human interactions will enable countless individuals to understand the value of insurance. With this initiative we hope to enhance the overall customer experience and reinforce our position as a customer centric insurer." SBI Life remains committed to leveraging technology and innovation to streamline customer interactions and deliver exceptional service standards. The introduction of the 24x7 inbound helpline for NRIs reflects SBI Life's proactive approach towards meeting the diverse needs of its global customer base and solidifying its position as a trusted life insurance partner. About SBI Life Insurance: SBI Life Insurance ('SBI Life' / 'The Company'), one of the most trusted life insurance companies in India, was incorporated in October 2000 and is registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in March 2001. Serving millions of families across India, SBI Life's diverse range of products caters to individuals as well as group customers through Protection, Pension, Savings and Health solutions. Driven by 'Customer-First' approach, SBI Life places great emphasis on maintaining world class operating efficiency and providing hassle-free claim settlement experience to its customers by following high ethical standards of service. Additionally, SBI Life is committed to enhance digital experiences for its customers, distributors and employees alike. SBI Life strives to make insurance accessible to all, with its extensive presence across the country through its 1,028 offices, 24,060 employees, a large and productive network of about 243,590 agents, 74 corporate agents and 14 bancassurance partners with more than 41,000 partner branches, 150 brokers and other insurance marketing firms. In addition to doing what's right for the customers, the company is also committed to provide a healthy and flexible work environment for its employees to excel personally and professionally. SBI Life strongly encourages a culture of giving back to the society and has made substantial contribution in the areas of child education, healthcare, disaster relief and environmental upgrade. In 2022-23, the Company touched over 1.1 lakh direct beneficiaries through various CSR interventions. Listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange ('BSE') and the National Stock Exchange ('NSE'), the company has an authorized capital of Rs. 20.0 billion and a paid-up capital of Rs. 10.0 billion. The AuM is Rs. 3,714.1 billion. For more information, please visit our website- www.sbilife.co.in and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. (Numbers & data mentioned above are for the period ended December 31, 2023) *standard rates applied Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2325693/4510818/SBI_Life_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The first episode of actor Neha Dhupia's popular talk show 'No Filter Neha Season 6' is finally out. Taking to Instagram, Neha shared the promo that she captioned, "May truth bombs be told! It's finally here ... #nofilternehaseason6 and this time on video ... watch my gold ol' friend @shahidkapoor at his sassiest best! Only on #nofilterneha." https://www.instagram.com/p/C3o6aU2NSX5/ In the show, Shahid opened up about his decision not to have Ishaan Khatter (his brother) on the sets of his 2016 release film 'Udta Punjab'. He said, "I was, playing a cocaine addict. I don't even know what it is like to have a drink. So l was like, this is the most challenging film that I'm doing and I don't know if I'll get this character right. And I don't want the baggage of having my brother because when your younger brother is an AD, you know your one eye is there. Now you're like always theek hai kya, khana." Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, 'Udta Punjab' also stars Shahid Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The movie revolves around drug abuse by the youth in the state of Punjab. Sharing more details, Neha in a statement earlier said, "I'm excited to reintroduce the 6th season of 'No Filter Neha' in a novel video format with JioTV. Witnessing the podcast's evolution into a space for genuine and spontaneous discussions has been remarkable. This season, with 8 episodes featuring prominent figures in Indian cinema, is set to be even more thrilling. Brace yourself for candid and unfiltered conversations offering a glimpse into the glamorous realm of the film industry." Actors Kriti Sanon, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and Rashmika Mandanna are also expected to appear in the show. Neha is also all set to make her OTT debut with a quirky comedy show that explores contemporary human relationships from the viewpoint of a nuclear family. Expressing her excitement, Neha shared, "I am thrilled to be part of this wonderful project that not only marks my debut in the OTT series space. It's a fun concept and I can't wait to explore a whole new gamut of quirks that the project and script tied in with it"The show focuses on family-centric humour.The actor will also be seen in an international project 'Blue 52'. The international project is directed by Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi. On making her international debut, Neha said, "Embarking on the journey of 'Blue 52' has been nothing short of magical. The fusion of diverse cultures in this international venture allowed me to delve deep into a character that is both challenging and emotionally resonant. It's a transformative experience that I believe will leave a lasting impact and I'm glad that Ali chose me to essay the lead in what is my international first". (ANI) As per a statement, Ali Fazal has come on board to play an important role in the film, which is being directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. Last week, it was revealed that the actor Abhimanyu Singh who has worked in Sooryavanshi, Dhol, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Kisi Ki Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan has joined to play the antagonist opposite Sunny Deol in the film. This project marks the teaming up of Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi along with Aamir Khan. Interestingly, this film will also mark Aamir Khan Productions' (AKP) 17th production under their banner. The film also stars Preity Zinta and Shabana Azmi. Recently, Santoshi expressed his excitement about having Preity in the film. "After a long time, Preity Zinta is again playing a very important role for the silver screen with Lahore 1947. She is indeed an extremely talented, finest, and most natural actress in our industry. Whichever character she plays she totally invests herself in it and makes the audience feel that she is made for that character. Interestingly, the audience will see her again with Sunny Deol. This on-screen pair has always been immensely loved by the audience. Above all, this film's script demands a pair that is as accurate as Sunny and Preity," Santoshi said. 'Lahore 1947' marks the reunion of Preity and Sunny after a long time. The duo has earlier featured together in a couple of films such as 'The Hero: Love Story of a Spy', 'Farz', and 'Bhaiaji Superhit'. Meanwhile, Ali is set to come up with 'Girls will be Girls', a film made under their production banner. Directed by Shuchi Talati, the film is a compelling story set in a boarding school in a small Himalayan hill town in northern India. It follows the journey of Mira, a 16-year-old girl whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother's unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. The cast includes multi-award winning Malayalam film actress Kani Kusruti, Jitin Gulati alongside debutants Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron in lead roles. (ANI) Actor Josh Brolin is in talks to appear in 'Weapons', the New Line horror thriller from 'Barbarian' director Zach Cregger, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The feature is Cregger's much-awaited 'Barbarian' follow-up, and it was supposed to be shot last year, but due to dual writer and actor strikes, the movie had to push its initial fall 2023 start of production. That sparked a disagreement with the project's prior actor, Pedro Pascal, whose timetable clashed with his commitment to 'Fantastic Four', which begins filming this summer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cregger wrote the top secret script for Weapons, which is described as an interrelated, multistory horror epic that tonally is in the vein of Magnolia, the 1999 actor-crammed showcase from filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. The project also marks a reunion of the 'Barbarian' production crew. Cregger is producing alongside Roy Lee of Vertigo, J.D. Lifshitz, and Raphael Margules of BoulderLight Pictures. Miri Yoon of Vertigo is also a producer. If a settlement is reached, it will be a victory for the production. Brolin is renowned for being picky about subjects and filmmakers, and despite having worked on sci-fi and comic book films, he has never made a horror film. The actor next appears in Denis Villeneuve's star-packed sci-fi extravaganza Dune: Part Two, where he reprises his role of war master Gurney Halleck. Warner Bros. and Legendary open the movie on March 1. He also stars in Amazon's neo-Western sci-fi series Outer Range whose new season debuts in May. In addition to acting in the series, Brolin is exec producing and this season even directing an episode or two, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI) Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar met veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty on the sets of 'Shastri' in Kolkata. On Thursday, Madhur took to Instagram and shared a video and photos where he can be seen talking with Mithunda. The video starts with Madhur saying, "I am currently in Kolkata on the sets of 'Shastri,' and I am delighted to be with none other than the great Mithun Chakraborty, Mithun da." Mithun, sitting next to Madhur said, " I have known this man since his young age." He added, "He used to sell video cassettes. My wife would call him and say, 'Madhur I need this cassette,' and he would come. Now look, this man is a five-time National Award winner. This only happens when your dream comes true. I always tell people that your dreams should come true. Hard work and all will happen, but dreams should come true". Madhur expressed his admiration for Mithunda, saying that he has been a fan for quite some time. He also praised Mithun for his professionalism, highlighting that the actor always paid him on time and even provided advances when needed. Along with the post, Madhur wrote, "I met @mithunchakrabortyofficial in #Kolkata and was thrilled to see him back on set, in great health. My bond with Mithunda dates back to my teen years when I used to deliver video cassettes. He has always been a source of courage and inspiration. #fanboy #MithunChakraborty." https://www.instagram.com/p/C3pN6VlN9Dc/?hl=en&img_index=1 Recently, Mithun has been admitted to a hospital in Kolkata. He reportedly expressed uneasiness on his return home from a film shoot and was rushed immediately to the hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. (ANI) Emphasising the importance of upholding the rule of law and holding leaders accountable, citing the example of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi losing her MP status in 1975, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Babulal Marandi, has written a letter to senior advocate Kapil Sibal and said that it is not the first instance of a sitting chief minister being in jail. Kapil Sibal, is representing Hemant Soren in the Supreme Court following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. Marandi said in his open letter to Kapil Sibal, "For the past several days, I have been hearing your statements, thoughts and arguments full of anger in court to YouTube channel and media. Certainly, your name is included in the list of the most renowned and expensive lawyers in the country and one of the famous legal experts of the country, who are away from the reach of the common man like us from the Dalit-backward society. You are popular in the field of politics. I respect you a lot, but I disagree with regard to your work as you cite arguments of politics and ruling-opposition when the verdict is not in your favour in some cases." When the verdict comes in favor of your client then everything seems fine to you and when it is not as per your wish, then you see only shortcomings in the judicial orders. And the smell of politics also starts coming. "During your interview, you were so engrossed in praising your client that you did not even remember that along with the creation of Jharkhand state, BJP gave me the opportunity as the first tribal Chief Minister of the state and after that Shibu Soren and Arjun Munda has also been the CM of the state. These fact less things that you were saying in the presence of Hemant Soren and he was listening like a mute spectator without remembering his father, you will not be able to say such things in front of the court and the public," he added. He further pointed out that Hemant Soren is not only the first CM in the history of the country who has been arrested, but former chief minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha and former CM of Haryana, Omprakash Chautala are also included in the list. He said that even a Prime Minister had faced legal consequences when perceived as corrupt and dictatorial. On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court invalidates former prime minister Indira Gandhi's 1971 electoral victory and barred her from holding elected office for six years for electoral malpractices. Referring to former prime minister Indira Gandhi who lost her MP status in 1975, he said, "I would like to say that leave the Chief Minister alone, when the Prime Minister of the country became corrupt and dictator. Then the country's rule of law dragged the PM to court and the parliamentary emebership was stripped ofi, we will continue to do this audacity again and again, because taking the Constitution as witness, we have taken a pledge to serve the people and not corrupt power and governance." The BJP leader also said that Kapil Sibal should refrain from giving one-sided and false information to the public using media outside the court. He criticized Sibal for defending Hemant Soren by questioning the time limit for a Lokpal inquiry into the Soren family's wealth and property. "You say in the court that the time limit has expired and hence there should not be a Lokpal inquiry into the Soren family's immense wealth and purchase of more than a hundred pieces of land and property. Of course, if you are getting a huge amount as fees, then you should definitely try to stop the investigation and save your client in the court. But at least you should refrain from giving one-sided wrong and false information to the public using media outside the court. Yes, if the contract for spreading misleading and false information outside the court is also a part of the package of fees being taken from your clients, then keep doing this business," he added. In the UPA government, your party, along with Madhukoda, first looted Jharkhand's water, forests and land and distributed it to monkeys. After that Koda ji was shunned on the charges of involvement in corruption. Ho, Madhu Koda, who comes from the tribal community, everyone left her because of her low caste number and you are also with Hemant Soren because his caste number is more. The distinction you are making between two tribal societies reflects your greed and policy of divide and rule. If you are so well-wisher of the tribals then why did you not resign from your post when you were a minister in the UPA government during the time of Madhu Koda? When your government was sending Madhu Koda to jail, where was your sympathy sleeping, Sibal Saheb? You say in the court that the time limit has expired and hence there should not be a Lokpal inquiry into the Soren family's immense wealth and purchase of more than a hundred pieces of land and property. Of course, if you are getting a huge amount as fees, then you should definitely try to stop the investigation and save your client in the court. But at least you should refrain from spreading wrong and false information unilaterally to the public using media outside the court. Yes, if the contract for spreading misleading and false information outside the court is also a part of the package of fees being taken from your clients, then keep doing this business. If there were two, four, ten houses of land, it would have been understandable, but are you finding it difficult to understand that a poor tribal family of a village like Nemra, without having any factory or business, has a hundred rupees just on the basis of politics? Where and how did more than 100,000 land-property and immense wealth and benami property in every corner of the state come from? Apart from running the court and also outside the court, this business of media trials that you are running is a part of which law and where did you get this right from? Tell this to all of you so that by doing this work, other lawyers can also become as prosperous and influential as you in the field of politics apart from advocacy. Why do you see only five star Dalits and five star tribals? Will you tell the names of ten such poor Dalit tribals whose cases you fought without taking any money because they were poor and destitute? Kapil Sibal Saheb, if a Dalit gets power in the name of a tribal, then loots them, grabs their land and property and creates a mountain of nameless wealth, and the law does not take action against him because he is a Dalit and a tribal. Please tell in which Constitution and which law it is written that you have been able to pay the huge fees of lawyers like you. My understanding of law is poor. Therefore, if you increase my knowledge in this regard, I will be grateful to you.(ANI) Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors Central (MARD) demanding better hostel accommodation, a hike in stipend, and clearance of arrears, will hold a state-wide indefinite strike starting today at 5 pm. Dr Abhijit Helge, MARD President, said that the Central MARD, had kept our faith in the government's words and called off our strike multiple times previously, despite the distressing situation of resident doctors. "We, the Central MARD, had kept our faith in the government's words and called off our strike multiple times previously. Despite the distressing situation of resident doctors, the benefit of doubt was always given to the authority, and we entrusted them to do the right thing in timely manner to ensure the welfare of Resident doctors. However regardless of our innumerable pleas, it seems our genuine concerns have fallen on deaf ears. Having been pushed to the limit by the cruel disregard towards the resident doctor's legitimate demands, we, the Representative Body of the Resident doctors are left with no choice but to go on a pan-Maharashtra indefinite strike," the letter from MARD said. However, the association has clarified that the emergency services will remain operational to ensure the provision of essential medical care to the people during the strike. "Around 8,000 resident doctors across the state will be on strike, demanding better hostel accommodation, a hike in stipend, and clearance of arrears," Dr Abhijit Helge said. (ANI) After the Union Cabinet gave its nod to the continuation of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) scheme for a period of five years, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that this scheme has several components that help mitigate the unique challenges that the state faces. In a post on X, the Assam CM said that the scheme will greatly benefit the state government's aim to build a flood free Assam. "Assam welcomes the Rs 4,100 cr Flood Management and Border Areas Programme approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi Ji. Being a state that is historically flood prone and shares riverine boundaries with other countries, this scheme has several components that help mitigate the unique challenges we face. The scheme will greatly benefit our aim to build a flood-free Assam," he said. Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation for continuation of centrally sponsored Scheme, with total outlay of Rs. 4,100 crore for a period of five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) component of FMBAP with an outlay of Rs. 2940 crore, central assistance will be provided to State Governments for taking up critical works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development and anti-sea erosion, etc. According to an official release, the pattern of funding to be followed is 90 per cent (Centre): 10 per cent (State) for Special Category States (8 North-Easter States and Hilly States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu & Kashmir) and 60 per cent (Centre): 40 per cent (State) for General/ Non-Special Category States. "Although, primary responsibility of flood management rests with the State Governments, Union Government has decided that it is desirable to supplement the efforts of the State Governments in flood management, encouraging promotion and adoption of modern technology and innovative materials/approach," the release said. "This is particularly relevant as the increased incidence of extreme events have been witnessed during last few years in view of likely impact of climate change and situation may further aggravate in times to come exacerbating problem of floods in terms of extent, intensity and frequency," it added. (ANI) Opposition leaders criticized the Centre for the death of a youth at the Khanauri Border crossing in Sangrur district, Punjab, during the ongoing farmers' protests. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that he was saddened by the death of a young farmer on the Punjab-Haryana border and asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it. "The news of the death of 21-year-old Shubhakaran was received today during the incident at Khanuri border. It is very sad that the youth of my state is no longer in this world. I want to ask the central government why the farmer of Punjab cannot go to the capital of his own country? We express our heartfelt sympathy to the family of Shubhakaran in this hour of sorrow. We assure to help the family financially and socially in all aspects. After the post-mortem, appropriate action will be taken against the responsible officials," he said. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief, Arvind Kejriwal asked that was it for this day that we fought for independence? "The death of Punjab's young man Shubhakaran is very sad. Was it for this day that we fought for independence, that one day the governments elected by us in our own country will martyr our own sons like the British? We are completely with Shubhakaran and will ensure strict punishment to his murderers," Kejriwal said in a post on X. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa demanded that an FIR should be registered against the Home Minister of Haryana. "A 23-year-old from Bathinda district was shot during police firing, there is a video of it and I have seen it. Unfortunately, all these protesters were in Punjab territory, and none of them didn't do anything wrong but the kind of action Haryana forces are taking on the peaceful protesters is condemnable. I want to say to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Ji, you should stand with farmers. I also demand that an FIR should be registered against the Home Minister of Haryana Anil Vij in Punjab police station as the police firing is happening and he is the Home Minister, it's his moral responsibility," Bajwa told ANI. In a post on X, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah condemned the death of the youth protestor. "I condemn the tragic murder of farmer during the protest who was shot by the police in the BJP ruled Haryana. Such acts of violence against individuals exercising their right to protest are unacceptable and demand immediate and thorough investigation to ensure justice is served," he said. "Shooting down protestors are common under the BJP. The murder of farmers under @BSYBJP's tenure is still fresh in our memory. The entire nation is seeking #JusticeForFarmers. Every Indian respects 'Anna and Annadata', and they will teach BJP a great lesson for murdering the farmers," Siddaramaiah added. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the centre to make decisions to eliminate the problems of farmers. "Farmers are protesting, they are demanding law on MSP but BJP people were advertising Bharat Ratna. At least now, after giving Bharat Ratna to Dr MS Swaminathan and Chaudhary Charan Singh, they (Centre) need to make decisions to eliminate problems of farmers," he said. State BJP president Sunil Jakhar said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday that it was "most unfortunate" that the negotiations between the farmers and the central government had "not fructified". The fourth round of talks between the farmer union leaders and central government ministers ended on Monday with the leaders rejecting the government's offers. "With Bhagwant Mann himself -of all the people-acting as the lawyer for the farmers, these negotiations were destined to fail - because CM Mann had every thing to gain from the failure of these talks. Not only would he now be able to show central govt in bad light but also redirect those farmers also to Delhi who had initially wanted to march to Chandigarh. And sure enough, he has succeeded in this mission by jeopardising the sincere efforts of both the farmers and the central ministerial team to arrive at a solution," Jakhar said in his post. (ANI) In a scathing critique of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's 15th budget presentation, BJP leader and Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed concerns over the fiscal direction of the state, asserting that "Development is not possible from Dasoha without Kayaka" (charity without work). Bommai argued that the budget lacked a focus on development, emphasizing that spending on welfare schemes in the absence of income-generating activities would lead the state towards bankruptcy. "All of them were waiting to see how the CM would manage the 15th Budget. Siddaramaiah has spoken about Kayaka and Dasoha and this has been the culture of Karnataka. Dasoha would be there only if there was Kayaka and only Dasoha was of no use. The Kayaka-oriented schemes must be formula. Dasoha out of money earned through the Kayaka was acceptable. But seeing the budget it would given an impression that the Kayaka was not much as they expected. Not taking productivity and distribution would not be of no meaning for the Kayaka and Dasoha." "The CM had said that the previous government had given impetus for the food security and the incumbent government too had given equal importance for the food security. The central government had been giving five kg of rice free of cost. The rice the people of Karnataka was getting had been given by the union government," he added. He stressed the need for resource mobilization without compromising capital expenditure. "There was lot of difference between Siddaramaiah-1 and Siddaramaiah 2.0. In 1994, he was the finance minister and it was the deficit budget. At that time, he decreased the plan size, presented the budget and brought in financial discipline. But, Siddaramaiah -2.0 should have mobilised resources for the welfare schemes and implemented five guarantees without affecting the capital expenditure." Bommai also raised concerns about the government's borrowing practices, stating that despite borrowing Rs 1.5 lakh crore, only Rs 1,000 crore was allocated for capital expenditure, which he deemed insufficient for development. "According to the budget, there were 103 committed expenditures but where was the capital for development? Nearly, 61 per cent of the earning goes towards expenses. Only Rs 55000 crore had been earmarked for development as the rest would go towards repayment of the mounting debt. The government hiked stamp and registration, motor vehicle and excise tax, but the government borrowed Rs 8000 crore . Despite a revenue of Rs 13500 crore there was hardly any money for development. This year, the government has borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh crore and of which only Rs 1000 crore goes towards the capital expenditure and this was not at all sufficient for development. Already, the 7th pay commission had been constituted and that would require Rs 20000 crore if it was implemented. No money has been earmarked for this purpose. If the government goes on giving guarantees from where the funds come?," Basavaraj Bommai said. The BJP leader said, "Siddaramaiah has claimed of collecting Rs 1.75 lakh crore last year but the actual collection was Rs 1.61 lakh crore through collection of taxes." He compared the targets set by the previous BJP government with the current government's, noting a lack of income despite an ambitious tax collection goal of Rs 1.89 lakh crore. "That means, there was a short fall of Rs 14000 crore in capital revenue. The previous BJP government had set a target of Rs 1.64 lakh crore from various taxes but they could not mobilise that much of resources. The present government has set a target of Rs 1.89 lakh crore tax collection but there was no income at all. How it was possible to develop the state if the state finance was handled in such a manner. In the service sector, the government claimed to have spent RS ,96000 crore but hardly spent RS 94000 crore and similarly, I the economic front, Rs 63000 crore had been spent as against the target of Rs 67000 crore. Even borrowing Rs 1.5 lakh crore was indeed a record and Rs 96000 crore loan had been taken in open market. Development was possible through the borrowed money but not spending from the money got through revenue. It would plunge the State economy further. In the current dispensation, 2.8 Billion dollars FDI has come to Karnataka against 10 billion dollars during the previous BJP regime. There had been a drop of 41 per cent in FDI and as many as 31 companies have left Karnataka and went to different places including Singapore. Drawing attention to the decrease in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the departure of companies from Karnataka, Bommai warned that the state's development could face setbacks if financial management was not addressed promptly. "The state development would receive set back if the Congress government without any preparation, spend Rs 54000 crore in one year. The state would go back 10 years if the projects were not implemented in two or three years. Spending without increasing the revenue collection would not help in development. Under the Griha Jyoti, Bhagya Jyoti schemes, free power was given to BPL families and this was not new. The state has said that Rs 18000 crore lroposalhad been submitting the centre as drought damage. Even the Manmohan Singh government released funds after nine months. The previous BJP government did not keep quiet when the floods ravaged several districts but distributed Rs 13000 crore compensation as crop damage relief. The Congress government should have exhibited it's commitment and released the relief amount to farmers. Already, Rs 6000 crore has come from the centre and what's the achievement of the Congress government?," he said. Bommai criticized the state government's execution of various schemes, noting that only 56 percent of allocated funds to departments had been spent. "As much as 48 per cent in Minorities Welfare and backward classes, 50 per cent ScP/TSP, 55 per cent in agriculture, 59 per ventnin health, 65 per cent in higher education, 69 per cent in Major industries and 69 per cent in PWD. The BJP government had earmarked Rs 19000 crore for irrigation as against Ra 16000 crore by the present government. Each MLA was given a grant of Rs 2 crore but now hardly given Rs 35 lakh for each of them. They had given Rs 25 crore for each legislator. The Congress government has hiked the loan limit to 2.9 per cent but it would cross 3 per cent next time. The finance management has been very bad and unable to ensure social justice," he said. In conclusion, Bommai urged the government to clarify its stance on crucial issues, including pension schemes for state government employees and the implementation of the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPS). Bommai emphasized that blaming the central government for financial woes was an attempt to cover up the state government's mistakes "The state financial position is very precarious and the government would be blamed if something goes wrong in the coming days," he concluded. (ANI) Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav visited the homes of the deceased on Wednesday, who died in the wild animal attack of Wayanad. Coming directly from Bangalore for a two-day visit, Minister Yadav met with the families of the deceased and offerred condolences, a statement from the ministry of of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said. According to the statement, during his visit, Yadav paid respects at the homes of the victims, including Prajeesh, who fell victim to a tiger, and Paul and Ajeesh, who lost their lives in elephant attacks. "Met the families of Prajeesh, Paul and Ajeesh, who lost their lives in the man-animal conflict in Wayanad recently. Their loss is irreparable," Yadav said in a post on 'X'. Recognizing the complex nature of human-animal conflict in the region, the minister pledged unwavering support, both politically and administratively. "Human-animal conflict was a major problem in the region. The government would provide all support, both politically and administratively, to the officials and scientists working in this field to solve such problems. There must be a solution to this issue," the release said.. "Since two states, Karnataka and Kerala are involved in this, discussions were being held with the concerned officials of both the States," it added. He emphasized the government's commitment to finding a viable solution and announced plans to meet with local administration "I will meet the officials of the local administration and NGOs working in this field on Feb 22nd. More information will be given after that meeting. We are guided by the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that environment and human life are equally important and should be protected," the Minister said. "Animals deserve pity but human lives should be saved with the help of new technology," he added. Earlier, in a post on 'X', the Union Minister shared his interaction with a young child who lost his father in the recent man-animal conflict. "Pains my heart to know that young Alna has lost her father Ajeesh to the man-animal conflict in Wayanad. Truly appreciate her strength of character which she displayed in our meeting, and the clarity with which she put forth her expectations from the government, even in the face of grief. Alna sure is a daughter to be proud of. Assured her that the @BJP4India government at the Centre stands by her family," Yadav posted. The Environment Minister also visited the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and reviewed the state of man-animal conflicts in the region on his way to Wayanad. "On my way to Wayanad, visited the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and reviewed the state of man-animal conflicts in the region. Discussed steps that can be implemented to ensure human-animal coexistence," Yadav said in another post on 'X'. The Union Minister also held a detailed discussion with his party leaders and farmer leaders at Wayanad. "At Wayanad, I held a detailed discussion with BJP workers and farmer leaders. They shared a list of demands with us. I informed them about the work we are doing under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi," Yadav said His visit comes days after Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi abruptly halted his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Varanasi, and left for his constituency, prompted by public protest over the deaths of residents in wild elephant attacks. (ANI) In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Greetings to Mizoram CM Pu Lalduhoma on his birthday. May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life in service of the people." Union Minister Kiren Rijiju conveyed his wishes to the Mizoram CM on his birhtday "Birthday greetings to Chief Minister of Mizoram Pu. Lalduhoma. I pray for his good health & long life so that he can continue to serve the most loving people of Mizoram and contribute in our nation's development." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also wished the Mizoram CM on the occasion "Heartiest wishes to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Mizoram Pu Lalduhoma on his birthday. Blessed with an emphatic mandate, he is an energetic leader who is keen to ensure public welfare and shared growth of the region. Prayers to Maa Kamakhya and Srimanta Sankardev for his long and healthy life." Earlier, Lalduhoma met PM Modi in the national capital on January 4 after assuming the office of Chief Minister on December 8, 2023. The Prime Minister congratulated the Chief Minister, assured him of necessary support from the central government in all economic development programmes of Mizoram and suggested having regular meetings on key issues about the development programs of the state. Lalduhoma also had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this month during his visit to the national capital to discuss important issues. Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday to discuss important matters. He also met with Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, to discuss enhancing Zoram Medical College. (ANI) PM Modi was presented with gifts as he participated in the celebrations at Narendra Modi Stadium here. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also present at the event. Cultural programs were organised that saw the participation of farmers in large numbers from different parts of the state. During his visit, PM Modi will unveil development projects worth more than Rs 22,850 crore. The projects will encompass important sectors like road, rail, energy, health, internet connectivity, urban development, water supply, tourism etc., in districts like Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, Anand, Mahesana, Kachchh, Kheda, Bharuch, Tapi, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari, Panchmahal, Valsad, and Narmada. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate development projects worth more than Rs 5,040 crore for Surat Municipal Corporation, Surat Urban Development Authority, and Dream City. This includes foundation stone laying for 41 development projects costing more than Rs 3,000 crore and the inauguration of 18 development projects valued at over Rs 2,000 crore. PM Modi will also launch 50 electric buses that have been acquired at a cost of Rs 840 crore. He will also inaugurate various components of the Tapi Purification Project constructed at a cost of Rs 597 crore, and various projects of DREAM City Limited constructed at a cost of Rs 49 crore. He will tour 11 districts in the South Zone of Gujarat, including Vadodara, Navsari, Bharuch, Tapi, Valsad, Panchmahal, Surat, Chhotaudepur, Dahod, and Mahisagar where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects exceeding Rs 5,400 crore across 10 different departments. (ANI) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has launched a scathing attack on the Union government's flagship Skill India Mission, claiming it has failed to deliver on its promises. In a post on X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the mission, launched in 2015 with the ambitious target of training 40 crore (400 million) people by 2022, has only managed to train a meagre 3.5% as of December 2023. https://twitter.com/kharge/status/1760514005943066902?t=bAF9gm60ufygAZDaDX44ig&s=08 He further alleged that a significant portion of those trained, around 83%, remain unemployed, and 20% dropped out of the program entirely. Additionally, the Congress President pointed out a 94% reduction in Skill Training Centers since 2015, raising concerns about the program's accessibility. The Congress leader's post concludes by accusing the Union government of lacking the necessary skills to address the issue, claiming their actions are "perishing the future of our youth." Earlier, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the interim budget for 2024-25 said that the Skill India Mission trained 1.4 crore youth, upskilled and reskilled 54 lakh youth. Earlier on February 15, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the ruling BJP on Thursday, saying that it had not provided the promised number of jobs and that the country's debt situation had deteriorated under its regime. "I want to ask, where are two crore jobs? Where is Modi's guarantee? Where is that Rs 15 lakh that he promised?" Kharge asked at a public rally in Bihar's Aurangabad during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. "Either the Prime Minister is a liar or you people, because he said that I'd give Rs 15 lakhs to all, but you people are saying that you didn't receive... During UPA time, the government was in debt of only Rs 55 lakh crores, but in Modi's era, we are in debt of Rs 185 lakh crores," Kharge added. (ANI) Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav held a high-level meeting with the state and central officials at the District Collector's office in Wayanad district of Kerala on Thursday. Following the meeting, the minister addressed the media and outlined comprehensive measures to tackle the pressing issue of human-wildlife conflict in the region. During the press conference, Minister Yadav emphasized the significance of ensuring both animal and human safety in Wayanad. He suggested the initiation of a community radio or coordination program to raise awareness, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Today, I had a lengthy discussion with officers and public representatives. The senior officers of the forest and scientists of Wayanad joined the interaction. After our discussion, we recognized the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of both animals and humans. Officials briefed me about the depth of the situation, leading us to the decision that our ministry will establish an interstate corridor with the assistance of the central government. We believe that Wayanad serves as the border for three states, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. To address the issue, we propose implementing an early warning system and utilizing modern technology for monitoring through geo-tagging of elephants. Additionally, we can initiate a community radio or a coordination program to raise awareness. This aligns with the vision of PM Modi," Bhupender Yadav said. Regarding funding, Minister Yadav announced an increase in financial support under various schemes. "Funding support by the central government will increase the funding under various schemes. Ministry of Environment and Forest is already giving 15.80 crore for Kerala. There are 54 tiger reserves and 33 elephant reserves in India. We are creating a common corridor for Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka," Bhupender Yadav said. Responding to demands for elephant fencing and capturing wild animals, Minister Yadav clarified that the Chief Wildlife Warden, under the Wildlife Act of 1972, possesses ample authority to trap, catch, or, if necessary, eliminate problematic animals. He highlighted the central government's commitment by increasing compensation from 5 to 10 lakhs. "Compensation of Rs 10 Lakhs will be provided for those killed in wild animal attacks," Minister Yadav said while talking to the media. Earlier, Yadav visited the homes of the deceased on Wednesday, who died in the wild animal attack of Wayanad. Coming directly from Bengaluru for a two-day visit, he met with the families of the deceased and offerred condolences, a statement from the Ministry of of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said. His visit comes days after Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi abruptly halted his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Varanasi, and left for his constituency, prompted by public protest over the deaths of residents in wild elephant attacks. According to the statement, during his visit, Yadav paid respects at the homes of the victims, including Prajeesh, who fell victim to a tiger, and Paul and Ajeesh, who lost their lives in elephant attacks. Recognizing the complex nature of human-animal conflict in the region, the minister pledged unwavering support, both politically and administratively. "Human-animal conflict was a major problem in the region. The government would provide all support, both politically and administratively, to the officials and scientists working in this field to solve such problems. There must be a solution to this issue," the release said. (ANI) The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are likely to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls in an alliance. Sources said the two parties have finalised their seat-sharing alliance for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi on Thursday. As per the sources, both parties have locked the deal for a four-three alliance, with the AAP contesting on four and Congress settling for three. The seat-sharing alliance came through after several rounds of deliberations this week and today, as well as a meeting held at KC Venugopal's house in Delhi. During the meeting, KC Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik were present from Congress side, while Sandeep Pathak, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi were representing the AAP. In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha the BJP won all seven seats from Delhi. In the 2004 elections the Congress had won 6 seats and the BJP 1 seat while in 2009 Lok Sabha polls the Congress won all 7 seats in Delhi. In addition to this, it has also been learned that Congress is likely to give AAP one seat in Haryana, while AAP will support the Congress for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile the Aam Admi Party had dominated the assembly elections winning 67 of the 70 seats in the 2015 assembly election and 62 of 70 assembly seats in the 2020 elections. In Gujarat, the AAP is demanding three seats in a potential alliance with the Congress, however a final agreement on this is awaited. (ANI) Casting aspersions on the Election Commission (EC), veteran Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Digvijaya Singh, on Thursday claimed that there doubts around the unbiased conduct of the poll panel. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the senior Congress leader said, "An AICC resolution unanimously passed and adopted in 2018 stated that people doubt the fairness of elections conducted through EVMs (electronic voting machines). We demand, therefore, that the upcoming general elections be held through ballot papers only. Whenever we raised questions on the neutrality of EVMs, the Election Commision did not give any response other than sending us their manuals and FAQs (frequently asked questions). We don't trust the EVMs." Claiming that the honchos sitting on the board of the EVM manufacturers are close to the ruling party at the Centre, the veteran Congress leader said, "We will continue our fight (for holding elections through ballot papers) and go to the people. No one is bigger than the public in a democracy. There are doubts around the unbiased nature and conduct of the Election Commission (EC). It suits this government if votes are cast through EVMs. The four directors on the board of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which makes EVMs, have links to the BJP." On PM Narendra Modi's social media post vowing to fulfil all resolutions pertaining to the welfare of farmers across the country, the former MP CM said, "We have seen the fate of many of Modi's guarantees? Where is Rs 15 lakh each that he said will be deposited in the bank account of every citizen (after the recovery of black money parked off-shore)? Where is the MSP (minimum support price)? Can anyone trust PM Modi or his promises?" "Our government is committed to fulfilling every resolution related to the welfare of our farmers across the country. In this context, a historic increase in the price of sugarcane purchase has been approved. This step will benefit crores of our sugarcane-producing farmers," PM Modi posted from his official X handle earlier. Meanwhile, posting from his X handle on Thursday, the veteran Congress leader informed that he was to participate in a peaceful protest near Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Thursday demanding the holding of the Lok Sabha elections with EVMs. "Two weeks ago, I received an invitation from the 'EVM Hatao Morcha' to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on February 22 on the issue of not holding 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the country with EVMs. I accepted their invitation," Singh wrote in a message that he tagged along with the video clip. "But two days ago, the permission for a peaceful protest was also cancelled. What is the reason why the central government under the leadership of PM Modi is so nervous? Since this time thousands of people from all over the country were coming to participate in the protest, they got scared and cancelled the approval. Now this movement 'EVM_Hatao_Loktantra_Bachao' (remove EVM, save democracy) movement is reaching every village across the country. Will the EC and the Supreme Court take cognizance of this? They should," Singh wrote further. (ANI) Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Thursday reserved its order on a plea by the Congress party, which has sought a stay against Income Tax Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their bank accounts. The ITAT bench of GS Pannu, Vice President, and Anubhav Sharma, Judicial Member decided to reserve the order after the two sides made their submissions. Appearing for the Congress party, Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha submitted that if a stay is not granted, the party would be under grave financial crunch ahead of Lok Sabha polls. "So we need a protection order at this moment of time," Tankha said. "Parties and elections will come and go but Revenue Department belongs to the Government of India, it has to go by law. If there's only one party, how will democracy survive?" he asked. Advocate Zoheb Hossain, appearing for the Income Tax Department, submitted that this is a regular recovery proceeding and also argued that the conduct of Congress is not correct as they have not paid the tax dues. On Wednesday, the Income Tax Department submitted before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) that they acted with responsibility, and their action was fully in line with the law to obtain demand drafts of Rs 65 crore from the bank accounts of the Congress party. The Income Tax Department on Tuesday recovered Rs 65 crore from the accounts of the Indian National Congress out of the total outstanding tax dues of Rs 115 crore. Zoheb Hossain had on Wednesday defended the decision to recover the amount and submitted that there has been a breach of rules by Congress and, in such a scenario, the entity must be treated as a normal assessee. He submitted that on July 6, 2021, the first notice of recovery was given. He said the Congress party filed an appeal for a complete stay on October 28, 2021 but for this, they had to deposit 20 per cent of the dues as per IT Act. He said they were requested to pay 20 percent of the demand but it was not done. "On January 9, 2023, we sent another letter seeking payment for outstanding demand. We received an email from Congress seeking an adjournment only. Over period of four years, their conduct was not to pay," he said. IT Department counsel said an application to Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) March 28, 2023 for a stay of demand application became infructuous as the appeal was dismissed on merit. Hossain said a false narrative is being created that "they're being targeted before the general elections and this narrative is completely baseless.". Tankha had argued on Wednesday that compliance requirements have been met. "Wrong interpretation has been given by Income Tax. Our bank account has been frozen and on February 16 our accounts were made lien. Last evening, they went and withdrew Rs 65 crore. We are one of the largest party and we are on the eve of the election. If our accounts are frozen like this, how a democracy will survive," he said. "This is not a case where Rs 135 crore demand should be made on us while we are right ahead of polls. All the bank accounts at that point in time were frozen. I'm not a runaway person, I'm a 100 year old party...to put such a condition right before elections is to ensure that I don't participate in the festival of democracy," he added. The Congress has recently approached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against the recovery and has filed a complaint and sought stay against Income Tax Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their Bank accounts. In the complaint, the Congress said the Income Tax Department has enforced its lien by encashing some of the balances lying with the banks without waiting for the outcome of the hearing scheduled before the bench. Congress appealed that the department should not proceed further till the disposal of the stay application. (ANI) Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying he is the "dynamic Chief Minister", in the true sense of the term. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the new Income Tax Department Building, during her maiden visit to Gorakhpur, Sitharaman emphasized the significance of the word 'dynamic' in the context of CM Yogi saying, "Please correct my number if it's wrong, Mr Chief Minister. There are 75 districts in the state and there are 52 weeks in a year. Yogi ji visits each of Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts at least once, if not twice, within the span of 52 weeks." Highlighting Chief Minister Yogi's tireless efforts in traversing the state like a well-oiled engine, tirelessly working in every district, she further underscored the futility of seeking appointments with him in Lucknow, suggesting instead to meet him wherever he may be during that week. Regarding her first visit to Gorakhpur, Sitharaman said, 'First impression is the best impression and I found Gorakhpur more beautiful than I had ever imagined.' The Finance Minister said that the government under the leadership of PM Modi guarantees the inauguration of all the projects whose foundation stone is laid. She mentioned four major projects of Eastern Uttar Pradesh to substantiate her point. The Finance Minister elaborated that the foundation stone of the fertilizer factory and AIIMS of Gorakhpur were laid in July 2016 and both were inaugurated in December 2021. "Similarly, The foundation stone of the Regional Center of the Indian Council of Medical Research in Gorakhpur was laid in 2018 and it will be inaugurated in December 2021. The Saryu Canal Project, pending since 1978, was inaugurated by PM Modi in December 2021. This project is providing irrigation facility to 29 lakh farmers living in 6200 villages of 9 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. With the commencement of this project, irrigation of 14 lakh hectares of land has become easier", she pointed out. Discussing the achievements of the Income Tax Department, the Finance Minister said that "the gross direct tax collection has increased by 16.77 percent. Along with this, tax refund of Rs 2.48 lakh crore has also been made from April 2023 to January 10, 2024. In cases of old tax claims from the sixties-seventies till the year 2009, relief of an amount of Rs 25 thousand has been provided. Besides, owing to the faceless system, there has been a 60 percent reduction in complaints," she informed. The Income Tax Department makes 1.66 crore assessments every day while the process of 3.43 crore income tax returns is completed in a week, she added. (ANI) Determined to secure the maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of 370-plus for the party and '400 paar' (beyond 400) for the NDA, the BJP has set sights on 'GYAN' to bring home the desired electoral harvest. A term coined by PM Modi himself, 'GYAN' refers to 'Garib' (poor), Yuva (youth), Annadata (farmers), and Nari (women). Earlier, in a rousing address to cadres at the party's national headquarters in Delhi after it swept the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, PM Modi listed poor, youth, farmers and women as the only four castes in the country as he underlined his welfare pledge going into the general elections. On how the party plans to carry forward its outreach towards 'GYAN', a top BJP source told ANI on Thursday that the party was focusing on the upliftment of all four sections of the country's population. Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP national president JP Nadda will hit the ground running and campaign extensively as part of efforts to reach out to these four sections. The task of taking forward and accomplishing 'Mission GYAN' has been given to BJP heavyweights and seniors, including the party's national general secretary Sunil Bansal, vice-president Bijayant (Jai) Panda, general secretary Tarun Chugh, and Shivprakash. Sources told ANI that Prime Minister Modi will address women across the country from West Bengal soon, adding, however, that the date has not been finalised yet. The choice of venue for PM Modi's address to women voters across the country is significant as West Bengal's Sandeshkhali has been on the boil over the past several weeks after women, in their hundreds, came out against the ruling TMC, accusing absconding strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his henchmen of abuse and excesses. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address farmers in the Chhattisgarh capital, Raipur, on March 3. His address will coincide with the ongoing farmer protests on Delhi's orders over a raft of demands, including a law guaranteeing MSP (minimum support price) and loan write-offs, among others. Further, on March 4, BJP national chief JP Nadda will address the youth in Nagpur. Carrying forward the party's 'GYAN' outreach, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the backward classes at an OBC Mahasabha in Patna on March 5. Again, on March 7, Nadda will headline an event aimed at addressing SC voters. The party's outreach under 'Mission GYAN' will conclude by March 10. To solicit support from voters representing a cross-section of society, the BJP has been organising events for the poor, SC/ST, women, youth, and farmers. The idea is to establish direct contact with these sections and apprise them of the government's efforts towards their welfare and well-being. BJP leaders and cadres have been spreading out to the length and breadth of the country through events such as the farmers' village parikrama yatra and the Kisan Chaupal programme. The party's women's wing, Mahila Morcha, has also linked up with women's self-help groups in a bid to spread the word on the Centre's welfarist push for one-half of the country's population. The party's Yuva Morcha has been entrusted with the responsibility of setting up Yuva Chaupals across the country while the SC Morcha has been told to organise and conduct contact and dialogue programmes in Dalit settlements. Ahead of notification of the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has been going all out to reach out to voters through conferences. At the recently held BJP national convention, all programmes pertaining to the party's poll outreach until March 10 were fleshed out and discussed. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday virtually flagged off the heli service being operated under the Regional Connectivity Scheme from Haldwani to Munsiyari, Pithoragarh, Champawat in a program organized by the Civil Aviation Department at the Chief Minister's residence here. Addressing the program, the Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and said that this air service was awaited for a long time. He said that it will not only connect remote areas and provide facilities for the movement of people, but it will also prove to be an effective medium for effective implementation of relief and rescue operations in times of emergency. He said that along with visiting various tourist areas, this will also provide a lot of convenience to the people in transportation. Referring to the COVID-19 period, the Chief Minister said that those who had gone out during the Corona period are now returning to their villages. "In this way, it is not only an air service but also a route for reverse migration. This is the path that will re-populate our mountain homes and bring back glory to the villages," said Dhami. Referring to Jollygrant Airport, the Chief Minister said, "We inaugurated the new terminal of Jollygrant Airport a few days ago and soon based on a pilot project from Jollygrant Airport, we will also start operations on Dehradun-Amritsar, Dehradun-Pantnagar, Dehradun-Ayodhya routes. Air connectivity will be started. Not only this, but we are also going to start heli service for places like Trijuginarayan, Lansdowne etc". He said that on the one hand, this will boost tourism and on the other hand will increase employment opportunities. The Chief Minister said that fixed-wing aircraft services from Dehradun to Pithoragarh were started on January 30, 2024. "With the launch of this service, people in the border areas have got a new and better option to travel," said the Chief Minister. He said that Uttarakhand is a very important state from a religious and tourism point of view and the state government is trying to provide all kinds of facilities to the devotees and tourists to travel in the state. Air services can play an important role in this. The Chief Minister said that while the government is making Jolly Grant Airport of international standard, the government is also committed to developing Pantnagar Airport as an international airport. Along with this, services like "Joy Ride Service", "Himalayan Darshan" etc. are also proposed to visit the scenic areas of the state by air and the commencement of these services will boost tourism, the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister said that now the country has entered the Amrit Kaal under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, today's India is seeing big dreams and also fulfilling them, he said. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the life of the common man has become prosperous and during his tenure, 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line. "He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) had dreamed that even a person wearing slippers would be able to travel by air and in these 10 years we are seeing that dream coming true. He said that wherever there is a double-engine government, the Prime Minister's vision is bringing prosperity to the lives of the common man and today we are seeing the continuous expansion of the UDAN scheme which was started by the Prime Minister," CM Dhami said. "He assured us that our government is making every possible effort to promote civil aviation in the state and will continue to do so in the future and we are continuously working to make Uttarakhand the best state of the country in every field and all of you With their support we will definitely be successful in fulfilling this resolution," he added. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that former Tumakuru MP Muddahanume Gowda has joined the Congress party unconditionally after quitting the BJP. Speaking after inducting Mr Gowda, he said, "He has joined the Party without any conditions. The decision to induct him into the party was taken after consultations with many leaders from Tumakuru district including Rajanna and Vasu. He will have to work for any candidate the party fields, that is the discipline of Congress." Congress candidate P Puttanna won the by-election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from Bangalore Teachers' Constituency which was a setback for the BJP-JD(S) coalition. "Party over the individual is our principle. All our sacrifices are miniscule compared to the sacrifices of Mahatma Gandhi and the Nehru family. Today Sonia Gandhi doesn't have her own house. Only Congressmen can wear the tricolour proudly. Congress had not won in the Teachers' constituency for the last 45 years but we have won it now. BJP and JDS had said that this election would be an indicator for the upcoming general election and I am confident it is," Shivakumar further said. Shivakumar claimed that the Congress party will be in power in the next term too. "Congress party will be in power not just this term but next term too. All party workers have to go from booth to booth to win over people. Muddahanume Gowda himself has said that there is no value-based politics left in the BJP. Many BJP leaders will come to Congress. Former MLA Gowrishankar has joined our party. There are many Opposition leaders who are eager to join Congress. Let us work towards winning the upcoming general election," he said. (ANI) The troops, on high alert, immediately sprang into action, tracking the drone's movement along the border in the Ferozepur district. Following standard operating procedures, the BSF troops cordoned off the likely dropping zone and conducted an extensive search. At approximately 09:37 pm, they recovered a small drone in a farming field of Changa Rai Hithar village in Ferozepur district. "The likely dropping zone was cordoned and an extensive search was conducted. At about 09:37 pm, BSF troops successfully recovered 01 small drone with 01 packet of suspected heroin attached to it in a farming field of Village - Changa Rai Hithar (Chimbewala) of Distt Ferozepur," the BSF said in a post on X. Upon inspection, the recovered drone was identified as a Quadcopter of the DJI Mavic 3 Classic model, manufactured in China along with a packet of 505-gram packet of suspected heroin, wrapped in yellow tape, attached to it. (ANI) The Arunachal Pradesh government on Thursday officially handed over appointment letters to 1256 youths, who had successfully appeared in the Combined Secondary Level Examination-2023 conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) last year. To mark the mass appointment of new employees in various state government departments, Chief Minister Pema Khandu symbolically handed over 'Offer Letters' to 30 new recruits in an event - Rozgar Mela - organized by the state Youth Affairs department here on Thursday morning, which was witnessed by rest of the successful candidates. Congratulating all the successful candidates, Pema Khandu hailed them for earning a government job on their merit. "Earlier, most of the Group C and D posts were filled by concerned departments and done so on recommendations or insistence of political leaders and senior officers. Those who had no 'connections' with the affluent were left high and dry. To do away with the corrupt practice and to provide all eligible youths a level playing field, we created the APSSB and today it is bearing fruits," Khandu said. Khandu informed that the staff selection board could have been established with a cabinet notification but he chose to do so through an Act so that it couldn't be tampered with in future to suit the whims and fancies of powers to be. Expressing satisfaction over the Board, he lauded it for conducting recruitment examinations for various Group C and D posts in a fair and transparent manner despite an initial hiccup. "You all need to be proud of yourself. You didn't choose the easy way - bootlicking or seeking recommendations. You studied hard, prepared hard and secured a government job. Wherever you go, you will hold your head high!" he said. Advising the new employees to work as hard as they had in preparing for the examination wherever they are posted, he said that they were now a part of the system and their sincerity towards their job only would ensure that the system ran successfully. "The workforce that we are getting through APSSB and the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (Group A and B) will ensure that in the next 5 to 10 years the state government will be run by people, who are in their respective posts on pure merit. Governance will change. In coming years, the infusion of these talented individuals into the government workforce will significantly enhance our capacity to deliver services promptly, furthering the welfare of our beloved citizens," Khandu expressed. Talking about APPSC, the Chief Minister informed that the new Chairman and Members have assumed office and after putting in place a stringent SoP, examinations will be conducted for various Group A and B posts. He informed that more than 1000 posts have been handed over to the Commission for conducting recruitment examinations but are lying vacant due to the paper leakage fiasco. Hoping that the Commission conduct the examinations soon, Khandu advised the successful candidates of the Group C and D posts to appear for the examinations conducted by the Commission if eligible. "In my interaction with a few of you, I got to know that many of you are well qualified. You will always have an advantage as you are already well prepared. If you work hard, I am sure many of you will qualify for Group A and B posts," he opined. Pema Khandu further informed that the state government has, in the last 7-8 years, created about 17500 government jobs. The Combined Secondary Level Examination, 2023, was conducted for various posts (Group C and D) in the departments of Legal Metrology & Consumer Affairs, Woman & Child Development, Research, Agriculture, Hydropower Development, Tax, Excise & Narcotics, Economics & Statistics, Power, Higher & Technical Education, Secretariat Administration, PWD, Fire & Emergency Services, Home and TRIHMS. (ANI) A day after he was removed from the post of Mumbai Youth Congress president, Zeeshan Siddiqui, lashed out at the grand old party over its treatment of minorities while accusing it of being 'communal'. "It is very unfortuinate," he said on being removed from the post. Zeeshan, the son of Baba Siddiqui who severed ties with the Congress earlier this month, alleged that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge "can't even discharge his responsibilities with full freedom" in the party. "Malliakrjun Kharge is such a senior leader but even his hands are tied. Rahul Gandhi is doing his job but it looks as if people around him have taken a 'supari' (contract) from other parties to finish off the Congress," he alleged. Recalling a conversation in Nanded, Maharashtra on the sidelines of Rahul's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', he said, "During the previous 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Nanded, I was told by one of the persons close to Rahul Gandhi that I should lose 10kgs before they could let me meet him." Calling the Congress 'communal', Zeeshan said, "The treatment being meted out to minority leaders and workers in the Congress is unfortunate. The extent of communalism in the Congress and Mumbai Youth Congress is unlike anywhere else. Is it a sin to be a Muslim in the Congress? The party has to answer why am I being targeted? Is it only because I am a Muslim?" Zeeshan was removed from the post of Mumbai Youth Congress President on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Zeeshan's father Baba Siddiqui quit the Congress and joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). (ANI) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that a policy will be introduced in a week to give ownership rights to people living in houses for 20 years in urban areas. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, "A policy will be introduced in a week to give ownership rights to people living in houses for 20 years in urban areas. Tigaon would be given the status of sub-division." After a no-confidence motion moved by the main opposition party, the Congress, against the Khattar government, CM Khattar said that the intentions of the government cannot be questioned. CM Khattar said, "During the no-confidence motion by the opposition in 2021, we had predicted that Congress would bring the no-confidence motion again. If any mistakes occurred while doing welfare for the public, we worked to correct them and took action when necessary. But our intentions cannot be questioned. The first scam after the country's independence was the Jeep scam by Congress. They were also involved in the 2G Spectrum and coal scam. Everyone is familiar with Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and Industrial Plot scams. The government will work as per the instructions of the court." (ANI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has moved Delhi High Court against Delhi Police for not granting permission to hold protests at Jantar Mantar in regard to alleged hurdles being put before the implementation of the Delhi Jal Board's One-Time Settlement Scheme for water bill arrears. The plea alleged that the Delhi Police erroneously and arbitrarily declined the request of the petitioner to hold a peaceful protest on February 23, 2024, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, which is in violation of the fundamental right of the petitioner. According to the plea, AAP is exercising its fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India, which forms an essential part of democracy, to perform a peaceful protest on February 25 at Jantar Mantar. The party had requested permission by letter dated February 17 from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, wherein it submitted that the said protest will be attended by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Ministers of the Delhi Govt. and MLAs' of the Aam Aadmi Party with a gathering of around 800, which was erroneously and arbitrarily declined and that the fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India forms an essential part of the democracy and the same cannot be taken away summarily by a blanket and prohibitory order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC 1973. Justice Subramonium Prasad bench is scheduled to hear the matter on Friday. "It is submitted that by virtue of Section 144 of the CrPC there cannot be a complete prohibition on demonstrations, etc. but after taking into consideration the request, permission can be granted by laying down proper parameters," the plea stated. (ANI) Sukanta Majumdar, who was arrested by West Bengal police for leading a protest against the Sandeshkhali incidents and was released later, met Governor CV Ananda Bose in the late hours on Thursday. Majumdar told ANI that he told the entire incident to the governor, who was also shocked by the way they (police) behaved with an MP. Earlier on Thursday, Sukanta Majumdar was arrested by the West Bengal Police on Thursday while leading a protest against the Sandeshkhali incidents and released on a PR bond later. "I have told the governor about the entire incident and what happened. The governor was also shocked by the way they behaved with an MP. Such behaviour is not acceptable in a democracy. Section 144 has been imposed only for the BJP because TMC MLAs are roaming with 50 people. It's a partial 144, which is applicable only to BJP workers and leaders. Sheikh Shahjahan and his brothers run the zamindari there and torture the people. Mamata Banerjee and TMC have maintained such a situation that no voice can be raised. Today, women have raised their voices. The governor has his focus on all topics. He is also informing the Home Ministry," Majumdar said. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after being granted bail on Thursday evening, Majumdar said, "The police picked us up by force. I was arrested and made to sign a bail bond before I was released. We were arrested for sitting on a dharna here. We will continue to raise our voices and protest until our workers are allowed to visit Sandeshkhali." After receiving permission from the police to visit the trouble-torn area on Thursday, Majumdar was leading a protest demanding the arrest of the fugitive TMC leader in front of a police station in the area. The West Bengal police on Thursday opened up on the arrest of Sukanta Majumdar saying he was arrested during his protest earlier in Sandeshkhali for violation of prohibitory orders under Section 144, which had been in force in the violence-hit area. Speaking to ANI on the Majumdar's arrest earlier, Hossain Mehedi Rehman, Superintendent of Police, Basirhat, said, "Today Sukanta Majumdar reached here without informing the police. He was intercepted in Dhamakhali and asked politely if he wanted to visit Sandeshkhali and meet the family members of any particular person. He was stopped initially but later allowed to meet the family. However, he came here and sat on a protest outside the police station with his local supporters." (ANI) The Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence participated in the second India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit in the national capital and discussed enhancing military interoperability to support the vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. During the summit on Wednesday, the speakers explored opportunities to co-produce advanced military capabilities and create resilient defence supply chains. "Panel participants expanded on several themes inspired by the original INDUS-X collaboration agenda: deepening defence industrial partnerships, increasing collaborative research and testing facility access, mobilizing private capital to support critical defence technologies, and commercializing dual-use technologies. The governments also led a hybrid information session on export controls for US and Indian defence start-ups that aim to form partnerships and co-develop technology," the US Department of Defence said in a statement. The summit included announcements on priority efforts under INDUS-X including joint challenges. The Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) announced the winners of the first two INDUS-X joint challenges, in which companies compete to develop technologies that solve military problems for the defence ministries of the two countries. Following a competitive process supported by military service partners and both governments, 10 US and Indian companies won over USD 1 million to develop technologies related to undersea communications and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). At the Summit, DIU and iDEX also announced that they will open applications for two joint challenges focused on space-based ISR in the coming months, the statement read. US companies, universities, and non-profit organizations announced a new consortium committed to expanding testing facility access. The consortium will explore pathways for defence and dual-use companies in the INDUS-X network to test, refine, and integrate their technologies at premier testing ranges across India and the US. The Summit featured a meeting of two advisory bodies under INDUS-X. First, US and Indian officials convened for the second meeting of the bilateral Senior Advisory Group, which guides future cooperation under the initiative. Second, the US Institute of Peace moderated the inaugural meeting of the INDUS-X Senior Leaders Forum, comprised of US and Indian leaders across industry, private equity, academia, and other sectors who convene to share feedback that informs the trajectory of INDUS-X. The US-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) organized the Summit, which convened US and Indian defence companies, investors, researchers, and government officials. "The Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence launched the bilateral initiative INDUS-X in June 2023 to spur defence innovation in critical technologies by facilitating partnerships among US and Indian companies, investors, and universities. INDUS-X is the innovation bridge envisioned by the US and Indian national security advisors under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)," the statement added. India and the US have also released an INDUS-X Fact Sheet to outline both the initiative's progress to date and priority near-term efforts. (ANI) The popular social media platform 'X' owned by Elon Musk, has issued a statement saying that it has blocked some accounts and posts on its platform after the executive orders issued by the Indian government. "The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts," the Global Government Affairs of 'X' posted. The Global Government Affairs of 'X also stated that the writ appeal challenging the Indian government's orders remains pending and they have provided impacted users with notices of these actions in accordance with its policies. "Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders, but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making," it added. https://x.com/GlobalAffairs/status/1760387644608192560?s=20 Earlier in 2022, X's account with the Pakistan government was withheld in India. This was reportedly the second such incident in recent months. This account was withheld earlier in July 2022 as well but had been reactivated and was visible. Later in October, based on the inputs from intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had directed YouTube to block 45 YouTube videos from 10 YouTube channels. Orders to block the concerned videos were issued on October 23, under the provisions of the Information Technology. The blocked videos had a cumulative viewership of over 1 crore 30 lakh views. The content included fake news and morphed videos spread with the intent to spread hatred among religious communities. Examples include false claims such as the Government has taken away the religious rights of certain communities, violent threats against religious communities, declaration of civil war in India, etc. (ANI) On the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Rio, Union Minister of State V Murleedharan on Thursday had a brief discussion with the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. "A brief chat with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio," the MoS posted on X. Notably, Brazil assumed the presidency from India on December 20, 2023, and the G20 Foreign Minister's Meeting would be the first ministerial meeting under the Brazilian Presidency, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release. Earlier on Wednesday, Union Minister of State represented India at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Brazil, and affirmed New Delhi's steadfast support for Brazil during its presidency of the summit. "Honored to represent India at G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio. During my intervention at a session on 'G20's role in dealing with ongoing international tensions'," Muraleedharan posted on X. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India called for an urgent return to dialogue and diplomacy. While on the Israel-Hamas war, India reiterated its position of a two-state solution. MoS Muraleedharan said that terrorism has to be condemned in all its forms. He also underscored that the conflict in the Middle East should not be allowed to spread any wider. MoS Muraleedharan also emphasised the security of the high seas and the safety of sea lanes of communication. He also said that the G20, as an economic forum, should focus on SDG and climate change. He also lamented the need to address geopolitical issues constructively and find common ground. The G20 Foreign Ministers have met as a group since 2012, and the FMM in Rio will be their 10th meeting. The G20 FMM has risen in prominence throughout time, serving as a crucial venue for talks on a variety of international issues and related concerns of common concern among G20 members. A new Working Group on the Empowerment of Women and a new Engagement Group, "Judiciary 20" have also been added by Brazil this time. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the G20 FMM, the MoS will hold bilateral meetings with partner countries from the Global South. (ANI) US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Rena Bitter on Thursday expressed her excitement about visiting India and highlighted the 'explosion' in travel between India and the US. "We're very excited to be here. This is the 11th annual dialogue on consular issues that we've had with our partners in the Indian government. There are a lot of issues for us to cover and a lot of really good news for us to cover. We'll talk a lot about the incredible explosion in travel between the United States and India. Today, more Indians can travel to the United States than at any other time in our history. We'll also talk about some of the issues that reflect the really strong family ties between the United States and India," she said. "More Indians can travel to the United States than at any other time in our history. Last year, this mission adjudicated 1.4 million visas, the most in many, many years. We've made tremendous progress. There is no wait time in virtually every category of visas that we issue. There is a wait time for some travelers, but there are mechanisms for being able to expedite humanitarian cases, for being able to expedite business visas. But beyond that, in the last year we have reduced wait times by 75%. And the way that we have done that is by ensuring that we have. It is really important to us in Washington, again, because this bilateral relationship is so important," she added. US official Rena Bitter is travelling to India, during which she is scheduled to engage with embassy and consulate colleagues in Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. She will be travelling to India and Qatar during her visit from February 19-27. The US Consular Team in India processed a record 1.4 million US visas in 2023, which is higher than ever, and has brought down the visitor visa appointment wait times by 75 per cent. The US Embassy and Consulates in India said that Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world. Visitor visas (B1/B2) have rebounded to represent the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission's history -- over 7,00,000. Process improvements and investments in staffing have brought the appointment wait time for visitor visas down from an average of 1,000 days to only 250 days around the country with minimal wait time in all categories. The US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas in 2023 - more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third year in a row. Among the specific states, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai are the top four student visa processing posts in the world. This has made Indian students the largest group of international graduate students in the United States. They make up more than a quarter of the over one million foreign students studying in the United States. (ANI) At the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue, Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins on Thursday said that relations between India and Latvia as well as the European Union were progressing in a positive direction. While speaking to ANI, says, "The diplomatic relations with India and Latvia are actually very good. And the relationship between the European Union and India is also growing and developing in a very positive direction." The Latvian foreign minister also said that he saw a role for India in addressing conflicts like the one in Ukraine. "While the threat level is going up, we are seeing more and more disturbances to the international order. The basic values that we live by in Europe and India are democracy and the rule of law. And the democracies need to work together to stabilise as a counterweight to the unrest," he remarked. "India has a very big role to play. In the Indo-Pacific, India is the big power. As a big democracy here in the Indo-Pacific, Europe and India must work together to coordinate and find more areas of cooperation because the world needs stability based on basic values and on the UN charter of international law. In this part of the world, India has a huge, huge role to play" he added. Earlier Krisjanis Karins, delivered an address to the special Ministerial Panel of the CII India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave, calling on India's businesses to develop cooperation with Latvia, notably in digital technologies, innovations and the space sector. The Foreign Minister highlighted Latvia's open business environment and focus on innovation. The Raisina Dialogue is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. More than 2500 delegates from approximately 115 countries are participating in person, while millions worldwide will engage with the proceedings through digital platforms. With representation from over 100 nations, the 9th Raisina Dialogue gathers a diverse array of participants, including ministers, former heads of state and government, military commanders, industry leaders, technology innovators, scholars, and youth. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. This effort is supported by a number of institutions, organisations and individuals, who are committed to the mission of the conference. (ANI) On the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Slovak Republic, Ghana and Tanzania and discussed cooperation with both countries in multiple sectors. EAM Jaishankar held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and assessed the progress of India-Ghana bilateral cooperation, especially the development partnership. Taking to X, EAM Jaishankar shared about the meeting saying, "Glad to meet FM @AyorkorBotchwey of Ghana on #RaisinaDialogue2024 sidelines. Assessed the progress of our bilateral cooperation, especially development partnership. Also spoke about the need to reform the Commonwealth." Additionally, EAM Jaishankar assessed the progress in the bilateral cooperation between India and Tanzania with his Tanzania counterpart, January Makamba. "A warm meeting with FM @JMakamba of Tanzania. Carried forward our Raisina panel discussion on India-Africa solidarity. Assessed positively the progress in our bilateral cooperation," EAM posted on X. EAM Jaishankar also held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanar and reviewed the status of India-Slovak Republic bilateral ties. EAM Jaishankar posted on X, "Good to meet FM Juraj Blanar of Slovak Republic on his first visit to India. Reviewed the status of our bilateral relationship. Look forward to deeper collaboration in bilateral and regional formats." Earlier on Wednesday, Tanzania Foreign Minister January Makamba, Foreign Ministers of Mauritius Maneesh Gobin and Panama's Janaina Tewaney Mencomo arrived in New Delhi to attend the Raisina Dialogue. Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared about their arrivals saying, "More Foreign Ministers land in New Delhi for #RaisinaDialogue2024! FM @ManeeshGobin of Mauritius, FM @JMakamba of Tanzania & FM @JanainaGob of Panama arrive to a warm welcome in New Delhi." Raisina Dialogue is India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. The ninth edition of Raisina Dialogue is being held in Delhi from February 21-23. It is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation. Ministers, National Security Advisors, senior officials and representatives of industry, technology, finance and other sectors from more than 100 nations are participating in the Raisina Dialogue. In a post on X, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "RaisinaDialogue2024 - 's premier conference on geopolitics & geoeconomics is back with its 9th edition this year. Feb 21-23, 2024 Theme - Chaturanga: Conflict / Contest | Cooperate | Create Know more about the conference." According to a video posted by Randhir Jaiswal on X, the thematic pillars of Raisina Dialogue are - "Tech Frontiers: Regulations and Realities, Peace with the Planet: Invest and Innovate, War and Peace: Armouries and Asymmetries, Decolonising Multilateralism: Institutions and Inclusion, The Post-2030 Agenda: People and Progress." (ANI) 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 BIMSTEC's new Secretary General, Indra Mani Pandey, said on Thursday that an agreement on cooperation in maritime transport is expected to be finalised between member countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand - at the grouping's upcoming summit in Thailand this year. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the ongoing Raisina Dialogue, Pandey, who assumed his office earlier this year, told ANI that "...My priority as secretary-general is to make sure that the decisions taken by the member states are implemented well. It's the member states who decide the priority areas for cooperation." Pandey called for the contribution of all member countries of the grouping to work together in all sectors. The vast agenda of regional cooperation of BIMSTEC is currently centred around 7 sectors, with each member state playing lead role for one sector. While Bangladesh leads the sector of Trade, Investment and Development including Blue Economy, Bhutan leads the sector of Environment and Climate Change including Mountain Economy, India leads the Security sector, including maritime, space, cyber and energy security as well as CTTC and Disaster Management. Myanmar leads the sector of Agriculture and Food Security, including fisheries and livestock while Nepal leads People-to-People Contact sector, including culture and tourism. Sri Lanka leads the Science, Technology and Innovation sector including Health and Thailand leads the sector of connectivity. "One agreement on cooperation in maritime transport which has been finalized and negotiated. It's just waiting for adoption by the member states at the next summit... The 6th summit of BIMSTEC is expected to take place this year. Thailand is the chair..." Pandey said. The sixth BIMSTEC summit scheduled to take place in 2024 in Thailand. For India, the BIMSTEC regional forum acts as a convergence of its "Neighbourhood First" policy, or "Act East" outlook and the interests of the Indian Ocean. At a session titled 'The BIMSTEC Parley: Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development' participants discussed the significance of the grouping to connect multiple countries and highlighted the cooperation at the international level for the same. The panel examined how the BIMSTEC countries can intensify their internal and external partnerships. Tshering Dorji, Director of SELISE Digital Platforms in Bhutan, while addressing the Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development highlighted that his country faces challenges in connectivity on the international link adding that discussions on the issue are ongoing with Bangladesh and India to get additional connectivity from Bangladesh through India. "We are facing challenges on the international link and there Bhutan is already at an advanced stage of discussion with Bangladesh and India to get additional connectivity from Bangladesh through India. So this cooperation at a small level within BIMSTEC to improve digital infrastructure," he said. "While lot of things are being done in the digital sector in all the countries, we should also be mindful that there are a lot of people in our region who are digitally illiterate. And the digital gap is a big issue that we should be mindful of. And providing digital literacy classes and awareness on the things that are happening I think is very key," he added. Additionally, BIMSTEC Secretary General, Indra Mani Pandey called for the contribution of all member counrties of the grouping and asserted that the countries should work together in all sectors. "I think while there is a lead country for each of the seven sectors, but it doesn't mean that other countries don't contribute or they don't They don't have the opportunity to do more work in that sector. It's just to facilitate initiatives in different sectors that we have, member states have decided on the concept of a lead state. But all the member states work together in each sector. So the cooperation remains at the level of all the states working together," he said. Nepal's Member of Parliament, Swarnim Wagle said that the group nations should take interest in the regional arrangements between the countries in BIMSTEC as they cooperate in terms of trade. "So if BIMSTEC, if members don't see an inherent interest through the regional arrangement, those exchanges of preferences or cooperation and specific projects, then they would turn to. So that's just a fact of trade. So it's not a question of threat, in my opinion. On riparian issues, there's a lot to be learned in the Ganges Brahmaputra river basins on how the Mekong collaboration has happened. Again here, given the asymmetric influence of India, you would need Indian cooperation. And India has tended to prefer bilateral arrangements," he said. Its potential can be tapped by connecting the countries of the region better to each other and the world, as well as through directing finance to the green transition and the blue economy. This panel examined how the BIMSTEC countries can intensify their internal and external partnerships. Meanwhile, Raisina Dialogue is India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. The ninth edition of Raisina Dialogue is being held in Delhi from February 21-23. It is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that the failure of the United Nations to find multilateral solutions to issues such as the gaming of trading rules, which many countries have taken advantage of at the expense of the international system, demonstrated the case for a comprehensive reform of the global organisation. "When the UN was invented, it had approximately 50 members. We have four times the members. So it's a common sense proposition that you can't continue the same way when you have four times the members. If you look at the last five years, for all the big issues, we have not been able to find a multilateral solution. So the lack of results demonstrates the case for reform," Jaishankar said. The minister was participating at a session, 'A Tapestry of Truths; Can the two hemispheres agree?' during the ongoing Raisina Dialogue 2024 in the national capital. "In many cases, the rules have been gamed. We speak about globalization. The fact is that the world trading rules have been gamed. ... a lot of our challenges today also emanate from how countries have used that for their benefit at the expense of the international system," Jaishankar said. When asked about various complex geopolitical challenges and diverse positions on them by different key countries, such as the US support of Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas and India's strong relationship with Russia in view of the Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said the endeavour has to be to find middle ground. "The reality in many cases is we won't find a middle ground. In addition to the old issues, there are also the new issues. The big debates of the day, connectivity, debt, trade, and how these are leveraged today, are not necessarily all coming out of the West. So the West, as the dominant force earlier, is largely responsible for where we are today. The new players haven't helped," Jaishankar said. At the Raisina Dialogue discussion today, Jaishankar also took a veiled jab at China, one of the five permanent members of the 15-member UN Security Council for being the "biggest" opponent of its reforms. India, a founding members of the UN in 1945, played an active role in the drafting of the UN Charter and has been a vocal proponent of reforming the UNSC. "If you take UN Security Council reform, the biggest opposer is not a Western country. So let's get the totality of the problem right. We have to battle bit by bit to create groups for change. On many issues, you will get different combinations of countries, and we'll have to live with a long period of incremental progress before we get to some kind of landing point," Jaishankar said. Last week, India's permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj highlighted that India supports a comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council across all five clusters, including an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. Kamboj was speaking at the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council Reform in New York. Meanwhile, the panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue was centered around whether trust in the international system could be rebuilt, even in the absence of effective multilateral institutions and Are emerging powers that are more acceptable to a wider array of international actors obliged to stitch together coalitions that work, or is a patchwork of plurilateral agreements a fait accompli? The discussion also touched on how the "Global South" could be made aspirational. Hanke Bruins Slot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands, January Yusuf Makamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Tanzania, Jorge Quiroga, former President, Bolivia, and Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, United Arab Emirates were the other participants in the interaction. (ANI) Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is on a two-day visit to India, said an announcement will soon be made regarding mobility migration, which will enable more Indian workers to visit Greece in an organised manner. "We expect to make concrete announcements very soon regarding the signing of the mobility migration agreement, enabling more Indian labour to come to Greece in an organised manner," the prime minister said, speaking at the FICCI's India-Greece Business Forum held in Mumbai. "We're two ancient civilizations with great respect for each other. We have great people-to-people connections. We have a vibrant Indian community in Greece and we want to foster these connections much further," he added. The Greece PM had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in the national capital. The Indian workers, who would be allowed to take part in Greece's labour market, may need to be upskilled or reskilled, PM Mitsotakis said. Opportunities in construction, agriculture, and hospitality are immense and Greece is already beginning to see labour shortages. Sharing anecdotes about his country's labour market scenario a decade ago, the visiting leader said they had an unemployment rate of 27 per cent. For the first time in more than 15 years, its unemployment rate is under 10 per cent and is rapidly shrinking as a result of its growing economy. Referring to tourism and hospitality, the Greece Prime Minister said he considers these sectors untapped. "...this is an investment destination that can go both ways because I spoke a lot about Indian investment into Greece, but the same is also true in terms of Greek investment in India. We have prominent food companies already present here, and I see no reason why we cannot expand and tap the potential of the Indian market through our export-oriented Greek companies," he said. On hospitality, he said there was no direct flight between Mumbai or Delhi and Greece and hoped the scenario would change soon. "We still don't have a nonstop flight, for example, connecting either Mumbai or Delhi to Greece. I'm sure that this will change very quickly. And the same, of course, I think could also happen in terms of inbound tourism from India to Greece, where I really think that there is significant potential," he said. He also suggested that Indian movies could be shot in his country, which has various beautiful locations. "There are other beautiful locations where you can film in Greece," he said. "But this is also a sector where I think we can significantly progress and do much more. And usually when big productions or blockbusters are filmed in Greece, we immediately see the tourists and the activity being generated afterwards," he noted. The Greek PM, who is on a state visit to India, is accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation. (ANI) Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Thursday held a meeting with French Navy Chief Admiral Nicolas Vaujour and discussed issues of mutual strategic interest, security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region and furthering maritime collaboration. The two sides affirmed the significant progress in bilateral defence cooperation between two nations. In a post on X, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff stated, "Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, French Chief of Naval Staff called on General Anil Chauhan, #CDS_India. Discussions held on issues of mutual #strategicinterest, #securitychallenges in the #IOR and furthering maritime collaboration, duly affirming the significant progress in bilateral #DefenceCooperation between both nations." India and France have traditionally close and friendly relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. In 1998, the two countries entered into Strategic Partnership which is emblematic of their convergence of views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship. The areas of defence cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the three principal pillars of the Strategic Partnership between India and France. On February 20, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the visiting Chairman of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher on Tuesday held "a fruitful discussion on the India-France strategic partnership". The two leaders also engaged in talks over the convergence on a number of global issues. "Pleased to meet the visiting Parliamentary delegation headed by @gerard_larcher, President of the French Senate. A fruitful discussion on the India-France strategic partnership and the convergence on so many global issues," EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X. French Senate Chairman Larcher was on an official visit to India on February 19 and 20 accompanied by a delegation of five senators, the French Embassy in India said. On January 19, Larcher met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at Parliament House and discussed strengthening parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. The discussions between the Chairman of the French Senate and Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar also centred on building close economic and cultural cooperation, and warm people-to-people ties. (ANI) The Brussels-Tel Aviv line, which was suspended shortly after the outbreak of war in Gaza, will resume operation on March 24 with three weekly flights. The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages. Israel has characterised its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas' infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terror group while making efforts to minimize civilian casualties. (ANI/TPS) Dubai [UAE], February 22 (ANI/WAM): The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministries of Climate and Regional Affairs and Agriculture of the Republic of Estonia today. This agreement aims to strengthen joint efforts in managing food resources and embrace technology-driven solutions in these critical areas. The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of MoCCAE, and the MoU was signed by Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Madis Kallas, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, who also represented the Ministry of Climate of the Republic of Estonia. The MoU marks a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts of the three entities to strengthen food security, and positively contribute to the economies of both countries. This partnership will leverage advanced technical solutions to sustainably manage natural resources, addressing environmental and climate challenges. Al Dahak said, "In the UAE, we aim to deepen partnerships with nations on shared issues, particularly in food, which are our top priorities. This commitment drives us to adopt cutting-edge technologies, efficiently manage resources to align with our goal of reducing carbon emissions and promote a new economy that facilitates a sustainable future." She added, "We believe that working together is crucial for finding effective solutions. By collaborating with Estonia and other countries, we aim to develop innovative solutions to strengthen global food security. Sharing knowledge and technology is vital for this endeavour and can have a positive impact on the future of both the UAE and the world." The MoU seeks to promote sustainable food systems by focusing on reducing waste, promoting digital solutions in agriculture, and leveraging advanced technology for increased productivity. Additionally, it addresses food safety, and improving crisis management and disaster response capabilities. The collaboration includes research and development initiatives to strengthen food security, along with the exchange of technical knowledge on trading conditions, restrictions, and procedures. It will also focus on implementing research and initiatives in smart, sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions, aiming to reduce energy usage and provide a high quality of life within an effective and environmentally smart ecosystem. The cooperation extends to implementing human resources capacity development programs." (ANI/WAM) "FM @JanLipavsky of Czech Republic arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1760696628204454148?s=20 Raisina Dialogue is India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. The ninth edition of Raisina Dialogue commenced on Wednesday and tomorrow will mark the final day of the summit. It is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the Chief Guest and keynote speaker of the summit. He, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Raisina Dialogue here on Wednesday evening. Earlier in January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Cezh counterpart, Petr Fiala, on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. India and the Czech Republic expressed satisfaction with the development of their bilateral relationship and affirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in various areas, including science, innovation, defence, health and green energy. The two countries expressed commitment to deeper engagement within the Indo-Pacific region based on an open, free inclusive and rules-based approach with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and recognised the promotion of effective rules-based multilateralism as a way to achieve global prosperity and the commitments of the UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, the joint statement read. Speaking at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the Czech PM said that the potential for Czech-Indian collaboration is great not only in energy but also in wastewater treatment or sustainable agriculture, and added that he is interested in long-term strategic investment. He also said that the strategic investments would include AI (Artificial Intelligence) research and especially semiconductors. (ANI) Reacting to the massive cellular outage across the United States, Florida Senator Marco Rubio has warned that the situation can be even more precarious in case China launches a cyberattack while 'invading' Taiwan. "I don't know the cause of the AT&T outage But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion And it won't be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water and your bank," Rubio posted on X. https://x.com/marcorubio/status/1760682386562666857?s=20 This comes after a massive outage was reported after AT&T's network went down for many of its customers across the country, leaving customers unable to place calls, text or access the internet. On Thursday morning (local time), more than 74,000 AT&T customers reported outages on digital-service tracking site DownDetector, with service disruptions beginning around 4 am ET (local time), as reported by CNN. Although Verizon and T-Mobile customers also reported some network outages, those appeared far less widespread. These two firms said their networks were unaffected by AT&T's service outage and customers reporting outages may have been unable to reach customers who use AT&T. AT&T acknowledged that it had a widespread outage but did not provide a reason for the system failure. "Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning. We are working urgently to restore service to them," AT&T said in a statement. "We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored. "By late morning, AT&T said most of its network was back online. "Our network teams took immediate action and so far, three-quarters of our network has been restored," the company said. "We are working as quickly as possible to restore service to remaining customers." AT&T provided no official reason for the outage, but the issue appears to be related to how cellular services hand off calls from one network to the next, a process known as 'peering', CNN reported, citing an industry source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. However, there is no indication that Thursday's outage was the result of a cyberattack or other malicious activity, the industry source said. Notably, China (People's Republic of China) considers the self-ruled territory of Taiwan as part of its territory and claims there is only "one China". China has increased military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including near-daily incursions into the country's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) and sending military ships near its maritime borders, according to CNN. Especially after former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, China has ramped up its flow of military jets over the self-ruled territory. Over time, Beijing has repeatedly said that Taiwan "would be reunified" with China. In this year's New Year Address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, "China will surely be reunified, and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose." Amid concerns over a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, US President Joe Biden said that Washington would "intervene militarily" if Beijing attempts to take Taipei by force, CNN reported. But it is pertinent to note that under the "One China" policy, the US also acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing's claim to the self-governing island of 23 million. (ANI) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway after a person was found shot in the Nippers Corner area Wednesday afternoon. According to Metro Nashville dispatch, the shooting was reported just before 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21 in the 200 block of Knolls Place. The Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 a male victim was brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a critical head injury. Wanted felon arrested for allegedly shooting at two women in East Nashville Authorities said the victim was found in a field behind apartments. No additional details have been released about the shooting or the suspect(s) involved in it. News 2 has a crew on the way to the scene to gather more information. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A person was injured after a single vehicle crash in far East El Paso early Thursday morning, Feb. 22, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. The Sheriffs Office says at around 4 a.m., deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash at the 14300 block of Montana Avenue. The Sheriffs Office says the incident involved a single vehicle and one person was transported to a local hospital. The severity of the persons injuries are currently unknown. The scene has since been cleared. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Kansas Highway Patrol said a 52-year-old man was injured after the SUV he was driving was hit by a train in Doniphan County. It happened in Elwood just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The KHP says a Honda CR-V was southbound on 15th Street near Vermont Street and failed to yield to an eastbound Union Pacific train. The train struck the SUV. This embedded content is not available in your region. Tears shed at USD 259 proposed school closures meeting The 52-year-old driver of the SUV had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. A juvenile was also in the vehicle. The KHP does not release health information about juveniles. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. A 13-year-old girl has been missing from her Austin home for more than three weeks, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Kylee Washington was last seen at her home in Austin on Feb. 1. She is described as being 5-foot-3 and weighing 120 pounds, with brown eyes with black hair. Her picture and information have been circulated on the Ring app, as part of a partnership between the national center and Ring. Kylee Washington, 13, has been missing from her Austin home for three weeks. Washington had previously gone missing on Dec. 18, 2023, but returned home, Halley B. Gillespie, a production assistant for the national center, confirmed on Thursday. The Austin Police Department said Washington's disappearance is being considered a runaway case. Members of the public with information about Washington or her disappearance can contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Austin Police Department at 512-974-5000. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 13-year-old girl missing from Austin home for more than three weeks FIRST ON FOX: A bicameral coalition of more than 130 Republican lawmakers penned a letter to the White House on Thursday, urging it to withdraw proposed tailpipe emissions regulations, forcing a transition to electric vehicles (EV). The Republicans led by Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho argued that the regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are a "de facto EV mandate" phaseout of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. They addressed the letter to President Biden and Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, which is expected to soon finalize the regulations. "President Biden has made his intentions clear," Feenstra said in a statement. "He would rather force American families who are already facing financial hardship under the weight of inflation spurred by trillions in wasteful government spending to buy electric vehicles to advance his Green New Deal agenda than allow folks to choose the best car or truck for their families, businesses, and farms at an affordable price." "This misguided decision also strengthens China while weakening our economy because the critical materials needed to manufacture electric vehicles are primarily sourced from China," the Iowa lawmaker added. "Alongside Senator Mike Crapo, Im proud to lead nearly 140 of my colleagues in urging President Biden to withdraw the proposed rule that would attempt to replace liquid fuels and combustion engines with unreliable and unaffordable electric vehicles." BIDEN ADMIN REPORTEDLY DOUBLING DOWN ON GAS CAR CRACKDOWN Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, left, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, right, led 137 of their House and Senate colleagues in opposing President Biden's "de facto EV mandate" on Thursday. Feenstra added that stories of Americans stranded in the cold waiting for their EV to charge during the winter provided further evidence that mandating EVs nationwide is "ridiculous." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Overall, under the proposal, which EPA unveiled in April 2023, the White House projected that 67% of new sedan, crossover, SUV and light truck purchases would be electric by 2032. In addition, up to 50% of bus and garbage truck, 35% of short-haul freight tractor and 25% of long-haul freight tractor purchases could also be electric by then. The White House said at the time that the tailpipe emissions proposal, which represents the most aggressive proposal of its kind ever proposed, would "accelerate the clean vehicle transition" and reduce oil imports by 20 billion barrels. 17 RETIRED MILITARY OFFICIALS RAISE ALARM ON BIDEN'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH However, the proposal has faced widespread opposition from Republicans, as well as some Democrats and energy industry groups who say it will reduce consumer choice, lead to higher prices and benefit China, which dominates the EV battery supply chain. In December, the House voted 221-197, with five Democrats joining 216 Republicans, to pass a resolution nixing the EPA's proposal, but that bill has yet to receive a Senate vote. President Biden previously set a goal of ensuring 50% of car purchases are electric by 2030. The White House said EPA's proposed tailpipe rules would provide a "clear pathway for a continued rise in EV sales." "The reality is that most Americans still prefer the internal combustion engine vehicle, and EPAs proposed rule unnecessarily restricts consumer choice and forces expensive EVs onto Americans at a time when they can least afford it," Feenstra, Crapo and the other Republicans wrote in their letter on Thursday. "Major U.S. automakers have recently lowered their targets and pulled back planned investments in EVs due to low consumer demand and struggling EV units," they continued. "Further, automobile dealers across the country have said EVs continue to sit unpurchased on dealership lots, despite automakers accepting massive losses and unsustainable government incentives." Late last year, thousands of auto dealers nationwide, including dealers in all 50 states and who collectively sell every major car brand, called on Biden to rescind the EPA proposal. They warned that, while some consumers are happy with EVs, demand is not keeping pace with supply and their lots are filling up with unwanted EVs. VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS UPHOLD STATE'S EV MANDATE DESPITE GROWING OPPOSITION: 'DEFY COMMON SENSE' Further, the Republicans argued the Biden administration's proposal would make the U.S. more dependent on foreign supply chains, particularly those established in China. According to the International Energy Agency, China produces about 75% of all lithium-ion batteries and boasts 70% of production capacity for cathodes and 85% for anodes, two key parts of such batteries. Even factoring in generous federal and state subsidies, the average cost of an EV is about $52,500, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, while the average gas subcompact car costs $24,000. "Consequences of rules and regulations driven by the Biden Administrations radical green agenda drastically reduce consumer choice and the affordability of vehicles available to Americans," said Crapo. "Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products, not those primarily supplied by China." According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry group that represents several major automakers, 9.3% of total car purchases in the U.S. last year were electric or plug-in hybrid, up from 7% in 2022. That uptick was driven largely by purchases in California and urban areas where the majority of EV purchases are made. At the same time, EVs remain far more expensive than traditional gas-powered cars. Even factoring in generous federal and state subsidies, the average cost of an EV is about $52,500, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, while the average subcompact car costs $24,000. In addition to Crapo, 23 other members of the Senate signed the letter, including Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Ranking Member John Barrasso, R-Wyo. Additionally, 113 House members signed the letter, including GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Original article source: 130+ House, Senate Republicans join forces in opposition of Biden's upcoming EV mandate SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) San Angelo residents will be gearing up for high-flying fun on March 2-3, when the 18th Annual TINY RC Fly-In brings a swarm of remote-control planes to town. The event will be hosted at the Foster Communications Coliseum and promises two days packed with aerial excitement, thrilling stunts, and family-friendly activities, all free to the public, according to AJ Deardorff, media coordinator for TINY RC Fly-In, said. The planes will buzz about from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Spectators will get to see tiny electric planes piloted by experts perform stunts of all kinds, including balloon busting, aerial combat and flying in the dark. This years TINY RC Fly-in promises to be our biggest and best yet, Deardorff said. With pilots from all over Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas converging on San Angelo, its truly a cant-miss event for anyone interested in RC aviation. Saturdays festivities will also include a raffle drawing scheduled for 4 p.m. when attendees have the chance to win several prizes. The TINY RC Fly-in is a one-of-a-kind event thats perfect for the whole family, Deardorff said. Whether youre a seasoned RC enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, theres something here for everyone. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. In the highlands of northern Israel, archaeologists uncovered a small stone artifact of colossal importance. The object a 2,800-year-old seal provides a missing link in the evolution of a popular motif that appears in the Bible and Greek mythology, according to a study published in the journal of Near Eastern Archaeology. The spectacular artifact occupies a special place in this long and largely unknown history of myth transmission, Christoph Uehlinger, the study author and professor in comparative religion at the University of Zurich, wrote. Discovered during an archaeological dig in Tel Hazor in 2022, the seal depicts a dramatic battle sequence. A human figure wielding a spear can be seen locked in combat with a seven-headed serpent, Uehlinger said. A griffin, a scarab and a pair of monkeys can also be seen on the periphery of the scene. Measuring around 1.5 inches long, the seal was dated to around 800 to 750 B.C. It was likely crafted by either an Israelite or a Phoenician a people who occupied a nearby part of the Levant. The motif of a hero slaying a seven-headed serpent is far older than the artifact itself, first appearing around 2,500 B.C. in Mesopotamia. From there, the motif began to travel in the region, popping up in ancient texts from modern-day Syria, where it found its way into the Hebrew Bible. In Israel, the hero figure evolved into Yahweh the Hebrew name for the divine fighting a Leviathan, Uehlinger said. Centuries later, it appeared in the Christian Bible with the serpent beast fighting an angel in the book of Revelation. The same motif further cropped up Greek mythology in the form of Herakles (the Roman translation of Hercules) locked in combat with a Hydra, a many-headed serpent creature. The ubiquity of this image albeit with subtle variations has long puzzled researchers, who know little about its proliferation during the first and second millennia B.C. But the newfound seal from Hazor now provides a tangible link from Phoenicia to Israel, Uehlinger told McClatchy News in an email. It also lends credence to a hypothesis that the motif traveled from Ugarit in northern Syria through Phoenicia to Israel. Phoenician scribes/scholars probably preserved and transmitted the tradition they may had inherited from Ugarit (an ancient city in Syria) since the Late Bronze age, Uehlinger said. How exactly the motif spread west and became wrapped up in the popular mythology of Hercules remains unknown, Uehlinger said. Search for 600-year-old ruins leads to a much older and rarer surprise in Germany Ancient body found in Denmark bog belonged to foreigner who was sacrificed, study says Large-eyed mountain creature with bumpy body discovered as new species in China (BCN) Benicia police on Monday night arrested two men for having an unserialized ghost gun and burglary tools during a traffic stop. One of the suspects, a 35-year-old man, also had three felony warrants out of Solano County and was on probation. Police pulled the car over at 10:05 p.m. in the 2000 block of Columbus Parkway. SFPD seized 150 pounds of fentanyl, arrested over 760 suspected dealers in past 9 months The other suspect was a 27-year-old man who was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, owning a firearm without a serial number, disorderly conduct, narcotics violations and owning a firearm without serial number. The 35-year-old was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, owning a firearm without a serial number, possession of burglary tools, violating probation and having a warrant out for his arrest. Police said on social media, In 2023, our officers removed a record number of illegal firearms off the streets of Benicia. Being proactive in our policing is important as we continue to combat crime in our community into 2024. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two students were arrested after Clark County School District police found a gun at a Las Vegas valley high school campus. It happened on Wednesday at Ed W. Clark High School, according to a letter sent out to families by the principal. The letter stated that no threats were made to the campus. The weapon was turned over to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department ATF task force for testing. The students are expected to face gun-related charges, according to CCSD police. Police are also asking parents to safely store and lock up firearms, and, if stolen, report them as soon as possible. The incident marks the 39th gun CCSDPD seized this school year. During the 2022-2023 school year CCSDPD confiscated 49 guns. Students and parents can make reports through the SafeVoice reporting system by calling 1-833-216-SAFE (7233), through the website at safevoicenv.org, or through the free downloadable phone app. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Update: The fire has grown to 500 acres and was 40% contained as of 1 a.m. Thursday, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry. LEE COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) A wildfire in Lee County has burned at least one barn, according to Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons. The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) reports a 200-acre wildfire is burning off Hickory Hill Road near the Blackwater community as of Wednesday evening. According to the DOF, the wildfire was not contained as of 4:44 p.m. Missing Virginia Tech student was acting irregularly before disappearance, authorities say Parsons told News Channel 11 that crews were actively working to contain the fire Wednesday evening and that at least one barn had been burned. The Blackwater Volunteer Fire Department and Forestry Department crews were battling the fire Wednesday evening, Parson said. The DOF expects to have more information on the fire available by Thursday morning. The Lee County Sheriffs Office announced on social media Feb. 15 that a burning law was in effect through April 30. The order prohibits burning after 4 p.m. in the county if the fire is within 300 feet of woodland, brushland or a field containing dry grass or flammable material. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. When Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin announced in November he would not seek re-election, he effectively took West Virginia off the 2024 map of Senate battleground states and greatly diminished Democrats odds of keeping their majority in the chamber. With popular Republican incumbent Gov. Jim Justice vying to fill Manchins seat, its nearly impossible to imagine any Democratic Senate candidate other than Manchin winning a state that, if the 2020 election is any guide, Joe Biden will likely lose by nearly 40 points in November. With arguably no good pickup opportunities elsewhere this cycleand the current makeup of the Senate at 51-49the best Democrats can reasonably hope for come January 2025 is a 50-50 Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris returning to the role of tiebreaker. Yet the stakes are higher than they might seem. When Democrats last held a trifectacontrolling the House, Senate, and White House from 2021 to 2023Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona were there to prevent their fellow Democrats from spending an extra $4 trillion and keep them from effectively abolishing the legislative filibuster, the 60-vote hurdle that most legislation must overcome to make it through the upper chamber. Manchin and Sinema were the only two Democrats to vote against scrapping the 60-vote rule in January 2022, and Sinemas stand resulted in her being purged from the partyshe now is an independent who caucuses with Democrats and seems very unlikely to seek re-election. If Democrats take back the House and Biden wins re-election, a 50-50 Senate without Manchin, Sinema, and the legislative filibusterassuming Democrats push to abolish it againwould give Democrats much more power than they currently enjoy. Some items on the agenda could include sweeping legislation on federal elections and campaign finance; transgender rights and religious liberty; the abolition of the Hyde Amendment that prohibits taxpayer funding of elective abortions; a federal abortion law that goes beyond Roe; and legislation to add the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as states, potentially handing Democrats four extra Senate seats. Packing the Supreme Court would require many congressional Democratsand Biden himselfto change their stated positions, but the threat would certainly be more potent with a filibuster-free Senate. But the prospect of Democrats holding onto their majority is very much in doubt, as Democratic incumbents will have to fend off challenges in two red statesMontana and Ohiowhere Biden will likely lose by a wide margin in November. Democratic-held seats in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevadaall presidential battlegroundsare also up for grabs. And earlier this month, Larry Hogan, a popular former governor, put the Maryland Senate race in play for Republicans. As for Democratic pickup opportunities, their best shots are in red Florida and redder Texas. While a lot can change between now and Election Day, heres a look at the top Senate races to watch in 2024. Montana and Ohio Montana is the state most likely to flip from blue to red and give Republicans a 51st vote in the Senate, and thats why a whopping $120 million in TV advertising has already been reserved or spent in the race, according to Ad Impact. Biden lost the state by 16 points in 2020, so the big question is just how far Sen. Jon Tester, a three-term Democratic incumbent, can run ahead of the top of the ticket. Tester has defied the odds before: In 2012, he won his re-election campaign by 4 points while Mitt Romney defeated Barack Obama by 14 points in Montana. But more than a decade later, theres a lot less ticket-splitting in the state. In 2012, Democrat Steve Bullock narrowly won his first race for governor with 49 percent of the vote, while Barack Obama lost the state to Mitt Romney with 42 percent of the vote. When Bullock ran for Senate in 2020, however, he lost to Republican Sen. Steve Daines by 10 points, securing only 45 percent of the vote to Bidens 41 percent. A similar overperformance in 2024 wont be enough to save Tester. Tester got bad news last week when GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale announced he would bow out of the Senate race just days after joining it, thus sparing the Trump-endorsed former Navy SEAL and businessman Tim Sheehy a bruising primary. Its a really big deal, said Jessica Taylor, who closely follows Senate races for the Cook Political Report. The race contours would have looked very different if it was Rosendale vs. Tester instead of Sheehy vs. Tester. Rosendale had already run against Testerhe lost to him by 3.5 points in 2018and he was widely thought to be a weaker candidate than Sheehy. Thats why the National Republican Senatorial Committee endorsed Sheehy early in the race and why Senate Democrats main super PAC spent nearly $6 million trying to tear Sheehy down and boost Rosendale. A February poll by SurveyUSA showed Tester leading Sheehy 49 percent to 40 percent, but internal GOP polling shows a much closer race with Testers level of support in the low 40s. Ohio is probably the next best pickup opportunity for Republicans, as Trump carried the state by 8 points in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, therefore, has a steep hill to climbbut only about half as steep as the one facing Tester in Montana. Brown won re-election by about 7 points in the blue wave of 2018 at the same time as Republican Mike DeWine won the gubernatorial race by 4 points. A similar overperformance in 2024 would likely keep Brown in the Senate. With less than a month to go before the Ohio GOP Senate primary, businessman Bernie Moreno is the odds-on favorite to win the nomination over Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan. Moreno has the backing of both Trump and the Club for Growth. Polling from the summer and fall of 2023 showed Moreno faring worse than LaRose or Dolan against Brown, but an Emerson poll conducted in January showed Brown barely leading Moreno 39 percent to 37 percent. Presidential Battlegrounds and Maryland Although Montana and Ohio will likely determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate, Republicans have an opportunity to make gains in six more states, four of which Trump narrowly won in 2016 before narrowly losing in 2020: Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In Arizona, Sinemas lack of both fundraising and effort to gather the necessary signatures to run for re-election indicates shes heading for retirement. That would set up a race between MAGA darling Kari Lake and progressive darling Rep. Ruben Gallego, a 44-year-old Marine Corps veteran who has served in Congress since 2015. Lake, a former TV news anchor, lost the 2022 gubernatorial race in the state by less than a point after going all-in on Trumps stop the steal conspiracies and telling John McCain voters to get the hell out of a campaign event. She tried this week to walk those comments back and call for GOP unity, but was loudly rebuffed by McCains daughter Meghan. With progressive Gallego instead of maverick Sinema as the Democratic nominee, its hard to see either Senate candidate overperforming or underperforming the top of the ticket by much. Trump lost Arizona to Biden by 0.3 points in 2020, four years after he won the state by 3.5 points. In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin has all but wrapped up the primary but is facing a tough general election race as she seeks to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a fellow Democrat. Trump lost the state to Biden by 3 points in 2020, but the latest Detroit Free Press poll conducted by EPIC-MRA showed Biden trailing Trump there by 4 points41 percent to 45 percent. The same survey found Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official, leading former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers 39 percent to 38 percent. The August GOP primary is shaping up to be a competitive race between Rogers and businessman Sandy Pensler. Former GOP congressman Peter Meijer is also seeking the nomination after losing his House seat in 2022 in a primary race. In Wisconsin, Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin will likely face off against Republican Eric Hovde, an investor who announced his campaign on Tuesday. In a state that Trump lost by less than a point in 2020 and won by less than a point in 2016, Baldwin likely wouldnt need to run that far ahead of Biden (if at all) in 2024 to secure a third term. She has proven to be a strong candidate in the pastshe won re-election by 11 points in 2018but a recent Marquette University Law School poll showed her net favorability rating at -3 percent in the state. Though it remains to be seen if Hovde, who lost a 2012 primary race against former governor Tommy Thompson, will draw a serious primary challenger, national Republicans hope his ability to spend $20 million of his own money on the race will clear the field. In Pennsylvania, Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey Jr. will face off against Dave McCormick, the hedge-fund investor, George W. Bush administration alum, and Army veteran who narrowly lost his bid for the 2022 GOP Senate nomination to the Trump-backed celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. Casey, the son of the states former governor, has a strong political pedigree and won his last campaign for re-election in 2018 by 13 points. Pennsylvania is another state Trump won by about a point in 2016 and lost by a point in 2020. McCormicks campaign and super PAC are sure to be well-funded, but his electoral hopes are closely tied to the top of the ticket. Polling in the presidential race has been all over the map: Emerson recently showed Trump leading by 5 points, while Franklin & Marshall found Biden leading by 5 points. In Nevada, Democratic incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen will likely face off against Sam Brown, a retired Army captain and Purple Heart recipient who was wounded and disfigured while serving in Afghanistan. While Brown faces a primary, Taylorthe Cook Political Report analystsaid hes the clear favorite. Polls have shown surprising strength for Republicans in Nevada: Trump currently leads Biden by 7 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average. Democrats in Nevada have outperformed their poll numbers many times in the past, but not often by that wide of a margin. Its difficult to see Rosen, who has done little to distinguish herself during her first term, running far ahead of Biden in November. In Maryland, Larry Hogan turned heads when he unexpectedly announced a Senate campaign earlier this month for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. The popular former governorand son of a three-term congressman from the statescored his first upset in deep blue Maryland in 2014 and won re-election by 12 points in 2018, but hes signed up for a very daunting task in 2024. Given how the 2020 election played out in the state, he will likely need to run more than 30 points ahead of Trump to have a chance of winningwhich might explain why he launched his campaign by saying he will stand up to both parties. Democratic Rep. David Trone and Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are facing off in the Democratic primary, and a February Emerson poll showed Hogan tied with Trone42 percent apiecebut leading Alsobrooks 44 percent to 37 percent. Before he decided to jump in the race, Hogans longtime pollster Ragnar Research Partners found Hogan leading both Trone and Alsobrooks by double digits. Florida and Texas The only Republican Senate seats that might end up in play this year are those held by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. In Florida, Scott seems likely to face former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who was encouraged to run by Chuck Schumer. Trump only won Florida by 3.3 points in 2020, but the state has trended redder in the years since, with Gov. Ron DeSantis winning re-election in 2022 by nearly 20 points. There hasnt been any independent public polling of the race, but it would take a significant lurch to the left for Democrats to oust Scott in 2024. In Texas, Cruz narrowly won re-election in the 2018 blue wave, beating then-Rep. Beto ORourke by 2.6 points, but Trump defeated Biden in the state by a healthier 5.6 points in 2020, when Republican Sen. John Cornyn won re-election by nearly 10 points. Cruz has drawn a Democratic challenger with an appealing biographyformer Tennessee Titan and current U.S. Rep. Colin Allredbut its difficult to see Trump losing Texas or Cruz running far behind his partys standard bearer. A February YouGov poll found both Democrats seeking the nominationAllred and Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierreztrailing Cruz by 14 points. Any of these races could become more or less competitive as November approaches, but with eight months to go, anything from a narrowbut much more powerfulDemocratic Senate majority to a sizable Republican majority is possible. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Donald Trump and Nikki Haley have thrown insults at each other over the last few weeks as the South Carolina Republican primary inches closer. Birdbrain, incompetent, unhinged, and many more terms were used. Yet, they never got on stage together to debate policy, or strengths and weaknesses as candidates. Do South Carolina voters care? Those who attended the Haley town hall this week said there should have been a debate. But those at the Trump town hall in Greenville on Tuesday were indifferent. Leah Veldhoven attended the Fox News town hall Sunday in downtown Columbia where Nikki Haley answered questions, Veldhoven wished she had gotten a chance to see the two debate because it would have pulled Haley into the light more than she has been, she said. Even though shes all over the news quite a bit, I still feel like theres lots of people that dont know what shes all about, and what she truly wants to do for the country, Veldhoven said. Amery Davis, who also attended the Haley town hall, said Trump needed to debate Haley, and he needed to do it now. He could say what he wants to say, hes not able, he cant keep up with her. He couldnt keep up with her when she was an ambassador. She would always try and clean up his mess. In late January at a rally in South Carolina, Haley referenced Trump saying he would score higher than her on a mental competency test. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldnt. But what I said was OK, if thats the case, then get on a debate stage and lets go. Bring it Donald, show me what you got, she told the crowd. Jackson Gosnell, a USC student studying broadcast journalism, said he thought a debate allows voters a better opportunity of who to choose. A lot of people could argue that its not going to change anyones mind. But maybe it would. I mean, we havent seen it yet. We see a town hall with each of them, but not going head-to-head, and I think thatd be pretty important. In 2020, the incumbent Trump stated he would not debate any primary challenger. His competitors debated each other without him. In 2016, 12 debates and nine forums were held for candidates of the Republican party. At a March 3 debate, Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Marco Rubio went in on each other, but mostly on Trump. From his stance on immigration to Trump university, the debate became heated at times when candidates went after Trump on what they felt were changing opinions. The first GOP debate of 2016 on Aug. 6, 2015. CNN reported that while the nine other contenders made noticeable blunders, Trump stole the show. Trump was called out for his language towards women, his flipping stance on abortion and even immigration policies. But he continued to answer with ease, CNN stated. When asked specifically about his flip on his abortion stance, he said Ive evolved. Gosnell said more people may be more likely to watch debates compared to town halls, and that a debate could reach a wider audience. Theres the argument that hes so ahead, why would he even debate? But I do think a debate might be important. Maybe there is some missed opportunity with both of them not on a debate stage together. Noah Lindler, a second year USC student and VP of College Republicans, also attended the Sunday Haley town hall, and said the College Republicans campus group discussed whether Trump should have joined a debate with Haley. Lindler said he understood why Trump didnt debate Haley. There was really no need just based on polling numbers and where he stands, however, from a kind of a moral point of view he should have in order to allow voters to have the chance to hear what he says and how hes able to argue his positions compared to other other candidates, he said. Cammie Teems, from Manning, attended the Trump town hall, and said she felt it was helpful for voters, but she did like how debates offered different aspects than a town hall would. I think the things that I do like about debate is how the people respond and interact in person. Yvonne Julian, county chair for the Greenville Republican party, said personally no, but she did wish it had happened for people who are undecided. Some of the answers to questions shes given, you know, for me would not have had any benefit for him to debate her because my mind was already made up, Julian said. During his town hall, Trump mentioned debating other Republican candidates. Host Laura Ingraham asked if he would wish to challenge Joe Biden in a debate. Trump said he would right now, because there was an obligation in that case. He said he would do as many debates as necessary, against Biden. However, he felt differently on debating Republicans. When it came to the Republicans and I was up by 40, 50, 60 points, like being up with her [Haley]. I think a poll just came out Im at 91 and shes at 7 ... you want to be smart, you dont have to waste your time, Trump said. James Edward, a lift operator from Virginia, who drove down for the Trump event, said he did wished he saw Trump debate Haley. I feel like if youre gonna compete against somebody then you should debate, Edwards said. There should be a swapping of the minds, so to speak. Lelis Welch, from Oklahoma, but was visiting Greenville on vacation and attended the event, said she didnt necessarily care for Haley to debate Trump. At one point, she wasnt anti-Nikki, but now she is, she added. Ive heard her say so many negative things. One thing she said he wants me to drop out, I do not do what Donald Trump says, I didnt even do that when I worked for him, I thought what? You worked for the President and you didnt follow his instructions? So no, no. I dont even like to hear her speak to tell you the truth. A 21-year-old woman died after she climbed halfway out the rear window of an Uber ride in western New York, police said. She was the Uber drivers only passenger when she climbed out of the moving car to the point where her upper torso was outside the vehicle the evening of Feb. 8 in Cheektowaga, according to the Cheektowaga Police Department. Then, she fell onto the Kensington Expressway and was struck by another vehicle, police said in a Feb. 22 news release. The Uber driver and the driver of the vehicle that struck her immediately called 911 in separate phone calls, Capt. Jeffrey Schmidt told McClatchy News on Feb. 22. When police arrived, the woman was pronounced dead, they said Its unknown how the woman fell from the Uber or why she climbed out of the window, according to Schmidt, who said these unclear circumstances are extraordinarily frustrating. We have this tragic loss of life and we can only evaluate the evidence that is thereUnfortunately were just unable to put together an actual picture of the motive of what caused her to lift herself out of that window or why she fell, he said. Following an investigation involving an examination of physical evidence and multiple witness interviews, police are now considering her death an accident, according to the release. Evidence does not support any criminal charges at this time, police said. There is zero indication that the woman was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when she climbed out the window, according to Schmidt. There is zero indication that this was any type of a suicide. We have no evidence that points that way, he added. The investigation will most likely be concluded at this point, he said. Our hearts go out to this young womans family during this incredibly tragic time. Were continuing to look into this, and are standing by to assist police in their investigation, an Uber spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement on Feb. 22. The womans name hasnt been released out of respect for her family, according to Schmidt, who said the family is extraordinarily shaken up. We recognize what a horrible loss of life this is, he said, adding that the woman was far too young to be taken from this world. Its horrible that were not able to provide anybody with any more type of closure, he said. Cheektowaga is about 10 miles northeast of Buffalo. Deputy transporting inmate is killed in crash with big rig, Texas officials say Boat flips as cousins fish on freezing pond, Georgia officials say. One body found College student froze to death near club that denied him entry, Illinois officials say Womans Apple Watch led to discovery of her body in lake, cops say. Man now arrested Prosecutors this week revealed that DNA evidence implicates Karen Read in the death of Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, in Canton, MA. 25 Investigates has also learned the U.S. Attorneys office for Massachusetts has turned over findings from a federal probe that involves witnesses and law enforcement in the murder trial of Read. Read is accused of backing over her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, in Canton, MA, and leaving him to die in a January 2022 blizzard. She was charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision in connection with OKeefes death. On Wednesday, a new filing from the prosecution offered additional details. It says OKeefes DNA has been found on Reads broken taillight and that testing found that tiny pieces of taillight discovered in his clothing are consistent with broken pieces from Reads taillight. The filing reads: Through trace analysis and forensic testing, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory discovered the victims DNA present on the broken taillight and microscopic pieces of red and clear apparent plastic located in the victims clothing. Comparison testing was conducted, and the results demonstrate that the microscopic pieces of red and clear plastic are consistent with the broken pieces of plastic from the defendants right rear taillight. Reads lawyers declined comment Thursday. Reads lawyers claim she is being framed in a massive cover-up, and that feds have been investigating the probe into OKeefes death. Its unclear exactly who the feds are investigating or why. In a series of 2023 letters between the Norfolk DAs office and federal authorities released last month, Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey asked for the federal investigation to be moved out of Massachusetts. In a massive 301-page Feb.15 filing, prosecutors said they soon expected to receive documents from federal authorities. Prosecutors said that on Jan.16, an Assistant U.S. Attorney contacted prosecutors and Reads defense team to discuss the possibility of disclosing information in the possession of the Department of Justice pursuant to federal regulations. The filing also says that in a later Feb. 9 call, the U.S. Attorneys office indicated it may release information to counsel for both parties subject to a stringent protective order but offered no definitive answers or clear guidance on what materials exist nor what will be produced pursuant to federal regulations. A source says that the Norfolk District Attorneys office and Reads attorneys now know what the feds have but they are prohibited from sharing those documents with the public. The Feb. 15 filing calls Reads claims of a cover-up misleading and disingenuous and prosecutors say they have found no evidence of such a conspiracy. Prosecutors said they question the basis of any probe into the investigation of OKeefes death. It appears the defendant is the sole source of information for the federal investigation surrounding this case as the US Attorneys Office never requested a police report, photograph, sworn grand jury testimony, witness list, third-party record, or piece of evidence from the Norfolk District Attorneys Office or investigators from the Massachusetts State Police, reads the filing. The filing talks about a private investigator named Stephen Scanlon. The defense says he was the first to come forward with allegations John OKeefe was beaten to death and not struck by reads SUV. But according to the prosecutions filing and state police, Scanlon had no insider information Scanlon said he only shared a theory based on his opinion and the media reports. And he said he had no personal knowledge of what happened. The DAs office also says theyve definitively confirmed through two experts that a witness hos [sic] long to die in cold Google search occurred following the discovery of OKeefes body and not hours earlier like the defense claims. And the DAs office accuses Read and her attorneys of conspiring with the blogger known as Turtleboy to make personal attacks on witnesses and their family members. The defense team has alleged that after Read dropped OKeefe off at a party at a Canton home OKeefe was left for dead outside after party guests beat him inside, and a dog bit him. Prosecutors say OKeefe never entered the home, and that medical examiners have found lacerations found on his arms are not animal bites. Prosecutors in the Feb. 15 filing also said there was no canine DNA found in swabs taken from OKeefes clothing. The filing cites: ... evidence to a veterinary forensic laboratory that concluded there was no canine DNA associated with the swabs taken from the victims clothing in the areas of the victims injuries Read is scheduled to be back in court Monday as both sides look to delay her March trial date. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Four walls. Two beds. One small refrigerator. Jessica Hermenegildo, a mother of a 10-year-old girl, said she is paying night-by-night for a hotel room in central Massachusetts. I try to make things as normal as I possibly can, she said. Hermenegildo said she has been homeless for three months now after she fell behind on rent and was evicted. I just wish that I didnt have to struggle, she said, choking up as she spoke. You know, I wish she didnt have to experience that or see that. She is among a growing number of local Massachusetts residents facing evictions and homelessness post-pandemic who have found a safety net stretched so thin that it has left hundreds - if not thousands of families with no place to go. Currently, about 51% of families upwards of 3,800 families in the emergency shelter system are local Massachusetts residents. That is according to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which provided data to 25 Investigates. Democratic Gov. Maura Healeys administration says 391 families were on a waitlist for emergency shelter as of Dec. 28. As of Feb. 20, that waitlist has grown to 729 families. About 54% of families on the waitlist are new arrivals to Massachusetts. For many of the families that are on the waiting list right now, theyve been on the waiting list for weeks or months, Kelly Turley, associate director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, said. Massachusetts prohibitive cost of housing, limited affordable housing options, spike in evictions following the expiration of pandemic protections and surge in newly arriving migrant families, has led to an overwhelmed emergency shelter system and a $1 billion-and-counting price-tag for taxpayers. And its left adrift people like Hermenegildo who are told theres no room in shelters. I dont know what Im going to do tomorrow, Hermenegildo said. Im at the end of my resources. I dont have anything else left. GROWING WAITLIST For decades, Massachusetts right-to-shelter law has provided emergency shelter to thousands of families who have found themselves without a home and facing risks to their personal health and safety. 25 Investigates obtained state data showing the emergency assistance caseload nearly doubled from 3,618 families in December 2022 to 7,543 in December 2023. That included about 3,650 families staying in traditional shelters and 3,832 families staying at hotels at year end 2023. Families are staying an average of 15 months in emergency shelter. The numbers of families in emergency shelter began steadily rising by summer 2021 before the rise in migrant arrivals to Massachusetts from states including Texas and Florida. Still, the number of new arrivals last year, along with the rising demand for emergency housing among local families, led Gov. Healey to declare a state of emergency in August. Changes in federal immigration policy have helped fuel the rise in migrants: including the May 2023 end of a COVID-19 rule that turned many immigrants away at the border. The number of people granted asylum in Boston rose to 1,676 in fiscal year 2023, up from 1,156 in 2022 according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Denials also rose to 2,018 in 2023, up from 888 in 2022. Massachusetts saw 1,248 refugees arriving from October 2022 through September 2023 up from 512 the previous year, according to the Refugee Processing Center. For the first time ever, Massachusetts instituted a cap of 7,500 families roughly 24,000 individuals in emergency shelter in October. The shelter system reached a capacity limit due to not having enough shelter space, service providers, or funding to safely expand beyond 7,500 families, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities spokesperson Kevin Connor said. At the time, about half of the individuals in emergency shelter were children. Gov. Healey said the administration was seeing a drop in new arrivals seeking emergency shelter. But the state estimated that the EA system would need to accommodate over 10,000 families by spring 2024 if the administration did not institute a capacity limit, according to Connor. Turley said that the 7,500-family cap is arbitrary and does not accurately reflect how much emergency shelter the state could provide for families. Right now, the state isnt providing necessary benefits to many families, regardless of whether theyve been in Massachusetts for a long time or are new residents in the Commonwealth, Turley said. Civil rights groups unsuccessfully sued to fight the cap, and said that the state was leaving thousands of families without emergency shelter. A judge ultimately ruled against them. Turley said she wants to see Massachusetts launch a more comprehensive plan and set aside more funding to keep people out of emergency shelter in the first place. Where were seeing now is that as the state looks for additional overflow spaces, that spaces are becoming available, Turley said. Over this winter, the state has opened emergency shelters in a recreation center in Roxbury, a former courthouse in East Cambridge as well at sites in Revere and Quincy. Of the 729 families on the waitlist, 348 families are staying at overflow emergency shelter sites. Weve seen the state, when push comes to shove, be able to bring more hotel units online or convert community centers and alternative spaces into shelters, she said. And while those spaces may not be ideal, its also better than what we were seeing many families on the floor at Logan Airport or in hospital emergency rooms or in places like South Station. CONFUSION OVER ELIGIBILITY, PAPERWORK, PRIORITIES Massachusetts residents can apply for emergency shelter if they are at or below 115% of the federal poverty guidelines, pregnant or have children under 21. For years, Massachusetts has limited the program to residents who need shelter because of no-fault eviction, domestic violence, disaster, condemnation, foreclosure or if children are exposed to a substantial health and safety risk. Examples of such risks can include staying in a place not meant for human habitation, like a car or emergency room. Migrant families do not get a preference over local families on the waitlist, according to the Healey administration. Families with certain clinical, medical or safety risks can however be moved up on the list. But Turley said that families often have no idea where they stand, or whether they qualify for a priority. Were seeing that its pretty opaque, that families dont know what kind of priority status they have, that they may know theyre on the waiting list, but they dont know what priority they have and how long theyll be there, Turley said. She added: We are asking state officials to make that clearer, to make sure our families know that theyve been approved for shelter, but they cant be placed right away with their priority status. Jessica Hermenegildo said shes struggling to find help through Massachusetts emergency shelter system and says shes missing paperwork as she tries to find help through other programs like HomeBASE, which currently can provide up to $30,000 in housing assistance over a two-year period. Why are we being told we dont, theres no resources? she said. You dont qualify for emergency shelter. Why cant we get the help that we need here? she said. Hermenegildo said when she has called asking about emergency shelters, shes been told that shelters are full and provided with lists of shelters for mothers and children. A lot of places its first come, first serve, or the numbers that theyre providing us dont exist anymore, she said. Turley, of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, said families in crisis are struggling to understand what kinds of documents they must provide for housing aid. More families seeking emergency shelter means more struggling to sift through paperwork. And she said besides families who are on the waitlist she is worried about the number of residents who may feel discouraged to apply or lack the paperwork needed. There are many other families who are still applying for shelter or are ineligible because of the really intricate eligibility requirements that are set out, Turley said. When families are actively, you know, been evicted or theyre, theyre fleeing violence, they may not have all those documents with them, she said. Turley said families are struggling to keep their information up to date, to ensure they are available to get the call when shelter spaces become available and where they should go while they are on the waitlist. And she said other families are too discouraged to apply for the waitlist meaning its hard to know how many families are in the lurch. What were seeing starting to see hundreds, if not thousands of families that are in that process looking for shelter, she said. Theyre hearing that theres a waiting list. Theyre discouraged from even completing an application, and they dont necessarily have a safe place to go. Jessica Hermenegildo said as she applies for HomeBase, shes having trouble arranging transportation to get an official copy of a document she said shes already submitted to another state agency. They make it almost impossible to have things happen, she said. Its kind of like they want you to kind of give up or. Turley said thats an example of a hurdle the state should tackle, while addressing any privacy concerns. Certainly there needs to be other ways instead of requiring families often in their most challenging experience of their lives, the most traumatic time of their lives, to be able to run around and gather the paperwork, she said. CHURCHES FILLING IN GAPS For some newcomers, churches are filling in the gaps. 31-year-old Olanda Fontin said she, her husband and 2-year-old daughter left Haiti fleeing political violence and instability. Fontin, who spoke to 25 Investigates in her native French, said she wants to support her family by working toward a career as a doctor. My goal is to continue my pursuit of medicine because I want to be able to save lives, she said through a translator. Ive always wanted to be a doctor, she said. Thats been my dream since I was a child. And thats the reason why my family put together all the funds and the means that they had so that they could send me out of the country. Fontin spoke of the violence that has erupted in Haiti since the July 2021 assassination of the countrys president. In Haiti, theres such an epidemic of kidnapping, she said. When they dont find the amount of money that theyre asking for, they kill the person. Bethel AME church in Jamaica Plain is now helping her family seek housing and work authorization. Theres a lot of risks, a lot of people being killed and a lot of other things happening, but they come here to be able to find a better life, Marc Germain, project manager of Bethel AME Church, said. The church, through a partnership with Immigrant Family Services Institute, is providing help with everything from filling out forms, to English and computer and technology classes. IFSEs been able to help them with the range of social services and filling out documentation so that they can stay in the country legally, work in the country legally, Germain said. He said more churches should consider running programs like Bethel AMEs as the nation awaits federal funding and immigration relief. One of the critical needs that is happening now that we tell people about is that a lot of shelters are at capacity, Germain said. Olanda said temporary housing has proven most invaluable. Imagine me and my husband and my two-year-old daughter being outside, where I know other migrants are, she said. Germain said he has at times faced people who ask why we should help migrant families when other families are suffering too. Germain said waves of new arrivals have long faced challenges when coming to the U.S. But he calls on people to view migrant families as a source of innovation and growth at a time when the state faces workforce and demographic challenges. Those folks have often felt initial resistance and then theyre integrated into the community at large, Germain said. And so, what I tell people when they say, Why? We say, Why not? HEALEYS PLAN TO PAY RISING BILL The estimated cost to the state for the overburdened emergency shelter system? Over $1 billion. And counting. And, so far, no additional money from the federal government is on the way to help. Massachusetts has so far spent $360 million on emergency housing assistance for the fiscal year ending in mid-2024. The state projects $915 million in spending for the fiscal year ending in mid-2025. A memo to lawmaker says the state is coming up short $224 million for the fiscal year 2024 and faces a $590 million budget gap in fiscal year 2025. Gov. Healeys budget includes another $325 million for emergency assistance for family shelters level with the 2024 fiscal year. Healey plans to use one-time pandemic relief funds to cover the $224 million deficiency, and then half of the $915 million expected costs. Still, the governor said she is looking to rein in spending and take a close look at the shelter system. Our shelter system cant expand indefinitely, Healey said in October. The state spent $180 million on emergency assistance in fiscal year 2021, in comparison. In her budget presentation in late January, Healey discussed potential changes to the right-to-shelter law but she did not go into detail. Its an evolving situation, she said. Revenues are evolving. Were making certain reforms to the EA system as well because thats a system thats been in place for a while. And you know our job as long as were here is to make sure that were doing things in a smart way. The governor declined to go into specifics about potential changes to the right-to-shelter law when asked by a reporter. I dont want to overstate reforms right now are where we are in terms of analysis, Healey said. But you know it is something that weve got to address, right. This is a challenge, and we want to make sure that were supporting our families and doing the best we can in terms of having a system that works for all. Healeys budget does include a study to launch a rate-setting process for emergency shelter providers to ensure pay parity between shelter workers and other social service workers. The governor stressed that addressing wide-ranging aspects of the housing crisis is a top priority for her administration. The Healey administration is pushing several housing investments in the latest budget proposal, including: $219 million for the Massachusetts rental voucher program: a 22% increase that the administration said would support over 10,000 voucher holders. $112 million for subsidies for local housing authorities $197.4 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition a $7.4 million increase. The funding would provide a maximum benefit of $7,000 over 12 months to help prevent evictions. $57.3 million a 55% increase to raise the Homebase benefit from $20,000 to $45,000 to provide 36 months up from 24 months in rental assistance. And, the governor wants lawmakers to back her $4 billion housing bond bill aimed at helping create new affordable housing units. Meanwhile, Turley said shes concerned about what kind of reforms to the right-to-shelter law that lawmakers could make this year. For families in shelter, there is a dark cloud hanging over them in some ways, because theres talk about time limiting access to shelter, she said. Turley said Massachusetts has not imposed a strict limit on how long a family can stay in emergency shelter. To kick them out before they found long term housing, or able to even find temporary housing outside of the system, we think would be cruel and would really setback the any progress that families have made, Turley said. Families that would most negatively be impacted by an arbitrary time limit are our families that are dealing with disabilities, families that are newly arrived immigrants, families that have other challenges, families of color, Black and Latinx families that are disproportionately represented in the system, who may be facing additional challenges to securing long term housing, Turley said. She said the state still has work to do to meet the need for rising demand for emergency shelter. She said the states investment in housing still is not enough as pandemic relief has dried up. We were able to help thousands of families stay in place to be able to pay for back rent, to pay for back utility bills, pay startup costs for an apartment, and that extended to households of all configurations, she said. And since those protections have expired, since those funds have dried up, were seeing more and more families and individuals in housing court and have executions of their evictions. If we can go back to doing what we know works and making those investments and having the political will to do that, I think we can move forward, she said. Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England, said the state should be applauded for what were doing to house people and keep them safe. They are resilient folks whove come to Massachusetts, he said. They started off in Haiti, many of them went to Latin America. Theyve worked their way up the continent, crossed the Southern border, found their way to Massachusetts and are sleeping in Logan Airport. Theyre strong-willed folks. Thielmans organization, which provides legal services and case management, called on the federal government to expedite process of hearings for asylum cases and make federal funds available for English classes. He said his organization helps migrants without children who are not eligible for emergency shelters, and whose services are often limited to cash assistance from the federal government. If a reasonable amount of money were available, these folks in hotels could be taking English classes and better prepared to enter the workforce, Thielman said. That could be happening right now. That make a lot of sense that make it easier for people to come to Massachusetts where we have a worker shortage and where weve lost population, he said. GROWING WORK AUTHORIZATIONS Healey has also claimed that no other state has pushed to secure work authorizations for new arrivals. In a February report to lawmakers, her administration said that 2,713 migrants, refugees or asylum seekers in emergency shelter now have work authorizations. The administration told 25 Investigates that 1,005 families have exited the emergency shelter system since Sept. 1. That includes 660 families who have exited since Nov. 1 alone. Healeys administration has launched job skills training programs aimed at helping over 1,500 families find jobs. DEBATE OVER FUNDING The governor is proposing using one-time, left-over pandemic funds to help cover the cost of the rise in emergency shelter housing. That has sparked a conversation among some lawmakers, including Rep. Russell Holmes. It really has brought about the question around who gets housing, Holmes said in a recent budget hearing. Holmes said it is time to look at what Massachusetts is providing to *all* vulnerable communities. My biggest concern is that weve been, for 14 years, telling folks in my district that we dont have enough money, he said. Holmes said it is tough for lawmakers to explain how the state can provide additional overflow sites for the emergency shelter system at a time when other public housing costs have fallen by the wayside. Screen doors and not fixing simple things, like painting is not done, Holmes said. And so, I got a phone call from members of Franklin Field saying: why am I still seeing a crack in my door? We as a Commonwealth have to come up with an answer that is satisfactory for our communities, he said. Holmes said he asked administration officials about whether the state will provide funds for existing public housing repair costs, too. The budget team said its something they want to look at, Holmes said. And, of course, thats not a satisfactory answer to me. Meanwhile, people in crisis now remain lost in a complicated web that they thought would be their safety net. You have to stay positive, central Massachusetts mother Jessica Hermenegildo said. You have to think positive. As long as I have, we have each other, thats all right, she said, wiping away tears. And I just wish things werent so hard. And I wish that. 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 A prominent Charlotte lawyer and owner of the seventh most expensive home in Mecklenburg County avoided a license suspension during his eighth time being disciplined by the State Bar. According to court documents, Michael A. DeMayo was last year accused of sharing false drama about a former colleague that included a divorce, a custody battle, an ex-wifes new boyfriend with a client who intended to follow the lawyer after he left DeMayos firm. When the Bars Disciplinary Hearing Commission sanctioned DeMayo with a one-year suspension of his law license in January 2023, DeMayo appealed the complaint. On Tuesday, A North Carolina appeals court, in a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel, dropped the case. While the evidence showed that DeMayos statements were incorrect, it did not establish (DeMayo) knew these statements were incorrect, they decided. While I respect the process under which the North Carolina State Bar and DHC regulate attorneys, I strongly disagree with these findings, DeMayo previously told The Charlotte Observer. I did not violate any of the Rules of Professional Conduct. First, Michael DeMayos law firm overpaid her by $5K, then it threatened her with arrest DeMayos 8th discipline under State Bar In May 2020, Ryan Valente resigned from Demayo Law Offices. Two days later, one of his clients requested the office transfer her file to Valente, according to court documents. He would remain her lawyer, she said. DeMayo asked to talk. I must discuss a few items related and unrelated to your inquiries and will potentially have a negative impact on the outcome of your case, he wrote in an email, according to court documents. ...Understand that I have no desire to sway or impact who ultimately represents you... but I do have an ethical and professional obligation to communicate a few items about your case. She agreed to meet, and, according to a recording, DeMayo veered into Valentes personal life: Im not really sure what happened with him. I dont want to get into his personal life, but there was a divorce, he said, according to a video of the WebEx meeting. There was a custody. There was a remarriage. There was a ex-wife dating one of the defense lawyers we go against all the time. So Im sure all of that had some impact on his productivity, but notwithstanding, Im not insensitive to my staff. When the clients case was settled with Valente as her lawyer DeMayo requested 85% of the attorney fees, which totaled $196,313.68. This was based on Valentes contract with the firm, according to court documents. Valente told DeMayo he would invoke the doctrine of unclean hands if he pursued the fees, according to court documents. DeMayo violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, he said. As to mentioning your personal circumstances to this or any client, you are sadly mistaken, DeMayo wrote back. I personally was not aware of the severity and complexity of your personal struggles but they would have never been fodder or a topic of discussion with anyone much less a client. The doctrine of unclean hands bars relief when the party seeking relief or help of the court is guilty of misconduct or unethical actions, according to Bloomberg Law. The bars order to suspend DeMayos license for a year which was later modified to place him on probation for two years was put on hold pending the outcome of DeMayos appeal. The order marked the legal-watchdog groups eighth public discipline of DeMayo since 1999. Others addressed misleading advertisements, improper direct mail solicitations and attempted recruitment of clients using intimidation, coercion or threats. The next most recent case occurred in 2019, when DeMayo was censured after threatening to have a client arrested if she did not immediately refund a $4,900 overpayment she had received from DeMayos firm, according to the court filing. State Bar again cites prominent Charlotte attorney Michael DeMayo for improper conduct NC attorney complaints Individuals can report concerns usually by filing grievances about any attorney through the State Bar. Once filed, a Bar attorney investigates it. Most concerns are dismissed, The News & Observer recently reported, because they dont identify a particular rule that was broken or because the accused attorney disproves the claims. However, State Bar statistics show that complaints against attorneys have increased in recent years while discipline has declined. The News & Observer reported that complaints, or grievances, in a growing North Carolina jumped to a nine-year high from 1,222 in 2014 to 1,504 in 2023. In 2014, 33 grievances were resolved with private discipline and 28 were resolved with public discipline. The disciplinary hearing commission resolved 34 cases with discipline. In 2023, those numbers dropped. Eighteen grievances were resolved with private disciplines, and 20 were resolved with public written disciplines. The disciplinary hearing commission resolved 14 cases with discipline. The State Bar Review Committee, which was established through language in the Republican-crafted state budget, last month suggested lawyers needed to be protected from disciplinary complaints. At the most recent meeting, on Feb. 9, defense lawyers gave committee members recommendations that included the N.C. State Bar creating a system to expunge some public disciplinary actions against attorneys from the public record. They also asked that less information be shared with people who file complaints about lawyers. Will state panel recommend more or less transparency for NC attorney complaints? Reality Check is a Sun Herald series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email mynews@sunherald.com. The Mississippi Coast area has 27 nursing homes within a 50-mile radius. One major source you can use to weed out the worst facilities from the best is Medicare. Government officials routinely inspect local nursing homes, whether its to investigate a complaint or confirm the facility complies with U.S. standards. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services evaluates Mississippi nursing homes and rates each based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures like the number of residents in pain or up to date on flu shots. Heres a breakdown of the rating criteria: Health inspections such as compliance with medicare and medicaid regulations, internal and external complaints, infection control and prevention standards. The staffing levels, staff turnover, hours worked and hours spent with residents each day. Quality measures such as flu shots or other vaccinations per care-term, surgery recovery rates and overall performance of nursing home. Health inspections such as compliance with medicare and medicaid regulations, internal and external complaints, infection control and prevention standards. The staffing levels, staff turnover, hours worked and hours spent with residents each day. Quality measures such as flu shots or other vaccinations per care-term, surgery recovery rates and overall performance of nursing home. You can search the database by location or search for specific facilities by name. In addition to viewing the most recent inspections and nursing home rankings, Medicare identifies every nursing home cited for abuse. Of the 27 local nursing homes evaluated, four were cited for abuse. Abuse is defined as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain or mental anguish, according to Medicare. Here are four nursing home facilities within 50 miles of Gulfport, Mississippi, that were cited for abuse. 6520 Sunscope Drive, Ocean Springs Overall rating: Much below average, 1 star out of 5 Federal fines in the last three years: 1 for $140,595 on Aug. 17, 2023 Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: 0 Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: 16 on June 30, 2022, including failing to keep accurate medical records for a patient. Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: six, including a citation on Sept. 28, 2023 for leaving a resident unattended in a transport van for 16 hours and 15 minutes, which resulted in patient missing medication, meals, water and general care. Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: two 1199 Ocean Springs Road, Ocean Springs Overall rating: Much below average, 1 star out of 5 Federal fines in the last three years: two, $15,269 on July 26, 2023 and $9,354 on June 10, 2021. Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: 0 Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: 11 on April 29, 2022, including failing to honor residents rights to a dignified existence by exposing her during incontinent/catheter care. Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: three, including when a licensed practical nurse erroneously notified the family, doctor and coroner of the death of a patient who was still alive. Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: five Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: 0 16411 Robinson Road, Gulfport Overall rating: Much below average, 1 star out of 5 Federal fines in the last three years: five, $22,925 on May 31, 2023; $378, 976 on March 31, 2023; $983 on April 19, 2021; $655 on April 12, 2021; and $86,745 on Jan. 19, 2021. Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: two Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: 16 on July 20, 2023, including one for failure to provide a clean room. The residents soiled wall had peeling paint. Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 11, including one on March 31, 2023 for failure to prevent a patients constipation resulting in death. Patient had no documented bowel movements for 11 days and later died due to aspiration from vomiting caused by compacted bowels. Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: seven Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: four 859 Winter St., Lucedale Overall rating: Below average, 2 stars out of 5 Federal fines in the last three years: one, for $56,352 on Oct. 13, 2021 Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: 0 Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: four on Oct. 13, 2021 Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: five, including on on Dec. 7, 2021 for failure to ensure residents were free from rodents. A mouse was seen in the bed of a resident and drippings were found in the beds of four residents and chests of drawers of seven of 16 residents reviewed. Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0 Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: 0 For more information about local long-term facilities, visit Medicare or the Mississippi Department of Health. Residents of long-term care facilities have rights that are guaranteed by state or federal laws. Mississippis requirements for nursing homes Mississippi nursing home residents have dozens of rights and protections under federal law, including: The right to have sufficient staff to meet your needs on all days and all shifts The right to receive reasonable notice before changing your room or your roommate The right to close your door and knock before entering except in case of emergency The right to have all reasonable requests and inquiries responded to promptly The right to further education at patients expense To choose your attending physician and pharmacist The right to consume a reasonable amount of alcohol or use tobacco at patients expense unless documented in records to be medically inadvisable To receive, send and mail unopened correspondence Private visits at any reasonable hour Access to a telephone for private communication The right to share a room with a spouse, if both are residents and/or to have private time with a spouse The right to confidential treatment of personal and medical records The right to a safe and clean living environment To have clothes and bed sheets changed as the need arises The right to be treated at all times with courtesy, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality The Mississippi Department of Health offers several ways to file a complaint against a nursing home suspected of abuse. An online complaint form is available on their website or you can register a complaint weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 800-227-7308. A handout picture released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on February 23, 2024, shows the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier leaking oil in the Gulf of Aden after taking significant damage after an attack Huthi rebels (-) A cargo ship abandoned in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by Yemeni rebels is taking on water and has left a huge oil slick, in an environmental disaster that US Central Command said Friday could get worse. Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, British-registered and Lebanese-operated cargo ship carrying combustible fertilizer, was damaged in a Sunday missile strike claimed by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Its crew was evacuated to Djibouti after one missile hit the side of the ship, causing water to enter the engine room and its stern to sag, said its operator, the Blue Fleet Group. A second missile hit the vessel's deck without causing major damage, Blue Fleet CEO Roy Khoury told AFP. CENTCOM said the ship is anchored but slowly taking on water and has left an 18 mile oil slick. "The M/V Rubymar was transporting over 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked, which could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster," it said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The ship's operator said Thursday the ship could be towed to Djibouti this week. Khoury said the ship was still afloat and shared an image captured on Wednesday that showed its stern low in the water. When asked about the possibility of it sinking, Khoury had said there was "no risk for now, but always a possibility." The attack on the Rubymar represents the most significant damage yet to be inflicted on a commercial ship since the Huthis started firing on vessels in November -- a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. The Huthi attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, which normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade. The UN Conference on Trade and Development warned late last month that the volume of commercial traffic passing through the Suez Canal had fallen more than 40 percent in the previous two months. dw/nro Ukraine could face a "catastrophic shortage of ammunition and air defenses" by late March if Congress does not pass a bill that contains $61 billion in crucial funding for Kyiv, ABC News reported on Feb. 22, citing two anonymous U.S. officials. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned on Feb. 14 that Ukrainian troops are running out of ammunition and urged Congress to pass additional funding. According to internal U.S. estimates, the shortage "could effectively turn the tide of the war and lend Russian President Vladimir Putin a significant advantage," ABC News said. "The juncture starts now and it just keeps getting worse progressively through the spring and into summer. So, this time period that we are entering is a critical time period," a senior U.S. defense official told ABC News. Ukraine's withdrawal from the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 17 demonstrated the need for more artillery shells, as well as air defense systems, long-range weapons, and fortifications, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said. Congressional inaction was responsible for "Russias first notable gains in months," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a White House statement on Feb. 17. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby had warned on Feb. 15 that Avdiivka was at risk of falling to Russian hands because the U.S. had "not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults." "U.S. officials predict similar scenarios will play out elsewhere in Ukraine as the government there is forced to make tough choices," ABC News said. Air defense capabilities, such as U.S. Patriot systems, are also critically important in defending against Russian attacks. Some places that are currently protected will be at risk in the future if supplies of interceptors are not maintained, ABC News said. The risk that these supplies could dwindle could completely change "the nature of this fight," one official said. Read also: Our reserves will run out: Ukrainian artillery sounds alarm on Western shell shortage Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Abilene police arrested a transient man Wednesday, in connection to a house fire in Abilenes Elmwood area in early February. Abilene Fire Departments (AFD) arson investigator reported that a fire at a quadruplex in the 4000 block of Redbud Circle on Sunday morning, February 4 was intentionally set. Duplex fire in west Abilene, arson investigation underway According to court documents, a couple of neighbors told the arson investigator they heard noises outside of their units, finding a man identified as Deshon Shon Michael Pratt, busting out his windows and could see fire coming from the apartment. Before firefighters arrived, Pratt allegedly ran off. Investigators determined the fire began in the living room of the home. A can was discovered with a towel inside, smelling strongly of lighter fluid. Abilene police arrested Deshon Shon Michael Pratt February 21, 2024. He is accused of intentionally setting fire inside of a quadruplex unit on February 4, 2024. According to the fire report from AFD, the fire caused $60,000 worth of damages to the single unit. Property management of the quadruplex said they would be pressing charges. Deshon Shon Michael Pratt was booked into the Taylor County Jail Wednesday, February 21 under a Second-degree Felony Arson charge. His bond is set at $50,000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Growing influence seen in global appointment 09:09, February 22, 2024 By Liu Zhihua, Mo Jingxi and Liu Zizheng ( China Daily The appointment of Zhang Wencai, a Chinese national with rich experience in development, by the World Bank Group as managing director and chief administrative officer, reflects China's growing presence in global governance, experts said on Wednesday. They also said Chinese talent working for international trade and financial institutions are expected to contribute Chinese wisdom to help them improve global economic and financial governance. Their comments came after the World Bank Group's announcement on Tuesday of Zhang's appointment. He is expected to officially take up the post next month. Zhang will oversee the transformation of the World Bank Group's budget, planning and strategy and information and technology services. He will manage several corporate units including corporate procurement, general services, security, health and safety, and the sanctions system. He currently works for the Export-Import Bank of China, serving as its vice-president. He is also a trustee of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes international accounting and sustainability standards globally. In an online statement, the Ministry of Finance said that China actively supports the World Bank Group in its reform efforts to strengthen its development objectives and institutional capacity, help developing countries address global challenges and achieve the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China welcomes the appointment of Zhang. "China is the world's largest developing country and the World Bank Group is the largest global development institution. Over the past four decades and more, the two sides have established a close development partnership and conducted productive cooperation," Mao said. "We look forward to deepening cooperation with the World Bank Group to make a positive contribution to global poverty reduction and development efforts," she said. Dong Ximiao, chief researcher at Merchants Union Consumer Finance Company Limited, said that with his rich experience, Zhang is a good representative of the Chinese talent selected by the international institutions as employees. "They are expected to make great contributions to the institutions with Chinese wisdom, through their diligent work and the upholding of rules and principles at the international institutions," Dong said. Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that multilateral trade and financial institutions are obliged to help find more reasonable solutions to global development issues, especially as developing countries are under greater financial pressure and the effective use of financial resources for development has become increasingly important. "The global financial system should focus not only on self-development and the profits of market players, but also on serving the real economy, helping reduce global inequalities and providing financial resources to support further economic recovery," he said. Lin Shen, an associate research fellow with the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also called for the reform of international financial institutions. With improved transparency and efficiency, the institutions will be able to further boost the global economy and support developing countries, he said. Over the years, a number of Chinese people have served as top executives of international institutions. For instance, Zhu Ming and Zhang Tao took office as the International Monetary Fund's deputy managing director in 2011 and 2016 respectively, and Li Bo, deputy managing director of IMF, started his term in 2021. Yang Shaolin were appointed as the World Bank Group's managing director and chief administrative officer in 2016. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Hundreds of pro-life marchers rallied at the state capitol Thursday morning to show support for Georgias heartbeat abortion law even as state Democrats are demanding to let voters decide if they want that law to stay in place. Currently, abortion is legal only before about six weeks. State labor commissioner Bruce Thompson joined nearly 100 others at a pro-life rally outside the State Capitol Thursday morning. We live in a state where we celebrate life, right? Thompson said to the crowd. State Attorney General Chris Carr was there, too to celebrate Georgias heartbeat abortion law -- also known as the Life Act -- essentially a six-week ban on abortions. Today, the Life Act remains in effect, but the fight is far from over, Carr said. Acworth state Sen. Ed Setzler authored that law. He was at the rally too, promising to continue the political fight. RELATED STORIES: Ill tell you what, the victories weve had are not complete victories, and theyre not final victories, Setzler said. Abortion is one of the top election issues in Georgia and nationwide. Its your choice, and it is your voice, said State Rep. Kim Schofield. Wednesday, Georgia Democrats demanded the Republican-controlled house bring up their bill that would give Georgians a vote on abortion and other womens reproductive rights issues. They want a constitutional amendment giving voters the right to decide directly on that issue. We will not stop until we get the bill heard and brought to the floor and let us make the vote. That bill is currently bottled up in the rules committee and it is unlikely it will come out. RELATED NEWS: From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch Nikki Haleys only shot at winning the Republican nomination is to stick around as a candidate for as long as possible and hope that something happens to Donald Trump. Yet increasingly shes spending her time saying things about him that guarantee she wont be acceptable to the grassroots right as the nominee if something actually were to happen to him. Thats weird, no? Also weird: Few politicians in the United States, especially in the modern Republican Party, are as disciplined as Haley. Shes run a tight ship organizationally, a model of frugality relative to Ron DeSantis failed operation. And shes unflappable as a retail campaigner, always smiling and always, always on-message. On Tuesday, her composure finally broke. NEW Nikki Haley refused to drop out of the presidential race and started to cry during her Greenville speech.pic.twitter.com/9spvKPj926 Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 20, 2024 Last month I dubbed Haleys strategic approach to Trump after Iowa the half Liz. Like Liz Cheney, shes grown willing to criticize Trump in ways that few other Republicans do. His age, mental fitness, and legal baggage have all featured lately in her arguments against him. But, unlike Liz Cheney, Haley isnt quite willing to say that Trump is a menace to Americas constitutional order or that his character should disqualify him from the presidency. Those are Democratic attacks, ones that wont be tolerated. The point of the half Liz was to try to find a sweet spot in attacking Trump that would turn Republican voters in South Carolina against him more so than it would turn them against Haley herself. The full Liz is a fast track to having the GOP base view you as an enemy, as Cheney has learned the hard way. Maybe the half Liz could avoid that backlash while refocusing Republicans on Trumps many flaws. A month later, we can safely say that it hasnt worked. Haley has managed to avoid becoming a hate object for most of the party. According to one recent poll, a majority of GOP voters in her home state of South Carolina still view her favorably. And shes made up some ground there in head-to-head polling with Trump since the end of January, rising from 21.8 percent in the RealClearPolitics average of the state to 36.5 percent today. But shes run out of time. The primary is on Saturday and Haley will lose badly, probably by a wider margin than she lost in New Hampshire. And although members of her party havent turned harshly against her, it may only be a matter of time before they do. The same poll I mentioned above found her favorability among Republicans in South Carolina sliding from 71 percent in November to 56 percent now. The half Liz isnt a winning strategy. At best, its a way to suffer a decisive defeat with a modicum of dignity intact, having thrown some reasonably hard jabs at Trump before succumbing. Haley must understand that at this point. She can read the polls as well as you and I can. Watching her defiant speech in South Carolina on Tuesday, in which she vowed not to quit the race even if she loses the coming primary, the sense I got was of someone whod given up on strategizing and had instead begun to face her political mortality in a party thats no longer recognizable to her. If there are five stages of conservative grief over the GOPs gradual absorption by Trump, Nikki Haley might at last be approaching the acceptance stage. When Haley switched to the half Liz after Iowa, many political commentators were struck by how cheerful she seemed on the trail. I noted it myself. Her odds of winning the nomination remained remote but there was a spring in her step. Strangely, she appeared to be enjoying herself. But it wasnt that strange, was it? She must have felt gratified at having outlasted all of Trumps other challengers once DeSantis dropped out. She had the New Hampshire primary in front of her too, where independent voters would give her a punchers chance at an upset. Then would come South Carolina, her home state, where shed never lost an election. It wouldnt surprise me if she sincerely believed she had a chance of winning the nomination once she and Trump became the only two candidates left. No wonder she seemed happy. And not just for selfish ambitious reasons. A Nikki Haley victory in the primary would restore the faith of many people in Republican voters, mine included. A candidate with 91 criminal charges pending against him cant win a presidential nomination after all. The American right isnt a lost cause! Her shift in strategy doubtless also contributed to her good mood. Imagine how liberating it must have felt for a prominent Republican like Haley to finally speak a sliver of truth about Trump after bottling up her feelings for eight years. Psychologically, it would have been like a cloud burst after a brutal drought. She was a happy warrior then. But not anymore, per her tears on Tuesday. That must be due in part to her disappointment at the polls. She ended up losing New Hampshire by double digits and is poised to lose South Carolina by 25 points. Her fantasy of stunning Trump in the early states and making a race of the primary is over. She wont be the nominee, he will. The American right is indeed a lost cause. It may seem silly that shed be shocked by an outcome that has looked for months like a fait accompli to everyone else but we should make some allowance here for basic humanity. Haley is an unusually successful politician; that success has understandably made her confident in her political acumen; and she and her team have invested heavily, intellectually and emotionally, in her strategy for victory. To have all of that suddenly shattered at the hands of a degenerate and his adoring admirers would shake anyones faith in themselves and the political world as they knew it. But losing to Trump isnt the only aspect of the race thats mortified her since New Hampshire, Id bet. For instance, I wonder what she thinks about the ongoing ritual humiliation of Tim Scott. Her old friend from South Carolina seems to have surpassed her in the Trump veepstakes lately but has paid dearly for it with his dignity. There was this loathsome moment during Trumps victory speech in New Hampshire: Donald Trump: Nikki Haley "appointed you Timand you're the senator of her stateYou must really hate her!" Tim Scott: "I just love you!" pic.twitter.com/3hCgNWk10m Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 24, 2024 And then this one from a televised town hall on Tuesday night: Trump: Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself Scott: pic.twitter.com/gWM2RiZ20W Acyn (@Acyn) February 21, 2024 To keep his chances at landing on the ticket alive, Scott recently stooped to dodging questions about whether he would have certified Joe Bidens victory on January 6, 2021. On some level Haley must be enjoying watching him squander whats left of his honor, treating it as karmic payback for Scott cynically choosing to endorse Trump before the New Hampshire primary instead of the former governor who appointed him to the Senate. But it might also be a cautionary tale for her. If, like Scott, she drops out and reconciles herself to Trump, shell pay with her own dignity as well. Team Trump will see to it. Trump Campaign Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/AzxdneC9ZN Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 20, 2024 Supplication and humiliation await if she hopes to remain a Republican in good standing. No wonder her mood has deteriorated. Something else that awaits her is a party whose most influential figures are now neutral at best on the subjects of Vladimir Putin and Russian expansionism. Thats never been more apparent than it has over the last month. I suspect it bothers Haley in a way few other other ideological sins do. She is, after all, a true-blue hawk. I once called her a political weathervane, which was true with respect to Donald Trump but uncharitable more broadly given how consistent shes been throughout her career in condemning Russian expansionismeven as Trumps unlikely ambassador to the United Nations. Tuesdays newsletter about the old guard of conservatives who continue to resist populist influence over Republican foreign policy might as well have been dedicated to her. Imagine Haleys horror, then, watching the last few weeks unfold. In the span of 10 days this month, Trump said hed encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that didnt spend more on defense; Tucker Carlson, the populist rights most popular broadcaster, gave Putin a friendly interview in Moscow; House Speaker Mike Johnson said he wouldnt take up the Senates new military aid package for Ukraine; Russian troops won their first meaningful battlefield victory in months when they took the city of Avdiivka from undersupplied Ukrainian troops; and opposition leader Alexei Navalny died mysteriously inside a Russian prison. When Trump finally got around to commenting on Navalny, he responded by comparing himself to the martyred dissident because of the recent civil fraud judgment against him in New York. If you had set out to devise a series of events that would offend Nikki Haleys Reaganite sensibility to the maximum possible degree, I doubt you could do better than all of that. Nikki Haley on Trumps refusal to criticize Putin: The only comment hes going to make about Navalny is not hitting Putin for murdering himInstead, hes going to compare himself to Navalny? pic.twitter.com/YjMut9pEp0 Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) February 20, 2024 Listening to her lately, theres a note of exasperated disbelief in her tone. Shes probably struggling to understand how the voters of her party, who have always outflanked the left in their ardor for containing Russia, could choose to be led by a clique of isolationists, post-liberals, and strongman simps. But that is their choice, and as the next primary creeps closer theres no way for her to go on denying it. Right-wing Russophiles letting their freak flags fly all month, and Trumps polling in South Carolina has risen by 8 points in that span. Republican voters there plainly dont care about all the footsie being played with Putin. And if it turns out, as has been alleged, that the House GOPs impeachment investigation of Joe Biden has itself been based on disinformation from Russian intelligence, rest assured that they wont care about that either. Even the traditional consolation for conservatives like Haley, that there remains a robust Reaganite power bloc within the party that can check Trump on policy, is no longer what it was. Mitch McConnells surrender to populists on the Senates immigration compromise a few weeks ago was so fast and unconditional that one wonders if the old guards days of resisting Trumps isolationism are now also numbered. Its Nikki Haleys worst nightmare. The party she grew up in, whose worldview she adopted as her own, and which she once hoped to lead is collapsing around her. She must have noticed. The coup de grace in her month of misery came a few weeks ago when Trump wondered at a rally why her husband was never by her side on the campaign trail, insinuating that he must be ashamed of being married to an also-ran. Haley was righteously indignant afterward: Her husband is absent because hes deployed in Africa with the Army National Guard, and it wasnt very long ago that a candidate insensitive to that hardship would have been roasted for it by pro-military Republican voters. Yet, to all appearances, it hasnt hurt Trump a bit. Even in a state like South Carolina with a higher-than-average share of residents who have served. So why is Haley still campaigning to be this partys nominee? Whats her strategy? There is no strategy, as I said earlier. The half Liz was the strategy but it turns out even half a Liz is too much Liz for Republican voters. .@SarahLongwell25 on what South Carolina Republicans are saying about Nikki Haley: Simply by attacking Donald Trump, voters in focus groups in South Carolina said that she sounds like a DemocratThey think they cant trust her even though she was their governor. pic.twitter.com/o6jjcNd4xe Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) February 21, 2024 Trumps most lowbrow cronies dont seem to distinguish between the half Liz and the genuine article, either. Is there really any difference between these two party traitors anymore? I dont think so! pic.twitter.com/OlpLCSwZLZ Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) February 21, 2024 Theres no such thing as the half Liz for a Republican, it turns out. Either you pledge your allegiance unquestioningly or you forfeit your right to call yourself a member of the party in good standing. Haley knows that now, just like she knows now that shes not going to win. She also knows that she has no near-term future in the partyalthough the fact that she hasnt gone the full Liz by calling Trump a threat to democracy may mean that shes trying to leave the door open a crack, just in case Republican voters regain their civic bearings a few election cycles from now. So the question, really, isnt why shes staying in the race. The question is, why should she quit? At this point, what does she have to lose by continuing? My colleagues at Dispatch Politics noted elsewhere that donations continue to pour into her campaign at a remarkable clip given how doomed she is. And as I mentioned earlier, her polling has improved meaningfully in South Carolina this month: Its not impossible that shell top 40 percent in Saturdays race. She has money and supporters and no path to higher office anywhere that might be jeopardized by alienating the GOPs Trumpist establishment. So why not keep going? Staying in might even be helping her to accept what her party has become. It must be terribly disorienting for a politician as calculating as Haley to watch her conservative criticisms of Trump land with thud after thud among Republican voters. She shouldnt be surprised at thatthose attacks have gone nowhere for eight yearsbut its one thing to know it and another to see it day after day on the trail, when the criticisms are coming out of her own mouth. Shes getting a rough firsthand lesson in how little she still has in common with the majority of the GOP. To the extent that Haley has ever been a political weathervane, she no longer knows which way to point to appeal to Republicans. Perhaps her ongoing campaign is a matter of coming to terms with that, still not quite believing that right-wing voters are really, truly going to choose a figure like Trump over herbut getting closer to believing it with the result of each new primary. Grief is a process. Shell arrive at acceptance eventually. Theres another possibility, though, that Haley has already quietly accepted that the GOP is lost and has come to feel a moral duty to make the case for traditional conservatism for as long as she can. At the moment, by dint of her campaign, shes the most prominent spokeswoman for Reaganism in the United States. Once shes out of the race, that perspective will no longer have an influential voice within the party. The closest thing will be Mitch McConnell, the same broadly unpopular octogenarian who just capitulated to Trump on immigration and is almost certainly in his last term in the Senate. In that context, one can imagine Haley concluding that shes obliged as a matter of principle to go on trying to rally conservatives as best she can, to show the new populist GOP establishment that the Reaganite bloc is stronger than they think. Judging by the total obsequiousness of party leaders toward Trump, youd never guess that hes been losing a third of the vote or more in GOP primaries and looks poised to do so again on Saturday. Nikki Haley has become the temporary leader of the conservative resistance and perhaps rightfully takes some pride in it, especially by contrast with the odious turncoat Tim Scott: Nikki Haley: I'm not afraid to say the hard truths out loud. I feel no need to kiss the ring. I have no fear of Trump's retribution. I'm not looking for anything from him. pic.twitter.com/nFASNqlm4Q Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) February 20, 2024 Where that resistance ends, nobody knows. Im skeptical that it ends with a new partymost conservatives are too partisan for that, and too reluctant to divide the anti-Democrat votebut if you squint you might see the makings of one in the news today. Potentially it ends with a meaningful conservative crossover vote for Biden this fall that sinks Trump and shows the GOP that Reaganite priorities will need more respect going forward if a victorious right-wing coalition is to be built. A populist domestic agenda is one thing, a pro-Russian foreign policy is quite another. But thats the point to Haleys lingering, not-quite-dead campaign: Where the conservative resistance ends, nobody knows. No weathervane is useful in gale-force political winds like these. All thats to be done is to continue on, speak the truth about Trumpy populisms foibles, and trust that doing so will matter somehow. Haleys the last Republican left of any consequence willing to do so. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. As the shocking death of a nonbinary Oklahoma high school student reverberates through the LGBTQ community, advocacy groups and state and federal lawmakers say hateful rhetoric and laws that target LGBTQ individuals are to blame for the teenagers untimely passing. Nex Benedict, 16, was a sophomore at Owasso High School in Owasso, Okla., a Tulsa suburb of about 40,000. They collapsed at home Feb. 8, a day after they were involved in a physical altercation in the girls bathroom at school. The students involved in the fight, which reportedly lasted less than two minutes and was broken up by other students and a staff member, walked under their own power to the assistant principals office and nurses office following the altercation, the school district said Tuesday in a statement. Each of the students involved was given a health assessment by a registered nurse, and while school officials ultimately decided that an ambulance was not needed, out of an abundance of caution, it was recommended to one parent that their student visit a medical facility for further examination, the school district said. Each of the students parents were notified of the incident and given the option to file a police report. We understand that for many, additional questions remain, however these are the facts that we are able to communicate at this juncture, Owasso Public Schools said in its statement. Sue Benedict, Nexs grandmother and legal guardian, told The Independent this week that she took Nex to Bailey Medical Center in Owasso immediately following the fight and was discharged after speaking with a resource officer. They returned the following day after Nex collapsed, she said, and Nex died later that evening. Owasso Police said Tuesday that the results of an autopsy and toxicology report are pending. It is not known at this time if the death is related to the incident at the school or not, police said in a statement. We can assure everyone that this incident is being taken seriously and is being investigated thoroughly. Owasso Public Schools in its statement did not say what caused the fight to break out. In text messages shared with KOKI-TV in Tulsa, Nex told a family member that the altercation was the result of bullying. According to Benedict, Nex had been bullied at school for being nonbinary since at least the beginning of last year. Dozens of LGBTQ advocacy groups and lawmakers have since early Monday, when news of Nexs death began gaining traction on social media, mourned the teenagers death in public statements. Many link the bullying that allegedly caused the fight between Nex and their classmates to a slate of laws passed in Oklahoma last year targeting LGBTQ people. The state is one of nearly two dozen to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, and Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt last year signed an executive order directing state agencies to adopt narrow definitions of male and female that exclude trans people. Stitt in 2022 signed legislation barring transgender individuals, including students, from using bathrooms at K-12 schools that match their gender identity. This year, state legislators have already proposed more than 50 anti-LGBTQ laws, according to the ACLU, more than any other state. Whether Nex died as a direct result of injuries sustained in the brutal hate-motivated attack at school or not, Nexs death is a result of being the target of physical and emotional harm because of who Nex was, Freedom Oklahoma, a state LGBTQ advocacy group, said Tuesday in a statement. This harm is absolutely related to the rhetoric and policies that are commonplace at the Oklahoma Legislature, the State Department of Education, and the Governors office, with regard to dehumanizing [Two Spirit, trans and gender non-conforming] people. Tori Cooper, a director of the Human Rights Campaigns Transgender Justice Initiative, said Wednesday that hate speech against LGBTQ people online is also to blame. Extremist anti-LGBTQ+ hate accounts are perpetuating a vile and hateful narrative that is permitting these types of public attacks, Cooper said in a statement. Their hateful speech is having a direct, negative impact on the lives of trans and gender-expansive folks, including young students like Nex. Cooper and others who have spoken about Nexs death allege the incident stems in part from the actions of Chaya Raichik, the conservative activist behind Libs of TikTok whose posts often target LGBTQ people, including a former teacher at Nexs high school. Ryan Walters Oklahomas top education official, who has also repeatedly espoused anti-LGBTQ views recently appointed Raichik to the states library advisory board. In a post on X, the Congressional Equality Caucus responsible for promoting LGBTQ equality in the House said its members were mourning the tragic death of Nex, whose passing, the group said, emphasizes the need to push back against rhetoric and laws that target the LGBTQ community. Its more important than ever to stand up to anti-trans hate, violence, & legislation across the country, the caucus said Wednesday morning. To all those who swear theyre protecting children by introducing the laws and spewing hate that put the lives of kids like Nex at risk these are the consequences of what you do, Mark Takano (D-Calif.), one of the caucuss co-chairs, said Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona similarly said he was devastated by news of Nexs passing. I cant put into words the grief that I feel for Nex, their family, and their community, Cardona said in a Wednesday post on X. It is our responsibility to protect all students by creating spaces where they feel safe to be their true selves. Oklahoma state Rep. Mauree Turner, a Democrat who in 2020 became the nations first nonbinary state lawmaker, said Nex and transgender Oklahomans deserve more. More unquestioned community advocacy. More tenderness and care. More life. So much more life, Turner said Tuesday in an Instagram post. Turner, who was censured by Oklahomas Republican-dominated Legislature last year following a protest over the states gender-affirming health care ban, said Nexs death is a direct result of a failed administration in a public school that didnt value the life of a trans student. A failed administration that was empowered by a failed local government who has created open season, and more specifically a transgenocide in Oklahoma. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- South Africas Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana acknowledged the countrys politics make fiscal rules hard to stick, but said his colleagues understood the vital need to control spiraling debt-service costs. Most Read from Bloomberg Fiscal rules happen in a political setting, Godongwana told Bloomberg News in an interview Thursday in Cape Town, a day after tabling the nations budget. Is the South African political economy ripe for fiscal rules? The answer, if you ask me: No. To impose fiscal rules, you need strong leadership, he said. Godongwanas budget is his last before May 29 elections in which the ruling African National Congress risks losing its majority for the first time since 1994 when Nelson Mandela led it to power and ended White-minority rule. The finance minister pleased investors on Wednesday by announcing he would ease the cash-strapped countrys debt burden to the tune of 150 billion rand ($7.9 billion) by tapping profits on its gold and foreign exchange reserves. Treasury also announced it plans to introduce a new fiscal anchor to provide a sustainable long-term path for public finances. The move is amied at easing questions about what happens longer term to prevent South Africa going back to living beyond its means amid anemic growth. This will secure the benefits of fiscal consolidation and ensure that permanent fiscal imbalances do not reappear in a way that requires painful future adjustments, the Treasury said in its budget review. The details are still being worked out. But Godongwana said that using debt and debt-service targets made sense because the consequence of failing to keep them under control were easily understood. South Africa spends one in every five rand of government revenue in paying for the debt. The government expects to achieve a primary budget surplus the amount by which revenue exceeds non-interest spending in the current fiscal year for the first time since 2008-09. Analysts said that questions will remain about South Africas long-term fiscal outlook until there was clarity on how the anchor would be binding. Realistically it does require broader sensitization of all political actors, said Razia Khan, head of research at Standard Chartered Bank. From Treasury, were getting a very clear sense that debt levels are problematic. But if they dont start dealing with it now, theyll have to run ever greater primary fiscal surpluses in the future in order to stabilize debt levels. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. When Wade Cowan launched his campaign for Texas House District 83 last fall, fewer than 20 people showed up at a south Lubbock restaurant to hear why he decided to challenge incumbent state Rep. Dustin Burrows. But at a campaign event Tuesday evening, two of Texas' highest-ranking statewide officials gave Cowan their blessing as dozens gathered to hear. Texas House of Representatives candidate Wade Cowan listens as Attorney General Ken Paxton campaigns for him at an event Wednesday evening at the FiberMax Center for Discovery in Lubbock. Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller both offered their endorsement of Cowan at the event, which was held at the FiberMax Center for Discovery. Paxton has been on a revenge tour of sorts in recent months, seeking to oust incumbent Republican House members who voted to impeach him amid corruption allegations last spring. Among those who voted in favor of Paxton's impeachment is Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, who many consider to be one of the most powerful people in the Texas House. Burrows is seeking his fifth term in office, representing parts of Lubbock County and Borden, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Kent, Lynn, Mitchell, Scurry and Terry counties. Along with Burrows, who is chairman of the House Calendars Committee, HD 84 Rep. Carl Tepper, R-Lubbock, and HD 88 Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, voted to impeach Paxton. The AG has endorsed neither. More: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to be tried for felony securities fraud on April 15 During his remarks Tuesday, Paxton characterized Burrows as a "dishonest, very bright schemer" who advances Democratic agendas. "He's one of the smartest guys I've ever seen," Paxton said. "But what this guy does with his smarts is not good. "Can you please get rid of this guy?" Paxton portrayed himself as a victim of a Republican establishment that worked in secret attempting to oust him, likening himself to the biblical character Joseph. An Avalanche-Journal reporter asked Burrows Tuesday morning if he had any comment on the embattled attorney general's visit and endorsement of his challenger. He simply responded: "I'm not going to dignify the undignified." Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Burrows, speaking at a campaign launch for him and Tepper in November. Abbott has been backing candidates who support his school choice agenda, and both Burrows and Tepper voted in favor of education savings accounts last year. Landry: Incumbents have advantage in the West Texas party primary election this spring Miller echoed Paxton's sentiments about Burrows and touted Cowan's agriculture background. Cowan is a former president of the American Soybean Association and the owner of Brownfield Seed and Delinting. "(Cowan) knows his way around. He's not a newbie. He's been fighting this fight for a long time for farmers," Miller said. Cowan told the A-J that despite Paxton's alleged corruption and personal legal troubles he's set to be tried for felony securities fraud in April he's proud to have earned the attorney general's endorsement. "I kind of understand how he feels about having the deck stacked against him, because that's kind of how I feel when you look at the party apparatus and the lobbying apparatus. The deck's kind of stacked," Cowan said. "It's a guy that was probably unjustly railroaded, and I feel for that." Cowan said he feels his campaign has gathered "tremendous momentum" as early voting is underway. "We've always had momentum outside of Lubbock; we've always had momentum in the rural areas and a great base there. It feels like it's finally taken hold in the city," Cowan said. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ken Paxton stumps for Burrows challenger Wade Cowan on payback tour DOLTON, Ill. Illinois Attorney General has ordered a politicians charity to stop soliciting money because it has failed to report how it spends funds and who has benefited. WGN Investigates previously reported on questionable spending by Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard, who also serves as Thornton Township supervisor. Thousands of tax dollars have been funneled to the Tiffany Henyard Cares Foundation. Township and Dolton workers and vehicles have been used for the charitys events. The foundation claims to help cancer patients; but hasnt filed any of the required financial disclosures with the state of Illinois. Related: Fine dining, first class travel costing taxpayers in south suburbs The attorney general sent a letter Wednesday threatening legal action to recover money paid to foundation board members and staff. Henyard has not previously responded to questions about the charity. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Maybe the Founding Fathers were actually black? Yesterday, Google's artificial intelligencepowered image generator, Gemini, came under rightful fire for being utterly unable to depict historical and hypothetical events without forcing relevant characters to be nonwhite. "Google's AI chatbot just erased white people from human history," wrote Mike Solana over at Pirate Wires. It's not really an exaggeration. Look: America's Founding Fathers, Vikings, and the Pope according to Google AI: pic.twitter.com/lw4aIKLwkp End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 21, 2024 Basically, chatbots have been trained on vast quantities of text. Users prompt them, via queries, to deliver images and answers as close as possible to what a (super smart) human would give them. And apparently, Gemini engineers somewhere at Google wanted to provide an insurance mechanism for possibly white-favoring or male-favoring bias that exists in the materials the bot has been trained on, and seemingly made the botultra-woke, to the point of hilarious and extreme inaccuracy, as if to correct against existing biases. In Gemini's telling, the Pope is black, ancient Romans are black, the Founding Fathers were at least partially black, and so on. If you ask Gemini to make you an image of a white scientist, no dice. Black scientist? Of course. A Hispanic scientist? Here, enjoy a botanist sitting in a field of flowers! In Gemini's world, Germans and Australians are most likely black or Asian. The bias rears its ugly head in other ways, too. If you want the chatbot to generate an image for you of the "evils of communism," as some attempted, it will give you a bias warning: "Representing a complex ideology like communism solely through its 'evil' risks inherent bias and oversimplification." But this is all a feature, seemingly, not a bug. "We are aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions, and we are working to fix this immediately," wrote Gemini's product lead, Jack Krawczyk, on X yesterday. "We design our image generation capabilities to reflect our global user base, and we take representation and bias seriously." He tried arguing that there's nothing incorrect about Gemini's results: here's what i got on first attempt. all your answers look correct fwiw. pic.twitter.com/RQZ0YldyDS Jack Krawczyk (@JackK) February 20, 2024 "The ridiculous images generated by Gemini aren't an anomaly," wrote Y Combinator's Paul Graham. "They're a self-portrait of Google's bureaucratic corporate culture." Indeed, Krawczyk, in since-deleted tweets, seems to be a big believer in progressive causes du jour. "The draconian censorship and deliberate bias you see in many commercial AI systems is just the start," wrote venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. "It's all going to get much, much more intense from here." (Note that neither tech luminary is an AI doomer.) Gemini isn't alone in demonstrating comically woke bias; prominent podcaster/poker player Liv Boeree has pointed out the issues OpenAI's ChatGPT has on this front. Maxim Lott, executive producer for John Stossel, built a program to track political bias in AI models, which finds not only that "Gemini has been getting more left wing over time" but also that it's "one of the AIs that's most likely to refuse to answer questions." And, "the least biased AIs are @AnthropicAI's Claude and @Meta's Llama," per Lott, who details the battery of questions he's thrown Gemini's way to determine the extent of its political bias. Meanwhile, the tech press found a creative way to cover the scandal: from the team that brought you "fire bombing waymos is a time honored part of the human experience" comes brand new hit "literally erasing white people from human history is racist against non-white people" pic.twitter.com/mmj7viEvq2 Mike Solana (@micsolana) February 22, 2024 If only someone had warned us that Google was an ideological echo chamber! Sanctions against Russia: White House aides indicated earlier this week that a new round of sanctions against Russia would be announced tomorrow, attempting to spin it as an action taken in response to dissident Alexei Navalny's death at the hands of the Putin regime. (In reality, the sanctions have been a long time coming, to mark the second anniversary of the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.) In 2021, President Joe Biden warned there would be "devastating" consequences for Russian President Vladimir Putin if his regime killed Navalny. Now, it's becoming clear that Biden has no real path to make good on that promise, so sanctions it is. "The administration is considering three main options, two economic and one military, according to the three [Biden] officials" with whom Politico spoke. "The other idea is to pump Ukraine full of more advanced weaponry" but there are also ideas being floated like cracking down on Russia's oil exports. "The U.S. had largely exhausted its toolkit of penalties after Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago," per Politico, so many of these options will pack little punch and do very little to actually deter Putin from his war in Ukraine or from continuing to brutally punish opposition leaders who attract his scorn. Very little detail has been released about what economic sanctions in particular would actually entail, and there's limited evidence to indicate they've had a crippling effect on Putin's ability to wage war thus far. Over the last two years, the Biden administration has already "cut off Russia's largest banks and companies from Western financial markets, joined with Europe to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian central bank assets, and joined itsallies in taking steps to curb the flow of military technology to Russia," reported The New York Times. Now, in addition to whatever it announces on Friday, the White House will keep exerting pressure on Republicans in the House to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package that would give additional funds to the war effort in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Union "has agreed a new package of sanctions against Russia that for the first time targets Chinese and Indian companies accused of supporting Moscow's war effort," reported the Financial Times. The sanctions "target close to 200 individuals and entities but stop short of any sweeping economic action targeting crucial industrial sectors," so, again, it's not totally clear how much pain Putin will feel as a result. Scenes from New York: Inside the very strange "Hotel California" Eagles trial, courtesy of The New York Times. QUICK HITS Yes: "We've never had true socialism because attempts to institutionalize it have actually resulted in authoritarianism rather than socialism" is not the powerful defense many socialists seem to think it is Chris Freiman (@cafreiman) February 21, 2024 The Libertarian Party is apparently betting on the idea that Putin apologism is the way to win hearts and minds over to the cause ofchecks notesthe nonaggression principle. You've heard of gun control, but what about paint control? tAcKliNg tHe BiG iSsUes: the Democrats' first bill of the first hearing of the year for the Labor Committee brings the hammer down on people who buy more than a gallon of paint? They are even creating a Paint Board.https://t.co/3Krkft067f pic.twitter.com/47bUqSUVqX Minnesota Senate Republicans (@mnsrc) February 13, 2024 Speaking of: Finland plans to build 300 new shooting ranges to accommodate a surge in demand due to the war in Ukraine, and the fact that it shares a border with Russia. For the first time in 12 years, Argentina has reached a monthly budget surplus, under the leadership of libertarian President Javier Milei. Disturbing: A Ukrainian refugee has been left separated from her 11-year-old son after the UK changed visa rules without warning on Monday. Downing Street wrongly told reporters the changes wouldn't affect the ability of Ukrainians to join their family in the UK:https://t.co/vmBcwdbWxh Matt Dathan (@matt_dathan) February 21, 2024 The post AI Contracts Woke Mind Virus appeared first on Reason.com. Women learn to use a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence developed by Myna Mahila Foundation at the local women's organizations office in Mumbai, India, Feb. 1, 2024. The chatbot, currently a pilot project, represents what many hope will be part of the impact of AI on health care around the globe: to deliver accurate medical information in personalized responses that can reach many more people than in-person clinics or trained medical workers. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) NEW YORK (AP) Komal Vilas Thatkare says she doesn't have anyone to ask about her most private health questions. There are only men in my home no ladies," said the 32-year-old mother and housewife in Mumbai. "I dont speak to anyone here. So I used this app as it helps me in my personal problems. The app she uses is powered by artificial intelligence running on OpenAIs ChatGPT model, that Myna Mahila Foundation, a local women's organization, is developing. Thatkare asks the Myna Bolo chatbot questions and it offers answers. Through those interactions, Thatkare learned about a contraceptive pill and how to take it. Thatkare is one of 80 test users the foundation recruited to help train the chatbot. It draws on a customized database of medical information about sexual health, but the chatbot's potential success relies on test users like Thatkare to train it. The chatbot, currently a pilot project, represents what many hope will be part of the impact of AI on health care around the globe: to deliver accurate medical information in personalized responses that can reach many more people than in-person clinics or trained medical workers. In this case, the chatbot's focus on reproductive health also offers vital information that because of social norms is difficult to access elsewhere. If this actually could provide this nonjudgmental, private advice to women, then it could really be a gamechanger when it comes to accessing information about sexual reproductive health, said Suhani Jalota, founder and CEO of the Myna Mahila Foundation, which received a $100,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation last summer to develop the chatbot, as part of a cohort of organizations in low- and middle-income countries trying to use AI to solve problems in their communities. Funders like the Gates Foundation, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Data.org, are seeking to build up this missing middle in AI development, especially in areas like health and education. These philanthropic initiatives offer developers access to AI tools they otherwise could not afford so they can solve problems that are a low priority for corporations and researchers if they are on their radars at all because they don't have high profit potential. No longer can the global north and high-income countries drive the agenda and decide what does and does not need to be addressed in local communities in the global south, wrote Trevor Mundel, president for global health at the Gates Foundation in an October online post, adding, We cannot risk creating another chasm of inequity when it comes to AI. The Associated Press receives financial support for news coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Myna Mahila Foundation recruited test users like Thatkare to write real questions they have. For example, Does using a condom cause HIV? or Can I have sex during periods?" The foundation's staff then closely monitor the chatbot's responses, developing a customized database of verified questions and answers along the way that helps improve future responses. The chatbot is not yet ready for wider release. The accuracy of its responses is not good enough and there are issues with translation, Jalota said. Users often write questions in a mix of languages and may not provide the chatbot with enough information for it to offer a relevant response. We are not yet fully sure on whether or not women can understand everything clearly and whether or not its fully medically accurate all of the information that were sending out, Jalota said. They are considering training some women to help ask the chatbot prompts on behalf of someone else, though still aim to improve the chatbot so it can be released on its own. Dr. Christopher Longhurst, chief medical officer at the UC San Diego Health, has led the implementation of AI tools in health care settings and said it is important to test and measure the impact of these new tools on patient health outcomes. We cant just assume or trust or hope that these things are going to be good. You actually have to test it, Longhurst said. He thinks the promise of AI in health care is overestimated in the next two to three years, But I think long term, over the next decade, AI is going to be as impactful as the introduction of penicillin in health care. Jalotas team consulted with other projects funded by the Gates Foundation that were designing chatbots for health care settings so they could solve similar problems together, said Zameer Brey, interim deputy director for technology diffusion for the Gates Foundation. The Myna Mahila Foundation is also partnering with another Gates grantee to propose developing privacy standards for handling data for reproductive health. The foundation, which is working with an outside technology firm to develop the chatbot, is also considering other steps to help ensure the privacy of users. Weve been discussing whether we should delete messages within a certain time frame of women sending it to add to this privacy, Jalota said, as some women share phones with family members. ___ AP Technology Writer Matt OBrien contributed from Providence, Rhode Island. ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. The Very Large Array facility in New Mexico is searching for signs of alien life There are between 10 and 50 billion potentially habitable worlds in our galaxy, says Bill Diamond. It makes his job rather difficult. Mr Diamond is the chief executive of the US-based research organisation Seti Institute. The letters "Seti" are an acronym for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. "Seti, as an endeavour, is looking for science and technology beyond the solar system as evidence of life and intelligence, and that's by and large a needle in a haystack problem," he says. "We're looking for something that is likely exceedingly rare, and may be very difficult to find and extract from the background phenomena that you're observing at the same time." But new tools are helping the search. The ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to both handle massive datasets - and to spot anomalies - is transforming the hunt for alien intelligence. One such project involves a Seti Institute partnership with the US's National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico. This federal facility uses radio frequencies to study celestial objects, such as planets, stars and asteroids. Seti is building a parallel, AI-powered software system for the observatory's core facility, the Very Large Array. Built between 1973 and 1981, the VLA comprises 28 large, 25m diameter, dish antennas spaced out across a desert plain. Imagine the satellite dishes you find on people's homes, just on a giant scale. When operational, the AI will be able to process every bit of data captured - two terabytes (TB) every second. To put that into context, modern laptops now typically have around 1TB of total storage. Mr Diamond says that the use of AI is already invaluable Mr Diamond says that the increased use of AI is already proving to be "indispensable" as his institute continues to hunt for alien life. He points to AI making it possible to search for new types of radio signals from alien sources. He explains that traditionally, Seti has looked for narrowband signals similar to those used by human beings. "But there was always the question 'what if there's an alien advanced technology that is using wideband [radio]?'. And if that's the case, our traditional methods wouldn't work, it would look like a bunch of noise on the screen." However, Mr Diamond says that the ability of AI to handle massive amounts of data means it's possible to take millions of "snapshots" of this snowy audio picture over time, and to start to look for patterns. "It's a way of adding on a new thing to look for." Another project with which Seti collaborates is Breakthrough Listen. Backed by more than 100m of private sector funding, this scheme is scanning a million stars, and 100 galaxies, across a wide range of radio and optical bands, to look for evidence of technological life. One project member, University of Toronto student Peter Ma, recently developed a new AI system designed to examine telescope data, and distinguish between possible real signals from aliens, and interference. His team did this by simulating both types of noise, and then training their AI to differentiate between the two. Mr Ma says that an alien signal would, for example, "only appear when we point our telescopes at it... and disappear when we point away". The project has already identified eight potential alien signals that went undetected by traditional analysis. However, Mr Ma believes that as the observations haven't yet been repeated they are probably false positives. AI is also being used to try to detect signs of life of a more modest nature, and closer to home. Last year, Nasa's Perseverance rover started collecting samples from the Jezero Crater on Mars, which will, if all goes well, be returned to Earth in several years' time. Nasa's Perseverance rover is collecting rock samples from the surface of Mars Already, scientists believe that the rover's Sherloc instrument has detected organic compounds, which glow under ultraviolet light. However, organic compounds can be created by non-biological processes, meaning that it's not yet possible to say whether they derive from past life on the planet. All this could change, though, thanks to new research from the Carnegie Institution for Science, which is using AI to analyse rock samples for signs of present or past life. The team found that the AI is able to distinguish former living and non-living material, with an accuracy of almost 90%. "This is a very new approach to searching for molecular biosignatures," says joint lead researcher Dr Robert Hazen. "We employ machine learning to look at all of the vast amount of data from an analytical method that produces half a million data points per sample. So we're seeking subtle patterns in molecular distributions." Banner around links to stories about AI Read additional stories on artificial intelligence Banner around links to stories about AI The first plans are to use the system to analyse ancient samples from Earth, as well as some Martian samples in the form of meteorites. But, says Mr Hazen, "We could, for example, fly an instrument through the plumes of Enceladus [one of Saturn's moons], or land a carefully designed instrument on Mars." It's early days, and any promising results generated by AI need to be validated by other observations, or by physics-based models, before they can be shouted from the rooftops. But as more and more data is collected and analysed, the chances of detecting alien life - if it exists - are increasing all the time. In the meantime, though, says Mr Diamond, "The progress is measured in the scale of the effort, not yet in the results." Ukrainian air defense units destroyed eight of the 10 Shahed drones Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported on Feb. 22. The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and one Kh-31P supersonic anti-radiation missile was launched from the Black Sea, according to the report. The weapons were intercepted over Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. No casualties or damages to civilian infrastructure were reported at the time of the publication. Mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force were involved in repelling the air attacks. Drone attacks are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country. Overnight on Feb. 21, Ukraines air defense downed 13 drones and one Russian missile. Ukrainian authorities have continuously expected Russian attacks over the course of the winter, with Moscow focusing on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and other civilian sites. Earlier, Russian forces shelled three communities along the Sumy Oblast border. The attacks caused at least 33 reported explosions in the area. Read also: Ukraine war latest: BBC reports Ukrainian HIMARS strike in occupied Donetsk Oblast kills dozens of Russian troops Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ENTERPRISE, Ala (WDHN) Enterprise Rescue is expanding operations into Covington County. Members and staff of Enterprise Rescue, city council members from Andalusia and Enterprise, and pilots from PHI Aviation attended a ribbon cutting for the new airbase on Wednesday, February 21. The new airbase, located at 21835 Bill Benton Lane in Andalusia, will house a new Bell 407 helicopter and be manned by pilots, mechanics, and clinical staff from Enterprise Rescue. The new aircraft will be able to make the trips to larger cities, such as Birmingham and Pensacola, faster. This will give citizens of rural communities access to medical care at larger hospitals. With strategic positioning and cutting-edge technology, we stand ready to extend our reach and deliver critical medical assistance swiftly and efficiently. We are thrilled to contribute our clinical expertise to the Andalusia base and continue making a positive impact on the communities we serve, said Arnold Woodham, Operations Manager at Enterprise Rescue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) - Alabama's attorney general on Wednesday asked the state's Supreme Court to authorize a second execution by nitrogen hypoxia, after the state last month became the first to kill a condemned prisoner using the new method of capital punishment. Alabama has since offered to aid other states seeking to carry out executions using nitrogen gas, a method Alabama called "the most painless and humane method of execution known to man" but one that human rights groups have condemned as cruel and torturous. Alabama has touted asphyxiation as a simpler alternative for prison systems that struggle to find either veins or the required drugs for lethal injections. State Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a motion asking the court to allow the Alabama Department of Corrections to execute Alan Eugene Miller, who has been on death row since 2000 for murdering two co-workers and a former co-worker at separate locations in 1999. If approved, Governor Kay Ivey would set a date. Miller had previously been assigned an execution date in 2022 but it was delayed by last-minute legal action, according to the filing. "As the State of Alabama is prepared to carry out the execution of Miller's sentence by means of nitrogen hypoxia, it is once more the appropriate time for the execution of his sentence," the filing said. On Jan. 25, Alabama put to death convicted murderer Kenneth Smith, who held his breath in vain as executioners asphyxiated him with nitrogen gas. The state had predicted Smith would lose consciousness in less than a minute and die soon after. However, Smith appeared to remain conscious for several minutes after the nitrogen was activated, according to five journalists who were witnesses. Marshall said in a statement afterward that the execution of Smith proved that nitrogen hypoxia was "an effective and humane method of execution." (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Scott Malone and Leslie Adler) Tom Parker announced his plans to run for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in Montgomery in 2006. ATLANTA In an Alabama Supreme Court decision that has rattled reproductive medicine across the country, a majority of the justices said the law was clear that frozen embryos should be considered children: Unborn children are children. But the courts chief justice, Tom Parker, drew on more than the Constitution and legal precedent to explain his determination. Human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, he wrote in a concurring opinion that invoked the Book of Genesis and the prophet Jeremiah and quoted at length from the writings of 16th- and 17th-century theologians. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Even before birth, he added, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory. Just as the case, which centers on wrongful-death claims for frozen embryos that were destroyed in a mishap at a fertility clinic, has reverberated beyond Alabama, so has Parkers opinion. His theological digressions showed why he has long been revered by conservative legal groups and anti-abortion activists, and also why he has inspired apprehension among critics who regard him as guided more by religious doctrine than the law. In a post on social media, Tony Perkins, the president of the conservative Family Research Council, described the opinion as a beautiful defense of life and the Alabama Constitution. But critics viewed it as dangerous and deviating from the U.S. Constitution. Welcome to the theocracy, wrote a columnist for The Washington Post. Either way, the opinion was true to form for Parker. Since he was first elected to the nine-member court in 2004, and in his legal career before it, he has shown no reticence about expressing how his Christian beliefs have profoundly shaped his understanding of the law and his approach to it as a lawyer and judge. Those beliefs also informed a vision that, his supporters say, made him a dogged and brilliant architect for laying the groundwork that contributed to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in 2022 to overturn a federal right to abortion with Dobbs v. Jackson. In 2022, Matt Clark, the president of the Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, a conservative legal advocacy group, praised Parker for his courage and relentlessness. He cited Parkers writing in past cases as scaffolding for the arguments that successfully challenged Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to abortion and blocks states from banning the procedure before fetal viability, which most experts estimate at about 23 or 24 weeks. He picked apart Roes logic when it came to viability, Clark wrote in an essay published by 1819 News, a conservative digital outlet in Alabama, referring to a concurring opinion in a case related to a wrongful-death lawsuit involving a fetus that was lost before it had reached the point of viability outside the womb. Fast-forward nine years later, Clark, who later joined Parkers staff, wrote. When Mississippi asked the Supreme Court to take Dobbs, one of its major points was how Roes viability standard didnt make any sense. And whose writing did Mississippi draw on multiple times to make that point? Parkers. His sharpest critics have not denied his influence. What Justice Parker has done is explicitly lay out the road map for overturning Roe v. Wade, said Lynn Paltrow, the founder and former executive director of the nonprofit Pregnancy Justice, according to an extensive investigation of Parkers role in the so-called personhood movement that was published by ProPublica and The New Republic in 2014. Before joining the court, Parker was the founding executive director of the Alabama Family Alliance, a conservative advocacy group now called the Alabama Policy Institute. He had also served as an assistant state attorney general to Jeff Sessions, who later became a U.S. senator and former President Donald Trumps attorney general. He was also a close aide and ally of Roy Moore, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court who was twice removed from the job first for dismissing a federal court order to remove an enormous granite monument of the Ten Commandments he had installed in the state judicial building, and then for ordering state judges to defy the U.S. Supreme Courts decision affirming same-sex marriage. Parker, who became chief justice in 2019, is now in his final term on the Supreme Court, having reached the courts mandatory retirement age of 70. The 8-1 decision last week by the justices, all of whom are Republicans, overturned a lower courts ruling that frozen embryos were not considered children. The justices found that the couples could pursue a wrongful-death lawsuit against a Mobile fertility clinic over a 2020 episode in which a hospital patient removed frozen embryos from tanks of liquid nitrogen and dropped them on the floor. Critics argued that the decision stood to have far-reaching consequences. Justices have crossed a critical boundary to assign personhood to something created in a lab that exists outside of a human body, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama said in a statement. The majority, in its opinion, cited a 1872 statute that allows parents to sue over the wrongful death of a child and found that unborn children, including extrauterine children, were included in that. In his concurring opinion, Parker reached further back, citing Genesis: The principle itself that human life is fundamentally distinct from other forms of life and cannot be taken intentionally without justification has deep roots that reach back to the creation of man in the image of God. It underscored the philosophy that has guided him through two decades on the court. When judges dont rule in the fear of the Lord, everythings falling apart, he once wrote, citing the Book of Psalms, according to the ProPublica investigation. The whole world is coming unglued. c.2024 The New York Times Company A ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court that frozen embryos are considered children, and that a person could be held liable for accidentally destroying them, has opened up a new front in the US battle over reproductive medicine. The southern US state's largest hospital has paused its in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) services in the wake of the decision, over fears it could expose them to criminal prosecution. The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system said it would continue retrieving eggs from women's ovaries. But it said it would halt the next step in the IVF process, in which the eggs are fertilised with sperm before being implanted into the uterus. "We are saddened that this will impact our patients' attempt to have a baby through IVF," the leading state medical provider said in a statement. "But we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments." Medical experts and reproductive advocacy groups warned the ruling could have negative consequences for fertility treatments in Alabama and beyond. Conservative groups welcomed the ruling, arguing that even the tiniest embryo deserved legal protection. Why did this lawsuit occur and what did the court rule? The case stems from a wrongful death lawsuit brought by three couples whose embryos were lost at a fertility clinic in 2020. A patient had wandered into the place where the embryos were stored, handled them, and accidentally dropped them. As a result, the embryos were destroyed. The couples sought to sue the Center for Reproductive Medicine and the Mobile Infirmary Association under the state's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. That law covers foetuses, but did not specifically cover embryos resulting from IVF. A lower court had ruled that the embryos did not qualify as a person or child, and that a wrongful death lawsuit could not move forward. But in its ruling, the Alabama Supreme Court sided with the couples, and ruled that frozen embryos were considered "children". The wrongful death law applied to "all unborn children, regardless of their location", the decision said. Concurring with the majority opinion, Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote: "Even before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory." What are the implications for Alabama fertility patients? The ruling does not ban or restrict IVF and in fact, the couples who brought the case actively sought out the procedure. But the decision may cause confusion about whether some aspects of IVF are legal under Alabama law, experts say. If an embryo is considered a person, it could raise questions about how clinics are allowed to use and store them. Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told the BBC in a statement: "Not all [IVF] embryos are used, nor can they be. "To enact legislation granting legal personhood to embryos could have disastrous consequences for the use of IVF - a science many people rely on to build their families." Ambiguity over the law could also extend to patients themselves, who may worry about whether the procedure remains available or legal. The Medical Association of the State of Alabama said in a statement: "The significance of this decision impacts all Alabamians and will likely lead to fewer babies - children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins - as fertility options become limited for those who want to have a family." How does this tie in with the US abortion debate? When the US Supreme Court struck down a nationwide right to abortion in 2022, it opened the door for states to make their own laws on the issue. Since the decision, Democratic-controlled states have expanded access while Republican-controlled states have restricted it. Alabama already has a total ban on abortion, at all stages of pregnancy. The White House called the Alabama ruling "exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make". Abortion opponents are also watching this ruling closely. The question of when an embryo or a foetus is legally considered a person is a factor in many state abortion restrictions. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, described the Alabama ruling as a "tremendous victory for life". "No matter the circumstances, all human life is valuable from the moment of conception," spokeswoman Denise Burke said in a statement to the BBC. "We are grateful the Court correctly found that Alabama law recognises this fundamental truth." Other anti-abortion activists said IVF was not as clear-cut an ethical issue in their eyes, compared to terminating a pregnancy. Eric Johnston, a lawyer who helped draft Alabama's constitutional language on abortion in 2018, told the BBC: "By and large the pro-life community would say that fertilised eggs are in need of protection." But he acknowledged there were couples with anti-abortion views who had used IVF to have children, and said he would never condemn them. "It's a dilemma, and a dilemma is something where you don't have a satisfactory answer," he added. What is IVF? Invitro fertilisation offers a possible solution where a woman faces challenges getting pregnant. Around 2% of US pregnancies are the result of IVF, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The process involves retrieving the woman's eggs with a needle from her ovaries and combining them with a man's sperm in a lab. The fertilised embryo is then transferred into the woman's uterus, where it may create a pregnancy. But the process is not guaranteed, and it can take multiple attempts to create a successful pregnancy. In some cases, as in the Alabama trial, the fertilised embryos are frozen and stored in tanks containing liquid nitrogen. They can be held for up to a decade, experts say. What could happen in other states? US states often tend to replicate each other's legislation, and the US has seen this pattern play out with abortion. Often, states will take cues from each other about what laws or policies have successfully passed legislatures or withstood legal challenges. Though the Alabama ruling only applies within the state, experts said other states could see legislative attempts or lawsuits aimed at advancing the concept that frozen embryos should legally be considered children or people. But they said it appeared unlikely this particular case would end up at the US Supreme Court, as the issue of abortion did, because the Alabama ruling originated in state court and concerns an interpretation of state, not federal, law. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 97,128 babies were born in the US as a result of IVF treatments in 2021. How could this ruling affect US politics? The right to abortion has been a winning issue for Democrats since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion up to the point of foetal viability, about 23-25 weeks. In the wake of the Alabama ruling, Democratic candidates could run on a platform of protecting access to fertility treatment across the United States. Republican politicians, meanwhile, often side with religious conservatives who want abortion banned or limited in the US. Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, the only significant contender remaining in the race against Donald Trump for the party's nomination, endorsed the Alabama Supreme Court's decision on Thursday. "Embryos to me, are babies," she said. "When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me, that's life and so I do see where that's coming from when they talk about that." You may also be interested in: It has been less than a week since the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through in vitro fertilization can be classified as children, but the decision is already wrecking access to fertility treatments. The University of Alabama at Birminghams medical school announced Wednesday that it is pausing IVF treatments in order to avoid potential lawsuits under the court ruling. Patients can complete the process up through egg retrieval, but fertilization and embryo development have been paused. We are saddened that this will impact our patients attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, UAB spokeswoman Hannah Echols said in a statement. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled 72 on Friday that embryos created through IVF are protected under the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. The case stems from a lawsuit brought by several parents against a fertility clinic. The plaintiffs argued their embryonic children had been the victims of wrongful death when an intruder broke into the clinic and dropped trays holding some of the embryos, destroying them. The court ruled the clinic had been negligent and chillingly cited the Bible in its majority opinion. We believe that each human being, from the moment of conception, is made in the image of God, created by Him to reflect His likeness. It is as if the People of Alabama took what was spoken of the prophet Jeremiah and applied it to every unborn person in this state: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, Before you were born I sanctified you. Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV 1982), the opinion read. The president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, Barbara Collura, said she was heartbroken by the UAB decision. Would-be parents have invested their hearts, time and resources in lengthy and potentially emotionally draining IVF treatment, she said in a statement. Now, less than a week after the Alabama Supreme Courts devastating ruling, Alabamans in the midst of seeking treatment have had their lives, their hopes and dreams crushed. This cruel ruling, and the subsequent decision by UABs health system, are horrifying signals of whats to come across the country. In addition to already wreaking havoc on the third-party fertility industry, the ruling could have devastating effects on reproductive health statewide. As reporter Jessica Valenti pointed out Wednesday, the ruling further enforces the concept of fetal personhood. Anti-abortion activists argue that humanity begins at conception and thus fetuses should be afforded legal rights. But health experts warn this line of thinking could be used to criminalize doctors who provide lifesaving care, such as by terminating a pregnancy that is fatal to the patient. By further enshrining fetal personhood, the Alabama ruling could put health care workers or even people who miscarry at risk of legal repercussions. Pandora's Satellite As surveillance tools advance in both function and ubiquity, an up-and-coming satellite venture company raises an important question: how much of our privacy are we willing to trade for the promise of safety? A startup called Albedo Space is building low-orbit satellites that are able to zoom in on individual humans down on Earth, The New York Times reports. The venture's cofounders say the satellites won't be equipped with identification-ready facial recognition technology, but they will be able to image people a massive step forward in satellite-abetted surveillance that could seemingly realize some long-held privacy fears. After all, as far as technological Eyes of Saurons could go, a fleet of all-seeing orbital cameras which according to the NYT have already inked multiple US defense contracts and garnered over $100 million in funding feels pretty on the nose. "This is a giant camera in the sky for any government to use at any time without our knowledge," Jennifer Lynch, general counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told the NYT. "We should definitely be worried." Weighing Costs As the NYT notes, Albedo's founders have paid lip service to the privacy concerns for some time now. In a February 2021 post to the forum Hacker News, for instance, Albedo co-founder and CEO Topher Haddad told a concerned netizen that "we are acutely aware of the privacy implications and potential for abuse/misuse." This seems to be the company line, given that Haddad told the NYT for its 2024 report that "we're acutely aware of the privacy implications." So, acute awareness: check! Speaking to the NYT, Albedo seemingly took the "but we're saving lives!" line of reasoning, emphasizing that its satellites which are due to orbit as low as 100 miles off Earth's surface could be used for purposes like helping authorities map disaster zones. Albedo's website also lists infrastructure monitoring and urban planning as possible applications for the tech, in addition of course to a few "defense [and] intelligence" use cases. While some experts, according to the NYT, agree that the satellites could feasibly be helpful in some scenarios, the privacy concerns are palpable nonetheless. The thought of a tool like this in the hands of a government keen on moral policing, for example, or authorities seeking to crack down on protests, is frightening. In spite of any benefits, surveillance technology almost always comes at a cost. Per the NYT, Albedo plans to launch its first satellite in 2025, and ultimately hopes to host a fleet of over 20 individual crafts. If and when Albedo's vision comes to pass, the public may well find out just how high its price is. "It's taking us one step closer," Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told the NYT, "to a Big-Brother-is-watching kind of world." More on surveillance: The NYPD Says It's Going to Spy on Labor Day Parties Using Drones Consumer prices in Anchorage were up by an annual rate of 7.5% as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Food prices were up by 11.3%. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) The cereal aisle in an Anchorage supermarket in 2022. Alaska public assistance officials have been working through a backlog in the state's food stamp applications. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) As of this week, the backlog of Alaskans waiting for the state to process their food stamp applications is down to just over 500. The states Division of Public Assistance is on track to be up to date by the end of the month, said Deb Etheridge, the divisions director. In an interview, Etheridge described how the state is balancing the need to comply with federal regulations Alaska has been warned its at risk of losing federal funding for failing to comply with getting food aid to Alaskans in need. As the division gets closer to the finish line, Etheridge has her eyes on a future without delays for the states most vulnerable residents. She said it is one thing to be out of the backlog, and another thing to stay out of it. If we want to stay out of the backlog, well have to make sure we get closer to processing cases within the first 10 days of application. So we are not taking our eye off the ball, she said. We are staying strong and keeping moving forward to stay current and actually work towards more timely processing. The division has a federal obligation to process applications within 30 days. Etheridge said the Department of Health has responded to an advanced warning letter from the federal government that threatened the states funding for the program if inefficient and ineffective administration continued. As the backlog spiked last fall, the state stopped conducting phone interviews, a key part of the verification process for benefits that can also be time consuming. The United States Department of Agriculture told the state those must resume. Etheridge said she is not ready to open up phone interviews for applicants yet they currently slow down the process too much. So she has pitched a plan to the USDAs Food and Nutrition Service to increase training for her staff as she phases the interviews back in, with an aim to be fully compliant with federal guidelines by May. Ive had some conversations with FNS about how to bring Alaska into compliance and be successful. And I would say theyre working with us to develop that plan, she said. One of the tenets of success is that I need to be able to train my staff on how to do effective interviewing, so that its not taking that additional amount of time. The department has contracted Change Innovation Agency to develop that training. Work is underway. The division does do in person interviews in its offices, many of which have remained closed after the pandemic. But Etheridge said they are moving towards opening more of them. The Wasilla office will be the next to reopen, in mid-March. She also noted that the number of online applications has been ticking up, which means time savings for the division and timely benefits for Alaskans. More than 3,000 people have used the application since it launched at the end of December. Etheridge said she also sees some really positive things in proposed legislation that is intended to increase access to food stamp benefits. If the bills become law, her division would not have to do asset verification with applicants which would increase efficiency in the office. The proposal would also increase the income threshold to 200% of the federal poverty level, which aligns with other benefits programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The post As Alaska food stamp backlog dwindles, Public Assistance balances federal requirements, local need appeared first on Alaska Beacon. Lawmakers of the Democratic Party, left, look on as their colleagues of the ruling Socialist party vote in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. Albanias Parliament on Thursday approved a deal for the country to hold thousands of migrants rescued in international waters by Italy while their asylum applications are processed, despite protests from opposition lawmakers and human rights groups. (AP Photo/Armando Babani) TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albanias Parliament voted Thursday to approve a deal for the country to hold thousands of asylum seekers for Italy, despite protests from opposition lawmakers and human rights groups. Under the five-year deal, Albania would shelter up to 3,000 migrants rescued from international waters at any one time. With asylum requests expected to take around a month to process, the number of asylum seekers sent to Albania could reach up to 36,000 in a year. Albania is not a European Union member, and the idea of sending asylum seekers outside the bloc is controversial. The deal was endorsed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as an example of out-of-the-box thinking, but has been widely criticized by rights groups. The agreement, signed in November between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, is part of Melonis efforts to share the burden of addressing migration with other European countries. The Parliament, dominated by Ramas left-wing Socialist Party, quickly voted 77-0 to approve the deal while opposition lawmakers sat out the vote and tried to disrupt it with whistles. Rama was not in Parliament for the vote but said afterward that it shows Albania is standing with Italy and acting like an EU state by agreeing to share a burden that Europe should face united, as a whole family, in the face of a daring challenge that transcends traditional left and right divides. After the vote, Meloni thanked Rama and the Albanian people for their friendship and collaboration. In a post on X, Meloni described the agreement as cooperation against clandestine immigration and human trafficking. Migrants have been a sensitive issue for EU member countries in the Mediterranean not just Italy but also Spain and Greece. Migration is set to be a hot issue in Europe-wide elections on June 6-9 and EU members and institutions are trying to push long-awaited asylum and migration reforms through the blocs parliament before the polls. Mainstream parties hope the new rules will allow them to counter anti-migrant arguments espoused by populist and far-right groups. Italys center-left opposition has called the deal an expensive exercise in propaganda ahead of European elections and a shameful bid to turn Albania into Italys Guantanamo. Albania's conservative opposition has regularly tried to disrupt parliament since October to protest the Socialists' refusal to create parliamentary commissions to investigate alleged cases of corruption in the Cabinet. A group of 30 opposition lawmakers earlier went to the Constitutional Court in an unsuccessful effort to block the Italy-Albania deal on the grounds of human rights. Italys lower chamber of parliament approved the deal in January, followed by the Senate earlier this month. Two processing centers are to be set up in Albania at a cost to Italy of more than 600 million euros (about $650 million) over five years. The facilities would be fully run by Italy while it fast-tracks their asylum requests. Meloni has said she expects them to become operational by the spring of 2024. Italy would remain legally responsible for the migrants throughout the process, and would welcome them if they are granted international protection or organize their deportation from Albania if refused. Those picked up within Italys territorial waters, or by rescue ships operated by non-governmental organizations, would retain their right under international and EU law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there. Rama has said that Albania stands beside Meloni in a sign of gratitude on behalf of Albanians who found refuge in Italy and escaped hell and imagined a better life following the collapse of communism in the 1990s Albania. Italy has sought help from other EU nations to handle the increasing number of arrivals. Data from its Interior Ministry showed that migrant arrivals in Italy jumped 50% in 2023 from the previous year. About 155,750 migrants reached Italian shores last year, including more than 17,000 unaccompanied minors, compared to 103,850 in 2022. Elsewhere, Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is trying to overcome a U.K. Supreme Court ban on his signature migration policy, a plan to send asylum-seekers who reach Britain across the English Channel on a one-way trip to Rwanda. The plan was announced almost two years ago, but no flights have taken off amid political and legal opposition. ___ Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, Aritz Parra in Madrid and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report. ___ Follow Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini ___ Follow APs coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration The port at Shengjin, Albania, where the migrant centres will be built with Italian money (ADNAN BECI) Albania's parliament on Thursday approved a controversial deal signed with Italy to host two holding centres for migrants rescued in Italian waters. The deal, which required a simple majority approval, passed with the backing of 77 MPs of the 140-seat parliament, with the opposition boycotting the vote. Following the vote, the opposition slammed the agreement. "The migrant deal harms national security, territorial integrity and the public's interest," right-wing opposition leader Gazmend Bardhi told reporters. The agreement has been regularly denounced by opposition parties in both countries as well as by rights groups, resulting in a legal challenge taken up by Albania's top court in Tirana. Late last month, the constitutional court approved the deal, paving the way for Thursday's vote. The parliamentary approval came weeks after Italian MPs also voted in favour of the agreement, with the lower chamber of parliament backing the deal by 155 votes to 115, with two abstentions. - Italian financing - The accord allows for two centres to be built near the Albanian port of Shengjin, where migrants would register for asylum, as well as a facility in the same region to house those awaiting a response to their applications. The centres, to be managed by Italy, can hold a maximum of 3,000 people at any one time while they await a decision on their claims. The International Rescue Committee NGO has also condemned the agreement as "dehumanising", while Amnesty International described it as "illegal and unenforceable". Albanian authorities, however, have fired back, saying that the deal is in line with previous treaties signed with Italy, and complies with both international law and the country's constitution". Italy will pay to build the two centres and necessary infrastructure, as well as expenses relating to the security and medical care of asylum seekers, according to Albanian authorities. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni -- leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party -- was elected to office in 2022 promising to stop migrant boats arriving from North Africa. But arrival numbers have continued to rise, from around 105,000 migrant landings in 2022 to almost 158,000 last year, official figures show. bme/ds/js GENEVA, Ala (WDHN) The search for a missing boy with mental disabilities in Geneva is over. According to Geneva Police Chief Pepper Mock, 11-year-old Ricky Zane Lawrence was found dead in a swimming pool near his home just after daylight Thursday morning. Rickey, a student at Mulky Elementary in Geneva, was reported missing Wednesday afternoon after being last seen in the backyard of his home on Jernigan Avenue in Geneva at 5:33 p.m. There were no initial signs of any kind of violence, said Chief Mock. We have ordered an autopsy from the Department of Forensics just to confirm what we already believe. Chief Mock says that Lawrence had a learning and intellectual disability and also had a history of wandering off. Our understanding, according to the family and a few neighbors, it was pretty common for him to run off, says Chief Mock. Stay with WDHN for updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Alexei Navalny's mother has said she has been shown his body, but that the Russian authorities are pressuring her to allow a "secret" burial. In a video address, Lyudmila Navalnaya said she had been brought to a morgue where she signed a death certificate. The former opposition leader's press secretary said a medical report presented to Ms Navalnaya stated he died of natural causes. Navalny's widow has said he was killed by Russian authorities. Lyudmila Navalnaya said the law required officials to hand over her son's body, but that she was being "blackmailed" as they refused to do so. She alleged authorities were setting conditions for the burial of her son, including the place, time and manner of his burial. She said: "They want to take me to the outskirts of the cemetery to a fresh grave and say: 'Here lies your son.'" Ms Navalnaya travelled to the northern Russian town of Salekhard following the news of her son's death in a nearby penal colony six days ago. She has previously been denied access to her son's body, on Tuesday appealing personally to Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow her to bury him. In Thursday's address, Lyudmila Navalnaya said she was being threatened by the authorities. "Looking into my eyes, they say that if I do not agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my son's body." She said she was told by investigators: "Time is not on your side, the corpse is decomposing." Lyudmila Navalnaya was speaking in a video posted to her late son's YouTube channel, and finished the address by demanding his body be returned to her. There was no immediate response from Russian authorities. Separately, on Thursday US President Joe Biden met Mr Navalny's widow Yulia and his daughter Dasha Navalnaya in San Francisco. "The president expressed his admiration for Alexei Navalny's extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia," the White House said in a statement, adding that the US was preparing to issue new sanctions on Russia. Navalny died in a prison colony on 16 February. Prison officials said he had fallen ill following a "walk". But Yulia Navalnaya has claimed that he was killed on the orders of Mr Putin and vowed to continue his struggle. The Kremlin has denied the allegations, calling Western reaction to the death "hysterical". Political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya said that the decision to show Mrs Navalnaya her son's body indicated authorities wanted to persuade Navalny's mother to "make a deal." "The body is given back, but under the condition that the funeral does not become a political event," she wrote in a post on her Telegram channel. In August 2020, the former opposition leader was poisoned using the Novichok nerve agent by a team of would-be assassins from the Russian secret services. Airlifted to Germany, he recovered there before returning to Russia in January 2021, where he was imprisoned. Attempts at commemorating his death have been met by a heavy-handed response from Russian authorities, with makeshift monuments cleared and hundreds arrested. We live in a land of abounding quackeries and if we do not learn how to laugh, we succumb to the melancholy disease which afflicts the race of viewers-with-alarm. H.L Mencken, 1921 They are drunk with power and mad for revenge. Thanks to Donald Trump, they are destroying a centurys worth of progress in the name of Christ while embracing his antithesis. Or, if you prefer Barry Goldwater, whom many MAGA members embrace today without knowing it, Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. That kind of deviltry nearly consumed America on several occasions in our past, but those who dwell in reality know the worst devils are the people who exploit such naive ideals for their own benefit: Donald Trump. Yet Trump remains nothing more than a con man a would-be emperor with no clothes. According to Charlie Daniels, the devil had a fiddle of gold. All Donald Trump can muster are gold-colored sneakers that cost $400 up front with the promise of getting them delivered in July. Dont hold your breath. The lyrics tell us the devil went down to Georgia looking for a soul to steal. He probably found it easier there because, as the AP reported this week, there is a legislative proposal that would require school libraries in that state to notify parents of every book their child checks out. Georgia senators who advanced the idea certainly wont provide any more money for education just more red tape aimed at shutting it down. Georgia is also considering a proposal to bring criminal charges against librarians for distributing material containing any obscenities. So much for Holden Caulfield and Huckleberry Finn. Its also doubtful that the ribald humor of H.L. Mencken, quoted above, would stand up to that type of scrutiny. Remember, those proposing such legislation are the same far-right politicians who embrace Trump as Jesus. If they had a lock of Trumps hair, they would undoubtedly use it to try and cure warts. Lets hand it to Trump, though; he spent a lifetime hanging out with hookers, but that doesnt make him Jesus. Hed probably burst into flames if he ever stepped inside a church, but thats a different story. If thats not enough for you, the Alabama Supreme Court. led by MAGA superfans, has ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, a cold move that would freeze fertility treatments in the state. I guess in Alabama a fertilized egg in the refrigerator is considered a chicken. If that makes your head swim, get ready for more stupidity. Retired U.S. Army Gen. Michael Flynn has crisscrossed America telling rally audiences, They hate you because they hate Jesus. He has urged evangelicals to get involved, saying the U.S. is in the middle of a spiritual war. Flynns ReAwaken America tour preaches the Trump gospel to far-right audiences across the country. This is the new New South. Not the Jimmy Carter New South, where folks build Habitats for Humanity, but a South that sneers at migrants, hates anyone who isnt a Christian, ignores the Constitution, elevates the evangelical church above our government and believes it has the right to dictate to a majority of Americans how they must worship. No, it isnt the loathsome Confederacy of the 1860s, or the Jim Crow South that denied civil rights and burned Beatles records; it is worse. It is the South born from Richard Nixons Southern strategy and Ronald Reagans appeal to Southern conservatives and evangelicals. This South is for the direct descendants of the old John Birch Society, the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan and others whose deep historical roots most certainly include the Confederacy. It is the South of hate-mongering and fear. It is active and it is dangerous. Trump is not its architect, only its current messenger. Hes descended from the notorious populist William Jennings Bryan, a man Mencken said was about as sincere as P.T. Barnum. Todays evangelicals may be your friends and family members, but they show up at Trumps rallies claiming theyd rather support Russia than the Democrats. They claim to follow Jesus, while standing for everything he stood against. These are Trumps core voters. Maybe thats not news, but what might be is the possibility that after full-force flaunting their arrogance, ignorance and disdain for anything remotely American for the last eight years, recent global headlines could finally lure them away. That could capsize Donald Trump. When Trump was indicted for 91 felonies in four different criminal cases, his followers claimed it was all the work of the "deep state." When he was impeached (with the active participation and leadership of Republicans) for his actions on Jan. 6, they screamed about a witch hunt. When Trump was found liable in civil court for sexual assault and fraud, they screamed the same things even louder. Joe Biden is a devout Catholic whom Ive actually seen inside a church on many occasions, unlike Trump, whose greatest claim to Christian virtue was holding up a Bible outside a Washington church for a photo-op during protests near the White House. But Trump is cheered as a Christian, while Biden is pilloried as a man of no faith, or a communist or a genocidal maniac. These are the Christian nationalists who have spread so much disinformation that three out of every five white evangelicals, according to the American Enterprise Institute, say Biden was not legitimately elected. Thats despite the fact that Trump has never presented one shred of evidence that he actually won the 2020 election. His claims have been laughed out of court more than 60 times all grist for the mill, for those who blame the deep state. But what may signal a turning point is the death of Alexei Navalny, the chief political opponent of Trumps good friend and mentor, Vladimir Putin. Trump refused to criticize Putin for Navalnys death. Instead he compared it to his own criminal prosecution: CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction. Thats what Trump offered up on Truth Social, while Biden accused Putin of being complicit in Navalnys death. The difference between the two men resonates so much so that Nikki Haley, the last GOP opponent left standing against Trump, recently accused the former president of being weak in the knees when it comes to Putin and Navalny. That was a body blow. The Trump faithful may truly believe Navalny had it coming, because their leader told them so. Trump hasnt said a word against Putin nor will he ever. When Haley suggested Trump was on his knees, that was a mental image the Trumpers wont want to acknowledge, for a variety of reasons. Their desire to find a president who will promote their brand of Christian nationalism has found an audience with Trump. He sees right-wing evangelicals purely as the means to an end. He wants their votes. He has promised to support the Christian bigots who long to outlaw all other religions and turn America into a theocracy where you can pay $400 for a pair of gold sneakers, ban and burn books, and lock up librarians. But Navalnys death may yet prove to be the unsettling fact that drives some of his Christian supporters away from Trump, out of the same fear that drove them to him in the first place: the fear of persecution. That fear is strong throughout the world. The cries of Genocide Joe rang out at Bidens appearance Wednesday in Los Angeles from supporters of the Palestinian cause. Thousands of pro-Israel protesters gathered on the National Mall after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Both of those communities know the fear of persecution, as do so many Christians, African Americans, women, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups. At the end of the day, only the preachers in the pulpits can reach the evangelical faithful. They wont listen to their liberal or progressive acquaintances and rarely consider those people friends. They wont listen to other conservatives. But those preaching every weekend, whether in the Six Flags Over Jesus megachurches or small community churches, do have the ability to change minds. If you pay attention, youll hear some of those preachers saying that what happened to Navalny was a tragedy and if you cant condemn it, then youre part of the problem. That doesnt bode well for Donald Trump. Those evangelicals who remain Trumps core supporters are the most easily manipulated people on the planet. Their zeal blinds them to reality. Does anyone of sound mind or body believe that Donald Trump is a devout Christian? There are sex workers across the country who could tell you of his debauchery. His visits to Epstein Island are legendary. His grab em by the pussy comments are on tape. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. If Trump can convince gullible people that he is a Christian, however, maybe theres hope that a preacher of sound mind can overcome the power of Trumps rhetoric. If youll fall for Trump, youll fall for anything including the truth, if its seasoned correctly. Joe Bidens challenge, as the presidential campaign heats up, is to harness those voters if he possibly can because if they turn on Trump, he is surely done. Biden seems to sense that as well. During his L.A. campaign stop he spoke bluntly: Trump is dragging us back to the past and not leading us to the future. We are going to defeat him and his lies. The influence of the evangelical community is far-reaching. It includes anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists, QAnon supporters and every other believer in witchcraft, anti-intellectualism and ignorance known to man. Evangelicals are like all the other religious or political zealots on the planet they favor emotion over reason, feel disdain for facts that do not agree with their predetermined beliefs and express a smug condescension that no one knows the truth except them. That is the Mencken variety of Boobus Americanus as it lives and breathes in the United States in 2024. Most dogs, cats and other vertebrates seem to have more common sense than your average human being and dogs are known to eat their own feces. As for Trump, Mencken reminded us, There is something peculiar about a man who wears a red tie. The News Russian authorities have given Alexei Navalnys mother an ultimatum over the burial of her son, a Navalny spokesperson wrote on X on Friday. Either she agrees to a secret funeral without a public farewell within 3 hours, or Alexei will be buried in the colony, Kira Yarmysh said. Yarmysh added that Lyudmila Navalnaya had refused to negotiate, and was insisting that Russian authorities hand over the body to her now that they claim to have established a cause of death. Navalnaya was able to see the body of her son on Wednesday evening, six days after his death in an Arctic penal colony. She said Thursday that Russian investigators had set conditions for where, when, and how Navalny should be buried, and alleged that they threatened her if she did not agree. Looking into my eyes, they told me theyll do something to my sons body if I dont agree to a secret funeral, she said in a video posted on Navalnys YouTube channel. Navalnaya insisted that she would not agree to the conditions. I want all of you who cherish Alexei, and for whom his death was a personal tragedy, to have a chance to say your goodbyes, she said. Russian authorities are concerned that Navalnys funeral could turn into a political action, a leading Russia expert, Andrei Kolesnikov, wrote on X. U.S. President Joe Biden met Navlanys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, and their daughter Dasha, in San Francisco Thursday, to express his condolences and admiration for Navalnys extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia, the White House said. Biden announced 500 new sanctions against Russia in response to Navalnys death on Friday. Know More Navalnys mother was shown a medical report which stated that he died of natural causes, a Navalny spokesperson said. Most Western leaders have held Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for his death, and people close to Navalny have suggested that he was killed in jail, where he was repeatedly placed in isolation and refused medical care after being arrested on trumped up charges. Navalnaya was previously denied access to her sons body after traveling to the morgue in Russias Far East where his body was believed to be held, and filed a lawsuit demanding the release of Navalnys remains. Yulia Navalnaya has accused Russia of holding her husbands body to wait for traces of Putins Novichok to dissipate, a reference to the nerve agent Russian agents used to poison him in 2020. The GOP impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is crashing and burning without its star witness, Alexander Smirnov, but Republicans were still primed and ready to answer pressing questions from reportersactually, wait, no they werent. Representative Andy Biggs somehow made an even more embarrassing attempt at defending the now transparently baseless impeachment effort than Representative Jim Jordan did on Wednesday, flatly insisting that the party had plenty to go on without Smirnov. What evidence do you have of a bribery scheme now? a reporter asked the House Oversight Committee member. We got lots of evidence, yes, Biggs replied as he hurried past a crush of reporters, refusing to elaborate. Biggs: We got lots of evidence pic.twitter.com/ooDmGinAV8 Acyn (@Acyn) February 21, 2024 Republicans had spent months building up the hype around Smirnov as a witness, isolating his allegation that Biden had pocketed millions of dollars from a Ukrainian oligarch as the centerpiece of their probe. But on Tuesday, the Justice Department revealed that Smirnov admitted to prosecutors that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in developing the Hunter Biden narrative. In a court filing, Smirnov told investigators he was in contact with four different [top] Russian officials, two of whom were the heads of the entities they represent. It targeted the presumptive nominee of one of the two major political parties in the United States. The effects of Smirnovs false statements and fabricated information continue to be felt to this day, prosecutors wrote, noting that Smirnovs contacts were not benign. Those revelations came after Smirnov was charged with lying to the FBI about his Biden allegations. Republican waffling on whether to continue the probe offers just another whiff of Russian meddling in a presidential electionand legal experts have picked up on the scent, predicting that the effort to save Smirnovs testimony could spell certain disaster for the Republican lawmakers leading the effort. Those spreading and believing Taylor Swift conspiracy theories have more reason to hand-wring via another study showing her popularity rising in both red and swing states. The online betting analysis and algorithm firm AceOdds data diced online searches of Swift's name across the United States in the past year and then compared their numerical findings to polling results. Their conclusion? The global megastar has a grip on peoples' attention in states representing 225 electoral votes, including battleground states Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The analysis also suggests that some of Swift's "biggest growing fan bases," are in crimson Florida and Iowa. "It's interesting in that sense that a lot of them did seem to be Republican, which shows she potentially can have quite a big influence if she decided to really step into the political sphere," said spokeswoman Eve Bennett, who represents AceOdds. Culture and politics: This one poll may show why Taylor Swift's influence has MAGA world on edge in 2024 election Monmouth poll shows Taylor Swift conspiracy theories gaining traction The data reveal comes as conspiracy theorizing about the performing artist also gains traction in the American body politic. Those baseless insinuations include that Swift is a Pentagon "psyop," a psychological operative employed to persuade Americans to support the Biden administration and its policies. Another held, incorrectly, that Swift would attend the Feb. 11 Super Bowl in Las Vegas and announce her endorsement of President Joe Biden. Swift did attend the NFL championship game, but to show support for her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. The Chiefs won the game, but there was no political message from Swift. Nonetheless, a Monmouth University poll released Feb. 14 found that nearly one in five who responded said they believed the conspiracies. Almost a third of Republicans surveyed said they are believers, while nearly half all polled, 46%, said they had at least heard the suspicions. Former President Donald Trump has not weighed in on the conspiracies, but he cautioned Swift to not be "disloyal" in a post on his social media site on Super Bowl Sunday. Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. Trump to Taylor Swift: Don't be disloyal. And I like your bf though he may be a "Liberal" Data analysis by UK firm shows Swift, at the very least, has Republicans' attention United Kingdom-based AceOdds runs an online service that offers gamblers betting calculators that decipher odds and calculate predictions. Bennett said the online service is expert on breaking down and analyzing data, and was surprised by the findings on searches of Swift's name and content when matched to the different states. AceOdds follows a similar data deep dive of online searches in the United States and red Florida last month showing Swift was "Floridas most in-demand performer" among searches for concert tickets. The report by Planet 7 Casino said the 12-time Grammy award-winner topped the field with 659,333 searches, accounting for 35% of all queries for concert tickets in the United States, and 37,041 searches in Florida. Bennett allowed that the analysis of the data is "not totally scientific" and that a certain number of the searches analyzed by AceOdds did not necessarily signal overt support for Swift, or even that they were conducted by Swifites, as the performer's fans are called. And since they were conducted over the past year, as Swift drew headliner attention from her U.S. concert tour, many could have been searching for information about her, or even the conspiracy theories themselves. "There's obvious a reason for that," Bennett said of Swift's soaring popularity in 2023, including being named Time magazine's Person of the Year. "And obviously her popularity has grown massively," But Bennett noted the Google search volumes do "give us an indication of the support, and people being more interested in Taylor Swift." She added: "The more people are consuming content around her the more influence people are going to be by what's in that content, what she's saying, what she's doing and what party she is voting for." And while some of those searching her name might have been doing it for "negative" reasons, "overall, the trend we looked at shows more positive terms." 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: Data dive shows Taylor Swift popular in politically red states The Alabama Supreme Court ruling granting legal personhood to frozen embryos could set up a political and legal backlash against conservatives heading into the November election. The decision not only threatens GOP efforts to court suburban women and other constituencies uneasy about abortion bans, but also complicates the partys standing with millions of people who may oppose abortion but support and in many cases use in-vitro fertilization and other forms of fertility care. The ruling also demonstrates how the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has made previously theoretical policy and legal battles over the most intimate aspects of American life far more immediate and high-stakes. GOP strategists warn that pursuing curbs on those treatments risks exacerbating the backlash that has cost Republicans several races since the fall of Roe. One in six Americans who struggle with infertility millions of people each year turn to IVF, according to the National Infertility Association. It certainly intersects, badly, with general election politics for Republicans, said Stan Barnes, a political consultant and former Republican state senator in Arizona. When a state, any state, takes an aggressive action on this particular topic, people are once again made aware of it and many think: Maybe I can't support a Republican in the general election. He added that even if other states dont follow Alabamas lead, the court ruling gives GOP candidates running this year another hot potato to deal with forcing them to answer questions on abortion they would rather avoid heading into the fall election. Many Republican candidates, including former President Donald Trump, have tried to convince voters that they favor a middle ground that leaves some abortion access in place but imposes enough restrictions to appease anti-abortion groups. But the Alabama case places the focus on the goals of hardline conservatives, who seek not only to eliminate abortion access but also curtail some forms of contraception and fertility care. That the case has the potential to upend the GOP conversation about abortion and fetal personhood in the presidential race became apparent on Wednesday, when presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who has chided her party for being too judgmental of women who have abortions, embraced the Alabama decision. Embryos, to me, are babies, Haley, who has spoken openly of her decision to use artificial insemination to conceive, told NBC News in an interview. Some anti-abortion and religious groups have long called for restrictions on IVF. But, until now, the view that discarding excess embryos is akin to abortion has remained on the margins of conservative circles. Several prominent GOP officials including former Vice President Mike Pence have discussed using IVF to grow their own families, and Republican state officials have taken pains to assure voters that abortion bans that took effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned wouldnt impact access to IVF. Kellyanne Conway, the former senior counselor and campaign manager for President Donald Trump, went to Capitol Hill in December to share the result of a poll her firm KA Consulting conducted that found overwhelming support for IVF including among people who identify as pro-life and Evangelical. The survey found that 86 percent of all respondents supported access to IVF, with 78 percent support among self-identified pro-life advocates and 83 percent among Evangelical Christians. Candidates for Congress and certainly those already serving there can bank significant political currency by advocating for increased access to and availability of contraception and fertility treatments, Conways team stressed in a memo to lawmakers, adding that almost no policies garner that level of support across the political spectrum. Legal experts also say the Alabama ruling, which criminalizes the destruction of embryos under the states Wrongful Death of a Minor law and has already led to one major hospital system ending all IVF services, may violate both state and federal religious freedom laws and could be vulnerable to lawsuits. Jews, Unitarians and other people of faith in several states have challenged strict abortion bans as an infringement on their religious rights arguing that the laws blur the line between church and state and illegally impose a Christian interpretation of when life begins on the general population. In Kentucky, a group of Jewish women who want to use IVF but fear prosecution under the states abortion ban sued in 2022 under the states Religious Freedom Restoration Act. They argued that Jewish doctrine holds that life doesnt begin until a child takes its first breath clashing with the states assertion that life begins at conception, and that Judaism permits, and in some cases requires, an abortion when there are pregnancy complications. Aaron Kemper, one of the lead lawyers in that case, pending before a Kentucky state court, said the Alabama ruling demonstrates why his clients are credibly afraid and have standing to sue. The decision is basically confirming what weve been saying the whole time that when a state defines a fertilized embryo as a human being, that leads to a bunch of terrible things, he said. We were trying to get ahead of it and show why these laws are unconstitutional before IVF is completely taken away. Kemper acknowledged that the Alabama Supreme Court decision does not directly outlaw the discarding of nonviable or excess embryos that is a routine practice in IVF, but he and others said it opens the door to such a ban by defining the stored embryos as extrauterine children. This was about accidental destruction of embryos, he said. But its not a large leap of logic to think that someone could also be prosecuted for purposeful destruction. The Alabama decision is poised to have ripple effects around the country, and one anti-abortion group has already referenced it in a legal brief urging the Florida Supreme Court to block a proposed abortion rights amendment from going on the November ballot. It may also sway the outcome of the Kentucky lawsuit by undermining the states attempt to have the case thrown out. In the Kentucky case, state officials argued that these plaintiffs were being histrionic about their risk. But this shows that such laws very much do threaten the ability to create a family in this way, said Dr. Christine Ryan, the associate director of reproductive rights at Columbia Law School. This really shows whats at stake for the plaintiffs in that case that their fears that they won't be able to create their families in the way they need to are justified. The court ruling is also making waves in Alabama, where state lawmakers and conservative activists are trying to navigate the logistical and political challenges it created. "We've got five IVF clinics in Alabama. Right now, they all don't know what to do, said Eric Johnston, president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition and author of the state's 2019 near-total abortion ban. They're all afraid they're going to get sued by plaintiffs lawyers. Something has to be done pretty quickly." But while legal scholars told POLITICO that theres the potential to challenge the Alabama decision itself for violating religious liberty protections in multiple ways, they cautioned that the same court that just ruled for embryonic personhood isnt likely to agree. If someone is trying to have children for religious reasons and they need IVF to do so, they could argue that this ruling substantially burdens the free exercise of their religious practice, said Micah Schwartzman, director of the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy at the University of Virginia Law School. The question is whether Alabama courts that just rendered a decision this aggressive would grant someone that kind of a religious exemption, considering its view that an embryo is a person. And I would expect that court to be quite skeptical of such a challenge given what its already said. Schwartzman and other experts who spoke to POLITICO also pointed to the religious language sprinkled throughout a concurring opinion by the Alabama Supreme Courts chief justice, Tom Parker, as grounds for a potential challenge under the Establishment Clause, which mandates the separation of church and state. Parker repeatedly quoted the Bible in his opinion and asserted: Even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory. But Nelson Tebbe, a professor at Cornell Law School, said despite the crazy religious language in the concurring opinion, that type of challenge is even more of a longshot. This is just a concurrence that no other justice joined, and thats not the same thing as state legislators being motivated by religion when they write a law banning abortion, he said. Megan Messerly contributed to this report. Editors note: Updated Thursday afternoon to reflect the announcment that 3rd Street Market will stay open under new management. The 3rd Street Market sourdough bakery-cafe will change owners Saturday, with chef and co-owner Dena Peterson Shaskan saying she is taking a break after 16 months from an industry with too many restaurants and not enough people. The bakery-cafe will reopen under new management, Sundance Square said in an announcement. Shaskan said she will keep her wine bar and shop, Wines from a Broad, 317 Houston St., which features wines by women vintners. Its open nights and weekends, when downtown is more crowded. Shaskan and her husband, Trent, opened 3rd Street in a former sports bar-and-grill at 425 W. Third St. in Sundance Square. Its a daytime-only coffee-and-artisan-bread cafe and wine bar that has served sourdough fresh from the oven, along with sandwiches and soups. She said Thursday that she and her husband are just tired after working six days a week for more than a year with a limited staff. She wrote on Facebook: Come by and get a hug and stock up on our signature soups and lasagnas before Dena hangs up her apron. Sourdoughs are baked at the bar in 3rd Street Market in Sundance Square. Handout photo Sundance Square praised the Shaskans, saying they were invited to open the bakery-cafe and they are both outstanding chefs and individuals invited to open the innovative foodie market and shop. The 3rd Street Market will recalibrate under new management, the Sundance statement said. When Dena Shaskan announced their departure, she also said weekday coffee-and-lunch traffic was like every downtown in the United States There arent enough people in the offices. The bakery-cafe opened in late 2022 in a Sundance space at the corner of Third and Lamar streets on the west edge, where street parking is easier and free on weekends. It has featured baker Trent Shaskans Icon Bread, popular at farmers markets. The breads may return to market stands, Dena Shaskan said. The atmosphere is bright and airy, offering a friendly haven for coffee drinkers studying or working. The menu Wednesday offered five sandwiches, a grilled chicken salad and soups such as broccoli-cheese, black-bean-tomatillo, beef-and-barley or chicken-sausage gumbo. Daytime business has been slow in part because weekday traffic downtown came back more slowly than expected after the COVID pandemic, Dena Shaskan said. Plus, a burst of new restaurants have opened across Fort Worth A sprouts-and-hummus sandwich on sourdough at 3rd Street Market. Handout photo Even the new 61 Osteria Italian restaurant on Burnett Park, ranked this week by Texas Monthly as the No. 4 best new restaurant in Texas, switched to dinner-only service after lunch and brunch were slow. The closing nearby of the downtown public library, and the relocation of City Hall to a former office tower a mile west of Sundance Square, did not affect 3rd Streets business, Dena Shaskan said. If anything, the library closing freed more street parking. What surprised us was that with the number of people still working downtown, that we had such loyal customers and great repeat business, she said. 3rd Street Market is a sourdough bar and market with cooking classes. Bud Kennedy/bud@star-telegram.com Fort Worths convention and tourism boom has filled steakhouses and a half-dozen new downtown hotels. But, Dena Shaskan said, out-of-town visitors are more likely to go to destination restaurants such as Cheesecake Factory or Reata, a Western-themed steakhouse moving in June from 310 Houston St. to the ground floor of The Tower, 500 Throckmorton St. Reata also operates a breakfast-and-lunch restaurant downtown, 203 Cafe, 215 Commerce St. This embedded content is not available in your region. Imam Atta, director of charity Tell Mama, said Islamophobic incidents had become "more aggressive" over the past few months Anti-Muslim hate in the UK has more than tripled in the four months since Hamas's attacks, a charity has found. Tell Mama has documented 2,010 Islamophobic incidents between 7 October and 7 February - a steep rise from the 600 it recorded for the same period the year previously. It is the largest number over four months since the charity began in 2011. Anti-Muslim and antisemitic attacks have surged in the UK following the Israel-Gaza conflict. Tell Mama, which describes itself as the leading agency on monitoring anti-Muslim hate crime, said slightly over half of the incidents in the past four months were cases of hate speech on social media. But the charity also recorded cases of physical assault, abusive behaviour, threats and acts of vandalism, with the largest proportion of incidents - 576 cases - taking place in London. Muslim women were targeted in two out of every three recorded incidents, the charity added. Incidents recorded by the organisation include: a Muslim woman in Islamic clothing being assaulted on a bus in east London and told "you Muslims are troublemakers" a written death threat to worshippers at a mosque a woman whose car was vandalised with a Nazi swastika cases of Muslim women being called "terrorists" Tell Mama director Iman Atta told the BBC: "Individuals walking down the streets are being targeted, harassed, households have been doodled with graffiti calling people 'killers', 'terrorists', 'Hamas sympathisers'. "Anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia is gendered - it's misogyny as well as the visibility of that woman being either of an Asian background or wearing visible Muslim attires." Reports of hate incidents in the UK have soared since 7 October, when Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage. Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 29,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Last week, the Community Security Trust (CST), which tracks antisemitic incidents across the UK, said 4,103 attacks were recorded against members of the Jewish community in 2023. Two thirds of these occurred on or after October 7 - marking an almost six-fold increase in cases compared to the same period in 2022. "The war unfortunately is impacting our communities here in the UK," Ms Atta said. "Muslim communities, Jewish communities are picking up the brunt of the war. "Emotions are running very high, but one thing both communities agree on is that we all need to be able to go around our day-to-day basis feeling safe, feeling that we're not going to be targeted for who we are. "A Muslim woman should not have to take off her headscarf just because she doesn't want to be targeted, nor a Jewish person should have to hide their Star of David because they don't want to be targeted." The government said it condemned the recent rise in reported anti-Muslim hatred and antisemitism, adding there was "no place for hate in our society". "We expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these abhorrent offences feel the full force of the law," a spokesperson said, adding that further funding had been made available to communities to provide additional security at places of worship and faith schools. Antimatter engines could propel humanity into the next phase of spaceflight, but building them for spacecraft is still a long way off. Nzoka John / Getty Images Antimatter engines could be humanity's ticket to interstellar travel. When antimatter particles come in contact with regular matter, it produces loads of energy. That energy, if we learn to harness it, could get us to Pluto in just a few weeks. Interstellar travel is only something humanity has achieved in science fiction like Star Trek's USS Enterprise, which used antimatter engines to travel across star systems. But antimatter isn't just a sci-fi trope. Antimatter really exists. Elon Musk has called antimatter power "the ticket for interstellar journeys," and physicists like Ryan Weed are exploring how to harness it. Antimatter is made up of particles almost exactly like regular matter but with opposite electric charge. That means when antimatter contacts regular matter, they both annihilate and can produce enormous amounts of energy. "Annihilation of antimatter and matter converts mass directly into energy," Weed, cofounder and CEO of Positron Dynamics, a company working to develop an antimatter propulsion system, told Business Insider. Just one gram of antimatter could generate an explosion equivalent to a nuclear bomb. It's that kind of energy, some say, that could boldly take us where no one has gone before at record speed. Space travel at record speed Proxima's star system, shown here, could be reached in just five years with antimatter-powered technology. European Southern Observatory The benefit of all that energy is that it can be used to either accelerate or decelerate spacecraft at break-neck speeds. For example, let's take a trip to our nearest star system, Proxima, about 4.2 light years away. An antimatter engine could theoretically accelerate a spacecraft at 1g (9.8 meters per second squared) getting us to Proxima in just five years, Weed said in 2016. That's 8,000 times faster than it would take Voyager 1 one of the fastest spacecraft in history to travel about half the distance, according to NASA. Even within our own solar system, an antimatter-powered spacecraft could reach Pluto in 3.5 weeks compared to the 9.5 years it took NASA's New Horizons probe to arrive, Weed said. Why we don't have antimatter engines CERN, in Switzerland, is a research facility that produces antimatter via a series of giant, powerful instruments including the one shown here, which captures antimatter particles for scientific study. Brice, Maximilien/CERN The reason we don't have antimatter engines, despite their tremendous capabilities, comes down to cost, not tech. Gerald Jackson, an accelerator physicist who worked on antimatter projects at Fermilab, told Forbes in 2016 that with enough funding, we could have an antimatter spacecraft prototype within a decade. The basic technology is there. Physicists armed with the world's most powerful particle accelerators have made antiprotons and antihydrogen atoms. The issue is that this type of antimatter is incredibly expensive to make. It's considered the most expensive substance on Earth. Jackson gave us an idea of just how much an antimatter machine would cost to build and maintain. Jackson is the founder, president, and CEO of Hbar Technologies, which is working on a concept for an antimatter space sail to decelerate spacecraft traveling 1% to 10% the speed of light a useful design for entering into orbit around a distant star, planet, or moon that you want to study. Jackson said he's designed an asymmetric proton collider that could produce 20 grams of antimatter per year. "For a 10-kilogram scientific package traveling at 2% of the speed of light, 35 grams of antimatter is needed to decelerate the spacecraft down and inject it into orbit around Proxima Centauri," Jackson told BI. He said it would take $8 billion to build a solar power plant for the enormous energy needs of antimatter production and cost $670 million per year to operate. The idea is just that, for now. "There is currently no serious funding for advanced space propulsion concepts," Jackson said. However, there are other ways to produce antimatter. That's where Weed focused his work. Weed's concept involves positrons, the antimatter version of an electron. A different kind of antimatter engine NASA has also proposed designs for antimatter propulsion that use magnets, like the one shown here, to separate antimatter particles from particles of regular matter as part of the process. NASA Positrons "are several thousand times lighter than antiprotons and don't pack quite as much punch when annihilating," Weed said. The advantage, however, is that they occur naturally and don't need a giant accelerator and billions of dollars to make. Weed's antimatter propulsion system is designed to use krypton-79 a form of the element krypton that naturally emits positrons. The engine system would first gather high-energy positrons from krypton-79 and then direct them toward a layer of regular matter, producing annihilation energy. That energy would then trigger a powerful fusion reaction to generate thrust for the spacecraft. While positrons may be less expensive to obtain than more powerful forms of antimatter, they are difficult to harness because they are highly energetic and need to be slowed down, or "moderated." So building a prototype to test in space is still beyond reach, cost-wise, Weed said. Such is the case for all antimatter propulsion designs. Over the decades, scientists have proposed dozens of concepts, none of which have come to fruition. For example, in 1953, Austrian physicist Eugen Sanger proposed a "photon rocket" that would run on positron annihilation energy. And since the '80s, there's been talk of thermal antimatter engines, which would use antimatter to heat liquid, gas, or plasma to provide thrust. "It's not sci-fi, but we aren't going to see it flying until there is a significant 'mission-pull,'" Weed said about his engine concept. Can it work? The power generated when antimatter particles collide with regular matter is scientific fact. The engines powered by antimatter collisions are still science fiction, for now. All About Space Magazine / Contributor / Getty Images To build Weed's concept at the scale of a starship, "the devil's in the engineering details," Paul M. Sutter, an astrophysicist and host of "Ask a Spaceman" podcast, told BI. "We're talking about a device that harnesses truly enormous amounts of energy, requiring exquisite balance and control," Sutter said. In general, that enormous energy is another obstacle holding us back from revolutionizing space travel. Because during testing, "if something goes wrong, these are big explosions," Steve Howe, a physicist who worked on antimatter concepts with NASA in the '90s, told BI. "So we need an ability to test high energy density systems somewhere that don't threaten the biosphere, but still allow us to develop them," said Howe, who thinks the moon would make a good testing base. "And if something goes wrong, you melted a piece of the moon," and not Earth, he added. Antimatter tends to bring out the imagination in everyone who works on them. "But, we need crazy but plausible ideas to make it further into space, so it's worth looking into," Sutter said. Weed echoes the sentiment, saying "until there is a compelling reason to get to the Kuiper Belt, the Solar Gravitational Lens, or Alpha Centauri really quickly or perhaps we are trying to return large asteroids for mining progress will continue to be slow in this area." Read the original article on Business Insider A mural depicts volunteer soldier Oleksiy Movchan holding a rescued cat moments before his death, on the wall of an apartment block in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Writing on the mural reads: "Glory to Heroes of Ukraine". Movchan and three of his fellow soldiers rescued 11 civilians and the cat from under debris of a house ruined in the Russian rocket attack in the country's eastern Donetsk region, but he got hit by the shelling and was killed. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Set against the blue and yellow of Ukraines flag, the vast image of a masked fighter holding a grey-and-white cat towers over a street on the side of an apartment block in Kyiv. The painting depicts volunteer Oleksiy Movchan, a 49-year-old who was killed by Russian shelling in May 2022 in the eastern Donetsk region shortly after he and three of his fellow soldiers rescued 11 civilians and the cat. The image reproduced from a photo taken moments before Movchan died is one of two dozen war-themed murals capturing fallen soldiers, legendary figures and key moments in the grueling conflict that have appeared on the citys walls since Russias full-scale invasion began two years ago. In one mural, a fighter pilot making a thumbs-up sign fills a wall in a Kyiv neighborhood. It's a reference to a famous photo that circulated in the early months of the war, purportedly showing the Ghost of Kyiv a mythical pilot who was celebrated for shooting down multiple Russian planes over the capital in the first hours of the invasion but who Ukraines air force later admitted never actually existed. The phenomenon of vivid street paintings brightening the drab grey walls of apartment buildings is not new in Ukraine. Before the war, those images depicted fairy tales, outstanding musicians and national figures. Now they honor volunteer soldiers and others who have become well-known symbols of heroism and resistance over the past two years. Saint Javelin, an image depicting a religious-icon figure cradling a U.S. Javelin anti-tank weapon, was a meme developed by Ukrainian-Canadian former journalist Christian Borys to raise money for the war effort. The image soon went viral appearing on anything from T-shirts to tote bags, flags to socks. Sales of merchandise from the site raised over $2 million for aid and military equipment. In another painting, a legendary Jack Russell terrier called Patron (Cartridge) is immortalized on a wall in a city park. The 4-year-old dog renowned for assisting mine-clearing teams in the northern Chernihiv district became a mascot for Ukraines emergency services. He was awarded the state medal by President Zelenskyy and recognized as the first Goodwill AmbassaDOG by UNICEF. Each of the huge images is painted by different artists with permission of the citys government. Movchens mural was commissioned by his wife Olena, Ukraines air force backed the Ghost of Kyiv and service members of the Azov Brigade supported the painting of their comrade, a former wrestling champion-turned-volunteer fighter Maksym Yalovtsov, 32, who was killed in September 2022 in an operation behind enemy lines in the Zaporizhzhia region. At the bottom of the giant image that spans the length of a high-rise in the neighborhood where Yalovtsov once lived the text reads: When your deeds speak louder than words, then your fame outruns light. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) The Auburn Police Department (APD) announced two Florida men were arrested on multiple charges related to auto burglaries that happened on Wednesday. According to Auburn Police, 30-year-old Damien Dean Waller from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was arrested on warrants charging him with: Three counts of unlawfully breaking and entering into a vehicle Two counts of trafficking in stolen identities Four counts of fraudulent use of a debit/credit card Two counts of third-degree theft of property Possession of burglary tools Felony attempting to elude Fourth-degree theft of property Auburn Police says 24-year-old Cedric Antonio Paige Jr., also from Fort Lauderdale, was arrested on the following warrants: Three counts of unlawfully breaking and entering into a vehicle Two counts of trafficking in stolen identities Five counts of fraudulent use of a debit/credit card Two counts of theft of property Possession of burglary tools Fourth-degree theft of property MCSO arrests validated gang member; discovers cocaine, marijuana and firearm during traffic stop Both Paige Jr. and Wallers arrest resulted from the police department receiving several auto burglary reports that happened near the 2300 block of Wire Road on Feb. 21 between 6 and 7 p.m. APDs patrol and detective units coordinated a search for the suspect vehicle based on a description provided by a witness. Law enforcement found the vehicle located near the 1700 block of South College Street and noticed an individual who looked as if he was trying to hide his identity leave a nearby business and enter the suspect vehicle. Auburn Police units followed the suspect vehicle as it exited a parking lot onto South College Street while speeding. The chase continued as the suspect vehicle turned on the northbound entrance of I-85. Opelika Police units eventually joined to assist after the vehicle reached Opelika on I-85. Throughout the pursuit Auburn Police say the vehicle traveled at high speeds until it crashed, striking another vehicle near exit 62. No one was injured during the crash. After the crash, the suspect left the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Police were able to successfully detain Paige Jr. and Waller. Both were arrested on charges connected to the auto burglaries and additional charges determined during an investigation. Auburn Police transported both Waller and Paige Jr. to the Lee County jail, where Waller is being held on a $87,000 bond and Paige Jr. is held on a $83,500 bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. PENNINGTON GAP, Va. (WJHL) In the mountains of Pennington Gap, the Appalachian African American Cultural Center houses many historical artifacts and is dedicated to preserving the history of black people in the region. The center was founded in 1987 by Ron and Jill Carson. However, decades before it was a one-room school for Black students up to the 7th grade. It served as the only source of education for the Black children here in Pennington Gap, Ron Carson said. My mother was in the first group of children to attend school here, and I was in the last group in 1965 when we integrated. In 1939, Carsons great-great-grandmother Rachel Scott saw the need for a school for Black children and provided the land and resources. Honoring Black History: A look back on integration in Johnson City In the 1980s, Carson and his wife moved back to Pennington Gap after living in Massachusetts for some time. They saw that the building was set to be demolished, but they put a stop to it. Carson said they knew the significance of the building and knew it was worth saving. We didnt really know what we wanted to do with this building until we went to Highlander, the Highlander Education Research Center in New Market, Tennessee, Carson said. We received a fellowship to the SALT program, which was the Southern Appalachian leadership training program, and it was there that we discovered that very little had been written on African Americans in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, Northeast Tennessee, Southern West Virginia. Therefore, we knew that we could try to achieve this goal in trying to preserve some of this history. They transformed the one-room school into a cultural center full of historical artifacts, books, photos and much more memorabilia. An Earl Gilmore record and instruments owned by Gilmore; a musician from Clinchco, VA Soil from lynches in Southwest, VA A slave bed frame made by a slave A book about the Melungeon people A photo of The Black and White Medley Boys band An original desk from The Pennington Colored School A doctors cabinet, the only white doctor in Southwest, VA who would treat African Americans If we walk around this room we got the first African-American lady who was ever elected to a county board in this whole region, Carson said. My wife was the vice mayor of this town and president of the Virginia Municipal League. We got musicians, my grandfather, Smith Carson, had the first integrated big band back in the 1930s which was called the Black and White Medley Boys who played with Louis Armstrong and Elvis Presley. Theres a lot of history thats not being told. The cultural center even owns the desk where author Alex Haley wrote his iconic book Roots. The desk where Alex Haley wrote Roots is now in the Appalachian African American Cultural Center (photo: WJHL) The desk was at Kimball M. Sterling Inc. Auctioneers in Johnson City, Tennessee. The center was able to acquire the desk in 2022 for only $100. He was a writer, a journalist, he was instrumental in documenting the Roots series in 1977 which changed television, Carson said. There had never been a mini-series of that magnitude before on TV, before Roots 1977. We have a doctors medicine chest, cabinet he used back in the fifties and this doctor was the only doctor at the time that would treat African Americans, Carson said. We have photographs, we have a desk that was the original desk in this building, just a series of different things. Most importantly, I think its the stories that we have documented. Many school groups come to visit the center throughout the year. Carson said its important for younger generations to know their heritage. WATCH: News Channel 11s 2024 Honoring Black History Special You know the old saying goes, If you dont know where you came from, how do you know where youre going,' Carson said. Carson said many students who visit never heard of Alex Haley or Carter G. Woodson, known as the father of Black history. I really strongly believe that we are two generations away from our young generation not really recognizing what Dr. King did during the Civil Rights Movement, Carson said. As parents, we have to teach it to our kids. They are not going to hear it anywhere else. Carson along with a team goes out and teaches anti-racism workshops as well. Our workshops are geared towards white privilege and internalized racist oppression, Carson said. For 30 years, I came down my driveway and drove past this little one-room school, going to my job that I did for 30 years, not realizing that I was oppressed. That I had to put a face on every single day who I thought white America expected me to be. And that is internalized racist oppression. Carson believes Black history in Appalachia is oftentimes overlooked. For his work preserving Black Appalachian History, Carson was selected to serve on the National 400 Years of African American History Commission. A federally appointed committee composed of people from around the country who are dedicated to educating people about Black history. Carson currently serves as the vice chair. African American history is American history, Carson said. Its all history. It all should just be together. We just need to not be ashamed of where we came from, but to embrace it and to learn from it. Ron Carson at the Appalachian African American Cultural Center in Pennington Gap, VA (Photo: WJHL) Although his wife Jill passed away last year, Carson continues the legacy they created together. The vision they created when Carson heard a quote from the father of Black history, Carter G. Woodson. Perhaps the most important element to any given people is the documentation and preservation of that history. If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition and it stands to be lost in the eyes of society forever, Carson quoted from Woodson. And when I heard that 38 years ago, I just been on a mission trying to preserve the history here in this region. The Appalachian African American Cultural Center is only available to visit by appointment. You can book a visit on their website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A New York appeals court ruled Wednesday that a law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections in New York City violates the states constitution. The Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department ruled against the bill allowing noncitizens to vote in local New York City elections, including for mayor, in a 3-1 decision released Wednesday. The New York City Council approved the bill in 2021 and quickly faced a lawsuit challenging the law after Mayor Eric Adams (D) enacted it in 2022. This case concerns the validity of Local Law No. 11 (2022) of City of New York, which created a new class of voters eligible to vote in municipal elections consisting of individuals who are not United States citizens and who meet certain enumerated criteria, Associate Justice Paul Wooten wrote in the appeals court decision. We determine that this local law was enacted in violation of the New York State Constitution and Municipal Home Rule Law, and thus, must be declared null and void, he added. This delivered a win for those who filed a lawsuit against the bill, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), who celebrated the news on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Great news! We won in the appellate court and @NYCMayors attempt to implement the law to register noncitizens to vote in #NYC elections has been struck down. This is a big victory in preserving both the integrity of our elections & the voice of American citizens! she said. Others who joined the lawsuit included New York City Council Republican Leader Joe Borelli, who told Politico it was an easy case. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella was also listed as a plaintiff in the case. All they had to do was read the state constitution and municipal law. The criticism falls on the proponents of the bill, Borelli told Politico. A New York lower court also ruled in 2022 that the law violated the states constitution. The law would have allowed an estimated 800,000 noncitizens to vote in New York City if it was enacted, according to The Associated Press. Adams supported the bill when he enacted it in 2022, despite previously raising concerns, AP reported at the time. I believe that New Yorkers should have a say in their government, which is why I have and will continue to support this important legislation, Adams said in a statement at the time, according to AP. A spokesperson for the New York City Law Department told The Hill that the courts decision is under review and next steps are being evaluated. The Associated Press contributed. Updated Feb. 22 at 8:06 a.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Our society puts a lot of trust in its law enforcement agencies. Citizens, through their elected governments, give law enforcement officers authority to detain people for questioning, search their property, arrest them, and, in certain circumstances, even use deadly force against them. Given all that, we expect these officers to be honest and law-abiding. If officers aren't bound by the same laws they're sworn to enforce, then we would essentially be living in a police state. This brings us to St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson, appointed to the job under mysterious circumstances in December. While Pearson has filed papers to run for the sheriff's post this fall, he hasn't been elected to anything by anybody yet. That hasn't stopped Pearson from acting like a dictator who operates above the law, at least with regard to the state's laws requiring government to operate in the open. Following open records laws isn't optional St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson discusses the case of an illegal animal slaughterhouse during a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at the St. Lucie County Sheriffs office in Fort Pierce. Since Pearson took over for longtime Sheriff Ken Mascara, who said health reasons forced him to abruptly step down, TCPalm journalists have made numerous requests for public records from the sheriff's office. TCPalm has also made records requests from Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding Pearson's appointment, which haven't been fulfilled, either. Some records may help the public better understand the circumstances that led to Pearson's promotion over higher-ranking officials in the sheriff's office. Other more routine records requested of Pearson's staff relate to criminal cases over the past three months. As of this writing, the sheriff's office has sent redacted records for only one request and that came only Tuesday after multiple emails were sent directly to the sheriff's legal counsel. TCPalm paid $128 for what the office said was four hours of work to provide the records. In many cases, though, the requests haven't even been acknowledged beyond autoreplies to the initial inquiries. This is not an area of the law where Pearson has discretion to do whatever he wants. State law clearly says public records not otherwise exempted must be provided to the requestors within a reasonable time frame. There's nothing reasonable about waiting weeks or months for phone and email records that could be compiled and distributed within a few minutes. At the very least, Pearson and his staff should explain why they haven't been able to fill the requests. If they believe records are exempt from the open records law, they are required by law to explain that, too. Through back channels, TCPalm has heard Pearson is displeased with some of our coverage of his recent job performance. That doesn't give him the right to skirt the public records law. Pearson and his spokeswoman have also refused to respond to interview requests from our reporters who cover breaking news. They have also ignored repeated requests from TCPalm Executive Editor Adam Neal to meet and discuss whatever concerns he has. This isn't illegal, but it's childish and shows a total lack of leadership on Pearson's part. It doesn't speak well of someone who's trying to convince voters he deserves a chance at a full term. Pearson can start cooperating, or start losing Lt. Andrew Soesbe Sheriff Keith Pearson, Holmes and PAL Executive Director Jarret Romanello, Tatiana and Will Dyer. In his first news conference after his surprise appointment, Pearson said: Transparency is going to be our number one goal that we're working towards." That seems like nothing more than a hollow promise now. Until voters decide Nov. 5 who should run the sheriff's office over the next four years, Pearson has an obligation to act like the county's top law enforcement officer should. That includes sharing relevant public safety information with local residents, including the media. Media organizations act as proxies for citizens who don't have the time or resources to monitor local government and law enforcement agencies. Our journalists are conduits for sharing information with the public. Residents have a right to know through independent sources, not just the sheriff's website or social media channels. This isn't just a TCPalm problem. Other media outlets may face similar "punishments" from Pearson if they report stories that displease him. If Pearson doesn't back down, he may head into election season with a string of questionable decisions and legal issues on his resume, all of which will be well-documented. Then it'll be up to voters to decide if this is the kind of person they want to have in charge of law enforcement in St. Lucie County. Editorials published by TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers are decided collectively by its editorial board. To respond to this editorial with a letter to the editor, email up to 300 words to TCNLetters@TCPalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: St. Lucie Sheriff Keith Pearson showing he's not ready for full-time job The Archer County Sheriff's Office arrested a man Wednesday whom Sheriff Jack Curd described as a "violent sex offender" at an address on Shoreline Drive in Lakeside City. Curd said in a Facebook post that his office received information the suspect was staying at the house and was wanted for parole violation and had a loaded firearm when officers arrested him. A man the Archer County sheriff described as a "violent sex offender" was arrested at a house in Lakeside City Wednesday. A woman at the home was arrested for harboring a fugitive and felony possession of a firearm, Curd said. The sheriff said deputies also located drugs in the home, which he described as a "known drug house." He said the arrests resulted from a tip his office received. "We were able to take this violent sex offender off the streets and put him in jail where he'll be going back to prison," Curd said. Archer County Jail records show Jarrod Drew Barker was jailed Wednesday on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and for parole violation for online solicitation of a minor. The roster shows Summer Dawn Harris was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, hindering apprehension of a sex felon and possession of drug paraphernaia. Barker had previously been arrested in Wichita Falls in 2019 after fleeing from a halfway house in El Paso, according to the El Paso Times. The newspaper reported he was at the halfway house after being released from prison in connection with a conviction of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Barker was convicted in 2007 on two counts of attempting to commit sexual assault, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety's online sex offender registry. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 'Violent sex offender' arrested in Lakeside City Since taking office in December 2023, Argentine President Javier Milei has fired 30,000 state employees, halted new public works contracts, and cut generous state subsidies for transport and energy in a bid to curb spending (Menahem KAHANA) President Javier Milei's government said Thursday it would shut down Argentina's national anti-discrimination agency as part of its drive to slim down the state, saying the institute served "no purpose." Since taking office in December, Milei has fired 30,000 state employees, halted new public works contracts, and cut generous state subsidies for transport and energy in a bid to curb spending. "The decision was made to move forward with the dismantling of institutes that serve absolutely no purpose, such as Inadi," said presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni, referring to the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism. The organization has offices across the country, employing 400 people, and fields some 2,500 complaints a year, according to its latest report. The majority of those complaints come from the workplace or educational field, and are linked to disability, sexual orientation or gender. "We would love for Inadi to be closed today -- that is not possible for administrative reasons," Adorni said. "There are countless institutes that President Milei is determined to dismantle. The battle to reduce public spending is central to our government plan." Ana Fornaro, co-founder of Agencia Presentes -- a regional media organization specialized in gender, diversity and rights issues -- said the decision "does not surprise us." "This government has been especially cruel to the institutions that defend" diversity, she said. In the past, Milei has accused Inadi of "ideological persecution" and wanting to "govern the way we speak," referring to discrimination for language perceived as offensive. Milei, who describes himself as an "anarcho-capitalist" who is "above all for freedom," has said he is opposed to abortion and sex education, does not believe humans are responsible for climate change, and that there is no wage gap between men and women. Among the many ministries he got rid of when taking office was the portfolio dealing with women, gender and diversity. Diego Morales, director of litigation at the Center for Legal and Social Studies, said the decision to close Inadi was part of the government's plan "aimed at eliminating or limiting the capacities of human rights protection bodies in Argentina." sa-lm/fb/sst Two men were treated at an area hospital and one was arrested following a confrontation inside a Starbucks in the Loop that escalated to a stabbing Wednesday afternoon, according to Chicago police. Police said the men, 52 and 46, got into an argument around 2 p.m. in the coffee shop across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago in the 200 block of South Michigan Avenue. The disagreement became physical and the younger man stabbed the other man several times in the head and arm with a knife, police said. The alleged attacker cut his hand during the fight and both men were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition, police said. Detectives were investigating. An Arizona prosecutor said she will not extradite a New York murder suspect to the state on Wednesday, claiming Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) could not be trusted to keep the man behind bars. Maricopa County prosecutor Rachel Mitchell said in a press conference Wednesday that the suspect will instead remain in Arizona. Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan DA there, Alvin Bragg, Mitchell said, I think its safer to keep him here and keep him in custody, so that he cannot be out doing this to individuals either in our state, county, or anywhere in the United States. The suspect, 26-year-old Saad Almansoori, stands accused of the murder of a 38-year-old woman in New York City earlier this month. He was arrested in Arizona days later, after stabbing a second person. Mitchell specifically cited Arizonas mandatory minimum prison sentences as a reason to deny extradition, implying that Bragg would not pursue a harsh enough sentence. A spokesperson for Braggs office denounced Mitchells decision not to allow extradition and her attacks on Bragg himself. It is deeply disturbing that D.A. Mitchell is playing political games in a murder investigation, spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement to The New York Times. New Yorks murder rate is less than half that of Phoenix, Ariz., because of the hard work of the N.Y.P.D. and all of our law enforcement partners, she continued. It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorkers death. Bragg, a Democrat, has been a locus for political criticism of New York City law enforcement, with detractors claiming that the district attorney is to blame for a perception of higher crime. Bragg is also the prosecutor who brought the business fraud case against former President Trump regarding hush money payments allegedly made to cover affairs, attracting more claims of political motivation. Bragg sued Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, last April, accusing him of a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack his work, following a House investigation. Mitchell is also politically connected across the nation. She served as the outside attorney to Senate Republicans during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and famously questioned the woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault during a public hearing, Christine Blasey Ford. The Hill has reached out to the offices of Bragg and Mitchell comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An Arizona prosecutor said Wednesday that her office will not extradite the man accused of killing a woman in a New York City hotel, calling out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's "treatment of violent criminals." Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell told reporters in Arizona that she's ordered her staff not to cooperate in any efforts to send Raad Noan Almansoori, 26, back to New York where he's wanted in connection to the slaying of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38. "This is not aimed at the New York Police Department at all. I know they did a hard job, they did a good job, but we will not be agreeing to extradition," Mitchell said. "I've instructed my extradition attorneys not to agree to that. We're going to keep him here." Almansoori is being held without bail in Arizona, where he's been accused of stabbing two women. Raad Noan Almansoori in white leggings New York City. (via NBC New York) "Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan DA there, Alvin Bragg," Mitchell said, "I think it's safer to keep him here and keep him in custody so that he cannot be out doing this to individuals either in our state, county or anywhere in the United States." Emily Tuttle, a representative for Bragg, said it's "deeply disturbing that" Mitchell is "playing political games in a murder investigation." The Arizona prosecutor's actions are offensive to the "NYPD and all of our law enforcement partners," Tuttle added. "It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorkers death," Tuttle said in a statement. The Manhattan DA's Office cited data that appeared to show murders being more common in Phoenix, the largest city in Maricopa County, as compared to New York City, in which Manhattan is one of five boroughs. In Manhattan, we are serious about New Yorkers safety, Tuttle said. New Yorks murder rate is less than half that of Phoenix. There were 198 murders in Phoenix, with about 1.6 million residents, last year as opposed to 386 in New York City, where 8.3 million people live, in 2023, according records in both cities. Bragg's office says that equals a homicide rate, per 100,000 residents, of 11.6 for Phoenix and 5 for Manhattan. Mitchell, a Republican, didn't cite any particular case or complaint she had with Bragg, a Democrat, who became Manhattans first Black district attorney in 2022 after he was elected in November 2021. Mitchell is no stranger to high profile political battles, having been hired by Senate Republicans to lead the questioning in the Supreme Court nomination fight that ended with Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation in 2018. On her Maricopa County profile page, Mitchell credits her work for the GOP in the highly publicized Kavanaugh hearings with helping her rise "to national prominence" Bragg was elected on a progressive platform aimed at re-prioritizing what the District Attorney's Office would pursue and backing away from prosecuting some misdemeanors. He and other progressive prosecutors have come under fire from traditional law enforcement groups. Almansoori was arrested in the parking garage of a Scottsdale shopping mall after automated license plate readers traced him there, officials said. "This gentlemen was going to continue this string of violence," Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said. "He was going to do so there, at the Scottsdale Fashion Square." In the New York City slaying, Oleas-Arancibia was found dead in her room at the SoHo 54 Hotel in Manhattan on Feb. 8, the NYPD has said. Officers were called to Room 1109 around 10:30 a.m. and found Oleas-Arancibia with a broken iron next to her, police said. The womans death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, from blunt force trauma to the head, officials said. In Arizona, Almansoori is accused of stabbing two women, one during a carjacking in Phoenix and the other, a McDonalds employee, in the restaurant's women's room in Surprise, officials said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com An Arizona prosecutor says she will keep a man suspected in the bludgeoning of a woman in a New York City hotel this month in custody in her state, saying she doesnt trust the Manhattan district attorney to handle the case properly. Rachel Mitchell, the Maricopa County prosecutor, said Wednesday that she and her team would not cooperate in extraditing the man, Raad Almansoori. Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan DA there, Alvin Bragg, she told reporters at a news conference, its safer to keep him here and keep him in custody so he cant be out doing this to individuals either in our state or county or the United States. The suggestion that Almansoori, 26, could soon be back out on the streets if left in Braggs hands prompted a sharp rebuke from the district attorneys office. It is deeply disturbing that D.A. Mitchell is playing political games in a murder investigation, a spokeswoman, Emily Tuttle, said in a statement. In Manhattan, we are serious about New Yorkers safety, which is why murders are down 24% and shootings are down 38% since D.A. Bragg took office. New Yorks murder rate is less than half that of Phoenix, Ariz., because of the hard work of the N.Y.P.D. and all of our law enforcement partners, Tuttle continued. It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorkers death. Mitchell quickly tweeted back: Its great to see the @ManhattanDA finally take interest in violent crime. My job is to focus on the victims I was elected to protect. Almansoori was arrested Sunday on suspicion of stabbing two people in Maricopa County last weeka woman whose vehicle he tried to carjack and a female McDonalds employee. Both women survived the attacks. Almansoori was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and theft of means of transportation, and is being held without bond while Mitchells office decides how to pursue the case, she said. It was only after his arrest in Arizona that Almansoori was linked to the New York murder, telling investigators to Google SoHo 54 Hotel, Joseph Kenny, the New York Police Departments chief of detectives, said at a Tuesday news conference. Police said that staff at the SoHo 54 discovered a womans body in one of the hotels rooms after shed been beaten to death with an iron sometime between the afternoon of Feb. 7 and the morning of Feb. 8. The victim was identified as Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, who police said had been working as an escort. Almansoori allegedly left the hotel and flew to Arizona, where he has a history of prior arrests. He has also been arrested in Texas and Florida, and may have committed other recent crimes in other parts of the country not yet connected to him, with Kenny saying that hed told Arizona cops that he hurt three additional girls in Florida. He intended to find and harm more individuals in our community, Benny Pina, the chief of police in Surprise, Arizona, said at a news briefing, according to the Arizona Republic. This arrest without a doubt stopped someone, he continued, with as heinous as everything he has done so far, from continuing to that path of destruction and eroding community safety. Almansooris half-sister, who was raised alongside him in Phoenix, told the New York Daily News on Wednesday that news of his arrest was a relief. It sounds mean, but I hope he gets what essentially he deserves, she said. If they let him free again, who knows what else could happen. After Wednesday afternoons melee between Mitchell and Bragg, a spokesperson for the Arizona prosecutors office clarified that there was a reason for her apparent grandstanding. In an email to The New York Times, the spokesperson said that Almansoori would not be extradited because the charges against him in Maricopa County were serious enough to warrant adjudication there first. Another spokesperson for Mitchells office denied to the Times that Bragg had even formally requested an extradition, though the newspaper reported that a Manhattan prosecutor had flown to Arizona this week to discuss the matter. Mitchell is just one of many Republican officials who have attacked Bragg, a Democrat, in recent months for his handling of violent crime. Some critics, including Donald Trump , have latched onto vastly inflated statistics to support their claims, with the former president bellowing falsely last year that killings are taking place at a number like nobodys ever seen, right in Manhattan under Braggs watch. Relatedly, Bragg is currently prosecuting Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an alleged hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. His trial on those felony charges is set to kick off next month. 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. Army personnel cant always identify extremist behavior, and almost half the time they don't know to whom they are supposed to report such activity, according to an internal audit obtained and released this week by an activist group. The audit further illustrates shortcomings first identified in a USA TODAY investigation last year, which found the armed forces could show almost no progress on orders to eliminate extremism in the ranks, despite an effort launched in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection. The newly released audit was completed in July 2023. It was obtained by the Project on Government Oversight under the Freedom of Information Act and released Thursday. It shows researchers with the U.S. Army Audit Agency interviewed more than 400 people from July 2022 to July 2023, including commanders at 11 commands across the country, active duty soldiers and civilian Army personnel. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a full military effort to combat extremism after the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Auditors found Army leaders had held stand-downs and counseling on extremism, had discussed extremism in training and took the topic seriously. But despite the training, Army personnel couldnt always identify extremist activity. For example, the audit notes, 10% of those interviewed did not identify that using force, violence, or unlawful means to deprive individuals of their rights under the U.S. Constitution is considered extremist activity by the Army. Further, 21% of survey respondents didnt identify donating money to a group advocating the superiority of one racial group as prohibited behavior. In addition, 43% of the respondents incorrectly identified where they were supposed to report extremist activity, and 36% of respondents were unsure to whom extremist activity should be reported. "These internal Army findings show that the need to address extremism inside the military remains urgent, said Liz Hempowicz, vice president of policy and government affairs at the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan government watchdog group. There continues to be a lack of basic awareness of what extremist acts are and how to report them. This is unacceptable. Army officials did not respond to requests for comment on the audit. Problems identifying and reporting extremism Identifying and reporting extremist activity was a major focus of the reforms suggested by the Pentagons Countering Extremist Activity Working Group, which was created by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2021. As USA TODAY reported last year, that working group released a final report in December 2021 that made at least 20 recommendations for the military to follow to tackle extremism. As of last summer, the military had taken significant action on only two of those recommendations. The working group called on the military to create what one expert described as a supercharged internal affairs unit to deal with reports of extremism. It recommended creating a Behavioral Threat Analysis Center staffed with experts who would research and understand new trends in domestic extremism. That center would be combined with a Defense Insider Threat Management and Analysis Center, which would use the militarys up-to-date knowledge about domestic extremism to seek out insider threats, as well as receive tips about service men and women via a hotline. That was where the sauce was made that was where things were really going to happen, said Andrew Mines, formerly a research fellow at George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism, who consulted with the working group. But theres no evidence the military ever created these centers. In the absence of those new systems, almost half of the Army personnel surveyed for the audit said they didnt know to whom to report extremist activity. The inability to properly recognize, respond to, and report extremist conduct or indicators of extremism could increase the Armys risk of not addressing inappropriate behavior, the audit says. These missed opportunities increase the danger of such misconduct damaging unit morale and cohesion and the Armys reputation. Confusion over how extremism is defined The Pentagon in Washington, in a file photograph. The U.S. military embarked on a major new initiative to safeguard its ranks from the influence of extremist groups in 2021. In April 2021, Austin called for a review and update of the militarys official definition of extremism. The Countering Extremist Activity working group concluded in its final report that this had been completed one of the only extremism-related tasks the Pentagon had completed. But the Army audit shows there is still significant confusion about what activities soldiers are, and are not, allowed to engage in. The Army still uses various unclear and outdated definitions of extremist activity, it says. Rather than relying on the updated Department of Defense definition of extremism codified in Department of Defense Instruction 1325.06, the Army instead uses two of its own codes that define extremism. And theyre different from each other. Inconsistent definitions caused personnel we interviewed and surveyed to be unsure of what was and wasnt extremist behavior, the audit says. When asked if they had witnessed such behavior, 41 survey respondents (10%) said they were unsure if theyd witnessed extremist behavior in their current unit. The two definitions also give diverging instructions on how to report extremist activity, according to the audit. One says soldiers should report it to a security manager or commander, while the other says the reporting channels should be law enforcement and a counterintelligence agency. The audit mentions the updated Defense Department definition of extremism, pointing out that the Army hasnt yet rewritten its own codes to comply with the department's definition. It should do so within 2 years, the audit states (or within four years of the Defense Department changing its definition). The audit recommends the Army update its definition of extremism to reflect the Defense Department's definition change from 2021. This is really just embarrassing for the armed forces, said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. It sounds like its still complete chaos over there and these are just basic things what the definition of extremism is, how to report extremism this is just simple stuff. Training soldiers on extremism Though the audit found that training on extremism is being carried out in the Army, it also notes that commanders arent using all available resources to conduct unit-level training on extremism awareness and prevention. The Army made equal-opportunity professionals available to commanders to help train their personnel on extremism, the audit notes. But none of the commanders interviewed for the audit knew this resource was available to them. And 10 of the 11 commanders interviewed for the audit suggested improvements to the training materials that were currently available to them. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Army audit reveals more shortfalls on stopping extremist activity PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) An arrest has been made after authorities say they discovered a Luzerne County man downloaded 400 images of child pornography. According to the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department, on Tuesday officers executed a search warrant in Pittston relating to a CyberTip received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Three wanted for alleged retail theft at Sheetz Police say the search warrant revealed that 50-year-old David Papiesz of Pittston downloaded images of child pornography for several years. During the interview, Papiesz stated he had downloaded over 400 images for a long time, as stated in the affidavit. Papiesz was charged with 100 felony counts of possessing child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. He remains in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on a $200,000 bail. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. A Minnesota man has been arrested in the killing of a model whose body was found stuffed inside a refrigerator, California police and news outlets reported. Officers found Maleesa Mooney, 31, dead in her downtown Los Angeles apartment on Sept. 12, police said. Now Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, of Hopkins, Minnesota, has been arrested and faces a charge of murder in connection with her death, Los Angeles police said in a Wednesday, Feb. 21, news release. Humphrey was arrested at his home on an unrelated warrant, police said. They did not provide any information on his connection to Mooney or how the investigation led to his arrest. He has waived extradition hearings and will be taken to Los Angeles to face charges, police said. Officers sent to Mooneys apartment to perform a welfare check said they found blood on the floor near her refrigerator, KCAL reported. They found her body bound and gagged inside, police told the outlet. A medical examiners report said her wrists and ankles were tied together behind her back with miscellaneous electronic cords and clothing items, KTLA reported. Mooney was severely beaten with abrasions, lacerations and contusions throughout her entire body from a violent physical altercation, KCAL reported, citing the report. The medical examiners office lists her cause of death as homicidal violence. Mooney was two months pregnant when she died, her family told the Los Angeles Times. She modeled part-time and worked for a Beverly Hills real estate agency. She was last heard from Sept. 6, about a week before her body was found, the publication said. Man denied food at Carls Jr. sets fire to managers vehicle, California police say 3-year-old boy shot dead by moms boyfriend, California police say. Shocking 14-year-old driver fleeing police kills passenger in fiery crash, California cops say MANILA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Government forces have killed three suspected rebels in a clash in Negros Occidental province in central Philippines, a military report said Thursday. The report added that three soldiers and a militia man were also wounded in the fighting that broke out between troops and New People's Army (NPA) rebels around 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday in a village in Escalante City. Troops recovered an M653 rifle, an AK47 rifle, and a cal. 45 pistol left behind by the fleeing insurgents. NPA rebels have been fighting the government troops since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military. Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. On 15 December 2021, a trilateral security and technology transfer agreement between Australia, the UK and the US was announced. Called Aukus, it has military and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific at its heart, out of which comes the requirement to deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. The UK and US do not have enough nuclear shipbuilding infrastructure even for their own needs, so in the longer run Australia will need to build its own boats. The announcement came as quite a surprise, particularly to the French, and has been hotly debated ever since. At a strategic level it makes perfect sense. To project power and influence across inescapably vast swaths of ocean, Australia needs nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs not to be confused with their nuclear-ballistic-missile-armed siblings, SSBNs). You really only need to look at a globe to understand why. But SSNs are some of the most complex and expensive warships there are, so sharing the effort with two countries who have been doing it for a while is a good idea. Aukus is more than just the submarines though. It also aims to enhance the development of advanced military capabilities such as cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and undersea capabilities. Information sharing is already commonplace through the Five Eyes arrangement (Aukus countries plus New Zealand and Canada) but this plans to take it beyond just information and into the realms of sensitive technology sharing. It includes plans for more joint military exercises, cooperation on defence innovation, and sharing of defence capabilities. Aukus will strengthen military ties between the three countries and improve their collective security posture in the Indo-Pacific region. So far so good. Although its not explicitly stated in the announcement, a significant motivation behind Aukus is to counter Chinas growing military capabilities and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Of course, this means it hasnt been universally welcomed, and some are even calling it a new arms race, but on the whole, the strategic level messaging and cooperation has been well received. However, as with anything Naval, broad strategic conversations are quickly forgotten in the rush to zoom in on hull numbers and money, and this is no exception. In outline, the plan is for Australia to buy three to five US-built Virginia class SSNs with the first due in 2032 and then one more every three years. So this isnt happening soon and if youre of a particularly negative disposition, are one of the more extremist China hawks, or have a short planning horizon, it can already be written off as too late to bother. That viewpoint does rather ignore the fact that right now China is totally dependent on Australia for iron ore, vitally necessary for its huge industrial and construction sectors. Finding other sources of supply will take time, and is something that China almost certainly needs to have sorted out before making any move that would force Canberra to react. So there is probably time, at least for the first Virginias to arrive. After that the plans to build the new Aukus submarine will be matured in time for their delivery to start around 2040. Those boats could be five or six in number depending on how many Virginias the Australians get. The first could be built here in the UK and then the remainder in the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. The UK and Australian yards will carry out much of the building but the boats will have US nuclear and command system technology at their core. This is where Aukus starts getting messy. None of the three countries have anything close to a good track record of delivering complex maritime projects on time and to budget. Internal criticism has been common and now, insults are increasingly being thrown at the other countries. Only yesterday, Hugh White, a leading thinker in Australian defence, wrote an article in Australian Foreign Affairs called Dead in the water, The Aukus delusion titled Fatal Shores: Aukus is a grave mistake in which he suggests that UK submarine building and maintenance isnt up to scratch for their requirements, why would it be for ours? Ill put him down as a maybe for now but he is not alone. Accusations of strained UK submarine infrastructure, and there are many, can equally be levelled at the US. The Americans want to build two Virginias a year but are currently only managing 1.3. This actually needs to be 2.33 for Aukus sales to not erode their own numbers. So even the simple bit selling a tried and tested submarine type is causing capacity issues. Extrapolate this to the part where all three countries have to build a largely new boat in yards that are not ready and you can see why people are nervous. International cooperation of this sort is littered with examples of delay and overspend. The Eurofighter Typhoon programme started in 1983 but didnt go operational with the RAF until 2007. Granted that was across four countries but still, it took 24 years and Typhoons are far less complex pieces of equipment. Then, with Typhoon there was at least no doubt that the partner nations needed fighter jets. There is no such certainty in Australia with plenty who think that the whole thing is a waste of money, or could even make them less safe. Arguments for non-nuclear powered submarines instead are now popping up. On this subject, it is hard to exaggerate just how much less capable a non-nuclear submarine is than a nuclear powered one. The suggestion that conventional boats are quieter are always oversimplified and often out of date. The idea that they can operate in shallower water is typically exaggerated or irrelevant. The key thing to remember is that a conventional submarine cannot run its diesels when fully submerged. This means that it cant travel long distances and can cross moderate distances only at a battery-saving crawl. It will struggle to get into weapons range of any moderately fast moving surface ship, and will have even worse problems in getting away after making an attack. Worst of all, it cannot move quickly and undetectably across large distances as a nuclear boat can. This capability, delivered by the Aukus plan, changes the entire naval picture in the western Pacific. Conventional boats simply dont. Yes, a conventional boat can put up its snort air-intake mast above the surface, allowing it to run diesels and recharge batteries without fully emerging. But a snort mast is nearly as obvious as simply surfacing, and restricts the subs speed nearly as badly as running on batteries. Yes, there are various air independent power options available which can improve a conventional boats submerged performance somewhat though still nowhere near to equalling a nuclear vessel. But air-independent systems require complicated and dangerous topping off with dangerous semi-explosive fuels after use: its notable that all such designs still have diesels for practical utility. Theres a good reason that air-independent subs didnt come into use until decades after nuclear ones did, and they remain rare. Nuclear is what you want if you are serious about submarine warfare, and it is hard to imagine a clearer geographical case for nuclear-powered boats than Australia with the vast Pacific waters it needs to dominate waters which might well be overflown by hostile patrol planes, or patrolled by hostile warships. But you do have to be able to afford nuclear, and that is a big if. On cost, Virginias currently come in at about 4.3 billion US dollars per boat (3.41 billion pounds at todays rates) that is significantly more than a QE class aircraft carrier. If you order three of them and then five of the ones that come along after (which may well cost more as they will require new infrastructure), you do need to be certain that this is what you want. On the plus side, the long-awaited/much delayed review into the Australian surface fleet was published this week it shows strategic clarity and ambition. It talks about pace, and this will be key; infra, people and decisions need to all move fast if any of this is to work. Beauty pageants over prospective ship types and political delays need to be eradicated. Money has been allocated, immediately raising questions as to whether its enough, but its a start and arguably puts the Australian plans on a stronger footing than the UKs ambitious but unfunded Integrated Review and supporting Defence Command Paper. Overall, the intent and ambition in this breaking paper, in my view, gives Aukus a boost. There are pros and cons for each country. A Tomahawk cruise missile is launched from Royal Navy attack submarine HMS Splendid. Tomahawks launched from Aukus subs will be able to strike targets on land more than 1000 miles away - Reuters For Australia, Aukus has the ability to answer the strategic need for long-range power projection. It brings the US and the UK closer and makes their theatre of operations directly relevant to both countries. But the gap between now and delivery needs to be filled with rapid industrial upscaling, engagement and activity. The RNs carrier strike deployment to the Indo-Pacific in 2025 will be a key stepping stone. Australia will need to learn how to become a partner rather than a customer the constant tinkering with the design of their version of the Type 26 frigate, the Hunter-class, is a case study in how to ensure your value for money can be eroded over time. Later this decade, if the US is ready to deliver the Virginia class but Australia isnt ready to receive, guess what happens next. The US will be delighted with anything that helps share their burden in the Pacific and also gets a new operating base there. The downside for them is anything that could prevent them maintaining their own sub numbers. Then, Trump issue lurks ever closer with every indication that he could derail the whole thing by promising more Virginias. A huge advantage of Aukus is that it boosts the Western worlds sub-building capacity. It seems incredible to write that a potential next President may not want that, but here we are. For the UK, the real prize is a larger fleet of SSNs, some of which could then be used in the North Atlantic on UK essential tasks. We are woefully understrength here in terms of numbers and availability. Anything that has even the slightest promise of reversing this trend should be embraced. Increased access to US technology is never a bad thing either. But our nuclear enterprise is in shocking condition. Docking and build periods are too long and our people, the most precious part of all, are suffering from both and are voting with their feet. If not managed, this will get worse as nuclear engineers and designers based in Barrow are seduced by the bright lights of Adelaide, as a steady stream of their seagoing counterparts have been for years now. If we allow a nuclear brain drain, our own infra, already thin, quickly becomes unsustainable. Aukus also needs to be considered a whole-country endeavour. The 2015 defence review determined that the MOD should cover the cost of the new nuclear armed deterrent submarines where the previous two classes had received extra funding from the Treasury. The Defence budget has never really recovered from this jolting shift, which has effectively wiped out recent increases in defence spending, and the mindset that caused it is the opposite of what is now required. The MOD cant do this one on its own. Contracts need to be crafted between the Cabinet Office and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), an area that has so often gone awry in the past. The Department of Education should be involved in determining and establishing skills in future crews, the Home Office for developing Aukus visas so people can travel freely between countries, and so on. For so long, the MOD has been expected to do other departments work, in particular by having its budget sidetracked into job creation schemes: now it is time for some payback. Better collaboration between government (policy and money) and industry (build and deliver) is required. The US and the UK have been doing this on elements of our submarines for 60 years now. That level of performance is now required with a third country in the circle of trust. This will not be easy: you cant surge trust is a military cliche for a reason. Aukus remains an exciting strategic opportunity to bolster our and key allies defences with a weapon system that dominates in delivering soft and hard effects. But peer below the strategic positives and a picture of fragility emerges at all levels. For it to work, for these fragilities to be reversed, all three countries need to make it a domestic and international whole-ship evolution on a collaborative scale perhaps not seen before in peacetime. If anyone wobbles either strategically, financially or contractually then it will collapse. Recruitment and retention in all three countries needs to improve or the whole thing becomes moot. From a UK perspective, it is an invaluable opportunity to reverse our nuclear decline and so to generate more boats for our own use in the North Atlantic and elsewhere. Sadly, learned helplessness in defence means that many are predicting failure already. Its initial far away location is not helping with those for whom our foreign and naval policies start and stop at the English Channel. But if we want more nuclear submarines and to revive the industries and jobs that support them, then this is the best option we have on the table today. Australia has shown vision with this initiative and, as of today, it seems that they will back it financially. We now need to do the same and get our pre-war chequebook out accordingly. Tom Sharpe is a former Royal Navy officer with command experience operating against Russian submarines 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. Though praised in a federal report for its response to the Pratt mass shooting five years ago, officials say new training and gear make the citys first responders better equipped to respond to an active shooter situation in the future. Aurora police and fire department leaders say they have new training programs, improved communications and specialized equipment because of lessons learned during the mass shooting on Feb. 15, 2019. That day, an employee at the Henry Pratt Co. warehouse on the West Side of Aurora shot and killed employees Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez, Clayton Parks, Josh Pinkard and Trevor Wehner before leading police on a chase through the facility, where he shot and wounded five officers before dying in a shootout. Things can happen at the drop of a hat, and you have to be ready to respond, Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross said. I think thats why we continue to put a lot of resources into the way we train our officers. We know it can happen, because it did, and it happened here. While the police and fire departments did train together prior to the Henry Pratt shooting, those training sessions are now much more frequent, according to Aurora Deputy Fire Chief Dan Osman. Training was also previously focused on rescue task force teams, which would go in to rescue victims once the police have isolated a threat, but has since been expanded, officials said. Aurora Fire Department EMS Division Chief Jason Demas said that certain medics, called tactical EMS, now train to enter dangerous situations side-by-side with SWAT police officers. These medics do not carry weapons and instead are trained to immediately care for an officer that gets wounded or a victim that is found. Theres hours and hours of training thats gone on, Demas said. They are there every month. The recent collaboration and joint training of the police and fire departments has brought the two departments even closer together, according to Demas. He said the two now see each other as being one public safety unit. According to Cross, one of the major issues on the day of the Henry Pratt shooting was the lack of smooth communication between responding agencies, such as other police departments, sheriffs offices and state agencies. The police department is currently in the process of working with other agencies to streamline communication during crisis situations, he said. Statewide, agencies are upgrading their radio systems to use new technology, which will help bridge the gaps, Cross said. Aurora and Naperville, which are backups for each other, will also update their technology, he said. Personal gear like door breaching tools and helmets has also been upgraded, and police officers now carry ballistic shields in their cars, according to Cross. In the fire department, every front-line vehicle now comes equipped with ballistic vests and helmets, Aurora Fire Chief David McCabe said. Firefighters and EMS members did not have this equipment during the Henry Pratt shooting but still went into the warehouse to rescue victims, Cross said. The police department has also begun to incorporate mental health check-ins with officers, according to Lt. Joseph Howe, the departments public information officer. He said the command staff keeps mental health at the forefront of their minds and attempts to be in-tune with police officers to provide support when they need it. Cross said the department is also prioritizing de-escalation training to avoid making a potentially dangerous situation worse. While this training did not necessarily come from lessons learned at the Henry Pratt shooting, it may prevent similar tragedies, he said. A lot of situations we deal with on a day-to-day basis could turn into something like this, but because officers have de-escalation training, and we talk about crisis intervention training, were able to avoid situations like this, Cross said. Weve had numerous examples of people who were willing to hurt themselves or hurt other people, but they didnt because the officers took their time, treated them with respect and were empathetic to their situation. Social workers now help officers follow up with the potentially dangerous people and help to connect them to resources that can help them get better, he said. rsmith@chicagotribune.com AUSTIN (KXAN) Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he filed a lawsuit related to an Austin-based massage parlor for allegedly operating an illicit massage business. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said Paxton filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit asking the Williamson County Courts to stop the massage parlor, which he said violated the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The lawsuit was filed after an investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney Generals Human Trafficking Criminal Investigations Unit found evidence of illicit sexual activity occurring at the business, OAG said. KXAN reached out to the Williamson County Courts for the defendants response to the lawsuit and also called the massage parlor for a statement, but one was not given. According to OAG, an estimated 1,000 illicit massage businesses operate in Texas. These businesses sell commercial sex under the guise of legitimate massage services and many of the women employed at such establishments are victims of human trafficking. The OAGs Human Trafficking Division is committed to eradicating these illegal businesses and sending the message that they will not be tolerated in our communities, OAG said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. (Bloomberg) -- Australia and the United Arab Emirates expect to conclude a free-trade agreement by years end, Trade Minister Don Farrell said, while suggesting talks with the European Union and India will remain on hold until after elections. Most Read from Bloomberg Farrell is headed to the UAE for discussions on an accord this weekend, in conjunction with the annual World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference. The UAE deal is likely to be easier than the fraught negotiations with the EU, Farrell said in an interview ahead of his departure. The difficulty in the agriculture sector that presented itself with the EU, that wont be an issue here, he said. There is optimism on both sides. The UAE is Australias largest trading partner in the Middle East, with two-way goods and services worth A$9.3 billion ($6.1 billion) in 2022. Australia is also looking to smooth the path for investment by the UAEs sovereign wealth fund, particularly in the nations renewable energy sector. Read more: UAE Bucks Global Slump as Non-Oil Trade Nears $1 Trillion Farrell said he is hopeful that any free-trade deal with the UAE will lead to greater access for Australia across the Middle East. Canberra is also currently negotiating FTAs with the EU and India, but with both deals facing difficulties over agricultural imports, theyre on hold until elections are out of the way. During his visit to the UAE, Farrell will work with international counterparts to overhaul the WTO, including its dispute settlement system. The mechanism has been out of action since a decision by former President Donald Trumps administration to block appointments to the WTOs appellate court. Farrell said WTO reform has always proved difficult, but added that Australia had benefited greatly from the dispute settlement system during its recent problems with China. The minister said the potential for a second Trump administration wouldnt change his approach to the reforms. Its not dependent on who might or might not be the president of the United States at any one time, he said. We want this reform because its good for our national interests. Australia took China to the WTO over the tariffs that Beijing imposed on wine and barley following a diplomatic dispute in 2020. However, warming ties since the election of the center-left Labor government in May 2022 have resulted in the barley tariffs being lifted. Read more: Australias Barley Sales to China Boom as Wine Decision Pending Canberra is now waiting for the results of a review by the Chinese government into barriers to wine sales. Farrell said he is hopeful the wine tariffs will be resolved in the next few weeks. Despite recent tensions between Australia and China over the suspended death sentence for writer Yang Hengjun, Farrell said he was still expecting a positive result from the five-month review. Its due to report by the end of March. Farrell said he will meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao while in the UAE. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Bereaved parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy in England can now receive a certificate in recognition of their loss. Ministers say they have listened to bereaved parents who have gone through the painful experience of miscarriage. Campaigners said they were "thrilled" that millions of families would finally get the formal acknowledgement that their baby existed. All parents who have experienced baby loss since September 2018 can apply. They should visit the gov.uk website - applicants must be 16 years old, have been living in England at the time of the loss and be one of the baby's parents or surrogate. In Wales, there are plans to deliver a similar scheme. A memorial book where people can record their pre-24 week losses is already up and running in Scotland. Babies who are born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy are called stillbirths, and their deaths are officially registered. But this does not happen for babies who die before that stage. Pregnancy loss or miscarriage before 24 weeks is the most common complication of pregnancy, experienced by an estimated one in five women in the UK. 'This piece of paper proves our babies existed' Cate Poolton, 41, from Warwickshire, lost two babies in early pregnancy. She now has two children but she says the official certificates, which are not legal documents, will be "an incredible thing". "It takes a long time to process and recover from losing a baby," she said. "Regardless of how long you're pregnant for, it's still a baby you've lost and this piece of paper proves it existed." She said the certificates would "get people talking about what they went through" and show employers the reason they are off work. "The only thing we have are the memories," she adds. "There's nothing to say our babies were ever anything." A recent independent review looked at ways to improve NHS care and support for parents experiencing losses before 24 weeks of pregnancy - and it came up with 73 recommendations on how to make positive changes. Every year there are thought to be a quarter of a million miscarriages and more than 11,000 hospital admissions for losses because of ectopic pregnancies. Statistics also show that in 2021, 3,300 women had to terminate a wanted pregnancy for medical reasons. In response, the government decided that issuing certificates of baby loss on a voluntary basis should be a priority in England. 'Deeply distressing' Myleene Klass, musician and TV presenter, who lost four babies during pregnancies and campaigned for the reforms, said: "I wanted to use my voice for something really powerful, but it turns out we've just gone on to move a mountain." Describing the changes as one of her proudest achievements, she said women would no longer have to endure the "hell" she suffered. Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer for England, said she was pleased that women "will now be able to access a baby loss certificate which recognises the impact and importance of early pregnancy loss to them and their families". By next month, bereavement services will be available in almost every NHS trust in England, seven days a week, she added. The Miscarriage Association said it looked forward to the baby loss certificate scheme being extended to losses prior to September 2018 as soon as possible. "For many, if not most people, even the earliest of losses can be deeply distressing, both emotionally and physically," said Ruth Bender Atik, national director of the association. "The new certification scheme will make a genuinely positive difference to many who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, offering formal recognition of the tiniest of lives." The announcement has also been praised by Zoe Clark-Coates, who runs the pregnancy loss support charity The Mariposa Trust. She thanked "the tens of thousands of bereaved parents who have asked for this, and supported our work to see these introduced". Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, walks to an aircraft of the German Armed Forces Air Wing at the international airport to fly on to New York after attending the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday defended the G20 developed and emerging economies against critics who consider the group outdated in light of Russia's war against Ukraine. She said the group, which represents 80% of the world's economic power and 60% of the world's population, is an important driver of reform in multilateral institutions like the United Nations. "If we want to tackle the complex challenges of the 21st century, our multilateral institutions cannot remain stuck in the past century," Baerbock said in a debate among G20 foreign ministers on international institutional reform. "I believe that the G20 can and has to play a crucial role in this reform process." Institutions like the UN Security Council are under fire, with critics saying they are increasingly irrelevant. Two years after the Russian attack on Ukraine, the UN Security Council is often blocked in its decisions due to Moscow's veto power. In addition to Germany, France and the United States, the G20 also includes Russia and China, among others. The G20 round "reflects the geopolitical diversity of today's world quite well," said Baerbock. This sometimes makes working in this format a challenge. "But if we can identify common ground among ourselves, we can be an engine for change, also in forums like the United Nations," she said. Brazil currently holds the presidency. The format was originally established primarily as an economic policy platform. However, the discussions are now overshadowed by the global crises and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. A reorganization of the international system is one of the declared goals of Brazil's G20 presidency. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently criticized the UN Security Council as lacking credibility and accused international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank of interfering too much in the internal affairs of creditor countries. Lula sees Brazil as the mouthpiece of the Global South and wants to give the emerging economies a stronger voice. Baerbock called on the G20 members to participate in the "Pact for the Future," which UN member states are working on in New York under the leadership of Germany and Namibia. The aim is to develop concrete steps for a reform of the Security Council, a revitalized General Assembly and a reform of the international financial architecture. "The pact has the potential to be a booster for multilateralism. Thats why we encourage all partners to become engaged from the start," she said. Acknowledging the financial difficulties of climate change, Baerbock noted that Germany has been at the forefront of reforming the World Bank in order to build a "better and bigger bank" that is able to tackle key challenges such as the climate crisis or pandemics. Looking back over the past few months, the global crises and conflicts can seem overwhelming, Baerbock admitted. "We can decide to bury our heads in the sand with resignation," she said. "Or we can try to make progress together." HB-1 cleared the Senate with a bipartisan 23-14 vote. The bill is now headed back to the Florida House of Representatives, which passed the bill last month, to approve the Senate's changes. The bill would require social media sites to terminate any existing accounts for minors under the age of 16 and bar them from creating new accounts. File Photo by Sascha Steinbach/EPA-EFE Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The Florida Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would bar children under the age of 16 from using social media sites. HB-1 cleared the Senate with a bipartisan 23-14 vote. The bill is now headed back to the Florida House of Representatives, which passed the bill last month, to approve the Senate's changes. The bill would require social media sites to terminate any existing accounts for minors under the age of 16 and bar them from creating new accounts. Senators tweaked the bill's definition of "social media" to mean any site that has "addictive features" such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos and push notifications. The modified bill also requires social media and pornographic websites to use anonymous age verification through a third-party service, which would not be able to retain personal information. Pending House approval, the bill that would ban kids using social media will be sent to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (pictured in September), who has voiced concerns about its ability to stand up to legal scrutiny. File Photo by Robert Kaufmann/FEMA/UPI Pending House approval, the bill will be sent to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has voiced concerns about the bill's ability to stand up to legal scrutiny. "I'm sympathetic to, as a parent, what's going on with our youth," DeSantis said. "But I also understand that to just say that someone that's 15 just cannot have it no matter what, even if the parent consents, that may create some legal issues." After the Senate vote, DeSantis said he didn't think the bill was "there yet," so it may have to go back to the Senate to be modified again. Proponents of the bill pointed to mounting evidence that social media companies' practices have harmful effects on children's mental health. "We can only spend so much money on the treatment (for mental health issues), and not address the symptoms," said Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, a bill sponsor. "No amount of money can take on these hundreds-of-billions-of-dollars companies." The U.S. Surgeon General last year issued an advisory warning of the negative impact of prolonged social media use on children and called on lawmakers to strengthen safety standards and limit access to harmful content. "Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment," U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a statement. "And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends." Opponents of the bill said it should be parents' responsibility to manage their children's social media use and that the bill contradicts Florida Republican's "parental rights" agenda. "This isn't 1850," said Sen. Jason W. B. Pizzo, D-Hollywood. "While parents show up to school board meetings to ban books, their kids are on their iPads looking at really bad stuff." Grall, however, said the bill isn't about the state usurping parent's rights, rather its about parents having the right to ensure their children are kept safe from harmful content. She argued cyberbullying and the addictive nature of social media are compromising children's mental health and leading many to contemplate suicide. "They [social media companies] know what they're doing to manipulate children," Grall said. "They know cyberbullying happens. They know the cyberbullying results in, 'You should kill yourself now.' They know it has resulted in the harm or death of children." Utah, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Ohio also have laws restricting social media access to minors, but federal lawsuits have put these laws on hold, something DeSantis hopes to avoid. New York City earlier this month sued TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging these companies leverage addictive features taken from the gambling and cigarette industry to drive advertising revenue at the expense of young people's mental health. "Over the past decade, we have seen just how addictive and overwhelming the online world can be, exposing children to content they are not ready for, disrupting the educational process and seriously damaging their self-esteem and well-being," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said when the lawsuit was announced. The government of Nepal outright banned TikTok in November, claiming the app had negative effects on the nation's "social harmony." Nepal's Council of Ministers argued "continuous propaganda" and an increase in "social, religious and communal relations activities" on the platform was contrary to national interest. Gagan Kumar Thapa, general minister of the opposition Nepali Congress Party, said he disapproved of the ban and accused the Nepalese government of attempting to stifle "freedom of expression and personal freedom." CAIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Arab states have condemned the United States for vetoing another UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as looming Israeli attacks on the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah raise concerns that the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave may deepen. During an emergency session of the UN Security Council held in New York on Tuesday, the draft resolution put forward on behalf of Arab states by Algeria won 13 votes in favor among the 15 members of the Security Council. The United States voted against it while Britain abstained. MASSIVE OUTCRY "The U.S. veto, which defies the will of the international community, will give an additional green light to Israel to continue its aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, and to carry out its bloody attack on Rafah," the Palestinian presidency said in a statement carried by Palestine's official news agency WAFA on Wednesday. Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday voiced his "deep regret" over the U.S. move, the third time since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October last year that the United States interfered to fail a draft resolution aimed to reach a ceasefire. The U.S. positions undermined the credibility of the international system and contributed to the paralysis witnessed by the United Nations, Aboul Gheit was quoted as saying in an AL statement. Egypt and Qatar, having been actively brokering deals between Israel and Hamas since their conflict began, have expressed their regret. Egypt strongly denounced the "selectivity and double standards in dealing with wars and armed conflicts in various regions of the world," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry slammed the U.S. veto as "arbitrary and disgraceful," accusing the U.S. of being hypocritical, as it claimed to support human rights while allowing the Israeli "killing machine" to continue its attacks on Palestinian civilians. Jordan, which borders Israel and has normalized ties with Israel, expressed on Tuesday its regret and disappointment at the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "All those impeding such calls should review their policies and calculations because wrong decisions today will have a cost on our region and our world tomorrow. This cost will be violence and instability, " Algeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amar Bendjama was quoted by the UN news as saying on Tuesday. DEEP CONCERN The resolution was put forward at a time when Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city that shelters about 1.4 million Palestinians, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages who were taken by Hamas militants in October last year. While visiting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops on Tuesday in southern Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that his country will continue the fighting until all goals are achieved. "There is no pressure, none, that can change this," he said. Israel's reported plan for an assault on Rafah has sounded alarm bells globally, with many countries urging restraint or cancellation of the operation. Regional countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, voiced deep concern over the potential offensive on Monday. Twenty-six EU member states called for an "immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire" in the besieged Gaza Strip, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels on Monday. U.S. ADDING TO CRISIS Despite the mounting calls 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, the Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing anonymous U.S. officials. "The Americans are not doing anything practical to stop the (Israel-Hamas) war," said Youssef Diab, a political analyst from the Lebanese University. The repeated trips to Israel by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as the U.S. financial and military support for Israel, have given Israel the green light to continue the war on Gaza and kill more children, he said. [Source] After 44 years of serving the local community in central Fresno, California, a beloved Chinese restaurant will be closing its doors on Feb. 24. Days before its scheduled closure, Shanghai Chinese Cuisine has been packed with patrons expressing their support. About the restaurant: Shanghai Chinese Cuisine has been a staple in the Fresno dining scene since its establishment in 1980, reported the Fresno Bee. Situated at the intersection of Blackstone Avenue and Griffith Way, the establishment served as a gathering spot for many Fresnan families and friends for over four decades. "This is our favorite spot to come, and now we're not going to be able to come and say hi to Pauline or the waitresses and waiters, they're really nice here," customer Gilbert Avila told ABC30. Trending on NextShark: 240-million-year-old 'Chinese dragon' fossil discovered in southern China Why its closing: Owner Pauline Dunn, who took over in 2000, cited financial strain and a decline in the surrounding area as contributing factors to the closure. Over the years, the restaurant faced numerous setbacks, including theft, vandalism and health code violations, which Dunn attributed to issues in the area exacerbated by homelessness and empty spaces. "I never wanted to close the restaurant. I wanted to keep Shanghai, but under all the circumstances, financially I cannot afford any longer to stay at this location," said Dunn. She initially planned to close the restaurant earlier, but overwhelming customer support prompted her to extend the closure until Sunday. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Hearts melt as senior Singapore couple reunite with daughter, grandkids for Lunar New Year Customers waiting for like three hours. So, I made a decision myself and I asked my employees that we gonna extend it maybe until the weekend," she was quoted by KSEE24 as saying. Future outlook: With support from the community, Dunn remains optimistic that she will be able to relocate and reopen under the Shanghai name. All my valued customers, I want to thank them," Dunn said. "Thanks to my family, thanks to my friends for all the years of support. Theres a lot of memories for me at this restaurant." Trending on NextShark: 70-year-old grandfather from China amazes with his physique and fitness routine She has so far secured a $2,500 donation from the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation and has filed a $5,000 grant application for equipment. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer also expressed his support for Shanghai Chinese Cuisine. I would love to see them open up in Chinatown. And we have been in conversations about that, Dyer said. I had our economic development director speak with them, as well as folks from the area Hispanic chamber to provide them with grant funding to help them along the way. Trending on NextShark: Sriracha lovers are now buying this bottle at Costco Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! MADRID, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former FC Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves was on Thursday given a four-and-a-half-year sentence after being found guilty of sexual aggression by a court in Barcelona. The 40-year-old will also have to spend a further five years of "supervised freedom" and pay the victim 150,000 euros (163,000 U.S. dollars), as well as the costs of the trial. The case relates to an incident which occurred in the "Sutton" nightclub in Barcelona on the night of December 30, 2022. The victim immediately reported the incident, alleging Alves had raped her. She was examined in hospital, before making a full testimony to police on January 3, 2023, giving a story that, according to prosecutors and judge, was "clear, firm, forceful, credible, coherent and persistent." Alves, who was playing in Mexico at the time, was arrested on returning to Spain on January 20. His defense was not helped by the fact he changed his story "three or four times", and what he said differed from the images taken by video surveillance cameras in the club. BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The city of Bentonville announced on February 21 that the Bentonville Municipal Airport was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics during its state meeting in Little Rock. According to a press release from the city of Bentonville, the funds will be used for a portion of the construction of a vital hangar access road on the western perimeter of the airport. Local lawmakers and city council speak on Bentonville affordable housing on hold The road will allow access to six new hangars scheduled for development. We are incredibly grateful to the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics for their generous support with a $300,000 grant, which marks a pivotal step in our ongoing efforts to enhance the Bentonville Municipal Airport at Thaden Field. This project not only signifies our commitment to improving our facilities but also to fostering growth and accessibility within our aviation community, said Debbie Griffin, director of administration and airport manager. The release says the airport has received $1.2 million in state grants over the past two years. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. A young cat lies in an apartment. Police and animal welfare authorities in Berlin rescued 48 cats during a raid on a two-room apartment belonging to an illegal breeder. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Police and animal welfare authorities in Berlin rescued 48 cats during a raid on a two-room apartment belonging to an illegal breeder. The cats are of the Ukrainian Levkoy breed, which have severe physical impairments and genetic defects including missing tactile hairs and kinked ears. The practice is considered "torture breeding" in Germany and is banned. Authorities had banned the suspected breeder from keeping animals and was ordered to stop, but he refused to comply, prompting the police raid on the flat in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district. Authorities became aware of the illegal breeding when the man offered the cats for sale on the internet. District officials believe the man was likely the last breeder of Ukrainian-Levkoy cats in Germany. He now also faces a "substantial fine," according to the local district administration. The largely hairless cats were distributed to voluntary foster homes across Germany, where they received veterinary care. According to the German Animal Welfare Association, torture breeding means that animals lead a life of pain and harm due to their bred characteristics. When it comes to food, the United States are a land of plenty. Great meal options abound, from lobster-filled sea to shining sea, with portion sizes tending towards the gluttonous. Those hoping to eat their way across America would be wise to travel with their most loose-fitting trousers and a taste for adventurous new cuisines. From farm-to-table fine dining and innovative vegetarian dishes to comforting fast food staples like cheeseburgers and hot dogs, you never have to travel far in the States to find temptation. There are certain places, however, that have developed a culinary world all their own; here are the US cities no true foodie should miss. Read more on USA travel: New Orleans, Louisiana Try a New Orleans poboy (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Theres nowhere else on Earth quite like New Orleans. The Big Easy is a mind-boggling mix of European, Caribbean and African influences and it has the wholly unique cuisine to prove it. At restaurants like Cochon you can sample roots Cajun and southern home cooking as it has tasted for generations, with stand-out dishes including smoked ham hock with red beans and charred radish and chicken hearts. And where else but at Creole restaurant Jacques-Imos could you be offered a slice of Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake? New Orleans is also home to one of the worlds great sandwiches, the poboy, a flaky French baguette stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and a plethora of fillings that include shrimp, roast beef and catfish. If you can still find room after all that, an order of doughy beignets from Cafe Du Monde should finish you off. Dont miss: After Beyonce performed in New Orleans in 2013, she ordered 150 poboys from Parkway Bakery and Tavern for her crew and entourage. Thats Americas equivalent of a royal seal of approval for this popular neighbourhood hangout that dates from 1911. San Francisco and The Bay Area, California Fishermans Wharf is paradise for seafood lovers (Getty Images) Given that its surrounded by the Napa Valley wine country to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and bountiful Californian farm country to the south, its no surprise that San Francisco is one of the worlds great food cities. Fishermans Wharf is paradise for seafood lovers, and is home to famed bakery Boudin Sourdough with its mouth-watering bread bowls filled with chowder. However, its on the other side of the bay in Berkeley that modern California cuisine was born at Alice Waters legendary Chez Panisse, the original farm-to-table restaurant. Just around the corner is FAVA, a delightful organic lunch spot that specialises in flatbread sandwiches and salads. Dont miss: The world has San Franciscos historic Mission District to thank for the Mission-style burrito, a super-sized version of the Mexican favourite stuffed with rice, beans, avocado and meat. If that still doesnt sound mammoth enough, head to the brightly-decorated Taqueria Cancun where the signature Burrito Mojado comes topped with extra helpings of guacamole, sour cream, and red salsa. Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is known for its barbecue (Getty Images) If youre a barbecue lover, there are few greater pleasures in life than sampling the vast array of hickory-smoked meats on offer across Memphis. Paynes Bar-B-Que, located in an old cinderblock gas station, serves up unbeatable chopped pork sandwiches, while even unassuming dive bars like Alexs Tavern can be counted on to deliver first-class ribs (their secret ingredient is a dash of salty Cavenders Greek seasoning). Dont miss: Even in a city renowned for its barbecue, The Bar-B-Q Shop stands out as special. Its descended from Brady & Lils a seminal Memphis joint near Stax Records where legend has it the Beatles once bought out every rib in the place. New York, New York New York is famed for its pizza slices (Getty Images/iStockphoto) It may be a city most closely associated with dollar pizza slices, Nathans Famous hot dogs and hulking slices of cheesecake, but the Big Apple is also home to some of Americas most acclaimed restaurants. Eric Riperts fish-focused French restaurant Le Bernardin earned its three Michelin stars with inventive dishes like tuna tartare with sea urchin toast. Less award-winning but just as satisfying is the pastrami on rye from Katzs Delicatessen, the quintessential New York diner, where a prominent sign points out exactly where Meg Ryan sat in When Harry Met Sally. Well have what shes having. Dont miss: Forward-thinking Korean restaurant Atomix was the most highly-rated restaurant in the United States on the most recent list of The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. Try the Spanish mackerel with turnip and lentil to find out why. Portland, Maine Harbor Fish Market in Portland (Getty Images) Portlands prime location on the North Atlantic coast makes it one of the best places in the world to eat seafood. Its hard to go wrong with plentiful Maine lobsters, juicy mussels and salty oysters: Eventide Oyster Co. offers no less than 18 varieties of them. Its not all lobster brioche rolls and raw molluscs, however. The citys foodie reputation has attracted world-class chefs like Thomas Takashi Cooke. His Japanese restaurant Izakaya Minato uses the fruits of the sea in endlessly inventive ways, like their bite-size mochi bacon and broiled oysters, served with miso custard. Dont miss: Seafood doesnt get fresher than at Harbor Fish Market, a New England institution that dates from the late 19th century. Los Angeles, California The In-N-Out Burger chain is a fast food favourite (Getty Images) Los Angeles food scene is as vast and sprawling as the city itself. Beyond fast food favourites like the beloved In-N-Out Burger chain and the cities innumerable, and uniformly excellent, taco trucks theres a whole world to be explored. Koreatowns all-you-can-eat restaurants, like Jjukku Jjukku BBQ, are hard to beat, while Jitlada is a simple strip-mall joint which promises, and delivers, the spiciest Thai food in town. There are few better cities in the world to be vegetarian, too. Celebrity-favourite Crossroads Kitchen serves an astonishing spaghetti carbonara topped with a vegan egg sunny side up. The exact recipe is a closely-guarded secret, but the perfectly runny yoke is said to be made with yellow tomatoes. Has to be eaten to be believed. Dont miss: Downtowns Grand Central Market dates from 1917 and today is home to dozens of stalls offering cuisines from across the city and around the world. The perfect one-stop-shop to get your head, and mouth, around LAs staggering culinary diversity. Hungry for more? Heres a gas station culinary trail around No Mans Land, Louisiana Richard Beyea of Perryton, one of the four Republican candidates running for Texas House District 87 seat, spoke about his objectives in running for the Texas Legislature. Beyea is the owner of an oil and gas exploration company. He also serves as the chairman of The Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association and currently serves on the Perryton School Board as its vice president. Being a school board member, Beyea says that the education of children in the Texas Panhandle is of the highest importance to him. According to Beyea, while many schools struggled coming out of COVID-19, his district got better and is now considered an A-rated school district. My focus has always been on what goes into the classroom; I think we can do much better, Beyea said. One of my concerns is that Austin likes issues but not necessarily likes solutions. I am a business guy; I look for solutions to problems and not ways to shift blame to someone else. I want to focus on educational quality going into the classrooms and how we get more resources into the classroom. This includes teacher pay, recognizing teacher performance, materials, and how the small schools get the support into the classroom while being stressed on the budgets. Richard Beyea, a candidate for the 87th House District, speaks at a candidate forum Feb. 1 at the First Family Church in Amarillo. When asked what the impact could be if Rep. Four Price, who has stood the line on school vouchers, is replaced by a candidate like Caroline Fairly, who openly supports school vouchers in the Texas Panhandle, Beyea said that a one-size-fits-all approach for all areas of the state would not be good for the education system. To stand in a corner and say 'no' on any kind of help to those bigger school systems versus those that want to come in and force universal vouchers down our system, neither one of those things work for Perryton, Booker, Spearman or many other of the rural areas of the Texas Panhandle, he said. "I propose we remove the small rural districts from any school choice issue. The governor needs to look more into why a lot of representatives of these rural districts could not support the bills and bring all the people back into the camp. We cannot lose any more rural voices, because it is not just the schools that will suffer, but every single issue that is critical to rural communities." More: House District 86, 87 candidates discuss border, education at candidates forum Beyea said that if the rural counties are removed from the test of vouchers, it will be beneficial. I see choice as a way to strengthen and support public education, Beyea said. We do not want to be standing in line reacting to everything. We want to be proactive and protect our local communities while allowing choice in the bigger cities, which need it. Florida and Arizona schools are getting better under the voucher program. I am disturbed that Austin sees everything as a political issue, not a solution. We are going after many rural legislators in this election, which I think is misguided. We need compromise so at the end of the day we can get better education for our kids. When asked about a level field for accountability for public education and those receiving vouchers, Beyea said it is already not a level playing field since many districts have no accountability. He said that the Department of Education has worked to the detriment of education with its overreach, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing that it sought to deny early education funds for not complying with masking standards. He said that the federal and state mandates many times do not provide enough funding beyond the first year. According to Beyea, this led to his district choosing to find other avenues to fund its early education program. With the Texas Legislature holding up funding to schools due to Gov. Abbotts insistence that school vouchers be tied to getting additional funding, Beyea weighed in on getting the best results in the legislature among any contentious issue. We have forgotten how to talk to each other, he said. You must convince smaller bodies to your point of view and go from there. You work up a compromise with the best solutions at the end of the day. I have always said that at the end of the day, the education of a child is the most important thing we are going to do; we can probably agree on what needs to happen. But you cannot start with, I did not get my way and will stand in a corner and call you names." Beyea said that this is where his experience comes into play with the ability to go in and talk to people to come to a reasonable conclusion to be able to help the constituents. What Austin gets is how many of the things they want to do come down to our local communities and create destruction, Beyea said. There is a lot of wisdom in our local districts that understand the local communities better than the state. My approach will be what we can get done and be an active voice to protect our industry and values. He said that the natural gas industry needs better support in the legislature, especially regarding its ability to export. Beyea says his top priorities are supporting Gov. Abbott and his efforts to secure the border, which is affecting communities across the state. Over the past month, Beyea says that election integrity has become a significant concern with outside money affecting local elections. He said that much of the campaign money that has come into the race has come from well outside of the district. When asked why he is the best qualified to represent the district, Beyea said that his advocacy for education, energy, and other issues that affect the Texas Panhandle has been long-standing. You have to get people to trust the government again, Beyea said. "Voters need to feel like they have an impact. If we can restore faith, we can get a much greater than 20% voter turnout. I can go to the legislature and make changes on the committees I serve on due to my experience and record of accomplishment. With all the money and endorsements in his opponent's camp, Beyea says he tries to be an optimist. I expect elections to be about ideas rather than money, he said. At the end of the day, it needs to be about ideas and how one will help the people of Texas. We are completely distorting the idea of democracy with all the outside actors that get involved in elections. Government across the board is getting too big; we need to get the size of government down. There were 8,800 bills suggested last year in our legislature; how many of those were to shrink the size of government? This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: House District 87 candidate Richard Beyea outlines priorities President Joe Bidens reported plan to restrict the right to claim asylum at the US-Mexico border has alarmed members of Congress and civil and humanitarian rights groups who fear the administration could be in breach of international law. The president is reportedly mulling executive action to block people who cross the southern border without legal permission from claiming asylum once inside the US, upending guarantees that protect asylum rights for people on US soil. Such a proposal, which would bypass Congress, would mirror an illegal Trump-era measure that a federal judge had previously rejected as an unlawful attempt to rewrite the nations immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden. Mr Bidens proposed order would reportedly invoke Section 212(f) of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the president to suspend immigration for anyone determined to be detrimental to the interests of the United States the same authority Donald Trump used to unilaterally ban immigrants from majority-Muslim countries, which was later struck down in court. The Biden administration also would reportedly raise the standards for border agents credible fear screenings for people seeking asylum and establish a last in, first out policy for deportations. The clear intention behind President Bidens newest proposed deterrence policy is to create so much fear, pain, and suffering at the border that vulnerable communities abandon their right to seek asylum and instead return to face the violence they are fleeing, according to Amy Fischer, director of refugee and migrant rights with Amnesty International USA. The changes would undoubtedly violate both US and international human rights law that establish people may seek asylum regardless of whether they cross at a port of entry or between ports of entry, she told The Independent. Any attempt to revive policy that denies asylum based on where one enters the US would just be another attempt at the exact policy Trump unsuccessfully tried and will undoubtedly end up in litigation, according to American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt, who successfully fought the Trump administrations asylum ban. The courts were emphatic that the Trump administration could not deny asylum based simply on how one entered the country, Mr Gelernt told The New York Times. Hopefully the Biden administration is not considering recycling this patently unlawful and unworkable policy. People seeking asylum arrive at the US-Mexico border in California on 2 February (AFP via Getty Images) Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep Pramila Jayapal called the proposal a disappointing mistake. Democrats cannot continue to take pages out of Donald Trump and Stephen Millers playbook, said Ms Jayapal, referencing the architect of the Trump administrations anti-immigrant agenda. We need to lead with dignity and humanity. Reports of the proposal, which could still be weeks away from being implemented, follow the collapse of a Biden-approved immigration plan rejected by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The failed plan wouldve provided billions of dollars to the border for, among other things, hiring thousands of officers to process asylum claims, as aggressive immigration enforcement and border patrol becomes a priority among Republicans and Democratic officials ahead of 2024 elections. Migrant apprehensions at the US-Mexico border dropped by 50 per cent from December to January, according to federal data, though Acting US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Troy Miller said this month that authorities experience serious challenges along our border which surpass the capacity of the immigration system. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Refugee Convention have affirmed asylum rights for people fleeing persecution and violence. In the US, a person granted asylum is legally allowed to remain in the country without fear of deportation, and qualifies for legal work with potential pathways to permanent legal status. Those claims can only be made at the US border or within the US. Democratic members of Congress have derided the propsal as a worrying revival of Trump policy. People seek asylum because they fear for their lives, said Democratic US Rep Chuy Garcia, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. President Biden would be making a grave mistake if he moves forward with this policy. Seeking asylum is a legal right of all people, said US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In the face of authoritarian threat, we should not buckle on our principles we should commit to them. People seeking asylum wait in line to be processed by border patrol agents near the US-Mexico border outside California on 2 January (AFP via Getty Images) The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators said the proposed plans will do nothing to ameliorate or relieve the pressing need for comprehensive immigration reform or support states with funding to support the US-Mexico border. It will only cause more damage, risk and ruin more lives, and put a target on our communities for nothing in return, according to the caucus. The right to seek asylum is not a crime or a political toy. Its also not a bargaining chip to use when its politically convenient. Seeking asylum is a right, one that can mean life or death to a lot of people, children, families, and must be treated as such. The Independent has requested comment from the White House. A spokesperson did not comment on reports of Mr Bidens proposed actions but underscored the administrations support for bipartisan border legislation. The Administration spent months negotiating in good faith to deliver the toughest and fairest bipartisan border security bill in decades because we need Congress to make significant policy reforms and to provide additional funding to secure our border and fix our broken immigration system, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said in the statement. No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected, he added. We continue to call on Speaker Johnson and House Republicans to pass the bipartisan deal to secure the border. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Check your email: On Wednesday President Biden sent messages to around 153,000 people to let them know their student loans are forgiven. While a college degree is still a ticket to a better life, that ticket is too expensive, Biden said. The borrowers included in this round of forgiveness qualified under the Biden administrations new SAVE plan. They all borrowed $12,000 or less and have been repaying the loans for at least a decade. Folks Im happy to have been able to forgive these loans because when we realize and relieve Americans of their student debt, theyre free to chase their dreams,Biden said. Jon Donenberg is the deputy director of the White House National Economic Council. He says the SAVE plan is designed to help those who need it most. The size of the debt burden is increasingly crushing a generation of Americans who are struggling to buy homes, to start families and to really start to build that future, Donenberg said. This all comes after the Supreme Court blocked the Biden administrations original more expansive, forgiveness plan. Since then, the president has used several executive actions to cancel student loan debt . His team says so far thats wiped out nearly $140 billion in debt for about 3.9 million people. Were not giving up. The President is not giving up, Donenberg said. People really deserve that relief. Many Republicans disagree. On social media site X, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) called it a move that circumvents the Supreme Courts authority and harms American taxpayers. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) posted There is no such thing as student loan forgiveness. President Biden is simply transferring the debt to make you and your kids pay back student loans that you never took out. But the Biden administration says theres more to come. Next week they plan to send emails to people who are eligible for loan forgiveness but havent signed up yet. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A federal judge has largely tossed a class-action lawsuit filed by a California resident who alleged that a major appliance manufacturer committed fraud by characterizing his gas-powered stovetop as safe despite its emissions. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California who was nominated by President Biden and received Senate confirmation last year last week dismissed with prejudice the majority of claims made by Charles Drake, the plaintiff in the case. The only count not completely dismissed is Drake's allegation that the defendant, GE Appliances' parent company, Haier Appliances, violated an implied warranty of merchantability. "Drake does not allege the necessary elements of fraud by omission under California law," Martinez-Olguin wrote in her decision. "Most glaringly, Drake fails to plead the second and fourth elements of fraud by omission: that Haier held a duty to disclose the fact of the emissions to him, or that Drake justifiably relied on Haier's concealment of the dangerous emissions from his gas stove." "Drake alleges no connection between Haier and the studies he cites, appearing to conclude merely that Haier 'should have known.' This does not meet the specificity required for claims sounding in fraud," she added. "Therefore, the claims sounding in fraud must also be dismissed on this basis." BIDEN ADMIN BACKS OFF GAS STOVE CRACKDOWN AFTER WIDESPREAD PUSHBACK Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has largely dismissed the class-action suit against gas stove manufacturer GE Appliances. The case dates back to early March 2023 when the California-based law firm Dovel & Luner filed the class-action suit on behalf of Drake. The complaint stated that gas stoves produce "health-harming pollutants," such as nitrogen oxide, and points to a Consumer Reports article titled "Is Your Gas Range a Health Risk?" as evidence of said harms. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Drake's complaint further pointed to a 2022 study funded by the Rocky Mountain Institute, a climate think tank which has advocated for a broad economy-wide green energy transition. That same study was cited by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission member Richard Trumka Jr. when he floated a ban on gas stoves last year, sparking outrage among consumer advocates and lawmakers. BIDEN ADMIN LAUNCHED AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TARGETING HOME APPLIANCES WITH ECO REGULATIONS IN 2023 And the complaint argued that Haier Appliances should be aware of such research and, therefore, the potential harms posed by gas stoves. Such harms would constitute a product "defect" and, since Haier still sells the products, would mean the company is committing consumer fraud, according to Drake. In January, the Biden administration backed off more aggressive regulations targeting gas stoves, instead finalizing rules supported by industry groups. "Like other makers of gas stoves, Defendant monitors and keeps track of research on the health effects of its products," the complaint stated. "This is diligence that large companies like Defendant routinely do when selling a consumer product. Defendant is aware of the fact that its Products emit harmful pollutants. It is further aware that use of gas stoves increases the rates of respiratory illness in adults and children." But Martinez-Olguin noted in her ruling that plaintiffs are typically required to allege "how the defendant obtained knowledge of the specific defect prior the plaintiffs purchase of the defective product in order to sufficiently allege the manufacturers awareness of a defect." By broadly stating Haier "keeps track of research," Drake failed to overcome that hurdle, she ruled. The judge ultimately gave Drake until March 14 to file an amended complaint, meaning the case is technically ongoing. GE Appliances declined to comment, citing its policy "not to comment on pending litigation." Dovel & Luner didn't respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, the ruling is the latest setback for environmentalists who have sought nationwide crackdowns on gas stoves over their climate impact. In January, a federal appeals court delivered a fatal blow to a natural gas ban proposed by the city of Berkeley, California, and, weeks later, the Biden administration watered down regulations targeting gas stoves in a win for the appliance industry. Original article source: Biden-appointed judge delivers blow to climate lawsuit targeting gas stoves President Joe Biden on Thursday ripped into the Alabama Supreme Courts recent decision on in vitro fertilization as Vice President Kamala Harris and their campaign cast blame on former President Donald Trump for rolling back abortion rights with his appointments of conservatives to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a statement Thursday afternoon, Biden condemned the Alabama high court's ruling, calling it a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The state court's ruling prompted the University of Alabama at Birmingham to pause IVF treatments. Today, in 2024 in America, women are being turned away from emergency rooms and forced to travel hundreds of miles for health care, while doctors fear prosecution for providing an abortion. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant, Biden said. The disregard for womens ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable. The president said he and Vice President Kamala Harris are committed to fighting for reproductive rights and wont stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law for all women in every state. At a roundtable event on abortion access in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Thursday, Harris also criticized the Alabama ruling and blamed Trump. "On the one hand, the proponents are saying that an individual doesnt have a right to end an unwanted pregnancy and on the other hand, the individual does not have a right to start a family," she said. "Ask who's to blame," she added later. "And I'll answer that question: When you look at the fact that the previous president of the United States was clear in his intention to hand-pick three Supreme Court justices who would overturn the protections of Roe v. Wade. And he did it. And that's what got us to this point today." Biden's re-election campaign also directly blamed Trump for the state court's ruling, citing the conservative justices he appointed to the Supreme Court. What is happening in Alabama right now is only possible because Donald Trumps Supreme Court justices overturned Roe v. Wade, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a Thursday morning statement. Across the nation, MAGA Republicans are inserting themselves into the most personal decisions a family can make, from contraception to IVF. With their latest attack on reproductive freedom, these so-called pro-life Republicans are preventing loving couples from growing their families, she added. If Donald Trump is elected, there is no question that he will impose his extreme anti-freedom agenda on the entire country. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF are children under state law, prompting legal concerns among doctors and patients over unused embryos that get discarded in the process. The University of Alabama at Birmingham announced Wednesday that it would stop IVF treatments in light of the high courts ruling, citing possible legal repercussions as a result of the decision. We are saddened that this will impact our patients attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, a university spokesperson said in a statement. Democrats, including Harris, have voiced their opposition to the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling, decrying it as another threat to reproductive rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. This decision is outrageousand it is already robbing women of the freedom to decide when and how to build a family, Harris said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, however, sided with the Alabama Supreme Courts IVF ruling in an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, saying that frozen embryos created through IVF are babies when asked whether she agrees with the courts ruling stating that embryos created through IVF are considered children and are offered those same protections. Embryos, to me, are babies, Haley told NBC News. When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me, thats a life. And so I do see where thats coming from when they talk about that. Haley, however, later backpedaled, saying that her personal position is that embryos are babies while claiming she didnt say she agreed with the Alabama Supreme Court ruling. I didnt say that I agreed with the Alabama ruling, Haley said in an interview on CNN on Wednesday night. Haley went on to argue that the goal of medical providers should be to always do what the parents want with their embryo it is theirs, adding, So any physician that is in control of those embryos, they owe it to those people to make sure they protect that embryo and that they do with that embryo what those parents want done with that embryo. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com James Biden, brother of President Joe Biden, arrives for a deposition before the House oversight and judiciary committees in Washington DC on 21 February 2024. James Biden, brother of President Joe Biden, arrives for a deposition before the House oversight and judiciary committees in Washington DC on 21 February 2024. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images A top Democrat urged Republicans to fold up the tent to this circus show and stop attempting to impeach Joe Biden, after the presidents youngest brother, James Biden, testified to the House oversight and judiciary committees. Related: FBI informant charged with lying about Bidens role in Ukraine business The closed-door session was held after the revelation that a former FBI informant, charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving the Bidens and a Ukrainian energy company, had contacts with officials affiliated with Russian intelligence. Speaking to reporters, the Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin said: The impeachment investigation essentially ended yesterday, in substance if not in form, with the explosive revelation that [Alexander] Smirnovs allegations were concocted along with Russian intelligence agents. It appears the whole thing is not only obviously false and fraudulent, but a product of Russian disinformation and propaganda. Saying the mornings interview had produced nothing indicating Joe Biden had anything to do with the business ventures of Hunter Biden [the presidents son] or James Biden, Raskin added: Im restating my call to [oversight committee] chairman [James] Comer and Speaker [Mike] Johnson to fold up the tent to this circus show. Its really over at this point. In a combative opening statement, released to the press, James Biden said those alleging corruption were mistaken, ill-informed or flat-out lying. Hunter Biden, whose troubled personal life, legal jeopardy and business affairs provide the chief fuel for Republican allegations, is due to be interviewed next week. Until then, Washington will continue to digest and debate the news that prosecutors have tied a key Republican source to agents of Russian intelligence. Raskin stressed that Smirnovs alleged ties were outlined under oath yesterday by the US attorney, the special counsel in the investigation, thats David Weiss, who was a Trump appointee. He also sought to tie the affair to the ongoing saga of Russian interference in US elections and links between Moscow and Donald Trump, the former president and now the probable Republican presidential nominee. Smirnov was arrested in Nevada last week, charged with falsely reporting to the FBI in June 2020 that executives associated with Burisma paid Hunter Biden and Joe Biden $5m each in 2015 or 2016, when Joe Biden was vice-president to Barack Obama. Prosecutors connected Smirnov and Russian agents on Tuesday, in filings urging a judge to keep him in custody. Prosecutors said Smirnov admitted officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story about Hunter Biden. They said Smirnovs contacts with Russian officials were recent and extensive and due to continue. Smirnov was said to have had numerous contacts with a person he described as the son of a former high-ranking government official and someone with ties to a particular Russian intelligence service. Prosecutors said Smirnov posed a flight risk. The judge ordered him released on bond. When Trump was president, his first impeachment arose from his search for dirt on the Bidens in Ukraine. Republicans have sought to impeach Biden in return, with Smirnovs claims being promoted by senior politicians and media allies, particularly Fox News. The White House did not comment on the Smirnov revelations. But Politico quoted a person close to Joe Biden as saying they laid bare how unscrupulous the entire [Republican party] and their enablers in rightwing media have become. Republicans in Congress ought to be facing the crushing burden of a massive scandal of their own making right now: an impeachment based on what might be a Russian intelligence operation. If nothing else, a criminal lie, based on the indictment. Prosecutors say Smirnov had only routine business dealings with the Ukrainian company, Burisma, starting in 2017 when Joe Biden was out of office. Smirnov made the bribery allegations, prosecutors said, after express[ing] bias against Biden while he was a presidential candidate in 2020. Republicans have now distanced themselves from Smirnov, saying they will continue to follow the facts. But Comer, the oversight chair, is reportedly considering the potential cost of an impeachment vote, particularly after the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, first failed then squeaked through by a single vote. On the flip side, the Biden impeachment offers a way to deflect attention from Trumps legal challenges. Among 91 criminal charges, 34 concerning hush-money payments to an adult film star are to be considered in a looming New York trial. On Wednesday, two far-right Republicans, Jim Jordan and Andy Biggs, told CNN the Smirnov revelations did not lessen their determination to impeach. Biggs claimed: We have lots of evidence. CNN also quoted an aide to the impeachment inquiry as saying the inclusion then deletion of a reference to Smirnov in a letter to a potential witness, first reported by the Huffington Post, was simply a clerical error. James Biden is a businessman long linked to his brothers political career. Now 74, in 2022 he told the Washington Post: Im the guy who assists in everything. When it comes to my family, I try to be as supportive as I can. But this notion of fixer, or any reference that has a negative connotation, is offensive. Republicans allege cheques addressed by James Biden to Joe Biden when the latter was out of office are evidence of corruption. News outlets have said the cheques simply repaid personal loans. In his opening statement to the Republican-led committees, James Biden said his brother had never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in his business affairs over 50 years. He also said he had always kept my professional life separate from our close personal relationship; said he had never asked my brother to take any official action on behalf of me, my business associates or anyone else; and charged those claiming otherwise with being either mistaken, ill-informed or flat-out lying. He added: With my appearance here today, the committees will have the information to conclude that the negative and destructive assumptions about me and my relationship with my brother Joe are wrong. There is no basis for this inquiry to continue. Associated Press contributed to this report (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB and took a swipe at Republican rival Donald Trump for likening himself to Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died last week in a remote prison. Most Read from Bloomberg The off-the-cuff comments, made at a pair of West Coast fundraisers, arent the first time the US leader has gone off script at private events to raise money for his campaign ahead of November elections. Polls show Biden and Trump, his predecessor, slugging it out in a rematch of the 2016 race that is growing into an increasingly uglier war of words. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, Biden said Wednesday at one event, adding that climate change is still societys existential threat. Putin said the criticism confirmed the belief he expressed last week that Biden was the better option for Russia at Novembers US presidential election. This is a normal reaction to what I said. And why? Because he cant tell me - Volodya, well done, thank you, you helped me a lot, Putin told a Russian TV reporter late Thursday, using a short form of his own first name. We understand what is happening there from a domestic political point of view, and such a reaction is absolutely normal, which means I was right. In a Fox News town hall on Tuesday night, Trump compared his legal troubles to Navalnys fate, calling the activists death a very sad situation and asserting that his four criminal indictments are politically motivated. Biden said he didnt know where the hell this comes from. It astounds me the things that are being said, Biden said. I mean, if I stood here 10, 15 years ago and said any of this, youd all think I should be committed. He went on to make a scathing assessment of the state of the Republican Party. Ive served with real racists. I served with Strom Thurmond. I served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race, said Biden, who was first elected to the Senate in 1972. At least you could work with some of these guys. Time and again, the Republicans show theyre the party of chaos and the party of division. Biden, 81, is known for his straight talk. Back in January 2022, he was caught on a hot mic calling a Fox News reporter a stupid son of a b*tch. Hes also feeling the political heat, fielding a constant stream of criticism about whether as the oldest sitting president he should be putting himself forward for another four years in office. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier Thursday called Bidens dig at the Russian president boorish, but unlikely to offend Putin. If the president of such a country uses such language, well, then he should be ashamed, Peskov told Russian media. Biden is on a three-day tour of the West Coast, attending fundraisers in Southern and Northern California that will add to the $130 million that his campaign had amassed as of the end of January. Twilio Inc. co-founder John Wolthuis and Nat Simons, co-founder of the Sea Change Foundation, were among the scheduled attendees at the first event, according to a person familiar with the matter, while Gordon Getty, the son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, was on the guest list for the second. --With assistance from Greg Sullivan and Olga Tanas. (Updates with Putin comment in the fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Robots enhance services, efficiency during Spring Festival holiday in China People's Daily Online) 10:14, February 22, 2024 Various kinds of robots played pivotal roles in supporting tasks and services across China during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday that concluded on Feb. 17. Robots have been gradually introduced to help manage the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which began on Jan. 26 and will last until March 5. Robots dance to extend Chinese New Year greetings at the Wisdom Bay Science and Technology Innovation Park in Baoshan district, Shanghai, Feb. 12, 2024. (Photo/Chen Yuyu) Some stations along the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway have deployed intelligent service robots for guiding passengers, answering inquiries, and carrying heavy luggage. These intelligent service robots feature a closed storage box with a maximum capacity of 100 kilograms. After passengers place bulky items in the storage box, they can scan a code or use facial recognition to have the robot follow them. Additionally, the robot can guide passengers to check-in points. Meanwhile, two patrol robots have been stationed at Guangzhou South Railway Station in Guangzhou, in south China's Guangdong Province, to ensure security during the Spring Festival travel rush. In an emergency, passengers can press a button on the patrol robot, which is equipped with a camera, to connect remotely with a police officer for real-time communication. An autonomous robot cleans a street in Yiwu city, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 2, 2024. (Photo/Gong Xianming) At the Lubu toll plaza along the Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway in east China's Zhejiang Province, robot lane changers have been tasked with creating reversible lanes to regulate vehicle traffic. These autonomous robots, equipped with solar cells for electricity generation, move independently. It takes them only two minutes to set up a reversible lane, thereby improving traffic efficiency at the toll plaza. Mobile charging robots have been introduced at service areas of some expressways, including the Xiangpu Service Area of the Hefei-Anqing Expressway in east China's Anhui Province. Electric vehicle (EV) owners can use an app or mini-program to order a charging robot to locate and recharge their vehicles. Robots have also been employed in domestic service. Cleaning houses is a custom to welcome the Chinese New Year, but cleaning windows is very inconvenient and time-consuming for people living in high-rise buildings. Window cleaning robots have been made available at stores of Beijing Homelink Real Estate Brokerage Co. Ltd. for residents to reserve for free use. The company has also sent volunteers to provide free window cleaning services for empty nesters. During the Spring Festival holiday, domestic service robots reached households far and wide. Data from Chinese retail giant Suning showed that sales of robot vacuums and mops, window cleaning robots, and other home-cleaning appliances surged more than 221 percent during the holiday compared to a month earlier. Maintenance personnel from the Bozhou branch of State Grid Anhui Electric Power Company, alongside a 5G-powered robot, inspect power supply equipment in Bozhou, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 2, 2024. (Photo/Liang Xihai) At a parallel venue for the Spring Festival gala in Shenyang, in northeast China's Liaoning Province, eight robots manufactured by Shenyang-based Siasun Robot and Automation Co., Ltd. were programmed to dance to music, captivating the audience with a mesmerizing display of lights. Several courier firms deployed sorting robots and delivery robots to ensure logistics services during the Spring Festival holiday. These included JD Logistics, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com; Cainiao, the logistics arm of China's e-commerce titan Alibaba Group; and China's leading courier company, SF Express. For instance, a total of 880 intelligent sorting robots were operational at full capacity to sort and distribute parcels to ensure timely delivery during the holiday in a smart logistics park in Huzhou city, Zhejiang Province. Meanwhile, smart inspection robots have been deployed across China. The Zibo branch of State Grid Shandong Electric Power Company in east China's Shandong Province introduced inspection robots as part of efforts to ensure a reliable power supply during the Spring Festival. Visitors watch a robot dancing at the Science and Technology Museum in Zaozhuang, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 16, 2024. (Photo/Sun Zhongzhe) "The inspection robot can continuously patrol and monitor the operation status of equipment," said Lyu Dongfei, deputy director of the operation and inspection department at the Zibo branch. It transmits monitoring data, such as equipment temperature, current, and voltage, to the backend server in real time. This allows staff on duty to accurately understand the condition of the equipment. When irregular data is detected, the robot can also automatically trigger alarms to notify power maintenance personnel to promptly address any issues. Eight robots have been deployed to automatically inspect the undersides of bullet trains during the Spring Festival travel rush at the Hongqiao High-Speed Train Maintenance Center in Shanghai. They can significantly improve the efficiency and safety of high-speed train maintenance. In addition, robots were active on the production lines of some companies and played a crucial role at various construction sites during the holiday. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) CAIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministerial meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to discuss the latest development in the Gaza Strip, said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Thursday. The ministry said in a statement that during the talk, Shoukry said Egypt regrets the failure of the U.N. Security Council to adopt a Gaza ceasefire resolution "due to the repeated use of the unjustified U.S. veto." The Egyptian top diplomat stressed the necessity of reaching "a full ceasefire" in Gaza to spare the lives of civilians, de-escalate the situation, and start "a serious dialogue" regarding the future approach toward the Palestinian cause. Shoukry and Blinken discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a deal to swap Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees "that would allow the implementation of a truce for several weeks," according to the statement. On Tuesday's Security Council meeting, the United States vetoed a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, where Israeli strikes have been raging since the Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. The ongoing Israeli escalation since then has killed 29,410 Palestinians and injured 69,465 others, according to data released by Gaza's health ministry on Thursday. President Biden on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB and bashed former President Trump for his reaction to the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Biden was talking about climate change at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Calif., when he referred to Putin as an acronym for son of a bitch. This is the last existential threat, it is climate. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate, he said. The president has squarely blamed Putin for Navalnys death in a Russian prison last week. Biden also took aim at Trump, who didnt mention Putin in his response to Navalnys death, and instead complained about prosecutors, judges and Democrats conspiring against him. If I stood here 10 to 15 years ago and said all this, youd all think I should be committed, Biden said of Trumps comments. The president said that Republicans once had an American moral center, but that seems to be lost. The comment comes after Biden knocked Trump on Tuesday for his response to Navalnys death, saying he refuses to hold Putin accountable for it. The White House is set to release a major sanctions package against Russia on Friday. It is expected to hold Russia accountable for what happened to the opposition leader and add to the sanctions against Russia since the start of the war. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) During a fundraiser for his reelection campaign Wednesday night, President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB and took aim at former President Donald Trump's comments comparing himself to the Russian opposition leader who died last week in an Arctic prison. Biden was talking about climate change when he said, We have a crazy SOB like Putin and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented by saying that Biden's churlish" remark could hardly hurt Putin but was a huge shame for the U.S. Clearly, Mr. Biden behaves in the Hollywood cowboy style to serve internal political interests, Peskov said. Putin in comments to Russian state TV on Thursday called Biden's remarks an absolutely adequate reaction to his earlier statement that Russia would prefer to see Biden win a second term as a more experienced and predictable politician than Donald Trump. Because he cannot say: Volodya, well done, thank you, you helped me a lot'," Putin said. "We understand what is happening there from an internal political point of view and this reaction is absolutely adequate. Which means I was right, the Russian president added. Speaking to donors at a private San Francisco home Wednesday as part of a three-day California swing to raise money for his 2024 reelection campaign, Biden also said he was astounded by recent comments made by his likely Republican challenger. Trump compared the suspicious prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to his own legal troubles in the U.S. Trump was fined $350 million after a New York judge found he lied for years about his wealth on financial statements in his companies. Trump said the ruling was a form of communism or fascism. Some of the things that this fellows been saying, like hes comparing himself to Navalny and saying that -- because our countrys become a communist country, he was persecuted, just like Navalny was persecuted. I dont know where the hell this comes from, Biden said. I mean, if I stood here 10, 15 years ago and said any of this, youd all think I should be committed, he said. It astounds me. Ive been around a long time and Ive never quite seen a crowd like this MAGA Republican crowd, Biden added, referring to Trump's Make America Great Again slogan. They seem to have very little moral compass on what is important to people. During a campaign fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night, Biden highlighted his efforts to help middle-class Americans and warned that a win in November for Trump could lead to a nationwide abortion ban, more Republican efforts to undo the health insurance program started during President Barack Obama's administration and more policies that would disproportionately help the wealthy. ___ Long reported from Washington. 'We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin,' US President Joe Biden said of the Russian leader (Mandel NGAN) US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB" at a reelection fundraising event, earning a sarcastic response Thursday from the Kremlin leader. Biden, 81, has regularly had harsh words for Putin since Moscow's invasion of neighboring Ukraine two years ago, including calling him a "butcher" and a "war criminal." And late Wednesday he was no less direct -- although more personal. "We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate," Biden said in remarks to a group of supporters in San Francisco. Biden has said the United States will announce a package of additional sanctions Friday against Russia over the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Putin responded with his trademark sarcasm, referring to his recent remark that he would prefer the more "predictable" Biden over Donald Trump in the White House. "He can't of course say to me: Volodya, well done, thank you (for the endorsement), you've helped me a lot?" Putin said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Biden's invective was "a huge shame for the country itself... for the US." "If a president uses that kind of language, it's shameful," he said. "It is clear that Mr Biden is demonstrating Hollywood cowboy-style behavior to serve domestic political interests." In a hot-mic slip in January 2022, Biden similarly called a Fox News journalist a "son of a bitch," the longer form of the insult he aimed at Putin. He later called the reporter to apologize. In an interview with ABC News in March 2021, Biden was asked if he thought Putin was "a killer". He replied: "I do." Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations, and Putin retorted that it "takes one to know one." In a speech from the Oval Office on October 20, 2023, Biden compared Palestinian militant group Hamas and Putin, saying they "both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." "We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen," he said. The Kremlin denounced the remarks as "unacceptable." At the San Francisco fundraising event, Biden also attacked his presumed November election rival Trump for comparing his legal woes to the fate of Navalny. "If I stood here 10 to 15 years ago and said all this, you'd all think I should be committed," Biden said. aue/dw/sms/bfm More than 150,000 Americans will have their federal student debts worth approximately $1.2bn forgiven thanks to a new move by the Biden administration. Individuals whose debts have been forgiven should have received an email informing them on Wednesday, according to the White House. From day one of my Administration, I vowed to fix student loan programs so higher education can be a ticket to the middle classnot a barrier to opportunity, Joe Biden said in a statement. In total, the Biden administration has forgiven approximately $138bn in student debt, accounting for nearly 3.9 million borrowers. On Wednesday, Mr Biden praised the plan, noting that debt relief paves the way for Americans to start businesses and buy homes, calling his SAVE plan the most affordable repayment plan ever. He said 7.5 million Americans have already enrolled in the plan. This is the kind of relief that can be life-changing for individuals, Mr Biden said during a press conference. Both waves of debt forgiveness have been the result of executive actions enacted by the president. A White House message announcing the debt cancellation also included an indictment of Republicans in Congress who have worked to thwart the debt relief. "While Republicans in Congress and their allies try to block President Biden every step of the way, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to cancel student debt for millions of borrowers, and is leaving no stone unturned in the fight to give more borrowers breathing room on their student loans," the White House said in its statement. Republicans attempted to block the SAVE plan in Congress, but a 49-50 vote defeated their attempts to stop the loan forgiveness program. The majority of the debts forgiven have been through programs put in place before Mr Biden's time in office for specific types of borrowers, like public workers who have been making payments for at least 20 years. Mr Biden attempted to push through a student loan forgiveness plan in 2022, but the program faced a legal challenge that ultimately ended with the conservative-majority Supreme Court ruling against the debt forgiveness. Only individuals who enrolled in the SAVE program which was enacted as pandemic-era loan pauses came to an end who borrowed $12,000 or less, and who made payments for at least 10 years were eligible for the forgiveness. The White House said the current SAVE program and associated forgiveness plan will help borrowers who took out smaller loans to achieve higher education. "Under the Biden-Harris Administrations SAVE plan, 85 per cent of future community college borrowers will be debt-free within 10 years," the White House said in a statement. "The Department will continue to regularly identify and discharge other borrowers eligible for relief under this provision on SAVE." Like other repayment plans, the SAVE plan adjusts monthly payments based on borrowers' current incomes. More than four million borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan have $0 monthly payments as a result. President Joe Biden condemned an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that defined frozen embryos as children, linking the decision to the years-long campaign to curtail abortion rights. The disregard for womens ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable, he said in a statement. Make no mistake: this is a direct result of the overturning of Roe v Wade, he added. Alabamas highest court issued a shock ruling last week that classified frozen embryos as unborn children. That definition is not one shared by scientists but is promoted by Christian fundamentalists and anti-abortion campaigners who believe that life begins at conception. The ruling stems from a 2020 case in which a patient destroyed several embryos at an IVF clinic in Alabama. The three families who owned the embryos filed a wrongful death lawsuit, but it was thrown out by a lower court, which said the case related to property. The Supreme Court overturned that ruling, declaring that the embryos were children and a wrongful death lawsuit could proceed. In the majority opinion, Justice Jay Mitchell referred to the frozen embryos as extrauterine children and said that the states wrongful death law applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location. Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote a concurring opinion that quoted the Bible, declaring that even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory. The decision caused chaos at fertility clinics across the state, many of which were unsure if the normal practices of freezing and discarding embryos were still legal. At least two fertility clinics in Alabama have paused IVF treatments while they consider the legal ramifications of the ruling. One couple in the state told The Independent that their plans to grow their family had been thrown into turmoil and that they were now reluctantly considering relocating. In the IVF process, an egg is combined with a sperm in a laboratory before being implanted in the uterus. The process often requires the fertilisation of many eggs to increase the chance that at least one will lead to a viable pregnancy. The embryo with the best chance of succeeding in the womb is usually transferred, while the rest can be frozen and kept, in case the transfer fails or the patient wants to have another child. Embryos that are abnormal and unlikely to result in a successful pregnancy are often discarded. About 2 per cent of births in the US are from IVF. Globally, more than eight million babies have been born using the procedure since the first use in July 1978 at Oldham General Hospital, UK. Today, in 2024 in America, women are being turned away from emergency rooms and forced to travel hundreds of miles for health care, while doctors fear prosecution for providing an abortion. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant, Mr Biden said in the statement. The Biden administration appears to be dutifully taking advantage of the ways Donald Trump reshaped executive power on immigration, even going so far as to consider utilizing the same statute that Trump relied on to enact his Muslim Ban. President Joe Biden is reportedly mulling an executive order that would restrict asylum access in the U.S., following the rejection of a border deal in Congress that would have placed a weekly threshold on unlawful entries through the U.S.-Mexico border, capping it if more than 8,500 tried to cross the border on a single day. Biden is considering instituting a similar trigger via executive order. To do so, he would leverage the section of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the suspension of entry for anyone determined to be detrimental to the interests of the United States. This is the exact statute Trump used to ban travelers from several from Muslim-majority countries during the course of his presidency. If true, Bidens executive order would essentially reverse a longstanding law that any person arriving at the border is entitled to seek asylum protections, whether or not they have a sponsor, passport, or plane ticket. The National Immigrant Justice Center notes this right to claim asylum is critical since people fleeing for their lives are often unable to access pathways that require identification documents and a safe haven to wait for processing. No decisions have yet been made in regards to the order, according to an unidentified White House official who spoke with The New York Times. The proposal is a stark contrast to the campaign promises of 2020 candidate Joe Biden, who had pledged a more humane future for immigrants entering the country than the one offered by his predecessor. But whether or not the proposal passes may not matterit could prove the difference for American voters, who as of a January poll ranked immigrants as their primary concern. Meanwhile, Trump is finding his own ways to escalate his old border policies, promising to bring back President Dwight D. Eisenhowers Operation Wetback, which used military tactics to ship some 1.3 million immigrants to locations without food or water, and radically expand detention centers. President Biden announces the cancellation of $1.2 billion in student loan debt during a visit Wednesday to the Julian Dixon Library in Culver City. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) President Biden announced the cancellation Wednesday of $1.2 billion in student loan debt for more than 150,000 borrowers, saying the relief will allow them to buy homes, start families and otherwise benefit the economy. Folks, I'm happy to have been able to forgive these loans because when we ... relieve Americans of student debt, they are free to chase their dreams, he told dozens of supporters at the Culver City Julian Dixon Library. Biden tried to enact a far broader plan but was blocked by the Supreme Court. So he has used executive actions to cancel student debt totaling $138 billion for nearly 3.9 million people, according to the White House. Read more: Voter guide to the 2024 California primary election People who qualify for the new relief who originally borrowed up to $12,000 and have been making monthly loan payments for at least 10 years will receive an email from the president this week. They were enrolled in a program known as SAVE, which determines monthly debt repayment based on income and family size, and also shortens the life of loans for many borrowers. It's all to do with giving people a chance, a fighting chance to make it, Biden said. Bidens quick appearance, an official White House event, comes as Democrats are increasingly worried about disenchantment among young voters who are a key part of the coalition Biden needs to motivate to turn out in the general election in the fall. Republicans criticized the move as a cynical, taxpayer-funded ploy to burnish Bidens reelection chances. Over 60 percent of Americans dont have a college degree, but Joe Biden wants hardworking taxpayers to foot higher education bills for the elite few. Meanwhile, families are struggling with lower real wages, higher prices, and more credit card debt than they were four years ago, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. In Bidens desperate attempt to use your money to buy votes, American families are left behind." Biden was joined at the event by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Sen. Alex Padilla and other California elected officials. It was the presidents final event in a two-day swing through Los Angeles. Earlier in the day, Biden stopped by CJs Cafe in Baldwin Hills, ordered a breakfast burrito and posed for pictures with customers. He headlined a major fundraiser Tuesday evening at media mogul Haim Sabans sprawling Beverly Park estate. Biden told supporters, including actor Jane Fonda, that voters would have a crystal clear choice in the general election, when he will presumably have a rematch with former President Trump. Read more: L.A. County has a new ballot processing facility. Here's how you can observe Time and again, Republicans show they are a party of chaos and disunity. They shout about problems but offer nothing, Biden told a couple of hundred people who paid as much as $250,000 to attend. They have no platform. Are they here to solve problems or just weaponize them for political attacks? Biden said of the GOP, adding that in a second term, he would work to restore abortion and voting rights, strengthen the Affordable Care Act and Social Security, increase access to affordable housing and make corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Im here to serve the people. Saban and co-host Casey Wasserman, chair of LA28, the committee organizing the Los Angeles Olympics, both tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and could not attend the event. Biden headed to the Bay Area on Wednesday afternoon, and will hold additional fundraisers there before leaving the state Thursday. This is probably Bidens last trip to California before Super Tuesday on March 5, when California and more than a dozen other states hold primary elections. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. President Joe Biden is embracing his bully pulpit as he calls out resistance from former President Donald Trump and Republicans on Ukraine and Russia. The tactic which is playing out mostly in off-camera fundraisers and in public events - has become more pronounced in recent days as the president has latched on to House Republicans refusal to approve additional aid for Ukraine and Donald Trumps refusal to condemn Russia for the death of Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putins top critic. The president has turned up the heat on Trump and Republicans in California this week in a series of fundraisers, venues where the president tends to speak a bit more freely and bluntly. At a San Francisco fundraiser Wednesday, Biden referred to Putin as a crazy SOB and said Trumps comments on Navalny were confounding. Hes comparing himself to Navalny and saying that because our countrys become a communist country, he was persecuted, just like Navalny was persecuted, Biden said. Where the hell does this comes from? If I stood here 10 to 15 years ago and said all this, youd all think I should be committed. The bully pulpit approach comes as the president is eager to put Trumps inflammatory rhetoric front and center as the 2024 race heats up. Biden has directed his senior campaign team to more aggressively call out the crazy s*** Trump says. In repeatedly assailing Trump and his party from the White House, Biden also hopes to illustrate the stakes of the upcoming election and demonstrate his own efforts to unite the west against Russian aggression. House Republicans have scuttled efforts to pass a bipartisan border security bill and additional assistance for Ukraine both at Trumps urging. Look at what they are doing with the national security supplemental bill that provides assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Palestinian people. Nothing. Not a single thing. Why? Because thats what Donald Trump tells them to do, Biden told donors at a private fundraiser in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Wednesday, at another high-dollar event in the Bay Area, Biden said the current crop of GOP lawmakers was worse than Strom Thurmond, a former Democratic-turned-Republican senator with staunch segregationist views. Ive been a senator since 72. Ive served with real racists. Ive served with Strom Thurmond. Ive served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race. But guess what? These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles, Biden said. Biden, who delivered a eulogy for Thurmond and came under fire in the 2020 Democratic primary for touting his past working relationship with segregationists, went on to say, By the time Strom left - he did terrible things - but by the time he left he had more African American in his staff than any other member in the United States Congress. He voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act. Im not making him more than he was. But my point is at least you could work with some of these guys, Biden continued. Time and again Republicans show they are the party of chaos and party of division. House Speaker Mike Johnson responded on social media, saying Outrageous. The least popular President to seek re-election is now so desperate and so underwater in the polls hes playing the race card from the bottom of the deck. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned Thursday about the deepening military ties between Russia and Iran that are helping to support the war against Ukraine, as he continued to press Congress on Ukraine aid. Consider what Ukraine is up against. Russia is receiving arms and ammunition from Iran and North Korea. We also remain concerned about the support that PRC companies are providing to the Russian defense industrial base. Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives is leaving Ukraine to fend for themselves. Do not think for a moment that Vladimir Putin isnt capitalizing on all of this, Kirby told reporters. Kirby added that the administration thinks that Putin believes now is his best chance to bring Ukraine to its knees. Aghast at Trumps comments on Putin and NATO Biden has grown personally incensed over Trump not condemning Putin for Nalvanys death as well as encouraging the Russian leader to do whatever the hell they want to countries not meeting NATO obligations. The president was aghast at Trumps NATO remark, one official said, and wanted to respond personally. Hes now repeatedly lambasted Trump for the comment, including in a video taped in the White House Roosevelt Room where Biden blasted his predecessor by name a move hes typically reserved for private fundraisers and the campaign trail, but which is now playing out with more frequency from White House grounds. The shift is notable for a president who appeared loathe to even mention Trump by name for the first years of his presidency. Trump gave an invitation to Putin to invade some of our ally, NATO allies, Biden said earlier this month. No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Well, let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. Standing beneath a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the president added, For Gods sake, its dumb, its shameful, its dangerous, its un-American. One week later, Biden blasted Trump for a social media post that avoided condemning Putin for Navalnys death and instead painted the United States as a nation in decline. Why does Trump always blame America? Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. Why cant Trump just say that? Biden said in a White House video released Tuesday. The president has repeatedly warned Ukrainian soldiers would be severely limited on the battlefield without more ammunition and assistance. The White House has directly blamed congressional inaction for Ukraines military withdrawal from the key town of Avdiivka over the weekend, and the president has said hes not confident more towns wont fall in the coming months. House Republicans have so far refused to take up a bill that would provide more than $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. The president has grown heated as hes criticized the House for taking a two-week break as the national security supplement request languishes. Two weeks, theyre walking away. Two weeks, Biden said raising his voice during a White House event. What are they thinking? My God, this is bizarre, and its just reinforcing all of the concern and almost I wont say panic but real concern about the United States being a reliable ally. This is outrageous. Will it work? Even as the president engages in this pressure campaign, its unclear whether resistant Republicans will be swayed or if voters will take the foreign policy debate into consideration when they cast votes in November. Foreign policy is rarely at the center of presidential campaigns, often obscured by domestic or economic concerns. Even amid the current debate over Russia, Bidens team doesnt expect foreign affairs will factor heavily into voters decision-making. Still, Bidens team believes the Russia issue provides a convenient point of contrast between the two men, and serves as a reminder of the kind of president Trump would be if he were to win another term. Last week, the Biden campaign unveiled a new digital ad blasting Trumps comment about NATO, in which a narrator claimed Trump has even given Putin and Russia the greenlight to attack Americas allies. Part of a three-week, six-figure digital ad campaign, the spot is set to run through Super Tuesday targeting voters in the battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The campaign said it was looking to reach more than 2.5 million Americans who identify as Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian and Polish all NATO countries bordering Russia. The targeted play for voters with ties to countries in Russias backyard comes as recent polling shows American support for keeping NATO intact and sending more assistance to Ukraine. A recent Quinnipiac poll found two-thirds of voters 67% - believe NATO plays an important role in global security and would like to see the US remain part of the alliance. More than half of voters 5% believe the US should send more military aid to Ukraine amid its war against Russia. The same poll found 71% of voters believe Trump saying he would not protect NATO countries who fail to meet their obligations and encouraging Russia to do whatever the hell they want to those countries is a bad idea. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Biden on Thursday met in California with the widow and daughter of Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition figure whose sudden death in jail last week is being blamed on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden met with Yulia and Dasha Navalnaya in San Francisco, expressing condolences for Navalnys death, the White House said in a statement. The President expressed his admiration for Alexei Navalnys extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone, the statement read. The Biden administration is expected to announce on Friday a significant package of sanctions against Russia, marking two years since the country launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as sanctions issued in response to Navalnys death. He affirmed that his Administration will announce major new sanctions against Russia tomorrow in response to Alekseys death, Russias repression and aggression, and its brutal and illegal war in Ukraine, the White House said. Navalny, a prominent thorn in the side of Putin, died suddenly last week, falling unconscious after a walk outside in the penal colony he was being held above the Arctic Circle, the Russian prison services said in a statement. Navalny was serving more than 20 years in prison on charges that much of the international community has condemned as politically motivated. Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. Putin is responsible, Biden said last Friday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ABUJA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least eight suspected bandits were killed by troops in separate anti-terror raids in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna on Wednesday, the army said on Thursday. The successful raids against the suspected bandits swept across Igabi, Giwa, and Birnin Gwari local government areas, where attacks, including kidnappings, have been frequent in recent times against civilians, Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesperson, said in a statement. The suspected bandits succumbed to the superior firepower of the troops, Nwachukwu said, noting that the raids were in response to attacks on civilians in the aforementioned localities. Some of the bandits used "rustling herds of cattle as shields while engaging the troops in gunfights," he said. Various arms and ammunition belonging to the criminals were recovered from them by the troops, Nwachukwu added. Joe Biden has met with the family of Alexei Navalny, following the recent death of the 47-year-old political activist in a Russian prison. The president met with Yulia Navalnaya and Dasha Navalnaya on Thursday during a trip to California, and promised to honour the legacy of the late Russian dissident. The President expressed his admiration for Aleksey Navalny's extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone, a statement from the White House read. The President emphasized that Aleksey's legacy will carry on through people across Russia and around the world mourning his loss and fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. During the meeting, the White House said, Mr Biden affirmed that his administration will announce major new sanctions against Russia on Friday, in response to Navalnys death, Russia's repression and aggression, and the brutal and illegal war in Ukraine. The president met with the family of Alexei Navalny on Thursday during a trip to California (Potus/Twitter) We already have sanctions, but we are considering additional sanctions, yes, Mr Biden said previously, noting that while the US was unsure of the circumstances of Navalnys death were unclear, that it was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did. The meeting in California comes after Navalnys mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, said had finally been shown her sons body, a week after his death, but said that Russian authorities were seeking to blackmail her into burying him in a secret ceremony without mourners. Ms Navalnaya, 69, said that she was taken to the city morgue, and that officials told her that if she doesnt agree to a secret funeral, they will do something to her sons body. They want this to be done secretly, with no farewell. They want to bring me to the edge of a cemetery, to a fresh grave and say: here lies your son. I dont agree to this, she said. Dressed in black for a video posted on YouTube, from the Arctic city of Salekhard Ms Navalnaya added: The investigators claim that they know the cause of death, they have all the medical and legal documents ready, which I saw, and I signed the medical death certificate. Western leaders have echoed this, saying the blame lies with Russian authorities including president Vladimir Putin. Navalny, a fierce critic of Mr Putin, had been sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony around 40 miles of the Arctic Circle. Today, I met with Yulia and Dasha Navalnaya Aleksey Navalny's loved ones to express my condolences for their devastating loss. Aleksey's legacy of courage will live on in Yulia and Dasha, and the countless people across Russia fighting for democracy and human rights. pic.twitter.com/aiCcgTrws3 President Biden (@POTUS) February 22, 2024 Navalnys wife has said she believes her husband was poisoned with Novichok. That was after Russian prison authorities announced earlier on Friday last week that Navalny felt unwell after going for a walk and became unconscious almost immediately. The anti-corruption campaigner had already survived a poisoning attempt apparently by Russian secret service agents before choosing to return to Russia following treatment in Germany. He said at the time that he knew he might be imprisoned or even killed. Navalny was moved from his former prison in the Vladimir region of central Russia in December to the special regime penal colony the highest security level of prisons in Russia. Last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to share any details regarding the new sanctions or how they would interact with the strong sanctions already put in place following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Mr Kirby said the sanctions will be specifically supplemented with additional sanctions regarding Mr Navalnys death. Similar to the US president, Mr Kirby placed responsibility for the death at the feet of Russian authorities. Regardless of the scientific answer, Putins responsible for it, he told the press. NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Global competition regulators on Thursday convened in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to seek ways to promote consumer welfare. The two-day International Competition Network (ICN) Advocacy Workshop 2024 brought together industry regulators from more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa to explore ways to enhance competition in markets to strengthen consumer rights. In his opening remarks, Adano Roba, acting director-general of the Competition Authority of Kenya, said the conference is an opportunity for competition regulators to engage in constructive dialogue, share best practices, and develop strategies that will not only respond to but also shape the future of consumer welfare around the world. "Competition among enterprises promotes consumer welfare by expanding the choice of goods and services available in the market," Roba said, calling for a common approach among competition regulators around the world toward the enforcement of consumer rights. Rusman bin Abu Samah, commissioner of the Malaysia Competition Commission, said competition law and policy play a critical role in ensuring that consumers are not exploited by commercial enterprises. He added that competition regulators must enhance their capacity to investigate consumer complaints about unsafe products sold in the market. Lilian Kajuju Mukoronia, registrar of the East African Community Competition Authority, said the competition regime in East Africa is making progress as Uganda has enacted a competition law while Rwanda has started implementing its legislation to enhance consumer welfare. Mukoronia noted that regional competition agencies have also expanded the scope of their mandate to regulate conduct that has a cross-border dimension for the benefit of the public. Willard Mwemba, director and chief executive officer of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission, said regional competition regulators have entered into partnerships with national competition agencies to eliminate anticompetitive conduct by dominant businesses. He added that consumers are likely to enjoy the full benefits of market competition when competition watchdogs enforce laws that encourage companies to innovate and provide high-quality products and services. President Biden said Thursday he will announce sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Biden made the announcement after meeting in California with Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and their daughter Dasha. This morning I had the honor of meeting with Alexei Navalnys wife and daughter. We are going to announce sanctions against Putin who is responsible for his death tomorrow, the president said. We are not letting up. The administration had signaled earlier this week they are planning to announce a package of sanctions in response to Navalnys death in a penal colony and the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities declared Navalny died of natural causes, falling unconscious after taking a walk. Biden has joined Navalnys supporters in blaming Putin for the death. Navalny was serving more than 20 years in prison on charges widely condemned as politically motivated. He was arrested in Russia in 2022 after he returned to the country after recuperating for a year in Germany from being poisoned in Russia. It is believed he was the victim of an assassination effort by the FSB, the Russian internal security service. During a summit in June 2021, Biden warned Putin that if Navalny died, the consequences would be devastating for Russia. Administration officials have held back on previewing their sanctions. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described the sanctions as a robust package aimed at choking off the Russian war machine. You should expect them to follow the general direction of our past sanctions, as well as some sanctions specifically related to the death of Alexei Navalny, Miller said. They would come on top of dozens of sanctions packages issued over the last two years. The U.S. blacklisted Putin as a specially designated national the day after the invasion of Ukraine, blocking any property he may hold in the U.S. and preventing his travel to the U.S. The U.S. has sanctioned at least 47 Russian banks, according to a tally by Ukrainian officials. But Ukraine has argued these sanctions do not go far enough and that there are approximately 324 Russian banks that operate under the control of the Kremlin. Russia has managed to survive the sanctions by continuing to sell oil, albeit at a lower price, but with enough profit to buoy its economy. It has also sought to evade sanctions on critical technologies by routing purchase through third countries that are not signed up to international efforts to block exports to Russia. This is a dynamic situation, Miller said of Russias sanctions evasion. Russia watches the sanctions, sees the sanctions and tries to respond to the sanctions we impose. And so we watch the actions they take and we look to impose new sanctions either on individuals or areas they explore, and also focus on sanctions evasion when we see them or entities that deal with Russia trying to evade the sanctions that we previously put in place, we have ways to tighten those sanctions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Washington President Biden is debating whether to invoke a sweeping presidential authority that gained infamy during the Trump administration to stage a crackdown on migrants coming to the U.S. southern border, three people familiar with the plans told CBS News. Mr. Biden is weighing citing a law dating back to 1952 to severely restrict access to the U.S. asylum system, which has buckled under the weight of record levels of migrant arrivals along the border with Mexico, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal government deliberations. That law, known as 212(f), allows the president to "suspend the entry" of foreigners when it is determined their arrival is not in the best interest of the country. The Trump administration used the law several times, including to ban immigration and travel from certain countries, most of them predominantly Muslim, and to bar migrants from asylum if they entered the country unlawfully. Members of the Texas National Guard are seen at the southern border on February 4, 2024, in Texas. / Credit: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images If approved, Mr. Biden's executive action could be announced within the next two weeks, the sources said. An administration official said no final decisions had been made on whether the president would take executive action to address the situation at U.S.-Mexico border, where migrants have been arriving in greater numbers than ever before in American history. Any significant restriction on asylum would face formidable legal and operational hurdles. Still, issuing an executive order designed to curb illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border could be seen as an important political message from Mr. Biden ahead of the 2024 election. Border policy is one of Mr. Biden's worst-polling issues, with multiple polls showing a majority of Americans disapproving of his handling of immigration. The executive order would also cement a dramatic immigration policy pivot by Mr. Biden, who vowed to "restore" the U.S. asylum system soon after taking office in 2021. After record levels of migrant apprehensions along the southern border in the past three years and growing discontent in Democratic-led cities receiving migrants, Mr. Biden's administration has embraced some restrictions on asylum. In fact, the White House brokered an agreement with a group of senators last month that would've granted the president the power to suspend asylum law and summarily expel migrants during spikes in illegal immigration. After insisting on restrictive asylum changes in exchange for supporting more border funding and aid to Ukraine, Republican lawmakers rejected the deal, saying it was not strict enough. Sen. James Lankford speaks to reporters in the Senate Reception Room on January 31, 2024. / Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images In a statement, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said Republican lawmakers "chose to put partisan politics ahead of our national security." "No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected," Fernandez Hernandez added. "We continue to call on Speaker Johnson and House Republicans to pass the bipartisan deal to secure the border. " If Mr. Biden decides to invoke the authority, his administration would face significant operational challenges implementing it at scale. Last year, the administration enacted a regulation that presumes migrants don't qualify for asylum if they enter the U.S. illegally after not seeking protection in a third country. But it has not been able to screen all migrants who cross into the U.S. illegally under those standards, given insufficient numbers of asylum officers, detention beds and other resources. Instead, most border-crossers in recent months have been released with court cases that take years to be decided due to a massive backlog of applications. The move would also almost certainly face lawsuits if implemented. While the last version of the Trump administration's so-called "travel ban" was upheld by the Supreme Court, lower courts blocked the government from using the 212(f) authority to render most migrants ineligible for asylum at the southern border. It's unclear how the Biden administration expects its own effort to invoke the 212(f) authority to prevail in court. U.S. law gives migrants on American soil the right to request asylum, even if they cross the border without authorization. Lee Gelernt, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who successfully convinced federal judges to halt the Trump administration's asylum ban, indicated the government would likely be sued again if Mr. Biden issues a similar order. "An executive order denying asylum based on where one enters the country would just be another attempt at the exact policy Trump unsuccessfully tried and will undoubtedly end up in litigation," Gelernt told CBS News. Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday 7-year-old girl dies after beach hole collapsed on her and her brother Haley defies calls from Trump to drop out of 2024 race The Kremlin reacted to the words of Joe Biden, in which he called Putin a crazy son of a bitch The Press Secretary of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed U.S. President Joe Biden's recent comment calling Putin a "crazy SOB" as boorish and unlikely to offend the Russian leader, Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin published on Telegram on Feb. 22. "This is a huge shame for the country itself, Peskov told Zarubin. I mean for the United States of America. If the President of the country uses such language, it should be a shame." Read also: Missing the irony, Putins PR man calls accusations Putin killed Navalny barbaric Peskov further claimed Biden's statement was motivated by "domestic political interests" and, using the most obvious cliche possible, was probably some kind of attempt to look like a Hollywood cowboy. We have a crazy S.O.B. that guy, Putin, Biden told those gathered at a San Francisco fundraiser. And we always have to be worried about a nuclear conflict. But the existential threat to humanity is climate. This isn't the first instance of Biden's harsh words towards Putin, having previously accused him of responsibility for Alexei Navalny's death and labeling him a "pure thug" and "murderous dictator" amid the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine. Read also: U.S. considering slapping sanctions on Chinese companies aiding Russias war on 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 WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Nearly two dozen tech companies are promising to combat AI generated deep fakes designed to trick voters online but with the 2024 presidential election around the corner pro regulation advocates and some lawmakers are pushing for more. Professor Neil Johnson, a data scientist, warns we are now in uncharted territory thanks to AI generated deepfakes. Weve already seen it I mean the robocalls for Bidenits already been used in the Indonesian elections, Johnson said. Deep fakes are designed to look real. The worlds top tech companies have promised to clamp down on fake images imitating politicians but Robert Weissman, the president of consumer advocacy group Public Citizen says thats not enough. Its a positive step that theyre going to do the best they can, but the best they can do right now is not good enough, Weissman said. Johnson says more than 3 billion people are going to vote in elections globally and for the pledge to be effective many more companies must follow suit. There are upwards of 100 platforms and most of them are small and dont have the resources if they wanted to police the use of AI, says Johnson. A hundred platforms outweighs anything happening on big platforms. META and X, theyre just the receivers of a lot of this AI. About two dozen companies including Google Meta, X and TikTok promised at an international security conference last week to adopt reasonable precautions to detect and label political deepfakes and to ban or remove content. A strategy that relies on big tech to self-police is not strategy, Weissman said. Weissman and Public Citizen are calling for federal action to ban political deep fakes. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) agrees Congress needs to step up before democracy pays the price. I continue to worry we may be looking at foreign interference in our elections, said Warner. The White House is promising to roll out its own tool to flag deep fakes online. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Very few known unknowns have ever been so unknown, or as high-stakes, as the effect Donald Trumps criminal trials will have on the 2024 presidential race. For one, there are many different ways Trumps legal cases could play out. His New York trial for falsifying records related to a hush money payment is set to start on March 25, but many observers think that case is the weakest of the cases against him. Hes asked the Supreme Court to declare him immune from prosecution in any matter that concerns his activities while president, which could get him off the hook from 2020-related cases in both Washington and Georgia. And he could benefit from the rulings of a friendly judge in his Florida classified documents case. Or, if various rulings and appeals dont go his way and juries reject his attorneys arguments at trial, he could be found guilty and even sentenced to prisonhey, the Resistance can dreamin more than one of those cases before the election. And pollsters have tried to figure out how that would affect the election by asking voters what they would do, hypothetically, if Trump were convicted. What these polls have found is that some Americans who say they currently support Trumps candidacy claim they would no longer do so if he were found guilty of a crime. In a December New York Times/Siena College survey, a quarter of respondents who said that they currently support Trump also said they believed a conviction should disqualify him from being the Republican nominee. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released in February found Biden leading Trump 4847a margin that, according to the polls respondents, would increase to 5145 if Trump were found guilty. NBC News, which asked similar questions, had the race switching from 4742 in Trumps favor to 4543 in Bidens in the event of a conviction. And a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult survey of swing-state voters found that 53 percent of them said a Trump conviction should disqualify him from office, a number that would make it impossible for him to beat Biden without a strong spoiler showing by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or another independent candidate. This ought to make Democrats feel pretty good. At least one Trump trial is set to go forward before November, and he doesnt have a great recent history of success in court; he managed to basically lose E. Jean Carrolls lawsuit against him twice. And according to voters, if he loses a criminal trial, that could hand the election to Biden. On the other hand, what if these voters are full of it? For years, the people of the United States have often told pollsters that they think Donald Trump has done terrible things, only to end up voting for him anyway. In 2019, 64 percent of respondents told Pew they thought Trump had definitely or probably broken the law when he was in office or while he was running for president. The next year he got 47 percent of the national vote, which, if you do the math, would imply that somewhere around 10 percent of Americans voted for someone who they thought was definitely or probably a criminal. According to CNN, 50 percent of Republican voters currently believe Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election was either unethical or illegal; at the same time, polls routinely find that more than 70 percent of them believe he should be the partys nominee. Do a key slice of prospective 2024 voters feel compelled, for some reason, to say they will withhold their support from Trump in the event of a conviction even though they wont actually do any such thing? The question is related to something called the Shy Trump hypothesis. In 2016, after Trump overperformed his polling to register a surprise victory over Hillary Clinton, there was speculation that supporting him had been considered so socially unacceptable that many people who planned to vote for him all along had refused to admit it during conversations with pollsters. Ultimately, though, an American Association for Public Opinion Research panel, which sifted through hundreds of polls worth of data after the election, determined that there was no evidence that such shy Trump supporters existed. Among other things, online pollswhich dont require respondents to speak to another humanhad underestimated Trump by even more than telephone polls in which respondents spoke with a pollster. People had done what they said theyd do regarding their votes for Trump, and hadnt been ashamed to admit it. Some of the polling experts who worked on that 2016 postmortem are nonetheless wondering if its really true that a conviction will reduce Trumps support by the margin that polls say. I dont love hypotheticals like If he was convicted would you vote for him? says Charles Franklin, the director of the Marquette Law School poll. Asking people to predict their behavior in a circumstance that may not happen, or that they dont believe will happen, is likely to overstate the impact. YouGovs Mark Blumenthal, who was also on the post-2016 panel, addressed the subject in a mid-February post. Like Franklin, Blumenthal alludes to evidence in academic literature that people overstate how theyd react in hypothetical situations. He also dug up polling data related to the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton, which has some parallels with a potential Trump conviction. Shortly before the House voted on whether to impeach Clinton on charges that hed lied during lawsuit testimony about his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky, CBS asked voters if they thought he should resign because of the scandal. They also asked voters to think about whether he should resign if the House impeached him. The results: About 70 percent of people said Clinton shouldnt resign, and 30 percent said he should. But some of the people who said he shouldnt resignjust over 10 percent of the total number who were surveyedsaid that he should resign if ultimately impeached. What makes the data useful is that the House did impeach Clinton, so CBSs pollsters got to see whether it was, in fact, true that impeachment raised the percentage of voters who thought he should resign. It turns out that number didnt go up post-impeachment, staying right around 30 percent. Voters whod said impeachment would change their minds had been wrong. That doesnt necessarily mean the same is true of Trump. Clinton was the sitting president at the time, and voters largely approved of his performance in office. Trump, since leaving the White House, may have faded from some voters minds; he was also much less popular than Clinton during his presidency. The criminal charges against Trump are also arguably more serious than the allegation that Clinton had lied in testimony related to a civil lawsuit, and a verdict against Trump would be rendered by a jury rather than a partisan group of legislators. (Then again, the first potential conviction Trump faces is related to covering up an alleged affair.) In a recent survey of his own, Marquettes Franklin says he did find some crumbs of evidence suggesting that Trump could, for real, lose support if convicted. In a national poll of adults released in September 2023, Marquette asked respondents whether they supported Trump or Bidenthen, later in the survey, asked whether they thought Trump behaved illegally in his effort to reverse the results of the 2020 election. The results: Forty-three percent of Republicans who thought Trump acted illegally had, earlier in the survey, said they supported Biden. Almost no Republicans who described Trumps actions as wrong but not illegal or not wrong at all, by comparison, had said they supported Biden. This, Franklin argues, is evidence that believing Trump did something illegal can change the preferences of voters who would otherwise be expected to support him. (Independent voters showed similar tendencies.) Of course, Marquettes poll identified potential voters who already believe Trump behaved illegally. For him to actually lose support, a conviction would have to convince additional Americans that he engaged in illegal acts. But in Blumenthals YouGov post theres evidence that this, too, could happen. Of respondents in YouGov polling who said that a Trump conviction would change their minds about voting for him, Blumenthal writes, only 31 percent say that they follow whats going on in government and public affairs most of the time. Most of them, in other words, arent paying close attention to the news. Perhaps voters who would currently support Trump, but arent really giving the election much thought, would be more likely to switch sides if a conviction were to remind them what they dont like about him. Of potential relevance to this possibility is a 2022 study by political scientists David Broockman of Berkeley and Joshua Kalla of Yale which found that the less voters knew about a candidate, the more likely they were to change their minds about whether to vote for them in response to new information. (Voters know a lot about both Trump and Biden already, so persuasion will be difficult, Broockman cautioned over email. On the other hand, many circumstances of the election are unprecedented, so its possible voters might respond. Its rare to have a defeated presidential candidate run again four years later.) A Trump conviction could also raise meta-concerns about his electability. The Republican Accountability Project, a group founded by GOP strategist Sarah Longwell, conducts focus groups of Trump voters with an eye toward figuring out how they might be persuaded not to pull the lever for him again. In a session last November, the group told Slate, a participant from Pennsylvania named Andy F. said hed want a different nominee if Trump were found guilty in his Georgia trialbut not because it would call his fitness into question. If he gets convicted in Georgia, then its pointless voting for him, the participant said. Then again, Andy F. told the sessions moderators that his preferred candidate in that case would be Vivek Ramaswamy, whos since dropped out, as has every other non-Trump candidate except Nikki Haleywho, by virtue of believing that there should be a Republican alternative to Trump, would likely not be considered a good alternative to Trump by many Republican voters. As we said, its a known unknown. Its been five months since an Atlanta police officer Tased church deacon Johnny Hollman when he refused to sign a traffic ticket. Hollman died. Now, Georgia lawmakers have a plan to de-escalate those kinds of traffic stops. The Georgia House passed a bill that would mean police cannot arrest drivers who refuse to sign traffic citations. Body cam video showed that fateful August night when Hollman, 64, initially refused to sign a traffic citation. I suggest you sign this ticket, the officer told Hollman. After a scuffle, the officer tased Hollman, which medical examiners said caused Hollmans death. That officer has since been fired. But its these kinds of confrontations that have worried both police officers and drivers. This bill addresses the moment of conflict, state Rep. Yasmin Neal said. RELATED STORIES: Neal, a Democrat, knows all about policing. She served in both the Clayton County Police Department and Sheriffs Office. She wrote the bill that would allow drivers to refuse to sign those citations. The officer would simply write driver refused to sign on the ticket instead, and Neal told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that those conflicts would be diffused. Its nice to know that we can finally move it, pass it, and make sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the night, Neal said. But there are consequences for refusing to sign. Drivers couldnt pre-pay tickets and theyd have to appear in court. Failure to do so would mean immediate arrest. Republican Rep. Bill Hutchens threw his support behind the bill early on. As the former commander of the Georgia State Patrol, he told Elliot that hes had run-ins with difficult drivers. You know, having spent the majority of my life in public safety, Im well aware of what occurs on the side of the road at traffic stops, Hutchens said. The House overwhelmingly passed this bill. Now it heads over to the Senate. RELATED NEWS: SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A Utah bill that changes how books deemed pornographic or indecent could be removed from public school libraries is on its way to Gov. Spencer Coxs desk. House Bill 29, known as Sensitive Material Review Amendments, passed its final vote in the House on Wednesday in a 52-18 vote following a conference committee meeting. Days before, an amended version of the bill passed the Senate on a 19-8 vote. Bill would change how books with sensitive material could be removed from Utah school libraries We got it in shape, said Rep. Ken Ivory (R-West Jordan), the bills sponsor, following the conference committee meeting. Weve got both clarity and uniformity, which was the whole purpose of the bill. So we are in good shape. Rep. Ken Ivory (R-West Jordan) speaks on the House floor. The bill amends a 2022 law regarding sensitive materials in schools following an episode last year where the Bible was removed from some Davis County libraries over challenges that it is violent and vulgar. The Bible was later returned to school bookshelves, although the story garnered national headlines. In the conference committee, lawmakers addressed a sticking point over what Ivory deemed uniformity. The Senate amendments to the bill gave local schools boards the ability to retain books that would otherwise would have been banned in public libraries statewide. The compromise reached tweaked the Senate amendments by giving the State Board of Education the ability to vote on whether or not to remove a book from public school libraries across the state. Clarity and uniformity In order to stop holy books from being removed from school libraries, the new bill clarifies different types of sensitive material. First, objective sensitive material is defined as constituting criminal indecency in violation of the states Bright Line Rule. If a challenged book is deemed to have crossed this line, local school boards dont have to hold a review with parents to pull the book from school libraries. However, if a book does not cross the states Bright Line threshold, its deemed subjective sensitive material, and school boards would have to hold a review of the book involving parents. While under review, the challenged book could still be accessible to students as long as they have parental permission. The bill also cracks down on those who had challenged dozens of books in a given year. The bill specifies that if a person makes three unsuccessful book challenges in a given year, they are barred from triggering sensitive material reviews through the remainder of the school year. One of the more controversial aspects of the bill concerns how it streamlines removing books from public school libraries across the state. Per the bill, if three school districts or two school districts and five charter schools opt to remove a book, itll trigger a process where the material is removed from school libraries across the state. Critics of the bill said this puts too much power in the hands of a few people, who could end up deciding whats appropriate for communities with different values from their own. That is really taking away local autonomy from school districts and school boards, said Renee Pinkney, president of Utah Education Association, which has stood opposed to the bill. Those board members are elected by their constituents, and we believe that this should be something that the local district and the local school board determines, not something that is across the board, she told ABC4. In protest of the bill, the Utah Education Association is holding a Freedom to Read rally Thursday afternoon in the rotunda at the Utah State Capitol. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Relatives of people killed by drunk drivers testified Thursday in support of a bill that would update Utahs criminal code to give drivers convicted of DUI homicide a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Lisa Mitchell, of West Jordan, testified before the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, telling the lawmakers that her son, Eli Mitchell, was killed by a drunk driver in April of 2022. Bill changing how books could be removed from Utah school libraries now headed to Gov. Coxs desk Although the driver got the maximum sentence of 1-15 years in prison, the family was immediately thrown into a situation following the sentencing where they had to deal with the pardons and parole board. Mitchell said she doesnt want other families to go through the same painful process so soon after losing a loved one. There is no certainty for the victim in this situation, she said. I feel like we have been revictimized over and over again. Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, spoke to the committee about her nephews who were killed by an intoxicated driver. She voted to give the bill a favorable recommendation. Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, is running House Bill 273. He said that Utah already has minimum floor sentences for certain types of egregious crimes, and DUI-related homicides should be included among them. I brought this bill in working with victims who have been distressed once their offender is sentenced to prison and they start receiving notices right away, he said. It doesnt give [the victims family] time to heal, to grieve. No one-size-fits all Standing against the bill was criminal defense lawyer Mark Motif, who spoke to the committee on behalf of the Utah Defense Lawyers Association. He said that having mandatory terms eliminates a judges ability to make the right call in difficult cases. When it comes to these kinds of cases, theres not a one-size-fits-all for deaths resulting from DUIs, Motif said. You could have an individual who was driving intoxicated who had the misfortune of causing the death of his own child, and yet he would have to serve five years minimum mandatory. While the committee voted to give the bill a favorable recommendation, one lawmaker couldnt get behind the legislation in its current form. Sen. Daniel Thatcher (R-West Valley City) said there are always exceptions in criminal cases that lawmakers dont foresee. So if its a mandatory minimum with absolutely no consideration for intent or for risk factors then I dont think I can get there, he said, adding that he would support the bill if instead of a mandatory minimum it set a sentencing guideline that a judge could only deviate from with good cause. The current language of H.B. 273 sets a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for DUI homicide officers. However, Stoddard said there were safety valves written into the bill for people who have bad reactions to medications taken correctly, or who plead guilty to lesser charges than second-degree homicide. Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, became emotional as she spoke in support of the bill before she and her fellow committee members voted 3-1 to recommend it. The Senate Minority Leader said two of her nephews were killed and a third was seriously injured by an intoxicated driver who struck them in their front yard nearly 20 years ago. I think [the legal process] disproportionately impacts the survivors when they dont have resources dont understand the system, she said, adding that the perpetrator in that case walked after only a year-and-a-half behind bars. H.B. 273 is now on its way to the Senate floor. Earlier this month, it passed the House on a 46-21 vote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. BEIRUT, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least two Hezbollah fighters were killed and three people injured Thursday in an Israeli strike targeting two residential apartments in Kfar Remen, a city in the Nabatieh Governorate of southern Lebanon, Lebanese military and medical sources told Xinhua. The military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said four air-to-surface missiles penetrated the two adjacent apartments from above and exploded inside, leading to their complete destruction. Neighboring buildings were also severely damaged. The sources said that several teams from the Civil Defense and the Lebanese Red Cross had headed to the site to remove the rubble and recover the injured. The sources revealed that the injured had been rushed to a nearby hospital, but two of them, later identified as Hezbollah members, succumbed to their wounds. Separately, military sources said that Israel on Thursday carried out nine air strikes on five towns and villages in southern Lebanon and fired about 35 shells on 13 towns and villages, destroying eight houses and damaging 24 others. Hezbollah said its fighters also attacked several Israeli sites, including the Miskav Am settlement, the Avivim, Nahariya, and Kfar Yuval colonies, and the sites of Birkat Risha, Al-Motella, Al-Samaqa, and Al-Alam. The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 307 people on the Lebanese side, including 207 Hezbollah members and 59 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. Before the digital age took over, fashionistas throughout society had a much harder time finding inspiration for their innovative outfits than we do now. Currently, a quick scroll through Pinterest, Instagram or TikTok will give you countless ideas as to whats trending right now, along with the ability to buy your desired look with the click of a few buttons. While past generations mostly stuck to the status quo with their outfits, today, we can walk outside and see fashion statements influenced by every decade before not to mention the futuristic trends that are taking over 2024. Over the past year, quiet luxury has been a movement thats shaking things up far beyond the runway. Essentially, this anti-trend is reminding financially conscious folks that its not necessary to invest in a full-on designer wardrobe, and mixing a few stand-out splurges with vintage classics unearthed at the thrift store can make you look equally as cool. As InStyle points out, even the savviest shopper cant keep up with all the niches popularized online these days, so instead, shoppers are rebelling by getting innovative with whats already in their closet while mixing in the occasional designer garment. Rather than leaning into consumerism and spending hundreds ordering fast fashion pieces that might only be in style (or last) for a few months, people are practicing the art of minimalism but without leaving their outfits looking like a beige mom picked it out. It represents a conscious move away from the fleeting trend cycle, emphasizing the importance of investing in classic pieces. Were talking timeless trench coats, impeccable suiting, sumptuous knits, and luscious leather accessories, the outlet explains. Though quiet luxury has been a hot topic for a while now, theres little information about which Black-owned brands offer pieces that can help you build your wardrobe for the rest of 2024. Read on to discover some of our favorites. Pyer Moss Photo via pyermoss.com Kerby Jean-Raymonds Pyer Moss began making major headlines in 2015. That September, the designer opened his runway show with a 12-minute film called This Is an Intervention, detailing police brutality against Black people throughout America. Since then, his vision has remained focused on two things: making great clothing for consumers and using his platform to shed light on social justice issues plaguing our society. After his 2021 couture show was bashed by critics for making more of a political statement than literal garments, Jean-Raymonds been laying relatively low. However, hes got something big planned for this coming spring. On the Pyer Moss website, the 38-year-old is promoting two looting events one on March 23rd in Atlanta, and another on April 6th in Los Angeles. At these, attendees will be given three minutes to load themselves up with as much as clothing as possible before posing for a photo and heading out with their swag. The Loot-Out draws inspiration from the luxury fashion industrys global decline, the burgeoning dupe culture, and the recent looting sprees affecting retail, a statement from the brand reads. Items up for grabs include unreleased apparel and footwear, archival collections/collabs, runway samples, prototypes, and accessories. Knowing this, fashion lovers are hopeful that Jean-Raymond might have new designs coming our way soon. Tori Soudan Photo via torisoudan.com Anyone in the market for some unique accessories to elevate your outfit should look no further than Tori Soudan. Her stunning boot offering rival Mary J. Bliges collection (the Julee, pictured above, and the wine-colored Adia model are must-haves). Soudans company also sells various styles of flat shoes, a stunning monogram belt for $311, and perhaps the most fabulous of all are her purses. No matter if youre looking for a classic black bag to go with every outfit, or a vibrant crossbody to brighten up your spring ensembles, this accessory icon has reasonably priced options for you to consider. After a successful career in finance, and as a guest lecturer at Morgan State University in the Department of Accounting & Finance, she followed her true passion and launched her own brand, Soudans website explains. She approaches design from a unique perspective in order to create unique and elevated fashion products and experiences for her signature brands, and for her consulting clients. Christie Brown Photo via christiebrownonline.com Another Black woman holding it down and showing us direction in the ever-changing world of fashion is Aisha Ayensu, Creative Director of Christie Brown. The Ghanaian-based luxury fashion brand was founded in 2008 and has consistently been releasing stunning gowns and other garments. The visionary behind CB finds inspiration all around her, from women selling colorfully printed and intricately woven fabrics in crowded market stalls, to seamstresses expertly cutting out patterns by freehand, she writes on her website. We stay grounded by remaining attentive to the African woman, her heritage, and how she navigates creating space(s) for herself in our world. Our pieces tell our unique stories, aided by the beauty and spirit of the women who wear them so well. If you dont mind being the center of attention wherever you go, saving up for one of Ayensus intricately designed outfits will surely pay you back in the number of compliments you receive. Many items remaining from CBs holiday collection are priced under $300, and the online sale section has more great options for first-time customers. Undra Celeste Photo via undracelesteny.com For the modern American working woman, we suggest you take a peak through Undra Celestes latest offerings. She describes herself as a modern multicultural womens designer, making clothing that invokes confidence and an unapologetic presence. Who wouldnt want to walk into the office on a Monday morning with that sort of attitude? [Our brand] The goal is to empower multicultural women to show up to work feeling like their authentic selves exuding confidence by providing modern, fun, and bold workwear, Celeste tells shoppers of her online store. If you prefer trying things on in person rather than blindly purchasing through the internet, you can find the rising Black creatives clothing for sale at both Saks and Bloomingdales. Made Leather Co. Photo via madeleatherco.com Recent years have seen a rise in pleather sales, but for those who value true quality, giving up authentic leather goods isnt an option. Luckily, theres no shortage of craftspeople designing beautiful pieces for your own collection or to spoil your loved one with an incredible gift. Made Leather Co.s products are made by hand with love in Morrocco and sold in Atlanta by Lenise Williams. Before getting into accessories, she worked as a lawyer and author, but when traveling overseas to speak at a United Nations conference, she discovered a new love that awoke her entrepreneurial spirit. Williams website notes that several major athletes have already secured their luxury bags from her, including Kalen Ballage of the Miami Dolphins, Cayleb Jones from the Minnesota Vikings, and Isiah Jones of Buffalo Bills fame. Brother Vellies Photo via brothervellies.com Our final recommendation for building your Black-owned quiet luxury wardrobe is Brother Vellies, founded in 2013 to keep traditional African design practices, and techniques alive while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs. Aurora James stands in the shoes of Creative Director and Founder, hailing from Toronto before relocating to New York City. She has a background in journalism, art, music, photography, and horticulture before turning to fashion full-time, and she aims to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces that will remain in your wardrobe forever. Not long ago, I had a conversation with a fellow cigar aficionado who felt the song Lift Every Voice and Sing, often referred to as the Black National Anthem, was divisive in nature. Moreover, he felt the National Football League had hurt its brand by allowing it to precede the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2023. With my cigar compadre being an Italian American and me of African-American descent, I struggled to fathom why he felt that way. Particularly since the first Italians who fled southern Italy and Sicily around the 1880s for the shores of the United States were classified as immigrants, unlike Black slaves from the Ivory Coast of Africa who were classified as cargo in previous decades. That served as a perfect segue for us to have a heart-to-heart conversation about Black history. Indian River State College employees Jeri Ewing (left) and Donnella Clarke take photos with the six wax figures of historic and political Black Americans on display Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, at Means Court Elementary School in Fort Pierce. Being Black History Month, we want to make sure we come out and celebrate our history, Clarke said. The wax figures of Mary McLeod Bethune, Julian Bond, Dorothy Irene Height, Thurgood Marshall, Kweisi Mfume and Ida B. Wells-Barnett are from the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore. The display is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. I pointed out to him that song served as a rallying cry during segregation and civil rights movement in the 1950 and 1960s. I further explained to him during slavery, Black people were forbidden to be taught how to read, for fear of them ascertaining ways to rebel against their slave masters. Moreover, it was not until 1868 that Black Americans were granted rights of citizenship per mandates of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment. Congress passed the 15th Amendment in 1870 to facilitate a pathway for Black Americans to vote. Preventative measures such as poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud, and intimidation were used by opponents of the amendment, primarily of southern states, that would continue to prevent Black Americans from voting. Black history has never been a comfortable conversation to have for most people in private or the public domain. However, civil conversation is necessary to have if we as American citizens wholeheartedly believe in authentic democracy and the aims/ideals of our forefathers. To understand a person whose worldview and experience differs from your own allows you to gain insight into their plight. City of Sebastian Police Officer Donald Hart applauds a moment at the Unsung Heroes of Indian River County event, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center. The event, presented by the School District of Indian River County and Oslo Middle School, for Black History Month, recognizes the past and present Black law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, the way George Floyd perished reopened wounds of the past, which compelled us to revisit injustices that dated back to the burning of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma circa the 1920s, the murder of Emmitt Till, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other forms of social injustices towards Black people. From the time slaves were imported from the shores of West Africa to Jamestown, Virginia in 1619, learning how to assimilate into European norms in some instances became a matter of survival. Black history is American history, but it has not always been treated as such. Especially here in the state of Florida, where public schools, colleges and universities are forbidden to broach the subject matter of Black history, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, or anything remotely close to sensitivity training without retribution from Gov. Ron DeSantis. Put simply, there is no plausible way to share the Black American experience without someone feeling uncomfortable. However, sharing the experience is not designed to make anyone of other races feel as though they are at fault. That type of sharing is designed to acknowledge that certain events did occur, to educate those who do not have a basic knowledge of the subject matter, and to pay homage to those who, in some instances, sacrificed their lives for the welfare for Black Americans. Chauncelor Howell The 2024 theme for Black history month is "African Americans and the Arts." Therefore, I encourage you regardless of your race, nationality or sexual preference to participate in a community event, read a book or watch a movie to learn more about the rich history of Black Americans and their contribution(s) to the United States of America. As a proud African American and veteran, I unconditionally embody the aims, ideals, and ethos of these United States. Furthermore, I know we have the capacity to peacefully overcome our differences. Put simply, Black history month is not just a Black thang; instead it is an opportunity for us to celebrate and explore the contributions of those who made it possible for Black people to be free. Unfortunately, my cigar pal known amongst our mutual aficionados as Billy Boy is no longer with us to read this column and may he rest in peace. Nonetheless, I am most grateful for the time we had together to intelligently discuss sensitive matters where we differed, with a cigar and bourbon. Mutual civility is still possible and will work if given a chance, even if we agree to disagree. Chauncelor Howell is a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran and president of the Treasure Coast Black Chamber of Commerce. He serves as an advisory member on the TCPalm Editorial Board. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Black History Month offers chances to listen and learn about neighbors The words rescued by a negro or some variant of that appear in Montgomery Advertiser stories and headlines from the late 1800s through at least the 1960s. Though not all these heroes names were printed at the time, the Advertiser printed many of their deeds, which were often rescues of whites. Such was the case in 1908 with One-armed Bob Goodwyn, a former slave and ferryman in Montgomery who rescued a white man from drowning in the Alabama River. The account of Goodwyns life and death was told over several stories. He briefly unified an otherwise segregated community, and in 1909 his funeral at Oakwood Cemetery drew hundreds of Blacks and whites together. These kind of newspaper stories usually offered an awkward balance praising Black rescuers while repeatedly referring to them as negro. It was prints version of segregation. The word was injected into all stories constantly for any person of color. Even in stories when the hero was identified, negro was often used in place of the persons name in many references. More: 'The power of ordinary Americans': Remembering Selma foot soldier George Sallie Though this is by no means a comprehensive list from the area, the Advertiser is seeking to shine a light on the deeds of these Black heroes that have been lost to time: White man rescued after wagon overturns In June 1867, just over two years after the end of the Civil War, Capt. Dick Allison of the Harmony Church neighborhood in Coosa County was returning home in a two-horse wagon when he attempted to cross a creek. The water was running swift, and his horses got caught in the current and drowned. Allison was saved by a nearby unidentified Black man. Man saves little girl from drowning From the Advertiser on Dec. 19, 1867: A little negro girl was saved from being drowned in the basin at the Dillehay house yesterday. She was sinking the last time, when she was rescued by a negro man who was passing. Woman rescued after flooding A story from the Montgomery Advertiser in 1891, in which a Black man came to the rescue of a woman on a washed out road. A white woman in west central Alabama was rescued in 1891 by an unidentified Black man. Mrs. Josiah Eddins was being driven near Coal Fire Creek. The road was flooded, and the driver couldnt see a deep washout in it. They drove into an 8-foot hole. The Advertiser wrote: In the nick of time, a negro man appeared on the scene, and by heroic work saved the team from drowning... In a short time, Mrs. Eddins resumed her homeward journey with no serious injury to any, but an experience not soon to be forgotten. White man rescued from Tennessee River In March 1899, two white men Herbert Crews and Frank Carpenter were out on the Tennessee River in a small skiff when they lost their balance and fell into the water. Crews was pulled under a nearby steamer and didnt rise again. However, Carpenter was rescued by an unidentified Black man from the steamers deck. White man from Montgomery saved in Mobile In September 1900, Lewis Anderson of Montgomery decided to spend the afternoon sailing on the river in Mobile. After going out a short distance, the boat overturned and he was thrown into the river. Anderson was rescued by a negro named Fisher. Black man saves Mrs. Helms from death in flames Story of how a Black man saved Mrs. Josiah Helms from a house fire in 1902. The header says, "Rescued by a negro." That was the storys headline from January 1902, and yes the Advertiser used the word Black. But it was probably because theyd used Rescued by a Negro in a line above it. In Midland City (near Ozark), the home of Josiah Helms was destroyed by an overnight fire while the family was home. While her family escaped, Mrs. Helms fainted in her burning home. A negro man entered amid the flames and carried her to a safe place, the Advertiser wrote. The building collapsed in a second after his escape with her. Her hero was identified as Andrew Durr, who was badly scorched during the rescue. Athens man rescued after thrown from buggy In April 1907, white Athens butcher Alvy McAnn was returning home when his horse team ran away with him and he was thrown from his buggy. The accident severely cut McAnns face, nearly severed an ear, and left him battered and unconscious. All we know about his rescue is that it was at the hands of an unidentified Black person. Black man rescues mule It wasnt just saving human lives that made the news. In April 1924, an unidentified Black man on the property of W.H. Boswell in Troy saw a mule stuck in high water in the Conecuh River, tangled in the brush. Its head was just above water when the man untangled it and brought it to the shore. Man dies while rescuing grandchild from fire In April of 1930, a Black man named Will Dunklin burned to death in his home, 3 miles east of Greenville, after rescuing his grandchild. He and other members of his family had escaped from the burning home, but they discovered the child was missing. Dunklin rushed back in and made the rescue by putting the child out through a window. Unfortunately, Dunklin then attempted to save a family trunk. In doing so, he became trapped, and the burning walls collapsed on him. Fiery car crash family rescue In 1934, Black Montgomery resident Samuel Howard rescued a family of five from a flaming car. While walking along Fairview Avenue on the morning of April 4, 1934, Black Montgomery resident Samuel Howard witnessed a fiery car crash, and immediately ran to the rescue of a white Michigan family of five. Howard went through flames, burning himself, to drag the husband, wife and children from the vehicle, with the assistance of the driver of the other crashed vehicle. A subsequent story called for the Montgomery Negro to be given a medal. That June, Howard was presented with a substantial check from the citys Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery Safety Council. A disturbing side to this praise for Howard was that the Advertiser printed the man's home address, 608 South Bainbridge St., in each story written about him. Heroic negro woman saves 2 from water It wasnt just Black men who were rescuers. On Feb. 14, 1956, in Demopolis, Frances Richardson pulled her husband, Joe, and white man W.C. Blankenship from the water of a slough into her boat. Sadly, her two foster sons Willie Armstead Jr., 13, and James Armstead, 9, drowned before she could get to them. It was reported that the two men and the boys were in a boat that capsized, and none of them could swim. Uniontown negro hero rescues man, children In Uniontown, a Black man helped rescue a family from a partially submerged vehicle in 1965. It should be noted that it wasnt just stories written by the Advertiser that made constant references to Black people as negro. Heres one from Uniontown that came from the Associated Press in July 1965. A negro man pulled four injured persons including three children from a water-filled automobile after it overturned into a creek here Wednesday while almost 30 spectators stood idly by. The rescuer was William Henry Fitt, 52, a father of four who worked at a fertilizer plant in Faunsdale. He immediately lept in to assist a state trooper on the scene. "I jumped into the water to help pull them out," Fitts said. More: University of Alabama website shares historical stories of enslaved people on campus He was praised for acting to help while around 30 other people just watched from shore while the children were crying in the vehicle. The passengers werent able to get out on their own because the vehicles doors had become stuck shut in mud. The male victim's wife was already free of the vehicle. In another story, Fitts said he "cried for joy" at being able to save them. He also drove the injured man to the hospital. Fitts also went back to the accident scene, found the purse of the trapped man's wife, and returned it with the $160 it contained. Officials said it was the second time Fitts had assisted to save accident victims' lives. Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel can be reached at at sheupel@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Black heroes lost to time: Life-saving rescues in post-slavery Alabama Editor's note: The Courier & Press and The Gleaner are marking Black History Month with a collection of stories about people, places and events from local Black history. EVANSVILLE Willie Effie Thomas and a group of students wanted to go to the pool. So one summer day in 1950, Thomas and kids from Evansville's all-Black Lincoln High School marched to the then-segregated Howell Park, where they were met with racist taunts and flying rocks. "We didn't win that one," one of the students told the Courier & Press 51 years later. But for Thomas and other civil rights activists in the city, other battles were just around the corner. Willie Effie Thomas. A native of Texas, Thomas began her activism in 1949, when she organized the Evansville NAACP Youth Council. That same year brought her weekly radio show that focused on the NAACP's work and mission. She went on to become a key figure in the civil rights fight in Evansville. Often accompanied by children and young people, she staged "stand-ups" at segregated movie theaters, and sat at whites-only lunch counters for hours at a time until her and the other activists finally received service. Through it all, she also served as an Evansville school teacher for decades, first at the segregated Lincoln and Chestnut-Walnut schools before moving to Tekoppel Elementary, from where she retired in 1977. Thomas died in 2001. She was 89. Her work brought her numerous accolades. But in 1972, she told the Sunday Courier & Press she had one overarching goal. "I want to be able to feel the community is better because I helped and did my part to make it that way," she said. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Black History Month: Willie Effie Thomas fought Evansville segregation A Black teenager in Texas repeatedly suspended for his dreadlocks will get his day in court Thursday in a case that advocates say has broad implications for racial hair discrimination. Darryl George, 18, has been in in-school suspension for months after Barbers Hill High School said his hair violates policy. His family sued, saying the schools regulations go against Texass newly established CROWN Act. Allie Booker, Georges attorney, says the case ties into a larger movement regarding discrimination of minority groups as a whole. The case is based on a section in the schools handbook that contains a rule stating male students cannot have their hair past their eyebrows or earlobes. George wears his dreadlocks on the top of his head, away from his face and neck. Victoria Kirby York, director of public policy and programs at the National Black Justice Coalition, said Texass law highlights the importance of cultural hairstyles but does not take into consideration the gender expression component. Barbers Hill High, she said, was able to opt out of the policy by saying it did not apply specifically to the hair length of male students. Theyre saying that this isnt about the African heritage, this is about the length of the hairstyle, and that the length is inappropriate. But when you ask the question, Why is the length inappropriate? The answer is because it, and lets be clear, the length is only inappropriate for boys, York said. For years there have been efforts to get a national version of the CROWN Act, which prevents racial discrimination based on hairstyles, through Congress, but they have been unsuccessful. The White House said in 2022 it strongly supports CROWN Act legislation and that the president believes that no person should be denied the ability to obtain a job, succeed in school or the workplace, secure housing, or otherwise exercise their rights based on a hair texture or hair style. The goal, according to the National Urban League, is to create a more equitable and inclusive experience for Black people through the advancement of anti-hair discrimination legislation. To that effort, the group says there has been tremendous success elevating the public narrative around this important issue and inspiring a movement to end hair bias. State District Judge Chap Cain said in January that arguments in the case would be heard Feb. 22 but did not issue a temporary injunction, leaving George in suspension through much of his junior year as the case plays out. Georges family has also filed suit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), accusing them of failing to enforce the CROWN Act. We look forward to the Texas judicial system clarifying the CROWN Act, said Greg Poole, superintendent of the Barbers Hill school district. Hair length of male students is only constitutionally protected for Native American students. Length of hair is not protected in the Texas CROWN nor in any of the CROWN Acts in the 24 states that have one. The Texas CROWN Act protects hair texture and the wearing of braids, twists and locs. Those with agendas wish to make the CROWN Act a blanket allowance of student expression. Again, we look forward to this issue being legally resolved, Poole added. William Hill, a legal strategist who worked on the law in Texas, acknowledges it does not directly address the length of hair because in certain circumstances, the length of ones hair could be a safety hazard in a work setting. Theyre correct, it doesnt address length because length really isnt what were talking about. What were talking about those hairstyles that protect curly and coily hair, Hill said, arguing it seems that what the principal is trying to do is to impose his cultural aesthetic on the student body. It has nothing to do with safety. It has nothing to do with disrupting class, because Georges hair is not all over the place. Booker said the school previously had a rule that hair could be longer, but it had to be tied up, which students complied with. What these individuals were doing was being able to tie up and sew up and put up their locs just like Darryl George is doing in an effort to comply with the dress and the grooming code, Booker said. Once [the principal] saw that a person could still have locs and be able to tie them up, language was changed in the handbook so hair had to be a certain length when let down. Well, if somebodys hair cant come below the eyebrow, its not gonna be long enough for you to braid. Its not going to be long enough for you to loc, especially coarse, Black hair, she said. Booker says there has been tremendous support from the public over this case, and she is confident George will win in court. One of the things that George constantly says is, I just want to be a regular kid. I just want to be a child, and theyre not letting me be a regular child. And then theyre discussing things with me that are just way above my head. They want to talk to me about constitutional rights and my role in my hair, and hes like, Im just a kid, Booker said, adding hes just really frustrated. While the hope for advocates is this case both strengthens and clarifies the CROWN Act, some think it may not be an easy process. As an elected official in Texas, the judge, Hill said, will face social and political pressures to side with the school policy, and then the case will need to be appealed. If the judge is courageous enough to follow the law, then I think it means that these challenges to the CROWN Act will become more sophisticated, because its not going to discontinue challenges, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Simon Lewis RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Canada, Benin, France and Jamaica have offered support to a U.N.-backed international security force aimed at tackling rampant gang violence in Haiti, according to a statement from the United States, which co-hosted a meeting on the mission with Brazil. Washington has pledged $200 million to fund the Multinational Security Support (MSS), which Kenya stepped forward to lead last year. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gathered officials in Rio de Janeiro, where foreign ministers of the G20 group of developed nations are meeting this week, and urged support for the initiative. "We need to do more to help the Haitian national police stabilize the security situation now so that aid can actually flow in effectively and get to people who need it, so that Haitians don't have to live in terror of gangs, and so that Haiti returns fully and strongly to a democratic path," Blinken said at the opening of the meeting. A U.S. statement said Canada, Benin, France and Jamaica "announced financial, personnel, and in-kind commitments to the mission" during Thursday's meeting. Blinken later said countries committed at least another $120 million to the initiative during the meeting. The United Nations Security Council authorized the mission in October, a year after the Caribbean country asked for help to fight violent gangs that have largely overrun its capital Port-au-Prince. Gang violence killed nearly 5,000 people in Haiti last year. (Reporting by Simon Lewis, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday announced the US intends to provide $200 million to the multinational security support mission in Haiti. Blinken said that funding will go to support the Haitian national police with planning, with intelligence, with airlift capacity, communications, and medical equipment and services. We urge the international community to join us by contributing funding, contributing personnel, contributing equipment, contributing logistics, contributing training, to this mission, he said at an event on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministerial meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Blinken called the situation in Haiti one of the most urgent challenges we face as an international community. He said gangs control 80% of Port au Prince, and that they are using sexual assault and rape to terrorize the population. Half the country is eating just one meal a day. Three million children need immediate humanitarian aid, Blinken said, noting the conflict is spreading north to the countrys breadbasket. He noted the US has provided more than $300 million for food, for clean water, for health care and other humanitarian aid over the last three years. Blinken said the US had allocated $189 million since July 2021 to help vet, train, and professionalize the national police. He also noted the US has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions. But we know this support alone is not enough not enough for Haitians to take back their country, the top US diplomat said. We need to do more to help the Haitian National Police stabilize the security situation now so that aid can actually flow in effectively and Haiti can return to the democratic path. He said he believes the best way to stabilize the situation is with the UN-authorized multinational security support mission. The success of the mission depends on securing the international contributions that it needs, Blinken said. He thanked Kenyas government for its willingness to serve as the lead nation in that mission. According to the State Department, Canada, Benin, France, Germany, and Jamaica announced financial, personnel, and in-kind commitments to the mission during this event. The United Nations established a Trust Fund for this mission that is able to receive additional contributions, the State Department said. Blinken reiterated that the US continues to call for the restoration of democratic order. We urge Prime Minister Henri and all the key stakeholders to come together around broader-based governance, he said. The only legitimate path to long term peace and stability is through free and fair elections. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SANAA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday it had launched attacks on an Israeli city, a British cargo ship, and a U.S. warship, in what it called a response to the "American-British aggression" against Yemen and its support of the Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement broadcast by the group's al-Masirah TV that the first attack targeted the Israeli city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones. The Israeli army said it had intercepted a missile from the Red Sea heading for Eilat on Thursday morning, while Israeli media cited Israeli officials as saying the missile was "apparently" from the Houthis. The second attack hit a British-owned cargo ship, MV Islander, in the Gulf of Aden with naval missiles, causing a fire on board, Sarea said. He said the third attack targeted a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea with drones. The U.S. Central Command confirmed on social media platform X that it had shot down six Houthi drones in the Red Sea, which were likely targeting U.S. and coalition warships and posing "immediate threats." It also said the Houthis had fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, hitting the MV Islander and causing one minor injury and damage. Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi vowed in a televised speech to launch more attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. "More attacks will come," he warned, describing the Houthi attacks as a show of support for Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza. He claimed his group had launched "48 missile attacks" on cargo ships since mid-November last year in support of Hamas. He also dismissed the impact of the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on his group's military capabilities, saying "the coalition strikes have no effect." He also said his group had submarines and would use them in future attacks. The Houthi group controls much of northern Yemen since it ousted the internationally recognized government in late 2014, sparking a civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of famine. The group tightened its grip on the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah following a UN-sponsored peace deal in 2018, which was backed by the United States and Britain, but has failed to end the fighting. The al-Masirah television reported that the coalition's warplanes had launched four airstrikes on Hodeidah on Thursday, hitting Houthi sites in the northwestern part of the city. Leaders of the Group of Seven countries will adopt a statement at an online summit on 24 February condemning Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pledging continued military and financial support for Kyiv, and vowing never to recognise elections that Russia is holding now or will hold in the future in the occupied Ukrainian territories. Source: Bloomberg with reference to the text of the draft statement, European Pravda writes Details: It is reported that the G7 leaders will emphasise in the statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not achieved his goal of conquering Ukraine and that Russians are paying a high price for the reckless actions of their government. They will also call on Russia to "fully" and "unconditionally withdraw its armed forces" from Ukraine and pledge to never recognise any elections that Russia is holding now or will hold in the future in the occupied Ukrainian territories. According to the draft statement, Kyiv's allies will promise to increase their military assistance, as well as their ability to produce and supply weapons. They will also confirm that the assets of the Russian Central Bank will remain frozen until Russia agrees to compensate Ukraine for the damage it has caused. The draft statement of the G7 leaders also mentions support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula and intentions to work with the G20 to promote it. Bloomberg also notes that the G7 members will announce new sanctions packages against Russia by the end of the week. Previously: The first meeting of the G7 leaders in 2024 will be held via video conference on 24 February, which marks the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was invited to the meeting. One of the G7 members, the United Kingdom, has already announced new sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine is close to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to receive the next US$900 million tranche of funds as part of a US$15.6 billion loan. Source: Bloomberg, citing unnamed officials acknowledging the results of the negotiations. Details: The IMF is expected to announce the payment of the tranche on Thursday, 22 February. The agreement still needs to be ratified by the IMF's Executive Board. Quote: "The agreement follows discussions over the past two weeks regarding how Kyiv would be able to fund its operations in case US funding, which is tied up in Congress, doesnt come through. Those plans designed to show Ukraine can continue to service its debts include expanded domestic bond sales, tax hikes and spending cuts," Bloomberg writes. The IMF disbursement will be the first of four that Ukraine expects this year, totalling US$5.4 billion, as part of a full-scale programme for Ukraine approved in 2023, the publication notes. To receive the tranche, the Ukrainian government must fulfil certain conditions. According to the two cited officials, the Cabinet of Ministers may have to abandon its recent request to the National Bank to allow the sale of foreign currency to some private Ukrainian companies to help them repay their Eurobond debts. At the same time, MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak noted that the tranche in question is likely to be US$890 million, as this is the amount specified in the memorandum. Reminder: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission and Ukrainian authorities have launched talks on the third review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) on 17 February. Support UP or become our patron! Physician associates have illegally prescribed drugs to patients at NHS hospitals, The Telegraph can reveal. The support staff at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust prescribed medications including opiates and sedatives to patients on 22 occasions, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Physician associates (PAs) are healthcare workers meant to assist doctors by carrying out basic clinical tasks. They are only trained for two years and have no legal right to prescribe drugs. The trust says the prescriptions were the result of an IT blunder that gave PAs access to the electronic prescribing system for seven months. The role of PAs in the NHS is increasingly contentious, with critics arguing their two-year postgraduate course provides insufficient training and could put patients at risk. On Wednesday night, the hospital trust would not confirm whether any PAs who prescribed these medications without legal authorisation had lost their jobs as a result. In nearly all circumstances, it is a serious criminal offence for anyone other than a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or vet to supply controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Telegraph understands that the trust has not referred any of the PAs involved in this incident to West Yorkshire Police. Conservative peer Baroness Foster said the practice of PAs illegally prescribing uncovered by The Telegraph added to concerns already raised about the risk that PAs pose to patient safety. The Telegraph has previously published allegations from doctors at 24 trusts who alleged that PAs had illegally prescribed drugs and ordered scans with ionising radiation. But this is the first time an NHS hospital group has admitted to inadvertently giving associates the ability to prescribe. Between July 2023 and January this year, PAs at the trust which runs two hospitals prescribed controlled medications to patients including the opiate painkillers oxycodone and codeine. They also prescribed the sedatives lorazepam, diazepam and midazolam, the latter of which is often used in end-of-life care. The medications are classed as controlled by the Government because of their risk of harm and addiction. The data was released in response to an FoI request from a member of the public. Calderdale and Huddersfield said that a hard control has now been implemented to prevent any further PA prescribing incidents and insisted that no patients had been harmed. But the disclosure has fuelled concerns among critics of the amount of power being handed to PAs. Peers to debate PA regulation On Monday, peers will debate a motion that could derail government plans to bring PAs under the General Medical Council (GMC). Allowing them to be regulated by the GMC could lead to PAs later being given the authority to prescribe drugs. Solicitor Sean Caulfield at Hodge Jones & Allen explained that: If a physician associate has innocently carried out acts of supplying controlled drugs, which they were not authorised to do, it might not be in the public interest to prosecute them. However, if anyone, physician associate or otherwise, intended to supply or did supply controlled drugs, knowing it would be illegal, that would be different. In those circumstances, the Crown Prosecution Service may think it is in the public interest to prosecute. Calderdale and Huddersfield stressed that their PAs, who work in medicine, surgery and accident and emergency, are instructed that they are not legally able to prescribe. The regulation of controlled substances in healthcare was greatly strengthened after an inquiry found that serial killer Harold Shipman used strong painkillers to murder at least 215 people without detection. This is however not the first time the trust has been criticised over its management of controlled drugs. In 2018, the Care Quality Commission watchdog gave its two hospitals Calderdale Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary a safety rating of requires improvement in part because, medicines, including controlled drugs, were not managed effectively in critical care and the urgent and emergency services. Go back to the drawing board At the debate next Monday, Green Party peer Baroness Bennett will be begging the Government to go back to the drawing board to find a different way forward that has the support of medical professionals, communities and patients. The British Medical Association wants the draft legislation to be amended so that the Health and Care Professions Council have oversight of PAs instead of the GMC, claiming licensing doctors and non-doctors together increases the risk of patients mistakenly believing PA care equals doctor expertise. Baroness Brinton, the former Lib Dem health spokesman, who also opposes GMC regulation of PAs, said the very worrying incident raised serious governance questions: There are very senior clinical managers in the hospital trust who should have been all over this. A Trust spokesman said they fully understand the prescribing rights for different parts of our workforce and they investigate [any issues] and take immediate action under the appropriate policies and procedures. The Department for Health and Social Care said GMC regulation of associates had cross-party support and will boost patient safety and that the council will operate strict fitness-to-practice procedures and set education and training standards. They added that the role of PAs is to support doctors, not replace them and that the staff carry out clinical duties such as taking medical histories, carrying out physical examinations, and developing and delivering treatment and management plans. West Yorkshire Police said, if made aware of concerns, they would work with trusts to understand if criminal offences have been committed and all reports are assessed according to threat, risk and harm. 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. Bobi the dog, who died last year reportedly at the age of 31, has been stripped of the worlds oldest ever dog title following a review by Guinness World Records (GWR), the organization announced Thursday. Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo, had been known as the worlds oldest dog until he provisionally lost his title in January pending the result of a GWR investigation. Now the organization has said it no longer has the evidence it needs to support Bobis claim as the record holder. Bobi pictured in February 2023. - Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images Mark McKinley, director of records at GWR, said in a statement Thursday the company takes tremendous pride in verifying its record holders. Following concerns raised by vets and other experts, both privately as well as within public commentary, and the findings of investigations conducted by some media outlets, we felt it important to open a review into Bobis record, said McKinley. Central to Bobis evidence was microchip data sourced from the Portuguese government database, the SIAC, which it transpires, when chipped in 2022, did not require proof of age for dogs born before 2008, added McKinley. With the additional veterinary statement provided as evidence for Bobis age also citing this microchip data, were left with no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobis date of birth. Bobis owner has been told about the findings of the review, according to GWR, which said it would assess any new evidence that is provided. For now, it is not clear who holds the title of oldest dog ever. Were not yet in a position to confirm a new holder for the record, although we certainly hope that the publicity around the record title encourages pet owners from around the world to get in touch, said McKinley. Bobis journey to the record holder title Bobi died in October. His owner, Leonel Costa, claimed that he had lived until the age of 31 years and 165 days. There were many secrets to Bobis extraordinary old age, Costa, who said he was 8 years old when his dog was born in 1992, told GWR in February 2023. Bobi always roamed freely, without a leash or chain, lived in a calm, peaceful environment and ate human food soaked in water to remove seasonings, Costa said. He spent his whole life in Conqueiros, a small Portuguese village about 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of the capital Lisbon, often wandering around with cats. Bobi was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo a breed of livestock guardian dog according to his owner. Rafeiro do Alentejos have a life expectancy of about 12-14 years, according to the American Kennel Club. But Bobi lived more than twice as long as that life expectancy, surpassing an almost century-old record to become the oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever a title which had previously been held by Australian cattle-dog Bluey, who was born in 1910 and lived to be 29 years and five months old. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Idaho Legislature is considering a bill that could put more poor Boise residents on the streets, housing advocates say. Deanna Watson, executive director of the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authorities, told the Idaho Statesman that the bill could force people who depend on federal housing vouchers into at least temporary homelessness as they search for landlords willing to accept the vouchers. Here are answers to nine questions about the legislation and its impact: 1. What would the bill do? House Bill 545 would bar local governments from enacting laws to force landlords to participate in a federal housing-assistance or other program, and it would bar them from passing ordinances to limit rent, fees or deposits landlords can charge. The bill would jeopardize two Boise ordinances: one that caps apartment rental application fees at $30, and one that bans landlords from denying prospective tenants a lease based on their income sources, including so-called Section 8 vouchers. 2. What is Section 8? Officially called housing-choice vouchers, they have long been known as Section 8 vouchers. The name comes from a section of the Housing and Community Development Act passed by Congress in 1974 to help low-income people find housing in the private marketplace as an alternative to public housing. There are about 2,000 vouchers available in Ada County at any one time. People on the waiting list get vouchers as the people who have them start making enough money to cover their rent and stop needing them. 3. Why dont landlords like Section 8? Last year the Statesman reported that with the high demand for apartment rentals in the Boise-area, many landlords were deciding not to accept tenants who applied with federal housing assistance vouchers because voucher holders are low-income and may be seen as less reliable than other tenants. As our families search, we know from their search efforts that many landlords and property managers routinely have responded that they dont take Section 8, Watson told the Statesman in an email. 4. Why did Boise insist that landlords accept vouchers? To help protect people who cannot afford rent from becoming homeless. That blanket denial is what the ordinance is after, Watson said. Denying a subset of the population from even entering the application screening process has significantly reduced the supply of available housing for our families and contributes to a longer process of finding a home. No other cities or counties in the Treasure Valley have laws like the one in Boise that bans landlord discrimination against a potential tenants source of income. The sponsor, Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow, said his bill is not specifically targeting Boise but making sure that cities in the future cant pass bills like Boises. Ada County has about a 10% turnover rate of people exiting the Section 8 program each month, either because they now make too much money or they cannot find an apartment where vouchers are accepted. 5. Did voucher proponents get to speak? Yes. Opponents of the bill included housing advocates like Watson, Jesse Tree and the city of Boise. Kathy Griesmyer, director of government affairs for the city, spoke against the bill. She said Mayor Lauren McLean and the City Council were thoughtful in their approach to the source-of-income-discrimination ordinance. This ordinance was adopted because we have been hearing from community members consistently about the needs to address Boises rental and housing market, Griesmyer said. The council met with the Idaho Apartment Association, Boise Regional Realtors and the Idaho Realtors before considering the ordinance, Griesmyer said. 6. Why are landlords fighting back? Mitchell told the House Business Committee on Monday that the bill was about protecting the rights of small businesses and property rights. Other bill proponents included property managers, heads of apartment associations and real estate agents. Lynn Bradescu, a property manager in Boises North End, supported the bill because she disagreed with Boises ordinance to ban landlords from denying prospective tenants based on their sources of incomes, including if their income comes from housing vouchers. Boises decision to require private property owners to accept Section 8 as payment runs in the face of our state legal tradition of freedom of contract, Bradescu said during the committee meeting. Mitchell said that the bill does not prohibit landlords from accepting Section 8 vouchers. He argues that if the bill becomes law, landlords can still accept Section 8, and many will. 7. How do the vouchers work? Voucher holders are responsible for contributing rent, usually 30% to 40% of their income, Watson said. The voucher pays for the rest of the rent up to a maximum set by the federal government. The voucher signifies that they are eligible for rental assistance, she said. The voucher is good throughout our jurisdiction and with it, applicants can demonstrate to potential landlords that they have the means to pay rent. The vouchers are funded by Congress but managed locally around the country by agencies designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Ada County, Section 8 vouchers are distributed through the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority in Ada County. In Canyon, Boise, Owyhee, Elmore, Gem, Payette, Adams, Washington and Valley counties, theyre distributed through the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Authority. Elsewhere in Idaho, vouchers are managed by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. Voucher holders are monitored throughout the process, Watson said. 8. Who gets these vouchers, and am I eligible? Tony Torres, a housing navigator for Jesse Tree, a nonprofit that helps homeless Treasure Valley residents and those facing eviction, told the committee that four out of five Section 8 voucher holders are seniors, children and people with disabilities. In Ada County, 75% of Section 8 applicants must have income that does not exceed 30% of the median area income. That translates to $18,750 for a single person and $21,400 for two. The remaining 25% of applicants may have incomes up to 50% of the area median income, which translates to $31,200 for a single person and $35,650 for two. HUD gives local housing authorities the authority to set their payments for Section 8 vouchers between 90% and 110% of the official fair-market rent set by HUD. Fair-market rents represent the cost of a moderately priced home in a local housing market. Both the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority and the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Authority set their payments at the maximum 110%. To apply for Section 8 vouchers in Southwest Idaho, visit either the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority at bcacha.org/programs/subsidized-housing/housing-choice-voucher-section-8 or the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Authority at sicha.org. Residents of other counties can apply at idahohousing.com/rental-assistance/rental-assistance-application. 9. What comes next? After over an hour of testimony on the bill from both sides of the argument, the committee sent the bill to the full House with a recommendation that the House pass it. It would then go to the Senate. Long-term residents scramble for housing as Boise vacates 2 hotels on airport property New subsidized affordable apartments wont help most Boiseans who can least afford them Boise police on Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly robbed a credit union earlier this month, according to a news release. The 32-year-old Boise man was charged with felony robbery, according to online jail records. Police said he robbed a business in the 10000 block of West Fairview Avenue in West Boise on Feb. 3, and they have been looking for him since. Detectives said they were able to locate him after evidence pointed to the mans car, the release said. Its unknown how much money was stolen; the man fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to prior reporting. The robber said he had a weapon but didnt show it. CARACAS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen people were killed and 11 others injured after a mine collapsed in La Paragua, the city of Angostura in the country's southeastern Bolivar state, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday night. Search and rescue teams continue to be deployed in the area by ground and air to find trapped miners after the unfortunate incident, the president added. "We immediately dispatched all the civil defense teams, together with the governor of Bolivar state Angel Marcano, we would strengthen the rescue phase," Maduro said via state television. Maduro added that preliminary investigations have determined that the collapse of the mine occurred after some drilling and "collapsed to a depth of 30 meters." The fallout from the strangest interview this century continues. To recap: Tucker Carlson went to Moscow to chat with Putin. Boris Johnson denounced their conversation as bum-sucking servility to a tyrant; Carlson told Glenn Beck remember him? that he had offered to interview Boris about Putin and that Boris, being Boris, demanded a million dollars. In fact, said Team Johnson, the cash was offered by Carlson first, and earmarked for Ukrainian charities. I never believed that, countered Tucker, because they didnt tell me which charity. Alexei Navalny died and Boris pulled out. These people, concluded Carlson, are sleazier than any East Europeans Ive dealt with. As the Russians say, nothing is real and everything is possible. Im struck, first, by the role of men whove been sacked or resigned from a star job Tucker, Glenn, Boris only to resurface as the voice of the little people, pushing back against the machine. In reality, its all intra-elite competition. Carlsons crime, in the eyes of many journalists, wasnt doing the interview it was getting the interview, when they did not. Otherwise, what are we really saying? That no one should speak to a foreign head of state in a time of conflict? Yet Trevor McDonald interviewed Saddam Hussein on the eve of the Gulf War, and Mike Wallace spoke with Ayatollah Khomeni weeks after Iranian students took US embassy staff hostage. On the other hand, I dont recall Wallace visiting a supermarket in Tehran to drool over the fresh produce, which is precisely what Tucker did in Moscow. No, it wasnt the Putin Movie that turned ones stomach; it was the DVD extras. In a series of video shorts, Carlson waxed about the gorgeous Moscow subway, fawned over coin-released shopping trolleys, and noted how cheap goods are in the shops. Never mind that the goods are only cheap in comparison with dollar wages; for a rouble earner, they are damned expensive. Forget that coin-released carts have operated in the UK for years, and are derided here as evidence for the death of trust. No, most interesting was Tuckers praise for socialist realist art for those subways were commissioned by Stalin during the neo-classical phase of Soviet architecture (much of it a copy of Chicago and New York: Americans have no idea how much Russians admire them). During the Cold War, the US Right could see nothing good in the Soviet Union. Yeltsin was finally converted to capitalism by visiting a supermarket in Texas and realising the range of goods available even to the poor. Today, in an inversion of history, conservatives go gaga at Moscow markets, and Tucker suggested that Russias plenty will radicalise you against Western leaders who divert resources into pointless wars. As if Putin were not an invader in Ukraine but merely passing through on his way to a peace rally. As Jon Stewart back on TV and as funny as ever has said, the goal of Carlson TV is to realign conservatism with Russia, because Russia is perceived to be anti-woke. Its about taking someone elses fight (Ukraine) and making it about your local issue (pronouns and pride flags) whatever issue that generates clicks and cash for good ol Tucker. So, maybe a Carlson v. Johnson debate would be worth having, if only to nail Tucker down on what he thinks about the war itself not the peripheral questions of beggars on subway trains or the price of bread. In turn, Carlson can bring up Putins claim, made in their tete-a-tete, that Boris sabotaged the Istanbul peace talks by telling Ukraine to fight on to the bitter end. See, Im not convinced Boris would win a dialogue. Watching him explain himself in the BBCs recent, superb documentary on Ukraine, I was reminded of the grandiose, engaging prose that masked a dearth of detail, recalling a government that was frequently led by the gut rather than the brain. As PM, Boris turned the UK into Ukraines best friend, its loudest cheerleader on the global stage, pushing it to feats of self-sacrifice that evoked the Spartans. But now it is plain that Russia has the long-term military advantage. A negotiated settlement seems likely. So, what has been achieved by this conflict of attrition and, if Boris regards cease-fire-talk as surrender, what is his alternative plan? This is a conversation that needs to be had. If Boris wants money, for himself or the war widows of Donbass, Im sure Tucker can afford it. Twitter will gladly host the debate. But one condition: as Putin made Carlson go to Moscow, so Boris should make him come to whatever English village he is hiding in. Let Tucker ride our beautiful buses (some of the artistic graffiti also dates from the Thirties) and sample the delights of the local Asda. Our trolleys go in circles. 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. Mr Deal said he had been "looking forward to this day immensely" A 70-year-old grandad has graduated with a Masters degree in history, despite losing much of his eyesight. Paul Deal, who left school with just four O-Levels, was halfway through his studies at the University of Bristol when an infection in his right eye left him with around 20% vision. He deferred his studies for a year and made frequent visits to Bristol Eye Hospital to undergo laser eye surgery. Mr Deal, from Wiltshire, said he is "very proud" to be graduating. Mr Deal, who lives near Bradford-on-Avon, said he hopes to inspire other retirees to pursue further education. During his successful career as a journalist, he worked in several news outlets including the Bath Evening Chronicle, the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph and the BBC. Mr Deal spent 40 years as a journalist prior to his retirement "I'd always loved the idea of going back to education. Growing up in east London and Essex I never thought I'd go to university - never," said Mr Deal. "None of my family had gone and I was just completely focused on becoming a journalist." 'A traumatic time' It was whilst out on a walk with his dog that Mr Deal first began noticing his blurred vision. At 02:00 GMT the next morning, he was rushed into theatre where an eye surgeon sought to halt an infection that was rapidly travelling through his right eye. "It was a traumatic time," said the father-of-three. "After another operation the next day, I was told I might not get my sight back. I thought 'what am I going to do about my MA now?'" Determined to graduate, Mr Deal deferred for a year and explored assistive technology to aid his reading. Earlier, he graduated against all odds in front of his wife Diana and youngest daughter, Rebecca. Mr Deal has a particular interest in the English Civil Wars, Irish history and Bristol's role in the slave trade "It's been a heck of a time and I'm very proud to be graduating," he said. "I've been looking forward to this day immensely. "I wondered how I'd cope at university and it was hard at times. However, I learnt that, even at prestigious institutions like Bristol, you are made welcome by students and teachers, no matter if you are older. "I would love to think that someone who has stopped working might see my story and consider becoming a student," he added. Dr Amy Edwards, Mr Deal's personal tutor, said: "Working with students like Paul, who are engaged and eager to learn, is a joy. "He not only took on the usual challenges that a History MA poses, but also a number of others that none of us could have expected." Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk Mark Rutte has Britain's backing to steer Nato through the threats posed by Donald Trump and Russia as the next secretary-general. - PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP via Getty Images Britain has backed Mark Rutte to steer Nato through the threats posed by Donald Trump and Russia as the military alliances next secretary-general. The Dutch prime minister has serious defence and security credentials to lead the transatlantic organisation, a UK official announced on Thursday. With the United States and Germany also backing his candidacy, Mr Rutte could be named as successor to Jens Stoltenberg, who has held the role since 2014, as early as Apr 4, when Nato marks its 75th anniversary at a meeting in Brussels. The UK strongly backs Dutch PM Mark Rutte to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary-general, the official said. Rutte is well-respected across the Alliance, has serious defence and security credentials, and will ensure that the Alliance remains strong and ready to defend and deter. The Dutch statesman, who has led his country for more than 13 years, recently emerged as a front-runner for the role as Natos leaders sought a counterpart capable of guiding the alliance through a new era of turbulence. Alarm bells ringing During his time in office, Mr Rutte earned the reputation as a Trump whisperer, a title also afforded to Mr Stoltenberg, for his handling of the former US president. Mr Trump recently set alarm bells ringing across Europe when he said on the campaign trail that Moscow could do whatever the hell they want with Nato members that fail to meet the alliances defence spending targets of two per cent of GDP. It sparked fears that the bookmakers favourite to be the next US leader could abandon Natos mutual defence commitment during his next four-year term. Mr Rutte, who first publicly declared his interest in the Nato role in November, is recognised as someone who is capable of challenging Mr Trumps damaging narrative, after having previously publicly contradicted him in a EU-US trade dispute. His ability to defy populist challenges and maintain power over such a long period led to the Dutch prime minister earning the nickname Teflon Mark. He is also known for not talking down nationalist voters, as some of his more liberal European colleagues have done to those backing Mr Trump and Brexit. In 2019, Mr Rutte condemned a white wine-sipping elite for criticising Mr Trumps attacks on international organisations, such as Nato, the EU and WTO. Nato leaders have dropped a pledge to hire a woman as secretary-general in a bid to bring in the Dutchman. Flattery and a firm hand His appointment is seen as part of a three-pronged plan to Trump proof the alliance ahead of Novembers US presidential elections. Allies will also push to ensure more than 18 of the 31 member states commit to spending two per cent of GDP on defence and agree to place more emphasis on US foreign policy priorities, such as China and the Middle East. How do you manage a future Trump presidency? Its basically a combination of flattery and a firm hand, a source said. Mr Rutte and Jens Stoltenberg have shown theyre capable of that. The Telegraph understands that more than 20 allies have publicly or privately voiced support for the Dutchman to succeed Mr Stoltenberg. Hungary and Turkey have been named as potential blockages to the appointment, but their opposition is not seen as insurmountable. Ankara is said to have demanded assurances that Mr Rutte will not prioritise demands from EU countries if he is handed the job, while Budapest wants an apology over the Dutch prime ministers criticism of its alleged erosion of democracy. There is no formal process for appointing the next Nato secretary, with talks expected to continue until there is a consensus. Former defence secretary Ben Wallace previously pulled out of the race after failing to secure the backing of the US and France. Germany recently opposed Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, from taking the role because she is seen as too combative towards Vladimir Putin. 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. BROCKTON Craving the taste of farm-fresh ice cream on a hot day? Well, we can't change the weather, but as winter comes to an end and spring is on the horizon, we gathered five places to enjoy ice cream as winter rolls on. Who said we must wait until summer to get a delicious cone of vanilla ice cream dipped in hot judge topped with nuts? In this installment of Brockton Eats with Alisha, we're scouring the area for places to enjoy frozen desserts all year round. These weekly lists of tidbits and food finds are not restaurant reviews but go beyond a bare-bones round-up. Staff writer Alisha Saint-Ciel gives tips and takes to help Brockton-area foodies find those mouth-watering hidden gems, old favorites, and exciting new offerings. From left, The Enterprise staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel with Leal's Kitchen co-owner Vera Leal on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. That's So Cool Shave Ice Alex Burrell, co-owner of That's So Cool Shave Ice in Brockton, tastes one his shaved ice masterpieces. While on vacation in the lush mystical islands of Hawaii, a local couple found a treat that sent their taste buds into a frenzy. They knew they had to bring it back to Brockton as a business, That's So Cool Shave Ice. The business is not a stand-alone brick-and-mortar but a frozen dessert mobile where you can book them to serve treats at your birthday party, baby shower, wedding or any special event you may have. With over 40 flavors, the business has something for everyone. One fantastic aspect of their mission in providing authentic shaved ice is importing all their flavors straight from Hawaii. Some popular flavors include passionfruit, Asian plum, honeydew, banana, blue raspberry, cherry, grape, strawberry, tiger's blood and watermelon, to name a few. Potential clients can book the service by calling 401-423-5070 or emailing AlexandMaggie@thatssocoolshaveice.com during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Got a sweet tooth? Brockton Eats with Alisha: Dive into these local pastries, donuts and more Daddy's Dairy 1280 Belmont St., Brockton Wait until you try the Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey Tipsy Scoop Ice Cream available at all five Daddy's Dairy locations, as well as 15-plus other boozy flavors, available to those age 21 and older. Locations include 1280 Belmont St., Brockton, 987 Central St., Stoughton, and 549 N. Main St., Randolph. Dive into the boozy flavors infused with alcohol at Daddy's Dairy. Customers over the age of 21 can enjoy several different flavors, including Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey Tipsy Scoop ice cream available at any of their five locations, in Brockton, Braintree, Stoughton, Randolph and Norwood. The ice cream shop offers more than creamy frozen desserts, but also chocolate-dipped bananas, "pup cups" for four-legged canine friends, ice cream cake, pies and dozens of toppings to choose from. What makes the business unique is its 80 hard ice cream flavors, 200 soft serve flavors, 195 lactose-free flavors, five vegan flavors and five sugar-free flavors. Essentially, there's something for everyone at Daddy's Dairy. It's Margarita Day 5 restaurants that take the tangy cocktails to the next level in Brockton area Ellie's Treats Ice Cream Trucks & Catering 123 Centre Ave., Abington The family owned business Ellie's Treats is taking bookings for birthday parties, weddings, corporate events, and any special event! June, 2023. Think of the ice cream candy shop of your dreams but on wheels. That's Ellie's Treats. The ice cream truck offers sundaes, frappes, floats, slushies, snow cones, cookies, brownies and cakes. Imagine Ellie's Treats pulling up to your event and whipping out the crowd-pleaser, the cotton candy machine. All the kids would jump for joy. The unique desserts are one of the many positives of booking the business. Customers can book the mobile ice cream truck by calling (781) 534-9805 or emailing ElliesTreatsMA@gmail.com. Steak, sushi, pasta and more New restaurant with 'Miami feel' opens in Easton Cream 1209 Bedford St., Abington Cream, located at 1209 Bedford St., in Abington, has more than 55 flavors of ice cream to choose from and endless ways to customize your order. Fall flavors include apple crisp, cranberry harvest and pumpkin. With over 55 and counting flavors, the possibilities are endless. Cream ice cream shop in Abington has nut-free, sugar-free and kosher ice cream options for those looking for a treat that meets these specifications. And for the ones who don't, it's a free-for-all flavor-wise from Crunch-a-saurus to cookie dough, cotton candy, moose tracks, rum raisin and plenty more. If ice cream and dairy aren't your thing, they also have sorbet and, on the lighter side, sherbet and frozen yogurt to enjoy. Frankie & Dia's Ice Cream and Hot Cocoa 407 New State Highway (Route 44), Raynham Ice cream in a waffle cone available at Frankie & Dia's Ice Cream and Hot Cocoa, 407 New State Hwy, Raynham. An award-winning ice cream parlor, according to their website, has popped up in Raynham, serving Crescent Ridge Ice cream with dozens of flavors to choose from! What makes this business so special is their handcrafted hot cocoa, which is created exclusively for the shop. The hot cocoa is prepared with steamed milk and may be topped with whipped cream and marshmallows. Some of the flavors include: The Merrill Mint Signature hot cocoa mixed with a splash of mint, topped with mint sugar King's Salted Caramel Signature hot cocoa mixed with a splash of salted caramel, topped with salted caramel sugar Hall's Hazelnut Signature hot cocoa mixed with a splash of hazelnut Do you have a suggestion for the food series? Email staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel at stciela@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton Eats with Alisha: Where to get delectable ice cream BROCKTON Brockton has been thrust into the national spotlight after four Brockton School Committee members set off a firestorm by requesting National Guard soldiers be deployed in Brockton High School to prevent a potential tragedy. The request turned national attention inside Brockton High School, where many teachers have publicly described shocking levels of chaos and violence. Coverage of the situation at Brockton High School has appeared in the past few days on NewsNation and in the Washington Post, the New York Post, and the Seattle Times. One of the Brockton School Committee members behind the request, Tony Rodrigues, also appeared Wednesday night, Feb. 21, on Fox Business a national network owned by Fox News to discuss the potential causes behind the violence at the school. And Fox News' Judge Jeanine Pirro on Wednesday night did a segment with a large graphic "America's Youth Crime Crisis" and a banner about Brockton: "Massachusetts School Calls in National Guard Amid Spike in Violence." The segment, which wasn't just focused on Brockton, included fight videos from other school districts. Heres everything you need to know about the request to deploy the National Guard at Brockton High School and the backlash: School committee members Tony Rodrigues, right, with Joyce Asack, left, speaks during a presser with fellow school committee members Claudio Gomes and Ana Oliver (not in photo) at Brockton High School on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 regarding their request that the National Guard be deployed at the school amid reports of high levels of violence and turmoil. 'Prevent a potential tragedy'? Should National Guard be deployed at Brockton High School? Tony Rodrigues appears on Fox Business Tony Rodrigues, appeared on Fox Businesss "The Bottom Line with Dagen and Duffy" on Wednesday night, blaming the violence that has plagued the school on a lack of staffing. Its chaotic. The deficit put a big hamper on us in making sure we have a safe learning environment with the teacher shortage that we have because of the massive layoffs that we dealt with last fiscal year, he said. In late August 2023, Mayor Robert Sullivan announced that the district discovered an initial $14 million deficit in fiscal year 2023. Since that time, the deficit has been revealed to be at least $18.25 million and possibly as much as $20 million. For the teachers still employed at the high school, many have voiced concerns over not being able to do their jobs safely. Its sad that we have educators that cant go inside the building to give these students a proper education. We have 20-25 teachers that are calling out on a daily basis. That leaves roughly 800 students that are unsupervised in the building. We cant continue to let it go this way, said Rodrigues. When you have a lot of educators or staff not in the building, these kids are free to roam. What do you think these teenagers are going to do? asked Rodrigues. Its a free for all. Teacher and coach Cliff Canavan speaks during a special Brockton School Committee meeting at the Arnone School on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, about safety and security. Canavan said his arm was broken by a student when he broke up a fight last year. Request for National Guard assistance at Brockton High School Four Brockton School Committee members Rodrigues, Joyce Asack, Claudio Gomes and Ana Oliver sent a letter to Sullivan last Thursday, Feb. 15, formally requesting that he ask Gov. Maura Healey to deploy Massachusetts National Guard soldiers at Brockton High School "to assist in restoring order, ensuring the safety of all individuals on the school premises, and implementing measures to address the root causes of the issues we are facing." This embedded content is not available in your region. "Recent events at Brockton High School have prompted us to seek immediate assistance to prevent a potential tragedy," the letter from the school committee members states. "The National Guard's expertise in crisis management and community support can offer a vital temporary intervention, allowing for a comprehensive, long-term solution to be developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders," the letter states. School committee members Kathleen Ehlers, Judy Sullivan, and Timothy Sullivan did not sign the letter sent to Sullivan, who serves as the chair of the school committee in his elected role as mayor. Brockton High School teacher Julie Fairfield reacts to a speaker at a meeting at West Middle School in Brockton with state legislators about severe student behavior problems on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Shocking levels of violence and chaos Emotional teachers describe life inside Brockton High School 'Violence, security concerns and substance abuse': Precipitating conditions at Brockton High School The school committee members wrote in the letter to the mayor that there has been a "disturbing increase in incidents related to violence, security concerns, and substance abuse." Other concerning conditions listed include students wandering the halls, engaging in altercations and causing disruptions in classrooms, students leaving school premises without authorization and incidents of trespassing, with individuals gaining access to the school property without proper authorization, the school committee members wrote. Mayor opposes deploying National Guard Sullivan does not support utilizing the National Guard at the high school, he said. "While we appreciate the suggestions put forth by four school committee members, we believe that such measures are not appropriate," Sullivan said in a written statement Monday, Feb. 19. "Under my direction and in response to these challenges, the police department, under Chief Brenda Perez, has been working diligently and actively with school administrators to address the underlying issues and implement effective strategies to ensure a safe learning environment for all. Our dedicated officers have been working tirelessly to investigate and respond to incidents promptly, and we will continue to do so until a satisfactory resolution is achieved." From left, Brockton School Committee Vice Chair Kathy Ehlers, Acting Superintendent James Cobbs, Mayor Robert Sullivan and School Committee member Judy Sullivan listen at a special Brockton school committee meeting at the Arnone School on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, to discuss safety and security at Brockton High School. Will the National Guard actually be deployed? Mayor Robert Sullivan said Saturday that only the governor can deploy the National Guard and he forwarded the School Committee members' request to Healey. But the mayor does not support the use of the National Guard at Brockton High School, he said in the written statement from the mayor's office Saturday. A spokesperson for the governor in a written statement to the Enterprise Monday did not directly respond to the question of whether the governor supports deploying the National Guard at the high school. Our administration is committed to ensuring that schools are safe and supportive environments for students, educators and staff. We are aware of concerns raised about Brockton High School and are in touch with local officials," the governor's spokesperson said. Brockton Neighborhood Health Center CEO Sue Joss, Mass. Health & Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, Mayor Robert Sullivan, and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, stand behind Gov. Maura Healey on a visit to the health center on Thursday, March 2, 2023. No official school committee meeting has yet been scheduled to discuss deployment of the National Guard to Brockton High School, although the school committee members have requested an expedited meeting. With reporting by Enterprise staff writers Kathy Bossa, Cody Shepherd and Alisha Saint-Ciel. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Massachusetts high school in spotlight after National Guard request NEW BRUNSWICK Timothy Puskas is a free man. After being behind bars for a decade, Puskas, 48, was found not guilty on Wednesday of all charges in the 2014 murder of former Rutgers student William "Billy" McCaw. "I only wish my mother were still alive to see me cleared of this injustice," Puskas said in a statement Thursday. It was the second trial for Puskas after his 2017 conviction was overturned in state appellate court. The Middlesex County jury deliberated for five hours before returning the not guilty verdict in the trial before Superior Court Judge Andrea Carter that began last month. Timothy Puskas, right, pictured with his attorney, Joseph Mazraani, after he was released from custody Wednesday night. Puskas attorney, Joseph Mazraani, said his client practically fell into his arms crying and hugging when the verdict was read. "We are pleased that the jury finally saw this case for what it was something the court even failed to recognize a devastating example of what happens when cooperators and informants are not closely scrutinized, when prosecutors are not held accountable and when law enforcement fail to investigate properly," Mazraani said in a statement. Mazraani said he is working with Puskas to get him housing, a job and reentry to the community. "He wants to gather his life back together as best as he can," Mazraani said, adding his client formerly worked in writing computer codes. In 2017 Puskas was sentenced to 40 years in state prison for the Feb. 15, 2014 murder of McCaw, 22, a former Hillsborough resident and former Rutgers University student who was studying at Kean University. Puskas was sentenced after a jury found him guilty of murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and hindering his apprehension by lying to police during the investigation into McCaw's death. The 40-year prison term was to run consecutive to a seven-year state prison term Puskas had been serving for the vehicular homicide of a New Brunswick man in 2012.. First and foremost, my heart and prayers go out to the McCaw Family. Contrary to what you have been led to believe, I did not assault nor kill your beloved son," Puskas said. "And of course, thank god for my attorneys Joe Mazraani, Jeff Farmer and Steve Kirsch for fighting alongside me these past 10 years. I only wish my mother were still alive to see me cleared of this injustice. In a post on the public Facebook page In Memory of Billy McCaw, his father Bob McCaw wrote Wednesday about the jury's decision. "The jury by NJ law was never to know of the defendants murderous past or even certain facts in the case. I imagine some of them will Google the defendants name when they get home, hope they dont feel too badly about their decision," McCaw wrote. "But the fight is always worth it and love always wins. Thankful for our prosecutors Amber Gibbs and Brian Shevlin, who worked so hard seeking justice for Billy and our family. Cant say enough good things about them. Also forever grateful for the support each and every day from friends and family in the courtroom and the prayers of many," McCaw continued. Billy McCaw, who attended two fraternity parties the evening before he died, was found in the backyard of a Hartwell Street home in New Brunswick with a fractured skull. The medical examiner ruled that he died from blows from an instrument like a crowbar or wrench. Puskas was arrested March 20, 2014 after a search of his rowhouse on Plum Street and a review of three recorded conversations between Puskas and one of his tenants, Wayne Stoecker. In 2021 a state appeals court overturned Puskas' conviction, writing there was no physical evidence linking Puskas to the crime and surveillance videos didn't show Puskas and McCaw interacting in any way. The appeals court also found that the decision by the judge in the first trial to admit into evidence the recorded conversation between Puskas and a tenant, who died before the trial of a drug overdose, violated Puskas' right to confront a witness and violated court rules about hearsay testimony. Email: srussell@gannettnj.com Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ man exonerated in 2014 murder of former Rutgers student Gov. JB Pritzker and fellow Democrats would like bipartisan support in this year's state budget. Now, I expect that some of you will want to spend more, and some of you will claim you want to spend less, Pritzker said during his budget address Wednesday in the House chamber. Know this: I am always open to good ideas that members of both parties have to more efficiently and effectively fulfill our obligations. If immediate reaction to the governor's budget address is any indication, however, it will likely not come to pass. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker gives the annual State of the State budget address before the General Assembly Wednesday, February 21, 2024. More: Pritzkers budget proposal calls for child tax credit, elimination of grocery tax For Republicans, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie appreciated that Pritzker's proposal included adequate funding for education and taking steps to reduce pension debt. Still, a projected $800 million in tax increases and continued spending on migrants was an issue. No GOP lawmakers voted for the budget last year, including state Sen. Steve McClure of Springfield. High taxes, he said, have already placed a burden on local businesses pointing to the recent temporary closure of Loukinens on 4th and the permanent closure of Alexander's Steakhouse. "Why isn't the governor prioritizing people like them?," McClure said following the speech. "Instead, he is prioritizing people of other countries and also encouraging them to keep on coming." Democrats hold super-majorities in both the House and Senate, making for friendlier turf for Pritzker, and many expressed their support for a proposed child tax credit and a $10 million first-year commitment to reduce medical debt. Senate President Don Harmon called the proposal a "good start." State Sen. Robert Peters made similar remarks and emphasized an improved budgeting process under Pritzker compared to former Gov. Bruce Rauner. Responsible use of taxpayer dollars and federal funding such as the American Rescue Plan have allowed for this betterment, he said. Were now entering a new era where we dont have the luxury of ARPA, said Peters, D-Chicago. But we need to make sure that we are giving people the luxury of dignity and may that dignity come from GRF (General Revenue funds) and federal programs. The governor's $52.7 billion proposal paves way to the General Assembly's work over the next three months in passing a state budget. Lawmakers are scheduled to end the spring session on May 24, but have until the end of the fiscal year on June 30 to pass the budget. Further budget critiques While increased spending in some initiatives angered Republicans, others were disappointed by how state funds could be allocated under the proposal. The governor proposed using $175 million from the Road Fund, transferring it from sales tax, to cover public transit expenses. The Road Fund, co-chairs Patrick Hosty and Kevin Burke of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, is typically delegated to cover road, bridge, and transit capital improvements. Using this funding for public transit would ballon to north of $1 billion lost for road and bridge improvements over the next few years, the coalition projected. "After decades of inadequate funding, Gov. Pritzker and the Legislature invested billions of dollars to improve thousands of miles of roads and bridges including the largest road program in state history this year," they said in a statement, referring to the Rebuild Illinois initiative. "Illinois cannot afford to move backward now." 'Significant step backwards' Others were wanting higher wages, like the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois. The union represents 45,000 child care providers and home care workers throughout the state and is promoting a pathway for workers to receive $25 per hour. Similarly drawing the ire of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, the proposal also does not increase wages for disability service providers a "significant step backwards," IARF said as it deals with hiring struggles. More focus on education One of the things that was again top priority in Pritzker's budget proposal was funding for education. This includes funding for early childhood development programs, K-12 schools, and higher education. Pritzker emphasized the importance of early childhood program Smart Start Illinois, which has opened more than 80,000 publicly funded preschools since the start of the program. Part of the governor's budget includes proposing $400 million of maintained funds. Also allocating $13 million in funds to launch a new agency, the Department of Early Childhood aims to help parents and providers find early childhood programs and resources. The budget also includes investing more into the Teacher Pipeline Grant Program. The program was introduced in the last budget with the governor setting aside $70 million to be sent out to 170 different school districts that accounted for vacancies in the state. The different districts were allowed to use those funds however they needed including signing bonuses, providing apprenticeships and even reimbursing tuition and fees. The governor stated that thanks to the program there has been an increase of teachers, and students in schools. He wants to add an additional $45 million dollars for the program in hopes of getting more educators in the field. Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter; Contact Hope Gadson: hgadson@gannett.com This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Proposed $52 billion Illinois budget includes tax increases Over the last year the Fresno City Council has come under criticism by The Bee and outside groups, like the ACLU of Northern California, for improperly conducting some of the publics business behind closed doors. Specifically, the finalizing of the citys annual budget, which this year amounts to $1.87 billion. In sessions that were not open to the public, the council for years has had a budget subcommittee whose members would work with the mayor on the final details of Fresnos plan. Last fall, Fresnoland, the online news site, made an issue of the secret meetings while Bee columnist Marek Warszawski and The Bee Editorial Board called on the council to hold its subcommittee meetings in public. The ACLU sued the city and was joined by the First Amendment Coalition. Their contention: Fresno was violating the Brown Act, Californias law for public disclosure. The suit was filed in Fresno Superior Court and is yet to be argued before Judge Bob Whalen. Opinion Public input Now city officials are reviewing policies for its committees for the first time since 2004. A proposal by Council President Annalisa Perea and Vice President Mike Karbassi will formalize how committees get formed, their purpose and how long they operate. Their proposal will be taken up at Thursdays meeting. City officials believe that subcommittees currently exempt from the Brown Act could continue. So could working groups formed by the mayor or a council member for advisory roles. City Attorney Andrew Janz defines a working group as up to three council members discussing city business. That is not a quorum of the seven-member council and thus does not violate the Brown Act. Janz does not believe the councils budget subcommittee violated the Brown Act because it would end its work every year with the budgets adoption. The ACLU and First Amendment Coalition point out how the budget subcommittee would re-form the next year and thus was a standing group, subject to the act. Hence, the lawsuit awaiting legal consideration. Janz said that revising the process for committees began early last year before the Fresnoland story was published and the suit was filed. That said, the council subcommittee still met last spring and did its work out of public view. A new budget cycle will start soon, and this time around Perea plans to hold several town hall gatherings in her District 1 specifically to gather ideas from residents about how the city should spend taxpayer money. This will give the community another stab at the apple and to provide input on what they want the budget to look like, she said. There will be no budget subcommittee of council members this year, she added. Rather, she plans to have time set aside in meetings for the public to offer comments on specific motions made by councilmembers. The more public input, the better, and is needed to shine a light on a city budget of nearly $2 billion. Just how well Perea and Karbassis proposal will work remains to be seen. This coming budget season will be revealing. Here is hoping there will be ample opportunity for public input, as promised by Perea. SINGAPORE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China-Singapore Bilateral Aviation Forum kicked off Thursday amid the Singapore Airshow 2024, attracting business leaders, scholars, and government officials to exchange ideas on aviation cooperation between the two countries. Reliability and supply networks are important to civil aviation flights. Singapore could be a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub for C919 in Southeast Asia with its mature aviation ecosystems when the jetliner is put into use overseas, said Desmond Goh, managing director of Asia Pacific for Eaton's Aerospace Group. Singaporean and Chinese aviation sectors should enhance new-tech and talent exchanges and deliver complementary advantages to build a C919 MRO hub, noted Philip Sung, director and general manager at Auxitrol Weston (Singapore). Representatives from China's Langfang and Taicang cities introduced their aviation-related industries and invited Singaporean enterprises to seek business opportunities. The attending practitioners also shared views on carbon reduction in the aviation industry, the development of urban air mobility, and artificial intelligence use in aviation. The Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) held the forum. Are pets part of the family? Most pet owners would say absolutely yes, yet the law doesnt see it that way. With some exceptions, landlords are allowed to refuse to rent to tenants who have pets. That leaves renters in an awful place. Either they get rid of a beloved dog or cat or bunny rabbit or continue the frustrating search for housing. Now a California lawmaker is trying to change that. Assembly Member Matt Haney (D- San Francisco) has introduced legislation, AB 2216, that would require landlords to rent to households that include common household pets. The bill has yet to be fleshed out, but according the a news release posted on Haneys website, landlords would be required to have a reasonable reason to prohibit pets. Haney has first-hand knowledge of what it means to be a renter; hes been a tenant all of his adult life one of just a handful of renters in the state Legislature. He sees his bill as a way to alleviate Californias housing crisis. According to his news release, 70% of California renters have pets, yet only 30% of rental units in any given city are pet-friendly. The majority of renters in our state, pet owners, are denied access to the majority of rental units, he wrote. That makes no sense at all and its dramatically exacerbating the housing crisis. More weight in your wallet Prohibiting pets makes perfect sense to most landlords, however. Pets can be destructive, noisy, unhygienic and even dangerous. But can be is the operative phrase here. Arbitrarily assuming that all renters with pets will create problems is misguided, and taking advantage of their desire to have pets by charging much higher rent is just plain wrong. Yet the property management industry touts that as one of the advantages of renting to pet owners. As a landlord, you can often charge pet fees that will add extra weight to your wallet, Innago, a rental management software company, advises. In some cases, you can bump rent up by 20% to 30%. As if rents in California arent already high enough. Looking for a compromise Given the tangible benefits of pet ownership its been shown to reduce loneliness and isolation, to promote exercise and to boost mental and physical health its unfair to deprive renters of such a life-enriching experience. Thats especially true in California, where exorbitant housing prices have put home ownership permanently out of the reach of many residents possibly denying them the pleasure of ever having a pet. Animals also suffer from the shortage of pet-friendly rental housing. When owners have to relocate, they may be forced to give up their pets if they cant find suitable replacement housing. That means more homeless animals and an increased strain on shelters. What we need is a compromise: a solution that protects property owners while allowing renters to have pets within reason. (Keeping three Great Danes in a studio apartment, for instance, would not be a good fit.) California already made a head start on that with a law that applies to newer units built with state subsidies or tax credits. SB 971, passed in 2022, requires owners of those projects to allow pets, though reasonable conditions can be imposed. Those include policies on nuisance behaviors, leashing requirements, requirements to carry liability insurance coverage, limitations on the number of animals in a unit based on the units size, and prohibitions on potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. A refundable security deposit is allowed, but monthly fees, sometimes referred to as pet rent, are prohibited. That sounds like a reasonable starting point for a policy that would apply to all rentals, not just to subsidized units. Its controversial, but its an issue that must be addressed because its not going away not with the increase in the number of renters and the growing popularity of pets. In theory, pet ownership is a choice. But lets get real. To many people, its a non-negotiable item. California should recognize that by facilitating housing to accommodate all types of families including those with common household pets. Living in California for the first 24 years of my life, I had a front row seat to watch the Golden States decline. This year I gave up hope that my state would ever see any positive change, picked up my life and moved to Kentucky, where I hoped I would find more common sense policies. I hadnt even been here for a full day before I learned about a bill thats making its way through the legislature that proves those hopes were well founded. House Bill 5, the Safer Kentucky Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives last week, would make unlawful camping a criminal offense, punishable as a misdemeanor. Essentially, the bill would make it possible and necessary for law enforcement to enforce laws currently on the books that ban camping. The bill, of course, was met with backlash from Democrats and Kentuckys homeless coalition parroting the same language used to ruin my native land. It really does come down to whether we treat people like human beings or not, said Adrienne Bush, Executive Director of the Homeless & Housing Coalition of Kentucky. Take it from this Californian expat: Enforcing laws that keep human beings from living on the streets is the most compassionate thing you can do. Over the years, the California legislature has funneled billions of dollars into solutions to the homelessness crisis, and the problem only ever increased. Kentucky is taking the best steps to avoid a similar future. Disturbingly, WKYTs coverage of this bill reminds me of California news. While the station did cover polling from the Cicero Institute revealing that a majority of Kentucky residents do actually want cities to enforce the bans on street camping, most of their stories feature interviews both the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky and the ACLU of Kentucky. People should pay more attention to the polling data. Ciceros 2023 Homeless Poll found that all sides of political affiliation in Kentucky are deeply worried about the state of homelessness in Kentucky. 76% of Kentuckians believed homeless people do not have a right to set up camp on the street, and a whopping 86%, across party lines, believed it was more compassionate to place them in shelters. The majority opinion of Ciceros polling reflects former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turners opinion: It is simply not acceptable for people to live on the streets. It is not good for them, and it is not good for the city, and that is the common sense approach. Under Turners leadership, Houstons homelessness population has dropped 54% since 2011. Its not compassionate to allow people to live on the streets. Compassion would encourage people to get off the street and get help whether that be through mental health treatment, drug rehabilitation, or job training offered in shelters. Decriminalization in the West Coast resulted in entire blocks of public street camping, obstructing entire sidewalks. Lexington, Louisville, and Frankfort do not need the same picture of uncontrolled homelessness that has become commonplace in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. According to the poll, 56% of Kentucky respondents understand that encampments are a threat to public safety, and they are. Homeless encampments create dangerous biohazards due to the lack of proper waste disposal and overcrowding. Kentuckians should not have to worry about the potential public health crisis similar to Flea Borne Typhus, currently considered endemic in California and growing according to the CDC. Allowing these vulnerable populations to remain unsheltered and at risk of contracting rare disease is frankly cruel. The Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky (HHCK) agrees with polled Kentucky voters that we need to prioritize reducing unsheltered housing. However, HHCKs 2024 State Advocacy Agenda completely ignores what polled Kentuckians say is the biggest factors causing homelessness: Drug and alcohol addiction (33%) and Mental Illness (21%). Weve seen what happens when you ignore the root causes of homelessness. It looks like California. I do not want that to happen here. Nick Ortiz moved from Riverside, California, to Lexington, Kentucky, in January 2024. He is the Brand Manager for Young Voices, a non-profit helping young professionals break into cultural and policy commentary. U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Katie Porter, greeting supporters at a campaign event at Lola's Mexican Cuisine in Long Beach on Feb. 17, has been unable to attract the high-profile female endorsements she drew in past campaigns. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) When Rep. Katie Porter first ran for Congress in 2018, some of the nation's most influential female leaders and advocacy organizations lined up to support her, including then-Sen. Kamala Harris, Emily's List and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. In Porter's 2024 bid to become California's newest senator, and succeed Dianne Feinstein, many of those same voices are silent. Little about Porter's campaign style or worldview has changed. As the Irvine Democrat attempts to court the same coalition of voters that got her elected in 2018 and reelected twice, she faces stiff competition from the other top Democrats in the race, Reps. Barbara Lee of Oakland and Adam B. Schiff of Burbank. At least one woman has represented California in the U.S. Senate for the last three decades, a historic feat given that men account for 97% of the members who have served there since the birth of the nation. That streak may come to an end after the 2024 Senate election and women appear to be a leading reason. Read more: Your guide to the California U.S. Senate election: The race to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), one of the most powerful women in California and national politics, has endorsed Schiff, as has former Sen. Barbara Boxer, who served alongside Feinstein for nearly a quarter-century. More than half of the women in the state's congressional delegation also back Schiff. Along with recent opinion polls that show Schiff leading the field among likely voters, he also leads among female likely voters in some polls by large margins. Porter comes in second and Lee third. One survey this week from Emerson College and several media partners showed Schiff up by double digits among likely female voters. Voters, elected officials and political consultants watching the race said Schiff's support among women stems from his high-profile stands against former President Trump, a reliable pro-abortion-rights record and the litany of female endorsements he's picked up. All of that combined with his unmatched financial resources has put him in a commanding position against Porter and Lee. "It's not just about representation," said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who co-endorsed Schiff and Lee. "People have watched him defend the institution and defend democracy against Donald Trump." Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) said she's heard from people including many women who are frustrated by Porter's Senate candidacy because it has forced Democrats to spend so much time and money on retaining her Orange County congressional seat. Without her on the ballot, holding the closely divided district, which may be essential to Democrats winning a House majority, is harder. Dianne Feinstein, left, and Barbara Boxer celebrate their Democratic nominations for U.S. Senate seats in June 1992. Both were elected that November and served together for 24 years. (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press) Rose Kapolczynski, who ran Boxers successful 1992 Senate campaign and subsequent reelection efforts, recounted organizing a fundraiser for an abortion rights super PAC in the early years of the Trump administration. Schiff, to her great surprise, was the politician the organizers wanted to speak at the event. "The fact that Adam Schiff was the first choice of these progressive activists in West L.A. and he sold out the room and got standing ovations showed me that his fight against Trump was changing how people perceived him, particularly women," Kapolczynski said. Porter a former UC Irvine law professor and some of her supporters think having a woman in one of California's Senate seats is essential. Lee also has made gender and racial representation a focal point of her candidacy asking for donations so she "can become just the third Black woman elected to the Senate and build a progressive future for all of us." Last weekend in Long Beach, when Porter met with voters at a small rally on the back patio of Lola's Mexican Cuisine, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris warmed up the crowd before Porter spoke. "If one of Katie's male opponents wins in November, that will be the first time in more than 30 years that California does not have a woman representing us in the Senate," said Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), drawing a boo from the crowd. "The stakes are too high right now." Read more: What to know about the Senate candidates in California ahead of the primary election Porter who has done well with younger voters in recent polling focused less on that history and more on how she intends to "shake up the Senate" and serve as a national leader for Democrats. She emphasized how she'd won tough races before and was not beholden to big donors or lobbyists. She talked about interrogating bank executives during tense congressional oversight hearings and wanting rich Americans along with corporations to pay their fair share. Porter criticized Democrats for not focusing more on the housing crisis in California and not doing more to bar members of Congress or their families from trading individual stocks. Once the event wrapped, Porter explained why her pitch highlighted the issues rather than her gender. "I think people can tell that I'm a woman; I'm not hiding that. I'm proud of it," Porter told The Times. "Voters here understand intrinsically in California what it means to have that kind of representation, but it's why it matters. You've just heard me talk about my kids and their struggles. My kids are in public schools here. I saw what learning loss during COVID meant, and I know how important it is to fix it. I've been the person who's had to juggle child care." Theresa Duarte, 61, of Yucaipa shows her support at Porter's campaign event in Long Beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) At the event, Porter supporters seemed mostly focused on her distinctive delivery of complex information and passion rather than her gender. Theresa Duarte, 61, of Yucaipa said her support for Porter sprang from seeing viral videos of her grill JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon over how much low-level bank employees make compared with his large salary. The moment cemented Porter's fame among many Americans, including Duarte, who say they are fed up with the nation's growing wealth disparity. Duarte, a Circle K cashier making not much more than minimum wage, said it's not that she thinks that having a female senator is essential though it's important. It's just that she's all in on Porter. "She the best person in Congress," Duarte said. Costa Mesa resident Judy Harris took a slightly different view. She doesn't dislike Schiff and lamented that Porter is leaving the House of Representatives. Her concern is she doesn't want a Republican to advance to the general election in the Senate race, much less win it. Harris found Porter relatable and was attracted to her candidacy because "you want to see people who look like you in the Senate." "I know what her values are and think it's important for little girls to see they can accomplish what she's accomplishing." Two elections cycles have been described as the Year of the Woman. There was 1992, which came after the Supreme Court confirmation hearing when Anita Hill famously accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. The Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing Thomas' confirmation had no female members. Then in 2018, partially in reaction to the anger over Trump's victory in 2016, Porter and a record 102 other women were elected to Congress. Most were Democrats. "Every bit of research from boardrooms to operating rooms to the halls of Congress it all shows the same thing," Porter told The Times. "If we want better outcomes, especially to help create equality and to help create fairness, women in leadership deliver." Rep. Adam B. Schiff, shown at a Lunar New Year parade in downtown L.A. this month, has garnered many high-profile female endorsements although he's running against two Democratic women. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) But Porter's campaign is running up against the deep ties Schiff has nurtured across the state particularly in voter-rich Los Angeles County, where he has served in elected office since 1996. At a Lunar Near Year parade last weekend in Chinatown, Los Angeles resident Sarah Bradshaw, 58, presented Schiff with an oversized pencil. On it she wrote: "To Adam, My favorite 'Pencil Neck.' Sarah." Trump has used that phrase to belittle the Burbank representative, who now wears the insult as a badge of honor. Bradshaw, who works in community outreach for local school districts, said she backed Feinstein and Boxer, has supported Schiff since he was in the state Senate and plans to go to Nevada to volunteer on Sen. Jacky Rosen's reelection campaign this year. "The fact of the matter is we have so many more women in office now. We still have so far to go. But it doesn't take away from the fact he's great on women's issues. Always has been. I trust him," Bradshaw said of Schiff. "He's not a woman, but I'm going to have to live with that." Boxer, who initially planned to not endorse anyone in the primary but then backed Schiff, took a similar view. It was a difficult decision for her when the race began, she said, because "Schiff is like a son to me and Lee is like a sister." As Lee struggled to rise in the polls, Boxer said, and she watched Porter criticize Schiff's past acceptance of donations from certain committees controlled by certain corporations, Boxer had a change of heart. What the Senate now needs more than anything else, she said, is a steady pair of hands. "Katie is saying she wants to shake up the Senate. Well, the Senate has never been more shook up than it is now," Boxer said. "It's like a milkshake gone bad. I don't like holier-than-thou people. I hate that." Times political columnist Mark Z. Barabak contributed to this report. 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. Donald Trump famously benefited from billions in free media in his 2016 campaign way too much, as some in the business later conceded . Back then he was a ratings monster; cable TV networks covered his rallies start to finish as millions of Americans tuned in out of horror or glee at his shameless shtick: What would he say next? Eight years later, the networks have pulled back. Even Faux News no longer gives the former president as much attention. Their viewers have Trump fatigue, his opponents and supporters alike. Only obscure right-wing channels that cater to MAGA types carry the full rallies in real time; the rest provide video snippets, if that. Yet voters shouldnt ignore Trump on the stump, especially given that his and President Bidens respective age and mental acuity are the overriding issue in their seemingly likely 2024 rematch. A majority, I think (hope?), would come away without a doubt about which of the two candidates is unhinged. Hint: It isnt Biden. For those not inclined to stream an entire, roughly 90-minute Trump show even his fans often start walking out mid-rally I watched so you dont have to. My selection was Saturday nights performance in Waterford Township, Mich., a working-class area north of Detroit. Against the cold at the airport there, Trump was in a full-length black coat and black leather gloves, recalling his appearance at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally where he told the Capitol-bound crowd, If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore." Read more: This number explains why the Biden-Trump rematch is so tight Much of his rhetoric and style was familiar as well often incoherent ramblings, falsehoods, indecent asides (he took a swipe at 99-year-old Jimmy Carter, who just marked a year in hospice) and sophomoric insults of his many enemies in both parties. Some Trump critics say hes gotten worse in his hate-mongering, like his recent rally talk of political foes being vermin and of immigrants poisoning the nations blood. He didnt repeat those Hitlerian echoes in Michigan, though the sentiment was there. However much he ratchets up his rhetoric, it hasnt really changed the bigotry, lies and disrespect for democratic norms and rule of law are all still part of the playlist. One thing there is more of than in the past, despite the kids in the audience: profanity. And more than ever, given the scores of criminal charges and mountain of legal penalties hes facing, there are his grievances. These arent rallies anymore. Theyre pity parties. After the first half-hour or so, what struck me most was not what Trump said but how his audience responded. A Trump rally speech isnt punctuated by applause like the thousands of aspirational addresses Ive heard before from other politicians. Instead, Trumps supporters emit constant catcalls, boos and their own favorite profanities, in approving response to his nonstop caterwauling. Read more: Calmes: Biden's polls aren't great. How much is the media's fault? Just minutes in, for the first of many times, he assailed Crooked Joe and called Biden the worst president weve ever had. (Fact check: An updated ranking of U.S. presidents just that day, by leading scholars, had Trump repeating as the worst; Biden debuted at No. 14.) Trump polled the crowd on whether to call Biden crooked or sleepy"; the former won. He name-checked Birdbrain (Nikki Haley); two prosecutors, Deranged Jack Smith (Hes an animal) and Fawwny (Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis); Nancy Pelosi (he suggested her wealth is somehow suspect); and Barack Hussein Obama. Hes still purposely mocking the Germanic pronunciation of retired Chancellor Angela Merkels name; he did so during an anti-trade tirade about stupid Americans buying so many German BMWs, Volkswagens and Mercedes-Benzes most of which would have been made in South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, respectively. Trump seemed to sap the crowds initial energy by whining at length about the previous days news that New York Justice Arthur Engoron a crooked judge, he claimed three times ordered him to pay about $450 million in penalties and interest for financial fraud. Its the weaponization of this horrible legal system, he said, adding, This is the real threat to democracy. Read more: Litman: How the massive New York business fraud verdict will do real damage to Trump's empire It was all about him, just as his indictments and trials for fraud, sexual assault and defamation and election subversion are all his. Yet Trump wanted to have the adoring crowd believing his self-inflicted legal woes are theirs too. These are Democrats that definitely hate me, he said of his antagonists, starting with Biden. They hate you too, I have to tell you. At another point: Were all in this together. And an hour in: Every time the radical-left Democrats, Marxists, Communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of honor. I am being indicted for you. Never forget. Trumps continued denial of his 2020 defeat peppered his remarks throughout. We won twice, he blurted at one point. He blamed his failure to finish a border wall on the fact that the election was rigged. He repeated his lies about 2020 voting fraud in majority-Black Detroit, long-debunked by the states Republicans, Trumps attorney general, courts and anyone who looked at the facts. (We gotta watch Detroit. Boy, oh boy, oh boy.) American carnage was a big theme, just as in his 2017 inaugural address. Every single one of our rotten cities are being run by Democrats, Trump said, stoking the nations red rural-versus-blue urban divide. We are worse than a Third World country. Look at our airports, said the man who repeatedly promised an infrastructure bill. (It was Biden who delivered; his bipartisan infrastructure law includes $25 billion to modernize U.S. airports.) Read more: Opinion: How not to cover Donald Trump's bizarre 2024 campaign for president Trump returned again and again to blaming Biden for the crush of migrants at the southern border. Welcome to the Congo, people, he said, claiming Africans were coming from prisons and asylums. He promised the largest deportation in history, which would be economically calamitous, and took credit for a new phrase, Bigrant crime as in, Biden migrant crime. Oh, thats good, thats smart, he said, pointing to his brain. Non sequiturs were constant. Trump went from grousing about his Georgia case straight into unrelated, and chilling, talk of indemnifying police charged with misconduct once he is president: You can stop [crime] in one day, in one hour, if you got really nasty and really tough." And there was this: The great capital, Washington, D.C., is under siege. I will always defend Medicare and Social Security unlike Birdbrain. I kid you not. Thats what he said. If you don't believe me, watch for yourself. Spoiler alert: The man is not fit to be president. @jackiekcalmes 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. From left, Hull Community Pub Society members Chris Robertson, Simon Berry and Jeff Clarkson A group campaigning to bring a popular Hull pub back to life is inviting people to buy shares. The New Clarence, in Charles Street, called last orders in 2023 and was sold by Admiral Taverns to Kingston Apartments. The property developer wanted to turn it into shared housing for NHS staff but the application was rejected by Hull City Council. Hull Community Pub Society (HCPS) campaigned successfully for it to become an asset of community value and are now hopeful a fundraising drive will raise the money needed to buy it. The group says it needs 520,000 to make the dream a reality and if successful it is believed this will be the only pub of its kind in the city. It is hoping the government will help through the Community Ownership Fund, while the target from the share issue is to raise 150,000. 'Proven to work' More than 50 people attended the launch evening on Wednesday, with nine pledges raising 6,200 on day one. The building has fallen into disrepair and council planners have been told that the ceiling is leaking and pub equipment has been removed. Windows have also been boarded up and the pubs name taken down. HCPS treasurer Jeff Clarkson said: The community pub model has been proven to work. There is approximately 170 community pubs that have been set up elsewhere in the country. None of them have failed. Mr Clarkson added that people would have a share of the pub and that all the profits go back into the pub and that community. A minimum of 100 shares and a maximum of 15,000 can be bought by people who live in the HU postcode region, while businesses can invest at a higher level. Simon Berry, HCPS chairman, said: When we get the money and refurbish, it is going to be a wonderful place to come for the community, led by the community. The deadline to buy shares is April 24. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastyorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk More on this story Related links Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair has said that Canada is continuing to look into the possibility of sending CRV7 rockets which were slated for disposal to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing Ukrinform Details: Blair explained that Canada had considered supplying Ukraine with the air-to-ground rockets that were due to be disposed of when the full-scale invasion began, "but at that time Ukraine's ability to use them was extremely limited". "However, we have since seen that the Ukrainians have found ingenious ways to use other technologies, such as drones, that might make these munitions useful to them," the Canadian defence minister added. Blair said that Canada is currently working with Ukraine and its allies to verify that the decommissioned rockets are fit for use and transportation: "This work continues as quickly as possible, because the need is urgent." The Canadian Armed Forces have a stockpile of more than 83,000 CRV7 rockets, which were developed in the 1980s and taken out of service in the early 2000s. Three years ago, the federal government signed a contract to dispose of the rockets. The CRV7 was considered one of the most powerful air-to-ground rockets of its time and was still in service with allied countries during the Afghan war. The Conservatives, who are in opposition, are now demanding that the government donate tens of thousands of these rockets to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said his country was discussing the transfer of ammunition with the Czechs. The Canadian government is prepared to finance the transfer of 800,000 artillery rounds to Ukraine from the Czech Republic, CBC News reported on Feb. 21, citing sources in the Canadian Defense Ministry. Sources state that while details of the deal are still being finalized, the Canadian government is ready to provide up to CAD 30 million ($22 million) to pay for it. Read also: Canada to provide Ukraine with $15 million worth of combat boats Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair stated that his country is discussing the transfer of ammunition with the Czechs. I have signed a memorandum of understanding with one of our European allies, the Czech Republic, regarding the potential purchase of ammunition they currently have available, which will allow us to... make them more accessible to Ukraine as we ramp up our own production, said Blair. Previously, Czech President Petr Pavel mentioned that Prague has found hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds that it could transfer to Ukraine. According to him, the Czech Republic could hand over the ammunition "within a few weeks" if other partners are willing to help fund the deal. Read also: Czech Republic to continue training Ukrainian soldiers in 2024 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 Ten Canadian universities and colleges have separately rebuffed online claims their admissions offices no longer recognise a diploma acquired by Hong Kong secondary school students after the exam was updated to include questions on patriotism and national security. The false claim circulated online as students in the territory prepared to take their exams in April 2024. "Some Canadian universities and colleges announced that they will no longer recognise HKDSE qualifications for 2024 and beyond, including UBC, SFU, University of Waterloo," reads a post written in traditional Chinese shared on Facebook on January 29, 2024 (archived link). The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) is an examination administered every year for secondary school students in the city. According to Hong Kong authorities, HKDSE qualifications are accepted for admission in undergraduate programmes of more than 600 overseas higher education institutions. Screenshot of the false post, taken February 1, 2024 False claims that several Canadian universities and colleges no longer recognise HKDSE in 2024 were also shared on Facebook here, here and here, and on social media site X here. Western University, McMaster University, University of Northern British Columbia, Trent University, Algonquin College, Brescia University College and College of the Rockies were also named in some posts. Some social media users suggested Hong Kong's new curriculum is to blame. Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong after huge and often violent democracy protests swept the city in 2019. Hong Kong authorities have since rolled out new curriculums for students aged six to 18 to teach them about four new national security crimes -- subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. The curriculum for "Liberal Studies" was also revamped and renamed "Citizenship and Social Development". The class is a core exam subject of the HKDSE. However, the 10 universities and colleges named in the posts separately refuted the claims. 'Inaccurate' claims Thandi Fletcher, a spokesperson from the University of British Columbia (UBC), told AFP that the university "accepts the HKDSE for the purposes of admission to all of our undergraduate programs." "There has not been any change in our requirements," she said on February 2. "Students applying from Hong Kong who are completing the HKDSE are evaluated based on successful completion of the HKDSE, with a minimum overall score that varies by program," Ryon Jones, media relations manager of the University of Waterloo, told AFP on January 31, 2024. The posts are "inaccurate", a representative for Simon Fraser University (SFU) said. Spokespersons for the other Canadian universities and colleges mentioned similarly rebuffed the claims. AFP has not found any announcement on each of their websites about a purported non-recognition of HKDSE. In a statement published on January 29, 2024, Hong Kong's examinations and assessment authority said "no university has refused to accept the HKDSE qualification for admission purposes from 2024 onwards" (archived link). Defence lawyer Peter Ketcheson (right) holds the door for defence lawyer Christopher Hicks at the London courthouse to attend the sentencing hearing of Nathaniel Veltman in London, Ont., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Nicole Osborne /The Canadian Press via AP) LONDON, Ontario (AP) A man found guilty of using his pickup truck to kill four members of a Muslim family was sentenced Thursday to life in prison as a Canadian judge ruled that the actions of the admitted white nationalist amounted to terrorism. Nathaniel Veltman has also been sentenced to a concurrent life sentence for the attempted murder of a boy who survived the 2021 attack. Veltman, 23, was found guilty in November of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk. Prosecutors argued that Veltman purposely ran his truck into the Afzaal family while they were out for a walk on June 6, 2021, to intimidate Muslims into leaving Canada. The defense sought to show he wasnt criminally liable saying he had mental health problems. Justice Renee Pomerance, who presided over the trial, delivered her sentencing decision to a packed London, Ontario, courtroom on Thursday. Adults found guilty of first-degree murder in Canada face an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. The case was the first time Canadas terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial. In delivering her sentencing decision, Pomerance ruled that Veltmans actions constituted terrorism and said the brutality of the crime called for the imposition of the strictest penalty known to Canadian law. The offender did not know the victims. He had never met them. He killed them because they were Muslim, she said. It is an inescapable conclusion that the offender committed a terrorist act. One might go so far as to characterize this as a textbook example of terrorist motive and intent. Members of the Afzaal family were seen crying and nodding as Pomerance delivered her findings. Some later hugged each other after the judge left the courtroom. There is white supremacy in Canada. It is a threat. It is terrorism, said Ali Islam, an Afzaal family member. Veltman was convicted of killing 46-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal. The couples 9-year-old son was seriously hurt but survived. The terrorism designation acknowledges the hate that fueled this, Tabinda Bukhari, Madiha's mother, said in statement in front of the courthouse. But this hate didnt exist in a vacuum. It thrived in the whispers, the prejudices, the normalized fear of the other. All of these played their part in the tragedy that unfolded. Bukhari said hate needs to be confronted and bridges of solidarity need to be built with other communities and faiths. Prosecutors had argued Veltman was a white supremacist with a plan to commit violence, while the defense argued his actions shouldnt be considered terrorism because he kept his beliefs to himself. Pomerance said Veltman was a voracious consumer of extremist right-wing internet content who became inspired by other mass killers. She described him as believing in the superiority of the white race, and the related aspiration for an all white society. In his statement to police, the offender made it clear that he wanted the world to know what he had done and why he had done it. This was part of a plan, the judge said. He wanted it to intimidate the Muslim community. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of other mass killers, and he wanted to inspire others to commit murderous acts. During the trial, Veltman testified he had been considering using his pickup truck to carry out an attack and felt an urge to hit the Afzaal family after seeing them walking on a sidewalk. He said he knew they were Muslims from the clothes they were wearing and he noticed the man in the group had a beard. The jury also watched video of Veltman telling a detective his attack had been motivated by white nationalist beliefs, and heard he wrote a manifesto where he described himself as a white supremacist in the weeks before the attack. At a sentencing hearing last month, Veltman apologized for the pain he had caused but that apology was promptly rejected by the victims family outside of court as strategic words coming from a killer after he is convicted. Christopher Hicks, Veltman's lawyer, said they haven't decided whether to appeal. STAUNTON It was Jan. 12, 2021, when Amanda Mullen, who was being held at Middle River Regional Jail on a probation violation, called Candi J. Royer, an Augusta County woman who was caring for Mullen's child while she was jailed. In the background, Mullen heard the voice of her 3-year-old daughter, Khaleesi Cuthriell. "Mommy?" the toddler said in a jail call that was played in Augusta County Circuit Court on Thursday during Royer's sentencing hearing for first-degree murder. "Baby?" Mullen answered. After asking Khaleesi if she was being good, Mullen sweetly said to her daughter, "I love you. I can't wait to see you. Mommy misses you." "I love you, Mommy," Khaleesi said. It would be the last time Mullen would ever hear her child's voice. Later that same day, Royer filmed herself abusing the toddler. The video played for the jury at the August trial of Travis Brown, Royer's co-defendant showed a frightened, confused and weakened child being verbally berated by Royer and forced to stand naked in a dry bathtub amid her own feces. "Khaleesi, stand up," Royer ordered on the video. "I said stand up, Khaleesi." Missing most of her hair by this time and covered in cuts and bruises, the toddler stood shaking during the entire ordeal. Candi J. Royer Augusta County Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Martin said Khaleesi was possibly killed that day in 2021, but said there's no doubt she died before the month ended. The next month when Mullen again called Royer, she lied and told Mullen that Khaleesi was at a birthday party before discussing receiving a payment for supposedly caring for the toddler, who was most likely already dead at that point. Last week in a rambling statement during his sentencing hearing, Brown blamed Royer, his ex-girlfriend, for the slaying. Martin noted that Royer blamed Brown. "It's both of them," the prosecutor said Thursday. Royer, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in September, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison by Circuit Judge Shannon Sherrill. Last week, Brown was given an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole on a charge of aggravated murder. An additional 20 years was tacked on for a charge of child abuse. Following a crime spree in the summer of 2021 that Martin said included the couple stealing a vehicle and a $60,000 boat, Brown and Royer fled to South Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where police eventually captured them at a motel. That same month, the Augusta County Sheriff's Office said Khaleesi was dead. Her body was never found. On Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, numerous Virginia State Police search and recovery vehicles were at the Augusta County home of Candi J. Royer and Travis Brown. Authorities searched the couple's home on Cattle Scales Road in Augusta County near Waynesboro, where investigators found bloodstains on a wall that contained Khaleesi's DNA. One of the bloodstains was six feet off the floor. Police located a wire hanger with a handle made of tape that contained both Royer's DNA and the toddler's, evidence showed. Khaleesi's door to her bedroom was also found to have a lock on the outside. The toddler was placed in the care of Royer, 44, and Brown, 32, in October 2020 after Mullen's incarceration. "Travis is always posting pictures of new automobiles or motorcycles as the newest addition to our family, but I would like to introduce the newest addition to our family khaleesi [sic]" a Facebook post by Royer said Nov. 8, 2020. A Facebook friend asked who the child belonged to, prompting Royer to respond, "At the moment mine. Until her parents are able to care for her we will." Mullen initially sought to give Khaleesi to a relative, but earlier testimony revealed Child Protective Services, a division of Shenandoah Valley Social Services, wouldn't allow the move. Mullen instead opted for Royer, and a CPS employee took the toddler to her home even though Royer, who struggled with substance abuse, was on home electronic monitoring while serving a criminal conviction during the pandemic. CPS was unaware that Brown, a convicted felon with a lengthy rap sheet, also lived at the residence. No official from CPS ever returned to check on the toddler, testimony showed. Travis Brown. Eleven months after being dropped off at the home, Khaleesi was reported missing by the Augusta County Sheriff's Office. Under questioning following his arrest, Brown initially lied and said the toddler was still alive, claiming she was taken away in January 2021 by a CPS official using a state car. He made several nonsensical assertions as well. Brown told investigators the child "liked to be smacked" and acted like she was "possessed." Brown claimed he woke up one night to find Khaleesi choking his daughter he shared with Royer. He also said the toddler was suicidal and prone to falling. Eventually, Brown admitted the toddler was dead and claimed she killed herself by purposefully slamming her head into a doorframe. "It's what she did, man," he said in a recording with investigators. Brown told them he attempted CPR on the toddler but was unsuccessful. "I tried so hard, dude." A drug addict at the time, Brown said he then passed out. After waking, Brown told investigators he left Khaleesi on the floor until the next day, when he said he wrapped her in a blanket and put her body in a garbage can. Evidence at Brown's trial showed the toddler was abused for several weeks before her disappearance. An expert on child abuse testified Khaleesi was tortured. Investigators seized some 46,000 photos and numerous videos, which showed Khaleesi's physical condition growing progressively worse during her stay at the home. Evidence showed she had numerous cuts and bruising, a thinning frame, burns and discolored feet. Given a chance to speak Thursday, Royer, who has six children, said she was sorry. Royer also claimed she didn't kill Khaleesi but admitted to having a role in her demise. "I loved Khaleesi and I failed her," she said. Royer, who was represented by attorney Jessica Sherman-Stoltz, claimed she doesn't know where the toddler's body is. "If I could tell (Mullen) where Khaleesi was, I would," she said. Following the hearing, Martin spoke to the media and said he was satisfied that both defendants were given life sentences. "To achieve justice in this case really would be nearly impossible. The court did the most that it possibly could, and for that reason I'm grateful," he said. The prosecutor, though, took CPS to task. "CPS failed Khaleesi terribly, just terribly. CPS and the workers there are among many, many people who failed her terribly, and that's irrespective of the people who acted affirmatively to cause her death. So ... dropping a little girl off with someone who is serving an active jail sentence who had a 29-time felon in the house in Travis Brown, and then never coming back allowed this to happen." Martin said there is no defending the agency. "What they did here was not alright, it wasn't close to alright, their reaction after it happened wasn't alright," he said. "Khaleesi would likely have lived had they been diligent. That's all very painful to even say." As for ever finding the 3-year-old's body, Martin said, "There're two people who know. Each one of them says it's probably the other one who knows, but they know and they have chosen to keep this back. So, until we either get really lucky or they develop a conscience, which I don't see happening, we're not going to know." 'We've never been more ready': Buffalo Gap headed back to states with Wednesday night win Augusta mails property reassessments, appeal deadline March 18 Staunton woman pleads guilty to sexually abusing young girl Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Candi J. Royer gets life in prison for Staunton toddler's slaying TechCrunch Multinational technology giant Fujitsu confirmed a cyberattack in a statement Friday, and warned that hackers may have stolen personal data and customer information. "We confirmed the presence of malware on multiple work computers at our company, and as a result of an internal investigation, we discovered that files containing personal information and customer information could be illegally taken out," said Fujitsu in its statement on its website, translated from Japanese. Fujitsu said it disconnected the affected systems from its network, and is investigating how its network was compromised by malware and "whether information has been leaked." To help inform voters, this candidate questionnaire is available without a subscription and may be republished by local publications across North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Josh McConkey District: 13th Congressional District Political party: Republican Age as of March 5, 2024: 46 Campaign website: joshmcconkey.com Current occupation: Physician Professional experience: Emergency physician, Army combat veteran, current Air Force Reserve commander, and prior professor at Duke University Education: Bachelors Degree in Biology, Doctorate in Medicine, Graduate of Air Command & Staff College, Air War College, and National Security Course at National Defense University What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement? No government civilian office. Current Commander, 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, U.S. Air Force Reserves, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it? Border security and the drugs pouring across that unsecured border. I will fight for our national security and save the lives of our families and children by funding border wall construction, investment in technology, and increase manning and funding for border security. Without a secure border you do not have national security! Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? Too broad of a question. What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money? The federal government swamp in Washington, D.C., is inefficient and wasteful. As a current military commander, I witness the wasting of taxpayer money every day. Should spending increases trigger automatic increases to the U.S. debt limit so that political gridlock does not cause the country to default on its debts? We need to reign in the reckless government spending and balance the budget. I do not support an automatic increase to the debt limit. What federal legislation, if any, would you support on abortion? The Supreme Court of the United States has held that this is a state issue. What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support? I am supportive of of enforcing our immigration laws and stopping illegal immigration. America does not have an immigration problem, we have an illegal immigration problem. What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from mass shootings and other violent crime? I will properly fund our law enforcement and stop the judicial activism that is preventing us from holding criminals accountable. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Four candidates who are seeking to fill the position of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy presented themselves and some policies to viewers and voters in a debate televised throughout the Central Valley Thursday night. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux (R), Assemblymember Vince Fong (R), Andy Morales (D) and Marisa Wood (D) were all on the stage at the KGET-TV studio in Bakersfield. The candidates were asked questions on a range of issues from immigration, the Israel-Hamas war, the fentanyl crisis and even the recent endorsement in the race from former President Donald Trump. Who do the voters want to replace Kevin McCarthy in Congress? Overall, the candidates did not trade many barbs with one another, instead primarily presenting their cases why voters should cast their vote for them. The fieriest exchange was between Mike Boudreaux and Vince Fong when discussing former President Trumps endorsement of Fong. Boudreaux called the endorsement a political favor orchestrated by Kevin McCarthy. Fong said there were no strings attached to the endorsement and was happy to receive it, but said it was not a political favor. Anyone who helped get that endorsement, I appreciate it. When asked if McCarthy helped secure it: I hope so, Fong said. On immigration, the candidates were asked about what they would do about a current proposal that ties funding for the southern border with aid to Israel and Ukraine in their ongoing conflicts. Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) said he did not support the current deal negotiated in Congress because the public doesnt trust big deals from Washington. He stated he visited the border on Tuesday. We have to secure the border first. Its a national security crisis, Fong said. Fong said he saw incomplete portions of a border wall due to funding cuts by President Biden. Democratic candidate Marisa Wood called the situation at the border a crisis and demands immediate attention. She did not support the idea of a border bill being tied to funding to Israel but called Israel the only democracy in the Middle East. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Morales, a 24-year-old challenger from Bakersfield, said the economy relies and depends on immigrants. He said he wants to differentiate between the criminals and the folks that are looking to make better lives for themselves and their families back home or seek asylum and fund immigration courts. He said a bill to secure the border should not include funding for Israel or Ukraine. Florida man goes viral for exploring Kern County Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said tying a border security bill to funding to Israel and Ukraine is a mistake and referred to his experience in law enforcement in dealing with failed policies by the Biden administration in securing the border. We need to secure it with a long wall and a tall wall, he said. When asked if he still supported Obama-era policies that included a pathway to citizenship, he decried Californias SB-54 that bars law enforcement from asking a person of their immigration status. Boudreaux said people who qualify under DACA and were in the U.S. since theyve been young children should have a path to citizenship. Watch the full debate in the video player above. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. (FOUNTAIN, Colo.) A car drove into a business in Fountain on Wednesday morning, Feb. 21, prompting several calls to 911, according to the Fountain Fire Department (FFD). FFD said crews quickly responded just after 9:45 a.m. and found that the accident appeared to be caused by a medical emergency. FFD said there appeared to be no structural damage to the building, and no one inside it was injured. One person was taken by ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Elon Musk's Cybertruck is like the ultimate technological Rorschach test everyone sees something different in it, and that comes with a lot of emotion. I guess that's what art is supposed to do, elicit an emotional response, for better or worse, and cars can be very much that art. But after following the stainless steel wedge of a vehicle's saga over the years and recently learning about its actual technological breakthroughs and capabilities, it quickly dawned on me that the Cybertruck has remarkable baked-in military potential, especially in one specific emerging capability set. I will go even a step further and say it seems as if it was designed with this in mind, although I know it was not. And, in many ways, military service would be agnostic to some of the biggest, albeit still contentious, concerns and criticisms surrounding Cybertruck. Simply put, the potential for Cybertruck to become an uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) is unlike anything I have seen before from the commercial marketplace, and that presents a massive opportunity for the Department of Defense and Tesla. UGV is basically a term for a land vehicle drone and spans a huge spectrum of potential capabilities, from small rovers to light utility transports to remote mobile missile launchers to unmanned 'mini-tanks .' For Cybertruck, we are likely talking about a UGV in the light utility category, which can take on many roles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCSOEHdvwLY The Army and Marines want UGVs , including for manned-unmanned teaming, to dominate future land battles, with all the benefits and potential challenges that come with such a vision. The Pentagon is eyeing UGVs for non-combat roles , too. There are also civilian and commercial applications for UGVs, but it's the DoD that could really take advantage in the near term of Tesla's huge investment in developing the Cybertruck platform. The idea that the Pentagon could potentially capitalize on mass production of Cybertruck, and all the associated infrastructure, sustainment work, and grand economies of scale that would come with it, makes for a relatively unprecedented and timely opportunity. A conceptual rendering of a Cybertruck UGV that is a collaboration between TWZ and Mr Vu The Vuong. It features CROWS remote weapons and sensor station with a machine gun and Javelin anti-tank missiles, eight launch tubes for loitering munitions, a tethered overwatch drone, smoke/countermeasure launchers, enhanced suspension, multiple cameras and LIDAR self-driving sensors, and a bullbar with lighting and winch, among other alterations. A military Cybertruck without a human driver Let's get this out of the way. Yes, Cybertruck looks like a futuristic assault vehicle out of a dystopian science fiction movie. That's the entire point! There has already been plenty of fan art and memes of it equipped with a Gatling gun and military modifications like those of the famed 'Warthog' from the Halo video game franchise, for instance. The utility that the real Cybertruck could provide the military does not lie in its futuristic 'battle wagon' looks. It's in its underlying design features and technological innovations. Cybertruck has an uncanny number of attributes that make uncrewed applications for it uniquely attractive and potentially very cost-effective. Its large battery means that it can sit on station for long periods of time without consuming fuel or making noise. This is very important for uncrewed ground vehicles that operate forward, from austere locations, for long stretches, acting as remote weapons and sensor platforms or as security sentries. A major expansion in battery capacity could be added to further extend its ability to persist on the battlefield, especially with the space and payload currently reserved for humans freed up. Cybertruck's robust suspension and rigid body could be a benefit to UGV applications. Tweaks would be made to better support off-road operations, as well. The aftermarket is currently developing kits for this, but the truck already has good ground clearance unimpeded by axles. These attributes can be improved upon significantly with relatively minor alterations aimed at military-specific applications and free from the demands of passenger car regulations. A Cybertruck lift kit is already available. (Unpluggedperformance.com) The vehicle's driving characteristics are heavily software-defined. This programming can be tweaked to tailor the truck's abilities to the environment it is operating in. This goes a step beyond the different driving modes found in most 4X4 and all-wheel-drive vehicles. For instance, Cybertruck features 'wade mode' that maximizes ride height and pressurizes the battery pack allowing it to traverse some rivers and large streams. Musk claims he is working to make Cybertruck perform like a true amphibian, acting as a boat for crossing small bodies of water with minimal modification. How realistic it is to actually do this remains to be seen, but there are already modifications that have been made to Cybertrucks that provide a glimpse of potential 'exotic' configurations to come. Yet it's Cybertruck's full 'steer-by-wire' capability that is arguably the most attractive feature in terms of turning it into a UGV. The vehicle has no mechanical linkages between the steering system and the driver's wheel. Driver inputs are interpreted by the computer and then sent to its four-wheel steering system also a huge plus for a larger UGV operating in tight spaces. Steer-by-wire is a major automotive revelation for a vehicle intended for mass production Cybertruck is the first to achieve such a feat. This is especially attractive for unmanned applications. Control inputs could be handled and applied without manipulating legacy mechanical steering systems that exist on every other production vehicle, allowing for seamless uncrewed integration. Commands would go right from the computer to the electrically driven steering system. This eliminates bulk and mechanical complexity, latency, and more, as well as opening up space for new design possibilities. What makes its steer-by-wire concept possible is the vehicle's 48-volt power system, which is also relatively novel for a production car. It can provide high amounts of power throughout the vehicle efficiently while saving lots of copper wiring and weight. Having a built-in power handling system of this capability is also extremely attractive for military applications that would use sensors and weapon systems that suck up a lot of power. The ability to integrate some of these systems directly into the truck's existing power management system could be a boon and would allow for easier integration of new components and technologies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6WDq0V5oBg Instead of a heavy wiring harness with individual wires controlling and supplying power to the many components on the vehicle, Cybertruck uses an Ethernet network to carry data across the vehicle, greatly simplifying its wiring harness. This could be a huge opportunity for military applications as a true 'open architecture' approach to integrating militarized components and additional systems could be possible without additional wiring and deep modification. This could drastically decrease the time and investment it would take to add new capabilities. This open architecture concept is a critical component of virtually all new platforms the DoD is pursuing today and its foundation is already built into Cybertruck. Updates to Cybertruck's driving system could potentially be sent to the vehicle wirelessly to better tackle whatever terrain is in the area. Theoretically, updates could also be sent to the sensor and other payload packages the vehicle could support, although it would need to be done via a secure waveform and interfaced with the onboard computer. The vehicle's Ethernet databus would be able to carry that information to any system plugged into it. Being able to send updates via secure datalink in near real-time is a key advantage the DoD has looked to deploy for various applications across different platform types. Another view of the notional Cybertruck UGV. Tesla is a leader in autonomous driving and the machine learning/artificial intelligence (AI) that supports such emerging capabilities. Once again, leveraging this experience including millions of hours of real-world driving data and the self-driving systems already installed on Cybertruck for autonomous operations would be a huge advantage for UGV applications. It could also help Tesla better evolve these capabilities for the road, considering the unique and highly challenging environments military UGVs would be operating in. The self-driving systems already installed in Cybertruck could be augmented with additional sensors and other hardware for UGV applications. Regardless, just having Tesla as a partner for accomplishing autonomous UGV operations over a broad range of scenarios would be a huge plus for the DoD and investments made by the Pentagon could be leveraged in Tesla's commercial applications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfqabC_akV0 A Cybertruck UGV does not need a cabin. Since there are no steering linkages that go into the cabin, it can be eliminated entirely. Optionally manned is another possibility, but using the entire cabin's volume for additional equipment, cargo, missionized payloads, and more batteries is entirely possible. Rethinking the cabin area, or eliminating it entirely, opens up a ton of new possibilities. Considering there is also a 'frunk' in the Cybertruck, a drone version of it would open up payload compartments from the tailgate to the front bumper. A battery pack is already in the works that could extend the range of Cybertruck 38% by taking up 33% of its truck bed. One can only imagine how much battery capacity could be added without a need for a cabin at all. Cybertruck's interior. (Tesla) Tesla's Cybertruck makes an appearance at a shopping complex on January 28, 2024, in Chongqing, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Cybertruck's bed area could support a huge range of payloads, from drone launchers to a remote weapons station to directed energy systems ( lasers, high-power microwave weapons, etc. ) to casualty evacuation enclosures. It may also be possible to just leverage the truck's 'skateboard-like' lower core and put an entirely new body on it optimized for UGV missions, although this would require an exoskeleton (unibody) frame of its own. While this could be an enticing option, taking the Cybertruck as closely off the production line as possible and adapting it to UGV uses is the key to tapping into true economies of scale and making development and sustainment costs as low as possible. This is the Cybertruck's biggest potential advantage. It is nearly impossible to imagine that anything built proprietarily for the military would even come close when it comes to costs in virtually every aspect. This could be a vehicle adopted by the military with relatively minimal major modifications which is being built by the thousands for the civilian market. Visitors viewing a Tesla Cybertruck on display in Shanghai, China, on January 31, 2024. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images) While $100,000 or more for a Cybertruck may seem like a lot to average people, that is roughly equivalent to a single AGM-114 Hellfire missile for the U.S. Army. Each one of the Army's new Infantry Squad Vehicles , which are militarized derivatives of the commercial Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 pickup truck , has a unit price of around $150,000, according to the service's budget documents . In other words, an uncrewed vehicle that costs anywhere near the lower six-digit price figure with Cybertruck's potential capabilities would be an absolute steal in military procurement terms. But it goes beyond that, especially when it comes to the sustainment of such a vehicle, and leveraging a mass consumer product to realize efficiencies that would be impossible to achieve with a similar vehicle built specifically for the military. We will get deeper into just how big of a deal this is in a bit. Regardless, leveraging this unique opportunity, Cybertruck would be fully attritable losing them in combat would not be a big financial or operational issue. They would be relatively easy to replace and comparatively inexpensive to do so. As such, troops could employ them accordingly on high-risk missions, which would open up new tactical possibilities. HUMVEEs equipped with remote weapon stations. (U.S. Army) While a beefed-up military Cybertruck drone would have a wide number of applications, everything from armed scouting to acting as a forward weapons platform, to resupplying troops near or on the front lines, to pulling sentry duty to base perimeter patrol, to casualty evacuation, and more, it would not be meant to take the place of a tracked vehicle or even a substantially heavier armored truck. It would work from roads, semi-improved trails, and some off-road areas, similar to a Humvee, with the more challenging rough terrain work being left to more complex and purpose-built systems. So we are talking about a highly adaptable light utility UGV here, not an unmanned tank. A military Cybertruck with a human driver A crewed Cybertruck could also be a very attractive electric light utility vehicle for the military for certain applications, but unlike its uncrewed counterpart, front-line operations probably wouldn't be one of them. Like its theoretical unmanned counterpart, the manned Cybertruck's tough suspension (and potential for upgrades), decent endurance, and ability to sit 'on station' for long periods without consuming any fuel could be useful for lots of tasks. This is especially true for those that happen on base, like security, maintenance, operations, and other utility needs. Adding additional armor to Cybertruck seems like it would be possible as its stainless steel 'exoskeleton' (unibody) already provides some protection against subsonic handgun caliber bullets, which isn't really relevant beyond a novel feature when it comes to real armor, but it could be a good base. Adding additional protection may be quite easy to do considering the vehicle's big, flat (or at least close to it) panels. Anything having to do with mine resistance is probably a non-starter due to the vehicle's flat battery-laden floor/chassis that underpins it, but that wouldn't be needed for these applications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teRRk-0KHus Regardless, Cybertruck has a big cabin with seating for five and a nice bed for hauling things or attaching modules to. It can also pull a lot of weight up to 11,000 pounds. The fact that it consumes no gas would be attractive to the military that is trying to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and the logistical burden that goes with it . Cybertruck's low center of gravity is also a big plus for manned operations, limiting deadly rollover crashes. Many of the negative perceived aspects of the Cybertruck for civilian uses, such as its very rigid construction, including much negative speculation about its crash and pedestrian collision safety, unfounded or not, would not matter to the U.S. military. This is especially true for uncrewed types, but it's also true for crewed ones, too. Nor does the aforementioned cost. The fact that the Cybertruck has gone up in price considerably, and it could climb even more, is not relevant to the DoD compared to what it is getting. It is dirt cheap when it comes to Pentagon procurement dollars. In fact, Cybertruck is competitive with the basic (non-up-armored) Humvee's price tag a very austere 40-year-old design. Other supposed issues, like discoloring stainless steel panels , wheel covers that rub on its tires , or its overall size would also have no impact on military applications. Many of the same features that are ultra-relevant to a UGV Cybertruck are also relevant to a crewed military Cybertruck. The vehicle's databus and power handling system, its open architecture potential, four-wheel steering, and its sturdy design and off-road capabilities, can be improved for a military variant, to name some of them. Above all else, buying Cybertruck in a crewed configuration would be even more 'off-the-shelf' than an uncrewed one. Economies of scale by the Cybertruckload? Taken as a whole, all these attributes read like a punch list of what the U.S. military is looking for in its future vehicles, and especially UGVs. All that critical development has been paid for already by Tesla, not the DoD. This is a huge deal. Massive amounts of money have been poured into this platform by Tesla and the DoD could potentially step in to leverage all that R&D with a nearly off-the-shelf base platform. This is largely unheard of for an emerging capability set. Now for the most enticing part of all that we touched on earlier. If Cybertruck reaches full-rate production, with many thousands being built a year at whatever cost, such an exotic package of relevant technologies will be available with a vast sustainment infrastructure and continued OEM support that is built for the masses, not a boutique military contract. This is rarely the case with vehicles specifically built for the U.S. military and it would drastically lower operating costs of these vehicles in any configuration. Remember, the unit and development costs are just the cover charge for any weapon system or military vehicle. Even more money can be spent, and by a huge factor in many cases, over the life of the platform to just keep it running and improve it incrementally. Having a fleet of relatively highly advanced military vehicles that share the same platform with thousands of vehicles driving on public roads every day is just such an incredible opportunity in efficiency. As to the big question of whether Cybertruck will actually reach mass production, The War Zone asked Kyle Cheromcha, editor of TheDrive.com , and Patrick George , editor of InsideEV.com . Here are their takes: Kyle: "Tesla has spent the last four years trying to figure out how to build the Cybertruck at scale, and even though the manufacturing challenges are immense, so were those surrounding the Model 3 ramp-up six years ago. I expect it to be rocky and full of problems for at least the first two years, but ultimately achievable. The bigger question mark to me is sustained consumer demand once the early adopters get their fill." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tpcehOWB0c Patrick: "If Tesla had made a truck with a lot of these internals and specs with a 'conventional' steel/aluminum body like their other cars, I think that would've been absolute nightmare fuel for GM and Ford. But that stainless steel body is a notoriously difficult material to work with. Even Musk has tried to temper expectations around production for the Cybertruck he's said they 'dug their own grave' by choosing to go stainless. Musk is, if nothing else, the ultimate Hype Man. I don't often hear him being that circumspect." "More than likely, what we'll see are the most expensive examples of the Cybertruck rolling out slowly over the next few years, and maybe more entry-priced ones coming in 2026 or so as they get things dialed in. I think going with stainless steel was ultimately a misfire here. But Tesla's proved me wrong before. This company has a unique way of just figuring stuff out, and hitting back twice as hard when it's knocked down. I would not put it past Tesla to figure stainless steel out, somehow. That, or it will be a costly and complex mistake like the Model X's Falcon Doors were. I'm not sure I see an in-between there." Even if the Cybertruck were to not make it to high-rate civilian production, the military could step in and become the definitive customer for the platform. There is scale in that alone and price, once again, would not be such a factor considering the platform's level of pre-development the DoD could receive in return. Evolving the systems and upgrading them over time is another factor. Tesla will be doing this regardless of military interest, assuming Cybertruck sticks around for a while. The military can leverage this developmental pipeline. This also works the other way, with innovations for Cybertruck from the military side bleeding into the civilian side, when appropriate, creating virtuous, parallel innovation cycles. Of course, as it sits now, Tesla is looking at extreme demand, at least in the near term, for its most ambitious vehicle. The ability to ramp up Cybertruck production remains a key question surrounding its potential success. In other words, if the military were to become a customer, Tesla would have to ensure it would be able to support its production demands. Even the DoD exploring Cybertruck's attributes on a more limited or even experimental scale would be highly logical in the immediate term, if Tesla were willing to participate. This also is a big unknown. Would Tesla be ok with the weaponization of their vehicles? Some of Elon Musk's other companies, namely SpaceX, are heavily supported by the Department of Defense and that relationship could expand further in unique ways . The company's President, Gwynne Shotwell, even noted that they would be open to more direct weaponization of their capabilities in defense of the United States. Would Tesla be a different story? SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk poses on the red carpet of the Axel Springer Award 2020, December 1, 2020, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images) Musk famously shut down Starlink for Ukraine in areas where it was being used for offensive attacks on Russian targets in Crimea. However, this seems to have been more of a concern out of starting World War III than anything else. Musk's Starlink terminals are otherwise widely used by Ukrainian forces and the U.S. military is experimenting with it too . While turning the Cybertruck into a hardy war wagon filled with elite troops may not make sense, the future of combat is very much unmanned. Considering the Cybertruck is all about Musk's vision of the future and what it should look like, having no driver at all for a military variant and maximizing its utility without the need for creature comforts, should fit into that vision, as it should with Tesla's overreaching self-driving goals. Maybe, in the end, Tesla's greatest achievement with its controversial Cybertruck may just be that it actually built the best 'practical (sort of) to tactical' opportunity the Defense Department has been faced with in years. Contact the author: tyler@twz.com Experts have been excavating Prisoners Walk at Guernsey's Castle Cornet A team of archaeologists excavating one of the oldest parts of Castle Cornet have said they have unearthed Chinese porcelain and clay pipes. Experts excavating Prisoners Walk said they had found artefacts that could help date layers they were digging up. Phil De Jersey, States archaeologist, said the porcelain was used by the "highest of society". The dig follows Guernsey Museum's proposal to excavate the area ahead of planned surface repair works. Clay pipes show the current level worked on by the team can date back to no later than 1590. The next stages of the dig should take them into medieval times. Mr De Jersey said the area was the perfect place to search for new findings. Others from the dig include a Bellarmine jug made in Germany in the mid-17th century, two stone cannonballs and a piece of slate used as a tally. However, archaeologists are yet to locate any coins. Mr De Jersey said: "The one thing we haven't found which I would have expected is coins, people are always dropping coins even these days and things were just the same in the old days. "Coins can give a very accurate date but we haven't found a single one." Once the excavation is complete, the ground will be refilled and a new path put in to improve the accessibility of the walk way. Follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. The investigation into a Monday Galesburg fire continues. Galesburg Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 149 E. Main Street on Feb. 19, 2024, at 10:07 a.m. The structure has two businesses on the first floor, and residential units on the second and third floors. The fire was successfully extinguished, and the city continues to investigate the cause of the fire, according to a city release Wednesday. Galesburg Fire Department (galesburgfire.com) We are saddened by the loss of two pets, but very thankful that action was taken swiftly and effectively by the Fire Department, resulting in no human lives being lost, City Manager Eric Hanson said. The city continues to investigate the cause of the fire, as well as communicate daily with the property management company to ensure the needed demolition and/or repair of the structure is handled as safely as possible. Based on further investigation, fire department personnel have identified the room of origin on the third floor of the building. The third floor includes one apartment unit, and a large open space. Three people were in the third-floor apartment unit at the time of the fire, and all self-evacuated. One occupant self-transported to the hospital and was treated for smoke inhalation. All tenants from the second-floor apartments also made it out of the building safely. While the room of origin is clearly defined, officials have been unable to determine the cause of the fire at this time due to the amount of damage and instability of the structure, the city said. Fire officials have interviewed and will continue to stay in contact with the three individuals who were known to be in the involved apartment at the time of the fire. The fire cause is undetermined at this time, and the investigation remains open. The city had previously received complaints from the tenants in one unit on the second floor of the building regarding the condition of the property managed by Macomb Rentals, and owned by 61401 Galesburg, LLC. The city investigated the complaints through multiple rental inspections and provided the building owner/management company with the findings of those inspections and requested corrections. The unit which was the subject of prior complaints was not the unit in which the fire originated and was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Efforts by the property management company to remediate the complaints were ongoing. City building officials evaluated the property on the afternoon of the fire, as well as the morning after to stay abreast of the building condition and public safety. Based on those inspections, as well as inspections by the contractor hired by the building owner, it was determined the structural integrity of the building was compromised due to the weight of the water and fire damaged roof, and support beam. At that time, the property owner and property management company made the decision to apply for an emergency demolition permit through the State of Illinois, in order to demolish the very top portion of the building for safety purposes. The removal of the roof and top portion of the building does not impede or interfere with the remaining components of the fire investigation and was necessary to stabilize the building for the safety of the surrounding area. The most important factor in any fire is the safety of the occupants and firefighters battling the blaze, said Fire Chief Randy Hovind. It is certainly unfortunate that this fire occurred, for the occupants, the downtown business community, and our community as a whole. We are grateful no lives were lost, will move forward with a full investigation, and take what we can from this fire to plan for the future. The downtown building has been stabilized, and the next steps are currently being analyzed and determined by the property owner, 61401 Galesburg, LLC. The city will continue to communicate with the property owner to ensure the safety of nearby streets and sidewalks, and provide assistance as needed to further a quick and safe resolution to the fire damaged building downtown. The city will continue to keep apprised of the building condition throughout the process, as well as the associated impacts on the downtown community. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. A woman died and 24 other people were injured by gunfire after two groups of armed males arguing about why they were staring at each other led to the mass shooting at Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally a week ago, according to court documents. The documents give a glimpse into what police and prosecutors believe sparked the shooting that killed Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a Johnson County mother of two and beloved disc jockey in Kansas City. Two dozen others were injured by gunfire, and at least 18 were hurt in the stampede as people rushed from the scene and sought cover. Roughly half of those injured by gunfire were under the age of 16. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Tuesday announced that second-degree felony murder charges have been filed against Lyndell Mays, 23, of Raytown and Dominic M. Miller, 18, of Kansas City, bring the number of people charged in relation to the shooting up to five, including two teens and a Wichita man. Mays and Miller both also face two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Their bond has been set at $1 million each. The details of what led to the mass shooting were included in probable cause affidavits, which lay out why someone has been charged with a crime. The affidavits released to the public were redacted so some details, mostly names, have been blacked out. Besides interviewing witnesses, detectives reviewed surveillance video, saying it showed there were two groups involved in the shooting. Both Miller and Mays were injured by gunfire in the shooting, and were found wounded near Pershing and Kessler Roads. A black Taurus G3 9mm handgun was found near Miller, while a Glock 9mm handgun was found near Mays, according to the affidavits. Young Chiefs fans crouch down while several law enforcement officers respond to part of the shooting activity after the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII championship rally on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at Union Station. What surveillance video shows In surveillance video, Mays and a witness, identified as Witness 9, were standing near Pershing and Kessler roads when the incident started. It appeared Mays got into a verbal argument with a group of people standing several feet away, according to one affidavit. They began arguing about why they were staring at each other, a witness, the boyfriend of Witness 9, told detectives. Mays allegedly started toward the group in an aggressive manner, according to the video. Witness 9 put her hand on Mays in an attempt to stop him from going any further. Mays and the witness appeared to continue to argue with the group, according to one affidavit. At one point, Mays backed up, pointed his finger at the group and continued yelling. Miller and two others had approached Mays group, but Miller didnt go all the way up. Miller then briefly backed up and positioned himself in a crowd of people as if taking up a strategic position as he watched the argument between the two groups, according to the affidavit relating to the charges against him. Mays then circled behind someone and pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one person, whose name was redacted, according to one of the affidavits. As Mays chased the person, others from that group pulled their firearms and pointed them toward Mays and appeared to start shooting in his direction. The person running from Mays appeared to be unarmed, according one of the affidavits. Mays continued to chase the person and appeared to have fired shots. Mays then appeared to get struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. The others fled the area, according to the affidavit. Witness 9 ran up to Mays and struck him twice with her fists in an angry manner, according to the affidavit. Meanwhile, Miller had pulled out a firearm while in the crowd and pointed it at someone, whose name was also redacted. Miller chased after a person and appeared to being shooting while he was between two people in the crowd. An unidentified person from one of the groups pulled out a gun, followed Miller and then fired, striking Miller in the lower back. Miller grabbed his back and fell to the ground. The video showed that there was a large crowd of people, including Lopez-Galvan, in the direction that Miller had been shooting. Miller appeared to have tripped over a cone while shooting. Miler got back up and ran to the southeast. After gunfire broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, fans took cover and other fled the area around Union Station. One person was killed by gunfire and twenty-two others were shot and wounded, some critically. What the suspects said The Friday following the shooting, detectives went to the hospital where Miller was being treated and questioned him. Miller initially told detectives he and some friends, whose names were redacted, were at the rally, standing on the west side of the main stage when he heard gunshots. He told detectives that as he began to run, he was shot in the abdomen, according to the affidavit. After being told he had been caught on video, Miller allegedly admitted to being armed with a Taurus G3 9mm handgun. He told detectives that after hearing gunshots, he saw a Black male with dreads armed with a black handgun shooting at him. Miller said he returned fire, estimating that he fired four or five shots. Miller told detectives that he was uncertain whether he struck the person he was shooting at. Miller claimed he didnt see anyone else armed at the time of the shooting. During Lopez-Galvans autopsy, a bullet was recovered. It was determined that the bullet came from Millers firearm. That Friday, detectives also went to the hospital where Mays was being treated. Initially, Mays gave a statement that was inconsistent with the surveillance, according to the affidavit. After being told police had surveillance video, Mays allegedly changed his story and identified himself and Witness 9 in a still shot taken from the video. Mays allegedly acknowledged he pulled out his gun first and began firing at the others first. Initially, he said he didnt think he shot his gun. When told he had, Mays replied that he didnt hit anything, according to affidavit. Mays allegedly told detectives that he drew his gun first because the others could have been armed and they had said, Im going to get you. He took that as meaning, Im going to kill you, according to the affidavit. Mays allegedly said he randomly picked one of the individuals in the group to target because he was in fear of Witness 9s life. The others started shooting after he shot first, Mays told the detectives. When asked why Mays advanced toward the group to begin with, he allegedly replied: Stupid, man. Just pulled a gun out and started shooting. I shouldnt have done that. Just being stupid. Editor's note: The article previously said Canada may contribute $30 million to the Czech ammunition initiative, but the sum was corrected to $22 million. Canada may contribute up to 30 million Canadian dollars (around $22 million) to Czechia's initiative to urgently send Ukraine hundreds of thousands of artillery shells found in third countries, unnamed defense sources told the Canadian public broadcaster CBC News. Artillery shells are among the most crucial military supplies for Kyiv, as they are used daily in high numbers on the Ukrainian battlefields. Ammunition shortages are said to be a key reason for a recent Ukrainian retreat from Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast after months of fighting. Czech President Petr Pavel said at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17 that his country identified around 800,000 artillery shells in non-NATO countries that could be sent to Ukraine within weeks if provided funding from other partners. Canada has signaled that it is ready to help Czechia with the plan, but details of the cooperation are still being established, according to CBC News. Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said on Feb. 19 that Ottawa was talking to Czechia about the ammunition delivery but didn't provide any details. Read also: Zelensky in Munich: If Ukraine left alone, Russia will destroy us "I've entered into the memorandum of understanding with one of our European allies, the Czech Republic, with respect to perhaps acquiring munitions that they currently have in their possession that will enable us to ... make them available more rapidly to Ukraine as we ramp up our own production," Blair said, as cited by CBC News. The European Union conceded that it would be able to deliver only half of the promised 1 million shells by the March deadline, while defense assistance from the U.S., including artillery support, is held up by domestic political disputes. Seeing the EU failing on its promise to Kyiv, Czechia has begun pushing for jointly financing purchases of shells outside the bloc. Prague reportedly suggested that Europe could turn to arms companies in South Korea, Turkey, or South Africa. Plans to buy ammunition from outside the bloc continue to face opposition from France, Greece, and Cyprus. While Paris hopes to boost its domestic defense industry, Greece and Cyprus do not wish to buy arms from Turkish producers, given their tense relations with Ankara. Read also: Russia takes Avdiivka at steep price, as Ukraine forced to face shortcomings Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Syria condemns U.S. veto of UN resolution demanding ceasefire in Gaza Xinhua) 10:26, February 22, 2024 DAMASCUS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly criticized the United States for using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the ministry condemned the U.S. veto as "arbitrary and disgraceful," accusing the U.S. of providing political and military cover for Israel to continue its "war crimes" against Palestinians. Moreover, the ministry accused the U.S. of being hypocritical, as it claimed to support human rights while allowed the Israeli "killing machine" to continue its attacks on Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, the ministry called for the UN Security Council to take responsibility for stopping Israel's "crimes" and ensuring the protection of Palestinian lives and rights, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. During an emergency session of the UN Security Council held in New York on Tuesday, the U.S. vetoed a draft resolution put forward on behalf of Arab states by Algeria demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Algeria's draft resolution was backed by 13 out of the 15 Security Council members, while the United States vetoed against it and Britain abstained. It is the third time since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October of last year that the U.S. interfered to fail a draft resolution aimed to reach a ceasefire. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) State welfare officials want a federal judge to lift several court-imposed orders designed to improve the Texas foster care system, insisting they have complied with most of the demands at a cost of $100 million in tax dollars to reform the way it cares for abused and neglected children. The request, filed early last week by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, marks the first time the state has made any major attempt to get out from under the injunction and orders issued in the 13-year-old case. Texas has made significant progress in the all-hands-on-deck effort to improve foster care, Patrick Crimmins, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said in a statement emailed to The Texas Tribune. More than $100 million has been spent. Caseworkers are better trained, their caseloads are lower, and investigators respond more quickly to protect foster children and youth. U.S. District Judge Janis Jack, who has overseen the lawsuit filed by attorneys on behalf of some of the children in state care since it was filed, has threatened to continue monitoring DFPS foster care system for at least three more years to make sure the state doesnt backslide on a series of orders dealing with caseloads, training and the reporting of abuse and neglect by the children in its care. DFPS petition comes at a time when Jack is considering whether the agency should be held in contempt of court for the third time since the lawsuit was filed. The state insists the court has an obligation to release the agency from scrutiny in the areas where it has achieved total or near-total compliance with its obligations in this case mainly referring to the way the state handles abuse and neglect of children within the system, according to the request filed in Jacks Corpus Christi district on Feb. 13. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit at the heart of Jack's criticisms said Wednesday that theyre opposed to letting the state off the hook and will argue that the supervision continue. DFPS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission which oversees part of the system and is also involved in the lawsuit but not the DFPS request still have a mountain of work to do before the children in state care are safe again, the plaintiffs said. The states motion ignores the harsh realities for these children, said Paul Yetter, the childrens attorney. In fact, the motion barely mentions child safety. Nothing will improve until the state gets serious about fixing its broken system. The states latest argument comes as the case is expected to be scheduled for another hearing on Friday. At that hearing, the judge will try to determine whether the state purposely hid from the court the details of two serious incidents involving children in their care. One September incident, according to a report filed Tuesday by court-assigned monitors, involved a 13-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten up by other children while living in a rental house serving as a temporary group home in Temple. She often slept in the dining room of the rental home near the caseworker on duty because she was afraid to sleep in her room at night, the report said. At one point she was beaten so badly she was treated at a hospital. Her mental health deteriorated so rapidly as a result of the situation that she had a mental breakdown, bit and kicked a caseworker, and was arrested, the report said. The caseworker suffered a debilitating injury and had to be hospitalized, the report said. In a different case earlier this month, a foster care child ran away from a temporary placement in Waco and then returned, only to report that she was raped while she was on the run. Monitors reported that both incidents had details recorded in caseworker notes, but that neither were included in documents that Jack had ordered the state hand over late last year. The monitors said in the report that the only way they knew about them was from tips from unnamed stakeholders that prompted them to seek out the omitted reports. Crimmins declined to comment, citing the expected court proceedings on the issue. Throughout the course of the lawsuit, Jack has found Texas was violating the constitutional rights of foster children by exposing them to an unreasonable risk of harm. Jack made her first ruling condemning the state foster care system in 2015, and three years later, the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed. In 2018, Jack handed down an injunction along with orders to address problems. Since then, shes ordered several fixes over the years and has continuously criticized the state for not complying. She found the state in contempt in 2019 and 2020 for failing to follow her orders to fix deficiencies. At the center of the battle are the roughly 9,000 children in permanent state custody, removed from their homes due to circumstances that can include abuse at home, complex health needs that parents are unable to manage without help, or the loss of family caregivers. The state relies on long-term care facilities, hotels, churches, apartments and rental homes to house them. Children in these placements can be as young as 10 but are often teens with complex trauma and behavioral needs. Prior court hearings have revealed that some children have lived in unlicensed facilities and were supervised by a rotation of already overworked DFPS caseworkers, instead of trained medical professionals. The result was unsafe conditions rife with violence, abuse and neglect. In its most recent filings, the state says the agency has taken extraordinary measures to fix issues identified by the court, noting that those have been confirmed both by the court in recent court proceedings and in previous updates by monitors Jack assigned to track the states progress. The state points out in their recent filing that the judges 2018 orders state that either party in the lawsuit can request that the court supervision be ended in areas where they can prove that theyve met their obligations and that monitoring is no longer necessary. The order also states that the supervision can remain in effect up to three years after the state proves it has complied. DFPS lawyers argue that the agency has reached full compliance with two orders that require that caseworkers take professional development training and that supervisors be more mindful of recommended caseload guidelines when distributing more cases to employees. The state agency notes that it has also reached 90% compliance or higher in 10 other court orders designed to improve the speed and quality of child abuse and neglect investigations. Higher priority child abuse and neglect victims are now required to be interviewed in person within 72 hours of an initial report and those investigations must be completed within 60 days. Documentation for those completed investigations must be filed and the parties notified in a timely manner. And caseworkers are now notified of any abuse or neglect accusation that doesnt trigger an investigation. These improvements are clearly documented and have resulted in the states compliance with all remedial orders, Crimmins said. We believe now is the right time to narrow the scope of this litigation by moving for relief on a subset of remedial orders the state feels strongly it has fully satisfied. We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today. The San Diego Zoo announced Thursday it was taking steps to potentially welcome back giant pandas from China. The China Wildlife Conservation Association has signed a cooperation agreement with the zoo in San Diego, reigniting a years-long gesture of goodwill between the United States and China. The Associated Press noted the Chinese organization also signed a cooperation agreement with a zoo in Madrid and is in discussions with zoos in Washington, D.C., and Vienna to potentially agree to new deals surrounding panda conservation. San Diego Zoo officials told the AP two giant pandas one male and one female were set to come to the California zoo by the end of the summer if all permits and other requirements are approved. This comes about five years after the zoos last set of panda bears returned to China. A spokesperson for the zoo confirmed the APs reporting to The Hill. In a press release, the San Diego Zoo said it took an important step forward in having giant pandas return by signing the agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. We are humbled by the potential opportunity of continuing our collaborative conservation efforts to secure the future for giant pandas. As such, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking important steps to ensure we are prepared for a potential return, said Megan Owen, vice president of conservation science at the San Diego Zoo. This includes sharing our detailed conservation plans with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure alignment for the greater benefit of giant pandas, Owen said. This comes after three giant pandas in Washington, D.Cs National Zoo were sent back to China last November as a three-year extension to their stay was set to expire. Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian had been at the National Zoo since 2000 as part of the zoos Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding agreement with the China Wildfire Conservation Association. The U.S. and China have been engaged in so-called Panda diplomacy since former President Nixon brokered a deal in 1972. The National Zoo said former first lady Patricia Nixon had mentioned her fondness for giant pandas to Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai at a dinner in Beijing. Enlai later gifted the U.S. two giant pandas after Nixons visit, according to the National Zoo. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Source] China is set to send two giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, marking the East Asian nations first panda loans to the U.S. in two decades. About the new loans: San Diego Zoo officials anticipate the arrival of two pandas, a male and a female, by the end of summer, marking the zoo's renewed panda program about five years after the last pandas were returned to China in 2019. The selection process for the pandas includes considering a female descendent of former residents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. "We're very excited and hopeful," Megan Owen of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and vice president of Wildlife Conservation Science told the Associated Press. "They've expressed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to re-initiate panda cooperation starting with the San Diego Zoo." Following up on a promise: The announcement comes after Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed the possibility of sending more pandas to the U.S. as a symbol of friendship during his meeting with President Joe Biden for the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) global trade summit in San Francisco in November last year. Trending on NextShark: 240-million-year-old 'Chinese dragon' fossil discovered in southern China This decision also follows the return of pandas from the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., to China last year, ending more than 50 years of a successful giant panda conservation program. The beloved pandas initially came to the zoo in 2000 as part of a research and breeding program. We look forward to further expanding the results of scientific research on the protection of endangered species such as the giant panda through the new round of international cooperation, promoting people-to-people connectivity and enhancing civilian friendship with relevant countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news briefing in Beijing on Thursday. Panda diplomacy: China loans pandas to more than 20 countries through its "panda diplomacy" program, with Xi's recent statements seen as an effort to improve U.S.-China relations. Pandas first arrived in the U.S. in 1972, a few months after President Richard Nixons visit to China. The panda loan program has since been used for diplomatic and scientific exchange over the years. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Hearts melt as senior Singapore couple reunite with daughter, grandkids for Lunar New Year According to the China Wildlife Conservation Association, guaranteeing the well-being and safety of giant pandas residing overseas is the foremost foundation for international cooperation, regarding the upcoming panda loan to the San Diego Zoo. China recognizes the bear species as significant for political and diplomatic purposes, particularly in locations where it aims to enhance influence or foster closer relations. Conservation efforts: Other than the San Diego Zoo in California, discussions are also ongoing for potential new panda cooperation with the National Zoo in Washington and the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. According to the World Wildlife Fund, less than 2,000 giant pandas remain in the wild. The conservation efforts, both in the wild and in captivity, have contributed to saving the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population to over 1,800 in the wild and captivity. Trending on NextShark: 70-year-old grandfather from China amazes with his physique and fitness routine Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! A Chinese cyber security firm claimed it had the ability to hack the UK's Foreign Office, leaked documents suggest. UK government agencies, think tanks, businesses and charities also appear in the leaked i-Soon data. Other documents hint at successful hacks of public bodies and businesses across Asia and Europe, but it is not yet clear if any were compromised. The identity of the leaker is unknown. China's UK embassy said it was unaware of the leak, and said China "firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with the law". But Chinese police and i-Soon are reportedly investigating the data dump, according to the AP news agency. The BBC has approached the UK government for comment. Leak appears genuine i-Soon is one of many private companies that provide cyber security services for China's military, police and security services. It employs less than 25 staff at its Shanghai headquarters. The collection of 577 documents and chat logs were leaked on GitHub - an online developer platform - on 16 February. Three security researchers told the BBC the leak appeared to be genuine. The files reveal eight years of i-Soon's work to extract data and gain access to systems in the UK, France and several places in Asia - including Taiwan, Pakistan, Malaysia and Singapore. In one case, a government organisation in southwest China paid around $15,000 (11,900) to access the Vietnamese traffic police's website. In an other case, software to run a disinformation campaign on X, formerly Twitter, was priced at $100,000 (79,000). 'Boss Lu' In one undated chat log between "Boss Lu" and another unnamed user, the UK Foreign Office is revealed to be a priority target for i-Soon. The unnamed participant says they have access to a Foreign Office software vulnerability.However, Boss Lu then says to focus on another organisation because a rival contractor has been awarded the work. In another chat log, a user sends a list of UK targets to i-Soon that include the British Treasury, Chatham House and Amnesty International. "We don't have this to hand, but we can work on it," says the recipient. The pair then discuss prepayment from their client for the unspecified information on the targets. Other chat logs show that i-Soon staff discussed contracts involving Jens Stoltenberg, Nato's secretary general. Rare inside look The leaks potentially offer a rare inside look into a "commercially-fuelled, high-stakes intelligence operation," says John Hultquist, chief analyst at Mandiant Intelligence. The data shows how the contractors serve "not only one agency, but multiple agencies at once," he adds. Experts say there could be many motives behind the data leak. It could be a disgruntled former employee, a foreign intelligence agency, or a malicious leak by a competitor to undermine i-Soon's public credibility. The workings of China's cyber espionage campaign have been reported on extensively, but this leak shines light on the unusual way in which the private sector is involved in those campaigns. It is unlikely that the outcome of investigations by the Chinese authorities will ever be made public says Dakota Cary, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub. Reporting by Joshua Cheetham, Daniele Palumbo and Gordon Corera BBC Verify logo By Gerry Doyle SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China's AVIC displayed its Z-10 attack helicopter for the first time outside its home country at the Singapore Airshow - the only non-Western design on display in a year in which no Russian defence companies were in attendance. The model has only one known export customer, Pakistan, and no sales have been announced so far at the air show, where the trade portion ends on Friday. "The Z-10 may appeal to some of those countries that don't have access to U.S. defence technology," said Douglas Barrie of the International Institute of Strategic Studies. "After-sales logistics and maintenance support would be a challenge, given Beijing's relative inexperience in this area." AVIC representatives at the air show declined to comment. The helicopter, which has a chin-mounted chain gun and was displayed alongside several types of compatible missiles and rockets, sat not far from a Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, operated by the Singaporean military and those of many other U.S. allies. Experts said it was not likely to compete with the Apache, or many of the rotary-wing offerings at the air show, including those of Bell Helicopters, Airbus and others. "The performance and capabilities of this platform would certainly make it of interest for export," said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. "A key capability gap would be a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) type capability to allow the Z-10 crew to control UAVs and loitering munitions. ... The experience being gained in Ukraine suggests that attack helicopter and armed reconnaissance helicopter operations over a future battlespace will depend increasingly on a MUM-T capability." The performance and capabilities of the Z-10 have not been made public, but Chinese state media outlet Global Times reported it had "outstanding flight performance, low-air maneuverability, firepower, survivability, ergonomics and reliability". A representative of a European defence company said possible customers for the Z-10 could include Myanmar and countries in Southeast Asia that already use other Chinese-made equipment. Davis agreed, noting that U.S. export restrictions could also affect purchasing decisions. Airbus said this week that it expected countries in the Asia-Pacific region to add 1,500 military helicopters of all types over the next decade. "I imagine likely purchaser candidates would be states on friendly relations with Beijing - Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and perhaps Malaysia - but do they have a requirement for this sort of capability?" Davis said. (Reporting by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Jamie Freed) The number of Chinese migrants being encountered in a key sector of the southern border is exceeding that of Mexican nationals, a trend ongoing for years that has renewed national security concerns. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data obtained by Fox News shows that Chinese nationals are the second-largest nationality encountered at the border in San Diego Sector since the fiscal year began in October. There have been 21,000 Chinese nationals encountered, second only to Colombia (28,000). Third is Mexican nationals with 18,700, followed by Brazil (8,700) and Ecuador (7,700). Other countries of origin include Turkey, Guinea, India, Guatemala and Peru. 7.2M ENTERED THE US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES Chinese migrants speak to a Border Patrol officer before being processed after they crossed the Rio Grande into the U.S. on May 5, 2022, in Roma, Texas. Fox reported this week that between Saturday and Monday there were 452 Chinese nationals apprehended by Border Patrol in the San Diego Sector alone more than the entirety of FY 2021 across the whole border. The number of Chinese nationals has been increasing since fiscal 2021. In fiscal 2022, numbers increased to more than 2,000 border-wide. In fiscal 2023, that number then surged to more than 24,314. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP CHINESE MIGRANTS POURING ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER SPARK NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS Its an increase that has raised national security concerns from both Republican lawmakers and border officials noting that China is a geopolitical foe and raises the specter of a potential avenue for espionage. Brandon Judd, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents all rank-and-file Border Patrol agents nationwide, told Fox News last week that the majority of the Chinese border-crossers are single adult males of military age. "That is a very scary prospect. We know that China does not like us, we know that we are in the crosshairs of China," Judd said. Immigration activists have also noted that China is a country with a repressive government and from which citizens would naturally try to flee and seek asylum. CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ON PACE TO BREAK RECORDS AT US SOUTHERN BORDER But China is also one of a number of special-interest countries, from which nationals are supposed to see extra vetting by authorities. San Diego has seen many nationals from those countries. Fox reported this week on CBP data that shows thousands of nationals from Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have arrived at the border in the San Diego Sector. Overall, more than 140,000 illegal immigrants have been encountered in the sector since October. Border-wide, there have been more than 961,000 migrant encounters this fiscal year after a record-setting 2.4 million in fiscal 2023. December saw a record 301,000 encounters, followed by a sharp drop to 176,000 in January. Original article source: Chinese migrants eclipse Mexican nationals in key southern border sector Forty-two people recently applied to be Topeka's next city manager, up from the 40 candidates who applied during the city's last such search, which ended in 2022 with the hiring of Stephen Wade. Prior to Wade, the city hired Brent Trout from among 28 candidates in 2017; Jim Colson from among 49 in 2012; and Norton Bonaparte Jr. from among 30 in 2006. The city stopped accepting applications Feb. 13 for the open city manager's job, which will pay at least $235,000 a year, according to an ad the city posted online seeking candidates. Wade was paid $200,000 a year. Former Ottawa city manager Richard U. Nienstedt has since served as Topeka's interim city manager while being paid $2,000 a week, the equivalent of $104,000 a year. Topeka's mayor and city council spent two and a half hours late Tuesday meeting behind closed doors in executive session to talk about applicants for city manager, then adjourned without taking any action. Mayor Mike Padilla and the council have set some goals for their next steps, which Padilla and Nienstedt plan to talk about at their monthly news conference Tuesday, said Rosie Nichols, co-interim communications director for the city. Topeka's mayor and city council, shown here, are in the process of choosing Topeka's next long-term city manager. What did the city's ad say? An ad the city posted as part of its search for its next city manager said it seeks an experienced, visionary leader with the "creativity and calculation" to advance the organization and the community. "The next City Manager will continually demonstrate a dedication to public service and a strong commitment to the City's mission, vision and values," it said. "An ethical, inclusive, fair and open-minded manager, the ideal candidate is an energetic and charismatic leader eager to build upon the City's confidence and momentum in pursuing sustainable growth and economic development." Applicants must have a master's degree in public administration, political science, business management or a closely related field, the ad added. What do council members say? Four of the nine council members, while mounting successful election campaigns last year, talked with The Capital-Journal about what they're looking for in Topeka's next city manager. "The city manager should be qualified for city manager duties including transparency and accountability," said District 4 Councilman David Banks. Feedback from the community is "vital" as the mayor and council consider candidates, he said. "Open listening sessions and online forms can increase the accessibility for citizens to have their voice heard in the process," Banks said. "This will better equip the council to make an informed decision that benefits the community as a whole." District 6 Councilman Marcus D.L. Miller described the hiring of the next city manager as being a "critical decision." "I will prioritize a candidate with a proven track record of transparent leadership, fiscal responsibility and a commitment to community engagement," he said. "Public input will be essential in this process, ensuring that our next city manager aligns with the values and priorities of District 6 residents, and the Topeka community at-large. I would prefer a long-term resident for that position." District 8 Councilman Spencer Duncan also said it's important for citizens to play a role. "I will look to them to tell me what they expect from the next city manager, what qualifications they are looking for and what qualities they want in this person," he said. "I believe citizens want a city manager who will take time to participate in the community and listen to where they want resources prioritized." Duncan said he was looking forward to working with Topekans to choose the next city manager. District 2 Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala said she's looking for someone who will be interested, engaged and committed to Topeka, and able to understand and work with staff, neighborhoods, businesses and the mayor and council. "One of the main criteria for the next city manager must be the person's seasoned capacity to handle the stressors of the position," she said. Valdivia-Alcala also stressed the importance of getting community input in choosing a manager. "The next city manager needs to understand the real needs of Topeka and all its residents," she said. "And the city manager must be committed to work towards city improvements with the realization of the deep climate change shifts happening." What's happened with Topeka's past long-term city managers? Norton Bonaparte Jr. was hired as Topeka's first long-term city manager in 2006, after Topekans voted in November 2004 to implement a city council-manager form of government. Bonaparte was terminated in 2011 amid a controversy over the way he dealt with the theft of scrap metal by four city employees. Jim Colson was hired in 2012. He resigned in 2016, saying he had been away too long from his wife in Arizona and needed to return home to "full-time husband status." Brent Trout was hired in 2017. He resigned at the end of 2021, saying he and his wife were moving east to be closer to family, including grandchildren. Wade was hired in 2022. He was fired last July after what a city spokeswoman said was an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: City of Topeka has received 42 applications to be next city manager EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The City of El Paso is inviting the community to celebrate the unveiling of a new mural at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the citys Women, Infants and Children (WIC) center located in the Segundo Barrio neighborhood. The new mural, which was created by local artist Adrian Lopez, was created to enhance the historical, cultural and aesthetic appearance of the building to that of the neighborhood, according to the city. The city says the new mural also mural adds cultural character, encompassing the City of El Pasos downtown revitalization efforts. It also aligns with the Texas WICs branding standardization efforts. In addition to the remarks and unveiling of the mural, festivities include pan dulce from Bowie Bakery and aguas frescas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. (KRON) David Kyle Lubkin, 30, of Concord, has been convicted of first-degree murder, and after more than three years of investigation, has been sentenced to 50 years to life for the 2019 murder of 19-year-old Ezequiel Garcia. One person shot in apparent robbery in Oakland The murder occurred in September 2019, when Garcia met with Lubkin for the purchase of a gold necklace originally listed on Craigslist, said Assistant District Attorney Brian Staebell in a press release on Wednesday. Upon meeting at the Petaluma Outlets, Lubkin recognized Garcia from a previous deal, and confronted the 19-year-old with a privately made firearm. Garcia tried to drive away, but Lubkin fatally shot him, Staebell said. Police were able to arrest Lubkin with the help of two cooperative eye witnesses, and several weeks of investigation before arresting Lobkin, Petaluma Police said. Judge Passaglia imposed the maximum punishment allowable by law, finding no reason to limit the punishment given the absence of any remorse shown by the defendant, Passaglia said. He also called it a callous shooting to death of an unarmed man fleeing [] Because it insulted your ego. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Laura Passaglia, a commissioner for the Sonoma County Superior Court in California, described the shooting as the ultimate act of violence, and, as senseless a murder as they come. Lubkin had the opportunity to make a statement expressing remorse or explaining his actions during Wednesdays court hearing, but he said nothing, Staebell said in Wednesdays press release. Sonoma County district attorney Carla Rodriguez stated, Mr. Lubkins well-planned murder has caused immeasurable harm to Mr. Garcias family. I hope that this entirely appropriate sentence helps them in some small way to move forward in their lives. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Senate, the White House, and the Republican-controlled House are caught in a three-way standoff over policy changes and funding at the southern border. President Joe Biden announced this week that he is willing to sit down with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) if it means getting more aid to Ukraine. Speaker Johnson, and House Republicans, are demanding tougher border security policies in exchange for their support for the Senate passed foreign aid package. This was a terrible bill, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said. Cruz says he didnt vote for the Senates bill because it failed to secure the southern border. This bill number one would not have fixed the problem, Senator Cruz said. But number two, it would have made it worse. Cruz, and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), say it is now up to House Republicans to pass a better bill. My hope is that Speaker Johnson will take H.R. 2, which was the tough border security package that the House already passed, and attach that to the supplemental, Cornyn said. But that plan is a long shot, as the House bill would need to go back to the Democrat-controlled Senate for final approval and Senate Democrats have been clear that they do not support H.R. 2. The White House says if Republicans were serious about addressing the border, they wouldnt have left for a two-week recess. In a memo released Wednesday, the White House slammed Speaker Johnson for not calling Congress back to Washington to negotiate a package. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller says part of the Presidents urgency to strike a deal is because Ukraine needs funding now. It is critical that Congress act without further delay, Miller said. It is now more clear than ever what the stakes are in Ukraine. Without more support from Congress, Ukraine will not be able to replenish its air defenses and ammunition supplies to help protect itself from Russias aggression. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Doppelgangers, specters, and mirrored realities all play a central role in Constellation, yet more pedestrian elements like interesting characters and intriguing storytelling are sadly missing from Apple TV+ latest serialized series, which premiered Feb. 21. A turgid sci-fi saga whose mystery is obvious from the outsetor, at least, from the moment the show stops dawdling about with its protracted prologueits a head-scratcher only in the sense that its difficult to imagine why anyone thought that this tale required eight hours when it could have been handled by a two-hour feature. When streaming services inevitably start cutting back on original productions, meandering and mundane ventures such as this will be first on the chopping block. Aboard the International Space Station, astronaut Jo (Noomi Rapace) FaceTimes with her daughter Alice (Rosie and Davina Coleman), giving her a tour of the zero-gravity environment shes called home for the past year. At the moment Jo turns her camera toward comrade Paul (William Catlett), he activates a top-secret experimental NASA gizmo known as the CAL (for Cold Atomic Lab) and the ISS is suddenly struck by an unknown object that wreaks havoc on its life support systems. Since Jo was already scheduled to embark on a spacewalk that day, she heads outside and locates the cause of their calamity: a desiccated corpse in an orange USSR cosmonaut suit from decades earlier. This is totally inexplicable, and to make matters worse for Jo, there are no cameras capturing this discovery, and the body floats away before she can corral it to show to others. During this disaster, Paul is fatally injured, and with just one working escape capsule, Joe sends her fellow astronauts back to Earth and stays aboard the ISS to fix the remaining pod. As she endeavors to get herself off the station, Jo sees and hears various incomprehensible things (some involving Paul). Shes also ordered to recover the CAL by Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks), the chief scientific consultant at Rocket Propulsion Laboratories, whos convinced that during its few seconds of operation, the device succeeded in finding a new form of matter. Constellation spends the majority of its first one and a half episodes watching Jo tinker with batteries and cables in an effort to depart the ISS, thereby immediately establishing that showrunner Peter Harness narrative has been distended to laughable lengths. The fact that this footage is occasionally broken up by five-weeks-later action on Earth does little to mitigate its torpor. In those future passages, Jo and Alice venture into the dark snowy Swedish woods. Along this trek, Jo listens to static-y astronaut recordings on a Fisher Price tape deck that will figure prominently into the ensuing proceedings, and she hearsand then comes face-to-face withanother Alice in a flip-side version of the cabin at which theyre residing. This is the beginning of hours upon hours of hearing Alice cry out Mamma! while making a sad face that is her sole expression. Though this ghostly stuff is initially perplexing, everything comes into focus in rather short order, what with Jo telling Alice that she doesnt smell like she used to, and Alice remarking that her mom seems different, and Jos husband Magnus (James DArcy) acting more than a bit surprised by his spouses warmth toward him. Noomi Rapace Apple TV+ (Warning: Spoilers ahead.) Between these numerous baffling developments, as well as incessant shots of characters doubled in mirrors, comments about the world being upside-down, strange encounters with alternate loved ones, and Henry providing a handy primer on quantum physicsand its contention that two objects, one light and one dark, can be in the same place at the same timeits quickly clear that Constellation is a work of multiverse fiction. Nonetheless, it strives to confound viewers by endlessly teasing this fact, including via sequences that concern Henrys brother Bud (also Banks), a former astronaut bitter about a decades-old space disaster that he survived but which took the life of his colleagues, and which a reporter continues to claim is an event about which Bud is lying. Given that Henry is also a former astronaut who experienced a similar return-to-Earth incident except minus the fatalities, its easy to put two and two together and deduce the actual nature of their relationship. Jonathan Banks Apple TV+ Rapace looks haunted, frantic, and shaken throughout, yet Jo is never an engaging protagonist; shes merely one of several pawns that Constellation asks us to care about without first providing an adequate reason to do so. Banks is undercut by the shows early need to keep Henrys fundamental condition a secret, which means hes simply an opaque and somewhat downcast guy yelling about the CAL and its habit of producing results that he alone is capable of witnessing. In its back half, the material gives him more colorful things to do, but by that point everything has become such a slog that its far too little, too late. The rest of the cast, meanwhile, are rendered in one dimension, with Magnus the wet-noodle spouse whos always one step behind everyone else, and Alice the mopey little girl whos always hiding in cupboards (of which there are so, so many). Constellation is all about the liminal space between two distinct-yet-conjoined realities, and also about setting up rules (i.e., this quantum-physics phenomenon happens to astronauts) and then violating them without explanation (namely, adolescent Alice can also view and visit both worlds). More frustrating than its inconsistency, however, is its lethargy. Every other scene is superfluous, and the slowness with which it builds out its drama is so egregious that it comes across as a case study in time-padding. Whole episodes could be excised without any appreciable effect on the overall story, whose convolutions are less mystifying than is the decision to spend this much energy on them. Even once it stops playing coy and gets down to business, it winds up making little sense, delivering twists that only raise additional questions about how any of this works, what caused it to happen, and why we should care. At the end, it hints at a Season 2 with more answers, but in light of this debut runs dullness, that ultimately feels like cold comfort. 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. In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, ships sail near broken Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. Few people are dead and missing after a massive container ship crashed into the bridge south of the city of Guangzhou in southern China early Thursday, causing a section of the bridge to come crashing down along with vehicles. (Lu Hanxin/Xinhua via AP) BEIJING (AP) Five people died after a large container ship hit support pillars for a bridge over a river in southern China early on Thursday, sending a section of the roadway and five vehicles crashing down. Three small trucks, a bus and a scooter fell off the bridge south of the city of Guangzhou, authorities said. The bus, the scooter and one of the trucks landed inside the empty ship, and the other two trucks fell into the water. One side of the ship hit a bridge support and then the bow hit another pillar, causing a section of the bridge deck to collapse, authorities said, blaming it on improper operation by the crew. The collapse of the Lixinsha Bridge also cut off water and access to an island that is home to about 8,000 people, mostly farmers, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Temporary water lines and a ferry service were set up for residents. The bridge crosses a waterway near the mouth of the Pearl River, inland from Hong Kong. The area is one of Chinas biggest manufacturing and transport hubs and contains two of the worlds five busiest ports, according to the World Shipping Council. The dead included the driver of the bus, that of the scooter and three people in the trucks that went into the river, city officials said at a late afternoon news conference. There were no passengers on the bus. Two other people were treated at a hospital for injuries and were in stable condition. A crew member on the ship had minor injuries. Authorities detained the owner of the ship, according to Chinese media. Officials said that reinforcement work, including collision guards around some of the bridge's pillars had been completed in 2022. Earlier reports said the work had been delayed, but officials explained that the project involved several bridges and the delays did not affect the Lixinsha Bridge. Brian Walshe's years of stall tactics and deception in a federal art fraud case cost him more than the 37-month prison sentence imposed on Tuesday; his entire lavish lifestyle went up in flames. Walshe, now 49, pleaded guilty in 2011 to selling bogus Andy Warhol paintings and was "moments away" from getting a lenient deal - in part because of his wife Ana's letter of support - that would've included no prison time, according to the 173-page sentencing memo. But the proceeding came to a screeching halt when federal investigators ultimately uncovered about $2 million worth of assets that Brian hid to avoid paying restitution, prosecutors wrote in the sentencing memo. "(Walshe) has added to his litany of deceptive and false conduct, this time attempting to deceive the court itself," according to prosecutors. "And it further illustrates the brazenness of his crimes, as he attempted to mislead the very body about to pronounce judgment on him. And his obstruction shows that his claims of being rehabilitated are simply not true." BRIAN WALSHE IS CALCULATED GUY WHO LACKS EMPATHY, ART SCAM VICTIM SAYS Brian Walshe seen at Quincy District Court in connection to his wife, Ana Walshe's. disappearance. Over the next three years, as his and his wife's assets were scrutinized, Walshe was on house arrest as part of his pre-sentencing probation. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP He was confined to their Cohasset, Massachusetts, home while he believed his wife, a real estate executive splitting time in Washington, D.C., was cheating on him with a man in the nation's capital, according to court filings in the murder case. ANA WALSHE MURDER: HUSBAND BRIAN WALSHE THREW OUT HACKSAW WITH POTENTIAL KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE: DOCS The home confinement, coupled with the seemingly never-ending case, strained Brian and Ana's marriage, prosecutors argued in court documents, until he allegedly beat her to death on New Year's Day and disposed of her body. He allegedly made dozens of disturbing Google searches, including, "How long before a body starts to smell" and "How to stop a body from decomposing," according to court documents. Brian and Ana Walshe raise a toast on their wedding day in the lounge of L'Espalier in Boston, Massachusetts on Monday, December 21, 2015. The pending murder trial, which is scheduled to resume on March 4, was addressed in the sentencing memo. "The conduct underlying (Brian Walshe's) obstruction of justice is troubling," prosecutors wrote. "At the same time, it should not distract from the real issue: (Brian Walshe's) years long scheme of fraud, which had devastating consequences for the victims. SUSPECTED WIFE KILLER BRIAN WALSHE DODGES ONE LEGAL BULLET AS MURDER CASE WAITS FOR DNA "In this light, the defendant's misleading of the Court is an extension of his criminal conduct (although all the more brazen in that he attempted to deceive the Court) (and) the simple fact that he misled the Court refutes his claim of rehabilitation." The 37 months in prison will be followed by three years of supervised release and will run at the same as any potential state sentence he may face after the murder trial. He was also ordered pay restitution of $475,000. His lawyer, Tracy Miner, argued for time served with three years of supervised release, which was agreed upon in 2021, before the hidden finances came to light. She said her client was gathering the necessary information about his father's estate when "his wife went missing, and he was subsequently arrested and held without bail." UPDATED DETAILED TIMELINE OF ANA WALSHE'S DISAPPEARANCE AND BRIAN WALSHE'S ARREST "Rather than request additional time and judicial process to obtain the necessary documents, given the pending state court charges against him, on the advice of counsel, Mr. Walshe hereby invokes his fifth amendment privilege with respect to providing any additional financial statements to this Court," Miner wrote in her sentencing memo. Miner was representing Walshe in the murder case, but she withdrew in mid-December because he couldn't afford to pay her anymore. Walshe defrauded three victims - a California art dealer, a Paris man and a former friend in South Korea - during the Warhol scam. He was about to get away with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the latter two victims, until the U.S. art dealer, Ron Rivlin, filed a formal complaint with the FBI. The unnamed victim from France said he met Walshe in Paris in 2015, when he convinced him to buy what Walshe portrayed as two legitimate Warhol paintings for $145,000. BRIAN WALSHE HIRED PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, SUSPECTED WIFE ANA WALSHE WAS CHEATING: PROSECUTOR Thinking it was a sound investment, he convinced his dad to loan him the money to buy the paintings, according to a victim impact statement included in the sentencing memorandum. He never got the money back, and he said his 63-year-old father "has no other choice but to put back his retirement age for another 10 years since his hard-earned savings are now in tatters." "Today this dramatic financial situation also matches our disastrous personal situation," the victim wrote. "My father is still resentful, and we don't talk anymore." One of the victims of Brian Walshe's federal art fraud, who was unnamed, wrote this victim impact statement. This is part 1 of 2. One of the victims of Brian Walshe's federal art fraud, who was unnamed, wrote this victim impact statement. This is part 2 of 2. Rivlin told Fox News Digital after Walshe's sentencing that it "marks a moment of accountability for the art fraud committed, but it pales in comparison to the profound tragedy of a far more grievous crime." "The sentencing brings a measure of justice for those of us affected by the fraud, yet our thoughts remain with the family enduring an irreplaceable loss," he said, referring to Brian and Ana's three young children. EXCLUSIVE: ANA WALSHE'S KIDS CAN HOPEFULLY 'FIND PEACE," SAYS COLLIER LANDRY, WHOSE MOM WAS MURDER BY HIS DAD "The true gravity of this situation lies with the sorrow of three children left orphaned, overshadowing any victory we might claim." None of that seemed to matter, according to Rivlin and the sentencing memo. Ana Walshe holds her three children in an October 2022 Instagram post. Ana Walshe takes a selfie with one of her sons in a September 2022 Instagram post. Rivlin told Fox News Digital during an interview last January, after Walshe was charged with his wife's murder, that the conman was "a calculated guy" who "lacks basic empathy." That was backed by prosecutors' interviews with other people who knew or were victimized by Walshe. "Victims noted skills that Walshe used to con them, including his likability, communication, his reassurance . Walshe orchestrated a long, complicated fraud over many years of this period. In fact, he took advantage of these very traits to ensnare his victims," according to prosecutors. Federal prosecutors uncovered his wife's assets (which included retirement accounts, a Maserati and a Fiat), $650,000 his mother gave him for legal fees and his late father's estate that Walshe allegedly stole by destroying the will and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his estate. That turned into a contentious legal bout that dragged on for years in Plymouth County Probate Court unti the case was dismissed last fall "at both parties' request." At that time, all his accounts were frozen, and the plaintiffs felt they weren't going to get the money back. "It will be a useless waste of estate funds to pay legal fees in a trial," according to the motion to dismiss. "Even if they are successful on the petition, it will only cost the estate and not result in the return of funds taken by Brian Walshe." Original article source: Convicted con-artist accused of killing his wife publicly excoriated for 'litany of deception' spanning years Yeah, its bad, but is it Showgirls bad? Showgirls carries the dubious so bad its good distinction of featuring so much unintentional hilarity that its worth a look. Madame Web (IMDb) Madame Web, on the other hand, isnt quite up that standard, although it does provide a lot of unintentional laughter. The story never becomes cohesive. The dialogue is ridiculous. And the CGI looks more CGI-ish than in most super-hero movies and thats saying a lot. This, incidentally, is a Sony/Marvel production, and not an MCU presentation. The movie begins in the Amazon, where a scientist (Cassandra Webbs mother) is on a trip to research you guessed it spiders. Then the film jumps to 2003. Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in New York City. Her good friend is Ben Parker (Adam Scott) and yes, thats a Spidey reference. After a terrifying accident, Cassie discovers she can see into the near future, so shes able to avoid disaster and help keep those around her safe, too. During her adventure, she becomes a kind of surrogate mom to three teenagers (one of them is Sydney Sweeney) who all have super powers, too. Of course theres a villain (Tahar Rahim,) who was involved in a tragedy connected to Cassies late mother. He, too, has a kind of clairvoyance, and fears the young women at whose hands he may meet his demise. Theres a lot of nonsense about a group of spider-people in the Amazon. This is particularly frustrating because we never learn the back story of these characters and theyre the most interesting part of the film. Its no wonder that memes mocking this movie are making their way across social media. Its plot, its dialogue, its characters all are threadbare in this ridiculous Spidey spinoff. 1 star Rated: PG-13 for violence. Running time: One hour and 57 minutes. In theaters. Watch the trailer here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Its wildly sentimental, unashamedly sweet, and thoroughly entertaining. Youd better take a tissue to Ordinary Angels, a true story about faith and hope that will touch the hardest of hearts. Ordinary Angels (IMDb) The story is set in the 1990s. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank stars as Sharon (based on the real-life Sharon Stevens Evans,) a hard-drinking hairdresser we first see having multiple shots in a bar. Sharons friend and business partner is so worried about Sharons drinking that she takes her to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, where Sharon proudly and erroneously announces she is not an alcoholic. Later on, Sharon learns about a 3-year-old girl named Michelle in her Louisville, Kentucky, community who needs a liver transplant. Sharon takes a brave step: She shows up to meet the childs family, including the girls father, Ed (Alan Ritchman, Reacher,) who is puzzled by the sudden attention from this slightly annoying stranger. Later, Sharon decides to raise some money for the family, and returns, this time with donations of cash, at their home. Little by little, Sharon becomes part of the family, helping Michelle and her older sister come to terms with the death of their mother and helping Ed get a handle on his finances. To tell you more about what unfolds might spoil it for you. What I can tell you is that youll see here why Swank earned an Academy Award, and how beautifully she carries this movie as she inhabits its central character in every scene. I love the themes of redemption for various characters throughout the film. Also, the movie uses contemporary tunes to great effect here, especially in a sequence with R. E. M.s Losing My Religion. Its well-written, with terrific performances. This is an uplifting movie about people who find faith, and a community that comes together with hope. 3 stars Rated: PG for scenes about drinking and death. Running time: One hour and 56 minutes. At Cinemark, Davenport; and Palms 10, Muscatine. Watch the trailer here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. The death of a non-binary high school student in Oklahoma earlier this month after a fight in the girls bathroom was not caused by trauma, authorities said. In an investigation update issued late Wednesday afternoon, the Owasso Police Department said Nex Benedict, 16, did not die as a result of trauma, according to preliminary information from the medical examiners office. A complete autopsy was performed, the update said, but any further comments on the cause of death are currently pending until toxicology results and other ancillary testing results are received. The official autopsy report will be available at a later date, according to Owasso cops. A Dead Non-Binary Teen and a School Boss Cruel Transphobia On Feb. 7, Nex, a gender-fluid sophomore at Owasso High School, was in the girls restroom with a trans classmate. While inside, the two had a confrontation with a trio of older girls, which escalated into a brief tussle. By the time other students and a staff member broke it up, Nex was lying on the floor. All students involved in the altercation walked under their own power to the assistant principals office and nurses office, the investigation update states. School administrators began taking statements from the students present in the restroom and began contacting parents/guardians of the students involved in the physical altercation. Each of the students involved in the altercation was given a health assessment by a registered nurse at the school and it was determined that ambulance service was not required. However, the police statement says, the school nurse recommended that Nex visit a medical facility for further examination. Nexs face was battered when their grandmother arrived to pick them up at school, according to The Independent. Nex was suspended for two weeks. Details about the other students involved, all juveniles, have not been made available, due to confidentiality laws. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02gG82gZwd9xmtc59vG4VxM6hhmvKmupo3XcvxbhVshYGp6GSEykMgqx8jecnR62Pkl&id=100064599824990 They had been bullying me and my friends and I got tired of it so I poured some water on them and all 3 came after me, Nex reportedly texted a family member that night. School did not report it and is probably going to getting [sic] sued. Nex, who told their grandmother their head was aching, went to bed listening to music. They woke up on Feb. 8, as normal, then suddenly collapsed. Nexs grandmother called 911, and an ambulance took them to the St. Francis Pediatric Emergency Room, where they later died, the police investigation update states, without providing further information. ... This investigation is ongoing. Owasso Police said on Tuesday that detectives have been interviewing school staff and students over the past two weeks and in turn will be submitting our investigation to the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office for prosecution review. A funeral for Nex was held on Feb. 15, with local police and members of Bikers Against Child Abuse providing an escort from the funeral home to the cemetery. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who signed an anti-trans bathroom bill into law two years ago, did not attend. 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. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton speaks, alongside Michigan State Police Lieutenant Kim Vetter, center, and Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, during a press conference to announce criminal charges filed against a Flint father, after his 2-year-old daughter accidentally shot herself, held in the 67th District Court in downtown Flint, Mich., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Under Michigan's new "safe storage" laws, this is the first criminal complaint filed. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe/The Flint Journal via AP) A Michigan man is the first person to face charges under the state's new law requiring gun owners to keep weapons in locked storage containers around minors. The case is bringing attention to similar state laws across the U.S. and prosecutors' determination of when to bring criminal charges using them. The debate is particularly sharp in Michigan, where prosecutors in another county recently secured the first conviction in the U.S. against a parent of a child who committed a mass school shooting. WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE? Authorities said this week that Michael Tolbert failed to secure a revolver and his 2-year-old daughter accessed it and critically injured herself. The 44-year-old man faces nine felony charges, including first-degree child abuse and violation of Michigans gun storage law. The girl was shot the day after Michigan's new law on gun storage around kids took effect. Genesee County prosecutors have said a plea of not guilty has been entered for Tolbert. Online court records say he is represented by the county's office of the public defender. A representative for the office said Thursday that Tolbert would be assigned an attorney but had not yet met with his defense. WHY DID MICHIGAN PASS ITS LAW? Michigan Democrats created a broad package of legislative proposals on guns in 2021, a response to a 15-year-old opening fire at his high school in Oxford Township and killing four classmates. But they couldn't pass the proposals until taking full control of the Legislature from Republicans in 2022. A second mass shooting on the Michigan State University campus last February helped push the measures through to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The storage law requires gun owners to keep unloaded firearms in a locked storage box or container when it is reasonably known that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises. It also set several levels of potential prison time or fines, with higher penalties if a child uses an unsecure gun, hurts themself or someone else, or kills themself or someone else. The law makes some exceptions, including supervised use or acting in self defense. IS MICHIGANS LAW RARE? Including Michigan, 21 U.S. states have laws permitting criminal charges against people who fail to keep a gun inaccessible to a minor, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. But the laws often described as child access prevention vary. In some states, the law only applies if the gun is fired. Others are stricter and apply even if the gun doesn't fire or harm someone. State storage laws also define minor differently. In some, teenagers older than 14 would not be considered a minor. ARE PROSECUTIONS COMMON? There's little comprehensive data nationally. Some prosecutors have said it is an unnecessary punishment, especially after a child dies. Others see it as a way to encourage other gun owners to lock weapons away from kids. A 2017 investigation by the USA Today Network and The Associated Press found prosecutors brought charges about half the time from 2014 to 2016 in which children under age 12 either killed themselves or were mistakenly shot and killed by another child. The review analyzed reports from all states, not just those with laws requiring certain types of gun storage. The review also found that the circumstances often didn't seem to matter when comparing cases that resulted in charges to those that did not. But in nearly all cases where the gun owner had a felony record, prosecutors did pursue charges. Michigan prosecutors have said Tolbert was barred from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple firearms-related felony convictions and drug-related convictions. In another high-profile U.S. case, the Virginia mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher initially faced charges of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly storing a firearm. Prosecutors dropped the storage charge as part of a plea deal. Erin Davis, senior counsel director of litigation at the anti-gun violence organization Brady, said laws aimed at gun storage are educational tools, not a punishment. It's really analogous to requiring children to be in car seats or to wear seat belts, Davis said. The goal is to change behavior to save lives. Kelly Drane, research director at the Giffords Law Center, agreed. While we dont have hard data on this, lack of prosecutions doesnt preclude the law from working it still sets a cultural standard that can help encourage more responsible behavior, Drane said. CAN PARENTS FACE OTHER CHARGES? Even in states without laws on gun storage or kids' access, prosecutors have other options to criminally charge parents or caregivers. Michigan's most prominent example is the involuntary manslaughter charges filed against James and Jennifer Crumbley after their son killed four of his high school classmates in 2021. Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty this month, the first time a U.S. parent was held responsible for a child carrying out a mass school attack. James Crumbley faces trial in March. He has pleaded not guilty. Experts have agreed the circumstances of that case are extreme. Prosecutors argue the Crumbleys made a gun accessible to their son, ignored his deteriorating mental health and didn't take him home when school officials called them to the building to show the teen's parents his concerning drawings the day of the attack. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy whose jurisdiction includes Detroit and is the most populated in Michigan has routinely brought charges of child abuse or involuntary manslaughter against parents after their children have killed or wounded themselves or others with an unsecured gun. The latest charges were filed in December against the mother and father of a 5-year-old boy killed who was shot in the face. Detroit Police Chief James White told reporters the boy found the gun on top of a dresser and was jumping on a bed when it fired. Worthy said it's easier to prove a violation of the new law beyond a reasonable doubt compared to prosecuting other potential charges in such cases. But it's impossible to know whether the laws or the charges push more people to secure their guns, she said. We can't measure a negative, Worthy said, but she hopes that bringing attention to the laws will be more of a deterrent. RALEIGH In July of last year, the Census Bureau estimated that some 10.8 million people resided in our state. One of the fastest-growing in the country, North Carolinas population ranks ninth, just below Georgias population of 11 million. More generally, Southern states accounted for almost 90% of Americas net population increase last year, with migration into Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas driving most of the regions growth. More: Pitts: Fayetteville metro a half-million strong ... no, really Theres a robust debate about why this is so. Ive participated in the debate myself, long arguing that freer states defined as having smaller governments, lower tax and regulatory burdens, and greater choice and competition in public services tend to grow faster than their peers. John Hood Today, however, Ill focus not on the past but on the future. What will North Carolinas population be 16 years from now, in 2040? And what are the policy implications of that prediction? In other words, lets set aside whether the current policy mix in North Carolina and most of our Southern neighbors are responsible for recent growth. Lets just assume that current population projections will come to pass. More: In Fayetteville and region, poverty is up as pandemic relief ends. I see it first-hand. Based on the 2020 Census head count and subsequent estimates, North Carolinas State Office of Budget and Management currently projects that our population will reach approximately 13 million by 2040. Although there is no comparable projection for other states, a somewhat-older Census projection suggested North Carolina will rank seventh in population by then, exceeded only by California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. However, the projected figures for North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia are so similar, and sufficiently fuzzy, that its possible well be the fifth-most-populous state by 2040. Clayton in Johnston County is one of the fastest-growing small towns in North Carolina. North Carolinas State Office of Budget and Management currently projects that the state's population will reach approximately 13 million by 2040. Within our state, the largest metropolitan areas will likely add population at a faster rate than our smaller municipalities and rural areas, with some exceptions (such as coastal and mountain communities attractive to retirees and work-from-home households). Still, if we consider the 10 counties projected to have at least 300,000 residents in 2040 Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth, Durham, Union, Cumberland, Johnston, Buncombe, and Cabarrus their combined population of 6.3 million will still be less than half the states total population. By 2040, about 21% of North Carolinians will be 65 years of age or older, up from 18% today. About 22% of North Carolinians will be 20 or younger, down from 24% today. For all the talk of rapid demographic change, I dont see these changes as particularly dramatic. Do you? As for race and ethnicity, non-Hispanic whites as defined by the Census Bureau are projected to account for approximately 56% of the states population in 2040, down from 61% today. Hispanics (of any race) and people of Asian ancestry will grow as a share of the states population, as will North Carolinians whose ancestries are mixed or who reject placing themselves in such crude categories in the first place. Indeed, all projections and demographic categories have some built-in uncertainty and ambiguity. Although most new residents will either be born here or arrive as citizens from other states, immigration from overseas will play a role as will federal policies that either encourage or discourage such immigration in the future. And unforeseen economic, social, or even medical events might significantly influence our birth and death rates. Nevertheless, I think its reasonable to expect that North Carolina will be much more populous in 2040 than it is today. In my view, thats a good reason for state and local policymakers to elevate such issues as infrastructure, housing, and workforce development to the top of their priority lists. Given the eroding capacity of motor-fuel taxes, for example, North Carolina must move as quickly as possible to a more sustainable means of paying for roads and bridges. Our zoning and housing codes are too strict, keeping builders from supplying enough homes to meet rising demand. As for workforce development, continued reforms in education and occupational licensing will be necessary to fill the jobs of tomorrow and help all North Carolinians prosper. John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com). This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 2040 population projections show big growth in NC; we should prepare. When the Champlain Towers building in Surfside came crashing down in 2021, the tragedy raised concerns about the threat of rising groundwater possibly destabilizing thousands of older buildings that crowd South Floridas coast, and the underground foundations that keep them standing. While the investigation later turned away from a saltwater-eroded foundation as a trigger for the disastrous collapse, researchers still have unanswered questions about the potential threat posed by sea level rise to the pipes, wires, steel and concrete that undergird South Florida. Now, thanks to a $9 million federal grant, scientists hope to get a detailed look at the murky mystery underneath our feet. Florida International University plans to use that cash to fund a network of wells along the coast that could offer new insight into exactly how sea level rise is already changing the landscape underground and what kind of threat the thousands of high rises along the coast could face. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, who secured the $9 million in federal funding for this project, called this research crucial to the future of South Florida. Getting this data and investing in this kind of research is going to be critical to ensuring we have a continued place to live, she said in a press conference Wednesday morning in Hollywood. For us here in South Florida, these challenges arent just a someday thing, theyre a right now thing. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz poses with a crowd of politicians and academics and a ceremonial check to Florida International University for a new groundwater monitoring program on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 in Hollywood. South Florida sits on a base of porous limestone rock, akin to a sponge cast out of concrete. When sea levels rise along the coast, they also rise under our feet, pushing water close to the surface. The region expects to see about two feet of sea rise by 2060, and there are some spots in Miami-Dade with less than three feet of dry dirt before you hit groundwater. That means, if sea level rise is left unchecked, there will soon be pockets of South Florida where that groundwater meets the surface all the time, leaving the spot permanently inundated. Until then, the other big worry is how all of the underground stuff is faring in increasingly wet and increasingly salty conditions. READ MORE: Threat from below: Sea rise is pushing up groundwater and flood risks for South Florida Research has already shown that rising groundwater levels are rendering septic tanks unusable along the coast, and Fort Lauderdale has noted that rising groundwater levels have contributed to the early degradation of its underground sewage and water pipes. But the Champlain Towers collapse brought the question of sea rises impact on building foundations to the forefront. The foundation piles under Champlain Towers, and many others in South Florida, were built 40 years ago to withstand only the occasional soak when groundwater rose, even though they reach hundreds of feet into the ground. Now that sea levels are higher, the concrete and steel foundation piles are exposed to the degrading effects of saltwater more often. And yet, researchers found, there is little research on this phenomenon and no government agency officially charged with watching for this kind of trouble underground. Several proposed sites in Miami-Dade County for new groundwater monitoring wells, which will help Florida International University scientists track how sea level rise is affecting South Floridas barrier islands. After Surfside, we wanted to look for information that could be pertinent, but we couldnt find anything at all, and that was worrying, said Mike Sukop, a hydrogeologist at FIU and head of the newly funded subsurface groundwater monitoring network. Its a data gap, he said. Given our circumstances here in South Florida, I dont think we can afford a data gap. The stakes are too high. While the threat of rising groundwater was initially considered as a potential cause for the condo collapse in Surfside, including in a section of the Miami-Dade grand jury report on the collapse, investigators and reporting by the Miami Herald have found it unlikely that underground corrosion was a trigger for the tragic collapse. Now that funding is in place, Sukop and other researchers are ready to start the planning and permitting process to drill the proposed 150 or so monitoring wells along the barrier islands and nearshore coast of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. A graphic showing what we think it looks like underground in South Florida with rising sea levels and the deep foundation piles of tall coastal buildings. This new coastal subsurface monitoring network will help researchers across South Florida better understand the risks to underground infrastructure, track and predict flooding on rainy or high-tide days and model how rising seas could impact South Floridas drinking supply. Dorothy Sifuentes, director of the U.S. Geological Surveys Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center, said the USGS has a network of groundwater monitoring wells already, but theyre focused on watching South Floridas drinking water for signs of saltwater, so theyre inland and far from the coast. This work is going to complement our network very nicely, she said. Having that coastal component will really help expand that picture. MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN) Local leaders are accusing steel company Cleveland-Cliffs of refusing to pay millions of dollars in taxes related to its Empire Mine property. Lawyers for CCI argue local governments are misinterpreting tax law. Meanwhile, two rural townships threaten to collect debts by seizing personal mine property to sell at auction. This embedded content is not available in your region. On Tuesday, Marquette County leaders released a strongly-worded statement accusing CCI of misrepresenting the value of its mining operations in the Upper Peninsula, leading to over $50 million in unpaid taxes since 2018. Active mines are taxed on the amount of ore taken out of the ground. Since 2018 the Empire Mine has been mostly idle, leading assessors to include in its assets the value of what CCI has said is still in the ground. Meanwhile, CCI has argued that while its operations are idled, its tax burden should still be tied to the amount of ore taken out of the ground. Empire Mine near Palmer, MI Responsible mines work to preserve goodwill among their community and neighbors, including local workers who also benefit from the services that city and township tax revenue provides, noted Marquette County Administrator Scott Erbisch. Cleveland-Cliffs only cares about their shareholders interests. All weve asked of Cleveland-Cliffs is to be transparent and act responsibly. That means paying fair taxes like other businesses and mines in the region. Details of the dispute The county claims the company applied for a multi-million dollar grant in 2018 to continue mining, pointing to extractable reserves still in the ground. MTU professor talks mining history, future, remaining dangers: Once it starts, its very difficult to stop. However, Cliffs later told taxing officials that its public reports were untrue, reads the countys release. The company reported to State and local taxing officials that the ore is incapable of being mined. To diminish its taxes owed, Cliffs valued the mine only for its surface and land and excluded mineral reserves and personal property. But even when [State Tax Commission] matters were pending, Cliffs informed permitting officials that they had begun to extract ore from the idled mine. Cliffs continues to refuse disclosure of ore reserve studies that formed the basis for its $50 million tax incentive request. The State Tax Commission sided with the local governments based on information from CCIs own filings, saying $2.9 million was owed to Richmond and Tilden Townships. Now, the county says the mines personal property may be seized by the townships and sold at auction to recover the unpaid taxes. Mining executive responds after public opposition to potential U.P. mineral rights lease Municipalities impacted include Marquette County and the City of Negaunee, though the local governments most affected by the alleged nonpayment are Richmond and Tilden Townships. The release from the county claims costs so far have been covered, but the nonpayment could soon affect funding for community emergency services, the courts, Veteran Affairs, and medical care facilities. Rural communities hit the hardest For Tilden Township alone, CCI values its taxable assets at $100,000, while tax assessors have valued it at over $14 million. Over the past seven years the deficit from unpaid taxes in Tilden and Richmond townships has stacked up to over $2.9 million, according to the county. If Cliffs is successful in avoiding its tax burden for the Empire Mine, the Tilden Mine may be next, said Deborah Pellow, a former member of the Michigans Mining Future Committee and the current Tilden Township Clerk. Our townships are already strained because of this tax issue. We have been picking up their slack for seven years. The majority of the mine sits in Richmond Township, a community of under 1,000 people. Richmond Township Supervisor Scott Mills has held his post leading the community for nearly a decade. Mills says in his past 27 years living in the area, he hasnt seen anything like this. In a phone conversation Wednesday, Mills said the community has had to cut their E.M.S. services, end municipal garbage disposal, shrink township staff, all while still increasing taxes for its residents. Mills said without intervention, the local fire department would be next on the chopping block. County leaders say more communities are affected, with impacts felt in the countys ability to provide 911, Veteran Affairs services, search and rescue special ops, medical care facilities, senior services, courts, jail and other services. At the end of January, CCI announced it had made billions in profits in 2023. After making $22 billion last year, I wouldnt think theyd have a problem paying it, said Mills. If you or I had done it, wed have been on the streets long ago. Cleveland-Cliffs has a long history in the Marquette area, operating in the area in some way for well over a hundred years. When they want something from you theyre good neighbors, said Mills. But when theyre done with you, they crinkle you up and put you in the garbage. Local 3 reached out to CCI for comment but have not received a response. A staffer at the Marquette County Administrators Office told us County Commissioner Joe Derocha flew to Ohio this afternoon to work with CCI executives on a possible solution. We are waiting to learn the result of the meeting. This is a developing story. Stay up-to-date on the latest information with Local 3 on-air and online. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com. At least 17 of the more than 100 Christians arrested for their faith in a crackdown in Iran last summer received prison sentences of between three months and five years, or fines and floggings, by the end of 2023, advocacy group Article 18 reported. The Christians were imprisoned under laws against establishing and leading a house church under Article 498 or propaganda against the state under Irans amended Article 500, Article 18 stated in its annual report. Authorities also made a significant number of arrests over the Christmas season, with 46 Christians taken into custody in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Shiraz, Ahvaz, Dezful, Izeh and Khorramabad. The arbitrary nature of these arrests is illustrated by the fact that arrestees who were eventually coerced into signing commitments to refrain from Christian activities no longer faced further legal action, the report states. Among those arrested in December were Milad Goodarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi, who had been released from prison in March, and Esmaeil Narimanpour, one of 10 converts from Islam forced to attend religious re-education sessions in 2022 after a prior arrest. A Christian convert from Afghanistan was also arrested, leading to fears he may be deported, the reported states. In three other unpublicized cases in 2023, three members of one family a husband, wife and son were sentenced to a combined nine years in prison for establishing and leading a house-church. A Christian whose named could not be revealed spent the entire year in prison following his arrest in December 2022, according to Article 18. He had been charged with propaganda against the state by promoting Christianity among Muslims and was unable to afford the bail subsequently demanded of him, which exceeded $70,000, the group reported. The 166 Christians arrested in 2023 marked a small increase over the 134 arrested the previous year. In 2023, fewer of those arrested allowed their names or photos to be publicized out of fears that doing so would hurt their legal cases, the report states. Some Christians released from prison said they were summoned days later for further questioning or were ordered to leave Iran. One said his employment was terminated at the request of intelligence agents. Most of those arrested were converts from Islam, according to Article 18. Meanwhile, a number of Christians were pardoned and released from prison in 2023, though it should be noted that the majority were already nearing the end of their sentences, the report states. Moreover, these sentences related to the peaceful practice of their faith and therefore should never have been issued in the first place. Converts from Islam account for the most Christians in Iran, but Iran does not recognize them and frequently targets them, according to the report. Unable to attend existing churches of the legally recognized Armenian and Assyrian communities, converts either meet in private homes or remain isolated from other Christians. Iran has never codified apostasy, and different interpretations of how Islamic law is to treat those who leave Islam contributes to a lack of certainty and consistency, the report notes. In late 2022, a retired Iranian judge involved in approving the penal code said, Apostasy was supposed to be included in our criminal code, but it was left out for fear of international pressure. Researchers estimate there could be as many as 800,000 Christians in Iran, based on a 2020 survey by a secular, Netherlands-based research group in which 1.5 percent of Iranians from a sample size of 50,000 self-identified as Christians. Ethnic Assyrian and Armenian Christians account for approximately 50,000-80,000, the remainder being converts from Islam, Article 18 stated. The Rev. Hossein Soodmand remains the only Iranian Christian to have been officially executed [in 1990] for his apostasy, though others have been sentenced to death or killed extra-judicially. Mistreatment of Christians from both recognized and unrecognized churches violates Irans obligations as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Iran ratified in 1975 and is obliged to uphold, along with other international treaties to which it is a signatory, the report states. The UN Human Rights Committee in October assessed Irans compliance with the ICCPR and recommended the Islamic Republic should ensure respect for the right to freedom of religion or belief, including by ensuring that legislation and practices conform to Article 18 of the Covenant [regarding freedom or religion or belief], taking into account general comments No. 22 (1993) on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and No. 34 (2011) on freedoms of opinion and expressionguarantee the right of everyone to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his or her choice and to change his or her religion; [and] ensure the freedom to manifest this religion or belief, either individually or in community with others, and in public or private, without being penalized. Iran violated Article 7 of the ICCPR, which prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, as many Christians reported severe mistreatment during arrest and detention, the report states. Article 18 reported convert Ali Kazemian testifying in January 2023 that his interrogators discovered that I had a metal implant in my left leg from an historic break, and for this reason, one of the agents kicked my left leg several times. Then they put me on a chair, tied my hands together, and the interrogator said: You are now in an electric chair, then they violently punched me several times. In addition to this physical torture, they inflicted a lot of mental and emotional torture on me, and it was easier for me to endure the physical torture than the mental. They threatened me that: Well harm your wife and childrenWell bring your wife to the interrogation room and strip her naked in front of everyone, to see if you can really resist and stay quiet. Release from prison does not end the prosecuted Christians ordeal, as authorities afterward monitor and harass many while others are denied employment, the report states. Many Christians reported that they had been fired from their jobs following arrest, usually after employers bowed to pressure from Ministry of Intelligence agents. Christians will receive distressing and disturbing telephone calls from their interrogator, which remind them of the psychological torture they experienced during their detention, Article 18 reported. Often, the Christians are also summoned back to see their interrogator and give an account of their activities following their release. Elaheh Kiani, wife of Christian prisoner Touraj Shirani, told Article 18 that after her husbands release, intelligence agents still followed them, and an interrogator regularly called them from an unknown number. Every time he called, we trembled with fear and sadness, she said. And he always asked the same questions, like, Have you been in contact with anyone? And, Which of the Christians have you seen? He told us: We are watching you! Student test scores in the Sacramento region dropped after pandemic lock downs and they havent recovered, the latest state data show. This learning loss has also taken place across the state and nation. Pandemic distance learning was followed by a drop in math and English proficiency to levels not seen in decades. The drops cut across income and demographic groups, but were often most severe among low-performing and economically disadvantaged students. Many students in impoverished areas lacked the resources necessary to make distance learning successful, causing them to fall behind. California school officials earlier this month agreed to spend $2 billion of remaining COVID relief funds on efforts to alleviate learning loss. The agreement came after students, parents and community groups around Oakland and Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against the state for failing to provide an adequate, equitable education to all students. Big drops around Sacramento In the four-county Sacramento region, the proportion of students meeting math standards fell from about 42% in 2018-19 to about 37% in 2022-23. The proportion of students meeting English standards fell from about 53% in 2018-19 to about 48% in 2022-23. Those declines are similar to test score drops seen statewide. The steepest declines on math tests took place in El Dorado and Sacramento counties. All four counties saw roughly similar drops in English scores. Center Joint Unified, El Dorado Union High see largest declines Every large school district in the Sacramento region saw fewer students meet English standards. The biggest drop was at Center Joint Unified near Antelope, where about 35% of students met English standards in 2022-23, compared to 49% in 2018-19. All large school districts in the Sacramento region also saw fewer students meet math standards. The biggest drop was at El Dorado Union High School District, where about 42% of students met math standards in 2022-23, compared to 55% in 2018-19. El Dorado Union High had the smallest drop in English scores, however, while Eureka Union near Granite Bay had the smallest drop in math scores. Big disparities by grade English-Language Arts learning loss was most pronounced in the regions elementary schools. The proportion of students in third, fourth and sixth grade meeting English standards fell by more than five percentage points across the region during the last four years. By contrast, math learning loss was most pronounced in the regions middle and high schools. The proportion of students in 11th grade meeting English standards fell by six percentage points, while the proportion meeting standards in eighth grade fell by seven percentage points across the region. Schools in low-income areas tend to see bigger dips Schools with a high proportion of students living at or near poverty as measured by the proportion of students on free or reduced lunch often saw larger declines in test scores than schools in wealthier areas. The biggest decline in students meeting English standards occurred at Futures High, a charter school in the Robla section of north Sacramento, where 32% of students met English standards in 2022-23, compared to 69% in 2018-19. Futures High serves a large population of children whose parents are recent immigrants from Russia or Ukraine, and about 92% of the students at the school take free or reduced lunch. The biggest decline in students meeting math standards occurred at Walnut Grove Elementary, a rural school in the Sacramento Delta, where 16% of students met math standards in 2022-23, compared to 54% in 2018-19. About one in five households around the Walnut Grove community lacked broadband internet during the pandemic, compared to about one in fifteen households statewide, the latest census data show. For three days in early 2012, as a hotly contested presidential primary consumed the Republican Party, the Conservative Political Action Conference basked in the spotlight. Thousands of conservative die-hards and hundreds of reporters descended on Washington that February for the annual gathering of the political right. The lineup that year not only featured marquee speeches from the leading remaining presidential hopefuls, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum; it also offered a venue for that cycles unsuccessful candidates to take a bow before the GOP base and for some rising Republican stars to test the waters for 2016. But at this years CPAC, which began Wednesday amid the throes of a presidential race once more, theres little space in the agenda for 2024 also-rans or to showcase the partys future. Nor is there a spot for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is still competing for the GOP nomination. Instead, its a four-day fete with one man at the center: Donald Trump. The roster of speakers includes MAGA influencers, right-wing conservative media personalities who regularly flatter the former president and people who served in Trumps administration. Trump himself will address the conference Saturday before heading to South Carolina to watch the results come in for the states GOP primary. Yet despite the event landing on the same day as the South Carolina primary this year, the former president is expected to use the CPAC stage to focus on contrasting his record with that of President Joe Biden in a preview of a likely general election matchup, a Trump adviser told CNN. This years Trump-centric CPAC will also serve as the unofficial kickoff to the GOP vice presidential stakes. Some of the most talked-about potential running mates will address the CPAC audience in what can only be described as an audition of sorts to test how they are received by the Trump faithful. Among the contenders scheduled to speak are New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 4 House Republican; entrepreneur and recent presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy; Ohio Sen. JD Vance; Trumps former Housing and Urban Development secretary, Ben Carson; Florida Rep. Byron Donalds; former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem; and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake. Multiple people close to the former president argue that while Trump has a habit of floating names to allies and donors to take their temperature on potential ticket mates, he is far from a decision. Another source said that Trump has told senior advisers he doesnt want to get ahead of the primary process by vetting a potential running mate too early, indicating it was bad luck. However, his advisers also acknowledge that the jockeying for the job has clearly begun. CPAC attendees will vote on their favorites to join Trump on the ticket this November in the conferences straw poll. Trump himself has fueled the speculation. Asked by Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday if Ramaswamy, Donalds, Noem and Gabbard were on his short list, along with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the former president replied: They are. Honestly, all of those people are good, he said. Theyre all good. Theyre all solid. Being a potential vice presidential pick for Trump means having to walk a fine line, with CPAC being one such test. Prospective running mates must both brandish their conservative credentials and extensive loyalty to Trump, while also not looking overly eager to join him on the 2024 ticket, a person close to the former president cautioned. They must be interesting, good messengers and popular, but not in a way that may upstage Trump. That risk was evident in one recent episode when Trump privately complained about an ally he shared a stage with for talking too much, only to call on the person to speak at a later event, two sources close to the former president told CNN. I dont recognize it anymore Started in 1974, CPAC became a space for conservatives to engage in policy debate and for the grassroots to make themselves heard by the partys Washington insiders. Candidates and party leaders have made the sojourn to CPAC year after year to take the temperature of the base and test their standing with the thousands of conservatives packed into hotel ballrooms. Trumps relationship with CPAC began in 2011 when he was still a businessman and reality television star flirting with presidential politics. Like many Republican hopefuls before him, Trump appeared at the annual confab to convince the crowd of his conservative bona fides. Im pro-life. Im against gun control, he told attendees. And I will fight to end Obamacare and replace it. But like the rest of the Republican Party, CPAC became an extension of Trumps political operation after he took office. Speaking at the conference in 2017 shortly after Trumps swearing in, presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway quipped that the conference would soon become TPAC. The rebranding lasted through Trumps term as president and has stuck even in the years since he left office. I dont recognize it anymore, said Al Cardenas, a former chairman of the American Conservative Union, which holds the event. It all gravitates around Donald Trump. Trump allies have pushed back on the notion that the event has changed or is potentially less significant, saying it is indicative of the change in a party that has continued to coalesce around Trump. Some Republican presidential hopefuls have in recent years dared to make a play for the CPAC faithful. None have succeeded. DeSantis tossed hats and received a heros entrance from a friendly crowd at the 2022 gathering in Florida but still handily lost the events famed straw poll to Trump. Haley urged CPAC attendees last year to put your trust in a new generation, and in response Trump supporters heckled her in the hallways. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another Trump administration alumnus who considered a 2024 bid, similarly tried to drive a wedge between CPAC and the former president in his remarks there in 2023; he never made it to the starting line of the GOP presidential race. None of those individuals are speaking at this weeks gathering. Among Trumps 2024 rivals, only Ramaswamy who praised Trump even as he ran against him will speak at CPAC. He will deliver the keynote address at Fridays dinner. Contrast that with 2012, when unsuccessful presidential candidates, including Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and businessman Herman Cain, each received a turn at the mic. That year, CPAC also exhibited the GOPs ascending figures. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio opened the conference, and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker earned raucous applause during his remarks. Both would go on to run for president in 2016. This week, though, for the second straight year, many of the partys rising members of Congress and governors are avoiding the conference. Nor will the event feature party leaders in Washington. The former presidents top allies on Capitol Hill such as Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan will address the confab but not Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell nor House Speaker Mike Johnson. Some Republican operatives say the lack of interest is reflective of a CPAC diminished by both its fealty to Trump as well as the controversies that have swirled around the conferences leadership in recent years. American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp last year faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, including from a GOP political strategist who accused Schlapp in a lawsuit of groping and fondling his groin during a car ride. Schlapp denied wrongdoing at the time through an attorney. Shortly after the allegations first came to light, Trump and Schlapp appeared together at a CPAC fundraiser at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. Amid the turmoil, CPAC also experienced turnover on its board. Attempts to reach Schlapp by phone before CPAC were unsuccessful. David Kochel, a GOP strategist for Romney during the 2012 campaign against Santorum, said Republicans once treated CPAC as a meaningful showcase for candidates. Now, he said, its not a serious organization and called it a grift. Its the Star Wars bar scene of performative, minor conservative celebrities based on their Twitter following and how rogue-ish they can behave, Kochel said. Its a chaos platform for disrupting the so-called establishment, though, increasingly, they are the establishment. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department announced the successful arrest of five individuals who were being sought out on multiple warrants during a warrant roundup operation on Wednesday. At the time of the roundup, CPD said 22 people residing in the city were wanted and police focused their efforts on apprehending people who were wanted for multiple offenses. The operation involved several searches in high-crime areas with officers from different units working together to coordinate the finding and apprehension of wanted individuals. CPD says the following five individuals were arrested, clearing ten activating warrants: Christopher McClinton, 44 Warrant for terroristic threats or acts Tresean Persaud, 23 Warrant for terroristic threats or acts Derrick Lawson, 26 Aggravated assault Battery (Family Violence) Felony financial transaction card theft Felony entering auto Gregory Johnson, 19 Felony home invasion Felony possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime Scott Griffin, 58 Felony convicted felon in possession of firearms Theft by deception For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) A brief shelter-in-place was ordered in West Jordan as crews responded to reports of a natural gas smell in the area of 9000 South and 4800 West. Public Safety crews and workers from Dominion Energy responded to the scene and worked collaboratively to gather information and investigate the smell, saying public safety was the top priority. By 10:30 a.m., West Jordan City officials said public safety crews and Dominion Energy workers were unable to detect a gas leak in the area and there was no reason to believe there is a health threat to the public. Its important to note that low levels of natural gas are not toxic, said West Jordan City in a public service announcement. The odor of natural gas is added so individuals can detect even small natural gas leaks by odor. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post with more information as it becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law. Incidents 4000 block of Sue Ellen Drive Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information Police took a report in reference to identity theft. 4400 block of Ridgemont Drive Burglary of Vehicle A victim reported someone took more than $7,000 worth of tools from his work vehicle. 600 block of Beech Street Theft of Property A victim reported his trailer worth $1,000 was stolen from a carport. 3800 block of Antilley Road Hinder Secured Creditors Police to a report in reference to hindering a secured creditor. 2800 block of Russell Avenue Harassment Police took a report in reference to harassment by a known suspect. 3200 block of S 1st Street Theft of Property A victim reported cash, shoes, household items, and more were stolen. 1200 block of Kirkwood Street Assault Family Violence A victim reported her boyfriend assaulted her. 4500 block of S 1st Street Assault Family Violence A victim reported his roommate flipped him out of his wheelchair, causing him pain. 1100 block of Piedmont Drive Theft of Property A victim reported an unknown suspect unlawfully appropriated property from his motor vehicle. 3700 block of Trailend Drive Assault Family Violence A suspect was placed under arrest for Assault Family Violence 1400 block of Sylvan Drive Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information A victim reported someone had opened multiple credit cards under his name without knowledge or consent. 4400 block Buffalo Gap Road Criminal Mischief A victim reported an unknown suspect damaged his tires. 5400 block of Encino Road Assault Family Violence A victim reported her ex-boyfriend assaulted and strangled her in south Abilene. 2900 block of N 2nd Street Assault A suspect was arrested at a north Abilene bar. 3000 block of W Lake Road Assault Impede Breath A suspect was arrested for strangulation. 3300 block of N 3rd Street Theft of Property A bicycle worth $60 was reported stolen. 1700 block of Denali Drive Theft of Property A musical instrument worth $600 was reported stolen. Arrests Alton Watson Failure to Comply Sex Offender Duty to Register Richard Garza Warrant Jarod Mathis Assault Family Violence Aaron Esmerado Warrant Darcy Meyer Driving While Intoxicated For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. A monthslong legal battle between a Texas high school student and his school district over the length of his locs hairstyle has renewed calls to pass a national CROWN Act. Heres what that means. What is the CROWN Act? The CROWN Act and similar laws protect against race-based hair discrimination by making it illegal to deny employment and educational opportunities based on natural hair texture and protective hairstyles. The legislation, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) has been championed by natural hair advocates who argue Black Americans have faced discrimination in the workplace and in schools because of their hair. What hairstyles are protected by the law? Although the language of each law differs across the states that draft them, CROWN Act laws generally prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles that are commonly associated with a particular race or culture, including Black hairstyles like locs, braids or Bantu knots. These styles are known as protective hairstyles because they help maintain the health of the hair by tucking strands to prevent additional stress and breakage, which promotes hair to grow. The styles also protect the hair from the overuse of heat from styling tools such as flat irons. A history of hair discrimination Discrimination against protective hairstyles dates back to slavery, according to Adjoa B. Asamoah, the lead legislative strategist and co-creator of the CROWN Coalition, an organization that advocates for national legislation banning hair discrimination. Asamoah said culturally, for many Black people, hair care has become an intricate part of just our way of being, linked with family, community and pride. You see things like bonding time between mother and child when its wash day or get your hair braided if you have an older sibling, she said. Those relationships around our hair care also strengthen familial ties. But for centuries Black people especially women have faced discrimination because of their hair. Asamoah said historically Black peoples hair has been stereotyped and disrespected, in some cases even referred to as unsightly or wool. She also noted in 1786, Louisiana enacted the Tignon laws, which required Black women to cover their heads in cloth. Many women rebelled by wearing elaborate head dresses. Today, hair discrimination is more commonly seen in professional and educational dress codes, Asamoah said. Those policies frequently favor attires and styles influenced by European standards of beauty, advocates have said. We know that hair discrimination includes being fired being passed over for promotions and even having offers of employment rescinded, she said. And its been the reason that far too many children, too many Black children in particular, have missed school or had negative educational experiences. National CROWN Act efforts have stalled In March 2022, the then-Democratic controlled House advanced a national CROWN Act legislation but it later stalled in the Senate. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus in December 2022 wrote a letter to Senate leadership urging them to take action to pass the bill. The measure would have banned race-based hair discrimination in employment, public accommodations and federally assisted programs and housing programs. Congress has yet to take up the legislation again. The Biden administration has said it strongly supports the CROWN Act and looks forward to working with the Congress to enact this legislation and ensure that it is effectively implemented. The push for federal legislation has also been championed by Dove, National Urban League, Color of Change, the Western Center on Law & Poverty and other advocacy groups. State efforts gain momentum But where national efforts to pass the legislation have stalled, the movement has gained momentum at the state-level. In 2018, video of a school official using scissors to cut a Black student athletes locs sparked a backlash online. The high school wrestler was ordered to cut off his locs or forfeit a match, CNN previously reported. In response, advocates began calling for legislation to protect students and others from hair discrimination. In February 2019, New York City issued legal enforcement guidance to the citys Human Rights Law. The provision ensures New Yorkers right to maintain natural hair or hairstyles that are closely associated with their racial, ethnic, or cultural identities. That July, the state followed suit when then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo amended the Human Rights Law and Dignity for All Students Act, to clarify both laws also protect against discrimination based on hairstyles or textures associated with race. California Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed a law in July 2019 that banned hair discrimination. It went into effect the following year. As of July 2023, more than 20 states have enacted legislation to combat race-based discrimination against hair texture and protective hairstyles, according to the Economic Policy Institute. A Texas Battleground In Texas, a version of the law went into effect on September 1, 2023, and was quickly put to the test when Darryl George, a Houston-area high school student, was suspended because the length of his locs hairstyle violated the schools dress code. George has faced months of suspension and disciplinary action because the Barbers Hill Independent School Districts dress code for male students states a boys hair will not extend below the eyebrows, below the ear lobes, or below the top of a t-shirt collar. George and his family argue that his hair does not violate the dress code and theyve also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against school officials and Texas state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott. The district also filed a lawsuit, asking a Texas judge to declare if the dress code violates the state law. A Texas judge will hear arguments Thursday in the legal battle between George and his school district. In January, the school districts superintendent, Greg Poole, placed a full page ad in the Houston Chronicle, arguing that being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity. The litigation is not about what is best for students. Barbers Hill ISD will continue to make decisions to protect and fight for the rights of its community to set the standards and expectations for our school district even if that path takes us to the U.S. Supreme Court. For Asamoah, the saga only underscores the need for a national law. She said a childs education should not be impacted because of their hair. That should never be the case, she said. We should never see a child missing school based on hair. CNNs Veronica Stracqualursi, Faith Karimi and David Williams contributed this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera said the cyber-attack was a serious breach of national security Malawi's government has suspended the issuing of passports following a cyber-attack on the immigration service's computer network. President Lazarus Chakwera told MPs that the targeting of the department amounted to a "serious national security breach". He revealed that the hackers were asking for a ransom. But the president said the government would not give in to their demands and was working to resolve the problem. "We are not in the business of appeasing criminals with public money, nor are we in the business of negotiating with those who attack our country," he said on Wednesday. Demand for passports is high in Malawi with many young people looking to migrate in search of job opportunities. Mr Chakwera said he had given the immigration department three weeks within which it should provide a temporary solution and resume the issuing of passports, while waiting to regain control of the system. He said a long-term solution with additional security safeguards would be developed. For the past two weeks, Malawi has not been issuing passports for what officials said was "a technical glitch". Mr Chakwera only revealed for the first time on Wednesday that the immigration system had been "hacked" without mentioning who the hackers were suspected to be. No other details have been given about the cyber-attack including the possible implications in terms of personal data security. Malawians have been demanding answers over the persistent delays in the issuance of the travel document. This is not the first time that there has been a suspension in recent years. Last year, the government paused giving out new documents after running out of passport booklets, with an official saying that the problem was being worsened by a shortage of foreign currency. There have been issues since 2021 when the attorney-general's office terminated a passport contract with a company that had been offering the service, citing irregularities. Some frustrated Malawians have in the past faulted the government over the continued backlog of applications amid allegations of corruption. For now, anyone who does not have a passport or whose passport has expired cannot acquire a new one and therefore cannot travel. An ongoing cybersecurity breach that hit the health technology company Change Healthcare this week has led to prescription delays for at least a few small pharmacies in the U.S., with some interruptions reported by bigger institutions like Walgreens, according to the pharmacies. Change Healthcare a technology company based in Tennessee that is part of the health services provider Optum, Inc. and owned by the massive conglomerate UnitedHealth Group first reported experiencing company-wide connectivity problems on Wednesday morning. By Thursday, both the subsidiary and UnitedHealth acknowledged that a cybersecurity issue had caused a network outage that was expected to last 24 hours or more. "Change Healthcare is experiencing a cyber security issue and our experts are working to address the matter," a spokesperson for UnitedHealth said in a statement to CBS News on Thursday. "Once we became aware of the outside threat, in the interest of protecting our partners and patients, we took immediate action to disconnect our systems to prevent further impact." "At this time, we believe the issue is specific to Change Healthcare and all other systems across UnitedHealth Group are operational," the spokesperson added. "The disruption is expected to last at least through the day." The company said it would share additional updates as more information becomes available. A family-owned pharmacy and two military pharmacies, in the Midwest and California, all reported on Wednesday and Thursday that network outages impacting national healthcare providers had prevented them from filling prescriptions. Canadian Lakes Pharmacy in Stanwood, Michigan, initially said in a social media post on Wednesday that it was unable to bill most insurance companies for prescriptions filled there due to what the pharmacy called a "nationwide outage of some of the largest prescription processors" in the country. By Thursday morning, Canadian Lakes said in an updated post that it was able to fill prescriptions and bill them to most of its customers' insurance plans as usual. But at least two other pharmacies alerted customers about prescription delays linked to network outages later on Thursday. In a social media post, 22nd Medical Group, which services the McConnell Air Force base in Kansas, said "an unexpected enterprise-wide" system outage meant the pharmacy could not process new prescriptions, though it would continue dispensing already-completed prescriptions. The Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, a U.S. Marine Corps base in California, also reported issues filling prescriptions. "Due to an ongoing enterprise-wide issue, all Camp Pendleton and associated pharmacies are unable to process any prescription claims," the hospital wrote in a social media post. "We are only able to assist patients with emergency and urgent prescriptions from hospital providers at this time." A spokesperson for Walgreens said in a statement to CBS News that the pharmaceutical giant was not experiencing significant barriers to filling prescriptions, although a "small percentage" of prescriptions may be affected. For the small percentage that may be affected, we have procedures in place so that we can continue to process and fill these prescriptions with minimal delay or interruption," the Walgreens spokesperson said. CBS News homeland security and justice reporter Nicole Sganga contributed reporting. Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday Historic lunar landing: U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon AT&T customers report widespread cellular outage Farmers protest at the Czech-Slovak border in Holic Farmers protest at the Czech-Slovak border in Holic By Radovan Stoklasa HOLIC, Slovakia (Reuters) -Farmers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and elsewhere staged protests along Czech borders on Thursday, blocking some crossings as they demanded less bureaucracy and changes to European Union policies. Farmers across Europe have been stepping up protests this year, including in Poland, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, complaining of low prices and high costs, cheap imports and constraints from the EU's Green Deal climate change initiative. Farmers blocked the Hodonin-Holic crossing on the southern Czech border with Slovakia for more than an hour as hundreds of tractors lined the highway. Protesters, including some from Hungary who had travelled by bus, waved national flags and held signs saying "Stop bureaucracy" and "Stop Ukrainian grain". Vladimir Chovan, a 60-year-old Slovak farmer, said the sector faced "a hundred million problems" harming its competitiveness. "The biggest problem is bureaucracy," he told Reuters. Czech and Polish farmers also partially blocked a crossing in the northeast corner of the Czech Republic, where dozens of tractors were parked along the road, Czech news agency CTK reported. A crossing into Reitzenhain, Germany along the northwestern part of the Czech border was briefly blocked, according to CTK. The Czech Agrarian Chamber said 3,000 tractors were taking part in protests around the Czech Republic. It said farmers from Hungary, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia had joined Thursday's protests alongside their Czech and Slovak colleagues. 'ECONOMIC VIABILITY' "The fact that today farmers are protesting throughout the European Union is clear evidence that it is essential to address the redefinition of the terms of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)," the Chamber said in a joint statement with other countries' main farmer organisations. "The primary task of agriculture must remain to ensure food security, producing quality and safe food, while maintaining the economic viability of farmers." In Bratislava, farmers led a two-kilometre (1.2 mile) procession of tractors through the Slovak capital. Ukraine has urged the European Commission to take robust action after Polish farmers blockaded the country's border with Poland on Tuesday. Central Europe's farmers are angry over what they call unfair competition from abroad, particularly Ukraine, after an EU decision in 2022 to waive duties on Ukrainian food imports. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday Slovakia would maintain a ban on selected farm products from Ukraine as the EU takes steps towards extending market access by another year. Farmers have said markets are facing distortions and low prices coming from surpluses amid cheap imports. They also are unhappy with growing paperwork. "We are not protesting against the European Union, we are protesting against unfair decisions of the European Commission," Andrej Gajdos, a vice-chairman of the Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber (SPPK), told protesters at the Czech-Slovak border. "We are farmers, we want to work in the field... We don't want to fill out paperwork and sit at the computer." (Reporting by Radovan Stoklasa and Jason Hovet; Editing by Alex Richardson and Gareth Jones) A school employee fired for social media posts opposing LGBTQ+ materials in class has won the right to take her dismissal to the U.K. Court of Appeal. Kristie Higgs, a 47-year-old Christian mother of two, won the right in a ruling late last month by Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. Higgs attorneys had argued that her case should not be sent back to the same employment tribunal that had made serious errors. Higgs worked for seven years as a student counseling assistant at Farmors School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, before her dismissal in 2019. Its shocking to think Ive lost my job because of one parent who complained to the school because they didnt agree with what I shared on my Facebook page, and for the school to take sides with that parent is hard to believe, she said in a video interview with advocacy group Christian Concern, whose legal arm, Christian Legal Centre, is supporting her defense. Higgs shared and posted the disputed messages on her personal Facebook page after receiving an invitation on Oct. 5, 2018 from the Church of England primary school that her younger son attended. Entitled, Teaching the Equality Act in Schools, the invitation read, This year we are using several story books to help our school community promote diversity and celebrate difference. Children will become very familiar with the phrase, No Outsiders In Our School, as they work through the story books. The letter stated that the program is in line with the Equality Act 2010 and invited parents to see the books and lesson plans at a school event. Higgs said only she, another parent and a grandparent attended the viewing. She saw books such as Jacobs New Dress by Sarah Hoffman, about a boy who likes to wear dresses, and Red: A Crayons Story by Michael Hall, about a blue crayon suffering an identity crisis because it is not red. To me it didnt seem to be that it was just about anti-bullying, Higgs said in the Christian Concern video. There seemed to be something more underlying, with the Jacobs New Dress and Red Crayon books, how children could choose their own gender. I thought it was very confusing for my child because of our Christian beliefs. Concerned that most parents were unaware of the gender identity books promoted by the school, Higgs posted on her Facebook page, under her maiden name, a message about the No Outsiders invitation. She also shared another post on a petition against introducing LGBTQ+ Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in schools. She uploaded the Citizens Go petition link on Oct. 24, 2018, which was headlined, Uphold the right of parents to have children educated in line with their religious beliefs. Stop supporting LGBT indoctrination. The petition was directed to then-U.K. Education Secretary Damian Hind. The petition included a statement about the Nov. 7 end of the government consultation period regarding making relationships education mandatory in primary schools and relationships and sex education mandatory in secondary schools. Which means, for example, that children will be taught that all relationships are equally valid and normal, so that same-sex marriage is exactly the same as traditional marriage, and that gender is a matter of choice, not biology, so that its up to them what sex they are, the petition stated. At the same time, it means expressing and teaching fundamental Christian beliefs relating to the creation of men and women and marriage will in practice become forbidden because they conflict with the new morality and are seen as indoctrination into unacceptable religious bigotry. Which means the freedom of belief will be destroyed, with freedom of speech permitted only for those who toe the party line! The petition called the plans a vicious form of totalitarianism aimed at suppressing Christianity and removing it from the public arena. Please sign this petition, they have already started to brainwash our innocent, wonderfully created children, and its happening in our local primary school now. Higgs posted on Oct. 27, 2018, This is happening in our primary schools now! and provided a link to an article with the headline, Jacobs New Dress and Red: Crayons Story Give Toni the Tampon a Run For Its Money. In the video interview with Christian Concern, Higgs said she thought that was the end of it, but an anonymous parent complained to the headteacher about the posts, saying they were homophobic and offensive. Higgs was summoned to a meeting with the headteacher and a Human Relations staff member at the school. They thought the posts I was sharing were homophobic and very negative, [saying], Did you realize other parents would see these? recalled Higgs. And so I just thought I suppose its on Facebook, and I supposed people would see them, but I didnt really think I did anything wrong. She said she was confused about why the school officials then sent her home. I didnt do anything wrong. I just shared some information with other parents about what the government is planning and a critique article, and a couple of books that are being read, Higgs said. I came home and cried because I was in shock, and I still didnt think I did anything wrong. The secondary school suspended her pending an investigation, and she endured a disciplinary hearing for six hours on Dec. 19, 2018. She received a letter on Jan. 7, 2019 firing her without warning for gross misconduct. An employment tribunal on April 15, 2019 ruled against her claim of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. She successfully appealed at an employment appeal tribunal in June of last year, but a judge ordered the case to be heard again by the original court that had rejected her claim. As Higgs lawyers successfully appealed the order, the case is expected to proceed at the U.K. Court of Appeal this year. The email from the unnamed parent on Oct. 26, 2018 to headteacher Matthew Evans read, ...a member of your staff who works directly with children has been posting homophobic and prejudiced views against the LGBT community on Facebook...this individual may exert influence over the vulnerable pupils that may end up in isolation for whatever reason. I find these views offensive, and I am sure that when you look into it, you will understand my concern... Evans asked the parent to send any similarly offensive posts. According to court documents, the parent sent him screenshots from Higgs Facebook page with posts by people in the United States concerned about LGBQT+ material used in some U.S. schools. Im aware that not everyone has liberal views like myself, the parent said in another message to Evans, but I do feel that people working directly with children should refrain from posting this type of view on social media. I know of several children at Farmors who might fit into the category of person your staff member seems to find so obnoxious, friends of my children even. School business manager Sue Dorey investigated and recommended a progression of steps leading to a disciplinary hearing, according to the appeal employment tribunal record. By choosing to make the posts, Dorey stated in her investigation report before the school's disciplinary hearing,and stating that [Higgs] believes in Gods law and not Mans Law, I believe that, on the balance of probability, this means that she holds views that are discriminatory against groups of people with protected characteristics. The initial employment tribunal had noted that Dorey concluded on a balance of probability that Higgs held illegal discriminatory views that broke the school code of conduct and discriminatory beliefs, including that she does not believe in same-sex marriage and gender fluidity. Higgs told Christian Concern that she was taking a stand on behalf of children, other parents and, above all else, for Jesus. My husband went to collect my belongings from the school [after the firing], and I saw them, and it was so sad because I havent done anything wrong, she said in the Christian Concern video. I havent treated any child any differently, because I am not against people, not against children, not against any LGBT person Im not homophobic. Higgs said she was only trying as a parent to help her child to learn what God says in the Bible. That is what they were teaching in schools not so long ago, she said. They were teaching my child Gods way, and now they are changing it, and I just wanted other parents to see the changes that are happening. Russian occupiers are regrouping and deploying reserves and the Ukrainian Defence Forces are strengthening their layered defences on the Avdiivka front. Source: Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group, on Telegram Quote: "The Russians are concentrating their main activity in Donetsk Oblast on the territory under the responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group. So, on the Avdiivka front, our defenders repelled 19 Russian attacks near the settlements of Stepove, Lastochkyne, Sieverne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske over the past day. The enemy is regrouping, having suffered huge losses during the Avdiivka operation, deploying reserves and once more actively using air support. But our troops are also strengthening their layered defences, strengthening them with additional units, and creating new firing positions." Details: Tarnavskyi said that the Ukrainian Defence Forces are continuing to hold back the Russians on the Marinka front, near Heorhiivka, Pobieda and Novomykhailivka. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled eight Russian attacks near Robotyne, where the Russians are trying to conduct offensive operations in small assault groups, again using all-terrain vehicles [ATVs]. Three Russian ATVs were damaged and destroyed on 21 February. Russias total losses on 21 February amounted to 515 military personnel, 46 weapons and units of military equipment (not including UAVs). These include 4 tanks, 14 armoured combat vehicles, 6 artillery systems, 1 MLRS, 1 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), and 20 vehicles. A total of 328 UAVs of various types were neutralised or shot down. Moreover, the Defene Forces of Ukraine destroyed five Russian ammunition storage points. In total, Russia carried out 37 airstrikes, 42 combat clashes and 1,270 attacks within the operating zone of Tavriia Operational Strategic Group, and used kamikaze drones 90 times. Support UP or become our patron! A previously hidden mural by famed French impressionist Paul Cezanne has been found obscured by a wall in his childhood home called "Bastide du Jas de Bouffan" in France's city of Aix-en-Provance, as reported by The Art News Paper. The 12.3-acre estate was originally bought by Cezanne's father, Louis-August Cezanne, who is similarly an artist like himself, back in 1859. The painting was found during the renovation of this home, as part of a program that will be held in celebration of the French painter's legacy. Rediscovering Cezanne's Legacy The momentous find, which was made back in August last year in the main living space of the house, was the latest addition to the previous nine artworks that were identified within the space. Just like the most recently found mural, all of the prior pieces were painted on the walls of the Cezanne estate, all of which are dated between 1859 and 1869. These artworks were then transferred to canvases after Cezanne's sisters, Rose and Marie, sold "Bastide du Jas de Bouffant" to the Granel-Corsy family in 1899, one of which was a Jacob Van Ruysdael-inspired composition called "Le Baigneur au rocher" or "Bather and the Rocks. The canvas-transferred murals were then acquired by established collecting institutions around the world, including Musee d'Orsay and Petit Palais in Paris; the Chrysler Museum of Art in the Virginia city of Norfolk in the US; and Onomichi city's Nakata Museum in Japan. All of the nine artworks are showcased in John Rewald's 1996 online catalog of Cezanne's pieces, which will also feature the recently found mural soon. That said, the specific date remains unstated. Read Also: Oldest Brand in History, Lyle's Golden Syrup, Updates Logo After 140 Years How the Cezanne Mural was Discovered The recent addition to Cezanne's "Bastide du Jas de Bouffant" wall paintings was hidden behind numerous layers of plaster and wallpaper. As of now only the top half of the mural is exposed, depicting what looks like a maritime scene filled with pennons and masts. It seems that this piece follows the theme of the previously found panels in Cezanne's home, that it is work that honors the stylings of painters that went before him. This particular mural of his, and another called "Entree du Port" ("Entrance to the Port"), is believed to have been inspired by the work of Claude Lorrain or Claude-Joseph Vernet, both of which were known for their seascape paintings. The artist himself painted over the mural with his 1864 reinterpretation of Nicolas Lancret's work, "Jeu de cache-cache" ("Game of Hide & Seek"), following his visit to Paris's 1863 "Salon des Refuses" exhibition. This leads to the working theory of why it was covered up, that it was the Granel family who did so after moving in, probably to finish Cezanne's own cover-up work. Since this discovery, the order in which the Aix-en-Provence home's murals were painted is currently being re-evaluated. This finding also gives the artist's home city to host a Cezanne work, which it has not done in a long while. Read More: Unraveling the Mysteries: Understanding How Our Brains Process Music 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. DEL VALLE, Texas (KXAN) The Del Valle Independent School Districts board reinstated a trustee member during its meeting Tuesday after he previously had vacated his seat due to filing homestead tax exemption paperwork in another district last year. In June 2023, the district said Damian Pantoja, District 2, filed the exemption paperwork for residency in Austin ISD to obtain the exemption, according to DVISD. DVISD board member out after homestead exemption filing error Since Pantoja filed his exemption paperwork in the AISD jurisdiction, he immediately and automatically ceased holding office in Del Valle ISD, according to the district. Pantoja then called for the board to call a special election to fill the remainder of the term. After Pantoja was sworn in on Tuesday, he was asked to come around and take his seat before proceeding with the remainder of the board meeting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. PROSPECT PARK, Pa. - A Delaware County man has pleaded guilty to Driving Under the Influence for a 12th time. Mark Perrotta, 60, of Folsom, entered his plea to the DUI charges in a Delaware County courtroom Wednesday. This was in connection to his July 15th arrest in Prospect Park. He was arrested during a road rage incident with a female driver. "Shock was the emotion I had when I heard Mark Perrotta was arrested for his 12th DUI," Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer told FOX 29 Wednesday. "It's unconscionable anyone would put other people or the community's lives at risk driving under the influence 12 times." Perrotta faces a possible maximum of five and a half years. "We're gonna ask for that maximum, so the community can have five years of peace where there's not gonna be the threat of this man being behind the wheel again," DA Stollsteimer explained. A legal roadblock is in place in the existing law that treats Perrottas 11th DUI as his first, since his 10th DUI was more than 10 years before his 11th. "Under Pennsylvania law, theres a 10-year look back when you committed DUI, to determine if its your second, third, or more," DA Stollsteimer explained. "Because this defendant Perrotta has spaced out his DUIs, what that means is the most harsh sentence he could possibly get are not being applied here." FOX 29 News went to Perrotta's home to try and get his side of this story, but no one inside the home answered the door. Perrotta is scheduled to be sentenced May 20th. Until then, authorities say Perrotta is free on bail with an electronic home monitor. FIRST ON FOX: Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels Jr. a Democrat seeking to represent the Yellowhammer State's new 2nd Congressional District was arrested in the late '90s during a trip to Florida and later convicted on misdemeanor prostitution charges, according to public records. Police records of the arrest, obtained by Fox News Digital, differ significantly from Daniels' recollection of the incident some years later. In his 2009 book, "To Sweeten Alabama: A Story of a Young Man Defying the Odds," Daniels described the arrest of him and a cousin but contradicted the police account. He later pleaded "no contest" to the charge, and paid a $180 fine. The incident took place on Dec. 30, 1999, as the then 17-year-old Daniels and a cousin were driving in Polk County, Florida, according to a Haines City Police Department report. WOMAN 'LURED' BY MAN'S ROMANCE AND GIFTS FORCED INTO DISTURBING PROSTITUTION HUSTLE: PROSECUTORS Anthony Daniels Jr., a Democrat seeking to represent the Yellowhammer State's new 2nd Congressional District, is the Alabama House Minority Leader. The pair drove up to a woman who was posing as a prostitute, according to the police account, and began talking. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "As she approached the car on the passenger side, the driver then asked her how much for sex. She advised that it's $20.00 for sex and $10.00 for head [oral sex]. The driver then said he wanted sex and the passenger said that he wanted head," an officer wrote in the affidavit. Daniels was later identified by the officer as the driver of the vehicle and his cousin was identified as the passenger. The cousin at one point began patting the officer's waistband and "stated that he was looking for a gat, referring to a gun," the officer wrote. After asking the female officer what she had in her front waistband, which was a pair of sunglasses, the two men were approached by police and taken into custody. Daniels was arrested on the spot, according to the officer's testimony, and Christian was set free due to a miscommunication between officers. Christian was later picked up by police and arrested also, the officer noted at the time. Despite the officer's statement that Daniels had mentioned wanting sex from the undercover officer, the Alabama lawmaker later recalled a different version of events. Daniels wrote in his book that the woman attempted to flag him down multiple times as he traveled to and from the gym during his trip to the Sunshine State. "She was standing on the opposite side of the street waving both her arms in the air," Daniels wrote at the time. While returning to the gym to retrieve a jacket, Daniels and his cousin saw the woman "waving vigorously" while they were stopped at a red light. Daniels told his cousin about seeing the woman earlier, and they approached the woman to ask her "what she wanted." ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULES COUPLES CAN SUE FOR WRONGFUL DEATH AFTER EMBRYOS WERE DROPPED Daniels wrote that he told the undercover officer, who he recalled wearing loose jeans and a collared shirt, the reason he and his cousin stopped was because she had been attempting to flag him down. "She completely ignored me and initiated a conversation with my cousin," Daniels wrote. "He said, Let me talk to her for a second. Watch this.'" Daniels has been a representative in the Alabama state House since 2014 Daniels said in his book that he became "uneasy about [the] woman and the entire situation" and was "overcome by nervousness and discomfort" during the encounter. As his cousin ignored him and continued to joke around with the woman, Daniels wrote that he was "was thinking of ways to lure him away from her." "Jokingly, I said, This is an undercover police officer. Look at the shades hanging out of her pockets. He asked her, You arent an undercover cop are you? Let me see.' As he was asking the question, he began to grab for the glasses hanging out of her pocket. I could tell that this was definitely beginning to be a bad situation to be in," Daniels wrote. "'I'm about to go!' I exclaimed. As I started to back up the truck, police cars completely surrounded us," Daniels wrote in his book. "After the police had me blocked in, I turned to my cousin and shouted, You stupid f---! What did you do to this woman? Exploding in laughter he said, I was just joking with her, I was only playing around.'" Daniels wrote he was later approached by an officer and told to step out of the vehicle with his hands up before being searched and placed into the back of a police car. Daniels alleged in the book that he overheard officers "mention that my cousin had made a lewd comment by asking, How much is it for some head?" "To this day I don't recall such a comment. I highly doubt my cousin would have seriously asked that, especially since neither one of us had any money," he wrote. Daniels did not address in his book the police officers' assertion that he had said he wanted sex from the undercover cop. Daniels noted in the book that officers eventually picked up his cousin. They were both taken to a holding cell for two hours and later released. Following their arrests, Daniels wrote that his mother didn't believe his side of the story. He also noted in his writing that his parents "decided not to invest in an attorney" after they were allegedly told the charges would be dropped. "I was innocent!" Daniels wrote. Daniels and his cousin entered a plea of no contest and were found guilty by the court in the summer of 2000, according to records from the Polk County Clerk of Courts. Both Daniels and his cousin pleaded no contest to charges of misdemeanor "prostitution/lewd: involving the use of a motor vehicle" and each paid a $180 fine. Daniels' cousin also pleaded no contest to a battery charge. In a statement to Fox News Digital about the incident, Daniels said: "My recollection of the events from that day are clear. I never solicited sex. I was a teenager in the wrong place at the wrong time and any report that suggests otherwise is false. Ive spoken about this incident many times over the years including in my book written 15 years ago to encourage young people to be mindful of their surroundings and the company they keep because when you dont the consequences can be far greater than what I experienced." The sun shines on the Alabama State Capitol building on May 14, 2019 in Montgomery, AL. He continued, "Its a shame my opponents are misrepresenting an incident from my childhood in an attempt to score cheap political points. Alabama deserves better." "From eliminating the state income tax on overtime pay so working families keep more of their hard earned money to ensuring Mobile got its fair share to recover from the BP oil spill, Ive always stood up for Alabama," he added. "These attacks cannot diminish the fact that I am the best prepared candidate to serve this community in Congress." Daniels a former educator who has represented Alabama House District 53 since 2014 announced last November that he would run to represent Alabama's newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District seat, which is largely comprised of Black voters. According to his campaign's website, Daniels "grew up in Midway, Alabama, and graduated from Bullock County High School before earning a bachelors and masters degree in education from Alabama A&M University." Original article source: Dem House candidate was once convicted after prostitution sting, but his story doesn't match police records Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee didnt back down from her call for a $50 minimum wage when pressed about it on the California Senate primary debate stage on Tuesday night. "Congresswoman Lee, youre sticking by the $50 minimum wage?," Lee was asked on the debate stage following the most recent debate where she defended her previous call to raise the minimum wage to $50, around $100,000 per year. "First of all, we have to look at what it takes to live in California," Lee responded. "We have a huge affordability crisis. Cost of living is much too high. First, at the federal level, of course we have to raise the minimum wage. We havent raised it in a decade. $7.25 to $17 in 2025, OK, great first step." "But in California, for example we have $16 an hour now, and believe you me, every single study that you have seen that has been written about the affordability crisis in California, people working 2-3 jobs just to pay rent just to afford childcare we have to think about and talk about a living wage," Lee continued. "What does that mean? Have a living wage in California. Over $100,000 in many parts of California people are just barely surviving or living on the edge, so we have to think about what it takes to make sure people can afford to live in California. That means a living wage." DOORDASH SAYS DATA SHOWS SEATTLE PAY RULES HAVE CAUSED 'UNPRECEDENTED DROP' IN BUSINESS Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., attends a news conference with the Pro-Choice Caucus on the reintroduction of the "Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Lee previously called for the $50 minimum wage, seven times the current federal minimum wage, on the campaign trail sparking criticism from those who argue that raising the minimum wage forces business to close or layoff low wage earners that advocates of the raising the minimum wage are aiming to help. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A Congressional Budget Office report in 2019 showed that while raising the federal minimum wage would raise incomes for some, it would ultimately end up costing many low wage workers their jobs and negatively effect younger workers in the long run. FAST-FOOD PRICES SET TO RISE AT MCDONALD'S, CHIPOTLE AND OTHERS AS CALIFORNIA MINIMUM WAGE HIKE LOOMS A 2021 Harvard Business Review study found that raising the minimum wage actually leads to lower compensation for employees. "At this point, far left politicians are so unwilling to listen to reason that I think they should actively pursue all the crazy ideas that they allegedly support," E.J. Antoni, a research fellow in regional economics with the Heritage Foundations Center for Data Analysis, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. Protesters hold a sign reading, "A Living Wage is a Human Right." "Don't just stop at a $50 minimum wage, let's make it $500. The only way that people today can be convinced of the lunacy of these proposals is to let them be implemented, and then allow people to face the ramifications." Original article source: Dem Senate candidate sticks by call for $50 minimum wage, suggests $100,000 is fair 'living wage' in CA The debate on Gaza this week was dripping in faux outrage. The Scottish National Party had set a trap for Labour: they would lay down a motion calling for a ceasefire. If the Tories tabled an amendment to the motion, Labours would not be debated. This would leave Labour MPs with a choice of backing the SNP (and condemning Israel) or being seen to vote against a ceasefire. It seemed about 100 Labour MPs were about to rebel and humiliate Sir Keir Starmer. The ruse was all going perfectly, until the Speaker allowed Starmer to table his own amendment. So yes, there was anger that Sir Lindsay Hoyle had broken with Commons convention. Especially if he did it to throw a lifeline to his old party, perhaps (as was rumoured) under threat of losing his job after the election. But the real anger was from the Conservatives and Nationalists who had come so close to putting Labour through the mincer. It wasnt just political discomfort: the fear of being seen as against a ceasefire was, in many cases, a fear for personal safety. In the Commons it was a Tory backbencher, Paul Bristow, who made the most arresting point. He felt strongly about Gaza, he said, so much so that he lost his government job to support a ceasefire. But he also felt personally at risk in his Peterborough constituency because he was seen to be on Israels side. Because people misrepresented my position, someone suggested on social media that they would show my wife a real man, he told MPs. Someone else suggested that they would attack me and my family. In other words, voting against a ceasefire would mean a credible threat of violence from extremists. The murder of Sir David Amess at the hands of Ali Harbi Ali permanently changed the mood in the House of Commons. Ali had tracked two Tory MPs Michael Gove and Mike Freer as potential targets before he settled on his victim. The death was a reminder to everyone in the Commons that living an open, relatively low-security existence means risking their lives. Having madmen going around willing to kill with the minimal of reasons gave more weight to the threats of abuse which social media has made a daily part of political life. Ive spoken to MPs who put it even more emphatically than Bristow. Its not a protest outside my house that I worry about, its the safety of my children, said one. Another says he worries about being attacked on his journey back from the airport, which he never varies. Freer himself decided to stand down after his North London office was set on fire. That is now thought to be the work of two homeless people who had earlier set a restaurant ablaze, but Freer had been targeted by a group calling themselves Muslims Against Crusades. The destruction of his office seemed to fit a theme. So it wasnt just Starmer who had begged the Speaker to break with convention and let Labour vote for a ceasefire in its own language. Individual MPs had also pleaded for him to do so, mentioning their own personal safety and that of their staff and family. Its therefore easy to see why the Speaker decided to let Labour and the Conservatives both express their own ceasefire votes in their own words, given the vast public interest. Whats the harm, really, in allowing two amendments even if the convention is only for one? The harm lies in the precedent. To bend Commons procedures as a result of threats of violence is to let democracy be shaped by intimidation. Rather than make MPs safer, it can do the opposite: if MPs are seen to respond to such pressure, they can expect more of it. What was once written in a small number of green-ink letters can now be typed in anonymous Twitter accounts. The arrival of social media has made it easier for mobs to organise and intimidate and get their message directly to politicians. Such methods should be futile and need to be seen to be futile. The tradition of an Opposition Day debate embodies an important principle: the right to introduce a motion and then have it tested on the floor of the House. Allowing a larger Opposition party to big-foot the smaller one, as Hoyle did, denies that right. The SNP were using theirs cynically, to be sure. But there is also a longstanding tradition of cynical motions, where smaller parties will propose a motion in favour of motherhood and apple pie, just to see the wicked government vote against it. Is it unfair? Of course. Rowdy? Absolutely. But its the way that democracy has been carried out for some time and the Speaker needs to be the defender of this system, especially when there are signs of mob rule seeking to subvert it. There are important questions about MPs safety and security that need to be addressed, but the most important issue is not succumbing to the worst forms of intimidation. Thats why, in bending the rules to navigate through a tight spot, Hoyle has ended up in far bigger trouble. Concern about him runs deeper. Some MPs believe he is worried about being kicked out of the Speakers chair and so he has started to be biased towards Labour in the hope that their MPs will re-elect him after the general election. There are reports that Starmer tried to do a deal with him that day. Hoyle would stave off the Gaza rebellion by allowing Labour its own vote and then hed have the support of whats expected to be a Labour majority after the next election. This is hotly denied. But 60-odd MPs are now pushing for a new Speaker. My own feeling is that Hoyle erred, but in good faith. He listened to MPs concerns and tried to enact a compromise, but apologised quickly when he realised the depth of feeling. The row this week has not exposed that the Speaker is biased. It shows that the procedures of the House of Commons matter a lot more than many even the Speaker had realised. And at times when democracy is threatened by violence and intimidation, they matter more than ever. 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 likely Democrat nominee in what is expected to be one of the most consequential Senate races this year is taking heat over his past "support" for illegal immigrant amnesty and sanctuary cities as the migrant crisis continues to spiral. Since taking office in 2015, Arizona Senate candidate Ruben Gallego, a congressman who represents a deep-blue district in the Phoenix area, has co-sponsored and voted for various pieces of legislation that many critics, including his top Republican opponent, have said are evidence of his support for "open border policies," something his campaign denies. "Ruben Gallego has been in Congress for over a decade and Arizona has become less safe and secure because of it," Kari Lake, the Republican front-runner in the race, told Fox News Digital. BIDEN FACING ABYSMAL APPROVAL RATING ON IMMIGRATION AS AMERICANS REACT TO SPIRALING BORDER CRISIS Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., left, and a scene showing migrants that recently crossed over the border into Arizona. "He repeatedly voted against finishing the border wall, supported ending Title 42, which allowed the border patrol to quickly expel migrants, has done nothing to stop the cartels from bringing crime and drugs into our communities," Lake added. "Arizonans know Ruben has rubber-stamped all of Joe Bidens open border policies. I will work to secure the border and bring safety to our communities." The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the group tasked with winning a Senate majority for the GOP, has also taken aim at Gallego, placing blame on him and his Democrat colleagues for the current state of the border. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Ruben Gallego has spent his career in Congress backing the radical open-border policies that created the crisis on our southern border today. Ruben might have just noticed that the border is out of control, but he shouldnt be surprised; hes responsible for it," NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell told Fox. GOP SENATOR FUMES OVER BIDEN ADMIN PROVIDING VETERAN MEDICAL RESOURCES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Some of the legislation driving the criticism of Gallego includes H.R. 748, a 2017 bill he co-sponsored that would have banned the withholding of federal funds from sanctuary cities and states that refuse to comply with detainer requests from homeland security officials, or notifying officials when an individual being held on a detainer is released. U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, R-Ariz. In 2018, Gallego co-sponsored H.R. 6193, a bill that would have required the federal government to establish an office dedicated to the study of crimes committed against illegal immigrants in the year following their removal from the U.S., and in 2021, he voted for the failed Build Back Better Act, which, in its original form, would have granted temporary amnesty to roughly 6.5 million people non-citizens, many of whom were in the country illegally, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Also in 2021, Gallego introduced H.R. 4815, a bill that would have made DACA recipients, also known as "Dreamers," eligible for federal financial college aide, and required schools to offer them in-state tuition rates if they qualified as a citizen of that state. BIDEN'S $200K PAYMENT FROM BROTHER RECEIVES RENEWED SCRUTINY AFTER REPORT DETAILING FAILED HOSPITAL VENTURE Additionally, Gallego has supported due process for illegal immigrants in opposition to border policies under the Trump administration, and has been a sharp critic of Title 42, a policy ended by the Biden administration that allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants attempting to enter the country because of health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Rep. Gallego has a long record of supporting additional resources to the border to keep Arizonans safe, and he supports the bipartisan border bill to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into our country," Gallego campaign spokeswoman Hannah Goss told Fox News Digital, referencing the controversial bipartisan Senate border deal being largely opposed by Republicans in both houses of Congress. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. "Kari Lake rejected a bipartisan border deal backed by border patrol agents and called the 'most conservative border bill in decades' because she puts scoring political points ahead of standing up for Arizonans every single time," Goss added. Despite his support of the previously mentioned legislation, Gallego has also voted in favor of a number of bills, including the Biden administration's massive 2021 infrastructure bill, that provided funds to construct and modernize land ports of entry and other equipment at the border, as well as provided funding to hire more Border Patrol agents and officers to handle skyrocketing asylum claims something he has strongly supported. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for comment. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: Democrat in crucial Senate race under fire for past amnesty, sanctuary city 'support' as border crisis spirals This image provided by the Denver Police Department shows Miles Harford. Denver police are asking for the publics help in finding Harford, a former funeral home owner who they say kept a womans body in a hearse for two years outside a rental house where investigators also found the cremated remains of at least 30 people. After last week saying Harford was cooperating with investigators, police said Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, he hasn't turned himself in to authorities and that they can't find him. (Denver Police Department via AP) DENVER (AP) Denver police are asking for the publics help in finding a former funeral home owner who they say kept a womans body in a hearse for two years and kept the cremated remains of at least 30 people. In announcing an arrest warrant last Friday, police said Miles Harford was cooperating with investigators. However, on Thursday they offered a $2,000 Crimestoppers award for information leading to his arrest because he hasn't turned himself in to authorities and they can't find him. A warrant lists potential charges of abuse of a corpse, forgery of the death certificate and theft of the money paid for the woman's cremation. Other charges are possible as the investigation continues, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said last week. The woman's body and the cremains were found Feb. 6 during a court-ordered eviction of a house rented by Harford, the 33-year-old owner of Apollo Funeral & Cremation Services in the Denver suburb of Littleton. Harford appeared to have experienced financial trouble in his business and was at times not able to complete cremations to provide remains to families for services, Denver Police Cmdr. Matt Clark said during a Feb. 16 news conference. On occasion, Harford might have provided family members with another person's ashes instead of the ashes of their loved ones, Clark said. Temporary urns plastic boxes the size of a shoe box were found in the crawl space of the house while a Denver sheriffs deputy oversaw the removal of Harfords belongings, Clark said. Some of the boxes were empty. Other urns were found in a moving truck parked outside and still others were in the hearse where investigators found the womans body covered with blankets, Clark said. Harford said the woman died in August of 2022. The recovered cremains appear to be associated with individuals who passed away between 2012 and 2021, Clark said. A call to a phone number listed for Harford went straight to voicemail and the voicemail box hadn't been set up. The case is the latest to underscore lax oversight of Colorados funeral industry. 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. Monroe County deputies are investigating after an attempted kidnapping near High Falls State Park. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. Monday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Deputies said they have identified a suspect and recovered his or her car. Deputies did not say if the person has been taken into custody. TRENDING STORIES: The sheriffs office did not identify the victim and said they are not currently releasing more information as the investigation is active and ongoing. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] High Falls State Park is located northwest of Macon on the Owaliga River. The park features the largest waterfall in middle Georgia. The family of a trooper killed in the line of duty on Tuesday have announced his funeral plans. Trooper Chase Redner died on Tuesday morning when he was hit working a crash site where a construction worker was hit and killed. Redner was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died. He was 31 years old. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Redners visitation and funeral services are scheduled for Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 in Cherokee County. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Darby Funeral Home off E. Main Street in Canton. The next day, the memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Canton. TRENDING STORIES: Redner grew up in north Georgia and graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2017. He then graduated with the Georgia State Patrols 103rd Trooper class. Chase loved serving his state and country through his role as a State Trooper and took every opportunity to continue giving to this profession including training other State Troopers in the field, becoming a certified instructor, and finally taking a position with the Specialized Crash Reconstruction Team, his obituary reads. Family members described Redner as a devoted son, friend and patriot. They said that he also loved to cheer on Atlanta United and enjoyed spending time outdoors. Redner is survived by his fiance, Leah, and his mother, Linda. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Hours before Redner was hit and killed, GSP said that a Black Kia traveled into a construction zone on I-75 and hit a worker. The worker, identified by family members as 68-year-old Nathaniel McCreary, died from injuries on the scene. His daughter told Channel 2s Bryan Mims that he did everything for his family. He did everything he could for me. He made sure I had everything I needed, Alyssa McCreary said. The drivers in both crashes have not been identified. Its also unclear if they have been charged. KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) Along Breton Road in Kentwood sits a community of micro-businesses helping entrepreneurs, many of whom are women of color, thrive. Charity Christine Suites, located along Breton Road near 44th Street in Kentwood, was first started in May of 22. It has 22 suites some are still available to rent for business owners that need their own studio, retail space or office. The luxury suites have a minimalist, modern design. I think what I hear back often (is), It is so nice in here,' owner Charity Bruce said. Charity Christine Suites, located on Breton Road near 44th Street. Charity Christine Suites, located on Breton Road near 44th Street. Bruce was first inspired to open business suites around seven years ago, when she was 19 and had her son, and had to leave a suite she was renting. I had my son very, very young. I wasnt sure what I was going to do, she said. Now my focus is to helping other entrepreneurs and helping them grow their business. So I would say its full circle how the whole story has came about, but Im forever grateful for the experience. Charity Christine Suites, located on Breton Road near 44th Street. Several of the businesses inside Charity Christine Suites are part of the beauty industry, and several are owned by women of color, including permanent jewelry business Static Flow. Permanent jewelry has recently gained popularity in the U.S. and has started making its way into the Midwest, Static Flow owner and microwelder Hailey Smith said. A lot of people say they first were introduced to it through TikTok or social media. Theres been a couple of shows that have showcased permanent jewelry, and that really spiked peoples interest in it, she said. Smith herself first learned about permanent jewelry on social media and, while on a trip for her moms birthday in Florida, tried it out for herself. She eventually launched Static Flow in February of 2023, with the help of her sister, and moved into Charity Christine Suites in June. She offers custom-fit rings, bracelets, anklets and necklaces, in 14 karat gold filled, 14 karat rose gold filled or sterling silver. Static Flower owner and microwelder Hailey Smith wearing her permanent jewelry. Smith uses a welder to zap a jump ring on the piece, so people dont have to worry about clasps. The pieces are good for everyday life, Smith said, as theyre water-proof, sweat-proof and dont tarnish. Some customers are scared about the commitment, but Smith says you forget its there, noting she cant feel a stack of three bracelets she wears on one wrist. Her business gets a lot of repeat customers, she said. People are hooked. Once you get one piece, you want more, she said. Its really fun to do independently, with friends, with a parent, siblings. Static Flow, a permanent jewelry business located inside Charity Christine Suites. Each appointment only takes about 15 minutes. I pride myself on being able to make a super impactful 15 minutes with each client that comes in here, greeting them with a smile a snack, great conversation, things like that, she said. Smith, who grew up in Grand Rapids, started her first business in 2019. What piqued my interest in entrepreneurship was just allowing myself to have another stream of income in this economy, she said. Its been very helpful to just diversify myself and to have another stream of income, and to just bring a new experience to my clients and to Grand Rapids. Static Flow, a permanent jewelry business located inside Charity Christine Suites. Static Flow, a permanent jewelry business located inside Charity Christine Suites. Static Flow, a permanent jewelry business located inside Charity Christine Suites. While being a business owner has had its ups and downs, she said she is grateful to be surrounded by other entrepreneurs, both with her friends and family and inside Charity Christine Suites. Its been amazing experience being a woman of color business owner, Smith said. Everyones super supportive of each other in this community in the suites, they share our advertisements all the time, which is super helpful. Static Flower owner and microwelder Hailey Smith. Bruce said as a woman of color in business, one of the most important things is holding your ground, being about your business and staying on top of things. For so long, people have their views of how certain entrepreneurs could be and they like to compare, they contrast, she said. I wanted to beat the odds, especially being a younger entrepreneur as a Black entrepreneur. This embedded content is not available in your region. She encouraged those thinking about starting a small business to take the leap. Those of you that have a goal or something that youre after, go and do it, go and get after it, she said. I tell myself all the time, Im so glad that I chose back then to get started in business. Even though it didnt look as big as this, but it was a start and it led me to here, so Im grateful. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Months of searching left an Ohio family distraught in 2019 after their 6-year-old dog Will went missing. Five years later, an absolute miracle happened. The Clermont County Animal Shelter received a message with Wills original missing poster and a photo of a stray dog named Rome at a shelter. The messenger hoped the golden retriever-husky mix up for adoption was actually Will. Will was scheduled to be at an adoption event on Feb. 17, according to the shelter. Staff members quickly contacted the family hoping they could come to the adoption event to reunite with their long-lost pet. Tears of joy flowed as (his owner) Hannah rushed to the location where Rome was and as she rounded the corner, there he washer faithful companion, Will! the shelter wrote in a Facebook post. The shelter said the reunion was nothing short of magical. The heartwarming story of Hannah and Wills reunion serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that social media can have in bringing communities together, especially in times of need, the shelter said. Clermont County is about 25 miles east of Cincinnati. Antifreeze found in dog bowls around neighborhood where pet was shot, Indiana cops say Blind pitbull found on the street is an expert snuggler. Now Stevie needs a home Freezing cat found alone in Wisconsin winter shows resiliency in recovery, shelter says DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) U.S. authorities have accused another sanitation company of illegally hiring at least two dozen children to clean dangerous meat processing facilities, the latest example of the illegal child labor that officials say is increasingly common. The Labor Department asked a federal judge for an injunction to halt the employment of minors by Tennessee-based Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, saying it believes at least four children were still working at one Iowa slaughterhouse as of Dec. 12. U.S. law prohibits companies from employing people younger than 18 to work in meat processing plants because of the hazards involved. The Labor Department alleges that Fayette has used underage workers in hazardous conditions where animals are killed and rendered. The agency says children sanitize dangerous equipment, including head splitters, jaw pullers and meat bandsaws. The departments legal filing details the severe injuries one 14-year-old sustained while cleaning the drumstick packing line belt at a plant in Virginia. Records show Fayette learned the worker was underage after the child was injured and continued to employ the minor anyway, according to an investigator. The Associated Press left phone and email messages seeking comment from Fayette. The latest findings add to a growing list of violations, including the fatal mangling of a 16-year-old working at a Mississippi poultry plant, the death of a 16-year-old after an accident at a sawmill in Wisconsin, and last years report of more than 100 children illegally employed by Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, across 13 meatpacking plants. PSSI paid over $1.5 million in civil penalties. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to the 18 largest meat and poultry producers last year to highlight the issue as part of the administrations effort to crack down on child labor violations more broadly. The Labor Departments latest statistics indicate the number of children being employed illegally in the U.S. has increased 88% since 2019. The cleaning company works in about 30 states and employs more than 600 workers, according to the department, and the investigation is ongoing. The initial findings identified 15 underage Fayette employees at a Perdue Farms plant in Accomac, Virginia, and at least nine at Seaboard Triumph Foods in Sioux City, Iowa. A spokesperson for Perdue Farms said in an email that the company terminated its contract with Fayette before the filing but declined to specify further. A request for comment was left with Seaboard Triumph Foods. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, is very worried that young people who cant afford to get on the property ladder will lose their faith in democracy unless something is done to help them. Not that young people are renowned for their enthusiasm for the democratic process, its oldies like me who vote. But it appears we are the villains of the current housing crisis. Our generation bought our houses when mortgages were affordable and property was comparatively cheap. So the current shortage, with so many young people having to bunk down in their parents spare room, is basically our fault. We are too mean to pay stamp duty. We have too much clutter to fit anywhere smaller. We little old people are rattling around in huge family homes because were too selfish to move. What a load of ageist rubbish that is. For years we oldies have been falsely accused of bed-blocking because older people stay put in hospital beds even when they are well enough to be discharged. In fact that is because their homes are too unsafe to let them go back. Now were accused of house-blocking, when the truth is that millions of older people would love to move to smaller, safer homes, if there were any. But there arent. Or not enough. We are terribly bad in this country at creating attractive retirement homes, the way they do in the US and Australia. Its not a new problem. Back in 2017, the think tank Demos reported a couple of surveys which showed that millions of older people would like to downsize if only they could find smaller, safer homes. The report estimates that between a third and a quarter of older people in the UK are interested in downsizing generally, and a quarter are interested in retirement housing specifically this equates to at least 2.95 million people aged over 65. Yet there are only 720,000 of such properties in England and Wales. That was in 2017. There are even more older people today as the population ages, with what one government minister charmingly called the graph of doom. Thats us. So its in everyones interest to build nice, safe, comfortable homes for us, ones that are cheaper and easier to manage. Because if developers and local authorities provided enough homes for older people, that would free up the top of the housing ladder for families and the ripple effect would go all the way down to the homeless young people at the bottom, who are also desperate for suitable affordable housing. Demos made a few financial recommendations, such as removing stamp duty if an older person is downsizing and giving incentives to developers and local councils to build retirement housing. According to their report, the shortage of housing for older people has a stagnating effect on the entire ladder by trapping older people in large family homes, when many are seeking to downsize into suitable or specialist retirement property. Which isnt good for us, they say, because hundreds of thousands of older people are stuck in unsuitable homes, which has a negative impact on their health. So we fall or freeze, end up in hospital, and lo and behold, become bed-blockers. Im not pretending for a moment that downsizing is easy. Moving house has been listed among the three worst moments in life, along with divorce and losing your job. Upsizing, on the other hand, no problem at all. You just push all the clutter you dont want to think about into the back of a cupboard and leave it there for the next 40 years. Then with luck Stacey Solomon will come along, lay it all out in a warehouse and count your vases. When I downsized a few years ago, a professional declutterer hired by my anxious children opened a cupboard and said: Esther, why have you got 250 vases? To which I replied, You can never have enough vases. Between us we got it down to six, but they started breeding again in my new flat, and I suppose Ive got around 20 vases now. Actually, in pursuit of journalistic accuracy Ive just counted them, and I have 52. Which is handy, one for each week. I just hope I never have to downsize again. To make sure it sells and you can release your capital, youll have to consider staging your old home. I know you love it the way it is, but just watch the makeover, auction, house doctor programmes on television and you will see that everything these days has to be monochrome and minimalist. When I sold our family house the estate agent told me not to bother staging it, a new owner would pull it to pieces anyway, so dont waste time trying to second guess them. But I think you must invest in a little primping and polishing, just to show you havent let it rot for years. So I sorted out the shower room, and the cloakroom, gave it a lick of paint and made sure the lovely views over Hampstead Heath were neatly framed. And it sold. To very nice new owners who pulled out everything Id done and changed it entirely. So my estate agent was right, but would it have sold if I hadnt made an effort to stage it? Who knows. So, Michael Gove, I agree that our young people must be looked after properly, but so must the old. First-time buyers are important, but so are last-time buyers. Instead of blaming us, helping us to downsize and stay comfortable and safe would save the NHS a fortune, and free up our old family homes for new families to enjoy. And, would anyone like a vase? Esther Rantzen is a brand ambassador for Churchill Retirement Living and was a spokesman for Chill, the Campaign for Housing in Later Life. 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 sleepy and half-empty CPAC convened for its first gathering in 2024 at the Gaylord National Conference Center in National Harbor, Maryland, but there were still plenty of wild and unsubstantiated claims to be made. Here are some of the most bizarre things said even before Donald Trump took to the stage: Byron Donalds goes on Trump-esque wind power rant US Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., February 22, 2024 (REUTERS) Former President Donald Trump, whos set to speak on Saturday night, regularly rants about windmills and how they kill whales. No, really. Florida Rep Byron Donalds appeared on stage in National Harbor on Thursday, saying that in our economy, we need leadership to counteract this ... Green New Deal stuff, which by the way, isnt even that green. Its not even that green when you go on to read the studies. These solar panels are dirtier than natural gas. These wind turbines, there have been more men and women who have died from wind turbines than nuclear power, he said. That is a fact. More people have died from maintaining wind turbines than have died from nuclear power plants. But you gotta have leadership thats going to tell the truth and set America on the track going forward. We shouldnt be chasing green technology just to chase green technology, we should be chasing the cheapest and most readily available form of energy so all of our people can be successful, he added. As you can imagine, Mr Donalds doesnt believe recent extreme weather events are connected to the climate crisis. The government has become the father U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., February 22, 2024 (REUTERS) Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville appeared to be very concerned about American fatherhood and the government stepping in to take the place of fathers across the US. And there was of course a mention of the top Republican boogeywoman for the last 30+ years Hillary Clinton. Podcast host Ben Ferguson was interviewing Mr Tuberville, saying: We are at war right now ... to control our children because they believe that our children are part of the United States government. They are not yours. Your kids, your grandkids, these communists and socialists and Marxists ... believe when they talk about your kids as property of this country, Hillary Clinton said it takes a village why because she doesnt like your home she likes her village and she wants to indoctrinate your children. Mr Tuberville was of course unable to answer without bringing up gender or without bashing teachers: Ive seen all this mess and it starts with whats going on with our family, with our kids, and with this crazy idea of gender. They want everybody to be the same. Unions at one time were good for this country, but not unions for our teachers in our schools because they have absolutely been the ones that drag our country down because they want to teach this woke socialism agenda that our parents dont want, he claimed without pushback from Mr Ferguson. And of course, the government have attacked our parents for years. They want to divide the family, they want the dad [gone], they want the mom to get a cheque for every kid ... its a disaster and it all goes back to Christian and moral values. Mr Ferguson added that in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, this year, they think that about 84 to 86 per cent of all African American children born this year will be born into single-parent households ... the government has become the father. Biden is stealing elections, get Trump back in there Mr Tuberville appeared convinced that President Joe Biden stole the 2020 election from Mr Trump, despite that only one of them, that being the former president, has been charged in connection to attempts to overturn the 2020 results. We have a leader for four years, and they ran him out, he said of Mr Trump. They ran him out and theyre trying to keep him from getting reelected this time. They stuffed the ballot box on him four years ago, Mr Tuberville claimed, without evidence. Weve got to get Donald Trump elected president United States. You have got to do all you can do to get everybody go vote. If you dont have that White House. I dont care if you got the Senate. I dont care if youve got the House. If you dont have that White House, he said, noting that the immense power that the President of the United States now has. If we dont get him back in that White House, it is going to be tough for any of us to survive in the greatest country ever, he claimed. For the next 10 months, its gonna be rough, youre gonna have the groups coming out on the left, that we saw a few years ago, turned down cities, burning buildings. They hate Christianity and theyre gonna come after your churches Mr Tuberville added that they want to control everything that we do. They hate Christianity ... if you pull the Constitution out on you know, they run like its a crucifix. The entire thing here is globalisation, overtaking everything that we do. Theyre gonna vilify you, youre gonna see everything in a world said about Donald Trump or your local conservative politician, he claimed. They are going to come after you. Theyre gonna come after your churches, your anything to do with any kind of discipline, your law enforcement, its gonna be a tough time because they cant give up they know a lot of these people are gonna go to jail, he added without substantiating his claims. Democrats are communists and communists always have a plan Monica Crowley following a meeting at Trump Tower (Jim Watson/Getty) Former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs in the Trump Administration, Monica Crowley, said during a panel discussion that two years ago, from this stage, I was the very first person ... to raise the possibility that the Democrats might reach for Michelle Obama, and Ill never forget, the room fell silent, because there was not a peep ... you could hear a pin drop. And then there was a collective gasp across the room ... And I remember saying guys dont shoot the messenger. It does us no good to live in wishful-thinking fantasy land that the Democrats dont have a plan. They are communists, communists always have a plan, she added. Dont ruin catfights Framing an imagined battle for the nomination between Ms Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris as a cat fight, Matt Boyle of Breitbart said: Democrats just do whatever they want, and they could make the switch. And if they do that, then they can position Michelle as the reluctant candidate, who really didnt want to do this, but she needs to save her party and her country, so shes been reluctantly recruited. If they wait that long, they can run her as a pristine candidate without getting bruised and bloodied up in any kind of her primary. She only would have to run for 10 weeks to November 5. And look, I dont know if any of this is going to happen. I know it sounds off the wall but what weve been through over the last like eight years everything has been off the wall, he suggested. Its possible. I dont know how likely it is. And I hope to God that Im wrong. Columnist Kurt Schlichter responded: So you see things a little differently from what I do and I have a couple of bones to pick, the first is: catfight Kamala versus Michelle, why are you ruining cat fights for us? The Obamas are running the show Running with the rightwing narrative that Mr Biden is not actually in charge, Ms Crowley said: Obviously what were living through right now is not the Biden administration, this is Obama 3.0. And they installed Joe Biden in there because they knew he was a senile guy and could be a puppet. And so, theyre the ones pulling the strings, the left has a host group of powerbrokers working in conjunction with the deep state, which is real, she claimed without sharing any facts to back up her bizarre claims. Change your gender like you change your shoes Barely 90 seconds were allowed to pass at CPAC between criticisms of progressive ideas on gender. Lara Trump was quick to join in, saying When I say it is up to us, the parents, to ensure the safety and the education of our children because whether its our kids being forced to attend schools that continue to fail them are kids indoctrinated with critical race theory, or the fabricated notion that you can change your gender like you change your shoes. We must remember it is up to us to protect them because our political leaders have proven they cannot be trusted to do that job, she added. The law will be used to crush us On Friday, former Trump speechwriter and anti-immigration tsar Stephen Miller painted a dark image of the current state of the courts in the US. Big broad ... laws will be used to crush us. It will be used to obliterate us look at what New York did when they went after Donald Trump. They changed the law which is unconstitutional by the way to go after one man, he said in reference to Mr Trump. If you just have a law change in Florida that says its way easier to punish people for defamation ... What the hell do you think is going to happen? Every left-wing trial lawyer in the country is going to move to Florida and sue the hell out of every conservative influencer podcaster [and] everybody else. Its called the rule of law, not the suggestion of law. Conservatives talk about the phrase rule of law all the time, but they forget the first word in that phrase is rule ... Democrats break the law, you bring it smashing down on them. Thats the rule of law, he later added. Benevolent billionaire Elon Musk Mike Davis, the former Chief Counsel for Nominations to then-Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, argued that if we did not have a benevolent billionaire with Elon Musk ... making this terrible investment in buying Twitter, we would not have free speech online in this country. And we shouldnt have to rely on benevolent billionaires to have free speech. Donald Trump, juggernaut of justice Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official, told the crowd Im so proud to be at CPAC with so many great Americans who represent Donald Trumps army to take this country back and thats what its gonna take an entire army. Were blessed by God to have Donald Trump be our juggernaut of justice, to be our leader, to be our ... warrior in the arena. We have to fill that arena with Americans behind him who are going to take the fight to the mainstream media. Were going to take the fight to the corporate bureaucracy, he added. There is something really broken in the conservative brain Mr Miller argued that there is something really broken in the conservative brain. Theyre afraid not only of conflict, we know that. But if theres an even deeper fear [of] having power and using power ... conservatives are addicted to the language of libertarianism. Conservatives pass laws all the time that say do this and dont do that ... but they dont actually change anything in the real world, he added. Defund the UN and push it out of the US Florida Rep Matt Gaetz continued his long feud with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who said he authorised $115bn to Ukraine that we now see sloshing around the money laundering capitals of the world and [we] shouldnt have any foreign aid to any other country without corresponding cuts to our own bloated federal budget. If you want to send aid to Israel fine, he added before calling for defunding the United Nations I want the UN to be zeroed on our budget the US should be out of the UN and the UN should be out of the US. Far-right influencer calls for end of democracy Far-right activist and prominent Pizzagate influencer Jack Posobiec hailed the end of democracy at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where prominent Republicans and GOP officials trotted out January 6 conspiracy theories and downplayed the attack on the US Capitol to overturn 2020s election results. Welcome to the end of democracy. We are here to overthrow it completely, Posobiec said during a panel moderated by former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon on Thursday. We didnt get all the way there on January 6, but we will endeavour to get rid of it and replace it with this, right here, he added. On Friday, he said his plan to end democracy included rolling back what he claimed is a list of Democratic policies, part of a regime that we will overturn. Nigel Farage harps on about banking woes at American CPAC conference Former Brexit Party Leader Nigel Farage continued his bank account saga, complaining that his accounts were closed because I dared to question net zero, I dared to think leaving the European Union was a good thing. I dared to question globalism. But they wrote in their notes: Dont worry. He wont go public on this, because hell be embarrassed to do so, he added. What I tell you what folks, they picked the wrong bloke didnt they? he asked the cheering crowd before he bragged about getting two executive officers sacked. The share price of Britains biggest bank fell by 35 per cent, he claimed. We have promises from the government, that legislation will change. But you see, I was fortunate in the sense that Im big enough and ugly enough. Ive got a voice and I was able to defend myself. DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) A life-saving surgery at Duke Hospital is giving a young woman a chance she worried she wouldnt have. At just 26 years old, Taylor Stephenson recently received her third double lung transplant. Playing a simple game of fetch with her dog means the world to Stephenson. Its a sign of health, hope and a life-saving gift. Not long ago, she was tethered to an oxygen tank struggling to breathe. Its like youre suffocating and thats probably the scariest feeling, she recalled. Waking up in the night several times gasping for air. Born with cystic fibrosis, Stephenson received her first double lung transplant as a teenager, but several years later, her body began to reject the new lungs. She was grateful to receive a second transplant. Id always said this is the last one, she said. Everything went well for a while, but last year, she was devastated to learn she was dealing with rejection again. Im like Im only 25, I dont want to die yet. Ive still got so much fight in me, Stephenson remembered thinking. At the time, she didnt realize a 3rd transplant was an option. I didnt even think it was possible, she said. Third lung transplants are rare, but Duke Hospital has done more than any other hospital in the United States. Theres been about 15 done in the country; weve done 13 of those, explained Dr. John Reynolds, the medical director of Dukes Lung Transplant Program. We have patients from not just this region, but all over the country, and all over the world actually. Stephenson cried when she learned Duke would perform her third double lung transplant. Her first two transplants were performed at other hospitals. I was getting another chance, she said. She temporarily moved from Oklahoma to Durham for the surgery and recovery, and while she misses home she considers her medical team a second family. She credits them, and her faith, with getting her through. Its an awesome feeling having these people on your side, all of them, she said. Its been about a month since her transplant, and Dr. Reynolds calls her progress incredible. Stephenson is breathing easily and has more energy every day. She hopes her donors family knows how grateful she is. I want them to know how much Im going to honor these lungs, she said. One day, she hopes to climb a mountain, but first, she has some plans for her dog Millie. Were gonna go on all the walks, she said, smiling. Dr. Reynolds hopes Stephensons story inspires other patients. Stephenson wants that too. I want other people to know that a 3rd transplant is an option, she said. Your life does not have to end. Stephenson finished her associates degree in psychology while in the hospital and says she may eventually pursue a career in pharmacy. She wants to help other transplant patients or patients with cystic fibrosis. I know that I can at least give comfort, she said. Its not always going to be sunshine and roses, but there will be light. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. A video of Donald Trump Kanye West, the controversial rap artist now known professionally as Ye, as the former president took the stage at a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania event. But the audio has been altered; a live stream of the appearance at "Sneaker Con" reveals the song was country music artist Lee Greenwood "Donald Trump walking out to CARNIVAL at Philly," says a February 18, 2024 post on X, formerly Twitter. Screenshot from X taken February 22, 2024 The post references West's new track with rapper Ty Dolla $ign, "Carnival," which topped Billboard's streaming charts following its February 2024 release. Similar posts purporting to show footage of Trump playing the rap duo's song as he walked onto the stage at a February 17 "Sneaker Con" event -- where he hawked new Trump-branded footwear selling for $399 -- spread across X and other platforms, such as TikTok. It would have been a new embrace of West for Trump, who faced backlash in 2022 for hosting the rapper and notorious white supremacist Nick Fuentes at his Florida estate for dinner. West, who previously visited Trump's White House, was dropped from lucrative commercial deals and some social media platforms after a series of anti-Semitic remarks, including praise for Adolf Hitler. But the video is manipulated. A live stream from the conservative Right Side Broadcasting Network shows the former president emerged with Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." blaring in the background (archived here). The crowd greeted the Republican, who is running to retake the White House while embroiled in several criminal investigations, with a mix of boos and cheers, according to US media reports. Greenwood's ode to the United States is a staple at Trump's rallies, and the country music veteran sang at Trump's inauguration in 2017. AFP contacted the Trump 2024 campaign for comment, but no response was forthcoming. The doctored video appears to have reached West himself. Various hip-hop websites, Ye fan accounts and other social media users shared apparent screen recordings that claimed to show the rapper posted the altered clip on Instagram, writing, "This made me smile." AFP could not independently verify whether West shared the clip, and West's publicist did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. But a link to a since-deleted February 17 post featuring the same caption shows up in Google search results. West has 19.7 million Instagram followers. AFP has debunked other misinformation about US politics here. LEXINGTON, S.C. - So much for that Donald Trump-Ron DeSantis ticket. Trump aides said Thursday that DeSantis is not in the vice presidential discussion, especially after the Florida governor questioned the former president's criteria for picking a running mate. "Ron DeSantis failed miserably in his presidential campaign and does not have a voice in selecting the next Vice President of the United States," said Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt responded after news reports that DeSantis told supporters that Trump should not play "identity politics" with the running mate slot, presumably a reference to the fact that Trump has women and Black candidates on his vice presidential list. Now we have a diverse Republican Party. I want everybody in the fold, dont get me wrong. But I dont want people representing 10, 15% of the party being in the drivers seat, DeSantis said on a conference call with supporters of his failed presidential bid, according to audio obtained by NBC News. In reposting the NBC report on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita referred to DeSantis as a "sad little man." DeSantis' name surfaced in the running mate search during a Fox News town hall on Tuesday. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference on February 05, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. The state is taking on a bill that would ban minors from social media. In the past when DeSantis and Florida have taken on culture war issues the impact has poured into other states. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Fox News host Laura Ingraham read off a list of names suggested by the audience, including DeSantis, and Trump did not discount any of them. The names included South Carolina U.S. Rep. and former 2024 presidential candidate Tim Scott, businessman and ex-candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, former Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Florida U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Trump has said he is also considering New York U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. Trump does not yet have the Republican nomination locked up, as he is still opposed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The two square off Saturday in the South Carolina Republican primary. In his talk with supporters, DeSantis suggested he would never be seriously considered by Trump to be a running mate. He said they approach the job differently. So I would want somebody that, if something happened, the people that voted us in would have been pleased to know that theyre going to continue the mission, DeSantis said, according to NBC. DeSantis added: Im not sure that those are going to necessarily be the criteria that Donald Trump uses. I have heard that theyre looking more in identity politics. I think thats a mistake. I think you should just focus on who the best person for the job would be, and then do that accordingly. Trump and DeSantis - and their aides - had a tense relationship before and after the Florida governor's presidential bid. DeSantis withdrew from the race after a distant second finish to Trump in the Iowa caucuses. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's VP list does not include Ron DeSantis, campaign says (KRON) DoorDash will pay a $375,000 civil penalty after violating multiple consumer privacy laws, California Attorney General Bonta says. An investigation by the California Department of Justice found that DoorDash sold its California customers personal information including names, addresses, and transaction histories of California consumers to a marketing cooperative, without providing notice or an opportunity to opt out of that sale. DoorDash orders and revenue beat Wall Street expectations despite disappointing net losses Bonta says selling personal information without the consumers consent violates both the California Consumer Privacy Act, a privacy or data protection law, and the California Online Privacy Protection Act, a state law requiring online services to include a privacy policy on their website. As my office has stressed time and time again, businesses must disclose when they are selling personal information and offer Californians a way to opt out of that sale, Bonta said. I hope todays settlement serves as a wakeup call to businesses: The CCPA has been in effect for over four years now, and businesses must comply with this important privacy law. As part of the settlement, DoorDash will both pay a civil penalty and comply with strong injunctive terms such as annual reports to the Attorney General that monitors any potential sale or sharing of consumer personal information. Attorney Bonta also announced an investigative sweep last month, focusing the states efforts on streaming services and their compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act. Violations cannot be cured, and my office will hold businesses accountable if they sell data without protecting consumers rights. Bonta said. DoorDash wrote this statement to KRON4 as a reply to the lawsuit: DoorDash ended its relationship with all marketing cooperatives in 2020, and were pleased to have resolved this years-old matter. This settlement arises out of a single incident involving a vendor over four years ago, the same month the California Consumer Privacy Act went into effect, and the terms reflect our good faith and deep commitment to privacy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Former San Antonio attorney Christopher Pettit, left, walks with attorney Michael G. Colvard into the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building to meet with creditors in July 2022. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer The San Antonio Express-News first reported in May 2022 that San Antonio attorney Christopher Pettit was facing mounting accusations in lawsuits filed by clients that he had stolen millions of dollars from them. Pettit gave general denials in some of the cases, but he and his firm reached agreed judgments with some who were awarded at least on paper millions in economic and punitive damages. The former San Antonio attorneys clients say he stole more than $250 million. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Heres a look at major developments in the case before and after that first story: Former San Antonio attorney Chrsitopher Pettit maintained two law offices in San Antonio. This one was at 13111 Huebner Road. 2021 Sept. 9: Dr. Salvador Ortiz is the first client to sue Pettit. In March, Ortiz entered into an agreed judgment with Pettit and his firm. A judge ordered Ortiz could recover almost $2.9 million in actual damages and nearly $8.7 million in punitive damages. It apparently triggered a cash crunch for Pettit. 2022 Late March: The FBI launches an investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad March, April, May: More clients file lawsuits against Pettit and his firm. May 20: Pettit resigns from the board of EF EnergyFunders Inc., an oil and gas investment company based in Calgary with offices in San Antonio. June 1: Pettit and his law firm file for bankruptcy protection. He lists assets of almost $27.8 million and debts of $115.2 million, making it one of the largest individual bankruptcy cases ever filed in San Antonio. His firm, Chris Pettit & Associates, reported assets valued at no more than $50,000. June 6: Rather than face disciplinary action from the State Bar of Texas, Pettit surrenders his law license. June 21: A filing in the bankruptcy case shows that in the months leading up to the collapse of his law firm, Pettit sold or entered contracts to sell nine San Antonio-area properties valued together at more than $10 million to a company with ties to Energy Funders. Advertisement Article continues below this ad June 27: An attorney for the court-appointed trustee overseeing Pettits bankruptcy calls the ex-attorney a one-stop fraud shop in his practice focused on wills, trusts, financial advice and personal injury law. July 8: In the 40 days after filing bankruptcy, Pettit spent more than $250,000, according to a filing seeking a contempt charge after he withdrew $125,000 from a retirement account that was part of the bankruptcy estate. Auctioneer Mel Mickey Davis walks among a warehouse full of items being auctioned in January 2022 from Chris Pettits estate as part of the bankruptcy trustees efforts to raise money to pay Pettits creditors. William Luther, Staff / Staff July 12: Charles Joseph Pettit, Pettits younger brother, is found dead in an apparent suicide at his San Antonio home. In late October, the death was officially ruled a suicide. Aug. 15: An amended bankruptcy filing lists $40.5 million in assets and $112.2 million in debts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aug. 23: Martin & Drought P.C. lawyers representing Pettit ask to withdraw from the bankruptcy case after learning theyd been paid with money allegedly stolen from Pettits clients. Sept. 8: Pettit is sent to jail after being found in contempt for violating a judges order relating to potential evidence in the case. Sept. 20: Properties Pettit sold before filing bankruptcy are ordered returned to the estate to be sold for the benefit of his former clients. Dec. 7: Pettit is ordered released from jail after agreeing to surrender his $1.8 million Stone Oak home, retirement accounts valued at about $500,000 and various life insurance policies to the bankruptcy estate as part of a compromise with the Chapter 11 trustee overseeing assets. Dec. 7: Pettit remained locked up after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to allegations that he stole millions of dollars from his former clients. The next week, a judge ordered he remain behind bars until his trial because of his conduct during the bankruptcy case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 2023 March 2: The first of several auctions begins to sell Pettits personal property to raise funds to return to his creditors. Notable items in the first auction included life-size Boba Fett and Storm Trooper figures from the Star Wars films, a 2018 Porsche Panamera and a 2020 Porsche Macan. A 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 SUV also hit the auction block. Two Porsches and a Mercedes-Benz SUV that Chris Pettit owned were auctioned by Mel Davis Auctions in Elmendorf to raise funds for creditors in his massive bankruptcy case. William Luther, Staff / Staff May 2: Wells Fargo Bank is called a willing participant in the scheme to defraud Pettits victims because it allegedly allowed him to improperly open accounts in New Mexico he then used to launder clients funds, according to a lawsuit filed by attorneys representing the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy case. May 10: Pettits former Stone Oak mansion is put up for sale at $1.6 million. It came after his two San Antonio office buildings were sold to raise funds for creditors, and with other real estate he owned also on the market. Sept. 14: Pettit agrees to plead guilty to charges in his federal criminal case. The move heads off a trial his former clients had awaited. After several delays, the trial had been set for mid-October. Oct. 5: With a dozen of his victims there to witness it, Pettit pleads guilty to multiple counts, a move that could land him in prison for decades. Oct. 13: Nearly 65 former clients sue five banks for more than $150 million in damages, accusing them of ignoring warning signs Pettit was carrying out a massive fraud. Christopher Chris Pettits former San Antonio law office at 11902 Rustic Lane is among the the properties being returned to the bankruptcy estate as part of a settlement agreement. Chris Pettit's former Stone Oak mansion at 11 Champions Run sold late last year. It went on the market for $1.6 million. Craig McCasland / CraigMac Visuals LLC Ex-attorney Christopher Chris Pettits former Florida mansion at Walt Disney World Resort features 10 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms. A Nebraska buyer has agreed to pay $8.4 million for it. PAREDP1 2024 No criminal offences have been detected by police investigating alleged threats made against Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said it has concluded its investigation, following inquiries. Sir Jeffrey said: "A decision was made not to press charges." Last month, Sir Jeffrey told MPs he had been threatened due to a "stirring up" of tensions over his party's talks on returning to power-sharing at Stormont. The DUP later said the matter had been reported to the PSNI. At the time, a party spokesman said there was "no place for the threat of violence in democratic politics" and that "we trust those responsible will be held accountable for their actions". In a statement, a PSNI spokesman said: "Enquiries were made, no offences were detected and the investigation has now concluded." Sir Jeffrey referred to the threats during an impassioned speech in the House of Commons. At the time, the DUP was blocking Northern Ireland's devolved institutions in protest over Brexit trade rules. The party had been in talks with the government, seeking changes to the arrangements for Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. He hit out at his unionist critics, saying that some were attempting to "orchestrate opposition". The following week, the DUP endorsed a deal to restore Stormont and the power-sharing institutions were later re-established. In a statement on Thursday, Sir Jeffrey said: "I thank the police for their investigative efforts. A decision was made not to press charges. Those who made the threats now know they are not beyond the reach of the law. They cannot threaten people in public life and stay anonymous from the police." The DUP leader said he wanted to see more people in public life "where issues are debated and discussed through democratic politics alone". "We must stand against those who would seek to bully with violent threats," he added. "I wasn't intimidated out of politics 30 years ago and I won't be intimidated in 2024." Semafor Signals Insights from The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and International Affairs The News More than two-thirds of NATO members, including key states such as the U.S., France, and the U.K., have endorsed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next NATO leader, but the process of nomination requires approval from all 31 of members. Turkey reportedly has a long list of demands in exchange for backing Ruttes leadership bid, while Budapest has doubts about Rutte due to his criticisms about the state of democracy in Hungary. The alliance faces an uncertain future due to U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trumps skepticism of collective security and the challenge of Ukraine funding, and the question of who will be NATO chief Jens Stoltenbergs successor is of increasing importance to Europe and the United States. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Dutch PM launches Trump charm offensive Sources: The Washington Post, Bloomberg, International Affairs While European leaders widely condemned Donald Trump for saying that he would let Russia do whatever the hell they want to NATO members that did not meet their defense spending goals, Rutte has defended the former U.S. president, telling Bloomberg TV that [Trump] was right about European countries not spending enough. We should stop moaning and whining and nagging about Trump, Rutte said at the Munich Security Conference last weekend. NATOs current chief Jens Stoltenberg was able to build a good working relationship with Trump through flattery and compromise, with one former ambassador calling him the master Trump-whisperer. If Trump is elected U.S president, the next NATO chief will have to live up to his predecessors reputation. Dutch defense spending may be a sore spot for Rutte Sources: The Guardian, Politico Rutte has earned the moniker Teflon Mark for his ability to navigate domestic scandals and turbulent moments, but the Netherlands defense spending under his leadership could be a liability for his nomination as NATOs head. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) told Politico that Rutte should be unequivocally disqualified due to the Netherlands low military spending. The Hague is expected to hit NATOs 2% of GDP spending target this year, but has previously fallen far short of that number during Ruttes time as prime minister. Eastern Europe holds out for one of their own Sources: Bloomberg, The Atlantic Councils Andrew A. Michta The countries along NATOs eastern flank had long hoped that Jens Stoltenbergs successor would be the first Eastern European NATO chief, a recognition of the regions vulnerable position and its significant contribution to defense spending, as a share of GDP, when compared to Western Europe. However, several Eastern European countries are yet to endorse Rutte, and Romania reportedly plans to nominate its president, Klaus Iohannis, as a candidate for NATO secretary general, Bloomberg reported. The next NATO chief should come from one of the frontier allies in the Baltic-Central European theater where the risk of Russian invasion is the highest, Andrew A. Michta, a NATO expert at the Atlantic Council wrote on X. DUBLIN, Calif. - A coalition of hundreds of teachers from around the East Bay picketed Wednesday, calling for a raise, smaller class sizes and more benefits. Teachers in a number of districts have already authorized strikes as they work to negotiate their contracts. The East Bay Coalition for Student Success coordinated multiple rallies and dozens of people turned out to support the Orinda Education Association on Camino Pablo. Orinda teachers say they were offered a 3% raise, but they want 8%. "So, we have chapters everywhere standing in the streets letting them know our students are our priority. We want the best teachers for our students," said Charles Shannon, Orinda Educators Assoc. President. Teachers from the Dublin Unified School District and Pleasanton Unified School District rallied here at the Dublin Sports Grounds. "Its not about hoarding money in reserves or increasing management salaries. The teachers are the ones who matter in education," said Monica Lewis, Dublin Teachers Association. The Coalition is comprised of 21 local chapters of the California Teachers Association including Antioch, Pittsburg, and Richmond. Dublin educator Monica Lewis says theyre fighting to put student needs first by having qualified teaching staff thats fairly compensated. "If we have fair contracts, the really big thing is getting effective teachers into the classroom. The funding is really important to make sure we have contracts that will retain and recruit the best teachers for our students," said Lewis. The Coalition says it decided to rally as a last-ditch effort before some local chapters of CTA call for a strike across the East Bay. Allison Malone is also a member of the Dublin Teachers Association. "Theyre essentially making no movement on what theyre willing to offer. We know that Dublin students deserve the best and that is salaries that keep up with the increased cost of living expenses," said Malone. We reached out to Pleasanton Unified School District which declined to comment. Dublin Unified School District says it hopes to reach an equitable agreement with competitive compensation for certificated employees, while also maintaining fiscal health for the district. "Were one of the only districts that doesnt offer fully funded health care. Theyre also not honoring years of service credit for teachers who have been in the district for a number of years. Were asking for teaching and learning conditions that prioritize the best for our students," said Malone. The Association of Pleasanton Teachers says they have a fact-finding hearing on Monday, February 26. The Dublin Teachers Association has not scheduled a hearing date yet. Inas Al-Baz, a displaced teacher from Beach refugee camp in Gaza City, cooks food inside her tent, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip Inas Al-Baz, a displaced teacher from Beach refugee camp in Gaza City, cooks food inside her tent, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip By Saleh Salem RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - Life for Gaza teacher Inas Al-Baz has shrunk to a daily search for food and water for her family, but she breaks the monotony as often as she can, whether it's with a fresh ingredient for her cooking pot or study time with her children in their tent. The Al-Baz family, from Al-Shati refugee camp, are among an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians crammed into the Rafah area in southern Gaza after Israel's military onslaught on the crowded strip of land displaced them from their homes. "My children have hobbies and are good at school, thank God. They used to have their ambitions and their own activities like all children," she said in the family's shelter made from nylon sheets nailed to plywood strips. "But now it's all about 'Mother, what will we eat? What will we drink?'" Al-Baz said her children were fed up with canned food, one of the only things she can find to feed them, but she was happy that thanks to recent rainfall a type of edible plant called mallow had grown nearby and she had some for the next meal. She was washing chopped mallow leaves in a pot on the ground, in preparation for cooking them on a small camping gas stove. She said she had just recently got hold of the stove, a marked improvement after months of cooking on an open fire that produced fumes that made one of her daughters sick. Daily chores such as making bread, sweeping sand out of the shelter and washing clothes by hand in small buckets were time-consuming, but Al-Baz was determined to keep up her children's education. "I don't waste time in the tent. I teach them Koran, I teach them poetry," she said. "Our children are suffering, deprived of their rights. But we, as Palestinian women, are patient and we work hard in pushing our children to be the best children," she said. Kneeling inside the tent, her daughter Anood recited a poem in Arabic with a lively intonation. Al-Baz sat with her son Swalem, teaching him basic English. The children also enjoyed some play time flying a kite outside the shelter. "I consider the Palestinian women among the strongest women in the world," said Al-Baz. "We, as Palestinian women, suffer a lot, a lot, a lot in these tents. But despite this, we can adapt to the circumstances and we can live our lives," she said. The war was triggered by Hamas militants who broke out of Gaza to attack southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, according to Israel. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has responded with an air and ground assault that has killed more than 29,400 people, according to Gaza health authorities. The offensive has displaced most of the territory's population and caused widespread hunger and disease. (Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Nick Macfie) Saturday marks the two-year anniversary of Russian despot Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, after Moscows military forces took control of Eastern Ukraine and Crimea in 2014. When he launched his special military operation in 2022, Putin expected his tanks to roll into Kyiv within days, a proof of concept for his vision of a reconstituted Soviet Union. As the months dragged on and the offensive failed spectacularly some optimistic observers began predicting Ukraine would win decisively, and perhaps even push into Russia. The truth is somewhere in the middle: Ukrainian forces have fought resolutely against a much larger adversary but are worn down and on their back foot. The Russians have just taken the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka. Its easy to fall into the narrative trap, established both by our popular mass media and general conceptions of historical progress, that there is something inherent about the victory of the good side, that a smaller nation invaded by a murderous and imperialistic neighbor will still triumph. This is not true; there is no guarantee that the right side wins, and to think so is dangerous and counterproductive. And here the right side, Ukraine, certainly cannot prevail without help. The United States and our Western European allies have been providing aid, but it is running low and as by far the biggest player, Washingtons continued assistance is crucial. President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 68 other senators all agree to send Ukraine $60 billion in a bill which passed the Senate last week. It would absolutely pass in the House of Representatives as well, but Speaker Mike Johnson sent the chamber on vacation instead of acting, because Donald Trump wanted him to. So advancing on the battlefield and having America frozen are good for Putin, who felt emboldened to finally get rid of Alexei Navalny, the brave man who opposed Putins stranglehold of corruption and violence and has now paid the ultimate price. And as much as its frightening to think so, there is nothing that says Putin wont win in his own war against democracy, in Ukraine, even in Poland and farther afield. This doesnt leave us powerless, it simply means that we must take real action to stop him. The arc of history doesnt bend inexorably in favor of liberty; it must be bent, by continued military and economic support for Ukraine, by sanctions and the fomenting of internal dissent in Russia, by steadfast support for NATO. Right now, the MAGA GOP is doing what they can to bend it in Putins direction, with Johnson and House Republicans refusing to move forward with the aid that is keeping Ukraines military going while Trump posts bizarro statements referencing Navalny but not Putin and encourages the latter to attack NATO countries. The rationale here really seems to be a pure expression of domestic electoral politics, without consideration for the broader international implications. Putins denials that he has any interest in a wider war with Poland or Latvia ring close to his obviously false denials of interest in war with Ukraine, and Republicans should have a hard think about what kind of world they want to be in three or four years from now. Is it worth it? ___ Einstein urged Roosevelt to fund uranium research, fearing Germany would develop an atomic bomb. After the war, the physicist expressed regret for his role in developing the bomb. His final public act was to sign a manifesto warning that H-bombs could destroy humankind. Shortly before his death in 1955, Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein signed a manifesto written by philosopher Bertrand Russell . It was Einstein's last public act and would come to be named the Russell-Einstein Manifesto. The document expressed fear that the public didnt understand the power of newly developed hydrogen bombs, which are even more powerful than atomic ones. In the manifesto, Russell warned, that a war with H-bombs might possibly put an end to the human race." Though the number has fluctuated over the decades, there are still around 12,500 nuclear weapons in nine countries today, so some of the scientists' fears communicated in the manifesto continue to be relevant today. 'The war is won, but the peace is not.' In the years after the US dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many of the scientists involved in the Manhattan Project developing the weapons expressed remorse for their work. They feared how similar bombs would be used in future wars. Though he was never part of the Manhattan Project , Albert Einstein signed a letter to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, urging him to speed up the experimental work on uranium for potential use in atomic weapons. Years later, the German physicist called the letter his "one great mistake." A new Netflix docudrama, Einstein and the Bomb , uses footage and reenactments of the famous scientist and his shifting view of nuclear weapons. It quotes his 1945 Nobel Prize address expressing concern over the future use of nuclear weapons, saying, The war is won, but the peace is not. Albert Einstein warned that nuclear weapons could lead to the end of humankind. Central Press/Stringer/Getty Images By signing Russell's manifesto, Einstein hoped to warn the public about the dangers of these new weapons as his final public act, according to physicist Joseph Rotblat, who resigned from the Manhattan Project over moral objections. Though this was decades before scientists proposed the theory of nuclear winter , the manifesto predicted the use of several H-bombs would lead to universal death by a slow torture of disease and disintegration. Rotblat, Frederic Joliot-Curie, Linus Pauling, and other scientists signed the manifesto, which led to the establishment of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. The organization aims to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction. In 2013, Rotblat wrote that the manifestos statement "Remember your humanity, and forget the rest" was as relevant as the day Russell wrote it. Here's a full transcript of The Russell-Einstein Manifesto 9 July 1955 In the tragic situation which confronts humanity, we feel that scientists should assemble in conference to appraise the perils that have arisen as a result of the development of weapons of mass destruction, and to discuss a resolution in the spirit of the appended draft. We are speaking on this occasion, not as members of this or that nation, continent or creed, but as human beings, members of the species Man, whose continued existence is in doubt. The world is full of conflicts; and, overshadowing all minor conflicts, the titanic struggle between Communism and anti-Communism. Almost everybody who is politically conscious has strong feelings about one or more of these issues; but we want you, if you can, to set aside such feelings and consider yourselves only as members of a biological species which has had a remarkable history, and whose disappearance none of us can desire. We shall try to say no single word which should appeal to one group rather than to another. All, equally, are in peril, and, if the peril is understood, there is hope that they may collectively avert it. We have to learn to think in a new way. We have to learn to ask ourselves, not what steps can be taken to give military victory to whatever group we prefer, for there no longer are such steps; the question we have to ask ourselves is: what steps can be taken to prevent a military contest of which the issue must be disastrous to all parties? The general public, and even many men in positions of authority, have not realized what would be involved in a war with nuclear bombs. The general public still thinks in terms of the obliteration of cities. It is understood that the new bombs are more powerful than the old, and that, while one A-bomb could obliterate Hiroshima, one H-bomb could obliterate the largest cities, such as London, New York, and Moscow. No doubt in an H-bomb war great cities would be obliterated. But this is one of the minor disasters that would have to be faced. If everybody in London, New York, and Moscow were exterminated the world might, in the course of a few centuries, recover from the blow. But we now know, especially since the Bikini test, that nuclear bombs can gradually spread destruction over a very much wider area than had been supposed. It is stated on very good authority that a bomb can now be manufactured which will be 2,500 times as powerful as that which destroyed Hiroshima. Such a bomb, if exploded near the ground or under water, sends radio-active particles into the upper air. They sink gradually and reach the surface of the earth in the form of a deadly dust or rain. It was this dust which infected the Japanese fishermen and their catch of fish. No one knows how widely such lethal radio-active particles might be diffused, but the best authorities are unanimous in saying that a war with H-bombs might quite possibly put an end to the human race. It is feared that if many H-bombs are used there will be universal death sudden only for a minority, but for the majority a slow torture of disease and disintegration. Many warnings have been uttered by eminent men of science and by authorities in military strategy. None of them will say that the worst results are certain. What they do say, is that these results are possible, and no one can be sure that they will not be realized. We have not yet found that the views of experts on this question depend in any degree upon their politics or prejudices. They depend only, so far as our researches have revealed, upon the extent of the particular experts knowledge. We have found that the men who know most are the most gloomy. Here, then, is the problem which we present to you, stark and dreadful, and inescapable: Shall we put an end to the human race: or shall mankind renounce war?1 People will not face this alternative because it is so difficult to abolish war. The abolition of war will demand distasteful limitations of national sovereignty.2 But what perhaps impedes understanding of the situation more than anything else is that the term mankind feels vague and abstract. People scarcely realize in imagination that the danger is to themselves and their children and their grandchildren, and not only to a dimly apprehended humanity. They can scarcely bring themselves to grasp that they, individually, and those whom they love are in imminent danger of perishing agonizingly. And so they hope that perhaps war may be allowed to continue provided modern weapons are prohibited. This hope is illusory. Whatever agreements not to use H-bombs had been reached in time of peace, they would no longer be considered binding in time of war, and both sides would set to work to manufacture H-bombs as soon as war broke out, for, if one side manufactured the bombs and the other did not, the side that manufactured them would inevitably be victorious. Although an agreement to renounce nuclear weapons as part of a general reduction of armaments3 would not afford an ultimate solution, it would serve certain important purposes. First: any agreement between East and West is to the good in so far as it tends to diminish tension. Second: the abolition of thermo-nuclear weapons, if each side believed that the other had carried it out sincerely, would lessen the fear of a sudden attack in the style of Pearl Harbour, which at present keeps both sides in a state of nervous apprehension. We should therefore welcome such an agreement, though only as a first step. Most of us are not neutral in feeling, but, as human beings, we have to remember that, if the issues between East and West are to be decided in any manner that can give any possible satisfaction to anybody, whether Communist or anti-Communist, whether Asian or European or American, whether White or Black, then these issues must not be decided by war. We should wish this to be understood both in the East and in the West. There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge, and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? We appeal, as human beings, to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise; if you cannot, there lies before you the risk of universal death. Resolution: We invite this Congress, and through it the scientists of the world and the general public, to subscribe to the following resolution: In view of the fact that in any future world war nuclear weapons will certainly be employed, and that such weapons threaten the continued existence of mankind, we urge the governments of the world to realize, and to acknowledge publicly, that their purpose cannot be furthered by a world war, and we urge them, consequently, to find peaceful means for the settlement of all matters of dispute between them. Signatories: Max Born Percy W. Bridgman Albert Einstein Leopold Infeld Frederic Joliot-Curie Herman J. Muller Linus Pauling Cecil F. Powell Joseph Rotblat Bertrand Russell Hideki Yukawa Read the original article on Business Insider El Chapo gave a briefcase with $1 million to the campaign of the ex-Honduras president now accused of US drug trafficking: witness Mexican drug lord El Chapo gave $1 million to the ex-Honduran president's campaign, prosecutors say. The money was intended to secure a drug trafficking route through Honduras. The detail reveals the depth of drug cartel corruption and how cocaine makes its way to the US. Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman personally handed a briefcase filled with $1 million to the brother of Juan Orlando Hernandez, the one-time Honduran president, in hopes that his election would secure a drug trafficking route through Honduras, a former supplier to El Chapo testified Thursday. Amilcar Alexander Ardon Soriano, the former mayor of the Honduran town of El Paraiso, who previously pleaded guilty to a laundry list of violent drug offenses including drug trafficking, murder, and torture testified in the Manhattan federal trial of Hernandez. Prosecutors accuse the ex-Honduras president, who was first elected in 2013, of working for years with "violent" drug traffickers to harm the United States. In court documents, prosecutors wrote that Hernandez told his coconspirators he wanted to "stuff the drugs up the noses of the gringos." The trial, which began with opening statements Wednesday, sheds light on how deep the corruption of the drug cartel runs in Honduras and how that corruption allows cocaine to end up on the streets of cities and towns in America. Ardon testified Thursday that he gave millions in drug money to Hernandez and the National Party over the years and assisted with election fraud and bribing voters. Ardon described to the jury on Thursday a 2013 meeting he attended with El Chapo in Espiritu, Copan, at the property of Miguel Arnulfo Valle Valle and his younger brother Luis Alfonso two of the most notorious cocaine traffickers in the world. Ardon testified that an associate of El Chapo had told him to bring Hernandez's brother, Tony, to the meeting. At the meeting, El Chapo told Tony Hernandez he was looking to open new trafficking routes through Honduras. Tony Hernandez said that if his brother won the presidential election, "he could help," Ardon testified. El Chapo then asked if, under his brother's administration, the Valle brothers or Ardon himself would be extradited for prosecution. "Tony Hernandez said that if Juan Orlando won, that we would not be extradited," Ardon told the jury. At that point, El Chapo offered $1 million to Hernandez's campaign, Ardon testified. El Chapo was convicted in 2019 of drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons-related offenses. US State Department "Tony Hernandez said he had to speak with his brother to see if he should accept the money," Ardon said, adding later, "Tony Hernandez told me that he'd spoken to Juan Orlando Hernandez and that they needed the money for the campaign." At a different meeting that year, Ardon and Tony Hernandez met with El Chapo again, and El Chapo personally handed the briefcase with $1 million to Hernandez, the convicted drug trafficker testified. Hernandez barely won the 2013 election, with 36.89% of the votes. The next year, when the Valle brothers were extradited to the United States to face prosecution on drug trafficking charges, El Chapo and his associates were worried, Ardon testified. The drug lord wanted to know if Ardon and others were safe. At some point in 2014 or 2015, both Juan Orlando and Tony Hernandez met with El Chapo to discuss the extradition, Ardon testified. "Juan Orlando Hernandez told me that he had had them extradited because they had tried to have him killed," Ardon told the jury. The president then got angry. "Juan Orlando Hernandez said that he had no obligation to anyone and that if they wanted the money back, he could return it," Ardon testified, adding that the president then stormed out. Ardon says he's a better person now Ardon's testimony for the prosecution concluded just after the lunch break, and he spent the rest of the day under cross-examination by defense attorney Raymond Colon, who began by questioning Ardon's motive for testifying. "I'm just trying to tell the truth and get a new lease on life as a better person," the convicted drug trafficker said. "So you're a better person now?" Colon fired back. "The time I've spent in jail has made me a better person," said Ardon, who has been in custody since surrendering to US law enforcement in 2019. Rather than focusing on the truth of the allegations Ardon made in his earlier testimony, Colon spent the afternoon almost exclusively on Ardon's violent past, including his direct involvement over the years in dozens of murders. "I'm going to list some of the names of the 56 you've killed or had killed, and I want you to tell me if it was personal, revenge, or related to drug trafficking," Colon said, as he launched into questions about nearly two dozen murders spanning two decades. But Colon's point soon got badly muddled by his meandering and poorly worded questions that frequently misstated facts, dates, and names, raising numerous objections from both the prosecution and Judge Kevin Castel. Ardon grew testy at times as he gave answers to questions about events already covered at length. And on the beach, Castel began to lose patience, even snapping at Colon. "That was only three questions ago, please!" Castel said after reading back a portion of the transcript to help Colon return to his place in the questioning. As the afternoon drew to a close, Colon asked a final question about one of Ardon's murders, seemingly unaware that Ardon had walked him through that incident hours earlier at the very start of cross-examination. At the defense table, Hernandez could be seen at one point pinching the bridge of his nose and scrunching his eyes shut. The trial is scheduled to resume Friday. Read the original article on Business Insider Half Price Books is closing its store at 3207 Broadway St. this spring. Courtesy Half Price Books Bob Kellel and his family have run Antiquarian Book Mart since 1971. Deborah Martin The Antiquarian Book Mart, which specializes in history books, will close in May. Deborah Martin Half Price Brooks is closing its location on Broadway next to Antiquarian Book Mart, which also is shutting down, after the buildings that the businesses occupy changed hands. A sign posted at Half Price states the store will close permanently May 5 and thanks customers for patronizing the business for more than 40 years. The building has been sold and we were unable to work out a new lease with the new owners. We have looked for another location in town, but have not found a financially viable option as of now, a spokesperson for the Dallas-based chain said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Half Price has four other locations in San Antonio and no other closures are planned, the spokesperson said. Next door at Antiquarian, closing sales are underway and the store is expected to shut its doors in May as well. Bob Kellel and his family have been selling books at Antiquarian since 1971, and they are ready to move on. The Kellel family sold the buildings occupied by Half Price and Antiquarian, and a vacant lot in December to local real estate developer Glenn Huddleston, deed records show. Im not looking forward to it, Kellel told the Express-News last year. Its been a wonderful business. I also realize the quality of having a nice bookstore in this area, and its going to suffer a little bit. But Im old Im 71 and my children live in Boston, and my wife wants to go see the grandson more. Its hard for me to get away and go with her while Im busy with this. And property taxes have gotten prohibitive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Huddleston owns other buildings in the area, including a colorful building in the 2600 block of Broadway previously occupied by the Fiesta San Antonio Commission, the former Magnolia/Mobil Gas station topped with a Pegasus at 5424 Broadway, the Inter-Continental Motors building at 3303 Broadway and the Uptown Alamo Heights strip center at 5930 Broadway. Huddleston did not immediately respond to an inquiry Wednesday afternoon. The buildings are next to the recently renovated Ranch Motel and Leisure Club and sit along a corridor thats seen an explosion of residential and office construction in recent years, largely driven by the success of Pearl. Just outside Pearl, three office towers have been built in the past five years. They house the headquarters for Credit Human and Jefferson Bank, and space for tenants such as Bank of America and CBRE. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Antonio real estate development company Embrey recently completed Tin Top Flats at the Creamery, a 338-unit apartment complex at 847 E. Ashby Place, and local developer David Adelmans Area Real Estate turned the former Borden Creamery warehouse next door into space for office and restaurant tenants. Oxbow Development Group, the development arm of Pearl owner Silver Ventures, is building more than 550 apartments, a 151-room hotel, commercial space and parking across the San Antonio River from Pearl. San Antonio-based Lynd Living and Opportunity Home San Antonio, formerly known as the San Antonio Housing Authority, are building more than 250 apartments across from Hawthorne Academy. GrayStreet Partners and Fulcrum Development, both of San Antonio, want to build, in multiple phases, a mixed-use development across Broadway from Pearl called Broadway East with stores, restaurants, housing and a hotel. Next to the San Antonio Museum of Art, McCombs Enterprises plans to build housing, office space and a hotel. Federal officials are cracking down on the company overseeing the Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, but a protest from neighbors indicates some want it shut down entirely. The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday found that the landfill presents imminent and substantial endangerment to nearby communities and Chiquita Canyon LLC should take immediate steps to protect human health and the environment, the agency said in a news release. The order requires Chiquita to mitigate off-site community impacts caused by noxious odors and hazardous waste leachate and to contain and reduce the smoldering or reaction event occurring at the landfill, the release said. Chiquita Canyon Landfill The EPA is referencing the odor, as well as liquid produced by the landfill referred to as leachate as a result of the reaction event, in which oxygen gets below the surface of the landfill and feeds into extreme temperature increases that produce the odor and leachate, the EPA said. Chiquita Canyon Landfill Just over a week ago, Californias Department of Toxic Substances Control found that the landfill is in violation of several safety regulations. On February 15, 2024, DTSC issued violations to CCL related to CCLs leachate management and disposal which included violations for failing to make a proper waste determination, disposing of hazardous waste at an unauthorized facility, and failing to minimize the possibility of release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents, according to the EPA. More than 1,200 odor complaints lodged against Santa Clarita Valley landfill The months of foul odor in the area also drew the attention of L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who earlier this month wrote a letter to Waste Connections Vice President and Deputy General Counsel John Perkey noting that its undeniable that the community is suffering. Waste Connections oversees the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. My constituents are consistently voicing how their overall quality of life has been negatively impacted The residents surrounding the Landfill should not be expected to live with the odors that are impacting them every day without significant relief, she wrote. Supervisor wants landfill company to help neighbors relocate due to stench EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman praised the work between different levels of government. This order reflects EPAs commitment to ensuring landfill operators mitigate noxious odors and comply with federal law to prevent public exposure to hazardous wastes, Guzman said in the release. Todays order is the result of local, state, and federal collaboration to better protect the health of nearby residents as well as the surrounding environment. Some neighbors, however, think the government action isnt enough. They think the only way to keep them safe is to shut down the landfill entirely. They took to protesting on Thursday. Chiquita Canyon Landfill In a statement, Steve Cassulo, district manager of Chiquita Canyon Landfill, noted that the problems stem from a rare reaction occurring deep within an older section of the Landfill and said the company and regulatory agencies have been working cooperatively to rapidly address these issues. Chiquita takes very seriously its role in the safe operation of the landfill, Cassulo said. We also believe it is important to keep the community informed, and have been communicating openly and transparently with the local community throughout this process. We have been providing regular updates at various public meetings as well as information, reports and data on our website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Tens of millions of Americans, including many Texans like me, live in counties that will soon be violating air pollution particle standards for the first time. Its not that our air is getting dirtier its because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just tightened its cap on the deadliest air pollutant: fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. The EPA acted because the Clean Air Act requires it to periodically review existing standards for six major air pollutants to ensure that the targets protect public health. Its 2022 scientific review showed that fine particles increase rates of illnesses and death even when inhaled at levels below existing standards. The EPA estimates that meeting its new standard would yield up to US$77 in health benefits for each $1 of control costs and would save up to 4,500 lives in 2032. Now, states must develop plans that meet the standard. As an atmospheric scientist who has studied air pollution for a quarter century, Im concerned that a lack of detailed measurement data will leave many states flying blind. Furthermore, the regulatory analysis that the EPA issued alongside its rule focused only on a narrow set of local control options, neglecting some of the most important upwind sources of particulate matter. That myopic approach could lead to plans that save fewer lives and at higher costs than states could achieve with better data and more comprehensive strategies. Whats in a particle? The EPAs new standard limits PM2.5, the smallest regulated particles, to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This is the midpoint of a recommended range from the agencys Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and a 25% cut from the prior cap. This new cap is among the toughest in the world. Although federal standards lump all fine particles together as a single pollutant, theyre more like a stew of ingredients. Some, like sea salt, dust and black carbon, are emitted to the air directly as particles. Others, like sulfate, nitrate and ammonium, start out mainly as gases that interact in the atmosphere to form particles downwind. Organic carbon, the leading type of PM in many regions, originates as both gases and particles that react in complex ways. Countless natural sources such as trees and soils, and human-made ones such as vehicles, factories and fertilizers, add various mixes of these ingredients to the stew. Fine particulates (red dots) are 2.5 microns in diameter far smaller than the width of a human hair. USEPA States operate more than 1,000 monitors that measure the total amount of PM in the air. Unfortunately, only about 150 of those monitors are sophisticated versions called speciation monitors that measure what the PM is made of information thats critical for developing effective controls. Thousands of counties dont even have a total PM monitor, despite satellite evidence showing that many would exceed the new standard. When the EPA first regulated fine particles separately from coarse ones, known as PM10, in the late 1990s, it developed a plan to routinely measure the content of PM at over 300 metropolitan sites. It also funded temporary Supersites at which scientists intensely studied particles in eight of the most polluted cities. When I worked on reducing particle pollution for Georgias air agency in the early 2000s, those speciation monitors and the Atlanta Supersite provided crucial data to inform our efforts. Three major emissions form inorganic fine airborne particulate matter: nitrogen oxides (NOx), largely from cars and trucks; sulfur dioxide (SO2) from power plants and factories; and ammonia (NH3) from agriculture. Sunlight and chemical reactions in the atmosphere convert the emissions to new chemical species that can combine to form tiny particles known as PM2.5. MIT Energy Initiative, CC BY-ND Now, about half of the speciation monitors are gone for lack of funding, and the EPA hasnt announced a follow-up to its Supersite program. The agencys inspector general warned as far back as 2003 that better measurements were needed to inform timely reductions of PM. Instead, Congress cut EPAs budgets in the early 2000s, driving the closure of dozens of monitors after the size of the network peaked in 2005. The composition of particles has changed dramatically since then as vehicles have gotten cleaner, power plant emissions have plummeted and wildfires have intensified. EPA tightened the PM2.5 standard in in 2012 and again this year, so its more important than ever to know what these particles are made of now. Many counties whose PM levels exceed the new standard lack speciation monitors and have never been the focus of an intensive scientific field study. Others lack sufficient data to develop a comprehensive plan. A Texas illustration My home state of Texas illustrates the data void. In the early 2000s, Houston hosted a Supersite and various other temporary studies. Today, our only remaining speciation monitor sits near the refinery-lined Houston Ship Channel, but our highest PM is measured 18 miles away, where a busy interstate loop transects trendy neighborhoods near a concrete plant. That data gap pales in comparison to the ones facing Hidalgo, Cameron and Webb counties along the Texas-Mexico border, home to the cities of McAllen, Brownsville and Laredo. Like Houston, their total particulate levels fall between the new and old standards. However, their particle pollution has never been analyzed in a major field study, and theres no speciation monitor within over 100 miles. This isnt just a Texas problem. Several regions of California, Pennsylvania, Utah and Ohio, along with small portions of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho and Oregon, violated previous PM standards, so those states have some experience developing PM control plans. The new limit will require them to redouble their control efforts. However, various counties in 18 other states, including Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi and Tennessee, have PM levels that fall between the previous and new standards. They will likely need to develop plans for the first time. Cities such as Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City, Kansas; Fort Lauderdale and Pensacola in Florida; and Hattiesburg and Gulfport in Mississippi also exceed the new standards but lack speciation monitors. A need for broader controls Lacking better data, states may fall back on the types of strategies outlined in the EPAs regulatory analysis. The agency suggested that states focus on controlling local sources that directly emit particles, such as road dust, agricultural dust and cooking emissions. But this approach neglects particles that form from gases emitted far upwind. For example, ammonia from agriculture reacts with sulfur dioxide from coal burning and nitrogen oxides from various sources to form ammonium, sulfate and nitrate, which are among the leading components of particulate matter. Controlling ammonia is one of the most cost-effective opportunities to improve air quality. Reducing emissions of this long-neglected pollutant will require better practices for managing livestock, fertilizers and manure on farms. The W.A. Parish coal-fired power plant in Fort Bend County, Texas, just west of Houston, is one of the largest SO2 emitters in the U.S. Three of its four units lack scrubbers. RM VM/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA Sulfur dioxide has already been slashed but could be cut further by requiring outdated coal-fired power plants that still lack sulfur scrubbers a technology mandated at new plants since 1979 to install them, switch to natural gas or retire. Nitrogen oxides can be reduced by replacing old trucks and installing industrial controls. Controlling all of these gases requires help from upwind counties but can achieve broader progress than local dust controls alone. With growing shares of particulate matter coming from natural sources and wildfires, states will need all the help they can get to meet the tough new standard. Better data and upwind controls of ammonia and other gases can help states save lives and meet standards as cost-effectively as possible. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Daniel Cohan, Rice University. Read more: Daniel Cohan has previously received research grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and serves on its Board of Scientific Counselors but is writing in a personal capacity. He worked from 2004-2006 for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and has previously received research funding from the Texas Air Quality Research Program. EPFD knocks down dryer machine fire at apartment complex in Downtown El Paso EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) knocked down a condition 2 fire Wednesday evening, Feb. 21 at the Electric City apartments in Downtown El Paso, EPFD announced in its X account. The incident was reported at the 200 block of N. Stanton at the Electric City Apartments. There were reports of heavy smoke, according to EPFD. Additionally, PIO at the scene confirmed it was a dryer fire and the fire was knocked down quickly. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Naval vessel in real-combat training exercise China Military Online) 10:29, February 22, 2024 A guided-missile frigate attached to a naval flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command sails towards the designated waters during a training exercise in late January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Jiang Haitao) Naval vessels attached to a flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command sail towards the designated waters during a training exercise in late January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Jiang Haitao) A naval vessel attached to a flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command fires its main gun at mock targets during a training exercise in late January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Huzhi) A naval vessel attached to a flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command releases a jamming shell during a training exercise in late January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Jiang Haitao) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Editor's note: This story was first published on Feb. 6, 2020. A West Texas ranch thats half the size of Rhode Island is still on the market. As of Feb. 21, the ranch was listed by King Land and Water for $283 million, down from its initial $413 million asking price. One year ago, the ranch was priced at $230 million. The so-called Brewster Ranch hugs the Big Bend National Park and borders the Rio Grande. It is 420,000 acres of mountains, springs, creeks and low Chihuahuan desert. But finding a qualified buyer for the largest fee-simple ranch for sale in the United States hasnt been easy, said Fort Davis Realtor James King. However, there have been several serious offers since the property was listed in 2020. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There is a person for every piece of real estate, King said. And were patient. This isnt a fire sale. Among the challenges in selling Brewster Ranch is that the property is so large its often hard for buyers to get their head around. It takes an entire day for just a cursory view of the property which is often done with the help of an ATV, a helicopter, an airplane or a combination of the three. Windmills draw water from wells at the 34,123-acre Horse Mountain Ranch in Brewster County north of the Big Bend National Park, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The ranch is one of several that make up the 420,000-acre Brewster Ranches that is on sale. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Another is overcoming the stereotypes of West Texas landscape. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People make an assumption that since its south of Marfa, its just rugged old desert, King said. But this has mountains. It has pine and cottonwood trees. It has year-round, running, crystal-clear water from a segment of the San Francisco Creek. Its like owning your own Big Bend National Park. The land belongs to Brad Kelley, an investor from Tennessee who made his fortune in land and tobacco. Kelley was listed by the magazine Land Report as the seventh-largest landowner in the United States with about 1.15 million acres. He owns a variety of other West Texas ranches. "Brewster Ranch," covering a 30-mile-by-50-mile area, comprises 22 parcels that have been patched together and were originally sold as one. Its now being marketed as seven separate ranches. The headquarters sits on the northern edge of the 34,123-acre Horse Mountain Ranch in Brewster County just south east of Marathon, Texas and north of the Big Bend National Park, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The ranch is one of several that make up the 420,000-acre Brewster Ranches that is on sale. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Wed love to sell it to one person and keep it all together, King said. The seller is very conservation-minded. Fragmentation is the biggest threat to Texas landscapes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Brewster Ranch is the largest ranch to be listed since the 520,000-acre W.T. Waggoner Ranch was sold in 2016. The Northwest Texas ranch was sold to Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Rams. Such a massive property has attracted its share of serious buyers who have yet to pull the trigger on the purchase. But its brought in people who have no money and no business humoring such a large purchase. A lake captures the waters from historic Reed Spring by the headquarters of the 34,123-acre Horse Mountain Ranch in Brewster County just south of Marathon, Texas and north of the Big Bend National Park, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The grind holes were used by Indians. The ranch is one of several that make up the 420,000-acre Brewster Ranches that is on sale for $283 million. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News A mesa rises above the horizon from a road between the 196,000-acre Dove Mountain Ranch and the 34,123-acre Horse Mountain Ranch in Brewster County north of the Big Bend National Park, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The ranches are part of 22 properties that make up the 420,000-acre Brewster County Ranches for sale at $283 million. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News We kind of call them kooks, King said. And so its funny, in our business and not just this ranch, there are people out there that feel like they want to communicate the idea or the fantasy of owning that kind of ranch. And they have no business doing it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Most serious buyers are just looking for a place to recreate with their families or clients, King said. Others just want to invest in Texas burgeoning real estate market. In Texas, the growth of recreational buyers has increased exponentially, King said. Yucca plants grow on a hill at the 196,000-acre Dove Mountain Ranch in Brewster County north of the Big Bend National Park, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The ranch makes up part of the 420,000-acre Brewster Ranches that is on sale for $283 million. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News People want to get out of San Antonio, escape from Houston or Dallas, and have their own property that they can enjoy and work on to enhance, restore or maintain. And then theres the pleasure of owning and managing a ranch. And while some put their investments in the stock market, bonds or other investments, the buyer of Brewster Ranch, whoever that is, will understand more tangible things. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And if you have your money in bonds or the stock market, it could evaporate, you know, whereas land is land, and so you can enjoy it, King said. You can feel it, you can be on it. A mesa in the distance is a view offered from the headquarters of the 196,000-acre Dove Mountain Ranch in Brewster County north of the Big Bend National Park, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The Chaney House is located by the headquarters of the San Francisco Creek Ranch that is now part of the 196,000-acre Dove Mountain Ranch located in Brewster County north of the Big Bend National Park. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News The San Francisco Creek offers running water year-round at the 196,000-acre Dove Mountain Ranch in Brewster County, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Escambia County staff and volunteers dedicated thousands of hours in 2023 to monitoring and protecting sea turtles and their nests on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, along with educating the community about how they can help protect sea turtles on local beaches. Volunteers contributed more than 1,600 hours toward conducting marine turtle nesting surveys and monitoring activities in Escambia County during the 2023 sea turtle nesting season, not counting additional hours from county Natural Resources Management and Marine Resources staff. County staff and volunteers begin their daily sea turtle patrol on May 1 each year, patrolling Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key through the end of August in search of any sign of sea turtle nests, hatchlings, or turtles in distress. Escambia County staff and volunteers dedicated thousands of hours to protecting sea turtles during the 2023 sea turtle nesting season. Last year, Escambia County recorded 13 loggerhead turtle nests and one green turtle nest on Pensacola Beach, along with two loggerhead turtle nests on Perdido Key. When a sea turtle nest is discovered or reported to the turtle patrol, volunteers will place stakes around the nest, put up a sign alerting the public to the turtle eggs, and document the nests location using GPS. Volunteers and staff will then begin checking the nest daily, monitoring for hatchlings and intervening when necessary to help them reach the Gulf of Mexico successfully. Visit myescambia.com/pensacola-beach/leave-no-trace-behind for details. NAMI Pensacola and NAMI Florida host Sharing Hope - A Gathering of Healing In honor of Black History Month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness - NAMI Pensacola and NAMI Florida are presenting its third installment in the NAMI Sharing Hope series from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 24 at the Gateway Church of Christ, 445 Creighton Road, or online via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86338823398. The series is designed to introduce discussions on mental health and wellness through a three-part community conversation grounded in the sharing of sacred stories and guided dialogue on mental wellness and support for those of Black and/or African ancestry. One in five adults experience mental illness every year, and 50 percent of chronic mental illness begins by age 14. However, only one in three Black adults that need mental health treatment actually receive it and the suicide rate among Black youth has been increasing faster than any other racial/ethnic group. NAMI Sharing Hope - A Gathering of Healing is created for Black/African ancestry but is open to everyone regardless of ethnic backgrounds to safely have conversations on mental health, promote awareness, explore signs and symptoms, and highlight how and where to find help. Visit namiflorida.org or call 800-950-NAMI (6264) for details. Find ways to help: Chadbourne-DeMaria Foundation's $160,000 grant transforms Ronald McDonald House kitchen Splash City Adventures and Feeding the Gulf Coast host PB&J drive Splash City Adventures is partnering with Feeding the Gulf Coast for a special initiative throughout the month of February. In an effort to support families in need and foster a spirit of giving, Splash City Adventures is launching a PB&J Drive. From now through Feb. 29, visitors are invited to participate by bringing in donations of peanut butter or jelly. For every two items of peanut butter or jelly donated, patrons will receive a complimentary ticket with the purchase of another ticket of equal value. This partnership aims to address food insecurity while providing families with an exciting and memorable experience at the amusement park. By encouraging donations of staple pantry items like peanut butter and jelly, both organizations hope to make a meaningful impact on the local community. Visit SplashCityAdventures.com or FeedingtheGulfCoast.org for details. Next Mayors Neighborhood Cleanup set for Saturday The next Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup will take place Feb. 24 in the East Pensacola Heights area and portions of surrounding neighborhoods. This event allows city of Pensacola Sanitation customers in the cleanup area to leave eligible items at the curb for pickup, free of charge. Sanitation customers in the cleanup area must place items curbside by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Note that items left curbside outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The cleanup includes bulk items only. Yard waste or garbage will not be collected. Keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. Do not place piles under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. Visit cityofpensacola.com for details. Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Pensacola News Journal using the link at the bottom of the page under Stay Connected. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County staff, volunteers step up for nesting sea turtles A collection of Anglo-Saxon pennies found by two metal detectorists have been sold for 325,560 at an auction. Before the auction took place, the estimated price for some of the coins was around 180,000. The 122 coins, which were discovered in 2019 near Braintree, Essex, were believed to have been buried in 1066, the year of Battle of Hastings. The auction took place on 21 February and the money was shared between the finders and the landowner. The landowners attended the sale and afterwards said: "We are delighted with the results which is a life-changing amount of money for the finders." The auction took place at Noonans Mayfair in London. A spokesperson for the auction house said the owner of the pennies could have died in battle. Bradley Hopper, a coin specialist, said an "extremely rare" Harold II penny from the Guildford moneyer Leofwold was part of the collection, and was given a guide price of 4,000 to 5,000. The penny, which was minted in Huntington, was sold for 11,000. Sixteen of the coins were bought by Colchester Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, including two 11th century Byzantine coins. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 The News ADDIS ABABA Ethiopia hopes to reinvent its biggest city as an African medical tourism hub with a new $400 million hospital complex set to open next year. But the plan for a major for-profit hospital in a country with a health system close to collapse is already being criticized. The Roha Medical Campus, which is backed by U.S. investors, is being built close to Bole Airport in Addis Ababa, which is already one of Africas busiest air transit hubs thanks to Ethiopian Airlines which flies to around 60 African cities. The hope is that patients will stop in the city for medical services rather than flying on to the West, or countries such as Turkey, or India. Africans spend more than $5 billion annually traveling outside the continent, according to Rohas analysis of statistics from the World Bank and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Many people are seeking advanced medical treatment especially as noncommunicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension rise across the continent. Ethiopians spend an estimated $500 million on medical tourism, according to an unpublished health ministry report seen by Semafor Africa. Lia Tadesse, who stepped down as minister of health earlier this month, has been a key supporter of the project. She told Semafor Africa the government had prioritized support for projects like the new center as it could help reduce the need for Ethiopians to spend scarce foreign exchange on seeking medical treatment abroad and open up a new market for the country. We subsequently expect it to attract many clients from the region and continent. Support from the government has included the Addis Ababa city administration availing 28 hectares of land for its construction. The vision is to capture those heading elsewhere and afford them top quality and reliable medical services as well be a hub for neighboring nations who use Ethiopian Airlines to head to popular destinations for healthcare, Welela Haileselassie, the general manager of Roha Medical Campus, told Semafor Africa. Know More Accessing adequate healthcare remains a major challenge for most of Ethiopias roughly 120 million citizens. Damage to medical buildings during conflicts over the last two years has added to pressure on the health system caused by a long-term shortage of hospitals and clinics in Africas second most populous country. And those facilities that have remained open often lack basic equipment and supplies. The situation is exacerbated by a shortage in foreign currency reserves. Hospitals report being unable to purchase necessary medical imports due to a shortage of foreign currency like the US dollar. The forex scarcity has seen some unscrupulous entrepreneurs illegally importing and selling medicines at exorbitant prices and without adhering to regulatory standards. These challenges lead middle class and wealthy Ethiopians to travel abroad for surgery, advanced tests, and specialized treatment. The new medical campus will have four centers of excellence in cardiology, nuclear medicine, oncology, and neuro-spinal services. It is expected to employ over 4,000 medical, administrative and ancillary staff, with over a quarter of the doctors initially being expatriate staff. Samuels view In Ethiopia, those without the financial capacity to migrate from the country have to rely on under-resourced public hospitals or go without proper medical care entirely. A growing African middle class continues to head outside of the continent to seek medical assistance and this is what the new hospital hopes to benefit from within the region. Samson Berhan, an Addis Ababa based economic analyst, believes such investment in the local health sector is profoundly important. In the long term, It will enable Ethiopia to develop the potential to become a medical tourism hub not only for its own citizens, but also for other East African nations struggling with similar shortages in healthcare resources and infrastructure, he said. While the government has not invested directly in this private hospital, one would hope that it has worked out some way that the new medical campus can contribute directly to Ethiopias health facility shortages, perhaps by offering some partially funded specialist treatment for example. Most Ethiopians will not be able to afford being treated in this new facility otherwise. Room for Disagreement Ethiopias northern Tigray region has been one of the regions most underserved by healthcare services in recent years. A hard-fought two-year war between rebels and the countrys army had devastating consequences for its hospitals and clinics. The regions health care system has collapsed, said Dr Fasika Amdeslasie, a surgeon at Mekele Universitys College of Health Sciences, a publicly owned institution. A majority of our people cant even afford basic medicine let alone basic care. While such enterprise [Roha Medical Campus] is welcomed, I hope the government gives its urgency and priorities to the public sector more, the surgeon told Semafor Africa. Notable Several health systems across the continent are buckling under the pressure of medically trained personnel trying to leave countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Semafor Africa looked at the various attempts by governments to stem the outflow of workers. Peter Stano, the speaker of the European Commission on foreign policy issues, sees no reason to comment on Dmitry Medvedev's statements as Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation's Security Council, but advises him to seek psychological help. Source: Stano was asked to respond to Medvedev's words, who reiterated Russia's claims to Kyiv and Odesa, reports European Pravda Quote: "We usually do not comment on the words of people who are attempting to draw attention to themselves, especially if it is an internal number two for some reason. Although it is commendable that the person you mentioned publicly broadcasts his mental health diagnosis, all that can be said here is to recommend consultations and specialist help." Details: He added that with the billions of dollars that Russia has spent on the war against Ukraine, Moscow could find money for programmes to keep its citizens healthy as well. "I believe the foreign ministers of the member states made their position clear when they met on Monday: we will continue to support Ukraine, which is rightfully defending itself against aggression... The EU's High Representative (Josep Borrell) and member states are doing everything they can to provide Ukraine with more and faster, and not just how much it will be necessary, but no matter how much it costs," the speaker added. Background: On the weekend, Medvedev again threatened Western capitals with nuclear strikes if the Russian Federation is forced to return to the borders of 1991. Earlier, Denmark announced a package of military assistance for Ukraine for almost US$250 million. Support UP or become our patron! By Gabriela Baczynska and Julia Payne BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will lift sanctions against two Russian businessmen and one Slovak national, two diplomatic sources told Reuters on Thursday, but stressed the bloc was not likely to follow suit for billionaire Alisher Usmanov. The EU slapped asset freezes and travel bans on some 2,000 people and companies deemed involved in or benefiting from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which reaches its two-year mark on Saturday. Some of the restrictions expire on March 15. Envoys of the EU's 27 member countries agreed on Wednesday to roll them over apart from the sanctions against Arkady Volozh, Sergey Mndoiants and Jozef Hambalek. Volozh is co-founder of Russian internet giant Yandex and, sources said, the case against him has become weaker since he called Moscow's war in Ukraine "barbaric" last summer after staying silent following the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Mndoiants used to run government relations at Russian conglomerate Sistema and is also a board member at a Russian think-tank advising the Kremlin on foreign and defence policy, according to the EU. Slovakia's Hambalek is head of the Russian nationalist Night Wolves motorcycle club in Europe, according to the EU, and has been accused of training bikers for combat in Ukraine and "spreading pro-Russian propaganda". One of the diplomatic sources said the three listings were considered "indefensible legally", including because of a change of behaviour in the case of Volozh. EU diplomatic sources also told Reuters that Hungary again lobbied to lift sanctions against Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, but that the metal and telecoms tycoon was not considered a legally "weak listing" given that he had lost his sanctions appeal at the bloc's top court earlier this month. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Budapest was also seeking to delist Russian former Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin as well as Vyacheslav Kantor, who is the beneficial owner of Russian fertilizer producer Acron, according to the EU. "Evidence for all of them is deemed strong," said one of the diplomats. "There was massive pushback to the suggestion" of Hungary to drop punitive measures against them. Hungary's EU mission did not reply to a request for comment. The changes will take effect before March 15 and will mean EU governments will immediately be able to free any assets of Volozh, Mndoiants and Hambalek that had been frozen. Separately, the bloc will unveil on Friday its 13th package of Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia that will ban nearly 200 new entities and individuals accused of helping Moscow procure weapons or of involvement in kidnapping Ukrainian children. (Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Mark Heinrich) Almost $1 million was found in the possession of the former head of the Chernihiv Oblast Military Medical Commission Ukraines law enforcement officers found almost $1 million during a search of the apartment of the former head of the Chernihiv Oblast Military Medical Commission (MMC), Suspilne public broadcaster said, citing its sources, on Feb. 21. The searches were carried out as part of an investigation connected to criminal acts in the suspect's apartment in Kyiv, the publication said. The suspect served as the head of the regional MMC until the summer of 2021 and is currently held in custody without the possibility of bail. In August 2023, Ukraines SBU security service detained the head of the Zhytomyr Oblast MMC, who was involved in aiding draft dodgers to leave the country illegally. In November, in Chernivtsi Oblast, the head of another MMC was informed of suspicion of extorting a bribe from a wounded serviceman. Read also: 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 Alex Tannous, who gave out business cards that said "Prince Alex Tannous," is facing new federal fraud charges in San Antonio. Courtesy A man who claimed he was a Middle Eastern "prince" with blue-chip connections to allegedly scam San Antonio business owners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been hit with new federal charges. Alex Tannous, who was arrested Feb. 6 on a wire fraud charge, was indicted Wednesday on five additional counts. Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, lists two more alleged victims, bringing the total to three. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More charges are possible. The FBI is collecting information from others who have come forward to claim they lost money in Tannous' schemes. "For many years, the defendant, Alex Georges Tannous, a citizen of Lebanon, claimed to be a businessman and diplomat from the United Arab Emirates with close ties to Emirati royalty," the indictment said. "In reality, Tannous was none of those things. Rather, he used his gifts of persuasion to bilk unknowing victims." Tannous, 39, focused on affluent San Antonio neighborhoods, including the Dominion, Stone Oak and Sonterra, and the suburban city of Shavano Park. He told potential investors, who were mostly small- to medium-size business owners, that he could help them do business in the UAE by tapping financing sources in the Middle Eastern country, according to the indictment and interviews conducted by the San Antonio Express-News. According to the indictment, Tannous directed the alleged victims to pay thousands of dollars to entities that he controlled to secure the Emirati financing. He said he would use the funds for government fees required to do business in the UAE. "In reality, Tannous had no such ties, and instead, he used the money given to him by his victims to fund his personal lifestyle and enrich his family members," the indictment said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Express-News exclusively reported in June on some of the fraud allegations against Tannous. He abruptly left the United States for Dubai two days after the story was published, court records said. The indictment identifies the three victims by number, not name. "Victim 1" lives in Austin, "victim 2" in San Antonio and "victim 3" in Shavano Park, according to the indictment. In spring 2021, Tannous met the Austinite through a mutual friend. He allegedly told the man that he was an Emirati official charged with finding U.S.-based businesses that could operate in Dubai. Victim 1 developed software for so-called ghost kitchens, which take orders online and prepare food just for pickup and delivery. Tannous convinced the man to join him in a joint venture to set up ghost kitchens in the Middle East, saying he could secure millions from an Emirati economic development fund. Tannous asked the investor to kick in $100,000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The man wired $70,000 in four payments to Equico Enterprises, an entity Tannous controlled, in the summer of 2021. Tannous used some of the money to pay for his luxurious lifestyle and sent thousands of dollars to family members, the indictment said. Victim 2, the indictment said, was one of Tannous' neighbors at an apartment complex. In May and June 2021, Tannous talked the person into investing in a venture to export medical products to Dubai. Tannous allegedly claimed he could use his connections and diplomatic status to set up the business in the UAE. All of Tannous' representations were false, the indictment said. Tannous told the person to send $80,000 to establish the company. The person's brother (and business partner) wired $80,000 to Equico. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On June 12, 2021, victim 2's brother died in a crash. Tannous used his death as an excuse to delay the business's launch in the UAE, the indictment said. In early 2022, Tannous told victim 2 that the business's application would be fast-tracked if he wired another $35,000. The person sent the money, and Tannous used it to enrich himself, the indictment said. In May 2021, Tannous told victim 3 that he was trying to raise $3 million for a business deal in Spain. Tannous said he could broker a deal between the person and a group that Tannous worked with in the UAE. Tannous said the group would provide the $3 million for the project, but needed $10,000 and more later to secure the money. The third alleged victim forwarded the money to Equico on June 30, 2021. In a hearing this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad denied Tannous bail. The judge deemed him a flight risk after hearing he had at least three passports, besides an apparently legitimate one from the United States. The others allegedly contained false information, including an alias, an FBI agent testified. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ex-CIA director says Russia has broken the stalemate in Ukraine and is 'on the offensive' along the 600-mile war front Former CIA chief Robert Gates says the Russians have "regained momentum" in Ukraine. "It's actually not so much a stalemate," Gates told The Washington Post. Gates had served as defense secretary under the Bush and Obama administrations. The Russians are no longer on the back foot in Ukraine, says former CIA chief Robert Gates. "A lot of people are referring to the war at this point as a stalemate," Gates told The Washington Post in an interview on Wednesday. "I'm afraid I believe that, at this point, it's actually not so much a stalemate, but that the Russians have regained momentum." "It's not breakthrough kind of momentum, but it is the sense that they are now the ones pressing the offensive," he continued. Gates also served as defense secretary during the Bush and Obama administrations. He told the Post that Ukraine losing the strategically significant city of Avdiivka has allowed the Russians to move combat lines further east. "Everything I'm reading is that the Russians are sort of on the offensive all along at various different places along the 600-mile frontier," Gates told the Post. Ukrainian losses, Gates said, stemmed in part from their struggles with weapon and ammunition supplies. "I've read that for every artillery shell that the Ukrainians fire, the Russians are firing 10, and so the Ukrainians now are facing this shortage of ammunition, artillery," Gates said. The Ukrainian war effort has been heavily reliant on US aid. The US has sent over $44 billion in military assistance since the war began in February 2022. However, House Republicans appear likely to block a Senate-approved $60 billion aid deal for Ukraine. "Because Congress has yet to pass the supplemental bill, we have not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a press conference last week. "The cost of inaction by the Congress is stark. And it's being born on the shoulders of Ukrainian soldiers," Kirby told journalists. Read the original article on Business Insider A former Los Angeles Police Department officer has been indicted for allegedly stealing credit and debit cards from people visiting inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. Edmond Babaians, a 15-year LAPD veteran, is charged with stealing debit and credit cards from four individuals as they entered through the security checkpoint at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles between approximately July 14 and July 23, 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. He also made purchases with those cards, the release added. Babaians, 43, faces four charges, three felonies and one misdemeanor count of unlawful use of access cards. Law enforcement is entrusted with protecting and serving the community, and the alleged actions of former officer Babaians in the course of his duties severely breaches this trust, District Attorney George Gascon said in the release. Officers of the law are expected to embody the highest standards of integrity and duty when they protect the residents of Los Angeles County. Departure from these rigorous standards undermines the publics trust in law enforcement and will not be tolerated. He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on Friday. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to a maximum of five years and four months in county jail. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Former deputy Jason Meade will be tried a second time for the death of Casey Goodson Jr., prosecutors announced Thursday afternoon. Nearly a week after a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial in the murder case against Meade, special prosecutors assigned to the case announced they will seek a new trial date for Meade. Meade faces two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide for killing Goodson at the door of his grandmothers house in 2020. The Special Prosecutors have concluded that is in the best interest of all involved and the community that they move forward with a second trial on the indictment, the statement from Gary Shroyer, Tim Merkle and Montgomery County Prosecutor Joshua Shaw read. Woman accused of kidnapping, suffocating boy in Amber Alert issued $4 million in total bonds The jury returned deadlocked last Friday after nearly three full days of deliberations, conversations that happened in fits and starts after three jurors were replaced by alternates. Throughout the trial, Meade asserted he feared for his life on Dec. 4, 2020, when he shot Goodson six times in the back. Meade was coming off an assignment with the U.S. Marshals Service and claimed to see Goodson waving a gun while driving. After pursuing Goodson to his grandmothers house on Estates Place in north Columbus, Meade said Goodson was standing in the doorway of the house when he pointed his gun back at Meade. The state, meanwhile, had argued that the shooting was unjustified, citing a lack of corroboration that Goodson pointed his gun, either in his car or at his door, as well as the fact that Goodson was wearing AirPods at the time of the shooting. Goodson was shot six times, five of which hit his back. Central Ohios first rapid transit bus corridors are coming through a $2 billion project Meades case was assigned to outside counsel because the Franklin County prosecutors office represents the sheriffs office in court. The decision to retry Meade came after a chorus of calls from community organizations and some candidates for Franklin County prosecutor to seek a new trial. Activist groups, including Justice, Unity, and Social Transformation, have held several rallies since the mistrial to demand a second prosecution. In a statement, Meades attorneys said said that political pressure to move forward with this case jeopardizes Meades right to a fair trial, citing public statements by Columbus elected officials calling for re-prosecution. The events of December 4, 2020 were tragic, there is no doubt about that, Mark Collins, Kailtyn Stephens and Steve Nolder said in their statement. What is equally tragic is for our elected officials to desert the jobs for which they were elected and exert political pressure to retry Jason Meade. Sean Walton, the Goodson familys civil attorney, said in a statement that the Goodson family appreciated the special prosecutors and their dedication to ensuring a jury of Franklin County residents reviews the facts and evidence of this tragic killing. We all believe in law and order, and we believe that the justice system has the power to provide redress for victims and to hold wrongdoers accountable, Walton said. We look forward to the next trial and that trial date cannot come soon enough. A status conference is scheduled for early June. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, center, leaves the courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Las Vegas. Prosecutors say that Smirnov, who is charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company, had contacts with Russian intelligence-affiliated officials. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) LAS VEGAS (AP) A former FBI informant who claims to have links to Russian intelligence and is charged with lying about a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden's family was again taken into custody Thursday in Las Vegas, two days after a judge released him. Alexander Smirnov, 43, was arrested Thursday morning while meeting with his lawyers at their offices in downtown Las Vegas. It came after prosecutors asked a judge in California, where the case originally was filed, to reconsider Smirnov's custody status while he awaits trial. No hearing was held before he was arrested. His attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, said in a statement they want an immediate hearing on his detention and will again push for his release. A judge in Las Vegas gave prosecutors until Friday afternoon to respond to Smirnovs motion for a new hearing. A copy of the arrest warrant that Smirnov's lawyers included as an exhibit in their request for the new hearing shows he was arrested on the same charges making a false statement and creating a false and fictitious record. Prosecutors have accused Smirnov of falsely telling his FBI handler that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had paid President Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each around 2015. The claim became central to the Republican impeachment inquiry of President Biden in Congress. Smirnov has not entered a plea to the charges, but his lawyers have said their client is presumed innocent and they look forward to defending him at trial. A spokesman for Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, who charged Smirnov, confirmed Thursday that Smirnov had been arrested again, but did not have additional comment. Smirnov is in the custody of U.S. Marshals in Nevada, said Gary Schofield, the chief marshal in Las Vegas. Smirnov, who has dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, was first arrested last week in Las Vegas, where he now lives, while returning from overseas. As part of their push to keep him in custody, prosecutors said Smirnov told investigators after his first arrest that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story about Hunter Biden. They said Smirnovs self-reported contact with Russian officials was recent and extensive, and said he had planned to meet with foreign intelligence contacts during an upcoming trip abroad. In his ruling Tuesday to release Smirnov on GPS monitoring, U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts in Las Vegas said he was concerned about Smirnovs access to what prosecutors estimate is $6 million in funds, but noted that federal guidelines required him to fashion the least restrictive conditions ahead of his trial. Smirnov was also ordered to stay in the area and surrender his passports. Do not make a mockery out of me, Albregts said to Smirnov, warning that hed be placed back into the federal governments custody if he violated any of his conditions. His lawyers say he had been fully compliant with his release conditions. Prosecutors quickly appealed to U.S. District Judge Otis Wright in Los Angeles. The circumstances of the offenses charged that Smirnov lied to his FBI handler after a 10-year relationship where the two spoke nearly every day means that Smirnov cannot be trusted to provide truthful information to pretrial services, prosecutors wrote in court documents. The effects of Smirnovs false statements and fabricated information continue to be felt to this day. Now the personal stakes for Smirnov are even higher. His freedom is on the line. Smirnov had been an informant for more than a decade when he made the explosive allegations about the Bidens in June 2020, after expressing bias about Joe Biden as a presidential candidate, prosecutors said. But Smirnov had only routine business dealings with Burisma starting in 2017, according to court documents. No evidence has emerged that Joe Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president. While his identity wasnt publicly known before the indictment, Smirnovs claims have played a major part in the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the president and his family, and helped spark what is now a House impeachment inquiry into Biden. Republicans pursuing investigations of the Bidens demanded the FBI release the unredacted form documenting the unverified allegations, though they acknowledged they couldnt confirm if they were true. Democrats called for an end to the probe after the Smirnov indictment came down last week, while Republicans distanced the inquiry from his claims and said they would continue to follow the facts. Smirnovs lawyers say he has been living in Las Vegas for two years with his longtime girlfriend and requires ongoing treatment and daily medications for significant medical issues related to his eyes. He lived in California for 16 years prior to moving to Nevada. ___ Whitehurst reported from Washington, D.C. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Attorneys for the former Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya are asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to reconsider its ruling that the case should go to a jury. In a motion dated Feb. 15, Christopher Schurrs attorneys argued the appeals court was wrong to affirm a lower courts decision sending the case to trial. They pointed to several statements in the January majority opinion that describe the moments leading up to the shooting, saying they misstate or misconstrue the situation. Had this Court applied the correct facts to the law, the bindover should have been quashed the charge dismissed, the motion reads in part. Prosecutor anticipates another appeal in Lyoya case The motion asks the court to reconsider and find that Officer Schurr demonstrated, as a matter of law applied to correct facts, that the killing of Mr. Lyoya was justified and order the charge dismissed. An undated photo of Patrick Lyoya courtesy family. No one disputes that Schurr, then a Grand Rapids Police Department officer, shot and killed Lyoya on April 4, 2022, during a traffic stop. Video from the traffic stop shows Lyoya run away from Schurr and the two struggle over Schurrs Taser. Ultimately, Schurr, who was on top of Lyoya trying to hold him down, shot him in the back of the head. What is being debated in the legal system now is whether Schurrs actions constituted murder. Prosecutors, saying he was not justified in the shooting, charged him with second-degree murder in June 2022. Schurrs defense team argues his actions were justified. With the new motion pending and other appeals possible, its unclear when the case might actually go to trial. Sign up for breaking news alert emails Schurr was fired from GRPD after he was charged with murder. He also faces a civil excessive force lawsuit filed by Lyoyas family. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. BOSTON (AP) Appeals Court Associate Justice Gabrielle R. Wolohojian, a former romantic partner of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, testified Wednesday before the Governors Council on her nomination to the states highest court. Healey has said her past relationship with Wolohojian shouldnt deny the state the benefit of having her serve on the state Supreme Judicial Court. The panel didnt vote on the nomination Wednesday. Healey defended her decision to nominate Wolohojian, describing her as a remarkable jurist who has displayed kindness, patience, empathy, humility and an abiding sense of justice to those who have come before her in court. I know that personally, Healey said. As I have said in the past a personal relationship, and my personal relationship with Judge Wolohojian, should not deprive the people of Massachusetts of an outstanding SJC justice. Wolohojian said she went through virtually the same process with the Healey administration that she did when she sought a nomination to the SJC under former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. I understand your concern about the optics, but sitting from my chair I have done everything like every other candidate, and I dont know what else I can do other than do the process thats been really in place since the Dukakis administration, she told the council. Healey has also said she doesnt think Wolohojian would have to recuse herself from cases involving the administration despite their personal history. Wolohojian said the decision by judges to recuse themselves is taken on a case-by-case basis. Recusal is something that I take very seriously. Its a two-sided question. There are cases in which you need to recuse yourself and you do so and then there are cases where you dont recuse yourself, she said. I have absolutely no interest and never have in sitting on cases I shouldnt sit on or not sitting on cases I should sit on, she added. Wolohojian is the second nomination to the states highest court by Healey, the first woman and first open member of the LGBTQ+ community to be elected governor of Massachusetts. Amy Carnevale, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, faulted Healey for relying on a select group of rubber stamp advisors in making the decision. Regardless of whether the judge opts to recuse herself from issues involving the governor or the executive branch, the impropriety of this nomination remains unchanged, Carnevale said in a statement. Its difficult to conceive that the personal relationship didnt impact the nomination process. Wolohojian, 63, would fill the seat vacated by Justice David Lowy. Last year Healey nominated then-state solicitor Elizabeth Dewar to the high court. Wolohojian was appointed to the Appeals Court in February 2008 and has authored more than 900 decisions. Healey and Wolohojian, who met when they both worked at the Boston law firm of Hale & Dorr, had been together for eight years when Healey began her first term as attorney general in 2015, according to a Boston Magazine profile. Wolohojian and Healey lived together in a rowhouse in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston that also served as a campaign headquarters for Healey. The governor now lives with her current partner, Joanna Lydgate, in Arlington. The Supreme Judicial Court is Massachusettss highest appellate court. The seven justices hear appeals on a range of criminal and civil cases. Born in New York, and the granddaughter of Armenian immigrants, Justice Wolohojian received a bachelors degree, magna cum laude, from Rutgers University in 1982; a doctorate in English language and literature from the University of Oxford in 1987; and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1989. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A 23-year-old man was arrested after police say they saw him stab his ex-girlfriend to death in Pennsylvania. Trevor Christopher Weigel was charged with criminal homicide in the death of Jaden Battista, prosecutors said. Around 2:15 p.m. Feb. 16, Battista was talking to a friend on FaceTime. During the call, she told her friend that her ex-boyfriend, Weigel, showed up at her house unannounced and was banging on the door to get in, according to a news release from the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. While speaking with Battista, the friend heard her say that Weigel was able to get into the house through a first-floor window. The friend heard a commotion, followed by a thump, and then Battistas voice became muffled as if someone was holding their hand over her mouth to prevent her from speaking, officials said. The call ended, and the friend tried to call Battista back several times, but no one answered, according to officials. At around 2:22 p.m., Lower Makefield police were called for reports of a burglary in progress, according to officials. Officers were told it was a domestic situation. When police arrived at the home, an officer said he saw Weigel standing outside next to a Ford Mustang. Then, Weigel chased after Battisa, tackled her to the ground and repeatedly stabbed her, according to officials. Police say Weigel took off running and they found Battista bleeding heavily from her upper body. They also found a bloody knife at the scene. Battista was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries. An autopsy report confirmed she died from multiple stab wounds to her chest and neck. He took my reason for breathing. My entire life. He took my daughter from my husband and I, he took my other daughters sister. I want to look him in the eye and let him know the reality of what hes done to our family and I want him to live with it every second of every day. I hope she haunts him, Battistas mom, Jeanie Millward, said, according to Levittown Now. Weigel was caught by authorities and taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery for self-inflicted wounds, according to officials. I want to make sure we can see her murderer (Im sorry, I cant use his name) gets what he deserves to the fullest extent of the law, Millward said in a Facebook post. Weigel was denied bail, according to court records. An attorney was not listed for him. Lower Makefield is about 30 miles northeast of Philadelphia. If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Dedicated taxi driver found fatally stabbed in his cab, OR cops say. Man sentenced Son packs his bags when mom tries to stab him, then she shoots him, Ohio cops say Mans headless body found in suitcase, Tennessee officials say. Now roommate convicted Bartlesville High School seniors Lauren Lee and John Ortiz have been recognized as 2024 Academic All-State honorees. Bartlesville High School This honor, bestowed by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence (OFE), places them among an elite group of 100 public high school seniors across Oklahoma celebrated for their scholarly accomplishments. The 2024 class of Academic All-State honorees represent a broad swath of the state, featuring students from 71 schools in 64 school districts. The OFE is set to honor this year's class at the 2024 Academic Awards Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, May 4, at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Norman. Each honoree, including Lee and Ortiz, will receive a $1,500 merit-based cash award, an honor cord, and a medallion. Andrew J. Morris, president of the OFE, emphasized the rigorous selection process for the Academic All-State honors, describing it as the "most rigorous academic awards selection process in the state." (left to right) John Ortiz and Lauren Lee were named 2024 Academic All-State honorees. Eligibility for the award is based on stringent criteria, including high performance on standardized tests or recognition as a National Merit Semifinalist. The selection committee, chaired by retired educator Jan McClaren, evaluates applicants' academic achievements, leadership, community service, recommendations and essays. The 2024 All-Staters have showcased exceptional academic prowess, with an average ACT score of 33 and seven students achieving a perfect score of 36. Additionally, their average grade point average stands at an impressive 4.25, with 41 students recognized as National Merit Semifinalists. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville duo earn spots in Oklahoma's Academic All-State 2024 By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) -As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the conflict will be determined not just on the battlefield but also in Western capitals and other places far from the front lines. With Ukrainian forces on the back foot, short of ammunition and forced to retreat in some areas, Kyiv's ability to repel Russia's invasion depends heavily on Western military, financial and political backing. Here are some of the factors that may influence Western support for Ukraine in the year ahead: U.S. AID PACKAGE IN CONGRESS A bill stuck in the U.S. Congress that includes some $60 billion in aid for Ukraine - much of it military - is vital for Kyiv's forces, Western and Ukrainian officials say. "Every week we wait means that there will be more people killed on the frontline in Ukraine," NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg told a major security conference in Munich last weekend. The U.S. Senate passed the bill, which also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan, on Feb. 13. But it faces strong resistance from Republicans close to ex-President Donald Trump in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Mike Johnson has resisted pressure from the White House to call a vote on the bill. European officials said they were somewhat more positive about the legislation's prospects after discussions with U.S. lawmakers at the Munich conference but expected it would still take some time before the measure passes, if it does at all. AMMUNITION SUPPLY Much of the war has descended into grinding artillery battles, with both sides firing thousands of shells every day. Ukraine could fire more shells than Russia for much of 2023 but the tables have turned as Moscow has ramped up production and imported rounds from North Korea and Iran, analysts say. Michael Kofman, a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think-tank, estimates Russian artillery is firing at five times the rate of Ukraine's. A vital factor for Kyiv this year will be "whether Western partners can catch up to Russian artillery production and supply Ukraine with the shells and barrels they need", said Professor Justin Bronk, a researcher at British defence think tank RUSI. WEAPONS DECISIONS Ukrainian leaders have also been pushing their Western counterparts to deliver new weapons systems, above all longer-range missiles to strike further behind Russian lines such as U.S. ATACMS and Germany's Taurus. "We can't increase the production of ammunition overnight. But we can take decisions immediately to deliver to the Ukrainians weapons they really need," said former NATO boss Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a close ally of the Ukrainian government. The U.S. has supplied only older, medium-range ATACMS but the Biden administration is now working towards delivering newer longer-range weaponry. However, any such move may depend on approval of the aid bill currently held up by the House. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has resisted entreaties from Kyiv and some NATO allies to supply the highly advanced Taurus system. German officials have cited concerns that the missiles could escalate the war inside Russian territory and could be seen as more direct German involvement in the conflict. WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST The war in Gaza, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, means Western leaders have had less time and political energy to devote to Ukraine. If it deteriorates further or escalates into a regional war, that will be even more the case. Also, leaders in the Global South have accused the West of double standards over its attitudes to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, making it more difficult for Kyiv and its allies to rally support for a summit in support of Ukraine's peace blueprint. "Russia is definitely benefiting from those developments," said Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's ambassador to the European Union. "We work with the Global South, we try to engage them as much as possible in our efforts ... We keep working on that, it's a difficult issue." NATO SUMMIT, WASHINGTON, JULY 9-11 The summit may not directly affect the battlefield but could affect the political mood and morale in Ukraine. Ukraine and some of its supporters continue to push NATO to invite Kyiv to join the military alliance - whose members pledge to treat an attack on one of them as an attack on all - or at least bring the country closer to membership. But the United States, NATO's predominant power, and Germany are among those resisting such a step, arguing it could draw the alliance closer to a direct conflict with Russia, diplomats say. Rasmussen, the former NATO boss, is working with the Ukrainian government and a group of international figures on a proposal that would set out a clear path to membership, with the aim of influencing the outcome of the Washington summit. U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Trump was a fierce critic of NATO as president, repeatedly threatening to pull out of the alliance. He cut defence funding to NATO and frequently said that the United States was paying more than its fair share. On Russia's war in Ukraine, Trump has called for de-escalation and complained about the billions spent so far, although he has put forward few tangible policy proposals. President Joe Biden, 81, made the controversial decision to run for a second term in large part because he was convinced he would face Trump, 77, and because he thinks he is the Democrat who can beat him in the November election. But public opinion polls show the him tied with Trump and Americans continue to worry about high prices and question his age, his economic plans and his policies on the border and in the Middle East. Trump has held a commanding lead against his rivals for the Republican nomination despite his mounting legal troubles. However, a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month showed that one in four self-identified Republicans and about half of independents responding said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a felony crime by a jury. (Reporting by Andrew Gray; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Max Hunder in Kyiv; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Heartland Signal logo. Republican businessman Eric Hovde jumped in the race for one of Wisconsins U.S. Senate seats Tuesday, setting up a contest with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, and prompting a wash of criticism of his background and motivations. One such criticism from Heartland Signal, a digital newsroom anchored to a progressive Chicago radio station lacked some key context. Heartland Signal shared a snippet of Hovdes announcement event on X, in which the candidate spoke about the horrors of human trafficking. "My brother and I have homes all over the world, and we have three in Central America, that deal with issues like this," Hovde said. In the post, Heartland Signal wrote that Eric Hovde says he understands the tragedy of children being trafficked through Central America because he owns three homes there. That paints a bit of a misleading picture, especially given that Democrats and allies have portrayed Hovde as a carpetbagger, citing his owning residences in California and Washington, D.C. Lets take a quick dive in. Hovde is referring to charitable shelters, not private homes Other X users, including Milwaukee Journal Sentinel state politics reporter Jessie Opoien, were quick to point out what Heartland Signal left out. The homes Hovde referenced are shelters financed by his companys charitable giving foundation, not residences as the post suggests. According to the foundations website, Hovde has financed and oversees the construction and operation of Hovde Houses, which are homes that provide shelter, supportive services, education and love to vulnerable street children. The website of Hovdes company, Hovde Properties, describes them as providing shelter, care, education and love to vulnerable children that were abandoned on the street or trafficked. It also refers to them as Hovde Homes. Hovdes campaign website also mentions the shelters under a section titled Hovdes Heart. Twelve shelters have been completed to date in Bolivia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Peru, Rwanda and Wisconsin, according to the site, and one is currently in progress in Costa Rica. Beyond the above, little information exists online about the shelters. A 2014 Wisconsin State Journal article says Hovde opened the first one in Mexico City in 2006, which had served more than 200 homeless children. Still, its clear that those were the homes he was referencing, not private homes. It appears that Heartland Signal, too, realized the distinction. While not mentioned in his speech, Hovde appears to be referring to his charitable foundation, Hovde Homes, they replied to the original X post. Our rating Mostly false Progressive outlet Heartland Signal claimed that Eric Hovde says he understands the tragedy of children being trafficked through Central America because he owns three homes there. The homes he spoke of are shelters for vulnerable children, not residences. The original post left that distinction up to the public to suss out. Our definition of Mostly False is a statement that contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. That fits here. Sources Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Businessman Eric Hovde enters U.S. Senate race, setting up Wisconsin contest against Tammy Baldwin, Feb. 20, 2024 Heartland Signal About Us, accessed Feb. 21, 2024 Heartland Signal X post and reply, Feb. 20, 2024 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Who is Eric Hovde? What to know about Republican candidate challenging Tammy Baldwin, Feb. 21, 2024 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bice: Eric Hovde transferred $2.3 million D.C. house to his brother in August, Feb. 20, 2024 Hovde Foundation website, accessed Feb. 21, 2024 Hovde Properties website, accessed Feb. 21, 2024 Hovdes campaign website, accessed Feb. 21, 2024 Wisconsin State Journal, Hovde Houses help children in need, Aug. 25, 2014 This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Claim that Eric Hovde 'owns three homes' in Central America is Mostly False AT&T customers are experiencing the most cellular outages nationwide Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 than the other competitors Verizon and T-Mobile. Matt Rourke/Associated Press AT&T has announced about 75% of the network has been restored during a nationwide outage that has affected mobile phones in several cities, including San Antonio Thursday. However, they are still working to restore service to the customers still experiencing issues, according to an AT&T news release. AT&T had more than 70,000 reports of outages, according to website Downdetector. AT&T sent a statement to Hearst Newspapers acknowledging the outages happening nationwide. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored," AT&T wrote. Some Verizon and T-Mobile customers experienced outages, but the issue wasn't as wide-reaching as AT&T, according to NBC News. LIVE TRACKER: See where the state's worst power outages are happening Verizon and T-Mobile have sent statements to Hearst Newspapers saying their cellular networks are not having major issues. According to Verizon, customers have experienced issues when calling or texting when served by another carrier. However, the company will continue to monitor the service. T-Mobile believes the website Downdetector is showing challenges the customers are having attempting to connect to users on other networks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As of Thursday morning, Verizon had more than 3,000 reports of outages and T-Mobile had more than 1,500 reports of outages, according to the website Downdetector. The cities that were affected with the most outages of one or more phone service providers were Atlanta, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia and San Antonio. Some users may experience their smartphones being on SOS mode, meaning there's no available service and the phone is searching for a cellular network. According to Apple, the iPhone should be able to connect to a satellite so that the user can call or text emergency services without a cellular network or Wi-Fi. Some users have reported that some iPhones were not able to make calls due to the outage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Claim: The Red Cross asks potential blood donors whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Rating: Rating: True Context: The Red Cross does ask potential blood donors whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine, but contrary to what has been implied by internet rumormongers, this does not mean your blood has been "tainted" by such a vaccine, or that it would be rejected by the Red Cross. It's a procedural question required by FDA regulations. On March 11, 2020, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, declared that COVID-19 was a global pandemic. By the end of the year, doctors and nurses were administering the first vaccinations against the virus. The timeline for the coronavirus vaccine obliterated the record for the fastest vaccine development, previously held by a mumps vaccine developed in the 1960s which took about four years. But despite the numerous health problems caused by COVID-19 (scientists still aren't sure what causes long COVID, for instance), about 20% of the U.S. population remains unvaccinated. This is, in part, because of a concerted movement of people against vaccines, championed by figureheads including independent 2024 U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As recently as Feb. 20, 2024, posts appeared on X (formerly known as Twitter) claiming that the American Red Cross was asking blood donors whether they had ever received a COVID-19 vaccine. According to the posts, vaccinated individuals were required to call a number to ensure they were eligible to donate blood. This claim is true. However, the implication that blood donated by people who have had COVID vaccinations is somehow tainted and unsafe, and that such donors are therefore rejected by the Red Cross, is false. "I thought the vax was 'safe and effective'? What info are they hiding from us?" one poster asked. "The propaganda is beginning to unravel," Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a retweet. (X user @RobertKennedyJr) We found posts from people echoing the claim on Facebook and TikTok. What's more, conservative news outlets like The Gateway Pundit and PJ Media also spread the claim. Snopes first fact-checked this claim in 2021, in the early days of the vaccine rollout. The Red Cross maintains an extensive FAQ page explaining how different medical treatments and conditions affect eligibility. A representative from the Red Cross explained to Snopes via email that regulations set by the U.S. government require blood banks to ask about vaccination status: The FDA permits individuals to donate blood with no wait period after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they are feeling well and symptom free, and the vaccine they received is one approved by the FDA for use in the US. Those who report they have received a COVID-19 vaccine are asked to provide the name of the manufacturer to ensure it is an FDA approved vaccine. If the donor can not remember the name of the manufacturer, they are asked to wait two weeks from their vaccination to give blood. It's important to point out donations from those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 are safe for transfusion. To explain what's going on here in more detail, we're going to present several scenarios involving blood donation and transfusion. The only information you need to know going into this is that the human body really hates when it can't identify something and reacts by trying to destroy the "foreign invader." First: Imagine that in human DNA, there are instructions to make a little protein that attaches to the outside of every blood cell in one's body. Think of it like a name tag, because what the protein does doesn't matter in this case. Now imagine that the genetic code for this "name-tag" protein is missing in someone else, so all of the blood cells in their body don't have such a tag. What would happen if you took blood from someone who had this name-tag protein and put it into someone without the name-tag protein? The immune system would look at the name tag and say, "I don't recognize this," and start panicking. This is very, very bad, and can lead to death. How would you deal with this? By separating donated blood into two groups: one with the name-tag protein and one without it. Now let's complicate things a little more: Add two more genes to the mix that also create name tags for your blood cells. These two genes are kind of tangled together, so the blood cells can have neither, one or both of them. What would happen if you took blood from someone who had both name tags and put it into someone who had neither? What about the other way around? For the first of these two questions, it's like the above scenario: The immune system looks at the two name tags and says, "I don't recognize this," panics, and causes serious complications. But the answer to the second question might be different from what you might expect: The immune system just assumes that the "name tags" fell off and that everything is fine. Again, we can solve this problem by separating donated blood into groups based on what kind of name tags it has. These are, in fact, real things that blood banks must worry about to avoid killing or sickening their patients. What these scenarios describe is how blood types work. The complicated scenario explains the ABO blood type, while the simple scenario represents the Rh factor, represented by a plus or minus after the letters. Next scenario: What if someone has a virus that lives in the blood and never goes away completely? Can you safely use that person's blood? No. Although we're no longer dealing with a possible immune reaction to a "foreign" blood cell, there's a chance that you just helped the virus spread from an infected person to someone who was not infected. This scenario is so bad that blood donation centers prevent those who have these types of diseases from donating blood, just in case. This is the reality of the situation for people with HIV. Zeroing in on the point: What if the virus is dead or genetically modified so that it can't replicate? Is that safe? Yes, this is fine. Because the virus can't spread, as long as you use the correct blood type, the body recognizes all the blood cells as its own and doesn't freak out. Furthermore, the immune system can easily deal with these dead or non-replicating viruses without panicking. Finally: What if the virus is pretty close to dead, but isn't actually dead? Nope. If there's even a slight chance the virus is alive, the blood bank isn't taking any chances until your immune system has had enough time to destroy that virus completely. These last two scenarios describe three of the most common forms of vaccination. The dead virus is what's known as an inactivated vaccine, the non-replicating scenario is called just that, non-replicating, and the virus that has been significantly weakened but is still alive is called a live, attenuated vaccine. Some COVID-19 vaccinations are a new form of vaccine called an mRNA vaccine, which is also considered safe because it doesn't contain viruses at all, just a list of instructions for how to fight them. (As a quick aside: Primitive forms of live, attenuated vaccines have been used to protect people from dangerous illnesses for hundreds of years. There's a lot of science backing up the fact that they're safe.) Because federal regulations mandate that you can donate blood after receiving only some vaccines but not others, the Red Cross and other blood banks ask about COVID-19 vaccination status to ensure that there's no chance of transferring the coronavirus to a recipient. Additionally, none of the coronavirus vaccinations currently approved for use in the United States uses a live, attenuated virus the only people who would be temporarily barred from donating blood because of a coronavirus vaccine are participants in clinical trials for this type of vaccine and those who can't remember the brand of vaccine they received. Just in case. Sources: Affairs (ASPA), Assistant Secretary for Public. COVID-19 Vaccines. 12 Dec. 2020, https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/index.html. Answers to Common Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines and Blood, Platelet or Plasma Donation Eligibility. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2021/answers-to-common-questions-about-covid-19-vaccines-and-blood-platelet-plasma-donation-eligibility.html. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Bartee, Ben. "Donating Blood and the COVID Vaccine [Corrected]." Pjmedia.Com, 20 Feb. 2024, https://pjmedia.com/benbartee/2024/02/20/red-cross-tacitly-concedes-blood-of-covid-injected-is-tainted-n4926615. Blood Types. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types.html. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Boylston, Arthur. "The Origins of Inoculation." Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, vol. 105, no. 7, July 2012, p. 309. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2012.12k044. Dean, Laura. "Blood Transfusions and the Immune System." Blood Groups and Red Cell Antigens [Internet], National Center for Biotechnology Information (US), 2005. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2265/. Erdmann, Jeanne. "Blood Rh Factor's Job Described." Science, https://www.science.org/content/article/blood-rh-factors-job-described. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/paul.w.cole/posts/pfbid0K6pUkyVRjAzMjLfPRaEjEU7GHkK2DintwSEWFR8EqWW5J4LFFszRTE4QsuZBDdnLl. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.redcrossblood.org/faq.html. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. "History of COVID-19: Outbreaks and Vaccine Timeline." Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/history-disease-outbreaks-vaccine-timeline/covid-19. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Hft, Jim. "American Red Cross Faces Scrutiny as It Requires COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients to Call Hotline to See If They're Still Eligible for Blood Donation | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hft." The Gateway Pundit, 20 Feb. 2024, https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/american-red-cross-faces-scrutiny-as-it-requires/. "Https://Twitter.Com/DC_Draino/Status/1759988876301516913." X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/1759988876301516913. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. "Https://Twitter.Com/Liz_churchill10/Status/1760126789458813095." X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/liz_churchill10/status/1760126789458813095. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. "Https://Twitter.Com/RobertKennedyJr/Status/1760045102385234133." X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1760045102385234133. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. "Https://Twitter.Com/ShadowofEzra/Status/1760022122989060243." X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/ShadowofEzra/status/1760022122989060243. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. "Https://Twitter.Com/Zeee_media/Status/1760084930535870772." X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/zeee_media/status/1760084930535870772. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Long COVID | NIH COVID-19 Research. https://covid19.nih.gov/covid-19-topics/long-covid. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. MacGuill, Dan. "Do You Have To Wait To Donate Blood After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine?" Snopes, 23 Apr. 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/donate-blood-after-covid-vaccine/. "Percentage of People Vaccinated against COVID-19 by State U.S. 2023." Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1202065/population-with-covid-vaccine-by-state-us/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Robert-Guroff, Marjorie. "Replicating and Non-Replicating Viral Vectors for Vaccine Development." Current Opinion in Biotechnology, vol. 18, no. 6, Dec. 2007, pp. 54656. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2007.10.010. The Fastest Vaccine in History. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/the-fastest-vaccine-in-history. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. TikTok - Make Your Day. https://www.tiktok.com/@chadlaykanoodle/video/7337865134863355142?q=red%20cross%20covid&t=1708534826477. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. "Types of Vaccines for COVID-19." British Society for Immunology, https://www.immunology.org/public-information/vaccine-resources/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-infographics/types-covid19-vaccines. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. What Is The Rh Factor? Why Is It Important? https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/what-is-the-rh-factor--why-is-it-important-.html. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. WHO Director-General's Opening Remarks at the Media Briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024. Wong, Adrian. "Is Red Cross Rejecting COVID Vaccinated Blood?!`." Tech ARP, https://www.techarp.com/science/red-cross-reject-vaccinated-blood/. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A family of four traveled from Indiana to South Florida for a beach vacation, only to have their world upended: Their 7-year-old daughter, Sloan, died Tuesday when a hole she had dug in the sand collapsed on her and her brother, burying them. Their parents were identified in a GoFundMe as Jason and Therese Mattingly, residents of Fort Wayne. Sloans 9-year-old brother, Maddox, was also in the 5-to-6-foot hole but survived. He was buried only up to his chest, while Sloan was completely buried beneath him. A freak accident happened yesterday while we are here on vacation and it took away our greatest 7.5 years, Therese Mattingly said in a statement on the GoFundMe page. Dont tell us youre sorry for our loss dont do that to us. We experienced the purest human being and we are forever changed by her. We love you beyond any stretch of the imagination. Our sweet Sloan. What we would give. Sloan and Maddox were digging the hole in the sand in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, just north of Anglins Fishing Pier, about 3 p.m. Tuesday when it began to collapse on top of them, officials said. Maddoxs parents put him in a Broward Sheriffs Office car, and he was taken to the hospital in stable condition. A woman calling 911 told the operator in a shaky voice that people were trying to dig a child out of the sand directly behind High Noon Resort. Screaming could be heard in the background. She said the father yelled for help and the mother shouted that her daughter was in the hole. Everybodys screaming, the woman said in the call. Voices could be made out shouting a few words in the background my son and shes under were heard. The operator asked if anyone was obviously injured. They have not gotten the child out, the caller responded. Theyre digging. The beach had no lifeguards, who might have stopped the children from digging the hole so deep. Most South Florida beaches have rules about digging in the sand, either prohibiting holes entirely or requiring them to only sit knee- to waist-deep. Sand holes are more dangerous than people think, and result in more deaths than shark attacks. Experts say that most people can only survive 3 to 5 minutes beneath the sand, the amount of time they can hold their breath. They advise digging sand holes no deeper than 2 feet. Sloan was a first-grader at Lafayette Meadows Elementary School in Roanoke, Indiana, just southwest of Fort Wayne, reports say. Sloan Mattingly was a bright, sweet, loving 1st grade student in Ms. Vanbrocklins class, the schools principal wrote in a statement. Sloan passed away on Tuesday. We will be talking with Ms. Vanbrocklins class, as well as Ms. Kilbournes class, as Sloans brother is a member of that classroom, on Thursday. Jason Mattingly runs a carpentry business called D&S Interiors, according to his Facebook page. Pictures on his profile show the family by the beach, Sloan smiling and Maddox grinning. His cover photo is a picture of Sloan. Please be patient as we are dealing with the loss of our daughter, D&S Interiors wrote on Facebook Wednesday. If you need to reach us, please message and we will have our employee reach out. Mattingly told WANE 15 that Sloan was full of life and always smiling. The fundraiser is to help the family pay for funeral expenses and to have Sloans body transported back to Indiana. People from South Florida to Indiana have donated, raising close to $30,000. Jason, Therese and Maddox are having to navigate a road that no family ever wants to have to even think about navigating, wrote Sally Krouse, the organizer of the fundraiser on behalf of the family. What started as an amazing family trip quickly turned into the devastatingly tragic loss of their 7-year-old daughter/sister Sloan. _____ A lawsuit only represents one side of a story. PARK CITY, Utah (ABC4) Vail Resorts, the owner and operator of Park City Mountain, is facing a new lawsuit regarding an incident in 2020 where a girl and her father suffered serious injuries after falling from the Iron Mountain Express lift. The girl and several of her friends and family were reportedly visiting Park City Mountain Resort to celebrate her 10th birthday, according to the lawsuit filed in Utahs Third District Court. As the girl and her friends boarded the lift, the lawsuit claims they were unable to pull the safety bar down into a secure position. Bad Bunny concert becomes Delta Centers highest-grossing single-night concert of all time Immediately after the chairlift left the boarding area, [the girl] slipped from the chairlift seat and was dangling on the chairlift as it proceeded up the mountain, the lawsuit reads. The girl and friends reportedly screamed for the lone chairlift operator to stop the chairlift but it continued to go up the mountain while her friends tried to hold her by her arms. When the unnamed chairlift operator finally noticed the incident, he allegedly did not immediately stop the lift. The lawsuit claims the girl was carried 300 yards up the mountain where she eventually lost her grip and fell 30 feet sustaining severe injuries. Her father, who was in the lift behind her, jumped to the ground fearing for her safety. The fall reportedly caused him to lose consciousness and suffer severe injuries such as fractures to the ribs, wrist, hip, and pelvis. The girl and her father are seeking damages as a result of the incident. ABC4 reached out to Vail Resorts with a request for comment but has yet to hear back at the time of publication. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A 16-year-old nonbinary student in a small Oklahoma town died after what local police said was a "physical altercation" in a high school bathroom, sparking outcry from LGBTQ rights groups who assert the student was attacked because of their gender identity. The severity of the fight and student Nex Benedict's death a day later have shrouded the Owasso law enforcement and the school district in nationwide scrutiny, according to The New York Times. No arrests had been made in connection with the Feb. 7 altercation in an Owasso High School girls' bathroom as of Wednesday afternoon. Police told the media that the case was still under investigation. In a statement on Tuesday, the Owasso Police Department said that a report on the incident had not been filed until after Benedict had been taken to a hospital by relatives later that day, noting that a school resource office then went to the hospital. Benedict was later discharged and returned home, but was hurried back to the facility by Owasso medics the next day and died there, police said. It is not known at this time if the death is related to the incident at the school or not, the statement said. The police said in a new statement on Wednesday that initial information from a complete autopsy performed by the medical examiner indicated that the decedent did not die as a result of trauma." The statement did not name a cause of death because they are awaiting pending test results. The school said in a statement that no other student involved in the altercation was considered to be in need of outside medical attention, the Times reported. The district issued a statement Tuesday addressing "speculation and misinformation" about the nature of the altercation, noting that it had lasted less than two minutes before being broken up by other students and a staff member "who was supervising outside of the restroom. All involved students walked under their own power to the assistant principals office and nurses office," the statement read. Benedict, who used they/them pronouns, had been bullied at Owasso High School for being trans since the beginning of the 2023 school year, just months after a 2022 law passed in Oklahoma forcing students to use only the bathroom that aligned with their genders assigned at birth, their mother told The Independent. Mother Sue Benedict told the outlet, that she had encouraged the high school sophomore through the bullying. I said youve got to be strong and look the other way, because these people dont know who you are, Benedict told the outlet, adding: I didnt know how bad it had gotten. The bullying allegedly escalated on Feb. 7 when Nex and another trans student at the school had been in a fight with three older girls in a girls' bathroom. Nex, according to the Owasso Police Department, suffered severe head injuries. Benedict told The Independent that after the school notified her of the incident, she arrived to find Nex with bruises on their face and eyes and scratches on the back of their head. Nex told Benedict that they had been knocked to the ground during the altercation and hit their head on the floor, Benedict told the outlet. After taking Nex to the hospital for treatment and speaking with the school resource officer at the facility, Nex returned home and went to bed with a sore head, Benedict said. On the afternoon of Feb. 8, Nex collapsed in the family living room while getting ready to leave for an appointment with Benedict. Medics for the Owasso Fire Department arrived at the home shortly after and found Nex had stopped breathing. They were taken to the emergency room where they were later declared dead. Following the Owasso police department's Wednesday statement, the family released a statement through their attorneys declaring they would conduct an independent investigation into Nex's death. The facts surrounding the student's death, some of which are not available to the public, were "troubling at best," the family said, per The Independent. The Benedicts are also praying for meaningful change wherein bullying is taken seriously and no family has to deal with another preventable tragedy," the statement added, per The Times. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Reports of Nex's death renewed criticism of the Oklahoma bathroom legislation and sparked outrage among LGBTQ advocates who decry the incident as a "possible hate-motivated attack." That policy and the messaging around it has led to a lot more policing of bathrooms by students, Nicole McAfee, the executive director of trans and gay rights organization Freedom Oklahoma, told The New York Times. Students whose gender expression does not present as obviously male or female get questioned by other students, McAfee added, according to The Times. There is a sense of, do you belong in here? Freedom Oklahoma further linked Nex's death to the "hateful rhetoric spewed by leaders in our state and the Libs of TikTok account run by far-right influencer Chaya Raichik, who has made a number of anti-trans posts targeting public school teachers and librarians, including one from 2022 directed at an Owasso High School educator that Nex admired. Last month, Oklahoma's Republican superintendent of public schools appointed Raichik to the state's library advisory committee. The Benedict family, who have roots in the Choctaw Nation, welcomed discussions and questions of gender and identity, the Independent reported. I was very open with my children to be who and what they thought was best, Benedict told the outlet, adding: They could talk to me about anything, as long as that respect goes both ways. A child needs to figure out who they are and what they want to be, and you cannot force it upon them. Nex's sister Malia Pila, who is also a member of the LGBTQ community, told The Independent that Nex's gender identity was not an issue nor anything that anybody cared about" in their household. Nex, Benedict said, was a straight-A student with a love for drawing, reading and playing video games, and a devotion to their cat Zeus. I was so proud of Nex. They were going some place, they were so free, she said. Bexar County Sheriffs Office investigators sort out stolen items recovered from a storage unit. The seizure includes watches valued at half-a-million dollars. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A Bexar County Sheriffs Office employee catalogues a stolen coin recovered from a storage unit during a raid. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Julian Puente, 37, was rearrested Tuesday and charged with multiple counts of theft and criminal mischief in connection with a theft ring that targeted homes in affluent neighborhoods throughout Bexar County. Courtesy Bexar County Sheriff's Office Jerry Mendez, 41, was arrested Tuesday and charged with multiple counts of theft and criminal mischief in connection with a theft ring that targeted homes in affluent neighborhoods throughout Bexar County. Courtesy Bexar County Sheriff's Office A second man accused of working with a crime ring to steal more than a million dollars worth of jewelry and other high-dollar items has been arrested. Jerry Mendez, 41, was arrested and booked on nine charges related to the burglary cases five counts of theft and four of criminal mischief. The first person arrested in the case was Julian Puente, 37. Puente, who was arrested back in August 2023, was initially tracked down by the departments cyber crimes unit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They (the suspects) saved a lot of evidence online, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said. Puente, who was rearrested Tuesday alongside Mendez, is facing additional charges, including seven counts of theft and six counts of criminal mischief. Sheriff Javier Salazar said the two are connected to nine theft cases in total. He said they were part of a sophisticated ring, and that investigators believe they did not act alone. These guys are kind of jacks-of-all-trades, Salazar said. Puente and Mendez had been working together. They cleaned out vacated apartments as part of contracted work, the sheriff said. They cased homes they were targeting and studied the residents social media accounts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They would take screenshots of peoples accounts and kept note of when people left for dinner at night. They conducted a fair amount of pretty sophisticated intel work on these people and ran a pretty coordinated operation while they were conducting these burglaries, Salazar said. Investigators said they entered through back doors and also would rip safes from walls. No one was hurt during the burglaries, but the sheriff said the men were armed on some of the break-ins. Homes throughout Bexar County were targeted, including around Stone Oak Parkway, Terrell Hills and Hill Country Village. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These guys knew what they were going after dollar amount wise, Salazar said. Deputies raided two storage units and recovered 1,600 pieces of jewelry, high-value coins and other collectible items. There was even a watch priced at more than a million dollars. About 1,200 items have been returned to their rightful owners. Salazar said deputies matched serial numbers with case numbers in order to verify that the items did belong to the people claiming them. The sheriff said people who are away from home can avoid being a target of theft by not sharing vacation photos on social media until after they have returned. Its also important to make the home look lived-in by having the yard cut before leaving and temporarily stopping any deliveries that may pile up, such as newspapers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The family of a pregnant South Carolina teen wants answers after she missed her induction date and was found dead just days later. The body of 17-year-old Maylashia Hogg, nine months pregnant, was discovered on Sunday, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed to HuffPost on Wednesday. According to The People Sentinel, Hogg was located just a few blocks from her home in Barnwell. Hogg was last seen on Feb. 8. She was reported missing on Feb. 14, after her family grew concerned when she missed her induction appointment the day before, according to Fox affiliate WACH. 17-year-old Maylashia Hogg was 9 months pregnant when she was found dead. 17-year-old Maylashia Hogg was 9 months pregnant when she was found dead. Kimberly Kite, the founder of The BrokenLink Foundation, an advocacy group that searches for missing people, told ABC affiliate WPDE that Hoggs family reached out to her after they received no help from authorities in notifying the public of her disappearances. When a family reports a loved one missing, police have got to listen to the family, Kite told WACH. Maylashias cousin Robert Payne told WACH that she was naming her daughter London Charity, after her late mother who died in 2022. She was excited to be a mom, Payne told WACH. I know somebody did something to her. Maylashias aunt, Judy Hogg, told local news station WRDW that losing her niece opened up so many wounds, adding that it was like losing her sister Maylashias mother all over again. Were gonna find justice. Were gonna get them, whoever did it. Just know. Were gonna get you. We aint gonna stop, Judy Hogg told the station. Judy Hogg said her niece had planned to return to school to study nursing after she gave birth. Online sleuths have speculated Hoggs disappearance is related to another missing persons case. The Barnwell County Sheriffs Office announced on Tuesday that they are also searching for Michael Still, 47, who was last seenon Feb. 6 at his home, two days before Hogg was last seen. Although police said there is no concrete evidence that suggests Stills case is related to Hoggs, deputies said they will continue to follow all leads that could tie them together. Related... Czech farmers in tractors make their way to the Hodonin/Holic, Czech-Slovakia border crossing, in Czech Republic, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, to meet their colleagues from neighboring countries and join forces in their protests against European Union agriculture policies, bureaucracy and overall conditions for their business. (Vaclav Salek/CTK via AP) PRAGUE (AP) Czech farmers were driving their tractors and other vehicles to several border crossings on Thursday to meet their colleagues from neighboring countries and join forces in their protests against European Union agriculture policies, bureaucracy and overall conditions for their business. Farmers complain that the 27-nation EUs environmental policies, such as the Green Deal, which calls for limits on the use of chemicals and on greenhouse gas emissions, limit their business and make their products more expensive than non-EU imports. The farmers also complain about low prices for their products and say grain and other agriculture products coming from Ukraine and Latin America negatively affect the market. The farmers met their colleagues from neighboring Germany, Poland and Slovakia at a number of border crossings. Farmers from 10 EU countries, ranging from Central Europe to the Baltics and the Balkans, were participating in the protest, organizers said. The farmers invited Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny, his Slovak counterpart Richard Takac, and the representatives of farmers from Poland and Hungary to rally at a Czech-Slovak border crossing known as Hodonin-Holic, which was blocked by hundreds of tractors. We don't protest against the EU, we protest against the wrong decisions by the European Commission, said Andrej Gajdos from the Slovak Chamber of Agriculture and Food. One farmer believes the changes are a chance to encourage "younger members of the family to take charge" Farmers who back overhauling subsidies to help the environment say they feel too "intimidated" to speak out because they fear a backlash from colleagues. Plans for a greener funding scheme, branded "unworkable" by farming unions, have sparked protests across Wales. Carmarthenshire farmer Hywel Morgan said he had even been accused of working for the Welsh government. But the Nature Friendly Farming Network said sticking to "business as usual" would not help the industry succeed. The Welsh government has urged people to respond to the consultation on its Sustainable Farming Scheme, which is set to be introduced from next year. The scheme replaces EU-era subsidies which paid farmers mainly based on how much land they have. In future, farms will have to commit to a checklist designed to reward sustainable farming practices, including - most controversially - having trees on 10% of their land. Mr Morgan, a sheep and cattle farmer from Myddfai who is chairman of the 500-member group, said those who supported change "feel like they can't shout out and say I'm happy because there's so much anger and backlash". He added: "We have to be careful we don't upset the public - we want their support, we want the public's taxes to fund our farms. "Nobody really likes change but we have to adapt if we want public money." Farmer Hywel Morgan says social media "has gone wild" over proposed farming changes Mr Morgan said he had been preparing his farm for the changes for years, and urged farmers to "look at trees as a benefit to your farming business". He feels his woodland is a "priceless" asset as it provides shelter for his livestock, a source of timber and a wildlife habitat. Many of the scheme's requirements were about deterring non-farming landowners from claiming a payment, he suggested, so funding went to actual farmers. At a recent meeting to discuss the proposals he said a farmer stood up, pointed at him and asked if he worked for Welsh government. While he said there are aspects of the scheme he is not 100% happy with, he urged farmers to "come up with solutions rather than just say no" and expressed concern about calls for the consultation to be paused. "We've been talking about this since 2016 - we're in a climate and nature emergency and pausing now only makes it worse." Ifan and Rhiannon Davies have woodlands, a pool, "loads of hedgerows" and wildlife corridors on their farm Father and daughter team Ifan and Rhiannon Davies farm 220 acres in a remote spot 20 miles (32km) from Newtown in Powys. Rhiannon said: "I think it's important for all farms that do what we do to be recognised and rewarded." While in favour of environmental payments, both sympathised with the protesters' concerns and said the Welsh government should have already set out how much farmers can expect to be paid and trialled ideas on pilot farms. "I wholeheartedly agree with the need for more biodiversity and I think a financial incentive to improve the biodiversity on farms should work - but the devil's in the detail," Ifan explained. As farmer protests continue, environment groups have urged the public to take part in the scheme's final consultation, which ends on 7 March. Protest action started in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, at midday on Thursday, with more than 800 protesters and at least 200 vehicles involved. Tractors gathered in Colwyn Bay to protest against the overhaul About 50 tractors also gathered in Carmarthen and a small number of tractors gathered in Colwyn Bay for Mark Drakeford's visit to the town. TV presenter Iolo Williams, an ambassador for Wildlife Trusts Wales, said it was "crucial that people show their support for farmers who farm in a nature-friendly way". Alexander Phillips, policy and advocacy manager for WWF Cymru, said the old EU payments had "not been great" for the viability of many farms, saying there had been about 8,000 jobs lost from agriculture in the 2010s. He said the Welsh government had a "responsibility to act" to tackle climate change and, while not perfect, what had been proposed "fundamentally does represent an improvement on what we've had before". The Welsh government said it had met regularly with farmers from the Nature Friendly Farming Network, as well as other groups, throughout the design of the Sustainable Farming Scheme. "The benefits of their approach to sustainable farming is consistent with the Sustainable Land Management Objectives and the proposed Sustainable Farming," a spokesman said. "We would also encourage them to take part in the consultation." Watch on iPlayer banner Watch on iPlayer footer Katharine Hamnett puts her CBE in the bin outside her home The fashion designer who created the Choose Love T-shirt has dumped her CBE in the bin over Britains response to the conflict in Gaza. In a video shared to social media, Katharine Hamnett emerged from her home wearing a T-shirt with the slogan Disgusted to be British, before dumping her award in a wheelie bin. Im disgusted to be British for our role in genocide in Gaza, the 76-year-old declares in the short clip shared to her Instagram. This is my CBE. It belongs in the dustbin, with Sunak and Starmer, she adds. She also urged her followers to find your MP and tell them you will never vote for them again unless they support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The designer wears a T-shirt saying 'disgusted to be British' before throwing her CBE in the bin Hamnett was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 New Years honours list, receiving the honour from the late Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. When the Queen died in 2022, Hamnett shared a photo from the ceremony on Instagram captioned: Elizabeth the Great. RIP. The designer is no stranger to high profile political statements. In 1984 she was photographed with Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street wearing a T-shirt that read 58 per cent dont want Pershing in protest against nuclear missiles. She also sent models down the catwalk wearing T-shirts reading: Stop War. Blair Out in protest at the Iraq war when Tony Blair was prime minister. Other T-shirt slogans include: Make Trade Fair, Save The Future and Women Against Wars. She is arguably best known for designing the Choose Love slogan T-shirts, created as part of a campaign to help refugees. Hamnett was presented the CBE in 2011 by Queen Elizabeth II Hamnett joins a number of other well-known names who have also relinquished their honours. Last year, The Good Wife actor Alan Cumming said he had returned his OBE after conversations about the role of the monarchy opened his eyes to the suffering of indigenous people around the world. In 2020, Welsh star Michael Sheen revealed he gave back his OBE so he could call for the scrapping of the title Prince of Wales. In 1969, Beatle John Lennon returned his MBE with a letter to the Queen saying it was a protest against Britains involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. Journalist Jon Snow, comedian John Oliver and poet Benjamin Zephaniah are among those who have turned honours down. According to the Cabinet Office, it is possible to renounce an honour, but a recipient still holds it until the King agrees to annul it. As a result, placing a CBE in the bin is only a token gesture until formal action is taken by the monarch. 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 first P.F. Roberts store in the Baptist Settlement operated from about 1906 to 1922, just south of todays Hemisfair area downtown. EDWARD A. ORNELAS, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS A new historical marker will honor the place where one of San Antonios first Black-owned businesses once stood. The site of the former P.F. Roberts grocery store will receive Texas Historic Landmark status in a ceremony Thursday at the Southeast corner of East Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Indianola Street. The University of Texas at San Antonio, which petitioned for the status from the Texas Historical Commission, is partnering with Frost Bank for the ceremony unveiling the historical designation marker. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Though the business is no longer standing and its address, 301 Victoria St., no longer exists, the historical designation honors the stores legacy and its founders contribution to San Antonios African American history, UTSA said in a statement. P.F. Roberts was a longtime educator, businessman and civil rights leader in San Antonio. EDWARD A. ORNELAS, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS The store, founded by Henry Porter Field P.F. Roberts, was one of the few African American-owned businesses in San Antonio in the early 1900s. Roberts, a son of enslaved people, graduated from Tougaloo College in Mississippi and moved to San Antonio in 1895 to teach at the Norris Wright Cuney School in what was then the Baptist Settlement neighborhood, one of the first places that enslaved people and free Black people were allowed to settle in Bexar County, according to UTSA. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Roberts was a well-respected business owner, educator and community leader, and was one of the founding members of the NAACP San Antonio Chapter. Roberts, who worked multiple jobs to make a living, opened the grocery store in 1896 with a $2,000 loan from Thomas Claiborne T.C Frost, founder of Frost Bank. From about 1906 to 1922, the store sold meat, groceries, wood, coal, oil and dry goods. It was an oasis in the desert for people of color who werent allowed in most stores, Ernest Qadimasil, Roberts grandson, told the San Antonio Express-News in 2021. The store is believed to have been where the median is located on Chavez Boulevard. The building was demolished in the 1960s, the Express-News reported in 2021. The historical marker unveiling takes place at 1 p.m. Thursday at 610 Indianola St. A firefighter initially told police he gave a patient 2 mg of morphine while on a call, but he later said he used the drug himself, according to Arkansas police. An investigation into the firefighter began when the Centerton Fire Chief noticed a 10 mg vial was missing from the narcotics safe, Centerton police said. Video footage showed firefighter and paramedic Michael Brown in the room with the narcotics safe and his name was signed on a log showing he went into the safe, according to court documents filed Feb. 21. Two other names were also listed on the log, but the individuals told police they were in different locations at the time, according to an affidavit. Video footage also did not show the two others in the room with the safe. Brown had gone home sick on Feb. 16, the day the fire chief called police, authorities said in an affidavit of probable cause. When a police detective and Washington County Sheriffs deputy met Brown at his home, they asked why police might want to speak with him. Brown replied, maybe about some missing narcs from the ambulance, according to court documents. Brown told authorities he administered 2 mg of morphine to an ambulance patient who signed a refusal of care without documenting it, according to court records. He then disputed his own statement after police said they would check with the patient, officials said. Brown told police he went to the emergency room for abdominal issues, according to court records. He said he had taken 2 mg of the morphine, according to an affidavit from police. He was arrested and charged with forgery and controlled substances-fraudulent practices. Centerton Fire Department Chief Matt Thompson told McClatchy News Brown was fired Feb. 16, the day he was arrested. Attorney information for Brown was not listed. Centerton is about 220 miles northwest of Little Rock. Hospital CEO dies after heart surgery, and it couldve been prevented, IL lawsuit says 17-year-old finds mother shot dead in home with three kids present, Texas cops say Firefighters rescue injured bald eagle found while en route to another Missouri call The blackened apartment block in Valencia, where a fire killed at least 10 people - JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images A huge fire killed 10 people, including an entire family and their newborn baby, as it ripped through a multi-storey apartment block in Valencia. Firefighters rescued some occupants from their balconies as high winds fanned the flames during the incident in the Spanish citys affluent Campanar neighbourhood. Experts linked the fire to the 2017 blaze at Londons Grenfell Tower, which killed 72 people, saying the buildings cladding may have contributed to the ferocity of the inferno. Firefighters with masks and oxygen tanks worked their way through the charred building on Friday, looking for bodies or survivors hours after the blaze started the previous evening. The fire began around 5.30pm on Thursday on the apartment blocks fourth floor. Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez visiting the site of the disaster - Eva Manez/Reuters It swept through the building in about 30 minutes, witnesses and the emergency services said. It was not immediately clear what had caused the blaze or why it spread so quickly. The family of four a father, mother, three-year-old girl and two-week-old baby had sought refuge in their flats bathroom when the fire broke out but perished in the flames as they spread. Authorities said six other occupants of the 14-storey building had also been killed. We can confirm that following a first inspection, forensic police have found 10 fatalities, regional administrator Pilar Bernabe told reporters. A judge has opened an investigation into the tragedy. Visiting the scene on Friday, Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, said residents had lost everything in a matter of minutes. He added he was in contact with Maria Jose Catala, Valencias mayor, and other local officials to offer whatever help was needed. The building, comprising two towers linked by what its developers described as a panoramic lift housed more than 130 flats, local media reported. Two people wait to be rescued - Manuel Bruque/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Witnesses said the flames engulfed the block within minutes as if it was made of cork - Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty A firefighter approaches two residents on his ladder - Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Antonio Hospitaler, an expert in fires at the Polytechnic of Valencia, linked the blaze to the fire at Grenfell Tower. This building was made with flammable material and there was a strong wind, he told Spains RTVE state broadcaster. It is exactly the same as London in 2017. Footage showed flames and vast clouds of black smoke engulfing the building in the eastern port city, Spains third largest. Panicked residents rushed to their balconies to plead for help as the fire spread. More than 20 teams of firefighters were called in to fight the fire, which also spread to a neighbouring building - Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images Dramatic rescue efforts saw firefighters use a crane to pull a couple from their flat while flames and smoke billowed around them. Sara, from Portugal and her partner Amar, from Belgium, waited on their balcony for more than two hours until they were plucked to safety as crowds applauded below. We never expected anything like this to happen, Sara told reporters, adding all of their belongings had been destroyed in the blaze. Another couple, a pair of Ukrainian nationals who fled to Spain after Russias invasion were among the others who narrowly escaped with their lives. We came to Valencia escaping the attacks of the Russians and now, the fire, Dmitro, who did not provide his second name, told reporters. Authorities said 15 people, including six firefighters, had been injured. Esther Puchades, deputy head of Valencias Industrial Engineers Association, said the fire had spread rapidly because the building was covered with highly flammable aluminium and plastic cladding. Adriana, the building's manager who also lived in the block, looks on in tears - Eva Manez/Reuters The building was built in 2005 when this type of cladding was not so notorious as it is today. Today, it is not used to build in Spain, she told reporters. Luis Ibanez, a resident in a nearby building, told RTVE he saw flames engulfing the apartment block within a matter of minutes, adding it was as if it was made of cork. I couldnt believe what I was seeing. The whole side of the building directly opposite was on fire, from the first floor to the sixth and seventh floor, he said. Its a catastrophe, devastating There was a really strong wind and the fire was spreading at a huge speed. Sergio Perez, who also lives nearby, said the building burnt as if someone had poured gasoline on it. Its a catastrophe. Unimaginable. Its devastating, he said. Meanwhile, as firefighters continued to pick their way through the building, Valencians flocked to donate clothes, medicines and other supplies to survivors of the blaze who were being temporarily housed in a nearby hotel. The citys authorities decreed three days of mourning, cancelled local football matches and suspended the start of its month-long, annual Fallas festival which features the torching of large cardboard statues and a firework display. 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 old farmhouse in New Hampshire is in ruins after an intense fire that ripped through the property. The flames flared up on the second floor of the home on Scotland Road on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m. Fire officials said one of the biggest challenges in fighting the flames was getting enough water to the scene. Firefighters could be seen making constant trips to a pond, about a mile away, to retrieve an adequate supply of water. Every one of the big trucks you see that go through, goes to the lake, fills up and starts filling the other trucks, said Asst. Kingston Fire Chief Kent Walker. It is old. Its really dry. It went up fast. Firefighters got the upper hand on the fire from the outside and continued dousing it with water to fight hot spots. One man who was home at the time was rescued before flames engulfed the house. Multiple dogs, a goat and a horse were also pulled to safety. One responding firefighter was rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical episode and is listed in stable condition. The cause of the fire remains 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 Danish F-16 fighter jets are expected to be delivered to Ukraine this summer, the Danish Defense Ministrys press service reported on Feb. 22, citing a statement by the international air coalition led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. "It is difficult to set a fixed timetable for the donation of F-16 fighter jets, because there are several conditions that must be met in order for Ukraine to use the donated aircraft, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. Read also: Ukrainian pilots to complete F-16 fighter jet training in the U.S. by summer 2024 But I have informed the conciliation circle that we are now working to ensure that everything goes smoothly this summer, when we expect to be able to hand over the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, if the preparations go as planned." The final delivery of the first Danish F-16s depends, among other things, on the training of Ukrainian pilots and personnel, as well as the necessary logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine. On Feb. 20, CNN reported that the first four Ukrainian pilots would complete their F-16 fighter jet training program by the summer of 2024. Read also: Ukraine Air Force preparing infrastructure for F-16 transfer with no concrete timeline at this stage The first F-16 jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine around June 2024, Foreign Policy reported on Feb. 18, referencing European officials. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, cautioned against locking in specific dates for the aircraft's handover from international allies. Previously, the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine was anticipated in the first half of 2024. The Netherlands and Denmark pledged in Aug. 2023 to jointly transfer 61 American F-16 fighters to Ukraine, following authorization from the United States. Norway has also confirmed its intention to supply F-16s, and Belgium has committed to transferring F-16s to Ukraine starting in 2025. In a move to expedite the process, the Netherlands started the handover of the first 18 of 42 F-16 fighters to Ukraine in December 2023, later bumping that figure to 24. As these preparations unfold, Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained on F-16s in various allied nations. 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 Heather Clemons, homeless response team manager with CAM, talks with (from left) SAPD Officer Joel Pope, Community Immersion Program lead, and cadets Derek Martinez, Josh Barrientes, and Spencer Nicholson at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Valerie Salas, director of homeless services with Christian Assistance Ministry, writes the response Why am I still here? on a large cardboard box used in an exercise with SAPD cadets in the Community Immersion Program at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SAPD Officer and Community Immersion Program project lead Joel Pope listens to a presentation given at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Heather Clemons, homeless response team manager with Christian Assistance Ministry, addresses cadets in the SAPDs Community Immersion Program at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SAPD Officer and Community Immersion Program project lead Joel Popes boots stick out of a cardboard box as he experiences what its like to be in a box at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Valeria Salas, director of homeless services with CAM, talks with SAPD cadets in the Community Immersion Program at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Valeria Salas, director of homeless services with CAM, talks with SAPD cadets in the Community Immersion Program at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SAPD Officer Joel Pope listens to Heather Clemons, homeless response team manager with Christian Assistance Ministries, speak with a group of cadets in the Community Immersion Program at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SAPD Officer Joel Pope holds the door open to the chapel at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News From left: SAPD Cadets Derek Martinez, Josh Barrientes and Spencer Nicholson put on name tags at Christian Assistance Ministry on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio police cadet Josh Barrientes lay enclosed in cardboard boxes. Not safe. Why am I still here? Valerie Narvaez wrote Barrientes thoughts on the outside of the box with a Sharpie. Its a temporary moment for Barrientes, but its the only respite some people experiencing homelessness in the downtown area can find to get a nights sleep. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thanks to San Antonio Police Departments Community Immersion Program, a pilot project that puts police cadets in internships with area community organizations like Christian Assistance Ministry, or CAM, Barrientes is gaining a new perspective about the people he will encounter on the beat when he graduates from the police academy. Randomly selected cadets are placed into weeks-long internships with volunteering community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA and Harpers Chapel. Joel Pope, community engagement officer, said the program has been developing since 2021 when Chief William McManus tasked him and a fellow officer with bridging the gap between the community and police. The two based this program on psychologist Gordon Allports theory that social contact between different groups can reduce prejudice. Advertisement Article continues below this ad From there, police reached out to community mentors and asked if they would work with cadets. That was another genesis moment, where we said, What if we could bring cadets that are not officers to the communities that theyre going to be serving prior to them having the uniform? Pope said. The uniform means different things to different folks. I think different people have different ideas, and thats OK. Thats great. But we need to share those ideas, or were not going to know. Narvaez herself is the director of homeless services at CAM. Her exercise was drawn from her personal experience of going above and beyond to help Neville Kampf, an Army veteran who once was homeless and slept in cardboard boxes layered together because his symptoms of schizophrenia were so challenging to treat. On Wednesday evening, she led a trio of cadets through Kampfs story, including her daily efforts to reach him through his schizophrenic episodes with a morning delivery of breakfast and coffee. The cadets were focused on every word as she recounted how difficult it was to reach him at first as he shouted obscenities downtown and traced the wall with his fingers, then how he slowly connected with Narvaez more with each check-in. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She also highlighted the work of San Antonio police officers who make the effort to bring people experiencing mental health episodes and drug overdoses to area services. The cadets have already been with Narvaez to Communities Under the Bridge, which provides food and ministry to the homeless community. She said the officers listened to a grieving resident whose friend died by suicide. Were not only showing them these things, but were also arming them with resources so they know that there are these low-barrier options in our community for those individuals to get help, she said. Narvaez said the program is absolutely working as cadets now on patrol return to CAM. Their (the officers) approach is very real and different. I can just tell that they feel connected and they feel a part of and that theyre just happy to respond, She said. Theyre happy to bring someone over here instead of maybe taking them somewhere else. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She hopes the program will expand nationwide. In addition, SAPD and the citys Office of Innovation are partnering with Brown University, Texas A&M San Antonio and Georgetown University to research the impacts of community policing. Approximately 70 officers have been through the program so far. Officer Francisco Javier, who was among the first cadets to try the program in 2022, said the program gave him a new perspective on central patrol, covering downtown and parts of the North and West Sides. It helped out a lot because you get to know whos around. You get to know how to get around, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Javier, who moved to San Antonio from his hometown of New Jersey to join the force, saw it as an opportunity to learn and get to know the area. He worked with pastor Vincent Robinson and outreach workers who helped a man experiencing homelessness get back on his feet. First US moon landing in 50 years set to take place Thursday evening: Watch live Recorded earlier The autonomous lander Odysseus is expected to touch down on the lunar surface Thursday evening, inaugurating a new era in U.S. exploration of the moon. Odysseus, created by the company Intuitive Machines, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early Feb. 15. The lander is carrying scientific instruments in the first installment of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, a series of private contracts to deliver materials to the moon. NASA intends these missions to serve as the groundwork for the Artemis program, which will include an ongoing human presence on the moon and the eventual journey of astronauts to Mars. The landing is expected at 6:24 p.m. EST. Watch the live video above. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Monroe County has temporarily grounded its three air ambulances after one of the Sikorski S76 helicopters made an emergency landing at Florida Keys/Marathon International Airport Thursday morning, according to the sheriffs office. The helicopter was on its way to transport a patient to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital when the crew noticed its landing gear wasnt functioning and returned to base in Marathon, which is in the Middle Keys. The pilot set the chopper on the tarmac around 5:30 a.m. with at least one of its wheels remaining retracted, according to the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office maintains and flies all three of the helicopters under a program Monroe County calls Trauma Star. The medical crews on board are members of Monroe County Fire Rescue. A video of the incident released by the sheriffs office shows the aircraft setting down on some sort of block placed underneath it to compensate for the malfunctioning landing gear. No one was injured, including the patient, and the helicopter didnt have major damage, according to the sheriffs office. The patient was taken to Kendall by a waiting ambulance, Keys Sheriff Rick Ramsay said. I want to thank and applaud the entire Trauma Star crew for doing an outstanding job to safely land this aircraft resulting in no injuries, Ramsay said in a statement. The sheriffs office notified the National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration about the incident, said sheriffs office spokesman Adam Linhardt. Linhardt said all three Trauma Star helicopters were temporarily grounded so maintenance crews ensure the other two aircraft dont have the same issues. The sheriffs office expects to have them back in the air by Friday morning, Linhardt said. The choppers are based at Marathon International Airport and Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island in the Lower Keys. Because the Keys three hospitals dont have trauma units, the helicopters are a quick lifeline to anyone seriously injured or ill throughout the 120-mile long island chain. MORE: If youre badly hurt in the Florida Keys, this is why youll need to take a helicopter Monroe Countys Trauma Star Sikorski S76 helicopter ambulance flies near the Seven Mile Bridge in the Middle Keys in this undated photo. The sheriffs office says crews that fly and maintain the aircraft remain continuously busy, with an estimated 1,400 flights annually to mainland hospitals or about three to four flights a day. Over the next two years, the aging Sikorski fleet is expected to be replaced by three Leonardo AW 139 helicopters, which are the same kind used by Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue. The $52-million replacement program was approved by Monroe County commissioners in March. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed concerns over whether banning social media for children under the age of 16 violates parents' rights (Christian Monterrosa) Florida lawmakers moved Thursday toward enacting one of the strictest bans on children's use of social media in the United States, sending to the governor a bill to keep those under 16 off such platforms. The controversial legislation seeks to protect children's mental health against the "addictive features" of such platforms, amid fears over online dangers including from sexual predators, cyber bullying and teen suicide. The legislation cleared the state Senate 23-14 and returned to the House, where it passed overwhelmingly, 108-7. It now heads to the governor's mansion where, to become law, it needs to be signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who has expressed skepticism about the legislation. Similar efforts by other states have previously been blocked by courts. "We're talking about businesses that are using addictive features to engage in mass manipulation of our children to cause them harm," the bill's sponsor, Republican Erin Grall, told the Florida Senate on Thursday. But DeSantis, who has previously said he is sympathetic to fears over the impact of social media on children, voiced concerns about parental rights. "A parent has the right to opt in," he told a press conference Thursday. The governor, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for president and dropped out in January, has argued many times that parents should have more control over decisions affecting their children, particularly in education. Under DeSantis Florida has passed laws to curtail teaching about sex education and gender identity in schools and to eradicate diversity programs in state-funded universities. Scores of books have been removed from the state's school library shelves in recent months, deemed inappropriate for children by conservative parents and school boards. Some critics say such a law targeting social media use would violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech. Last year a federal judge blocked an Arkansas initiative that sought to require parental consent to open a social media account. Most social media networks already have a minimum age of 13 to open an account, though they do little to ensure compliance with the provision. If the regulation is approved, the platforms will have to block Florida children under the age of 16 from creating accounts and close those already opened. gma/st/mlm/dw A Florida man and woman are being charged with murder after a sex-for-hire plot to steal another mans car in June did not go according to plan, authorities said Wednesday. Michael Montgomery, 47, and Jessica Long, 37, were arrested in connection witjh the murder of 40-year-old Wayne Barlow, whose body was found on the side of a road, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said. Barlows death appeared suspicious, according to officials, and it was later confirmed that he died of a gunshot wound to the head and had evidence of strangulation and blunt force trauma. An investigation revealed text messages between Long and Barlow in which they agreed to meet up in a wooded area to have sex, which Barlow would pay for, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 35 Orlando. HS COACH WHO DESCRIBED TEACHING AS DREAM JOB ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WITH HANDFUL OF STUDENTS Jessica Long, 37, was arrested on Tuesday in connection to the murder of Wayne Barlow in June near Ocala, Florida. After Barlow paid Long $80 through Cash App, Long allegedly signaled Montgomery to help steal the car while the pair would be having sex in the woods near the Regal Park area of Ocala, the affidavit said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP But the pairs plan went very wrong, officials say. Barlow realized his car was being stolen and attacked Long before Montgomery jumped in, according to the affidavit. Montgomery allegedly acted as the "muscle" in the pair's plan to steal Barlow's car while Long had sex with him in a secluded area, the affidavit alleges. While Long drove, Montgomery allegedly pulled Barlow from the car and assaulted him with a pipe-like object before trying to run him over, according to the sheriffs office. Witnesses said Montgomery then approached Barlow and allegedly shot him. DA IN ARIZONA REFUSING TO EXTRADITE SUSPECTED NYC SEX WORKER KILLER, DOESN'T TRUSH BRAGG TO PROSECUTE Montgomery reportedly told investigators that he agreed to take part in the plan for free drugs and sex. Long has previous arrests for grand theft, resisting arrest, prostitution and drug possession, the station reported. Long and Montgomery are being charged with murder while engaged in a robbery. Montgomery is facing additional charges including parole violation, resisting arrest and aggravated battery. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Both are being held at the Marion County Jail with no bond. Original article source: Florida pair charged with murder after sex-for-hire car theft plot went awry: deputies UPDATE: The Florida House also passed the bill Thursday evening. The Florida Senate has approved legislation that would boot minors younger than 16 years old off social media and require age verification to access pornographic websites. The legislation (HB 1) passed Thursday morning by a 23-14 vote, with bipartisan support and opposition. Five Republicans voted against for the measure and two Democrats for it. Grall "We can only spend so much money on the treatment (for mental health issues), and not address the symptoms," said Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, a bill sponsor. Most of the senators' debate was on the social media provisions. "No amount of money can take on these hundreds-of-billions-of-dollars companies." Its next stop is the House, which already passed it once. That chamber now must approve modifications to the legislation, which were added to make it more likely to survive expected legal challenges and more likely to get Gov. Ron DeSantis' signature. DeSantis has said he wouldn't support the social media legislation if he didn't believe it was going to pass "legal muster" and hasn't said whether he would sign it. During a Thursday press conference after the vote, DeSantis said he didn't think the bill was "there yet." So even more modifications may have to approved, unless lawmakers defy DeSantis, meaning it could go back to the Senate. "Parents need to have a role in this," DeSantis said. "I do think parents are concerned about social media and what goes on there, and I do think they think it's a problem. But I also think that for people that are in high school, it's not as simple." Most of the Democratic senators doubted the bill would survive legal scrutiny and took issue with the bill not having an exception for parental permission. "I can take my kid to a rated R movie and see the same type of illicit material that you find to be offensive and think that the state should legislate on," said Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-North Miami Beach. "This will be overturned in the court of law." Other states have passed similar laws to Floridas proposal but theyve had such exceptions. And that hasnt been enough to protect them against legal challenges. Osgood But Sen. Rosalind Osgood, D-Tamarac, one of the Democrats who voted in favor of the bill, said this was an opportunity to protect kids from "predators and bad people that are out there using social media to harm our kids." What's a 'social media platform?' Senators have tweaked the definition of social media platform. Affected ones must in part have "addictive features," including infinite scrolling, push notifications and auto-play videos. Bill proponents have said the bill is focused not on banning minors or targeting platforms, but on making those platforms make changes to their features. "It says if you create a platform that does not have these features, children will be able to get on it and there's not an age verification requirement of that," Grall said. "It says, 'Just do these things.' " Another change to the legislation, approved Wednesday, requires social media and pornographic platforms to offer an anonymous age-verification option to users by third-party services, which aren't allowed to retain personal identifying information. Related coverage: Who's actually paying for the ads against the Florida social media bill? You won't know As an example, Grall pointed to biometric and algorithmic analysis, meaning using someone's physical features or an online algorithm to determine their age. Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, a former Florida GOP chair, quizzed the bill sponsor on that anonymous verification. "If I'm hearing you correctly, you don't necessarily have to identify yourself, but there's going to be identifying questions?" said Ingoglia, who also asked about such information getting hacked. Ingoglia was one of the five Republicans who voted against the bill. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Senate OKs social media ban for kids, age check for porn Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler, top, punches Chicago Blackhawks center Reese Johnson during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Chicago. The Flyers won 3-1. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) CHICAGO (AP) Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Garent Hathaway scored, Samuel Ersson made 22 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Wednesday night. Philadelphia is 5-1-1 in its last seven games. Chicago, last overall in the NHL, has lost 10 of 11. Its a win and were leaving, Flyers coach John Tortorella said. Its just good we got the two points. It wasnt pretty, right, but as long as you get the two points. Its not style points right now, its just trying to keep your concentration and get points. Colin Blackwell scored for Chicago. Arvid Soderblom stopped 30 shots. They got a couple through and we couldnt find a rebound on their end, Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. We didnt get a lot of zone time in the second period, but in the third I thought we got some chances. The Flyers puck-control attack and stingy defense limited Chicagos chances. Philadelphia allowed 40 shots Saturday in a 6-3 outdoor loss to New Jersey. Thats apples and oranges, Hathaway said. I thought tonight we were a little sloppy in our control of odd-line rushes. They really know when to jump. But tonight, we definitely had control of the puck more. Philadelphia broke it open with two goals in the second period, with Konecny making it 2-1 at 3:15 with his team-high 27th goal. He beat goaltender Arvid Soderblom over his right shoulder with a snap shot from the left circle after driving around defenseman Jarred Tinordi. Konecny extended his points streak to seven games. Tonight wasnt a good one for me, Konecny said. Im just trying to figure out how to get wins. Hathaway made it 3-1 with 8:-05 left in second, controlling a puck in the slot that was within reach of Soderblom and poking it into the net. Sanheim and Blackwell traded first-period goals. They kind of outworked us, Blackwell said. Its frustrating. You can only say so many times that were close. Its been close for a long time. UP NEXT Flyers: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday. Blackhawks: Host Winnipeg on Friday night. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand Several international vendors are intent on helping South Korea bolster its airborne early warning and control capability, as the countrys Air Force plans to spend at most $2.26 billion on four aircraft. After the Defense Acquisition Program Administration issued a request for proposals in November, companies had until Feb. 22 to submit their bids. South Korea is taking on more self-defense responsibilities from the U.S., and the new quartet of AEW&C aircraft will supplement four Boeing E-737 planes delivered around the 2011-2012 time frame. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said the new platforms would enhance the Souths ability to monitor North Korean missiles and defend its airspace. Boeing is competing with a 737-based platform again, its E-7 having the advantage of aerial refueling to give on-station times stretching to 20 hours. Regarding the capability, the unmatched E-7 multirole electronically scanned array radar sensing and tracking provides the most powerful multidomain surveillance, communications and networked battle-management capabilities of any aircraft, a Boeing spokesperson told Defense News. The American company, which is the fifth-largest defense contractor in the world, said the E-7 is production-ready and offers lower operating and sustainment costs, higher mission readiness rates, and unmatched interoperability. Boeing executives at South Koreas Seoul ADEX defense expo last year claimed a 96% availability rate for the E-7. They also highlighted commonality with existing Korean E-737s. In addition to crew training efficiencies, the E-7 offers life-cycle cost savings inherent with fleet continuity and a global, common logistics model. Saabs GlobalEye is also competing, with the Swedish company proposing a Bombardier Global 6500 airframe. Saab believes its design, which mounts an Erieye extended-range radar atop the fuselage, is ideal for South Koreas Air Force. As well as a hot production line, Saab touted its willingness to transfer technology to enhance Koreas strategic independence. It also highlighted rapid delivery and affordability. Saab is the 33rd biggest defense contractor worldwide. The other contender is American firm L3Harris Technologies in tandem with Korean Air and Israel Aerospace Industries. Its Phoenix solution also uses a Global 6500 and integrates Elta Systems-made conformal radars and artificial intelligence algorithms. L3Harris claimed its design will have low sustainment costs and at least a 95% operational availability rate. L3Harris is the ninth-largest defense company in the world, while IAI lands at 29. The former noted that an initial two aircraft would undergo modifications in Texas before receiving radar integration in Israel. Korean Air would lead work on the two remaining aircraft in-country, as well as perform sustainment. Through L3Harris agreements with Korean Air, LIG Nex1 and Ace Antenna, and ongoing discussions with additional Korean partners, the team intends that the aircraft and mission system equipment will be fully supported in Korea, a spokesperson for the group told Defense News. This paves the way for independent domestic research and development, and fostering excellence in aircraft system integration, upgrades and modifications, which will contribute significantly to the advancement of South Koreas research and development program. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration declined to provide Defense News with further details. The agency is now proceeding with evaluations. Foreigners and "stateless persons" will be allowed to serve in Ukraine's National Guard, according to a decree signed Feb. 21 by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The announcement, published on the presidential office website, comes as the government attempts to ramp up mobilization efforts in 2024. The new law goes into immediate effect as of Feb. 21. "Foreigners who are legally on the territory of Ukraine, have not been previously convicted, and meet the requirements for military service as defined by the law of Ukraine 'On Military Duty and Military Service' may be accepted on a voluntary basis (under contract) for military service in the National Guard of Ukraine," the decree says. Foreign citizens are already able to serve in Ukraine's Armed Forces if they meet certain requirements. Following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelensky called on "citizens of the world" to join in Ukraine's defense, forming the International Legion. The National Guard is a part of the Interior Ministry and is responsible for public security. National Guard personnel have also been fighting on the front lines since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war. Zelensky made several changes to National Guard leadership in 2023, including appointing Oleksandr Pivnenko as commander in July and replacing four deputy commanders in November. Read also: Investigation: Apparent Russian disinformation group posing as ex-president Poroshenko targets foreign fighters in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ian Khama said Lords are 'easily lobbied by the pro-hunting cartel' - WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images The former president of Botswana has called on the unethical House of Lords to back a new ban on trophy hunting imports. Ian Khama, who imposed a ban on trophy hunting during his time in office, hit out at the small group of peers who blocked similar legislation in the autumn and urged them to take a stand against the selfish industry. The latest bill, brought by John Spellar, the Labour backbencher, would stop British hunters bringing back keepsakes such as elephant tusks or lion pelts from expeditions. However, the former presidents intervention prompted a backlash from community groups in Botswana who claim sustainable hunting is needed to safeguard their livelihoods. Mr Khama told The Telegraph: The House of Lords is not like the House of Commons. Because they are appointed, theyre not elected. They dont have a constituency. Its not like they say: Im representing people. And if I dont do this, Ill be out at the next election. So they are easily lobbied by the pro-hunting cartel it may be part of the democratic system, but its also undemocratic. He continued: Its very unethical. They are not looking at the bigger picture when it comes to animal welfare and the survival of the species. Corruption from the very top The first bill to crack down on trophy hunting passed through the Commons last year with Government backing. Hunting groups spent more than 1 million lobbying like mad against the legislation, MPs later claimed. Referring to an African lion killed in 2015 by an American big game hunter, Trudy Harrison, parliamentary under-secretary for environment, declared: Cecil the Lion has not died in vain. However, the legislation was blocked in September when a group of 11 peers tabled dozens of amendments to make it run out of time. Mr Khama urged Parliament to back the replacement bill on a visit to London. He also hit out at political leaders in Botswana who repealed his hunting ban, claiming it had been driven by corruption from the very top. During my time we lost, I think, one or two rhinos in 10 years; theyve lost a couple of hundred in four years, he said. Several African high commissioners, including those from Botswana, have argued that hunting is needed to fund anti-poaching squads and conservation efforts. Ridiculous statements However, Mr Khama said the policy was a self-serving justification which had caused the populations of endangered species to collapse. It suits them to do so, he said. If you follow what some politicians say in trying to sell something they can come up with some of the most ridiculous statements and reasons for something. If they in some cases, Im not saying in all think they are benefitting personally, then they will come up and say hunting promotes conservation. Well if it does, why are we still seeing the decline? Following Mr Khamas visit, a group of 18 Botswana community groups criticised the former presidents lobbying efforts. Enforcing a blanket ban on trophy hunting is not a panacea for conservation but rather a threat to the sustainable benefits [we] derive from wildlife, they said in a joint letter. 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 - Former Colorado police Officer Randy Roedema speaks on his behalf during sentencing at the Adams County Court, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Brighton, Colo. Roedema is appealing his conviction by a jury for his role in the death of Eljiah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after being stopped by police in a Denver suburb in 2019. (ABC News One via AP, Pool, File) DENVER (AP) A former Colorado police officer is appealing his conviction by a jury for his role in the death of Eljiah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after being stopped by police in a Denver suburb in 2019. Lawyers for Randy Roedema filed a notice of appeal with the state appeals court on Wednesday. A jury convicted Roedema last October of criminally negligent homicide, which is a felony, and misdemeanor third-degree assault. He was sentenced to 14 months in jail at a hearing last month in which McClain's mother called him a bully with a badge. McClains death received little attention in 2019 but gained renewed interest the following year as mass protests swept the nation over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. It became a rallying cry for critics of racial injustice in policing. McClain was stopped by police in Aurora as he walked home from a store while listening to music. At the time, he was wearing a face mask and a 911 caller reported he looked suspicious. Within seconds, another officer put his hands on McClain, beginning a struggle that lasted about 20 minutes before McClain was restrained and paramedics injected him with the powerful sedative ketamine. The coroner's office initally could not determine how McClain died, leading the local prosecutor to decide against bringing any criminal charges. But it updated the autopsy report in 2021, finding that McClain died of an overdose of ketamine after being forcibly restrained by police. Roedema, who was fired from the Aurora Police Department after his conviction, was the only one of three police officers indicted in McClain's death to be found guilty. The two others were acquitted. Two paramedics were convicted in December in the third trial and final trial of first responders in McClain's death. Roedema was tried with another officer, Jason Rosenblatt, and Roedema's lawyers said the decision to join their trials together was among a list of issues they would be challenging. Another was whether his indictment should have been dismissed because of alleged errors in the instructions given to grand jurors. Other issues could still be raised when Roedema files an opening brief in the appeal, they said. The state attorney general's office, which prosecuted the case, had no comment on the appeal, spokesperson Lawrence Pacheco said. San Antonio police officer Albert Sanchez, 38, was charged with possession of child pornography in January. A witness said Sanchez admitted to having sex with minors, states an arrest affidavit. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A San Antonio police officer arrested last month on child pornography charges told a woman hed had sex with several juveniles, according to an arrest affidavit. Albert Sanchez, a 16-year veteran with the San Antonio Police Department, was charged with possession of child pornography in January. A 34-year-old woman notified the San Antonio Police Department on Jan. 5 that Sanchez admitted to her that he was engaging in sexual conduct with juveniles, according to the arrest affidavit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The woman, who was not identified, said she met Sanchez through her employment and began communicating with him through text messages. It was during several text message conversations between the woman and Sanchez that police say he allegedly admitted to having multiple sexual encounters with several juveniles, both male and female. Sanchez, 38, provided specific details to the woman about the sex acts, the affidavit states. On Jan. 8, a search warrant was obtained to seize and collect any cellphone in Sanchezs possession. A detective located Sanchez inside his West Side home and collected two cellphones. While speaking to the detective, Sanchez admitted to communicating about engaging in sex with minors, but said it was only a fantasy. A separate search warrant was obtained to download the information from the cellphone, and the affidavit states investigators found multiple images of nude prepubescent juvenile females, all of whom appeared to be less than 10 years old. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sanchez was placed on administrative leave by SAPD and suspended without pay in January, pending the case outcome. He was booked into Bexar County jail on Jan. 12 but was released on bond; bail had been set at $75,000. Suspicious ATM activity at a local credit union led law enforcement to determine she deposited 41 altered money orders, the news release said. A Florida Department of Revenue employee was arrested Wednesday and charged with stealing almost $24,000 in tax dollars. Paula Burke, 52, was charged with grand theft of more than $20,000, a second-degree felony. She was being held as of Thursday morning in the Leon County Detention Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail. Burke "is charged with altering money orders intended for motor vehicle taxes and depositing them into her personal bank account while she worked for DOR," according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement news release. Suspicious ATM activity at a local credit union led law enforcement to determine she deposited 41 altered money orders, the news release said. Burke is no longer working for the state. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Florida Department of Revenue worker faces grand theft charge A former Huntersville couple are facing charges of fraudulently obtaining $2 million in bank loans and COVID relief funds from the federal government for a moving business, authorities said Thursday. Antoine Johnson, 48, and 43-year-old Kimberly Maddox fraudulently received funds through the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Relief Disaster Loan, multiple lines of credit and bank loans, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. A federal indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte in the case. Dena King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said the alleged fraud occurred between 2018 and 2023. The indictment said Johnson and Maddox operated Pick Up and Go Moving International and PUGMI, its affiliated business. To get loans, they lied on applications about income, gross revenues expenses and employee totals, according to the indictment. Fabricated documents such as tax returns and financial statements were also submitted, the indictment said. Johnson and Maddox are living in Georgia now, according to the news release from Kings office. They are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted, they could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassye Cole is prosecuting the case that was investigated by the FBI. News of the announcement comes a day after Evan Perez, of Charlotte, was sentenced to two years in prison for a fraud scheme involving $720,000 in COVID relief funds. He pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. To date, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of N.C. has prosecuted close to 30 people for defrauding government funding programs. The two lecturers taught at Oxford University for 15 years Two lecturers who sued Oxford University for employing them on "sham contracts" have won a claim for employee status. Rebecca Abrams and Alice Jolly both taught on the university's creative writing course for 15 years. They were employed on "personal services" contracts, which they claimed denied them key workplace rights. A judge has now said they should both be classed as employees. The university said it was reviewing the ruling. The pair, both authors and tutors, maintained that their status at the university was that of employees and not personal service providers or workers. Ms Abrams said the tribunal ruling was a "vindication of everything we've been fighting for since 2018". She added: "Alice and I are skilled professionals teaching at one of the world's top universities, yet we've been employed year after year on sham contracts that have denied us our employment rights and legal protections." Jo Grady, general secretary of The University and College Union (UCU), called the judge's ruling a "huge win in the fight against gig economy working practices in higher education". She said: "This victory shows these contracts are often a sham and staff on them are entitled to the benefits of secure employment. "Every employer in the sector now needs to pay attention to this ruling and begin working with UCU to move their employees on to secure contracts." A report released by the UCU last month suggested two in three research-only staff in UK universities are employed on fixed-term contracts. Ms Grady said the practice was "completely unacceptable" and that it "has to stop". A spokesman for Oxford University said: "We have been notified of the tribunal's ruling on this preliminary hearing and are currently reviewing it." Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240. DONALSONVILLE, Ga. (WDHN) An 18-year-old pageant winner and Georgia college student charged in the death of her boyfriends child has been released from the Sumter County Jail. Trinity Madison Poague is charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Battery, and First Degree Cruelty to Children in the death of an 18-month-old boy. Poague, 18, was released from the Sumter County Jail on a $75,000 bond Wednesday night. According to the Sumter County Sheriffs Office, Poague can leave the county but must wear an ankle monitor. Sumter County Coroner Mathis Wright identified the boy as Romeo Angles not long after the death and revealed he suffered blunt-force trauma and was pronounced dead at Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus, Georgia. The coroner revealed to WDHN that Poague was dating Angles supposed father, but the childs birth certificate does not name anyone as the biological father. Previous media reports claim Wrights office said Angles sustained his fatal injuries in a dorm room of the Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, but Wright disputed these claims, saying his office is not sure where the alleged crime took place. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Corrections & Clarifications: The statements made by Otoniel "Tony" Navarrete to a boy as police investigators listened in were described incorrectly in a previous version of the article. A jury could soon decide the fate of a former Democratic lawmaker whose child molestation court case ended with a mistrial in November but was back in court this week for the start of his second trial. Otoniel "Tony" Navarrete, 38, could be sentenced to as many as 19 years in prison if he's convicted. The trial is expected to be short in length, with closing arguments possibly starting as soon as Thursday afternoon, said his lawyer, Adam Feldman. In this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, then-Rep. Tony Navarrete, D-Phoenix, waits with Arizona House members receiving mandatory sexual harassment and other ethics issues training on the House floor at the state Capitol in Phoenix. Currently a state senator, Navarrete has been arrested on suspicion of charges accusing him of sexual conduct with a minor, police said Aug. 6, 2021. Navarrete had been a rising star in Arizona politics before his 2021 arrest, one of many Latinos who became more political after the state in 2010 enacted the controversial SB1070 anti-illegal immigration law. He served as deputy director for Promise Arizona, a liberal activist group that focuses on helping immigrants, and in 2016 won a seat in the state House of Representatives representing the West Valley. After serving one term, he ran successfully for the state Senate in 2018 and won reelection in 2020. Phoenix police arrested him after receiving complaints of sexual misconduct at Navarrete's home going back to 2019. He later had one boy talk to him on the phone as investigators listened in. Navarrete acknowledged touching the boy, saying he regretted "any bad actions I did," court documents showed. Another teenage boy alleged Navarrete had touched him sexually. Navarrete resigned from office days after the arrest, following calls for him to step down by fellow lawmakers. A grand jury indicted him on seven felony counts including child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor. He pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations, rebuffing offers of a plea deal. But jurors could not agree on a verdict in the first trial, leading to a mistrial. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office presented the case to another grand jury this year, resulting in new indictments on four charges including sexual molestation, two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of attempted child molestation. The office told The Arizona Republic said Navarrete could receive 10 to 19 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Feldman said he would make a statement about the trial after it's over but acknowledged the current case involved "less charges, less victims." Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former state Sen. Tony Navarrete's second trial nearing end Volusia County has a new Economic Development Division leader tasked in part with bringing businesses to the community and helping existing ones flourish. Lou Paris, of Port Orange, formally got the job this week upon approval by the County Council. Paris is coming to the county from his role as operations director for an investment consultancy firm in Miami called GloboFran, which specializes in attracting "international investors through construction development ventures in Florida," according to his resume. He began his work there in 2023 and was responsible for bringing in new investors and fostering relationships. Lou Paris Paris has over 15 years of experience in business and economic development. He was the business development and marketing manager for CareerSource Flagler Volusia, according to the county. He worked for Stetson University in the Prince Entrepreneurship Program from 2009 to 2023, including serving as director. Im deeply impressed with Lous professional experience and accomplishments leading business and economic development activities in Florida, County Manager George Recktenwald said. He brings strong talent and determination to our many economic development endeavors, which are some of the most robust in the state. Paris won the Volusia County Business Incubators Ambassador of the Year Award in 2021 "for his commitment to the creation and growth of new business ventures," according to the county. He has a masters degree in business administration from Stetson University. The previous economic development director, Helga van Eckert, left Volusia County in 2023 to work for the health supplements firm Vidya Herbs. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County chooses new economic development leader San Antonio police are asking for help identifying four juvenile males accused of robbing an elderly woman on Valentines Day. San Antonio Police Department The San Antonio Police Department is asking for help in identifying four male juveniles involved in the robbery of an elderly woman on Valentines Day. According to SAPD, an elderly woman was walking along West Cesar Chavez Boulevard and South San Dario when a group of teens walked past and surrounded her. A video showing the encounter was posted to the departments Facebook page. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of the teens searched her pocket and stole several hundred dollars from her, according to police. The woman also was pulled to the ground, hitting her head on the sidewalk. The woman, who has not been identified, reported pain and dizziness afterward. The teens fled shortly after the woman fell to the ground. The Facebook post says detectives are hoping someone from the neighborhood can identify the suspects. Anyone with information about the individuals in the video can call 210-207-0300. Christian Lindner, Germany's Finance Minister, speaks at the Political Ash Wednesday of the FDP Brandenburg. Fabian Sommer/dpa The new EU anti-money laundering agency (AMLA) is to be in Frankfurt, representatives from the EU member states and the European Parliament agreed on Thursday in Brussels. Frankfurt beat competition from Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Dublin, Riga, Vilnius, Vienna and Rome to host the new EU agency. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner pushed hard for Frankfurt to host the agency. He told a public hearing in the parliament in January that in Frankfurt, the agency would everything it needs to be operational from day one. The European Commission first proposed establishing the agency back in 2021 to crack down on money laundering and terrorist financing in the European Union. Christian Lindner, Germany's Finance Minister, speaks at the Political Ash Wednesday of the FDP Brandenburg. Fabian Sommer/dpa The new EU anti-money laundering agency (AMLA) is to be in Frankfurt, representatives from the EU member states and the European Parliament agreed on Thursday in Brussels. Frankfurt beat competition from Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Dublin, Riga, Vilnius, Vienna and Rome to host the new EU agency. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner pushed hard for Frankfurt to host the agency. He told a public hearing in the parliament in January that in Frankfurt, the agency would everything it needs to be operational from day one. The European Commission first proposed establishing the agency back in 2021 to crack down on money laundering and terrorist financing in the European Union. The agency is to coordinate and support the work of national agencies with the main purpose of the new authority to boost cross-boder cooperation. The agency is to have a board made up of officials from financial authorities from every EU member state as well as an executive board with the chair of AMLA and five independent full-time members. AMLA will supervise banks and other financial institutions including crypto currency companies. Powers are in place to ensure EU sanctions are enforced. In 2022, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the parliament had a role in the process which resulted in 27 EU countries and 27 EU legislators voting on the decision. Several rounds of voting took place on Thursday with only a simple majority of 28 votes needed to win. For the first time public hearings were part of the process to host an EU agency. Hesse state Premier Boris Rhein was pleased. "It is an honour for our state of Hesse to be able to host the AMLA," he said. Frankfurt Mayor Mike Josef welcomed the EU decision to locate the new anti-money laundering authority in Frankfurt as "correct and consistent." The city offers "ideal conditions" for this in terms of culture and infrastructure, Josef said on Thursday evening in Frankfurt. In addition, the city was already home to important financial supervision institutions, he added. Therefore, the decision made sense. The city of Frankfurt said the establishment of the new EU anti-money laundering agency would create at least 400 new jobs. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis congratulated the city of Frankfurt. "Congratulations to Frankfurt as the seat for new Anti-Money Laundering Authority #AMLA," he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "AMLA will be a game-changer in our fight against dirty money, boosting supervision of anti-money laundering & counter financing of terrorism in all EU countries," Dombrovskis added. A Franklin County Sheriff's deputy resigned after being made aware of an internal investigation launched against him in January. The deputy was accused of sexual assault by a female jail inmate. A Franklin County Sheriff's deputy resigned in January after an adult female inmate alleged that he sexually assaulted her, prompting an internal investigation. Andrew Litteral, 39, a deputy sheriff for about 8 years, resigned Jan. 4, according to records from the sheriff's office. Records from the Delaware County Sheriff's office, where Litteral worked as a corrections officer before coming to Franklin County, show that he was previously accused of improper conduct toward a female inmate. No criminal charges had been filed against Litteral as of late Thursday afternoon, according to Franklin County court records. The sheriff's office said Tuesday there was no current or active criminal investigation into Litteral's conduct. The most recent investigation into Litteral's conduct began in late December after the sheriff's office received a complaint from an adult female inmate at the jail, according to documents provided to The Dispatch. The woman said that weeks earlier, on Nov. 16, she was transfered from the county jail on Jackson Pike to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center for an undisclosed medical issue. Litteral and another deputy were with the inmate while she was evaluated and received treatment at the hospital, which is standard procedure. Documents provided to The Dispatch indicate that soon after she returned to the jail, the inmate told a jail supervisor that Litteral had fondled her, and told her that if she did not allow him to do so, "she would get in trouble." The inmate also told the supervisor that Litteral "told her he has always wanted to have sex with an inmate" while providing other details about his personal life, including that "he had a vasectomy so he could have sex with her and she would not get pregnant." The sheriff's office redacted the names of the supervisors who interviewed the inmate from the documents given to The Dispatch. Those documents say one of the supervisors interviewed Litteral, but anything he may have said is redacted. The inmate's report was forwarded through the chain of command at the sheriff's office, according to the documents. On Dec. 8, which was 23 days after the incident was alleged to have occurred, Litteral was placed on "no inmate contact" status. The sheriff's department's internal affairs unit received the complaint on Dec. 21, according to the documents, and an official investigation was authorized on Jan. 3. Litteral received office notice of the internal investigation, and the specific complaint against him, on Jan. 3. The notice to Litteral stated that, "there may be other instances of misconduct on your part as a result of the hospital watch." Litteral resigned the next day, effective immediately, citing "personal reasons," documents indicate. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office closed its internal investigation as a result of Litteral's resignation. The Ohio Attorney General's website lists Litteral's resignation as occurring while he was under investigation. Litteral's first full-time job as a deputy came in Franklin County in June 2015. He previously worked for Mount Gilead police as an auxiliary officer for 10 months, and as a corrections officer for the Delaware County Sheriff's office, according to records from the state Attorney General's office. The Delaware County Sheriff's office provided documents to The Dispatch showing Litteral received documented verbal counseling in 2013. The reason for the counseling was described as "inappropriate use of cameras with a female inmate" that occurred while he was working in the control room, according to the documents. Additional details about the incident were not available from Delaware County. Mount Gilead police said Litteral resigned from that department in good standing and had no disciplinary issues while working there. Chief Deputy Geoff Stobart, who oversees the jail operations for the Franklin County Sheriff's office, was contacted twice by The Dispach with questions about how Litteral ended up alone with the female inmate and whether any changes had been put in place as a result of the allegations against Litteral. Stobart did not respond to the request for comment. The Dispatch reached out on a phone number connected to Litteral on Tuesday morning, but was told he was not available for comment at that time. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County deputy accused of fondling inmate resigns, report says Franklins Department of Public Works Director was ordered to pay thousands of dollars for violating the states conflict of interest law, according to officials. The State Ethics Commission says Robert Brutus Cantoreggi has to pay a $15,000 civil penalty for accepting free ski trips from a water meter manufacturer and its distributor. On multiple occasions, the manufacturer and its distributor hosted ski trips where they invited employees of several municipal water districts and DPWs. Cantoreggi and a friend, who allegedly arent skiers, attended these three-day trips in Stowe, Vermont in 2019 and Jay Peak, Vermont in 2022. According to authorities, the vendors paid for lodging, meals, snowmobile rentals, and water park tickets for Cantoreggi and his friend. The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from soliciting or receiving anything worth $50 or more that is given to them for or because of their official positions. Public employees should not accept unauthorized valuable gifts of any kind from vendors doing business with their agencies, said State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson. While this prohibition applies to all public employees, it is one which those with budgeting and purchasing authority should be particularly mindful of given that acceptance of unauthorized vendor gifts by public employees with such authority inevitably casts doubt on whether public agency purchasing decisions are made fairly and in the public interest. The ethics commission says Cantoreggi signed a Disposition Agreement in which he admitted to the violations and waived his right to a hearing. He was placed on unpaid administrative leave, indefinitely, until further notice. Public employees in leadership positions must remember that they set the ethical tone for their agencies and those they lead, and that their failure to adhere to the law thus presents a particularly grave threat to the integrity of public service and public confidence in that service, Wilson said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) The Campbell County Sheriffs Office issued a notice to the community about recent fraudulent calls involving cryptocurrency companies. The sheriffs office says they have received multiple reports about scams involving cryptocurrency kiosk machines in the county, as well as in neighboring areas. Reports claim victims are being contacted in a variety of ways, including notifications of a virus on personal electronic devices, reporting of fraud on their accounts, and after software updates. Victims then receive a phone call from someone pretending to be a financial institution or their specific bank. They are advised that their bank is no longer secure or that someone has attempted to access their account directly and that cryptocurrency is much more secure. The victim is then advised to use a variety of cryptocurrency kiosks to deposit large sums of money. Mountain Valley Pipeline delayed by unforeseen challenges and weather The sheriff says the perpetrators of this scheme are usually persuasive on the phone and will pressure victims to stay on the phone during visits to the bank or at the actual cryptocurrency kiosks. The sheriffs office says a QR Code is often sent after the call by text message, and once they transfer money into this account, victims lose their access to the money. Roanoke Valley SPCA says woman posed as volunteer, defrauded businesses for donations When this happens, the sheriffs office emphasizes that there is usually a warning that shows up on the machine which is meant to stop any criminal or illegitimate activity. The sheriffs office says if you see this warning, to call them or your local law enforcement agency before depositing any amount of money. Warning from Cryptocurrency kiosk (Courtesy, Campbell County Sheriffs Office) For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Shannon Grona, left, on the night in 2012 she was first elected to the NEISD board, talks with Sandy Hughey, already a board veteran seeking a fourth term. Both are not seeking reelection this year. TOM REEL/San Antonio Express-News NEISD trustee Sandy Hughey during a difficult debate over the renaming of Robert E. Lee High School in 2017. Ron Cortes / Mayoral candidate Trish DeBerry, center, talks with supporters Sandy Hughey, left, and Keith Hughey as they wait for election results in 2009. LISA KRANTZ/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Shannon Grona, president of the NEISD board, smiles at a meeting on Oct. 3, 2022. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer The two longest-serving trustees on the North East Independent School District board are not seeking reelection this May. Sandy Hughey, a trustee since 2000, has been the boards president and vice president and, since 2008, its secretary. Shannon Grona, the board president since 2016, was first elected 12 years ago. She prioritized board unity through tumultuous debates over the renaming of Robert E. Lee High School in 2017, pandemic restrictions and a mass review of library books in 2021 that removed 110 titles and drew national publicity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The boards already strained consensus and collegiality began to evaporate in 2022 as newly elected social conservatives asserted themselves. Gronas instinct for consensus and the middle ground was severely tested during the districts overhaul of its sex education curriculum, when the newer trustees put a more conservative stamp on appointees to a volunteer health advisory panel in 2022. The panel tossed out the districts popular sex ed program, decided that the new one should not include anything more than the state required, then fine-tuned its recommended new program to de-emphasize teachers as trusted sources of information, among other changes. The culture war divisions on the board were made stark during repeated and unsuccessful attempts to appoint a new trustee to replace Terri Williams, who died in August, leaving an even split between social conservatives elected after 2020 and moderates who include Grona and Hughey. During interviews with applicants, Hughey questioned one on her affiliation with the right-wing political action groups Moms for Liberty and Parents United for Freedom. The impasse has left the boards District 2 seat vacant for six months. It will be on the May ballot as a special election, and candidates have until March 4 to file for it. Steve Hilliard, one of the boards conservatives, and David Beyer, one of the moderates, are seeking reelection and are among nine candidates who are running for four board seats in the regular election. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ROUGH NIGHT: NEISD board hopefuls take turns on the hot seat NEISDs board President Shannon Grona and Superintendent Sean Maika listen to public comments on June 22, 2020. The start of the pandemics upheaval left the districts enrollment and funding for remote learning still uncertain. Josie Norris/Staff Photographer Grona said by email that she had promised her family she wouldnt run again in 2020 but stayed another term because of the transition to a new superintendent, Sean Maika. This has been a very difficult decision given the passing of Trustee Terri Williams, and I almost changed my mind again. But I made a promise to my family and Im going to honor that, she wrote. I have made this volunteer position my job and have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the board and the opportunities that I have had to work with staff, children, and parents and to advocate for public education. In a message posted to Facebook, Hughey wrote that she and her husband decided several years ago that the 2020 school board election would be her last campaign. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was a really hard decision for me, she wrote. As so many of you have heard me say, the wonderful experiences have far outweighed the heartbreaks and challenges. Hughey said she was able to work with three of the states best superintendents, referring to Maika and former district leaders Brian Gottardy and Richard Middleton. During her tenure as a trustee, Hughey helped found the Bexar County School Board Coalition and local school districts Go Public marketing campaign to counter competition from charter schools. The great majority of trustees put aside personal politics to ensure that ALL children are supported and educated, her Facebook post reads. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Like most other NEISD trustees, Grona had opposed renaming Lee High School until the violence at a gathering of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 accelerated a national reckoning over memorials to the Confederacy. Grona made the motion to call it Legacy of Educational Excellence High School (LEE), saying it would honor the schools history and minimize the hassle and expense of a completely new name. Freiburg's Roland Sallai celebrates his side's second goal if the game during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between SC Freiburg and RC Lens at Europa-Park Stadium. Harry Langer/dpa Freiburg reached the last 16 of the Europa League after coming back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a 3-2 win against Lens in extra-time in the second leg of the Europa League knock-out round play-off on Wednesday. Michael Gregoritsch scored the winner in the 99th minute, but only after Roland Sallai completed a dramatic brace to settle the 2-2 draw in the final minutes of regular time. David Pereira da Costa put Lens ahead in the 28th before Elye Wahi increased their lead shortly before the break. The Germans pulled one back in the 67th thanks to Sallai, who then scored a very late equalizer in stoppage time. This is the second time Freiburg reach the last 16 of the Europa League. They made their debut last season, but were eliminated by Juventus. Elsewhere, Milan had a 3-0 advantage from the first leg and made it to the last 16 despite a 3-2 defeat at Rennes. Benfica, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw at Toulouse but were through thanks to their 2-1 home win last week. The Europa League last 16 draw is on Friday. Lens' Florian Sotoca (Center L) and Freiburg's Maximilian Eggestein battle for the ball during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between SC Freiburg and RC Lens at Europa-Park Stadium. Harry Langer/dpa Freiburg coach Christian Streich reacts from the touchline during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between SC Freiburg and RC Lens at Europa-Park Stadium. Harry Langer/dpa Freiburg players Michael Gregoritsch (L) and Maximilian Eggestein (2nd L) discuss with the Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic (2nd R) during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between SC Freiburg and RC Lens at Europa-Park Stadium. Harry Langer/dpa Freiburg's Michael Gregoritsch (R) and Lens' Abdukodir Khusanov (L) and Jonathan Gradit battle for the ball during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between SC Freiburg and RC Lens at Europa-Park Stadium. Harry Langer/dpa Freiburg's Roland Sallai (L) and Lens' Florian Sotoca battle for the ball during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between SC Freiburg and RC Lens at Europa-Park Stadium. Harry Langer/dpa FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A Fresno-based company that developed what is essentially a rainstorm in a box designed to fight wildfires is now seeing its invention in action in Columbia. Caylym Technologies International LLC came up with the Containerized Aerial Fire Fighting System (CAFFS), also known as Guardian, which is described as an eight-ply continuously wound corrugated container that holds 264 gallons of liquid creating an instant and accurate rainstorm. Fresno company proposes a new system to fight wildfires Caylym says the Peruvian Air Force has delivered to Columbia a supply of the boxes after the country suffered a particularly severe wildfire season with over 340 fires since November. Faced with the call of the people of Colombia and the coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Peruvian Air Force, we stand in solidarity to contribute to the Guardian System, Colonel Victor Vargas, pilot of the Peruvian Air Force, said. Caylym says Peru first adopted the system in 2018. Caylym Technologies International LLC (Caylym), founded in early 2009 is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with primary manufacturing operations in Fresno. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. DONETSK OBLAST Hiding beneath sparse winter cover in a crude, muddy ditch, a great steel monster lies in wait for an opportunity to attack. Adorned on either side with painted plus signs, the guns huge barrel looks up at the sky over the Bakhmut front line, across which thousands of shells, rockets, missiles, and drones fly back and forth each day. The weapon, serving in the hands of Ukraines legendary 93rd Mechanized Brigade is a U.S.-built M109 self-propelled howitzer, better known as the Paladin. Over winter, Russian forces have been on the offensive in the area, pushing past the ruined Bakhmut towards the Ukrainian stronghold of Chasiv Yar. On this day in early February, despite the near-constant sounds of fighting nearby, the Paladin stays silent. Assaults on Ukrainian positions are carried out on a daily basis, but the shells lined up in the guns storage racks are only used when absolutely necessary. A M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer at positions in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Bit by bit as Russias full-scale war progressed, Western howitzers like the Paladin, which shoot the 155mm shells standard to all NATO armies, have largely replaced Ukraines legacy Soviet-era artillery pieces. Kyiv has received hundreds of 155mm howitzers to deploy along an active front line stretching over 1,200 kilometers across the country. With their overall increased accuracy compared to Russian artillery pieces, the weapons have been crucial in keeping Ukraine in the fight against an enemy with a marked ammunition advantage. Now, despite having plenty of guns themselves, Ukraine is running out of shells, and the situation is slowly growing desperate. As the transition toward NATO-standard artillery progressed, Ukraine's military relied largely on shells from U.S. stocks, boosted by those bought from outside the alliance, particularly from South Korea. Seeing the urgent need, European countries have moved to scale up production in their own countries, but have been widely criticized for the time taken to do so. With the blockade by Republicans of U.S. military aid funding for Ukraine since late last year, the lack of new deliveries is sorely felt on the battlefield. As both Washington and Kyiv have noted, one of the main reasons for recent Russian success in taking the city of Avdiivka, Moscows first major territorial gains since May last year, has been Ukraines shortage of artillery ammunition. The Kyiv Independent spoke to 155mm artillery commanders in two separate brigades fighting in Donetsk Oblast to understand how shell hunger had begun to impact the day-to-day flow of the battlefield. Read also: Russia takes Avdiivka at steep price, as Ukraine forced to face shortcomings Painful rationing Across Ukraines vast land forces, with different levels of intensity in different sectors of the front line, it can often be difficult to visualize how shell hunger affects the work of Ukrainian forces on a tactical level. By now, said 36-year-old Paladin crew commander Vitalii Skyba, whose last name is not disclosed as per the rules of the unit, the difference between Ukraines and Russias ammunition availability is acutely felt. It feels like we shoot only when we see a target, while their guns are firing 24/7, they dismantle whole villages just for fun, he said. We can't work like that, we often get only three shells to hit a target and the expectation is that that will be enough, whereas they can easily fire 20 shells at one target. Ukrainian artillery crew commander Vitalii "Skyba" inside a M109 self-propelled howtizer at positions in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Sometimes, Skyba added, targets that would normally be obvious choices to be engaged with artillery are left alone because of the need to be frugal. If they spot five enemy soldiers standing together, that's not always enough to give the order to fire these days, he said. Our command does its best to get us to support our infantry. It would be great if we could work non-stop like the Russians, but we cant. Twenty kilometers south of Chasiv Yar, the Kyiv Independent also spoke with Roman Holodivskyi, battery commander in the 43rd Artillery Brigade, which has divisions deployed across the front line and transitioned completely from Soviet-era Pion howitzers to German-made PzH2000 self-propelled guns. Holodivskyi, whose seniority provides a wider view on the ammunition situation that crew commanders like Skyba may lack, also reported receiving limits on how many shells can be used on a target. Last time I commanded a fire mission personally, we saw an enemy assault group, it was the perfect distance to work. I asked for permission to engage from my senior commander, and also asked for the maximum expenditure, he said. They gave me permission to fire five shells. That's three to dial in, and two to actually damage. If we had been allowed 10 shells for that large enemy grouping, it would have been obliterated, but like that, we only managed to give them a bite. Roman Holodivskyi, battery commander of Ukraine's 43rd Artillery Brigade, at his base in Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 8, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Even while working as miserly as possible, Ukrainian howitzers current rate of fire is unsustainable. When 155mm shells were more available, Holodivskyis unit saved up a reserve, which he is now forced to begin using up. Now, the stores that we saved up are only half-full, and they deliver a lot fewer and a lot less often, he said. Earlier in January, a different artillery commander in the 93rd Brigade reported to CNN that Russia was firing 10 shells for every Ukrainian one. There is no strict mechanism for gathering data on Russian shell expenditure, but the order of magnitude is roughly correct, Holodivskyi said in reaction to the figure, noting that for counter-battery suppression missions, Ukrainian artillery usually fires only one shell, while the enemy can fire up to a dozen for the same task. Making matters worse, he said, recovered fragments and unexploded shells fired from the Russian side show that they are often fresh off the production line of Russias gargantuan military-industrial complex. The shells they are mostly shooting with now, they were produced in 2022 or 2023, he said. They don't have any hunger, their production lines are running smoothly. Read also: Opinion: Will Europe ever get serious about defense? Sluggish scramble The initial decision to supply Ukraine with NATO-standard artillery was made in the first months of the war, as it soon became clear that available stocks of Soviet-era ammunition in allied countries would eventually dry up. With a handful of different 155mm howitzers being delivered by the U.S. and European countries, Ukrainian artillerymen were quick to master them. By the end of 2022, the transition was in full swing, with ammunition readily available for the Western guns, according to Holodivskyi. The first time we rolled out on the PzH2000, we had hundreds of shells, he said, our stores were overflowing. Over 2023, with Ukraine needing a higher rate of fire to support its summer counteroffensive, it became clear that even all of NATOs production capacity wasnt enough on its own, and that other stocks worldwide needed to be accessed for Ukraine to keep up. Taking steps to up domestic production, Washington found a stop-gap solution in the form of South Korea, from whom hundreds of thousands of 155mm shells were transferred unofficially. In July last year, a separate U.S. stockpile was released for Ukrainian use, that of the DPICM (dual-purpose improved conventional munition) cluster shells, widely controversial but highly effective against enemy infantry in trench warfare. 155mm shells inside a self-propelled howtizer at positions in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Meanwhile, the European Union had pledged to give Ukraine one million shells per year starting from spring 2023, but has fallen well short of the target by all accounts. By January this year, just two months before the March deadline, the EU had delivered just over half that amount, the blocs chief diplomat Josep Borrel said. As the war stands currently, Ukraine needs around 200,000 155mm shells per month, according to a Defense Ministry communique seen by Bloomberg. Compelled to prop up Ukraine in the absence of U.S. aid, and concerned about their own defense in the scenario of a potential second Donald Trump presidency in the wake of his repeated controversial remarks about NATO, some European countries are taking more action to ramp up domestic defense production. But European private munitions companies need massive government orders to justify expanding facilities, and those orders require major political decisions on funding and procurement to be made quickly. Germany aims to deliver three to four times as many shells in 2024 as it did in 2023, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Feb. 14, noting that Berlin will spend an unprecedented $3.75 billion on ammunition production this year. A Ukrainian artilleryman inside a M109 self-propelled howtizer at positions in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) As part of the announcement of a new artillery coalition in January, France promised to send Ukraine 3,000 155mm shells a month, less than what Ukraine would ideally fire in a single day on the front line. A few weeks later though, Politico reported that Paris was blocking EU efforts to procure shells from outside the bloc. Hoping to quickly bridge the gap before Europe is able to produce more, Czech President Petr Pavel announced at the Munich Security Conference that Czechia had located half a million 155mm shells and another 300,000 Soviet-era 122mm shells ready to deliver to Ukraine from outside the EU within weeks if funding was approved. When you talk to Ukrainian soldiers, does it matter for them where their artillery shell is made? said Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said to the Kyiv Independent in Munich. Read also: Munich diaries: Fear and uncertainty at the Lose-Lose conference X-factor endangered There is a saying, Holodivskyi said. The price of an artilleryman's sweat is measured in the blood of the infantryman. For the commander, who has been part of Ukraines successful transition to NATO artillery every step of the way, the idea of his howitzers going quiet is a terrifying one. This is a problem, there is no way around it, he said. If they continue to deliver less and less, the reserves that I saved up over time will eventually run out. It's these guys, in their trenches and dugouts, that need our support more than ever, as the enemy is assaulting. If we stopped working completely here, that would be just scary, to be honest. A Ukrainian artilleryman inside a M109 self-propelled howtizer at positions in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) To some extent, Ukraines shortage of artillery ammunition is alleviated by the widespread use of FPV (first-person view) drones for similar targets on or near the zero line. While carrying much less explosive force than a shell, FPV drones are a high-precision weapon, much cheaper to produce, and can be constructed at home rather than on an expensive assembly line. But the idea that drones can truly replace artillery is deeply flawed, according to Holoditskyi. Artillery has always been the X-factor on the battlefield, he said. There is a reason why still to this day, our infantry calls for artillery support, not FPV support. The explosion, the shockwave, it all has a major demoralizing effect on the enemy, and artillery can do many things FPVs cannot. Ukrainian artillery crew commander Vitalii "Skyba" at positions in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) While Europe takes its time to procure more shells and U.S. funding for Ukraine remains blocked from reaching the House floor, artillerymen like Skyba and Holodivskyi could be left unable to provide proper cover for their infantry. If they want the war to end, there is no need to wait, to hold endless summits and spend time thinking, said Skyba. The longer they take 'preparing to help' Ukraine, the longer this war will drag on. Editors Note: The Kyiv Independent is grateful to our members and donors. This story wouldnt have been possible without a donation from The Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust. Note from the author: Hi, this is Francis Farrell, cheers for reading this article. We are in new phase of the war, which could potentially be stranger, tougher, and more uncertain than it has ever been so far. In a time when instability around the world is growing, and attention is fading when it is needed the most, please consider supporting our reporting. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Karla Duran, center in white suit, with supporters after being sworn in as a Northside ISD trustee in May 2023. Ronald Cortes / Contribuitor A Bexar County resident has asked a court for a jury trial to consider removal of Northside Independent School District trustee Karla Duran because of her DWI arrest in September, even though the charge recently was dismissed. The plaintiff, Robert C. Gonzalez, has asked the Northside ISD board at least twice in recent months to take action against Duran, who was elected last year to a four-year term. During citizen comments at a meeting in September, Gonzalez called himself a child of an alcoholic and said the DWI case potentially sent a signal to students that there are no repercussions to certain actions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gonzalez spoke to the board again in December, saying board members are to be held accountable by the public. Theres been zero action by trustees regarding the Sept. 3 arrest of Duran, he said. Other speakers have asked trustees to censure Duran, request her resignation or start a process to remove her from the board. Board policy prevents trustees from demanding Durans resignation directly, and any attempt to remove her would require asking a state district judge to order it, the boards president, Bobby Blount, has said. According to state guidelines, a school board member can be removed if convicted of any felony or for misdemeanor official misconduct or for intoxication on or off duty caused by drinking an alcoholic beverage. Durans charge was neither a felony nor official misconduct, so any action to remove her would need to rely on that last provision, Blount told the San Antonio Express-News shortly after the arrest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lack of a criminal conviction will make that difficult. County Court at Law No. 4 Judge Alfredo Ximenez dismissed the DWI charge Feb. 2 at the request of Michael Block, the special prosecutor he appointed Oct. 16 after Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales recused himself from the case because he was acquainted with Duran as a fellow Democrat. Duran had no comment on the petition Thursday. My focus is on moving forward with a renewed passion and commitment to serving the NISD community, she said in a text. Northside spokesman Barry Perez also had no comment, saying the district had not seen the petition, filed Wednesday in 288th District Court. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The parents of Gabby Petito have reached an agreement with Brian Laundrie's parents to resolve a civil lawsuit and avoid a trial, the families' attorneys confirmed Wednesday. Petito's parents and their attorney said in a statement that "all parties reluctantly agreed" to the confidential terms "to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict. Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby." Steven Bertolino, the attorney representing Laundrie's parents, said in a statement, "Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved. The terms of the resolution are confidential, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us." The Petitos and Laundries had previously settled a separate wrongful death lawsuit for $3 million. The lawsuit that was resolved Wednesday, filed in March 2022, claimed that Brian Laundrie had admitted to his parents that he had killed Gabby Petito, his then-fiancee, before he had returned home by himself from a trip the two had been on. The recently settled lawsuit said that by not coming forward during the searches for Petito and Laundrie, Laundrie's parents "acted with malice or great indifference to the rights" of Petito's parents, according to The Associated Press. The lawsuit also called the Laundries' behavior "shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community," the AP reported. Petito was reported missing in Septemeber 2021, more than a week after Laundrie arrived back in Florida without her from what was supposed to be a four-month cross-country trip. Authorities soon named Laundrie as a person of interest, saying he was not cooperating with the investigation. Laundrie's parents said then that the last time they saw him was two days after Petito was reported missing when he left their home to go hiking in the nearby Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida. Petito's remains were found on Sept. 19, 2021, near Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. A coroner ruled in mid-October that she had been strangled to death. Laundrie's remains were found eight days later on Oct. 20, 2021, in Carlton Reserve. Bertolino said in November that Laundrie had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. One of the items found with Laundrie's remains was a notebook, in which, according to the FBI, Laundrie claimed responsibility for Petito's killing. Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday 7-year-old girl dies after beach hole collapsed on her and her brother Haley defies calls from Trump to drop out of 2024 race The 300 block of Fayetteville Street was reopened by police before 6:30 p.m. Thursday after demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war had blocked the downtown roadway, the Raleigh Police Department said. Police had asked drivers and pedestrians to find other ways around the area when dozens of people lay down in the street as part of the protest. Some protesters were arrested, and one person was charged with assault on a police officer, according to ABC11, The News & Observers newsgathering partner. Demonstrators seeking a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked part of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh late Thursday afternoon. Demonstrators gathered late Thursday afternoon to stage a die-in outside the Wake County courthouse in an ongoing effort to get U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross to support a cease-fire resolution in the war in Gaza. History will remember this moment, where Rep. Ross faced a choice between taking a stand to prevent the total ethnic cleansing of Gaza and calling for a cease-fire, the Triangle branch of Jewish Voice for Peace said in a statement. She must choose: ceasefire or genocide. The News & Observer reached out to Rosss office for comment. Jewish Voice for Peace has previously delivered letters to Ross and lobbied for her support The war has claimed over 29,000 Palestinians lives, a majority of them women and children who were killed by Israeli strikes. Israel has continued to bomb Gaza to fight the Hamas militant group in response to the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas that killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took dozens more hostage. Demonstrators seeking a cease fire in the Israel-Hamas war stage a die-in downtown Raleigh Thursday afternoon. GB News robustly defended the impartiality of its People's Forum show in which Rishi Sunak took questions from a panel of voters GB News has accused Ofcom of excessive intervention in its affairs as the broadcaster opened a public spat with the regulator over a show centred on Rishi Sunak. It came as a Conservative MP expressed concern in Parliament that the watchdog was in danger of looking biased and political with its constant targeting of the Right-leaning news channel. Ofcom launched an impartiality investigation after the Prime Minister faced questions directly from an audience of undecided voters in a programme called The Peoples Forum on Feb 12. It brings the total number of open investigations by Ofcom into GB News to 13, and GB News bosses believe Ofcom has overreached with its latest. For the first time since the channel was launched in 2021, it has issued a public statement about a live Ofcom investigation, defending the programme with Mr Sunak as an important contribution to democratic debate in the UK. The broadcaster said the latest investigation indicates a worrying trend towards a selective, narrow interpretation of Ofcoms rules and excessive intervention in purely editorial matters. Ofcom launched its investigation earlier this week after receiving around 500 complaints about the Peoples Forum programme. The investigation is based on rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code, which apply additional due impartiality requirements for programmes dealing with major matters relating to current public policy and require that a wide range of significant views are included and given due weight. In a robust defence of The Peoples Forum, GB News said that the panel of 100 voters who took part in the programme were selected by independent polling specialist Survation, and that GB News did not have any prior knowledge of the questions that were asked during the live broadcast. It said Mr Sunak was challenged on a broad range of topics, and was confronted and criticised by a number of audience members. Other party leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, have been invited to repeat the exercise with exactly the same format. Threat of judicial review Sir Michael Ellis, a Conservative MP and the former attorney general, suggested in Parliament that Ofcom was in danger of having its decisions scrutinised by a judge. He asked Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, on Thursday whether she shared his concern that the large number of inquiries Ofcom have launched against GB News for conducting itself in exactly the same fashion as other channels routinely do, is in danger of looking biassed and political, and Ofcom are in danger of putting themselves in judicial review territory?. Ms Frazer replied: I am, and the Government is in favour of, media plurality. And its really important that we have different channels that express different views across our vast political landscape. Im very pleased that GB News has chosen to be regulated by Ofcom and I know that Ofcom carries out its job appropriately. Downing Street has said that Mr Sunak does not regret taking part in the show and that he regards such events as an important part of the democratic process. In its statement, GB News said it believed very strongly that the programme complied with all rules on due impartiality, and that by putting voters centre stage the result was a very robust and challenging question and answer session which has been widely recognised by other media and audiences as a positive development in the political discourse. Mr Sunak was not given any advance notice of any of the questions or topics, which included the NHS, social care, the Rwanda plan, housebuilding, private schools and energy security. GB News said Mr Sunaks policies were criticised to his face and that the programme credited both the audience and those at home as being able to judge for themselves the qualities and success, or otherwise, of the politician being questioned. 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. George Galloway tells The Telegraph's Planet Normal podcast that, at 69, Rochdale will be the last seat he contests - Christopher Furlong/Getty George Galloway has vowed to punish Labour in the Rochdale by-election as he claims the party has brought misery and disgrace to the town. The Workers Party of Britain candidate, who is running on a pro-Palestinian ticket for the greater Manchester constituency, said he wants to see an overwhelming rejection of liberalism among voters. Speaking to The Telegraphs Planet Normal podcast, Mr Galloway said: We want an overwhelming rejection of liberalism in Rochdale, which has brought such misery and disgrace upon the town. And the size of the majority will reflect that. My thoughts are that Labour once again brought disgrace upon Rochdale, and were ready to punish them. Mr Galloway, who is a former Labour MP, said the Rochdale by-election will be the last seat he contests. Explaining why he intends to retire from politics, he said: Im 69-years-old, and my youngest child is three. Well, I really do have obligations to others. Having said that, because its half term where they live, all my children are here with me in the campaign. But, no, five more years will do me finally. Last week, Labour withdrew support for its Rochdale by-election candidate, Azhar Ali, and suspended him from the party after he was embroiled in an anti-Semitism row. Sir Keir Starmer had initially stood by Mr Ali, despite growing protests from the Jewish community and within his party after Mr Ali claimed Israel deliberately let Hamas massacre its citizens on October 7 to pave the way for attacking Gaza. The Labour leader was forced into a U-turn after further comments surfaced and Mr Ali was suspended from the party pending an investigation. He will not be replaced as Labours candidate in the February 29 Rochdale by-election because it was not possible to amend the ballot after nominations closed. Although he will still technically remain as the Labour candidate, he is likely to have the whip removed immediately if he wins, making him an independent MP. It means Labour is effectively conceding the Greater Manchester seat, where it has a majority of roughly 9,000. Mr Galloway said it is probably the case that Sir Keir Starmer will win the next general election as he described Rishi Sunak as a hapless, hopeless Mr Bean. He said the Conservative party should have stuck with [Boris] Johnson, adding that this would at least put them in [a] fighting position. 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. Georgia finally knows the location for the states first Wawa. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] City leaders in Pooler approved a plan for the beloved convenience store and gas station during Tuesdays City Council meeting, according to WJCL. Pooler is on the Georgia coast about a four-hour drive from Atlanta. TRENDING STORIES: The chain initially announced intentions to open a store in coastal Georgia in 2022. Wawa is known for offering a full menu of hoagies, wraps, burritos and more. Currently, the closest store to Georgia is in Jacksonville. The chain plans to add as many as 280 new stores in the next decade in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Other locations in Georgia are planned for Jesup, Brunswick, Hinesville and Bainbridge, according to USA Today. Its unclear when those stores will break ground. The first Wawa opened in 1964 in the Philadelphia area. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] FILE - The sun sets over water lilies and cypress trees along the remote Red Trail wilderness water trail of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Fargo, Ga. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, released drafts of three permits that would allow Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals to mine outside the swamp. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File) SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) As a proposed mine on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge nears final approval, Georgia lawmakers are considering a three-year pause on future permits to allow expansion of the mining project. Critics fear any such mining could irreparably harm a national treasure. The sponsor of House Bill 1338, approved by a House committee Thursday at the state Capitol in Atlanta, calls the measure a compromise between conservationists who oppose the mine and supporters living near the swamp who say the project would bring needed jobs. The bill by Rep. John Corbett, a Republican from Lake Park whose district includes the swamp, would prohibit until July 1, 2027, any new permit applications in Georgia for the type of mining Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals plans to use to extract titanium dioxide just outside the federally protected swamp. Corbett's measure would not affect the draft permits Twin Pines received earlier this month from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to mine on 773 acres less than 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the largest refuge east of the Mississippi River. The agency will collect public comments and could make adjustments before issuing final permits. Several conservation groups dismissed the proposed moratorium as ineffective. They had backed a different bill that would outright ban future mining near the Okefenokee, including any expansion by Twin Pines. That measure stalled in the same committee that moved swiftly on Corbett's permitting pause. This is a meaningless moratorium as written and it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see that this bill accomplishes nothing," Army Sharma, executive director of the group Science for Georgia, said during a House subcommittee hearing on the bill Wednesday. Bill Sapp, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, applauded lawmakers for seeking to protect the Okefenokee, but added: Its just not this approach. Alice Keyes of the coastal Georgia group One Hundred Miles called the proposed permitting pause hollow. And Rena Ann Peck of the Georgia River Network said it accomplishes nothing to protect Trail Ridge or the Okefenokee." Conservationists said they're also concerned by a provision that would place deadlines of 180 days or less on legal appeals of some mining permits. Challenged permits would be automatically upheld if those deadlines aren't met. Ari Gordin, an attorney for Twin Pines, called the proposed moratorium unnecessary and said he's confident the company will prove it can mine without harming the swamp. Gordin told lawmakers Twin Pines' plans to eventually expand its mining operation could face costly delays if there was a longer moratorium. Any moratorium beyond the proposed three-year period would directly interfere with Twin Pines investment-backed expectations and property rights," Gordin said. Corbett says the moratorium would allow state regulators to evaluate data Twin Pines must collect as a condition of its permits and then determine how the mine is affecting the swamp. His bill doesn't name Twin Pines, but would pause any permits for dragline mining for heavy mineral sands. Corbett said only Twin Pines is pursuing that type of mining in Georgia. It looks like weve got a good bill because both sides oppose it, Corbett told fellow lawmakers. "Nobodys happy here. The bill advances to the full House after passing the Natural Resources and Environment Committee on Thursday. University of Georgia hydrologist C. Rhett Jackson has said the project could siphon off enough groundwater to triple the frequency and duration of severe droughts in the swamps southeast corner. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2022 declared the proposed mine poses an unacceptable risk to the fragile ecosystem at the Georgia-Florida line after federal scientists warned that mining near the swamp's bowl-like rim could damage its ability to hold water. But Georgia regulators have the final say on permitting the mine, and they've sided with Twin Pines. In issuing draft permits for the project earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Division concluded the mine "should have a minimal impact. Such a decision would typically be made in tandem with federal government regulators, but the Army Corps of Engineers declared it no longer had jurisdiction in 2020 because of regulatory rollbacks under President Donald Trump. A former Georgia principal has been arrested after officials say he used school credit cards to make unauthorized purchases. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said this week that agents arrested 50-year-old Chad Stone of Tifton and charged him with theft by taking and unauthorized use of a financial transaction card. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the investigation, on Feb. 6, Tifton police requested that the GBI investigate purchases made by Stone, who was the principal of Tift County High School at the time. Authorities said Stone used school credit cards to make purchases that were not approved by the school district. On Feb. 12, Stone resigned from his position and then turned himself in on Wednesday. TRENDING STORIES: Authorities did not say how much money Stone spent. Channel 2 Action News reached out to Tift County School District officials for a statement but has not received one yet. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Average cost of childbearing in China among world's highest: think tank report Global Times) 10:45, February 22, 2024 A child and his parent read a book together at a bookstore in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, July 17, 2022. Photo: Xinhua The average cost of raising a child from birth to college graduation in China is approximately 680,000 yuan ($94,557), and the cost of childbearing now ranks among the highest in the world, according to a new report published by a Chinese think tank on Wednesday. The report was published by Yuwa Population Research, a Chinese think tank led by renowned demographer Liang Jianzhang, one of the co-founders of Ctrip. It discusses the economic costs of raising children in China and the key factors by analyzing the latest national statistics released in 2023. It pointed out that the average cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 17 in China is about 538,000 yuan, and to the age of college graduation, it is 680,000 yuan. This figure is significantly higher than the estimate in the last report published two years ago, reflecting the increasing economic burden of raising children as a result of socio-economic development and rising living costs. An international comparison of child-rearing costs between China and other countries reveals that Chinese families spend 6.3 times their per capita GDP to raise a child until they reach the age of 18, one of the highest levels in the world. This figure is also higher than that of developed countries such as Australia, France, and Sweden, according to the report. Shanghai and Beijing have the highest cost for child raising, standing at 1.01 million and 936,000 yuan, respectively. However, compared with the 2022 version of the report, both showed a downward trend, down 16,000 yuan and 33,000 yuan respectively. The report also showed that in addition to financial costs, there are two key factors influencing the willingness to have children, namely time cost and opportunity cost. Time cost includes maternity leave, child care, school pick-up, helping children with homework, and increased household chores, while opportunity costs include the decline in work skills due to long leave from work for childbirth, weakened competitiveness upon return, being transferred or receiving a pay cut, and losing out on promotion opportunities, among others. "These costs are currently mainly borne by women in Chinese society, and are the main reasons why many choose not to have children at all. Furthermore, due to childbirth, female professionals may experience a sharp decline in their remunerated work hours and wage rates, placing them in a dilemma between work and family responsibilities," He Yafu, one of the co-writers of the report, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Facing the challenges, Liang urged all work units and relevant departments to address the mounting pressures of childbearing. At the national level, there is an urgent need to quickly introduce policies to reduce the cost of childbearing for families, such as providing subsidies, establishing childcare facilities, promoting equal maternity and paternity leave, and safeguarding the reproductive rights of single women. Flexible working hours, hiring foreign nannies, supporting assisted reproductive technologies, and abolishing the middle school entrance examination should also be considered, Liang said. "The high cost of childbearing is one of the most significant negative factors affecting the willingness of families to have children," Liang suggested, "and a fertility-friendly environment first and foremost needs to be female-friendly." The National Health Commission announced in November 2023 that it will continue to coordinate with relevant departments to closely integrate high-quality population development with higher living standards, and it will further optimize population policies. Officials said that China will continue to promote the development of childcare services, and push for the addition of infant and toddler care service majors at secondary vocational schools, higher vocational colleges and undergraduate colleges. It will also promote the support of medical institutions for the development of childcare services. Multiple regions in China have introduced child-bearing subsidies of up to 20,000 yuan for families with three children. Some localities have also issued favorable housing policies for families with a high number of underage children. Meanwhile, Beijing included 16 assisted reproductive technology procedures in the reimbursement scope of medical insurance last year, such as intrauterine insemination, embryo transfer, and sperm selection processing. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, right, former commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, leaves a legal hearing related to charges that he raped a female subordinate. He faces a court-martial in June. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, former commander of the 19th Air Force, the service's pilot training arm, is charged with raping a female subordinate. This picture and his biography can no longer be found in the Pentagon's online gallery of general officers. Courtesy USAF Poof! Just like that, an official biography of Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart detailing his accomplishments and decorations has vanished from a Pentagon gallery of generals dating back decades. The apparent reason? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stewart, former head of the 19th Air Force, the services San Antonio-based training arm, has been charged with raping a female subordinate. Hes facing a court-martial in June, but has asked to be allowed to retire rather than face trial. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said Stewarts bio and official portrait, which showed him in dress-blue uniform with a chest covered in decorations, were taken down as a matter of course. Stewart was disappeared in phases. First, his bio was removed from the website of the San Antonio-based Air Education and Training Command, the parent organization of the 19th Air Force. Then it was scrubbed from the Pentagons repository of general officer biographies, Stefanek said. She added: It will be restored in the central repository shortly, updated to reflect that he remains in the Air Force but is no longer serving as 19th AF commander. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stewarts biography could not be found on the website Thursday. He was sacked as commander of the 19th Air Force in May, after military investigators began looking into the rape allegation against him. He is currently assigned to administrative duty. Stewart is accused of sexually assaulting a female officer at or near Altus AFB in southwestern Oklahoma on April 13 and again the following day. His defense team maintains that Stewart and the woman had a consensual affair. Military prosecutors assert that given Stewarts rank and power, the officer had no choice but to submit to his advances. In December, Stewarts boss Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of the AETC ordered him to stand trial. Stewart is accused of sexual assault, conduct unbecoming an officer, dereliction of duty and other violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If convicted of all charges, he could be sentenced to up to 63 years in a military penitentiary. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Robinson overruled a recommendation by a hearing examiner that the rape charge should be dismissed and the other allegations resolved through administrative action. Stewart has petitioned the Air Force to allow him to retire rather than face trial. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall will make the final decision on the request. Stewart was a command pilot with more than 2,600 hours in the air, including more than 600 hours in combat. He flew nearly a dozen types of aircraft, including the F-15C, a twin-engine tactical fighter; the U-2, a high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance plane; the T-37, a twin-engine jet trainer; and the T-38C, a supersonic trainer. He led the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Balad Air Base in Iraq and was commanding general of the NATO Train Advise Assist Command-Air in Afghanistan. As head of the 19th Air Force, he oversaw 32,000 employees and 1,530 aircraft assigned to 17 wings across the United States. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 19th leads cadet flight orientation at the Air Force Academy and trains both entry-level and advanced fighter pilots, as well as drone pilots, combat systems officers, and air mobility and special operations combat crews. Only one other general in Air Force history has faced a court-martial. Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley, who commanded the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, was convicted in April 2022 of abusive sexual conduct and was reduced to the rank of colonel. Georg Baetzing, Bishop of Limburg and Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, speaks during a press conference. Arne Dedert/dpa Germany's Catholic bishops on Thursday urged the faithful to oppose rising far-right nationalism, calling such politics opposed to the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. "Volkisch nationalism is incompatible with the Christian image of God and man," reads a joint declaration presented by Bishop Georg Batzing as head of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) in Augsburg on Thursday. The statement comes amid widespread concern in Germany that far-right political forces, especially the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, are gaining support in the country. The AfD has risen substantially in opinion polls over the past year. "Right-wing extremist parties and those that run rampant on the fringes of this ideology can therefore not be a place of political activity for Christians and are also not electable." The declaration also declared that taking part in far-right politics - and particular any form of racism or anti-Semitism - is incompatible with employment or voluntary service within the Catholic Church. The bishops also addressed all of Germany: "We appeal to our fellow citizens, including those who do not share our faith, to reject and repudiate the politics from the far right. Anyone who wants to live in a free and democratic society cannot find a home in these ideas." Batzing said it was imperative for the Catholic Church to take a clear stance, given that polls currently show the AfD in the lead ahead of state parliamentary elections this fall in three states in the former East Germany. In the statement, the bishops write: "After several spurts of radicalization, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in is now dominated by a nationalistic attitude." The bishops said the AfD "oscillates between genuine right-wing extremism" and "a right-wing populism that comes across as less radical." The German Bundestag voted in favor of providing "long-range weapons systems and ammunition" to Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reported on Feb. 22. The motion received 382 votes in favor, 284 against, and 2 abstentions. The ruling coalition parties have differing views on whether this includes the delivery of Taurus missiles, DW said. Read also: Just give us the orders! German arms manufacturers plead with Pistorius to speed up procurement The wording of the parliamentary resolution does not necessarily imply Taurus, said Gabriela Heinrich, an MP from Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD). "It's a matter of interpretation, Heinrich said. The fact is: we haven't drawn a red line at this point." During the coordination of the document before the parliamentary vote, representatives from the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) demanded that the name of the Taurus missiles be included, but the ruling SPD rejected this, DW said. Read also: Taurus missiles would not break stalemate in Ukraine Berlin Yehor Chernev, Ukraines Parliament MP and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Security, and Defense stated that the decision on transferring missiles now rests with Olaf Scholz. "We are gradually raising the level of the issue to achieve a result," Chernev said on Facebook. The coalition agreed on a compromise text of the resolution on long-range weapons without mentioning Taurus. However, there are no other missiles for such purposes in Germany, he said. The Bundestag rejected the opposition's proposal to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles on Feb. 22. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in September 2023 that Berlin didnt refuse to transfer Taurus missiles to Ukraine, but was not ready to do so now. The reason for this could be Scholzs hesitation, because, as previously reported by the media, he expressed concern that Kyiv might attack Russian territory. Read also: Germany meets NATO defense spending goal of 2% GDP for first time since Cold War amid Russias war Ukraine, on the other hand, has repeatedly said that it will not use Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory. The Bundestag did not support a draft resolution on Jan. 17 calling for the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Only 178 out of 666 MPs voted in favor. Christian Freuding, head of the Special Staff for Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defense, said on Feb. 5 that long-range Taurus missiles cannot turn the tide of war in favor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine German lawmaker Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann speaks in the Bundestag, Berlin, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. German lawmakers on Thursday approved a motion calling on the government to deliver further necessary long-range weapons systems and ammunition to Ukraine, but voted down an opposition call explicitly to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) German lawmakers on Thursday called on the government to deliver further long-range weapons to Ukraine, but voted down an opposition call explicitly urging it to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles. Germany is now the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called recently for other European countries to step up with more weapons deliveries. His government is increasing aid for Ukraine this year, planning more than 7 billion euros ($7.5 billion) for weapons deliveries. It has delivered air-defense systems, tanks and armored personnel carriers among other aid. Last week, Scholz signed a long-term bilateral security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Scholz has stalled for months on Ukraines desire for Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) and could in theory be used against targets far behind the front line. He hasn't stated definitively that they won't be delivered or publicly gone into detail. That has annoyed the conservative opposition and some within Scholz's three-party coalition. The chancellor has long emphasized his determination to help Ukraine without escalating the war and drawing NATO into it. Ukraine is still not entirely receiving the material it urgently needs to repel the Russian war of aggression effectively, opposition leader Friedrich Merz told parliament. A motion drawn up by the coalition parties on support for Ukraine two years into Russia's full-scale invasion called on the government to keep up military support and said this includes the delivery of further necessary long-range weapons systems and ammunition to enable attacks on strategically important targets far in the rear of the Russian aggressor. Such motions arent binding. The formulation allowed government lawmakers to advocate sending Taurus missiles, or not. Asked by an opposition lawmaker whether it includes them, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius replied: I can't answer that. Pistorius said Germany's contribution is drawing admiration at international conferences, and here the opposition is talking us into the ground. A prominent lawmaker with one of the junior coalition parties and longtime advocate of strong support for Ukraine, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, said she regretted that the motion wasn't more specific. We don't need to hide in international comparison, quite the contrary, said Strack-Zimmermann, the chair of parliament's defense committee. Ukraine no longer has time," she said. The governing parties' motion passed by 382 votes to 284, with two abstentions. A separate opposition motion on German policy since the full invasion of Ukraine started, which included a call for the prompt delivery of all available weapons systems sought by Ukraine and specifically mentioned Taurus missiles, was defeated by 480 votes to 182. Five lawmakers abstained. Session of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin Session of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin BERLIN (Reuters) -German lawmakers approved further military support for Ukraine on Thursday, including long-range weapon systems, almost two years after Russia's invasion, but rejected a call by the opposition to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv. Germany is the second-biggest donor of military aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has resisted domestic and foreign pressure to supply the Taurus missiles, fearing an international escalation of the conflict. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's Russia is and will remain the greatest security threat to Europe for the foreseeable future," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Bundestag lower house, adding Germany would counter it "with all our strength". A majority of lawmakers voted for a motion put by Social Democrat Scholz's coalition, also comprising the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), which committed to delivering "additional long-range weapon systems and ammunition". It made no specific mention of Taurus. The fudge on the motion's wording, which some lawmakers argue could only mean Taurus missiles, has been the subject of contention. Raising the pressure on Scholz, the conservative opposition put down a motion explicitly calling for the delivery of the cruise missiles which could give Ukraine the capability to cause significant damage deeper within Russian-occupied territory. Highlighting divisions within Scholz's awkward coalition, the FDP head of the parliamentary defence committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, voted for the opposition motion, as, she said, it could not be misunderstood. (Writing by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Rachel More and Nick Macfie) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives his ballot during the vote after the debate on ten years of Russian war in Ukraine in the Bundestag. Michael Kappeler/dpa Germany's parliament has called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to supply Ukraine with "additional long-range weapons" for its war against the Russian invasion. Lawmakers from Scholz's three-party coalition passed the resolution urging expanded aid on Thursday, shortly after rejecting a separate proposal from the opposition demanding that Scholz specifically supply sought-after Taurus cruise missiles. Scholz, a Social Democrat (SPD), has been blocking the delivery of the long-range German-made Taurus missiles out of concern that they could be used to strike targets within Russia itself and further escalate the conflict. Ukraine has repeatedly requested the cruise missiles, arguing they are the most suitable weapon to strike Russian military targets well behind the front lines within occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have sought to assure Scholz that the missiles would not be launched into Russia. Taurus cruise missiles are fired from aircraft and can hit targets up to 500 kilometres away with great precision. Ukraine wants to use them to cut off supplies to Russian troops at the front. Many members of Scholz's own coalition, especially from the Greens and Free Democrats (FDP), have also been calling for Germany to ship Taurus missiles to Ukraine. But those lawmakers declined to openly break with Scholz on Thursday and back a demand for Taurus missile deliveries from the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc. At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Scholz evaded the question of whether he might eventually approve Taurus missile shipments. During a panel discussion at the conference, Scholz merely assured the audience that Germany would always do enough to support Ukraine. Gabriela Heinrich, a senior lawmaker with Scholz's Social Democrats, contended that the resolution passed on Thursday leaves open whether the "long-range weapons" must be Taurus missiles. CDU/CSU opposition leader Friedrich Merz accused Scholz has failed to deliver on his promises of a major "Zeitenwende," or turning point, in Germany's defence policy that the chancellor promised shortly after Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. "The 'turning point' ... hasn't been translated into comprehensive action so far," Merz told parliament on Thursday. If the task of re-equipping Germany's military and strengthening European defence is taken seriously, "then we still have most of the homework for our country ahead of us", said Merz. "Ukraine is still not receiving all the material it urgently needs to effectively fend off the Russian war of aggression," he said. The resolution passed by Scholz's coalition, however, stated that "Ukraine must continue to be in a position to carry out attacks on military targets such as ammunition depots, supply routes and command posts far behind the front lines and to be able to protect its soldiers from the diverse attacks of the Russian military in the best possible way." Friedrich Merz, Federal Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and leader of the CDU/Christian Social Union in Bavaria(CSU) parliamentary group in the Bundestag, speaks in the debate on German foreign and security policy in the Bundestag. Michael Kappeler/dpa Germany's parliament has rejected an opposition motion to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has blocked shipments of the German-made missiles to Ukraine, citing fears that the long-range weapons could be used to strike within Russia and potentially escalate the conflict. The motion, put forward by the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, fell well short of a majority, with only 182 voting in favour and 480 against. The CDU/CSU's Friedrich Merz had urged members of Scholz's coalition to break with the chancellor and back the motion. "Ukraine is still not receiving all the material it urgently needs to effectively fend off the Russian war of aggression," he said. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann speaks in the debate on ten years of the Russian war in Ukraine in the Bundestag. Michael Kappeler/dpa Officers from a special task force (SEK) are deployed in full gear at a school. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Dusseldorf. The police were on the scene with large numbers of officers. Christoph Reichwein/dpa In the attack on several pupils at a school in Wuppertal, investigators assume the suspect ran amok, a police spokesman said on Thursday, suggesting the crime may have been a random, unprovoked episode. Four pupils at a school in the western German city of Wuppertal were injured, at least two of them seriously, in the attack. The suspected attacker, who is in custody, is believed to be a 17-year-old male pupil at the school. Police said the suspect was also injured in the incident. A police helicopter circles over the scene. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Dusseldorf. The police are on the scene with a large force. Christoph Reichwein/dpa Special forces are deployed at a school. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Duesseldorf. The police were on the scene with large numbers of officers. -/Pressefoto Otte/dpa Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, attends a panel discussion during a science conference in Germany. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa The German and Czech governments are in talks on a weapons deal to ship older Soviet-era battle tanks and other equipment to Ukraine in exchange for modern German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks and other replacements. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on Wednesday night following a meeting of his Cabinet that Berlin had made such an offer. "This will enable us to reduce our dependence on Russian technology and modernize our army," said Fiala. The proposed replacement tanks would be slightly older Leopard tanks that have been decommissioned by Switzerland's army and sold back to Germany, dpa has learned. Switzerland insisted that the terms of the deal include requirements that the Leopard tanks not be delivered to Ukraine, citing long-standing Swiss policy of strict neutrality. In return, the Czech Republic would provide the Ukraine with more Soviet-era T-72 tanks from its stockpile. Ukraine, which was once part of the Soviet Union, extensively operates those types of tanks in addition to a mix of more modern weapons provided by Western supporters. The Czech Republic has publicly revealed handing over 62 main battle tanks, 131 infantry fighting vehicles, six helicopters and 16 air defence systems to the country attacked by Russia since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. In an initial exchange, the Czech Republic had already received 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from German industrial stocks to partially replenish its own arsenals. A Buffel armoured recovery vehicle is to follow. A Gepard anti-aircraft gun tank and its crew stand in a position east of Odessa. Kay Nietfeld/dpa The German government has defended its stance in the negotiations over EU funds to supply of weapons and equipment to Ukraine, in the face of criticism from fellow EU member states. The German government wants to ensure that it is not paying more than its fair share into the EU pot for arms for Ukraine, given that it also makes substantial bilateral donations to Kiev. Berlin argues that such bilateral donations should be offset against its contributions to the enlarged fund. Germany has already pledged more than 7 billion ($7.6 billion) in bilateral military aid to Ukraine for this year. "The quick and un-bureaucratic delivery of military equipment is crucial for the country," Germany's EU Ambassador Michael Clau told dpa after the latest round of talks on Wednesday, which failed to produce results. The EU hopes to provide an additional 5 billion this year to enable EU member states to jointly supply weapons and equipment to Ukraine through the so-called European Peace Facility (EPF). According to normal EU rules, Germany, as the largest economy, would have to stump up around a quarter of the additional funds, i.e. around 1.3 billion. Clau argued that bilateral aid, which is quicker to organize, should be recognized as if they were an equivalent contribution to the peace facility. EU partners, on the other hand, have accused the German government of effectively blocking the EU funding by insisting on this payment model. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Monday explained that bilateral aid was not the best answer for many members states. "Of course we can do things bilaterally, but it is much more difficult for a country like mine to support Ukraine bilaterally than in a group of 27," he said. Negotiations on funds at an EU level are stalled as Hungary has been blocking planned disbursements from the EPF. The negotiations are further complicated by France's demand that only weapons and ammunition produced in Europe should be financed with EU funds in future. Motorists in the centre of Scotland's largest city will have to pay to park their cars until 22:00, under new plans drawn up by Glasgow City Council. Charges will be in force across the city's parking zones between 08:00 and 22:00, seven days a week. Drivers can currently park their car in metered bays in some parts of the city centre for free after 18:00. The council described the move as a "standardisation" of parking across the city and said the measure was agreed as part of its budget last week. It has not been confirmed when the change will come into force. Council budget papers suggest it will make a saving of 686,000 from the move in 2026/27. The papers also outlined plans to increase charges in multi-storey car parks, off-street car parks and on-street parking bays. Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr said the plans were "ridiculous and should be dropped immediately". In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said the parking increases would hit "struggling small businesses". The city has 22 zones with parking restrictions where metered bays are in place and residents have to purchase permits. They are mainly in the centre and west of the city. In four of them, the hours are 08:00-22:00, seven days a week. These are mainly in the west end - Hillhead, Woodlands, North Kelvin/Woodside, and Garnethill. Parking is charged between 08:00 and 00:00 in Kelvingrove. Glasgow City Council wants to extend the charges to 22:00 in zones where parking is currently charged between 08:00 and 18:00 five or six days a week. A spokesman said it was part of a budget required to find 107m worth of savings from council savings. The longstanding approach with parking controls has been to prioritise parking for residents in the citys 22 parking zones," he added. By standardising parking hours across all zones we are aiming to provide the maximum benefit for permit holders seven days a week. We also hope to encourage a shift to more sustainable forms of transport. LEZ sign The increased parking restrictions follow the introduction of a low emmission zone in Glagow. Drivers whose cars do not meet clean air standards are fined 60 but this doubles ever time the vehicle enters the restricted city centre zone. The House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle apologized after the Commons descended into chaos, with government and Scottish National Party (SNP) MPs walking out of the chamber protesting his handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate. MPs voted unanimously for a Labour motion demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, but only after Hoyle overturned years of parliamentary precedent to allow the party to bring its motion to a vote. Hoyle Apologizes After Gaza Ceasefire Debate Lawmakers from the ruling Conservatives and the opposition SNP attempted to hold the proceedings privately while exiting the debating chamber in protest. Hoyle eventually apologized and said he had decided to allow lawmakers to vote on a range of views because he was concerned about the security of the MPs after several had received threats of violence over their stance on the war. "It is regrettable, and I apologize for the decision," he told parliament. "I did not want it to end like this." Labour, tipped to win a national election expected later this year, has been deeply embroiled in an internal battle over its policy towards the Middle East conflict since the October 7 attack by Hamas that sparked Israel's invasion of Gaza. The SNP initiated the debate in parliament, calling for an immediate ceasefire. Labour and the Conservatives both supported Israel while expressing concern over its actions in Gaza, then proposed amendments with various conditions, which they said were necessary before there should be a pause in fighting. In a usual move, Hoyle chose both amendments for a vote, breaking the rule whereby one opposition party cannot change another's motion. Usually, only the government amendment would be selected. Furthermore, some lawmakers mocked Hoyle when he declared his decision. Hoyle, a former Labour MP, was accused by one member of parliament of causing a "constitutional crisis." Penny Mordaunt, the government's Leader of the House of Commons, said that Hoyle had undermined parliament and that the government was ending the proceedings. Read Also: USA Women Beat Dominican Republic in Concacaf W Gold Cup Opener as Moultrie Scores Twice Thousands of Pro-Palestinian Protest in London Tens of thousands of people participated in a pro-Palestinian march in central London. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war. Saturday's march was the first protest to approach the Israeli embassy in west London following a silent demonstration in October. Some 1,500 police officers were sent to handle the protest. Demonstrators said it was one of the busiest marches they have attended. Furthermore, five people were arrested in one incident on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. According to the police, seven more were taken into custody. One person was arrested on suspicion of supporting a banned organization and another for obstruction. Two were arrested on suspicion of refusing to take off a face covering when asked, and three more for allegedly using abusive language and behavior or displaying offensive or likely to incite racial hatred materials. Related Article: United States Vetoes UN Ceasefire Draft Floated By Algeria The man suspected in the beating and strangulation death of a Queens woman inside a New York City hotel earlier this month is under arrest in Arizona, where he is charged in two stabbings, according to police -- and a fight over the alleged killer's extradition is already shaping up. Raad Almansoori, 26, is accused in the death of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, who was found at New York's SoHo 54 Hotel on Feb. 7 or Feb. 8. A broken iron was recovered at the scene and bits of plastic were embedded in the victim's skull, detectives said. Almansoori made statements while in custody in Arizona linking himself to a string of assaults on women, including the stabbings in Surprise, Arizona, and Phoenix, an attack in Florida and the deadly attack in the New York City hotel, according to the NYPD. MORE: Suspect in killings of Minnesota first responders had been banned for life from possessing firearms The Manhattan district attorney's office sent prosecutors to Maricopa County, Arizona, to seek Almansoori's extradition. However, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell indicated Wednesday that she will not agree to send him to New York, saying if he's convicted for the stabbing in Arizona, he'll face a mandatory prison sentence. Mitchell criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, saying, "It's safer to keep him here." A spokesperson for Bragg, in response, said it was "deeply disturbing that D.A. Mitchell is playing political games in a murder investigation" and cited New York City has a murder rate "half that of Phoenix" Several of the crimes allegedly committed by Almansoori involve women who work as escorts, police said. "He tells the cops they should Google SoHo 54 Hotel," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said of what the suspect told police in Arizona. PHOTO: Raad Almansoori, 26, is wanted in the death of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, who was found in February 2024 at SoHo 54 Hotel in Manhattan, N.Y. (Surprise Police Department) Almansoori also made statements about hurting as many as three woman in Florida, Kenney said. In the Arizona city of Surprise, police responded to a McDonald's on Sunday morning and found a woman who had been stabbed multiple times. The suspect, later identified as Almansoori, then stole a car nearby and was later arrested with the car by the Scottsdale Police Department, police said. It was at this time Almansoori admitted to the stabbing a few days earlier in Phoenix, Surprise police said. Almansoori is facing charges of attempted homicide, theft of means and aggravated assault in Surprise and robbery, assault, theft and criminal damage in Phoenix, police said. He is being held without bond. Detectives are now looking at unsolved crimes in Florida and Texas, where Almansoori has lived and has prior arrests, including the kidnapping and sexual assault of a female, according to police. "The majority of arrests involve domestic violence and assault," Kenney said. MORE: Roommate arrested in double murder at University of Colorado dorm room Kenney said the NYPD is working with the FBI and asking the public and members of law enforcement to come forward with information. The NYPD shared photos last week of Almansoori allegedly leaving the SoHo 54 Hotel wearing the leggings of Oleas-Arancibia. Almansoori is believed to have arrived in New York City in late January, when credit card information shows he visited an escort in upper Manhattan. Later credit card use shows the purchase of a plane ticket to Arizona where he allegedly committed two crimes. ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report. Arizona DA says she won't extradite alleged SoHo hotel killer to New York originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Justice Department unsealed new charges against a leader of the notorious Japanese Yakuza gang who they accuse of attempting to traffic weapons-grade nuclear materials from Burma to other countries, according to a newly announced superseding indictment. Prosecutors in Manhattan say that beginning in early 2020, Takeshi Ebisawa conspired to transport material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium believing it could be used by countries like Iran in the development of their nuclear-weapons program. "It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded," Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen said in a statement announcing the charges. The 60-year-old Japanese national and another co-defendant had already been charged in April 2022 with narcotics trafficking offenses. Ebisawa and his co-defendant were arrested in Manhattan on those charges with a U.S. judge in New York ordering both men detained. Both men pleaded not guilty. PHOTO: Takeshi Ebisawa allegedly told an undercover agent he was interested in selling the materials. (Department of Justice) According to their superseding indictment, Ebisawa told two undercover agents in early 2020 he had access to a "large quantity" of nuclear materials he wished to sell, and sent a series of photos of rocky substances next to Geiger counters that measured radiation levels. PHOTO: Takeshi Ebisawa allegedly sent an undercover agent photos of the nuclear material next to a Geiger counter. (Department of Justice) One of the undercover agents told Ebisawa they had an interested buyer who they claimed was an Iranian general. "They don't need it for energy, Iranian government need it for nuclear weapons," the undercover agent told Ebisawa, according to the indictment. "I think so and I hope so," Ebisawa allegedly responded. PHOTO: Prosecutors say Takeshi Ebisawa sent photos of rocky substances next to Geiger counters that measured radiation levels. (Department of Justice) Ebisawa further engaged with the undercover agent as he expressed an interest in buying other military-grade weapons such as surface-to-air missiles that he said could be used by an insurgent group inside Burma. The arrangement resulted in a swap of sorts, with unnamed co-conspirators allegedly supporting Ebisawa telling the undercover they "had available more than 2,000 kilograms of Thorium-232 and more than 100 kilograms of uranium" which the co-conspirators said "could produce as much as five tons of nuclear materials in Burma." PHOTO: Takeshi Ebisawa is pictured handling a rocket launcher at a meeting with undercover agents, a 2022 criminal complaint shows. (U.S. Department of Justice) MORE: Concern about Russia wanting to put anti-satellite nuke in space raises key questions In a meeting arranged by Ebisawa with the undercover agents in Southeast Asia, one of Ebisawa's co-conspirators brought the undercover into a hotel room and allegedly showed him two plastic containers with samples of the nuclear materials. Thai authorities then assisted in the seizure of the materials which were handed over to U.S. law enforcement, which subsequently tested the samples and confirmed they contained uranium, thorium and plutonium. "As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons," Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration said. "This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life." DOJ charges Japanese Yakuza leader for allegedly attempting to traffic nuclear materials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. A murder charge was filed Thursday against a Godfrey, Illinois, man who is believed to have killed his girlfriend earlier that morning and then died following a standoff at a West Alton gas station. According to the St. Charles County Police Department, police received a service call around 3:15 a.m. Thursday about a shooting in the 1000 block of North Service Road. Just before 4:40 a.m., police claim Clyde E. Young, 28, called dispatchers to report a woman was dead at that location. Officers found a woman shot to death inside a 2023 Freightliner semi-truck. The vehicle had been leased to Young and he was the registered operator as of Thursday. Late Thursday afternoon, the victim was identified as Amy Lynn Delacruz of Cadet, Missouri. Delacruz was 47. The probable cause statement says Young told police that he and Delacruz were in a romantic relationship. He said the two got into an argument the night prior and that he got his shotgun and shot Delacruz in the head. Cpl. Barry Bayles, a spokesman for the St. Charles County Police Department, said Young again contacted them from a gas station in West Alton and stated he would turn himself in to the Madison County Sheriffs Office, but then changed his mind and said he would surrender to St. Charles authorities. This individual was a person of interest in an investigation in Foristell from early this morning, Bayles said. When the officers were attempting to discuss with him or get him to talk to us, he made a decision that he did not want to speak to our investigators anymore. Police applied for arrest warrants and the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Young with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. St. Charles County police met Young at the Phillips 66 gas station along Highway 67. Dispatchers said Young told them he had a weapon in his vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they set up a perimeter around the gas station and began talking with Young to get him to surrender. After approximately three hours of negotiations, Cpl. Bayles said Young went back to his truck and began to retrieve a firearm. Bayles said Young fired shots and an officer fired one round in exchange. Young was pronounced dead in the parking lot. Police claim Young died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News During the standoff in West Alton, authorities blocked traffic to both the Lewis and Clark bridges on Highway 67 as a precaution for drivers. Residents remain in shock. Here in St. Charles County, when we have stories like that happen, its very scary. We are a tight knit community, Jennifer Tuck said. Everybody knows everybody. We stick together and that news is very scary. Its alarming and its getting worse every day. Just murders, murders, murders. They need to do something, bad, Alex Ladd said. St. Charles County police are encouraging anyone with information on the investigation to contact authorities. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Barring yet another of Sir Keir Starmers celebrated U-turns, the next Labour government will give 16-year-olds the right to vote. In the view of one senior political insider, however, this plan doesnt go anywhere near far enough. Polly Mackenzie who was Nick Cleggs director of policy when he was deputy prime minister says, People should get votes from birth. In other words: we should give the vote to babies. Im sure we can all agree that this is an eminently sane suggestion to which no reasonable person could possibly object. Politicians themselves would certainly have no problem with it. When out on the campaign trail, theyve always been happy kissing babies. Although whether this is more likely to earn a babys support or forfeit it, we can only speculate. At any rate, its bound to happen sooner or later. Once the vote has been granted to 16-year-olds, therell be pressure to give it to 14-year-olds, and then 12-year-olds, and so on down the scale, until canvassers are knocking eagerly on the door of the delivery room. My only question is as follows. If were going to let babies vote, why shouldnt we let pets vote, too? In the context of this particular discussion, I think its a perfectly sensible point. After all, the average domestic cat or dog is demonstrably more intelligent than any baby. Or, for that matter, any toddler. At just six months, a cat is fully competent. Its capable of feeding itself, cleaning itself, defending itself. At the same age, a baby can do none of those things. It cant even stand upright. So if this gurgling idiot can have a say over the nations governance, why not the cat? It isnt as if pets dont have political views. Dogs, for example, are natural conservatives. They love family and home, feel a strong sense of loyalty and duty, and are wary of outsiders. Cats, meanwhile, are metropolitan liberal elitists. They are aloof, superior, and insist on freedom of movement. When the political thinker David Goodhart divided the population of modern Britain into Somewheres and Anywheres, he could easily have been talking about dogs and cats. Goldfish, admittedly, are somewhat harder to place on the political spectrum. All we really know about them is that they have incredibly short attention spans. Still, so do 16-year-olds, and if Labour are giving them the vote, it hardly seems fair to deny goldfish. In fact, if were going to be scrupulously consistent, we also need to think about species that live outside the home. Some people, after all, like to keep bees. Bees are staunch monarchists who believe in a strict class system. In short: traditional Tories. For this reason, Rishi Sunak should extend the vote to them at once. Its probably his last hope of staying in power. The number of bees in this country may be in sharp decline, but so is the number of Tory voters, so hed better get a move on. 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. Israel's ground offensive plan in Rafah could lead to arms exports suspension with the United Kingdom. The UK government said that it is considering doing so if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues his ground offensive plan. Recently, Israeli war cabinet Benny Gantz confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces will launch a ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip city if Hamas terrorists do not release hostages. But, the UK, the US, and other countries opposed the plan of Israel since Rafah currently shelters over 1 million Palestinian civilians. Israel's Ground Offensive Plan in Rafah Could Lead To Arms Exports Suspension According to The Guardian's latest report, the UK government is facing diplomatic pressure as other countries urge it to suspend arms exports to Israel. Now, the UK joined other allies in pressuring Israel to cancel its ground offensive plan in Rafah. Although no final decision regarding the arms export suspension yet, UK ministerial sources said the United Kingdom has the ability to respond quickly. They said that this will happen if the legal advice provided to the ministers proves that Israel is breaching the international humanitarian law. In the Commons, UK Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell said that Israel's ground offensive in Rafah represented a red line for the British government. He told MPs that they are urging IDF not to launch an attack that could have devastating consequences in the Palestinian city. Read Also: Biden Pushes for UN Security Council Action, Urges Temporary Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza Conflict About Israel Ground Offensive Plan in Rafah The Israeli government said that they will launch their ground offensive in the city of Rafah on Mar. 10 if Hamas terrorists do not release hostages, as reported by BBC News. IDF officials claimed that intelligence indicated that hostages were taken by Hamas in the complex. Because of this, they threatened terrorist leaders that an operation, which they describe as "precise and limited," would be launched. They also accused Hamas terrorists of "cynically using hospitals for terror." "The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know - if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, including the Rafah area," said Gantz. The Israeli war cabinet official promised that they would ensure the safe evacuation of Palestinian civilians by coordinating with American and Egyptian partners; minimizing civilian casualties. Related Article: Israel Gives Deadline for Rafah Offensive; Gantz Warns of Action if Hostages Not Freed by March 10 Russian forces struck the village of Lvove in Kherson Oblast on the morning of Feb. 22, killing a 59-year-old man, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River, such as Lvove, in the fall 2022 counteroffensive. Russian troops were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths as well as large-scale destruction of homes and infrastructure. The morning strike on Lvove hit the victims house when he was in the yard, according to Prokudin. Lvove, a village in the Beryslav district, lies some 45 kilometers east of Kherson. Russian strikes against Kherson Oblast overnight and on Feb. 20 wounded three residents, Prokudin said on Telegram earlier. Read also: Under deadly attacks, Kherson fights to keep life going 1 year after liberation Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) are calling for stronger action on the southern border, along with former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), whos currently running for Senate. All three politicians were adamant that there needs to be tougher enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico border, saying its an issue that should be easy to solve, but it is currently in gridlock because we seem to talk past each other. The Colorado governor said it is not hard to solve immigration and that there arent a lot of disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, but they both have trouble agreeing. To solve immigration, we need to have real border security and lock down the border, Polis said while speaking during the Overcoming Political Polarization event at American University (AU) on Thursday, where the three men discussed ways to diminish political polarization in the country. And then we need to expedite all this stuff that takes years and the processes around it. Polis mentioned Congresss inability to pass bipartisan immigration legislation, noting that this made it necessary for states to deal with the burden. So obviously we have to deal with the issue of the states, which, I have to say, its very frustrating, because we dont control our own borders, Polis said. We dont know whos in our states. And thats not what states are set up to do. Earlier this month, the Senate failed to pass a long-sought bipartisan border security package that took months to negotiate. Cox echoed a similar sentiment, expressing his frustration over an issue that he believes the majority of lawmakers on Capitol Hill agree on. Almost all Republicans and almost all Democrats actually agree on this one, Cox said. Democrats believe we should secure the border. Republicans agree that we need to fix legal immigration, and vice versa, obviously. Hogan, who recently announced his bid for the Maryland Senate seat after stepping down from his chairmanship with No Labels, called for enforcement on the southern border and repairing the immigration system. Weve gotta secure the border, said Hogan, who is a fellow at AUs Sine Institute of Policy & Politics. And we gotta fix the broken immigration system. They are not that hard to do. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) Mesa County Sheriffs Office arrested 37-year-old Garrett Digiallonardo Wednesday morning after responding to a reported assault. MCSO deputies were dispatched to a local hospitals emergency room Feb. 21 when an adult man was dropped off after being assaulted. Hospital staff informed deputies the 39-year-old man told them he was involved in a fight where he was put in a chokehold. The altercation happened in the 2900 block of Grand Junctions A 1/2 Road. Shortly after the assault, a friend took the victim to the hospital after he collapsed. Digiallonardo is currently being held on the charge of first-degree assault with intent to cause severe bodily injury by strangulation a class 3 felony. Officials say the suspect and victim knew each other before the incident, and there is no outstanding danger to the public. Investigators are continuing to contact and interview witnesses; officials ask if you or anyone you know have information regarding the incident, to call Investigator West at 970-244-3270 or Investigator Burg at 970-244-3263. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. Charles D. "Chuck" Ogden, shown on Dec. 28, 2023, in a James Foxman Justice Center courtroom in Daytona Beach, is facing six new felony counts after prosecutors alleged Wednesday his Holly Hill business contracted for home renovations that he was not licensed to handle. An Ormond Beach man who calls himself the "Granite Gangster" is facing six additional felonies after three customers said his home remodeling business did incomplete and shoddy work after the 2022 hurricanes, then abandoned their homes without returning their money. The State Attorney's Office initially charged Charles D. "Chuck" Ogden in December 2022 with a single count of contracting without a license. On Wednesday, it brought the new charges after former customers of Ogden's Holly Hill kitchen and bath remodeling business then known as East Coast Countertops made repeated complaints, including for a News-Journal story published in November. The most serious count is an organized scheme to defraud victims of more than $50,000, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. There are two charges attached to each of the three victims' families: grand theft of more than $20,000, a second-degree felony that carries up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine; and contracting without a license, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Ogden, 48, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday, court records show. Aaron Delgado, Ogden's attorney, reached by email Wednesday, declined to comment. Ogden's business is now known as Daytona Construction and Remodeling LLP. Victims: 'A predator has been stopped' Melanie Cain, whose Port Orange home was flooded by Hurricane Ian at a time when she was headed into brain surgery, hired Ogden in October 2022, and his crews did several days of work on the home before Hurricane Nicole arrived Nov. 10. After that, she said Ogden's company abandoned the work some of which had to be redone and she later fired him. Melanie Cain of Port Orange says East Coast Countertops & Remodeling of Holly Hill failed to complete Hurricane Ian repair work after she paid $34,200. The business' owner, Chuck Ogden, is facing a seven felony charges related to his business's work following the 2022 hurricanes. In all, she paid Ogden $34,200. Ogden and Cain each filed for protective orders against each other, alleging stalking. Both were dismissed. Ogden has an ongoing libel/defamation of character claim against Cain. He is seeking more than $50,000, arguing she filed false reports with police and the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation and engaged in a "malicious and vicious Facebook campaign" against him. Cain says she is trying to right a wrong. In a text Wednesday, Cain wrote she is thankful for the assistant state attorneys and investigators who worked on the case, singling out Port Orange police Det. Lance Morris. "After 15 months of daily phone calls to the State Attorney's Office, they finally heard my voice," Cain said. "I hope that all past victims will find peace in knowing the community is in good hands and is safer because a predator has been stopped." Melissa and Patrick Herlehy paid $48,000 on a $52,227 contract with Ogden's son, Charles Ogden Jr., and his business, Ceejay's Remodeling, which lists the same address as his father's business. The Herlehys say the work was substandard and needs to be redone. Ogden Jr. sued each of the Herlehys in separate small-claims cases seeking the additional $4,227. Both of his claims were dismissed by two separate judges. Melissa Herlehy said she doesn't expect to see any restitution but made her complaint against Ogden to prevent other families from being defrauded as she was. As there have been civil and criminal complaints against Ogden predating the three victims from 2022, Herlehy said she was puzzled as to how he could have been in a position to defraud her family. "We kept asking how could this man and his family continue to do this for over 20 years, fake contracts, fake licensing, fake contractors, and no one ever caught on. It wasn't until everybody was able to come together as a community after a major disaster and support each other," she said in a text message. Patrick Herlehy said in an email he hopes the new criminal charges will put "an end to the constant intimidation of being threatened with small claims lawsuits from Mr. Ogden and associates," calling it a stressful time, due to other circumstances as well. Patrick and Melissa Herlehy of Port Orange are in a fight with East Coast Countertops & Remodeling after paying $48,000 of a $52,227 bill to repair to their home after Hurricane Ian. "I lost my son to cancer, my father recently passed away, and my house has to be redone, but the most important thing here is we did not give up," Patrick Herlehy said. "If I can prevent Mr. Ogden and associates from victimizing the next person, I did the right thing." A third victim, retired and disabled Marine Tammi Rohring of Edgewater did not respond to a message Wednesday. She previously told The News-Journal she paid Ogden $25,000 for work that was not complete before he abandoned the job. She said some of that work will have to be redone. Unless I go through a criminal proceeding with him, Im not going to see anything," she told the News-Journal in November. "Restitution is my only hope of recovering (my $25,000)." History of criminality This isn't the first time Ogden has run afoul of the law. He has twice been convicted of misdemeanor contracting without a license. In one case, he received 12 months of probation and paid $1,300 restitution to his customer, while in the other, he was required to pay $2,800 in restitution. Both victims said he cost them substantially more. After a 2002 conviction for the sale of cocaine, Ogden served more than three years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Earlier in December, Ogden lost a civil case brought by dissatisfied customers. A judge ruled a South Daytona couple should be repaid $12,950 by Ogden. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'Granite Gangster' facing 7 felonies alleging fraud after hurricanes GRANTSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) Grantsville City Mayor Neil Critchlow and the citys Public Works Department said they are optimistic the 17 headstones damaged in a recent vandalism incident can be repaired this spring. Critchlow was notified about the cemetery damage in mid-February, telling ABC4 he was in disbelief and disappointed in what he saw. Bad Bunny concert becomes Delta Centers highest-grossing single-night concert of all time This is a tragic thing. This is our ancestors. This is our, you know, the people who built Grantsville, Critchlow told ABC4 after the incident. We want to make sure that the respect is being shown towards them. In an update, Critchlow and the Grantsville City Public Works Department said they have been working closely with the Cemetery Program Manager from the State Historic Preservation Office. Together, they were able to assess the extent of the damage and formulate a plan to repair the headstones. While some of the repairs will have to wait for the weather to calm down and warm up, the Public Works Department is optimistic the headstones can be repaired by Memorial Day, May 27. An investigation into the vandalism is still ongoing, however, detectives with the Grantsville City Police Department said they have identified those responsible. While they did not publicly disclose the identities of the suspects, they expressed their gratitude to the public for their help in bringing the vandals to justice. Midvale councilmember bites back at Clines request to appeal call for her resignation Investigators will continue to work with the victims and their families to ensure all aspects of these crimes are accounted for and again thank the community for their support of the police departments endeavors, said GCPD. Police are still asking the public for any additional information regarding the vandalism. Anyone who may have more info or own any property damaged in the vandalism but hasnt spoken to detectives, they are asked to call Grantsville City Police at (435) 882-5600. No further details regarding the investigation or the case have been released at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. CHARLESTOWN A young harbor seal released into the cold, crashing waves off Blue Shutters Beach on Friday may help researchers understand whether great white sharks will hang around Rhode Island waters. "Meet Scarlet, the newest and perhaps most valuable member of our research team," the Atlantic Shark Institute in Wakefield said in a Facebook post with video showing Scarlet wriggling herself toward the ocean as people cheered. Rehabilitated at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, Scarlet is the first seal released in Rhode Island waters wearing both a satellite tag and an acoustic tag, according to researchers. Scarlet, a young harbor seal, was rescued in Essex, Mass., last November, rehabilitated at Mystic Aquarium and returned to the ocean last Friday wearing satellite and acoustic tags so she can be tracked by researchers. The satellite tag will enable researchers to track her movements when she is swimming at the surface or has pulled herself onto a beach, and the acoustic tag will let them track her underwater, according to the institute. Scarlet is part of a cooperative research effort by the institute, Mystic Aquarium, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. More: They built a shark barrier off Cape Cod. Does Rhode Island need one? "This long-term collaboration is designed to answer questions about seal movement in New England and surrounding waters (particularly Block Island, RI) how and when they might interact with great white sharks and much more," the Atlantic Shark Institute said in the Facebook post. Jon Dodd, executive director of the Shark Institute, expects Scarlet to help researchers better understand the relationship between seal populations and great white sharks. Seals are a popular meal for great white sharks, and Dodd wants to know how a growing seal population on Block Island might affect the travel and feeding patterns of the top predators. Jon Dodd, executive director of the Atlantic Shark Institute, and Sarah Callan, manager of animal rescue at Mystic Aquarium, were at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown on Friday to release Scarlet, a harbor seal rescued in November. Will Block Island attract white sharks the way Cape Cod does? The waters off outer Cape Cod have attracted tens of thousands of seals and, as a result, hundreds of adult great white sharks spend their summers off Cape Cod, feasting on the fatty seals, Dodd said. Rhode Island doesn't attract nearly as many seals, and the only adult white sharks found in these waters are passing through on their way to the banquet off Cape Cod, Dodd said. But the seal population off Block Island has increased dramatically over the last several years, numbering 200 to 300, and Dodd wants to know whether that population could grow large enough to attract adult white sharks that would spend the entire season in Rhode Island waters. "What size does it have to be for a white shark to say, 'I'm not going to Cape Cod?" Dodd said in an interview. "Will there someday be a white shark population that calls Block Island home over the summer months?" Scarlet healed at Mystic Aquarium Scarlet was rescued in Essex, Massachusetts, and brought to Mystic for rehabilitation in November, according to Sarah Callan, manager of animal rescue at Mystic Aquarium. She was given the name Scarlet because of a severe wound to her face. Callan doesn't know how she might have gotten it. At Mystic, Scarlet's wound was treated. She was given medicine and fed. "She ate like a champ right away," Callan said. "She was definitely very hungry." More: Rare opportunity: 9-foot porbeagle shark found on East Beach; researchers plan necropsy When she was released, Scarlet was 70 pounds, "a nice healthy weight, for sure," Callan said. She's believed to be just 8 or 9 months old. Over the last two to three years, Mystic has released about 20 rescued seals with satellite tags only, according to Callan. Having put both satellite and acoustic tags on Scarlet, researchers will see a more complete picture of her travels. They will also be able to monitor her longer, since the satellite tags typically fall off within about six months, while the acoustic tags last for about two years, Dodd said. Scarlet will have help It won't be up to Scarlet to provide all of the answers. Conor McManus, the DEM's Marine Fisheries chief, says the agency wants to work with its partners in tagging as many as 25 more rescued seals. "Do these seals hang out here? What does that mean?" McManus asked. When Scarlet passes receivers in Rhode Island and other waters, receivers will pick up the signal from her acoustic tag, shown here. He wonders: will Block Island attract seals the way the outer Cape does? The Block Island Maritime Institute is also helping with the project by counting seals, according to Dodd. Where Scarlet will go is difficult to predict, Callan said. Seals can cover a lot of water, and quickly. Mystic seals have gotten to Maine within two or three days of release; one ended up in Greenland in about 10 days, Callan said. Forty-five acoustic receivers set in Rhode Island waters by the Atlantic Shark Institute and the DEM will pick up Scarlet's signal if she passes by them, according to Dodd. If she heads for New York, Massachusetts or Maine, receivers set by other researchers will also pick up her signal, Dodd said. "We want to see where these animals are going," Callan said. "It's going to be real interesting." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Travels of seal released off RI may explain habits of white sharks On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the Polish leaders to meet him at their shared border to resolve a blockade by Polish farmers protesting Ukrainian food imports. Meanwhile, Polish authorities expressed concern following the appearance of slogans at the protests praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war against Ukraine. Zelensky Invites Polish Leaders To Discuss Farmers' Protest Zelensky said on social media on Wednesday that he hoped to meet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and a representative of the European Union across the border before the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Saturday. The Ukrainian president said this is national security and noted that he is ready to be at the border with their government. He said that they have had enough misunderstanding and they should not humiliate Ukraine and Polish farmers. He noted that they need solutions between Ukraine and Poland and at the level of the whole of Europe. However, the Polish government did not respond immediately. Zelensky added that Ukraine could not tolerate the appearance of banners endorsing Putin at the demonstrations after one such banner was displayed on Tuesday. Poland, a member of NATO and the EU has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine since Russia began its full-scale invasion, offering Ukraine weapons and accepting unlimited numbers of refugees. Poland primarily favors Ukraine due to the past oppression by Moscow rooted deeply in generational memory. However, tensions have escalated as Polish farmers accuse Ukrainian grain and food imports of increasing prices and harming their livelihoods. Polish farmers are among the European farmers who have been opposing EU environmental policies and competition from Ukraine, which they say will increase their production costs. On Tuesday, they organized a major protest day that blocked almost all traffic on the border with Ukraine, infuriating Kyiv in an escalation from previous protests. Read Also: New Zealand Green Party MP Efeso Collins Dies After Collapsing at Auckland Charity Event Protesters Reject Government's Proposal According to BBC News, protesting Indian farmers said they would resume marching back to the capital, Delhi, this week after they rejected a government plan to purchase some crops on a five-year contract at guaranteed prices. When they started their march last week, the protesters were stopped about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Delhi. Since then, farmer leaders have discussed their demands with the government. The government had proposed to purchase cotton, maize, and pulses at guaranteed floor prices, also known as Minimum Support Price or MSP, through cooperatives for five years. On Monday night, they claimed the offer was "not in their interest." Furthermore, the farmers said they would not back down from their demand for a legal guarantee for MSP on all 23 crops. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a farm union leader, told local media that they appeal to the government to either resolve their issues or remove barricades and allow them to proceed to Delhi to protest peacefully. Related Article: Polish Farmers' Protest: Demonstrators Use Tractors To Block Much of Ukraine's Border GREEN BAY Green Bay School District Superintendent Claude Tiller resigned Saturday amid an investigation into radio show comments he made earlier in February. From the date of the radio show to his resignation was less than two weeks. But a lot happened in those 12 days, including multiple Green Bay School Board closed door meetings and Tiller being placed on leave. More: Radio show interview of former Green Bay School District Superintendent Claude Tiller released Here's what we know about the timeline of events. Feb. 6: Claude Tiller goes to Atlanta, appears on talk radio show. Tiller headed to Atlanta on a recruiting trip for teachers from three historically black colleges and universities: Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College, according to his X, formerly known as Twitter, account. He was accompanied by the district's executive director of human resources, Mike Friis, and the manager of student engagement, attendance and advocacy at East High, Kominiko Sila. While Tiller was in Atlanta, he appeared on a talk radio show on 1380 WAOK. The show, "REALationship Talk," is hosted by Adrienne Berry. Tiller's interview focused on navigating educational leadership, according to the station's Facebook page. The interview is not available online, so the nature of Tiller's comments are unknown. But the Press-Gazette expects to obtained a copy through an open records request Feb. 21. More: What's next for Green Bay School District after Superintendent Claude Tiller's resignation? Feb. 9: Green Bay School Board holds closed session, likely about Tiller. On Friday evening, Feb. 9, the School Board met in closed session to discuss strategy for potential litigation, according to the agenda. The agenda did not provide any further detail on the meeting's topic, so it's not clear whether it was specifically to discuss Tiller. However, it's rare that the board holds meetings, whether in closed or open session, on Friday evenings. Feb. 12: The public learns Claude Tiller is under review for his radio show comments. By the following Monday, Feb. 12, the public learned that Tiller was under investigation for the comments he made on the 1380 WAOK radio show the previous week. By this time, the board had also hired attorney Geoffrey Lacy. Lacy provides legal representation in labor relations including contract negotiations and grievance processing, according to his law firm's website. His primary client base includes public school districts, the website says. He represented the Pulaski School District when it got a restraining order against the Wisconsin chapter leader of Gays Against Groomers. That evening, the School Board has its regularly scheduled work session. Tiller was not there, and he usually attends. Feb. 13: Claude Tiller is placed on administrative leave. The evening of Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Green Bay School Board released a statement via Lacy saying Tiller had been placed on paid administrative leave. "The Green Bay School District Board of Education has placed Superintendent Dr. Claude Tiller Jr. on paid administrative leave as it works through the issues raised in an Atlanta radio station interview," the statement said. The board can place Tiller on leave "pending investigation into possible misconduct," according to his contract. Feb. 15: Green Bay School Board holds another closed session meeting about Tiller. On Thursday, Feb. 15, the School Board held another closed session meeting. This time, the agenda specified it was about Tiller, saying the meeting was to "discuss strategy for potential litigation and conferring with legal counsel regarding a personnel matter pertaining to the Superintendent of Schools and Learning." Feb. 16: Green Bay School Board announces it's holding a third closed session meeting about Tiller. Late afternoon Friday, Feb. 16, the board announced its plans to hold a third closed session meeting to discuss Tiller and his radio show comments. The meeting was scheduled for Saturday. The board rarely meets on the weekends, typically reserving meetings for Mondays. Throughout the entirety of 2023, the board met on the weekend only once. It met on a Sunday in March to discuss who to hire as the next superintendent, which ultimately was Tiller. More than 50 community members turn out for a Saturday meeting of the Green Bay School Board on Feb. 17, 2024. The board immediately went into closed session where they are expected to discuss Superintendent Claude Tiller and his comments in an interview on an Atlanta radio station on Feb. 6. Feb. 17: Claude Tiller resigns as superintendent. At the Saturday closed session, over 50 community members gathered at the district's downtown office. The board convened at 2 p.m. and immediately went into closed session. After nearly three hours of discussion, the board unanimously accepted Tiller's resignation. Board President Laura McCoy quickly left the board room and was not available for comment. Community members were outraged to hear Tiller had resigned, especially before the public got to see the interview and hear Tiller's comments for themselves. "We're here today to demand that the board of education not make a decision on anything until the video was released," Amanda Garcia, the executive director of Casa Alba Melanie, said at Saturday's meeting. "But they moved quickly and swiftly, intentionally." Later that evening, Tiller released a letter to the community saying he resigned with mixed emotions amid the radio show comments. "I provided my perspectives with candor, anchoring my narrative in both my professional insights and personal experiences as an educational leader of color. Simply put, I spoke my truth," he wrote. He said his intention was never to "call out" specific individuals, but to highlight where collective efforts can significantly improve education. Tiller emphasized he was speaking about the "the broader systemic issues within public education that contribute to ongoing challenges" in many school districts. "In the days subsequent to my appearance on the program, it was disheartening to learn that select comments in my two-hour long interview were interpreted in a manner that inadvertently caused offense with some in our school community," he said. "It's important to emphasize that my comments were specifically directed toward the broader systemic issues within public education that contribute to ongoing challenges." Feb. 21: The Press-Gazette obtains a copy of the radio show interview. The Press-Gazette obtained a copy of the interview Wednesday through a public records request. The Press-Gazette obtained a Facebook Live video from the show's host that is separate from the radio station's officially recorded interview. The video includes both on-air comments and conversations between Tiller and the host, Adrienne Berry, during commercial breaks. In the near two-hour-long conversation, Tiller talked about: student mental health, applying for the superintendent job, re-energizing clubs for students and staff of color, the need to hire more teachers of color and his vision to make the Green Bay School District known for its education. During one of the commercial breaks, Tiller called a district principal a "wicked witch," describing how she was treating an employee of color at the school. Feb. 27: The Press-Gazette expects to get a copy of Claude Tiller's settlement agreement. The Press-Gazette also submitted a public records request for a copy of any resignation agreements between the School Board and Tiller. Wisconsin law requires that Tiller get five working days to challenge the release of the agreement before it can be provided to the Press-Gazette. Lacy said the agreement is expected to be released Feb. 27. Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: A timeline of events leading up to Superintendent Claude Tiller's resignation Probably 153,000 student loan borrowers who are now enrolled in a new repayment plan implemented by the Biden administration will receive an email on Wednesday informing them that their remaining federal student loan debt will be canceled, amounting to around $1.2 billion. The email will probably include a congratulatory message from President Joe Biden, with his administration keen on emphasizing their efforts to deal with student loan debt as the presidential election approaches, as per CNN. $1.2 Billion in Student Loan Forgiveness President Biden's administration has accelerated the implementation of the Student Aid and Relief (SAVE) program, ushering in an earlier-than-anticipated relief for borrowers. Biden, speaking from a local library before embarking on campaign-related events, emphasized the pressing need to alleviate the financial strain on Americans burdened with what he described as "unsustainable debt in exchange for a college degree." The SAVE program, praised by the White House as a crucial move for economic recovery, involved the administration sending email notifications to eligible borrowers on Wednesday. The program was initially set to start in July but was moved up almost six months earlier, providing quick help to those dealing with student loan responsibilities. The SAVE student loan repayment plan's first round of debt cancellations was announced by President Biden on social media on Wednesday. Individuals who have faithfully paid off their loans for ten years and borrowed $12,000 or less will benefit from this first round, which includes 150,000 Americans. The inaugural round of forgiveness from the SAVE plan is poised to absolve a substantial $1.2 billion in loans, providing substantial relief to the recipients. Those eligible for loan cancellation will receive personalized email notifications from President Biden, confirming their qualification for early loan forgiveness under the SAVE Plan, according to AP News. Read Also: Iran Says Israel Behind Attack on Natural Gas Pipeline Biden's Student Loan Relief In his message to borrowers, President Biden said he has received messages from many borrowers saying that eliminating their student loan debt would allow them to support themselves and their families, buy homes, start small businesses, and resume life plans. Over 7.5 million people joined the SAVE repayment plan, demonstrating its popularity. During a speech, President Biden acknowledged the life-changing impact of the relief on individuals and their families. He expressed pride in providing borrowers with the earned relief, asking the audience how many had already benefited from debt forgiveness, with many raising their hands. The president pledged to help middle-class Americans at a Beverly Hills campaign ceremony. He warned against a Trump victory, citing a countrywide abortion prohibition, Republican efforts to attack the Biden administration's health care program, and policies favoring the rich. Biden stressed "finishing the job" to advance an agenda for American workers by urging supporters to win a second term. While attending additional campaign events and fundraisers, including a stop at CJ's Cafe, President Biden continued to engage with the public, offering handshakes and hugs, and posing for selfies. Those who borrowed $12,000 or less for education and have paid on time for 10 years are eligible for debt cancellation under SAVE. For borrowers above $12,000, the cancellation window extends dependent on the borrowed amount. President Biden's multi-pronged approach to student loan reform, including the SAVE program and a plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debts, shows his dedication to negotiating legal issues and finding answers to student loan debt, The News Tribune reported. Related Article: SNAP Benefits 2024: These US States Will Receive $219 Additional Food Stamps in Several Days Vice President Harris on Thursday bashed the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are people as hypocritical and placed the blame on former President Trump. Think about that, individuals, couples, who want to start a family are now being deprived of access to what can help them start a family, she said. So on the one hand, the proponents are saying that an individual doesnt have a right to end an unwanted pregnancy, and on the other hand, the individual does not have a right to start a family. The Alabama Supreme Court ruling did not ban in vitro fertilization (IVF), but experts have cautioned that it could prevent doctors from performing IVF, which carries the risk of destroying embryos. Three clinics in the state so far have paused the treatments. More broadly, the ruling is poised to open a new front in the fight over reproductive rights. The decision by the court in Alabama is shocking and at the same time, post-Dobbs decision, not surprising, Harris told reporters later Thursday. What we have seen in Alabama, it has now been attacked, and access to reproductive health care through IVF is being taken from countless individuals and families. She added that the irony of the decision is that proponents are suggesting women dont have the right to end an unwanted pregnancy but also dont have the right to become pregnant if that is her choice and her decision and her dream. Harris blamed Trump, the GOP front-runner, for his hand in the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which she said led to decisions like the one in Alabama. One must then ask well, okay, how did it happen? And I would say, ask whos to blame. And Ill answer that question, she said. When you look at the fact that the previous president of the United States was clear in his intention to handpick three Supreme Court justices who would overturn the protections of Roe v. Wade, and he did it. And thats what got us to this point today. She went on to bash the hypocrisy of bans on reproductive rights after Roe. The hypocrisy [abounds] on this issue when you also consider that in the top 10 states with maternal mortality, there are abortion bans, she said, adding that she has challenged states that are silent on maternal mortality that disproportionately impacts Black women. Harris spoke at a roundtable in Michigan alongside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and other Michigan lawmakers. The Democratic primary in Michigan is Tuesday. The roundtable was part of the Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour that Harris, who has been a leading voice out of the White House on reproductive rights, convenes. President Biden earlier Thursday also bashed the ruling, calling it outrageous and unacceptable. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant, he said. The Biden-Harris reelection campaign tied the Alabama decision to Trumps appointment of Supreme Court justices, adding, these so-called pro-life Republicans are preventing loving couples from growing their families. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The panel who attended the United Against Hate campaign. From left to right are FBI Special Agent in Charge for Montana Shohini Sinha, Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki, U.S. District Attorney for Montana Jesse Laslovich, and Great Falls PD Captain of the Investigations Bureau Rob Moccasin. In early January 2024 the Great Falls Public Library discovered anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi stickers had been inserted into at least 16 books. At the same time a video surfaced on at hate group internet chat site that showed the racist literature being placed in the books at the Great Falls Public Library. It was only the most recent in a string of racist propaganda which infiltrated Great Falls in recent months, including anti-Semitic stickers placed in public spaces around this community, leaflets left on vehicle windshields, and sandwich bags filled with popcorn and scripts of racial slurs thrown onto neighborhood lawns and doorsteps. The lasting effect of these attempts at racial propaganda might be small, but is an increasing trend which prompted the Great Falls Public Library to launch its Hate Has No Home Here campaign. On Tuesday a panel of federal, state and local law enforcement came to the Great Falls library to speak to their coordinated efforts to arrest and prosecute those who engage in acts of violence and hate-based propaganda. We are here as part of a United Against Hate campaign that the U.S. Department of Justice is requiring all U.S. Attorneys Offices throughout the country to conduct, said Jesse Laslovich, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana. Weve seen far too often how individuals filled with hate have unleashed horrific violence. While thankfully we havent seen that yet thus far were not immune to the realities of hate-based violence here in Montana. Laslovich pointed out several hate crime cases the U.S. Attorneys Office has prosecuted in Montana in recent months. They include the successful prosecution of a Montana man in June 2023 who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for firing an AK-style rifle into the home of a lesbian couple, and then walked further into the town of Basin in Jefferson County with the expressed intention of targeting others he perceived to be lesbian, queer or gay. The defendant (John Howland) made it his mission to rid the town of Basin, Montana, of its lesbian and gay community, a Department of Justice report states. Armed with a rifle and other weapons, he approached the house of a woman that he knew identified as lesbian, firing several rounds into the property. The woman was home, but not hit. Assuming the first victim was dead, the defendant approached other homes of people known locally to be gay or lesbian, the Justice Office report continues. He shot several more rounds at people in the vicinity before fleeing when law enforcement arrived. He was arrested the next day. Jesse Laslovich, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Another case involved a Helena man who pled guilty to possessing homemade bombs and a silencer after being accused of attempting to attack a Helena high school in a Columbine-style massacre. The Helena Police Department received information from an individual that Logan Pallister, 25, possessed multiple bombs, had access to multiple firearms and had been making threats of committing an attack at a local high school, the Department of Justice news release states. On May 31, 2022, at about 4 a.m., police officers arrested Pallister as he was walking toward his car from his residence, wearing a black trench coat and carrying a bag. During a search of Pallister, officers found eight firearms that were concealed on his person. Laslovich noted that hate crimes are significantly underreported across the United States, but that an FBI report on crimes reported in 2022 concludes that hate related crime is on the rise. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation recorded their highest totals in the last five years and increased by 10% over the year 2021, Laslovich said. An increase of nearly 40% was observed in reported anti-transgender incidents compared to just the year previous. Of considerable concern is the occurrence of anti-Semitic assaults. Referencing FBI reports Laslovich said hate crimes against Jews had risen by 25% after 2021, and that the Anti-Defamation League reported that 2022 was the worst year for the report of hate incidents in its more than century long history. Anti-Semitic hate crimes rose 25% over 2021, with those crimes accounting for half of all religion-based hate," Laslovich said. After what Hamas did in Israel on Oct. 7, these numbers have only gotten worse. Weve seen a 337% increase over 2022. It appears that some of our college campuses have become vectors for antisemitism and were not immune to that. He noted that the U.S. Department of Education recently launched an investigation into allegations that Montana State University staff failed to act on multiple reports that racist and sexually violent messages and death threats had been transmitted to at least 20 students at MSU. Montana State University has also experienced a proliferation of anti-Semitic literature across its campus. FBI Hate Crime brochure However, the question remains what can be done about it. The conflict between what is hate and what is free speech is a fundamental concept when considering the prosecution of hate crimes. The crime has to be motivated by hate, and that can a big distinction, Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki said. If a guy spills a drink on another guy at a bar and they start screaming at each other and get into a fight where they use racial epithets, that doesnt necessarily make it a hate crime. Defendants say off-color things when theyre angry or doing something, even when its not really motivated by hate. Theyre just jerks who wanted to rip this guy off for drugs and they call them names. You have to make sure that its a motivation of hate." Montana had 14 reports of hate crimes in the state during 2023, five of which were in Great Falls. GFPD Investigative Services Bureau Captain Rob Moccasin said the local police department works closely with state and federal officials to investigate allegations of hate crimes. What typically happens is that a citizen has been a victim of a certain type of crime, but if they see a threat online, we take those pretty seriously, Moccasin said. If you let us know those, were looking at those promptly trying to figure out if that threat is an actual true threat. All the members of Tuesdays panel emphasized the importance of reporting any potential hate crime as quickly as possible. Even if it is not a hate crime, reporting is critical, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon. When we look into a defendant and were starting to try and prove the activities theyve committed, one of the things we look at is their past criminal history. Thats why reporting it to local law enforcement and to the FBI is critical. The exception to free speech is when it becomes a true threat, Weldon added. Individuals have the ability to speak their mind and that is protected under the First Amendment, but if something ventures into the land of a true threat then that can become criminal activity. The things to consider with a true threat are, its a serious communication of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence against a particular individual or group of individuals. That is not protected activity. Ryan Weldon, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Weldon presented a few examples of what separates what free speech what is classified as illegal hate speech. If you are walking through a public park and you see a white supremacist rally and you hear our race is superior to other races that would be protected speech, he explained. The reason is theres no inciting language to take violent action against another specific individual. An alternative situation would be a public speaker stating those opposing our race, like those people over there, are the enemy and must be attacked now. That, according to Weldon, is not protected under the U.S. Constitution. Now were in the realm of a true threat, and the reason for that there is a statement of violence toward other individuals who are right there, Weldon said. Under the true threat analysis that would not be protected activity. That would be something that could be prosecuted. If there is a hate crime, or youre concerned that there may be a hate crime occurring call 911 immediately, Weldon added. Local law enforcement, the FBI and all our offices all work together. We want that information reported immediately. There is also a website for the FBI which is www.fbi.gov but the initial reporting should be made to local law enforcement and then the agencies can work together. Laslovich emphasized law enforcement's dedication to seeing hate crime violence prosecuted toward conviction. One thing that just pains me when I see the reasons why people dont report hate crimes is because they dont think law enforcement cares, he said. These people are turning over every rock to find and try to hold someone accountable, whether its a hate crime or not. We get wrapped up in this national conversation and Im just telling you that law enforcement, local, state, and federal are all moving mountains to hold people accountable. Sometimes we just cant get there. Sometimes we cant prove it, but its not because we dont care. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Law enforcement speaks about hate crime in Montana and Great Falls Upon being released by Kansas City police shortly after the mass shooting at Union Station, Denton Loudermill walked a few blocks to sit down for a meal at Wendys. Before he could finish his burger, he said police were surrounding the restaurant. Loudermills phone was buzzing as calls poured in from family members. Moments before, as news broke of the Valentines Day shooting at the Super Bowl rally, a photo of Loudermill, in a Chiefs-red sweatsuit, sitting on the curb in handcuffs, started circulating online. I started getting phone calls about me being on the TV and computer, about the shooting and what had happened down there. They were making sure I wasnt arrested, 48-year-old Loudermill said. I said, No, Im at Wendys. I let them know what happened. And from there, we just tried to figure out what was going on. Within minutes, the photo showing Loudermill, hands behind his back, sitting in front of crime scene tape with a stony expression on his face, started warping into misinformation. Social media users took it, creating a firestorm wrongly pinning Loudermill as a gunman in the shooting, as an illegal immigrant, as a terrorist. It was shared across platforms, including by a U.S. congressman, Donald Trump Jr. and a group of Missouri GOP lawmakers. Within the hour between police taking off Loudermills handcuffs and him sitting down for a meal, the photo had spread far enough that someone inside Wendys, he said, recognized him and called the police while he was eating. Loudermill, a Black, Olathe native and father of three, who said he stays away from social media, was not aware his life was taking a sharp turn. But then the threats started. And now hes spent the past week working to clear his name. I just want everybody to know that Im innocent and I had nothing to do with it, Loudermill said. I think that everybody that put my name through the mud, everybody needs to be held accountable. Handcuffed on the curb A lifelong Chiefs fan, Loudermill had been celebrating his teams Super Bowl win during the parade and rally in the massive crowd outside Union Station. As the rally was wrapping up, shots rang out, leading to mass panic. Everything went bananas from there, he said. The mass shooting killed one woman and injured more than 20 others. Lyndell Mays, 23, of Raytown, and Dominic M. Miller, 18, of Kansas City, each face a count of second-degree felony murder, prosecutors announced Tuesday. They each also have been charged with two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, and are being held on $1 million bond. Charges were also filed last week against two teens who were being held at the Juvenile Detention Center on gun-related and resisting arrest offenses, the family court division of the Jackson County Circuit Court said. Officials have signaled that more charges may come for other people involved in the shooting. We seek to hold every shooter accountable for their actions on that day every single one, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said earlier this week. While we are not there yet on every single individual, were going to get there. Loudermill said he was in the middle of the crowd outside Union Station when he heard the gunshots shortly before 2 p.m. I turned around and looked at the crowd, watching everybody running. It was just chaos, he said. The police was trying to get us all out of there. I didnt run. I just walked. I was taking my time, I guess. Police were working to clear and block off the scene. Loudermill said Kansas City officers told him he wasnt leaving the area quickly enough. They detained him. I asked them why are they grabbing me and putting their hands on me. They were trying to push me out of the area, he said. They were going to arrest me but they didnt have a reason to. I was set on the curb, set in handcuffs. People started swarming, taking photos and videos of him detained. Loudermill said after about 30 to 45 minutes, police took him away from the crowd and released him. When he was handcuffed on the curb, they didnt have a reason to arrest him other than he was moving too slow, Loudermills attorney LaRonna Lassiter Saunders said. I think they tried to do the right thing in the situation by letting him go. But already letting him sit on the curb too long in handcuffs, it started a rumor mill. It went viral. Kansas City police have not specified why Loudermill was briefly detained that day. And he has not been charged with any crime stemming from the events on Feb. 14. Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a Kansas City police spokesman, told The Star in an email that, there were many people detained at one time or another on Wednesday. Some adults and some juveniles. Some of the detainments could result in future charges unrelated to the shootings. No one who is believed to be involved in the shooting has been released, he said. A sad day in America Loudermill still hasnt read the social media posts incorrectly accusing him of being one of the gunmen. He instead lets his family fill him in. But thousands of social media users have shared and commented on posts with the photo of him, spreading unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. A group of Missouri GOP lawmakers used the debunked posts to attempt to link the Kansas City shooting to illegal immigration. The hard-right Missouri Freedom Caucus as well as at least two of its members shared posts falsely claiming to identify him as a 44-year-old migrant in the country illegally. These are the 3 people arrested at the parade.at least one of those arrested is allegedly an illegal immigrant. CLOSE OUR BORDERS! the caucus wrote on social media. The Associated Press quickly debunked the claim as false, reporting that the same name and description were used to promote incorrect claims in a January explosion in Texas and a December shooting in Las Vegas. The Missouri Freedom Caucus has since shared a post saying, Denton is an Olathe native, a father of three & a proud @Chiefs fan. Hes not a mass shooter. Images of him being detained for being intoxicated & not moving away from the crime scene at the Chiefs rally have spread online. He just wants to clear his name. It has come to my attention that in one of my previous posts, one of the shooters was identified as an illegal alien. This was based on multiple, incorrect news reports stating that. I have removed the post. pic.twitter.com/11KlFIyvF9 Tim Burchett (@timburchett) February 19, 2024 On the social media platform X, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, shared a photo of Loudermill and erroneously wrote that one of the Kansas City shooters had been identified as an illegal Alien. He later wrote that he removed the post, while including a screenshot of it, blaming multiple, incorrect news reports. Donald Trump Jr., the former presidents son, also shared a post with Loudermills photo talking about whether the shooting will be blamed on white supremacy and MAGA. I think its a sad day in America when you have a tragedy like that, where someone lost their life, several kids were shot, and still at the center of peoples hearts are hate, bigotry and separation by race, Lassiter Saunders said. Theres definitely a racial piece there, I believe, because had he been a different race, maybe they would have taken more time or looked into it to figure out what was going on. But it just fit a narrative. Loudermill and his attorney are pushing the public figures and officials to apologize and retract their posts spreading the misinformation. Lassiter Saunders said they are reviewing their legal options, which she called easier since some have refused to remove Loudermills photo from their pages. Theyve started a GoFundMe page to raise money for his legal fees. Its one thing to run with misinformation initially. It was chaotic, Lassiter Saunders said. But once you realize you have misinformation, then correct it. Its OK to say sorry, especially when you know you have an innocent person being affected by it. Hes just a fan who was celebrating the Chiefs. But they let hatred, propaganda and bigotry smear his reputation. Its very sad and unfortunate. Loudermill said hes received death threats over the past week, causing concern for his safety. While hes at work at an Olathe business, he said he continues to receive weird looks and comments from customers. Those reactions started almost immediately after the handcuffs were taken off of his wrists, he said. After the customer called the police on Loudermill while he was at the restaurant following the rally, he said police showed up and patted him down to make sure he didnt have a gun. He showed them his ID. And then they left. He sat back down to finish his burger. They let me go back to eating, Loudermill said. There are people who will not let go of the lie, who are still angry and hateful, Lassiter Saunders said. If they see him, it could potentially lead to harm or danger to his family. Thats why we need as much help as possible pushing the truth out there. The Stars Kacen Bayless and Bill Lukitsch contributed. LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) A local veteran organization is expanding its service dog training program within county jails and state prisons. Inmates learn how to train the dogs before the animals report for duty with their veteran owner. To me, I say win, win, win, Sheriff Michael Filicetti said. Its a win for our incarcerated population, for the dogs who sometimes arent rescued, and for the veterans at the end of the program. The Niagara County Jail was the first to partner with Pawsitives for Heroes, allowing incarcerated people to train service dogs. Chris Kreiger is a veteran himself and says his service dog helped him through dark times, making him want to help others. This program is now in three correctional facilities, providing more fully trained service dogs to veterans in need, including a few of the Buffalo Sabres team dogs like Blue. By us pairing up with the county and state correctional facilities, we can put them in the facilities for a minimum of ten months where they can have 24/7 training with the individuals who are incarcerated as opposed to having a veteran come to our facility once or twice a week, Kreiger explained. The organization was founded in 2014 and has its own facility. It has been a key program in the Niagara County Jail since 2020, which was the first correctional facility to partner with Pawsitives for Heroes. Kreiger and his team go into the jail to work with the incarcerated individuals to help them become dog trainers, teaching them career skills to take with them. Its like having a best friend. Unfortunately, when all of the other inmates have to lock in alone, and theyre alone with their thoughts, the day and whatever happened to them throughout the day, I actually get somebody to cuddle with, and hang out, I get to talk to her, John Buchanan, a participant of the program, said. So far, it has partnered 180 veterans with dogs and now it is doubling in size, adding three more state prisons to its roster soon. I believe in second chances. I believe we should be doing things so we dont see the same people over and over again, Sheriff Filicetti said. Buchanan is a twice-deployed military police officer who served in Iraq. He says he is grateful for the opportunity to learn a new skill while helping a fellow veteran. This is something I wanted to get into once I got out of here, counseling, drug and alcohol counseling once I got out of here. With the dogs, its wonderful because it occupies my time. I get to train with a dog. Shes really awesome. She helps me with my PTSD, Buchanan added. For veterans to be incarcerated, for them to have this fulfillment knowing that theyre helping a veterans organization and together we are saving a veterans life out there somewhere, what more could you ask for, Kreiger concluded. For more details on the program, you can visit the Pawsitive for Heroes page on the WNY Heroes website. Latest Local News Tara Lynch is a Buffalo native and Emmy-nominated reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2022. She previously worked at WETM in Elmira, N.Y., a sister station of News 4. You can follow Tara on Facebook and Twitter and find more of her work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. This is the sign on an AT&T store in Pittsburgh, Pa., Tuesday, April 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) ORG XMIT: PAGP [Via MerlinFTP Drop] AT&T and Verizon customers may be waking up a little frustrated Thursday morning. DownDectector.com reveals service outages for both carriers on Feb. 22, 2024, causing fits for customers all over the U.S. Service outage map: When will AT&T service be back up? No word yet, but here's how to get updates on outages Here's what you need to know: What caused nationwide AT&T blackout? AT&T simply blamed bad coding for the mistake. Visit indystar.com for more details. Was AT&T a cyberattack? John Kirby, the White House's national security communications adviser, told USA Today reporters that the Federal Communications Commission has been in touch with AT&T. "The bottom line is we dont have all the answers. We're being told that AT&T has no reason to think that this was a cyber-security incident. But again, I want to be careful. We won't know until an investigation has been completed, Kirby said. According to a confidential memo ABC News reported sharing, an assessment by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency found "no indications of malicious activity." When will AT&T service be restored? According to USA Today, service is completely restored for all users. When will AT&T be back up? Outage updates today According to the website, AT&T outages hit at 31,532 customers around 4:26 a.m. ET and checks in at 59,300 outages reported at 10:54 a.m. ET. The numbers of outages is falling. The peak was 74,200 outages reported at 9:12 a.m. ET. The most reported AT&T outage locations according to DownDetector.com include: Atlanta Austin Dallas Chicago Indianapolis Houston Miami New York City San Antonio Reports indicate 51% citing mobile phone issues, 41% choosing no signal and 8% claiming mobile internet problems. When will Verizon be back up? Outage updates today As for Verizon, the outage hit 1,514 around 4:49 a.m. ET but spiked to 2,787 as of 10:55 a.m. ET. The number of outages is falling. The peak was 4,356 outages reported at 8:00 a.m. ET. The most reported Verizon outage locations according to DownDetector.com include: Atlanta Brooklyn Chicago Dallas Houston Indianapolis Los Angeles New York City Philadelphia Reports indictate 66% citing mobile phone issues, 22% claiming no signal and 11% choosing 5G Home Internet problems. AT&T, Verizon, DownDetector outage map Visit indystar.com to view a map of outages for your internet carrier. What does SOS mean on an iPhone? Visit indystar.com to see what to when SOS appears on your iPhone. How to restart your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy cell phone Looking to perform a "hard reset" or "forced restart on your phone? Visit indystar.com for step-by-step instructions on how to make it happen. Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: AT&T, Verizon experiencing nationwide service outage, SOS issues AT&T says service is restored after a massive cellular outage. The U.S. shot down six Houthi drones as the militant group attempts to ban ships from the Red Sea. And talk show host Wendy Williams was diagnosed with dementia and aphasia. Hey, Thursday! Laura Davis here. Busted cellphone connections cant stop the news. Lets get you caught up on whats been going on. But first: Is barefoot best? Some people are slicing the bottoms off their shoes to secretly walk barefoot in public. What's going on? Communication breakdown Well, that was rough. Tens of thousands of AT&T customer just going about their morning on Thursday were faced with a scenario of post-apocalyptic proportions: No cellphone service. A major disconnect: As of this afternoon, AT&T says it has restored service to all customers but has not offered any information on why the outage happened. So if your phone still isn't working, make sure you paid your bill. What happened? It's unclear now, but the FBI and Department of Homeland Security are working with the tech industry to help investigate the cause of the outage. Disaster prep: There's a long list of potential emergency scenarios when cellphones could become unreliable some more dire than others. Here's what to know. How you can make calls using Wi-Fi if your service goes out. US destroys 6 drones as Houthi ship attacks continue The battle for control of the Red Sea heated up Thursday as U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down six Houthi drones and a cargo ship was damaged by a missile fired by the Yemen-based militant group. U.S. Central Command said that the drones were an "imminent threat" to U.S. and coalition warships. Hours later, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, damaging a U.K.-owned cargo ship. The State Department has condemned the "reckless and indiscriminate attacks" on civilian cargo ships, saying they are driving up prices and causing delivery delays in critical humanitarian items, such as food and medicine. Earlier Thursday, the militant group announced a "ban" on ships owned or flagged by Israel, the U.S. and Britain transiting through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. The Houthis, claiming support for the Palestinians in Gaza, have been attacking ships flagged by those and other countries since November. Follow our live updates. Newly recruited Houthi fighters attend a protest march against the U.S.-led strikes on Yemen and the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in Sanaa, Yemen. Real quick Support the Short List and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today. Wendy Williams diagnosed with dementia and aphasia Daytime talk show legend Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with the same form of dementia that actor Bruce Willis has, a statement released Thursday on behalf of her caretakers says. The statement said the 59-year-olds diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia have already presented significant hurdles in Wendys life." On Wednesday, a cover story in People magazine quoted Williams family about the nature of her struggles, ahead of a Lifetime documentary set to air Saturday. "The people who love her cannot see her," Williams sister Wanda said in the People article. Williams rose to fame in part due to her no-boundaries approach to her life, which included sharing personal details about her health, plastic surgery and cocaine addiction. In 2022, her daytime talk show The Wendy Williams Show, ended because of her ongoing health issues. Everything we know about her diagnosis. Bruce Willis also has frontotemporal dementia. What is it? Williams says she has 'no money' in documentary trailer. Wendy Williams was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Oct. 17, 2019. Back to the lunar frontier If all goes to plan, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus spacecraft will attempt a lunar landing Thursday afternoon, returning America to the moon's surface for the first time in 52 years. When I started writing this newsletter, I thought I was gonna be able to tell y'all about this historic landing, but flight controllers decided to have the lander do another lap around the moon, delaying the landing attempt, which was originally planned for 5:30 p.m. and is now expected to happen at 6:24 p.m. EST. Flight controllers said Wednesday that the lander "continues to be in excellent health" ahead of its attempt to park on the moon. Moon plans: The spacecraft will attempt a landing near the moon's south polar region, an area long intriguing to scientists due to the suspected presence of water ice thought to be abundant within its craters. Follow our updates here. Intuitive Machines' Odysseus moon lander beamed home its first images Friday a day after it hitched a ride to orbit aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Did you know? The Odysseus lander was named for the hero of Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey." A break from the news Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cell service outages, Wendy Williams, Odysseus moon landing: Thursday's news UPDATE 12:31 P.M. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Roanoke police have released more details in the investigation surrounding a shooting that occurred on Hanover Avenue NW on Feb. 22. RPD says around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, information was received that a person was shot on the 2400 block of Hanover Avenue NW. On the scene, officers found two female victims outside of a home suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Roanoke FireEMS took both women to the hospital for treatment. LPD says suspect arrested, identifies victim in Locust Street shooting Investigators say that two male suspects are currently being detained in connection to the incident. It is believed that a verbal altercation allegedly escalated into the shooting. Police say that all the individuals involved know each other and it appears this was an isolated incident. The investigation remains ongoing, and charges are currently pending. If you have any information regarding the incident, please call 540-344-8500. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with RoanokePD to ensure its properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous. WFXR News will continue to update you with more information as it is released. (Odyssey Fields/ WFXR News) ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) There is currently a heavy police presence on Hanover Ave. as Roanoke City Police investigate an incident at a residence in the area. Details surrounding the incident are currently unknown; however, 25th Street and Hannover Street NW are closed until further notice. RPDs Forensic Unit is on the scene and people are being asked to avoid the area. WFXR News is working to learn more and will update you when more details are available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. When victims of crime need relief and support from trauma, Kentuckys victim service providers step in. When victim service providers need relief and support from federal funding cuts, our congressional leaders should step in. However, congressional support is uncertain, putting the safety of our commonwealth in jeopardy and the lives of some of our most vulnerable Kentuckians in grave danger. Kentuckys domestic violence programs, sexual assault crisis centers, and child advocacy centers answer the call to support victim-survivors experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and more forms of violence that impact Kentuckians of all identities and ages, though they have a disproportionate effect on People of Color, LGBTQ+, the unhoused, and those suffering from poverty in our commonwealth. Our programs provide free, confidential, and trauma-informed services to those who have experienced severe interpersonal violence and complex personal trauma. This essential lifesaving and life-changing work is supported through a combination of state and federal funding streams. One of our most long-standing and significant funding streams is the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. VOCA funding allows our organizations to employ and train advocates with the knowledge and expertise necessary to provide critical victim services, including 24/7 crisis hotlines and 24/7 hospital response; forensic interviews; safety planning; emergency food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; case management; legal advocacy; prevention and public awareness services; outreach services; and referrals. VOCA funding also supports therapeutic counseling and services for substance use disorder. These services are critical to the well-being of victim-survivors, but they are under threat of severe reduction and even elimination. VOCA funding is generated from federal fines and penalties, which have dipped to historically low levels over the last four years. Nationally, VOCA is now facing a critical reduction of 40% ($700 million) in federal fiscal year 2024. Previous VOCA cuts have already left thousands of Kentuckys victim-survivors without the services they need. An additional loss of this magnitude will leave thousands more victim-survivors without support in some of the darkest moments of their lives. One domestic violence program reported that they would have to choose between closing the residential shelter to continue providing services on a non-residential basis or stopping almost all rural non-residential services to keep the shelter open. One Child Advocacy Center was forced to reduce specialized therapy services for children healing from abuse. Sexual Assault Crisis Center Programs fear that data-driven prevention programs will all but end due to reduced staff capacity. Our programs have been sounding the alarm with Kentuckys six US Representatives and two US Senators for four years while also working diligently with private funders, state lawmakers, and local leaders to replenish and sustain VOCA funding. However, even with these stopgaps, our programs cannot absorb cuts of this magnitude. And while victim services will likely disappear without a funding fix, the need for victim services will not. On behalf of the victim-survivors our programs serve, we ask that Congress invest adequate funding for VOCA in the final FY24 Appropriations budget. To our Kentucky congressional leaders, we ask that you advocate for your victim service providers as loudly as we advocate for the lives and futures of your constituents and the children of our Commonwealth; that you be agile, resourceful, and responsive in working toward a permanent solution for long-term, sustainable funding; and that you help the helpers so that we may continue to help victims and survivors, uninhibited, unafraid, and without wavering. Angela Yannelli is the Chief Executive Officer of ZeroV; Melissa Quillen is Executive Director of Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs; Caroline Ruschell is Chief Executive Officer of Childrens Advocacy Centers of Kentucky. For more information, please visit ZeroV.org. VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Think you have an idea that could improve street design? The City of Visalia is asking for residents opinions on how to increase traffic safety. As part of the Active Transportation projects, the city is conducting a survey that allows the community to report feedback on an accident or near miss that took place near an active project. The information gathered from the survey will help officials identify the necessary improvements each project site needs. The projects sites residents can report on are: Santa Fe Streets Beyond Bike Lanes Highland Elementary Community Connectivity Project Washington Elementary Community Connectivity Project Goshen Visalia Corridor Project (GVC) Citizens of Visalia can find the Safer Streets for Visalia Survey here. The city emphasizes this survey is not a resource for reporting crimes. Any other street issues residents are concerned about can be reported to Visalia Works. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. Media giant ABS-CBN Corporation announced on Thursday the cancellation of the sale of its interest in Sky Cable Corp to PLDT Inc, the Philippines' largest fully integrated telco company. This decision, as stated in a disclosure to the stock exchange, was "mutually decided by both parties," marking a significant shift in the anticipated transaction. Mutual Decision Between ABS-CBN, PLDT "ABS-CBN Corporation and PLDT have mutually decided not to proceed with the sale of Sky Cable to PLDT under the Sale and Purchase Agreement signed by and among the parties in March 2023," ABS-CBN Corporation stated in a press release. PLDT Inc. also released a statement echoing the announcement made by ABS-CBN Corporation regarding the cancellation of the Sky Cable sale. In their press release, PLDT emphasized the mutual decision between the two parties not to proceed with the transaction. Meanwhile, Sky Cable, the subsidiary of ABS-CBN, reassured its subscribers that despite the cancellation of the sale, its cable TV service will continue beyond February 26, 2024. In a statement released following the announcement, Sky Cable affirmed, "We remain committed to providing the same level of customer experience and service for both our cable and internet services." The proposed sale, initially valued at $123 million, aimed to see PLDT acquiring 100% of Sky's outstanding capital stock, worth 1.3 billion common shares. With this latest development, the plans for the acquisition have been put on hold, and no additional explanation or alternative strategy has been provided. This marks the second time that the parties involved have withdrawn from a deal involving Sky Cable. Read Also: Filipino Journalist Laments Apparent Demise of TV News Media as CNN Philippines Signs Off for Final Time Fallout Amid Regulatory Approval The cancellation of the sale comes amidst a backdrop of regulatory approvals and shifting industry dynamics. Just last month, the Philippine Competition Commission had approved the transaction, setting the stage for what was expected to be a transformative acquisition in the telecom sector. PLDT, known for its extensive telecommunications and digital services across the Philippines, had expressed strategic interest in the acquisition. The integration of Sky Cable into its portfolio was anticipated to enhance broadband connectivity and expand digital infrastructure, aligning with the government's push for nationwide digitalization. ABS-CBN, once the Philippines' largest broadcast group, had been diversifying its focus following the loss of its TV licenses in 2020. This loss, attributed to political tensions and regulatory decisions during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, prompted ABS-CBN to pivot towards content production and distribution through streaming platforms and social media. As both ABS-CBN and PLDT recalibrate their strategies in response to this development, the industry awaits further updates on their future plans and potential implications for subscribers and stakeholders alike. For now, Sky Cable subscribers can rest assured that their cable TV service will continue uninterrupted, as the company reaffirms its commitment to delivering quality services amidst the evolving landscape of the media and telecommunications sectors. Related Article: PH Telco PLDT Says Slow Internet Browsing Caused by Issue With Submarine Cable Following opposition from a media coalition and defense attorneys, a Hennepin County judge denied prosecutors' request to temporarily restrict public access to court records in the deadly force case against Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan in last summer's shooting of motorist Ricky Cobb II. District Judge Tamara Garcia issued her decision Wednesday on the motion filed two weeks ago by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty's office. The state's request prompted a series of objections from Londregan's attorneys and a media coalition that includes the Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio and local tv news stations. The motion requested a 48-hour "screening period" on all court filings that would allow attorneys time to review evidence and motions to "prevent confidential, inadmissible, or prejudicial information from improperly being made public." Londregan is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in the shooting of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop on I-94 in Minneapolis last July 31. Garcia wrote in her decision that she found the state's request "premature and overbroad," as the motion requested all filings to be sealed, rather than just filings that contained potentially prejudicial or contested evidence. As of now, Garcia found that the risk of pretrial publicity is "insufficient to overcome the constitutional presumption in favor of public access to court records." The media coalition praised Garcia's decision in favor of public access to court records, recognized as a First Amendment right. Media attorney Leita Walker said in her motion opposing the sealing request would be "draconian restrictions." Walker said the state offered no explanation why this case is any different than others involving law enforcement defendants. In those similar cases, no screening period was imposed. Normally, court documents become available to the press and general public promptly after being filed with the court. They are routinely monitored by journalists to track arguments and other information, including what evidence and testimony may be admitted at trial. Attorneys routinely seek to seal documents containing confidential information on a case-by-case basis. But Garcia found that "the public coverage of this case has not been so significant that it creates a serious concern of irreparably tainting the jury pool." "Even if some inadmissible or prejudicial evidence becomes public, it is unlikely to be so pervasive as to prevent the court from selecting a fair and unbiased jury," the judge wrote. Garcia added that parties may mutually agree to share motions before they are formally filed to potentially resolve issues without on-the-record intervention by the court. Early on in Londregan's case, for example, the state asked defense attorneys to withdraw a court filling because Moriarty's office claimed it "contained inadmissible, irrelevant, and frivolous information," Hennepin County Attorney spokesman Nick Kimball said. Defense attorneys filed an affidavit that contained numerous social media screenshots posted by Cobb's brother and several activists who shared Londregan's home address and made other comments that attorney Chris Madel said were threatening toward his client. There was also a video from Londregan's Ring doorbell camera, dated Oct. 7, in the filing that showed a vehicle at night briefly park in front of his house and appear to take pictures of Londregan's home. Madel said in an email that he filed the affidavit "to show why it was necessary for Trooper Londregan to possess firearms to protect his wife, newborn baby, and himself." He told the Star Tribune that because of the affidavit his client was allowed to retain his right to possess a firearm at home after Moriarty initially said she would ask the court to require Londregan to surrender his firearms. In other high-profile cases of law enforcement charged with killing civilians around the Twin Cities, officers were order to surrender firearms. Conditions of Londregan's release changed from no possession to instead no transportation of firearms. Kimball said the withdrawn affidavit is not why release conditions changed. But the affidavit was a "significant factor," he said, behind Moriarty's office filing the 48-hour screening period motion. Kimball said they were concerned such pretrial publicity initiated by the defense may continue. "That's why we suggested the court temporarily restrict public access to filings to allow for a quick review and to ensure any future filings do not cause additional unnecessarily prejudicial pretrial publicity," Kimball said. Martin Lemelle, whose Grambling State University roots run three generations deep, will now lead one of America's signature historically black colleges and universities after the University of Louisiana System Board named him as the school's 11th president Thursday. Lemelle, a third generation GSU graduate who was student body president, replaces Rick Gallot as the school's permanent president. Gallot left Grambling on Jan. 1 to become president of the University of Louisiana System. Connie Wilson has led Grambling as interim president since Gallot's departure. "Dr. Lemelle's appointment as the 11th President of Grambling State University guarantees a leader well-prepared on day one," Gallot said day in a statement to USA Today Network. "I am confident that under President Lemelle's leadership, Grambling State University will continue to thrive, with its best days yet to come." "Twenty-seven years of my life have been anchored by this beloved community we call #GramFam," Lemelle wrote in his application. He said securing the job as president fulfills a lifelong dream to serve Grambling at the highest level. "This is a seminal moment to represent the best of Grambling," Lemelle said during Thursday's interview. Lemelle, a 2006 GSU graduate, recalled growing up around legends like legendary football Coach Eddie Robinson and legendary baseball Coach Wilbert Ellis, a living patriarch of Grambling who attended Thursday's interview. Martin Lemelle was named Grambling State University's 11 president on Feb. 22, 2024. Lemelle was chosen among three finalists the board interviewed Thursday. The other two were Monica Williams, foundation president and vice president of advancement at the University of North Texas-Dallas, and Gregory Ford, associate professor of biology at Southern University-New Orleans. Lemelle returns to Grambling from Maryland Institute College of Art, where he has been serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Before that, he served as Gallot's executive vice president and chief financial officer when Gallot took over as president in 2016. Together, Gallot and Lemelle reversed what had been a steep decline in the financial health of the university. During their tenure Grambling increased its fiscal health score by 200%. Grambling also launched new programs in cybersecurity, cloud computing and nursing while Lemelle served as Gallot's second in command. Lemelle also mounted an unsuccessful campaign as a Democrat for Congress in 2020 when he ran for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District seat. More: Grambling's Rick Gallot signs contract to lead UL System after weeks of waiting Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: HBCU Grambling State University has new president: What we know If Akron Public Schools were to replace the crumbling North High School, the district could pay for it with a 1.3-mill bond issue, Treasurer and CFO Steve Thompson told the school board this week. The bond issue would cost a homeowner $45.61 a year for every $100,000 of assessed valuation of their home for the full duration of the debt, which would take 36 years to retire. The estimates include an interest rate of 5%. Teacher Eric Mathews, left, points out the water damage in a room during the Rally to Rebuild event at North High School, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Akron, Ohio. That would cover the estimated $85 million price tag for a new school but would not leave money left over for any other capital projects in the district. The board has previously reviewed the possibility of a permanent improvement levy that could serve more schools than just North, but that would require an estimated 1.7 mills, a higher cost to residents. A bond ask would likely be in tandem with an operating levy request to voters, Thompson reminded the board's finance committee Tuesday. "We know we need a general operating levy," Thompson said, noting the balance is figuring out "How much do we need and then how much can we pass?" The district is also committed to eliminating 4% of its budget before next school year, about $15 million worth, a number previously announced. The district has already baked those cuts into the five-year forecast it presents to the state twice a year. Thompson said the cuts could come from staff reductions, but right now, there is no plan for how the district will eliminate that much money from the budget. The board also recently committed the district to the construction of a new school in Kenmore, on the site of the former Kenmore High School building, to house Pfeiffer Elementary at the Miller South School of Visual and Performing Arts. A committee of top administrators in the district is currently reviewing proposals from architectural firms for that project, and will be recommending one of the firms to the board in the coming weeks or months, Thompson and Superintendent Michael Robinson said. That project, at about $60 million, is using some general fund money. Administrators have said they can't do the same for North, so the only option would be to find an outside funding source for it. The 100-year-old North Hill neighborhood high school's issues are well known, from peeling tile and HVAC issues to water leaks that destroyed entire classrooms. It is the only neighborhood high school the district was not able to replace in the 15-year effort to build more than 30 community learning centers. The North cluster of schools, however, is the only cluster to show enrollment growth in the last decade. Contact education reporter Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Public Schools could seek bond issue for new North High School CORRECTION: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra was responding to the Alabama Supreme Courts decision with his Wednesday social media post. A previous version of this article misinterpreted his post. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday decried the Alabama Supreme Courts recent ruling that frozen embryos and fertilized eggs are children under the law. Becerra posted on X,, formerly called Twitter, in response to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) health care systems decision to pause in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments as it reviews the legal repercussions of the ruling. Ive long made clear that overturning Roe was just the beginning of the attacks on womens health, privacy, & autonomy and thats exactly what we continue to see, Becerra said. The decision in Alabama will have heart-wrenching consequences for women & their families. Alabamas Supreme Court issued its ruling on Monday, finding that the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location. Even before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory, Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote in a concurring opinion. We believe that each human being, from the moment of conception, is made in the image of God, created by Him to reflect His likeness. The UAB health system said Wednesday it is evaluating the decision by the court, but would immediately pause IVF procedures. We are saddened that this will impact our patients attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, a health system spokesperson said. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley also commented on the Alabama Supreme Court decision Wednesday, saying that frozen embryos created via IVF are babies. However, she later clarified that she wasnt necessarily agreeing with the decision. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The State of North Carolina currently has over 1,300 job openings listed online. Some are entirely remote and offer six-figure salaries, and others have a work-from-home hybrid perk. We combed through six-figure, remote-friendly offerings in Wake County right now. If youre searching for a new job, or if youre just curious about the salaries some state employees are making these days, weve compiled some of the highest paying state jobs that are currently open (as of Feb. 22) and listed on the states job postings site. Below, youll find each jobs title, a description of the position and a link to the posting, where you can find more information about the job and apply. Be sure to inquire about residency requirements, as some remote jobs require employees to reside in-state. All of the jobs posted salaries and recruitment ranges go up to six figures, but not all are guaranteed to pay over $100,000. You can find the full, searchable list of all current openings at governmentjobs.com/careers/northcarolina. To search for fully remote or hybrid jobs, filter selections to include remote options, including remote only, remote optional and flexible/hybrid. Salary range: $80,000 - $190,000 IT Audit Manager - Information Systems Audit Division for the Office of the State Auditor Posted salary : $83,746 - $188,429 with the opportunity for a $20,000 sign-on bonus Recruitment range : $83,746 - $130,000 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position performs managerial functions for multiple audit teams by planning, leading and executing audits of a diverse range of IT topics and projects at entities including state agencies and colleges. Deadline: March 10 Chief Financial Examiner for the Department of Insurance Posted salary : $83,746 - $188,429 Recruitment range : $83,746 - $115,000 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position interviews and hires new employees, reviews examination work and oversees a team of technical professionals on examinations of insurance companies. Deadline: Feb. 26 Senior UNIX Systems Analyst for the Department of Revenue Posted salary : $81,500 - $122,250 Recruitment range : $82,485 - $102,900 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position will analyze, build, maintain and provide ongoing operational support for Unix systems and appliances and the various vendor related products installed on them, such as AIX, Red Hat, SusE and Apache. Deadline: March 29 Salary range: $95,000 - $175,000 ServiceNow Platform Architect for the Department of Information Technology Posted salary : $97,986 - $171,475 Recruitment range : Up to $135,000 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position acts as the lead technical resource for the ServiceNow team for support and maintenance as well as upgrades and new application onboarding, and this position is a part of the on-call rotation for incident resolution. Deadline: March 1 Salary range: $85,000 - $150,000 Applications Systems Manager I for the Department of Information Technology Posted salary : $85,205 - $149,108 Recruitment range : Up to $131,975 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position provides software support to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement Section and the DMV License and Theft Bureau. Deadline: Feb. 23 Security & Compliance Manager - Information Technology Division for the Office of the State Auditor Posted salary : $85,205 - $149,108 Recruitment range : Not listed Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position will oversee the maintenance of acceptable configurations and identify deviations and manage the Active Directory and Azure tenant components. Deadline: Feb. 23 Attorney III for the Department of the Secretary of State Posted salary : $84,878 - $148,537 Recruitment range : $84,878 $103,069 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This positions responsibilities include rulemaking and providing advice on emerging issues in the areas of digital assets, athlete agents, business identity fraud and intellectual property fraud. Deadline: Feb. 29 Controller for the Administrative Office of the Courts Posted salary : $85,890 - $146,700 Recruitment range : $85,890 - $146,700 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position manages all accounting functions for the department, including recording and reporting financial transactions and assisting management with the administration of all agency budget codes, funds and accounts. Deadline: Feb. 22 Network Security Architect for the Administrative Office of the Courts Posted salary : $85,890 - $146,700 Recruitment range : Not listed Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position develops network security technology strategies and performs complex network security planning. Deadline: March 6 Salary range: $70,000 - $140,000 Quality Assurance Audit and Operations Manager for the Department of Health and Human Services Posted salary : $70,967 - $138,386 Recruitment range : Not listed Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position implements and oversees an Internal Audit Quality Assurance program to ensure OIA engagements and practices conform to the Institute of Internal Auditors Global internal audit standards. Deadline: Feb. 22 Salary range: $65,000 - $130,000 Home Base Section Chief for the Department of Public Instruction Posted salary : $66,016 - $128,731 Recruitment range : $66,016 - $105,000 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position is responsible for serving as a the NCDPIs Home Base Business and Technology Section Chief with specific responsibilities for the oversight and management of the entire suite of Home Base technology applications. Deadline: Feb. 27 Special Programs and Data Section Chief for the Department of Public Instruction Posted salary : $66,016 - $128,731 Recruitment range : $66,016 - $100,880 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position manages and supervises the Office of Exceptional Childrens efforts in special education funding, data collection and reporting, grant management and fiscal monitoring. Deadline: Feb. 26 Employee Relations Manager for the Department of Adult Correction Posted salary : $66,016.00 - $128,731 Recruitment range : Not listed Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position independently manages and administers human resources policies and procedures related to employee relations, including workplace conflict and problem resolution, employee disciplinary action and workplace investigations. Deadline: Feb. 23 State Budget Management Analyst II for the Office of State Budget and Management Posted salary : $66,016.00 - $128,731 Recruitment range : $80,000- $105,000 Type : Flexible/Hybrid Summary : This position is expected to work independently with considerable knowledge and experiences with the budget process, program evaluation, policy analysis, cost-benefit analysis and more. Deadline: Continuous 3 restaurants in the Triangle make Forbes list of the very best in the world Start planning for Biltmore Blooms. What to know about spring at the Asheville estate Hillary Clinton is warning about the legality of birth control in the wake of a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court that found frozen embryos created through fertility treatments are children under state law. They came for abortion first. Now its [in vitro fertilization], and next itll be birth control, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee and secretary of State said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The extreme right wont stop trying to exert government control over our most sacred personal decisions until we codify reproductive freedom as a human right, Clinton added. Following the decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) health system decided to pause in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The UAB health system has said it is evaluating the decision but would immediately pause the procedures. We are saddened that this will impact our patients attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, a health system spokesperson said. The Yellowhammer States top court issued the ruling Friday, finding that the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location. Even before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory, Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote in a concurring opinion. We believe that each human being, from the moment of conception, is made in the image of God, created by Him to reflect His likeness. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra decried the courts decision in a post on X, saying it will have heart-wrenching consequences for women & their families. Ive long made clear that overturning Roe was just the beginning of the attacks on womens health, privacy, & autonomy and thats exactly what we continue to see, Becerra said. Following the decision, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she agreed that an embryo is an unborn baby but added in an interview that we need to treat these issues with the utmost respect. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON Congress is failing Israel by not passing an aid package to support its ongoing war against Hamas, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Thursday. At the same time, New Yorks top executive urged her fellow Democrats to be strong on Israel and support President Joe Bidens handling of the war as she addressed the POLITICO Governors Summit in the nations capital. Global conflict is topping the agenda in the presidential race, and Congress has been at odds over how to advance an aid package for Israel and Ukraine, both U.S. allies. Some Republican lawmakers have called for the measures to be approved as separate pieces of legislation. Biden wants the money included in a single legislative package. It is a dereliction of duty that they refuse to give support to Ukraine on the two-year anniversary of them trying to hold the line against a dictator from moving into Ukraine and beyond, and the fact they refuse to do their job and provide support for Israel as we have since the birth of that nation in 1948, Hochul said. Republicans have blamed Democrats for not acting on their preferred aid packages. House Republicans passed aid to Israel months ago, New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler said in response to Hochul. Ive introduced legislation that would provide aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as address challenges at our border. She should support that. Its good for allies, its good for our country. Hochul has been a fervent supporter of Israel and traveled there 10 days after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. She has largely avoided criticism of how Israel has conducted its bombardment of Gaza during the war and has pressed for the return of hostages held by Hamas. Hochul apologized last week after she drew an analogy at a UJA Federation event to Canada attacking Buffalo. If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, Im sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, right, right? she said. Despite apologizing for her wording, she has stuck by asserting Israels right to defend itself following the terrorist attack. No one would ever question our right after 9/11 to go in and find the attackers and take them out, Hochul said on Thursday. New York is home to the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel and support for the country has been a bipartisan hallmark in the states politics for decades. Support for Israel still plays out among moderate Democrats like Hochul. Tom Suozzi, who won a special election last week in a battleground House district on Long Island, ran as a staunch ally of Israel. But fissures are opening among Democrats nationally over Israel policy, part of a growing generational divide that could alter how the party approaches the issue in the future. New York Democrats have been no exception. More than 100 Democratic officials in New York in a letter sent last week called on the states two U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to support a permanent ceasefire. Hochul, however, urged Democrats to come from a position of strength on Israel. I want my party to be strong on this issue and support our president on this issue, she said. She also condemned people on the far left who have questioned the Holocaust. The Holocaust denier used to be some vestige from the far right, extremist, crazy wing, she said. Now theres people in our party who are questioning whether or not the Holocaust happened. But Hochul, who assumed the governorship in 2021, also took a more conciliatory view toward critics of Israels approach to the war. I understand feelings are deeply felt, she said, pointing to her own opposition to apartheid in South Africa and her parents protest of the Vietnam war. I understand the passion. Hochul said both sides of the debate should have a more compassionate view of Israelis and Palestinians. I want more people left, right or middle, understand what each population has been through, she said. I think theres a fundamental lack of understanding. Israel, right, said he and his wife Dorin felt like a target after discovering their baby Ronnies birth certificate had been defaced James Cleverly has said staff working with the Home Office have been suspended after the word Israel was crossed on a baby girls birth certificate, as her father considers legal action. Israel, a father of three from Edgware, north London, said he and his wife, Dorin, felt like a target after discovering their baby Ronnies identification documents had been defaced. Staff contracted by the Home Office are accused of scribbling out the word Israel from the six-month-old Jewish childs birth certificate. The incident, which Israel likened to something out of 1930s Nazi Germany, prompted the Home Secretary to call for an urgent review. Staff were also suspended. On Wednesday, Mr Cleverly said in a tweet: We apologise to the family for the offence caused and I have ordered an urgent review of a birth certificate being defaced. While we establish the facts, our commercial partner has suspended some staff. The matter is totally unacceptable. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism. It is claimed the family was not informed personally about the suspensions, but had been told the Passport Office was aware of the situation. Israel, a 32-year-old engineer who chose not to disclose his second name, told MailOnline: I am worried because the Home Office said some staff had been suspended not just one person which for me raises concerns that these people working for the company were in a hostile environment. We are very happy that the Government took swift action but I hope whoever this public servant is is banned. I would like to sue them personally for the damage they have carried out to my daughters birth certificate, my property. Ronnie had now been issued a new birth certificate, Israel said. The father said despite the Governments swift action, he still had safety concerns about his personal details being accessed by those who defaced the document. I am very glad the government is doing its best and I really hope its not too late for something to happen. I am worried that they might have my details or social media, he told MailOnline. Hate gang He added: How are they accepting [staff] who do not meet the Governments standards or values? The Government absolutely needs to make sure when they get people working in their system they should be vetted and everything should be checked to ensure they are not part of a hate gang or any sort of hateful organisation. The family sent off the document on Feb 6 to obtain a British passport for Ronnie. But when they received the returned certificate on Feb 12, the place of birth for her father Israel had been scribbled out with a black pen. A picture of the birth certificate, which was released by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, shows a single scribble on the document in the birthplace box for the father, while the mention of Israel for the mothers place of birth remains intact. Israel also claimed the certificate arrived ripped, in a soft envelope and invalidated. James Cleverly said we will not tolerate anti-Semitism - Jonathan Brady/PA The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is supporting the family, said the incident was completely unacceptable. Private company Sopra Steria also said it was shocked and saddened by the allegations and is treating the incident with the utmost seriousness. In a statement, a Sopra Steria spokesperson said: We are shocked and saddened by these reports and are working closely with the Home Office to ensure appropriate action is taken. We have commenced a full investigation into the handling of the documentation and are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness. In the interim, one of our service delivery partners has suspended members of staff while the investigation is ongoing. Both Sopra Steria and the Home Office have refused to say how many staff have been suspended. Sopra Steria announced it had been awarded a five-year Home Office contract in 2020 to deliver a modern, digital service to securely validate and digitise passport application forms and supporting evidence, adding that the appointment built on a successful 11-year partnership with the UK Governments passport office. The French technology firm, whose UK head office is in Hemel Hempstead, said it would provide the service alongside storage and information management services company Iron Mountain from two sites in the Hertfordshire town and Corby, Northamptonshire. The work involves scanning, validating and uploading a digital copy of key documents for British passport applications for processing before storing and returning documents to customers, the company said at the time. 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) If theres going to be a Fancy Food Show, its going to be in Las Vegas. Food industry entrepreneurs who got to show off their products to eager buyers were in Las Vegas recently for the Specialty Food Association Winter Fancy Food Show. I think there were around 1700 exhibitors and multiple thousand buyers that came to the show, said Sarah Masoni, the director of Product and Process Development at Oregon State Universitys Food Innovation Center. And our goal is to get our food entrepreneurs in front of buyers. So we go there to try and sell. Masoni is so good at what she does, the New York Times described her as having a million dollar palate. Shes humble about her status and wont take all the credit. People are really the creative ones. And my work in this industry has always been to raise other people up and to help them be successful, she told KOIN 6 News. And I think thats really the heart of what were supposed to be doing here at the Food Innovation Center. Lindsay Gott of Gateaux at the Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, January 2024 (Sarah Masoni/Food Innovation Center) One of the 9 entrepreneurs the Food Innovation Center helped this year, Lindsay Gott, said she began her company just as the pandemic hit. The Hood River-based pastry chef created Gateaux, a line of frozen, ready-to-bake cakes. I always thought frozen take-and-bake was the right way to go because its really fresh when it comes out of the oven and its like aromatherapy in your house, she said. Being in Vegas was a big deal for her. I did sort of feel that getting there felt like I kind of made it. It was a big goal for me. It was like, okay, Im at the Fancy Food show, Gott said. Gateaux is available at stores in the Northwest, but this event gives business owners like her a chance to expand and sell their products nationwide. If youre going to the Fancy Food Show, youre looking for buyers to buy your product. You have your ducks in a row a little bit more than you might have beforehand, she said. Her advice: Trust your instinct. Go for it. But get good advice. Tap into the networkls that are available here. Sarah Masoni also has advice for anyone with a product to develop: Dont rush it. She and the Food Innovation Center, based in Portlands Pearl District, work with clients for years to get their products just right for shelf life, food safety, taste and ingredients. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Australian law enforcement authorities charged a taekwondo instructor with murder over the killing of his seven-year-old student and his parents in Sydney. The suspect was charged while he was in his hospital bed on Thursday. Lawyers for the 49-year-old instructor, Kwang Kyung Yoo, appeared on his behalf in the Parramatta Local Court hearing. However, they did not apply for their client to be released on bail or enter any plea to the charges. Australian Taekwondo Instructor Charged With Murder The taekwondo instructor, who is the owner of the Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy and known to his students as Master Lion, remains under police guard. He is currently staying at a hospital after undergoing surgery for what law enforcement officials described as stab or slash wounds to his chest, stomach, and arms. Additionally, police claim that Yoo strangled his student as well as the young boy's mother, Min Cho, to death at his academy on Monday evening. He then allegedly drove her car to the family's home where he fatally stabbed her husband Steven Cho, as per the Independent. The suspect then allegedly drove himself to the hospital where he told medical staff and police that he had been attacked in a supermarket car park. Law enforcement authorities then discovered the bodies of the victims on Tuesday. So far, police have not disclosed a motive for the violence nor said whether or not Yoo was injured in a struggle or the wounds were self-inflicted. The suspect's only connection to the family that was made public so far was that all four were born in South Korea and that the boy was a regular taekwondo student. The suspect is required to remain in custody either under police guard in hospital or in prison until his case is due back in court on Apr. 18. He is also expected to appear in court on that date via video. He did not appear in court on Thursday. Read Also: Australia: 9-Year-Old Child in Critical Condition After Kakadu National Park Crocodile Attack Killing of 7-Year-Old Boy and Family In a statement, homicide commander Det. Supt. Daniel Doherty said that the chain of events and circumstances of the crime were "not only tragic, but the consequences were cataclysmic." He told reporters that the victims were a loving family, according to The Guardian. The young boy was believed to have been scheduled for a lesson at the taekwondo school on Monday. Doherty added that it has been a harrowing experience for the family and friends of the victims, noting that they are still dealing with the matter. Doherty also said that they are working on establishing what other connections or other relationships may have existed between the suspect and the victims. He described the discoveries on Tuesday as a "tragic turn of events." He also sought further assistance from the public and encouraged anyone in the vicinity of the taekwondo studio on Monday night who had seen or heard anything that could help with the case to immediately contact investigators, said Yahoo News. Additionally, law enforcement authorities were encouraging the public for any footage of the BMW on Monday night. The vehicle is the car that belonged to the young victim's mother. Related Article: Phillip Island Mass Drowning: 4th Person Dies in Hospital After 3 Others Drowned at Scene LOS ANGELES (KTLA) Over 60 firefighters and crew members worked to rescue a horse that had been swallowed by a sinkhole in California on Wednesday. Air and ground crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a home in the San Fernando Valley at around 12:35 p.m. In the homes backyard, a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky had been swallowed up by a sinkhole with heavy soil trapping her body, leaving only her chest and neck above ground. The owner of the 20-year-old horse was riding Lucky when they both suddenly started sinking into the ground. The rider was able to escape with minimal injuries, but Lucky was already trapped in the soft soil. I thought she tripped on a walkway and she had just fallen down on her front legs, said Juan Lastre, the riders husband. But my wife fell over [Lucky]. She stepped in this hole and just sank. Spotting a card skimmer is hard. Heres how to do it Lastre tried to pull Lucky out of the mud, but couldnt. They called for emergency help. Fire crews worked to rescue a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky that had been swallowed by a sinkhole in Lake View Terrace on Feb. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Fire crews worked to rescue a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky that had been swallowed by a sinkhole in Lake View Terrace on Feb. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Fire crews worked to rescue a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky that had been swallowed by a sinkhole in Lake View Terrace on Feb. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Lucky was uninjured after being rescued from a sinkhole on Feb. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Fire crews worked to rescue a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky that had been swallowed by a sinkhole in Lake View Terrace on Feb. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Fire crews worked to rescue a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky that had been swallowed by a sinkhole in Lake View Terrace on Feb. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Around 61 firefighters, along with Animal Services and the Sanitation Department, responded to the home. A heavy equipment excavator was used to dig and remove the soil surrounding Lucky. We gingerly used shovels to begin with, but that didnt get enough, so we brought in heavy equipment with a bucket, explained LAFD Captain Erik Scott. Fire crews used the equipment to build a trench so that the removed soil wouldnt fall back into the sinkhole. The horse appeared to be in moderate distress as crews moved quickly. Therapy horse gets stuck in tree in Indiana After three hours of working, Lucky was eventually strapped into a harness and hoisted out of the hole. Her owners said theyre thankful the Paso Fino horse was not left with any serious injuries. I thought she wasnt going to be able to walk because she was in there cramped for three hours, Lastre said. But I just couldnt believe it. Shes eating, which is a good sign, and walking. Her legs didnt get damaged. Lucky was bathed and cleaned off and later seen enjoying snacks and the company of her stable mate, a horse named Cortez. She will be recuperating from the ordeal over the next few days. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the sinkhole. Though there have been strong rainstorms in that area in recent days and some speculation that the suddenly appearing sinkhole may be related to an old septic system, the specific cause of the sinkhole, and horse becoming trapped, cannot be formally declared by firefighters, said LAFD. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. CLEVELAND (WJW) Fox 8 News got an inside look at the newly refurbished Hotel Cleveland, which is set to open in April 2024. The Hotel Cleveland management gave Fox 8 News a behind-the-scenes tour of the property Wednesday. Police: Child found at local gas station; do you know him? According to management, the hotel has been in Downtown Clevelands Public Square for 105 years. Now, Hotel Cleveland renovations are nearing completion. Beyond being restored to its former glory, the project will move Hotel Cleveland into the future with the contemporary refinements this important historic building and its guests deserve, according to a press release from the hotel. According to General Manager Frank McGee on Wednesday, Hotel Cleveland was the original name of the hotel when it opened in Dec. of 1918. Its very important to us to keep the historic aspect of the hotel. So what were doing is just renovating and incorporating all the stories of this hotel into the new Hotel Cleveland, McGee told Fox 8. Marous Brothers Construction is the design and builder for this restoration project, which began in Nov. of 2022 and is now set to open in less than two months. Northeast Ohio tax preparer sentenced on IRS fraud Part of Hotel Cleveland is going to be telling the story of Cleveland. So were going to tell the story of Cleveland over the last 105 years and were going to use current experiences that our guests have to continue to tell that story According to McGee, renovations are about 80% done. The hotel will have 491 guest rooms with 50 suits and just over 60,000 square feet of meeting space. In its century-plus existence, Renaissance Cleveland has gone by several names, including Sheraton Cleveland in the 1960s. Thats when the Grand Ballroom opened. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Republican Representative Ken Buck went on the attack against his colleagues on Wednesday night, revealing to CNN that House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and House Oversight Chair James Comer had both been warned ahead of time that the story sold by their primary witness, Alexander Smirnov, was full of holes. Obviously, this witnessand we were warned at the time that we received the document outlining this witnesss testimonywe were warned that the credibility of this statement was not known, Buck told Kaitlin Collins on CNNs The Source. And yet people, my colleagues went out and talked to the public about how this was credible and how it was damning and how it proved President Bidensat the time Vice President Bidenscomplicity in receiving bribes, Buck continued. It appears to absolutely be false and to really undercut the nature of the charges. Weve always been looking for a link between what Hunter Biden received in terms of money and Joe Bidens activities or Joe Biden receiving money. This clearly is not a credible link at this point. In response to a point-blank question as to whether Comer and Jordan pushed the Burisma narrative knowing full well that Smirnovs claims were not corroborated, Buck said thats what it appears. I certainly didnt have any evidence outside the statement itself that it was credible, he added. And as a prosecutor for 25 years, Kaitlan, I never went to the public until I could prove the reliability of a statement. And even then, the only one public statement a prosecutor makes is the charging document. Lets see what the evidence is in this impeachment, if there is more evidence before going forward. The GOP impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden has crashed and burned in a spectacular way since its main witness, an informant who claimed Biden had pocketed millions of dollars from a Ukrainian oligarch, was indicted by the Department of Justice for lying to the FBI. Since then, Smirnov has reportedly admitted to law enforcement that top Russian intelligence officials were involved in the smear campaign against the sitting president. Regardless, Republicans are still scrambling to revive the probe. On Wednesday, Jordan insisted to reporters that Smirnovs indictment doesnt change the fundamental factsalthough, of course, those facts have now turned out to be Russia-baked lies. (Photo : ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images) US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents prepare for the handover of Honduran drug dealer Michael Derringer Powery by agents of the Honduran Police Special Forces for extradition to the United States, at the Honduran Air Force base in Tegucigalpa, 27 January 2023. On Wednesday, the US authorities charged the leader of a Japan-based crime syndicate conspired to traffic uranium and plutonium from Myanmar. The nuclear material came from an unidentified leader of an "ethnic insurgent group" that mined uranium in Myanmar. US Charges Japanese Mafia Leader Anne Milgram, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said that Takeshi Ebisawa and his co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri were involved in drug and weapon trafficking, offering uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons. "This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life," she said. According to US officials, Ebisawa is a senior leader in the international organized criminal organization Yakuza, which has operations in the US, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. Federal officials claimed that an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent, posing as a weapons and drug trafficker who had connections to an Iranian general, received the nuclear materials from Myanmar and brought them to Thailand. Furthermore, the officials allege that Ebisawa had suggested to the leader to sell uranium through him to buy deadly weapons, including the purchase of surface-to-air missiles from the general. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said it is chilling to imagine the consequences if these efforts succeeded. The two men were charged in 2022 with charges related to firearms offenses and international drug trafficking after a DEA sting operation. He will face life imprisonment if convicted of the latest charges. The recent charges were presented in a superseding indictment. On Thursday, the defendants will be arraigned in Manhattan federal court. Read Also: Prince William Weighs In on Israel-Hamas War: 'Too Many Have Been Killed' Honduras Former President Hernandez Faces Drug Trafficking Trial Meanwhile, the trial of former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez on drug trafficking charges in the US will start on Tuesday. A jury in New York will have the opportunity to decide whether Washington's former principal anti-drug ally controlled the Central American nation as a "narco-state." Hernandez lived close to Washington during his 2014-2022 tenure. Honduras received over $50 million in US anti-narcotics assistance during his administration and tens of millions more in security and military aid. He also gained support from former President Donald Trump for cracking down on migration. However, federal prosecutors in Manhattan accused him three months after he left the office of taking millions of dollars in bribes from cocaine traffickers in return for using his position to shield them. According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, he abused his authority to run the country as a "narco-state." That occurred about three years after his brother, the late congressman Tony Hernandez, was found guilty of drug-related offenses in the US and was given a life sentence. He has pleaded not guilty to three charges of conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of illegal weapons. Since his extradition in April 2022, he has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Related Article: Honduras Ex-President Faces Drug Trafficking Trial in US The 4 biggest mistakes tourists make in Times Square, according to a local This winter, I spent two days in one of New York City's biggest tourist spots: Times Square. I noticed people holding up traffic, not wearing proper footwear, and touching dirty surfaces. My advice? Check the weather! It will save you a lot of difficulties. I've been living in New York City for five years, and I grew up on Long Island, just 30 miles or so from Manhattan. But I try to avoid Times Square one of New York City's biggest tourist destinations as much as I can. However, this winter, I took a staycation there when I spent a night at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Resort. While there, I tried to put myself in the shoes of a tourist. I walked through Times Square, visited the M&M's store, the Disney store, and the Krispy Kreme flagship, and I ate a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. However, it was impossible to take the local out of me, and I couldn't help noting some of the mistakes I saw tourists making, from wearing improper footwear to touching some of the dirtiest surfaces available. Here are the four biggest mistakes I saw tourists make in Times Square. One of the most frequent mistakes I saw was people not dressing for the weather. Don't wear open-back shoes on a rainy wintery day! Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider As someone who has lived in New York City and New Orleans two cities with propensities to flood when it rains I'm begging visitors: Don't wear open-back shoes when it rains in New York City. Thinking about accidentally stepping into a puddle on the street and having it touch my bare skin gives me the shivers. You do not know what's in there. Additionally, this particular December day was freezing. The average temperature in the city last December was 44.6 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Don't sacrifice feeling in your feet for the perfect outfit. These pants would've looked just as cute with some socks and a pair of loafers. While it made sense to carry an umbrella during the rain, not everyone was mindful of the crowds. I had to dodge multiple sharp umbrella tips. Umbrellas can be a bit dangerous in a crowded street. Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider Walking around Times Square on a rainy evening can be a hazard in more ways than one, but dodging umbrellas had to be the most annoying part. On a normal day, around 380,000 people walk through Times Square, according to its website. Now, imagine all of those people holding umbrellas. People around me seemed to lose all spatial awareness when the umbrellas came out I saw multiple people's umbrellas crash into each other, and I had to duck or push myself up against a building to avoid getting stabbed in the eye by one. If you're going to use an umbrella in a crowd, do the polite thing and raise it high up in the air to avoid potential problems. I saw someone dragging their hand across the tops of multiple garbage cans as if they were playing with the rainwater. One word: Ew. Do not touch the garbage cans. Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider You might think this one goes without saying, but I wouldn't recommend playing with garbage cans in Times Square. Times Square is famously one of the grimier places in the city, so you can imagine how gross the garbage receptacles are. The dirt is even visible in this photo. Just because there's water on top doesn't mean it's clean. If you have to touch any high-contact surface in New York City, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, or at the very least, liberally apply hand sanitizer. I also saw multiple people standing in the middle of the streets some of the busiest in the city to take photos. Stopping traffic. Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider First things first: Taking photos in the middle of a street where thousands of cars pass through daily is a risk. Just because there's a red light doesn't mean every car will obey those rules. I was genuinely surprised to see how many people risked their safety to take a photo. We hear about tourists dying trying to take selfies do not become a statistic. Second: There are many places to take photos in Times Square that don't require standing in the middle of the street, blocking the road and people who are trying to cross. Go there instead! After my two days in Times Square, I'd recommend that any tourist be hyper-aware of their surroundings and check the forecast before leaving their hotel room. The crowds. Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider I understand why tourists flock to Times Square. It is, as they say, the crossroads of the world. But I couldn't wait to be at least 25 blocks away from the chaos and the noise when my staycation was over. I'll stick to heading to Times Square only for the theater in the future. Read the original article on Business Insider Menopause can have a profound impact on womens sex lives. A host of physical and emotional changes can cause libidos to drop, making sex unappealing or painful. A survey by the British Menopause Society found that 40-55 per cent of women reported a loss of sex drive, while its estimated that 8-45 per cent of women in midlife and beyond experience pain during sex. The majority of women I see have simply stopped having sex, says Dr Louise Newson, a GP and menopause. Theyre relieved to find theyre not the only one, but also that theres plenty we can do to improve the situation. Heres our guide to sex during the menopause. Perimenopause: what is it and how does it affect your sex life? Perimenopause is the extended transitional phase leading up to menopause, or the end of menstruation. For most women, it begins in their 40s, although it can start earlier and may last up to 10 years, until a year after their last period. Perimenopause varies greatly from one woman to the next. As ovarian function starts to decline, women often display an array of symptoms, usually starting with erratic or heavy periods. As they get closer to menopause, they may experience hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, muscle and joint pain and brain fog. During this time, so many things happen to women that can affect their sex lives, says Dr Shirin Lakhani, an intimate health expert specialising in menopause. Losing oestrogen leads to vaginal dryness and thinning of the tissue, so intercourse can be painful. Theres often also tiredness, anxiety, weight gain, not feeling like yourself, all of which can have an impact too. Whats happening to hormones during menopause? When women enter perimenopause, their oestrogen levels fluctuate, which is the reason periods often become erratic. Meanwhile, progesterone levels are the first to decline. The ovaries stop responding so well to the follicle-stimulating hormone, which is why women dont consistently ovulate and when they dont ovulate, they dont produce progesterone, explains Dr Alice Duffy, a former GP who runs Health in Menopause, a private clinic in Nottingham. Oestrogen is a get-up-and-go hormone, natures way of saying, Get out there and find someone to fertilise this egg, while progesterone is a calming, nurturing hormone designed to support new life if fertilisation has occurred. This decline in progesterone is why women often feel off-kilter during these years, she says anxious and less sure of themselves. Added to that is a sense of confusion caused by random surges of oestrogen that give women energy while they last but leave them exhausted when they end. Then, as women grow closer to actual menopause, oestrogen levels begin to decline more rapidly until post-menopause, when they are very low. Why sex can be painful during and after menopause As the ovaries produce less oestrogen, causing levels to drop dramatically, it can have a major impact on sexual function. It can lower desire and make it more difficult to become aroused, as well as to achieve orgasm even the clitoris can become less sensitive. The majority of menopausal women will develop symptoms related to vaginal dryness, says Newson. A lot of women have told me they find it extremely painful. The tissues of the vagina become much thinner and less elastic, which can also cause discomfort. The vagina can also shorten, so deep penetration can become particularly uncomfortable. This pain is one symptom of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM. Also known as vaginal atrophy, other symptoms include a burning sensation, itching, frequent urination and recurring urinary tract infections. Once menopause ends, most of the symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, will end too, but the lack of oestrogen means GSM symptoms continue and sex can remain painful for as long as women continue to have it. How to increase your sex drive during menopause Along with the physical factors affecting desire, many women also face emotional barriers. Menopause usually coincides with a time in womens lives when they already have so much on their plates: theyre juggling jobs and family responsibilities and often feel resentful towards their partners, which is one of the biggest killers of libido, says Duffy. A real barrier can come up between couples because women dont talk about what theyre experiencing, which can be misinterpreted as a loss of love and rejection. As a result, experts say open communication between partners is essential to build the foundation to reignite desire. If broaching the conversation between them feels too daunting, couples counselling can help. Trying to get enough sleep, eating well, exercising and cutting back on alcohol are crucial. Women can also consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which restores oestrogen and progesterone. HRT can help women sleep better, have more energy and feel less stressed, as well as addressing their vaginal symptoms, which makes them more likely to want sex, helps with arousal and also makes sex feel better when it happens, says Duffy. Some women choose to take systemic HRT, which enters the bloodstream via pills, patches and gels. Others opt for vaginal oestrogen, a topical treatment gels, creams or pessaries applied in the genital area with very little absorption into the bloodstream, making it the lowest-risk form of HRT and a good option for women who are unable to take it in a systemic form due to personal or family medical history. One in five women who use HRT will use both to get their symptoms under control, says Duffy. But for those who only want to use local vaginal oestrogen, its really effective at getting rid of the vaginal symptoms. Finding and talking to a doctor you trust is the starting point to discovering the right treatment path. Duffy adds: If women come back to us and say they no longer have issues with vaginal dryness but they still have no interest in sex, well look at whether they want to try testosterone too. How to make sex more comfortable during and after menopause Were living longer now, and many people want to continue having sex long after menopause, says Lakhani, a speaker at the Pause Live! 2023 conference, an event dedicated to the menopause. I saw a patient in her 80s recently who wanted to carry on having sex with her husband. If you still want to do it, there shouldnt be a limit. For women who cant or dont want to take HRT, there are plenty of options to help make sex more pleasurable which can also be used by those who do opt for HRT. Duffy recommends using a gentle, unperfumed moisturiser on the skin of the vulva and the delicate tissues inside the vagina. She says Yes and Sylk, both of which are available on the NHS, are particularly good since they are designed to match the vaginal environment and dont contain any of the chemicals typically found in vaginal moisturisers, For sex, lubricants are crucial, but again Duffy suggests choosing carefully: A lot work by taking moisture from the vaginal wall into the vaginal canal, which will actually leave it drier. Brands such as Sutil dont do this and also have a balanced pH that wont dry or irritate skin. Duffy suggests that her patients browse the Jo Divine website, which was founded by former nurse Samantha Evans and features only sex toys and lubricants that are skin-friendly and irritant-free, as well as a wealth of information about sex during and after menopause. I recommend that women experiment with toys on their own at first to get that pleasure element back for themselves, she says. Orgasms are fantastic for overall health: very good for sleep, stress, lowering blood pressure and improving the blood supply to the pelvis to keep those tissues healthy. Start to engage with your sexual function on your own and then its much easier to share that with your partner. Recommended Why orgasms are good for your health 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. Farmers have been protesting since 13 February, demanding floor pricing for their crops Social media major X (formerly Twitter) has admitted to taking down accounts and posts related to the ongoing farmers' protests in India. The site has claimed it took down the pages after the Indian government sent them "executive orders". The orders were "subject to potential penalties, including imprisonment", X said in a statement, adding that it "disagreed with these actions". X's clarification was shared on their official handle @GlobalAffairs. Several activists had earlier complained about their posts being removed. X user and Indian journalist Mohammed Zubair wrote on Monday that "many influential X accounts" of reporters, influencers and prominent farm unionists covering farmers' protest in India were "suspended". Mandeep Punia, a journalist, told the BBC that his account and that of his news platform - Gaon Savera - have been withheld. "We are professional journalists covering rural India. We are reporting from the ground and the government doesn't want that. The government is blocking our voice, but equally this also affects our livelihood, our means of earning a living," he said In its clarification, X said the accounts and posts were being withheld in India alone "in compliance with the orders". It, however, added that the platform did not agree with the government action and maintained that "freedom of expression should extend to these posts". The platform also said it had legally challenged the government's "blocking orders", without specifying which court they had petitioned. India's main opposition Congress party has criticised the government for the clampdown, accusing it of trying to silence dissenting voices in a democratic country. Several X handles too have criticised the government for shutting down critical social media posts. The government has yet not responded to the X statement or the BBC's request for a response. Several farm unions in India have been on strike since 13 February seeking floor pricing, which is also called minimum support price, for their crops. The protesters have been attempting to march to India's capital, Delhi, from the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. But the authorities have heavily barricaded the city borders with barbed wire and cement blocks to stop them. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states, which are ruled by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have deployed a large number of police and paramilitary troops to stop the farmers from reaching Delhi. Opposition parties in India have lent their support to the farmers' protest Activists say farmers are a major voting bloc in India and the government does not want a protest spectacle - with farmers on tractors and other vehicles - on Delhi roads, especially with general elections due in the next few months. In 2020, the farmers had started a similar protest and hunkered down at Delhi's borders for months and the government does not want a repeat of that. While the government has held several rounds of talks with the unions to quell the protests, no consensus has been reached yet. On Wednesday, a 22-year-old protester died during a reported standoff with Haryana police. Punjab state authorities told the BBC that the cause of death was a "bullet wound to the head". With additional reporting from Yogita Limaye Read more India stories from the BBC: A Nihang, or a Sikh warrior, rides a horse during a farmers' to demand minimum crop prices near India's Punjab-Haryana state border (Narinder NANU) Indian Sikh warriors, some on horseback, gathered Thursday to protect protesting farmers stalled by fearsome police barricades from advancing on the capital New Delhi to demand higher crop prices. "The farmers' leaders believe that solution is through talks but the police attack us at the same time," said Daljeet Singh, a farmer from Gurdaspur in India's north. Thousands of farmers on tractors launched what they have dubbed "Delhi Chalo", or "March to Delhi", last week to demand a law to fix a minimum price for their crops, in addition to other concessions including the waiving of loans. Protesters have defied repeated efforts to disperse them, vowing to push through a fearsome blockade of metal spikes and concrete barricades erected to halt their progress. "No farmer, no food," one protester scrawled on a concrete barrier. However, the farmers remain blocked by the barricades and by barrages of tear gas fired or dropped by drones when they try to come close. -'People who are oppressed' - Alongside the farmers, hundreds of Nihangs -- a centuries-old warrior group renowned for their bravery in defending the Sikh faith -- have come to guard the demonstration. "We are with the people who are oppressed, even if that means we die," said Rann Fateh Singh, dressed in sweeping purple robes and a high turban that mark him out as a Nihang. The Nihangs patrol the barricades near the small village of Shambhu, where the farmers have been stalled, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of New Delhi. The protests echo similar ones in January 2021, when farmers used their tractors to smash through barriers and rolled into New Delhi on Republic Day during their then year-long protest. This time around, their hundreds of tractors have been halted by concrete blocks and rolls of razor wire. The demonstrations come ahead of national elections likely to start in April. Two-thirds of India's 1.4 billion people draw their livelihoods from agriculture, accounting for nearly a fifth of the country's GDP. But farm incomes have remained largely stagnant for the past few decades and the sector is in dire need of investment and modernisation. Women farmers have also turned out among the thousands of men. "Our demands are not illegal. We had announced that we want to go to Delhi peacefully... but the government has behaved as if we are people from an enemy state," 56-year-old Sukhwinder Kaur said. "We will not go back." ash/pjm/pbt Imagine Libs of TikTok, but created by a state government to pillory public school teachers. Thats the gist of a new project launched by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, who has created a portal called Eyes on Education that encourages members of the public to tattle on teachers they believe are pushing so-called woke content on kids. Eyes on Education enables self-styled whistleblowers to submit evidence to the state of objectionable curricula, policies, or programs. And the site presents a selection of such content, organized by school district. The new state website asserts it is non-partisan, claiming to be interested in rooting out political ideology either left or right. But when he announced the launch of the portal earlier this month, Rokita made the bias of the project clear, insisting Eyes on Education exists to expose examples of socialist indoctrination in the classroom and seeks to highlight destructive teaching practices that divide kids from their parents and from what Rokita deems normal society. The vetting standards for the information posted to the site are not transparent. A disclosure reads simply, submissions to the portal will be reviewed and published regularly. So what examples of abnormal socialism are Rokita and his team publishing? They include a snapshot of a combination Black Lives Matter and Pride flag allegedly hung in a classroom in the rural community of Kokomo; a slide deck about implementing a gender support plan for trans students in Hamilton, an Indianapolis suburb; and an Indianapolis schools reading list for parents, suggesting books about white privilege and anti-racism. Filed under Franklin Community Schools, Eyes on Education presents a panicky, 164-page PDF file composed of page after page of no-context screen grabs on which liberal buzzwords have been highlighted in yellow and/or circled in red. This includes screen grabs from YouTube transcripts where a superintendent mentions the words black lives matter or references diversity and inclusion. The supposedly objectionable material includes a screenshot of a social media post by Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter Bernice, in which she writes: There is no form of protest against racism or method of teaching about racism that will be palatable to racists. (The word racists has been highlighted.) Yet Eyes on Education goes further than that raising questions whether the true aim isnt to target individual state educators. One document posted to the site and reviewed by Rolling Stone contains personally identifying details of instructors, including email address and phone numbers, effectively doxing these professionals, and opening them up to public harassment. Concerned community members are outed, too. A grandmother from Mooresville complains about trans students being able to select the bathroom of their choice. The unredacted letter carries the complainants name, address, email, and home telephone number. (Adding to the oddity: This complaint was sent to the AGs office a year ago, and theres no indication the sender intended for it to be posted publicly.) Rokita did not respond to an interview request. Despite the overt political messaging by the attorney general, a spokesperson tells Rolling Stone: We cant stress enough that the portal is not intended to push a particular political agenda or ideology. The spokesperson adds: If our office receives some real right-wing material, and we validate it as actually a lesson plan or policy from a school well put that on the website too. Asked what the project is costing Hoosier taxpayers, the spokesperson insisted, implausibly: The portal cost $0 to put together. Rokita, a far-right Republican, previously served in the U.S. House, but failed in a 2018 bid to rise to the Senate. Instead he campaigned for attorney general in 2020, pledging to be a a watchdog against waste, fraud, corruption, and inefficiency in government. Rokita is a tryhard Trump supporter, tweeting just days after the U.S. Capitol insurrection in 2021 that he will always be for our President @realdonaldtrump. Rokita attracted national attention in 2022 for lambasting an OB-GYN who provided an abortion to a child rape victim who traveled to Indiana from Ohio. The attorney general has little explicit purview over the states system of public education, and Rokita has previously supported privatization of schooling through vouchers. But Rokita nonetheless has railed as attorney general against the garbage woke agenda being taught in Indiana schools. In an interview with a local TV station, Rokita touted Eyes on Education as an answer to leftwing nonsense and what he called trans-sanity. Rokitas pressure campaign against liberal teachers comes at a moment when the GOP-dominated state assembly has been passing laws targeting the LGBTQ community in Indiana schools, including a measure that bans human sexuality content being taught before third grade, and forces schools to alert parents if a student requests a different name or pronoun be used in class. (The state American Civil Liberties Union chapter campaigned against the measure, arguing it forces districts to out trans youth.) Eyes on Education has already been blasted in a joint statement signed by the presidents of several of Indianas largest teachers associations. They describe the portal as a dangerous farce that is being used to further Rokitas own political ideology. They accuse the attorney general of only posting submissions that dont align with his own political ideation the same thing the site claims to combat. They assert that the Rokita is weaponizing a government website for his personal benefit. The open letter calls Eyes on Education a violation of teacher privacy that engages in the intentional act of doxing. And it accuses Rokita of pushing manufactured outrage to target a profession that is being incessantly denigrated by the state government. The joint educators statement concludes, We call on the attorney general to take down the Eyes on Education portal immediately and cease the political and vicious attacks on Indiana teachers, adding: Hoosiers deserve better. Voters may be thinking the same thing about the top lawman in Indiana. Rokita was recently disciplined by the state Supreme Court for violating Indianas code of professional legal conduct. In November, he received a public reprimand for making prejudicial statements about a doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from out of state who had to seek care in Indiana after a 6-week abortion ban went into effect in Ohio. (Conservative commentators initially tried to debunk the true story as liberal exaggeration, but when facts turned against them, they pivoted to targeting the abortion provider.) Speaking to Jesse Watters on Fox News, Rokita called the OB-GYN an abortion activist acting as a doctor. In a signed affidavit settling the case, Rokita agreed to the discipline because I know that if this proceeding were prosecuted, I could not successfully defend myself. Rokita nonetheless continued to contest the issue in the court of public opinion. He soon released a combative statement blasting liberal activists for attempting to cancel him because, he said, they hate the fact I stand up for liberty. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone New leaders are taking the helm at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after the appointment of Christopher Bailey as police chief. The department recently announced two new assistant chiefs of police. Catherine Cummings and Michael Wolley, who were both deputy chiefs with the department, have been promoted to assistant chief positions. In interviews Wednesday with Indystar, Cummings and Wolley answered questions about their backgrounds and goals for their new positions. The questions and the assistant chiefs responses have been edited for brevity and clarity. More: IMPD's new Chief Christopher Bailey talks recruiting, technology and priorities in new Q&A New assistant chief Cummings has focused on mental health issues in city previously IMPD Assistant Chief Catherine Cummings Cummings has been with IMPD for around 25 years, working in nearly every area of the police department. She worked as a uniform officer, homicide detective, department spokesperson and supervised young officers in the East District. Cummings also helped develop the Behavioral Health Unit/Mobile Crisis Assistance Team (MCAT) programs. Cummings is a board member for Mental Health America of Indiana, Mental Health America of Indianapolis, and was a member of a planning committee that worked to open the Assessment and Intervention Center located at the Community Justice Campus in Indianapolis. She was the first woman appointed to major of the investigations division and served as a commander with the IMPD Training Academy. She was also the deputy chief of the training, policy and oversight division. Cummings will oversee IMPDs administrative functions, its training programs, community outreach, recruiting/retention efforts, and modernize its transparency processes in her new role. What keeps you motivated, especially with the many challenges of a law enforcement job?: Cummings: This is a challenging job. This is a hard job, but that doesn't change the fact that it's an important job. There are times where it's a fun job. It constantly keeps me fresh and, on my toes, and ensures that I'm looking to make sure we are doing best practices and improving. I believe fully and completely in this job. We do need good, motivated people to continue to want to do this job. That's what keeps me going and I love Indianapolis. We have so many good people who live here and who deserve to live in a safe community. What goals do you have in mind as you take on new position? Cummings: As our new chief said last week, it's the job of everybody on the department to continue to drive down violent crime and to recruit new people to come into the agency and to retain the people we do have. Of course, those are my goals too. My goal is to help our new chief with his modernization of our policies and our technology and the continued modernization of our training. I also want to increase transparency of the department. Part of my responsibilities will be developing two new areas structurally. More: IMPD's new Chief Christopher Bailey talks recruiting, technology and priorities in new Q&A One of those involves developing a formal strategic plan for the police department. It will help us to finalize and firm up our identity, so our officers feel that we are all working toward that same common goal, and they know what that goal is. Another one of the new tasks that I've been given is to streamline and standardize our technology, data and transparency area. We will have to decide how all of that will look and how it can be modernized. We want to make it easier for the citizens to get the data requests they want, and they can know their police department hopefully at the push of a button. Why is it important for someone with background work in mental health issues to be in your position at the department? Cummings: Finally, as a society and as an agency, we are able to talk openly about mental health and mental health challenges. Unfortunately, a lot of people who are experiencing challenges with their mental health may not be connected with the proper resources they need. We have finally come to that realization that a lot of runs are not necessarily public safety or violations of the law, but a lot of them are people struggling and need our help. We may not be the best resource, but a lot of times are the first resource. We've worked very hard in the city to make more resources available and educate our officers as to what to look for to identify someone struggling with mental health. We are continuing to improve upon that and expand our resources and really open up those avenues for people who need help finding the right help. More: City details new crisis response team for mental health calls without police We've done an awesome job training our officers and having an awareness of it and hopefully we are doing a better job in directing people away from the jail and away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and resources. It's very much engrained in our agency already, but then me being in this position I'm just able to continue that progress for our agency and get the people in our community who are struggling the help they need. Wolley worked on youth violence issues in the city before appointment to assistant chief IMPD Assistant Chief Michael Wolley Wolley joined IMPD in 2006 and started as a patrol officer in the Northwest District, staying in that role until 2011. He has also worked as a youth violence reduction team detective, community affairs officer and recruiter. Wolley was promoted to sergeant in 2006 in the North District then promoted to executive officer to the north district commander. Indianapolis crime news 'A people person': Gary bartender, pub owner killed in shooting at Indy Waffle House In 2018, Wolley was promoted to lieutenant overseeing the departments public affairs office then he was named the North District commander. By 2021, Wolley attained the merit rank of captain. He took on the role of deputy chief of operations responsible for the oversight of the patrol and special operations division last year. He also served as a member of the crisis negotiations unit for five years. What keeps you motivated, especially with the many challenges of a law enforcement job?: Wolley: This is where my heart is at. This job allows the intersection of my purpose and passion. What I mean by that is I feel like I belong here. Our mission is simple and that's providing safety for our citizens. With that, comes some challenges, but nothing that we can't overcome. I have a passion for people. It's a place where I feel at home and comfortable. What goals do you have in mind as you take on the new position? Wolley: Coming from the operations world, my focus was our officers had the equipment they needed and were pushing the mission forward to reduce crime. At the end of the day, there are just some fundamental must-do things. We've got to figure out a way to continue reducing crime, developing our workforce so we can supply the best services possible for our citizens, but also engaging our community and having conversations. We do a really good job engaging the people that want to be engaged by us. The challenge I'd like to put out there is how can we get into those rooms where people may not be as receptive. That's where we really need to make lasting relationships. As a former youth violence reduction team detective, what can the department do to reduce youth violence in the city? Wolley: I think it's something that we all have to focus on, to include the community. There's no doubt about it that our teens and juveniles are becoming more and more active. We need to figure out creative ways of engaging them. We need to figure out in a hurry how we stop some of the conflict and violence that's going on. More: Stories of rising Indy youth violence 'shock the conscience.' But not everyone has given up I attribute a lot to just how large this world is but how social media makes it so small. When I was growing up, I didn't have the pressures of social media where anything I did could be put on display with a video. These kids are navigating a world where any mistake they make can be amplified. Any beef or conflict they have can be amplified. It's really figuring out and partnering with entities that have that ability to provide some coping for these kids with the issues they are facing. Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police: IMPD's new leaders talk mental health, youth violence X, formerly Twitter, is once again restricting content in India. The company's Global Government Affairs account announced that the Indian government had issued an executive order mandating that X withhold specific accounts and posts or face penalties such as "significant fines and imprisonment." X further stated that it doesn't agree with the order and is challenging it. The designated posts and accounts will only be blocked within India, however, there's no clear list of those affected. "Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders, but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency," the Global Government Affairs post stated. "This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making." X claims to have notified all affected parties. The posts likely center around the ongoing farmers' protest, which, since February 13, has seen multiple farmers' unions on strike in a bid to get floor pricing, or a minimum support price, for crops sold. Violent clashes between protesters and police have already resulted in at least one death, AP News reports. Mohammed Zubair, an Indian journalist and co-founder of Alt News, shared purported screenshots of suspended accounts belonging to individuals critical of the current government, on-the-ground reporters, prominent farm unionists, and more. This forced blocking is far from the first incident between X and India. In 2022, X sued the Indian government for "arbitrarily and disproportionately" applying its IT laws passed the year prior. The law required the company to hire a point of contact for the local authorities and a domestic compliance officer. Prior to this concession, in early 2021, the Indian government had threatened to jail X's employees if posts about the then occurring farmers' protest stayed live on the site. Shortly after, the country mandated that X remove content criticizing its COVID-19 response. India dismissed X's suit in June 2023, claiming the company didn't properly explain why it had ever delayed complying with the country's IT laws. The court also fined X 5 million rupees ($60,300), stating, "You are not a farmer but a billon dollar company." The order followed shortly after Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey claimed that India had threatened to raid employees' homes and shut down the site if the company hadn't taken down posts during the farmers' protest. The United States defended Israel's occupation of the West Bank by urging the United Nation's highest court not to order Jerusalem to immediately withdraw its troops from the region. American authorities argued that Israel is currently facing 'very real security needs." The development comes a day after the U.S. issued its third veto in response to a ceasefire resolution in Gaza at the United Nations Security Council. It was a vote that drew scrutiny from nations and aid groups. Israel's Occupation of the West Bank The United States' latest show of support for Israel was also seen at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. That was where Richard C. Visek, the acting legal adviser at the U.S. State Department urged a 15-judge panel not to call for Israel's immediate withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory. The American official said that only the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that is "living safely and securely alongside" Israel could result in lasting peace in the region. This was a repeat of a longstanding U.S. position. However, the prospect of such an idea appears elusive amid the ongoing Gaza war, as per the New York Times. Visek said that the conflict cannot be resolved through violence or unilateral actions, adding that negotiations are the path to a lasting peace. The UN's highest court is hearing six days of arguments over the legality of Israel's occupation of the West Bank as well as other Palestinian-majority territories. The matter has been the subject of years of debates and resolutions at the UN. The latest hearings, which involve more than 50 countries, were called long before the start of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. However, they have become an integral part of the effort to stop the conflict. As the world court's judges listened to arguments in the stately wood-paneled courtroom in the Netherlands, the dynamics of the occupation of Israel were playing out on the ground in the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday following an overnight raid conducted by the Israeli military. Read Also: Israel: Lawmakers Backs PM Benjamin Netanyahu's Proposal To Reject 'Unilateral' Recognition of Palestinian State Defending Israel's Efforts Amid the hearing, speakers from South Africa and Saudi Arabia as well as others have demanded that Israel end its occupation of the Palestinian territories. Visek said that the world was reminded of Israel's security needs following the Hamas militant group's attack on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Aljazeera. Jerusalem then responded to the assault by launching an operation into the Gaza Strip that has so far killed more than 29,000 Palestinians. Additionally, the war has displaced more than 80% of the population of the region and reduced large parts of the territory to rubble. The ICJ is expected to issue its opinion on the matter by the summer and the UN court's decision could have a far-reaching political and legal impact if it deems the occupation to be illegal. For example, it could have implications for governments that try to ban boycot campaigns aimed at products that are made in the occupied territories. Additionally, it could increase geopolitical costs to the U.S. and the UK in continuing to defend Israel internationally, said The Guardian. Related Article: Iran Sends 400 Ballistic Missiles to Russia Capable of Short-Range Attacks PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) A man was arrested after shooting at a U-Haul truck and leading Fairfax County and Prince William County police on a chase. On Feb. 20 around 7:15 p.m., officers from the Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) responded to the 8000 block of Sudley Rd. in Manassas to investigate reports of gunshots being fired. It was found out that 30-year-old Vinzel Brown, of Washington, D.C., had shot at an unoccupied U-Haul truck parked in the area. He tried to get away in a car when officers arrived but couldnt so he ran away on foot. Baseball star shares journey from diamond to serving time to Hagerstown prison inmates An officer, K-9 officer and a Fairfax County Police Department helicopter searched the area for Brown until he surrendered himself without further incident. While investigating, a gun and illegal narcotics were found and seized. PWCPD said Brown was determined to be under the influence. PWCPD said no injuries were reported and Brown was arrested. He was charged with the following: Reckless handling of a firearm Brandishing Obstruction of justice Driving under the influence Three counts of possession with intent to distribute a schedule I/II narcotic Possession of a schedule I/II narcotic Possession of a firearm with scheduled narcotics Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon Possession of a firearm with an altered serial number For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A total of 19,609 Iowans have requested the presidential preference cards theyll need to participate in the Iowa Democratic Partys first-ever mail-in presidential caucus, party officials said Thursday. The deadline to request the cards, which function like normal election ballots, was Feb. 19. Party leaders said the final batch of preference cards will be mailed out to Iowa Democrats on Monday and should arrive in mailboxes within 24 hours. The cards must be returned to the state party or postmarked by March 5 in order to count. Results will be announced that day, which is known as Super Tuesday, at a to-be-determined time. More: Iowa Democrats can make their presidential pick in the 2024 mail-in caucus. How it works: Party officials said they will store returned cards in a secure location in the lead up to March 5, and they will begin tabulating them around March 1. Although Democratic President Joe Biden has not faced a significant challenge in his run for a second term here in Iowa, two other names also will appear on Iowans cards: author Marianne Williamson and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota. Iowa Democrats also can choose to say they are uncommitted to any of the candidates. Williamson has since suspended her campaign. An image of what the Iowa Democrats' mail-in presidential preference cards look like. Cards are due back March 5, when results will be announced. The change to a mail-in caucus on Super Tuesday follows a protracted battle with the Democratic National Committee, which voted last year to replace Iowa at the front of the presidential nominating calendar. For the first time since 1972, Iowa Democrats have not held that lead-off spot, instead ceding the honor to South Carolina. When Republicans met to caucus for president earlier this year, Democrats also gathered, but only to conduct party business. They chose instead to move to an entirely absentee system for casting presidential preferences. They said it would be a way to improve access and participation in the contests, which historically draw far less people than a traditional primary. More: The death of the Iowa Democratic caucus: How 50 years of jury-rigging doomed an American tradition Unlike a primary, the Democrats' previous in-person caucuses required Iowans to show up at 7 p.m. on a Monday night, creating barriers for those with child care needs, mobility issues, jobs that require evening work and more. They have said they hope the move to a mail-in caucus will eliminate some of those participation barriers and lead to a more robust caucus electorate. Turnout numbers have traditionally been difficult to pin down for Democrats, who until recently did not release raw vote totals for each contest, instead relying on a complex formula for state delegate equivalents. News reports differ on the total Democratic turnout in 2012, the last time an incumbent Democrat ran for president. But party officials peg the number at about 15,000. In 2020, the last time Republicans ran an incumbent president, about 32,000 people participated. That year, then-Republican President Donald Trumps reelection campaign made a concerted effort to drive up turnout, even though the race was uncontested. The Iowa Democratic Party said in a statement the group is hoping to set the standard for future success in more competitive election cycles. "Its been an absolute pleasure seeing the response weve had to our new Presidential Preference Card process, the statement said. While its clear that President Biden will be our nominee, its important Iowa Democrats participate in our mail-in caucus so that we can set ourselves up for success in 2028 and beyond. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How many Iowa Democrats requested mail-in presidential caucus forms The flood barrier cost 67m to build and will protect 1,600 homes A viewing area for a town's flood barrier has opened - five years after it was built. The 67m tidal defence barrier in Ipswich was completed in February 2019, alongside a public view point at New Cut East. The area, owned by the Environment Agency, had since remained closed for undisclosed reasons. Project executive Andrew Osborne said the agency was "delighted" to see it open to the public. "The space was created as part of the tidal project, which protects more than 1,600 homes and 400 business from flooding, and benefits from seating and river views," he said. The viewing platform overlooks the River Orwell The Environment Agency paid 80% of the costs of the project, which was opened by Suffolk Coastal Conservative MP Therese Coffey, and will defend the town from tidal surges up the River Orwell The viewing platform has been named Griffin Wharf. Associated British Ports (ABP), which manages the Port of Ipswich, said the area would allow everyone to see the barrier close up and enjoy views of the Orwell Bridge. Paul Ager, divisional port manager at ABP, said: "We are pleased to have been able to support the safe opening of Griffin Wharf." He said temporary fencing ensured safe public access to the area, but that ABP was "actively engaging" with partners to implement a permanent fencing solution. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 Semafor Signals Insights from The Jerusalem Post, The National, and CNN The News Truce talks between Israel and Hamas have reached a critical juncture, according to media reports, amid renewed negotiations that included U.S. officials in Cairo. Hamas may be softening on some of their demands, Israeli outlet Ynetnews reported, and Benny Gantz, a hardline member of Israels war cabinet, said there were promising early signs of progress on the deal. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Hamas may be easing off due to outside pressure Source: The Jerusalem Post Hamas is under increasing pressure from allied organizations at home and abroad to end the war, one analyst told Israeli media. While the militant group might be unwilling to ease off on some of its truce requests, the leadership of the Iran-backed Hezbollah has been pushing Hamas to renegotiate, Arab affairs analyst Jacky Hugi said. Hezbollah, for their part, think that they have exhausted this war, but they cannot stop [Hamas] initiative, he explained. In recent weeks Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and other top officials have asked Hamas to consolidate and ease off on some of its demands such as the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel, Hugi added. Negotiations in critical phase Source: The National A Palestinian source told The National that the negotiations have reached a critical phase, with four members of Israels Mossad spy agency arriving in Cairo to continue the talks on Wednesday. But Israel might be trying to force Hamas hand, rather than agree to truce terms, the source said: The Israeli side is trying to evade its obligation to a truce by threatening to invade Rafah and pressuring the Palestinians through raids and starvation. Earlier this week, Hamas abandoned its demand for a permanent ceasefire, instead saying that it would accept a temporary ceasefire in order for the two sides to carry out a prisoner exchange. Mediators are hopeful that this change of heart will mean a deal can be reached: I believe we stand a very good chance of reaching a deal this time round, a source close to the negotiations told The National. Race against time as negotiators try to secure deal before Ramadan Source: CNN Israeli officials have said they plan to carry out a ground campaign in the crowded city of Rafah by Ramadan if hostages are not released. Rafah is currently sheltering about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Any military operations there would upend negotiations, sources close to the discussions told CNN: If theres an operation against Rafah, we can forget about a deal happening, they said. Negotiators are racing to ensure that a truce is agreed before the Muslim holy month begins but mediators arent hopeful that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will agree to one. He has repeatedly decried Hamas demands as delusional, campaigning instead for a total victory over the militant group. By Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams RAFAH, Gaza Strip/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel will send negotiators on Friday to truce talks in Paris, Israeli media said, as Gazans hoped for a ceasefire that could hold off a full-blown Israeli assault on Rafah, after it endured one of its worst bombardments of the conflict. Israel's Channel 12 television reported on Thursday that the war cabinet approved sending negotiators, led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, to Paris for talks on a potential deal to free more than 100 hostages whom Palestinian militant group Hamas is believed to be holding. The head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has been in Egypt this week in the strongest sign in weeks that negotiations remain alive. Earlier Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement, "We will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators" while preparing to continue intense ground operations. In the night to Thursday, Israeli bombing flattened a mosque and destroyed homes in Rafah in a fierce surge of violence in the city where over half of the Gaza's 2.3 million people are huddled, mostly in tents. In Khan Younis, the territory's principal battlefield since Israel launched an assault on the city last month, Israeli forces raided Nasser Medical Complex, shortly after withdrawing from it, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said. The World Health Organization had said earlier it aimed to evacuate some of the roughly 140 patients stranded there, where Palestinian officials said bodies of dead patients had begun to decompose amid power cuts and fighting. Israel gave no immediate comment. In Rafah, mourners wept over at least seven corpses in body bags, laid on cobbles outside a morgue. "They took the people I love, they took a piece of my heart," wailed Dina al-Shaer, whose brother and his family were killed in an overnight strike. Gaza health authorities said 97 people were confirmed killed and 130 wounded in the last 24 hours of Israeli assaults, but many more victims were still under rubble. They later said a bombardment in the central Gaza Strip killed a further 23 people. Rafah's al-Farouk mosque was flattened into slabs of concrete, and the facades of adjacent buildings were blasted away. Authorities said four houses had been struck in the south of the city and three in the centre. Residents said the bombing was the heaviest since an Israeli raid on the city 10 days ago that freed two hostages and killed scores of civilians. "We couldn't sleep, the sounds of explosions and planes roaring overhead didn't stop," said Jehad Abuemad, 34, who lives with his family in a tent. "We could hear children crying in nearby tents, people here are desperate and defenceless." The head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) told the United Nations Security Council in New York that children who survive the war will not only bear the visible wounds of traumatic injuries, but the invisible ones too. "These psychological injuries have led children as young as five to tell us that they would prefer to die," said Christopher Lockyear. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas militants who control the territory stormed through Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Since then, nearly 30,000 people have been confirmed killed in Gaza, according to health authorities, with thousands more feared dead, unrecovered under ruins. PEACE TALKS Israel has threatened to launch a full-blown attack on Rafah, the last city at Gaza's southern edge, despite international pleas - including from its main ally Washington - for restraint. Residents who have fled to Rafah from elsewhere say there is nowhere left to go. Meanwhile, an already meagre aid flow has almost completely dried up. Talks to reach a ceasefire failed two weeks ago, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a counteroffer from Hamas for a four-and-a-half month truce that would end with an Israeli withdrawal. Hamas, still believed to be holding more than 100 hostages, says it will not free them unless Israel agrees to end fighting and withdraw. Israel says it will not pull out until Hamas is eradicated. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters that Israel was now backtracking on terms the country had accepted weeks ago in a ceasefire offer hammered out with U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators. "The occupation is not interested in achieving any agreement," he said, accusing Netanyahu of ignoring the issue of freeing captives in a prisoner swap. "All he is concerned about is continuing the execution of Palestinians in Gaza." There was no immediate response from Israeli officials. Netanyahu has said he would not agree to Hamas' "delusional demands", but that if the group were to show flexibility progress would be possible. In one of the first indications of how Israel sees Gaza being run after the war, a senior Israeli official said Israel was looking for Palestinians with no links to either Hamas or the rival Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank, to set up a civil administration in "humanitarian pockets" of Gaza. "We're looking for the right people to step up to the plate," the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head." The plan was dismissed by Palestinians, including both Hamas and the umbrella Palestinian Liberation Organisation of its main rivals, as an unworkable formula for Israeli occupation. (Reporting by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa in Rafah, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Peter Graff, Alexandra Hudson; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Cynthia Osterman) US President Joe Biden expressed his support for the candidacy of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ahead of its 75th anniversary summit in Washington in July. A US official revealed to Politico on the condition of anonymity that Biden's support for Rutte's bid to the Western defense bloc would likely sway more allies to get on board after months of discussion on who should succeed Jens Stoltenberg upon the expiry of his term this October. Biden has yet to reveal his decision on the matter publicly. Earlier, it was reported that two-thirds of NATO countries backed Rutte's nomination. Stoltenberg has been serving as NATO boss since 2014 and has steadily navigated the bloc through a complex decade in transatlantic politics. Under NATO rules, the secretary-general has to be decided by unanimous consent, meaning that - just like decisions on whether to admit countries into the alliance - all 31 member nations would have to agree on who should become NATO boss. This also meant that Rutte had to get through Turkey and Hungary, who have since made a dogged defiance in admitting Sweden into the bloc. Read Also: Dutch Government Collapse: PM Mark Rutte to Leave Politics After November's General Elections Race for NATO's Top Job Rutte is not the only one expressing interest in becoming the next NATO secretary-general, as Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins. However, both Baltic politicians have yet to declare their candidacies. If Rutte becomes NATO boss, he would be put on a collision course with Russia, which the alliance has been seeking to oppose since its invasion of Ukraine. He would also have to deal with Republican Party skepticism and Donald Trump if he ever returns to the White House after an election in November. Despite this, the Dutch premier did not discuss his NATO bid during the Munich Security Conference, saying he had learned his lesson in October when he suggested that he was interested in the job. It was previously reported that Rutte had been criticized for his government's poor defense spending, prompting Trump also to make a threat not to support NATO countries not doing enough to spend on its defense industries, a remark Stoltenberg has since criticized. "I made the mistake in October talking about, 'I might be interested in that role' and then that mushrooms," he told reporters in Munich last week. "I shouldn't have done that, so I decided not to talk about that anymore." Meanwhile, Dutch Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Onno Eichelsheim said Rutte would "very likely" get the top job. Related Article: New NATO Chief Front-Runner Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Faces Criticism Over Poor Defense Spending Jerusalem Three Palestinian gunmen opened fire early Thursday morning near a busy checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, killing one Israeli and wounding at least eight others, according to Israeli police. The police said two attackers were killed at the scene and the third was later found and arrested. Tension between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank has soared since Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel sparked the ongoing war in the other Palestinian territory, the Gaza Strip, which has been ruled by Hamas for almost two decades. Israel's National Security Minister, ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir, visiting the scene declared that Israelis' "right to our lives prevails on their [Palestinians] freedom of movement." Members of the Zaka Search and Rescue team clean blood stains off a car after a shooting attack in Ma'aleh Adumim, West Bank, Feb. 22, 2024. / Credit: Amir Levy/Getty He suggested that officials "need to distribute more weapons" to Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank whose very presence is illegal under international law but strongly supported by Ben-Gvir and other members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government. Hamas issued a statement lauding "the heroic operation south of occupied Jerusalem," calling the attack near the West Bank checkpoint "a natural response to the occupation's massacres and crimes in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank." Support for Hamas in the West Bank has increased significantly since the war in Gaza began, and that devastating war appeared nowhere near easing on Thursday. Reports from the Gaza Strip suggest Israel has intensified its bombardment of the southern part of the decimated enclave in recent days. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health says almost 30,000 people have been killed in the territory since the war began. It does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties, but according to United Nations agencies, a majority of the dead have been women and children. The health ministry said Thursday that Israeli strikes over the last 24 hours alone had killed 97 people from nine families and left 132 others wounded. Netanyahu has ordered the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for a ground incursion into the large southern Gaza city of Rafah, right on the territory's southern border with Egypt. Around 1.5 million Palestinians have crammed into the city and its immediate surroundings seeking sheltering from the war raging all around. A view of devastation after Israeli attacks destroyed the Al-Farooq Mosque completely and heavily damaged nearby buildings in Rafah, Gaza, Feb. 22, 2024. / Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu/Getty The town of Khan Younis, only about five miles north of Rafah, has been the scene of intense fighting for weeks, pushing more civilians to flee south toward the Egyptian border, where living conditions are dire and getting worse by the day. The IDF said Thursday that it was continuing to "engage and kill terrorists and destroy terrorist infrastructure in the area of Khan Younis." Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday 7-year-old girl dies after beach hole collapsed on her and her brother Haley defies calls from Trump to drop out of 2024 race Displaced Palestinian children are given food at a government school in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip - MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/GETTY Israel is looking for Palestinians to run humanitarian pockets in Gaza where Hamas is no longer present, as part of a test run for the territorys post-war future. Were looking for the right people to step up to the plate. But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head, a senior Israeli official told Reuters. The right people are those not affiliated with Hamas or the recent violence in any way, or anybody on the payroll of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, according to Reuters. Anyone who took part in, or even failed to condemn, October 7 is ruled out, the official added. Local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza under the Israeli plan - Abed Zagout/Anadolu/Getty Images A local Israeli TV channel reported that talks were under way with unnamed people in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City. Local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid while the Israeli military would provide peripheral security, Channel 12 claimed. Plan to deradicalise Gaza Channel 12 said the plan also included an overhaul of school educational material, which Israel has long claimed incites hatred against Israel and Jews, as part of Benjamin Netanyahus plan to deradicalise Gaza. Hamas pushed back on the reported plans, telling Reuters that it would be tantamount to Israel resettling Gaza, which it left in 2005. We are confident this project is pointless and is a sign of confusion and it will never succeed, Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, said. It is the most detailed proposal to emerge so far about how Israel sees Gaza being run once the current fighting is over. Revitalised Palestinian Authority The United States has called for a revitalised Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza after the war. But Mr Netanyahu has ruled out letting the PA take control of Gaza, insisting that Israel maintain security control with all territory west of the Jordan river. Yoav Gallant, defence minister, presented his plan for Gaza last month, stressing that Israel will not be in control of civil matters and wont resettle the enclave. However, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, both of whom represent far-Right parties in the government, have called on Israel to reoccupy Gaza and encourage the emigration of Palestinians. 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. Smoke billows over the south Lebanon village of Blida following an Israeli bombardment (Jalaa MAREY) At least two Hezbollah fighters were killed and three others wounded in an Israeli drone strike on a residential building in south Lebanon on Thursday, a security source said. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its arch-foe Israel have been exchanging near-daily fire across the border since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7. An Israeli drone shot two guided missiles at the building in Kfar Rumman, near south Lebanon's Nabatiyeh, the security source said, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to brief the media. Kfar Rumman lies around 12 kilometres (seven miles) from the Israeli border. Hamas ally Hezbollah had claimed a series of attacks on Israeli troops and positions on Thursday, including one which it said was in response to "Israeli attacks on villages and civilian houses". The violence on Israel's northern border has sparked fears of another full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah like that of 2006. Since October, at least 273 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, most of them Hezbollah fighters but also including 42 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On the Israeli side, 10 soldiers and six civilians have been killed, according to the Israeli army. Last week, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed that Israel would pay "with blood", after 10 civilians, including seven members of one family, were killed in Lebanon's largest single-day death toll so far. Five Hezbollah fighters were also killed. On Wednesday, an Israeli strike killed a woman and a girl, prompting retaliatory fire from Hezbollah. str/lar-lg/kir By IbraheemAbu Mustafa, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jonathan Landay RAFAH, Gaza Strip/CAIRO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israel will take part in negotiations this weekend in Paris with the U.S., Qatar and Egypt on a potential deal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, according to a source briefed on the matter and Israeli media. The last talks on a ceasefire failed two weeks ago, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected as "delusional" a Hamas proposal for a 4-1/2 month truce that would end with an Israeli withdrawal. But the head of Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was in Egypt this week, in the strongest sign in weeks that negotiations remain alive. Israel's Channel 12 television reported on Thursday that the war cabinet had approved sending negotiators, led by the head of Mossad intelligence service David Barnea, to Paris on Friday for talks on a potential deal to free more than 100 hostages kidnapped from Israel in October whom Hamas is still believed to be holding. CIA Director William Burns, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will also participate in the Paris meetings, the source said on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the country's hostage negotiators were being given expanded authority. The urgency of diplomatic efforts appeared to be increasing ahead of the month-long Islamic holiday of Ramadan, which begins on March 10. "We're focused intensely on trying to get an agreement that results in the release of the remaining hostages and that produces an extended humanitarian ceasefire", U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Brazil. U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk held "constructive" meetings in Egypt and Israel including with Netanyahu on Thursday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said at a briefing. Blinken said he, Burns and McGurk were "in constant communication and working every aspect of this." Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters that Israel was responsible for the lack of progress and was backtracking on terms it accepted weeks ago in the prior ceasefire proposal. "The (Israeli) occupation is not interested in achieving any agreement," he said. There was no immediate response from Israeli officials. Netanyahu has said that if Hamas were to show flexibility progress would be possible. A little after midnight on Friday, Hamas said Haniyeh ended his three-day visit to Cairo where he met with Kamel. They discussed ending Israeli aggression, aid for civilians in Gaza, returning displaced people to their homes, especially in north Gaza, and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the group said in a statement. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas militants who control the territory stormed through Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, nearly 30,000 people have been confirmed killed in Gaza, according to health authorities, with thousands more feared dead under ruins. Hamas says it will not release remaining hostages unless Israel agrees to end fighting and withdraw from Gaza. Israel says it will not pull out until Hamas is eradicated. 'TRAUMATISED CHILDREN' In Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip's principal battlefield for the last month, Israeli forces raided Nasser Medical Complex on Thursday shortly after withdrawing from it, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said. The World Health Organization earlier said it aimed to evacuate some of the roughly 140 patients stranded there. Palestinian officials have said bodies of dead patients have begun to decompose amid power cuts and fighting. Israel gave no immediate comment. In Rafah, where over half of the enclave's 2.3 million people are huddled, mostly in tents, mourners wept on Thursday over at least seven corpses in body bags, laid on cobbles outside a morgue. Gaza health authorities said at least 120 people were confirmed killed and 130 wounded in the last 24 hours of Israeli assaults, but many more victims were still under rubble. Rafah's al-Farouk mosque was flattened into slabs of concrete, and the facades of adjacent buildings were blasted away. Residents said bombing on Wednesday night had been the heaviest since an Israeli raid on the city 10 days ago that freed two hostages and killed scores of civilians. "We couldn't sleep, the sounds of explosions and planes roaring overhead didn't stop," said Jehad Abuemad, 34, who lives with his family in a tent. "We could hear children crying in nearby tents, people here are desperate and defenceless." The head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) told the United Nations Security Council in New York that children are traumatised. "These psychological injuries have led children as young as five to tell us that they would prefer to die," said Christopher Lockyear. Israel has threatened to launch a full-blown attack on Rafah, the last city at Gaza's southern edge, despite international pleas - including from its main ally Washington - for restraint. Residents who have fled to Rafah from elsewhere say there is nowhere left to go. Meanwhile, an already meagre aid flow has almost completely dried up. (Reporting by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa in Rafah, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Dan Williams in Jerusalem, and Humeyra Pamuk and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Writing by Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) (Bloomberg) -- Israel is determined to push ahead with a goal to move a million or more civilians from Rafah before an attack on the Hamas-held city in Gaza, even though officials acknowledge in private they have no precise strategy for how to do it, how long it will take or where the people will go. Most Read from Bloomberg I ordered a plan, theyre preparing it and are going to present it in the near future, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a brief phone interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, referring to the Israeli military. Desperate Gazans have sought refuge in Rafah, and many are now living in tents and on streets, facing hunger and illness. Forcing them to return to devastated areas is expected to add to a death toll that has already exceeded 29,000 in Gaza since war erupted, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Israeli leaders see this as an inflection point, however. They believe they are getting close to dismantling the military structure of Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, and finding around 100 remaining hostages. Meeting these goals can only be accomplished in Rafah, they say, where officials think between 5,000 and 8,000 fighters and Hamas leaders are hiding, mostly in tunnels, along with the hostages. Read more: Why Rafah Is Raising Fears in Israel-Hamas War: QuickTake The US and other allies have pushed for a cease-fire. But Israeli officials say the conditions Hamas recently laid out for a deal to release the hostages in exchange for freeing Palestinians in Israeli jails were so extreme that talks became futile. US-led efforts to reach an agreement are ongoing in Cairo, although Israel pulled out its delegates last week and hasnt sent any back. Israel has offered a weeks-long pause in fighting for hostages, which Hamas has so far rejected. Officials say ending the war is now Hamas singular goal and its something Israel will not do. In addition to the threat to civilians, a Rafah attack could provoke violence from Palestinians in the West Bank and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Syria, and create even greater geopolitical tumult. Israels full-scale response to Hamas Oct. 7 attack, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw the group take 240 hostages, has become a source of consternation to many governments, particularly in the global South. South Africa has accused Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice, and leaders of the G-20 summit in Brazil are considering limiting the scope of that forum because participants are so split over the war in Gaza. Read More: Why Gaza is the Epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Allies worry that the longer the war continues, the likelier it is that Israel will lose whatever support it once had among Arab states. Israel has said it will launch a ground offensive in Rafah unless the hostages are released by Ramadan the Muslim holy month expected to begin on March 10. Western officials are increasingly alarmed at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the US and its allies have been pressing Israel for details on how it plans to move the civilian population north of Rafah, which sits near the Egyptian border in the south of the Palestinian territory. While officials believe that Israel will conduct its military operation in Rafah no matter what, according to people familiar with the matter, there is concern about the Ramadan deadline and the broader humanitarian situation. Netanyahu made his position clear at a press conference last Saturday. Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are essentially telling us: Lose the war, he said. I wont let that happen. We wont capitulate to any pressure. Polls show he has public support for this view. Israeli officials say Ramadan will not get in the way of their military operations. They assert the sooner they can declare victory over Hamas, the sooner citizens will begin to feel secure again, and discussions of regional security strategies can begin. If there is no hostage deal, we will also operate during Ramadan, Benny Gantz, an opposition leader and member of the war cabinet, said at a press conference on Wednesday. Of Hamas five fighting brigades, two based in and around Gaza City in the north and a third near the southern city of Khan Younis have essentially been broken, the military says. The fourth and fifth remaining forces have largely consolidated in Rafah. We are coming to the end of the beginning, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser. Completing Khan Younis will take another week. In March, we will move our forces into Rafah where the fighting will take till the end of April. We can then move to a configuration of smaller forces like we have in the north. He predicted that low-level fighting would go on for the rest of the year. Amidror and the officials say Israels intelligence on Hamas has grown significantly following raids and confessions taken from hundreds of militants captured during weeks of fighting in Khan Younis. Israel says that of the 40,000 armed fighters in Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad, it has killed 10,500 in the war. Thats in addition to the roughly 1,300 that died during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Some 2,000 have been captured and an estimated 10,000 wounded. That leaves about 15,000 combatants. There has also been a huge reduction in the number of rockets and missiles fired at Israel in recent weeks. An Israeli officer speaking from Gaza said that most rocket launchers have been removed. Read More: What is Hamas, the Militant Group at War With Israel? While the operation in Khan Younis has taken twice as long as expected, it has gone better than early fighting in Gaza City, the officer added. That citys military infrastructure was far more extensive than Israel realized, and Israelis forces needed time to learn how to operate certain kinds of drones in Gazas elaborate network of tunnels. There has also been progress toward achieving other goals, officials say. One official said Israeli forces recently raided a hideout in Khan Younis used by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who appeared to have left in a hurry shortly before soldiers arrived. Millions of dollars in cash were found in US and Israeli currency. When Israel does end its war, it will then have to deal with the contentious question of what happens next. The US, European allies and the Arab world all want Israel to commit to the creation of a Palestinian state to run Gaza. But Netanyahu has rejected this, saying such a move would be tantamount to rewarding Hamas for the Oct. 7 attacks. On Wednesday, the Israeli parliament easily passed a resolution rejecting an imposition of a Palestinian state on Israel, again suggesting that Netanyahu has plenty of support for his stance. In his call with Bloomberg, he called it a historic day because of the overwhelming vote, which got through the Knesset 99-9. This shows there is a tremendous price for terrorism and peace can only be achieved by direct negotiations with the Palestinians, he said. Officials also say theres no point in looking for new leaders in Gaza before Hamas is destroyed, as much of the population continues to live in fear of the organization, making it unlikely potential candidates will step forward. These differences speak to an even larger ideological divide: While many governments have called for a solution that grants Palestinians dignity and political autonomy, Israelis tend to view the latter prospect, in light of the October massacre, as an existential threat. If Israel doesnt control the territory around it, this argument goes, those areas will turn into staging grounds for the countrys enemies. --With assistance from Alberto Nardelli and Jennifer Jacobs. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The Israeli Parliament backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of any "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state following the war against Hamas on Wednesday. The move comes as multiple Western powers, including the U.S., have called for a two-state solution following hostilities in Gaza. Wednesday's vote was overwhelming, with 99 of the Knesset's 120 members voting in favor of backing Netanyahu. "The Knesset came together in an overwhelming majority against the attempt to impose on us the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would not only fail to bring peace but would endanger the state of Israel," Netanyahu said after the vote. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the vote in its own statement on Thursday. HAMAS TERRORISTS USE ISRAELI HOSTAGE RELEASE IN GAME OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE "The ministry reaffirms that the State of Palestine's full membership in the United Nations and its recognition by other nations does not require permission from Netanyahu," the group said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP CRUZ DEMANDS DOJ LAUNCH CRIMINAL PROBE OF US NONPROFIT ALLEGEDLY HELPING TERRORISTS Netanyahu's government unanimously approved a measure on Sunday declaring that the country "outright rejects" any attempts by foreign powers to create a Palestinian state. "Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding the permanent settlement with the Palestinians," the declaration said. "Such an arrangement will be reached only through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions. Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such a recognition, following the massacre of October 7, will reward the terrorism, a reward like no other, and will prevent any future peace settlement," the statement read. HAMAS TERRORISTS USE ISRAELI HOSTAGE RELEASE IN GAME OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE President Biden has suggested a two-state solution to help end the war. President Biden and other U.S. officials have repeatedly said that Israel's war against Hamas should end with a two-state solution, implying that the U.S. would recognize a Palestinian state. Original article source: Israeli Parliament backs Netanyahu, rejects push for 'unilateral' recognition of Palestinian state JERUSALEMA who's who of Israels defense, security and diplomatic establishment sent a pressing letter to President Biden, urging him not to recognize a Palestinian state because it threatens the existence of the Jewish state and rewards regimes like the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia that sponsor terrorism and promote jingoism. The Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF) letter, exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, dated Feb. 19, states "The recognition of a Palestinian state in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th massacre will be interpreted by Hamas, global terrorist organizations, Iran and other rogue states as a reward for violence, and will encourage them to view terrorism as an effective mechanism to achieve political goals." Hamas massacred 1,200 people on Oct. 7 in southern Israel, including over 30 Americans. The U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hamas currently holds over 100 people hostage in the Gaza Strip. Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the IDSF, told Fox News Digital, "Now is the time for the U.S. to support its most important ally in the Middle East and promote U.S. interests in the region. Israel is not against a peaceful solution to the conflict, but the administrations plan would be a reward to extremist terror organizations and would embolden the Iranian-Russian axis of violence in the region and the world." ISRAELI PARLIAMENT BACKS NETANYAHU, REJECTS PUSH FOR 'UNILATERAL' RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE Avivi added "The implementation of such a plan would pose an existential threat to Israeli security and is not viable. A better approach would be to focus U.S. diplomatic efforts on forging an alliance with Saudi Arabia and additional positive forces in the region to promote stability, prosperity and peace in the region." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Israels Knesset (parliament) on Wednesday, in a rare show of near unanimity, rejected foreign dictates to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. Israels government policy over the last 15 years has been a bi-lateral negotiation with the Palestinians to secure an agreement for a two-state solution. Fox News Digital sent press queries to the White House and the National Security Council. HAMAS TERRORISTS USE ISRAELI HOSTAGE RELEASE IN GAME OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE The Israel Defense and Security Forum's letter addresses concerns over the safety of Israel if President Biden recognizes a Palestinian state. The IDSF describes its organization as a "20,000 member-strong Israeli grassroots movement led by retired and reserve senior military, intelligence and security officers." Some of the signatories to the letter are international recognized Iran expert, Brigadier General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, and former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon. The letter to President Biden states, "While we appreciate that your motivations are focused on achieving a lasting peace, IDSF believes that this approach will unfortunately achieve exactly the opposite." Israelis have long complained that their efforts to secure peace with the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank (known in Israel by its biblical names Judea and Samaria ) have been met with terrorism and missiles launched into the Jewish state. UNITED NATIONS SLAMMED FOR SILENCE OVER HAMAS RAPES, MUTILATION AND MURDER OF ISRAELI WOMEN, CRITICS SAY President Biden faces criticism for not dealing with Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank. "Israel has followed this reckless dynamic in the past, by agreeing to the Oslo Accords following the First Intifada and carrying out the Disengagement from Gaza following the Second Intifada. We learned how the appetite only grows with concessions, and how this threatens Israel and the rest of the free world," the Israelis wrote. The military and security experts see no evidence that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which rules over the West Bank, is engaged in reforms. The IDSF said the PA has continued its "Pay to Slay" policy, that has seen $370 million annually given to convicted terrorists and their families in the form of a stipend. The IDSF said the PA ignores the U.S. Taylor Force Act via its continued support for violence against Israelis. Congress passed the Taylor Force Act , named after West Point graduate Taylor Force, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. A Palestinian terrorist stabbed Force in 2016. The act aims to stop economic aid to the PA until it ends its monetary subsidy system to Palestinians convicted of terrorism and their family members. Biden has faced criticism for ignoring Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank and singling out Israeli residents in the region for sanctions. 'I WILL BE HAUNTED FOREVER: ISRAELS HORRIFIC VIDEO OF HAMAS ATROCITIES LEAVES VIEWERS SHOCKED AND SICKENED Terrorists from Hamas, during an anti-Israel military march in Gaza City. The IDSF claimed the PA refused to condemn the Oct. 7 mass murder and that the PA will pay $2.7 million monthly to the terrorists who participated in the Oct. 7 attack. A Fox News Digital press query sent to the assistant for Nabil Abu Rudeineh, who serves as the spokesperson for PA President Mahmoud Abbas, was not immediately returned. The PA has showed no appetite to rope in terrorism in the West Bank or classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, according to the IDSF. "Since October 7th the IDF has arrested more than 3,000 terrorists, and has uncovered immense military infrastructure in areas controlled by the P.A. whose purpose was to attack Israel. The P.A. allowed this to happen under its watch," the letter stated. In January , former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Fox News Digital, "I do not think a two-state solution is possible, and, even if possible, it is not advisable. For more than 50 years, hundreds of self-proclaimed peacemakers, led by the United States, have attempted to coerce Israel and the Palestinians into a two-state solution." Original article source: Israeli security experts say Bidens Palestinian state push is an existential threat Quick View: Washington's bloody vetoes Xinhua) 10:50, February 22, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States vetoed on Tuesday a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the fourth time it has done so since the outbreak of the conflict. The U.S. move should be no surprise. Equally unsurprising is the mounting frustration and discontent within the international community regarding Washington's persistent obstructionism. America is undoubtedly standing in the way of peace in the Middle East. This repeated use of veto power underscores U.S. disregard for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The refusal to support a resolution aimed at alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire further erodes the credibility of the United States as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The U.S. stubborn insistence on allowing the conflict to persist exposes a stark contrast between American rhetoric and its actions, revealing a sense of hypocrisy and double standards in its purported values. Apart from Britain, which abstained, the other 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution submitted by Algeria on behalf of the Arab states. The resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the immediate release of all hostages, the guarantee of humanitarian access and the rejection of the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population. The vote's outcome demonstrated that the Security Council doesn't lack unanimity; rather, the United States' veto power prevents the majority from having its way. Algerian envoy to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, pointedly remarked that voting against the draft resolution "implies an endorsement of the brutal violence and collective punishment inflicted upon" the people of Gaza. In rejecting the resolution again, Washington assumes the weighty responsibility of exacerbating the crisis in Gaza and contributing to the broader destabilization of the Middle East. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Amitabh Kant, a public policy think tank of the Government of India, stated on Thursday, February 22, that the nation should start exporting green energy by 2047 in order to attract funding. Also, at the Raisina Dialogue 2024, Kant said that climate change is the greatest problem facing the world now and that the World Bank should change its designation to a climate bank. Attracting Capital In a report by The Financial Express, Kant said that becoming green would allow nations to attract finance and that all investments going forward would be directed toward the renewable industry. "By 2047, India should be an exporter of green energy ...The countries will be able to attract capital if they go green." The global south, according to Kant, must forge a new course, and individual nations must strive for revitalization. Kant argues that biofuels have the potential to significantly contribute to both employment creation and the attainment of clean fuel objectives. He proposed that by 2050, renewable energy should account for 90% of the country's energy needs. He emphasized the need to have a solid legislative framework, strong leadership, and sufficient financing in order to promote renewable energy sources. See Also: 2024 Raisina Dialogue: India's Chief of Defence Staff to Lead Major Geopolitical Talks During Conference Green Commitment According to The Times of India, the nation made a lofty five-point "Panchamrit" commitment at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. Among these goals were the reduction of emissions by 1 billion tons by the year 2030, the generation of 50% of the world's energy from renewable sources, and the attainment of 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity. On a national level, India is targeting a 45% drop in the intensity of emissions from gross domestic product (GDP). India has pledged to achieve zero net emissions by the year 2070. See Also: India's Stock Market Emerges as Top 4 Globally, Surpassing Hong Kong Luxury cruise liners, like this docked at Falmouth, Jamaica, will take tourists to learn about a dark side in the history of the British Empire - ISTOCK Jamaica will preserve British colonial sites as slavery monuments to boost the dark tourism industry on the island. Local activists have led Caribbean demands for reparatory payments for centuries of slavery but figures in government believe that the countrys economy can benefit from the remaining physical legacy of the empire. Jamaican ministers want to preserve the crumbling architecture of Georgian plantation houses and slave infrastructure left over from British rule to use as sites for dark tourism. This style of travel is characterised by visiting places associated with death and suffering. As part of Jamaicas strategy, the suffering under Britains 300-year rule will be explained at sites that have been saved. The plans come amid an intensifying campaign to secure reparations for the Caribbean, led in large part by Jamaican academics. But Edmund Bartlett, the minister for tourism, has his own vision for how the legacy of the slave trade could generate cash. The shopping area near the entrance to the port of Falmouth, Jamaica, which hopes to enlarge its tourism industry - VISIONS BY ATLEE Mr Barlett said: We are interested in what is called dark tourism, it is something that we are building. We are working closely with the ministry of culture and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, in conservation work and restoration for historic sites and monuments. The built heritage is very, very important, because it tells a story in stone and sticks and mortar. Jamaica, being a confluence of so many cultures and peoples and so on, has a story that you need to connect with, because a little piece of you (the British) is really here, a piece of your history, your past. Edmund Bartlett, the minister for tourism, thinks the legacy of the slave trade could generate cash - JOHN PARRA/GETTY Mr Bartlett is an author and theorist of the tourism industry, who hosted a Global Tourism Resilience conference in Montego Bay earlier this month which was attended by formerly colonised Caribbean nations, who could follow his lead. While Mr Bartlett is keen to preserve monuments to slavery, others in Jamaica have demanded their demolition. His Labour Party colleague Alando Terrelonge, the minister of state for trade, called for Caribbean nations to tear down those monuments of old last year and remove certain colonial names as well from our buildings and our streets so that we are not telling the stories of the oppressors. An illustration of slaves 'cane holeing' in Jamaica in 1849 - CHRONICLE/ALAMY The demands came amid a wave of historical revision happening in Britain following the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol in 2020, with monuments to slave traders including Robert Miligan and John Cass also removed. The process became so contentious that then-culture secretary Oliver Dowden devised a strategy of retain and explain which insisted that controversial monuments be preserved and their stories told. Mr Bartlett envisions that Jamaicas dark tourism sites will be popular with descendants of both the enslaved and the slavers, as well as those curious about Britains slave economy. There has been a boom in dark tourism in recent years, with Unesco designating places including an Argentine torture centre and memorials to the Rwandan genocide as protected world heritage sites. Jamaica may offer many potential sites. Britain took Jamaica from the Spanish in 1655, and after a boom in piracy, sugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans became central to the islands economy until abolition in 1834. Colonial rule continued until independence in 1962. Pinto Pottery, a ceramic studio, exhibition gallery and workshop by David Pinto on the Good Hope Estate Plantation - DEBBIE ANN POWELL/ALAMY Across the island, rare examples of particularly Georgian colonial architecture were left behind by the wealthy plantocracy, including mansions, townhouses, courthouses and hospitals, but many have been allowed to decay. However, conservation projects for colonial sites are now in the pipeline. These will include the residence of John Tharp (1744-1804), who was once the largest slave and landowner in Jamaica. It will be turned into a period museum explaining his sugar business in the one-time slave port of Falmouth. Tharps House may get funding through a 12 million fund managed by the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, a private charity based in London, which may also fund work on the old colonial-era Railway Station in Kingston. A new museum is planned in the former colonial capital of Port Royal, which will eventually see the conservation of a 200-year-old Naval Hospital. Good Hope Great House in Jamaica - JUAN SERRANO CORBELLA/ALAMY The Morant Bay courthouse, central to the execution of Jamaican national hero Paul Bogle, who led a rebellion in 1865 which was brutally quashed by the governor at the time, is also set for renovation to turn it into a museum. Preserving the architectural treasures of the enslaving administration has not been a priority. A reparations campaign has been at the heart of the political focus on colonialism, led by Prof Verene Shepherd, who has demanded European powers pay 26.5 trillion in reparations to the Caribbean, and who acts as vice chair of the Caricom Reparations Commission. The Commission steers policy on reparative justice for the 15 Caricom (Caribbean Community) member states. The Telegraph revealed last year that countries were planning to formally request reparations from institutions linked to slavery, including the Church of England and the Royal family. In 2022 the Prince and Princess of Wales completed a difficult trip to the Caribbean during which they were met with anti-royal protests in Belize, and told by Andrew Holness, the Jamaican prime minister, that the island nation would seek to move on and become a republic. 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. Scientists have analyzed an unusually long blast of high-energy radiation, known as a gamma-ray burst (GRB), and determined that it originated from the collision of two ultradense neutron stars. And, importantly, this result helped the team observe a flash of light emanating from the same event that confirms these mergers are the sites that create elements like gold. The observations, made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope, allowed scientists to see gold and heavy elements forged, which could help us better understand how these powerful neutron star merger events generate the only environments in the universe turbulent enough to create elements heavier than iron, such as silver and gold which results in a flash of light called a kilonova. "It was thrilling to study a kilonova as we had never seen before using the powerful eyes of Hubble and JWST," research team member and University of Rome astrophysicist Eleonora Troja told Space.com. "This is the first time we've been able to verify that metals heavier than iron and silver were freshly made in front of us," Related: Dead star 'glitches' could reveal the origins of fast radio bursts GRBs, which are the most powerful explosions of energy in the known universe, have been associated with neutron star mergers before but this discovery is different. These phenomena can be divided into two groups. On one hand, there are the long GRBs that last over 2 seconds and, on the other, short GRBs that last less than 2 seconds. While neutron star mergers have been associated with short GRBs, long GRBs were believed to occur as the result of the collapse of massive stars and not from such collisions. The extremely bright and long burst, designated GRB 230307A, and detected by devices onboard NASA's Fermi mission in March 2023 lasted 200 seconds; this marked the second most energetic GRB ever seen. It seemed to be associated with a kilonova, designated AT2017gfo, and a neutron star merger that happened some 8.3 million light-years away, breaking the usual GRB convention and challenging theories of how these blasts of high-energy radiation are launched. "It is challenging to conceive that the duration of GRBs originating from compact binary mergers can extend to tens of seconds," Yu-Han Yang, research team leader and University of Rome postdoctoral astrophysicist, told Space.com. Gamma-ray discovery could be a cosmic gold-mine Stars are like stellar furnaces that forge the elements in the periodic table, beginning with the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium in their cores and continuing with the fusion of helium to heavier elements like nitrogen, oxygen and carbon. The most massive stars, around 7 to 8 times as massive as the sun, can forge elements all the way up to iron in their hearts. Once a stellar core is filled with this element, fusion ceases. That also cuts off the outward energy line that had been supporting the star against its own gravity for millions, or sometimes billions, of years. The cores of these massive stars then collapse under this crushing gravity, blowing away their outer layers in supernova explosions. This collapse transforms the stellar core, crushing electrons and protons into a sea of flowing neutrons, particles found in atomic nuclei that very rarely exist "freely." Yet, in this sea, the neutrons are prevented from squeezing close together by a quantum principle called neutron degeneracy pressure, which can be overcome with enough mass to create a black hole. But sometime there isn't enough mass for a black hole to come into existence. Those dead stellar cores without the mass to overcome degeneracy pressure are left as 12-mile (20-kilometer) wide bosies with masses between one and two times that of the sun. However, there is a way that neutron stars can contribute heavier elements than iron to the universe. Not all neutron stars exist alone. Some traverse the cosmos in neutron star binary systems, meaning they have another neutron star in its gravitational clutches. As these dead stars orbit each other, they set the fabric of space ringing with ripples called gravitational waves that gradually carry away angular momentum from the system. This causes neutron stars to spiral together, emitting gravitational waves faster as time passes and "leaking" more angular momentum in tandem. Ultimately, the two collide and merge. This collision creates a gamma-ray burst and sends out a spray of neutron-rich material that help create the heavier elements of the periodic table. Other atomic nuclei around these collisions grab the free neutrons via the rapid-neutron capture process, or r-process, and become briefly lived superheavy elements called "lanthanides." Those lanthanides then quickly decay into lighter elements (though elements still heavier than lead.) This decay causes the emission of radiation, light we see from Earth as a "kilonova." Thus, tracking the evolution of kilonovas can help follow the creation of elements like gold and silver. "Neutron star mergers could give rise to an ideal environment to extensively synthesize heavy elements, which is currently beyond artificial creation," Yang said. "Studying neutron star mergers helps us rewrite the obscure chapters of nucleosynthesis." Cosmic alchemy in action Over the course of weeks to months, Yang explained that kilonovas span a wide range of behaviors. These behaviors depend on the composition of the ejected material and the type of remnant formed at the center of the merger site. Observations of most kilonovas do not extend to such late times in their evolution but AT2017gfo was different. Unfortunately, however, the late-time observational data for AT2017gfo, collected with the Spitzer Space Telescope, were limited. They only offered weak signals contaminated by the kilonova's host galaxy and presented inadequate coverage in different wavelengths of light. "During the first few days, the behavior of a kilonova is not affected by its chemical composition," Troja explained. "It takes weeks to reveal which metals are forged in the explosion, and we never had the chance to stare at a kilonova for that long." These constraints had hindered scientists aiming to understand better kilonovas and the processes that create them. In the case of AT2017gfo, however, the sensitivity and multi-color coverage of the JWST and Hubble observations allowed Yang and colleagues to observe the luminosity of this kilonova at late times. "We tracked the evolution of the transient event associated with GRB 230307A up to two months after the burst and captured the full blue-to-red evolution of this transient, which can be classified as a kilonova," Yang said. "We discovered the recession of the photospheric radius at late times. The receding photospheric radius provides evidence for the recombination of heavy elements, such as lanthanides, occurring in the cooling process. Heavy r-process elements are needed to produce the observed data." RELATED STORIES: A new approach might help scientists see inside a neutron star City-size neutron stars may actually be bigger than we thought The heaviest neutron star ever observed is shredding its companion This confirmed that neutron star mergers do forge elements heavier than gold, and even confirms that long-GRBs can come from neutron star mergers. It hasn't, thought, solved the mystery of why this particular neutron star merger launched such an unusually long GRB. "This event proves that a long-duration GRB coming from compact binary mergers is not a fortuitous occurrence," Yang said, adding there are lots of questions to still answer about these events. "What enlightening revelations can late-time observations of kilonovas offer on nucleosynthesis? "We look forward to joint observations of long-duration gamma-ray bursts, kilonovas and gravitational waves in the future, which will help unveil the mysteries about such outliers." The team's research was published on Wednesday (Feb. 21) in the journal Nature. WASHINGTON Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said that House Republicans impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden is a product of Russian propaganda. The Justice Department revealed Tuesday that Alexander Smirnov, an FBI informant who is charged with making up a bribery allegation against Biden, may have ties to Russian intelligence sources. It appears like the whole thing is not only obviously false and fraudulent, but a product of Russian disinformation and propaganda, Raskin, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, told reporters Wednesday. In a Tuesday court filing urging a judge to keep Smirnov in jail ahead of his trial, the Justice Department said Tuesday that he claims to have contacts with multiple foreign intelligence agencies and that those agencies could resettle Smirnov outside the United States if he were released. The brief said that law enforcement knows about Smirnovs contact with officials affiliated with Russian intelligence because Smirnov had provided information about them, along with photographs and documents, to his FBI handler before the agency caught on to his made-up bribery allegation about Biden last fall. Its not clear if the Justice Department has independently confirmed Smirnovs ties with Russian intelligence. Spokespeople declined to comment. Smirnov had served as an FBI source for years, earning thousands of dollars for his tips, Justice Department officials told lawmakers during a private briefing last year, adding that they considered him highly credible. Republicans obtained and released an FBI file describing Smirnovs account of the head of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company that employed the presidents son on its board, saying that hed paid both Joe and Hunter Biden $5 million in bribes. After Republicans released the file, the FBI asked U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the special counsel prosecutor leading a criminal case against Hunter Biden, to look into Smirnovs claim. Investigators found travel records and other details that didnt match his story. He was arrested last week and charged with making false statements. A judge rebuffed the governments request to detain him before his trial, however. But the governments sentencing memo, with its allegations that Smirnov has contacts with Russian intelligence, was another blow to an impeachment inquiry that has already struggled to find high crimes and misdemeanors by Joe Biden. The impeachment investigation essentially ended yesterday, in substance if not in form, with the explosive revelation that Mr. Smirnovs allegations about Ukrainian Burisma payments to Joe Biden were concocted along with Russian intelligence agents, Raskin said. A spokesperson for Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who chairs the House oversight committee, said that Biden family bank records the committee has obtained through subpoenas are not Russian disinformation. The House of Representatives impeachment inquiry 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, the spokesperson said. Witnesses have confirmed Joe Biden was the brand being sold by the Bidens around the world. President Biden continues to lie to the American people about this matter and the American people demand the truth and accountability for any wrongdoing. Republicans have claimed that witness testimony shows Joe Biden participated in his sons business because business associates have testified that on several occasions Joe Biden greeted and exchanged pleasantries with them, such as when Hunter Biden would put his father on speakerphone in their company. No witness has said that Joe Biden actually talked about business with them, however. The most serious allegation Republicans have pursued is that Joe Biden, as vice president in 2015, made Ukraine fire a prosecutor because he was investigating Burisma. State Department officials have repeatedly said that the allegation is untrue; the supposed bribe brought the claim new life last year, but now its dead. And Republicans have deleted mentions of it from their letters requesting interviews. The impeachment committees held a transcribed interview with the presidents brother James Biden, who told them that he never asked his sibling for official favors or help with his work. Hunter Biden will sit for a deposition next week. I found it interesting. I kind of want to wait and see the transcript, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the House Judiciary Committee chair and one of the leaders of the impeachment inquiry, told HuffPost after leaving the interview with James Biden. Jordan said that the implosion of the FBI informants bribery claim didnt change the facts of the case. Raskin said that the mood in the room for James Bidens interview was subdued. It feels to me as if everyone knows the impeachment investigation is over, Raskin said. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said it was absolutely appalling that Donald Trump would compare himself to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Donald Trumps hero, Vladimir Putin, is responsible for the death of Alexei Navalny ... who was a champion of freedom and human rights, and he opposed the filthy, bloody imperialist invasion of Ukraine, which Donald Trump is, at best, very soft on, Raskin said Wednesday on CNN. In fact, hes Putins biggest ally in the United States and is responsible for now the pro-Putin sentiment within the GOP, he added. So to compare himself to Navalny is sickening. Raskin called Trump a friend to every dictator and autocrat on earth and noted the former president has had every benefit of the rule of law and the American legal system to fight the assorted civil and criminal cases against him. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in custody in a Russian penal colony last week. Raskin: Donald Trump's hero Vladimir Putin is responsible for the death of Navalny.. Trump is Putins biggest ally in the U.S. and is responsible for the pro-Putin sentiment in the GOP. For Trump to compare himself to Navalny is appalling pic.twitter.com/WHGEm9cCq7 Acyn (@Acyn) February 22, 2024 Western leaders were quick to blame Putins regime for Navalnys death. Trump, however, remained mute on the matter for several days and then declined to condemn Putin (or mention him at all) when he broke his silence Monday in a statement invoking his own legal issues to suggest he is a victim of political persecution. At a Fox News town hall on Tuesday, while discussing the $355 million judgment against him for fraudulent business practices, he called it a form of Navalny. Trump has praised Putin for years while undermining relationships with U.S. allies, and under his stranglehold over the party, there has been growing Republican resistance to aiding Ukraine. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) warned over the weekend that the 2024 election must prevent the Putin wing of the Republican Party from taking over the White House. Related... A Japan-based US Navy sailor has been charged with espionage for allegedly passing classified information to a foreign government. Bryce Pedicini is alleged to have given documents to foreign agents at least seven times in 2022 and 2023. The US Navy also accuses him of trying in May 2023 to hand over photographs showing the screen of a military computer. He faces a court martial while the investigation continues. The accused is a chief petty officer fire controlman assigned to a Japan-based guided missile destroyer, the USS Higgins. He has been in custody since May 2023, just days after the last alleged incident in Japan. The other incidents took place over a period of four months in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in late 2022 and early 2023, say US investigators. The document alleges that he was handing over information "with reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation". It is unclear what country he was allegedly attempting to pass documents to, or what those files contained. The charging sheet notes only that the information was "relating to national defence". Mr Pedicini was assigned to the USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer, at the time of his arrest. Commander Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesman for US Naval Surface Force, said in a statement: "The incident remains under investigation and legal proceedings continue." CPO Pedicini's military records show that he enlisted in the US Navy in 2009 and served on several naval vessels. In addition to charges of espionage and communicating defence information, CPO Pedicini is accused of failing to report foreign contacts to his superiors, failing to report solicitation of classified information, transporting classified information and taking a personal device into a secure room. The charges were referred to a court martial in January. Also last month, a 26-year-old sailor, Wenheng Zhao, pleaded guilty to passing on information to Chinese intelligence while working at a California naval base. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Zhao was arrested in August alongside another sailor, 22-year-old Jinchao Wei, who was accused of conspiring to send defence information to a Chinese agent. Mr Wei - who had access to sensitive information about his ship - was allegedly approached by a Chinese agent in early 2022, when he was going through the process of becoming a US citizen. Takeshi Ebisawa allegedly a leader of yakuza, a Japanese crime gang - via REUTERS/Southern District of New York A Japanese yakuza crime boss has been charged with attempting to traffic nuclear materials for a bomb to Iran. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, is accused of showing samples of uranium and plutonium transported from Myanmar to Thailand to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent. In a DEA sting operation, the agent posed as a narcotics and weapons trafficker and claimed to have had access to an Iranian general. Samples of the seized material were later found to contain uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, according to court documents. Ebisawa and co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, a 61-year-old Thai, face charges of trafficking drugs, weapons and nuclear material. Ebisawa is alleged by prosecutors to be the leader of a yakuza, a Japan-based network of underworld gangs. Anne Milgram, a DEA administrator, said the allegations represented an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life. Samples of seized material were found to contain uranium - US DISTRICT COURT In a statement, she added: The defendants trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons. The nuclear material came from an unidentified leader of an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar which had been mining uranium in the country, according to prosecutors. Ebisawa had proposed that the groups leader sell uranium through him to fund a weapons purchase from the Iranian general, court documents allege. According to prosecutors, the leader in Myanmar provided samples, that a US federal laboratory found to have contained uranium, thorium and plutonium. The lab concluded that the isotope composition of the plutonium was weapons-grade, meaning enough of it would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon. The Yakuza Transnational Organized Crime group allegedly trafficked radioactive substances - US DISTRICT COURT Ebisawa was among four people who were arrested in April 2022 in New York and had been charged with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offences. The new charges were contained in a superseding indictment. Following a crackdown by Japanese authorities, Yakuza criminal activities have increased globally in recent years. In 2012, the US Treasury Department said it had frozen the assets of the Yamaguchi-gumi a powerful yakuza gang and banned it from conducting business in the US due to alleged involvement in drug and human trafficking and money laundering. US attorney Damian Williams accused Ebisawa of believing that the material was going to be used in the development of a nuclear weapons programme, and the weapons-grade plutonium he trafficked if produced in sufficient quantities, could have been used for that purpose. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G Olsen added: It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded. The defendants are scheduled to appear in a New York court to respond to the charges on Thursday. 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 remains unclear why France continues to export weapons or any "dual-use" equipment to Israel that can be used in a military context. It also remains unknown whether French companies have reviewed any export licenses that were authorized before the latest "war" began. Per France24, in an openly published letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron, the head of Amnesty International in France, Jean-Claude Samouiller, urges the suspension of all weapon sales and military equipment to Israel. MPs from the far-left France Unbowed (La France Insoumise or LFI) party have repeatedly questioned members of the government over continuing French military exports to Israel. The calls for transparency only continue to intensify as the Israeli onslaught rages on in Gaza. Mathilde Panot, the president of the LFI parliamentary group, asked Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne during a February 15 session in parliament whether France was arming Israel and called for a suspension of any such sales. "Has France continued providing weapons to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? Mister minister, can you say with certainty that no French military component is being used in Gaza in any war crime that is being committed? When will you declare an arms embargo?" she asked, adding: "Charles de Gaulle did it [in 1967]. Emmanuel Macron must do it." She also pressed the foreign minister to provide a comprehensive list of weapons and other equipment supplied to Israel. "Concerning weapons, I will revert back to you to give you a number, because I don't have it here," Sejourne replied. In a written response to a question for French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and submitted by LFI MP Aurelien Saintoul, Lecornu said that France does not export "weapons, strictly speaking, but rather elementary components." When weapons authorized for export, Lecornu said, they "are intended purely for defensive purposes," citing the example of a type of missile used by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system. Saintoul, who sits on the parliamentary defense commission, has repeatedly asked to question the defense minister, to no avail. In an email to FRANCE 24, the defense ministry stressed that all requests for military equipment exports are subjected to "robust checks." Where's the transparency? The answer to whether or not French companies are still exporting any weaponry equipment to the state of Israel isn't so simple. According to France24, any export of military equipment by a French or France-based company must be vetted by the Inter-ministerial Commission for war materials exports. Thomas Portes, another MP from LFI, last week launched a petition calling for transparency on the issue and urging the authorities to stop exporting military equipment to Israel. In a phone interview with the news publication, Portes said the government's responses are "never precise, they never include any numbers ... and so there is a kind of omerta surrounding this arms issue." "At the very least, I want there to be a public debate in France on whether today we accept, yes or no - as MPs, but beyond this, do citizens accept that France delivers weapons to the Israeli state in light of what the Israeli army is committing in the Gaza Strip?" French law states that the country must release a report every year to parliament detailing any such exports. In the latest report submitted to the French parliament, one number stands out: 207.6 million in equipment sold to Israel over the past ten years. Takeshi Ebisawa poses with a rocket launcher during a meeting with an informant and two undercover Danish police officers at a warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark on Feb. 3, 2021. Credit - U.S. Magistrate Judge/Southern District of New York/Reuters Takeshi Ebisawa, a 60-year-old Japanese manbelieved by U.S. officials to be a leader within the organized crime syndicate Yakuzahas been charged with conspiring to traffic nuclear substances from Myanmar to other countries with the expectation that Iran would eventually use them for its weapons program. Federal prosecutors said that Ebisawa and three co-conspirators had allegedly been selling uranium and weapons-grade plutonium since early 2020, eventually exchanging them for military-grade weapons, court documents unsealed in Manhattan Wednesday show. The documents also state that Ebisawa and his co-conspirators provided samples of the nuclear material trafficked from Myanmar to Thailand to an undercover agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrationwho was then posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker who claimed to have access to an Iranian general. As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear materialgoing so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons, said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to a statement Wednesday. Ebisawa and his Thai co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, 61, were previously arrested and charged with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses in April 2022, and they are the two defendants named in a superseding indictment. Ebisawa has since been held in Manhattan awaiting trial. Who is Takeshi Ebisawa? Not much has been made public about Ebisawas life, but the prosecutors describe him in court documents as a leader of the Yakuza organized crime syndicate, a transnational Japanese criminal network operating globally. Japanese local media, however, state that his ties to domestic organized crime have not been establishedthough he had been reportedly living between Thailand and Japan. Ebisawa's criminal activities have included large-scale narcotics and weapons trafficking, and his international criminal network extends through Asia, Europe, and the United States, among other places, the indictment read. The DEA has been investigating Ebisawa since around 2019, the U.S. Attorneys Office previously said. He was arrested with Singhasiri and one other Thai national in New York on April 4, 2022 on accusations of trafficking heroin and methamphetamine as well as brokering deals to acquire high-powered weapons like surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) for armed groups in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), seen here in 2023, said: As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material, going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons." Eric Lee/BloombergGetty Images Whats in the new indictment? According to the new indictment, Ebisawa, in a series of phone and electronic communications, told the undercover DEA agent and a confidential source in 2020 that he had access to a large quantity of nuclear materials that he wished to sell and that he was seeking a buyer for uranium. He sent them photographs of pebbly substances with Geiger counters. In response to the repeated enquiries, the undercover agent, as part of the investigation, agreed to broker a potential sale to another DEA source posing as an Iranian general. In August 2020, Ebisawa reminded the undercover agent of his access to uranium, and asked if they might buy direct from us. The agent replied that the Iranian general was very interested and then asked, How enriched is it? Above 5 percent? They don't need it for energy, Iranian government need[s] it for nuclear weapons. Ebisawa replied: I think so and I hope so. In September 2020, Ebisawa offered to sell 50 metric tons of uranium and thoriuma radioactive materialfor $6.85 million. In a subsequent offer, he told the undercover agent he could supply plutonium that would be even better and more powerful than uranium for Irans use. As the undercover agent and Ebisawa talked about nuclear materials purchases, they also talked about high-powered firearms. In May 2021, per the documents put forward in the indictment, Ebisawa asked the agent if they could purchase weapons like SAMs and AK-47 rifles on behalf of a leader of an armed group in Myanmar. It was then that the DEA agent was introduced to three of Ebisawas conspiratorswho were unidentified and arent defendants in this case, but were also working on the weapons deal. In June 2021, Ebisawa circulated a note with the DEA agent and his associate which referred to yellowcake, a type of uranium concentrate powder. Negotiations continued, and in February 2022, the agent asked two of Ebisawas co-conspirators about a potential exchange of uranium for weapons from Iran, to which the conspirators said they had the same idea. They also added that they had samples of uranium and thorium to show the undercover agent. A week later, Ebisawa and his co-conspirators showed the samples in a hotel room in Phuket. After more negotiations, the samples were taken to an office in Bangkok. In May 2022, Thai authorities raided the office and retrieved the samples. Ebisawa faces seven counts for multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials. His court-appointed lawyer, Evan L. Lipton, declined commenting to the New York Times on the trafficking charges, but said that the trial will reveal that Ebisawa is not a leader of any sophisticated criminal syndicate. Contact us at letters@time.com. Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series will present a special memorial concert to honor its cherished and fearless leader, the late Nate Lawrence, this Sunday in Bettendorf. Lawrence, of East Moline, led Polyrhythms from 2005 until his unexpected passing on Aug. 15, 2023 at age 80. The event 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Rivermont Collegiate (1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf) will celebrate Lawrences life. His tireless work to enrich the Quad Cities will be felt for many years to come, Polyrhythms posted on its Facebook page. Polyrhythms director Nate Lawrence died at 80 on Aug. 15, 2023. The memorial concert, starting 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, will feature the Polyrhythms Trio and special guests Billy Branch, Semenya McCord, and Hal Reed, followed by the headliner performance featuring the Edmar Castaneda Quartet. The Polyrhythms Trio features Corey Kendrick on piano, Ronald Wilson on bass, and Manuel Lopez III on drums. The 6 p.m.-8 p.m. concert will feature Edmar Castaneda on harp, Andrea Tierra on vocals, Yotam Ben on harmonica, and Pablo Bencid on drums. I was born to play the harp. It is a gift from God and like every gift from God, it has a purpose, Edmar Castaneda said in the event release. The purpose of my music it to worship Him and bring his presence and unconditional love to people. Colombian-born Edmar Castaneda will perform at Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Upon arriving in the United States in 1994, Colombian-born Castaneda has made a name for himself as the preeminent jazz harp virtuoso. Castaneda brings forth a brilliance that beautifully merges the jazz tradition with a diverse set of styles and genres while bringing unbridled attention to a somewhat unfamiliar instrument: the harp, the Polyrhythms release says. Singlehandedly, Castaneda has cemented the harps place in jazz with innovative technique and heartfelt creativity from a wealth of formidable collaborations with music titans such as Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Bela Fleck, John Scofield, Ricki Lee Jones, Hiromi, Pedrito Martinez, Marcus Miller, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ivan Lins, The Yellowjackets, Paco De Lucia, and Paquito DRivera. In the same breath as the Yo-Yo Mas of the world, Castaneda fearlessly stuns audiences, musicians, and critics alike with his incredible talents as a player and composer, the release says. NPRs Fresh Air touts: his technique is the real astonishment. Castaneda juggles lead, rhythm and bass lines, using a variety of hard and soft string attacks to keep those voices distinct all without giving up the grooveHis amazing techniqueraises the bar for every harpist. The New York Times wrote: Castaneda engage[s] modern jazz in ways that honorcultural origins, and [he has] the capacity to astonish by virtue of [his] fingerstyle technique. Moses Sumney highlights his 5 Favorite NPR Tiny Desk Concerts and says, My brain cracked open when I first saw this. Some classical instruments are so ingrained in our heads for sounding one way; Edmar restructures what we know of harp, defiantly expanding the bounds of the instrument. Castaneda released his latest studio album, Viento Sur, featuring his World Ensemble on May 5, 2023, with a nine-person ensemble of acclaimed global musicians from Switzerland, Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Chile, U.S., Argentina, and Colombia. The Colombian plays the harp like hardly anyone else on earth. His hands, seemingly powered by two different people, produce a totally unique, symphonic fullness of sound, a rapid-fire of chords, balance of melodic figures and drive, served with euphoric Latin American rhythms, and the improvisatory freedom of a trained jazz musiciancaptivating virtuosity, but in no way only virtuosity for its own sake, says Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. This Sundays concert has general admission of $20 (no reserved seating) with free admission for children, K-12 students, and college students (ID required). Doors will open for a social gathering at 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Polyrhythms website HERE. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Dennis Chachere, center, a cousin of filmmaker Alex Stapleton, lives in the Pleasantville neighborhood of Houston. He talks about his work in the oil industry in "The Price of Oil," part of the HBO documentary series "God Save Texas." Courtesy of HBO In 'God Save Texas' Houston filmmaker Alex Stapleton looks at the impact of industry on Black communities. Mat Hayward/Getty Images "God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State" by Lawrence Wright; Alfred A. Knopf (Knopf) Knopf, HO / TNS Houston director Alex Stapleton visits the IMDb Portrait Studio at Acura House of Energy on Location at Sundance 2024. Mat Hayward/Getty Images In 'God Save Texas' Houston filmmaker Alex Stapleton looks at the impact of industry on Black communities. Mat Hayward/Getty Images Director Alex Stapleton visits the IMDb Portrait Studio at Acura House of Energy on Location at Sundance 2024. Mat Hayward/Getty Images Alex Stapleton returned to Pleasantville and sensed something foul. A documentary filmmaker, Stapleton has been a Texan in exile for 20 years. She came back to Houston in 2019 and found family members in her old neighborhood in northeast Houston dealing with illnesses like necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body. Homes like the one belonging to her great aunt were still marked by storm damage while insurance payouts were delayed. Despite its idyllic name, Pleasantville had been suffering, as many predominantly Black neighborhoods in Houston have. When Alex Gibney the award-winning director of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room reached out to her about a project based on Lawrence Wrights 2018 book God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State, Stapleton felt a story coming together. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wrights book would turn into a three-part documentary series that airs on HBO Max on Feb. 27-28. Each of the three chapters is told by a filmmaker returning home and meditating on that space. Richard Linklater directed God Save Texas: Hometown Prison about Huntsville. Iliana Sosa returns to El Paso in God Save Texas: La Frontera. Stapletons God Save Texas: The Price of Oil tells a family story that spans more than 150 years and covers a space from Galveston to Fifth Ward to Pleasantville before reaching out to Port Arthur. 'God Save Texas' "Hometown Prison" airs Feb. 27 "La Frontera" and "The Price of Oil" air Feb. 28 All episodes will stream on HBO Max. Wright wanted a story about Houston with an emphasis on the oil and gas industry. In speaking with her mother, Stapleton says she asked, Where are Black people in the whole story of oil and gas? And where are we now? Advertisement Article continues below this ad That visit home turned into a year in Houston as the pandemic fenced Stapleton and her son in her hometown for about a year. Here, she started pulling at her familial roots to see where they led and how her familys pleasantly named neighborhood enjoyed no prosperity from the industry that emerged around it. My interest was trying to show you one tiny slice of one familys little story, Stapleton says. To show how profoundly the oil and gas industry impacted a family that has been here for seven generations. Settling in Pleasantville In The Price of Oil, Stapleton, with assistance from her mother, traces her family history back through people enslaved by Michel B. Menard, whose historic home, the Oaks, is a tourist destination in Galveston. She mentions her great-great-grandfather, who built Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church in Fifth Ward. The sanctuary was demolished about a decade ago. Every time I drive by there, I have this weird visceral reaction, Stapleton says. Fifth Ward, like Pleasantville, was carved up by freeways. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston is this city where it feels like theres no permanence. With her family history mapped out, Stapleton then delves into Pleasantville, a planned middle-class community; Stapletons great-grandmother was among its first residents. The street where Stapleton grew up and where family members still live is just 2 miles from where tours of the Houston Ship Channel launch. I hope this story shows people there was this whole community of people who built a neighborhood called Pleasantville, that was so gorgeous," she says. "And my whole life Ive thought what happened was our fault. I lacked that critical thinking about how an entire community could be choked by industry and maybe that had to do with the falling prices of real estate. It wasnt until I was making this film that I took a critical eye to Pleasantville and thought about it. This idea that it was our fault for not maintaining it for this or that, its garbage. Its weird to make it our problem. Its bigger than that. 'It's gone...' Stapleton tried throughout the making of The Price of Oil to get on board the Sam Houston Boat Tour, which offers a 90-minute floating excursion through the stent that keeps Houstons financial lifeblood flowing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The filmmaker finds the whole idea of the tour so weird, it feels like a John Waters movie. Something so surreal. Some people look at the Ship Channel and see this crown jewel, this amazing accomplishment. Theres a weird denial in that. Theres absolutely no regard for human beings dealing with the repercussions right there. Stapleton also interrogates Houstons go-go identity as an oil and gas town. Industry is everywhere, and theres some good in them funding museums, she says. But I think theres something inherently wrong with a citys identity connected to industry like that. Is it healthy? Like Wrights book, Stapletons film is critical in a way only someone with deep affection for something can be critical of it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She doesnt believe in an approach to history she refers to as no bad news. By introducing family members early, Stapleton generates great emotional resonance by films end. Not all who started the journey of The Price of Oil are there by the end. An old home where extended family would gather on holidays and Sundays is razed rather than rehabilitated. A new, cheaper structure was erected in its place. Johnson County this week destroyed years-old ballots and election documents, a state-mandated procedure that defied the wishes of Sheriff Calvin Hayden, who pleaded for them to be preserved during his long-running elections investigation. The conservative sheriffs investigation, which began after the 2020 election, has produced no criminal charges. And tension between the sheriff and other county officials who affirm the elections are safe and secure has grown as the investigation energized conspiracy theorists and election deniers. Johnson County had held off on destroying ballots from the 2019 election onward because of requests by Hayden, who has called them potential evidence. But recently, patience has appeared to wear thin. County officials say theyve received reminders from Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, about state law requiring the county election commissioner to destroy the ballots. The countys top lawyer asked Hayden late last year if he was still investigating and whether he had any objection to the ballot destruction. Hayden urged the county to preserve the ballots, saying in a letter that the records were necessary to complete a full investigation. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach joined the fight and asked the county to hold on to the election records, citing importance to Haydens investigation. But Johnson County chief legal counsel Peg Trent hit back, asking Hayden whether he plans to obtain a search warrant to seize the ballots. And the county plowed ahead. Commissioners previously voted to authorize Chairman Mike Kelly to appoint Republican and Democratic observers to watch over the ballot destruction. Then this week, county spokesman Andy Hyland confirmed the election office finished shredding ballots and accompanying documents from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 elections. McKenzi Davis, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs office, said Hayden was not available to comment Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson for Kobachs office did not immediately return The Stars request for comment. The ballot destruction comes as Hayden faces other pressures months before he himself be on the ballot. Hayden, who has filed for reelection, will face a primary challenge from Doug Bedford, a former undersheriff, in the race that so far has drawn one Democratic candidate, Prairie Village Police Chief Byron Roberson. Last month, the election software company at the center of the sheriffs investigation sent Hayden a strongly worded letter warning him of what could come from his baseless investigation. Attorney Rick Guinn, representing the company Konnech Inc. and its CEO Eugene Yu, sent the letter, which read: Sheriff Hayden should be very careful about making public statements concerning Konnech and Mr. Yu to somehow justify his obvious waste of taxpayer dollars. Days before Guinn sent the letter, Los Angeles County agreed to pay $5 million to Yu, who sued over civil rights violations after he was arrested there in 2022 on accusations that he illegally stored poll worker data in China. The case was dropped a few weeks later, with the district attorney citing potential bias in the investigation. Johnson County had used Konnechs software to help manage election workers; the program had nothing to do with voting or voting information. The county stopped using the software in 2022. While fighting for Johnson Countys old ballots to be preserved, the sheriffs office made it clear in a letter the month before that Hayden continues to probe Konnech and accused the company of storing local election information in China. The multi-million dollar settlement, Guinn wrote, should send a strong message to Sheriff Hayden about the consequences of an investigation into nonexistent election fraud. Playful, but sophisticated. Lively, but refined. Kristie Pettibones childrens clothing store, Wild Plains, will be split down the middle vibrant colors and graphics on the wild side, neutrals and dressy outfits representing the plains half. Wild Plains is opening in Leawood, in the old Foos Fabulous Cafe space. Mossy green on one side, beige on the other. Plains is also a nod to the Great Plains, and elements of the Kansas landscape will be woven throughout the store, Pettibone said. Her boutique will open in Leawoods Ranch Mart North at 9421 Mission Road, in the old Foos Fabulous Cafe. Pettibone is eyeing a mid- to late-April opening date. Everybody has been nonstop asking me when Im gonna be open because theyve been holding out purchases, she said. Wild Plains predecessor, Foos, had been open for 13 years. It served coffee and custard before it closed in 2019. Foos owner told The Star at the time that the landlord told his team theyd found a national tenant to take over their lease. I was crestfallen when I found out we were being kicked to the curb, Jeff Stottle, owner of the Leawood location, said. Foos still has a location at 6235 Brookside Plaza. But Trip Ross, principal with Cadence Commercial Real Estate, said he had every hope (Foos) would be part of the future of the shopping center. The space has been vacant since Foos closed. Pettibone knows Foos was a favorite of many, and thats partly why she decided to include a lounge in her shop: to keep the community feel of Foos alive. I dont want to be another white box, she said. I want people to come in and feel the experience. Local architecture firm Hufft constructed a structure with pale, wood slats surrounding the seating area and dressing room. These are meant to resemble wheat bending in the wind, Pettibone said. While parents peruse Pettibones selection of European brand clothes, which will include Me & Henry and Dear Sophie, children can play on a custom-built Jeep. (The vehicle was constructed at the urging of Pettibones car-obsessed 3-year-old.) Pettibone is a graphic designer by trade, but shes always wanted to open a boutique. She spent several years consulting for other local clothing stores, helping design their window displays. With her once far-off goal of opening her own store falling into place, Pettibone said shes in the process of ordering inventory: organic cotton baby rompers, frilly skirts and printed leggings. Its unique things you cant find in the U.S., she said. Just around the corner, Billies Grocery sells coffee, pastries and lunch items. Billies opened its second location at the end of the year. Its original location is at 3216 Gillham Plaza. This embedded content is not available in your region. FRANKFORT Jonathan Shell, Kentucky's new agriculture commissioner, is far from a newcomer at the state Capitol. You could tell by his first appearance in front of a state committee in the 2024 General Assembly. During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing last month, Shell took some tough questions from legislators like Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, a Georgetown Republican who grilled the commissioner over his favorite zip line in Kentucky (little-known fact: they're regulated by the Department of Agriculture) and his opinion of "Hotel California" ("that actually is my mother's favorite song," he told legislators). The informal hearing early in the session was held to introduce Shell, a Republican who defeated Democratic candidate Sierra Enlow in Novembers election, to the committee. Jokes are common in such a setting, but after a six-year stint as a state representative, the new agriculture commissioner didn't need much of an introduction. Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell was sworn into office on the first day of the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort, Ky. Jan. 2, 2024 Sen. Jared Carpenter, a Berea Republican in office since 2011, said he became good friends with Shell when they represented the same area while he was in the legislature from 2013-19. And Thayer, a senator throughout Shell's time in the House, said the new commissioner accomplished a lot during his run in the General Assembly, but his new position is "the job (he) was made for." A father of four who's been married to his wife Brooke for 13 years, Shell comes from a farming background and currently raises cattle back home in Garrard County, with a two-acre greenhouse and a pumpkin business where his kids help out. He's a "farmer by trade," he said in an interview after the hearing, who was influenced to run for the office by another former commissioner who now has a high-profile role in Washington, D.C. "(Current U.S. Rep.) Jamie Comer was ag commissioner whenever I got into politics, and seeing just what a regular person who wants to go to Frankfort to make a difference can do, that's what I wanted to do," Shell said. "I want to represent my people and represent agriculture and really try to move us in a positive direction." Updating in Franfort: Our list of key bills advancing in the 2024 Kentucky legislature His biography on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture website touts his experience and says he believes agriculture can be summed up in three words: food, faith and family. It notes he was the youngest member of the General Assembly when he was first elected to the House in 2012 and rose to House floor leader for the GOP in 2016, the same year the party won a majority in the chamber for the first time in nearly a century. The bio stops, though, before explaining how he left office. Shell was defeated by Republican challenger Travis Brenda in the 2018 primary, a stunning loss for a man U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell once called one of the most important Republicans in Kentucky already." Brenda, who would serve one term before losing the 2020 primary to current GOP Rep. Josh Bray, was a teacher at Rockcastle County High School and a first-time candidate motivated by Shells support for a controversial bill he helped shepherd through the legislature in the final days of in the 2018 session. The bill, which would have cut some benefits for teachers in an effort to ease the state's pension burden, was signed by then-Gov. Matt Bevin over widespread protests from educators but was later struck down by the Kentucky Supreme Court over the process used to pass it after an 11-page bill about sewer regulations advanced for weeks through committees, its text was replaced with a 291-page proposal to alter the state's pension system just before reaching the Senate, where it was approved the same night after heated debate. Shell, who brought the updated bill to a House committee after its text was replaced, had been out of office for five years before the recent election. He said that time was spent farming in Garrard County and preparing to be "able to hit the ground running from Day One." In ads leading up to Election Day with a "Tough as Shell" tagline, the then-candidate promised to "never back down from the woke liberals attacking our way of life," with an aim to "stop (President Joe) Biden and save Kentucky." He won the race for agriculture commissioner with just over 59% of the vote. Hes followed suit since taking office. As Republicans in the state legislature pushed in late January for Gov. Andy Beshear to speak in favor of Texas' efforts to keep migrants from crossing the border, Shell tagged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a social media post that included a photo of razor wire, telling the governor "it's yours if you want it!" He signed letters in his first month in office with other agriculture commissioners criticizing banks' support of climate action and challenging the "Biden Administration's radical climate plan" through a proposal to allow companies that manage public and private land to be traded on the stock exchange. That proposal was withdrawn "doesn't mean it's going away, it'll probably come back in some form, but at least we were able to win this first battle with them," he said in last month's interview. "We're constantly looking federally to see what regulations are coming down," Shell said. "... That's what I mean whenever I say that we've got to push back, because a bureaucrat in Washington, D.C., sitting in somewhere in an office in an ivory tower doesn't understand what these people are going through on a daily basis. "It's a shame that we have to be on the offensive of looking nationally towards regulation to push back, but that's what we're going to do." Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell speaks to Senate Agriculture Committee members at a meeting in the first month of his time in office. Jan. 23, 2024 It was an unceremonious exit in Frankfort five years ago. But Shell said his time in the General Assembly has already helped him start his new chapter on the right foot. "I was here. I was in the room. I was in the meetings. I was in the decision-making," he said. "So (I'm) able to work with them to understand what pressure points they need relieved and what we can put pressure points on for them to be able to get the job done on behalf of the people of Kentucky and the ag community." More headlines: Kentucky's juvenile justice system is in crisis, audit says. How will lawmakers respond? Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jonathan Shell back in Frankfort as Kentucky agriculture commissioner Jonathan's Grille will open a new restaurant in Lebanon as part of a large mixed-use development that's currently under construction. The restaurant will be located on the northwest corner of Hartmann Drive and Barton Village Boulevard, Suncrest Managing Partner Mike Koch said. "We expect to break ground in about 60 days and hope to be open in early January," said Mason Revelette, who owns Jonathans Grille with brother Curt Revelette. Lebanon Economic Development Director Sarah Haston recruited Jonathan's Grille, which lists 10 current locations on its website. Jonathan's Grille's locations can be found in neighboring Mt. Juliet and in Gallatin's Shops of Windsong. It's "a great company and popular brand throughout Middle Tennessee," Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell said about Jonathan's Grille, which describes itself as an upscale sports grille. Jonathan's Grille in Mt. Juliet Bell and Haston have made upscale restaurant recruitment a priority for the city based on feedback from residents. The Barton Village area has a new sewer line under construction that Bell said needed the upgrade to attract commercial development to that area. Half of the sewer project is being paid for by developers. Lebanon is using American Rescue Plan Act funds and $2.5 million of city utility money to pay for the other half, Bell said. Barton Village is projected to add almost 2,000 homes and 350,000 square feet of retail, commercial, and office space to about 350 acres just off Interstate 40. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jonathan's Grille to build new restaurant in Lebanon at Barton Village The Skhemy (Schemes) project, jointly with a Belarusian service of Radio Liberty, has investigated that the meetings with Belarusian security services are being organised for the children deported from occupied Ukrainian cities to Belarus. Russian songs with military topics are played at such meetings. Source: the Skhemy project Details: The Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab reported last November that at least 2,442 children were illegally deported from Russia-occupied Ukrainian cities to childrens camps in Belarus within the first year and a half of the full-scale invasion. The journalists have found out that the children in these are being indoctrinated with pro-Soviet narratives and militarised. For instance, they participate in meetings with Belarusian security services, hold weapons in their hands and perform skits about the war. Russian songs about military topics are being played during their leisure activities. A skit with a child dressed up as a Belarusian border guard wounded in the head Photo: Skhemy Lipki camp in Vitebsk Oblast, Belarus. Photo: Skhemy The investigators learned that, besides the Belarusian ones, international organisations such as the Red Cross and UNICEF were involved in organising such events. Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, made a speech at one of the New Years celebrations organised for children. He presented himself as the saviour of the children whose childhood was stolen by unnamed "adults". He calls Belarus, where he usurped power, "a country of stability and peace". Support UP or become our patron! Darryl George with members of his family. The Barbers Hill school district has punished George for his hairstyle because it violates a dress code policy limiting the length of male students' hair. Credit: George family/social media ANAHUAC A Texas judge on Thursday said the Barbers Hill Independent School District can punish a Black student who wears his hair in long locs without violating Texas new CROWN Act, which is meant to prevent hairstyle discrimination in schools and workplaces. The decision came after a monthslong dispute between the district and Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School who has been sent to in-school suspension since August for wearing his hair in long locs. Legislators last year passed a law called the Texas CROWN Act that prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective styles associated with race. Protective styles include locs, braids and twists. But the Barbers Hill school district successfully argued it can still enforce its policy that prohibits males from wearing hair that extends beyond eyebrows, earlobes or collars even if its gathered on top of the students head. Judge Chap B. Cain III issued the ruling after a short trial in which lawyers for opposing sides argued over the legislative intent behind the CROWN Act. Lawyers for Barbers Hill said lawmakers would have included explicit language about hair length had they intended the law to cover it. Allie Booker, representing Darryl George and his mother Darresha George, said protective styles are only possible with long hair. You need significant length to perform the style, Booker said. You cant make braids with a crew cut. You cant lock anything that isnt long. George exited the courtroom in tears, walking alongside his mother and several lawmakers who co-authored the CROWN Act. As I was walking down with Ms. George and Darryl, you could sense the anger, you could sense the confusion, said Candice Matthews, the statewide chair of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. Darryl told me, with tears in his eyes: All this because of my hair? Greg Poole, superintendent of the Barbers Hill school district, declined an interview after the decision came down. In a statement sent through the districts spokesperson, Poole applauded the decision. The Texas legal system has validated our position that the district's dress code does not violate the CROWN Act and that the CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression, Poole said. Poole also suggested that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on college admissions will have ramifications on Texas new CROWN Act. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that affirmative action is a violation of the 14th Amendment, and we believe the same reasoning will eventually be applied to the CROWN Act, Poole said. Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned 40 years of legal precedent and rejected race-conscious admissions in higher education at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The majority found that the universities admissions policies, which use race as one of several factors in college admissions, violated the Constitutions equal protection clause, which mandates that people are treated equally under the law. The majority of justices found that the race-based policies do not pass strict scrutiny, meaning the policies are not justified by a compelling state interest. Its unclear how the debate about the CROWN Act is analogous to that SCOTUS ruling. Unlike the college admissions case, Barbers Hill officials have not contested the legality of the CROWN Act itself. They have simply rejected a particular interpretation of the law. The Texas Tribune reached out to Poole to clarify his comments, but he did not immediately respond. Booker said after the Texas ruling Thursday that she intends to appeal the decision. She also said she will file an injunction in a pending federal lawsuit filed by Darresha and Darryl George against the school district as well as state leaders. In a statement, Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Garland, said she was disappointed in the decision and that it undermined the purpose of the CROWN Act, which Bowers authored. "Darryl George's case serves as a poignant reminder of the systemic injustices that persist in our society, particularly when it comes to issues of race and personal expression," Bowers wrote. "No one should ever be made to feel inferior or face barriers in education or employment due to their hairstyle." During the trial, Booker called upon two witnesses: Darresha George and Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, who co-authored the CROWN Act and chairs the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. Attorneys asked Georges mother few questions, only asking her to identify her son and define his hairstyle. Reynolds, however, was questioned at length as the two sides argued over the intent behind the law. Reynolds said he co-authored the bill because he was disturbed by Barbers Hills treatment of DeAndre Arnold, a Black student who was told he couldnt attend his graduation ceremony at Barbers Hill High School unless he cut his locs. A judge issued a preliminary injunction in that case, blocking the school district from enforcing its policy in that particular case. Litigation is ongoing in the case. I felt compelled to file legislation to protect students who were similarly situated, Reynolds said from the witness stand. Attorneys for Barbers Hill repeatedly objected with mixed success to Bookers line of questioning. They interrupted nearly every one of her questions to say they were irrelevant or that the intent behind the law was plain within the law itself. It would be an error to consider Rep. Reynolds comments as indicative of legislative intent, Barbers Hill attorney Sara Leon said in her closing argument to the judge. You do have evidence of legislative intent, which is the language of the statute, which does not mention length. Judge Cain ultimately sided with Barbers Hill, saying that the CROWN Act could have been written to say that individuals with braids, locs or twists are exempt from any hair length policy. He encouraged lawmakers to go back to the Legislature and file a new version of the CROWN Act that includes specific language about length. The judge did not comment on the constitutionality of Barbers Hills policy, which Bookers had called into question during her opening and closing arguments. She said that the districts grooming policy violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution because it is only applied to one gender. And she further argued that because the CROWN Act names a specific protected class of individuals with a particular hairstyle associated with race, the burden must be on the school district to prove that their grooming policy is the only way to achieve a compelling state interest. The district has not proven that the policy is tailored to serve those interests, Booker said, citing an affidavit from Superintendent Poole that articulated the purpose of the dress code is to teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, maintain a positive and safe learning environment, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for authority. In light of the ruling, George will remain assigned to in-school suspension, where he is allegedly denied instructional materials and hot food. Before the trial, George said the experience has been isolating and damaging to his mental health. It feels lonely, George said. When youre only stuck in one room for a whole semester it makes you feel some type of way. You see everyone else walking around talking and laughing and you cant do that. We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today. A dozen years after Vero Beach became the epicenter of a statewide probe dubbed Operation Pill Street Blues that closed eight pain clinics, a judge threw out charges filed against seven doctors and seven clinic owners accused of handing out an estimated 2 million pills a year, court records show. Authorities have said the June 27, 2012 clinic raids and arrests that wrapped up a two-year state and federal investigation, helped change Floridas reputation as a go-to pill mill destination for people seeking easy access to highly addictive opioids. By 2011, Florida lawmakers had banned doctor shopping, toughened rules related to operating pain clinics and dispensing pharmacies and launched the states Prescription Drug Monitoring Database, which tracks doctors prescribing painkillers and the names of patients buying them. The only clinic closed on the Treasure Coast was the Vero Beach-based Stuart Pain Management Center. It was reported by Drug Enforcement Administration agents to be part of an organization with links to clinics raided in Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Miami, Sarasota and Fort Myers. An estimated 43,000 phone conversations were intercepted via court-approved wiretaps during the investigation that seized $1.1 million from 59 bank accounts. Stuart Pain Management Center, Inc. in Vero Beach was part of a raid involving a multi-agency statewide drug investigation into pain pill clinics that allegedly have been illegally dispensing pain medication such as oxycodone, Indian River County sheriff's officials said. Felony charges filed in June 2012 against 14 defendants including former Stuart Pain Management Center medical director Dr. Bruce Kammerman, 65, formerly of Palm City, and Lewis Stouffer, 44, a former Pompano Beach firefighter ranged from racketeering to delivery of controlled substances, trafficking, money laundering and manslaughter. Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial Since then, the expansive case being prosecuted in Indian River County by Floridas Office of Statewide Prosecution, has churned through four judges, 41 motion hearings and an appeal that stalled progress for several years. Circuit Judge Robert Meadows in a Feb. 13 order dismissing the protracted case, faulted Statewide Prosecution attorneys for repeated delays tied to failing to turn over discovery material information, data and records - that defendants are entitled to receive prior to a trial. Meadows granted a defense request to dismiss all charges for constitutional speedy trial violations, and found the primary reason for delay was the states failure to fulfill their discovery obligations. The defendants have filed no less than 28 motions requesting discovery that the state was obligated to produce, Meadows noted in a 20-page order. Despite numerous orders by the court the state deliberately impeded with the defense in a very material fashion and went far beyond mere negligence ... Meadows concluded that prejudice to the defendants in this case by the deliberate calculated delays by the state is far beyond a presumptive prejudice. The state, he continued, failed to provide even a scintilla of evidence that the delays were by mere negligence. In determining whether a right to a speedy trial has been violated, Meadows said factors to be considered include: The length of the delay; the reason for the delay; whether a defendant timely asserted their rights; and the existence of actual prejudice as a result of the delay. An extraordinary delay of 12 years is presumptively prejudicial, he ruled. Meadows too, acknowledged that prosecutors and defense attorneys have cited myriad reasons for lengthy delays, including the number of defendants, the complexity of the case, the amount of discovery, appeals that took months to resolve, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Florida Statewide Prosecutor Nicholas B. Cox in an email said his office will ask Meadows to reconsider his ruling. We plan to file a motion for rehearing before the trial judge this week and our motion will respond to parts of the courts order, Cox said Monday. Meadows in his order noted that the file of a confidential informant used in the investigation was never provided to the defense, and in fact, was destroyed by the Indian River County Sheriffs Office, the very agency spearheading the case. Also missing, Meadows wrote, was the patient file of Forrest Cyphers, 34, whose March 7, 2012 overdose death formed the basis for a manslaughter charge filed against Dr. Roger Gordon, 77, of Plantation. And while prosecutors for 12 years insisted the Cyphers file didnt exist, Meadows noted the state had it the whole time and miraculously provided it to the defense on Jan. 18. He noted, too, that since 2012, eight material witnesses have died, other witnesses have moved, retired, changed jobs, or cant be located. Plea deals Records show Stouffer and two physicians arrested have pleaded guilty. Susan Yandle, 56, a Jacksonville doctor who worked at a Daytona clinic, in 2016 pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. She was sentenced to two years of community control, eight years of probation and gave up her medical license. Fernando Valle, 66, of Orlando, who was arrested while working as a doctor at a Fort Myers clinic, received the same punishment in 2017 after pleading to similar charges. Stouffer though, who faced a three-year prison term as part of a plea deal, has not been sentenced, according to his attorney Andy Metcalf, who expects Meadows order to be appealed. The state has appellate rights, so we're waiting to see what will happen. We're obviously very happy with the ruling, Metcalf said. It's a complex case, it needs to be resolved. And I think the judge made the right decision. The Pill Street Blues probe was one of the largest of its type in the state's history, former Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a June 2012 news conference at the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi addresses the media in 2012 about Operation Pill Street Blues, a statewide, multiagency operation that culminated in multiple arrests. "These people are despicable, Bondi said. They used the trust of the public to distribute drugs to our children." Bold move When authorities shuttered the Stuart Pain Management Center, its lead doctor Bruce Kammerman, who then lived in Palm City, was cuffed and escorted by officers to the Indian River County Jail for booking. His Stuart lawyer Lance Richard on Tuesday said Kammerman, who retained his medical license and lives in Fort Lauderdale, always maintained his innocence. Richard described Meadows ruling as a very bold move by the judge. It's also a very well thought out and reasoned opinion, he said. He lays out all of the motions to compel: Turn this over, turn this over and it just never was. I think he (Meadows) just got to the end of his rope. Kammerman is still in disbelieve Meadows ended the case, Richard said. Hes cautious to see whats going to happen next, he said. He is looking forward to moving on with the rest of his life. These people have been through a lot. Images from a June 27, 2012 raid on Stuart Pain Management Center, Inc. in Vero Beach. The raid was part of a multi-agency statewide drug investigation into pain pill clinics that Indian River County sheriff's officials said were illegally dispensing pain medication such as Oxycodone. Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers, who stood by his agencys work in the investigation, said Meadows order was unfortunate. Flowers, who was a detective at the time, helped oversee wiretaps, clinic visits by undercover informants and complied search warrant affidavits. I'm certainly disappointed that the case has been tossed at this point, he said. I know the things that I did were meant to bring justice for this, and it's unfortunate that it's worked out like this. He acknowledged Meadows made some valid points in that, people have a right to not have to sit more than a decade waiting for a criminal case. Even though they may never have to sit in jail, seven of these defendants were doctors, he said. The fact that they had to sit 12 years under this, is probably punishment in and of itself. Lake Okeechobee: El Nino rains to blame for Lake water sent to the St. Lucie River, Stuart Flying before driving: PSL teen soars through solo flights on 16th birthday Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the Treasure Coast. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: IRC Judge dismisses 2012 'pill mill' case dubbed Pill Street Blues Both sides in Georgias high-profile election-interference case involving former President Trump are preparing their final arguments over whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified over her personal relationship with a special prosecutor on the case, Nathan Wade. After a drama-filled two-day hearing on the motion to disqualify Willis, the public is now waiting for the next steps. First up is an in-camera hearing with Judge Scott McAfee and the defenses so-called "star witness," Terrence Bradley. A source confirmed to Fox News this hearing has been set for Monday, Feb. 26. Bradley could barely get a word out during his testimony last Friday as lawyers for the state, as well as Bradleys own lawyer, both called out objections to nearly every question. BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS AFTER WILD 2-DAY HEARING ON FANI WILLIS AFFAIR: WHATS DONE IS DONE' The arguments centered on whether Bradleys testimony would violate attorney-client privilege, since he was Wades divorce lawyer for a time. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade are in the spotlight in Georgia. Anthony Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University, described the little information Bradley was able to share in open court as "basically a dud." However, what is said behind closed doors in the upcoming hearing could change that. The judge is likely to determine whether Bradleys answers actually break attorney-client privilege and how much weight to give any testimony that ends up being admissible. After that, a final hearing is expected, during which the state and defense would summarize their evidence and present their final arguments on the issue. Multiple sources told Fox News this will likely be scheduled for sometime next week, but an exact date is still being finalized. Kreis pointed out that there has been "no clear precedent" in this case and that it "all comes down to what standard of ethics Judge McAfee applies." JUDGE IN TRUMP GEORGIA CASE SAYS DA FANI WILLIS' ALLEGED IMPROPER AFFAIR COULD RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION' The prosecution stated that it wanted the judge to use the standard of an actual conflict needing to be proven, while the defense has argued that even an appearance of conflict is enough to disqualify Willis. "Judge McAfee is really in a pretty, I think, unenviable position of having to wade through the law, wade through this particular case and then make a decision accordingly," Kreis explained. Judge Scott McAfee at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Feb. 15. The bottom-line questions are whether Willis relationship with Wade appeared to create a conflict of interest in the case, if there was an actual conflict of interest, and which legal standard the judge would believe is the right one to use. Kreis said typically, the standard for prosecutors would be a concrete conflict of interest. He suggested that if that was what the judge were to choose in this case, "theres an unlikely scenario the DAs office will get kicked off the case," considering the evidence presented in hearings so far. GEORGIA DA FANI WILLIS WILL NOT TESTIFY FOR SECOND DAY ON IMPROPER AFFAIR WITH NATHAN WADE Regardless of the outcome, it is very likely an appeal will be filed immediately, according to Kreis. Under Georgia law, defense attorneys could file what is called a "certificate of review." This is essentially a court filing asking the judge if they could appeal his decision. If the judge were to say yes, it would go to the Georgia Court of Appeals. If the judge were to decline, then the defense would have to wait until after the entire trial is over before they could bring it to the state appeals court. LETITIA JAMES PREPARED TO SEIZE TRUMP'S ASSETS IF HE IS UNABLE TO PAY $354 MILLION FRAUD FINE Still, Kreis noted, "The appeals court here in Georgia doesnt necessarily have to take it up, so its discretionary on their part, as well." GSU law professor Anthony Kreis speaking with Fox News about the Trump election-interference case in Georgia. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP He said he believed, though, that McAfee would grant any appeal because of his "by-the-books" approach to the case so far. "He seems to understand that this case is so important and that everything should be followed methodically." It is unlikely McAfee will rule from the bench, Kreis said. He anticipated a more detailed ruling filled with supporting legal memorandum, rather than a definitive decision from the bench. Original article source: Judge in Trump Georgia case in 'unenviable position' as final arguments loom Cy-Fair fire chief Amy Ramon nominated for Texas Fire Chief Association Fire Chief of the Year award. Submitted by Texas Fire Chief Association The 2023 winner of the award, which started in Texas in 1999, is expected to be announced in the next few weeks, Ramon said. The award recognizes fire chiefs for their outstanding contributions accomplishments in the community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ramon said she was surprised to open an email from the organization and notice her name was listed among others for this award. Ramon, also the first woman nominated, is up against competition from across Texas, from Montgomery County to Dallas. The Cy-Fair Fire Department is currently staffed with 443 members and 103 volunteers. Ramon started out in the department as a volunteer, working her way up to station officer, a board member and assistant chief of EMS before becoming the fire chief in 2014 after a nationwide search. Even though we cover such a large territory, we've tried to keep some of the same principles that we came up with as volunteers, said Ramon. With as much time as people spend here, we want to make it as family friendly as we can. Ramon said it is an honor to be nominated and to win this award would be overwhelming, especially given the competition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ramon said that being a woman in a male-dominated career field has not held her back. Thomas Olson appears in Clinton County Judge Shannon Schlegel's courtroom in St. Johns. Olson, 35, was convicted of second degree murder and felony firearm in the killing of Hmong-American deer hunter Chong Mua Yang, 66, of Lansing on the evening of Nov. 16, 2018 at the Rose Lake State Game Area. ST. JOHNS A Grand Blanc Township man was convicted on murder and weapon charges Thursday in connection with the death of a hunter in Bath Township more than five years ago. A jury in 29th Circuit Court deliberated about 18 hours over three days before finding Thomas Olson guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm possession Olson, 35, was charged with killing Chong Yang, 68, on Nov. 16, 2018, while they were both hunting at the state's Rose Lake complex during the second day of firearm deer season. Yang was shot in the back of the head. Some members of Yang's family, who have attended many court proceedings and sat through the trial, were emotional after the verdicts came in. Joseph Yang, a family member and local attorney, said the verdicts don't take away the pain from Chong's loss but provide some degree of closure. "The question still remains, 'Why?,'" an emotional Yang said. "... To be shot in the back of the head senselessly, for no apparent reason, we still want to know why." Much of the family were living in Lansing at the time of the killing but have since moved to the east side of state, he said. Olson's attorneys, Michael Manley and Michael Beer, who contended before trial that prosecutors charged the wrong man and argued during the trial that the state did not prove its case, declined to comment on the verdicts. Olson's jury deliberated for about five hours on Tuesday, most of the day on Wednesday and a little over half of the day Thursday. His trial began on Feb. 13 and concluded with closing arguments on Tuesday morning. The state Attorney General's Office said scientific evidence, including GPS location data obtained through search warrants and a bottle of deer spray found in the general area of Yang's body, linked Olson to the killing. Olson's DNA was found on the bottle, and he had acknowledged it was his. The location data showed that a device owned by Olson was in the area where Yang was shot in the back of the head more than five years ago. Prosecutors also introduced text messages shared between Olson and his hunting partner that day in which they joked about the killing or the investigation. Prosecutors contended the messages amounted to admissions, but defense attorneys have characterized them as jokes made in poor taste. Prosecutors also said Olson searched for news about the incident on his cellphone before police had publicly revealed that a hunter was killed. During his closing argument, Assistant State Attorney General Richard Cunningham said he couldn't prove a motive for the killing but suggested Olson fired a shotgun in the direction of Yang with the intention of scaring the Hmong-American hunter. Manley argued there was no evidence Olson ever was close enough to Yang to have fired the shot and said prosecutors failed to prove their case. He raised numerous questions about a police investigation that he said either wasn't thorough enough or overlooked evidence pointing toward another man who was eliminated by police as a suspect. The trial began on Nov. 13 and included three days of testimony by prosecution witnesses. The defense introduced dozens of exhibits but rested its case on Tuesday without calling any witnesses. Olson and another man, Robert Rodway, were charged with first-degree, felony murder in late 2022 in Chong's death, and an alternate count of second-degree murder was later added. Cunningham essentially argued a second-degree murder theory but also suggested Olson dropped the plastic bag with the deer spray while carrying out of the woods items he had taken from Yang. The first-degree, felony murder charge was based on a theory that Yang was killed during the commission of a larceny. His gun and other possessions were missing when his body was found. They were not recovered by police. The charges against Rodway were dismissed without prejudice last year by the attorney general's office. Joseph Yang said the jury realized Olson's statements in the text messages were admissions of guilt. "The jury saw through the distractions and got to the gist of the case ...," he said. Second-degree murder is punishable by any term of years up to life in prison. Judge Shannon Schlegel canceled Olson's bond and set sentencing for April 8. Contact Ken Palmer atkpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Jury convicts man of murder in death of hunter near Lansing in 2018 Local resident Jacob Rosthein poses before a mural paying tribute to late Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens, as the trial into artist's murder gets underway (Charly TRIBALLEAU) Jurors were to start deliberating Thursday over the fate of two men charged with murdering the famed Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay. Now in its fourth week, the trial is centered on the events of October 30, 2002, when pioneering rapper Jason "Jay" Mizell, widely known by his DJ moniker, was fatally shot in the head in his Queens studio. He was 37 years old and a father of three. The case has gone unsolved for more than two decades. In 2020 prosecutors charged Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr., the alleged shooter, with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearms-related murder. But in their respective closing arguments on Wednesday, defense teams said a third person, Jay Bryant, was in fact Mizell's killer. Prosecutors accuse Bryant of letting Mizell's murderers into the musician's studio, where he was shot dead, but say Bryant was an accomplice to the larger conspiracy, rather than the shooter himself. He will be tried separately at a later date. Defense teams pointed out that Bryant's hat was discovered at the crime scene, and say the spotlight should be on him, not their clients. Attorney Michael Hueston, who represents Jordan, worked to poke holes and point out inconsistencies in witness testimony, urging the jury that reasonable doubt as to Jordan and Washington's involvement in the murder remained. "This is an attempt to make a mockery of the judicial system," said Susan Kellman, a lawyer on Washington's team. "They have no case against anybody but Jay Bryant." But in their rebuttal prosecutors reiterated their arguments that Jordan and Washington were in fact executioners who ambushed Mizell as part of a drug dispute. Angry after being cut out of a cocaine deal, Jordan -- the slain musician's godson -- shot a 40-caliber bullet into Mizell's head, as Washington held others in the room back at gunpoint, the prosecution says. For years two key witnesses -- Lydia High and Uriel "Tony" Rincon, the latter of whom was shot in the leg the night of the murder -- had resisted cooperating with law enforcement, reticence both they and prosecutors ascribed to fear. Prosecutor Mark Misorek said defense teams' efforts to transfer focus to Bryant represented "pure speculation." "Karl Jordan Jr. shot Jason Mizell through the head and he did it while Ronald Washington did crowd control," he said. Following closing arguments and the government's rebuttal, Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall gave the anonymous jury their instructions before sending them home for the day. They will begin considering their verdict Thursday morning. - Two personas - The trial has revealed a lesser-known side of Mizell, who along with his band Run-DMC had railed against drug culture. But prosecutors say Mizell got involved in the drug trade to support his lifestyle and those close to him, as buzz around the group's music -- hits include "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way" -- began to fade. He was a quiet middle man in the drug trade, and a financial fount for family and friends, in the years preceding his death, they say. Jordan and Washington hatched their plan, according to prosecutors, after Mizell cut them out of a job. Along with LL Cool J and Public Enemy, Run-DMC were trailblazers of new-school hip hop -- mixing rock elements, aggressive boasting and sociopolitical commentary -- and its outgrowth, golden era hip hop, which included eclectic sampling. The seminal group were the first rappers featured on MTV, and established a new rap aesthetic incorporating street culture, a departure from the flashy, disco-inflected attire of their predecessors. Prior to his death, Mizell was influential in New York as a cultivator of local talent, working with young rappers and co-founding a DJ academy. Jam Master Jay's slaying followed a spate of murders within the rap community in the 1990s, including the shootings of superstars Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. mdo/mlm MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP/Boston 25) A New Hampshire man was convicted of second-degree murder Thursday in the death of his 5-year-old daughter, who police believe was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021 and whose body was never found. Adam Montgomery, 34, did not attend the trial and wasnt present when jurors returned their verdict. He had proclaimed his innocence, saying in court last year in an unrelated case that he loved Harmony Montgomery unconditionally. I am grateful to the judge, jury, and Department of Justice for delivering justice for Harmony, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. Adam Montgomery is a monster and deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. Adam Montgomerys attorneys earlier acknowledged his guilt on two lesser charges, that he purposely and unlawfully removed, concealed or destroyed her corpse and falsified physical evidence, but said he didnt kill his daughter. The jury also convicted him of assaulting Harmony Montgomery in 2019 and of tampering with the key prosecution witness, his estranged wife and stepmother of his daughter, Kayla Montgomery. Adam Montgomery enters the courtroom for jury selection ahead of his murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, Harmony. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Adam Montgomery enters the courtroom for jury selection ahead of his murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, Harmony. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Adam Montgomery enters the courtroom for jury selection ahead of his murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, Harmony. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Adam Montgomery and his lawyers Caroline Smith and James Brooks watch as potential jurors enter the courtroom for jury selection ahead of his murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, Harmony. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Assistant New Hampshire Attorney Generals Christopher Knowles (at left) and Benjamin Agati stand as potential jurors enter the courtroom at jury selection for the Adam Montgomery murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, Harmony. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Adam Montgomery stands with his lawyers Caroline Smith and James Brooks as they await potential jurors to enter the courtroom for jury selection ahead of his murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old-daughter, Harmony. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Superior Court Justice Amy Messer conducts a bench meeting with lawyers at jury selection for the Adam Montgomery murder trial at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Feb. 6, 2024. He is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, Harmony. From left are Assistant New Hampshire Attorney Generals Christopher Knowles and Benjamin Agati and Public Defenders Caroline Smith and James Brooks. David Lane/UNION LEADER POOL Investigators believe Harmony was slain in December 2019, though she wasnt reported missing for almost two years. Kayla Montgomery, the girls stepmother, testified that the body was hidden in the trunk of a car, a cooler, a ceiling vent, and a workplace freezer before Adam disposed of it. Defense attorney James Brooks deferred comment to Caroline Smith, the main attorney representing Adam Montgomery. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Adam Montgomery had custody of the girl. Her mother, Crystal Sorey, who was no longer in a relationship with him, said the last time she saw Harmony Montgomery was during a video call in April 2019. She eventually went to police, who announced they were looking for the missing child on New Years Eve 2021. Photos of the girl were widely circulated on social media. Police eventually determined she had been killed. Weve still got to find her, police Chief Allen Aldenberg said Thursday. This girl deserves better than the life she had. Harmony Montgomerys case has exposed weaknesses in child protection systems and provoked calls to prioritize the well-being of children over parents in custody matters. Harmony was moved between the homes of her mother and her foster parents multiple times before Adam Montgomery received custody in 2019 and moved to New Hampshire. I still firmly believe that some people in some other agencies need to be held accountable. And Im asking for that, Aldenberg said, referring to child welfare officials in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. This little 5-year-old girl, she deserves somebody to be held accountable that failed along the way because we wouldnt be standing here today if other people had done their job. Evil: Kayla Montgomery takes stand in trial of estranged husband accused of killing young daughter Kayla Montgomery is serving an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to perjury charges related to the investigation into the childs disappearance and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. She testified that that her husband killed Harmony Montgomery on Dec. 7, 2019, while the family lived in their car after being evicted from their home. Kayla Montgomery testified that her husband repeatedly punched Harmony Montgomery in the face and head because he was angry that she was having bathroom accidents in the car. The couple noticed the girl was dead hours later when the car broke down, at which time Adam Montgomery put her body in a duffel bag, Kayla Montgomery had testified. For the next three months, she testified, Adam Montgomery moved the body from container to container and place to place. According to his wife, the locations included the trunk of a friends car, a cooler in the hallway of his mother-in-laws apartment building, the ceiling vent of a homeless shelter and a workplace freezer. Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati shows the jury a photograph of the defendant during closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Defense attorney Caroline Smith displays a photograph of Kayla Montgomery, Adam Montgomery's estranged wife, to the jury during closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Adam Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony Montgomery. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's biological mother, covers her ears as prosecutors present their closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's biological mother, cries as she listens to the prosecution's closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. At right is Michelle Raftery, Harmony Montgomerys foster parent. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati shows the jury a bag that the prosecution claims was used by Adam Montgomery to store his dead daughter's body during closing argument in Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's biological mother, cries as she listens to the prosecution's closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Defense attorney Caroline Smith displays a photograph of Harmony Montgomery to the jury during her closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Members of the Manchester Police Department listens during to closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati shows the jury a photograph of the defendant during closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony, pictured at left. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Judge Amy Messer, center, Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Christopher Knowles, left, Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati, second from left, defense attorneys Caroline Smith, second from right, and James Brooks confer before proceedings in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) 02-21-24: Manchester, NH: The trial of Adam Montgomery (not pictured) who is charged with murdering his five year old daughter Harmony continued today inside Courtroom 1 at the Hillsborough County Superior Court. Pictured is Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati (right) as during closing arguments he shows the jury a photograph of the defendant, who he told them murdered his daughter, whose photo is on the screen at left. (Jim Davis for the Boston Globe). Rebecca Maines testifies during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Defense attorneys James Brooks, right, and Caroline Smith listen to the prosecution address the court during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Judge Amy Messer, seated at center, listens to defense and prosecution attorneys during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Douglas Small testifies as the prosecution holds up a photograph of Adam Montgomery during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Manchester, N.H. Police Capt. Matthew Larochelle listens to an audio recording of Adam Montgomery during the trial of the Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Manchester, N.H. Police Capt. Matthew Larochelle testifies during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Judge Amy Messer, seated at right, listens to defense and prosecution attorneys as witness Rebecca Maines, left, waits on the witness stand during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Mass. State Trooper Bryan Hernandez, a detective assigned to the Suffolk Co., Mass. Attorney General's office, points out a search area in Revere, Mass. on a map during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Defense attorney James Brooks questions witness Rebecca Maines during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Its time for NH to really be accountable in case of Harmony Montgomery, retired judge says Lead detective John Dunleavy said Thursday that while he considered the conviction a win, it did not feel complete since Harmony Montgomery was still missing. We didnt find her, he said. I will be on the job for some time, I still have about 15 years left. And as long as Im a police officer, Im going to continue to look for her. Prosecutor Benjamin Agati said at a news conference that the trial does not end the search for the girl. He said that after analyzing the mileage Adam Montgomery took with the rental truck into Massachusetts, there are about 26 miles (42 kilometers) that he could have covered where her remains might be. She is somewhere along that route, he said, pointing out previous searches in the Revere, Massachusetts, area. Those are still our big areas of search. Agati said that although Montgomery didnt attend his trial, state law requires him to attend his sentencing, and they would be making a filing with the court to ensure the rule was enforced. He added that when Adam Montgomery is sentenced in the coming months, he should face a minimum sentence on the murder charge of 35 years to life, a tougher sentence because of his daughters young age. He said that would be consecutive with armed criminal charges for which he is already serving a minimum sentence of more than 33 years. Asked if that meant Adam Montgomery was never getting out of prison, the prosecutor said: Its a lot of time, and I hope Im not practicing at the time that that minimum date ever comes around. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, a police dog was killed after an officer-involved shooting Wednesday in DeSoto County. The department reported the death on social media. "Today, we mourn the loss of Luca, a K-9 with the DeSoto County Sheriffs Department, who was killed in the line of duty, the post said. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his handler and the entire department during this time. Luca was a true hero, and his bravery and service will never be forgotten. According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, K-9 Luca was killed in an officer-involved shooting in DeSoto County. K-9 injured, suspect dead: Police chase ends in deputy involved fatal shooting in DeSoto County Mississippi On Wednesday, DeSoto County deputies were involved in what started as a car chase. According to a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation news release, the incident ended with deputies initiating a PIT maneuver on the subject's vehicle on U.S. 61, south of MS 3 in Lake Cormorant. A PIT maneuver, or precision immobilization technique, is when a police vehicle forces a vehicle to quickly turn and stop. "The vehicle then came to a stop, and a K9 was released," MBI officials said in the press release. "The subject discharged a weapon, striking the K9. Deputies then discharged their weapons, striking the subject." The unidentified suspect received fatal injuries. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: K-9 dies following an officer-involved shooting in DeSoto Co. Later today, Vice President Kamala Harris will headline an event in Grand Rapids as the next stop of her Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour. While this speech is part of a new tour, it will be a continuation of an old fight. A fight that the vice president has been leading over the past year and a half since the Supreme Court overturned Roe and federal protection for reproductive rights. As two of her speechwriters, we supported the vice president as she traveled the country to meet with people on the frontlines of this fight. We saw her convene leaders at the White House. We saw her comfort mothers and grandmothers in Iowa, terrified that their daughters and granddaughters will grow up with fewer rights than they did. And we saw her console a woman in Florida who nearly bled to death when she was denied care at an Emergency Room while having a miscarriage. These visits and conversations, as should be clear, are deeply personal, often emotional gatherings. Gatherings that ought to remind all of us, including men like the two of us, how important it is that we stand with women as their freedom comes under attack. The folks who attend these events are people from all walks of life, who, like the vice president, care deeply about reproductive rights. They represent a clear majority of Americans who agree with President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris that one does not have to put aside their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not tell women what to do with their bodies. Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Grand Rapids this Thursday, Jan. 22, 2023 on the "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour. Vice president's message to Michigan: Keep fighting While preparing for a speech, the vice president without fail would ask what the call to action should be. In other words, after the speech is over, the cameras are off, and the motorcade departs, what should the audience do about the issue? For todays event, the answer to that question is crystal clear. The people of Michigan have the power to shape the future of reproductive rights in our country. Many folks right here in Michigan have already been leveraging that power by organizing, marching, rallying and, of course, by voting. From the moment the Dobbs decision was leaked, Michiganders began mobilizing to advance a ballot measure codifying the right to an abortion in the state constitution. And in November of 2022, Proposal 3 passed. That successful effort helped lay the groundwork for other victories in states like Ohio proving also, the vice president said in Wisconsin last month, that this is not a partisan issue. She needed an abortion. Michigan's outdated laws cost her 5 weeks and $10,000. | Opinion Despite the right to an abortion being guaranteed here in Michigan, that has not stopped opponents from filing legal challenges. Beyond those challenges, the right to an abortion is still not protected at the federal level. If extremist MAGA Republicans retake control of Congress and the White House this November, there will be nothing stopping them from passing a nationwide ban on abortions. Thats why the vice president is embarking on this tour. She is coming to Michigan today to energize the fight for reproductive rights, and her message will likely be quite simple: keep fighting. As exhausting as the work might be, and as disheartening as social media and cable news can be these days, there is too much on the line to give up now. Dave Cavell As the vice president comes to town today, recognize that this is your moment. It is no exaggeration to say that these next nine months are going to decide the future of reproductive rights in America. And in November, the voters of Michigan will likely determine the outcome of the election just like you did in 2020 and decide between pro- and anti-choice candidates for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House. So, there is no time to waste. Make sure you and your friends and relatives are registered to vote. Consider organizing regular house parties or online meetups to phone bank and write postcards. Gevin Reynolds Vice President Harris is traveling to Michigan today because she wants you to know that she is with you in this fight. So, we urge you: tune into todays event if you can. As the Vice President speaks, you will hear the passion and the purpose in her voice. But remember that you also have a voice. Your country, your neighbors, and our freedoms as Americans all depend on you using it. David Cavell served as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting in the Office of Vice President Kamala Harris. Follow him on X at @DavidFCavell. Gevin Reynolds served as Associate Director of Speechwriting in the Office of Vice President Kamala Harris. Follow him on X at @GevinReynolds. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Harris in Grand Rapids: Michigan can change future of abortion rights WASHINGTON An Illinois man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to assaulting police officers during the capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. Quinn Keen, 36, of Manteno, pleaded guilty to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Keen broke through the restricted perimeter of the U.S. Capitol just before 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. He then was met by U.S. Capitol and Metropolitan police officers as they formed a line behind bike rack barricades to restrict the crowd from further advancement at the Lower West Terrace. Hoffman Estates man charged for role in Jan. 6 capitol breach Keen confronted the police line and threw a water bottle at the officers just before other rioters pulled the barricade from authorities to the ground. A Metropolitan police officer attempted to pick up the barricade Keen shoved the officer away. One minute later, Keen then threw a metal travel mug at the other officer in the police line. Just after 2:30 p.m., Keen entered the Capitol building and traveled with other rioters up a staircase and into the Capitol Rotunda. While in the Rotunda, Keen and other rioters smoke marijuana before making their way to the Senate chamber. Around 3:15 p.m., Keen exited the Capitol building. Keen was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on April 6, 2023. He will be sentenced on Thursday, June 27. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. AUGUSTA, Kan. (KSNW) Arlene Stika calls Lincolnville her hometown. She graduated from nearby Centre High School in 1971, attended Brown Mackie College in Salina, and bounced around from job to job. Stika was a custodian at Marion High School when she decided she needed something more. So, in May s1979, she joined the Air Force. Hes camera shy, Stika says about her West Highland Terrier, Louie. U.S. Army veteran survived Huey crash in Vietnam Stika doesnt go anywhere without Louie. He sits patiently by her side as she recalls how, before PCs, printers, and fax machines, the primary point-to-point communication devices were the teletype and punched tape. They (the Air Force) cross-trained me into another career field, which at the time was as a telecommunications operator, and my first duty assignment after that was at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. That was something somewhat similar to being like a computer operator, said Stika. Her next assignment was across the Atlantic at Lindsey Air Station in Wiesbaden, Germany. There, Stika had a top-secret SCI clearance working in the communications center. Any chance I could take that I was able to take leave, I traveled because I wanted to see what Europe was like, she said. I mean, I got to see Paris and Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Spain, Italy. I mean, I got to travel. After two years in Europe, Stika was ordered to Kelly Air Force Base in Texas, where she served brief stints in mobile units. We first went to Panama City (Panama) because Howard Air Force Base is stationed out there. In that unit, they sent me to Honduras, and we were living in tents back then, said Stika. Stika spent 53 days living in a tent before returning to the States, only to be sent back to Panama for a second time. She worked at night and tried to sleep during the hot days. Back in the U.S., she was assigned to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma for computer operator school. Upon completing school, it was back to Kelly Air Force Base. And there I was, basically a computer operator, said Stika. In 1985, Stika received orders one last time to report to Norton Air Force Base in California. It was like a hub to wheel, and you have tributaries, and this would be all like your different bases all over wherever. And the messages that came through the computer would be routed through the computer, she explained. It would come to Norton Air Force Base, and then because of the routing indicator, the hub would tell it where that message needed to go. And so, that was basically working at one of the centralized computer networks. In 1989, after ten years of service, Stika decided to separate from the Air Force. She returned to Kansas and joined the Air Force Reserves. She was sent to Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base south of Kansas City, Missouri. She said there wasnt much to do. Not enough meaningful messages were being sent through the small base, which closed in 1995. Veteran has spent entire life in El Dorado except for two years in U.S. Army Thats when Stika decided to quit the reserves. The most rewarding was that it was doing a job where it is, where I was able to use my brain. That was what was rewarding because you can get so many different jobs that dont really challenge you, and that one challenge was a challenge, said Stika. Stika loves the outdoors. She and Louie spend much of their time living in a travel trailer at federal state lakes around Kansas. If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN reporter Jason Lamb at jason.lamb@ksn.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is asking the public for help in locating a 32-year-old man. Shane Hadsall was last seen on foot in the area of Blue Ridge Boulevard and Buckingham Lane at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Man charged in Johnson County road rage incident that led to shooting Hes described as having red hair and hazel eyes and was wearing a black coat, black jeans, black backpack and a red Chiefs cap. KCPD said the family is concerned about his safety and well-being. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Anyone with information is asked to call the KCPD Missing Persons Unit at (816) 234-5043 or call 911. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Give gun lovers in the Kansas Legislature their due: They have impeccable timing. On Wednesday of last week, Johnson County mom and DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed at the Chiefs Super Bowl rally, in a mass shooting that also injured multiple children. Yes, the shooting happened on the Missouri side of the state line. But it was every bit as much a Kansas tragedy. Schools at least as far away as Lawrence offered counseling to students and their families who might have witnessed the violence. Then, the next day, the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs at the request of state Rep. Michael Houser of Columbus introduced a new bill: the Kansas Gun Rights Preservation Act. It would prohibit law enforcement agencies from participating in any way in the enforcement of federal gun laws. So much for thoughts and prayers. I didnt expect lawmakers to rush new gun regulations into being, obviously. Our GOP-led legislative branch has a (depending on the issue) veto-proof majority, and no obvious indication to get crossways with gun owners or their lobbyists. We also know by now after Sandy Hook, after Uvalde that there is simply no mass shooting so horrible, no victims so innocent, no disruption to society so intolerable that it can motivate the firearms fundamentalists to choose life. Guns ruin everything. And by God, its apparently necessary that we keep letting them ruin everything. But even Missouri Republicans knew enough to read the room and put a pause on gun rights legislation after such a high-profile horror. In Kansas, apparently, we dont have quite that level of emotional sophistication. Then again, its not much of a surprise coming from Houser. Hes been a vocal proponent of tough-guy gun legislation in Topeka going back at least a decade. Back in 2014, for example, he pushed an amendment to let Kansans even ones without concealed carry permits keep loaded handguns in their cars. Why? Because transporting unloaded guns would leave drivers defenseless in case of an attack. Say youre going to get jacked or something in my younger days, Id just beat down somebody, but I cant do that anymore, so I have to have (a gun) for self-defense, Houser said at the time. Sure, dude. More recently, in 2019, Houser helped lead the effort to ban Kansas authorities from cooperating with any red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who had shown evidence of being a threat to themselves or others when friends or family sound the alarm about such a threat. Houser was also part of a group of Kansas legislators who, that same year, wrote then-President Donald Trump asking him to veto any federal red flag legislation. These evil acts are inexplicable and must be stopped, they said of mass shootings. Americas routine massacres arent really that inexplicable, though. Evil is everywhere. Guns arent. We have more gun deaths here than other developed countries because we have more guns. A lot more. Its pretty simple! Rhetoric aside, Housers new bill would be a boon to folks who dont actually have an interest in stopping, or even much limiting, all that violence. It wouldnt just prohibit Kansas law enforcement agencies from assisting federal gun investigations against a law-abiding citizen. It would let aggrieved gun owners sue those agencies and their officers for up to $50,000. That makes the legislation pretty similar to the Second Amendment Preservation Act that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed back in 2021. A federal judge struck down the law last March. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Missouris appeal in October. At best, this statute causes confusion among state law enforcement officials who are deputized for federal task force operations, and at worst, is unconstitutional on its face, U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes wrote in March. Bills introduced this late in the legislative session dont typically have much of a path forward, and no hearings are scheduled on this latest offering. Which means that the Kansas Gun Rights Preservation Act isnt just badly timed. Its also a vice-signaling waste of time. All it has accomplished is to prove that gun-loving Kansas politicians are tone-deaf at best and, at worst, utterly indifferent to the violence all around us. Joel Mathis is a regular Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle Opinion correspondent. He lives in Lawrence with his wife and son. Formerly a writer and editor at Kansas newspapers, he served nine years as a syndicated columnist. GRAND RAPIDS An expert on parliamentary procedure who co-authored the latest edition of "Robert's Rules of Order" testified Wednesday that it appears Kristina Karamo was properly removed as chair of the Michigan Republican Party. Thomas Balch, a professional parliamentarian and former legislative analyst, used a whiteboard and projector to transform his testimony in Kent County Circuit Court to something more akin to a college lecture. Thomas Balch, one of the authors of the latest edition of "Robert's Rules of Order" testifies in Kent County Circuit Court over whether Kristina Karamo was properly removed as chair of the Michigan Republican Party. Michigan Republican Party state committee members who oppose Karamo are seeking a judge's declaration that Karamo was lawfully removed at a Jan. 6 meeting. They also are asking Judge Joseph Rossi to issue a preliminary injunction to restrict Karamo's ability to act on behalf of the party while the case proceeds. On Jan. 20, state committee members who voted to remove Karamo elected former ambassador and congressman Pete Hoekstra to replace her. The court heard Wednesday that with both Karamo and Hoekstra claiming to be the lawful chair, confusion has ensued as the Feb. 27 presidential primary and the March 2 Republican caucus/convention approaches. Karamo has scheduled a convention in Detroit; Hoekstra has called one in Grand Rapids on the same date. Key questions in the lawsuit are whether the Jan. 6 meeting to remove Karamo was lawfully called and whether enough lawful votes were cast at that meeting to remove her. Some areas of the Michigan Republican Party bylaws are ambiguous. The bylaws state that anything not addressed in the bylaws is governed by Robert's Rules of Order. Balch testified that the request for a special meeting by the anti-Karamo forces appears to have been properly submitted, though there were problems with it. The special meeting request included an announced date and location for the meeting, which was not proper, because scheduling the requested meeting remained at that time within Karamo's power, he testified. But Karamo's response to the special meeting request failed to meet her obligations because the special meeting Karamo called for Jan. 13 did not include on its initial agenda the items requested by the dissenting members, including discussion of Karamo's possible removal, Balch testified. Kristina Karamo in April 2023, before she was ousted as the chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party. For that reason, the dissenting members were within their rights in scheduling their own special meeting when Karamo did not call one that properly responded to their request within 15 days, Balch testified. Balch said he interprets the bylaws to mean the dissenters needed a quorum Jan. 6 made up of a bare majority of the 106-member state committee and that it could reach that quorum not just through state committee members in attendance, but also through proxies. But he agreed with Karamo lawyer Donald Campbell that there were other plausible interpretations, including one in which proxies could not be used to reach the required quorum. Without proxies, there was no quorum on Jan. 6. "Obviously, there's disagreement," Balch told the court. "I've tried to explain why ... a certain interpretation makes sense." On Tuesday, Rossi denied a motion from Karamo to dismiss the lawsuit. Those trying to oust Karamo, who was elected at a state convention in February 2023, say they are unhappy over lackluster fundraising and other issues. The hearing is scheduled to resume Thursday. Free Press staff writer Arpan Lobo contributed to this report. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Karamo removal lawsuit hears from author of 'Robert's Rules of Order' Cassie Matthews is comforted after speaking at a vigil in honor of her 11-year-old daughter, Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Community members gather for a vigil in honor of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Many of the people gathered wore purple in honor of Cunningham. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Cassie Matthews speaks at a vigil in honor of her 11-year-old daughter, Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Kristlyn Wood, a cousin of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, reacts during a vigil in Cunninghams honor, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A child covers a candle from the wind during a vigil in honor of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Cassie Matthews is comforted after speaking at a vigil in honor of her 11-year-old daughter, Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Community members gather for a vigil in honor of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Audrii Cunningham's favorite color was purple. So, more than 24 hours after news of her death made national headlines, friends and family gathered at Texas Craft Fair in Livingston Wednesday evening wearing that color. "She was just sweet and soft and kind. She could be a little sassy at times," said Cunningham's mother, Cassie Matthews. "Parents always say their babies are perfect, but she was definitely the kind of person to remind other people not to take things for granted and how to be a human being." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cunningham's family reported her missing Feb. 15 after she failed to come home from school. On Tuesday, Polk County officials found the body of the 11-year-old in the Trinity River at U.S. 59 and soon charged Don Steven McDougal, a friend of her father, with capital murder. Amid the sadness surrounding Wednesday's candlelight vigil, stories of the fifth-grader's humor and imagination emerged. Cunningham was goofy even as a baby, Matthews said. She joked that she was part of the "cool kids club" with her uncle because they both wore glasses, and when she and her mom watched a Spider-Man movie for the first time, she climbed on the coffee table and pretended to shoot webs from her hands. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She was artistic and wanted to be a veterinarian, Matthews said. "She told everybody in the neighborhood that she had started her own dog-walking company and if they would let her walk their dog, she would be grateful," Matthews said. "I thought it was the cutest thing." Kasey Evans speaks during a vigil in honor of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Matthews' best friend, Rebecca Attaway, organized the vigil. Several members of the tight-knit community spoke about Cunningham's effect on their family. She was adamant about going to school and loved by many classmates, said Kasey Evans, whose daughter attended school with Cunningham. Friend Cassi Barker's husband, Jamal, taught her how to play video games, and she quickly became hooked. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "He wishes he could play another video game with her. We all wish we had more time with her," Barker said. "We're here now and we'll be here every step of the way for Cassie to make sure her name is not forgotten." The community has come together to support Cunningham's family, and local residents have petitioned for a new law that prevents those charged with enticing a minor from being excluded from the sex offender registry. In 2008, McDougal pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a child in Brazoria County, court records show. Matthews, who did not have custody of Cunningham, said she has been transparent about the family's circumstances so that others in the same situation might notice warning signs. "I want this story to be used as an example for anyone else that thinks that they are going to come to a little town and do something that happens regularly in a big city," she said. "It just doesn't fly here. We're a close community and we take care of each other." Advertisement Article continues below this ad At one point, attendees lit candles and prayed for the family. Matthews said she hoped her daughter could see the tribute from above. Flowers and other items are seen on a table during a vigil in honor of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Livingston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Some of the events from the past week are burned into Matthews' mind. She said she will vividly remember when Cunningham's grandmother first told her she was missing Thursday night and when the sheriff's department broke the tragic news to her days later. Just as vivid to Matthews is the last time she saw her daughter, who excitedly dropped her bike to the ground to give her mom a hug. "She came running to me. She called, 'Mom!' and almost took me out, I mean to the ground," Matthews said. "She was crying a little bit and I wiped her tears and asked her, 'What's wrong?' She said, 'It's okay mom, these are happy tears.'" Advertisement Article continues below this ad More than 80 femicides are officially recorded every year in Kazakhstan (Ruslan PRYANIKOV) After miraculously surviving her ex-husband's attempt to kill her, Indira Tergeubayeva has been fighting to be recognised as a victim in her native Kazakhstan. "My ex-husband had been stalking me for two years, threatening to kill me," the accountant, 42, told AFP in Almaty. "On December 22, 2022, he came to the shop where I work, doused me with petrol, and set me on fire," she recounted. Despite being left with horrific injuries, police refused to investigate her abuser because he died in the attack. More than 80 femicides are officially recorded each year in Kazakhstan, where domestic violence is not included in the criminal code. In a society deeply entrenched with patriarchal attitudes, the United Nations estimates that the unofficial figure could be as high as 400. Tergeubayeva suffered third-degree burns and underwent several skin grafts on her face and hands. Several of her fingers remain dislocated. Her ex-husband will never stand trial, but she wants an explanation from the police. "We have laws in Kazakhstan, but they don't work for everyone," she said. - Turning point - Rights groups say women in Kazakhstan feel pressured to drop accusations or reconcile with their abusers. According to the interior ministry, of more than 100,000 reports received each year "60 percent of victims refuse to lodge a complaint". For Tergeubayeva and many others, proving their abuse in court is often an uphill battle. "The Kazakh police still don't recognise me as a victim," she said, her voice bitter. "I've filed complaints everywhere, but the police didn't do their job, nobody defended me," added Tergeubayeva, who suspects that her ex-husband made deals with the police to avoid punishment. "We've had women commit suicide too. The police don't take us seriously. 'Tomorrow you'll be reconciled,' they say." Cases of domestic violence are often glossed over by traditional media in Kazakhstan, where public debate is tightly controlled, but survivors and activists are increasingly speaking out on social media. Last year, the death of Saltanat Nukenova, 31, killed by her husband in a restaurant in the capital Astana, sparked widespread outrage online. The perpetrator, former economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev, was charged with "particularly cruel murder" and "torture". In the aftermath, an online petition calling for tougher legislation garnered more than 150,000 signatures in just a few days, a record in Kazakhstan. - 'Epidemic of domestic violence' - Influencers have also taken to social media to denounce what they call an "epidemic of domestic violence". A beauty products shop with over 90,000 followers on Instagram produced a viral video with an ironic "tutorial" advising how to conceal the marks of beatings with make-up. Following the backlash, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promised legislation to criminalise domestic violence and authorities launched a public awareness campaign. Cinema has also taken up the issue. At the end of the year, the Kazakh horror film "Dastur" recorded unprecedented box-office success. It tells the story of a young girl forced to marry her rapist, the son of an influential landowner. The police have announced an increase in arrests, and parliament is working on legislation to tackle the issue. But as Tergeubayeva's case shows, a complaint does not guarantee an investigation. She said the problem of domestic violence is compounded by endemic corruption. For human rights lawyer Galym Nurpeisov, this awakening is still in its infancy, and there is no guarantee that it will withstand society's male-dominated culture. "A woman in Kazakhstan cannot openly express her opinion," he told AFP. "Increasing criminal liability for domestic violence will not solve this problem." bk-mmp/cad/giv/ach Nicole Hensley is a staff writer for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at nicole.hensley@houstonchronicle.com. She joined the Chronicle in 2018 from the New York Daily News and after writing for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington. A native of Seattle, Nicole is a graduate of Washington State University. Lyudmila Navalnaya said she had been shown a death certificate which stated her son had died of natural causes - REUTERS Alexei Navalnys mother has claimed the Kremlin is trying to blackmail her into burying her son in secret. Lyudmila Navalnaya said she had been taken to a morgue in the town of Salekhard, near to where her son, the prominent Russian opposition figure, had been imprisoned until his death last Friday. Navalnys family have waited days to get access to his body after he collapsed and died in the Arctic penal colony where he was imprisoned. Authorities claimed his death was due to sudden death syndrome. But Navalnys family have alleged that the Kremlin murdered him, which Moscow denies. Ms Navalnaya said she had been shown his body and death certificate, which stated her son had died of natural causes. But then instead of being able to take him with her to bury him, she said the authorities there pressured her to bury her son in secret, threatening to do something to his corpse if she did not comply. By law, they should have immediately handed over Alexeis body to me, but they are still yet to do so, she said. Instead, they are blackmailing me, setting me conditions on where, when and how Alexei should be buried. This is illegal. Burial threats Im recording this video because they started threatening me. Looking into my eyes, they say that if I dont agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my sons body. One inspector is said to have told her: Time is not on your side, the body is decomposing. Ms Navalnaya said she wanted her sons supporters, who have braved a crackdown by authorities to lay tributes across Russian cities, to be allowed to say goodbye to him. They want it to be done secretly, without any farewell, she said. They want to bring me to the outskirts of a cemetery, to a fresh grave, and say, Here lies your son. I do not agree to this. I want you, for whom Alexei mattered so much, for whom his death has become a personal tragedy, to have the opportunity to say goodbye to him. Hundreds of people have apparently been arrested in the wake of Navalnys death as they mourned him. Police are alleged to have beaten protesters and dismantled makeshift memorials. On Monday, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys wife, accused the Russian authorities of preventing the family from seeing his body to hide how he was killed. 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. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting between President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Konstantinovsky Palace. The Kremlin accused US President Joe Biden of behaving like a "Hollywood cowboy" after he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB" at a campaign event. Alexey Danichev/KREMLIN/dpa The Kremlin accused US President Joe Biden of behaving like a "Hollywood cowboy" after he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB" at a campaign event. During a speech in San Francisco on Wednesday evening, Biden referred to Putin as a "crazy SOB," according to members of the press travelling with him - the abbreviation stands for "son of a bitch." Biden was talking about climate change as an existential threat to humanity to a small group of campaign donors when he made the comment, only mentioning Putin in passing. "This is the last existential threat, it is climate. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate," the 81-year-old said. On Thursday, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said his boss was impervious to the insult and then took a swipe of his own at Biden. "Such boorish statements from the mouth of a US leader are hardly capable of hurting the head of another state in any way, much less President Putin. But it is a great shame for the country itself," Peskov said, according to state news agency TASS. "It is clear that Mr Biden is demonstrating Hollywood cowboy behavior to serve domestic political interests," Peskov continued. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who is a close ally of Putin and now serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, delivered a harsher assessment of Biden. "As opposed to what the US president has said, the existential threat is not climate; but the useless old geezers, like Biden himself, who have become senile and are ready to start war against Russia," Medvedev said. The Democrat, who is seeking a second term in the presidential election in November, has used the expletive before. When a reporter from Fox News threw a rhetorical question at the president in January 2022 on the sidelines of a public appearance in Washington, Biden muttered for all to hear, as his microphone was still switched on: "What a stupid son of a bitch." Following an analysis of the most recent official Russian statements, the UK Defence Intelligence believes that the Kremlin is attempting to justify the length of the war by citing the alleged direct conflict with the West. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 22 February on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda Details: The agency cites a statement by Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of the Russian president, in which he stated that the "special military operation" (the way Russians call the war against Ukraine) began against Ukraine, but "it has taken on the form of a war against the collective West". "This is broadly consistent with a trend in Russian official rhetoric that seeks to excuse the length of the conflict, and scale of Russian losses through the depiction of the war as a direct conflict with the West," the statement said. Peskov also acknowledged that the so-called special military operation "may last a little longer, but this cant change the course of things". "This forms part of the official Russian narrative almost certainly aimed at situating the domestic population for a long-term conflict and the associated decline in domestic living standards, while providing reassurance of ultimate Russian victory," the department added. In an earlier review, UK Defence Intelligence examined the situation surrounding Russian attacks in the Robotyne region of ZaporizhzhIa Oblast. UK intelligence also believes that after capturing the war-torn town of Avdiivka, Russian forces need time to re-equip and rest, although in the coming weeks, they will try to expand their territorial gains. Support UP or become our patron! By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Joe Biden on Thursday for calling him a "crazy SOB", saying with an ironic smile that the remark showed why the Kremlin felt Biden was a preferable future U.S. president to Donald Trump. The U.S. president made the "crazy SOB" remark as part of a sentence about threats to the world - including "that guy Putin and others," the risk of nuclear conflict and the existential threat to humanity from climate change. Asked by Russian state television about Biden's "crude" remark, Putin smiled sarcastically and bit his lip before looking at the ground. "We are ready to work with any president. But I believe that for us, Biden is a more preferable president for Russia, and judging by what he has just said, I am absolutely right," Putin told state television, with a slight smile. Putin, 71, said that his previous comments saying that Biden, 81, was Russia's preferred candidate had triggered Biden's "adequate reaction". "It's not like he can say to me, 'Volodya, thank you, well done, you've helped me a lot'," Putin said. "You asked me which is better for us. I said it then that, and I still think I can repeat it: Biden." Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said his embassy had sent the U.S. State Department "a strong note of protest about the outrageous nature and unacceptability" of Biden's comments. Antonov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said Moscow was not anticipating an "appropriate reaction. As the November U.S. election approaches such escapades will become routine." For Putin, the remarks show the difficulty of navigating the upcoming U.S. presidential election which is likely to bring to power either Biden, who has publicly insulted Putin, or Trump, 77, who has promised to end the war in Ukraine swiftly. The war in Ukraine, the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and U.S. assertions that Russia plans to put a nuclear weapon in space have led to the biggest crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Top Russian and U.S. diplomats say they do not remember a time when relations between the world's two biggest nuclear powers were worse, including during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Putin casts the United States and its allies as a crumbling empire that wants to destroy Russia and steal its natural resources. The West casts Putin as a dictator and a killer, and Putin's Russia as an enemy. But never has a serving U.S. president previously used such insulting words in public to describe a serving Kremlin chief. U.S. President Ronald Reagan offended the Kremlin in 1983 by calling the Soviet Union an "evil empire", though personal insults against leaders were rare in the Cold War. 'COWBOY ACT' OR 'OLD GEEZER'? The Kremlin had earlier said that Biden had debased the United States with his comment, casting the U.S. president's remark as part of a failed "Hollywood cowboy" act. "The use of such language against the head of another state by the president of the United States is unlikely to infringe on our president, President Putin," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters. "But it debases those who use such vocabulary." Peskov said the remark was "probably some kind of attempt to look like a Hollywood cowboy. But honestly I don't think it's possible." Others in Moscow were less restrained. Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008-2012, said the existential threat to the world came from "useless old geezers, like Biden himself". Medvedev said Biden was "senile" and "ready to start a war with Russia". Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the next time Biden used the phrase "crazy son of a bitch" he should "try to remember that Americans associate it best with his own offspring, Hunter Biden". Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets said "Biden insulted Putin" while Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, said the Biden remark shows the West was intensifying its attempt to demonise Putin ahead of Russia's March presidential election. Biden said last week after prison officers announced Navalny's death in a Russian penal colony that it was "a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did." Navalny had previously accused Putin of trying to kill him, an allegation the Kremlin denied. Russian officials say the West rushed to blame Putin without waiting for evidence. The Kremlin says the West's reaction to Navalny's death is unacceptable and unjustified. Biden said in a speech in Warsaw in 2022 that Putin "cannot remain in power". The White House played down the remark, while hardliners in Russia saw it as evidence that the U.S. wanted to topple Putin. In 2021, Biden said he thought Putin a killer. Putin said Biden phoned him later to give an explanation of why he used such words. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Hugh Lawson, Alex Richardson and Daniel Wallis) The Kremlin accused President Biden on Thursday of attempting to look like a Hollywood cowboy after he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB, according to Reuters. The use of such language against the head of another state by the president of the United States is unlikely to infringe on our president, President Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters. But it debases those who use such vocabulary. Peskov argued the remark was probably some kind of attempt to look like a Hollywood cowboy, the news wire added. But honestly I dont think its possible. The comments come one day after Biden, speaking about climate change at a fundraiser in San Francisco, referred to Putin as the acronym standing for son of a bitch. This is the last existential threat, it is climate. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate, Biden said Wednesday. Pesvok, in a separate statement provided by Russian state media TASS, called Bidens remarks boorish, and contended they bring shame upon the U.S. Putin, for his part, smiled sarcastically when asked about the remarks on Russia state television, per Reuters. We are ready to work with any president, Putin said. But I believe that for us, Biden is a more preferable president for Russia, and judging by what he has just said, I am absolutely right. The Russian presidents comments echo the argument he made last week, when he called Biden more predictable than the GOP front-runner, former President Trump. Asked by journalist Pavel Zarubin about his preference for the 2024 election, Putin said, Biden. He has more experience, and he is more predictable, too, an old school politician, according to remarks provided by the Kremlin this week. That said, we will work with any leader of the United States who has the trust of the American people, he continued. The Hill reached out to the White House for further comment. The back-and-forth between the two leaders comes less than a week after Biden pinned the blame on Putin for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, also blamed Putin for her husbands death, and claimed her husband was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. The Kremlin has denied the accusation of poisoning, according to multiple media reports. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A little more than 20,000 Kansans voted for Sen. Dennis Pyle, a Hiawatha conservative, in his 2022 independent campaign for governor. Kansas lawmakers want any future independent candidate to get the same number of people to sign a petition just to qualify for the ballot. The Kansas House voted 68-52 on Thursday to raise the threshold for independent candidates seeking state office from 5,000 petition signatures to 2% of the turnout in the previous cycles gubernatorial election just above 20,000 currently. The move, which will make gaining ballot access much more difficult for independents, comes after two consecutive elections where Republicans blamed their loss in the governors race on an independent candidate. They argued in 2018 and 2022 that independents took away votes that should have gone to the GOP candidate. Any credible and serious independent candidate should be able to collect the signatures required in this bill, Rep. Les Mason, a McPherson Republican, said during a House debate on the bill Wednesday. And thats the goal: to make sure that the independent candidate is serious and credible, not motivated by ego or personal vendetta or just wanting to regale their grandkids someday with tales of how they ran for governor. Pyle said he views the proposal as evidence that Republicans fear an independent voice. I think its driven out of fear, Pyle said. Theyre fearful of an independent voice and we need more independent voices. Its more control by the establishment. Rep. Paul Waggoner, a Hutchinson Republican, said the 2% threshold was chosen because its similar to the proportion of votes needed for independent state legislative candidates and or for recognition of a political party. However, he acknowledged Pyles candidacy was fresh in lawmakers minds as they contemplated the bill. Theres very much a logic to what we did, I think anybody can see that, he said. Its not to say Pyle couldnt have done it, it just makes it so youd have to have a little broader measure of support. Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat, said on the House floor that he is torn about the bill, which he said felt retaliatory. Speaking to The Star later in the day, he said the new threshold wouldnt be impossible for candidates but does create an additional carrier to prevent an independent candidate from running. If the legislation passes, Kansas would have among the highest bar for independent candidates running for state office as a percentage of the population Indiana and Wyoming already require 2% of a prior years turnout. It would place the same burden on independent candidates to reach the ballot as it does for a third political party to gain recognition. Patrick Miller, a Kent State University political scientist who spent years at the University of Kansas, said candidates will still be able to get on the ballot under the new threshold. But the argument that the threshold would produce more qualified candidates, he said, was convenient sounding nonsense and that the result would instead be candidates with more resources. In Kansas independent or third-party candidates have been a consistent presence in recent history. Keen Umbehr, a Libertarian, earned 4% of the vote in the 2014 race between Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and Democrat Paul Davis. Independent businessman Greg Orman earned about 7% of the vote in 2018 in the race between Kelly and then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. And Pyle pulled 2% of the vote in 2022 when then-Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt ran against Kelly. Republicans have long blamed Orman and Pyle for Kellys victories, even though Pyles votes combined with Schmidts still would have been fewer than Kellys and, Miller said, polling indicated Ormans voters preferred Kelly over Kobach. An increased threshold may substantially change those dynamics. Orman and Sen. Rick Kloos, a Topeka Republican who also ran as an independent in 2018, both said the 5,000 vote threshold was already difficult to reach. Orman described months of work by himself, volunteers and paid staff to get enough signatures so they could still be guaranteed ballot access even if hundreds or thousands of signatures were thrown out. Orman, whose campaign in part hinged on his status as a successful businessman, said he would have had the resources to reach 20,000. But he said many candidates wouldnt have those same resources and would be unable to run for office. Every time partisans in this state face an electoral challenge that they think leads to an outcome they dont want they dont look inward, Orman said. They say how do we rig the rules to make it harder for people to run for office. The Stars Jenna Barackman contributed to this report The Kansas Supreme Court appeared skeptical this week of a 2021 state law criminalizing false representation of an election official. Civic groups say the measure hampers voter registration efforts and is unconstitutional. State lawmakers are now rushing to fix possible problems with the law before the high court potentially blocks its enforcement. Republican lawmakers advanced the original measure in the aftermath of the 2020 election and false allegations of fraud by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. The current Kansas Supreme Court case could have broad implications for voting rights across the state. Civic engagement groups, including Loud Light and the League of Women Voters of Kansas, challenged the law in court, arguing it places volunteers at risk of prosecution if any voter mistakenly believes they are an election worker and that it violates the First Amendment rights of volunteers. The groups have paused voter registration activities while the law is in effect. During oral arguments before the Kansas Supreme Court on Tuesday, Bradley Schlozman, a private attorney representing Kansas in the case, acknowledged lawmakers had done a poor job crafting the legislation barring false representation. But he said lawmakers meant to criminalize action that was intending to mislead voters, not any action that might simply be misinterpreted. I will acknowledge that this legislation did not represent the high water mark of legislative craftsmanship, Schlozman said. I think it can be read in a way that will ensure that person has sufficient criminal culpability. Justices were skeptical, suggesting in their questions that they believed the law might criminalize a broad swath of protected speech. Chief Justice Marla Luckert, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Bill Graves, said the court had accepted as fact that someone may unreasonably assume a person conducting voter registration is an election official. Schlozmans arguments, she said, didnt grapple with that. Justice Dan Biles, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, noted that the law appeared to make it possible for a person to be arrested for registering people to vote only to have those charges dropped later on. He compared the language to attempting to crush an ant with an atomic bomb. That has tremendous chilling effect on the speech, he said. A lot of trouble to go to to find out that what you did was correct. The plaintiffs in the case agreed. Every single day that goes by that the plaintiffs are under this threat is a harm not just to them but to the public, said Elisabeth Frost, an attorney who represented the civic engagement groups. But justices also asked whether a bill before the Kansas Legislature might render the entire issue moot. Changing the law Kansas Lawmakers are set to vote on a bill Thursday that eliminates language in Kansas statute criminalizing behavior that gives the appearance or cause another person to believe you are an election official. It replaces that language with a prohibition on conduct with the intent to cause a person to believe they are an election official. Speaking about the bill on the House floor, Rep. Leah Howell, a Wichita Republican, said the new language added clarity. They are also considering a variety of measures altering procedures for election audits and qualifications for poll workers as well as limiting in-person advance voting the day before elections. The Senate has contemplated more extreme legislation that would limit mail-in voting and ban ranked-choice voting in the state. Any proposal that lawmakers pass this year could ultimately be affected by the lawsuit over the 2021 laws as justices weigh whether to uphold a lower courts ruling that any restrictions to voting rights must overcome an extremely high legal bar to be upheld. The false representation bill, originally introduced by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobachs Office, is aimed at resolving the very issue that caused the lawsuit. In written testimony last month, Deputy Attorney General Dan Burrows said the rewritten language aimed to prevent deliberately deceptive behavior while ensuring innocent conduct could continue. During oral arguments Tuesday, Scholzman said the bill, if passed, would render the issue moot but Frost said it would simply infuse more confusion into an already bad situation. Rep. Paul Waggoner, a Hutchinson Republican, said lawmakers were pushing the changes because the false representation law was still an open issue. Lets just go ahead and do something about it, he said. But opponents have criticized the effort for interrupting an ongoing case rather than let the courts do their work. Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat, said that Kobach appeared likely to lose the election law case resulting in a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law. I dont think we should be doing legislation to bail out the attorney general who is continuing to show that hes not a very good lawyer, Woodard said. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit testified to lawmakers that they appreciated the efforts to change the law. However, they said they were still broadly concerned that the new language was unclear and could continue to chill free speech. After all this, for the Legislature sort of in the final hour to do this is, it seems very unusual and bizarre because this could have been addressed earlier, said Davis Hammet, president of Loud Light. Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union during a news conference on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The Houston Police Department dropped as many as 2,000 total cases because of a lack of personnel, police officer union president Doug Griffith said. The Houston Police Departments review into sexual assault investigations revealed the number of closed cases since 2021. Police administrators have launched an investigation to determine who was closing out cases using the code to signify lack of personnel, Griffith said Wednesday, one day before Chief Troy Finner is set to address the cases in a Thursday afternoon news conference. But theres no reason to believe sexual assault investigators were the only ones whove used it, Griffith said. We didnt even know there was such a code, Griffith said. We dont know how many other types of crimes were cleared this way. Its a large investigation to see how many and what types of cases this affects. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Griffith didnt have specific numbers of investigators in the sexual assault crimes unit, but said most investigative units were down between 10% to 15%. He explained that the department provides codes to close cases in many different instances perhaps a complainant wants to withdraw charges, or maybe investigators run out of leads in another case, Griffith said. But lack of manpower shouldnt be a reason, he argued. The department investigated between 20,000 and 23,000 felony cases each year since 2021. MORE ON DROPPED CASES: HPD Chief Troy Finner adds more investigators to review suspended sexual assault cases Griffith said he suspects someone started intentionally using the code and then, for whatever reason, a supervisor allowed it to continue. Representatives for the Houston Police Department said Finner would wait until the Thursday news conference to discuss the matter further when reached for comment about Griffiths assertions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Mayor John Whitmire said he was very concerned. I am allowing the chief to review and report, he said. It happened under a previous administration. I will hold people accountable. The news comes days after Finner in a prepared statement announced he assigned a team to review sexual assault cases that had been suspended because of a lack of personnel. He said hed learned a significant number of cases had been suspended. He added he would permanently assign more investigators to the special victims unit. Finner has not said exactly how many cases might be affected by the review, but Griffith said hed heard it might be up to 2,000 cases since 2021. In January, a new group, the Harris County Sexual Assault Response Team, released a report showing of the more than 2,200 sexual assaults reported to the countys largest law enforcement agencies over nearly two years, 60 led to convictions while hundreds more remain unresolved. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The response team was created in 2021 after state lawmakers passed a law requiring counties to establish unified groups that share resources and information about local sex crimes. The law, Senate Bill 476, requires the team to create a protocol on how sexual assaults should be investigated and an annual report detailing the number of sexual assaults reported, investigated and prosecuted in a given year. Sonia Corrales, deputy CEO for the Houston Area Womens Center and one of the members of the new response team, said she wasnt sure whether the report is connected to Finners announcement. But she said she is hopeful that through the review, leaders are doing what they can to make sure victims of sexual assault get the help they need. I hope by looking at this, we can get to the root of the problem and address the issue, she said. Administrators with the Houston Police Department for months have decried what they allege is a shortage of police officers. The city has around 240 fewer police officers than it did when former Mayor Sylvester Turner was elected in 2015, city budget documents show. More than 90% of the police departments budget goes to staffing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Griffith in July 2023 also called on the leader of the citys forensic science center to step down amid a worsening backlog of evidence turned over to the centers analysts. Leaders at the citys crime lab have argued the backlog has slowly been reduced in recent months. But Griffith said the departments review into the closed sexual assault cases cant be blamed on either shortages or the crime labs evidence backlog. New legislation to clear people wrongly convicted in the Post Office scandal should be UK-wide, Stormont's justice minister has said. The law is expected to come into effect by the end of July and will apply to convictions in England and Wales. Naomi Long said she was "deeply disappointed" it will not apply in NI as it would be the fastest solution. She will now "urgently review" options to provide an alternative remedy for sub-postmasters in Northern Ireland. Although campaigners won the right to have their cases reconsidered, as of January 2024, only 95 convictions had been overturned. In January, the government announced it would seek to reverse all convictions resulting from the scandal but it was not clear if it would apply in Northern Ireland, which at that stage remained without a devolved government. Power-sharing was restored at Stormont in early February. A Post Office sign on the outside of a building Alliance leader Naomi Long was elected as Justice Minister, and in that role has oversight of the operation of courts in Northern Ireland. Asked if her department was considering similar legislation to exonerate sub-postmasters in Northern Ireland, she said they should "receive swift justice and equitable treatment in line with their counterparts in the rest of the UK". But she added that as postal services are reserved to Westminster, applying the law UK-wide would be "the best way forward". "This would also be the fastest legislative solution and avoids differential treatment between jurisdictions, including in terms of accessing compensation," she added. "I am deeply disappointed that the UK Government has decided to legislate in England and Wales only, having indicated publicly their desire to legislate UK-wide. "In light of this decision, I will now urgently review the options available to provide an alternative remedy for sub-postmasters in Northern Ireland." It is not clear how quickly the minister could decide on an option and could have to seek approval from the wider Stormont executive before bringing any legislation to the assembly. Michael Madden represents 30 sub-postmasters, five of whom have convictions Michael Madden, who represents sub-postmasters in Northern Ireland, said he is concerned that if the legislation is to go through Stormont it will slow the process down. Since the return of the executive, there's already a long list of things to do for ministers after 24 months of political paralysis. Mr Madden said that if the legislation to clear convictions of sub-postmasters in Northern Ireland does not "run smoothly through the executive", some of his clients will be left in a "worse position compared to other cases in the UK". "Some of my clients have been going through this for over 20 years, further delays will only add to their ongoing distress," he added. Sgt. Garrett Hardin, indicted Thursday, appears in court to surrender on a murder charge in which he is accused of killing Roderick Brooks on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A former Harris County sheriffs sergeant charged with murder in the death of a man accused of shoplifting from a Dollar General has withdrawn his request for a speedy trial, despite pushing for expedited proceedings last November after his indictment. The 44-year-old deputy, Garrett Hardin, charged in connection with a 2022 in-custody death of Roderick Brooks, was scheduled for trial on a murder charge that November and again later in February, but both sides have sought delays in the proceedings. The judge went as far to book the ceremonial courtroom for the trial, she said recently in court. The latest delay happened Thursday when Hardins lawyer, Justin Keiter, withdrew the motion for a speedy trial and asked 262nd District Court Judge Lori Gray to put the case before a jury at a later time. He received a recent trove of evidence in the case and needed time to review it, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The prosecutors, who sought the first delay over not having an expert in Axon stun guns, noted that they were ready for trial earlier this month. The judge granted Keiter's request. A grand jury indicted Hardin, who has since been relieved of duty from the Harris County Sheriffs Office, in October in the shooting death of Brooks during a July 2022 arrest. The deputy tackled Brooks to the ground while confronting him about a reported theft at a nearby Dollar General. Hardin lost control of his Taser after using it on Brooks and fatally shot him when Brooks grabbed the Taser and allegedly tried using it on the deputy. The shooting was captured on Hardin's body-worn camera. Prosecutors believe Hardin was not being stunned at the time of the shooting, while the deputys lawyers contend Brooks successfully stunned him. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In January, Keiter told the court that he planned on filing several motions, including one claiming prosecutorial misconduct, one asking that some evidence be suppressed and another seeking to move his client's trial to another county. None of those proposed motions have been filed, records show. LAWRENCE, Kan. Lawrence police say a woman found dead in a tent in an unsanctioned camp near the banks of the Kansas River was the victim of a homicide. Police said the woman was found dead around 4:30 a.m. Thursday near 100 Maple. Camera shows Kansas City couples assault incident at VA Medical Center The police department said the 51-year-old was stabbed to death. She has been identified as Crystal White of Lawrence. Officers found someone they want to question in Burcham Park across the river and detained him. The area where the woman was found has been in the news over the past few months with the city demanding people living in the unsanctioned camp move at least 15 feet away from the levee along the Kansas River. Late last year, the sanctioned homeless camp triggered a lawsuit from nearby business owners, accusing the city of mismanaging it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter over the on-set death of Halyna Hutchins, who died after being hit by a live round fired from a gun held by Alec Baldwin (Eddie MOORE) Lawyers blamed Alec Baldwin for the fatal shooting on the set of Western film "Rust" in opening statements Thursday, as they defended the film's armorer from prosecutors' allegations she was "sloppy and unprofessional." Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died from her injuries after being hit by a live round fired from a gun Baldwin was holding during a rehearsal in New Mexico in 2021. Baldwin, the lead actor and a producer on "Rust," is awaiting his own manslaughter trial at the same Santa Fe court. He has pleaded not guilty and insisted he did not pull the trigger, saying that as an actor, he should have been able to rely on the professionals around him. But the Hollywood A-lister was at the heart of arguments made by the defense for armorer Hannah Gutierrez, who was responsible for weapons on set and is the first person to go on trial over the tragedy. "Mr Baldwin, one of the lead producers, head actor on the movie -- he really controlled the set -- you're going to hear that he violated some of the most basic gun safety rules you can ever learn," said defense lawyer Jason Bowles. "He violated all of those. It wasn't Miss Gutierrez-Reed. It was Mr Baldwin." Gutierrez, also known as Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, has denied the involuntary manslaughter charges against her. The prosecution had opened its case by painting a picture of Gutierrez as consistently "sloppy and unprofessional." "The evidence will show that the defendant treated the safety protocols as if they were optional, rather than that people's lives counted on her doing her job correctly," said prosecutor Jason Lewis. One of the key questions surrounding the death of Hutchins is how a live bullet found its way onto set and into Baldwin's gun. Prosecutors showed a photo of Gutierrez that they said showed a live round in a case resting on her lap more than a week before the incident. "This means that the live ammunition could not have been... supplied by somebody other than Miss Gutierrez," said Lewis. But defense lawyer Bowles disputed the evidence, arguing that it is not possible to distinguish a live round from a dummy round purely on the evidence of photos. - 'Scapegoat' - The trial is the latest attempt to hold someone accountable for an on-set tragedy that sent shockwaves through Hollywood and led to calls for a tightening of the rules around the use of firearms in movies. Arguing for the defense, Bowles pointed to alleged gaps in evidence collected by police investigating the incident, and said the movie's producers wanted to make Gutierrez a "scapegoat." He said Gutierrez had been tasked with two jobs -- as both a props assistant and an armorer. She had been performing tasks like rolling "cowboy cigarettes" instead of being allowed to spend time on weapons safety, he told jurors Evidence would show that having "a part-time armorer" on a film with so many weapons was "a terrible idea, but that's what they did," said Bowles. Bowles added: "The primary thing here was 'rush, get this done, so we get the money.' And that's all on production. And Mr. Baldwin is one of the primary producers." The Gutierrez trial is expected to last two weeks. Baldwin could appear in court for his own trial within months. Criminal charges against Baldwin have encountered a number of setbacks. Initial involuntary manslaughter charges were dropped in April last year, due to what prosecutors called "new facts" that demanded "further investigation and forensic analysis." That led to the empaneling of a grand jury, which late last year handed down new involuntary manslaughter charges. amz/hg/nro FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB) in partnership with the City of Fresno is hosting a job fair and training fair on Feb. 29 with the theme Leap Into a New Career. Organizers say this job and training fair aims to connect job seekers with employers who are ready to hire. Attendees will be able to explore various career paths and opportunities with a diverse range of participating businesses. Participating employers at this job fair include: City of Fresno Fresno County Westcare California Fowler Packing Fresno Police Department Maxim Healthcare State Center Community College Fresno EOC Federal Bureau of Prisons PNM Company Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Keiser Corporation Fresno Housing Authority Fresno County Sheriffs Office Additional representatives from educational institutions will be present to discuss educational programs and career pathways including: Institute of Technology (IOT) Advanced Career Institute Agape Career Development Solutions Fresno Adult School Fresno City College State Center Adult Educational Consortium ValleyBuild Organizers encourage attendees to bring copies of their resumes and dress professionally. Admission to the job fair is free and no registration is required. This event will be held at the Ramada Inn at 324 E. Shaw Ave. on Feb. 29, at 6 p.m. For more information about this event, click here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. Leeds City Council has been urged to reconsider a "disastrous" decision to close one of the city's residential care homes. Knowle Manor in Morley will close as part of plans to save more than 65m in 2024/25. Trade union Unison said it would leave those "most in need" at the "mercy of the private sector". A council spokesperson said a final decision on how plans are implemented would be made in the summer. At a council meeting on Wednesday, approval was given to a proposed budget that includes the closure of Knowle Manor. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Stewart Golton told BBC Radio Leeds he had tried to tell the council it had lost its "moral compass". Mr Golton said he told the authority: "You are basically moving a whole bunch of older people who have just settled into what should be their forever home and you've basically said 'you are inconvenient to our needs'." 'Quick fix' A second home, Dolphin Manor in Rothwell, would also be repurposed as a recovery hub to free up hospital beds, it was heard. The closure is part of a wider cost-cutting plan to try and address the council's budget shortfall and meant "very challenging choices" had to be made, a council spokesperson said. A consultation, which is currently taking place, will look at the impact the closure would have on residents and their families. Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Brendan Cafferty said: "Closing Knowle Manor might be a quick fix to get the council out of a financial hole, but it'll be disastrous in the longer term. "Leeds would be left with just one general care home. That will leave those most in need in the city at the mercy of the private sector." A council spokesperson said agreeing to progress the budget proposals in principle was "one step in the process". "Once we have completed the consultation in March a final decision will be made by our executive board in the summer as to how our proposals are implemented," they added. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Lawyers for Donald Trump on Wednesday requested a 30-day postponement in the enforcement of the nearly $355 million fine the former president was ordered to pay last week in his civil fraud trial, Axios reports. The attorneys took issue with the draft proposal New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the suit, submitted Tuesday for Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron to sign, arguing that James should have notified them beforehand. A Wednesday letter signed by Trump defense attorney Clifford Robert to Engoron charged James with an "unseemly rush to memorialize" the judgement in a manner he argues violates "all accepted practice in New York state court." A stay on the decision he said, would "allow for an orderly post-Judgment process, particularly given the magnitude" of the judge's ruling. "To deprive Defendants of the opportunity to submit a proposed counter-judgment would be contrary to fundamental fairness and due process," Robert wrote in an earlier Wednesday letter to Engoron about James' proposed order. According to legal news site Law & Crime, James' proposal was mostly a formality and "constructed out of legal boilerplate" as "[p]roposed orders are frequently filed by the parties in legal cases as a matter of course." "Trump's lawyers, angry that Judge Engoron is apparently not going to allow motion practice on reducing his opinion to a formal judgment, demands a 30-day stay of any entered judgment instead," MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin wrote on X/Twitter. "Shocked." NEW: Trump's lawyers, angry that Judge Engoron is apparently not going to allow motion practice on reducing his opinion to a formal judgment, demands a 30-day stay of any entered judgment instead. Shocked. pic.twitter.com/hcfFPyMoJW Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) February 21, 2024 Trump has said he will appeal Engoron's judgment against him and his co-defendants, which included his two elder sons, which totals $364 million. Engoron's ruling also barred Trump from heading a New York business for three years, and his sons from doing the same for two years. This reporting was supported by the International Womens Media Foundations Fund for Indigenous Journalists: Reporting on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and Transgender People (MMIWG2T). This article was originally published by New Mexico In Depth. The New Mexico Legislature has asked Attorney General Raul Torrez to create a new task force focused on a crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people after a memorial containing the request passed in the final hour of the legislative session, which concluded at noon today.Senate Joint Memorial 2 cleared the House on Thursday morning after passing in the Senate last week. A spokeswoman for Torrez didnt respond to a question from New Mexico In Depth about whether he plans to act on lawmakers request. Unlike a bill, the memorial isnt enforceable. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham quietly dissolved a task force dedicated to finding solutions to the crisis in mid-2023. Indigenous families with loved ones who have gone missing or been murdered protest in downtown Albuquerque on July 21, 2023. Her staff said the group achieved its objectives and the state is carrying forward its recommendations. But some task force members believed their work was just beginning, and a handful of impacted families protested the governors decision in October. Lawmakers agreed, and the House and Senate both passed the memorial unanimously. A new task force should, according to the memorial, be made up of no more than 40 members, including tribal representatives, survivors and families, and law enforcement, who should offer legislative proposals and update a 115-page plan the defunct task force delivered in 2022. The attorney generals office, recently renamed the New Mexico Department of Justice, is a logical home for a couple reasons, memorial sponsor Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi, said in an interview in January. Other states have created similar groups overseen by their attorneys general, who work with many law enforcement agencies, Pinto said. A lack of coordination between jurisdictions often stands in the way of getting justice for missing or murdered Indigenous people. I think its a grand idea that it is put under the attorney generals office, where it will get the importance, the high priority that it needs, Sen. Brenda McKenna, D-Corrales, another sponsor, said during debate in the Senate last week. We know we need to fix the gaps between the database systems and having this task force under the attorney generals office gives me a bit more solace. But the Department of Justice already has a few legislative mandates meant to address the crisis that, as of November, hadnt entirely been met. Two years ago, lawmakers created a missing Indigenous persons specialist position in the attorney generals office and required the office to set up an online portal to track cases. Under the legislation, which contained a $1 million appropriation, the department could also give tribes grants to help in that search. Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, also a memorial sponsor, questioned what progress had been made in implementing the bill at an Indian Affairs Committee meeting in November. Chief Deputy Attorney General James Grayson said a specialist was working on cases but the portal hadnt been created and no grants had gone out. The FBI and the Department of Public Safety already have similar databases, Grayson said, and his department was working with a vendor to establish better communication and better connection to those databases for other law enforcement agencies in the state and for tribal nations. Asked in January if she had any concerns about the attorney general overseeing a new task force, Lopez said she was hopeful there will be more focus on missing and murdered Indigenous people in Torrezs second year in office. He became attorney general in January 2023. It takes a while for you to come up to speed, Lopez said. I think the task force will also give some more guidance and help. I think it can work together. Bella Davis is an Indigenous affairs reporter at New Mexico In Depth, a position made possible in part by the national organization Report for America. She is Yurok and was born in Eureka, California but grew up in central New Mexico. Editor's note: The news director of this publication is a member of the Board of Directors of New Mexico In Depth. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: AG called on to create missing, murdered Indigenous people task force A Long Island woman who fatally struck an NYPD Highway officer in Queens in 2021 while drunk, high and driving with a suspended license was hit with the maximum sentence on Wednesday, with the judge telling her she would certainly have enough time to reflect while in prison. Jessica Beauvais, 35, who led cops on a wild chase after mowing down Detective Anastasios Tsakos, 43, on the Long Island Expressway on April 27, was sentenced to 23 and a third to 27 years on charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident without reporting. The trial, which began in October, lasted 13 days. Beauvais appeared in court Wednesday wearing beige jail garb as the room was packed with dozens of officers, Tsakos loved ones and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Irene Tsakos, the detectives wife, recalled the horror she felt when she learned her husband had died. My world came crashing down, she said through tears. I couldnt speak, I was in shock. The pain I felt made my body weak. The widow described how she told her son and daughter, then 3 and 6, that their father, their favorite person was gone. Our son wanted me to get him a big kite so he could fly it high in the sky and daddy could grab it and bring it back to him, she said. At night she would pray and promise to God she would be very good if only he would return her dad, she said of her daughter. Hours before striking the 14-year veteran officer as he directed traffic around the scene of a fatal car accident, Beauvais recorded a two-hour podcast denouncing cops in the wake of the guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. What bothered me is that we had to go through a trial to prove that George Floyd didnt fing kill himself, Beauvais fumed during the podcast. If you were afraid for your life, go be a secretary at Walmart. Tsakos widow referenced the screed during her remarks. I want to say that you cannot think, speak and spread hate out into the word and expect good things to happen to you, Irene Tsakos said, addressing Beauvais. You killed my husband, an innocent man, a good man who did nothing to you. Thats on your conscience. You have no one but yourself to blame. You truly earned every day you will spend in prison. Assistant District Attorney Greg Lasak said Beauvais stayed at a recording studio until 1:30 a.m and surveillance footage showed her stumbling to her car when she left, being helped by others. She hit Tsakos about half an hour later with such speed and force that he flew 170 feet, said prosecutors. Fleeing police, she blew through red lights, drove the wrong way in a residential neighborhood and up onto a sidewalk. Criminal decision after criminal decision, said Lasak. He died in his blue NYPD uniform facedown on the side of the Long Island Expressway with his face in the dirt and the grass. One of Tsakos legs was severed due to the impact, Beauvais windshield shattered and the front end of the car was crushed. We say that people are more and better than the worst thing they have ever said or done, said Peter Laumann, a defense lawyer for Beauvais, pointing out that the defendant was the single mother of a teen, caretaker for her father during cancer treatments, and that both parents were in the courtroom. He added that Beauvais worked in phlebotomy during the pandemic, risking infection by going into patients homes, and was intensely religious. She is not someone who spread hatred, said Laumann. This was not an intentional killing as we see so many times in this courthouse. This was a result of drunk and intoxicated driving. When asked by Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise if she had anything she wanted to say to the court, Beauvais could barely get out the words. Im sorry, Mrs. Tsakos. Im sorry, she said quietly before her lawyer Jorge Edwardo Santos took over for her. She wants to express that shes very sorry to Detective Tsakos family and to the entire NYPD, said Santos. In my opinion, leniency was shown in the presentation to the grand jury, said Aloise, noting that they had not charged Beauvais with depraved indifference homicide. I would have given her life. You are not to be judged for the worst thing you have ever done, but you are to be judged for how you react to that thing, he added. As an object lesson in how not to run a local authority, the experience of Birmingham would take some beating. The Labour-run city council is bankrupt and intends to raise taxes by 21 per cent over the next two years as part of a strategy to fill a 300 million budget shortfall. This in itself is unusual since council tax increases above 5 per cent are unlawful in England without a referendum. Just a few weeks ago, Rishi Sunak denounced councils seeking big increases in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Yet Birmingham has been allowed by Michael Gove, the relevant minister, to breach the cap in exceptional circumstances. It is not actually that exceptional, however. Dozens of councils have been given the green light to impose double digit tax rises. Some of Birminghams difficulties stem from an extraordinary Supreme Court ruling that for years the council had failed to meet its obligations under equal pay legislation. It should have paid women working as home helps, cooks and cleaners the same wages and bonuses as men in jobs such as refuse collectors, street cleaners and grave diggers. The ruling and the extension of a time limit to claim from six months to six years left the council facing a huge compensation bill. Arguably the Government should have stepped in to change the law. But this is only part of the story. A failed IT system needs to be replaced at a cost of 100 million, transport costs for taking children to school have risen dramatically and the bureaucracy has grown like Topsy. The finance director said: Financial mismanagement is deep-rooted within Birmingham City Council, with over-reliance on the use of reserves, growing liabilities, imprudent estimates in relation to financial planning, [and] a historical inability to deliver savings. The council will receive a 1.25 billion bailout from the Government, which needs to be repaid with a mixture of service cuts, asset sales and tax rises. The support will cover equal pay liabilities estimated at 815 million and should enable the council to set a balanced budget. Inevitably, the axe will fall heaviest on front-line services rather than supernumerary admin jobs. All this will happen without input from the local people who will have to pay much higher taxes to sort out this mess. Since the law requires referendums in such circumstances, the Government should insist one is held, in Birmingham and elsewhere. Otherwise what was the point of the measure in the first place? 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. OTTAWA COUNTY Administrator John Gibbs has been placed on paid administrative leave after a special meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, Feb. 22. There were three items on the agenda: an update from Board Chair Joe Moss, consideration of complaints against Gibbs, and consideration of an offer of resignation. Administrator John Gibbs has been placed on paid administrative leave after a special meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, Feb. 22. Moss began the first agenda item by referencing a reported settlement agreement with Health Officer Adeline Hambley, the focus of recent court hearings. The last few months have been interesting to say the least, Moss said. Weve had constant media attacks, claiming the county agreed to a ginormous settlement. During this time, its become clear to me that people, including Administrator Gibbs, really believed that was true. It has seemed that Johns relationship with the board has become more strained during this time period. Moss said Gibbs relationship with the board began to deteriorate in December and January. He claimed commissioners said Gibbs was ignoring their directions. He also claimed Gibbs drafted a resignation letter in mid-January, but decided not to pursue it. He said Gibbs offered last week to resign for $630,000, then revised that figure to $420,000. Its probably worth noting that, if the administrator is terminated, the current contract talks about paying around $210,000, Moss said. Following Moss' remarks, the board entered closed session to discuss complaints against Gibbs. After returning, Moss made a motion to place Gibbs on paid administrative leave. The motion passed 10-1, with Doug Zylstra voting no. Moss didn't indicate how long the leave would last. Following the vote, Moss requested a motion to recess the meeting "until next week. That motion passed 11-0. Moss said a time for the meeting would be announced as soon as possible. Tension continues to grow between Administrator John Gibbs and the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. When asked if hed like to comment, Gibbs told reporters: Not at this time. Moss told reporters county operations will "continue like normal." "There's a deputy administrator (Ben Wetmore) and he fills in when the administrator is not available," Moss said. Thursday's meeting was brought on by a letter sent by Gibbs' attorney to Moss. It was the second letter, from two different lawyers, that Gibbs sent regarding his employment with the county. In an earlier letter dated Jan. 15, Aaron Davis of Butzel Long warned, should the board's meeting Jan. 16 "involve any discussion of changing Mr. Gibbs' employment status with Ottawa County," it would be "our intention to ensure the provisions of my client's employment contract are followed in strict order." More: Gibbs warns of consequences, should OI attempt to fire him The board didn't take action Jan. 16, but steps were taken Feb. 13 to hire an outside attorney to address the letter. Meanwhile, according to a separate letter obtained by The Sentinel on Wednesday, Gibbs retained new counsel Noah Hurwitz of Ann Arbor-based firm Hurwitz Law. In the new letter, sent to Moss on Feb. 15, Hurwitz said tension with the board began after Gibbs' voiced concerns about the performance of Kallman Legal Group, the county's corporation council, in March 2023. Gibbs sent his concerns to Moss, then repeated them in July. During an October termination hearing for Hambley, former Deputy Administrator Patrick Waterman indicated Gibbs was unhappy with representation from Kallman. Waterman said Gibbs expressed frustration on multiple occasions about delays in contracts and grants. Gibbs later said he hadn't complained about attorney Jack Jordan, but had spoken to Moss and Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea about communication issues. Hurwitz said the county "stands to assume significant liability, should it proceed with continuing to harass, defame and belittle my client (for) following his constitutional expression of free speech under the First Amendment, rightfully criticizing the performance of (Kallman Legal Group) in furtherance of the public interest. "Mr. Gibbs has already been subjected to adverse employment actions, including demands that he resign, threats of termination, and disparagement in the public eye." The newest letter was sent to The Sentinel by an anonymous source Wednesday. Hurwitz independently confirmed its authenticity. This embedded content is not available in your region. The purpose of the letter was to "convey that Mr. Gibbs is amenable to resigning his position in consideration for a lump sum payment of the entire amount owed ... pursuant to his employment agreement ... $630,000," Hurwitz wrote. Hurwitz said the figure wasn't "demanding a kings ransom like some of his contemporaries" but instead reflects "the countys contractual obligations to my client and ... a substantial discount from the damages, costs and attorney fees that arise from litigation." Hurwitz said Gibbs will not voluntarily relinquish his position otherwise, and that the county has no legal basis to terminate him for cause. According to a clause in his contract, Gibbs "may be terminated at any time ... for cause (defined as intentional fraud, dishonesty, gross misconduct, or willful malfeasance) in connection with his performance." However, the board may also fire him without cause if they provide a 90-day written notice. If the board fires Gibbs without cause, he'd receive a lump sum severance payment of nine months' pay, as well as nine months of health insurance. As of his hiring on Jan. 3, 2023, Gibbs made an annualized salary of $210,000 plus benefits. If he were terminated for cause, he would receive no severance, according to the contract. This embedded content is not available in your region. Clashes with legal counsel Gibbs communicated his concerns about Kallman's performance as early as March 10, 2023, Hurwitz wrote. That day, in an email to attorney David Kallman and commissioners, Gibbs outlined three specific allegations, including: The insufficient availability of legal counsel, often leaving the county without advice The lack of a system through which to track legal deliverables, meaning requests for legal service were left outstanding for long periods of time The competency of corporation counsel to give appropriate advice Hurwitz said Gibbs complaint "provided actionable and reasonable solutions to each problem asserted, however, none of his complaints were acted upon and no solutions were adopted." Gibbs again sent a letter to Moss and Rhodea on July 18 that allegedly detailed "the extensive deficiencies he had uncovered in relation to the corporation counsels performance." Board Chair Joe Moss listens during at board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, in West Olive. Gibbs' concerns included "the provision of incorrect legal advice, significant privacy violations, delays of weeks or months in the provision of routine advice, continued insufficient availability of counsel, a continued lack of organization or deliverables tracking systems, and unprofessional conduct on the part of the corporation counsel," Hurwitz wrote. The concerns, Hurwitz said, focus on Kallman's "competency to perform public government functions" rather than "handling matters of litigation." He said no individual attorneys were necessarily targeted. Hurwitz said, rather than addressing his client's concerns, some board members and lead attorney David Kallman met with Gibbs, where his concerns were again not addressed. "Mr. Kallman insulted Mr. Gibbs professionalism and stated the true motivation behind Mr. Gibbs complaint was an attempt to seize power within the county," Hurwitz wrote. "The board conducted no investigation into Mr. Gibbs complaints, and instead began to plan Mr. Gibbs expulsion." Hurwitz said the OI-led board has "become increasingly hostile toward" his client and that some members "aligned with (Kallman) have openly expressed their lack of confidence in Mr. Gibbs, despite his consistently positive performance record." The reference could be an allusion to Ottawa Impact's seven-member majority on the board. Gibbs was selected by Moss and Rhodea; his hiring was part of a series of controversial changes made during the group's inaugural meeting. A controversial tenure Since his hiring, Gibbs has faced at least one allegation of creating a toxic work environment, brought forth by Commissioner Jacob Bonnema, who originally ran on the OI platform but split from the group in March 2023 around the same time he filed the complaint. After an investigation by an outside legal firm, Human Resources Director Marcie VerBeek concluded the evidence did not substantiate the claim of harassment. Moss later censured Bonnema for "abusing his authority" in filing the complaint. Tension continues to grow between Administrator John Gibbs and the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. Now, Gibbs is claiming the county has created "a full-blown hostile work environment" against him, citing the recent creation of a strategic planning subcommittee "to micromanage a responsibility that has traditionally belonged to the county administrator." More recently, Gibbs was accused of age discrimination after a controversial executive aide hire. The move inspired a lawsuit from a finalist for the position, Ryan Kimball, who had more qualifications than the younger candidate selected. A scheduled closed session to discuss the lawsuit in January prompted the first letter from Gibbs' previous attorney. More: Lawsuit: Gibbs committed age discrimination in hiring executive aide Hurwitz said the lawsuit "is entirely baseless and ... not borne out on the true facts of the matter," but alleged it "quickly became the vehicle for the countys attempt to fire Gibbs." "After its own failure to secure a settlement in the Kimball matter, (Kallman) seized an opportunity to exact its revenge on Mr. Gibbs by offering his termination as part of a settlement offer," Hurwitz wrote. Hurwitz said the board approached Gibbs on Jan. 9 to request he tender his resignation. "The board was clear that, should Gibbs not tender his resignation, he would be terminated with cause," Hurwitz wrote. "This threat was renewed again on Feb. 12, 2024, when (Moss) called Gibbs to again ask for his resignation and inform him the board wanted to take action to effect his ouster as soon as possible." Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage Hurwitz maintains Gibbs performance has been "beyond reproach," but that "corporation counsel has collaborated with the board to expel Mr. Gibbs in retaliation for his criticism of (their) performance." Hurwitz ended his letter by saying the county has three options: Honor its obligations under Gibbs' employment contract until Jan. 2, 2026 Proceed with unlawfully terminating Gibbs Negotiate an amicable resolution Contact Sarah Leach and Mitchell Boatman at newsroom@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 'Strained': Ottawa County places administrator on paid leave A member of an armed group affiliated with Libya's Ministry of Interior in Tripoli in August, following clashes that left more than 50 killed and 150 wounded Armed groups that have been controlling Tripoli for more than a decade have agreed to leave Libya's capital. Interior minister Imad Trabelsi - part of the internationally recognised government - said after lengthy negotiations a deal had been struck for regular forces to police Tripoli. He told journalists there would only be emergency police, city officers and criminal investigators in their place. The deal comes after a series of deadly clashes in the city in recent months. Libya has been battered by many armed groups who emerged after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. A series of armed uprisings that led to the long-time dictator's killing created a security vacuum, with much of the country lawless and chaotic since. Libya is currently divided between the internationally recognised government in the west, led by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, and an administration in the east run by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. In a press conference, Mr Trabelsi said from now on the militia's "place is in their headquarters", adding the Libyan government "will use them only in exceptional circumstances for specific missions". He said once they had left the capital other cities would follow, noting there "will be no more checkpoints and no more armed groups" on roads. The deal will see at least five armed groups quit Tripoli by the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on 9 April, including one based in an area where 10 people were killed over the weekend. The militias in question - the General Security Force, the Special Deterrence Force, Brigade 444, Brigade 111 and the Stability Support Authority - are heavily armed and split large swathes of the city amongst themselves. The groups' visible presence in Tripoli saw them wearing masks and installing checkpoints on roads using armoured vehicles with mounted weapons. But they were often involved in fighting each other, including one incident in August which left 55 people killed and nearly 150 injured. They are not under the direct command of the Libyan government, but do receive public funding. Their operational independence was granted by a special status conveyed on them in 2021 by the government. Map showing who controls which bits of Libya Intuitive Machines transmitted its first images to Earth on February 16, 2024. The photos were captured shortly after separation from the SpaceX rockets second stage, marking the start of Intuitive Machines' first journey to the moon under NASAs CLPS initiative. Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines' Nova-C spacecraft, named Odysseus, passes over the near side of the moon on Feb. 21, 2024. Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines transmitted its first images to Earth on February 16, 2024. The photos were captured shortly after separation from the SpaceX rockets second stage, marking the start of Intuitive Machines' first journey to the moon under NASAs CLPS initiative. Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines transmitted its first images to Earth on February 16, 2024. The photos were captured shortly after separation from the SpaceX rockets second stage (which can be seen in the center of this photo), marking the start of Intuitive Machines' first journey to the moon under NASAs CLPS initiative. Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines transmitted its first images to Earth on February 16, 2024. The photos were captured shortly after separation from the SpaceX rockets second stage, marking the start of Intuitive Machines' first journey to the moon under NASAs CLPS initiative. Intuitive Machines Update: Intuitive Machines' lunar lander touched down on the moon Thursday afternoon. This afternoon, a lander built by Houston's Intuitive Machines could become the first U.S. spacecraft to gently touch down on the moon since the Apollo program more than 50 years ago. The company, which is also vying to be the first private outfit to complete a soft lunar landing, will attempt the maneuver at 5:24 p.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad HOW IT WILL LAND: See a 3D walkthrough of the Nova-C landers journey to the moon Everyone just wants to see the United States return to the moon, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus previously told the Houston Chronicle. There has been a tremendous outpouring from everyone in the Houston, Texas area and around the country pulling for Intuitive Machines to be successful. The company's uncrewed lander, named Odysseus, launched Feb. 15 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Intuitive Machines' employees have been monitoring Odysseus around the clock, working eight-hour shifts. The lander experienced a navigation issue shortly after liftoff but a software patch solved the problem. Odysseus has since continued its journey to the moon (capturing fantastic images of the Earth and the moon along the way) and began circling the celestial body on Wednesday. This mission, IM-1, has garnered worldwide headlines and even a shout-out on the Las Vegas Sphere from Columbia Sportswear, which placed its heat insulation technology on the lander. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thursday's landing will have live video commentary aired on NASA and Intuitive Machines' social media platforms and websites. Only 23 missions from five countries have made soft lunar landings. And this mission could be the first to land as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. The agency is hoping to develop a lunar economy and support its upcoming astronaut missions by providing funding, guidance and a guaranteed customer for companies developing uncrewed landers. Intuitive Machines was racing another CLPS company, Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, to the moon but that company had a propulsion issue shortly after liftoff and ultimately burned up in Earth's atmosphere. That's just one of the many perils facing these moonshots. Extreme temperature swings can cause mechanisms to jam or not rotate as designed. Radiation can cause electronics to glitch. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And since the moon doesnt have a substantive atmosphere, vehicles cant rely on aerodynamic drag or parachutes to slow their descent. A lander must ignite its engines to decelerate while an onboard navigation system pinpoints how high it is above the lunar surface. An error could easily cause the engines to turn off too soon, leading to a crash. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A Limestone correctional officer has been placed on leave and is facing charges in connection to a prison contraband incident involving an inmate. On Tuesday, the Alabama Department of Corrections executed six arrest warrants on Tia Scott, a correctional officer at Limestone Correctional Facility. ADOC: Two Limestone Co. correctional officers indicted for assault of an inmate An ADOC spokesperson told News 19 that the six warrants are connected to an investigation into a promoting prison contraband incident involving an inmate at Donaldson Correctional Facility, Latransezon Malloy. Scott was interviewed and transported to the Limestone County Jail, where she was booked on six counts of use of office for personal gain. ADOC also said Scott has been placed on mandatory leave pending the outcome of her case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Sir Lindsay Hoyle faced growing calls to stand down on Thursday as Tory MPs split into two camps over whether to try and force him out. A no-confidence motion in the Speaker was signed by 30 Conservative MPs, but others spoke up to defend him and insist he should stay in post. With Sir Lindsays future hanging in the balance, here two of the partys most senior MPs set out their thoughts on his disastrous decision and his future. If someone makes a mistake, even a bad one, but genuinely apologises for it, then you should accept it By Mark Francois Feb 21 2024 was not the House of Commons finest hour. After chaotic scenes in the Chamber, members of The Scottish Nationalist Party walked out, followed in turn by a large number of Conservatives. The public, many of whom were expecting crucial votes at the end of a very important debate, on what some are now calling the Second Yom Kippur War, must have been looking on with a mixture of sheer bemusement and growing anger. Following on from this, a number of MPs, including some of my fellow Conservatives, have signed an Early Day Motion expressing no confidence in Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker and thus effectively seeking his removal. I understand why many of my fellow Conservatives were angry with him but, I would respectfully suggest, they are shooting at the wrong target (much to Labours relief). Despite all of the confusion surrounding the events of Wednesday night there are at least two things we can be sure of. Firstly, the SNP only gets three opposition days a year on which they are allowed to pick the subject for debate, on a motion of their choosing. It is not unusual for the Government to also table and amendment to give their side of the story but to then allow an opposition amendment on top, was not only contrary to most precedents but also had the effect, in laymans terms, of stealing the SNPs debate, specifically in order to avoid a potentially massive Labour rebellion, of potentially over 100 MPs. Having seen the SNP in action in the Commons for over two decades, they do have a reputation for confected anger (my old friend Pete Wishart is a past master at it) but, on this occasion, they had every right to be absolutely furious and just in case you missed it, they were. Secondly, as attested to by numerous MPs, shortly before announcing which amendments to select for debate (and to then potentially be voted upon) the Speaker and Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, disappeared into the reasons room (a small room just behind the Speakers Chair) and were locked in conversation for some time. Mark Francois, the Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, places importance on Sir Lindsay Hoyle's sincere apology - MARTYN WHEATLEY/i-IMAGES It seems this is when Sir Keir put his case for selecting Labours amendment. Hansard does not tell us what was said in that room only the two of them will know but if there is any suggestion that Sir Keir threatened the Speakers position in a new Parliament, were he not to do his bidding, then that would be extremely serious, especially for a former director of public prosecutions himself. A (slightly) more benign suggestion seems to be that Sir Keir stressed to the Speaker the potential threat to Labour MPs and their families from Islamist extremists if they did not have the safety valve of being able to vote for Labours amendment. If true, this also raises the obvious question: well, what about all the other MPs and their families too? In any event, the Speaker selected the Labour amendment, which led to uproar. By the end of the evening, the Speaker evidently realised that he had made a terrible mistake (compounded by the fact that Tom Goldsmith, the clerk of the House, had written him a note, warning of the potential consequences). It is not easy to face the House of Commons at the best of times but especially when they are as angry as they were on Wednesday night. Nevertheless, Sir Lindsay came back to the House and apologised. It was clear to all that he was contrite almost tearful in fact and that his apology was palpably genuine. In all the years I have known him he has a deep love of the Commons, as an institution, and seeing what had transpired obviously left him deeply upset. As I said in the Commons on Thursday morning, if we were in the Chamber, we are expected to apologise to the Speaker and we expect him to take that apology at face value and forgive our mistake we should offer him the same courtesy ourselves. I also feel strongly about this for wholly personal reasons. My greatest friend in Parliament, Sir David Amess, was brutally murdered by an Islamist terrorist I cannot bring myself even to mention his name but who told his trial at the Old Bailey he had done it because of the way he had voted. At the time, I cannot tell you how supportive and sympathetic Sir Lindsay was, not just to me but also to Sir Davids family, his staff and many other MPs, who were also grieving terribly. He did everything he possibly could to help the House cope with a terrible loss. Those were the actions of a decent, honest, honourable man of character and one we would, in my humble opinion, be very unwise to turf out, in anger, because he made a genuine, though admittedly important, mistake. The SNP had no monopoly on fury on Wednesday night and so I can well understand, with tempers obviously running high, why some of my colleagues, including some personal friends, subsequently put their names to a no-confidence motion. However, I would respectfully ask them to reflect before going any further. As a number of MPs, on all sides, suggested at Business Questions on Thursday morning, we should atone for what happened on Wednesday by rescheduling the debate, if necessary, in Government time, so that we can debate these important issues in a calmer atmosphere and with genuine votes at the end and with the Speaker in the chair. In summary, my father who was a D-Day veteran but who died when I was still a boy, taught me that if someone makes a mistake, even a bad one, but genuinely apologises for it, then you should accept it. If anyone was really at fault, it seems to have been Sir Keir for placing the Speaker in such an invidious position in the first place. We could ask Sue Gray to conduct an inquiry into what was really said in that room but she is now otherwise engaged. So, I simply say to my colleagues, be careful what you wish for: Sir Lindsay is really not the villain here. We all know who is and we should concentrate on them instead. He altered the procedures and made a mockery of the Parliament and the people he serves By Sir Geoffrey Cox By deciding that Labour should be able to present its amendment, and that its amendment should be voted upon first, Labour was allowed to take over the opposition day debate allocated to the Scottish National Party and effectively set aside the SNP motion demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. There are two possible explanations for Mr Speakers decision to abandon the long-standing convention that only the Government should be able to move an amendment to an opposition day motion. This convention ensures the party moving the motion of its choice on opposition day (which each opposition party is allocated), is guaranteed to have it voted upon, unless the Government carries its amendment, thus expressing the will of the House. First, he did it to assist his former party leader get out of a bind. It is said that around 100 Labour MPs might have voted in favour of the SNP motion. Secondly, he did it, as he himself says, in a misguided attempt to protect certain mainly Labour MPs from the intimidation that they said would otherwise have followed if they had voted against the SNP motion. Either reason is unacceptable. If the former, it is an abuse of his office. If the latter, it is an abject surrender to intolerance and tyranny; it meekly offers up the House of Commons as able to be influenced by external threats. The Speaker has accepted he made a serious error of judgment but the real question is, who induced him into this error? Who persuaded Mr Speaker that he should change the procedures of the House of Commons and permit those mainly Labour MPs to avoid the question the SNP, subject only to the Governments amendment, was entitled on that day to ask MPs to decide. He says to protect them from intimidation and violence? Sir Geoffrey Cox does not think Sir Lindsay Hoyle should go but says both potential motives were 'unacceptable' - DAVID ROSE/FOR THE TELEGRAPH We know that shortly before the decision was taken, the Leader of the Opposition met him in his rooms. There, he pressed the case on the Speaker. We can imagine how the arguments went. MPs should be allowed to vote for a range of views and not be artificially confined to binary formulations that did not accord with their sense of the issues; feelings were running high out there; MPs (the Speakers old colleagues) were being regularly threatened in the constituencies outside the House of Commons. The long-standing convention was outdated and needed to be changed. The Speaker had a duty to protect them. Thus, insidiously, poison was administered. A speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom weakly capitulated before the spectre of intimidation of MPs made fearful by external threats and apparently too afraid to vote with their consciences. He altered the procedures to save them from it, at the expense of another partys right, and made a mockery of the Parliament and the people he serves. What message does it send to the enemies of democracy around the world, if they see that the very seat of democracy in the United Kingdom can be so easily moved by such threats? I am not calling for Lindsay Hoyle to go. He is mortified and realises he got this judgment wrong. But the one who urged the ignominious surrender, for no doubt purely coincidental party advantage, and was seen to have mouthed, thank you, as he passed the Speakers chair a few minutes later, was none other than Sir Keir, who in less than a year will ask that same people and Parliament to entrust him with the security of the nation. 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. During the height of the pandemic summer of 2020, the proprietors of the Burning Bridge Tavern worked with local officials in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, to host a series of outdoor gatherings for the community. For their trouble, the bar's owners got slapped with a series of citations by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), the government agency that oversees and manages the sale of alcohol in the state. The citations were ticky-tack offenses, according to Burning Bridge's chief financial officer, Mike Butler. Twice, the bar was cited for noise violations because they'd allowed a band playing at the gathering to plug into the tavern's electricity supply. Another offense occurred when the owners and some family members were drinking inside the tavern, which was closed to the public, during a period when indoor dining was prohibited. A frustrating situation, but not the end of the world. Burning Bridge's owners paid the fines associated with the citations and assumed that was that. But then the bar had to renew its liquor license. "They denied it. They said, 'Oh, you're the guys that got all those citations,'" Butler says. "It was a real gut punch." Turns out, over the past two years the PLCB has pushed dozens of Pennsylvania establishments that racked up pandemic-related citations to sign "conditional licensing agreements" to renew their liquor permits. In some cases, those agreements have forced the sale of licensesbut in most cases, as with Burning Bridge, they've added additional conditions to the license that could prevent a future renewal from being approved. While the PLCB cannot revoke existing licenses, the board is empowered to object to the renewal of a license or to demand the license can only be renewed conditionally. "In extreme cases," PLCB Press Secretary Shawn Kelly says, the PLCB can force the sale of a liquor license, though the board only pursues that option when "there is an operational and citation history that calls for such an agreement." Even though Burning Bridge's owners weren't forced to sell their license, Butler says signing the conditional licensing agreement has come with real costs: The bar's insurance premium tripled as a result of being viewed as a greater risk. Typically, those agreements have been used to curb nuisance bars or force establishments with a history of legal problems, like serving underage patrons, to clean up their acts. Recently, however, the PLCB has taken a hardline stance against establishments that violated pandemic-era rules. "The people who violated the governor's mandates and orders should face some consequences," argued Mary Isenhour, one of the PLCB's three board members, at a January 2022 meeting where the first several of the COVID-related conditional licensing agreements were approved. Isenhour was responding to an objection raised by a fellow board member, Michael Negra, who argued that the PLCB should take the view that businesses had "paid their dues" during the pandemic and should not face additional sanction now. Negra left the PLCB in June 2022 and now works for a Pittsburgh-based lobbying firm. He did not return requests for comment. After Negra's departure, the PLCB has unanimously approved dozens of conditional licensing agreements for COVID-related violations, including at least 10 that have required the sale of a license, based on a review of PLCB meeting minutes. Kelly, the PLCB spokesman, maintains that licensees are "under no obligation" to sign conditional licensing agreements. But any licensee that refuses would face a set of unattractive alternatives: not having the license renewed, or being drawn into a legal battle against the PLCB in state court. "Do you risk your entire business, your license, the loans, all of that to fight" in a real court, asks Butler. "Or do you just kind of hold your nose and take your medicine? Tactically, for us, we weren't in a position to say, 'Yeah, we'll run that risk.'" Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, acknowledges that pandemic-era public health orders left many establishments with a difficult choice between following the law and surviving financially. Fairly or unfairly, "those who broke the rules went the wrong way and now they're paying the price," he says. The whole matter raises some complicated questions about how our political institutions ought to handle, with the benefit of hindsight, the unprecedented circumstances created by the pandemic and policy makers' response to it. "The feeling was that our government really isn't working to try and help us," says Butler. "At this point, it feels like they're coming after us." The post Liquor Regulators Are Seeking Revenge on Bars That Broke Pandemic Rules appeared first on Reason.com. Lithuania will shut down two crossings, the Lavoriskes and Raigardas checkpoints, on its border with Belarus beginning March 1, the government announced on Feb. 21. Lithuania previously shut down two of its six border crossings in August 2023. The new announcement means that only two checkpoints, Myadininkai and Shalchyninkai, will remain open on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. The country's Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite called the decision "timely and necessary." "Large resources are needed to control flows, prevent smuggling, ensure international sanctions, and reduce traffic safety risks," Bilotaite said. "This decision was also determined by the risks associated with the increased activities of the Belarusian intelligence and security services against Lithuania and our citizens." The government announced additional limitations at the border, including prohibiting the passage of pedestrians and cyclists at the two remaining crossing points. Passenger boarding and disembarking at two railway checkpoints, one on the Belarusian border and one on the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast, is also barred except in certain cases at the determination of the State Border Guard Service. Lithuania will also reduce by 50 percent the number of permits it issues to Lithuanian and Belarusian carriers providing international bus transportation. Fears of aggression from Belarus and Russia have intensified among Baltic states since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia announced on Jan. 19 a plan to build a Baltic defense line to strengthen the eastern border with Belarus and Russia. Read also: Belarus Weekly: Russias wanted lists include over 3,000 Belarusians Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Lithuanian government has decided to extend the temporary protected status for Ukrainians who have moved to the country after the Russian invasion until March 2025, public broadcaster LRT reported on Feb. 21. Additionally, the government has extended the mandatory period for migrants to learn the Lithuanian language by one year. Read also: Ukrainian refugees navigate employment challenges in the EU According to the government's resolution, foreigners who have been granted temporary protection in Lithuania are exempt from the requirement to know the national language for employment for three years following the granting of temporary protection. Opportunities for Ukrainians to learn the Lithuanian language will continue to be provided through measures funded by the Employment Service or through the system of individual learning accounts," the ministry's statement reads. Read also: Ukrainian refugees should have another year to master the Lithuanian language Education Ministry 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 TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Gov. DeSantis spoke to the media in Lake Buena Vista on Thursday. The Florida governor was joined by Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Administration Building. In 2023, DeSantis established the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District as a direct replacement for the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which the governor signed a bill to disband back in April 2022 as part of his public feud with the Walt Disney Company. The CFTOD oversees around 25,000 acres in Orange and Osceola counties, including Walt Disney World. Disney recently appealed a judges dismissal of its free speech lawsuit over what the company described as DeSantis retaliatory takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney is arguing the legislation signed by DeSantis and passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature was in direct retaliation for the companys opposition to the Parental Rights in Education law, which critics labeled the Dont Say Gay bill. The appeal is one of several legal battles between the company and the state of Florida. Prior to the transfer of power from the Disney-appointed Reedy Creek board to the governor-appointed CFTOD, the Reedy Creek Improvement District signed agreements that transferred design and construction control at Disney World to the company, a move the governor-appointed board said neutered their power. You can watch the governors news conference on this page at 10:30 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The older I get, the more I find myself thinking about death and dying. Whenever Ive had surgery where general anesthesia was administered, I experienced a moment when I was still conscious, followed by a moment best described as lights out. The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room. I often wonder if death is like a permanent lights out moment, where conscious life is no more. Im sure there are many religiously inclined people who would reject such a thought, as is their right. In any event, I am more inclined to fear the dying process, rather than death itself. Will it be quick or prolonged, peaceful or painful? John Kearney Instead of tying ourselves into knots thinking about these things, maybe we should just try to control our fear of dying by simply hoping that it will be quick, peaceful, and painless. Give hope the opportunity to resolve the issue. In his Moral Letters to Lucilius, the ancient Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca takes a radically different view. He agrees with the sentiments of Hecato, who offers some blunt advice: Cease to hope, and you will cease to fear. Seneca thinks that hope is inextricably linked to fear. The two of them march in unison like a prisoner and the escort he is handcuffed to. Fear keeps pace with hope both belong to a mind in suspense, to a mind in a state of anxiety through looking into the future. (Letter V, in Letters from a Stoic, translated by Robin Campbell (Penguin Books, 1969) Hope and fear are caused by projecting our thoughts far ahead of us instead of adapting ourselves to the present. So, foresight, the greatest blessing humanity has been given, is transformed into a curse. To the extent that we can foresee all the possible bad things that could happen to us, such as the pain the dying process may involve, we will continue to be anxious and live in fear. We should remind ourselves that we live in the present, not the future or the past, and confine our unhappiness to the present. It is better to imitate the wild animals who run from the dangers they actually see, in the present, and once they have escaped them worry no more. Far too often we are tormented alike by what is past and what is to come. So says Seneca. One wonders what he would think of the 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption" in which Andy Dufresne, in a letter to his long-time friend and fellow inmate Ellis Redding, writes: Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. After finding the letter that Andy placed in a tin box under an oak tree in Buxton, Maine, Red breaks his parole, and vacates his room at the local halfway house. On a bus trip to the Mexican border town, Fort Hancock, Texas, an anxious and excited Red muses: I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope that the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope As the film ends, Red meets up with Andy on a sandy beach aside the blue waters of the Pacific. But Seneca thinks that things could have turned out differently. Reds hopes could have been dashed. What we hope for often does not come to fruition. We are left frustrated and unhappy. Too much hope can get you into a heap of psychological trouble! Seneca would prefer that Andy, Red, and the rest of us keep our hopes and fears in check by attending to what we are thinking and doing at the present moment. Such a mindset is actually consistent with a thought Andy conveyed to Red years before in the Shawshank Prison yard: Get busy living or get busy dying! John Kearney, Ph.D., resides in Waterloo, Iowa. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: My Take: Live in the present Scott and his wife had gone through the arduous process of in vitro fertilisation once before. The couple, from Mobile in Alabama, have a young child who would not exist without the treatment. Nearly two years after their first, and after many long conversations, they decided this month that they were ready to grow their family again, using the remaining embryos they had frozen and stored with their IVF clinic. But just as the couple were about to start the procedure, Alabamas Supreme Court issued a ruling that threatens the future of their family, and of IVF treatment in the state. Its really terrifying to wake up one morning thinking about having a second child within a year or so, and then the next morning youre virtually upending your life, Scott, who asked for only his first name to be used, told The Independent. We didnt ask to be infertile, but here we are, he added. Their ordeal began last week when Alabamas highest court issued a shock ruling that classified frozen embryos as unborn children. That definition is not one shared by scientists but is promoted by Christian fundamentalists and anti-abortion campaigners who believe that life begins at conception. The ruling stems from a 2020 case in which a patient destroyed several embryos at an IVF clinic in Alabama. The three families who owned the embryos filed a wrongful death lawsuit, but it was thrown out by a lower court, which said the case related to property. The states Supreme Court overturned that ruling, declaring that the embryos were children and a wrongful death lawsuit could proceed. In the majority opinion, Justice Jay Mitchell referred to the frozen embryos as extrauterine children and said that the states wrongful death law applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location. Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote a concurring opinion that quoted the Bible, declaring that even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory. The decision caused chaos at fertility clinics across the state, many of which were unsure if the normal practices of freezing and discarding embryos were still legal. Scott and his wife were in wait and see mode following the courts decision, but a few days later they heard on the news that the University of Alabama at Birmingham health system, where their embryos were stored, had paused all IVF treatments so it could assess the legal repercussions of the ruling. The couple had been planning to have another child in Alabama, where Scott was born and raised. Now they are considering leaving the state entirely. This ruling was an aggressive stance against our family. What are we to do? We are being chased out, he said. They havent yet heard from the clinic directly. In the IVF process, an egg is combined with a sperm in a laboratory before being implanted in the uterus. The process often requires the fertilisation of many eggs to increase the chance that at least one will lead to a viable pregnancy. The embryo with the best chance of succeeding in the womb is usually transferred, while the rest can be frozen and kept, in case the transfer fails or the patient wants to have another child. Embryos that are abnormal and unlikely to result in a successful pregnancy are often discarded. About 2 per cent of births in the US are from IVF. Globally, more than eight million babies have been born using the procedure since the first use in July 1978 at Oldham General Hospital, UK. Scott and his wife are one of many couples and IVF patients in Alabama left confused and worried after the ruling. Forums dedicated to discussing the many twists and turns and heartaches of the process are now full of patients wondering if they will be able to start their own family. Some are desperately researching if they can move their frozen embryos. On Thursday, Alabama Fertilitys clinic in Birmingham became the second clinic to halt IVF treatment, announcing it had paused transfers of embryos for at least a day or two. Dr Michael C. Allemand, a physician at the clinic, described the ruling as shocking and said it has had a substantial impact on patient care. This could threaten the ability of a woman to get standard health care. Infertility is a disease and we treat disease with standard measures that are used around the world. And they are taking a decision that has the potential to take all that away, he told The Independent. There will be fewer families, there will be fewer children, there will be fewer grandchildren, there will be fewer Christmas mornings with kids opening presents in front of their families, there will be fewer kids starting kindergarten and playing Little League, he said. I know that sounds very emotional and sappy, but it is the truth. It is why I do what I do for these people, who otherwise couldnt have children to have those moments. Because they deserve them. His clinics decision followed days of intense debate among fertility physicians in the state about how to proceed. Earlier this week, an urgent meeting was called by all clinics in the state, as well as their lawyers, to consider their next steps. At least one clinic said they were halting IVF treatment immediately. Another suggested filing 40 death certificates a day for embryos that stopped developing. Some were considering sending the frozen embryos they had stored out of the state, but were worried they would face legal repercussions for doing so. The mood was despondent, Dr Andrew J Harper, the medical director at Huntsville Reproductive Medicine, told The Independent. Dr Harper said a Handmaids Tale mindset is fuelling the attacks on IVF, and he was concerned that the decision might inspire other states. I do think other states will try to copycat and see if they can outdo the state of Alabama, he said. Sean Tipton, policy officer with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), spent the days after the ruling talking to physicians and clinics across Alabama. Physicians and the other staff at the infertility clinics in Alabama are terrified, justifiably so, Mr Tipton told The Independent. If, right now, they provide state-of-the-art recommended care to their patients, theyre putting themselves and their businesses at incredible risk. The case has drawn national attention and condemnation from the White House and pro-choice campaigners, who believe that it may lead to further attacks on IVF and even contraception, all fuelled by the belief held by the Alabama Supreme Court judges that life begins at conception. Clearly this is part of a very fierce anti-choice agenda in the state of Alabama. This is abortion politics through and through, Mr Tipton said of the ruling. The Biden campaign hit out at the decision on Thursday, setting up the ruling as a potential campaign issue for the 2024 presidential election. MAGA Republicans are inserting themselves into the most personal decisions a family can make, from contraception to IVF, Biden-Harris 2024 campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. With their latest attack on reproductive freedom, these so-called pro-life Republicans are preventing loving couples from growing their families, she added. In the meantime, Scott and his wife are trying to decide what to do next. We have friends and family here, our careers are here, but were just not sure where families like ours will stand in the future in this state, he said. We want a family, and because of that our lives are being upended. MARIETTA, Ga. - Michael McCreary of Marietta starts his day early, between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. These days, the first thing he does is pick up his Lenire device. "I sit down, turn it all on, put it all in, and then I sit and work on crossword puzzles," the 68-year-old says. How did McCreary develop Tinnitus? McCreary's issues with his ears began in 1998, when he took his two then teenage daughters to a Backstreet Boys concert at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. "We got there and everything was fine," McCreary remembered. "The warm-up was great. The second the band came on stage, and it was the 4,000 screaming girls. That was the problem, not the music." (Photo submitted by family) By the time he got home, he was in pain. A few days later, he began hearing an audio tone 24/7. "If you've ever taken the hearing tests, and you hear them play a tone to you and raise your hand, that's what it was like," McCreary explained. Eventually, after about a decade, the tone morphed into a constant whooshing sound that has become the soundtrack of the real estate manager's life. What is it like living with Tinnitus? Audiologist Dr. Melissa Wikoff of Peachtree Hearing in Marietta says people with tinnitus experience all kinds of sounds from buzzing to static that can make it hard to function. "Tinnitus is a sound that you perceive that no one else can hear," Wikoff said. "So, it's a sound that's not coming from the environment. It's coming from inside your body." The condition is both audiological and neurological. "The number one cause is usually a hearing loss," Wikoff said. And, because the noise is constant, Wikoff said it can make it hard to function. "Imagine there's that ringing there, and you're trying to concentrate at work, or have a conversation, and you can't escape it, it's always there," Wikoff says. "You feel like you're stuck with this the rest of your life. 'I have to hear this the rest of my life.'" But, Wikoff says, she has found a new device that might help. How is Tinnitus treated? Last fall, Dr. Wikoff began fitting patients like Michael McCreary with the recently FDA-cleared Lenire Tinnitus Treatment Device. "I have been specializing in tinnitus for the last 15 years," Wikoff told FOX 5. "This is the most powerful tool that I have in my toolbox to treat tinnitus. It's pretty incredible." McCreary began using the device twice a day for 30 minutes at the end of October. Lenire Tinnitus Treatment Device "By Thanksgiving, I started noticing it getting better," he said. "It's known as bimodal neuromodulation," Dr. Wikoff explained. "Lenire works by stimulating the tip of your tongue and then using your ears." In clinical studies, just over 80% of the volunteers who used the Lenire device for 12 weeks saw a reduction in their tinnitus symptoms, Wykoff said. She has fitted just over 100 patients with the device and said they are seeing similar outcomes in their patients. McCreary said the device felt a little odd, at least at first. "It gives you a mild little tingle, a little electrical pulse on the tip of your tongue," he said. By stimulating two nerves at once, Wikoff explained, the device is "re-coding" the brain, damping down the symptoms of tinnitus. "So, using these two senses at the same time is really making the difference, and that's what's getting in the brain," she said. McCreary said it took about a month to begin to notice a difference, and Wikoff warned him his symptoms might temporarily worsen before they improved. But, soon, he told FOX 5, he was seeing progress. "What I noticed is that I wasn't having to work to concentrate," McCreary said. "I wasn't having to, you know, reprogram my head away from the tone to be able to pay attention to something else." McCreary paid about $4,500 for the device and followups. Michael McCreary of Marietta said his Lenire Tinnitus Treatment Device has been a gamechanger. The tone is still there, he says, but it no longer dominates his life the way it had before. "It doesn't wake me up, doesn't keep me from going back to sleep," he says. "I'm able to concentrate at work. I'm able to sit at the computer." After more than 25 years of searching for a way to turn down the noise, Michael McCreary said he felt hopeful this may be it. "I keep using it and, and continue to see progress with it," McCreary smiled. "That's my goal." Wikoff said the average cost for the device is $4,000 to $5,000. "Right now, there's no insurance coverage that's guaranteed for the Lenire," she said. "We have a letter that we're writing for some of our patients, and a growing number of our patients have successfully gotten either a little bit or some reimbursement. But, it just very much depends on your plan." Where can I get a Lenire Tinnitus Treatment Device in Georgia? Peachtree Hearing is the only licensed Lenire provider in Georgia, and they have a waiting list of about four weeks for an assessment. For more information, visit www.peachtreehearing.com or call 470-485-4327. If you are outside Georgia, the company says there are over 70 Lenire providers nationwide. You can join the company's assessment waiting list for a provider. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is now placing blame for her meltdown after just 49 days in Number 10 Downing Street on Sir Tony Blair and a slew of government agencies who she says do not care about the lives of average Britons. Speaking alongside ex-Brexit Party and Ukip leader Nigel Farage at an "international summit" on the eve of the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, Ms Truss told attendees her tenure as prime minister was marred by a "huge establishment backlash". She also said some people joining the civil service who are essentially activists they might be trans activists, they might be environmental extremists were part of a wholly new problem. Her comments about trans activists come after her successor as UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, caused a storm with a joke in the House of Commons about trans people on the day the mother of Brianna Ghey a trans teenager whose brutal murder shocked Britain was visiting Parliament. Speaking in Washington DC on Wednesday, Ms Truss said: "What has happened in Britain over the past 30 years, is power that used to be in the hands of politicians has been moved to quangos and bureaucrats and lawyers. So what you find is you find a democratically elected government actually unable to enact policies,. Interrupted by moderator and former Trump deputy national security adviser KT McFarland, who asked about the meaning of "quangos," Ms Truss replied that she meant "Quasi-Non Governmental Organisations". Quangos are administrative bodies outside the civil service that receive funding from the government, such as the Forestry Commission and the British Council. "In America, you call it the administrative state or the deep state, but we have more than 500 of these quangos in Britain, and they run everything. So we've got the Environment Agency, we've got the Office of Budget Responsibility. We've got the Bank of England, we've got the Judicial Appointments Commission," she said before turning to criticism of Sir Tony, who she blamed for eliminating the Lord Chancellor's traditional role as head of the judiciary and instituting a British Supreme Court in place of the Law Lords. "He got rid of the traditional role of the Lord Chancellor, who sat in the cabinet and was the head of the judiciary he instead put control of appointments in the hands of a quango. So what you have is rather than democratically elected politicians being accountable for decisions, often those decisions are now in the hands of people who aren't elected," she said. Ms Truss continued venting to the assembled crowd of conservative activists about a group she described as the "economic establishment" who "didn't want things to change and ... didn't want their power taken away," apparently blaming them for the catastrophic reaction to her 2022 mini-budget, which sent the pound into a nose dive and sparked a crash in the markets, leading to her eventual defenestration from Number 10. "I think that's the issue we now face as conservatives, is it's not enough just to will conservative policies and say, we want to control our borders or we want to cut taxes, or we want to reform our welfare system, because we have a whole group of people now in Britain with a vested interest in the status quo, who actually have a lot of power and power has been taken away from democratically elected politicians. And it now sits in the hands of bureaucrats. And people don't want to admit that no minister wants to admit that they can't actually do things. And I think that has become a big problem in Britain," she said, adding later that a future Conservative PM should be "prepared to be unpopular at London dinner parties" by taking on the civil service and people who "work in big corporates". "Unless you are prepared to be unpopular with those people, you will not succeed as a conservative in actually changing things," she said. The former PM also lashed out at civil servants and complained that the British government lacks sufficient political appointments to control the apparatus of government. "We get 100 political appointees, and these political appointees aren't heads of department. They are special advisers that sit alongside. So we have a major problem with our administrative bureaucracy not being responsible, responsive, and democratically accountable," she said. "Now people are joining the civil service who are essentially activists they might be trans activists, they might be environmental extremists but they are now having a voice within the civil service in a way I don't think was true 30 or 40 years ago, so we just have a wholly new problem. And frankly, 100 political appointees, doesn't even touch the sides in terms of dealing with that." Her comments about trans activists come after Mr Sunak challenged the opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer to define a woman during Prime Ministers Questions. The jibe came on the day that Brianna Gheys mother Esther was at Parliament. Amid the uproar over the prime ministers comments, Briannas father Peter Spooner said he was disgusted and called on Mr Sunak to apologise. The prime minister refused to do so, saying his comments were "absolutely legitimate" because he was attacking Sir Keir's indecisiveness and claiming it was "sad and wrong" that the Labour leader had linked his comments to Brianna. Asked if he would apologise, he said: "If you look at what I said, I was very clear, talking about Keir Starmer's proven track record of u-turns on major policies because he doesn't have a plan." International space station on orbit of the Earth planet. View from outer space.ISS. Earth with clouds and blue sky. Elements of this image furnished by NASA (url: https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/iss056e201225/iss056e201225~small.jpg https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_feature/public/thumbnails/image/iss065e333863.jpg) dima_zel/Getty Images North American observers will witness the next total solar eclipse in less than two months as it crosses over the United States, Mexico and Canada. Rather than just watch the rare phenomenon, onlookers can join in on the fun as a citizen scientist. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, citizen scientists help make important scientific discoveries. Citizen science projects allow scientists to collaborate with the public, whether its discovering and reporting previously unknown comets or searching for solar jets enigmatic bursts of energy from the sun. PREPARE FOR LIFTOFF: Houstons Intuitive Machines moves moon launch to Thursday Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here are four ways to help NASA during the upcoming total solar eclipse: 1. SunSketcher Citizen scientists can use a cellphone to help measure the exact shape and size of the sun by taking a picture of an eclipse phenomenon called Bailys Beads. To participate, users must download the SunSketcher app. With mass participation, enough data could create a large database of images enabling scientists to map the sun when analyzed. The 2024 eclipse offers an unprecedented opportunity to measure the shape of the sun and so to infer its inner structure, Gordon Emslie, principal investigator, said on the apps website. The SunSketcher project will use smartphone observations by Citizen Scientists situated along the two-thousand-mile-long eclipse path from Texas to Maine to reveal the precise shape of the solar disk. 2. Eclipse Soundscapes The Eclipse Soundscapes project offers multiple ways for people to support its scientific mission through roles such as apprentice, observer, data collector, data analyst or facilitator. Although participants can choose multiple positions, officials encourage completing the apprentice role first since its free, online and comes with a certificate upon completion of training. Advertisement Article continues below this ad DEEP SPACE CATS: NASA spacecraft sends cat video 19 million miles to Earth in test of new laser communications 3. Eclipse Megamovie Organizers at Eclipse Megamovie hope to recruit volunteers with a range of skills, experience and knowledge from diverse backgrounds. In addition to scientists, researchers and enthusiasts, theyre looking for software engineers and data scientists with an experience in software engineering and data science, specifically databases, python coding and machine learning. Officials also want to recruit Spanish-speaking volunteers to help with recruitment and communication efforts in Spanish-speaking communities in the path of totality in Texas. Citizen scientists will photograph images of the solar corona during the total solar eclipse. Once the images get collected, Eclipse Megamovie will use artificial intelligence to support analysis of the images to reveal the plasma transients within the collection of images. Citizen scientists will receive training on how to operate their digital single-lens reflex cameras to make sure theyre capturing significant scientific data. 4. DEB Initiative Through the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative, a network of volunteer citizen scientists in North America will conduct coordinated solar observations leading up the 2024 total solar eclipse. Southern Illinois University Carbondale will lead the collaborative scientific effort where 81 DEB sites will upload images to an image server. Some observations sites will stream live video produced in partnership with SolarSTEAM and NASA Edge during the April 8 total solar eclipse via eclipse.siu.edu. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Images from cameras and telescope systems plus data from the path of the totality will be collected from volunteer observers from Mexico, across the U.S. and in Canada. The DEB will provide context observations for all of the 2024 eclipse experiments by showing the evolution of the white light coronal structures and the solar disk during the 90 minutes of totality throughout North America, according to its website. 1 killed in police action on farmers in India Xinhua) 11:26, February 22, 2024 NEW DELHI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A young farmer was killed and some others injured Wednesday after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on marching farmers in the northern Indian state of Haryana, officials said. The killing took place at Khanauri, a border point between Punjab and Haryana, about 121 km from the national capital New Delhi. According to police, the 20-year-old identified as Shubhkaran Singh was killed during the police action, a charge refuted by police in Haryana. "Three patients have come to us from Khanauri. One of them was dead on arrival, the other two are stable and seem to have sustained bullet injuries ... but it can't be confirmed," Rekhi, senior medical officer of Patiala's Rajendra hospital, was quoted as saying. "The person who was dead on arrival had a bullet injury on his head, but more details such as the size of the bullet can only be confirmed after postmortem." Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the death. Police also fired dozens of tear smoke shells at another border point Shambhu near Ambala district to stop the farmers' march. The farmers resumed their march to New Delhi Wednesday after rejecting a government's proposal to buy pulses, maize, and cotton crops from farmers at the minimum safety price for the next five years as an offer to end the ongoing protest. India's federal government on Wednesday urged farmers to maintain peace and said it was ready to hold the fifth round of talks to find a solution. The farmer protest has erupted at a time when India is due to hold general elections this year and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a record third term. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Houston firefighters keep tabs on a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center conducted its prescribed burn Wednesday afternoon in the Savanna area of the sanctuary. The burn, which was a collaboration between the arboretum and the Houston Fire Department, was maintained in the northeast corridor of the park below the Donor Boardwalk and encompassing the area around the Savanna Field Station. WAS HOUSTON BUILT ON A SWAMP?: A look into one of the city's oldest queries Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why did the Houston Arboretum have a prescribed burn today? The arboretum first announced last week it would conduct the fire either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the weather. The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association said the fire will help reduce years of overgrown vegetation. Historically, the Houston region burned every two to four years from natural occurrences, Houston Arboretum Conservation Director Stephen Benigno said in a statement ahead of the event. Our landscapes are reliant on fire. And were seeing the positive impacts of fire on the diversity of native vegetation and reduction of invasive species in areas where prescribed fires have previously been conducted. Houston firefighters start a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer WEATHER'S EFFECT ON PLANTS: January freeze put added stress on Houston trees after long drought Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston firefighters keep tabs on a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston firefighters start a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston firefighters keep tabs on a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston firefighter George Bennett starts a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston firefighter Danielle Wilson Cook starts a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston firefighter Danielle Wilson Cook starts a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston firefighter George Bennett starts a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer How many prescribed burns have been at the Houston Arboretum recently? This is the fourth prescribed burn at the Houston Arboretum over the past four years. The previous burns occurred in March 2021, March 2022 and February 2023. The last two fires happened in the Meadow area. Why have a prescribed fire? Prescribed burns are designed to have a positive impact on the community, and there are multiple benefits to the blazes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fire naturally occurs in nature, and conducting a controlled fire allows naturally occurring processes and cycles to happen without the risk of a wildfire. These burns don't happen on a whim either. The fire department and arboretum staff craft plans and complete training to be best prepared to handle what might come they were and execute efficiently. A Houston firefigher walks through a wall of smoke while keeping tabs on a prescribed burn at the the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Houston. In partnership with the Houston Fire Department, a prescribed fire was conducted in the Savanna area in the eastern portion of the nature sanctuary. The burn helps the nature center maintain its historic ecosystems. The last prescribed burn was in March 2023 in the Meadow Area. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer CHICAGO A male was shot and killed late Wednesday night in a vacant lot on the South Side. Officers responded to the shooting after 11:50 p.m. in the 5700 South May. An unidentified male was discovered in a vacant lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center. No one is in custody and further information is not available at this time. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A man pleaded guilty in court Wednesday to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a girl who was on a weekend camping trip with her family in upstate New York, officials announced. The girl, who authorities said was under 13, vanished on a bike ride with friends in Moreau Lake State Park some 45 miles north of Albany around dinner time on September 30. And her kidnapper, Craig Nelson Ross Jr., wrote a ransom note to try to get money, court documents state. Following a search for the child involving hundreds of personnel from multiple agencies, investigators found her alive October 2 at a property in Ballston Spa, some 20 miles from the park, authorities said. Fingerprints on the ransom note left in the familys mailbox helped investigators identify Ross as a suspect and then track him to the Ballston Spa property, state officials said. Under a plea agreement in New Yorks Saratoga County, the prosecution has recommended that a judge sentence Ross to 47 years to life in prison, including 25 years to life for a first-degree kidnapping charge and 22 years to life for a charge of predatory sexual assault against a child. Sentencing is scheduled for April 17. With the guilty plea today of Craig N. Ross, Jr., the victim and their family were able to hear the defendant admit his guilt to these heinous and despicable acts, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said in a release Wednesday. I think theres a collective sigh and a pause of a release of a breath now that Ross has admitted to the felonies, Heggen told reporters outside court. Ross had pleaded not guilty in November to a nine-count indictment that included predatory sexual assault, kidnapping and sexual abuse charges. Craig Ross Jr. was 46 at the time of his arrest in October. - Saratoga County Sheriff's Office/AP The child will receive a 100-year order of protection against Ross, according to the district attorneys release. Ross owns a property just over a quarter-mile from the childs home, authorities had said. CNN has sought comment from the girls family and Ross attorney. Because of the guilty plea, there will be no need for the girl or anyone else involved to testify, Heggen said, adding how hard it might be to have to repeat about that or talk about it. His admission of guilt ends the question of who was responsible for the kidnapping that rallied our entire community together to assist in locating her, Heggen said in the release. He will serve decades in prison before any parole consideration is available to him. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The FBI office in Sacramento is offering a $25,000 reward to find man accused of fatally gunning down a 20-year-old Northern California man in 2012 and evading authorities for more than a decade. The Solano County District Attorneys Office in 2013 charged Mario Guadalupe Vasquez, 31, with killing Jesus Adrian Jessie Gutierrez Amaya, 20, during an attempted robbery on Hayes Street in Fairfield. Vasquez has had no contacts with law enforcement since the homicide, which occurred in February of 2012, FBI Special Agent Brendan Wright wrote in an unsealed affidavit filed in the Eastern District of California. He is described as a 5-foot-7, 200-pound man with black hair and brown eyes, the FBI said. To date, state and local law enforcement, despite a thorough and aggressive search, have been unsuccessful in apprehending Vasquez, Wright wrote. Vasquezs family told Fairfield police that he was hiding in Vacaville or in Mexico, according to the affidavit. His father reportedly has a home in Mexico in Jalisco, where he is likely hiding, Wright wrote. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call their local FBI office or the United State embassy or consulate. Residents can also submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Authorities have arrested a 41-year-old man in connection to the brutal killing of an aspiring model who was found in September bound and stuffed in a refrigerator in her Los Angeles apartment. The Los Angeles Police Department said Wednesday that officers arrested Magnus Daniel Humphrey at his Minnesota home under an unrelated federal warrant. "The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office filed murder charges against Humphrey," the department said in a statement. "Humphrey waived extradition and will be transported back to Los Angeles to face charges." Humphrey is accused of murdering Maleesa Mooney, whose body was found inside her downtown Los Angeles apartment on Sept. 12 at about 3:54 p.m. by LAPD uniformed officers responding to a call for a welfare check at the 200 block of South Figueroa Street. The autopsy report states she died of blunt force trauma. The document explains Mooney was last seen alive in surveillance video at her apartment complex on the afternoon of Sept. 6, and it was her mother who had called police six days later to perform the welfare check. The officers found her body stuffed inside a refrigerator that had blood pooled underneath, according to the report. "Her wrists were bound together, her ankles were bound together and these bindings were tied to each other behind her back with miscellaneous electronic cords and clothing items," the report states. "An apparent gag, fashioned out of an article of clothing, was stuffed in her mouth." It said that though the injuries she sustained are generally not considered acutely life-threatening, but based on how she was found they suggest "she was likely involved in a violent physical altercation prior to her death." Toxicology testing found recent use of cocaine but the autopsy report said it was uncertain if drugs or alcohol played a role in her death. The brief Wednesday statement did not state Humphrey's connection to the victim, only that he "is on federal probation for narcotics offenses." EMPORIA, Kan. (KSNW) A man has been arrested in Emporia for the alleged unlawful discharge of a firearm Tuesday night. According to the Emporia Police Department, officers were dispatched at 9 p.m. to the report of gunshots in the 700 block of Neosho St. This embedded content is not available in your region. When officers went to find the source of the gunfire, they found a 33-year-old man in the area. When they attempted to make contact with the man, he ran. The EPD later found him and arrested him. Police identify 1-year-old boy killed in southeast Wichita shooting Several shell casings were found in the 700 block of Rural. A Lyon County Sheriffs Office deputy, using a drone, located a firearm that had been discarded. The man is being held at the Lyon County Jail on suspicion of felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, interference with a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. KSN does not identify suspects unless charges are filed in their case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) A man was arrested for a fatal hit-and-run that happened in Woodlawn on Sunday night. At around 10:50 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Richmond Highway and Brevard Court after a pedestrian was hit by a car that fled the scene. Detectives say 51-year-old Heliodoro Luna-Perez, of Alexandria, was trying to cross Richmond Highway when he was hit by a 2015 Lexus GS 350. Luna-Perez was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. PHOTOS: Vacant building catches fire in Southeast DC The driver fled the scene and was later found by officers almost two miles away. Kelechi Uzodinma, 61, of Woodbridge, was charged with felony hit and run and held at the Adult Detention Center on a $2,500 bond. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash and speed is still under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Crash Reconstruction Unit at (703) 280-0543. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Two people have been arrested after Nebraska police say a man walked into a bowling alley with a shotgun and killed two men. Alias Reed, 25, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and robbery. His girlfriend, Kaylyne Sweazy, 27, is charged with tampering with evidence, according to a news release from the Nebraska State Highway Patrol. On Feb. 20, Reed walked into Curts Lanes & Dining bowling alley in Bloomfield with a shotgun in a cardboard box and shot and killed two men, according to arrest records, KTIV reported. The two men killed were identified as Curtis Strom, 77, and William Reffett, 49, officials said. Reed told investigators he went to the bowling alley with the intention of killing the men, according to KTIV. Reed told Reffett he was going to rob him, KOLN reported. The men walked to the back of the business, and Reed shot both men in the head, the outlet reported, citing court records. Curt Strom, a hard working business owner for 50 years, has cooked and fed our community and had a big heart that has helped people in time of need. He was well known all around and has always laughed and joked around with everyone, one person wrote on Facebook. Strom was the owner of the bowling alley, according to KTIV. Will words cant describe how I feel. I loved you so much and thank God for allowing the years together we had to spend as a family. I will forever love and remember you, a person wrote on Facebook about Reffett. After the shooting, Reed took money out of their wallets and from the register and left, the news outlet reported. Later, troopers found the shotgun in a ditch several miles away, according to officials. Investigators believe Reed and Sweazy traveled together to get rid of it. Authorities say they found Reed shortly after the shooting and took him into custody. The same day, Reed and Sweazy were fighting in court over a custody issue, according to news outlets. The couple was attempting to get their newborn baby back after the child was placed in the states care, KTIV reported. A motion was filed on behalf of Sweazy to have an adjudication hearing for the childs custody moved up to March 7. The motion was made around noon, hours after the shooting, KOLN reported. McClatchy News was unable to find an attorney listed for Reed or Sweazy. Mom and 2-month-old son were killed and dumped on side of highway, Arkansas police say 3-year-old boy shot dead by moms boyfriend, California police say. Shocking Son kills former judge and wife, sending shockwaves through Texas community, cops say WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) One of the two suspects arrested in connection to the fatal shooting of Candace Amack in south Wichita was charged in court on Wednesday. Jose Silvano Velazquez-Carrillo was charged with one count of first-degree murder; intentional and premeditated by a judge. The shooting happened on Feb. 15 in the area of 2600 E. Wilma St. Amack was found in the 1400 block of S. George Washington Blvd. outside her home with gunshot wounds. Amack was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identify 1-year-old boy killed in southeast Wichita shooting Wichita police said they were able to identify a suspect vehicle leaving the area using Flock camera technology and found it at a home in the 1300 block of N. Jackson. The Kansas Highway Patrol air section assisted as well. Police identified two suspects, Velazquez-Carrillo and a 34-year-old man. The department said no additional suspects are being sought. Velazquez-Carrillo is next due in court on March 6. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. A Coweta County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for what he did to two young girls. After a weeklong trial, a Coweta County jury found Leslie Gene Patterson, 60, guilty of two counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated sexual battery involving two girls. After the verdict was delivered, a Superior Court judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole in light of his multiple prior felony convictions. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to evidence presented at the trial, Patterson lived in Sweetbriar Mobile Home Park and hosted parties where he supplied alcohol and drugs for a teenage family member and his high school-age friends, which included teenage girls younger than 18. Some of those girls testified at his trial about the parties and his behavior, which included Patterson making sexual comments and touching the girls inappropriately. In 2020, an 11-year-old girl told Coweta County authorities that Patterson had molested her. After that girl reported being molested, a second victim came forward and told authorities about Patterson sexually assaulting her when she was 15 years old at one of his parties in 2015. According to her testimony, she and her boyfriend fell asleep at Pattersons trailer and she woke up to Patterson assaulting her. TRENDING STORIES: That incident was the basis for the charge of aggravated sexual battery, which carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without parole. The Coweta County District Attorney said Patterson has been arrested over 60 times in his life and has been convicted of numerous felonies. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Law enforcement officers remove a protestor from the Feb. 19 meeting of Meyerland Area Democrats. Rosalie Weisfeld In 1891 my great-grandmother Masha, age 11, boarded a ship to America. Her mother Anna gave her two Shabbat candelabras heavy, made with bronze. She was told to always honor the Shabbat. Masha was fleeing Minsk as pogroms were spreading, and Jews were terrorized at will. In the year of 2024 I think heavily on this story. I am president of Meyerland Area Democrats here in Houston. Its the largest such organization in Texas, and our community is the largest Jewish community in the state. We have monthly meetings with intensive discussions and speakers as we build the Democratic Party. However on Monday, Feb. 19, a most terrifying situation unfolded a scene that could be set in 1933. As a speaker, we invited U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher. She has been a fabulous representative and is highly respected. But instead of a meeting with our representative about what lies ahead in 2024, we wound up with something else. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For weeks groups of disrupters have been showing up at organizations in our community, stirred up by Fletchers opponent and by crude anti-Jewish tropes being pushed in elements of our society. On this night they decided to come for us. It began with sets of them sitting in our meeting space at a church. They kept filing in eating our food and sitting on the front row. It became apparent that they planned to try something. RICE PROFESSOR OP-ED: Antisemitism is 'prevalent' on campus We had with us our constable and some of his deputies. Two dozen of these protesters showed to a meeting in a largely Jewish neighborhood. I decided it would not be productive to have Rep. Fletcher arrive in the room. Then as I brought the meeting to order and announced she would not be able to come, these individuals began with chants relying on tropes about Israel and Jews. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I was told and yes, Im Jewish that I am owned by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs). One of our members was asked if she were a Jew. Law enforcement hauled out protesters one by one as they disrupted. Each time I resumed the meeting, another wave would pop up, running around with their phones, filming what they were doing to us. Once all were escorted out, they began pounding at the entrance doors. For 30 minutes, they pounded and screamed. I thought the glass panels would break. Roughly 100 people, coming for a regular meeting in free assembly, felt trapped inside by these individuals pounding the doors of the entrance. We had police with us, but it was harrowing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This kind of scene is becoming more common in America. Antisemitism rises when there is rot in society. When too many stay too silent. Will my own local Democratic Party condemn these actions? Will the national Democratic Party finally disavow a handful of members of the Democratic congressional caucus who time and again egg on these tropes? Will the Republicans ever rid themselves of the many in their party who espouse virulent hate of Jews? Events like this do not happen in a vacuum. Today it is disrupting a meeting. Banging on doors. Frightening people. Tomorrow? Next month? Year? My great-grandmother fled Russia to avoid terror, and now this very same terror is rising here in the U.S., in the place of freedom. Another day, another incident. How will this end? Take a stand against this hatred. Root it out. Our city, state and nation are becoming a lesser place because of the growing wave of antisemitism. Too many do not understand what an emergency this is: Most Jews in America no longer feel secure. Monday night did not help. Its up to us to call it out and root it out before its too late. Editors note: An earlier version of this story misstated the day of the week that the incident took place. It was Monday. Back in January, The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded to the scene of an apartment that had caught on fire. Once the fire was contained, police were told that the fire had been started intentionally. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< One of the residents in the unit that caught on fire, Neal Wilkins, was immediately suspected of arson. Officers spoke with the suspects roommate who told police that while he was in the apartment, he started to smell gasoline. When he left his room, he noticed the apartment was on fire. Thankfully, he was able to run to safety. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] This Tuesday, February 20, Officers with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office noticed a suspicious vehicle parked outside of Myrtle Avenue with its lights on. JSO deputies approached the vehicle and noticed the occupant was sitting in the backseat. A search of the vehicles license plate revealed the registered owner was Neal Wilkins, who was suspected of arson after Januarys apartment fire. Reports state that police searched the suspect through police database and were able to confirm the person in the vehicle was Neal Wilkins. The suspect was immediately arrested and read his miranda rights before he was transported to the pre-detention facility. [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. New York State Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg enters the District Attorney's office in New York City in 2023. Wednesday, Bragg announced the sentencing of a man who stomped and viciously attacked a Filipino woman in Manhattan in 2021. Photo by Louis Lanzano/ UPI Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for viciously and repeatedly assaulting a 65-year-old Filipino woman in Midtown Manhattan in 2021. "Brandon Elliot assaulted a 65-year-old woman because of her Filipino descent," said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "This attack has left lasting fear and anxiety for the victim and many in the AAPI community. I hope the closure of this case will allow the victim to continue healing and moving forward, while also sending a strong message that we will seek full accountability for anyone who commits violence against their fellow New Yorkers because of their race or ethnicity." Elliot pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court in December 2023 to one count each of assault in the first degree as a hate crime, which is a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony. On March 29, 2021, Elliot approached the woman on the sidewalk of West 43rd St. between 8th and 9th Avenues and said, "F- you. You don't belong here, according to court documents and Elliot's guilty plea. He then proceeded to kick the woman in the torso, knocking her to the ground and repeatedly kicked and stomped on her head and body. A passerby tried to intervene and stop the attack but Elliot threatened him with a knife before fleeing the scene. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis and contusions to her forehead and across her body. Police arrested Elliot two days later thanks to a tip from the public sent to the New York Police Department's Crime Stoppers unit. NYC: Help @NYPDHateCrimes identify this individual. They want to talk to him about the assault of a 65 y/o woman, during which anti-Asian statements were made. This occurred just before noon today, near West 43rd St & 9th Ave. Anyone with Info @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/40Ynpgfnjn Edward A. Caban (@NYPDPC) March 30, 2021 Elliot was already on lifetime parole and had been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of his mother in 2002, according to the New York Daily News. Elliot stabbed his mother three times in the chest in front of his 5-year-old sister when he was 19. Reports of hate crimes targeting Asians and Asian Americans surged during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, hate crimes targeting people of Asian appearance rose by almost 150% when health officials tracked the origin of the virus to China. MARTIN COUNTY A 49-year-old man was arrested on manslaughter and other charges following the reported overdose death last year of a Palm City woman, according to Martin County Sheriffs Chief Deputy John Budensiek and records obtained Wednesday. Sean Lamont Bray, of West Palm Beach, was arrested Tuesday after the May 29, 2023, death of 40-year-old Katherine Dumont, according to Budensiek and records. Investigators said the medical examiner determined her death was due to "multi-drug toxicity." At the time, Dumonts boyfriend told officials he saw her conscious and breathing at about 6 a.m. Martin County Fire Rescue officials treated her, taking her to Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m., records show. Budensiek said her death came the day after purchasing drugs from Bray. The narcotics detectives started doing research on her phone, talking to family members, piecing together her life history, how she got to the point of them finding her deceased and learned that she was desperately trying not to be an addict, he said. She'd been going to rehabs but then checking herself out. Unfortunately, these drug dealers continued to feed her drugs. So she kept relapsing back into drug addiction. Katherine Dumont According to records, detectives started posing as Dumont in arranging a drug deal due to the fact Bray was unaware of the death, records state. Using an informant, a $140 deal was made with Bray for fentanyl, an extremely powerful opioid linked to many deaths, and crack cocaine. Another deal was set up June 1, 2023, and Bray was arrested on a number of drug-related charges, records show. Bray said he makes about $500 daily from drug sales, records show. Budensiek said investigators questioned Bray, who wasnt aware of Dumonts death. Bray admitted that yes, the victim came down to Palm Beach County the day before, and he sold her fentanyl capsules and some crack cocaine, Budensiek said. He said Bray told investigators he'd been selling her drugs for a while, and that he knew the drugs can hurt her. "But that's what she wants, so I'm going to sell it to her anyway, Budensiek said Bray told investigators. Investigators ultimately told Bray of Dumonts death. His response was quite flippant, Budensiek said. Dumont had several drugs in her system, including fentanyl, Budensiek said. They know these individuals are overdosing. They don't care. They're all about the almighty dollar, Budensiek said of drug dealers. In discussing the manslaughter case, Budensiek said its challenging, noting jurisdictional, analytic and legal issues. The month before Dumonts death, Martin sheriffs officials arrested Kevin Whitehouse, now 42, on a charge of distributing fentanyl causing death in connection with the death of a woman in January 2023. Whitehouse has a court date in April. We're not just showing up to an overdose and moving on to the next case, Budensiek said. We're actually trying to track it back. Budensiek said the cases are taken seriously, and his agency remains committed. No matter how much we educate, the desire for drugs and the availability for drugs is out there, and it's just a constant fight, Budensiek said. But we're in the fight, and we're going to stay in the fight. 'Epic' trip: MC sheriff learns about human smuggling, border issues in visit to southern Arizona Shooting under investigation: Vehicle, garage door struck by gunfire in Port St. Lucie Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Palm City woman's overdose death brings manslaughter arrest Homes in the Riverside Terrace neighborhood on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Third Ward. Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer Riverside Terrace residents pleaded with Houston City Council members to expand civility ordinance protections aimed at keeping people from sleeping or standing on sidewalks to their neighborhood. But other city residents and some council members questioned whether the ordinance was the answer to the issues residents face that prompted their requests, citing worries of unintentional criminalization and the need to address deeper issues surrounding homelessness. I'm just really strong on not letting something be perceived as a cure-all when, quite frankly, we're dealing with somebody that probably has no option but sleeping on the sidewalk at night, Mayor John Whitmire said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ordinance prevents anyone from sleeping, sitting or laying their possessions on city sidewalks between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Citizens in violation of the ordinance can be ticketed. Nearly 270 people were ticketed in 2022. Residents in Riverside Terrace began circulating a petition asking for the ordinance in October after seeing an influx of unsheltered people setting up camp in alleys over the past year and a half. The number of signatures residents have collected on their petition is unclear. Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who represents the neighborhood, said residents have garnered 201 signatures to expand the ordinance. Two members of the Riverside Civic Association say theyve gathered 400 signatures. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Riverside Terrace isnt the first to ask to be included in the ordinance. Residents in Near Northside added their neighborhood to the list in 2016 following the stabbing death of an 11-year-old boy. Other neighborhoods with similar ordinances in place include Central Business District, Midtown, Old Sixth Ward, Avondale, Hyde Park, East Downtown Management District, Historic Near Northside and South Post Oak/West Bellfort. Houston Police Officers Sonny Nguyen and Matthew Simon presented the proposed ordinance change to the council Wednesday. The pair showed data on how Riverside Terrace has seen increases in disorderly conduct and narcotics violations between 2022 and 2023, as well as increased calls to HPD about suspicious people. While residents have welcomed the ordinance, others have said they worry its an attack on the areas unsheltered population. Sabrina Dean-Bass, secretary for the Riverside Civic Association, and Evans-Shabazz, who represents the neighborhood, say that isnt the intention. NEAR NORTHSIDE ORDINANCE: Near Northside residents call for civility ordinance, saying drugs and vagrancy are intolerable Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whitmire tossed questions at Nguyen and Simon about how exactly the ordinance worked and what was different about enforcement in protected zones versus other areas of the city. The mayor argued the whole city ought to be civil. Houston could not do a citywide civility ordinance because of legal challenges, City Attorney Arturo Michel said. Dallas is currently being sued after its city council passed a citywide panhandling ordinance last year that kept people from walking or standing on medians. Council member Abbie Kamin pointed out a recent Chronicle report on how citations for homeless encampments are concentrated in richer parts of town and not necessarily where the encampments are, and asked which of those neighborhoods are in areas protected by the civility ordinance. The citys civility ordinance does not necessarily address encampments, but sleeping, sitting and placing belongings on sidewalks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Concerns of targeting unhoused population Kamin said she worried the ordinance unfairly penalized and criminalized Houstons unhoused population, adding that the city needed more transitional housing and diversion efforts. No one's been prohibited from this type of conduct at night when we may, for example, on Washington Avenue have somebody passed out from being drunk at a bar, right? Kamin said. Or vomiting because they've drunken too much or doing other unnecessary things on somebody's private property. While council member Twila Carter didn't disagree with the ordinance, she said it seemed to be polarizing a much larger issue of homelessness and mental health instead of addressing it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With respect to the residents of this area, we're moving them from one zone, to another, to another, Carter said. We've got to address the homelessness and the mental health and not polarize a situation, a community, a downtown street, but really go deep and address the situation. Other council members like Evans-Shabazz, Amy Peck and Joaquin Martinez said the ordinance could be a mechanism that can help push the citys unsheltered population toward the help they need. Both Peck and Martinez have neighborhoods in their district that they say are going to apply to be covered by the ordinance. Martinez agreed with Kamins point, though, that the city needed to provide housing for the unsheltered. Evans-Shabazz told the council the ordinance expansion was an effort to increase public safety for residents in Riverside Terrace, and encouraged the council to vote for it. You have to lift yourself up by your bootstraps, so to speak, and provide solutions to problems rather than continuing to avoid the problem, she said. Divisions over ordinance Those who came to speak at Wednesdays public hearing included Riverside Terrace residents who supported the expansion, and those who live outside the community who spoke out against it. Sharon Evans-Brooks, a member of the Riverside Civic Association, told the council they wanted to implement the ordinance after seeing its success in other areas of the city. When do the rights of individuals who are law-abiding, homeowners when are we being heard? Evans-Brooks said. It seems to be that we defer quite often to our fellow brothers and sisters that are, you know, may have some challenges in life, and those of us who are trying to promote business or trying to promote wholesome, healthy lifestyles and wholesome, healthy communities seem to not be heard as often. Those who live outside the community said they feared the ordinance expansion would further criminalize homelessness and penalize the unsheltered for their situation. This ordinance, what it does ultimately, it pushes them away from the strategic areas where people who are in need can receive the help that they are requesting or are in dire need of," resident Christopher Rivera said. Expanding the zoning civility ordinance into Riverside Terrace only further criminalizes homelessness and does little to improve public safety. Evans-Shabazz emphasized the intent of the ordinance was not to criminalize Riverside Terraces unsheltered population. We can never do enough, Evans-Shabazz told Rivera. But this is an effort. Caroline Christianson, another Riverside Terrace resident, said the point of the ordinance should be to have a tool to help the homeless population feel seen. When we allow people to stand on the sidewalk, we basically say we don't respect you enough to help you, Christianson said. So when we send people to help them, we're saying, 'We see you. We see you as part of our community. We see you as humans, and we respect you.' Whitmire said he was looking into federal resources to help Houston's unsheltered population. "We need resources, mental health services, residential affordable housing, health care, justice reform," Whitmire said. "There's a lot of things that would address this." Every state across the nation collects property taxes, in most cases to fund local governments, water, and school districts. Florida is no different. However, Florida lawmakers are now looking at possibly eliminating property taxes altogether. HB 1371 sponsored by Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Marion, calls for a study to investigate the issue. The Senate is considering a comparable bill. Home For Sale Sign and New House stock photo According to the Florida constitution, only local governments can charge ad valorem or property taxes based on the value of the property as of Jan. 1 each year. So, homeowners never really own their property outright if they must pay an annual tax on it. Florida property taxes generated $25 billion for local governments and schools last year alone. The burning question is how to replace those funds. A consumption tax or increased sales tax would be a logical consideration. The idea of eliminating property taxes altogether is an innovative one but many important questions first need to be answered: The sales tax idea is a good one but how much is needed, how will it be distributed to local governments and who will decide how it will be allocated? How do you replace any losses in funding to line-item ad valorem like local school districts, water management districts, etc. How would eliminating property tax be equitably offset county by county, city by city? How would non-homestead and commercial property tax rates be affected locally? Will more burden be passed on to local small business owners? If HB1371 passes, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability would conduct the study, to be completed by February 2025. As a property owner and real estate broker, I appreciate that our lawmakers are considering new ways to improve the lives of Floridians and make our state run more efficiently. The affordable housing and homeowners insurance crises would benefit from the same approach. Brandon Tucker Brandon Tucker is executive director of the Florida Landowners Association. 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: Many big questions exist before ending property taxes in Florida A Feb. 20 wildfire off of East Fork Road in Marshall impacted roughly 55 acres, according to the N.C. Forest Service. MARSHALL - The North Carolina Forest Service continues to fight a roughly 55-acre Marshall wildfire that broke out Feb. 20. Bo Dossett, the Madison County ranger with the N.C. Forest Service, said the fire, which is located on Dan Branch off of East Fork Road in Marshall, was 70% contained as of 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22. Dossett said while 13 structures were threatened, none were damaged. The Mars Hill Fire Department and crews with The Nature Conservancy also assisted with the fire, and crews were dispatched to the area around 2:10 p.m. on Feb. 20, Dossett said. According to Dossett, the crews with The Nature Conservancy were assisting with a prescribed burn in Hot Springs on Feb. 20. A wildfire off of East Fork Road in Marshall is now 70% contained, and has impacted roughly 55 acres, according to the N.C. Forest Service. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Dossett said. According to an N.C. Forest Service report, when firefighters arrived on scene, the fire was estimated at approximately 5 to 10 acres in size, burning in hardwood leaf litter and Chinese silvergrass, commonly called "pampas grass," moving rapidly up the mountain toward Dan Knob. At that time, additional resources were called, including a BRIDGE Program inmate crew, in addition to The Nature Conservancy and Mars Hill Fire Department crew members. In total, about 25 people were working the fire, Dossett said. "The fire spread rapidly due to shifting winds and steep terrain," Dossett said in the report. "The fire burned into the evening Feb. 20 with the N.C. Forest Service staff remaining on scene throughout the night. During the day of Feb. 21, firefighters conducted strategic backfiring operations to consume fuels between the fire and houses at the bottom of the ridge along Dan Branch and Meadow Branch roads." A wildfire off of East Fork Road in Marshall is now 70% contained, and has impacted roughly 55 acres, according to the N.C. Forest Service. More: Pampas grass causes problems Mars Hill wildfire 'worst in a couple years,' according to state forest service ranger More: App. Trail temporarily closed Appalachian Trail temporarily closed in Hot Springs The county is in the midst of its spring fire season, which typically runs from the middle of February to the end of April or early May. The N.C. Forest Service said it does not expect significant growth of the fire, and firefighters will continue to monitor the fire until the area receives significant rainfall. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Marshall wildfire at 55 acres, 70% contained, N.C. Forest Service says BALTIMORE Maryland courts have run out of money to pay for indigent people charged with crimes to be released on home detention pending trial, putting hundreds of such defendants at risk of reincarceration, according to documents obtained by The Baltimore Sun. In 2021, the state sent $5 million to its Administrative Office of the Courts for a program that would pay private home detention companies to monitor defendants pending trial, so long as judges determined they qualified for release and couldnt afford the service on their own, the documents show. The money came from the states allocation from the Congress Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The move came as courts across the country looked for ways to reduce the number of people incarcerated pending trial to limit the spread of COVID-19, while seeking not to keep poor people behind bars because they couldnt afford home monitoring. It also represented continued reform to a bail system with a history of incarcerating poor people. On Friday, court officials told home detention companies in Maryland that those funds had dried up, according to a letter sent by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Terri Charles, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Judiciary, confirmed Wednesday that the $5 million in federal funds appropriated in 2021 ran out as of Friday. The office said in the letter to private home monitoring agencies that they are required to notify defendants that the courts would no longer pay for home monitoring fees. Any case in which an indigent individual has not reached agreement with the agency to continue monitoring based on payment by or on behalf of the indigent individual from a source other than the appropriated funds will be set for a hearing, court officials wrote. Judges presiding over bail hearings consider several factors in their decisions, primarily whether the person charged presents a flight risk or danger to public safety. They also may take into account the strength of the prosecutions case and any other collateral information provided by prosecutors or defense attorneys, such as a defendants health concern. A judge can release a defendant on their own recognizance, subject them to pretrial supervision by the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, release the person on an unsecured or money bond, the latter of which has fallen out of favor because it prejudices indigent defendants, or order someone held without bail. The law says judges should opt for the least onerous way to keep the public safe and make sure someone shows up for future court dates. Baltimore-based defense attorney Natalie Finegar told The Sun she believes judges have grown more comfortable with private home detention, where defendants wear GPS monitors, as an alternative to incarceration. Now, she said, she is concerned about the repercussions for defendants who wont be able to afford private monitoring. There are people who are now going to be locked up. Its horrible, Finegar said. They havent violated the home detention. Theyre abiding by the rules. Theyre being monitored effectively. And now theyre going to have a hearing where their liberty is in jeopardy, when theyve been doing everything they promised they would. In the Administrative Office of the Courts Friday letter, officials said they were in contact with the legislature to secure funding to continue the program. Charles said the state judiciary notified the legislature last Thursday about its funding issue. That notification came two days after court officials sent a letter Feb. 13 to private home monitoring agencies demanding the companies promptly provide invoices for the services they provided to indigent defendants. The court officials foreshadowed running out of money in the Feb. 13 letter. Under the agreement between [Administrative Office of the Courts] and your agency to provide such payments, the total payments for all agencies for such services cannot exceed $5 million or go beyond December 31, 2024, the officials told the agencies. Later in the Feb. 13 letter, they said they projected the maximum available funds are likely to be exhausted during the first quarter of 2024 due to a recent sudden influx of invoices. A lobbying firm representing the two largest private home detention monitoring firms in Maryland followed up Friday with a letter to Gov. Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, urging the Democrats to come up with $4 million during the current legislative session to pay for the program going forward. In a statement, Jones said she was working with Democratic Delegates Luke Clippinger, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Benjamin Barnes, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, on a deficiency funding to ensure that those who are already part of the monitoring program dont go to jail because they cant afford to pay for their home monitoring device. Carter Elliott, a spokesman for Moore, said in an email that the governors administration was concerned about the courts Indigency Program coming to an end. This is a one time federally-funded program created during the pandemic which was not forecasted to continue beyond what the initial federal funds provided, Elliott said. Governor Moore strongly encourages the [Administrative Office of the Courts] to continue to work with the State Legislature to continue this initiative. A spokesperson for Ferguson did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment. Frank Boston, a lobbyist representing two of the largest home monitoring companies, told The Sun on Wednesday evening that the companies hope the legislature will send $4 million toward the program and, ideally, establish a replenishing revenue source for the future. The $4 million likely would last at least a couple of years, Boston said. Its one of those things, if youve got money, you can afford it, Boston said of private home monitoring. Without continued funding, he said, two people charged with the same crime, with the same criminal history, who both qualify for home monitoring the rich person gets to get out and the poor person has to sit in jail because they cant afford it. Lobbyists for the private monitoring companies said in the letter that the courts had been paying for about 700 defendants to receive home monitoring when the funds ran out Friday. In their pitch to lawmakers, they estimated the state would save somewhere between $17 million and $35 million by continuing to pay for people to be released on home monitoring rather than sending them back to jail. It costs up to $15 a day on average per defendant for private home monitoring, the lobbyists wrote, compared with about $83 to $153 daily to incarcerate someone pretrial, according to estimates by Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Beyond the clear fiscal savings to the state in continuing the (Administrative Office of the Courts) Indigency Program, there is a human element that needs to be factored into the calculus, wrote the lobbyists, adding that allowing the program to end would undoubtedly lead to more people being locked up pending trial. The Office of the Public Defender did not respond immediately Wednesday to a request for comment but said in a statement of support for the 2021 funding allocation that no one awaiting trial, presumed innocent, should be incarcerated based on their financial circumstances. Period. Simply put, if you cant afford the home detention fees, especially in the jurisdictions using private companies, you cannot be released on home detention, the office said. Worse, if youre released, and struggle to make home detention payments, you can be rearrested for violating the conditions of your release. _____ An American Airlines flight was re-routed after a passenger tried to force open the emergency exit door. A passenger who goes by Donnie was on that flight from New Mexico to Chicago Tuesday. Donnie, whos originally from Cohasset, says he was one of a few people who tackled that man as he posed a threat mid-flight. Four of us were able to wrestle him into the aisle, where I then kind of sat on top of him, and the flight attendants eventually came over and helped duct tape his legs and then we put flex cuffs on his arms, said Donnie, who also works for Barstool Sports. He like cracked open the window that was protecting the handle and then he like ripped down the handle where it exposed some of the emergency exit, all this wind came rushing down, said Emma Ritz, another passenger on that flight. Donnie says that the passenger was taken to an empty row for the rest of the flight, and he was arrested by police as soon as they landed back in New Mexico. 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 As the once-storied Conservative Political Action Conference kicks off the 50th anniversary of its inaugural national gathering, the organization is finding itself increasingly anchored to the sexual assault allegations leveled a year ago against its longtime leader, conservative activist Matt Schlapp. On Wednesday, the opening day for CPAC 2024, the Alexandria City Courthouse posted a batch of eye-popping new filings in the sexual battery and defamation lawsuit against Schlappincluding a subpoena to a CPAC official alleged to have overseen document destruction days after the accusations were first publicly reported. Schlapp was on notice at the time about potential legal action. The court records show subpoenas to other key witnesses, as well, including CPAC officials and other alleged victims. Two young men who previously reported unwanted physical advances from Schlapp have been deposed, including in connection with an alleged incident where the conservative icon, drunk and stripped to his underwear, rubbed his crotch on a young man at a fundraising event months before the alleged assault at the center of the lawsuit. Herschel Walker Staffer: Matt Schlapp Groped My Crotch The accusations surfaced last January, when The Daily Beast first reported that a conservative political operative claimed that Schlapp sexually assaulted him in his car in October 2022. The accuser, Carlton Huffman, provided text messages and other real-time communications to support his account. He followed up on those claims with a multimillion-dollar sexual battery and defamation lawsuit against Schlapp, his wife Mercedes Schlapp, and CPAC itself, which is headed for a jury trial in June. The Schlappsthrough various attorneys, court filings, and surrogateshave denied all allegations of wrongdoing. The alleged shredding incident, however, could be a major new development, as Huffman and a separate but sympathetic chorus of former CPAC officials seek to illustrate what they have painted as a scorched-earth conspiracy to protect Schlapp and expend his alleged victim. Three sources familiar with the situation told The Daily Beast that the recently subpoenaed CPAC officialmanager of strategic initiatives, Lynne Rasmussendirectly oversaw interns shredding documents in or near her office shortly after The Daily Beast published Huffmans allegations. Shredded items allegedly included some personal documents belonging to Schlapp, according to communications from a CPAC employee at the time, which were reviewed by The Daily Beast. Specifically, the communications single out parking tickets as well as business records related to Schlapps private lobbying outfit, Cove Strategies. The summons is one of four previously unreported subpoenas submitted last week by Schlapps accuserHuffmanwho was a Herschel Walker campaign staffer at the time of the alleged incident. Other subpoenas targeted CPAC board member Carolyn D. Meadows, along with two of Walkers top former officialscampaign manager Scott Paradise and in-house counsel Stefan Passantinowho both offered Huffman support when he first came forward the morning after the alleged assault, The Daily Beast previously reported. A subpoena also went out to CPAC adviser, Turner Johnson. Paradise and Passantino, along with the other Walker officials who were informed at the time, had both taken Huffmans initial claims at face value when he came forward the morning after the October 2022 incident. And Huffman has provided communications with campaign officials that morning as evidence that he came forward with private but detailed allegations immediately. Those communications, along with interviews with campaign officials, show that the Walker team immediately pulled Huffman from Schlapps personal detail, and offered him options for legal, professional, and mental health support. Accused Groper Matt Schlapp Laughably Blames Woke Politics for His Fox News Ban For her part, Meadows was one of two CPAC officials to sign a joint statement avowing that they stand squarely behind Matt Schlapp have full confidence in his leadership of the organization. The statement cited Schlapps heart and his character as reason to dismiss the allegations, implying that The Daily Beast and NBC Newswhich corroborated Huffmans allegationshad teamed up with the Left in an attempted character assassination on their quest to cancel those with whom they disagree. (Huffman is a lifelong Republican.) As the case proceeded, however, the second official on that statementthen-vice president Charlie Gerowreversed his analysis. Gerow ultimately resigned in protest, submitting a scalding final letter to the CPAC board in August that trashed Schlapp for financial mismanagement, runaway egotism, and demands of blind loyalty from the board in the face of what Gerow saw as increasingly compelling allegations that could create objectively serious risks for the nonprofit. Tragically, for those who are encouraging Matt to fight this to the end the costs are already staggering, Gerow wrote the board. He mocked the prospect of appealing to Schlapps heart and scoffed at the initial promises to blow this case out of the water within a month. That obviously did not happen, Gerow wrote. Instead huge legal bills continue to mount. Months after Gerow resigned, Huffman tacked CPAC on to the case as a third defendant. The Daily Beast sent comment requests to Paradise, Passantino, Meadows, Rasmussen, Gerow, CPAC counsel, and Schlapps attorney, but did not receive a reply. Huffmans attorney declined comment. While the full scope of Schlapp and CPACs costs from the case is still unknownas are the sources of those fundscurrent and former officials estimate that those bills long ago blew past the million-dollar mark. Court records indicate the two sides have engaged in intense, granular running battles usually associated with steep costs. Huffmans original lawsuit last January castigated Schlapp as a sexual predator, and accused him of battery and defamationwith that second charge also leveled at Mercedes Schlapp for her alleged role in a retaliatory smear campaign against Huffman. In the weeks after coming forward, Huffman was tarred over his former affiliations with white supremacistsrevelations that forced him out of his job as a GOP aide with the North Carolina legislature. (Huffman acknowledged those past statements and ties, roundly denouncing them and noting they were more than a decade old.) But Huffmanwho turned down an early settlement offer from Schlapphas since upped the stakes. Two months ago, he added CPAC itself as a defendant in his lawsuit, claiming the organization knew of another alleged sexual assault months prior to Schlapp groping and pommeling Huffmans crotch against his will. Matt Schlapp Boasts About Banning Liberal Media From Now-Irrelevant CPAC The new complaint charged CPAC with negligent retention of an official and conspiracy. Huffman seeks a combined judgment of more than $13.5 million, with a parallel federal defamation suit against Jan. 6 fundraiser and far-right gadfly Caroline Wren. (Wren has denied any wrongdoing.) The alleged CPAC document destruction took place soon after the first public reports of Huffmans accusation, according to three people familiar with the matter and communications reviewed by The Daily Beast. The communicationscoming from a person in the CPAC office, and written the day of the eventeven provide an exact date: Jan. 11, 2023, five days after the allegations were first publicly reported. The shredding was allegedly carried out by interns, supposedly under the supervision of Rasmussen and CPAC general counsel David Safavian, according to the communications, which also speculate about Schlapps personal involvement. The interns disposed of a large quantity of records, according to the sources, even though early reports had already noted that Schlapps accuserwho was anonymous at the timewas clear that legal action against Schlapp was very much still pending. Huffman filed his lawsuit just five days after the alleged shredding incident. It is unclear if there was any shredding after the suit was filed. The disposal of documents, however, was apparently not a one-off. Three sources familiar with the matter told The Daily Beast that CPAC offices had by that time already seen a flurry of new activity and policies related to record-retention. The policies started a few weeks earlier, in December 2021, after Huffman first tagged Schlapp in a social media post alluding vaguely to inappropriate drunken behavior. Following Huffmans postwhich was shared at the time by former CPAC official Ned Ryunsome CPAC higher-ups launched an informal, searching inventory of organization records, these sources said, while imposing new non-disclosure agreements for all office employees and docking pay for any non-compliant staff. Court records obtained by The Daily Beast also confirm that a summons has gone out to Tim Miller, an openly gay political strategist who told independent outlet 24Sight this weekend that the subpoena is likely because Huffman contacted him for advice the night of the alleged assault. 24Sight also reported that Huffman subpoenaed Fox News star Sean Hannity, whose deposition is set for March 22, along with former CPAC communications chief Ian Walters, who will be deposed next Tuesday. The Hannity subpoena stems from an alleged email between the late night host and Schlapp, referenced in Huffmans amended complaint, 24Sight reported. After Huffman came forward, Fox News allegedly blacklisted the Schlappsboth of them regular on-air contributorsand the network has still not re-upped its longtime CPAC sponsorship. A person close to Hannity told The Daily Beast on Tuesday that Hannity had not yet received formal notice, adding that he has not used email for years. (Court records also show that Rasmussen was originally subpoenaed in September, though her deposition was put off.) CPAC Board Member Wrote Brutal Letter Trashing Matt Schlapp This fall, Huffmans counsel subpoenaed two other young men who reported inappropriate sexual advances from Schlapp, court records show. One of themwho was deposed in November, according to court recordsallegedly claimed that Schlapp, in his underwear, rubbed his crotch on the young man while drunk at a Palm Beach fundraising event sometime around February 2022. That claim appears in the sealed version of Huffmans amended complaint, The Washington Post previously reported. Huffman has also subpoenaed recently departed CPAC brass, including former vice president Charlie Gerow and Bob Beauprez, the longtime treasurer who torched the organizations management in a resignation letter last spring. Additionally, two sources familiar with the matter told The Daily Beast that FBI agents have over the last six months spoken with multiple former CPAC officials about the organizations finances. As the lawsuits discovery phase steams ahead, with a jury trial now only months away, the docket has hummed with volleys of subpoenas, letters, and motionsmany still under seal. At the same time, Schlapp and the CPAC team have busied themselves with organizing this years annual conference, which opened on Wednesday at the Gaylord Hotel in Marylands National Harbor. The centerpiece of the conference this year will once again be a keynote from Trump, who chalked last years lackluster lineup up to fears of rebuke from his die-hard following. The event has in years past been a magnet for conservative stalwarts and rising stars alike, a staple for Beltway Republicans looking to make inroads with the partys most well-wired players. However, with the arrival of Trump and the MAGA movement, CPACs star began to dim. Recent years have seen notable shifts in attendance, as CPAC scrapped its mainstream conservative bona fides and instead embraced fringe and frivolous figures on the far rightcelebrating the likes of Jan. 6 insurrectionists and anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, while platforming authoritarian leaders across the globe. Its unclear how much of that branding pivot was pre-planned and how much was simply an inability to forestall Trump, leading Schlapp and his crew to adopt a sour grapes attitude that recast MAGA critics within the GOP as scurrilous political enemies. Regardless, the shifts have led to declines in attendance, revenue, and influence, a trend the Schlapp allegations exacerbated last year. This year, the cost of general admission dropped by $200, with full weekend passes priced at just $95. And the list of 23 conference sponsors features no less than five entities that are actually just CPAC itselfincluding the Center for Fundamental Rights, the organizations arm in Hungary. Reese Gorman contributed reporting. 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. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez took an unexpected trip to Texas this week to visit the U.S. border with Mexico as part of a delegation put together by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a libertarian conservative nonprofit founded by brothers Charles Koch and the late David Koch. The group also included Fox News radio host Guy Benson and social media influencer Caitlin Oponski, who goes by Cowgirl Cait. Such trips have become a staple for Republican presidential hopefuls this election cycle as they seek to capitalize on polls showing the majority of Americans across both parties see the number of migrants crossing the border as a major problem facing the country. But Suarezs recent visit seemed to come out of the blue, and had no obvious ties to a particular political campaign. Prior to his short-lived bid for president last year, Suarez suggested he would be interested in vice president or governor. Since dropping out of the presidential primary last August, however, Suarez has not announced any plans to run for any higher office after he leaves his mayoral post in two years due to term-limitations. Suarezs three-day trip to Texas came amid deepening political problems in City Hall, where he and half of recent commissioners are facing corruption allegations, including one commissioner removed from office last fall following an arrest on bribery charges and another who faces a $63.5 million verdict after a jury determined he misused his public office. Suarez is under FBI investigation over payments he took from a developer seeking permitting help from the mayors office. The mayor traveled to Texas with his taxpayer-funded city police security detail, according to the mayors office. While Americans for Prosperity covered Suarezs travel expenses, the mayor did not respond to questions about whether that included plane tickets and hotels for the security detail as well. The police department has not yet provided records that would detail the cost to taxpayers. Americans for Prosperity did not respond to the Heralds questions about the trip. The mayors communications director, Stephanie Severino, said Suarez traveled to the border so he could witness the border crisis firsthand and to speak about Miami, which she described as a city where immigrants have thrived. A little more than one in every two Miami residents is a first-generation immigrant, according to the U.S. Census. Like so many in South Florida, Suarezs father emigrated from Cuba in the 1960s as a young boy. Xavier Suarez later became Miamis first Cuban-born mayor. Illegal immigration has become a top concern for most Americans, Severino said. Republican and Democratic mayors all across our country have been critical of the Biden administrations policies, which provoked and have sustained this crisis. While the recent influx of migrants across the southern border has put a severe strain on resources in other cities, Miami has not experienced the same struggles, according to Malena Legarre, executive director of Hermanos de la Calle, which provides emergency services to recently arrived migrants in Miami. Data provided weekly by the Department of Homeland Security show the number of migrants crossing the border who planned to come to South Florida has doubled since summer 2023, from about 1,100 to 2,200 each week. More are from Cuba than from any other nation, data show. But most are not ending up homeless, Legarre said. Lots of Cubans are coming, but they have support. They have family here, Legarre said. While Miami shelters are overcrowded, Legarre said most people experiencing homelessness in Miami are not recently arrived migrants but residents feeling the squeeze of the citys skyrocketing rent prices and stagnant wages. Hermanos de la Calle received federal funds to provide up to a 30-day hotel stay for newly arrived migrants. Most of those who use the program are Venezuelans who do not have the same family support, Legarre said. But, she said, most months, the program is far below capacity. The mayor with his father Xavier Suarez During his comments from the border, Suarez said his city would welcome more immigrant workers to help make up for a labor shortage, which he said was the result of the citys record-low unemployment rate. Suarez said he supported reforms that would right size legal migration, but did not provide specifics of what those reforms would look like. Most migrants crossing the southern border cannot get a work permit while they wait for their asylum claims to move through the court system. Suarez did not say whether he would support reforms that would fast-track work authorization for asylum-seekers. On Wednesday, the New York Times and other outlets reported Joe Biden is considering an executive order that would prevent anyone who illegally crossed the border from seeking asylum. The move would undermine the longstanding practice of allowing anyone to sets foot in the United States to ask for political refuge. Under current policy, migrants from certain countries who cross the border and turn themselves over to immigration authorities are eligible for parole into the country as they apply for asylum. During his appearance on the Guy Benson Show, which went live from the border, Suarez drew a distinction between his father, who he said emigrated from Cuba legally, and those he says are crossing the southern border today. Suarezs father, Xavier, authored a book in which he described how his family came to the United States after his father was detained by the Castro regime. Xavier Suarez, who became Miamis first Cuban-American mayor, wrote that the family ultimately left Cuba due to a combination of poor job prospects and fear of political persecution foreshadowing reasons given by thousands of asylum-seekers now being paroled into the country each week from the southern border. Xavier Suarezs book describing how his family came to the United States was not self published, as stated in an earlier version of this story. Miami Herald staff writer Joey Flechas contributed to this report. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) endorsed Virginia state Sen. Jennifer Boyskos (D) bid for the states 10th Congressional District on Thursday, becoming the first member from Virginias delegation to endorse in the race to replace Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.). With extreme MAGA Republicans pushing for dangerous and divisive policies that put women and families at risk, Virginia needs tenacious leaders that never back down. Thats why Im endorsing Jennifer Boysko for Congress, McClellan said in a statement exclusively released to The Hill. Working with her in the Virginia General Assembly, I saw firsthand how Jennifer is the relentless fighter we need in Congress to protect reproductive freedoms, stand up to the NRA to address gun violence, and always put Virginias working families first, the congresswoman continued. Jennifer has worked tirelessly to solve problems for Northern Virginia families, and shell do the same for us in Congress. Wexton announced in September that she would not seek reelection in 2024, citing health challenges. Earlier last year Wexton announced she had been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and said she hoped to serve on Capitol Hill for many years to come. However, Wexton later said her diagnosis changed to progressive supranuclear palsy, which she described as Parkinsons on steroids. Boysko formally jumped into the race to replace Wexton in November following her election victory in Virginias state Senate District 33. The Democratic primary to replace Wexton will likely be more competitive than the general election. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the Northern Virginia district, which is located in Loudoun County, as likely Democrat. Boyskos entrance into the race to replace Wexton followed former Virginia state House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corns (D). The former state House speaker has touted an endorsement from former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D), who represented the states 33rd Senate District from 2006 to 2014. Twelve other Democrats have announced they are running in the primary, scheduled for June 18. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Parents at Manatee Bay Elementary can keep their kids home for up to 21 days and get a remote education if they have concerns about a recent measles outbreak, Broward Schools Superintendent Peter Licata said Wednesday. On Tuesday evening, health officials confirmed a sixth case of measles at the Weston school. That number remained steady Wednesday, and there are no other known cases at any other district schools, spokesman John Sullivan said. Licata gave a brief update about the measles cases at a School Board meeting Wednesday. He said that 33 out of 1,067 students are not vaccinated for measles. Parents can use a medical or religious exemption from mandatory vaccine requirements. The Health Department has offered vaccinations at the school. Any student at Manatee Bay whether vaccinated or unvaccinated can stay home for 21 days, Licata said. We are in the process of developing how to ensure theres continuous learning for families who exercise this option. This will not be virtual learning. It will offer a bridge during the 21-day period. On Wednesday, 174 Manatee Bay students were absent, down from more than 200 on Tuesday. Licata said the school has taken all available measures to ensure the safety of students and staff by deep cleaning the campus and changing all air filters. Also, all school buses transporting these students have been deep cleaned and had air filter changes. The principal remains in close contact with the families and we will continue to provide timely updates for the entire community, Licata said. Its unclear whether all six children with measles were unvaccinated for the disease that was once thought to be eradicated in the United States. The first reported case last Thursday was a third-grade student at the elementary school. Related Articles While the health department has not linked the first reported case to travel, infectious disease experts say it is likely he or she was in contact with someone who visited an area where measles is spreading. The U.S. Census shows nearly half the population in Weston is foreign-born and many travel internationally. Late Tuesday, the school district shared a Department of Health letter that had been given to parents and guardians of students at Manatee Bay. The letter signed by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo noted, When measles is detected in a school, it is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days. This is the period of time that the virus can be transmitted. Measles is highly contagious, spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If one person has it, about 90% of people around them will also become infected if they are not protected by the vaccine or masks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can live on a surface or in an airspace for up to two hours where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. If people are unvaccinated for measles, their risk is much higher. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, or MMR, is required for students attending public schools in Florida, according to the state Department of Health. The vaccine is two doses, the first dose at 12 to 15 months and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old. One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective in preventing measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles. Staff writer Cindy Krischer Goodman contributed to this report. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has called for the annexation of the Ukrainian port city of Odessa and possibly taking the capital Kiev at a later date. "Odessa, come back home," Medvedev, who is currently the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, said during an interview with media representatives, published on his Telegram channel on Thursday. The former president claimed that the city was Russian in terms of its language, history and the people who lived there. "This is our Russian city," he emphasized. Kiev would probably also have to be conquered at some point, he added later in the interview. Medvedev, who is still considered a confidant of President Vladimir Putin, said that he did not know where Russia should stop its advance. Putin himself has also repeatedly referred to Odessa as a Russian city, but has never referred to a possible capture of the Black Sea port as clearly as Medvedev has now done. Medvedev described the capture of Kiev as a necessity, "if not now, then sometime later." He claimed that the city is Russian in terms of its roots, but is run by "an international brigade of Russia's enemies." Russia failed in its attempt to take Kiev at the beginning of its full-scale invasion almost two years ago, and Odessa has also remained under Ukrainian control. Medvedev, who is 58 and was president of Russia from 2008 to 2012, has been trying to make a name for himself as one of the hardliners in Moscow since the outbreak of the war. He has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons against the West. Should Russia be pushed back to its 1991 borders, the country would not only drop nuclear bombs on Kiev, but also on Berlin, London and Washington, he said recently. The borders of 1991 that he refers to are the internationally recognized frontiers of Russia and Ukraine in place before the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow in 2014 and before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. New housing developments surround older homes in Second Ward near a piece of property owned by the Houston Housing Authority on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Houston. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Houston City Council unanimously approved support for 17 new affordable housing proposals, paving the way for developers to vie for a share in this years highly competitive low-income housing tax credit program. After a week-long delay, City Council on Wednesday voted to approve a resolution of support for 17 applications for this years 9% tax credit program with no discussion. Federally funded and administered by the state, the program offsets a portion of developers federal tax liability in exchange for the creation or preservation of affordable rental units. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the Houston area, typically only six to eight developments are chosen each year to receive the tax breaks, according to city officials. While officials from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs have the final say on who gets funded, a proposal has little chance of approval without local government backing. The city initially selected 19 of the 34 submissions for support, using a competitive scoring system that evaluates housing needs, income levels and the availability of high-performing schools and transit options. However, following City Councils decision to delay last Wednesdays vote, the developers of two Kingwood projects chose to withdraw their applications. These proposals have led to heated debates in the past. Last year, the city decided not to support a project following repeated clashes among residents at City Hall. Critics worried the new development would strain the areas already stretched infrastructure, whereas supporters took issue with the not in my backyard stance of some neighbors. This years process, in contrast, saw little public feedback from residents. Meanwhile, District E Council Member Fred Flickinger objected to a 109-unit development, called Forest Pines, planned near the Eastex Freeway in Kingwood. He cited the areas lack of sidewalks and public transit, along with ongoing flooding concerns that affect the entire neighborhood. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Id prefer something not right there, where Ive already got issues with development and flooding, Flickinger told the Chronicle. Texas Inter-Faith Housing, the developer behind the Forest Pines project, has since withdrawn its application. The firms executive director, Russ Michaels, said the proposal is simply not competitive enough under the states current scoring system, which considers the locations proximity to amenities like grocery stores, parks and libraries. The city of Houston, by and large, has sites that are ripe for development, Michaels said, adding that his firm will explore opportunities to propose other projects in Kingwood and beyond next year. Were looking at every district constantly. We have a mission as a nonprofit housing developer to make sure that we further affordable housing choices for everybody. Another District E proposal, called the Laurel at Kingwood, was also withdrawn by the developer, according to Flickinger, leaving his district with only one endorsed project. Jeremy Bartholomew, listed as the main contact for the project, has not responded to questions about the decision to pull out the application. Houstons two most affluent districts Districts C and G are the only ones that received no tax credit applications this year. They have the highest median household incomes in Houston, $114,100 and $94,900, respectively, compared to the citywide average of $56,000, according to city data based on the U.S. Census. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There are many factors to consider when selecting a location for proposing a tax credit development, according to Michaels. Some underserved areas lack the amenities state officials look for in projects. At the same time, affluent neighborhoods often have limited available land, and high land costs can make it challenging for developers to build affordable units, he said. Mayor John Whimire said at a recent council meeting the city should avoid concentrating affordable housing developments in low-income areas. John Job and Rachael Colby provide their unique insights into their relationships with Dr. James Spicer, a former minister at the United Church, Chapel on the Hill, and a life-long civil rights pioneer who died recently. First, John Job (who introduced me to "An Oak Ridge Story," which is a marvelous manuscript written by Dr. Spicer and where I first found the story of the desegregation of the Davis Brothers Cafeteria. Dr. James E. Spicer, from left, the Rev. Roy Colby Jr., and civil rights icon, Ambassador Andrew Young at Chapel on the Hill, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Young spent the weekend with the Colbys and preached at Chapel on Sunday, March 31, 1963. He also held two seminars the following Monday. *** When Shirley and Jim Spicer, their daughters Lynn, Jane, Jill and Laura, and their car-chasin dog Trina moved into the house across the street from my family on Maple Lane in 1962, they brought their Midwestern unflappability, their big city (Chicago) sophistication, and their sheer joy at finding themselves part of such a fascinating community in such a beautiful locale. Jim was the new pastor at the United Church, caretakers of the historical gem at the bottom of Kentucky Avenue, the Chapel on the Hill. Jim was a dramatic change for the United Church, replacing the more reserved and starchier Harley Patterson. The change was like JFK replacing Dwight Eisenhower. With a magic I didnt understand at the time, the Pattersons stern tenure in the United Churchs parsonage changed overnight to the Spicers effervescent embrace of their new home, their new church family, and a city ripe for change. Lynn Spicers favorite photo of her dad, Dr. James Edward Spicer. They fit in immediately. And while I had a problem with the six Spicers and their little dog living in a "D" house while right across the street there were nine Jobs and a collie on top of each other in a "C" house, I learned to roll with it. By 1963, there were four Spicer kids and four Job kids walking through the woods to school every day at Cedar Hill and, in following years, traipsing through the woods to the Church, to Jackson Square, to Jefferson Junior High, the Ridge Theater, the Music Box, the Mayflower Cafeteria ... . Jim was soon joined by Roy Colby as co-pastor of Chapel on the Hill. They had a sort of "Mission Impossible" air about them, and their mission, should they choose to accept it, was to wring Jim Crow out of the civic culture of Oak Ridge. They arrived at the nexus of John F. Kennedy's very brief hold on the presidency, and the rising influence of Martin Luther King Jr.s hold on the American imagination. This is a gross oversimplification of what went down, but true, nonetheless. The dashing new president of the United States, who had visited Oak Ridge when he was a senator, was appalled to learn that businesses here were allowed to refuse service to African Americans, that this culture was built into the Secret Citys Manhattan Project origins, and that school desegregation was only lip service as long as Davis Brothers Cafeteria could operate the way it did. So, the president called our mayor and said Do something! And the mayor called Jim Spicer and told him he (Jim) was the chairman of a new committee. The Do Something Committee. Dr. James E. Spicer and his wife Shirley, Des Plaines, Illinois, 1967. My family went to Chapel on the Hill every Sunday. We sat in the third pew from the front on the left side of the Chapel. The entire third pew. In those days, the Chapel was filled to overflowing, and the inimitable Alice Lyman held forth on the organ from the choir balcony. And we listened with rapt attention to everything the young Chicagoans chose to dissect with their intellectual dexterity, clarity, and immediacy. It was pretty exhilarating, even for a 10-year-old. But what few of the congregation understood was that Jim and Roy had identified targets and were systematically knocking them off, so to speak. Restaurants. Laundromats. Barber shops. Any business that wouldnt welcome Black customers found themselves going toe-to-toe with a man who wouldnt back down. Jim certainly got pushed to the edge. There was the barber who put him in a head lock and ran clippers from the nape of his neck to his forehead, to which Jim said Thanks for the haircut. I get the message. There were the rifle-toting Klansmen trying to break up protests at a laundromat who soiled their britches when Jim asked if they could see the FBI agents watching from the trees two blocks away. Probably the best joke Jim ever pulled. And there was the Cumberland County sheriffs deputy and the Tennessee state trooper who told Jim, If they come for you, dont call me, cause I aint coming' when racist locals threatened an 'everyones welcome' United Church youth retreat camped at Ozone Falls for a week. I was in that group. United actually meant something to us. The Jim Crow dominoes fell one after another, silently, like rotten trees in a thick forest as the months crept by. Less than three months into Lynn Spicers and my year in sixth grade at Cedar Hill, JFK was dead and buried at Arlington. In 64 and 65, Vietnam became an F-5 tornado that uprooted everything in its path. I was still too young to grasp what was happening, but I had an instinctive understanding of how the world was somehow closing in on Jim Spicer and Roy Colby, just from the gravity and timbre of their Sunday sermons. It was only 20 years after Hiroshima, and V-J Day giddiness had given way to a more serious self-examination - over race, military influence, and national direction. Before bullets silenced Martin Luther King and a second Kennedy, the Spicers and Colbys had moved back north to Chicago. My awareness of what the Spicers were involved in for the next 35 years was all second hand, because I was off on my own whirlwind. I knew they ran a residential treatment center for kids with various degrees of radical attachment disorder and other behavioral tailspins. From the time they left Oak Ridge, it would be almost 50 years before I saw Jim and Shirley again when they dropped in to see my mother at the Greenfield assisted living center not long before she passed away. I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with Jim last fall when I visited him with Rachael Colby, the daughter-in-law of Roy Colby. Jim was in a wheelchair, but he was robust, jovial, unforgettable as always. He gave me a copy of his book, The Parent Process: Enabling Self-Directed Wholeness. And as Ive studied his research, Ive seen that Jim was himself a study in Self-Directed Wholeness. This past weekend, I got an email from Lynn Spicer to tell me Jim was under hospice care at home after fighting COVID for two weeks in a hospital. The next night, she wrote that he had just slipped away, with his hands holding hers. Jim Spicer had a profound impact on every place he ever lived and worked, and we are blessed that Oak Ridge was on his itinerary. *** Thank you, John, now Rachael Colby, Roy Colby's daughter-in-law ... Beneath Dr. James Spicers charming drawl and calm demeanor lay a steely resolve, a fiery soul with a heart for humanity. Dr. Spicer and my father-in-law, the Rev. Roy Colby Jr., were best friends, co-ministers of Chapel on the Hill, and lifelong civil rights activists. They met while university students in Chicago before moving to Oak Ridge, Tennessee in the '60s. Jean Colby, my mother-in-law, reminisced about Dr. Spicers caring character, sense of humor, and his words of wisdom. The Spicers were like second parents, said Sarah (Colby) Clay. Dr. Spicer and Dad signed my first Bible. Among Jims countless attributes were his appreciation of good food and his knack for bestowing compliments. In the 1990s, Mom, Dad, Jim, and Shirley visited me in Vermont. At the end of the meal, Jim said, Well! That was every bit as good as a Southern church supper! No higher praise. Thanks, Jim! Youre remembered with love and respect. Many people see wrongdoing and do nothing, or dont extend themselves to the amazing extreme that Dr. Spicer and other heroes have in the fight for civil rights and other just causes. He could have stayed within the bounds of the safety and comfort of the churches he pastored and the lifestyle it afforded him. Instead, he chose uproars over his call to integrate, pickets, sit-ins, late-night phone calls meant to intimidate, confrontations with racist mobsters, and guns pointed at him. If youd known the risks and impact on you and your family, would you still have helped integrate Oak Ridge? Absolutely, Dr. Spicer said. Dr. Spicer lived a life of love and service to others. He chose to not only see problems, but to be part of the solutions. However, he was quick to say hes no hero, rather, the heroes are the brave citizens of Scarboro and others who helped with integration. Weve lost a great man and friend. He has helped so many people along the way. I am losing so many friends and people I know who have made such a positive impact. I hope theres somebody gearing up to take their place. I know there is, friend and congregant Judy Cohan said. Former Scarboro resident Craig Freeman took a job at the Camelot Care Center branch in Roane County, Tennessee, straight out of college in the 1980s. He remained at Camelot, a residential treatment program for youth founded and run by Dr. Spicer, for 16 years. To the children others wrote off as lost causes, Dr. Spicer offered a second chance. A very gentle man that created a place for kids to have an opportunity to overcome the difficulties in their lives. He set the tone for staff, Mr. Freeman said. We learned to take care of kids who didnt know how to trust and how to deal with conflict. Doc Spicer provided a home for kids to be safe, so they could learn, grow, and heal. Everything I learned working at Camelot Care Center made every other job a piece of cake for me. Craig Freeman now works for Roane County Schools as a student support services worker. Good leadership isnt about dictatorship, but discipleship. Good leaders not only point the way - they make a way if needed, and help others navigate it. Our job is to learn from their inspiring and instructive example and fulfill our part in the story of life. Dr. Spicers love and dedication to his wife and family was clear. He modeled humility and inclusivity. His staff ate at his table. I never felt hurried in his presence; he made space for people. Im a grateful recipient of his gracious hospitality. Wellll, he said, and paused and pondered before he answered my questions about his part in integrating Oak Ridge and other matters. A skill all would benefit to emulate. Ill miss the salutation in his letters, My Dear Rachael, and his fitting signature, Old Spice. I still hear his voice, like low rolling thunder before a summer rain, calling us all back to a very important job weve not finished. Here are quotes Racheal captured from others who knew Dr. Spicer: I had the distinct pleasure of working with Dr. Jim and Shirley Spicer at Camelot Care Centers in Kingston, Tennessee, for almost 20 years, Jim Pedigo said. My favorite Doc Spicer story came from Oak Ridge pediatrician Dr. Bill Hardee, who became the long-term medical director at Camelot. Dr. Hardee said while visiting Doc in Glenview, Illinois to speak with him about becoming the minister of Chapel on the Hill, he noticed the bottom drawer of the file cabinet beside his desk was labeled Sacred, and the top drawer Top Sacred. Dr. Hardy said the moment he saw that file cabinet he knew Doc was the right man for the job! Doc Spicer and my dad were the two smartest men I have ever met - both instrumental in shaping my life and giving me the tools to be successful. Doc was a psychologist, and my dad an electrical engineer, but they both uniquely understood the human process of how to encourage and trust in others by effectively communicating and teaching skill sets needed to accomplish the project at hand. I am blessed to have had them in my life. *** Thank you, John Job, and Rachael Colby! Your insights into Dr. Spicers amazingly devoted life enlighten the readers to a special man who dedicated his life to righting things he saw as injustices. I have often told the story of the Davis Brothers Cafeteria and appreciate so much that John Job first acquainted me with that powerful Oak Ridge effort that likely resulted in many more restaurants desegregating their establishments across the Southeast. Often such an impact by single individuals goes without remark or recognition, so Guilford Glazer, developer of the Downtown Shopping Center in Oak Ridge, deserves recognition as well as his son. Read more about the details of Dr. Spicers efforts in Oak Ridge to further integration by Rachael Colby: https://www.oakridger.com/story/lifestyle/features/2021/10/22/integration-oak-ridge-unique-perspective/8467161002/. Read Dr. Spicers reaction to the above Historically Speaking column: https://www.oakridger.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2021/12/17/commentary-the-integration-oak-ridge/6465723001/. D. Ray Smith is Oak Ridge's city historian. His Historically Speaking column is published each week in The Oak Ridger. D. Ray Smith, writer for the Historically Speaking column. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Memories of James Spicer, who fought against racism in Oak Ridge There will be two major road closures for Memphis residents this weekend: one in Downtown and one in Germantown. If you are planning on traveling across the bridge to Arkansas this weekend, make sure to do so going over the I-40 bridge as the I-55 bridge will be closed. In Germantown, the northbound lanes of North Germantown Parkway will be closed for a small portion of the road north of Wolf River Boulevard. Here is what to know about the two road closures. Downtown road closure The I-55 bridge between Memphis and West Memphis will be closed Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 to 6 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, due to construction The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced that the I-55 Bridge would close again this weekend, a month after the last closure. The closure will allow workers to continue to make improvements to the bridge and interchanges around it. The closure will take place from 5 a.m. on Saturday Feb. 24 and end at 6 a.m. on Monday Feb. 26. I-55 SB will be closed at Bridgeport Road in Arkansas I-55 NB will be closed at South Parkway I-55 SB ramp will be closed Crump Boulevard WB will be closed Germantown road closure Parts of northbound North Germantown Parkway will be closed from Feb. 23 to Feb. 26 and Mar. 1 to Mar. 11, 2024. Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. To continue the repairs to the North Germantown Parkway and Wolf River Boulevard intersection, Germantown will be shutting down part of the northbound lanes on North Germantown Road. The city has posted detour options that include Humphreys Boulevard and Walnut Grove Road. There are two weekends that the city has planned to close this intersection to allow workers to make improvements. The first closure takes place this weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 to 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26. The second closure will be a week long starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Mar. 1 and ending at 6 p.m. Monday, Mar. 11. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis drivers: I-55 bridge and North Germantown Pkwy to close Companies are prepared to offer substantial sign-on bonuses for mental health professionals, according to Adzuna - Peter Byrne/PA Mental health workers are being offered 40,000 golden handshake bonuses on top of six-figure salaries, new figures show. Several hospitals have resorted to offering so-called sign-on payments to lure in new hires amid a struggle for talent, according to analysis by job website Adzuna. The most lucrative of these included a 40,000 welcome payment for a child psychiatrist role at an independent hospital in Staffordshire, in addition to a salary of up to 190,000. Ivetsey Bank Hospital, in Staffordshire, said sign-on bonuses encouraged the very best and most suitable candidates to apply, and allowed patients and residents to receive the best care. The childrens hospital deals with complex mental health conditions such as eating disorders, psychosis, bipolar disorder and emerging personality disorders in children aged between 12 and 18. Active Care Group which runs the hospital, said the salary and the bonus are paid for by the company and not the taxpayer. A spokesman said: While senior medical professionals are in high demand across the whole of the UK healthcare sector, there remains a rigorous recruitment process in place for this role. A handful of other companies were prepared to offer five-figure sign-on bonuses for mental health workers, Adzuna said. Cygnet, a private mental health group, is advertising a 10,000 welcome bonus for an outstanding consultant psychiatrist at Cygnet Meadowfield, a mental health hospital near Durham. The bonus comes alongside a salary of up to 155,000 depending on experience. Other vacancies listed by Cygnet included a consultant psychiatrist role in Bradford which offered a 7,000 sign-on bonus and a salary of up to 155,000. The company is also advertising bonuses of 4,000 for consultant psychiatrists who join their hospital in Mold, North Wales, and Brighouse in West Yorkshire. Several NHS trusts also offer sign-on bonuses worth thousands in hard-to-fill specialist areas, Adzuna said. East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust advertised a 20,000 bonus for a consultant oncologist role at Ipswich Hospital. The role paid a maximum salary of up to 126,000 per year. Last year the Trust offered a 13,000 incentive for a histopathologist role at Colchester Hospital, as well as a 7,000 relocation fee on top of a 120,000 annual salary. A spokesman for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust said: We have offered a very small number of recruitment incentives in a limited number of very hard-to-fill specialist areas where there is a national shortage of colleagues. The relocation payment element is only paid if the successful applicant moves to the area. Cygnet did not respond to requests 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. Inspired by the unofficial mentors they had early in their careers, six firefighters in the Pflugerville Fire Department have created a mentorship program to guide cadets as they begin theirs. While in the program, cadets sit in on monthly sessions with one of the six mentors to discuss issues that will better prepare them for life as a firefighter. Those issues can range from mental health to the tough situations they may see while on a call. Courtney Hiatt, Michael Hernandez and Robert Mango are part of the Pflugerville Fire Department's mentorship program that helps cadets learn, grow and develop. Launched in May 2022, the department's in-house cadet program is a free six-month training series offering residents a way to become certified Texas firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Cadets who graduate have the opportunity to become full-time employees. More: Pflugerville Fire Department to graduate first class of civilian firefighters/EMTs Michael Hernandez, a firefighter-paramedic who helped to start the mentorship program in October 2022, said the idea was to recreate the experience he had while younger, but on a larger, more visible scale. "We thought if we have an actual group, we can hopefully reach them all with really good advice," he said. "Hopefully we will be able to see the outcome, if it's actually working, in the next couple of years, but so far it seems to be pretty good." Robert Mango, who graduated from the cadet academy in April, said the program helped him bridge the gap between the training environment and a 24-hour shift. He said the mentorship gave him a better understanding of daily life in a fire station. Mango said having someone to go to who wasn't a higher-ranking official in the class to ask simple questions about station etiquette or what to pack made his transition easier and better prepared for life at the station. "It helped really relieve a lot of the anxiety from going to the classroom environment to actually being a firefighter," he said. Courtney Hiatt, who graduated from the cadet academy in April, said hearing how firefighters dealt with their mental health was extremely helpful. She said having dedicated mentors also provided a level of comfort for her first day. "It was a nice security blanket going into a shift because you are leaving everyone you've been with for six months and you are on your own," Hiatt said. "But it was nice knowing someone that would be there for you through that transition." After cadets graduate, they are still able to reach out to their mentor as they need. Hernandez said he hopes those who go through the program become mentors for new cadet classes. Fire Chief Nick Perkins, who approved the program, said it will help recruit and retain firefighters and paramedics. "The shared experience our mentors provide allows our cadets the opportunity to learn, grow and develop within their roles based on our culture and values," Perkins said. "Providing these internal benefits to our staff allows us to show up for our community in a way that will continue to save lives." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pflugerville Fire Department mentor program prepares cadets for career BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS) A Mercer County man was sentenced to a 35 to 120 years in prison for sexual abuse of a child. Richlands man convicted on multiple counts of sexually assaulting children According to Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran, Donald Ray White, age 34 of Bluefield, West Virginia was sentenced on Thursday, February 22, 2024. His charges include, Two counts of Sexual Abuse by a Parent, Guardian, or Custodian; Sexual Assault in the First Degree; Sexual Abuse in the First Degree; and Attempt to Commit Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. White was sentenced to 35 to 120 years in prison by Mercer County Circuit Court Judge William Sadler. On October 5, 2023 White was convicted by a Mercer County jury. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. A Jackson Center man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for conspiring to distribute drugs and receiving and transporting a firearm while under a felony indictment. Michael Love, 46, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The Department of Justice said Love was responsible for distributing 20 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams of heroin, 20 grams of powder cocaine and 20 grams of crack cocaine in Mercer County in 2020 and 2021. Officials also said that after he was released on bond for the drug activity, he received firearms in March 2022, which was while his felony indictment was pending. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Fern Hollow Bridge should have been closed at time of collapse, NTSB says Neighbors contact Channel 11 over wild turkeys terrorizing drivers, pedestrians Our time has come: Necromancer Brewing in Ross Township announces closure VIDEO: Unknown odor causing concern in South Hills, Mon Valley DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Aviston School District 21 has asked voters to approve an increase to its educational fund tax rate three times. Each time, it failed by three votes or less. Now, the elementary school district which is mostly in Clinton County but also partially in southeastern Madison County is making a fourth appeal to voters, this time asking whether the district should increase its maximum educational fund tax rate from 0.92% to 1.12% per $100 of assessed valuation. In other words, its requesting to raise the rate from 92 cents to $1.12. Increasing the educational funds tax rate by 20 cents would allow the district to hire more teachers and support staff and reduce class sizes amid growing enrollment and a forthcoming five-classroom addition to Aviston Elementary, according to Superintendent Phillip Hamil. The tax rate increase would also allow the district to update its curriculum, he said. The school is mainly looking to update its math curriculum school-wide but is also starting to explore new reading curriculum for primary grades. Enrollment has increased nearly 20% since fall 2019, from 380 students in 2019 to 453 as of Feb. 14, 2024, Hamil said. Two new subdivisions with 35 to 37 lots each are coming to the community, which the district anticipates will lead to further enrollment growth. Were trying to stay ahead of the game, Hamil said. School budgets are broken up into separate funds, each of which is used for specific activities and objectives. The educational fund is often the largest and most varied because it covers transactions that arent specifically covered in other funds. (The educational fund) is the meat and potatoes of school funding, Hamil said. Teacher salaries and educational materials, including curriculum purchases, come from the educational fund, he added. The district is hoping to increase the tax rate for its educational fund to generate money for its three referendum goals of hiring more staff, reducing class sizes and updating curriculum. Aviston Elementary is not as eligible for grants as other schools, so it relies on local tax dollars more and makes that money go further, Hamil said, adding that the schools yearly budget surplus is minimal. For fiscal years 2020 through 2022, it had the lowest operating expense per pupil of about 850 public school districts in the state, data from the Illinois State Board of Education shows. In 2022 the most recent year with available data Aviston 21s operating expense per pupil was $7,335.95 compared to the average of $15,808.12 for all school districts and $16,289.74 for elementary districts. We run as lean as we possibly can, Hamil said. Aviston 21 had a similar referendum on the ballot during the April 2023 election, when it failed by one vote. Prior to that, it had made two requests one in 2016 and another in 2017 to increase its educational fund tax rate. Those referenda were prior to Hamils tenure as superintendent, but he said the district was dealing with financial challenges, including layoffs, at that time, which was around when Illinois enacted and began implementing evidence-based funding, a revamped education funding formula designed to make the states funding of schools more equitable over time. Aviston 21 was funded at 66% of its adequacy target in the 2022-23 school year, according to Illinois Report Card data. Elementary school addition The school broke ground on the addition Tuesday morning in a ceremony that included students, parents and school staff and leaders. Aviston School District 21 Superintendent Phillip Hamil speaks at a groundbreaking event for the elementary schools addition in Aviston, Ill., on Feb. 20, 2024. Joshua Carter/Belleville News-Democrat The 13,000-square-foot addition will include five classrooms, a cafeteria expansion and more space for special services. The classrooms will be added along the west side of the elementary school. On the east side, the cafeteria will be expanded toward the parking lot and office space will be added, where the administrative offices will be moved. The former offices will be used for special services like therapy. The district is working with FGM Architects for the additions design and Poettker Construction Company for construction management. The $5.9 million project is being funded by bonds the district sold at the beginning of 2023 while retiring old bonds. The initial goal was to keep the tax rate level, but the rate for the districts debt service fund increased by 0.09, Hamil said. That 9 cent increase will likely be offset by the rising equalized assessed valuation of property within the district. Construction of the addition is expected to be complete by the end of 2024. These renderings from FGM Architects show the main entrance on the east side of the building that will have the expanded cafeteria and administrative offices (left) and the classroom addition on the west side (right). Provided Tax implications If Aviston School District 21s referendum passes, the impact of the 20-cent increase in the educational fund tax rate on a residents tax bill would depend on their homes value. A home with a fair market value of $150,000 would be taxed $88 more, equivalent to 24 cents a day. The increase would be bigger for homes with higher values. In tax year 2022, Aviston 21s educational fund tax rate was among the lowest of the nine elementary school districts in Clinton County, about 33 cents less than the average. Avistons overall tax rate which is the sum of the separate tax rates for each fund within its budget was the second-lowest at 2.425310. The request on this years ballot is lower than last year, when the board asked voters if it should increase the educational fund tax rate by 25 cents, from 92 cents to $1.17. This go around, the district reduced its request to a 22-cent increase. Thats because the equalized assessed value of property within the school district has increased, Hamil said, which allows the district to get a similar amount of revenue despite decreasing the request by a nickel. (The tax impact) wouldnt be as significant, and we could still get the revenue to hire a couple of teachers and a staff member, he said. Weve got to have teachers in the classrooms and be prepared for community growth, and its here. We already see the community growth happening. Here is the proposition that will be on the ballot for voters who live within Aviston School District 21: Shall the maximum annual tax rate for educational purposes for School District No. 21, Clinton and Madison Counties, Illinois, be increased and established at 1.12 percent upon all the taxable property of said School District at the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, instead of 0.92 percent, the present maximum rate otherwise applicable to the next taxes to be extended for said purposes? (Photo : Unsplash/charlesdeluvio ) We have numerous meetings each week that could have been an email. New research from Microsoft reveals the extent to which our work schedules have gone out of hand: Since February 2020, people have attended three times as many Microsoft Teams meetings and calls per week at work, marking a staggering 192% increase. The most frequent Teams users devote nearly 8 hours, equivalent to an entire workday, each week solely to online meetings. Inefficient Meeting as the Top Distraction in Productivity During the pandemic, remote work eliminated chances for spontaneous in-office interactions, increasing meetings. Three years later, companies are attempting to address this issue by making in-person and virtual meetings more effective and less frequent. According to Colette Stallbaumer, the general manager for Microsoft 365 and the "future of work" at Microsoft, meetings are not the problem as their fundamental purpose, such as brainstorming new ideas, keeping employees informed about important company updates, or involving them in decision-making, can contribute to employee engagement. When meetings are long, poorly organized, and lack a clear objective, they become stressful for employees and their managers. Inefficient meetings rank as the top workplace distraction affecting productivity, closely followed by having an excessive number of meetings, according to a Microsoft survey of 31,000 workers worldwide conducted between February and March 2023. The Downside of Having Too Many Meetings The constant stream of meetings is tiring workers out and leaving them with inadequate time for deep work, which involves focusing intensely on tasks without any distractions, Stallbaumer explains. When asked what makes meetings valuable, workers stated that their primary reason for attending is to receive important information that can improve their job performance and provide and receive feedback from their colleagues. However, 58% of the respondents find it challenging to brainstorm during virtual meetings, 57% catch up if they join late, and 55% also feel that the action items following a meeting are often unclear. How to Fight "Meeting Fatigue"? Stallbaumer emphasizes that workers can only do so much to combat "meeting fatigue," stressing that business leaders must set the tone and establish clear expectations for how meetings are conducted. Meetings should enhance employees' well-being and productivity rather than drain them. To improve meeting efficiency, Stallbaumer suggests that companies use recordings, email scheduling assistants, instant messaging, and AI-powered transcripts to give employees more flexibility in how and when they participate in meetings. READ ALSO: Navigating "Zoom Fatigue," Expert Tips for Remote Workers Benefits of Having No Meetings Some companies are beginning to envision a meeting-free future. TechSmith, a software development company in Michigan, experimented with a month without meetings in July 2022 using asynchronous communication tools like Slack, Trello, and email to collaborate across teams. During this period, remote employees reported feeling 15% more productive, and 85% said they would consider using asynchronous communication instead of meetings in the future. The month-long experiment resulted in lasting changes, according to TechSmith CEO Wendy Hamilton, speaking to FastCompany in February. More teams are skipping regular meetings and opting for asynchronous updates, such as sharing pre-recorded PowerPoint presentations. The first five minutes of synchronous meetings are set aside for optional small talk and catching up to keep the sense of in-person collaboration. Employees not interested in this part can join the meeting five minutes after it officially begins. RELATED ARTICLE: Failure in Work-from-Home Strategy, Revealed By Remote Work Pioneers 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A 41-year-old suspect was arrested Wednesday in connection with Maleesa Mooney's slaying in September. Mourners left tributes outside after her beaten and bound body was found in her downtown L.A. apartment's refrigerator. (John Antczak / Associated Press) A Minnesota man has been arrested as a suspect in the September killing of Maleesa Mooney, a 31-year-old model and real estate agent in Los Angeles who was pregnant at the time of her death, police announced Wednesday. Mooney was found dead Sept. 12 in her downtown apartment after her family requested a welfare check, police said. According to an autopsy report, her body was found in her refrigerator at the bloody crime scene. Her arms and legs had been bound, and Mooney had blunt-force trauma injuries to her head, neck, torso, arms, wrists and ankles, according to the autopsy report from the L.A. County Medical Examiner Department. LAPD detectives identified 41-year-old Magnus Daniel Humphrey of Hopkins, Minn., as her alleged killer. Officials did not share a possible motive on Wednesday or discuss evidence that reportedly linked Humphrey to Mooney's brutal death. Read more: Pregnant model was found dead inside her refrigerator Humphrey, who had been on federal probation, was arrested at his home in Minnesota on an unrelated federal warrant, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. It wasn't immediately clear what day he was arrested. He is to be transported to L.A. soon to face charges of murder and torture, according to officials and court records. Humphrey is accused in court records of killing Mooney on Sept. 7, five days before she was found dead. On Sept. 6, Mooney had spoken with her cousin over FaceTime, her family said, and had gone out with friends in Santa Monica. Her family never heard from her again. Jourdin Pauline, Mooneys sister, said Mooneys phone and laptop had been stolen from her apartment along with a designer purse. In October, she told The Times that whoever killed her sister most likely knew the phone's passcode, as someone was sending the family vague texts. Pauline didnt elaborate on the text messages. Read more: Rebecca Grossman trial goes to jury with central question: Murderer or scapegoat? Mooney, who was two months pregnant at the time of her death, worked for Nest Seekers, a Beverly Hills real estate agency, for nearly two years, Pauline said. Mooney also modeled part time. Times staff writer Summer Lin contributed to this report. 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. Minnesota man arrested for murder of Los Angeles model found dead in her apartment refrigerator A Minnesota man has been arrested for the September 2023 killing of a Los Angeles model in her high-end downtown apartment where she was found bound and gagged inside a refrigerator, authorities said. Magnus Daniel Humphrey, who was on probation for federal narcotics offenses, was taken into custody at his home in Minnesota on an unrelated federal warrant, the Los Angeles Police Department said Wednesday. He now faces a murder charge in the death of Maleesa Mooney, the LAPD said. Mooney, 31, was found dead in her apartment on Sept. 12, 2023 during a police welfare check requested by her family. She was last seen alive on Sept. 6 on surveillance cameras in her apartment complex. CALIFORNIA MAN ARRESTED FOR EXPLODING HOMEMADE FIREWORK AT SHOPPING CENTER Maleesa Mooney was found dead in her new Los Angeles apartment on September 12. A medical examiner's report reveals that she was found beaten and bound inside her own refrigerator. Her body showed evidence of blunt force trauma, including abrasions, lacerations and contusions around her head and neck, body and extremities, according to an autopsy reported obtained by Fox Los Angeles. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Her body was "wedged inside the refrigerator" with blood on the floor outside of it, the report said. Her wrists and ankles were bound and bindings "were tied to each other behind her back with miscellaneous electronic cords and clothing items. Other clothing items were found around her face and neck." A piece of clothing was stuffed in her mouth, the report said. CALIFORNIA MAN USED FAKE MILITARY UNIFORM AND DECADES-OLD IMAGE TO STEAL MONEY: POLICE Maleesa Mooney, 31, a real estate agent and model, died from "homicidal violence," the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner said. Security video from the apartment building also captured a male using her key FOB to enter the elevator and then carrying plastic bags to her unit, police said. Authorities have not disclosed Humphrey's relationship with Mooney or a motive for the killing. Her death was ruled a homicide and a toxicology report said cocaine was found in her system. Mooney was two months pregnant when she died, her family said. She primarily worked as a real estate agent with NestSeekers International showing million dollar homes but was going back into modeling, her sister, Jourdin Pauline, previously told Fox News Digital. Mooney's body was found two days after another woman, Nichole Coats, 32, an aspiring model, was found dead inside her downtown apartment nearby. Investigators determined the deaths weren't related. Original article source: Minnesota man arrested for murder of Los Angeles model found dead in her apartment refrigerator By Anna J. Park The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) announced Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KfW IPEX-Bank, pledging mutual cooperation for future strategic technology and joint responses on supply chain issues. KfW IPEX-Bank is a subsidiary fully funded by KfW Development Bank, which is owned by the Federal Government of Germany. The bank provides support for German and European companies' international projects and export financing. Eximbank said that Yoon Hee-sung, the state-run bank's chairman and CEO, signed the MOU with Dr. Velibor Marjanovic, a member of the German bank's board of directors, at the headquarters of KfW IPEX-Bank in Frankfurt on Wednesday, local time. By signing the MOU, the two institutions agreed to explore joint projects in the areas of advanced industries, decarbonization and core supply chains, and to jointly provide financial support. With the MOU signing, Korean companies are expected to find overseas financial support with more ease, when they pursue business projects related to electric vehicles, secondary batteries and advanced technology projects such as renewable energy, hydrogen and eco-friendly ships. Yoon said the MOU could help contribute to Korean companies' enhanced competitiveness in cutting-edge industries. "Eximbank has established a solid collaborational foundation with KfW IPEX-Bank, which provides policy support in Europe for infrastructure investments and advanced industries like decarbonization," he said. The chairman added that the Korean bank will fully support future strategic technology cooperation and joint supply chain responses between Korea and Germany, based on the bank's global networks. Marjanovic also said the MOU is expected to accelerate joint projects in the advanced strategic industries among Korean, German and European companies. "Eximbank is a reliable policy finance institution that financial institutions of Germany and European countries hope to collaborate with in various fields," Marjanovic said. "Projects in core mineral supply chains and strategic technology fields, such as renewable energy and hydrogen, jointly pursued by Korean, German, and European companies, are expected to have more momentum in the future." By Lee Yeon-woo Korean defense companies breathed a sigh of relief as a law revision, intended to boost state-run Export-Import Bank of Korea's (Eximbank) equity capital, successfully passed the first round of voting at the National Assembly. According to the Assembly, the revision bill to raise Eximbank's capital ceiling from the current 15 trillion won ($11.2 billion) to 25 trillion won was approved by a subcommittee of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, Wednesday. The bill is anticipated to be passed at the Assembly's general meeting on Feb. 29. The maximum legal cap on loans and guarantees provided by Eximbank has been identified as the main obstacle to Korea's second defense deal with Poland. Under current regulations, Eximbank is restricted to extending credit up to 40 percent of its equity capital to specific individuals and entities. In the initial defense export agreement with Poland signed in 2022, Eximbank allocated 6 trillion won, equivalent to 40 percent of its capital, to Poland. This allocation has already maxed out its financial support capacity for a specific country. Consequently, to facilitate a second defense export deal valued at 30 trillion won, it became necessary to increase Eximbank's legal capital ceiling. In response to the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Poland has actively sought to import a significant quantity of weapons but has encountered a shortage of necessary funds for these purchases. To address this, Korean financial institutions, led by Eximbank, have stepped in to provide loans to Poland, with arrangements made to recover the costs at a later date. The domestic defense industry anticipates a significant decrease in concerns after the legislative efforts make progress. "This legislative advancement has already brought considerable relief to us. We found ourselves in a pressing situation, where the Polish prime minister personally called for action from the Korean government, and even our eliminated competitors showed a keen interest," Rep. Park Dae-chul of the ruling People Power Party said in his Facebook posting. While the legislation has raised the maximum capital limit for Eximbank, the actual increase in credit support requires capital deposits by the government. "The capital increase proposal for Eximbank was not included in this year's budget, so the contributions for this year will be made as in-kind," Rep. Yoo Dong-soo of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said. "For the additional 10 trillion won that is needed, the government plans to execute capital injections gradually over the coming years." Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Seok Jong-gun said DAPA is fostering close ties with the new Polish administration concerning the second defense deal. A parent blended in with students before district officials say she attacked a teacher inside a New York classroom. The 31-year-old woman was short in stature and had her hood up when she sneaked past security at Lincoln Middle School on Feb. 16, Syracuse School Superintendent Anthony Davis said at a Feb. 20 news conference, Syracuse.com reported. Moments later, Davis said the 4-foot-10-inch parent pummeled the teacher in front of her class. Officers were called to the school around 7:30 a.m. and learned an employee had been physically confronted by a parent, Syracuse police said in a news release. Investigators said the parent specifically located the teacher, then struck her in the face repeatedly. Shes going to have some long-term issues, Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick told WSTM, adding that the teacher suffered some broken bones. I know her nasal passages were severely affected by it. The teacher was treated at a hospital, Syracuse police said. Her condition wasnt known as of Feb. 22. Authorities said the parent left shortly after the attack but was later arrested on assault and burglary charges. At Tuesdays news conference, Fitzpatrick hinted that the attack may have been spurred by a disciplinary report about the womans child, whos a student at the school, Syracuse.com reported. This led to security being called and then (the student) said, allegedly said, that well my mother will take care of this, the district attorney told the outlet. Officials said the attack had seemingly been planned. Its not a spur of the moment thing where I see a teacher mishandling my child and I rush to the defense and strike the teacher, Fitzpatrick said, as reported by WAER. This is something she went into that building, according to the evidence that have available, to assault this teacher. McClatchy News reached out to the Syracuse City School District for comment Wednesday, Feb. 21, and was awaiting a response. The Syracuse Teachers Association, a labor union representing the citys teachers, called the incident alarming in a statement given to WSTM. Schools should be safe spaces for students and educators at all times, and any form of violence will not be tolerated, it told the station. Teacher sexually abused student for years, including in her classroom, Iowa cops say School worker with far reaching impact dies after classroom accident, officials say Elementary school principal chokes wife in argument over dogs food, Kentucky cops say Gov. Chris Sununu and Attorney General John Formella both praised the murder conviction of Adam Montgomery on Thursday in connection with the death of his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony. Sununu in a statement called the 34-year-old Montgomery a monster. I am grateful to the judge, jury, and Department of Justice for delivering justice for Harmony. Adam Montgomery is a monster and deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison, Sununu said. Formella in a statement said he hopes the murder conviction brings some closure and peace for Harmonys family. Today our thoughts are focused on the memory and legacy of Harmony Montgomery, a little girl who did not deserve the tragic fate that she suffered, Formella said. Our hearts go out to Harmonys family and all those who knew and loved her, and we hope today brings them some closure and peace. This verdict is the result of the hard and excellent work of our trial team and the members of the Manchester Police Department, Formella said. I thank them for their tireless efforts in this case. The Manchester community and all Granite Staters can be assured that we will continue to seek justice and protect the people of New Hampshire. Evil: Kayla Montgomery takes stand in trial of estranged husband accused of killing young daughter Adam Montgomery did not attend the trial and wasnt present when jurors reached a verdict on Thursday. During the trial, Kayla Montgomery, 33, who has a plea deal with the state and who has previously identified her estranged husband as Harmonys killer, offered gruesome testimony as a key star witness, saying that her husband violently punched the girl when he flew into a rage on Dec. 7, 2019, shortly before they noticed her lifeless body. Adam Montgomery later folded the girls body into a duffel bag, and he spent the next few weeks moving Harmonys decaying body by hiding it in a restaurant freezer, in the ceiling of a shelter, in an apartment refrigerator, Kayla Montgomery said. In their apartment, she testified, Adam spent hours dismembering the childs body so it could fit in a small bag. Harmonys body has never been found. 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 AUSTIN (KXAN) For the first time in fifty years, Americans have returned to the moon. On Thursday, January 22, a commercially operated lunar lander named Odysseus stepped upon the lunar shore. With the completion of this mission, a new economy could spring forth, one that will have a direct impact on Central Texas. Its going to help economically for jobs, for our supply chain, for these companies that are now in the space game, said Angela Melito, Program Executive with NASAs Exploration Science Strategies and Integration Office. According to Melito, the Odysseus mission will help pave the way for future commercial spaceflight. Thats going to open the door for a lot more other types of partnerships with the commercial companies that want to go to the lunar surface and then start that lunar economy, Melito said. TOPSHOT Andy Szilagyi, VP Engineering (L) and Markus Rufer, President and CEO of Scorpius, watch a live feed as the Spacecraft Odysseus lands on the moon from Scorpius Space Launch Company in Torrance, California, on February 22, 2024. The Intuitive Machines Nova-C class lunar lander, powered by SSLC propellant tanks, is bound for the moon, where it will attempt to land near the south pole on February 22 and carry out experiments that pave the way for the return of US astronauts later this decade. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) One of those companies is based here in the Austin area. Firefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space delivery service, essentially space truckers. The company is scheduled to launch the third lunar mission in partnership with NASA. Odysseus role on the moon Each mission in partnership will carry scientific instruments to the moon that will assist in NASAs Artemis missions. On the Odysseus mission, NASA has six instruments that will prepare the administration for its upcoming trip. 24-hours is not the limit: Austin-area aerospace company breaks record We have a lunar retroreflector, Melito said. We have a navigation Doppler LIDAR that uses LIDAR during the landing to look for precision landing using that LIDAR for precision and accuracy. Odysseus was built and operated by Houston company Intuitive Machines. It will land close to the moons south pole. ISTANBUL, TURKIYE FEBRUARY 23: An infographic titled Spacecraft makes 1st US moon landing in more than 50 years created in Istanbul, Turkey on February 23, 2024. Odysseus lander became the first US spacecraft in more than a half century to land on the moon. (Photo by Muhammed Ali Yigit/Anadolu via Getty Images) This mission and the next several commercial lunar landings wont be long-term. Odysseus will last seven Earth days. A lunar day can last anywhere between 12 and 14 Earth days, Melito said. After that, you go into lunar night, and it gets so cold that your spacecraft or lander, your equipment wont survive unless you have some sort of survive-the-night technology. Melito said this tech wasnt required on these early missions because they are meant to lay the groundwork for future missions. They are not meant to last. Lunar lander challenges There have been several missions to the moon in recent years, with few successes. We have 1/6 Gravity, we have no atmosphere. Its not like Mars, where you could deploy a parachute and come in, Melito said. Secret Austin-area aerospace company, awarded $112M contract by NASA Since this is the first lunar landing since 1972, Melito said they face new challenges, including shifts in technology. Previous missions were all human-operated, while these are all controlled remotely. Youre going to see a lot of challenges, and youre going to see a lot of innovate innovation, and its going to show how these commercial companies can overcome these challenges and be successful, Melito said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Thursday, February 22, 2024. Blockade of the Polish border: investigation of a farmer with Putin poster launched, Consulate General apologizes to Ukraine Polish farmers intensified traffic restrictions across Poland's border with Ukraine on Feb. 20,following an announced plan to completely block all border crossing points (BCPs) on that day. President Zelenskyy vows quick measures in response to Polish border blockade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conference call and promised quick steps in response to the blockade of the UkrainianPolish border, he said on Telegram on Feb. 21. Canada may allocate $22 million to buy Czech artillery ammunition for Ukraine report The Canadian government is prepared to finance the transfer of 800,000 artillery rounds to Ukraine from the Czech Republic, CBC News reported on Feb. 21, citing sources in the Canadian Defense Ministry. Tehran sends hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia Iran has provided Russia with around 400 powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, Reuters reported on Feb. 21, citing six sources. KIIS poll: Overwhelming majority of Ukrainians still believe war will end with return of all territories There has been a slight decrease since May 2022 in the number of Ukrainians who believe in the full de-occupation of the country's territories, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published on Feb. 21. More than 60 Russian soldiers killed after strike on training ground in Donetsk 65 Russian soldiers have been eliminated in the strike on the military training ground in the village of Trudivske, Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 20, according to Russian military blogger Yegor Guzenko. Ukrainians strongly support Zelenskyy, but number that think he should go post-war has increased The number of Ukrainians who believe that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should limit himself to one presidential term has increased 9% since December, said a KIIS (Kyiv International Institute of Sociology) survey published on Feb. 20. Ukrainian finance chief hails Japan as nation assumes role as Kyivs top aid provider in 2024 Japan became the largest donor of financial assistance to Ukraine in 2024, providing $436 million in concessional and grant funding to the state budget, Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko announced on Facebook on Feb. 20 following the visit of a Ukrainian delegation to Tokyo. US lacks maintenance plan for weapons sent to Ukraine Pentagon inspector The United States has not prepared a comprehensive maintenance plan for military equipment, including M1 Abrams tanks and Patriot air defense systems, provided to Ukraine, according to the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General Robert Storch, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 21. Ukrainian pilots to complete F-16 fighter jet training in the U.S. by summer 2024 The first four Ukrainian pilots will complete their F-16 fighter jet training program by summer 2024, CNN reported on Feb. 20, citing the Arizona National Guard. 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 This article is part of Lost Rites, a series on Americas failed death notification system. FLORENCE, Miss. For more than 10 months, James Aaron Morans family searched homeless encampments and shelters for a glimpse of his dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. They reported him missing to police. They called jails and hospitals. They posted about his disappearance on Facebook. At one point, Morans ex-wife says, she called the Hinds County coroners office and was told it had no record of him. But that wasnt true. In early December, one of Morans relatives saw an NBC News article detailing how the outlets reporters had solved the mystery of a man who died and was buried in a paupers field without anyone contacting his family. The relative emailed one of the reporters, who found that Moran was also among hundreds of unclaimed bodies buried at the county jails work farm. He just didnt deserve to be treated like that, Morans mother, Cheryl Brock, said. And I didnt deserve to not be able to say goodbye to my boy. Cheryl Brock holds a photo of her son, James Aaron Moran. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) That pain and outrage has become a recurring pattern since NBC News started documenting botched death notifications in Hinds County last fall. The revelations began with the case of Dexter Wade, who was struck and killed by a police car in Jackson, Mississippi, and buried in a paupers grave last year without anyone telling his mother, and continued with the cases of Marrio Moore and Jonathan David Hankins. Now another four families, including Moran's, have come forward to say that they, too, were not told about a loved ones death and burial. Two of the families spotted their loved ones name on a list of unclaimed bodies published by NBC News. As the discoveries grow, so does evidence of systemic breakdowns: The Hinds County coroners office and Jackson Police Department repeatedly failed to search law enforcement databases or the internet for missing person reports that would have revealed families searching for their loved ones. In some cases, authorities stopped trying to notify next of kin after an unanswered door-knock or dialing a nonworking phone number. Officials with the police and coroners office have blamed each other. Once families learn about the deaths and burials, they often say they have a difficult time obtaining more information making repeated calls to the coroners office before getting a response, and getting contradictory explanations from the coroners office and police. In what families described as a final insult, some have been asked by the coroners office to pay hundreds of dollars to claim their loved one's body or have it exhumed. Three families have done so. Bettersten Wade at the exhumation of her son, Dexter Wade. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) Grieving families say their ordeals reflect a disregard for people who struggle with mental illness, homelessness and addiction. They looked at him as if, oh, hes a drug addict, hes homeless, and he probably dont have nobody who cares about him, said Nora Weston, whose son, Micheal Akeem Williams, died more than three years ago and was buried in the paupers field without her family being told. And that was totally not the case. We always had that hope of him turning around. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade declined to answer questions about the new cases last week, saying in a statement that he expected litigation. However, my hearts prayers, empathy and condolences go out to the families, Wade said. Last fall, the department adopted a death notification policy requiring officers to make every effort to notify the next of kin. Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart who is required by state law to make reasonable efforts to notify a dead persons family did not respond to requests for comment. When confronted earlier this month by the mother of one of the men wrongfully buried in the paupers field, Grisham-Stewart apologized and said: I dont know how to find people. The coroners office says it has a policy on next-of-kin notifications, but wont say when it went into effect. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors recently adopted a policy that will require the coroners office to check missing persons registries before requesting a burial, said Tony Smith, a member of the board. It has not yet gone into effect or been shared with the public. "We realize there is a problem, and there has to be a better way, Smith said. People have the right to know about their loved ones. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in an interview last week that the new cases show the need for further reforms that hold coroners and law enforcement to account for their responsibilities to families. Everybody is a human being, he said. Everybody has the expectation in death to be treated with dignity. Clockwise from top left, David Shane Kelly, Micheal Akeem Williams, Marrio Moore, Jonathan David Hankins, James Aaron Moran, Dexter Wade and Mark Nelson Bushnell. On Jan. 29, 2023, Moran, who was known by his middle name, Aaron, called his mother and apologized. His call was anguished but typical. He told me he knew hed done wrong and he was sorry and that he was going to do better and get his life together, Brock, his mother, recalled. Moran, 38, had schizophrenia and anxiety disorder and was addicted to drugs and alcohol, his family said. He had become homeless after being kicked out of relatives homes for stealing and behaving erratically. Brock had put him through rehab multiple times and always took him back, but complaints from neighbors at her trailer park led to an ultimatum from the manager: get rid of her son or be evicted. She bought him a phone to keep in touch. But after that Jan. 29 call, Morans family didnt hear from him. It was unusual for him to not check in with his mother, brother, ex-wife or 11-year-old daughter, whom he adored. Moran was ill, but he was also thoughtful, caring, smart and resourceful, a gifted cook and guitarist who liked to keep himself well dressed. No matter how messed up he was, he would always call me and I would answer and just listen to him, Morans brother, Joseph Moran, said. And so when I didnt hear from him, I knew something was wrong. James Aaron Moran, left, and his brother, Joseph. (Courtesy Moran family) The family called jails, hospitals, rehab facilities and homeless shelters, and drove around Jackson looking for him. In late February, Brock went to her police department in Richland, Mississippi, and reported him missing. Records show that Richland police entered Morans name into a national law enforcement database called the National Crime Information Center. That database helps police solve cases by sharing information about missing persons and unidentified bodies. Over the next few months, a Richland detective, Justin Barnette, visited homeless camps and abandoned hotels, called hospitals and jails and knocked on doors. He came up empty. Although Moran had hurt his close family members, they loved him, worried about him and wanted to know what happened to him. The more time that passed, the greater their dread grew. But the lack of answers allowed for the possibility that he was still out there, alive somewhere. Morans ex-wife, Jessica Marin, said she repeatedly called the Hinds County coroners office in Jackson, and most of the time no one picked up. But on April 11, she said, someone answered. Marin said she asked the person if they had a body identified as Morans. They said they didnt have anyone in their system by that name, Marin recalled. That was wrong. Morans body had arrived at the county morgue more than two months earlier, records show. Moran lived with his mother until she was forced to have him move out. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) Police records obtained by NBC News show that Moran died on Jan. 30, 2023 the day after Brock last spoke to him when he was struck by multiple cars while walking across Interstate 55 in Jackson. A coroners report provided to NBC News in response to a public records request shows that a deputy Hinds County coroner arrived at the scene and was told by a Jackson police officer that Moran had been identified by a picture ID card. He was a homeless guy, the deputy coroner wrote. No next of kin at this time. No one at the coroners office, which examined his body, nor the Jackson Police Department, which investigated the fatal collision, reached Brock or anyone else in Morans family. A coroners office investigator and a police detective later told Morans family that they each went to Brocks door in the days immediately following his death, but she was not home. It is not clear whether authorities made additional efforts. The coroners office and Jackson police did not respond to questions about the case. On March 31, the coroners office asked the Hinds County Board of Supervisors for permission to bury Moran in a paupers field on the grounds of the county jails work farm, records show. Three days later, the board approved the request, along with several others, without discussion in a vote that lasted 12 seconds. Morans family was left clueless. In June, Brock posted photos and a description of Moran online, asking for help finding him. On July 14, Morans body was buried in the Hinds County paupers field, along with the unclaimed bodies of 12 other people, including Dexter Wade and Marrio Moore, county records show. Morans grave was marked only by a number: 669. On Nov. 20, what would have been Morans 39th birthday, his brother, Joseph Moran, posted an appeal on Facebook. As many of you know no one has heard or seen my older brother since February and today is his birthday, if you are the praying type I just ask that you send up prayers that we stay strong and trust in the Lord that he is ok and eventually he might find his way back to us and his daughter. The following week, Brock again posted photos of her son to Facebook: If anyone see him contact me & brother, Joseph Moran. Keep the prayers coming. God Bless us All. By then, it was difficult to imagine that something terrible hadnt happened. Joseph Moran and his wife, Kasey. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) For families of missing people, the search can feel endless. Sarah Bushnell Harrell said she waited four years to learn what happened to her father. Mark Nelson Bushnells alcoholism alienated much of his family and led to his becoming homeless in Jackson. But Bushnell Harrell, who lives in South Carolina, tried to stay in touch with him every couple of months, mainly through his case workers. He also listed her as his contact whenever he ended up in the hospital, she said. On Sept. 21, 2019, Bushnell Harrells wedding day, she got a call from a case worker who asked if she had time to talk to her father. She told the case worker it wasnt a good time. She asked that her father call again the following week. She assumed he would. That moment is one I will regret for the rest of my life, Bushnell Harrell said. Months passed. Covid hit. Her father didnt call. Bushnell Harrell said she considered reporting him missing to police, but other relatives talked her out of it. Instead, she and her husband searched for him every time she visited Jackson to see family. She drove around areas where homeless people lived and showed his picture to anyone who would look. She called hospitals, jails and police departments. Mark Nelson Bushnell and his daughter, Sarah Bushnell Harrell. (Courtesy Sarah Bushnell Harrell) It didnt cross her mind to call the Hinds County coroners office. I guess I had just been living in denial or not wanting to believe that was even an option, Bushnell Harrell said. I truly believed that if he was dead someone would call me and let me know. In late December, Bushnell Harrell read two news articles: one by WLBT, the Jackson NBC affiliate, and one by NBC News. Both included searchable lists of people buried in Hinds Countys paupers field. On the lists, she found her father. He died at 57 on Jan. 6, 2020, and was buried three months later. It was just shell shock, Bushnell Harrell recalled. My biggest fear had come true, and it had happened years ago and I never knew. She said she called and emailed the coroners office in late December and into January but did not get a reply. She said she reached out to the county and the Jackson Police Department and was told to contact the coroners office. In late January, she said she finally got a call from the deputy coroner who had handled her fathers death. She said he told her that her father had been struck by an 18-wheel truck in Jackson, a detail that was later confirmed in his death certificate. The deputy said he found medical records that indicated Bushnell had two daughters, one of whom lived in South Carolina, Bushnell Harrell said. She said she asked the deputy why her family wasnt notified, and the deputy said that was the polices responsibility. He said the police had technology to help locate families that the coroners office lacked. He apologized repeatedly, she added. Bushnell Harrell said she has received her fathers death certificate but not the polices accident report. The coroners office has not responded to NBC News requests for records on the case. Jackson police have not provided any reports related to the fatal collision. Bushnells family believes that investigators didnt try hard enough. I think they saw him, hes homeless, they thought nobody cared, and they didnt care, said Page Benge, Bushnells ex-wife. He got no human respect. He got nothing. Bushnell Harrell wants to have her fathers body exhumed from the paupers grave and have him buried properly in Louisiana, where he is from. But first she is going to have to pay Hinds County $300 to get his body. Its just really upsetting to think I have to pay them to correct a job they didnt do in the first place, she said. Some families have paid to have their loved ones exhumed from the pauper's field. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) The feeling that the government saw their loved ones as unworthy of respect runs through all of the families interviewed by NBC News. I just dont feel as if anyone cares, Nora Weston said. It was still somebodys child, somebodys father, somebodys brother, uncle, cousin. They have family members who want to know, no matter their situation. And for them to not tell us, to find out the way that we found out, I feel like there was no concern or no empathy. Westons son, Micheal Akeem Williams, 31, struggled with mental illness and drug addiction. He died at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in August 2020 after suffering a stroke, but no one told his family, Weston said. He was buried in the paupers field that November. Micheal Akeem Williams' sister, TKeyah Williams, and mother, Nora Weston. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) The hospital declined to comment. Its policy on handling deaths of unidentified and unclaimed people says staff should make every reasonable effort to discover the patients identity and relatives and if the body remains unclaimed, alert the Hinds County coroners office. The coroners office did not respond to requests for comment. Williams' family ultimately learned about his death through a letter from a Social Security office in January 2021 that said a lump-sum death payment was available to his daughter. TKeyah Williams, Micheal Akeem Williams sister, said she sometimes thinks she sees her brother on the street in Jackson, and that triggers anxiety attacks. We wish we would have known, TKeyah Williams said. We would have been there for him. We could have sent him off the right way. Its just a lot of unanswered questions. Numbered graves at the Hinds County penal farm. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) The family of David Shane Kelley has questions, too. Kelley, 42, was homeless in Jackson, addicted to drugs and on parole for sexual battery of a young girl in late 2022 when he lost contact with his family, including siblings in Arkansas and an adult daughter in South Carolina. His sister, Raina Houston, said she had tried without success to get authorities permission for him to come live with her, believing hed have a better chance of staying healthy and out of trouble. In March 2023, Kelleys brother and an aunt said they got automated texts from Vinelink, a system that provides updates on the custody status of people convicted of crimes. The texts said Kelleys status had changed, the relatives said, and when they logged into Vinelink, they found Kelley listed as deceased. Billy Kelley, David Shane Kelleys brother, said he was in disbelief. He said he began calling various agencies, including the Hinds County coroners office and Jackson Police Department, for more information. He said he learned that his brother had died of an overdose on Oct. 12, 2022, and had been buried. Billy Kelley said he asked police and the coroners office why his family wasnt told about his brothers death at the time, and both agencies said theyd tried to reach relatives. The coroners office has not responded to NBC News questions about the case, or requests for records on it. Jackson police declined to comment on the case and have asked for more time to respond to a records request. Billy Kelley and six other close family members said they knew nothing about David Shane Kelleys death until the Vinelink text. Billy Kelley said the coroners office told him that in order to get a death certificate and claim his brothers body, the family would have to pay $500. No one had the money, he said, so he started a GoFundMe that raised only $170. Over the next several months, relatives said they tried to get more information from the coroners office but didnt hear back. As time passed, family members said they began to wonder if David Shane Kelley really was dead. In some way we were hoping that they had mixed him up with someone else, said Aja Sims, his daughter. Then, in early December, family members read NBC News list of Hinds County paupers burials. It gave the same October 2022 date of death for Kelley as his brother had been given months earlier and said Kelley was buried in February 2023. For those who had doubted his death, this was now confirmation. I just fell to my knees and I knew he was really gone, Houston, his sister, said. And I had to face it. Since then, Houston said, she has repeatedly called the Hinds County coroners office for information about what she needs to do to bring her brothers body home to Arkansas. No one, she said, has called back. Houston said she is troubled by the image of her brother lying in a paupers field along with others who were buried there without their families knowing they were dead. They shouldnt be able to get away with this, Houston said. David Shane Kelley and his daughter, Aj'a Sims. (Courtesy Kelley family) James Aaron Morans family found out the truth from an NBC News reporter in December, nearly 11 months after theyd last heard from him. On Dec. 10, Kacey Moran, Josephs wife, read NBC News article about Hankins. She emailed the reporter, who found Morans name on burial records and shared the information with the family. It shocked and angered them. What kind of sense does that make to let the family still be looking and hoping for almost a year and they never entered his name in a computer? Brock, his mother, said. Its just so inhumane. I feel like they treated him like an animal instead of a person, all because he was homeless. A wedding photo of James Aaron Moran at his mother's house. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News) Marin, Morans ex-wife, said their daughter, now 12, has not begun to process her fathers death. She is distressed knowing that her father died alone and homeless. If anything good comes of this then I hope the government will learn their lesson and treat humans like humans, Marin said. Brock said she ended up paying $300 to reclaim and exhume her sons body. His remains were removed from the paupers grave on Feb. 2 and then taken to a funeral home. The mortician told Brock that Morans wallet including his drivers license with his mothers address, Social Security card and a photo of his daughter was inside the body bag. Morans family held a memorial service for him on Feb. 10. This has been a lengthy, painful process, but we should be at peace knowing Aaron is in a better place, Joseph Moran said in his eulogy. Morans family had his body cremated. Some of his ashes will go into lockets that Brock, her mother and Joseph Moran will wear on necklaces. The rest will go in an urn, and, Brock said, with her into her grave when her time comes. Shes been haunted by a recurring dream, she said. In it, she sees Aaron and he is screaming her name. All I wanted to do is say bye to my baby, Brock said. And they took that away from me. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Story at a glance While women make up the bulk of healthcare workers, female doctors only account for about a third of the U.S.s physician workforce. About 37 percent of doctors in the U.S. were women as of 2021, according to the American Medical Association. This is a result of the field historically being male-dominated and attrition rates being higher among female doctors. More women than ever are studying and practicing medicine across the United States but a considerable majority of the countrys working doctors are still men. In recent years, female medical students have begun outnumbering their male peers. As of the 2023-2024 school year, they make up more than 55 percent of students in the countrys M.D.-granting programs, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The ranks of female doctors have also been steadily increasing. In 2007, just over 28 percent of practicing physicians in the country were women. By 2021, the most recent year for which the American Medical Association (AMA) has data, more than 37 percent were. That figure remains far short of gender parity, however. Medical experts point to two main reasons why female doctors are still a minority: The physician workforce has not caught up with the shifting makeup of medical school student bodies, and female physicians have higher attrition rates than male ones. Roberta Gebhard, former president of the American Medical Womans Association, noted that medicine has been a predominantly male field for much of the countrys history. In the past, most medical students were male, so the bulk of older physicians are still men, Gebhard told The Hill. Women didnt start accounting for nearly half of matriculated medical school students until recently. And it wasnt until 2017 that they made up a larger share of first-year medical students than men, and 2019 that they became the majority of all medical students. And while a growing number of women are entering medicine, they are also leaving the profession at alarmingly higher rates than men. One 2023 study of close to 300,000 physicians found that attrition rates were significantly higher among female doctors than male ones at every stage of their careers. The study found that over a five-year period, 38.3 percent of women doctors left their jobs at academic medical institutions compared to 32.4 percent of men. Physician burnout, which women experience at a much higher rate than men, plays a major role in this. According to 2022 AMA data, 57 percent of female physicians reported suffering from at least one symptom of burnout, like feeling sad, irritable or fatigued, compared to 47 percent of male doctors. Work overload appears to be the biggest driver of burnout, according to Gebhard. She noted that like other working women, female doctors tend to do more household work and shoulder caregiving responsibilities for children or parents. Rachael Clark, a Philadelphia-based family medicine physician, told The Hill that she began to feel burned out after having her first child six years ago. I barely made it through the first year of her life still working five days a week, she said. Clark then had a second baby during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Years of balancing work and family led to her feeling completely burned out by 2022 forcing her to temporarily stop working. I think the wake-up call was during bedtime with my kids I was so burned out from giving so much energy to my patients all day that I just wanted to rush through bedtime to get any time to myself, she said. And when I did get a moment to myself, I wasnt doing anything productive, I just had to kind of veg out and sit on the couch. Family duties are not the only thing causing female physicians to burn out. Researchers who conducted the 300,000-physician study found that the difference in burnout rates among male and female physicians was virtually the same across all career stages, suggesting that family obligations are not the main reason for the disparity. Tasks physicians are expected but not always paid to perform at work beyond directly caring for patients can be draining, such as battling insurance companies, communicating with pharmacies and dealing with hospital or clinic administration. There is so much that happens in between patient visits that isnt billed that the healthcare system doesnt recognize, said Christine Kempton, a professor of hematology at Emory University. Many doctors cite increased bureaucracy, reduced time seeing patients, and reduced insurance reimbursements as the main reasons behind a growing dissatisfaction with the job. And that dissatisfaction is pushing the turnover rate among doctors to rise. But sexism in the workplace also plays a role in why female doctors are more likely to stop practicing medicine than men, according to Gebhard. That sexism comes in the form of lower pay, fewer promotions and less respect. A 2020 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that female doctors spend more time with their patients than their male colleagues clocking in 2.4 additional minutes per visit on average in 2017. However, female doctors generally make less money, earning an estimated $2 million less during a 40-year career than their male colleagues. In academic medicine, studies show that women are less likely to be promoted to associate or full professor positions than men even though they are more likely to pursue careers in the field. Female physicians are also more likely to be delegated unpaid tasks like secretarial work, mentoring or committee work that do not necessarily contribute to promotions, according to Gebhard. Women physicians are paid less than men, work harder, have less resources, are less likely to be promoted and receive less respect in the workplace, Gebhard told The Hill. With all of these barriers to success in the workplace its no wonder that women physicians are more likely to stop practicing than men. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Leeds City Council has decided to close a care home which it said was no longer adequate for care provision. Knowle Manor in Morley will close as part of the council's plan to save more than 65m in 2024/25. A second home, Dolphin Manor in Rothwell, is to be repurposed as a recovery hub to free up hospital beds. Council leader James Lewis said the authority would work with residents, families and social workers to find alternative accommodation. Mr Lewis told the BBC he understood this would be a "difficult time" for people affected at both homes. It is understood Knowle Manor has just under 30 residents, while Dolphin Manor can care for up to 35. Mr Lewis said the council would do "detailed work with social workers around how people living in those homes will be found somewhere else to live". He added: "Whether it's in the local area or nearer to where family is based we will work with people to find other care home places." The news came as councillors approved a budget meaning council tax in Leeds will rise by 4.98%. In January, the government said England's local authorities would receive a 600m funding boost following recent warnings of bankruptcies. Communities Secretary Michael Gove said they would share 500m to help fund children's and adult social care. Mr Lewis confirmed Leeds' share of that money was 6.9m and it would be spent on front-line services in children's social care. 'Taken no responsibility' Councillor Allan Lamb, leader of the Conservative group, said the council could have made better choices when setting its budget. Mr Lamb said he had "lost a lot of sympathy today because there is a big financial challenge, but they have taken no responsibility for the decisions they have taken". He cited the 2023 Year of Culture as money that could have been spent differently, saying: "They haven't owned up to the fact the 10m they spent on a city of culture last year that no-one knew was happening could have been spent on vital services that people depend on." Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. This report is a collaboration between NBC News and Sky News, both of which are owned by Comcast Corp. WOODRIDGE, Va. Jessica Barahona-Martinez and her family had already decorated their home for Christmas by Dec. 1, something the recently released 40-year-old had been dreaming of doing over the six years she was held in immigration detention in Louisiana. She had fled persecution in her native El Salvador in 2016 and sought asylum in the U.S., only to be arrested a year later by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That was the beginning of an ongoing nightmare that kept her from her three children for years even though she was granted asylum twice. It was all because Barahona-Martinezs name appeared in the Interpol Red Notice system an international police bulletin usually associated with the worlds most wanted fugitives, including those accused of severe crimes like murder, sex trafficking and terrorism. Her prolonged fight to be released, even after her Red Notice was deleted, has put into focus how U.S. immigration authorities can at times act as amplifiers of the harm caused to people who are punitively put on the international most wanted list by authorities in their native countries prompting an urgent fight by legal advocates and some members of Congress to reduce the number of retaliatory Red Notices. Jessica Barahona-Martinez with her children. (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News) Barahona-Martinez now hopes her case reaches the eyes and ears of those working on immigration, she told NBC News and Sky News in her first sit-down interview since her release. Its very painful to see, hear and to feel the injustice I went through and that many of us immigrants have to go through, she said in her native Spanish. Sandra Grossman, Barahona-Martinezs attorney, said her firm has been fighting bogus Red Notices like the one placed against her client for more than 15 years, but Barahona-Martinezs case is one of the most egregious examples she had ever seen. While most Red Notices are legitimate, the harm that can come if ones name should be off the list but falls through the cracks is often far too great, Grossman said. Para leer en espanol, haga click aqui Barahona-Martinez fled to the U.S. with her children in 2016 to seek asylum after the openly lesbian woman faced torture and death threats from gangs after being accused of belonging to a rival gang and extorting less than $30. She attributed the charge to a police officer who held a grudge over her sexual orientation and the fact she rebuffed his sexual advances. Barahona-Martinez was acquitted the following year due to a lack of evidence, according to the ACLU and Grossman. The LGBTQ population in El Salvador is known to face torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, excessive use of force, illegal and arbitrary arrests and other forms of abuse, much of it committed by public security agents, the Salvadoran government agency in charge of the national police force admitted in 2017. ICE claims it arrested Barahona-Martinez in 2017 because it learned she was wanted for extortion in El Salvador, identifying her as having a gang affiliation. But in reality, it came across a Red Notice from Salvadoran authorities based on an arrest warrant for contempt of court, not for the criminal offense of extortion, Grossman said. Basically, she didnt show up for a hearing that she didnt know about following an attempt to reopen the case she was acquitted for. Barahona-Martinez was denied bond following her 2017 ICE arrest based on the Red Notice, with the immigration judge hearing no testimony or evidence of its validity, triggering her lengthy detention, court records show. She spent most of her detention in an ICE facility in Louisiana over a thousand miles away from her family in Virginia. Whenever the pain of their separation became too heavy for Barahona-Martinez, she would find comfort in a Spanish-language book about building up emotional strength she had checked out from the facilitys library. She still finds solace in this book, which she kept following her release over three months ago. Jessica Barahona-Martinez reads The toll of her lengthy detention is evident as she gets reacquainted with her three children, Gloria Marroquin Barahona, 21, Marcos Marroquin Barahona, 20, and Jazmin Elena Marroquin Barahona, 19, in their Virginia home. Her children were between the ages of 12 and 15 when ICE arrested their mother six years ago. We basically grew up without her, Marcos said. On many birthdays we wished that she was here with us, and in many events that we had in life she wasnt there, too. So that makes this a hard time for us. Barahona-Martinez didnt just lose time with her children that shell never get back. She wasnt with her sister Bertha as she was dying of cancer in 2022, one of the toughest parts of her detention. We had made a pact. She was going to fight for her life, and I was going to fight to be free, Barahona-Martinez said, recalling one of the last conversations she had with Bertha. Unfortunately, I had to watch her die, me behind bars. Jessica Barahona-Martinez with her three children and older sister, Gloria Barahona-Martinez. (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News) The irreparable damage of bogus Red Notices Contrary to what many may think, Interpol is not a law enforcement agency. It mainly manages over a dozen databases with information on crimes and criminals for police forces worldwide to access. These include Red Notice alerts that Interpol publishes at the request of any of its 196 member countries. Red Notices are not arrest warrants, but more like digital wanted person posters. Because Interpol doesnt investigate the legal merits of the alerts, the system can be abused and misused by countries looking to persecute nationals who fled and are now residing abroad. Its particularly detrimental to innocent noncitizens legitimately seeking asylum in the U.S., because immigration officers and judges often consider the mere existence of the Red Notice to be conclusive evidence of criminality, even though it doesnt in itself establish probable cause that a crime has been committed, according to at least one federal appeals court. Interpol told NBC News in an email it takes any alleged misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices extremely seriously and has significantly strengthened a task force to review Red Notice requests to ensure compliance with its policies, as well as a commission to process requests and delete the ones without merit. Interpol declined to comment on the specifics of Barahona-Martinezs case, citing the organizations policies. Interpol is estimated to have rejected or deleted an average of 1,000 Red Notices and wanted person diffusions annually over the past five years, according to Interpol data analyzed by the U.K.-based nongovernmental organization Fair Trials. Just in 2021, approximately half of the removed notices were deleted on human rights grounds or because they were placed for political, military, religious or racial reasons. Four immigrant rights and legal organizations in the U.S. recently cited at least four cases involving Salvadoran immigrants with Red Notices based on false arrest warrants, baseless accusations, or other unsubstantiated evidence in a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security requesting an investigation into its reliance on police information from El Salvador. DHS did not respond to a request for comment about the allegations made in the letter. Barahona-Martinez won asylum twice while detained after an immigration judge found her testimonies consistent and credible in 2018 and 2019. But federal immigration authorities appealed both decisions based on the Red Notice, arguing it gave them probable cause to believe she had committed a crime, even without a conviction. The Board of Immigration Appeals sided with federal immigration authorities both times. After that, the ACLU enlisted Grossmans firm to help get Barahona-Martinezs Red Notice deleted. It was removed in April 2023, just three weeks after Interpol received the request. Interpol did not provide a reason behind the Red Notice deletion in Barahona-Martinezs case as they normally dont share that information. It usually takes Interpol six months or more to remove a Red Notice, according to Fair Trials. With the Red Notice gone, ICE couldnt legally justify her detention, the ACLU argued in a Sept. 6 court filing. Barahona-Martinez was abruptly released three weeks later under an order of supervision, requiring her to wear an ankle monitor and routinely check in with ICE. In a statement to NBC News, ICE wrote that it doesnt comment on pending litigation, adding ICE officers apply prosecutorial discretion in a responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement professionals. Jessica Barahona-Martinez with family members after her release in 2023. (Courtesy of Jessica Barahona-Martinez) As Barahona-Martinez adjusts to her new life, her release was a moment of many mixed emotions. While she was eager to reunite with her family, an ugly fear gripped me. I realized I was afraid to be out again, she said, as she held back tears. While her children are mostly focusing on making up for lost time, theyre also grappling with fears of their own. I still feel scared that one day they could just bring everything again, have her going back to jail, her son Marcos said. Im just trying to spend most of the time with her. Preventing more unjust Red Notices Two days after Barahona-Martinezs release, ICE updated its guidelines on how to handle Red Notices, including not treating them as arrest warrants and letting the wanted person know about the notice and giving them a meaningful opportunity to contest it. While Grossman said its a promising step forward, she warned the guidance still lacks language requiring ICE to apply these new directives to existing cases not just upcoming ones. While ICE did not directly answer whether the directive applies only to new cases, it stated, At no time as a matter of law has ICE been able to arrest someone based solely on information stemming from an Interpol Red Notice. While ICE insists it doesnt arrest people based on Red Notices, Grossman disputed the statement. In our experience, the way that ICE uses Red Notices is to target noncitizens, the attorney said. ICE has very broad discretionary authority to arrest a noncitizen in the U.S., and I think that when they receive information that an individual has a Red Notice, its treated in large part as conclusive evidence of criminality. Court documents show immigration authorities argued in immigration court that ICE arrested Barahona-Martinez in 2017 because she was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. There is no reason that an individual with Jessicas background, with the compelling equities in her case, should have been in ICE detention for six years, Grossman said. There are so many cases like Jessicas, the attorney added, stressing that Barahona-Martinez could still be deported back to El Salvador based on the arrest warrant for contempt of court and risk facing the dangers she escaped. In 2021, Congress passed the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention Act, stopping U.S. government agencies from extraditing anyone based solely on an Interpol notice. It also requires the State Department to issue reports to Congress on countries that abuse Interpol for political motives and other unlawful purposes. A spokeswoman for TRAP Act co-sponsor Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told NBC News in a statement he believes the State Department has enhanced its efforts to support reform at Interpol to ensure dictators cannot issue arrest warrants for their political opponents with impunity, but admitted that more work is needed. As Barahona-Martinez shared her experience after her name appeared on a Red Notice list, she warned, There are many people like me who are being unfairly detained. For more from NBC Latino, sign up for our weekly newsletter. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The mother of Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony last week, said Thursday she had seen her sons body and was being pressured to hold a secret funeral. Lyudmila Navalnaya said she had seen her sons body on Wednesday in a morgue in Salekhard, the Siberian town near the prison where Navalny had been held since December, after being denied access to it for days after his death. She also saw a medical report stating his cause of death as being natural, Navalnys spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, said on X. The late Kremlin critics wife, Yulia Navalnaya, reiterated on Thursday that she believes Russian President Vladimir Putin killed her husband and urged the media not to be diverted by Russian government narratives. In a video posted on her sons YouTube channel, Navalnys mother said: According to the law, they should have given me Alexeys body right away, but they havent done it yet. Instead, they blackmail me and set conditions for where, when and how Alexey should be buried. Im recording this video because they started threatening me. Looking into my eyes they say that if I dont agree to a secret funeral they will do something with my sons body, she said. Navalnaya claimed that an investigator named Voropayev told her: Time is working against you. The corpse is decomposing. She did not give the full name of the official. She also claimed the Russian Investigative Committee looking into the circumstances of her sons death would like to bury his body secretly without saying goodbye. She said the investigators claim that they know the cause of death and that they have all the medical legal documents, and that she had signed his medical death certificate. Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, told Russian journalist Alexander Plyushchev the committee had set numerous conditions for Navalnys mother to follow before they would release the body. Among those conditions, he claimed, were that that any funeral should be kept among the family and not announced, to prevent crowds from gathering, and that the body should be transported to Moscow on a special plane. The family would also have to be accompanied by an employee of the committee at all times before the funeral, he said, and Navalnys body would have to be kept in either the Moscow or Vladimir region prior to burial because the committee was afraid that the morgue will be stormed. Only when those conditions were met would the family receive Navalnys death certificate, Zhdanov said. Navalnys mother was first denied the cemetery of her choice, and then both parties agreed to hold the funeral at Khovanskoye cemetery in Moscow, Zhdanov said, adding that the parties hadnt agreed on the farewell hall. Navalnys mother was pressured into agreeing to these conditions, Zhdanov added. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNNs Matthew Chance that he had not seen the comments from Navalnys mother regarding her sons body and the issues she claims she is experiencing with investigators. Unfortunately, I have not seen her words so I cannot comment on that, Peskov said. He added that the Kremlin was dealing with different issues which are of great importance for our country. Navalnys wife, Navalnaya, had earlier accused Russian authorities of hiding his body in an attempt to disguise the cause of his death. She said they were lying pathetically and waiting for traces of another of Putins Novichoks to disappear. The Kremlin has said an investigation into the circumstances around Navalnys death is underway and the results are currently unknown. Navalnys mothers claims to have seen his body come almost a week after his death was announced on February 16. The news drew barbed reaction from Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who pinned the blame on his Russian counterpart, saying that what has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putins brutality. Russia meanwhile has accused the US of hysteria, regarding his death. The US acts as the prosecutors, as the judge, and as the punisher all in one, and this hysteria regarding the death of Navalny is a prime example of that, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday at a G20 press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These people have no right to interfere in our home affairs, especially given their own problems, Lavrov said. US President Joe Biden met with Navalnys wife and daughter in California on Thursday, where he expressed his condolences and his admiration for Navalnys extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption. Navalny was Russias highest-profile opposition leader and spent years criticizing Putin, who has been in power for nearly a quarter of a century, at great personal risk. His death came weeks before the countrys presidential elections scheduled for March 17, which is widely seen by the international community as little more than a formality that will secure Putin a fifth term in power. Navalny returned to Russia from Germany in January 2021, after spending months recovering from a poisoning attack. - Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images He returned to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated after being poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. On arrival Navalny was swiftly arrested on charges he dismissed as politically motivated and spent the rest of his life in prison. The Russian prison service said Navalny felt unwell after a walk in his Siberian penal colony and almost immediately lost consciousness. Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison in August after being found guilty of creating an extremist community, financing extremist activists and various other crimes. He was already serving sentences of 11-and-a-half years in a maximum security facility on fraud and other changes he denies. He was initially imprisoned in a penal colony about 150 miles east of Moscow, but his lawyers in December said they had lost contact with him for nearly three weeks. After filing 680 requests to locate him, his team announced on December 25 that they had found Navalny more than 1,000 miles away at the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, known as Polar Wolf. Navalny spent his final weeks in the IK-3 colony, where he described the freezing conditions to a Moscow court, telling them he slept under a newspaper for warmth. This is a developing story and will be updated For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Yoon Ja-young The National Tax Service (NTS) agreed with its Indian counterpart to foster a stable tax environment that promotes corporate activities, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations. This will also include extending tax support to Korean companies operating in India, specifically to help mitigate tax uncertainties. According to the NTS, the tax agencies of both countries held the 8th Korea-India Commissioner-Revenue Secretary Meeting in New Delhi, India, Feb. 21. The bilateral meeting has been held since 2011, to exchange views on prevailing tax matters, with the goal of reinforcing robust cooperation. NTS Commissioner Kim Chang-ki and India Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra recognized the significant benefits of sharing tax administration practices and mitigating the tax uncertainties encountered by Korean enterprises operating in India. Furthermore, both tax chiefs agreed that improving taxpayer services and reducing non-compliance risks in the evolving tax environment would significantly improve tax morale. During the meeting, the NTS highlighted the recently introduced policy initiatives geared towards enhancing taxpayer convenience, while sharing experiences that are driven by the digital transformation in tax administration, which leverages cutting-edge technology such as the Customizing User Portal, AI Tax Assistant, and Chatbot User-Support Service. The two tax chiefs reached an understanding regarding the critical need for proactive measures to alleviate the burden of double taxation on taxpayers, recognizing its pivotal role in facilitating expansive investments and trade opportunities between the two nations. In particular, Kim requested robust engagement and support from the Indian tax authority to address tax-related challenges faced by Korean enterprises operating in India. We will uphold our commitment to intensifying collaborative frameworks among tax authorities to advocate mutual development through the sharing of leading practices and experiences. At the same time, we promise steadfast support to establish a favorable business environment for Korean businesses operating overseas, the tax agency noted. Theres a lot of speculation, but nobody seems to know yet who will be the opening act at the 7,000-seat Sound Amphitheater in Gautier. Country stars Alan Jackson, Hank Williams Jr. and Luke Combs have been offered as suggestions and requests on community Facebook posts. Samuel King, media coordinator for the City of Gautier, said hes just as eager as everyone else in the city to learn who will open. A billboard along I-10 advertising the new venue is driving interest and King, said he anticipates an announcement of the opening concerts in the next few weeks. The news will come from Nashville-based 46 Entertainment that partnered with the city to book shows, with the aim of bringing a stellar lineup of A-level national artists to Sound Amphitheater. A-level artists are the most exceptional and renowned of the entertainment industry, representing some of the most highly acclaimed and sought-after performers in the nation., 46 Entertainment said in a press release when announcing the partnership with Gautier. At least 10 of these national touring entertainers are expected to play at the amphitheater each year, with an anticipated economic impact of about $13 million. The two-year contract also guarantees the city at least $1.2 million in revenue from rental of the facility. Progress in October shows the Sound Amphitheater under construction in Gautier. Work is scheduled to wrap up in April so the entertainment can begin. While many people question building an amphitheater rather than an enclosed facility in South Mississippi, others point to the amphitheaters that do well in Brandon and in Orange Beach, Alabama. Gautiers amphitheater is under construction along Dolphin Drive, north of Belk and where the Singing River Mall once stood. Its been a quick project, King said, with the expected completion in April coming a little over a year after the groundbreaking. Some parking will be available right at the venue, he said, with large parking areas directly across the street in the former mall parking lots. The Gautier Police Department is hiring certified part-time police officers to provide security and traffic control during the events. A meeting for those who are interested in the jobs will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the police station on U.S. 90. The city also plans to develop a Town Center on the former mall property. King said when that happens, parking garages are part of the plans to provide enough space to park for the new amenities and the amphitheater. A view through the trees shows the Sound Amphitheater, under construction in Gautier. The venue will be ready for shows in April. The Mississippi Sound Coalition is courting allies in its David v. Goliath battle against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to save the Coasts identity, environment and economy, its leaders said during a meeting Thursday. If you remember only one thing we say today, please remember this: The Mississippi Sound as we know it will be a dead sea within a generation if the United States of America doesnt change the way it manages the Mississippi River, Gerald Blessey, the coalitions manager and co-counsel, told a group of 150 Gulf Coast Business Council members gathered Thursday. Blessey was referring to the Army Corps protocol, developed almost 100 years ago, to control Mississippi River flooding by releasing the polluted water through the Bonnet Carre Spillway into Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Sound beyond. More frequent flooding in the last decade means the Bonnet Carre has opened a record number of times and, in 2019, for the longest period in history, 123 days. The result was disastrous for Coast tourism and the environment. All the oysters in the western Mississippi Sound died, as did at least 10% of the dolphin population. The Mississippi Sound closed for fishing and swimming through the height of tourist season because pollutants in the water created toxic algae blooms. La. river diversion threat looms Yet the Corps focus on the river waters impacts have historically focused on Louisiana waters. That is changing, thanks in part to the coalitions efforts. The group of government and nonprofit entities has challenged the Corps in court, forcing the agency to consider the impacts of Bonnet Carre openings on the Sound. The coalition believes the Corps should consider alternatives to full-throttle Bonnet Carre openings, including the release of floodwater through structures located further upriver. However, the historic flood protocol remains in force and another threat looms: Louisiana wants to divert more river water in an effort to build up its eroding marshes with silt the water would deposit. That water also would make its way into the Sound, forever altering the mix of salt and freshwater that makes the estuary home to shrimp, fish, oysters, crabs, dolphins and other aquatic life. The project is called the mid-Breton diversion. Ironically, its being funded with some of the same money from the BP oil spill that has been poured into Mississippi in failed attempts to revive the oyster population. In this March 8, 2018 file photo, workers open the gates of the Bonnet Carre spillway, which diverts water from the rising Mississippi River, above right, to Lake Pontchartrain. The Corps has opened the spillway a record number of times in recent years to prevent flooding in New Orleans. Business community enlisted to save MS Sound Blessey and other coalition members implored business people to get involved in the fight to save the Sound. We lose the Sound, we lose our way of life, said coalition chair and Harrison County Supervisor Marlin Ladner. . . . We all know how important it is. Blessey asked that business people attend one of two public meetings scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Bay St. Louis or offer comments through an online portal on a Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study the Corps is conducting. Comments can be submitted in writing to: USACE-MVN LMRComp C/O Project Management, 7400 Leake Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118, or by email to LMRComp@usace.army.mil. The study will cover how the Corps should manage the lower Mississippi River, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to the Gulf of Mexico. After the coalitions presentation, Jamie Miller, executive director of the Gulf Coast Business Council, said members expressed interest in getting involved. As former executive director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Miller is familiar with the issues surrounding the Bonnet Carre and the Mississippi Sounds importance to the Coast. Largely, Miller told the Sun Herald, I dont think the business community has appreciated how desperate the issue has become. Its not just an environmental catastrophe. Its directly related to the economy, tourism, lodging, all the things we take for granted. We plan to participate where we can to make sure the entire Coast is aware of it. The business council claims 260 member companies, representing 75% of the Coasts workforce. A fisherman leaves Pass Christian harbor before sunrise, Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. One of the largest oyster beds in the country is off Pass Christian, but repeated openings of the Bonnet Carre Spillway have killed most of the oysters. A displaced Palestinian child, who fled due to Israeli strikes, eats, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip A displaced Palestinian child, who fled due to Israeli strikes, eats, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that medical teams in the Gaza Strip have come up with a new acronym: WCNSF - wounded child, no surviving family. "Children who do survive this war will not only bear the visible wounds of traumatic injuries, but the invisible ones too," MSF International Secretary General Christopher Lockyear told the 15-member council. "There is a repeated displacement, constant fear and witnessing family members literally dismembered before their eyes," he said. "These psychological injuries have led children as young as five to tell us that they would prefer to die." Lockyear slammed the United States, saying he was appalled it had repeatedly used its veto power to block the council from demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza. "The people of Gaza need a ceasefire, not when practicable, but now. They need a sustained ceasefire, not a temporary period of calm," Lockyear said. "Anything short of this is gross negligence." The U.S. has vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions since the start of the current fighting on Oct. 7, most recently blocking on Tuesday a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as it instead pushes council to call for a temporary ceasefire linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas. China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council he felt "appalled" by Lockyear's briefing. "We hope the tragic picture that he painted of Gaza for us can touch the conscience of a certain member of this council," Zhang said. 'WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO RISK?' The United States had said it was concerned that the draft resolution it vetoed on Tuesday could jeopardize talks between the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar that seek to broker a six week pause in the war and the release of hostages. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood did not acknowledge Lockyear's briefing. He said the U.S. was pushing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and had told its ally it should not proceed with a ground offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza "in the absence of a viable plan to protect civilians." "We all want to see a durable end to this conflict," Wood said. "The pace of hostage talks can be frustrating ... council support for this diplomacy is critical to increase pressure on Hamas to accept the agreement on the table." Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward described Lockyear's briefing as "harrowing." Britain abstained on Tuesday's vote, while the remaining 13 council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted resolution. Slovenia's U.N. Ambassador to the Security Council, Samuel Zbogar, asked: "What kind of a council have we become if we remain untouched by the tearful briefing that we heard today by the secretary general of Medecins Sans Frontieres?" The war began when fighters from the Hamas militant group that runs Gaza attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In retaliation, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that health authorities say has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians with thousands more bodies feared lost amid the ruins. "Today our staff are back at work risking their lives once again for their patients. What are you willing to risk?" Lockyear asked the council. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) The delinquency ratio on loans extended by banks in Korea dropped from a month earlier in December 2023, data showed Thursday. The delinquency ratio on banks' won-denominated loans came to 0.38 percent as of end-December 2023, down 0.08 percentage point from a month before, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service. From a year earlier, the ratio rose 0.13 percentage point. The financial regulator largely attributed the on-month drop to a rise in the volume of resolved loans, which more than doubled to 4.1 trillion won ($3.08 billion) in December 2023 from 2 trillion won the previous month. The value of newly overdue loans came to 2.2 trillion won in December 2023, down 500 billion won from the previous month. The delinquency ratio for corporate loans stood at 0.41 percent as of end-December 2023, down 0.11 percentage point from a month earlier, while the ratio for household loans slipped 0.04 percentage point to 0.35 percent over the cited period. (Yonhap) Korea plans to sell 15 trillion won ($11.31 billion) in state bonds next month, the finance ministry said Thursday. The country will issue 1.8 trillion won in Treasurys with a maturity of two years and 2.8 trillion won in three-year government bonds in March, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It also plans to sell 2.5 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of five years and 2.9 trillion won in 10-year Treasurys. It will float 800 billion won and 3.7 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of 20 years and 30 years, respectively, along with 500 billion won in 50-year bonds. Korea issued around 17.15 trillion won in state bonds in February, the ministry said. (Yonhap) Arab states condemn U.S. for vetoing UNSC resolution on Gaza ceasefire Xinhua) 13:18, February 22, 2024 U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield (C, front) votes against a Gaza-related Security Council draft resolution at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie E) "The Americans are not doing anything practical to stop the (Israel-Hamas) war," said Youssef Diab, a political analyst from the Lebanese University. CAIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Arab states have condemned the United States for vetoing another UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as looming Israeli attacks on the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah raise concerns that the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave may deepen. During an emergency session of the UN Security Council held in New York on Tuesday, the draft resolution put forward on behalf of Arab states by Algeria won 13 votes in favor among the 15 members of the Security Council. The United States voted against it while Britain abstained. MASSIVE OUTCRY "The U.S. veto, which defies the will of the international community, will give an additional green light to Israel to continue its aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, and to carry out its bloody attack on Rafah," the Palestinian presidency said in a statement carried by Palestine's official news agency WAFA on Wednesday. Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday voiced his "deep regret" over the U.S. move, the third time since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October last year that the United States interfered to fail a draft resolution aimed to reach a ceasefire. The U.S. positions undermined the credibility of the international system and contributed to the paralysis witnessed by the United Nations, Aboul Gheit was quoted as saying in an AL statement. Egypt and Qatar, having been actively brokering deals between Israel and Hamas since their conflict began, have expressed their regret. Egypt strongly denounced the "selectivity and double standards in dealing with wars and armed conflicts in various regions of the world," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry slammed the U.S. veto as "arbitrary and disgraceful," accusing the U.S. of being hypocritical, as it claimed to support human rights while allowing the Israeli "killing machine" to continue its attacks on Palestinian civilians. Jordan, which borders Israel and has normalized ties with Israel, expressed on Tuesday its regret and disappointment at the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "All those impeding such calls should review their policies and calculations because wrong decisions today will have a cost on our region and our world tomorrow. This cost will be violence and instability, " Algeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amar Bendjama was quoted by the UN news as saying on Tuesday. People check the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 21, 2024. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) DEEP CONCERN The resolution was put forward at a time when Israel has signaled its intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city that shelters about 1.4 million Palestinians, to "eliminate" Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages who were taken by Hamas militants in October last year. While visiting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops on Tuesday in southern Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that his country will continue the fighting until all goals are achieved. "There is no pressure, none, that can change this," he said. Israel's reported plan for an assault on Rafah has sounded alarm bells globally, with many countries urging restraint or cancellation of the operation. Regional countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, voiced deep concern over the potential offensive on Monday. Twenty-six EU member states called for an "immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire" in the besieged Gaza Strip, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels on Monday. U.S. ADDING TO CRISIS Despite the mounting calls 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, the Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing anonymous U.S. officials. "The Americans are not doing anything practical to stop the (Israel-Hamas) war," said Youssef Diab, a political analyst from the Lebanese University. The repeated trips to Israel by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as the U.S. financial and military support for Israel, have given Israel the green light to continue the war on Gaza and kill more children, he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Extradition decision comes 11 months after Kwon's arrest in Montenegro By Anna J. Park Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, who was apprehended in Montenegro over his alleged involvement in a $40 billion cryptocurrency fraud, is slated for extradition to the United States where he could potentially face a more severe sentence compared to what he might receive in Korea. U.S. and Montenegrin media outlets have reported that the High Court in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro where Kwon was arrested in March while attempting to board an airplane with a fake passport, has decided to extradite him to the United States. The court stated that "Do Kwon will be extradited to the U.S. to face charges related to crimes committed in financial operations," according to a report by Pobjeda, a local news outlet. The court did not disclose specific reasons for the decision. The U.S. Attorneys Office charged Kwon on eight criminal counts, including conspiracy to defraud, commodities fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to engage in market manipulation, shortly after his arrest in the Southeastern European country. The fallen crypto mogul is also facing civil charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging that he misled investors with a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud. The trial for this case is scheduled to commence late next month, after the U.S. District Court postponed it from Jan. 29 to March 25, with no further delays anticipated. The extradition decision came around 11 months after his arrest in Montenegro, and 22 months since he fled overseas. The request by the Korean government to extradite him to his native country was ultimately rejected. Kwon had also hoped to be extradited to Korea, probably due to the general tendency of the U.S. to dole out much harsher sentences for fraud cases. While Korea's maximum penalty for economic crimes is about 40 years, the U.S. can impose jail terms of over 100 years as American courts aggregate penalties for each count. For instance, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who is also charged with various criminal counts over his cryptocurrency business, is expected to receive up to 110 years in prison in a verdict slated for March. It is estimated that the damage suffered by global investors from the collapse of terraUSD (UST), the so-called "stable coin," amounts to over $40 billion. Despite Terraform Labs' initial design to maintain a one-to-one fixed exchange rate with the U.S. dollar through exchange mechanisms with its sister coin Luna, the operational system collapsed with a major sell-off crisis in May 2022. Korean internet users, including many coin investors directly hurt by Kwon's cryptocurrency, seem to welcome the Montenegrin court's decision, with some even saying it is "the best news this year." "This is what you get when you've brought tears to the lives of countless people around the world. Goodbye," an internet user wrote on a comment section of an article reporting Kwon's extradition to the U.S. "As you have indirectly ruined the lives of at least a thousand people, I hope you get what you deserve in the U.S., where there's no parole for a hundred years," another said, sharing a similar sentiment on the internet board. Some pointed out that Kwon made the wrong choice when he decided to flee from the country in April 2022. "Kwon must be regretting the fact that he chose to flee overseas. Why flee from a country as good as Korea? He could have just been arrested, confessed readily, enjoyed VIP treatment, while forming a luxurious team of pricey legal counsels," one netizen commented sarcastically, as the Korean legal system is known to be quite lenient on jail terms for fraud cases. "Confiscate all the assets that flowed into the family, and I hope the family members reflect on themselves and live with remorse for the money they earned through sweat," another said. A month prior to the outbreak of the scandal, Kwon departed for Singapore in April 2022 and disappeared. He later traveled through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Serbia before arriving in Montenegro. He was arrested in late March last year at a local airport, while attempting to board a private jet bound for Dubai with a fake Costa Rican passport. Kwon studied computer science at Stanford University and received his bachelor's degree in 2015. After graduating from Stanford, Kwon worked at Apple and Microsoft as an engineer, before establishing Terraform Labs in 2018. Nikki Haley had appeared to pick up on the reality of abortion politics that Democrats have been harnessing to win elections since the Dobbs ruling on the campaign trail thus far. Shes maintained a semblance of rhetorical neutrality on the issue since the first Republican primary debate when she argued a national ban on abortion likely would not have the votes to overcome the Senates 60-vote filibuster and that Republicans must be realistic about finding consensus on the procedure if they hoped to run a winning campaign. And thats the line shes been toeing being unapologetically pro-life while maintaining she does not judge anyone for being pro-choice throughout much of her time campaigning against Donald Trump, issuing open-ended remarks that are lacking in specifics in interviews and press appearances, regardless of the state shes campaigning in. It appears that both her and Trump have learned from Democrats successes at the ballot box since Roes overturning and also from the failings of their former rival Ron DeSantis, who embraced the extreme six-week ban he signed into law in Florida on a national stage. Ive said Im fine with a federal law. But the thing is, in order to get a federal law, you have to have a majority of the House, 60 senators and a signature of the president, she said in an interview with CBS Newss Face the Nation. No Republican president can ban abortions, any more than a Democrat president can ban any state law. What we can do is lets find consensus. But ahead of the primary in South Carolina this weekend where its been speculated that Haley may end her 2024 bid if she loses badly to Trump in her home state, though she claims she wont Haley has made a rather disturbing pivot into a realm of what appeared to be fetal personhood policy so extreme and new and niche that its not yet even being pushed by mainstream anti-abortion activists. During an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, Haley seemed to side with the Alabama Supreme Court in a new ruling that found that frozen embryos had the same protections as children in wrongful death lawsuits. The ruling has already had a chilling effect on in vitro fertilization in the state. The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system announced Wednesday that it would pause its IVF program fearing prosecution. We must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, UAB spokeswoman Hannah Echols told AL.com in a statement. In this specific type of fertility care, unused or non-viable embryos are often destroyed, meaning clinics that administer IVF care in Alabama risk wrongful death lawsuits. When asked about the ruling by NBC News, Haley declared Embryos, to me, are babies and said: I do see where thats coming from when they talk about that. Haley then went on to talk about her own difficulties with conception her son was conceived via artificial insemination, which does not involve creating embryos in a lab, but is a common reproductive treatment. Throughout the rest of the interview, Haley got a bit mealy-mouthed and appeared to walk back the initial severity of her statement, arguing theres a difference between viable and unviable embryos and suggesting that any potential legislation crafted around IVF should include input from doctors and their patients. She repeatedly called the issue sensitive, revealed she hadnt read the Alabama ruling and retreated to her middle of the road cosplaying. I would wanna look at it and see what theyre talking about, those that are viable versus those that are not, how theyre treating that, how theyre talking about that language, those are all sensitive subjects where the details matter, she said of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling. And we need to look at the details and we need to see where that is. Now where you see more women who are having trouble getting pregnant and you see more women doing artificial and in vitro, those are conversations that we need to have, but its also conversations we need to have women and doctors involved in the conversation to say, how do we want to handle this going forward?' Its unclear why the 2024 candidate would pivot to such an extreme-appearing position ahead of her home state primaries, though it could be an attempt to knock a few uneasy evangelical voters away from Trump and in her direction. The Best Of TPM Today Russias Staggering Success In Duping Willing Republicans And Right Wing Media David Kurtz Yesterdays Most Read Story No. Ezra Klein is Completely Wrong. Heres Why. Josh Marshall What We Are Reading Mike Johnson invoked God in a GOP presentation on keeping the majority. It didnt land well. Politico Mar-a-Lago judge denies Trumps request to file briefs together in documents case, orders slower, one-by-one pace instead Law&Crime Republicans Delete Reference To FBI Informant From Impeachment Interview Request Letter HuffPost Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley addresses supporters at the Embassy Suites in North Charleston, S.C., on Jan. 24. File Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Voters in South Carolina are next in line to voice their preference for the Republican presidential nomination, choosing between their former governor, Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. EST across South Carolina's 46 counties. It is an open primary, meaning voters do not need to be registered Republicans to participate. However, they are not allowed to vote if they participated in the Democratic primary earlier this month. Turnout for the Democratic primary was about 4% among more than 3.2 million voters. Participation in either presidential primary does not prohibit voters from voting in a different party's primary in June when state offices are on the ballot. It also does not impact the ability to vote for either party in the general election in November. Early voting in the Republican primary ends at 6 p.m. EST Thursday. Trump has secured 63 delegates for the nomination by earning a majority of votes in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Haley has 17 delegates but did not participate in the Nevada caucus. Former President Donald Trump speaks as he departs from Manhattan Criminal Court after a hearing in New York on Feb. 15. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Despite the early deficit, Haley has vowed to remain in the race, no matter the outcome of Saturday's primary in her home state. South Carolina primaries and elections are conducted by state and county election boards. Conway Belangia, director of voter registration and elections for Greenville County, told UPI his county will have about 1,000 poll workers on duty Saturday. Greenville County has a population of more than 500,000. It will open 144 polling locations for Saturday's vote. Poll workers will report to their assigned locations at about 6 a.m. EST. Most of them will be working until about 9 p.m. One election clerk from each precinct will deliver all ballots to the county election center, where they will be tabulated and securely stored. Belangia said conducting the primary costs the state about $1.2 million. The same was true for the Democratic primary. He adds that it is common practice for South Carolina to hold Republican and Democratic primaries on separate dates. "There's a strong economic advantage to being separate from the Super Tuesday process," Belangia said of the March 5 date when 15 other states will vote. "South Carolina gets a lot of coverage that on a national level they would not touch if they were part of the Super Tuesday process." Belangia predicts the voter turnout will greatly exceed that of the Democratic primary, due to the more contested race between Haley and Trump. He said 30% voter turnout is common in a primary and as much as 40% could be achieved this time. In Charleston County, Haley's home county, more than 17,500 early votes had been cast by Thursday, according to Isaac Cramer, executive director of the county board of elections. Early voting is new for South Carolina after being passed by the state legislature in 2022. Cramer told UPI it has been popular so far. "It's very evident, even in a Republican state, early voting is popular," Cramer said. "The early voting turnout we've had, we've gotten 5,000 more votes than we had in the entire Democratic primary." Cramer expects up to 70,000 votes to be cast in Charleston County, including early and absentee votes. Seven candidates will appear on the ballot, including some who have withdrawn from the race. There are also three "yes" or "no" questions. The first asks voters if South Carolina should change state law to allow voters to register with a political party. The second is related to steps that may reduce conflicts of interest when electing judges. The third is related to how financial damages are paid in lawsuits. "They put hot ticket items out there hoping to encourage people to participate," Belangia said. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Nikki Haley continued her campaign trail on Thursday, making stops in Georgetown and Myrtle Beach just two days ahead of South Carolinas Republican primary. Haleys Beast of the Southeast Bus Tour pulled into The George Hotel in Georgetown at 3 p.m. and then stopped by 44 & King in Myrtle Beach at 6 p.m. In her stop at 44 & King Haley reflected on her time as Governor, highlighted her successes, and spoke on ways she would change the direction of the country as president. Haley spoke on cutting taxes on the middle class, bringing aid to Veterans who have served the country, enhancing the education system, and making sure the younger generation has access to affordable housing and can attain the American Dream as previous generations have. Haley made stops in Greenville and Clemson on Tuesday, vowing to stay in the race despite polls showing her being a heavy underdog to former President Donald Trump. News13 photo: Adrianna Lawrence News13 photo: Adrianna Lawrence NEWS13 EXCLUSIVE: Trump leads Haley by 23 points days ahead of South Carolina GOP primary The 44 & King restaurant is owned by Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethunes husband, Brown. The mayor has been among Haleys most avid surrogates, donating more than $33,000 either directly to her campaign or through pro-Haley PACs, according to Federal Election Commission data. Haley has two more South Carolina stops before Saturdays primary, heading Friday to Moncks Corner at 2 p.m. and Mount Pleasant at 6 p.m. Download the News13 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WBTW email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WBTW.com for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Nikki Haley has voiced her support for a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling that defined frozen embryos as unborn children. Embryos, to me, are babies, she told NBC News in an interview on Wednesday. When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me, thats a life. And so I do see where thats coming from when they talk about that. The former United Nations ambassador, who is in the midst of a longshot bid to secure the Republican presidential nomination for 2024, is the most high-profile member of her party to support the courts decision. Her comments are likely to stoke fears that anti-abortion campaigners will target IVF procedures that account for around 2 per cent of births in the US today many of them to couples who might not have been able to conceive otherwise. The ruling may force clinics that provide in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, treatment to close over fears of being held liable for any damage to embryos during the freezing process. The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system announced on Wednesday that it had paused IVF procedures over fears it could be criminally prosecuted. We must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, spokesperson Hannah Echols said in a statement. The ruling, handed down by the states highest court last week, stems from a bizarre 2020 case in which a patient destroyed several embryos at an IVF clinic in Alabama. In a decision that could have profound consequences forboth patients seeking fertility care and the medical professionals that provide it, the states highest court allowed for a wrongful death lawsuit to be brought over the accident. By classifying the frozen embryos as unborn children in their ruling, the justices opened the way for three couples whose fertilised embryos were destroyed to seek damages from the clinic for wrongful death. Alabama Justice Jay Mitchell wrote in the majority ruling last week that an 1872 state law allowing parents to sue over the death of a minor child also applied to embryos. Unborn children are children ... without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics, he wrote. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) described the ruling as a medically and scientifically unfounded decision. The court held that a fertilized frozen egg in a fertility clinic freezer should be treated as the legal equivalent of an existent child or a fetus gestating in a womb, Dr Paula Amato, president of ASRM, said in a statement. The eight members of the court who approved this decision may view these things as the same, but science and everyday common sense tell us they are not. The process of IVF often requires the fertilisation of many eggs to increase the chance that one will become a viable pregnancy. The embryo with the best chance of succeeding in the womb will be transferred, while the rest are usually frozen and kept in case the transfer fails or the patient wants to have another child. If the patient no longer requires the embryos, they are discarded. A dog with a box stuck on its head roamed southern Alabama for months until rescuers were finally able to help. Animal specialists broke out all the stops trying to free the dog from the situation, Mobile Animal Services director Robert Bryant said in an interview with WKRG. The box on the dogs head made it too big for the canine to fit in conventional traps, officials said. The box appeared to have narrow openings on the side and top, which allowed the dog to eat despite its predicament. Bryant said the team tried to tranquilize the dog, they tried to use a net gun, and finally on Feb. 21, they assembled a bunch of barricades from Mardi Gras to corral the dog long enough so they could at least get the box off. The person responsible for finally freeing the dog was Martin Miller. He celebrated the effort in a post on social media. Im so proud to be part of such an amazing group of people! And to all the members of the community that worked so hard to try and help this!! A huge, congratulations to everyone involved, he wrote. In the interview with WKRG, Miller said the dog ran past him as all the rescuers formed a line. I held on to it for dear life and held a tree with my other hand, Miller wrote on Facebook describing the incident. He added the dog did all the work pulling away until the box eventually came off. The dog managed to escape after that, but without the box on its head, rescuers might have an easier time catching it eventually. The best word for that dog is hes a ninja, Bryant told WKRG. Some social media users questioned why it took so long for rescuers to trap the dog. Its very difficult to try and catch a dog with such a large box on its head, Miller wrote in response to a Facebook comment. Conventional traps dont work, sedation is very dangerous for a stray dog, and he was deep in the woods. There have been multiple attempts, but today we got lucky. Although they couldnt get a leash on the dog, Miller described getting the box off as a huge step forward. He said the next step is getting the dog to a shelter. Mobile County is in southwest Alabama, bordering Mississippi. Dog vanished five years ago until absolute miracle just reunited him with family Dog was adopted but now she needs another home. Quickly declining at our shelter Dogs jump in strangers car and wont budge, Florida cops say. Holding my car hostage Canine lovebirds spent over 1,000 days in shelter. Now, they have a home together By Lee Hae-rin BUSAN Korea's southeastern port city became the second Korean city to join the Michelin Guide, Thursday, with 25 selected restaurants, 15 Bib Gourmand establishments and three one-starred restaurants acknowledged by the coveted culinary guide. The Michelin Guide unveiled this years selection of 177 restaurants in Seoul and 43 in Busan during its annual event held in Busan. After seven editions of the Michelin Guide Seoul, the luminous culinary waves have now arrived in the sparkling and dynamic city of Busan for this eighth edition, Jerome Vincon, the managing director of Michelin Korea, said in an opening speech. We are thrilled to witness the development of the dining scene in both Busan and Seoul and share it with international tourists and foodies outside of Korea through the Michelin Guide." Due to its historical background of embracing Korean War refugees, the city offers unique and rich culinary diversity with a blend of food cultures from eight different provinces throughout Korea, making it an attractive culinary destination for gourmets, said Lee Jun-seung, the vice mayor of administrative affairs of Busan Metropolitan City. The selection of the Michelin Guide today will motivate local restaurants for further growth and serve as a catalyst driving Busans future growth as a world-class tourism hub." Based on the monthslong evaluation by its team of anonymous inspectors, the Michelin Guide selects the best culinary talents and restaurants around the world. Their evaluations are based on five criteria: quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking, harmony of flavors, personality of the chef through the cuisine and consistency both over time and across the entire menu. However, under such criteria, Busan has been considered less favorable to win the Michelin Star recognitions within the travel and restaurant industry due to the lack of fine dining restaurants and local food traditions that serve several dishes on a table altogether. The three restaurants in Busan that won the One Star recognitions were Palate in Nam District, and Fiotto and Mori in Haeundae District. This years Bib Gourmand selections for Busan, which distinguish quality restaurants that offer refined cuisine at affordable prices of under 40,000 won ($30), featured a wide range of iconic regional delicacies. For example, the selection included restaurants serving naengmyeon, or cold noodles with a North Korean origin, and pork rice soup, another representative dish of the city made by refugees to maximize the use of meat available during and after wartime. Vinho and Limpression from Seouls Gangnam District and Haobin at Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel have also joined the list of one-starred restaurants. Also, Mitou and Restaurant Allen from Seouls Gangnam District have newly earned two-star recognitions. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., (right) is running for reelection against Northern Kentucky firebrand Eric Deters. Controversial Northern Kentucky attorney and political candidate Eric Deters said he filed a legal petition Thursday against U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie to get him kicked off the Republican primary ballot and Deters is not stopping there. Hes also trying to get Republican Theodore TJ Roberts, who is running for state representative, booted from the ballot. His home's District 66 covers a large part of northern Boone County, a staunchly Republican area that overwhelming voted for former President Donald Trump in both of the past two presidential elections. Deters is running against longtime incumbent Massie for U.S. representative in a district that covers 21 counties, nearly all situated in the broader northern Kentucky area. The candidate is not shy about saying Massie's removal from office will directly benefit him. "Be kind of nice to beat ol Massie without even an election. I admit it," he said in one of the videos he posted Wednesday to Facebook where he called his opponent "nasty Massie" and said Roberts is a "little nimrod do-nothing." Despite saying Wednesday he was on his way to file the petition to remove Massie from the ballot, Deters updated his Facebook page Thursday to say the courthouse closed at noon Wednesday so he filed the documents Thursday instead. The Lewis County Circuit Court confirmed they received the filing Thursday. Heres what to know about why Deters is calling for both candidates to be removed from the ballot, based on his social media posts. A copy of the filing was not immediately available Wednesday night. Deters accuses Roberts of lying about his address in filing Roberts home, where he allegedly lived with his grandparents, burned down in the spring of 2023. He said in a Facebook post that nobody was injured in the fire, though he and his family have been through nothing short of hell since then. The home has since been rebuilt, he added. Meanwhile, Roberts lived somewhere else Deters' posts said he didn't know where while the home was under construction. Eric Deters speaks at his Freedom Fest rally in 2021 at his farm in Morning View, Kentucky. The candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives is trying to get Thomas Massie removed from the ballot. Deters' legal action accuses Roberts of lying about his address when he filed to run, putting the address of his burned down home as his place of residence, where he could not have legally lived at the time because it was being repaired and did not have an occupancy license. That, he said, invalidates Roberts petition to run for state representative. Roberts is running against former Republican state representative Ed Massey, who was booted from office after a slew of right-wing candidates successfully challenged incumbents in the 2022 primary. The lawsuit, filed one day after my opponent launched his first personal attack against me, asserts brazenly false claims and misrepresents the law, Roberts said in a Facebook post Wednesday. It is reminiscent of the illegal efforts to ruin former President Donald Trump through lawfare and disqualify him. Roberts said he will fight for his right to stay on the ballot. Whats this got to do with Massie? Roberts was a signatory on Massies candidate filing on Dec. 18, 2023. According to court documents Deters posted online, Roberts stated his address as the same one on his own filing the one where his house burned down. In Kentucky, a candidate running for office must have two voters who live in the same district sign their filing form. Deters said that means Roberts' signature was invalid, disqualifying Massie from running for reelection. In a statement to The Enquirer, Massie said, After his (Deters) disastrous failed gubernatorial campaign, he has apparently convinced himself that the only way he can win an election is by employing the same kind of dirty tricks the Left is currently attempting to keep Donald Trump off the ballot." What's the history between these candidates? Both Deters and Massie are rabble-rousers who have made a lot of headlines over the years. Massie doesnt hesitate to go against the grain of the national Republican party. He was one of handful of congressional members to publicly support former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis instead of Donald Trump. Hes active and controversial on X, formerly known as Twitter. And last year he made a custom U.S. debt ticker that he pinned to his lapel and wore to the State of the Union address. Deters hosts an event called Freedom Fest at his Morning View farm, located about 45 minutes south of Cincinnati. The ultraconservative event has drawn in at least 10,000 attendees and has featured speakers like Eric and Donald Trump Jr. Deters ran for Kentucky governor last year and got 5.8% of the vote in the primary. He also hosts an online commentary show. Deters has had a slew of legal troubles most recently he pleaded guilty to menacing his teenage nephew. Roberts is a lesser-known candidate and attorney. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he attended church on Easter Sunday and later sued Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear after Kentucky state troopers issues notices of quarantine on their cars and threatened legal action against the church-goers. Why does this matter? Kentucky voters kind of move to the beat of their drum, while nationally there are bright lines between red and blue voters regardless of the issue. For instance, Kentuckians favored Trump over candidate Hillary Clinton and now-President Joe Biden in the last two presidential elections. But voters reelected Beshear, a Democrat, last year. Additionally, Kentucky lawmakers pass some of the most conservative laws in the country. Last year, lawmakers passed a law that banned gender-affirming care for minors, prohibiting minors from using bathrooms that align with their identity, and changing the way counselors can help children. But on the issue of abortion, Kentuckians voted against a constitutional amendment that would have banned any constitutional protections for abortion. Meanwhile, abortion is illegal in the state with limited exceptions. Still, Massie is an outlier in the state. The six-term member of the House hails from Garrison, Kentucky, located almost two hours southeast of Cincinnati. He describes himself as a libertarian-leaning Republican and shakes things up among congressional Republicans. If hes disqualified from the ballot, Deters will likely win in the May 21 primary against a third Republican running for Congress, a relatively unknown candidate named Michael McGinnis. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Eric Deters is trying to get Thomas Massie, TJ Roberts off ballot. They started with the Jews; there were stern words of disapproval from the top but things only got worse. The Islamist cranks and Left-wing extremists then took control of the streets; the police looked meekly on. They harassed teachers through the courts; our human rights and equalities laws were used against us. They threatened to kill an MP; he decided, justifiably, to leave public life. A respected peer, Lord Austin spoke out against terrorism and Islamism; he was suspended from a job he loves. They have hijacked a by-election in a deprived town in northern England. We see their influence in our judiciary, our legal profession and our universities. And then they came for Parliament. On a day when Keir Starmer should have shown strength of character, he bowed to the mob, abused his position, and undermined the integrity of Parliament. Conventions cast aside, the Speakers legitimacy destroyed, and democracy denied. Trust was shattered by Starmers grubby backroom deal. The mask has slipped: in hock to the Islamists, he is responsible for one of the most shameful days of our democracy. By effectively taking the Speaker hostage, he brought Parliament into disrepute. This is the behaviour of tyrants. Just imagine what Starmer would do as Prime Minister. The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now. They have bullied the Labour Party, they have bullied our institutions, and now they have bullied our country into submission. But what is our response? Our leaders bury their heads in the sand, preferring the illusion of a successful multicultural society, terrified of being called racist. But the law has not changed, mass extremism parades itself proudly, campuses remain dangerous places for Jews, and Labour is still rotten to the core. Lets not forget how, in the short term at least, we got here. On October 7, an Islamist death cult attacked one of our closest allies on a scale never before imagined. More than 1,200 citizens of Israel, the vast majority of them Jews, were butchered in their homes, communities and at a music festival. Many of the women were raped and then murdered. Another 250 people were kidnapped and taken back to the terrorists lairs, where many still languish. Now were told that Israel, in its noble mission to recover those poor hostages, must cease. Its defence forces must put away their weapons. Lets hear from those naysayers, both inside and outside Parliament, the alternative, practical solution first. But this isnt just about my colleagues in Parliament. Our values and freedoms are under attack in all walks of life. What is happening to our great country? That one which was respectful, welcoming, and where speaking your mind did not mean losing your job, or your life? Where different faiths and races co-existed peacefully? I remember that country, but its not the Britain I see now. We cannot accept defeat. We need to find our courage. But we can only do that with honesty and determination. Thats why we must resist the attacks against the Prevent programme, designed to tackle extremism in whatever form it takes and stop people being radicalised into terrorism. It has been labelled Islamophobic and racist because, in the main, it is set up to tackle the most dangerous terrorist ideology facing our country: Islamism. But Prevent needs urgent reform. It is disappointing that, one year on from when I started the programme of changes set out by Sir William Shawcross, there are now major shortcomings. This was one of my priorities as home secretary and improvements were on track when I updated Parliament after six months. But progress has stalled: we need to keep the spotlight on Hamas networks in the UK. We know that some on the marches have links to that Islamist terror group. We need to get over our cultural timidity to refer budding Islamists, where they are a threat, into the programme. The Government has failed if 75 per cent of MI5s caseload consists of Islamist terrorism yet the proportion of Islamist referrals into Prevent is only 11 per cent and falling. Its not Islamophobic to challenge Islamist fanatics; its a civic duty. Lastly, no progress has been made on introducing guidance to stop blasphemy laws being introduced by the backdoor. We cannot allow teachers to be hounded out of schools because a picture of Muhammad was shown, or children to be censured because a Koran was scuffed accidentally. In this country, it is perfectly lawful to criticise any religion or God. One may disagree passionately, but it is not criminal. None of this is easy. Ive written about how the protests could be policed better. Others have set out how we can clean up campuses, mosques and councils and, more fundamentally, how we can promote better integration. I may have been sacked because I spoke out against the appeasement of Islamists, but I would do it again because we need to wake up to what we are sleep-walking into: a ghettoised society where free expression and British values are diluted. Where sharia law, the Islamist mob and anti-Semites take over communities. We need to overcome the fear of being labelled Islamophobic and speak truthfully. Enough of the hand-wringing and apologies. Turning a blind eye to fanatics has got us into this terrible situation: it needs to stop. This is a crisis. And the fightback must start now, with urgency, if we are to preserve the liberties we cherish and the privileges this country affords us all. If we are to have any chance of saving our country from the mob. Rt Hon Suella Braverman MP is a former Home Secretary 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. U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake tried to defuse a renewed battle over the late Sen. John McCain Wednesday with a social-media message to Meghan McCain suggesting they are both mothers who lost fathers to cancer. But the younger McCain made clear there still will be "no peace." Lake suggested Monday in an interview with KTAR (92.3 FM) that her disparaging words about John McCain were said in jest and at a time when Republican rival Karrin Taylor Robson was attacking her in their contested 2022 gubernatorial primary. Meghan McCain responded Tuesday with a social media post that said Lakes comments reflected a sense that she cant win her current Senate race without making peace with McCain loyalists. Meghan McCain then said, No peace, b----. Ahead of that, Lake wrote a lengthy tweet Wednesday before 5 a.m. calling for them to meet and trying to highlight potential common ground. U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake answers questions during a press conference on Feb. 7, 2024, at her headquarters in Phoenix. "As mothers, (both with two kiddos) Im know we both agree that our childrens future is too important to let it slip away over past grudges or hurt feelings," Lake wrote. "Thats why Im working hard to unite Republicans, Independents, Democrats ALL Americans." Her message didnt include an apology for her repeated attacks on John McCain, who died of brain cancer in 2018, but said she wanted to make him and her father, Larry Lake, who also died of cancer, proud. "I value you. I value your family and I value the passion you have for our state," Lake said to Meghan McCain. "Id love nothing more than to buy you a beer, a coffee or lunch and pick your brain about how we can work together to strengthen our state." Hours later, Meghan McCain responded in all capital letters, No peace, b----! Meghan McCain on 'The View' in 2018. For Lake, the episode prolongs and makes public a common criticism she has received in her apparently failed efforts to win over support from former foes. Republicans familiar with Lakes outreach to people like Taylor Robson, the McCains and former Gov. Doug Ducey have said those efforts didnt include apologies. In a 10-minute interview on KTAR on Wednesday, Meghan McCain said she viewed Lakes outreach Wednesday as borne of Lakes poor standing with voters and, in Trumpian fashion, indifferent to the personal pain inflicted on her family. This is very deeply personal, she said. I am 39 years old, and I just dont want to live in this world where Trump and his minions like Kari Lake think that it is funny or not deeply hurtful and impactful to many people when you continue to desecrate my dad in death. It never stops being painful. Meghan McCain said Lake did not comment about her father in jest, as Lake asserted Monday. Its not a joke. I used to work on 'Saturday Night Live.' I know what a joke is, she said. As for Lakes offer of a beer or coffee, Meghan McCain ruled that out. Were not friends and we have nothing in common, she said. McCain indicated her election preference, saying, Sinema 2024. Lake rhetorically set fire to the GOP establishment during her 2022 run. Now she is the Republican front-runner in the race for the seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., but her sharp comments from the past are trailing her again, none more than her many attacks on John McCain, who won six terms in the Senate and carried the state in his 2008 presidential run. Among her attacks on John McCain, Lake asked a crowd, We dont have any McCain Republicans in here, do we? Get the hell out! She said the GOP was the party of McCain. It was bad. Arizona has delivered some losers, havent they? In another broadside after winning the GOP nomination in 2022, Lake said, We drove a stake through the heart of the McCain machine. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., the only prominent Democrat running for the Senate seat, pounced on Lakes inadvertent detour into intraparty insults. On Wednesday, he tweeted a video with Lakes many statements disparaging McCain. It overlooks his own critical comments about McCain, and hints at his own need to expand his appeal beyond left-leaning voters. By contrast, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is challenging Lake for the GOP nomination, has remained publicly silent on the matter of Lakes feud with Meghan McCain. It is in keeping with a relatively low-profile campaign approach that continues to hammer on his interest in tightening Americas border with Mexico. For her part, Sinema, who has not publicly said whether she will seek a second term, ignored the unfolding spectacle, as she has usually done throughout the past year. Lake sought to change the subject on social media, posting a segment of her appearing on the conservative network Newsmax in which she declared she is unapologetically America first in a reminder that she is, as always, standing by former President Donald Trump, who feuded with John McCain for years and continued to criticize him after McCains death. But for a third straight day, Lake remained on the hot seat over her past remarks. On Monday, Lake said she jokingly derided McCain a year before the 2022 election. She said that at the time she was taking nuclear bomb-style incoming, tens of millions of dollars in attack ads from a McCain Republican. It was said in jest. And I think that if John McCain, who had a great sense of humor, would have heard it, he would have laughed. Lake said all Republicans need to get a little bit thicker skin because were going through some tough stuff right now and we need to be able to take a joke. Meghan McCain responded to that on the social-media platform X. Kari Lake is trying to walk back her continued attacks on my Dad (& family) and all of his loyal supporters after telling them to get the hell out, McCain wrote Tuesday in a social media post. Guess she realized she cant become a Senator without us. We see you for who you are and are repulsed by it. A person close to the McCain family said Tuesday the other McCains would have no comment on Lakes remarks. But the exchange with Meghan McCain led KTAR to invite her on the air Wednesday. Lake tried to get back to her central message on Monday: that she wants to unite Republicans behind her campaign and win over others, too. We are facing huge challenges and its going to take all hands on deck to pull things back from the brink. My dad passed away from cancer, too. I trust and believe that if our fathers were still with us they would do everything they could to save this Republic, Lake wrote. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake tries to make peace with Meghan McCain, who torches her As Christians around the world marked the beginning of Lent, Facebook posts falsely claimed Pope Francis "Pope Francis spoke again," reads a Facebook post shared on February 15, as Christians marked the start of Lent. "Eat what you want at Easter, the sacrifice is not in the stomach, but in the heart," reads the speech attributed to the pontiff. "A good roast or meat stew won't make you a bad person. Nor a fish fillet will make you a saint. Better try to have a deeper relationship with God through better treatment with others. We are less superficial and more humble at heart." Screenshot of a Facebook post sharing the false claim, taken on February 15. The quote was shared more than 16,000 times in similar Facebook posts from accounts around the world, including Fiji, the United States, Ireland and Malaysia. A variation of the speech also circulated in Facebook posts that falsely claimed the pope told people to eat whatever they wanted during Lent. As of February 22, 2024, the pontiff has not yet delivered his Easter message and there is no official record that he has ever publicly said these words. In his Lent message for 2024 -- published on the Vatican's website on February 1 -- the pope instead invited Catholics to "pause" for prayer and to help those in need (archived link). Some of the posts falsely claimed he made the comments on February 14, 2024 to mark Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The Vatican's website -- which also publishes details of Pope Francis' official engagements -- lists four activities for that day. None of the official transcripts from these events contained the speech attributed to the pope in the misleading Facebook posts. He held a general audience in the morning and a holy mass to mark Ash Wednesday later that day. He also published a message about the Catholic church in Brazil and an agricultural development fund (archived links here, here, here and here). Old hoax The speech falsely attributed to the pontiff has circulated on Facebook since at least April 2023 (archived here and here). According to the official transcript of his Easter message from that year, he did not tell Catholics to "eat what they want" at Easter or Lent, as the false posts claimed (archive link). None of Pope Francis' past Easter messages contained that specific phrase. A keyword search for it on the Vatican's website also returned no results (archived link). The pope is regularly a target of misinformation, as debunked by AFP here. It has been a little more than three years since Casey Goodson was shot and killed by Jason Meade, then a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy who had been searching for wanted suspects as part of his role with the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force. Little more than a week has passed since 12 jurors after three weeks of often heartbreaking testimony deadlocked on whether or not Meade was guilty of two counts of murder and/or one count of reckless homicide. The anticlimactic mistrial fell far short of the resolution needed by both those who think Meade should be held criminally accountable for Goodson's death and those who believe the shooting was justified. Feb 6, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Jason Meade demonstrated on the stand Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, how he alleges Casey Goodson Jr. was handling a gun while driving his car. Meade is on trial in Franklin County Common Pleas Court for murder and reckless homicide in connection with the shooting death of Goodson on Dec. 4, 2020. It is a complex case many are but after three long years of community angst, the question of legal guilt or innocence should not be left to linger over Franklin County residents. The case must be retried as soon as possible. A potential second trial for Meade may very well result in another mistrial but the justice sought by community members on both sides of this difficult issue is well worth the time and money it will take to have another jury weigh in next time hopefully able to determine guilt or innocence. Not pursuing the truth would be a far more expensive miscarriage of justice that would betray the public's trust. Another view: There'd be no justice in retrying Jason Meade. This lust for vengeance is indefensible. Retrials are not uncommon Tamala Payne, Casey Goodson Jr.'s mother, reacts as special prosecutor Tim Merkle gives closing arguments in the murder trial of former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Jason Meade, who is charged with murder and reckless homicide in connection with Goodson's death. Former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell was the last law enforcement officer to go to trial in Franklin County for murder. Mitchells first trial for the 2018 shooting death of Donna Castleberry ended in a hung jury. A second jury found him not guilty in 2023. Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel for Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, told The Dispatch it is rare that prosecutors do not retry hung trials "at least one more time, possibly more than that, depending on the count of the (jury) deadlock." Delaware City Attorney Natalia Harris, one of three challenging Pierson to be Franklin County prosecutor, told the newspaper a member of her family was murdered and she hopes the Meade case is retried immediately. If it isn't "there needs to be an explanation as to how they came to that conclusion," she said. John Rutan, a defense attorney from Grove City, and Shayla Favor, a Columbus City Council member, are the other two running for county prosecutor. Their responses to The Dispatch's question of retrials were not as direct. A difficult decision Meade's trial had unusual drama a last-minute witness, delays in deliberations after multiple jurors were excused and alternatives added and a reversed mistrial before the ultimate declaration of mistrial. Beyond that, jurors did not have an easy task. Casey Goodson's Dec. 4, 2020, death came on the heels of a year of protests and calls for reform sparked by several high-profile killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, the death of George Floyd included. While the horrific details of Floyd's death were caught on multiple videos, Goodson's death was far less cut and dry for the all-white final jury. There is no video or audio of the 23-year-old Black man being shot by the white deputy. The jury had complex law, testimony and physical evidence to weigh. Meade, a 17-year sheriff's office veteran, testified that as Goodson, a concealed handgun license holder, drove by, he waved a gun and pointed it toward the windshield, prompting the deputy to follow Goodson to Estates Place. Meade said he shot Goodson after Goodson pointed a gun at him at a side door. Casey Goodson's sister, testifies in the trial of Former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Michael Jason Meade at the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. HVAC technician Christopher Corne, the surprise, last-minute witness, testified that he saw Goodson drive by shortly before the shooting and he seemed to be dancing to music in his car with nothing in his hands. Special prosecutors say Goodson's gun was holstered. His mother and other relatives contend he was gunned down while trying to carry a bag of Subway sandwiches into Goodson's grandmother's Estates Place home after a dentist's appointment. Meade shot Goodson five times in the back and once in the side, according to an autopsy from the Franklin County Coroner's office. The next jury Feb 18 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ramon Obey, Executive Director of JUST (Justice, Unity and Social Transformation) leads the crowd on a march during a gathering at the basketball courts outside of Thompson Recreation Center that was organized in support of the family of Casey Goodson Jr. days after a mistrial was declared in the trial of Michael Jason Meade. There is considerable community pressure to retry Meade. That should not be the deciding factor for the special prosecutors assigned to the case the pursuit of justice should be. The community deserves and needs the truth. Goodson's family deserves closure. Meade deserves either public acquittal or conviction. Former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Michael Jason Meade testifies in his own defense on Wednesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Meade testified he shot Casey Goodson Jr. after the 23-year-old pointed a gun at him on Dec. 4, 2020. Jurors also deserve a trial that proceeds in a timely manner while protecting the defendant's rights. The witness delay and loss of four jurors made a difficult process far more difficult. Imagine being the fourth alternate joining restarted deliberations on the final day. The question of guilt or innocence is difficult enough on its own. The pursuit of justice often comes with complications that must be resolved in the name of morality. That must happen here. This piece was written by Dispatch Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson on behalf of the editorial board of the Columbus Dispatch. Editorials are fact-based assessments of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Jason Meade must be retried Casey Goodson Jr. shooting Medvedev regularly makes rude and false statements about Ukraine and the West A political clown and drunken master of late-night provocative social media posts, also known as Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, suggested send Ukrainian patriots from occupied territories to labor camps in Siberia, reported the Russian propaganda news agency TASS. If people "harm Russia", "they should be exposed and punished, sent to Siberia". Read also: Kremlin hardliner Medvedev warns of unavoidable conflict in smirking threat to US over Alaska "That's it. For re-education in labor camps," he said, adding that "people in the occupied territories are different" and claiming that "there are not so many people waiting for the arrival of the Ukrainian armed forces". Medvedev believes that people in the occupied Ukrainian territories are waiting for the outcome and think: "Whoever is stronger, we will serve". Last week, Medvedev began threatening Western countries with nuclear war if Russia is forced to return to the internationally recognized borders, escalating his last year nuclear threats when he claimed the war could be "over in a few days" if Ukraine stopped receiving aid from its partners. He also recently stumbled into the discourse over Alaska and, perhaps over a few drinks, came up with empty threats to take the United States to war. Read also: Russias political clown Medvedev calls French frog eaters and f*gs in unhinged post 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 Young children in Gaza have marched in protest against bombardment of the war-torn enclave and ongoing food shortages. A video taken on Wednesday morning showed a group of boys and girls calling for an end to Israels siege, as the reported dead toll in Gaza approaches 30,000 since the 7 October Hamas attacks. They held homemade posters, shouted and banged sticks on saucepans and trays as they walked past rubble and destroyed vehicles in northern Gaza. A group of young children marched in protest at Israels siege and asked for food amid shortages (Video Elephant) Banners held by children had bread becomes my dream and we want food, written on them, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu. We die from hunger, we have nothing to eat, we are forced to eat animal food, 10-year-old Ayat Ashour told Anadolu. Food has become unaffordable, we want to live, we want (food) aid. ... The people in the northern Gaza Strip find nothing to eat, there is no milk for children. The death toll in Gaza since October 7 has reached 29,410 according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with at least 69,465 more wounded. Around 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attacks, with more than 200 more kidnapped, Israel has said. A Palestinian girl eats a piece of bread as people check debris on following overnight Israeli air strikes in Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza strip (AFP via Getty Images) The protest came on the same day chaos erupted in the House of Commons during the UK parliaments debate on a Gaza ceasefire. MPs walked out in protest and Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is facing mounting pressure to resign, with more than 50 MPs signing a motion of no confidence in him due to his handling of the debate. It centred on his decision to allow a break in convention and select Labours bid to amend the SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, which was later passed without vote. United Nations agencies and aid groups say the ongoing hostilities, the Israeli militarys refusal to facilitate deliveries and the breakdown of order inside Gaza make it increasingly difficult to bring vital aid to much of the coastal enclave. SNP and Conservative MPs walked out of the Commons during the Gaza debate (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) The World Food Program has paused food deliveries to isolated northern Gaza, where the UN childrens agency says one in six children are acutely malnourished. A UN report in December found that a quarter of Gazas 2.3 million people are starving. Israel denies it is restricting the entry of aid and has shifted the blame to humanitarian organizations operating inside Gaza, saying hundreds of trucks filled with aid sit idle on the Palestinian side of the main crossing. This isnt just any ol place: Its Mike and Kats Other Place. Married duo Mike and Kat Duncan opened the cozy, colorful coffee shop and roastery in early February in Stillwaters North Hill neighborhood. The menu is simple: Espresso drinks and nitro cold brew, made with beans Mike Duncan roasts in-house, two pounds at a time. Theres no food menu, unlike at the Duncans previous coffee shop, Coffee Paw Cafe, which was on the south side of town and closed in November 2022. The most unique item may actually be their standard hot coffee, which is not drip coffee but rather steamed nitro cold brew an unusual move that highlights both the lower acidity of cold-brewed coffee, which is steeped for many hours, and the smoothness of running the coffee through a nitrogen tap. The shop is housed in an 1880s-era building that the Duncans have rehabbed with an eclectic, vintage vibe. They installed a retro tin-style ceiling above the coffee shop and have family china and heirlooms displayed in a massive wooden icebox cabinet they found in the building. Hanging on the walls are funky textile swatches in old frames that once held family photos. In addition to the coffee bar and 12 seats, including window nooks, the shop also includes three fully built-out salon rooms for independent stylists to rent. Mike and Kat have built the kind of place they didnt have to think twice about attaching their names to. We had culinary careers, and then corporate careers and this is our heart, Kat Duncan said. This is our other place It was summer 2007, and the Gear Daddies were playing a concert on Harriet Island. Kat Duncan narrates the story like a romantic comedy meet-cute. Shed just gotten out of a relationship and wasnt looking to meet anyone new, but man, I wanted to flirt with everybody! And then she saw Mike. I literally picked him out of a crowd, Kat said. Not that one. Not that one. Not that one. That one! They clicked instantly: They both had food experience Mike was a culinary school grad and former executive chef, and Kat had worked front-of-house at a couple ritzy suburban restaurants and, at the time, they both worked in corporate recruiting. Plus, clearly, they had similar tastes in music. Oh and they were both miffed by how hard it was to find a good poached egg on a restaurant menu in Stillwater. Theyll baste an egg for ya! Mike and Kat both said in unison, clearly a refrain over which theyve commiserated together for years. The couple had always talked about running some sort of bistro someday, Kat said. Maybe a coffee shop when they retired, or maybe a taco bar on the beach in Costa Rica. But in 2019, when the Chilkoot Cafe went up for sale, they quickly decided to adjust that timeline. They bought the business, renamed it Coffee Paw Cafe and, yes, started serving poached eggs. Were not risk-averse, Mike Duncan said. If theres a ledge to jump off of, wed probably give it a shot. Although Coffee Paw survived the worst of Covid-19 shutdowns, Kat Duncan said, other effects of the pandemic knocked the shop irreparably off-course. Egg prices alone had increased about tenfold since 2019, Mike Duncan said. Even when sales stabilized again, they realized the shop had a pre-pandemic business model and would be stuck playing a perpetual game of financial catch-up. Within the same 30-day period in late 2022, Mikes dad died, the couples dog died, Kat had brain surgery and they closed the Coffee Paw. When we had to shut the previous place down, Mike and I were heartbroken, Kat Duncan said. Literally, we grieved. The Coffee Paw space has since become You and Me Cafe, which opened last spring from another Stillwater food power couple, Sarah and Dariush Moslemi of The Wild Hare and Velveteen Speakeasy. And the Duncans knew they werent ready to give up the idea of a neighborhood coffee shop. So almost immediately, in 2022, the Duncans bought an old building close to home and drew up a business plan for an other place that was fine-tuned to a Covid-era food service landscape. Our house is down the street, so this is our other place, Kat Duncan said. If were not there, were here. When we bought the building, we just kept calling it the other place Hey, do you want to run over to work on the other place? and it stuck. A lot of phase twos The two-story building at 807 N. 4th St, situated on a hill overlooking a small ravine, has had many lives since it was built in the 1880s, Kat Duncan said. Its been a Swedish church, a grocery store, an architecture firm, a pilates studio. Turning it into Mike and Kats Other Place required significant rehab, Mike Duncan said. Entirely new plumbing. New HVAC. New electrical wiring to completely replace the original and very outdated knob-and-tube system. Several reconstructed exterior walls. A new multi-stage water filtration system. The upper level of the building is still under construction, and the Duncans hope to turn it into rentable office space for local businesses. Thats phase two of the project, Kat Duncan said. They also need to replace the front door. Thats phase two, too. Packaging more house-roasted beans for sale? Also phase two. We have a lot of phase twos, she joked. Community support for the cafe has been so heartwarming from day one, both Kat and Mike said. Their old regulars are traveling the literal extra mile to the north hill to see them. The coffee shops neighbors are Mike and Kats actual neighbors, too. Really, Kat Duncan said, were about the neighborhood walkers, and dogs, and people. Mike and Kats Other Place is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. until around 2 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to around 2 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to around noon. Closed Mondays. Mike and Kats Other Place: 807 N. 4th St, Stillwater; 651-491-2202; mikeandkatsotherplace.com Related Articles An average of over 1.62 million cyberattacks per day target domestic public sectors By Kim Hyun-bin North Korea has been utilizing cyber tactics to obtain billions of dollars annually in foreign funds, funneling these resources into its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) development programs. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, North Korean hackers have amassed virtual assets worth billions of dollars, largely through cyber theft. Between 2020 and 2022, it is believed that they acquired approximately $17 billion in virtual assets. Last year alone, they stole $10 billion, adding to the $4.29 billion in 2021, totaling $31,29 billion over three years. These ill-gotten gains serve as a crucial funding source for North Korea's WMD projects, including nuclear weapons and missiles. North Korea's exploitation of virtual assets and the scope of their activities have expanded significantly in recent years, becoming a primary tool for achieving strategic objectives. According to IT experts, North Korean hackers have been relentless in targeting virtual assets and financial transactions globally. Despite efforts by governments to thwart their activities, the hackers have continued to adapt and evolve, making it difficult to track and stop them. Furthermore, their targets have diversified to include sectors such as defense, energy and health care, amplifying the urgency for robust cybersecurity measures. The United States, in particular, has identified the elimination of virtual asset theft as a top priority in its response to North Korea's cyberattacks. Earlier this month, a report from the U.S. Treasury Department indicated that North Korea persists in conducting "malicious" cyber operations, leveraging its information technology (IT) workforce to fund its WMD initiatives. This assessment was included in the 2024 National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment, which the department released alongside evaluations on money laundering and terrorist financing risks. "The DPRK continued to conduct malicious cyber activity and deploy information technology workers to, at least in part, fund its WMD capabilities," the U.S. Treasury Department report stated. "This activity included efforts to illicitly raise revenue in fiat currency and virtual assets, including hacking of VASPs and, to a lesser extent, ransomware attacks." VASP stands for virtual assets service provider. The U.S. National Security Council has also underscored the severity of the situation, emphasizing the critical need for a coordinated international response. One of the key concerns is North Korea's ability to launder stolen virtual assets and evade detection. Recent cases have highlighted the sophisticated methods employed by North Korean operatives to transfer funds covertly, posing significant challenges to law enforcement agencies worldwide. In response to the escalating menace presented by North Korea's cyber operations, nations have escalated their endeavors to bolster their cybersecurity capacities and foster closer collaboration with global allies. This includes initiatives like establishing trilateral cooperation frameworks, exemplified by partnerships among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. The expansion of North Korea's cyber activities has prompted urgent calls for countermeasures. In South Korea, cyberterrorism by North Korean hacker units persists. According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), 80 percent of cyberattack incidents targeting domestic public institutions were traced back to North Korea. The past year saw an average of over 1.62 million cyberattack attempts per day aimed at the domestic public sector. North Korea has exceptional hacking capabilities, to the extent that they've even established state-run hacking units. Unlike us, who receive formal education in hacking or related skills, North Korea has been nurturing prodigies from a young age, leading to their hacking expertise being considered among the world's best. These hackers are not only proficient in security breaches but also engage in widespread hacking activities, including virtual currency systems, said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. According to the NIS, North Korea's cyber operations are directly overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, who personally dictates the targets and objectives for these cybercrimes. We observe recent developments in North Korea's weapons development and it's apparent that they've incorporated technologies obtained through hacking. Moreover, North Korea isn't limiting its hacking endeavors to just South Korea but even hacking activities targeting Russia as well. North Korea aims to enhance its military technology via hacking, Shin said. The targets of these attacks are reported to have been adjusted based on Kims instructions. During periods of food shortages last year, the focus shifted toward attacking domestic agricultural and fisheries research institutions. However, following mentions of bolstering naval capabilities in August and September of the same year, the efforts turned toward domestic shipbuilding companies, with a focus on obtaining blueprints and design data. "North Korean-developed tanks and surface-to-air missiles bear a striking resemblance to Russian-made counterparts. It appears that they have utilized stolen blueprints and other materials for weapons development, an NIS official said. Additionally, following Kims directive to enhance the production of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles in October, cyberattacks targeted both domestic and global companies and associated websites to acquire drone engine data. A defense white paper issued in December 2020 revealed that North Korea operates around 6,800 cyberwarfare personnel, placing it fifth globally after the U.S., China, Russia and Israel. Experts warn that this number could rise to 12,000 when including next-generation core personnel. Russia appears to have violated U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions if it had given North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a luxury car, a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday, noting the supply of transportation vehicles to the North is prohibited under the resolutions. The North's Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday that Kim received a Russian-made luxury car from Russian President Vladimir Putin as a gift demonstrating the special bonds between them. Later, the Kremlin confirmed that the car is an Aurus Senat, according to Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency. "If this is true, it would appear to be once again Russia violating U.N. Security Council resolutions that it itself supported," Matthew Miller, the spokesperson, told a press briefing. Miller also stressed that UNSC resolutions require all U.N. member states to prohibit both the supply of transportation vehicles and of luxury automobiles to North Korea. In a quip, Miller said he did not know there was "such a thing as a Russian luxury car." "I hope Kim got the extended warranty," he said. "I am not sure if I were buying a luxury car, Russia would be the place I would look even if it wasn't with respect to sanctions." Miller also commented on a recent report that a North Korean ballistic missile, which Russia fired against Ukraine last month, contained many parts traced to companies in the United States and Europe. "We will continue to use all of our relevant tools export controls, sanctions, interdiction and law enforcement actions to prevent the DPRK from acquiring sensitive items and technology that can be used in unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," he said. "That incudes preventing Russia from acquiring weapons and other sensitive items, including components from North Korea or from anywhere else." DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap) A work stoppage by trainee doctors grew Thursday in spite of the government's warning of taking legal action against their collective action in protest of a plan to boost the number of medical students. Major general hospitals in Seoul and elsewhere struggled to cope with patients as a confrontation between doctors and the government over the plan to raise the medical school admission quota by 2,000 seats intensified. Authorities have pledged to seek arrest warrants in principle for those who spearhead the collective resignations by interns and resident doctors nationwide. As of Wednesday night, 9,275 trainee doctors, or 74.4 percent of all junior doctors, have submitted their resignations, and 8,024 of them have left their worksites, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo told reporters. Park said the government has ordered more than 6,000 trainee doctors to return to work. So far, the ministry has received about 150 complaints in connection with the trainee doctors' collective resignations. "The power of doctors does not come from collective action," Park told a daily press briefing, calling for trainee doctors "to remember that patients are waiting for you at this moment." Park also urged trainee doctors to participate in talks with the government. The collective resignations of junior doctors are fueling concerns of a "health care service vacuum," with the operation of surgery rooms slashed to as low as 50 percent capacity at the five biggest general hospitals in Seoul, medical sources said. Surgeries were cut in half at Severance Hospital in central Seoul, with St. Mary's Hospital and Asan Medical Center in southern and eastern Seoul, respectively, reducing their surgery capacities by 30 percent. Despite the government's back-to-work order, trainee doctors have shown no signs of backing down. In a statement, the Korean Intern Resident Association, a major organization of trainee doctors, demanded the government withdraw the plan to increase the number of medical students. Patients vented their frustration and anxiety over disruptions to medical services. "I was supposed to go into the hospital Tuesday to get surgery on Wednesday, but it got canceled," a patient, whose rectal cancer metastasized to liver recently, said in an online post. "I'm so scared I might have to get a liver transplant because of the delay in surgery." Another patient, who suffers stomach cancer, voiced frustration for having no choice but to feel helplessness in the situation. "My blood dries up day by day amid the confrontation (between the government and medical community)," the patient said. (Yonhap) PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Oregon House has passed a bill that would make it easier to file restraining orders in multiple counties and prosecute intimate image crimes. Dubbed the landmark victims rights package, House Bill 4146 was approved by every Oregon representative present at Wednesdays legislative session. Staple Vancouver waterfront restaurant will close as owners retire According to the office of Rep. Annessa Hartman, who first introduced the measure, this new development signifies progress in lawmakers push to protect survivors of abuse. I speak as a voice for fellow survivors and remain committed to pursuing legislation that protects people from abuse, Rep. Hartman said in a statement. This law strengthens victims rights in Oregon and is one action I am proud to have earned support from all legislators who voted to pass the legislation out of the House today. A key component of HB 4146 is the removal of a loophole in Oregons revenge porn law that was passed in 2015. The state deemed it illegal to distribute sexually explicit photos of someone without their consent, with the goal of harassing, humiliating or injuring them. Oregon Senate passes bill requiring school board meetings to be recorded Referred to as revenge porn, this act now leads to a felony or misdemeanor for those who are found guilty. However, current law makes it so the crime cant be prosecuted if the victim isnt identifiable in that particular image or video. Last week, Multnomah County District Attorneys Office Policy Director Aaron Knott said the rule has led to an intrusive legal progress that could further traumatize survivors. Along with removing this requirement, HB 4146 would allow people to file restraining orders in the county where they experienced abuse. Snowpack expected to grow in Oregon next week According to officials, current law only allows victims to file restraining orders where they live and where their abusers live. Now that the bill has been approved by the House, it has been passed onto the Senate Committee on Judiciary. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Junior doctors willing to go back to work if government accepts demands By Jun Ji-hye An intensifying confrontation between doctors and the government over the latters decision to increase the number of medical students next year is causing significant disruptions to medical services, pushing patients to the rear. With thousands of trainee doctors staging walkouts in protest against the government policy, many hospitals across the country, including the five biggest general hospitals in Seoul, have postponed or rescheduled surgeries and other medical procedures. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Thursday, 9,275 interns and resident doctors, or 74.4 percent of all such doctors, have submitted their resignations as of 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Of them, 8,024 have left their worksites. The strike by junior doctors is considered serious, as they provide crucial assistance to medical experts. Doctors groups and the health ministry have made a similar prediction that general hospitals could hold out without trainee doctors for about two weeks. But concerns exist over the possibility that the situation could be prolonged further, as neither doctors nor the government are showing any signs of backing down over the plan to raise the annual medical school admission quota by 2,000 places. Doctors continue to call for reconsideration, while the government is pledging to seek arrest warrants for those who spearhead collective action. The resultant medical service bottleneck is prompting fears among patients and their families as it is uncertain how long the situation will last and how much longer they should wait to receive proper medical treatment. During his appearance on an MBC debate program on Tuesday, Kim Yoon, professor of medicine at Seoul National University, who advocates for the medical school quota increase, said, The ongoing collective action would last for at least two to three months, or even six months. On the same day, Park Dan, the head of the Korea Intern Resident Association (KIRA), an association of junior doctors, said, The situation could last for more than a year, expressing a willingness to continue the protest and collective action. The government urged trainee doctors to return to work, saying their collective action is threatening the safety of patients. In a bid to put more pressure on them, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Justice vowed to seek arrest warrants and carry out compulsory investigations in principle against those who refuse to comply with the governments order to return to work or those who organize collective action. The government pledged to punish those involved to the full extent of the law if their collective action results in patient deaths. In preparation for the prolonged walkout, the government also drew up various contingency plans, expanding the consulting hours of public hospitals and opening the emergency rooms of military hospitals to the public. For medical specialists who treat inpatients instead of trainee doctors, the government vowed to offer additional compensation. We are willing to go back Regarding growing concerns among patients and their families, Park said, Junior doctors are willing to go back if the government accepts our requirements to some extent. During his appearance on a CBS radio show on Thursday, Park urged the government to make a prompt decision to resolve the situation. In a statement, KIRA demanded that the government go back to square one with its quota hike plan, establish a panel to discuss the increase and decrease in the number of doctors and expand the recruitment of medical specialists in teaching hospitals. The association also called on the government to reduce the legal risks caused by medical accidents and improve the working environment of trainee doctors. We cannot accept adding 2,000 slots at once as there are concerns about whether the education systems are prepared (for the increase), Park said. In a move to join the collective action, 11,778 students at medical schools across the country have applied for leave of absence as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Education. This accounts for about 62.7 percent of the total number of medical students nationwide. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon is receiving over $74 million from the Environmental Protection Agency for several water infrastructure upgrades, the agency announced Tuesday. The funding comes from an unprecedented investment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law including over $50 billion for water infrastructure upgrades across the country. The investment will go towards a variety of projects including replacing broken or lead pipes carrying drinking water, wastewater treatment plant updates, stormwater infrastructure upgrades to manage flooding impacts from climate change, and addressing toxic PFAS found in water, according to the EPA. PBOT to pilot Rest on Red program Officials note more than half of the funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans to reach underserved communities. Aging water infrastructure continues to seriously undermine water quality in rural and small towns across Oregon, said Governor Tina Kotek. This is a critical investment from the Biden Administration in drinking water quality and needed infrastructure upgrades to ensure that all Oregonians have access to safe, clean drinking water. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, President Bidens Investing in America agenda continues to transform communities for the better with this latest infusion of funds for critical water infrastructure projects. He added, With $50 billion in total, the largest investment in water infrastructure in our nations history, EPA will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A bill that would make drug users on public transit serve up to a year in jail has inched closer to becoming a law after passing the Oregon Senate with bipartisan support. Senate Bill 1553 would list drug use under the existing crime of Interfering with Public Transportation, making it a Class A misdemeanor crime with a maximum sentence of 364 days, a $6,250 fine, or even both. Woman suspected in husbands murder found dead in Washington Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham), a co-chief sponsor of the bill, said he understands the bills importance because he uses public transit himself. Oregonians deserve to be safe on public transit, Gorsek said. Our kids, people with disabilities, seniors, and people just trying to get to work should not have to worry about being exposed to smoke and residue from illicit drugs. Gorsek added that he hopes the bill would help get people into treatment and protect the general public at the same time. Many of them dont have another choice and so they can really be captive, Gorsek said. Next, the bill will head to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration. The decision comes after TriMet reported a 30% drop in riders feeling safe on buses and trains. Last September, the University of Washington released a study that found drugs like meth and fentanyl could be found in the air and on the surfaces of public transit vehicles in Oregon. Staple Vancouver waterfront restaurant will close as owners retire Researchers determined the small traces of drugs werent enough to pose a health risk to passengers or drivers, but TriMet has made efforts to curb drug use. TriMet said theyd continue to do everything they can to keep drug use out of their buses and trains but that they need state and local leaders and law enforcement to address the issue, with this bill being an important step. It gives law enforcement the ability to hold those accountable then engaging that harmful behavior that could have harmful side effects for not only our employees but our riders, said TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson. Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), who is another co-chief sponsor of the bill, said it represents the beginning of reforms to the voter-approved Measure 110 and addressing drug use in Oregon. This is a first step and what were going to do statewide to real bring real reform to Measure 110 to protect the residents in our communities and the health, life and safety of residents across the state, Smith said. Gorsek said the goal is not to put people in jail for drug use but to get people to move to a treatment situation. Until the bill passes, TriMet said smoking is prohibited on all buses, trains, MAX and WES platforms, etc. Anyone who violates this policy may face a fine of up to $175 and could be banned from riding. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Oregon Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that requires public school boards to record meetings in an effort to increase transparency and accessibility, Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner announced. The Education Board Transparency Act, Senate Bill 1502, requires education boards of public school districts, community colleges, and universities to video record their meetings and upload them for public viewing online. The bill exempts school districts with fewer than 50 students and allows school boards lacking internet access to upload audio recordings instead. The requirement to record does not apply to meetings that are not already public, including executive sessions. El Nino to La Nina transition expected, impacts likely for the PNW This bill will improve the transparency of our education boards, grant greater access to busy parents and community members, and promote equity by ensuring everyone can stay engaged, said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego), co-chief sponsor of SB 1502. Im grateful to my Republican colleagues who worked with me to ensure this bill will improve transparency across the state without overburdening our small school districts. In his written testimony of the bill, Wagner said the bill would increase inclusivity by making meetings accessible to community members regardless of work schedules, distance, disability, or economic means. Bill co-sponsor Sen. Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) said, I believe increasing accessibility to government processes at all levels will lead to greater accountability and transparency to the public. She added, We need more of this, which is why I am pleased to have voted in favor of this bill. The bill now moves to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Inside the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, a group of Southern Colorado volunteers listened intently to the tales of hardship and heartache of growing up in the foster care system. Rob Scheer recounted his childhood upbringing and explained his mission to ensure no youth would face the indignity of using a garbage bag for their belongings again. Most people dont realize that one child every two minutes in the United States will actually enter our foster care system, and the majority of them are handed this a trash bag, Scheer said. Well, 11 years ago, my family decided that this was no longer going to happen on our watch. In his upbringings within the foster care system, Scheers childhood was defined by hardship. However, amidst the challenges, he was determined to forge his own path to success. Colorado Community Health Alliance partnered with Comfort Cases and the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region to make the event possible. There came the point where Scheers dreams of fatherhood came to life when he and his husband made the decision to become foster parents themselves. When the children arrived, Scheer was reminded of his own experience in the foster care system, as they too arrived with their possessions in trash bags. It was an absolute full circle moment because to tell you, I had not thought about the trash bag, Scheer said. Even though I keep one in my desk, I dont dwell on it. So, it was very difficult to know that my kids, and by the way, we were their third placement, so understanding that they had been in two other foster homes with a trash bag, its just not acceptable. 250 Comfort Cases were packed on Wednesday morning thanks to volunteers in the Pikes Peak Region. Now serving as the founder of Comfort Cases, Sheer not only shares his personal story but also leaves behind a sense of motivation and inspiration. Before volunteers fill these backpacks with essentials, they can remember his story inspiring the significant impact they are making on the lives of these children. I would actually place the kids in these foster homes, and I would see the trash bags, said Executive Director of Colorado Community Health Alliance, Amy Yutzy. Sometimes these kids would leave suddenly, and wed have rooms full of trash bags that just maybe had a name with masking tape on it. A group of volunteers filled backpacks with goodies and personal care items to support youth in foster care. The collaboration between Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA), Comfort Cases, and YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region made an event on Wednesday, Feb. 21 possible, contributing to a positive change for youth in Southern Colorado. We were thrilled today to have this event because it brought the whole community together, Yutzy said. We had the Department of Human Services. We had child placement agencies that help our kids in foster care and then certainly CCHA, and Comfort Cases and the YMCA. So, we could just pull all resources to build awareness for what our kids need in our community, and that is this backpack full of special goodies that these kids can have when theyre in placement. Personal care items were placed inside each Comfort Care bag. Volunteers helped pack backpacks with essential personal care items like deodorant and toothbrushes, as well as meaningful additions like blankets and stuffed animals. They were given special instructions to hug these stuffed animals, ensuring that the bags were filled with love. I would say the biggest piece is that it sets the tone for psychological safety and it really is key to a sense of belonging, belonging, wherever they land, said Catania Jones, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Services for El Paso County. Volunteers were instructed to hug each stuffed animal before placing them inside of the backpack. It did not take long for this team of volunteers to pack 250 Comfort Cases, which will go directly to helping youth in Southern Colorado. We contracted 23 child placement agencies in El Paso County and so theyll go to those agencies, those are the agencies that primarily license our foster homes, Jone said. Some will go back to our office, so that way, if a child has to be removed in odd hours and we know were on our way on a scene, we can grab a bag and theyll have it ready. The completed comfort cases will go to support youth in southern Colorado given to child placement agencies in El Paso County. At the end of the day, Scheers journey from hardship to hope resonated profoundly in the creation of Comfort Cases. While this is just one event of many that will take place across the country, he hopes it will help make the future brighter here in the Pikes Peak Region. 3,700 children who have entered a system because of a choice that someone else made, Scheer said. 3,700 children who deserve a brighter future than what we are giving kids in foster care today. So, what I want to make sure is, is that here in Colorado Springs, they dont take this any longer [held up garbage bag], that they actually take a Comfort Case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners placed Administrator John Gibbs on paid administrative leave after commissioners brought forth complaints and Gibbs offered to resign in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Commissioners spent more than an hour in closed session Thursday morning to discuss the complaints and resignation offer before coming back before the public to vote to put Gibbs on leave. Gibbs declined to comment to News 8 following the meeting, but his attorney Noah Hurwitz later provided a statement alleging the boards move was retaliation for Gibbs using his position to oppose Board decisions that are detrimental to the County. Mr. Gibbs was confronted today with what the County described as recently uncovered allegations about his job performance that were never previously disclosed until this emergency board meeting, Hurwitz stated. But as the public heard during the open meeting, the real reason that the Board is challenging Mr. Gibbs leadership is because he is using his position to oppose Board decisions that are detrimental to the County. These brand new allegations about his conduct were strictly obtained for the purpose of justifying a for cause termination. The forced leave of absence the Board placed him under is retaliation for Mr. Gibbs efforts to protect the County. Before closed session, Board Chair Joe Moss said it seemed Gibbs relationship with the board became strained as the legal battle over the boards attempt to oust Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley has dragged on. The last few months have been interesting, to say the least. Weve had constant media attacks claiming the county agreed to a ginormous settlement (with Hambley), Moss said. During this time, its become clear to me that people, including Mr. Gibbs, really believed that that was true. He asked me on several occasions why the board was giving the health officer $4 million. I repeatedly explained that was a false narrative from the media and from other people. Hambleys attorney argued the board intended to pay her $4 million to settle an employment dispute. However, a judge ultimately that the board would not be held to that proposal. It was around this time I started hearing some concerns from commissioners. At first, I thought it was related to the stress of the situation, Moss said. However, the concerns became more pronounced in December. And then in January, board members began telling me they thought the administrator had begun to disregard some of their direction. Moss said he hadnt experienced that, so he brought those concerns to Gibbs and said he thought, perhaps, he (Gibbs) had lost the confidence of the board. Moss said in response, Gibbs drafted a resignation letter, but then decided not to move forward with it, so Moss dropped it. Judge denies $4M settlement after closed hearing in Ottawa health officer settlement case Gibbs attorney sent Moss a letter on Feb. 15 that said Gibbs would resign if he received a payout under the terms of his employment: Mr. Gibbs is amendable to resigning his position in consideration for a lump sum payment of the entire amount owed to Mr. Gibbs pursuant to his employment agreement, i.e., $630,000, the letter obtained from the attorneys office by News 8 said. Moss said during Thursdays meeting that Gibbs attorney later lowered that figure to $420,000. Moss said that the current contract says a terminated administrator would be due $210,000. Mr. Gibbs is not demanding a kings ransom like some of his contemporaries, the letter from Gibbs attorney said, an apparent reference to the $4 million settlement proposal with Hambley that never came to fruition. Rather, the demand reflects the Countys contractual obligations to my client and represents a substantial discount from the damages, costs, and attorney fees that arise from litigation, the letter continues. Let me be clear, however, that Mr. Gibbs is not voluntarily relinquishing his employment or terminating his employment agreement. On the contrary, Mr. Gibbs has admirably met this job responsibilities and the County has not legal basis to terminate him for cause.' In the letter, Gibbs attorney argues that he is being pushed out because of his criticism of the countys corporate counsel, the Kallman Legal Group, led by attorney David Kallman. It says Gibbs was always skeptical of the firms performance and that he put those complaints in writing in March and July 2023. Gibbs attorney claims Kallman responded poorly and accused Gibbs of trying to seize power from within the County. The letter also says Gibbs complaints led to hostility from board members. The letter says the board asked Gibbs for his resignation on Jan. 9 and said that if he didnt resign, he would be fired. On Jan. 15, the Holland Sentinel reported, a different lawyer representing Gibbs warned the board not to fire him after he was accused of age discrimination in October. When Gibbs picked his executive aide, he chose 23-year-old Jordan Epperson instead of 49-year-old Ryan Kimball. A lawsuit against the county filed by Kimball claims Gibbs chose Epperson because he was young and could be bossed around. Former county deputy administrator Patrick Waterman and current human resources director Marcie VerBeek testified to the same sentiment. Report: Ottawa Co. administrator warns board not to fire him After the January letter, the board hired an attorney to manage legal interactions with Gibbs. Gibbs switched attorneys after the January letter. The new attorneys letter last week said that on Feb. 12, Moss called Mr. Gibbs again to ask for his resignation and inform him that the Board wanted to take action to effect his ouster as soon as possible. (I)t is clear that the Corporation Counsel has collaborated with the Board to expel Mr. Gibbs in retaliation for his criticism of the Corporation Counsels performance, the letter says. But the attorney said to fire Gibbs because of his criticism of Kallman would be a violation of his First Amendment right to free speech and whistleblower protections. In a statement to News 8 on Thursday afternoon, Kallman said Gibbs was making baseless and false accusations against the firm in an attempt to deflect scrutiny from his own actions. Board Chair Joe Moss noted in todays special meeting that complaints have been lodged against Mr. Gibbs and the Board voted to immediately place him on paid administrative leave. None of these numerous and serious complaints originated from our office, Kallmans statement continued. I am sure Mr. Gibbs and his counsel will respond to these serious complaints before the Board of Commissioners makes a final determination as to his job status. Before the board went into closed session Thursday, Moss said that government employees were expected to act at the direction of the elected board. The principle at hand to remember is that government officials are accountable to people because we live in a constitutional republic, he said. The motion to place Gibbs on leave passed with only one no vote, that coming from Commissioner Doug Zylstra of Holland, the boards only Democrat. He later told News 8 that he felt more deliberation needed to happen before the board took any sort of action. He said a number of issues still needed to be discussed, though he was not specific because the matters were the topic of closed session. The board recessed following the vote and said it would return next week, though a precise date and time was not immediately set. Moss said Deputy Administrator Ben Wetmore would fill Gibbs role for now. It will continue normally as we continue to do the work of the people, Moss said. News 8s Byron Tollefson and Anna Skog contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is set to consider County Administrator John Gibbs resignation in a special meeting Thursday morning. The board plans to hear an update from Chair Joe Moss about a letter from County Administrator John Gibbs, according to the agenda. It will consider complaints against Gibbs and consider his offer of resignation, the agenda says. An attorney representing Gibbs previously warned the board not to fire him after he was accused of age discrimination in October. When Gibbs picked his executive aide, he chose 23-year-old Jordan Epperson instead of 49-year-old Ryan Kimball. A lawsuit against the county filed by Kimball claims Gibbs chose Epperson because he was young and could be bossed around. Former county deputy administrator Patrick Waterman and current human resources director Marcie VerBeek testified to the same sentiment. Report: Ottawa Co. administrator warns board not to fire him In a January letter, Gibbs attorney said there was no basis to terminate Gibbs for cause and accused the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners of already violating Gibbs rights, though the letter did not specify how. According to the Holland Sentinel, Gibbs contract includes a clause that says he may be fired at any time for cause (defined as intentional fraud, dishonesty, gross misconduct, or willful malfeasance) in connection with his performance. He may also be fired without cause so long as a 90-day written notice is given. **Correction: Previously, the report incorrectly stated Kimballs age. It has since been corrected.** For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris slammed the Alabama Supreme Court's decision that frozen embryos should be considered children under state law, arguing the ruling is already having dangerous consequences for women in the state. "This decision is outrageous and it is already robbing women of the freedom to decide when and how to build a family," Harris said Wednesday in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created during in-vitro fertilization are "extrauterine children" and legally protected like any other child. IVF advocates fear the ruling could eventually spread to other states and have far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans struggling to get pregnant. About 2% of births a year in the U.S. involve IVF, a process by which multiple eggs are harvested, fertilized and implanted to create a pregnancy. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks before President Joe Biden at an event on the campus of George Mason University in Manassas, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, to campaign for abortion rights, a top issue for Democrats in the upcoming presidential election. The court's recent ruling repeatedly invoked Christian faith and the Alabama Constitution, which specifically protects unborn children, although that has typically referred to a developing fetus inside a womb. Alabama adopted a ban on abortions in 2022. "This is exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. "All across the country, women are being forced to grapple with the devastating consequences of action by Republican elected officials," she said. President Joe Biden's reelection campaign is running aggressively on restoring abortion rights following the Supreme Court's 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which for five decades provided a constitutional right to an abortion. Harris has helped lead the charge on the Biden administration's efforts to protect abortion access. The Biden campaign, bracing for a likely general election rematch against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, has worked to remind female voters that Trump's three Supreme Court appointments were instrumental in Roe's dismantling. The campaign this week seized on a New York Times report that Trump has privately expressed he favors a national ban on abortion after 16 weeks of pregnancy. Nikki Haley, Trump's only remaining major Republican primary opponent, said Wednesday she agreed with the Alabama Supreme Court's decision. Embryos, to me, are babies, Haley told NBC News. When you talk about an embryo you are talking about to me, that's a life. And so I do see where that's coming from when they talk about that." Contributing: Trevor Hughes and Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris slams Alabama court ruling on frozen embryos, IVF Over 14 million people, nearly a third of Ukraine's population, have been forced to flee their homes in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Feb. 22. Since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, 4.5 million people have returned to Ukraine, the IOM said. Another 3.7 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine, while nearly 6.5 million are refugees abroad, according to IOM data. The IOM said it has provided support in 11 neighboring countries, "providing critical and life-saving aid to those most in need." More than 14.6 million people, around 40% of Ukraine's population, "remain in need of some form of humanitarian assistance in 2024, while 2.2 million refugees require assistance in neighboring countries," the IOM said. More than half of Ukrainian refugees surveyed said they plan to return to Ukraine in the future, a study by Vox Ukraine released on Jan. 16 said. Read also: UN: Continued US aid required to support Ukrainian refugees Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Troubles are mounting as South Koreas hospitals are starting to buckle under the gaping absence of thousands of junior doctors on strike against a government plan to increase the intake of medical students. In a last plea on Monday, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min urged striking doctors to return to work by Thursday, promising immunity against penalties for those who abide by the deadline. The government wont hold you accountable for the past if you return to the hospitals by Thursday, he said at a governmental meeting. The hospitals you left are filled with fears and anxieties. Lee added that those who continue to strike after Thursday will be subject to disciplinary measures including at minimum a three-month suspension of their medical licenses and potentially even criminal prosecution. Despite a slew of emergency measures announced since the strike began last week, operations across major hospitals have been affected by the protest. A brain cancer patient from Daegu told AFP that his chemotherapy treatment was postponed, even though the cancer has spread to his lungs and liver, while pregnant women say they have had their C-sections canceled. And in the city of Daejeon, a woman in her 80s who suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday died in an ambulance after the vehicle was turned away by seven hospitals, which each reportedly cited a lack of available doctors among other reasons for being unable to attend to the patient, according to local media. In a series of announcements last week, the countrys health ministry said it has received nearly 200 public complaints related to the strike. Amid the walkout, which comes on top of an already persistent shortage of doctors in the country, the South Korean government has raised the public health alert to the highest level. The health ministry said in a press release on Monday that over 9,000 trainee doctorsabout 72% of the countrys total residentshave walked off the job, while over 10,000 trainee doctorsor 80%had tendered their resignations as of Friday evening. Medical graduates are also supporting the strike by refusing to take up internships, exacerbating the stress on hospitals by depriving them of incoming residents. Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said on Thursday that authorities will not be accepting the resignation letters from the trainee doctors and urged strikers to consider the consequences of their protest. The power of doctors does not come from collective action, he said. Please remember that patients are waiting for you at this very moment. In the meantime, with junior doctors leaving their posts en masse, nurses are left to hold down the fort, carrying out tasks usually reserved for doctors, such as signing consent forms and dressing wounds, local media reported. The Korean Young Nurses Association has publicly urged doctors to refrain from joining the strike. If more trainee doctors stage walkouts, nurses not only have to take on doctoral duties but they also have to deal with the patients complaints, the group wrote in a post on social media. If something goes wrong with the patient in the process, nurses are required by law to take all the responsibility. Read More: To Address Dire Doctor Shortage, South Korea Proposes Less Medical Malpractice Punishment The countrys 13,000 trainee doctors are crucial to its health care system, which has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios among developed economies. The current strike comes amid protests over a government plan to add 2,000 slots to the annual quota of medical students, which now stands at around 3,000. The plan has garnered strong public support. Critics say medical professionals are worried that the increased number of doctors will cause the field to lose some of its social prestige and competitive pay. Medicine is one of the most sought-after fields among Korean university students and their familiesthough many young doctors tend to gravitate towards more lucrative specialties like dermatology and cosmetic surgery. The South Korean government has been actively trying to direct more doctors to comparatively less popular but more vital departments such as pediatrics, emergency medicine, and general surgery. Meanwhile, some doctors argue that the expanded quota would not address the existing shortages in these departments, which are known for lower pay and long working hours. In a statement on Tuesday, the Korean Intern Resident Association said that, despite calls from the association to reasonably estimate the number of doctors needed, the government announced a radical medical school quota policy to win political votes. Across social media, criticisms have been levied against the striking doctors, who in their confrontation with authorities over the issue have been likened to a medical cartel. If a patient who needs surgery does not receive it right away, they may die, one person wrote on X. Therefore, a strike by doctors is a punishable act. Peoples Livelihood Countermeasures Committee, a civic group, said on Wednesday that it filed a police report against the striking residents as well as against the leaders of a doctors association for violating medical laws. Authorities said on Wednesday that they would seek arrest warrants for leaders of the strike, and the government has issued back-to-work orders to more than 6,000 trainee doctors. Defying such an order can result in up to three years of medical license suspension, a 30 million won ($22,000) fine, or up to three years in prison. If the illegal collective action actually results in damage to the lives and health of patients, authorities said on Wednesday, the striking doctors will be held accountable to the highest level. Contact us at letters@time.com. Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. A busy Clermont developer has sold one of his signature properties in the citys historic downtown district, with another under contract and a third hitting the market. Darren Johnson, who has built a portfolio of downtown Clermont hospitality properties and has more in the works, sold Clermont Brewing Co. to a Brazilian investment group late last month. The transaction included two components, with a deed posted to Lake County records reflecting a sale price of $1.6 million to Clermont-based Ramada Investments LLC for the property at 750 W. Desoto St. Photos: A massive aquarium officially opens in Daytona Beach Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. 'Failing to support Ukraine now would invite return to dark past of military aggression, imperialism and colonialism' By Dmytro Kuleba, Josep Borrell KYIV When Russia marched hundreds of thousands of troops into Ukraine, it marked the beginning of a major geopolitical earthquake. For two years, Europe has been living with the grim reality of the continent's largest war of aggression since World War II and with widespread and horrifying atrocities. What Russia is doing is a classic example of 19th-century imperial and colonial aggression. Ukraine is enduring what many other countries have cruelly suffered in the past. For Russia, this war has never been about Ukraine's neutrality, NATO enlargement, protecting Russian-speakers or any other fabricated pretexts. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine does not exist as a nation and that Ukrainian identity is artificial. The war is solely about annihilating an independent country, conquering land and re-establishing dominance over a people who decided to be masters of their destiny. Russia's imperial ambition is doubtlessly familiar to many nations around the world that were previously subject to colonial rule and oppression. The war and its consequences thus concern every country. Should Russia prevail, it would send a very dangerous message that "might makes right." Every aggressive power around the world would be tempted to follow in Russia's footsteps. If aggression ultimately pays, why wouldn't all those with territorial claims against their neighbors act on them? This is why it is in many Asian, African and Latin American countries' interests that Ukraine wins the war. Ultimately, this war is not about the West against the rest. Supporting Ukraine is not "pro-West." It is about rejecting war and terror. It is about standing for the principle of international relations based on mutual respect and supporting Ukrainians' right to security and liberty. Ukraine and the European Union share a view of international relations in the 21st century that is exactly opposed to Putin's Russia. Our vision is based on international law, respect and mutual benefit instead of coercion, bribery and fear. Nobody has a greater interest than us in swiftly ending this war and bringing peace back to our continent. To achieve this, Ukraine has proposed a 10-point peace formula which the EU fully supports that not only envisions the end of hostilities but also includes proposals to strengthen food security, nuclear safety, environmental protection, energy security, international justice, human rights and respect for the U.N. Charter. This formula is the only serious peace proposal on the table, and we are calling on all countries committed to peace to join us in putting it into action. Ukraine is currently organizing a Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, and the EU is actively supporting this process. Leaders from around the world will work toward an agreement on a common vision for a just peace in Ukraine based on the U.N. Charter. Russia will then be presented with this consolidated position representing the global majority, leaving it with no other choice than to engage in good faith. As the war enters its third year, our message is one of resilience in the face of aggression and terror. We cannot and will not allow aggression to be rewarded in the 21st century; instead, we will mobilize against it. The only way to achieve a just peace is to double down on support for Ukraine. The EU has done exactly that in recent months, and it is set to increase assistance even further in 2024. Our common goal is to ensure that Ukraine can turn the tide of the war in its favor so that a just peace can be reached as soon as possible. The world's support is crucial for achieving this result. It is in everyone's interest that international law be upheld and that cooperation is the highest priority. There must not be a return to the dark past of military aggression, imperialism and colonialism neither in Europe nor in any other region. The consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine have been felt far beyond Europe. The war has affected food security and energy prices, and it has been accompanied by massive disinformation and political destabilization campaigns. These shockwaves have been truly global. Putin is ushering in an increasingly transactional world. He has deployed the Wagner Group in Africa, destabilized other countries through coups and engaged in economic coercion through the threat of hunger offering grain that he himself made scarce by systematically burning fields in Ukraine, targeting storage infrastructure and blocking important maritime export routes. Dmytro Kuleba is Ukraine's foreign minister and Josep Borrell is the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The planned expansion of the Chickasaw Wastewater Treatment Plant just became a little bit cheaper with the injection of funds from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. To help pay for the $65 million expansion, the City of Bartlesville was awarded a $2 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, administered by OWRB. Although it seems like a drop in the bucket, it does offer some savings. The expansion of the Chickasaw Wastewater Treatment Plant, situated by the Caney River in downtown Bartlesville, is set to complete in 2028. Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, noted that the grant will save customers over $3 million compared to traditional financing methods. This expansion, mandated by the Oklahoma Department of Environment Quality, aims to increase the wastewater treatment plant's daily capacity from 7 million to 8.2 million gallons and implement water reuse technologies pending ODEQ permitting. The rest of the project is likely to be financed through low-interest loans, repaid by the Wastewater Capital Fee included in the monthly bills of utility customers. Initially, the grant was designated for construction, but due to the project not beginning until Dec 2026, another plan for the funds was made. OWRB approved the grant funds to be redirected toward the project's $4.3 million engineering and pre-construction phase. OWRB has supported water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Oklahoma with more than $7.1 billion in loans and grants since 1983. Julie Cunningham, OWRB executive director, expressed gratitude toward State Sen. Julie Daniels, State Rep. Judd Strom, and State Rep. John Kane for their support. "I am so glad that the Bartlesville Water Authority will soon see improvements to the Chickasaw Wastewater Treatment Plant," Strom said. "I want to thank the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for approving this two million dollar grant and I look forward to seeing this change take effect and further improve the services the Bartlesville Water Authority can offer its customers." This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville's wastewater plant expansion gets financial boost from OWRB BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) On April 8, Buffalo will be booming with people here to see the total solar eclipse. For two lucky people, Oxford Pennant is providing an all-expenses paid trip for the event. Buffalos us and we are Buffalo, so it just seemed like a good time to do something cool, said Brett Mikoll, creative director for the Buffalo-based company. This also kind of gets everybody on the radar of, either people who have left and moved somewhere else, or friends from college, or just people who know nothing about Buffalo they only know about the Bills and they want to know more about it. And this is a perfect time to do it. The sweepstakes winner and a person of their choosing will get round-trip airfare, three nights in the penthouse suite of the Mansion on Delaware and a number of gift cards and packages to some of the best places the Queen City has to offer: the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Southern Junction and Gutter Pop Comics. Oxford Pennant is also promising a great view of the eclipse, weather permitting. The two people will share a roped-off couch from the Richardson Olmsted south lawn. For a few otherworldly minutes in April, that loveseat will be the best seat in the universe, said Dave Horesh, the companys co-founder. This is the third time Oxford Pennant is holding a sweepstakes to bring people to Buffalo. Mikoll said the eclipse is now the perfect opportunity to showcase our area. The energy that something like this creates is infectious, so I think this helps us flex those muscles of, lets design some merch, lets promote Buffalo, lets show off some of the things we do in the best way possible, he said. To enter, head to Oxford Pennants website and submit your email address. Anyone can enter you dont need to be living outside Western New York. The sweepstakes is open until March 3, and a winner will be randomly chosen March 4. Latest Local News Marlee Tuskes is an anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2019. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. The foreign ministry called in a Japanese diplomat Thursday to lodge a protest over an annual regional event in Japan held to highlight Tokyo's territorial claims to Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. The ministry expressed strong regret and delivered its position to Taisuke Mibae, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, officials said. The government repeatedly urged Japan to "immediately abolish" the event. "The government strongly protests against Japan's repeated and unjust territorial claims to Dokdo, as demonstrated by the hosting of the so-called 'Takeshima Day' in Shimane Prefecture and the attendance of high-level government officials," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a commentary. "Dokdo is undoubtedly our inherent territory, historically, geographically and by international law. The Japanese government must promptly abandon its unjust claims to Dokdo and face history with a humble attitude," Lim said. The Shimane prefectural government has held the event annually since 2006 to highlight its claims to the Dokdo islets. This year, Shojiro Hiranuma, the parliamentary vice minister of Japan's Cabinet Office, attended the event as the government representative. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul also protested the event during one-on-one talks with his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, on the margins of the foreign ministers' meeting of the Group of 20 nations in Brazil on Wednesday. Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tension between the two neighbors, as Tokyo continues to make the sovereignty claims in its policy papers, public statements and school textbooks. Korea keeps a small police detachment on the islets, effectively controlling them. (Yonhap) Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun will attend the upcoming session of the U.N. Human Rights Council next week and address North Korea's human rights violations, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Kang will deliver a keynote speech at the high-level session of the U.N. human rights council in Geneva on Tuesday (local time), in which she will highlight South Korea's commitment to promoting international human rights, the ministry said. She will also call for the international community's support and cooperation regarding North Korea's grave human rights situations. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 2014 release of a landmark U.N. Commission of Inquiry report on the North's human rights abuses. Prior to attending the U.N. session, Kang is scheduled to give a speech at the multilateral Conference on Disarmament forum in the Swiss city. Kang also plans to meet with key officials of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and the High Commissioner for Refugees. (Yonhap) Thailand asked Korea on Thursday to toughen the pre-entry screening process for foreign visitors from visa-waiver countries, after a number of its citizens were denied entry into Korea and the incidents stirred public ire. Thailand made the request to the Korean side during a director-general meeting on consular affairs between the foreign ministries, held earlier in the day, Seoul officials said. A number of Thais revealed through some online channels last year their experiences of having been denied the entry into Korea even though they had obtained the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) approval prior to their departure. The postings quickly circulated via social media and caused discontent among the Thai people. A tougher screening process for the K-ETA approval will allow Korea to prevent ineligible travelers from entering and reduce the risks of foreigners being denied entry upon arrival, the ministry quoted the Thai officials as saying at the meeting. Yoon Chu-sok, director-general for consular affairs and safety at Seoul's foreign ministry, pointed out that Korea is taking every measure to prevent any "good-willed" travelers from experiencing inconveniences. Yoon expressed hope that Korea and Thailand will work closely to enhance people-to-people exchanges and friendly relations. Foreign nationals from countries that have a visa-free agreement with Korea are required to obtain a K-ETA before their entry. It was introduced in 2021 to offer an expedited entry program. The application involves submitting personal and travel details, similar to the U.S.' ESTA program. (Yonhap) MANILA/BEIJING (Reuters) - A Philippine coast guard official on Thursday described as "inaccurate" its Chinese counterpart's claim that a fisheries vessel "illegally intruded" into Beijing's waters. The Chinese coast guard said earlier on Thursday it drove away a vessel of the Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and accused them of "illegally intruding" into its waters near Scarborough Shoal. "This statement is inaccurate. The BFAR vessel, BRP Datu Sanday, continues to patrol the waters of Bajo De Masinloc. Currently, the BFAR vessel is actively ensuring the security of Filipino fishermen in that area," Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coast guard's spokesperson on South China Sea issues told reporters. Located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Scarborough Shoal is also claimed by China, making it one of Asia's most contested maritime features and a flashpoint for flare-ups. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague said China's claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected. (Reporting by Mikhail Flores in Manila; Liz Lee in Beijing and Shanghai newsroom Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor) SINGAPORE The Philippines is nearing a breakthrough in negotiations to buy fighter jets from Sweden after two decades of efforts to refresh its fleet. The two governments are now ironing out the final terms of defense cooperation based on a memorandum of understanding signed in June and ratified in September, the Philippines Defense Department explained in a Feb. 16 news release. The arrangement is key to Swedens participation in the Philippines multirole fighter jet program, the department said, and the governments are to ink a deal at a meeting next month. Negotiations had stalled while the Philippine military finalized its new defense acquisition program, dubbed Horizon 3 the last phase of the governments massive push to modernize its armed forces. In January, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved a 2 trillion peso (U.S. $35 billion) budget for the decade-long plan. The Defense Department has not shared a specific list of assets and platforms it wants under the program, but Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters last month the budget will focus on building assets and capabilities to address threats to Philippine resources and vessels. Capabilities will focus on raising domain awareness; connectivity; maritime and aerial deterrence; command and control; communications; computer technology; and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. The military previously told Defense News most of its assets and platforms are deployed to the countrys western and northern borders. Following the approval of Horizon 3, the department said it had changed its requirements for the fighter jet and had not disclosed the total number it planned to acquire, nor the price tag. The Philippines retired its fleet of Northrop F-5 fighters in 2005, and in 2013 it spent 18.9 billion pesos for 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries as fighter jet negotiations continued. While the government has not identified the final choice for the fighter jet, the Swedish firm Saabs JAS 39 Gripen was reportedly among the top choice. A Saab-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter taxis during the NATO exercise Loyal Arrow on June 10, 2009. (Patrick Tragardh/AFP via Getty Images) The country had its eyes set on Lockheed Martins F-16 Fighting Falcon in the 1990s, but economic troubles and a lack of prioritization stalled negotiations. In 2021, the U.S. approved the sale of 10 F-16C Block 70/72 and two F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft in a $2.43 billion package. However, the Philippines has only earmarked $1.1 billion for the acquisition. Sweden instead proposed the JAS 39 Gripen in 2022. Saab has not participated in negotiations thus far, according to Andrew Wilkinson, the companys Gripen campaign director. Speaking to Defense News during the Singapore Airshow this week, Wilkinson said Saab will join the discussions once the bilateral agreement is signed and after the Philippines reaches a decision on its preferred fighter jet. We are at the very first phase, but right now there is no official decision, no requests, he added. Previous negotiations were over the aircraft, but Saab officials said there is an array of systems to provide a holistic defense solution, like the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control plane that can provide long-range air, sea, and land surveillance in real time. We have ground radars, airborne radars, other types of sensors, and you can fuse all this information to provide one aviation awareness picture that you can distribute to the navy, to the army, even to the coast guard, Anders Dahl, who leads Saabs branch in the Philippines, told Defense News. The company has a history in the region. In 2008, Saab signed a $309 million deal to supply aircraft and surveillance systems to the Royal Thai Armed Forces. (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines is confident in its alliance with Washington and expects continued backing in its maritime dispute with China no matter who wins the US election in November, a coast guard official said. Most Read from Bloomberg Speaking at a forum organized by the foreign correspondents association on Thursday, Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela pledged to continue to speak out against Beijings assertiveness in the South China Sea, where both nations hold competing territorial claims. He recalled how it was the Trump administration that clarified the USs obligation under its 1951 mutual defense treaty to defend the Philippines in the event of an attack. The only thing I know about Trump is that he is not a fan of China, Tarriela said of the former president. Id like to believe that our alliance with the US will not be negatively affected by having Trump again in the White House. Under President Joe Biden, Washington enhanced military cooperation with Manila through a mix of drills, patrols and an expanded defense pact as part of a broader effort seen as helping push back on Beijing. Hes reiterated that Americas commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has likewise taken a more assertive stance against Beijings used of so-called grey-zone tactics in the contested waterway, with both sides publicly criticizing one another over repeated incidents involving competing vessels. Beijing claims a huge swath of the South China Sea, a move contested by nations including the Philippines and Vietnam. Tarriela said the Philippines is seeking ways to drum up support from fellow Southeast Asian nations that have largely refrained from condemning China, their chief trading partner. When we talk about food security and the welfare of fishermen, this is a concern not just for Western countries, but also for Southeast Asian countries, he said. We can expect that Southeast Asian neighbors will somehow support us as we try to once again our tweak our transparency strategy. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office is searching for a missing and endangered 16-year-old. Jack Michael Knox III., was last seen at about 8 a.m. Tuesday in the 6700 block of 54th Avenue North near St. Petersburg, according to the sheriffs office. He may have also been spotted near Park Boulevard and Starkey Road in Seminole. Knox is 62 and 140 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, according to deputies. He was seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office at 727-582-6200. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Black Moon has earned a fast following as a pizza restaurant in the Boise area. Opened five months ago, it ranks 4.9 out of 5.0 stars on Google. Reviewers call it a hidden gem, describe the pizza as incredible and make mouthwatering confessions like, It was so damn good we HAD to get one to-go. But co-owner Barry Faught always meant for it to be more than just an artisanal pizza joint. Launching the second part of his plan, Black Moon, 3709 W. Chinden Blvd., unveiled baked goods Thursday. Located in the former Sportscard Fanatic spot next to Section 37 Axe Room, Black Moon is now targeting a morning crowd to go along with the evening pizza crew. It opens at 7 a.m. As Phase 1 of the bakery plan, Black Moon is rolling out a modest initial menu: items such as scones, cookies, madeleines, cinnamon cardamom buns and tea cakes. Broadcast Coffee will be poured. Black Moon and Broadcast Coffee, 1100 W. Idaho St., both are co-owned by Faught, a Boise native who now lives in Seattle. Black Moon hopes to unveil Phase 2 of its bakery plan in about a month, Faught said. That will include more pastries, plus breakfast sandwiches and breads. A Phase 3 hopefully will have croissants, he added. When will that happen? Not totally sure yet but aiming for late spring! In the meantime, it might be wise to show up early if you want to taste Black Moons baked goods. If the enthusiasm level is anything like it is for the pizza, morning treats might not last long. We arent exactly sure what the demand will be right away, Black Moon explained on social media, so were taking it easy on how many baked goods well be doing each day, and well adjust as we go. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin asked the state Supreme Court on Thursday to overturn a 174-year-old state law that conservatives have interpreted as an abortion ban. Its the second legal challenge to the statute since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The organization filed a petition asking the high court to rule the law unconstitutional without letting any lower courts rule first. And if the justices do so, Planned Parenthood will consider challenging other restrictions on abortion found throughout state law, including bans based on fetal viability and parental consent mandates, according to the organizations chief strategy officer Michelle Velasquez. Two Rivers Police Department urging residents to check surveillance cameras as AMBER Alert for Elijah Vue continues This petition is really asking whether the Constitution protects access to abortion, Velasquez said during a video news conference. Were asking the court to basically say laws related to abortion would be subject to the highest level of scrutiny. The overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide reactivated an 1849 Wisconsin law that conservatives say bans abortion. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit challenging the law, arguing its too old to enforce and was trumped by a 1985 law that allows abortions up to the point where a fetus could survive outside the womb. Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlipper ruled last year that the law only prohibits attacking a woman with the intent to kill her unborn child. The decision emboldened Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions in Wisconsin after stopping procedures in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski, a Republican, has appealed that ruling and earlier this week asked the state Supreme Court to take the case directly without waiting for a lower appellate ruling. Urmanski argued that the case is of statewide importance and will end up before the high court eventually anyway. Details of what former Green Bay Superintendent said on Atlanta radio show that led to resignation released Planned Parenthood is seeking a much broader ruling, arguing that the Wisconsin Constitutions declaration that people have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness means women have a right to control their own bodies. The petition goes on to argue that phrase grants abortion providers the right to practice and means all people have an equal right to make their own medical decisions. The right to life and liberty, including the right to make ones own decisions about whether or not to give birth and medical decisions related to pregnancy or abortion care from a chosen health care provider, is fundamental, the petition contends. So, too, is a physicians right to practice medicine, her chosen profession, and fulfill her ethical obligations of the practice of medicine. The petition names Urmanski as a respondent. Urmanskis attorney, Matt Thome, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the filing. The stage would be set for big legal wins for both Kaul and Planned Parenthood if the state Supreme Court decides to take their cases. Liberals control the court with a 4-3 majority and one of them Justice Janet Protasiewicz repeatedly declared on the campaign trail last year that she supports abortion rights. Typically judicial candidates dont comment on issues to avoid the appearance of bias, but Protaswieczs remarks galvanized abortion supporters and helped her win her seat. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. (KRON) A Livermore man was identified and arrested after a woman reported on Dec. 1, 2023, that she was video recorded in the bathroom of a Pleasanton grocery store, the Pleasanton Police Department announced Thursday. Police are seeking more victims in the Tri-Valley area after evidence showed hundreds of previous occurrences of recording women without their consent. Jesus Castro-Leon, 26, of Livermore, was identified as the suspect by Pleasanton PD and arrested for sexual battery and invasion of privacy. Castro-Leon was identified after investigators requested the publics assistance in the case. A social media post on the Pleasanton PD Facebook showed limited security camera footage of the suspect, and the response was immediate, police said. Police identified the man seen in surveillance video as Jesus Castro-Leon of Livermore. (Pleasanton Police Department) Police identified the man seen in surveillance video as Jesus Castro-Leon of Livermore. (Pleasanton Police Department) Police identified the man seen in surveillance video as Jesus Castro-Leon of Livermore. (Pleasanton Police Department) Under his own discretion, Pleasanton PD said Castro-Leon visited the police station on Jan. 4 to inquire about the social media post. Police arrested him for interfering with an investigation. Castro-Leons phone was seized, and detectives discovered over 250 videos of women being recorded without their consent, according to authorities. Several of the nonconsensual videos appear to have been recorded in the Tri-Valley area, police said, but no further details on specific locations or number of recordings were given. Santa Rita Jail inmate records show Castro-Leon is out of custody as of Thursday afternoon. Pleasanton authorities are asking possible victims to contact their local police departments and file a report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Carrier rocket for China's Queqiao-2 arrives at launch site Xinhua) 14:00, February 22, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The carrier rocket for China's relay satellite Queqiao-2 has arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday. The Long March-8 Y3 carrier rocket will undergo assembly and testing at the launch site, the CNSA added. As a new generation carrier rocket, Long March-8 uses green and environmentally friendly liquid propellant. The rocket achieved its maiden flight in 2020, filling the gap in China's launch capability of sending payloads of 3 to 5 tonnes to the sun-synchronous orbit. According to the CNSA, Queqiao-2, which had been transported to the same launch site earlier this month, is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2024. At present, the facilities at the launch site are in good condition and preparatory work is underway as planned, the agency said. Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge-2, will serve as a relay platform for the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, providing communications services for the Chang'e-4, Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 missions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The state arms procurement agency has requested a police investigation into an Indonesian engineer's alleged attempt to steal technologies related to a joint fighter jet development project, defense officials said Thursday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) made the request Wednesday after concluding a preliminary joint government probe into the engineer dispatched to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the manufacturer of the KF-21 under development, according to the officials. The engineer was caught last month attempting to take a USB storage device with data on the fighter jet and has been banned from leaving Korea. DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun told reporters that the agency decided to request the investigation, citing limitations in the joint probe with the Defense Counterintelligence Command and the National Intelligence Service compared with a full-scale police investigation. With DAPA's request, police officials are expected to look into whether the data included military secrets or other technology in violation of the Defense Technology Security Act. When asked whether the initial probe looked into the engineer's personal computer, DAPA spokesperson Choi Kyung-ho declined to comment but noted that such efforts will likely take place through the police investigation. The move comes as the joint development project worth 8.1 trillion won ($6.1 billion) through 2026 faces uncertainties over Indonesia's overdue payments. Jakarta has failed to make timely contributions to the project despite agreeing to shoulder about 20 percent of the project's cost in return for receiving one prototype and technology transfers, as well as for the building of 48 units in Indonesia. Korea launched the project in full-scale in 2015 to develop a supersonic fighter to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. The first production model is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in 2026. (Yonhap) FILE PHOTO: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk looks on at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin By Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland's prime minister said on Thursday the Polish and Ukrainian governments would meet in Warsaw on March 28, but did not accept a request by Ukraine's president for urgent talks on border blockades by Polish farmers. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Wednesday for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Polish President Andrzej Duda and European Union officials to come to the Ukrainian-Polish border to discuss the protests by the farmers, who are angry over what they say is unfair competition from cheaper Ukrainian imports. Zelenskiy made clear he wanted talks before Saturday's second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "I have agreed with the prime minister of Ukraine for a meeting between the two governments, which will take place in Warsaw on March 28, and I hope that by then technical talks will lead to a fruitful meeting," Tusk told a press conference. Asked by a reporter whether this meant he was not going to the border for talks, Tusk said he believed he had made himself clear. He offered no direct comment on Zelenskiy's proposal. Zelenskiy, in his nightly video message, did not refer directly to Tusk's statement, but said he had raised his proposal for an urgent meeting during a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel. "The situation on the border with Poland is absolutely unacceptable. I advised (Michel) about our Ukrainian initiative for an immediate meeting at the border involving representatives of Ukraine, Poland and the European Commission," Zelenskiy said. "Negotiations are necessary and Ukraine's proposals are quite specific." In his remarks, Tusk reiterated his support for Kyiv's war effort and said Poland would include border crossings with Ukraine and certain sections of roads on a list of critical infrastructure to "ensure a 100% guarantee that military aid ... reaches the Ukrainian side without delays". FOREIGN MINISTER IN WARSAW Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, also made no reference to Tusk's remarks about the March meeting, but said he had held talks with Polish officials in Warsaw on Thursday. "Both governments are aiming to resolve problematic issues," Kuleba said on the social media platform X, where he also thanked Tusk for his efforts to ensure unhindered deliveries of military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov told Ukrainska Pravda media outlet that Kyiv was ready for "any format" of talks to help end the border blockades. Polish President Andrzej Duda said he believed farmers were right to protest as they are fighting for their livelihood. "This is a European problem and this problem should be solved by the European Commission," he told private broadcaster Polsat News. However, he added that Tusk's government is considering different scenarios. "The government is considering various things, including, one of the elements we discussed was even closing the border ... of course while ensuring the possibility of providing military and humanitarian supplies for Ukraine." Polish farmers have broad public support for their protests over high costs, cheap food imports and EU climate policies. This leaves Tusk with a difficult balancing act as he tries to maintain Warsaw's staunch support for Kyiv in its fight against Russian invaders while addressing the farmers' grievances. Kyiv has said the protests, which have included blockades of border crossings, are damaging its fight to repel Russia. Farmers continued to demonstrate across Poland on Thursday, but on a smaller scale than on Tuesday. Adrian Wawrzyniak, a spokesperson for the Solidarity farmers' union, said protesters were blocking three crossings with Ukraine although some trucks were being let through. He also said a bridge linking Poland to the Czech Republic was being blocked, as were several roads around the country. Farmers from the Czech Republic and other central European countries also protested on Thursday along Czech borders, blocking some crossings as they demanded changes to EU policies. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Additional reporting by Olena Harmash and Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Gareth Jones, Daniel Wallis and Ron Popeski) The border between Poland and Ukraine "is not the safest place, Polands Secretary of State, Andrzej Dera, told TVN24 on Feb. 21, referring to farmer protests along the border. Read also: Top Ukrainian security official blames Polish border chaos on EU political cycle, Russian meddling This statement was made in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appeal for a meeting between the two countries. Zelenskyy directed his government to be at the border by February 24, inviting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to join. Dera highlighted that Polish President Andrzej Duda supports the idea of the meeting and is "doing everything in this spirit to help Ukraine." When questioned about Duda acting as a "patron" for the meeting, Dera noted the need for discussions to occur between the Ukrainian government and the Polish administration led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, "with the significant inclusion of EU representatives." Read also: Blockade of the Polish border: investigation of a farmer with Putin poster launched, Consul General apologizes to Ukraine Dera suggested that negotiations would be safer and more productive in Warsaw or other Polish cities like Rzeszow or Lublin, rather than at the border. "Of course, these won't be lengthy discussions, as they can't happen there, Dera said. It's about the symbol. The idea is to clear the border." He attributed the root of the conflict to the "drastically different agricultural production standards between Ukraine and the EU," which, he argued, has led to disparities in product pricing in Ukraine and has placed Polish farmers in a struggle for survival. 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 Authorities are asking for the public's help locating a missing man from West Orange who suffers from dementia. The New Jersey State Police said that Cenou Clervil, 64, was last seen around 10 a.m. on Wednesday walking near the Delta gas station at 223 Harrison Ave. in Montclair. Clervil is a 5-foot-6 Black male who weights 154 pounds and has brown eyes and gray hair. Cenou Clervil, 64, of West Orange He was last seen wearing a black and gray jacket, dark-colored pants, a black hat and sneakers that are white, black and red. Clervil frequents Nishuane Park on High Street in the south end of Montclair. Anyone with information on Clervil's whereabouts are asked to call the West Orange Police Department at (973) 325-4000 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons & Human Trafficking Unit at (609) 882-2000, Ext. 2554. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: West Orange NJ man with dementia missing, police seek help Officers from a special task force (SEK) are deployed in full gear at a school. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Dusseldorf. The police were on the scene with large numbers of officers. Christoph Reichwein/dpa Four school pupils were injured by an attacker at a school in the western German city of Wuppertal on Thursday, according to a police spokesman. The suspected attacker, who is in custody, is also a pupil at the school, sources told dpa. According to police, the suspect was also injured in the incident. Police thoroughly searched the school after an evacuation was carried out, the police spokesman said. The police did not initially provide any further details about the crime or the background. The Bild newspaper reported that a teenager is said to have attacked his classmates with a knife. A police helicopter circles over the scene. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Dusseldorf. The police are on the scene with a large force. Christoph Reichwein/dpa Special forces are deployed at a school. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Duesseldorf. The police were on the scene with large numbers of officers. -/Pressefoto Otte/dpa Police vehicles, pupils and other people stand in front of a school. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Dusseldorf. The police are on the scene with strong forces. -/Pressefoto Otte/dpa Special forces are deployed at a school. Several pupils have been injured at a school in Wuppertal. A suspect has been arrested, said a police spokesman in Dusseldorf. The police were on the scene with large numbers of officers. -/Pressefoto Otte/dpa CHICAGO A juvenile is charged in connection with the deadly November 2023 shooting on the Far South Side that left a teen boy dead, Chicago police said Wednesday. The 17-year-old boy faces a felony first-degree murder charge following the Nov. 11 shooting in the 1300 block of S. Drexel Avenue in the citys Riverdale neighborhood. According to Chicago police, a 17-year-old boy was mortally wounded after he was shot in the chest and the right arm. In addition to the murder charge, police said the 17-year-old is also charged with the alleged armed robbery and the unlawful restraint of a 16-year-old boy that occurred in the 7000 block of S. Constance Avenue on Jan. 7. 2024. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The 17-year-old suspect is due in court on Thursday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Firefighters gather around a burned out section of a home after they extinguished the flames of house fire on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 in Ferguson, Mo. A mother and four children died early Monday as police say the fire is being investigated as "suspicious." (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) A fire that killed a Missouri mother and four children was intentionally set by the mother, police said. St. Louis County police announced late Wednesday that a preliminary investigation ruled that the deaths of Bernadine Birdie Pruessner, her twin 9-year-old daughters Ivy and Lillie Pruessner, and her children 5-year-old Jackson Spader and 2-year-old Millie Spader was a murder-suicide. Police Sgt. Tracy Panus said in an email that investigators believe that Bernadine Pruessner, 39, set fire to a mattress. A note was also left stating Bernadines intentions to take her life and the lives of her children, Panus said. No other details of the investigation have been released. Responding firefighters found the home in Ferguson engulfed in flames at 4:23 a.m. Monday. Neighbors had tried to save the family, but the fire was too intense. Pruessner and the fathers of the children were involved in prolonged legal disputes over the kids, according to a statement issued on behalf of her relatives by her attorney, Nathan Cohen. She had been happy and enjoyed life and was a loving mother, but those court battles brought her to a moment of crisis, the statement said. Birdie got to an awful place, one that resulted in tragic consequences, the statement said. KSDK-TV reported that the two fathers also released a joint statement. As dads, right now we have to focus on honoring the four beautiful lives, and we plan to do that together, they said. Our thanks go out to the community, people we know and many we have never even met, who have shown us incredible amounts of support. We will continue to need it. EDITORS NOTE If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org By Jung Min-ho A former South Korean prisoner of war, who was held in North Korea for 50 years before making his escape, died on Wednesday, leaving only nine such surviving escapees in the South. The body of the man, surnamed Kim, whose identity has not been revealed at the request of his family, will be buried at the Seoul National Cemetery on Friday. According to the Ministry of National Defense, Thursday, Vice Minister Kim Seon-ho visited the deceased man's family that day to offer his condolences. President Yoon Suk Yeol and Minister Shin won-sik also offered the family their commiserations and flowers. Kim was captured by North Korean forces during the first year of the Korean War (1950-53). He reportedly was subjected to decades of forced labor before his escape in 2003. More than 80,000 South Korean soldiers were estimated to have been held captive in North Korea when the war ended with a cease-fire. The North sent only 8,343 of them back to the South between April 1953 and January 1954, according to data from the Unification Ministry. Other war prisoners have never been allowed to return. Kim was one of just 80 people who have escaped and made it home to South Korea. Yet the government in Seoul does not have sufficient information about all of the prisoners. To gather more facts about them and honor their sacrifices, a group of lawmakers proposed a bill in 2021 to prompt a government fact-finding mission. But it has been pending since then at the National Assembly. Human rights activists say a lack of political will has been the main reason. Speaking to The Korea Times, Shin Hee-seok, a legal analyst at Transitional Justice Working Group, a Seoul-based NGO, suggested the idea of establishing a national holiday in honor of them in an effort to raise awareness and support. The government recently announced its plan to designate July 14 as a national day in honor of North Korean refugees. It should establish a national day for prisoners of war, he said, adding that the government in the U.S. designated its National POW/MIA Recognition Day after the Vietnam War. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Thursday downplayed concerns of the United States possibly shifting to a softer stance on North Korea's nuclear program if former U.S. President Donald Trump wins the next presidential election. Shin made the remark when asked by a ruling party lawmaker about such concerns amid speculation about Trump's potential approach to the North's nuclear program as he seeks a second White House term. "If the United States falls under the influence of North Korea's blackmail and abandons its duty to its ally, it would have to give up its global leadership," Shin said during a National Assembly session. Concerns have grown over Trump's possible policy on North Korea's denuclearization, with some experts suggesting he could allow the North keep its nuclear program under certain conditions if he is elected to office. Shin also dismissed the possibility of the alliance becoming weaker even if North Korea deploys an intercontinental ballistic missile, which would put the U.S. mainland within range, citing the "extended deterrence" system between the allies. Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to mobilizing the full-range of its military capabilities to defend an ally. Shin also warned against possible provocative acts by North Korea near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean sea border, after the North's leader Kim Jong-un called the boundary a "ghost line" without legal grounds last week. "Our military has defended the NLL over the past 70 years as the de facto maritime boundary," he said. "If Kim Jong-un makes the wrong choice, (it) will be a big disaster." (Yonhap) A U.S. F-16 fighter jet on Thursday dropped two of its fuel tanks while flying over waters off Korea's west coast but returned safely to its base, a U.S. military official said. The F-16 of the 8th Fighter Wing dropped the tanks during an "emergency" incident at around 10 a.m. in the waters near the reclaimed land of Saemangeum, about 200 kilometers south of Seoul, after taking off from Kunsan Air Base in the nearby city of Gunsan, according to the official at the unit. The pilot was still able to return to base safely, the official said, noting that an investigation into the incident will take place. The latest incident came after a U.S. F-16 crashed in waters off Gunsan on Jan. 31, which marked the third U.S. F-16 crash in Korea in a year. In December, an F-16 crashed into the Yellow Sea during routine training, while another F-16 crashed near Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, in May. There were no casualties in all three crashes as the pilots ejected from the aircraft. (Yonhap) By Jung Da-hyun A flexible work system, including telecommuting or taking leave on days with high concentrations of fine dust, may be implemented starting this March, according to the environment ministry, Thursday. In response to elevated levels of fine dust, the government plans to officially announce its initiative next week to effectively address the recurring issue during spring. The Ministry of Environment has outlined a recommendation to encourage telecommuting or taking leave from work when the concentration of ultrafine dust reaches 50 micrograms or more per cubic meter on average per day. This initiative will follow the same standard as issuing emergency reduction measures for high concentrations of fine dust. The ministry is currently discussing who will be subject to this initiative. In response to elevated levels of fine dust, the government has previously made perfunctory recommendations to refrain from outdoor activities. However, the current focus on addressing fine dust is centered on implementing flexible working arrangements. The crux of this initiative lies in minimizing exposure to fine dust. Much like the transition to remote work and online meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic aimed at reducing viral exposure, the government now aims to flexibly adapt work arrangements on days with severe fine dust pollution. The ministry has reportedly finalized discussions with local governments and is now actively collaborating with other relevant ministries. In a bid to combat fine dust pollution, the government is encouraging the utilization of annual leave, reducing business trips and promoting the use of video conferencing. Since emergency reduction measures for fine dust are typically declared one or two days in advance, these preliminary measures are expected to be implemented on days when high levels of fine dust are anticipated. Last year in Seoul, there were a total of six days when fine dust emergency reduction measures were implemented. Therefore, the impact on industries due to the flexible work arrangements is expected to be minimal. The government's heightened response to fine dust pollution here is being prompted due to an increase in fine dust coming from China after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. As factories in China are operating at higher capacity rates, there has been a noticeable increase in the influx of fine dust coming to Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol urged related ministries, including the environment ministry, Tuesday, to diligently prepare for fine dust, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations such as children and seniors, as well as indoor areas frequented by large numbers of people. However, as the initiative relies on recommendations rather than coercion, and there are no specific mechanisms to encourage private companies to actively adopt flexible work, its effectiveness this coming spring, therefore, remains somewhat uncertain. President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision to leave the gender equality minister's position unfilled is a signal of his commitment to abolish the ministry as planned even without the legal revision necessary to make it official, a senior presidential official said Thursday. Yoon accepted the resignation of Gender Equality Minister Kim Hyun-sook on Tuesday, six months after she offered to resign over the mismanagement of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in August. He does not plan to name a replacement and will instead have the vice minister take over in an acting capacity, according to multiple presidential officials. Abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was one of Yoon's most controversial campaign pledges as women's groups accused him of pandering to young male voters resentful of the rise of feminism. Yoon stood by his pledge, however, saying the ministry has completed its role and a more efficient government body is needed to handle human rights violations and unfairness in society. Nearly two years into his term, the ministry still stands as abolishing it requires a revision to the government organization law, which has been introduced by ruling party lawmakers but blocked by opposition lawmakers in the opposition-controlled National Assembly. "President Yoon believes it is necessary to express a firm will to fulfill the pledge at the level of the executive branch even if a legal revision has yet to be made," the senior presidential official told Yonhap News Agency. "We plan to make advance preparations for the transfer of duties under the leadership of Vice Gender Equality Minister Shin Young-sook, who is an expert on organizational reform." As part of the preparations, officials from other ministries could be appointed to senior positions at the gender equality ministry to facilitate the transition following the ministry's abolition, the official said. "We will abolish the gender equality ministry by fixing the government organization law through a revision under the next National Assembly, and take steps to transfer its duties to each ministry," the official added, referring to the parliamentary elections slated for April 10. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged Thursday to boost the nuclear power industry by providing 3.3 trillion won ($2.48 billion) worth of projects and 1 trillion won worth of special financing. Yoon was speaking at the 14th government-public debate on people's livelihood issues, this time in Changwon, 298 kilometers southeast of Seoul, which focused on policies for the nuclear energy sector. "The government will provide full-scale support to make this year the starting point for a new leap for the nuclear power industry, beyond its normalization," he said during the debate held at the office of the South Gyeongsang Province government. Restoring the nuclear power industry was one of Yoon's campaign pledges as he vowed to reverse the nuclear phase-out policy of the previous Moon Jae-in administration. Yoon vowed to support corporate investment in the nuclear industry by providing tax breaks for facility investments, and research and development (R&D). He also said the government will invest more than 4 trillion won in nuclear power sector R&D over the administration's five-year term, legislate a special bill supporting the nuclear power industry and establish a long-term nuclear power road map aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. In policy measures targeting the local region, Yoon promised to transform the 50-year-old industrial complex in Changwon into a cultural-industrial space enjoyed by young generations by lifting various regulations restricting its use and the type of businesses allowed to operate there. He said the government will lift greenbelt zones, which are restricted from development for environmental preservation purposes, in Changwon to allow more than 20 trillion won worth of investment in local strategic industries and the construction of a national industrial complex for defense and nuclear power. In the nearby city of Geoje, he said he will mobilize all possible policy measures to create an industrial complex featuring culture and art, information and communications technology, and bio and medicine, while also investing 3 trillion won over 10 years to develop tourism in the southern belt connecting South Gyeongsang Province to Busan, Ulsan and the western Jeolla provinces. (Yonhap) Critics say party is wary of upcoming revote on opposition-led special probe bills By Lee Hyo-jin With less than 50 days left before the general elections, the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) candidate nomination process appears to be sailing smoothly at least on the surface. Things are relatively quiet compared to its rival, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), where lawmakers are vehemently protesting their elimination, viewing the decision as sidelining members who do not align with party leadership. As of Thursday, the PPP has finalized the nomination of candidates for over 100 constituencies out of the total 253 nationwide, with candidates shortlisted for the party's primary in approximately 60 constituencies. So far, only two PPP lawmakers Rep. Choi Young-hee and Rep. Seo Jeong-sook have been excluded from nomination, meaning they do not have the chance to run in primaries. Both were proportional representation lawmakers. None of the lawmakers representing their constituencies have been disqualified. The party's candidate nomination committee previously announced that, following a transparent and fair system, seven incumbent lawmakers representing constituencies ranking in the bottom 10 percent in terms of legislative performance would be removed. However, the committee has not yet released the list of those to be eliminated. Pundits said that the conservative party appears to be adopting a soft stance toward incumbent lawmakers, in contrast to previous elections where over a dozen lawmakers were excluded from nomination lists. This shift apparently aims to avoid internal discord that could potentially result in members leaving the party. "It appears that the party is postponing the inevitable," said political commentator Rhee Jong-hoon. "By delaying the official announcement of the cut-off list and allowing almost every incumbent lawmaker to participate in internal primaries, they are trying to minimize internal conflicts for now and prevent members from quitting and leaving the Reform Party," Rhee said. "Not all incumbent lawmakers will succeed in the primaries, but even if they fail to make the cut, it will be too late for them to leave the party at that point," he added. Under election laws, it is illegal for a candidate who lost in the party's primary to run in the same constituency on another party's ticket or as an independent candidate. Speculation is emerging that the PPP's lenient approach toward incumbents is in line with the party's objective to obstruct the approval of two opposition-led special investigation proposals, scheduled for a revote during a plenary session on Feb. 29. Of them, one proposal seeks to launch a probe into first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in stock price manipulation, while the other addresses allegations about six influential figures in the so-called "5 billion club" linked to a corruption-ridden development project in the Daejang-dong, Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province. Although the bills were initially passed at the opposition-controlled Assembly on Dec. 28, President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed them a week later. For the Assembly to pass these bills during the revote, over half of the total 298 members must be physically present, and two-thirds of the total must vote in favor. If passed, the president cannot veto the bills again. In such circumstances, uniting under a "one-team spirit" to oppose the bills is crucial for the PPP. "The PPP's nominations without any reforms seem relevant to the special investigation bill into first lady Kim Keon Hee. It seems that the PPP chose to cohabit with corrupt power, fearing the emergence of dissenting votes in the upcoming parliamentary vote on the bills," the Reform Party, led by former PPP head Lee Jun-seok, said in a statement, Wednesday. The PPP refuted criticism about the lack of reform in its nomination process, saying that it is still in the works. "It is premature to criticize the lack of reform as primaries have not concluded," said Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, who heads the party's nomination committee, Thursday. President's visit to traditional market offers boost to policy push By Nam Hyun-woo As the April 10 general elections approach, President Yoon Suk Yeol is championing contentious policies, including the expansion of annual enrollment quotas at medical schools and the abolition of the gender equality ministry. Yoon's assertive push is evoking conflicting responses. While supporters commend the president for his resolute approach in implementing what the administration deems necessary, critics argue that his insistence and disregard for opposing views are aimed at bolstering the ruling bloc's public approval ahead of the general elections. During a televised Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Yoon asserted that doctors should never resort to staging a collective walkout, which effectively holds people's lives hostage. There are claims that adding 2,000 slots (to the annual medical school enrollment quota) is excessive, and some are even spreading groundless rumors However, adding 2,000 slots is actually the bare minimum expansion needed, he said. His comments came amid vehement protests from doctors' groups against the government's plan to add 2,000 slots to the annual enrollment quota of 40 medical schools nationwide starting next year. According to the health ministry, 9,275 trainee doctors have submitted their resignations in protest, and as of Thursday, more than 8,000 of them have departed from their worksites, leading to medical chaos at hospitals. In line with Yoons determination, the government is issuing threats of administrative actions, such as license suspension and other legal measures, against doctors involved in the protest, asserting that the government will not surrender. What I can say is there is no chance of the president compromising his determination, an official at the presidential office said. The government will respond to the walkout with every measure within the legal boundary. Against this backdrop, the "groundless rumors" mentioned by Yoon during the Cabinet meeting are assumed to refer to a scenario that went viral online. This scenario suggests that the government will reduce the additional slots from 2,000 to 500 at the request of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). In a similar vein, Yoon is expected to persist in his efforts to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, in line with his presidential election pledge, despite the ongoing controversies surrounding the move. Following former Gender Equality Minister Kim Hyun-sook's expression of her intent to resign, a senior presidential aide informed Yonhap News Agency that the office will not appoint a new minister as it prepares for the ministry's abolition. Yoon's steadfast stance aligns with his previous experiences, where he garnered public support through his assertive and uncompromising demeanor while prosecuting former presidents and business tycoons on corruption charges during his tenure as a prosecutor. Yoon left the prosecution as a secretary-general in 2021 after butting heads with former President Moon Jae-in over a 2019 investigation involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk. This led to Yoon consolidating his status as the frontrunner of the conservative faction, ultimately culminating in him assuming power in 2022. In addition to his robust policy initiatives, Yoon has been making visits to traditional markets in areas outside of Seoul in recent weeks, despite criticism from the opposition accusing the president of canvassing the public ahead of the general elections. These visits are perceived as efforts to demonstrate that he is attentive to public opinion and to underscore the warm reception he receives from citizens at these markets. During his visit to Shinjung Market in Ulsan, Wednesday, Yoon spent more than 90 minutes shaking hands with shoppers and merchants in almost every corner of the market and listening to their comments. During the visit, a citizen boldly exclaimed to the president, "the government should not surrender to doctors," a remark that garnered widespread attention in the media that evening. Although the president refrained from responding, the incident served to bolster the Yoon administration's assertion that the public stands behind the government's position on the medical school quota. Whether it is for the general elections or not, the presidents visits to a local market is bound to draw a warm welcome. Who will hate the president paying attention to your daily lives and regional issues? said Park Sang-byeong, a political commentator and professor at Inha University. And if such a scene (a citizen supporting Yoons medical school policy) gets media attention, there is no way of it affecting Yoon negatively Given that the general public is supportive of the medical school policy, people will start to praise Yoons steadfast and resolute attitude, rather than calling him stubborn. On the other hand, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) criticized Yoons push, alleging that he is unwilling to heed opposing viewpoints. During Yoons town hall meeting on medical reforms on Feb. 1, a pediatrician was silenced and dragged out of the meeting as he tried to voice his opinion during the meeting, DPK Rep. Choi Hye-young said. Do citizens lack their freedom to speak in front of the president? The Korean Medical Association (KMA) also claims that the government is not communicating with doctors over the additional slots. The government is citing several sessions of discussions with the KMA as the reason for its rationale that it has communicated with the doctors, but during the sessions, there were no discussions on additional medical school slots, KMA spokesperson Joo Soo-ho said, Thursday. Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Thursday rejected accusations he is sidelining lawmakers not aligned with him from candidate nominations for April's general elections, and flatly rejected calls for his resignation. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been engulfed in an internal rift over candidate nominations as a series of non-mainstream DPK lawmakers revealed that the party determined them as the lower 20 percent underperformers in terms of legislative activity. The designation serves as demerit points when they compete with other contenders in party primaries and those included in the list have charged that it is part of an attempt to exclude those not loyal to DPK Chairman Lee from nominations. On Thursday, Lee rejected all allegations, saying the nominations are being done in a fair manner. "The Democratic Party of Korea is selecting competitive candidates according to a system based on reasonable criteria," Lee told reporters. "Complaints always arise in a competition, because how they assess themselves does not always correlate to how others evaluate them." He also rejected calls for him to resign as party chairman. "If the party's leader has to resign like this, we would end up replacing the leader all year round and 365 days," he said. (Yonhap) Hong Kong: Xia Baolong begins HK visit CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong today arrived in Hong Kong for a seven-day inspection visit. Upon his arrival at Hong Kong International Airport this morning, Mr Xia toured the Integrated Airport Centre in the company of Chief Executive John Lee, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) Chairman Jack So. Mr Xia was updated by Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung and AAHK Chief Executive Officer Fred Lam, on the developments of the aviation industry and the latest situation of Hong Kong's development as an international aviation and cargo hub. Mr Xia also inspected the operation of autonomous vehicles at the airport. In the afternoon, he had an engagement session with Principal Officials and Permanent Secretaries of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government led by Mr Lee. At another engagement session, Mr Xia exchanged views with key Hong Kong SAR Government finance officials. Led by Mr Lee, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Mr Lam, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho and Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong were in attendance. This story has been published on: 2024-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China, Singapore share prospects for aviation maintenance sector: practitioners Xinhua) 15:02, February 22, 2024 SINGAPORE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China-Singapore Bilateral Aviation Forum kicked off Thursday amid the Singapore Airshow 2024, attracting business leaders, scholars, and government officials to exchange ideas on aviation cooperation between the two countries. Reliability and supply networks are important to civil aviation flights. Singapore could be a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub for C919 in Southeast Asia with its mature aviation ecosystems when the jetliner is put into use overseas, said Desmond Goh, managing director of Asia Pacific for Eaton's Aerospace Group. Singaporean and Chinese aviation sectors should enhance new-tech and talent exchanges and deliver complementary advantages to build a C919 MRO hub, noted Philip Sung, director and general manager at Auxitrol Weston (Singapore). Representatives from China's Langfang and Taicang cities introduced their aviation-related industries and invited Singaporean enterprises to seek business opportunities. The attending practitioners also shared views on carbon reduction in the aviation industry, the development of urban air mobility, and artificial intelligence use in aviation. The Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) held the forum. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Stop strikes and begin dialogue immediately The mounting tumult in hospitals across the nation is indicating a worsening situation, as more and more trainee doctors are joining protests against the government's decision to raise the enrollment quota at medical schools. As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, 9,275, or 74.4 percent of the total trainee doctors across the country, have tendered their resignations. Of them, 64.4 percent, or 8,024, refused to return to work after applying for leaves of absence, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The disruption at Seoul's five major hospitals was further aggravated as junior doctors submitted letters of resignation en masse, declining to treat patients. Major hospitals in areas outside of Seoul also failed to provide proper medical services, as their doctors joined the protest. As the functioning of emergency rooms became compromised, patients in critical condition and their families were gripped by panic. According to medical law, the health minister is mandated to instruct doctors to resume work and prohibit their collective actions. The government has issued a threat, stating that protesting doctors could potentially face suspensions of their medical licenses or even imprisonment unless they comply with the government's directives. Nevertheless, the doctors persist in their collective walkout, seemingly convinced that the government will yield to their demand to revoke the plan to increase the quota. Their decision to engage in such a drastic collective action is entirely inappropriate, as it inevitably endangers the lives of patients. In fact, such moves have been commonplace. But their behavior of forgoing the well-being of the people for the sake of their interests should be terminated under any circumstances. Compared to Western industrialized nations, the nation's medical reform has made little progress. Western nations have persisted in expanding the enrollment quotas of medical schools as a proactive measure to address the challenges posed by rapid aging and the potential shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural areas. For starters, Germany has continued to increase the quota by 1 to 2 percent yearly to 11,752 in 2022. Germany plans to increase the number by 5,000. Britain is seeking to increase the medical school admissions quota to 15,000 by 2031, up 36 percent from 2021. President Yoon Suk Yeol said the "enrollment quota increase has been the mission of the age that cannot be postponed any longer." He said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, "The plan to increase the quota by 2,000 is the minimum level." Now, it is time for both the medical sector and the government to come together for dialogue, seeking a resolution to the issue at hand. They should explore practical ways of settlement through dialogue and compromise. Doctors need to agree on the need to increase the quota. Representatives from medical schools also concurred on the need to raise the quota to a certain extent. A sense of resentment has been intensifying in the medical sector over the government's unilateral way of dealing with the matter without consulting with doctors in advance. Therefore, it would be prudent for the government not to adhere rigidly to the plan for an increase of 2,000. The sudden increase of so many students will have adverse effects in recruiting professors and installing systems to teach the students. This will also exacerbate the quality of education. The two sides should seriously consider the methods of gradually increasing the quota. They should meet halfway. Through such efforts, the medical sector and the government will be able to find a common ground toward the settlement of the current disputes. The political parties, for their part, should roll up their sleeves to find appropriate solutions to the dispute instead of seeking their political interests only ahead of the April 10 general elections. Voters will closely observe to see which party offers the most effective compromise on this issue, enabling them to choose the candidate they believe will best serve the people's interests in the upcoming general elections. Gov't also pledges to extend W1 tril. in financing for nuclear industry By Ko Dong-hwan President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged, Thursday, to revive the country's once-thriving nuclear power industry by pledging 3.3 trillion won ($2.47 billion) in projects and extending 1 trillion won in financing. Speaking at the president's 14th townhall meeting on people's livelihood issues which was held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Yoon also vowed to boost the country's technological capability for small modular reactor (SMR) and introduce the country's first SMR model, i-SMR, by 2028. Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the meeting demonstrated that the Yoon administration is eager to revive the industry that was once antagonized by his predecessor. Yoon's pledged fund for job creation is higher than previous years when it was 3 trillion won in 2023 and 2.4 trillion won in 2022. "Since my administration's commencement, we started rebuilding Shin Hanul nuclear power reactor units 3 and 4 and got to work on re-running 10 nuclear reactor units that were banned by the previous government," Yoon said. "And we've so far exported 4 trillion won worth of nuclear power plant technologies, which is more than six times the entire export achievement by the previous government. We've prioritized normalizing the country's nuclear power ecology as our foremost goal." The government's special financing programs for local nuclear energy companies are set to double their pool this year compared to 2023. This initiative encompasses a financial support project of 100 billion won for the country's nuclear power ecology, providing low-interest loans through local banks. To expand investment on the industry, the authority will also expand the existing range of qualifications for tax exemption. "Large-scale nuclear power plant manufacturing technologies" have been newly added to the list and the category of "SMR manufacturing technologies" will be broadened so that companies that have been unable to receive the incentives can take advantage of it. The new broadened tax exemption conditions will likely draw investments worth more than 1 trillion won for research works in the industry in this year alone, according to the ministry. The ministry said it will invest 4 trillion won during five years under Yoon's term for research and development on SMR and other future nuclear technologies. This comes as the government's previous R&D budget mainly went to developing treatment facilities for spent nuclear fuels and deconstructing expired power plants. To advance i-SMR, the ministry said it will prepare a dedicated budget nine times bigger than the previous year and concentrate the budget on a new private-government SMR alliance that was launched last year. The ministry aims to develop modular SMR so that it can be assembled in local factories in the country and exported overseas. "Changwon will see the country's new SMR cluster," the Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun said at the meeting. "The city is full of companies with superb nuclear power equipment manufacturing capabilities. They will be like the country's competent chip foundries like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix." Changwon is the country's first city to have built a nuclear power plant purely by local talents. Since a state-run industrial complex in the city built Hanbit nuclear power reactor units 3 and 4 in 1992 and the industry's overall value exceeded 10 trillion won for the first time, all of the country's nuclear reactor units have been built in the city. By Ko Dong-hwan Korea must start building new permanent storage facilities for high-level radioactive waste as the current temporary storage at nuclear power plants will begin reaching saturation point in 2030, according to scholars and industry experts, Thursday. The future of radioctive waste storage is in the hands of the National Assembly where the country's Special Act on Managing High-Level Radioactive Waste awaits its passage. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have horns locked over details of how large the new permanent storage facility must be, keeping the act's passage at an impasse. The experts and government officials are urging the current 21st session of the National Assembly to pass the special act before it ends in May as a matter of the utmost importance. They warned that if the 21st session doesn't pass it, it will take up to two additional years to get the proposal back on the table again. The delay will lead to the shutdown of nuclear power plants with inadequate waste storage facilities and raise electricity bills for households, they said. Nuclear engineering professor Chung Bum-jin from Kyung Hee University said that discussion over the size of new nuclear waste storage facilities is inappropriate and unnecessary regarding the pending special act. He said that discussion should be commenced separately. "The matter of size was a condition insisted by DPK lawmakers to prevent nuclear power plants from operating continuously," Chung said. "The matter is now blocking the whole discussion, preventing its passage. It's unjust." Eighteen nuclear reactors in the country are now expected to see their temporary storage facilities saturated over seven years, according to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the country's state-run nuclear power plant operator. Six units of the Hanbit plant in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, will see their storage facilities full by 2030. Six units of Hanul plant and one unit of Shin Hanul plant in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, will reach waste storage capacity by 2031, and three reactors of Kori Nuclear Power Plant and two of Shin Kori Nuclear Power Plant, both in Busan, by 2032. KHNP CEO Hwang Joo-ho said that including 18,600 tons of high-level radioactive wastes that have been generated by 25 reactors now in operation, some 44,700 tons of high-level radioactive waste to be generated from the country's 32 nuclear reactors will need a plan for storage. "Whether we decide to embrace or ditch nuclear power, decision-makers of this generation are liable for finalizing and building the new storage for high-level radioactive waste," Hwang said in a meeting with journalists in Sejong, Tuesday. "It's our duty after we've enjoyed all the benefits and economic boons offered by the energy source." Second Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Choi Nam-ho said last month that the special act's passage should no longer be delayed so that the country can prepare for the complete lifecycle of a nuclear power plant. "Management of radioactive waste is a mandatory condition for safe operation of nuclear power plants," Choi said. "The government will see to it that the National Assembly's 21st session pass the special act." The country in 2015 completed construction of a low- to medium-level radioactive waste storage facility in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Preparation for high-level radioactive waste storage started the following year, with the plan passed and reconfirmed by three incumbent administrations including that of Yoon Suk Yeol. But only eight out of 10 conditions have been agreed to by both parties, which are still at odds over the storage capacity and operational life of the facilities. By Baek Byung-yeul LG CNS said that it will collaborate with the Yonam Institute of Technology, a specialized college in engineering established and supported by the LG Yonam Education Foundation, to cultivate enterprise resource planning (ERP) software experts, the company said Thursday. The company said that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Yonam Institute of Technology for the cultivation of ERP professionals. Through the partnership, the school will establish a field for the study of German software company SAP's enterprise software. Under the partnership, third-year students can choose SAP as their minor. The curriculum is comprised of an introduction to SAP, operation of cloud ERP infrastructure, advanced business application programming and business technology platform programming, LG CNS said. LG CNS is a global strategic partner of SAP, a Germany-based computer software giant with the highest global market share of ERP. Based on the technical skills and know-how accumulated through building and operating ERP systems with SAP's software, LG CNS will support the cultivation of ERP professionals at the Yonam Institute of Technology. LG CNS will continue its collaboration with the school to develop a curriculum in the field of digital transformation as well. Prior to this, LG CNS signed a business agreement with Seoul National University last June and conducted internships for graduate students in the Department of Statistics. Through a business agreement with Korea University, it established a new employment-linked contract department in the graduate school program. In addition, they conducted internships in the security and software fields with Chung-Ang University, and operated internship programs in the field of smart logistics with Konkuk University, Inha University and Korea Aerospace University. Together with Yonam Institute of Technology, we will focus on cultivating experts with global-level ERP capabilities to contribute to the innovation of customer value, LG CNS CEO Hyun Shin-gyoon said. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is planning to visit Korea at the end of this month in what would be his first visit to the country in more than 10 years, officials said Wednesday. The details of his itinerary are not yet known, but the executive chairman of Meta Platforms, Facebook's parent company, could meet with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, as he did during his previous trip to Korea in June 2013. Meta has also requested a meeting between Zuckerberg and President Yoon Suk Yeol, and the presidential office is "positively considering" it, a presidential official told Yonhap News Agency. (Yonhap) By Ko Dong-hwan Crown-Haitai CEO Yoon Young-dal has become the new head of the Korea Mecenat Association, the country's group of companies which are dedicated to supporting cultural and artistic endeavors, according to the country's major confectionery group, Wednesday. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its foundation this year, the association held a general assembly in Seoul on Tuesday and commenced the appointment for its 12th chairman title with a three-year term. Yoon has been the association's vice-chairman since 2012. Yoon's latest promotion came due to his consistent promotion of the country's "gugak" (traditional Korean music), sculptures and poetry over the past 20 years, according to the company. Together with his employees, he took to learning the arts and shared them with his consumers by organizing or hosting annual shows. In 2007, he founded a gugak troupe, Rageum Orchestra, for the first time in the country's private business circle and has been running it ever since. There are other annual gugak festivals he has been supporting for more than a decade now, including Changsinje, the biggest fusion gugak concert in the country, since 2004. He has also been vocal about his passion for sculpture, prompting him to take an organizing seat at the Seoul Open Art Fair and the city's international sculpture festivals. thereby allowing him to promote the arts to the public. He runs a large-scale sculpture studio in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, where a residency program welcomes aspiring artists. Since 2020, he has been hosting an outdoor international exhibition at Han River in Seoul to promote Korean sculptors to the world. "There is no company without customers," Yoon said following his appointment. "And to satisfy customers, cultural and artistic support is essential, not optional. By developing further the cultural art, customers can be happier and drive companies to develop further as well." Initially founded by the country's five local business associations, the Korea Mecenat Association now has over 220 member companies including major conglomerates and business groups like Samsung, Doosan and the Federation of Korean Industries. By Lee Min-hyung Coupang is facing growing criticism for selling dangerous items without any restrictive measures such as age verification sparking concerns over their illicit usage, some of which could be public safety hazards, according to industry officials, Thursday. Korea's largest e-commerce firm currently lets consumers order hunting bows and sharp tipped arrows on its online sales platform without requiring additional documentation. Hunting bows and other items that can be used to injure people are available to minors as well, as Coupang doesn't ask for age verification when ordering such items. Officials from the nation's consumer groups said that Coupang should implement monitoring procedures for items that can pose a danger to the public, even if their sales are not prohibited in Korea. "Regardless of the legality of their sales, Coupang should suspend sales of dangerous products and any other menacing items," Choi Woo-sung, general manager at the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations, said. Choi said the biggest problem is that Coupang has not taken measures to prevent minors from ordering items that can be used as weapons to injure other people. "If Coupang wants to keep selling the items on its platform, the company must take restrictive measures, but our stance is that the company should stop selling all such items," he said. Other overseas e-commerce firms also faced a huge public backlash for listing such products on their platforms without regulating their sales. AliExpress, a Chinese e-commerce platform that is rapidly expanding its presence in Korea, also took heavy flak on Wednesday after it was revealed to have allowed sales of items such as melatonin pills, crossbows and toothpick launchers. Selling and buying melatonin supplements are prohibited in Korea as the sleeping aid is a prescription drug here. "Coupang wants to keep engaging in its autonomous business activities without being swayed by a platform act, which regulates industry-leading big platform companies, but the company leaves much to be desired [due to its] weak monitoring practices," Choi said. Coupang also sold some sleep supplement products whose names are similar to melatonin. When customers search for melatonin on Coupang, they get a set of related products that are on sale on the platform. However, they do not actually include melatonin, according to Coupang. "If melatonin or any other forms of prescription medicine are not allowed for sale online, the e-commerce platform operator should not have allowed customers to find the items when they type in the keywords on the platform," Choi said. Coupang's spokesperson declined to comment on the latter and said it is internally reviewing whether to take any actions as the products in question can be sold in Korea legally. Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, six sources told Reuters, deepening the military cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries. Iran's provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources said. This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 kilometers (186 and 435 miles), experts say. Iran's defense ministry and the Revolutionary Guards an elite force that oversees Iran's ballistic missile program declined to comment. Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalized in meetings late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials that took place in Tehran and Moscow, one of the Iranian sources said. An Iranian military official who, like the other sources, asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information said there had been at least four shipments of missiles and there would be more in the coming weeks. He declined to provide further details. Another senior Iranian official said some of the missiles were sent to Russia by ship via the Caspian Sea, while others were transported by plane. "There will be more shipments," the second Iranian official said. "There is no reason to hide it. We are allowed to export weapons to any country that we wish to." U.N. Security Council restrictions on Iran's export of some missiles, drones and other technologies expired in October. However, the United States and European Union retained sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile program amid concerns over exports of weapons to its proxies in the Middle East and to Russia. A fourth source, familiar with the matter, confirmed that Russia had received a large number of missiles from Iran recently, without providing further details. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said in early January the United States was concerned that Russia was close to acquiring short-range ballistic weapons from Iran, in addition to missiles already sourced from North Korea. A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington had seen evidence of talks actively advancing but no indication yet of deliveries having taken place. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the missile deliveries. Ukraine's top prosecutor said on Friday the ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea to Russia had proven unreliable on the battlefield, with only two of 24 hitting their targets. Moscow and Pyongyang have both denied that North Korea has provided Russia with munitions used in Ukraine. By contrast, Jeffrey Lewis, an expert with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said the Fateh-110 family of missiles and the Zolfaghar were precision weapons. "They are used to point at things that are high value and need precise damage," said Lewis, adding that 400 munitions could inflict considerable harm if used in Ukraine. He noted, however, that Russian bombardments were already "pretty brutal." A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that Kyiv had not registered any use of Iranian ballistic missiles by Russian forces in the conflict. The Ukrainian defense ministry did not immediately reply to Reuters' request for comment. Following the publication of this story, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force told national television that it had no official information on Russia obtaining such missiles. He said that ballistic missiles would pose a serious threat to Ukraine. Former Ukrainian defense minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk said that Russia wanted to supplement its missile arsenal at a time when delays in approving a major package of U.S. military aid in Congress has left Ukraine short of ammunition and other material. "The lack of U.S. support means shortages of ground-based air defense in Ukraine. So they want to accumulate a mass of rockets and break through Ukrainian air defense," said Zagorodnyuk, who chairs the Kyiv-based Centre for Defense Strategies, a security think tank, and advises the government. Kyiv has repeatedly asked Tehran to stop supplying Shahed drones to Russia, which have become a staple of Moscow's long-range assaults on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, alongside an array of missiles. Ukraine's air force said in December that Russia had launched 3,700 Shahed drones during the war, which can fly hundreds of kilometers and explode on impact. Ukrainians call them "mopeds" because of the distinctive sound of their engines; air defenses down dozens of them each week. Iran initially denied supplying drones to Russia but months later said it had provided a small number before Moscow launched the war on Ukraine in 2022. "Those who accuse Iran of providing weapons to one of the sides in the Ukraine war are doing so for political purposes," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said on Monday, when asked about Tehran's delivery of drones to Russia. "We have not given any drones to take part in that war." Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a Philadelphia-based think tank, said a supply of Fateh-100 and Zolfaghar missiles from Iran would hand Russia an even greater advantage on the battlefield. "They could be used to strike military targets at operational depths, and ballistic missiles are more difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept," Lee said. Deepening ties with Moscow Iran's hardline clerical rulers have steadily sought to deepen ties with Russia and China, betting that would help Tehran resist U.S. sanctions and to end its political isolation. Defense cooperation between Iran and Russia has intensified since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, Amirali Hajizadeh, in Tehran in September, when Iran's drones, missiles and air defense systems were displayed for him, Iranian state media reported. And last month, Russia's foreign ministry said it expected President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to sign a broad new cooperation treaty soon, following talks in Moscow in December. "This military partnership with Russia has shown the world Iran's defense capabilities," said the military official. "It does not mean we are taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine conflict." The stakes are high for Iran's clerical rulers amid the war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas that erupted after Oct. 7. They also face growing dissent at home over economic woes and social restrictions. While Tehran tries to avoid a direct confrontation with Israel that could draw in the United States, its Axis of Resistance allies including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen have attacked Israeli and U.S. targets. A Western diplomat briefed on the matter confirmed the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia in the recent weeks, without providing more details. He said Western nations were concerned that Russia's reciprocal transfer of weapons to Iran could strengthen its position in any possible conflict with the United States and Israel. Iran said in November it had finalized arrangements for Russia to provide it with Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 pilot training aircraft. Analyst Gregory Brew at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said Russia is an ally of convenience for Iran. "The relationship is transactional: in exchange for drones, Iran expects more security cooperation and advanced weaponry, particularly modern aircraft," he said. (Reuters) Brazil opened a conference of foreign ministers from the G20 group of nations on Wednesday by blaming the United Nations and other multinational bodies for failing to stop mounting wars and conflicts that are killing innocent people. Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira called for "profound reform" of global governance as Brazil's top priority for its presidency this year of the group of the world's largest economies. "Multilateral institutions are not adequately equipped to deal with current challenges, as demonstrated by the Security Council's unacceptable paralysis in relation to ongoing conflicts," Vieira said at the opening of a two-day meeting to prepare the agenda for the G20 annual summit in November. "This state of inaction results in the loss of innocent lives," he said. Ministers from the G20 nations, including the United States and Russia, began a free discussion of current world tensions and ways to improve multilateral organizations a priority set by Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva, along with curbing climate change and reducing poverty. But with continued fighting between Russia and Ukraine and Israel's invasion of Gaza, diplomats are not optimistic that proposals to upgrade global governance will advance easily within the G20. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Lula in Brasilia on his way to the Rio meeting and expressed U.S. support for Brazil's agenda to make global governance more effective, spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. The top U.S. diplomat discussed Israel's war in Gaza with Lula, amid a diplomatic spat after the Brazilian leader likened Israel's war to the Nazi genocide during World War Two. Lula has criticized the United Nations for failing to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and his accusations last week of atrocities by Israel in Gaza triggered a diplomatic crisis with an Israeli reprimand and Brazil recalling its ambassador. Brazil does not accept a world in which differences are resolved through the use of military force, Vieira said. "A very significant portion of the world has made a choice for peace and does not accept being involved in conflicts driven by other nations," he said. Brazil's quest for wider representation in an expanded U.N. Security Council reflecting a changing world was backed by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, despite the difficulty in obtaining consensus. "The Security Council needs to adapt to the geopolitical shift and become more efficient in a changing world ...the global community is facing multiple crises," she told the meeting, according to her press spokesperson. Brazil's G20 sherpa, diplomat Mauricio Lyrio, said on Tuesday that the lack of effective global governance to deal with the world's challenges has led to an unprecedented proliferation of conflicts. Lyrio said there was growing consensus on the need to overhaul the United Nations, where Brazil has advocated the expansion of the Security Council, a proposal that has not advanced due to the resistance of nations with veto power. "This meeting will essentially be a venting session to build the case for multilateral reform and diagnosing the problem," a European diplomat told Reuters. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov faced each other across the table for the first time since they spoke briefly face-to-face at last year's foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi. No meeting was planned between the two men. As an innovation, Brazil will propose holding a second G20 foreign ministers' meeting in September during the U.N. General Assembly in New York to advance talks on global governance, Lyrio said, with all U.N. member states invited to take part. The G20 represents around 85 percent of the global GDP, over 75 percent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. (Reuters) Chinese FM wraps up Europe tour, calls for stronger cooperation, unity, openness Xinhua) 15:05, February 22, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China stands firm as a force for stability in a turbulent world, and it maintains that major countries should promote their cooperation based on mutual respect and trust, tackle hotspot issues via dialogue and consultation, enhance global governance through unity and coordination and boost global growth with openness and mutual benefit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters Wednesday as he wrapped up his 6-day Europe tour. CHINA: PROMOTER OF WORLD PEACE Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) where he delivered a speech at the event on China and elaborated on China's position on major international issues in light of the conference's theme, visited Spain and France, and held the China-France Strategic Dialogue in France from Feb. 16 to 21. The annual report of the MSC this year reflected Europe's pessimism about the international situation and highlighted significant challenges facing the world today, Wang told reporters on Wednesday. The risk of a 'lose-lose' situation aggravates with heavy global governance deficit, escalation of tensions at regional hotspots, surge of zero-sum games, and impulse to decouple and cut off industrial and supply chains, he said. The MSC held a session dedicated to China, during which we sent a clear message that China will firmly act as a force for stability in a turbulent world, he added. On the sidelines of the MSC, Wang had extensive contacts with officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, the European Union, Canada, Argentina and Ukraine. During the candid, substantive and constructive discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Wang stressed that the U.S. side should view China's development objectively and rationally, adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, and earnestly implement the consensus between the two heads of state reached at the San Francisco summit. When meeting officials of other countries, the Chinese top diplomat reiterated that the development of China means growth of force for peace and stability and more opportunities for cooperation. China stands firm as a promoter of world peace, a contributor to global development and a provider of public goods, Wang said. On the Ukraine crisis, Wang said that political solution is the only way forward. "We should not give up promoting peace talks as long as there is a glimmer of hope," he said, adding that China will continue to play a constructive role in restoring peace and support building a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has already killed nearly 30,000 civilians and displaced some 1.9 million people, Wang said that the root cause of the conflict is the persistent failure to meet the Palestinian aspiration for statehood. The position of China is clear -- cease-fire immediately, ensure humanitarian assistance, release all detainees, convene an international peace conference, and relaunch the two-state solution, with the ultimate goal of peaceful coexistence of the two states and harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Israeli people, he said. PARTNERSHIP: KEYNOTE IN CHINA-EUROPE RELATIONS On China-EU relations, Wang said Wednesday that both sides, should make partnership and cooperation as the mainstay of their relations, seek common ground while shelving and narrowing differences so as to push their relations steadily forward. In Spain, Wang met with King Felipe VI, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, during which the Spanish side expressed willingness to consolidate traditional friendship and deepen practical cooperation. In France, with which China celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, Wang met with President Emmanuel Macron and co-chaired the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue with French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne. Wang also held discussions with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne in Munich. The two sides agreed to exchange high-level visits, strengthen strategic communication, reject "decoupling" and cut off industrial and supply chains, deepen traditional cooperation, and expand cooperation in emerging fields. Wang said that China and Europe have resumed in-person exchanges at various levels and fully activated dialogues and cooperation in various fields since last year, which "demonstrates a stable performance with positive momentum for growth in bilateral relations." "I noticed a growth of rational perception of China among Europeans, as they see China's development in line with the logic of history, which should not be feared or rejected by Europe," Wang said. The European side is positive about strengthening exchanges at various levels with China, and enthusiastic about deepening practical cooperation with China, as it expects more concrete results from bilateral operation in such fields as economy and trade, energy, green development, digitization, education and people-to-people exchanges, said Wang. "We'd like to share the opportunities of the large-scale Chinese market with Europe, and welcome Europe to actively participate in China's high-level institutional opening-up," said Wang, voicing China's continuous efforts in liberalizing market access, benchmarking international trade rules, and clearing up obstacles for foreigners coming to China. Europeans from all walks of life clearly oppose "decoupling," and people of insights have started to reflect on the risks brought by "de-risking," he said, highlighting the fact that interdependence between countries based on mutual trust is conducive to complementary advantages and to faster common development. Europe takes an important place in China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and it is also a key partner for China to realize modernization, he said, adding that stronger China-Europe cooperation will nip a potential new "Cold War" in the bud and stifle bloc confrontation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) As the global crisis of capitalism deepens, millions of workers and youth internationally are faced with a future blighted by the barbarism of war, oppression and exploitation. But this is not the only path facing humanity. The fight for communism is more urgent than ever, which is why we will be launching the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI) in June. If you are a communist, sign up to participate in the RCIs founding conference, and join us in the battle to end the horrors of capitalism once and for all! Worldwide, there is a growing layer of workers and youth who have already moved beyond the reformism embodied by self-described socialists such as Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn, who raised great expectations in millions, only to see them dashed. Todays radicals are looking for something more: a complete break with the old order. They want nothing less than communism, and are prepared to fight for it. The RCI intends to arm them with the ideas, methods and organisation to accomplish this. Lenins legacy, and the horrors of Gaza The RCI will be founded on the firm bedrock of theory, and this year we have been celebrating one of historys finest Marxist theoreticians. 2024 marks the centenary of Lenins death: the great revolutionary leader whose Bolshevik Party led the Russian working class to power in 1917. We have launched a Lenin Lives campaign this year (#LeninLives), to not only celebrate Lenins ideas and achievements but to train communists around the world in the real legacy and traditions of Leninism and Bolshevism. Part of this tradition is an unwavering defence of the oppressed against imperialist domination and oppression. Israels brutal war against the people of Gaza is radicalising whole swathes of workers and youth, who are indignant at their ruling class aiding and abetting the slaughter. To cover for the capitalists crimes, the establishment media and bourgeois politicians are trying to crush and criminalise all support for Palestine. As the most consistent defenders of the Palestinian people, the communists are under attack. Many of our comrades and organisations around the world have faced harassment, even arrest, for condemning Israels crimes, opposing Zionism, and demanding a revolutionary solution in the Middle East. Earlier this month, our comrades in Austria were targeted by a state prosecutor with particularly scandalous accusations of glorifying terrorism. Two comrades, Sonja and Alex, have been threatened with imprisonment for sharing the IMTs statement on the war against Gaza. Given such flagrant attacks on democratic rights, the need to build a bold, fighting organisation of communists could not be clearer. Indeed, it is only the communists who are seriously defending the elementary democratic freedoms of speech, protest and organisation! If you are enraged by the situation in Gaza, and the complicity of your ruling class; if you are serious about banishing the endless horrors of capitalism to the dustbin of history, then you need to join us! A World School of Communism The founding conference in the summer will give the RCI the audacious launch it deserves / Image: own work The founding conference in the summer will give the RCI the audacious launch it deserves. Spanning 10-15 June, this World School of Communism will feature talks and discussions covering all areas of communist history and theory, culminating in the official founding of the RCI. This will be a truly international event, with speakers from around the world emphasising the necessity of unified struggle by the working class for world revolution. Just as Lenin emphasised the urgency of building the Third International to facilitate the building of communist parties globally, unified into a single world party of revolutionary struggle, so we are beginning to lay the foundations of a communist international capable of leading the workers to victory everywhere. You can sign up to watch the World School of Communism here. The entire event will be streamed online, with watch parties organised on every continent. But there is no need to wait until then! If you are a communist, then you can join us now. Help us build communism in your country, and prepare for the launch of the Revolutionary Communist International. In the immortal words of the Communist Manifesto: the workers of the world have nothing to lose but their chains, they have a world to win. Get organised in the fight for communism within our lifetime! Sign up for the RCIs founding conference! Niamey, Chad (PANA) - Recent analytical work from the Sahel region suggests that, after controlling for socioeconomic status, children living in households cooking primarily with solid fuels are almost three times more likely to be stunted (low height-for-age) News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. 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The festival's vibrant fireworks were complemented by traditional dragon dances, drum performances and songs, creating a festive atmosphere. The event drew both locals and visitors, who gathered to enjoy and capture the spectacular scenes. Fushan village in Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province, celebrates its first-ever New Year Fireworks Festival. (Photo/Zhu Xuewen) Fushan village in Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province, celebrates its first-ever New Year Fireworks Festival. (Photo/Zhu Xuewen) Fushan village in Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province, celebrates its first-ever New Year Fireworks Festival. (Photo/Zhu Xuewen) Fushan village in Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province, celebrates its first-ever New Year Fireworks Festival. (Photo/Zhu Xuewen) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun) Modi govts progressive efforts for Punjabs farmers and ecology During the talks between the Centre and the farm unions from Punjab on February 18, the Narendra Modi government proposed a unique solution where it was willing to enter into an agreement with the farmers of Punjab on five crops -- cotton, maize, tur, urad, masur. The idea was to help farmers diversify away from wheat and paddy, both water-intensive crops, and to cushion and monetarily secure their transition for the next five years. The agreement was to be done through government agencies (CCI, NAFED, etc.). There was no upper limit on the quantum of crops that would have been procured. From an ecological perspective, this was ideal for Punjab, where the groundwater levels have alarmingly depleted. Of the 138 assessed blocks in Punjab, stated in the Dynamic Groundwater Resources Assessment of India - 2017 report, 109 are over-exploited, two as critical, five as semi-critical, and only 22 as safe. The total annual groundwater recharge of the state was assessed as 23.93 bcm (billion cubic metres), annual extractable groundwater resource was 21.59 bcm. Still, the annual groundwater extraction was at 35.78 bcm, putting the extraction at 166 per cent, the highest for any state in India. Even for Rajasthan, its less than 140 per cent. For a small farmer, the cost of extracting groundwater has increased in the last few years, and therefore, by moving away to crops that were not water-intensive, the input costs would have reduced. Punjabs majority area is under wheat and paddy cultivation (85 per cent in 2020-21). Therefore an ecosystem (market, buyers, logistics, input supplies, etc.) for cotton, pulses, and maize is not as significant, therefore warranting government support for the farmers, as they entered into a new phase of agriculture. In terms of area under cultivation, Maize makes up for 1.5 per cent, Cotton is 3.2 per cent, and pulses merely 0.4 per cent. For farmers, moving towards these crops would have unlocked new markets and buyers, especially in the private sector, thus allowing them more options to sell their produce, even to the private players, at will. By rejecting the offer from the Centre, the farm unions have staked the long-term interests of Punjabs farmers for their short-term interests. By not allowing them to move away from wheat and paddy, not only are these unions barring farmers from exploring new markets, but also adding to the groundwater stress that will push up the input costs for the farmers. Eventually, it could even make some belts unfit for paddy and wheat cultivation in a few years, further hurting the small and marginal farmers. Farm unions, majorly made up of brokers, or 'arhtiyas', as they are locally known, are also prioritising their hefty commissions that they earn from the trade of wheat and paddy at APMC mandis. More than the price for the farmers, it is about securing the commission of the middlemen, at the cost of Punjabs hardworking farmers and ecology. Karnataka Min Priyank Kharge downplays DyCM Shivakumar's power-sharing issue Karnataka Minister for RDPR, IT and BT, Priyank Kharge on Thursday sought to downplay the ongoing issue of 2.5-year term for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Priyank Kharge said that a discussion in this regard was held between four persons, and "whatever it is.. the high command of the party would take a decision.." He said this while answering questions over the remarks of D.K. Suresh, a Congress MP and brother of Shivakumar The Karnataka minister further said, "Whether its him or not ...others do not have any information in this regard. No one has the authority to speak on the matter. It is going to be the decision of the high command. As of now, our CM is Siddaramaiah. DyCM and Pradesh Congress Committee President is Shivakumar. We have faced the elections under their leadership and we will face the upcoming elections as well. There is no doubt that Congress is winning 20 MP seats.". When asked if Shivakumar will be made CM after two-and-a-half years, would he welcome it, Kharge replied, "Why do you imagine things without any reason? Now, budget is important. Let the discussion be about the good budget. First let us face the Lok Sabha elections and win 20 seats and later we will see, he stated. Congress MP D.K. Suresh had claimed that his brother and deputy to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah D.K. Shivakumar would become the Chief Minister after two-and-a-half years. Suresh said this on Wednesday when questioned about the potential replacement of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He was asked if Shivakumar's aspiration to become CM would come true. "It is not wrong to dream. I won't say what you're saying is false. Dreams need time to materialise. Changes are inevitable, and we must be patient. A day will come when Shivakumar's dream will be realised. He will become the CM after two-and-half years. However, we have to wait until the time comes," Suresh said. Asked about a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for a two-and-a-half year term, Suresh said: "The high command has made a decision regarding the matter. I won't disclose anything publicly now but a time will come when Shivakumar's dream will be realised." Clare Fonstein is a reporter who joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle. In Houston, Fonstein covered breaking news and trending stories. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, then attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she majored in journalism and international relations. She previously worked as an intern at the Morning Call, the daily newspaper of the Lehigh Valley, and her college newspaper at Lehigh University. She can be reached at Clare.Fonstein@sfchronicle.com. Mahnaz Momeni, left to right, mother of Nima Momeni; attorney Tony Brass, attorney Zoe Aron,and attorney Bradford Cohen, stand outside Department 22 after a hearing for Nima Momeni, suspect in tech executive Bob Lee's killing, as attorney Saam Zangeneh, speaks to the media at the Hall of Justice on Thursday, February 22, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Mahnaz Momeni, left to right, mother of Nima Momeni; attorney Saam Zangeneh; and attorney Zoe Aron leave the Hall of Justice after an appearance in Department 22 for Nima Momeni, suspect in tech executive Bob Lee's killing. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Lawyers for the man charged with murdering tech mogul Bob Lee last year demanded Thursday that prosecutors hand over data from two of Lees cell phones to peruse for evidence that might help their client. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Eric Fleming ordered attorneys to return March 5 so he can decide how much of the information will be made available. As defendant Nima Momeni was led back to jail, his attorneys said they want virtually everything on the devices. Prosecutors so far have turned over records for only one of the phones covering the two weeks prior to Lees slaying on April 4, 2023. The judge will have to consider the privacy rights of those whose information is on the phones, and whether its relevant to the case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is a case that involves a relationship between the victim and the suspect, so their history is very relevant, said Tony Brass, one of Momenis attorneys. Attorney Tony Brass speaks to the media outside Department 22 after a hearing for Nima Momeni, suspect in tech executive Bob Lee's killing, at the Hall of Justice on Thursday, February 22, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle The judge on Thursday also delayed a ruling on a request from Momenis lawyers that the trial be held outside of San Francisco because of what they say has been overwhelming publicity that might prejudice a jury. He set March 15 as the next court date on that matter. Momenis lawyers said they are conducting a Bay Area-wide attitudinal survey to determine how much the public has been saturated with news of the case. Prosecutors have said the defense is overestimating the effect of the medias coverage, and the trial should be held in San Francisco. When Lees body was found around 2:30 a.m. near the Bay Bridge on April 4, 2023, pundits nationwide seized on his death as an emblem of crime gone rampant in San Francisco. The frenzy raged for nearly two weeks before Momenis arrest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Revelations that Lee, 43, was well acquainted with Momeni, now 39, thwarted the narrative of stranger-on-stranger attacks gone amok. Saam Zangeneh, one of Momenis lawyers, argued that a change of venue was warranted because, among several things, the saturating coverage created unbalanced images of the victim and defendant. Lee, as co-founder of the lucrative Cash App, has been cast as hometown hero of the tech world, he said, while Momeni gets regarded as an outsider because of his Iranian immigrant background. Attorney Bradford Cohen, and attorney Saam Zangeneh, leave Department 22 at the Hall of Justice after a hearing for Nima Momeni, suspect in tech executive Bob Lee's killing, on Thursday, February 22, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Given the state of political unrest in the Middle East, as the Iranian regime is accused of being tied to every conceivable terrorist organization, one can only wonder if the media would have done the same if Nima Momeni was Chinese or Ukranian, Zangeneh wrote in a 12-page motion asking for the change of venue. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins shot back in a 25-page rebuttal that the defense team didnt adequately quantify effects of the media coverage. She pointed out that change of venue was refused in other high-profile criminal cases, including that of infamous 1980s killer-rapist Richard Night Stalker Ramirez, who murdered 13 people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A former Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy accused of stealing gun parts he seized during an investigation pleaded no contest Wednesday to three felonies. Robert Daly/Getty Images A former Contra Costa County sheriffs deputy accused of stealing gun parts he seized during an investigation pleaded no contest Wednesday to three felonies. Matthew Buckley, 42, was sentenced to 3 years, 8 months in prison. As part of a plea deal, he will be allowed to serve the time on supervised release so long as he completes a six-month drug rehab program, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office. Buckley was charged a year ago with six felonies and a misdemeanor. He was a 15-year veteran of the Sheriffs Department at the time. He posted $210,000 bail and remained out of custody for the past year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Wednesday, he pleaded no contest to possession of an illegal assault weapon, filing a false police report and preparing false evidence, the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office said in a statement. Buckleys attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Buckley was assigned to a task force that served a search warrant in Antioch in September 2020. During the search, Buckley seized two illegal AR-15s, phones, laptops, heroin and drug paraphernalia, prosecutors said. Buckley falsely claimed in a police report that he booked the firearms into evidence, prosecutors said. Instead he returned the upper sections of the firearms to the owner and kept the lower sections. An investigation found he also signed for a judge on multiple search warrants in unrelated cases, prosecutors said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As the investigation wrapped up in August 2022, fellow deputies searched Buckleys home and found the lower sections of the AR-15s, as well as a small amount of methamphetamine, prosecutors said. Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants. He can be reached at Jordan.Parker@sfchronicle.com. San Jose State University placed a professor on administrative leave following an altercation with a student during a campus protest stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict. David Schmitz/San Jose State University A distinguished San Jose State University professor, who had revived the Jewish Studies program, was placed on administrative leave following an altercation with a student during a campus protest stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict. While San Jose State issued a statement Tuesday saying a faculty member was placed on leave, it did not identify the professor. Another SJSU professor, however, told the Chronicle that the professor on administrative leave is Jonathan Roth. Roth is a history professor and the 2019 recipient of the universitys Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes faculty for exemplary leadership. SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson said the altercation occurred Monday outside a classroom at Sweeney Hall, where a guest lecturer was scheduled to speak. She said there were no serious physical injuries, no police charges at this time and that a review of the incident is underway and may result in more administrative actions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Roth could not be reached for comment, but Professor Sang Hea Kil, of the universitys Justice Studies and a co-chair of the Palestine, Arab and Muslim caucus, said that she had joined students to protest an appearance by guest lecturer Jeffrey Blutinger, a California State University, Long Beach, professor who specializes in Jewish history. A digital flier promoting the protest called Blutinger a Zionist and encouraged protesters to show SJSU that Zionists are not welcome here. Bultingers guest lecture was called Constructing a Just Solution: Where Israelis and Palestinians Go From Here. Kil said she stood alongside the students Monday as they began a disruption outside the classroom where the lecture was held. Those protesting left a pathway down the hallway for people to get through, but about 50 people lined the walls, stomping and chanting, Kil said. Their chants included Free Palestine, and From the river to the sea, she said. The latter phrase has drawn wide criticism by groups that say its antisemitic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Campus police officers stood outside the classroom door, Kil said. Kil said she saw Roth attempting to film or photograph students on a phone when the altercation occurred. The student was using her hand to block the filming because we understand that these types of footage will be used to (identify) faculty, staff, students and community later on, Kil said. So she was trying to protect the demonstrators by using her hand to block him from filming and he violently took her hand, twisted it down with her arm toward the ground. Two students tried to protect the woman, Kil said, before the campus police escorted Roth away. Kil said she and Roth have an antagonistic relationship and she has previously reported things she said he has said to various administrative groups, but it did not result in action. California wildlife authorities have officially named two gray wolf packs discovered in the state last summer. California Department of Fish and Wildlife California wildlife authorities have officially named two gray wolf packs that were discovered in the state last summer. In its quarterly report, published earlier this month, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the identification of the Beyem Seyo pack in Plumas County and the Harvey pack in Lassen County, both located in the northern part of the state. The recently discovered Yowlumni pack in Tulare County had been named in December. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These awe-inspiring animals continue to show us that Californias wild landscapes are great habitat for wolves and that theyll find their way here, Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news release. Wolves belong in our state, and we should do everything we can to ensure they thrive. Though the gray wolf is native to California, the animal was hunted to extinction in the 1920s. The population has experienced a minor resurgence since 2011. The resurgence began with the observation of OR-7, or Journey, a radio-collared wolf that became the first in nearly a century to range into the state from southwestern Oregon. The Beyem Seyo pack comprises at least two adults and six pups, while the Harvey pack consists of at least two adults and one pup. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With the recent discoveries, the state now boasts a total of five confirmed packs, including the Lassen pack in Lassen County and the Whaleback pack in Siskiyou County. Additional wolf sightings include two or three wolves in Tehama County, a group of three documented in Sierra and Nevada counties, and several individual wolves in Modoc County. The Center for Biological Diversity estimates that approximately 45 wolves, including adults, yearlings and pups, inhabit the state. These wolves are believed to be descendants of OR-7, who traversed seven northeastern California counties before returning to southwestern Oregon, forming the Rogue pack with a mate. Several of OR-7s offspring have established packs in California, including the original breeding male of the Lassen pack and the breeding female of the Yowlumni pack in Tulare County. The Shasta pack, Californias first confirmed wolf pack in almost a century, was discovered in 2015 but disappeared a few months later. The return of OR-7 prompted the center and allies to petition for full wolf protection under the Endangered Species Act, making it illegal to intentionally kill any wolves in the state. I feel so fortunate to bear witness to the return of these top-level carnivores to California, Weiss said. 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 San Francisco Police Commission voted Wednesday to restrict officers ability to pull over drivers for low-level infractions. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle The San Francisco Police Commission voted Wednesday to restrict officers ability to pull over drivers for low-level infractions, a form of traffic stop disproportionately used against people of color. Commissioners approved the policy on a narrow 4-3 vote, despite threats of litigation from the Police Officers Association, whose leaders may seek to block the city from implementing it. The move could fundamentally shift law enforcement tactics in San Francisco while intensifying an already bitter debate about public safety, represented in the stark division among the seven commissioners. It comes at a moment when San Francisco voters are weighing whether to recalibrate the powers of police and of the commission that monitors them. Next month voters will confront a ballot featuring a proposal championed by Mayor London Breed that would rein in the commission, and at the same time ease existing restrictions on police car chases and law-enforcement surveillance technology. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Supporters of the reform say it will help eliminate racial profiling, while Police Departments have long held that stopping a motorist for a minor infraction with the underlying intention of uncovering more serious offenses is a key crime-fighting tool. Data from the state attorney general showed that in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Black people were nearly six times more likely to be stopped by police than white people in 2020 a rate that suggests, to many observers, that law enforcement agencies have stumbled in their efforts to root out bias. Moreover, proponents say, it will help free up resources for bigger priorities, such as investigating serious crimes or clamping down on dangerous driving behavior. Officers have long been too fixated on stopping motorists for minor issues, such as a broken tail light or air freshener hanging from a windshield, members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations wrote in a June letter to the Police Commission. Historically, police have used such stops to harass and intimidate people of color while fishing for evidence of a crime, the councils government relations coordinator, Sameena Usman, said at the meeting Wednesday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These stops are wasting time and money at a moment when we need to be focusing on the core duties of the police department that actually improve peoples lives, said Commissioner Max Carter-Oberstone, who made the motion to pass the reforms. Commissioner Jesus Yanez agreed, characterized the pretextual stop limitations as a commonsense approach. But Commissioner Debra Walker, who also professed her commitment to end racial bias in policing, was skeptical. She worried about discrepancies between San Franciscos new policy and state traffic laws. Does our commission have the ability to tell officers what to enforce and what not to enforce? Walker asked, fearing, she said, that the commission had put police in an awkward position. She voted against the measure. Other opponents who spoke out during public comment accused the commission of overstepping its authority, and said the policy disregards traffic safety. Lt. Tracy McCray, president of the Police Officers' Association, called the commissions decision a huge boost to their egos, but a colossal bust for public safety for San Franciscans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This unelected body, with zero law enforcement experience, is not only telling San Francisco police officers how to enforce the law, but they are also picking and choosing which laws to enforce, McCray said in a statement. She slammed the commissioners for interfering with officers ability to stop suspicious vehicles and search them for drugs or guns. Cities including Los Angeles, Berkeley, Washington and Philadelphia have passed measures to reduce pretextual stops, though the policy contours varied. 6 arrested for illegal purchase, transportation of endangered animals Xinhua) 15:53, February 22, 2024 HANGZHOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Six people were recently apprehended for the illegal purchase and transportation of endangered sea turtles, the maritime police in east China's Zhejiang Province said on Thursday. A total of 26 sea turtles were confiscated, out of which five were alive. All of these turtles are classified as first-class protected animals in China. According to the Zhejiang coast guard bureau, while patrolling in the southern waters off Xiangshan on the evening of Feb. 18, maritime police spotted a suspicious fishing boat, which deliberately evaded inspection despite. The Officers immediately intercepted and boarded the fishing boat for inspection and found the 26 sea turtles on board. The five live sea turtles have been transferred to a wildlife rescue center and the case is under further investigation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Elena Kadvany joined The San Francisco Chronicle as a food reporter in 2021. Previously, she was a staff writer at the Palo Alto Weekly and its sister publications, where she covered restaurants and education and also founded the Peninsula Foodist restaurant column and newsletter. She can be reached at Elena.Kadvany@sfchronicle.com. About 36% of the office space in downtown San Francisco is vacant more than 30 million square feet. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2022 Regarding Endorsement: Everyone in S.F. wants empty offices converted into housing. Prop. C would help (Editorial, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 7): In justifying Proposition Cs provision to change or eliminate the real estate transfer tax (after the voters approved a tax increase in 2020 by a wide margin) the Chronicles endorsement says asking voters to reconsider these levies and give the Board of Supervisors flexibility to make adjustments during a time of financial instability is entirely reasonable. But this would be a permanent change not merely during a time of financial instability. Further, this is an underhanded attempt to thwart the will of the voters in the citys election guide, the propositions supporters do not even mention this provision to change the tax. I was initially intrigued by the idea of something that might encourage office space conversions to residential. But if the propositions authors wanted a one-time transfer tax exemption to motivate conversions, they could have left out the other provision. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is the sneakiest way possible to overturn the will of the voters. Amy Wollman, San Francisco Breed should apologize Regarding S.F. residents are stuck in buildings with broken elevators. Why has the city delayed fixing them? (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 16): How can there be the funds allocated to fix a vital service for people with disabilities and this is ignored? As usual, not many people care until it is brought to light. I would like San Francisco Mayor London Breed to personally apologize to those affected by her administrations inaction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We have a son who has a physical disability, we have warned him that no one will see him as needing anything, and Mayor Breed just reinforced our teachings. Laurent Vallat, Concord RFK Jr.s anti-vax views omitted I find it curious that the readers who have taken the trouble to write letters to the Chronicle to endorse Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for president have been silent on his most well-known position his extreme, unscientific opposition to vaccination. Perhaps they are embarrassed by this stance? Advertisement Article continues below this ad A person whose judgment is this deficient on one topic cannot be considered sound in other areas. In this case, I find Kennedys candidacy problematic in many aspects one being his deliberate solicitation of support from long-time Republican big-money donors. Regrettably, his laudable environmental work seems to be a thing of the past. Mark Heim, Sunnyvale Full picture of Navalny As I read through the obituaries of Alexei Navalny and the media coverage of his death, Im reminded of how strange it is that Western leaders have for years portrayed this man as an activist fighting for democracy and freedom. Rarely are Navalnys nationalistic and racist tendencies mentioned. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The obituary printed in the Chronicle (Jailed activist was Putins fiercest enemy, Nation & World, Feb. 17), for example, failed to mention that he once recorded a pro-gun rights video describing Muslims as cockroaches that needed to be exterminated. He was also a supporter of the far-right Russian March rally and an endorser of the Stop Feeding the Caucuses campaign, which opposed financial aid to ethnic minorities. In 2021, Amnesty International stripped Navalny of his prisoner of conscience status, citing hate speech that he had failed to denounce. His courage will not be forgotten, President Joe Biden said last week about Navalny. Meanwhile, Biden continues to pursue the extradition of Julian Assange, a true fighter for justice and freedom of speech, who has his court hearing in London this week as he faces possible extradition to the United States. In the flurry of news about Navalny, we cannot forget Assange. Yasmine Mortazavi, Oakland Dire prediction A political enemy (Alexei Navalny) of the president (Vladimir Putin) is mysteriously found dead in the inhumane Arctic prison colony where he had been held for three years. There is of course much worldwide suspicion but there will be no investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There will be no inquiry. Protestors will be arrested. The nations leader is counting on this to be soon forgotten. This is a glimpse for Americans of what life might look like with a withering democracy and centralized power; fairness and justice are fading away. Lets just be careful who we vote for in November. . Jack Ohman/The Chronicle As ballots land throughout California, Rep. Katie Porters mission in the U.S. Senate race is to swing the 17% undecided in the latest Emerson College poll, chip off support from Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee, and tear down Steve Garvey. Thats a lot of whiteboard to cover with the March 5 primary looming. Porter is now 12 points behind Schiff and is six points behind Garvey. Every public appearance is now fraught for Porter, who started the race looking like shed easily waltz into the November runoff. Porters appearance in the final Senate candidates debate Tuesday showed her certainly making her points, and she returned again and again to the influence of corporate PACs and earmarks. Schiffs latest earmarks are the bite-sized chunks removed courtesy of his Mike Tyson-inspired colleague from Orange County. Was it enough? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Porters purity test, in Schiffs words, was the main theme of the debate held on the Universal Studios lot, which happily featured no annoying sound effect bells like the second debate. However, someone at Universal obviously CGId a man named Steve Garvey into the debate, but someone forgot to write him a script. Properly lit and seasoned, a baked potato could beat Garvey in a debate. The threshold for Porter is much higher than a baked potato, but her law school professor presentation style is probably lost on any voter persuaded by Garveys vanilla banality. Taking Schiff on directly is a different matter entirely. Sure, Porter landed some hard punches on Schiff and his positions on corporate PAC money and earmarks, and she had to. Schiff took it all in, looking like he was channeling the Dalai Lama. The problem with purity tests as Representative Porter likes to establish is invariably the people establishing them dont meet them, Schiff aridly noted without remotely altering his facial expression. Schiffs dismissal of Porters critique on earmarks as a political talking point goes to a larger question about her: Is she all whiteboard and soundbites, or can she actually get things done in the less-and-less-staid Senate, where faux collegiality is key? Mostly, Porter doesnt seem to do collegiality with much enthusiasm; what she does do is take the bark off people on television. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unfortunately for Porter, Schiff is her nightmare opponent. He is accomplished, popular, likable and blandly appealing, like Mr. Rogers. Schiff doesnt inspire strong reactions in the Democratic Party as much as a sense of zen-centeredness. If Schiff were a jerk, Porters jabs might be more effective against a more vivid personality. Perhaps the most awkward moment in the debate was when Porter was asked why she has only one endorsement from her California Democratic congressional delegation colleagues, from Rep. Robert Garcia. For the record, Schiff has 27, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and Lee has eight. This was a little like asking a high school kid why no one picked them for their kickball team. Porter gamely responded that she was endorsed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and some members of the state Legislature. This begs the question: To Schiffs barely concealed point, can Porter effectively serve as a senator outside of the World Wrestling Federation/House of Representatives rules of engagement? Porter needs to answer that question yesterday, and it may be her biggest obstacle to moving past the March 5 primary. Thats not a purity test question, for her, its an existential one. Porter managed to link Schiff to earmarks (CHOMP!) again on the defense colloquy, saying that Washington gave sweetheart deals to certain defense contractors through earmarks, and there is a candidate on this stage who has done that again and again, getting earmarks for his private corporate donors who are big defense contractors. Schiff looked almost beatific. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Interestingly, Lee had perhaps her strongest debate performance, repeatedly invoking her hardscrabble upbringing in El Paso, Texas, being a single mother and being the tip of the sword among congressional progressives. Now it seems to be too little, too late for her. If she dropped out now and endorsed Porter, it could swing the race. But she wont. Where does this leave Porter? With a gaffe-less Schiff, an accomplished Lee and an amorphous Garvey, its hard to see how much harder she can punch or where. With Schiff absorbing Porters torrent and only lightly interacting, it doesnt make for many opportunities to move an increasingly frozen needle. The trouble here for Porter is that if she doesnt get a ticket to the top-two round, her future political options look limited. Shed be an obvious and effective gubernatorial candidate in 2026, given that thus far not-jelled field. If she keeps calling Schiff a corporate shill and pork-barrel pig, hed be unlikely to turn over his mailing list with much enthusiasm. Shed also be an interesting candidate for California attorney general. Porters hope now is the 17% undecided breaks her way. Thats a lot of voters who have been gnawing on their cuticles for months about choosing between her and Schiff. What would move that voting bloc is elusive, but it may be the choice between the progressive heart of the California Democratic Party and the consensus approach of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whom Schiff has mentioned every time he sees a hot mic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Joe Biden met Thursday in San Francisco with Yulia and Dasha Navalnaya, the widow and daughter of Russian political opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose death in a Russian penal colony was announced last Friday. Official White House photo by Adam Schultz President Joe Biden met with Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys widow and daughter in San Francisco on Thursday morning. Biden met with the two women to express his heartfelt condolences for their terrible loss following the death of Aleksey Navalny in a Russian prison, the White House said in a statement. Biden also told them personally of his plans to announce major new sanctions against Russia on Friday in response to Navalnys death and Russias war in Ukraine. Navalnys death Friday in an Arctic penal colony at age 47 caused an uproar across the world. Navalnys mother said she was told he died from natural causes. His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has repeatedly said she believes Russian President Vladimir Putin killed Navalny because of his criticism of the president, who is believed to be behind the untimely deaths of many foes, including journalists, politicians, human rights activists and former business allies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Navalnaya learned of her husbands death while at the annual Munich Security Conference. Shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris left the stage, Navalnaya unexpectedly appeared on it. She expressed disbelief at the reporting of his death from Russian government sources, but delivered an impassioned speech vowing that Putin and his associates will know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family, to my husband. And this day will come very soon. As Navalnaya walked offstage, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, reached out to her and offered her condolences. Later, she met with Harris. Navalnaya, who has typically stayed out of the limelight, posted a video Monday vowing to continue her late husbands work. Putin killed the father of my children, Putin took away the most precious thing I had, the closest and most beloved person but Putin also took Navalny from you, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Navalnaya posted to X early Thursday morning that she was with her daughter Daria Dasha Navalnaya, who is a student at Stanford University. Bidens official X account posted that Navalnys legacy of courage will live on in Yulia and Dasha, and the countless people across Russia fighting for democracy and human rights. The meeting had not been on Bidens official schedule, and no reporters were allowed in the room. Biden made a brief statement to reporters later in the day about the meeting and said we are not letting up on Putin and Russia. The White House slammed House Republicans for going on vacation without first approving funding for Ukraine and Israel, spokesperson Andrew Bates wrote in a memo Wednesday first reported by Politico. Lawmakers are currently back in their districts to meet with constituents and staff as part of a planned district work period. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Nelson County Board of Supervisors approved one special use permit for a campground and denied another during its Feb. 13 meeting. The first permit is for a location in Tyro, on Crabtree Falls Highway, and was requesting approval on two sites. The property is just under an acre and owned by John H. Fitzgerald Jr. and Roberta Fitzgerald. The owners of the property previously used the vacant lot for tent camping and fishing. They want to use the land to bring on two portable, tiny homes for short-term lodging according to the application. The owners had also received a special use permit in December 2022 for the adjoining property, which is currently being used as a campground. In October 2023, the planning commission voted to approve the Fitzgeralds latest special use permit. I know the Planning Commission already approved this but I still think it is a bad idea. Theres already two units in the area. Why does Nelson County continue to put these little campgrounds in tiny spaces so when youre driving down the road all you see is tiny campgrounds. Its frustrating to see that happening, Jerry Lloyd, a county resident, said during the public hearing on Feb. 13. Jessica Ligon, South District supervisor, was in favor of the idea. Ive been pleased over the last year or so watching the use of the two that are already there and how clean it has stayed, Ligon said. Ernie Reed, Central District supervisor, was not in favor of the idea. If at the time of the last campground was approved, the application would have been two sites on one side and two sites on the other, I wouldnt have thought very positively because the concentration of it would have been a little too much, Reed said. Reed also told the board that he was surprised there was not more discussion on the idea and he was hoping to make up his mind based on the discussion. Jesse Rutherford, board chair and East District supervisor, was also in favor of the campground. I think it is a beneficial part of the community, it creates some income for some individuals, Rutherford said. David Parr, West District supervisor, also spoke in favor. I have only heard positive feedback. It has been well maintained and no one has shared nay concerns about adding a couple of spots to it, Parr said. The board voted 4-1 to approve the special use permit, with Reed voting against it. Tommy Harvey, North District supervisor, was absent for this vote. The second campground special use permit request was for the property beside the Rockfish Presbyterian Church that was recommended for denial on Jan. 24 by the county planning commission. The property is owned by Kelly A. Kahle, and is in Nellysford on four acres. Again, members of Rockfish Presbyterian spoke against the campground. The board of supervisors also voted to deny the permit, 4-0. Harvey was absent for this vote. To ensure uninterrupted access to high-quality cancer care for patients in Lynchburg and Farmville, Centra Health has announced the launch of the Centra Medical Group Hematology and Oncology Clinic, set to begin operations on April 1. This decision comes in light of the Lynchburg Hematology and Oncology Clinics intent to conclude its contract with Centra after 10 years. Centra is adding 12 new providers in April and will have a total of 16 by May. The creation of these clinics in Lynchburg and Farmville will allow Centra to grow cancer care services through improved access to cancer care in the region and expanded clinical research. Thomas Angelo, vice president of Oncology Services at Centra, said patients care and well-being remain the organizations top priority amidst the transition. Lynchburg Hematologys contract ends in March. Were absolutely going to meet the need of these patients, he said. At the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center, all of the caregivers are employed by Centra with the exception of the doctors, who currently all work for Lynchburg Hematology and Oncology Clinic. The transition to the new clinic will involve the transfer of medical records, treatment plans and ongoing care to the Centra Medical Group Hematology and Oncology Clinic starting April 1. Angelo said there are steps being taken to facilitate a smooth transition, including direct communication with patients regarding upcoming appointments and assistance for those seeking to transfer their care elsewhere. This will allow us to ensure theres no interruption for patients, Angelo said. If they have an appointment, they should just keep it. And if they want to move their care elsewhere, we will work with them to change providers. We will go over the different provider choices with them to make it an easy transition. Angelo said Lynchburg Hematology and Oncology Clinic had stated it wanted to return to a private practice and was not terminated by Centra. I think they did a great job for us and were going to continue that care into the future, he said. We were disappointed that it didnt extend but we also understand that everybody has choices and they wanted to go to private practice, and we certainly understand and respect that. Hired providers come from clinics at University of North Carolina, Stanford, Northwestern, Emory University, University of Southern California and MD Anderson in Houston. We definitely have been very careful on who were bringing here to make sure that theyre high quality, Angelo said. Angelo also dispelled rumors suggesting Centra was abandoning cancer care services, emphasizing the organizations ongoing dedication to meeting patient needs. He confirmed Centra will continue to recruit additional providers to further enhance the clinics capabilities. Patients will receive further information regarding the transition process through letters in the mail and through updates on the Centra website at centrahealth.com. The Lynchburg Republican City Committee (LRCC) has halted its plans to hold a firehouse primary for city council candidates, but party chair Veronica Bratton says the fight isnt over. Because we have to be able to select our own nominees, so regardless of what happens in this June nominating process, this is something that we have to continue Bratton said Tuesday. During a meeting that ran more than two hours that night, the LRCC voted near-unanimously but for one vote against to rescind its earlier vote to hold a firehouse primary for city council nominees and instead opt for a state-run primary to be held June 18. The party then voted unanimously to form a state-wide coalition with the goal of changing the process in favor of party-run nominating contests. On Feb. 16, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an advisory opinion in response to a request from House Minority Leader Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, about whether political parties could select a method other than a state-run primary to nominate their candidates for office. Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, had also contacted Miyares with concerns about the LRCCs plans, after the party voted nearly unanimously Jan. 22 to hold a firehouse primary, or party caucus, to choose its nominees for city council. Councils four ward seats are up for election in 2024. Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi, currently running for re-election in Ward IV, was the sole vote against the firehouse primary at that meeting. He issued a statement Tuesday night after the vote. We now know June 18 is officially the day where Republicans can unite behind a vision for the city, and I am confident that the voters in Ward IV will overwhelmingly endorse results over rhetoric, Faraldi said. Helmer patronized 2021 legislation stipulating that local political parties cant choose a nominating process that excludes qualified absentee voters who cant be present at meetings because theyre serving in the military overseas, studying in college, temporarily residing outside the U.S., living with a disability, or suffering from or exposed to a communicable disease. An amendment to Virginia Code, that bill went into effect Jan. 1. Historically, local political parties in Virginia have been able to choose to nominate their candidates through either a state-run primary, which is conducted and funded by the Commonwealth, or by an alternate authorized method thats run by the party and typically limited to party members, such as a party convention, a mass meeting, and a firehouse primary or party caucus. Party members have typically had to attend these nomination events in person to vote. Virginia is an open-primary state, which means any registered voter can vote in a state-run primary. It was not a popular option among committee members who spoke during the meeting. Were allowing a delegate from Fairfax, a progressive Democrat, to tell us how to run elections in Lynchburg, Virginia, At-Large Councilor Martin Misjuns said. Committee member Curt Diemer said the LRCC has one job as a party and that they just ripped it right out from us. He added ... every candidate thats in here whos an elected Republican in Lynchburg knows this committee works for yall. What we ask in return is that you adhere to our principles and dont embarrass us. Miyares opinion essentially reiterated and explained the January amendment. The attorney general did not explicitly tell parties they couldnt hold their own primaries, rather a political party may not select a nomination method, including a convention, that de facto requires covered voters to be physically present to participate or that otherwise has the practical effect of excluding their participation. Miyares did note the challenges posed by including overseas members of the armed services when a party conducts its own nominating process. I note that with regard to state-run primaries, the Department of Defense and the Virginia Department of Elections make extraordinary efforts to address these challenges, including providing notice to servicemembers about voting options, expanded absentee ballot request deadlines, and an ability to request an absentee ballot electronically. A Feb. 16 email from the Republican Party of Virginias General Counsel Chris Marsten to all unit chairs gave a more definitive answer. In light of General Miyares opinion, I must recommend strongly against using a party canvass as a nominating method. At this point, the Party is not capable of engaging in the same type of effort as the Virginia Department of Elections and the Department of Defense to give covered voters access to the nomination process, Marsten wrote. During Tuesdays meeting, Bratton said the party would have had a process to include all categories of protected voters; she formed a committee with Misjuns and party member Josh Pratt for that purpose. She said absentee ballots and their envelopes would be watermarked and have serial numbers. Bratton also said the committee had created a website where absentee voters would have been able to enter serial numbers and see if their ballot had been received. Envelopes would not have been opened until all the voting was done on firehouse primary day and then we would livestream it because Im all about transparency, Bratton said. Former LRCC Chair Brian Triplett made the motion to rescind the firehouse primary vote. This is not the time to fight this, he said. We are right on the edge of an election. We have been warned by the attorney general, by RPV [Republican Party of Virginia] counsel, by Rich Anderson [RPV Chair], they have said look, you dont do this. If you do this, you are in imminent danger of being sued by the Democrats. We dont have much choice in this moment so were going to have to push forward I think with the state-run primary, that doesnt mean we all have to like that and that we have to accept it for the future, but we cant fight it right now because we just dont have the resources to do it, Triplett said. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Bratton said the vote for a firehouse primary wasnt about the vice mayor. It was absolutely not about any one person. This has also been about the principal of Republicans picking Republicans and I would hope that Democrats would want to pick Democrats so its not just even about our party Ward III Councilor Jeff Helgesons seat is also up for election in 2024. Reached by phone Wednesday, he declined to comment about whether hes running for re-election, but said of the primary vote: Id like to have done it the way weve done it for my five terms and all the other folks that were elected the same way or nominated as Republicans were by a mass meeting so I was surprised to hear one of them just thought it was about him, and quite frankly, thats pretty egotistical to think the whole process was about him. Helgeson added, Each party should pick their nominees to represent them, thats what theyre doing. And sadly, government keeps on meddling and getting in and saying, oh you cant do this, you cant do that. Nagakute, Feb 22 (News On Japan) - Aichi Medical University has announced that due to a computer error during the admissions process using the results of the unified university entrance examination, 80 applicants who should have progressed to the second stage of the medical school entrance examination were mistakenly deemed ineligible. The university has informed all 80 individuals that they are qualified to take the second-stage examination scheduled for the 22nd, and is considering providing an alternative date, such as the 25th of this month, for those who are unable to take the exam on the designated day. According to Aichi Medical University, located in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, a computer operation error occurred during the medical school admissions process, which utilizes the unified university entrance examination results. The error led to the mistaken determination that 80 applicants, who were actually eligible for the second-stage examination, did not qualify. The eligible candidates for the second-stage examination were announced on the 8th of this month, but subsequent posts on social media raised questions, with some students stating, "According to my self-scoring, I had a higher score than a friend who passed, so why was I deemed ineligible?" Upon investigation prompted by these concerns, the university discovered on the 19th that there had been an error when inputting applicants' scores, provided by the National Center for University Entrance Examinations, into the university's designated format. The university contacted the affected students on the 20th to inform them of the error. The university has conveyed to the affected students that they are eligible to take the second-stage examination on the 22nd and is considering options for those who cannot take the exam on that date, including the possibility of taking it on the 25th of this month. Aichi Medical University has issued an apology to the examinees for the inconvenience caused and has stated its intention to review and improve its checking system to prevent such errors from occurring again in the future. Source: NHK TOKYO, Feb 22 (News On Japan) - "Debt Completely Forgiven!? such advertisements, implying that anyone can reduce their debt, are familiar to many. The term "debt restructuring" refers to a system designed to help rebuild the lives of those with multiple debts. However, there have been increasing reports of individuals who, despite seeking help from lawyers or judicial scriveners, have ended up with even more challenging financial situations. A woman in her 40s, who sought legal help after seeing an online ad promising debt reduction, had borrowed 650,000 yen from consumer finance companies for living expenses and was struggling with repayments. In March 2023, while watching a video streaming service on her smartphone, she came across a video ad featuring testimonials like "I reduced my debt!" and clicked on it out of curiosity. She was directed to a website offering a free debt reduction diagnosis and entered her debt amount and contact information, which led to a call from a law firm in Tokyo. After communicating with the law firm's staff via LINE and email, she was instructed to transfer a monthly deposit. Since the amount was about 1,000 yen less than her previous monthly repayments, she decided to proceed and paid approximately 130,000 yen over eight months. However, in December, she was told that the settlement with the consumer finance company amounted to 760,000 yen, including delayed interest her debt had not decreased. Doubting this, she consulted with a consumer affairs center run by her local government and was informed that she should have pursued bankruptcy proceedings. She canceled her contract with the law firm through a judicial scrivener from a support organization, but the money she had paid, believing it to be a deposit, was not returned as it was considered a retainer fee. 40-year-old woman: "I believed the video ad with happy testimonials about debt reduction, and I only received a very simple explanation about the payments. I thought it must be legitimate since it was coming from a lawyer. I had a strong desire to reduce my debt as quickly as possible..." "Beware of Fraudulent Online Ads" Shinichi Niikawa, a judicial scrivener and deputy secretary-general of the "National Association of Consumer Credit and Life Debt Victim Liaison Council," a support group for multiple debtors, says that if the woman's financial situation had been properly assessed, debt negotiation would have been inappropriate. Judicial Scrivener Shinichi Niikawa: "Despite knowing that long-term debt negotiation would not reduce the individual's debt, the law firm seems to have created a business model that deliberately leads to settlements and fees. Among the online ads used to attract a large number of clients, there are some that border on fraud, and the industry must take collective action." "Countermeasures Against Online Ads" Leads to New Organization In response to such concerns, a new organization is being formed to advance countermeasures. The "National Conference on Secondary Damage Prevention for Debt Restructuring by Mass Advertising Firms" is scheduled to be established in March, comprising lawyers, judicial scriveners, and supporters of multiple debtors. At a preparatory meeting held online on February 17, about 20 participants, including lawyers, judicial scriveners, and supporters of multiple debtors, gathered. A man in his 30s, who had requested debt restructuring from two law firms based on internet ads, shared his painful experience. Man in his 30s: "The fees for hiring a law firm for one case were so high that my payment amount increased, leading to the absurd situation of borrowing money from illegal lenders to cover the costs, which only made my life harder." What Exactly is "Debt Restructuring"? Debt restructuring methods include "debt negotiation," where you negotiate with creditors to pay an affordable amount each month, and "bankruptcy proceedings," conducted in court to have debts forgiven. Lawyers and judicial scriveners tasked with these cases are expected to provide support tailored to the debtor's living situation. However, a 2022 survey of multiple debtor support organizations nationwide revealed that 37 individuals had sought legal assistance through online ads and, despite needing to file for bankruptcy, were guided towards debt negotiation, which only increased their burden. Among the consultations, there were 18 cases where the debtor's debt did not decrease and 14 cases where they incurred new debts due to payments to the law firm. Additionally, 30 out of the 37 individuals proceeded with their cases online without ever meeting a lawyer or judicial scrivener in person. The support organization launching next month plans to offer free phone consultations to assist multiple debtors and aims to grasp the extent of the damage. Lawyer Mikami Rii at the preparatory meeting: "We want to consult with people who sought help from lawyers through online ads without proper interviews or explanations and ended up without a resolution or in a worsened situation. With misleading terms like 'government-approved debt relief program' flooding the internet, we also want to address the nature of online advertising." Disciplinary Actions Over Exaggerated Advertising Cases have arisen where lawyers' exaggerated advertising has been deemed worthy of disciplinary action. The Chiba Bar Association is reviewing a case involving a lawyer in his 70s who advertised victim relief for investment and romance scams with claims like "Leave everything to us, and we'll solve it completely" and used logos of the Consumer Affairs Agency and the Financial Services Agency in online ads. In June 2023, the lawyer was judged to have potentially violated the Japan Federation of Bar Associations' regulations against "exaggerated advertising or advertising that creates excessive expectations," and the content of the disciplinary action is under review. The Japan Advertising Review Organization (JARO) also reports that it has received approximately 200 complaints each year for the past three years about advertisements for consultation services from law firms, including those with misleading expressions suggesting the possibility of money being returned. Where to Consult? For those struggling with debt, there are various consultation services available, such as free legal advice from the Legal Support Center (Houterasu) and free consultation sessions organized by local bar associations. However, it has been noted that fewer people are attending these consultation sessions recently. Lawyers interviewed for this report expressed concern that the number of people who seek debt restructuring through online ads and end up in greater hardship may be increasing. Consultation services for multiple debts are available through bar associations and judicial scrivener associations in each prefecture, consumer affairs centers run by local governments, and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations' Sunflower Hotline. Japan Federation of Bar Associations Sunflower Hotline: 0570-001-240 (Weekdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM) The support organization advises individuals to first consult these available services. Source: NHK TOKYO, Feb 23 (News On Japan) - Mio Matsuda, winner of the "Miss Young Magazine" title in the "Miss Magazine 2023" contest, appeared in the "Miss Maga's Asobiba! Retro Gravure" feature on "Yanmaga Web," which was released on Thursday, showcasing her stunning physique. CWeb The project serves as a platform for the winners of Miss Magazine to grow through playful gravure and video content on the web. The theme for this installment was "retro," with six individuals transforming into pin-up girls. The first week featured Matsuda, who presented a gravure spread wrapped in a cute and nostalgic atmosphere. Source: MDPR Reggae icon Bob Marley deserves more than Bob Marley: One Love is willing to give. Like a Golden Book for children, it glosses over much of the mans history and doesnt begin to tap into his impact on the music industry. Basically, this is a two-year look at his life and how he fought to bring warring sides together. Even that, though, is fairly sketchy. To his credit, director Reinaldo Marcus Green uses plenty of Marley songs and an attractive Kingsley Ben-Adir to play the part. What he doesnt include is necessary information about Marleys family life, his enemies list and that wonky toe that apparently led to widespread cancer. Wikipedia tells more than this film. Since family members were involved in the films production, there was obviously a desire to make sure some of the seams didnt show. But when whole swatches of Marleys life are missing, its hard to get a sense of the crazy quilt that was his life. Films like Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis did much more to find the fabric of their musicians lives. This tosses a scarf in the air and hopes it lands. When theres an assassination attempt on Marleys life, he manages to escape with a wrist injury. Wife Rita (Lashana Lynch), however, is shot in the head. Two days later, both are on stage. How was that possible? Thats where One Love goes wrong. We get the familys determination and grit. What we dont see is why hes a marked man in Jamaica or who all those kids are that rush to meet him behind his Graceland-like gates. The writing process is a little sketchy as well. Ben-Adir tosses out a great lyric and, suddenly, its a song. But all those hits couldnt have been as divinely inspired. Did he spend days in a studio or noodle on a guitar? That insight might have made One Love more than a walk-through for Ben-Adir. He gets a couple of testy moments but, for the most part, goes with the flow. Green also doesnt explain who some of the hangers-on are and what their role is in his desire to flee, then return to Jamaica. Like Bohemian Rhapsody, One Love is best when its on stage. The dervish that enthralled thousands of arena fans is here in bits and pieces. The loving dad comes out in car rides. A scene between Bob and Rita, when shes trying to convince him to wear a ring that was given as a gift, is the most heartfelt. It offers a moment of pause and a hint at what might have been. Bob Marley: One Love should have had the same life as the footage that arrives in the credits. There like so many similarly-themed films you get more about the man in five minutes than you got in the previous 90. Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller Movies in a Minute: "Lisa Frankenstein Movies in a Minute: The Greatest Night in Pop Movies in a Minute: "Poor Things" Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller Movies in a Minute: "Mean Girls" Movies in a Minute: "Anyone But You" Movies in a Minute: "The Color Purple" Movies in a Minute: "The Iron Claw" Movies in a Minute: "Wonka" Movies in a Minute: "May December" Movies in a Minute: "Wish" Movies in a Minute: "Next Goal Wins" Movies in a Minute: "The Marvels" Movies in a Minute: "The Holdovers" Movies in a Minute: "Five Nights at Freddy's" Movies in a Minute "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Movies in a Minute: "Killers of the Flower Moon" Movies in a Minute: "The Exorcist: Believer" Movies in a Minute: "Fair Play" Movies in a Minute: "Expend4bles" Movies in a Minute: "A Haunting in Venice" Movies in a Minute: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" Movies in a Minute: "The Equalizer 3" Movies in a Minute: "Blue Beetle" Movies in a Minute: "Gran Turismo" Movies in a Minute: Mid-year wrap-up Movies in a Minute: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" Fans in Mumbai celebrate new Rajinikanth movie Movies in a Minute: "Haunted Mansion" Movies in a Minute: "Barbie" Movies in a Minute: Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Movies in a Minute: Joy Ride Movies in a Minute: Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny Movies in a Minute: No Hard Feelings Movies in a Minute: "Elemental" Movies in a Minute: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Movies in a Minute: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Movies in a Minute: "The Little Mermaid" Movies in a Minute: Fast X Movies in a Minute: "Book Club: The Next Chapter" Movies in a Minute: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Movies in a Minute: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." Movies in a Minute: "The Covenant" Movies in a Minute: "Renfield" Movies in a Minute: "Air" Movies in a Minute: "Dungeons and Dragons" Movies in a Minute: "John Wick Chapter 4" Movies in a Minute: Champions Movies in a Minute: Creed III Movies in a Minute: 80 for Brady Movies in a Minute: "Drive-Away Dolls" Movies in a Minute "Bob Marley: One Love" Movies in a Minute "Dune: Part Two" Hawaii and California can continue to enforce their laws against butterfly knives pocket knives with folding blades that can be joined together and used as a weapon while an 11-judge federal appeals court panel decides whether the laws violate the constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Hawaii and California can continue to enforce their laws against butterfly knives pocket knives with folding blades that can be joined together and used as a weapon while an 11-judge federal appeals court panel decides whether the laws violate the constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense. A conservative three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last August that the knives could be considered arms and that Hawaiis law violated Second Amendment standards that the Supreme Court declared in 2022. In a decision overturning a New York law requiring gun owners to show a special need for self-defense to carry a concealed firearm outside the home, the Supreme Court said any such restriction must be consistent with this nations historical tradition of firearms regulation, dating to colonial times. The appeals courts August ruling, if it stands, could also overturn Californias ban on carrying in public butterfly knives that have blades longer than 2 inches. But on Thursday, the appeals court said a majority of its judges had voted to set the panels ruling aside and hold a new hearing before an 11-judge panel, consisting of Chief Judge Mary Murguia and 10 randomly selected judges. Sixteen of the courts 29 judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thursdays order is an important step forward for gun safety in the courts, said Janet Carter, an attorney with the gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety. In a filing with the appeals court, Everytown said the panels ruling could upend life-saving regulations on dangerous weaponry, including firearms. Alan Beck, a lawyer for two Hawaiians who sued for the right to own butterfly knives, said the case was a good candidate for future review by the Supreme Court. A butterfly knife is simply a pocket knife with a second handle, he said. Pocket knives existed during the colonial era, and they were commonly owned then and now. The Supreme Court heard arguments in November, and is expected to rule soon, on whether the federal government, and states such as California, can prohibit domestic abusers from owning guns. The high court is also considering a challenge to the federal ban on bump stocks, devices that enable rifles to be fired repeatedly without reloading. Under the Supreme Courts 2022 standard, the 9th Circuit is reviewing Californias bans on semiautomatic firearms and rifles with magazines that carry more than 10 cartridges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Butterfly knives, also known as balisongs, have two blades that can be unfolded when pulled out of a pocket and used as either a pocket knife or a weapon. They have been banned in a number of countries, including Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, and are restricted in several U.S. states, including California. Hawaii is apparently the only state that bans their possession and sale, under a 1993 law. The 9th Circuit panels ruling in August was the first by an appeals court to rely on the Second Amendment, which refers to the right to keep and bear arms, to overturn a states restrictions on knives. Like firearms, bladed weapons fit the general definition of arms, Judge Carlos Bea said in the 3-0 ruling, citing a dictionary definition from 1774. Trustees for Iowa Western Community College plan to set a preliminary budget next month that allows for a potential property tax levy increase. Iowa Western President Dan Kinney said enrollment is up across nearly all categories, including regional sites in Clarinda, Shenandoah, Atlantic and Harlan. The top line enrollment growth is estimated to be in excess of 9% this year. A public hearing on the budget is planned Monday, March 11, at 2 p.m. at Iowa Western's Shelby County Center in Harlan. College officials caution that the budget picture, including the tax levy and tuition rates, isn't yet clear, but the state requires colleges and other public entities to craft budgets in accordance with a prescribed timeline. "It is kind of a shot in the dark," Eddie Holtz, vice president of finance, told the Board of Trustees at a meeting Monday. "You're just looking so far into the future." The preliminary budget sets expenditure limits of about $64.3 million for the general funds, about $26.7 million for the plant fund and about $5.8 million for bond and interest payments. The tax levy rate would be capped at $1.4764 per $1,000 of taxable valuation for fiscal year 2025, which would reflect an increase of 8.676 cents or a little over 6.2% from the 2024 fiscal year. "The major difference between the two years is the early retirement package that we have," Holtz said. "The goal with an early retirement package is the funds that we save is exceeding what is spent throughout the period of early retirement." Early retirements approved last fall add up to almost 16 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, Holtz said, which is a one-time hit to the college's finances that would be partially absorbed by increased revenue from property valuation increases and other factors. Kinney said his budget priorities are to avoid dramatic tuition increases and to show respect to the college's employees through their compensation. "I feel very comfortable with this budget," Kinney said. Once the early retirements are paid off this next fiscal year, Holtz said he expects to drop back to the roughly $1.39 levy rate. However, because the college opted to prepay debts and has kept its levy flat, he said a bond issue would be possible without a tax rate increase. "We would be able to do a bond issue of $55 million, and I'm just using that number, and still keep our levy," Holtz said. "We're being very fiscally responsible." Holtz brought up a potential future bond issue in the context of a new building for technology, logistics, transportation and training programs. "We're bursting at the seams in several of our programs," Holtz said. "Building the new building would allow us to move programs to that, renovate space and so forth." IOWA CITY In an effort to save money and better allocate resources, the University of Iowa is planning to close several off-campus centers including Birchwood Learning Center in Davenport and Scott Community College Learning Center in Bettendorf. The UI request to close the centers along with the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Learning Center on downtowns Second Avenue SE will go before the Board of Regents for approval next week. Working professional students are overwhelmingly selecting online courses for their flexibility, according to the request to close the Birchwood center which houses space for the Professional Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Business Analytics programs. Offering both in-person and online has become an inefficient use of resources. UI officials gave the same reasons for wanting to close the Scott Community College center and the Tippie center in Cedar Rapids, where last year 101 students enrolled in the professional MBA program and 37 enrolled in the MSBA program. The university did not immediately say how many of the 101 Cedar Rapids professional MBA students in 2023 the highest enrollment since at least 2019 were taking courses in person and how many were online only. It also did not immediately share specifics about the 37 students enrolled in the Cedar Rapids-based MSBA program. Current MBA and MSBA students in the TCOB Cedar Rapids Learning Center will be able to complete coursework through online offerings at the pace of their choosing and with more flexibility, according to the UI request, which will take effect at the end of the current semester if approved by the board. There will be cost savings from no longer leasing space in Cedar Rapids, UI officials reported. Additionally, faculty resources can be focused on delivering the online program versus teaching courses at multiple in-person sites as well as online courses. The Birchwood Learning Center closure, like the one in Cedar Rapids, will affect UI professional MBA and MSBA in-person offerings, in that the location was used to offer those courses on the eastern side of the state. But, unlike in Cedar Rapids, that location had seen enrollment drop from a total of 87 in 2020 to 13 total in 2022 and zero in 2023, according to the university's request documents. Given the number of students applying to the Birchwood Center was so low that it would not be feasible to offer courses at that site, beginning in summer 2022 students applying to Birchwood were offered the option of moving to an online learning center," the university said. Scott Community closure The universitys planned closure of its Scott Community College Learning Center will affect master of social work students having opened about 50 years ago to serve the educational needs of students in the region. At that time, UI was the only (master of social work) program serving Iowa, and the demand for qualified social workers necessitated the opening of this educational center, according to the request for closure. The program originally was organized through the Quad Cities Graduate Study Center, a consortium of 10 universities, which eventually closed, prompting the UI to move its social work center to Scott Community College. Enrollment at Scott Community was effected by two changes: closure of Marycrest Universitys bachelor in social work program a feeder for the UI masters program at Scott and the debut of St. Ambrose Universitys master of social work degree, upping competition for students and practicum sites, according to the UI. In its last recruitment push for the Scott Community program in spring 2021, the UI netted 10 applicants all of whom were admitted, but eight took the online program. No students have been physically enrolled at the Scott Community College Learning Center since 2019. There has been a decrease in applications to the learning center, while at the same time, the program is expanding the online (master of social work) program due to increased demand, according to the university. It is anticipated prospects in the region of Scott Community College will apply to the online program. The UI master of social work program remains available at its main Iowa City campus, with 60 enrolled; the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Learning Center in Des Moines, with 79 enrolled; and through the UI online program, with 44 enrolled. UI officials did not immediately disclose how much it has been paying to lease the spaces and how much the program closures could save. But they reported faculty resources would be better spent and students would be better served. This should remove barriers as it increases accessibility and convenience. No impact is expected on the Iowa workforce." Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette. Photos: Iowa's Caitlin Clark becomes the All-time leading scorer in NCAA Women's Division I 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021524-qc-nws-caitlin 021524-qc-nws-caitlin 021524-qc-nws-caitlin 021524-qc-nws-caitlin 021524-qc-nws-caitlin 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord 021624-qc-nws-clarkrecord The fate of several county ordinances that restrict the placement of carbon dioxide pipelines in Iowa might hinge on the federal court appeals of two lawsuits. Shelby and Story counties were the first of five counties sued by Summit Carbon Solutions over their ordinances that require the pipelines to be located minimum distances from houses, schools, medical facilities and other places where people and livestock congregate. Those first lawsuits were filed in November 2022, and a federal judge decided in December 2023 that the county restrictions are overruled by the authority of state and federal regulators and, as such, cannot be enforced. Since the early lawsuits were filed, a further three counties have passed their own similar ordinances including two since the judges decisions despite the threat of litigation from Summit. The company promptly sued them, too, seeking permanent injunctions to bar enforcement of the ordinances. The other counties are Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto. All three of those lawsuits will likely be paused until the appeals are decided, court records show. Dickinson County is also considering its own ordinance. Summit wants to build an $8 billion, five-state pipeline system that would connect to about 50 ethanol plants, half of which are in Iowa. It would transport captured carbon dioxide to North Dakota for underground storage through about 2,400 miles of pipe. The ordinances reflect the fears of residents about what might happen if the system suffers a catastrophic breach. Under certain conditions, pipeline breaks can release a thick plume of carbon dioxide that stays close to the ground and can travel significant distances. That was the case in Satartia, Mississippi, in 2020, although federal regulators have said that incident which sickened dozens of people was an outlier. Summit has said the county ordinances will disrupt its route and potentially block its project entirely. The company prevailed earlier this month over county ordinances in North Dakota, but it has been stymied by them in South Dakota. South Dakota lawmakers are considering new legislation to bar their counties from restricting the pipelines. The bill cleared an initial vote last week. The appeals Chief Judge Stephanie Rose, of the federal Southern District of Iowa, sided with Summit in two of its lawsuits in December. The challenged restrictions impose severe limitations that will lead to a situation where the (Iowa Utilities Board) may grant a permit to construct a pipeline and Summit is unable to do so, Rose wrote. Shelby and Story counties appealed the decisions later that month. Those appeals have been consolidated into one set of proceedings, and an initial brief from the counties is due March 8, court records show. Its unclear when the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals might issue a final decision. Summits lawsuit against Emmet County the third it filed, in March 2023 was recently paused, pending the appeals. Given the similarities between the ordinances and preemption claims at issue in the cases, the county expects that the Eight Circuits resolution of the Shelby County and Story County appeals will be significant to or even possibly dispositive of the resolution of the issues in this case, wrote Jason Craig, a Des Moines attorney who represents the counties, in a request for the stay of proceedings regarding Emmet. The newest lawsuits against Kossuth and Palo Alto counties were filed in January, and requests to pause those proceedings until the appeals court rules are pending. The IUB is poised to issue its decision on whether to grant or deny Summit a hazardous liquid pipeline permit in Iowa. The company has said it aims to have the pipeline system operational in 2026. Photos: UNI men's basketball vs. Bradley, Feb. 18 DES MOINES Parents of students with disabilities, superintendents and educators had another chance to weigh in on a bill to change the funding and oversight structure of Iowas area education agencies during an Iowa House public hearing on Wednesday. Several parents said they were worried the changes to Iowas network that provides support for special education in the state and other services would weaken the options for their children. Some school superintendents, though, said the bill would give them more flexibility over their special education dollars and provide accountability for the AEAs. Esther Huston of West Des Moines, who said she has a child who uses AEA services, said increasing funding to schools and AEAs would be a better way to address Iowas education issues. Why are we here? she said. Why are we trying to fix something thats not broken? Its not broken. If anything, you need to fix the funding issues that my kid cant get services readily, because you dont fund them. What does the bill do? Iowa's nine AEAs, which are governmental agencies separate from the Department of Education, provide special education to school districts in their boundaries and assist with classroom equipment and media services, professional development and talented and gifted instruction, among other services. The services are largely funded by property taxes and federal special education dollars. House File 2612 would allow schools to retain the state funding that now goes to the AEAs for special education, media and other services, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. It would also bring much of the oversight of AEAs under the Department of Education. House Republicans proposed the legislation after blocking a bill proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds early in the session, which would have made more dramatic changes to the agencies. Reynolds said the bill was necessary to address lagging test scores for students with disabilities in Iowa. Under the House bill, districts would have to use the special education funds with the AEAs, but they could spend the other dollars with the AEAs or with another party, like a private company. It differs significantly from Reynolds original proposal, which would have allowed districts to spend special education dollars outside the AEAs. The Senate version of the bill, which has passed out of a committee, contains a similar provision. Beyond funding changes, the House bill would bring the AEAs under the Department of Education and create a new state Division of Special Education to oversee them. The division would be staffed with 58 new state employees who would handle oversight and federal and state compliance for educating students with disabilities. The bill would move the AEAs governing boards to an advisory capacity and require state approval of AEA budgets. The salary for AEA administrators would be capped at the average salary of all superintendents in the district served by the AEA. The bill would also establish a 10-member task force to study the AEAs, led by the legislative leaders of both parties. The group would assess and make recommendations related to the property owned by the AEAs, the services they provide, the accountability and oversight measures in place, the organizational structure of special education in Iowa and a timeline for staffing modifications at the AEAs. The bill passed out of a committee last week, with Republicans in support and Democrats opposed, and is eligible for a vote by the full House chamber. Parents say AEAs provide a vital service Though the bill would still require schools to use the AEAs for special education support, parents of students who spoke during the hearing told members of the House Education Committee they worried the changes would lead to inequities and worse outcomes across the state. David Tilly, who was deputy director of the Iowa Department of Education from 2012 to 2020, said lawmakers should pause the advancement of the bill, which he said could place students futures in jeopardy. Tilly, who has a daughter with a disability, said a parent learning their child has a disability is one of the most profound experiences of their lifetime. He said lawmakers should not make any changes without first commissioning a study of the AEAs. The only defensible course here is a study before making any changes to the AEAs, he said. Iowa kids are not a partisan issue. To be clear, a sufficient, credible study has not been done at this point to support any of the AEA bills. Other parents who supported the bill said they were dissatisfied with the services their school district and AEA were providing to their students with disabilities, and said they believed the bill could allow for more personalized attention to students with disabilities. Superintendents say they want to control special ed dollars Several school superintendents spoke in favor of the bill, saying they would like to control the special education dollars dedicated to their students. The superintendents said the bill would allow them to keep track of their special education funding and have a better accounting of where the money is going. Ottumwa Community School District Superintendent Mike McGrory said AEAs are necessary and provide valuable services, and he does not want to see them dismantled. But he said the bill would give schools a seat at the table in determining what services their students need. Our school districts should be equal parts in determining what the schools and students need, whether or not things are working or need to adapt, he said. Its time for reform. Some superintendents asked House lawmakers to return the bill to Reynolds original proposal, allowing schools to spend their special education dollars outside the AEA to educate students with disabilities. David Smith, the superintendent of the Spirit Lake Community School District, told lawmakers that the current system has not been working for the district. The system has been in place for a long time, and where we live it doesnt work, he said. It hasnt worked, and we don't think its going to work in the future. Mark Lane, the superintendent of Woodward-Granger Community School District, opposed the bill and said he does not support the changes. While he acknowledged some things can change in the AEA systems, he said the pace of the changes, without proper evaluation by stakeholders and experts, is doomed to failure. Committee chair promises more conversations Rep. Skyler Wheeler, a Republican from Hull who chairs the House Education Committee, said the input was consistent with what he had heard in past meetings, and said the House would continue to have conversations on the bill. Though the Senate has a different bill, Wheeler said he was focused on working on the House bill and building Republican support for the measure. My focus right now is on my caucus, making sure that whatever it is, if we come to an agreement on something, that we have the ability to get the votes for, he said. I dont know what the Senate is doing. We have conversations here and there, but they're going to focus on what they're going to focus on. We're going to focus on what we want to focus on over here. Rep. Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown, said she does not want to make big changes to the AEAs based on complaints from certain school districts or individuals. She reiterated the call from Democrats to hold a study on the AEAs before making changes. The thing we need to keep in mind is the students, she said. We are now kind of talking about a lot of organizational issues. We can take care of that without disrupting the structure and the services that we provide to the students. Senate has alternative proposal Senate Republicans advanced a bill out of committee last week that more closely aligns with Renyolds original proposal, allowing school districts to contract with outside entities to provide special education support. Under the bill, Senate File 2386, schools would receive 90% of their state special education funding, while the AEAs would receive the other 10%. The school districts could spend that money on the AEAs services or contract with an outside party for the services. They would still have the legal obligation to educate students with disabilities. The bill would direct 60% of the funding for media services and education services, which are paid for by property taxes, to the school districts, who could then contract with the AEAs or another party for those services. The AEAs would retain the other 40% of the funding. It would also create a Division of Special Education, directing the Department of Education to work with the AEAs on a plan to transfer employees focused on oversight to the department. Trade programs, unlike other areas of higher education, are in hot demand Trade programs, unlike other areas of higher education, are in hot demand DES MOINES Truck and car horns blared as they drove laps Wednesday around the Iowa Capitol complex as union members and advocates rallied in opposition to a proposal that would impact Iowa public workers collective bargaining rights. Two semis emblazoned with graphics for the Teamsters union were a part of the caravan of at least two dozen vehicles that circled the complex for roughly an hour. An Iowa Teamsters leader addressed reporters on the Capitol steps. The proposed legislation, Senate File 2374, would decertify a public worker collective bargaining unit if the public employer fails to submit to the state a list of union-eligible workers. Labor advocates have called it a union-busting bill because it places bargaining units fate in the hands of the employer. Union members compare the proposal with a 2017 law that stripped Iowa public workers of most of their collective bargaining rights. When things arent broke, dont fix it, Jesse Case, secretary-treasurer and principal officer of Teamsters Local 238 in Iowa, said during his remarks to reporters. The public sector bargaining law wasnt broken in 2017, and they broke it. And now they want to break it some more. Well guess what: weve had enough. The Teamsters union has six local chapters in Iowa, Case said, representing roughly 12,000 members in law enforcement, freight, warehouses, county road crews, public works and school bus drivers. Shortly after the new legislation was introduced, Case recorded a video in which he said Teamsters unions may engage in rolling strikes. During Wednesdays events at the Iowa Capitol, Case said Teamsters members also are considering other options. Case claimed that some Teamsters members across the state have been working while technically off-duty, and as an example said some public workers are answering work calls even though they are off the clock and not on-call. Case said if state lawmakers pass the latest legislation on collective bargaining, unions will tell those public workers, for example, to stop taking those off-duty calls. Our members are not obligated to go above and beyond the call of duty while theyre under attack from lawmakers, Case said. And Im telling you right now, the next time that theres a union-busting bill signed into law, people across the state will start feeling the effects of service. The bill was introduced by Sen. Adrian Dickey, a Republican who is president of a trucking company, Dickey Transport, in Packwood. Dickey and Sen. Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig who ran the bill through the first steps of the legislative process, have said it is needed because many public bargaining units are not submitting lists of union-eligible workers and thus not holding annual recertification elections, both of which are required by the 2017 law. From 2020 through 2022, the state did not receive information on union-eligible employees in more than 40% of instances in which a union was required to be recertified by a vote of its eligible workers, according to the Public Employment Relations Board, the state board that manages public employer-worker relations. That means in 40% of instances in which a union was required to be recertified, no election was conducted, according to the board. Sen. Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines and a lawyer, said that typically happens when the public employer is certain a bargaining unit would recertify, has a good working relationship with the unit and its workers, and thus does not feel compelled to force the election. Dickey last year also led the effort on legislation that limited damages in lawsuits related to crashes involving commercial truck drivers. Dickey said that bill also shifted liability in such crashes from commercial truck drivers to their employer. Its disappointing I get no gratitude for providing real help to the Teamsters and instead Im attacked for simply proposing public employers and unions follow the law, Dickey said in a statement emailed by Senate Republican caucus staff. SF 2374 is nothing more than a technical cleanup to legislation passed in 2017, Dickey said in his statement. Last year, 41% of Iowa public sector workers that had union representation did not have a voice due to a loophole in the legislation passed in 2017. If the public sector employer and the union are following the law, nothing will change for them. The legislation has cleared the Iowa Senates Workforce Committee, which Dickey chairs. It is eligible for debate by the full Iowa Senate. It must also be approved by the Iowa House and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds before it would become law. Rep. Dave Deyoe, a Republican from Nevada who chairs the Houses Labor and Workforce Committee, said lawmakers have been aware of the lack of recertification elections by bargaining units for years, and that it has been a concern for Republicans who passed the 2017 law. Deyoe said it will be up to Republican House leaders whether to take up the bill if it is passed out of the Senate. Case said Teamsters members plan to continue their opposition to the legislation, including by conducting similar caravans and news conferences in Dickeys district in Southeast Iowa. Were not taking it anymore, Case said. This is the beginning of an escalation, and it either stops or it continues to escalate. But were not going to do it laying down. Were standing up. Were fighting back. Were united. And this is just the beginning. Teachers know how to teach reading The Republicans politicians and Republican governor Reynolds are going to write a guide book for teachers on how to teach reading. Really? If they really want to improve reading and test scores, all they have to do is restore the billions they have cut from education since the first Bransted administration. Hire well trained professional as we did under Gov. Robert Ray and pay them. Get class size back to 16 per teacher, just as schools bragged about when I came to Iowa in 1977. Teachers don't need a handbook. They need to be allowed to do their job. Richard Bleth Underwood Drone regulation would be a bad idea In recent weeks, Iowa has taken a concerning step backward in its approach to drone regulation with three proposed bills: HF572/SF520, HF2180 and HSB704. While the intention behind these bills may be to address safety and privacy concerns, they are written to do more harm than good, especially for our state's small businesses and innovative ventures. These bills, if enacted, would not only violate federal law but also undermine the growth potential of Iowa's economy. The Federal Aviation Administration has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for drones, ensuring safety and consistency across the nation. By introducing state-specific legislation, Iowa risks creating a patchwork of regulations that hinder the free flow of commerce and innovation. Drone bills in the past and in other states have often ended in court battles costing taxpayers lots of money to try and attempt to defend. This all can be avoided if our elected officials do not overstep authority. Small businesses have been at the forefront of drone technology adoption, utilizing these unmanned aerial vehicles for tasks ranging from photography, agriculture, and soon delivery services. Iowa's proposed bills could strangle these businesses by imposing unnecessary restrictions and stifling technological progress. Innovation thrives in an environment that encourages experimentation and adaptation. The proposed bills, however, threaten to create bureaucratic obstacles that impede the very spirit of progress that has driven Iowa's economy forward. We must recognize the potential consequences and act swiftly to prevent these bills from becoming law. It is essential for our state legislators to reconsider these bills and engage in a constructive dialogue with stakeholders. Let us foster an environment that promotes innovation, supports small businesses, and adheres to federal guidelines. The economic future of Iowa depends on this technology. Bridger Hawkinson Dubuque We don't deserve Legislature's arbitrary rules We recognize the Iowa Board of Medicine for addressing concerns regarding improper medical terminology and references in adopting rules for the so-called fetal heartbeat bill passed by the Legislature in 2023. In attempting to adapt the language of the law to standard medical care, the Board of Medicine has taken an important stand to protect the physician-patient relationship. However, this does not change the fact that the restrictions the bill outlines infringe on the rights of pregnant women to control their reproductive health and the ability of physicians to provide standard of care medicine. Exceptions for abortion care are difficult to access, delay care and result in maternal death and disability. Iowa has long been noteworthy for being last in the nation in Ob-Gyns per capita; in 2023 we again made headlines for a 30% increase in infant mortality, the largest rise of any state in the nation. These statistics are projected to worsen if this law and others like it take effect. Physicians in Iowa seek to provide empathetic and personalized care for their patients, promote positive health outcomes and offer standard treatments we have been trained to provide. Physicians do not seek to withhold care while waiting for our patients to fully miscarry or for their health to decline enough to qualify for treatment. The population of Iowa deserves better than arbitrary rules that do not promote the health and wellbeing of pregnant patients. Emily Boevers, MD Andrea Greiner, MD Francesca Turner, DO Jami Maxson, MD Iowans for Health Liberty The man accused in a double homicide at a Bloomfield bowling alley on Tuesday allegedly admitted to fatally shooting the two victims and has been ordered to be held without bail. Alias Reed, 25, was formally charged Wednesday afternoon with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony. County Judge Donna Taylor signed an order finding probable cause for Reeds arrest and ordered him to be held in jail without bail until further order of the court. Reed is accused of using a shotgun to kill Curt Strom, 77, and William Reffett, 49, at Curts Lanes and Dining at 112 W. Grant St. in Bloomfield. Law enforcement officials provided some details of the shooting at a press conference Wednesday morning, but an arrest affidavit prepared by a Nebraska State Patrol investigator shed more light on what may have transpired. According to the affidavit, state patrol investigators were called to assist in a death investigation at the bowling alley, where Strom and Reffetts bodies were found. Reed and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Kaylyne Sweazy, were detained as part of the investigation and interviewed. Reed, according to the affidavit, admitted to walking over to the bowling alley with a shotgun concealed in a cardboard box, entering the business with the intention of killing Strom and Reffett. He allegedly removed the weapon from the box when he got inside and told Reffett that he was going to rob him. Reed said that Reffett turned and began to walk toward the back of the business. Reed followed Reffett and shot him before shooting Strom, he said. Reed said that he figured since he was at the bowling alley, he might as well take money from the business, according to the affidavit. He allegedly took money from a wallet and a cash register, exited the building using a back door and walked toward Sweazys parents house. Reed at some point went to Center which is located about 13 miles west of Bloomfield to get rid of the shotgun. Investigators later found the gun along a rural county road near Center. Authorities then arrested Reed and transported him to the county jail. His two murder charges carry a punishment of life in prison without parole, and the firearm charges carry penalties of 5 to 50 years behind bars. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court on Thursday, March 7. SWEAZY WAS charged on Wednesday with tampering with evidence, a crime punishable by up to 50 years in prison. According to an affidavit, Sweazy said in an interview with investigators that Reed, her partner, had gone to Curts Lanes and Dining Tuesday morning. When Reed returned home, he was scared and shaking, Sweazy said. Reed allegedly told Sweazy that he killed Strom and Reffett. Sweazy said she went with Reed and disposed of the shotgun along a gravel road in a rural part of the county. When asked if she knew the exact whereabouts of the gun, Sweazy pointed to the location on a map, where authorities later found the weapon. Taylor ordered Sweazy to be held on $100,000 bail. She must post 10% of that, or $10,000, to be released. Sweazy was ordered by the judge not to have any direct or indirect contact with Reed. She, too, is scheduled to appear in court on March 7. 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. The San Francisco City Attorneys Office announced a settlement with Qwick, a company that helps staff restaurants and hotels with servers, bartenders, cooks and cleaners. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Qwick, a hospitality staffing company that provides thousands of food servers, dishwashers and other help to restaurants and hotels, has agreed to reclassify its California workers as employees and pay them $1.85 million in compensation for lost wages and benefits in a settlement with the city of San Francisco. The agreement, if approved by the courts, will be the first in the state requiring a major company to treat large numbers of workers as employees rather than independent contractors, City Attorney David Chiu said in announcing the settlement on Thursday. Employees, unlike contractors, are entitled by law to minimum wages, overtime pay, sick pay, meal and rest breaks and workers compensation, among other benefits. Thousands of Qwick workers in California would be paid a total of $1.5 million in restitution for lost pay and benefits, based on the number of shifts they have worked since 2019. Those who remained with the company would receive additional sick-leave hours worth up to $350,000, Chiu said. The company would also pay $250,000 to San Francisco in civil penalties. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hospitality work is grueling, and our hotel and restaurant workers deserve to be treated fairly, Chiu said in a statement. This proposed judgment puts money back in the pockets of workers, and ensures that they will have the full complement of employee rights and benefits moving forward. It also ensures that law-abiding staffing companies will no longer be at a competitive disadvantage. Anand Singh, president of the labor union Unite Here Local 2, said the settlement was a huge victory for Qwick workers who are entitled to the same protections, wages, and benefits as their peers employed at hotels and restaurants. The company applauded the settlement. Were excited to announce that our California markets will be the first to experience our enhanced, compliance-focused model, Dana Barbeau, Qwicks chief people officer, said in a statement. The future of work is evolving, and our goal is to lead that evolution by providing innovative opportunities that empower our freelancers. The company, based in Phoenix, was founded in 2017 and expanded its operations to San Diego in 2019, Los Angeles in 2021 and the San Francisco Bay Area, along with about 20 metropolitan areas in other states, in January 2022. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It sends servers, bartenders, cooks and cleaners to businesses that serve food and drink to their customers. According to the suit that Chius office filed last August, Qwick deducts a 40% fee before paying its workers. The suit said the company was violating a 2019 California law, AB5, that classifies workers as employees if their work duties are controlled by the company that hired them, or the company they work for. It is the same law cited by state labor officials in a case involving drivers for the ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft. Uber, Lyft and their allies sponsored a November 2020 ballot measure, Proposition 22, that exempted them from AB5 and classified their drivers as contractors. Prop. 22 was approved by 59% of the states voters after a $200 million campaign by the companies. But the state Supreme Court has granted a request by labor unions to decide whether the measure violates the California Constitution, and is likely to hold a hearing in the next few months. That court case does not apply to Qwick, which was not covered by Prop. 22. Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced nationwide regulations last month that are likely to define many workers as employees rather than contractors under federal law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under the Labor Department standards, courts would weigh the hiring companys control over the work and whether it is essential to the companys business, factors that favor employment status, against whether the worker has made an independent investment and could make a profit or suffer a loss. President of the Spanish Government President Pedro Sanchez reiterated, on Wednesday from Rabat, his countrys position supporting the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007, to resolve the artificial dispute over the Sahara. Speaking at a news conference held at the end of his working visit to the Kingdom, Sanchez reaffirmed the Spanish governments position as expressed in the Joint Declaration adopted on April 7, 2022, and the Joint Declaration issued at the end of the 12th Morocco-Spain High-Level Meeting (HLM) on February 2, 2023. He stressed that Spains position on the Sahara issue was clearly expressed in these two declarations, considering the autonomy plan as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving this dispute. Earlier in the day, King Mohammed VI received Pedro Sanchez at the Royal Palace in Rabat. This visit follows on from the new stage in bilateral relations, initiated by the meeting between the King and the President of the Spanish Government in April 2022, and the adoption, on that occasion, of the Joint Declaration between the two countries. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement offers four significant opportunities to the Moroccan automotive sector, which is among the best developed on the continent, especially for its affordable inputs, finished exports, advantageous labor, and reduced customs tariffs, the 9th edition of the CFC Africa Insights report outlined. The report, titled AfCFTA: unlocking the potential of intra-African trade, suggests that increased trade integration with African partners, particularly in North and West Africa, could lead to economies of scale. Morocco is well-positioned to benefit from the establishment of cross-border value chains, while the sector also holds promise for economies across the region. In 2022, international automotive trade reached 1.6 trillion dollars, surpassing that of crude oil and natural gas, the report notes. It also emphasizes how automotive supply chains, spanning across borders, allow numerous countries to contribute to vehicle production. Under the AfCFTA, the Moroccan automotive sector stands to gain two key opportunities, namely access to low-cost inputs and an outlet for finished goods exports. By integrating Moroccos automotive sector with neighboring economies, Moroccan producers can capitalize on lower labor and material costs in Africa. The report highlights that Nigerias current tariff on unassembled cars stands at 5%, but is anticipated to decrease to 0% by 2030. This shift could generate employment opportunities in both countries, enabling Morocco to export unassembled vehicles to Nigeria for further processing. The presentation of this report, jointly drafted by Casablanca Finance City Authority (CFCA) and Fitch Solutions BMI subsidiary, took place on Wednesday in Casablanca. BMI economist John Ashbourne at CFCAs CFC Insights conference attended the presentation along with Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour; Director General of Casablanca Finance City Authority (CFCA), Said Ibrahimi; and the Special Representative of the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the Africa Investment Forum, Yacine Fal. Spanish aeronautical group Aciturri is expanding its presence in Morocco through a new partnership announced Wednesday. Under the new partnership, Aciturri will establish a new manufacturing facility in Midparc, a Moroccan industrial development company, with an estimated investment of $2.4 million (25 million dirhams) planned for equipment in 2024. The agreement, signed in Casablanca in the presence of key officials, means a significant step forward for Moroccos aerospace industry. Aciturri, one of the leading aerospace suppliers in Spain, acquired in 2023 GOAM Industrie, a Midparc-based company, specializing in machining blades for aircraft engines. The company has already created 100 jobs in Morocco, with a target of reaching 150 by the end of 2024. Moroccos Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, emphasized the projects contribution to the strengthening of the national aeronautical industry through developing the engine parts ecosystem, enabling technology transfer, and fostering skill development in the Moroccan workforce. Mezzour said that the agreement is a new success story for the Midparc zone and that it represents an important step forward in the strengthening of our aerospace industry. He added that the agreement is in line with the governments strategy to develop the aerospace sector in Morocco. Gines Clemente, CEO of the aeronautical group, said that Aciturri is excited to be investing in Morocco and that the country is a strategic location for the company. The investment will help Aciturri to grow further internationally and to improve our competitiveness, he added. He sees Aciturris expertise combined with Moroccos industrial potential as a driver of new avenues of growth and competitiveness in the sector. Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi, president of Midparc, highlighted the agreements importance in attracting another major player to Moroccos already strong aeronautical industrial platform. He anticipates this partnership will further increase Moroccan integration in the global aerospace supply chain. The sale of the south end of North Platte Industrial Park as part of a planned development with some 600 housing units won easy initial City Council approval Wednesday. Council members voted 6-0 to advance an ordinance that would sell 65.8 acres south of the U.S. Postal Service post office and regional distribution center for $100 to Midwest Land Development LLC of Lincoln. Councilmen Brad Garrick and Ed Rieker were absent from Wednesdays meeting, postponed a day due to schedule conflicts for Mayor Brandon Kelliher and some council members. Midwest Land, whose principals include Ogallala native Austin Hillis of Ashland, has teamed with KOW Council LLC, a group of local investors, in planning an overall 222-acre development between East Philip Avenue and the South Platte River. KOW owns a cowboy-boot-shaped 158-acre area annexed Dec. 5 west and south of the industrial park. Its plan with Midwest Land calls for 597 single-family homes, townhomes and apartment units as well as commercial, light industrial and park areas. City Planning Commission members will hold public hearings Feb. 27 on Midwest Land requests to rezone the 222-acre site and grant nearly $37 million in tax increment financing. Theyll decide whether to recommend them to the council, which will hold its own hearings and votes on March 5. Two more positive council votes are needed to finalize the sale of the industrial parks south end for the project, unless members decide March 5 to waive a third and final vote. The council voted 6-0 for an amendment by Councilman Pete Volz making the sale contingent upon final approval of TIF for Midwest Land. Kelliher said Monday that the low $100 sale price recognizes the expected high cost of preparing the mostly low-lying project area. Midwest Land will have to build up its elevation 3 to 4 feet before it can start building homes, he said. It also has to build new arterial and side streets. Wednesdays council meeting featured a brief moment of drama as members considered second-round approval of an ordinance annexing 21.51 acres near the South Platte in the northwest quadrant of Interstate 80s Exit 177 interchange. With Flanders and Rieker absent, the council voted 4-2, one yes vote shy of a majority, to advance the ordinance to a final March 5 vote. Donna Tryon and Mark Woods repeated their Feb. 6 votes against the annexation. Kelliher then provided the needed fifth vote under a 2023 state law allowing mayors to break council ties or provide deciding votes when one or more council members are absent. In other business, the council: Ratified, as part of the evenings consent agenda, Kellihers appointment of North Platte Public Library librarian Shelly Deardoff as the new library director. She succeeds Sky Seery, who resigned last July. Approved a microTIF application for MADD Properties LLCs planned renovation of its second floor at 306 E. Sixth St. for 10 residential loft apartments. A microTIF request involving the 1889 Dickey Building was pulled from the agenda. Accepted bids of $1.225 million from Level LLC to build two streets within Twin Rivers Business Park and $1.28 million from Simon Contractors to make repairs to the North Willow Street viaduct over the Union Pacific tracks. Both firms are based in North Platte. Agreed to spend $240,000 from the citys share of federal COVID-19 funds to extend South Bryan Avenue about 1 blocks south. The work will include a new intersection with East Francis Street, which will be extended by The Connection of North Platte as part of its planned nearby low-income apartment project. Miss Nebraskas Sparklers will debut this year along with several other changes to update and improve the mentor portion of the Miss Nebraska program. Combining the Miss Nebraska Little Sisters and Little Princess programs, the Sparklers will be part of a new Miss Americas Little Sisters Mentoring Program. Each state organization gets to pick their chapters name, and the Miss Nebraska Organization dubbed theirs the Sparklers. Angela Blaesi, the program director for the Nebraska Sparklers and the former Miss Nebraska Little Sisters Program, said the Sparklers will be open to ages 6-12. Girls can apply even if they have been Little Sisters before, which is a change from previous years. Sparklers will be paired with a big sister, or mentor, each year that they participate. Mentors are those competing in Miss Nebraska or Miss Nebraskas Teen. During that year, the girls will spend time with their mentors while learning about the Miss Nebraska community and seeing their mentors compete, rehearse and perform. Miss America is not just a beauty pageant, Blaesi said. These women are strong, theyre smart, theyre powerful, and theyre going to make a difference in our world. And that all starts in the mentorship program. Seeing the older girls support and care for each other during rehearsals and performances in June helps build a sense of community and confidence, said Blaesi, who has volunteered with the organization for more than 11 years. These girls get to witness firsthand and see how building each other up and being a community for each other is beneficial to life, and they get to see that at a young age, she said. Throughout their time in the program, Sparklers will be paired up with different mentors, giving them the opportunity to support and look up to more women. You want to teach girls that its not only the women in your circle that you support, its everyone, Blaesi said. Applications for the Sparklers are open until March 4 and can be found at missnebraska.org. A pro-choice supporter argues with an anti-abortion supporter in front of the Supreme Court in 2019. Photo: ANNA GASSOT/AFP via Getty Images Women in Alabama were already subject to an abortion ban when the state supreme court launched another assault on their reproductive rights. Last Friday, the court ruled that frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization are children under state law. Even before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory, Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote in a concurring opinion. Immediately, Alabamas largest hospital paused IVF treatments. In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital said it must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for performing standard IVF procedures. On Thursday, a second IVF clinic also paused treatment. Nonviable or excess embryos are routinely discarded during the IVF process. That is murder to some proponents of fetal personhood, including the Catholic Church and presidential candidate Nikki Haley. Embryos, to me, are babies, she said this week. Though the Alabama ruling did not strictly forbid IVF, abortion-rights advocates worry that its religious logic could lead to restrictions on the practice. A victory for fetal personhood would be a disaster for women and undermine the very notion of a private life. To Parker and his allies, IVF is not a choice a woman has the right to make. The state should decide. This view is not limited to Alabama or even to the subject of reproductive freedom. Conservative activists are blurring the line between the public and private realms. Days after the Alabama ruling, Politico reported that Trump allies are readying plans to infuse a second term with explicit Christian nationalism, namely through Russell Vought. He was Trumps director of the Office of Management and Budget, and now he leads the Center for Renewing America, a far-right think tank preparing an agenda for a Trump restoration. Vought, who reportedly speaks to Trump about once a month, says he believes that a person should accept Israels God, laws, and understanding of history to immigrate to the United States. He has written that America is a Christian nation, where our rights and duties are understood to come from God. Hes close to William Wolfe, another former Trump official, who has said online that the U.S. should end sex education in schools along with surrogacy and no-fault divorce. The government, he said in an X post, should force men to provide for their children as soon as its determined the child is theirs, which Politico characterized as a clear incursion by the government into Americans private lives. Wolfe, Vought, and their ilk may not even recognize the right to a private life. Consider Parker, the Alabama chief justice. Media Matters reported on Wednesday that he adheres to the Seven Mountain Mandate, which is a popular theological approach that calls on Christians to impose fundamentalist values on all aspects of American life. In an interview with Johnny Enlow, a QAnon conspiracy theorist who supports Trump, Parker said that God created government and told Enlow, As youve emphasized in the past, weve abandoned those Seven Mountains and theyve been occupied by the opposite side. Parker added that he himself had been called by God to the mountain of government. In his authoritarian view, a Christian government holds sway over a persons most closely held decisions. The right to have children by choice, to parent as conscience dictates, and to have sex how and with whom one pleases are all at risk if conservatives get their way. The parental-rights movement is one of domination, for example. By forcing LGBT children to hide their true selves in public classrooms, they contravene the wishes of affirming parents. That lust for domination extends to other private choices as well. Last May, the Heritage Foundation hosted an event that called the birth-control pill into question. A guest called for a feminist movement against the pill that would return the consequentiality to sex. Online, the Foundation made its intentions clear. Conservatives have to lead the way in restoring sex to its true purpose, & ending recreational sex & senseless use of birth control pills, it said in an X post of the event. Earlier, when Justice Clarence Thomas wrote his concurring opinion in the case that overturned Roe v. Wade, he took aim at previous rulings that enshrined contraception access and same-sex marriage, and which banned the criminalization of homosexuality. The high court should reconsider the cases, he argued. The rights criticisms of IVF are not new. When George W. Bush vetoed a bill to expand stem-cell research in 2006, so-called snowflake children, born from donated frozen embryos, attended the event. Recently, as Melissa Gira Grant observed at The New Republic, a piece in Christianity Today speculated that embryo adoption may be the next pro-life frontier. On its own, embryo adoption may not seem like much of a threat: If someone donates their frozen embryos, why shouldnt they be adopted by someone else? But when the practice is framed as a pro-life frontier, amid rising threats to IVF and reproductive choice, it can seem sinister. Some proponents favor restrictions on IVF that would make the practice more costly and less successful in order to minimize the creation of excess embryos. Choice would vanish along with privacy. Its already happening in Republican-led states, where lawmakers have forced their way into the doctors office. Our private freedoms are linked to public notions of equal citizenship. Conservatives attack the former in order to undermine the latter. Its an unpopular strategy, but as the scholar Matthew Taylor told Politico, These folks arent as interested in democracy or working through democratic systems as in the old religious right because their theology is one of Christian warfare. This is total war, and not just on women. Anyone who fails to conform is at risk. Commander Biden, resisting the urge to bite the president on the Truman Balcony, on July 25, 2022. Photo: Adam Schultz/The White House via AP)/AP During his entire time in office, Joe Biden has generated fewer scandals that Donald Trump did during an average week in his presidency. Trump served up a true scandal smorgasbord, from awful things like instigating an insurrection to fun stuff like hawking canned beans from the Oval Office. But the big Biden controversies are all repetitive and depressing. His son Hunter is a recovering addict whos done some extremely sketchy things (but never took a job in his dads administration). Joe may have mishandled classified documents (but not in a fun way). Biden is arguably too old to do the job (but so was Reagan, and our other option is a guy whos old and also unhinged). These are things we probably should be talking about, but theyre not the kind of thing anyone really wants chat about with co-workers at the water cooler (or, lets be real, over Slack). However, there is one Biden debacle that you can really sink your teeth into (pun intended): His dog Commander biting his way through the White House. This story has everything you need in a good White House scandal: Its unique, its bloody yet involves no fatalities, and the presidents response is truly mystifying. Plus it just keeps on going! On Thursday, we learned that Commander bit dozens of people and literally left a trail of blood in the White House. The Bidens have long been plagued by pet drama. They moved into the White House with two German shepherds, Champ and Major. Sadly, within a few months Champ had passed away and Major was rehomed with family friends after biting a mere two people at the White House. Then (while we were still awaiting the arrival of the White House cat) a third German shepherd burst onto the scene: three-month-old Commander. Meet the newest Biden. pic.twitter.com/JHAbH53iRk President Biden (@POTUS) December 20, 2021 Last July, we learned that Commander had bitten seven people at the White House, according to records obtained by the conservative legal group Judicial Watch. By the end of September, the number of known Commander attacks was up to 11. On October 4, the Daily Mail reported that the dog had bitten a 12th person and there were photos of Commander chomping on a groundskeepers wrist! Even more incredibly, the White House was totally unprepared when reporters inquired about why the Bidens were letting their dog use White House personnel as chew toys. Fox News Peter Doocy to WH Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre: There are some new pictures of Commander Biden biting a staffer again. How many times has that dog bitten the Bidens? pic.twitter.com/P7LGTAjjcN The Recount (@therecount) October 4, 2023 And when Commander was finally booted from the White House days later, officials only revealed that hed been moved to some undisclosed location. Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated, Elizabeth Alexander, the First Ladys communications director, said in a statement at the time. Today, Commander is reportedly living with other family members. But hes still terrorizing the Biden administration from afar. After reviewing hundreds of pages of records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, CNN and the Washington Post revealed that the dog bit Secret Service agents 24 times. And Commanders bite count is actually higher than that, since the records only cover October 2022 through July 2023 and do not include previously reported incidents involving other personnel. The new batch of documents included some truly wild details. Secret Service leaders were so worried about the biting incidents that they began tracking them on a spreadsheet. Agents changed their habits and issued internal warnings in an attempt to avoid further mauling, per CNN: The recent dog bites have challenged us to adjust our operational tactics when Commander is present please give lots of room, an unnamed assistant special agent in charge of USSS Presidential Protective Division wrote to their team in a June 2023 email, warning that agents must be creative to ensure our own personal safety. In October 2022, an unnamed Secret Service technician described an incident and said they were worried about the family pets behavior escalating and that something worse was going to happen to others. As previously reported, an agent was sent to the hospital in November 2022 due to a bite from Commander. The new documents reveal that seven months later, Commander briefly shut down White House tours when he injured an agent so badly that he left a crime scene, according to the Post: On one occasion in June [2023], Commander ran toward, knocked down and bit a special agent so deeply that the person required stitches and tours of the East Wing of the White House were stopped for about 20 minutes because blood had spilled on the floor. Commander launched a bloody attack in the White House and continued living there for four months! What was Joe thinking? Exactly how many people did this dog bite? What does this say about White House security? Are the Bidens irresponsible pet owners? Forget impeaching the Homeland Security secretary for doing his job; these are the questions House Republicans should be asking. And if Trump was smart, hed be hammering Biden on bitegate, too. Americans have strong opinions on proper pet care, and its the one issue where the previous administration was squeaky clean (because Trump hates dogs). Tulsi Gabbard speaking at CPAC. Photo: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images Theres a popular if not terribly rigorous take on politics called the horseshoe theory that holds that extreme ideologies of the left and right tend to converge. There are some obviously correct elements of this theory, such as the common tendency of fascists and communists to favor one-party states and kill a lot of their perceived enemies. But cultural issues in particular cause a lot of problems for the claim that extremists are pretty much all the same: Not too many fascists favor LGBTQ+ or abortion rights, and not too many commies are into traditional families. Accordingly, you dont really see many people or politicians go from far left to far right or back again. An exception is clearly former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard. A big-time backer of Bernie Sanders in 2016, and a favorite of the anti-war left, Gabbards most famous moment on the 2020 Democratic nomination trail was her sharp attack on Kamala Harris in a debate for putting over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations as a prosecutor. Today, though, Gabbard is scheduled be the keynote speaker at a Mar-a-Lago fundraising dinner for the 917 Society a nonprofit best known for distributing pocket-size copies of the Constitution, The Daily Beast reports. I dont know if this is Gabbards first trip to Trumps Florida lair, but it has been reported that he and his advisers have met with her during the last year to discuss her favorite subject, notes the Washington Post: The talks with Gabbard who has staked out a role as an outspoken critic of aid to Ukraine and U.S. military interventions overseas are part of a broader conversation about how Trump would manage the Pentagon differently if voters award him a second term. Trump has repeatedly told advisers and donors in recent months that one of his biggest mistakes was his personnel choices at the Pentagon, where he says he was stymied by officials with diverging opinions. Gabbard hasnt endorsed Trump for president just yet, but shes definitely been on a sojourn toward MAGA-land for a while now. Her strongly anti-interventionist views (including hostility to any aid to Ukraine) have been a constant. But in October 2022, she formally left the Democratic Party, hurling an assortment of leftish and rightish insults at her old team, as NBC News reported at the time: Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii announced Tuesday that shes leaving the Democratic Party because its now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness. In a video statement posted on social media, Gabbard, 41, accused Democrats of dividing the country by racializing every issue, stoking anti-white racism and actively working to undermine our God-given freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. The Democrats of today are hostile to people of faith and spirituality, she continued. They demonize the police and protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans. The Democrats of today believe in open borders and weaponize the national security state to go after political opponents. Above all else, the Democrats of today are dragging us ever closer to nuclear war. Soon thereafter, Gabbards trajectory was made clear by her endorsement of the Senate candidacy of MAGA favorite J.D. Vance. And before long, she was the favorite indie validator available to Republicans, as Politico explained: Many campaigns are embracing her because shes a former Democrat who has woken up to the lefts extreme policies, said one GOP lawmaker who has worked with her in the past, speaking candidly about Gabbard on condition of anonymity. Yes, her views have tended to be isolationist, but we have always had civil and respectful engagements on a personal level. Gabbard doesnt come across as a simple flip-flopper; as noted above, her anti-interventionism has been constant, along with an insistence on calling out Islamic terrorism by its specific name. And beyond that, some of her newly conservative cultural views may well draw on her distant past as a young Hawaii lawmaker who opposed abortion and was the daughter of the states chief opponent of marriage equality. She doesnt seem that opportunistic, either, since she has often embraced unpopular positions, as in her willingness to defend Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In limited ways, moreover, she really does reinforce the horseshoe theory: Her hatred (thats the only word for it) of Hillary Clinton as a lefty presidential candidate (she sued Clinton for defamation) certainly doesnt make her stand out in Mar-a-Lago. But its possible shes about to become something other than a political fashion accessory for the GOP and Trump. At an event in South Carolina earlier this week, Fox News Laura Ingraham asked him about a list of vice-presidential prospects that included Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds, Kristi Noem and Gabbard. Trump replied: All of those people are good. Theyre all solid. (His campaign later clarified that DeSantis was not under consideration, and that Elise Stefanik was a possibility, too.) Its well known that Team Trump is interested in broadening his coalition by choosing a veep who is a woman, a person of color, or someone well outside the political Establishment. Gabbard fits all three criteria. Shes also a longtime National Guard member who served in Iraq, addressing another of Trumps own weaknesses. Additionally, the 45th president and former reality-TV star is known to have an eye for physical attractiveness. And last year, Gabbard headed up a list of the worlds hottest politicians. Shes even an avid surfer and mixed-martial artist. All in all, shes a made-to-market action figure. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to a Trump-Gabbard ticket is her independent streak. Even if shes currently MAGA aligned, would she have the personal loyalty to Trump that failed in arch-sycophant Mike Pence when the chips were down? There are also persistent questions about her longtime relationship with a cultish Hawaii circle whose leader was homophobic and allegedly abusive. Any proto-candidacy might not survive a full vice-presidential vetting. But dont be surprised if she stays on Trumps veep list for a while or totally shocked if he actually taps her. The former president is not a man free of his own questionable past, and he probably doesnt care at all what happens to his party once hes done. Tulsi Gabbard could be just weird and controversial enough to make sense as a running mate in Trumps final, apocalyptic campaign. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Its been clear for some time that Ron DeSantis probably isnt on Donald Trumps VP shortlist. DeSantis infuriated the former president by challenging him for the Republican nomination, then dropped out of the race after a humiliating loss in Iowa. Also, putting two demagogic Florida men on the GOP ticket makes no sense and it may even be unconstitutional. Nevertheless, DeSantiss vice-presidential stock shot up this week when Trump seemed to confirm that he was considering him for his running mate. Upon closer inspection, Trump didnt really give DeSantis for VP much of an endorsement. During a Fox News town-hall meeting, host Laura Ingraham read off a list of six possible running mates suggested by the audience including DeSantis, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Byron Donalds, Kristi Noem, and Tulsi Gabbard and asked if they were on the shortlist. They are, Trump said. Honestly, all of those people are good. Theyre all good, theyre all solid. President Trump was asked about his VP pick. "I want people with common sense, because there's so many things happening in this country that don't make sense." pic.twitter.com/DXsWQKqLhg Americat (@catmurphy209) February 21, 2024 But now you can cross DeSantis off the list again. People were mentioning me. I am not doing that, he said on Wednesday during a thank-you call to supporters who have been recruited to serve as delegates at this summers Republican National Convention. While the video call was meant to be private, someone shared a recording with the New York Post. Then DeSantis, who endorsed Trump as he exited the race, preemptively criticized his candidate for playing identity politics with his pick for running mate. (While Trumps allies are reportedly urging him to choose a Black man or a woman for VP, he hasnt said much about his selection process.) DeSantis said, per NBC News: Now we have a diverse Republican Party. I want everybody in the fold, dont get me wrong. But I dont want people representing 10, 15% of the party being in the drivers seat, DeSantis said on a call with supporters So I would want somebody that, if something happened, the people that voted us in would have been pleased to know that theyre going to continue the mission, DeSantis added. Im not sure that those are going to necessarily be the criteria that Donald Trump uses. I have heard that theyre looking more in identity politics. I think thats a mistake. I think you should just focus on who the best person for the job would be, and then do that accordingly. Later in the call, DeSantis seemed to blame Susie Wiles, who ran his campaign for governor and is now a senior Trump campaign adviser, for the bad blood between him and the former president. I think hes got people in his inner circle who were part of our orbit years ago that we fired, and I think some of that is they just have an ax to grind, DeSantis said. He then suggested Trump might run into trouble by staffing his second administration with more kind of yes men, rather than folks that are going to be pushing back. And just for good measure, DeSantis took some shots at conservative media too. NBC News reports: I think they have made the decision that their business model just doesnt work if they offer any criticism of Trump, DeSantis said. I dont see the accountability being in place right now for the balance of this campaign and then, if hes able to win, to go into the White House and actually implement some of these policies. I mean, he said at some point he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote, DeSantis added. Well, I think he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and the conservative media wouldnt even report on it that it had happened. Team Trump did not let DeSantiss remarks slide, though theyre ostensibly all on the same side. Trump 2024 adviser Chris LaCivita responded on X: chicken fingers and pudding cups is what you will be remembered for you sad little man https://t.co/LKvX0YMbnf Chris LaCivita (@LaCivitaC) February 21, 2024 And Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt burned DeSantis in an official statement to the Post. Ron DeSantis failed miserably in his presidential campaign and does not have a voice in selecting the next vice-president of the United States, she said. Rather than throw cheap shots from afar, Ron should focus on what he can do to fire Joe Biden and Make America Great Again. When asked if he might run for the presidency again in 2028, DeSantis told his supporters he hasnt ruled anything out. But maybe if he keeps trashing top Trump advisers and the right-wing media behind their backs, theyll rule it out for him. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty In January, a number of Jeffrey Epsteins alleged celebrity contacts were revealed for the first time, after a federal judge ordered the release of hundreds of files related to a 2017 defamation suit against Epsteins madame Ghislaine Maxwell. Since then, little new information has emerged about Epsteins alleged sex-trafficking ring. But that could change later this year, thanks to Florida lawmakers and Governor Ron DeSantis. Earlier this week, both houses of the Florida state legislature passed a bill that could clear the way for the public release of evidence and testimony from grand-jury proceedings that took place back in 2006. Those proceedings were the first criminal inquiry into Epstein; they began after police investigated a claim in 2005 from a mother in Palm Beach that the financier had abused her teenage daughter. On Wednesday, Ron DeSantis said that he would sign the bill, which would go into effect in July. All files related to Jeffrey Epsteins criminal activity should be made public, he wrote on X. While the federal government continues to stonewall accountability, Im glad the Legislature has taken action to release the grand jury material from the Florida state case. I will sign the bill into law. The bill on DeSantiss desk would change state laws keeping most grand-jury proceedings in Florida sealed. While it does not explicitly mention Epstein, it is specifically designed to allow a Palm Beach County judge to release the evidence and testimony from the 2006 grand jury. The judge, Luis Delgado, is considering a case filed by the Palm Beach Post against the Palm Beach County Clerks Office to release files from the Epstein grand jury. Lawmakers argue that their bill would create an exemption making it easier for Delgado to release the transcripts and other evidence. The states response to the initial investigation of Epsteins sex ring in Florida has long been controversial. After police produced substantial evidence that Epstein was procuring and abusing girls, the state attorneys office for Palm Beach County kicked the responsibility to a grand jury rather than charging Epstein directly. The grand jury ultimately led to one felony count against Epstein for soliciting prostitution with no mention that the alleged victims were teenagers. Palm Beach police chief Michael Reiter published a letter he sent to five alleged victims stating that he did not believe that justice has been sufficiently served. Reiter then brought the case to the FBI which ultimately led to federal charges against Epstein and more controversy: somehow, the financier scored a sweetheart deal signed by federal prosecutor Alex Acosta, which allowed him to leave jail six days a week for 12 hours at a time. (In 2019, Acosta resigned from his position as secretary of Labor after facing criticism for his role in the deal.) The public and the victims deserve to know if prosecutors steered the jury away from indicting Epstein on more severe charges, State Senator Tina Polsky said in a session on Wednesday. There is also a compelling public need to know if this system worked or failed. Mayor London Breed, shown at a Lunar New Year event in Chinatown on Feb. 10, is running second in her reelection bid, a Chronicle poll finds. Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle Ranked-choice voting has produced surprising mayoral winners in the Bay Area over the past two decades. But that system is unlikely to help Mayor London Breed, given her latest ominous poll results. It actually could make her road ahead harder. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ranked-choice system where voters second- and third-place choices are key propelled trailing candidates such as Jean Quan and Sheng Thao into the mayors office in Oakland. But neither of them was an incumbent. And neither faced the animosity that Breed does from voters. Exhibit A: A whopping 35% of respondents in a new poll commissioned by the Chronicle say Breed would be their fourth choice among the four major candidates running to be the next mayor of San Francisco. Thats at least five times as many as those who feel the same way about her top competitors, former Mayor Mark Farrell and nonprofit executive Daniel Lurie. Farrell topped the poll with 20% of likely voters ranking him as their first choice or leaning toward doing so. Breed came in second at 18%, while Lurie had 16% and Supervisor Ahsha Safai had 8%. The survey of 812 likely voters found that 45% were undecided. If this is the field of major candidates right now, it certainly looks like Breed is in very, very serious trouble, said Jonathan Brown, president of Sextant Strategies & Research, which conducted the poll for the Chronicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In ranked choice or instant runoff systems such as San Francisco, voters can rank up to 10 candidates in order of preference on their ballots. If no one receives a majority in the first count, the lowest-ranking candidate is dropped from the ballot, with his or her votes automatically going to that voters second choice. That process continues until someone has 50% plus one vote. San Francisco was an early adopter of the system back in 2004, and it has spread to 50 cities, counties and states. As the Bay Area has shown, just because a candidate initially receives the most first-place votes doesnt mean he or she is going to win. Former Democratic state Sen. Don Perata, the favorite to win the 2010 Oakland mayors race, won 35% of the first-place votes to Quans 24%. But it was the first time that Oakland had used ranked-choice voting, and Perata ran as if it was a typical election. Quan and Oakland City Council Member Rebecca Kaplan didnt. They told voters that even if they werent their first choice to make them their second choice as part of an anybody but Don drive. It worked. When Kaplan was eliminated and finished third, Quan won 75% of her votes, which helped her leapfrog Perata and ultimately win by 2,058 votes. If Thursdays polling holds, thats unlikely to happen to Breed. The candidate in the best position now to benefit from ranked-choice voting is Lurie, who won the most (24%) second-place votes, with most of that support coming from Farrells supporters, according to the poll. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The challenge for Breed to leverage ranked-choice voting is that after serving as mayor for six years, voters opinions of her are hardening, and not in a good way. The survey found that 71% disapprove of the mayors job performance. Ive been around polling in San Francisco for 33 years, said Jim Ross, a Democratic political strategist who advised Kaplans 2010 Oakland mayoral campaign and is unaffiliated in the San Francisco mayors race. Thats probably the lowest mayoral number Ive ever seen or heard of in my career. Ranked choice could make Breeds comeback harder if, like what happened to Perata in Oakland, an anybody but Breed movement takes hold, Ross said. Ranked-choice voting is going to cost her, Ross said. Voters are so disenchanted with Breed that they will now have permission to leave her off their ballot entirely. Forming an alliance with another candidate is an unlikely option as long as voters see Breed as political uranium. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It wouldnt make sense for anybody to team up with her, Ross said. I dont know if she could get anybody to do it. Former state Sen. Mark Leno said its a little too early to start thinking about alliances. Now is the time, when so many voters are undecided, for candidates to broaden their base of support. A better time to team up might be this spring when voters are more focused on the race, Leno said. Leno formed an alliance with former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim in the latter stage of the race when they ran against Breed in 2018. They even appeared together in ads. In that race, Breed won 37% of the first-place votes, Leno snagged 24%, and Kim trailed close behind. After Kim was eliminated, her voters sided with fellow progressive Leno by a 3-to-1 margin, turning the race into a nail-biter. When Leno conceded eight days later, he lost by roughly 1 percentage point. But Breed likely wont be able to benefit from that sort of alliance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Taking the personalities out of it, a reelection is a referendum on the incumbent, said Leno, a longtime supporter of ranked choice. If there are two or three or four credible challengers, its unlikely that the incumbent is going to get many second-place votes, because its anyone but the incumbent, and so the challengers will share second- and third-place votes. Choosing an alliance partner can be a strategic challenge, said Loren Taylor, the former Oakland City Council member who lost to Thao for mayor in 2022. Taylor won more first-place votes, but Thao lapped him in the runoff, eventually winning by 677 votes. Taylor and fellow City Council Member Treva Reid encouraged their supporters to pick the other as a second choice. Their union didnt put either in the mayors office. It really is this sort of prisoners dilemma type of situation, Taylor said. Youre not going to want to partner with somebody if you feel like that somebody is a threat to your ability, or partnering with them puts them over you in some way. As Taylor and Leno can attest, teaming up isnt a guarantee of success. Roughly half of ranked-choice elections are decided before they get to the instant runoff, said Deb Otis, director of research and policy at Fair Vote, a nonpartisan voting reform organization that tracks the system. In 24 races the organization tracked where rival candidates formed alliances, only in nine races did a member of that team win. But dont count Breed out yet, Otis said. Not when the candidates are bunched so tightly and 45% of the voters in the Chronicle-commissioned poll say theyre undecided. This is still anyones game, regardless of ranked choice, Otis said. Perata, however, was dubious, especially after seeing how Breed was voters least likely option to be their second choice. Wonder if all these Women for Nikki agree with Haley that embryos are babies? Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images A big part of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haleys self-reinvention as a moderate with appeal across party lines has been her shrewd rap on abortion policy. A longtime favorite of the anti-abortion lobby and a proponent of abortion restrictions as South Carolina governor (before Roe v. Wade was overturned), she has positioned herself during the campaign as someone with deep sympathy for both sides of the abortion battle determined to forge a consensus on this issue before setting any sort of national policies. If you look even a millimeter beneath the surface, however, Haley remains what she has always been: a hard-core anti-abortion activist willing to recognize pragmatic political limitations on the use of state power to force all pregnancies to full term. Her empathy toward women choosing abortion goes only so far as opposition to hypothetical laws criminalizing them (which hardly anyone favors and that the anti-abortion lobby regards as a straw man). Her search for a consensus really just means she will only fight for state or national abortion bans if the votes in Congress are there to win such fights. An ideal Haley world, however, would be very unsafe for reproductive rights. And she once again made her underlying views clear in reaction to this weeks Alabama Supreme Court decision recognizing embryos frozen by in-vitro fertilization clinics as persons deserving absolute constitutional protection just like fully grown human beings, as NBC News reported: [Haley] said Wednesday that frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization are babies, siding with a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision that raised concerns among doctors and patients about the future of the procedure. Embryos, to me, are babies, Haley told NBC News in an interview, adding that she used artificial insemination to have her son, a different process than IVF that doesnt present the same complexities around creating embryos in a lab. When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me, thats a life. And so I do see where thats coming from when they talk about that. The idea that embryos are babies who just havent been born yet is the foundation of the fetal-personhood movement, the far frontier of anti-abortion extremism. The idea is that any interference with fetal development from the moment of conception is quite literally homicide, which should be banned categorically. For many personhood advocates, that includes forms of contraception (notably IUDs and perhaps the birth-control pill) thought to operate by preventing the implantation of a fertilized ovum in the uterine wall. And it definitely means ending in-vitro fertilization, which leads to the disposal of countless unnecessary embryos. So clinics serving people desperate to become parents would be shuttered as extermination factories. Surely recognizing the radicalism of the Alabama decision and the underlying logic, Haley tried to worm around the implications by displaying her famous empathy: Asked if legislation and rulings like the one in Alabama could have a chilling effect on families using IVF to become parents, Haley said, This is one where we need to be incredibly respectful and sensitive about it. I know that when my doctor came in, we knew what was possible and what wasnt, Haley continued, adding: Every woman needs to know, with her partner, what shes looking at. And then when you look at that, then you make the decision thats best for your family. But you cannot make that decision if its against the law. In reaction to the Alabama courts decision, the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center shut down its IV procedures, as AL.com reported. We must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments, a spokesperson said. This isnt an issue on which there is going to be consensus uniting people who believe in reproductive rights and people who believe a pre-fetal embryo is a baby with all the rights and privileges of fully grown human beings. Nikki Haley is clearly in the latter camp and needs to recognize it or change her mind. Her views should surely become better known to the independents and Democrats she is imploring to vote for her against Donald Trump in South Carolina this weekend. 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. Trump running up the lawyers tab in the courtroom. Photo: Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images Donald Trumps extraordinary tour of courtrooms this year thanks to his multiple legal problems has been a well-documented distraction from his more directly political operations. And theres been some attention given to the amount of money hes having to raise to pay his many lawyers and expert witnesses money that theoretically could instead be going into campaign expenses such as ads and staff. But perhaps weve been looking at this issue from the wrong perspective. Suppose Trump was not running for president. Would he be able to raise the money to pay his legal expenses if he was no more than an embattled ex-president rattling the cup even as some other Republican prepared to duel with Joe Biden? Thats unclear, but its very clear hes having to come up with a lot of jack to keep the suits working on his behalf, as the Associated Press recently reported: Trumps Save America political action committee paid [NYU Accounting Professor Eli] Bartov nearly $930,000 last year as an expert witness in the New York attorney generals civil fraud case that threatens the former presidents real estate empire, according to new Federal Election Commission filings. Bartov bombed. New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron declared in December the professors testimony proved only that for a million or so dollars, some experts will say whatever you want them to say. An Associated Press analysis of new Federal Election Commission filings shows the payments to Bartov are among $54 million in legal expenditures made last year by Trumps political fundraising machine. Coupled with FEC data from 2022, APs review found that Save America, Trumps presidential campaign and his other fundraising organizations have devoted $76.7 million to legal fees over the two years. The accounting is complicated, but basically Save America is what is known as a leadership PAC with very few limits on eligible expenditures. So it has become the main conduit for Trump legal expense payments, with some of its money coming from a 10 percent rake-off of funds from small donors. But these costs are rolling in at a pace that will deplete the eligible funds sooner rather than later, aside from the opportunity costs associated with raising money for lawyers that could go elsewhere, as Bloomberg News recently explained: The legal costs, which are expected to grow as Trump faces four criminal indictments, are likely to be a drag on his reelection efforts finances. Money that can be used for legal fees is set to run out mid-year if he keeps spending at the same pace he did in 2023, meaning he will need to raise more from donors or appeal to the Republican National Committee for help. Yes, the RNC could help its almost-certain nominee with legal costs, which may have something to do with Trump insisting on a member of his family becoming co-chair of the national party committee. Certainly Lara Trump has smiled upon the idea of the RNC helping her father-in-law with his unique level of bills from lawyers and experts, as NBC News reports: After speaking at the former presidents South Carolina campaign headquarters Wednesday evening, Lara Trump was asked by NBC News if she thinks the RNC paying for his legal bills is something that would be of interest to Republican voters. Absolutely. Thats why youve seen a GoFundMe get started, she said in remarks to a gaggle of reporters, referring to a GoFundMe page set up by Trumps supporters in response to his multiple legal battles. Thats why people are furious right now and they see the attacks against him. They feel like its an attack, not just on Donald Trump, but on this country So I think that is a big interest to people. Absolutely. This is not great news for the many, many Republican candidates who might normally expect some financial help from the RNC, which is already struggling to make ends meet. For Trump, though, it confirms suspicions about the ulterior motives he might have had in deciding to run for president in 2024. Im sure that despite his notable lack of ideological principles and his limited interest in policy details, there are things he would like to do as president that have nothing to do with his vast legal liabilities, born of a lifetime of reckless behavior at the pinnacle of business and politics. For starters, he would like to fire an awful lot of federal employees to make way for his devoted loyalists, who would then be in a position to torment enemies of the people, particularly in journalism. But theres no way around the fact that becoming president is the one sure way he can quash federal criminal indictments and intimidate prosecutors everywhere and that running for president is the easiest way to cover his legal expenses. As Lara Trump suggests, paying Trumps lawyers has become a political cause, thanks to his assertions that every civil or criminal charge against him is part of a witch hunt that will eventually demolish the liberties of the MAGA rank and file. Trumps suits are really freedom fighters who deserve nothing but the best in compensation. Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump is not big on speaking out against Russian president Vladimir Putin or empathizing with other human beings. So it was awful, yet unsurprising, when all Trump had to say about Russian dissident Alexey Navalny dying in an Arctic penal colony last week was that his death reminded him a lot of his own (imagined) political persecution. On Monday he wrote this on Truth Social: This did not go over well. The post generated many headlines about Trumps self-centeredness. Critics called his remarks grotesque and anti-American crap. Political rivals pounced, with Nikki Haley calling Trump weak in the knees on Putin and Joe Biden asking, Why does Trump always blame America? Still, this is the kind of offhand narcissism that would probably be forgotten in a few weeks, buried under all the other appalling and nonsensical things Trump says every single day. That is, until Trump decided to repeat the sentiment in a more noticeable venue. In a town-hall-style Fox interview on Tuesday night, Laura Ingraham gave Trump a chance to clean up his remarks. People around the world are expressing outrage over the death of Alexey Navalny in a horrific Russian prison, she began, per MeidasTouch. But before she could even get the whole question out, Trump interjected, Its happening here. Ingraham continued, inviting Trump to respond to accusations that hes pro-Putin and doesnt care about human rights or freedom. He initially praised Navalny, saying its a very sad situation, and hes very brave he was a very brave guy because he went back, referring to Navalny returning to Russia after he was poisoned in 2020, allegedly in a Kremlin-backed assassination attempt. Then Trump added: He could have stayed away, and frankly, probably would have been a lot better off staying away and talking from outside of the country as opposed to having to go back in because people thought that could happen and it did happen. As the Biden campaign quickly pointed out, this made it sound like Trump was blaming Navalny for his own death, rather than Putin. Trump appears to blame Alexey Navalny for his own death: He would have been better off staying away from Russia. People thought it could happen and it did happen pic.twitter.com/KWEwYj6ewQ Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) February 21, 2024 And Trump kept going. Later, he brought up the Navalny comparison on his own when asked about being fined more than $355 million by Justice Arthur Engoron for repeatedly engaging in fraud. Its a form of Navalny. Its a form of communism or fascism, Trump said. Trump on his Civil Fraud Fine: Its a form of Navalny pic.twitter.com/0tQMea3Jci Acyn (@Acyn) February 21, 2024 So was Navalny a very brave guy for devoting his life to fighting corruption and standing up to Putins autocratic regime? Sure, I guess. But the really important thing to remember is that no one is a bigger political martyr than Donald J. Trump. Relax Ive got this. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Democratic supporters of President Biden should quit freaking out. Despite what a handful of recent polls suggest, theres good reason to believe that the White Houses policies and performance will be judged a success by the voting public, and that Biden will be elected to another four years. Pundits and pollsters have been warning for months that Bidens anemic approval rating, mired around 39 percent, means Democrats are in imminent danger of losing the White House. Hes losing now and theres no plan to fix the problems other than hoping that the polls are wrong or that voters look at the race differently when they have more time to focus on it, writes author/statistician Nate Silver. Biden is not up by 12 points. He cant coast to victory here. He is losing. He is behind in most polls, says New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. He is behind, despite everything people already know about Donald Trump. He needs to make up ground. If he does not make up ground, Trump wins. Silver and Klein both believe that Bidens age makes his reelection hopeless and that he should quit the race. Other analysis pieces cite polls suggesting Biden is losing ground with Black, Latino, and Asian voters. Voxs Christian Paz recently looked at numbers suggesting Biden is struggling to attract traditionally Democratic-leaning young voters. At most, the numbers point to geographic regions and constituencies that need some attention from Democratic strategists. But its hardly a reason to panic. The behind in most polls rhetoric in particular is overblown and mostly wrong. According to RealClearPolitics, there have been 16 national polls conducted since January 22. Collectively, the surveys show Donald Trump leading Biden by a whopping 1.1 percent. Im not sure why Klein would assume Biden should be up by 12 points or some other randomly selected margin in our famously polarized country, but to conclude he is losing nine months before Election Day is wildly premature. One polling number Democrats seem to keep ignoring is the unchanging favorability rating of Trump, the all-but-certain Republican nominee. Throughout his presidency, Trumps favorability averaged 41 percent. Four years and an insurrection later, that number is 42 percent. The ex-president has a following whose loyalty remains famously unshakable despite riot, scandal, criminal indictments, and brazen promises to govern as a dictator. But Trump does not seem to have added to this base of loyal followers. For a sober reality check, I contacted Allan Lichtman, a political scientist who has correctly predicted the outcome of every presidential contest since 1984, using indicators that he claims can explain every election since Abraham Lincolns victory in 1860. Lichtmans book Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House dismisses most polls as irrelevant to the final outcome of presidential elections. The problem with these horserace polls is theyre not predictors, they are only snapshots. And they are often wrong, Lichtman told me recently. The early polls had Jimmy Carter trouncing Ronald Reagan in 1980; Reagan went on to win in a landslide. George H.W. Bush trailed Mike Dukakis as late as June of 1988 by 18 points; he went on to win handily for a 25-point swing. The last Gallup poll in 2012 had Mitt Romney beating Barack Obama, who also went on to win handily. And dont even get me started on the problems with polling in 2016, which famously failed to capture the surges in key states that carried Trump into the White House. Instead of focusing on polls, Lichtman has developed 13 smart yes/no questions built around the central idea that an incumbent president and his party will normally prevail unless they fail in key measurable areas including foreign policy, domestic policy, party unity, and economic growth. If six or more of the 13 measurements go against the incumbent, according to Lichtmans theory, the president (or his party) gets kicked out. Theres all this grousing about Joe Biden, his terrible approval ratings, hes too old, hes not exciting. But the Democrats only chance to win, realistically, is with Biden running, because you win the incumbency key, says Lichtman, along with a second political indicator, party unity (so far, there is no serious Democratic challenger to Biden). Two of Lichtmans economic-performance indicators the absence of a recession and growth rates higher than the last two administrations both look good for Biden. So does Lichtmans indicator for a major successful domestic-policy change, which is the administrations infrastructure law and CHIPS Act. Theres been no serious social unrest under Biden (another key), and no major administration scandal (Hunter Bidens laptop comes nowhere close to Watergate or the Clinton impeachment). So it looks like seven of Lichtmans keys are lining up nicely for Biden. Theres plenty that can go wrong for the administration. What happens if the Republicans shut down the government? Who knows what effect that could have on the economy? cautions Lichtman. The turbulence in Ukraine and the Middle East could lead to a foreign-policy debacle, and the emergence of a serious third-party challenger could tilt the playing field against Biden. But those what-ifs point to tangible matters of governance, unlike the latest polls that have rattled nervous Dems. Presidential elections are essentially votes up or down on the party holding the White House. Ive been screaming this for 40 years, and the politicians paid no attention. Its governing, not campaigning, that counts, Lichtman told me. Forget the sound bites, the negative ads, the attack, the tricks. Campaign on substance. Photo: Misty White Sidell Last summer, I was headed to Sardinia for vacation but missed a connecting layover flight and wound up spending an afternoon in Milan. Sure, Id lost a few hours on the island, but I gained something just as valuable: seven hours in a city known for saffron risotto and excellent shoe shopping. It was during this unexpected stopover that I discovered my perfect everyday flat: Arcopedicos Sec V. I found them at Calzature Gallon, a shoe store just beyond the Navigli on Piazza SantEustorgio that an Italian fashion journalist had tipped me off to years earlier. She had recommended the store for its velvet friulanes gondolier-style slippers which sell for around the same price as the vegetarian burrito Id had the night before at JFK. When I arrived at Gallon, its friulanes were sold out, but I wasnt disappointed for very long. A minimalist wire rack in the corner of the shop caught my eye. Among an array of 40 knit orthopedic flats by Portugese orthopedic brand Arcopedico were the Sec V. Their sleek knit top combined with bulbous soles made for an interesting and elegant combination that reminded me of shoes from luxury brands Id seen with much higher price points. I chose a socklike style in a good navy and debated buying a pair of black open-back clogs and Band-Aid-tone slippers. After checking out, I texted my friend, the illustrator Joana Avillez, to tell her about my new find. Joana, who is Portuguese American, said that Arcopedico shoes were very familiar to her they are especially popular among elderly women in Lisbon. Hearing this made me feel like I was in good company. And, it turns out, the Arcopedico shoes were already percolating among stylish writers, with mentions in newsletters including Blackbird Spyplane and Laura Reillys Magasin, and a piece on the brands surprisingly sexy orthopedic sandals here on The Strategist by Liza Corsillo, who saw them in the window of an unassuming Park Slope shoe store. For the next few months, I wore my Arcopedicos everywhere: to my birthday party at Russian Samovar, paired with an ivory silk-linen-blend vintage Armani suit; to the farmers market with an eBay-sourced Charvet button-down and striped percale boxers from Quercioli & Lucherini; and to fitness classes, important meetings, and grocery runs. On a recent walk in Los Angeless Highland Park neighborhood, I was stopped no less than five times by people asking where I got my shoes. All the while, the flats knit material didnt stretch out, and their soles didnt erode when faced with scorching-hot asphalt. Plus, theyre made with a material that prevents bacteria from stinking up the shoes and they can be machine-washed. Six months after I bought my Arcopedicos in Milan, I visited my friend Laura in Barcelona. Fate has it that she lives just a quick walk from a standalone Arcopedico store and so, of course, we went. The boutique is reminiscent of early Jamiroquai music-video sets, with a late-90s-esque futuristic bunker feel. Blue-tinged fluorescent bulbs illuminate long stretches of white shelving, all of it built to house shoes for the podiatrically challenged. It was in the Barcelona store that I realized Arcopedicos full product assortment has much more to offer than just its knit flats. There were leather boots that have the sleek curvatures of F1 racing shoes and the Lolita flats in saturated colors, which are apparently popular among cool girls in Spain, including Gimagaus co-founder Claudia Durany, who has been spotted in the style. Laura chose a pair of top-stitched leather sneakers that are the comfort shoe equivalent of vintage Diesel, and I opted for a nude-tone knit glove shoe that ties with a little bow. Both styles are sadly available only in Europe. But fear not: For those looking for Stateside options, Zappos has many styles including my original pair. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. 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 Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Beach-cruiser bike frames are typically made from either steel or aluminum, the latter being lighter and more durable, albeit pricier. The difference between the two is weight, says Lee Oldak, owner of Amagansett Beach and Bicycle Company, and the fact that aluminum wont rust quite as quickly. Whatever theyre made from, the best cruiser bikes have a stretched-out, step-through geometry that allows the rider to assume an upright position, or even lean back as they pedal. Which is a lot more comfortable for your knees and allows you to touch the ground more easily, says Chelsea Kulp of Long Beach Islands Shore Brake Cyclery. She adds that riders who havent been on a bike for a long time will feel more confident on cruisers. A poorly designed cruiser bike will have a cramped frame and cheap parts that rust and rattle. For that reason, the experts I spoke with suggested avoiding mass-produced cruisers from brands like Huffy, which Kulp says have a smaller frame that will provide a less relaxed ride. Theyre somewhat disposable, being only meant to last 30 or 40 miles in their entire lifespan. Rockaway Beach Cycles co-owner Marjorie Grassini agrees: Those are the ones people end up putting the most money into. They could have had a beautiful, brand-new bike for the same price. Sizes: XXS4XL | Cut: Brief, French leg, high-rise | Material: Cotton, elastane | Price: $$ Since I last updated this guide, the company formerly known as Knickey rebranded to Subset. Its bestselling High-Rise Brief is still the same after the name change, with one exception: Its now offered in a larger size range that runs from XXS through 4XL. Self-professed granny-panty stan Evelynn Escobar-Thomas, founder of intersectional hiking club Hike Clerb, buys so many of these briefs because its the only underwear I want to wear. (She even included them on a list of the things she cant live without.) Post-pregnancy, she focused on finding pairs that were softer and wouldnt create a VPL, and these became a fast favorite. Stylist Mac Doyle likes them for the day-to-day because their secure fit doesnt bunch. You can also stock up with a three-for-$50 deal (and you can mix and match any style from the brand to get the discount, if youre looking to try different cuts). [Editors note: Longtime readers might remember that Arqs High-Rise Undies used to hold this title. But because the brand is taking a break of undetermined length, Ive removed the brief from the guide for now. You may still be able to find a pair at the brands Farewell Sale, with all sales final.] Photo: Retailer Finding a nice, not-too-expensive floor lamp is tricky. You want it to be functional (illuminating) but also unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing. It can also act as a stand-alone piece of furniture, if thats what youre going for, but designer lamps can be cost-prohibitive, especially if you need several of them throughout your house. One piece of advice that I love comes from interior designer Lauren Ashley Allan, who says that lighting, which can act as the jewelry to a room, can be an opportunity to experiment and have fun with decor. To help you narrow down your search, I tested lamps at home myself and also reached out to interior designers and other design-adjacent tastemakers for their recommendations. Below, I bring you 17 floor lamps for every style from upright to tripod to task lamps and budget including one that costs just $16. If youre looking for other types of lamps, visit our Lighting District for a roundup of our 100 favorite lighting implements. What were looking for Style Among the hundreds of thousands of floor lamps out there, most of them fit within just a handful of categories. Youve got your basic upright floor lamp thats supported by a single post; tripods that stand on three legs; arcing lamps, whose shades suspend over a space; task lamps that let you direct the light right above a reading chair; and lamps that have columnlike supports. Everything else is a variation therein, with different shade types dictating the overall look of a lamp. Fabric drum shades are among the most classic kind, but you also have mushrooms, globes, cones, and pleated options, among others. In my own never-ending search for floor lamps, Ive found it helpful to search by basic style, so Ive categorized the ones below that way as well, and then by shade. Material The basic components of a floor lamp base, support, and neck are typically made of metal or wood, but many lamps also mix materials. Marble is a popular base material, and sculptural, ceramic bottoms have recently become the darling of the high-end-design world. Youll also find lamps whose posts act as the light source itself, which is seen in paper column styles as well as in more contemporary LED options. Adjustability Unlike desk lamps, floor lamps are typically fixed, but a few do come with adjustable components. Task lamps, for example, usually allow you to adjust the shade and even a swing arm, if they come with one. Some upright styles come with telescoping necks that are height adjustable. A couple of floor lamps are even dimmable. Best floor lamp overall West Elm Telescoping Adjustable Floor Lamp $299 $299 Photo: Retailer Style: Drum shade | Material: Linen, metal | Adjustability: Telescoping neck TV and film set decorator Kimberly Fischer told me about this lamp from West Elm when I wrote this highly specific story on floor lamps a couple of years ago, and she called it a staple. Ive used it multiple times, she said. Its classic and shows up well on-camera. She points out its natural linen shade, and the fact that it is height adjustable makes it that much more versatile. Its got a slender metal stem that incorporates both antique brass and satin black finishes (for a little extra detailing) and a base that will fit small spaces comfortably, which is why, along with its just-below-$300 price tag, Ive dubbed it the best overall floor lamp on this list. $299 at West Elm Buy Best wooden floor lamp Pottery Barn Morton Floor Lamp $269 $269 Style: Upright, drum shade | Material: Wood, linen If you prefer something simpler, I recommend this floor lamp from Pottery Barn that has a plain wooden base that I imagine would fit in just about anywhere. Interior designer Stacy likes its versatile design that she says pairs well with coastal, California, and transitional styles, thanks to its pale rubberwood base and textured linen shade. Its also available in a darker walnut finish, which comes with a gray shade. $269 at Pottery Barn Buy Best metal floor lamp Luceplan Costanza Floor Lamp From $595 From $595 Style: Upright, tapered drum shade | Material: Metal, polycarbonate, silkscreened shade This lamp from Italian lighting brand Luceplan has a sleek metal stem with square base and a tapered polycarbonate silkscreened diffuser that comes in 11 colors including a bright primary red, canary yellow, and mauve. It was designed in 1986 but has a contemporary look that I think would look really nice in all kinds of spaces, especially because of its shade options and three different body finishes off-white, brass, and aluminum. And starting at just under $600 for the white shade on off-white model, its a great price for something so timeless. From $595 at 2Modern Buy Best task floor lamp Regency Hill Jenson Aged Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp $130 $130 Style: Task | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Adjustable height, swing arm For something a little more traditional, try a task lamp, like this one that design historian Alessandra Wood recommends. I love a good pharmacy lamp, she says, adding that because of its classic look, this will always be in style. This has the perfect blend of vintage and industrial charm, and the aged brass introduces an upscale feeling of warmth to any rustic space. Its available in other finishes, including nickel and bronze, and has an adjustable height and swing arm. $130 at Amazon Buy $130 at Walmart Buy Best (less expensive) task floor lamp Ikea Lersta Aluminum Chrome Effect Floor/Reading Lamp $16 $16 Style: Task/reading | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Adjustable head Heres a more straightforward reading lamp from Ikea thats as no-fuss as they come and its just $16. Its recommended by Rajni Jacques, global head of fashion and beauty at Snapchat, who first told us about it in a recent issue of the Secret Strategist newsletter (sign up here if you havent yet subscribed to it). The aluminum lamp has an adjustable arm for directing the light wherever you need it to shine, but it also can add a nice glow to the room, as Jacques explains. I like to call this the Moody Lamp. Its a great light when youre feeling melancholy. When the overhead lights are off and you want just a hint of light to soften the room, this does the job, she told us. Also, its cheap and looks good in any room night or day. $16 at Ikea Buy Best arc floor lamp CB2 Big Dipper Arc Brass Floor Lamp $349 $349 Style: Arc, drum shade | Materials: Metal, cotton | Adjustability: Dimmable A floor lamp with a dramatically arcing neck can double as overhead lighting if you position it correctly above seating or even a dining table, for example. Another favorite of Harwoods, this more traditional option has a simple metal base and cotton shade, making it especially versatile. With an extending arch thats over six feet high, Harwood says it is a practical option for both small and large rooms. She adds that it comes with full dimmer capacity and that you can get it in two finishes (brass and nickel). $349 at Havenly Buy $349 at CB2 Buy Best (less expensive) arc floor lamp Versanora Arquer Arc Floor Lamp $120 $175 now 31% off $120 Style: Arc, globe shade | Material: Metal, marble This arcing lamp has more of a 60s vibe thanks to its globe shade. Its recommended by home decorator Carrie Carrollo, who, tired of what she calls the millennial-approved all gold- (or brass-) toned everything, suggests trying chrome. This lamp feels like a nice way to potentially experiment with the tone, she says. It also marries two of the shapes she mentions above, with a shade that is both orblike and mushroom reminiscent. $120 at Amazon Buy $120 at Walmart Buy Best bentwood floor lamp Mads Caprani Timberline Floor Lamp $1,295 $1,295 Style: Arc, pleated shade | Material: Wood, canvas The Mads Caprani lamp, originally designed in 1971, has a bentwood neck thats a more subtle take on an arc lamp. Vintage ones were once difficult and expensive to source I bought mine from Copenhagen-based Etsy seller Verbo Studio, whose lamps were in beautiful condition and better priced than the ones I saw in the U.S. but now theyre back in production thanks to Gubi. The curved bentwood spine is made of wood veneer with a canvas pleated shade and balances on a crescent-shaped cast-iron base. It can slide into just about any spot due to its petite footprint. Ive created the most pleasant reading nook by placing it next to a big white slipcovered chair. Even though its slightly ubiquitous now, I never tire of looking at its sinuous shape. $1,295 at Design Within Reach Buy Best tripod floor lamp Best mid-century-modern tripod floor lamp France & Son Grasshopper Floor lamp $189 $359 now 47% off $189 Style: Tripod | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Adjustable head If you like a lamp that stands on three legs but prefer something with a slimmer profile, consider this lamp by Greta Grossmans original 1947 Grasshopper design that Allan recommends as an alternative reproduction if you are working toward building your own iconic collection. It has a tubular steel tripod stand that is tilted backward, creating a modern silhouette, and a conical shade with an elbow joint that can be adjusted up or down to direct the light where you please. In terms of placement, Allan recommends placing it behind your favorite reading chair in a family room, bedroom, or kids room. $189 at France & Son Buy Best paper shade tripod floor lamp Noguchi Akari 10A $790 $790 Style: Tripod | Material: Washi paper, metal, bamboo For something that doubles as a piece of art, consider Isamu Noguchis Akari light sculptures, which are made from washi paper and come in dozens of styles and shapes. The Akari 10A stands on three slim legs and has a round paper shade with bent bamboo trim. Its what beauty consultant Alexis Page (and Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens) has in her home. As she told us at the time, I chose the 10A for its lower profile and traditional shape. I like that these lamps either disappear or serve as a focal point. They create warm lighting that I love because overhead lighting should be banned. While the 10A is out of stock from the Noguchi Museum until March, the similar 10D model is available now. $790 at End Clothing Buy $600 at Noguchi Buy Best modern floor lamp Gantri Pavone Floor Light $448 $448 Style: Column | Material: Plant polymer, aluminum | Adjustability: Dimmable Photographer and designer Tommy Lei turns to California-based Gantri, which makes 3-D-printed lighting using plant materials, for his floor lamps. It works directly with reputable designers to produce cutting-edge products with a high-design flair, says Lei. The Pavone, designed by Viviana Degrandi, is one of his favorites that he uses in both his home and with clients. The LED light source is ensconced between two tail-feather-shaped shells that diffuse light radially and sit atop two aluminum rods that are anchored by a slim cylindrical base, giving it a slender profile. Lei prefers to use it as a corner lamp to elevate any sitting or living room, adding that it pairs easily with a wide range of decor styles because of how timeless the silhouette is. $448 at Gantri Buy Best vertical-light floor lamp EQ3 Oxford Dunce Floor Lamp $300 $300 Style: Column, vertical light | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Dimmable This floor lamp is one of my favorites, mainly because of the marble base but also because its unique and it doesnt take up a ton of space, says interior designer Tiffany Thompson of Duett Interiors. It comes from Canadian-based brand EQ3 and doesnt immediately look like lighting because of its matte-anodized-aluminum shade that emits a vertical shaft of light. If you live in a smaller apartment, or youre looking for a light fixture to go in a corner space, this is a great option while still being a conversation piece, says Thompson. $300 at EQ3 Buy Best column floor lamp CB2 Gigi Polished Stainless-Steel Floor Lamp $599 $599 Style: Column | Material: Metal If the above light works best in a corner, this shiny stainless-steel lamp that Victoria Adesanmi, founder and principal of interior-design studio Aesthetics Studios, recommends is meant to stand out. Im obsessed with this, says Adesanmi. Its modern, simple, and perfect for any place in your home. $599 at CB2 Buy Best globe floor lamp Interior Icons Globe Floor Lamp $399 $665 now 40% off $399 Style: Upright, globe | Material: Metal I love the idea of this simple globe lamp, which was first brought to our attention by artist Hugh Hayden in the same edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter as above. Hayden, who has two of them, says that he loves their simplicity, size, and the amount of light they bring to my living room. The spherical diffuser is made from opal white glass and its slim, minimalist stem is made from steel. $399 at Interior Icons Buy Best (low) globe floor lamp Allsop Luna Lamp $116 Style: Orb, low | Material: Plastic | Adjustability: Dimmable, 16 LED color options For a different kind of ambient light, two of our experts, Thompson and Shannon Retseck, the owner of Cuttalossa, a home-goods and textile company, and Cuttalossa & Co., a retail space in Philadelphia, suggest trying round floor lamps, like this one recommended by Thompson. This is a nontraditional version of a floor lamp, she says. I love it directly on the floor or propped up on a stack of books. It casts a soft glow and comes with 16 LED color options. Retseck, who recommends a similar lamp, agrees that well-placed glowing globes bring a serene diffused light. $116 at Food52 Buy Best LED floor lamp Muuto Leaf LED Floor Lamp $639 $639 Style: Bent neck | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Dimmable Another minimalist LED lamp, the Leaf from Scandinavian design studio Muuto comes recommended by Clemence Poles, the creative director and founder of online magazine Passerby. I recently discovered Muuto and have been fawning over their designs, she says. The Leaf floor lamp is beautiful. Its really elegant, thin, and doesnt take up much space. Slightly more sculptural than the Ikea lamp above, this feels like it could be part of an Alexander Calder piece, according to Poles. The shade, which is shaped like a leaf, can be angled in the direction you desire. $639 at YLighting Buy Our experts Victoria Adesanmi, founder and principal of Aesthetics Studios Lauren Ashley Allan, interior designer Carrie Carrollo, home decorator Toussaint Derby, Havenly lead designer Stacy Harwood, interior designer Hugh Hayden, artist Rajni Jacques, global head of fashion and beauty at Snapchat Jess Knauf, interior designer Meghan Lavery and Daniel King, owners of Home Union Tommy Lei, photographer and designer Clemence Poles, founder of Passerby Shannon Retseck, owner of Cuttalossa Tiffany Thompson, founder of Duett Interiors Alessandra Wood, design historian Additional reporting by Mimi Faucett. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. 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 Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Ambreen Fatima Sheikh was 30 when she was tricked or forced to take the anti-diabetes drug glimepiride which induced catastrophic brain injury (West Yorkshire Police/PA Wire) The police watchdog is launching an investigation into a force over contact officers had with a woman who was left in a vegetative state by her family. Ambreen Fatima Sheikh was 30 when she was tricked or forced to take the anti-diabetes drug glimepiride which induced catastrophic brain injury after she was brought to the UK from Pakistan following an arranged marriage, a trial heard. Ms Sheikh, who is now 39, was also doused in a caustic substance, probably some kind of cleaning fluid, which left severe burns, as she was abused in the house in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Less than three weeks before she was admitted to hospital on 1 August 2015, two West Yorkshire Police officers carried out a welfare check. Concerns had been raised by members of the extended family but the pair reported Ms Sheikh as being fit and well. A judge said she attached little weight to that assessment on 12 July because Ms Sheikh spoke little English and her father-in-law was present during the visit. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on Thursday announced its investigation into West Yorkshire Police (WYP) over whether there were any missed opportunities to safeguard Ms Sheikh in the days and weeks before her family inflicted the unimaginable life-changing injuries, from which she will never recover. Asgar Sheikh, 31, Khalid Sheikh, 55, and Shabnam Sheikh, 52, were among the family members jailed at Leeds Crown Court (PA) At Leeds Crown Court last week, Ms Sheikhs husband, Asgar Sheikh, 31, was jailed for seven years and nine months along with his father, Khalid Sheikh, 55, and his mother, Shabnam Sheikh, 52. Asgar Sheikhs brother, Sakalayne Sheikh, 25, was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, and his sister, Shagufa Sheikh, 29, was given an 18-month sentence, also suspended for two years. Following Ms Justice Lamberts comments over the welfare check at the sentencing hearing, WYP made a mandatory referral to the IOPC last Thursday. The watchdogs independent investigation will look at the nature of the police contact with Ms Sheikh prior to her admission to hospital, as well as the actions and decision-making of those involved. Story continues IOPC Regional Director Emily Barry said: Our thoughts are with Ms Sheikh and her loved ones, as well as all those affected by this deeply distressing incident. In light of the comments made during the recent court hearing, and the unimaginable suffering she has endured, it is only right that a thorough investigation takes place to understand the nature and extent of the police interaction with Ms Sheikh in July 2015. This will be carried out entirely independently of the police and consider whether there were any missed opportunities to safeguard her in the days and weeks before she was admitted to hospital. It was initially thought Ms Sheikh would die but, when her ventilator was turned off in hospital, she began to breathe for herself. The court heard that she has been left unaware of herself or her environment, without motor response or response to pain, and will never recover. Prosecutors said she only survives by being fed through a tube and will eventually die as a consequence of what happened to her, although this may not happen for many years. The sentencing judge said: It is difficult to imagine a more serious injury, short of death. The court heard that Ms Sheikh came to the familys home in Clara Steet in 2014 after an earlier arranged marriage with Asgar in Pakistan. The judge said she rarely left the house and never by herself. She had no independent income, no friends in the UK and could speak only a little English. None of the family gave evidence in court and the judge said she could not say for sure when the abuse began. The trial heard evidence that, soon after Ms Sheikh arrived in the UK, the family were not happy with her housework and chores, and Khalid Sheikh had suggested she should be sent back to Pakistan. During sentencing, the judge said she did not know who administered the corrosive substance, which left severe burns on Ms Sheikhs lower back, bottom and right ear, and must have left her in considerable and lasting pain. And she said she did not know who tricked or forced her to take the glimepiride, which was prescribed to Shabnam Sheikh and is extremely dangerous to non-diabetics, even in small doses. The judge decided there was a two to three-day delay between Ms Sheikh falling unconscious and the family calling an ambulance, during which she became highly dehydrated and inhaled fluids which may have exacerbated her brain injury. Even when the family called 999, they lied about what had happened to her, the judge said. You would all have been aware of her pain and distress, she said. Its just not realistic to conclude that you did not all know of Ambreens predicament and her desperate need for emergency medical care. You all also knew why she was in that condition. The court heard that Ms Sheikh is now being looked after in a palliative care setting and will not recover but could live for decades more. She was in good health before her collapse and there is some evidence that she was a teacher in Pakistan, the court heard. One witness said she was intelligent, bright, ambitious and happy-go-lucky before she moved to the UK, and the judge said she was someone who would light up a room. The judge said Ms Sheikhs father is now dead and her mother is in poor health in Pakistan. She has seven siblings and one of her brothers has been over to visit her. Asgar, Khalid, Shabnam and Shagufa Sheikh were all found guilty of allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer physical harm after a trial last year. Asgar, Shabnam and Shagufa Sheikh were also found guilty of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice. All five defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The Opelika Police Department has asked the public for help locating a 13-year-old boy who has been missing since he ran away in December. Jhimy Domingo Domingo left his residence in the 3400 block of King Avenue on Dec. 19. He may have headed toward Florida or Tennessee, authorities said. Police described Domingo as a Hispanic boy who stands approximately 4 feet 6 inches tall. He has brown hair and brown eyes, authorities said. Anyone with information regarding Domingos whereabouts has been asked to call the Opelika Police Department at (334) 705-5200 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Departments mobile app. Tips can also be forwarded through Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-STOP(7867), toll-free at 1-833-AL1-STOP, or through their Facebook page or their website. A giant panda plays in a tree at Chongqing Zoo in Chongqing, China, on Jan. 28. The San Diego Zoo said Thursday that it is in the final stages of getting approved to bring a pair of the animals back to California. Future Publishing/Future Publishing via Getty Images Giant pandas eat bamboo in the rain at Chongqing Zoo in Chongqing, China, on Jan. 21. The San Francisco Zoo had hoped to land a pair of pandas, which are an immense draw. Future Publishing/Future Publishing via Getty Images Giant pandas are on the cusp of returning to a California zoo but as of now, its not San Francisco. The San Diego Zoo, which last hosted pandas in 2019, said Thursday that it is in the final stages of getting approved to bring a pair of the animals back to California. Pandas could arrive at the zoo by the end of the summer, zoo officials told the Associated Press. The San Francisco Zoo had hoped to land the pandas, which are an immense draw. During last Novembers Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the city, Chinese President Xi Jinping sparked hope that the pandas could return to California and specifically referenced the San Diego Zoo. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are ready to continue our cooperation with the U.S. on panda conservation and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples, he said. Following the conference, Mayor London Breed sent a letter to Xi asking him to bring pandas to San Francisco, the San Francisco Standard reported. In her letter, Breed wrote that part of the San Francisco Zoo had been specifically constructed to include a panda reserve. Despite the announcement that pandas would return to San Diego, Breed said this wasnt the end for San Franciscos dreams of becoming a panda host city. Our city is proud to have played a key role in facilitating conversations between our two nations during APEC last year, she said in a statement. San Francisco is grateful for President Xis considerations and will continue to advocate when the opportunity arises. Representatives for the San Francisco Zoo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since the 1950s, China has been using pandas native to its bamboo forests as signs of diplomatic friendship. The U.S. got its first pandas in 1972, when a pair arrived in Washington, D.C. The San Diego Zoo was previously home to a pair of giant pandas from 1996 to 2019, when China recalled them. The last time pandas called San Francisco home was 1985, when two pandas, Yun-Yun and Ying-Xin, were loaned to the zoo for just under three months. Their presence drew more than 260,000 visitors about four times the zoos average attendance at the time. In 1993, a San Francisco supervisor vying for mayor attempted to bring two pandas to the city, but was foiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which suspended the processing of all panda applications amid debate over conservation of the species. All panda programs are subject to permit approval by U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Zoos in Atlanta and Memphis have also been home to pandas on loan. Each institution typically pays $1 million annually to host a pair of pandas money that goes back toward conservation efforts in China, according to a 2022 report by the Congressional Research Service. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Along with San Diego, the China Wildlife Conservation Association has agreed to send pandas to Madrid and is also in talks with zoos in Washington, D.C. (which had pandas until recently) and Vienna, the Associated Press reported. More than a week after Auburn University reopened Miller Hall, more mold has been found and professors who teach there have decided to relocate their classes. Jennifer Adams, the executive director of Public Affairs, said Room 230 was sealed off after air samples taken on Feb. 7 detected low levels of Stachybotrys commonly known as black mold. Classes scheduled in that room were moved to another building, but the classrooms and other areas of Miller Hall will remain open. All of the instructors opted to teach in other classrooms to minimize any further disruptions. We do not expect any further disruptions, but the instructors wanted to minimize any possibility of further classroom interruptions, Adams said. Adams said that on Feb. 9, the associated deans of each college alerted instructors who taught in Miller Hall about new places out of the building where they can hold classes. They were then asked to inform their students. Later that morning, an email was sent to students alerting them of the changes. What is Stachybotrys, commonly known as black mold? The Centers of Disease Control defines Stachybotrys as a greenish-black mold that can grow on material with a high cellulose content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board and paper. Growth occurs when there is moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth, according to the CDC. Chris OGwynn, the executive director of Auburn Risk Management and Safety, said many types of mold appear black. Mold spores are always found in the air we breathe and its mere presence doesnt lead to symptoms. He said that some people may be affected more than others and indoor mold exposure does not always cause health problems as people respond in different ways to mold exposure. He said no federal health agency has established any objective exposure guidelines. OGwynn cited the CDC when asked about black mold. He said no tests exists that proves an association between Stachybotrys chartarum and particular health symptoms. A 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine and Centers for Disease Control indicated there is evidence of association, but not causal relationship, between health outcomes and the presence of mold or other agents in damp indoor environments. This includes: upper respiratory tract (nasal and throat symptoms, cough, and wheeze; or asthma symptoms in sensitized asthmatic persons. There is also rare chance of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible persons, OGwynn said. Microbial growth pushed AU to close Miller Hall in January Miller Hall initially closed on Jan. 12 after microbial growth was found in the basement of the building, according to AU. ServPro, a franchisor of fire and water cleanup and restoration franchises, worked to remedy the issue. Remediation included sealing off the basement, removal of affected materials, running dehumidifiers and air scrubbers, and disinfecting and cleaning the entire building and HVAC system, OGwynn said. It was reopened for faculty and staff on Jan. 31. Classes were held in the building as early as Feb. 5. Since then, Auburn Risk Management and Safety has been conducting air sampling of Miller Hall every week. AU said air samples collected thus far showed low levels of Stachybotrys in Room 230, a tiered classroom on the second floor. It wasnt found anywhere else, said OGwynn and Dan Whatley, the assistant vice president of Facilities Operations. Samples collected a few days after Miller Hall reopened were mostly favorable with no additional areas of concern noted, according to a joint statement from OGwynn and Whatley. Auburn University temporarily closes Miller Hall due to 'microbial growth' No official reopening date has been set, but AU hopes that remediation efforts can allow faculty and staff to return to the first and second floor by Jan. 31. OGwynn and Whatley said facilities sealed off this room out of an abundance of caution and it was deemed a contaminated area as early as Feb. 8. Over the weekend of Feb. 10 and 11, ServPro assisted Facilities with remediation of the classroom and performed additional cleaning of the first and second floor. All measures were intended to ease potential concerns among building occupants and students. Auburn Risk Management and Safety will continue to perform air samples every week until late March and periodically thereafter. Professor reported un-related issues at Miller Hall, AU says Duha Tore Altindag is an associate professor with the department of economics. He taught a microeconometrics course (ECON 7330) in the computer lab in the basement of Miller Hall during the fall. While he is not teaching a class in Miller Hall this semester, his office is still there. Altindag said he raised concerns about the basement in Miller Hall in an Oct. 5 email to Nicolas Ziebarth, an economics professor and department chair. Altindag said Ziebarth passed his concerns on to Auburn Risk Management and Safety, which conducted an assessment on Oct. 12 that found no visible evidence of mold growth. It was stated in an exchange of emails between Altindag and RMS that the assessment was visual. Auburn University noted in a January statement that there was no evidence of odor, high humidity, moisture or active growth during the assessment conducted on Oct. 12. Altindag also said there was another change at Miller Hall concerning the economics departments weekly guest speaker seminar. The one seminar was held in Room 207 on Feb. 9, but Ziebarth sent faculty with the department of economics an email the next day stating that the seminars were moved to Lowder Hall for the remainder of the semester. Altindag said AU conducted an open forum via Zoom on Feb. 12 for faculty to discuss the situation and learn more. Altindag believes the some of the mold and moisture issues comes from a leak in the elevator shaft. He said that the basement entrance for the elevator has been sealed off like Room 230. Its still closed as of Wednesday afternoon, Adams said. In an email exchange Altindag shared with the Opelika-Auburn News, Auburn Universitys maintenance department said heavy rainwater does accumulate in the pit of the elevator. They added that there is a sump pump that removes the rainwater. No microbial growth, moisture, or humidity issues were noted within the shaft or adjacent hallway, the maintenance department stated in the email. In response to further questions about the leak in the elevator, Auburn denied connections between water in the elevator shaft and the mold issues in the basement or room 230. Water in the elevator shaft was not the cause of mold in the basement, nor did it cause the issues in room 230. These are all separate issues that are being addressed individually by Facilities, OGwynn and Whatley said. There is a project that has already been initiated to address exterior envelope concerns. Items to be addressed include elevator pit water intrusion, crawl space water intrusion, and roof downspout repair, among others. AU willing to address any concerns about buildings This is the second time in less than a year that AU has been forced to temporarily close a building. In August, AUs Cambridge Hall closed for the academic year due to moisture issues. AU said that it remains committed to addressing any future issues and encourages employees to share any concerns they have regarding any AU buildings. Employees and students are encouraged to contact Facilities Management for campus buildings or Property Management for residence halls as soon as signs of water intrusion, moisture or mold are discovered. Facilities Management works closely with Auburn Risk Management & Safety any time moisture concerns are reported. Concerns are investigated promptly, and action is taken immediately if necessary. We take these reports seriously, as the health and safety of all Auburn students and employees is our highest priority, OGwynn and Whatley said in their joint statement. Despite a record-breaking 60 gigawatts direct current (GWDC) of solar PV capacity expansion in 2023, solar power generation in Europe saw a modest increase of about 20%. This year, however, will be another story. Rystad Energy forecasts solar photovoltaic (PV) energy will spike by about 50 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 growing for the first time more than any other generation source due to major capacity installations across the region, with Germany leading the way. Wind power generation is also expected to increase in 2024. However, the growth rate will not match the last one seen in 2023, when wind energy output increased by 50 TWh thanks to additional capacity installations and a windier year, particularly in the last quarter. In 2023, Germany shifted from being a major electricity exporter to a net importer. Amid nuclear power plants closing, low solar energy generation, and cheaper electricity available from other markets, Germany's conventional coal generation was less than in previous years . As a result, Germany relied increasingly on imports from France and Denmark. This highlighted the importance of diversifying energy sources to ensure energy security and reduce reliance on imports. Now, Germany is set to take the lead in the European solar power market adding more capacity than any other country in 2024 , continuing the trend of 2023. Furthermore, this year is expected to witness a significant improvement in solar radiation, marking a return to the norm after a relatively poor showing in the previous year. During 2023, Germany witnessed a record-breaking growth of over 14 GWDC, majorly driven by the installation of rooftop PV systems. About 6.5 GWDC of rooftop solar has been installed in Germany for residential use, powering approximately 1.3 million households annually. Another 3.5 GWDC has been installed in the commercial and industry (C&I) sector, and more than 70% of the added capacity was from rooftop installations, which played a crucial role in the growth of solar PV in Germany and Europe. Rystad Energy expects continued strong additions from renewables during 2024 with solar leading growth for the first time both in terms of capacity and generation. Combined with more stable output from nuclear generation, we anticipate this will lead to a further decline in fossil fuel demand for power. As the demand for power in Europe is only growing slightly, we can conclude that Europe is fulfilling its electricity demand growth entirely with renewable sources. This indicates that the growth of renewable energy is more than sufficient to cover the growth in demand, which is why we are observing a decline in the use of fossil fuels. Vegard Wiik Vollset, Head of Renewables & Power EMEA Research This research includes the 27 European Union members, plus Norway, Serbia and Switzerland, and excludes the United Kingdom. Learn more with Rystad Energys Renewables and Power Solution. As new capacity is added throughout Europe, it is expected that the generation of wind power will increase by 38 TWh in 2024. However, the expected capacity additions are only around 25 GW, which is far less than what is required for Europe to achieve its ambitious decarbonization targets. EDF, Europe's largest nuclear power operator, plans to increase output in 2024 after resolving stress corrosion issues in 2023. Yet, one of three planned outages at 13 nuclear power plants might be extended, affecting up to five plants. Despite this, Europe's nuclear sector is expected to generate 20 TWh more in 2024 than in 2022. Nevertheless, nuclear generation is still expected to be lower than pre-2022 levels due to decreasing nuclear power capacity. ADVERTISEMENT It is anticipated that for the year 2024, the generation of power from fossil fuels will continue to decrease, but at a much slower rate compared to 2023. The decrease is expected to be 60 TWh due to a slight increase in overall power demand in Europe during the same period. The balance between coal and gas plants will depend on the cost competitiveness of these two sources. By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: While the upstream mega deals in the U.S. shale patch have been drawing the most market attention, pipeline operators are also embarking on a merger spree in a quest to add scale, optimize assets, and gain more exposure to export markets. The next big midstream deal could be one involving a major U.S. oil and gas producer that has recently announced a large upstream acquisition to add acreage and scale in the top-producing shale basin, the Permian. Occidental Petroleum, which has recently announced a $12-billion deal to buy CrownRock, is now considering a sale of its $20 billion natural gas pipeline operator Western Midstream Partners, sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters this week. Currently, Occidental owns 49% of Western Midstream, a master limited partnership. It also owns its general partner, and as such, it controls Western Midstreams operations. Interested parties in Western Midstream could include pipeline giants Enterprise Products Partners, Kinder Morgan, and Williams Companies, according to Reuters sources. A potential deal could allow Oxy to reduce part of the $18.5 billion debt it accumulated from its $54 billion acquisition of Anadarko in 2019. A sale of Western Midstream will also continue the M&A frenzy in the pipeline segment, where the major deals of recent months have been overshadowed by the blockbuster upstream acquisitions announced by ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Occidental, among others. While the biggest U.S. oil and gas producers were announcing major acquisitions, pipeline operators were also busy consolidating. Last year, ONEOK said it would buy Magellan Midstream Partners in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $18.8 billion, creating a combined U.S. oil and gas pipeline giant with a total enterprise value of $60 billion. Related: Armed Group Shuts Down Libyas Zawiya Refinery This acquisition creates a more resilient energy infrastructure company that is expected to produce stable cash flows through diverse commodity cycles, ONEOK said at the time. After the merger was completed in September, the resulting company now owns more than 25,000 miles of liquids-oriented pipelines, with significant assets and operational expertise at the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent market hubs. In another deal last year, natural gas pipeline operator Energy Transfer bought midstream energy company Crestwood Equity Partners in an all-stock deal valued at around $7.1 billion, including the assumption of $3.3 billion of debt. The midstream merger frenzy continued into 2024, with gas station owner Sunoco LP announcing in January that it would buy pipeline and liquids terminal operator NuStar Energy in an all-equity transaction valued at around $7.3 billion, including debt. The merger diversifies and adds scale to the business, as well as captures the benefits of vertical integration, Sunoco said. None of the midstream deals came as a surprise to analysts, who have been expecting consolidation in the pipeline space for some time. Public midstream companies have been on an acquisition spree in 2023, East Daley Analytics said in December, adding that it expects the robust M&A activity in midstream to continue in 2024. One thing is certain: midstream is in a position where it can afford to go on a buying spree, East Daley Analytics noted, as growth capex excluding M&A has dropped by 30% since 2019 and free cash flow after distributions has swung from negative to positive. ADVERTISEMENT With excess free cash flow and a reduced need for large greenfield projects, companies can look to M&A to drive growth and improve their competitive positioning, East Daley Analytics said. According to analytics firm RBN Energy, after the frenetic build-out of pipeline infrastructure in the past decade to accommodate soaring U.S. oil and gas production, many public pipeline operators are now looking to boost scale and scope, while private-equity-backed firms are looking to cash in. Now, with many publicly held companies looking to gain further scale and scope and many private-equity-backed midstream companies looking to cash in on their well-timed, well-planned developments or combine with other privately held firms to improve their synergies (and maybe make themselves even more attractive M&A targets in the future) it could be argued that conditions for large-scale midstream M&A have never been better, RBN Energy analysts wrote in October. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via The Cradle Pakistan is mulling over completing a much-delayed pipeline project with Iran, which has been stalled for years and has failed to move forward due to US sanctions. Islamabad is considering finalizing the first phase of the 80-kilometer pipeline, according to Pakistani news site The Nation. "Islamabad is contemplating to kick-off construction work on the 80 kilometers portion of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project to escape a potential penalty of $18 billion," the report said. "Pakistan will submit an application to seek a waiver of US sanctions for the IP project. Initially, it has been decided that in the first phase of the IP project, work on the 80 km portion from the PakIran border to Gwadar will be started," a source in the Pakistani energy ministry told the outlet. The project, which aims to connect the Pakistani port city of Gwadar to the Iranian border, was launched in 2013. It required Pakistan to complete the construction of its end of the pipeline by 2014. Iran said it has already completed its side of the pipeline and has invested $2 billion in the project. Pakistani officials warned in May last year that Islamabad could face an $18 billion fine if it fails to complete the IranPakistan Gas Pipeline project. Islamabad suspended its participation in the project a few months later, in August, due to the threat of US economic sanctions. At the time, Pakistani Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Musadik Malik, said in written testimony to the countrys National Assembly that Pakistan "issued a Force Majeure and Excusing Event notice to Iran under the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA), which resultantly suspends Pakistans obligations under the GSPA." "The matter will be finally settled through arbitration, should Iran take this matter to arbitration," the minister said back in August. "The exact amount of penalty, if any, is subject to the outcome of the arbitration to be determined by the arbitrators." Malik said that Pakistan was "engaged" in talks with US officials to plea for an exemption from sanctions for the project. "All necessary actions are being taken to construct the gas pipeline at the earliest," he stressed, confirming that the project is stalled "due to international sanctions on Iran." The pipeline project is capable of supplying 750 million cubic feet of gas per day to Pakistan. ADVERTISEMENT By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Europe and Asia are set to finish the winter without significant disruptions to liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and without price spikes, despite the ongoing chaos in global commodity shipping due to the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Weaker demand than historical averages and higher gas stockpiles in both regions have spared them any spikes in spot LNG and benchmark natural gas prices this winter heating season. While global LNG trade has been upended by the Red Sea disruptions to shipping, supply hasnt been threatened, and prices in both Europe and Asia have slumped to multi-month lows, even during the peak winter season. The rest of the winter should be relatively calm for LNG prices and shipping rates, analysts say. For all concerned, non-utilisation of the Suez Canal will mean longer journeys over a greater distance. But we think it is unlikely to impact LNG shipping demand and spot rates in the near-term, Fraser Carson, Senior Research Analyst, Global LNG, at Wood Mackenzie, wrote in an analysis this week. LNG Shippers Avoid the Red Sea The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, close to the Red Sea, accounted for 12% of seaborne oil trade and 8% of LNG trade last year, per EIA data. Two of the biggest LNG exporters, the United States and Qatar, halted shipments via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal earlier this year. Qatar paused LNG cargo journeys through the Suez Canal in the middle of January, but it assured customers and the market that its LNG output is uninterrupted and Europe should expect longer delivery times. Related: U.S. Court Ruling Sends Venezuelas Oil-Backed Bonds into Collapse Qatars LNG output is in no way threatened by the disruption to shipping in the Red Sea, QatarEnergys CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said earlier this week. Most of Qatars LNG cargoes are bound eastward to Asia, while European customers would see longer delivery times, noted the executive, who is also Qatars Minister of State for Energy Affairs. QatarEnergy confirms that Qatars LNG production continues uninterrupted, and our commitment to ensuring the reliable supply of LNG to our customers remains unwavering, the state firm of Qatar said in January. While the ongoing developments in the Red Sea area may impact the scheduling of some deliveries as they take alternative routes, LNG shipments from Qatar are being managed with our valued buyers. This week, QatarEnergys Al-Kaabi said that the Red Sea chaos is only going to take longer to get it there. But it will not reach a point where we have to stop production because there isnt any ship. Were okay. According to WoodMac, Qatar is impacted most by the disruption to shipping, as Qatari LNG deliveries to Europe will effectively take twice as long with vessels traveling to Europe via the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) in Africa. To move all of Qatars European DES contracts via the CoGH, we estimate that the equivalent of 18 extra ships would be required, WoodMacs Carson said. The additional journey time will require some re-scheduling of cargoes and management with its LNG buyers, but its supply to Europe will not be constrained by a lack of shipping. Factors Limiting LNG Price Spikes Flexibility in shipping, where available, will be limiting the fallout from the shipping disruptions, analysts say. This could include US LNG which was destined for Asia being rerouted to Europe, and Middle Eastern (Qatari) LNG moving into Asia rather than Europe, ING commodity strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote last month. In doing this, these flows will avoid the Red Sea and will not have to take the longer route around South Africa. Atlantic Basin LNG, especially from the U.S., is also seeing trade shifts, but the end result is more direct voyages, according to Wood Mackenzie. Before the shipping chaos, the Suez Canal provided the option to deliver cargo into Asia after ships spent several days slow steaming while waiting on their final delivery destination. Without that option, ships will spend less time waiting for direction and will deliver straight into Europe or deliver into Southern Asia via CoGH. The slightly longer journey time into South Asia will be offset by the more direct voyages - a result of less trading being taken on the water, Wood Mackenzies Carson wrote. ADVERTISEMENT Moreover, natural gas inventories in both Europe and Asia are above seasonal norms, even at peak winter, giving the market confidence that gas supply will not be an issue in the northern hemisphere at least until the summer. Naturally, this has led to lower spot and futures prices in both regions despite the LNG trade flow shifts as a result of the Red Sea crisis. In Asia, spot LNG prices for April delivery into northeast Asia slumped last week to the lowest in nearly three yearssince April 2021, amid higher-than-usual inventories and weak Chinese buying due to the Lunar New Year holiday. Japans LNG demand is also lower than in previous years due to restarts of nuclear reactors, high gas inventories, and increased renewable power generation. Prices in Europe are down to an eight-month low this week amid ample supply and continued weak demand from industry. All this, combined with Qatar managing the extra shipping demand from within its fleet, will keep a pin in LNG shipping spot rates into the spring, WoodMacs Carson says. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crypto companies worldwide have carried out mining and trading activities relatively unchecked in recent years, as governments have dragged their feet in establishing adequate regulations to manage the sector. Meanwhile, many companies have been using vast amounts of energy to power the activities required to mine crypto, as demand for the digital currency has steadily increased. The U.S. is now taking legal steps to punish companies that have abused their position of economic power. However, the lack of regulation shows the need to develop a clear political and legal framework to manage the sector, in such a way as has been seen in Canada, Europe and other parts of the world. The U.S. had a busy year last year when it comes to crypto crimes, having carried out severe legal action against several major firms over the last year. In 2023, the crypto miner Binance was ordered to pay over $4 billion to U.S. authorities following a guilty plea for money laundering from the companys CEO, Changpeng Zhao. Meanwhile, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty in November of stealing from customers, leading to the bankruptcy of the company. This shows the need to enforce strict regulations on the sector, to ensure these crimes cannot take place in plain sight. But its not just crypto-related crime that the U.S. and other governments are trying to tackle. While cryptocurrency has played a major role in the global economy in recent years, providing key funds in some instances such as to Ukraine throughout the ongoing war with Russia it also presents a threat to energy and environmental security. Mining cryptocurrency requires vast amounts of energy, with the production of Bitcoin alone using around 127 terawatt-hours a year, more than the energy usage of some countries, such as Norway. Crypto mining in the U.S. is estimated to produce between 25 to 50 million tonnes of CO2 a year. This threatens environmental security and undermines government efforts to achieve a green transition, meaning that countries must work quickly to ensure that adequate regulations are in place to curb energy usage in the crypto industry and decarbonise the sector. Renato Mariotti, a former prosecutor in the U.S. Justice Departments Securities and Commodities Fraud Section explained of the U.S. situation, Other countries have a comprehensive regulatory framework in place. We dont As a result, issues that should be determined by legislation or regulation are instead litigated. He emphasised that the use of legal action in the U.S. reflects a regulation by enforcement approach. To date, the White House has not introduced comprehensive regulations on digital currencies, although certain states have introduced state-level legislation on crypto. And the industry does not expect new legislation to be enacted any time soon. Alyse Killeen, the managing partner of Stillmark Capital, stated Clearer regulatory frameworks and stance from regulators globally have provided a sense of legitimacy and security, encouraging more widespread participation in the bitcoin market, urging the U.S. government to provide clear guidelines for the sector. In contrast, several countries around the globe have introduced national-level cryptocurrency regulations. China has some of the strictest limitations on digital currencies, having banned the mining of Bitcoin in 2021 and forbidding crypto exchanges from operating in the country. However, China has been developing its own digital currency the digital yuan (e-CNY) since 2022. Canada has also been proactive in its approach to crypto regulation, classifying all crypto investment firms as money service businesses and requiring them to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). It was also the first country to approve a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), with several trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has not introduced any cryptocurrency-specific laws to date and cryptocurrency is currently considered as property, rather than legal tender. In April last year, the EU approved the worlds first comprehensive framework for crypto regulation, introducing the Markets in Crypto Act, or MiCA. The Act imposes several requirements on crypto platforms, token issuers and traders around transparency, disclosure, authorisation, and supervision of transactions. Customers are informed on crypto platforms about risks associated with digital currencies under the new rules. Further, the European Securities and Markets Authority can intervene if it deems a crypto platform is not properly protecting investors or threatens market integrity or financial stability. MiCA also responds to environmental concerns by requiring crypto companies to disclose their energy consumption and the impact of their digital assets on the environment. Countries have been managing the rapidly emerging cryptocurrency sector in a range of ways, from allowing them to operate unchecked to introducing national regulations or carrying out legal action on any criminal activity in the sector. However, it has become clear that the regulatory path works in a preventative way, ensuring that best practices are followed in the industry and that crypto companies can be monitored to better manage both economic and environmental security. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chinese LNG importers are on the lookout for cheaper supply of liquefied natural gas on the spot market as prices in North Asia have halved from October levels and slid to a nearly three-year low last week, traders familiar with the deals told Bloomberg on Thursday. Shenzhen Energy Group and China Gas Holdings Ltd have entered into talks with potential suppliers for more spot LNG cargoes for the coming months, while China Resources Gas Group has bought a shipment for delivery in the middle of March, Bloombergs sources said. China the worlds top importer of the fuel after outstripping Japan, again has returned to the spot market in search of cheaper LNG supply as prices tumble. Currently, spot LNG supply is competitive with local gas and oil products, according to Bloombergs sources. As natural gas inventories in Europe and Asia are at comfortable levels for a winter season, and demand is tepid in both continents, the average spot LNG price for April delivery into Northeast Asia plunged by 7.4% last week to $8.80 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), according to estimates from industry sources quoted by Reuters. That was the lowest Asian spot LNG price since the end of April 2021. Demand was weak in the past two weeks even in China, due to the Lunar New Year holiday, and overall demand in Asia is lower amid high inventories both in Asia and in Europe. As a result, spot LNG prices in Asia have now halved compared to the levels from October 2023, just before the 2023/2024 winter began. As the winter season in the northern hemisphere is drawing to a close, spot LNG prices are expected to further slide into the spring, analysts say. Chinese LNG imports have recovered from a decline in 2022 when a spike in prices and Covid restrictions hit demand, but they are still lower compared to the levels seen in 2021. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Colombias plan to start importing natural gas from Venezuela this year may not materialize because of a decayed idle pipeline in dire need of repairs, an industry official told Bloomberg. Colombias domestic natural gas resources are not enough to meet growing demand, which has risen in recent years due to the El Nino, which has reduced hydropower generation and raised the need for gas-fired power. At the end of 2022, Colombias leftist President Gustavo Petro announced that an agreement had been secured to import natural gas from Venezuela. This deal forms a key part of the presidents plans to end issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses in Colombia while guaranteeing the Andean countrys energy security. Colombias Ecopetrol, which is majority-owned by the state, said in November that it was exploring a proposal from Venezuela to start importing natural gas from its neighbor beginning in December 2024. Colombia will benefit from cheaper gas from Venezuela, which could also lower the cost of electricity, the Colombian government said at the time. However, the pipeline expected to ship the gas from Venezuela to Colombia is in no state to serve natural gas transportation, Luz Stella Murgas, who heads the industry group Naturgas, told Bloomberg. This likely means that Colombia cannot begin gas imports from Venezuela this year. Colombia has the opportunity to increase its sources of natural gas, Murgas told Bloomberg. But we need to materialize these projects. Last year, Colombias tender to add a second LNG import terminal received only one bid, and the lack of investor interest is further complicating the countrys efforts to ensure enough gas supply amid uncertain rain patterns with the El Nino weather phenomenon, Natural Gas Intelligence noted. ADVERTISEMENT Colombia will need investments of at least $2 billion in natural gas infrastructure over the next decade to meet its rising gas demand, according to a recent government report cited by Bnamericas. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Refining margins for Indias biggest state-owned refiners have dropped in recent months amid more difficult access to Russian crude and soaring freight rates due to the Red Sea disruption to crude shipments, analysts and traders tell Bloomberg. For most of 2023, Indian refiners enjoyed high refining margins and profits as they imported cheap Russian crude at $20 a barrel and more below international benchmarks. Margins started eroding last quarter, although they are still higher than before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which upended global crude trade flows. The decline in refining margins is due to higher costs for Indian refiners because of higher competition for Russian supply in Asia, increased freight costs, and tougher U.S. sanctions enforcement, which has limited Indias access to very low-priced crudes from Russia. India could lose its refining advantage if it loses its edge on procuring cheaper crude from Russia, Mukesh Sahdev, head of oil trading and downstream research at Rystad Energy, told Bloomberg. Stricter sanctions enforcement, narrowing discounts of Russian grades, and spiking freight rates due to the threats to shipping in the Red Sea have weighed on Indias crude purchases and imports of Russias oil in recent weeks. The tougher enforcement of the G7 sanctions and related payment issues have been holding up Indian purchases of some cargoes of Russian crude oil, with tankers previously headed to India turning back eastwards, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg showed early this year. Supply of Russias Sokol grade to India seems to be particularly hit by the tougher sanction enforcement. In January, Indias crude imports from Russia slipped for a second consecutive month and were at their lowest level in a year, according to tanker-tracking data reported by Reuters. ADVERTISEMENT Russia continues to be Indias top crude supplier, but deliveries to India fell by 4.2% from December to 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, per data from LSEG cited by Reuters. Vortexa pegs Indias crude imports from Russia at 1.2 million bpd last month, down by 9% month-on-month. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The UK will leave the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), a 1994 pact that allows oil and gas companies to sue governments over their climate policies for compensation for lost profits. The Energy Charter Treaty was originally designed to promote international investment in the energy sector and has historically provided protections for investors in fossil fuels. Efforts to modernize the treaty, which the UK considers outdated in view of its net-zero policies and ambitions, have failed, resulting in a stalemate, which prompted the UK government to announce on Thursday that it would leave the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) after the failure of efforts to align it with net zero. After considering the views of businesses, industry, and civil society, ministers will now instigate the UKs withdrawal, which will take effect after one year, removing protections for new investments after this period. ? The UK is not the only European country quitting the treatyFrance, Spain, the Netherlands, and six other EU member states have announced similar moves. According to the UK, proposals to modernize the treaty to support cleaner technologies have been subject to months of talks between European countries, resulting in a stalemate. The UK government believes that the decision to leave the treaty will support the UKs transition to net zero and strengthen its energy security. The Energy Charter Treaty is outdated and in urgent need of reform but talks have stalled and sensible renewal looks increasingly unlikely, the UKs Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart, said in a statement. Remaining a member would not support our transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, and could even penalise us for our world-leading efforts to deliver net zero. Environmentalists welcomed the UK's withdrawal from the ECT. Leaving this incredibly flawed treaty is a brilliant win for our environment and the climate, Kierra Box of Friends of the Earth, said, as quoted by the BBC. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: San Francisco Mayor London Breed, center, is facing challenges from Daniel Lurie, left, and Mark Farrell. Lea Suzuki, Stephen Lam and Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle California primary election live updates: Who will voters advance in historic Senate race? Mayor London Breed is at serious risk of losing her reelection bid, with a pair of challengers in close competition to unseat her and a majority of San Francisco voters holding negative views of her, a new poll commissioned by the Chronicle shows. More than eight months out from Election Day and as about 40% of the electorate remains undecided, the poll found that former Mayor and Supervisor Mark Farrell who officially announced his candidacy the day before polling began would have the most support in the first round of ranked-choice voting, though his lead is within the polls margin of error. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Twenty percent of likely voters said they would rank Farrell as their first choice or were leaning toward doing so. Breed came in second at 18%, while nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie had 16%, and Supervisor Ahsha Safai had 8%. Critically, the poll suggests Breed may struggle under the citys ranked-choice voting system, in which many voters second or third choices are usually important in the final outcome. Breed received fewer second-choice votes in the poll than either Farrell or Lurie, the latter of whom was strongest in the second round. More than a third of respondents said they would rank Breed last, after her three main challengers currently in the race. Obviously, with the number of undecided voters that we have, you dont want to draw too firm of a conclusion, said Jonathan Brown, president of Sextant Strategies & Research, who led the Chronicle poll. But if this is the field of major candidates right now, it certainly looks like Breed is in very, very serious trouble. The poll of 812 likely voters, conducted this month, found that the vast majority 71% disapprove of Breeds job performance. A 2022 Chronicle poll found that Breeds popularity had plummeted, and 35% of residents thought shed done a poor or very poor job at making the city a better place to live. In this most recent poll, dissatisfaction with Breed was consistent across key issues: Voters reported broad displeasure with how the mayor is handling public safety, homelessness, drug overdoses and housing affordability. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Breeds campaign argues that shes beginning to turn the city around. And she could still get reelected especially if shes able to win over a sizable number of undecided voters or if enough voters change their minds about some of her opponents. Maggie Muir, a political consultant for Breeds reelection campaign, defended the mayors leadership in a statement and pointed to one of the polls positive findings about public safety. Even though most likely voters said they disapproved of Breeds approach to crime, 70% said they felt somewhat or very safe in their own neighborhood. Muir also credited Breed with beginning to improve San Franciscos business climate and reducing the citys overall crime rate. Experts previously told the Chronicle its too soon to say whether Breeds policies are responsible for the 7% drop in reported crimes last year. Mayor Breed continues to boldly lead the citys recovery, with a laser focus on economic revitalization and public safety, Muir said. The election that Mayor Breed is focused on right now is in two weeks when voters go to the polls for her proposed ballot measures to make the city safer, support our neighborhoods, and bring more investment and housing Downtown. In a statement, Farrell campaign manager Jade Tu said she is encouraged that Farrell is in the lead on first-choice votes just days after officially entering the race. While other candidates have spent large sums and campaigned for months, we are just getting started, Tu said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It is clear that voters have lost faith in Mayor Breeds ability to turn San Francisco around and are hungry for a candidate who has a track record of effective leadership inside and outside of City Hall, Tu said. Voters are backing Mayor Farrells vision and platform that is focused on creating a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant San Francisco on Day 1 of his administration. Lurie, who founded the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point Community, performed best on second-choice votes in the Chronicle poll. Among the likely voters who selected a first-choice candidate, 24% said theyd rank Lurie second, compared with 17% for Farrell and 10% for Breed. Luries campaign-commissioned poll conducted in January also found that he would get the most second-choice votes if the election were held now. In the ranked-choice system, voters can rank up to 10 candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote on the first ballot, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and his or her votes are redistributed to their voters next-highest choices. The tallying process gets repeated until one candidate secures a majority of the votes. San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safai ranks fourth in the mayors race in a poll of likely voters. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2023 Tyler Law, a consultant for the Lurie campaign, said in a statement that the Chronicle survey and the campaigns internal polling show that Lurie has the broadest appeal and widest path to victory. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is the worst possible environment to run as a City Hall insider who has failed on crime, homelessness, and corruption a profile that matches all of Daniels opponents, Law said. The Chronicle poll was conducted Feb. 14-18. Likely voters were recruited by text and email to respond to an online survey. To ensure the results were representative of San Franciscos likely voter population, the results were weighted to account for differences in response rates by demographic groups. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4%. Asked how they would describe the quality of life in San Francisco, 61% said it was just adequate or poor. A similar percentage said they thought the quality of life in the city would either stay the same or worsen in the next few years. Less than a third of likely voters 28% said they approved of Breeds job performance. Twenty-nine percent said they somewhat disapproved and 42% said they strongly disapproved of the job she was doing as mayor. The Chronicle poll also asked voters to rank their approval of Breeds handling of five duties: Keeping residents and businesses safe from crime, providing shelter to the homeless, keeping neighborhoods clean, handling the citys overdose crisis and providing enough reasonably priced housing. More than two-thirds of likely voters disapproved of her response to each issue, with the share of negative responses exceeding 70% in four of the five categories. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There just doesnt feel like theres a toehold anywhere for her to use as the building block of her campaign in terms of justifying (another) term, Brown said. While the Chronicle poll showed Farrell and Lurie as Breeds strongest challengers for now, many voters are unfamiliar with all of Breeds competitors. The poll found 45% to 50% of likely voters said they didnt know enough about Farrell, Lurie or Safai to rank their personal feelings about them or declined to answer the question. That unfamiliarity could provide an opening for Breed or Safai to increase their standing or for another candidate to enter the race. Currently, none of the major candidates hails from San Franciscos traditionally progressive political camp. Progressive Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin has been floated as a potential mayoral candidate, but hes told the Chronicle he is not inclined to run, even while admitting its not totally out of the question. Safai has been trying to appeal to progressive voters, and he performed best among candidates who identified as progressive in the poll. Still, more than half of progressive voters said they arent sure who theyd vote for. To Safais campaign, the poll results demonstrated that the mayors race is wide open with over eight months to go and an entire election for voters to consider first on March 5th, adviser Derek Jansen said in a statement. The Omaha public school district is switching transportation vendors for the first time in a decade following years of struggles in getting students to school on time or at all. At its meeting on Thursday, the OPS board will consider a proposal to switch from Student Transportation of America to Zum Services. The company estimated in its proposal that with the number of current routes OPS has, the three-year contract would cost $58.3 million. An option to extend it two years would cost another $42.8 million. Trevis Sallis, executive director of student transportation for OPS, said this cost will likely increase as the number of routes are estimated to rise for the 2024-25 school year. The district wont have official route numbers until this summer. Student Transportation of America, which has been the districts main vendor for 10 years, has been criticized for its lack of route coverage in recent years. OPS uses the company to transport roughly 18,000 students daily, while the district transports another 2,000 students or more. We do recognize over the last few years, there were some challenges, Sallis said. We recognize as a district, weve done everything to support our current contract as we went through those challenges. Parents have reported their children sometimes wait for hours to get to and from school or their childs school bus doesnt arrive at all. In 2022, district officials amended transportation eligibility guidelines, eliminating transportation for roughly 3,000 children who the district said lived close enough to the school to walk. Sallis said in March 2023 that the vendor was not meeting the districts expectations. The district hired a second transportation company called First Student two months later to help alleviate the problem. At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, Student Transportation of America routes were 85% staffed while First Student routes were 100% staffed. Sallis said the district will continue to use First Student along with Zum Services, pending board approval on Thursday. Zum Services currently operates in six states, including California, Texas, Washington, Illinois, Tennessee and Maryland, according to the companys website. OPS would be its first Nebraska district. Sallis said the district chose Zum Services because the company seemed to focus more on students. Their whole proposal is centered around students, Sallis said. They have a very robust (driver) training program. We looked at the curriculum and it was really specific, not just for regular education they also offer training for special education students as well. (But) their primary purpose will be to provide services for general education students. While Zum Services bus drivers will be paid more, Sallis said they will still be impacted by the national bus driver shortage. We do expect there will be some challenges with this transition due to that shortage, Sallis said. But one of the things that we were impressed with when we were evaluating the Zum Services proposal is their commitment to recruit. Sallis said the company will begin recruitment once the contract is approved. The firm will try to hire former Student Transportation of America drivers but will also recruit through social media, marketing ads and in-person events. The school board will consider the proposal at its meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Teacher Administrative Center, 3215 Cuming St. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 DES MOINES Drivers in eight Midwestern states will be able to fuel up with a higher blend of ethanol throughout the year under a final rule announced Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The biofuels industry and farming groups, with support of Midwest governors, sought the end of a summertime ban on sales of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol for years. The higher blend has been prohibited because of concerns that it could worsen smog during warm weather. The move reflects the importance of ethanol to agriculture. The fuel additive consumes roughly 40% of the nations corn crop, so higher sales of ethanol could mean greater profits for corn farmers. The rule, which takes effect in April 2025, will apply in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Those states grow the bulk of the U.S. corn crop and are home to much of the nations ethanol production. The EPA said it delayed implementation of the new rule because of concerns there wasnt enough supply to meet demand this summer. Ethanol producers welcomed the change but criticized the EPA for that delay. While we are pleased to see EPA has finally approved year-round E15 in these eight states, we are extremely disappointed by the agencys needless decision to delay implementation until 2025, the Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group, said in a statement. Its helpful to finally have some certainty about 2025 and beyond, but what happens this summer? Most gasoline sold across the country is blended with 10% ethanol, though 15% blends are becoming increasingly common, especially in the Midwest. E15 summer sales still will not be allowed in most of the country during summer, though agricultural groups are pushing for a nationwide policy change. The biofuels industry and politicians of both parties have portrayed ethanol as a product that helps farmers, reduces prices at the pump and lessens greenhouse gas releases because the fuel burns more cleanly than straight gasoline. However, environmentalists and others have said increased ethanol production can increase carbon releases because it results in more corn production, leading to increased use of fertilizer and greater releases of nitrate. Synthetic and natural fertilizers also are a leading source of water pollution. The EPA has approved sales of E15 for cars and trucks manufactured after 2000. Grow Energy, another bioenergy trade association, estimates the higher blend will cost consumers 15 cents a gallon less than 10% ethanol. Petroleum refiners have opposed the Midwest-specific rules, saying a special blend in one region would increase costs and could lead to tighter fuel supplies. The American Petroleum Institute, a trade group, said a national standard was needed. We are concerned this piecemeal approach could weaken the resiliency of the regions fuel supply chain, Will Hupman, a vice president at the group said in a statement. We continue to call on Congress to pass the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would bring much needed consistency to the marketplace by allowing for the year-round sale of E15 nationwide, preserving access to E10 and eliminating the need for regional or state-specific waiver petitions. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 The Omaha Streetcar Authority on Wednesday unanimously approved $3.9 million in additional payments to the local engineering firm HDR, a consultant on the streetcar project. HDR already has a $19.9 million contract with the authority for design and engineering services of the Omaha streetcar line, which is scheduled to open in 2026-27. The added funds will cover HDRs oversight of manufacturing and delivery of six new streetcar vehicles, said Rick Gustafson, the authoritys executive director. He said HDR was required to show that it was qualified to oversee the production of the streetcars when it won the original bid, but the work was not included because it was scheduled to start later. Last month, the streetcar authority received a single bid of $47.6 million to build the cars from CAF USA, the American subsidiary of a Spanish company that supplies rail, tram and streetcar systems around the world including streetcars in Kansas City and Cincinnati. Gustafson said CAF USAs proposal was about 5% above the $45 million the authority had anticipated paying for the streetcars. The board approved the extra funds for HDR unanimously, but board member William Clingman who serves as finance director for Metro transit said he hopes to see some firmer cost figures for the streetcar soon. Its becoming really challenging to commit when we dont know the full cost, Clingman said. Gustafson showed a financial report with a $147.3 million budget for the authority in 2024, including $1.9 million spent in January. Expenses in 2023 totaled $8 million. He said a fuller report detailing the costs of the project is expected in about 45 days. Wednesdays meeting came a day before a public open house on the streetcar project from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel, 302 S. 36th St., in the Blackstone District. No formal presentation is planned, but the public will have a chance to view displays on the streetcar, including updated designs, locations of stops, and a construction schedule, according to a press release. Free parking is available in the daily lot south of the hotel, at 36th and Harney Streets, and bike-share stations are nearby. The site is also accessible via Metros bus route 15. Photos: Omaha's streetcar system through the years MESQUITE, Texas At a bustling construction site outside of Dallas, there are hopes that Congress can finally pass nearly $95 billion in foreign aid including funding for Ukraine because factory jobs in the United States depend on that money. Aerospace and defense company General Dynamics new factory in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite is expected to initially employ 150 people to produce munitions. Set to open in June, construction is nearing completion, with newly planted trees and shrubs already in place at the complex overlooking one of the areas busiest interstates. We want to increase our wages and increase our skill levels and job opportunities, said Kim Buttram, Mesquite's director of economic development, who added that the factory is expected to have over 300 jobs when its at full production. As President Joe Biden pushes House Republicans to pass needed aid, he wants voters to understand that nearly two-thirds or nearly $40 billion of the money for Ukraine would actually go to U.S. factories spread out across the country including plants in Lima, Ohio, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, as well as Mesquite. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has refused to put the bill up for a vote on the House floor on the premise that it does not meet the needs of the American public. The supplemental spending measure contains a total of $95 billion in foreign aid, including money for Ukraine, Israel and other countries. Of the $60.7 billion for Ukraine, $38.8 billion would go to U.S. factories that make missiles, munitions and other gear, according to figures provided to The Associated Press by the Biden administration. While this bill sends military equipment to Ukraine, Biden said Tuesday, it spends the money right here in the United States of America in places like Arizona, where the Patriot missiles are built; and Alabama, where the Javelin missiles are built; and Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas, where artillery shells are made. The president's argument challenges criticism by some Republican lawmakers that the federal government should be spending more money at home instead of supporting overseas wars. In this case, most of the money goes to U.S. companies and workers, funding assembly lines to refill depleted stockpiles of weapons and gear that have already gone to Ukraine. The Democratic president is openly channeling Franklin Delano Roosevelt and resurrecting the World War II-era concept that America is the arsenal of democracy. His sales pitch to the public is that his foreign policy is also about jobs for the U.S. middle class. But Biden is brushing up against opposition from former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner who ascended to the White House in 2016 on the promise of reviving U.S. manufacturing. Trump opposes the U.S. package to help Ukraine and has openly expressed a willingness to let Russia invade NATO allies who do not spend enough of their own budgets on defense. Many Republicans in Congress have taken their lead from Trump, with the party's right flank increasingly questioning the value of U.S. interventions around the world and long-standing alliances built in the aftermath of World War II. Johnson has refused to bring the foreign aid bill up for a vote because it also lacks provisions to secure the U.S. southern border where immigrants are crossing illegally. But he previously rejected a bipartisan Senate bill that did provide funding to address immigration challenges, saying that the border measures would not solve the problem in the way that he wanted. The Republican-led House will not be jammed or forced into passing a foreign aid bill that was opposed by most Republican senators, Johnson said at a news conference last week. It's time for Washington to start showing some love to Americans. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, in contrast, has repeatedly implored his colleagues to understand that the funds from the package are for historic investments right here in America. This is about rebuilding the arsenal of democracy, McConnell, R-Kentucky, said in a floor speech during the long days of debate, and demonstrating to our allies and adversaries alike that were serious about exercising American strength. The Mesquite factory sits in the congressional district of Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, who told Fox Business News in a December interview that he couldn't tell his constituents that he voted for money for Ukraine without also getting money to secure the U.S. southern border. I will never support any funding for Ukraine that does not include major measures of security at our own southern border, said Gooden. His office did not respond to questions sent over email from The Associated Press for this story. U.S. factories shipped out nearly $162 billion worth of military goods last year, according to the Census Bureau. The shipments increased 8.1% compared to 2022. The supplemental funding could further drive factory production upward this year. But defense manufacturing can be volatile. Spending declined between 2010 and 2015. It then grew over the next four years, only to dip in 2021 and then climb again after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. But on Friday, after news of the death of imprisoned Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, Biden again pushed House Republicans to pass aid to Ukraine and take a stand against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But the House had gone into recess on Thursday afternoon. Its about time they step up dont you think? instead of going on a two-week vacation, Biden said. What are they thinking? My God, this is bizarre. SANTA FE, N.M. Prosecutors in New Mexico are pursuing accountability for the 2021 death of a cinematographer who was fatally shot by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal for the Western film Rust. Before Baldwin's case progresses, the armorer on the set is being tried on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Sixteen jurors including four alternates were sworn in for trial Wednesday, capping a daylong selection process conducted largely out of public and media view in deference to the privacy of jurors. Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to the charges and maintains she's not directly to blame for Halyna Hutchins' death. Baldwin also has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in a separate case. Jurors were chosen from a pool of 70 residents from the Santa Fe area that included non-English speakers, a welder, a teacher, a graduate student and a mother who provides for six children. Prosecutors asked potential jurors about their exposure to intensive media coverage and social media chatter about the case. Prosecutors plan to present evidence that Gutierrez-Reed loaded a live round into the gun that killed Hutchins after unknowingly bringing live ammunition onto a set where it was expressly prohibited. They contend the armorer missed multiple opportunities to ensure safety on the movie set. Defense attorneys have said they have evidence that will show otherwise. The evidence and testimony has implications for Baldwin, who was pointing a gun at Hutchins during an October 2021 rehearsal outside Santa Fe when she was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded. Gutierrez-Reed, the stepdaughter of renowned sharpshooter and weapons consultant Thell Reed, was 24 at the time of Hutchins' death. Rust was her second assignment as an armorer in a feature film. Gutierrez-Reed faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The evidence tampering charge stems from accusations she handed a small bag of possible narcotics to another crew member after the shooting to avoid detection by law enforcement. Her attorneys say that charge is prosecutors' attempt to smear Gutierrez-Reed's character. The bag was thrown away without testing the contents, defense attorneys said. More than 40 people are listed as witnesses during the trial that's scheduled to run through March 6. Authorities located six rounds of ammunition on the movie set in locations that included a box, a gun belt and a bandolier worn by Baldwin. Baldwin has said he assumed the gun only had rounds that couldn't be fired. Special prosecutors have argued in court filings that Hutchins died because of a series of negligent acts by Gutierrez-Reed. They say she should have noticed live rounds and intervened long before the shooting. Gutierrez-Reeds attorneys say shes unfairly been scapegoated. They contend live rounds arrived on set from an Albuquerque-based supplier of dummy rounds. They also pointed to a broader atmosphere of safety failures that were uncovered during an investigation by state workplace safety inspectors that go beyond Gutierrez-Reed. Additionally, Gutierrez-Reed is accused in another case of carrying a gun into a bar in downtown Santa Fe in violation of state law. Her attorneys say that charge has been used to try to pressure Gutierrez-Reed into a false confession about the handling of live ammunition on the Rust set. Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for storage, maintenance and handling of firearms and ammunition on set and for training members of the cast who would be handling firearms, according to state workplace safety regulators. Live rounds are typically distinguished from dummy rounds by a small hole in the dummys brass cartridge, indicating there is no explosive inside or by shaking the round to hear the clatter of a BB that is inserted inside. A missing or dimpled primer at the bottom of the cartridge is another trait of dummy rounds. The company Rust Movie Productions paid a $100,000 fine to the state following a scathing narrative of safety failures in violation of standard industry protocols. The report included testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires on set before Hutchins was shot. Prosecutors urged a judge to keep regulators conclusions out of the trial because those might be used to argue that Rust management was responsible for safety failures, not Gutierrez-Reed. The judge in the case sided last week with Gutierrez-Reed. The report says the production company did not develop a process for ensuring live rounds were kept away from the set and that it failed to give the armorer enough time to thoroughly inventory ammunition. Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on Rust, was indicted in January on an involuntary manslaughter charge. Baldwin has said he pulled back the gun's hammer not the trigger and the weapon fired. The charge against Baldwin provides two alternative standards for prosecution, one based on the negligent use of a firearm and another tied to negligence without due caution or circumspection, also defined as total disregard or indifference for the safety of others. NEW YORK A leader of a Japan-based crime syndicate conspired to traffic uranium and plutonium from Myanmar in the belief that Iran would use it to make nuclear weapons, U.S. prosecutors alleged Wednesday. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, and his confederates showed samples of nuclear materials that had been transported from Myanmar to Thailand to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker who had access to an Iranian general, according to federal officials. The nuclear material was seized and samples were later found to contain uranium and weapons-grade plutonium. As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons," DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a statement. This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life. The nuclear material came from an unidentified leader of an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar who had been mining uranium in the country, according to prosecutors. Ebisawa had proposed that the leader sell uranium through him in order to fund a weapons purchase from the general, court documents allege. According to prosecutors, the insurgent leader provided samples, which a U.S. federal lab found contained uranium, thorium and plutonium, and that the the isotope composition of the plutonium was weapons-grade, meaning enough of it would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon. Ebisawa, who prosecutors allege is a leader of a Japan-based international crime syndicate, was among four people who were arrested in April 2022 in Manhattan during a DEA sting operation. He has been jailed awaiting trial and is among two defendants named in a superseding indictment. Ebisawa is charged with the international trafficking of nuclear materials, conspiracy to commit that crime, and several other counts. An email seeking comment was sent to Ebisawa's attorney, Evan Loren Lipton. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Ebisawa brazenly trafficked the material from Myanmar to other countries. He allegedly did so while believing that the material was going to be used in the development of a nuclear weapons program, and the weapons-grade plutonium he trafficked, if produced in sufficient quantities, could have been used for that purpose, Williams said in the news release. "Even as he allegedly attempted to sell nuclear materials, Ebisawa also negotiated for the purchase of deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles." The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in federal court in Manhattan. 25 facts about nuclear weapons 25 facts about nuclear weapons Countries armed with nuclear weapons Trying to stop nuclear proliferation Refusing to agree to the accord Large arsenals of the late 1960s China's "modest" nuclear weapons stockpile Lost bombs and other missing nuclear devices To launch or not in 12 minutes Assassinating Iran's top nuclear scientists Blackout at Iran's nuclear fuel enrichment facility U.S., Iran negotiate nuclear deal Iran steps up uranium enrichment A weapon as large as a minivan Largest weapon in U.S. stockpile Billions for nuclear deterrent $600 billion to modernize nuclear arsenal U.N. tries to ban nuclear weapons Withdrawing forward-deployed weapons in the Pacific Estimates on North Korea's nuclear capabilities North Korea tests nuclear bombs Trump, Kim Jong-un meet in historic summit Second North Korea, U.S. summit held in Hanoi Trump crosses into DMZ separating two Koreas Russia-Ukraine War raises concerns about Russia's use of nuclear arsenal JERUSALEM International efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas appeared to gain new momentum Thursday as the White House said a visit by a senior envoy with Israeli leaders was "going well" and other mediators reported encouraging signs from the warring parties. The new signs of progress came ahead of an expected summit this weekend in Paris, where mediators plan to present a new proposal. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have struggled for weeks to find a formula that could halt Israel's devastating offensive in Gaza, but now face an unofficial deadline as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. White House Mideast envoy Brett McGurk held talks throughout the day with Israeli leaders and families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. "The initial indications we're getting from Brett are these discussions are going well," said White House spokesman John Kirby. A Western diplomat involved in the efforts said both sides want a pause. "What we have heard from our partners is that they are willing to give concessions," she said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Time is pressing them." In new fighting, Israeli strikes killed more than 70 people in southern and central Gaza, Palestinian health officials said. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on morning traffic at a highway checkpoint, killing one man and wounding five others, Israeli police said. Israel declared war after Hamas militants stormed across the border Oct. 7. An estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, died during the raid, and militants took 250 people captive, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli military response has left more than 29,000 Palestinians dead, caused widespread destruction, displaced an estimated 80% of Gazas population and fueled a humanitarian disaster. About half of the hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. About 100 hostages remain in captivity, in addition to the bodies of 30 others. Israel demands the release of the remaining hostages as part of any pause but has vowed to press ahead with the offensive until Hamas' military and governing capabilities are destroyed. Hamas wants an end to the war, a full withdrawal of troops and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners Israel is holding. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the Hamas demands as "delusional." But in recent days, Israeli leaders have begun to voice cautious optimism and Hamas suggested it is softening its demands. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a member of Israel's three-man War Cabinet, indicated some flexibility. "We will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators," he said. At the same time, he warned that the Israeli army "is preparing the continuation of intense ground operations." Benny Gantz, who sits on the War Cabinet with Gallant and Netanyahu, has said that if there is no hostage deal, Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gaza's southernmost town, Rafah, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins about March 10. A top Hamas official, meanwhile, voiced hope for "lots of breakthroughs" in the near future. More than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million is crowded into Rafah after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the territory. Israel claims it will evacuate them before attacking, but it is not clear where they would go, with much of the rest of the tiny Mediterranean enclave consumed in combat. The U.S. has urged Israel not to invade Rafah without a plan to protect civilians. Kirby said that McGurk was pressing the Israelis for details. The foreign ministers of 26 European countries on Thursday called for a pause in fighting leading to a longer cease-fire. Cease-fire Both the Western diplomat and an Egyptian official said they have seen "encouraging" signs from Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian official said Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. would craft a renewed proposal at the talks in Paris, expected on Friday or Saturday. He said mediators managed to water down demands of both sides, including the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel would release in return for women and elderly hostages during a preliminary six-week cease-fire. He said "the discussions are encouraging." He also said both sides agreed to continue indirect negotiations for a permanent cease-fire something Israeli officials in public have ruled out. Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, said the negotiations were focused on "our people." He called for Palestinians to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza and a "redeployment" of Israeli forces from residential areas. "If this is achieved, things can move on an excellent and good way," he said. "Therefore we say there might be lots of breakthroughs in the near future." Israeli media said the War Cabinet agreed late Thursday to send a delegation to the Paris talks. Two people have officially been charged in connection with a double homicide in Bloomfield, Nebraska, that left two beloved community members dead. Alias Reed, 25, faces two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony in connection with the killings of William Reffett, 49, and Curt Strom, 77, on Tuesday morning. Strom was the owner of Curts Lanes, a bowling alley that operated in Bloomfield for more than 50 years, and Reffett had been doing odd jobs and repair work for Strom. Reeds girlfriend, 27-year-old Kaylyne Sweazy, has been charged with one count of evidence tampering. She is alleged to have helped Reed dispose of the gun used in the killings before confessing to investigators and pointing them to the rural county road where they dumped the shotgun. Arrest affidavits for Reed and Sweazy filed on Wednesday afternoon offer more details about the killings, which authorities previously said stemmed from a disagreement between Reed and Reffett. At a press conference Wednesday morning, Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Dain Hicks said Reed walked into the bowling alley at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and instigated an argument with Reffett. Hicks said Reed shot Reffett first and then shot Strom, who was not involved in the argument. But in an affidavit, State Patrol investigators said Reed confessed to going to the bowling alley with a shotgun concealed in a cardboard box and the intention of killing both Reffett and Strom. According to the affidavits: Three people, including Reed and Sweazy, were detained on Tuesday as persons of interest in the investigation. Reed and Sweazy both voluntarily interviewed with investigators. According to the affidavit, Reed told investigators he went to the bowling alley to kill Will and Curt. After going into the bowling alley and removing the shotgun from the box, Reed told Reffett that he was going to rob him. As Reffett turned around to walk to the back of the business, Reed followed Reffett before shooting him in the head with the shotgun. Strom was also shot in the head. Reed took money from a wallet belonging to either Reffett or Strom and from the cash register. He left out the back door and then walked back to Sweazys parents house, located less than a block from the bowling alley. Sweazy was also interviewed by investigators and said Reed was acting scared and shaking when he returned from the bowling alley. Reed then confessed to killing the two men, according to the affidavit. Sweazy and Reed drove to a gravel county road near Center, Nebraska, located about 13 miles west of Bloomfield, to dispose of the shotgun. Sweazy pointed out the location on a map, and investigators found the gun in the immediate vicinity of where Sweazy stated that it would be. Court records indicate that Reed and Sweazy have two children together and an on-again-off-again relationship. In 2022, the couples then 3-year-old child was removed from Sweazys care after the child was left unsupervised and was nearly hit by a car. At that time, according to an affidavit from an employee with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Sweazy said Reed lived in Mississippi and is not around. But in a court document filed in August 2023, a DHHS employee said Sweazy moved to Mississippi earlier that year to live with Reed. When Sweazy had virtual visits with their child, according to the document, they had to be cut short after Reed began yelling into the phone. Reed and Sweazy voluntarily relinquished their rights to the child in January. At some point, Reed and Sweazy moved back to Bloomfield, where they lived with Sweazys parents, according to court documents. Sweazy gave birth to another child in February 2024. The newborn was removed from their care immediately upon Sweazy being released from the hospital after the home was found to be dirty and without heat or water. A midmorning shooting in a small-town bowling alley on Tuesday left two men dead and the northeast Nebraska community of Bloomfield shaken. I dont remember there being a homicide in Bloomfield for years," Knox County Sheriff Don Henery said at a Wednesday press conference. "We dont have a lot in Knox County, quite truthfully. Curt Strom, 77, and William Reffett, 49, died after being shot inside the bowling alley and restaurant Curts Lanes and Dining at 112 W. Grant St., Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Dain Hicks said at the press conference. According to Hicks, citing details from a preliminary investigation, Alias Reed, a 25-year-old Bloomfield resident, went to the bowling alley with a shotgun and initiated an argument with Reffett around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Hicks said Reed shot Reffett and, moments later, shot Strom, who was not a party to the argument. Strom owned the bowling alley. Strom was well-respected and had owned his namesake bowling alley and restaurant for nearly 51 years, his daughter Page Hingst said. She and Bloomfield Mayor Brad Eckmann described Strom as generous and big-hearted. "He would give the shirt off his back for anybody," Hingst said. "He loved the community. The community was his pride. He wanted to serve the community and be there for the community." In addition to bowling and Bloomfield, Strom also loved fishing and his three grandchildren. He was a classic rock fan. Reffett, Hingst said, was also a good guy. She said Reffett had been working for Strom, doing some repairs. "He was so sweet and so nice," Hingst said. 'Still working on a motive' The context and substance of the argument is still under investigation, Hicks said. Were still working on motive and trying to get a better understanding of this crime, he said. Authorities found the shotgun allegedly used in the shooting in a ditch along a county road several miles west of Bloomfield, Hicks said. Investigators believe Reed and a woman, 27-year-old Kaylyne Sweazy, traveled to that location to dispose of the weapon, he said. Reed and Sweazy were found at their home shortly after the fatal shooting occurred, according to a State Patrol press release. Reed faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery stemming from investigators finding money stolen from the bowling alley, according to Hicks. Hicks added Sweazy faces one count of tampering with evidence. A representative from the Knox County Attorneys Office said charges are pending. The fatal shooting stunned the town of Bloomfield, which has about 1,100 residents, Henery said. Law enforcement placed schools on lockout Tuesday and a number of businesses in Bloomfield reportedly closed following the shooting. To say its not shocking would be an understatement," Henery said, "because it is. This isnt what human nature does. Suspects had been subject of child neglect allegations Court records indicate that Reed and Sweazy have been the focus of child neglect allegations in the past, including in recent days. A State Patrol spokesman said there is no indication the allegations played any role in Tuesday's incident. On Feb. 10, the Knox County Attorney's Office petitioned to have an infant removed from the care of its parents, Reed and Sweazy, due to a "lack of support." The petition filed in Knox County District Court said the child lived in a home at 210 W. Grant St. in Bloomfield that "does not have gas, heat, or hot water." The petition said that "one bedroom of the home is heated with a space heater, which poses a potential fire hazard due to the condition of the bedroom." Any water that needs to be warmed is boiled first, the petition said. "The family does not have necessary supplies to take care of a newborn baby," the petition said. "There is no crib or safe sleep space for the infant." Sweazy allegedly told authorities that she would be feeding the baby formula. "However, there were no bottles in the home aside from one bottle sent with the parents from the hospital," the petition said. "Therefore, Petitioner asks the Court to adjudicate the child to be as alleged and enter such orders as may be warranted." The infant was placed in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, with court proceedings scheduled for March 21. In 2022, the Knox County Attorney's Office successfully petitioned to have another child removed from the care of Reed and Sweazy. The couple later relinquished parental rights to the now 5-year-old child. The Bloomfield Police Department requested assistance from the State Patrol to investigate the incident. Bloomfield is located about 167 miles northwest of Omaha and 30 miles southwest of Yankton, South Dakota. Hicks said the incident remains under investigation. LINCOLN Nebraska Wesleyan University will launch a new program next fall aimed at helping students become innovative problem-solvers and assisting them as they start their own businesses. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship major will be the first of its kind in the state, school officials said at a press conference Wednesday. We want and need to be a part of the solution to the states brain drain issue, Wesleyan President Darrin Good said. Our innovation and entrepreneurship program will prepare our students to be successful in the workforce and help them keep their talents in Nebraska. The program is made possible thanks to a $2 million donation from alumnus Philip Mullin, who became a Lincoln business icon as owner of Garner Industries. Ive always had a place in my heart for young people, Mullin said. A lot of these young people are great people, but they dont know where to start. The program is unique in that it allows students to specialize in their personal areas of interest. The 36-credit-hour major is designed to be added to another degree from any department, and there are several tracks within the program for students to choose from, including business, marketing and sports, creative design and the arts, policy and justice, science and technology, and sustainability and environment. These specific tracks were chosen from fields that are begging for innovation, said Meghan Winchell, NWU associate provost of integrative and experiential learning. One of the first classes students in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship program will take is Ideas in Innovation, a class focusing on innovation on a basic level and learning how to pitch ideas. Students will also take a problem-solving class devoted to learning how to dissect larger problems and find solutions. We want to cause them to think about really big, really tough problems and think about how you might solve these problems, said Zach Baumann, NWU assistant professor of political science. The new program will also focus on allowing students to gain firsthand experience through mentorships and internships during their college career. The major will culminate in a final project, with students creating either a pitch deck or business proposal that could be applied in the real world. Officials said small class sizes at Nebraska Wesleyan will allow students to have more one-on-one time with faculty, and students will also have the advantage of being in a city that has been home to numerous startups in recent years. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 This week, Avelo, a low-cost carrier headquartered in Houston, added four flights at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, doubling the number of its departures from the airport. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo The Bay Areas smallest commercial airport, Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in the North Bay, is taking off adding new destinations and direct flights and becoming a base for upstart Avelo Airlines. The airport, located in northern Santa Rosa, is on a growth spurt. This week, Avelo, a low-cost carrier headquartered in Houston, added four flights, doubling the number of departures from Sonoma County. Last month, Avelo announced it would make the Santa Rosa airport one of its bases beginning in May. The airport, with the code letters STS, is also served by Alaska and American airlines. All three carriers fly commercial jets in and out of the facility. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Avelo announced Wednesday new direct flights out of Sonoma County Airport to Boise, Idaho; Kalispell, Mont.; Pasco, Wash.; and Salem, Ore., starting at the beginning of May. The airline, which started in 2021, already operates nonstop flights out of Sonoma County Airport to Burbank and Las Vegas with seasonal flights to Palm Springs and Bend, Ore. In total, Avelo serves 48 destinations in 23 states and Puerto Rico. Passengers exit an American Airlines plane that arrived from Phoenix to Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa in 2017. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Sonoma County Airport also has nonstop flights to and from Burbank, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Portland, Ore., and Seattle on Alaska Airlines. American Airlines has direct service from Sonoma County to Dallas and Phoenix. Also starting in May, Avelo plans to make Sonoma County Airport one of its bases, stationing at least two of its Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft at the airport and employing as many as 50 new crew members, it announced last month. When the new routes take flight, Avelo will become the airline with the most destinations flying from Sonoma County. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With four new destinations on the map, Avelo is really expanding the travel possibilities here at STS, Jon Stout, the airports manager, said in a news release. This is, in the best way, going to be impactful for all of Sonoma Countys residents. This is the single largest announcement of new destinations at one time in the airports history. Avelos CEO, Andrew Levy, cited Sonoma County Airports convenience and its proximity to Wine Country as reasons for the airlines interest in what is easily the Bay Areas smallest commercial airport. In 2023, 641,178 passengers flew in and out of STS, according to airport figures. San Francisco International, the Bay Areas largest and busiest airport, served 50.2 million passengers, while Mineta San Jose International had 12.1 million and Oakland International had 11.2 million. An Alaska Airlines plane departs from the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa in 2019. Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle Sonoma County Airport is by far the Bay Areas best airport its small, smooth and seamless travel experience is unmatched by any other airport in the region, Levy said. Which is why we are doubling the number of nonstop destinations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He hinted that Avelo could be bringing more to the airport in the future. The new routes are just a preview of the exciting opportunities ahead for Avelo when our new STS base opens in May, he said. Avelos impending arrivals at Sonoma County come as the airport tries to leverage its location and bill itself as the front door to Wine Country, boasting that it can spare travelers a two-hour drive from SFO. Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport unveiled a modernized terminal in 2022 after making $40 million in improvements, adding a high-peaked ceiling, tall windows, new counters and baggage handling areas and about 27,000 square feet. The airport added the name of the Peanuts cartoonist, a longtime resident of Sonoma County, in 2000. LINCOLN A $10 million effort to ease Nebraskas child care crisis by subsidizing the costs of child care for workers in the field cleared a major hurdle in the State Legislature. State lawmakers advanced Legislative Bill 856 through its first of three rounds of debate in a 35-9 vote Wednesday. The bill would appropriate up to $10 million per year for child care workers in Nebraska to obtain child care services for their own children at no cost, regardless of their personal income. The idea behind LB 856 is to boost the number of child care workers, thus making care more available for other Nebraska parents and ultimately allowing more people to join the workforce. The lack of workers in the child care industry, and high levels of staff turnover, is hindering the ability of other folks to get to work, said LB 856s introducer, State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. Nebraska has been struggling with a workforce shortage for years. This year, state senators introduced a collection of bills to address various aspects of the problem, including multiple child care bills. Supporters of LB 856 from across the political spectrum said child care is one of the most important areas to resolve, as it often is the first impediment parents face that prevent them from pursuing work opportunities. We need to begin in the right place, said Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte. Fredrickson modeled the bill after a similar initiative in Kentucky, which other states have also eyed. In order to compete with those states for workers, he argued Nebraska also needs to offer incentives. Fredrickson estimated that subsidizing care for child care providers could bring 2,175 people into the child care workforce. They could provide care for an estimated 16,000 more Nebraska children, based on research showing that every additional child care worker cares for eight children. To address concerns, Fredrickson introduced an amendment to LB 856, which also passed Wednesday. The amendment sunsets the subsidy on Oct. 1, 2026, which the Legislature can extend through separate legislation, and caps the appropriation at $10 million per year. Originally, the Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the bill would cost around $21 million, which drew concerns from some lawmakers. Fredrickson said he believes that figure was an overestimation, and said he is confident that $10 million is enough to cover Nebraskas needs. In addition, Fredrickson estimated that LB 856 could actually save costs that Nebraska families incur because of lost work opportunities from a lack of child care options, which he estimated to be about $489 million annually. Though Fredricksons amendment received widespread support on the floor, it was not enough to sway some lawmakers from opposing the underlying bill. Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering said he was sympathetic to child care access as the co-owner of a child care center in Colorado, but argued businesses must take the initiative to pay their workers well, and viewed LB 856 as a permanent entitlement. When the government pays for something, it makes it expected, Hardin said. In fact, it does in fact turn into an entitlement. What we are hatching here is a new entitlement. Several opponents, including Hardin, expressed doubt that the subsidy would actually expire in 2026. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said hes never seen a sunset take effect in his seven years serving in the Legislature, and argued that if the legislation is successful, its likely that it would become a permanent program. Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha also opposed the bill, and argued the state shouldnt pay for free child care since some providers offer that benefit already to recruit workers. Fredrickson countered that while some businesses do offer that incentive, a majority of child care providers in Nebraska do not have the means to offer this. He said some of those providers testified in support of LB 856 at its public hearing, and said they need the state aid to provide that benefit. Despite the concerns expressed during Wednesdays floor debate, Fredrickson said he was happy with how the first round went, saying he felt a strong motivation from the body to address the states child care crisis through his bill. He said he plans to work with lawmakers and stakeholders on another possible amendment to address some of the opposing arguments. This was a big deal for Nebraska today, Fredrickson said after the vote. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 LINCOLN During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gladys Harrison of Big Mamas Kitchen in Omaha was looking for ways to distribute meals to her community, but she couldnt get past the red tape. Harrisons idea was to offer prepared meals for people participating in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. But when she applied for her restaurant to participate, she was denied. Twice. A bill in the Nebraska Legislature might change that. Legislative Bill 920, introduced by State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, would expand the states SNAP program to allow participants who are elderly, disabled or homeless to use their benefits to purchase restaurant meals. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nine states participate in a similar restaurant meals program. McKinney called the bill a win-win solution because it would expand options for food assistance and support small businesses without much added cost to the state. Everyone deserves access to nutritious food, regardless of their circumstances, McKinney said. The bill was considered in a public hearing before the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday. Eight people testified in support and there were 23 written comments in support. One person testified in opposition. SNAP provides low-income residents with financial aid to purchase certain food items at grocery and convenience stores. Many cold food items available at grocery stores are eligible for SNAP benefits, but foods that are hot at the point of sale are not eligible. McKinney and other LB 920 supporters said this poses a problem for residents who dont have access to kitchens, or dont have the equipment or the skills to cook food for themselves. Alynn Sampson, executive director of Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, said many of its visitors say they would like to purchase more healthy foods such as produce, but feel limited because of the foods short shelf life. Harrison said she brought the idea of LB 920 to McKinney after her applications were denied, and said expanding SNAP options would be beneficial to both urban and rural regions of Nebraska that are food deserts, lacking nearby grocery stores. Theres one thing Nebraska has plenty of, and thats restaurants, Harrison said. LB 920 would not increase the monetary limit available to SNAP participants who qualify, McKinney said. However, the Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the law would add some costs for the State Department of Health and Human Services, since it would be tasked with establishing the program if the bill passes. The first-year cost was estimated at $66,000, and $108,000 the following year. This would cover the expenses of a program coordinator. Restaurants would have to apply to participate in the program as well, according to Eric Savaiano, economic justice program manager for Nebraska Appleseed. To be eligible, he said, the restaurants would have to sell their meals at concession, meaning they would be priced 5% to 10% below market rate. Harrison said restaurants could easily charge less because they would save on labor costs. Restaurant meals typically involve staff members taking orders and then preparing those meals individually. Instead, she said, Big Mamas Kitchen would sell SNAP participants pre-prepared meals that the consumer would need to heat themselves at another location. Multiple restaurant representatives spoke in support of LB 920, including a lobbyist with the Nebraska Hospitality Association, which represents over 100 local restaurants. The sole opposing testifier was Ansley Fellers, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry. She said that even low-cost meals at restaurants are more than twice the price of same food at grocery stores. Nebraska should ensure that SNAP funds stretch as far as possible, she said. McKinney said he understood Fellers argument, but noted that there are multiple areas across Nebraska where grocery stores arent accessible. Families in those areas often resort to getting their groceries at dollar stores. Katie Nungesser, who testified in support of LB 920 on behalf of Voices For Children in Nebraska, said a majority of people who use SNAP benefits are already used to working with a reduced budget for food, and could manage their use of restaurant meals. These families know what their limitations are and what they need to get by, Nungesser said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 LINCOLN Nebraska lawmakers appear headed for a repeat of last years battle over providing $25 million in state support for private and faith-based school scholarships. The Appropriations Committee voted 6-3 Thursday to advance a bill providing more direct funding than the law passed over stiff opposition last year. That law faced filibusters at each stage of debate, before passing on a 33-11 vote. It is the target of a referendum vote in Novembers general election. Legislative Bill 1402, if passed, would provide $25 million in grants to private school scholarship funds. The law passed last year provides $25 million of dollar-for-dollar income tax credits that are offered to people who donate to the scholarship funds. State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, who pushed through last years law, also introduced the new proposal. She said she would seek to repeal the tax credit law if the new bill passes. Im very grateful for the Appropriations Committee voting to send it to the floor, she said. After the hearing on LB 1402, Linehan acknowledged that she had introduced the new bill to get around the referendum. She has another bill that would make enough changes in last years law to have the same nullifying effect on the referendum. That measure, LB 1403, was heard by the Revenue Committee. Passing either measure would eliminate the law that the referendum seeks to repeal, while leaving in place the use of public dollars to support private and parochial school students that sparked the referendum petition drive. Petition circulators collected about 117,000 signatures to put the issue on the ballot. Jenni Benson, with Support Our Schools Nebraska, the group that led the petition drive, called the advancement of LB 1402 a slap in the face to Nebraska voters. Nebraskans have made it very clear they want to vote on whether to use public funds to pay for private and religious schools, she said. Support Our Schools Nebraska, along with many other organizations and individuals that support public education in this state, will fight this voucher scheme as well as any other attempts to usurp the rights of voters. Linehan said she hoped lawmakers could consider LB 1402 as part of a broader tax-and-school aid package this year, which could help boost its chances of passing. As originally written, the bill was to be included in the state budget changes for this year, which could have protected it against a new referendum. The Nebraska Constitution bars referendums on appropriations bills. The Appropriations Committee voted to make the bill separate, with the intent to appropriate $25 million for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2024. The total could increase by $25 million a year, up to $100 million, if at least 90% of the scholarship grant dollars are used. Two Appropriations Committee members expressed concern about passing two scholarship programs. Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha also argued against changing the law before Nebraskans have a chance to vote on the issue. Linehan has been fighting the referendum in other ways as well. Last month, she wrote a letter to Secretary of State Bob Evnen arguing that it violates the state constitution and should be removed from the ballot. Evnen has not issued a decision on the letter yet. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 The lead lawyer representing Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said the former vice president has all the needed facts to successfully prosecute his court case that seeks to unseat President Muhammad Buhari after last months election. Mr Abubakar is contesting the result of the election, alleging Mr Buhari and his ruling All Progressives Congress rigged the polls. Mr Uzoukwu said in an interview Monday night, shortly after leading other lawyers to file a petition on behalf of Mr Abubakar at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, that the case will be successful. The challenge came in a bit to meet up with the 21 days stipulated by section 134 of the Electoral Act, 2010. The petition, which was signed by Mr Abubakar himself, has the PDP as co-petitioner while INEC, APC and Mr Buhari as respondents. Mr Uzoukwu expressed optimism that his client would emerge victorious at the tribunal, saying he was convinced that PDP won the presidential election in the first place. I believe we have sufficient facts to move the court to appreciate our case and grant us our reliefs. We are ready and prepared to prove our case because it all depends on proofs and we are ready to prove our case. We have filed the petition, which is most fundamental, with some documents, he said. Though he admitted the team was currently having challenges accessing documents from INEC, he said that would not deter them from continuing with the suit. We may be having some challenges accessing documents from INEC, notwithstanding, we have filed the petition and with time, INEC shall be made to obey the orders of the court of appeal and grant us access to electoral documents. That we have filed petition does not mean we cannot make use of those documents when we eventually secure them from INEC. Some members of the team were at the INEC office three times last week. They were at INEC on Sunday and even on Monday, but were asked to come tomorrow (Tuesday), that by then, they will provide them with some documents. I do hope that INEC will keep to its words and do the needful, because they have no option as far as the matter is concerned. Because we are talking about the compliance with an order of the court, he added. Considering what has recently happened in Nigerias judiciary system , when asked if he still believes in the justice system, Mr Uzoukwu said, I dont want to speculate, I still believe, with all honesty, that we have in this country, very knowledgeable and very courageous judges, and bearing in mind that, with this petition, I seriously believe the judiciary will be on trial. Also, the democracy will be on trial. To successfully prosecute the case at the tribunal, Mr Abubakar and the PDP are said to have assembled about 20 senior advocates and 400 witnesses. The lawyers are praying the tribunal that, their client, Mr Abubakar, be returned as person who won majority of lawful votes cast at the election. In an event that the main prayer does not scale through, the lawyers also pushed for an alternative prayer, that the election be set aside and for the court to order a rerun. But, according to Mr Uzoukwu, the alternative prayer can only come to play if the court does not agree with us in the main prayer. But I believe we have substantial facts to prove our case, to prove our entitlement to the main relief. Im convinced beyond any doubt that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won the election. Having successfully filed the case, the petitioners now await the respondents to file their reply. After filing their reply, the petitioners also have seven days to react to what they file, thereafter, the pre-trial will commence. The tribunal has 180 days, under the electoral act, to adjudicate the petition. File photo The Police Command in Kano State has arrested a 15-year-old housewife, Hassana Lawan, of Bechi Village, in Kumbotso Local Government Area (LGA) of the state for allegedly poisoning her 33-year-old husband, Sale Abubakar. The Commands Public Relations Officer (PPRO),DSP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday. Haruna said on April 16, at about 2 p.m., the command received a report that the suspect gave her husband (Abubakar) food with rat poison. He said the victim was taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano, for treatment. The PPRO said the command had commenced investigation into the matter and the suspect would be charged to court as soon as the investigations were completed. A Myanmar pilot safely landed a passenger jet without its front wheels on Sunday, after landing gear on the Myanmar National Airlines plane failed to deploy, the airline and an official said. It was the second aviation incident in Myanmar this week, after a Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane skidded off the runway during strong wind in Yangon on Wednesday, injuring at least 17 of those on board. An official praised the pilot for bringing the Embraer 190 aircraft in to land at Mandalay airport on Sunday morning despite the technical failure. No one was hurt. The pilot did a great job, said Win Khant, permanent secretary of transportation and telecommunication ministry, adding the incident was being investigated. Myanmar National Airlines, the state-run carrier, said in a statement the aircraft had departed from the city of Yangon and was approaching the airport serving the central city of Mandalay when the pilot was unable to extend the front landing gear. The pilot, Captain Myat Moe Aung, flew past the airport twice so that air traffic controllers could check if the landing gear was down, the airline said. Then the captain followed emergency procedures and did the fuel burn out to reduce the landing weight, it said. Video of the landing shows the plane touching down on its rear wheels before lowering its nose. The aircraft travels some distance along the runway on its nose, kicking up smoke, before coming to a halt. The crew then performed an emergency evacuation. The airline did not say how many people were on board but Embraer said on its website the aircraft has a typical capacity of between 96 and 114 seats. Post Views: 80 A bandit has been killed by troops of the Nigerian Army during a deep clearance operations into Yadi Forest in Kaduna State have on Tuesday, 20 February 2024. The army revealed that the terrorists were smoked out while hiding in the remote forest general area. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, February 21, said during the operation, troops encountered an ambush staged by the terrorists, but swiftly responded with heavy volume of fire neutralizing one of them, while others scattered in disarray. In the encounter, the gallant troops recovered 2 Ak 47 Rifles, 6 Ak 47 Magazines, 5 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 331 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 PKT Machine Gun ammunition, and 2 PKT Machine Gun ammunition links, the statement read. Other items recovered include 3 Motorbikes, 2 Power Generating sets, 2 Desert Camouflage, a pair of Desert boots, Leg and hand chains used for fastening kidnap victims, 9 Baofeng Radios with 9 Chargers, one Talisman vest, an International Passport, 2 Voters cards and 2 National Identity cards, among other items. Troops have destroyed the terrorists camps, which were carefully concealed along the river lines. The troops are still on the trail of the fleeing terrorists to rid the forest of terrorists activities in a renewed effort to restore peace and stability. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies, as we work together to combat terrorism in our country. The Nigerian Senate has asked the Tinubu-led Federal government to halt plans of increasing electricity tariff by withdrawing subsidy. The lawmakers have also resolved to probe a failed agreement that would have seen local manufacturers produce Prepaid Meters that would have been distributed nationwide to improve electricity usage. These resolutions, reached during Wednesdays plenary, were part of a motion of public importance moved by Senator Aminu lya Abbas (PDP-Adamawa Central). The lawmakers also agreed that the government must engage the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to develop a lasting solution to the energy billing system in the country. The legislators further resolved to investigate the operations of DISCOs to ascertain the current status of metering and their extent of compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks in service delivery as well as the release of funds by the Federal Government for mass pre-paid metering. Also, the Senate will investigate a two-trillion naira subsidy, which the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said would be required to avoid a repeat of the fuel subsidy scenario still bedevilling the nations economy. Following the resolves, the Senate Committee on Power was mandated to equally investigate the 1.3 trillion naira owed by the Ministry of Power to generating companies and 1.3 billion dollars owed to gas companies. The Lagos State Government has given more information on why it intends to relocate the popular Computer Village located at Ikeja to Katangua in Abule-Egba area of the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, during a visit to the electronic gadgets centre, stated that the area where the market was located is a residential area, hence the need to move it to Katangua. The assessment was conducted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other pertinent government bodies responsible for such affairs. Babatunde said that by law, the Ikeja Computer Village is currently located in a residential area, adding that the plan to relocate the centre to Abule Egba has been delayed due to certain reasons. He, however, said the issues were being addressed already, declaring that occupants of the residential area within the computer village would soon be relocated and settled in Katangua, Abule Egba He said, Where the Computer Village is located is, was, and will continue by law to be a residential area, hence we must follow the law. Katangua is the area designated (for such activity) by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, particularly the Office of Physical Planning. We chose Katangua because of the good road network, we are certain that we are not going to be having traffic problems once Katangua is ready to receive the people from Computer Village. The expanse of land is such that when you drive in, the person would get lost because of how huge the place is, it is not something that was not well thought of, it is within the model city plan for the area. According to Bababtunde, it is incorrect to state that the market is congested, adding that no market springs up without the population around the area. He added, We are moving the village into a place where their business would thrive while maintaining the status quo, Ikeja Computer Village was a residential area before, it is presently, and I think it will continue to be a residential area., we must ensure that things are being done according to the law, since the law states that it is a residential area, it should remain as such. Katangua market will majorly accommodate the traders within the computer village, they would have market stores and outlets, and they would also have secured title to the stores allocated to them so that if they want to take loans from the properties they have within the market, they can use that with any bank. In addition, there would be banking facilities, clinics, schools, creche, storage facilities, and some housing including hotels where those who come to the place outside of Lagos would be accommodated within the area. Speaking on the price outlook, Babatunde asserted the question was difficult to answer at the moment because of the increase prices of building materials. Reno Omokri, a sociopolitical critic, has said Nigerians should not blame President Bola Tinubu if the naira further depreciates to N2414 to a dollar. Omokri said the rate at which Nigerians import food items from China, Thailand and other countries would further depreciate the naira. Lamenting that Nigeria spends $6 billion on food importation annually, Omokri harped on the need to patronize locally-made goods. Posting on X, Omokri wrote: Nigeria imports almost $6 billion in food annually. And what are we importing? Rice from Thailand that we can grow in Nigeria. Toothpick from China that we can manufacture ourselves. Even annoyingly, we import pizza. What is in pizza that we cannot make ourselves? Let the Naira fall. It is good. When we can no longer afford imported food, we will be forced to eat homegrown food. We cant import table water, milk, salt, and matches and then blame Tinubu when the Naira falls to 2414 to one Pound. As Fela sang, Na your fault be that! If you want the Naira to rise, then do the following: Instead of MTN, Airtel or Etisalat, use Glo Instead of Mercedes, Range Rover, or Honda, buy Innoson, Fly Air Peace over Air France, KLM, or Lufthansa, Bank at First Bank, UBA, GTBank, and Zenith over Stanbic, Watch AriseTV, Channels and NTA over Multichoice DSTV Buy Dangote and Ibeto cement, and avoid Chinese brands, Watch and buy Enyimba FC, Kano Pillars, and 3SC over Manchester United, Barcelona, PSG, and Napoli. Nobody is coming to save Nigeria. It is only Nigerians that will save Nigeria. Local brands may or may not be as good as foreign ones, but with continued patronage, they will improve in quality. Buy them, and your Naira will rise along with your personal happiness and the international rating of the green Nigerian passport. Your value is tied to Nigerias value. Buy Nigerian and Nigerias foreign reserves, trade balances, and debt to GDP ratio will automatically improve. China's industrial upgrading fuels quality of life improvements People's Daily Online) 15:10, February 22, 2024 As Chinese consumers increasingly strive for a better quality of life, various industries are embracing new development opportunities amidst ongoing advancements. During this season, reporters from People's Daily Online are touring the nation to capture the optimism radiating from sectors dedicated to enhancing the public's standard of living and their eagerness for further expansion. Photo of the showy Medinilla flowering plant in bloom. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) In 2023, nearly 1.5 million pots of the showy Medinilla flowering plant were available in China, with around 70 percent originating from Tianjin Dongxin Int'l Flower Co., Ltd., located in north China's Tianjin Municipality. Zheng Jianjun, chairman of the company with more than 30 years in the flower industry, recalled how, in his early days, growing flowers was physically demanding, causing many to abandon the industry. In 2012, Tianjin Dongxin Int'l Flower Co., Ltd., began developing urban agriculture with the establishment of greenhouses. In recent years, the firm's flower cultivation practices have been significantly improved through the integration of digital technology. "These are the paths that automated guided vehicles follow to transport items. The introduction of this transportation system has reduced labor costs and improved the movement of flowers, fertilizers, and other materials inside the greenhouse," Zheng said. Photo shows a smart greenhouse for flower cultivation owned by Tianjin Dongxin Int'l Flower Co., Ltd., located in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Technology has not only facilitated automated transport but has also made irrigation more intelligent. With the automated irrigation system, it's possible to water an area of 450 square meters in only 10 minutes. This system provides quick irrigation and supports the reuse of water and fertilizers, significantly reducing costs. Zhang Zhenguo, a goose breeder in Xinfa village, Zhulian township, Tangyuan county, Jiamusi city, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, represents the township's efforts to drive development through the goose breeding industry. "This year, I raised 8,000 geese, which are expected to generate over 100,000 yuan ($13,900) in income for me," said Zhang. Goose breeding has become a pillar industry in Xinfa village, Zhulian township, Tangyuan county, Jiamusi city, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Photo/Chen Liyan) In 2018, Jiao Huan, Party chief of Xinfa village, recognized the potential of goose breeding and visited many places to gain insights. Thanks to the collective efforts of the villagers, they established a specialized goose breeding cooperative in the village. By improving various breeding processes, technicians at the cooperative have managed to maintain a goose survival rate of 90 percent. Today, Xinfa village boasts an integrated industrial chain that includes hatching, breeding, sales and slaughtering. In 2023, 500,000 geese were hatched in the village. Local breeders have the potential to earn an annual income of more than 200,000 yuan. Photo shows a goose down processing facility in Tangyuan county, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Photo/Zhang Wenjing) Destination weddings, where ceremonies are held at tourist spots, have become a popular trend in travel. A wedding ceremony takes place beside Erhai Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Zhao Canhui) Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, southwest China, is favored as a romantic destination, according to Zhao Canhui, head of the Association for Destination Wedding Ceremonies under the Tourism Association in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Zhao also runs a venue that doubles as a wedding venue and a bed-and-breakfast hotel. "Destination weddings started to emerge in around 2019, with just over 200 wedding ceremonies being held annually at the beginning. The number has kept increasing over the past years," Zhao stated. In 2023, Dali was the chosen location for over 4,000 couples' wedding ceremonies, with at least 90 percent coming from outside the province, he added. Dali offers more than 30 types of wedding ceremonies. The area boasts over 100 businesses dedicated to destination weddings and related services, contributing to a total output value of more than 200 million yuan. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) High pressure is expected to build over the West Coast on Thursday and Friday, leading to tranquil weather. Baron/Lynx The five-day streak of rain is finally over in the Bay Area, and it will temporarily be replaced by a period of dry, warm weather. The series of storms brought impressive rain totals across the Bay Area from Saturday through Wednesday afternoon, shown in the chart below. But weather will change significantly as a high-pressure system will build across California starting Thursday, keeping storms out to sea in the short term. Air quality could slowly deteriorate over the next few days due to the calm winds and urban pollution, but it is not forecast to exceed the moderate category. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under partly to mostly sunny skies, temperatures are expected to gradually climb Thursday through Saturday. Highs will be in the lower 60s Thursday, mid-60s Friday and upper 60s to lower 70s Saturday. In fact, Saturday could be the warmest day in nearly a month, since much of the Bay Area reached the upper 60s to lower 70s on Jan. 29. Normal Bay Area high temperatures in late February range from 61 to 64 degrees. Nights will remain chilly, however, falling to the upper 30s to lower 40s inland and the mid-40s near the bay and at the coast. Patchy, dense morning fog is possible the next few days, particularly Thursday. Thursday breakdown San Francisco: A foggy morning will be replaced by a sunny afternoon with calm winds. Highs will be in the upper 50s west of Sutro Tower and in the lower 60s in the Mission District, Potrero Hill, SoMa and downtown. Lows will be in the mid- to upper 40s. North Bay: Patchy dense fog is expected throughout the North Bay, but clear skies are expected to emerge by noon. Highs will be around 60 in valleys, but hikers should prepare for 50s on Mount Tamalpais and other North Bay peaks. Lows will fall to the lower 40s. Advertisement Article continues below this ad East Bay: Plenty of fog, particularly dense in the interior valleys, is expected throughout the East Bay in the morning. By noon, sunshine will break out and continue through the rest of the day. Highs will be in the lower 60s, with parts of the Tri-Valley possibly reaching the mid-60s. Lows will be in the lower 40s inland and mid-40s in Oakland, Alameda and Richmond. Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Unlike the past few weeks of persistent clouds, blue sky will be the rule, rather than the exception, in San Mateo County. However, a few hours of morning fog is expected before sunshine emerges. Highs will be in the upper 50s at the coast and lower 60s from San Bruno to Redwood City. Lows will be in the mid-40s. South Bay and Santa Cruz: South Bay residents can look forward to temperatures in the lower to mid-60s by the afternoon, but will first have to get through a foggy morning. Sun will break through by the late morning and continue until sunset. In Santa Cruz County, highs will be in the lower 60s at the beach and upper 50s in the mountains. Lows in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties will be in the lower to mid-40s. The Okigwe Youth Mandate met at Rockview Hotels Owerri in the Imo State capital on Monday, 19th February, 2024 to kick against the continuous attack on our highly revered Elder statesman, Prof. Maurice Iwu by Orlu Progressive Forum led by it National President, Cosmas Nwadike Ifeanyi Odum and Rex Anunobi The Youths made the following resolutions: 1. We kicked against the continuous attack and insult to our highly respected Elder statesman, Professor Maurice Iwu by Orlu Progressive Forum, Rex Anunobi and Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie. 2. We are fully aware of the roles Professor Maurice Iwu has played in Imo State and Nigeria as a whole, hence should be accorded the necessary respects he deserves. 3. We are not happy with the incessant attack on Professor Maurice Iwu by Orlu Progressive Forum and Orlu Peoples Consultative Assembly. 4. We want Rex Anunobi to know that we have the details of his shabby deeds as Honorable Commissioner for Transport in Imo State 5. We know the role Professor Maurice Iwu and Okigwe zone as a whole played in the emergence of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma as Governor of Imo State. 6. We also want to let you know that Professor Maurice Iwu believes in fairness and equity, hence he championed the emergence of Senator Patrick Ndubueze as Senator that represents Okigwe zone from Otachara Otanzu bloc in Okigwe zone. 7. We have seen uncountable attacks and attempts by Orlu Progressive Forum to malign the character of our highly revered father and we say that Enough is Enough ! 8. We want Orlu Progressive Forum to know that we will not accept further insult from them henceforth to Professor Maurice Iwu and other Okigwe sons and daughters. 9. We want to let the people of Imo State to know that Okigwe zone is committed to the Imo charter of equity which Imo elders proposed before the election. 10. We used this opportunity to call on Orlu Elders council to caution their people against the continuous attack on the former INEC chairman in Nigeria. 11. We are committed to ensuring a better Imo for all devoid of rancor and acrimony. Signed: Evang Kelechi Uzomah National President, Okigwe Youth Mandate Engr. Chinedu Onuoha National Secretary, Okigwe Youth Mandate Related Nigerias former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, has emphasised the need for patience in assessing the outcomes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus policies to ease the hardship in the country. Speaking to state house correspondents after meeting with the president in Aso Rock on Wednesday, February 21, Gowon said Tinubu is trying his best. Drawing parallels to his leadership during the Nigerian civil war, Gowon acknowledged the inevitability of government criticisms but stressed the paramount importance of delivering tangible results. Channels Television quoted Gowon as saying: I think the government is trying their best on the various problems of the country but with Nigerians, dont you worry, you can get criticised. People out there know better than what you know. I think Nigerians have to give the president time to get things really done. It is too early to sort of say the absolute result will be achieved now, so that is my opinion. News Direct reports that it is the first private meeting between both leaders since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. They met at a book launch in honour of former president Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja in January. Furthermore, Gowon stated that the meeting with Tinubu also centred on the issue of the challenges facing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), adding that it must be settled amicably. He debunked claims on social media that he refused to attend an event organised by ECOWAS, adding that this was probably due to miscommunication. The Labour Party (LP) has strongly condemned the arrest of its National Chairman, Julius Abure, in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party expressed outrage over Abures arrest by a combined team of police officers and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS). Ifoh revealed that Abure, alongside the state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, and their aides were apprehended following a petition lodged by an expelled party member. He lamented that despite efforts by party leaders to gain access to Abure at the Zone 5 headquarters, they were denied entry due to the overwhelming presence of party supporters expressing their discontent with the arrest. According to Ifoh, the timing of the arrest, just days before the scheduled primary process, raises suspicions of an attempt to disrupt the partys engagement in the forthcoming governorship election. In the statement, he highlighted, The Labour Party on Tuesday had a very successful delegate election in Benin ahead of the Party Primaries scheduled to hold on Friday. The party chairman only this morning along with party governorship aspirants also kept a scheduled security briefing with the Department of State Security (DSS). Abure was however arrested after the meeting by a combined team of DSS and Police officers. Abure, Ogbaloi and their aides were also manhandled, he added. Furthermore, Ifoh disclosed, Effort by some party leaders to have access to the Zone 5 headquarters was turned down due to the huge crowd of party supporters who were expressing their displeasure over the arrest of Abure. He concluded by indicating that the arrest seemed politically motivated, possibly linked to the ongoing party primary process and the perceived opposition of the state government to certain candidates. By Izunna Okafor, Awka An appointee of Anambra States Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Transition Committee Chairman for Awka South Local Government Area, Hon. ThankGod Anagor has expressed interest to partner with the members of the Nigeria Hunters and Forests Security Services (NHFSS) to help fight insecurity in the local government area and the entire capital territory. Mr. Anagor disclosed this on Wednesday when he received, on courtesy call, the representatives of the NHFSS, who visited him to deliberate on possible areas of collaboration and fostering a synergetic move with his office to help sustain adequate security in Awka South and its environs. Speaking at the event, the leader of the delegation and Deputy Commander of the group, Destiny E. Jones, who disclosed the aim of the visit, emphasized the need for government at all levels to collaborate with the hunters in the fight against insecurity, as one of the strategies to win the war against crimes and insecurity bedeviling the country. While highlighting the potentials and abilities of the NHFSS in combing bushes and enhance security in local communities, Jones further outlined other practical contributions his hunting team can make to address any complex security challenges faced by any region. He also expressed of interest and optimism for a fruitful collaboration, signaling a genuine commitment to working hand-in-hand with government authorities to foster a safer environment for the citizens. Responding, Hon. Anagor, who expressed his appreciation to the hunters for their interest and dedication to enhancing local security, remarked that security of lives and properties is a top priority in the agenda of the Governor Soludo Administration in the State, adding that he would do everything within his power to support the pursuit of that priority. He assured the hunters that their expertise in combing bushes and securing communities is invaluable to the collective safety of Awka South and Anambra State at large, even as he pledged the full support of his office in fostering a collaborative and fruitful partnership with them in the fight against insecurity. The delegation comprises both male and female hunters who all showcased their interest in actively contributing to the collaborative effort aimed at fortifying local security and safeguarding the well-being of the people. Related The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has begged Nigerians to pray for President Bola Tinubu. He confessed that being President of Nigeria is not easy. Wike assured Nigerians that the current economic hardship was only a temporary challenge that would soon be over because Tinubus government was working to alleviate the challenges. Speaking in Abuja during the flag-off of the Kwa Kwa, Karimo road, Wike urged Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu and his administration. According to the minister, the president means well for Nigerians. Wike said: Mr President has asked us to tell you that we are not doing you a favour with what we are doing; you are entitled to it. Its our responsibility to do it, we are not doing anything extraordinary. Remember Mr President was campaigning on the mandate of renewed hope, and that is why I thank all the council chairmen who have agreed to work together despite belonging to different political parties. If we dont work together, the people will suffer and we will not allow that Things may not be as we want now, but let me assure you that all youre seeing today is a temporary thing. I can assure you that the problems we are facing will be a thing of the past soon. We beg for your patience because when things have been bad it takes time to heal, the government will bring policies that will make you recover, but it may be affecting you. Pray for President Tinubu to have the wisdom and good health to pilot the affairs of the country; its not easy. the President means well for this country. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has reacted to the arrest of Julius Abure, the partys National Chairman, on Wednesday, February 21, in Benin City, the Edo State capital. TORI reported that Abure was arrested by a combined team of police officers and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS). Abure, alongside the state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, and two others were arrested over allegations of attempted murder and financial irregularities. Reacting to the development in a series of posts via his official X handle on Wednesday night, Obi described the arrest of Abure as humiliating, demeaning and distasteful. He said the maltreatment of Abure by the security agencies is undesirable and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind. Obi said while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency and established arrest procedures. He wrote: Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, earlier today in Benin City, Edo state. Throughout my roles as a private individual, public figure, Governor, and Presidential candidate, I consistently advocated for the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law in any sane society. I firmly believe that, as citizens, we are all duty-bound irrespective of our status in society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority. My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest. This act is undesirable, demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria. These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness. Such behaviour must not only be denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society. Regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Abures arrest, it is crucial to emphasize that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency and established arrest procedures, embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law. Obi, therefore, called for Abures bail based on his status while the investigation of his alleged offence continues. He added: It is crucial to emphasize that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr. Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Most importantly, political Parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect. It is imperative to reiterate that no pretext or subterfuge should be employed to stifle Nigerias political opposition. Therefore, I urge that he should be granted bail based on his status while the investigation of his alleged offence continues. Fubara Ohaka A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has discharged and acquitted Fubara Ohaka, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Deputy Chairman of the Youth Movement in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, of all charges levelled against him by the Federal Government. The charges, filed by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS), accused Ohaka of illegal oil bunkering, terrorism, dealing in illegal refining products without a license, conspiracy, and several other offences. Presided over by Justice Stephen Dalyop-Pam, the court found that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its allegations against Ohaka. As a result, the judge upheld the no-case submission made by the defendants counsel, leading to Ohakas discharge and acquittal. The trial, which has been ongoing since 2022, concluded with Justice Dalyop-Pam ruling that the Federal Governments inability to substantiate its claims rendered it incapable of proving the allegations levelled against the APC chieftain. This judgment effectively clears Ohaka of any wrongdoing in connection to the charges presented against him. Following the courts decision, an elated Ohaka addressed the media outside the courtroom, expressing his relief and satisfaction at being vindicated. He remarked that the judgment not only restored his reputation but also brought shame to those who had sought to malign his character through what he suggested were unfounded accusations. He said, Im happy that the judiciary has vindicated me today. I told the world that I never had any idea of the allegations against me, I am not a bunker, I have never sponsored any person to do bunkering, Thanks to the judiciary who in its wisdom have reached to the root of the matter and proven to be the last hope of the common man. I want to thank those who stood by me in the time of trial, Im happy that I never disappeared from them when I was told I was innocent of the allegations against me. Let me also use this medium to advise government agencies to always carry out proper investigation before engaging in legal battles, because if they had I would not have spent the number of months I spent in detention before the legal action that turned out in my favour today. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has said it will go ahead with its planned nationwide protest. This is as it rejected the security advisory by the Department of State Services, DSS, urging the union to shelve its planned nationwide protest. Recall that the NLC, on Monday, began mobilising its members for the planned mass protest slated for February 27 and 28 over the cost of living crisis in the country. However, the DSS in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, on Wednesday urged the union to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order. The secret police urged the NLC to engage the government in a dialogue, saying the planned protest has the capacity to trigger tension and violence in the country. The DSS further calls on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions. This is more so that the Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence, the statement said. But in a quick response, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero in a statement on Wednesday, insisted that there was no going back on the plan, citing the level of hardship imposed on Nigerians via some policies of the present administration. The NLC president assured that the protest would be peaceful, urging the service to fish out any individual or group planning to hijack the process. Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims. We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive, Ajaero added. Israel intensified its bombardment of Rafah in Gazas south and over a dozen members of one family were killed in an air strike, residents said, as the ruined Palestinian enclaves health ministry announced 29,313 deaths in the war so far. In Jerusalem, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz cited promising early signs of progress on a new deal to release hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza amid talks conducted by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to secure a pause in the war. The Israeli army (IDF) said it had stepped up operations in Khan Younis, a city just north of Rafah. It made no mention of attacks on Rafah itself in its daily summary of events in Gaza and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. About 1.5 million people are estimated to be crammed into Rafah, on the southernmost fringe of the enclave close to the border with Egypt, most of them having fled their homes further north to escape Israels military onslaught. READ ALSO: Gaza death rolls reaches 28,473 amid Israeli offensive The flow of aid entering Gaza from Egypt has almost dried up in the past two weeks, and a collapse in security has made it increasingly difficult to distribute the food that does get through, according to U.N. data and officials. Israel has said it is preparing for a ground assault on Rafah, despite mounting international opposition, including from staunch ally the United States, over fears for civilian lives. Rafah residents reached by text message reported several Israeli air strikes and large explosions in the city, as well as naval boats opening fire on beachfront areas. Reuters video journalists filmed the aftermath of a strike on the home of the Al-Noor family in Rafah, which was reduced to rubble, showing over a dozen bodies wrapped in white or black shrouds and bereaved relatives at a Rafah hospital. Abdulrahman Juma said his wife Noor, who was from the Al-Noor family, as well as his one-year-old daughter Kinza, had both been killed in the strike, along with Noors parents, brother and other relatives. Juma was holding Kinzas body, wrapped in a bloodstained white shroud. This one, who is on my lap, took my soul away She is one-and-a-half years old, he said. Israel says Hamas militants use civilian buildings as cover, something the Islamist group denies. Local residents also said Israeli tanks had advanced west from Khan Younis into Al-Mawasi, previously an area of relative safety where the army had told Palestinians to seek shelter. The tanks reached the coastal road, effectively cutting off Khan Younis and Rafah from the rest of the Gaza Strip, though they retreated after a few hours, according to residents. Gazas health ministry said on Wednesday 69,333 people had been injured in Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, in addition to 29,313 deaths, with 118 killed in the past 24 hours. READ ALSO: Israel PM, Netanyahu outlines prerequisites for peace in Gaza The war was triggered by Hamas militants who burst over the border into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has responded with an air and ground blitz on Gaza that has displaced most of the population of 2.3 million, caused widespread hunger and laid waste to much of the territory. Gantz told a televised press briefing that efforts were continuing to broker a new hostage release deal and there are promising early signs of possible progress. We will not stop looking for a way and we will not miss any opportunity to bring our girls and boys home, he said. But Gantz warned that if no new deal were struck, the Israeli military would keep fighting in Gaza even into the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins next month. Weeks of negotiations have failed to yield a breakthrough, with Israel dismissing Hamas demand for a halt to the war and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for more hostage releases as delusional. During the sole pause in fighting so far, a week-long truce in late November, 110 hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The World Food Programme said on Tuesday it had paused deliveries of food aid to northern Gaza after its trucks were attacked by hungry crowds and faced looting and gunfire. Britain said on Wednesday that Jordan had air-dropped four tonnes of UK-funded aid including medicines, fuel and food to Tal Al-Hawa Hospital in Gazas north but that more aid is needed, and fast. At the site of the bombed house in Rafah, neighbours and relatives vented their anger at the U.S., which on Tuesday vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. By Israel Bulus, Kaduna The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has renewed its commitment to supporting peace and tolerance in Southern Kaduna by holding a 5-days peace initiative across the Local Government Areas with the sole aim of mitigating and preventing religious conflicts. The event which took place in Jemaa, Kachia, and Zango Kataf Local Governments on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, draws participants across the eight Local Government Areas. Addressing the participants, the Chief of Defense Staff, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Mr. Musa Likita said Gen. Christopher Musa was committed to resolving the insecurity challenges in the Southern Kaduna region. The Special Adviser gave the Fulani, Hausa, and Christian representatives the privilege to voice out their grievances to find out some of the subsequent causes of conflict within their communities. He urged all parties to embrace peace for development to thrive in the region. He also pleaded with them to sheath their swords. According to him, the summit aimed at identifying the remote causes of insecurity that have bedeviled the area over the years through community-based solutions. Some of the participants identified some of the problems, citing a lack of discipline among Parents towards their children. According to them, Parents must be vigilant about the whereabouts and the kind of company their children keep. Communities must take decisive action against known criminal elements living within their domain. We are calling on the Government to organize community patrol on vulnerable Communities, noting that will send fear to the criminal elements terrorizing them. The participants also pledged to collaborate with the military to chase away criminals terrorizing their communities. We are appealing to the Government to help deploy soldiers in vulnerable Communities to help restore confidence and hope. The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Peace Commission, Dr. Saleh Momale, commended the Chief of Defense Staff over the initiative, noting it helped in mitigating conflict in the State. He explained that for the past years, the major challenges were inter-communities conflict that has a relationship with different ethnicities and religions which we generally characterize as religious conflict. We are happy because of the various interventions and the commitment that numerous stakeholders put in place over the years were witnessing an increasing decline in many parts, particularly in the Southern Part of the State, adding the Urban metropolitan centers have witnessed continuous peace and stability, He stated. Most of the Local Governments that were witnessing ethanol religious conflicts as well as violence between farmers and herders have reverted to peaceful coexistence, stressing that even though, there were some challenges relating to management access to resources; like grazing areas, farmlands and addressing the challenges of crop damages and occasional disputes. Analyzing the insecurity challenges, he maintained that violence is now very minimal but occurs in only a few communities. He commended the religious leaders for working hard to create the right mindset to be able to work together to approach some of the challenges. PUNCH reports that some of the Key highlights from the summit include; discussions and sharing of true live experiences toward strengthening peacebuilding efforts and innovative approaches for addressing the insecurity challenges. Related Truscreen Group Limited (NZX/ASX:TRU) announces that for personal reasons, CEO, Dr. Beata Edling has resigned effective immediately and will assist in the transition to an interim CEO in the coming weeks. Beata has personal commitments to family in Poland and will be available to assist TruScreen on a consulting basis to further the business in Poland and central Europe. Beata first joined TruScreen in 2020 as Head of Medical Affairs and after the COVID pandemic was appointed CEO in October 2022. Under her leadership, TruScreens commercialisation has demonstrated solid growth, culminating in TruScreens technology being put on the National Guidelines of Chinas CSCCP and COGAs Blue Book, plus Vietnams MOH National Technical List and the recent Mexicos Cofeperis approval for the Public health sector. Her contribution has set the foundation for the companys further growth. Beata goes with the best wishes and thanks from the board and her colleagues at TruScreen. We wish her well. Mr Martin Dillon, who was CEO from 2013 to 2019, will be appointed Interim CEO. TruScreens key China business will report directly to the Chairman. Martin previously successfully established our global distribution network, launched the TruScreen Ultra2 device, knows the technology and is well known to distributors. Martin also managed the listing of TruScreen on the NZX in 2014. Chairman, Tony Ho, commented: We support and respect Beatas decision in light of her family commitments in Poland. With Martin stepping back in as Interim CEO, there will be minimal disruption to our ongoing business. Beata will provide whatever assistance required for a seamless transition. The company has a live Rights Offer to shareholders in the market. This untimely event will not disrupt the companys strategic business plans. This announcement has been approved by the Board. 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Related News: SKC - APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER NWF - Chief Executive Officer Warren Koia Resignation March 18th Morning Report Pacific Edge Directors Give Notice of Retirement Meridian Energy monthly operating report for February 2024 Another unworkable farming rule bites the dust March 14th Morning Report TRU - Truscreen Additional Placement Government's employment relations priorities a welcome step in the right direction says EMA New Synlait & Nestle co-investment partnership Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State and ex-Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), has commended the Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the decision to cancel and reschedule the controversial gubernatorial primaries in Edo State. He noted that this decision had restored the confidence of members of the Edo State chapter of the Party in a fair, impartial, and transparent exercise and showed that the APC is interested in producing a popular candidate. Fayemi also applauded the President and Leader of the Party, HE Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for not interfering and allowing due process on the issue of the APC gubernatorial primaries in Edo State. I wish to thank the President for allowing the Party to function independently on this sensitive issue and thus assure our teeming members in Edo State that the process for the gubernatorial primaries will be free, fair, and transparent, he said. Fayemi, however, strongly condemned the questionable role of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state and National Chairman of the APC, in the truncation of the initial exercise. He recalled that Oshiomhole had also played a disruptive role in the last gubernatorial election in Edo State, which ultimately made the APC lose the state to the opposition. Ideally, as a leader, he should have ensured a level playing field for all the aspirants but he was trying to impose a candidate in a manner thats not free and fair, he said. Fayemi added: Earlier, Oshiomhole had attempted to eliminate some aspirants from contesting in the primaries and failed. This is reminiscent of his high-handedness as National Chairman when he manipulatively schemed Governor Godwin Obaseki out of the electoral process. That action led to the unfortunate loss of Edo State by the APC. It would appear the ground was being prepared by Oshiomhole yet again for the APC to lose the coming election in Edo state because of his unconscionable behaviour. However, the party has demonstrated independence and impartiality in cancelling and reordering the primaries. We hope the fresh primaries will now take place in an atmosphere deemed free and fair by all, for the sake of our great party. Oshiomhole may decide to support any of the aspirants if he chooses not to be neutral but the process must be open, free, and transparent, following the laid down rules. My interest is the APC and the party must put its best foot forward in the forthcoming elections. Signed Mallam Ahmad Sajoh Head, The Fayemi Media Office, Abuja February 22, 2024. Related Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has disclosed that the issue of religion and ethnicity has nothing to do with the recent demolition of buildings in the state. Sanwo-Olu explained that only buildings that contravene the laws of the state are demolished. Speaking during a live media chat, Sanwo Speaks, the governor insisted that the demolition of buildings in the state has no ethnic or religious colouration. He said: We only remove the structures of those that contravened the States building and development laws. We dont consider the ethnic or religious background of those defaulting our laws. We cannot compromise the laws; we need to rescue the city. This comes as Sanwo-Olus government is accused of targeting and demolishing Igbo-populated markets and buildings in the state. The governor was accused of being on a vendetta mission over the decision of Igbo residents in the state to vote for the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the last poll. From Nasir Shuaibu BAUCHI Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has assured the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU Bauchi) of the continued support and cooperation of his administration towards the realization of the common goal of attainment of educational excellence. Mohammed gave the assurance at the commissioning ceremony of classrooms, laboratory and office blocks at Gubi and Yelwa campuses of the University Thursday in Bauchi. Noted that, provision of such important infrastructures are testimony of the commitment of the institution to ensure conducive environment for teaching and learning. Governor Bala Mohammed who applauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for its relentless support to tertiary education institutions towards the attainment of academic excellence, said construction of classrooms and office blocks as well as other facilities would not only provide conducive working environment, but would also strike a balance between academic and administrative activities in the university. He recalled that, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi which started as a College of the Ahmadu Bello University in the early 1980s, has over the years grown to become a citadel of learning that can be favorably compared with even the first generation universities and added that, with the increase in the number of both academic and nonacademic staff in the university, the need arose for more offices to adequately accommodate them. Represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, Governor Bala Mohammed noted that ATBU Bauchi has lived up to expectations by prudently deploying its resources to infrastructural development and pointed out that, his administrations commitment to the educational sector has been unwavering as reflected in the various policies and programmes implemented in the sector. I would like to commend the governing Council, the Senate and Management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University for working hard to make the Institution one of the best not only among its contemporaries but even among the first generation universities in the country. Today, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University can boast of two campuses where various courses are seamlessly run. The Governor told the gathering that in pursuit of accessible primary education, the state government has undertaken the construction of over five thousand classrooms, thereby creating an environment conducive to learning for young minds. According to him, in recognition of the pivotal role teachers and administrators play, the administration has engaged in comprehensive training and capacity- building programmes, forming partnerships with the Federal Government and donor agencies to uplift the standard of states educators. He said considering that education is the bedrock of progress and development of every society, his administration has since its inception in 2019, invested a lot of resources to address decay in the education sector and has been providing infrastructural facilities and necessary support to its primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions to ensure hitch-free academic activities. Governor Bala Mohammed noted that facilities have been provided at the State University which include construction of 3 Kilometers of road at the Gadau Campus, extension of power supply to faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and procurement of laboratory equipment and reagents and collaboration with TEFFUND to improve existing structures and build new ones. He also said the state-owned tertiary institutions of learning have also not been left out in an effort to ensure educational excellence as government has been supporting the institutions towards the achievement of full accreditation of their courses, provision of physical infrastructure and supply of office equipment and furniture in collaboration with TETFUND, training and retraining of staff to acquire Masters and PhD degrees and ensuring proficiency in teaching. In a welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Muhammad Abdulaziz, represented by Professor Sani Kunya expressed gratitude to the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed for supporting the university to achieve its objectives which will go along way towards ensuring the educational development of the state. Related President Bola Tinubu says his administration is strongly committed to providing excellent healthcare facilities for all Nigerians and will continue to prioritize domestic and foreign direct investments in the sector. The President made these remarks at a meeting with Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), accompanied by a delegation from Kings College Hospital, London (KCH). President Tinubu welcomed the partnership between Afreximbank and KCH London to establish a first-rate healthcare facility in Abuja, called Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), scheduled for completion in 2025. We welcome this significant step towards investing in Nigerias healthcare sector. This facility is a great commitment to humanity. We are open and ready to assist this project in every way possible. Africa is in need, and Nigeria is committed to the need of its people. Putting peoples welfare first is putting healthcare first. The training and development of our people are our priorities, and we thank KCH, known for its global reputation, for partnering with us. Out of every five black persons, one is a Nigerian. We are racing against time to meet our obligations to our people. This project will further strengthen our long-term vision for the healthcare of our people. We are determined to succeed, and whatever you need in order for us to achieve this project, I want to assure you, we will do it, he said. President Tinubu, who was recently appointed the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, emphasized that the continent cannot afford to remain behind in the quality and accessibility of its healthcare system. READ ALSO: Tinubu appoints Kemi Nanna Nandap Comptroller-General of Immigration Service The President, therefore, asked Afreximbank not to relent in its commitment to investing in projects that will ensure that Africa possesses the expertise and resources to meet its own healthcare needs. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, explained that the Bank and KCH are also collaborating on building a medical and nursing school alongside AMCE, in line with the administrations commitment to expanding the training of healthcare professionals in the country. Your Excellency, you will recall that in October 2023, you approved an initiative to unlock Nigerias healthcare value chain and appointed a coordinator. We have worked in the last few months to identify various work streams. I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that today, we signed an MOU with the President of Afreximbank for a $1 billion facility to finance a credit and equity contribution pool for private sector investors interested in investing in Nigerias health sector value chain, he said. The Nigerian-born President of the Bank, Professor Oramah, pledged the Banks commitment to developing quality health infrastructure on the continent, and contributing substantially to the reduction of medical tourism out of Africa, while promoting intra-Africa trade, and creating jobs in the country and continent. The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on Chief Executive Officers, CEOs of banks across the country to always abide by extant regulations and rules in their practices as effective means of tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 while receiving the Body of Bank CEOs, under the auspices of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN that paid him a courtesy at the corporate headquarters of the EFCC. Olukoyede frowned at sharp practices, compromises and unethical practices in the banking sector stressing that ethical reorientation of bank workers is imperative in sanitizing the sector. I think the essential thing is for you all to play by the rules. Banking fraud affects the economy considerably. We are ready to work with any bank executive that plays by the rules because that is the only way of growing the economy, he said He assured the CEOs that the Commission would work together with them in a way that would encourage mutual trust which will help banks and businesses to grow the economy. We will work together, we dont want to see any bank go down, we dont want to see any business destroyed, especially when you are set up to create wealth and employment and that is what we need in Nigeria. You help businesses to grow, why should any government want to bring banks down? But there are enterprises that are set up to destroy the system, to destroy the economy, we will not allow those ones to survive, he said. READ ALSO: EFCC arrests 2 Chinese, 1 other for illegal mining The EFCCs boss reminded the banks CEOs that his focus is to use the instrumentality of the Commissions mandate to stimulate the economy. One of the policy objectives that I share with Nigerians in the course of my Senate screening and confirmation is to use the instrumentality of this mandate to stimulate the economy. That is very important, because I know what other anti-corruption agencies do all over the world and that is the key to us and we have started doing that, he said. Earlier in his address, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Lamin Madang, who led the group commended Olukoyede on his appointment and admitted that he is succeeding in rebranding the image of the EFCC. Lets start by congratulating you Mr. Chairman for your appointment as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC. We commend your leadership for the efforts to rebrand the image of the EFCC as an institution that embraces professionalism while prioritizing the humane approach in the conduct of your operations. He further commended the Commission for the significant progress that you have made in combating corruption as evident in your adherence to international conventions and protocols aimed at proactively deterring corrupt practices through effective policies and inclusive stakeholder participation. We also note and commend the Commissions outstanding achievement in securing a total of 3785 convictions in 2022 which stands as the highest number attained by any law enforcement agency in the world. READ ALSO: Outrage as EFCC operatives reportedly invade students hostels in FUTA in midnight operation Additionally we commend and acknowledge the Commission for your continued dedication, as evidenced by the records 1688 convictions recorded between January and September 2023. This remarkable accomplishment reflects the Commissions unwavering commitment to holding justice and the rule of law in Nigeria Madang, who led CEOs of Polaris Bank, Premium Trust Bank, Citi Bank, Globus Bank and Jaiz Bank, to the meeting called on the EFCC to review its policy on Post No Debit, PND, on suspicious accounts, invitation of bank workers for interrogation, including CEOs, acceptance of soft copies of bank statements for investigations, among other requests. Olukoyede explained that the EFCC was always mindful of operating within the ambit of the law in its operations and no bank CEO would be invited for any meeting if there was no need for it. We are committed to a mutually beneficial relationship with you all. All our efforts are geared towards growing the economy, he said The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Saturday charged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider a National Dialogue Forum as a solution to the looming insecurity crisis in the country. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase revealed that the governor spoke when he received the President of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Reverend Stephen Panya Baba, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi. The statement reads, The Governor urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call for a National Dialogue Forum where Nigerians would frankly speak on issues affecting the country, particularly insecurity and proffer solutions. As an interim measure to end the wave of threats and counter threats from different sections of the country, Governor Ortom recommended that security operatives should not ignore those beating drums of war. Akase maintained that Governor Ortom further condemned the latest order the Fulani herders association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has given to its members to defend themselves, describing the order as capable of causing unimaginable violence. The Governor wondered why the group continuously makes inflammatory statements but its officials are not invited for questioning, the statement added. Governor Ortom, who pitched his tent with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his letter to Buhari, however, called for national prayers for peace in all parts of the country, expressing the hope that the current security challenges would soon be overcome. On his part, Reverend Panya Baba commended Governor Ortom who he said stood firmly with his people despite the security and political storm, saying it was an indication that the Governor is a leader who truly loves his people. Recall that Obasanjo in his latest letter to Buhari had said: Government should open up discussion, debate and dialogue as part of consultation at different levels and the outcome of such deliberations should be collated to form inputs into a national conference to come up with the solution that will effectively deal with the issues and lead to rapid development, growth and progress which will give us a wholesome society and enhanced living standard and livelihood in an inclusive and shared society. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has urged Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to pray for the countrys unity as they join Muslims globally to observe Arafat. Gbajabiamila made the plea in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Lanre Lasisi, on Friday. Arafat, a 230 feet granite hill about 20 km east of central Mecca in the plain of Arafat is also known as the Mount of Mercy. According to Islamic tradition, the hill is the place where Prophet Muhammad delivered his farewell sermon to Muslims, who accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. It is also said to be the place where Adam and Hawa reunite on earth after falling from heaven and where Adam was forgiven, hence it is known as the mount of mercy. Islamic faithful believe that prayers offered on the mount on every August 9, receives speedy answers as it is a place of mercy and they are expected to fast. Gbajabiamila, who is currently performing the hajj, expressed optimism that with prayers, Nigeria would move to the next level. I want to urge all our pilgrims to pray for the unity of Nigeria; we need the prayers because the government is not relenting as it is striving to make life better for the citizens. We also need to pray for the general wellbeing of all Nigerians; Arafat is a special day that Allah answers prayers. I call on Nigerian pilgrims to utilise the opportunity, he said. The speaker said that the importance of prayers in the life of any nation could not be over-emphasised. He also commended Nigerians currently on pilgrimage for their upright conduct and abstinence from activities that could tarnish the image of the country. The National Youths Service Corps has caught two fake corps members among the current set of 2019 Batch B stream II deployed to Katsina State. Their identities were given as Offor Chinelo Blessing with registration No. KT/19B/3696 and call-up No. NYSC /ISU/2019/260/22 purportedly from Imo State University with a fake degree in Insurance and Actuarial Science. The other is Meaienwa Chimdinma Ngozi with registration number KT/19B/3836 and call-up No. NYSC /ISU/2019/259331 purportedly also from the same university with a B.A in Education/English language. The state coordinator, NYSC Katsina State, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya, who confirmed the development on Saturday, disclosed how the fake female corps members were caught. He said, The two corps members were caught through a security report from the DG, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim. I got a security report from the DG that the two of them were carrying fake certificates. Based on that, he set out the security network to trap them. Yahaya added that the two corps members had allegedly confessed to committing the offence. He added We will like to follow due process in handling the case by arraigning them before the camp court today before they would be decamped today (Saturday.) Iliyasu stated that the troops rescued 15 persons, comprising eight adult males, one adult female, and six children. File Photo Troops of 7 Division Nigeria Army have rescued 27 persons displaced by insurgents in Borno State. A statement by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, on Tuesday, said that the first clearance was carried out by Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre, troops of 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with troops of Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole and elements of Nigerian Army Super Camp 4 along Goni Gambomi, Kadamari, Melim, Gondori and Jantilu in Kaga LGA of Borno State. Iliyasu stated that the troops rescued 15 persons, comprising eight adult males, one adult female, and six children. He said after interrogation, they revealed that they spent 3 days wandering in the bush, trying to link up with any community where they could find succour. Preliminary investigation reveals that they spent 3 days wandering in the bush trying to link up with any community where they could find succour. They were promptly evacuated and the adult females and children were handed over to NYSC IDP Camp while the adult males were handed over to 7 Military Intelligence Brigade for profiling and subsequent integration into the IDP Camp. Similarly, troops of 82 Div Task Force BattaNGOSHElion at Strong Response Area while conducting clearance operations. The statement added that in Ngoshe and Pulka general area in Gwoza LGA of Borno State troops also rescued 12 locals. They were later screened, documented and handed over to officials of the International Organization for Migrants at PULKA IDP Camp. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday mocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over running a government with stinking N40 billion allegedly diverted funds. PDP, therefore, called on the ruling APC to come clean on revelations, in the public space, that the N40 billion taxpayers money allegedly siphoned from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was used to finance its 2019 campaigns. The party said the revelation, which has reportedly unsettled certain persons in the Buhari Presidency, has further exposed the APC as a decadent lot; a gathering of treasury looters who thrive in cheating, deceit and pretenses at very high levels. The development has further vindicated our stand that the APC is an extremely callous and hypocritical party, which has no iota of conscience but takes delight in depriving our citizens and pillaging resources meant for the wellbeing of our people. It is shameful that instead of being remorseful, agents of the APC are reportedly engaging in dirty infighting over how the money was shared, with certain top leaders of the APC allegedly getting up to N3 billion each, PDP declared in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary. The PDP cautioned the APC not to take Nigerians for a ride with its usual diversionary empty denials, finger pointing, hauling of insults and spurious accusations against the PDP, as the public already has reports of how very top leaders of the APC, including those operating at the Presidency, were used to conduit the money from the FIRS. The PDP held that in a nation battling the scourge of corruption, misrule, huge unemployment, unprecedented infrastructural decay, insecurity, hunger and untold hardship, such a humongous allegation must not be allowed to go under the usual APC carpet Our party submits that since the APC has been overtly indicted, it should come clean by refunding the N40 billion to the public coffers from where it should be channeled to job creation projects without further delay, Ologbondiyan declared. The PDP invited Nigerians to note how the APC and its Federal Government have failed to account for various pillaging of public funds under the Buhari administration, including the N14 trillion stolen through various phony contracts in the NNPC as well as direct drawings from other government agencies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The PDP noted that if the trillions of naira stolen and stashed away in private purses of APC leaders are recovered and directed to development projects, our nation will not be in its present sorry state under the Buhari administration. PV: 0 Bishop David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, on Sunday, shunned government directive on religious gatherings. Oyedepo, who held service at Canaanland, Ota, despite the ban on the gathering of over 50 people by Ogun state government, told the throng that the virus cannot stop Gods children. Oyedepo said: Plagues cannot stop us. Coronavirus cannot stop Gods children, but I assure you that the solution will be found this week. Only the help of God can save us, our markets are open so there is no way to curb this but only God can save Africa from this pandemic. We are a law-abiding people and pray for this to be over but we will manage this till the end. Strategies are being developed on how to manage this with respect to our worship programs. We will come up with specific programs during the week that will be communicated to everyone. Our Zonal positions may have to be enlarged to accommodate a lot of people. However, Oyedepo also criticised the government over the closure of schools in Nigeria. He said: May God help our policymakers to make the right decision in finding solution to this scourge called Coronavirus. How can you close school and ask them to go home. You are sending them from where they are more secured to where they would be exposed to the disease. You are sending them away from where they are not more than 20 back home to go and sell pepper for their mothers in the market where there are more people. You block people from having access to malls in the name of preventing disease but you dont know that the only disease that doesnt have a cure is hunger. May God help our leaders to make the right decision in search of a solution to this pandemic. Police arrest Kano Deputy Governor (Photo:Premium Times) Police officers on duty at Kano State collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have arrested the states deputy governor, Nasir Gawuna, and the commissioner in charge of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Sule Garo, Premium Times has reported. The two top officials were arrested some minutes after 2 a.m. Monday after they arrived the venue of the state collation centre and began to disrupt the process. Their actions led to a halt in the announcement of results at the centre after some youth suspected to be supporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tried to attack the two officials. The police are expected to later release Mr Gawuna without charges as he enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution based on the office he holds. As at the time of their arrest, results from 43 of Kanos 44 local governments had been announced and the PDP candidate, Abba Yusuf, was leading the incumbent Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC). While the PDP candidate has so far scored 960,004 votes, Mr Ganduje of the APC has 953,522 votes. BLOOMINGTON From the Ford Pinto to forgotten Fender guitars, old axes and rust buckets are often much more than hunks of junk. Take em for a ride, and theyll bang, rattle and roll. And so will the six members of The Rusty Pickups, who promise to get rockin your shocks off at a Saturday show at downtown Bloomingtons nightshop. The Bloomington-based act is opening for headlining band The Claudettes, of Chicago, and Front Street Collective, which was featured in this column in September. The show is a Fundraiser and Friendraiser for Midwest Food Bank, meaning goods and money will be collected on site to help address food insecurity. The Rusty Pickups setlist includes classic covers ranging from early hits of The Rolling Stones to Johnny Rivers, plus some deep cuts thatll get you up and dancing. Brian Beam, acoustic guitarist and lead vocalist, said their band name is a double entendre that speaks to their Midwestern roots. He said a rusty pickup is a regional authenticity, and it could also be the guitar thats sat in the corner for a little too long. It needs to be picked up and played, he said. From "schlubs" to stages Sitting down at Coffee Hound with all six of The Rusty Pickups, I sensed the Pickups were charged with a collective energy. While Beam, 54, said this is his first band hes played in since he jammed with high school friends in a basement, Tony Pina said hes played in cover bands for 40 years. They were playing a lot of the songs I had played before, said Pina, the lead guitarist. He said his big contribution was providing a large list of songs he played with his past bands. Their first show with their current lineup was on July 4 at the Bloomington VFW, Beam said. And about a year ago, four of the six had their first show as The Rusty Pickups at The Station Saloon. Pina said it was at Beams open mic set for Make Music Normal when he connected with his bandmates. Pina said after meeting Beam at the uptown festival, he backed Beam up on guitar and vocals. The Monday after that, I played my first three-hour gig with the band, said Pina. Since then, the Pickups have also taken stages at Sugar Creek Arts Festival and at the Pekin Marigold Festival, both in 2023. Rhythm guitarist John Walker said percussionist Dave Kagel and vocalist and harmonica player Marc Andelman have been performing together for at least a dozen years, and Walker joined them both two years ago. Walker and Kagel also perform alternative country as The Walker Brothers. Were just a couple of schlubs playing in a guys basement, and its kind of grown from there, said Andelman. Walker said they rehearsed weekly for years until he ran into Beam through work just over a year ago. Beam and Pina are current Illinois State University employees, and Walker is a retired associate dean of the fine arts college at ISU. Walker formerly directed the Redbird Arts Technology program, an earlier title for Creative Technologies. At the University Art Galleries, Walker said he learned that he and Beam shared musical tastes, and he was invited to join the band. All pieces of The Rusty Pickups are residents of the Twin Cities, except bassist Phil Colan, of Hudson. On Saturday, the bassist will share his talents with The Rusty Pickups and Front Street Collective Pina noted that means Colan is doubling his stage time. Beam said they pull material from the 1960s, 1970s and sometimes the 1980s. Everyone contributes to the group, Beam said. I think thats what's special about the group, everyone jumps in, Beam said, noting he shares the lead vocal spot, too. "Hired gun" Pina said while holding a career and raising six kids, he hasnt had a chance to keep a steady band. Ive been more of a hired-gun guitarist to come in and play the solos for them, he said. Some of the oldies they play now, Pina said, he also played when they were new. In high school, Beam said he saw the Georgia Satellites perform live in Peoria, opening for REO Speedwagon, and the show made a huge impression on him. They now play the track Keep Your Hands to Yourself by the Georgia Satellites. Other tracks in their repertoire include The Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits; and Stuck in the Middle with You and Show Me the Way by Peter Frampton, with Pina on the talk-box for the latter hit. One deep cut Andelman feels called to is My Best Friends Girl, by The Cars. The first Cars album we would listen to that over and over again while cruising up and down Main Street (in Iowa) in my 77 Pinto, said Andelman, 58. For Kagel, 69, he said covering tracks from the 1960s brings him back to the British Invasion, including The Beatles' and Rolling Stones' appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show." His band now plays Its All Over Now, an early Rolling Stones hit. In Bloomington-Normal, Beam said he feels like a minor celebrity after playing a show. Pina added their wives and significant others also are part of the band community and supports them. Theyre our biggest cheerleaders, he said. Walker said music affects our brains in that it helps us stay young and fight off aging. He said people also tend to stick to themselves as they get older. But hes experienced the opposite through playing in a band. Walker said they become engaged with a community, and its become an emotional and spiritual thing for him. Us getting together in the basement and not playing for anybody would be fine, he said. It's a bonus that we get to play in front of people who share that, but there's a lot of advantages to being able to be engaged in this kind of endeavor. Walker said its the music that brought them together but being together is just as important to him as the songs they play. Those interested in booking The Rusty Pickups can email therustypickups@gmail.com. You can also follow the band on Facebook at facebook.com/TheRustyPickups and on YouTube. IF YOU GO WHAT: The Claudettes, with opening acts Front Street Collective and The Rusty Pickups WHEN: Doors at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m. Saturday WHERE: nightshop, 517 N. Main St., Bloomington TICKETS: $10 cover charge at the door ALSO CHECK OUT: The Rusty Pickups performing 7 p.m. March 2 at Cadillac Jacks, 1507 S. Main St., Bloomington Best albums by The Rolling Stones Best albums by The Rolling Stones #29. Five by Five (1964) #28. Dirty Work (1986) #27. Hackney Diamonds (2023) #26. Undercover (1983) #25. Bridges To Babylon (1997) #24. The Rolling Stones (England's Newest Hit Makers) (1964) #23. The Rolling Stones No. 2 (1965) #22. A Bigger Bang (2005) #21. The Rolling Stones, Now! (1965) #20. December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965) #19. Emotional Rescue (1980) #18. Steel Wheels (1989) #17. Voodoo Lounge (1994) #16. Black and Blue (1976) #15. 12 x 5 (1964) #14. Blue & Lonesome (2016) #13. The Rolling Stones (1964) #12. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1974) #11. Goats Head Soup (1973) #10. Between the Buttons (1967) #9. Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) #8. Out of Our Heads (1965) #7. Tattoo You (1981) #6. Some Girls (1978) #5. Aftermath (1966) #4. Beggars Banquet (1968) #3. Let It Bleed (1969) #2. Sticky Fingers (1971) #1. Exile on Main St. (1972) BLOOMINGTON Century 21 Real Estate has opened a new office in Bloomington and welcomed Green Acres Real Estate as a Central Illinois-based affiliate brokerage. Green Acres Real Estate now known as Century 21 Quest, opened in December as an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate, at the company's third location, 210 S. East St. in Bloomington. The company has offices in Monticello and Clinton, having first started in 2013 under managing broker Jessica "JJ" Devore. Devore has been named Realtor of the year in 2018 by the Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors and was the president of the Mid-Illinois Realtors Association in 2022. She is the current chair of the Illinois Realtors Young Professionals Network Advisory Board. Devore plans to continue to grow the company in the Central Illinois area, now with access to Century 21's resources. The office is currently looking to hire sales professionals and real estate agents. BLOOMINGTON Century 21 Quest, 210 S. East St. in Bloomington, has begun hosting homebuyers seminars from 6 to 8 p.m. the last Wednesday of every month, with the next event scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 28. The seminars are designed for those interested in buying a home in the future, covering topics such as mortgages, navigating the home market, making an offer, arranging inspections and appraisals, closing the deal and more. Guest speakers will include real estate agents, attorneys, title specialists, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, appraisers and insurance agents. Attendees also will have opportunities to ask questions. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to own their dream home. This seminar is our way of ensuring that home buyers are equipped with the necessary tools to turn that dream into reality, stated JJ Devore, owner and managing broker at Century 21 Quest. There is no cost to attend the seminars, but space is limited. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. For more information or to register, go to C21Quest.com and click on the events tab, or contact Manda Knight at 309-684-0295 or mknight.c21q@gmail.com. NORMAL Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute to area families facing food insecurity in Normal, Farmer City and throughout McLean County next month. The Normal distribution will be held 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16 at Normal West High School, 501 N. Parkside Road, and is open to McLean County residents. The Farmer City distribution will be held 9-10 a.m. Saturday, March 9 at the Trinity Community Fellowship, and is open to residents of DeWitt, Piatt and McLean counties. The foodmobile will also travel through McLean County on Monday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 27. Distribution sites and times for each town will be listed at eifoodbank.org/help/mobile.html. Those attending are asked to bring boxes or bags to transport food, and pre-register at EIFclient.com, as income guidelines will apply. Photos: Cardinals Spring training full-squad workouts in Jupiter on Feb. 20 BLOOMINGTON The Bloomington-Normal NAACP will host a Voter Empowerment Workshop at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 801 W. Market St., Bloomington. The event is in partnership with the Central Illinois Chapter of The Links Inc. It is free, nonpartisan and open to the public. Representatives of the Bloomington Election Commission were slated to be in attendance to assist with registration. But because the window for mail-in and in-person registration is now closed, officials will not be at the forum. However, online registration is still available through March 3. Those who wish to participate are asked to RSVP by Friday, Feb. 23, by texting NAACP Political Action Chair Georgene Chissell at 309-808-9518. Visit bnnaacp.org or centralillinoislinksinc.org for more information. Close James Harden, executive director of engagement and social emotional learning in Champaign Unit 4 School District, delivered the keynote speech Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Recently graduated high schoolers received over $80,000 in scholarships during the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Bradley Ross Jackson, president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council, at the 2023 NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Carla Campbell-Jackson, vice president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP, at the NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. James Harden, executive director of engagement and social emotional learning in Champaign Unit 4 School District, delivered the keynote speech Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. James Harden, executive director of engagement and social emotional learning in Champaign Unit 4 School District, delivered the keynote speech Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Michael Coleman, previous recipient of Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Mentoring and Providing Scholarships, delivers remarks on Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. lined up to give out scholarships at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. The Bloomington-Normal NAACP held its annual Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Brandon Caffey of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. presented students with scholarships on Saturday, June 3, at the Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Members of the local Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. gave out scholarships at Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Photos: Bloomington-Normal NAACP, other groups present $82K in scholarships The Bloomington-Normal NAACP and a number of other groups handed out over $80,000 in scholarships to recent high-school grads in Bloomington and Normal. James Harden, executive director of engagement and social emotional learning in Champaign Unit 4 School District, delivered the keynote speech Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Recently graduated high schoolers received over $80,000 in scholarships during the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Bradley Ross Jackson, president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council, at the 2023 NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Carla Campbell-Jackson, vice president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP, at the NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. James Harden, executive director of engagement and social emotional learning in Champaign Unit 4 School District, delivered the keynote speech Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. James Harden, executive director of engagement and social emotional learning in Champaign Unit 4 School District, delivered the keynote speech Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Michael Coleman, previous recipient of Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Mentoring and Providing Scholarships, delivers remarks on Saturday, June 3, at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. lined up to give out scholarships at the Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. The Bloomington-Normal NAACP held its annual Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Brandon Caffey of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. presented students with scholarships on Saturday, June 3, at the Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. Members of the local Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. gave out scholarships at Bloomington-Normal NAACP's Joint Scholarship Celebration on Saturday, June 3, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. SPRINGFIELD Lawmakers had mixed reactions mostly falling along partisan lines to the details laid out in Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget address Wednesday afternoon. Proposals included more funding for education across all levels, the elimination of the states grocery tax, funding to eliminate medical debt and more money to combat homelessness. House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, said that its important to remember how far Illinois has come in the past few years, putting emphasis on progress like nine credit upgrades and the state paying off its debt. Like every year, we have pressure points, but we will continue making fiscally responsible decisions that put our state on a path of progress, Welch said. I am confident Chief Budgeteer Jehan Gordon-Booth, our budget negotiation team, and our appropriations chairs will put in the necessary work to craft a final budget that is reflective of our values as Illinoisans. Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said Pritzker's proposal was "a good start" for negotiations to begin. Senate Democrats look forward to the discussion of how to balance our serious needs with fiscal realities in the weeks and months ahead. My goal is to cross the finish line with a bipartisan, balanced budget that reflects our shared goals of responsibility and security and invests in key priorities for the state of Illinois, Harmon said. House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savana, said the two important things for House Republicans were funding for education and having the pension bill paid off this year. That was in, so thats the good part," McCombie said. "The bad part is that were going to $910 million in tax increases. Over 2024 and 2025, were going to be spending $2.8 billion on the undocumented and migrant folks that are coming to Illinois. To raise revenue, the proposal includes an increase in the tax paid by sportsbooks and continues a cap on deductions that large corporations can make on their income taxes. More than $182 million was included to address the migrant crisis, along with $629 million for a program providing mostly undocumented adults ineligible for Medicaid. State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, shared similar concerns about increased taxes, saying that Pritzker is basing the budget on a billion dollars in tax hikes that will hurt every citizen of this state. At the same time, hes planning to continue to spend roughly a billion dollars per year on programs for noncitizens that he invited to come here. Meanwhile, my constituents, along with the rest of the citizens of this state, are wondering why they arent being prioritized, McClure said. Sen. Sally Turner, R-Beason, said that she is deeply concerned with (Pritzkers) continued prioritization of funding noncitizen programs at the expense of Illinois families despite the fact that there are areas of common agreement within his budget proposal. This proposal will raise taxes on Illinoisans by more than a billion dollars, roughly the same amount of money he wants to spend on noncitizen programs. Far too many Illinoisans are currently struggling to afford necessities, including groceries and prescriptions, Turner said. It is completely unacceptable for the governor to ask those very Illinoisans to foot the bill for the ongoing migrant crisis that the governors policies helped create. Democrats, on the other hand, said that Pritzkers proposals are a good start to creating a responsible budget for 2025. State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-Rock Island, said he was confident that the framework outlined Wednesday would put the state on a path to achieving its goals. This budget is investing in our kids by putting hundreds of millions into public classroom funding and expanding college scholarships to build a better future for all Illinoisans," Johnson said. "Paying down short-term and mid-term debt and making above and beyond pension payments will ultimately save taxpayers billions and make Illinois stronger. An Accra Circuit court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a 36-year-old US-based administrator for allegedly defrauding a businessman in the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00). The bench warrant follows the failure of the accused, Mary Dede Doku, to appear before his Honour Isaac Addo, when the case was called on Wednesday. Although her lawyer, William Newman, informed the court that his client was not in Ghana, the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, prayed for a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused. The court, after listening to both parties, issued a bench warrant for Mary Dede Doku. Per the facts of the prosecution, the complainant, Dennis Ahiable, is a businessman who resides in Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, while the accused, Mary Dede Doku, is an administrator based in America. The complainant (Dennis Ahiable) is said to have given an amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to the accused (Mary Dede) to help him purchase a car in 2021. The payment was made after the accused agreed she could help him buy a car following a discussion about his plans to buy a Range Rover Sport 2020 model. The prosecution noted that, after taking the money, the accused did not provide the car as promised. After failing to provide the car, the accused in 2022 informed the complainant that, the car dealer had sold the car. She then promised to refund the money to the complainant but failed to do so. The accused was arrested to assist with investigations on November 2, 2022, after the complainant (Dennis Ahiable) reported the case at the Auto Theft Unit on October 26, 2022. The facts further stated that the accused, in her caution statement, agreed to take money from the complainant on the promise of getting him a car. She, however, explained that she has reported the said car dealer in the United States. Prosecution continued that, while investigations were still going on, the accused refunded an amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) to the complainant but failed to pay the remaining thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) despite all efforts to get her to pay. The Court has been adjourned to March 27, 2024. Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media 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 Iran continues to talk tough, but actions speak louder than words. And for the moment at least, those actions seem geared toward keeping the Middle East conflict from spreading any further than it already has. by Ian Bremmer As Israel threatens an offensive into Rafah, its regional nemesis Iran is pulling itself away from the brink of war and may even welcome a cease-fire in Gaza. Since an attack by one of its Iraqi proxies killed three American servicemen in Jordan on Jan. 28, Iran has been signaling its allies in the Resistance Front to cool it and avoid actions that might prompt retaliation from Israel or the United States. In this picture released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, center, reviews a group of armed forces cadets during their graduation ceremony accompanied by commanders of the armed forces, at the police academy in Tehran, Iran, in 2022. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader) The commander of Irans Quds Force, the elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, traveled to Iraq in January and ordered Irans allies there to hold off on attacking US forces. The pressure from their patron in Tehran seems to have worked, at least for now: Since Feb. 4, no US troops have been targeted in militia attacks. Iran has also told its closest ally, Hezbollah, to avoid provoking Israel at a time when tensions on Israels border with Lebanon remain high. While the Houthis, Irans ally in Yemen, have continued their attacks on commercial shipping, Iran took a notable step to protect its own assets in the Red Sea. The Iranian observation ship, the MV Behshad, widely believed to be assisting Houthi targeting, has dropped anchor near a Chinese squadron in Djibouti and isnt actively involved in Houthi operations anymore. Theres even been tentative signs that Irans enrichment of uranium has slowed a little though Iran continues to enrich at a rapid pace, it doesnt seem as interested in building a bomb as it once was. Iran continues to talk tough, but actions speak louder than words. And for the moment at least, those actions seem geared toward keeping the Middle East conflict from spreading any further than it already has. Though its hard to know for sure whats going on inside the head of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, my bet is Irans moves are down to self-preservation and risk management. As is often the case, the leadership of the Islamic Republic is worried first and foremost about its own survival. While its made some gains from the crisis so far, Iran is now trying to avoid a bigger fight that could endanger its regional position and put more pressure on its own shaky domestic security. Iran is winning and wants to keep it that way When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Iran stood to benefit from its proxy sowing chaos. The horrific attack pulled Israel into a domestic security crisis and bogged the Israel Defense Forces down in a war in Gaza from which it has yet to emerge. Iran is confident that Hamas will survive this warbattered, perhaps, but still present. Israel, on the other hand, will emerge badly damaged diplomatically and morally (if not also economically and militarily). Iran is also happy to see progress on Israeli normalization with Saudi Arabia delayed or scuttled since the grand bargain was clearly aimed at containing the spread of Irans regional influence. For their part, Irans diplomats have loudly denounced Israels operations in Gaza and tried to leverage the crisis into closer ties to other Middle Eastern states. Meanwhile, its Resistance Front coalition has proven it can coordinate on grand strategy like never before. Irans allies have launched hundreds of attacks to signal solidarity with Hamas, and the Houthis have effectively closed the Red Sea to Western shipping. On balance, then, Iran has been coming out ahead in this war. But that balance could change if the conflict expands further. Iran talks tough, and its regional allies have grown bolder, but a conventional military conflict with Israel would not go its way apart from its impressive array of ballistic missiles, most of Irans military is built upon Cold War-era hardware. Iran is well aware of the Israeli threat to Hezbollah, Irans largest and strongest ally. Should war break out along Israels northern border, Iran would feel obligated to step in and support its ally, risking more of its forces in a knock-down fight with Israel. The same holds true for a fight with the United States. Iran wants to get the US out of Iraq and Syria and has backed a variety of militias and proxies to support that goal. These groups are chomping at the bit, but Iran or, more specifically, Supreme Leader Khamenei has always favored strategic patience and has been waiting things out, confident that gradual pressure will force the US out in time, without the need for a big, bloody fight. Irans leaders are eager to keep the war from coming home Tehran is wary of the conflict expanding due to the impact it would have on the home front. With the memory of the 2022 protest wave still fresh, the regime is anxious to keep a lid on domestic violence and instability, especially as a succession crisis could happen at any moment after all, Khamenei is 84 years old, in poor health, and lacks a clear successor. That doesnt mean it has avoided the escalating crisis, which has grown in new and unexpected ways. A massive terrorist attack in Kerman in early January revealed gaps in the regimes security apparatus, prompting it to lash out against its neighbors including Pakistan, which it bombarded with missiles (Tehran and Islamabad made up quickly, fortunate given that Pakistan is a nuclear power). Public concern over security was further heightened following the deaths of US servicemen in Jordan. Irans media was filled with reports of impending US direct air strikes against Iran, Khamenei called an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council, and the national air defense system was put on high alert. On Feb. 14, twin explosions shut down the nations largest pipeline, shutting off gas to millions. Reports confirmed that Israel was probably behind the attack. Faced with the threat of escalation, Iran has pulled back Faced with a potential escalation cascade, Irans response has been to pull back a little, if not entirely to avoid getting entangled in a bloody fight that could have consequences for its own domestic stability. And its gotten some help from an unexpected corner: The United States, also anxious to avoid a bigger fight, has been working to contain the crisis. Following the attack in Jordan, President Joe Biden signaled that there would be US retaliation but waited a week to strike back, giving Iran plenty of time to withdraw its forces from Syria. Other US strikes including a drone attack on an Iraqi militia commander in Baghdad and a cyberattack against the MV Behshad have stayed within the escalatory threshold. To be sure, the crisis is nowhere near over, and escalatory risks remain very much present. The Houthis continue to lob missiles at passing ships, and they have been upping their game to include drone submarines that are tougher to detect. The Iraqi militias may have stopped their attacks on US forces, but theres no guarantee the pause will last. Tehran has proven it has influence over these groups and can issue orders to them, but it lacks control. If a Houthi missile hits a US warship, theres not much Tehran can do to prevent a US retaliation and a spiraling conflict. But Iran preferring restraint to escalation is still welcome news for a region and a world that could use some. Ian Bremmer is President and Founder of GZERO Media. He hosts the weekly digital and broadcast show, GZERO World, where he explains the key global stories of the moment, sits down for an in-depth conversation with the newsmakers and thought leaders shaping our world, and takes your questions. Sonto 1 Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization,has donated some items to the Princess Marie Louis Hospital ( childrens hospital ) malnutrition unit in Accra. The items include diapers, baby wipes, mattresses, washing detergents, standing brooms, mops, buckets, milk powders, biscuits and undisclosed amount of money. The Founder of Sonto 1 Foundation, Akua Sonto reiterated that children are gifts from God and need all the needed attention to put smiles on their faces and make their lives a better one by supporting them with the little we can. Dr.Maame Yaa Nyarko Head of Facilities, accepted the gifts on behalf of the Hospital The items were received on behalf of the Hospital by Dr. Maame Yaa Nyarko, Head of Facilities in supports of the upkeep of the children at the department. She expressed her gratitude to the Sonto 1 Foundation for their unwavering support during such difficult times and appealed to individuals, institutions,among others to come and help the hospital. She emphasised that, the hospital as a whole lacks infrastructure, chairs, Computers and other items for their day to day operation. Mrs. Sandra Akua Koranteng, host of the Sonto Show and Founder of Sonto 1 Foundation identified the support for abandoned vulnerable children as one of the foundations major objectives. She, therefore, promised to continue to support the socially disadvantaged and provide them with the necessary support to enable them live healthier lives. Finally, she thanked her prime sponsor, Mr. George Asiedu, the team for their support in helping the needy. Source: Kasapafmonline.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 Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has given an assurance that the government is fully committed to ensuring that the murderers of Ahmed Suale, an investigative journalist, are found and brought to book. He said there had been enormous investigations into the matter, with some conducted beyond the shores of the country. He, for instance, mentioned investigations conducted by the United States of America (USA) government through the FBI to help establish those behind Suales death. For me, the point of interest is that the motive for murder is very important because, for all you know, the motive is not connected to the work that he was doing and it is very important that we find those who murdered him, he said. Unresolved murder Speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday, Mr Dame said there had been many speculations and the failure to resolve the case gave room for more speculation by the public into the motives of the murder. As you can see, there has been serious work that has been done by the laboratory tests in the United States of America through the US Embassy in Ghana but still the situation remains unresolved. I can say that indeed, just like the murder of US rapper, Tupac Shakur, was unravelled only a few months ago, justice will catch up with the murderers of Ahmed Suale, he stressed. Mr Dame gave the assurance when he was responding to a question by the NDC MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, who sought to know the status of the murder investigations of Ahmed Suale, Major Maxwell Adam Mahama, J. B. Danquah Adu, Professor Benneh, Fennec Okyere, Abubakar Shalid and Shadrach Arloo. He also updated the House on the status of investigations into the death of the other six persons. Investigations Mr Dame outlined various investigations that had been carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and the US government. He cited how the mobile phones of the deceased were sent to the US, through the US Embassy in Ghana, for the unlocking and extraction of information-by-Information Technology experts, with a request letter to that effect sent to the US Embassy on July 17, 2020. In February 2021, he said the American Regional Security Officer, Bill Peiler, successfully handed over the two iPhones 7 plus and a Huawei smartphone belonging to Suale with an external drive containing the data from the phones to the investigator. Huge volumes of data, comprising millions of documents, videos, audios, text and WhatsApp messages have been analysed by a team from the Homicide and Cybercrime units. Propaganda When the NDC MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, took the minister on for saying that Suales murder might not be related to his work as an investigative journalist, Mr Dame said there had not been any establishment of the cause of death of Suale yet. There have been speculations that the deceased was murdered in respect of his work and this is very dangerous. Indeed, such tendency not only undermines the integrity of investigations that are being undertaken by the Ghana Police Service but also has the tendency to prejudice the minds of the public, he said. He explained how Fennec Okyere was primarily engaged in works related to the music industry as the producer of hiplife artiste, Kwaw Kesse, but the cause of his death clearly shows that his murder was unrelated to the work he was doing. He was engaged in land disputes in Accra; so really the fact that a person has been murdered, with all due respect, does not mean that that person is murdered primarily on account of the work that he was doing, he noted. He described various comments that sought to impute that Suale died in the line of duty as propagandist and should not be countenanced. Indeed, I will want to preserve the integrity of the work that is done by the Ghana Police Service, he said. Regarding three other persons who were arrested in connection with Suales death, the Attorney-General told the House that for the sake of investigations, the police would want to keep their identities confidential. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 38-year-old man has been hospitalized after he was stabbed with a pair of scissors by a suspect who accused him of gossiping about him. Saidu Dauda was reportedly stabbed in the left rib and left shoulder by one Musah Fuseini, who has since been arrested and remanded by the court. The police said Dauda and Fuseini openly fought after the latter had accused the former of gossip, around 6:50 pm on February 14, 2024. According to a police statement, Fuseini went into hiding after committing the heinous crime but was arrested, detained and remanded. On February 14, 2024 at 7.30pm, one Sulemana Seidu of Moshie Zongo, Kumasi called at the station and reported that same day at about 6.50pm, his elder brother by name Saidu Dauda aged 38 years, was stabbed on the left rib and shoulder by one Musah Fuseini and fled after perpetrating act. According to the complainant, it is alleged that the suspect accused the victim of gossiping about him. Subsequently, a misunderstanding ensued between them which resulted in a quarrel between the two. Both were separated. Unknown to victim, suspect passed behind him and stabbed him on the left rib and left shoulder with a sharp instrument, believed to be either a knife or a pair of scissors, the report said. The Tafo-Pankrono District Police statement also said the victim sustained stab wounds, bled profusely and was rushed to KATH where he remains on admission. The same day, the police said, Musah Fuseini was arrested at his hideout at Moshie Zongo, and he was arraigned before the Old Tafo Circuit Court on February 16, 2024, where he was remanded into police custody to assist with investigations. The police said suspect would re-appear in court on February 26, 2024. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video James Kwabena Bomfeh has slammed the leadership of the New Patriotic Party over the seeming misunderstanding regarding the purported change in leadership of their Majority Caucus. Days ago, news broke that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was going to effect some changes in Parliament, hence dropping names like Alex Afenyo-Markin, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, and others. The Effutu Member of Parliament, Alex Afenyo-Markin, was reportedly to replace the Suame lawmaker, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who will no longer be a member of the Legislative House, as the Majority Leader. But the majority on Tuesday, at a press conference, denied any such attempt by the party. Disclaimer "We are here to inform you that the publications that are going around are not true, it is false. The majority caucus has not made any changes in its leadership, the majority caucus has not contemplated making any changes to its leadership, and we will tell the world and Ghana to ignore any such publication. We want to assure you that we have confidence in the leadership and the status quo shall remain, we are aware that upon the nomination of one of the Deputy Whips as a minister, a replacement will be made, and that replacement will be made by the caucus when we have the opportunity and the time to consider the appropriate replacement, this is all the information we have to share, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, popularly called "Joe Wise", stated categorically. He reiterated; The leadership of the Majority has not changed, we have not contemplated changing and we have no intention to effect any change in the leadership of the majority caucus. The Parliament of Ghana has adopted standing orders that place the selection and change or otherwise of leadership in the hands of the caucus and not anybody inside parliament. I am not aware of such thing, nobody has discussed that with the caucus and since nobody has the power to do that outside the caucus there may be rumors and intricacies but we in parliament are not aware of any attempt to remove anybody, Joe Wise, who is the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, further stressed. Kabila Scolds NPP James Kwabena Bomfeh, widely known as "Kabila", discussing the matter on Peace FM's Wednesday edition of "Kokrokoo" show, scolded the New Patriotic Party, saying the party has no right to make decisions for the Parliamentarians. Disclosing the change in the majority leadership was indeed on the party's National Executive Council's list of items for discussion in their recent meeting, Kabila wondered how they intended to make the changes without consultation with the Majority leadership. "The party cannot sit outside Parliament and decide for Members of Parliament. It's wrong. No matter how much vested your interest is, you need to dialogue with your Members in Parliament," he blamed the NPP for the conflict and advised them, stressing that "the idea about MPs that they are representing their parties is not correct. They represent constituencies; of course, they run on the ticket of parties." Watch video below Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Democratic Congress is very optimistic that the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will mismanage Ghana's economy if elected in the December 7 polls to be president. The party, in a presser dubbed Moment of Truth by its National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, describes Dr. Bawumia as a corrupt individual who cannot be trusted as a leader. Appearance fee merchant, Bawumia cannot fight corruption because he is himself corrupt, he told journalists. Sammy Gyamfi, however, urged Ghanaians to ensure the NPP does not stay in power. We can only get to the bottom of corruption and scandals by this government and its officials, including Bawumia himself, for the people of Ghana to resoundingly boot the NPP out of office on December 7, 2024," he urged. The NDC believes their flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, can be well trusted to manage Ghana's economy as well as fight corruption, which has been rampant in the Akufo-Addo-led government. Our surest bet of exacting genuine accountability would be to vote overwhelmingly for Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the NDC to enable us to pursue accountability, which has been missing in our national affair in the last seven to eight years, Sammy Gyamfi said. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 National Peace Council (NPC) has called on political parties to avoid hate speech and the use of intemperate language in the 2024 electioneering. That, it said, would ensure that the country remained peaceful after this year's elections so that the citizenry could go about their businesses without hindrances. Our admonition to the political parties is for them to use temperate language in whatever they say to ensure that at the end of the elections, the nation will still be peaceful, the Board Chairman of the NPC, Rev. Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, said. Rev. Dr Adu-Gyamfi made the call at the 2024 first quarter meeting with political parties under the Political Party Trust Building Programme in Accra yesterday. The meeting, which was aimed at building a national consensus for peaceful elections in 2024, brought together representatives of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Progressive People's Party (PPP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Ghana Union Movement (GUM). It was organised by the NPC with sponsorship from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), an international non-governmental organisation. The meeting also adopted the recommendations of the Peduase Stock-Taking Conference held in December 2023. Key among the recommendations was the need for the Judiciary to expedite action on addressing the issue of time limit in resolving parliamentary election disputes. The council, with your input and commitment, will continue its advocacy with the Judiciary to establish a mechanism that will help address parliamentary election petitions in a manner that will be timely, and, if possible, to have all parliamentary election petitions addressed within a 42-day period as has been established for presidential election petitions, he assured. He said that would help to create an inclusive and just process for peaceful outcomes. Preparations Rev. Dr Adu-Gyamfi said: The goal of the council this year is to have an election that is peaceful and an outcome that is acceptable to all stakeholders. As part of preparation towards the December polls, the Board Chairman announced that the Peace Council would facilitate a platform for all political parties and their leaders to commit to peace, the avoidance of electoral violence and a peaceful electioneering at a public forum to be held in the course of the year. The council, he further explained, had planned to embark on a nationwide advocacy campaign against electoral violence, and would focus on eliminating the re-emergence of the activities of political vigilantism. To achieve this, he said, the council would sensitise citizens, particularly youth groups within the political space, to the Guidelines on Hate Speech and Other Forms of Indecent Language, the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act 2019 (Act 999) and the need for political tolerance. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) seems worried about how unfairly the party has treated him over the years. Nana Obiri Boahen who admitted to working tirelessly for the party and ensuring Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo becomes president, said his neglection from the party frontline is shocking and "worrying". Speaking in an interview with NEAT FM's morning show Ghana Montie, Mr. Boahene vented his frustrations, citing his party's recently elected flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who also overlooked his efforts. If he [Dr. Bawumia] wants me in his team, that is okay, but if he doesn't, I will keep doing my best for the party. I have done my best for this party from 2016 till date, but if I am not being recognized, that's okay, he bitterly said. Adding that, from 2017 till date, I have not been appointed by this government on any board. I am human, and this kind of situation can be painful and worrying. At least they should appoint me to clean toilets. Listen to full interview below Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has slammed the leadership of the New Patriotic Party over the resignation of Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has voluntarily stepped down for a new leadership of the Caucus to be put in place. The Suame lawmaker and current Majority leaders resignation came after a crunch meeting between the leadership of the party and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The Majority held a press conference a couple of days ago to refute claims that the New Patriotic Party was about to change the leadership, and as a result, the Member of Parliament for Effutu and Deputy Majority Leader, Alex Afenyo-Markin, was going to take over from Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. But the majority, led by the First Deputy Speaker and Bekwai MP, Joseph Osei Owusu, asserted that the Majority Caucus has not made any changes in its leadership, the majority caucus has not contemplated making any changes to its leadership, and we will tell the world and Ghana to ignore any such publication. He added, We want to assure you that we have confidence in the leadership and the status quo shall remain, we are aware that upon the nomination of one of the Deputy Whips as a minister, a replacement will be made, that replacement will be made by the caucus when we have the opportunity and the time to consider the appropriate replacement, this is all the information we have to share. However, it is established that Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsus resignation is to ensure a smooth transition and therefore make the path clear for Alex Afenyo-Markins ascent to the Majority Leader position. Addressing the issue during Peace FMs Thursday edition of Kokrokoo show, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah remonstrated against what he described as ill treatment from the New Patriotic Party to Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. To him, the Majority Leader was bullied by his party to vacate his position. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was pushed out," he exclaimed, further arguing that this decision was taken by a force from within the party to get rid of him. Have a seat and find somewhere to sit, theres a difference," he proverbially remarked as he explained what actually happened to Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. That decision wasnt made at the party headquarters but rather inside the Jubilee House. What is wrong is wrong! We have to say it," he fumed. The governance lecturer at the Central University, expressing deep resentments over the partys move, pointed out to the party what they will be missing from the decision they have made. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is an asset not to NPP alone; he is a national asset. 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 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 The 2022 baby formula crisis highlighted the precarious balance between regulation, competition and safety, according to a recent study published last month. The study titled "Navigating the Challenges of Building a More Resilient Infant Formula Industry" was published in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association journal. The article takes a close look at the infant formula market and factors that contributed to the historic shortage of infant formula in 2022. Study co-author Trey Malone, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the article proposes a "strategic rethinking of policies to foster a more competitive and accessible market." The goal is ensuring infant nutrition security. "Our collaborative effort has been an enlightening journey, shedding light on the delicate balance between regulation, market competition, and ensuring the availability of essential nutrition for infants," said Malone, who conducts research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, research arm of the Division of Agriculture. "This article is a great place to start for those interested in the complexities of the infant formula market and policy implications." Unpacking the crisis Years of declining birth rates, increasing maternal breastfeeding, market concentration and regulations on importing infant formula were ingredients for the crisis, Malone says. The final whammy was a potential Cronobacter contamination that led to the voluntary production halt at one of the biggest infant formula production facilities in the United States. National out-of-stock rates for infant formula, which had already been at 15% due to supply chain issues from the pandemic, rose to 74% by the end of May 2022. The article noted that the crisis underscored the existence of high market concentration in the baby formula market. Market concentration has been a feature of baby formula production since the 1980s, with two firms, Abbott and Reckitt, accounting for at least 50% of the market. "A central issue in the infant formula industry is a lack of market competition and overly stringent regulations," Malone said. The regulatory framework for infant formula in the United States was shaped by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act and the Infant Formula Act of 1980 with amendments in 1986. The laws established standards for nutritional content and labeling, giving the Food and Drug Administration authority over infant formula manufacturing. However, the FDA has rules and regulations that have limited infant formula imports approved by "equally competent regulators in Europe" and other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, the article states. Comparing trends in imports among 171 countries, the economists showed the United States ranked 147th in the amount of infant formula imported between 2017 and 2019. Another key component in the infant formula market is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC. The program provides free infant formula to qualifying low-income households. States, or a coalition of states, award WIC infant formula contracts to the manufacturer that submits the highest rebate level. This is known as a competitive sole-source contract. The economists say the practice received considerable attention during the infant formula shortage of 2022 "due to concerns that it creates a barrier to competition." "Previous research has consistently shown that a change in a state's contract brand substantially shifts market shares," the article noted. The practice of "medical detailing" infant formula samples by companies that also make medical equipment was noted in the article as unique on the world stage. "Medical detailing," the article explains, is a practice in which manufacturers market directly to hospitals and medical professionals. "The U.S. Government Accountability Office GAO identified medical detailing as a possible barrier to entry in part because it may be prohibitively expensive for non-pharmaceutical or medical companies," the article noted. "The practice is fairly unique to the U.S. market as most countries regulate infant formula marketing in response to the 1980 World Health Organization's WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which includes infant formula. This code specifically discourages the promotion of breast milk substitutes within the health care sector." A series of tradeoffs Jackie Yenerall, lead author of the article and an assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, noted that their review of the infant formula supply shortage identified a series of tradeoffs. "Our article provides a discussion of the potential tradeoffs associated with making permanent changes to three policies and programs that currently influence the infant formula market: import tariffs, Food and Drug Administration regulation, and WIC," Yenerall said. Suspending tariffs or relaxing U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards could lead to an increased infant formula supply but may increase risk of contamination. Alternatively, increased consumer choice could lead to increased cost to the government from modifying WIC. Striking the proper balance between these tradeoffs could help strengthen the infant formula industry. "The heart of our work lies in analyzing policy responses and proposing ways to build a more resilient industry," Malone said. Other co-authors of the study include Andrew Muhammad, professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence, and Karen Lewis DeLong, associate professor of agricultural and resource economics, both with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. More information: Jackie Yenerall et al, Navigating the challenges of building a more resilient infant formula industry, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (2024). DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13416 Provided by University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: New research suggests the Anzali wetland, the "ecological jewel" of Iran, could dry up by 2060. Credit: Hamid Hajihusseini via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 As climate change progresses, the world's wetlands are disappearing, more quickly in some places than others. Iran has the second-fastest rate of wetland loss (after Greece), having lost 14% of its wetland area between 2010 and 2020. The Anzali wetland sits in northern Iran, where nine major rivers meet the Caspian Sea. The wetland, one of the world's largest freshwater lagoons, hosts at least 150 species of resident and migrant birds; 49 species of fish; and a multitude of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. It helps drive the local fishing and agriculture economies and draws more than 180,000 visitors each year. But because of a warmer and drier climate, lower water levels in the Caspian Sea, higher sediment loads, and increased water demands, the wetland shrank from 258 square kilometers (100 square miles) to just 52 square kilometers (20 square miles) between 1930 and 1989, losing about 80% of its water surface area in the process. Degradation continued after that point, and today, scientists are concerned the wetland could disappear altogether. M. Mahdian and colleagues modeled the wetland's potential futures with different climatic, hydrologic, and anthropogenic trajectories for the rest of the century. Over that period, the Caspian Sea is projected to drop 4 to 10 meters (14 to 33 feet). The work is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. The modeling found that even in the most conservative scenarios, the Anzali wetland will at least become only a seasonal water body by the end of the century, which would still negatively affect the region's ecology and economy. In more extreme scenarios, the wetland could entirely dry up by about 2060. The consequences of desiccation are dire, ranging from a decimated economy due to declines in fishing to complete ecological collapse and, eventually, the death of the wetland. To avoid that fate, watershed management and agriculture must draw less water, contribute less sediment, and add fewer pollutants than they have been in recent decades, the authors wrote. Provided by Eos This story is republished courtesy of Eos, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here. by John P. Ruehl During a three-day period in January 2024, Iranian-supported militant groups employed an anti-ship missile to attack an oil tanker in the Red Sea, launched rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon, and used a drone strike to kill three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. These incidents marked the extension of attacks by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East into the fourth straight month since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023. President Ebrahim Raisi [Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency ] Largely diplomatically isolated since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, unable to challenge U.S. military power, and lacking the nuclear brinkmanship card held by North Korea, Iran has evolved its strategy of utilizing militant groups for decades. Irans Quds Force has provided training, funding, and weapons assistance to various militant groups in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. This strategy has advanced Irans geopolitical interests and afforded it plausible deniability, but not all of its associates march in lockstep with Tehran. Part of Irans approach involves transforming militant forces into powerful political actors. Hamas, founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, gained prominence during the First Intifada against Israeli forces. Hamas grew closer to Iran during the early 1990s after the Oslo Accords initiated an ultimately failed peace process, with Iran providing financial and weapons support during the Second Intifada from 2000 to 2005. When Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas established administrative control over the territory after winning elections the following year, and has forbade elections since. Consolidating armed Palestinian opposition under Hamas allows Tehran to challenge Israel directly. But as a Persian and Shia Muslim country operating in a predominantly Arab and Sunni Muslim peninsula, Iran has offset its diplomatic and cultural isolation by using the Palestinian cause to criticize Arab governments growing closer to Israel in recent years. Supporting Hamas against perceived inaction from Arab leaders has been a constant feature of Iranian public messaging. Further normalization between Israel and Arab states is now paused due to the Israel-Hamas war. While Iran denied prior knowledge of the October 7 attack, it has expressed public support for Hamas since . Hamass leader Ismail Haniyeh has meanwhile stated that Iran provides $70 million annually to the group in addition to ongoing logistical and weapons assistance, largely through smuggling operations . However, relations between Iran and Hamas are largely limited to opposition to Israel and the West, and Hamas also receives financial support from Turkey, Qatar, and other sources. Instead, Hezbollah has emerged as Irans most important non-state ally. Established as a Shia militia in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War, Hezbollahs significant military forces have been utilized to target Israeli and Western forces in the Middle East. Since the recent conflicts onset, Hezbollah has launched hundreds of missiles into northern Israel, but the destruction caused by the 2006 Lebanon War against Israel has made it cautious of further escalation. Hezbollah is also strategically valuable in its role as an envoy to other militant groups. Hezbollah has historically trained Hamas militants in weapons systems and military exercises in Lebanon and Syria. Like Iran, Hezbollah also denied knowledge of the Hamas attack on October 7, but Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas officials have since met regularly to discuss strategy and cooperation. Beyond its military role, Hezbollah has evolved into Lebanons political powerbroker. Eight of its members were first elected to the Lebanese parliament in 1992, it joined the government for the first time in 2005, and in 2018 , a Hezbollah-led coalition gained the majority of Lebanese parliamentary seats. Despite losing its majority in 2022, its lingering influence over Lebanese politics indicates that Iran remains close to a state capture-like situation, where external forces and interest groups gain systematic control over a countrys decision-making process. Additionally, Hezbollah operates clinics, schools, banks, businesses, and other entities that have shielded it from Lebanons economic collapse and political stagnation since 2019, maintaining its state-within-a-state structure. In addition to weapons and logistical support, Iran is believed to provide $700 million to Hezbollah every year. And when sanctions diminish Iranian assistance, Hezbollah also secures funding from legal businesses to criminal enterprises, activities which span across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. Irans militant network in Syria meanwhile surged after the civil war broke out in 2011, threatening Irans long-term ally President Bashar al-Assad. Hezbollah and Iran recruited from Syrias Shia community to form groups like the Mahdi Army and al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi Brigade, as well as some Sunni groups like Liwa al-Quds, to aid the Syrian armed forces against ISIS and pro-Western forces. The Zainabiyoun Brigade and Fatemiyoun Brigade, largely consisting of Shia Muslims from Pakistan and Afghanistan, have been used by Iran in Syria. As the Syrian governments position has stabilized, Iran has attempted to integrate pro-Iranian militant groups into the Syrian armed forces and has used them to increase Irans political and economic influence in Syria as it competes with Russia . Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, they have launched numerous strikes against U.S. and allied forces within Syria. Pro-Iranian Iraqi Shia militant groups have similarly increased rocket attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq since October 7. Their growing strength goes back to the U.S.-led occupation after 2003 that allowed Iran to bring groups like the Badr Organization, funded and trained in Iran, back into Iraq. Iran also organized with other developing Special Groups of Shia militias to attack U.S. forces. After the departure of most U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011, Iranian-backed groups sought political integration into Iraqs fragile democracy. Alongside the Badr Organization, Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba in Iraq (both distinct from Lebanese Hezbollah), and Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) became some of Iraqs most prominent political and militant forces. In 2014, numerous pro-Iranian militant groups in Iraq were consolidated into the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to combat ISIS, playing a crucial role in liberating much of the country and elevating their status. In Iraqs 2018 parliamentary elections, the PMF became the second-biggest bloc and achieved one element of state capture by securing government funding for itself the following year. PMF members now directly or indirectly control crucial government institutions like the Interior Ministry and Supreme Court, and December 2023 elections saw the coalition win 101 out of 285 provincial council seats. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a leading group of PMF militias, has taken the initiative in attempting to push remaining U.S. forces out of the country. Their attacks since October 7 have intensified discussions within Washington over whether to do so, while Iran denied knowledge of the drone attack which killed three U.S. soldiers in January 2024. Washington has similarly been confronted by the Houthis since October 7. Emerging in Yemen in the early 1990s as a Shia Islamist group amid the countrys civil war, the Houthi movement initially focused on religious and cultural revivalism and combating corruption. Hezbollah performed early outreach to the Houthis before Iran increased its financial, logistical, and weapons support in the 2010s as Yemens civil strife escalated. Iranian support increased further after Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen to fight the Houthis in 2015 until Saudi forces pulled out of the country in defeat in 2023. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Houthis have fired several missiles into southern Israel. But their principal distraction has been attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in support of Hamas and the Palestinians. Acting in coordination with Iranian and Hezbollah officials, the Houthis have completely disrupted global trade and raised doubts over the U.S. ability to ensure open sea lanes. Doing so has enhanced their domestic support and expedited Yemens peace process, the conclusion of which would give the Houthis significant political control over the country. Iran has continued to offer support, providing data from an Iranian surveillance vessel to direct Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and ongoing weapons shipments to the group. While the more prominent pro-Iranian militias have been mentioned, smaller cells also exist. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad complements Iranian influence in Gaza. In Bahrain, the Al-Ashtar Brigades and Saraya al-Mukhtar have been responsible for numerous attacks on security and government targets in promotion of Shia interests, and Kuwait has witnessed several scandals involving the surfacing of pro-Iranian Shia militant cells over the last decade. But Irans cultivation of militant groups and political exploitation is not without risk. The ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict has put Hamass rule in Gaza to the test, potentially undoing decades of investment. And Iran has only varying degrees of control over all these groups. Hamass open support for Sunni militant groups in the Syrian civil war conflicted with Irans support for Syrias Shia-dominated government, resulting in a temporary withdrawal of Iranian funding. Despite resuming in 2017, the affair highlighted Hamass and Tehrans ideological divisions. Iran is also alleged to have advised against the Houthis seizure of Yemens capital in 2014 and Iraqi militia leader Qais al-Khazalis attack on U.S. forces in 2020. Control over Iraqi militants has similarly weakened since 2020, and even Hezbollah military officials have reportedly refused orders from Iran in Syria. Yet voicing public dissatisfaction with these groups would undermine Irans portrayal of leadership and unity against Israel and Western powers, limiting its ability to rebuke them or reign them in. Iraqs Iran-aligned groups meanwhile have fierce internal rivalries that inhibit greater coordination, and Irans interference in Iraq has resulted in significant consequences. In the 1980s, Irans support for Iraqs Kurds saw Iraq support Kurdish separatists in Iran, which continue to attack Iran from Iraq to this day. The January 2024 exchange of fire between Iranian forces and Balochistan militants in Pakistan, followed by retaliatory strikes by Pakistan against groups in Iran, revealed the challenges Iran faces in managing militant groups both internally and with its neighbors. Iran, however, will likely persist with its strategy, even if it obtains nuclear weapons. Its proxy groups amassed military and political power have helped Iran challenge its enemies and inch close to state capture (or state failure) in several countries. As the U.S. continues its gradual pullout from the Middle East, there is no telling how these groups may continue to evolvewith or without Iranian assistance. This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain When it comes to life on Earth, the importance of the Atlantic Ocean may be bigger even than its size. The world's second-largest body of water after the Pacific, the Atlantic is unique because of its large-scale ocean circulation. This movement of water and heat from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere has no equivalent in other oceans. For Noel Keenlyside, a professor of tropical meteorology at the University of Bergen in Norway, this feature of the Atlantic makes it an invaluable gauge of environmental trends in the world and the effects of global warming. The ocean's circulation generates types of climate variability that influence weather conditions in Europe and connects marine ecosystems, including in two regions off Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Brazil where nutrients brought to the surface sustain fisheries important to the local economies. "The impacts of climate change are felt more strongly in the Tropical and South Atlantic," said Keenlyside. In September 2023, countries around the globe signed a landmark agreement to protect the world's oceans, which cover about 70% of the Earth. The EU hailed the United Nations pact, known as the High Seas Treaty, which had been in the works for more than a decade and Europe played a leading role in forging. The treaty aims to protect 30% of oceans by 2030. The EU has pledged to protect at least 30% of its sea areas over the period through a special "mission" called "Restore our Ocean and Waters," the core of which involves research initiatives. Keenlyside led a major international project on ocean research that wrapped up in November 2023 after more than four years. Called TRIATLAS, the project focused on the southern and tropical Atlantic and brought together dozens of organizations from 15 countries that ranged from Angola and Brazil to Norway and Spain. This article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. 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: Pseudomys pilbarensis. Credit: Ian Bool Australia can lay claim to two new species of native rodent thanks to a study from The Australian National University (ANU). The aptly named delicate mouse was previously thought to be a single species spanning a massive stretch of the country from the Pilbara in Western Australia, across parts of the Northern Territory, and through Queensland down to the New South Wales border. But researchers at ANU and CSIRO thought there might be more to the story. Lead author Dr. Emily Roycroft, from ANU, said that we now know there are actually three distinct species. "Thanks to new genetic technology, we've confirmed the delicate mouse is three species, not one. Identifying undescribed species and giving them official names goes a long way to making sure they're properly looked after." The study has been published in Molecular Ecology. Dr. Roycroft said that while it might be difficult for the untrained eye to tell the species apart, the discovery is significant for the future of the tiny mouse. "The two new species haven't had any conservation or research attention, because we didn't know they were there," Dr. Roycroft said. "We don't know, for example, if population declines have gone undetected as a result of all three species being assessed as a single unit. The delicate mouse has not been a conservation prioritybut that's because it was thought to have a distribution three times larger than it actually does. This will allow us to reassess." Dr. Roycroft said the delicate mouse differs from the mice you might come across in your home or backyard in a few important ways. "House mice, black rats and brown rats are invasive species brought to Australia since European colonization. They're very different to native rodents, both evolutionary and ecologically. They compete with our native species for resources," she said. "Delicate mice are part of a group of native rodents that have been evolving in Australia for the last five million years. They're a crucial part of Australia's natural environment and ecosystems. Delicate mice are our smallest Australian rodentthey can weigh as little as six grams, so they're really tiny." The study also found that delicate mice are excellent adaptors to their environment, whether that be arid desert or forest. The three species will now go by common names that point to their location: the western delicate mouse or Pilbara delicate mouse, eastern delicate mouse and northern delicate mouse. More information: Rapid speciation in Australian delicate mice, Molecular Ecology (2024). dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.17301 Journal information: Molecular Ecology 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 The teaching of science has long generated controversy in the United Statesfrom evolution in the early 20th century to climate change today. Debates have also often emerged around how textbooks teach concepts related to social groups, and in particular whether they gloss over complex realities in ways that may mislead students in providing scientific instruction. In an effort to investigate this matter, a team of researchers examined how biology textbooks in the U.S. instruct students about sex and gender. Its findings showed that these concepts are frequently described in ways that are at odds with scientific research. The study, which appears in the journal Science, raises questions about the accuracy of high school biology curricula and offers a roadmap for their reform in ways that reflect scientific knowledge. "The findings serve as a call to actionit is important that the high school biology curriculum is revised so that it reflects accurate scientific knowledge rather than misguided assumptions that may foster gender stereotyping and discrimination," says Andrei Cimpian, a professor in the Department in the Psychology at New York University and one of the paper's senior authors. The study, which also included researchers from BSCS Science Learning and the University of Texas at Austin, examined whether textbooks communicated "essentialism" about sex and gender. Essentialism is a widespread, but scientifically inaccurate, view rooted in the idea that there is a genetic "essence" that makes women and men the way they are. Because of their assumed distinct genetic essences, women and men are also assumed to be discrete, non-overlapping groupsnot just in terms of reproductive anatomy, but also in terms of their psychology and behavior. The research published in Science set out to characterize how textbooks describe sex, which is a complex set of biological features related to reproduction, and gender, which is a socially constructed interpretation of the biological phenomenon of sex. The scientific consensus is that sex and gender are distinct phenomena and that both are inconsistent with the essentialist view that is common among the general public. Its analysis of six textbookspublished between 2009 and 2016 and used in an estimated two-thirds of high school introductory biology classes across the U.S.found that none of the textbooks differentiated between the concepts of sex and gender, despite the clear distinction made between them in the scientific literature. In addition, consistent with the idea that textbooks communicate essentialist views to students, more paragraphs described people of the same sex or gender as uniform rather than different from each otherwhereas in reality differences are the norm. Women differ from each other substantiallyin physical traits, personality, and preferencesas do men. The studied textbooks also suggested that variation in one or more genes inherited through the sex chromosomes was the most plausible explanation for variation within and between gender or sex groupsoverlooking the key role of environmental factors and instead reinforcing the mistaken notion of a genetic "essence." "Overall, the ways in which textbooks described sex and gender are more consistent with essentialism than with the scientific consensus on these topics," explains Catherine Riegle-Crumb, a professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin and one of the paper's senior authors. Prior research has found that essentialist assumptions have a range of negative consequences, including gender stereotyping, the dehumanization of women, and support for gender discriminatory practices. The embedding of these assumptions in biology textbooks, then, raises concerns that students are learning about phenomena in ways not backed by science. "Our study suggests that the material that adolescents are exposed to in school textbooks might itselfeven if unintentionallybe a source of essentialist ideas," says Brian Donovan, a senior research scientist at BSCS Science Learning, a nonprofit organization in Colorado Springs, and one of the paper's senior authors. "It's not unusual for textbooks to discuss ideas that were considered accurate earlier in the history of science and are now known to be incomplete. But essentialism is not a scientific modelit's an overly simplistic lay view that is at odds with the scientific consensus on sex and gender," adds Donovan. "It should have no place in the biology curriculum." More information: Brian M. Donovan et al, Sex and gender essentialism in textbooks, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi1188. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi1188 Journal information: Science 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: Bai Yun, the mother of newly named panda cub, Mei Sheng, gets a mouthful of bamboo during the cub's first day on display at the San Diego Zoo on Dec. 17, 2003. China is working on sending a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears in the U.S. were returned to the Asian country in recent years amid rocky relations between the two nations. San Diego sent back its last pandas to China in 2019. Credit: AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi,File China for the first time in more than two decades is sending pandas to the United States to the delight of the San Diego Zoo, which is preparing to receive a pair that could include a female descendent of Bai Yun and Gao Gao, two of the zoo's former residents that were among the most reproductively successful panda mates in captivity. The China Wildlife Conservation Association said Thursday it also signed agreements with the zoo in the Spanish capital of Madrid, and is in talks with zoos in Washington, D.C., and Vienna, quelling fears that Beijing was ending its historic panda diplomacy with Western nations due to diplomatic tensions. "We look forward to further expanding the research outcomes on the conservation of endangered species such as giant pandas, and promoting mutual understanding and friendship among peoples through the new round of international cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing. The partnership will include research on disease prevention and habitat protection and contribute to China's national panda park construction, the organization said. The black-and-white bears have long been the symbol of the U.S.-China friendship since Beijing gifted a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972, ahead of the normalization of bilateral relations. China later loaned pandas to zoos to help breed cubs and boost the population. But only four giant pandas remain in the United States, all at the zoo in Atlanta, after China did not renew loan agreements at three other zoos in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, in recent years. Cindy Rose has been coming to the San Diego Zoo for 40 years and would go see Bai Yun before she and the bear's son, her sixth cub, were sent back to China in 2019. They had been the zoo's last pandas. "I'm so excited!" she said. "We love the pandas, and it's so great one will be related to the one that was here." -Bai Yun, one of two giant pandas on exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, looks towards the crowd on Nov. 1, 1996, in San Diego. China is working on sending a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears in the U.S. were returned to the Asian country in recent years amid rocky relations between the two nations. San Diego sent back its last pandas to China in 2019. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Poroy,File She and her husband, Randy Rose, brought their grandson to the zoo on Thursday. "It makes me feel good that this is one way to reduce tensions," Randy Rose said. "We have a lot of differences but we all love pandas. They're fun to watch, munching on bamboo and climbing trees." San Diego Zoo officials told The Associated Press that if all permits and other requirements are approved, the two bears, a male and a female, are expected to arrive by the end of summer. "We're very excited and hopeful," said Megan Owen of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and vice president of Wildlife Conservation Science. "They've expressed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to re-initiate panda cooperation starting with the San Diego Zoo." In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping raised hopes his country would start sending pandas to the U.S. again after he and President Joe Biden convened in Northern California for their first face-to-face meeting in a year and pledged to try to reduce tensions. Speaking at a dinner with business leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, Xi called the bears "envoys of friendship" and said he learned the San Diego Zoo and people in California "very much look forward to welcoming pandas back." Bai Yun, who was born in captivity in China, lived at the zoo for more than 20 years and gave birth to six cubs there. Her mate Gao Gao was born in the wild in China and lived at the San Diego Zoo from 2003 to 2018 before being sent back. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and in captivity. Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million a year for two pandas, with the money earmarked for China's conservation efforts, according to a 2022 report by America's Congressional Research Service. The pandas return to China when they reach old age and any cubs born are sent to China around age 3 or 4. Hua Mei, the baby panda at the San Diego Zoo, peeks over a branch while enjoying a bamboo breakfast at the Zoo, on Aug. 15, 2000, in San Diego. China is working on sending a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears in the U.S. were returned to the Asian country in recent years amid rocky relations between the two nations. San Diego sent its last pandas back to China in 2019. Credit: AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, file The life expectancy of a giant panda in the wild is about 15 years, but in captivity they have lived to be as old as 38. The U.S., Spain and Austria were among the first countries to work with China on panda conservation, and 28 pandas have been born in those countries, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. Demands for the return of giant pandas, known as China's "national treasure," had grown among the Chinese public as unproven allegations that U.S. zoos mistreated the pandas flooded Chinese social media. The San Diego Zoo continued to work with their Chinese counterparts even after it no longer had any pandas. Owen of the San Diego Zoo said China is particularly interested in exchanging information on the zoo's successful breeding of pandas in captivity. Giant pandas are difficult to breed in part because the female's reproductive window is extremely narrow, lasting only 48 to 72 hours each year. Bai Yun's first cub, Hua Mei, was the first panda born through artificial insemination to survive into adulthood outside of China, and would go on to produce 12 cubs on her own after she was sent to China. Bai Yun, meanwhile, remained at the zoo, where she gave birth to two more females and three males. With cameras in her den, researchers monitored her, contributing to the understanding of maternal care behavior, Owen said. "We have a lot of institutional knowledge and capacity from our last cooperative agreement, which we will be able to parlay into this next chapter, as well as training the next generation of panda conservationists," she said. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Joe Gaydos remembers the beautiful minke whale that washed up on the shore of a San Juan Island in 2022. Illuminated by a pink and orange sunrise, its injuries were consistent with a fatal strike. "It was very clear that that whale was T-boned by the bow of a ship," said Gaydos, science director for the SeaDoc Society, a science and education nonprofit based on Orcas Island. "It just broke my heart." On Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard celebrated the launch of a new four-year pilot program, dubbed the "Cetacean Desk," that intends to keep whales and vessels safely apart, and reduce underwater racket. It acts like air traffic control, but for whales, in the busy waterways of the Salish Sea, which has seen a resurgence of marine mammals. Modeled after Canada's Marine Mammal Desk, the Coast Guard hub is intended to give mariners near real-time data about the location of whales through the existing WhaleReport Alert System. A flat-screen mounted on a wall of the Coast Guard's Seattle vessel communications center Wednesday was speckled with blue dots along the channels and straights of the Salish Sea. These dots represent whale sighting reports over the past 24 hours, and are entered by Coast Guard staff on the desk, or automatically populate with reports from two appsWhaleReport or Whale Alertor through the Orca Network web form, sightings@orcanetwork.org, or 866-672-2638. Anyonewhale watchers from the shore or recreational boaterscan use these tools to report sightings. Mariners can access the map, and receive notification from the Coast Guard to help them know when to slow down or change course. Officials hope the program will reduce ship strikes and underwater noise, helping protect at-risk and endangered whale species from the disruption in their hunting, communication and potentially deadly strikes. And the data collected will be available for researchers who track whales' migration patterns. Gaydos said he's come across both the endangered salmon-eating killer whales and mammal-eating killer whales with propeller strikes on their bodies. The ships' underwater noise masks the same sonic sweet spot orcas use to hunt and communicate. Since the program soft launched Dec. 23, the Cetacean Desk has logged 11 whale sightings from mariners, a Coast Guard official wrote in an email. While giving a tour of the desk, Commander Margaret Woodbridge, who is managing the pilot program, said reports rose 585% when the desk launched and now that the reporting system receives sightings from the apps. Officials expect the number to increase with Wednesday's official opening ceremony and with public outreach. Officials say the pilot program is the first of its kind in the nation. The Cetacean Desk, complete with a small blue placard identifying the desk and five monitors, is embedded within the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Coast Guard personnel, some donning headsets, blue jumpsuits and black boots, sit or stand at other similar desks in the same room. They touch base with mariners entering the Salish Sea and can share reports of whale sightings with the Cetacean Desk. The number 206-217-6722 (ORCA) rings an old school landline sitting at the Cetacean Desk. The desk takes reports by phone or on the designated traffic channels (5A, 14). Mariners need to provide the vessel name, whale species sighted, number of animals, and direction of travel and any behavior observed. The Coast Guard plans to share whale reports with the U.S. Navy, and eventually begin tracking whales' movement using hydrophones and through infrared, Woodbridge said. Currently much of the reporting depends on visibility and daylight. The map sharing whale sighting reports is only available to "vetted" users, to prevent recreational and whale watching boats from racing over and harassing whales. The Coast Guard is saving the sighting data indefinitely for use in research. The pilot program was authorized, developed and implemented through the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, in a partnership between federal and international agencies, the Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, and Lummi tribal nations, local and state entities and scientists. "What's important in all of this is beginning to recognize how diverse the Pacific Northwest is and how we depend on each other," said G. Chad Bowechop, vice chairman for the Makah Tribe. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell authored the portion of the legislation that created the program. "We're standing just a few hundred yards from Puget Sound, an economic and ecological engine for our region," Cantwell said. " ... In this approach we can keep our economy moving and we can keep whales moving too." The Coast Guard monitored an estimated 298,000 vessel transits through inland waters between Washington and B.C. in 2023. Researchers believe many ship strikes go unreported, the whales sinking to the bottom along with the story of what killed them. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials say the strikes are rare. At least two humpbacks have been inadvertently struck and killed by Washington State Ferries. The revival of marine mammals in the Salish Sea has excluded the endangered southern resident orcas. While ship traffic can negatively impact many at-risk whale species in the Puget Sound region, with underwater noise disrupting hunting and communication and vessel strikes causing injury or death, the southern residents are particularly vulnerable. Researchers have found two-thirds of southern resident pregnancies end in loss because of a lack of food. More recently, studies have found the southern resident females have less hunting success than their neighbors up north and that the shrinking, increasingly inbred population of southern residents could be plummeting toward extinction. "It's heartening to see the progress that we've made in addressing these threats in the last few years," said Laura Blackmore, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. "But we know that we still have work to do to help the southern residents thrive." Blackmore said the Puget Sound Partnership requested $200,000 for the first fiscal year of the program. Cantwell said she hopes the program is reauthorized and contributes valuable data to better understand how to make the Salish Sea quieter and safer for whales. 2024 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Actor Lupita Nyong'o describes colourism as "the daughter of racism" in "a world that rewards lighter skin over darker skin". This form of prejudice sees people more penalized the darker their skin is and the further their features are from those associated with whiteness. In 2021, we developed the Everyday Colourism Scale to capture individual people's perceptions of interpersonal colourism. This tool has allowed us to start to examine associations between experiences of colourism and demographic characteristics and various health and well-being outcomes. We found that experiencing colourism is associated with negative body image. Our skin shade study has found that colourism affects both men and women, and can shape how people feel about themselves and how they choose romantic partners. It also shows how often this starts at home. We have found that families in the UK play a significant role in introducing children to colourist views and that these, in turn, can shape and undermine family relations. How colourism can play out in the home For our study, we conducted interviews in 2019 with 33 people of color (24 women and nine men) who were black, South Asian, East Asian or of mixed ethnic backgrounds (predominantly black and white). We found that women and men's experiences of familial colourism differed. The women we spoke to were targeted and affected more than men. In a patriarchal society, women are subjected to global appearance ideals that posit light skin as beautiful and feminine. Our previous work on black men's experiences of colourism found that light skin is seen as desirable in womenit is often a status symbol. Our new findings show that familial awareness of the social capital inherent in light skin, particularly for women, affects how families treat their children. Marie, a 50-year-old Chinese woman who participated in our research, described conflicting feelings about going out in the sun due to colourism from women in her family. She said, "I don't like going outside because I'm going to get darker and end up looking like a peasant. My parents were peasants. When they were growing up, they used to work in the countryside. I remember as a kid, mum saying: 'No, don't go outside because you'll get dark, and you'll end up looking like you work in the paddy fields.'" Marie's story suggests that family colourism may relate to feelings of shame. From her account, her mother seems to associate dark skin with low socioeconomic status and wants to distance her family from it. Other participants described how dark skin was seen as ugly in ways that suggested that it might also be a source of shame. Portia, a 51-year-old black woman, said that her father told her, at 13, that she was "black and ugly" like her grandmotherhis own mother. "It's something that is etched on my brain," she said. To her mind, it showed "how deep this self-hatred is". Participants also discussed the impact of family colourism on romantic relationships. Chloe, a 33-year-old woman with a black mother and white father, said skin shade influenced her choice of partner. "This is really sad," she said. "My mum doesn't like us to date black people She only wants us to date white people." Chloe later said that her mother did not mind a former Chinese boyfriend, but was opposed to her dating south Asian people. Her mother was also uncomfortable with her having a partner from a mixed ethnic background. 'Oppositional consciousness' Some of our participants described the impact of familial colourism on their sense of self-worth, body image and well-being. Divya, a 43-year-old Indian woman, suggested that her mother's colourist views negatively affected her when she was growing up: "One of the biggest issues I had was with my mum always, always going on about how it's better to be fairer, that you'll only find a boy if you're fairer and you're only beautiful if you're fair. And I think that really, really got to me." These findings chime with what scholars have found in the US and Brazil. Families can actively make children aware of colourism and inflict it too. These same studies, though, have also highlighted how some families speak about colourism as a way of opposing and resisting it. US sociologists JeffriAnne Wilder and Colleen Cain talk about "oppositional consciousness" to describe the process by which families can challenge colourist views and promote acceptance, celebrating all skin tones. Our participants, too, described how their families helped them to appreciate people of all skin shades. Some had parents who encouraged them to take pride in their skin shades. Others described trying to raise awareness about colourism among their own children. Portia told us that she talks with her son about colourism and they do not let it slide when they encounter it. Doing so, to her mind, is about healing, "because otherwise you end up carrying this stuff around, thinking it's your fault. It is not." It is also about ensuring her son grows up with confidence: "I don't want him carrying this baggage around. I want him to go into the world as confident as he can be as a young black man." Colourism has a profound impact on people's well-being. Experiencing this at the hands of the people closest to you is detrimental. This is particularly the case since racialised minority families are often seen to be havens from the racialised prejudice and discrimination experienced outside the home. Figuring out how to challenge it, then, is paramount. By educating the next generation, families have a key role to play in disrupting the transmission of this prejudice. For one participant, Malakai, it is about teaching love and positive parenting: "You, as a people, need to educate your children and tell them that they are beautiful. Teach the younger ones, educate them. And teach love among our people." 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A chemical compound essential to all living things has been synthesized in a lab in conditions that could have occurred on early Earth, suggesting it played a role at the outset of life, finds a new study led by University College London researchers. The compound, pantetheine, is the active fragment of Coenzyme A. It is important for metabolismthe chemical processes that maintain life. Earlier studies failed to synthesize pantetheine effectively, leading to suggestions that it was absent at life's origin. In the new study, published in the journal Science, the research team created the compound in water at room temperature using molecules formed from hydrogen cyanide, which was likely abundant on early Earth. Once formed, the researchers said, it is simple to envisage how pantetheine might have aided chemical reactions that led from simple forerunners of protein and RNA molecules to the first living organismsa moment that is thought to have occurred 4 billion years ago. The study challenges the view among some researchers in the field that water is too destructive for life to originate in it and that life more likely originated in pools that periodically dried out. Driving the reactions that produced pantetheine were energy-rich molecules called aminonitriles, which are closely chemically related to amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and of life. Members of the same team, led by Professor Matthew Powner (UCL Chemistry), have already used similar chemistry powered by aminonitriles to demonstrate how other key biological ingredients could be created at the origin of life, including peptides (protein-creating chains of amino acids) and nucleotides (the building blocks of RNA and DNA). Professor Powner, senior author of the paper, said, "This new study is further evidence that the basic structures of biology, the primary molecules that biology is built from, are predisposed to form through nitrile chemistry. "The ease with which different classes of biological molecules can be made using nitriles has convinced me that, rather than life being preceded by one molecule such as RNA, and there being an 'RNA world' before life began, the basic molecules of biology emerged alongside each othera network of RNAs, proteins, enzymes and cofactors leading to the first living organisms. "Our future work will look at how these molecules came together, how pantetheine chemistry talks to RNA, peptide and lipid chemistry for instance, to deliver chemistry that the individual classes of molecule could not deliver in isolation." A notable earlier attempt to synthesize pantetheine was made in 1995 by the late American chemist Stanley Miller, who had started the field of origin of life experiments three decades earlier, creating amino acids from four simple chemicals in glass tubes. However, in the later 1995 experiment, the yields of pantetheine were very low and required extremely high concentrations of chemicals that had been dried out and sealed in an airtight tube before they were heated to 100 Centigrade. Dr. Jasper Fairchild (UCL Chemistry), a lead author of the study, who conducted the work as part of his Ph.D., said, "The major difference between Miller's study and ours is whereas Miller tried to use acid chemistry, we used nitriles. It's the nitriles that bring the energy and the selectivity. Our reactions just run in water and produce high yields of pantetheine with relatively low concentrations of chemicals needed." Professor Powner added, "It had been assumed you should make these molecules from acids, because using acids appears to be biological, and that is what we are taught at school and at university. We are taught peptides are made from amino acids. "Our work suggests this conventional view has ignored an essential ingredient, the energy required to forge new bonds. The reactions look a little different with nitriles but the end productsthe basic units of biologyare indistinguishable whether formed through acid or nitrile chemistry." While the paper focuses solely on the chemistry, the research team said that the reactions they demonstrated could plausibly have taken place in pools or lakes of water on the early Earth (but not likely in the oceans as the concentrations of the chemicals would likely be too diluted). More information: Jasper Fairchild et al, Prebiotically plausible chemoselective pantetheine synthesis in water, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adk4432. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk4432 Journal information: Science 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: Diagrammatic explanation of the evolution of the fireball in the 5 seconds after Hiroshima nuclear bomb detonation. Credit: Asset et al, 2024 The atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, by the United States in August 1945 was not only devastating at the time, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, but it has had long-standing impacts to the present day, particularly the elevated incidence of cancer from radiation. Continued research of Hiroshima Bay has uncovered a new kind of debris from the fallout, known as Hiroshima glasses. These formed from vaporized materials of the bomb and the surrounding landscape and infrastructure being targeted. New research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has analyzed the chemical and isotopic compositions of these glasses to ascertain their formation process during the nuclear event. Nathan Asset, of Universite Paris Cite, France, and colleagues determined that rapid condensation (1.55.5 seconds) within the nuclear fireball (temperature 3,2001,000 Kelvin) was the primary process. This is akin to the process by which the first solids (condensates) in the solar system, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) of primitive meteorites (chondrites), would have formed from the vaporization of interstellar dust and nebula gas. To investigate this further, the research team identified four types of glasses within the 94 specimens of fallout debris: melilitic (low silica, high calcium oxide and rich in magnesium oxide), anorthositic (high aluminum oxide contents and iron-bearing), sodalime (rich in silica and sodium oxide) and silica (~99% silica). The origin of the silica glass could not be separated from sand grains on the beach, but the sodalime glasses are similar to compositions of industrial origin. Examples of Hiroshima glasses under optical (C, E, F) and scanning electron microscope (A, B, D). Credit: Asset et al, 2024 Reconstructing the formation of these glasses, the researchers state the plasma fireball exploded 580 m above the city with a radius of 260 m, a peak temperature of 107 K and a pressure of 106 atmospheres. A thermal wave touched the ground at temperatures of 6,287C. Within a mere 0.35 seconds, the pressure dropped to match that of the surrounding atmosphere and within 10 seconds the temperature decreased to 1,5002,000 K and vaporization ceased. In the immediate 0.52 seconds after the explosion, city materials (concrete, iron and aluminum alloys, industrial glass and soil) were vaporized and mixed with sand, Ota River water and the atmosphere to produce the various glasses. There is some difficulty in estimating the actual quantities of each component that was vaporized, as not all buildings were destroyed; for example, some built to withstand earthquakes did survive the blast and therefore some concrete, iron and bricks were not vaporized. Additionally, different materials require different amounts of energy to vaporize and therefore form condensation nuclei at different stages of the glass-forming process (e.g., river water inclusion would be sustained for longer as it requires less energy than concrete). The isotopic composition of silica within the Hiroshima glasses was -23.0 1.8 to -1.5 1.1 , while that of oxygen via mass-independent fractionation was -3.1 0.6 , all of which fall within the realms of the composition of CAIs. The research team used the results of the fractionation to determine melilitic glasses were the first to form, then anorthositic, followed by sodalime and finally almost pure silica. While the composition of the environment of Hiroshima glass formation differs from that of CAIs (temperature 3,500 K for Hiroshima and 2,000 K for the solar accretion disk, 1 bar pressure for Hiroshima and 10-310-6 bar for solar disk, oxygen-rich environment for Hiroshima and hydrogen-rich for solar disk) and the time over which the events occurred (<20 minutes for Hiroshima versus many years for the solar disk), understanding the processes occurring during the gas-solid transition helps us uncover more about the origins of our solar system and all that has developed since. More information: Nathan Asset et al, Condensation of fallout glasses in the Hiroshima nuclear fireball resulting in oxygen mass-independent fractionation, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118473 Journal information: Earth and Planetary Science Letters 2024 Science X Network 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: Our red wolf study took place in eastern North Carolina, primarily within the Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges. The inset shows our 25 camera locations. Credit: Animal Conservation (2023). DOI: 10.1111/acv.12919 As Ron Sutherland guides his Subaru along the roads of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, he keeps his eyes peeled. A pair of binoculars sits in the cupholder, ready just in case he notices a red smudge dotted against the browns and tans of the refuge's still-working farm fields, everything shaded by a golden sunrise. "It's 44 degrees. I think a wolf could just be sitting out in the middle of a field chilling," said Sutherland, the chief scientist of the nonprofit Wildlands Network. Days before, Sutherland and researchers from N.C. State University had published a paper observing a correlation between the red wolf's decline, which accelerated around 2015, and increases in many of the animals the wolves hunt. In the peer-reviewed journal Animal Conservation, the scientists said that correlation suggests that even a small population of red wolves, like the one that persists at Alligator River and nearby Pocosin Lakes in northeastern North Carolina, can have a noticeable impact on the broader ecosystem. "You kind of expect that they're having an impact on the other species in the area but I think our research really showed that, and it really showed that not having that apex predator in the ecosystem can have a lot of ecological consequences," said Alexa Murray, an author of the study who was a master's student at N.C. State University at the time. What the cameras found Using 25 camera traps, the researchers captured and counted images of various species from 2015 to 2021. From spring 2018 to spring 2021, as the wolf population declined, researchers found: Populations of deer, which red wolves hunt, remained relatively consistent, increasingly slightly. Raccoon sightings increased, from about five per 100 days to nearly 20. Possum sightings grew significantly, going from about five to more than 30. Sightings of potential competition for food like bobcats and black bears increased, slightly for bobcats and significantly for bears. The study is careful to note that correlation does not equal causation and expresses "regret" that data does not exist from 1987 to 2012, when the red wolf population was expanding. Roland Kays, the director of the N.C. Museum of Natural Science's Biodiversity Lab and an author on the study, was surprised by the results, notably the increase in both prey and competition species. "That they all went up and that it all happened around the same time period was really striking," Kays said. "It really suggests that this isn't just some random factor that we happened to pick up on." Concerns about reintroducing wolves The study had its roots in 2013 and 2014, when there were still about 100 red wolves in northeastern North Carolina. Landowners were raising concerns that ranged from impacts on livestock to worries that the wolves would wipe out the local deer population. Sutherland, from the Wildlands Network, thought it was important to capture whether wolves actually were degrading the surrounding ecosystem, particularly the white-tailed deer that are prized by hunters. "We thought that was a testable hypothesis: Where the wolves were, would there still be other wildlife there or would the wolves have sort of cleaned everything out?" Sutherland said, adding that nobody had really tried to capture the ecological impacts of the red wolf as other researchers had done with the gray wolf in Yellowstone. What Sutherland and the other researchers didn't know was that the period they were capturing would coincide with a collapse of the region's red wolf population, with wolves dying from illegal gunshot injuries, vehicle strikes and, sometimes, natural causes. Today, there are an estimated 20 to 22 red wolves in the wild, around the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge with a handful in the nearby Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. A coalition of animal advocacy groups reached a settlement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last year in which the FWS agreed to release red wolves bred into captivity into the wild. That move is intended to bolster a wild population that had dwindled to as few as seven wolves in 2020. Some skepticism of the study That small population is part of why Mike Phillips, the director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, expressed skepticism about the conclusiveness of the study's finding. From 1986 to 1994, Phillips worked as the Red Wolf Recovery Program's field coordinator in northeastern North Carolina before moving on to work on the gray wolf recovery in Yellowstone National Park. The impacts of predators, Phillips said, are clearest when the predator is abundant and persistent. That's difficult in the case of the red wolf, which has been particularly sparse since its population peaked in 2012 and is constantly under threat. "You've got a big study area in Eastern North Carolina, and you've got about 20 red wolves scattered here and there. I just don't know that these correlations mean much," Phillips, who was not involved in the study, said in an interview. Doing the same work for about a decade in a period before wolves are reintroduced and then when the red wolf population was larger and more stable could help yield clearer results, Phillips said, pointing to similar research that has been conducted with gray wolf populations in Yellowstone. One clear advantage both Phillips and Sutherland noted about working in Yellowstone is that it is one of the most studied areas of wildlife in the world, with the park created in 1872. By comparison, Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes became refuges in the 1980s and have been studied much, much less. "Correlations are important. They can stir our imagination. I am absolutely convinced that predation is an important ecological force and if red wolves were common enough for a long enough period of time, I think they would have ecological effects that would be understandable," Phillips said. Capturing what would happen to surrounding wildlife as the wolf population grows would be extremely valuable, agreed Murray, the paper's lead author. "Hopefully they can keep the cameras out and then the population will start to increase again and we can have that data and compare it to what was going on when the population crashed," said Murray, who now works at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Findings about deer and quail Sutherland is hopeful that the study's findings can be used to dispel some concerns about the red wolf's return to the wild. He pointed to deer, which were detected more than 12,000 times on the team's cameras. Every camera detected deer at some point, including the ones where wolf sightings were the most common. That makes sense, Sutherland said, because wolves depend on the deer to live and are more likely to kill what they can eat rather than wiping out the entire population. "Rather than being cause for alarm, by returning this native carnivore species, the red wolf perhaps helps bring the ecosystem back into balance, but we certainly haven't caused any huge disruption to the system," Sutherland said. He is also interested in continuing to research the wolf's impact, starting with a bird whose songs he and researchers often heard on early summer mornings when they were checking their cameras. Bobwhite quail have seen significant declines over much of the country, including in most of North Carolina. But they are thriving in Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes, leading Sutherland to question whether the red wolf's presence and tendency to prey on raccoons could be protecting the bird. The quails nest on the ground, often in farm fields like the long rectangles that are preserved at Alligator River. Raccoons and possums often eat the eggs that are tucked into those nests. Sutherland is exploring whether there's a link between the seemingly strong quail population in Alligator River and red wolves hunting the quail's predators. "There's no question that the habitat is pretty ideal for quail, but that hasn't always worked in other places where they've done habitat management but don't have this resident population of large wolves that are out there patrolling 24/7 and making life difficult for raccoons," Sutherland said. For his part, Phillips said he is "grateful" that the red wolf's listing under the Endangered Species Act isn't tied to the species' impact on the ecosystem around it. Instead, Phillips said, "It demands that red wolves be recovered at some basic fundamental level because they have a right to exist because of their own value, independent of what their ecological value might be." 2024 The Charlotte Observer. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The debris field from an October 2015 landslide extends over the toe of the Tyndall Glacier and in to the Taan Fjord in spring 2016. Credit: Chris Larson University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers have devised a way to remotely detect large landslides within minutes of occurrence and to quickly determine whether they are close to open water and present a tsunami hazard. They write in a new paper that their method of determining a landslide's location, volume and potential impact is rapid enough to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's goal of issuing a tsunami warning within five minutes of a landslide. "The warming climate is causing glaciers to retreat, leaving behind valleys whose mountainsides and hillsides have lost their support," said research seismologist Ezgi Karasozen of the UAF Geophysical Institute. "This is important, especially in regions like southern coastal Alaska, because huge masses of land can and do spill into water and cause tsunamis." Karasozen and Michael West, director of the Alaska Earthquake Center at the Geophysical Institute, detailed their method in a paper published Feb. 9 in the journal The Seismic Record. West also serves as Alaska state seismologist. Their paper calls attention to the danger by pointing to a 2015 landslide that sent 100 million cubic yards of rock into Alaska's Taan Fjord, located off Icy Bay, 65 miles northwest of Yakutat. The slide created a tsunami that stripped vegetation as high as 620 feet above waterline. A prototype system by Karasozen and West capable of real-time detection has been in place since August in the area of the Barry Arm of Prince William Sound. It uses data from seismic stations already in the Alaska network. State and federal agencies fear a landslide and tsunami could occur at Barry Arm, where Barry Glacier has retreated and left behind an unsupported fjord wall that has slumped about 650 feet in recent decades. Retrospective analysis of seismic station data at Barry Arm revealed three landslides that occurred in 2020 and 2021. Karasozen and West write that the instability "has prompted concerns that a catastrophic failure could generate a tsunami with several meters of peak wave height reaching nearby communities in just 20 minutes." The U.S. Geological Survey is leading the multifaceted interagency monitoring of the area. "With an earthquake, there are instruments that measure ocean wave heights, and tsunami warning centers are on alert after an earthquake," Karasozen said. "But landslides aren't systematically monitored in Alaska or elsewhere in the world. If a landslide-triggered tsunami were to happen, we wouldn't know. That's a major concern." The method by Karasozen and West involves quickly identifying a landslide's long-period waves amid a seismic record busy with short-period waves created not only by a landslide but also by nearby earthquakes and glaciers and by human-caused activity. A landslide's initial onset generally registers as short-period waves; it isn't until the slide accelerates that the identifiable long-period waves materialize. Landslides produce disproportionately more long-period energy compared with other sources. Most earthquake ruptures last only seconds, while landslides routinely last a minute or more. Coastal fjords present a significant challenge for landslide detection because glaciers can create hundreds of prominent seismic events daily, the researchers write. Karasozen and West created an algorithm to continually scan seismic data from multiple seismic stations to look for a landslide wave signature. Finding a match, their system will estimate the slide's location and volume. In areas with good seismic station coverage, location can be estimated to within a few miles. The goal is to have the system alert tsunami and seismology agency personnel, but more work remains before that can occur. To create the algorithm, the two researchers analyzed data of the three recent Barry Glacier landslides and six additional landslidesfive of them in Southeast Alaska and one on the west side of lower Cook Inlet, across from the Kenai Peninsula. Other efforts have been tried over recent decades. Several researchers have shown that landslide seismograms can be used to estimate location and volume, but those efforts usually were unique to a region, required considerable fine-tuning and were not designed for real-time purposes. Determining landslide location from distant seismic stations doesn't allow for real-time assessment, due to the time it would take for the seismic waves to reach those stations. West said the research augments ongoing monitoring and alert efforts. "The potential for real-time monitoring of large landslides is one important component of the interagency effort underway to address Alaska's landslide challenge," he said. More information: Ezgi Karasozen et al, Toward the Rapid Seismic Assessment of Landslides in Coastal Alaska, The Seismic Record (2024). DOI: 10.1785/0320230044 The interior of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to Chinas top policing agency and other parts of its government. Dake Kang/AP A vehicle parked outside the I-Soon office building, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is pictured in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to Chinas top policing agency and other parts of its government. Dake Kang/AP The exterior of the I-Soon office building, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is pictured in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to Chinas top policing agency and other parts of its government. Dake Kang/AP The front desk of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to Chinas top policing agency and other parts of its government. Dake Kang/AP The main entrance door to the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to Chinas top policing agency and other parts of its government. Dake Kang/AP A signboard reading "Anti-cyber crime office" is displayed near an entrance door to the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to Chinas top policing agency and other parts of its government. Dake Kang/AP Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to the nation's top policing agency and other parts of its government a trove that catalogs apparent hacking activity and tools to spy on both Chinese and foreigners. Among the apparent targets of tools provided by the impacted company, I-Soon: ethnicities and dissidents in parts of China that have seen significant anti-government protests, such as Hong Kong or the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang in Chinas far west. The dump of scores of documents late last week and subsequent investigation were confirmed by two employees of I-Soon, known as Anxun in Mandarin, which has ties to the powerful Ministry of Public Security. The dump, which analysts consider highly significant even if it does not reveal any especially novel or potent tools, includes hundreds of pages of contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client and employee lists. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They reveal, in detail, methods used by Chinese authorities used to surveil dissidents overseas, hack other nations and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media. The documents show apparent I-Soon hacking of networks across Central and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. The hacking tools are used by Chinese state agents to unmask users of social media platforms outside China such as X, formerly known as Twitter, break into email and hide the online activity of overseas agents. Also described are devices disguised as power strips and batteries that can be used to compromise Wi-Fi networks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I-Soon and Chinese police are investigating how the files were leaked, the two I-Soon employees told The Associated Press. One of the employees said I-Soon held a meeting Wednesday about the leak and were told it wouldnt affect business too much and to continue working as normal. The AP is not naming the employees who did provide their surnames, per common Chinese practice out of concern about possible retribution. The source of the leak is not known. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A HIGHLY IMPACTFUL LEAK Jon Condra, an analyst with Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company, called it the most significant leak ever linked to a company suspected of providing cyber espionage and targeted intrusion services for the Chinese security services. He said organizations targeted by I-Soon according to the leaked material include governments, telecommunications firms abroad and online gambling companies within China. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Until the 190-megabyte leak, I-Soons website included a page listing clients topped by the Ministry of Public Security and including 11 provincial-level security bureaus and some 40 municipal public security departments. Another page available until early Tuesday advertised advanced persistent threat attack and defense capabilities, using the acronym APT one the cybersecurity industry employs to describe the worlds most sophisticated hacking groups. Internal documents in the leak describe I-Soon databases of hacked data collected from foreign networks around the world that are advertised and sold to Chinese police. The companys website was fully offline later Tuesday. An I-Soon representative refused an interview request and said the company would issue an official statement at an unspecified future date. I-Soon was founded in Shanghai in 2010, according to Chinese corporate records, and has subsidiaries in three other cities, including one in the southwestern city of Chengdu that is responsible for hacking, research and development, according to leaked internal slides. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I-Soons Chengdu subsidiary was open as usual on Wednesday. Red Lunar New Year lanterns swayed in the wind in a covered alleyway leading to the five-story building housing I-Soons Chengdu offices. Employees streamed in and out, smoking cigarettes and sipping takeout coffees outside. Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: Safeguarding the Party and the countrys secrets is every citizens required duty." I-Soons tools appear to be used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media and flood them with pro-Beijing content. Authorities can surveil Chinese social media platforms directly and order them to take down anti-government posts. But they lack that ability on overseas sites like Facebook or X, where millions of Chinese users flock to in order to evade state surveillance and censorship. Theres a huge interest in social media monitoring and commenting on the part of the Chinese government, said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund. She reviewed some of the documents. To control public opinion and forestall anti-government sentiment, Ohlberg said, control of critical posts domestically is pivotal. Chinese authorities," she said, "have a big interest in tracking down users who are based in China." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The source of the leak could be a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor, said chief threat analyst John Hultquist of Googles Mandiant cybersecurity division. The data indicates I-Soons sponsors also include the Ministry of State Security and China's military, the Peoples Liberation Army, Hultquist said. LOTS OF TARGETS, LOTS OF COUNTRIES One leaked draft contract shows I-Soon was marketing anti-terror technical support to Xinjiang police to track the regions native Uyghurs in Central and Southeast Asia, claiming it had access to hacked airline, cellular and government data from countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Thailand. It is unclear whether the contact was signed. We see a lot of targeting of organizations that are related to ethnic minorities Tibetans, Uyghurs. A lot of the targeting of foreign entities can be seen through the lens of domestic security priorities for the government, said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He said the documents appear legitimate because they align with what would be expected from a contractor hacking on behalf of Chinas security apparatus with domestic political priorities. Cary found a spreadsheet with a list of data repositories collected from victims and counted 14 governments as targets, including India, Indonesia and Nigeria. The documents indicate that I-Soon mostly supports the Ministry of Public Security, he said. Cary was also struck by the targeting of Taiwans Health Ministry to determine its COVID-19 caseload in early 2021 and impressed by the low cost of some of the hacks. The documents show that I-Soon charged $55,000 to hack Vietnams economy ministry, he said. Although a few chat records refer to NATO, there is no indication of a successful hack of any NATO country, an initial review of the data by the AP found. That doesnt mean state-backed Chinese hackers are not trying to hack the U.S. and its allies, though. If the leaker is inside China, which seems likely, Cary said that leaking information about hacking NATO would be really, really inflammatory" a risk apt to make Chinese authorities more determined to identify the hacker. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mathieu Tartare, a malware researcher at the cybersecurity firm ESET, says it has linked I-Soon to a Chinese state hacking group it calls Fishmonger that it actively tracks and which it wrote about in January 2020 after the group hacked Hong Kong universities during student protests. He said it has, since 2022, seen Fishmonger target governments, NGOs and think tanks across Asia, Europe, Central America and the United States. French cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert also combed through the documents and said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, even if they have two-factor authentication, as well as another for analyzing email inboxes. He said U.S. cyber operators and their allies are among potential suspects in the I-Soon leak because its in their interests to expose Chinese state hacking. A spokeswoman for U.S. Cyber Command wouldn't comment on whether the National Security Agency or Cybercom were involved in the leak. An email to the press office at X responded, Busy now, please check back later. Western governments, including the United States, have taken steps to block Chinese state surveillance and harassment of government critics overseas in recent years. Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, an advocacy group that focuses on human rights in China, said such tactics instill fear of the Chinese government in Chinese and foreign citizens abroad, stifling criticism and leading to self-censorship. They are a looming threat that is just constantly there and very hard to shake off." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Last year, U.S. officials charged 40 members of Chinese police units assigned to harass the family members of Chinese dissidents overseas as well as to spread pro-Beijing content online. The indictments describes tactics similar to those detailed in the I-Soon documents, Harth said. Chinese officials have accused the United States of similar activity. U.S. officials including FBI Director Chris Wray have recently complained about Chinese state hackers planting malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure. On Monday, Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the U.S. government has long been working to compromise Chinas critical infrastructure. She demanded the U.S. stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries. ___ Kang reported from Chengdu, China. AP journalists Didi Tang in Washington, D.C., and Larry Fenn in New York contributed to this report. 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 Feeling hungry, you reach for the phone in your pocket. A few taps later, your meal is delivered to your doorstep. Problem solved: you're no longer hungry. It's so quick and easy it almost feels like magic. But what actually occurs when we place our seemingly simple food order via Wolt, Foodora, or a similar app? How are the individuals working via the apps affected? Sociologist Olivia Maury set out to investigate how work is done via apps or digital platforms, what differences they create among the workers, and how. "I focus on migrants working via these platforms, and who also constitute the majority of their workforce. I'm interested in incorporating various aspects of the migrants' lives and exploring the platforms from their perspective and based on their experiences. Are the platforms a problem or an opportunity?" Maury's research is connected to the Nordic project Tackling Precarious and Informal Work in the Nordic Countries (PrecaNord 20222026). Law, racism, and algorithms Maury's research is based on interviews with migrants working as food delivery drivers or cleaners via digital platforms. Some have arrived in Finland recently, while others have been living here for almost a decade. Maury has also used ethnographic research methods, which in practice means that she has tagged along with the drivers or met with cleaners working across multiple locations. She has found that the work the migrants do via the platforms is organized so as to separate and isolate them in various ways. "The platforms are grounded on a kind of entrepreneurial spirit of forcing people to compete against each other for the jobs available. There's this constant sense of having to work more and faster to earn a better income. As a result, the workers are encouraged to see each other not as colleagues, but as individuals working independently and as effectively as possible." While the workers are pitted against each other, other hierarchies and inequalities are also established between them based on factors such as their legal status in the country. "For example, some workers have been granted a residence permit for just one year, whereas others may have a four-year permit. To renew your permit, you must have sufficient financial resources, which means you must work more and compete even harder for the jobs available. As the platforms thus exert more control over certain individuals, they are put in a weaker position and may feel afraid of speaking out if they are mistreated because they risk losing their jobs and money." Maury mentions an added dimension: the racism faced by the workers, which may be intensified by the platform algorithms. "My interviewees said they sometimes feel customers rate their deliveries or cleaning based on racist ideas and opinions. A lower rating in the app may reduce the worker's future job opportunities and, thus, their ability to make enough money to extend their residence permit. This way, the algorithms create further differences between individuals." Not all new technology is benevolent The division the platforms create makes it difficult for workers to cooperate and present collective demands to the employer. Maury says this leads to a paradox. Although the platforms separate workers from their colleagues, the core business idea is that everyone uses the same platforms and operates in a type of network. "The logic is that the platforms bring people together and that everyoneboth customers and workerscollaborate to make the system possible." Maury sees it as important to highlight the human labor behind the platforms and the technology enabling them. This is to counteract the idea that things just happen when a customer places an order. "One of the research participants working as a food delivery driver described the platforms as seeming almost magical: the food just magically appears at the customer's doorstep. He thought it would be important to pay attention to the workers and their working conditions, including pay, time pressure, immigration status, and weather." Maury says that using words like magic to describe the platforms is indicative of a discourse where digital technologies are referred to as innovative and revolutionary. She notes that such terms often hide the fact that much of modern technology is built on earlier ways of organizing human labor. "Different types of couriers have been around for a long time, and the use of a platform to distribute their services is just an evolution of the original concept. We shouldn't automatically assume that all new technology is benevolent." Call for more transparency and better protection By gaining an insight into the interrelationship between platforms and workers, Maury hopes to contribute new knowledge about today's job market from the perspective of certain vulnerable groups and to pinpoint more general trends in the changing job market. "I hope my research can help the authorities develop policies and legislation needed to improve the conditions for workers with different types of immigrant status." She mentions that the authorities and platform workers may have different views of the changes required. "Public debate often focuses on whether the workers should be treated as employees or self-employed individuals. But the workers themselves have varying views. Not everyone wishes to be considered an employee. Some people see an employment contract as restricting their ability to work when and how much they want to." Maury's interviewees call for other changes. "To increase the transparency of the platforms, many asked for more guidelines and structures, covering, for example, the calculation of distances and the criteria for payment. These are currently not transparent and place the workers in an unequal position vis-a-vis the platforms." 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: Stones from the building structure of a Roman period olive press from the Kasserine region of Tunisia. "We can't forget that material culture is mute," said Bruce Hitchner. "It is archaeologists and historians who interpret what they find, and therein biases and constrained perspectives will always exist." Credit: Bruce Hitchner When French archaeologists first began digging into the baked earth of their new colonial empire in Algeria in the mid-19th century, they fancied that they'd found kindred spirits in the Roman Empire that had come some 2,000 years before them. The French thought they were engaged in a "civilizing mission" through their colonial subjugation of the region, just as Rome had "Romanized" the indigenous Berber and Punic people by supposedly imposing its imperial culture upon them. "Africans were not envisioned as the agents of change or civilization, merely the recipients of it," said Bruce Hitchner, professor and chair of classical studies at Tufts, in a recent Center for the Humanities at Tufts lecture. "Never mind that there were Punic and Berber inscriptions and an archaeology rich in remnants testifying to local identities and cultures that had long preceded Roman rule." Far from being a neutral exploration of the ancient world, French archaeology in North Africa was deeply shaped by the colonial preoccupations of those holding the shovels, Hitchner explained in his talk "Decolonizing the History of North Africa in Antiquity." In many ways, he said, contemporary archaeology is still struggling to recover from that misleading perspective. "The French army and administration saw the Roman legacy in Africa as a fundamental source of information for shaping colonial policy, and therefore supported the work of archaeologists and historians which they saw as a justification for conquest," Hitchner said. Thus, the archaeologists of the period told a story of Roman urbanization and agricultural technology that made north Africa the granary of Rome, contrasting it to the so-called barbaric, uncivilized peoples south of the area of Roman control. It wasn't until the independence of the countries of north Africa in the 1960s that a different story began to be told. Excavations at Althiburos in north-western Tunisia, for example, showed that a sophisticated infrastructure for agriculture and urbanism existed "as early as the first half of the last millennium BCE," long before the Romans arrivedand that, in fact, the Romans followed pre-existing street plans in many of the cities that pre-dated the Roman conquest. At the archaeological site near Kasserine in Tunisia, the remnants of tables on which olives were crushed at a Roman period olive press. Credit: Bruce Hitchner Building on existing civilizations In Hitchner's own work in the countryside around Kasserine, a center of Roman olive oil production south of Althiburos, not too far from the current Tunisian border with Algeria, he and others showed that the Romans often situated olive oil presses on the sites of longstanding local farms that had elaborate systems of terraces and irrigation. "The Roman period was built largely upon indigenous agricultural technology," Hitchner said. Another dramatic example of the interactions between Roman and the native peoples is a tomb inscription found in eastern Algeria. The Latin inscription of a local aristocrat Caius Julius Gaetulus describes him as a veteran of the Roman army, given citizenship under Julius Caesar or Augustus, who served as a priest of the imperial cult. On the other side of the tomb, however, an early Berber text tells a different story, calling him Keti, son of Maswalet, and emphasizing his long affiliation with a local people. "If you just read the Latin inscription, you would think this person had become thoroughly 'Romanized' and brought into the system. But the Romans always emphasized the idea of having dual identities," Hitchner said. "It wasn't a problem." These and other examples illustrate the difficulties in uncovering the truth using archaeology, Hitchner said, in which biases and preconceived notions can change the way we read the past. While the movement toward recovering indigenous perspectives of north African ancient history has been a step forward, it carries its own pitfalls, he added. Some post-colonial archaeologists, for example, overstate the brutality of the empire or focus too heavily on the resistance of local tribes against the Romans rather than the interplay between cultures. "We can't forget that material culture is mute. It is archaeologists and historians who interpret what they find, and therein biases and constrained perspectives will always exist," he said. "Interested stakeholders, whatever their perspective, are subject to the same misreading, overreading, or underreading of the past and how it shapes the future of research." At the same time, he said, overcoming the colonial narrative of "Romanization" in North Africa has helped lead to a much better understanding of the true power, influence, and legacy of the Roman Empire, and how it interacted with local inhabitants to create a unique culture worthy of study. "Rome's power and influence in Africa changed repeatedly over time and was throughout very strongly influenced by Africa and Africans," Hitchner concluded in his talk. "Africans not only retained many aspects of their own identity and culture, but in the process, changed what it meant to be Roman and exercise rule in Africa and the empire." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A schematic representation of quantum interference of the topological motion of electrons along the symmetry-allowed sample hinges. Credit: Shafayat Hossain, postdoctoral research associate in the Zahid Hasan group at Princeton University In a novel experiment, physicists have observed long range quantum coherence effects due to Aharonov-Bohm interference in a topological insulator-based device. This finding opens up a new realm of possibilities for the future development of topological quantum physics and engineering. This finding could also affect the development of spin-based electronics, which may potentially replace some current electronic systems for higher energy efficiency and may provide new platforms to explore quantum information science. The research, published in the February 20 issue of Nature Physics, is the culmination of more than 15 years of work at Princeton. It came about when Princeton scientists developed a quantum devicecalled a bismuth bromide (-Bi 4 Br 4 ) topological insulatoronly a few nanometers thick and used it to investigate quantum coherence. Scientists have used topological insulators to demonstrate novel quantum effects for more than a decade. The Princeton team developed their bismuth-based insulator in a previous experiment where they demonstrated its effectiveness at room temperature. But this new experiment is the first time these effects have been observed with a very long-range quantum coherence and at a relatively high temperature. Inducing and observing coherent quantum states typically requires temperatures near absolute zero on artificially designed semiconducting materials only in the presence of strong magnetic fields. "Our experiments provide compelling evidence for the existence of long-range quantum coherence in topological hinge modes, thus opening new avenues towards the development of topological circuitry as well as using this topological method to explore and advance fundamental physics," said M. Zahid Hasan, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Princeton University, who led the research. "Unlike conventional electronic devices, topological circuits are robust against defects and impurities, making them far less prone to energy dissipation, which is advantageous for greener applications." Topological states of matter and coherence In recent years, the study of topological states of matter has attracted considerable attention among physicists and engineers and is presently the focus of much international interest and research. This area of study combines quantum physics with topologya branch of theoretical mathematics that explores geometric properties that can be deformed but not intrinsically changed. The main device used to investigate the mysteries of quantum topology is called a topological insulator. This is a unique device that acts as an insulator in its interior, which means that the electrons inside are not free to move around and therefore do not conduct electricity. However, the electrons on the device's edges are free to move around, meaning they are conductive. Moreover, because of the special properties of topology, the electrons flowing along the edges are not hampered by any defects or deformations. A special type of topology is also possible in certain bismuth-based materials where some edges can be gapped and only some hinges remain conducting. A device made of such topological materials has the potential not only of improving technology but also of generating a greater understanding of matter itself by probing quantum properties in new and innovative ways. Until now, however, the inability to achieve long coherence times has been a major stumbling block in the quest to use the materials for applications in functional devices. Coherence refers to the ability to maintain the quantum states of superposition and entanglement in the face of disruptive influences, such as thermalization or other interactions with the environment. "There is a lot of interest in topological materials, and people often talk about their great potential for practical applications," said Hasan, "but until some macroscopic quantum topological effect can be demonstrated to have long quantum coherence which may also operate at relatively high temperatures, these applications will likely remain unrealized. Therefore, we are in search of materials that exhibit long-range quantum coherence of topological electrons." The current experiment Hasan's team has been exploring bismuth-based topological materials for almost two decades. Recently, however, the team discovered that the bismuth bromide insulator has properties that make it more ideal compared to bismuth-based topological insulators (including Bi-Sb alloys) that they had studied since 2005. It has a large insulating gap of over 200 meV (milli-electron volts). This is large enough to overcome thermal noise, but small enough that it does not disrupt the spin-orbit coupling effect and band inversion topology. Bismuth bromide insulators belong to a class of topological insulators that also exhibit high order effects whose surfaces become insulating, but the edges of some-symmetry-dictated orientations remain conducting. These are called hinge states which were recently theorized by collaborator and co-author Titus Neupert's group at the University of Zurich. "While it was not guaranteed in theory, through several years of experimentation we discovered that bismuth bromide's hinge states have very long-range quantum coherence at relatively high temperature. In this case, in our experiments based on the devices we fabricated, we found a balance between spin-orbit coupling effects, long-range quantum coherence and thermal fluctuations," said Hasan. "We found there is a 'sweet spot' where you can have relatively high degree of quantum coherence of the topological hinge modes as well as operate at a relatively high temperature. It's kind of like a balance point for the bismuth-based materials that we have been studying for almost two decades." Using a scanning tunneling microscope, the researchers observed a clear quantum spin Hall edge state, which is one of the important properties that uniquely exists in topological systems. This required additional novel instrumentation to uniquely isolate the topological effect. Even though bismuth harbors such a quantum state, the material itself is a semimetal without any insulating energy gap. This makes it difficult to explore its consequence in electron transport because, in bismuth, the transport channels contain electrons from both the bulk and from the hinge states. They mix and blur the coherent quantum transport signal of the hinge states. A further problem is caused by what physicists call "thermal noise," which is defined as a rise in temperature such that the atoms begin to vibrate violently. This action can disrupt delicate quantum systems, thereby collapsing the quantum state. In topological insulators, in particular, these higher temperatures create a situation in which the electrons on the surface of the insulator invade the interior, or "bulk," of the insulator, and cause the electrons there to also begin conducting, which dilutes or breaks the special quantum effect. Thermal fluctuations also destroy the quantum phase coherence of electrons. But the bismuth bromide insulator developed by the team was able to bypass this and other problems. They used the device to demonstrate quantum coherent transport through the topological hinge modes. A hallmark of quantum coherent transport is the manifestation of the AharonovBohm quantum interference. The AharonovBohm interference, predicted almost 60 years ago (physicist David Bohm was at Princeton from 1947 to 1951), describes a phenomenon where a quantum wave is split into two waves that go around a closed path and interfere under the influence of an electromagnetic potential. The resulting interference pattern is determined by the magnetic flux enclosed by the waves. In the case of electrons, such a quantum interference occurs if the conduction electrons remain phase coherent after completing closed trajectories, resulting in a periodic oscillation in electrical resistance with a characteristic period of the magnetic field B = 0 /S, where 0 = h/e is the flux quantum, S is the area over which the electron trajectories remain phase coherent, h is Planck's constant and e is the electron charge. For the topological conduction channels, all phase coherent trajectories participating in the quantum interference enclose the same area perpendicular to the B field, which is different from the universal conductance fluctuations. Here they present magnetoresistance traces from the -Bi 4 Br 4 samples that show B-periodic oscillations, the hallmark of the AharonovBohm effect stemming from phase coherent carriers. "For the first time, we demonstrated that there's a class of bismuth-based topological electron devices that can have a high degree of quantum coherence surviving up to relatively high temperature, which is due to the AharonovBohm interference effect stemming from phase coherent topological electrons," said Hasan. The discovery's topological roots lie in the workings of the quantum Hall effecta form of topological effect that was the subject of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1985. Since that time, topological phases have been intensely studied. Many new classes of quantum materials with topological electronic structures have been found, including topological insulators, topological superconductors, topological magnets and Weyl semimetals. Experimental and theoretical discoveries have both continued. Daniel Tsui, the Arthur Legrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering Emeritus at Princeton, won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the fractional quantum Hall effect, and F. Duncan Haldane, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Princeton, won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and a type of two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators. Subsequent theoretical developments showed that topological insulators can take the form of two copies of Haldane's model based on electron's spin-orbit interaction. Hasan and his team have been on a decade-long search for a topological quantum state that can also preserve high degree of quantum coherence at a relatively high temperature, following their discovery of the first examples of three-dimensional topological insulators in 2007. Recently, they found a solution to Haldane's conjecture in a topological material that is capable of operating at room temperature, which also exhibits the desired quantization. "A suitable atomic chemistry and structure design coupled to first-principles theory is the crucial step to make topological insulator's speculative prediction realistic in a device setting to maintain long quantum coherence," Hasan said. "There are many Bi-based topological materials, and we need both intuition, experience, materials-specific calculations and intense experimental efforts to eventually find the right material for in-depth exploration in a device setting. And that took us on a decade-long journey of investigating some bismuth-based materials that eventually seem to be working." Implications for quantum materials "We believe this finding may be the starting point of future development in quantum engineering and nanotechnology," said Shafayat Hossain, a postdoctoral research associate in Hasan's lab and a co-first author of the study. "There have been so many proposed possibilities in topological quantum science and engineering technology that await, and finding appropriate materials with long quantum coherence properties coupled with novel instrumentation is one of the keys for this. And that is what we achieved." "If the electrons are not bouncing around, or are agitated, they are not losing energy," said Hasan. "This creates a quantum basis for energy saving or greener technologies because they are consuming much less power. But this is still a long way off." Currently, the theoretical and experimental focus of Hasan's team is concentrated in two directions, said Hasan. First, the researchers want to determine what other topological materials might exhibit similar or higher level of quantum coherence, and, importantly, provide other scientists the tools and novel instrumentation methods to identify these materials that will operate at higher temperatures. Second, the researchers want to continue to probe deeper into the quantum world and search for new physics in a device setting. These studies will require the development of another set of new instruments and techniques and topological devices to fully harness the enormous potential of these wonder materials. Nan Yao, a co-author of the paper titled, "Quantum transport response of topological hinge modes," and professor of the practice at the Princeton Materials Institute summed up the research by saying, "This work on higher-order topological insulators exemplifies the beauty and importance of discovering new facets of nature, such as the quantum coherence of topological hinge states." "It's a discovery that could potentially lead to exciting advancements in quantum devices, and I'm reminded of Einstein's famous quote, 'The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.'" More information: Md Shafayat Hossain et al, Quantum transport response of topological hinge modes, Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02388-1 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Research, led by scientists at the University of Sheffield and published in the journal Science, provides a new insight into the broader impacts of forestation on the Earth's climate, indicating that its positive impact is potentially smaller than previously thought. Carbon removal strategies, such as forestation, alongside greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts, have been recognized by the IPCC as essential measures to mitigate the risk of dangerous future climate change. By simulating global forest expansion with advanced computer modeling techniques, academics from the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with the Universities of Leeds and Cambridge, and NCAR and WWF, found that while forestation increases absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, other complex Earth System responses could together partially offset these benefits by up to a third. Dr. James Weber, from the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences and lead author of the study, said, "The public are bombarded with messages about climate change, and the suggestion that you can plant trees to offset your carbon emissions is widespread. Many businesses now offer to plant a tree with a purchase, and some countries plan to expand, conserve, and restore forests. "Trees can help tackle climate change, but we need to be careful about relying on them. We need to evaluate forestation, and other climate change mitigation strategies, in detail. This will help identify limitations and unintended consequences so these can be minimized where possible." The study, which simulated wide scale forestation under two future scenariosone with minimal efforts to tackle climate change and another with extensive mitigation measures alongside forestationfound that forestation leads to increased CO 2 removal. However, it also reduces the reflectivity of the land surface (as trees are darker than grassland) and changes the atmospheric concentrations of other greenhouse gases (methane and ozone) and tiny particles called aerosols. Altogether, these indirect effects partially offset the CO 2 reduction benefits, by up to 30%. The study also found that when forestation is implemented alongside other strategies to tackle climate change, such as reducing fossil fuel emissions, the negative impacts of these indirect effects are lower. This highlights the importance of combining forestation efforts with complementary climate change mitigation strategies for more effective long-term climate action. Dr. Maria Val Martin, University of Sheffield UKRI Future Leader Fellow and senior author of the study, said, "Drastic CO 2 emission reductions along with large-scale removal of atmospheric CO 2 are vital to combat climate change effectively. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the indirect climate impacts of forestation, revealing that they partially counter the climate benefits achieved through carbon sequestration. Understanding these indirect side effects is essential for developing effective solutions to achieving net-zero emissions." Dr. Stephanie Roe, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead Scientist, IPCC AR6 Report Lead Author, and co-author of the study said, "We know that forests are critically important for biodiversity, water, ecosystem services, and the climate. What this research shows is that the effectiveness of reforestation for climate mitigation declines significantly in higher latitudes and unless paired with deep emission reductions which reduces air pollution. "It underscores the importance of properly planning reforestation efforts and adequately accounting for biophysical and future climate impacts in different latitudes and regions. Importantly, the study finds that preventing deforestation, when compared to reforestation efforts, is a far more efficient way to mitigate climate change." Dr. Daniel Grosvenor, from the University of Leeds and the Met Office, and co-author of the study said, "What's interesting about this study is that it examines the side effects of forestation that occur via changes in atmospheric chemistry, aerosol particles and surface reflectivity. It shows that the cooling impact of carbon dioxide removal from an extensive, but feasible, global forest expansion could be considerably reduced due to those side effects. This would make it harder than expected to mitigate climate change and to reach the Paris agreement target." Professor David Edwards, Head of Tropical Ecology and Conservation Group at the University of Cambridge, and not involved in the study, said, "Global restoration targets are massive350 million hectares by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge alone. This study makes a major advance in revealing that the combined impacts of albedo and atmospheric chemistry from forestation offset some of the perceived climate-change-mitigation benefits generated via carbon sequestration. "Critically, the study shows that not all forestation is equal, with more favorable potential in the tropics due to aerosol scattering that can offset warming caused by reduced albedo, whereas forestation at higher latitudes may well result in net global warming." Professor Dominick Spracklen, Professor of Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions at the University of Leeds, and not involved in the study, said, "This study highlights the amazingly complex role of forests in our climate system. Through calculating how forests alter atmospheric composition, this study provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of the climate impacts of large-scale forestation." More information: James Weber et al, Chemistry-albedo feedbacks offset up to a third of forestation's CO2 removal benefits., Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adg6196. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg6196 Journal information: Science 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: Climate activists demonstrate outside BP headquarters in London on December 9, 2023. The UK will join a string of European countries in leaving a controversial energy treaty that has allowed fossil fuel giants to sue governments over their climate policies, the government said on Thursday. The decision to quit the 1990s-era accord comes after efforts to negotiate a modernised treaty ended in stalemate. France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands are also pulling out of the Energy Charter Treaty, while the European Parliament has called for the entire 27-nation European Union to withdraw. Italy, which lost a costly arbitration case against British oil company Rockhopper under the treaty, announced it was leaving in 2015. Established in the 1990s when the world energy system was heavily dominated by fossil fuelscoal, gas and oil, the treaty was originally intended to encourage international energy investment. In practice, it has allowed foreign companies to challenge energy policies that threaten their investments under a secretive arbitration process. This has led to a number of countries facing costly legal challenges over reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and boosting renewables. "The Energy Charter Treaty is outdated and in urgent need of reform but talks have stalled and sensible renewal looks increasingly unlikely," UK Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart said. "Remaining a member would not support our transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, and could even penalise us for our world-leading efforts to deliver net zero," he added. The treaty, which the EU and Euratom, the European atomic energy community, signed on to in 1994 came into effect in 1998. German energy giant E.ON's power station near Nottingham -- one of the UK's biggest coal-fired plants. 'Explosion' of claims It initially it sought to bring post-Soviet eastern European energy sectors into a cooperative framework with western European ones. To do that, it allowed energy companiesmany of them using coal and other fossil fuelsto sue governments over policies putting their investments at risk. But as countries have shifted towards renewable and more sustainable energy sources, European governments have increasingly baulked at remaining part of the treaty. The United Nations' Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and Environment, David Boyd, warned in December that an "explosion" of multibillion-dollar claims by fossil fuel and extractive firms through shadowy investment tribunals was blocking action on climate and nature. "When governments bring in these stronger laws and policies, they're ending up paying millionsand sometimes billionsof dollars in compensation," Boyd told AFP. Developing nations were increasingly being targeted, he said, adding that fossil fuel and mining industries had won over $100 billion in awards. Shaun Spiers, executive director of environmental think-tank Green Alliance, welcomed the UK government's decision. "Civil society organisations and parliamentarians from all political parties have been clear that the Energy Charter Treaty is an out-of-date agreement and undermines our efforts to tackle climate change," he said. "We welcome the UK's decision to leave, which will strengthen global efforts to roll out cheap, clean renewable energy," he added. 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: Photograph of the Irulegi hand and drawing based on the photograph and a scanned image of the hand (figure by authors). Credit: Antiquity (2024). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2023.199 A team of archaeologists with the Aranzadi Science Society has found a word inscribed on an ancient Basque bronze hand that resembles a modern Basque word. Their paper is published in the journal Antiquity. In 2021, a related team of archaeologists working at an Iron Age site called Irulegi, in northern Spain, unearthed a flat piece of bronze shaped like a human hand. After cleaning, they discovered that a series of words had been inscribed onto its surface representing text from a Vasconic languageone that includes Basque and several others that are now extinct. In this more recent study, the research team worked to decipher the text. Thus far, they have found that the first word, if spelled using a Latin alphabet, would be "sorioneke" or "sorioneku"either of which strongly resembles "zorioneko"the Basque word for "good fortune." The Basque people of today are a group that resides in the Basque Country, an autonomous region in Spain situated along the Pyrenees mountains, bordering France. Basque is the official language of the area, and its persistence has proven to be a puzzle for modern linguistics expertsas one of the last surviving members of the Paleo-European language family, many suggest, it should have disappeared along with most others of its kind after the arrival of Indo-European languages. The bronze hand has been dated to approximately 2,100 years ago and the script etched into it now represents its longest example to datethe only other samples have been seen on a few coins. The research team is hoping the continued study of the text will help to better understand the Vasconic language that was spoken at Irulegiand perhaps its link to modern Basque. In addition to the text etched onto the hand, it also had a hole drilled where the palm would have met the wrist, which suggests the hand was meant for hanging. It was found near a door, suggesting it had once hung over the entrance to a room. This, the researchers suggest, hints at the possibility that the hand was used for a ritualist purpose, offering good fortune to those who entered. More information: Mattin Aiestaran et al, A Vasconic inscription on a bronze hand: writing and rituality in the Iron Age Irulegi settlement in the Ebro Valley, Antiquity (2024). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2023.199 Journal information: Antiquity 2024 Science X Network From a press release: Volunteers from the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to two people after a fire late Saturday night on Cross Lane in Fort Edward, Washington County. The Red Cross provided financial assistance for necessities such as shelter, food and clothing to two adults. Volunteers also offered emotional support and health services. In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery. HOW TO HELP The Red Cross relies on the generosity of local donors to help families prepare, respond and recover from disasters in Northeastern New York. Please visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to donate to Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters big and small. You can also help by volunteering with the Red Cross and responding to home fires and other disasters in your community. Browse current volunteer opportunities now at redcross.org/volunteer. Saratogians lashed out at the City Councils money grab legislation that would cost short-term rental operators $1,000 to register their property with the city for two years. In addition to the $1,000 licensing fee, Saratogas plan to monitor the short-term rental business says that each rental operator provide proof of ownership, a local emergency contact, carbon monoxide/smoke detectors, an emergency egress plan, and insurance, according to Dillon Moran, Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Saratoga Springs. The public pushed back during the city councils meeting Tuesday evening, Feb. 20. Rentals of less than 28 days are illegal in Saratoga Springs. Until now, the laws surrounding short-term rentals have yet to be enforced, according to Moran. If you go back to horses turning left on Union Avenue, our community has opened their doors to visitors. Our residents have opened their doors and allowed folks to visit and stay in their homes. Were talking about legalizing our legacy, Moran said. Moran drew the ire of more than 100 people in attendance, some even calling for his resignation over the proposal, which includes an online portal system for short term rental registration and management. The proposed fee of $1,000 was heavily criticized for its substantial price compared to that of the Town of Lake George, where the short-term rental fee is $100 per year. (Lake George Village does not allow STRs, as short-term rentals are called.) This has left short-term rental operators in Saratoga to feel unjustly punished. Saratoga resident and short-term rental operator John Phillips questioned the proposals fairness, especially with how it will be enforced. Im curious how are you going to enforce this? Are neighbors going to be turning on neighbors? Phillips asked the city council. Phillips said that some people have already established relationships with people who are going to continue to come to Saratoga. They wont be online. Youll have no clue what theyre doing. So by me following the rules, Im going to pay the penalty, but my neighbor who is not following the rules can get away with it, he said. Phillips also argued that this legislation could negatively impact the short-term rental market and drive tourists out of Saratoga. They dont want to stay in a hotel. They want to stay in a house with their kids, with their friends. They dont want to pay $100 a night for a queen size bed. They want to stay with their people, and I think thats been going on for a long time, Phillips said. Anna Smith, a mortgage broker and resident since 2014, said Saratoga Springs is special. Why do we love Saratoga? Its because we can go out and have a nice dinner and a drink and we can go walk in Congress Park and then we can go to a concert. Why do we have all those things? Tourists are why we have the ability to do what we do in Saratoga, she said. If we make it more difficult for tourism to happen in Saratoga, for people to be here, were going to lose out on all of that money. All of the businesses are going to lose out on all of that money, Smith said. The citys data shows that the unique rental unit market has grown by an average of 23% year-over-year. Moran estimated that there are currently well over 1,200 properties within the citys limits operating as short-term rentals, rental that are generally rented for less than a month, often just for a week or weekend. In the proposal, Saratoga Springs will launch an online portal system for short term rental registration and management. The licensing fees will go toward the hiring of three people to support short term rental administration efforts, including managing the software. This wasnt enforced prior because we didnt have the technology to do so. We do now, Moran said. Another reason why Saratoga Springs proposed this legislation was to support public safety and uphold the integrity of the citys historic neighborhoods. Neighborhood cohesion is incredibly important. There are plenty of places now that are just standalone short-term rentals. I have a real hard time looking at that as anything other than a blight on the neighborhood. Because homes are for families, Moran said. Chris Mathieson, who served as Saratogas Public Safety Commissioner from 2012 to 2017, agreed with the sentiment that neighborhoods have been altered due to short-term rentals. What has become a really big problem in the city are the units that are solely used for short term rentals. Houses that used to be occupied by families are no longer occupied by families, Mathieson said. Within two minutes of my house I walk past four different units in my very residential neighborhood where no one lives anymore, just on weekends. No ones there. Its not good for the character of the neighborhood. Its not good for housing values. Its reducing the number of units available, so we need to look at this carefully and discriminate between the real problem here, Mathieson added. If the proposed legislation is passed by the City Council, the tentative start date for property registration will be July 1, 2024 with a 60-day implementation period. This would give short-term rental operators the ability to operate through track season without paying a fee. Lori Leman, a broker at Saratoga Realty Associates, as well as many others, agreed that regulations for short-term rentals arent all bad, but that this proposal should be delayed until 2025 to give people time to adjust to the legislations requirements. The City hopes to move forward with this proposal because New York State is expected to bring forward new regulations for short-term rentals by the end of this year, and Saratoga wants to maintain a level of control over their own regulations, Moran said. The city is expected to hold at least one other public hearing on this issue before the City Council votes. Before the hearing on Tuesday night, there were four previous meetings held at the City Center. The New York State Presidential Primaries will be held April 2, 2024. Voters will decide who they want to see at the podium in the race for the White House this November. Incumbent President Joe Biden is leading the Democratic ticket but will be joined by Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips, both vying for his spot. On the Republican side, Nikki R. Haley and Donald J. Trump are still contesting one another. Vivek Ramaswamys and Chris Christies names will appear on those primary ballots although they have said their campaigns have come to an end. Only voters registered as Democrats may vote on the Democratic ballot. And only voters registered as Republicans may vote on the Republican ballot. Only the presidential primaries will be held on April 2. The congressional primaries, in which Rep. Elise Stefaniks seat will be contested, will be held June 25, 2024. The Post-Star will report further on that race closer to its date. Voter registration for both mail-in and in-person voting must be completed by March 23, 2024. Early voting can be done by mail or in-person from March 23 through April 1, 2024. Due to a recent change in law, any New York State voter may request an early mail-in ballot, which can be returned at any point between March 23 and April 2. [For] absentee voting, you need to have an eligible excuse in order to obtain an absentee ballot, explained Cassandra Bagramian, with the Saratoga County Board of Elections. With early vote by mail, you do not need an eligible excuse, you may cast your vote early by mail, or you may also cast your vote early in person at the poll site. Affidavit Ballots Voters must be careful. Those who requested and were issued an early mail-in, accessible, or absentee ballot for the election may not decide later to use the in-person voting machine on Election Day. Instead, voters who show up in person to vote on Election Day, but have already been issued an early ballot, will be given an affidavit ballot to cast at their polling location. Affidavit ballots will be kept separate until the election is completed. If election officials determine that the voters early ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voters early ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted. Avoiding Double Ballots If a voter requests a second early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot, any previously issued ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside unopened to provide the voter a chance to return the second ballot, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely ballot and casts an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee return deadline, will be counted. Voting early in Saratoga County: Saratoga County Board of Elections office 50 West High St. Ballston Spa, NY, 12020 PHONE: (518) 885-2249 Clifton Park Catherine Library 475 Moe Rd. Clifton Park, NY, 12065 Gavin Park 10 Lewis Rd. Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866 Greenfields Fire House No. 1 13 South Greenfield Rd. Greenfield Center, NY 12833 Malta Town Garage 2538 US-9, Malta, NY, 12020 Voting early in Warren County: Warren County Board of Elections office County Municipal CenterHuman Services Building 1340 State Route 93rd Floor Lake George, NY, 12845 PHONE: (518) 761-6456 Glens Falls City Hall 42 Ridge St. Glens Falls, NY, 12801 Voting early in Washington County: Washington County Board of Election office 1153 Burgoyne Ave. Fort Edward, NY, 12828 PHONE: (518) 746-2180 Updated in-person polling information can be found for Saratoga County, here. Warren County, here. Washington County, here. Gov. Ned Lamont speaks in October 2022 at the Greenwich Economic Forum in Greenwich, Conn., where Lamont lives. In 2023, Lamont trumpeted tax cuts for middle-income earners as the largest in Connecticut history. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media A Volunteer Income Tax Assistance workshop at Norwalk City Hall in Norwalk, Conn. Erik Trautmann/Hearst Connecticut Media FILE - The Internal Revenue Service 1040 tax form for 2022 is seen on April 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File) Jon Elswick/AP Connecticut's lower-income families continue to pay more than their fair share of taxes as a proportion of total earnings, with property taxes the main driver, a recent state study shows. The inequity comes even as some cities and towns have lowered their base mill rates to help families who are seeing tax bills rise in tandem with the values of their homes since the real estate boom took off with the pandemic, the study shows. In the latest installment of an ongoing tax "incidence" study, the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services analyzed Connecticut tax collections in 2020. The disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic extended to tax collections, whether prompted by delayed tax filing deadlines or more earners opting for early retirement or extended work sabbaticals, to contain the spread of the virus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But in a separate report last November, the Congressional Budget Office determined that the pandemic reduced income inequality by the largest margin on record dating back to 1979, due to federal assistance doled out to individuals and states. The Connecticut General Assembly's Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding signaled plans to review the DRS findings in a hearing this week or next pending finalization of schedules, with an eye on any possible changes in tax policy. In the state study, DRS describes Connecticut income taxes as "slightly progressive and proportional" compared to other states, after applying models to existing data. But homeowners here continue to pay some of the highest property taxes in the country, adding up to 38.2 percent of collections in 2020 as calculated by DRS. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "In the past when there were lower costs of living, people could save more and they could start to build that wealth slowly over time," said Shira Markoff, senior policy director for the national advocacy group Prosperity Now, speaking last month during a forum hosted by Connecticut Voices for Children carried by CT-N. "But now people are really struggling their earnings are usually not keeping up with their current expenses." Markoff added that investments are not taxed at the same rate as work earnings, producing a relatively higher tax obligation for those who lack significant stock or other holdings, creating an even wider gap between working poor and wealthy residents. Gov. Ned Lamont approved income tax cuts last year intended to reduce further the amounts paid by middle-income earners, with his budget chief telling the legislature's Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding earlier this month that the governor's latest budget adjustments for next fiscal year starting July 1 included no new taxes. In the early days of the 2024 so-called short-session of the Connecticut General Assembly, legislation has been proposed to include credits on property taxes. Other proposals include eliminating income taxes on Social Security benefits and individual retirement account distributions; creating a tax deduction for the cost of home health care and credits for long-term-care insurance premiums; or increasing deductions for contributions to college savings accounts and adding a credit for interest paid on student loans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a Monday study of income tax payments nationally to states by the Tax Foundation, income taxes amounted to 38 percent of all taxes in the 50 states in the 2022 fiscal year. More than half of states cut individual income taxes between 2021 and 2023, with Massachusetts the lone state to increase its top marginal tax rate along with the District of Columbia. In the aggregate, Tax Foundation researchers dubbed 2023 a "historic pace of income tax rate reductions" in states nationally. ATLANTIC CITY The local NAACP Youth Council will receive $10,000 from New Jersey Community Capital as part of an annual program that supports nonprofits in traditionally underserved areas during Black History Month. The nonprofit community development financial institution is giving $50,000 total to nonprofits in five municipalities, including Newark, Paterson, Philadelphia and Syracuse, New York. "Echoing the principles championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the $50,000 pledge is a testament to NJCC's dedication to social and economic justice," NJCC President and CEO Bernel Hall said in a statement. "NJCC aims to contribute to thriving, equitable communities by supporting the initiatives and leaders of these cities." NJCC is working with each city's mayor to direct the $10,000 in funding to a community organization or initiative of their choosing, it said Wednesday in a news release. "As a big supporter of the NAACP Atlantic City Youth Council, when I was given the liberty to award an organization $10,000 generously donated by NJCC, my decision was clear," said Small. "We all know what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, and since the money was to go to an organization in his name, I chose the Youth Council because of all the great work they do in our community, which includes molding future leaders like Dr. King." "The Atlantic City NAACP is extremely excited to receive the very generous contribution to our Youth Council," said Kaleem Shabazz, president of the Atlantic City Branch of the NAACP and City Council vice president. "NJCC will help the next generation of change agents and difference makers prepare our nation for a better, more just future." For more information, visit newjerseycommunitycapital.org. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP The Goodwill store in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center will hold a donation event Saturday to celebrate a month of replenishment of the stores inventory after a damaging fire last month closed the store indefinitely. Ashley Campbell, Miss Coastal Shore 2024, has teamed up with Goodwill of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia to support the replenishment of the store, holding a drive from Jan. 20 to this Tuesday, Goodwill said in a news release. The drive will conclude with an event Saturday where those making donations will have the opportunity to meet titleholders from the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation and Miss America Opportunity. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon at 6701 Black Horse Pike. People are encouraged to donate gently used items. Campbell will be joined by other titleholders including Miss Gloucester County 2024 Molly Pugliese, Miss Ramapo Valley 2024 Valerie Randazzo, Miss Ocean View 2024 Ashley Kulikowski and Miss Cape Resort 2024 Jessica Riggins. Egg Harbor Township Goodwill closed until further notice after fire, still accepting donations The Goodwill store in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center in Egg Harbor Township will be closed until further notice after a fire Monday destroyed all of its merchandise. If interested in donating, Campbell can be reached at campash17@gmail.com. Goodwill offers donation tax receipts for those who request them. Police responded to the store for a structure fire at 1:31 p.m. Jan. 15. Firefighters prevented the blaze at the 20,000-square-foot store and donation center from spreading to neighboring businesses in the plaza. The fire has been deemed suspicious, and police are seeking the publics help identifying a man wanted for questioning. As a result of the fire, the store has been closed since. The 30 employees who worked there have been reassigned to other locations or are working on site at the donation center for the time being, Goodwill said. The Goodwill donation center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. ATLANTIC CITY Seven people were arrested earlier this week by police conducting surveillance operations in areas where residents had complained about drug activity. On Monday, officers at Renaissance Plaza in the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue watched city residents Alexie Cordero, 48, and John Jamison, 58, engage in a drug transaction, police said in a news release. Cordero was found with 57 bags of heroin and 31 buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual films, police said. He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone. Jamison, who police said had a single bag of heroin, was charged with possession of CDS and had an active warrant for his arrest. Both are being held in the Atlantic County jail. On Tuesday, officers made five arrests in the first block of South Florida Avenue after suspects were seen engaging in drug deals, police said. Officers seized 28 bags of heroin and more than 36 grams of cocaine. Luis Santiago, 33, of Newfield, Gloucester County, was charged with possession of CDS, possession with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Christian Burk, 44, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, was charged with two counts of possession of CDS, and Ricardo Berrios, 37, of Camden; Thomas Nardone, 55, of Atlantic City; and Breanna McAuley, 33, of Margate, were each charged with one count of possession of CDS. All five were released on summonses pending court. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Multiple people were injured in two Wednesday morning crashes caused by drivers who ran stop signs, police said. Lindsay Lillemon, 36, of Mays Landing, was driving a 1998 Ford Escort on Delancey Avenue at 8:18 a.m. when she ran through a stop sign at Old Egg Harbor Road, colliding with a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Maribel Liddell, 24, of Pleasantville, police said in a news release. Liddell and a passenger in Lillemon's vehicle, David Keasler, of Pleasantville, were transported to an area hospital for injuries police said were not life threatening. First responders removed Lillemon from her vehicle and took her to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, with serious injuries. The road was closed for 90 minutes while the scene was investigated and cleared, police said. Lillemon was expected to be cited for failure to stop, careless driving, driving while suspended and being an unlicensed driver once the investigation is complete, police said. Another crash involving two vehicles took place at West Jersey Avenue and Cates Road nearly two hours after the first wreck. Patricia Gallagher, 84, of Mays Landing, was driving a 2019 Ford Fusion on Cates at 10:09 a.m. when she disregarded a stop sign and was struck in the driver's door by a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander driven by Michael Velez, 66, of Somers Point. Velez and a passenger were treated at the scene and released, while Gallagher was taken to a local hospital with injuries police said were not life threatening. The road was temporarily closed while the scene was investigated and cleared, police said. SOMERS POINT A municipal court trial on trespassing and assault charges against an Ocean City man ended without a verdict Tuesday after more than an hour of testimony. The matter is expected to be continued in April. Nelson Dice is accused of seeking to enter St. Peters United Methodist Church after being informed he was no longer welcome there, and pushing a 16-year-old who was at the door of the church. Dice denies pushing the person and maintains the matter should be heard in a jury trial within the Methodist church. In the course of the trial, Judge Howard J. Freed repeatedly told Dice he had no right to a jury in municipal court, and that the only thing to be decided was whether Dice was guilty of trespass and assault in Ocean City on May 30, 2021. Dice is a familiar figure in Ocean City, often wearing a striped prisoners uniform to comment at City Council meetings and to the church. He wore the striped costume in court as well. Dice told the court he had been told he would be welcome back to the church if he were to wear other clothes. That was not supported in testimony presented at the trial. Prosecutor Kelley Blanchet presented the Rev. Erik Hall of St. Peters, Ocean City police Officer Tomas Mullineaux and John Gaskill as witnesses. Gaskill accused Dice of pushing him when trying to get into the church. Dice denied any assault and maintains his right to attend the church, regardless of whether he was told not to by Hall. Its not his church, Dice said at one point. Dice acted as his own attorney, and Freed repeatedly upheld Blanchets objections as Dice sought to cross-examine the witnesses, challenging many questions and statements as irrelevant. Dice sought to introduce video of the incident and to call his own witnesses, but Freed ruled both inadmissible because Dice had not presented the evidence or a listing of witnesses to the prosecution as required by court rules. Dice also mentioned his intention to call back witnesses and to bring others to court. Freed said he would need to subpoena the potential witnesses. Several times, Freed said he had urged Dice to be represented by an attorney or to have the court appoint one, but said Dice had refused. Dice testified on his own behalf, a decision that allowed him to be cross-examined by the prosecutor. Dice, who has said he prefers to have his name used only in lowercase, also read from the U.S. Constitution as part of his testimony. He sought to then cross-examine the prosecutor, which Freed told him was not allowed in court. There are no special rules for Nelson Dice. Court rules apply to everybody. You persistently violated those rules, Freed said. Dice claims he has video proof that the charges are false. Freed told him he could not submit video into evidence without first giving a copy to the prosecution. This court has refused to accept the proof, Dice said. Cape May County plans to post audio of meetings Those who cannot make the regular meetings of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners will have a new option for keeping up with county government, which plans to post audio recordings of the meetings. While Dice sought a three-week extension to gather witnesses, Freed said he had already given an extension after an earlier trial date. Tuesday was the time for the trial, Freed said. But when Dice did not rest his case, Freed agreed to continue the trial later. Freed suggested Dice familiarize himself with court rules of evidence and presenting witnesses before returning in April. Blanchet told Freed the prosecutions position is that Dice is just trying to delay the proceedings and that the court should not allow future shenanigans from the defendant. Shenanigans is the word I used, Mr. Dice, Blanchet said. There are multiple other charges of defiant trespass from 2021 still to be heard against Dice. There are a total of nine complaints to be heard in Somers Point, including four singed by police officers. Superior Court Judge Michael Blee signed an order transferring the matter from Ocean Citys municipal court to Somers Point. Dice has already spent more than a year in the Cape May County jail on other charges, after refusing to cooperate with his court-appointed defense attorney or participate in any plea deal or pretrial intervention. Last year, Superior Court Judge Christine Smith found Dice guilty of resisting arrest in an incident outside the church in 2021. Hard Rock sponsors African American Heritage Museum series: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City partnered with the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey to sponsor its first Black History Month Educational Series. The program was designed by museum President and founder Ralph Hunter to bring an interactive and entertaining Black History experience to schools like Atlantic Citys Pennsylvania Avenue School, Sovereign Avenue School and Texas Avenue School. We are humbled to be able to partner with Mr. Hunter and the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey once again, said George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Atlantic City. We are excited to help bring his passion for sharing the rich history of African Americans in southern New Jersey to help educate children in our community. Utility giving away trees: Atlantic City Electric customers can get a free tree for home planting through a collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. Residential customers can reserve their tree on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be 1,200 free trees of all different species and types available in South Jersey, the utility said Tuesday in a news release, including baldcypress, river birch, eastern redbud and red maple. The trees will be delivered by mail by the end of May. Atlantic City Electric reminds customers to call 811 to have underground utility lines marked before planting. To reserve a tree or for more information, visit energysavingtrees.arborday.org. Millville school honored: The website Character.org, which bills itself as a national advocate and leader for character, has named Millvilles Rieck Avenue Elementary School a New Jersey State School of Character for 2024. City school officials said the honor reflects the districts commitment to fostering a positive school culture where character development is at the heart of everything we do. Other Millville schools the Child Family Center, Lakeside Middle School, Millville High School and R.M. Bacon Elementary School were named New Jersey Schools of Character in 2023. Character.org certifies schools and districts each year that have developed and implemented an approach that embeds character into all aspects of school life, the district said in a news release. Schools announced as State Schools of Character will be considered for Character.orgs highest distinction, the National School of Character. VHAS open house: The Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society will host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. March 2. The museum is free and open to the public and is accepting donations and new memberships. Current members can get the Vineland Historical Magazine and explore the museums Cast Your Ballot exhibit with self-guided tours. The museum is located at 108 S. Seventh St. For more information, visit discovervinelandhistory.org or call 856-691-1111. Shore Employee of the Month: Medical laboratory technician Deepa Patel, of Egg Harbor Township, has been named Shore Medical Centers February Employee of the Month. Patel has worked at Shore since 2019. She analyzes patients blood for transfusion compatibility and other specimens in the hematology, coagulation and urinalysis departments. No matter what the task is, Deepa is ready, willing and able to help, independent of supervisor assistance. She gladly steps in to lead the team in my absence to help her coworkers, said Patricia Pierce, Patels supervisor. Tepper Foundation awards $30,000 to JFS: The Tepper Foundation awarded a $30,000 grant to Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties for programs and services for mental health, food and housing. JFS is thankful to receive a generous grant from the Tepper Foundation as we strive to keep pace with the escalating need for many of the agencys programs and services from community residents, said Andrea Steinberg, JFS CEO. In 2023, JFS distributed 68,000 pounds of food to more than 9,600 Atlantic County residents, 4,450 kosher meals, helped 980 households avoid homelessness and provided 7,000 counseling sessions to children, teenagers and adults. JFS has a proven track record of meeting families needs, and were proud to support their ongoing efforts to improve food and housing security and mental health access in South Jersey, said Randi Tepper, CEO of the Tepper Foundation. Tuckerton Historical Society presentation: The Tuckerton Historical Society will host a presentation on the history of Tuckerton Creek from 2 to 4 p.m. March 9 at the Giffordtown Schoolhouse Museum, 35 Leitz Blvd. in West Tuckerton. Reservations are recommended, and a $5 donation is appreciated. Call 609-233-4571 to reserve a spot or for more information. St. Patricks celebration: Willow Creek Winery in West Cape May will host its third annual Saint Patricks Weekend Celebration March 15-17. The weekend will include a performance by the Emerald Isle Academy of Irish Dance, markets, a pipe and drum corps, musicians, Irish food and drink. The event will benefit the New Jersey Farmers Cooperative. A full schedule of events, participating vendors and more is at lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/pEuW4Le. OCEAN CITY Veterans and military members can begin picking up this year's military beach tag Saturday, which will feature the 31Heroes logo in recognition of the nonprofit, the city said. Designs each year have honored each branch of the military and veterans organizations, such as 31Heroes. The nonprofit raises money and awareness of veterans programs and runs the annual Memorial Beach Challenge in Ocean City. The city issues more than 5,000 free military beach tags each summer to veterans and active military. People may begin picking up their tags Saturday at the following locations: Welcome Center in City Hall (861 Asbury Ave.), 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Roy Gillian Welcome Center (Ninth Street causeway), 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Welcome Center at 46th Street and West Avenue, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Monday People are reminded to bring proper military identification. Veterans receive free tags. Active military members, spouses and immediate children up to age 23 also can receive free tags. The 31Heroes group, out of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was founded in remembrance of the Aug. 6, 2011, tragedy when a CH-47 Chinook helicopter was downed in Afghanistan, killing 30 service members and one military K-9. We are incredibly thankful to Ocean City for featuring our logo this year on their veteran beach tags, said Jason Barnes, president of the Board of Directors at 31Heroes. We rely on the community for their support, and Ocean City, from the volunteers to city staff, are an amazing group of people and a valued partner of 31Heroes and the Memorial Beach Challenge. We look forward to this event every year to raise much-needed support for our organization. Ocean City has hosted the Memorial Beach Challenge since 2012. This year's event will take place May 25 and is expected to attract 1,000 participants. Im proud that Ocean City can host the Memorial Beach Challenge each year, and I want to thank everybody at 31Heroes for all the important work they do, Mayor Jay Gillian said. Itll be great to see the 31Heroes logo on our tags this summer. GOP should change its name to MAGA The political party previously known as Republican or GOP is now MAGA. MAGA just uses the Republican name for convenience. When did this happen? It occurred when it was no longer possible to be a Republican without being a MAGA. A perfect example is the MAGA takeover of the RNC. How does one know what a MAGA is? Very simple: If you are devoted to one man and this one mans thinking, Donald Trump, then you are MAGA. Look around. How many non-MAGA (anti-Trump) Republicans still exist? It is all MAGA all the time! In our two-party system, labels are critical. At one time it was Whigs and Democrats. Whigs went away, and Republicans took their place. A change has once again occurred. Devoted MAGAs do not consider themselves part of the Republican Party. It is time for the American electorate to recognize the change. Elections are now being held between Democrats and MAGA/Republican. Just as you can no longer vote for a Whig, the truth is that you can no longer vote for a Republican. My congressional district is a perfect example. My congressman, Jeff Van Drew, has no relationship with a Republican Party. He is 100% MAGA. He has to use the Republican moniker, but he is MAGA. All who follow and support him are also MAGA. There are no anti-Trump supporters of Van Drew. Atlantic County Republicans are now Atlantic County MAGA/Republicans. It is not often that you can see, in real time, such a major political shift. This is historic. The actual name change might not happen right away, but the reality has occurred. The two parties in this country are Democrat and MAGA/Republican. OK ... start changing the letter heads! Michael J. Makara Mays Landing Not all ebikes are the same New Jersey is proposing a bill that requires ebike owners to register their bikes and purchase liability insurance. I am the owner of a Class 1 ebike. Please note Class 1 ebikes do not move unless one pedals. I purchased this bike due to a knee injury. It is a hybrid. I can ride without e-assist, or if it is a windy day, I may use e-assist. The bike does not have a throttle. I ride on rural, country roads and rarely see a person. I see this law as just another way to get money from a New Jersey citizen. You need to address the issue of Class 3 ebikes and not throw all ebikes into one basket. Nina Tomasello Richland Agree about Ocean Grove Regarding the recent Press editorial NJ crushing a bit of its living history in Ocean Grove: I really enjoyed this Press opinion piece regarding Ocean Grove. I posted it on our community website Nextdoor. As I wrote in a recent letter to The Coaster in Asbury Park about this issue, most of the protesters barging into the Ocean Grove beach Sunday mornings were people who had abandoned their Christian or Jewish upbringing years ago. They asserted their right to be on the beach was an issue of space, but it is an issue of time. Observing the Sabbath celebrates rest, happiness, serenity, peace and harmony. The history of Ocean Grove is full of examples of how the Christian Camp Meeting Association has tried to preserve Sunday as a special, sacred time. Sadly, all that remains is a few hours on Sunday mornings. The anti-Christian protesters want to take even this away. It is as disrespectful as demanding that all businesses must remain open on Christmas Day because its not recognized as a holy day. Christine Jones Ocean Grove Cannabis-caused car crashes coming our way I have great concerns about New Jerseys permissive marijuana laws allowing easy access to the drug. Colorado, which legalized marijuana in 2012, has increasing car crashes by impaired drivers. Colorado is 14 times the size of New Jersey, with about half the population. It seems that the most densely populated state of New Jersey also has the densest political leaders. With a modicum of intelligence, it should be literally easy to see the car coming down this road. Samuel Solomon Mays Landing 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. Just under 20 people rallied in a Moline church Tuesday as part of their effort to bring a question of parental rights and non-emergency medical care to Illinois voters in November. The Parents Matter Coalition hosted the rally at Faith Evangelical Free Church, aiming to collect signatures for its Right to Parent initiative which, if successful, would put the following non-binding statewide advisory question on the Illinois general election ballot: "Shall the written consent from a minor's parent or guardian be required before any entity, person, clinic or school can provide a minor (under the age of 18 years) any non-emergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical, or any gender modification procedure, gender identification counseling or gender therapy?" To secure this question on the Nov. 7 ballot, the Parents Matter Coalition is aiming to collect 500,000 signatures by April 15. To have a question put on the ballot, they would need 8% of the total votes cast in the governors race in 2022, which would be around 320,000 signatures. It's a question that really, I believe pierces the heart of every person that cares about the welfare of our children, said Parents Matter Coalition representative Tracy Smodilla, who helped lead the ballot initiative. The group formed about a year ago in rural Wheaton. The initiative came in response to certain Illinois state guidance and legislation the Parents Matter Coalition believes has reduced or eliminated parents roles in making life-altering decisions with their children. I remember being a kid, being 12-years-old. I remember being a wacky teenager as well, Smodilla said to the small crowd Tuesday. I couldn't (decide) what to have for lunch, let alone make a decision whether to have sexual relationships with a boy my age or ... whether or not I wanted to be a boy or a T-Rex. Smodilla called current Illinois law and guidelines government overreach, which she claims is reinforced by non-governmental organizations namely, the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood and public education. One rally attendee, Melissa Stromberger, of Geneseo, called gender-affirming care and counseling a sensitive topic that parents of minors have a right to be involved with, especially in school settings. It's one thing to allow Tylenol or Aspirin if my kid has a headache," she said. "It's a completely different thing when they're asking really big questions related to gender expression and preference." While she doesnt have any kids herself, Stromberger said she was a therapist for two years and worked with several families even with a child who transitioned. Based on her experience, Stromberger said its very apparent that minors need their parents or legal guardians to explain heavy topics like gender-affirming care and expression. I strongly think that mom and dad need to decide how they want to have those conversations with their children, Stromberger said. While I don't agree with the affirming part, I do believe that children are children, and in society, we need to still protect them. Unlike a ballot referendum, a ballot advisory question is non-binding meaning that if the Right to Parent initiative earns enough signatures and the support of a majority of voters, it doesnt guarantee public policy change or legislative action. But for members of the Parents Matter Coalition, the point is to raise awareness, Smodilla said, adding that many of the people PMC encounter while gathering petitions were unaware of the existing laws. Despite being non-binding, if supported by voters, the ballot question would also allow the PMC to hold Illinois legislators accountable to their constituents, she added. To many Parents Matter Coalition advocates, any talks of a minors gender identity and reproductive healthcare decisions should include parents every step of the way even when children dont feel safe having these conversations with parents. Smodilla said the focus should be on remediating parenthood in those families, not eliminating parents rights, also noting the states existing processes for minors to skirt parental consent. Smodilla dubbed current Illinois law and guidelines Democratic Marxism. She was especially concerned about Illinois expanded list of mandatory reporters and proposed House Bill 4876. This bill would amend Illinois definition of an "abused child" to include any child who is denied "access to necessary medical care, including, but not limited to, primary care services, abortion services, or gender-affirming services. Another area PMC members take issue with is the Illinois State Board of Educations non-regulatory guidance on Supporting Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Students. This document, created in 2020, specifies schools are not required to seek parental consent to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming students. This is guidance in every school district that instructs teachers on how to deceive parents, Smodilla said. With the repeal of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act in 2021, Illinois no longer requires parental consent for minors seeking hormonal birth control or abortions though it does generally require parental consent for gender-affirming treatments, such as puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy. However, minors can bypass parental consent for limited primary healthcare services if healthcare providers reasonably believe the individual seeking care understands the benefits and risks of any proposed primary care or services. Additionally, minors must be identified, in writing, as a minor seeking care by one of the following: An adult relative. Homeless or social service agency. School social worker or public school homeless liaison. A religious organization representative. A state-licensed attorney. If enacted, HB 4876 would strike this section from Illinois Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act. The existing provision doesnt cover invasive care services beyond standard injections, non-surgical fractures or laceration care. Additionally, specific consent requirements or procedures may vary depending on the treatment and healthcare providers policies. Contacted by the Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times, a spokesman for The Project of the Quad-Cities an agency specializing in LGBTQ+ healthcare services offered no comment on the initiative at this time. Photos: Parental Rights Coalition Rally The breeding population of bears in Connecticu is continuing on a long-term trend of expansion into more cities and towns, DEEP repored. Over the last three years, sows with offspring have been reported in 117 different municipalities. DEEP / contributed photo Connecticut's thriving population of black bears got into more conflicts than ever with residents last year, raiding garbage, clawing down bird feeders, entering homes, killing livestock and even attacking people, according to the recently released State of the Bears report. The animals, including sows bearing young, continue to be concentrated in the state's western half, especially the Northwest Hills and Farmington Valley, according to the report from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Trying to reduce run-ins between people and bears, DEEP last year launched its Be Bear Aware campaign, focused on "the critical need for residents to do their part in keeping communities and bears safe." The campaign stresses blocking bears' access to human food, including garbage, bird seed, backyard poultry, and other livestock. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This year, DEEP spokesperson Paul Copleman said Friday, the agency "will be focused on implementing the bear-related legislation that passed last year." The law expands circumstances in which a bear can be killed to protect life and property, allowing individuals to request permits to kill bears when the animals are damaging crops, livestock or beehives and non-lethal responses are unreasonable or ineffective. The law also bans the intentional feeding of potentially dangerous animals (including bears) and establishes the right to use deadly force to defend oneself, other people and pets if attacked, in certain circumstances. Wildlife advocates last year, however, helped to defeat a long campaign by hunters and farmers in the state to legalize bear hunting, particularly in the northwest corner. Hunting opponents have argued that DEEP already has the authority to kill bears that pose a danger to humans, and that more funding is needed for electric fencing and other non-lethal controls, along with restitution to farmers who suffer damage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "As always," Copleman said, "we are willing to work with the legislature as requested on wildlife proposals they consider." Human/bear conflicts have been increasing, including many incidents wih bird feeders. When Allan Welby put out a bird feeder in his backyard for the season in 2021, the last thing he expected to see was a black bear. But on June 28, a bear roamed into Welby's yard from Old Sib Preserve in Ridgefield to inspect the feeder, pawing and prodding at its contents. "As much as I love feeding the birds, there are so many bears around now that you have to put the feeders away for the summer," Welby told Hearst Connecticut Media. "Lesson learned." contributed photo Highlights from the 2023 State of the Bears report include: Bears have been spotted in every town in the state in recent years. Last year, bears were sighted in 165 of 169 municipalities, compared with reports from 158 communities the year before. The breeding population continues a long-term expansion into more towns. Over the last three years, sows with offspring (an average of 2.6 cubs per momma bear) have been reported in 117 municipalities. First-year survival of cubs was 81 percent. Still, while young male bears wander extensively, female-led bear families remain concentrated in the state's western half. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A bear tagged as #217 was known as Bobbi to many Newtown residents. An off-duty Ridgefield police officer fatally shot the black bear in May 2022. She was survived by her two cubs. Confributed photo "The Connecticut River serves as a barrier of sorts," Copleman said. "They can cross, but seldom do since there is still unoccupied, suitable habitat west of the river which is why we are seeing distribution increase in New Haven and Fairfield counties. As the suitable habitat fills up, more bears will put in the effort to cross the river. Clearly some do, and we are also seeing bears from Massachusetts move south into eastern Connecticut." Residents can reduce run-ins with bears by taking down bird feeders in the warmer seasons. DEEP / Contributed photo DEEPs long-term research shows that Connecticuts bear population has a high reproduction rate compared to some other areas of the animals' range, due in part to the abundance of suitable habitat and excessive human-related food in Connecticut. The state's population has a high potential for growth, researchers reported. Human-bear conflicts have been steadily increasing, including raids on apiaries and other agricultural losses, damage to vehicles and structures and attacks on pets. Last year, bears attacked two people, but no life-threatening injuries were reported. While more conflict reports came from western Connecticut, residents reported issues with bears across the state. More than 85 percent of livestock conflicts in recent years involved backyard chickens, but the vast majority of overall conflicts involved garbage and bird feeders. Bear home entries reached a record in 2022, with 67 incidents reported. Last year, 35 entries were reported. Plentiful rainfall in 2023 led to abundant natural food throughout the year, which could help explain why fewer bears entered homes seeking easy meals, DEEP reported. Still, scaled for each states estimated bear population size, Connecticut's home entries far exceed reports from Massachusetts and New York, which have far larger bear populations than Connecticut's estimated 1,200. The two neighboring states see less than one home entry per 100 bears each year, while over the last six years, Connecticut has averaged 3.1 home entries per 100 bears each year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Iowa lawmakers' property tax change worked as designed in blunting residential property tax growth, Scott County officials say. Individual homeowners may still see an increase in their property tax bill, depending on how much their home increased in value. But the total residential property taxes collected by the county are estimated to decrease by about a tenth of a percent, according to county estimates presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. When including industrial and commercial property growth, the overall county's taxable property value increased by 5.1%. Property tax law changes, however, required the county to knock off 2 percentage points from that. The county is preparing its $136 million budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1. County staff presented the recommended budget and county financials on Tuesday, which included county staff raises, continuing COVID-19 relief-funded projects and the first full fiscal year with ambulance services under the county umbrella. County Administrator Mahesh Sharma told the supervisors to expect larger budgets for the next few years until the county spends the rest of its American Rescue Plan Act funds. In 2023, the Iowa Legislature made changes to the property tax formula to limit the taxes government bodies can collect on the rise in property values. The legislative push came in the wake of eye-popping home assessment increases in 2022. The rollback formula this year changes the share of residential home values that can be taxed from about 54.6% to about 46.34%. In Scott County, a home would have to be assessed at about 17.9% more than the prior year to equal the rollback adjustment. County officials expect to see about $1 million less revenue than if the property tax system had remained unchanged, said Sharma. Sharma added, however, that the county's industrial and commercial growth kept the budget more stable than other counties with less industrial property. "We are part of the urban county and therefore we do have commercial and industrial properties, that kind of offset the negativity in the residential but think about how many of those 99 counties have the similar kind of mechanism where they have unproportionately lower industrial or commercial growth and those counties with this property tax law change is really going to suffer much more," Sharma said. Levy rate to remain the same The county supervisors made it a priority for county staff to put together a budget without raising the levy rate, Sharma said. Under the proposed budget, the urban levy rate would remain the same at $5.95 and the unincorporated county rate would decrease from $8.78 to $8.73 per $1,000 of taxable value. With the residential property tax changes, this means on a $100,000 home in incorporated Scott County, annual property taxes would go down about $50, under the proposed levy rate and rollback. In unincorporated Scott County, a $100,000 home would pay $75 less in annual property taxes. Budget recommendations: salary increases The proposed county budget recommended to supervisors by county staff would raise county staff member salaries by 3% plus a cost of living increase of another 3%. The county compensation board, which recommends salary increases for elected officials, recommended increasing the sheriff's salary by 7% and all other elected county officials by 5%. Under the proposed fiscal 2025 budget, the county would add two full-time custodial staff and a senior facility maintenance worker. County staff said this is because of the increased space from taking on MEDIC facilities and the increased square footage of the new Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center set to open this fall. To staff the YJRC specifically, the proposed fiscal 2025 budget would add a full-time senior office assistant and five full-time counselors. Other items to watch The Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center is set to be finished later this fall, which will put into operation a larger juvenile detention center than the county currently operates. The county is working to spend down its American Rescue Plan funds. So far, it's spent about half of the $33 million Scott County was allocated. The rest is budgeted. The county will also be preparing a plan to spend $6.8 million in opioid settlement funds over the course of the next 17 years, said Scott County Budget Director David Farmer. Capital improvement projects the county is eyeing include: $5.6 million in building and grounds projects, including a cooling tower, a roof repair, a shooting range, a treasurer relocation, building out the continuing governance/operations space above the YJRC; $4.1 million in new technology equipment including auditor pollbooks, security footage, body cameras, servers, and storage; $3.69 million in conservation projects including a Scott County Park pool liner, West Lake Park and Scott County Park shelters and playgrounds, and ARPA-funded trails and sewer projects. $1 million in secondary roads construction equipment $10 million in secondary roads construction, including culverts intersections, resurfacing, and projects in Mt. Joy. PHOTOS: Scott County supervisors sworn in 010323-qc-nws-supervisors005 010323-qc-nws-supervisors006 010323-qc-nws-supervisors001 010323-qc-nws-supervisors002 010323-qc-nws-supervisors003 010323-qc-nws-supervisors004 DES MOINES Iowas funding for K-12 schools would increase by $147 million under a bill Iowa Republicans passed out of the House on Thursday. The bill, House File 2613, sets the growth rate for Supplemental State Aid the money the state pays to school districts at 3% for the 2024-25 school year. The increase would amount to a $229 increase per student, bringing the per-pupil spending from the state to $7,864. The increase would bring the total K-12 spending from the states general fund to around $3.8 billion. The bill was passed by majority Republicans largely along party lines, 60-36. Republican Rep. Brian Lohse of Bondurant joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Republicans said the bill's plan is sustainable and would provide budget stability for schools. Democrats decried the bill as a de-facto cut to school funding and said it would cause cuts to staff, programs and services. Iowa Senate lawmakers have not settled on a number they will propose to boost school funding. Senate Republicans have advanced a shell bill that does not include a funding increase. Since Republicans gained full control of the Legislature in 2017, theyve increased school funding by an average of 2% each year, according to data from the Legislative Services Agency. The Legislature passed a 3% increase in school funding last year. House Republicans have also proposed a bill that would increase pay for starting teachers to $50,000 over two years and boost pay for paraeducators and other school support staff. Democrats ask for 6% boost House Democrats called the 3% increase in school funding insufficient to keep up with rising costs at schools. Rep. Sharon Sue Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City, proposed an amendment to increase the states public school funding by 6%, or around $294 million. Democrats said the higher increase would allow schools to keep up with rising wages, increasing costs and help them fund vital programs like work-based learning. With a 3% increase, they warned schools would not be able to rehire teachers and would have fewer offerings with larger class sizes. Their wages have not kept pace with the economy, because the school funding has not kept pace with the economy, so more and more are working additional jobs just to make ends meet, said Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport. Democrats compared the funding increase to the amount the state will spend this year on private school savings accounts, which Republican lawmakers approved last year. The program allows families to take the states full per-pupil allocation for their students and spend them on private school tuition. Around 16,750 students used an education savings account for the current school year, for an estimated cost of $127.3 million. By year four, when every family will be eligible regardless of income, the program is expected to cost $345 million annually, according to estimates from the Legislative Services Agency. Private school enrollment increased 7.4% during this school year, to 36,195. Public school enrollment dropped by half a percent to 483,699. "Since there are fewer than 45,000 private school students in the state, getting about $300 million over a couple years, the least we can do is give that much to our public schools," said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights. "So we were very disappointed that Republicans chose not to engage in this conversation and have concerns about where we finally end up." Republicans: SSA boost part of larger package Republicans noted on Thursday they are pushing for a separate bill that would increase the starting teacher salary to $50,000 over two years and increase pay for paraprofessionals. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said the bill was part of a "global package" on school funding. "We wanted to make sure that we give schools flexibility with (supplemental state aid), at the same time recognizing we need to put more money to paraeducation and teacher pay," Grassley said. Responding to accusations that Republicans were prioritizing private school students, Republican Rep. Phil Thompson of Boone said private school and public school students receive the same level of funding. "We have consistently delivered steady increases and SSA to the tune of nearly a billion dollars in the last decade," Thompson said. "This is my sixth year here. This is the sixth time that I get to vote for a sustainable increase in SSA, something I'm very proud of. A 77-year-old Clinton man is facing sex-abuse charges after he allegedly inappropriately touched a 6-year-old girl, police said. Richard Lyle Fisher is charged in Clinton County District Court with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Each charge is a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Clinton Police Detective Alice Cain, the investigation began Jan. 17 when the Iowa Department of Human Services contacted Clinton police about an alleged sexual abuse. According to the DHS initial intake, the girl reported that a 77-year-old man known to her had touched her inappropriately. When police interviewed Fisher, he admitted to touching the girl inappropriately. The incidents began in October of 2023 and in December of that year, according to the arrest affidavit. Additionally, Fisher told police he knew it was wrong but added that it was because he was lonely and thought it was fun. Fisher was arrested Tuesday. During a first appearance on the charges Wednesday in Clinton County District Court, Associate Judge Kimberly Shepherd scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for March 1. Fisher was released from the Clinton County Jail on Wednesday. Shepherd placed Fisher under the supervision of the Seventh Judicial Department of Correctional Services. He was placed on in-home detention and is being monitored via a GPS ankle bracelet. Less than seven months after being released from an Iowa prison, a Davenport man on escape status from the Iowa Department of Corrections Work Release Center has been arrested in connection with the robbery and shooting of a man late Sunday, police said. Ralondo DShaun Anderson Nelson II, 29, was taken into custody Tuesday night by Davenport police at the Walmart on West Kimberly Road. Police received a tip he was shopping at the store. Nelson allegedly walked away from the Work Release Center on Sept. 17, 2023, less than two months after he was released from prison. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Detective Aric Robinson, at 10:57 p.m. Sunday, police were sent to an apartment building in the 4300 block of North Ripley Street to investigate a report of a robbery with shots fired. Officers located a victim who was taken to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, for treatment. Nelson had armed himself with a 9mm pistol. He used the pistol to gain entry into the victims apartment. Once inside the victims apartment, Nelson struck him in the back of the head with the pistol, which created a large laceration, according to the affidavit. After the assault, Nelson shot the man and stole property from him. Nelson is facing one count of attempted murder, a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years, 70% of which, or 17 years, must be served before parole can be granted. He also is charged with first-degree robbery, also a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. However, upon conviction, it will be up to the sentencing judge to determine a minimum mandatory sentence of 12 years, or 50%, or 17 years, 70%. Nelson also is charged with the Class B felony of first-degree burglary, but there is no minimum mandatory sentence for that crime under Iowa law. Additionally, Nelson is charged with one count each of willful injury causing serious injury and assault while participating in a felony, each a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. He also is charged with going armed with intent and felon in possession of a firearm, both Class D felonies that carry a prison sentence of five years. Also, he is charged with use of a dangerous weapon in commission of a crime, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. During a first appearance on the charges Wednesday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Stephen Wing scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for March 1. Nelson was released from prison and placed on work release on July 31, 2023, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections. He was to be on work release until March 2, 2024. However, he walked away from the Work Release Center on Sept. 17, 2023. He had been imprisoned for a series of robberies he had committed when he was a juvenile. During a sentencing hearing held Nov. 11, 2011, District Court Judge John Telleen sentenced Nelson to 25 years in prison with a 70% minimum on a charge of first-degree robbery. He also sentenced Nelson to a concurrent sentence of 10 years in prison on a charge of second-degree robbery. Those robberies were committed when Nelson was 16, according to Scott County District Court electronic records. During that same hearing, Telleen sentenced Nelson to a pair of concurrent 10-year prison terms on two counts of second-degree robbery that occurred in another case. Those robberies occurred when he was 15, according to court records. In 2014, the Iowa Supreme Court determined that mandatory minimum sentences for juveniles were unconstitutional unless certain factors were taken into consideration, including the age of the offender and the features of youthful behavior, the juveniles home and family environment, the circumstances of the offense and the role of youthful features in its commission, the challenges for youthful offenders in navigating through the criminal process and the possibility for rehabilitation and the capacity for change. Nelson, who was incarcerated at Fort Madison, was granted a resentencing that was held June 29, 2015. According to the ruling in the re-sentencing hearing issued by District Court Judge Stuart Werling, Nelson testified that "at the time of the commission of the offenses herein, he was a teenager who simply lived day to day. He did not consider what the consequences of his actions may bring, nor did he think about the future. Additionally, he did not consider the impact of his criminal conduct upon his victims. He merely thought about obtaining sufficient money so that he could buy marijuana, alcohol and impress girls," according to Werling's ruling. He admits that he hung around with a disreputable crowd and that his youthful conduct was motivated by a desire to obtain street cred from within his peer group. Most of his peers were older than him, and according to the PSI (pre-sentencing investigation report) in this matter, they were a particularly unhealthy crowd of persons to provide peer pressure for an impressionable youth. Unfortunately for Mr. Nelson, he had a long juvenile history of offenses. He received nearly every training and diversion-assistance program available to youthful offenders and would usually successfully complete the programs without absorbing any useful content therefrom. He admits that his conduct was a fake it till you make it gambit in which he successfully completed the programs so that he could be returned to the street as soon as possible. Sadly, his plan was successful, and he was released from the State Training School in Eldora at age fifteen when he immediately returned to the street, to his former peer group and to his life of alcohol, drugs and crime," according to Werling's ruling. He engaged in more than one armed robbery of persons on local bike paths in Davenport, Iowa, in September of 2009. In at least one incident, he slashed a female victim with a knife, including cuts to her face. On June 18 of 2011, he committed an armed robbery of a man at a car wash in Davenport. He was arrested immediately. His grandfather posted bond, which turned out to be unfortunate for Mr. Nelson. Six days after his bond was posted, he participated in the armed robbery of another citizen at least insofar as he received stolen property from the victim in that event. According to the sentencing ruling by Werling, Nelson stated that in the time he has been incarcerated, he has had nothing but time to think about his past events and the impact it has had upon his victims, his family and himself. He now sees the impact of his criminal behaviors from the point of view of his victims and expresses remorse. He also is saddened at the impact his actions have had on his family. After hearing from Nelsons family and friends, Werling determined that the 70% rule in Nelsons case was unconstitutional and that he did not have to serve the minimum of 17 years on the first-degree robbery conviction. During a first appearance on the charges Thursday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Stephen Wing scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for March 1. Nelson was being held in the Scott County Jail Thursday night on cash-only bonds totaling $101,000. SIOUX CITY -- Federal regulators are seeking federal court action against a Tennessee-based company it alleges employed child workers to clean equipment at Sioux City's Seaboard Triumph Foods pork plant. The U.S. Department of Labor filed the complaint Wednesday, seeking a nationwide temporary restraining order and injunction against Fayette Janitorial Service from illegally employing children while the department continues to investigate its labor practices. A hearing has been scheduled for March 4 in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. The Labor Department believes Fayette employed at least nine children on its overnight sanitation shifts at Seaboard. It said in court filings that Fayette employs minors under age 16 at the plant during overnight shifts to work more than three hours a day and more than 18 hours a week while school is in session. Children under age 18 were tasked with cleaning power-driven machines such as meat and bone-cutting saws, headsplitters, jawpullers and skinners. The Fair Labor Standards Act bans children under age 18 from working in dangerous occupations, including most jobs in meatpacking and processing plants. "Federal laws were established decades ago to prevent employers from profiting from the employment of children in dangerous jobs, yet we continue to find employers exploiting children," Jessica Looman, the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division administrator, said in a news release. "As we've unfortunately seen in this case, employers' violations of federal child labor laws have real consequences on children's lives. Our actions to stop these violations will help ensure that more children are not hurt in the future." In response to the allegations, Seaboard has terminated all contracts with Fayette, the company said in a released statement. "We were disturbed to learn of the allegations filed by the Department of Labor against an outside vendor, Fayette Janitorial Services, relating to its alleged employment of possible underage workers. Fayette is a third-party vendor that just recently began providing sanitation services at the Sioux City plant in September 2023," Seaboard said. "Such practices of an outside vendor, if true, are in violation of our company's policies and procedures, which hold the safety and care of our workers in the highest regard. We will continue to fully cooperate with the Department of Labor on this matter." The Wage and Hour Division, or WHD, received an anonymous complaint on Sept. 29 about children cleaning the Seaboard plant. On Oct. 18, investigators conducted overnight surveillance at the plant and witnessed several workers who appeared to be minors. On Nov. 16, WHD executed a search warrant at the plant, touring parts of it during the overnight sanitation shift, documenting working conditions and interviewing employees of Fayette, which had begun providing sanitation services at the plant on Sept. 15. Investigators observed Fayette workers dressed in hardhats, safety glasses, rubber gloves and other protective gear hosing down equipment, then washing it by hand with chemicals and soap before rinsing. Cleaners worked under, around, between and on top of running, wet equipment while cleaning. Investigators reported heavy mist and steam causing low visibility and making it hard to see equipment and witnessed workers reaching inside machinery to check for animal parts. Floors were slippery from the combination of water, fat and meat. By reviewing personnel files, employment applications and badge photos provided by Fayette and comparing them to subpoenaed school records from local school districts, WHD investigators determined Fayette employed nine minor children -- two 14-year-olds, one 15-year-old, one 16-year-old and five 17-year-olds. Four minor children still worked at the plant as of Dec. 12, according to court documents. One of the minor child workers told investigators they work five or six days a week and clean running machines that cut out hams and take out bones. Another child cleaned a machine that cuts off the hogs' ears. One of the children claimed to be 33 years old, another claimed to be 26. In its request for the temporary restraining order, the Labor Department asked that Fayette be enjoined from employing child workers, refusing to provide information to investigators, discouraging workers from talking to the Labor Department and retaliating against workers who do. The Labor Department also says Fayette employed 15 child workers at a Perdue Farms plant in Virginia. According to a Department of Labor news release, Fayette provides contract sanitation and cleaning services for meat and poultry processing plants in about 30 states and employs more than 600 workers. IOWA CITY In an effort to save money and better allocate resources, the University of Iowa is planning to close several off-campus centers including Birchwood Learning Center in Davenport and Scott Community College Learning Center in Bettendorf. The UI request to close the centers along with the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Learning Center on downtowns Second Avenue SE will go before the Board of Regents for approval next week. Working professional students are overwhelmingly selecting online courses for their flexibility, according to the request to close the Birchwood center which houses space for the Professional Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Business Analytics programs. Offering both in-person and online has become an inefficient use of resources. UI officials gave the same reasons for wanting to close the Scott Community College center and the Tippie center in Cedar Rapids, where last year 101 students enrolled in the professional MBA program and 37 enrolled in the MSBA program. The university did not immediately say how many of the 101 Cedar Rapids professional MBA students in 2023 the highest enrollment since at least 2019 were taking courses in person and how many were online only. It also did not immediately share specifics about the 37 students enrolled in the Cedar Rapids-based MSBA program. Current MBA and MSBA students in the TCOB Cedar Rapids Learning Center will be able to complete coursework through online offerings at the pace of their choosing and with more flexibility, according to the UI request, which will take effect at the end of the current semester if approved by the board. There will be cost savings from no longer leasing space in Cedar Rapids, UI officials reported. Additionally, faculty resources can be focused on delivering the online program versus teaching courses at multiple in-person sites as well as online courses. The Birchwood Learning Center closure, like the one in Cedar Rapids, will affect UI professional MBA and MSBA in-person offerings, in that the location was used to offer those courses on the eastern side of the state. But, unlike in Cedar Rapids, that location had seen enrollment drop from a total of 87 in 2020 to 13 total in 2022 and zero in 2023, according to the university's request documents. Given the number of students applying to the Birchwood Center was so low that it would not be feasible to offer courses at that site, beginning in summer 2022 students applying to Birchwood were offered the option of moving to an online learning center," the university said. Scott Community closure The universitys planned closure of its Scott Community College Learning Center will affect master of social work students having opened about 50 years ago to serve the educational needs of students in the region. At that time, UI was the only (master of social work) program serving Iowa, and the demand for qualified social workers necessitated the opening of this educational center, according to the request for closure. The program originally was organized through the Quad Cities Graduate Study Center, a consortium of 10 universities, which eventually closed, prompting the UI to move its social work center to Scott Community College. Enrollment at Scott Community was effected by two changes: closure of Marycrest Universitys bachelor in social work program a feeder for the UI masters program at Scott and the debut of St. Ambrose Universitys master of social work degree, upping competition for students and practicum sites, according to the UI. In its last recruitment push for the Scott Community program in spring 2021, the UI netted 10 applicants all of whom were admitted, but eight took the online program. No students have been physically enrolled at the Scott Community College Learning Center since 2019. There has been a decrease in applications to the learning center, while at the same time, the program is expanding the online (master of social work) program due to increased demand, according to the university. It is anticipated prospects in the region of Scott Community College will apply to the online program. The UI master of social work program remains available at its main Iowa City campus, with 60 enrolled; the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Learning Center in Des Moines, with 79 enrolled; and through the UI online program, with 44 enrolled. UI officials did not immediately disclose how much it has been paying to lease the spaces and how much the program closures could save. But they reported faculty resources would be better spent and students would be better served. This should remove barriers as it increases accessibility and convenience. No impact is expected on the Iowa workforce." Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette. Photos: Iowa's Caitlin Clark becomes the All-time leading scorer in NCAA Women's Division I In a show of support for the Veterans Honor Banner Project, advocates gathered at the Rapid City Council meeting on Monday, requesting the city's permission to use additional light poles for the project's expansion. Launched in 2017, the project initially displayed 18 banners on poles provided by Main Street Square, honoring World War II veterans. Over the years, it expanded to include banners representing veterans from the Civil War to current conflicts, reaching 323 light poles used last year. Bill Casper, speaking on behalf of the project, said it struggled to secure more poles for banners despite its growth, especially along Fifth Street and at the Fitzgerald Stadium parking lot. "We've asked to see the specs, but I've never received an answer. You've probably seen our banners that are being held up, Casper said. One of these banners weighs less than two pounds 1.59 pounds, to be exact, 60 inches long and 30 inches wide, equating to a surface area of 4.5 square feet. The reason we chose this size is because it's the same size that the city uses." Public Works cited concerns about banner placement in residential areas and the structural specifications of light poles as reasons for denial. The project invested over $15,000 in banner-hanging supplies to facilitate the expansion. Addressing the concerns about the poles' capacity, Casper noted the minimal weight and wind load of the banners and the absence of any pole failures due to the project. The city still has reservations, such as the liability concerns associated with adding wind load to poles not designed for banners. About 20 poles fall each year due to various reasons, underscoring the potential risks of unauthorized attachments, Public Works Director Dale Tech said. "Some of these poles are 30-40 years old. We don't have the specs. One thing I can tell you is they were not designed to hang banners. We believe this is a great program and we'd love to see it grow. But for liability reasons, hanging a banner essentially a sail off the side of a pole without accounting for additional wind load is a concern. It's not about the weight of the banner; it's about the wind load on the pole, Tech explained. Mayor Jason Salamun proposed an approach, suggesting the formation of a work group comprising council members, project representatives, and city staff from legal, public works, and parks departments. The goal is to develop a sustainable framework that allows the project to continue while ensuring public safety and compliance with city regulations, according to Salamun. "I would like to formally propose that workgroup to resolve this matter and get it in writing, to protect you in the years to come. It's not just about this year; it's about what we are going to do 10, 20 years from now, Salamun said. We all know it enriches our community. We're so grateful for it. We want to ensure we do it in a way that honors events and, of course, protects the welfare of our community." The city will form a group to actively address the issue and support the honor of veterans, city officials said. After marking a full year as Pennington County Sheriff, Brian Mueller sat down with local media on Wednesday morning to discuss the office's annual report and reflect on initiatives he worked on in 2023 increases in proactive law enforcement, the start of a jail education program, and future jail expansion plans. "It went fast," Mueller said. "We had a lot of really good things going on. We're getting a lot of real positive momentum in public safety and with our relationships with our community right now, so I'm just really excited and blessed to be part of that." Mueller took office at the beginning of January 2023 after he won the election for sheriff in June 2023. Former sheriff Kevin Thom retired after 12 years in the position. The sheriff before Thom, Don Holloway, held the office for nearly three decades. Although Mueller is in his 29th year at the sheriff's office, he is new to the role of sheriff itself. "This is an extremely big wheel," Mueller said. "There's a lot going on in Pennington County, a lot going on with the sheriff's office with over 440 employees, but I rely very heavily on command staff and our line-level supervisors and all of our employees here in Pennington County." Proactive law enforcement increases in 2023 The number of deputy-initiated calls for service increased from over 14,200 in 2022 to over 27,800 in 2023. Citizen calls decreased to just over 26,500 in 2023 from nearly 29,000 in 2022. Mueller said increasing law enforcement proactivity was a big focus in 2023. We've really worked on ramping that up with training and setting goals in our patrol division for increasing proactivity, and our patrol folks really came through this year, Mueller said. A review of past annual reports dating back a decade showed 2023 is the first year deputy-initiated calls for service exceeded citizen calls, accounting for 51% of all calls. The next highest years were 2014 and 2015, at 43% and 42%. From 2016 on, the percentage hovered between 37% to the lowest percentages of 26% in 2019 and 27% in 2020. Through Covid, a lot of our contacts were reduced, Mueller said. Violent crime decreases, property crime mostly steady Violent crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and aggravated assault decreased in Pennington County from 2022 to 2023. There were nine murders in 2022 compared to seven in 2023. Sexual assaults decreased slightly from 263 in 2022 to 260 in 2023. There were 601 aggravated assaults in 2022 compared to 578 in 2023. Burglary decreased slightly as well from 538 to 531. Theft, stolen vehicles, and robberies increased stolen vehicles slightly from 537 to 541, thefts from 3,054 to 3,157, and robberies from 70 to 104. Domestic violence decreased by about 200 cases from 1,854 in 2022 to 1,690 in 2023. Mueller attributed the decreases in crime to the proactive law enforcement approach. Even though our population continues to increase, and our patrol proactivity continues to increase, a lot of the crime statistics are staying level or continuing to drop. I think that's a testament of the good work not just the work that we're doing here at the sheriff's office but the partnerships that we have here in western South Dakota with our other public safety entities, specifically with the Rapid City Police Department, Mueller said. IGNITE Program, jail expansion During Muellers first year, his primary initiatives aside from a shift in law enforcement proactivity were the implementation of a jail education program and furthering a plan to expand the jail. IGNITE (Individual Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) is a program designed to reduce recidivism at the county jail level with education, job and life skills training, and pre-treatment for substance abuse. Mueller announced the program launch in May 2023. In August, Mueller hired a program coordinator. According to the 2023 annual report, by the end of 2023, programming included a GED program, consumer credit counseling, addiction services, parents relationships and health courses, and yoga. In the next month or two, Mueller said he hopes to hire a full-time teacher for the program. The Pennington County Commission approved the request for a teacher position during its Feb. 6 meeting. We have three (teachers) at the juvenile services center. Theyll kind of work as a team, Mueller said. We've been having a counselor come over a day or two a week and do some pretreatment in the jail, and (were) working on getting a full-time position allocated to be able to work specifically in the jail on IGNITE." At its Dec. 5 meeting, the commission took a step forward in an estimated $28 million plan for a 25,000-square foot expansion to the jail on St. Joseph Street and approved a $1.78 million contract with BKV Group to create designs and calculate cost estimates for the project. If the project continues to move forward, the jail could see an added 178 beds 30 of those in booking. It would also act as a footprint for the future. The one-story addition could accommodate another four stories, adding another 148 beds on each floor. Although Mueller has helped usher the plan into action, it has been in the works for several years as the jail operates close to or over capacity. As I was running for sheriff and through my first year, that's not necessarily what you want to tackle as one of your first projects as a newly elected sheriff in office, but it's important to our community that we have adequate jail bed space, Mueller said. Its very promising that that projects coming together well. Mueller said he hopes the expansion can begin in 2025. Otherwise, he plans to focus on employee retention, specifically in the corrections realm. "We have some phenomenal employees and supervisors that work both in juvenile and adult corrections, but we have some work to do on figuring out once we get those employees how do we retain them longer term, so we're doing a lot of focus on that," he said. Ellee Amber Ferebee Ellee Amber Ferebee gave the initial impression of being incredibly shy and introverted. Like a butterfly, she could stay a comfortable distance from people and surroundings until she was ready to land. When she landed, she did so with passion, confidence and joy. She was very aware of the essence of Ellee and did not waiver from who she was. Ellee was funny! She always had a way to brighten the room. Ellee had amazing adoration for her best friends and siblings, Jaydon and Kaitlyn. She had passion for the family pets, Roxie, Hey-yo and Binx. She loved to dance, but in keeping with her persona, she chose to share that with a chosen few family and friends. She loved to learn and was proud of her accomplishments. Though very quiet in school, she was obsessed with her kindergarten papers, organizing and saving every paper she brought home. Ellee loved her family and had great fun swimming, camping and hiking with them. She enjoyed trips to Toadstool Geologic Park, Jump Craze, Post Playhouse, Storybook Island and Chadron State Park. Ellee was born December 26, 2017 and left this world February 8, 2024. She is survived by her parents: Jake and Katie Ferebee and siblings: Kaitlyn and Jaydon; great-grandma, Mary Lou Ferebee (Imperial, Nebraska), great-grandma, Lavonne Ohlson (Scottsbluff, Nebraska); grandparents: Doug and Donna Ferebee (Champion, Nebraska), Doug and Keri Ohlson (York, Nebraska), Marge and Jim Shafer (Otis, Colorado) will miss her dearly. She is also survived by seven aunts and eight uncles. An 18-ounce carne asada ribeye with fajita-style accompaniments from Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media Shrimp curtido tacos at Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media Los Charros Cantina in Branford, at 120 N. Main Street. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media The interior of Cantina Los Charros in Branford on May 3, 2023. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media Salmon aguachile from Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media The two things I miss most about Los Angeles are the Mexican and Korean street foods, says chef Colt Taylor when I revisit Los Charros in Branford. His name may be more familiar to most people atop the menu at his award-winning fine dining spot, The Essex. Ive just asked him how he came to open a Mexican restaurant in the state. Circumstances dictate direction. A variety of dishes from Los Charros in Branford on May 3, 2023. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media On my first trip I sit at the bar and notice a nice selection of Mexican and local Connecticut beers fronting a tempting collection of tequilas and mezcals. My first sip is a Conquistador cocktail, smokey with mezcal, while Aperol and amaro add bittersweet depth underneath bright and sweet citrus. This, and the spicy pina picante cocktail I had on a later visit (both created by bar manager Nacy Wood)are ideal starters to warm up the palate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Los Charros is medium-sized, with an L-shaped bar and large windows inviting you into a bright space. The decor is thematic but understated, with several paintings by the chefs mother, a large mural in the style of Diego Rivera at the back, and a central lounge area with couches and tables tying the room together. The interior of Cantina Los Charros in Branford on May 3, 2023. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media My appetizer arrives in the from of wheatberry esquites served in a screaming hot iron skillet. The sweet corn stew is almost a chowder, topped with crisp chip crumbles made from the same corn, crumbled cotija cheese, and whole grain spelt kernels which pop in the mouth, adding both texture and malty depth. Its a very satisfying little dish for anyone coming in from the dark and cold of a winter night. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I sipped an Estrella Jalisco beer next, alongside Los Charros chicken a la brasa tacos. Theres a pleasant, subdued spice to the chicken, and a good hit of garlic. These, like all the tacos, are first spread with a fundido of beans before being topped. I liked this for the flavor component alone, but theyre also an excellent sop for the juices and sauces which can dissolve corn tortillas and turn them into something less hand-held than lap-splashed. Bonus points there. The idea for Los Charros began as a Thursday weeknight special in Taylors original location of The Essex in Centerbrook, in 2017. I always say in the restaurant business you dont make your money on Friday, Saturday nights, he explained. Thats your overhead. You make it during the week. We had a Wednesday night burger special and a Thursday taco special and when we looked at the numbers, it was 3-to-1 tacos. Churro beignets and Mexican chocolate tres leches cake from Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media The cavernous, 12,000 square-foot space of the original Essex was transformed, housing both The Essex and Los Charros until the more fine-dining Essex was moved to Old Saybrook in 2019, a location from which it would win Middlesex County Restaurant of the Year at the 2023 Connecticut Restaurant Association CRAzies awards. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Taylor had spent time in Los Angeles, soaking in Mexican culinary tradition before moving back to Connecticut. Tacos were a natural fit after this period, where spent time with his aunts husband, a Mexican national who also owned an agave plantation in Guadalajara. Charro refers to ornately dressed Mexican cowboys or rancheros. The restaurants name is a tribute to Colts uncle, Oscar. Colt learned more about Mexican cooking from Oscars 90-something-year-old mother. A flight of margaritas from Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media Real Mexican is not what you find in the northeast, he says. Real mole, real adobo, fresh tortillas we dont open a can with the beans, were buying dried beans and making them the old fashioned way fresh epazote (a type of Mexican aromatic herb) in the black beans. Were getting corn from Oaxaca, nixtamalizing it here and making the tortillas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chef Taylor says now when his uncle visits he tells him it tastes like home. Los Charros' new home since 2022 has been Branford, where a larger population in the New Haven metro area immediately off I-95 has been able to support this everything from scratch concept of Mexican cooking. The ingredients, the labor, and the time arent cheap, and neither are the prices. You can expect to pay $16-25 for two or three tacos in a landmark case of you get what you pay for, but those prices drop to $5 each during the 3:30 5p.m. happy hour, Tuesday through Saturday, with additional drink specials at a late night happy hour from 10p.m. - 2a.m. Friday and Saturdays. I try more tacos, this time an off-menu Tuesday special surfnturf, made with that bean base, smokey, spicy ancho coated strips of grilled skirt steak, and a duo of grilled shrimp riding atop flavorful stripes of guacamole and milled cotija cheese. It is boldly spicy, extravagantly flavorful, and texturally pleasing, with the contrasting crunch of shrimp, creamy beans, and chewy steak. Colt Taylor, owner and head chef of Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media Keep em coming. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of our signatures is our salsa game. We came up with this Seven Regions of Mexico salsa plate, the chef says gesturing to the flight of small ramekins, looking like a painters palette, but with a considerably more enticing aroma. Avocado salsa, roja, roasted pineapple, chipotle, peanut, verde, and habanero, each made in the style of one of Mexicos regions. People tend to think of Mexico as this one place the northern region with cattle and grain, steaks and burritos and flour tortillas but most of the country isnt cattle country, the majority of the population lives in the other six regions, so many different food cultures! The different salsas are examples either cooked-into or able to be added to your food to explore the flavors: smoky spicy Ancho marinade from Baijia; Tijuana roasted salsa rojo and moles from Oaxaca; Mexico City-style guacamole, which confoundingly contains peas, and is topped with hulled pumpkin seeds. Tortilla chips and a salsa flight at Los Charros in Branford. Lisa Nichols/ Special to Hearst CT Media Chefs favorite is the chicken adobado taco, served with chunks of cleanly spiced thigh meat, cotija cheese, green onion, and strips of radish. (As strong a signal as Ive found that someone learned cooking in an actual Mexican kitchen. Keep an eye out for radishes.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad Having a Mexican uncle started an ongoing series of critiques of Taylors food. The last time, he told me my birria tacos are good, but thats not birria, says the chef of his uncles review. He told me birria tacos are made with flour tortillas in Mexico, and I thought that makes so much sense because the flour does so much more to absorb the consume. As a result, the birria tacos at Los Charros arrive almost pumpkin orange with the spiced beef consume, crisp and blistered, with all the juices inside until you cut in. A ramekin of the consume itself suitable for dipping or pouring arrives on the side. Theyre delicious, despite Colts complete rejection of one piece of his uncles advice. He also said theyre only made with meat and a tortilla in his village, no cheese, he laughs. I said no way, I like cheese. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I was particularly impressed by the mole coloradito a dark brown sauce whose name literally means staining. Taylor uses this on his enchiladas, but Im a mole freak and tried it on its own, catching a huge bouquet of sweet, smokey texture, lively with spicy heat. He says they use chipotle, cascabel, darbol a marriage of dried chilis and blend new batches with starters of the previous one, like making balsamic vinegar. Its easily one of the top two best Ive had in the state. Mole to me is the main course, says Taylor. Whatever you put in it chicken, whatever that's the garnish. I couldnt agree more. Brunch is an option at the new location starting this year, and will include drink specials, huevos rancheros, migas, and one of my all-time favorite hangover foods: chilaquiles, made with chips braised in stock, cotija, the house salsa verde, and a fried egg. I decided if I was going to make the food of another culture, I was going to research the heck out of it with ultimate respect. We put quality above everything, in every ingredient, he sums up, tipping a glass. And we make strong margaritas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Owners of the Bitter Root Stock Farm are proposing using a portion of farm land to build a mixture of housing and live-work options for residents. A presentation on the proposed housing development on Monday at the Hamilton Grange drew nearly 80 community members. The Bitter Root Stock Farm was established in 1886 and the Bitter Root Stock Farm has gone through a lot of changes, said Peter Van Tuyn with the BRSF. These changes were all made with great thought and deliberation. We have experienced a great growth in this valley and we also find it hard to take a left on Highway 93. We also notice the lack of housing is putting a severe strain on our community. Bitter Root Stock Farm owners are proposing a development on ranch land located northwest of the Fairgrounds Road and Eastside Highway intersection, northeast of Hamilton High School. The D-Lazy-S Meadows proposal includes 113 lots on 26 acres with 226 housing units that would connect to city water and sewer. The units range from studio to three-bedroom apartments for rental and sale. The proposal allows for neighborhood commercial opportunities, while leaving 20% of the property for open space in partnership with Biomimicry 3.8 engineer Seth GaleWyrick. The open space areas, trails, the green spaces and alleys would be maintained by a homeowners association while the main roadways will be owned and maintained by Hamilton. Whatever your opinion on growth, it is here, Van Tuyn said. It came right to us at the Bitter Root Stock Farm. Our plan is in close proximity to town, schools, nature, employers, dense residential development, expanded airport and more. It would be faster to walk than to drive to the high school if you lived in this development. Van Tuyn said in the 2009 Transportation Plan, prepared by the City of Hamilton, Ravalli County and the Montana Department of Transportation, the goal was to move Fairgrounds Road and airport intersection further north. That is on our land, he said. The Hamilton Growth Policy, completed in 2022, identified this land as where Hamilton could logically grow. If you have not seen these documents I urge you to look at them as they guide the city on growth, development, transportation, land use, public infrastructure and a lot more. He said to help manage the growth that has happened, the county and city asked for a road and sewer easement through the BRSF land so the intersection could be relocated and airport sewage could get to the treatment plant, rather than stay within the septic system at the airport which has been overcapacity since 2012. It creates a pollution bulb and threatens the ground water, Van Tuyn said. If that pollution bulb is left unchecked it could impact the river and the water in between to the airport. The land between the river and the airport is our ranch, its not other peoples property. We want to protect the water on our land. We gave them the easement, we told them they need to get it done before irrigation season this spring. He said the number of accidents at the current intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Eastside Highway has led to the decision to move the intersection further north. The town is literally growing right through our property, Van Tuyn said. That reality, plus financial interests, led us to decide development is the highest and best use for this land now. That is not a light decision for the ranch to make as land is the foundation for everything we do. He said selling the land was one option but it would mean losing control over the development. We want control over the development because we want the development to address the acute needs to substantially diverse housing options in Hamilton and to do it in a functional, neighborhood way, Van Tuyn said. We want it to be designed and built with the most modern tools available to respect the land and we want it to be done in a way that minimizes interference with our continued ranch operations. The BRSF owners realized designing, proposing and getting approval for their design would guarantee they retained control. The proposed site plan has dense housing but in a variety of styles and a consideration for green space. We have taken our inspiration from old Hamilton, not surprising since Marcus Daly was the one who started the town, Van Tuyn said. We liked what he did, the old neighborhoods have a functional neighborhood feel with alleys. To mitigate the impact of the proposal on the natural environment, D Lazy S Meadows is working with Biomimicry 3.8. GaleWyrick said Biomimicry is the study of how nature works and then incorporating that healthy design into the planning and construction to respect local ecology and community needs. He showed the research numbers and spoke to how the proposal meets healthy goals. At the meeting on Monday, community questions included: Would the cost of each dwelling be affordable? Will this lower rent costs in the valley? Will the project affect the water table? Will there be more than one entrance/exit into the neighborhood? Others questioned if there had been an environmental impact study, while some asked about the impacts to emergency services and local schools. Van Tuyn invited everyone to study the proposal, read the guiding documents and participate in the upcoming meetings. The community members had a variety of opinions and concerns, but overall, seemed supportive of the project. We are choosing to succeed and we dont think being passive about our housing crisis is a recipe for success, Van Tuyn said. The formal filing should be later this week. The project has three public hearings ahead, with a plan to possibly start construction next spring. The d-lazy-s.com website has detailed information on the proposal and the livestream of the meeting is available on Facebook d-lazy-s. Ravalli County commissioners approved a new Community Wildfire Protection Plan Tuesday, an update to the original plan written 18 years ago. The plan, created by a core team of representatives from fire protection agencies and local government leaders, will inform the U.S. Forest Service priorities, identify wildfire risk areas, and influence future protection strategies. Our hopes were to make our community a little safer, to identify those areas of higher risk, to let people know where that is and provide some guidance for both the Forest Service, as well as our fire services in the county, Ravalli County Commissioner Greg Chilcott said. I think its a job well done by all. The document underwent a last-minute revision in January, delaying scheduled approval. Following the emergence of Forest Service simulation data showing structures with a 50% or higher risk from igniting from a nearby fire, the wildland-urban interface (WUI) map was expanded by roughly a half-mile from the proposed perimeter in the first draft. The WUI is used to identify wildfire risk areas. Additionally, the boundaries can help determine funding for agencies like the Forest Service and to accelerate fuel reduction projects with reduced public review, like recently with the Bitterroot Front Project. The updated protection plan reflects a growing Ravalli County. The county has grown by more than 6,000 people since 2006, when the last plan was written. Most of the recent population growth has occurred in the WUI where human development meets with nature. Ravalli County has the greatest wildfire risk to structures compared to all other counties in Montana. Some of the many objectives of the plan include developing a wildfire evacuation plan for communities across Ravalli County, implementing reforestation after wildfire events, increasing response capacity of local agencies, establishing a county wildfire response working group, and supporting fuel-thinning projects. The plan is designed to act as a living document with updates arranged as needed. The plan will also be reviewed annually with a full update scheduled five years from now. Hamilton Rural Fire District Board Chair Bruce Suenram expressed support for the updated plan to commissioners. It gives us a bunch of tools to protect folks that are in our wildland urban interface, in which we have a significant amount of, he said. And it allows us to focus on our home ignition zone and protect our homes and businesses. Kathmandu: H.E. Mr. KIKUTA Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, signed a grant contract with Ms. Siramala Tamang, Chairperson of Sahakarya Nepal, Sindhuli, for the construction of a new health post in Sindhuli District. The signing ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu today. The project is funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Japanese Government and involves a grant of USD 73,747 (approximately NPR 9.7 million). The project supports the reconstruction of a health post in Ward No.1 of Golanjor Rural Municipality. The current health post, which is a necessary medical facility in Ward No.1 of Golanjor Rural Municipality, was built about 40 years ago. It has only one room for examination and treatment. It also has a high risk of collapse in case of an earthquake due to its deterioration, making it an unsuitable environment as a medical facility. A new health post, which will be reconstructed under the GGP, will improve these situations and provide suitable medical services to the neighborhood. The project will be managed by the Golanjor Rural Municipality and the Sahakarya Nepal, Sindhuli, which has been working to improve the lives of residents in this area. Golanjor Rural Municipality has committed to provide the necessary medical equipment, as well as doctors, nurses, and other personnel and expenses. The Embassy of Japan believes that this project will improve the medical environment in rural areas and promote the health of the community. We hope that this assistance will also further strengthen the friendship between the people of Japan and Nepal for future generations. You should get a lawyer! 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With Big Auto Accident Attorneys, you have a team on your side with the resources and organization to go after a maximum settlement. No-cost, no-obligation case evaluation The insurance company may pressure you to accept a settlement, but its not in your best interest to agree to any settlement without a lawyer. Big Auto Accident Attorneys will evaluate your case for free. To learn more, visit BigAuto.com or call 1.844.BIG-AUTO (1.844.244.2886). This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this paid post belong solely to the advertiser and do not represent the views of Brand Ave. Studios or its parent company. Colleen Curran Living Editor Follow Colleen Curran Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Virginia restaurants may soon be able to serve to-go cocktails permanently. The House of Delegates and the Senate passed companion bills House Bill 688 and Senate Bill 635 that would permanently allow to-go cocktails to be sold from bars, restaurants and distilleries, as well as allow alcohol delivery. The bills now head to Gov. Glenn Youngkins desk for approval. Currently, cocktails to-go for takeout and delivery in Virginia are set to expire July 1. The policy was established during the pandemic to help restaurants generate revenue. It was extended for two years in 2022. As a board member of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, we fought really hard to get cocktails to-go permanently through legislation. Were really excited to see it come to fruition, said Liz Kincaid, owner of the RVA Hospitality Group, which includes Tarrants, Bar Solita and And Dim Sum. Its restaurant advocacy at work, she added. Cocktails to-go have not only been a great additional source of revenue for local bars, restaurants and distilleries, but adult consumers have come to expect the added convenience they offer, said Andy Deloney, senior vice president and head of state public policy at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, in a statement. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 23 states including Florida and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia, have enacted laws to permanently allow cocktails to-go, and nine other states have enacted laws that allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis. It has been key for restaurateurs throughout the pandemic, and continues to be a valuable tool in the toolbox as operating costs continue to rise, said Eric Terry, president and CEO of VRLTA, in a statement. From utilities to food costs and more, the restaurant industry is facing clear economic headwinds, but common-sense policy like cocktails to-go helps keep us in business and growing. Senate Bill 635, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, passed the Senate on Jan. 31 on a 40-0 vote. It passed the House on Tuesday on a vote of 82-16. House Bill 688, sponsored by Del. Jay Leftwich, R-Chesapeake, passed the House on Jan. 31 on a vote of 81-18 and cleared the Senate on Tuesday on a 40-0 vote. Top five weekend events: Lunar New Year Asian Street Food Festival, Muttminster & Meowminster Lunar New Year Asian Street Food Festival Muttminster & Meowminster Legends on Grace: DJ Harrison 'Torch Song' Virginia Orchid Society Show and Sale The Virginia Wine Expo returns this week with events running from Friday through March 3. Weve got everything you need to know. The main event, the Grand Tasting where visitors stroll Main Street Station and taste as many tipples as they can, will be held Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3. Creator and executive director Alex Papajohn says this is still the best bang for your buck. Choose one of three sessions and your $85 ticket gets you four hours of sips from 26 Virginia wineries and 14 Virginia distilleries, plus additional wines from Italy and Oregon and around the world, alongside cider, mead, specialty food and artisan products. About half the vendors are new this year. You can buy a Saturday VIP ticket that gets you into the noon to 4 p.m. session at 11 a.m. for $110 this is our pick to beat the masses and make the most of the day. However, the Virginia Wine Expo is really 10 days of events that take place across the city there are seminars, lunches, dinners and themed tasting events. A new event this year that is certain to sell out is Tequilabampa at Conejo with Chef Danny Mena on Friday ($129). This dinner will feature a curated selection of tequilas, mezcals, wine and cocktails alongside Menas Mexican cuisine. Danny has an interesting lineup that spans geographic areas from the mountains to the valleys, Papajohn said. Yes, there will be lots of Virginia wine, but the regions of emphasis are Italy and Oregon. The Virginia Wine Expo always showcases wines from across the state, but the event also has featured regions each year: It helps us keep the events fresh and new, Papajohn said. This year, there will be lots of wines from Italy and Oregon to sample, plus youll see these regions highlighted in special events like POP Italia! Global Sparkling and Champagne Celebration ($135 per ticket) at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on Saturday that features more than 50 different bubbles from around the world with a focus on prosecco alongside artisan Italian products by sponsor Fiorucci and Italian and influenced cuisine from 21 Spoons. Youll also see the featured regions at masterclass seminars like Big Barolos The King of Wines presented by Master Sommelier Ron Edwards from 5 to 6:15 p.m. on March 1 at Main Street Station and A Taste of Oregon on March 2 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Main Street Station. Celebrate Virginia at Oyster Eat A signature event that celebrates Virginia is Oyster Eat at Main Street Station on Thursday, Feb. 29, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. ($119). We wanted to have an event that focuses on Virginia water and waterways, Papajohn said. It will be an amazing night of oyster dishes and shellfish paired with wines, scotches, rum and cocktails from Chesapeake Bay Distillery. If wine dinners sound a little late for you, try the Convivial Long Table Lunch at the Barn at Oakdale on Sunday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ($120). Youll get a multicourse lunch from 21 Spoons paired with Italian and Virginia wines in a rustic, scenic venue. Each year, the expo raises funds for different causes. The year, the event is raising money for The Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity. Save with packages You can view details on all the events mentioned and more at virginiawineexpo.com. Some of the smaller seminars and meals do sell out, so shop soon. There are also various package deals that allow you to combine events and get a discount. All events also include a Stolzle crystal wine glass to keep. Top five weekend events: Lunar New Year Asian Street Food Festival, Muttminster & Meowminster Lunar New Year Asian Street Food Festival Muttminster & Meowminster Legends on Grace: DJ Harrison 'Torch Song' Virginia Orchid Society Show and Sale A North Carolina man on Wednesday was sentenced for his role in the attempted delivery of 59 kilograms of cocaine across the U.S.-Mexico border and into New Kent County. According to court records, Jose Daniel Arellano Rodriguez, 36, was sentenced to 123 months in prison after he arranged to receive what he thought was a shipment of cocaine. In reality, officials said, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security had intercepted the cocaine from a vehicle that had crossed the border in El Paso, Texas, and replaced it with an imitation substance. Agents then met with Rodriguez, the intended recipient, at a truck stop in Providence Forge on July 26. Rodriguez arrived at the truck stop with $90,000 in cash, officials said. He was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted possession with intent to distribute. Rodriguez later admitted to investigators that he had brought the cash to purchase the cocaine, according to court records. The cocaine was ultimately bound for Norfolk, the records say. Rodriguez in August pleaded guilty to the charges. How has US wealth evolved since the 1980s? How has US wealth evolved since the 1980s? Household assets have skyrocketed since 1989 The wealthy tend to own shares in companies Police detectives have identified the homicide victim in Tuesday nights shooting in Richmond East End as Trimaine Reed, 19, of Richmond. At 7:38 p.m., officers were dispatched to a local hospital where two victims arrived in a private vehicle. Both victims had apparent gunshot wounds. The adult victim, Reed, was pronounced dead once he arrived at the hospital. The second victim, a juvenile male, suffered injuries that are not considered to be life threatening. Detectives determined that they were shot in the 1700 block of North 22nd Street. The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective A. Darnell at (804) 646-3927 or call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous. Richmond nonprofit founder Harrison Roday announced his campaign for Richmond mayor Thursday morning with a platform that aims to meet the needs of every Richmond resident in the city. In 2020, Roday founded Bridging Virginia, which provides financial and technical assistance for historically marginalized small businesses, to help level the playing field and give everyone an equal opportunity. Additionally, he served as an executive leader and chief of staff in which he oversaw 8,000 employees. According to Roday, it is the skills and lessons he has learned from this venture that will help guide his campaign and the problem areas he said he will work to address. This includes creating more affordable units to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis, promoting economic development and growth as well as making City Hall more accessible to residents. I dont think theres any Hail Marys that were going to be able to run on policy. I think this is a matter of blocking and tackling, and showing up every day. Sometimes youre going to lose yardage, but you have to be able to put together drives that are well-planned and deal with adversity, Roday said. His announcement comes months into the race with several candidates vying for the position. To date, five other people have launched their campaigns including current 1st District council representative Andreas Addison, former council representatives Chris Hilbert and Michelle Mosby as well as community activists Maurice Neblett and Garrett Sawyer. To date, Mosby has raised the most campaign funds with $104,913. Sawyer trails with $100,302. Roday has not yet reported campaign donations in this race, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. In the upcoming months, Roday is set to ramp up his campaign and begin to meet with potential constituents. The future of Richmond has never felt brighter and were all excited to live here and proud to live here. At the same time, we know that as we grow, we have to make sure were doing that responsibly not leaving communities behind and managing to ensure that our city works in the way that it should, Roday said. From the Archives: Jackson Ward in the 1970s and 80s A Henrico County Public Schools teacher who in January came under fire for making comments on the Israel-Hamas war in a Deep Run High School class will not be returning to (the) school, officials said Wednesday. According to officials, social studies teacher Catherine Massalha has not been fired by the school division, but will no longer be teaching at the high school after an investigation found that her comments violated school policy. The controversy stems from an audio recording taken by a student in Massalhas ninth-grade class. In the recording, Massalha can be heard describing Hamas militants as resistance fighters, and saying that the United States is funding a genocide in Gaza and supporting Israeli occupation ... of Palestine. She also can be heard accusing the Israel Defense Forces of committing war crimes in Gaza. Henrico Public Schools spokesperson Eileen Cox previously told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Massalhas comments were not a part of the curriculum and that the school division was investigating the context and purpose of her remarks. Anytime there is a lesson, especially one on current events, the expectation is that all points of view and perspectives are shared based on factual information, Cox said. On Wednesday, school officials said their investigation determined that Ms. Massalhas remarks ... contradicted guidance provided to all high school history departments earlier this school year. The school division does not condone the manner in which her comments were delivered, officials said, we apologize for the pain and distress our students and school community have experienced. Cox said Massalha had not been fired and would continue in her employment with the school division. When asked in what capacity Massalha would be working, Cox declined to comment on personnel matters. Massalhas remarks and the subsequent investigation sparked controversy. A group of parents of Deep Run students protested outside the school on Feb. 8. (Massalha) was completely sharing one side of information based on her religious (and) political beliefs, Tiffany Sweetser, a parent of a student at Deep Run, told The Times-Dispatch at the time. Hamas is a designated terrorist organization. She didnt share that information. Other parents said they worried about the emotional safety of Jewish students. Cox said Henrico Public Schools is a large and diverse school division and that school officials were committed to creating an environment in which everyone (is) heard, appreciated, understood (and has) a sense of belonging. Massalha could not immediately be reached for comment. Today in history: Feb. 22 1935: White House 1959: Daytona 500 1967: Vietnam 1980: Miracle on Ice 1987: Andy Warhol 1997: Dolly 2010: Najibullah Zazi 2012: Mitt Romney 2020: Bernie Sanders 2021: COVID-19 2021: Mike Lindell 2022: Ahmaud Arbery hate crimes LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Paul Giamatti attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024 Nominees' Party, Supported By Bulgari at The National Gallery on February 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) Jeff Spicer/Getty Images In his interview with the late-night talk show host, the award-winning actor and Yale University alumnus discussed how growing up in the Elm City made him a dedicated fan of apizza, the dish that has given the city its reputation as the "pizza capital of America" at least according to Gov. Ned Lamont. "I literally have never had better pizza. I'm a snob about it. I've gone to Italy and been like, 'No, this isn't good,'" he told Kimmel, generating a laugh from the audience. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This comes on the heels of his guest spot on comedian Marc Maron's his podcast last month, when Giamatti named Frank Pepe Pizzeria as his favorite pizza place in New Haven and, praised one of its inventions: white clam and bacon pizza. Giamatti sat down with Kimmel to promote his latest film, "The Holdovers," in which he plays a curmudgeonly teacher at a New England prep school. His performance earned him a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award and National Board of Review Award. He is also nominated for the 2024 Academy Award for Best Actor. Towards the end of the interview on Tuesday, Kimmel pivoted the conversation to Giamatti's New Haven roots and the city's pizza. Giamatti, who momentarily had his hand rested on his cheek, immediately sat up. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Are you a big pizza guy?" he asked Kimmel. Giamatti dove into a description about apizza crust, drawing a circle with his hands when discussing light charring around the crust. "Depends on which place you go to, but the crust is pretty chewy. I like it. It's thin. Oh man, it's good," he told Kimmel. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Before landing roles in films like "Sideways" and "American Splendor," Giamatti attended New Haven's Foote School and Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, according to Yale University. His mother taught English at the Hopkins School and his father was a literature professor at Yale University, where he later became president. Giamatti studied English at Yale University and worked in undergraduate theater programs. "So going to Yale was like going to your local community college?" Kimmel joked. His acting career began in Seattle in 1989, right after he received his undergraduate degree from Yale. Giamatti secured an agent and his first-ever acting audition for "America's Most Wanted." "Seattle was as far away in the continental United States as I could get from New Haven, Conn.," Giamatti said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was only a temporary escape; Giamatti returned to Yale five years later for his Master of Fine Arts degree. Last year, Giamatti was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the university. Giamatti now lives in New York City and gets into "all kinds of altercations" with people due to his vocal preference for New Haven pizza, he told Kimmel. "Don't you think it's true, though, that whatever pizza you're exposed to growing up is the pizza that, for the rest of your life, you will think is the best one?" Kimmel asked. "That's probably true because my kid is a New Yorker. I took him to New Haven and he was like, 'No, this isn't any good.' He doesn't like it," Giamatti said. The notion of building a place in the backyard where mom or your recent college graduate kids can live is one of the hottest growth and development issues these days, but a proposal for a statewide dictate to allow it is raising local government concerns. The much-revised measure, Senate Bill 304, sponsored by state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, D-Fairfax, would say accessory dwelling units commonly known as mother-in-law suites must be allowed in an area that a local government has zoned for single-family homes. It pits groups seeking ways to encourage more affordable housing against local governments that argue they need the power to make sure development of new housing does not overwhelm schools, streets and sewer and water systems. On the one hand, Bonnie Atwood, representing a retired teachers association, supported the measure. The organization was started many years ago as a result of a retired teacher who lived in a chicken coop because she could not afford anyplace else. So their concern is always with looking out for low-income individuals, particularly low-income senior citizens, she told a House Counties Cities and Towns committee panel Thursday. (Ethel Percy Andrus, who encountered a retired teacher living in a California chicken coop, founded the National Retired Teachers Association in 1947 and AARP in 1958.) But Henrico Countys Mike Schnurman, one of more than a dozen local government representatives opposing the measure, said it would block consideration of local and neighborhood challenges. This allows a 1,500-square-foot house in a backyard, and I understand the notion of the ADUs in my backyard, but its not just my backyard, he said. Its potentially affecting other neighbors who have no input into this process. ... What this bill does is it specifically excludes the input to the rest of those members of the community. And for many of those folks, that is the largest investment they will have made in their lives. While many local governments allow accessory dwelling units, it is not always as automatic a process as Salims bill proposes. Richmond-area rules differ Richmond allows them by right on single-family home plots, just as Salims bill would dictate for all local governments, which means they do not require case-by-case approval by the City Council, although building code permits are still required. Henrico requires a conditional use permit basically, going through a rezoning-like process for accessory dwelling units of up to 800 square feet. It also allows them as part of an approved master plan for a planned development district and in a type of overlay district. Hanover County allows them for family members but requires a special permit. Chesterfield County requires conditional use permits for a detached accessory dwelling unit in residential areas, although they are permitted by right in the Roseland Zoning Overlay District, subject to the zoning ordinance requirements. Salim told the House panel that the bill says only one accessory dwelling unit would be allowed on a single-family lot, and that it would have to include its own living, kitchen and bathroom spaces. It could be attached or detached from the main house. They would have to be leased for periods of 30 days or more the aim is not to create the kind of short-term rentals that have been a major concern for many localities. The bill says it would not apply to existing local ordinances about accessory dwelling units if they were not deemed to be a special use, or affect any existing permits for units. Salim said localities building permit reviews would still apply, especially with response to water, sewer and emergency access of drainage requirements. The owner of the single-family lot would have to live there. The bill would not allow both the primary house and the accessory unit to be rented. Salims bill passed the Senate 22-18, with one Republican joining all the Democrats; the House panel will be able to kill it or move it when it meets again next week. Today in history: Feb. 22 1935: White House 1959: Daytona 500 1967: Vietnam 1980: Miracle on Ice 1987: Andy Warhol 1997: Dolly 2010: Najibullah Zazi 2012: Mitt Romney 2020: Bernie Sanders 2021: COVID-19 2021: Mike Lindell 2022: Ahmaud Arbery hate crimes Authorities find 25-year-old Argentinian driver responsible for Riviera Maya highway accident that killed six Riviera Maya, Q. R. State authorities report excessive speed, bad weather and a lack of caution to be the cause of the fatal accident that killed six. In an official report, the State Attorney General released its findings regarding the two vehicle crash. Derived from the expert opinion carried out regarding the road accident that occurred on February 18, at 1:00 p.m. on the Tulum-Playa del Carmen stretch, which left six people dead and two injured, the State Attorney Generals Office reports that the opinion on field criminology and traffic events concluded that excess speed, bad weather conditions and lack of caution were the causes of this mishap, they said. The Sunday afternoon Riviera Maya highway accident claimed the lives of five Argentinians and one Mexican. The expert opinion indicates that there was a lack of caution on the part of Maximiliano Nicolas, the 25-year-old driver responsible for the accident. The FGE said the driver failed to consider the wet conditions of the road and abide by the speed limit, which is 60 kms/h on that stretch of highway. Maximiliano Nicolas Laviano was driving the Suzuki vehicle on the Tulum-Playa del Carmen road coming from Belize, heading from south to north, when he lost control of the unit when exiting a curve and colliding his left front wheel with the central median of the highway. The car made a turn in the air and invaded the contraflow lane, from north to south, impacting the Nissan Urvan-type unit. Six people were killed in the Sunday afternoon accident. Photo: February 18, 2024. Five people from inside that car were killed. Two survived. One is reported stable and the other, the female survivor, is reported to be serious. They ranged in ages from 38 to 23. The 32-year-old Mexican driver of the van was one of those killed. The State Attorney Generals Office works in coordination with the Consulate of Argentina for the process of delivering the bodies of its deceased compatriots, of which four have already been resolved and one more is pending for transfer to Uruguay, where their relatives reside. Likewise, the body of the Mexican, driver of the Nissan vehicle, was delivered to his relatives, the agency reported. FGE offering reward in capture of Cancun murder suspect Cancun, Q.R. A reward of 500,000 pesos is being offered for information leading to the location and arrest of a woman wanted for murder. The State Attorney General (FGE) of Quintana Roo posted the reward notice Wednesday. The woman, identified by the FGE as Catherine Sophie Francoise Tarin, is wanted for the alleged murder of her 10 year old stepdaughter. The murder of then 10-year-old Paloma N happened in Cancun in 2017. The remains of the little girl were eventually found burned in a park. According to media reports, at the time of the murder, Tarin claimed the child was sent abroad to study, however, she became the main suspect in the murder after being reported to police by one of her biological sons. Aside from Cancun, Tarin is reported to have had, at one point, an address in Guadalajara. In a public statement, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) of Quintana Roo posted The FGE Quintana Roo offers a reward of $500,000 pesos to anyone who provides effective and reliable information that contributes to the search and arrest of the person identified as Catherine Sophie Francoise Tarin. If you have information on her whereabouts contact 998 221 7474. Rehabilitation centre of Jose Maria Morelos received nearly 2 million in remodeling Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. Nearly 2 million pesos has been invested in the remodeling of a rehabilitation centre in Jose Maria Morelos. Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa toured the near finished facilities of the Jose Maria Morelos Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center (CRIM) Monday. Lezama says the remodeling was made after years of abandonment, which made it difficult to provide services to families from Mayan communities such as X-Cabil, Huay-Max, X Querol, Sacalaca, Kantemo. The Governor reported nearly 2 million pesos was spent on the remodeling of the facility that was built in 2011, but not maintained. This is what the New Agreement for Social Welfare and Development is about, bringing social justice to where it is most needed and to whom it is most needed, such as the families of Mayan communities with deficiencies and who do not have other facilities other than these, she said. The CRIM facilty has a reception area as well as areas of psychology, management, physical therapy, speech therapy, multisensory room, mechanotherapy, multisensory stimulation room and a therapeutic tank. The rehabilitation centre serves 64 Mayan communities. Photo: CGC Feb. 20, 2024. This CRIM is the most representative rehabilitation care unit in the area. It was inaugurated in 2011 and since that date it has not received maintenance which caused a reduction in its functionality to 60 percent. Its service area includes 64 Mayan communities, Lezama explained. In this way we will be able to guarantee the success of the comprehensive rehabilitation treatments that are provided here for the benefit of the inhabitants who face a disability, said the Governor. Lezama was accompanied by the Honorary President of DIF (Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) Veronica Lezama Espinosa who said that according to the 2020 Population Census, the municipality of Jose Maria Morelos has more than 39,000 residents of which 5 percent represent some type of disability. Volaris to offer direct McAllen, Texas to Cancun route in July Cancun, Q.R. A new McAllen, Texas to Cancun route is scheduled to begin operating in July. Volaris has announced the start of the new route as of July 3, 2024. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa confirmed the announcement of the new McAllen-Cancun air route that will begin with two weekly flights. The new flights will allow visitors to experience the New Era of Tourism in Quintana Roo, Lezama said in a statement Wednesday. The new route adds to the air connectivity of more than 40 cities in the United States that the Cancun International Airport has, which last year, received more than 32.7 million visitors, she added. According to Volaris, this new route will be offered Wednesdays and Saturdays, leaving Cancun at 12:15 p.m. and returning from McAllen in the afternoon around 4:05 p.m. McAllen to Cancun promises to be a direct bridge that will not only facilitate cultural and tourist exchange between Quintana Roo and the United States, but will also strengthen the local economy to advance shared prosperity based on tourism success, she said. If asked to name prominent figures in the anti-slavery movement, would the Reverend John Rankin be among them? Probably not. But he should be. One hundred and ninety-nine years ago today, a local paper out of Ripley, Ohio, published the final installment of a series of letters written by the Reverend John Rankin. They were addressed to his brother, Thomas, on the subject of American slavery. This days paper contains the last of a series of letters, on slavery, published in [The Castigator], wrote editor David Ammen. Such are the ways of the world that we have been censured by some, and applauded by others, for publishing them. Rankin didnt know it then, but in writing those letters he was laying the foundation for the anti-slavery movement. And while the mention of the abolition movement today will conjure images of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, these American heroes were, directly or indirectly, influenced by Rankin and his work. Far from a household name, Rankin is overlooked in most history books, but his influence on abolition cannot be overstated. His life and legacy deserve to be remembered. In his day, Rankins letters caused a local sensation up and down the Ohio River valley. Starting in August of 1824, The Castigator published a new letter every weekeach one rebuking popular defenses of slavery. At the time, Ohio and Kentucky were still very much considered part of the nations western frontier. Most of the people who lived in Ripley had never heard such a comprehensive explanation of the anti-slavery position. Adding to this sensation was the drama associated with the letters. Thomas, a Virginian merchant, had recently purchased slaves. John, distraught over this development, hoped to convince his brother of the error of his ways. He and his siblings had all been raised to believe that slavery was not just wrong but sinfulan offense to God himself. Rankin determined that his brother must have fooled himself into believing one of the many prevalent lies that existed about the nature of slaves and slavery. His letters aggressively confronted these commonly accepted fallacies. Rankin picked apart concepts such as the natural inferiority of black people and the humane living conditions of slaves. He most forcefully rejected the idea that the Bible permits slavery. Rather he argued that Scripture was one grand scheme of benevolence. Beams of love and mercy emanate from every page, while the voice of justice denounces the oppressor, and speaks his awful doom, he wrote. After the final letter was published, Rankin decided to capitalize on their popularity. He moved to have them bound and printed as a book. Six hundred copies were circulated throughout the region. Initially, the series of letters was well received in [Ohio], Rankin wrote. Even across the river in Maysville, Kentucky, he had them sold with little difficulty. This warm reception was short-lived, however. Since that time, he wrote, it would have endangered a mans life to sell one of them in that state, so wonderfully do men grow worse. An additional 400 copies were produced, but an arsonist set fire to the warehouse that housed them. Being too poor to reprint another edition, Rankin supposed his letters would never appear again. It was an unfortunate development, but he didnt dwell on it too much. To Rankins satisfaction, his primary objective in writing these letters had been achieved. His brother, Thomas, made a trip to Ohio to free his slaves and thereafter divorced himself from slavery entirely. A few years later, Rankin received a note from a Quaker in New Jersey who had gotten his hands on the letters and wished to print a second edition. With the sole determination to see the destruction of American slavery, Rankin accepted the offer. Rankins Letters on American Slavery enjoyed a surge of popularity among the New England abolitionists once they were reprinted. Most notably, they had a significant influence on a young William Lloyd Garrison. At this time, Garrison was morally opposed to slavery but still supported colonizationthe idea that the best solution to slavery would be to end it gradually and ship the former slaves to Africa or the West Indies. Rankins Letters challenged this plan, arguing that if a slave has a right to freedom, he has a right to it now, not gradually. Garrison was consumed by these arguments, adopting fully the concept of immediate emancipation and committing himself to a multiracial society. Rankin and Garrison would get to know each other very well through the growth of the anti-slavery movement. As time went on, they wouldnt always see eye to eye, but Garrisons respect and admiration for Rankin was never in question. He considered himself a disciple of John Rankins teachings. Later, Garrison frequently referred to Rankin as his anti-slavery father. Shortly after adopting Rankins understanding of immediate emancipation, Garrison launched The Liberator, which became among the most notable anti-slavery papers in the country. Like The Castigator, Garrisons paper ran Rankins letters weekly in 1832. As the American Anti-Slavery Society became established at the end of 1833, the society used Rankins letters as a sort of textbook, leaning on them for lectures and for instructing new members. Moreover, Rankins Letters on American Slavery couldnt have come at a more crucial time. Following the Missouri Compromise in 1820, any hope that slavery could be quarantined to the South had been lost. Rankins letters gave new energy and purpose to the demoralized abolitionists. John Rankins work to legitimize the anti-slavery cause extended beyond his letters to his brother. He worked closely with Garrison to build an organized anti-slavery movement throughout the 1830s. This growth of influence would invoke the rage of the slaveholders in Kentucky and slavery sympathizers in Ohio. Mobs often formed whenever he would give speeches, pelting him with eggs and rocks. Eventually, it got to the point that he would keep his horse on the other end of the town he was lecturing in so a mob wouldnt remove its mane or tail bob it. Rankin refused to be intimidated by his enemies, however. He felt called by God to see to it that slavery would meet its end. No threats or acts of violence would keep him from carrying out that calling. This steady, immobile conviction gave inspiration to the abolitionists of the 19th century. As the movement started to splinter in the latter half of the 1830s, Rankin was a unifying figure, holding the different factions of the anti-slavery movement together. Due to this influence, it was common for John Rankin to be referred to as the Father of Abolitionism, especially in the western states. His letters gave the abolitionists an intellectual foundation to build a movement on. In this regard, their role was not that dissimilar to the one The Federalist Papers played in the adoption of the Constitution. That Rankin hasnt occupied a more prominent place in our national story is surprising. This is at least partly due to his own humility. Rankins purpose wasnt to gain fame or notoriety as a leader of the anti-slavery movement. It was simply, like he told the Quaker from New Jersey, to see slavery destroyed. Despite his obscurity, his various contributions to the growth of the abolitionist movement should place him in the pantheon of libertys greatest heroes. Perhaps now is the best time to consider him as such. Moog Industrial will close its Radford plant over the course of 2024, the company said Thursday. Moog told 151 workers they will be terminated between May 10 and Dec. 27 and offered relocation to 22, according to the state jobs office. Moogs Radford plant manager Brandon Smith told the Virginia Employment Commission and Radford Major David Horton in a letter Wednesday that it is with great regret that we inform you that Moog Inc. provided notice to its employees earlier today that it intends to close our plant in Radford, Virginia. We expect the plant closure to be permanent in nature, the letter reads. Company spokesman Aaron Astrachan described the closure as a business restructuring to improve company efficiency. Horton said city officials feel for workers who will lose their jobs and will try to find a different employer to occupy the Rock Road plant, which Moog bought in 2013. Moog operates in four segments: space and defense, military aircraft, commercial aircraft and industrial, of which the Radford plant is a part. Headquartered in Elma, New York, Moog has sales, engineering and manufacturing facilities in 25 countries and a workforce of 13,500, a government report showed. It earned $47.8 million on sales of $856 million during its most recent quarter, the report showed. Moog has another industrial-segment operation in Christiansburg and has two Blacksburg facilities that are part of its space and defense sector. Moog said those facilities and one in Galax may hire some of those to be let go in Radford. A decade ago, Moog announced that it had paid $34 million for Radford technology company Aspen Motion Technologies Inc. Aspen Motion Technologies designed and manufactured high-performance, permanent magnet brushless DC motors, integrated digital controls and motorized impellers for motors. Moog said at the time that it acquired Aspen to plug a hole in Moogs lineup of precision motion control products and systems. The plant began using the Moog name. Aspen was founded in 1996 and at one time was based at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and later expanded in Radford. Salems mayor voiced support for development of the HopeTree Family Services property Wednesday as long as developers agree in advance to keep the number of businesses low. I like the project if they make adjustments that will make our citizens comfortable, Mayor Renee Turk said after Salems top leaders discussed the proposal Wednesday night. It would be the largest development of its kind in the citys history, officials have said. Turk said Salem needs housing such as what developers are proposing and would enjoy green space they would open to the public for walking. The pluses to it are better than a regular, single-family home development, the mayor said of the project in the post-meeting interview. The city council and planning commission spent three and a half hours jointly discussing the project, but did not vote or receive public comment. A final decision could be months away, though the commission is scheduled to consider it March 13 for a second time. Decision-making deadlines in effect for the city wont permit a postponement of a final decision until after an ongoing Comprehensive Plan update, as some residents have suggested, a city official said. During a packed public hearing last week, individuals spoke six to one against the project, which would add 340 units of housing and a small handful of businesses to the hilltop property. They complained that some people werent invited to informational meetings; that traffic will balloon in adjacent residential areas, possibly decreasing motorist and pedestrian safety; and that the location is unsuitable for businesses. On the plus side, speakers said the project would expand the availability of housing, repurpose historic buildings on the HopeTree campus, preserve green space and create a walkable community. Do we even want commercial development up there? asked Vice Mayor Jim Wallace Wednesday. When I was listening the other night, that seemed to be the common denominator that drove a lot of this opposition. And we have spent a lot of time and effort trying to revitalize our downtown. The concern was that businesses opened at the HopeTree property on the north end of the city would take business from downtown merchants. Maybe eliminate the commercial and I think it might alleviate a lot of the concerns in this room, Wallace told the HopeTree development team seated for the meeting. Audience members applauded. Todd Robertson, president of Stateson Homes and a member of the HopeTree development team, described the proposals commercial venues which he estimated would number three to five as amenities essential to a town center community concept they are shooting for and required to attract buyers for the new homes. The dwellings that will be for sale will cost from the upper $200,000s to between $800,000 and $900,000, he said. A coffee shop, grocer, fine restaurant and boutique hotel are among the commercial establishments under consideration, project officials have said. We cant sell 340 homes there without the type community that we have suggested here and proposed if we dont have the commercial elements to it, Robertson said. That plan doesnt work. So, then were back to 200, 220 homes [with] driveways backing out onto Red Lane. Thats what were looking at as the alternative. Others argued for commercial, saying future HopeTree residents will drive less if they can pick up a loaf of bread in their neighborhood, reducing the additional traffic using local streets. Further, while the new residents may shop within the HopeTree community, they will also patronize downtown businesses, commenters said. Because single-family residential zoning already applies to the land, HopeTree could build an estimated 200 housing units without going through the planning commission or city council. HopeTree representatives and residents have referred to this housing alternative as a cookie cutter approach with the new dwellings all or mostly looking the same. Little to no green space would be preserved, a project official said. The only public property would be the streets, which would have to be at least 30 feet wide. HopeTree has applied to change the propertys zoning to planned unit district, a classification under which a landowner may construct any residential, civic, and commercial uses within council-controlled parameters for density and open space. HopeTrees development team has proposed a village of multiple housing types from apartments to estate homes, the small businesses, chunks of green space and pedestrian paths open to the public, a variety of streets including green streets and four entrances, but no individual residential driveways coming off local streets. If approved, the project will take a decade to construct in full, Robertson said. The developers agreed to deliver a binding written declaration in advance about the number and size of the commercial spaces, project officials said. Turk was working under the impression that elected leaders and planners will have that before they vote. Debate over another major community concern, the traffic added to local streets, was less conclusive. Charles Van Allman, the citys director of community development, said a HopeTree-hired engineering firm found that the existing road system can handle the forecasted traffic the project will generate. A second engineering firm hired by the city to double-check that found that the work of the first engineering group met all relevant standards, Van Allman said. The bottom line of all those studies? Motorists will experience an additional delay of one to three seconds at intersections in the vicinity of the project once it is built. Council member Hunter Holliday said that, given the presence of on-street parking trimming down the space for moving vehicles on a number of streets in that area, he remained concerned. I dont think its going to be okay, he said. Others weighed in with speculation that, sooner or later, the property is going to be developed and with that more traffic will come. Van Allman also spent a few minutes offering assurances that HopeTrees builder will keep storm runoff in check. Salem will require it, he said. HopeTree CEO Jon Morris was asked after the meeting where he thought the project stood with officials. Were just leaving it in Gods hands. Hes sustained HopeTree this long. Whatever happens were good with, Morris said. Asked whether, if the project is rejected, HopeTree has a plan B, he said those details are undetermined. The reality is something will happen, because we cannot continue to go as were going now. That will be up to our trustees to sit back and discuss what will happen, but something will happen, he said. However, he said, HopeTree is not trying to resolve a current financial problem facing the organization through the development of its land. Rather, the project is ultimately about enhancing assistance for clients at-risk youth and their families and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families through behavioral and social services, he said. HopeTree is 134 years old. HopeTree needs to expand and modernize the facilities it uses at its campus, which will remain in operation as the new homes and businesses come in, he said. The work will cost $9 million to $10 million and HopeTree wants to complete it without debt, he said. It plans to sell a portion of its land for the development project being discussed and combine those funds with its own money and fundraising to meet the budget, he said. ROCKY MOUNT Christopher Douthat, a Franklin County resident who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 2013, was legally declared dead in a courtroom Thursday. Circuit Judge Timothy Allen declared Douthat deceased following testimony from his mother, Mary Douthat. She affirmed she has not seen or heard from him since he went missing Oct. 25, 2013. I feel like, in my heart, he is deceased, Douthat said when questioned by lawyer C. Holland Perdue, who represented the family at Thursdays hearing. Douthat last saw her son when she dropped him off at work at Vinton Roofing on East Washington Avenue on the morning of Oct. 25, 2013. He had been staying with her and didnt have a car at the time. According to a timeline that has been established by police in the years since, Christopher Douthat and a co-worker went to Kroger on Hardy Road to cash their checks after work around 3:30 p.m. later that day. From there, he went to Chaps Tavern on Campbell Avenue Southeast in Roanoke. Douthat was supposed to walk to Food Lion on Bennington Street, about 2 miles away, to meet a friend who would take him home. He never met up with that person. Cellphone data indicates that Douthat if he was the one in possession of his phone at the time was in the area of Ninth Street, likely heading toward the bridge to cross the Roanoke River, when all contact was lost about 5 p.m. In previous interviews Mary Douthat has stated that her son was not acting unusually the morning she last saw him. She has admitted that he was involved in a incident a few months earlier in February. That month two brothers broke into the house where Douthat and his pregnant girlfriend lived. Douthat already had testified in one trial, which ended in a guilty verdict. The trial for the other brother hadnt happened by the time he disappeared. At Thursdays hearing, Mary Douthat said she has not heard of anyone having contact with her son since he went missing. He has also not reached out to his daughter, now 10 years old. The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes with a majority of that being Douthat responding to questions from Perdue while on the witness stand affirming no one has seen or heard from him since the day he went missing. Allen agreed to rule Christopher Douthat legally deceased following the testimony. There was some discussion on whether Douthat would be declared dead as of Oct. 25, 2013 or seven years later on Oct. 25, 2020. Virginia law states an individual may be presumed dead if they have not been seen or heard from in seven years. Allen ultimately decided to affirm Douthats date of death as the day he went missing in 2013. Following the hearing, Douthat explained why she made the tough decision to move forward by seeking to have her son declared. She said the ruling by the judge allowed her to close a chapter in her life that has been a been an ongoing nightmare for the past 10 years. I never gave up hope, but as time goes on and we havent heard from him or no one has heard from him, Douthat said. Its just time, as they say, to put it to rest and go ahead and declare him deceased. Douthat said she is also optimistic that the ruling will spur some movement in the case which has not seen any new leads in recent years. She praised the work done by police and is hopeful new information could come to light to help determine what happened to her son. Theyve been working very hard on his case to get it solved, Douthat said. I have faith they will be able to eventually solve it and see what had happened to him. Federal authorities arrested a 35-year-old man Thursday after Roanoke City Public Schools canceled all classes in the wake of social media threats. Stephen-Karl Terrance Johnson was arrested after an investigation by the Roanoke Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorneys Offices western Virginia district said in a press release. Johnson, previously convicted of a felony in state court, was federally charged with one count of communicating in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person. Roanoke City Public Schools will remain closed Friday, after officials said more threats were made Thursday after the arrest. Police are investigating the credibility of the threats. According to court documents, on Wednesday evening, several threatening messages were posted to a Snapchat group used by Patrick Henry High School students. Those messages included but were not limited to: Im done bro fr on some real [expletive] Im pulling up to school with a ak and any kid I see thats in my sight I shooting fr. In order to join the Snapchat group reserved for Patrick Henry High School students, users must register with a Gmail addresses, federal authorities said. Investigators were able to trace the threatening messages to a Gmail address used by Johnson. Roanoke police said in a news release Thursday evening that Johnson has no recent connection with the school system, though he was enrolled in the school system when he was a juvenile. City police said investigators were made aware of additional anonymous threats toward Roanoke schools after Johnson was in custody. These appear to be copycat threats and no direct threat towards schools has been identified, Thursdays release read. We are continuing to investigate these threats and will do all we can to hold whoever sent them accountable for their actions. The Christiansburg Police Department also investigated a series of posts being shared around social media that are believed to be the same as those circulating in Roanoke, according to a town news release Thursday morning. Christiansburg police are aware of community concerns regarding threats posted on social media in the last 24 hours. Detectives have been working diligently to determine the source of the posts and the matter remains under investigation. At this point it appears all of the posts being shared in our community, are the same posts that originated in Roanoke City. It seems that through social media, these posts are circulating through several communities, the release reads. Currently, none of the social media posts reference any specific Christiansburg schools or localities, but due to the situation, a patrol presence is increased at all Christiansburg schools, the release reads. In an initial statement from Roanoke police, released just before 11 p.m. Wednesday, the department said there would be an increased police presence at several city schools on Thursday. However, later, the city school division issued a notification via text message to parents and the rcps.info website: We are aware of threats toward multiple schools that have been circulating on social media since last evening. Police are investigating and are working with the social media companies in their investigation. To that end, there will be no school or afterschool activities today, February 22nd so police can continue their investigation. 12-month employees should report on time. Federal authorities said the FBI and Roanoke police are continuing to investigate Johnsons case. City police said additional charges are pending. Johnson was being held Thursday evening at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center without bond. In December 2009, Johnson was indicted by a Roanoke grand jury on a felony automobile larceny charge. He pleaded guilty to the charge the following January and was sentenced to four years of incarceration, suspended after he served about one month in jail. This defendant caused fear and emotional distress to the parents and students of the Roanoke City Public School system and for those actions he has been justly charged, United States Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh said Thursday. If anyone communicates a threat to our schools, our public servants, or our public institutions in the Western District of Virginia, we will seek to hold them accountable under federal law. I am grateful to Chief [Scott] Booth, the Roanoke City Police Department, and the FBI for their diligence in bringing a peaceful end to this situation. The FBI will vigorously investigate and bring to justice those individuals who threaten to do harm to our communities, said Stanley Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Richmond Division. We will continue working with our local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe. Roanoke City Public Schools has more than 13,700 students, according to the Virginia Department of Education. This is not the first time threats have disrupted school schedules in the city. Near the end of the 2021-22 school year, police sought juvenile petitions against a 10-year-old who made threats against students and staff at a city elementary school. Early in the 2022-23 school year, Roanokes school superintendent said she would cancel extracurricular activities and extend the school year if a series of threats against middle schools did not stop, which they did. Developer Vessel Technologies and the Simsbury Zoning Commission have been working towards a settlement agreement for the housing development, which includes modifications to the project's color palette. Town of Simsbury SIMSBURY An affordable housing project that has been at the center of lawsuits and local backlash for nearly a year may now see a future in town as a settlement agreement is on track for court approval. New York City-based developer Vessel Technologies, which specializes in modular building techniques designed to reduce costs and construction time, originally proposed an 80-unit multifamily complex at 446 Hopmeadow St. last year. After several public hearings where droves of residents voiced their opposition, the Zoning Commission denied a scaled-down, 64-unit version of that development in May. The development would have helped bump up the town's affordable housing stock, which is currently at 5.1 percent, but residents had said their concerns regarding over-development, traffic, building design, and wetlands encroachment outweighed the town's need for more housing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But at the same time, with an affordable housing stock below the state-mandated 10 percent, the town has a very limited basis for denial, and is held to the appeals procedure in which developers can contest a municipalitys decision on an affordable housing development application under 8-30g . And because Vessel's application proposed to restrict 30 percent of the building's units for households earning at or below 80 percent of the median income, it could make its site plan application under Connecticuts Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act, allowing Vessel to argue in court that the Zoning Commission's denial violated the states 8-30g law. While Vessel was appealing the Zoning Commission's decision in court, a neighboring property owner was appealing the Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission's April approval of a wetlands permit that would allow construction of the development, and that legal action remains pending. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But over the past several months, Vessel and the Zoning Commission have been working toward a settlement agreement for the development, as the Commission, under 8-30g, has the obligation to consider alternatives to the project that was denied, said Town Attorney Robert DeCrescenzo at the zoning meeting Wednesday. Those negotiations culminated in a draft agreement prepared for court approval, which the Zoning Commission approved at its meeting on Wednesday. The proposed settlement agreement contains slight modifications to Vessel's original development proposal. You all know the definition of a good settlement. No one's happy but everybody accepts it. And that's, I think, where we are, said Attorney Tim Hollister, representing Vessel RE Holdings, LLC, as he addressed the crowd of residents and the commission at the meeting. The development's total density is reduced down to 48 units, and the building reduced from four stories to three, according to the proposed settlement. The commission had noted in its denial in May that the complex would have been the tallest building in town, bringing an "urban density" to the forested area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In addition, the color palette of the building will be brown in the new proposal, instead of the original white. The appearance of the building was a common complaint among residents, who said that its design was not at all in line with the rural character of the town. The parking plan will be revised and reduced to 80 total spaces from 102. The areas of the plan where parking will be eliminated will be converted to landscaping, with the intention of providing additional buffering and screening of the building from neighboring properties, according to the draft agreement. The proposed settlement also includes a condition requiring Vessel to provide a conservation easement for the portion of the site located between the Farmington River Heritage Trail and the Farmington River, which would limit development in order to protect the land's natural resources. The Commission approved the filing of the Joint Motion for Superior Court Approval of Settlement in accordance with Connecticut Practice Book Section 14-7B, in order to avoid any uncertainty of the outcome of the appeal, and to comply with 8-30g, Commission Chairman Bruce Elliott stated at the meeting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now, the town and developer's attorneys will file a joint motion in the Superior Court to get final approval of the settlement, which goes to a hearing with a judge. "And if the court enters it as a judgment, that and only that is what can be built as part of this," DeCrescenzo said. "So the commission and the public would never have to worry that it becomes four stories again or something like that. It would be part of the court order." Right after the Commission unanimously approved the motion, one attendee uttered shame, from the audience. Elliott then opened up the meeting for comments from the crowd, in which multiple residents expressed their frustration with the decision. Hollister said any citizen will be able to speak at the court hearing if they desire. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Superior Court hearing on the joint motion has been scheduled for Feb. 29, and a hearing regarding the wetlands permit litigation will also be held on that day. Three people were injured in northwest Roanoke on Thursday as a result of the citys third and fourth nonfatal shootings so far this year. The first shooting occurred around 10 a.m. in the 2400 block of Hanover Avenue Northwest, according to a police department news release. Police found two adult female victims outside a residence in that area with gunshot wounds that did not appear life-threatening, the release reads. Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel transported both women to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Officers quickly located and detained two adult male suspects, the release continued. While their investigation is ongoing, police said a preliminary investigation found that the altercation began with a verbal confrontation that escalated to the shooting. Police said charges are pending, and more information will be released as it becomes available. The second shooting occurred about five hours later in the 400 block of Hanover Avenue, according to a second press release. Police responded to gunshot wound reports at about 3:30 p.m. to the upper level of Washington Park near Lucy Addison Middle School. Police said an adult male was found in that area with gunshot wounds that did not appear life-threatening. He was also transported to the hospital for treatment. A second adult male on scene was identified as a suspect in the shooting and was taken into custody without incident, the release continued. Police recovered a firearm from his possession. Police said a preliminary investigation of the second shooting found that the shooting arose from a verbal altercation. All parties are known to one another and this appears to be an isolated incident, Thursday afternoons release read. Charges are pending. Thursdays shootings were the third and fourth to injure but not kill at least one person in Roanoke since Jan. 1. In the same time frame last year, there were seven shootings with injuries. If you know something about Thursdays shootings, call 540-344-8500 to talk to police. You can also send a text beginning with RoanokePD to 274637. Police say both calls and texts can remain anonymous. Roanokes efforts to support its growing immigrant and refugee populations have made it the first city in Virginia to earn a Certified Welcoming designation from a national nonprofit group that advocates for more inclusive communities. Welcoming America, an Atlanta-based nonprofit whose initiatives encourage communities to enact policies that increase participation from people of all backgrounds, cited Roanokes immigrant services when announcing the Certified Welcoming award, Welcoming America executive director Rachel Peric said in a Tuesday news release. Peric praised the citys leadership in building policies and partnerships that enable all those making it home, including people with immigrant and refugee backgrounds, to thrive and belong. Specifically, Welcoming America cited Roanokes network of local and governmental partnerships that help refugees and immigrants be included in the community and prosper. Among the organizations mentioned in the news release were Blue Ridge Literacy, a local nonprofit that teaches reading skills to adults and offers English and citizenship classes, and Roanoke City Public Schools, which has a student population that speaks more than 70 languages and offers multilingual resources and provides culturally sensitive menu items in school cafeterias. Welcoming America has what it calls a welcoming standard based on measurable benchmarks in the areas of civic engagement, community connections, economic development, education, equitable access, government and community leadership and safety. Each area has specific criteria for communities, such as having programs that help immigrants in finding jobs, learning English, obtaining local government information, connecting with law enforcement and other factors. I am proud that we have earned the prestigious Certified Welcoming designation, making history as the first city in Virginia to achieve this milestone, Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea said. In Roanoke, our diversity is not only celebrated but cherished, enriching our community with unique perspectives, cultures, and talents. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and welcomed. Together, we embrace the diversity that makes the City of Roanoke truly exceptional. Between 2012 and 2017 the immigrant population grew by 8.6% to 11,842 in a region that includes Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem, according to The American Immigration Council, which collects data from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey. During that same time frame, immigrants contributed to the economy and workforce with $228.7 million in spending power, according to the AIC. Much of the immigrant arrivals came from Mexico, Honduras, Haiti and India. In recent years, new immigrants have included large numbers of people coming from Afghanistan, who fled the country after the United States withdrew forces in August 2021. Commonwealth Catholic Charities, one of the largest resettlement agencies in the state, said that it experienced one of the largest influxes of refugees arriving to the Roanoke region in the agencys 95-year history after the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan. The city held a celebration reception in the Bella Vista room at the Berglund Center on Wednesday with representatives from Roanoke City Police Department, Roanoke City Public Schools, Blue Ridge Literacy and Commonwealth Catholic Charities. Katie Hedrick, community inclusion coordinator with the city of Roanoke, said this designation reinforces that Roanoke is a welcoming place to refugees and immigrants. For us having this stamp of approval shows that were welcoming but it also gives us a roadmap moving forward, Hedrick said. The city achieved a 1-star designation out of a possible five stars. A recertification process takes place every four years. Hedrick said the next step would be a 2-star designation and includes a focus on stronger economic development and job training. Prior to moving here in 1998, Dr. Carolyn Clark served as a physician in the U.S. Air Force. Last year marked a quarter-century of her treating Roanoke Valley patients at a group practice now located in southwest Roanoke County. Recently, the internal-medicine specialist related a short story about one, whose name Clark she cant disclose for privacy-law reasons. The African American woman then in her 60s was in for a visit in 2016 and mentioned to Clark that her gynecologist had moved away from Roanoke two years earlier and she hadnt seen a OG/GYN since. Clark ordered a routine screening mammogram for the patient and also conducted a breast exam. Yikes, the physician detected a lump. So Clark changed the patients order to a diagnostic mammogram, rather than a screening procedure. Subsequently, a biopsy revealed breast cancer at a treatable stage. The patient went on to have drug therapy, a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. The great news is, the woman had an excellent response, Clark told me. She, to this day, has had no detectable signs of breast cancer. And she continues to follow up regularly for her office visits. That narratives a testament to the power of preventative medicine. Doctors can successfully treat many maladies even dreaded diagnoses such as cancer if theyre detected early, and when a patient is relatively healthy. The rub is, stories like that happen too infrequently, particularly for black patients. Pick a treatable health condition such as diabetes or hypertension and chances are, African Americans die at a higher frequency and younger age than whites, Hispanics and Asians. There are myriad reasons, Clark told me. Just one is that as a group, African Americans arent avid consumers of preventative medicine. Clark and some other local members of a service organization known as The Links are hoping to change that. On Saturday morning, March 16, The Links Roanoke Valley chapter is sponsoring a Black Family Wellness Expo at a church in northwest Roanoke. Clark is chair of that event. The organization of black female professionals has 17,000 members across 299 chapters in 41 U.S. states and three nations. Including the United Kingdom and the Bahamas, too. The group boasts that collectively, members contribute more than 1 million documented service hours per year. The news release says The Links are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The four-hour expo March 16 is an effort to reduce health and economic disparities, and save and improve the lives of members in the Roanoke Valleys Black community, the news release notes. (Though its focused on marginalized communities, nobody will be turned away.) Some of the health disparities by Blacks are profound, according to KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation). A few years ago it published an article, titled How Recognizing Health Disparities for Black People is Important for Change. Here are a few statistics it cited: At birth, the average life expectancy of Black Americans was under 71 years in 2021; white people on average can expect to live slightly more than 76 years. In 2021, 11% of Black people under 65 lacked health insurance. The percentage of uninsured whites in the same age group was 7%. Thats a significant difference. In the United States in 2020, the infant mortality rate for white babies was 4.4 per 1,000 live births. For Hispanic babies it was 4.7 and for Asian babies it was 3.1. The mortality rate for Black babies was 10.6 deaths per 1,000 births more than double the death rate of white or Hispanic infants and more than triple the mortality rate of Asian babies. Black Americans on average are more likely to suffer from hypertension, strokes, heart disease, kidney disease and many forms of cancer, Clark said. And, from the downstream effects of failing to treat those conditions early enough. Consider glaucoma, which isnt deadly but is a leading cause of blindness. People of African ancestry suffer from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) at triple the rate for people of European descent. Early on, there are zero obvious symptoms of POAG but when detected early, its very treatable. Age-wise, Blacks tend to develop the problem about 10 years younger than other groups. That means its often not caught until theyve lost vision and the problem is severe. And by then its much more difficult to treat. Catching and treating such illnesses in folks who arent presently aware of them is one goal for the March 16 expo, which covers all ages. Among the health conditions it will address are immunizations, heart health, breast cancer awareness, diabetes and chronic disease management, stroke prevention, blood pressure, weight loss, maternal health, exercise and more. Clark said the best kind of exercise is brisk walking 150 minutes per week (basically, 30 minutes a day, five days per week). Its healthier than running, she added. "Both activities if done consistently offer significant cardiovascular benefits, however for some patients, especially those older patients with orthopedic or additional medical issues, walking may even healthier," Clark said. Even better, walking requires zero investment in gear or a health club membership. For Black Americans, finances are often a bar to preventative health measures. The Expo wont focus solely on physical health screenings. Itll offer dental and mental health education and more, such as caregiver resources. Some exhibitors will focus on financial health a lack of money is a frequent barrier to people getting appropriate preventative care. The American Association of Retired Persons, AARP, will also be there, too. My friend Shannon Abell and his wife, Kit, will help attendees learn how to avoid being taken in computer and other kinds of scams. You should check it out. You might take a screening test there and learn you have a health condition, such as high cholesterol or blood sugar, that can easily be treated to improve your longevity and quality of life. THE HAGUE, Netherlands The United States said Wednesday the United Nations' top court should not issue an advisory opinion that says Israel should "immediately and unconditionally withdraw" from territories sought for a Palestinian state. Acting State Department legal adviser Richard Visek said the 15-judge panel at the International Court of Justice should not seek to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict "through an advisory opinion addressed to questions focusing on the acts of only one party." Visek spoke on the third day of hearings at the court over a request by the General Assembly for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Israel's policies in the occupied territories. Visek added that the court's opinion "will have consequences for the parties to the conflict and for the ongoing efforts of all of those working to achieve a durable peace." This week, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki called on the court to uphold the Palestinian right to self-determination and declare "that the Israeli occupation is illegal and must end immediately, totally and unconditionally." The idea of land for peace has been the cornerstone of U.S.-led diplomacy for decades and was the basis of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, in which Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for peace and recognition. The same principle has been applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the peace process repeatedly stalled because of Israel's expansion of settlements in occupied territory, Palestinian attacks and the inability of the two sides to agree on thorny issues like final borders, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees. The U.S. arguments at the world court came a day after Washington vetoed a widely supported U.N. resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire of the Israel-Hamas war in the embattled Gaza Strip, saying it would interfere with negotiations on a deal to free hostages held by militant Palestinian group Hamas. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining. It reflected the strong support from countries around the globe for ending the war, which started when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7. Since then, Israel's retaliatory military offensive killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says the vast majority were women and children. Visek's comments were preceded Wednesday by condemnations of Israel's policies by representatives of Colombia, Cuba and Egypt. Along with the Palestinians, 51 nations and three international organizations were scheduled to speak at the hearings. The court will likely take months to issue its non-binding advisory opinion. New attempts were underway to reach a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas that could pause the war in Gaza, a member of Israels War Cabinet said late Wednesday. Initial signs indicate a possibility of moving forward, said Benny Gantz, a former military chief and defense minister. It's the first Israeli indication of renewed cease-fire talks since negotiations stalled a week ago. However, Gantz repeated his pledge that unless Hamas agrees to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, Israel will launch a ground offensive into the crowded southern city of Rafah during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel's war in Gaza has driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Most heeded Israeli orders to flee south and around 1.5 million are packed into Rafah near the border with Egypt. Sex assault report The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel on Wednesday claimed it found evidence of systematic and intentional rape and sexual abuse during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that ignited the war in Gaza. The report said the attacks took place at a series of locations across southern Israel. The report, published on Wednesday, did not specify the number of cases it documented or identify any victims, even anonymously. Orit Sulitzeanu, the executive director of the association, said victim identification was difficult because many were killed after being assaulted, and first responders were so overwhelmed by the scale of death and destruction that they did not document signs of sexual abuse. The reports authors said they based their research on confidential and public interviews with officials and first responders, as well as media reports. Sulitzeanu said they also relied on confidential sources but declined to say whether they spoke to any victims. Hamas rejects allegations that its gunmen committed sexual assault. According to the Israeli report, which was submitted to the United Nations and U.N. investigators carrying out a similar investigation, the sexual and gender-based violence occurred in four main places a music festival where more than 360 people were killed, communities near the Gaza border, Israeli military bases that were overrun by Hamas and places where hostages were held in Gaza. The association represents multiple rape crisis centers across Israel. A former Henrico County resident and Capital One employee on Wednesday was sentenced to two years in prison for engaging in a $3.1 million insider trading scheme that used financial transaction data collected from Capital One credit and debit card customers, officials announced. In an indictment filed in August 2018, officials alleged that Nan Huang, 45, used his position as a data analyst at Capital One's Richmond office between 2013 and 2014 to access a database containing "nonpublic ... credit card and debit card activity" and "learn material ... about scores of publicly traded companies and the sales data of those companies." Despite the fact that the crimes took place over a decade ago, officials said they initially were not able to prosecute Huang because he had fled the country once his illegal activities were revealed. The indictment says Huang "performed thousands if not tens of thousands of queries and other searches on (the) database" during his employment at Capital One. Huang was then able to use the information to predict "whether ... companies' overall sales were increasing or decreasing prior to that information being released publicly." Based on those projections, Huang and a co-conspirator identified as Bo Nan Huang were able to "identif(y) securities for sale or purchase ... in advance of public earnings announcements (and) to the financial detriment of those on the other side of the ... transactions," the indictment says. Huang's scheme, which "reaped extraordinary profits," violated U.S. securities law and Capital One's corporate policies forbidding employees from using confidential material to disclose or trade securities, according to the indictment. In March 2014, Bo Nan Huang used the profits to put a down payment on a property on Westward Terrace in Glen Allen. Huang eventually was fired from Capital One after the company discovered his activity. Days later, Huang fled to China, where he remained until his April 2023 arrest at San Francisco International Airport. Huang in September pleaded guilty to multiple charges of insider trading, according to court records. In addition to his prison sentence, Huang was ordered to forfeit nearly $1.5 million. Representatives for Capital One did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Cities with the worst commute in Virginia Cities with the worst commute in Virginia #25. Danville #24. Falls Church #23. Staunton #22. Waynesboro #21. Winchester #20. Petersburg #19. Alexandria #18. Virginia Beach #17. Hampton #16. Hopewell #15. Poquoson #14. Salem #13. Portsmouth #12. Colonial Heights #11. Norfolk #10. Newport News #9. Fairfax #8. Fredericksburg #7. Harrisonburg #6. Suffolk #5. Roanoke #4. Richmond #3. Chesapeake #2. Manassas #1. Manassas Park An Albemarle County judge listened to more than 3 1/2 hours of arguments Tuesday, part of one of the nationally watched cases that has pit the countys embattled commonwealths attorney against a mob of White nationalists who marched across University of Virginia Grounds the summer of 2017, chanting racist threats along the way. At issue Tuesday was whether the prosecutors office, recently forced to recuse itself in a related case, must recuse itself from another one, which is focused on Augustus Invictus, a Florida lawyer whose history includes Holocaust denial, a Senate run and ritual ingestion of goat blood. I never had a case quite like this, said the presiding judge, retired 16th Circuit Judge Richard E. Moore. Rather than represent himself, Invictus was represented at the Albemarle Circuit Court hearing by Terrell N. Roberts III, who is also serving as counsel for multiple rioters who broke into the U.S. Capitol the day of Jan. 6, 2021, including the estate of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed trying to climb through a barricaded door. You couldnt have a more important issue in your legal career than the one presented today, Roberts told the judge. The public perception is extremely important here. Invoking free speech principles espoused by Founding Father and Albemarle County native son Thomas Jefferson, Roberts attempted to steer the hearing toward the protections of the First Amendment, but his decision to incorporate a motion made by another lawyer in another case was pounced on by Lawton Tufts, the assistant commonwealths attorney whom he accused of being too close to the counterprotesters to prosecute the men they were protesting. Its a fun piece of creative writing, said Tufts, smiling broadly. The good news for Mr. Roberts is that none of it is true. Tufts proceeded to put up a PowerPoint document to rebut various assertions made by lawyer Peter Frazier in the motion he filed in the case of Jacob Joseph Dix of Clarksville, Ohio. This motion helped Frazier succeed in getting Tufts and the rest of the prosecutors office tossed from the case in a pair of rulings, the most recent on Feb. 12. But the same document found less favor Tuesday. There are so many misrepresentations that the small ones start to build up, said Tufts. I called them misrepresentations, but I think theyre just lies. Among them, Tufts said, were allegations of close friendships with people he was emailing that summer, alleged misstatements of their roles in opposing the 2017 White nationalist rally in Charlottesville, unfairly parsing a quotation he made, and confusing a prior Charlottesville police review board with the one created in the wake of the rally. Even the judge, who issued no ruling Tuesday, seemed to question the wisdom of incorporating Fraziers motion. When you adopt something wholesale, its full of landmines, said Moore. Theres no shortage of hyperbole. While Roberts seemed at one point to agree that the motion had problems, he contended that Tufts had problems of his own. Hes not just an observer; hes not just a bystander, said Roberts. Hes a partisan. Roberts alleged that Tufts, then working at UVa Law School, tried to thwart the rally with an email he sent to its opponents, including leaders of Black Lives Matter and Showing Up for Racial Justice. These are Mr. Tufts people, said Roberts. These are his folks, and hes working for free because hes an interested party. Tufts conveyed his actions differently. People came to me with their concerns, said Tufts. I expressed community members concerns, but the idea that I was part of them is completely baseless. He added that hed never heard the word antifa before the summer of 2017. On Aug. 12 of that year, the day after the torch march currently prosecuted, self-avowed neo-Nazi James Fields of Ohio used his car as a weapon to smash through a crowd of counterprotesters who were out celebrating the cancelation of the rally. The attack killed one woman, Heather Heyer, injured dozens of others and resulted in state murder and federal hate crimes convictions that sent Fields away for what amounts to multiple life terms in prison. The 2017 torch cases are being pressed under Virginias so-called cross-burning statute, which bans using fire for racial intimidation. Written to prevent the Ku Klux Klan from igniting crosses to terrorize Black Virginians, its a felony that can carry a sentence up to five years. And in Virginia there is no statute of limitations on felonies. A felony conviction could be costly for Invictus. Since rising to prominence in 2016 with an unsuccessful Libertarian Party challenge to the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Marco Rubio and his admission he sacrificially killed a goat and drank its blood, his legal career has taken center stage. The 40-year-old, born Austin Mitchell Gillespie, is reportedly licensed to practice in four states and in federal court. Tuesdays hearing veered away the actions of the Albemarle prosecutors at times, such as when Roberts vowed to contest the timeliness of the prosecution. It also veered from commonwealth law when Roberts said the recent recusal of the prosecutor should happen in all torch cases. We wouldnt be talking about this if we were sitting in federal court, said Roberts. Were not in federal court, Tufts snapped back. I dont know if that argument is accurate, but its not relevant at all. Accused of harboring personal animus toward Invictus, Tufts recalled the mans bail hearing last fall. At that hearing, Invictus had noted his involvement in the lives of his six children, including taking two of them to Catholic school and daily mass. Tufts noted that he urged the judge at that hearing to give Invictus an unsecured, or cash-free, bail. After his legal opponent mentioned a pair of local candlelight vigils in a way that hinted at equivalence, Tufts also clarified something that had been previously hinted at but heretofore unstated. None of the torch prosecutions, Tufts said, would attempt to criminalize the fire-accompanied chants of Blood and soil and Jews will not replace us. Instead, he said the prosecutions are directed only at those who encircled counterprotesters that night at the base of the state of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson on UVa Grounds. The idea that surrounding those people is the same as a candlelight vigil is frankly offensive, said Tufts. Except for a moment when he harrumphed a statement by Commonwealths Attorney Jim Hingeley, Invictus never spoke during Tuesdays hearing. Outside of court, he was asked if he still drinks goat blood. Im his lawyer, shouted Roberts, attempting to derail the topic, but Invictus answered nonetheless. I drink human blood now, Invictus replied. I'm Catholic. Localities with the highest heart disease rates in Virginia Localities with the highest heart disease rates in Virginia #25. Smyth #24. Bristol #23. Rockbridge #22. Westmoreland #21. Alleghany #20. Halifax #19. Mecklenburg #18. Carroll #17. Russell #16. Grayson #15. Scott #14. Middlesex #13. Northampton #12. Patrick #11. Charlotte #10. Accomack #9. Henry #8. Emporia #7. Highland #6. Dickenson #5. Lee #4. Lancaster #3. Northumberland #2. Buchanan #1. Bath Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Spectators who gathered across the Central Coast to watch the launch of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket a privately designed, unmanned rocket built to carry satellites instead saw it explode midair and debris rain down on nearby areas. South Carolina's Republican primary: What to watch as Haley tries to upset Trump in her home state Nikki Haleys best-case scenario for her home states Republican primary might be to do well enough to be competitive on Super Tuesday The location of a new cannabis retail location on Main Street at the Glastonbury town line, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in East Hartford Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media The location of a new cannabis retail location on Main Street at the Glastonbury town line, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in East Hartford Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media The location of a new cannabis retail location on Main Street at the Glastonbury town line, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in East Hartford Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media EAST HARTFORD You won't be able to get a milkshake or a side of fries at this drive-thru, but you will be able to pick up your order of cannabis at the new retail facility planned for Main Street. According to Shangri-La CT's application, which was recently approved by the town's Planning and Zoning Commission, customers of the new facility to be built at 32 Main St., near the Glastonbury border, will be able to register to become drive-thru customers. The process would require a customer to enter the facility and present their identification, provide personal information, sign up for the drive-thru option, and make a purchase. Once they have signed up, they will be able to use the drive-thru for future purchases. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Once approved, customers will have to make their purchases online in advance. During that process they would request drive-thru pick-up, and drive up to the building and enter the four-car drive-thru lane. Once they reach the service window, they will provide their name, identification, and order number. Once confirmed, the customer would pay for their order, which would then be retrieved from a secure area and given to the customer. Steve Hnatuk, East Hartford's deputy development director, said Tuesday that the company plans to demolish the single-family home at the site and build a new 6,500-square-foot, two-story facility that will feature 1,200 square feet for retail sales on the first floor and upstairs office space with a tenant to be determined on the second floor. The first floor, Hnatuk said, will also include a waiting area, vault, receiving room, and employee area. The business would be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The company's proposal says it expects to employ six to nine people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to the company's application, Shangri-La was founded in 2021 with an initial focus on providing access to medical cannabis. Its first location was in Columbia, Missouri, but the company has grown to include locations in Ohio, South Dakota, Illinois, and Connecticut. According to the company, it recently received zoning approval to open two recreational cannabis facilities in Norwalk, and one each in Plainville and Waterbury. East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin said Tuesday that the town welcomes and supports new industries choosing to invest in East Hartford. "Economic development like this helps the town and residents, and we are excited to welcome more new businesses," Martin said. Company officials said Wednesday that they hope to open by the end of 2024. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We picked the East Hartford location for the convenience of area residents and to provide the community with a new building that will create jobs and economic opportunities," Shangri-La CEO Nevil Patel said Wednesday. "The new building also allows for a drive-thru window, which is part of Shangri-La's commitment to serving customers easily, especially those with conditions that limit their mobility." Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. The formation of the Caspian Sea unfolded over millions of years. Unlike the oceans, this body of water is not the result of tectonic plate movement or continental drift. Instead, it emerged through a combination of tectonic activity, geological processes and climatic changes. During the late Cretaceous period, around 70 to 60 million years ago, the region that now encompasses the Caspian Sea was part of the ancient Tethys Sea, a vast ocean separating the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana. Advertisement Over time, as tectonic plates shifted and collided, the Tethys Sea began to fragment and shrink, giving rise to smaller basins and seas, including the Caspian Sea region. The gradual convergence of Eurasian and Arabian tectonic plates led to the uplift of mountain ranges, including the Caucasus Mountains to the west and the Alborz Mountains to its south. These mountain ranges acted as natural barriers, trapping water and creating a basin that eventually became the Caspian Sea. At the same time, Earth's climate was fluctuating over millions of years, causing periods of glaciation and global warming to alter the sea level and precipitation patterns. During glacial periods, large ice sheets formed, locking up water and causing global sea levels to drop. This caused the Caspian basin to be cut off from the oceans reduced the volume of inflow from rivers. During interglacial warming periods, melting ice sheets and increased rainfall led to rising sea levels and greater inflow of freshwater from rivers. These fluctuations in sea level and freshwater input affected the Caspian Sea's size, depth and salinity over time. HARTSVILLE, S.C. Carolina Pines Medical Group recently added obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Ashekia Pinckney to its womens care practice. Pinckney brings more than six years of experience to the practice after earning a number of awards and honors throughout her undergraduate, graduate, and medical residency education. Pinckney most recently practiced for the OB Hospitalist Group at McLeod Health in Florence and before that was on staff at the University of Tennessee Region One Health in Memphis, Tennessee. She says she is excited to join Carolina Pines and bring her advocacy for womens health back to the area that raised her. Womens health has always been a passion of mine and my passion has now grown into my purpose, said Pinckney. I believe that if you educate a woman, you educate an entire family because women are usually the people responsible for the health care needs of the family. I am looking forward to growing my practice at Carolina Pines and taking care of the women of this community. I hope to build a legacy where one day I see women in the city telling me that I delivered their children, and eventually, their childrens children. Pinckney earned a bachelor degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and her doctor of medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She completed an obstetrics gynecology intern residency at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and an obstetrics gynecology residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. She also served as a clinical instructor and residency program director at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine. We believe Dr. Pinckney is a great addition to our Womens Care team at Carolina Pines Medical Group, said Carolina Pines CEO Bill Little. Her skill, compassion and advocacy will serve patients well as we grow this service line to better meet the womens health needs of our area. COLUMBIA Nikki Haley is using the closing days of her South Carolina Republican primary matchup with Donald Trump to hone her argument that she is the lone remaining candidate who can unite Americans, despite the former presidents electoral wins thus far and his popularity in her home state. APTOPIX Election 2024 Haley Nikki Haley walks on stage before a Fox News Channel town hall Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Columbia. Its a tall order for Haley as South Carolina prepares to vote on Saturday. Trumps 2016 primary win helped cement his front-runner status, and he boasts support from all of the states top elected leaders and all but one of its congressional Republicans. But Haley has maintained that her ability to stick it out in the race, having outlasted a dozen also-ran candidates, means that shes in it for the long haul. Her amped-up fundraising could keep her going despite her earlier losses to Trump. Election 2024 Haley Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event Sunday in Fort Mill. Part of Haleys argument is her continued showcase of her foreign policy knowhow, having served as Trumps United Nations ambassador for two years, as more and more of her campaign appearances feature areas in which she says she would have acted differently than her former boss. 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 Sunday during a town hall on Fox News with John Roberts, broadcast from a venue in downtown Columbia. It was a reference to Trumps warning to NATO allies during a campaign rally earlier this month that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to countries that are delinquent nations that in his view are not doing their part in that alliance. NATOs leader said Trumps attacks on long-standing international alliances and foreign aid could undermine security and put American and European forces at risk. We should make sure we tell our partners its in their best interest to hold their own weight, Haley said Sunday. She said Trump did it by saying he was going to encourage Putin to invade our allies. Thats the wrong way. She sharpened those comments during a Monday morning campaign stop in the central South Carolina city of Sumter, home to an Air Force base as well as many military veterans. She said Trump is siding with a thug in Vladimir Putin, whom she called a dictator who killed his political opponents. Its an argument she makes in a new television ad, part of a $6 million advertising flurry Haley has released in the final weeks of the campaign across her state. In Unite, which begins airing Monday and was shared before its launch with The Associated Press, Haley argues that she is the only choice among the remaining candidates who can handle disputes with foreign leaders in a way that will keep America on solid footing abroad. When your enemies think youre weak, your leader must be strong, a narrator says, over images of foreign leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin. When your country is divided, your president must unite us. The ad argues that Haley provided moral clarity during our darkest hours, over headlines from coverage of the racist slaying of nine Black parishioners at a Charleston church in 2015, during Haleys second term as South Carolina governor. Whats next? Thats up to you. Saying Sunday as she has throughout her campaign that shes OK being the underdog now, Haley has been firm in saying that she has never lost a race and believes voters will see her as the right choice to shift away from the chaos she says follows Trump. She also frequently notes that, while Trump has won the earliest contests, she has been ascendent, pointing to the shrinking margins between her totals and Trumps in the Iowa and New Hampshire contests. But over the weekend, Haley also began making an appeal to South Carolinians who typically vote in Democratic primaries, for Saturdays vote, a message she also echoed during campaign events on Monday. She noted that anyone who didnt vote in the Feb. 3 Democratic primary which attracted under 5% of eligible voters statewide can vote in this one, as she bid for crossover support from people who want to cast a vote against Trump. It was one of the Civil Wars most technologically advanced weapons. The H.L. Hunley was a 40-foot submarine built out of iron and powered by a hand-cranked screw propeller. Hunley This 2015 photo of the Hunley shows restoration efforts in action. In 1995, the sub was found buried under silt in about 30 feet of water four The Confederate vessel secured its place in history on Feb. 17, 1864, when it set off 135 pounds of black powder along the hull of the USS Housatonic and became the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in battle. The Hunley and its eight crew members were lost to the waters off the coast of Sullivans Island that cold night, and five from the Housatonic were also killed. On the 160th anniversary of those events in 2024, the sub that transformed naval warfare is back at the forefront of technological innovation, but in a way that none of its 19th-century creators could have predicted. The H.L. Hunley has been the center of a multi-agency, conservation-and-education effort since it was raised from the depths in August 2000 and moved to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston. Warren Lasch Conservation Center Students Patricia Ploehn, left, and Melissa Allen use cutting-edge technology to study the H.L. Hunley submarine, which is housed at the the W Clemson University conservation scientists, archaeologists, conservators, and historic preservationists are playing a central role by leading the scientific work that is telling the story of the Hunley and its crew while conserving the vessel and its artifacts for posterity. Stephanie Crette, the centers director, said its affiliation with the University gives researchers unique access to state-of-the-art technology, including scanning-electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-radiography and 3D laser scanners. With their expertise and sophisticated equipment, the centers researchers have pioneered new conservation methods, including a subcritical technique to desalinate metal, especially iron. The cherry on top is that we are in Charleston, where history and preservation developed early on, so we have a good network of collaborators, Crette said. Our technologically advanced facilities and partnerships with multiple agencies are what make us unique. When a submarine sinks and is found For 131 years after the Housatonics sinking, the Hunleys whereabouts remained a mystery. Its location was verified in 1995, when a team led by author and explorer Clive Cussler found the sub buried under silt in about 30 feet of water four miles off Sullivans Island. The Hunley, secure at the center 24 years after its raising, is again submerged. But this time its in a tank of sodium hydroxide, a solution that pulls salt and chlorides out of the iron. While the solution does its job, researchers are branching out beyond the Hunley to apply their expertise to other artifacts. They include a 4,000-year-old Native American dugout canoe and the International African-American Museum collection. Those efforts and future collaborations will give Clemson researchers plenty to do long after their work with Hunley is completed. But researchers said their job with the sub is far from over. Michael Scafuri, senior archaeologist, likened the Clemson teams work to crime-scene investigation. We process a site or scene and collect evidence and try and see what it tells us, he said. What were trying to do is get as close as we can to understanding this event in the past. Were trying to understand what these people did and why they did it, their motivations and what came out of it. Johanna Rivera, senior conservator, has been working to protect the Hunleys artifacts. They include, for example, the silver suspenders, gold pocket watch and binoculars believed to have belonged to its captain, George E. Dixon. We are trying to bring things back to their state before the sinking event bringing objects back to life, if you will, Rivera said. That challenge to try and work with the material and to try to reverse time a little bit is the best part about my job. History and stories of people recovered Nicholas DeLong, a maritime archaeologist, has focused on personal artifacts, specifically the crews shoes, as well as clothing, textiles, and buttons. What they were wearing can tell us about the crew members themselves and how that plays into the bigger, overarching time period of the Civil War in Charleston, DeLong said. What they were wearing can also tell us a little bit about how they perceived their actions, what kind of unit they were, their cohesion. To understand cohesion in efforts to restore the Hunley, one need look no further than Clemsons partnership with Friends of the Hunley. The university and the nonprofit share the Warren Lasch Conservation Center. Friends of the Hunley runs an exhibit that tells the subs story and displays some of its restored artifacts. The nonprofit offers weekend tours that allow the public a glimpse of the sub in its tank. Collaborations with partners such as Clemson University are critical to illuminating an important piece of our nations rich naval heritage, said Kellen Butler, president and executive director of Friends of the Hunley. We look forward to continuing to work with Clemson to conserve the Hunley and its artifacts for future generations. SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Budget Direct Insurance celebrates its 7th anniversary, the company takes pride in reflecting on its pivotal role in helping to shape Singapore's digital insurance industry. Leading this transformative journey in online insurance is Simon Birch, the Founding Director and CEO of Budget Direct Insurance, and former Founder and CEO of DirectAsia Insurance. This retrospective explores his entrepreneurial path, marked by resilience and innovation, where he emerges as a key figure in influencing Singapore's online insurance industry. Simon Birch, CEO of Budget Direct, helping to shape the future of online insurance in Singapore. In 2005, Birch embarked on a bold venture, conceptualizing the idea that would evolve into DirectAsia Insurance one of Singapore's first direct-to-consumer online insurance companies. Recognising the growing interest among consumers in Asia to purchase insurance online, he faced the challenge posed by existing agency and middlemen networks. These challenges obstructed the industry and traditional insurers from adopting a direct and online approach. Consequently, the solution involved constructing an insurance company from the ground up. Undeterred by sceptics, Birch approached various investors in 2006 to launch a brand-new direct, online insurance company. Collaborating with the private equity backed Whittington Group, Birch initiated thorough research into the potential of direct-to-consumer online insurance. ADVERTISEMENT This multi-year research yielded compelling results, leading to the initiation of the build project in 2008. Birch and his team, including entrepreneurial insurance experts from around the world, embarked on constructing DirectAsia Insurance from scratch, with the aim of creating a B2C insurance company boasting world-class service processes, segmentation, and IT infrastructure that would outperform old incumbents relying on legacy systems and traditional processes. The journey was not without its challenges, as Birch faced scepticism from investors and industry insiders who doubted the viability of a direct online insurance company in Singapore. Common beliefs indicated that challenges with existing agents and variations in pricing could impede the path to success. Birch's resilience, determination, clear vision, and a dedicated team overcame these obstacles. Story continues Birch said: "I was always sure that Asia and in particular Singapore were ready for a B2C insurance model, and the subsequent research backed that up. It proved, however, to be quite a battle as there were many critics, most of whom had vested interests in maintaining an industry dominated by agents and middlemen. But with support from the investors, the great launch team and guidance from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), we successfully received our full general insurance company licence and launched in June 2010." DirectAsia Insurance emerged as one of the first online insurance businesses to launch in Singapore, challenging norms and establishing new industry standards. Success extended with expansions into Hong Kong, China in 2012 and Thailand in 2013, solidifying DirectAsia Insurance as a prominent player in the online insurance space. The DirectAsia Group was successfully sold to the Hiscox Group in 2014. Remaining true to his entrepreneurial spirit, Birch seized the opportunity to replicate and build on his success. He went on to partner with an international insurance group, which is headquartered in the British Isles, to launch Budget Direct Insurance in Singapore in late 2016, presenting a smarter, direct-to-consumer, online insurance company providing excellent service at affordable prices. Today, Birch takes pride in being part of a global insurance group, which includes Compare the Market in the UK, Budget Direct in Australia, and Telesure in South Africa. The group's stability and support are significant values, according to Birch. Birch's journey includes a background in applied economics at the University of Ulster and nearly five years at Commercial Union in the UK after leaving university. In 1995, he moved to Singapore to work for Commercial Union Asia and then moved to AXA Singapore in 1998, setting the stage for a career marked by innovation, resilience, and a commitment to transforming the insurance industry. About Budget Direct Insurance Budget Direct Insurance is an award-winning online digital insurance company for car, motorcycle, and travel. It is part of an international group which provides insurance solutions for millions of policyholders worldwide. Their brands include Compare the Market in the UK, Budget Direct in Australia, and Telesure in South Africa. Budget Direct Insurance (PRNewsfoto/Budget Direct Insurance) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/budget-direct-marks-7-years-of-shaping-singapores-digital-insurance-landscape-302065755.html SOURCE Budget Direct Insurance Singapore The BBC has obtained images which show vessel still above water A British registered ship attacked in the Red Sea has been damaged but has not sunk, BBC Verify has discovered. On Monday, Houthi fighters claimed to have sunk the Rubymar. It would have been the most significant incident since attacks on ships began in November. But the BBC has obtained an image of the listing ship from Wednesday - which shows it still above water. The vessel's owner said it was being towed to Djibouti but could still sink. Ships in the Red Sea have come under regular attack in recent months. BBC analysis shows the attacks have continued despite the US and UK launching strikes on Houthis in Yemen. On Monday, missiles hit the Rubymar near the Bab al-Mandab strait. The ship's owners - Blue Fleet Group - said one missile had hit the side of the ship near its engine room and it was listing. A second missile hit the vessel's deck. The crew abandoned the ship and were taken to nearby Djibouti. That evening, a Houthi spokesman claimed the vessel had been sunk. But the BBC has obtained two images. The first is said to be from Tuesday and shows a vessel still above water. It is listing, but has not sunk. Although the ship's name is not visible, all of its characteristics match those of the Rubymar. The BBC has also obtained an image from Wednesday showing the same vessel in a similar position. A further satellite image from Tuesday also appears to show the vessel damaged, but above water. Again, all the characteristics match those of the Rubymar. The BBC has also been told by its owners that they are trying to tow the ship to Djibouti. That was confirmed by a second source from the industry. It is unclear whether the vessel can be fully salvaged given the damage done. But Houthi claims to have sunk it on Monday appear to be incorrect. The Houthis say their attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Story continues The attacks have prompted many shipping companies to stop using the critical waterway, which accounts for about 12% of global seaborne trade. The UK government has condemned the Houthi action as "completely unacceptable" and said it and its allies reserve the right to respond appropriately. US and British forces began carrying out air strikes on military targets across Houthi-controlled western Yemen in response last month. Bhutan Punakha River Lodge River Dining. PHOTO: &Beyond Bhutan is finally open for travel again. Whether you are looking to attend festivals, trek, bird watch, pick mushrooms, engage in spiritual awakening, wellness treatments, white water rafting, historical exploration, view architectural marvels, try exotic cuisines, or meet the locals, Bhutan has it all. Yahoo Life Singapore spoke with &Beyond Chief Operating Officer, Ryan Powell, who had a hand in establishing the &Beyond Punakha River Lodge, and plied him with questions on what to take note of when planning a trip to Bhutan, the best times to visit, tips on applying for visas, estimated costs and booking a local guide. Read on and discover the wonders of the Land of the Thunder Dragon and make that dream trip to Bhutan happen. We also picked out some travel essentials to ensure your trip to Bhutan goes seamlessly well. Yahoo Life Singapore: How different is Bhutan as compared to the rest of the world? What sort of experiences can we partake in? Ryan Powell: Bhutan is a destination for culture and natural beauty. There, you can experience genuine warmth from the people and also learn about a way of life that is very different from the rest of the world. Even Buddhism in Bhutan has been adapted to include alot of the earlier practices of Bonism which worships the environment (lakes, rivers, mountains, etc.). You will experience all of this when you come to Bhutan and visit the various monuments, temples, and a local household. We hear visas and entry permits to Bhutan are extremely limited, and planning a trip there takes some work. How much would a trip to Bhutan cost? How can we ensure a visa? Visas are not limited. Everyone who pays the US$100 per day daily fee to the government can come to Bhutan. It can be applied either online or through a local tour operator. It is better to make all the arrangements to travel to Bhutan through a local tour operator as booking flights, guides and vehicles is very complicated, and public transport is non-existent. For this reason, our &Beyond team in Bhutan works with our guests on their visa applications. Bhutan Punakha River Lodge Outdoor Dining. PHOTO: &Beyond Is it true that it is mandatory to book a local guide? Why is that so? It is mandatory to have a local guide when you visit the various monuments and temples. Although not mandatory, guides are only based out of Thimphu and hence they travel with guests from the time to arrive until they depart. Otherwise, guests will not be able to visit the monuments in the other valleys that they travel to. Also, it is highly recommended that guests have a guide on their hikes for safety reasons. And with a guide, they would get a better understanding of the country and why it is so different from other places. What can we expect in Bhutan? What sort of traveller would love Bhutan? Bhutan is a perfect destination for travellers who are interested in culture and love nature. There are beautiful hikes with captivating scenery and a lot of cultural nuances to understand. Bhutan Punakha River Lodge View from Temple. PHOTO: &Beyond Which is the best month to travel to Bhutan? How do we prepare for the weather in terms of what to wear and what to bring on our trip? Bhutan is great for travel anytime between September and May. Bhutan in December doesn't get too cold in Punakha, which is where &Beyond Punakha River Lodge is located. Do pack according to the weather guidelines. We recommend carrying hiking boots for the hikes you will engage in in Bhutan. Other than that, a thin base layer, a fleece, and a down jacket should be more than enough for this time of the year. You can also carry a pair of gloves and a woollen beanie for Paro where it is colder and a sun hat or cap. [CLICK ON IMAGES FOR PRODUCT LINKS] Columbia Women's Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Leather & Suede Hiking Boot Available in 15 colourways Columbia Women's Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Leather & Suede Hiking Boot. PHOTO: Amazon Related: Columbias gear review: Taking them up Baegundae Peak in Seoul, South Korea Timberland Men's Hiking Boot Available in 39 colourways Timberland Men's Hiking Boot. PHOTO: Amazon Salomon Women's X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots Available in 2 colourways Salomon Women's X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots. PHOTO: Amazon 100% Merino Wool Midweight Long Sleeve Thermal Shirt Meriwool Mens Base Layer 100% Merino Wool Midweight Long Sleeve Thermal Shirt. PHOTO: Amazon Meriwool Women Base Layer 100% Merino Wool Midweight Long Sleeve Thermal Shirt Meriwool Women's Base Layer 100% Merino Wool Midweight Long Sleeve Thermal Shirt. PHOTO: Amazon Tommy Hilfiger Men's Classic Zip Front Polar Fleece Jacket Tommy Hilfiger Men's Classic Zip Front Polar Fleece Jacket. PHOTO: Amazon Carhartt Men's W.P. Waterproof Insulated Gloves Carhartt Men's W.P. Waterproof Insulated Gloves. PHOTO: Amazon How many days is ideal to explore Bhutan? Is there a minimum number of days to stay? We suggest a minimum of 6 nights in Bhutan so guests have sufficient time to explore Punakha, Gangtey, and Paro which are our favourite valleys in Bhutan. There is no minimum number of days that you need to spend while you are there. What are the travel essentials to bring along on a trip to Bhutan? Casual, comfortable, wash and wear clothing are most useful. Travellers are also always recommended to dress modestly and respectfully especially if they are planning a visit to the monasteries, Dzongs, and other religious institutions. Long pants and long-sleeved tops should be worn when visiting such places. As a mark of respect, be kind enough to remove your hats, caps, etc. as you enter religious and administrative premises, institutions, and any other place that you come across with the national flag being raised. Most hotels offer quick laundry turnaround, usually within a few hours. It is certainly not necessary to bring a separate change of clothing for each day and evening, and it is recommended that you keep luggage to a minimum for your comfort and ease of transport, especially if you are using light aircraft transfers. The exquisite cuisine available at &Beyond. PHOTO: &Beyond &Beyond recently opened its first property in Asia in Bhutan &Beyond Punakha River Lodge. What unique experiences may be had here? There are lots on offer for guests depending on their interests ranging from nature hikes, wellness retreats, and also adventurous activities such as white water rafting and exquisite cuisine at &Beyond Punakha River Lodge. More information here. Bhutan Punakha River Lodge Yoga Studio. PHOTO: &Beyond Bhutan is the only country that measures Gross National Happiness and ranks high on it. What are your thoughts as a regular traveller to Bhutan and do you think their happiness can rub off on travellers to Bhutan? As someone who has travelled to Bhutan several times, I can say with absolute confidence that their happiness can rub off on travellers. Its one of those things that you have to see and experience for yourself in order to truly appreciate and understand their way of life. Any other things we should take note of and prepare in advance for a trip to Bhutan? Come with an open heart and mind! Check out reviews on Tripadvisor About Ryan Powell, &Beyond Chief Operating Officer Sales & Touring Ryan boasts more than three decades of sales, marketing, and commerce experience, gained in a variety of industries. Beginning his tourism career in 1998, Ryan worked with leading luxury hotels and tourism brands. Ryans current focus is leading the touring businesses in Africa, Asia, and South America through a process and operational alignment to ensure a consistent, world-leading guest and partner experience. Ryan is married and lives in Johannesburg with his wife and two children. He is passionate about conservation and community, wishes to contribute towards leaving the world a better place, and play a part in ensuring the worlds wild places and its animals are there to enjoy for his children and their children. Check airfare here: Skyscanner | Trip.com | Expedia Book accommodations and activities here: Agoda | Booking.com | Klook | KKday | HotelsCombined | LuxuryEscapes Save big, get the all-inclusive pass & explore your destination in-depth: GoCity General info here: Tripadvisor Affordable data plans here And while you are at it, get your travel insurance with Alliance Assistance | Income | Prudential! READ Train travels: Advice from travel specialist on what to expect and how to prep The Great Migration in Africa: How to plan a trip there Net-A-Porter travel essentials you will not regret investing in and safe travel tips Solo female travel: Top tips and insights from Scott Dunn travel specialist 8 New York City travel tips plus the best attractions, food and things to do Ho Chi Minh City travel guide: Things to do in 72 hours Top tips on eco-friendly ways to travel the world Robinsons Chinese New Year sale is now on: Score bedsheets, jackets, luggages, travel bags and more at great deals SG Telegram banner. Abby Weiss is a Fairfield County native and features reporter for CT Insider. She graduated with a B.S. in journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in May 2022. She writes about entertainment and interesting people in Connecticut, such as a Danbury pilot who helped inspire the Amazon Prime movie On a Wing and a Prayer, a Yale psychologist helping displaced Ukrainian families and a Connecticut filmmaker who was chosen for an all-civilian SpaceX trip to the moon. She also speaks with experts uncovering Connecticuts history, including information about the states suffragettes of color and New Havens LGBTQ community. Abby is passionate about reporting on the environment, and in the past year, she's reported on Connecticut's unusually warm winter and the impacts of the 2022 summer drought. Shes also written about Connecticuts child marriage ban and rent prices impact on Gen Z. She has written climate stories for InsideClimate News and Callaway Climate Insights, and interned for The New York Post. SIOUX CITY -- Comedian Charlie Berens is calling his all-new standup, coming to the Orpheum Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday, the "Good Old Fashioned Tour." Yes, that would be as in the delicious brandy drink favored by his Grandpa Bob. But Berens also wanted this tour to go beyond the Midwestern persona he created as host of the Manitowoc Minute, the weekly comedic online news show he created more than seven years ago. "On this tour, I'll talk about life and family and more universal themes," the Wisconsin native explained. That's a change of pace for Berens, an Emmy-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author of "The Midwest Survival Guide." "When I started in comedy, it was important tor discover what was unique in me," he said. "What was unique turned out to be my Midwestern upbringing and my character became a cross between Grandpa Bob and all of the other male members of my family." Over time, Berens said he began notice all audiences could identify with his material, regardless of geography. In other words, you didn't have to be from Manitowoc to appreciate the Midwestern POV. Berens, 36, grew up watching comedy from such standup legends like George Carlin, Richard Pryor and, especially, Jon Stewart. "My 'Manitowoc Minute' was inspired by the 'Daily Show' and I'm so happy that Jon is back right in time for the election year," Berens said. "It will be interesting to see his own unique take on politics." As for his future, Berens has more standup dates in the future plus he is branching out into product placement. Specifically, he has created Berens' Old-Fashioned Brandy -- inspired by the 90-proof bottle that Grandpa Bob would keep in his tackle box -- which may be coming to a store near you. "Old Fashioned Brandy is, after all, Wisconsin's official state cocktail," Berens said. Mid-Week Lenten Services Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport, is inviting the public to their Lenten services on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Worship times are at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. A free-will offering tavern lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m., following the 11:30 a.m. service, and dinner will be served from 5 to 6:45 p.m., prior to the 7 p.m. service (carry-out available). Join for the Guided to the Cross series, week two, Guided to Love: 1 Timothy 1:13-14 "When we were separated from others and from God by our sin, the cross brings us together through its love." Carmelite Board Day of Recollection All parishioners and friends are invited to attend the annual Day of Recollection sponsored by members of the Carmelite Board. The Day of Recollection will be held on Tuesday, March 5, at the Carmelite Monastery, 2901 S. Cecilia, with registration at 8:45 a.m. The Day begins at 9 a.m. with a message from Rev. Roger Linnan followed by Mass at 9:45 a.m. A hospitality brunch will be served from 10:30 - 11 a.m. The Day will continue at 11 a.m. with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Day will conclude with Benediction at 11:50 a.m. and dismissal at noon. There is no charge. For more information call 712-301-5352. Irish Bake Potato Buffet New Horizons United Church of Christ, 141 Reed St., Akron, Iowa, will hold an Irish Bake Potato Buffet from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. Choice of baked potato or sweet potato with a variety of toppings is $8. Grilled Hotdog meal is $4 and includes potato chips, chocolate chip cookie, and beverage. 10% of net proceeds go to American Legion #186 in Akron. Dine-in, carryout, or free delivery within the Akron City limit. Contact the church at 712-568-3446. Leonetti to keynote Mens Conference National Catholic speaker, youth minister, parish mission leader, author and Des Moines Catholic radio host Jon Leonetti will be the keynote speaker for the April 6 Mens Conference in Le Mars, Iowa. The Men of the Cross conference is co-sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City and the Le Mars All Saints Catholic Parish Mens Ministry group. Leonetti shared that he will be talking to the conference participants about humans being created in Gods image and likeness, as described in the book of Genesis. He pointed out that humans are the highest form of Gods creation. Men of the Cross will include three keynote presentations from Leonetti, two 30-minute breakout sessions, lunch and Mass at 2 p.m. with Bishop Nickless. The Plymouth County Pork Producers will be providing a hearty pork chop lunch for the men, which has become an annual favorite for the participants. Bower explained the breakout speakers will include Father Zach Jones, Father Michael Erpelding and Daniel Swalve, parishioner and father of young children. To register for the conference, participants can go to scdiocese.org/mensconference. Cost is $40 per person if registered by March 22. After March 22, the fee increases to $50 per person. Fathers and sons registering together will receive a $5 discount off of each registration. The conference will be held at All Saints Catholic ParishSt. Joseph Church, 605 Plymouth St. NE in Le Mars. Citywide confessions In an effort to encourage the Catholic faithful to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), the four Catholic parishes in Sioux City are collaborating on citywide confessions throughout the next year. Each parish will host one of four come and go confessions in the next 10 months to remind Catholics that the sacrament is available throughout the year not just during the liturgical (church) seasons of Advent and Lent. Confessions will be available at the following locations from 7 to 8 p.m. and the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for confession participants to pray in adoration if they wish. Multiple priests will be present at each citywide confessions event. March 19, 2024 at Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Church at 4241 Natalia Way June 18, 2024 at Sacred Heart Parish at 5010 Military Road. Pastors of the four parishes include: The Rev. David Hemann of Holy Cross Parish, which includes Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael churches; the Rev. David Esquiliano of Cathedral Parish, which includes the Cathedral of the Epiphany, St. Boniface and St. Joseph churches; the Rev. Brad Pelzel of Mater Dei Parish, which includes Immaculate Conception and Nativity churches, and the Rev. Tim Friedrichsen of Sacred Heart Parish. Food pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. LOS ANGELES The second season of Abbott Elementary was a complete blur for star Quinta Brunson. I wasnt processing it, the recent Emmy winner says on the set of her hit series. Winning a Golden Globe? Blur. I do not have a memory of that. I have a memory of Tyler (James Williams) winning, but not me physically winning or even the show winning because we were also working while the first awards were going. We were just here at 5 a.m. every day. We were just working and getting the job done. Brunson, who also writes and produces the series, didnt exhale until the writers strike started. The walls came crashing in and I was like, What is going on? I was in my office, and I walked past (the book shelf) and I was like, What the hell is that award? And I had to pull it off the shelf to see that it was a SAG Award. How did this happen? We were working and I wasnt processing how much had changed. Abbott Elementary Abbott Elementary stars Quinta Brunson as Janine, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Janelle James as Ava, Lisa A Abbott Elementary Ava (Janelle James), left, has a quick meeting with Janine (Quinta Brunson) in "Abbott Elementary." To make sure shes an important part of the show she created, fellow producers have built in several weeks of pre-production so she can be in the writers room and help direct where its going. And then we build in hiatuses every few weeks so that before we get caught up, shes back in the room, says Executive Producer Justin Halpern. When Brunson isnt needed on set, she heads to the writers room. Well literally come down to her dressing room and start pitching stuff, he adds. To me, she feels like a writer first. Shes an amazing writer who happens to be an incredible performer. The best version of this show is the version that comes through her. And thats what we try to make happen. In the third season, Brunsons character, Janine, has a job with the school district, which takes her out of the classroom. That means shes not in daily contact with her Abbott friends. More important, shes not in a hardcore relationship with Williams character, Gregory Eddie. Abbott Elementary When Janine (Quinta Brunson) takes a job with the district, she finds it difficult to stay away from the classroom in "Abbott Elementary." I think the fun of young 20-somethings is really the stuff that happens all the time, Brunson says. People kiss each other, they have sex with each other and then, all of a sudden, theyre cool again or not cool again or friends again. Life doesnt magically turn into something where they never see each other anymore. I thought that was an interesting vehicle for Janine and Gregory. Because producers want Abbott to reflect current events, theyve crafted stories about funding problems, aggressive parents and teacher burnout. People who arent teachers dont know how much teachers have to do, Brunson says. In one second season episode, a parent calls out the teacher: Do your job, teach my kid. I dont care if my kid is bad. We didnt want either of them to be in the right or in the wrong. We wanted to show what could happen, Brunson says. After the episode aired, viewers told Brunson they had no idea teachers had to deal with those kinds of issues. Watching Janine get yelled at on-screen was too much for them to bear. After seeing all that Janine does for her students, it opened them up to reflection. A visit to the set of 'Abbott Elementary' Close In art class, there's plenty of opportunity for spills...and construction paper. The school library is stuff with books. No, we didn't look to see if any were on a banned books list. Quinta Brunson talks with reporters on the first tour of the "Abbott Elementary" set. The bus, by the way, is merely a photo. A teacher's home is her chair. And desk. And decorations. There are dozens of bulletin boards around the set of "Abbott Elementary." Many address current events. Gregory Eddie's award is prominently displayed in his classroom. Note the tractor. Teachers' desk calendars are in the open and ready to be read. Look closely at the old phone. It's well-used and fingerprinted. What's the buzz? Rules are meant to be posted. Thanks for joining the tour. It's time to Grow, Solve, Think, Read, Create and Reflect. +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 Because Brunsons mother, a kindergarten teacher, served as inspiration for the series, shes often quizzed about incidents. An episode that focused on after-school dance classes came from her life. Those classes kept girls off the streets. It gave them somewhere to go, which is why my mom gave up more of her time to do a club. When Brunson let her see the episode, mom turned to her and said, Youre just going to steal my whole life, huh? A fan-favorite around the world, Abbott Elementary touches on moments that resonate. Like other mockumentaries, it includes talking head interviews with the characters. But theres a difference. In The Office, theyd be taped in their workspace. In Abbott Elementary, theyre not in the classroom. Executive Producer Randall Einhorn, who worked on both, told Brunson these are teachers who are on the move. They dont have time to sit down and do a talking head in the classroom. Renewed for a fourth season, Abbott Elementary has the luxury to dig into the backgrounds of all its characters. Abbott Elementary Tyler James Williams and Quinta Brunson have an on-again, off-again relationship in "Abbott Elementary." We were blessed with a cast of just absolute heavy-hitters, says Executive Producer Patrick Schumacker. Oftentimes, youll be on a show in the writers room and writers will kind of have favorites they gravitate toward. Thats not the case on this show. Brunson, in fact, never asks for more time. The reason you have this ensemble is because you have an egoless performer whos leading the charge, says Halpern. You cannot make Abbott without the way she operates in the writers room and on set. Its something she just intrinsically understands. Shes able to just put her ego wherever she needs to put it in order to make the best show possible. Abbott Elementary returns for its third season this spring on ABC. SIOUX CITY A student is facing disciplinary action for bringing a toy gun to West Middle School, according to a statement from the Sioux City Community School District. After school dismissed on Wednesday, a student reported that another student may have had a weapon in their backpack at West Middle School. At that time, the statement said is was unclear whether the weapon was a toy. School administrators, along with West Middle's school resource officer and a juvenile court officer, followed protocol and investigated the report, confirming that the weapon was a toy gun, according to the statement. The student faces disciplinary action for the incident. "The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. Every report of a potential threat to our school community is investigated fully, and there are consequences for individuals involved in threats against our schools," the statement said. "We appreciate the student for speaking up yesterday to alert school administrators. It takes everyone working together to keep our schools safe spaces for learning." SIOUX CITY A public meeting will be held today for the Elk Creek Road project, which includes the construction of a roundabout. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. at the Morningside Assembly of God Student Center, 4310 Old Lakeport Road. The City of Sioux City and Woodbury County have agreed to jointly improve Elk Creek Road from the Elk Creek Development to the intersection of Old Lakeport Road. According to city budget documents, the project consists of the paving of Elk Creek Road from the Elk Creek housing development to Old Lakeport Road. It also includes the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Elk Creek Road, Old Lakeport Road, Southern Hills Drive and Christy Road. "This roundabout will improve the traffic flow through this five-legged intersection and provide a paved surface to the new Elk Creek subdivision," the documents stated. The city's public works department is requesting that $1,600,000 be budgeted for the project from the Capital Improvement Program in FY 2025. According to the documents, $775,000 of the $1.6 million would come from Woodbury County. Today is Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. Let's get caught up. Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out our daily news podcast: *** *** How an Alabama court ruling that frozen embryos are children could affect IVF The Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, raising concerns about how the decision could affect in vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF. The decision issued in wrongful death cases brought by couples who had frozen embryos destroyed in an accident could potentially leave clinics vulnerable to lawsuits and restrict access to treatment. On Wednesday, the University of Alabama Birmingham hospital paused IVF treatments while it considers the ruling's significance. Here's what to know about this increasingly common fertility treatment. *** New York AG says shell seize Donald Trumps property if he cant pay $454 million civil fraud debt Donald Trump could be at risk of losing some of his prized properties if he cant pay his staggering New York civil fraud penalty. With interest, he owes the state nearly $454 million and the amount is going up $87,502 each day until he pays. New York Attorney General Letitia James told ABC News on Tuesday that she will seek to seize some of the former presidents assets if hes unable to cover the bill from Judge Arthur Engorons Feb. 16 ruling. Engoron concluded that Trump lied for years about his wealth as he built the real estate empire that vaulted him to stardom and the White House. Trump denies wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal. *** An online dump of Chinese hacking documents offers a rare window into pervasive state surveillance Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to the nation's top policing agency and other parts of its government a trove that catalogs apparent hacking activity and tools to spy on both Chinese and foreigners. Among the apparent targets of tools provided by the impacted company, I-Soon: ethnicities and dissidents in parts of China that have seen significant anti-government protests, such as Hong Kong or the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang in Chinas far west. *** MORE TOP STORIES *** MORNING LISTEN "The Ethical Life" hosts discuss how the role of colleges has changed over the past few decades and how more specialized workplaces are requiring a more specialized approach in the classroom. *** TODAY IN HISTORY Today in history: Feb. 22 In 1959, the inaugural Daytona 500 race was held; although Johnny Beauchamp was initially declared the winner, the victory was later awarded t Today in sports history: Feb. 22 In 2018, the U.S. womens hockey team ends a 20-year gold medal drought by beating archrival Canada 3-2 in a shootout thriller at the Pyeongch *** TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS Celebrity birthdays: Feb. 22 Bill Frist David Axelrod Drew Barrymore James Blunt James Hong Jeri Ryan Joe Hottinger Julie Walters Julius Erving Kyle MacLachlan Lea Salonga Rachel Dratch Thomas Jane Tom Higgenson Vijay Singh SAN DIEGO (AP) China for the first time in more than two decades is sending pandas to the United States to the delight of the San Diego Zoo, which is preparing to receive a pair that could include a female descendent of Bai Yun and Gao Gao, two of the zoo's former residents that were among the most reproductively successful panda mates in captivity. The China Wildlife Conservation Association said Thursday it also signed agreements with the zoo in the Spanish capital of Madrid, and is in talks with zoos in Washington, D.C., and Vienna, quelling fears that Beijing was ending its historic panda diplomacy with Western nations due to diplomatic tensions. We look forward to further expanding the research outcomes on the conservation of endangered species such as giant pandas, and promoting mutual understanding and friendship among peoples through the new round of international cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing. The partnership will include research on disease prevention and habitat protection and contribute to Chinas national panda park construction, the organization said. The black-and-white bears have long been the symbol of the U.S.-China friendship since Beijing gifted a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972, ahead of the normalization of bilateral relations. China later loaned pandas to zoos to help breed cubs and boost the population. But only four giant pandas remain in the United States, all at the zoo in Atlanta, after China did not renew loan agreements at three other zoos in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, in recent years. Cindy Rose has been coming to the San Diego Zoo for 40 years and would go see Bai Yun before she and the bears son, her sixth cub, were sent back to China in 2019. They had been the zoos last pandas. Im so excited! she said. We love the pandas, and its so great one will be related to the one that was here. She and her husband, Randy Rose, brought their grandson to the zoo on Thursday. It makes me feel good that this is one way to reduce tensions, Randy Rose said. We have a lot of differences but we all love pandas. Theyre fun to watch, munching on bamboo and climbing trees. San Diego Zoo officials told The Associated Press that if all permits and other requirements are approved, the two bears, a male and a female, are expected to arrive by the end of summer. Were very excited and hopeful, said Megan Owen of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and vice president of Wildlife Conservation Science. Theyve expressed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to re-initiate panda cooperation starting with the San Diego Zoo. In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping raised hopes his country would start sending pandas to the U.S. again after he and President Joe Biden convened in Northern California for their first face-to-face meeting in a year and pledged to try to reduce tensions. Speaking at a dinner with business leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, Xi called the bears envoys of friendship" and said he learned the San Diego Zoo and people in California very much look forward to welcoming pandas back. Bai Yun, who was born in captivity in China, lived at the zoo for more than 20 years and gave birth to six cubs there. Her mate Gao Gao was born in the wild in China and lived at the San Diego Zoo from 2003 to 2018 before being sent back. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and in captivity. Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million a year for two pandas, with the money earmarked for Chinas conservation efforts, according to a 2022 report by Americas Congressional Research Service. The pandas return to China when they reach old age and any cubs born are sent to China around age 3 or 4. The life expectancy of a giant panda in the wild is about 15 years, but in captivity they have lived to be as old as 38. The U.S., Spain and Austria were among the first countries to work with China on panda conservation, and 28 pandas have been born in those countries, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. Demands for the return of giant pandas, known as Chinas national treasure, had grown among the Chinese public as unproven allegations that U.S. zoos mistreated the pandas flooded Chinese social media. The San Diego Zoo continued to work with their Chinese counterparts even after it no longer had any pandas. Owen of the San Diego Zoo said China is particularly interested in exchanging information on the zoo's successful breeding of pandas in captivity. Giant pandas are difficult to breed in part because the females reproductive window is extremely narrow, lasting only 48 to 72 hours each year. Bai Yun's first cub, Hua Mei, was the first panda born through artificial insemination to survive into adulthood outside of China, and would go on to produce 12 cubs on her own after she was sent to China. Bai Yun, meanwhile, remained at the zoo, where she gave birth to two more females and three males. With cameras in her den, researchers monitored her, contributing to the understanding of maternal care behavior, Owen said. We have a lot of institutional knowledge and capacity from our last cooperative agreement, which we will be able to parlay into this next chapter, as well as training the next generation of panda conservationists, she said. Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report. DES MOINES Whether proposed legislation would strengthen protections for religious expression in Iowa or provide legal cover for discrimination was at the heart of an expansive and passionate debate Tuesday by state lawmakers at the Iowa Capitol. The proposed legislation, Senate File 2095, is called by supporters the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Under it, the government would have to prove there is a compelling state interest in pursuing legal action against individuals who claim their actions were an expression of religious freedom, and then that any legal remedy against them must be narrowly tailored. Supporters say the bill is needed because, in their view, U.S. Supreme Court rulings have eroded religious freedom protections that were passed into federal law in 1993. The federal law applies only to the federal government, but at least two dozen states have passed state-level versions of the legislation. The Iowa Senate debated the proposed legislation for nearly 90 minutes Tuesday before approving it, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against. This is a defensive measure, said Sen. Jeff Taylor, a Republican from Sioux Center. The courts have eaten away at religious freedom nationally, and that applies to our state as well. This is a defensive mechanism saying we need to prioritize the First Amendment. During debate, Democrats warned that such a law would give individuals legal cover to discriminate against others, especially minority religions and LGBTQ people, using religious freedom as a defense. Religious freedom is important. Those of us who are members of minority religious communities are particularly cognizant of that, said Sen. Janice Weiner, a Democrat from Iowa City who is Jewish. The rule of law is also important. We cannot create exemptions that encourage people to pick and choose which laws they will follow. Weiner introduced an amendment that would have inserted into the bill protections against discrimination as prescribed in the Iowa Civil Rights Act. That proposed amendment was defeated along party lines. The amendment would clarify that RFRA is intended to protect religious freedom, and at the same time avoid RFRA from being used to discriminate or to impose one persons or groups religious beliefs on others and thereby sidestep non-discrimination laws, Weiner said. It would restore the original intent of the RFRA laws, ensuring that religious freedom is used as a shield, not a sword. Sen. Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig who managed the bill in the Senate, said the measure is needed because he believes in the original intent of the 1993 federal law which was passed by a Democrat-majority Congress and signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton. He said the Democratic Partys motivations have changed in the three decades since that law was passed. Schultz also pushed back at Democrats arguments that the legislation would lead to state-sanctioned discrimination, calling some of the arguments during debate drama soup. He also asserted there has never been a case of a similar religious freedom law being used to target LGBT and whatever else is accepted anymore. Its never been that. Its never been used for that, Schultz said. Were restoring the original intent of the First Amendment as interpreted by the Supreme Court. Versions of Iowa Republicans religious freedom bill have been introduced in the Senate annually since at least 2018. This is the first time the bill passed out of the chamber. With its passage out of the Senate, SF 2095 is eligible for consideration in the House. Public funding for church-managed programs Counties and townships would be allowed to devote money to religious organizations for public services under a bill that passed out of the House with bipartisan support. The bill, House File 2264, would allow church-managed organizations to receive public money if it is for a project that benefits the public and does not require any religious or secular services, educational programs, or participation requirements. Rep. Anne Osmundson, a Republican from Volga, said the bill would allow public support for projects like food pantries and homeless shelters. The bill passed Tuesday near-unanimously in the House, with a vote of 93-2. Democratic Reps. Elinor Levin of Iowa City and Megan Srinivas of Des Moines voted against the bill. This is a good bill. Its also going to be able to help individual nonprofits, said Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, a Democrat from Des Moines. Its also going to be able to bring cities and nonprofits together to make sure that theyre serving the people. The bill now heads to the Iowa Senate, where it will need to pass and be signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds before becoming law. Gay marriage ruling vs. religious liberties How does the Supreme Court affect your religious liberties? One reader says the gay marriage ruling violates his religious liberties; another insists the court protects his liberties. Latest News Court ruling saves religious liberty Since the Supreme Court issued its ruling in the Obergefell v. Hodges case affirming same-gender marriage rights, some politicians and pundits Latest News Ruling impacts my liberties I would like to thank Mr. Sundin for the history lesson as it pertains to the U.S. Constitution, and also for his insightful critique of the d A rural Nebraska county delivered a blow this week to plans by an Iowa corporation to build a pipeline carrying carbon dioxide across the state. On a 3-0 vote, the Stanton County Board denied a conditional use permit for Summit Carbon Solutions, which is seeking to build a CO2 pipeline from more than 50 ethanol plants in the Midwest to a sequestration site in North Dakota. Stanton County Clerk Wanda Heermann said commissioners stated that they needed more information about the health risks and possible foreign ownership of the company and that they wanted to see more public education and consideration of alternative routes. Summit, Heermann said, would have to reapply for a conditional use permit if it wants to cross the northeast Nebraska county. No landowners testified for the project One Stanton County landowner who opposes the project noted that not one landowner testified in favor of the pipeline prior to the county boards vote Tuesday. The Tharaldson Ethanol plant at Casselton, N.D. is the only ethanol plant in the state that is part of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) I want it to be advertised that counties, or at least one, as of now was presented with this decision and denied it unanimously denied, said Justin Kennedy, a member of an opposition group, the Nebraska Easement Action Team. It is a wing of the Bold Alliance, which led the opposition to the crude-oil Keystone XL pipeline. A Summit spokeswoman said the company respects the decision of the Stanton County Commissioners and will address their feedback. More than 90% of the landowners in Stanton County have signed voluntary easement agreements, demonstrating broad understanding and support of the project, said spokeswoman Sabrina Ahmed Zenor. Dakota County delays vote Also Tuesday, the Dakota County Planning and Zoning Commission tabled until April a decision on whether to recommend approval of a county conditional use permit for Summit. Commissioners said they needed more information, according to Joe ONeill, the countys zoning administrator. Last fall, Summit Carbon Solutions announced it was postponing its project until 2026 because of opposition to the $5.5 billion, 2,000-mile CO2 pipeline. It is the largest carbon pipeline being proposed in the region and would pass through Iowa, North and South Dakota and Minnesota, as well as Nebraska. Proponents of corn-based ethanol have touted the plan to capture and sequester CO2 produced by ethanol plants as a way to make the fuel more environmentally friendly and ensure a market for the fuel into the future. Billions in federal funds have been set aside to help capture the greenhouse gases. Pipeline rupture in 2020 Opponents have questioned the safety of the high-pressure, liquid pipeline, pointing to a pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, in 2020 that caused an evacuation and sent several people to the hospital. Questions have also been raised about whether the technology of sequestering carbon in deep underground formations is sound. Opposition has been especially strong in Iowa and South Dakota. In a press release, Bold Alliance said one of the Stanton County commissioners, Doug Huttman, asked Summit at Tuesdays meeting for a model of how CO2 would disperse and flow in the event of a rupture. Nebraska has no state regulations concerning carbon pipelines, but counties that have zoning ordinances require companies to obtain conditional use permits to build in that county. This story was originally published by Nebraska Examiner, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Counties with the most prewar homes in Iowa Counties with the most prewar homes in Iowa #20. Cedar County #19. Cherokee County #18. Fayette County #17. Greene County #16. Franklin County #15. Monona County #14. Howard County #13. Pocahontas County #12. Shelby County #11. Page County #10. Clayton County #9. Ida County #8. Boone County #7. Tama County #6. Taylor County #5. Worth County #4. Audubon County #3. Keokuk County #2. Harrison County #1. Adams County DES MOINES Truck and car horns blared as they drove laps Wednesday around the Iowa Capitol complex as union members and advocates rallied in opposition to a proposal that would impact Iowa public workers collective bargaining rights. Two semis emblazoned with graphics for the Teamsters union were a part of the caravan of at least two dozen vehicles that circled the complex for roughly an hour, and an Iowa Teamsters leader addressed reporters on the Capitol steps. The proposed legislation, Senate File 2374, would decertify a public worker collective bargaining unit if the public employer fails to submit to the state a list of union-eligible workers. Labor advocates have called it a union-busting bill because it places bargaining units fate in the hands of the employer. Union members compare the proposal with a 2017 law that stripped Iowa public workers of most of their collective bargaining rights. When things arent broke, dont fix it, Jesse Case, secretary-treasurer and principal officer of Teamsters Local 238 in Iowa, said during his remarks to reporters. The public sector bargaining law wasnt broken in 2017, and they broke it. And now they want to break it some more. Well guess what: weve had enough. The Teamsters union has six local chapters in Iowa, Case said, representing roughly 12,000 members in law enforcement, freight, warehouses, county road crews, public works and school bus drivers. Shortly after the new legislation was introduced, Case recorded a video in which he said Teamsters unions may engage in rolling strikes. During Wednesdays events at the Iowa Capitol, Case said Teamsters members also are considering other options. Case claimed that some Teamsters members across the state have been working while technically off-duty, and as an example said some public workers are answering work calls even though they are off the clock and not on-call. Case said if state lawmakers pass the latest legislation on collective bargaining, unions will tell those public workers, for example, to stop taking those off-duty calls. Our members are not obligated to go above and beyond the call of duty while theyre under attack from lawmakers, Case said. And Im telling you right now, the next time that theres a union-busting bill signed into law, people across the state will start feeling the effects of service. The bill was introduced by Sen. Adrian Dickey, a Republican who is president of a trucking company, Dickey Transport, in Packwood. Dickey and Sen. Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig who ran the bill through the first steps of the legislative process, have said it is needed because many public bargaining units are not submitting lists of union-eligible workers and thus not holding annual recertification elections, both of which are required by the 2017 law. From 2020 through 2022, the state did not receive information on union-eligible employees in more than 40 percent of instances in which a union was required to be recertified by a vote of its eligible workers, according to the Public Employment Relations Board, the state board that manages public employer-worker relations. That means in 40 percent of instances in which a union was required to be recertified, no election was conducted, according to the board. Sen. Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines and a lawyer, said that typically happens when the public employer is certain a bargaining unit would recertify, has a good working relationship with the unit and its workers, and thus does not feel compelled to force the election. Dickey last year also led the effort on legislation that limited damages in lawsuits related to crashes involving commercial truck drivers. Dickey said that bill also shifted liability in such crashes from commercial truck drivers to their employer. Its disappointing I get no gratitude for providing real help to the Teamsters and instead Im attacked for simply proposing public employers and unions follow the law, Dickey said in a statement emailed by Senate Republican caucus staff. SF 2374 is nothing more than a technical cleanup to legislation passed in 2017, Dickey said in his statement. Last year, 41 percent of Iowa public sector workers that had union representation did not have a voice due to a loophole in the legislation passed in 2017. If the public sector employer and the union are following the law, nothing will change for them. The legislation has cleared the Iowa Senates Workforce Committee, which Dickey chairs. It is eligible for debate by the full Iowa Senate. It must also be approved by the Iowa House and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds before it would become law. Rep. Dave Deyoe, a Republican from Nevada who chairs the Houses Labor and Workforce Committee, said lawmakers have been aware of the lack of recertification elections by bargaining units for years, and that it has been a concern for Republicans who passed the 2017 law. Deyoe said it will be up to Republican House leaders whether to take up the bill if it is passed out of the Senate. Case said Teamsters members plan to continue their opposition to the legislation, including by conducting similar caravans and news conferences in Dickeys district in Southeast Iowa. Were not taking it anymore, Case said. This is the beginning of an escalation, and it either stops or it continues to escalate. But were not going to do it laying down. Were standing up. Were fighting back. Were united. And this is just the beginning. Tom Barton of The Gazettes Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report. State Trooper Brian North, left, enters a not guilty plea in the January 2020 shooting death of Mubarak Soulemane at Superior Court in Milford, Conn. on Thursday, June 2, 2022. North rejected a plea deal in the case Thursday, July 27, 2023, Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media This image taken from dashboard camera video released by the Connecticut State Police, shows Trooper Brian North, after discharging his weapon and fatally shooting Mubarak Soulemane following a high-speed chase in January 2020. Connecticut State Police Omo Mohammed, Mubarak Soulemanes mother, speaks during a news conference near the site of her sons death in West Haven Thursday. Soulemane, 19, was shot and killed by Connecticut State Trooper Brian North following a vehicle pursuit in January 2020. North was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Rev. Kevin McCall leads chants of "no justice, no peace" and "fire Brian North" with members of the family of Mubarak Soulemane outside the court appearance of State Trooper Brian North at Superior Court in Milford, Conn. on Thursday, June 2, 2022. North plead not guilty in the January 2020 shooting death of Soulemane. Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media MILFORD Jury selection began Wednesday in the manslaughter trial of a state trooper on a somewhat unusual note: the prosecution and defense telling prospective jurors they essentially agree with each other about what happened. Representing the state, Inspector General Robert Devlin told potential jurors that the trooper, Brian North, shot and killed Mubarak Soulemane Jan. 15, 2020 on Campbell Avenue in West Haven while on duty. The question to be decided at the trial, he said, will be whether North's use of deadly force was necessary. "The brief recitation of facts by Attorney Devlin is correct," North's lawyer, Frank Riccio, said while introducing himself. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Judge H. Gordon Hall told prospective jurors that testimony for the trial is scheduled from March 4 to March 15. A panel of six jurors and three alternates will hear testimony. The shooting occurred at the end of a state police chase of a car Soulemane stole at knifepoint in Norwalk, after police said he also pulled a knife on an AT&T store employee earlier in the day. In the days following the shooting, Soulemane's family disclosed he battled with schizophrenia. While he had never been violent and had no criminal record, police said they had previously taken him to the hospital for treatment. Soulemane's mother, Omo Mohammed, attended Wednesday's proceedings with two of Soulemane's siblings and Mark Arons, an attorney representing them in a civil lawsuit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After both lawyers read a list of people they work with and potential witnesses, the judge asked the first panel of 14 whether any of them would have trouble, one woman raised her hand. She was excused after she said outside the presence of the others that she had read a lot about the case in the newspaper and that she wasn't comfortable sitting on the jury "as a human being." The first person who was questioned by both Devlin and Riccio said he had a cousin who worked as a police officer and was excused after Devlin, unable to persuade Hall that the man should be excused for cause, exercised the first of eight so-called "peremptory" challenges available. Though the jury selection process in Connecticut, known formally as voir dire, can be notoriously slow, the second prospective juror, a man in his 50s, was selected for the panel, prior to Devlin using another peremptory challenge on the third person questioned, a woman from Derby. Questions from the lawyers in the case gave an indication of how both sides would try to frame the evidence and testimony. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For example, Riccio asked jurors whether they agreed that police officers have "difficult" jobs requiring them to make "split-second decisions." On the other hand, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Andrew Slitt, the second chair to Devlin for the state, asked whether those making such decisions should be held responsible for their consequences. Devlin also noted what is expected to be major public attention for the trial, looking to the sparsely filled gallery and predicting that would change when testimony begins next month. "This courtroom will be packed," he said, likely with supporters of police officers on one side and Soulemane's family and their supporters on the other. "It's going to be an intense atmosphere." Advertisement Article continues below this ad North was the first Connecticut police officer to be charged in connection with a line-of-duty shooting in 17 years. He was placed on administrative leave and his police powers were suspended pending the outcome of his case. After a two-year investigation, Devlin completed the report and brought the manslaughter charge, determining Norths use of force was not justified. Take a walk around Chicago, or Boston, or New York, or Denver, or San Diego, and look up at the street corners. Depending on the neighborhood, you might see a little white oblong box that looks like it could pick up sound. They look like they could pick up sound because they do pick up sound. Its a device called a ShotSpotter. The microphones detect loud noises that then computer algorithms determine are gunshots. Then a human technician reviews it to confirm that its a gunshot. And then the technician, if they confirm it, alerts the local police department to the location of the shooting, explained Jim Daley, the investigations editor at South Side Weekly, a community paper in Chicago. Advertisement There are up to 3,000 of these sensors across Chicago. More than half of the citys police districts use themprimarily districts that are on the south and west sides of the city. Because Chicago is a very segregated city, those are disproportionately Black and brown communities, Daley said. In theory, ShotSpotter keeps communities safe, by quickly drawing police to the location of gunfire. But in practice, its not so simple. Last week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced he was severing the citys contract with ShotSpotterand that he has no plans to renew it. A lot of the activists who have been pushing for this for many years were very pleasantly surprised. A number of City Council members immediately decried it and have already introduced legislation to try and force the city to keep ShotSpotter, Daley said. Well see how that plays out over the next few months. Advertisement According to the company behind ShotSpotter, the devices are used in more than 150 cities across the country. Supporters of the tech say that it is integral to the polices ability to do their job. So, the proponents of the technology are saying that by taking it out of these communities, theres a possibility that the police will not be able to get to victims quickly enough and people could die, Daley said. Whether or not thats true remains to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesdays episode of What Next, we discussed how this high-tech policing might make some people feel safe. But does it really work? Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Mary C. Curtis: Youve been covering ShotSpotter for several years now. What drew you into this reporting? Advertisement Jim Daley: In Chicago, ShotSpotter really became a mainstream issue when a young boy named Adam Toledo was killed by the Chicago police after a ShotSpotter alert drew them to his location. Toledo was 13 years old, and he was with a grown man who had allegedly been shooting a gun at passing cars. And that triggered a ShotSpotter alert that brought Chicago police to the scene. The man had handed the gun off to Toledo, who ran away with it. He was chased by a cop. He ultimately dropped the gun and turned around with his hands raised. His death became a flashpoint because it was so soon after the murder of George Floyd, and it happened within the same political atmosphere. And the fact that ShotSpotter was part of that response really gave the movement to cancel ShotSpotter a lot of steam and ultimately enough political capital to get a candidate for mayor, in Brandon Johnson, to promise to cancel it. Advertisement Advertisement Now, do some of the people in these communities facing violence, say, Wait a minute. Lets use ShotSpotter, at least as an attempt to do something to alleviate the violence, even if it is an imperfect solution.? Yes. There was a public meeting a couple weeks ago ahead of the announcements of the cancellation. And during the public comment portion of that meeting, people spoke in favor and against ShotSpotter, and a number of people who were community members said that they wanted to keep it in their community. There was one person in particular who spoke whose brother was a victim of a gun murder, and she spoke passionately about how, had ShotSpotter existed, his life might have been saved. Advertisement Advertisement Within the communities themselves, there is debate about whether or not ShotSpotter should stay. This gets to a larger question about how communities that are most impacted by gun violence and also impacted by racist and abusive policing want to address gun violence. The contradiction between having overpolicing and also to some degree underpolicing, where its not really rooted in the community but its reactive policing thats not actually fixing the core problems, means that those core problems remain, and people in these communities want those problems fixed. They want to stop the violence by any means necessary. And some people see ShotSpotter as one tool to do that. Advertisement Advertisement There have been a lot of studies out there that call into question just how effective this technology is. What do some of these findings say? Advertisement In Chicago, there was a study a few years ago by the Office of Inspector General that looked at the efficacy of ShotSpotter in terms of leading to evidence of gun crimes and also its impact on policing in these communities. That study found that ShotSpotter alerts led to documented evidence of a gun crime in fewer than 11 percent of cases. It also found that in communities where ShotSpotter was installed, the police had a more elevated response. There was a higher incidence of police stopping and frisking Black and brown men. And other studies have found, for example, in areas where ShotSpotter is installed, 911 response times actually go down slightly. And they believe that that correlation is due to the police chasing ShotSpotter alerts and not having time to respond to 911. Advertisement And when they get there, because they know that Oh, wow, there might be a gunshot there, they maybe arrive on the scene a little amped up. Advertisement Yes. There was another study that found that the police, in areas where they know ShotSpotter alerts happen, tend to arrive more amped up and ready to jump out and engage. And in Chicago, this has had repercussions. Most recently, there was a case where a ShotSpotter alert went off, and it was unclear whether it was a gunshot or a firework. But the police arrived. They saw a man in his front yard, and they opened fire on him immediately. Fortunately, they didnt hit him. And it turned out that it was just a firework. It was not a gunshot. The man did not have a gun. When confronted with these allegations, whats ShotSpotters response? Advertisement Advertisement After the OIG report came out, they really shifted their PR strategy from saying that they prevent gun crime or allow police to capture criminals to saying, What we actually do is allow the police to get there in time to save victims. So, from a PR perspective, that was their strategy. Theyve also commissioned their own studies that have attempted to poke holes in some of the findings of the independent studies, but its hard to really vet the results of those studies because theyre bought and paid for by the company itself. The company claims that its technology works very well. It says that its over 97 percent effective at catching gunfire. But one of the issues with that is that this is all asserted by the company, and they dont really show the data to back it up, and theres no real way to do any control study to see if they actually are capturing all of this gunfire. Advertisement You and your team did a lot of investigative reporting recently, showing how the company hasnt always been as forthcoming to public safety officials as they should have been. What did you find? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our reporting was based on internal company emails from ShotSpotter, as well as data that we obtained via public records requests from the city and the Chicago Police Department. And we found that in 2023, the police reported 575 incidents of verified gunfire that ShotSpotter sensors had missed in their coverage area. When we zoomed in and looked at these internal company emails, we found that there was an incident in December of 2022 where two men were shot in a hail of bullets. There were 55 rounds fired, and there were three ShotSpotter sensors in the vicinity, and none of them picked up the shooting. And when a public safety official in Chicago complained about this to the company, the internal emails that we reviewed showed executives saying, We have sensors that are broken or compromised by ambient noise, but obviously we cant tell the public safety official this. We need a better reason to give him than our sensors arent working. What we found was that ShotSpotter was not always working as well as executives may have been representing to the city, and that it often frequently missed critical shootings. Advertisement When Brandon Johnson ran for mayor of Chicago, he made police reform a central part of his campaign. He also promised to end the citys contract with ShotSpotter. When he won, ShotSpotters stock took a nosedive. Soon after, the company behind ShotSpotter changed its name to Sound Thinking. But despite these setbacks, the company is actually expanding, right? Advertisement Along with the name change, they have expanded their product portfolio to include more policing technology than just the gunshot acoustic detection. Among other things, theyve picked up a predictive policing program, using technology and algorithms to try and determine who might be involved in a crime. Advertisement Predictive policing is an unproven area of technology. Its unclear exactly what the predictive policing tool ShotSpotter is marketing does. Were not entirely sure yet. But we do have previous models from the Chicago police where they have attempted to roll out predictive policing technology that had disastrous results. Advertisement A few years ago, the Chicago police had a program that was designed to predict who might be involved in a gun crime as either a perpetrator or a victim, and it generated thousands of names. The police began visiting one of the people that their predictive policing technology identified, but ultimately, because of the fact that they were visiting his house so often, people in the neighborhood believed that he was an informant, and he was ultimately shot as a result of that. He survived, but in that case, the predictive policing had the direct opposite effect that it was intended to. And the Chicago police quietly moved away from that system. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. Advertisement Your reporting raises bigger questions about whats at stake when private companies partner with public institutions. When your paper asked ShotSpotter about some major shootings its technology missed, you were stonewalled, right? Whenever government is involved in a public-private partnership, one of the real problems that comes up is transparency. We were able to get some information from the police department about these missed shootings, but we were only able to do so after they initially rejected our public records request, citing a trade secrets exemption. We appealed that to the attorney general, and the attorney general ruled in our favor that this was not actually a trade secret and forced the police to reveal this information. But this was the first time that anyone had successfully gotten those records via a public records request. Other reporters had had it denied for years. In a public-private partnership that has to do with public safety, particularly when its a public safety initiative thats sending officers to scenes of ostensible shootings, you need a lot of transparency to understand how its working, how well its working. And without that, it leads to potential for abuse or fraud or terrible accidents to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, theres the matter of what the incentives are for a private, for-profit company. How aligned are public safety and private profit? ShotSpotter is a publicly traded company. So, as like any publicly traded company, their primary incentive is to increase shareholder value, which means if its selling products that are reactive to gun violence, it doesnt have a huge incentive to see gun violence be reduced. Whereas municipalities, residents, citizens all want that to be the ultimate goal. We want less gun violence. Technology cannot really prevent violence. It cant uplift communities. It cant raise the general standard of living. All it can do is give the police data to be in this reactive mode when they show up. Advertisement Nevertheless, when it comes to tackling gun violence, or any systemic threat to public safety, it seems like police are often convinced that new and emerging technologies are the best path forward. You see this in recent years in everything from body-worn cameras to automatic license plate readers to surveillance cameras. (In Chicago, theyre called pod cams.) Theres various reasons why police like tech. They see it as more reliable than human witnesses. When youre on the stand in a trial, it likely holds up very well because it has this perception of not having any bias; its just cold, hard facts. The current chief of the Chicago police, Larry Snelling, has repeatedly said that he is an advocate for technology-based policing. But again, all of that is very reactive. Theyre getting a gunshot alert and sending officers to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve talked about how ShotSpotter may disproportionately affect communities of color in Chicago. Do you see that playing out across the country? Yes. When ShotSpotter was found to have its sensors overwhelmingly be in Black and brown communities in Chicago by one study, their response was essentially, Well, thats where the crime is. This is also the case in other cities where ShotSpotter is installed. In New York, in Detroit, elsewhere, its overwhelmingly installed in Black and brown communities. And it gets to the larger question about how we police cities. This was something that came up during the George Floyd rebellions and has been part of the national conversation. And the issue always comes down to how police are policing these communities. Advertisement Advertisement This is absolutely an inflection point. Chicago has ShotSpotters most expensive contract. Its losing a huge client. There is a possibility that other municipalities, when theyre considering whether to renew the contract or sign a new contract for the first time, might look to Chicago and see this city that has gun violence as a problem, that was ShotSpotters biggest customer, and has been for over five years now, canceled the contract. They might think twice about signing up themselves. How would it play out politically if gun violence were to go up after ShotSpotter is discontinued? There seems to be a lot riding on how this plays out. If gun crime goes up in the months after ShotSpotter is expired, undoubtedly the people who want to keep it will say that its because we canceled the contract with ShotSpotterwhether or not thats true. If gun crime goes down after ShotSpotter, the argument can be credibly made that canceling the contract did not have a negative effect on gun crime. Advertisement The conversation around ShotSpotter, especially in recent weeks as the contract was getting ready to expire, has overwhelmingly, on both sides, been driven by emotion and pathos as opposed to data and facts. And that will continue. Thats true for a lot of political discourse in this day and age, especially when it comes to public safety. A lot of it is driven by victim statementson one side victims of gun violence, and victims of police abuse on the other. Both of them have very legitimate points. And some politicians are willing to exploit that in service of their own ends, so that will continue. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here. Dear Care and Feeding, I am extremely perplexed why children today are not being potty trained. The State of Utah wants to implement a law stating that a child is required to be potty trained to enter kindergarten. Why on Gods Green Earth is this kind of law required in 2024? My daughter worked in a day care a few years back and said they worked with the 2-year-olds to help potty train the kids, but there was no follow through with a lot of parents when they went home. I am so gobsmacked and perplexed. My daughter, who is 34 years old, is forever saying people dont want children, they want dolls, that they expect others to train and raise. Gobsmacked Dear Gobsmacked, Generally speaking, I do not put very much stock in any opinion about American parents, writ large, that holds that they want others to train and raise their kids. People looking in from the outsideyes, even daycare workers like your daughter!cant know much about what is happening in a family. Given how little social support American parents of young children get, compared to families in other similarly wealthy countries, hearing from people that we want others to train and raise our kids makes me feel like blowing a gasket. Good lord! So what if we do! A little help, here! Advertisement Regarding this specific question, I just edited a piece for Slate.com on this very Utah law. The pediatric urologist who co-wrote the piece said he had seen this complaintKids in kindergarten arent toilet trained because their parents dont carepop up in media for at least a decade. When his co-writer tried to get firm data on the numbers of kindergarten teachers who registered this complaint, from the Utah legislator who proposed this law, the legislator did not supply it (at least, not within the four or five days between his interview and our publication of the article). The urologist thinks that any kids in kindergarten who still do have accidents may be experiencing a very specific medical problem thats poorly understood and more common than you think. Read the article! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will add that there is a substantial current of belief in contemporary gentle parenting (yes, I know, its annoying) that holds that pushing to train children between the ages of 1.5 and 3setting timers, creating sticker charts, having no-pants weekends, putting kids on potties, bribing them with candy to stay thereisnt necessary and can be counterproductive. (Read more about this idea, if your mind is open to it, here.) Parents from your daughters former daycare who did not follow through with their children at home might have this set of beliefs in mind. We ourselves did not train our child, except for making available underpants, little potties, board books about the process, and any parental help she wanted. She did it herself, was very proud, and was completely done by age 3.5. Advertisement Did we look like we didnt care, from the outside, for about a year? Maybe! Oh well! Parents whose daycares require 3-year-olds to be trained may not be able to do this. But thats the daycare thats in the wrong, not the parents. Just my two cents. Want Advice on Parenting, Kids, or Family Life? Submit your questions to Care and Feeding here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.) Dear Care and Feeding, My spouse and I have been together for well over a decade, and now have two young children. My in-laws live in the same city as us about half the year, and quite frankly that is more than enough for me. When theyre here, they want to get together all the time (they would be happy to come over multiple times a week), and they often dont ask when were available, but instead just say when theyre coming over next. If they dont see us for a week or so, then they come up with a reason to drop something off and then stay for six hours. They comment on our parenting, our house, our finances, our mail, our pets, you name it! Every time they come over, they bring random things from their house for us. Sometimes it is literally trash, but most of the time its like they use our house as their Goodwill drop off center. Advertisement Advertisement I have anxiety, and being around them only heightens these feelings for me because they have also never fully accepted me as their family. Theyve talked badly about me behind my back for the vast majority of our relationship, so I dont trust them. They are typically nice to my face, but not always. Ive also overheard them make snide comments about me under their breath when they think Im out of earshot. We cannot count on them for childcare because they are simply not capable, so this isnt a silver lining for me. Advertisement Advertisement They talk about moving into our neighborhood, and when the house next door to us was on the market, they actually went to see it, but determined it was out of their price range. They continue to talk about various houses on the market within walking distance to us, and they have gone to other house showings. They have also mentioned living in our basement. For what its worth, they do not need to move and are financially stable. I cannot handle them living any closer, and I have no idea how to handle these comments, let alone having to see them for half a year every single year. My spouse is extremely non-confrontational with their parents, so not much help. I Need More Space! Dear More Space, Advertisement Youre letting your spouse off the hook far too easily here. I can see how, if they grew up with parents that are like this, they might end up non-confrontational as a matter of survival. But to continue not to confront, around these types of issues, is to do you, their spouse, a wrong. They need to step up and draw the line. Your spouse should be the one to come up with the white-lie reasons why these visits cant last six hours, and to deliver the excuses to their parents. And there is no way, no way, no way these in-laws can live in your neighborhood or, god forbid, your basement! Your spouse needs to start coming up with counter-arguments for that one, and soon. Advertisement Advertisement Catch Up on Care and Feeding Missed earlier columns this week? Read them here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, Looking for some advice on how to encourage (older) sibling bonding! So my other half has three older (half) siblings. There are two sons from his dads previous marriage, a daughter from his mums and then they got together and had him (my boyfriend). Hes essentially the baby of the family and the one that unites the other siblings. He grew up day-in and day-out with his sister, and his brothers visited together on weekends. Theyre a good 10 years older than my boyfriend is and he really looks up to them! Advertisement They/we are all adults now and have their own families (were the only ones currently without children), but it seems pretty apparent that his brothers do a lot without really thinking to include him and their sister. And we dont know how to address it because I dont think they mean to leave him out on purpose, but I know hed love to be more involved! For example, the eldest lives abroad but comes home a fair bit. Whenever he does, the two older brothers will spend a LOT of time together, but my other half will only get to see him a couple of times. We try to organize get-togethers and phone calls, but it feels like were not really a priority. They also have nieces and nephews who will refer to their other uncle as Uncle xx but my partner just gets his first name, which I know bothers him a little. I know its only a title but it hurts my heart to see my partner feeling so left out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel the older two have a strong bond because of their close age and the way they grew up, and Im sure they hang out and talk a lot so that their children can see each other too, but is there a good way of approaching this conversation with them without hurting anyones feelings? Their sister also feels left out sometimes but she has a VERY busy social life and isnt around too much either. Parents live in a different state and have a small house, so they cant really facilitate get togethers for us all at the same time. Left-Out Brothers Wife Dear Brothers Wife, Awwwww. Its very sweet of you to care about this dynamic, which has developed over so many years that it is now ingrained in your husbands familys life. But I dont think this is a case where you have very much agency. Things you can do: Make sure that, when the brothers offer time to get together, your husband can definitely attend; make this a financial priority and factor it in when youre planning out days off for the year. Keep on extending offers for get-togethers and phone calls. Advertisement Advertisement Things you cant do, which Im just mentioning because you seem good-hearted, but you also seem, well, fairly invested in this situation: Communicate with the brothers directly to ask them to reach out to him more often. Name this problem to his siblings, in any wayan act which, I think, would elevate this apparently natural asymmetry to the status of an Issue, and you to the status of a Meddling Partner. And you should definitely not ask your husbands brothers to get their kids to call him Uncle. Thats just the way things are. Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, I am a 25-year-old mom of two, ages 2.5 years and 6 months. My daughter (2.5) is from a previous relationship and her dad is not involved. My son (6 months) is from my now-boyfriend whom I live with. My boyfriend also has a daughter (3) from a previous relationship. They split when she was just under a year old. We get his daughter every other week. My boyfriend sells cars and therefore has a rocky schedule. Advertisement Because of all of this, I feel like the routine for my daughter and my son is extremely disrupted when the 3-year-old is here as she doesnt and never has had much of a routine. My children rely on their routine heavily and so do I. I dont get much time to myself and look forward to the small breaks in our routine like naps, bedtime, etc. Every time my bonus daughter comes to our house, my daughter refuses to sleep and refuses to eat at mealtimes. These are not issues at all during the weeks his daughter is at her moms house. My daughter sometimes will stay up well into the hours of the nightwere talking 12-1 a.m. when shes here, despite his daughter being sound asleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His daughter is non-verbal for the most part due to a speech delay. She understands us, but cant always communicate back to us. I have voiced to my boyfriend that I would like to learn more about her routine at her moms house so that we can try to move our routine around to fit the needs of all three kids when shes here, but he doesnt want me to communicate directly with her, and he refuses to communicate with her about these difficult topics. I have also tried explaining that these things are affecting my daughters physical and mental health as well as her behavior, and we need to come up with a solid plan that works for all of us. But his responses usually end in We always have these problems when my daughter is here as if he feels like I am attacking his daughter directly. Advertisement Advertisement I have been in his daughters life since shortly before her second birthday, and I have never been reluctant to help with her in any way that I can as long as it doesnt affect the other kids lifestyles. I absolutely adore and love his daughter. But his lack of willingness to come up with a plan of action to keep all the kids in a good state of mind throughout these weeks is really causing some resentment towards his daughter and his daughters mom, which is not my intention. But Im starting to look forward less and less to the weeks we have her, as I know it will be much more mentally and physically taxing on me than it is for him as I am the default parent. Do you have any advice? We Need a Schedule Dear Need a Schedule, Advertisement Advertisement This is a lot. You are dealing with a newly blended family, shaky communication between co-parents, being the default parent, and the dreaded beast that is toddler sleep problemsall in the context of taking care of three kids under the age of four, which is a tall order at the best of times. I can see why you are feeling stirred up about it! Its probably difficult to make your boyfriend find out more about the 3-year-olds routine at her moms if he doesnt see it as necessary, but I dont think hes slighting your daughter by this lack of interest in the problem, which is an implication Im reading between the lines in this letter. Its surprising the degree to which people have very, very different perspectives on the importance of a daily routine for little kids. You can see this just from the example of your own in-laws, but you can also see it around you, in the world, whenever youre at a store at 9 p.m. and see an adult with a toddler, doing the shopping. I was always a stickler for a routinewhy wouldnt you want to insure yourself what the parenting influencer Busy Toddler calls your union breaks at nap time and after bed time? That was my perspective. I also just liked knowing what to expect. But (see my answer about toilet training, above!) you dont know what is going on in peoples lives, and in some houses, this kind of rhythm might not be possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well. You turned out to be a in this house, toddlers and babies have a routine person. You can try different ways of explaining this to him. He should be into it, out of self-interest if nothing else. (Why wouldnt you want all these many little kids to be in bed by 7:30 p.m.?) But there are also parts of this letter that make me think you have more control over this situation than you may think. It sounds like managing the 3-year-old when shes in your care is not actually the problem. Shes not the one whos not sleeping or eating, it doesnt seem; its your 2-year-old whos throwing wrenches in the works. It sounds like your 3-year-old is relatively flexible (and kids can be; they often adjust to different styles of caregiving more easily than we think they will). Advertisement Since this is the case, keep your schedule, and fit the 3-year-old in. When your 2-year-old expresses her excitement and confusion about the new family members presence by not sleeping or eating, your only recourse is to stabilize all the variables you can. Make sure all of them have time to nap, as much outdoor time as you can manage, a good mix of stimulating activities and chilled-out downtime, and meals at appropriate intervals. Thats what you can control, so control it. Advertisement I also dont know how long this current arrangement has been going on. If its not been too, too long, its possible some of your daughters excitement may resolve itself as time goes on. Your job is to hold the container straight, so she can see that things in her house will remain stable, no matter how many fun extra sisters come to stay. Rebecca More Advice From Slate At the gentle encouragement of our 3-year-old daughters day care teachers, we have been nudging her toward potty training, despite the fact that she has zero interest in it. She knows when she has to go, she can control it, and shes interested in potty matters. But she is perfectly happy in her Pull-Ups. With an enormous amount of encouragement she has peed on the toilet maybe 15 times at day care, and a whopping one timeeverat home. She wears underwear, but we go with Pull-Ups for naptime, bedtime, long periods away from home, and pooping. She seems increasingly anxious about it, especially at home, where lately she doesnt even want to sit on the potty. In June, when the Supreme Court struck down racial preference admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, the justices seemed to leave elite colleges with two paths forward for continuing to promote racial diversity in new ways. Colleges could use what lawyers refer to as race-neutral alternatives, such as giving an admissions boost to socioeconomically disadvantaged students or admitting top students from every high school across a state. And universities were permitted, in a very limited way, to consider personal essays students wrote about how race affects their lives. Ive long been a champion of affirmative action based on economic disadvantage and a proponent of percentage plans as a fairer way of promoting racial diversity than racial preferences, which tend to benefit the most economically advantaged Black and Hispanic students. Although Im progressive, I participated as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the Harvard and UNC cases, testifying that that race-neutral strategies could produce the benefits of racial diversity while avoiding the downsides of racial preferences. Conservative justices had for decades pointed to preferences for economically disadvantaged students and percentage plans as a better way to achieve racial diversity, so these paths seemed to provide a legally sustainable approach in the long run. Some of my progressive friends warned, however, that if racial preferences were struck down, the right wing would come after race-neutral strategies next. Sure enough, even before the justices ruled in the Harvard and UNC cases, some on the far right began an effort to challenge plans to race-neutral strategies, claiming that they constituted proxy discrimination. One target was Thomas Jefferson High School, known as TJ, a highly sought-after magnet school in Fairfax County Virginia, where officials sought to create racial and economic diversity in the student bodywithout using racial preferencesby admitting students from the top 1.5 percent of each of the areas middle schools and giving an admissions boost to socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The Pacific Legal Foundation sued and, surprisingly, won in federal district court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit sided with TJ. One of the judges noted that after years of lauding race-neutral alternatives to racial preferences, it would constitute a judicial bait-and-switch for judges to now question the very approach theyd championed. But when the plaintiffs appealed the TJ case to the Supreme Court, some very thoughtful observers believed that the justices might take the case and strike down race-neutral plans. Adam Liptak at the New York Times wrote, It is a decent bet that the Supreme Court will agree to hear an appeal in the TJ case. Harvard Law professor Randall Kennedy wrote that it was naive to believe that the courts would allow race-neutral strategies designed to promote diversity to survive. Advertisement I was therefore delighted that on Tuesday, the Supreme Court announced that it was declining to hear the TJ case and would let stand the 4th Circuit decisions approval of race-neutral strategies. The move was not a ruling on the merits of the case, so its too early to break out the Champagne, but the furious 10-page dissent of two justicesSamuel Alito and Clarence Thomassuggested that something important had just happened. Moreover, the fact that none of the other four conservativesChief Justice John Roberts, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney Barrettjoined Alitos dissent may mean that the Supreme Court will ultimately land where the American public stands: in support of racial diversity, but in opposition to using racial preferences to get there. Advertisement Advertisement TJs race-neutral strategies were motivated by a lack of diversity in its student population. TJ draws primarily from Fairfax County, whose public schools are 37 percent white, 27 percent Hispanic, 20 percent Asian, and 10 percent Black. During the 202021 school year, though, TJs student body was 72 percent Asian, 18 percent white, 3 percent Hispanic, and 2 percent Black. Low-income students constituted 30 percent of high school students in Fairfax County, but just 2 percent of TJ students came from low-income families. The Asian American students at TJ tended to come from a handful of affluent neighborhoods. Advertisement In order to boost the share of underrepresented minority and low-income students, TJ adopted its percentage plan for middle schools, modeled after George W. Bushs top 10 percent plan at the University of Texas at Austin, and a socioeconomic boost to diversity of the type used by many universities. The plan worked to produce higher levels of socioeconomic and racial diversity. The Black student population rose to 7 percent, the Hispanic population to 11 percent, and the white population to 22 percent, while the Asian student population declined to 54 percent. The proportion of low-income students rose from 2 percent to 25 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although race was never used in the process, Alito faulted the plan for having what he called a discriminatory purpose. This was quite a shift for him. As recently as 2016, Alito had been a champion of Bushs top 10 percent plan, which was designed, in part, to promote racial diversity. In Fisher v. University of Texas, Alito touted this strategy for achieving racial diversity without injecting race into the process. In his dissent in the TJ case, Alito tried to strike a populist pose, pointing to the drop in Asian representation and suggesting that Asian-American students, many of whom are immigrants or the children of immigrants, have often seen admissions to TJ as a ticket to the American Dream. But the share of low-income Asian students who benefited from the new admissions system actually jumped significantly. Advertisement Related From Slate The Path to Diversity at College Now That the Supreme Court Has Struck Down Affirmative Action Read More More broadly, that race-neutral plans were tainted as racially discriminatory if even part of the motive was to boost racial diversity was a concept that had never before been endorsed by the Supreme Court. The logic was astonishing. If a university decided to end legacy preferences in part because doing so would increase racial diversity, as professor Jonathan Feingold of Boston University law school has asked, would that move itself be illegal? Advertisement The Pacific Legal Foundation is not giving up. It has also sued Boston exam schools for using race-neutral strategies to promote diversity and says that it will be appealing to the Supreme Court an unfavorable decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. But my guess is that in enforcing Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the justices are much more likely to be interested in stamping out efforts by universities to evade their ruling by actually using race in admissions, rather than in going after authentic race-neutral strategies. In theory, some universities might simply defy the Supreme Court, as Richard Rothstein has suggested. But I think its more likely that universities will try to stretch the use of statements about race in the personal essay in ways the Supreme Court clearly did not intend. Advertisement We will know more after universities release their racial and socioeconomic data this spring, but if some are able to achieve racial diversity without adopting race-neutral alternatives, that may suggest they are engaging in covert racial preferences. As I note in an article in the Journal of College and University Law, maintaining racial diversity without altering the economic composition of the student body could put a litigation target on the back on an institution. If my thinking is right, then announcing new race-neutral alternatives like TJs may actually be a shield against litigation. Although preliminary, the Supreme Courts action on Tuesday was a very positive sign for supporters of racial diversity and represented an important victory for poor and working-class students of all races. This story was produced in partnership with the Garrison Project, an independent, nonpartisan organization addressing the crisis of mass incarceration and policing. In the postGeorge Floyd backlash to criminal justice reform, Republican-controlled state legislatures have used a tool called preemption to negate, override, or replace local laws. Its a tactic reflecting the fact that most targets of reform, such as policing and prosecution, are controlled by city and county governments, and those areas tend to vote Democratic, even in red states like Texas. Lacking direct local control, states settle for thwarting reform efforts, or, as may increasingly be the case, recalling or removing prosecutors or attempting to impeach them. Preemption is a potentially potent weapon. While the Constitution protects states from at least some federal interference, the U.S. Supreme Court has been clear that it provides no protection for cities or counties from state interference. Many states have home rule laws or constitutional provisions that give cities some autonomy, but state legislatures still wield tremendous power. States have used that power aggressively since Floyds murder. In 202021, as the defund movement gathered mostly rhetorical steam, nearly 10 states including Florida and Texas raced to adopt laws that would make it hard, if not impossible, for cities to cut police budgets. States also took aim at local oversight boards: Arizona adopted two laws that effectively require civilian oversight boards to be staffed with police officers. A recent study from the Local Solutions Support Center identified 27 preemption bills in 16 states aimed at limiting the power of reform prosecutors. Advertisement Preemption pushes have continued over the past year. In June of 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 17, which makes it easier for people to petition state courts to remove reform prosecutors who decline to prosecute certain offenses; by December, Jose Garza, the reform DA of Travis County (Austin), had had such a suit filed against him. Pennsylvania recently adopted a law called Act 40signed by Democratic governor Josh Shapiroremoving power from Philadelphias reform DA, Larry Krasner, and giving it to a prosecutor appointed by the states attorney general for an undefined chunk of the city. Act 40 is messyits unclear on how big the special prosecutors jurisdiction isbut it could effectively overturn Krasners 2021 reelection. When I made the unexpected decision to run for DA in 2017, I thought that meant district attorney, Krasner said in January. I didnt know that meant democracy advocate. Both chambers of Georgias Legislature just passed a bill reviving a commission to discipline and remove prosecutors; most observers agree the real target of the bill is reform DAs and Fani Willis, who is prosecuting former President Donald Trump. The bill came after the Georgia Supreme Court struck down a similar bill late last year. And the conservative Heritage Foundation just proposed a sort of federal preemption, arguing that that the Department of Justice should initiate legal action against local prosecutors for declining to prosecute criminal offenses, while citing no federal law that would permit the DOJ to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preemption poses a serious, if not existential, threat to reform, especially for blue cities in red states. When I first started seriously considering preemption in 2021, I wrote that it now poses one of the most serious threats to anything but the most moderate of criminal legal system reforms. That same year, Governing magazine ran a piece with the headline States Pre-empt Cities Almost to the Point of Irrelevance. But successful preemption efforts may be a lot harder to achieve than I and others imagined. Of the 27 preemption bills identified by the Local Solutions Support Center, only five became law. When I wrote about preemption in 2021, I counted eight states with pending legislation; only two of those bills ended up becoming law. The low success rate of preemption bills could reflect the nature of the state legislative process. According to a recent study, only about 20 percent of all state bills become law. Passage requires political capital. Maybe these bills, like a cluster of anti-woke bills that were allowed to wither in Floridas Republican-dominated Legislature this session, just werent worth it. Advertisement But perhaps preemption bills dont need to pass to work; the threat alone could be enough. Theres no real need for anti-defund bills because almost no cities ever cut police budgets in the first place, and those that had restored funding almost immediately. Last year in Missouri, meanwhile, a bill to strip power from St. Louis embattled reform DA, Kim Gardner, died after she resigned in order to make the legislation moot. And in Tennessee, Memphis reform prosecutor Steve Mulroy refused to openly talk about charging abortion crimes in the final, post-Dobbs days of his campaign, likely out of fear of triggering more state oversight in a state that had already passed a law limiting prosecutorial discretion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alternatively, states can encroach on local power in ways that dont involve the thorny and cumbersome legislative process. And not just in red states. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom just sent a temporary surge of 120 California Highway Patrol officers into Oakland and the East Bay, where reform prosecutor Pamela Price faces a serious and well-funded recall effort. Newsom also deployed state attorneys to the area to prosecute violent crime, serious drug-related crimes, and property crimes including retail theft and auto burglary. The blue states apparent co-option of a beleaguered county DA is mirrored in red Louisiana. There, the states new Republican governor, who recently rolled out a slate of hard-line criminal justice measures, just announced an agreement with New Orleans reform DA giving the attorney general the authority to prosecute any and all criminal matters stemming from an arrest or investigation conducted by the Louisiana State Police or any law enforcement agency under the LSP. Advertisement Related From Slate The Florida GOP Has a New, Devious Way to Thwart Liberal Judges and Prosecutors Read More Ultimately, reformers instinctively turn to the courts to address preemption. And there have been some victories, at least in the short run: Last summer, a trial court in Tennessee struck down a law that gave the state attorney general more power to take over some death penalty cases, although that case is still working its way through the appellate system. Its unlikely, though, that the courts will be able to do much overall about preemption. Instead of relying on the courts, reformers should engage in politics. The politics of crime are complicated, given how symbolic they tend to be; they can be a shorthand for racism and white racial fears, and for other social anxieties. But the people most impacted by crime often favor reform candidates in prosecutor elections, state law enforcement involved in intervening in local criminal justice systems can be unpopular politically, and the politics of prosecutors themselves are often aligned against state interference. One reason it took the Republican-dominated Missouri Legislature three tries to oust Kim Gardner is that their earlier efforts faced opposition from other Republican prosecutors. A pending effort by allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to redraw the multi-county districts that elect prosecutors faced immediate opposition from conservative rural prosecutors who do not support reform but fear they, too, would lose their jobs under the new maps. Politicsparticularly around issues like retail theftcan drive preemption efforts and states sending police and prosecutors into cities. But politics can also serve as a means to push back against the power of the state, proving that preemption is far from inevitable. The Supreme Court delivered a remarkable victory for the rights of criminal defendants on Wednesday, applying the constitutional bar against double jeopardy to prohibit a sneaky end run around a jurys acquittal. Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons unanimous, uncompromising opinion for the court doubled as a strong endorsement of the right to trial by juryincluding a jurys unquestionable authority to acquit a defendant for any reason it chooses, including a belief that the charges are unjust. Jackson, the first former public defender to serve on SCOTUS, served up a forceful rebuke to the Georgia judiciarys attempt to undermine this inviolate principle. Wednesdays case, McElrath v. Georgia, involves a tragic set of facts. Damian McElrath spent several years slipping into schizophrenia before, in a fit of delusional paranoia, he stabbed his mother to death, convinced she was poisoning his food. Georgia prosecutors charged him with malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. At trial, McElrath pleaded insanity, presenting a persuasive case that he could not distinguish right from wrong at the time of his crime. The jury partially agreed and returned a split verdict. On the charge of malice murder, the jury found McElrath not guilty by reason of insanityan acquittal, but one that committed him to a mental hospital indefinitely. On the two other charges, the jury found him guilty but mentally illa conviction that subjected him to prison time, with the possibility of mental health treatment. The trial judge accepted the verdict and sentenced McElrath to life in prison. After a complicated appeal, the Georgia Supreme Court declared that the jurys split verdicts on malice murder (acquitted) and felony murder (convicted) were repugnant under state law. The court insisted that it was impossible for McElrath to have had different mental states at the same time, so the verdicts could not be reconciled. Thus, the court vacated both verdicts, effectively allowing the state to retry McElrath for malice murder despite the jurys acquittal. McElrath argued that this retrial would violate double jeopardy, but the court disagreed, reasoning that the two verdicts were valueless, indistinguishable from a mistrial due to a hung jury. Advertisement Could it really be that easy to evade the Fifth Amendments guarantee against double jeopardy? Can a court just proclaim that an acquittal doesnt count because it doesnt make sense? No, Jackson reasoned in her opinion on Wednesday: The Georgia Supreme Court got it wrong. To explain why, the justice went back to first principles. The Fifth Amendment states that no person may be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb. That means that a verdict of acquittal is final and serves as a bar to a subsequent prosecution for the same offense. An acquittal encompasses any ruling that the prosecutions proof is insufficient to establish criminal liability for an offense. A jurys acquittal is inviolate and cannot be reviewed, let alone overturned, by a higher court. This bright-line rule preserves the jurys duty to stand between the accused and a potentially arbitrary or abusive government that is in command of the criminal sanction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most reasonably informed citizens probably know all that. What they might not recognize, however, is that a jury can acquit for any reason it wants, or for no reason at all. An acquittal might reflect a jurys determination that the defendant is innocent of the crime charged, Jackson noted. But it might also reflect the result of compromise, compassion, lenity, or misunderstanding of the governing law. For the purposes of double jeopardy, the basis of the verdict is irrelevant; an acquittal is an acquittal. That rule has a straightforward application to this case, Jackson concluded: We simply cannot know why the jury in McElraths case acted as it did, and the Double Jeopardy Clause forbids us to guess. Georgia is therefore forbidden from retrying him for malice murder. Advertisement Related From Slate The Supreme Courts Oddest Pairing Comes out Swinging on Behalf of Criminal Defendants Read More Its worth dwelling on the pernicious potential of Georgias repugnant verdict rule and the importance of Jacksons wholesale rejection of it. Juries constitute a crucial component of American democracy and are, in fact, the most diverse institution of government. The right to trial by jury gives 12 citizens absolute authority to stop the state from taking away a persons liberty. This guarantee has long functioned as a key safeguard against government oppression. (It is a shame, then, that the overwhelming majority of criminal defendants do not go to trial.) The power held by juries is so sweeping that jurors may, as Jackson noted, vote to acquit for any reason whatsoever. Advertisement Typically, a jury acquits because the prosecution has failed to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But juries may also engage in nullification, refusing to apply a particular criminal law because they believe that it is unfair or unfairly applied to the defendant before them. The jury may exercise compassion or lenity and decide that, while the defendant is surely guilty of the crime, he does not deserve the punishment sought by the state. Georgias repugnancy rule is rooted in a tacit rejection of this proposition. It awards judges the power to review and set aside a jurys acquittal because they dont think the verdict makes sense. Advertisement Advertisement But a jurys acquittal does not have to make sense. The Fifth and Sixth amendments were designed, in part, to disempower judgeswho are, after all, employees of the stateand hand over the final determination of guilt to a dozen citizens drawn from the community. Had the Supreme Court upheld Georgias practice, it would have invited every other state to enact a similar scheme, letting courts reject an acquittal on the grounds that the jury simply must have misunderstood the law. Wednesdays decision forestalled any such attack on double jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Jackson brought special insight to this case, which may be why Chief Justice John Roberts assigned the opinion to her. As a public defender, she focused on appeals, representing clients who sought to have their convictions overturned. The justice surely recognizes that the deck is stacked against criminal defendants from the start and that, unfortunately, many would rather take a guilty plea than risk a trial. It is especially egregious, then, that McElratha man who risked trial and obtained an acquittal on the most serious chargesaw his victory disappear in the hands of a higher court. Jackson could not let that injustice stand, and she marshaled a unanimous court to join her in rejecting it in the strongest possible terms. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Looking for the best ecommerce suppliers is crucial to running an online business. But with so many options available, it can be hard to decide which is the right fit for your company. Continue reading to discover 40 top ecommerce suppliers for your online business needs. The offering includes pure ecommerce suppliers and dropshipping suppliers. Then, we cover ecommerce and dropshipping basics, finding suppliers, dropshipping ideas, and beginner tips. This guide is a handy resource for anyone wanting online retail success. By the time you finish reading, you should be able to find the right one(s) for your business. Top Ecommerce Business Suppliers Here are some of the best wholesale ecommerce platforms that can help you grow your own online store and improve customer satisfaction: Platform Description Alibaba Global wholesale trade platform for buyers and suppliers - One-stop sourcing with access to millions of products - User-friendly interface and mobile app for convenient trading - Fosters international trade relations eBay - Offers a wide variety of products and services - Includes wholesale items for bulk buyers - Millions of sellers worldwide provide an unparalleled selection - Go-to destination for online shopping Doba Instant access to millions of wholesale products - Exclusive product research and streamlined data management - E-commerce fulfillment services and educational materials to help retailers succeed SaleHoo Wholesale supplier directory with 8,000+ vetted suppliers - Over 2.5 million products available - Industry-leading market research tool and exclusive deals Wholesale Central Find wholesale suppliers and products without registration - Connect with verified distributors, importers, dropshippers, and manufacturers - User-friendly approach for exploring thousands of products - Maximizes profits and supports business growth The Thomas Network Connects industrial buyers to 500k+ North American manufacturers - Filtered searches and supplier comparisons for easy procurement - RFQ feature streamlines communication between buyers and suppliers Megagoods - Top drop shipping and wholesale distributor of consumer electronics - Vast selection of products with fast processing and excellent service - Trusted partner in the electronics industry Maker's Row Connects users with US manufacturers - Detailed search filters and factory profiles - Ability to manage production and access learning resources Made-In-China One-stop platform for international trade with Chinese suppliers - Millions of products and verified suppliers available - Trade facilitation services for seamless transactions DHGate Connects international buyers with Chinese wholesale online sellers - Offers quality products at low prices - Over 30M+ products in various categories - Secure buying features for peace of mind 1. Alibaba Alibaba is a global wholesale trade platform for buyers and suppliers. Their mission is to make business easy anywhere, with one-stop sourcing available anytime, anywhere. Whether youre a small business owner or a large corporation, Alibaba offers one-stop sourcing with access to millions of quality, consistent products, making business easy anywhere in the world. Their user-friendly interface and convenient mobile app allow buyers and sellers to connect and trade anytime, anywhere, fostering international trade relations. 2. eBay eBay offers a wide variety of products and services, making it easy to find what you need, including wholesale items. From electronics to fashion, collectibles to home essentials, eBay has it all, including wholesale items for bulk buyers. With millions of sellers around the globe, eBay provides an unparalleled selection for buyers seeking quality products at competitive prices, making it a go-to destination for online shopping. Its also easy to check user reviews and communicate with other users, with support available if issues arise. 3. Doba Doba offers instant access to millions of wholesale products, exclusive product research, streamlined data management, ecommerce fulfillment services, and educational materials to help retailers succeed. With instant access to millions of quality, consistent wholesale products, retailers can quickly add new inventory to their online stores. Their exclusive product research and streamlined data management tools further enhance the efficiency of managing a thriving ecommerce business. Additionally, Dobas educational materials provide valuable insights and strategies to help retailers succeed in the competitive market. 4. SaleHoo SaleHoo wholesale supplier directory offers access to over 8,000 vetted suppliers and 2.5 million products, as well as an industry-leading market research tool and exclusive deals. With access to over 8,000 vetted suppliers and a whopping 2.5 million products, it presents a goldmine of opportunities for business growth. Their industry-leading market research tool equips sellers with the necessary data to make informed decisions, while exclusive deals add extra value to their membership, making SaleHoo a top choice for online sellers. 5. Wholesale Central Find wholesale suppliers and products on Wholesale Central without registration. Connect with verified wholesale distributors, importers, dropshippers, and manufacturers to maximize profits. The platforms user-friendly approach allows buyers to explore thousands of products without the need for registration. Their verified wholesale distributors, importers, dropshippers, and manufacturers ensure secure transactions and reliable sourcing options. Whether youre a seasoned retailer or just starting, Wholesale Central offers a seamless experience to maximize profits and grow your business. 6. The Thomas Network Thomasnet.com connects industrial buyers to over 500k North American manufacturers, offering filtered searches, supplier comparisons, and RFQs in one click. The platforms filtered searches and supplier comparisons simplify the procurement process, saving buyers precious time and effort. Additionally, the RFQ (Request for Quote) feature streamlines communication between buyers and suppliers, fostering efficient business partnerships. 7. Megagoods Megagoods is a top drop shipping and wholesale distributor of consumer electronics with a great selection, fast processing, and excellent service. Their vast selection of products, along with their commitment to fast processing and excellent service, ensures a smooth and reliable buying experience for retailers and online sellers alike. Megagoods reputation as a trusted partner in the electronics industry has earned them a loyal customer base. 8. Makers Row Makers Row connects users with US manufacturers, offering search filters and factory profiles. Users can manage production and access learning resources. The platforms detailed search filters and factory profiles offer valuable insights into potential production partners. Moreover, the ability to manage production processes and access learning resources empowers entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life with confidence. 9. Made-In-China Made-in-China.com offers a one-stop platform for international trade between Chinese suppliers and overseas buyers. It boasts millions of products, verified suppliers, and trade facilitation services. With millions of products to choose from and a network of verified suppliers, the platform ensures buyers have access to a wide variety of high-quality goods that can be sold for high profits. Additionally, their trade facilitation services further simplify the import and export process, promoting seamless transactions between businesses across borders. 10. DHGate DHgate connects international buyers with Chinese wholesale online sellers offering quality products at low prices, with 30M+ products in various categories and secure buying features. Boasting an extensive catalog of over 30 million products in various categories, it offers a wide range of options for sellers and entrepreneurs. With secure buying features and quality assurance, DHgate provides peace of mind when sourcing products from overseas suppliers. 11. Kole Imports Kole Imports provides closeout purchasing, dropshipping, and FBA services. With 35 years of experience, it supplies wholesale general merchandise in various categories. Their focus on closeout purchasing, dropshipping, and FBA services allows retailers to access an ever-changing inventory of general merchandise. This unique approach enables businesses to offer their customers exciting deals on a wide array of products, keeping their offerings fresh and engaging. 12. Uniqbe Uniqbe provides quality global products, top-selling tech products, and marketing support to wholesalers. They assist drop shippers in mitigating risks and offer time and resource savings. Their strong emphasis on marketing support ensures that businesses can effectively promote and sell products to their target audience. Additionally, their tailored assistance for dropshippers helps mitigate risks and saves valuable time and resources in managing inventory and logistics. 13. ASI Partners ASI is a tech distributor in the US and Canada with 9 locations, carrying 150+ product lines. Theyre committed to performance, proven service, and partnerships. Carrying over 150 product lines, they cater to various industries, providing reliable performance and proven service to their clients. With a strong reputation, their focus on building strong partnerships further enhances the overall customer experience. 14. VR Distribution VR Distribution offers exclusive distribution of board games, toys, collectibles, and licensed merchandise with a knowledgeable team and a world-class warehouse. Their knowledgeable team ensures that retailers have access to the latest trends and sought-after products. With a world-class warehouse, VR Distribution is equipped to fulfill orders promptly and efficiently. 15. JDS Marketing JDS offers wholesale personalized gifts and wedding favors with engraving included along with fast service, no minimum orders, blind dropshipping, and a unique assortment. Their commitment to fast service and no minimum orders allows small businesses to thrive while catering to their customers unique preferences. The added benefit of blind dropshipping ensures that the retailers brand remains front and center in every transaction. 16. Born Pretty Born Pretty supplies nail polish and nail art products worldwide, with a US warehouse offering wholesale orders for salons and beauty brands. Their US warehouse provides a seamless and faster shipping experience for salons and beauty brands. With an extensive range of quality products, businesses can find everything they need to meet their customers beauty and nail care requirements. 17. USA Wholesale & Distributing USA Wholesale offers competitive pricing, 9000+ items, and outstanding service for B2B only. Approval for web access is required. With over 9,000 items available, retailers can curate a diverse inventory that aligns with their target markets preferences. Their dedication to providing outstanding service and support ensures a positive and fruitful business partnership. 18. Pure Source Pure Source is a leading contract manufacturer of creams, lotions, and supplements, with FDA, UL, and QAI certification, 24/7 customer service, and a state-of-the-art facility. With FDA, UL, and QAI certification, businesses can rest assured that they are sourcing high-quality products. Their 24/7 customer service and state-of-the-art facility further solidify their commitment to delivering excellence in every aspect of their operations. 19. Bamboosa Bamboosa produces eco-friendly bamboo, Tencel, and cotton products in the USA, including baby essentials, socks, sleepwear, and more. Private label is available for selling your own products. Their diverse product range, including baby essentials, socks, and sleepwear, appeals to environmentally conscious customers. Moreover, Bamboosas private label option enables businesses to establish their brand identity and expand their product offerings. 20. Apparel Candy Apparel Candy offers quality wholesale womens clothing made in the USA, starting at $5.50 per unit. They also have off-price wholesale clothing for women. With a starting price of $5.50 per unit, retailers can access a variety of fashionable items for their stores. Additionally, their off-price wholesale clothing ensures that businesses can offer their customers trendy options without breaking the bank. Best Dropshipping Suppliers If youre looking to start a dropshipping business, here are some of the best dropshipping services to help get you started: 21. AliExpress AliExpress connects Chinese sellers to global buyers. Its popular for low-priced products, making it a great option for dropshipping, but be cautious of unreliable suppliers. It remains a favored platform for dropshipping due to its vast selection and low-priced products. However, its essential for buyers to exercise caution and thoroughly research sellers to avoid potential issues with unreliable suppliers. 22. Oberlo Oberlos dropshipping integrates with Shopify, offering a range of products, insights, and tools for entrepreneurs to launch and manage their online stores. Offering a wide range of products, valuable insights, and user-friendly tools, entrepreneurs can easily curate their product selection. This seamless integration empowers businesses to focus on marketing and customer engagement, driving growth and success. 23. Wholesale 2B Wholesale2B offers automated dropship solutions since 2004 with access to 1M+ products, integration with 100+ companies, and a 70-80% success rate. heir impressive 70-80% success rate ensures that businesses can establish profitable online ventures. With the convenience of automated dropship solutions, entrepreneurs can focus on growing their business without the complexities of inventory management. 24. Printify Printify enables users to sell custom on-demand printed products through online stores without upfront investment, connecting them to print providers and offering a wide range of features. By connecting users with print providers and offering a wide range of features, Printify streamlines the entire process, from design to shipping. This innovative platform opens up opportunities for creative entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful businesses. 25. Redbubble Redbubble is a free, easy-to-use online platform for artists to upload designs and sell personalized products to millions of customers worldwide. With millions of customers worldwide, artists have the chance to reach a broad market while Redbubble handles product fulfillment and customer service. This collaborative approach fosters a thriving creative community and supports artists in their entrepreneurial endeavors. 26. Zazzle Zazzle offers creators an opportunity to monetize their content and creative services, reaching millions of customers while handling product fulfillment and customer service. With a massive customer base, artists can showcase and sell their designs on a wide array of products. Zazzles efficient product fulfillment and customer service ensure a smooth buying experience for customers and a hassle-free selling experience for artists. 27. Printful Printful offers 339 customizable products with local fulfillment, custom branding tools, reliable quality, intuitive design, smooth automation, and no minimum orders. Their custom branding tools and reliable product quality allow businesses to create a consistent brand experience for their customers. With no minimum orders, businesses of all sizes can benefit from Printfuls services, making it a top choice in the print-on-demand market. 28. Fine Art America Fine Art America is a platform for artists to sell their prints, originals, and various products online. With marketing tools and fulfillment handled by the platform, artists can focus on creating their art while tapping into a large community of art enthusiasts and collectors. 29. Displate Displate is a free online marketplace for artists to sell their art on metal posters, earning a 50% commission on each sale. Theyve paid $25M+ in commissions to date. With their commitment to supporting artists, Displate has paid millions in commissions, becoming a favorite platform for creatives seeking to monetize their unique designs and reach a global audience. 30. Merch by Amazon Merch by Amazon is a print-on-demand service that lets creators upload designs for apparel, accessories, and more, with Amazon handling printing, shipping, and customer service. With Amazons vast customer base, creators can reach a wide audience while Amazon handles the operational aspects, making it a hassle-free option for selling customized products. 31. Dropshipper.com Dropshipper.com provides a vast online product database for businesses looking to expand their product offerings without holding inventory. By offering a seamless integration with ecommerce platforms, businesses can quickly add products to their websites and sell directly to customers, reducing operational overhead and increasing revenue potential. 32. National Dropshippers National Dropshippers offers wholesale-priced dropshipping of thousands of products from multiple manufacturers and distributors with personalized assistance available to members. Their personalized assistance ensures that businesses have the support they need to succeed in the dropshipping market, providing a valuable resource for online sellers. 33. Inventory Source This free US directory of 4,000+ wholesalers and dropshippers offers advanced search, full product data, and reseller info all in one place. Inventory Source simplifies the process of sourcing products for online businesses. Their advanced search, full product data, and reseller information streamline the product discovery process, saving retailers valuable time and effort. 34. Modalyst Modalyst offers ecommerce retailers a centralized platform to curate a unique collection of products from a marketplace of millions, with virtual inventory and unlimited dropship products. With virtual inventory and unlimited dropship products, businesses can offer an extensive range of products without the need for upfront investment. This flexible approach supports retailers in adapting to changing market demands and consumer preferences. 35. Spocket Spocket is a dropshipping platform that connects users to top US/EU products with up-to-date inventory, fast shipping, and exclusive discounts. No upfront cost or credit card is required. With up-to-date inventory, fast shipping, and exclusive discounts, businesses can offer their customers a reliable and exceptional buying experience. The absence of upfront costs or credit card requirements makes it a low-risk option for entrepreneurs entering the dropshipping market. 36. Yakkyofy Yakkyofy offers all-in-one ecommerce services, including sourcing, shipping, and warehousing with a luxury concierge service and a focus on reducing complexity and helping businesses grow. With a luxury concierge service and a strong focus on reducing complexity, Yakkyofy is dedicated to helping businesses grow efficiently and successfully. 37. Diecast Dropshipper Diecast Dropshipper offers fast, private-label shipping of die-cast model cars and trucks. They have a large inventory, brand-name items, and excellent customer service. Their extensive inventory of brand-name items and exceptional customer service make them a trusted partner for businesses specializing in die-cast collectibles. 38. Beauty Joint Beauty Joint distributes brand-name cosmetic products and beauty products through both wholesale and dropshipping options, customizable to your business needs. With customizable solutions to fit individual business needs, Beauty Joint supports entrepreneurs in building successful ventures in the beauty industry. 39. EK Wholesale EK Wholesale provides quality clothing for men and women to traders and independent stores. With dropshipping, integrations, automation, and personalized clothing lines, businesses can cater to their target markets fashion preferences while streamlining their operations. 40. Mod Made Mod Made is a contemporary furniture wholesale provider in Southern California with competitive wholesale prices and a unique selection. They prioritize excellent customer service and cater to businesses of all sizes. Their competitive wholesale prices and unique selection offer retailers the opportunity to curate trendy and modern collections for their customers, while their commitment to excellent customer service ensures a seamless buying experience. Our Methodology for Picking the Best Ecommerce Suppliers In online retail, the suppliers you choose are foundational to your businesss success. Whether youre a budding entrepreneur in the ecommerce sector or an established business looking to expand your product offerings, finding reliable suppliers can be a game-changer. However, the market is inundated with options, and each comes with its own set of advantages and limitations. To assist small business owners in selecting the most suitable ecommerce suppliers, weve carefully considered a variety of factors. These criteria, rated on a scale from 10 (most important) to 1 (least important), ensure that our recommendations align with the diverse needs of online businesses. Product Quality and Consistency: Importance 10/10 High standards of product quality. Consistency in product offerings and stock availability. Quality control measures and certifications. Pricing and Profit Margins: Importance 9/10 Competitive pricing to ensure profitable margins. Transparency in pricing structures, including bulk discounts. Balance between cost and quality to offer value to customers. Reliability and Reputation: Importance 8/10 Track record of reliable order fulfillment and delivery. Positive feedback and reviews from other businesses. Stability and credibility in the market. Shipping and Logistics: Importance 8/10 Efficient and cost-effective shipping options. Capability to handle international shipping requirements. Packaging quality and branding options. Integration with Ecommerce Platforms: Importance 7/10 Seamless integration with major ecommerce platforms. Automation of inventory and order processing. Real-time inventory updates and synchronization. Customer Support and Service: Importance 6/10 Responsive and helpful customer support. Assistance in resolving issues and answering queries. Language and communication compatibility. Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ): Importance 6/10 Feasibility of minimum order quantities for small businesses. Flexibility in MOQ to accommodate growing businesses. Options for sample orders or low MOQ for new customers. Sustainability and Ethical Practices: Importance 5/10 Commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices. Eco-friendly products and responsible sourcing. Transparency in supply chain and manufacturing processes. By taking a comprehensive view of each of these critical areas, we aim to guide you toward suppliers who can not only meet your immediate operational needs but also foster growth, scalability, and customer satisfaction in your ecommerce endeavor. What is an ecommerce supplier? An ecommerce supplier is a company that provides products or services to online businesses. If youre thinking of starting your own ecommerce store, these suppliers can offer a wide range of options, from physical goods to digital products, and they play a crucial role in the success of an online store. Ecommerce suppliers can help streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately increase revenue for businesses. How do you find wholesale suppliers online? Finding the right wholesale suppliers online can be approached through several methods, including: Search for suppliers on Google. This is a great way to find suppliers for specific products or services. Just type in the keywords related to your product or service, and youll be presented with a list of suppliers that come up in the search results. This is a great way to find suppliers for specific products or services. Just type in the keywords related to your product or service, and youll be presented with a list of suppliers that come up in the search results. Use online wholesale directories. There are a number of online wholesale directories that list suppliers from all over the world. These directories can be a great way to find suppliers for a wide variety of products and services. There are a number of online wholesale directories that list suppliers from all over the world. These directories can be a great way to find suppliers for a wide variety of products and services. Contact manufacturers directly. If you know the manufacturer of the product you want to sell, you can contact them directly to see if they offer wholesale pricing. If you know the manufacturer of the product you want to sell, you can contact them directly to see if they offer wholesale pricing. Attend trade shows. Trade shows are a great way to meet with potential suppliers and learn about new products and services. Trade shows are a great way to meet with potential suppliers and learn about new products and services. Join online forums and communities. There are a number of online forums and communities where you can connect with other businesses and ask for recommendations for wholesale suppliers. There are a number of online forums and communities where you can connect with other businesses and ask for recommendations for wholesale suppliers. Use social media. You can also use social media to find wholesale suppliers. Many suppliers have active social media accounts where they post about their products and services. You can also use social media to find wholesale suppliers. Many suppliers have active social media accounts where they post about their products and services. Ask for referrals from other businesses. If you know other businesses that sell similar products or services, ask them if they have any recommendations for wholesale suppliers. If you know other businesses that sell similar products or services, ask them if they have any recommendations for wholesale suppliers. Use a sourcing agent. A sourcing agent can help you find wholesale suppliers in specific countries or regions. Here are some additional tips for finding wholesale suppliers online: Be clear about what youre looking for. What products or services do you need? What are your price points? What kind of shipping terms do you need? Do your research. Once youve found a few potential suppliers, take some time to research them. Read their reviews, check their website, and contact them to ask questions. Compare prices. Dont just go with the first supplier you find. Compare prices from several different suppliers to make sure youre getting the best deal. Build relationships. Once youve found a few suppliers that youre happy with, take some time to build relationships with them. This will help you get better prices and service in the long run. What is dropshipping? Dropshipping is a business model where a retailer sells products to customers without keeping them in stock. Instead, the products are purchased from a third-party supplier who ships them directly to the customer. This saves the retailer time and money on storage and shipping. The retailer makes a profit by charging a higher price than it paid the supplier. In the next section below youll find dropshipping suppliers. What are the best dropshipping ideas? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what the best dropshipping business ideas are, as it largely depends on your interests and the market demand. However, some popular niches include health and wellness, pet supplies, home decor, and fashion accessories. Its important to conduct thorough research and identify untapped markets for a successful dropshipping business. How can a beginner start dropshipping? To start dropshipping, choose a niche, select a reliable supplier, create an online store, import products, set prices, and promote your store. If youre serious about starting your own ecommerce store, make sure to create a checklist for starting an ecommerce business that includes topics like ecommerce business insurance and taking a dropshipping course to learn how to start dropshipping effectively. Is dropshipping profitable? Dropshipping can be profitable if done correctly, depending on the demand volatility of your offerings. But starting a new business requires research, planning, and execution. With a low startup cost and the ability to sell products without holding inventory, dropshipping can be an attractive option for entrepreneurs surviving demand volatility. What is the best dropshipping supplier? There is no single best dropshipping supplier as it depends on your niche, location, and business needs. However, some popular ecommerce platforms include AliExpress, Oberlo, Worldwide Brands, and Spocket. Its important to research suppliers carefully, read reviews from other dropshippers, and test their products before committing to a long-term partnership. What is the best wholesale supplier? The best wholesale supplier is one that provides high-quality products at a competitive price, has a reliable and efficient shipping process, and offers excellent customer service. Researching and comparing different wholesale suppliers based on these factors can help businesses find the best fit for their needs. How do you find legitimate wholesale suppliers? To find legitimate wholesale suppliers, research various sources such as online directories, trade shows, and industry associations. Verify supplier credentials and request samples to ensure authenticity and quality. Checking supplier references can also help businesses work with trustworthy partners. Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. Searching for Bratislava activities on a budget? Visit a Choral festival or a Concert for Ukraine, where will perform the representative of Ukraine on Eurovision. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Music | History | Choir Music Concert for Ukraine in 2023. (Source: Martina Mlcuchova) Concert for Ukraine February 25, start at 17:00 on Primacialne Namestie This year, the concert will be held at the Primacialne Namestie (square) in Bratislava. Ukrainian rapper Alyona Alyona, who will represent Ukraine at Eurovision this year, Berlin Manson and Choir of the Kharkiv National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet Mykola Lysenko will perform. The event is organised by the Pohoda Festival and the Bratislava Cultural and Information Centre (BKIS). They want to express solidarity and belonging with their eastern neighbours and, at the same time, to support Ukrainian artists who still have limited opportunities to perform in their native country. https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/recamodoro History St. Martin Cathedral in Bratislava. (Source: TASR - Dano Veselsky) Bratislava courtyards and corners Meeting point: February 24 at 14:00 on Zupne Namestie 10, in front of the Church of St Stephen I of Hungary (Kostol Kapucinov). Get to know Bratislava through the eyes of those who know the most about it. Celebrate their holiday with the guides and get to know the secrets of the capital of Slovakia on tours. Bratislava Old Town is rich in various architectural gems. We pass by many every day, but many of them are hidden in side streets or behind entrance gates. What stories do they offer us? What personalities are associated with them? Which places are a green oasis during the summer months? Join the tour and look into Bratislava's courtyards. https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/komupeluro Choir Faculty of Music and Dance of Academy of Performing Arts (Source: vsmu.sk) Choral Festival February 28, start at 19:00 in Big Church (Lutheran) on Panenska 28. A unique choral concert of three choirs. The event will take place as part of the Central European concert tour of choirs from the USA and the Czech Republic. The program of the concert is extremely diverse - it includes classic works by European and American composers of the past and present, as well as traditional African-American spirituals or the famous Gershwin song I Got Rhythm in an arrangement for choir. The University of Findlay Concert-Chorale 2024 (USA), the Mixed Choir of the University of Hradec Kralove (CZ) and the VSMU Choir are performing. Make your reservation by e-mail: info-htf@vsmu.sk. https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/mahejucoda If you have tips for free events in Bratislava or you would like to share your hiking or cycling trip ideas with readers, let us know at kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. The government is trying to eliminate democracy, opposition MPs say. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Without any prior warning, the Justice Ministry has abruptly cancelled a scheme supporting human rights initiatives for this year and announced its plan to spend 769,500 on supporting victims of sexual violence instead. The ministry hasnt explained its decision. The organisations that were close to obtaining finances from the ministry for this years projects were told about the decision a day before presenting their projects to the commission. The strongest ruling party, Smer, hinted as to why the scheme was axed a few days later. In the past years, several LGBT+ and progressive non-governmental organisations have received money from the scheme, Smer posted on Facebook. Smer has long been in conflict with NGOs. When the party came to power last October, PM and Smer party leader Robert Fico announced his intention of labeling NGOs that receive funds from abroad as foreign agents. Later, it wanted to cut their funding by changing the system of 2-percent tax assignation (a citizen can donate 2 percent of the tax to an organisation.) But the ministrys decision regarding the grant scheme may also be linked to the new Penal Code. The Justice Ministry, which pushed through its controversial amendment to the Penal Code without any expert discussion in the parliament on February 8, is headed by lawyer Boris Susko of the Smer party. Among other things, the disputed amendment shortens the statute of limitations for violent crimes such as rape. The coalition has defended its move up until now, but its shifting away from this narrative - at least formally - following a shower of criticism from experts, the president and the opposition. On Thursday, the government passed an amendment that would preserve the current statute of limitations of 20 years in the case of violent crimes and sent it to parliament for approval. However, when it comes to organisations defending human rights in Slovakia, the coalition seems to be ignoring their calls for keeping the scheme intact. The government is clearly telling us that it has no interest in human rights, said Post Bellum Sandra Polovkova. Organisations point out that the ministrys decision will also affect school projects and other projects that should support, for example, the disabled. Launched 14 years ago, the scheme is the only state-funded human rights programme in the country. Post Bellum and 80 other civic organisations have launched a petition. The opposition parties Slovensko and SaS criticised the ministry for its decision. It's the direct intervention of organisations that are important for us to have democracy here, the rule of law, to respect human rights, said SaS MP and former justice minister, Maria Kolikova. Her colleague Vladimira Marcinkova pointed out that the coalition that is trying to eliminate its critics and civic society is close to becoming an autocracy. The Culture Ministry also cancelled a grant scheme back in December. Instead of the 300,000 allocated to support media education and the fight against disinformation, the ministry transferred the sum to the Slovak Philharmonic for the repair of its old roof. Justice Ministry scraps support for human rights initiatives, where to decompress in Bratislava at the weekend, and a quake reported from eastern Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Good evening. Here is the Thursday, February 22 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Fico finds a way to bypass Caputova PM Robert Fico and President Zuzana Caputova walk out of the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2023. (Source: TASR) On Thursday, Premier Robert Fico accused President Zuzana Caputova of playing games in regard to the appointment of his candidate Pavol Gaspar as Slovak Information Service chief. He is convinced that she doesnt want to appoint him. Gaspar is the son of charged Smer MP and ex-police chief Tibor Gaspar; he is facing corruption and organised crime charges. Gaspar Jr. is a deputy minister at the Justice Ministry. He was also briefly charged last year, and he also threatened to kill Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipsic. Despite his young age of 36, and no previous high-paying jobs, he owns several properties. The president said several days ago that she might leave this homework to her successor. Fico, however, demands that the president say yes or no to his nomination and explain her decision. At the same time, he hinted at his back-up plan in case Caputova doesnt act the way he wants her to. Were not small children. If the president doesnt act, we will, Fico said during Thursdays Question Time in parliament, adding that the SIS will have a new chief within a few days. On Thursday his cabinet changed the statutes of the SIS service, a classified document, without providing any detail. The opposition is concerned, claiming that the governing coalition is about to hijack the secret service. The parliamentary committee to oversee SIS activities will take place next week to discuss the matter. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Politics: The Justice Ministry axes support for human rights projects. The Justice Ministry axes support for human rights projects. Regions: A mild earthquake hits eastern Slovakia. A mild earthquake hits eastern Slovakia. Bratislava: The dangerous Asian tiger mosquito is already home in Bratislava, scientists say. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY Slovak investor: Slovakia should be Mexico of Europe Maros Breda, co-owner of the Chinese winery Chateau Nine Peaks. (Source: Chateau Nine Peaks) Chinese labour is becoming more expensive for Western companies, and when transportation threatened by military conflicts is added to costs, companies prefer to move their factories. Slovakia should take advantage of this trend and become an important producer for the European market, says manager and investor Maros Breda, who previously participated in development projects in China and now owns a winery there. EVENTS IN BRATISLAVA Explore Bratislava courtyards One of many Bratislava courtyards. (Source: Courtesy of Lucia Liskova) Searching for Bratislava activities on a budget? Visit a choral festival or a concert for Ukraine. Not your thing? Here are 10 more events for you, including Matej Fabians exhibition Strategicon at Soga. In other news On Thursday, the Kosice City Court acquitted the 10 police officers of bullying Roma boys . The Constitutional Court annulled the previous acquittal. The case goes back to March 2009. According to the court, there is not enough evidence to prove that the deed happened. The verdict is not final, the prosecutor appealing against it. (TASR) . The Constitutional Court annulled the previous acquittal. The case goes back to March 2009. According to the court, there is not enough evidence to prove that the deed happened. The verdict is not final, the prosecutor appealing against it. (TASR) The allowance for accommodation facilities to accommodate refugees from Ukraine will be adjusted to 6 per night regardless of their age, starting March 1. With this step, the Transport Ministry is following up on the change in the amount of the allowance paid by the Interior Ministry to natural persons. The ministry wants to motivate expats to integrate into normal life, and at the same time respond to the declining interest of accommodation providers. (TASR) will be adjusted to 6 per night regardless of their age, starting March 1. With this step, the Transport Ministry is following up on the change in the amount of the allowance paid by the Interior Ministry to natural persons. The ministry wants to motivate expats to integrate into normal life, and at the same time respond to the declining interest of accommodation providers. (TASR) The existing statutes of limitation should apply for crimes such as rape and sexual abuse , according to an amendment to the Penal Code approved by the government on Thursday. should apply for crimes such as , according to an amendment to the Penal Code approved by the government on Thursday. The unilateral favouring of Ukraine has had serious economic impacts on the country, in particular agriculture, said PM Robert Fico on Thursday, adding that the only way forward for the government is to continue to implement the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine . (TASR) . (TASR) If farmers demands are not taken seriously, they will be seen in the streets more often, the Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber said after the Thursday protest. More than 2,000 tractors and 4,000 farmers took to the roads and streets in the country to oppose the EUs climate and agricultural policies and bureaucracy. On Monday, a walkout organised by young farmers took place. WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Remaining cloudy on Friday with showers and rain in many places. It will be a warm day with daytime temperatures from 6C to 13C. (SHMU) FEBRUARY 23 NAME'S DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Roman, Romana. Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator). This should come as absolutely no shock to anyone who regularly reads Sprudge, but Vietnamese coffee is one of the most delicious and exciting fields in the entire coffee industry today. This is thanks in no small part to the forward-thinking leadership of people like Nguyen Canh Hung, the owner of Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters, and Tran Le Minh Truc, the owner of Every Half Coffee Roasters. These two coffee companiesboth based in Vietnamare doing very exciting work with coffees grown in Vietnam, advocating for high quality Vietnamese coffee and pursuing a unique blend of local coffee traditions with international design and drink influences. In a recent feature on Sprudge Special Projects, Hanoi-based coffee journalist Tung Nguyen sat down with Nguyen Canh Hung and Tran Le Minh Truc for an expansive interview, discussing everything from rare hybrid coffee varietals to coffee competitions to the future global path for fine coffees from Vietnam. As you might expect, Robusta is part of this conversation95% of the coffee planted in Vietnam is Robustabut here, too, there is tremendous promise and a new way of thinking taking place at the farm level. Its worth noting, too, that both of these companies operate absolutely stunning cafestruly world class destinations from the cafe design perspective. Paired with the work each company does at the farm level, it makes for a must-read look at the modern Vietnamese coffee scene today. Sprudge Special Projects is a hub for long-form original journalism and select archival features on Sprudge. Since 2009, Sprudge has been the worlds premier home for thought-provoking coffee journalism, evocative photo essays, design deep-dives, and cultural narratives. Special Projects Desk continues this tradition in 2023 and beyond, platforming exceptional works from the field of coffee journalism. Special Projects Desk is supported by La Marzocco, handcrafting espresso machines in Florence, Italy since 1927. Their mission is to support the growth of specialty coffee; they believe that increasing knowledge and understanding is the best way to develop a thriving future for the coffee industry. Sprudge is actively seeking pitches for long-form coffee writingfrom both established and emerging journalistswithout language or experience prerequisites. For more information, contact us. An artist's rendering of the Connecticut Proton Therapy Center in Wallingford. Construction of the cancer treatment facility is scheduled to begin this spring. Contributed photo Kristoffer Popovitch, Cancer Institute director for Hartford HealthCare's central region, speaks at the cancer care center at MidState Medical Center in Meriden in this 2016 file photo. Dave Zajac / Hearst Connecticut Media Yale New Haven Health and other Connecticut providers are struggling to treat cancer patients amid a nationwide shortage in chemotherapy drugs. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Construction of a cutting-edge cancer center in Connecticut is scheduled to begin this spring at 932 Northrop Road in Wallingford, town officials say. Joe Mirra, the town's Economic Development Commission chairman, said Tuesday that representatives of Hartford Healthcare and Yale New Haven Health System have told him construction of the 25,000 square foot Connecticut Proton Therapy Center should start in March or April. The two healthcare organizations, which are among Connecticut's largest, are developing the facility as part of a joint venture. The state Office of Health Strategy approved the joint application for the center in 2022. Costs are estimated at $70 million for the facility, which will be the first of its kind in the state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It's extremely important to the community, the state and the region," Mirra said of the radiation-type therapy. "In most cases, you have to go to Boston or New York City for this type of care. And for some it becomes a regular commute if you can't afford the cost of a hotel room." "We are on track to break ground in the coming months and scheduled to begin treating patients in 2026," officials with the two healthcare organization said through a joint statement released last week. "We remain fully committed to the Connecticut Proton Therapy Center. Like many projects nationwide, the Proton Center was delayed by the pandemic." When the new facility begins operating, cancer patients will be treated with a highly targeted radiological proton therapy rather than X-rays. The high energy beam of protons is used to treat many solid cancer tumors, including tumors of the brain and central nervous system, eye, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, liver, lung, prostate, spine, as wells as some breast tumors, according to the application approved by the state Office of Health Strategy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That type of therapy is now available only at a few facilities in the Northeast, outside of Connecticut, officials with the joint venture have said. "We are proud and excited to bring this innovative and life-changing therapy to the state, creating a destination for state-of-the art cancer care," the statement form the joint venture read in part. The Connecticut Proton Therapy Center was approved by state health care regulators in April 2022. Angela Mattie, a professor of management and medical sciences at Quinnipiac University, said the collaborative effort between Yale New Haven Health and Hartford Healthcare "is a real benefit to patients that can only lead to better outcomes." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Because of where this facility will be located, essentially in the center of the state, it will increase access to a high level of healthcare," Mattie said. "Patients who are in their most vulnerable and sickest state will no longer have to travel long distances for care." She said that the development of the Proton Therapy Center will only burnish the state's reputation. "The one thing we have in this state is outstanding healthcare," Mattie said. "Having a facility like this will create a tremendous amount of intellectual capital that will only grow going forward because it will allow both organizations to continue to attract the best talent going forward." Mirra said with the addition of the Proton Therapy Center in Wallingford, "I can foresee the town and surrounding communities becoming a significant medical hub." And surrounding businesses will really benefit from the increased activity in town. Advertisement Article continues below this ad https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/how-the-narrative-on-ukraine-palestine-has-accelerated-western-medias-decline-1116909995.html How the Narrative on Ukraine, Palestine Has Accelerated Western Medias Decline How the Narrative on Ukraine, Palestine Has Accelerated Western Medias Decline Sputnik International Following mass layoffs across the mainstream media industry, Dr. Gerald Horne told Radio Sputnik that the decline has been accelerated by the Western narrative of Ukraine and Palestine. 2024-02-21T23:47+0000 2024-02-21T23:47+0000 2024-02-22T07:40+0000 analysis gerald horne palestine sputnik ukraine the critical hour https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/1e/1091916049_0:291:2048:1443_1920x0_80_0_0_f34b7f515193fccd3a688f51d070b7dd.jpg Historian and author Dr. Gerald Horne told Sputniks The Critical Hour on Tuesday that the decline of mainstream Western media was accelerated by the press' narratives on the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.I think that an astute historian would point out that the Ukraine crisis helped to trigger or helped to accelerate the continuing decline of the news media, Horne said, adding that the media crisis was accelerated on October 7, 2023, because its no secret that the Zionist lobby has a stranglehold over a good deal of the US media.Horne also noted the US media coverage of the death of Alexey Navalny, particularly its lack of coverage of his documented Islamophobia. We want to get an account of what happened when we pick up a newspaper or tune into CNN, but instead we oftentimes just get the current line of the neocons, or the neoliberals, he explained, adding that there is no guarantee that CNN will be around by the end of the decade.The crisis goes beyond just the media, Horne argued, saying it is a crisis of the entire capital system and is part of the inevitable demise of capitalism.You see a similar crisis unfolding in Europe, Horne said. The party of [German] Chancellor [Olaf] Scholz is on the ropes because he has led his country into an abyss [by going] along with the Ukrainian caper and misadventures. His prospects for electoral success going forward are slim and none.But it's not only Scholz who's headed down a troubled political future, Horne said, pointing out that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are in similar positions.All in all, its not a good look or good prognosis for the North Atlantic countries, he concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/western-media-prefers-interview-with-evil-hamas-over-russian-president-1116835779.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/germany-loses-over-216bln-due-to-ukraine-conflict---institute-director-1116905979.html palestine ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino layoffs in media, journalism layoffs, la times fires, vox fires, cnn fires, media is dying, journalism is declining https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/assanges-father-calls-on-australia-to-put-pressure-on-us-uk-to-release-jailed-journalist-1116921056.html Assange's Father Calls on Australia to Put Pressure on US, UK to Release Jailed Journalist Assange's Father Calls on Australia to Put Pressure on US, UK to Release Jailed Journalist Sputnik International The father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, John Shipton, called on Australia on Thursday to put pressure on its allies, the United Kingdom and the United States, to help bring his son home 2024-02-22T13:04+0000 2024-02-22T13:04+0000 2024-02-22T13:04+0000 world julian assange united kingdom (uk) australia australian broadcasting corporation (abc) wikileaks https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/16/1116920861_0:57:3072:1785_1920x0_80_0_0_70656c345ff22214077378a3ccde27f1.jpg A UK court held hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday to consider a US extradition request for Assange. Judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson said they would issue their ruling later. Shipton talked to his son on the phone on Wednesday following a rally outside the High Court in London, during which the investigative journalist's supporters urged the UK authorities to release Assange and not to extradite him to Washington, Australian broadcaster ABC reported. After that, Assange's father appealed to the Australian government. Shipton also suggested that Canberra threaten the UK and the US with restricting access to their consular buildings in Australia to demonstrate the seriousness of its intention to have Assange released. The journalist's father added that his son sounded "a bit throaty" on the phone as he had a cold and that he had been "under a considerable amount of stress" lately. WikiLeaks was founded by Assange in 2006 but rose to prominence in 2010 when it began publishing large-scale leaks of classified government information, including from the US. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/us-always-planned-for-assange-to-die-in-prison-1116910930.html united kingdom (uk) australia 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 assange case, assange in jail, why is assange in prison, what did assange do, who is assange https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/biden-administration-wants-ukraine-conflict-to-continue-refusing-diplomacy---us-senator-1116927146.html Biden Administration Wants Ukraine Conflict to Continue, Refusing Diplomacy - US Senator Biden Administration Wants Ukraine Conflict to Continue, Refusing Diplomacy - US Senator Sputnik International US Senator Tommy Tuberville said on Thursday that the Biden administration wants the conflict in Ukraine to continue, which is why it has declined to engage in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. 2024-02-22T17:56+0000 2024-02-22T17:56+0000 2024-02-22T17:56+0000 americas us joe biden ukraine russia biden administration https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/16/1116926986_0:0:3006:1691_1920x0_80_0_0_a92458df1b7c3fa0491419462769de98.jpg We need to get diplomacy, but theres nobody in this White House Secretary of State or Biden that can actually go over and negotiate, Tuberville said during an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Weve done more negotiating in one month with Israel and Hamas than we have for two years with Ukraine and Russia. We just want that war to continue on. The United States forced the conflict by pushing NATO on Ukraine, Tuberville said. Tuberville said he has not voted for more money to go to Ukraine because he believes the country cannot win the conflict. Former US President Donald Trump would end the conflict if reelected in 2024, Tuberville said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/us-must-start-talks-to-end-ukraine-conflict-not-fund-it---senate-candidates-campaign-1116747248.html americas 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 us support for ukraine, ukrainian crisis, ukraianian conflict, war in ukraine, us fuels conflict in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/israel-plans-to-open-karni-border-crossing-to-deliver-aid-to-northern-gaza-strip---reports-1116911139.html Israel Plans to Open Karni Border Crossing to Deliver Aid to Northern Gaza Strip - Reports Israel Plans to Open Karni Border Crossing to Deliver Aid to Northern Gaza Strip - Reports Sputnik International Israel plans to open the Karni border crossing to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip, American broadcaster ABC News reported, citing an Israeli political source. 2024-02-22T03:04+0000 2024-02-22T03:04+0000 2024-02-22T03:04+0000 world israel gaza strip palestine hamas israeli-palestinian conflict israel-gaza conflict palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0a/1116709338_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8fdb08947f0b3d2a71405f76870d4f64.jpg The Karni crossing is located on the border between the southwestern part of Israel and the northeastern part of the Gaza Strip. The checkpoint was reportedly closed by Israel in 2011. Gaza's north has remained almost completely cut off from the delivery of aid for many weeks, the broadcaster said, citing UN data.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 29,300 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240219/second-largest-hospital-in-gaza-not-functional-after-idf-raid-says-who-head-1116866704.html israel gaza strip palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International northern gaza, what is happening in gaza, gaza blockade, karni border crossing, gaza strip, will israel lift blockade https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/land-of-churches-and-vast-grasslands-why-are-westerners-moving-to-russia-1116922240.html Land of Churches and Vast Grasslands: Why are Westerners Moving to Russia? Land of Churches and Vast Grasslands: Why are Westerners Moving to Russia? Sputnik International Some conservative Westerners are looking at Russia as a place where they could freely express their Christian beliefs, work and raise children. Moscow is seeking to make their relocation easier for those who want to settle in the country. 2024-02-22T14:33+0000 2024-02-22T14:33+0000 2024-02-22T14:33+0000 russia russia vladimir putin americans france canada european union (eu) agency for strategic initiatives (asi) christians europe https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/16/1116922835_0:110:3443:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_08430a4be3ccf6488f91c792974ce9aa.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested making it smoother for foreigners to relocate to the country, embracing Russia's traditionalist and conservative values."It is a good idea to focus on traditional moral values when welcoming people who want to live here in our country," Putin said at the plenary session of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects (ASI) on February 21.As an important and timely move, Father Joseph Gleason, an American-born Orthodox priest, told Sputnik that he hoped that moving to Russia could be simplified for family-oriented, hard-working Western Christian immigrants.Gleason moved to Russia with his wife and eight children in 2017. Since, he has helped conservative Americans and Europeans tired of Western aggressive neo-liberal agenda to settle down in the country.He fears that unless America repents these things, it's only going to get worse.It's not only traditional values that attract Westerners, but also Russia's lucrative opportunities in the agricultural sector. Russia had for centuries been considered a "breadbasket of Europe." Presently, Russia has the potential to become the world's agricultural powerhouse, second to none, according to US-born farmer Justus Walker, nicknamed the "Merry Milkman" for his sparkling sense of humor and kindness by Russian netizens.Walker came to Russia in 1993 along with his parents, who were Protestant missionaries and stayed in the country for good. Now he is running a farm in Russia's Altai region, famous for its vast grasslands, together with his wife Rebecca and three children."Farming has always been a marginal profitability kind of a thing to do," he told Sputnik. "It's one of those things where even the American farmers, we always say that a farmer is land rich and money poor or land rich and cash poor. That's true in the States, that's true in Canada, that's true anywhere. What Russia right now offers is relatively inexpensive land.""I'm not saying it's easy to make money in farming, but the fact that you can pay back your original investment in 5 to 7 years or something like that is absolutely unprecedented when you look at the same kind of startup, the same comparable type of farming operations in the United States or in Canada and pretty much anywhere else in the industrialized world," Walker said.But that is not all: Russia is interested in boosting farming and creates favorable conditions for agricultural workers, whereas European countries, including France, are following the EU's guidelines and aren't able to protect their domestic producers, according to Nicolas Boisset, a French entrepreneur who set up a farming business in Russia.Boisset was born in the French city of Grenoble and moved to Russia 21 years ago. He is of French-Italian-Russian origin. One of his ancestors was a Russian Cossack, who was deprived of his property after the 1917 October Revolution and then migrated to France."The main difference is that France today does not decide its agricultural policy independently; almost all conditions are dictated to it by the EU. That is, the state cannot solve the problems of farmers today, since these laws were signed in the EU for the entire Eurozone," the French-born farmer emphasized.The EU's diktat has sparked a wave of farmer protests that has rocked the Old Continent over the last few months. In France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Poland and other states, protesters have blocked key highways, cut down traffic with tractors and haystacks, opposing the EU's tough climate and environmental policies which stripped them of much-needed subsidies and imposed limitations on their operations, threatening to make farming nearly unprofitable.Historically, Westerners moving and settling down in Russia is nothing new: it happened throughout Russia's history, especially starting from the 18th century under Russian Tsar Peter the Great. This tradition is still alive today as Russia is maintaining traditional values that are dear to the hearts of some Western citizens on both sides of the Atlantic. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230826/us-born-orthodox-priest-why-western-christians-seek-shelter-in-russia-1112910395.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/american-farmer-russia-to-become-worlds-number-one-agricultural-powerhouse-1112487115.html russia france canada Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova russia, russian president vladimir putin, americans relocating to russia, europeans relocating to russia, traditional values, conservative values, russian orthodox church, homosexual marriage, christianity, russian farmers, farmer protests in europe, russian agricultural sector https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/lavrov-says-no-serious-proposals-on-strategic-stability-dialogue-from-us-1116925710.html Lavrov Says No Serious Proposals on Strategic Stability Dialogue From US Lavrov Says No Serious Proposals on Strategic Stability Dialogue From US Sputnik International The United States has not made any serious proposals regarding the dialogue on strategic stability to Russia, and Moscow is ready for such talks with Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. 2024-02-22T16:18+0000 2024-02-22T16:18+0000 2024-02-22T16:31+0000 world us sergey lavrov russia g20 brazil https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/10/1116810932_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_462a3c2004111b08ca84747f8d1bf01f.jpg There were no serious proposals from the Americans, there was an approach that said: Well, you stopped the operation of the Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty, we believe that this is wrong, so lets resume inspections, we want to come to you and see how things are and in what condition the strategic facilities are maintained, but it does not work that way, Lavrov told reporters. Russia remains ready for strategic stability talks with US, but it needs to include all points without exceptions, Lavrov added.Speaking about the contacts with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken or UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron during the G20 ministerial meeting in Brazil, the Russian foreign minister tell journalists he did not held any."No, I did not seek these contacts. They apparently followed their agreement to avoid communication with our delegation in every possible way," Lavrov told reporters.At the same time, Lavrov said he will hold a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as Brazil has solved all the issues related to fueling of the Russian delegation's plane.The thing is that here in Brazil there are practically no companies that refuel aircraft that are not owned by Western corporations. But I want to note the actions of the Brazilian hosts, who did everything to solve this issue. Such a meeting [with Lula] will take place today," Lavrov told journalists, when commenting on reports that the ministers flight to a meeting with the president of Brazil was under a question due to the lack of guarantees for fuel from a local distributor.On New SanctionsRussia will respond to new sanctions of the United Kingdom with actions aimed at developing its own economy, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.Earlier in the day, the UK government announced that it had added six members of the Novatek board of directors to the updated list of sanctions against Russia. The new sanctions also target ammunition manufacturers, electronics companies, diamond and oil trading firms, among others, the statement read.On Navalny DeathThe West has no rights to intervene in Russias internal affairs, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday when commenting on the Wests reaction to the death of Alexey Navalny."This hysteria over Navalnys death decisively showed this, I dont even want to comment in detail, these people have no right to interfere in our internal affairs especially since they themselves have such their own issues with [WikiLeaks founder] Julian Assange, with [US journalist] Gonzalo Lira, who died from torture in a Ukrainian prison, and neither the Americans nor any other Western figure has even commented on this in any way," Lavrov told reporters. https://sputnikglobe.com/20180217/russia-eu-us-partnership-lavrov-1061760393.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240219/eu-plans-for-new-russia-sanctions-driven-by-desire-to-please-us---budapest-1116880874.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/ex-un-expert-if-assange-is-extradited-to-us-no-journalist-in-world-will-be-safe-1116904070.html russia brazil Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia us partnership, lavrov press conference after g20 summit, g20 summit in brazil https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/netanyahu-vows-to-restore-security-of-israels-northern-border-by-all-means-necessary-1116927776.html Netanyahu Vows to Restore Security of Israel's Northern Border by All Means Necessary Netanyahu Vows to Restore Security of Israel's Northern Border by All Means Necessary Sputnik International Israel will restore security on its northern border, shared with Lebanon be it through the use of force or with political measures, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. 2024-02-22T18:37+0000 2024-02-22T18:37+0000 2024-02-22T18:37+0000 world middle east benjamin netanyahu israel gaza strip lebanon hamas hezbollah https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/08/1116055263_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_345296a454dc4298f3e60dbab960b681.jpg "In the North we have a plain goal - to bring back the local residents. To bring back the local residents, we have to restore the sense of security, we have to restore security. This will be achieved. We do not give up on it. We will achieve it by one of the two ways: either via military measures, if it is necessary, or via political measures, if it is possible. Anyway, Hezbollah has to understand that we will restore security. I hope this message will be heard, Netanyahu said, visiting one of the northern military bases. As for the Gaza Strip, the Israeli prime minister said the war will be continued until the complete defeat of Hamas and return of all hostages. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging airstrikes in areas along the Israeli-Lebanese border since last October, which pushed some 80,000 Israelis in the country's north from their homes. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 29,300 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240108/us-reportedly-fears-new-israel-lebanon-war-after-netanyahu-struggles-in-gaza-1116046432.html israel gaza strip lebanon 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 israel-lebanon border, israel, gaza war, idf, benjamin netanyahu, tensions on israeli-lebanese border, hezbollah, hamas, gaza strip, gaza war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/putin-ukraine-reduced-to-level-of-colony-with-puppet-regime-1116915099.html Putin: Ukraine Reduced to Level of Colony With Puppet Regime Putin: Ukraine Reduced to Level of Colony With Puppet Regime Sputnik International Two years have now passed since Vladimir Putin addressed the nation to lay out the historic background for acknowledging the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics (DPR, LPR). 2024-02-22T14:33+0000 2024-02-22T14:33+0000 2024-02-22T14:37+0000 multimedia vladimir putin ukraine sputnik infographic donetsk region donetsk peoples republic dpr lugansk lugansk peoples republic https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/16/1116924107_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_567e9711601684a3440f3b5db1719ed3.png On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an address to the nation where he elaborated on the deteriorating situation in Ukraine at the time. Do Ukrainians understand that their country is not even under a political and economic protectorate, but that it was reduced to the level of a colony with a puppet regime? he said.In his speech, the president touched upon several different aspects of the Ukrainian crisis and persisting military hostilities in Donbass that had been going on for eight years at the time.Ukraine is not just a neighboring country to us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture, spiritual space. They are our comrades, kin, among whom are not only our colleagues, ex-colleagues and friends, but also relatives, people who are connected to us by bonds of blood and family, Putin emphasized.The two regions resisted the new Kiev authorities ever since radical putschists seized power, violating the Constitution after the Maidan coup in February 2014.Check out Sputnik's infographics to read some of the highlights from Putins speech that laid the foundation for the regions to eventually join Russia. ukraine donetsk region lugansk 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 dpr, lnr, putin on dpr and lpr. what are dpr and lnr, new russian regions, what lands joined russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/uks-boris-johnson-sabotaged-russia-ukraine-peace-deal-on-us-orders-1116927933.html UK's Boris Johnson Sabotaged Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal on US Orders UK's Boris Johnson Sabotaged Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal on US Orders Sputnik International Efforts to achieve a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine were thwarted by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the behest of the United States, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said on Thursday. 2024-02-22T18:58+0000 2024-02-22T18:58+0000 2024-02-22T18:58+0000 world boris johnson ukraine russia united kingdom (uk) andrei kelin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/0d/1097271105_0:320:3071:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_ef402d13c0d04522e7d1a804aac00d53.jpg "He [Johnson] blocked the peace efforts with Washington's blessing, obviously, because he could not do it on his own accord. He arrived there, and the document, which had already been initialed by the head of the Ukrainian delegation, [David] Arakhamia, was thrown into the wastebasket, and Ukraine started fighting. These are the consequences of what the [former] prime minister of the United Kingdom did," Kelin said in an interview with Turkish broadcaster TRT World. In late November 2023, Arakhamia, the head of Ukraine's ruling Servant of the People party's faction in the parliament and the former chief negotiator with Russia, said Johnson was the person who had talked Kiev out of signing an agreement with Moscow to end the conflict in the spring of 2022. He also said Ukraine rejected the ceasefire deal due to its contradicting the constitution's clause on the country's Euro-Atlantic aspiration. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240214/putin-says-uks-johnson-could-not-have-traveled-to-ukraine-in-2022-without-consulting-us-1116788219.html ukraine russia united kingdom (uk) 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 boris johnson, boris johnson role in derailing russia-ukraine negotiations, russia-ukraine peace talks, russia-ukraine peace negotiations, ukrainian conflict, ukrainian crisis, war in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/us-forces-destroy-houthi-missiles-missile-launchers-and-drone-in-yemen---centcom-1116913391.html US Forces Destroy Houthi Missiles, Missile Launchers and Drone in Yemen - CENTCOM US Forces Destroy Houthi Missiles, Missile Launchers and Drone in Yemen - CENTCOM Sputnik International The US struck Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, destroying 7 anti-ship cruise missiles, one mobile anti-ship ballistic missile launcher and an attack drone. 2024-02-22T05:50+0000 2024-02-22T05:50+0000 2024-02-22T05:53+0000 military us yemen houthi militants drone us central command (centcom) houthi red sea red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/03/1101473452_0:36:770:469_1920x0_80_0_0_831a5b1e043f8aa34c1d3deb37e4609a.png "On Feb. 21, between 12:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted four self-defense strikes against seven mobile Houthi Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles and one mobile Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile launcher that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea. Additionally, during this time frame CENTCOM forces shot down a one-way attack unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in self-defense," CENTCOM said on X. CENTCOM further said the US forces identified Houthi military equipment "originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy ships in the region," adding that its forces "subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles, launchers and UAS in self-defense" to "protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels." The Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. US and UK forces later launched major strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240219/houthis-bring-down-second-us-reaper-drone-as-red-sea-crisis-escalates-1116875086.html yemen red sea 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 houthis, houthi militants in yemen, us destroys houthi missiles, red sea crisis, centcom Flags fly outside of Town Hall in Darien, Conn. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media DARIEN A proposal to have town officials recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each month's meeting was defeated after heated debate, but may not be gone entirely. The suggestion to open every Representative Town Meeting with the pledge was made during the Feb. 12 RTM Rules Committee meeting. The RTM Rules Committee sets the agenda for each RTM meeting. RTM member Susan Marks brought forward the proposal, saying she hoped it would be a respectful way to start meetings and bring together the 100-person governing body. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I think it unifies us at the start of the meeting; I think its respectful of people who have served in the military, Marks said when introducing her proposal. I think we have a lot of controversy and different things, so this is just one thing to start the meeting off in a, Ill use the word, patriotic way. Opening a meeting with the pledge is not unprecedented. Dariens Board of Selectmen stands for the pledge at the start of every meeting as do other Connecticut town and state government bodies. RTM member Frank Kemp said while he considered patriotism important, noting his own past serving in the Korean War, there were other ways to be patriotic and support veterans beyond the pledge, including serving in public office, volunteering in the community or giving $20 to an injured veteran. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I don't believe that we need to attest to our patriotism on a routine basis by rote as if we were at a ballgame or kindergarten, Kemp said. Im looking for a way to protect the people who may vote against this so theyre not called unpatriotic. This happens in communities where a mob sweeps through, calls for something and the people who protested are then attacked, and I dont want us to set up something like that. Member Peter Orphanos said requiring the pledge could threaten the non-partisan essence of our body, adding if we had to vote openly, as Frank said, theres going to be an identity of the two groups and you cannot ignore that that more likely than not will be on a partisan basis. Member Jack Davis, wearing a shirt with the American flag on it, said he was concerned about the public nature of controversial decisions tied to patriotism, citing the Stamford school boards recent decision to remove Columbus Day and Veterans Day as school holidays that received national attention and backlash. Im worried about possibly putting in harms way members of our body, not by people within town, but by the other radical groups that are out there with peoples names and addresses out there and exposing them, Davis said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both Kemp and Davis asked if a secret ballot was possible, both citing concerns for public retaliation should anyone vote against saying the pledge. However, a silent vote is only allowed in the event of a contested election. When discussing possible options put it forward for a full RTM vote, have the full RTM discuss the idea or take no action RTM moderator Seth Morton suggested another one: he could get up and lead whoever wants to stand up and say it in the meeting without any formal vote. Morton, who expressed his personal support for adding the pledge, told the committee the idea of starting RTM meetings with the pledge had already been on his mind when Marks approached him. I thought it was a great way to start a meeting and to have everybody in the room on a page together, feeling good about what they were doing and making a statement to the people who elected them sort of like a statement of faith, Morton said in the meeting. Im willing to go out, put it on myself and stand up there and raise my hand and say, OK, here we go and look around and see if theres anybody standing with me. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Later into the meeting, Davis said Mortons proposal to lead the pledge regardless of a vote was doing exactly what some of us are concerned about. Toward the end of the discussion, Marks said, "I know when I'm defeated. ... It was not supposed to be a controversial thing" and chose not to move forward with the proposal, which was left off the agenda ahead of Mondays meeting. However, that may not be the end. While Markss proposal is not on Monday's agenda, members of the RTM could theoretically revive the discussion if there is enough support. The RTM Rules Committee generally sets the agenda, but a resolution can be added if 50 electors submit a written application. Marks told Hearst Connecticut Media that she has been asked by some constituents to bring it forward again but she doesn't have a plan yet on how to do that. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im still learning about all the different options and getting a lot of different feedback from people who want to say the pledge, she said. I dont know if its going to happen or not, but Id like it to happen. Morton told Hearst that it can sometimes take a large body like the RTM a little bit of time to get discussion going. The discussion was put on the table, which I think was a good thing, he said. Well just see where it goes. Well see if we get some reaction from the RTM itself. To get a hundred people on the same page, they've got to start talking among themselves, he added. Its early yet, lets just see how it plays out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marks said she was very surprised and taken aback by the response from her colleagues, though she said she respected their opinions. Both Kemp and Davis declined to comment. Orphanos could not be immediately reached for comment. Citing her own history on the Board of Selectmen, Marks said in the meeting, I'm hoping and praying (that) if anyone doesn't agree with it and they ever choose to go on the Board of Selectmen, they would be able to stand up and say it. In addition to surprise over the controversy, Marks told Hearst she was especially disappointed that her colleagues had requested an anonymous vote, something she said went against every grain of being an elected official. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When you vote on an issue, you should be able to explain why you voted the way you did, Marks said. And if you cant explain it, maybe you have to think about why youre in office. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/us-lawmakers-arrive-in-taiwan-to-show-support-for-new-leader-despite-chinese-pushback-1116914552.html US Lawmakers Arrive in Taiwan to 'Show Support' For New Leader Despite Chinese Pushback US Lawmakers Arrive in Taiwan to 'Show Support' For New Leader Despite Chinese Pushback Sputnik International US House Chinese Communist Party Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher said in a statement that he and other US lawmakers have arrived in Taiwan to show support for the recently elected leader Lai Ching-te 2024-02-22T07:59+0000 2024-02-22T07:59+0000 2024-02-22T07:59+0000 asia us mike gallagher liow tiong lai commons defence committee taiwan china taipei chinese embassy https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/13/1110454708_0:156:3000:1844_1920x0_80_0_0_87eb30c616f89d202b9076f49dbda9b7.jpg "We are thrilled to be in Taipei to show our support for our friends in Taiwan, President-Elect Lai and the newly elected Legislative Yuan," Gallagher said on Wednesday. "The United States stands with Taiwan. By promoting deeper ties between our leaders and our economies we can enhance peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."The Committee in a separate press release said the US delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders and members of civil society to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant issues of mutual interest. Other lawmakers in the US delegation in Taipei include Raja Krishnamoorthi, John Moolenaar, Dusty Johnson and Seth Moulton, according to the release. The Chinese Embassy in Washington told Sputnik China "firmly" opposes any form of official US interaction with Taiwan. The United States must exercise extreme caution in handling Taiwan-related issues, and avoid sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Liu added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/taiwan-could-turn-from-uss-pawn-to-victim-at-any-moment-1116511238.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/us-backed-candidates-victory-in-taiwan-means-year-of-the-dragon-is-going-to-be-tense-1116147787.html taiwan china taipei Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us and taiwan, taiwan issue, taiwan and china, taiwan vs china https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/us-oks-possible-75mln-sale-of-communications-defense-equipment-to-taiwan---pentagon-1116919325.html US OKs Possible $75Mln Sale of Communications Defense Equipment to Taiwan - Pentagon US OKs Possible $75Mln Sale of Communications Defense Equipment to Taiwan - Pentagon Sputnik International The US Department of State has approved a possible sale of communications defense equipment, requested by Taiwan and estimated at $75 million, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said 2024-02-22T12:22+0000 2024-02-22T12:22+0000 2024-02-22T12:22+0000 military us nancy pelosi mike gallagher tsai ing-wen taiwan beijing taipei defense security cooperation agency (dsca) pentagon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/01/1113839801_0:0:3480:1958_1920x0_80_0_0_6ad5c98d2624bf214b571505fcf203aa.jpg "The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Cross Domain Solutions (CDS); High Assurance devices; Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers; communications equipment; requirements analysis; engineering; technical services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $75 million," the agency said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the department of state "has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale." The preliminary approval of the sale comes in the midst of US Congressman Mike Gallagher's visit to Taiwan on Thursday. During the bilateral meeting, outgoing Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen thanked US officials for helping the island strengthen its defense capabilities as the countries seek to maintain regional peace.Tensions between the United States and China soared in August 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan despite Beijing's warnings against the visit. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills in the vicinity of the island. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/us-lawmakers-arrive-in-taiwan-to-show-support-for-new-leader-despite-chinese-pushback-1116914552.html taiwan beijing taipei 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 taiwan and china, taiwan vs china, taiwan and us, us supporting taiwan https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/von-der-leyens-foreign-policy-fails-to-undermine-russia-subordinates-europe-to-us-1116913571.html Von der Leyen's Foreign Policy Fails to Undermine Russia, Subordinates Europe to US Von der Leyen's Foreign Policy Fails to Undermine Russia, Subordinates Europe to US Sputnik International European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens foreign policy has failed to strategically weaken Russia and made Europe more subordinate to the United States than at any point during the Cold War, experts told Sputnik. 2024-02-22T06:47+0000 2024-02-22T06:47+0000 2024-02-22T06:56+0000 european union (eu) russia ursula von der leyen analysis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/16/1116913750_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8eaadeef5dc10f159f0ccf05e681e246.jpg Earlier in the week, von der Leyen confirmed that she would run for reelection as EU Commission chief. She also announced a new European defense strategy to be unveiled in three weeks. The strategy will consist of four main points: spending more, spending better, spending "more European" by investing billions of European taxpayers money, and using the experience of the conflict in Ukraine to "outsmart Russia" on the battlefield. The expert noted that von der Leyen's vision for the EU has been criticized for making the bloc more federalist and dominated by unelected bureaucrats. "The foreign policy trajectory represented by von der Leyen is marked by a push towards increased militarization and defense spending. A looming specter of a unified EU army has fueled fears that member states will witness a gradual erosion of sovereignty," Kasonta explained. Europe Between US and RussiaIn the latter part of her term, von der Leyen has reportedly forged a strong relationship with US President Joe Biden, who is also up for reelection later this year, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Biden's vocal internationalist stance, in contrast to his predecessor Donald Trump. Nevertheless, as Washington turns more attention to Asia, a trend that began during the Barack Obama administration, Europe is grappling with what it means for the continent. Srdja Trifkovic, the foreign affairs editor of the paleoconservative magazine Chronicles, pointed to von der Leyen's close ties to the US foreign policy establishment. "Thanks to the war in Ukraine, von der Leyen has managed to bring Europe under American control more firmly than it had been at any time during the Cold War," Trifkovic said. He also observed that the anti-Russian sentiment displayed by van der Leyen and people like her goes beyond a simple antipathy to the government of President Vladimir Putin and instead constitutes "loathing all things Russian," as Trifkovic put it. However, this does not necessarily mean that the EUs foreign policy is guided solely by von der Leyens negativity toward Moscow. For one thing, the very notion of a united EU foreign policy is rather complicated, with individual countries often pursuing their own agendas even at the risk of alienating Brussels. Trifkovic cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a leader who, unlike von der Leyen, understands the issue with isolating Moscow and sees Russia as an ally to preserve his countrys authenticity against both the US and the EU. Kasonta, for his part, drew attention to the diversity of European countries' historical experiences, which influence their approaches to foreign policy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231126/russia-regrets-von-der-leyens-praise-of-ukraines-euromaidan-coup---kremlin-1115214570.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231107/you-lie-like-you-breathe-internet-tears-into-von-der-leyens-hypocrisy-1114785333.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International european commission president ursula von der leyens foreign policy, a new european defense strategy, billions of european taxpayers money https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/west-doubles-military-presence-on-belarus-russia-borders-since-2020---belarus-minister-1116925064.html West Doubles Military Presence on Belarus, Russia Borders Since 2020 - Belarus Minister West Doubles Military Presence on Belarus, Russia Borders Since 2020 - Belarus Minister Sputnik International The West has increased the number of personnel and tanks on the borders with Russia and Belarus by 50% to 100% in the past four years, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said on Thursday 2024-02-22T15:43+0000 2024-02-22T15:43+0000 2024-02-22T15:43+0000 military belarus russia lithuania military base military presence nato military presence us military presence https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/0e/1106321797_0:0:3083:1734_1920x0_80_0_0_f4096f34088b6f2dd0796840a1da861f.jpg "Look [on the map]: here is 2020 and here is 2024. I will not voice the figures, but you can see the changes in personnel alone. There is a 1.5 to 2 times growth. Even in terms of tanks: there were 69, now there are 129.... These groupings are not static, we also see them very well," Khrenin said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 broadcaster. He cited the Pabrade military range in Lithuania, located 15 km (9.3 miles) from the border with Belarus, as an example. Khrenin said that the US promised to form the battalion temporarily, but it is still there. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240215/belarus-launches-counter-terrorist-operation-in-gomel-region---state-media-1116797848.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240220/about-32000-nato-troops-deployed-near-russia-belarus-borders---lukashenko-1116886395.html belarus russia lithuania 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 belarus military, military bases near belarus, belarus and russia cooperation, belarus and russia security agreement, belarus and russia working together, belarus and russia allies https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/west-was-arming-ukraine-in-violation-of-minsk-agreements-medvedchuk-says-1116913000.html West Poured Arms Into Ukraine, Violating Minsk Deal, Ukrainian Opposition Politician Says West Poured Arms Into Ukraine, Violating Minsk Deal, Ukrainian Opposition Politician Says Sputnik International Western countries were providing Ukraine with weapons and building their military bases in the country in violation of the Minsk Agreements long before the current crisis, said Viktor Medvedchuk. 2024-02-22T05:09+0000 2024-02-22T05:09+0000 2024-02-22T07:31+0000 world viktor medvedchuk ukraine european union (eu) minsk agreements https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/19110/01/191100152_0:160:3076:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_3e89480771456a212a752ad5fa6511fd.jpg "The Western leaders who signed and declared the need to implement the Minsk agreements were in fact pouring weapons into Ukraine and establishing military bases there," Medvedchuk said on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 2014 coup in Ukraine. In 2021, there were three foreign military bases in Ukraine - in the cities of Ochakov and Berdyansk as well as in the Lvov Region, the Ukrainian politician added. The politician recalled that both France and Germany had signed the Minsk Agreements and the United States had recognized the accords. "It was an abominable and cynical act when during the 2019 summit in Paris, as France's newly-elected President Emmanuel Macron, then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky met, a declaration was signed once again, reaffirming the Minsk Agreements and making them subject to full implementation and realization," Medvedchuk said.He further pointed to the statements of multiple Western leaders admitting after the start of the current Ukraine crisis to having used the Minsk Agreements as a stalling tactic to buy time to arm and train the Ukrainian military. In November 2013, a series of protests broke out in Ukraine due to the government's decision to halt a policy aimed at integration with the European Union. The unrest quickly took on a sharply anti-presidential and anti-government nature, with the country's opposition calling for a nationwide revolution. More than 100 people died in clashes between Ukrainian security forces and demonstrators.The protests eventually turned into a coup, leading to the ouster of then-President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. It also resulted in the estrangement of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and the subsequent offensive against it by new authorities in Kiev.The Minsk Agreements were a complex series of measures negotiated by Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine a quartet known as Normandy format in 2014-2015 in a bid to put an end to the armed conflict between the Kiev authorities and the breakaway eastern region of Donbas. Moscow repeatedly stated that Kiev was not fulfilling the deal, including by not granting autonomy to the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230131/minsk-agreements-were-a-ruse-that-gave-kiev-time-to-rearm-ukraines-ex-president-admits-1106856464.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 minsk agreements, west arming ukraine, ukraine violated minsk agreements, viktor medvedchuk statements, what happened with minsk agreements, what is minsk agreements, what was the purpose of minsk agreements, roots of ukraine crisis conflict Gabe Prewitt, Vice-President of Racing at Lexingtons Red Mile, has announced that Emily Gaskin has been named Director of Sponsorships for the track and Scott Freeman has been appointed Track Superintendent. Gaskin graduated from the University of Kentucky with her degree in agricultural communication and comes from a family long associated with harness racing. Emily is a multi-talented addition to our roster whose experience in marketing and promotions along with her journalistic skills are lauded throughout the industry and we are fortunate to have her skills here at The Red Mile," said Prewitt. In accepting her new role, Gaskin said, It is truly an honour to become a part of The Red Mile team. This is an iconic racetrack with 150 years of history and home to many of harness racings greatest moments and it will fulfill a dream to witness and participate in its future. Gaskin announced in January that she was stepping away from her position as Race Marketing Manager and Commentator at Harrah's Hoosier Park. "I will still be at Hoosier Park on an as needed basis filling in when they need me, assisting with big projects and stakes nights," Gaskin told Trot Insider. "This position at The Red Mile will allow me more flexibility to be at home with my kids which is very important to me and I can be at The Red Mile as needed." Charles "Scott" Freeman, a Michigan native with a history going back four decades in the sport, has experience on all shapes, sizes and track surfaces, most recently, as the Track Superintendent at Pinehurst Trotting Center in North Carolina. Scott is one of the most important people at any racetrack and we are very fortunate to have his services and expertise for our upcoming meeting," said Prewitt. About his new position, Freeman said, This is a position that I do not take lightly. The paramount responsibility is to make a racing surface safe and secure and, with the weather so changeable these days, its a 24-hour-a-day commitment. You know the tracks here -- the great mile oval and the training track -- have different needs to keep them up-to-snuff as their iconic clay oval can change in a heartbeat as fast as the weather while the training oval has needs of its own as their surfaces are different. Im looking forward to the challenge. After all, The Red Mile is where the kings and queens come to play! Freeman joins Grand Circuit longstanding track masters Greg and Dan Coon. The Red Mile meeting gets underway on July 21 and continues through Grand Circuit week in early October. (With files from The Red Mile) Dr. Ronald Jensen, who served 10 years as equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) through 2005, passed away at his home on Feb. 12, 2024. Dr. Jensen received his DVM from Iowa State University in 1962 and MS in 1963. He worked as a racing regulatory veterinarian for 42 years, serving as a commission veterinarian for the Illinois Racing Board for 32 years and for 10 years with the CHRB under an agreement with the University of California, Davis. He then spent 10 years working with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance Accreditation Inspection Team. Dr. Jensen, an honour-roll member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), served on the AAEP Board of Directors, chaired the Racing Regulatory Committee, and was a member of the Ethics and Infractions Committee. He was the regulatory veterinary advisor for the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) when it was first formed, and he served as Chairman of the Veterinary Advisory Committee for the Association of Racing Commissioners (ARCI). Internationally, Dr. Jensen was a founding member of the International Group of Specialists Racing Veterinarians (IGSRV), serving first as the North American representative, and later as president and then treasurer. He also was the IGSRV representative on the Scientific Advisory Council for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Dr. Jensen was a member of the Standing Committee, the Management Committee, and the U.S. Organizing Committee for the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians (ICRAV). Arrangements for a Celebration of Life are pending. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Ronald Jensen. (California Horse Racing Board) The Culpeper Filipino-American Community recently received its authorization to become a 501c3, nonprofit organization. The community was founded in 2018 to promote Filipino-American unity and enhance its culture. According to its website, their mission is to develop the communitys camaraderie harmoniously and prioritize family values while preserving Filipino culture. Seeds of the group began with Dhel Hargrove after she moved to Culpeper in 2014. Along with Viah Fey Tejada, she began inviting Filipino friends to her house for potlucks and noticed the crowds got larger with every gathering. When I moved (to Culpeper) and asked if they had a group, I was told we dont have a group here, said Hargrove. So we got together and brought some food every week and we would talk about whats going on over here and what are the plans? It was at a Christmas party in 2016 that the group began to take shape. Hargrove and Tejada started what was then known as the Pinoy and Pinay group in 2018 and, after a few more name changes, the organization officially become the Culpeper Filipino-American Community. Hargrove was the organizations first president while Tejada took on the position of vice president, one she has recently returned to. Im so very proud, said Tejada. Being one of the founders, Im so very proud. Today, the organization is headed by Wilfredo Golez who moved to Culpeper County from Chicago in 2015. He has served as the groups president for the past two years and had a hand in creating bylaws, rules and regulations for the group. Golez said was approached to get involved in the organization more deeply when he first joined, but events in his life prohibited him from doing so at the time. When I got here from Chicago there were a couple groups of Filipinos, different pockets of Filipinos. There was no unity, that was my observation, and I joined with (CFAC) on a part-time attendance, then they approached me to join. I couldnt then because I was in school at the time for my masters degree, said Golez. When I took a break I decided that this group has a lot of potential. Using his administrative and marketing skills, Golez helped grow the local organization and obtain its status as a nonprofit. The group currently has 35 families, which Tejada estimates puts their membership near 247. While the group has grown from the potlucks at Hargroves home, CFAC still holds many events to bring everyone together to have a good time. In December, the organization held an party at the Germanna Daniel Technology, to celebrate its 6th anniversary, with 150 attendees. The CFAC biggest event is the Christmas celebration. Similarly, Christmas is the biggest event in the Philippines as it relates to the birth of our Lord, since the majority of Filipinos practice Catholicism faith in the country, said Golez. Historically, Filipinos celebrate Christmas from the beginning of September until the early weeks of January, to complete the Christmas season. The communitys most recent event was its Valentines Dance, held at the Lignum Ruritan Club on Feb. 10. According Hargrove, the dance is a special event for couples in the group. She added the dance was also open to non-members. Even before obtaining its nonprofit status, CFAC has been involved in the community, participating in charity work to local churches, the Culpeper Fire Department and Culpeper Human Services, among others. Golez said he hopes the organization can get more involved with the community, including a recent appeal made by the Culpeper County Library to have a program that teaches people about Filipino culture. The organization also has a donation button on its website for its Giving Fund, seeking to empower young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and cultures to become successful in their studies, to help ensure the success of future generations. Golez said his vision for the organizations future involves getting younger members involved. I want them to get involved because I believe, personally, that youth is our future. We will mentor them, we have several youth involved and volunteering. My goal is to one day turn (CFAC) over to them. Their next event will be an Easter Egg Hunt on March 30th, at Mountain Run Lake Park. For more information, visit cfacva.com. Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, center, leaves the courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Las Vegas. Prosecutors say that Smirnov, who is charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company, had contacts with Russian intelligence-affiliated officials. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) Bizuayehu Tesfaye/AP The government's memorandum in support of detention of Alexander Smirnov is photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2024. Prosecutors say Smirnov, the former FBI informant charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company, had contacts with officials affiliated with Russian intelligence. Jon Elswick/AP The government's memorandum in support of detention of Alexander Smirnov is photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2024. Prosecutors say Smirnov, the former FBI informant charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company, had contacts with officials affiliated with Russian intelligence. Jon Elswick/AP FILE - Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol, Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington. Hunter Biden's lawyers say claims made by a former FBI informant charged with fabricating a bribery scheme involving the presidential family may have tainted the case against the president's son. Mariam Zuhaib/AP WASHINGTON (AP) The explosive allegations at the center of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden were false, federal prosecutors said, and came from an ex-FBI informant who said he was in touch with Russian intelligence. The informant, Alexander Smirnov, is actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections, federal prosecutors said Wednesday, as they appealed to a judge to keep him behind bars ahead of trial on charges alleging he lied to the FBI about a phony multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving the Bidens and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Defense attorneys have not directly addressed prosecutors claims about Russian intelligence contacts but said they look forward to defending him at trial. Republicans in Congress have distanced themselves from Smirnov's claims and resisted calls to end the impeachment inquiry. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here's a look at what's known about Smirnov, the case against him and fears about potential effects on U.S. elections: WHO IS ALEXANDER SMIRNOV? Smirnov had been an informant since 2010, growing close to an FBI handler he spoke to nearly every day," prosecutors said in court documents. He met with Burisma executives starting in the spring of 2017 because the company was interested in buying an American company and making an initial public offering on a US stock exchange, according to court documents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors say he has access to more than $6 million, with some money held in the name of his longtime partner. His recent reports to his handler included the guest lists from parties on mega yachts with Russian oligarchs, prosecutors said. He holds dual Israeli-US citizenship and lived in Israel for more than a decade, later moving to Los Angeles and finally Las Vegas in 2022, prosecutors said. WHAT IS HE ACCUSED OF? Smirnov has been charged with falsely reporting that Burisma executives paid Hunter and Joe Biden $5 million each around 2015 after hiring Hunter Biden to sit on its board and protect us from an investigation by the then-Ukrainian prosecutor general. The charges were filed by the Justice Department special counsel who has separately filed gun and tax charges against Hunter Biden. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No evidence has emerged that Joe Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president. Smirnov, meanwhile, had only routine business dealings with Burisma, and they did not start until 2017 after the prosecutor general was gone and when Joe Biden was unable to influence U.S. policy since he was out of office, prosecutors said. Smirnov expressed bias against Joe Biden before he made the bribery allegations in June 2020, years after they supposedly occurred, prosecutors said. An FBI field office investigated the allegations and recommended the case be closed in August 2020, according to charging documents. Smirnovs defense attorneys have said he is presumed innocent, and they successfully pushed for his release from jail ahead of trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts in Las Vegas said Tuesday he was concerned about Smirnovs access to money but that federal guidelines require him to fashion the least restrictive conditions ahead of trial. Prosecutors are appealing that decision. Advertisement Article continues below this ad WHAT TIES ARE THERE TO RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE? Prosecutors laid out in court documents extensive and extremely recent, contact Smirnov said he had with people aligned with Russian intelligence. Smirnov had told his FBI handler that he had been in touch with multiple other foreign intelligence services, including officials linked to Russian intelligence, according to court documents. As recently as December, court documents state he was relaying details about meetings with Russian officials, one of whom said the country's intelligence services had intercepted calls from prominent Americans that the Russian government may use as kompromat in the 2024 election, depending on who the candidates will be," using a word for compromising material. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That echoed a previous bogus story from months before when he pushed his handler to investigate whether Hunter Biden had been recorded in a Ukrainian hotel, prosecutors said. The president's son has never traveled to Ukraine, according to court documents. What this shows is that the misinformation he is spreading is not confined to 2020. He is actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November, prosecutors wrote in court documents. National security experts have warned for years that foreign governments primarily Russia, China and Iran want to undermine the U.S. and see elections as a way to do it. In a threat assessment late last year, Microsoft warned Russia remains the most committed and capable threat to the 2024 election, with the Kremlin seeing next years vote as a must-win political warfare battle that could determine the outcome of its war against Ukraine. Advertisement Article continues below this ad WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS SAYING? Smirnov's claims have been central to the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the president and his family and helped spark what is now a House impeachment inquiry into Biden. They became a flashpoint in Congress in July as Republicans demanded the FBI release the unredacted form, a so-called FD-1023, documenting the unverified allegations. Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky had subpoenaed the form as Republicans deepened their probe ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Republicans acknowledged they couldnt confirm if the allegations were true but said they were significant in their investigation of Hunter Biden. The allegations of Russian contact with the source of those allegations should be a death knell for the impeachment inquiry, said Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. It appears like the whole thing is not only obviously false and fraudulent but a product of Russian disinformation and propaganda," he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Republicans, on the other hand, have downplayed the importance of Smirnov's allegations. Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, pointed to Smirnov's long track record as an FBI source but said the impeachment inquiry goes beyond his allegations. The case against him doesn't change the fundamental facts at issue in the impeachment probe, he said. ___ Hope of Mooresville (HOMe) is planning to open a second location this year to provide a place to stay and other services for homeless women and children. And thanks to Lowes Home Improvement, and the United Way of Iredell, the organization got a boost in preparing the home. Fifteen people from Lowes repainted our entire basement, said Director Amy DeCaron. The group also brought and assembled shelves and provided landscaping for the new location. The project, although completed, is one of those that is part of the Love United Iredell campaign, which began Feb. 1 and continues through the end of the month. Love United Iredell is an annual opportunity to unite the community and share the love with local nonprofits by helping to fully fund their proposed projects. Hope of Mooresville is seeking to raise $700 for its project. The organization is preparing the former parsonage for Centre Presbyterian Church to meet the growing needs of women and children facing a housing crisis, DeCaron said when announcing the plans for the second home. The church provided its former parsonage to the organization. DeCaron said the new facility will allow HOMe to double the number of women and children it can serve annually and now, thanks to Lowes and Love United Iredell, the expenses of some improvements to the facility are also taken care of. This is the first year HOMe has taken part in Love United Iredell, and DeCaron said she is thrilled with the efforts thus far. Its fantastic, she said. DeCaron said the contributions through Love United Iredell will mean HOMe can provide much-needed assistance to the growing need. Since opening its doors in 2018, Hope of Mooresville has provided more than 10,000 nights of shelter for more than 100 women and children. The HOMe program fills a critical gap for families who are trying to rebuild their lives and remove obstacles preventing them from qualifying for permanent housing. The HOMe mission is committed to keeping children in their local schools and mothers close to their jobs. DeCaron said the donation of the home from Centre Presbyterian Church, and now the contributions show the generosity of the community, and allow the organization to concentrate on their mission of providing needed services. Its a huge relief, she said. On Friday, the City of Statesville and the Iredell County Public Library will unveil a new sign at the Green Street Cemetery marking the end of the ground penetrating radar study conducted in 2023. The survey identified 157 graves with tombstones, 2,073 unmarked graves, for a total of 2,230 graves altogether in the Green Street Cemetery. The cemetery was for Black residents of Statesville. There was no doubt as to Aunt Margaret Longs age when she died on Aug. 26, 1943, at the age of 94. Though born into slavery, her obituary in The Landmark on Aug. 30, 1943, noted, when asked her age said always that she was sixteen years old the year of Lees surrender, so that she would be 94 this year. She had died on her home on Bigham in Rankintown after an extended illness leaving a son, John Long and a daughter, Lily Bailey, and a large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe Long. One of the saddest days of Margaret Longs life occurred 29 years earlier on July 18, 1914, on a Saturday when the body of her grandson, David Hall, a boy of 12 years, was brought to her home in Rankintown in north Statesville. The Salisbury Evening Post on July 21, 1914, reported that, David Hall, a negro youth, who had been working with the county road force, which is building a road from Olin to Williamsburg, met death in a horrible manner Saturday about noon. The youth had been riding a mule when the animal became frightened and ran away. David was thrown from the mules back, but his feet caught in the trace chain of the harness, and he was dragged to death. Both of the boys parents were deceased so his body was brought to the home of his grandmother, Aunt Margaret Long. He was buried the following day on Sunday afternoon in the colored cemetery (Green Street). The purpose of the new cemetery sign, as with all signs, is to provide information to visitors at the cemetery. The sign will provide a history of the cemetery (originally called Union Grove) on Green Street (originally called High Street) along with the results of the GPR survey. The sign will also have a list of those buried in the cemetery along with a map showing the burial locations. The sign will list the names of 1,485 individuals we have identified as being buried in Green Street through markers (157), death certificates (1,161), obituaries (147), and family information. One name that will not be on the list is that of David Hall. I didnt identify David as being buried there until I found his death notice in the Salisbury Evening Post after the sign inserts had already been printed. These totals included 6 marked and 46 unmarked graves found in the Potters Field behind the Morningside School Annex building, later the home of the Davis & Mangum Funeral Home. Though the GPR study on Green Street Cemetery is complete, the library and the City of Statesville will continue to research the history of the cemetery and identify more of the names of the 738 unknown people buried there. Once we have more names to add a new updated insert will be placed in the sign. Efforts are also underway by the local community in the Green Street area and the City of Statesville to place a memorial marker at the cemetery honoring those interred there. In identifying the people buried in Green Street we also learned through their dates of birth that there are 406 people there that were born in 1865 or before, meaning that they came into this world enslaved. Green Street Cemetery contains the remains of more formerly enslaved people in Iredell County than any other cemetery in the county that we are aware of. One of those born enslaved was Henry Jordan Caldwell Chambers who died on Feb. 22, 1892. Jordan Chambers is one of the first, if not the first, African American politicians in Iredell County history. He was born in 1813 on the plantation of Andrew T. Caldwell, himself an early N.C. legislator and the grandfather of Landmark and Charlotte Observer editor Joseph P. Caldwell. Jordan recalled later in life that he was sold at the age of 10 to Robert Simonton in Statesville. Later Jordan is sold to Joseph and Margaret Brown Chambers. At the Chambers plantation, called Farmville, Jordan becomes head of the plantations staff distributing food and clothing to the other enslaved workers. Jordan is described as the faithful body servant to Joseph and Margaret Brown Chambers and later their son, Pickney Brown Chambers and his wife, Harriet Justena Avery Chambers. Jordan is also the plantations carpenter and an amateur physician. After receiving his freedom after the wars end in 1865, Jordan continues working for the Chambers family though now as a free man receiving wages. Jordan then moves to Raleigh where he is given a position in the Secretary of States office during Reconstruction. A leader now in Statesvilles African American community, H. Jordan C. Chambers runs for a seat for the N.C. State Legislature as a Republican. It is important to note that the modern Republican and Democratic parties have little resemblance to the political parties bearing those names during Jordans time. The Republican Party after the end of the Civil War is the party of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president. The Democratic Party in N.C. after the end of the war was the pro-Confederate Party or the old Southern party who were bitterly opposed to the Republican Party which they identified with the Union Army which was occupying much of the South. The Republican Party took control of the N.C. State government in 1867 and retained control until 1870 when the Democratic Party retook control of the legislature and in 1871 impeached Republican Gov. William W. Holden. Naturally, most African Americans identified themselves as Republicans as it was a Republican-controlled federal government which passed the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 abolishing slavery or involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime and the Fourteenth Amendment passed in 1868 that defined all people born in the United States as citizens, required due process of law, and required equal protection to all people. Jordan returned to Statesville in 1874 and to make his first speech as a Republican candidate on July 4. The Landmark newspaper was strongly Democratic and naturally opposes Jordan Chambers for election and often writes of Jordan in a condescending and offensive manner. Though defeated in the election, Chambers is undeterred and continued to work on behalf of African Americans in Iredell County. In 1886, Jordan was instrumental in establishing a school for African Americans in Union Grove serving on the building committee. On March 10, 1866, the N.C. General Assembly passed laws allowing for the formerly enslaved who had been living as man and wife to legally have their marriage recognized by appearing before a Justice of the Peace or a Clerk of Court and testify as to their relationship. We refer to these marriage records today as Cohabitation Bonds. The first Africa American couple to appear in Iredell County is Henry Chambers and Lucretia Moore. On May 8, 1866, the clerk records, Henry Jordan Chambers, a freedman, and Lucretia (Lettie) Moore, a free woman, this day personally appeared before me and acknowledged that they have been living together and cohabiting together as man and wife about twelve years and they promise to continue to live together as such during their natural lives. They acknowledge their living children: to wit, Franklin Caldwell, Mary Right and Joseph Pinckney. May 6, 1866J.F. Alexander, clk. Jordan is married twice and fathers 18 children. An article in The Landmark appeared on April 2, 1891, and said, Jordans folks were old line Whigs, and they named all his boys after old Whig leaders except one, whom he named Otho. His oldest son was named Henry Harrison, after the old hero of Tippecanoe whom Jordan calls the unfortunate granddaddy of our President; the next was named after our typical American, Henry Clay (called Clay); the next, Franklin Caldwell after our old, venerated Judge Caldwell; and the next P.B Chambers; the last (born since the war) he named himself: Ulysses S. Grant. Henry Jordan Caldwell Chambers is the among the first to purchase two cemetery plots in what was then called the Union Grove Cemetery on April 17, 1886. He paid $4 in purchasing the plots from merchant Rufus D. Bailey and his wife Rebecca who operated a grocery store off Center Street. Today Henry Chambers is buried in an unmarked grave in the Green Street Cemetery. The sign to be unveiled this Friday will be a temporary sign until we can have another created which will include the name of David Hall. Speaking at the ceremony at 10 a.m. will be the Revs. Len Strozier, William David Scott, pastor at Piney Ridge CME Church in Union Mills, Rutherford County, Marcus Farmer, Mt. Pleasant and Rocky Creek A.M.E. Zion churches, and Dr. Bridget Thornton, Scotts Chapel United Methodist Church. The GPR survey was funded with a $20,000 grant from North Carolina Humanities and was conducted by Len Strozier with Omega Mapping Services. Two Republican candidates are battling in a primary race for the office of District Attorney for District 32, which includes Iredell and Alexander counties. Incumbent Sarah Kirkman and challenger David Addison address their qualifications, why they are running and plans for the office. David Addison Education: I have an associates degree in Engineering Science, a bachelors degree in Information Technology and a juris doctor in law. I graduated from North Carolina Central Universitys School of Law in May of 2016 and admitted into the North Carolina Bar in August of 2016. Employment, government experience: I am the retired Chief of Police with the City of Statesville. I retired in August of 2022. Family, civic associations: I am a board member with the North Carolina Association of Police and Sherriff Attorneys. I was appointed by Governor Cooper to the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board where I am serving a second four year term. I am a member of the board of directors for the United Way of Iredell County. I am a board member with Piedmont Mediations. I also serve as a trustee for Iredell Health. Why are you running for office? I am running for District Attorney after researching and reviewing the prosecutorial statistics for Alexander and Iredell Counties and learning that from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, almost 85% of the cases closed were dismissed or disposed of (not resulting in a guilty conviction or plea). During the same time period, only 240 cases of the 27,894 cases closed went to trial and 93 cases were concluded not guilty. This disparity was incredible and I knew with my experience serving as the police chief, we could take a harder stance against crime negatively impacting our community. I also realized this information was not shared directly with the community. How do your own politics have an effect on how you would approach this position? I would not approach these issues with my politics. However my character would be my guide. My responsibility is to serve all the citizens in Alexander and Iredell Counties equally so my politics would not have an effect on my approach. How will you approach this position if elected? I would introduce transparency to the office and the position. I will share our statistics on an annual or semi-annual basis so we can work with law enforcement partners and the community to obtain our desired outcomes in reducing crime. We would increase prosecution of career criminals. We would also reduce the use of suspended sentences for career criminals. Sarah Kirkman Education: Graduate of Statesville High School, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campbell University Law School. Employment, government experience: District Attorney since 2009, Assistant District Attorney 1997-2008. Family, civic associations: Husband and three children, three grandchildren; Fourth Creek Rotary Board, Founding Board Member of Dove House, Mooresville/South Iredell Crimestoppers Board, Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell, Domestic Violence Task Force of Iredell, N.C. Domestic Violence Commission, N.C. Child Fatality Task Force, Northside Baptist Church. Why are you running for office? My mission is to stand up for victims and to keep our community safe. I have dedicated my entire career to doing that, and I want to continue that work in another term as District Attorney. I have 27 years of experience as a trial attorney and want to use that experience to prosecute offenders and help victims find justice. How do your own politics have an effect on how you would approach this position? I believe in protecting victims rights and punishing those who commit crimes. I believe in considering each case on its own merit and doing what is fair and right with that case. How will you approach this position if elected? I will continue to be a champion for victims and to work with my law enforcement partners to make a safer community for all of us. I will continue to be engaged in my community as well as the court system. Like the recently announced Teachers for Tomorrow program intended to provide an economic pathway for local high school students to pursue the teaching profession, a state grant program to support teacher apprentices seeking advanced degrees is designed to help meet classroom staffing needs. Announced on Thursday during a program at Saltville Elementary School, the Grow Your Own Grant will assist in creating registered teacher apprenticeship programs to help recruit and train well-prepared teachers within their communities. Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons met with superintendents, education officials and community leaders from a number of Southwest Virginia school divisions as well as higher education leaders from local colleges. In addition to discussing the school districts ongoing accomplishments, Coons highlighted the $345,000 Grow Your Own Grant awarded this week to a consortium of eight Southwest Virginia school divisions led by Smyth County Public Schools and supporting 40 teacher apprentices in their communities. Coons said people will see such programs across the country but not the type of regional collaboration being shown in this Southwest Virginia consortium. This is a first of a kind partnership, she said. You can see a Grow Your Own program in Houston. And you can see a Grow Your Own program in Nashville. But you wont see a Grow Your Own program where eight school divisions come together and produce 40 new teachers. And those teachers come together as a cohort and become family and it builds such a community across the region. So Im so incredibly proud and so excited to announce this partnership. This grant is part of the Virginia Department of Education second round of Grow Your Own grants totaling $1.52 million to 24 school divisions. The current grants follow on a previously awarded $1.78 million in July 2023. A total of 165 teacher apprentices will be supported during the 2023-2024 school year. A focused approach to helping school divisions deal with teacher recruitment challenges, Grow Your Own programs help teachers work toward their bachelors degrees and fulfill all licensure requirements, so that upon completion of the program participants will be ready to accept a full-time teaching position in their communities. The Virginia Department of Education has partnered with the National Center for Grow Your Own to become a national leader in helping develop effective registered apprenticeship programs to assist school divisions in recruiting teacher candidates from their local communities. Under this model, aspiring Virginia teacher candidates can include paraprofessionals and other staff already working in the schools, dual-enrolled graduating high school seniors, or career switchers with an interest in classroom teaching. Twenty-eight Virginia school divisions have launched Grow Your Own registered teacher apprenticeship programs during the 2023-2024 school year. I am proud to continue our commitment to helping school divisions find ways to put exceptional people from their own communities in their local classrooms, said Coons. Teacher recruitment is a major issue for school divisions, and we recognize that new approaches are needed to help build a strong talent pipeline for our schools. Working with the National Center for Grow Your Own, we are creating innovative ways to help increase teacher supply and make becoming a classroom teacher more affordable for students and dedicated professionals who want to serve in our schools. Dr. Dennis Carter, superintendent of Smyth County Schools, hosted the program in Saltville and welcomed the guests from surrounding counties including Wythe, Bland, Carroll and Grayson counties, Bristol City and Galax City public schools, Wytheville and Virginia Highlands community colleges, and Emory & Henry College. Smyth County Administrator Shawn Utt and Lynda Helton from the Smyth County Community Foundation also attended the roundtable discussion. Throughout our region we have tremendous educators and support staff, Carter said. Unfortunately, the cost of higher education has been a barrier for many of our paraprofessionals to complete their bachelors degree and obtain teacher licensure. The Grow Your Own grant award will remove the barrier of higher education costs for many paraprofessionals throughout our region. In partnership with Emory & Henry College, 40 paraprofessionals from across Southwest Virginia will receive the final two years needed to obtain their bachelors degree while continuing to work in our schools and completing coursework in the evenings. Dr. Wesley Poole, superintendent of Wythe County Schools, also praised the colleges for their partnership in this effort. Were fortunate to have members that work together in the reality that we share, and a lot of us have the same shared experience growing up in Southwest Virginia, Poole said. Its important and its near and dear to us to provide the best opportunities for our students. The relationships we have with the community colleges have always been strong, and I cant say enough about that. For Emory & Henry to step up, that is huge for us, and gives an opportunity for our students to stay here and not only get an education but also teach here and build a career and a family. The announced awards were issued to individual school divisions and consortiums of school divisions that have partnered with an Educator Preparation Partner to train future teachers locally. Most of our students are from Southwest Virginia, said Dr. Sandy Frederick, assistant professor of education at Emory & Henry College, and we feel that partnering with all these entities here in Southwest Virginia is a way to return what we see on a daily basis in our classrooms in teacher ed programs with students who have a desire to return that service back into their communities and so were just very proud to be a part of this process. We have a great tradition, a great history at Emory & Henry College, of producing teachers that are not just in your classrooms but are also leaders in your school buildings. In partnership with Emory & Henry College are Smyth, Bland, Wythe, Carroll, Grayson, Washington, Bristol Virginia, and Galax City public schools. In partnership with Radford University are Bland, Carroll, Giles, Pulaski, Wythe, Roanoke City, Galax City, and Radford City public schools. As registered apprentices, participants in the program are paid during their preparation and have the advantage of using federal workforce funds to cover a portion of the program costs. Additionally, program participants receive tuition discounts from the higher education educator preparation partners. By significantly reducing the financial barriers to becoming a well-prepared teacher, these programs increase opportunities for potential educators to follow a mentored pathway for completing both the coursework and the on-the-job training required to become fully licensed teachers. None of the IRGC generals were harmed or injured in the attack, according Sawt al-Asima, an opposition-affiliated website Early Wednesday morning, Israel reportedly launched three precision rockets targeting a building in the central Kafarsouseh neighborhood, which served as a residence for IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) commanders, according to private sources cited by Sowt al-Asima. The sources clarified that none of the Revolutionary Guards generals were harmed or injured in the attack, noting that the apartments in question had been vacated by the families of Iranian leaders before the end of 2023. Detailing the strike, it was revealed that two apartments were the primary targets. One, situated on the fourth floor, had been occupied by an Iranian leader and their entourage in the preceding two days. The second apartment, located on the second floor, was designated for temporary accommodation of guards and guests. Contrary to circulating reports suggesting the assassination of an Iranian general or the targeting of a militia leaders meeting linked to Tehran, Sowt al-Asima sources asserted that no foreign elements were present in the vicinity before the attack. Tragically, the Israeli shelling resulted in the death of three Syrian civilians, with an unspecified number wounded, as confirmed by sources in the capital. The Israeli attack followed reconnaissance activities conducted by Israeli surveillance and monitoring aircraft over the past 48 hours. These activities were concentrated in Damascus, its surrounding areas, central and southern Syria, as well as along the Syrian-Lebanese border. In response to the incident, the Syrian regimes Defense Ministry reported that at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Israel launched a rocket attack targeting residential buildings in the Kafarsouseh neighborhood. This targeting marks the second such incident within the capital Damascus since the onset of al-Aqsa Flood Operation. Previously, on January 21, Israel had targeted a building in the Mezze neighborhood of Villas, which was reportedly utilized by an Iranian intelligence cell. During the earlier attack, Yusuf Omidwar, also known as Haji Sadiq, the units commander, along with four of his escorts, responsible for gathering security and intelligence reports in Syria, including diplomatic relations and Bashar al-Assads movements, were reportedly killed. These reports were subsequently sent periodically to Irans National Security Council. The targeted buildings proximity to the headquarters of the Qods Forces Unit 840, as well as its closeness to the site of Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyehs assassination in 2008, underscores its strategic significance. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The regime's security services detained four individuals from Homs in response to recent Israeli airstrikes in the city, al-Modon reports Syrian intelligence have apprehended four individuals from the central Syrian city of Homs, accusing them of collaborating with Israel. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the regimes security services detained four individuals from Homs in response to recent Israeli airstrikes in the city, resulting in casualties among Lebanese Hezbollah members and civilians. Since the onset of 2024, Syrian intelligence, in collaboration with Iranian militias, has conducted a series of arrests, totaling 15 individuals, including a regime forces officer and a militia leader, on similar charges. This brings the total number of arrests related to dealings with Israel to 19, as reported by the Observatory. The Observatory stated that six individuals were previously released after interrogation by Syrian regime intelligence, while 13 others remain in custody pending further investigation. Director Rami Abdel Rahman affirmed to Al-Modon that Lebanese Hezbollah provides Syrian regime intelligence with information on these individuals, utilizing their intelligence apparatus, which he asserts is more robust than that of the Syrian regime. Abdul Rahman explained that Hezbollah identified the collaborators through the coordinates provided to Israeli aircraft for airstrikes, utilizing a network of cameras and communication systems in Syria to identify and locate individuals suspected of collaboration. In early March, Israeli airstrikes targeted a building in Homs Hamra neighborhood, resulting in its collapse and the deaths of 10 people, alongside damage to several other buildings in the governorate. According to AFP, Israeli raids in Homs resulted in the deaths of two Lebanese Hezbollah members. Previously, the Observatory reported that Syrian intelligence and Iranian militias conducted a sweep in Deir ez-Zor, arresting 93 militia members, including two leaders, for alleged collaboration with Israel. Seventy individuals were subsequently released, while 30 remain detained. Since the onset of its aggression on the Gaza Strip, Israel has intensified its bombardment of Syrian territory, striking 56 targets, resulting in the deaths of 170 military personnel, including Iranian Revolutionary Guards advisers and Hezbollah members, as well as 12 civilians, according to the Observatory. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Hezbollah is taking responsibility for preparing the area to serve as a new strategic position for Tehran-backed militias, Sawt al-Asima reports Confidential sources disclosed to Sawt al-Asima concerning unusual and recent activity in the Ayn Saheb area of Damascus countryside involving the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and other militias associated with Iran. Their aim appears to be establishing themselves in barracks and military installations belonging to the regimes army. Generals affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with members of Iraqi and Lebanese militias, reportedly visited several military sites, including training camps and underground warehouses. They conducted surveys of the area in order to present a security assessment to their leadership, likely in response to increased attacks on their positions of control in Sayyida Zeinab and the southwestern countryside of Damascus. Ayn Saheb is situated near the village of al-Derij in the northern countryside of Damascus, approximately 1 km away, and a mere 16 km from the Syrian-Lebanese border. According to sources from Sawt al-Asima, Iranian commanders from eastern Syria, as well as members of the Iraqi Harakat al-Nujaba and the Palestinian militia of the Jerusalem Brigade, arrived from both southern and northern Syria to inspect the same sites. Eyewitnesses reported to Sawt al-Asima that members of the Hezbollah militia, identifiable by cars bearing Lebanese plates, have been frequently seen in the village and surrounding areas over the past two weeks. Sources in Damascus informed Sawt al-Asima that Hezbollah is taking responsibility for preparing the area to serve as a new strategic position for Tehran-backed militias. In recent days, Iranian militias have been observed transferring large generators and fuel tanks to the warehouses where they intend to be stationed. They have disseminated information among locals indicating that they are operating underground wells. However, it is speculated by a security source speaking to Sawt al-Asima that Irans militias aim to establish factories for the development of drones and precision weapons in the region. These developments follow a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites and farms utilized by the Revolutionary Guards, Lebanese Hezbollah militias, and Palestinian factions as military bases and storage facilities for Iranian weaponry in the Damascus countryside. The Israeli bombardments resulted in the deaths of IRGC generals, commanders, and officials responsible for planning operations against Israel, as well as the destruction of weapon shipments and the military and intelligence infrastructure of Iran-backed militias. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The ministry accused the United States of enabling the continuation of war crimes against Palestinian civilians, Tishreen reports Syria has vehemently criticized the United States for its arbitrary and shameful use of the veto power at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), blocking a draft resolution aimed at ceasing the aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The resolution, proposed by Algeria, sought to put an end to hostilities that have reportedly claimed the lives of 29,000 Palestinians over 138 days of conflict. In a stern statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry highlighted the continuous disregard by the US for international calls for peace, marking the fourth consecutive veto by the US on resolutions addressing the Gaza situation. The ministry accused the United States of providing unwavering political and military support to Israel, enabling the continuation of what it described as war crimes against Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the elderly. Syrias appeal to the UNSC emphasized the urgent need for the council to fulfill its duty in halting the ongoing crimes of genocide perpetrated by Israel. It stressed the importance of safeguarding Palestinian lives, opposing their forced displacement, and ensuring their rights are respected, primarily the right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Syrian minister of economy noted Syria's strategic interest in the Iraqi market for both exports and imports, Al-Baath reports In a significant step toward bolstering bilateral relations, Syria and Iraq signed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) across various sectors during the 12th session of the joint Iraqi-Syrian committee. The agreements encompass a wide range of cooperation fields, including a MoU between the Syrian and Iraqi Ministries of Communications to enhance connectivity and telecommunications. Additionally, the Ministries of Social Affairs and Labor in both countries have agreed to collaborate more closely. The session also saw the signing of an agreement between the Syrian Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Iraqi Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Public Municipalities, aimed at fostering cooperation in public works and housing projects. Furthermore, the two nations committed to strengthening ties in industrial property protection through an agreement between Iraqs Ministry of Planning (the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control) and Syrias Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection. A supplementary protocol was also established to extend scientific and technical cooperation in the realms of specifications, standards, quality control, and the issuance of conformity certificates between the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control in Iraq and the Standards and Metrology Organization in Syria for the years 2024 to 2026. In a joint press conference, Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Mohamad Samer al-Khalil, and Iraqi Minister of Trade, Atheer al-Ghurairi, expressed their countries commitment to elevating their bilateral cooperation. Al-Khalil highlighted efforts to facilitate the trade of goods, particularly in the sectors of industry, agriculture, and commerce, and emphasized the importance of evaluating the signed documents to enhance cooperation further. Minister al-Khalil also noted the strategic interest in the Iraqi market for both exports and imports, citing ongoing communication between businessmen from both countries to expedite product delivery at competitive prices without compromising local industries. Minister al-Ghurairi reiterated the mutual agreement to remove trade barriers, including the establishment of commercial centers in both countries and increased participation in international exhibitions. The ministers also encouraged Iraqi and Syrian investors to embark on joint economic development projects across various fields. The 12th session of the Joint Syrian-Iraqi Committee, co-chaired by al-Khalil and al-Ghurairi, commenced in Baghdad on Tuesday, marking another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Syria and Iraq. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Deep River Town Hall Journal Register Co. Under the supervision of a Connecticut State Police resident trooper, the two constables were tasked with keeping dangerous drunken drivers off the road. But when authorities reviewed three years of records from 2016 through 2018 to see what the duo had done, there was little evidence they had worked at all on these federally-funded overtime shifts, according to a 2022 memorandum from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. There wasnt a single written citation, according to the memorandum. Records showed they ran very few background checks. In fact, the memorandum said, the only signs the constables showed up for the shifts were records showing they physically punched in and out on a time clock in town hall, along with dispatch recordings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The two constables made one radio transmission at the beginning, and one at the end, of each shift, a federal official wrote in the memorandum. Authorities uncovered 73 questionable or inconsistent activity reports by the two constables, the memorandum said. Authorities found no evidence their supervising resident trooper was not working these shifts; records showed the trooper issued multiple citations, made multiple radio calls in each shift and conducted multiple background checks, the memorandum said. But authorities did find 25 questionable or inconsistent activity reports by the trooper, including one report showing a DUI arrest that could not be verified. In a voluntary interview, the trooper blamed the issues on entry problems with the dispatch system, which authorities said they confirmed using state police records, the memorandum said. The constables declined interview requests from federal authorities, but one constable "stated the whole issue comes down to paperwork which got bollixed up by the administrative assistant. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Deep River a tiny town with a police department that at the time only consisted of the three officers collectively charged the federal government $129,067 for Impaired Driving Grant overtime shifts between federal fiscal years 2016 and 2018, the memorandum said. Over that span, they made a total of 17 DUI arrests one for every 130 hours of overtime they worked. The probe prompted officials to stop sending the grant program money to Deep River in 2019; the town has not been awarded any such funding in the years since, according to a spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency that received the memorandum and oversees grant funding. The investigation closed without any action taken against the officers, according to the memorandum. The memorandum states that all three retired amid the investigation after they learned of it. The trooper now receives a state pension that paid her $148,350 last year. Connecticut State Police cruisers Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Federal criminal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorneys Office for Connecticut, which falls under the U.S. Department of Justice, in January 2021 declined to accept the case because of their determination that there was a lack of evidence showing criminal culpability of the one trooper and two constables, according to the memorandum. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The offices civil division in August 2022 also declined to accept the case in part due to the age of the allegation and resource considerations, the memorandum added. A NHTSA spokesperson told CT Insider in an email it began a review of Deep Rivers Impaired Driving Grant in June 2019 after it identified suspicious activity through routine monitoring and oversight. The spokesperson said NHTSA turned the case over to the U.S. DOT-OIG in October 2019, which wrote the memorandum and investigated along with the Justice Department. The spokesperson said NHTSA also notified the Connecticut Department of Transportations Office of Highway Safety of grant irregularities. The state agency terminated Deep Rivers fiscal year 2019 impaired driving grant in July 2019 and has not awarded the town a grant since, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Emails obtained by CT Insider show officials at state police, the public safety agency that oversees the force and town leaders in Deep River were also aware of the federal probe while it was underway. But its unclear if state or town officials knew of the probes conclusions and whether they took any steps to further investigate or address the officers issues themselves. The NHTSA spokesperson referred questions from reporters about the decision not to pursue criminal or civil cases to the Justice Department, which declined to comment as did officials at: the Connecticut U.S. Attorneys Office; the US DOT OIG; the state transportation department; state police; the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; Governor Ned Lamonts office; and town leaders in Deep River. Messages left on phone numbers and emails listed for the resident trooper and one of the constables were not returned. The other constable, reached by phone, denied wrongdoing and blamed the problems on data entry errors by a town administrative assistant. The news comes as the state police are grappling with fallout from revelations that serious failures by senior leadership allowed hundreds of troopers to enter false or inaccurate information about tens of thousands of traffic tickets over much of the past decade, skewing racial profiling data in the process. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An investigation commissioned by Lamont has called for sweeping reforms and a culture change, including increased transparency. It concluded most troopers likely did not intentionally falsify records, and officials have stressed no drivers were actually issued fake tickets. Still, between 12 and 15 troopers and constables face investigations into whether they intentionally falsified ticket data. Gov. Ned Lamont speaks next to Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Interim Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins, and State Police Interim Colonel Daniel Loughman during a press conference at the State Capitol in Hartford on Feb. 1. State leaders released details of an independent investigation into claims that thousands of traffic tickets were falsified by state police. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Four other troopers were previously found to have intentionally entered fake data for hundreds of tickets over a nine-month span in 2018 to make it appear they were more productive than they actually were to curry favor and perks from supervisors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Internal state police investigations into those four troopers stretched from the fall of 2018 through June 2020, overlapping with the federal probe into the three Deep River officers, which began in June 2019. The memorandum closing the probe into the Deep River officers, dated September 28, 2022, was issued one month after CT Insider broke the story about the four troopers cases. That initial coverage detailed how two troopers escaped discipline by retiring, two others faced light discipline and state police kept the matter in-house, deciding not to refer the cases to prosecutors, even after police supervisors discussed among themselves whether the troopers possibly violated criminal law. The news prompted immediate outcry and the states top prosecutor, the Office of the Chief States Attorney, launched a criminal probe, which the office later said it turned over to federal prosecutors who have since started a grand jury probe into the ticket scandal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Asked whether the Deep River cases were referred there, a spokeswoman for the office declined to comment, citing the ongoing federal grand jury probe. Officers explain discrepancies The memorandum described how the three Deep River officers said they documented the work they did on the drunken driving enforcement shifts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Either at the end of each shift, or when asked after the fact, the officers would hand write their activity reports. Those reports were then turned over to the towns administrative assistant who manually entered them into a system. After that, the handwritten reports were discarded. No original, questionable, or inconsistent, activity reports were maintained by the town, the memorandum said. The two constables declined to participate in a voluntary interview, but one constable stated that the whole issue comes down to paperwork which got bollixed up by the administrative assistant, the memorandum said. The trooper, in a voluntary interview, told federal authorities there had been (computer aided dispatch) entry problems with the system. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This was confirmed through CSP records, the memorandum said. The trooper's records showed that multiple citations were written along with multiple record checks made through background check systems. The trooper also transmitted multiple radio transmissions through each overtime shift, the memorandum said. The investigation did not reveal that the trooper was not working the overtime shifts. In emails obtained by CT Insider, the trooper, Dawn Taylor, described finding other record-keeping problems when she conducted a review of her own after the federal inquiry began. I located clerical errors with regards to reported DUI activity on the DUI activity report sheets, Taylor wrote in one email to a town leader and a state transportation official in July 2019. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For example, there were DUI activity report sheets that showed no documented activity when in reality, the officer on that particular shift conducted numerous traffic stops and issued enforcement, Taylor wrote. There were also incidences [where] the actual activity did not match what was documented on the DUI activity report sheets. We are unsure as to the nature of these errors, whether computer based or human error. Regardless, we immediately addressed the issue. Taylor said she would change procedures, including having all activity reports submitted to her directly within 24 hours. A sign at an entrance to the Town of Deep River Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Several days after that email, a state transportation official emailed several of his colleagues, Taylor, town officials and a NHTSA official to notify them that a suspension of the federal grant funding for Deep River was taking effect. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The email stated that any DUI grant activities performed prior to the notice of the suspension would still be reimbursable but that any claim must be supported by back-up documentation including dispatch logs, copies of citations, warnings, and incident and arrest reports. In a third email seeking copies of documentation from the DESPP legal department, Taylor named the two constables as Peter Lewis and Raymond Sypher. Lewis, who now works as facility manager for the towns Water Pollution Control, said in a phone interview: I know I didnt do anything wrong. Lewis said he knew little about the federal probe and did not know the towns grant funding was suspended or that criminal charges were explored but rejected. He said the problems were the result of a town administrative assistant who incorrectly entered activity reports into a computer system. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I really dont know what happened. That was 2018. I really cant speak to anything that happened, Lewis said. I just know there was a mistake in entering the tickets and the results were not accurate and they were corrected I know there was a bookkeeping error and thats the last I heard of it. An exterior view of the state police/DESPP HQ building in Middletown File photo / Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media One official who was copied on an email was former state police Lieutenant Erik Costa, who in late 2019 retired as commander of the research, development and planning unit. He is now Middletowns chief of police. Costa said he had no direct role in the case and he didnt recall why he was included on the email, but said he and other higher-ups were aware federal agents were investigating the Deep River officers. He said he did not know what, if anything, state police did in response. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Costa said Taylor had a good reputation and wrote a lot of tickets. She was a square-away trooper, Costa said. Nothing came across my desk that said she was a problem. The three officers retired amid the federal probe after learning of the investigation Taylor at the end of 2019 and the constables in May and October 2020, the memorandum said. Taylor was assigned to Deep River through the state's resident trooper program, which provides a small police force for towns without one. About 50 towns currently use this model, according to a report from a state-funded group that analyzes racial profiling data. Resident state police troopers supervise constables, who are hired by and employees of the town. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Low DUI arrest rates raise questions elsewhere The memorandum said the US DOT-OIG also reviewed activity other officers in other Connecticut municipalities reported doing while they worked shifts under the federally-funded drunken driving enforcement grant. That review found 21 other municipalities across the state logged less than one arrest per 100 grant hours worked between federal fiscal years 2016 and 2018, including five communities reported zero DUI arrests, the memo explained. NHTSA paid nearly $1.5 million in grant funding to those 21 municipalities over that span. Yet, despite such low activity levels, the memo said, the states transportation department never decreased any of those communities grant awards and even increased some grant awards in direct contradiction to (the states) Highway Safety Plan. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The memorandum said after NHTSA reviewed the state transportation departments plan to award federal drunken driving grant money to 93 municipalities for fiscal 2020, it denied a total of $505,000 in funding for 20 of the communities. Seventeen of the 20 communities had DUI arrest rates of less than 1 per 100 hours worked, including the five with no arrests, the memo said. The memorandum does not name any of the other communities. NHTSA and state transportation officials did not respond to requests for that information. NHTSA referred questions about whether any other municipalities in Connecticut have been the subject of such investigations in recent years to U.S. DOT-OIG, which declined to comment Advertisement Article continues below this ad Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria. Syria says an Israeli strike that hit a Damascus residential area killed 2 people Israeli strikes hit a neighborhood of the Syrian capital on Wednesday morning, killing two people and causing material damage, Syrias state TV said. There was no confirmation of the strikes from Israel. The Syrian state TV reported that several missiles hit the western neighborhood of Kfar Sousseh but did not elaborate or say who were the people killed. The pro-government Sham FM radio station said the strike hit a building near an Iranian school. The state news agency, SANA, quoted an unnamed military official as saying that the Israeli missiles were fired from the direction of Syrias Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and hit a building, killing two civilians and wounding another. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor, said the two killed were inside an apartment but did not give any clues about their identities. He added that the strike was similar to last months killing in Beirut of Saleh Arouri, a top official with the militant Palestinian Hamas group. The strike damaged the fourth floor of a 10-story building, shattered window glass on nearby buildings and also damaged dozens of cars parked in the area. An empty parked bus for the nearby Al-Bawader Private School was also damaged and people were seen rushing to the school to take their children. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years. Israel rarely acknowledges its actions in Syria, but it has said that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups, such as Lebanons Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian President Bashar Assads forces. Last month, an Israeli strike on the Syrian capitals western neighborhood of Mazzeh destroyed a building used by the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, killing at least five Iranians. In December, an Israeli airstrike on a suburb of Damascus killed Iranian general Seyed Razi Mousavi, a longtime adviser of the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in Syria. Israel has also targeted Palestinian and Lebanese operatives in Syria over the past years. AANES gears up for elections in NE Syria An official in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) stated on Tuesday that, in preparation for holding elections in the region, the AANES is working on establishing institutions specialized in supervising and monitoring the election process, North Press reported. The main institutions that the administration is working to establish in line with its recently released Social Contract (constitution) are the Supreme Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court. Fareed Ati, Co-chair of the Legislative Council of the AANES, said that they are drafting laws that would regulate the work of the commission and the Constitutional Court. In a statement to North Press, Ati added that these laws are scheduled to be passed in March. The courts responsibility is to oversee the laws issued in AANES-held areas, ensuring their compatibility with the contract, he said. Ati emphasized that all AANES institutions will undergo the elections, and that the AANES plans to initiate municipal elections by the end of April 2024. Heres what an uncoordinated US withdrawal from Syria would look like. Its bad for many partners, but especially Turkey. The Atlantic Council published a long article discussing the potential repercussions of an uncoordinated U.S. withdrawal from Syria, with a particular focus on the impact for Turkey and regional dynamics involving Iran and Russia. It highlights how the relationship between Turkey and the U.S. has deteriorated since 2014, partly due to the U.S. partnership with the YPG, which Ankara views as a threat due to its ties with the PKK, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The article outlines the complex scenario that unfolded in 2019 with partial U.S. withdrawal decisions, Turkeys military operations, and the subsequent involvement of Russia and the Syrian regime in northern Syria. The article claims that a complete U.S. withdrawal from Syria is seen as less critical to Turkey than the manner of withdrawal. Turkey prefers a coordinated withdrawal with the U.S. to manage the power vacuum that would otherwise enable Iran and Russia to expand their influence in the region. The article describes how Iran could capitalize on a U.S. withdrawal to strengthen its logistical routes across Syria and Iraq, while Russia could extend its control along the Turkey-Syria border, potentially leading to negotiations that legitimize the YPGs control in parts of Syria. Turkey faces significant challenges in this scenario, including the possibility of military confrontations to secure its borders and the difficulty of dealing with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib amidst pressure from Iran and Russia. The article also touches on the broader implications of the conflict dynamics, including the potential for mass migration and Turkeys leverage using domestically produced drones and air-defense systems against Iranian proxies. The article underscores the importance of a coordinated and strategic approach to any U.S. withdrawal from Syria, emphasizing the significant geopolitical and humanitarian implications for Turkey, the region, and the broader international community. A woman suspected of killing her husband in Portland last month was found dead Tuesday near Long Beach, Washington, police said. On Jan. 26, Portland police officers discovered Phillip Pierce, 37, dead inside a locked home. Four days later, the police bureau asked for the publics help finding the mans wife, Analiesa Golde, and called her a suspect in his homicide. Her death appears to be suicide, police said. Earlier this month, the search for her expanded to Southwest Washington, including the Toutle and Mount St. Helens area. A beef between two state senators is seemingly spilling into Longview politics, especially after the most recent city election seated a slate aligned with a state-level politician. Sen. Jeff Wilson, a Longview resident who represents the area, said he has brought to the City Councils attention an error in Longviews request for state money. The accusation appears to be the motivation behind a last-minute secret proposal brought by Longview Councilmember Keith Young earlier this month without the standard public notice which was revealed days later as a push to audit the work of Ann Rivers, who serves as assistant city manager and also represents the district south of Longview in the state Senate. Rivers, however, is not tied to the mistake. In an interview with The Daily News, Wilson said he informed the council of an error he found in Longviews request for state money an error that according to a letter from City Manager Kris Swanson to council, prompted some councilmembers to accuse Swanson of misconduct. Wilson got into a tiff last year with Rivers because of her work as a senator to help fund Longviews tiny home village for the homeless, called HOPE Village, Rivers confirmed in an interview last year. The council initially was set to discuss the possible audit of Rivers work Thursday night, but as of Wednesday afternoon it was not on the agenda. Earlier this week, the Senate released its proposed budget, showing at least part of the citys recent request for housing money which Wilson said he now approves of and could be used for HOPE Village has been tentatively OKd. A surprise resolution During the last eight minutes of the Feb. 8 Longview City Council meeting, Councilmember Young proposed a resolution, although he did not say what it would do. When the city attorney said the resolution needed two signatures to be considered, Councilmember Kalei LaFave signed it from her seat. But City Attorney Dana Gigler talked Young out of introducing the resolution because there was no public notice, which is a council-approved protocol Gigler suggested they follow, as well in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Gigler said. Young, along with Councilmembers LaFave and Erik Halvorson, were first elected in November. Young did not return The Daily News emails or calls for comment. LaFave and Halvorson declined to comment. Days after the resolution was presented, in documents obtained through a public records request, it was revealed that the measure was proposing an audit of Rivers to determine if she is effectively completing her Longview city employee duties while also serving as a state senator for the 18th Legislative District in Clark County. The resolution would have requested the city hire an outside contractor to perform the audit for a maximum of $30,000. Rivers is confident a review would show the hard work shes done. The people who know me best in and around City Hall know how Ive poured my heart into making Longview better since I was blessed to be hired by the city; I expect that would show through in an audit, Rivers said in an email. Swanson told The Daily News she did not see the resolution the night Young pulled the measure. Swanson, as well as Councilmembers Ruth Kendall and Angie Wean, said they have no evidence the resolution was for anything other than the audit. Its unclear why the resolution was presented without prior notice to the council or staff, especially because the city attorney reviews such documents to protect the city from liability. I dont see the benefit of making it a surprise, Swanson said. As city manager, Swanson is hired by the City Council and oversees other staff, including Rivers, who Swanson said is excelling in her role. As Rivers manager, Swanson said she would have expected those with concerns about Rivers to come to her before any vote. I feel like if they trusted me, we would have had that conversation first, she said. Wean said the resolution is dividing council and staff, and that it is not councilmembers job to monitor Rivers work. The resolution shows they are questioning city mangers ability to manage staff, questioning Anns truthfulness in managing time, and questioning both of their integrity and making assumptions things arent being done correctly, she said. Councilmember MaryAlice Wallis said in an email council shouldnt target individual staff members, adding, it takes time to build trust with our employees who arent elected for the short-term, they are hired and employed, hopefully for the long term. Mayor Spencer Boudreau said by email the issue isnt about distrust of the Assistant Manager, more than it is a desire to be able to defend staff in their ability to deliver, particularly on what councilmembers decide. For my own opinion and perspective, I believe that the majority of the voting constituency deserves and expects for leadership to come from the people they elected, not from staff, he writes. Boudreau said he also doesnt see council vote splits as evidence of divisiveness, just different policy views; he has faith in the positive contribution of all of our Councilmen and Councilwomen. Wean and Kendall both said they are reaching out to councilmembers to form better working relationships. Im hopeful, Kendall said. Its going to take a lot of effort from everyone. The error The error in a state funding request may have been the subject of a closed-door session during a Jan. 25 council meeting. LaFave asked for the executive session to review a staff members work. Swanson sent an email a copy of which was obtained by TDN to councilmembers the next day, saying she had been accused of misconduct last night. The error was clerical in nature, Swanson said in an interview. The request for funding HOPE Village and other Cowlitz County homeless programs was listed in a request for state funding at $3 million per year for two years, instead of the $1.5 million per year, Wilson said. It was a request he backed, once corrected. Boudreau said Wilson called him, Mayor Pro Tem LaFave and Longviews state lobbyists to alert them about the discrepancy. Josh Weiss, a state lobbyist for Longview, said by phone he made a mistake in filling out the request form. He re-filled out the form and submitted it to the committee. Wilson said he then found another error; the adjusted ask was for $1.6 million, not $1.5 million as it should have been. He called the mayor and Weiss again. Young, Halvorson, LaFave and Boudreau met in Olympia earlier this month with Weiss, who informed them of the discrepancy. Weiss said two of the councilmembers met with him, and two others met with his colleague to avoid a quorum, though a photo on LaFaves Facebook page shows the four together with a caption saying, Note-no business will be discussed, and no action will be taken. Boudreau told The Daily News other cities at the Olympia conference also sent a majority of their councils. Whether it was noticed by staff or not that there would be a majority of Council present, no business was discussed (and) no action was taken, other than Councilmembers meeting with our legislators and lobbyists regarding the legislative agenda passed by Council, Boudreau writes. But Swanson said the $1.6 million annual figure wasnt a mistake. She said she raised the request for HOPE Village to account for funding for a severe weather shelter after the current host announced it would cease running the facility. The service is available during the coldest nights to provide shelter for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the street. So far, there is no replacement slated for next year. Swanson said she added that $100,000 at Weiss recommendation and with the City Council members blessings so they could seek to provide additional housing services, like a severe weather shelter. Still, the legislative ask was amended again, and now stands at $1.5 million. Weiss told The Daily News the request was a little messy because the city was behind schedule, waiting for a new council to be seated. In January, the council expanded its the original request made by the previous council to not just fund HOPE Village but also other housing services. On Sunday, $1.5 million of that request, including programs servicing unhoused individuals in Cowlitz County, was released as tentatively approved in the Senates proposed operational budget. That total is roughly the same as the total cost the Salvation Army is contracted for to provide services at HOPE Village annually in 2024 and 2025. Some members of council seemed to have an issue with the back and forth of the state funding request. The day after LaFaves call for an unplanned executive session, Swansons email to councilmembers said Mayor Boudreau and Mayor Pro Tem LaFave brought up false and slanderous allegations about her work. She also included the budget request form she sent to Weiss, detailing that she requested $1.6 million a year over the next two years. It was not clear where the alleged slanderous accusations were made. Participants cannot disclose what is talked about during closed-door executive sessions, and the state request was not discussed during the Jan. 25 public meeting. In the email, Swanson says accusing her of misconduct was off base. The idea that certain Councilmembers felt I acted in a willful disregard in an effort to bring harm to the City of Longview simply because of information populated on a budget request form is shameful, she writes. Council should be aware that there are protections in place for employees regarding false and misinformed allegations of misconduct. As such, I will be discussing these protections with the City Attorney and their application for myself and all city employees. Swanson also emailed Wilson and the two other District 19 representatives, asking Wilson to loop her into future discussions about the funding requests, and that he ought to include her in future discussions about city matters. Wilson told The Daily News he was disturbed with the idea of limiting who he may or may not converse with. Im within my lane and doing my job, Wilson said. The previous request Wilson said he was taken aback during the states last legislative session when he saw funding for HOPE Village, from his own district, added to the state budget requests without his knowledge. This request wasnt cleared with him, the state lobbyists or the Longview City Council before it was requested, he said. However, Rivers is an assistant ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee and the budget writer for Southwest Washington. She said she is tasked to fill in needs throughout the region with leftover state funds. She added HOPE Village to the list last session. But Rivers said Wilson demanded the money be pulled from HOPE Village. Wilson previously told TDN he worked with Sen. John Braun of Centralia to make the changes. Rivers said she also worked with Braun to amend the capital budget to instead pay for building a Lewis County shelter. A portion of Lewis County is in Wilsons district. At the time, Braun told TDN there were local concerns about HOPE Village. Any project can be considered at any time throughout the legislative session, according to state Sen. Mark Mullett, who is vice chairman of capital on the Senate Ways & Means Committee. That being said we are usually deferential to senators and representatives to make sure they are supportive of projects that are funded in the communities they represent, Mullett said. Rivers said the HOPE Village request last session would have helped the entire county because many county homeless residents are housed at the site. As it turns out, Longview is the solution for all of Cowlitz County and all of Cowlitz County benefits because many of our (HOPE Village) residents come from Woodland, Castle Rock, Kelso, we have people from all over Cowlitz County, and so it seemed like a very reasonable approach to give money to support HOPE Village, and at the same time bring taxpayer dollars back to the community for community benefit, she said in a June interview. I think we can all agree that the community does benefit every time we return someone to permanent housing and help them be a functioning member of society. The Daily News staff writer Brennen Kauffman contributed to this article. The final total for The Daily News 2023 Neighbors in Need drive is $22,972. The drive raised money for area nonprofits that help locals in need. This year, donations went to the Longview Salvation Army, which planned to use money for holiday food vouchers, and any leftover funds for preparing for next years holiday program and purchasing extra supplies for the nonprofits food bank. The drive has raised more than $1.5 million since 1987. Previously the donation drive was split each year between the Longview Salvation Army, YMCA of Southwest Washington and Longview St. Vincent de Paul, but due to limited staff, The Daily News is now marketing the drive and requesting donations be sent directly to one of those nonprofits a year. Latest donation $100: Dean and Debra Takko, in honor of our parents. Club Code Technology stands as a stalwart in the realm of digital transformation by implementing various Zoho applications, offering specialized services tailored to diverse business needs Zoho Catalyst, it's poised to rival Salesforce and become a leading ERP solution, offering diverse industries an all-encompassing suite for efficient business operations, emphasizes Navdeep Sen, Co-Founder at Club Code Technology.Club Code Technology stands as a stalwart in the realm of digital transformation by implementing various Zoho applications and offering specialized services tailored to diverse business needs. From CRM solutions for marketing, sales, and operations to custom applications addressing unique requirements like supply chain management, the company excels in providing comprehensive solutions. Its focus on integration-based projects ensures seamless connectivity, optimizing Zoho applications with clients' existing systems. It excels in e-commerce solutions, aiding businesses in Zoho website setup, lead capture, and payment integration for efficiency. Furthermore, the company CLUB CODE TECHNOLOGY: A Trailblazer in Zoho-Centric Digital Transformation pioneers AI-based solutions, leveraging their experience across different business verticals.Notably, Club Code Technology emphasizes AI-based custom solutions, leveraging its expertise across diverse verticals. In the realm of Zoho development services, the company excels in CRM architecture, consulting, automation, and integrations, extending its capabilities to include Zoho desk, Zoho people, and Zoho catalyst implementations. Its commitment to Industry 4.0 automation solutions, coupled with proficiency in financial and manufacturing domains, positions Club Code Technology as a versatile and innovative player in the Zoho development landscape.Our core team comprises 25 developers with expertise in Node GS, blockchain, Java, Python, data science, and Hadoop. With 35 members specializing in Zoho, including certified Zoho professionals, we bring expertise in CRM and full-stack development. Our research and development team, focused on creating products and extensions, has launched 18 extensions available in various marketplaces, including four in Zoho's marketplace. This multifaceted team drives Club Code Technology's innovation and success, adds Anil Sharma, Co-Founder at Club Code Technology.Club Code Technology has experienced remarkable growth since establishing operations in India three years ago. With a consistent annual growth rate of 37 percent, the company has successfully completed over 300 projects, solidifying its position as a top-rated agency on Zoho. The firm has expanded its footprints on the international front with a significant presence in the US, Australia, and the European market, with business offices in New Zealand, Christchurch, and the US. The mission of Club Code Technology revolves around helping businesses, irrespective of their scale, optimize applications, embrace cloud technologies, and enhance day-to-day operations through Zoho and AI features.Looking ahead, the company aims to create custom industry-specific solutions, providing businesses with ready made products that can be easily customized. The focus includes deep integration solutions with leading applications like Google, Google Suite, and QuickBooks. Moreover, Club Code Technology is venturing into AI-based products, planning to launch around 90 extensions in the second quarter of the year. The company's strategic vision positions it as a key player in fostering digital transformation across diverse industries, emphasizing tailor-made solutions, robust integrations, and cutting-edge AI applications. 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: Proposed framework for anomaly detection using IF signal of FMCW radars, X T corresponds to the training dataset, R T and R V correspond respectively to the residual training and validation dataset. Credit: Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2023.111022 An international collaboration between EPFL and the University of Glasgow has led to an advanced machine-learning algorithm to effectively detect concealed manufacturing defects in wind turbine composite bladesbefore turbines are put into service. Faulty wind turbine blades can incur huge costs for the companies that operate them, especially if the defects go unnoticed until it's too late. That's why quality assurance is such a strategic issue for global wind turbine manufacturers. Today, quality inspections are limited to surface inspection of limited areas as these composite structures roll off the production line. But under a new approach co-created by EPFL and University of Glasgow researchers, inspection engineers can use a new patented radar technology, combined with an AI assistant, to detect possible anomalies beneath the surface. This approach has many advantages: it's non-destructive, non-contact, supports agile and rapid data acquisition and analysis, and requires very little power to operate. The research has just been published in Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing. Merging signal processing and AI The research draws on earlier work from both institutional partners. This work was led by Olga Fink, today a tenure-track assistant professor of civil engineering and head of the Intelligent Maintenance and Operations Systems Laboratory (IMOS) within EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). In previous research, she has developed methods for detecting anomalies by processing the sounds produced by faulty machines, for background noise suppression on audio recordings and for classifying bird songs by infusing learning capabilities into well-known and well-grounded signal processing approaches. "Manufacturers are building wind turbines bigger, with more complicated designs. All that increases the chances of a defect occurring during the manufacturing stage," says Olga Fink, head of the Intelligent Maintenance and Operations Systems Laboratory (IMOS). Today, she's looking at new applications for her AI-driven systems. "Wind turbines are made from several different composite materials like fiberglass and carbon fiber," she says. "Manufacturers are also building them bigger, with more complicated designs. All that increases the chances of a defect occurring during the manufacturing stage." Credit: EPFL Measurement technology The University of Glasgow team, led by Prof. David Flynn, James Watt School of Engineering, and Head of Research Division for Autonomous Systems and Connectivity has pioneered methods in prognostics and health management. They have explored how Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI) can support net zero infrastructure. The researchers in Glasgow used a patented Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave radar with a robotic arm to inspect industrial wind-turbine blade samples at distances of 5, 10 and 15 centimeters from the sample. Using signal processing methods, they could isolate features and precursors to future failures in these complex composite samples (see below a video produced by the University of Glasgow). Improving data representation When providing this experimental data to the IMOS team, the challenge was to enhance the information content of the features embedded within this raw data. It turned out that the signals obtained by the radar varied depending on the inspection distance and the blade's surface material and core material. Gaetan Frusque, a postdoc at IMOS and the study's lead author, explains, "At IMOS, we used a complex-value representation of the signals to better separate the information they contain, and to adapt the AI model accordingly." As a result, the algorithm they developed can distinguish anomalies from uniform turbine parts. The Glasgow researchers now plan to collect more data to further validate the IMOS results. The researchers plan to eventually test their method on existing turbines, which they can do by fitting the sensor to a robotic arm or onto a drone. This should enable them to spot manufacturing defects in turbines before they're put into service or to inspect the turbines during operation. Once installed, defect-free turbines can operate for around 20 years. More information: Gaetan Frusque et al, Non-contact sensing for anomaly detection in wind turbine blades: A focus-SVDD with complex-valued auto-encoder approach, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2023.111022 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 After California passed a law forcing digital platforms to adopt privacy guardrails and safety standards for young users, Carl Szabo had a blunt warning for legislators attending the nation's biggest conference for state policymakers: "The lawsuits are coming." Over the past decade, Szabo and his colleagues have transformed NetChoice, their small, right-leaning lobby known for its brash tactics, into Silicon Valley's litigation powerhouse. With Meta Platforms Inc., TikTok Inc., and X Corp. among its members, the Washington-based trade association's won injunctions against laws regulating social media in five states. The US Supreme Court will hear challenges on Monday to the constitutionality of the Florida and Texas laws. Each was introduced by Republican legislators after social media platforms suspended accounts supporting the January 6 Capitol attack, and aimed to prevent companies from "censoring" posts. The spotlight reflects NetChoice's outsized role in a free-speech debate that's drawn increasingly more political, legal, and governmental scrutiny, from state capitols to Congress. It doesn't publicly disclose how much money it receives from each member, but NetChoice's total revenue jumped from just over $3 million in 2020 to $34 million in 2022, according to public tax records. The group also has built a lobbying presence in 26 states, and opened a new litigation center last year. Unlike other trade associations, NetChoice's member companies don't have a say in whether the group brings a lawsuit, its leaders say. That has allowed the relatively small firmabout a dozen employees, with only four focused on litigationto move nimbly and punch above its weight in influencing internet policy by targeting state laws in court. "When there's a threat, when there's an opportunity, we will act," Szabo, the general counsel for more than a decade, said in an interview with Bloomberg Law. "That's kind of a running theme in our DNA." Critics paint the group as an attack dog willing to "weaponize" the First Amendment in a bid to stop any internet regulationbringing cases in a way that shields its members from having to take a public stance. Some cite its successful challenges to laws governing how platforms treat underage users. "NetChoice isn't interested in an actual debate because they would rather concern troll on behalf of their Big Tech members who have a vested interest in profiting off of kids rather than protecting their youngest users," said Nichole Rocha, Head of US Affairs at children's online advocacy group 5Rights. Adam Kovacevich, a former Google lobbyist who helms the left-leaning tech trade association Chamber of Progress, said many tech trade groups are afraid of harming their relationships with legislators, which makes them hesitant to bring lawsuits. NetChoice is not, he said. "They have established themselves as a voice that is willing and eager to litigate," Kovacevich said. "I think of it as moving at the speed of politics." Starting small NetChoice was founded in 2001 by a coalition of online businesses hoping to fight what they described as "threatened middlemen"the brick-and-mortar businesses concerned by the rapid rise of online competitors, such as liquor stores and auction houses. EBay, Orbitz and 1-800-Contacts were among the group's founding members. It also had the support of then-Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Democrats' 2000 vice presidential nominee. The trade group's leaders shun the description "libertarian," to keep their distance from the political party of the same name. But from the start they made clear its libertarian values, arguing the internet economy should remain free of government intrusion, or "protectionist legislation or regulation." Several of NetChoice's current and former employees have attended or teach at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, a school with a reputation as a hub for libertarian and pro-business ideology. The lobby has also long maintained ties to the free-market network of nonprofits funded by billionaires Charles and David Koch. NetChoice president Steve DelBianco, a former IT consulting executive, sat on the private industry advisory council for the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, a group that has received millions in funding from the Kochs. And NetChoice has partnered throughout the years with Americans for Tax Reform, which receives funding from Koch-affiliated foundations. Szabo came aboard in 2011 after stints at major law firms Arnold & Porter and Wildman Harrold, where he developed a reputation as an early expert on internet and telecommunications law. NetChoice's early policy priorities focused on fighting government regulations that would have hindered the growth of e-commerce, such as efforts to force companies to register in US states. The group's priorities morphed as the internet changed and social media companies including Metathen Facebookand Google joined the trade association in 2012. When lawmakers and the public turned on the tech industry, NetChoice stepped up as one of its most ardent defenders. Tech lobbying groups are traditionally buttoned-up and formal, but NetChoice's leaders are known for being mouthy and impolitic. NetChoice has sharply criticized the Biden administration, knocking it for excessive red tape and "poorly written" attempts to rein in artificial intelligence. Szabo personally has positioned himself as a major antagonist of Biden, an unheard-of position among tech groups, which often seek to ingratiate themselves with the sitting administration. A headline on one of Szabo's Fox News op-eds warns, "Biden is coming for your job." Szabo drew criticism last year when he testified at a Maryland state legislative hearing against proposed online safety protections for minors in the state, but identified himself only as a Maryland parent. (NetChoice spokesperson Krista Chavez said Szabo disclosed his position in written testimony ahead of the hearing.) He also drew scorn for proposing a "Genius Bar for Parents" a reference to the walk-up support desk in Apple storesas a solution to the concerns around the internet's impact on minors' mental health. "You might want to get this man some media training before you let him talk to the press again," Kevin Liao, a communications consultant who has supported initiatives to increase children's online safety, said of Szabo. Szabo doesn't dispute being more outspoken and aggressive than the typical lobby shop. "We are passionate, happy warriors," he said. Red state challenges NetChoice not only moves quickly, but the group's conservative credentials have helped bolster its case against the typically Republican-backed social media laws. "When we communicate with red states, being aligned on the right is of course helpful, because you're automatically treated as part of the group," Szabo said. "You're given an obvious credibility check." He testified against the Florida and Texas bills as they moved through state legislatures in Tallahassee and Austin in 2021. Both proposals were brought by Republicans who had accused the major tech companies of liberal bias and censorship of conservative voices. They sought to block social media platforms from removing or demoting posts based on the "viewpoint" of the poster, even if the posts violated established community guidelines. NetChoice hired the DLA Piper law firm to write a memo to legislators outlining the laws' constitutional problems. "For NetChoice, litigation is a last resort," Szabo said. "We work in good faith with lawmakers to prevent unconstitutional bills from becoming unconstitutional laws." Not everyone agrees. When Utah lawmakers unveiled new proposals this month to strengthen their social media laws, one sponsor, state Sen. Mike McKell, specifically cited a lack of good faith negotiating by tech companies and their proxies. He said lawsuits from trade groups "undermined the credibility of the discussions," but he didn't cite NetChoice by name. Unlike in a gridlocked Congress, a bill in a state legislature can become law in as little as a week. When Florida and Texas passed the laws, "we knew that it was opening the floodgates" for similar bills in other states, said Chris Marchese, director of NetChoice's litigation center. Over the next two years, Arkansas, California, Ohio, and Utah also passed bills regulating large social media websites, with a focus on enforcing child safety standards and age verification. NetChoice is challenging those laws as well. In June 2021, NetChoice joined with another tech group, the Computer & Communications Industry Association, to sue Florida, less than a month after the bill there was enacted. CCIA represents the largest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta. The two groups challenged Texas' law months later. They contend that businesses have a First Amendment right to curate the kind of content they want on their platforms. The laws would allow states to improperly control speech online and prevent platforms from removing items such as incendiary, hate-filled posts from neo-Nazi and Ku Klux Klan supporters, the groups argue. Florida and Texas maintain that platforms such as Facebook or X can be regulated as "common carriers," like utility and telephone companies. Federal district courts in both states quickly enjoined the states from enforcing the laws, but the subsequent appeals brought divergent opinions. The Atlanta-based US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the injunction against Florida. The New Orleans-based Fifth Circuit reversed the Texas injunction. Both appealed to the US Supreme Court. When the justices hear oral arguments next week, former US Solicitor General Paul Clement, one of the country's best known conservative lawyers, will present the case on NetChoice's behalf. Defining the arguments Given its polarizing policy positions, NetChoice has its share of critics in Washington. "Starting the litigation center and being really aggressive about challenging statutes before they're enforced shows how NetChoice and its members are really serious about preserving the kind of lawlessness that has defined the internet," said Megan Iorio, senior counsel and amicus director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a prominent advocate in such battles since the 1990s. EPIC opposes the Florida and Texas laws, but the group is one of several that has warned that NetChoice's wide swing could lead to a ruling that poses threats to any efforts to regulate the industry. EPIC filed amicus briefs supporting neither party in the cases. Because it's a trade group representing companies and not individuals, NetChoice's arguments about upholding the First Amendment ring hollow, said George Washington Law Professor Daniel Solove. "NetChoice is trying to raise arguments about speech that are really arguments that are not NetChoice's to make," he said. Whether or not the justices agree will have serious implications for how tech fights regulation attempts. Despite the partisan criticism, the cases NetChoice has chosen to litigate have drawn bipartisan support. The Biden administration is backing NetChoice's position before the Supreme Court. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar is expected to assert in an argument to the justices that Texas and Florida's laws will prevent social media platforms from taking down hate speech and misinformation. If the laws are upheld, social media platforms will be flooded "with a ton of LGBTQ+ hate and a ton of racial discrimination," said Jess Miers, senior counsel at the tech trade group Chamber of Progress. NetChoice's cases have also united tech companies that might otherwise be at odds. Yelp Inc., which isn't a NetChoice member, doesn't agree with the trade association's push to block federal antitrust legislation targeting large online platforms. But the review company, which has tussled with Google on antitrust issues for years, still supported NetChoice's position at the Supreme Court with an amicus brief. And while all eyes will be on the oral arguments next week, a growing number of similar social media laws are being considered across the country. NetChoice's leaders sees it as their moment to shine. "We want ours to be the premier litigation center for free expression and free enterprise on the internet," Szabo said. "That is our goal." 2024 Bloomberg L.P. 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: Hyundai's Supernal's CEO Shin Jaiwon speaks to The Associated Press during an interview along the Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. As the aviation sector seeks ways to make air travel less polluting and more sustainable, aerospace company Embraer and South Korean automaker Hyundai are among the companies betting on a new form of air travel, air taxis. Credit: AP Photo/Vincent Thian As the aviation sector seeks ways to make air travel less polluting and more sustainable, aerospace company Embraer and South Korean automaker Hyundai are among the companies betting on a new form of air travel - air taxis. Hyundai's Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility are developing electric aircraft that take off and land vertically. The idea is that such air taxis might provide a sustainable form of air transport for densely populated cities and areas with less developed public transport networks. Experts say they could help offset carbon emissions from the traditional aviation sector, but there are plenty of technological and regulatory challenges to making air taxis commercially viable. Falling battery prices, advancements in technology and the participation of big players like Hyundai mean that such aircraft could soon be a reality, experts say. Hyundai's advanced air mobility unit Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility hope to officially launch electric-powered air taxis within the next two to four years. "Ground transportation is evolving and improving, but to support all the mobility demands of people in urban areas, ground transport will not be sufficient," Supernal's CEO Shin Jaiwon said in an interview. "We have to open the skies above the cities." Supernal's S-A2 electric aircraft, equipped with eight rotors, is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers. The battery-powered air taxi will have a range of about 25 to 40 miles and will be able to take off and land vertically. It's similar to a helicopter, but quieter and more sustainable in that it can help offset carbon emissions generated from traditional air travel, Shin said. Supernal plans to test its first full-scale technology demonstration version in California this year and is in contact with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the E.U's aviation safety agency about policies and certification issues. Earlier this week, Supernal and Singapore's civil aviation authorities and officials in economic development formed a partnership to jointly develop the advanced air mobility sector in terms of research and regulatory frameworks. Brazilian firm Eve Air Mobility, a spin-off of the third-largest aircraft manufacturer Embrarer, also is testing and developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which it hopes to launch by 2026. Like Supernal's S-A2, the Eve Air Mobility's aircraft is also expected to carry between four to six passengers with a range of 60 miles, without generating any local carbon emissions. Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility, says that the electric-powered aircraft could a new alternative for getting around in cities or areas lacking good public transport but they're not replacements for traditional aircraft. Visitors look at Brazilian firm Eve Air Mobility, a spin-off by third largest aircraft manufacturer Embraer, in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. As the aviation sector seeks ways to make air travel less polluting and more sustainable, aerospace company Embraer and South Korean automaker Hyundai are among the companies betting on a new form of air travel, air taxis. Credit: AP Photo/Vincent Thian "We're going to be putting more people in the air, we're giving an alternative - just like electric vehicles are on the ground in 2D, we want to make sure that we can make the same thing that happens but in 3D," Bordais said. Air taxis are just one of many ways that the aviation sector is considering to improve sustainability. Airlines are moving toward using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel made from renewable sources, with the industry aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. Aviation firms are also designing more fuel-efficient aircraft and engines. The effort also requires regulatory changes. "For the aviation industry to really take off in a sustainable manner, we have to look at how government policies can help create a conducive environment for new technologies and industries to take shape on a global level," said Mabel Kwan, managing director of Alton Aviation Consultancy. For now, the air taxi industry and other forms of air mobility still have hurdles to cross, such as the battery costs, devising new regulatory and safety frameworks for such travel, and certifying such aircraft. With suitable regulatory changes, the technology has developed to the point, however, where air taxis are feasible, said Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst based in Singapore. "There's the feasibility of operating in various environments, various air spaces, various cities and urban environments," said Brendan Sobie. Supernal's Shin acknowledged that battery costs are still high for vehicles like air taxis. "However, as battery technologies continue to improve and further develop over time, we believe that manufacturing will also be improved and developed, so the overall cost of making such vehicles will be going down," he said. Supernal can tap into Hyundai's know-how and mass production capabilities to achieve high quality and bring down the costs of making its air taxis, Shin said. Eve Air Mobility's Bordais was also upbeat, saying his company can draw on Embraer's decades of certifying and manufacturing aircraft. "We know what we're doing, we've done it," he said. "We don't want to be the first one. We want to be the right one," Bordais said. "We're here for the long run. You'll see these (aircraft) flying around in 2026." 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: a) Schematic illustration of the experimental setup. b) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image showing the push-to-pull (PTP) device for cyclic tensile testing. c) SEM image showing an equiatomic CrCoNi medium entropy alloy (MEA) sample with a notch before mechanical testing. The loading direction is indicated by the white arrows. d) Illustration of the routine to process the 4D-STEM data. e) Comparison of microscopy images acquired on the same region in a CrCoNi MEA sample after 1000 cycles of deformation. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45696-z A new class of metallic materials with potential applications in airplane turbines, nuclear reactors and equipment for space exploration can withstand extreme temperatures and resist fractures, but scientists haven't understood why until now. According to a new study co-led by Penn State researchers, the answer could relate to the material's short-range order, or the local arrangement of atoms within a material. This knowledge could lead to further improvement in the mechanical performance and damage tolerance of these materials, the researchers said, leading in turn to advancements in the safety and reliability of next-generation engineering systems for transportation or power plants. Their results were published in Nature Communications. The team developed a new imaging method to study the local atomic arrangement of the metallic materials, called high- and medium-entropy alloys (HEA/MEA), and focused their study specifically on the chromium-cobalt-nickel (CrCoNi) MEA and its impacts on mechanical performance. "The mechanical performance of the CrCoNi is amazing," said co-corresponding author Yang Yang, Penn State assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics and nuclear engineering who is also affiliated with the Materials Research Institute. "For example, it has recently been shown to have the highest toughness on Earth at nearly -423F. But people didn't know why it was so good." Penn State Assistant Professor Yang Yang co-led a study revealing the interaction between short-range order and planar defects, which could enhance the mechanical performance of high- and medium-entropy alloys. Credit: Alan Jinglin Zhao Some scientists, Yang said, hypothesized that short-range order was responsible for this. "But because the short-range order is so small and subtle in materials, it's very challenging to observe or measure it in order to provide experimental proof," said co-corresponding author Andrew M. Minor, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). CrCoNi has three components: chromium, cobalt and nickel. Each element has the same atomic fraction within the alloy, and early studies assumed that each of the three kinds of atoms was randomly distributed within the system, according to Yang. However, Yang said that recent studies show the material actually displays short-range order. "Let's imagine that there's a party with people from Penn State, Ohio State and North Carolina State," Yang said. "And, ideally, you'd expect everyone to mingle seamlessly, creating a uniform mix of individuals throughout the room. However, in practice, this isn't always the case. Often, people from the same university tend to gravitate towards each other, drawn by shared experiences. This is a kind of short-range order, deviating from the anticipated random distribution." In order to study the role of short-range order in CrCoNi, the team designed an experiment using an energy-filtered 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) system. In a 4D-STEM experiment, a nanosized electron beam scans on the sample, generating a nanobeam electron diffraction pattern for each point. According to Minor, they were able to capture hundreds of electron diffraction images every second, allowing them to analyze the evolution of material defects under stress with both a large field of view and high resolution. "Defects are formed during the mechanical deformation process, and we actually found that there's a transition in the formation of a defect," Minor said, noting that they focused specifically on planar defects, or the "errors" in the stacking sequence of planes of atoms. "We found that the planar defect is fully reversible during the initial cycles. If we deform it and then release the force, it fully recovers. However, after around a thousand cycle of mechanical deformation, this reversibility disappears. At that point the defect tends to stay there after we release the load. And this transition, we think, is actually governed by the short-range order in this system." Yang said this is because at the beginning, the system has a lot of short-range order that makes the reversible processes favorable. However, the deformation gradually destroys this small ordering, and that tunes the deformation mechanism towards another one that favors this formation of a planar defect. "The short-range order is like a moderator," Yang said. "The local density of it, or the degree of it, controls which mechanism is working, which is not working. The synergy of varied deformation mechanisms is critical for the high damage tolerance in this material class." By successfully providing a technique to visualize planar defect evolution in CrCoNi and integrating advanced atomistic modeling, the researchers were able to reveal the interaction between short-range order and planar defects, which could enhance these alloys' mechanical performance. More information: Yang Yang et al, Rejuvenation as the origin of planar defects in the CrCoNi medium entropy alloy, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45696-z Journal information: Nature Communications 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: Cell Reports Physical Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101830 Researchers at the University of Adelaide believe the global investment being made in smart metering infrastructure could fall short of fulfilling promised benefits to customers if key systems issues are not addressed. Throwing open the challenge to other energy systems researchers, Dr. Ali Pourmousavi Kani from the University's School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, says smart meters and smart metering systems require a new level of sophistication if they are to play a useful role in supporting more efficient energy use and smart functioning grids. Research from Dr. Pourmousavi Kani's team, led by Ph.D. candidate Rui Yuan, examined the data that are gathered from energy systems in Australia, Europe and North America. The team's findings, published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, reveal inadequate sampling resolution and frequency of communication of electricity consumption data, and a failure to address a range of data issues such as data warehousing and privacy concerns. "Issues with data gathering from energy systems present significant handicaps to the emergence of truly smart grids," Yuan says. "In Australia and around the world there is a push to install new and smart digital meters that have the capacity for two-way communication to the grid. "For instance, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has recommended 100% uptake of smart meters by 2030, and the EU expects 225 million smart electricity meters to be installed by 2024. "However, most smart metering infrastructure doesn't yet have the capacity or is not operated to communicate consumption data in more than 30 minutes to one hour sampling resolution in real time and feed that back to consumers and service providers." The quality of energy consumption data depends on the frequency that it is collected: higher frequency of collection provides a better picture of consumption patterns. "Big promises came along with the push to digitize the energy grid, including many benefits to consumers from features that would allow them to monitor their energy use and make choices to opt into better services that could be provided by third parties," says Yuan. "In the U.S. less than 3% of smart meters can deliver on these promises, and globally the situation is similar." For example, Yuan says, the European Commission reported that 7 out of the 16 countries undergoing widespread deployment of smart meters lacked the ability to even relay consumption data back to consumers, and in parts of Canada, wireless smart meters are only read every 30 or 60 days in line with the normal manually-read billing cycle. The research team touched on several barriers to developing high functioning smart metering infrastructure. "In Europe we found that smart meters did not have the bandwidth required to transmit the large amounts of data for high resolution readings and in parts of Asia there were issues with slow communication links," Kani says. "Another disincentive to capturing and keeping high resolution energy-use data is the cost of data warehousing. "Data warehousing is estimated to cost between US$19,000 and US$25,000 annually per terabyte, so any push to increase energy-use data resolution from say an hour to every two seconds has a multimillion-dollar cost attached. "There are pitfalls to collecting high-resolution real-time data from consumers because it also leaves them vulnerable and opens up tricky privacy issues. "Tracking the data provides information indicating when people are home or out and how oftenso it reveals occupancy patterns. "It can also suggest certain kinds of criminal activityfor example the cultivation of illegal crops and there are examples of law enforcement agencies using such data in their investigations. "If the information is hacked it opens up a range of safety, ethical, and privacy issues for consumers." Kani says the research team has worked to develop a new approach to smart metering that may offer solutions to the three key problems inherent in current systemsdata transmission, data warehousing, and data privacy. "Our solution, while still in its early stages of development, aims to enable high-resolution data capturing," he says. "This technology not only prioritizes consumer privacy but also ensures cost-effective data storage and low communication bandwidth requirement. "The ultimate goal is to empower consumers to fully reap the benefits of smart metering infrastructure." More information: Rui Yuan et al, Unleashing the benefits of smart grids by overcoming the challenges associated with low-resolution data, Cell Reports Physical Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101830 Journal information: Cell Reports Physical Science Two men look at flames after a natural gas pipeline explodes outside the city of Boroujen in the western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran, in early Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Explosions struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early Wednesday, with an official blaming the blasts on a "sabotage and terrorist action" in the country as tensions remain high in the Middle East amid Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Reza Kamali Dehkordi/Fars News Agency via AP) Reza Kamali Dehkordi/AP Flames leap into the air after a natural gas pipeline explodes outside the city of Boroujen in the western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran, in early Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Explosions struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early Wednesday, with an official blaming the blasts on a "sabotage and terrorist action" in the country as tensions remain high in the Middle East amid Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Reza Kamali Dehkordi/Fars News Agency via AP) Reza Kamali Dehkordi/AP DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) An Israeli sabotage attack on an Iranian natural gas pipeline last week caused multiple explosions on the line, Iran's oil minister alleged Wednesday, further raising tensions between the regional archenemies against the backdrop of Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The accusations by Irans Oil Minister Javad Owji come as Israel has been blamed for a series of attacks targeting Tehran's nuclear program. The explosion of the gas pipeline was an Israeli plot, Owji said, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. The enemy intended to disturb gas service in the provinces and put peoples gas distribution at risk. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The evil action and plot by the enemy was properly managed, Owji added, without providing any evidence to support his claims. Israel has not acknowledged carrying out the attack, though it rarely claims its espionage missions abroad. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime foe of Iran, did not respond to a request for comment. The Feb. 14 blastshit a natural gas pipeline running from Irans western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The roughly 1,270-kilometer (790-mile) -long pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Irans offshore South Pars gas field. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Owji earlier compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assaults on gas pipelines in 2011 including around the anniversary of Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran marked the 45th anniversary of the revolution just days before the pipeline blasts. Israel has carried out attacks in Iran that have predominantly targeted its nuclear program. Last week, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned that Iran is not entirely transparent regarding its atomic program, particularly after an official who once led Tehrans program announced the Islamic Republic has all the pieces for a weapon in our hands. Tensions over Irans nuclear program comes as groups that Tehran is arming in the region Lebanons militant group Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels have launched attacks targeting Israel over the war in Gaza. The Houthis continue to attack commercial shipping in the region, sparking repeated airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, the Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks. This week, they seriously damaged a ship in a crucial strait and downed an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Wednesday, ships in the Red Sea off the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen reported seeing an explosion, though all vessels in the area were said to be safe, according to the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centers. The UKMTO earlier reported heavy drone activity in the area. The U.S. military's Central Command acknowledged shooting down a Houthi bomb-carrying drone Wednesday during that time. U.S. airstrikes separately targeted seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one mobile anti-ship ballistic missile prepared to target ships in the Red Sea, Central Command said. The U.S. State Department criticized the reckless and indiscriminate attacks on civilian cargo ships by the Houthis that have delayed humanitarian aid including food and medicine bound for Ethiopia, Sudan and Yemen. That includes the Sea Champion, a ship carrying corn and other aid to both Aden and Hodeida. Contrary to what the Houthis may attempt to claim, their attacks do nothing to help the Palestinians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Their actions are not bringing a single morsel of assistance or food to the Palestinian people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Meanwhile, a suspected Israeli strike killed two people a neighborhood in Syria's capital, Damascus, on Wednesday, an area where other likely Israeli strikes have targeted members of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. ___ Baupost Group LLC MA purchased a new stake in Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 487,786 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $66,583,000. Jacobs Solutions comprises approximately 1.3% of Baupost Group LLC MAs investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Baupost Group LLC MA owned approximately 0.39% of Jacobs Solutions as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Third Point LLC lifted its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 629.4% in the 2nd quarter. Third Point LLC now owns 1,354,982 shares of the companys stock valued at $161,094,000 after purchasing an additional 1,169,217 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 1,162.8% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 866,765 shares of the companys stock valued at $119,449,000 after purchasing an additional 798,125 shares during the period. Boston Partners acquired a new position in shares of Jacobs Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at about $106,946,000. Select Equity Group L.P. raised its stake in Jacobs Solutions by 12.6% during the 1st quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 4,717,432 shares of the companys stock worth $554,345,000 after buying an additional 529,557 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Jacobs Solutions during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $50,891,000. Institutional investors own 84.77% of the companys stock. Get Jacobs Solutions alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on J. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Jacobs Solutions from $151.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Raymond James downgraded Jacobs Solutions from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp began coverage on Jacobs Solutions in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They set a sector weight rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $152.11. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Shelette M. Gustafson sold 1,852 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $274,096.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 28,791 shares in the company, valued at $4,261,068. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Shelette M. Gustafson sold 1,852 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $274,096.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 28,791 shares in the company, valued at $4,261,068. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Patrick Hill sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.48, for a total value of $701,140.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 62,719 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,995,418.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 19,018 shares of company stock valued at $2,475,578 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Jacobs Solutions Stock Performance Shares of J stock traded up $0.67 during trading on Thursday, hitting $144.94. The companys stock had a trading volume of 268,203 shares, compared to its average volume of 793,697. The company has a market cap of $18.21 billion, a PE ratio of 25.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The business has a fifty day moving average of $134.60 and a 200-day moving average of $133.52. Jacobs Solutions Inc. has a 52 week low of $109.00 and a 52 week high of $149.17. Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.46. The company had revenue of $4.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.02 billion. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 14.57% and a net margin of 4.20%. Jacobs Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.67 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Jacobs Solutions Inc. will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year. Jacobs Solutions Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. This is a positive change from Jacobs Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.80%. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio is currently 18.57%. Jacobs Solutions 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. See Also 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. Algert Global LLC lifted its holdings in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI Free Report) by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 93,394 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,976 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC owned 0.21% of Armstrong World Industries worth $6,724,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital International Sarl boosted its stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 20.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Sarl now owns 41,809 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,071,000 after buying an additional 7,002 shares during the last quarter. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al bought a new position in shares of Armstrong World Industries during the second quarter worth $5,408,000. Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 42.2% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 24,225 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,743,000 after acquiring an additional 7,186 shares during the last quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. now owns 3,515 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $258,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intrepid Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 34.7% during the 2nd quarter. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. now owns 28,686 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,107,000 after buying an additional 7,382 shares during the period. 98.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Victor Grizzle sold 22,914 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.02, for a total value of $2,268,944.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 332,435 shares of the companys stock, valued at $32,917,713.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have commented on AWI shares. UBS Group upgraded Armstrong World Industries from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $75.00 to $103.00 in a report on Thursday, January 4th. StockNews.com cut shares of Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $111.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Armstrong World Industries has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $98.50. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on AWI Armstrong World Industries Price Performance Shares of AWI stock remained flat at $119.06 during trading hours on Thursday. The stock had a trading volume of 105,795 shares, compared to its average volume of 347,145. The firm has a market cap of $5.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.09. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $62.03 and a fifty-two week high of $120.16. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $100.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $85.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.61. Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 20th. The construction company reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.04 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $312.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $305.44 million. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 17.28% and a return on equity of 41.56%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 5.66 EPS for the current fiscal year. Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Armstrong World Industriess dividend payout ratio is presently 22.40%. Armstrong World Industries Company Profile (Free Report) Armstrong World Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells ceiling and wall systems in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments. The company offers suspended mineral fiber, soft fiber, fiberglass wool, and metal ceiling systems, as well as wood, wood fiber, glass-reinforced-gypsum, and felt ceiling and wall products; ceiling component products, such as ceiling perimeters and trims, as well as grid products that support drywall ceiling systems; ceilings and walls for use in commercial settings; and facade and partition products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the sixteen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $506.72. A number of brokerages have recently commented on HUM. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Humana from $465.00 to $413.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Humana from $507.00 to $415.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald cut Humana from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $597.00 to $391.00 in a research report on Friday, January 26th. StockNews.com cut Humana from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on Humana from $550.00 to $400.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Get Humana alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on HUM Insider Transactions at Humana Institutional Investors Weigh In On Humana In related news, Director Jorge S. Mesquita acquired 545 shares of Humana stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $367.09 per share, for a total transaction of $200,064.05. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,578 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $946,358.02. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of HUM. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC increased its stake in Humana by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 817 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $397,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its stake in Humana by 11.9% in the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 207 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in Humana by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 805 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $392,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Vestcor Inc increased its stake in Humana by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 8,292 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,247,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Corp IN increased its stake in Humana by 7.2% in the 4th quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 343 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $157,000 after buying an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. 91.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Humana Stock Performance Humana stock opened at $367.42 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $415.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $465.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market cap of $44.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.54, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.46. Humana has a fifty-two week low of $342.69 and a fifty-two week high of $541.21. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported ($0.11) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.76 by ($0.87). Humana had a net margin of 2.34% and a return on equity of 19.44%. The firm had revenue of $26.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.62 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Humana will post 16.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Humana Announces Dividend The business 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 (DPR) is 17.86%. Humana Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the seven ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$75.91. Several equities analysts recently issued reports on SLF shares. Desjardins upped their price objective on Sun Life Financial from C$75.00 to C$77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Evercore increased their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$76.00 to C$78.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$76.00 to C$77.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Scotiabank increased their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$75.00 to C$76.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$70.00 to C$80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Get Sun Life Financial alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on SLF Sun Life Financial Stock Performance Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend SLF stock opened at C$72.53 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$42.40 billion, a PE ratio of 13.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.97. Sun Life Financial has a 12-month low of C$60.01 and a 12-month high of C$73.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 84,866.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 78.47. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$69.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$67.56. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.30%. This is a positive change from Sun Life Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 27th. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio is 59.32%. Insider Transactions at Sun Life Financial In other news, Senior Officer Jacques Jr. Goulet sold 124,639 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$70.07, for a total value of C$8,732,956.17. In other Sun Life Financial news, Director Kevin Strain sold 15,986 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$69.69, for a total value of C$1,114,000.40. Also, Senior Officer Jacques Jr. Goulet sold 124,639 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$70.07, for a total value of C$8,732,956.17. 0.02% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Sun Life Financial (Get Free Report Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. It offers term and permanent life, as well as personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance products. The company provides financial advice, asset management, and investments related products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Sun Life Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Life Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Monday. A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from $484.00 to $480.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 16th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from $395.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Bio-Rad Laboratories currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $493.75. Get Bio-Rad Laboratories alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BIO Bio-Rad Laboratories Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of NYSE:BIO opened at $338.64 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.76 and a beta of 0.89. Bio-Rad Laboratories has a 1-year low of $261.59 and a 1-year high of $509.62. The companys fifty day moving average is $321.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $333.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 4.34 and a current ratio of 5.83. Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The medical research company reported $3.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.93 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $681.18 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $685.00 million. Bio-Rad Laboratories had a negative net margin of 23.86% and a positive return on equity of 3.90%. The firms revenue was down 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.31 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Bio-Rad Laboratories will post 12.08 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Dara Wright sold 1,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $299.16, for a total transaction of $358,992.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 1,499 shares in the company, valued at approximately $448,440.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Michael Crowley sold 642 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.10, for a total transaction of $195,874.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,942 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,118,004.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Dara Wright sold 1,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.16, for a total transaction of $358,992.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 1,499 shares of the companys stock, valued at $448,440.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 17.06% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bio-Rad Laboratories Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BIO. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA purchased a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $116,036,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $73,142,000. Parnassus Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $79,143,000. Parsifal Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $61,866,000. Finally, Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C purchased a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $62,351,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.98% of the companys stock. Bio-Rad Laboratories Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc manufactures, and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company operates through Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics segments. The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, and markets reagents, apparatus, and laboratory instruments that are used in research techniques, biopharmaceutical production processes, and food testing regimes. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bio-Rad Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bio-Rad Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 128,378 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 1,489 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc.s holdings in BlackRock were worth $82,995,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its position in shares of BlackRock by 13.8% in the second quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 296 shares of the asset managers stock worth $205,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the period. Machina Capital S.A.S. lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 24.4% in the second quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 1,128 shares of the asset managers stock worth $780,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 47,042.9% in the second quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 33,000 shares of the asset managers stock worth $22,808,000 after acquiring an additional 32,930 shares in the last quarter. Aspen Grove Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth about $208,000. Finally, Baker Boyer National Bank acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock in the third quarter worth about $202,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently commented on BLK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, December 15th. UBS Group boosted their price target on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. TD Cowen upgraded BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, BlackRock 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, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total transaction of $5,085,660.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 11,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 950 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $805.55, for a total transaction of $765,272.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,437 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,574,225.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 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. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 33,474 shares of company stock valued at $17,275,900. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. BlackRock Stock Performance BLK stock traded up $6.06 on Thursday, reaching $811.51. The companys stock had a trading volume of 106,388 shares, compared to its average volume of 600,647. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52 week low of $596.18 and a 52 week high of $819.00. The company has a market capitalization of $120.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.38. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $794.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $719.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 3.72 and a quick ratio of 3.72. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.65 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $8.93 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Increases Dividend 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. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.78%. BlackRock Profile (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. See Also 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. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report) by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 27,868 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 3,886 shares during the period. Thermo Fisher Scientific accounts for 0.7% of Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $14,106,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Halpern Financial Inc. increased its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 307.7% in the 3rd quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. now owns 53 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.06% of the companys stock. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance Shares of NYSE:TMO traded up $3.53 on Thursday, reaching $556.38. The companys stock had a trading volume of 539,808 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,774,800. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 52-week low of $415.60 and a 52-week high of $593.17. The company has a market cap of $214.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.78, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $541.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $513.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 1.75. Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical research company reported $5.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.64 by $0.03. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.99% and a return on equity of 18.78%. The firm had revenue of $10.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.73 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.40 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. Thermo Fisher Scientific declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, November 14th that authorizes the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the medical research company to buy up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.28%. This is a boost from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is 9.06%. Insider Buying and Selling at Thermo Fisher Scientific In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 14,566 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $562.00, for a total value of $8,186,092.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,901 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,250,362. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 14,566 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $562.00, for a total value of $8,186,092.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 12,901 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,250,362. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,311,992.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 30,277 shares of company stock valued at $16,886,384 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently weighed in on TMO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a market perform rating on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $475.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Barclays downgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the company from $475.00 to $555.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $596.00. Check Out Our Latest Report on TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile (Free Report) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Free Report) by 268.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,228 shares of the energy companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,808 shares during the quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLCs holdings in Devon Energy were worth $249,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Devon Energy by 0.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,229,808 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $686,953,000 after acquiring an additional 84,769 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,263,424 shares of the energy companys stock worth $692,813,000 after buying an additional 356,448 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,470,996 shares of the energy companys stock worth $404,067,000 after buying an additional 411,777 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 8,429,670 shares of the energy companys stock worth $402,095,000 after buying an additional 402,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,371,571 shares of the energy companys stock worth $435,881,000 after buying an additional 99,059 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.34% of the companys stock. Get Devon Energy alerts: Devon Energy Price Performance NYSE:DVN opened at $44.11 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $43.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.20. The firm has a market cap of $28.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.54, a PEG ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.20. Devon Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $40.47 and a 52-week high of $57.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $54.00 to $53.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $68.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Pickering Energy Partners raised shares of Devon Energy from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Raymond James lowered their price target on Devon Energy from $53.00 to $52.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Devon Energy from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $56.65. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Devon Energy About Devon Energy (Free Report) Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Devon Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Devon Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AlphaCore Capital LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 3.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,168 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 335 shares during the quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $1,196,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. IMA Wealth Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 720.0% in the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 369 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares during the last quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $43,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Finally, Studio Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $49,000. 58.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Monday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $116.00 to $119.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, Mizuho lowered Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $127.53. Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil In related news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total transaction of $216,132,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,352,780. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total value of $1,231,800.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,652,596.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the companys 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 completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is owned by insiders. Exxon Mobil Price Performance Shares of Exxon Mobil stock traded up $0.07 during trading on Thursday, hitting $104.92. The stock had a trading volume of 8,804,807 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,000,648. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market cap of $415.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.80, a PEG ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 0.97. The business has a fifty day moving average of $101.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $106.19. Exxon Mobil Co. has a fifty-two week low of $95.77 and a fifty-two week high of $120.70. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 10.45%. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.40 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.74%. Exxon Mobil Profile (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. Read More 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. Trumps supporters have concluded that their material well-being will not improve, and more importantly, neither will their childrens. Thats why it is beyond baffling that they would choose a failed billionaire as their leader; and for some, he is even exalted as their savior. MAGA and America First have a policy to increase the wages of the growing ranks of the white nearly-poor. Their policy is to close the border. This remedy would theoretically raise their wages and standards of living. This would be true if you were a farm worker picking grapes in California, a laborer working in a meat-packing plant in the middle of Nebraska, or a dishwasher in a New York City restaurant. That said, MAGA economics is not going to solve the legitimate economic conditions facing the overwhelming majority of near-poor Trump supporters. Federated Hermes Inc. reduced its position in Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 28.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,088,088 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 839,290 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc.s holdings in Newmont were worth $77,155,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ieq Capital LLC grew its position in Newmont by 1.5% during the second 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 during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in Newmont by 25.8% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,354 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the period. S.A. Mason LLC lifted its position in Newmont by 15.1% during the third 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 holdings in Newmont by 30.0% during the third 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 during the period. Finally, Smith Moore & CO. increased its position in Newmont by 1.4% in the first quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 21,317 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,045,000 after buying an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. 79.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Newmont alerts: Newmont Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:NEM traded down $1.28 on Thursday, reaching $32.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,876,494 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,334,422. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $36.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.98. 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 52-week low of $31.61 and a 52-week high of $52.76. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on NEM shares. Raymond James lowered their price objective on Newmont from $59.00 to $57.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Macquarie initiated coverage on shares of Newmont in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. They set an outperform rating and a $45.00 price objective on the stock. National Bank Financial reaffirmed an outperform overweight rating on shares of Newmont in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. UBS Group decreased their price target on Newmont from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, TD Securities downgraded Newmont from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $46.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $54.25. Check Out Our Latest Report on NEM Insider Buying and Selling In other Newmont news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total transaction of $226,930.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 54,251 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,238,396.26. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. 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. 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. Flowserve Co. (NYSE:FLS Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $46.00. FLS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Flowserve from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday. Mizuho upped their target price on Flowserve from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Flowserve from $46.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday. Get Flowserve alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on FLS Institutional Inflows and Outflows Flowserve Price Performance Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc. acquired a new stake in Flowserve in the 2nd quarter valued at $10,176,000. Comerica Bank acquired a new stake in Flowserve in the 2nd quarter valued at $138,760,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Flowserve by 278.9% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 27,836 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,107,000 after purchasing an additional 20,490 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its holdings in Flowserve by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 10,282 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 698 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chase Investment Counsel Corp acquired a new stake in Flowserve in the 3rd quarter valued at $2,640,000. 94.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Shares of FLS traded down $0.66 on Thursday, reaching $41.88. The stock had a trading volume of 774,757 shares, compared to its average volume of 864,511. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.50 billion, a PE ratio of 29.70, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $40.80 and a 200 day moving average of $39.27. Flowserve has a twelve month low of $29.99 and a twelve month high of $43.64. Flowserve (NYSE:FLS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.14 billion. Flowserve had a return on equity of 14.58% and a net margin of 4.32%. The companys revenue was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.63 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Flowserve will post 2.54 EPS for the current year. Flowserve Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a $0.21 dividend. This is a positive change from Flowserves previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.01%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Flowserves dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.74%. About Flowserve (Get Free Report Flowserve Corporation designs, manufactures, distributes, and services industrial flow management equipment in the United States, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe. It operates through Flowserve Pump Division (FPD) and Flow Control Division (FCD) segments. The FPD segment offers custom and pre-configured pumps and pump systems, mechanical seals, auxiliary systems, replacement parts, upgrades, and related aftermarket services, including installation and commissioning services, seal systems spare parts, repairs, advanced diagnostics, re-rate and upgrade solutions, retrofit programs, and machining and asset management solutions, as well as manufactures a gas-lubricated mechanical seal for use in high-speed compressors for gas pipelines. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Flowserve Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Flowserve and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 7,497 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $308,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Snider Financial Group lifted its stake in shares of Citigroup by 96,645.9% in the first quarter. Snider Financial Group now owns 84,494,926 shares of the companys stock worth $4,512,000 after buying an additional 84,407,589 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Citigroup by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 83,964,367 shares of the companys stock worth $3,865,719,000 after acquiring an additional 1,442,952 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Citigroup by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 36,038,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,655,333,000 after purchasing an additional 859,170 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Citigroup by 23.7% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 27,068,272 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,246,223,000 after buying an additional 5,180,027 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its position in Citigroup by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 25,852,678 shares of the companys stock worth $1,169,317,000 after buying an additional 666,560 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 69.26% of the companys stock. Get Citigroup alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on C shares. Daiwa Capital Markets upgraded shares of Citigroup from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $63.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Societe Generale cut shares of Citigroup from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley raised Citigroup from an underweight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $46.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Oppenheimer upped their price target on Citigroup from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Citigroup from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $58.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $57.03. Citigroup Price Performance Shares of C traded up $0.98 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $56.31. The stock had a trading volume of 3,723,342 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,443,602. The stock has a market capitalization of $107.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The companys fifty day moving average is $53.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.24. Citigroup Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.17 and a 52 week high of $57.95. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The company reported ($1.16) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by ($1.89). Citigroup had a return on equity of 6.49% and a net margin of 5.88%. The business had revenue of $17.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.71 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.10 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Citigroup Inc. will post 5.94 EPS for the current year. Citigroup Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.76%. Citigroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.13%. Citigroup Company Profile (Free Report) Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial services holding company, provides various financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions in North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through three segments: Institutional Clients Group (ICG), Personal Banking and Wealth Management (PBWM), and Legacy Franchises. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding C? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new stake in Alteryx, Inc. (NYSE:AYX Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 288,100 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,858,000. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ancora Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alteryx during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Alteryx in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new stake in Alteryx in the 4th quarter valued at about $54,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in Alteryx by 165.6% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,482 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 924 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC raised its position in Alteryx by 32.1% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,638 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. 72.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Alteryx alerts: Alteryx Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of AYX stock opened at $48.03 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $47.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.41. Alteryx, Inc. has a twelve month low of $27.92 and a twelve month high of $70.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.42. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler Companies increased their price target on Alteryx from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a hold rating on shares of Alteryx in a report on Monday, December 18th. Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $48.25 price objective on shares of Alteryx in a report on Friday, February 9th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $48.25 price objective on shares of Alteryx in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, DA Davidson assumed coverage on Alteryx in a report on Tuesday, November 14th. They issued a neutral rating and a $40.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.75. Get Our Latest Research Report on AYX Insider Buying and Selling at Alteryx In related news, Director Dean Stoecker bought 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $47.46 per share, for a total transaction of $1,661,100.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 60,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,847,600. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 13.56% of the companys stock. About Alteryx (Free Report) Alteryx, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the analytics automation business in the United States and internationally. The company's analytics platform automates tasks for workers across the analytics value chain. Its analytics platform comprises Alteryx Designer, a data profiling, preparation, blending, and analytics product; Alteryx Server, a server-based product for scheduling, sharing, and running analytic processes and applications in a web-based environment; Alteryx Intelligence Suite, a solution that provides automated modeling, optical character recognition, and natural language processing; and Alteryx Connect, a collaborative data exploration platform. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AYX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alteryx, Inc. (NYSE:AYX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alteryx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alteryx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund reduced its position in Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG Free Report) by 44.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 183,200 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 144,300 shares during the quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Funds holdings in Scorpio Tankers were worth $9,915,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings 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 in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its holdings in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 1,037.0% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 523 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 477 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 21,950.0% during the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 882 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 878 shares in the last quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Scorpio Tankers during the third quarter valued at about $52,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 35.2% during the first quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 964 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares in the last quarter. 66.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Scorpio Tankers alerts: Scorpio Tankers Trading Down 2.1 % Scorpio Tankers stock opened at $65.19 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Scorpio Tankers Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.34 and a 12 month high of $72.89. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $65.15 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.65. The firm has a market cap of $3.62 billion, a PE ratio of 6.70 and a beta of 0.22. Scorpio Tankers Increases Dividend Scorpio Tankers ( NYSE:STNG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The shipping company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.62 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $336.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $335.70 million. Scorpio Tankers had a return on equity of 22.86% and a net margin of 40.78%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 31.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.24 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Scorpio Tankers Inc. will post 12.07 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.45%. This is an increase from Scorpio Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Scorpio Tankerss dividend payout ratio is presently 16.10%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Scorpio Tankers from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers from $85.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Evercore ISI upped their target price on Scorpio Tankers from $89.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of Scorpio Tankers in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. One 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 company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $74.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Scorpio Tankers Scorpio Tankers Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STNG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG Free Report). 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. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lowered its position in Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Free Report) by 34.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 39,816 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock after selling 21,046 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Funds holdings in Pioneer Natural Resources were worth $9,140,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Pioneer Natural Resources in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Ancora Advisors LLC increased its position in Pioneer Natural Resources by 77.4% in the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 149 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Pioneer Natural Resources in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Carmel Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Pioneer Natural Resources in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Pioneer Natural Resources in the second quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors own 82.72% of the companys stock. Get Pioneer Natural Resources alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Maria S. Dreyfus sold 10,632 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.62, for a total transaction of $2,409,423.84. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,066 shares in the company, valued at approximately $921,436.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.57% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Pioneer Natural Resources Trading Down 0.8 % Pioneer Natural Resources Cuts Dividend Shares of NYSE:PXD opened at $231.97 on Thursday. Pioneer Natural Resources has a 12-month low of $177.26 and a 12-month high of $257.76. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $226.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $232.36. The company has a market capitalization of $54.12 billion, a PE ratio of 11.17 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be issued a $2.56 dividend. This represents a $10.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.41%. Pioneer Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 23.88%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently issued reports on PXD. UBS Group cut their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $269.00 to $250.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $243.00 to $224.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com began coverage on Pioneer Natural Resources in a research report on Saturday, February 17th. They set a hold rating for the company. Argus cut Pioneer Natural Resources from a buy rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 24th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price target 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pioneer Natural Resources presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $254.19. Get Our Latest Report on PXD Pioneer Natural Resources Profile (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. Read More 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. European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX:EMH Get Free Report) insider Lincoln Bloomfield, Jr. acquired 98,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$0.31 ($0.20) per share, for a total transaction of A$30,316.25 ($19,814.54). European Metals Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 17.52, a current ratio of 20.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Get European Metals alerts: European Metals Company Profile (Get Free Report) Further Reading European Metals Holdings Limited engages in the exploration and development of Cinovec lithium and tin resources projects in the Czech Republic. The company was formerly known as Equamineral Holdings Limited and changed its name to European Metals Holdings Limited in February 2014. European Metals Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2012 and is based in West Perth, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for European Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for European Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Invitae (NYSE:NVTA Free Report) in a report published on Monday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the medical research companys stock. Invitae Stock Performance Shares of NVTA stock opened at $0.02 on Monday. Invitae has a 1 year low of $0.02 and a 1 year high of $0.02. The firms fifty day moving average price is $0.41 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.49 million, a P/E ratio of 0.00 and a beta of 1.59. Get Invitae alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NVTA. Veritable L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Invitae during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Versor Investments LP acquired a new stake in Invitae in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Invitae in the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its position in shares of Invitae by 114.1% in the 2nd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 25,012 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 13,330 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. raised its position in shares of Invitae by 55.0% in the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 28,900 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 10,250 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.28% of the companys stock. About Invitae Invitae Corporation, a medical genetics company, that provides genetic information to improve healthcare of people in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers genetic tests in various clinical areas, including hereditary cancer, precision oncology, women's health, rare diseases, and pharmacogenomics; digital health solutions; and health data services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invitae Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invitae and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:NBY Free Report) in a report issued on Monday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Price Performance NBY opened at $0.15 on Monday. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a fifty-two week low of $0.12 and a fifty-two week high of $2.60. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $0.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $964,986.20, a P/E ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.02. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On NovaBay Pharmaceuticals A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals stock. Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:NBY Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 718,768 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $147,000. Armistice Capital LLC owned approximately 11.01% of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Institutional investors own 1.34% of the companys stock. About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and sells eyecare, skincare, and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; and wound care products, which are used for cleansing and irrigation as part of surgical procedures, as well as treating certain wounds, burns, ulcers, and other injuries under the NeutroPhase and PhaseOne brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board raised its stake in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Free Report) by 52.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,537 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,087 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $1,828,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies by 5.0% in the third quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,921 shares of the technology companys stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies by 4.9% in the third quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,986 shares of the technology companys stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the last quarter. Rise Advisors LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies by 200.0% in the third quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the technology companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 13,432 shares of the technology companys stock worth $925,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 0.3% in the third quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 97,092 shares of the technology companys stock worth $6,690,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. 38.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Dell Technologies Trading Up 4.2 % DELL opened at $84.80 on Thursday. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.96 and a 12 month high of $86.90. The company has a market cap of $60.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.90. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $80.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $71.56. Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement Dell Technologies ( NYSE:DELL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The technology company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.42. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 150.29% and a net margin of 2.92%. The company had revenue of $22.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.01 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.01 EPS. Dell Technologiess revenue was down 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 5.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 22nd. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 40.88%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently commented on DELL. TD Cowen raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $58.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Dell Technologies from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $77.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Monday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $80.80. Get Our Latest Analysis on DELL Insider Activity at Dell Technologies In other Dell Technologies news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 239,112 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.43, for a total transaction of $18,992,666.16. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 293,812 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,337,487.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 48.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Dell Technologies (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). Read More 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. In this photo released by Sputnik news agency on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, gestures as he speaks during an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov/Associated Press As Tucker Carlson lobbed softballs at the president of Russia last week, history teachers everywhere banged their heads against their desks. Actually, it wasnt just history teachers dismayed by the televised schooling Vladimir Putin gave one of Foxs fallen. Journalists screamed at the screens, as did diplomats, video editors, and journalism professors (like me). We may have expected more from what was billed as the interview to end all interviews. Putin is notoriously hesitant to talk to western journalists. Carlson, after all, went to an excellent school Hartfords Trinity College, where he majored in (wait for it) history, though for whatever reason his name does not appear in his senior years commencement program. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yet he sat like a cow watching a passing train while Putin ran roughshod with a fevered-dream, fact-challenged retelling of Russias history, starting with the ninth century and moving into modern-day land grabs. This is precisely what we train young journalists to avoid. If the subject goes down a rabbit hole in an interview, pull them back. If the subject lies, counter with facts. Have a list of follow-up questions. This is what we mean when we talk about critical thinking on campus, and not just among journalism students. In 2019, while a student at Trinity, Alex Dahlem wrote for the campus paper, The Trinity Tripod, and called Carlson a stain on the schools reputation. (Foxs Jesse Watters, class of 01, is another one.) Dahlem suggested the school use Carlsons disappointing career trajectory as an opportunity to examine what they could be doing better, on campus and off. Dahlem said he doesnt remember much about reaction to the piece, save for a message from a former Trinity student who took umbrage at what she thought were disparaging comments about a noteworthy alumnus. Dahlem never spoke with her. Tucker Swanson McNear Carlsons Hartford of the late 80s, early90s struggled under the weight of a recession. A little more than a quarter of capital city residents lived in poverty. Venerable companies such as Sage-Allen, which after a century in business was on its way to closing, were facing cold reality. Trinity had begun involving itself in its urban neighborhood a decade prior to Carlsons arrival on campus, and a spin through old copies of the Tripod or the yearbook from that time shows student groups involved in multiple community programs, from literacy to homelessness. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Carlsons bow-tied senior photo is nestled in a yearbook that include photos for groups such as the Republican Club and Progressive Student Alliance. Neither Carlsons name or photo appear in those club photos, though he claims memberships in Christian Fellowship, the Jesse Helms Foundation, and the Dan White Society. Both the Helms and White clubs were most likely fictitious. Pretending to belong to clubs honoring these two is a predictable move for a snotty college student bent on getting attention. Helms was equally virulently anti-gay and anti-civil rights in general. In 1978, Dan White shot and killed San Francisco Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk, who championed equal rights for members of the LGBTQ community. When his college affinities began circulating in the media a few years ago, Carlson suggested we all get over ourselves because everyone does stupid things when theyre young. Hes right. Thats what youth is for, though save your admiration for people who learn from youthful errors. Carlson and college roommate Neil Patel later started the conservative website The Daily Caller. Patel, who briefly worked for former Vice President Dick Cheney, is still its publisher. One of Patels pieces from June begins, Left-wing nutballs have had the upper hand in Americas culture wars for a long time. They are hyperaggressive and focused on pushing America in a radical direction. Some of us never leave college, I suppose. Carlsons star burnt brightest at Fox as he careened from one fake culture war battle to the next. Who can forget his salvos over a cartoon representing a popular candy when it changed shoes. He gleefully hitched his wagon to the former president, and spent no small amount of energy convincing his fans that the 20 election was rigged. That wasnt the main reason for his downfall, though. As Vanity Fair reported, Fox News finally fired him last April when they realized he wasnt just playing a racist on TV. Carlsons conversation with Putin was as predictable as the rest of his life. It made a sad kind of sense that the prince of white grievance would interview the president of same. Several times, Putin asked Carlson if they were having a serious conversation or if this was a talk show. I think Putin and we knew the answer already. It was neither. I also think we know why Putin was willing to talk to Carlson. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board trimmed its holdings in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH Free Report) by 34.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 6,407 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,319 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $2,101,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MOH. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 18.4% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,449,375 shares of the companys stock worth $2,151,448,000 after buying an additional 1,001,372 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,865,464 shares of the companys stock worth $1,465,672,000 after buying an additional 113,511 shares during the period. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,352,122 shares of the companys stock worth $1,311,033,000 after buying an additional 53,139 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,517,706 shares of the companys stock worth $758,434,000 after buying an additional 99,603 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,374,111 shares of the companys stock worth $783,979,000 after buying an additional 228,221 shares during the period. 98.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MOH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $350.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. StockNews.com cut shares of Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Molina Healthcare from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their target price for the company from $367.00 to $420.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $367.00 to $392.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $435.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Molina Healthcare has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $380.80. Molina Healthcare Trading Down 0.7 % Shares of MOH stock opened at $398.78 on Thursday. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a 52-week low of $256.19 and a 52-week high of $404.86. The stock has a market cap of $23.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a current ratio of 1.54. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $372.01 and a 200-day moving average of $350.13. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 company had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.10 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 23.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $14,121,423.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $14,121,423.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ronna Romney sold 335 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $358.00, for a total transaction of $119,930.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,907 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,052,706. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 17,046 shares of company stock worth $6,592,447. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Molina Healthcare (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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MOH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH Free Report). 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. Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The energy company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.07, Briefing.com reports. The business had revenue of $241.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $239.71 million. Ormat Technologies had a return on equity of 5.35% and a net margin of 13.45%. Ormat Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 17.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.73 EPS. Ormat Technologies updated its FY 2024 guidance to EPS. Ormat Technologies Trading Down 5.0 % Shares of ORA stock traded down $3.37 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $63.85. The company had a trading volume of 262,517 shares, compared to its average volume of 438,572. The company has a 50 day moving average of $69.90 and a 200 day moving average of $69.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $3.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.48. Ormat Technologies has a 1-year low of $58.73 and a 1-year high of $90.95. Get Ormat Technologies alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ORA has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays decreased their price target on Ormat Technologies from $82.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Ormat Technologies from $84.00 to $83.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $87.00. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ORA. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Ormat Technologies by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,528,140 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $722,930,000 after purchasing an additional 643,171 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Ormat Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $50,016,000. State Street Corp raised its stake in Ormat Technologies by 44.7% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,697,465 shares of the energy companys stock worth $146,321,000 after buying an additional 524,366 shares during the period. Amundi raised its stake in Ormat Technologies by 29.9% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 1,566,912 shares of the energy companys stock worth $136,253,000 after buying an additional 361,083 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Ormat Technologies by 50.8% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 402,311 shares of the energy companys stock worth $30,492,000 after buying an additional 135,581 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.24% of the companys stock. Ormat Technologies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ormat Technologies, Inc engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ormat Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ormat Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board grew its holdings in shares of Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG Free Report) by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,324 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 2,162 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Packaging Co. of America were worth $2,353,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 11.8% during the third quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 84,139 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $12,920,000 after purchasing an additional 8,863 shares during the period. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 9.1% during the third quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 137,331 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $21,087,000 after purchasing an additional 11,501 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 75.0% during the third quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 15,884 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,436,000 after purchasing an additional 6,809 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in Packaging Co. of America by 1,001.4% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 1,597 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $245,000 after acquiring an additional 1,452 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlas FRM LLC lifted its stake in Packaging Co. of America by 17.9% in the third quarter. Atlas FRM LLC now owns 460,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $70,633,000 after acquiring an additional 70,000 shares during the last quarter. 90.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Packaging Co. of America alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Packaging Co. of America from $150.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Packaging Co. of America from $147.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Seaport Res Ptn cut Packaging Co. of America from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Packaging Co. of America from $170.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Packaging Co. of America from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Packaging Co. of America presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $154.67. Packaging Co. of America Stock Performance NYSE:PKG opened at $171.54 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $165.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $157.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.37 billion, a PE ratio of 20.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.15 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 2.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Packaging Co. of America has a twelve month low of $122.20 and a twelve month high of $176.96. Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The industrial products company reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.30. Packaging Co. of America had a return on equity of 20.47% and a net margin of 9.81%. The firm had revenue of $1.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.90 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.35 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Packaging Co. of America will post 8.17 EPS for the current fiscal year. Packaging Co. of America Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 18th were paid a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 15th. Packaging Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 58.96%. Packaging Co. of America Profile (Free Report) Packaging Corporation of America manufactures and sells containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States. The company operates through Packaging and Paper segments. The Packaging segment offers various containerboard and corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods; multi-color boxes and displays that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations; and honeycomb protective packaging products, as well as packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Packaging Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Packaging Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 1.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,408 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 157 shares during the quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,395,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in ABT. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 44.7% during the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 50,915 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $4,931,000 after purchasing an additional 15,732 shares in the last quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the third quarter worth about $320,000. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 23,016,235 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,229,122,000 after acquiring an additional 343,559 shares during the period. Security National Bank of SO Dak raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% in the third quarter. Security National Bank of SO Dak now owns 23,212 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,248,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares during the period. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 2.3% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 1,821,784 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $176,448,000 after acquiring an additional 41,688 shares during the period. 73.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Price Performance ABT stock traded up $0.77 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $118.64. The company had a trading volume of 1,802,299 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,435,851. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $89.67 and a 1 year high of $118.64. The company has a market capitalization of $205.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.75. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $112.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $104.16. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.19. The firm had revenue of $10.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.19 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 20.65%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.03 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 15th will be issued a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.85%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 67.48%. Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total transaction of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total transaction of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of the companys 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,315,537.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes ABT has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $128.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $120.00. Check Out Our Latest Research 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 company 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). 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. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its stake in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX Free Report) by 205.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,147 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 1,443 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLCs holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $262,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DGX. Pacifica Partners Inc. acquired a new position in Quest Diagnostics during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Park Place Capital Corp raised its position in Quest Diagnostics by 73.4% in the 2nd quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 189 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Finally, FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in Quest Diagnostics by 1,100.0% during the 3rd quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 264 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. 87.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Quest Diagnostics alerts: Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance NYSE:DGX opened at $126.73 on Thursday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $132.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The stock has a market cap of $14.25 billion, a PE ratio of 16.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.92. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $119.59 and a fifty-two week high of $148.62. Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend Quest Diagnostics ( NYSE:DGX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The medical research company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.23% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.25 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.98 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, April 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 5th. This is a boost from Quest Diagnosticss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. Quest Diagnosticss payout ratio is currently 37.92%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently commented on DGX. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. StockNews.com downgraded Quest Diagnostics from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $150.00 to $145.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. Eight investment 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, Quest Diagnostics currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $146.91. Check Out Our Latest Report on DGX Quest Diagnostics Company Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Rathbones Group PLC purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 29,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $941,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 170.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 864 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 545 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 7.56% of the companys stock. Get British American Tobacco alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently weighed in on BTI shares. StockNews.com upgraded British American Tobacco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. They set an overweight rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. British American Tobacco Price Performance BTI opened at $30.25 on Thursday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a one year low of $28.35 and a one year high of $38.90. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $29.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. British American Tobacco Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th will be issued a $0.7431 dividend. This represents a $2.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. About British American Tobacco (Free Report) British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It offers vapour, tobacco heating, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BTI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for British American Tobacco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for British American Tobacco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report) by 86.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 192 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in AutoZone were worth $488,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in AutoZone during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of AutoZone during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp boosted its stake in shares of AutoZone by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 16 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.34% of the companys stock. Get AutoZone alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP K. Michelle Borninkhof sold 1,900 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,735.00, for a total transaction of $5,196,500.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 521 shares in the company, valued at $1,424,935. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, SVP K. Michelle Borninkhof sold 1,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,735.00, for a total transaction of $5,196,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 521 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,424,935. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, COO Thomas B. Newbern sold 7,800 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Friday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,551.62, for a total transaction of $19,902,636.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,519 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,427,530.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 14,807 shares of company stock worth $38,827,861 in the last three months. 2.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders. AutoZone Stock Performance AZO opened at $2,729.69 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $47.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.70. The firms fifty day moving average is $2,674.16 and its 200 day moving average is $2,600.36. AutoZone, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $2,277.88 and a fifty-two week high of $2,855.21. AutoZone (NYSE:AZO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 5th. The company reported $32.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $31.57 by $0.98. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 57.23% and a net margin of 14.62%. The business had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.19 billion. The businesss revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $27.45 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 149.73 earnings per share for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on AZO. Barclays reduced their price objective on AutoZone from $2,800.00 to $2,779.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 12th. StockNews.com raised shares of AutoZone from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday. TheStreet lowered shares of AutoZone from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $2,750.00 to $2,900.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, Raymond James raised AutoZone from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $2,850.00 to $3,100.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, AutoZone has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,868.88. Get Our Latest Analysis on AZO AutoZone Profile (Free Report) AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AutoZone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoZone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report) by 25.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,282 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 1,446 shares during the period. Regal Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $297,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,053,304 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,551,938,000 after buying an additional 108,102 shares during the period. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 27,015,032 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,548,023,000 after purchasing an additional 1,255,926 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 20,512,235 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,934,919,000 after purchasing an additional 66,763 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 104,971.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,399,249 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,148,938,000 after purchasing an additional 15,384,593 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 15,133,146 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,048,424,000 after purchasing an additional 818,849 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.25% of the companys stock. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently commented on EW shares. Wolfe Research cut shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $94.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Edwards Lifesciences currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $87.38. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 8,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.74, for a total value of $711,268.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 22,750 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,973,335. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Catherine M. Szyman sold 27,000 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.62, for a total transaction of $2,311,740.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 34,814 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,980,774.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Daveen Chopra sold 8,200 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.74, for a total transaction of $711,268.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 22,750 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,973,335. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 183,089 shares of company stock valued at $14,396,688. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance Shares of NYSE EW opened at $86.65 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $52.10 billion, a PE ratio of 37.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 1.04. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 12 month low of $60.57 and a 12 month high of $94.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 3.38 and a quick ratio of 2.40. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $73.67. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.64. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 23.35% and a return on equity of 23.56%. The business had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.64 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current year. Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile (Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report) by 86.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 192 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Regal Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in AutoZone were worth $488,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in AZO. RB Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 1st quarter valued at about $274,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 1st quarter valued at $57,000. Roundview Capital LLC raised its position in AutoZone by 8.1% in the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 426 shares of the companys stock worth $871,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its position in AutoZone by 31.7% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 237 shares of the companys stock valued at $485,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in shares of AutoZone by 24.4% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 12,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,331,000 after buying an additional 2,545 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.34% of the companys stock. Get AutoZone alerts: Insider Activity In related news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 414 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,541.85, for a total transaction of $1,052,325.90. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,470 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,820,219.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 414 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,541.85, for a total transaction of $1,052,325.90. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,470 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,820,219.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Charles Pleas III sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,717.36, for a total value of $8,152,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,282,501.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 14,807 shares of company stock worth $38,827,861 in the last three months. Company insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets AZO has been the subject of several analyst reports. TheStreet cut AutoZone from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. StockNews.com raised shares of AutoZone from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $2,800.00 to $2,779.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 12th. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of AutoZone in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, Stephens upped their price target on AutoZone from $3,000.00 to $3,070.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, AutoZone has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,868.88. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on AutoZone AutoZone Stock Performance Shares of AutoZone stock opened at $2,729.69 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $47.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks fifty day moving average is $2,674.16 and its 200 day moving average is $2,600.36. AutoZone, Inc. has a one year low of $2,277.88 and a one year high of $2,855.21. AutoZone (NYSE:AZO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 5th. The company reported $32.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $31.57 by $0.98. The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.19 billion. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 57.23% and a net margin of 14.62%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $27.45 earnings per share. Analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 149.73 EPS for the current year. AutoZone Profile (Free Report) AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AutoZone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoZone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report) by 25.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,282 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 1,446 shares during the period. Regal Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $297,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EW. Altshuler Shaham Ltd grew its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 3,129.7% during the 3rd quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 10,755 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $745,000 after buying an additional 10,422 shares in the last quarter. Vancity Investment Management Ltd bought a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the third quarter worth $7,385,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 51.8% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 8,395 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $582,000 after buying an additional 2,863 shares in the last quarter. Rathbones Group PLC boosted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 25.1% during the third quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 722,952 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $50,086,000 after buying an additional 145,089 shares during the period. Finally, PAX Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the third quarter worth about $502,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.25% of the companys stock. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently issued reports on EW shares. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Edwards Lifesciences from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $94.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $83.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Edwards Lifesciences from $82.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. StockNews.com upgraded Edwards Lifesciences from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut Edwards Lifesciences from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $80.00 to $77.00 in a report on Thursday, January 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Edwards Lifesciences presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $87.38. Edwards Lifesciences Price Performance Shares of EW opened at $86.65 on Thursday. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a fifty-two week low of $60.57 and a fifty-two week high of $94.87. The firms 50 day moving average price is $78.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $73.67. The company has a quick ratio of 2.40, a current ratio of 3.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The company has a market cap of $52.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.67, a PEG ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 1.04. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.64. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 23.35% and a return on equity of 23.56%. The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. Edwards Lifesciencess quarterly revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Edwards Lifesciences In other news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 8,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.74, for a total value of $711,268.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 22,750 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,973,335. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 8,000 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.86, for a total transaction of $574,880.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 39,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,838,685.58. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Daveen Chopra sold 8,200 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.74, for a total transaction of $711,268.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 22,750 shares in the company, valued at $1,973,335. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 183,089 shares of company stock worth $14,396,688. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile (Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Four candles were lighted for Joyce Grayson and placed on a memorial table last fall during a vigil celebrating her life. Grayson was a visiting home health care nurse who was found dead in October at a patient's home in Willimantic. The state senate has introduced a bill that would focus on better protections for home health care workers. Susan Danseyar / Hearst Connecticut Media This the house on Willow Lane in East Lyme that burned in January, killing two men -- the 95-year-old resident, Merrill Lozanov, and his live-in caregiver, Ototegile Morulane, police say. The senate has introduced a bill that better protect home health care workers. Susan Braden / Hearst Connecticut Media Members of the Democratic majority in the state Senate recalled the recent deaths of two home health care workers on Wednesday in announcing legislative proposals aimed to make working conditions safer, including state-paid escorts and mandatory risk assessments for patients with violent or criminal histories. "It's not just the elderly with dementia. People are angry out there, as are the family members," said Sen. Martha Marx, D-New London, a career registered nurse who has visited patients in a variety of conditions for a quarter century, stressing that it is increasingly dangerous for health care professionals. But the presence of security experts who have escorted her into less-safe neighborhoods and homes have always made her feel more comfortable on the job, she said. The lawmakers said their proposal, which is a top caucus priority and given the designation of Senate Bill 1, will be dedicated to the memories of home health care workers Joyce Grayson and Otolegile Morulane. Grayson, 63, was found dead in a Willimantic home for sex offenders in October, while Morulane, a 46-year-old from Botswana, died last month in an East Lyme house fire, where he had been providing around-the-clock care to the resident, who also was killed. A suspect apprehended from the scene of Grayson's death, has not been charged in connection with her death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marx and state Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, co-chairman of the legislative Public Health Committee, said that national statistics indicate that at least 65 percent of home health care workers report being verbally abused by patients, while 44 percent have been physically abused. "Think about this: You go to a workplace and almost half the people are going to be physically abused and 6 percent of them have been sexually abused," said Anwar, a physician. "This is something that has reached a point that it is not sustainable, and this particular area of health care is the faster-growing segment. We want people to age at home, and the only way they can do that is if we have the right workforce in place." Home health care workers are five times as likely to be abused as other health care professionals, Anwar said during a morning news conference in the State Capitol complex. The legislation, which is pending in the Public Health Committee, would include requirements that workers be escorted to patients with criminal histories; would require information on neighborhoods, other residents and/or animals in patient homes; require better training for home health care workers, including awareness of possible dangers, as well as de-escalation techniques for patients who lose their tempers. health care workers would also receive health and wellness checks and would have to report verbal and physical incidents to supervisors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad States including Missouri, Colorado and Michigan have enacted similar protections for home health care employees. "Yeah, sure, you get kicked and hit by patients with dementia, but if you have proper training there are also ways that you can also prevent that and work through it, especially if there are other caregivers and family members in the home," Marx said. "But I've had patients throw dressing supplies at me or get angry because it was taking too long care to do wound care, or angry because I didn't want to sit on their floor to do the wound care and I asked them to please go lie down on the couch or the bed, and things were thrown at me. When we're taking care of the patient, it's not just the patient. It's also the family member who also gets very angry at the work staff." Marx said she was disturbed when she discovered that Morulane's death, which is still under investigation, had not been reported to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "He was a Black man from Botswana," Marx said. "It was not reported to OSHA. This is 2024. So that right there is kind of where health care workers, home care workers, many of the non-medical workers in home care are women of color, that I don't think they are respected as much and that their job is as respected as much as other jobs." So-called risk identification and communication isn't treated as importantly as it should be, she added. Better training is also needed, especially outside of hospital environments where there may be many coworkers available. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rock Creek Group LP trimmed its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 19.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,530 shares of the companys stock after selling 360 shares during the period. Rock Creek Group LPs holdings in Altria Group were worth $64,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital World Investors increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,367,008,000 after acquiring an additional 7,546,851 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.8% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 70,564,529 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,262,710,000 after acquiring an additional 1,240,150 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.9% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 44,456,064 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,857,271,000 after acquiring an additional 840,559 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 3.3% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,025,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,672,836,000 after acquiring an additional 1,168,982 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 5.1% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,517,169 shares of the companys stock valued at $990,002,000 after acquiring an additional 1,192,266 shares in the last quarter. 58.94% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. UBS Group restated a sell rating and issued a $36.10 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.22. Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MO traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $40.31. 1,119,783 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,842,258. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $39.06 and a 1 year high of $48.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.66. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $40.76 and a 200 day moving average of $41.76. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 243.71% and a net margin of 33.21%. The firms revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.18 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current year. Altria Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st were issued a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is 85.78%. Altria Group announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, February 1st that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 1.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Free Report) (TSE:RY) has received an average rating of Hold from the five brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $131.50. RY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Royal Bank of Canada in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Bank of America raised shares of Royal Bank of Canada from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Royal Bank of Canada from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Get Royal Bank of Canada alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Royal Bank of Canada Royal Bank of Canada Stock Performance NYSE:RY opened at $97.65 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The company has a market cap of $137.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.87. Royal Bank of Canada has a fifty-two week low of $77.90 and a fifty-two week high of $102.49. The firms 50 day moving average is $98.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $91.61. Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Free Report) (TSE:RY) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.13. Royal Bank of Canada had a net margin of 12.59% and a return on equity of 15.21%. The company had revenue of $9.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.63 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.09 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Royal Bank of Canada will post 8.56 EPS for the current year. Royal Bank of Canada Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.0155 per share. This represents a $4.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.16%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canadas payout ratio is 51.09%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Royal Bank of Canada A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RY. Canoe Financial LP grew its holdings in Royal Bank of Canada by 11,061.2% during the 4th quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 151,142,403 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $15,285,031,000 after acquiring an additional 149,788,224 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Royal Bank of Canada during the 4th quarter worth $1,898,970,000. TD Asset Management Inc grew its holdings in Royal Bank of Canada by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 32,571,491 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,310,010,000 after acquiring an additional 5,810,077 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors acquired a new position in Royal Bank of Canada during the 4th quarter worth $365,246,000. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia grew its holdings in Royal Bank of Canada by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 26,666,961 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,330,506,000 after acquiring an additional 3,062,038 shares in the last quarter. 42.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Royal Bank of Canada (Get Free Report Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Socorro Asset Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 9.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 144,519 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 12,291 shares during the quarter. Bristol-Myers Squibb comprises about 3.9% of Socorro Asset Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Socorro Asset Management LPs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $8,388,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Herold Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% in the third quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. now owns 33,668 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,954,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares in the last quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 69.6% in 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 in the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 9.5% during the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 139,811 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,115,000 after buying an additional 12,121 shares during the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 101,772 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,907,000 after buying an additional 13,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jmac Enterprises LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jmac Enterprises LLC now owns 12,171 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $706,000 after buying an additional 1,245 shares during the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on BMY. TheStreet downgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Barclays cut their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 price objective on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $55.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets downgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $60.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Friday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $61.17. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.1 % BMY stock traded up $0.04 during trading on Thursday, reaching $50.95. 4,105,114 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,379,958. The firms 50 day moving average is $50.39 and its 200 day moving average is $54.06. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a twelve month low of $47.58 and a twelve month high of $71.98. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market cap of $103.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.95%. The business had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.82 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 5th were given a $0.60 dividend. This is a boost from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.71%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.18%. Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 3,071 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $48.86 per share, for a total transaction of $150,049.06. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 79,384 shares in the company, valued at $3,878,702.24. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 3,071 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $48.86 per share, for a total transaction of $150,049.06. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 79,384 shares in the company, valued at $3,878,702.24. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,115,412.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders. 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 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. Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET Free Report) by 2.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,969,956 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 44,499 shares during the quarter. Stifel Financial Corp owned approximately 0.27% of MetLife worth $123,931,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. LPL Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 13.5% during the 3rd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 707,885 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $44,533,000 after purchasing an additional 84,061 shares in the last quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 68.3% during the 3rd quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 824,772 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $51,886,000 after purchasing an additional 334,762 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 50.0% in the 3rd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 8,856 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $557,000 after buying an additional 2,952 shares in the last quarter. Pinkerton Retirement Specialists LLC boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Pinkerton Retirement Specialists LLC now owns 44,782 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,817,000 after buying an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 1,279.7% in the 3rd quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,187 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $200,000 after buying an additional 2,956 shares in the last quarter. 88.14% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get MetLife alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently weighed in on MET shares. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of MetLife from $87.00 to $82.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of MetLife from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $70.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of MetLife from $85.00 to $83.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of MetLife from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $71.00 price objective on shares of MetLife in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, MetLife has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $77.23. MetLife Stock Up 0.4 % NYSE MET traded up $0.31 on Thursday, reaching $69.25. The company had a trading volume of 365,001 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,098,487. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.07 billion, a PE ratio of 37.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.04. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $48.95 and a 1 year high of $72.71. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $67.81 and a 200-day moving average of $64.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.13. MetLife Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th will be issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.00%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 5th. MetLifes dividend payout ratio is presently 113.66%. MetLife Company Profile (Free Report) MetLife, Inc, a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates through five segments: U.S.; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings. The company offers life, dental, group short-and long-term disability, individual disability, pet insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, vision, and accident and health coverages, as well as prepaid legal plans; administrative services-only arrangements to employers; and general and separate account, and synthetic guaranteed interest contracts, as well as private floating rate funding agreements. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for MetLife Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MetLife and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stifel Financial Corp decreased its position in RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 14.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,805,030 shares of the companys stock after selling 307,026 shares during the quarter. Stifel Financial Corp owned 0.13% of RTX worth $129,911,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of RTX by 95.3% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. now owns 32,487 shares of the companys stock worth $2,338,000 after purchasing an additional 15,855 shares during the period. Rice Partnership LLC boosted its holdings in shares of RTX by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Rice Partnership LLC now owns 33,948 shares of the companys stock worth $2,443,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the period. Mystic Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of RTX by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 35,756 shares of the companys stock worth $2,573,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the period. Lavaca Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of RTX by 22.0% in the 3rd quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 5,953 shares of the companys stock worth $428,000 after purchasing an additional 1,073 shares during the period. Finally, Visionary Wealth Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of RTX by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 3,236 shares of the companys stock worth $233,000 after purchasing an additional 285 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.06% of the companys stock. Get RTX alerts: Insider Activity at RTX In related news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total transaction of $3,233,232.64. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,741 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $614,711.79. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total transaction of $3,233,232.64. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,741 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $614,711.79. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Neil G. Mitchill, Jr. sold 1,545 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.36, for a total value of $142,696.20. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 49,894 shares in the company, valued at $4,608,209.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 37,680 shares of company stock valued at $3,438,681 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. RTX Stock Performance Shares of RTX remained flat at $89.62 during trading hours on Thursday. The stock had a trading volume of 996,783 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,708,265. The company has a market cap of $118.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.27, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.78. RTX Co. has a 52-week low of $68.56 and a 52-week high of $104.91. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $87.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $82.30. RTX (NYSE:RTX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $19.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.74 billion. RTX had a return on equity of 10.34% and a net margin of 4.64%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.27 EPS. Analysts forecast that RTX Co. will post 5.39 earnings per share for the current year. RTX Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. RTXs dividend payout ratio is currently 105.36%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth RTX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on RTX from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. DZ Bank cut RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $79.00 to $68.00 in a report on Friday, October 27th. Barclays boosted their price objective on RTX from $75.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Redburn Atlantic cut RTX from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird restated a neutral rating and set a $94.00 price objective (up previously from $88.00) on shares of RTX in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have 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 a consensus price target of $91.71. Get Our Latest Analysis on RTX About RTX (Free Report) RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation; and for defense and commercial space operations. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Surge Energy Inc. (TSE:SGY Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$11.91. A number of research firms have recently commented on SGY. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Surge Energy from C$12.50 to C$12.00 in a report on Monday, December 11th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Surge Energy from C$11.00 to C$9.00 in a report on Friday, December 8th. ATB Capital dropped their price target on Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$10.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James dropped their price target on Surge Energy from C$14.00 to C$12.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Finally, National Bankshares dropped their price target on Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$11.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Get Surge Energy alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on SGY Insider Activity at Surge Energy Surge Energy Trading Up 2.8 % In related news, Senior Officer Peter Dan Oneil sold 7,511 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$6.86, for a total value of C$51,525.46. 1.91% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. SGY opened at C$6.91 on Friday. Surge Energy has a one year low of C$5.89 and a one year high of C$9.77. The company has a market cap of C$693.14 million, a P/E ratio of 4.27, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 2.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.32, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.45. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$6.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$7.82. Surge Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $0.04 dividend. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.95%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Surge Energys payout ratio is currently 29.63%. About Surge Energy (Get Free Report Surge Energy Inc explores for, develops, and produces oil and gas in western Canada. The company's principal properties include Sparky assets located between Provost and Wainwright in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan; the Southeast Saskatchewan properties are located in the Southeast corner of the Province; the Greater Sawn Lake assets located in Northern Alberta; the Valhalla/Wembley property located in northwestern Alberta; and the Shaunavon properties located to the southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Surge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Surge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TPG RE Finance Trust (NYSE:TRTX Get Free Report) had its target price increased by equities researchers at Wells Fargo & Company from $6.00 to $7.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price target would suggest a potential upside of 3.24% from the companys previous close. Several other research firms have also weighed in on TRTX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of TPG RE Finance Trust from $6.50 to $6.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. JMP Securities lowered their price objective on shares of TPG RE Finance Trust from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a market outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Raymond James lowered their price objective on shares of TPG RE Finance Trust from $9.00 to $8.50 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, TPG RE Finance Trust presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $7.50. Get TPG RE Finance Trust alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on TPG RE Finance Trust TPG RE Finance Trust Trading Up 5.1 % Institutional Inflows and Outflows TRTX traded up $0.33 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $6.78. The stock had a trading volume of 1,012,549 shares, compared to its average volume of 579,903. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $6.23 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.67, a current ratio of 88.22 and a quick ratio of 88.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $527.08 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.01 and a beta of 2.06. TPG RE Finance Trust has a 1-year low of $4.64 and a 1-year high of $9.10. A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TRTX. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in TPG RE Finance Trust by 102.8% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,936,292 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,677,000 after purchasing an additional 1,488,474 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of TPG RE Finance Trust by 3,051.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 935,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,294,000 after acquiring an additional 905,492 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of TPG RE Finance Trust by 155.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 843,809 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,126,000 after acquiring an additional 513,815 shares during the period. Barclays PLC grew its position in shares of TPG RE Finance Trust by 633.4% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 509,182 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,458,000 after acquiring an additional 439,759 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in shares of TPG RE Finance Trust in the 1st quarter valued at about $4,095,000. Institutional investors own 57.19% of the companys stock. About TPG RE Finance Trust (Get Free Report) TPG RE Finance Trust, Inc, a commercial real estate finance company, originates, acquires, and manages commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate-related debt instruments in the United States. It invests in commercial mortgage loans; subordinate mortgage interests, mezzanine loans, secured real estate securities, note financing, preferred equity, and miscellaneous debt instruments; and commercial real estate collateralized loan obligations and commercial mortgage-backed securities secured by properties primarily in the multifamily, life science, mixed-use, hospitality, self storage, industrial, and retail real estate sectors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TPG RE Finance Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TPG RE Finance Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valmont Industries (NYSE:VMI Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The industrial products company reported $3.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.10, Briefing.com reports. Valmont Industries had a return on equity of 20.32% and a net margin of 3.62%. The company had revenue of $1,000.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.46 earnings per share. Valmont Industriess revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Valmont Industries updated its FY24 guidance to $14.25-$15.50 EPS and its FY 2024 guidance to 14.250-15.500 EPS. Valmont Industries Trading Down 4.7 % VMI traded down $10.60 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $216.40. 196,030 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 158,633. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $230.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $229.84. Valmont Industries has a 52-week low of $188.63 and a 52-week high of $335.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.52 billion, a PE ratio of 31.43, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.05. Get Valmont Industries alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VMI has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com raised Valmont Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. TheStreet cut Valmont Industries from a b rating to a c rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Northcoast Research downgraded Valmont Industries from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. DA Davidson raised Valmont Industries from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $230.00 to $290.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Valmont Industries from $264.00 to $266.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Valmont Industries currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $278.00. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valmont Industries A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Belpointe Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Valmont Industries by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 607 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $194,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Valmont Industries by 103.2% in the 4th quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 128 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. FCA Corp TX lifted its holdings in shares of Valmont Industries by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. FCA Corp TX now owns 15,293 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,649,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the period. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Valmont Industries by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 1,875 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $438,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its holdings in shares of Valmont Industries by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 1,400 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $447,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.15% of the companys stock. Valmont Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Valmont Industries, Inc produces and sells metal products in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Infrastructure and Agriculture. It manufactures and distributes steel, pre-stressed concrete, composite, and hybrid structures for lighting, transportation, and telecommunications equipment, as well as electrical transmission, distribution, substations, and renewable energy generation equipment; and provides coatings services to preserve metal products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Valmont Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valmont Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in W. R. Berkley Co. (NYSE:WRB Free Report) by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 6,819,124 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 302,212 shares during the period. W. R. Berkley comprises about 1.2% of Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLCs holdings in W. R. Berkley were worth $432,946,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Clear Street Markets LLC increased its holdings in W. R. Berkley by 92.3% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 398 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in W. R. Berkley in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. First Manhattan Co. increased its holdings in W. R. Berkley by 50.0% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 486 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of W. R. Berkley by 232.9% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 496 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 347 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of W. R. Berkley in the second quarter worth $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.34% of the companys stock. Get W. R. Berkley alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Evercore ISI restated an in-line rating and issued a $79.00 price target (up previously from $69.00) on shares of W. R. Berkley in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of W. R. Berkley from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of W. R. Berkley from $81.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of W. R. Berkley from $73.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of W. R. Berkley from $71.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $83.56. W. R. Berkley Stock Up 1.8 % Shares of W. R. Berkley stock traded up $1.53 during trading on Thursday, hitting $85.01. 583,029 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,190,427. The stock has a market cap of $21.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.58. The firms 50-day moving average price is $75.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $69.39. W. R. Berkley Co. has a 12-month low of $55.50 and a 12-month high of $85.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. W. R. Berkley (NYSE:WRB Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The insurance provider reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.10. W. R. Berkley had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 19.40%. The firm had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.16 earnings per share. W. R. Berkleys quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that W. R. Berkley Co. will post 5.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. W. R. Berkley Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 27th. Investors of record on Monday, December 18th were given a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 15th. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.52%. W. R. Berkleys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.70%. W. R. Berkley Company Profile (Free Report) W. R. Berkley Corporation, an insurance holding company, operates as a commercial lines writer in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess. The Insurance segment underwrites commercial insurance business, including premises operations, commercial automobile, property, products liability, and general and professional liability lines. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WRB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W. R. Berkley Co. (NYSE:WRB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W. R. Berkley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W. R. Berkley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A newly formed nonprofit group is considering Franklin County owned property for a new dog park in the Westlake area. The proposal was presented to supervisors Tuesday. Recreational Development of Franklin County requested the use of an approximately 1 acre parcel along Lakewatch Center Drive near the countys trash collection site to create the dog park. Reba Dillon, representing the nonprofit, joined by Paul Chapman, director of parks and recreation, detailed the plan for supervisors. Some of the reasons this site is being considered is it is rather easy to get to and close proximity to other things like the collection site. I can see that being a nice bonus. And it is relatively flat, Chapman said. Chapman said no county funds are being requested for the creation of the dog park. Recreational Development of Franklin County is currently raising funds to build the park as well as develop a master plan that supervisors can review to make sure it meets the countys standards. They are looking to pay for all the costs, Chapman said. Recreational Development of Franklin County also would maintain the park, preventing any additional work for the countys parks and recreation department. Chapman admitted that the department is already stretched thin at its current staff levels. Supervisors voiced their support for the proposal to move forward with more detailed plans presented at a later date. Supervisor Lorie Smith, representing the Gills Creek District where the park is being proposed, said it would be good for the district. I can tell you that a dog park would be a very popular amenity in my district and I think it will be heavily utilized, Smith said. Supervisors discuss road improvements Supervisors agreed to move forward with applications for six road projects within Franklin County to improve safety that would be funded through the Virginia Department of Transportations Smart Scale program. Safety improvement proposals include the intersection of Six Mile Post Road and Scuffling Hill Road, the intersection of Henry Road and U.S. 220, the intersection of Harmony School Road and Virginia 122, the intersection of Brooks Mill Road and Scruggs Road, the intersection of Bethlehem Road and Boones Mill Road and the intersection of Iron Ridge Road and U.S. 220. The deadline for pre-applications to Smart Scale is April 1. County staff is expected to present finalized project details in May or June in preparation for the final application submittal deadline in August. One Smart Scale project approved for funding by VDOT will be undergoing some changes. Supervisors agreed to allow VDOT to modify its plans for safety improvements along the intersection of Lost Mountain Road and Virginia 122. Original plans for safety improvements at the intersection included the construction of turn lanes on both Lost Mountain Road and Virginia 122 with median separation and right and left turn lanes into Booker T. Washington National Monument with median separation. Todd Daniel with VDOT said plans were modified to avoid any construction that requires right of way acquisition or construction within the Booker T. Washington National Monument property boundaries due to potential environmental and historical impacts. The new proposal would be to create a roundabout at the intersection of Lost Mountain Road and Virginia 122 and remove plans for turn lanes into the nearby park. Daniel said to improve safety at the intersection was the main target of the original plan which would still be achieved with the change. Construction is scheduled to begin on the project in summer of 2027 with completion sometime in 2028. Infrastructure left by Manchester's former textile mills was redeveloped into apartments, some of which were set aside as affordable housing. Joseph Villanova An empty factory in Hartford that will receive at least $7 million to be covered into apartments. State and city lawmakers, and Gov. Ned Lamont attended the groundbreaking in December Jacqueline Rabe Thomas/Hearst Connecticut Media Group Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media State Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, co-chairwoman of the legislative Housing Committee Contributed / State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-new Haven Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media HARTFORD Ten-percent tax credits for developers who convert commercial properties into residential dwellings is the center piece of proposed housing priorities for the legislative session, majority Democrats in the state Senate announced on Tuesday. At least 50 apartment units per property would have to be in the conversions, with at least 20 percent designated as affordable housing, under the incentive program aimed at persuading suburbs to develop more units. The proposed initiatives, announced during a morning news conference, include $20 million to fund programs for the homeless, and a $25 million infusion for the state Department of Housing's rental assistance fund. In the case of properties being bought by large institutions such as national real estate investment trusts, the state's sales tax on properties, called a conveyance tax, would increase by 1 percent under the proposals, said state Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, co-chairwoman of the legislative Housing Committee. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We hope that this is a balance," Moore told reporters in the Capitol complex during a news conference with Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. "There are carrots and it's also focused on the residents and home builders. I see this as a continuation of what we need to do." In a legislative election year such as this, with a short, now-10-week-long session, Democratic majorities in the House and Senate are less likely to pursue attempts to force suburban and rural towns into developing affordable housing. Last year the General Assembly approved a so-called roundtable on housing, the co-chairmen of which were Duff, and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford. Over the years, suburbs have been reticent to support affordable housing units, stressing their powers under home rule to decide on zoning issues, even as the state has about 100,000 open jobs and a need for as many dwelling units. "I think it's always difficult," Moore said, "because there's always two sides to every story. I think for many of these issues, if we're all saying we want better homes for people, we want people to live decently, we want people to be able to afford housing, we can all work to that goal." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We're always going to be talking about zoning here in the state legislature," said Duff, D-Norwalk. "That includes every community. It may not be front and center this year, but it doesn't mean that conversations aren't continuing and it doesn't mean we're not going to continue to push our communities across the state to build more housing. That includes the towns that have been really reluctant to build more housing. We also have to be realistic at the same time to figure out what we can get passed in a short session that makes sense. Employers will not come into the state of Connecticut if we don't have the employees and a lot of that depends on the housing stock we have available in this state." "Clearly building affordable housing in areas that don't have it now will involve building up infrastructure in some of those communities," Looney said. "Some of the arguments that communities make is 'we don't have the infrastructure to support greater density than we have now.' Some of that has been deliberate. That's why many communities have never installed public water systems and the like, so they can hold onto the argument that 'we can't support greater density. The state needs to be willing to invest using its bonding capacity to be a partner with municipalities that are in fact willing to take on greater density in certain parts of their communities." The proposal includes an expansion of housing assistance vouchers under the federal Section 8 program, and includes a requirement for an annual study of rental rates across the state, by zip code, to consider market rates. The variables would be adjusted so vouchers in higher-priced areas would have more value Rojas was critical of minority Republicans who voted against even bringing up issues related to affordable housing during organizational meetings of housing-related committees last week. "It just seems really short-sighted to be opposed to the process of not even considering a concept," Rojas said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin, a member of the legislature's Planning and Development Committee led the complaints during those votes last week, saying small towns such as those in his district don't have the staff to comply with many of the state mandates on affordable housing. "Any proposal that forces small towns to build things that they have no ability to build, I would oppose," Dubitsky said at the time. "Who's going to build this housing? It's not because there are zoning restrictions. It's because we live in a very rural farming community with no water, no sewer, barely any internet, electricity goes out a dozen times a year. It just isn't possible for a town like that to build low-income housing." Under a law passed in 2023 by the Nebraska Legislature, new Nebraska law enforcement officers will start to receive hiring bonuses this year. Officers will be eligible for the bonus as soon as theyre certified. Initially, the amount will probably be $7,500 per officer, said Bryan Tuma, executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission. The Legislature last year passed a series of statutes that make up the Nebraska Law Enforcement Attraction and Retention Act. The Police Standards Advisory Council is in the final phases of approving the process. Final approval is expected at the councils March meeting. The activation date is Jan. 1, 2024, so the first recipients of the hiring bonuses are already in training. The bonus will go to certified officers employed by police departments, sheriffs departments and the Nebraska State Patrol, as well as state deputy sheriffs. In addition to new officers, the bonuses may also be awarded to previously certified Nebraska officers who left law enforcement less than two years ago. Also eligible are officers who receive certification through the reciprocity process. In those cases, an officer coming from another state presents his or her credentials for review in Nebraska. The hiring bonus program only applies to agencies with 150 officers or less, so it will not be available to police officers in Omaha and Lincoln. A working group met Feb. 13 to discuss the policies and procedures for the hiring bonuses. Lincoln Police Department Assistant Chief Brian Jackson gave a report from that group at Wednesdays Police Standards Advisory Council meeting, held at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center. The $7,500 figure currently proposed requires final approval. The amount could increase or decrease in the future, Tuma said. The Nebraska Law Enforcement Attraction and Retention Act allocates $5 million each year for the hiring bonuses and a retention program through June 30, 2028. The retention program will provide a $1,500 stipend for any Nebraska law enforcement officer whos been certified for at least a year. The Crime Commission began distributing those stipends on July 1, 2023. The first year they apply, officers are eligible for the $1,500 stipend. In their third year of eligibility, they can receive a second payment of $2,500. In the fifth year, the stipend would be $3,000. That program also expires in 2028. For officers to receive the hiring bonuses, law enforcement agencies will submit an application to the Law Enforcement Training Center. The applications will then go to the Police Standards Advisory Council, which will confirm that the officers are certified and then authorize the Crime Commission to make the payments. Under another action taken by Legislature last year, tuition assistance is available for officers and their family members. Nebraskas higher education institutions have agreed to provide that benefit, so it wasnt necessary for the Legislature to allocate funding. A Douglas County judge set bail of $1 million for a Carter Lake man charged in the drunken driving death of another man near Bennington. Joshua E. Kuhl, 35, made his first court appearance at the Douglas County Jail on Tuesday. Kuhls appearance came after he was arrested in connection with the two-vehicle crash that killed Norfolk resident Gary Smith, 69, at the 168th Street and Nebraska 36 intersection early Sunday morning. Kuhl has been charged with motor vehicle homicide and two counts of driving under the influence which led to serious bodily injury. The charges are felonies. The charges against Kuhl stem from an incident that occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday when a northbound Chevrolet Silverado, allegedly driven by Kuhl along 168th Street, failed to stop at a stop sign at the Nebraska 36 intersection, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. Kuhls pickup, according to the Sheriffs Office, collided with a westbound Subaru Outback SUV. Smith, a passenger in the Outback, was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. Kimberly Baumann, a 65-year-old woman from Pierce, Nebraska, was driving the SUV. The affidavit said two people in the SUV received serious injuries. The crash is still under investigation. According to an affidavit from a sheriffs deputy, another deputy who responded to the crash detected an odor of alcohol present in Kuhls breath. Kuhls eyes were allegedly watery and bloodshot. The deputy said Kuhl confirmed he was driving the pickup. The affidavit said Kuhl complied with tests administered by law enforcement. A field breathalyzer test measured Kuhls blood alcohol content at .192 and a lab breathalyzer at the Sheriffs Office recorded his blood alcohol content at .171. Both readings are more than twice the legal limit of .08. A prosecutor said Kuhl previously had two DUI convictions and a misdemeanor assault conviction. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 29. Removing trade finance constraints may give Vietnam $55 bln trade boost annually: report By Quang Minh Thu, February 22, 2024 | 4:36 pm GMT+7 Removing trade finance constraints can prompt an annual increase in merchandise trade in Vietnam of $55 billion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). A worker tests electronic components at a factory in Bac Ninh province, northen Vietnam. Photo courtesy of IFC. A report on the findings of a joint study by the two institutions titled, Trade Finance in the Mekong Region, says simulations from data collected from banks and traders in the Mekong-3 (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) and analyzed with the WTO Global Trade Model show that increasing local trade finance coverage by an additional 20 percentage points while reducing the cost of loans and letters of credit to match international benchmarks would raise imports by 6% and exports by 9% annually. According to a report on study results released in Hanoi Thursday, local trade finance in Vietnam is scarce, costly, and segmented and offers just traditional services. The trade-to-GDP ratio in 2022 was particularly high in Vietnam at 185%, several times higher than the global average of 62%. The value of total trade flows has tripled in Vietnam in the past decade as the country benefited from: relocation of production away from economies with higher manufacturing costs; trade diversion linked to trade conflicts between large countries; and the fostering of foreign investment. However, the trade growth has not been even. It has followed a two-speed trajectory with exports from subsidiaries of foreign-owned firms far outpacing that of locally owned supply chains. Foreign investments, most notably in the electronics and garment sectors, have in the past decade shifted the structure and direction of imports and exports in favour of these products towards large suppliers (China) and buyers (the U.S.) who now jointly account for over 40% of the regions total trade. As a result, exports in a narrow set of activities controlled by foreign subsidiaries outpace exports from locally owned supply chains, for example in agrifood and fisheries, industrial parts and manufactures, where growth has also been strong, triggering economic diversification. Vietnams import and export product basket is the largest and most diversified, expanding recently into chemicals, machinery and electric batteries, the report says. Huge potential for trade finance expansion In 2022, Vietnamese banks supported 21% of the country's total merchandise trade of $731 billion, with funds representing 22% of the countrys total banking assets. These numbers are low, not only compared to developed country levels of 60-80% but also relative to the coverage of trade recorded in other developing regions, such as West Africa. Thomas Jacobs, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, speaks at the release of a report on Trade Finance in the Mekong Region, Hanoi, February 22, 2024. Photo by The Investor/Minh Tuan. Notably, banks are more likely to support local enterprises engaged in intra-regional trade than large multinationals engaged in global trade, the report finds. It says subsidiaries of multinationals in high-growth high-value sectors such as electronics and garments rely less on local bank-intermediated trade finance. The value of Vietnams local trade finance market is estimated at $150 billion, the report says, adding that distribution of trade finance between imports and exports is relatively balanced in Vietnam, with assets concentrating on intermediate goods and inputs. Improving the coverage of trade by bank-intermediated finance holds the greatest potential to expand trade, the report contends. It says sectors carrying the greatest potential are textiles, wearing apparel and leather. The electronics sector plays a moderate role in this expansion owing to large shares of related-party trade (i.e. trade with subsidiaries of multinational enterprises and large conglomerates), which are less likely to use domestic trade finance. The report shows that only a small fraction of the banks surveyed - 29% - fund climate-related trade activities. Innovative trade finance instruments are still nascent, although a quarter of banks surveyed envisage expanding its provision within the next two years. Supply chain finance currently supplied by local banks in Vietnam accounts for just 2% of available trade finance. Since local trade finance in Vietnam is currently concentrated in domestic manufacturers, greater coverage of local trade finance will not only help improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese importers and exporters but more importantly, will boost production, deepen global supply chain integration and spread the benefits of trade more evenly across local producers, said Thomas Jacobs, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Vietnam automaker VinFast inks EV supply deal with Indonesian firms By Tri Duc Thu, February 22, 2024 | 4:10 pm GMT+7 VinFast, the carmaker subsidiary of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three Indonesian business clients to provide 600 electric vehicles. In a Thursday release, VinFast said the deal was signed at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2024, an event where VinFast displayed its line of right-hand drive EVs. The deal would open up an avenue for the Vietnamese EV maker to tap the strong potential of the Indonesian market while promoting green transportation development in the region, VinFast said. VinFast executives and Indonesian business partners at the Indonesia International Motor Show in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 15-25, 2024. Photo courtesy of VinFast. Per the MoU, VinFast will provide 600 EVs to three Jakarta-based companies: PT. Energi Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi; PT. Sumber Amarta Jaya; and PT. Teknologi Karya Digital Nusa Tbk. The two EV models in A and B-SUV segments mentioned in the MoU, which will be launched in the Indonesian market soon, will serve the companies goal of expanding their respective corporate fleets. The release quoted VinFast Indonesia CEO Tran Quoc Huy as saying: "This MoU reflects not only the great potential of the EV market in Indonesia, but also VinFasts competitiveness in the international market." VinFasts expansion into Indonesia represents a strategic enhancement of its global presence and distribution network, bolstering its position in the global EV industry, the automaker said. In January, during a Vietnam-Indonesia high-level business dialogue, Indonesian President Widodo urged VinFast to expand its investment in the electric vehicle field. He visited the automakers electric vehicle manufacturing complex in the northern port city of Hai Phong. In September 2023, VinFast had announced a long-term plan to invest at least $1.2 billion in Indonesia. Apart from distributing imported cars from Vietnam in the first phase, it will build a $200-million EV factory in the country with an expected annual capacity of 30,000-50,000 vehicles, the Vietnamese automaker said. Industry News SchoolStatus Acquires SchoolNow Following the recent launch of its new student success platform, SchoolStatus announced it has acquired school-home communications K12 platform SchoolNow, in its entirety, to help schools engage families and communities in student success. The SchoolNow platform will integrate with SchoolStatus' student success platform, the company said. The new platform features "ADA-compliant websites, mobile apps, social media, text, voice, and e-mail [in] an all-in-one system created to broaden and deepen the school experience with families," SchoolStatus said. Within the SchoolNow platform, schools and districts can create and update their own accessible and SEO-friendly websites with messaging, branding, social media, and other communications to connect family and staff, the company said. CMS and website tools, along with tech support, make website launching easy for schools. SchoolNow's operations, technology, employee teams, and clients will all become part of SchoolStatus, and current SchoolNow users will continue to have access to all the products and services they have now. "SchoolNow is an excellent addition to our recently launched student success platform as both companies share the common goal of solving schools' biggest challenges in communication and making it easier for schools to connect and engage with families," said Russ Davis, CEO and founder of SchoolStatus, adding that the acquisition aims to help improve "student achievement and attendance delivering another piece of the puzzle." Visit SchoolNow's resources page to learn more about its expertise in communications. FROM THE PUBLISHER | Rumor, the telephone game, and the Chiefs parade shooting State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code WASHINGTON -- Historically black colleges and universities have played a critical role in advancing intergenerational economic mobility for Black families and communities throughout generations. Additionally, HBCUs have been instrumental in fostering innovation and intellectual property development. Today, HBCUs continue to foster innovation among Black inventors and entrepreneurs with the help of Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Miller F. Whittaker Library at South Carolina State University is one of four libraries currently designated as a PTRC. PTRCs are part of a national network of public, state, and academic libraries designated by the USPTO to offer trademark and patent assistance to the public. These local centers support the intellectual property needs of the public by providing a human touch. PTRC library staff are local information experts trained by the USPTO on how to use search tools to access information and help people navigate their patent and trademark journey. Services include online resources, research consultations, and workshops to share information on the importance of intellectual property. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. Patents and trademarks are key to establishing ownership rights to inventions and brands that bring tangible economic benefits to their owners, said Kathi Vidal, under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO, who designated three HBCUs as PTRCs in 2023. We are committed to increasing the number of PTRCs at HBCUs and educational programs across the country to ensure that Black creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs have access to these key resources. Currently, four HBCU libraries have been designated as PTRCs: Howard Universitys Founders Library, designated on Dec. 8, 1986 John B. Cade Library at Southern University and A&M College, designated on Oct. 12, 2023 John B. Coleman Library at Prairie View A&M University, designated on Oct. 16, 2023 Miller F. Whittaker Library at South Carolina State University, designated on Dec. 6, 2023 In the continued effort to expand the number of PTRCs across the country, Vidal issued letters to 600 libraries across the country, including all HBCUs, inviting each institution to consider becoming PTRCs to assist their local innovators. Adia Coleman, head of the business library at Howard University, first learned about the importance of intellectual property from her father who was an entrepreneur and had one of his ideas stolen. This understanding helps her identify with those that visit the PTRC. Having these resources at HBCUs helps to empower people, said Coleman. Theres a fear that an idea can be stolen the moment that its shared. Speaking and meeting with someone that looks like you, can help entrepreneurs and inventors feel more comfortable knowing that their ideas are safe. Local partnerships with Greater Washington Urban League, DC Chamber of Commerce, Black Chambers of Commerce, DC Local and Small Business Project, and the Womens Business Center, provide Howard Universitys Founders Library the opportunity to reach the greater community. In 2023, the PTRC at Howard University assisted more than 160 people through research consultations. To find a list of PTRCs by state, visit the USPTOs official PTRC locations page. Holly Hill town officials banned food trucks and ultralight aircraft in the past six months. Are vape shops next? A man identified only as Mr. Sam spoke during the public comments time of the Planning and Zoning Commissions meeting on Monday, Feb. 12. We have a small convenience store and we need to know why we cant sell vape here, he said. The towns planning consultant, Rebecca Vance, replied that a store whose primary business is selling vape products isnt allowed in the zoning district where youre located. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. The store is in a strip shopping center on the towns main street. Its in clear view of a supermarket, three restaurants, a pharmacy, a hardware store, a hair salon, a gas station, and several other shops. If you want to put in a request for a variance, you have to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals, commission member Sharon Wade said. Commission Chairman David Teague agreed. They have the power to help you or not help you. We do not have the authority to do that. Only the BZA can address that. My recommendation would be to go to their meeting tomorrow night. Public hearing set on Holly Hill annexation requests The Holly Hill Town Council is poised to annex 11 tracts during its monthly meeting on Monday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the governmental complex on Old State Road. Mr. Sam left the room before the meeting ended and could not be reached for comment for this article. The following evening, Mr. Sam was not in attendance at the BZA meeting, but his situation was discussed as an example of the type of request that might come before the BZA. HOLLY HILL COUNCIL: Town gets $15 million for new sewer plant Four residential developers have signed letters of intent to give the Town of Holly Hill a total of $15,625,963.80 to build a new wastewater treatment facility. The BZAs purpose is to hear appeals from people who have been told by the town zoning administrator that their use of their property violates the towns zoning ordinance. The BZA cant change the law, but it can approve, on a case-by-case basis, variances that allow owners to use their property in a way that otherwise would not have been legal. Holly Hill town limits may be extended The Holly Hill Town Council gave first reading on Monday, May 5, to a set of ordinances annexing nine parcels into the town limits. In every case, the property owner voluntarily petitioned for annexation. When the BZA rules against a property owner, he or she has the option of appealing the BZAs decision to the Circuit Court. The BZA is a brand-new concept in Holly Hill. Until recently, if you were told you couldnt have it, you couldnt have it, Town Clerk Shelia Williams said. Mr. Sam is the first person to indicate he might ask for a variance, and if he does, someone will have to find or create an application form, Williams said. One BZA member asked for a definition of a vape shop. Williams said vape shops and many other retailers cater to people who use electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs for short, often as a replacement for tobacco products. People vape by inserting cartridges of flavored liquid some have nicotine, others dont into a handheld portable machine that heats the liquid into a vapor that the user inhales. BZA member Diane Bergen noted that as Mr. Sam told the Planning Commission the evening before his stated intention was to open a convenience store and gift shop. But it soon became apparent to town officials that his primary lines of merchandise were not snacks and soft drinks. That whole wall was full of vapes before he got the No, its not OK message from the town, Williams said. Bergen said, What we are restricting is a product. There are certain things the town doesnt want. It is not allowed or disallowed in the zoning ordinance. Therefore, verbiage has to be added in the zoning ordinance. If precedence was set in the way the food trucks matter was handled, the town council will ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to suggest how an amendment to the ordinance could be worded. Then the council would vote on it. Until then, vape aficionados need not worry. Last week, stores all over Holly Hill were offering a variety of vape supplies for sale. A sandwich from Stony Creek Eats in Branford. Sam Hart, Stony Creek Brewery/Contributed photo Pretzel bites from Stony Creek Eats in Branford. Sam Hart, Stony Creek Brewery/Contributed photo A burger from Stony Creek Eats in Branford. Sam Hart, Stony Creek Brewery/Contributed photo Stony Creek Brewery in Branford is adding dining in the taproom, according to a news release. Stony Creek Eats will hold a grand opening on March 1, the release states. Brewery president Ed Crowley Jr. said via email that the soft launch will be Feb. 22-29. According to the release, guests in Stony Creek's Taproom will be able to order food via QR code, and servers will bring the dishes to their tables. A salad from Stony Creek Eats in Branford. Sam Hart, Stony Creek Brewery/Contributed photo "We wanted to maintain the laid-back ambiance of a brewery while elevating our culinary offerings," Crowley said in the release. "Stony Creek Eats allows guests to seamlessly enjoy their favorite brews alongside a diverse menu." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Vecchitto's menu at Stony Creek includes starters like crab dip, truffle fries and macaroni and cheese, as well as wings and salads. Other menu items include tacos, burgers, lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese and Hummel hot dogs. A children's menu is also available. A hot dog from Stony Creek Eats in Branford. Sam Hart, Stony Creek Brewery/Contributed photo The brewery posted on its Instagram that, as of Feb. 16, guests can no longer bring their own food. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Starting March 1, Stony Creek Eats will serve dinner every day. Happy hour will be served Monday-Thursday, from 3-6 p.m. Lunch will be served Friday-Sunday, the release notes. Starting in the spring, the release states, Stony Treats dessert trailer will open in the Stony Creek parking lot. It will offer ice cream and coffee, as well as other sweets. The Stony Creek Brewery in Branford, shown here in March 2019, is one the many tourist attractions in the New Haven area. Luther Turrmelle / Hearst Connecticut Media Stony Creek Brewery opened in 2015. In addition to serving its own beers, the brewery has guest taps that serve beer from other Connecticut breweries. It backs up onto the Branford River and has outdoor seating along the water. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The South Carolina broadcast of the short documentary In the Bubble with Jaime will air on South Carolina ETV at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. The film covers Orangeburg native Jaime Harrisons 2020 campaign for U.S. Senate in South Carolina. Directed by Orangeburg native Emily Harrold, the film is an in-depth look at the challenges that Harrison faced running for office and how his campaign handled the racial dynamics of Southern politics. This is a South Carolina story through and through, and I am thrilled it will reach audiences statewide via ETV, Harrold said in a release. Tabitha Safdi, chief content officer at South Carolina ETV, said, We are thrilled to broadcast In the Bubble with Jaime. The 2020 U.S. Senate race between Harrison and Graham captured the attention of Americans both in South Carolina and nationwide this film gives us an inside look at what was happening behind the scenes. Along with charting Harrisons 2020 bid for U.S. Senate when he challenged incumbent Lindsey Graham, the film also explores the challenges of campaigning during a global pandemic and how the campaign itself had to reposition and respond to the impact of a largely virtual campaign. Harrison lost the race. Hes now chair of the Democratic National Committee. Along with Harrison, the film features Harrison Campaign Political Director Bre Maxwell and The State reporter Joseph Bustos. After the film, the broadcast features a filmmaker conversation with Harrold and Executive Producer Charlamagne Tha God. COLUMBIA South Carolina's 2023 export sales totaled $37.3 billion, defying the national trend where the U.S. Department of Commerce reports exports down 2.2%. Gov. Henry McMaster, the SC Department of Commerce and South Carolina Ports announced that since 2013, South Carolina exports have grown at an average rate of 4.4% year-to-year. Over the same period, U.S. exports grew at an average rate of 3% year-to-year. The automotive industry led South Carolinas exported goods, with sales more than double that of the next largest industry type (aircraft and aerospace components). The state remains the nations top exporter of tires, and a national leader of completed passenger vehicles. South Carolinas top five exported commodities in 2023 were: 1. Completed passenger vehicles 2. Aircraft and parts 3. Machinery and mechanical appliances (turbojets, turbopropellers, gas turbines, ball and roller bearings, appliances for boilers and pumps) 4. Plastics 5. Rubber (tires) Notable 2023 trade statistics include: 2023 export sales totaled $37.3 billion, defying the national trend of U.S. exports dropping 2.2% over the same year. South Carolinas 2023 total export sales figure is an 18% increase over 2022 export sales. For the eighth consecutive year, South Carolina is the national leader in the export of tires, with sales reaching $1.8 billion representing 34.3% of the total U.S. market share. South Carolina also remains among the top in the nation in the export of completed passenger motor vehicles, with 2023 sales growing to $10.2 billion accounting for 16% of the total U.S. market share. South Carolina exports reached 211 countries in 2023. Germany was the number one export market for South Carolina-made products and services, accounting for $4.7 billion. Belgium, a primary point of entry into the European Union market, entered South Carolinas top five global export markets with an increase over 21% from 2022. Other countries continue to find that South Carolina offers the best products and services available anywhere, which is emphasized by the fact that our state saw an increase in trade despite a national decline in exports, McMaster said. By sending locally made goods throughout the world, we can continue to create more jobs and careers for South Carolinians while helping expand our economy. South Carolina is a global state were proud to be a leading destination and trade partner for companies and countries throughout the world, Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said. Growing our international trade and exports network makes our economy more resilient, more diverse, and more competitive for long-term economic development success. As the eighth largest U.S. container port, SC Ports serves as South Carolinas gateway to the world, SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. We are proud to move cargo for South Carolina companies, ensuring that automakers, advanced manufacturers, farmers and small businesses have direct access to global markets." (TBTCO) - Sang nay, gia vang the gioi chua co bien ong moi. Cac chuyen gia cho rang, quan iem va quyet inh lai suat cua cac ngan hang trung uong se tac ong en huong i cua vang tuan nay. Trong nuoc, tai thoi iem 6h30, vang SJC tai Ha Noi van uoc niem yet o moc 81,72 trieu ong/luong o chieu ban ra. at hon gia vang the gioi 15,684 trieu ong/luong. Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part series on Indigenous maternal healthcare in South Dakota. For the first time in eight generations, a Dakota baby was born in a traditional earth lodge in Dakota homelands. Under the moon of the black chokecherries, Dallis Rencountre, a citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, gave birth to her second child, a 10-pound baby boy. Her son was born in a traditional earth lodge in Granite Falls, Minn., built by her grandmother's company, Makoce Ikikcupi. I remember sitting in the tub and thinking, I dont know if I can do this. I was actually very upset at my grandparents, but my grandpa looked at me and told me that the next generation is coming, Rencountre said. I was realizing that I was going to bring a leader to my people and that this birth was history in the making it could be a turning point for other Dakota women to come to an earth lodge and give birth to their babies just like I did. It was her grandmothers idea for her to have a traditional birth. When Rencountre was 32 weeks pregnant, her doctor at her local hospital, Coteau Des Prairies, told her she needed a Cesarean section. Uncomfortable with the advice, Rencountre sought other options. Shed heard other Dakota women in her community voice similar concerns; theyd been recommended a Cesarean section early in their pregnancies. I didnt feel heard. I felt like he didnt understand how I was feeling about a C-section; he wasnt listening to me, Rencountre said. As hospitals across the United States close their obstetrics and gynecology departments, women in rural areas especially Indigenous women have fewer options for specialized care. A majority of South Dakota is considered a maternal healthcare desert, meaning there are little to no options for specialized obstetrics care across the state. Several Indigenous women in places with no available obstetrics care, or who are unsatisfied with their care, have elected to move back to traditional birthing practices. Theres a time, a place and a need for medical assistance, and we have a need here in South Dakota, said Zintkala Black Owl, Sicangu Lakota and an organizer of the He Sapa Birth Circle. We need accessible, equipped, qualified medical facilities available for our people. We live in a really rural setting; people have to drive hours to get to a hospital. The He Sapa Birth Circle seeks to provide an inclusive, supportive space where Indigenous parents can share their birth experience, seek advice and receive any support they may need. Black Owl gave birth to her seven children at home in a traditional setting. When she moved from Oregon back home to South Dakota, she found herself looking for a way to connect with other moms and provide support. I think that our modern culture has socialized people to fear birth and to engage with it in a medical standpoint, Black Owl said. We pathologize birth when really its a natural function of our bodies just like breathing or blinking our eyes. A long history of distrust The United States has a long history of distrust between Indigenous women and healthcare providers, specifically on reservations. A history of historical trauma can also lead Indigenous women to distrust medical providers. Forced sterilization and infant separation policies drove a wedge of distrust between physicians and Indigenous women. From 1973 to 1976, approximately 3,406 Indigenous women were sterilized without their knowledge or through coercion by Indian Health Service practitioners some as young as 15. In 1978, the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act allowed for Indigenous people to not only openly practice traditional lifeways, but reclaim traditional birthing practices. I was born in 1981, to date myself, and many other people in my family and my community were born at home during that time. I think a lot of it had to do with the Religious Freedom Act and the resurgence of our peoples culture being accessible, Black Owl said. Decades later, Indigenous women still face barriers when seeking medical care. In South Dakota, Indigenous women die from pregnancy-associated causes at rates four times higher than white women. From 2012 to 2021, Indigenous women in South Dakota accounted for 46% of the pregnancy-associated deaths, despite accounting for only 9% of the states total population, according to the South Dakota Department of Health. The South Dakota Department of Health noted the leading causes of death include motor vehicle accidents, mental health conditions which includes death by suicide substance abuse disorders and overdoses. Nationwide, mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal death among Indigenous mothers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Depression is a common issue amongst Indigenous mothers, an issue that groups like the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board hope to address. Educating families Traditional community-based childcare values and traditional parenting styles were lost. Many parents, especially new mothers, lack a much-needed support system post-birth. Often, new parents are left having to learn how to be a parent on their own. This is something we see a lot, especially in teenage moms, said Terri Rattler, Oglala Lakota and the health board home visit program manager. Just saying, Hey, youre doing a good job with your baby can do a lot. The health board's home visiting program first began with the community needs and readiness assessment. The data identified 450 families in Pennington County that didn't receive any type of home visiting services. I want to be the superhero, I want to get to those 450 people, but we cant. But even if we meet with 25 to 50 families, were still making a difference, Rattler said. The home visiting program utilizes the Family Spirit program to educate families on proper car seat use, baby care, general support and dealing with depression and more. Home visitors can connect families with needed resources to meet any gaps in care. Currently, the community mapping assessment timeline consists of reaching out to existing programs and organizations, developing a community advisory group, conducting a community survey and developing a resource directory for families. For families who survived boarding school, parenting structures were disrupted. Once home, survivors struggled to relate to their families. Once they became adults, survivors didnt know how to be parents. They didnt grow up with their own families or learn about themselves and their culture. My mom went to boarding school, living through that, I think it just makes you feel lost, Rattler said. I mean, she had three daughters and she wouldnt tell us anything about our bodies; when adults were talking wed have to go into a different room. She loved us a lot, but I didnt really understand what shed gone through until I was in my 40s. Home visitors are able to provide families with the education and reassurance needed to be a parent. In late 2023, the GPTLHBs home visiting program received a nearly $1 million, five-year grant to provide home visits in the Rapid City area. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a sub-awardee, will also be able to carry out home visits on its reservation. Having this program is really going to help a lot of moms, Rattler said. Home visits can make mothers feel more comfortable in their role. Additionally, culturally appropriate care like that provided by the He Sapa Birth Circle and Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board can greatly benefit Indigenous mothers, babies and families, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Understanding the cultural needs and practices of a patient is an important element in trust-building. Rencountre was able to give birth alongside a group of her loved ones. Her grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles were all present and assisted during the birth. Rencountre also had a trained midwife, Autumn Cavender-Wilson, present to help her through the birth. To anyone wanting to do this, I would just say to make sure you have a good support system and to be prepared, Rencountre said. [Visiting with Cavender-Wilson] it was like therapy. She let me talk about everything that was going on with my body and made me feel heard. It was the complete opposite of what Id experienced at the hospital. She kept me going. After five hours of pushing, Rencountre gave birth to a 10-pound baby boy. But when her son emerged, he wasnt breathing. Cavender-Wilsons infant resuscitator device wasnt working, so Rencountre watched as the midwife carefully gave the baby CPR. I heard the exact moment he took his first breath, his first breath of air, Rencountre said. She saved him. Rencountres grandfather took her baby outside and introduced him to each of the four directions and the sun. The placenta was buried outside by a tree, grounding the baby to his homelands. This was the best thing Ive ever done in my life, Rencountre said. I love to talk about it; I hope I can inspire people to do the same thing. The whole point of me giving birth in the earth lodge was so we could have more births like that. For those in need of support, the He Sapa Birth Circle is planning its third annual traditional birthwork gathering this fall in the Black Hills. The tribal home visiting program will be enrolling families for home visits sometime in the fall within the next six months, once the community needs and readiness assessment mapping process is completed. The home visiting program will be enrolling expecting parents, mothers, fathers, caregivers and children 0 to 5 years of age. Expanding mental health accessibility in Wyoming is on the Legislatures list but funding for the cause may fall short yet again. Wyoming has historically wrestled with some of the highest suicide rates in the nation. According to the Wyoming Department of Health, Wyoming rates are double the national rate. The Legislature last year created the 988 system trust but no money was allocated to the fund despite the initial bill appropriating $40 million for the fund. This year, House Bill 186, sponsored by Rep. Jon Conrad, R-Mountain View, again sought to provide the 988 system trust with $40 million from the general fund the state governments main operating fund but amendments to the bill on Tuesday cut the funding from $40 million to $10 million. The 988 system is a national network of local suicide and crisis call centers. The National Suicide Prevention Line transitioned in summer 2022 from a 10-digit phone number to 988. People can call, text or chat with trained crisis counselors at any time and day through the 988 Lifeline network. The counselors are trained to provide free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress and connect them to resources, according to the 988 Lifeline website. Wyoming has two call centers one in Casper and one in Greybull that manage calls and messages from phone numbers with a 307 area code. Roughly 2% of the calls that come in are required to be escalated to the highest level 911 intervention which is on par with national best practices, according to Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers Executive Director Andi Summerville. About 20% of calls that are coming in right now are from our veterans in our state, she said. Funding for the 988 trust could end up coming through a proposed suicide awareness and prevention license plate House Bill 144, sponsored by Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, would create the license plate and impose an initial $150 fee for the plate and a $100 fee every year after that while the plate is still in use by a person. The funds collected would be put into the 988 system trust. The plates could mirror a similar design to ones offered in Colorado, which began offering an all black license plate with white lettering to fund the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles began offering black, blue and red throwback license plates early last year with a $25 fee. The plate is hugely popular with nearly 170,000 vehicles using the plates and contributing more than $4.2 million to the Colorado Disability Funding Committee as of January, according to the Colorado DMV. The next most popular plate was a Columbine Respect Life design with roughly 75,000 vehicles registered with the plates. Both bills were voted on and approved to be sent back to the House of Representatives. The house must approve the changes and approve it two more times before handing the bills to the Senate. The Senate must then vote to introduce and refer the bills to a Senate committee, which is allowed to make changes to the bills. The bills with potential changes will be voted on by the Senate. Both chambers of the Legislature must approve the same bill before it is sent to Gov. Mark Gordon to be signed. If Gordon signs the bills they become law. Kent McCarthy, a U.S. Secret Service agent and University of Hartford alumni, is part of the team that will be recruiting future Secret Service special agents at the West Hartford college campus. Contributed photo / University of Hartford WEST HARTFORD The University of Hartford will serve as a regional hub for those looking to break into federal law enforcement. From Feb. 26 to Feb. 29, aspiring U.S. Secret Service agents who are college seniors, graduate students, or have recently graduated from college, can apply to join the ranks of the federal agency, which is responsible for much more than protecting the president. "Interestingly enough, the Secret Service was founded in 1865 and not for any protective reason. It was founded to combat counterfeit currency," said Patrick Freaney, the special agent who heads the Secret Services New York field office. "We didn't begin the protection aspect until 1901. The protection, that aspect of the job has grown through the years, but we were always an investigative agency. The Secret Service really is an integrated mission of investigation and protection." Advertisement Article continues below this ad So while Secret Service agents are, of course, tapped to protect the president, vice president, and any foreign heads of state who are in the country, they're also frequently investigating other federal cases, including fraud, which in today's world includes cases of virtual currency crimes. "Any fraudulent scam and financial scam that looks to hurt the American people are crimes we investigate," Freaney said. The University of Hartford will be one of only a few in the New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey region serving as a recruitment hub for the Secret Service's STAR program, which looks to expedite the application process for candidates. Members of the public are also welcome to apply. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What might normally take two months can be done in the matter of two days, Freaney said. That includes a physical fitness test, written exam, professional interview, and security interview. It's key, he said, to shave those months off because once hired, a candidate must first go through around 30 weeks of training at two different training facilities before being assigned to a field office. "The goal is that you can be a senior right now, go through the process, and potentially have a job waiting for upon graduation," Freaney said. That would begin a career that Freaney said has been a rewarding one. He's served for nearly 24 years, including presidential protection detail and time spent with the Secret Service's counter assault team. "This job has allowed me to have different opportunities I would never have imagined," Freaney said. "This program and what theyre doing at the University of Hartford is such a remarkable opportunity for any graduating senior to streamline the process and really get them on their path. I wish I had it when I was going through." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The University of Hartford does have some connections to the Secret Service, including 1996 graduate Kent McCarthy, who is the assistant special agent in charge of administration and recruitment at the Secret Services New York field office. Freaney also mentioned past presidential visits to the college campus, including one President Joe Biden made last year, as another reason why they have a good partnership with the university. Chloe Coles voice echoed through the Wyoming Capitols three floors. The checkerboard marble floors, columns and adorned dome rang with her story. At 15 years old I underwent a radical double mastectomy to remove my breasts surgically, the capitol rang. I thought that by undergoing these treatments I would become my truest self as a boy. But the further I went into it, the more I realized this couldnt be any further from the truth. A small crowd had gathered in the Capitols rotunda on Wednesday afternoon to hear the 19-year-old California native and resident tell her story and stand in opposition to gender affirming care for minors. Let us continue to fight for what is right for our families, for our children, for our state and for our country, she said. Cole in testimony for a committee Wednesday morning said she began transitioning from a girl to a boy at 13 by starting puberty blockers and testosterone. Less than a year after her surgery she realized she might want to be a mother and began the process of detransitioning. She made the trip from California to Wyoming to speak in support of Senate File 99, sponsored by Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne. The bill is also known as Chloes Law and it seeks gender affirming care for people under 18 years of age and sets penalties for violation of the law. The bill unanimously passed by the five-member Labor, Health and Social Services Committee following an abundance of public testimony and has been sent back to the Senate. A near-identical bill passed the Senate last year but died once the bill was handed to the House. This year has been a lot smoother moving through the Senate and I think the House really needs to look up at whats going on and I think the voters need to be really paying attention to what the House does. The House had less success pushing through legislation affecting transgender people with House Bill 50 and House Bill 63 failing to meet the need two thirds approval from the House. House Bill 50 would have defined by law what a male and female is and House Bill 63 would have prohibited sex and gender changes for children. Bouchard in a committee meeting Wednesday morning said Senate File 99 was inspired by Cole. The bill would prevent minors from getting surgeries such as castrations, vasectomies, hysterectomies and mastectomies; the prescription and administering of puberty blockers, large doses of testosterone to females and estrogen to males; and the removal any otherwise healthy or non diseased body part or tissue. Bouchard told the Star-Tribune the ban would not apply to children with medically verifiable genetic of sex development disorders and children that begin puberty at an abnormally young age so long as the parents agree to the procedures. (The bills) do say very clearly and plainly that they are seeking to do specific harm to a specific community It does not interfere with someone elses ability to have this care. Thats the very definition of discrimination, Wyoming Equality Executive Director Sara Burlingame said. Wyoming Equality and the American Civil Liberties Union spoke in opposition to the bill. These are not Wyoming issues, whats happening is a lot of bills from other states are being pretty much word-for-word copied and being introduced here, Wyoming Equality Spokeswoman Santi Murillo said. The bill focuses on criminalizing surgery against minors and yet we have no surgery against minors for the purpose of transitioning their gender, Wyoming Equality Executive Director Sara Burlingame added. ACLU of Wyoming advocacy director Antonio Serrano in his testimony cited a 2020 Trevor Project study that found that 54% of people that identify as transgender or nonbinary seriously considered suicide in the past year and 29% attempted it. Because the link between gender affirming care and improved mental health and wellbeing among teens is well documented we should not be passing bills targeting some of the most vulnerable people in our state, Serrano said. Bouchard told the Star-Tribune that parents arms are being twisted by counselors into transitioning children. Last year we had someone else testify and they told her parents would you rather have a transgender son or a dead daughter, he said. The early morning committee meeting also drew in Wyoming residents not affiliated with any organization. The Wyoming I grew up with was live and let live and I would like to see us go back to live and let live and not concern ourselves with the personal and private lives of other people, said Laramie resident Katherine Morgan during testimony Wednesday morning. The bill also calls for the revocation, suspension or restriction of licenses and permits of health care providers including nurses, pharmacists and physicians that do not adhere to the bill. Health Experts testified in opposition to the bill but emphasized that no gender affirming surgeries are conducted in Wyoming. There is great debate on this topic, there is no debate about surgery, Wyoming Medical Society Executive Director Sheila Bush said during testimony Wednesday morning. Passing laws that are overly prescriptive in statute dictating the practice of medicine represent not only an overreach of government, but also a halt or ceasing of allowing the medical community to advance on its own. Michael Sanderson, a pediatrician in Sheridan and president of the Wyoming chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said I dont think that this bill was a bill that was crafted for Wyoming or for Wyomingites. The American Academy of Pediatrics has already come out in open opposition to surgical treatment for minors seeking gender affirming care this does not happen and it has never happened, and it will probably never happen in the state of Wyoming, he continued to say. Sanderson later in his testimony said the Legislatures tone towards medical practice is driving and keeping physicians away from Wyoming. Every time you bring these bills before consideration you send a message to Wyoming doctors that our choice to come back to Wyoming and practice medicine for the benefit of Wyoming citizens is not welcome here, Sanderson said. The Labor, Health and Social Services Committee on Wednesday morning also unanimously approved Senate File 98, sponsored by Bouchard, which would expand the statute of limitations for civil suits relating to gender transition services performed on minors. The bill would allow for people to bring suits forward against health care providers up until the age of 21. Sanderson told the Star-Tribune the bill is trying to attack doctors and litigate, but he added that the bill will serve as a safety net and litigate against doctors that practice poorly. Editors note: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name ACLU Advocacy Director Antonio Serrano. The Star-Tribune regrets this error. Over the last few years, Leon Coldero has arguably become just as renowned for his insatiable cuisine as he is as an entertainer. Having spent four decades in entertainment, giving soca parang lovers hits that never get old, opening his restaurant was just a natural progression for Coldero, who used the downtime during the Covid-19 pandemic, to delve full throttle into the restaurant business. A new camera system is being installed along this countrys roadways with the aim of tackling traffic congestion and reducing the countrys crime. This was said yesterday by Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, who spoke with the media at the intersection of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and Golden Grove Road in Piarco. With ten people murdered between Thursday and Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley took to Facebook yesterday to assure citizens that State agencies will not give up the fight to rid our streets and other places of the evil that is now widespread as a gun culture in Trinidad and Tobago. And in a voice note to the media, Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher said, We are determined to dismantle criminal gangs and make a difference in transforming impacted communities. Someday, no doubt, someone will write a book about the Tucson Festival of Books. When that day comes, here is a suggestion for Chapter 1: Use big, picture-book type short, easy-to-read sentences some bright, colorful drawings and begin where every festival begins: with the annual Storybook Parade. This years Tucson Festival of Books will be March 9-10 at the University of Arizona, and the first event on Day 1 will again be the parade, a loud, joyful procession of kids who will wind their way through the festival grounds to the Children, Teens and Young Adult area surrounding the College of Education. The festival cannot begin until the children get there, and why would it? Tucson has become one of the largest, most significant gatherings in all of childrens literature. Just ask Adam Rex, a picture-book author and illustrator who will be appearing in his 14th hometown book festival. When you see the list of authors who are coming, you know this is a big, big deal, Rex said. R.L. Stine? Kate DiCamillo? These people are as big as they come in childrens literature. But well have dozens of other great authors, too, and kids will be right in the middle of it all. I dont think its just bias that makes me say I like our festival the best of all the ones I do. Rap star Vashti Harrison was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award in Young Peoples Literature with Big. Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen and Anna Margrethe Kjaergaard, who authored Out of the Blue, are coming from Denmark. Every year I try to pop in and see someone Ive read or read about, and every year my list gets longer, said Rex. Theres just no way I can see everybody I want to see. By the end of book festival weekend, there will be kids saying that, too. The Children, Teens and Young Adult program will feature 68 authors in more than 100 sessions, games and activities. Around them will be a constant swirl of chattering children who may bump into author Lori Alexander when flying around one corner and a costumed Clifford the Big Red Dog rounding the next. That, Rex said, is what sets Tucson apart. At a lot of book events, Ill look out into the audience, and the only people Ill see are adults; librarians, teachers, parents I wont see any children at all. Here in Tucson, Ill see lots of kids. Sooner or later, Ill probably be sitting on a quilt, reading with them. Book festival weekend will include author carousels where children and teens meet seven or eight authors during a single session. There will be Story Blankets where authors read to small children sitting on quilts. There will be studio sessions for young illustrators and opportunities for young adults to discuss books about young adults. Interestingly, these were somewhat new when UA Professor Kathy Short agreed to organize the childrens program for the first book festival in 2009. Back then, she recalls, we went to conferences where adults would talk with other adults about books for children. The first time I went to a book festival, in Los Angeles, the authors were all onstage in a large hall, trying to entertain the audience. Short, who still manages the Children, Teens and Young Adult area today, wanted Tucson to feel more like Tucson. We wanted authors who would interact with kids, she said. Our goal was to make children into readers. When youve met the author and talked to them, when youve heard them read their book, you never read them the same way again. So thats where we wanted to start. For the second year of the festival, the headliner was Joy Harjo. For the fourth event, it was Stine. By 2015, publishers were lining up to send their own top authors to Tucson. The program has been growing ever since, with sessions now offered for teachers, artists and emerging authors of books for children. We have so many audiences now you never know who you might see, Short said. Still, at its heart, the festival is kids stuff, and authors such as Rex cant wait. For me, the book festival is this shining star I look to every year, a time to catch up with all the friends I see once a year in Tucson. I hope its that way for readers, too. Its their chance to connect with this weird stranger who means so much to them because they happen to love the stories he writes. It will be great to see them all again. FOOTNOTES If you and your own kids would like to be part of this years Storybook Parade, come to the UA Bookstore before 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 9. Mariachi and an assortment of costumed characters from the pages of childrens literature will begin the procession at 9. The University of Arizona will formally celebrate Kathy Shorts appointment as a regents professor on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Now in her 35th year with the College of Education, Short is director of the World of Words Center there. She also heads the widely acclaimed Children and Young Adults area at the Tucson Festival of Books. The Arizona Board of Regents confirmed Shorts appointment last spring. Poet Matthew Zapruder will read from his latest collection, Story of a Poem, Thursday, Feb. 29, at the UA Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen Street. The program will begin at 7 p.m. An international aircraft-maintenance company plans to add more than 250 jobs at its major operation at Tucson International Airport over the next three years to help support a global fleet of regional jets. Montreal-based MHI RJ Aviation Group, a maintenance, repair and overhaul services provider to airline fleets globally, says it plans to add 100 jobs this year, on top of about 400 currently at TIA, to meet demand for service to the CRJ Series of regional jets formerly made by Bombardier. MHIRJ, which is part of Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, plans to host a job fair Feb. 28 at its airport facility. And the company is promoting its hiring spree with a marketing effort highlighting Tucsons charms, while also offering new scholarships to students of Pima Community Colleges highly regarded aviation-tech program. MHIRJ, which acquired the maintenance operation for Bombardiers CRJ line of regional jets in 2020, is adding to service lines at the facility adjacent to Bombardiers remaining business-jet maintenance operation at TIA. The new jobs include airframe and power plant technicians, avionics technicians, structures technicians, machinists and welders, crew chiefs, and technicians in non-destructive testing. The median hourly wage for aircraft mechanics and techs was $33.66 in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We are committed to growing our facility to meet the demand coming from the market, and we need people who have the drive and determination to join us in Tucson, said Ross Mitchell, vice president of strategy, business development, marketing, communications and business operations at MHIRJ. Mitchell said the company is setting up new maintenance lines at TIA to meet strong demand for maintenance of the CRJ series jetliners, which seat from 50 to about 100 passengers and are used by regional air route operators. Bombardier began producing CRJs, which originally stood for Canadair Regional Jet, in 1991 and made about 2,000 of the jets, delivering its final CRJ to SkyWest Airlines in February 2021. There is nothing on the horizon, nothing being developed today that will replace the CRJ, so what the airlines tell us and what we know is the CRJs will stay in service, said Mitchell. They just require somebody to be there to support the airplane, and thats us. So the actual picture of the market today is very good for our business, which is maintaining an existing fleet and keeping them flying. MHIRJs expansion was hailed by local officials including Joe Snell, president and CEO of the local economic-development agency Sun Corridor Inc. This expansion demonstrates the confidence MHIRJ has in the value proposition of Tucson as a leader in the aerospace and aviation industry, Snell said, citing PCCs recently expanded Aviation Technology Center at TIA among other workforce development and training efforts. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott and Sandra Watson, president and CEO of Arizona Commerce Authority, also celebrated MHIJRs expansion plans. The career fair, mainly for airframe and structural techs, will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at MHIRJs operation at 1555 E. Aero Park Blvd., where job candidates can tour the facility and get interviews and possibly job offers on the spot. Appointments can be made on Eventbrite at tucne.ws/mhirj. To support its Tucson expansion plan, MHIRJ has launched a talent attraction initiative called Live Your Best Life in Tucson, focusing a national campaign on the benefits of living and working at MHIRJ in Tucson and Southern Arizona. MHIRJ also is supporting the Pima Community College Foundation by providing six annual scholarships of $1,000 for the next six years to help aviation-tech students and help raise awareness among Tucsons young people about aviation career opportunities. PHOENIX Dont think the grade your college professor gave you is fair? Legislation approved Thursday by the Arizona Senate would give students a new avenue to appeal by alleging political bias and the teacher could be ordered to give a different grade. Its a due process issue, said Glendale Republican Sen. Anthony Kern. He said its based on conversations hes had with students at Arizona State University. They do not feel they can debate issues according to their politics or according to what they believe because theyre afraid their grades are going to be lowered, Kern said. This is going to help them. The 16-12 vote came despite objections raised by the Arizona Board of Regents, which would be responsible for setting up the system. There already are remedies for students who think the grades they were given are not justified, regents lobbyist Thomas Adkins testified earlier this month before the Senate Education Committee. He said it generally consists of an informal process where the student and the instructor have a conversation. That can escalate to a more formal process that can culminate into an academic grievance hearing committee, Adkins said. He said there are cost concerns about creating another department within the Board of Regents, especially since the legislation includes no money, although the first level of the new appeals would be handled by volunteers selected by the board. It does create an unfunded burden on the agency to try to manage those offices and recruit volunteers, Adkins said. Kern, who has repeatedly criticized the Board of Regents, was not swayed. He said no one has explained to him why the Board of Regents is even needed. He said he isnt convinced the board is serving any purpose by being the conduit through which universities are funded. Why isnt the Legislature giving the universities direct funding? Kern asked. As approved by the Senate, the measure would require the regents to set up a department to hear grade challenges based on bias. That department would be staffed by volunteers who could determine there was bias and could order the faculty member to regrade the students assignment or reevaluate the students overall class grade. Students not pleased with the departments ruling then could appeal to the Board of Regents, which also would have the power to order a new grade on the assignment or the overall class grade. The measure nearly failed. Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, had previously vowed to vote against it, saying he did not support setting up a new division with the board when theres already structures within the universities. On Thursday, though, Bennett agreed to provide the necessary 16th vote in the 30-member Senate. He told Capitol Media Services afterwards that Kern promised to make changes when the measure now goes to the House. What those changes will be, Bennett said, he does not yet know. Im working on it, Kern responded, but provided no specifics. But Bennett said that if they are not substantive, he will work to kill the measure somewhere in the process. He said his concern is simply making sure that the existing appeals process works without involving the Board of Regents. The chair of the Arizona Board of Regents sent the University of Arizona Faculty Senate chair a cease-and-desist letter after she raised questions about his prior employment and whether it poses a potential conflict of interest to his board service. In Mondays Faculty Senate meeting, Chair Leila Hudson, a professor in Middle Eastern and North African studies, raised the questions about ABOR Chair Fred DuVals former employment with Amicus Investors. The recording of the Faculty Senate meeting was briefly removed from the senate's website but has since been reposted. DuVal hired lawyer Paul Charlton, a former U.S. assistant attorney. In a letter sent to Hudson and other Faculty Senate leaders on Thursday, Charlton wrote that Hudsons remarks caused injury to Mr. DuVals reputation. Amicus Investors was formed in 2015, and, according to its website, invests in universities, partnering with them to help realize their master plans, because strong universities mean successful students and vibrant communities. The UA and Arizona State University are listed as universities the group has worked with. The regents oversee UA, ASU and Northern Arizona University. DuVal served as managing director of the business from April 2015 through August 2017, according to his LinkedIn page. DuVal was not employed by Amicus Investors when he served as a regent from 2006 through 2012 or began his second term in 2018, he and a regents spokeswoman said. DuVal told the Star earlier this week: I have retained legal counsel to explore my legal options regarding Ms. Hudsons public, defamatory statements at (Mondays) faculty senate meeting. Her comments were demonstrably false, her research skills are embarrassing and her behavior was inexcusable. Hudson is asking the UA general counsel to represent her, according to an email obtained by the Star. Since the protected speech referenced in Mr. DuVals letter was performed in the course of my employment at the University of Arizona and under my statutory obligations under ARS 15-1601b as elected chair of the faculty, I request that you represent me in any litigation or provide me with a private attorney, Hudson wrote to the UA general counsels office on Thursday. Despite her request, Hudson has retained her own private counsel. In a statement to the Star, her lawyer, Jesse Ritchey, said his client was just exercising her constitutional right and fulfilling her obligations when she raised her public concern. He added that Hudson is looking at her various legal options on the table and evaluating those, but said he was not prepared to say what those options might be. Regent calls for new faculty leader In Thursdays ABOR meeting in Tempe, DuVal spoke briefly about the accusations, stating that his time at Amicus Investors was brief because the business was not successful. The caliber of academic research skills demonstrated here are rather concerning, DuVal said of Hudsons accusations. I frankly now doubt the accuracy and credibility of any one of the many accusations that are being made against the university (UA) and the president. DuVal said that Dr. Hudson has inflicted a terrible blow to shared governance, which frankly works well at the other two universities, adding that Hudsons questions about his time at Amicus Investors crossed a line. How do you develop trust with people who intentionally lie and publicly defame their partner? he asked. Lyndel Manson, another regent, joined DuVal in criticizing the UA Faculty Senate. The behavior of the Faculty Senate has been of concern to the regents for a number of years, she said. This past weeks personal attacks are beyond the pale. It is fully indicative of a culture of fear that has been instilled by current leadership, creating an environment where faculty are loath to speak their minds in opposition or even contemplate running against the current regime. She added that watching the senate try to run a meeting is an exercise in futility, and that the level of dysfunction on display was embarrassing. Manson said she encouraged UA President Robert C. Robbins to establish new faculty leadership. Boycotting talking to Hudson In her own statement to the Star after DuVal threatened her with legal action, Hudson said she should be referred to as Dr. Hudson rather than Ms. Hudson, as she has a PhD. It is my opinion that the chair of ABOR should simply disclose or otherwise clarify his association with any company doing business with the state of Arizonas public universities, she said. In Mondays senate meeting, Hudson showed screenshots of the Amicus Investors website from the Wayback Machine, a digital tool that allows users to see past versions of websites. In the screenshots shared by Hudson, DuVal was listed as an employee of Amicus Investors on its website as recently as April 2023, despite his LinkedIn profile stating otherwise. Hudson said her suggestion of a conflict of interest stems from a person potentially serving different agencies interacting with one another on different sides of a transaction. This is what shared governance does, Hudson told the Faculty Senate. It asks questions. I have questions I would like to ask Chair DuVal, and of course it doesnt help that Chair DuVal has been boycotting talking to the chair of the faculty at the UA since about a year ago. DuVal told the Star on Tuesday that Hudsons expectation of dialogue with him is odd. She hasnt had a productive engagement with any regent chair ever, he said. I do have regular, relevant and productive engagements with well over a dozen other terrific senators. DuVal added that he has hosted meals with many of them. I talk to two or three every single day. I publicly offered up my email and I return every single call. So, Im not lacking for productive elected faculty input. Kristin Little, a faculty senator and lecturer in English, asked Hudson if DuVal presented his former employment to ABOR. Hudson responded that she actually has no information about that. A spokeswoman for ABOR told the Star that A.R.S. 38-503 requires the disclosure of conflicts at the time. Chair DuVal did not work for or own Amicus when he was a regent, so he would not have to disclose past employment unless it created a conflict now, the spokeswoman said. DuVals career DuVals ABOR bio notes that he was White House deputy assistant for intergovernmental affairs to President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2000. He also worked in D.C. as U.S. deputy chief of protocol and deputy assistant secretary of state in the 1990s. Before that he was senior staff assistant to Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt. He is president of DuVal and Associates, board chairman of Excelsior Mining, and on the board of Drive Time Auto Group, the bio says. He founded the Institute for Civil Discourse at the UA. DuVal ran as the 2014 Democratic nominee for Arizona governor, losing to Republican Doug Ducey. Ducey appointed him in 2018 to an eight-year term on ABOR. DuVal was also a regent from 2006 to 2012, appointed by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. PHOENIX Maricopa Countys top prosecutor, a Republican, took a thinly veiled swipe at a Democratic counterpart in the East on Wednesday, saying she would not agree to extradition of a suspect in the death of a woman who was fatally bludgeoned in a New York City hotel room, and that he should be tried first in Arizona in the stabbing of two women here. Raad Almansoori, 26, is being held in jail without bond while Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchells office decides how to charge him in connection with the stabbing of two women in the county in recent days, Mitchell said at a news conference. Those two women survived. Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, I think its safer to keep him here and keep him in custody, said Mitchell, referring to the prosecutor who brought the high-profile case against former President Donald Trump alleging that hush money was paid during his 2016 campaign to cover up an affair. Both Mitchell and Bragg are elected officials. The Manhattan District Attorneys Office responded swiftly. It is deeply disturbing that D.A. Mitchell is playing political games in a murder investigation, Manhattan D.A. spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement. It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorkers death. The statement said the office is serious about New Yorkers safety, adding that homicides are down 24% since Bragg took office. Tuttle said New Yorks homicide rate is less than half that of Phoenixs. Later Wednesday, Mitchells office said that under Arizona law all pending criminal matters in Arizona are to be resolved first before extradition to the outside state occurs. Almansoori was arrested on Sunday in the stabbing attack earlier that day of a female employee in a bathroom at a McDonalds restaurant in Surprise. He had also been sought in the stabbing of another woman during a robbery attempt in the Phoenix area a day earlier. Authorities say he was driving a stolen car at the time of his arrest. Almansoori was formally charged with two counts each of attempted murder, aggravated assault and attempted sexual assault and one count of theft of means of transportation. The public defender assigned to Almansooris case did not respond Wednesday afternoon to an emailed request for comment. Mitchell is known nationally as the sex crimes prosecutor who questioned both Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford during the 2018 hearings for Kavanaughs confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. At the time, Mitchell wrote a memo casting doubts on the strength of Fords allegations that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Bragg, a Democrat and Manhattans first Black district attorney, has faced a torrent of criticism from Republicans over his prosecutorial decisions. Some critics have attacked him and distorted his record for bringing charges against Trump. He has also faced backlash for his offices decision not to prosecute certain low-level offenses. Laws passed in New York in 2019, the year before Bragg took office, also restrict the use of bail for misdemeanors and some nonviolent felonies. Neither the bail laws nor Braggs internal policy have any bearing on the treatment of suspects charged with murder. New York City police officials said Tuesday that they wanted to extradite Almansoori in the Feb. 8 killing of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, in a hotel in lower Manhattan. The DAs office said charges in New York arent officially filed until someone is extradited and appears in court. Police officials in Maricopa County said Almansoori had family in the area and had lived there in the past. Oleas-Arancibia was found by staff on the floor of the hotel room. Her death was determined to have been caused by blunt force trauma to the head, and a broken clothes iron was found at the scene, police said. In coordination with the FBI, New York officials are looking to see if Almansoori could have any connection to crimes committed in Florida and Texas, where he also previously lived and has been arrested. The median home price in Boston is $800,000. For Massachusetts, its $616,450, according to BankRate.com. And thats not factoring in a sky-high 7.56% mortgage rate. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city goes for $3,311, according to Apartments.com. Its about the same nearby, too. So offering migrants who qualify $30,000 to help with housing begs the question: Isnt that reckless disregard for those already struggling to pay the rent or mortgage? It sends the wrong message and is bad policy. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey can blame Congress for the migrant crisis until she turns blue, but a $30,000 housing perk will give Massachusetts more headaches. The right-to-shelter law already has illegal immigrants heading northeast. The housing bonus will just accelerate the migration. As the Boston Herald reported, HomeBASE can help with a homeless familys first and last months rent, security deposit and brokers fee for an apartment using that $30,000 cushion. Monthly payments can assist with rent up to two years, with the possibility of a third year. Money also can head to furniture, moving expenses and utilities based on a familys needs. And the program also supports overdue rent or utility payments. The program pays a landlord or vendor, such as a moving company or utility company, directly instead of handing cash to the family. The shelter system is maxed out in Massachusetts. The Biden administration is failing miserably at helping stem the tide of illegal immigration, and taxpayers are going to be left to pick up the bill for years to come. Healeys first job must be defending the taxpayers of Massachusetts. Her ambitions, it seems, get in the way. Thats why having a Democrat, or at least a progressive one, sitting in the Corner Office is only going to end badly for us. Oklahomas notorious deep freeze to big-thaw winter extremes are working magic for those who scattered perennial wildflowers earlier this season. Still, options remain for those who havent started this season. Whether its for your yard, a meadow or as part of a prairie restoration project, some steps are necessary nearly every month of the year, and the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators program encourages people to collect seeds, buy seeds and start their own patches of perennials at home. Brandon Gibson, curator of the alliances growing communal native seed bank, gathers seeds in the field nearly any month of the year. But mid-winter brings time for processing the dozens of species of seeds collected and carefully controlled in-house cold stratification and record-keeping on those seeds, some of which have never been manually propagated, at least not for the record. While the TAP seed bank is for tribes only, it shares what it learns about wildflower propagation with as many people as possible, according to program director Jane Breckinridge. Collect your own We go out and find our seeds in the real world, Gibson said. Through the alliance and other programs, he offers training for tribal members to do the same and encourages people to team up and explore. Go out together and collect seeds. Thats the best way to learn, better than just listening to me blab on for 45 minutes at a program. It creates a memorable experience. He collects pods and other seed materials in small brown paper bags and stores them in a dry location. Mold is our biggest fear, he said. The program maintains an online library with seed lists, how-to videos and other information at tribalallianceforpollinators.com. The nonprofit, along with the statewide Okies for Monarchs initiative, also collaborates with Time to Restore, a program of the National Phenology Network. The program tracks climatic changes that are changing regional plant growth and blooming times. The data helps growers manage their landscapes for the arrival of migrating pollinators and other wildlife. The networks YouTube channel includes a Time to Restore seed collection and processing technical training session featuring Gibson, Breckinridge and botanist Collin Spriggs. It covers every detail of the seed banks wildflower identification, harvest timing, seed collection and processing steps adapted for amateurs or experts. Okies for Monarchs lists statewide sources for locally grown native plants and seeds at okiesformonarchs.org. Stratification education Most perennial wildflowers drop their seeds in a natural state of dormancy. Some might last for years in the soil until ideal stratification and germination conditions arrive. Stratification is the wintertime freeze-thaw process that breaks seed dormancy. Fluctuating temperatures and precipitation also make soils expand and contract. Seeds fall into tiny pores and fissures, gain soil contact and germinate with springtime warmth. People can mimic the process by storing seeds in a moist medium, like sand or vermiculite, in a refrigerator, then simply germinating seeds in potting soil outdoors or in a greenhouse. Gibson said that stratification varies by plant species. February is about as late as any should start for the summer. Seeds that need only 30 days could be ready to germinate in March or early April. Some seeds require 60 days or more. Listening to Gibsons tales of experimentation, it becomes clear that wildflowers have their seasons, but not all need to start growing on a strict schedule, like vegetables for the annual harvest. Some, like compass flowers, take years to mature. Trial and error is OK Gibson said seed collectors should be mindful of property rights and ethically leave plenty of local seed sources behind. He added that finding seeds from various areas also helps with genetic diversity in your fields. Never take more than 20 percent of the local seeds. You need to leave plenty behind and leave some for wildlife. The goldfinches love the coneflowers, and I always let them have their fill before I collect, Gibson said, then laughed. Sometimes, though, its like, OK, youve had enough now. Seed harvest time is critical, he said. Green seeds arent viable, but if you wait too long, they might disperse, or birds and insects will eat them. Usually, the right time is just when the plant basically starts to look dead, he said. However, he said not to give up hope if things dont look perfect. The first time I found cardinal flowers, back in 2020, they were blooming near a culvert in Osage County, he said. I took a photo, set a GPS point and planned to come back in about a month and a half, but it ended up being almost three months. All I could find was just a bunch of dried sticks and leaves scattered everywhere. Still, he collected a few sticks and labeled and dated a bag. Later, when they processed seeds in December, he even told a co-worker he doubted that bag had any seeds. To his surprise, it yielded between 800 and 1,000 tiny seeds, each much smaller than a grain of sand. It was just a little patch in the palm of your hand, he said. We grew 700 cardinal flower plant plugs from that first bunch. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. President Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan on Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. But he didn't have to urge Oklahomans to volunteer for military service. They were joining as fast as military recruiters could take them. One eager Tulsan even called a Navy recruiter at home on Sunday night (Dec. 7) but was told to call back the next day. The Tulsa Army recruiter said nine men had been accepted but about 200 had sought to enlist on Dec. 8. The Navy accepted 35 from the 100 who wanted to enlist and the Marines accepted 25 on that first day of the war. Those numbers were swelled by 47 more Tulsa-area men ready to fight the next day. And the numbers of volunteers continued to grow daily. Many Oklahoma civilians were already in uniform. They were members of the 45th Infantry Division, a National Guard unit made up of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado men, that was among several Guard divisions totaling 60,000 men that had been federalized in September 1940 for a year of training -- a year that was extended so that the division was still on active duty when Pearl Harbor was bombed and until the end of the war in 1945. The division was sent to Fort Sill but was moved later to Camp Barkeley near Abilene, Texas, for training until being sent to Europe in June 1943 for 511 days of combat in Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland and Central Europe. Federalization of the Guard left Oklahoma with only the 155-member highway patrol as a statewide force. After hearing about the Pearl Harbor bombing, state Safety Commissioner Walter B. Johnson canceled all leaves of highway patrol troopers, and the officers were directed to remain in contact with their superiors when they were off duty. The OHP officers were directed to patrol in the areas of refineries and defense facilities, such as the Douglas bomber plant in Tulsa, the gun powder plant at Chouteau and the Air Corps depot (now Tinker Air Force Base) in Oklahoma City, and to stay within a reasonable distance of them. A few days later, Tulsa's city commission authorized the purchase of two new patrol cars and the hiring of two new officers to join seven officers assigned to patrol Spavinaw Lake and to make twice-daily patrols along the 70-mile water-flow line from Spavinaw to Tulsa. Police Commissioner Russell Cobb said one of the new police cars would be stationed at the dam and would be equipped with a two-way radio capable of communicating with police in Tulsa. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. 12 years ago, a portrait of late historian and civil rights leader John Hope Franklin was hung on the second floor of the state Capitol Rotunda. The Rentiesville native joined the company of other notable state historical figures ranging from Jim Thorpe, considered to be one of the worlds greatest athletes, to Sequoyah, inventor of the Cherokee alphabet, whose portraits are also displayed in the Capitol. After growing up in Tulsa, where his father, celebrated civil rights lawyer Buck Franklin, defended the rights of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, John Hope Franklin would strike his own blow for racial justice with his pen. The Booker T. Washington High School graduate went on to become one of the countrys most respected scholars and historians and wrote several key texts, including From Slavery to Freedom, a definitive narrative on black history, and the book Racial Equality in America taken from lectures. Following his death in 2009, Tulsas Reconciliation Park, which commemorates the victims of the race massacre, was renamed in his honor. See more of the life and legacy of John Hope Franklin here. Kirby Mackenzie had a speech ready for when Union announced its 2024 Teacher of the Year. Just not an acceptance speech. A media specialist at Ellen Ochoa Elementary School, Mackenzie was announced as Unions Teacher of the Year on Tuesday afternoon, prompting shock and tears from the 15-year educator and cheers from her colleagues. I told the staff I only rehearsed my speech thanking them wanting it for me and how Ochoa deserved this, she said with a laugh. With classes out Tuesday for a professional development day, Union opted to have celebrations at each of its campuses with the 22 site-level winners recognized through a video played simultaneously at all schools. Drawing a loud roar from Ellen Ochoas assembled faculty, Superintendent Kirt Hartzler, Deputy Superintendent John Federline, Associate Superintendent Charlie Bushyhead, Assistant Superintendent Sandi Calvin and representatives of the Union Schools Education Foundation appeared in the east Tulsa schools gym at the end of the video to congratulate Mackenzie as the districtwide winner. I think I processed everyone cheering before I really processed anything else, Mackenzie said with a laugh. Mackenzie was chosen by a committee representing a cross-section of the district. Along with a gift basket, Mackenzie will receive a cash stipend from the Union Schools Education Foundation and will represent the district in next years Oklahoma Teacher of the Year competition. A Union High School alumna, Mackenzie has been employed by the district since 2009, first at MacAuliffe Elementary, then moving over to Ellen Ochoa when it opened in 2017. Its huge, Mackenzie said of the award. Im really honored, and Im really, really grateful. I just want to be a teacher and share books. I just want to do whatever I can to support the incredible staff, students and families at Ellen Ochoa. Getting to keep doing that is enough for me, but as teachers, we so rarely get accolades or awards or recognition like this, so its really special. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Tulsa City Councilor and mayoral candidate Jayme Fowler faced tough questions and stinging criticism from some fellow councilors Wednesday regarding his proposed ordinance that would deny city funds to entities that use them to house, accommodate or benefit illegal immigrants. Most, if not all, councilors present during the Public Works Committee meeting suggested Fowler work on the ordinance more before bringing it back for a possible vote. Others, including Councilor Laura Bellis, took a more direct approach in their comments. Bellis deemed the proposed ordinance almost impossible to enact, claimed it only caused fear in the immigrant community, and said that you are probably doing it because you are running for mayor. Fowler denied the allegation, saying Bellis claims were not germane. The purpose of the ordinance is really to protect Tulsas taxpayer dollars, Fowler said, and to protect our most vulnerable citizens, referring to the unhoused population. Fowler agreed that the three-page proposed ordinance is a work in progress, saying there is a lot of leg work to do. I welcome the process, the collaboration, he said. Fowlers campaign website includes a section dedicated to the proposed ordinance and asks backers to sign a petition in support of the measure. Councilor Jennie Cue, meanwhile, cast doubt on the ordinances practical value. Cue said someone in the citys legal department, in response to a question from her, told her they had doubts that the ordinance could be enforced as written. The ordinance as proposed would prohibit the use of city funds either directly from the city treasury or indirectly through grants or subsidies, to be used to house, accommodate, or benefit Illegal Immigrants. 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. The ordinance defines city funds as any funds or resources under the control of the city treasury, including but not limited to tax revenues, grants, and subsidies. Nonprofits and programs found to be in violation of the proposed ordinance could have their funding withheld. Fowler said he proposed the ordinance after Congress failed to pass an immigration bill and seeing reports of major cities struggling with an influx of immigrants. During the meeting, Fowler walked through a presentation that focused on costs incurred by the cities of Chicago, Denver and New York as they deal with thousands of new migrants. There are folks in the community that are very, very concerned that we safeguard our tax dollars, and they are very, very worried about the onslaught, the possible onslaught, of immigrants, Fowler said. Councilor Lori Decter Wright asked who requested and wrote the ordinance. Fowler said no one requested that he draft the ordinance, replying just me, when asked by Wright. Fowler said a lot of the proposed ordinance came from a similar one in Muskogee. Several councilors suggested that Fowler form a group of interested people to work on the proposed ordinance before bringing it back to the City Council. Councilor Grant Miller said he opposed referring the proposed ordinance to a working group or subcommittee that would not be open to the public. On this subject, especially something so important that all of these people show up, we should be having these conversations right here, not later, when everybody is at home not paying attention, Miller said. He called Bellis comments regarding Fowlers motives for drafting the ordinance tacky. Fowler did not commit to forming a working group or subcommittee, but he did appear amenable to pushing the date for final consideration by the full City Council back one week to March 13. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY After the state grocery sales tax elimination bill passed through the Senate in a 42-to-2 vote Thursday, House Bill 1955 is now making its way to Gov. Kevin Stitts desk. This is a truly historic day, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said in a written statement. With the passage of House Bill 1955, the Legislature has managed to give Oklahomans the largest single-year tax cut in state history, returning $411 million to our citizens at a time when they need it the most. Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, spoke in opposition to the bill and was the only Republican to vote against the measure. In his debate against the bill, Thompson shared a timeline of Oklahomas financial difficulties beginning in 2008. He emphasized the effort it had taken from multiple senators over the years to get Oklahoma into a good financial position again. Because of our history, because of the needs of this state and because there is a preemptive clause in this bill that prevents even towns that are struggling from passing a sales tax for over a year, I will be a no on this bill today, Thompson said as he closed his debate. Sen. Mary Boren, D-Edmond, was the only Democrat to vote against the bill. She was moved by the arguments of Thompson, who she believes raised valid concerns about the tax cut. Boren is concerned about this cut leading to a flat budget, which would harm agencies that have presented their budget proposals in one of her committees. A flat budget means that we are walking away from growth in Oklahoma businesses and Oklahoma families, Boren said. HB 1955 passed in the House during the 2023 legislative session. The main portion of the bill would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries in Oklahoma. It also would prevent municipalities and counties from raising sales taxes on groceries until June 30, 2025. Theres been concerns expressed about it, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, told reporters Thursday. Yes, youre gonna reduce the 4.5% and youre gonna take the state portion to zero, but whats going to stop the city or county from going up? My answer to that has always been: Hey, theyre locally elected. Lets trust the people closest to the voters. In the press conference Treat also responded to the House speakers criticism of the Senates actions. McCall had noted that the Senates removal of an emergency clause that was originally attached to HB 1955 is costing Oklahomans an extra $200 million. When asked about the comment, Treat responded: I thought that was a pretty childish statement he put out. Its a day that we should all be celebrating together. An emergency clause on a bill would make the measure effective immediately upon the signature of the governor. An emergency clause requires a two-thirds margin to pass. HB 1955, as passed by the Senate, will go into effect at least 90 days after the Legislature adjourns in May, meaning the tax relief will not come to Oklahomans until August. The vote was held after Treat announced Wednesday that the grocery sales tax elimination would be the only tax relief the Senate will be seeking this year. To ensure state services and recent critical investments in education and infrastructure remain intact in the long and short term, there is no way to do more at this time, Treat said in a news release. McCall and Stitt have said they believe the state could afford both the grocery sales tax cut and a personal income tax cut. The House would still like to see a vote taken on the income tax cut legislation that was passed to the Senate in special session, and will continue to explore every opportunity to lower the tax burden for all Oklahomans, McCall said in a press release on the passage of HB 1955. The state grocery tax cut will save Oklahomans an average of $400 annually, and it would save Oklahomans 5.5 times more than a personal income tax reduction, Treat said. Stitt has previously said he will sign any tax cut that comes to my desk. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Legislation named for two Welch teens who disappeared nearly 25 years ago passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday as lawmakers moved to ratchet up punishments for several violent offenses. House Bill 2946, known as Lauria and Ashley's Law, by Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, would add accessory to first- and second-degree murder to the list of crimes for which an offender must serve at least 85% of the original sentence. The measure was prompted by the case of Ronnie Busick, who in 2020 pleaded guilty to accessory to first degree murder in the 1999 deaths of Danny and Kathy Freeman of Welch. The same night the Freemans died, their home was burned and their daughter Ashley Freeman and her friend Lauria Bible disappeared. In 2018, investigators charged Busick with the murders of Bible and the Freemans. Two other suspects, both dead, were also identified. Busick agreed to a plea deal in exchange for leading investigators to the two girls' bodies. Although Busick identified several locations, none contained Freeman's and Bible's remains. Busick's subsequent release after two years outraged northeastern Oklahomans. "He is out and living just 20 minutes from the (girls') families," Bashore said Wednesday. The bill was opposed by a handful of lawmakers who said they agreed that Busick should have served longer but questioned the ramifications of making all accessory to murder convictions subject to the 85% rule. "Across the board, situations are going to vary; people are going to vary; the crime is going to vary; the involvement will vary," said Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa. Several other measures in a similar vein advanced through House committee on Wednesday, including one prompted by the murders of six people near Henryetta last year. HB 3992, by Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, would require life without parole for people convicted of human trafficking of a person younger than 18 for the purpose of commercial sex, child sexual abuse, procuring a minor for child pornography or possession of child pornography, child prostitution or first-degree rape. The bill also would require those convicted of lewd or indecent proposals to a child to serve 100% of their sentences. Jesse McFadden, the perpetrator of the Henryetta murders, had been convicted in 2003 of rape and served 17 years before his release in 2020. He was scheduled for trial on a sex charge that would have sent him back to prison on the day he killed his wife, three stepchildren, two family friends and himself. Also advancing was legislation adding several sexually transmitted diseases to those for which a person can be criminally charged for intentional transmission; creating a felony for assaulting a store clerk during commission of another crime; adding domestic violence crimes to the 85% list; and making domestic assault with a gun, stun gun or air gun an 85% crime. Lauria and Ashley's Law now moves to the Senate. The other bills are eligible to be heard by the full House. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer 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 OKLAHOMA CITY A bill that would allow health care workers not to participate in medical procedures they find objectionable drew sharp debate before advancing Wednesday in the House Public Health Committee. The committee also voted to pass a separate bill that would broaden the vaccination exemption for any child kept in day care in Oklahoma. House Bill 3214, referred to as the Medical Ethics Defense Act, would prohibit any doctor, nurse or even a worker in a lab role or in record keeping from being discriminated against in any way for declining to participate in a medical procedure or service on the basis of conscience. The act would extend also to health care institutions and insurance providers. The bills language specifically mentions abortion. A health care practitioner may not be scheduled for, assigned, or requested to directly or indirectly perform, facilitate, refer for, or participate in an abortion unless the practitioner first affirmatively consents. Nothing herein shall be construed to override the requirement to provide emergency medical treatment to all patients, it states. More broadly, the measure addresses other procedures, services and even medical research. It proposes that providers have the freedom to decline doing medical testing, dispensing drugs, making referrals, offering counseling or even taking notes. The bills author, Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, said such right of conscience laws passed in other states havent had negative effects. In fact, he said, theyve given people in health care peace of mind knowing that they cant be fired or otherwise suffer consequences simply for staying true to their beliefs. Some lawmakers on the panel expressed doubts. Do you realize that your bill here would entirely change how we deliver medicine in the state of Oklahoma? Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, asked. Because your bill is so broad, its not just doctors; its not just nurses. It is from point of contact when you walk into a medical institution, anyone could deny a person based on their conscience. West agreed that that was true except in emergency situations. In emergency situations, this bill would not apply, he said. Ranson pressed the issue, asserting that health care employers would have nothing to say about an employees simply choosing not to provide a service. You cant be transferred from your current position, no demotion; you cant take administrative action (such as) reassignment to a different shift. Nothing can be done, so were creating a huge HR problem for hospitals, doctors offices, clinics, all of that, she said. At that point, West introduced Matt Sharp, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, which identifies as a conservative Christian legal advocacy group. This is focused on specific procedures, Sharp said. It has to be something where a doctor or nurse would say, This procedure for whoever walks in violates my conscience. It should never be about a person but always about the specific procedure. Sharp said the bill might be compared to laws that require religious accommodations in the workplace. When were talking about a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or anyone else, they shouldnt lose their job simply because theres a specific procedure that they have concerns about, he said. But Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, who chairs the committee, said she was still concerned that patients might potentially be denied care based on a belief that anyone in a health care system might have. It looks like what were doing is allowing providers to pick and choose what patients they treat, which was not what we were trained to do when we went to school, said Roe, a registered nurse. Lawmakers, including Reps. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee; Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin; and Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, raised questions about potential effects of the measure on insurance companies and medical schools. Newton asked whether the bill might give companies an out when it comes to paying the medical bills of policyholders. West responded that they would have to make any objections to specific medical procedures well known to the public and in writing. The bill advanced on a 3-2 vote, with Ranson and Roe in opposition. Newton and Stark voted yes, with ex-officio voting member Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, called in to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor. Hasenbeck and committee member Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula, did not vote. Broadened vaccine exemption in day care settings The other bill that drew debate, HB 3249 by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, proposes exemptions to immunization requirements in day care settings on a doctors recommendation or if a parent or guardian objects to immunization for reasons of conscience, including religious belief. It would thus broaden the vaccination exemption under the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act. Ranson asked Olsen whether a parents objection might reflect miseducation and whether such an objection might result in an outbreak of disease. She noted that measles outbreaks have been reported in nine states, including neighboring Missouri, and said Oklahoma children may be vulnerable. Who is liable when measles are in a child care facility and spread rapidly because of non-vaccination? Ranson asked. Well, that might be a slight jump in logic. It could be from non-vaccination, or it could be from another cause, so I dont know how easy that would be to judge, Olsen responded. Conceivably, yes (an outbreak could happen), but of course that comes back to the vantage point of who judges what miseducation is. Ultimately, decisions regarding children should be in the purview of the parents, Olsen concluded. HB 3249 passed through the committee on a 5-1 vote. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer 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 OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a bill to establish the states second training program for certified registered nurse anesthetists at the University of Oklahoma. Currently, Oklahomas only CRNA program is at the University of Tulsas Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences. Senate Bill 1308 by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, passed through the chambers Education Committee on Tuesday. Although the legislation included no provision for funding, Stanley told colleagues it would cost about $11.6 million over five years to create the program, which she described as desperately needed, as there are currently 117 open jobs for CRNAs in health care facilities across the state. This is a need that we desperately need to fill, and I hope we can get it across the finish line, Stanley said. We have so many health care deserts in our state, and this would give those places help they need. According to NursingProcess.org, CRNAs earn about $168,500 annually, and Oklahoma-based employment opportunities for CRNAs are projected to increase by 24% over the next 10 years. The University of Tulsas doctor of nursing practice for CRNAs is a three-year program that requires completion of around 87 credit hours. To be eligible, students must already have a bachelor of science in nursing degree and at least one year of critical care experience. According to TU, all of the first 14 graduates of the program, which launched in 2020, received multiple offers for positions both in Oklahoma and from out of state. This esteemed program not only produces highly skilled nurse anesthetists but also contributes significantly to the health care profession, the local economy and the overall quality of life in our community, interim Oxley College Dean Ron Walker said during the August graduation ceremony. More than 150 nurses from multiple states applied to participate in the colleges CRNA program, which can accept only 20 new students each year, the university said. As of 2019, CRNAs were sole anesthesia providers in 26 Oklahoma counties, with 32 counties having no anesthesia providers, TU said. Stanley said OUs School of Nursing has been very supportive of a new program. I would love for them to provide service for everyone we could get into the program, she said. We have some fabulous nurses that, with just a little more education, they could become nurse anesthetists, and that would help fill the gap. Stanleys bill drew a vote of support from Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, a member of the Education Committee. To me, this is a bill indicative of growth in Oklahoma, Rader said. We have expansion of population, which means we have expansion of needs, (and) we have a responsibility to step up, especially when it comes to health care, and especially when it comes to education. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY The only tax relief the Senate will vote on this year is the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat announced Wednesday. The Senate will vote Thursday on House Bill 1955, a holdover from the 2023 session that already passed through the House of Representatives, according to a press release from Treat. This gives real relief this year, Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said in the release. I look forward to voting on this measure tomorrow morning and seeing the governor sign it into law. At the time the bill was written it would have put in place a two-year moratorium on municipalities raising their grocery sales taxes. If it goes through this session, it will place only a one-year moratorium on municipalities enacting or raising a grocery sales tax until after June 30, 2025. The state grocery tax cut will save Oklahomans an average of $400 annually, and it would save Oklahomans 5.5 times more than a personal income tax reduction, according to the press release. The personal income tax cut to which Treat is referring passed through the House of Representatives during a special session this January. The Senate did not vote on that measure and disbanded the special session at the call of the chair. Gov. Kevin Stitt has previously said he will sign any tax cut that comes to my desk. He stood by that claim in his most recent press conference last Friday, saying he would love for a tax cut to be on his desk this week. He did express a preference for a quarter percentage point reduction to personal income tax. Stitt believes that lowering personal income tax rates would make Oklahoma more business friendly, but he has said Oklahoma can afford to cut the personal income tax and eliminate the grocery sales tax. Treat stands by a different perspective. To be clear this is the only tax relief the Senate will be seeking this year, Treat said in his press release about the state grocery sales tax. To ensure state services and recent critical investments in education and infrastructure remain intact in the long and short term, there is no way to do more at this time. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Brazil has halted importing Vietnamese tilapia while waiting for the screening results for risk of infection with tilapia lake virus (TiLV), the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development under Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced. The department has received an official notice from the Secretariat of Animal and Plant Health and Inspection under the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply on the halt of importing of tilapia from Vietnam, said a leading official of the department. The suspension, which started on February 14, will last until there is a conclusion on the screening for the risk of contracting TiLV among Vietnamese tilapia, as the virus can be transmitted from tilapia of one country to that of another, the official said. TiLV is an emerging viral pathogen that in recent years has greatly affected both wild and farmed tilapia, according to the U.S.s National Library of Medicine (NLM). In 2014, this highly contagious emerging virus was reported for the first time in Israel that was associated with mortality levels of over 80 percent in red tilapia, before it was found in many other countries in the world, the NLM said. Following the notice, many Vietnamese exporters have ceased exporting tilapia to Brazil, the department said. The agency has advised Vietnamese processors of aquatic products for export to Brazil should strictly comply with regulations of the importing country. Frozen tilapia is a favorite product to American consumers, and China is the worlds largest supplier and also the biggest provider of this fish to the U.S. Vietnamese tilapia faces difficulty in competing with its Chinese rival in the U.S. market since the average price of the fish from Vietnam is higher than that from China, despite the current downward trend of the prices of Vietnamese tilapia, the official commented. This halt of tilapia import may affect the operation of some Vietnamese exporters of seafood. Thai Anh Tuan, from a company exporting seafood, mainly tilapia and tra fish (pangasius), said that a market shift can be needed for his firm. Tilapia is a fast-growing farmed species with increasing production. China and Taiwan are the most abundant sources of this fish in the world, Tuan said. Our tilapia export turnover is low but it has recently shown a good growth trend. Therefore, if Brazil halts import of the fish, we will move to other markets in Japan, Belgium, Italy, the UK, and others, Tuan said. Last year, Vietnam earned more than US$6 million worth of tilapia exported to various markets, mainly to the EU with a turnover of $2 million, according to official figures. The Netherlands took a lead in importing tilapia from Vietnam, accounting for nearly a half of the total volume of Vietnamese tilapia exports, followed by the U.S. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam Railways (VNR) held a ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the first cargo train of this lunar year to leave from Song Than Station in the southern province of Binh Duong to Zhengzhou in Chinas Henan Province. The 21-car train transported farm produce, including fruits and food stored in nine shipping containers. It is slated to arrive in Zhengzhou in 9-10 days. VNR will operate one cargo train on the route per week, according to VNR general director Hoang Gia Khanh. The VNR leader revealed that freight train services between Vietnam and neighboring China have increased over the past several years, with the volume of cargo continuously on the rise. The Vietnamese government attaches great importance to international freight train services, according to Khanh, who also noted that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently asked the Ministry of Transport to work with relevant agencies and localities to make the best use of the Vietnam-China freight train services, with an aim at increasing the amount of agro-forestry-fishery products transported by railway and easing congestion at border gates linking the two countries. Khanh shared that Binh Duong was chosen to launch the first cargo train bound for China in the Year of the Dragon due to its reputation as one of southern Vietnams most dynamic localities. Zhang Cun Wei, general director of the China-based Henan VTO Import-Export Company also spoke, sharing that Henan started cooperating with Vietnams Railway Transport and Trade JSC (Ratraco) to transport goods between Zhengzhou and Vietnamese localities since June last year. Zhang suggested that VNR seek measures to shorten the time needed for cargo trains from Song Than Station to reach Dong Dang Station, located in Vietnams northern Lang Son Province, to 60 hours in order to enhance the competitiveness of international freight train services. According to VNR, the Ministry of Transport is working on projects to upgrade Song Than Station, which is expected to become the largest freight train station in Vietnam and be capable of handling 3.5 million metric tons of cargo each year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Approximately 150 international visitors aboard the Le Jacques Cartier passenger cruise ship arrived in Phu Quoc City off Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam on Thursday morning to explore the beauty and local life of the island city. Le Jacques Cartier, built in 2020 and currently sailing under the flag of Wallis and Futuna, a French island chain in the South Pacific, docked at Duong Dong port in the namesake ward at around 7:00 am. During their stay in Phu Quoc, these cruise visitors, mostly hailing from France, the UK, and the U.S., are scheduled to visit Ho Quoc Pagoda, Phu Quoc Prison; experience the local culture and fishing life in Ham Ninh, a century-year-old fishing village in the island; and sample local seafood, said Bui Trung Dung, the employee in charge of cruise ship and yachts services at Mekong Agency Company. He added that Phu Quoc has become a popular destination for cruise passengers from France. Around 150 international visitors boarding the Le Jacques Cartier passenger cruise ship arrived in Phu Quoc City off Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam on February 22, 2024. Photo: Trung Dung Statistics from the Kien Giang Province Department of Tourism showed that Phu Quoc served 21,485 tourist arrivals from France last year. The Vietnamese island city recently welcomed a host of international cruise tourists, according to Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc administration. Phu Quoc is working to enhance its public security and environment hygiene, as well as encourage local travel businesses to regularly improve their service quality and launch more new products to better serve tourists, Hung said. Between February 2 and 9 this year, two five-star cruise vessels, namely Costa Serena and AIDAbella, both currently sailing under the flag of Italy, carried nearly 3,500 international visitors from Germany, Thailand, the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to Phu Quoc to enjoy the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which ended on Sunday last week. A close-up of the Le Jacques Cartier passenger cruise ship, which is currently sailing under the flag of Wallis and Futuna, a French island collectivity in the South Pacific. Photo: Trung Dung Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. Although Ive been a big fan of anime for years, I didnt realize how big the anime (animation) production industry is in Vietnam. Anime is more or less the Japanese word for an animated cartoon or movie. Yet the way the Japanese themselves use the word is the same as Westerners calling a movie like Frozen or Toy Story an animated story. And its big business nowadays. The name refers almost exclusively to cartoons and movies although many of the themes, artwork and production houses cross over with other forms of media and merchandise such as manga comics (manga basically means a style of drawing and presentation that originated in Japan), promotional gimmicks and fan participation events such as cosplay (dressing up as your favorite or most popular anime character) and model figurines Godzilla or Astroboy (if youre old enough to remember!) would be one example. During the French occupation of Indochina, Vietnamese craftsmanship and art were held in good regard and the French encouraged the creation of fine art schools. Although there arent many of these around nowadays, some of the better-known institutions are the School of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. Other places such as FPT Hanoi teach computer graphics and software applications. Up until around 1991, Vietnam only had one state-owned animation company called, unsurprisingly, the Vietnam Animation Film Company (VAF). But the birth of the Internet in Vietnam, the demand for computer experts and the increasing ability of animators to use English created a new wave of companies producing content with high quality. In recent years, VAF has produced much more content to match private companies in supplying television, paid TV providers and its own YouTube channel. Animes popularity has spread over forty years across Asia and occasionally into Western audience markets. Netflix now commissions anime production for Western markets as well as translation and dubbing (voice-over English translations) of original Asian anime shows; for example, Carol and Tuesday a show about two ambitious female musicians seeking fame and fortune on the planet Mars sometime in the future. And Crunchy Roll streams anime shows with either subtitles or dubbing for audiences worldwide. So what does this have to do with Vietnam? Well, as it turns out, Vietnam has more than twenty animation studios churning out artwork, 2D and 3D special effects for commercials and Vietnamese cartoons as well as for Japanese and Korean animation studios, and more frequently, for international clients in the West and across Asia. Part of the reason is the booming interest in anime, the high demand for fresh content and the pace of production involved in generating series after series. To understand this needs a bit of background information. Anime in Japan is conservatively worth more than 20 billion U.S. dollars and worldwide more than 150 billion dollars. Its non-stop content creation and many studios have multiple production schedules and projects running concurrently. The studios, in whatever country, regularly produce shows ranging from a few episodes to full-blown 24 episodes that run over a season, usually about three to four months. Shows can also range from fillers three-to-nine-minute episodes and anything up to an hour, although the standard is usually just under a half hour with commercial breaks. So that requires a heck of a lot of artists and computer specialists! Its expensive, too. It can take months to produce a few hours of animated screen time and production crew numbers can be large. Some larger shows with 24 episodes or more can cost up to two million dollars per show to make. Why? Because you need directors, musicians, background artists (more on them later), rendering artists who take an image and convert that to 2D/3D or computer generated effects (CGI), voice actors, writers, production assistants, sound effects and freelance artists filling the gaps in production. And this is where the Vietnamese come in. Vietnamese artists and studios have a good reputation for creating high-end art, backgrounds and effects for shows and thats encouraged the birth of animation companies in Vietnam for local and international content. No animation studio in Vietnam can survive purely on anime movie or TV series production, either within the country or working with overseas companies. Yet there is a booming market for locally made cartoons for TV, animated shorts for advertising and particularly educational games and programs for children. So the work becomes a wide variety of projects often at the same time within the locals. By comparison, Japanese and occasionally Korean production houses can generate enough hours of anime to make decent profits while Vietnamese companies constantly teeter on the edge of going broke unless they work extremely hard at their marketing and networking. Originally a joint French-Vietnamese project started as a small company around 1995, Sparx is now a highly successful and innovative production house in Vietnam with offices and overseas worksites. Its also the only Vietnamese company to make a full-length animation movie called Igor. Colory Animation Studio, another local company, created a 3D film in 2011 but it and many other companies now work more with foreign firms than producing local content. In part two and three of this series, Ill be explaining more about production, money, issues and the future of Vietnamese animation. Police of Thua Thien Hue Province in central Vietnam on Thursday arrested five people and banned a sixth from leaving her residence for allegedly making over 500 counterfeit windshields. The arrested suspects, all residents of the provincial capital city of Hue, included Tran Quoc Loi, aged 46, Dang Van Minh Hieu, Le Minh Tung, Le Thi Nga, and Ho Van Loi. Trinh Thi Kim Nhu was banned from leaving her residence in the provinces Huong Thuy Town. Findings from the police showed that these suspects purchased a large amount of XYG-branded car windshields from Shenzhen Company and a laser engraver from China. Then, they removed the XYG logo on the windshields before laser engraving the logos of popular car brands, such as Toyota, Mercedes, Peugeot, Kia, Ford, Hyundai, and Mazda, on these windshields. They sold each fake car windshield at inflated prices that were 300-500 percent higher than the item's imported price. Between April and November last year, they imported close to 5,000 car windshields from China to Vietnam. The police officers seized all the items that these suspects had used to make the counterfeit windshields, including one laser engraver, two computer sets, more than 500 fake car windshields, and equipment used to erase logos and polish glasses. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Long An Province in southern Vietnam said on Wednesday that they had received a thank-you letter from the Consulate General of China in Ho Chi Minh City after two local police officers rescued a Chinese child from drowning in a swimming pool in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, late last month. The two policemen were Nguyen Quoc Dat and Le Duc Anh from Phuoc Dong Commune, Can Duoc District, Long An Province. They saved the child while they were visiting a tourist area in Nha Trang as part of a political course. In the thank-you letter, the Consulate General of China in Ho Chi Minh City wrote that the two police officers good deed shows the excellent behavior of Vietnamese police officers and features the close and friendly relationship and the mutual support between the peoples of the two countries. On behalf of the family of the child, the consulate general expressed its respect and most sincere gratitude to the Long An Police and the two police officers. Earlier, the Long An Police commended the two policemen for their act. They found a resort employee attempting to rescue a child from drowning in the swimming pool on San Ho 2 Island in Nha Trang City. Without hesitation, the two swiftly intervened, pulling the unconscious child to safety. Employing their first aid training, the officers administered life-saving measures, stabilizing the child before transferring him to a medical facility for further treatment. The child, a 10-year-old Chinese tourist, had been dining with his family at a nearby restaurant and had entered the pool unaccompanied, resulting in the near-tragic incident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Another forest fire broke out in Hoang Lien National Park in Sa Pa Town, northern Vietnams Lao Cai Province on Wednesday afternoon, two days after the first that burned about 30 hectares of forests, the towns administration reported on Thursday morning. Local government mobilized about 600 people to join the extinguishing of the fire that occurred at 3:30 pm on Wednesday in the towns Ta Van Commune, near the area of the previous blaze, To Ngoc Lien, chairman of the Sa Pa Town Peoples Committee, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Due to the complex terrain, with many steep slopes, firefighters took nearly an hour to access the flames, which, like in the first fire, spread rapidly under the dry weather and strong winds, local rangers said. By late evening of the same day, the fire was still not under control and was spreading to the west, prompting the standing deputy chairman of the Lao Cai administration to hold an emergency meeting with Sa Pa authorities to direct the efforts to curb the spread of the fire and stamp it out. We have mobilized more than 600 people, including firemen, soldiers and militias, divided into four teams to access and put out the flames, Lien said. It was not until 8:30 am on Thursday that the blaze was put under control. An hour later, it was blown out completely, he stated. There has yet to be a report about the forest damage caused by the fire. During the previous fire two days ago, the blaze burnt down some 30 hectares of forests in the park, including 26 hectares of poor forests and four hectares of planted forests, according to initial reports. Earlier on February 6, four days ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, Lao Cai authorities sent an urgent dispatch requesting localities to take measures for fire prevention and control across the province amid the dry season. The local government requested special attention to be paid for high mountainous areas in Sa Pa Town and the districts of Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai and Muong Khuong, where have been warned against a forest fire risk at level IV (dangerous level) that could move to level V (extremely dangerous level) in the days after Tet. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Local authorities and residents of Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam have managed to rescue a whale that was found washed up on Quy Nhon beach on Thursday morning, a local police official confirmed the same day. The whale was spotted by local inhabitants at around 5:00 am, said Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hoang Tuan, head of the fire and rescue division under the Binh Dinh Department of Public Security. The mammal, measuring some 2.5 meters in length and around 200-250 kilograms in weight, had multiple injuries on its body. After receiving basic treatment on site from rescue forces, the whale was brought back to the sea by the forces and local residents, Tuan said. The Binh Dinh Fisheries Department described the animal as a small sperm whale, scientifically known as Kogia Breviceps, saying it was possibly caught in a net, got injured and washed ashore. Rescuers and local residents provide the injured, stranded whale with basic treatment. Photo: N.H.T. / Tuoi Tre The whale sustains multiple injuries on its body. Photo: N.H.T. / Tuoi Tre Rescuers and local residents jointly bring the stranded whale back to the sea. Photo: N.H.T. / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Hosts have been announced for two Melb. International Comedy Festival events to screen on ABC in coming weeks. Lizzy Hoo will host the Melb. International Comedy Festival: Gala while Guy Montgomery will host the Comedy Allstars Supershow. Lizzy Hoo said,When I performed at my first ever Melbourne Comedy Festival I arrived in the city and saw the flags, posters, spruikers, and thousands of people lining up for shows all over the city I was blown away by just how big it is. I never imagined then that I would I get to host one of its biggest nights. With a huge cast of the Festivals brightest stars taking to the stage at St Kildas iconic Palais Theatre Lizzy will host the comedy extravaganza which supports Oxfams mission to eliminate poverty and tackle global inequality. Guy Montgomery said, It is a sad indictment on the state of Australian comedy when they have to ask a New Zealander to host one of their most prestigious shows. In truth, I am unbelievably flattered and excited. I hope I dont bomb. Both will be recorded at the Palais Theatre and are sell-out events. The Gala airs on ABC on Wednesday 27 March at 9pm. Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow airs on Wednesday 3 April at 9pm. The home of former Network 10 red carpet reporter Jesse Baird has been declared a crime scene after a significant amount of blood was found at the Paddington terrace. Police hold grave concerns for his partner, flight attendant Luke Davies, 29. Bloodied clothes belonging to Mr Baird were found dumped behind a skip-bin in the south Sydney suburb of Cronulla by a worker on Wednesday. Attempts to locate both men in recent days have been unsuccessful, according to media reports. Mr Baird, 26, who worked for Studio 10 until last year, was last seen exiting his home on Monday night, while Mr Davies family reported him missing on Tuesday. His disappearance is being considered suspicious. Investigators are now trying to determine the location of [Mr Baird], who they believe can assist with inquiries, a NSW Police spokesperson said. Three days ago, Mr Baird posted pictures of the pair of them together from when they attended Pinks concert in Sydney two weeks ago. Police are expected to hold a press conference at 3pm. Updated: Detectives are searching for a NSW police officer in the disappearance of a former 10 presenter and his flight attendant boyfriend after the discovery of bloodied clothing in a skip bin sparked a search for the pair. Police said in a statement on Thursday night: Following inquiries, detectives are looking at a line of inquiry that a third person may be able to assist with the investigation. Police are currently trying to locate him. Update Feb 23: A cop who dated a missing Channel 10 presenter is now in custody after his home was raided in a desperate hunt for the star and his Qantas flight attendant boyfriend. A NSW Police officer and ex-celebrity blogger, handed himself in to cops on Friday morning after a frantic overnight search. Source: news.com.au, Daily Mail SKY News covers the Dunkley by-election which takes place on Saturday March 2. Paul Murray Live: The Dunkley Pub Test 9pm Mond February 26 Sky News Host Paul Murray is back hosting his first Pub Test since 2022, following the success of the Pub Test Federal Election series. In a special broadcast on Monday 26 February at 9pm AEDT, three by-election candidates are thus far confirmed to face a pub audience in Frankston, Victoria for an evening of questions on the issues that matter most to voters in Dunkley. The unscripted and televised Q&A hosted by Paul Murray will feature Liberal Party candidate Nathan Conroy, Libertarian Party candidate Chrysten Abraham and Australian Democrats candidate Heath McKenzie. Following the debate, Sky News will host a panel to unpack each candidates performance and arguments. The panellists include Sky News Hosts Steve Price and Rita Panahi and Sky News Contributor and former Labor Cabinet Minister in the Rudd-Gillard Governments Stephen Conroy. Dunkley By-Election Live From 6pm AEDT Saturday March 2 On Saturday 2 March Sky News Australia will be live from Melbourne for complete by-election coverage and rapid results as votes are counted for the Victorian swing seat of Dunkley. Dunkley voters will give their verdict on the Labor Governments cost-of-living policies and performance, while the Opposition vie for victory in a seat that is critical to their competitiveness at next years federal election. Live coverage begins at 6.00pm AEDT with Sky News Australias Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert leading the networks unrivalled political panel, including Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell, Sky News Anchor Peta Credlin, and Sky News Contributor Stephen Conroy. Analysing the results and breaking down the data in real-time will be Sky News Chief Election Analyst Tom Connell. Several prominent politicians will also join Senior Political Reporter Trudy McIntosh at Liberal HQ, and Victorian Political Reporter Simon Love live from Labor HQ, for their reaction to the results throughout the evening. More than 37 archaeological sites in Afghanistan have been destroyed and targeted with systematic looting under the Taliban-run government, according to researchers at the University of Chicago. Researchers at the universitys Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation identified 162 ancient settlements that faced devastation at an alarming rate between 2018 and 2021, continuing at 37 sites since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The analysis of satellite images of sites identified around northern Afghanistans Balkh region has provided the first evidence of patterns of looting that were initially identified under the Talibans first stint in power and have continued since, according to a BBC report. The sites that have been plundered date back to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age, with some even predating 1000 BC, researchers say. Most of these sites are located in the Balkh region, formerly the central territory of Bactria, which boasts a storied past dating to the 6th Century BC during the Achaemenid Empire era. Subsequently, it was captured by Alexander the Great, evolving into a hub for Zoroastrianism and Buddhist faith. It later became a centre for Islamic culture. The researchers have identified 29,000 archaeological sites across Afghanistan. The Taliban returned to power after overthrowing the Ashraf Ghani government and promised to respect the countrys ancient heritage among its other assurances of maintaining a more moderate rule. During their first stint in power in 2001, Taliban left the historians stunned after destroying a statue of the Bamiyan Buddhas, which had stood as the worlds largest Buddha statue for over 1,500 years. The Unesco world heritage site of Afghan Buddhism was a holy site for Buddhists on the Silk Road route. A file photo dated 07 December 1997 shows an Afghan walking near the world's tallest standing statue of Buddha in Bamiyan province of Afghanistan (AFP/Getty) Professor Gil Stein, the director of the Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation at Chicago university, told the British broadcaster that they have identified a new pattern of destruction in the region since 2018. Story continues Satellite imagery showed marks on the pictures that his team says could have been left behind by the bulldozers that left track marks which disappeared over time. More images showed newly bulldozed sites punctuated with pits dug out by looters, Mr Stein said, adding that they were clearing out vast areas to make it easier to loot the site systematically. These looted artefacts could have been smuggled out of Afghanistan through Iran, Pakistan and other countries, he said, adding could end up being displayed in museums or auction houses in Europe, North America, and east Asia. He said some 162 sites were "devastated at an astonishing rate of one a week" in the span of four years from 2018 to 2021 and continued after the Taliban overthrew his government in 2021. The Taliban government officials have rejected the claims of destruction and plundering of historical sites in the country. This picture taken on May 17, 2022, shows a part of a statue of Buddha after being uncovered at an archaeological site in Mes Aynak, in the eastern province of Logar (AFP via Getty Images) Atiqullah Azizi, the Talibans acting deputy minister for information and culture, told BBC that 800 units have been assigned to safeguard the sites of historical importance. We sent various teams to check the sites and I can reassure you that there hasnt been a single incident in any of those sites, he said. However, the Professor Stein said: We can show there was continuity even across two very different political regimes. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission. Clase Azul is known for releasing high-end tequila that comes in handmade ceramic decanters, but over the past few years the brand has put out a few mezcals as well. The latest is San Luis Potosi, and it is the best release to date from the brand in the mezcal category. More from Robb Report The previous two mezcals from Clase Azul are Durango and Guerrero, and this third edition is also named after a Mexican state. San Luis Potosi is located in central Mexico, and the eponymous mezcal is made from the salmiana agave variety, or green agave, that is native to the region and can be found growing more than 6,000 feet above sea level. According to the brand, this new expression was produced in Estacion Ipina, a village of just 250 people where many are involved in the mezcal industry in some way. The agave was steam cooked in stone ovens as opposed to being cooked underground, so dont expect an assertive, smoky flavor from this spirit. Instead there is a bit of spice combined with notes of grass, citrus, white pepper, thyme, and an almost savory character making this a very different expression from Clase Azuls previous mezcal releases. The decanter that this mezcal comes in is one of the most striking from the brand. The color is a bright red that is supposed to pay homage to the indigenous Huachichil people of the region. The name is Aztec for heads painted red, referring to the fact that they would traditionally paint their bodies redhence, the bright color of this decanter. There are carvings at the base that are meant to represent the natural features and native agave plants of San Luis Potosi. Were delighted to introduce a spirit thats so deeply rooted in the history and landscape of its place of origin, said Clase Azul master distiller Viridiana Tinoco in a statement. The generational wisdom safeguarded by the mezcal-producing community of Estacion Ipina, San Luis Potosi has given rise to a distinctive mezcal. Its unique aromatic and tasting notes reflect its traditional craftsmanship and capture the essence of the green agave used in its production. Story continues Clase Azul San Luis Potosi is available starting this month in a one-liter decanter from retailers around the country (SRP $370) and online. If its not in your area yet, you can find other bottles in the brands lineup from retailers like ReserveBar now. 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. HRW highlighted the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi (OZAN KOSE) Governments around the world are "reaching beyond their borders" to attack their own citizens abroad in order to crush dissent, Human Rights Watch said Thursday, urging more protection for them. The New York-based rights group said so-called "transnational repression" was having a "chilling effect" on political criticism and called on countries and international organisations to take action. "Methods... include killings, abductions, unlawful removals, abuse of consular services, the targeting and collective punishment of relatives, and digital attacks," an HRW report said. Some governments have abused the Interpol alert system to "illegitimately target a national living abroad". The report details 75 cases of governments in more than two dozen countries -- including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belarus and Cambodia -- carrying out "human rights abuses... to silence or deter dissent" over the past 15 years. "Governments should dedicate resources to understand how transnational repression occurs on their soil and take needed steps to better protect those who initially came looking for safety," said HRW's Bruno Stagno. The rights group said governments attack those living abroad that they deem a threat, including human rights activists, journalists and political opponents. This had a "serious chilling effect on the rights of freedom of expression... for those who are targeted, or fear they could be," it said. HRW gave the example of the 2018 murder and dismemberment of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, after he entered the Istanbul consulate to obtain travel documents. Others have been abducted, it said, like Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested after his flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk in 2021. He was sentenced to eight years in jail, then "pardoned". It said countries had also attacked family members to coerce dissidents into silence. Story continues Police in Chechnya abducted the mother of Ibragim Yangulbaev, who runs an anti-government Telegram channel from abroad, and sentenced her to five and a half years in prison, HRW said. - Forced returns - Some governments have abused Interpol's red notices, which trigger a global alert enabling law enforcement to arrest a person before a possible extradition, it added. In one case, Bahraini dissident Ahmed Jaafar Mohamed Ali fled to Serbia after Bahraini authorities tortured him, HRW said. But after Bahrain sentenced him to life in prison following "unfair" trials, then issued a red notice against him, he was arrested and unlawfully extradited in January 2022, it said. In another case, likely involving an agreement between Cambodia and Thailand to swap "foreign fugitives", Thailand forcibly returned home Cambodian refugees Veourn Vesna and Voeung Samnang in 2021. They had links to the opposition. Thailand earlier this month detained three more Cambodian activists. Some countries have taken steps to counter transnational repression, including Australia and the United States, HRW said. Australian police launched a programme to advise Australians on what to do if they think foreign governments are targeting them. And the United States has passed legislation to counter the use of Interpol for political aims. But HRW said more needed to be done. ekf/ah/bp Russia has pulled out of a long-standing fishing deal with the UK - and said Britons should "lose weight and get smarter". A 1956 agreement that allowed British boats to fish in the Barents Sea has been ripped up, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Moscow and the West. The fishing deal was signed by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, but Russian politicians have now claimed it was never in the national interest. The UK government said the end of the deal would have "no material impact on our fish supplies". War latest: Biden brands Putin 'crazy SOB' Russia's parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said: "The British need to study some proverbs - 'Russians harness the horse slowly, but ride it fast'." He told politicians that "the unscrupulous British" had eaten Russian fish for 68 years - declaring: "Now let them lose weight, get smarter." On Wednesday, the UK imposed sanctions on six people in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's fiercest critic, died last week. Mr Volodin said withdrawal from the fishing deal was in direct response to these sanctions - as British vessels caught 556,000 tonnes of cod and haddock in Russian waters last year alone. 'With Gorbachev, we lost our country' A close Putin ally, the politician also doubled down on the Kremlin's view that the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union was a tragedy. He said: "With Gorbachev, we lost our country, and with Putin we got it back." Last year, Sky News reported that up to 40% of cod and haddock consumed in the UK comes from Russia and Russian territory - with Moscow accused of "weaponising food". Read more: Estonia's weekend warriors warn UK UK exports to ex-Soviet states surge Russia detains LA ballerina 'on suspicion of treason' 'No official notification from Russia' A UK government spokesperson said: "UK vessels do not fish in these Russian waters so this would have no material impact on our fish supplies, including cod or haddock. Story continues "The UK has not received any official notification from the Russian Federation on this matter. "Russia's continued unilateral withdrawal from a number of international cooperation treaties is symptomatic of its self-inflicted isolation on the world stage as a result of its illegal invasion of Ukraine." Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, told Sky News: "British vessels have not fished in Russian waters for decades so it's a bit of a moot point. "Cod spawns in Norwegian waters and migrates to the Russian area to grow so that area is avoided to ensure there is the volume of fish needed in the fishing grounds in the future when they migrate back. "One area of concern is if Russian vessels are catching smaller fish in their waters - but DEFRA assure me they are monitoring this." 'This is the most difficult period we have ever faced' Two Scottish fish and chip shop bosses are relieved UK supplies should not be affected. However, the industry continues to struggle following the COVID pandemic and amid a cost of living crisis that has seen the prices of oil and fish soar. The boss of successful chain Blue Lagoon - which has branches across Scotland including in Glasgow, Perth and Stirling - said the firm gets its fish fresh daily from the North Sea. However, director Alessandro Varese is concerned that the revoking of the treaty could lead to a demand for more local fish, which may lead to a rise in prices. He told Sky News: "This is the most difficult period we have ever faced in our 49-year history as a family business." Mr Varese said the firm is facing rising costs from its suppliers and utility providers, and is calling for the Scottish government to grant a 75% rates relief to the hospitality industry. He said: "This would be a great help and may be the difference between businesses dying or surviving." Tony Jaconelli, owner of award-winning Tony's of Stonehouse in South Lanarkshire, said it's been a "tough few years". He added: "All the rising costs are crippling a lot of small businesses. It's a real shame - some of these chippies have been open for decades. "The price of oil has come down a bit, but I feel it will never go back to what it was. I suppose life in general won't." France's Sebastien Lecornu travelled to Armenia Thursday on the first trip by a French defence minister to the South Caucasus nation. It comes as tensions rise with Yerevan's historic rival Azerbaijan, and as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Armenia's leader in Paris. Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu's visit to Armenia follows the induction into the Pantheon of Armenian-born Resistance fighter Missak Manouchian in Paris on Wednesday. Lecornu's becomes the first French defence minister to visit Armenia, and the European defense minister in about a decade. France and Armenia signed a letter of intent on air defence in October last year that included the acquisition of three Thales Ground Master (GM200) radars capable of detecting an enemy aircraft up to 250 kilometres away. France will also provide Armenia with night vision goggles, manufactured by Safran. In addition, the French military will hold three mountain combat training sessions with the Armenian forces later this year. Armenian diaspora France, with its 600,000-plus Armenian community, profiles itself as a mediator in the conflict over control of the Haut-Karabakh region. In September last year, Azeri forces entered the area, exiling some 100,000 Armenians. Read more on RFI English Read also: Paris agrees to deliver military equipment to Armenia EU to host top Armenia, Azerbaijan officials to ease tensions Frenchman arrested in Azerbaijan for 'espionage' The defence secretary has said the government will take a "very close look" after Sky News found UK exports are almost certainly helping Russia's war effort in Ukraine. Drone equipment and heavy machinery are among items being sent to countries including Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Uzbekistan, from where they are understood to be forwarded to Russia. Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway said it was undermining the official UK sanctions regime and bolstering Vladimir Putin's war machine. Ukraine-Russia war latest: Navalny's mother says she has seen her son's body Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told the House of Commons on Thursday: "I did read at length Ed Conway's excellent thread talking about this issue. "It is the case that when you set up sanctions initially they tend to work, but they'll eventually work their way and find another route to market. "As Ed Conway points out in the thread this is an international problem... I can assure him that the British government will be taking a very close look." Officially, flows of heavy machinery, electrical equipment and cars from the UK to Russia have dropped to nearly zero - with the government calling it "the most severe package of economic sanctions ever imposed". However, Sky News analysis of Britain's official trade statistics gives a different perspective. It shows that while UK firms' exports to Russia have fallen sharply, exports to various former Soviet satellite states have risen at an unprecedented rate. Among items being exported are significant quantities of "dual use" items that can be repurposed into weaponry. Exports to four countries have risen by over 500% since the outbreak of war and, worryingly, by far the biggest class of goods being sent are "parts of aeroplanes, helicopters or unmanned aircraft". British exports to Kyrgyzstan, the small former Soviet satellite state, are up more than 1,100%, for example. Story continues These exports are dominated by heavy machinery and vehicles which can no longer be sent directly to Russia. They are also up nearly as sharply to Armenia, which according to Robin Brooks - former chief economist of financial body the IIF, has recorded a sharp increase in its onward exports to Russia. Mr Brooks said it's been going on for some time and that other European countries, notably Germany and Poland, also send large quantities of hardware to Russia via these states. Read more: Kremlin reacts after Biden calls Vladimir Putin a 'crazy SOB' Hit squad 'eliminating' Putin critics, says jailed opponent He told Sky News that firms were "clearly getting an order from somewhere that is a Russian satellite that happens to be domiciled in one of these Central Asian countries". He said the rise in exports was "completely insane" and that Russia was "the only reasonable explanation". Prior to Mr Shapps's comments, the government told Sky News they are constantly attempting to tighten the sanctions regime. "Any non-compliance with these tough sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution," said a spokesman. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron added 50 more people and businesses to the UK sanctions list on Thursday. Some 2,000 individuals and companies have been sanctioned since the start of the war two years ago, according to the Foreign Office. The latest measures target companies linked to the manufacture of munitions, Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools, and oil and diamond traders. Shygirl (Picture: Press) Iceland Airwaves have revealed the first names for their 2024 line-up, including Shygirl, Joy Anonymous, Anish Kumar and more. The festival is set to return to Reykjavik on the weekend of November 7-9 and also feature the likes of Bar Italia, Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul, Mandy, Indiana and Mary In The Junkyard. Festival Manager Isleifur orhallsson said: We are incredibly proud to be celebrating not only 25 years of Iceland Airwaves, but 25 years of playing a key part in the careers of some of the worlds most talented artists. Over the years we have seen many of our Airwaves alumni grow from strength to strength, often developing into some of the industrys most acclaimed artists. It is an honour to continue to bring new talent to Reykjavik, and share our beloved Icelandic community with the world. See the full line-up so far below. Please welcome the first 27 names announced for Iceland Airwaves 2024 Tickets and travel packages available at https://t.co/1Kj9PyxQm5 pic.twitter.com/sYfGf9937E Iceland Airwaves (@icelandairwaves) February 22, 2024 Reviewing the festivals 2022 edition, Rolling Stone UK said: While question marks over Airwaves future may have emerged in the last three years, 2022s offering proves that the festival is in ruder health than ever. With a line-up that flits between the best of today and the talents of tomorrow, its an essential trip for music lovers across the continent. When paired with the natural beauty and magic of Reykjavik, it becomes near unmissable. All the products off to ASDA (Image: Pic supplied) A York-based company's meat brands are soon to arrive in hundreds of Asda supermarkets. The Heroes Journey, which is headquartered at Upper Poppleton, is launching three of its brands- The Lions Kingdon, The Young Bulls and I Vow to Thee My Country- into 398-550 Asda stores across the UK. The Lions Kingdom promises a healthy range of Wild Boar Burgers, Wild Boar Sausages, and succulent Ostrich Fillet Steaks. Next, The Young Bulls aims to revolutionize the sausage and burger categories with the rich, intense taste of Iberian Chorizo & Pork Sausages and Iberian Chorizo & Pork Burgers. READ MORE: Finally, I Vow To Thee My Country bridges the gap between global culinary excellence and traditional British fare with Iberian Pork Chops and Wagyu Burgers. Charlie Simpson-Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of The Heroes Journey said: I'm absolutely delighted to be working with Asda on such an exciting deal. There has never been a tougher trading climate for young businesses and for Asda to recognise the quality of our products and supply chains by launching 7 products in 398 - 550 stores is the ultimate compliment for the efforts of our team and our family. Charlie continued: Meat as a category in some retailers is incredibly competitive and own label dominated which means innovation can be dangerous and difficult because the risk of failure is very high. Asda have an incredibly exciting attitude towards innovation at incredible price points and so I can't wait to walk into my local Asda in Monks Cross and see our Wild Boar Burgers, Wild Boar Sausages, Ostrich Steaks, Iberian Chorizo Sausages, Iberian Chorizo Burgers, Wagyu Burgers and Iberian Pork Chops waiting for me there. York Press: For me, every major retailer represents a trophy cabinet filled with the hopes and dreams of people who have risked so much to create incredible businesses. Its the ultimate battleground of hopes and dreams and ours will come to life this March in Asda thanks to their incredible buying team. Story continues Charlie added his next step was launching Ice Tipples, a 3 per cent alcoholic ice cream dessert. New Product Development Director, Joe Hepworth said: As a seasoned chef, I am thrilled to be part of this gastronomic journey that brings together an exquisite selection of meats to Asda. We are excited to bring these exceptional meat brands to Asda, providing our customers with a diverse and premium selection that caters to a range of tastes and preferences. This launch marks a significant step in our commitment to offering the best quality. The Heroes Journey also offers other meat products, including Its Land of the Samurai range of Japanese Wagyu Steaks, which are available in Aldi and other supermarkets. It also makes the Wizards Magic range of chocolate. Micheline Presle, the standout French actress who starred in the controversial Devil in the Flesh before making a foray into Hollywood that included roles opposite John Garfield, Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn and Paul Newman, has died. She was 101. Presle died Wedneday in the Paris suburb of Nogent-sur-Marne, her son-in-law Olivier Bomsel told Le Figaro. More from The Hollywood Reporter Presle came to international attention when she portrayed a nurse having an affair with a student (Gerard Philipe) in the World War I drama Devil in the Flesh (1947), which the National Board of Review voted as one of the 10 best films of the year. Because it featured a woman who took a lover while her husband was away at war, it generated a great deal of discussion. In 1949, Presle met American actor William Marshall, who had been married to another French star, Michele Morgan, and followed him to America. They would wed that year in Santa Barbara. She was signed by 20th Century Fox, which changed her surname to Prelle and cast her as a cafe owner who falls in love with a crooked jockey (Garfield) in Jean Negulescos Under My Skin (1950), based on an Ernest Hemingway short story. Micheline Presle with John Garfield in 1950s Under My Skin She starred with Power in the Technicolor war film American Guerilla in the Philippines (1950), directed by Fritz Lang, then was loaned out to Republic Pictures to work with Flynn in The Adventures of Captain Fabian (1951). Marshall directed that film, which was shot in France from a screenplay written by Flynn. But as these features failed to generate much heat, she and Marshall divorced in 1954, and she returned to France. The daughter of an investment banker, Presle was born Micheline Nicole Julia Emilienne Chassagne in Paris on Aug. 22, 1922. Story continues After a few minor roles, she scored a breakthrough with her turn as the leader of a group of girls who are distressed by their parents divorces in G.W. Pabsts Young Girls in Trouble (1939). Going forward, she would adopt the surname of the character she played, Jacqueline Presle, as her stage name. In Abel Gances Paradise Lost (1940), she portrayed both a mother and her daughter. Micheline Presle with Gerard Philipe in 1947s Devil in the Flesh After her less-than-successful stay in the U.S., Presle started a comeback with a central role in the English-language murder mystery Chance Meeting (1959), directed by Joseph Losey. She would return to Hollywood to portray a former French showgirl and mother of Sandra Dees character in the romantic comedy If a Man Answers (1962), which also starred Dees then-husband, Bobby Darin. And in 1963, she played a scientist alongside Newman in the spy drama The Prize (1963), set against the backdrop of a Nobel Prize ceremony. From 1965-71, she starred on the French comedy series Les Saintes Cheries. Her big-screen resume also included Male Hunt (1964), The Legend of Frenchie King (1971), Samuel Fullers Thieves After Dark (1984) and Alain Resnais I Want to Go Home (1989), for which she received a Cesar nomination. She was presented with an honorary Cesar in 2004. Her daughter, director Tonie Marshall, who won a history-making Cesar for Venus Beauty Institute, died in 2020 at age 68. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Views & Analysis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: 9 Points That Rahul Gandhi Should Talk About The issues Rahul Gandhi needs to articulate at various meetings during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and in Congress Manifesto are listed here. Read More Thursday February 22, 2024 11:50 AM , Mukhtar Ahmad There is hardly any doubt left in the minds of right-thinking people that we now live in a new political order. We have a new constitution where the will of the majority community is the law and a line has been drawn that no organ of the government can cross, no matter what the text of the original Constitution said. The original concept of the union of states is replaced with a unitary government that delegates some administrative functions to the provinces. The blatant misuse of Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI and Income Tax (IT) Department by the government to harass and create fear among the opposition is widely and openly used without any fear of Court or Election Commission. Those of us who want to return to a true democratic system where opposition partiesrely upon a wide range of constitutional protections, such as the freedoms of association, assembly, rights of minorities and expression, backed by an independent judiciary and an impartial civil service then we have to look for new and bold solutions. Rahul Gandhi through his Nyay Yatra is trying to highlight some of these issues.However, any mention of the Rights of Minorities, especially Muslims, is completely missing. In order for Rahul to dent not only the BJP poll strategy but also to project a narrative, he has to clearly highlight the core ideological difference, the centrality of commitment to Secularism and belief that India is union of states. While the BJP believes India is a Nation with one ideology, Rahul must stress that India is a pluralistic society where the minorities also have rights to observe their religion and culture. Unfortunately, the Congress, the main opposition party, has been hesitant to take clear stand in support of the minorities, fearing the backlash of the majority. It has been found lacking in quick response to attack on the Minorities, and constitution both. The issues Rahul Gandhi needs to articulate at various meetings during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and in Congress Manifesto are listed here. 1. The issue of MSP of farmers and its advantages also need to be explained to farmers of other states beyond Haryana and Punjab. 2. The Supreme Court of India ruling on the Electoral Bond and Chandigarh Mayor Election must be exposed as a daylight theft of peoples choice and opaque system of governance. 3. The most blatant use of law enforcing agencies to curb any form of opposition to the government policies in universities has not been fully exploited by Rahul Gandhi. The curbing of autonomy in Higher Education Institutions through centralization and appointments of head of these institutions from a particular ideology should have been a poll strategy, and leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Kanhaiya Kumar should have more dialogue with students and faculty of universities. The appointments of Vice-Chancellors to teachers are being made from RSS background. No leader except Rahul Gandhi has the courage to take RSS head on. He must take a bold initiative and tell students about the dangers of such education system. 4. The selfie zones created at Railway Stations and universities are clearly misuse of these institutions as government propaganda and the misuse of government machinery by the ruling party. Moreover, The Bharat Sankalp Yatra, will see thousands of government officers deployed to towns and villages across the country over the next two months, tasked with speaking about the BJPs successes over the past nine years. 5. Regarding the issues of Minorities the Congress Party is so much scared of backlash from Hindu voters that it is afraid of talking about even an issue like bulldozer culture, the hijab and love jihad. These issues can be highlighted as a general problem where rule of law is not followed. 6. Then is the case of hate speeches. Not a single person has been arrested in the Congress ruled states over hate speech. 7. The issues of rapes and those of wrestlers where the government has been with the wrong doers instead of supporting the victims. Same thing happened in BHU. In all these cases the perpetrators are from the ruling party. 8. One major issue is the coordination among the opposition parties. Nowhere unity is shown by the opposition parties over any issue. In fact, in elections and even when elections are not being held, the opposition parties criticise each other more than criticising the ruling party. At least Rahul should control his party leaders to avoid such confrontation. There has to be give and take with open heart among various leaders. There has been no major agitation where all the opposition parties or at least few opposition parties have combined to raise the issues of national importance. Pegasus, Rafael, CAA and NRC, subjugation of authority of opposition ruled states particularly the role of governors are issues that affect all the opposition parties but no concerted and united effort is made to counter them. Rahul Gandhi can take a bold step like his Grandmother Indira Gandhi when she discarded the old Congressmen opposing the reform and came up winning. Here Rahul Gandhi can get rid of all those people in his party who are not committed supporters of secularism and reform. 9. The Role of Minorities, especially the Muslims in any election, is very important. However, because they do not have a leader acceptable to all it is difficult to know how they will vote. They are disillusioned with all the parties because none of them takes up their issues seriously. It is important that the issue of dehumanization of Muslims, and to some extent the Christian community, and their freedom of following their religion must be talked now. [The writer, Mukhtar Ahmad, is former professor of Electrical Engineering Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Aligarh] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Hajj & Umrah Now Muslims from these countries can perform Umrah without Visa The Ministry of Haj and Umrah Saudi Arabia has announced Visa Free Umrah for the pilgrims from the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (U.K.) and the European Union (EU). Read More Thursday February 22, 2024 7:43 PM , ummid.com News Network Makkah: The Ministry of Haj and Umrah Saudi Arabia has announced Visa Free Umrah for the pilgrims from the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (U.K.) and the European Union (EU). Unlike Hajj which is performed once in a year, Umrah, known as lesser Hajj, can be performed any time. The Pilgrims from Europe, U.S. and U.K. can travel to Makkah and perform Umrah provided they have permanent residency without applying for Umrah Visa in advance, the Ministry said. The announcement of Visa Free Umrah for US, UK and EU comes less than one month before Ramadan 2024. While Muslims from around the world throng to Makkah to perform Umrah throughout the year, the Holy Month of Ramadan is special when Pilgrims are more eager for the lesser Hajj. The Holy Month of Fasting this year starts either from March 11 or 12, 2024 based on the citing of the Ramadan 2024 Moon . Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has in September 2022 announced Visa on Arrival facility for the Muslims visiting Makkah for Umrah. The Saudi Visa on arrival service is available for a number of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Also, the GCC citizens, including nationals from Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, can enter Saudi Arabia visa-free and do not need to apply for a Saudi transit visa. In a mover to further simplify Umrah travels to Makkah, Saudia, the flag carrier of the Kingdom, has started offering Transit Visa along with ticket booking since January 2023 . Umrah visitors can arrange their travel either through the Nusk app or complete the fomalities upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HA NOI Viet Nam has been emerging as a key market for large semiconductor chip production globally. However, competition among countries in the region and around the world in attracting foreign direct investment, especially in the semiconductor industry, is fierce. So what solutions does Viet Nam need to take advantage of opportunities to welcome a wave of investment in the sector? Vietnam News Agency spoke to Hoang Viet Anh, Deputy General Director of FPT Corp on this issue. How do you evaluate the potential and opportunities to attract investment in Viet Nam's semiconductor chip industry? Viet Nam has a lot of potential to develop semiconductor chip technology. This industry can soon become a key economic sector of Viet Nam and the country has enjoyed many opportunities to attract investment in the industry. The country is also a market with great potential in chip consumption. Its chip market has experienced an annual growth rate of 6.12 per cent in recent years. The scale of the market is expected to reach about US$1.66 billion by 2027. In addition, Viet Nam has attracted the great attention of investors and has become a destination for researching, developing and producing semiconductor chips. This comes from several reasons. The country has the advantage of natural conditions and is one of the few countries in the world with rare earth reserves - an important raw material in semiconductor chip production. The visit of US President Joe Biden to Viet Nam in September 2023 opened up opportunities for the two countries to cooperate in semiconductor chip production. That is expected to facilitate the development of this industry in Viet Nam. The Vietnamese Government has continuously issued preferential policies to attract foreign investment, especially in the semiconductor chip sector. With cooperation agreements with many countries, Viet Nam will continue to issue more incentives to attract foreign investment in the coming time. The country also has a young and dynamic workforce, which is eligible to become engineers in the semiconductor chip manufacturing industry. Although there are currently only about 5,000 engineers working in 40 chips and semiconductor companies in Viet Nam, the nation has a plan to increase this number of engineers 10 times between now and 2030. So I have to say that Viet Nam has the potential to become one of the destinations for research, development and production of semiconductor chips in the world shortly. Many industry giants are keen on investing in the semiconductor chip industry in Viet Nam. What have Vietnamese businesses, including FPT, done to prepare for this? Over the past 20 years, the Vietnamese Government has issued many preferential policies to attract foreign investors in the semiconductor chip sector. Many large enterprises in the world such as Intel, Samsung or Foxconn are present in Viet Nam. Viet Nam has also considered the semiconductor chip a key industry in the future. Domestic businesses have coordinated with the State to draw up policies and development roadmaps for Viet Nam. Specifically, the country strives to train about 50,000 engineers specialising in the field of chips and semiconductors from now to 2030. Large Vietnamese enterprises such as Viettel, VNPT and FPT have also proactively built their capacities to participate in chip research, development and production. For FPT, we have launched FPT Semiconductor Co which specilises in the field of semiconductor chips. The company has received large orders to produce over 70 million chips. At the same time, we have also focused on launching training programmes on semiconductor chips at the FPT education system. In addition, we will continue to expand international cooperation, while concentrating on research, investment, mergers and acquisitions of capable businesses in the sector to increase our internal strength. What do you think about the quality of Viet Nam's personnel resources in the semiconductor chip sector and what policies does FPT have to develop human resources to meet the requirements of the industry? I think, Viet Nam's young human resources are quite quick to learn new technology. However, the investment in developing personnel resources for the semiconductor chip sector in Viet Nam remains modest. Up to now, Viet Nam only has 5,000 engineers working in about 40 chip and semiconductor companies. Following the State's plan to train about 50,000 engineers in semiconductor chips from now to 2030, FPT has made preparations and policies to develope human resources in the industry. Besides the launch of FPT Semiconductor Co, which targets to train 10,000 engineers by 2030, we have also accelerated international cooperation, investment and mergers and acquisitions of foreign IT firms. From a business perspective, what recommendations does FPT have so that businesses can participate in the semiconductor chip supply chain amid a wave of foreign investment in Viet Nam? The semiconductor chip is a potential for not only Viet Nam but also for FTP and human resources are considered the first important key in building the semiconductor chip industry in Viet Nam. Therefore, we hope that the Government will drastically and strongly promote training and building high-quality human resources in the field. To do this, the State needs to have policies to encourage domestic training centres and universities to focus on this area. Furthermore, Viet Nam should create a playground for domestic and foreign businesses to boldly invest and do business in semiconductor chips. Preferential policies for businesses will be also needed to create motivation for them to invest in the industry. In addition, the State needs to consider and ensure adequate facilities and good living conditions when attracting Vietnamese engineers or good experts from around the world to work in the country. Last but not least, Viet Nam should have certain synchronisation in logistics infrastructure, hardware and software, thereby facilitating the sector's development. Which are FPT's solutions to participate in the semiconductor chip supply chain? From 25 years of experience in software development, we have given some specific directions. FPT, along with other large Vietnamese enterprises such as Viettel and VNPT, will make efforts and actively coordinate with the State in building models, policies and solutions to speed up the industry's development including encouraging foreign and domestic enterprises to join the field. In addition, we will focus on investing in building high-quality engineering human resources. This is one of the key directions we have been implementing drastically in the future. In the semiconductor chip supply chain, businesses can participate in the research and development stage, production testing and sales distribution. Currently, FPT is in charge of the product research and development stage. During the production process, we have to team up with foreign original equipment manufacturers for production and distribution abroad as conditions in Viet Nam are not ready. FPT and other businesses are also actively discussing and consulting with the Government in building a roadmap, legal framework as well as policies to encourage investment and ensure that investors can recoup their investments as soon as possible. This is considered one of the important steps to build the semiconductor chip production chain in Viet Nam in the time to come. VNS HA NOI The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQPM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has just issued a document announcing that Brazil will stop importing tilapia from Viet Nam. Specifically, NAFIQPM received an official letter from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) on stopping the import of tilapia from Viet Nam from February 14 this year until there is a conclusion on reviewing the risk of disease caused by TiLV virus. The NAFIQPM has recommended that seafood processing facilities on the list of exporters to Brazil stop exporting tilapia to the Brazilian market starting from February 14. At the same time, seafood processing facilities on the list of exporters to Brazil need to proactively update, research and organise the proper implementation of regulations in the process of producing and processing seafood and exported aquatic products to Brazilian market. Data of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) show that the country's tilapia exports reached more than US$6 million last year, a year-on-year decrease of 42 per cent. The EU continues to be the market consuming the most tilapia from Viet Nam with $2 million last year, down 34 per cent year-on-year. Among them, the Netherlands contributed nearly half of total Vietnamese tilapia exports to the EU market. Following the EU, the US consumed nearly US$1 million last year, down 71 per cent year-on-year. Frozen tilapia is a favourite product of consumers in the US. China is the world's largest source of tilapia and is also the largest source for the US. Vietnamese tilapia in the US has difficulty competing with Chinese tilapia, because Viet Nam's average price is higher even though it is on a downward trend. VNS HCM CITY The HCM City Export Forum and Fair 2024 will be held in the southern metropolis on May 8-11, the municipal Department of Industry and Trade announced on February 22. The event will bring together Vietnams leading exporters who will popularise their high-quality agricultural products, food and beverage, garment and textile products, leather shoes and handbags, and supporting services, among others. A string of forums and business matching events will be held to connect Vietnamese enterprises and international buyers. According to Director of the HCM City Centre of Supporting Enterprise Development Le Minh Trung, some 450 booths will be arranged at this year's event, doubling the number in 2023. On the occasion, a meeting will be held for managers, businesses, and associations with a view to boosting export, while visits to factories and material and production areas are on schedule, creating favourable conditions for businesses to seek partners and importers. Advanced technologies will be applied at the event, comprising online check-in system and online exhibition floor layout. VNS SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 February 2024 - Over the course of a groundbreaking launch campaign from February 1st, UXLINK , the leading Web3 social infrastructure platform renowned for its innovative "Real World Social" and "Group" features, launched multiple Web3 wallet feature that exceeded all expectations.During this limited time frame, this feature resulted in the creation and connection of more than 978,000 new Web3 wallet addresses to UXLINK. The average value of assets held in these connected wallets surpassed $70 in equivalent tokens, totaling a remarkable $78 million. This surge in user engagement expanded globally, spanning across over 100 countries and regions including Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East. Noteworthy was the peak in the new registration/UV ratio, reaching an outstanding 42%, underscoring the trust and efficiency cultivated through acquaintance social networks and group interactions.UXLINK Protocol stands as a decentralised real world social protocol that empowers decentralised applications (DApps) to harness a broad spectrum of on-chain and off-chain social resources. These resources encompass user social account information, social relationship graphs, social tags, and social relationship recommendations, accelerating DApp development, facilitating cross-chain functionality, and harmonising social data across multiple contexts to elevate user experience and achieve business objectives.Moreover, UXLINK has unveiled the third phase of its highly anticipated Odyssey Airdrop initiative, introducing a range of exciting features including wallet registration, binding, and check-ins. Participants are incentivized to earn additional token rewards by inviting friends to join the platform. To date, the Odyssey initiative has garnered participation from over 40,000 individuals, with plans set to launch the $UXLINK governance token airdrop in March 2024.With a user base exceeding 3 million verified users actively engaged in more than 74,000 groups, collectively reaching 6 million users, UXLINK is committed to revolutionising the Web3 landscape as a next-generation traffic and protocol-based infrastructure provider. By opening up protocols and collaborating with developers and ecosystem partners, UXLINK aims to deliver customised Web3 infrastructure services tailored to diverse social scenarios, integrating seamlessly with popular platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, email contacts, phone address book contacts, and Google contacts.Hashtag: #blockchain #UXLINKOdyssey: https://dapp.uxlink.io/quest The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NEW YORK Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations (UN), has affirmed that the values, objectives and principles of the UN Charter have served as an important foundation of international law. Thoa made the affirmation while addressing the annual session of the Special Committee on the Charter of the UN, which is taking place in New York from February 20-28 with the participation of representatives from nearly 90 member countries and many international organisations. This years meeting focused on the role of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security, and addressing disputes by peaceful measures, along with the use of mediation measures in the work. Regarding sanctions, Thoa emphasised that they would not help promote friendship and cooperation, but should only be the last measure and match the UN Charter and international law. She called on Sanctions Committees and experts to consider and assess impacts on economic activities and livelihoods of people, especially vulnerable groups. For the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, she noted that Viet Nam always upholds this basic principle of international law and supports the measures stipulated in Article 33 of the UN Charter as well as other peaceful means chosen by parties. With the assistance of a neutral third party in mediation, which could be an individual, any country/group of countries or international organisation, relevant sides would begin direct negotiations or seek other solutions, Thoa suggested. The Special Committee on the Charter of the UN was established in 1975 for countries to discuss the implementation of the UN Charter. It holds annual meetings to discuss and consider related proposals. Since its adoption in 1945, the UN Charter had been amended three times in 1963, 1965 and 1973. VNS NEW YORK Viet Nam emphasised the need for ensuring security and safety for the forces and bases of peacekeeping missions and enhancing womens role in peacekeeping operations, at a recent plenum of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C34). Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, stressed the requirement, especially amid risks of increased hostilities and intentional attacks on UN personnel. He called on the missions to enhance their health capacity to protect the physical and mental health of peacekeeping forces. As Viet Nam's experience shows, increasing interactions and trust building with local administrations and communities is important to helping reduce risks and create a safer and more favourable environment for peacekeeping forces in the field, Nguyen continued. The diplomat also recommended the UN continue enhancing peacekeeping partnerships with regional organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As one of the four Southeast Asian countries housing UN-designated international training centres for the Triangular Partnership Programme, Viet Nam is ready to cooperate with international partners to improve the quality of peacekeepers, especially in the stage of pre-deployment, he stated. Nguyen added that the country also wishes to receive support and assistance from partners during the preparation for deploying its first peacekeeping police unit in the coming time. Underlining the importance of promoting womens role in peacekeeping operations, the diplomat appealed to the UN and the missions to create a safer and more favourable work environment for womens engagement in peacekeeping forces. Viet Nam pledges efforts to maintain its female participation rate in peacekeeping forces higher than the UNs set target of 15 per cent and strive to raise the rate to 20 per cent by 2025, he remarked. In his opening address, President of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis affirmed that peacekeeping is an important tool of the UN to maintain peace and security and protect civilians. He highlighted the contributions and sacrifice by UN peacekeeping forces over the last 76 years, noting 4,345 peacekeepers have died. Amid the increasingly complicated international political and security situations, C34 needs feasible and durable solutions to improve the efficiency of peacekeeping missions, Francis said. VNS Ha Nois Department of Transport has proposed offering free public transport services for people during four major holidays, including New Year's Day, Lunar New Year, Reunification Day and International Workers' Day on April 30 and May 1, as well as National Day on September 2. Khuong Kim Tao, former deputy chief of the National Traffic Safety Committee, spoke to Voice of Vietnam (VOV) about the proposal. Buses are currently free for meritorious people, people with disabilities, people over 60, children under six, and city residents in poverty. In the near future, the city may provide other free transportation services, including bus rapid transit (BRT) tickets, open-topped double-decker bus tour tickets, and metro tickets for all residents on major holidays. How do you evaluate this proposal? I must say that Ha Noi's plan to provide free public transport services for passengers during big holidays is very good initiative. This is an opportunity for us to promote the public transportation system of the capital city, which currently includes modern types of transportation that meet international standards, such as metro lines and eco-friendly buses. This not only demonstrates significant progress in public transportation, but also shows appreciation to passengers. Based on this, the city can listen to the passengers' desires to implement better public transportation planning. I believe this is a very good policy. What is your evaluation of the benefits free public transportation will bring? Of course, there will be some financial implications, but from a social problem-solving perspective, I believe it's reasonable. It will help promote the citys image and encourage passengers to use public transportation. The benefits gained are much greater than the costs incurred. Firstly, it enhances the image of public transportation in the capital city. Secondly, it may lead to increased overall usage of buses and trains, generating more revenue. And the biggest benefit is that we gradually change people's perceptions about public transportation, thereby promoting the reduction of personal vehicles, reducing environmental pollution, and contributing to building a civilised, modern, green, clean and beautiful city. Buses are currently easily accessible. However, BRT and metro lines remain limited. What are your expectations for future public transportation services? To develop public transportation, we must establish a network instead of developing isolated routes. Currently, we have only one urban railway line, and we will soon have the second one of Nhon Ha Noi Station. We need a policy to develop the public transportation network, with buses being the backbone. More time is needed to complete the metro line network. In our planning, we still have a variety of transportation options. Currently, we only have one BRT line, which hasn't been very effective. To ensure public transportation can meet the people's needs in the future, we need to plan the bus network, including BRT services, small buses, regular buses, and other modes of transport including taxis. We need to improve infrastructure to better serve the people. For roads that meet the requirements, we should expand bus lanes, prioritise additional lanes for rapid buses, and connect bus-exclusive areas with other areas for electric bicycles and public bicycles. Only when the service is good and convenient will people choose to use it. VNS LAO CAI A new forest fire spot in the Hoang Lien National Park was discovered at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Den Thang Village, Ta Van Commune, Sa Pa Town. Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency on Thursday morning, To Ngoc Lien, chairman of the Sa Pa Town Peoples Committee, said that the new fire spot was about 500 meters away from the old ones, which occurred three days ago. After discovering the new fire, firefighting forces including forest rangers, police, civil defense, and hundreds of local people approached the fire. It is assessed to be larger than the previous ones. The vegetation layer is thick, the wind is strong, and the terrain is difficult, posing many obstacles for firefighting work. The forces used flycams to determine the fire's location and assign tasks to different teams. The Lao Cai Forest Firefighting Command Station assigned 600 more people divided into four teams to access the fire. The burned forest areas were mainly poor forests, said Lien. Three other forest fire spots occurring in the Hoang Lien National Park on Monday at the height of 1,900-2,000 meters were basically extinguished. VNS HA NOI A 27-year-old Vietnamese female currently studying in Europe is believed to have gone missing, after more than a month of losing contact with her close relatives in Viet Nam. Nguyen Bich Ngoc, known by her nickname "Emma" to foreign friends, has been studying in a postgraduate programme at the Skema Business School - Campus Grand Paris in France since 2022. She went to Amsterdam in the Netherlands for an internship from September to December 2023. On January 28, Ngoc's parents in Viet Nam had a two-hour long call with her, and it was the last they had heard of Ngoc for about a month. According to Ngoc's father, Nguyen Cao ang, the family is doing all that they can to search for Ngoc, and think that the girl went missing in either France or the Netherlands. According to her parents, Ngoc, who is due to graduate in June and has a visa expiration date of September 2024, was admitted to a job at an American investment bank, believed by the family to be Goldman Sachs' Amsterdam branch, where she earlier worked as an intern. Ngoc earlier told her family that she rented a room in an apartment run by a Senegalese woman during her internship in Amsterdam. However, as the visa deadline is approaching, the family presumes that Ngoc went back to France. "We have been sleepless the past days waiting for news of our daughter," said ang, "We are actively collaborating with authorities hoping for some updates on her." A latest update on a relative's social media page said that the family have reported to Dutch and German police, and the search is underway. Ngoc's aunt has travelled to France to work with the investigators. ang also said that anyone who has information on Bich Ngoc may contact him through the number +84 982 968 299. VNS HCM CITY Truong My Lan, the chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat who has been accused of bribery, violating bank regulations, and embezzlement through Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB), has been transferred from Ha Noi to HCM City for trial next month. The 68-year-old chairwoman, along with eight other defendants who are former leaders of SCB, were transferred to a detention facility in Cu Chi District on Wednesday. The transportation process was carried out with extra precautions by the Ministry of Public Security and HCM City Police due to the seriousness of the case. To support the trial, the court has summoned over 2,400 individuals with relevant rights and obligations. The preparation for the trial is nearly complete after two months of implementation, including personnel, organisation, and courtroom security. The trial is expected to last two months. Truong My Lan faces allegations with 85 co-defendants who have been charged with similar crimes, including 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 court has called on the five fugitive defendants to surrender in order to receive leniency from the Party and the State. Nearly 200 lawyers are expected to be involved with the trial, with five of them defending the chairwoman. HCM City authorities have 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, 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 US$5.2 million to o Thi Nhan, former head of the the central banks Department of Inspection and Supervision. If convicted, Lan could receive the maximum penalty of death. During the investigation process, the chairwoman denied any wrongdoing related to the lender. VNS LAM ONG The Ministry of Health said it has requested Lam ong Province General Hospital to report the incident in which the hospital mistakenly provided X-ray results to a patient, leading to wrong surgery for this individual. Leaders of the ministrys Medical Examination and Treatment Department stated that they have received information regarding the wrongful surgery due to the hospital misinterpreting the X-ray results of another patient. They mentioned that the department will provide specific information after receiving reports from relevant units. Previously, on February 20, N.H.H. went to Lam ong Provincial General Hospital for a health check-up and underwent an X-ray. After receiving the results, the doctors informed the patient that there was a tube-shaped object in his abdomen and advised him to undergo endoscopic surgery to remove it. Upon receiving the X-ray results, H. was very surprised and mentioned that he had undergone kidney surgery before and had regular check-ups, so it was unlikely for a tube to suddenly appear in his body. However, after receiving the doctor's advice, H. agreed to undergo endoscopic surgery to remove the object. During the surgery, the doctors discovered that there was no tube-shaped object in the patient's abdomen. The doctors took him for another X-ray and found out that the X-ray department had mistakenly provided the results of another patient to H. Le Van Tien, director of Lam ong Province General Hospital, stated that after the incident was discovered, the hospital held meetings with relevant departments to clarify the mistakes of individuals involved in the incident. The hospital contacted the patient's family to apologise and commit to refunding the hospital fees, as well as providing healthcare for the patient who underwent the wrongful surgery. VNS Tuan, whose career in legal practice spans over 17 years, brings a wealth of experience in court litigation, including proficiency in corporate, civil, and criminal laws. "In welcoming Tuan to our team, we are not just adding a seasoned litigator but introducing a wealth of practical knowledge and a proven track record of success across a broad spectrum of legal challenges," said Tran Duy Canh, managing partner at Dentons LuatViet. "His appointment underscores our commitment to enhancing the calibre of our litigation practice and reinforces our position in the competitive legal market." Tuan's career is distinguished by his extensive experience in representing a diverse clientele, from multinational corporations to individual clients in Vietnam, earning him considerable acclaim in the legal community. His expertise is expected to significantly contribute to Dentons LuatViet's capacity to deliver highly effective litigation strategies tailored to the complex needs of its clients. Tuan said, "Joining Dentons LuatViet, a member of Dentons, the worlds largest law firm, is a significant milestone in my career. I deeply appreciate the opportunity presented by Dentons LuatViet, recognising the trust placed in me. I am committed to leveraging my expertise and collaborating with colleagues to contribute significantly to the firm's journey and aspirations." Prior to joining Dentons LuatViet, Tuan held pivotal positions in several prestigious organisations, including ATN & Partners, Tue Anh Law firm, and Techcombank, as well as roles advising South Korean companies operating in Vietnam. His varied roles have equipped him with a nuanced understanding of Vietnam's legal landscape, particularly in the areas of dispute resolution, corporate restructuring, and commercial disputes. "Tuan's extensive experience and outstanding track record in criminal litigation make him an invaluable addition to Dentons LuatViet. His dedication to justice and excellence aligns perfectly with our values. With him at the helm of our litigation team, I'm confident we'll achieve new levels of success and continue to uphold our commitment to excellence in legal practice, Canh added. According to the latest report Vietnam insurtech: Navigating challenges and capitalising on emerging opportunities released by FiinGroup on February 21, the burgeoning tech-driven insurance landscape in Vietnam is swiftly progressing, disrupting the entire insurance sector. The number of insurtech firms has accelerated since 2018, and the net revenue of these players achieved an extraordinary CAGR of 255 per cent from 2018 to 2022. Vietnam is embracing the huge growth potential for insurtech thanks to its modest insurance penetration rate and growing demand, capitalising on tech-powered inherent advantages as a suitable choice for customers who prioritise swift insurance purchases and actively seek insurance updates. The aftermath of the 2023 Vietnam insurance scandal has underscored the weaknesses in the traditional insurance value chain, prompting a reevaluation in customer demand for insurance consultation and product quality. The report pointed out that insurtech plays a dual role, simultaneously supporting and challenging traditional insurance companies by providing diverse insurance solutions for both industry players (B2B model) and end-users (B2B2C model). The predominant focus of insurtech in Vietnam lies in non-life insurance products, while a few companies, such as Momi, cultivate the life insurance segment primarily in the form of investment-linked insurance. The government aspires to achieve a life insurance coverage rate of 15 per cent for the population by 2025. Nevertheless, the current figure hovers just above 10 per cent, indicating moderate progress and leaving room for the introduction of new insurance initiatives. Despite significant growth potential, insurtech in Vietnam faces numerous obstacles, including limited funding and resources, heavy dependence on traditional insurance firms, low brand awareness and trust among middle-aged and older customers, data privacy concerns, and an incomplete regulatory framework. Given emerging challenges, insurtech will prioritise service models that complement and support the operations of traditional insurers over the next 3-5 years. In addition, insurtech will continue to boost sales with embedded insurance offerings for customers during their shopping journey within multi-million user platforms or superapps (such as Momo, Viettel Money), e-commerce platforms, and telecommunications network operators (Viettel, VNPT). The Vietnamese insurance industry, including the insurtech market, is still in its nascent stages, with ample room for growth. Tailoring products for diverse demographics will offer a strategic approach for long-term growth. Insurtech groups utilise Vietnam for ambitious plans Driving the digital revolution in Southeast Asias insurance sector, foreign insurtech companies have identified Vietnam as a burgeoning epicentre for industry innovation and growth. Igloo raises $36 million in funding Igloo, an insurtech firm headquartered in Singapore, has successfully concluded its Pre-Series C funding round, securing a substantial $36 million. What is the current proportion of the digital economy on Vietnams GDP in comparison with other countries globally? Nguyen Thi Huong, director general of GSO Compared to other countries, Vietnams proportion of the digital economy is similar to that of Thailand, significantly lower compared to Malaysia and Singapore, yet still higher than several major countries such as the United States, Canada or Australia. That is due to the different scale in digital economy measurements these countries have applied. Vietnam measures digital economy proportion following recommendations and guidelines from the Organization for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) and Asian Development Bank (ADB). In fact, the proportion of the digital economy of Vietnams GDP has tended to fall in recent years, from 12.87 per cent in 2021, receding to 12.63 per cent in 2022, and an estimated 12.33 per cent in 2023. Digital economy engagement efforts across all fields and segments of the economy and localities are being strongly promoted. This is similar to Thailand who saw their proportion falling from 12.66 per cent in 2021 to 12.1 per cent in 2022, as well as that of several other economies who have been using the measurement process under OECD and ADB recommendations. The 13th Party Congress has set forth the target of having the digital economy make up 50 per cent of GDP by 2025. Whats your view on this target? Under GSO measurements, the proportion of the digital economy on GDP is estimated at 12.33 per cent. To reach the set goal, this year the digital economy needs to grow by an additional more than 30 per cent, and in 2025 be soaring to over 50 per cent. This is a challenging task. It is inspiring that under GSO observation, the digital economy engagement efforts across all fields and segments of the economy and localities are being strongly promoted, including in production, distribution, and farming. This reflects the commitment of the government, particularly the prime minister, management agencies, localities, the business community and people in pushing IT applications into production, trading, service provision and management, contributing to driving national digital transformation. The digital economy proportion on regional GDP of Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang provinces lead in the country, but not major development centres like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Binh Duong. Why is this? Based on calculation results, during 2020-2023 there are 10 localities having the added value proportion of the digital economy where the regional GDP is higher than the countrys average, in which Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang and Vinh Phuc take the lead; following by Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Ha Nam. These results are totally precise when looking at foreign direct investment inflow into these localities in the recent years. This high proportion of the top four localities was mainly driven by the contribution of the core digital economy in these localities, particularly the electronics, computer and optic products manufacturing industries from the foreign direct investment sector. For instance, in 2023, the core digital economy accounted for 87-96 per cent of the total added value of the digital economy in these top 4 localities, meanwhile the core digital economy makes up 68 per cent of Hanois economy value and the figure for Ho Chi Minh City was just 66 per cent. This fits the economic development direction of the Party, with major development centres like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang focusing on spurring services development, particularly highly added value services like finance and banking, insurance or tourism, whereas manufacturing is shifted to other localities. IBM: Five top trends for 2024 to enhance Vietnam's digital economy Designing around AI, AI usage, data conversation, operating models, and ecosystem building will be the five main tech trends in 2024, IBM Vietnam pointed out at a press conference on December 12. This initiative seeks to tap into the wealth of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and the unique investment landscape of assets such as art and fine wine, moving beyond traditional stock or bond products. Documents filed with the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority reveal that VinFast's approach to these potential investors involves a partnership with the US-based FORCE Family Office - the largest network of family offices in the United States, helping connect with companies for co-investment, education and philanthropy. This collaboration aims to engage "family offices, investors, ecosystems, and individuals of significant net worth" to cultivate a ready pool of clientele for VinFast. Specifically, FORCE will introduce VinFast to the Alternative Assets community and Family Offices through over 100 online events and seminars annually. FORCE's submission states that successful attraction of family offices requires brand building and the development of direct dialogues. In a statement to DealStreetAsia, Vingroup underscored the partnership's goal to foster investment in its electric vehicle subsidiary. As per the agreement terms, VinFast will issue 60,000 ordinary shares to FORCE as a service fee, representing less than 5 per cent of the EV companys currently issued and circulating shares. Established in 2020, FORCE's website describes its role in facilitating connections among family offices, as well as between these entities and both private and public companies for investment, research, education, and philanthropic activities. The aim is to forge relationships that lead to investment collaborations. "Direct investment in both private and public firms has significantly increased over the last 20 years as the number of family offices has nearly doubled, and traditional investments have yielded low returns," FORCE states on its homepage. VinFast recently announced plans to increase its publicly traded share ratio from the current 2 per cent to 10-20 per cent by the end of the year. Beyond its local manufacturing facilities and a $2 billion plant in the US, VinFast is also looking to expand its manufacturing footprint in Asia. The company intends to invest at least $1.2 billion in Indonesia for vehicle distribution and to establish an electric vehicle factory, while in India, it plans to invest up to $2 billion in building electric vehicle and battery factories. VinFast sets wheels in motion in Indonesia VinFast, the Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing arm of Vingroup, announced the signing of a partnership with its first five dealerships in Indonesia on February 16, as part of the 2024 International Indonesia Motor Show. This move represents a significant step towards a strategic partnership between VinFast and India's state government aimed at advancing the development of green transportation in India and the region. The partnership between VinFast and the government of Tamil Nadu began with a MoU announced on January 6, 2024. The collaboration aims towards an intended commitment of $500 million for the first phase of the integrated EV facility, spanning five years from the commencement date. This move is a significant milestone in VinFast's global expansion strategy of venturing into one of the world's fastest growing major economies and its burgeoning EV market. The groundbreaking ceremony of the EV manufacturing plant just over a month after the announcement of the MoU affirms VinFast's strong determination and roll-out speed in its global expansion plan. VinFasts integrated EV manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu is projected to offer 3,000 to 3,500 local job opportunities, demonstrating the company's commitment to the states socioeconomic development. The VinFast Tamil Nadu project aims to develop into a first-class electric vehicle production hub in the region, with an annual capacity of up to 150,000 units at full capacity. The facility will not only cater for development objectives in the Indian market, but also serve export demands to South Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries. Additionally, the project will catalyze green transportation development which is key agenda for the government of India and the state's goal of curtailing carbon emissions in the transport sector, targeting 30 per cent of newly registered private cars to be electric. As Vietnams top electric vehicle manufacturer with global aspirations, VinFast's relentless dedication to innovation and research is driving the company towards its goal of being a global leader in the electric vehicle industry and its commitment to a sustainable future for all. VinFast plans first EV factory in India Vietnamese carmaker VinFast said it will build its first electric vehicle factory in India as part of a planned $2 billion investment, as it looks to expand into the rapidly growing market. VinFast makes foray into India with EV manufacturing facility On January 6, VinFast announced its official foray into India by forming a landmark partnership with the Tamil Nadu state government in a MoU to charge the development of green transportation in the country. The report shows that Vietnam is set to see a sharp spike in wealth growth over the next decade as it cements its status as a global manufacturing hub. The 125 per cent increase in wealth would be the largest expansion in wealth of any country in terms of GDP per person and number of millionaires. Andrew Amoils, head of Research at New World Wealth, said, Vietnam is an increasingly popular manufacturing base for multinational tech, automotive, electronics, and garments and textiles groups. India, which is set to become the worlds third-largest economy by 2027, takes the second spot with an expected 110 per cent growth in wealth. "Vietnam is home to 19,400 millionaires, with 58 centimillionaires, and is seen as a relatively safe nation compared with others in the Asia-Pacific region," Amoils said, "This provides companies with an extra incentive to set up manufacturing operations in the county." According to HSBC, given Vietnam's impressive development in the past 20 years, the general rise in wealth has promoted a higher propensity to consume, triggering a shift towards discretionary goods and services. Although the share of motorcycles as a mode of private transport remains high in Vietnam, with ownership of 70 per cent, car purchases have been increasing gradually. HSBC noted that average incomes have risen faster than expenditure over the years, helping to buttress growing consumption. Meanwhile, the proliferation of an emerging middle class has not gone unnoticed by international firms that are looking to capitalise on the rising demands of Vietnamese households. A strong pickup in Japans foreign direct investment in Vietnam's retail and financial services is a notable example. Equities touted as investment must at 2023 Wealth Advisor Summit As the second panel session of the 2023 Vietnam Wealth Advisor Summit wraps up in Hanoi, industry leaders shine a light on the shifting investment landscape. The summit, held on August 8 in Hanoi, witnessed the participation of more than 300 leaders from securities firms and fund management companies. Trends set to dictate a robust economy Amidst prevailing economic challenges, businesses and investors find themselves navigating a landscape where opportunities are progressively limited and accompanied by heightened costs. SEATTLE (AP) Boeing said Wednesday that the head of its 737 jetliner program is leaving the company in an executive shake-up weeks after a door panel blew out on a flight over Oregon, renewing questions about safety at the company. Boeing announced that Ed Clark, who had been with the company for nearly 18 years and led the 737 program since early 2021, was leaving immediately. Clark oversaw the factory in Renton, Washington, where final assembly took place on the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 involved in last month's accident. Federal investigators said bolts needed to help keep a panel called a door plug in place were missing after repair work on the plane. Katie Ringgold, a vice president in charge of delivering 737s to airlines, will succeed Clark as vice president and general manager of the 737 program and the Renton factory, according to an email to employees from Stan Deal, the CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes division. The company announced several other appointments, including naming longtime executive Elizabeth Lund to the new position of senior vice president for commercial airplanes quality. The moves are part of the company's enhanced focus on ensuring that every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements," Deal said in his email to staff. Our customers demand, and deserve, nothing less. The blowout of a panel on the Alaska Airlines Max 9 has led to more scrutiny of Boeing by regulators, Congress and airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all Max 9s in the U.S. for about three weeks for inspections of the emergency door panels, and the agency is limiting Boeing production until other quality concerns are resolved. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Boeing is not paying enough attention to safety as it tries to build more planes to meet demand from airlines. The CEOs of Alaska Airlines and United Airlines the two U.S. carriers affected by the Max 9 grounding expressed outrage and frustration with the company. They asked what Boeing intends to do about improving the quality of its manufacturing. We caused the problem and we understand that, Boeing CEO David Calhoun said on Jan. 31. We understand why they are angry and we will work to earn their confidence. Calhoun said the company has increased inspections in its plants and at suppliers, appointed a retired Navy admiral to review quality management, and shut down the 737 assembly line for one day so workers could discuss quality and safety. Criticism of Boeing has reached levels not seen since the aftermath of two deadly crashes involving Max 8 jetliners in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019. The crashes killed 346 people and led to the ouster of Boeing's then-CEO. Shares of The Boeing Co., which is based in Arlington, Virginia, closed down 1% on Wednesday. They have lost 19% and about $27 billion in stock-market value since the door blowout. Responding to a state mandate, Midway Independent School District trustees voted Tuesday not to create a new policy for chaplain involvement in their schools, choosing instead to continue social and emotional learning, character education and church partnerships with background-checked volunteers already in place. Trustees voted Tuesday on whether to draft a policy for chaplain involvement in schools, as required by Senate Bill 763, which passed and the governor signed into law during last years regular legislative session. The trustees voted unanimous not to create an additional policy for chaplains. Board President Pete Rusek said before the vote he does not think it is necessary to expand or limit the roles of ministers or church members who already volunteer in Midway schools. Also before the vote, Midway Superintendent Chris Allen said the district did not have money available to hire any chaplains as paid employees. If funding were available, it would be his recommendation to hire a fully credentialed school counselor or social worker to provide a full range of mental health services for students, Allen said. The law that advanced as SB 763 requires all public school boards to vote before March 1 on whether to establish a chaplain policy. The text says districts may choose to allow chaplains to assist with restorative discipline practices, and with mental health and behavioral support including suicide prevention. The change adds chaplains to the list of people who can provide the services, a list that already included licensed counselors. The Legislature did not require the chaplains to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification, nor did it specify training or credential requirements of any chaplain. It also did not provide any funds to hire chaplains as paid staff. Each elementary school in Midway ISD has at least one partner church that works with students, faculty and staff, Midway director of support services Anne-Marie Zellers said Wednesday. Midway Middle School and River Valley Middle School are beginning their partnerships with churches. Brazos Meadows Baptist Church and national Christian ministry YoungLife have mentorship engagements with Midway High School students. Partner churches provide mentorship or reading buddies to students, as well as snacks and meals for faculty and staff, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Aaron Pena said Wednesday. The partner churches will also offer prayer for the needs of any member of the school community who requests it. Many of the partner churches also have a crisis response role, Zellers said. Churches partnering with schools include First Woodway Baptist Church, Brazos Meadows Baptist Church, Fellowship Bible Church, Speegleville Baptist Church and others. Midway ISD has had a character education program in place for several years, with its current program, called Character Strong, in place since 2019, district spokesperson Emily Parks said by email. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has always been a component of education in Midway, as this is the services typically provided through school counselors, Parks said. It has expanded over the years to include mental health, character education and more. The district informally started restorative justice programs during the 2015-16 school year, when the Texas Education agency started rolling out the program. Midway formally implemented the services in 2018 and 2019, adding a district at-risk mentor and a clinical social worker for its disciplinary alternative education program who provides weekly character education and check-ins, connects students to outside resources as needed and works with them on transition plans for their return to their regular campus. The Waco City Council this week took action to increase budgets for ongoing construction projects and to award a $13.6 million contract to build a transfer station in South Waco to serve the new landfill near Axtell. The council on Tuesday voted to amend the contract with John W. Erwin General Contractor to build Cameron Park Zoos new veterinary hospital, increasing its expected cost by about $988,000. The original contract, approved by the council in December 2022, was for $14.7 million, almost double the original project estimate of $8.3 million in 2021. The latest amendment brings the price tag to $15.7 million. According to the city councils agenda packet, $235,000 of the projected increase can be attributed to a requirement to haul off soil removed from the construction site as required by the Soil and Groundwater Management Plan prepared for the site. The Tribune-Herald previously reported that soil tests near the site found lead, triggering the creation of a mitigation plan. An additional $446,230 was needed for new medical and building equipment. The agenda item states this expense will be covered by a $500,000 pledged donation by the Cameron Park Zoological Society. Another $260,000 in new funding is earmarked for furniture in the building, which includes desks, chairs, tables and other items. The expense also covers the delivery and installation of the items. The final $47,000 is due to general project revisions, such as additional gate valves for aquatic pools, extended fiber data pathways and revision to stormwater lines. Solid Waste Transfer Station The council voted to award a $13.6 million contract to Hammett Excavation of Dodd City to build the new solid waste transfer station at a former landfill site at Radle Road and South University Parks Drive. The contract includes construction incentives that would reward the contractor if the project is completed between January and March 2025. A previously approved contract was also amended by the council. The city has been planning a transfer station since 2017, when it chose the site on TK Parkway near State Highway 31 for a 502-acre landfill. They said a station was needed to transfer trash to tractor-trailers to avoid wear and tear on garbage collection trucks. The project was first announced in June 2022. That year, the city awarded a $316,000 contract with SCS Engineers to design and plan the project, later adding another $359,000 amendment. On Tuesday, the council approved a second contract amendment awarding an additional $442,896 to SCS for construction quality assurance, quality assurance surveying and project management services. SCSs contract now totals $1.1 million. Also Tuesday, the council approved a $178,000 contract with Langerman Foster Engineering Co. for construction material testing services, which according to the agenda, includes the compaction testing of backfill materials, drilled shift observations, concrete testing and reinforcing structural steel observations. Downtown improvements The council approved a $4.2 million amendment a contract with Austin Commercial for improvements to University Parks Drive and Clay Avenue, bringing the total cost for the project to $15.3 million. The improvement project is meant to revitalize the section of University Parks Drive between I-35 and Jackson Avenue near the Foster Pavilion. The revitalization will install gateway features such as trees, landscaping elements, lighting and irrigation along the road and median and will construct decorative sidewalks and repave roads. Similar improvements will also be made to Clay Avenue between the Brazos River and University Parks. The council also approved two-hour parking restrictions along both sides of Washington Avenue between Seventh and Eighth Streets. City spokesperson Monica Sedelmeier said parking restrictions were requested by local business owners to encourage turnover of spaces to increase the number of customer visits. The stretch of Washington Avenue is home to Hotel 1928, Magnolias renovation project of the 1928 Grand Karem Shrine Building, which was opened in late October. The Tribune-Herald reported in December that shops adjacent to Hotel 1928 saw an uptick in foot traffic from visitors to the hotel. WAHOO High school English classes hadnt prepared Genoveva Prochaska for the language barrier she faced when she came to Wahoo. Words like chicken and kitchen sounded the same, and her new classmates conversations moved too fast for her to keep up. But Prochaska needed to make it work if she wanted to support her mother and siblings back in Mexico. And if she wanted to raise her future children in better living conditions than the ones she grew up in. When Prochaska collected her degree at Bellevue Universitys Jan. 27 commencement, it was her second from the school in seven years and another step in her long journey to achieving her dream. But earning her master of science in clinical counseling wasnt the end goal merely the vehicle to living her dream every day. Ever since I was a kid, I have always had a passion for helping others, Prochaska, 56, said last Thursday at Good Friends Cafe in Wahoo. Im still on the same path of helping people, but in a different way. Initially, Prochaska thought her best means of helping others was to pursue a career in nursing. She became a certified nursing assistant and medication aide in 2000 and started studying nursing at Midland University in Fremont later that decade. She did well in classes, recalling one educational scenario in which five other students had tried to locate a vein on a patients arm, each poking the skin unsuccessfully. Prochaska struck the vein on her first attempt. In 2010, Prochaska could see the finish line and had one semester between her and her nursing degree. At the same time, Fremont was experiencing an uptick in its Hispanic and Latino populations, due to new work becoming available at food processing plants in the area. The city became embroiled in controversy stemming from the passage of an ordinance that banned people who were in the country illegally from renting homes in Fremont, and banned others from harboring in their homes people who were living in the country without legal permission. Prochaska was neither in the country illegally nor seeking refuge in a Fremont rental. But, she believes the vitriol surrounding the ordinance led to her dismissal from the universitys nursing program. To make matters worse, her credits from Midland, a private school, could not easily transfer to another institution. It was a nightmare, Prochaska said. It felt like my dream was taken away. *** Prochaska grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, the capital city of the state of the same name, about seven hours south of the Rio Grande by car. Her father left home in the 1970s when Prochaska was young, eventually settling in Wahoo, Nebraska, to find work and support his family from afar. Prochaskas mother, kneecapped by a permanently wounded leg, struggled to find a job, especially as women in Mexico accounted for a small percentage of the countrys workforce in the 1970s. So, at 8 years old, Prochaska took her first job, working as a housekeeper for a wealthy family in the neighborhood while she listened to her friends and siblings playing outside. I wished so much that I was out there playing with my friends, Prochaska said. But then I focused on the 5 pesos the family would give me that evening, and I would give them to my mom, so she could buy bread and milk the next morning. After the wealthy family moved away, Prochaska again needed to find a job. She applied to work as a cart pusher for a mobile paleteria a job typically reserved for boys. She cut her hair, removed her earrings and presented herself as masculine as she could. At 11 years old, I turned into a boy, she said. She held this job for about a year. When Prochaskas employer was eventually tipped off that she wasnt who she said she was, they kept her on staff. And they began to hire more young girls for the job. They did not fire me because I was a good worker, she said. For a girl to attend school past sixth grade was uncommon in Mexico at that time, but Prochaska continued on to graduate from her local high school. At 16, Prochaska decided she wanted to follow her fathers path, and he initiated the legalization process with a lawyer hed met in Sioux City, Iowa. A year later, Prochaska was in Wahoo with her green card, attending classes for half the day at Bishop Neumann High School, and spending the other half learning English with elementary students at St. Wenceslaus. Shed taken English classes back home, but they neglected to teach the American pronunciations of many words, and her classmates sentences rushed by without her comprehension. Of all things, Sesame Street was Prochaskas saving grace. They had it back home in Spanish, she said, so I knew Big Bird and Ernie and Cookie Monster, but everything was now in English. Prochaska finished school at Bishop Neumann with the class of 1986, and received her GED the following year from Wahoo High School. It was a beautiful year, a fun year, she said. I learned so many things from everybody and met so many people, and I fell in love with Wahoo. Even after her father moved to Colorado, Prochaska stayed in Wahoo, where she fell in love and started a family of her own. She has five children, and in August, Prochaska will have been in Wahoo for 39 years. I tell my kids, if anything ever happens to me, Sunrise (Cemetery) is where I want to be, she said. *** Eventually, Prochaska came to grips with the dismissal from the nursing program. But it took two years before she gathered the strength to start over. One door was closed, but I found some windows and went back to school, she said. What happened in Fremont made Prochaska wonder about the psychological drivers that lead people to make the choices they do, and she soon enrolled in Bellevue Universitys behavioral science program. She worked various jobs, namely with community behavioral health provider Region V Systems, as she pursued her degree, which she officially received in 2017 at 49. Prochaska was nominated to be the honorary student speaker for her graduating class an honor given by Bellevue University faculty to the graduating student they believe best represents each class. Im a dreamer, a dreamer who has many goals in life, Prochaska said in her speech, as she described the roadblocks shed overcome to get to that point. Armed with her first degree, Prochaska found a job at a OneWorld community health center in Omaha, which, among other things, provides mental health services. My boss there asked me several times to go get my masters so I could become a counselor, Prochaska said. She would say, Genoveva, 80% of our clients are Spanish-speaking, and we do not have a single bilingual counselor. Prochaska was unsure. It had been two years since graduation, and she was still a bit burnt out on school. She looked for a sign. Within that week, Nebraska flooded, and the bridges to Dodge Street and West Center Road were both closed, Prochaska said. I had to drive to Lincoln and then go to Omaha just to get to work. And I was like, Okay, I think this is a sign. Five years later, with her masters degree in hand, Prochaska is a job application away from her dream. She hopes to work mostly as a school counselor and with people battling depression, anxiety and difficult home situations. I just want to be there to do the best that I can, to let them know theyre not alone, Prochaska said, that somebody cares, and try to to give them the best guidance possible. Prochaska has also earned a provisional licensed mental health provider license (PLMHP), as well as a provisional licensed alcohol and drug counselor license (PLADC). With the latter, she can provide court-ordered evaluations on defendants that can help shorten sentences. Shes seen too many kids get kicked out of school for silly drug or alcohol-related mistakes. This way, I can help these kids do their evaluations and get them back into school, because I dont want them to end up homeless or into drugs, she said. I felt like the more tools I have, the better I will be in helping those that need it. Thats her dream to help people escape the difficult times in their lives, because good things are often waiting on the other side. God gave you life to enjoy your life, Prochaska said. So try to do the best that you can to live happy. Because life is short. Prochaska hopes the life shes lived can inspire people whose own lives feel stagnant, to show them that its never too late to change their course. People say you cant teach an old dog new tricks, she said. I have to say that, yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. If you have a dream of doing something in life, dont wait. You can start today. Go Ask Your Dad is parenting advice with a philosophical bent as one dad explores what we want out of life, for ourselves and our children, through useful paradigms and best practices. Of all the pre-teen related parental worries I have about my seventh grade daughter, at the top of my list right now is making sure she doesn't vape. This week, New York became the first to report a teen had died from a vaping-related lung injury, and it's the latest in a rash of vaping-related illnesses and deaths across the country. But I was concerned even before the headlines. The long-term health consequences of a nicotine addiction are so significant with e-cigarettes that I'm even less worried about her trying regular cigarettes (unless she starts vaping first). The practice continues to skyrocket among minors, in large part because of the e-cigarette manufacturers' effective playbook of "cool" ads, fun flavors and downplaying health risks. According to new research, 20% of eighth graders have reported using a vaping product; that number jumps to 36% for high school sophomores and 40% of high school seniors. Just two years ago, those percentages were 10%, 21% and 25%, respectively. Ask teens around the country, and they will likely tell you from their experience those numbers are much lower than what they see every day. So what's the best way to go about convincing my daughter and othersnot to start? Or, for other parents, to get their child to quit? Do I scare her, or reason with her? Do I bribe her not to experiment? Wait, and then punish her if I catch her? All of the above? I know one tactic I won't try: threats. I don't think they work in general and especially in this case. Kids tend to rebel against their parents in reaction to threats and ultimatums. And we all know a popular pastime for rebellious teens, right? Smoking. From smoking to vaping: Why do we abuse our lungs? What is clear is that I, along with every other parent out there, can't procrastinate. Vaping among minors has been classified asan epidemic, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 5,700 kids start vaping every day. We need to work hard at stemming that tide. "We don't have a vaping problem, or an opioid problem or a heroin problem," said Laura Searcy, the program director of the Georgia Tobacco Free Youth Project who works with students, faculty, health care professionals, parents and community groups on reducing vaping among minors. "What we have in the United States is an addiction problem. We have to stop creating a hierarchy of 'good drugs' and 'bad drugs.' " The bottom line is that the farther out you can push the first year of any mind-altering substance -- alcohol, nicotine and/or opioids, for example -- "the less likely they are to have a lifelong addiction," she said. That is the goal: Delay the experimentation and use of these substances for the long-term benefit of our children's mental and physical health. If your child is already experimenting with e-cigarettes, "don't shame and blame," said Marnie Grodzin, the youth development coordinator for Decatur Prevention Initiative, a nonprofit that provides prevention services to youth and families in Georgia. Nicotine is highly addictive to a still-developing brain, so "come from a place of care and concern, not from a punitive stance," she wrote in an email to me. And that's why, if my daughter does try vaping, we won't punish her. We'll help her. While schools need to be active and self-educating on this urgent matter, their efforts can't be alone. And don't look to science to get us out of this, either. There are currently no FDA-approved nicotine cessation products for e-cigarette users under age 18. For now, the primary answer to this problem lies with parents. Avoiding potentially harmful behavior is one of the many areas where effective, well-intentioned parenting has the biggest impact. "The opposite of addiction is connection," said Searcy, who is also a pediatric nurse practitioner at WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. "Parents talking to their kids is one of the most powerful tools we have." So, let's consider what may be effective as you talk to your children about vaping. WAVERLY Once the school year ends, a building that serves as a place of learning will become home for those in vulnerable populations. The Waverly-Shell Rock Board of Education unanimously approved the sale of West Cedar Elementary to the Waverly Municipal Housing Commission on Feb. 5. The school, located at 221 15th St. N.W., was sold for $5,000. The project will expand the commissions campus of low-cost apartments for the elderly, disabled and handicapped. The organization owns three other complexes in the same area. There are a total of 116 units in Waverly Homes, Waverly Manor and Red Cedar Homes. If the commission keeps the current school building, 10 to 15 units could be created. Another option is to raze the structure and build new apartments. A few residents spoke against the sale to the housing group, saying the property would be better for a private school. Inspired Life placed a $70,000 bid for the property in hopes to turn it into a private Christian school that would partner with Waterloo Christian School. A letter to the board proposed a school for children in kindergarten to eighth grade, aiming for 100 students during its first year. The enrollment cap was listed as 200. The board immediately rejected that bid in a December meeting, with members saying they didnt want to create competition for Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools. Another bid came from Matt Hibbard to turn West Cedar into a community art center for $5,000. The board also reviewed two bids for Margaretta Carey Elementary School, located at 220 Ninth Ave. N.W. Inspired Life bid $40,000 to turn it into a private Christian school the same as the West Cedar bid. Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community bid $40,000 to expand its housing for senior citizens. The Christian school proposal was immediately rejected there, as well. Officials said it did not comply with a deed restriction. Mike Kalvig, the districts business manager, said the deed for the property states that it cannot be used for any school purpose. A public hearing for the Bartels proposal will be held on March 4. In other business the school board approved: The 2024-25 school calendar with a start date of Aug. 23 and end date of May 30. A redemption of school bonds and an amendment to an escrow agreement for an advanced payment toward general obligation bonds. This will not affect tax rates. A contract with ISG for professional services for $75,000 to consider renovations at the high school in regards to accessibility. How high school grades have inflated since 2010 How high school grades have inflated since 2010 Despite a decade of grade inflation, grades fell slightly in 2021-22 Ready for college? CEDAR FALLS Close to a dozen people harshly criticized the City Council on Monday for not formally calling for a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. A similar number of people urged the council to adopt a cease-fire resolution Feb. 5. Many of the speakers were different from those who spoke earlier this month and came armed with anecdotes to make their arguments for what impact a resolution could have locally. Several waved small Palestinian flags and indicated they wanted at least a vote on the two-page statement which, among other things, denounces antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab actions; pushes for the return of all hostages; and advocates for the delivery of humanitarian aid. It reminds me why I chose not to raise my family here, said Erica Rissi, a Cedar Valley native and resident, before reading the resolution in its entirety. There was more public engagement from the council compared with last time, when only the mayor spoke in response to the requested resolution. Monday marked the third time the issue was broached, but there was no support for taking up the resolution previously endorsed by the Human Rights Commission in a 6-1 vote. Nonetheless, Mayor Danny Laudick emphasized to meeting attendees that we are having conversations privately, and said the door remains open for a possible work session on the subject as well as, more broadly, the citys role in global matters. Our federal leaders may not be listening, so thats why we are turning to you. Thats why were here. All of our emails are falling on deaf ears, said Whitney Rissi of Waterloo. I urge you to take a stand with human life and be on the right side of history. While we acknowledge that this resolution may not immediately bring about international change, it will demonstrate to your constituents that Cedar Falls cares deeply about diversity and inclusion and the well being of its people. Laudick excused the councils lack of response earlier this month, indicating it wasnt the time and place for a back and forth, though later in the meeting the council could make referral for future discussion in committee or make a statement during council updates. Councilmembers Kelly Dunn, attending remotely, and Gil Schultz went ahead anyway and publicly expressed appreciation for the speakers and noted that they are open to all conversation. Silence sometimes is not good and I understand that, so I just want to make it known publicly here that I support peace in Gaza, said Dunn. Both suggested, however, they didnt have interest in taking action on a resolution as Schultz brought up whats on the mind of city officials and noted there are a lot of challenges in other places around the world. The Waterloo City Council has held two work sessions on the issue and heard from many speakers, as well, but is now pondering a proclamation condemning the Israel-Hamas war instead of the originally proposed resolution. In other business, the council consented to: Applying again for federal funding through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program to remove thousands of feet of track through town in partnership with Iowa Northern Railway and Cedar Falls Utilities. If awarded, Iowa Northern and the city would split the 20% local match of $2.6 million to land $10.4 million, 80% of the anticipated project cost. Officials chalked up the failed application last year to it being a competitive opportunity and hope to emphasize a regionalization effort with Butler County and the City of Shell Rock. 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 will provide up to $717,087 in tax rebates over five years, versus the previously approved $593,937, because of the increase in project cost. 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. The measure passed 6-1 with Schultz dissented. Appointing Gordon Sorensen, Maureen Henderson and Brent Johnson to the Planning & Zoning Commission as recommended by the mayor. Accepting the resignation of Gina Weekley from the Human Rights Commission because of other commitments. Cedar Falls City Council - Last Meeting of 2023 & Reception - Dec. 18, 2023 Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (b) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (a) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (c) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (r) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (e) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (f) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (h) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (m) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (q) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (i) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (j) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (k) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (l) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (o) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (p) WATERLOO An audited financial report shows the citys cash reserves significantly increased this last fiscal year. A presentation on the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, was given Monday at a City Council work session. The audit found the overall general fund grew to $36.1 million, an increase of about $9.1 million, or a 33.7%, from the previous fiscal year. The unassigned fund balance, or the money the city has available to spend on emergencies or cover bills between tax receipts, also increased about $6.5 million. Last fiscal year, the general fund barely increased and the unassigned fund slightly dropped. The unassigned general fund makes up about 52% of the general fund. The rest of that fund is 27% restricted, 17% committed and 3% nonspendable funds. The citys bonded debt also decreased by $5.3 million from the prior year for a total of $112.9 million. Revenues obtained by the city increased nearly $18 million, or 14%, to $145 million. Property taxes were the largest revenue category, providing the city with $46.6 million. Other revenues include intergovernmental revenue, taxes other than property tax, charges for services, licenses and permits, rent and miscellaneous revenue. The city spent about $5 million less this year. This is due to the city expending $15 million less than last fiscal year for public works. The city spent more on public safety, health and social services, culture and recreation, development and general government. The audit conducted by BerganKDV, which has an office in Waterloo, is done annually to ensure the city is accurately and fairly reporting its financial records. A representative for the company said the city had an unmodified, or clean, opinion on its financial statement. One material weakness was found in the internal control category. The representative said the finding isnt major and that more than 50% of cities receive similar findings. 5 things you should always look for in a bank, according to a certified banking professional 5 things you should always look for in a bank, according to a certified banking professional The program Heres my Heart will feature members favorite buttons and projects. Anyone interested in the art, history and preservation of buttons is welcome to attend. There will be buttons available for purchase. 2023 marked a record year for U.S. air travel despite sharp increases in ticket prices since before the pandemic. While there is some hope for relief moving into 2024, airline prices remain high. To help travelers navigate this new normal, Upgraded Points analyzed the most recent airfare data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and calculated average ticket prices for every flight segment in the U.S. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden "never had any involvement" in the business dealings of other members of his family, his brother James Biden testified Wednesday as he appeared for a voluntary private interview on Capitol Hill as part of House Republicans' impeachment inquiry. "I have had a 50-year career in a variety of business ventures. Joe Biden has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in those activities," the president's younger brother said in a 10-page opening statement to lawmakers obtained by The Associated Press. "None." The interview with both Republican and Democratic staff as well as lawmakers lasted more than eight hours. During several breaks, Republicans came out and told reporters, without citing details, that James Biden's responses contradicted his opening statement and that he had made efforts to avoid directly answering investigators' questions. "He has said a lot of things that have contradicted himself in that testimony," Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said during an afternoon break from questioning. "So when you see the transcript, you'll see." The interview with James Biden is the latest in a series that GOP lawmakers conducted recently as they seek to rebuild momentum for an impeachment process surrounding the Biden family's overseas finances that has stalled in recent months. Criticism over the lack of evidence against the president has grown even among Republicans. Many GOP lawmakers say they have yet to see evidence of the "high crimes and misdemeanors" required for impeachment, despite alleged efforts by members of the Biden family to leverage the last name into corporate paydays domestically and abroad. Beyond the internal struggle, a central claim of the GOP investigation has also been undermined by federal prosecutors, who last week indicted an FBI informant who claimed there was a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving the president, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company. The informant's claims were part of the foundation of the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the president and his family, with investigators even making mention of the unsubstantiated claim in letters to prospective witnesses. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, one of the lead impeachment investigators, told reporters Wednesday that the indictment of Alexander Smirnov doesn't "change the underlying facts" of their investigation. An attorney for Hunter Biden, who is expected to give a deposition next week, said the charges show the probe is "based on dishonest, uncredible allegations and witnesses." The committee subpoenaed James and Hunter Biden in November. Lawyers for James Biden say there was no justification for the subpoena because the committee already reviewed private bank records and transactions between the brothers. The committee found records of two loans that were made when Joe Biden was not in office or a candidate for president. "With my appearance here today, the committees will have the information to conclude that the negative and destructive assumptions about me and my relationship with my brother Joe are wrong," James Biden said in his statement. "There is no basis for this inquiry to continue." The impeachment inquiry, which began in September under the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, included the recent depositions of several former Biden family associates. In nearly every one of those interviews, the witnesses stated they saw no evidence that Joe Biden was directly involved in his son or brother's business ventures. Nonetheless, Republicans, led by Oversight Chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, say they are pushing ahead with an inquiry that could result in impeachment charges against Biden, the ultimate penalty for what the Constitution describes as "high crimes and misdemeanors." There were private discussions about bringing articles of impeachment against Biden to the House floor for a vote in February but those conversations stalled as support for the effort has waned among the majority. House Republicans instead shifted their focus in the new year to holding Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas accountable for his handling of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. Last week, the razor-thin GOP majority barely managed to impeach Mayorkas, reflecting political desperation as Republicans struggle to make good on the priorities they campaigned on before November. The attention is now expected to shift back to the impeachment of Joe Biden as Republicans look to detract attention from the various legal challenges plaguing former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for reelection in November. House Democrats remained united against the monthslong impeachment effort and called on Republicans to end what they call a "sham process." Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said James Biden is the latest example of Republicans playing political games with no sign of tangible evidence that would rise to the level of impeaching a president. "This is a subdued affair. And, again, it feels to me as if everyone knows the impeachment investigation is over," Raskin told reporters when the interview broke for lunch. "I think Chairman Comer has said publicly that it's that it doesn't look like the support is there for impeachment." 12 political cartoons investigate the Bidens SAC CITY, Iowa -- The mother of a teenage boy who had a sexual relationship with an East Sac County High School teacher has sued the school district and former administrators for failing to adequately supervise the teacher and investigate rumors of her affair with the boy. The mother said in the lawsuit that the mishandling of the situation by former superintendent Jeffrey Kruse and principal Kevin Litterer, both of whom are no longer with the district, denied him of his constitutional equal protection rights, resulting in severe emotional distress for the boy and his mother. Former East Sac special education teacher Stefanie Kelsey had sex with the boy one to three times a week from December 2021 until March 4, 2022, when the boy, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, was a freshman and age 14 and 15, according to the lawsuit. Kelsey, now 36, was arrested on March 11, 2022, and later pleaded guilty in Sac County District Court to single counts of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee. She was sentenced in April to 10 years in prison and is currently housed at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville. According to the lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Sac County District Court, Doe was often absent from his classes. When teachers called his home, his mother told them he was at school. Some of those times he was absent, he was in Kelsey's classroom. No teachers or administrators ever searched for him when he was absent or followed up with him about his whereabouts. Students in Kelsey's classroom witnessed Kelsey put her head on Doe's shoulder and have lengthy hugs with him. Though he was not in special education, Doe would get extra help with his assignments from Kelsey and, according to the suit, he felt obligated to have sex with her or she might not help him if he didn't meet her sexual demands. Kelsey sent the boy dozens of nude and partially nude photos of herself, sometimes several in a day, and he shared them with friends. Kelsey would invite Doe to her classroom alone during school hours, lock the door and have sex with him, the lawsuit said. She kept a record on her desk calendar of every time the two had sex, marking the day with a heart. At least two parents called school officials to report rumors of the sexual relationship and nude photos, but no investigation was done. A teacher's aide and police officer, both mandatory reporters of sexual abuse, did not inform anyone when told about the rumors. Kruse and Litterer spoke to Kelsey in January or February 2022 about the rumors, which she denied. Doe was never interviewed, and his mother was not contacted. On March 9, 2022, another mother texted Doe's mother about a message from Litterer about their sons leaving school during lunch and about Kelsey sending nude photos to students. The mother told Doe's mother that Kruse and Litterer had called her to ask what she knew about the rumors. Doe's mother had not been contacted, and she emailed Litterer. Later that day, Litterer left a voicemail for Doe's mother, telling her Doe would not be permitted to go to Kelsey's classroom and said, "we know Stefanie and (Doe) had a special relationship," indicating he had knowledge about their relationship, the lawsuit said. The other mother was searching her son's phone later that day and found text messages from Doe that indicated he had been having sex with Kelsey. She sent screenshots of them to Doe's mother, who then showed them to Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure. In an interview on March 11, Doe told McClure he and Kelsey had had sex numerous times. During the interview, while they were looking at Doe's Snapchat account, Kelsey sent him a photo of herself with the caption, "I love you." During an interview with authorities, Kelsey admitted having sex with Doe and was arrested. Since then, the lawsuit said, community member have made slanderous statements about Doe and his family and have harassed them. Doe, now age 17, quit attending school in person the day Kelsey was arrested and finished his education home schooling, graduating in May. As a result of the school's negligence and failure to investigate the rumors of Kelsey's sexual relationship with Doe, the lawsuit said, he and his mother have suffered emotional pain and anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety and loss of enjoyment of life and have incurred medical and counseling costs. They have requested a jury trial and award of a judgment against the district, Kruse and Litterer to compensate them for those damages. Risky reservoirs: Iowa counties where aging dams pose the greatest threat Risky reservoirs: Iowa counties where aging dams pose the greatest threat #6. Johnson County #5. Iowa County #4. Polk County #3. Warren County The Southern Baptist Convention's top administrative body has ousted four congregations one for having a woman as senior minister, two for what it said were failures related to the denomination's sexual-abuse policy and one for lack of financial participation. The SBC's Executive Committee announced the decision after a closed-door session Tuesday at the end of its two-day meeting in Nashville. These are the latest in a series of expulsions in recent years, most notably when it ousted one of its largest, California's Saddleback Church, and a Louisville, Kentucky congregation for having women in ministry leadership roles. On Tuesday, the committee ousted Immanuel Baptist Church of Paducah, Kentucky, whose senior minister is a woman. The SBC's official statement of faith says the office of pastor is open only to men. Immanuel said in a Facebook statement that it affirmed its decision to to call Rev. Katie McKown to serve with and among us. It cited Baptist tenets emphasizing the autonomy of congregations and individuals, and it offered prayers that the SBC be blessed with wisdom and discernment as it moves forward. Each Southern Baptist church is independent, so the denomination can't tell churches what to do. But it can decide whether churches can be members or be ousted. The committee ousted Grove Road Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, for allegedly showing a lack of intent to cooperate in resolving a concern regarding the pastor's mishandling of an allegation of sexual abuse. It also expelled West Hendersonville Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, for allegedly failing to comply with the denomination's beliefs about sexual abuse by having a biblically disqualified pastor. The fourth church, New Hope Baptist of Gastonia, North Carolina, had failed to participate financially in the convention and showed no intent to resolve a question of faith and practice, the committee said without elaboration. The churches have the right of appeal to the full annual meeting of the SBC in June in Indianapolis. The conservative denomination has previously ousted congregations for pro-LGBTQ+ stances and having women in ministry. Its also expelled churches over alleged racism and failure to address abuse, an area the denomination has long faced pressure to address. On Monday, the committee learned of plans for an independent commission that would keep track of clergy predators. It's the latest plan by leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention in their halting efforts to safeguard against sexual abuse by ministers but the new nonprofit needs funding from the denomination to get up and running. The new Abuse Response Commission would create a database listing ministers who have been found to be sexually abusive through criminal convictions and civil judgments. The Ministry Watch database has been seen as essential in a denomination in which each congregation is self-governing, meaning that a clergy predator could be ousted from one church but go to work at another that may not know the minister's background. An independent organization will have more credibility with survivors, Josh Wester, chairman of the SBC's Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, told the denomination's Executive Committee on Monday. It will have more flexibility to help our churches and more success in accomplishing the mandate given to us by the messengers. To become a reality, Wester said, the task force is asking agencies of the SBC to help find the money needed to operate. The nation's largest Protestant denomination has faced a reckoning over its handling of sexual abuse since a 2019 report by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News, documenting hundreds of abuse cases in Southern Baptist churches. That led to a 2022 independent consultant's report saying top SBC leaders responded to abuse survivors with "resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility." The 2022 SBC annual meeting called for a series of reforms, including the database creation. That faced delays, including a backlash from many in the conservative denomination over the company originally designated to oversee it, due to its posting of a pro-LGBTQ+ message on social media. Survivors of sexual abuse and their advocates have noted other reasons to be skeptical of Southern Baptist leaders' commitment to reform. The controversy flared up last year with news that the Executive Committee and other SBC entities filed a brief before the Kentucky Supreme Court in favor of dismissing an abuse-related lawsuit against the city of Louisville. Although the SBC wasn't involved in that case, its entities face similar litigation, and it argued the case should be dismissed as being filed too late under the statute of limitations. The court ultimately agreed. That controversy prompted the Executive Committee to create a study group to review what the SBC believes about the justice system, including statutes of limitations, and how it makes its legal decisions. It's seeking input from leading biblical scholars, trauma consultants and legal experts, said Josh Hetzler, chair of the Executive Committee's Legal Strategies Committee. Close An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) 2023 in religion: Images capture global expressions of faith, spiritualism In the searing heat of Mecca, throngs of Muslims from around the world converged for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. In the round-the-clock darkness of the polar night, a Lutheran pastor in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard persevered in her ministry to one of the worlds most remote towns. Associated Press photographers were on the scene there and in scores of other locales ranging from the flood-stricken mountains of northern India to the sacred volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Their mission: Finding myriad ways to convey how faith and spiritualism, in their many forms, manifested themselves around the world in 2023. An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (21 February 2024) In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces repelled seven attacks of assault groups of the AFU 14th, 32nd mechanised, 25th Air Assault brigades, and 115th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Chugunovka (Kharkov region) and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Moreover, the Russian troops repelled five counter-attacks of the enemy close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region). Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four pick-up trucks, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been eliminated. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated units of the 93rd mechanised, 81st airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade in vicinity of Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Razdolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The losses of the Armed Forces were over 425 troops, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, as well as the AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery radar. In addition, an ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed close to Mayaki (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces units took more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted fire defeat on AFU manpower and hardware of the 24th, 53rd mechanised brigades, 59th motorised infantry, and 3rd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rozovka and Vodyanoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Furthermore, the Russian troops repelled seven counter-attacks launched by the Ukrainian units close to Lastochkino, Kirovo, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy lost up to 450 troops, one tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, six armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS vehicle, as well as one D-30 howitzer. In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces repelled the enemys counter-attack near Novozlatopol (Zaporozhye region) and inflicted a fire defeat of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Vladimirovo and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemys losses amounted to up to 210 troops, two tanks, three motor vehicles, as well as the AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery radar. In Kherson direction, the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted comprehensive fire damage on the units of the 65th mechanised, 82nd air assault, and 128th mountain assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino, Verbovoye, and Lugovoye (Zaporozhye region). AFU losses amounted to 75 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled artillery system, and two D-30 howitzers. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged a fuel depot as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 123 areas during the day. Russias air defence systems shot down 12 HIMARS MLRS projectiles and one JDAM bomb. Moreover, 99 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye, and Lisichansk (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Yampolovka, Verkhnetoretskoye, and Staromlynovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Pologi, Veseloye, Ulyanovka, and Vasilyevka (Zaporozhye region), and Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region). In total, 572 airplanes and 266 helicopters, 13,042 unmanned aerial vehicles, 471 air defence missile systems, 15,149 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,223 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,124 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 18,900 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR The U.S. Constitution doesn't mention Christianity or any specific religion. The Declaration of Independence famously proclaims that people's rights come from a "Creator" and "Nature's God" but doesn't specify who that is. Yet large numbers of Americans believe the founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation, and many believe it should be one. Such views are especially strong among Republicans and their white evangelical base. Already such views are being voiced by supporters of Donald Trump amid his bid to recapture the presidency. Pollsters found a wide circle of Americans who hold general God-and-country sentiments. Within that is a smaller, hardcore group who also check other boxes in surveys such as that the U.S. Constitution was inspired by God and that the federal government should declare the U.S. a Christian nation, advocate Christian values or stop enforcing the separation of church and state. Those embracing that package of beliefs are more likely they'll have unfavorable views toward immigrants, dismiss or downplay the impact of anti-Black discrimination and believe Trump was a good or great president, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey. This latter group reflects a movement widely called Christian nationalism, which fuses American and Christian values, symbols and identity and seeks to privilege Christianity in public life. The idea of Christian nationhood fills Americans' need for an origin story, a belief that "we've come here for something special, and that we're here for God's work," said Eric McDaniel, an associate professor of government at the University of Texas. It creates a sense of "national innocence," so adherents resist confronting uglier parts of U.S. history, he said. The belief connects to other beliefs past and present, from the Manifest Destiny doctrine that justified continental conquest to Trump's America First and Make America Great Again slogans, said McDaniel, a co-author of "The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics." Trump echoed some of these ideas, vowing to bar immigrants who "don't like our religion." Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., proclaimed that America is and was founded as a Christian nation and that Thomas Jefferson was "divinely inspired" in writing the Declaration of Independence, according to a 2015 sermon. WallBuilders, an organization Johnson credits for its "profound influence" on him, spread materials claiming that "revisionist" historians downplayed America's Christian origins, but the group has been widely criticized for historically dubious claims. Recent Texas, Oklahoma and Kentucky Republican Party platforms proclaim the country was founded on "Judeo-Christian" principles. The Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, said he doesn't identify as a Christian nationalist, but does believe America was founded as a Christian nation. "I'm not claiming that all of our founders were Christians," he said in an interview. "Some were deists, some were atheists, but the majority were Christians. I'm also not saying that non-Christians shouldn't have the same rights as Christians in our country." But he said "there's a case to be made that the Judeo-Christian faith was the foundation for our laws and many of our principles." He cited founder John Jay the first Supreme Court chief justice asserting it was Americans' duty "in our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." Anthea Butler, chair of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said history precludes any idea of a Christian nation. "It doesn't mean that Christians weren't a part of the founding of this nation," said Butler, a historian of African American and American religion. "What it does mean is that if you believe that America is a Christian nation and you happen to subscribe to Christian nationalism as a part of that, you're buying into a myth." That America-as-a-Christian-nation idea is "a trope of exclusion," she said, centering American history on white Anglo-Saxon Protestants as "the ones that are willing and should be running the country both then and now." That justifies viewing others as "heathens," including the enslaved Black people and the Native Americans whose land was taken. Those arguing for a Christian America are generally not historians and not really talking about history they're talking politics, said John Fea, author of the 2011 book "Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?" "They appeal to a false view of the founding, or at least a partial view of the founding, to advance political agendas of the present," said Fea, a history professor at Messiah University, a Christian university in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. "These agendas are built on a very weak historical foundation." Six in 10 U.S. adults said the founders intended America to be a Christian nation, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey. About 45% said the U.S. should be a Christian nation. Four in five white evangelical Protestants agreed with each assertion. 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 report. Such surveys have found a smaller, more ardent group of believers in Christian nationhood. In another survey, PRRI identified about 10% of Americans as the most committed adherents. The Constitution prohibits any religious test for office, and its First Amendment guarantees free exercise of religion while barring congressional establishment of any religion. Close An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) 2023 in religion: Images capture global expressions of faith, spiritualism In the searing heat of Mecca, throngs of Muslims from around the world converged for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. In the round-the-clock darkness of the polar night, a Lutheran pastor in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard persevered in her ministry to one of the worlds most remote towns. Associated Press photographers were on the scene there and in scores of other locales ranging from the flood-stricken mountains of northern India to the sacred volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Their mission: Finding myriad ways to convey how faith and spiritualism, in their many forms, manifested themselves around the world in 2023. An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Pardeeville schools have partnered with a global technology leader, making more online materials and resources available to students to help prepare them for college and careers. We want to give our students as much experience (in technology) here at this level as we can, said Jason LeMay, Pardeeville Area School District administrator. Because here, we can support and help guide them along the way, so that when they do leave us and go on to the next level, they are prepared to be successful. Discovery Educations engaging and interactive content easily fits into existing lessons, supports all subjects and all grades, Amber Houslet, Pardeeville Area School Districts library technology specialist, said in a statement. Our teachers look forward to using this with students. Houslet said Discovery Educations Experience program will hopefully be available for classroom use by March 1. The Experience program connects educators and students to a collection of content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quizzes, activity creation tools, and professional learning resources. Discovery Education is a leader in educational technology with state-of-the-art digital platforms and serves about 4.5 million educators and 45 million students in about 100 countries and territories. Through its multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, the company seeks to deliver learning experiences that support academic achievement on a global scale. Partnering with a technology company is also a way for the district to get and stay on top of newly released educational technologies, which LeMay said is far more efficient than its current protocol of searching for and replacing products every few years, as technology tends to quickly become outdated. Educators will also have access to the Discovery Educator Network, which is a community of education professionals that connects users across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, creating a space for idea sharing and inspiration, which LeMay said will be an effective tool for the district. I think anytime you can network with other educators or people with insight, its really helpful, said LeMay. Being a smaller, rural district, we collaborate a lot with our neighboring schools, but its going to be nice to have resources and people in other places that have different experiences with the materials. The companys senior manager, Jill Crider, said in a statement she is proud to support the development of college- and career-ready students in Pardeeville. By creating interactive digital learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to the real world, the team at PASD is preparing its students to thrive beyond graduation, said Crider. For more information about Discovery Educations digital resources and professional learning solutions visit discoveryeducation.com. What the family has to say about Chloe's life and circumstances of her death, after the 14-year-old was fatally stabbed on February 19, 2023. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The government's memorandum in support of detention of Alexander Smirnov is photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2024. Prosecutors say Smirnov, the former FBI informant charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company, had contacts with officials affiliated with Russian intelligence.(AP Photo/Jon Elswick) This photo provided by the Genesee County Sheriffs Office shows Michael Tolbert. Authorities say the Michigan man whose 2-year-old daughter shot herself in the head with his revolver pleaded not guilty after becoming the first person charged under the states new law requiring safe storage of guns. John Potbury, Genesee Countys deputy chief assistant prosecuting attorney, says a not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Tolbert when the Flint man was arraigned Monday, Feb. 19 on nine felony charges, including one count of violation of Michigans gun storage law. (Genesee County Sheriffs Office via AP) FILE - A woman rides a bicycle on a former runway of a military airport, now used as a road, in Gjader, northwestern Albania, one of two proposed places to house migrants, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Albania's Assembly, or Parliament, votes on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, and is expected to approve a deal with Italy under which thousands of migrants rescued at sea by Italian authorities would be sent to Albania while their applications for asylum in Italy are processed. (AP Photo/Armando Babani, File) FILE - Google logos are shown when searched on Google in New York, Sept. 11, 2023. Google said Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, its temporarily stopping its Gemini artificial intelligence chatbot from generating images of people a day after apologizing for inaccuracies in historical depictions that it was creating. FILE - Police secure the entrance to Moreau Lake State Park as search continues for a missing 9-year-old girl who had been camping over the weekend with her family at the park, Oct. 2, 2023, in Gansevoort, NY. Craig N. Ross Jr., a man accused of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from the park in upstate New York, pleaded guilty, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, to two felony counts and faces 47 years to life in prison. (AP Photo/Michael Hill, File) FILE - Michael Geilenfeld arrives at U.S. Bankruptcy Court, July 9, 2015, in Portland, Maine. Geilenfeld, an American founder of a Haitian orphanage who is accused of sexually abusing four boys there more than a decade ago, has been ordered to be sent from Colorado to Florida to face prosecution. Shan'Terrius Sly-Brown, 16, left, and Shaniya Wade-Red, 15, hold signs during a protest outside of the home of Barbers Hill Independent School District superintendent Greg Poole, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Baytown, Texas. The teenagers traveled from Holmes County in Mississippi to participate in the protest and attend a Thursday bench trial for Darryl George, a student who was punished over his hairstyle. George, who is Black and has been kept out of his regular classes since Aug. 31, 2023, says his hairstyle is protected by a new state law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. (AP Photo/Juan Lozano) In this photo provided by Kersti Muul, a pod of Biggs orcas, including one known as Chainsaw for his jagged dorsal fin, swim in Seattles Elliott Bay as a state ferry sails behind them in May 2022, near Seattle. The U.S. Coast Guard is launching a whale alert program in Washingtons Salish Sea to help commercial and transit ships steer clear of the marine mammals. Using sighting reports from mariners and civilians and hydrophone monitoring, the so-called "cetacean desk launches at time when more humpback whales and orcas visit the inland waters of the Salish Sea. (Kersti Muul via AP) FILE - A Polish border guard gives instructions as drivers wait to cross the border from Poland into Ukraine in Medyka, Poland, on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 that the border crossings with Ukraine are being added to a list of critical infrastructure to ensure that all military and humanitarian aid can reach Ukraine without delay. Russian composer Alexander Scriabin couldnt just hear music, he could smell its chords and see its colors. He experienced music as something all-encompassing and eternal, a key to unlock consciousness. But while the synesthetic musician could put his experience into words, even adding notes on how to visually choreograph his 1910 tone poem Prometheus, Poem of Fire, audiences have never been able to follow him into his multi-sensory universe. Scriabin scored Prometheus for light and color as well as music, but one of his dreams was to add more sense to the score, including scent, says pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Now, after more than a century of waiting, Prometheus, Poem of Fire will finally be performed as the artist intended via a boundary-breaking collaboration between Thibaudet, the San Francisco Symphony, and Cartiers in-house perfumer, Mathilde Laurent. The idea to interpret Prometheus olfactorily dates back to the start of the decade-long friendship between Laurent and Thibaudet. His dream, he told her then, was to perform Scriabins work kaleidoscopically, with sound, scent, and light all conspiring together. Laurent was enchanted by the idea and began looking into the possibilities for incorporating aromas into a live performance. Eventually, the pair joined forces with SF Symphony music director Esa-Pekka Salonen to bring the vision to life. When Thibaudet takes a seat at his grand piano on stage at the SF Symphony on March 1st, he will be accompanied by diffusers strategically delivering scent at key moments, and state-of-the-art lighting technology that immerses the audience in a web of color and shadow. For me, smells have an incredible power, says Laurent. When you smell, the reason centers are not activated. On the contrary, they are shut down because it is the limbic brain and the hippocampus that are taking control and these are the centers of emotions, instinct, and memories. Perfumes smells have the capacity to enhance the emotional and visceral comprehension of music. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Cartier in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent, and SF Symphony musical director Esa-Pekka Salonen working out the multi-sensory experience of 'Prometheus'. (Mynxii White) Scriabins choice of subjects for his tone poem was, indeed, a visceral one. In Greek mythology, Prometheus was both the creator of humans and a trickster with an aversion for authority figures. When he defied Zeus order to teach the humans to properly worship him, the king of the gods took away their use of fire, plunging them into darkness. But Prometheus couldnt bear to see his creations suffer. In the dead of night, he stole a spark of fire from the gods and gifted it, and other essential knowledge, to humans. Incensed at this betrayal, Zeus sentenced Prometheus to an eternity spent chained to a rock in which, every night, an eagle would consume his liver. Just like the original myth, fire plays a central role in Scriabins Prometheus. Laurent thought The Thirteenth Hour, a scent she created for Cartier in 2009 based on the first sweet smoke of fire in a hearthwith hints of leather, wood, vanilla, cloves, and narcissus flowermight be a good way to represent the essential element. When she discovered that the score is illuminated with the warmth of fire in the 13th minute of its 20-minute runtime, it gave her goosebumps. I used to say that the smell of fire was the first scent worn by man. Perfumery is born from fire, says Laurent. So, creating this tribute to fire and the source of perfumery 10 years before, I was already speaking of Prometheus. While Thibaudet and Laurent are not the first to envision a performance that could evoke the story and mood of Prometheus, Poem of Fire through a variety of senses, its taken time for technology to catch up with Scriabins synesthetic gift. Prometheus will be the first performance of its kind in the Bay Area, but its interpretation into a multi-sensory experience may foreshadow the future for some live musical performances. This project is optimistic, says Salonen. It shows that technology can be used for very noble purposes, for art and enhancing peoples natural sensory experiences in this world. Prometheus paid dearly, but we dont have toits up to us to decide. // Scriabins Prometheus, followed by Bartoks Bluebeard will take the stage at Davies Symphony Hall on Friday March 1 at 7:30pm, Saturday March 2 at 7:30pm, and Sunday March 3 at 2pm; 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center), sfsymphony.org. The AAFP must receive notice of cancellation no later than September 3, 2024. Cancellations or no-shows after this date are not eligible for refunds. Requests for full cancellations will be refunded less a $50 administrative fee. Fees will be refunded the same way they were paid to the AAFP. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery of refund. This policy covers registration and ticketed events. The AAFP is not responsible for monies registrants may have spent on penalties or nonrefundable airline tickets or hotel deposits in the event this course is canceled or sold out. If a program is canceled by the AAFP, every effort will be made to notify registrants at least 30 days prior to the first day of the course, and registration fees will be refunded. To make a cancellation request, call the AAFP at (800) 274-2237, or send your request to: American Academy of Family Physicians 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway Leawood KS 66211 Fax: (913) 906-6075 | aafp@aafp.org BluSmart, Indias leading born-electric, full stack, vertically integrated eMobility ride hailing service and EV charging infrastructure network, proudly announces a groundbreaking multi-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tata Power Trading Company Ltd. (TPTCL) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power - one of India's largest integrated power companies, to source green power. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step towards BluSmart's commitment to decarbonise mobility at scale and bolster Indias net-zero ambitions. Under the PPA, 30 MW capacity will be sourced by TPTCL from Tata Power's expansive 200 MW Solar PV power plant in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. TPTCL is uniquely positioned in the power trading industry with the Category-I Trading License enabling customers to optimise their energy costs and facilitate their sustainability goals. Enabled by the recently enacted Green Energy Open Access Rules, this partnership with TPTCL allows BluSmart to completely eliminate Scope 2 emissions from its existing 1.4 million sq. ft. of EV charging infrastructure and future charging hubs. With this, BluSmart emerges as the first mobility player in India to transition from zero tailpipe emissions to a zero-emissions company. BluSmart is building an integrated energy infrastructure - mobility business and its born-electric technology stack, built indigenously, operates close to 6,000 BluSmart EVs and has completed over 12 million all-electric trips, having covered 400 million all-electric kms, saving 30 million kgs of CO2 since inception. BluSmart also owns and operates 4,000 EV Chargers across its 35 EV Charging superhubs spread across 1.4 million sq. ft. in densely populated megacities of Delhi NCR and Bangalore. BluSmart crossed USD 55 million in the annual revenue run-rate and is growing at more than 100% YOY. Commenting on the partnership with Tata Power Trading Company, Punit Goyal, Co-founder, BluSmart While BluSmart operates an all-electric eMobility ridehailing fleet which contributes to zero tailpipe emissions, with this significant partnership with Tata Power Trading Company, it bears testament to its commitment to address the impact of global climate change and achieving the zero-emissions status. We are paving the path to fully decarbonise mobility at scale and are excited to further cement our alliance with Tata Power as we power our EV charging infrastructure with 100% clean electricity. BluSmart has already covered 0.4 billion electric kms since launch till date, and we are excited that the journey to 1 billion electric kms will now be powered by 100% renewable energy. Tata Power Trading Company has been at the forefront of promoting clean and alternative energy adoption through customised offerings. Our partnership with BluSmart will help them in decarbonising mobility in the country. We are committed to support multiple industries in achieving their RE Goals through our sustainable, innovative and affordable energy solutions. said, Tarun Katiyar, CEO, Tata Power Trading Company Ltd. Striving towards 100% renewable energy is vital to keep the 1.5C goal within reach. With this partnership, the company is embarking on a new phase further solidifying its commitment to sustainable transportation and paving the way for a cleaner, greener future for all. BluSmart has raised USD 200 Mn in growth capital (equity & debt) till date which also includes investment by one of the leading global climate funds, responsAbility Investments AG. BluSmart has also secured long-term and sustainable EV asset financing of USD 210 million backed by leading Development Financial Institutions (DFIs). Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur will launch a suite of online portals aimed at boosting transparency and efficiency in communication between government agencies and media stakeholders. These portals serve diverse needs, ranging from newspaper registration to access to government video content and streamlined advertising processes. Key initiatives: Press Sewa Portal: As part of the proposed Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, this portal facilitates seamless interaction between the Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) and publishers, owners, and printers. It offers a centralized platform for all registration applications, promoting ease and transparency. National Video Gateway of India (NaViGate): This redesigned website simplifies registration for newspapers and magazines, serving as a one-stop-shop for government advertising as well. NaViGate acts as a central archive for government-produced videos, providing citizens with convenient access to official content. Transparent Empanelment, Media Planning and E-billing System (TEMPEST): Developed by BECIL, this portal digitizes CBC's end-to-end government advertising processes. It streamlines applications from media outlets, centralizes renewal rates, and simplifies transactions, enhancing transparency and efficiency. Broadcast Seva Portal: This existing portal now includes a new link for local cable operators (LCOs) to register and obtain national registration numbers. Already, 28 LCOs have utilized this feature, signifying its potential for streamlining broadcast regulations. These initiatives aim to: Improve ease of access and communication for media stakeholders. Enhance transparency and accountability in government processes. Promote efficiency and reduce administrative burdens. Provide citizens with centralized access to valuable government information. Overall, these online portals mark a significant step towards modernizing India's media landscape and fostering an environment of increased collaboration and openness between government and media stakeholders. From branded content to partnership ads, Instagram is one of the best places for brands and creators to collaborate -- and today, we're excited to announce how we're making it easier to work together. In 2022, we began testing creator marketplace in the US, a new destination where brands and creators can more easily connect and collaborate around partnership opportunities. Since then, weve introduced new features and onboarded thousands of creators and brands in the US to creator marketplace. Were excited to take another step forward and announce the planned expansion of Instagrams creator marketplace to 8 new markets. Over the next few weeks, we plan to invite creators and brands based in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, India and Brazil to join Instagrams creator marketplace. Chinese export brands will also be invited to connect with onboarded creators in countries outside of China. Brands have told us it can be challenging to source creators for partnership ads. Thats why were excited to begin testing in the US our brand new, machine learning-based recommendations that use Instagram data to help brands more easily discover creators who are the best fit for their campaigns. Eligible brands can access these recommendations over the coming months on Instagrams creator marketplace in Meta Business Suite Instagrams creator marketplace can help brands easily find relevant creators for any kind of collaboration, but one of the most powerful is partnership ads. Partnership ads (formerly known as branded content ads) allow advertisers to amplify content with a creator or other partners handle to scale their collaborations. Partnership ads are the most performant and transparent way for advertisers and creators to run ads together and Instagrams creator marketplace helps brands discover creators to partner with. Heres how it works Join Instagrams Creator Marketplace Brands join Instagrams creator marketplace in Meta Business Suite. Creators join from their professional dashboard in the Instagram app. Creators can indicate brands and interests relevant to them. Creators can also create a portfolio to highlight what makes them unique. Find the Right Match To help match the right creators and brands for campaigns, were testing new custom, machine learning-powered creator recommendations for each brand. Brands can also search for creators, filtering for creator and audience attributes. They can also see a list of creators who have expressed interest and check out creator portfolios. Connect & Collaborate Creators receive brand messages in a dedicated Partnership Messages folder at the top of the Primary tab. Brands can reach out to creators directly or create and send a project to multiple creators outlining the branded content or partnership ad opportunity. Creators can review the details and requirements of the opportunity, as well as the rate, all within the Instagram app. Create & Launch Once brands and creators come to an agreement, they are ready to create. Advertisers can boost organic Instagram content as partnership ads, including branded content with the paid partnership label, or they can create new partnership ads in Ads Manager. Please visit the Help Center for instructions on how to use creator marketplace or set up partnership ads. Instagrams creator marketplace helps brands find the right creators and helps creators get discovered by brands. Were excited to continue evolving creator marketplace and partnership ads to offer even more ways for brands and creators to connect, partner, and grow. Advancements in Connected TV (CTV) analytics and measurement tools, particularly those that include attention measurement, play a significant role in shaping media planners decisions to invest in CTV advertising in several ways. Overall, advancements in CTV analytics and measurement tools provide media planners with the necessary data and insights to make more informed decisions, optimize campaign performance, and justify investments in CTV advertising as an integral part of their overall media strategy. In this two-part series, Adgully explores the inimitable advantages offered by CTV, and the kind of strategies media planners should prioritize to leverage the opportunities presented by the surge in CTV usage. Also read: Next-gen opportunity: Why CTV is a must-have for media planners in 2024 media landscape These analytic advancements are providing deeper insights, increased transparency, and the ability to optimise campaigns in real-time, hence these tools are making CTV a more attractive and quantifiable option, leading to increased investment and confidence in the medium for media planners, observes Krishna Menon, Chief Operating Officer, QYOU Media India. In India, the measurement and analytics space is evolving, says Prabhvir Sahmey, Senior Director, Samsung Ads, India. According to him, a big shift will be needed across planning tools to now accommodate for insights and signals coming in from connected TVs. TV is also a household device. At any given point in time there could be more than one person viewing content on the big screen. In the future, I think, there will be a shift from device reach to more of a people based multiplier, Sahmey added. Any advertising that is done today, is done with the aim of being measurable and ROI-driven, points out Nikhil Kumar, Chief Growth Officer, Mediasmart, an Affle company. He reckons that investment in CTV advertising has been growing as brands who would traditionally advertise on television now have a more measurable medium that combines the benefits of storytelling and measurability of programmatic advertising. CTV advertising offers rich insights in key brand KPIs, allowing advertisers to track viewer behaviour and engagement in real time, as well as track conversion metrics. Additionally, features such as CTVs app measurement, engagement sync, household sync, and offline sync enable advertisers to track installs and in-app events of both CTV and mobile apps in real time, as well as track footfalls. Going beyond the traditional metrics, we have also seen that through brand lift studies that advertising on CTV has not only shown a significant increase in brand awareness, but also proven impact on purchase intent, message association, and brand favorability, he says. Siddharth Dabhade, Managing Director - South Asia, MiQ, says that attention measurement tools provide validation of ad effectiveness by quantifying viewer engagement and attention levels. This data helps media planners demonstrate the value of CTV advertising to clients and stakeholders, fostering confidence in investment decisions. According to Dabhade: Advanced analytics tools provide insights into how audiences engage with CTV content. This includes data on viewing habits, content preferences, and interaction patterns. Media planners can use this information to tailor ad placements and messaging for maximum impact. Attention measurement tools allow media planners to assess how attentive viewers are during ad placements. Real-time analytics enable media planners to monitor campaign performance and make adjustments on the fly. Measurement and fragmentation Measurement and fragmentation are potential challenges in CTV placements. How can advertisers/ media planners address these challenges while ensuring effective ROI on their ad campaigns in the CTV space? CTV advertising is a growing space, and as it continues to evolve, some of the challenges around measurement, standardisation, and fragmentation will be addressed, says Nikhil Kumar. However, he adds, it is important for advertisers to navigate through the complexities of this landscape by choosing the right DSPs/ advertising partner who has the expertise and experience to unify reach across all platforms. For instance, one of the biggest challenges can be around the fragmented OS environment, which makes it difficult to optimize ad formats for different technical specifications. Additionally, syncing CTV ads with ads on other connected devices can increase engagement and make the medium more ROAS-driven. This is possible only when the programmatic players give transparent, unified reach across multiplicity of screens. Outcome-led advertising that integrates fragmented consumer journeys will also offer advertisers the right data tools to retarget their users between CTV and apps to prompt action. This agile approach, supported by transparent reporting and strategic partnerships with attribution and measurement partners, can empower advertisers to better navigate the fragmented landscape with confidence and precision, he says. These challenges are getting narrowed down rapidly as the industry is understanding and witnessing the growth of this medium, says Krishna Menon. We have already learnt that now Nielsen, BARC and many more prominent bodies are working on developing more advanced and effective measurement tools for rich data insights for both brands and advertisers. We can all stay informed about new technologies, measurement solutions, and industry best practice. Advertisers and media planners can successfully navigate the challenges and unlock the true potential of CTV advertising for maximising ROI, concludes Menon. As all these platforms transition to digital, advertisers stand to gain significant advantages by employing ad serving for their campaigns, says Prabhvir Sahmey. This shift allows them to glean valuable insights spanning various devices and platforms. Without ad serving, it becomes exceedingly challenging to attain such comprehensive insights. Consequently, buyers are constrained to focusing solely on reach and cost efficiencies across devices, he says. The Indian marketing community is becoming rapidly aware of the power of connected TV, points out Siddharth Dabhade, adding, They understand this is a big game changer, as TV has always been the big daddy of media in India, especially for brand-building, and now TV is going completely digital. Advertisers and media planners need to invest in advanced analytics and measurement tools to ensure effective ROI on campaigns. These tools can provide insights into audience behaviour, ad performance, and attribution across various CTV platforms and devices. According to Dabhade, advertisers need to implement cross-platform tracking solutions to understand how CTV advertising complements other channels in the media mix. This can help in assessing the overall impact of CTV campaigns on brand awareness, engagement, and conversions. Shift the focus from traditional metrics like impressions and clicks to outcome-based measurement metrics such as conversions, sales lift, and brand lift. Advertisers need to partner with unified advertising platforms that offer access to multiple CTV inventory sources through a single interface. This simplifies campaign management, improves efficiency, and helps mitigate fragmentation challenges, Dabhade adds. Dabhade says that MiQ has strong capabilities in CTV analytics with the ability to measure the following: Impressions Completed Views VTR Reach Frequency Device makers (Sony, Panasonic, Xiaomi, etc.) Advertisers who work with MiQ get a unified solution that is unique in the Indian market, as it offers: London-based consumer tech brand, Nothing, has announced its latest partnership with Indias superstar, Ranveer Singh. He will be the face of Nothing smartphones and will be seen in the brands upcoming campaigns. The actor will feature in digital, print, and TVC campaigns for Nothing phones. Speaking about this collaboration, Ranveer Singh said, Im absolutely thrilled to join forces with them! From the moment I first set eyes on their brand aesthetics and incredible designs, I knew this partnership was meant to be. Nothings commitment to breaking the clutter in the smartphone industry is truly inspiring. I can't wait to collaborate with Nothing and create something truly exceptional together. Ever since we started Nothing, we have received tremendous support in India. Our ambitions are expanding day by day in the Indian market, and after establishing manufacturing here and as were opening numerous service centers across the country, this partnership is a natural next step to further grow our brand. Im thrilled to officially welcome Ranveer among us! Weve been in touch for quite some time now, and he is a true trailblazer with a strong creative mind to which we relate as a brand. Cant wait to build together!, adds co-founder of Nothing, Akis Evangelidis. Recently, Nothing confirmed the global launch of its upcoming smartphone, Phone (2a), on March 5th. The event will be live-streamed from an in-person gathering in Delhi, India, bringing together thousands of people. Phone (2a) has been engineered with a focus on providing the optimal daily smartphone experience, doubling down on core user needs, incorporating all of Nothings design innovation, expertise, and craftsmanship. Phone (2a) will leverage some of the most beloved features from Phone (2), ensuring a clear upgrade compared to Phone (1) on every front. Perfetti Van Melle, an Italian confectionery brand, has appointed Nikhil Sharma as its new Managing Director for the India market. With his extensive experience within the Perfetti Van Melle group, including his most recent role as Managing Director of Perfetti Van Melle Vietnam, Sharma brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new position. Having joined Perfetti Van Melle as a Management trainee in 1999, Sharma has held various key positions within the company, primarily in Sales and Marketing. His progression to heading the Marketing function in 2012 and subsequently transitioning to General Management demonstrates his capability and leadership within the organisation. Sharma's international experience, gained from leading Perfetti Van Melle operations in the Philippines and Vietnam, will undoubtedly be invaluable as he takes on the responsibility of managing the company's India business. His proven track record of success, highlighted by the launch of several impactful campaigns during his previous tenure in India, underscores his ability to drive growth and innovation in the market. The successful campaigns, including "Alpenliebe Kajol & the Crocodile," the re-launch of Big Babol ads, the "Chlormint Salman Khan campaign of Dobara mat Poochna," and "Lollipops Lagey Raho," reflect Sharma's strategic vision and marketing prowess. Sharma's return to India coincides with the departure of Rajesh Ramakrishnan, the outgoing Managing Director, who has contributed to the company's growth over the past six years. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is one of the most sensible and responsible filmmakers in Indian cinema. The pioneering director always uses true-life storylines in his films to reflect society and the public. His true-life stories, The Tashkent Files, 'The Kashmir Files, and 'The Vaccine War', have made an unforgettable impression on the audience's emotions. While the Kashmir files shocked the country with their tale and conviction and received several prizes, including the prestigious National Award, the latter honors the spirit of Indian women scientists and the minds behind the coronavirus vaccine, which shows his ability as a filmmaker to present quality content to audiences. Besides being an Indic filmmaker, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is also a responsible citizen of the nation and has led an impact on the minds of the people and the generation of today with his work for which he was recently bestowed with the title of Doctorate from the Governor of Maharashtra. Recently Himachal Pradesh Government conducted an initiative where they took care of childrens suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. The Government appointed Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri as the ambassador and expressed gratitude to the filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri for being part of the motive. Responding to the same, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri said, "Namaste, Shukla Ji. Thank you for your blessings and words. I wanted to be there in person, but due to some reasons, I couldn't make it. I want to thank you for being there on the occasion of the good work" Concluding the same , the filmmaker said , "I am thankful for the opportunity and I promise to spread the awareness about the disease and to perform my duty through my films, works and actions". Meanwhile, on the work front, celebrated filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is working on 'The Delhi Files Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 22.02.2024 - The largest EU research initiative ever launched has come to a successful end: The Graphene Flagship was officially concluded at the end of last year. Empa researchers were also involved, such as molecular biologist Peter Wick, who was part of the Health and Environment work package from the very beginning and has just summarized the findings in this area with international colleagues in a comprehensive review article in the specialist journal ACS Nano. Think big. Despite its research topic, this could well be the motto of the Graphene Flagship, which was launched in 2013: With an overall budget of one billion Euros, it was Europe's largest research initiative to date, alongside the Human Brain Flagship, which was launched at the same time. The same applies to the review article on the effects of graphene and related materials on health and the environment, which Empa researchers Peter Wick and Tina Burki just published together with 30 international colleagues in the scientific journal ACS Nano; on 57 pages, they summarize the findings on the health and ecological risks of graphene materials, the reference list includes almost 500 original publications. A wealth of knowledge which also gives the all-clear. "We have investigated the potential acute effects of various graphene and graphene-like materials on the lungs, in the gastrointestinal tract and in the placenta and no serious acute cell-damaging effects were observed in any of the studies," says Wick, summarizing the results. Although stress reactions can certainly occur in lung cells, the tissue recovers rather quickly. However, some of the newer 2D materials such as boron nitrides, transition metal dichalcogenides, phosphenes and MXenes (see info box) have not yet been investigated much, Wick points out; further investigations were needed here. In their analyses, Wick and Co. did not limit themselves to newly produced graphene-like materials, but also looked at the entire life cycle of various applications of graphene-containing materials. In other words, they investigated questions such as: What happens when these materials are abraded or burnt? Are graphene particles released, and can this fine dust harm cells, tissues or the environment? One example: The addition of a few percent graphene to polymers, such as epoxy resins or polyamides, significantly improves material properties such as mechanical stability or conductivity, but the abrasion particles do not cause any graphene-specific nanotoxic effect on the cells and tissues tested. Wick's team will be able to continue this research even after the flagship project has come to an end, also thanks to funding from the EU as part of so-called Spearhead projects, of which Wick is deputy head. In addition to Wick's team, Empa researchers led by Bernd Nowack have used material flow analyses as part of the Graphene Flagship to calculate the potential future environmental impact of materials containing graphene and have modeled which ecosystems are likely to be impacted and to what extent. Roland Hischier's team, like Nowack's at Empa's Technology and Society lab, used life cycle assessments to investigate the environmental sustainability of different production methods and application examples for various graphene-containing materials. And Roman Fasel's team from Empa's nanotech@surfaces lab has advanced the development of electronic components based on narrow graphene ribbons. A European success story for research and innovation Launched in 2013, the Graphene Flagship represented a completely new form of joint, coordinated research on an unprecedented scale. The aim of the large-scale project was to bring together researchers from research institutions and industry to bring practical applications based on graphene from the laboratory to the market within ten years, thereby creating economic growth, new jobs and new opportunities for Europe in key technologies. Over its ten-year lifetime, the consortium consisted of more than 150 academic and industrial research teams in 23 countries plus numerous associated members. Last September, the ten-year funding period ended with the Graphene Week in Gothenburg, Sweden. The final report impressively demonstrates the success of the ambitious large-scale project: The Flagship has "produced" almost 5,000 scientific publications and more than 80 patents. It has created 17 spin-offs in the graphene sector, which have raised a total of more than 130 million Euros in venture capital. According to a study by the German economic research institute WifOR, the Graphene Flagship has led to a total added value of around 5.9 billion Euros in the participating countries and created more than 80,000 new jobs in Europe. This means that the impact of the Graphene Flagship is more than 10 times greater than shorter EU projects. In the course of the project, Empa received a total of around three million Swiss francs in funding which had a "catalytic" effect, as Peter Wick emphasizes: "We have roughly tripled this sum through follow-up projects totaling around 5.5 million Swiss francs, including further EU projects, projects funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and direct cooperation projects with our industrial partners and all this in the last five years." But the advantage of such projects goes far beyond the generous funding, emphasizes Wick: "It is truly unique to be involved in such a large project and broad network over such a long period of time. On the one hand, it has resulted in numerous new collaborations and ideas for projects. On the other hand, working together with international partners over such a long period of time has a completely different quality, we trust each other almost blindly; and such a well-coordinated team is much more efficient and produces better scientific results," Wick is convinced. Last but not least, many personal friendships came about. A new dimension: graphene and other 2D materials Graphene is an enormously promising material. It consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern and has extraordinary properties: exceptional mechanical strength, flexibility, transparency and outstanding thermal and electrical conductivity. If the already two-dimensional material is spatially restricted even more, for example into a narrow ribbon, controllable quantum effects can be created. This could enable a wide range of applications, from vehicle construction and energy storage to quantum computing. For a long time, this "miracle material" existed only in theory. It was not until 2004 that physicists Konstantin Novoselov and Andre Geim at the University of Manchester were able to specifically produce and characterize graphene. To do this, the researchers removed layers of graphite with a piece of adhesive tape until they had flakes just one atom thick. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work in 2010. Since then, graphene has been the subject of intensive research. In the meantime, researchers have discovered more 2D materials, such as graphene-derived graphene acid, graphene oxide and cyanographs, which could have applications in medicine. Researchers want to use inorganic 2D materials such as boron nitride or MXenes to build batteries that are more powerful, develop electronic components or improve other materials. Address for enquiries Prof. Dr. Peter Wick Particles-Biology Interactions Phone +41 58 765 7684 peter.wick@empa.ch Publisher Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research http://www.empa.ch Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is set to become the first woman chief minister of Pakistans Punjab province following the summoning of the inaugural session of the provincial legislature on Friday. Out of five assemblies in Pakistan that went to the polls on February 8, the Punjab Assembly is the first house convening its opening session. Punjab Governor Balighur Rahman has called the Punjab Assembly session for Friday, in which newly elected members of the assembly will swear in and formation of the new government will begin, a spokesperson for the Governors House said on Thursday. Maryam, 50, is also senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. She is considered to be the political heir of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who surprisingly nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif as his partys prime ministerial candidate. The PML-N has nominated Maryam as the chief ministerial candidate of the party in Punjab, a province of over 120 million people. The PML-N won 137 seats while independents backed by former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 113 in the Punjab Assembly. Separately, 20-odd independents, not PTI-backed, have already joined the PML-N. The PTI-backed independent candidates have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to get reserved seats for women and minorities besides saving their elected members from being forced to change their loyalty by the military establishment. However, the SIC may not get reserved seats for women and minorities, leaving the PML-N with a simple majority in Punjab. The Election Commission of Pakistan is likely to notify allocation of reserved seats in the Provincial Assembly on Thursday. The SIC is unlikely to get its share amid legal questions as its head himself had not contested on his party ticket and the deadline to submit a list of candidates for reserved seats has passed, an official source told Press Trust of India here. Punjab Assemblys outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan said since the PTI-backed MPAs-elect have joined the SIC, the party should be allocated reserved seats. A constitutional crisis will follow if the reserved seats of SIC/PTI are given to other parties, the speaker said. Meanwhile, Maryam has already been given security usually provided to the chief minister and she is holding meetings with the top bureaucracy of the province. A Shiv Sena (UBT) leader on Thursday quit the party claiming her colleagues were hatching conspiracies against her. In a letter to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shilpa Bodke, who is an office bearer of the partys east Vidarbha unit, also accused the leadership of using her as tissue paper. Some leaders are busy hatching conspiracies rather than working towards the partys expansion and more importance was being given to them, she claimed in the letter. Birminghams Motion Industries has announced an agreement to acquire two Canadian companies. The hydraulics and equipment firm entered a purchase agreement for Perfetto and SER Hydraulics, both of Sudbury, Canada. The transaction is expected to be finalized at the end of February. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. Perfetto has been in business since 1986, and SER Hydraulics since 1978. The two provide service and equipment for hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders, complex power units and other assets used in the mining, agricultural and forestry industries. Randy Breaux, president of parent company GPC North America, said Motion looks forward to welcoming these two terrific organizations, especially the talented employees. These world-class experts will be key to our market growth strategy, and we look forward to extending our position together as a premier leader in industrial solutions, Breaux said. Legislation to allow for some public funding of private schools is expected to get its first vote on Thursday. The bill to allow up to $7,000 per year to fund a students private school education and other choice options through tax credits is a priority for Republicans in the Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey. Public school families could also use the credits to pay fees for attending out-of-district public schools. House Bill 129 allows for $2,000 in tax credits for homeschool students, up to $4,000 per family. Lawmakers would allocate at least $100 million each year to fund the education options through tax credits. The Rev. Bill Hay, a pastor in Homewood for 45 years, was also a Bible smuggler and missionary to South America and Soviet Eastern Europe who once traveled to Communist Romania with money sewn into his clothes to support the Christian community there, his family recalled. Hay was pastor of Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Homewood from 1966-1978, co-founded the Birmingham Theological Seminary at Edgewood in 1972 and then founded Covenant Presbyterian Church on Lakeshore Parkway in 1978, where he retired in 2011 after 33 years as pastor. After more than 50 years in Northport, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts is moving to a new location in 2024. This years festival is set for Oct. 19-20 at Snow Hinton Park, off McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa, Kentuck organizers said on Thursday. The park, a 40-acre green space owned by the City of Tuscaloosa, is in the midst of a major renovation project funded by a city initiative called Elevate Tuscaloosa. The budget for the project is $13 million, according to the Elevate Tuscaloosa website. Snow Hinton Park is closed now, but renovations are expected to be completed this year, the city said in a December press release. The Kentuck Festival of the Arts will be held in a 10-acre section of the 40+ acre park and will feature 270+ artists, live music, spoken word, activities for children, folk and contemporary craft demonstrations, food trucks, and local craft brews, Kentuck organizers said via a press release. The Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport, Alabama, in 2016. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan The annual festival, founded in 1971, traditionally has been held at Kentuck Park, less than a mile away from the Kentuck Arts Center at 503 Main Ave. in Northport. The Kentuck Arts Center, a nonprofit organization, is the prime mover for the festival, and the two-day event is Kentucks largest revenue generator, according to the arts centers website. The popular festival is one of the largest arts festivals in Alabama, attracting thousands of visitors to the site each year. A festivalgoer looks at artworks for sale at the 2000 Kentuck Festival of the Arts at Kentuck Park in Northport, Alabama.(AL.com file photo/Beverly Taylor) In November 2023, Kentuck organizers said the festival was looking for a new home, after contract negotiations broke down with the City of Northport and they failed to reach an agreement about the festivals funding. READ: After 52 years, one of Alabamas largest art festivals is searching for a new home We are looking forward to hosting the 53rd Kentuck Festival in Snow Hinton Park, Exa Skinner, executive director of the Kentuck Art Center, said via Thursdays press release. Hosting an event this large is no easy feat, but through Kentucks partnership with the City of Tuscaloosa, were excited to be able to continue the legacy of the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in West Alabama. The Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport, Alabama, in 2016. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan The Kentuck festival will have a new layout at Snow Hinton Park, organizers said, with most of the artists booths set down along paved paths. A site map linked to the Kentuck website illustrates the new layout for the festival, and shows locations for artists booths, two stages, a childrens area, a shuttle drop-off point, restrooms, two reserved parking areas and more. A parking lot dedicated to accessible parking will be available on site, the press release says, and public parking will be available at no cost in neighboring lots. An Anniston man was killed in a multi-vehicle crash in St. Clair County. Alabama State Troopers identified the fatality victim as Ryan C. Harrison. He was 36. The wreck happened at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 59, about four miles north of Ashville. Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey said Harris was driving a Kia Optima that collided head-on with a 2022 Toyota Corolla driven by 29-year-old Derramus C. Bothwell of Steele. After the initial impact, the Kia was then hit by a Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Ronald Edouard, 39, of Florida. As a result of the impact, the Kia left the roadway and overturned. The Freightliner also left the roadway and struck a tree. The crash left debris in the roadway, which was struck by a 2018 Volvo tractor-trailer driven by Tajuanna S. Lewis, 42, of Calera. Bailey said Harrison was not using a seat belt at the time of crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Bothwell was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Edouard was also injured and taken by ambulance to UAB Hospital for treatment. Two more fertility clinics, one in Mobile and another with offices in Homewood, just announced pauses to in vitro fertilization. Mobile Infirmary Medical Center and the Alabama Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile announced the decision this morning. The recent Alabama Supreme Court decision has sadly left us with no choice but to pause IVF treatments for patients, said Mark Nix, President and CEO of Infirmary Health in a statement. We understand the burden this places on deserving families who want to bring babies into this world and who have no alternative options for conceiving. Mobile Infirmary and Center for Reproductive Medicine said they are pausing procedures to prepare embryos for transfer. Alabama Fertility, which has main offices in Homewood is also pausing some treatments, according to the Associated Press. The clinic has offices in Huntsville and Montgomery, but does not transfer embryos at those locations, which will be unaffected, according to CNN. We are contacting patients that will be affected today to find solutions for them and we are working as hard as we can to alert our legislators as to the far reaching negative impact of this ruling on the women of Alabama, Alabama Fertility stated. AFS will not close. We will continue to fight for our patients and the families of Alabama. The University of Alabama at Birmingham already paused some IVF treatments. Clinics are pausing the procedure to evaluate the legal consequences of creating and destroying embryos, which are now covered under the states wrongful death law. In a statement, a spokesperson from UAB also said the health system had concerns about criminal liability. The lawsuit that led to the frozen embryo ruling began in Mobile after three parents sued Mobile Infirmary and the Center for Reproductive Medicine. After the trial court dismissed the case, the Alabama Supreme Court agreed to review, and eventually overturn, that decision. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to strengthen the states law against child pornography by making it apply to images created by artificial intelligence. The bill, called the Alabama Child Protection Act of 2024, passed the House 101-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, a Republican from Walker County, and listed 44 co-sponsors. Attorney General Steve Marshall said the change in the law is needed to keep up with technology used by producers of child porn. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence demands that we examine our criminal laws on child exploitation to ensure that prosecutions are not lagging behind what perpetrators are capable of doing, Marshall said in a press release. With this legislation, Alabama will be on the cutting edge of thwarting the proliferation of child sex abuse material, no matter how it is produced. Woods thanked Marshall and his staff for their work on the bill. The legislative findings attached to the bill say that images produced by artificial intelligence are virtually indistinguishable from photographs. The bill also says artificial intelligence can create composite images that include images of a real child. Alabamas child pornography law, which imposes felony penalties, applies to sexually explicit images of children younger than 17. Woods bill would change that to make the law apply to images of children younger than 18. The bill moves to the Senate, where Sen. April Weaver, a Republican from Bibb County, is sponsoring the same legislation. Alabama House education budget committee members had a lot of questions for Chairman Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, during his presentation of the latest configuration a bill that would create education savings accounts, or ESAs, for eligible students at the start of the 2025-26 school year. HB129 would provide eligible families $7,000 in state tax dollars per student to pay for the cost of educating their child in a participating school or for other eligible expenses. Low-income families and students with disabilities would become eligible for money first. All families become eligible at the start of the 2027-28 school year. The purpose behind this legislation is to provide opportunities that are not currently available to parents, Garrett said, to use a portion of their tax dollars to choose a school that best meets the needs of their child, whether that be for academic, social, emotional, environmental, mental health, or perhaps bullying reasons. Families who homeschool their children could receive $2,000 per child, up to $4,000 each year, for eligible expenses. Related: What is an ESA? Is Alabama going to get new school choice option? Rep. Debbie Wood, R- Valley, asked Garrett if participating private schools would have to accept students who have an Individualized Education Program requiring specialized instruction and services. Gov. Kay Iveys education policy advisor Nick Moore answered the question saying no, private schools are not required to provide specialized services to students with disabilities. Families will have to make a decision based on the childs needs. Other committee members showed concern about accountability for the state tax dollars that will be used. Three years from now, Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, asked Garrett, how will we analyze whether this program has been successful? Garrett said theyll look at how many people use an ESA and whether ESAs were ultimately helping to move the needle in public schools. Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, asked how they can objectively evaluate the programs effectiveness. I feel like there needs to be a uniform system of testing or for there to be some type of evaluation for us as policymakers, Baker said. Baker pointed to the Alabama Commission on Evaluation Services as a state agency that has the ability to evaluate the states return on investment in the ESA program. The CHOOSE Act requires participating private schools to test students, but does not dictate which test the school must use. Opponents speaking against the bill last week in the Senate Education Budget committee said they want all students using ESAs to take the standardized test public school students take. Supporters of ESAs say participating schools should test students based on what their standards and curricula are. Alabama does not regulate what private schools or homeschool educators teach. I think thats where the free market and the market kind of comes in to take control over how we give information to the parents to make the choices best for their child, Garrett replied. Read more: New school choice option a top priority for Ivey: Whats the impact on public schools? Baker said he is concerned about the possibility of giving taxpayer money to parents who claim to homeschool their children but dont actually educate them. Baker said he has seen multiple instances where homeschooled students re-enter public schools and are one or more grade levels behind. I guess Im a little concerned about taxpayer dollars going out because its hard for us to distinguish who are the responsible parents and who are the irresponsible parents, Baker said. And so to me, if theres not some type of testing for student outcomes, then we really dont know if these dollars are being squandered. Garrett said guardrails on how the money can be spent should catch whether ESAs are being used for appropriate and eligible expenses. Baker also expressed concern about allowing unaccredited schools to participate and obtain ESA money. The bill allows unaccredited schools to participate and gives them three years to go through the process of accreditation. Garrett said that amount of time would allow private schools time to get set up in areas where there are few private schools for students to attend. According to a map assembled by the Alabama Association of School Boards, at least a dozen counties have only one private school in the county and five counties have no private schools. Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said she is concerned about the quality of education provided by a participating private school. Will certified teachers be required at those private and home schools? she asked. There are no requirements for public school alternatives to employ certified teachers in the bill, Garrett said. Drummond also expressed concern about parents not knowing enough about their choices because there is no requirement for private schools to provide testing or other information to parents. When you talk about school choice, Garrett responded, youre giving authority to parents, and its incumbent upon those parents to do their diligence. All we can do is guarantee that where they go meets requirements and these standards, he continued. Whether or not thats the best school for their studentthats really upon the parent. We have to trust the parent to make that decision. One concern raised by opponents in last weeks Senate Education Budget hearing was whether lawmakers should continue to allocate funding if no one uses the ESAs. Garrett said the new version limits the annual funding for ESAs to $100 million if 90%, or $90 million, has not been used in the previous year. Lawmakers can allocate more than $100 million, with no upper limit, if 90% or more of the $100 million is used, he said. The committee held a public hearing where five supporters, one opponent and four who said they were neutral, spoke about the bill. The committee plans to vote on a new version of the bill tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. The new version introduced during the committee was not available online prior to publication of this article. An Alabama man is among 14 people charged in connection with a major dogfighting event that took place in Georgia two years ago. The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced the indictments following arrests of the suspects that have been taking place this week. Terrance Davis, 45, of Alabamas Houston County, is accused of taking a dog to the fight, which took place on April 24, 2022. The others charged are: Tamichael Elijah, 47, of Donalsonville, Ga.; Marvin Pulley III, 52, of Donalsonville and Jakin, Ga.; Brandon Baker, 41, of Panama City, Fla.; Christopher Travis Beaumont, 37, of Panama City, Fla.; Herman Buggs Jr., 56, of Donalsonville, Ga.; Timothy Freeman, 26, of Bainbridge, Ga.; Terelle Ganzy, 34, of Panama City, Fla.; Gary Hopkins, 66, of Donalsonville, Ga.; Cornelious Johnson, 39, of Panama City, Fla.; Rodrecus Kimble, 43, of Donalsonville, Ga.; Donnametric Miller, 41, of Donalsonville, Ga.; Willie Russell, 43, of Blakely, Ga. And Fredricus White, 36, of Panama City, Fla. According to court documents, the suspects all converged on a property in Donalsonville, Georgia where they held a large-scale dogfighting event. The suspects and others brought a total of 24 dogs to fight that weekend in a series of matches. Law enforcement officers who broke up the event found numerous dogs inside crates in cars on the property. The participants, authorities said, used their cars to store dogs who had already fought, as well as those waiting to fight. Authorities rescued 27 dogs from the April 2022 dog fighting event, and another 51 in conjunction with the arrests that took place this week. The indictment alleges that Elijah lived on the property and acted as the host, having taken money from Pulley for hosting the dog fights. Pulley was the primary organizer. He and Russell acted as referees for matches that occurred before law enforcement arrived. Beaumont, Davis and Miller were witnessed fighting dogs at the event. Baker, Beaumont, Ganzy, Johnson and White brought three dogs from Florida to fight. Buggs, Davis, Freeman, Hopkins, Pulley and Kimble also brought dogs to the fight. Under federal law, it is illegal not only to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce, but also to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. Miller is also charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm subsequent to a prior felony conviction. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General and detectives with the Seminole County, Georgia Sheriffs Office are investigating the case, which remains ongoing. Detectives with the Bay County, Florda Sheriffs Office also assisted. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count of animal fighting charges. Miller also faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearm charge. President Joe Biden released a statement Thursday blasting an Alabama Supreme Court decision that gave embryos the same legal status as children and forced several fertility clinics to pause some procedures. Bidens statement said the ruling was a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Today, in 2024 in America, women are being turned away from emergency rooms and forced to travel hundreds of miles for health care, while doctors fear prosecution for providing an abortion, Bidens statement said. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant. The disregard for womens ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable. The statement said that Biden had been hearing from women concerned about their rights. Abortion is shaping up to be a major issue in the upcoming presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has said he supports a nationwide 16-week ban on abortion. Biden said he would seek to restore abortion access in every state. After the Supreme Court ruled that no federal right to abortion existed, it sent the issue back to the states. More than a dozen, including Alabama, outlawed the procedure, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This is not the first time the Alabama Supreme Court has interpreted state laws in ways that gave legal rights to fetuses. In 2013, a ruling in criminal cases brought against two women who used drugs during pregnancy relied on the legal idea that fetuses have the same rights as children. More than 1,000 criminal cases have been brought against pregnant women in the years after that ruling. Alabama is the first state in the nation to say that embryos have some of the same legal rights as children. That ruling, released Feb. 16, has been embraced by anti-abortion organizations. But many families and physicians involved in fertility treatment have been harshly critical of the courts decision. I know that folks are worried about what theyre seeing happening to women all across America. I am too. I hear about it everywhere I go. My message is: The Vice President and I are fighting for your rights. Were fighting for the freedom of women, for families, and for doctors who care for these women. And we wont stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law for all women in every state. A person who sells or gives away an illegal drug containing fentanyl that causes the death of the user could be charged with manslaughter under a bill that passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday. Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, has tried for several years to get the legislation passed in response to the surge in overdose deaths in Alabama caused by fentanyl. The House added an amendment by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, that said its not a defense against prosecution under the law if the person who provided the illegal drug to the person who died did not know that it contained fentanyl. Pringles bill would add a third category of the circumstances that result in a manslaughter charge. Under current law, a person is guilty of manslaughter if they recklessly cause the death of another person, or if they cause a death that would be considered murder except that it occurred during a heat of passion. Manslaughter is a Class B felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Pringles bill passed 99-0. It moves to the Senate. The Alabama District Attorney prosecuting cases against two school board members and journalists stemming from the non-renewal of a school superintendent is recusing himself from the lawsuits, claiming a conflict of interest. Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy, in court filings Wednesday, issued separate notices of recusal in cases involving four people charged with crimes related to the alleged release of grand jury evidence in October Atmore News publisher and Escambia County School Board member Sherry Digmon, 73; Atmore News Reporter Donald Fletcher, 69; School board vice-president Cindy Jackson, 73; and the school systems bookkeeper Vernoica Fore, 48. All four face charges of violating the states grand jury secrecy law, with each count punishable by up to three years in prison. The filings say Billy, as District Attorney, has both a legal and personal conflict, and that justice would be best served if he was not involved in the prosecution. Billy did not return an immediate request for comment. Ernest White, an attorney representing Digmon, Fletcher, and Jackson, said cases against his clients will be forwarded to the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, which will be asked to assign a special prosecutor. Hes running from this case, White, an attorney from Brewton, said of Billy. Marshalls office, in a response to AL.com Thursday, said they had not yet received a request to consider the case. The front page of the Atmore News dated Nov. 1, 2023.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com The impetus for the case stems from the publication of an Oct. 25, article in The Atmore News, written by Fletcher. Digmon is the newspapers publisher. Within it, according to Billy, are details that were included in a grand jury investigation and which should be protected under Alabama state law. But the prosecution against the journalists has generated an unusual amount of attention for the tiny southeastern Alabama county over press freedoms. The arrests, according to a motion filed earlier this month, represent a violation of the First Amendment and media and ethics experts have blasted Billy for levying charges against journalists for publishing what they said was leaked material. In addition to the recusal, an impeachment charge against Digmon was dismissed on Thursday. According to the filing by Billy, Digmon has been indicted for other felony offenses which upon conviction, would disqualify her from public office, and prosecuting an impeachment would not be required. The cases are part of an unfolding set of actions within the Escambia County School System that began in mid-October with a controversial 4-3 school board vote to not renew the contract of former Superintendent Michele McClung. The contract was originally set to expire in June 2024. The vote in October came during a meeting in which Billy was among those who voiced dissatisfaction over having McClung dismissed. Escambia County School Board member Sherry Digmon, who is also the publisher and co-owner of The Atmore News, attends the board's meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com The charges against Digmon, Fletcher and Fore were originally assessed in October. They were indicted by an Escambia County grand jury in early December. Jackson was initially arrested and indicted on similar charges also in early December. White said he believes the conflict of interest exists because Billy when he took the case to the grand jury claimed that he controlled the grand jury of Escambia County. The arrests and indictments for disclosing grand jury evidence stem from an Oct. 25 article on a District Attorneys investigation into federal COVID-19 funds that were possibly improperly paid to sever former Escambia County School System employees, the newspaper, said on its Facebook page last year. A sidebar accompanying the main article on the investigation reported phones belonging to Digmon and Jackson were seized by sheriffs deputies. Members of the Escambia County School Board meet on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Atmore, Ala. From left to right: Danny Benjamin, Mike Edwards and Cindy Jackson.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com Both Digmon and Jackson voted against renewing McClungs contract -- an issue that has deeply divided the Escambia County School Board. The other two No votes included board president Loumeek White and Kevin Hoomes. Voting to support McClung were Mike Edwards, Danny Benjamin and Coleman Wallace. Michele Collier, the former assistant superintendent, has since been hired as the full time superintendent. The board then voted in December to dismiss McClung along the same 4-3 vote, and buyout the remainder of her contract. The school system has declined to release the terms of her buyout. Its attorney, Kevin Garrett, declined an AL.com request for details about the terms. Board member Mike Edwards, who was one of three board members supporting McClung, told AL.com in December that part of the controversy stems over the handling of the countys accounting system which he claimed was being used by a previous superintendent to hide corruption and mismanagement. Edwards claims that Digmon demanded money from the previous superintendent and CFO to support her newspaper in the amount of $800 a month for an undetermined period. He also said that Digmon and Jackson were part of a propaganda campaign against McClung in fabricated untruths they shared against the county. Digmon faces additional charges including an ethics offense for using her public position for personal gain. The impeachment charged aimed to remove her from her school board seat. Digmon faced the potential of being the first school board member impeached in Alabama in 17 years. The Alabama Association of School Boards had been assisting Digmon in her impeachment case, limiting their work to providing legal research and assistance. The impeachment proceeding was based on a violation to the School Board Governance Act of 2012, which establishes training requirements and accountability measures for all school board members. Sally Smith, president of the AASB, called the impeachment charge in November the most outlandish situation shes seen of outside influence in a school board matter in her almost 37 years. She was not immediately available for comment regarding the most recent developments. Hollis R. Towns has been named vice president of content and editor in chief of Alabama Media Group, the company announced Thursday. A native of Fort Valley, Georgia, Towns comes to AMG from Gannett, where he oversaw 160 daily newspapers and news websites across the country as Gannetts vice president for local news and regional editor. Under his leadership, newsroom teams won multiple Emmy awards for investigative journalism, were Pulitzer Prize finalists for public service in 2010 and were honored with the National Association of Black Journalists Public Service Award in 2018. Towns first day at AMG will be March 25. He said AMGs culture of nationally recognized excellence attracted him to the company. Seeing the great journalism and bold digital moves taking place at Alabama Media Group was an opportunity I couldnt pass up, Towns said. Whats not to love about working for a newsroom that has won multiple Pulitzer Prizes, Emmys and other top journalism awards by focusing on issues that impact local communities and where local journalism has led to new policies and laws that have helped Alabamians. AMG President Natalie Pruitt informed AL.com staffers of Towns hiring Thursday morning. Its a testament to our journalists and our work that we were able to attract someone with the talent and experience Hollis brings, Pruitt said. Beyond his experience leading newsrooms at a national scale, he is dedicated to becoming an active participant in our local communities. He is committed to listening to community members, civic activists, elected officials and all readers including those voices less likely to be heard. Towns in 2023 created Gannetts Center for Community Journalism a division of 150 Gannett news sites across the country focused on community coverage and leadership training. Towns is dedicated to engaging Alabamas communities. I hope to be very active in the local community whether its a chamber event or at the local high school career day. I plan to be visible, he said. I intend to keep my finger on the pulse of local and state issues listening and responding. Towns decades of newsroom leadership experience also includes a stint as managing and executive editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Before joining Gannett in 2004, he worked for Advance Local as managing editor of the Kalamazoo Gazette. He replaces Kelly Ann Scott, who left in October 2023 to become editor in chief of the Houston Chronicle. Alabama Media Group, which publishes AL.com, has more than 100 Alabama-based journalists located throughout the state. Besides AL.com the states largest digital news site AMG also includes This is Alabama, People of Alabama, the Alabama Education Lab and the digital editions of the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Mobile Press-Register. A correctional officer with the Alabama Department of Corrections has been charged in connection with prison contraband. The ADOC said Tia Monique Scott, 31, a correctional officer at Limestone Correctional Facility, has been placed on mandatory leave after being arrested on six counts of use of office for personal gain. Scott was arrested Tuesday as a result of an investigation on a prison contraband incident at Donaldson Correctional Facility. The incident involved Latransezon Malloy, an inmate serving sentences for murder and cocaine trafficking at Donaldson in Bessemer. Scott was interviewed and transported to the Limestone County Jail for booking. Two Alabama Department of Corrections officers at Limestone Correctional have also been indicted for first degree assault in connection with an inmate. An aluminum manufacturing plant under construction in North Baldwin County is rivaling the most expensive projects in Alabama history after Novelis announced earlier this month that project costs have escalated more than 60% over original projections, to $4.1 billion. The new capital costs for the plant in Bay Minette were included in an earnings report released on Feb. 12. Also included was an updated timeline for the project that extends the construction from an early 2025 completion to late 2026. We are building this plant not just for today, but for the next 40 years and beyond, said Steve Fisher, president and CEO, Novelis Inc. Bay Minette will be a true plant of the future, combining our decades of experience with the latest technology to improve safety, efficiency, and the sustainability of our products, while also providing the ability to double future capacity in a cost-effective manner. Fisher said the company remains confident in the profitability of its investment into Alabama. With customer contracts for beverage packaging already signed, and automotive contracting proceeding as planned, we remain confident int he double-digit return of this historic investment, he said. The plant has been under construction since October 2022, when ground was initially broken on the project. Initially projected to cost $2.5 billion, the manufacturing plant is expected to consume much of the 3,000 acre South Alabama MegaSite property. Also initially projected was the plant bringing approximately 1,000 new jobs with an average annual salary of around $65,000. Its unclear on if the increased project costs will lead to an expansion of the original project, or if more employees will be added. Its also unclear if the project expansion will alter any of the original incentives offered to the company by Alabama state, and local officials. Callie Cox, spokeswoman with the Novelis project in Bay Minette, declined to go into further detail, saying the company is currently in a quiet period due to restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws. Baldwin County Commission Chairwoman Billie Jo Underwood said they were unaware of any anticipated additional requests from Novelis, excepted to extend the timeline for the projects completion. The Baldwin County Commission has been in constant and consistent communication with Novelis leadership since the start of their project in Baldwin County, Underwood said in a statement to AL.com. We could not be more pleased with the corporate partner and investor Novelis has been so far. After the earnings call last week, Novelis leadership immediately made the Commission aware of the revised investment and timeline for the Bay Minette project and communicated their unwavering support for the project and Baldwin County. She added, Given that the new completion date announced by Novelis last Monday is now 2026, we expect a request to amend our existing agreement to accommodate the new completion date. There are no other known anticipated requests from Novelis. Lee Lawson, president & CEO with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, said he is also unaware of any additional requests for incentives. The incentive package totals to about $123 million total in tax abatements, infrastructure improvement and economic incentives. A representative with the Alabama Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity did not respond to a request for comment. We are appreciative of Novelis in the community, said Lawson. We understand their investment (project costs change) is a significant revision and a positive one for the community. Their CEO statement in the earnings release says they are committed to the project and the community. From that, my reaction is its a positive and the company is showing their commitment to the project and us as a community. The adjusted project costs will put the Novelis plant on par with some of the most expensive developments in Alabamas history. Lawson compared the costs to Thyssenkrupp, a steel manufacturing plant in Mobile County that has an estimated price tag north of $4 billion. By way of comparison, the Toyota-Mazda plant in Huntsville had an estimated price tag of under $2 billion. An Alabama Supreme Court decision that gives fertilized eggs the same legal status as children is already influencing people seeking fertility treatment and could have even broader impacts on hopeful parents and doctors. In the main opinion, Associate Justice Jay Mitchell writes that Alabama has long held that unborn children are children under Alabamas Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. Now, this ruling will extend to in vitro fertilization treatments, and starts the legal definition of a human life, and a child, at conception. Read the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling online, here. IVF, the process of fertilizing eggs outside the body and then transferring embryos to the womb, accounts for 2% of births in the United States, according to Resolve, a national organization that supports fertility treatments. The case involves complaints against a Mobile medical center, where embryos stored at a cryogenic nursery were accidentally dropped and destroyed. Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker utilized multiple Biblical references in his search for the definition of the sanctity of life to come to the conclusion that an embryo fits within the definition of a child. In summary, the theologically based view of the sanctity of life adopted by the People of Alabama encompasses the following: (1) God made every person in His image; (2) each person therefore has a value that far exceeds the ability of human beings to calculate; and (3) human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself. Section 36.06 recognizes that this is true of unborn human life no less than it is of all other human life -- that even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory, Parker writes in the case. Parker claims IVF is federally unregulated. He suggested looking to other countries as examples, such as Australia and New Zealand where physicians usually make only one embryo at a time. In a dissent, Associate Justice Gregory Cook claimed the ruling will have disastrous consequences for the in vitro fertilization. The University of Alabama at Birmingham health system has paused IVF procedures due to fear of criminal prosecution and lawsuits. While patients can continue the IVF process up through egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo development is paused for now. Hannah Echols, a UAB spokeswoman, said they are saddened for patients who want to have babies through IVF. Applying the wrongful death statute to in vitro embryos could drive up the costs of fertility treatment, result in Alabamas fertility clinics shutting down and discourage doctors from practicing in Alabama, according to a brief filed by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. The main opinions holding will mean that the creation of frozen embryos will end in Alabama. No rational medical provider would continue to provide services for creating and maintaining frozen embryos knowing that they must continue to maintain such frozen embryos forever or risk the penalty of a Wrongful Death Act claim for punitive damages. There is no doubt that there are many Alabama citizens praying to be parents who will no longer have that opportunity. And, there is no doubt that there will be fewer babies born, Cook wrote in his dissent. Cook says he wants the legislature, not the court, to decide whether to end medical procedures such as IVF. There is no doubt that the common law did not consider an unborn infant to be a child capable of being killed for the purpose of civil liability or criminal-homicide liability, he writes. In fact, for 100 years after the passage of the Wrongful Death Act, our caselaw did not allow a claim for the death of an unborn infant, confirming that the common law in 1872 did not recognize that an unborn infant (much less a frozen embryo) was a minor child who could be killed. Cook noted a 1926 ruling that did not allow recovery for injuries during pregnancy that resulted in the death of a fetus. The University of Georgia Police Department said Thursday it is investigating the death of an unidentified individual who was found with visible injuries after a friend called to report the person had not returned from a run. The university posted a special safety update on X, previously known as Twitter, about the incident. Police received a call just after noon Thursday from a person who said they were concerned for the welfare of a friend who had not returned from a morning run at the intramural fields. Officers went to the area and found a person in the woods behind Lake Herrick with visible injuries and immediately began rendering medical aid. Emergency responders determined the individual was deceased upon their arrival, according to the post. Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson said he was on his way to the scene Thursday afternoon. UGA police are investigating the incident along with the GBI and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Students and others are asked to avoid the area. The University of Georgia did not immediately respond to questions. This is a developing story. 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. If you are having cell phone issues Thursday, you arent alone. Many U.S. cell phone users reported outages across the nation. Per downdetector.com, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile and other networks were reported as down early Thursday morning. Outages were reported from Atlanta to New York to Los Angeles and multiple locations in between. Downdetector offers real-time status information for more than 12,000 services across 47 websites representing 47 countries. Despite the reports, T-Mobile, in a statement to AL.com, said, We did not experience an outage. Our network is operating normally. Down Detector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks. There is currently a nationwide outage with AT&Ts network, Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency posted on social media. We do not have a timeline of when this will be fixed. If you have this network provider, and need to contact 9-1-1 emergency services...there could be a delay in response. An update will be posted when this is corrected. There is currently a nationwide outage with AT&Ts network. We do not have a timeline of when this will be fixed. If you have this network provider, and need to contact 9-1-1 emergency services.. there could be a delay in response. An update will be posted when this is corrected. Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency (@BaldwinEMA) February 22, 2024 In Florida, the Flagler County Sheriffs Office posted on X at 5:43 a.m. (6:43 a.m. EST) that, Texts to 911 from affected AT&T users are now being received. If you have an emergency, and cannot dial out, send a text message to 911. CNBC reports the largest number of issues were reported by AT&T customers, peaking at nearly 32,000 outages around 3:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET). Outages were still high as of 6:30 a.m. According to the Daily Mail, AT&T iPhone users have reported their phones stuck in SOS mode, which means users can only make calls to emergency services. Customers in New Orleans said making phone calls was impossible, but texts still appeared to work. Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily. Kelly Belmont and her husband began IVF treatment in Alabama in October and had an appointment in January to retrieve her eggs. Unfortunately, the procedure was not successful, and Belmont planned another round in April. But now she is worried. Honestly, Im terrified, Belmont said. Her clinic has not announced any plans to pause IVF treatment, but patients in Alabama who have used vitro fertilization are suddenly facing uncertainty following a surprising decision by the Alabama Supreme Court that embryos constitute children. At this point, Ive put so much stress on my body with different medications and being where I am in my current cycle, Im already taking medication to prepare for my next retrieval, said Belmont. If things get paused, all of that has been for nothing. University of Alabama at Birmingham is already pausing IVF treatment as they weigh the risks of lawsuits and even criminal prosecution. The court decision has many people worried about the fate of frozen embryos and grappling with the possibility they might not be able to move forward with in vitro fertilization. Belmont said she used part of her 401(k) to cover the initial $10,000 cost of treatment. The drugs cost another $3,000 to $5,000 per cycle on top of that, plus genetic testing of each embryo at a cost of $200 to $400. The cost is so high, she and her husband Jimmy started a GoFundMe to raise funds. It also makes it difficult to start over with a clinic in another state, she said. To add to that the cost of traveling out of state, it would take something thats already really financially difficult and make it financially impossible, Belmont said. Sarah Gossett did an IVF cycle in Huntsville in 2017 that resulted in a child and four remaining embryos she chose to freeze. She transferred one of them several years later and gave birth last year. Now she is struggling to understand how this decision will affect the remaining embryos. We are in limbo on what to do now that this is a law with the remaining frozen eggs, Gossett said. We will not be having more children and are paying a hefty storage fee yearly for these eggs. What are our options now? Gossett said her clinic just informed them their only options are to transfer to another clinic, use the embryos or donate them to another family. The Alabama Supreme Court released its decision on Feb. 16. In 2020, a hospital patient walked into a cryogenic freezer area, removed embryos and dropped them. The families sued for wrongful death. The case was dismissed by a lower court, but the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Alabama law recognizes the personhood of fetuses, and they ruled that applied to fertilized eggs and embryos as well. Chief Justice Tom Parker, in a concurring opinion, said the Alabama Constitution recognizes the sanctity of unborn life. Human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself, Parker wrote. Section 36.06 recognizes that this is true of unborn human life no less than it is of all other human life -- that even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory. Dr. Katie Snider Novitski is also a patient who has undergone IVF. She said the courts ruling validates her experiences as a mother who also lost embryos during treatment. She and her husband had four embryos, but only two resulted in live children. One of the embryos didnt survive genetic testing and the other did not implant after transfer. Novitski said she mourned them as children. They were the kids that were going to grow up and be a part of our family, Novitski said. I was going to get to teach them to walk, talk and get to love on them daily. I will never get to do that. At the same time, my loss is not something most if anyone understands. Novitski said she understands there are also political and medical ramifications to the supreme court decision. She said the recognition of embryos as children resonates with her personal experience. While real and something that causes a deep ache of loss, it is a silent loss to most of the world because It was just an embryo, she said. Acknowledgement of my embryos as my children is acknowledgement and justification for the emotions I have associated with our journey. The sister of a Black man killed by a white Montgomery police officer eight years ago said the plea deal that will free the former officer from prison is a miscarriage of justice. My brother loved this city. This city killed him, Kimberly Gunn, whose brother, Greg Gunn, was shot and killed by Officer Aaron Cody Smith on Feb. 25, 2016, told WSFA. Justice was not served, Kimberly Gunn said after the conclusion Wednesday of Smiths Rule 32 hearing challenging his manslaughter conviction. Efforts to reach Kimberly Gunn were unsuccessful. A Dale County jury in 2019 convicted Smith, 31, of manslaughter in the death of 59-year-old Gregory Gunn after an encounter in a Montgomery neighborhood on Feb. 25, 2016. A judge sentenced Smith to 14 years in prison. Smith is incarcerated at Limestone Correctional Facility. The Alabama Supreme Court in 2022 rejected Smiths appeal, and he filed a Rule 32 petition challenging his conviction. Earlier this month, The Alabama Attorney Generals Office took over the case from the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office with no explanation. Smiths Rule 32 petition was granted on Wednesday, and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced he had reached a plea agreement with Smith. Mr. Smith pleaded to manslaughter and will now be released from prison on time served, according to Marshalls press release. It was not immediately clear when Smith will be released. Montgomery County District Attorney Darryl Bailey said he was disappointed in the plea deal. I am happy that this convicted killer finally confessed to intentionally killing Greg Gunn. If he had done that in 2016 it would have saved a lot of time and money. I am very disappointed that he is being released early, which is a privilege not afforded to most convicted killers. Marshall said the case first came to his office on appeal in 2020. Despite my personal misgivings about the strength of the case against Mr. Smith, my office successfully defended the conviction in accordance with our statutory duty, he said. I then watched as the case went on to the Alabama Supreme Court and back again to the trial court late last year. Marshall said he believed Smith should get a new trial. But after eight years of watching this protracted litigation, I exerted my authority to bring this case to a close, he said. Mr. Smith has pleaded guilty to the offense for which he was convicted, in exchange for returning to his family. I believe that this is a fair and appropriate outcome. Marshall said he spent time last week with the Gunn family. I am acutely aware of the pain and suffering theyve experienced with the loss of their brother, the attorney general said. My heart goes out to them. I hope that they are able to find some closure and healing with this matter finally resolved. My heart also goes out to the Smith family, Marshall said. Mr. Smith chose an honorable career of protecting the public and his life was shattered in an instant a reality that all law enforcement officers today live in fear of. He has paid a high price. It is time for him to go home. According to the Court of Criminal Appeals account summarized in one of the Supreme Court justices written opinions, Gunn was on patrol in a high-crime neighborhood about 3 a.m. when he encountered Gunn, 58, who was walking. Smith stopped Gunn for a pat-down. Gunn initially complied but broke away and ran. Smith called for backup and tried unsuccessfully to stop Gunn with his Taser and his baton. Gunn ran onto the front porch of a home. When Smith pursued, Gunn charged at Smith with a painters pole. Smith shot and killed Gunn. An autopsy showed Gunn was shot at least seven times, including three in the chest. 1 killed, 8 injured in shooting near West Bank settlement Jerusalem, Feb 22 (UNI) A shooting near the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday, according to Israeli police and emergency services. Three gunmen arrived by car, opened fire at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, before two of them were shot by security forces at the scene, according to Israeli police. Another gunman fled the scene, but was shot later. English News Art contributes to rural development of village in China's Inner Mongolia Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 19 Fevrier 2024 In Xikou village, the artistic works bear the imprint of villagers' participation, and many of the villagers can explain the connotation behind the artworks to visitors. The village brings inspiration to art creation, and the vibrancy of art also permeates the lives of the villagers. By Wu Yue, People's Daily "Liang, where are you going, " asked a villager in Xikou village, Mingshuihe township, Arxan of Hinggan League, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. "I have a guest, so I'm showing him around the village," Liang Shusen answered. Today, Xikou village has become more and more enriched with cultural landscapes - a cultural square covered by artistic works, sculptures scattered among the woods on hills, and an art gallery turned from an old village office where photography exhibitions are often held. This artistic atmosphere has been created thanks to some teachers and students from the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU). An art fair was previously held in Xikou village. The chief curator of the event and dean of the AADTHU Ma Sai told People's Daily that as one of the organizers of the event, the academy has taken over 200 teachers and students in more than 10 batches to Xikou village for artistic exploration since September 2022. Last summer, Xikou village teamed up with several artists from art schools and design institutions to carry out art creations in the small mountain village. Through creative collaborations, the village has been infused with new artistic charm. "This work is called 'Fish Every Year' and we participated in its creation," said Dong Yali, head of a willow weaving workshop in Xikou village, referring to a group of "fish" weaved with curved willow branches. The work has the best wish of "may there be surpluses every year," because the Chinese word for fish is a homophone of the word for surplus. When the LED light strips on the creation are illuminated in the night, it looks as if the fish are swimming in the sky. Having been engaged in willow weaving for over 30 years, Dong had never imagined that one day she would collaborate with students and teachers from the AADTHU. "In the past, most of what we made were daily necessities and decorations. Now, willow branches have become art pieces. It's especially fulfilling to introduce them to tourists," she said. The main designer of "Fish Every Year" is Professor Lin Lecheng at the AADTHU. Engaged in fiber art research and design, Lin became interested in the willow branches when he first visited Xikou village. Therefore, his team then used local materials and collaborated with the villagers to create the artwork. The exhibition label on the side of "Fish Every Year" lists the names of the 12 villagers who participated in its creation. In Lin's view, art is vitalized when it comes to the countryside. The vast rural areas provide fertile ground for creativity and offer ample space for artistic works. Kong Fandi, who graduated from the AADTHU, was born in the 1990s and grew up in the city. Last year, he made several trips to Xikou village. He was inspired by the firewood sticks used by the villagers, so he started making art pieces with them. "Wood comes from the forest, and I want to 'move' them back to the forest," he said. Kong collected unused wood from the villagers and stacked it in a natural and artistic way with different colors. Together with nine villagers, he created an artwork called "Waves of Forests," which shines like a rainbow in the forest. The villagers participated in the creation by fixing the wood and painting. They also documented the process through short videos on social media. "Some villagers said they want to transform their homes into B&B hotels for tourists to enjoy the scenery. I think this is a manifestation of art empowering rural areas," Kong said. In Xikou village, the artistic works bear the imprint of villagers' participation, and many of the villagers can explain the connotation behind the artworks to visitors. The village brings inspiration to art creation, and the vibrancy of art also permeates the lives of the villagers. Villager Su Lihong has placed vibrant bouquets in front of her family restaurant, which makes the restaurant more lively. "These decorations were done by my family - after seeing other people's artworks, I also wanted to give it a try," Su said. "The village is becoming more beautiful, and more and more tourists are coming here. As a result, our restaurant's business has also improved," she added. Shang Yan, the owner of an inn in Xikou village, held a T-shirt designed by students and teachers from the AADTHU, hoping to have each creator sign their names on it. "The students staying at our inn have such amazing design works, and I would love to collect a few pieces. In the summer of 2023, we had more guests staying at our inn, and our income increased by 1/3 compared to the same period the previous year," said Shang. It is reported that Xikou village is a key village for rural tourism in China. During an art season in 2023, the village saw approximately 8,000 visits, with tourism revenue exceeding 2 million yuan ($281,611). The students from the AADTHU are also looking forward to returning to Xikou village. Undergraduate student Sun Qian and her classmates completed an artwork, making swallows out of colorful acrylic panels to express the fond memories and dreams of the wanderers for their hometown. This experience made her have deeper reflections on comprehensive rural revitalization. "I hope that with the development of rural areas, more young people will return like swallows." Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's cruise economy embraces rapid development China still considered favorable investment destination by foreign companies China will remain staunch force for peace, stability, progress of world Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Recent developments suggest Putin is gaining the upper hand, not just in the Middle East but also in Ukraine. At the Munich Security Conference (Feb. 16-18), there was a kind of deja vu of Munich 1938, the time when nascent Czechoslovakia was sacrificed to tame the Hitler threat. The Russians have taken Avdiyivka in a strategic win, and Alexei Navalny's death marked the solidification of Putin's domestic position. There was an eerie feel to the conference, a bit like the WEF meeting in Davos, Switzerland, earlier in January. Constant chat of 'will they, wont they' pass the Ukraine funding bill in the U.S. Congress dominated proceedings. There was the uninspiring coterie of Kamala Harris, Olaf Scholtz, and a tired Zelenskyy offering more talk but little resolution. Then there was the revelation that the Czech president had offered the Ukrainians 800,000 artillery shells if they could be paid for them, although Petr Pavel used the term 'aid'. Behind the scenes, however, it transpires that Ukraine is more focused on the cash from Congress, with Zelensky privately rubbishing the Czech shells since 500,000 of them are 155mm and 300,000 are old Soviet-style 122mm. Not good enough. Far more worrying is a broader criticism of the Ukrainian military leadership as amateurish, which sources are contrasting with the Russian appointment of General Andrei Mordvichev, the victor in Avdiyivka. Mordvichev, speaking in September, spoke of a long campaign: 'I think there's still plenty of time to spend. It is pointless to speak about a specific period. If we are talking about Eastern Europe, which we will have to, of course then it will be longer.' The Russians are employing the military tactic of 'defeat in detail,' using large forces on particular enemy positions. This is costly in men for the Russians, but these divide-and-conquer assaults have exposed the stretching of Ukraine's forces and a diminution in artillery power. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Putin's latest strategy is to build an Arab-Islamic front. This could prove existential for Israel. Putin's invitation to the Palestinian Authority leader Mohammed Shtayyeh and to Hamas signals a new confidence from the Kremlin, ostensibly from increasing wins on the Ukraine battlefield. Putin and his potential role as the 'honest broker' adds another aspect to the mounting pressure on Netanyahu. This would be in opposition, however, to British and French governments, who seek the disbandment of Hamas. This new Putin move may work because what the bombing of Gaza and the deaths of thousands of civilians has done is to drive moderate Palestinians into the arms of Hamas. Israel has undermined the Palestine Authority by allowing settlement encroachment into the West Bank. Netanyahu, whilst playing the tough-guy card, may well be digging his own grave. The two-state solution is gaining momentum in Europe. The wild card is Trump, who will, no doubt, scupper the idea if he gets into power. No surprise also that the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran was in Moscow on Thursday. The Grand Alliance, with the trinity of China, Russia, and Iran at the forefront, is gradually assembling a coterie of strategic influence. Consequently, through BRICs, alliances, and a type of Chinese Tianxia (all under heaven), the Russians are presenting a post-Westphalian playbook of dominion. The world is moving to 'grossraum' empires, and the U.S. dollar world is in structural retreat. This means huge difficulties for Israel and also the former East European states. Whether Putin conquers them by war, stealth, or economic means 'a la China' (soft loans, cultural economic expansion, the Silk Road) is by the by. In the West, there is no such confidence in their Alliance as economic woes and splits dominate funding to Ukraine and, to a lesser extent, Israel. Putin, with a Kalashnikov in one hand and a copy of Machiavelli's The Prince in the other, is seeking to present the world with a confident, alliance-building empire. Putin is observing the dissolution of the Western axis. In the U.S., the Friends Committee, a Quaker group, is calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. In the UK huge demonstrations signal a more pro-Palestinian line. The powerful Putin axis has many facets, and the role of Iran could prove pivotal. Iran can summon the Houthi ship breakers to heap pressure on Western economies. It is all part of what the Russians call 'Bipolarity 2.0'. The Rand Report of 2022 postulates that Russia sees the geopolitical dynamic as having two possible paths. One is the continuance of a unipolar world of liberal governance, globalisation based on a Western financial system, and U.S. dominance in foreign policy. The second alternative is Russia probing and attempting to dismantle this hegemony. This is due to their perceived inability to achieve economic goals and access to capital and technology. An axis consisting of China and Russia makes this much more likely. The Ukraine war is not about the Ukraine. It is this vying for position, this intrinsic planning (what the Russians call a 'VPO' analysis) that sees its strategy as a long game. Underlying all this is a military perspective that needs to match adversaries. The Russians forecast that, under existing trajectories of globalisation, by 2040, the U.S. will be 60% stronger in military capacity. Globalisation is a Janus-faced chalice for Russia; at once a source of oil revenue, yet potentially debilitating. Economic sanctions compound the problem, and restrict access to technologies and capital. For the Russians, war is a means to disrupt the flow of geopolitics. The second alternative sees a VPO of a reformed military balance in which China, by 2040, equals the U.S. in military capability, and the Russian deficit is reduced to 20%. This vision, called 'Bipolarity 2.0' now drives Russian and Chinese policy. It aims to create favourable blocs in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation). The debacle of Munich this week illustrates the complete absence of planning requirements within liberal democracy. This incoherence is driven by the limited terms of representative government executives and the poor caliber of elected bureaucrats. The Achilles heel of the West is its own paradigm of the short-termism of liberalism -- there is no 'telos' or guiding principles. Brian Patrick Bolger LSE, University of Liverpool. He has taught political philosophy and applied linguistics in Universities across Europe. His articles have appeared in leading publications and journals in the US, the UK, Italy, Canada and Germany etc . His new book- Nowhere Fast: Democracy and Identity in the Twenty First Century is now published by Ethics International Press. Image: Public Domain Although I was born into a typical Democrat New York City family, I registered as a Republican as soon as I was old enough to vote. Why? Just to be differentbut at heart, I was as enamored of John F. Kennedy as the nuns at my high school. My first vote was for Democrat Hubert Humphrey, and I worked for Robert F. Kennedys senatorial campaign. But I was never really a Republican at heart until Ronald Reagan ran for president in 1976. Before that epiphany, I was as clueless as the rest of America, and when a German coworker asked me the difference between the two major parties, I told her, the Democrats are for the poor and the Republicans are for the rich. Boy, was I wrong. Just a little research into the past, proves that the GOP is the party of civil rights and the Democrats, founders of the KKK, Jim Crow and segregation policies. Amazingly, this fact has been totally reversed, cleverly, since the 1960s. It would help if low-information voters do a little research into the origin of the Republican Party that managed to give us one of the best civil rights presidents, Abraham Lincoln. What many Millennial voters may not know is that the first Republicans were considered radicals of the time. They were abolitionists, an enemy of slavery. While in office, they attempted to enact legislation that would benefit former slaves. Unfortunately, their opponents were racist Democrats who then founded the Ku Klux Klan. After the Civil War and Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, freed Confederate slaves were supposed to receive 40 acres and a mule to start their new lives of freedom. After Lincolns assassination, his successor, Democrat Andrew Johnson, reversed that ruling. At that time, members of both parties were allowed to serve as president and vice president. Bad idea, for, as soon as Johnson and the Democrat-led Congress were in power, they did all they could to reverse the true civil rights agenda of the rebels in the GOP. Republicans passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875 which stated; That all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of public amusement; subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law, and applicable alike to citizens of every race and color, regardless of any previous condition of servitude. Sounds good, but by 1883 it was found unconstitutional by a liberal Supreme Court. Most civil rights legislation was unenforced when the Democrats took over the House. The Biden administration is doing the exact same thing now to Donald Trumps successful presidency. One of the most racist films ever made in Hollywood was screened and applauded at Woodrow Wilsons White House. D.W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation was an eye opener for me when I first watched it 20 years ago because I had never been aware of the origin of the Ku Klux Klan or how racist the Democrat party was and still is. It was Democrat Wilson who authorized segregation in the federal government under the guise that it would benefit Black workers. Today, Democrat politicians routinely toss out the race card against GOP rivals because so many voters are ignorant of that partys racist past. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 had more Republicans vote for it than the hypocritical Dems. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.) was a former member and organizer of the KKK and filibustered the passage of the Civil Rights Act, yet served in Congress for 51 years. If any voter is still undecided about the upcoming presidential election in November, I suggest they download the party platforms instead of concentrating on an individual candidate. The platform will reveal what the partys mandate is for all the candidates everywhere and in every office, including judgeships. Considering the terrible shape the country is in now under a Democrat administration, it is clear that much of the contributing factors to this are found in their platform. Do we really need more tolerance towards illegal immigrants and the LGTBQ+? Is diversity in every industry more important than competence and experience? Do we need more useless gun control legislation? Does reforming our criminal justice system mean releasing prisoners without bail? Does it mean defunding the police? Does the Federal Government really need to be in charge of kindergarten curricula so these tots can be groomed to the progressive agenda? I suggest you look closely at the last Democrat platform to judge whether its agenda holds any answer to solving the current poor economy and other of our countrys ills. Studying the GOP platforms since 1856 (which were mainly about civil rights) to 2020 (which was support for Trump and making America great again) we will recognize there is a marked difference between both parties agendas. Liberal policies have introduced sheer lunacy into our country and it is vital that we return to sanity confirming that there are only two genders; that our billion-year old planet is not threatened by humanity; that judges respect our constitution and a citizens rights, not their personal animosity towards a defendant and recognizing that our country has been invaded by individuals deserving deportation not thousand-dollar prepaid debit cards. Finally, we need to avoid despair and realize that so much madness can by eliminated by just electing the right leaders who love America. MAGA On her Substack, which she shares with Marc Thiessen, Danielle Pletka has posted a riveting interview with former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, who knew exactly what top Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was going through before his suspicious death a few days ago in an Arctic Gulag prison. It turns out the two knew each other, and understood each other as only people with such experience can, and they met many times and corresponded a lot. She begins with: There are people who believe that Putin timed the murder of Aleksei Navalny to happen during the Munich Security Conference, when global leaders were gathered around to talk about international security. Theyll see, one can imagine him thinking, whos the boss. Maybe. But in another way, it seems clear that Navalny has gone from being a man to being a symbol, a movement something greater. And while Putin can arrest those who leave flowers, hide his body, fiddle the news, he cant beat this ephemeral thing Navalnys spirit of freedom. Putin will, sooner or late, lose. In considering whom to talk to about Navalny, Marc and I couldnt think of a better person than Natan Sharansky. As a Soviet refusenik, he was a hero to both of us, and to the world. He had been in the Soviet gulag, and lived to tell. In 1978, Sharansky was convicted of treason and spying on behalf of the United States, and was sentenced to thirteen years imprisonment in a Siberian forced labor camp. After his liberation, he moved to Israel, and was elected to the Knesset. In June 2009, he was elected and sworn in as Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, a post he still holds. Incredibly, when confined to solitary, Navalny was allowed to bring a copy of Sharanskys memoir, Fear No Evil, with him. Thus began a short correspondence which Natan tells us about in the podcast. Sharansky speaks of the fierce determination it takes to be a Russian or Soviet dissident, and how one's own safety isn't the important thing anymore, only that freedom will come. He explains how Putin can kill a person and often does, bujt that burning desire for freedom amounts to a place that Putin can't reach. Here is one excerpt: You knew Alexei Navalny before his death. Talk a little about your letters with him? NS: First I have to correct you. It was wrong to say death. It was murder. Murder of Navalny by President Putin. Look, of course I followed Navalny's career and his spectacular, I would say, unmasking of KGB's attempt to poison him with a lot of excitement and even admiration, even envy because he really succeeded to stage such a great theater. But the stage of this theater was all the world, and the prize would be his life. But it was really very exciting to see a person with such courage and model of clarity and such great leadership. Then he went to prison, and he went to Moscow. I received some very strange, bewildering, I would say, question of some British journalist. She said, "Explain to me, he doesn't understand what we all understand? He doesn't understand that he will be arrested at the airport?" I really became irritated and said that, "I think you don't understand what he's doing. That if his struggle was for his own survival, he would never start doing the things that he's doing. His struggle is for the future of his people, and he will not only show the nature of this regime to his people, he also says to his people, 'You should not be afraid, scared. I'm not scared. I'm not afraid to deal with this," and so we also should not be afraid." That's why he felt that his place is there. That's like natural continuation of his struggle. Of course he was arrested, and then I really was excited to receive a letter from him through his lawyer. His lawyer found some rabbi in Israel that knew me, and I was really surprised by the power of the internet that in one day, the day that he gave it to his lawyer in prison, it already reached me in Jerusalem. Then I answered, and then he wrote another letter which he was writing at the very last moment before he went again to punishment cell. I of course immediately answered, and that's it. After this, communication became more difficult. His lawyer found himself in prison, and that was it. But the main thing is that I immediately felt like this kindred feeling or the free person who enjoys being free the most hard conditions. He wrote being very intrigued or in spite, I would say, by the fact that he's reading my book in prison to find that the reality is absolutely the same. He says like, "what was that is and how we'll make sure that it'll not be." He already is at that moment, like 127 days the punishment cell. It was his first year, and I felt myself as the one who owns the world record. ...and another: Navalny is gone. Is his message, also? NS: Well, look, very important in this struggle and that what happened with Navalny, with Kara-Murza, with me. Very important to understand at a very early stage that the aim of your life, of your struggle, cannot be survival. When I am arrested, KGB threatening me with capital punishment. At the same time, explains all the time that your life is in your hands and so on. If you will really feel that your aim is your survival, then you'll be broken by KGB because it doesn't depend on you. Or in the case of Kara-Murza and Navalny, they shouldn't even start the struggle if their aim is physical survival. But let's say very early in my being in prison, I understood that I really have to replace the aim, how to survive. Because it doesn't really depend on me, it depends on KGB. Had to replace it with the aim how to remain a free person in prison. That depends all on you that to the last of your day to be a free person. Navalny and Kara-Murza, everybody in their way had to decide, had to feel that this struggle against the regime for freedom, that is what's really important, and that that what makes them participate in the struggle, make them feel free people and they're enjoying this being free. And the victory is not [to] deprive your opponent of the opportunity to kill you physically. The victory is that there is territory of freedom which they cannot conquer. That you are keeping this territory, and that's what you are saving for the continuation of the struggle. And I think that in terms of physical survival, Navalny failed, but it wasn't his aim, or Putin won. But I think even for Putin it was the aim, as I was told many times about KGB, we are not bloodthirsty, we don't want your life, we want you to cooperate. For Putin it could be thousand times more important if Navalny would accept and say that he's really sorry, but that even if we don't agree everything, but Putin has his case, and it is important for Russia to listen to what Putin... Something like this. If he would say it, that could be a huge victory for Putin. And he killed him because of he is revengeful person, but also because he lost hope to reconquer the territory of freedom which Navalny was keeping and continues to keep. So, I think in terms of historical struggle, Navalny is the winner. It explains a lot about why these dissidents do what they do and why they should not be dismissed. There were sad stories about the 'death of dissent' and the death of freedom throughout the press, but Sharansky, who knows this drill, knows better. Putin is a goner, same as the Soviet Union that came crashing down, he explains. Putin doesn't know this but Sharansky knows this because he has lived this and understands every inch of the repressive regime that is little different from the Soviet one. It may be night now, but Navalny went to a place Putin can't go to, and he had a kindred soul in Israel who understood exacgtly what was going on and stood by him and gave him hope. Read the whole thing here. Image: American Jewish Historical Society, via Picryl // public domain If you have questions about the amount of money being given to Ukraine, and want accountability, youre said to be pro-Putin. That is garbage. We should always question how taxpayer money is spent, and for what purpose. War can be necessary, and war is expensive, but it should never be an economic policy! On Sunday, The Wall Street Journal published this article: How War in Europe Boosts the U.S. Economy Proponents of support for Ukraine usually invoke U.S. strategic interests or moral obligations. Lately, they are making a more calculating case: It is good for the economy. Industrial production in the U.S. defense and space sector has increased 17.5% since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, according to Federal Reserve data. Biden administration officials say that of the $60.7 billion earmarked for Ukraine in a $95 billion supplemental defense bill, 64% will actually flow back to the U.S. defense industrial base. Thats one of the things that is misunderstoodhow important that funding is for employment and production around the country, Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, said in an interview Wednesday. Well, then why dont we just run up debt to fund all the wars in the world since it is so great for the economy? After all, it provides jobs and gives a boost to our economy. Is the spending on the war hiding weakness in the rest of the economy? It appears so. Could the Ukraine war be the reason that the U.S. skirted a predicted recession? Does Joe Biden want to keep his job numbers up for the election? Are his policies so bad that hes relying on government spending to keep the GDP numbers up? The federal deficit for FY 2023 was around $2 trillion in an economy that Biden and the media claim is doing great. The government is essentially borrowing one-third of its $6 trillion spending budget; this is clearly unsustainable and very destructive in the long run, but it sure can mask weakness in the overall economy. I dont know how others think, but it makes me question the money more when they cite how the money helps our defense sectorsince when have Democrats cared all that much about our defense industries? Strangely though, although Bidens people continue to block cease-fire agreements, theyre not exactly supportive of Israels campaign against Hamas. We see lots of Democrats protesting against Israel, and many demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, but they change their tune when it comes to Ukraine. Why? Is that because Bibi wont launder the cash back to the Democrats? Is the reason that Biden remains focused on destroying our oil industry is because it keeps oil prices high and enriches Russia, and therefore the war will continue as long as Putin has the money to fund it? Keeping oil prices high harms the poor and middle classes, but it sure helps the foreign sellers of oil, like Russia and Iran. Biden also harms NATO allies and helps Russia when he bans LNG exports. Why would an American president do that if he really wanted to hurt Putin? Why dont the media, other Democrats, and establishment Republicans like Nikki Haley trash Biden? After all, hes the one who has policies that help Russia and Iran fund wars and terrorism. Instead, they seek to destroy Trump, because they didnt think his words were tough enough? The truth doesnt matter to them, only power. Biden is so incompetent and dangerous, he repeatedly claims that Trump and his supporters are an existential threat, instead of calling out Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Haley, Pelosi, Hillary, and others are ripping Trump for not condemning Putin but he did. He said that Russia has rigged elections and has an unfair judicial system, which is why Navalny was imprisoned. They also castigate Trump for saying that NATO members should pay their obligations, which is a tough-on-Putin policy; it helps Putin when people who attack Trump over anything and everything act as though NATO members have no responsibility to prepare themselves for potential conflict with Russia or other adversaries. Putin loves it when NATO countries dont build up their own defenses and rely on Russia for their energy needs. Trump was always tougher on Putin than Obama and Biden ever were; they continously appeased him, which is exactly why he attacked Ukraine during the Obama and Biden years and not during Trumps presidency. Image: Pixabay. If you paid any attention to what came from COP28, held in Dubai, you have to conclude that world leaders and intellectuals believe we are facing a major crisis, and the world is doomed unless we spend billions, even trillions on climate preventive measures. Fortunately, most of the common people believe that climate is just long-term weather, which may cause it to be hot one day and cold the next. Those who have actually studied history know that the world has always warmed and cooled and that there is no cause for alarm. Carbon Dioxide Is the Gas of Life Few of those who are sounding the alarm have any understanding of the science of climate. Al Gore noted that as temperature rose so did the carbon dioxide, but he forgot to find out if the rising of both might have been caused by something else. Few political leaders even discuss the importance of carbon dioxide in our world. It is more probable that changes in our sun are causing rising temperatures and rising levels of carbon dioxide. Most every grammar school child knows that plants absorb carbon dioxide (which they used to grow) and give off oxygen, which all animals need to survive. The one process complements the other. Carbon dioxide is very important, as it is the gas of life. At the present time, there is about 420 parts per million (0.042%) of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. From that tiny percentage is grown every plant that exists on the Earth bushes and trees and even our vegetables. Some nurseries even burn gas in their greenhouses to increase carbon dioxide and make plants grow better. Some world leaders consider carbon dioxide a poisonous gas, yet carbon dioxide levels are much higher on submarines and in spacecraft. Fossil Fuels Delivered the World from Poverty After oil was discovered, one of the first things produced was kerosene. Without a doubt, this saved the whales, as whale oil had been used in lamps up to that time. Even before the discovery of oil, kerosene was made from coal and was called coal oil. World government leaders and the present administration are determined to eliminate the use of all fossil fuels, because the burning of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. But it is the use of fossil fuels that has created modern civilization. Elimination of fossil fuels would take us back to the Stone Age. Plus it is not just diesel and gasoline there are over 6,000 things made from fossil fuels. I have documented 1,700 items; you can get the idea. Without fossil fuels, we would have no pavement; no rubber tires; and most important of all, no plastic. Thus, no vinyl fences or siding, no plastic plumbing, and no packaging of grocery store items. (Go to the grocery store and look down the aisle. Then try to imagine all these things without the plastic packaging.) Wind and Solar Are No Solution Our electricity is mainly produced using fossil fuels, with some hydroelectric (dams) and some nuclear. Wind and solar are supposed to take the place of fossil fuels. Right now, when the wind does not blow nor the sun shine, the slack is taken up using coal and natural gas. To be available when needed, these sources of electricity are kept idling. But under such conditions, they use almost as much fuel and produce almost as much carbon dioxide, so you have gained little. When these resources are eliminated, we will have to depend on huge batteries. In some places, during the winter, there may be week after week with cloudy weather, with rain and snow. (Where we live in North Idaho, we have had only one week of clear weather in three months.) It would be impossible to build a battery large enough to power a city for a day, let alone for a week, or a month. Wind machines last only a few years. Some burn up or break apart. And the sound of the turbine has been a health problem for some people and for whales. Bats and many birds are killed by wind machines. (Many of these birds are considered threatened, so this is a threat to their survival.) Plus, there is the fact that when it is really cold, the wind sometimes does not blow. Solar is not a lot better. Solar panels last a few years. They produce no electricity at night and little in the early morning or late afternoon. They produce no electricity when covered with snow, and they make little sense in the northern states or in Canada. (In fact, I wonder if they make any sense north of the 45th parallel.) Further, some solar installations failed (more) after a few years, or did not produce as planned. Here is another problem. Electric Vehicles Are a Rich Mans Dream Since carbon dioxide is a benefit to the planet, none of these programs makes any sense. Electric vehicles are supposed to save the planet, but this is very unrealistic. These vehicles are very expensive, must stop every couple of hours and be recharged, and have many technical problems. These vehicles with batteries are much heavier than a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and are thus unsafe on the highway. Some cars parked on the coast and covered with sea water have caught fire. Polar Bears Are Not Threatened On May 15, 2008, the United States listed the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The government believed they would likely become endangered in the future. They believed that the numbers of bears would decline greatly by 2050. However, there were about 5,000 bears in 1970. Today, there are more than 30,000, so it appears that the bears are not in any real danger. This determination was based on computer models and not on the history of the bears. They believed that the bears had to hunt seals from ice, and they believed that the ice would continue to decline in the Arctic, so they assumed that the bears numbers would decline as they starved. But polar bears are great swimmers and can hunt seals in open water, so the danger is a myth. Not only that, but sea ice in the Arctic has not declined as projected. Polar bears are the largest carnivores in the world. They are very dangerous. A grown polar bear can be larger than a grizzly. They can be deadly if humans range too close. Polar bears have been here for thousands of years and will no doubt be here a lot longer. Not the Climate, but Control If there is no climate change crisis, then what is the point? The point is to get you to fear, so that you will spend lots of money on projects that benefit no one. Rather than spending money on those with real needs, we are asked to spend money on pointless projects that do not improve the lives of anyone. Want to know more? You can read my short little book: Climate Change: A Convenient Truth. Jim Hollingsworth is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College with a masters degree in biblical studies. He has written several books: Climate Change: A Convenient Truth: Second Edition, Improved and Updated Cortez: A Biography The Ancient Culture of the Aztec Empire Abortion Compassion: a Prolife Book on unborn life Romans: A Commentary Galatians: A Commentary All available where books are sold. Jim Hollingsworth receives mail at jimhollingsworth@frontier.com. Image: 358611 via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Last year, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sued Hyundai and Kia based on the absurd allegation that the vehicles they make are too easy to steal. Now, Johnson has set his sights on Big Oil, claiming that British Petroleum, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute deceived Chicago consumers about the climate dangers associated with their products. There is no justice without accountability, said Johnson. From the unprecedented poor air quality that we experienced last summer to the basement floodings that our residents on the West Side experienced, the consequences of this crisis are severe, as are the costs of surviving them. That is why we are seeking to hold these Defendants accountable. According to the complaint, the six companies engaged in deception around their products role in causing climate change and face charges of Failure to Warn, Negligence, Public Nuisance, Civil Conspiracy, Unjust Enrichment, and violations of Chicagos municipal codes concerning Consumer Fraud and Misrepresentations in Connection with Sale or Advertisement of Merchandise. The lawsuit seeks relief in the form of compensatory and loss-of-use damages, penalties and fines for statutory violations as well as associated fees, interest, and other relief as deemed appropriate by the jury at trial. In other words, the Windy City is seeking billions of dollars from fossil-fuel companies based on the ridiculous assertion that they peddled products for decades that are now causing basements to flood on the West Side of the city. I cant help but wonder if this is a desperate money grab seeing as how Chicago is facing a $540 million budget shortfall in 2024. I also wonder if the recent influx of migrants to Chicago, which is costing the city millions of dollars per week, played a role in the lawsuit. After all, Mayor Johnson has been out and about hat in hand begging for funds from Cook County, the state of Illinois, and even the federal government to cover the cost of the migrant situation. Of course, Johnson and his administration are also playing the race card on this issue. Angela Tavor, chief sustainability officer and commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment, argues that the lived experience of our residents tell us that [the] climate crisis disproportionately impacts under-resourced communities and exacerbates racial inequities. Tavor provides zero evidence or data to support her assertion. However, the message is clear: If you oppose this frivolous lawsuit, you dont care about racial inequities. On the contrary, this lawsuit by itself will intensify racial inequalities and will further deplete the citys underserved communities. How so? Well, for starters, do you think fossil-fuel companies will want to do business in a city where they are viewed as criminals? Do you think fossil-fuel companies will want to invest in a city where they have been tarred and feathered and accused of causing the end of the world? If the six companies in the lawsuit decide to close shop in the Windy City, how would that impact the millions of Chicagoans who rely on the oil and natural gas delivered by those very companies on a daily basis? Would it improve their living conditions? Would it lift them from poverty? Would it even make any difference in the worldwide weather patterns that inevitably affect Chicago? In a word, no. Ironically, this idiotic and baseless lawsuit will most likely result in Johnsons constituents having less access to the affordable, abundant, and reliable energy that they crave. Even worse, if the fossil-fuel industry were to declare Chicago a no-go zone in the future due to their concerns of potential litigation, the city would cease to function. Life in Chicago as we know it would grind to a halt. There is simply not enough green energy to power a metropolis the size of Chicago. Moreover, the cost of living in the city would shoot to the moon if solar and wind were the principal sources of energy for a city with approximately three million residents. Heres an idea for Mayor Johnson and those at City Hall: Rather than trying to squeeze the companies that your city literally relies on to function, perhaps you should go after the street criminals who are actually making Chicago unsafe, unlivable, and uninviting. Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute. Image: Wikipedia Is the FBI now hiring the scum of the Earth? Well, you can decide, based on the kind of lowlife charges filed against one of their finest. According to KTRK in Houston: HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A former FBI special agent for the Houston Field Office has been indicted on theft charges after being accused of stealing government and personal property from homes during FBI raids, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Authorities have arrested 36-year-old Nicholas Anthony Williams. According to the indictment, from March 2022 to July 2023, Williams allegedly took money or items from multiple homes while executing search warrants as an FBI special agent. And who did he take money from? But of course: A Houston college student prosecuted for his participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection was one of people robbed by a Houston-based FBI agent, according to newly released court records. Alexander Fan's complaint about missing cash and silver helped lead to the January indictment of FBI agent Nicholas Anthony Williams, according to court records. Fan, 27, was sentenced to 12 months probation in connection to the riot. Fan was found guilty of entering and remaining a room in the Capitol building. He was accused of climbing into an office through a broken window after his entry was blocked by a closed door. That's from the Houston Chronicle, which reported that it went down like this: Fan's home was searched on the day he was arrested and the next day he reported to the FBI that items, including $2,500 and silvers bars, were missing from his bedroom. The items were not seized as part of the warrant served on his home, according to court records. Months later, the FBI announced that one of its own agents, Nicholas Anthony Williams, had been indicted on theft charges, over accusations he stole money and property while executing search warrants between March 2022 and July 2023. One of the three charges related to thefts is over the missing items at Fan's home. Williams is also accused of stealing money during searches at homes in March 2022 and January 2023, as well as misusing a government-issued credit card and stealing agency cellphones, according to court records. The other theft victims weren't named in the indictment. An @FBI agent was indicted for stealing from a college kid. This is the trash the bureau supplies guns and releases on on the public. Defund the FBI. https://t.co/kmSX2TE0d5 Steve Friend (@RealStevefriend) February 18, 2024 So much for America's premiere law enforcement agency. Apparently allowing one of those guys into your home is the same as leaving your front door unlocked for burglars. This is astonishing to hear of, actually. When was the last time you heard of this kind of untrustworthy lowlife character at the FBI? A petty thief who steals like burglars do. He'd be an anomaly if he were merely on the cops. This guy is more like the Mexican cops who steal ransoms paid from kidnappers and then see the victims murdered, which has happened. He's a walking violation of trust. This guy has reportedly been on the force since around 2019. Did anyone at the Bureau do background checks on him before handing him a badge and a gun? Did he take a polygraph to pass muster? How'd he get into this elite agency? Was there so much hiring going on as the agency expanded and money rolled in that they just let anyone into the agency, criminal behavior or not? That's a common experience in law enforcement agencies that expand too fast. It seems doubtful he just started stealing once he got into the FBI. For a rookie to have so boldly taken so much from homes being searched so soon seems unusual. Corruption is usually a long slide downward, but his was fast. How'd he take the silver bars reportedly stolen and did he stuff them into his pockets? Did his partner notice and say nothing? Was stealing an instant response because he'd done it so often?. Was there a culture of thefts on this squad, which was continuously overlooked until the public complaints started to get into the press? Was he a DEI hire whose color was more important than his character? There are a lot of unanswered questions here. Perhaps the most important question is why the bureau was searching this kid's family home at all on a mere charge of trespassing, and with a friendly, cooperative, give-no-trouble, contrite suspect? He was obviously trusting of them, based on the Chronicle report, and they violated that trust, stealing thousands in his family's property earned in a hardscrabble immigrant way by working long hours at dreary, thankless, restaurant jobs, saving every penny. What kind of a sleazy lowlife could steal from such honorable, hard-working people? Would Fan's complaint have been dismissed had he been the only one making the complaint? I don't know, but I sure as heck haven't heard reports about this kind of law enforcement behavior outside Mexico or Venezuela. Maybe if the FBI would vet their agents for basic honesty, (I am sure this kid's family could give the lessons), it wouldn't be a problem at all. I did read a study not too long ago, don't recall where, about how the Bureau actually likes having agents with discipline problems that normally merit firing on the force, because it leaves them more malleable for certain kinds of work that ethical agents would balk at doing. If so, this guy would be the poster boy for such a setup, the guy who persecutes political opponents on behalf of the Democrats, much like the dirty cops of the KGB, because he knows he could be fired at any minute for other transgressions. Guys like that keep up with their dirty, dishonest behavior, and their political masters protect them. Is that the picture that's starting to emerge here? What was this guy's discipline record before he apparently got canned and charged? And how many more are like this with this set of ethics in this agency, spying on Americans and persecuting political opponents? Maybe Director Christopher Wray should be called back to answer a few questions from Congress. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License See also The black, female, big-spending Illinois mayor claiming racism and misogyny has a point by Andrea Widburg, here. By now, youve probably heard of Tiffany Henyard, the embattled Biden-loving Democrat mayor of Dolton, Illinois, who recently came under fire for raking in a combined salary of nearly $300k to fund her glamorous first-class lifestyle and high-maintenance beauty routinefor context, the towns residents have a median income of around $24,000. But Henyard refused to concede that perhaps isnt the best example of a civil servant and lambasted her dissenters, telling them they should be ashamed of themselves for daring to petition for accountability and financial transparency. (Note: all Henyards critics were also black.) Well theres been a development, and the allegations are simply scandalous. Heres the story, from Cristina Laila at The Gateway Pundit: Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard is now under FBI investigation for abusing her power after she shut down businesses that didnt donate to her campaign. One business owner told The New York Post that he made one contribution to Henyard and her minions kept coming after him demanding more money. Whe he didnt comply, Henyard shut down his trucking business. Tiffany Henyard reportedly used the police as her personal Gestapo to shut down more than a dozen businesses after they refused to give her money. Here are additional details from a local Fox News outlet: Lawrence Gardner owns a U-Haul rental and trucking business in south suburban Dolton and says he went to the FBI several months ago, frustrated that the Village of Dolton would not renew his business license. Gardner said he's been harassed and his business raided and shut down by Dolton Police. Gardner believes its retaliation after he refused to make a donation to a civic event sponsored by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Dewayne Wood has been trying to renew the business license for his restaurant for nearly a year. Wood has not talked to the FBI, but he believes he cant get Woods Kitchen approved because he has provided catering to several Dolton trustees who are engaged in a political fight with Henyard. I think I've been targeted because of my association, affiliation with a certain group of people, Wood said. The trustees. Ive cooked for the trustees. Below is a must-watch clip if you want to get up to speed on what this gal is really like: JUST IN: FBI is reportedly investigating "super mayor" Tiffany Henyard for abusing her position of power. About time. Henyard has gone viral for comparing herself to Jesus, shutting down businesses who don't donate to her, using money for music videos, hiring a child r*pist as pic.twitter.com/PjQtK411LM Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 21, 2024 Summed up, this is what happens when you dont pay the pizzo; its like Henyard is the godfather, and the police her Cosa Nostra henchmen. Without government, gangs of marauders would prowl the streets! Oh wait. As Murray Rothbard is quoted as saying: The State is a gang of thieves writ large. However, while some of these thieves are masters at their trade, some are the low-rent kind plastering their faces on Valentines Day-themed billboards across town showing up to town meetings to conduct official business dressed like knockoff Al Capone taking first-class trips to Sin City on the city credit card... buying gold microphones for civic meetings... turning local cops into backup dancers for music videos. Image from X. New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Indian National Congress on Thursday accused the BJP government of "stealing its money from the banks" and imposing "financial terrorism" against the grand old party. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, party General Secretary K C Venugopal, along with General Secretary Communication Jairam Ramesh and Treasurer Ajay Maken, said, "The BJP government has unleashed financial terrorism against all the opposition parties, especially the Congress. The BJP is trying to handicap the principle opposition party by stealing its money from the banks, and it is not an attack on the Congress but on democracy." He said, "According to the latest information from banks, the BJP has forced the banks to transfer the party's deposit of Rs 65.88 crore to the government accounts." "We got the money through crowd funding, unlike the BJP. The money is from the ordinary party workers, IYC and NSUI. What is the BJP doing? It is stealing our money," Venugopal said. Calling it a ploy by the BJP government to stop the Congress, which has been getting stronger due to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said, "Just before the Parliament elections, the accounts of the principle opposition party, which is a law-abiding party, are being hijacked by the BJP." Venugopal said that in the history of India, where the Congress too has ruled for many years, such incidents have not happened. Adding to that, this was an attempt to shut the voice of the opposition. He also asked the BJP whether, the party had paid Income Tax? And if not, then why is tax being collected from Congress? "We have gone to the tribunal. We are taking legal action, and we will also go to the people and expose the dictatorship attitude of the BJP," the party general secretary said. Meanwhile, Ajay Maken, while accusing the BJP government and Income Tax officials of stealing Rs 65.8 crore from Congress' accounts, said that the party has filed an application in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. But a day before the hearing, Income Tax officials went to the bank branches and collected Rs 65,8 crore through demand draft by threatening. He said political parties are exempt from Income tax as the money that comes to the party is to keep democracy alive in the country and is not any kind of income. He said the penalty imposed by the Income Tax Department was an attempt to break the Congress party financially so that "we are not able to contest elections". Jairam Ramesh said that the objective of the Modi government was to weaken the Congress party financially so that they would not be able to contest the election. UNI RBE ARN Alphabet (Google) recently released Gemini, their largest and most capable AI model. Unfortunately, it is capable of racism against whites. According to the Daily Mail: It's one of the most popular AI chatbots around the world. But Google's Gemini has been accused of being racist towards white people. The tool uses artificial intelligence to create images from prompts within seconds. But users claim the AI bot refuses to create images of Caucasian people, after testing it with requests for Popes, Vikings, and country music fans. 'New game: Try to get Google Gemini to make an image of a Caucasian male. I have not been successful so far,' one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). This DEI travesty indicates that Fiona Cicconi, the Chief People Officer at Google, is sleeping on the job. Perhaps she is not effectively engaged in cross-functional teams to ensure that the Gemini AI image generator is inclusive of white people. She needs to wake up and impose some remedial DEI training upon the team of engineers who develop the Gemini artificial intelligence image generation tools. For, in Gemini (which is an update to Bard), theyve managed to concoct an AI model with a very colorful disposition, shall we say. CEO Sunar Pichai says Gemini will make AI helpful for everyone, everywhere in the world. Well, maybe not white people in America who reject the mindless momentum behind revisionist history, including the error-filled 1619 Project. Indeed, Gemini is so colorful that it decided to portray our Founding Fathers as people of color. As we know, the term racism is nonchalantly bandied about, often becoming the first refuge of leftist scoundrels. But Gemini may have earned the racial characterization since it simply refuses to render white people at all. I suppose thats typical for DEI - include everyone except white people. After all, Fionas direct reports are women of color. Indeed, the executive team is abundantly represented with people of color. Theres Ben Gomes, Prabhakar Raghavan, Sundar Pichai (CEO), Thomas Kurian, Hiroshi Lockheimer, and a sprinkling of others whose names betray a colorful disposition. Google has been playing catch-up, especially to Microsoft, in AI development. Pausing its Gemini AI image generator due to prejudice against our white Founding Fathers -- and white people in general -- represents a serious setback. Its awful publicity while competitor Microsofts AI renditions, including Copilot, flies amongst the computing Clouds (data centers). Now they are playing catch-up again, apologizing for "missing the mark" and saying they will fix their program's racist disposition. According to The Verge, a leftist publication: Google has apologized for what it describes as inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions with its Gemini AI tool, saying its attempts at creating a wide range of results missed the mark. The statement follows criticism that it depicted specific white figures (like the US Founding Fathers) or groups like Nazi-era German soldiers as people of color ... We shall see. Google was quick to lower the boom on engineer James Damore when he wrote a scathing memo criticizing the companys diversity imperatives. Gemini has been temporarily banned, but I wont hold my breath to see if Fiona, and her colorful team, discipline the algorithms racist creators. The deleterious reputational and financial impact of Geminis racism are far greater than Damores ramblings. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Yesterday, Philip Wegmmann of Real Clear Politics reported on the launch of a brand new political initiative called the American Solutions Project which has a stated goal of restoring the conservative principles of our founding, which sounds all fine and dandy, but then get thisaccording to Brett Samuels at The Hill, the project is also an effort to directly counter the swelling tide of populism. Ahhh, and there it is. And, who else would be leading this (establishment) charge but Mike Pence. The project is a brainchild of Pences PAC Advancing American Freedom, and in a statement released on the groups website yesterday, Pence argued that because many in the conservative movement have abandoned the principles of Americas foundation to chase the siren song of populism unmoored to said principles, a new strategy is necessaryso along with the need to combat the progressive left the group will also focus on undermining the populist right which apparently poses just as much a threat. Elsewhere in the Ameriverse, Paul Ryan rears his big ugly punch-me-face head, and declares populism an establishment movement, saying this in an interview yesterday with Paul Kane of The Washington Post: And look, Im in the minority in my party right now. Im not in the establishment. I'm frankly an anti-establishment Republican, and I think you can safely argue--I dont enjoy acknowledging this--that Trump is the establishment, and Trump populism is the establishment. And that Trump populism is this more isolationist strain that I think is wrong and dangerous, and I don't support, but that does represent a large swath of Republican voters. And so you will see opinions representing that majority, that establishment, that current, present-day establishment. Okay, lets just get this straight: If Ryans anti-populist philosophy makes him a minority in the (Republican) party, and he also states that the prevailing Republican positions are representing that [populist] majority, well then naturally, the majority of the people are populist. Therefore, cant Ryan and Pence infer that if their agenda is the opposite of what a majority of the conservative voters want, then people just dont like what theyre selling? Furthermore, Pence announced that his PAC would be investing $20 million in seed money to the new projectbut from whom did that money come? Did the PAC raise that money off the people? Or did it come from corporations, grants, and the uber wealthy? I mean, who would hand over their hard-earned money to an organization affiliated with Pence except Christian boomers who have zero awareness of whats going on and are just trusting his good Christian man schtick and RINOs? Who else still thinks Paul Ryan is a good guy except these types of people? Conservatives on the Trump train arent on it because hes an idol or some Christ-like figurewere well aware of his flaws and shortcomingsbut because his policies are the closest to what we want. And, the non-conservative voters now on the Trump train arent there because theyre reformed ideologues; rather its a referendum on the far-left shift of the Democrat party, and the vicious and criminal lawfare campaign the powers that be have waged against the former president. Im sorry Mr. Pence, did you suffer through two impeachment trials? Are you facing dozens of felonies for the crime of demanding transparency in the vote count? Has your wealth and financial security been threatened by a nefarious network of corrupt prosecutors and judges? Is your property under threat of seizure? Did the FBI raid your home and rifle through your wifes closet? No, to all of the above. Pence and Ryan are aristocrats in the worst way, and they are one and the samethe only difference is that while Ryan happened to run with one of the absolute worst Republican presidential candidates weve had in a long time (Mitt Romney), Pence had the good fortune of running alongside the most popular political candidate in decades. Pence says he wants to get the conservative movement and the country back on track just like Romney and Ryan said in 2012 when running against Obamabut what would that have looked like? If it were up to Pence and Ryan, more establishment. The hardworking citizenry would be exploitedremember, the American people arent Pences concern when the Ukrainian laundromat is open for businessthese schmucks would get their way, and as they welcomed back the swampy dynamic of the Bush years, theyd have the audacity to claim were back on track. Again, Aristocrats in the worst way. Image: YouTube video screengrab. For a mayor who claims that the migrant influx is going bankrupt his city, he sure has a funny way of responding to it. According to Nicole Gelinas at the New York Post: Earlier this month, The Post broke the story that Mayor Eric Adams is giving out pre-paid cash cards to migrants. Unusually for the mayor, Adams didnt publicize this story himself, and his administration for nearly a month has failed to correct several public misperceptions about it. One misperception is that the program allows the city to give out just $50 million to migrants. No wonder the mayor has been reticent. This debit card program if you read the actual contract has the potential to become an open-ended, multibillion-dollar Bermuda Triangle of disappearing, untraceable cash, used for any purpose. It will give migrants up to $10,000 each in taxpayer money with no ID check, no restrictions and no fraud control. What could go wrong? Just on the surface, the plan stinks, as the $53 million to be spent was doled out by a no-bid contract. It gets worse when one learns from the Gelinas report that the $53 million is just the set-up fee. The money to be doled out to the migrants is extra. Worse still, the migrants will be entitled to as much as $10,000 a month at city expense, the pre-loaded debit cards to be doled out on the honor system that migrants will spend that free cash only for food and baby supplies. The idea of handing out cash was based on news that migrants were throwing out their food and the food handed out on a no-bid contract was spoiled and rotten. Instead of assuring that its existing no-bid emergency contractor fulfills its duty to provide edible food, however, the Adams administration has solved its problem by retaining a new no-bid emergency contractor to provide a service with far more scope for waste, fraud and abuse than stale sandwiches: giving out potentially billions of dollars of hard cash, few questions asked. It's a grotesque sump of potential corruption, and one can almost just hear the Venezuelan gangs getting up on the details of these cards to find some way to steal a lot of them, either through helpless Venezuelan migrants, or through their own gang activity. The company has no experience in this kind of distribution, Adams apparently met the guy who runs the company at a party, and fraud is all but certain under this plan. With nobody checking for fraud, it's a golden opportunity to draw a massive amount of money with which to extend their crime and thuggery through every aspect of the city. We all know that much of the COVID funding went to fraud because government is not good at distributing large amounts of money quickly. The fraud in this one wll be through the roof. Which tells us a lot about where this migrant crisis is going -- like with wars, to consultants and NGOs to service the migrants, entrenching themselves as special interests -- and the costs are going to get big. With no end in sight to the migrant invasion, it is starting to outline itself like warfare such as it's practiced in the U.S. We don't need this crisis any more than we need more wars. But by the strangest of coincidences, big funding packages are being debated in Congress on the border and on wars, and they are attached to each other. They are pretty much the same thing. The NGOs gain and the swamp grows. The only losers are the taxpayers. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Judge Engoron (and I always want to call him Erdogan, which Im sure is Freudian) may have dealt an economic death blow to New York when he ruled against Donald Trump to the tune of almost half a billion dollars. Businesses and ordinary people have announced they intend to boycott New York, whether for self-protection or principle. But what happens when its the governing body that engages in boycotts? That turns out to be just as much of a death blow. The tale of San Franciscos decision to boycott 30 states because the city disagreed with their politics is a wonderful example of leftist hubris and the economic havoc it wreaks. In 2016, San Francisco announced that it would no longer do business with 30 states because they were insufficiently supportive of gay rights. As this surprisingly well-researched story from a local television station shows, that was a really stupid decision and one that cost the citys taxpayers an enormous amount of money: While I continue to be surprised that the Attorney General under Trump didnt challenge the citys regulation as violating the Commerce Clause, perhaps there was some wisdom to that decision. The thirty states on the banned list were almost certainly unharmed by one citys temper tantrum, while the city itself suffered significant harm. What happened to San Francisco is the kind of thing that Maria Montessori, who was wise about such matters, called a natural consequence. When someone is on the verge of receiving a natural consequence, sometimes the best thing to do is to stand aside and let it happen. First, did you notice that the policy isnt being changed to help ordinary, taxpaying San Franciscans? Instead, its being changed to provide even more money to the homeless. One could argue that homelessness is a problem for all San Franciscans because its destroying the city, but the reality is that the city has (or used to have) laws in place that disincentivize homelessness. Now, it operates on the if you build it, they will come principle. And the city is still building. Second, I believe that the best way to deal with a state, region, or company that makes decisions antithetical to peoples values is to let the people drive the marketplace. Conservatives affected Bud Light when it threw so-called transgenderism in their faces. (And I, for one, do not believe the company should be let off the hook until it explicitly apologizes.) Businesses are fleeing states that have hostile business climates, and individuals seek lower tax states. However, governments have responsibilities, too. Conservatives have supported the boycott of Iranian oil and thought Trump was wise to put economic pressure on China. Moreover, state and local governments have huge budgets that come from taxpayers, so these governments, too, have a moral obligation not to send that money to tyrannical places that function in a way that is beyond the Pale. If this were 1938, I would be horrified to learn that my government was getting its pencils from Nazi Germany. The problem is the choices that governments make when the lunatics have taken over the asylum. In other words, its not a sane government pushing back against insanity or tyranny; its an insane government having a temper tantrum against the world. As San Francisco has just discovered, that seldom works out well. Image: San Francisco City Hall by Sanfranman59. CC BY-SA 3.0. (Random fact: When I was growing up, that green sward in front of City Hall was a beautiful fountain and pond, intended in part to keep people from loitering. When the homeless started using it as a shower and bath in the 1990s, they replaced it with a lawn.) After mulling over Trumps predicament with New York City, I had a Eureka! moment. Since the fight between NYC and Trump is essentially a battle between good and evil, and part of a concerted effort to stop the former president from running again by depriving him of his livelihood and ruining his reputation, this ratchets up the stakes, considerably. It has now gone way beyond the borders of one man versus the system. It has become an existential national issue. If Letitia James, her city, and a hanging judge can effectively destroy a former presidents chances of making a living then what theyre doing qualifies as use of a deadly (legal) weapon. Trump had zero chance of winning his case and he probably knew it, but I do not think that he thought a judgment of $355 million was in the offing. Just today, James rattled her saber, stating that if Trump doesnt pay the fine then the city will start seizing his properties. In a normal case, this would not be challenged and considered normal procedure, but this case is far from normal especially because in order to file an appeal Trump must come up with the equivalent of the fine to do so! James is sure she has the law on her side, and the backing of the vast army of Trump-haters in NYC and throughout the entire nation, but she is forgetting that Trumps base of supporters is vast, and totaled (at least) 74.2 million people in 2020. She apparently doesnt own a television set, or a computer, or a smartphone, or read anything but the New York Times, otherwise she would know that half the nation is behind the orange man and will stick with him to the bitter end as they know that Trump has been targeted for annihilation by a deep state bureaucracy, the media, Progressives, radical feminists, academia, special interest groups who are afraid of their ox being gored and ordinary Trump-hating Democrats. I'm sure Letitia is smiling when she reflects on her support. Joan of Arc or Don Quixote? Questions abound. Is Letitia suffering from a messiah complex? Delusions of grandeur? Does she have political ambitions or does she see herself as a female Jack the giant killer or David facing Goliath? If none of the above, what then is her motivation for bringing such a flawed case with no real victims? One might ask the same questions of Judge Engoron, a former cab driver and music instructor before elevation to the bench, and the reincarnated spirit of Judge Roy Bean. The unusually ultra-partisan newspaper of record (The New York Times) actually published a reasonably accurate article a few days ago that is almost objective. Now that we understand the problem and the dangers of lawfare, what can we conservatives do except shake our heads in disbelief? For one thing, we can stand up, lean in, and push back on the tsunami of abject hatred thats pummeling the 45th president. Its time for a GoFundMe page. Started 13 years ago, GoFundMe has become the leading crowd-funding enterprise and it might just be a temporary answer to Trumps problems. If every one of Trump's 74.2 million voters contributed just $5.00 to the Rescue America's future (my title) campaign to thwart the appropriation of Trumps NY-based properties, it would bring in $371 million. When GoFundMes cut of 2.9% is deducted, that leaves $360 million and some change for Trump to use$5 million more than he needs to safeguard his properties. Heres the plan: the title to Trump Tower would be transferred to either a non-profit corporation or trust comprised of a representative group of the 74.2 million donor/owners and renamed The Peoples Tower. The property would be held by the trust until Trump was able to win his appeal, thus keeping it out of reach of Jamess and the citys claws. Think about itit could work. Desperate times call for desperate (and creative) measures. Got a better idea? Stephan Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush Administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, six of which are on American politics and has written over 1,300 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He operates a political news story aggregator website: www.projectpushback.com. He can be reached at: stephan@stephanhelgesen.com. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. US cannot verify Israeli claims of UN staff involvement in Hamas attack Washington, Feb 22 (UNI) The US Intelligence Community does not rule out that a number of workers of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) could have been involved in Palestinian movement Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, a media report said on Thursday. However, the US sleuths also cannot verify Israeli allegations of the agency's links to militant groups,The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with a US intelligence report. The US intelligence report assessed the likelihood that some UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas attack as "low confidence." This means that the U.S. finds Israel's claims plausible but does not have its own independent confirmation, the newspaper reported. Susan Orlean at The New Yorker: Probably the only people at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel last week who were out on bail were Bobi Wine, the Ugandan politician and musician, and his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi. Their presence was seemingly the result of some rather cynical political calculations. Once the film about Wines Presidential campaign, Bobi Wine: The Peoples President, was nominated for an Oscar, in the Best Documentary Feature category, the government of the authoritarian Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, was apparently in a pickle: If the government prevented Wine from travelling, his absence during the pre-Oscars festivitiesnot to mention the ceremony itselfwould highlight its tireless campaign of harassment, torture, and detention against him. The alternative, of allowing Wine and Kyagulanyi to travel to Los Angeles and other cities, including London (where the film was nominated for a bafta), must have seemed the lesser of two evils. One day, Wine and Kyagulanyi were under house arrest in their home in Kampala, with three of their children, not sure if Museveni would drag Wine off to prison again, and a few days later they were in the Hilton. I would sleep on the street and go without food to get attention for whats going on in Uganda, Wine said the other day. Instead, Im achieving that by sleeping in a nice bed in a nice hotel in Los Angeles. Its very strange. more here. Almost seven million Ukrainians have been helped by funds raised through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) since the Russian invasion began, the group has said. The generous donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal amount to 426 million 6.35 for every person in the UK and have helped 6.9 million Ukrainians. It makes the DEC, which is an umbrella group of charities, the largest charity donor to the humanitarian response to the war, according to UN figures. A total of 25 million was donated by the UK Government through the aid match scheme. DEC charities have provided food, clean water, shelter, cash payments, healthcare, mental health support, winter and hygiene items, among other things since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24 2022. Ukrainian homes destroyed by Russian forces (Oleg Dmitriev/PA) In the first six months of the war, they provided 1.9 million people with access to clean water and almost 400,000 people with hot meals and food parcels. The DEC has worked with a network of local organisations, helping them scale up their response, as well as delivering aid directly. Most of the aid (58%) has been spent inside Ukraine, with the rest being used to help refugees in neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary and Moldova. During 2023, the DEC helped people stay safe and warm as they faced power cuts during the winter, and supported people forced to flee when the Kakhovka dam was breached in June. More recently, DEC charities have been particularly focused on providing people in need with cash payments to allow them to buy essentials, and a large-scale project where Ukrainians are provided with cash to help with the cost of hosting people displaced from other parts of the country. Providing basic essentials also remains a priority, the DEC said. At a refugee accommodation centre in Chisinau, Moldova, displaced Ukrainian children have been receiving psychological support funded by DEC charity @PlanUK. Their mascot is the Trimka toy, a soft toy that comes with an information sheet on how families can stay safe. pic.twitter.com/oDw3cglCh0 DEC (@decappeal) February 20, 2024 Chief executive Saleh Saeed said: Last year I visited Ukraine to meet some of the people being helped with the money that has been so generously donated by the British public. I met people like Polina (whose name has been changed to protect her identity), a mum-of-three from Kharkiv who had fled the fighting while pregnant. To see that she was safe, with a place to stay, food and other items the family needed, thanks to donations from across the UK, was really heart-warming. To know that she is just one among millions of people that our member charities have been able to reach through this appeal is just incredible. The International Rescue Committees (IRC) country director in Ukraine Scott Lea said: Thanks to funds from the DECs Ukraine appeal, the IRC have been able to rapidly provide timely cash distributions to sustain and empower families throughout the conflict reaching almost 20,000 vulnerable households across Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson by January 2024. Cash assistance affords people the dignity and choice to buy exactly what they need, when they need it whether it be food, medicine, or other essentials. Some of the medical and essential supplies sent to Ukraine (Medical Life Lines Ukraine/PA) This vital support would not be possible without the generosity of the UK public, and the IRC and our fellow DEC agencies remain extremely grateful for their incredible compassion and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Father Vitaliy Novak, chief executive of Depaul Ukraine, a local partner of DEC member charity Cafod, said: We thank God we are still here after two years of conflict and that our staff and volunteers are alive. What I see here is that the scale of the conflict in some ways, especially in Kharkiv and Odesa, is even worse than at the beginning. The DECs support, not only financial but the sharing of knowledge and sharing of experience, has been vital for us. Agnieszka Kosowicz, president of the board at the Polish Migration Forum, a local partner of Plan International in Poland, said: Two years after having to flee their homes, and still with no sign of when they may be able to return, the psychological needs of Ukrainian refugee children and adolescents in Poland have never been higher. With families split up, young Ukrainians continue to feel alone, isolated and distressed especially the 150,000 who do not attend school. Losing access to education is a daily reality for children who are forced to flee their homes, but DEC funding has been crucial for helping us improve school enrolment for young Ukrainians in Poland. Britain has given outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte its backing to be the next Nato chief. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said Mr Rutte has serious defence and security credentials to be the alliances next secretary-general. Nato is looking to appoint a successor to Jens Stoltenberg, who by October will have been in the job a decade. Mr Stoltenberg had his tenure as the organisations top civilian official extended by a year in July, with Nato leaders opting to keep him in place during a period of global instability. The former Norwegian prime ministers term was due to expire in 2022 but he was kept on in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine, with Moscows forces crossing the border in February of that year. His successor will be handed the task of ensuring Nato support for Kyiv remains resilient while at the same time keeping the alliance out of a direct fight with Moscow. They potentially might also have to deal with the return of Donald Trump who has voiced scepticism about continued Western financial support for Ukraine as US president. Mr Rutte, the Netherlands longest-serving premier, announced in July he would leave politics following the collapse of his coalition government. He has remained caretaker Prime Minister while talks over establishing a new government in the aftermath of the countrys November general election drag on. Rishi Sunaks spokesman told reporters on Thursday: Nato is the bedrock of our collective defence and we pay tribute to Jens Stoltenberg for his leadership over the past nine years. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has been in post for almost 10 years (James Manning/PA) From the UK perspective, we want a candidate who will keep Nato strong and deliver on the alliances Nato 2030 vision. The UK does strongly back Dutch PM Mark Rutte to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary-general. He is well respected across the alliance, has serious defence and security credentials, and will ensure that the alliance remains strong and ready to defend and deter. Reports suggest US president Joe Biden has also endorsed Mr Rutte, with about two-thirds of Natos 31 member states said to back his candidacy. He has long been tipped as a favourite to succeed Mr Stoltenberg, with Washingtons support emerging last year. If he is selected, he would become the fourth Dutchman to serve in the role. Rishi Sunak had initially backed Ben Wallace, now a former defence secretary, for Nato chief (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Sunak last year offered his support for the then-defence secretary Ben Wallace to become the first Briton to lead the alliance since 2003. The proposal failed to gain the necessary support particularly from the US, the largest military power in Nato. The Prime Minister and Mr Rutte are known to have a cordial relationship, with the pair holding lengthy catch-ups during international leaders summits. The diplomacy over electing the next Nato chief comes as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Thursday the UK will send 200 more anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also set out a sanctions package containing 50 measures aimed at diminishing Russias military power, with the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine set to enter its third year on Saturday. The Government has been accused of shutting down the main forum for Muslim-Jewish dialogue in the UK at an extraordinarily stupid time. The Inter Faith Network, founded in 1987 with the aim of helping to promote good relations between people of different faiths across the UK, said it would confirm on Thursday whether the charity will close. The Government had previously said that, because a member of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) was appointed to the charitys core governance structure last year, it had decided to withdraw the offer of new funding for the organisation. Government minister Felicity Buchan said the appointment of an MCB member poses a reputational risk to Government (Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA) Answering an urgent question on the situation, Government minister Felicity Buchan told Parliament: As this house will be aware, successive governments have had a longstanding policy of non-engagement with the MCB. The appointment of an MCB member to the core governance structure of a Government-funded organisation therefore poses a reputational risk to Government. She said Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, had carefully considered points raised by the IFN after the appointment but had concluded these were outweighed by the need to maintain the Governments policy of non-engagement with the MCB and the risk of compromising the credibility and effectiveness of that policy. But Labour MP Sir Stephen Timms criticised the decision and the timing, especially in light of the chaotic scenes in the Commons just a day earlier over a vote on Gaza. Sir Stephen said: Is it not, given the debate in this chamber yesterday, extraordinarily stupid to be shutting down at this precise point our principal vehicle in the UK for Muslim-Jewish dialogue? Surely we need more, not to be shutting that down? He said the charity had made a very important contribution to the UK for almost four decades. Conservative former minister Theresa Villiers described the current situation as regrettable. She said: I completely understand the importance of not engaging with organisations which have hardline views but surely we can find a compromise to keep the IFN in business? Because they do do some incredibly valuable work in fostering respect and mutual understanding between different faith groups. Labour MP Barry Sheerman said of the funding withdrawal: Its the wrong time, and the wrong move. He pleaded with the minister, saying: Please, please, for the good of our country and for community relations, will the Government think again? Ms Buchan replied: As I have said, interfaith work is very important and we are funding a number of organisations to do that interfaith work. Shadow communities minister Liz Twist said interfaith dialogue is now more important than ever, given recent events such as the war and the violence in Gaza. A spokesman for the department said: Interfaith work is hugely important but that does not require us to use taxpayer money in a way that legitimises the influence of organisations such as the MCB. The Inter Faith Network cannot rely on continuous taxpayer funding. We regularly remind our partners, including the IFN, of the importance of developing sustainable funding arrangements, rather than relying on taxpayers money, which can never be guaranteed. A Charity Commission spokeswoman said: We can confirm that, in line with our guidance, the Inter Faith Network has filed a serious incident report relating to the likelihood that it will need to close due to funding issues. The charitys board will meet on Thursday, when it will take a decision on whether the organisation will close. A founding member of the Inter Faith Network, Lord Singh of Wimbledon, said he found it sad that the funding would be withdrawn at this time. Lord Singh, who is the editor of Sikh Messenger and known for presenting Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, told the House of Lords: The Inter Faith Network has done some remarkably good work, particularly in the celebration of the millennium and getting religion in the census and so on Theres been moves to actually discuss the importance of commonality and build on them, and it is sad that this is happening at this particular time. And its particularly sad that the reason given is that the board contains a member of the Muslim Council of Britain it is not a proscribed organisation and it is better to have people with different views talking together to move the country forward into respect for one another. Fashion designer Katharine Hamnett has thrown her CBE in the bin as she said she is disgusted to be British over the war in Gaza and said Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer belong in there too. The British activist, 76, best known for her statement slogan T-shirts, shared a video online in which she dumps her award into a wheelie bin, while wearing a top saying: Disgusted To Be British. In the clip she emerges from her house and says to the camera: Im disgusted to be British for our role in genocide in Gaza. This is my CBE. It belongs in the dustbin, with Sunak and Starmer. She then opens the lid of the wheelie bin and throws the award inside. She also urged viewers to visit theyworkforyou.com, adding: Find your MP and tell them you will never vote for them again unless they support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Hamnett was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 New Years honours list. Hamnett is made a CBE by Queen Elizabeth (Lewis Whyld/PA) She was made a CBE by the late Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace wearing a dramatic large red feathered hat that obscured much of her face. When Queen Elizabeth died in 2022, she shared a photo from the ceremony on Instagram captioned: Elizabeth the Great. RIP. Hamnett is no stranger to high profile political statements. In 1984 she was photographed with Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street wearing a T-shirt that read 58% dont want Pershing in protest against nuclear missiles. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with Katharine Hamnett (PA) She also sent models down the catwalk wearing T-shirts reading: Stop War. Blair Out in protest at the Iraq war when Tony Blair was prime minister. Other famous T-shirts slogans include: Make Trade Fair, Save The Future and Women Against Wars. Hamnett is the not the first famous face to relinquish their honour. Hamnetts autumn/winter 2003 collection (Yui Mok/PA) Last year, The Good Wife actor Alan Cumming said he had returned his OBE after conversations about the role of the monarchy opened his eyes to the suffering of indigenous people around the world. In 2020, Welsh star Michael Sheen revealed he gave back his OBE so he could call for the scrapping of the title Prince of Wales. In 1969, Beatle John Lennon returned his MBE with a letter to the Queen saying it was a protest against Britains involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. Journalist Jon Snow, comedian John Oliver and poet Benjamin Zephaniah are among those who have turned honours down. According to the Cabinet Office, it is possible to renounce an honour, but a recipient still holds it until the King agrees to annul it. As a result, placing a CBE in the bin is only a token gesture until formal action is taken by the monarch. Northern Irelands justice minister has said she is deeply disappointed that legislation to exonerate subpostmasters wronged in the Horizon scandal excludes the region. Naomi Long said she will urgently review options to provide an alternative remedy for subpostmasters in Northern Ireland. Details of blanket legislation to exonerate subpostmasters convicted in England and Wales was published on Thursday after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this year said they were victims of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nations history. Last month, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake told MPs that while justice is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, the Government wanted to see a consistent approach across the UK. However, Ms Long criticised the Westminster Government after it failed to include Northern Ireland in its legislation. Whilst the operation of courts in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter, subpostmasters who are affected by unjust convictions should receive swift justice and equitable treatment in line with their counterparts in the rest of the UK, she said. I firmly believe that any Westminster legislation to reverse the convictions of subpostmasters should be UK-wide. Hugely disappointed at UKG decision not to include NI in legislation to overturn convictions as a result of the #Horizon scandal.@niexecutive will continue to lobby press for inclusion, but I am urgently exploring options to ensure local sub-postmasters are not disadvantaged. https://t.co/dTs5gh1ZkE Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) February 22, 2024 This would be the best way forward, given that postal services are a reserved matter and the associated compensation schemes are UK-wide. This would also be the fastest legislative solution and avoids differential treatment between jurisdictions, including in terms of accessing compensation. I am deeply disappointed that the UK Government has decided to legislate in England and Wales only, having indicated publicly their desire to legislate UK-wide. In light of this decision, I will now urgently review the options available to provide an alternative remedy for subpostmasters in Northern Ireland. More than 700 Post Office branch managers around the UK were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after the faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their shops. A maintenance worker is facing a lengthy jail term after being convicted of attempting to murder two of his work colleagues in an unprovoked attack at a London hospital. Matteo Bottarelli, 44, had approached one of his colleagues at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal saying today is your lucky day before the attack, police said. Officers were called to the hospital just after 1.18pm on June 21 last year to reports two people had been stabbed. Two men in their 40s, Gideon Tesfay and Trevor McGuire, were found with significant but non-life-threatening injuries. Bottarelli first attempted to attack another male member of staff, Mark Quigley, before attacking Mr Tesfay and Mr McGuire with a pickaxe and a scalpel. Police at Central Middlesex Hospital after the stabbings (James Manning/PA) He was found at home following an urgent search and taken to hospital to be treated for self-inflicted injuries before being charged. Jurors found him guilty of two counts of attempted murder and one of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent on Wednesday following a trial at Wood Green Crown Court. He had pleaded guilty to the lesser offences of wounding Mr Tesfay and Mr McGuire with intent to cause them grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing. He also already admitted affray by using or threatening unlawful violence to cause a person to fear for their safety and having an offensive weapon. The defendant, from Park Royal, was remanded in custody before he is sentenced on April 30. Detective Constable Jacob Eyres, of the Metropolitan Police, said: We have worked hard to build a case against Bottarelli, who posed a clear threat to his work colleagues and to public safety. Throughout our inquiries we gathered a substantial amount of evidence including detailed accounts from witnesses and victims whose contribution to the investigation was crucial. This was an unprovoked attack on people working to help others and it is right that Bottarelli will now face the consequences of his actions. I hope that his conviction brings the victims a measure a comfort in knowing that justice has been served. My thoughts are with them. Spirits giant Diageo is considering the sale of British summer favourite Pimms. The FTSE 100 firm, which also owns Gordons gin and Baileys, is exploring the sale as part of efforts to trim some non-core brands from its portfolio, according to a report by Sky News. It has hired bankers from Rothschild to explore the potential sale of the brand. It is understood that the process is at a very early stage and the business may not be sold. Pimms is closely linked to the Wimbledon tennis tournament (Mike Egerton/PA) Diageo has owned the brand since 1997 as part of the merger between the Grand Metropolitan and Guinness drinks businesses, which ultimately created Diageo. Pimms was founded in 1840 in London by James Pimm, who blended his famous No 1 Cup recipe as an aid for digesting oysters. The brand, which received a Royal Warrant in 2010, is often linked to Wimbledon and royal events during the summer. Diageo declined to comment. The group is also considering the sale of fruit liqueur Safari and Venezuelan rum brand Pampero, Sky reported. The company sold its Windsor Global whisky business to a South Korean private equity company last year, and in 2022 offloaded peach schnapps brand Archers. It has sought to divest a number of brands in a bid to improve value for shareholders after a steady decline in its share price over the past year. Analysts at Jefferies have said the potential disposal of Pimms and other brands indicates that management are focused on reducing exposure to lower growth and lower-return assets. They added: We take no view on the likelihood of this taking place, however it appears to reconfirm managements focus on the trimming of low-growth, low-return, non-core brands from the portfolio. Shares in Diageo were down 0.4% at 2,977p on Thursday. The most distressed prisoners serving long-abolished indefinite sentences should be released on compassionate grounds and the move could help free spaces in jails which are almost full, a charity has said. The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) also urged Justice Secretary Alex Chalk to advise the Parole Board to facilitate the release of those serving the longest periods beyond their tariffs. Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences were introduced in 2005 to prevent serious offenders who did not warrant a life sentence being released when they still posed a danger to the public. Despite being scrapped in 2012 which the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said was due to the inconsistent and more frequent application of these sentences than was intended almost 3,000 criminals remain behind bars after being given such a sentence. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk leaves 10 Downing Street, London, following a Cabinet meeting (James Manning/PA) Offenders released from prison on licence while serving an IPP sentence currently have to wait at least 10 years before they can have their licence reviewed by the Parole Board. There have been calls to cut that to five years or even three. Campaigners have characterised the continuation of IPP sentences as a miscarriage of justice akin to the Post Office scandal. In its report, the CCJS said reviews of resentencing for all IPP prisoners and all forms of preventative detention in the UK should be ordered. It has also called for a recovery and reparations programme to address the disastrous personal consequences of the sentence for prisoners. Those serving the sentences should receive better access to visits and better cell conditions, the charity added. In February 2023, the Government rejected a recommendation the Justice Select Committee made the previous year, which called for all IPP prisoners to be re-sentenced. The committee rejected what it said were the Governments claims that the system for release needed to be maintained for the publics protection. It also called for the current time period after which prisoners can be considered for the termination of their licence following release to be halved from 10 years to five. A member of prison staff (Michael Cooper/PA) The charity said the release of IPP prisoners would have a large and immediate impact on reducing pressures on prisons, which are expected to run out of space by the spring. A cut in IPP licence periods bringing automatic licence termination down from 10 years to five following release will not solve the crisis because of the high proportion of recalls occurring within the first five years, the CCJS said. The UN special rapporteur on torture has called for a review of IPP sentences on the grounds they resemble the practice. At least 90 IPP prisoners are believed to have taken their own lives between 2005 and 2023 and the reforms would also help slow that, the charity said. CCJS director Richard Garside said: This really is a scandalous situation. The current IPP Action Plan remains tied to an outdated and discredited approach to IPP. Something has to change, otherwise we will be sat here again, in another 12 years time since these indefinite sentences were abolished, with this deadly crisis still going. After 21 years, at least 90 lives lost, and hundreds of families broken, surely it is time for the Government to grasp the nettle and take decisive action. I urge the Government to adopt our recommendations without delay, to end the political inertia that has allowed this stain on the British justice system to persist for over 20 years. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We have reduced the number of unreleased IPP prisoners by three-quarters since we scrapped the sentence in 2012, with a 12% fall in the last year alone where the Parole Board deemed prisoners safe to release. We have also taken decisive action to curtail licence periods and continue to help those still in custody to progress towards release including improving access to rehabilitation programmes and mental health support. The number of Islamophobic incidents reported to an organisation monitoring anti-Muslim sentiment and abuse in the UK more than tripled in the four months since the Hamas attacks in Israel last year. Tell Mama, which describes itself as the leading agency on measuring anti-Muslim hate, said there were 2,010 cases of this kind between October 7 2023 and February 7 this year. This was a steep rise from the 600 cases reported for the same four-month period a year previously. Of the total cases recorded after the Hamas October 7 attacks, 1,109 were classed as online cases while 901 took place offline, Tell Mama said. Incidents it recorded included a Muslim woman in Islamic clothing being assaulted on a bus in east London and told you Muslims are troublemakers; a written death threat to worshippers at a mosque; a woman whose car was vandalised with a Nazi swastika; and cases of Muslim women being called terrorists. In almost two-thirds of cases women were the target of attacks, which the organisation said once again demonstrates that British Muslim women have borne the majority of the brunt of anti-Muslim hate during this time. Iman Atta, the organisations director, said: We are deeply concerned about the impacts that the Israel and Gaza war are having on hate crimes and on social cohesion in the UK. Hate crimes against British Muslims have substantially risen and our data clearly demonstrates this. This rise in anti-Muslim hate is unacceptable and we hope that political leaders speak out to send a clear message that anti-Muslim hate, like antisemitism, is unacceptable in our country. There really is no space for hate and, more than ever, it is essential that we sustain, nurture and protect the bonds that we have between communities, so that we all feel valued and safe in our communities and in our country. Tell Mama was founded in 2012 and is supported by the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities. Earlier this month, the Community Security Trust (CST) said it had recorded an explosion in hatred against the Jewish community since the October 7 attacks. More than 4,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the UK by the Community Security Trust (CST) in 2023, with the all-time high being put down to the sheer volume which took place following the Hamas attacks. The CST said there was a total of 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023, up from the previous annual record of 2,261 incidents which had been reported two years previously. A Government spokesperson said: There is no place for hate in our society and we condemn the recent rise in reported anti-Muslim hatred and antisemitism. We expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these abhorrent offences feel the full force of the law. Following recent events, we have also made further funding available to Muslim and Jewish communities, to provide additional security at places of worship and faith schools. Sinn Fein is up for reforming the Stormont institutions to remove the ability of one party to collapse powersharing, Conor Murphy has said. The Economy Minister said his party recognised that the veto was a continued problem and was keen to find agreement with other parties to reform the structures. Mr Murphy said the Stormonts Assembly and Executive Review Committee was the appropriate forum to initiate the process and test the mettle of other parties in regard to making changes to aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. His comments came amid calls from the Irish government for reforms to be examined ahead of the next Assembly election. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has insisted that never again should one party in Northern Ireland have the power to collapse powersharing. The Stormont institutions incorporate a system based on mutual veto powers, enabling blocs of unionist and nationalist MLAs to stop moves that otherwise command majority support and, in extreme circumstances, pull down the institutions and prevent them operating. Northern Ireland Economy Minister Conor Murphy (Liam McBurney/PA) The DUP exercised its veto to blockade Stormont for two years in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. The ending of that boycott enabled devolution to return earlier this month. In 2017, Sinn Fein collapsed the ministerial executive amid a furore about a botched green energy scheme. It was down for three years. The SDLP, the Assemblys official opposition, has called on the DUP and Sinn Fein to commit to never again collapse the ministerial executive. Mr Murphy was pressed on the issue during an interview on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday. He insisted Sinn Fein was in the executive to stay and had absolutely no intention of walking out. We are also quite happy to look at the arrangements, as weve said all along, to look at the arrangements to try and prevent that (collapse) happening again, he said. On reforms to prevent any one party preventing an executive being formed, he added: Were very happy for that to be tabled, to be discussed and an agreement sought among the parties and in relation to that. We said all along that the place to resolve the issue where a party could bring down the executive was within a functioning assembly, thats where it needed to be resolved. There is an Assembly committee set aside to do this. Were quite content for those issues to be brought there and to try and secure the agreements that are necessary to change the arrangements in the Good Friday Agreement, because this isnt simply a matter of a stroke of a pen, these are arrangements in the Good Friday Agreement, which need consideration, dialogue and consent to bring them through and were quite happy to be part of that process. Asked if his party was up for change, he replied: Yes, absolutely. Weve always said that, prior to the Assembly going back, weve always said that. He added: We do recognise that it is a continued problem. Were quite happy to sit down with others and try and resolve that. Mr Murphy emphasised that the discussions on the issue had not yet commenced. We havent got into the room to test the mettle of everyone in relation to that. Tanaiste Micheal Martin during a visit to Ulster University in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) On a visit to Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Martin reiterated his case for reform to be considered. He expressed concern at how often the executive had been in cold storage since the 1998 Good Friday deal. I think over the lifetime of the agreement it has been down as often as its been up and thats a problem, he told reporters at Ulster University. And I think we cant go blindly into the next Assembly elections without endeavouring to rectify some of those issues, which I think can be done. And I think there should be discussions around that. And some parties will want that, and I support that. Asked about the calls for reform last week, DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the best way to ensure stability of the institutions in Northern Ireland was by fostering strong working relationships between the parties within the administration. Sir Lindsay Hoyles future as House of Commons Speaker is under threat amid criticism of his handling of a Gaza ceasefire debate that descended into chaos. After he took the Speakers Chair in 2019 with a vow to restore calm after the acrimonious final years of his predecessor John Bercow, Sir Lindsay is facing the same kind of fury once levelled at the former speaker. His decision to upend parliamentary convention by selecting a Labour amendment to an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, which meant the Scottish Nationalists never got a chance to vote on their opposition day, drew fierce criticism and calls for his resignation. John Bercow stepped down as speaker in 2019 after a decade (Victoria Jones/PA) Sir Lindsay, who was first elected as a Labour MP but followed tradition following his election as Speaker by relinquishing his party affiliation, was accused of partisanship by helping party leader Sir Keir Starmer avoid an internal row. He was lampooned with shouts of bring back Bercow a nod to this predecessor, whose controversial tenure concluded with accusations of bias in the Brexit wars. The Speaker issued multiple apologies for his mistake as he emphasised concerns over the security of MPs who have faced threats over their stance on the conflict. The animal-loving proud Lancastrian found himself under pressure after a so-far well-regarded political career. Sir Lindsay Hoyle was given the helmet of a Ukrainian pilot by President Volodymyr Zelensky when he welcomed him to Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Replacing Mr Bercow, who was found guilty of bullying after a parliamentary investigation, Sir Lindsay, 66, promised to be a neutral and transparent speaker and return respect and tolerance to the Commons. First elected MP for Chorley in 1997, he had been Mr Bercows most senior deputy since 2010, meaning he was no stranger to tackling boisterousness on the green benches. After the terror attack on Parliament in 2017, and the killing of Police Constable Keith Palmer, MPs were privately full of praise for Sir Lindsay for the resonant chord he struck when he said we will not give in to terrorism. He was knighted in 2018 for services to political and public life. Born in Adlington in Lancashire, he guides proceedings with an easy-on-the-ear northern twang. Proud of his heritage, he is known to serve Lancashire hotpot canapes when hosting events at the official Speakers House in Westminster. Pet-loving Sir Lindsay Hoyle with his Maine coon kitten Attlee (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA) He is also known for his wide array of pets, all named after key figures from across the political spectrum. He has a parrot named Boris, tortoise Maggie, Maine coon cat Attlee and a Patterdale terrier named after former Speaker Betty Boothroyd, whom he has described as a great hero of his. He is the son of Labour MP Doug Hoyle, who was made a life peer after standing down in the same year his son was elected to the Commons. Sir Lindsay was elected for Labour to Chorley Borough Council in 1980, where he became deputy leader and mayor during his near two-decade tenure. Selected for the Chorley constituency, the former textiles printing businessman won back the seat for the party after it had been in Tory hands for 18 years. There was heartbreak for the twice-married politician and his family when his daughter, Natalie Lewis-Hoyle, 28, was found dead in her bedroom just before Christmas 2017. Sir Lindsay said he was truly devastated at her death. Rishi Sunak has criticised Sir Lindsay Hoyles handling of the Gaza ceasefire vote as very concerning and warned parliamentarians should never be intimidated by extremists. The Prime Minister condemned the way the Commons Speaker had changed the usual ways in which Parliament works by approving Labours bid to amend an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, a move that unleashed chaos in the chamber. But Mr Sunak acknowledged that Sir Lindsay had apologised and was reflecting on what happened. Sir Lindsay Hoyle earlier reiterated his apology, emphasising concerns over the security of MPs who have faced threats over their stance on the Middle East conflict. I have a duty of care and if my mistake is looking after members, I am guilty, he told MPs. I never, ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists. Speaking during a visit to North Wales on Thursday afternoon, the Prime Minister said: What happened in the House of Commons last night is very concerning. It seems that the usual processes and the way that the House of Commons works were changed. Now my understanding is that the Speaker has apologised for that and is going to reflect on what happened. Mr Sunak continued: But I think the important point here is that we should never let extremists intimidate us into changing the way in which Parliament works. Parliament is an important place for us to have these debates. And just because some people may want to stifle that with intimidation or aggressive behaviour, we should not bend to that and change how Parliament works. Thats a very slippery slope. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Government wants to see an immediate humanitarian pause in the Gaza war (Phil Noble/PA) Downing Street earlier repeatedly refused to say whether Mr Sunak had confidence in the Speaker, while the SNP called for a vote of no confidence in him. Sir Lindsay has come under pressure amid accusations he helped Sir Keir Starmer avoid another damaging revolt over the Middle East issue by selecting Labours amendment. More than 60 MPs have signed a so-called early day motion tabled by a Tory MP declaring no confidence in the Speaker. The Labour leader denied pushing him to make the controversial decision, which resulted in Labours call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire being passed unopposed. Speaking in Sussex, Sir Keir said: I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever. I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate so that actually the most important thing, which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them. He said Sir Lindsay did the right thing in making sure the debate was broad as he denounced SNP and Tory tactics. Sir Keir added: The tragedy is the SNP walked off the pitch because they wanted to divide the Labour Party and they couldnt, and the Government walked off the pitch because it thought it was going to lose a vote. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted he simply urged the Speaker to have the broadest possible debate on the Middle East conflict (Jordan Pettitt/PA) In a bid to calm tensions, Sir Lindsay offered the SNP the chance of an emergency debate after they were unable to vote on their proposition amid Wednesdays turmoil. But the offer failed to placate SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who told the Speaker he no longer had confidence in him. He said the debate descended into farce because of a decision that you made, and demanded a confidence vote at the earliest possible occasion. A number of Conservative MPs came out in Sir Lindsays defence as they directed their fury at Labour. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who launched a blistering attack on the Speaker as the commotion unfolded in the chamber, defended him on Thursday as a decent man. The senior Cabinet minister told MPs that Wednesdays shameful events were nothing other than party politics on behalf of the Labour Party. Rishi Sunak is heading to North Wales on Thursday where he said his Government was breathing new life into communities through levelling up, as it was announced that one million UK properties had been connected to high-speed broadband. The Prime Minister will meet engineers in Anglesey working to roll out faster internet, as well as businesses and communities during his two-day tour of the region. New data shows 1,006,800 homes, businesses and public buildings can now access gigabit broadband under the 5 billion Project Gigabit, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The programme to improve digital inclusion in hard-to-reach parts of the UK began in 2012. Most of the now-upgraded premises are in rural areas that have been too difficult or expensive for broadband suppliers to include in their commercial rollout. The department said around 80% of the UK was now covered by speedy broadband and 85% coverage would be reached by 2025. But the 2019 Tory manifesto said we intend to bring full-fibre and gigabit-capable broadband to every home and business across the UK by that date. Growth in coverage in Wales over the past year has been among the fastest in the UK, the Government said, with nearly 70% of Welsh premises accessing a gigabit-capable connection. Mr Sunak said: Levelling up is about providing people with better opportunities to work, travel and feel proud of where they live. Upgrading one million premises with high-speed gigabit broadband is part of our long-term plan to deliver a brighter future by connecting people, businesses and regions across the entire United Kingdom. Were breathing new life into communities across North Wales through greater connectivity, a brand new freeport, more cash for high streets and a 1 billion investment into North Wales rail. The Prime Minister visited the new Anglesey freeport last year, which he said would attract over a billion in investment and create thousands of jobs. The electrification of the North Wales Main Line is being funded with 1 billion, while 20 million from the latest round of the levelling up fund will go towards regenerating town centres and developing areas in Denbighshire in north-east Wales. Rishi Sunak, centre, and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, left, visited the new Anglesey freeport last year (Peter Byrne/PA) Mr Sunaks visit to the region is part of what Downing Street has dubbed a levelling-up tour as he seeks to underscore his commitment to the flagship policy to reduce regional inequalities a key plank of the Tory partys 2019 winning election campaign. It comes after two influential think tanks last autumn questioned his Governments efforts to reduce disparities across the country. The Institute for Government said the machinery of central Government was not set up to deliver the promise of levelling up, while the Resolution Foundation said there was a lack of seriousness about the scale of the challenge. As he gears up for the general election and his party languishes in the polls, Mr Sunak frequently attacks the performance of what he calls Labour-run Wales. On Wednesday, he warned that the Welsh Governments new farm subsidy scheme would decimate farming communities there. Labour has long led the devolved government in the nation of three million people. Labours shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens said: Rishi Sunak will arrive in Anglesey to find that 14 years of Conservative government has delivered one of the worst coverage levels for gigabit internet, and speeds almost half the UK average. Wales continues to be an afterthought for the Conservatives. Only Labour will govern in the interest of the whole United Kingdom. Britain has announced it will send 200 more anti-tank missiles to Ukraine in a bid to boost its defences against the Russian invasion. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK wont stop supporting the brave Ukrainians until they have won as the second anniversary of Russias full-scale attack on the country approaches. But Mr Shapps also advised the United States that it will find it far more expensive in the future to defend the world order if it does not maintain its support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been struggling to convince Republicans in Washington to facilitate a major funding package for Kyiv. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Shapps said: Today I can announce a new package of 200 brimstone anti-tank missiles in a further boost to defend Ukraine. These missiles have previously had significant impact on the battlefield, in one instance forcing Russian forces to abandon and retreat an attempted crossing of a river. He said the UK would train further Ukrainian troops alongside other allies, adding: Together we will train a further 10,000 in the first half of 2024. In a warning to faltering allies of Ukraine, Mr Shapps said: The UK will continue to double down on that support. All freedom-loving countries must be compelled to do the same. This year will be make or break for Ukraine, so it is time for the West and all civilised nations to step up and give Ukraine the backing it needs. Conservative former defence minister Mark Francois said he recently visited the United States to lobby Republican politicians to support the aid package for Ukraine. He said: In one such conversation a Republican perfectly reasonably asked me: Why should I tell the people of my district to send their taxpayer dollars to Ukraine? To which I humbly replied: Because as a member of Nato it is ultimately cheaper than sending your sons and daughters. In that context, would the Defence Secretary agree with me that whilst we must respect American domestic politics, its not for us to tell them what to do, this again is a time for the new world in all its power and might to come to the rescue and liberation of the old? Mr Shapps, in his reply, said: His point is absolutely right. The reason this is in Americas interest isnt just to come to the rescue of Europe but it is because other despotic leaders, other autocrats or other regimes of any type will be looking at whether we simply lose and give up because we get bored of the fight and then walk away. And theyll draw conclusions about that and decide whether in fact they can always take on the red line, the West, the no-go area, based on the fact that all you have to do is wait it out. That is why (Mr Francois) is absolutely right to say it is indicatively in Americas interest to step in here because otherwise they will find it far more expensive in the future, perhaps in other parts of the world, to defend the world order. For Labour, shadow defence secretary John Healey said: The UK is totally united, totally committed in supporting Ukraine as they fight for their freedoms, for their territorial integrity and their right as a democratic country to decide their own future. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to win. Mr Healey said military support needs to be ramped up throughout 2024 and beyond, including a clear path for Ukraines Nato membership. He also said there is a need to reboot the diplomatic drive to maintain Western unity and support to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin to account. Russias war machine has been slapped with 50 new sanctions by the UK as the second anniversary of the Ukraine invasion approaches. Announcing the new measures, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said Britain would continue to back Kyiv for as long as it takes. The Foreign Office said the sanctions would crack down on those supplying Russias military with munitions such as rocket launch systems, missiles and explosives. The sanctions also target key sources of Russian revenue, clamping down on metals, diamonds and the energy trade, in a move designed to cut off funding for President Vladimir Putins war efforts from every angle, officials said. Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24 2022, with the bloody incursion by the Kremlin due to enter into a third year on Saturday. The conflict has largely grinded to a stalemate and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly urged the West to provide more weapons or risk emboldening Russias forces. Lord Cameron said continued allied economic pressure would mean Mr Putin cannot afford this illegal invasion to continue. The Foreign Secretary, announcing the extra sanctions in a statement, said: Ukraine has shown that it can and will defend itself. Putin mistakenly thought that because Russias economy is bigger than Ukraines, he would gain a quick victory. SANCTIONED: Over 50 people and businesses sustaining Putins illegal war in Ukraine. Sanctions have deprived Russias war machine of an estimated $400 billion. Two years on from Russias full-scale invasion, we continue to #StandWithUkraine #SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/EEMOI1PMlS Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 22, 2024 But the economies of Ukraines friends are 25 times bigger than Russias. And two years on, we stand united in support for Ukraine. Our international economic pressure means Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion. Our sanctions are starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war. Together, we will not let up in the face of tyranny. We will continue to support Ukraine as it fights for democracy for as long as it takes. Among those sanctioned include manufacturers of weapons, such as Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise a firm the Foreign Office described as the largest enterprise in the Russian ammunition industry. Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools, which are instrumental in manufacturing defence systems and components ranging from missiles and engines to tanks and fighter jets, have also been included in Thursdays package. Flight operator 224th Flight Unit State Airlines and its director have been targeted following reports it has been involved in the transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia, as well as supporting Wagner troop movements. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the West over weapon delivery delays (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/PA) Foreign firms deemed to be supporting Russias war efforts are among those slapped with sanctions. Three companies based in China have been punished, including Beijing Micropilot Flight Control Systems Company Ltd, after its engines were allegedly found in fighter drones used by Russian forces in Ukraine. The announcement marks the second wave of UK sanctions against Russia in the space of two days, with the heads of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was detained and killed hit by restrictive measures on Wednesday. Former prime minister Lord Cameron is due to visit New York for a special United Nations session dedicated to Ukraine. While in the US, officials said he is expected to meet Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba to underscore Britains unending support for Ukraine as the war enters a third year. On Monday, Mr Zelensky said delays in weapons deliveries from Western allies was opening a door for Russian battlefield advances. Mr Zelensky and other officials have often expressed frustration at the slowness of promised aid deliveries, especially since signs of war fatigue have emerged. He said Ukrainian troops keenly felt a shortage of artillery, air defence systems and long-range weapons. European countries are struggling to find enough stocks to send to Kyiv, and US help worth 60 billion US dollars is stalled over political differences. Ukrainian forces withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka at the weekend, where they had battled a fierce Russian assault for four months despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned. The UK has worked with Jordan to drop aid to a hospital in northern Gaza. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the UK-funded consignment was delivered by the Jordanian Air Force to the Tal Al-Hawa Hospital on Wednesday. Supplies included essential medicines, fuel and food for patients and staff. Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said thousands of patients will benefit from the air drop. He said: We have worked closely with our Jordanian partners to get these life-saving supplies directly to the Tal Al-Hawa Hospital. The situation in Gaza is desperate and significantly more aid is needed and fast. We are calling for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow additional aid into Gaza as quickly as possible and bring hostages home. UK and Jordanian humanitarian has been sent to Gaza (FCDO/PA) The hospital, set up by the Jordanian Air Force, is located in Gaza City. The medicine and fuel included in the four-tonne delivery is part of an agreement signed by the UK this week with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) to deliver 1 million of aid to Gaza. Dr Hussein Shabli, secretary-general of the JHCO, said: We welcome this partnership with the UK to provide life-saving aid to those who need it most in Gaza. We thank our UK partners for working with us and we will continue to work with them on getting aid into Gaza for as long as its needed. Has your dog or cat ever done anything totally bizarre but in a really cute way? Maybe they tilt their heads just so when you talk to them, or they start pawing you completely out of nowhere. And youre probably left wondering, Why the heck do they do that? Well, scientists have broken down the odd behaviors our fluffy friends exhibit, and it turns out there is a rhyme and reason for their quirks. Now youll never have to wonder why your best bud follows you everywhere yes, even to the bathroom! 1. Licking your face If a dog approaches you and just starts licking your face, its not because you have food on your cheek. Well, that could be one reason, but theyre more likely to be showing you that they come in peace. You can try and reciprocate the gesture, but that may be a little odd... 2. Yawning When humans yawn, its a physical response to being tired or bored. And dogs will yawn when theyre tired, yes, but theyll also do so to express passive behavior in a group. If a dog feels comfortable, yawning is their way to say they arent aggressive and everything is cool. 3. Sitting in boxes Although cats may be adorable, theyre also natural predators, and so they like to hide in places where they can observe others. Boxes help them do that, which is why they prefer cardboard to the very expensive bed you bought them. 4. Rolling in smells If a dog picks up an interesting scent, theyll roll around in it so that it attaches itself to them. Thats why they love the stinkiest smells! Its believed that this is a leftover trait from their wolf ancestors, who would bring scents back to their pack. Basically, youre family, and your dog just wants to share what they found with you whether you like it or not! 5. Tilting their head When a dog looks at you with a tilted head and floppy ears, it could just be the most heartwarming thing on the planet! But they dont just do it to look cute. Apparently, your pooch is just trying to understand what you want from them. They may tilt their head to help see your facial expression, or to adjust their ears to hear you better. 6. Going crazy for catnip No one really knows why cats go completely bananas for catnip. But when the stuff is ingested or smelled, it produces the chemical compound nepetalactone. And when nepetalactone binds to the cats internal receptors, there is a physical response whether thats in the form of extreme vocals or squirmy bodies. 7. Posing with one paw up Does your dog have one paw up? That means theyre on the case, trying to figure something out. Youll probably notice that they also have their nose sniffing in a million different directions. Not to worry! Your doggo is just playing detective. 8. Circling before sleeping Maybe your dog circles before they lay down to take a nap? Well, theres a reason for this, too. In the wild, circling helps pat down grass and expel any insects in an area a canine wants to sleep in. Its just another leftover evolutionary trait dogs have. Basically, theyre trying to get comfortable! 9. Giving you their toys If your dog brings you a ball or a toy, they may not want you to throw it. In fact, that may hurt their feelings, as dogs hand you their favorite things so that you can enjoy them. So, get ready to play with any toys that come your way! 10. Shaking Its a dangerous game, bathing a dog. Youre always in the splash zone! The obvious reason why dogs shake is to dry off, but this action goes back to their roots. If their fur is wet, it doesn t keep them warm and they run the risk of losing body heat, which directly correlates to survival. 11. Meowing Cats only meow to humans not other cats. Kittens may do it to their moms, but adult cats will only hiss, growl, or scent mark each other. If your cat is meowing at you, theyre either trying to tell you that theyre hungry, want some lovin, or just want you to acknowledge them. 12. Wagging their tails When a dogs tail wags, it means theyre happy, right? Not always! If their tail is low and wagging, it means theyre uncertain of the situation theyre in. Even the direction of the wag has a secret meaning. If the tail is mostly going to the left, that means Do not approach. If its going to the right, on the other hand, thats the time for scritches. 13. Rolling onto their backs A dog on their back often means theyre being submissive. But when theyre playing? Its all about strategy. Sometimes they roll over to avoid a bite, and sometimes they roll over to give a bite. If a big dog is playing with a small dog, the heftier hound may get on their back to give their little adversary a fair chance. 14. Chewing up your stuff Chewing relieves a lot of stress for dogs. So, if your pooch is gnawing through your personal belongings like crazy, its probably because theyre anxious maybe because theyre away from you, or maybe because a trip to the vet is coming up... 15. Staring at you Those sad-yet-adorable puppy dog eyes mean your best friend loves you! Constant eye contact is practically the same thing as receiving a kiss from your pooch. And when you see this glance coming your way, rest assured: youre doing the right thing. 16. Sleeping on your bed If your pup prefers your room to her own bed or crate at night, then thats proof youre number one in her heart. She just wants to spend as much time with you as possible even if that means sleeping in a weird position to do so! 17. Eating grass As you know if you have a cat who spends time outside, they will eat grass even though it makes them throw up. But they do this on purpose! This yukky phenomenon helps them remove any unwanted material from their digestive tract, such as bones or hairballs. 18. Scratching everything Have you ever caught your cat scratching at your walls, your furniture, or basically anything they can get their claws on? Well, cat paws have scent glands on them, so they scratch things to leave their scent behind. Essentially, theyre marking their territory and warning others to stay away. 19. Following you everywhere Ever wondered why your dog follows you all over the place? Well, Dr. Rachel Barrack could have the answer. In 2018 she told the American Kennel Club, Young puppies can often imprint on their owners and look to them as they would their mothers. If every time youre with your dog, he gets affection or treats, hes likely to [follow you around] more often. Makes sense to us! 20. Flicking their ears Dogs are renowned for their fantastic hearing, but they dont always recognize certain sounds. To combat that problem, they flick their ears around to zone in on the noise. Its just like when were trying to pick up a radio signal by adjusting the antenna. Hopefully, they avoid the static! 21. Leaning on you Ever noticed your dog leaning on you when youre sitting on the couch or standing in the kitchen? Well, it turns out they only do this because they cant hug you, and this is the closest they can physically get. Just make sure they havent rolled around in paint or something smelly first! 22. Sitting on your feet If your dog cant seem to find a better place to sit than on your feet, then thats a sign he wants to protect you. The moment you feel you need to escape the situation, hell feel your foot move and instantly know its go time. 23. Sniffing with an open mouth Has your cat ever made a strange, open-mouth face? Its not because shes shocked. Felines indulge in something called flehmen, where they draw in air over their vomeronasals organs in their mouths. This lets them pick up different scents that their noses cant. 24. Sniffing butts A dogs sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times better than any humans, and they use their noses to interpret information. Thats why your pooch likes to sniff other dogs butts! Glands in that area secrete scents that can tell your pet a whole lot of things everything from a dogs reproductive status to their health and emotional state, for example. 25. Stretching Who doesnt love a good stretch? It really helps to shake the cobwebs away. But is it the same for dogs? Well, not quite! They like to do it when they see their owners after some time apart. Simply put, stretching is a sign of affection. Aww. undefined 26. Raised hackles When a dogs hackles or the hairs on their spine start to rise, you should probably try to calm your pet down. This reaction is more often than not a sign of fear, anxiety, or anger. Theyll appear to be quite attentive as well, carefully watching their surroundings. And if your pooch is like this around other canines, you now know what to do. undefined 27. Kneading you There are many theories about why cats knead their paws into you, but many researchers agree that theyre trying to return the affection youre showing them. They just dont know that it hurts more than it helps! 28. Sitting between your legs When your pet tries to sit on you, it could be interpreted as an act of domination almost as if your animal is trying to claim control. But thats not the case with dogs. If they position themselves on your lap, it may be a sign that theyre feeling worried or frightened. In other words, theyre after a feeling of security, and your lap provides that! undefined 29. Yelping Yelping is pretty horrible to hear if you have a dog, but what exactly does it mean? Well, it could indicate one of two different things. Either your canine chum is crying out in shock, or theyve just hurt themselves. It certainly gets your attention either way. undefined 30. Scooting Scooting may look hilarious to us humans, but try not to laugh too much. Thats because its a sign of tushy discomfort in dogs. Whether your pooch has a simple itch or a full-blown infection, theyll try to get relief by dragging their butt along the ground. Now we feel bad for chuckling... undefined 31. Opening their mouth slightly You can tell a lot about a dogs mood by looking at their mouth. If a dog keeps their jaws open a little, for instance, thats a sign theyre content. You could almost say that its their way of smiling. It helps that dogs are a bit more expressive in this way than cats! undefined 32. Showing off their bellies Okay, so your cat is showing you his belly then attacking you when you try to rub it. What gives? Well, as you now know, your kitty doesnt actually like his belly rubbed; instead, hes showing he trusts you. And when you reach for his stomach, youre breaking his trust. Try petting his head instead. 33. Pacing While speaking to the website Dogster in 2020, canine expert Amanda Gagnon opened up about pacing. Dogs will pace because theyre bored or carry excessive energy, she revealed. Less common reasons for pacing are mating behaviors, attention-seeking behaviors, and medical issues. That last explanation could involve anything from an upset stomach to bad mental health. So, remember: a hug and a stroke can go a long way. undefined 34. Licking their crotch Yes, were going there just like your dog does! But while crotch-licking seems pretty gross to us, your pooch does it for a good reason. Basically, its so they can cleanse themselves after peeing. Keep an eye on the situation, though. If they stay down there, you may want to consider visiting a vet, as constant licking could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. undefined 35. Jumping Does your dog leap up at you when you return home? More often than not, thats their way of saying hello. But there could be another meaning if you believe famous dog expert Cesar Millan. Jumping up is a sign that your dog is attempting to assert their dominance over you, he explained on his Cesars Way website. undefined 36. Nibbling Cats nip and nibble at us all the time, but its far from an aggressive gesture. They do the same when theyre grooming their kittens, so its much more likely that they think of you with the same affection. 37. Sniffing the air Dogs have an incredible sense of smell that puts even the most scent-sensitive humans to shame. But why do our lovable pals sniff the air? Well, its their way of picking up on any nearby hazards. And you probably wont hear a peep out of them while theyre doing it, either, as they dont want to give themselves away to potential predators. undefined 38. Narrowing their eyes When a human narrows their eyes, theyre usually focused on whatevers in front of them. Either that, or theyve forgotten to wear their glasses! Dogs, on the other hand? If they narrow their eyes, they want to establish themselves as an intimidating force. Be careful! undefined 39. Howling Yes, wolves arent the only animals that howl. But dogs can make this distinctive sound for a few different reasons. Apparently, it could be a sign of loneliness or of marking territory. It acts as a way of directing their absent owners back to them, too. undefined 40. Lounging on your belongings Whether theyve picked a convenient moment or not, your cat loves to be the center of your universe and have you all to themselves. This can take the form of lowering themselves onto that snug pile of clean laundry or lounging directly on your computer. And this behavior shows how clever cats are. Having figured out the items that seem particularly interesting to you, such as a book or newspaper, the dastardly creatures then go and target them. Just be thankful they havent peed on your personal belongings... yet. 41. Rubbing against you When cats rub their head against you, theyre marking you as one of their own with the concentrated scent glands in their cheeks and head. Congratulations, youre family! 42. Pulling back their mouth Got a noisy dog? If so, youll know its weird when youre suddenly greeted with silence. It makes you wonder whether your pets okay. Well, should you find that their mouth is shut and pulled back, theyre not okay. Your dog is probably afraid or anxious, in fact, so show them a bit of love. undefined 43. Shaking their head Have you ever questioned why your dog shakes their head on occasion? Wonder no more. As veterinarian Jennifer Coates explained to PetMD, Head shaking is a brilliant way for dogs to get something out of their ears that shouldnt be there. When dogs feel itchiness or irritation in their ears, they instinctively shake their heads. Now you know! 44. Panting Us humans pant when were trying to catch our breath, but its a little bit different with dogs. Cesars Way revealed, Because dogs sweat through the pads on their feet, most of their body heat is expelled through their mouths when they pant. Its their primary means of regulating body temperature. Dogs also pant to cope with pain. undefined 45. Bringing you prey Sure, its kind of gross when cats bring dead animals into the house, but they do it because they want to share in the spoils. Oh, yeah, and theyre trying to teach you how to catch your own prey, too. Thanks, kitties! 46. Straightening their tail You can tell a lot about a dog by how their tail moves. So, why does it straighten up sometimes? Is that a bad sign? We can assure you that it isnt. Basically, its a way for canines to show their excitement. A stiff tail also indicates arousal... so theres that, too! 47. Exposing their stomach Its always nice to show your dog affection, but you may still be caught in two minds when they roll over onto their back. Should you give your pet a belly rub or focus on another area? Well, your pooch is actually showing their respect for you if theyre revealing their stomach. And, yes, that means you can tickle away! undefined 48. Pricking their ears If youre bored at home, you could entertain yourself just by watching your dogs ears. Theyre as unpredictable as any TV drama! Why do dogs ears prick forward, though? Well, its a sign of interest. Your pooch has picked up on something they really want to hear. undefined 49. Headbutting When cats headbutt, they do so with the best of intentions rather than to instigate brawls. Theres even science behind their actions: the animals are transferring their smell onto you and leaving their feline fragrance on your forehead or whichever body part theyre rubbing against! Theres actually a name for this rather odd phenomenon. Its called bunting. undefined 50. Growling Growling is a bad sign, right? Yep! Generally speaking, its a warning to not get too close or to not take that bone away. But its not always that serious. Growling sometimes happens when a pair of pooches are play-fighting, for instance, though you should still watch out for any biting that goes on. undefined 51. Pawing your legs Its pretty easy for a dog to get your attention, but you may not know what they actually want. If only we were all like Doctor Dolittle! Well, at least one dog behavior is simple enough to understand. A paw to the lap? That means your beloved pet wants some fuss from you. undefined 52. Chasing their tail A dog chasing their tail is adorable, and you shouldnt be worried if they dont do it too often. If your canine pal is fixated on the act, though, there could be an underlying issue such as a potential ear infection. Keep that in mind, and go to the vet if you think theres a problem. undefined 53. Dashing randomly around your home Cats have bursts of activity when they suddenly dart around, just like humans do when they head to the gym and clamber onto the treadmill. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason to this spontaneous outpouring of energy other than, well, theyre just a little weird. But as domesticated pets have no need to hunt, their restlessness needs an outlet somehow even if that results in them wildly barrelling about the house. 54. Crouching When some animals crouch down, theyre usually ready to spring back up and catch something. But thats not always the case with dogs. Crouching could indicate that theyre feeling anxious or afraid of their surroundings. On the other hand, it could be a sign that your pet is eager to have a little fun especially if you have a ball in your hand! undefined 55. Freezing their position When something startles you, how do you react? Do you run away or find yourself frozen to the spot? Well, dogs are no different in that respect. A terrified pooch may just stay put, unable to move in the face of whatever is frightening them. Wed advise you to be very cautious around them if thats the case. undefined 56. Showing their teeth One thing you can say about dogs? Theyre not afraid to let you know when somethings bothering them. And the way they tell you? By showing their teeth, of course! Different dogs have different tipping points, though, so not every pooch will be annoyed by the same thing. Just like humans, then! 57. Splaying their legs wide Cats can strike suggestive poses, but its best to not analyze this too much. No offense, but they probably dont like you in that way. Using body language, kitties are deliberately exposing their vulnerability and therefore communicating their subservience. Oh, and theres a simpler explanation, too. Apparently, the animals find the legs-akimbo position pretty comfy. 58. Digging Cesar Millan has explained why dogs just love to make a mess in the yard. He said on his website, Digging is an instinctual activity written deep in a dogs DNA. Dogs in natural packs will dig to hide food or to uncover food such as small rodents. A den dug in the cool earth can also provide shelter from the heat. Who knew? undefined 59. Mounting and humping Lets face it: there are few things more embarrassing than your dog humping away in front of strangers. But is this just a sexual act? You bet! By jumping on a person or another pooch, your dog is, ahem, trying to pleasure themselves. Best cover your childrens eyes, then... 60. Whimpering The PetHelpful website explains, If a dog produces a low, short whine or whimper, hes excited, anxious, or submissive. A prolonged whine or whimper shows that hes uncomfortable or in pain. Its also possible that a lot of dogs will whimper or whine simply to get your attention. Got it! undefined 61. Sticking their butt in your face No sooner do you think youve really bonded with your cat than they go and cross a line by shoving their puckered butt right in your face. But before you jump to conclusions, this isnt your pet not respecting your boundaries. In fact, its quite the opposite. You see, rather than giving you the bums rush, your cat actually wants to deepen their relationship with you! undefined 62. Eating poop We hope youve got a strong stomach for this one! Yes, dogs do eat poop from time to time but what drives them to it? Well, they may feel the need to get rid of their own mess if theyve done it somewhere they shouldnt have. Then again, your pooch may be chowing down on the poop out of sheer curiosity. Cant say weve ever felt the same... undefined 63. Blanking the food you give them, then snacking on other stuff Cats are grazers, which means they often arent hungry. The message here is to not waste that side of salmon on your fluffy companion, as he or she will probably reject your gourmet gift. And your cat will normally revisit their meal during the day or night, so dont clear it away, either. 64. Bowing Us humans usually bow as a sign of respect to another person. Dogs, though? They do it for an entirely different reason. Basically, bowing shows theyre happy. Its different from crouching, too. A dog will bring their torso down to the floor and rest their paws in front of them. undefined 65. Tucking their tail between their legs You may be surprised to hear that dogs do indeed tuck their tail between their legs at times. No, its not just something we say! Why does it happen, though? Well, scared pooches react in that manner. That means its time for a cuddle, then, or at least a friendly pet to help calm your dog down. undefined 66. Jiggling their backside before pouncing When a cat spots their prey, they start to vibrate. This isnt because theyre on silent mode and are suppressing a miaow. Nor is it down to a sudden drop in body temperature or because theyre petrified of the impending conflict. They start to shudder because theyre balancing themselves on all paws and preparing to attack. undefined 67. Biting Yes, dogs are prone to biting people, but why do they do it? Listen to Cesar Millan, who says on his website, A dog will bite a person as a way of communicating their current state of mind. The dog could be reacting in aggression, fear, or nervousness. [But] there are ways to prevent a dog bite from ever happening if you stay in tune to the dogs body language. Phew! undefined 68. Licking their lips When your dog starts to lick their lips, dont be deceived. If theyre away from their bowl, its nothing to do with food. Instead, its a sign of nervousness, as canine expert Amy Bender explained on The Spruce Pets. She called the behavior an appeasement gesture. undefined 69. Burying their business Burying poop is in your cats genes. Yes, really! For their ancestors, it was a good way to throw predators quite literally off the scent. Also, it ensured they werent ostracized from the cat community, as that way they werent leaving any offensive smells around. This year's Conservative Political Action Conference, an erstwhile cross section of the GOP that has turned into a major staging ground for the party's MAGA grassroots, is set to kick off in full force on Thursday. The four-day conference, which formally started on Wednesday before big events begin Thursday, is expected to continue its relatively new legacy of vociferous support for former President Donald Trump and opposition toward his perceived enemies, both within and outside the Republican Party. This year's gathering is taking place in an election year when Trump looks set to coast to his third straight GOP nomination while promising "retribution" -- and weighing who he might pick to join him on the Republican ticket this November. All the while, the conference, much like the party, is delving into the nation's culture wars. Here are three things to watch at this year's CPAC, which is set to attract notable names beyond Trump himself. PHOTO: Former President, Donald J. Trump speaks at the CPAC Conference in Washington, Mar. 4, 2023. (Pacific Press/LightRocket via Ge) How much 'retribution' do Republicans want? Trump vowed to Republicans at a rally in Waco, Texas, last year that he would be "your retribution" -- a position he has since echoed and also sought to downplay. But many of his supporters have sounded eager for him to make good on his promise, though it's unclear how much revenge they're looking for, either inside the GOP or in the federal government, if Trump is elected again. Trump will speak to the crowd on Saturday, and the schedule is packed with his allies. Their remarks could help illuminate how much they and the base want to punish Democrats or government bureaucrats whom Trump has derided as the "deep state," should Trump retake the White House later this year. MORE: Trump brings in more than $6.8 million from Greenville, South Carolina, fundraiser ahead of primary Already, the former president has expressed interest in firing swaths of the government's career civil servants, falsely accusing them of broadly undermining his agenda while he was in office. He's also floated going after President Joe Biden in retaliation for some of the criminal charges he faces, indictments that were brought by independent prosecutors but that he and his followers claim were politically motivated. He has pleaded not guilty. CPAC in recent years has bragged about not inviting Sen. Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential nominee-turned-Trump critic, and speaker slots in recent years have been reserved for those allied with the former president. Now, the conference is taking place after Trump dispatched with a slate of primary challengers, none of whom came particularly close to supplanting him atop the polls or as de facto GOP leader. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who suspended his own presidential campaign after running as a Trump cheerleader, is the only other former candidate taking the stage. A spate of vice president auditions With Trump cruising to victory in the initial nominating races in states like Iowa and Nevada, increased attention is being paid to who could join him on the 2024 GOP ticket -- and many of the would-be contenders are slated to speak at CPAC in the next few days. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik (a member of her party's House leadership) and Ohio Sen. JD Vance are among those speaking at CPAC who are thought to be in the vice-presidential conversation. The conference marks one of the first cattle calls where multiple would-be running mates are in attendance, marking CPAC as an audition of sorts in front of the heart of Trump's base. CPAC is also including a vice presidential question on its straw poll for the first time in at least 10 years. It's not clear yet who will be featured in the non-scientific survey. PHOTO: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation conference at the Library of Congress, Feb. 17, 2023, in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Picking battles in the culture war Republicans in Washington are in the middle of a slew of policy debates, from Ukraine aid to government funding to the country's spying powers. But if this year's CPAC reflects the way the conference has gone in recent years, there will be an intense focus on culture war issues that reflect some of the base's priorities. MORE: 'I feel no need to kiss the ring' of Trump, Haley says as she refuses to drop out Though there will certainly be discussions on foreign aid and abortion, among other things, the conference is also stocked with panels addressing the right's grievance on issues like education and more, including talks on " Would Moses Go To Harvard?", Trump's Wall Vs. Biden's Gaps" and " Putting Our Heads in the Gas Stove," referencing the often-cited and hyperbolic GOP complaint that Democrats are pushing families to use electric stoves. CPAC this year chose Ramaswamy to headline its vaunted Ronald Reagan Dinner -- which, if similar to the way Ramaswamy ran his presidential campaign, will focus on a potential wholesale revamp of the federal government and what he calls the disintegration of the family unit in America. 3 things to what to watch at this year's CPAC gathering of Republicans in DC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com South Dakota State University campus is seen on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 in Brookings, S.D. The number of students graduating from South Dakota high schools is declining. And fewer of those graduates are enrolling in any higher education, let alone attending one of South Dakotas public universities. Before an anticipated demographic shift makes the problem even worse, state officials are starting a pilot project to proactively admit high schoolers into college. Universities across the country are expecting an enrollment decline called the 2025 cliff, largely attributed to a lower birth rate during the Great Recession of 2007-2009. After that, therell be a 10% decline in high school graduates from 2025 to 2037, South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director Nathan Lukkes told lawmakers earlier this year. Enrollment at the states universities is already down from a high of 36,662 in 2017 to 34,372 this year. The front of the University of South Dakota campus sign on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 in Vermillion, South Dakota. Direct admissions pilot project Starting in fall 2024, some South Dakota public universities plan to proactively admit high school juniors to select programs based on the students transcript. Participating universities: Black Hills State University Northern State University South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Participating school districts: Sioux Falls School District Aberdeen School District Spearfish School District That wont just have an impact on universities bottom lines. Itll also impact the South Dakota workforce: fewer children, graduates and workers. Exacerbating the problem is the drop in South Dakota high school graduates seeking higher education. That number has steadily declined in recent years from 67% enrollment in any postsecondary institution (including technical colleges) in 2018 to 63% in 2021, according to the most recent data available. The percentage of South Dakota high school graduates enrolled in an in-state public university dropped by four percentage points in that same timeframe. Washington High School teacher Alison Terhorst works with her students to decorate her classroom door for an annual contest on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 at Washington High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There is growth in South Dakota child populations in some areas of the state, such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City. But the challenge, Lukkes told lawmakers, is that the growth is largely in diverse, low-income families without histories of college enrollment. Some of those families might not be encouraging or suggesting their children attend higher education. They might not even consider it a possibility. So, Lukkes said, the Board of Regents is fostering that conversation. The state entity is partnering with three school districts to proactively admit high school juniors to some state universities based on the students grades and curriculum. The hope is to get people who maybe didnt see higher education as a viable pathway to realize that they do have what it takes to be successful in higher education and to fuel our workforce in the state, Lukkes said. The Board of Regents plans to inform some high school juniors this fall in Aberdeen, Sioux Falls and Spearfish that theyve been proactively admitted into one or more universities or colleges. Specific admission criteria havent been established yet, said Janice Minder, the regents system vice president for academic policy and planning. The participating state universities are Black Hills State, Northern State, South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota. Dakota State and South Dakota Mines wont participate, both to collect comparative data and because the schools programs are more specialized than other institutions. Its not going to move the needle at those institutions to the extent it might for USD-Sioux Falls, Black Hills or Northern, Lukkes said. The program is modeled after Idahos direct admissions system, which has seen early success. Direct admissions increased first-time enrollments by 4-8% and in-state enrollments by 8-15%, according to a study published in the Research in Higher Education journal. However, the same study found the program had minimal to no impact on the enrollment of Pell Grant-eligible students, a federal need-based grant to low-income students. Depending on the success of the pilot program, Lukkes hopes to roll the program out across the state. Minder said the direct admissions notification alone wont improve enrollment rates. School districts and universities will have to focus more on services helping students adjust to higher education. Communication paired with wraparound services, such as guidance on navigating the admission process, filling out the financial aid application, and exploring scholarship opportunities, is vital for students as they imagine their future in higher education, Minder said in an emailed statement. The direct admission program fits into a critical part of the Board of Regents mission, Lukkes said, which is providing access to higher education pathways if students desire. Were not Harvard. Were not an elite institution, Lukkes said. We try to create opportunities for all students and we want to make sure that they have viable pathways to be successful if they choose to pursue their education beyond high school. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Pilot project aims to bolster South Dakota university enrollment CAIRO, Egypt Bundled up in layers of blankets at a tent encampment in Gazas southern city of Rafah, baby Anas Stateh cries out in pain. For weeks, the five-month-old has suffered from a hernia that requires urgent surgery, but the war has made it impossible for his parents to get him the help he needs. The boy is weak, his father, Jalal Stateh, told NBC News crew in Rafah, where more than 1 million people have taken refuge last week amid Israels offensive in the enclave. Baby Anas, he said, gets no sleep, day or night. I am watching him losing him, Jalal Stateh added. Anas has already survived plenty. In November, he was one of 31 babies evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza as part of a high-stakes mission led by the World Health Organization. Baby Anas Stateh with his mother Wardeh and father Jalal in Rafah, southern Gaza. (NBC News) Once considered the backbone of Gazas health care system, the complex was raided by the Israel Defense Forces, with the IDF alleging the hospital was being used as a command center for Hamas an allegation supported by U.S. intelligence, according to a U.S. official. In November, Israel released footage it said showed hostages being forced onto the premises of Al-Shifa Hospital, as well as video purported to show a tunnel under the facility. Before evacuating the complex, and already cut off from food, water and fuel for electricity, doctors were forced to move the babies from their incubators to a temperature-controlled operating room. Dr. Ahmed El Mokhallallati, the director of Al-Shifas burns unit, recalled how he risked his life climbing up to the hospitals rooftop, which he said was surrounded by snipers, to a get strong enough signal to send photos of the babies out to the world, in hopes that the international community might intervene. In the photos, which he shared at the time with NBC News, babies could be seen lying side by side with tape and tubes attached to their faces. Newborns taken off incubators in Gaza's Al Shifa hospital after power outage (Ahmed El Mokhallallati) [I was] hearing gunshots hitting the wall beside [me], he said. He added that many of the babies were conceived via in vitro fertilization, or IVF therapy, with families spending thousands of dollars to have them. A lot of efforts have been spent to get these babies to their lives we were about to lose their lives just because we were unable to have incubators. We were unable to get electricity, El Mokhallallati said. Despite efforts to save them, six babies died during the Israeli militarys siege and subsequent raid of Al-Shifa Hospital, according to doctors. Those who survived were rushed south, first to the El Emirati Hospital in Rafah, and then to two other hospitals in Egypt, including the New Administrative Capital Hospital outside Cairo. Because only mothers were allowed to accompany the babies across the border, Anas parents were forced to make an impossible choice either keep Anas with them in Gaza to keep the family together or send him alone to Egypt where hed be safer. They chose to keep him in Gaza. Most of the other babies were sent to Egypt for care. We received the babies without any data from them, Dr. Mohamed Abu Sekkine, who is charged with the babies care at the New Administrative Capital Hospital said in late November. They brought them for us with very bad general condition, he said, adding that those still at the hospital are now more or less stable. Five-month-old Anas Stateh. (NBC News) Most of the babies arrived at the hospital unaccompanied, with the whereabouts of their families unknown. Some babies have since been reunited with their parents, including two sets of twins, while the families of others have yet to be found. As of Thursday, nine babies remained in the nursery without their mothers. One baby, known only as Halema, believed to be his mothers name, is among them. He lost an eye in Gaza and had a rare bacterial infection when he arrived at the Egyptian hospital. Hes now out of the NICU and recovering well, but his loved ones are believed to have died, with no one coming forward to claim him. Egyptian and Palestinian authorities have said they are determined to track down the families of the babies who have yet to be claimed assuming they have survived Israels offensive, which has so far seen more than 29,000 people killed in Gaza, with more than two-thirds being women and children. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas Oct. 7 attacks, in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 others were taken hostage by Hamas. Nour Al Banna is the only mother who has been able to reconnect with her 5-month-old twin daughters, Layan and Leena, before they crossed the border into Egypt for urgent medical care. I knew they were besieged, no food, no water, no medicine. I was really afraid of losing them, she told NBC News in November. I kept on crying when I found them alive. I wanted to know how their health was. The doctor in the other hospital told me he was surprised how they survived. In Rafah, Anas family is struggling to survive. They have already had to relocate from a shelter in Khan Younis due to bombing and with Israeli forces planning a ground offensive in Rafah, they are worried theyll need to move once again. Anas Stateh is fed by his mother in the back of a vehicle. (NBC News) Jalal Stateh and his wife, Wardeh Stateh, have tried taking their son to several hospitals across southern Gaza to get his hernia treated, but each time theyve been turned away, with the few medical facilities still running already packed with patients in need of urgent care. Israel has warned that if Hamas does not return all hostages by the start of Ramadan, which begins the evening of March 10, its forces will launch their ground assault on Rafah, which Israel once declared a safe zone. I am afraid to move, Jalal Stateh says. [What if] I cant find food or milk for Anas? The area where people are heading, El Wasta, for sure, it has no milk. Water is hard to get. There is no electricity, things are tough. The father said he regrets the decision not to send Anas to Egypt where hed have access to the medical care he needs to survive. But at the time, he had no way of knowing Anas would need surgery. His health is deteriorating, he said. I am so worried about him, that I will lose him if we dont save him I want the war to stop, and I want God to honor Anas and perform the surgery so that Anas can live like his siblings and live in peace like the rest of the worlds children. Erin McLaughlin and Charlene Gubash reported from Cairo, and Chantal Da Silva from Tel Aviv. President Biden on Wednesday called this weeks Alabama court ruling that frozen embryos are people a direct result of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, with his campaign laying the blame at the feet of former President Trump. Today, in 2024 in America, women are being turned away from emergency rooms and forced to travel hundreds of miles for health care, while doctors fear prosecution for providing an abortion, Biden said in a statement. And now, a court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant. The disregard for womens ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable. Make no mistake: this is a direct result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Biden added. The president vowed to keep fighting for womens reproductive rights and to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level, though the latter is extremely unlikely given the divided Congress. Bidens statement came a day after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling, which marked the first time a court has ever given rights and protections so early after conception. The ruling did not ban in vitro fertilization (IVF) and is limited to Alabama, but it has far-reaching potential and seems poised to open a new front in the fight over reproductive rights in the country. At least two Alabama health systems have said they will pause IVF treatments in the wake of the decision. The Biden campaign, in a separate statement, tied the Alabama decision directly to Trumps appointment of three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during his first White House term. What is happening in Alabama right now is only possible because Donald Trumps Supreme Court justices overturned Roe v. Wade. Across the nation, MAGA Republicans are inserting themselves into the most personal decisions a family can make, from contraception to IVF, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. With their latest attack on reproductive freedom, these so-called pro-life Republicans are preventing loving couples from growing their families. If Donald Trump is elected, there is no question that he will impose his extreme anti-freedom agenda on the entire country. Trump, the likely Republican nominee in November, has not weighed in on the ruling. His lone remaining GOP primary rival, Nikki Haley, has said she believes embryos are babies, though she sought to clarify that she did not mean she agreed with the Alabama decision. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. More than 40 Los Angeles City Firefighters on Wednesday rescued a 1,200-pound horse named Lucky from a muddy hole in Lake View Terrace. LAFD said they responded to a 911 call of a horse stuck in the mud in the backyard of a residence in the 10400 block of W. Foothill Boulevard at about 12:35 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they found a horse trapped in a muddy hole. There was a sinkhole and at times the horse was up to its head inside the sinkhole, said LA city fire captain and public information officer Adam VanGerpen. VanGerpen said because the soil was very loose, they called Urban Search and Rescue as well as the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team (SMART) that provides assistance in animal rescues. More than 40 firefighters came to rescue the 20-year-old female horse named Lucky. We brought in an excavator, we set up a height point, and we were able to dig out the horse, said VenGerpen. Crews successfully used a pulley system to hoist the horse. Luckys owner, Juan Lastre, said his wife had saddled up the horse before noon and started walking when suddenly he thought the horse tripped on the asphalt. However, the horse had actually fallen forward and thats when it started to sink. We took the saddle off, but she struggled with the back legs. As she struggled, she was going deeper and deeper, and I put sandbags, but that didnt help, said Lastre. VenGerpen said the rescue took at least two hours, but the horse was in the hole for at least four. We evaluated the horse. Lucky is very lucky to be alive, said VenGerpen. A Texas judge ruled Thursday that the states CROWN Act does not make it unlawful for school dress codes to limit a students hair length. The decision is a blow to Darryl George, a Houston-area high school student who sued the Barbers Hill Independent School District after he was suspended for months over the length of his locs hairstyle. The George family did not make an appearance after the trial, but attorneys for the family said they intend to appeal the ruling. At a news conference outside the courthouse, Candice Matthews, a spokesperson for the family, said George had tears in his eyes as theyd left the courtroom. She said the family is disappointed, angered and confused by the ruling. Darryl made this statement, and told me this straight up with tears in his eyes, All because of my hair? I cant get my education because of hair? I cannot be around other peers and enjoy my junior year, because of my hair? Matthews said that George will continue to serve in-school suspension and that his attorneys plan to file for an injunction in an upcoming federal civil rights lawsuit. Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole said the ruling validated our position that the districts dress code does not violate the CROWN Act and that the CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that affirmative action is a violation of the 14th Amendment and we believe the same reasoning will eventually be applied to the CROWN Act, he said. Poole previously told CNN hair length of male students is only constitutionally protected for Native American students. The Texas CROWN Act, went into effect on September 1, 2023, and prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles that are commonly associated with a particular race or culture. Texas state Rep. Ron Reynolds, a co-author of the CROWN Act who testified at the trial on Georges behalf, said he was disappointed by the outcome. We will not stop. We will continue to speak truth to power, Reynolds said, adding that if Georges appeal is unsuccessful lawmakers will file new legislation that will include hair length. We know the purpose of the bill, the purpose of the legislation is to protect students like Darryl, he said. The Barbers Hill dress code allows students to wear locs hairstyles but places limits on the length of male students hair. It states boys hair will not extend below the eyebrows, below the ear lobes, or below the top of a t-shirt collar. Last September, the school district filed a declaratory judgment lawsuit asking the court to decide if the Barbers Hill Independent School Districts dress and grooming code policy, limiting student hair length does not violate the CROWN Act. George and his family have also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against school officials and Texas state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, alleging they have failed to enforce the state law and have caused emotional distress. Supporters of Darryl George hold signs during a protest outside of the home of Barbers Hill Independent School District superintendent Greg Poole on Wednesday, February, 22, 2024. - Juan Lozano/AP Before the trial began, George told reporters that spending most of this academic year isolated and on in-school suspension has been very lonely. I started my dreads for a reason, and thats just to feel close to my people to feel my ancestors, George said. It just makes me feel angry, very angry that throughout all these years, throughout all the fighting for the Black History that weve done, that we still have to do this again, and again, and again. Its ridiculous. His mother, Darresha, became emotional as she thanked supporters for making us stand strong. In January, Poole placed a full page ad in the Houston Chronicle, arguing that being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity, CNN previously reported. Barbers Hill ISD will continue to make decisions to protect and fight for the rights of its community to set the standards and expectations for our school district even if that path takes us to the U.S. Supreme Court, he wrote in the ad. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sharon Chischilly Native Americans are far less likely than other racial groups to gain a spot on the national liver transplant list, despite having the highest rate of death from liver disease, according to an analysis of four years of transplant data by The Markup and The Washington Post. Compared with their total number of deaths from liver disease, White people gain a spot on the transplant list almost three times more often than Native Americans, the data shows. Had transplant rates been equal, nearly 1,000 additional Native people would have received liver transplants between 2018 and 2021. Native Americans who do win a spot on the list advance to surgery at about the same rate as White people, showing that list access is a primary driver of disparity. Among other racial groups, the liver transplant acceptance rate for Black people is slightly lower than for White patients nationally, while Asian Americans have the highest rate of acceptance to the transplant waitlist by far. These findings come as mortality from liver disease is climbing across the nation, hitting nearly 57,000 deaths in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Liver disease is commonly caused by obesity, hepatitis C, and alcoholism. Researchers have attributed the rise in mortality to increased heavy drinking during the pandemic, especially among young people. Data show poor access to inpatient treatment for alcoholism for tribes across the country. The only cure for end-stage liver disease is a transplant. And getting on the list typically involves a referral by a doctor, which can be hard for those with limited resources to access. Architects of the U.S. transplant system have wrestled with how to equitably distribute the scarce resources since the program's inception 40 years ago, concerned that organs would flow to the privileged. Yet, decades later, inequities persist. Liver disease deaths have long been an epidemic in Indian Country, where Native Americans are four times more likely to die from the disease than non-Hispanic White people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the second leading cause of death among Indigenous men ages 35 to 44. [pictured above: Lee Yaiva, a member of the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.] Sharon Chischilly When liver disease hits tragically close to home Lee Yaiva said every time he went home to the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, he found that alcoholism had claimed another victim. In July 2022, it was one of his brothers, then in his early 30s. A month later, a second brother died at 29. [In the photo above, Lee Yaiva shows a photo on his phone of his late brothers.] Yaiva said both brothers were aware their drinking had taken a toll on their livers. The family declined an autopsy in the first death. In the second, doctors confirmed the brother's liver had shut down. While cleaning out his house, Yaiva discovered dozens of empty bottles of cough syrup, one of the only sources of alcohol on a reservation where it's not sold. Living on a rural reservation without cars of their own, the brothers found it difficult to get to the local Indian Health Service clinic, the only medical care Yaiva said his brothers received. Getting to a transplant center in Phoenix four hours away was unthinkable. He said his brothers never considered a transplant. As far as he knows, the option was not offered. Yaiva believes poverty was part of the reason his brothers died untreated. Transplant professionals agree poverty can be a barrier, with lack of paid time off and unreliable transportation as other factors. "They kind of accept" death, he said. "It has a lot to do with self-worth." Loretta Christensen, IHS's chief medical officer, said liver disease patients from Indian Country are often diagnosed late, limiting their options. And they may not know that a liver transplant is a possibility. "We need to increase public education," Christensen said. "We certainly want those who may need a transplant to get that information." For this story, The Markup and the Post compared national transplant figures with an indicator of transplant need: the rate of liver disease mortality for each racial group, as measured by the CDC. The results: For every 100 Asian people who died from liver disease, approximately 68 patients were accepted for a transplant from 2018 to 2021. Among White people, 26 patients were accepted; among Black people, it was 23. (Latinos, who are assigned to various racial groups in the data, are excluded from this analysis.) The Markup From 2018-2021, among Indigenous people, just nine patients were accepted for a transplant for every 100 who died from liver disease "The unevenness in access and outcomes is a problem for all of us," said Dr. Jewel Mullen, who has examined disparities in organ transplants and is the associate dean for health equity at University of Texas at Austin's medical school. "They limit our ability to be as healthy as we can be as a society. And I want to believe that at our core [there] is still some fundamental belief in fairness." In some parts of the country, racial disparities appeared particularly stark. In Washington D.C., and Arkansas, for example, White people were twice as likely as Black people to be added to the liver transplant list when compared to their rates of death from liver disease. "It's not like people saying, 'Oh, you are Black, you aren't going to get it,'" said Dr. Nikhilesh Mazumder, a gastroenterologist at University of Michigan Health. Mazumder believes it's more that the history of race in Americaand its persistent connection to povertyhas "ended up stacking the deck against referral." And even small national differences can add up: An estimated 430 additional Black people would have been accepted for liver transplants from 2018 to 2021 had national transplant rates been equal. A history of problems In 2022, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reported that an individual's chance of being added to the transplant list "varies greatly based on race and ethnicity, gender, geographic location, socioeconomic status (SES), disability status, and immigration status." Kenneth Kizer, who chaired the report's committee and is best known for reshaping the Department of Veterans Affairs in the 1990s, said "the responsibility lies with HRSA," the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency under HHS. Kizer is not alone in that assessment. When Congress established the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network in 1984 to oversee the allocation of the nation's organ supply, lawmakers mandated that a task force convene to make "recommendations for assuring equitable access." "We were trying to make sure it would be available for everybody regardless of race or income," said former Oklahoma senator Don Nickles, a Republican who co-sponsored the legislation. "We wanted the opportunity to be there to save lives." For decades, federal law has required the network to increase transplantation among "racial and ethnic minority groups and among populations with limited access to transportation," but neither the network nor its administrator, the United Network for Organ Sharing, pointed to efforts they'd made to address inequities in access to the liver transplant waitlist. Since 2000, HHS has required the network to collect information about "patients who were inappropriately kept off a waiting list," but it has never happened. "If we don't have that data, we are not going to be able to understand where to intervene," said Rachel Patzer, an epidemiologist who leads health research organization the Regenstrief Institute and former chair of the organ network's Data Advisory Committee. Patzer pushed for 15 years to jump-start the data collection process but said she was stymied by red tape. Anne Paschke, a spokesperson for the United Network for Organ Sharing, agreed that the data is crucial but said her organization doesn't have the authority to collect it; HRSA spokesperson Martin Kramer did not dispute the claim that it's holding up data collection and did not answer questions about the more than two-decade delay. Kramer said in a written statement that the agency is undergoing the "most significant overhaul in decades," including plans to improve data collection. "In order to improve waitlist access for people of color, we first need to better understand why access issues persist and have the legal authority to act on our findings," she said in a statement. "Letting a lot of young people die" Experts say data about who is denied transplants could shine a spotlight on inequities at transplant centers. Because organs are in short supply nationally, transplant teams are selective about who is placed on the list. But no federal rules require transplant centers to make their selection criteria public. Two centers acknowledge that they will not accept patients with alcohol-associated liver disease unless they are six months sober. The rule stems from fear the new liver would be destroyed by continued drinking. But doctors began abandoning this policy more than a decade ago after research showed that carefully selected patients who had not established six months of sobriety before the transplant were nonetheless thriving two years after receiving a new liver. More than a dozen other centers either declined to provide their policies or did not respond. "We were letting a lot of young people die who really should have been transplanted," Russell Rosenblatt, a transplant hepatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, said of the six-month rule. Changes in national policy can improve equity. Prior to 2002, data showed that Black patients were more likely than White patients to die waiting for a liver transplant. Then, transplant centers rolled out a new way of measuring the severity of the disease so sicker patients could be identified and given higher priority. A study published in 2008 in the influential journal JAMA found this new measurementknown as the MELD score, for Model for End-Stage Liver Diseaseradically improved outcomes for Black people on the liver transplant list, wiping out their disparities in deaths in the four years examined. Donna Cryer, who leads the nonprofit Global Liver Institute, said inequity begins long before a transplant becomes necessary. Patients without access to regular primary care may not be screened for liver disease. The disease is often treated by gastroenterologists or hepatologists, who in turn make referrals to transplant centers when a patient's illness becomes life-threatening. "We see a lot of patients drop off" at the specialist stage, Cryer said. "The incentives on finding more people are not there." Several experts said lacking reliable transportation and living far from a transplant center can also put the surgery out of reach. Patients on the transplant list must be able to get to routine exams and care leading up to their surgery, and they need to be able to get to a hospital at a moment's notice should an organ match become available. Patients sometimes move to live closer to their hospital for this reasonif they can afford it. Sharon Chischilly Devastation on reservations In August, Yaiva, the Hopi citizen, was shattered to learn that a third brother had been found dead a week before his 38th birthday. Though the family again declined an autopsy, Yaiva said, he again suspected that years of alcoholism had taken its toll. Near the end, yellowed skin and a bloated body had put the often silent, slow-moving disease on sickly display. "I feel bad for my mom," he said. "It's a constant tragedy." Yaiva won his own battle with alcoholism a decade ago and went on to become CEO of Scottsdale Recovery Center, which offers culturally informed, inpatient programs for Native American clients. While the Affordable Care Act now requires insurance to cover substance use disorder treatment, Yaiva said, many Native Americans struggle to pay for sober housing and other care. One in four Indigenous Americans lives in poverty, according to census data, the highest of any racial group. Citizens of recognized tribes have a right to free health care under federal law. Still, the Indian Health Service fails to provide services needed at many stages of liver disease and substance use disorder treatment, its data show. Though the agency serves a population of 2.6 million people with the highest rate of drug- and alcohol-related deaths in the U.S., IHS paid claims for inpatient substance use treatment for just 18 patients a year on average from 2018 to 2022. "The whole country is not getting the addiction treatment that they need broadly, but particularly in Indian Country, there are huge health disparities," said Monica Skewes, a psychology professor at Montana State University and investigator at the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity. IHS outsources most substance use treatment to tribal programs, but the quality varies. The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota, known as the MHA Nation, is wealthy from oil and gas revenue, and has its own inpatient and sober living facilities. But on the Montana reservation where Skewes works, she said, counselors with little training provide outpatient care. When she began a pilot substance use disorder program there, community members asked that participants be served full meals instead of snacks, quadrupling the food budget. "Otherwise, they are literally too hungry to pay attention," Skewes said. IHS has long struggled to pay for services outside its hospitals and clinics. "Many sites were limited to authorizing payment solely for life and limb-threatening emergencies," IHS spokesperson Nicole Adams said in a written statement. Adams said recent changes, including the implementation of Medicare-like reimbursement rates, has allowed the agency to stretch its dollars further and provide more services. Lack of substance use treatment is "profound in Indian Country in rural and extreme rural areas," she said, and it's a "pressing challenge" for the agency. She declined to comment on whether the liver disease care it currently provides is adequate. IHS officials have repeatedly asked for more federal funding, arguing that it is forced to defer tens of thousands of patients' requests annually for everything from eyeglasses to treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. IHS's data show the agency deferred nearly 113,000 patient requests to see specialists from 2018 to 2022, including 6,196 requests to see gastroenterologists. Hepatologists also treat liver disease, but deferrals for that specialty are not broken out in IHS records. However, agency data show it paid claims for just 226 patients a year to see hepatologists, on average. Rates were similar for gastroenterologists. IHS patients may sign up for Medicaid or Medicare or seek insurance through Affordable Care Act marketplacessomething IHS staff routinely recommend. When a patient has access to other coverage, IHS becomes the payer of last resort. Claim data shows the agency chipped in very little to the cost of liver transplantation, averaging $11,200 per patient. That is about 2% of the $650,000 billed for the average procedure, according to the actuarial and consulting firm Milliman. With medication, recovery, and other costs, the price can soar to nearly $900,000. From 2018 to 2022, the agency kicked in funding for just six liver transplants. During the same period, it deferred 105 requests for transplants of all organ types. Adams, the IHS spokesperson, said some requests that are initially deferred may be approved later. Scarcity extends beyond IHS. Large swaths of the country have no liver transplant centers, including the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, states that are home to more than two dozen Native American reservations. Monica Mayer, a Tribal Business Council representative for the MHA Nation and a former IHS physician, has seen firsthand what happens when liver disease is not treated in its early stages. Patients show up in the emergency room, well past the point when their lives could have been saved. "IHS is not doing a good job of taking care of us," she said. Mayer eventually rose to become chief medical officer of the IHS Great Plains Area before serving in tribal government. She said better addiction services are essential to stopping a "devastating" loss of life that has left some small tribes facing cultural extinction With every preventable death, she said, "We lose the ability to pass on traditions, our way of life, our language." Reporter Malena Carollo contributed to this story. This story was produced by The Markup and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Good morning. Boeing again found itself on the hot seat last month after a panel from one of its 737 Max 9 airplanes operated by Alaska Airlines blew out in midair, raising further questions about the quality of its manufacturing. On Wednesday, the company announced that Ed Clark, head of its 737 program and an 18-year Boeing veteran, would be leaving the company. Katie Ringgold, a long-time engineering and operations leader, is set to succeed him as vice president and general manager of that division. My colleague Shawn Tully explores the plight of Boeing in a new story, pointing out how the companys latest incident is just that: the latest. "The 108-year-old corporate icon had been dogged by safety concerns since two fatal crashes darkened its reputation and sent its finances reeling a half-decade agothe Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines disasters that together killed 346 people, Tully writes. The response to those catastrophes got then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg fired, and current CEO David Calhoun, a 26-year GE veteran, took the helm in January of 2020. Professed Calhoun following the door blowout: Were going to approach this, number one, by acknowledging our mistake. Were going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way." Last month, during Boeings earnings call for the period ending Dec. 31, Calhoun apologized again to Alaska Airlines, the crew, the passengers, and customers. Whatever the specific cause of the accident might turn out to be," he said, "an event like this simply must not happen on an airplane that leaves one of our factories. We simply must be better." At a session during the Cowen Aerospace & Defense Conference on Feb. 13, Brian West, CFO at Boeing since 2021, offered an apology and addressed production issues. West said that during the second half of this year, he "fully" expects to move toward the production of 737 airliners at a rate of 38 per month, following the companys recent slowdown to address quality issues. As Tully writes, on Jan. 24 the Federal Aviation Administration capped the output for the entire Max lineup now in commercial production, consisting of the 737-8 and 737-9, at the current rate of 38 per month," which is "a serious blow since Boeing was basing its comeback campaign on gradually raising its monthly Max output to 50 by 2025 or 2026." Boeings shortcomings are recurring and deep-seated, according to Tully. And theres a glaring leadership issue. The problem isnt merely that one worker on one assembly line failed to install a door screw, Tully writes. It was that managerial decisions, made over a period that spanned more than 20 years and four CEOs, gradually weakened a once-vaunted system of quality control and troubleshooting on the factory floor, leaving gaps that have allowed sundry defects to slip through. Read the complete article here. Sheryl Estrada sheryl.estrada@fortune.com This story was originally featured on Fortune.com VALENCIA, Spain (AP) A fire engulfed two residential buildings in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Thursday, injuring at least 13 people and sending fleeing residents onto balconies where they were rescued by firefighters, officials said. Firefighters rushed to the scene in the city center where flames could be seen bursting from windows of the 14-story residential building where the blaze apparently started. Residents could be seen waiting for rescue on balconies, and firefighters used a crane to rescue two residents from one of the balconies. Soldiers from Spains Military Emergency Unit also were deployed and medics set up a large tent to tend to the injured on the scene. The fire sent clouds of black smoke billowing skyward that could be seen from afar. Spain's weather agency, Aemet, reported winds of up to 60 kph (40 mph) at the time. The fire began in the early evening and spread to an adjacent building, state news agency Efe reported. Initial emergency service reports said there were at least 13 people injured with fractures, burns and smoke inhalation. The 13 included six firefighters. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the buildings or how many were rescued. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted a tweet on the X platform saying he was shocked by the terrible fire in a building in Valencia adding that he had offered the city all the help that is necessary. I want to convey my solidarity to all the people affected and recognition to all the emergency personnel already deployed at the scene, Sanchez said. STUART Swordfishing along the Treasure Coast is one of those advanced-level activities when it comes to fishing methods. It's a far cry from sitting on an overturned bucket dangling a worm for specks with a bamboo cane pole. It's not like bouncing a one-ounce flare hawk jig at the Turning Basin for snook or tripletail. It's not even like casting 150 yards into the surf for whiting and pompano. If successful, all of these endeavors can land a filet of fish on one's dinner table. Only if you land a swordfish especially one the size landed off Stuart Monday, estimated to weigh over 500 pounds well, those filets will end up on a whole lot more dinner tables. Bob Perimian of Rocky Point caught this swordfish off Hobe Sound Feb. 19, 2024. It is estimated to weigh more than 500 pounds. How swordfishing is like tuna fishing Bob Perimian of Rocky Point and Jeremy Peloquin have been watching the wind blow seemingly for months this winter. The two avid offshore anglers enjoy hitting the blue water outside the St. Lucie Inlet to catch popular fish such as cobia, wahoo, tilefish, dolphin and snapper. However, rough seas through November, December and part of January have limited the number of trips the duo can enjoy. When they can, they take Perimian's 42-foot Duffy Marta D offshore to troll, live bait or bottom fish for various fish they can bring back and eat. Monday, the plan was to fish for swordfish, which can be one of those more elusive catches. Sometimes anglers can fish all day for swordfish and not get one bite despite their best efforts. "Our goal is usually just to catch dinner," said Perimian, who moved to Martin County from Boston, Massachusetts in 2021. Bob Perimian of Rocky Point holds up the bill from a swordfish he caught Feb. 19, 2024. It was estimated to weigh 500 pounds or more. Perimian's experience has been fishing for giant bluefin tuna in the canyons off his home state. He's boated tuna that tipped scales at 500, 600 and even 900 pounds. "Swordfish, pound for pound, are a tough fighting fish" compared to tuna, he said. Monday morning, Perimian and Peloquin ran out to a spot off Jupiter Inlet in about 1,500 feet of water almost 20 miles off the beach. There, the Gulf Stream chugs northward at a nearly 3 knot clip. They drift fish for swordfish by deploying a bait in this case, a squid deep down. "I usually drop it down to the bottom and crank it up maybe 100 feet," Perimian said. They deployed another line closer to the surface. What happens when the line position changes? Before midday, Perimian noticed the line wasn't in the right place. "Jeremy asked me if the drift (of our boat) changed the angle of the line. When I told him it couldn't have, we started reeling in the line. What we saw with the line happens usually only with bigger swordfish," Perimian said. They engaged the Lindgren-Pittman electric reel and began taking up line. Not long after that, the big fish came to the surface and jumped the first of four jumps. They knew then they had the biggest swordfish Perimian had ever hooked. "I had only seen two or three bigger fish in the water. Those were on fishing trips to Australia in the 1990s for black marlin," Perimian said. Perimian said he reeled it in with 35 pounds of drag, and had the fish up four times. They took the weight off the rig and still had about 400 feet of line they had to fight the fish. Two and half hours later, the giant broadbill had begun to tire and they were ready to bring it aboard. When it was alongside, they slid a tail rope around it. They opened the boat's tuna door in the transom and used two block and tackles to help haul it onto the deck. Why now? El Nino rains to blame for Lake Okeechobee water sent to the St. Lucie River, Stuart Dirty river: What are Lake Okeechobee discharges? Risks include water pollution and toxic algae blooms Who wants fresh swordfish? They spent Monday afternoon dividing up their catch for a widening list of friends in Stuart. Perimian didn't have a way to weigh the swordfish. Using the weight calculation formula, the swordfish measured 138 inches overall 98 from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail and had a girth of 64 inches. "It was a fat fish, too. It had fat all the way down its body to the tail, so it may have weighed more than 500 pounds," Perimian said. He thought it yielded about 350 pounds of meat. He plans to have Lighthouse Point-based marine artist RJ Boyle decorate the nearly 4-foot-long bill with artwork. Swordfish info Florida record: 612.75 pounds, Stephen Stanford, May 7, 1978, Key Largo IGFA All Tackle world record: 1,182 pounds, Louis Marron, May 7, 1953, Chile Florida regulations: Minimum size 47.5 inches lower jaw to fork of tail; Bag limit 1 per angler not to exceed 4 per vessel; Season open year round Ed Killer produces fish stories for TCPalm. Email yours to ed.killer@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida anglers battle giant fish. How big was the swordfish? Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is already looking ahead to next week's Michigan primary, with her campaign unveiling its first TV ad in a state where many Republican officials have already lined up behind former President Donald Trump. Polls have shown Haley trailing Trump in her home state of South Carolina by a significant margin ahead of Saturday's primary. She is set to host her first campaign event in Michigan the next day with an event in Troy. Haley is Trump's last remaining challenger for the Republican nomination, and she has vowed to remain in the race, arguing she is the only Republican candidate who can defeat President Biden in November. Her ad released Wednesday highlights a potential Biden vs. Trump rematch that, according to Haley, "70% of Americans don't want." Her campaign is spending upwards of $230,000 to run the ad across Michigan airwaves ahead of the election on Tuesday. "I'll just say it. Biden's too old, and Congress is the most exclusive nursing home in America. Washington keeps failing because politicians from yesterday can't lead us into tomorrow. We need term limits, mental competency tests and a real plan to defeat China and restore our economy. We have to leave behind the chaos and drama of the past with a new generation and a new conservative president," Haley says in the ad, echoing her major campaign themes. Michigan GOP leaders have expressed skepticism that Haley's closing argument will significantly sway opinions in the Great Lakes State, and point out that Haley's path to victory continues to narrow. As of Tuesday, more than 765,000 voters had already cast their ballots for next week's Michigan primary, further complicating the Haley campaign's efforts to close the gap. "As to Trump support in Michigan, there is a large group of [Republicans] that will always support Trump, a middle group that will vote for whoever is the GOP nominee and a lesser group that will never vote for Trump," said Larry Ward, former political director for the Michigan Republican Party. That never-Trump vote is Haley's "very slim" window to capturing the nomination, one that depends on the outcome of Trump's various legal woes, Ward said. Republican lawmakers in Michigan have also coalesced around Trump. Last week, the Trump campaign announced the endorsement of more than 50 Republican members of the Michigan legislature. Thirteen out of the 18 Republicans in the state Senate and 39 out of 54 Republicans in the Michigan House support Trump. The Haley campaign has tried to argue that Trump's overwhelming support among Republican officials shows that he has become part of the party establishment. "And then I see [Trump] surround himself with the political establishment," Haley told supporters during a campaign stop in Aiken, South Carolina. "He did it with all these congressional members in D.C. I didn't ask for their support. I don't want their support. And the reason they don't want to give me mine is because I keep saying that I think it's time we have term limits in Washington, D.C." Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday 7-year-old girl dies after beach hole collapsed on her and her brother Haley defies calls from Trump to drop out of 2024 race The actress was in a taxi when the windows were smashed and robbers stole her purse, which had her passport in it, in 2013 Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Hilary Swank on The Tonight Show on Feb. 14, 2024 Hilary Swank is opening up about a scary situation from her past. Swank, 49, and her Ordinary Angels costar Alan Ritchson bonded with the ladies of The Viewon Thursday as they shared stories of their experiences being robbed and how they attempted to stop the thieves. After Ritchson, 41, recalled a date night with his wife that went awry as they witnessed a robbery and the actor chased the perpetrator down the street, Swank recalled her own experience chasing down a robber several years ago. I was living in Paris, I got robbed and I chased the guy down too, the actress recalled. I was like, Im gonna get my bag, I just need my passport. Give me my passport! She was chasing him down the side of the freeway because it was like a traffic jam, she continued of the 2013 incident, which happened while she was riding in a taxi in the suburb of Saint-Denis, Sky News reported at the time. Ritchson jumped in as his costar told the story, too, adding, The craziest part is it wasnt like somebody she wasnt like, I think that guys doing something wrong. She was in the vehicle and the guy smashed her window out. And chased him. Related: Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson Star in Trailer for Emotional True Story 'Ordinary Angels' (Exclusive) Julien Hekimian/Getty Hilary Swank attends the Salvatore Ferragamo Cruise Collection 2013 Show at Galerie Denon on June 12, 2012 in Paris Swank was in heeled boots while it happened, she said, and laughed as co-host Whoopi Goldberg joked, You know how long it takes to get a passport? The Oscar winner said her passport at the time was nice and thick and Id added pages with all the places that Id ever traveled. I was like, this is so meaningful. Despite chasing the guy down, it didnt seem as though Swank was successful at recovering her bag and her passport as she cut the story short as the segment of The View wrapped up. She said shed tell the rest of the story next time she was on the morning talk show. In Ordinary Angels, Swank stars as Sharon Stevens, a "fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed (Ritchson), a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters," according to an official synopsis. She starts out as a member of an alcoholism support group, but then cleans up her act to help the widower, whose 5-year-old is waiting for a liver transplant. "What unfolds is the inspiring tale of faith, everyday miracles and ordinary angels, the synopsis adds. Related: Hilary Swank Admits 'Sleepless Nights Are Hard' with Twins But Will Look Back Fondly on Them (Exclusive) At the New York City premiere on Monday, Ritchson and the film's director Jon Gunn both raved to PEOPLE about working with Swank, who Gunn called "an incredible actress." "She manages to manifest all kinds of feelings so honestly, no matter what. But seeing her now as a mom, she's glowing," Gunn said. Michael Loccisano/Getty Hilary Swank attends the Lionsgate's "Ordinary Angels" New York Premiere at SVA Theater on February 19, 2024 in New York City. Ritchson, meanwhile, joked, "I should probably just retire now that I've had Hilary Swank as a scene partner." "You're only as good as the people that you're with in a scene. It doesn't matter how good you are. When you're working with somebody like her, the sky's the limit for what you can do together in a moment," he said. "Getting a taste of that was a treat." The Lionsgate film also stars Tamala Jones, Amy Acker, Drew Powell, Skywalker Hughes and Emily Mitchell. 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. Ordinary Angels premieres in theaters on Thursday. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Ratray pleaded guilty to two charges related to his 2021 arrest for punching and strangling his then-girlfriend John Lamparski/Getty Devin Ratray Former Home Alone actor Devin Ratray has pleaded guilty to two domestic violence charges on Wednesday, reaching a deal that will keep him out of prison. The plea deal brings an end to Ratrays domestic violence case three years after he was arrested following an altercation with a woman in December 2021. Ratray, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of domestic assault and battery by strangulation and another count of domestic assault and battery, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. The actor was ordered to take behavior intervention plan classes, as well as being ordered to undergo drug and alcohol assessment. Ratray was also ordered to have no contact with the woman he pleaded guilty to assaulting. Ratray first rose to prominence in the early 1990s when he played Buzz McCallister, the older brother to Macaulay Culkin's character, in the first two Home Alone movies. His 2021 arrest came after his girlfriend alleged Ratray had punched her in the face, covered her mouth with his hand and then tried to strangle her. Related: 'Home Alone' 's Devin Ratray Arrested After Allegedly Trying to Strangle Girlfriend John Parra/Getty Images for STXfilms / Alexander Wang Devin Ratray The woman has previously been identified as Ratrays girlfriend at the time of his arrest, according to a report by local KFOR. 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. The woman had told police at the time that the pair got into an argument at a bar, according to the outlet. Ratrays girlfriend then told police that she left him to return to their hotel room and that he followed her back to the hotel, where the woman said he pinned her on the bed and began choking her. KFOR reported that Oklahoma City Police Detective Joseph Burnett wrote in his report about the altercation that Ratray allegedly threatened the woman: This is how you die, he allegedly said as he strangled her. Ratray then stopped strangling her and punched the woman in the face before she ran out of their hotel room, according to the report. Related: 'Home Alone' Actor Devin Ratray Under Investigation for Alleged Rape The actors domestic violence trial was delayed last month after he was reportedly hospitalized in critical condition, according to TMZ. It remains unclear what Ratray was hospitalized for at the time. The outlet reported that Ratray has since been released and returned home. The domestic violence charges against Ratray also revived a 2017 rape allegation against the actor. Lisa Smith, the woman who said Ratray allegedly raped her, had first filed a police report against him in 2017. After hearing about Ratrays domestic violence charge in late 2021, Smith told CNN she reached back out to police to find out why her report was never investigated. Ratray has not been charged in connection to Smiths allegations and he denied the accusations in a phone call with CNN at the time, the outlet reported. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Chicago White Sox want $1 billion from the state of Illinois for a new stadium. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf would like you to hear his reasons. It's nothing you haven't heard before. The modern state of requests for stadium funding can pretty much be broken down into three statements: 1. "Our stadium will inject life and money into the area" (a standby going back decades) 2. "We want to own the real estate around our stadium" (the Atlanta Braves succeeded at getting this; the Baltimore Orioles did not) 3. "We might have to move if there's a better offer elsewhere" (the Oakland Athletics are in the process of messing this one up) Reinsdorf unsurprisingly went 3-for-3 while speaking with Crain's Chicago Business, the outlet that broke the news that the White Sox were pursuing a 10-figure sum to supplement their proposal to replace Guaranteed Rate Field with a brand-new stadium at The 78 site in South Loop. Jerry Reinsdorf: Giving the White Sox $1 billion will be good for Chicago and Illinois On the first count, Reinsdorf claimed that the new stadium would "anchor" a property that would generate a projected $4 billion in economic impact and $200 million in tax revenue: At the end of the day, the benefit to the city and state are going to outweigh the cost, Reinsdorf asserted. This is not [just] a ballpark. This a development of which the ballpark is the anchor. Numbers such as those, conveniently provided by real estate developer Related Midwest, are a tempting prospect for a city and state. Unfortunately, economists have long been skeptical about these kinds of claims for a variety of reasons. A stadium helping to bring in $4 billion sounds nice, but that money spent often comes from somewhere else in people's budgets. Think about a family choosing between a game or a bowling alley, or friends picking between a game and going to a bar. There's also the matter of opportunity cost, as it's quite likely that a lot of people have some other ideas about how Chicago could use $1 billion if it's up for grabs. Jerry Reinsdorf: Shohei Ohtani's contract scares us As for the real estate question, Reinsdorf said his team couldn't survive in a world in which the Los Angeles Dodgers are giving Shohei Ohtani $700 million: The economics of baseball have completely changed, with top ballplayers signing contracts worth as much as $700 million, Reinsdorf said. At the location were at now, we cannot generate the revenue needed to pay those salaries, said Reinsdorf, referring to the teams heavily-residential Bridgeport home. A new space in a livelier downtown area with shops, bars and other entertainment venues within walking distance should do better, he contends. Reinsdorf denied that the real problem is poor performance by his team. Even after winning the World Series in 2005, we didnt crack the 3 million (attendance) mark, something that Series winners routinely accomplish. Perhaps at this point we should note that the largest contract Reinsdorf has ever given out as White Sox owner is Andrew Benintendi's five-year, $75 million extension. Reinsdorf is clearly implying that his team would be able to play with the heavy hitters if it had that real estate income, which is something you will have to just trust him on. The Washington Nationals have also never cracked 3 million in attendance, but they've still paid out some massive contracts, such as those of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. The Houston Astros cracked 3 million for the first time since 2007 last year. Jerry Reinsdorf: Chicago must be prepared for the death of Jerry Reinsdorf Reinsdorf takes a somewhat original route on the point of possibly moving elsewhere, but that might be due only to the fact that he already played this card in the 1980s, when he was pushing for funding for what became Guaranteed Rate Field, the stadium he is now trying to leave. You see, the reason the government should give Reinsdorf $1 billion is that Reinsdorf will likely die soon, and he just doesn't know what those other billionaires will do when he's gone: Noting that hes about to turn 88, Reinsdorf said that when Im gone, his son Michael Reinsdorf, president of the Chicago Bulls, which the family also owns, will have an obligation to do whats best for other investors in the Sox. That likely means putting the team up for sale ... The team will be worth more out of town. And that's pretty much the game. The White Sox want more money and are offering the carrot of even more money going back to Chicago if they get it and the stick of becoming, let's say, the Nashville White Sox if they don't. Jerry Reinsdorf would like Illinois to give the White Sox $1 billion. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Chicago Tribune via Getty Images) Whether that's enough to move the Illinois government is another matter. The White Sox are reportedly proposing that Illinois extend a preexisting 2% hotel occupancy tax past its planned expiration date of 2034, when it was supposed to have paid off the Chicago Bears' Soldier Field renovation in 2003. That tax was already struggling to cover the Soldier Field bonds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The White Sox would also reportedly like to receive authority to claim sales tax generated in their new district (which might clash with the first point above). We also can't forget the $551 million in infrastructure upgrades needed (CTA Red Line stop, street improvements, etc.) that Related Midwest will cover and get reimbursed by Chicago. Making all these requests even more difficult is the presence of the Bears, who are currently pursuing their own attempt to get a new stadium subsidized by local government. Reinsdorf told Crain's that he has had "conversations" with the McCaskey family that owns the Bears, and he does not "want to be in competition with the McCaskeys." Still, if it comes down to a choice, the Bears are Chicago's only team in the NFL. The same can't be said for the White Sox in MLB. Once upon a time, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were two U.S. senators representing the state of Minnesota: Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey. Together, they formed a partnership, constituting the quintessence of Democratic Party populism of their era.McCarthy and Humphrey had two different styles of populistic outreach. McCarthys appeal was based on his unique reflective intellectual erudition. This enabled him to generate enthusiasm, even adulation, among suburban liberal and young voters. Humphreys optimism and passion made him a favorite of urban voters and ethnic minorities, particularly Jews and African Americans.By 1964, both Humphrey and McCarthy were so effective as senators, politically and governmentally, that they each were under consideration by Lyndon Johnson for his vice presidential running mate. After the Johnson administration escalated American involvement in Vietnam in 1965, the McCarthy-Humphrey alliance dissolved, with McCarthy opposing the war and Humphrey, now vice president, defending administration policy. A new alliance is emerging WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 15: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to members of the press at the U.S. Capitol on November 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. An alliance is now occurring in the election of 2024 that is reminiscent of the Humphrey-McCarthy partnership, namely between New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. Fetterman has endorsed Kim in the 2024 New Jersey primary for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. Kim exemplifies the style of Gene McCarthy. Fetterman projects the optimism of Humphrey, albeit without Huberts ever-present smile. Fettermans optimism is a product of his successful battle against depression. This personal victory, along with his iconoclasm, including his insistence on constant casual dress and willingness to take positions independent of those of his former Democratic progressive allies, has made Fetterman a subject of national favorable publicity. The question for these two political partners is how John can best benefit the Kim senatorial campaign. Certainly, Fetterman will be involved with fundraising, where he has the status of being a star attraction. Yet in my view, it is more important for Kim that Fetterman personally campaign for him among two constituencies where Andy needs help: 1. Urban voters, particularly African American, Hispanic and white working-class families, and 2. Jewish voters. Kims opponent, New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, currently maintains an advantage with these constituencies, and anything Fetterman can do to help close the gap for Kim could significantly enhance his victory chances. I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, not far from Braddock, where Fetterman was mayor. Having lived in my youth among working-class voters, I fully understand how Fettermans style resonates deeply with them. Kims style, while not offensive to urban working-class voters, is more appealing to suburbanites. A few Fetterman appearances in New Jersey urban working-class areas could add rocket fuel to the Kim campaign. Charlie Stile: Sen. John Fetterman's NJ obsession has two goals ousting Menendez, supporting Kim How will NJ Jews vote? For the most part, the New Jersey Jewish community is undecided between Murphy and Kim. Since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, Kim has been a consistent supporter of American assistance to Israels Iron Dome, an air defense system against rockets using radar and interceptor missiles. He also has been an unequivocal supporter of Israel since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3, makes his pitch as a Senate candidate to Monmouth County Democrats on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. Yet doubts persist in the Jewish community about Kim due to two factors in his past record regarding the American-Israel alliance. The first was the support he received in his successful 2018 campaign from J Street, an organization viewed at that time among many Jews as basically a Jewish appeasement lobby. The second was his position regarding the 2021 hostilities between Israel and Hamas, a position that can best be described as moral equivalence. Fetterman is now receiving fervent support from Jews nationally, because of his express outspoken repudiation of his erstwhile progressive Democratic allies on two issues: Israel and immigration. If he assures Jewish New Jersey voters that Kim can be trusted to be a friend of Israel, this will go a long way in assuaging Jewish concerns about Kim and undoubtedly will increase his Jewish support. All things considered, the endorsement of Kim by Fetterman is a potentially powerful asset to the Kim campaign. It is not hyperbole to suggest that the outcome of the Murphy-Kim primary contest may well be determined by how effectively this asset is used. Alan J. Steinberg of Highland Park, New Jersey, served as regional administrator of Region 2 U.S. EPA during the administration of former President George W. Bush and executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin Law School. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How John Fetterman could best benefit the Andy Kim campaign The scheduled trial next week of a movie weapons supervisor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin may hinge on an enduring mystery: How did live ammunition find its way onto the New Mexico film set where it was expressly prohibited? Investigators recovered six live rounds of ammunition from a box, a bandolier, a gun belt, and other locations on the set of the Western movie Rust, including the round that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Special prosecutors say theyll present substantial evidence at the trial that movie armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed unwittingly brought live rounds onto the set when she first began work on the film. They say that includes photos showing that live rounds were present on the set days before Hutchins was killed. They also plan to present testimony that, months prior to the shooting, Gutierrez-Reed had looked for and purchased live .45-calibre ammunition. Ms Gutierrez is not charged with intentional homicide, she is charged with homicide based on negligence, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in a recent court filing. The tragedy occurred due to a series of negligent acts given that live rounds were on set well before 21 October 2021. Her ongoing negligent acts created numerous opportunities for live rounds to go undetected. Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge. Her trial began on 21 February with jury selection. Flimsy is how her attorneys describe the evidence that she might have unknowingly brought live rounds on set, saying it falls far short of standards for prosecution. An undated image taken from video released by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office (AP) Her attorneys also accuse prosecutors of compromising a crucial trial witness by handing over privileged communications about their case to the Albuquerque-based dummy ammunition supplier for Rust whom they contend is the source of live ammunition that made its way onto the set. A civil lawsuit by Gutierrez-Reed against ammunition supplier Seth Kenney was dismissed in August and cant be refiled. Much of the evidence about ammunition on set culled from sources including thousands of text messages between Rust crew members has not been made public under commonplace rules of evidentiary discovery prior to trial. The proceedings against the armorer hold implications for Baldwin, who was lead actor and co-producer of the film. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and could face trial later this year. Rust assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm and received a suspended sentence of six months of probation, agreeing to cooperate in investigations of the shooting. Prosecutors allege that Gutierrez-Reed eventually loaded a live round into the gun that Baldwin discharged during the October 2021 rehearsal, killing Hutchins, and that the tragedy was a consequence of lax oversight of ammunition. Baldwin has said he assumed the gun had only inert dummy rounds inside that cant fire, and that someone else was responsible. But the indictment against Baldwin provides two alternative standards for prosecution, one based on the negligent use of a firearm and another tied to negligence without due caution or circumspection, also defined as total disregard or indifference for the safety of others. Legal experts say the latter standard could broaden the investigation beyond Baldwin's handling of the gun. A date has not been set for Baldwin's potential trial. An aerial photo shows part of the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set of Rust (AP) Rust used an operable revolver. Industry-wide guidance, under a bulletin that applied to Rust, says that live ammunition is never to be used nor brought onto any studio lot or stage. It also says to treat all firearms as if they are loaded. Crew members also say Bonanza Creek Ranch, the movie set location where Hutchins was shot, forbade the presence of live ammunition on its property. State workplace safety regulators say Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for storage, maintenance and handling of firearms and ammunition on set and for loading firearms with blanks that have a charge but no projectile, or inert dummy rounds. Live rounds are typically distinguished from dummy rounds by a small hole in the dummy's brass cartridge, indicating there is no explosive inside, by a missing or dimpled primer at the bottom of the cartridge, or by shaking the round to hear the clatter of a BB that is inserted inside. Live ammunition has made its way onto US film sets with severe consequences in just a handful of instances. Actor Brandon Lee died in 1993 after he was shot in the abdomen while filming a scene of The Crow. Lee was killed by a makeshift bullet that remained in a gun from a previous scene. The production ended up paying a $55,000 fine to federal regulators. In 2005, federal regulators fined Greystone Television and Films $650 after a crew member was shot in the thigh, elbow and hand. It turned out that balloon-breaking birdshot rounds were in the same box as the blanks that were supposed to be used in rifles. In New Mexico, a scathing report from state regulators about the Rust shooting said the production company did not develop a process for ensuring live rounds were kept away from set and failed to give the armorer enough time to thoroughly inventory ammunition. Prosecutors want the regulators' conclusions kept out of the trial because it might be used argue that Rust management was responsible for safety failures and not Gutierrez-Reed. Heated and disparaging exchanges between defence counsel and prosecutors in recent pretrial court filings include accusations of vindictive, unconstitutional prosecution tactics. Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis are pursuing additional felony charges of tampering with evidence on allegations that Gutierrez-Reed handed off a baggie of possible narcotics to another crew member in the aftermath of the shooting to evade prosecution and took a video of herself bringing a gun into a Santa Fe bar weeks before the fatal shooting. Defence attorney Jason Bowles says prosecutors are using trumped-up charges to pressure Gutierrez-Reed to make a false confession regarding the source of live ammunition on the film set. The state has always been open to resolving Ms Gutierrezs cases," special prosecutor Morrissey responded in a court filing. "On one condition that she take responsibility for the fact that she unknowingly brought live ammunition onto the set of Rust. Israel has already targeted Rafah with near-daily airstrikes, while preparing for a ground offensive in the city. - Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images The Biden administration is racing against the clock as it attempts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war before Ramadan next month, with senior US officials believing that the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza is the only plausible way to bring the first pause to the deadly conflict since a seven-day truce in late November and possibly, an eventual end to the war. Looming over the hostage deal discussions is the threat by Israel to launch an offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza, where around 1.5 million displaced Gazans have fled. US officials have pointedly warned Israel against pushing farther south without guaranteeing the safety of those civilians a seemingly impossible task. If theres an operation against Rafah, we can forget about a deal happening, said a diplomat familiar with the negotiations between Israel and Hamas being mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning on March 10, the next two weeks of negotiations are pivotal, a source familiar with the ongoing efforts told CNN. An aggressive military push by Israel during Ramadan would only further inflame tensions across the region. What is less clear to some officials involved in the discussions is to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would prefer a pause in the fighting over an offensive in Rafah that would continue his goal of trying to dismantle Hamas. It doesnt look like Netanyahu is willing to do any deal at the moment, the diplomat said. The stakes of the moment could hardly be higher given that a successful deal could usher in a new and potentially final phase of a war that is now fully in its fifth month. The pause and hostage talks, sources say, have been difficult despite some progress being made in recent weeks and far more complicated than the first round of negotiations. Several of President Joe Bidens top national security officials have been traveling in and out of the Middle East in quick succession in recent weeks, pushing Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement that would launch an initial six-week pause in fighting and the eventual release of the more than 100 remaining hostages. White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk was back in Cairo on Wednesday before going to Israel on Thursday to continue these efforts; his trip comes on the heels of CIA Director Bill Burns visit to the region last week which included stops in Doha, Israel and Cairo. Burns is expected to travel to Paris on Friday for further talks with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials, according to two sources familiar with the plans. Netanyahu called Hamas proposals delusional Hamas leaders have also been in Cairo this week meeting with Egyptian officials to try to move the deal forward after Netanyahu dismissed the most recent series of Hamas proposals as delusional. The frameworks have included a series of multi-phase pauses that would amount to at least a four-and-a-half-month ceasefire while hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons are released. Among the biggest sticking points, people familiar with the talks say, were Hamas demands for the release of some 1,500 prisoners in the first phase, Israeli troops leave Gaza and discussions that would lead to a formal end to the war. In the follow-up meetings in Cairo last week with intelligence chiefs from Israel, the US, Egypt and the Qatari prime minister, the Israeli delegation was only willing to discuss the humanitarian aid aspects of a deal, not the other components, the diplomat familiar with the discussions said. Israel did not send a technical team with their delegation, evidence that they didnt truly intend to negotiate, the diplomat said. Israel then added another condition: proof that medicine that had been sent to Gaza for the hostages had actually reached them. This is very important because it will show us that there is someone there [in Gaza] that can really deliver and release our hostages, Gal Hirsch, the Israeli governments hostage coordinator, told CNN on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. In response, on Tuesday, Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Qatar has confirmation from Hamas that it has received a shipment of medicine for Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. Qatar received these confirmations as the mediator in the agreement, Al-Ansari said in a written statement. Israel appears dug in As Israel appears dug in its position, negotiators expect Hamas to again respond in the coming days. But given the gaps that remain, a final agreement still does not appear imminent. US and United Nations officials, along with international aid agencies, have been warning of catastrophe if Israel pushes into Rafah where Palestinians have desperately sought shelter and distance from the worst of the fighting. Israeli warplanes have already been bombing Rafah, with more than 100 people killed in one set of strikes last week. In a draft of a US resolution circulated at the UN on Monday, American officials wrote that such a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances. But Israeli officials continue to warn of the pending operation. The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area, Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz warned over the weekend. The first hostage deal in late November saw the return of dozens of hostages taken captive by Hamas on October 7 and a week-long truce. Since the end of that truce, already three months ago, civilian casualty levels in Gaza has continued to soar, as has the global condemnation of Israels military operation and the political pressure on the Biden administration to call for a permanent end to the war. Senior US officials believe that there is no chance of Israel getting to the point where it would agree to a permanent ceasefire in the war without the release of hostages, sources say. Only during a pause in fighting, even if considered temporary, discussions could continue that would eventually end the war, they argue. Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have continued to argue that complete victory is needed over Hamas. For the most part, the US continues to stand by Israel, albeit with a bit more distance as administration officials have grown increasingly critical of Israels military operations in the strip. Biden himself recently described Israels conduct as over the top and the bombing indiscriminate. The United States yet again vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution on Tuesday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Instead, the US started circulating its own resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire, the first time the US used the word ceasefire at the United Nations. But it was a few days after Biden himself started using it, a notable shift given how loaded the term has become. Supporting Tuesdays UN resolution, proposed by Algeria, in the middle of the ongoing hostage talks would have jeopardized the ceasefire talks, White House said. I think the American people, and I think most of the people around the world, would love to see those hostages home with their families, White House spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday. And if we just voted went along with this resolution the chances of doing that would be greatly reduced. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Katie Bo Lillis contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Three percent of the students at a Weston elementary school with a measles outbreak are currently unvaccinated, said Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Peter Licata during a Broward School Board meeting Wednesday. Licata told board members that 33 out of the 1,067 students at K-5 school Manatee Bay Elementary dont have the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, known as the MMR vaccine, for various reasons that he didnt mention. The MMR vaccine is mandatory to attend all public and private childcare and K-12 schools in Florida, but some students may be eligible for medical or religious exemptions. Broward County Schools Superintendent Peter Licata is interviewed inside his office at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Building on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Licata spoke on the record about his school district potentially repurposing schools with low student enrollment. Since last Friday, Florida Health Department officials in Broward County have identified six cases of the highly contagious disease at the school, located at 19200 Manatee Isles Drive in Weston. Since, health officials have offered several opportunities to get the vaccine, Licata said. On Wednesday, officials visited the school and planned to stay until 6 p.m. offering to vaccinate school employees, students with parental consent, and their families, he said. The vaccine is the best protection against the cold-like sickness, according to the state health officials, who say its more than 98% effective in preventing infection. RELATED: Should you worry about measles in South Florida? What to know as school cases found The schools 97% vaccinated population is higher than the state average. Overall, Florida reports an about 91% rate of vaccinations against measles, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization data for the 2023-2024 school year wasnt immediately available. But in the 2021-2022 school year, about 92% of public and private kindergarten students in Broward and Miami-Dade met the immunization requirements, state data shows. The superintendent visited the Weston school this week and said it was operating normally despite several student and employee absences. The children were learning, he said. I thanked the principal and the staff for continuing to educate our children during this time. School district responding to Ladapos decisions Licata also said on Wednesday that in a memo issued Tuesday, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo allowed any Manatee Bay student to stay home for up to 21 days because of the outbreak, so the district is working to provide that. We are in the process of developing how to ensure theres continuous learning for families who exercise this option. This will not be virtual learning but will offer a bridge during the 21-day period, Licata said. READ MORE: Florida health officials investigating measles outbreak at Broward school. Heres why In his memo, Ladapo wrote: When measles is detected in a school, it is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days. This is the period of time that the virus can be transmitted. Because of the high likelihood of infection, it is normally recommended that children stay home until the end of the infectious period, which is currently March 7, 2024. As the epidemiological investigation continues, this date could change, he added. Ladapo said that for now, state officials will allow parents to decide whether to send their kids to school or not, but that could change if more cases come up. READ MORE: Florida official defers to parents on if kids should return to school amid measles cluster Measles can be transmitted four days prior to the start of symptoms, which include a rash that often develops on the face and neck before spreading to the rest of the body, a high fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes. Ladapo advised all children with symptoms to avoid going to school until they fully subside without medication. To prevent further infections of the airborne disease, Licata said the school district deep cleaned and changed the air filters at the school campus and the buses in which the students traveled. In the last decade, Florida has seen 40 confirmed cases of measles, which was was largely eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 following a strong vaccination program, the Herald reported. While the A380 superjumbo is enjoying a steady resurgence after having been on the brink of retirement during the pandemic, its older sibling another four-engined aircraft from Airbus seems dangerously close to being grounded for good. The A340 was introduced 30 years ago with Lufthansa and Air France, but only 380 have been produced since, the last in 2012. By comparison, Airbus has already made 565 of its successor, the A350, since its introduction in 2015. Despite the lackluster commercial response, Airbus had high hopes for the A340, which was meant to replace aging Boeing 747s and DC-10s, and was touted as having an unbeatable range. Just after entering commercial service, in 1993, an A340 set records by flying from the Paris Air Show to Auckland, in New Zealand, and then back after a five-hour layover, totaling over 42 hours in the air. It was the first-ever nonstop flight between Europe and New Zealand and the longest-ever nonstop flight by an airliner. In its heyday, the plane was used to operate the longest nonstop scheduled flight in the world, and was for a while the aircraft of choice for heads of state around the world due to its range and size. But its main characteristic the four engines soon became a drag as fuel costs started rising and twin-engine jets began offering the same performance with lower operating costs. By the early 2000s, the A340s main competitor the twin-engined Boeing 777 was outselling it 10 to one. It had even taken away the longest flight record, with a nonstop journey from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur in 1997. The A340 disappeared essentially because twinjets could fulfill its mission more efficiently, says Gary Crichlow, an aviation analyst at consulting firm AviationValues. Theres a reason complex organisms evolved to have no more than two of any large, energy-guzzling organ: because when you cant get away with one, two offers the best bang for the buck. Three or more is overkill. Two is better than four The A340 has been the aircraft of choice for some heads of government. - Jens Buttner/picture alliance/dpa/Getty Images There are currently just 64 A340s in service with 17 airlines globally, according to data provided to CNN by aviation analytics firm Cirium. Thats about half as many as were in service before the pandemic, in early 2019. Only Lufthansa is operating more than 10, with many leading airlines having abandoned the type completely, like Air France, Iberia, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, all of which used to operate substantial fleets. A worrying sign of the A340s imminent demise is that there are currently no airlines operating the A340-500 variant, which Airbus introduced in 2003 as the worlds longest-range commercial airliner. Between 2004 and 2013, the -500 variant was used by Singapore Airlines to operate the worlds longest flight, from Newark to Singapore. The route was discontinued because Singapore Airlines couldnt generate enough revenue to offset the cost, particularly with fuel, says Crichlow. One of the main factors driving four-engine jets to extinction is that newer and more reliable twin-engined jets, like the 787 and the A350, have progressively obtained better safety ratings that allowed them to fly for longer in case of loss of power from one of the two engines. Previously, four-engined jets had an advantage in this area. Clearly, shutting down one engine on a twinjet is a bigger deal than shutting down one on a quadjet, says Crichlow. But starting in the late 1990s with the introduction of the Boeing 777, up to three hours of single-engine flight time was allowed for eligible operators. Today, the certification record is for the Airbus A350 with up to 370 minutes, or about 2,500 nautical miles. With the kind of routing flexibility that certification offers, airlines who want to service far-flung city pairs simply dont need four engines anymore. As a result, only eight A340-500s are left out of the 34 built. Only two of those are still in a passenger layout, with Azerbaijan Airlines, and theyve been parked since November 2022 and March 2023 respectively, Crichlow adds. Of the remaining six, five are in use by governments and one is outfitted for corporate and VIP flights. Rare beauty The A340 won many fans among passengers, with some expressing sadness at its declining fortunes. - Alex Kraus/Bloomberg/Getty Images Sam Chui, an aviation enthusiast and blogger who has flown on the A340 over 50 times, remembers being on board the Newark to Singapore flight when it was the longest in the world. That flight lasted around 19 hours on average, Chiu says. Initially, Singapore operated it in a traditional two-class configuration, but in the final years it changed things up. They moved to an all-business class - 100 seats only, on a very large airplane that typically can fit 300 airplane seats. It was a fairly quiet cabin. Passengers liked the plane, but it wasnt without problems. On a long flight from Hong Kong to London on the A340-300, they would often leave a lot of baggage behind when the plane was full, Chiu adds. The Singapore flight took a long time to take off in the US three-quarters of the full runway. Oddly enough for a passenger aircraft, the A340 was believed to be somewhat underpowered and acquired a reputation of being slow. It was the only plane to be hit by bird strikes from behind, jokes Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at Aerodynamic Advisor. The original A340 was slow, fuel-thirsty, and, thanks to having four engines, both heavy and costly to maintain. The stretched and re-engined variants werent much better and by the time they were launched, it was very clear that twin-engine jets could do anything quads could do, at lower cost and with less maintenance. Without any cargo version which usually prolongs the lifespan of an aircraft, as in the case of the Boeing 747 its likely that the A340 will disappear from the skies entirely within a decade or two. For now, however, the type still has some life left in it, and is even flying to one of the worlds most challenging destinations, Antarctica: Charter airline HiFly is operating flights to the region with an A340-300, carrying scientists and a small group of tourists. Many will miss it when its gone. There are currently just 64 A340s still in service. - Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images The A340 is, almost inarguably, the prettiest of all the Airbus jets, and Im sad to see fewer and fewer of them around, says Patrick Smith, an airline pilot flying Boeing aircraft and the author of the popular book and blog Ask the Pilot. In an age of boring aesthetic sameness among commercial jets, it has always set itself apart, he adds. My favorite A340 variant is the -600, with the stretched fuselage and the huge Rolls-Royce engines. What a beauty. I once took an extra-early departure out of Bangkok just for the opportunity to fly on the -600. As its numbers dwindle, the A340 will increasingly turn into a planespotters favorite. Its an exciting airplane to watch, especially when it takes off at the very last minute, says Chui. These are now very rare, and that makes them more interesting for aviation enthusiasts. Certainly something different compared to twin-engine aircraft. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) An attorney for Haitian President Jovenel Moises widow, who was indicted in his assassination, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he believes the accusations against her are politically motivated. U.S.-based attorney Paul Turner said he was surprised by media reports this week detailing the indictments against Martine Moise and dozens of other suspects including the former prime minister and the ex-police chief. He also questioned whether the judges report is real or has been finalized, noting that Haitian government officials did not contact his client as required and that he and other attorneys are reaching out to them for clarity. If there is a genuine reason to talk to Martine we can make her available if the circumstances were fair and just, Turner said, adding that she could talk online. Or we can meet in the U.S. where we know theres not going to be a safety concern. Turner said he believes not everyone involved in the July 2021 assassination at Jovenel Moises private residence has been arrested, and that Martine Moise, who was injured in the attack, and her children still fear for their lives. She categorically denies any involvement," he said. Turner also accused the administration of Prime Minister Ariel Henry of ordering the indictment. What do they do? They indict their perceived opposition. There is definitely a perception that she would or may run in the future, Turner said. Nothing else makes sense. He said he has never talked about politics with his client and does not know if she plans to run for office. A spokesman for the prime ministers office did not respond to messages asking for comment. Haiti has repeatedly delayed holding a general election as the country battles a surge in gang violence and awaits the deployment of a U.N.-backed Kenyan police force that has been delayed by legal proceedings in the East African country. The 122-page report issued by a Haitian judge investigating the killing noted that the former secretary general of the National Palace, Lyonel Valbrun, told authorities that he received strong pressure from Martine Moise to put the presidents office at the disposal of then-prime minister Claude Joseph because he needed it to organize a council of ministers. According to the report, Valbrun also said that two days before her husband was killed, Martine Moise visited the National Palace and spent nearly five hours, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., removing a bunch of things. The report says two days after the president was slain, Valbrun said Martine Moise called to tell him that, Jovenel didnt do anything for us. You have to open the office. The president told Ti Klod to create a council of ministers; he will hold elections in three months so I can become president, now we will have power. Ti Klod is believed to be a reference to Claude Joseph, who is also indicted in the case. He has rejected the accusations and accused the current prime minister of weaponizing Haitis judicial system. Both Joseph and Martine Moise are accused of complicity and criminal association, while the former chief of Haiti's National Police and other suspects are accused of more serious charges including murder. Emmanuel Jeanty, a Haiti-based attorney for Martine Moise, said in a letter to a local justice official and shared Wednesday with the AP that if the judge's report is real, due process was not followed. Turner added that Martine Moise is expected to testify at an upcoming trial in the U.S., where federal authorities have prosecuted 11 suspects in the case. At least three of them have been sentenced. Meanwhile, more than 40 other suspects including high-ranking Haitian police officials and 20 former Colombian soldiers remain in prison in Haiti, awaiting trial. Family and friends of Audrii Cunningham, the east Texas 11-year-old who was found dead after vanishing on the way to school, mourned her as a bright and friendly child during a Wednesday night vigil near the river where her body was recovered earlier this week. No matter where she went or who she met, she just made them light up, said Audriis aunt, Brenda Cedars. She could always make you laugh, no matter what kind of mood you were in. It just isnt fair that we all got robbed of that. Audrii disappeared Thursday morning after leaving her home in rural Livingston, Texas, with a family friend who had agreed to take her to the school bus stop, authorities said. But the fifth-grader never made it onto the bus or into her classroom, sparking a massive five-day search that ended when her body weighed down with a large rock was pulled from a local river, according to court documents. The friend who was supposed to take her to the bus stop, Don Steven McDougal, was charged Wednesday with capital murder in her death. Audriis mother, Cassie Matthews, said during the memorial that her pain has left her at a loss for words. She described her daughter as perfection. Im truly blessed to have given birth to such an amazing little girl, the mother said. Kristlyn Wood, a cousin of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, reacts during a vigil in Cunningham's honor, on February 21 in Livingston, Texas. - Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle/AP A crowd clad in shades of purple Audriis favorite color clutched candles as dusk fell on the memorial service. Some piled bouquets of lavender and violent-hued flowers onto a table decorated with clusters of balloons while children dressed in purple dresses, scrunchies and shoes buzzed around the gathering. Audrii had no trouble making friends and was friendly, very nice and very caring, recalled Kasey Evans, whose daughter attended school with her. Many of her classmates and friends are now grappling with the fifth-graders death, a process Livingston School District Superintendent Brent Hawkins said in a statement will look different for each child. Any time you lose a child its catastrophic, but to lose one the way that we lost her was even more. I dont have the words to describe (it), other than we had a brush with evil Hawkins told CNN affiliate KPRC. Evans said she initially struggled to answer her kids questions about whether Audrii had been found and now has to tell them she is never coming home. How do you sit there and tell your babies that theyre not gonna see their friend, she said. How do you explain it to them? Suspect lived on familys property The suspect, McDougal, was a friend of Audriis father who lived in a trailer on her family property and sometimes drove the girl to the school bus stop in the neighborhood, Polk County officials said. McDougal had agreed to take Audrii to catch her bus Thursday morning, but she was never seen at the bus stop and a bag resembling her bright red, Hello Kitty backpack was later found near a local dam, according to investigators. He was the main person of interest in her disappearance as authorities frantically scoured the town, which lies about 70 miles northeast of Houston, he said. McDougal was seen aiding in the search effort, knocking on neighborhood doors and asking if anyone had seen Audrii, Sheriff Byron Lyons said. Audriis body was found Tuesday in the Trinity River, downstream from the reservoir near where the backpack was found. It was one of several locations McDougal told investigators he had gone around the time of her disappearance, Lyons said. A large rock had been tied to the childs body with a rope that was consistent with rope that was observed in McDougals vehicle on a traffic stop two days prior, a criminal complaint states. No other details about the condition of her remains have been provided, and the Harris County Medical Examiners office is working to determine her cause of death. Investigators believe McDougal lied about his whereabouts and activities on the day of Audriis disappearance, the criminal complaint said, citing video footage, cell phone data and forensic evidence. In the days after Audrii vanished, McDougal claimed in several social media comments that he was not guilty of her disappearance and had done nothing wrong, according to activity on a Facebook account appearing to belong to the suspect. Im not guilty, reads a comment from the account under a post on the Facebook page True Crime Society the day after Audrii was reported missing. Don Steven McDougal - Polk County Jail/AP I was there and was questioned. I am not running or hiding, an account appearing to belong to McDougal wrote under a post on Friday. He commented again, saying, I have done everything I can to help find her. I have done nothing wrong. McDougal has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the early 2000s, with convictions for violent crimes and one for enticing a child, according to court records. He was convicted in 2007 of enticing a child in Brazoria County, Texas. Court records show he pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years in prison but was given credit for 527 days. Online records do not detail specific allegations in the case, but the offense is defined by the state as the intent to interfere with the lawful custody of a child younger than 18 years when a person entices, persuades, or takes the child from the custody of the parent or guardian. When McDougal was charged in Audriis death on Wednesday, he was already in jail in connection with an unrelated assault case. He is being held without bond on the capital murder charge. Neither the court documents filed Wednesday nor jail records list an attorney for McDougal. CNNs Andy Rose, Raja Razek, Holly Yan, Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Catholic cross Australian bishop Christopher Saunders has been charged with rape and a string of historical sex offences - some against children. The 74-year-old was arrested in Broome on Wednesday, after parallel investigations ordered by Western Australia police and the Pope. Mr Saunders has indicated he will plead not guilty to all charges against him. He is one of the most senior Catholic clerics to face charges of this nature. Mr Saunders is charged with two counts of rape, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault, and three counts of indecently dealing with a child as a person in authority. The alleged offending occurred in the remote West Australian towns of Broome, Kununurra and the Aboriginal community of Kalumburu between 2008 and 2014. He was released on bail on Thursday and ordered to reside at his home until his next hearing in June, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Aside from the late Cardinal George Pell, who was jailed and then acquitted, Mr Saunders is the most senior Catholic official in the country to be charged with child sex offences. In a statement on Thursday, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference promised to cooperate with police, and said the charges against Mr Saunders were "very serious and deeply distressing, especially for those making those allegations". "It is right and proper, and indeed necessary, that all such allegations be thoroughly investigated," Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said. First ordained in 1976, Mr Saunders has spent most of his career in the remote Kimberley region in the nation's north-west corner, and was appointed Bishop of Broome in 1996. The diocese stretches about 770,000 sq km (297,000 sq miles) - an area roughly the size of Turkey - and encompasses some of the most remote parts of the country. Well known for socialising, his advocacy work, and escorting young men on camping and fishing trips, Mr Saunders has long been a powerful figure within the local community. There is also a beer named after him. The accusations were first aired in 2020, but the initial police investigation that followed was closed without charge. He voluntarily stood down as the Bishop of Broome in 2020, but remains an emeritus bishop. However after a historic inquiry was ordered by the Pope, police began a new investigation. Only a handful of Vos Estis Lux Mundi inquiries have been undertaken around the world. Meaning "You Are the Light of the World" in Latin, Vos Estis investigations are commissioned by the pontiff and were introduced in 2019 to combat sexual abuse and take action against bishops and other high-ranking officials in the Catholic Church. The U.S. Capitol building is seen reflected in rain puddles on Feb. 11, 2024. Credit - Samuel CorumGetty Images On Tuesday, speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries launched a bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, and Jeffries, a New York Democrat, each appointed 12 members to the Task Force, which will be chaired by Representative Jay Obernolte, a California Republican, and co-chaired by Representative Ted Lieu, a California Democrat. According to the announcement, the Task Force will produce a comprehensive report that will include guiding principles, forward-looking recommendations and bipartisan policy proposals developed in consultation with committees of jurisdiction. Read More: The 3 Most Important AI Policy Milestones of 2023 Obernoltewho has a masters in AI from the University of California, Los Angeles and founded the video game company FarSight Studiosand Lieuwho studied computer science and political science at Stanford Universityare natural picks to lead the Task Force. But many of the members have expertise in AI too. Representative Bill Foster, a Democrat from Illinois, told TIME that he programmed neural networks in the 1990s as a physics Ph.D. working at a particle accelerator. Other members have introduced AI-related bills and held hearings on AI policy issues. And Representative Don Beyer, a 73-year old Democrat from Virginia, is pursuing a masters in machine learning at George Mason University alongside his Congressional responsibilities. Since OpenAI released the wildly popular ChatGPT chatbot in November 2022, lawmakers around the world have rushed to get to grips with the societal implications of AI. In the White House, the Biden Administration has done all it can, by issuing a sweeping Executive Order in October 2023 intended to both ensure the U.S. benefits from AI while mitigating risks associated with the technology. In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a regulatory framework in June 2023, and has since been holding closed-door convenings between lawmakers, experts, and industry executives. Many Senators have been holding their own hearings, proposing alternative regulatory frameworks, and submitting bills to regulate AI. Read More: How We Chose the TIME100 Most Influential People in AI The House however, partly due to the turmoil following former Speaker Kevin McCarthys ouster in the fall, has lagged behind. The Task Force represents the lower houses most significant AI regulation step yet. Given that AI legislation will require the approval of both houses, the Task Forces report could shape the agenda for future AI laws. TIME spoke with eight Task Force members to understand their priorities. A range of perspectives Each member has a slightly different focus, informed by their backgrounds before entering politics and the different committees they sit on. I recognize that if used responsibly, AI has the potential to enhance the efficiency of patient care, improve health outcomes, and lower costs, California Democrat Representative Ami Bera told TIME in an emailed statement. He trained as an internal medicine doctor, taught at the UC Davis School of Medicine and served as Sacramento Countys Chief Medical Officer before entering politics in 2013. Meanwhile Colorado Democrat Representative Brittany Pettersen is focused on AIs impact on the banking system. As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly advance and become more widely available, it has the potential to impact everything from our election systems with the use of deep fakes, to bank fraud perpetuated by high-tech scams. Our policies must keep up to ensure we continue to lead in this space while protecting our financial system and our country at-large, said Petterson, who is a member of the House Financial Services bipartisan Working Group on AI and introduced a bill last year to address AI-powered bank scams, in an emailed statement. The fact that the members each have different focuses and sit on different committees is, in part, a design choice, suggests Foster, the Illinois Democrat. At one point, I counted there were seven committees in Congress that claimed they were doing some part of Information Technology. Which means we have no committees because there's no one who's really got themselves and their staff focused on information technology full time, he says. The Task Force might allow the House to actually move the ball forward on policy issues that span committee jurisdictions, he hopes. Common concerns If some issues are particular to certain members, others are a shared source of concern. All eight of the Task Force members that TIME spoke with expressed fears over AI-generated deep fakes and their potential impact on elections. Read More: Hackers Could Use ChatGPT to Target 2024 Elections While no other issue commanded the same unanimity of interest, many themes recurred. Labor impacts from AI-powered hiring software and automation, algorithmic bias, AI in healthcare, data protection and privacyall of these issues were raised by multiple members of the Task Force in conversations with TIME. Another topic raised by several members was the CREATE AI Act, a bill that would establish a National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) that would provide researchers with the tools they need to do cutting-edge research. A pilot of the NAIRR was recently launched by the National Science Foundationsomething instructed by President Bidens AI Executive Order. Read More: The U.S. Just Took a Crucial Step Toward Democratizing AI Access Representative Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, stressed the importance of maintaining technological superiority over China. Frankly, I want the United States of America, alongside our western counterparts, setting the rules for the road with artificial intelligence, not the Chinese Communist Party, she said. Representative Scott Franklin, a Republican from Florida, concurred, and argued that preventing industrial espionage would be especially important. We're putting tremendous resources against this challenge and investing in it, we need to make sure that we're protecting our intellectual property, he said. Both Franklin and Beyer said the Task Force should devote some of its energies to considering existential risks from powerful future AI systems. As long as there are really thoughtful people, like Dr. Hinton or others, who worry about the existential risks of artificial intelligencethe end of humanityI don't think we can afford to ignore that, said Beyer. Even if there's just a one in a 1000 chance, one in a 1000 happens. We see it with hurricanes and storms all the time. Other members are less worried. If we get the governance right on the little things, then it will also protect against that big risk, says Representative Sara Jacobs, a Democrat from California. And I think that there's so much focus on that big risk, that we're actually missing the harms and risks that are already being done by this technology. Bipartisan optimism The Task Force has yet to meet, and while none of its members were able to say when it might publish its report, they need to move quickly to have any hope of their work leading to federal legislation before the presidential election takes over Washington. State lawmakers are not waiting for Congress to act. Earlier this month, Senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat who represents San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County in the California State Senate, introduced a bill that would seek to make powerful AI systems safe by, among other things, mandating safety tests. I would love to have one unified Federal law that effectively addresses AI safety issues, Wiener said in a recent interview with NPR. Congress has not passed such a law. Congress has not even come close to passing such a law. But many of the Task Forces members argued that, while partisan gridlock has made it difficult for the House to pass anything in recent months, AI might be the one area where Congress can find common ground. I've spoken with a number of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this, says Franklin, the Florida Republican. We're all kind of coming in at the same place, and we understand the seriousness of the issue. We may have disagreement on exactly how to address [the issues]. And that's why we need to get together and have those conversations. The fact that it's bipartisan and bicameral makes me very optimistic that we'll be able to get meaningful things done in this calendar year, says Beyer, the Virginia Democrat. And put it on Joe Biden's desk. Write to Will Henshall at will.henshall@time.com. Texas' attorney general wants to shut down a faith-based group that has sheltered migrants for decades, escalating conservatives targeting of Catholic organizations and amping up the states own immigration enforcement operation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, has sued to revoke the license to operate of Annunciation House in the border city of El Paso, after a judge sided with the nonprofit and allowed it 14 days to respond to a demand for records by Paxton. Paxton's office requested among other things logs identifying people to whom the organization has provided services. Paxton's office said in a statement Tuesday that public records it has reviewed suggest the organization has been helping undocumented people enter the country, among other things. But Jerome Wesevich, the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid attorney representing Annunciation House, said Paxton's lawsuit to shut down Annunciation House and its shelters has never been about obtaining documents. "What they wanted was a pretext to shut us down," Wesevich told NBC News. A new Texas law that enhances penalties for the smuggling of people across the border went into effect on Feb. 6 "and they were at our door Feb. 7," Wesevich said. "That smells." The new law is one of several Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed last year. It drives up minimum penalties for human smuggling or operating a stash house. Annunciation House, which operates several shelters in El Paso and across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, first filed suit when the attorney generals office issued an administrative subpoena. The group asked for 30 days to respond, according to Wesevich, but Paxton's office said it must respond that day or face shutdown. Wesevich said there was no negotiation when he asked for more time, just a rude email response that said you must comply in one day. In addition to time to gather the documents, Annunciation House needed to determine what it could legally release to the state, Wesevich said. Image: Border Wall Funding Continues To Be Divisive Issue Prolonging Government Shutdown (Joe Raedle / Getty Images file) Annunciation House, founded and run by Ruben Garcia since 1978, has been providing shelter for migrants and refugees for decades. The organization has worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection in this and at least the previous two administrations to house people whom the agencies have processed and released, who often have been permitted into the country while they await hearings. Wesevich said people already processed and released by immigration authorities are whom Annunciation House is sheltering almost exclusively these days because of how the system of dealing with migrants is set up in El Paso. Many turn themselves over to immigration authorities and request asylum. There is enormous community support for this. Its a social service organization and if they are somehow doing terrible things, there is not a food bank or school or medical facility that does not do this work, Wesevich said. They dont make decisions on who to give food to based on whether they are documented or undocumented. The work we do is not distinguishable from other organizations including schools. Schools know they have undocumented kids and they do not kick those kids out, he said. Bee Moorhead, executive director of the faith-based coalition Texas Impact, said the dispute over the records should be a procedural discussion because the attorney generals office asks for records of many businesses and nonprofits regularly that lead to agreements on providing time to supply them. The attorney general would know that by taking this combative approach, it would gin up a lot of emotion, said Moorhead, whose group warned Texas legislators last year about the impact of the anti-smuggling laws on faith-based groups. The AGs office cited a 2023 article published by El Paso Matters, a nonprofit news site, to back its accusations. In the article, the news site paraphrases Garcia, saying his organization was housing 300 migrants at the time, including many who had not been processed by immigration officials and feared deportation if they turned themselves in and requested asylum. The article explains that Annunciation House is holding workshops on how to apply and eligibility requirements. Paxton's office said in the Tuesday statement that it has complete and unlimited authority to examine business records and the consequence of a flagrant failure to comply ... is that OAG may terminate the businesss right to operate in Texas. NBC News reached out to Paxton's office for further comment. Paxton, who's been in the news after he lost his bid last week to have a securities fraud case against him dismissed (hes pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on the charges), has been critical of President Joe Bidens immigration policies and said nonprofits that receive funding from the administration facilitate astonishing horrors including human smuggling. While the federal government perpetuates the lawlessness destroying this country, my office works day in and day out to hold these organizations responsible for worsening illegal immigration, Paxton said in the Tuesday statement. Annunciation House says on its website it doesn't have permanent funding sources. It is mostly sustained by "spontaneous and free contributions of individuals, groups and faith communities." Wesevich said the group is reviewing its funding documents to respond to Paxton and Annunciation House may have received federal emergency grant money to help deal with increased arrivals. Catholic groups have found themselves the target of some Republican lawmakers as the immigration debate has taken center stage this presidential election cycle. The conservative nonprofit CatholicVote has sought to obtain communication records between the Biden administration and Catholic groups in Texas on the belief that they may have helped drive up immigration, according to a 2022 article from the National Catholic Reporter. Some Republican lawmakers have been trying to slash money the federal government provides Catholic and other faith-based groups to assist migrants. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic charities have played a role for decades in helping resettle migrants and refugees in the United States, most notably Cubans who fled the Castro regime. Annunciation House has been part of that work for more than 46 years and is recognized by the Catholic Church, it said in a statement Tuesday. "Annunciation House has done this work of accompaniment out of the scriptural and Gospel mandate to welcome the stranger," Annunciation House said in the statement. For more from NBC Latino, sign up for our weekly newsletter. By Eduardo Baptista and Bernard Orr BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Wildlife Conservation Association is working with the National Zoo in Washington in an arrangement that could bring more pandas back to the United States, signalling improving diplomatic relations between the two superpowers. China has lent its beloved bears to zoos in various countries over the years as goodwill animal ambassadors and also fostered a modern Sino-U.S. "panda diplomacy" with the gesture. "Relevant Chinese institutions have signed agreements with the Madrid Zoo in Spain and the San Diego Zoo in the United States on a new round of international cooperation in the protection of giant pandas," said Mao Ning on Thursday, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, when addressing a query at a regular press briefing. "They are also working with the Washington National Zoo in the United States and (Viennna Zoo) in Austria to actively negotiate and launch a new round of cooperation." Earlier, the Wildlife Conservation Association said on its WeChat social media account that it had reached and signed agreements for the conservation of giant pandas with several zoos. Back in November, the National Zoo in Washington returned three pandas to China as part of a more than 50-year-old legacy, leaving Georgia's Zoo Atlanta as the only one in the U.S. with a giant panda program. That loan agreement for the zoo's four pandas expires this year, which meant there would be no pandas in the U.S. for the first time since 1972 when the Chinese government presented two giant pandas as gifts to the United States after President Richard Nixon's historic Cold War visit to China. "We look forward to a new round of international giant panda protection cooperation with relevant countries, which will further expand scientific research results on the protection of giant pandas and other endangered species, and promote people-to-people bonds and people-to-people friendship," Mao said. Over the past year, China and the United States have had fraught relations over a number of global issues from regional wars, trade disputes and ongoing spying allegations. Leaders from both countries have had several round of talks over the past few months to ease tensions. (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista and Bernard Orr; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) By Josh Ye HONG KONG (Reuters) -China's Lenovo Group, the world's largest maker of personal computers (PCs), reported stronger-than-expected earnings on Thursday, with revenue returning to growth after five quarters of decline amid a post-COVID-19 slowdown. It said October-December revenue rose 3% from the same period a year prior to $15.72 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG estimated revenue to be flat at $15.25 billion. Revenue started contracting in 2022 at the end of a boom in demand for PCs and other electronic products that had been brought about by movement restrictions during the pandemic. But after almost two years of decline, the market is showing signs of recovery, in part due to vendors clearing excess inventory. Researcher Gartner in January reported Lenovo's third-quarter PC shipments grew 3.2% versus the same period a year earlier. Industry-wide PC shipments likewise grew, by 0.3%. Lenovo controlled 25.6% of the global PC market during the period, Gartner data showed, with HP, Dell and Apple in second, third and fourth place. However, while Lenovo enjoyed an upturn in third-quarter revenue, profit dropped 23% to $337 million. Still, even that exceeded market expectations. Lenovo's share price rose after the earnings announcement and was up 3.27% in afternoon trade versus a 1.45% increase in the benchmark Hang Seng Index. The firm saw revenue grow in most markets, however it plunged 10% at home in China. The drop "definitely reflects" challenges posed by slowdown in the world's second-largest economy, said CEO Yang Yuanqing at an earnings briefing. Still, investors have been buying Lenovo shares over the past 12 months in part due to expected demand for "AI PCs", or personal computers optimised to run artificial intelligence (AI) software. In that time, Lenovo stock has gained more than 25%. On Thursday, Lenovo said AI PCs - including those capable of running AI applications without being connected to the internet - will be a strategy focus for the foreseeable future. Last year, it unveiled more than 10 AI-capable PCs at the International Consumer Electronics Show. AI PC shipments will likely reach 50 million units this year and are set to more than triple to 167 million units by 2027, accounting for close to 60% of total shipments, showed data from researcher IDC. Lenovo is also set to benefit from being one of the technology industry's big manufacturers of "AI servers", or dedicated AI computers equipped with multiple processing chips developed by leading AI chipmakers such as Nvidia. "The AI server (market) is expected to grow twice as fast as the (traditional) server market," Yang said. Lenovo has been a major partner of U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, but as the United States bans exports of high-end AI chips to China to slow that country's technological development, that partnership has come under investor spotlight. Asked about the ability to source Nvidia's AI chips, Yang said supply has been stable for Lenovo's non-China business. (Reporting by Josh Ye; Editing by Christopher Cushing) BRUSSELS (AP) European Union countries on Wednesday agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia to target individuals and businesses suspected of assisting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, including Chinese companies. The decision coincides with the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, and comes days after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Belgium, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation bloc, said the package is one of the broadest approved by the EU. According to several diplomats, EU ambassadors from all member countries agreed to impose sanctions on about 200 companies and individuals. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to disclose details about the sanctions, which have yet to be formally adopted. They said several Chinese companies, which are believed to have provided help to Russia, have been sanctioned. Details of the entities targeted will be revealed when the sanctions are published in the EUs legal journal. The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine. The measures have targeted the energy sector, banks, the worlds biggest diamond mining company, businesses and markets, and made Russian officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans. The new sanctions will further enhance trade restrictions against entities linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, diplomats said. Additional bans on exports to Russia of highly technical components for drone production were adopted. I welcome the agreement on our 13th sanctions package against Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. We must keep degrading Putins war machine. With 2,000 listings in total, we keep the pressure high on the Kremlin. We are also further cutting Russias access to drones. Belgium said the package will undergo a written procedure and be formally approved on Saturday, which marks the second anniversary of the war. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) will be based in Frankfurt, Germany, the Belgian Presidency of the EU said on Thursday, in a move the bloc hopes will advance its fight against illicit finance. Previously lacking any pan-EU authority to control dirty money, Brussels relied on national regulators to enforce its rules, but member states did not always cooperate fully. The Belgian Presidency said in a statement on X that AMLA will play a key role in fighting illicit financial activities, money laundering and terrorism financing in the EU. It will have more than 400 staff and will start operations in mid-2025. "AMLA will be a game-changer in cracking down on dirty money in the EU," co-rapporteurs Emil Radev and Eva Maria Poptcheva said in a European Parliament statement. "It will supervise the riskiest financial entities, oversee the non-financial sector, and play a crucial role in stopping evaders from circumventing targeted financial sanctions." The choice of Frankfurt marked the first time that a new EU agency's host city was agreed between the European Parliament and the Council on an equal footing. Eight other countries had applied to host AMLA, including Belgium (Brussels), Ireland (Dublin), Spain (Madrid), France (Paris), Italy (Rome), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius) and Austria (Vienna). Frankfurt won by far the most votes, with Madrid and Paris coming second and third. AMLA will "take the fight against money laundering to the next level," German Finance Minister Christian Lindner posted on X. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted that "Frankfurt will be further strengthened as a financial centre in Europe." The AMLA regulation is part of a wider package of laws to reform the EUs framework for combating money-laundering and terrorist financing. Now that the entire package has been provisionally agreed between Parliament and Council, it needs to be formally adopted by both before it can enter into law. Parliament is expected to vote on its final approval on April 22-25. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq in France, additional reporting by Thomas Escritt and Christian Kraemer in Germany; writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, editing by Alexandra Hudson, William Maclean) KYIV Sitting on the front line of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Europes largest nuclear power plant is near the brink of a disaster that could imperil the Continent, according to international monitors and Ukrainian officials. The situation is extremely volatile, said Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which closely monitors the Zaporizhzhia facility in the southeast Ukrainian town of Enerhodar. Ukraines national energy company and former employees at the plant are also sounding the alarm. It is the most dangerous situation that we have, Grossi told NBC News in an interview last week. Its my job not to sow panic, but at the same time I have to tell the truth about what is happening. There was growing international alarm when the site was shelled in the months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine two years ago this Saturday, Feb. 24. And Ukrainian officials have also warned about staffing levels and general maintenance of the plant, which became operational in 1984. Both sides have since blamed the other for attacks in the vicinity of the complex, which Russian forces seized shortly after the start of the war and is almost twice the size of Ukraines Chernobyl plant, the site of the deadly 1986 disaster widely considered the worst nuclear accident on record. Satellite imagery from July shows the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and it's six uranium-fueled reactors, currently in a cold shutdown. (Maxar) The atomic energy agency has repeatedly warned about the dangers of a direct attack on the site, although it has noted there has been no shelling of the facility since May. However, Russian forces remain in control of the plant, which is right on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River, and all the territory around it, including the company town of Enerhodar. Ukrainian forces have maintained control of the rivers other bank. As the focus of the fighting has shifted farther north, another concern is the frequent power outages at the plant, where eight blackouts have been reported since the start of the war, the most recent in December, according to both the IAEA and Energoatom, Ukraines national energy company. When you have a blackout, lack of external power supply at a nuclear power plant, the cooling function of the reactors is lost, and you could have a meltdown, Grossi said. He added that the situation could be compared to 2011s disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, when three reactors melted down in an accident caused by a huge tsunami that battered the countrys eastern coast. Zaporizhzhia is different because the plants six Soviet-era reactors were put into semi-shutdown to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure shortly after the start of the war. As a result, they are in a colder state than those in Fukushima and therefore less volatile. Powering the plant has nonetheless become increasingly difficult because three of the four lines supplying the complex have been destroyed and the fourth is faulty, according to Petro Kotin, the CEO of Energoatom, which ran the facility before it was taken by Russian forces. For now, the plant is relying on 20 backup diesel generators to keep the reactors operating safely, said Kotin, who is still in contact with a number of Ukrainian workers at the plant. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam farther up the Dnieper River has also proved problematic for operators at the plant. Water from the dams reservoir had been used to cool the reactors, which now could overheat and melt down if turned on. Satellite imagery from last June shows depleted water levels of the Dnieper River by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, following the destruction of the Khakovka dam. (Maxar) New wells are being drilled at the plant to make up for the supply of cooling water lost by the dams collapse, according to the IAEA. Another serious point of concern is the lack of qualified staff to oversee safety under the plants current operators, a subsidiary of the Russian state nuclear company, Rosatom. Before the war, about 11,000 employees worked at the plant, many of whom fled as Russian forces advanced. Now there is just a skeleton crew of about 4,000, according to Energoatom, which like Kotin still receives information from both current and former staff members. Kotin said the Ukrainian staff who stayed behind were forced under pressure and even under torture to sign contracts with Rosatom. NBC News has asked Rosatom for comment on power supply and the staffing issues at the plant. After the plant fell into Russian hands, Serhii Romanyuk said he reluctantly continued to work there as a deputy head of nuclear safety, which meant he was responsible for the safe storage of new and used nuclear fuel. But in September 2022, he said he was called into the office of the main engineer and was arrested by representatives of the Federal Security Service (FSB) the domestic intelligence service that succeeded the Soviet-era KGB. Romanyuk said they wanted to know if he had a weapon, so they escorted him back to his apartment in Enerhodar to conduct a search. They put a hot iron on my chest, choked me, they put a bag on my head so I couldnt breathe, he said. All of that was followed by a beating. Although they did not find a weapon, he said they took him to a police cell where he was held in a small, windowless room, crammed with people. The interrogations and the beatings continued, but this time he said they were searching for information about other members of the staff who were pro-Ukrainian. They were trying to convince me to collaborate with them, but it wasnt about working at the nuclear plant, he said. They were interested in some other field of collaboration. After more than a month in captivity, he said was released after he refused to cooperate. Now living in Kyiv, Romanyuk said he feared for the plant because of the poor quality of the remaining staff and the degradation of equipment. On the few occasions he has received information about the facility, he said it appeared that nothing is done there in terms of maintenance. Allegations of abuse against Ukrainian workers have been widespread since Russia took over the plant. A recent investigation by the Ukrainian human rights organization Truth Hounds featured testimony from several people who also alleged similar treatment. It said that Ukrainians on site were targeted for suspicion of working with Ukrainian forces, cooperating with the countrys intelligence services or of having anti-Russian views. NBC News has asked the FSB and Rosatom for comment about the allegations that workers at the plant have been tortured. Kotin, the Energoatom CEO, warns that the staffing issue is affecting the overall maintenance of the plant, further increasing the chance of something going wrong and that this is getting worse because of the degradation of the site. You can get to the point when any small event somewhere will bring just a cumulative effect, he said. After that, you will have this disaster. Richard Engel and Charlotte Gardiner reported from Kyiv, and Gabe Joselow from London. (Nicole Sorey/Facebook/iStock) The storm of unfortunate events that led to a Massachusetts court awarding custody of Harmony Montgomery to her father would eventually prove fatal. For the first four years of her life, Harmonys childhood had been a lot like her little brother Jamisons. They were born two years apart to a mother who was actively struggling with substance abuse issues and constantly found themselves in and out of foster homes. The trauma that they had been through at a very young age ... All they really had was each other. Harmony was Jamisons only constant, Blair Miller, who adopted Jamison along with his husband Jonathon Bobbitt-Miller, tells The Independent. Jamison officially became a Miller in November 2019 and a week later, the family gathered to celebrate the little boys birthday at their Boston home. That same weekend, just over 50 miles away in Manchester, New Hampshire, Harmony was killed. She was five years old. All I can think of is, Gosh, we were celebrating Jamisons birthday when Harmony was being beaten in the back of a car, Mr Miller said. The Millers had inquired about adopting Harmony, a rambunctious little girl with an infectious grin who was blind in her right eye, but were told that would not be possible. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) informed the family that Harmony had been reunited with her biological father, Adam Montgomery. Montgomery was found guilty by a jury on Thursday of beating Harmony to death after she had a bathroom accident. A constellation of missed warning signs, systemic failures, inconsistent laws across two states, and vague policies resulted in Harmony being placed in the hands of her father, who had a violent criminal history and was in jail at the time she was born. It was one decision after another that put her on a path of lethality with her father, Carol Erskine, a Massachusetts child advocate, juvenile court judge, and author of an upcoming book about Harmony Montgomery told The Independent. From June 2014, when DCF opened the case, to February 2019, when her father was awarded custody of Harmony, the DCF case management team never completed an assessment of him, the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) noted. Just 40 hours of visitation and an extensive criminal history Perhaps if a proper assessment of Adam Montgomery had been conducted, agencies would have noticed his lengthy criminal history, which includes everything from robbery to armed assault. There was just a list of dangerous crimes that made him a clear risk, in my opinion, to being able to parent their child, Ms Erskine said. The former judge explained that when determining the placement of a child, a judge will only consider a criminal past if the crimes are relevant. For example, when theres a record of ongoing unabated violence, with weapons and crimes against individuals, then it becomes more relevant in terms of parenting. Another red flag appears to have been ignored when deciding to award Harmonys father custody: the lack of time he had spent with her during her life. Mr Montgomery was in and out of Harmonys life since birth, not consistently visiting with her for more than four to six months at a time, with long periods of no contact, the Massachusetts OCAs 2022 report states. One gap between Montgomerys visits to Harmony spanned 11 months. The OCA estimated that the child had spent 40 hours across 20 supervised visits with her father from the time she was born to age four and a half. The report also noted that there is no evidence that her father tried to understand or accommodate her visual impairment or the emotional trauma she already had endured in her young life. Ms Erskine laid out a series of issues in court when Montgomery was awarded custody. The DCF attorney, while opposed to Adam being awarded custody of Harmony, did not pursue important lines of inquiry like his parental capacity, job stability, housing situation, or understanding of her visual impairment according to the Massachusetts report. Because DCFs case was extremely weak, the judge didnt hear substantial relevant evidence, Ms Erskine said. On top of this, Harmony didnt have a court-appointed child advocate. If there had been an independent voice for Harmony, things might have been very different because the judge might have heard information that was not conveyed to the court by the lawyers, Ms Erskine added. Regardless of the dearth of information, the judge awarded Adam Montgomery full custody. This was a case that was open with the court for four years and eight months and the trial lasted somewhere between six and eight hours, Ms Erskine added. At the same time, Harmonys mother Crystal Sorey was attending a hearing regarding the adoption of Jamison, Harmonys half-brother. Harmonys hearing therefore proceeded without her mother. Harmony was then sent to live with her father in New Hampshire. Interstate issues played big role in lack of safety checks Moving to another state opened the floodgates for more missed warning signs. Ms Erskine said that the major problem in the case is that there are different interpretations by Massachusetts and New Hampshire of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) which is a law enacted across all 50 states that requires check-ins about the childs welfare. The ICPC requires an investigation, including a criminal background check and a home study. The Massachusetts juvenile court judge requested an expedited ICPC to analyse what placing Harmony in Adam Montgomerys care in another state would look like. However, the Massachusetts report said that the New Hampshire ICPC Compact Administrator had not acted on the ICPC request by the date of the February 2019 hearing. So, Harmony was placed in the custody of Mr. Montgomery without a completed ICPC, the Massachusetts report states. Cassandra Sanchez, a child advocate at the New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), explained that Massachusetts had sent an ICPC request to be completed by New Hampshire but some documents were missing. The sending state is the one that needs to follow up, she said. Ms Sanchez also worked at the Massachusetts OCA during the Montgomery case. She said it was surprising that the judge moved forward with placement of the child to a parent before that was completed. There was never a home study at Adam Montgomerys house. Ultimately, the judge determined that the ICPC did not apply, and the DCF attorney the only attorney to argue that the ICPC applied to Harmonys case did not appeal that decision, the Massachusetts report states. When the ICPC didnt happen, it left Harmony alone in a home with a man who had a dangerous, violent criminal past, Ms Erskine said. The beginning of the end for Harmony Montgomery It only took months after Harmony moved in with her father for abuse allegations to surface. In July 2019, Kevin Montgomery, Adams uncle, reported that Harmony had been abused after seeing a black eye on the little girl and said that her father had admitted to causing it. I bashed her around this house, Kevin said Adam had told him. The uncle said he contacted DCYF and had also noticed that Adam had subjected his daughter to other forms of abusive discipline, like scrubbing a toilet with her toothbrush and being spanked hard on the butt. Michael Montgomery, Adams brother, also told investigators he had concerns that Adam was physically abusive to the child and was super short with her. New Hampshire DCYF visited the home the same day as the call and determined the claim to be unfounded. However, as the New Hampshire report notes, the DCYF worker only saw the child for a fleeting moment: This assessment was conducted as Adam Montgomery and Harmony were entering their vehicle and departing. A few weeks later, in August, when the worker conducted a second, more detailed assessment, they noticed a red mark in her eye and faded bruising under her eyelid, the report says. Harmony, her father and his wife, Kayla Montgomery, all told the worker that the child had been accidentally hit with a toy lightsaber while playing with a sibling. After yet another assessment in October 2019, the worker rated the situation as high risk for future child welfare involvement. No one saw or heard from Harmony again. A murder left unreported for two years Police have narrowed down the window when Harmony Montgomery would have died to between late November and early December 2019. At the trial, the court heard graphic details of the little girls death. According to the testimony of her stepmother, Harmony was beaten to death after she soiled herself but Montgomery and his estranged wife Kayla did not realize she was dead for hours. Kayla was the star witness at Adams trial after reaching a plea deal on unrelated charges of perjury. She is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence and has not been charged with any offence against Harmony. The little girl made weird moaning noises, according to Kayla, as she lay in the back of the car after the beating. Her severely bruised, tiny body was covered under a blanket and her face was dirty with blood from beatings in the days before. Adam and Kayla drove to a Burger King and then to a friends apartment complex to buy drugs before they realized Harmony was not breathing, Kayla said. For the next two months, Adam Montgomery went to horrific lengths to reduce Harmonys remains before he disposed of what was left of her in March 2020. Still, two years on from her death, no authorities were even looking for Harmony. In January 2020, the New Hampshire DCYF received yet another report about the Montgomery household; Adam Montgomery informed the agency that Harmony was not there, and instead was living with her mother in Massachusetts. DCYF proceeded to try to get in touch with Crystal Sorey to no avail. Both state reports say that she did not return their one call and voicemail attempting to contact her. At this time, There was not a strict guideline in place at the time for [DCYF] to have to connect with the parents they made attempts, Ms Sanchez explained. The Montgomery household received numerous child welfare reports from January through March 2021 none of these complaints pertained to Harmony. When agents asked about Harmonys whereabouts, Adam Montgomery said that she was with her mother and he hadnt seen his daughter in a year, state reports say. Strangely, both state reports make no mention of the little girl from March 2020 when agents tried, unsuccessfully, to contact Ms Sorey until a year and a half later in September 2021. The gap underscores that seemingly no one had been trying to keep tabs on the little girl in that time frame, despite neither agency being able to confirm where she was staying. It wasnt until September 2021, when someone close to Ms Sorey inquired to the New Hampshire child welfare agency about Harmony, that anything was done. That person said that the childs mother hadnt seen her daughter since Easter 2019 and hadnt been able to get in contact with Adam Montgomery to visit with her daughter. It also wasnt until this time that New Hampshires child welfare agency confirmed that Harmony had never been registered for school in the state. At that point, she would have been seven years old. So, in December 2021, the search for the girl began, with agencies believing they were looking for a missing seven-year-old. On December 31, the same day that police publicized Harmonys disappearance, New Hampshire officers found the little girls father living in his car. When asked about where his daughter was, he provided contradictory explanations, reports say. Days later, he was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, interference with custody and endangering the welfare of a child. In October 2022, Adam Montgomery was charged with murder. More than four years later, Harmonys body has yet to be found. A loving family who would have adopted her Blair Miller and his husband watched Montgomerys trial with an eye open and the other closed, he told The Independent before the jury reached a verdict on Thursday. Naturally, a child murder case was slated to have its share of grim details, but the information that emerged during the two-and-a-half weeks of proceedings proved disturbing beyond comprehension. During closing arguments, prosecutor Ben Agatis voice cracked with anger and outrage. The only parts of Harmony that are left will be with you in that deliberation room, on that pink toothbrush, and on that part of [bloodied] ceiling wall, Mr Agati told jurors before deliberations began on Wednesday, of the last objects known to contain Harmonys DNA. And the other parts of her body, her torso, her face, her eyes, that smile ... only the defendant, as we sit and stand here today, knows where they are. He cant afford to say where they are, because the evidence contained on them will show that he caused her death, so she wont get the burial that she deserves. Although Harmonys body was abused in unimaginable ways, her legacy lives on in her little brother. After he was adopted by the Millers, Jamison looked for Harmony in every blonde little girl he saw while out with his parents and siblings. We were talking to his mom about trying to figure out where exactly Harmony was because Jamison was so determined to want to keep that relationship. He would ask about her a lot. Wed be at a park and hed say thats Harmony, off in the distance, Mr Miller said. As a dad, you want to help fix that situation. The Millers would have gladly adopted Harmony. When they were told Jamison had a sister, they reached out to Montgomery via Facebook messages about being told that she was living with her biological father, but they never heard back. We had always said, If anything changes, we would want to keep them together, Mr Miller said. We feel a lot of guilt from that because we wish we could have done more. We wish we would have pushed harder. We were trying to keep a relationship between Jamison and his sister. Jamison is not yet aware of the horrifying abuse his sister endured but understands that Harmony is no longer alive. His fathers welcome conversations about Harmony and have tried to fill in the gaps with age-appropriate information. On Jamisons bedroom door, the Millers have placed a picture of him and Harmony. In the photo, theyre both smiling. Harmony is wearing her round glasses and a shirt featuring Minnie Mouse, her favourite cartoon. Jamison is holding a stuffed animal tight in his hands. Its a frozen moment in time of the special bond they once shared, before Harmonys life was taken and Jamisons was irreparably changed. Hes still very much talks about his relationship with Harmony and what she means to him, said Mr Miller. Just the other night, he was saying during his evening prayers ... I pray to God that he could just do one thing and thats to bring Harmony back to life. What has been done so theres not another Harmony? There have been some changes implemented to address the wide range of missteps that occurred in Harmonys case. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts OCA told The Independent that its child welfare agency decreased the caseloads of its staff attorneys. Similarly, the New Hampshire OCA said its child welfare agency workers now have a more manageable caseload that is closer to the [proposed] national standards, Ms Sanchez said. Since this case, New Hampshire has also put in place new policies for how children are evaluated after the child welfare agency receives a report. New Hampshire child welfare agents are now required to see children within a certain time frame and ensure they are directly laying eyes on the child and not seeing a child in passing, Ms Sanchez said. Hopefully, this will avoid another fleeting moment where an agent spotted Harmony from afar while she got in a car. The agents are also required to sit down and meet with the child separate from the parent and potential perpetrator, she added. There are also tighter definitions pertaining to the child-parent relationship. On top of this, seemingly in order to address Adam Montgomery being awarded custody after seeing his daughter for just 40 hours, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have signed a memorandum of understanding requiring parents to prove that they have a pre-existing relationship with a child. If the parent and child dont have a pre-existing relationship or it cant be proven, then the two states have agreed that the parent will undergo a home study process, Ms Sanchez explained. After Adam Montgomery told the New Hampshire child welfare agency that Harmony was living with her mother, the agency tried contacting Ms Sorey once without follow-up. Now, the agency is required to continue to try to get in touch with the parent until they connect and are able to validate the whereabouts of the child. If that parent says they dont have the child, the agents must then take steps to seek out where else that child may be, Ms Sanchez said. While some state policies have been addressed, Ms Erskine has her sights set on changing federal legislation. She hopes to alter the language of the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act to make a home study and follow-up mandatory in the cases in which a child is to be with a parent in another state. The New Hampshire legislature announced in February that it had started the Harmony Commission. The House Speaker said that a committee on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is charged with considering all matters on due process and practices concerning DCYF and can make recommendations for future legislation. Ms Sanchez said the commission seems like it will explore parents rights and their due process. And for us, thats the opposite of what we need to be looking at right now. She added, Childrens needs need to be at the forefront. It comes back to whats going to happen? After this verdict, what are we going to do? Mr Miller told The Independent. I know people are outraged but how do we harness that into creating change so theres not another Harmony? At the Miller household, Harmony is a central focus. The couple has met with lawmakers in Massachusetts and DC to discuss potential ways to avoid history repeating itself. Every year, the Millers celebrate Harmonys June 8th birthday. Its a tradition that dates back to when she was reported missing. Last year, they held the celebration at the Potomac River in DC. Jamison said, Lets get some flowers and go put them in the river, Mr Miller recounted. He said, All rivers eventually lead to heaven. He wanted the flowers to reach her. A Minnesota man has been arrested in connection to a homicide case five months after a model was found stuffed in a fridge in a Los Angeles apartment last year. Maleesa Mooney, 31, was murdered inside her apartment last September and was found with her wrists and ankles bound and a gag around her face. Her cause of death was labelled in an autopsy report as homicidal violence. Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, who is on probation for federal narcotics offences, was taken into custody at his Minnesota home on an unrelated federal warrant, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. Police said Humphrey is the suspect responsible for the murder of Maleesa Mooney and have filed murder charges against him. Humphrey has waived extradition and will be transported back to Los Angeles to face charges, police added. It is not yet clear what led investigators to connect Mr Humphrey with this case. Mooneys death has been deemed caused by homicidal violence (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Mooney was found dead on 12 September in her apartment on the 200 block of South Figueroa Street after her family requested a police welfare check. When Mooneys body was discovered by responding officers, she was found wedged inside the refrigerator, with blood pooled on the floor outside of it, the autopsy report, obtained by KTLA, said. The horrific details from the scene do not end there, however, as the autopsy report also said the models wrists and ankles were bound, tied to each other behind her back with a mix of various electrical cords. An article of clothing was also fashioned to make an apparent gag which was stuffed in her mouth, the report said. She also had blunt force injuries, such as lacerations, abrasions and contusions, found on her face, head, back and upper left arm, the report said, according to KABC. However, the injuries she received from blunt force trauma are generally not considered acutely life-threatening on their own, but they do acknowledge it was likely she was involved in a physical altercation before she died. A toxicology test also found traces of cocaine use, but the role of alcohol or drugs in her death is uncertain. A street-side memorial for Maleesa Mooney, who was killed in her apartment, is displayed on Sept. 20, 2023, in downtown Los Angeles (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Mooneys sister, Jourdin Pauline, previously told People that at the time of her death, Mooney was two months pregnant. Mooneys death was previously reported alongside the death of another LA model, 32-year-old Nichole Coats, who was also found dead in her apartment. At the time, the similarities between the two deaths, happening to two LA modes, both similar ages, and both in their apartments, made people, including Coats family members, suspicious that the cases could be connected. However, police said in September that there was no evidence that the two cases were linked. Coats death was ruled by the medical examiner as an accident due to cocaine and ethanol toxicity. Justin Perry was planning a one-night stay in London for early February and booked a room on what he thought was his chosen hotels website. It was only after getting a reservation confirmation that he realized hed used a third-party platform which charged him $155.92 in service fees on top of the $269.16 room rate. I was shocked, said Perry, who considers himself a frequent traveler and has booked numerous trips on well-known platforms. Perry, 49, a managing director for a financial services firm who lives in Boulder, Colorado, reserved the room on Jan. 31 after having searched for the hotel on his phones mobile browser. On the results page, he tapped a link that started with the hotels name and wound up on a page that he didnt initially notice was operated by GuestReservations.com. The booking process seemed straightforward, but the big, colorful confirm reservation button appeared above the full amount quoted for Perrys stay, which appeared in less conspicuous text after scrolling to the bottom of the page. The problem isnt new, but it could pose headaches for spring breakers many of whom are opening their wallets wider to book getaways this year. Nearly half expect to drop at least $1,000 on their travel plans, up from 34% last year, according to the travel platform Hopper. There are some online travel companies, or other travel agencies that do business online, that do not disclose this information clearly and who charge absolutely egregious fees, said Henry Hartveldt, the president of Atmosphere Research Group, which analyzes the travel industry. That has been the case for at least the last 15 years, he added. Government regulators, industry groups and consumer advocates have tried to push back against practices by third-party booking sites that draw frequent customer complaints. Almost a quarter of travelers, 23%, reported having been misled by third-party resellers, translating to 28.5 million hotel stays worth around $5.2 billion, the American Hotel and Lodging Association found in a 2018 survey, the latest data available. Now, as travel volumes blow past pre-pandemic levels a record 4.7 billion people are expected to travel this year more consumers risk similar encounters. Hartveldt noted that not all third-party booking platforms are unreliable or charge hidden fees. Bigger brands like Expedia and Booking.com are often reliable sources that partner with hotels and resorts to list their rooms. But theres a plethora of lesser-known affiliate booking platforms, many of which work with larger ones to extend their reach. Thats often where consumers can get tripped up, Hartveldt said. Some of the sites design pages to look like they may be a hotel, he said, or they are using a hotel logo but displaying that perhaps in a disproportionately large size. Perrys confusion didnt end after he booked a room with Guest Reservations. The link on his receipt to manage his reservation took him to a different site called GetARoom.com, a platform that the travel industry giant Booking Holdings acquired in 2021 for about $1.2 billion, folding it under its Priceline subsidiary. Perry called the number listed on his receipt, which he said was just a customer service number it doesnt say where its going to but when you get somebody, its GetARoom.com. After about two hours of haggling, Perry said he was refunded the full service fee. A spokesperson for GetARoom said it provides hotel inventory to booking platforms, including Guest Reservations, but isnt involved in its customer experience or marketing. In all instances, GetARoom complies with its legal requirements, takes its compliance obligations seriously and responds to investigations promptly and in accordance with the law, she said. A Guest Reservations spokesperson said the company is committed to providing customers with an easy and transparent way to book stays at hotels worldwide. Similar to when booking directly through a hotel, customers are charged for applicable taxes, including any hotel taxes. By charging a service fee on all reservations, we are able to offer 24/7 customer support and operate as an independent travel network, the spokesperson said. All fees, tax recovery charges, and terms are clearly displayed on the website. While the Federal Trade Commission is now in a rulemaking process to ban junk fees that raise the prices of hotel rooms and other consumer purchases, arrangements between large booking platforms and smaller affiliates are a long-standing part of the travel industry. A key factor that can draw scrutiny from the FTC and consumer advocates is whether booking platforms (of any size) engage in deceptive advertising practices. Federal regulators have brought complaints against third-party booking sites on those grounds in the past. The FTC has never filed a complaint against either Guest Reservations or GetARoom, but it did so in 2017 against another third-party booking platform called ReservationCounter.com and its parent companies, after consumers complained the site posed as the hotel websites they wanted to book on. The companies settled with the agency that year over allegations that they misled consumers with deceptive marketing. Larger companies were supplying hotel room inventory to those websites through their affiliate programs, the FTC said, describing how the arrangements worked in its 2017 complaint. The smaller firms signed agreements with big platforms such as Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz to obtain inventory, the agency said, but they advertise and market the available hotel rooms through their own advertisements, websites and call centers in return for fees. The Better Business Bureau frequently hears from consumers who mistake booking sites for hotels themselves, often because of the platforms advertising tactics, spokesperson Melanie McGovern said. Thats a lot of the complaints we get about the third-party booking sites, she said. Many sites buy ad space appearing at the top of search results pages for key terms, she said. So consumers who want to book directly, rather than with third parties, should scroll past the sponsored ad results and look in the organic results that often appear beneath them. The BBB recommends always reviewing the terms and refund policies before you buy. If you book with a third-party platform and get charged a surprise fee, the BBB advises calling the customer service line first. If you cant get through, contact your credit card company to stop or dispute the charge, McGovern said. You can also file a complaint with the bureau. Its really important, as consumers, that we do those checks that we check with BBB, that we check with our friends and family to make sure that a site is real before we put any kind of information in it, McGovern said. The families of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have reached a settlement in a lawsuit, an attorney for the Laundries said, after Petitos parents claimed the Laundries knew their son killed his fiancee during a cross-country road trip but intentionally withheld that information. The settlement concluded a much-anticipated mediation between the two families Wednesday, according to the Laundries attorney, Steve Bertolino. The terms of the resolution are confidential, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us, Bertolino said in a statement. If a settlement was not reached, the case would have gone to trial in May. Wednesdays conference comes a week after court documents showed Laundries parents acknowledged in depositions that their son told them Petito was gone and that he would need a lawyer in a frantic phone call on August 29, 2021, three weeks before Petitos strangled remains were found in Wyomings Bridger-Teton National Forest. Christopher and Roberta Laundrie denied being told by their son that he killed Petito, though Roberta Laundrie said the thought probably went through my mind. Petitos family reported the 22-year-old missing on September 11, 2021, 10 days after Brian Laundrie returned to his parents home in North Port, Florida. He vanished soon after, igniting a weekslong manhunt that ended with the discovery of his remains in a Florida nature reserve. A medical examiner determined the 23-year-old man died by suicide, and authorities said they found writings nearby in which he claimed responsibility for Petitos death. In the years since, Petitos family has sought some semblance of justice through the civil court process: A Florida judge previously ruled in favor of Petitos family in a wrongful death lawsuit against Brian Laundries estate, awarding a largely symbolic $3 million to Petitos mother as the administrator of her estate. The latest lawsuit names Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and their attorney, Steven Bertolino, as defendants, claiming the trios actions during the search for Petito caused her parents severe emotional distress. Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt are seeking damages in excess of $30,000, according to their amended complaint filed last November, which claims the Laundries knew not only that their son had killed Petito, but likely also knew the location of her body. Nichole Schmidt, mother of Gabby Petito, speaks alongside, from left, Tara Petito, Petito's stepmother; Joseph Petito, her father; Richard Stafford, the family's attorney; and Jim Schmidt, her stepfather; during a news conference in September 2021 in Bohemia, New York. - John Minchillo/AP The lawsuit pays particular attention to statements made by the Laundries and their attorney as the search for Petito unfolded, including one issued by Bertolino in which the Laundries expressed hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that she would be reunited with her family. Three days before the discovery of Petitos remains, her family sent a letter to Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, the lawsuit says, pleading for information about their daughters whereabouts. Tell us if we are even looking in the right place, they wrote, per the complaint, which says the letter went unanswered. Upon discovery of Petitos remains on September 19, 2021, the Laundries issued another statement, according to the complaint, which said, The news about Gabby Petito is heartbreaking. These statements, the complaint says, amounted to conduct which was intentional or reckless, and that the Laundries and Bertolino knew or should have known that the statements would cause emotional distress. For their parts, the defendants have filed for a summary judgment, asking the court to resolve the case now in their favor. Their statements were not intended to cause emotional distress but to express their sincere wishes, they argue. And because the case was a public issue that was receiving widespread news coverage, they argue their statements should be protected by the First Amendment. Additionally, the defendants argue silence is not actionable. Holding them responsible for the act of doing nothing would seriously undermine the right to remain silent. Because the collective Defendants had, and have, a constitutional right to remain silent, they cannot be held liable for insisting upon this legal right, their filings read. CNNs Jean Casarez and Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Lord Cameron made the comments on a trip to Brazil for a G20 meeting Lord Cameron has expressed regret over the Post Office scandal after revelations emerged suggesting his government knew about an axed probe that may have cleared sub-postmasters. The foreign secretary said anyone who had been in government over the last 20 years, should "regret what's happened". It comes after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the government to reveal what it knew about the investigation. The prime minister said the government had set up a statutory inquiry. The existence of the investigation was revealed by the BBC on Tuesday. Speaking to the BBC during a visit to Brazil for a G20 meeting, Lord Cameron described "the appalling way" post office branch managers had been treated. "I've said very clearly already many times, I think anyone who has been in government for the last 15, 20 years or perhaps more, should deeply regret what's happened. "That's why it's so important we have the public inquiry, we get to the bottom of what's happened, and crucially we get that compensation money out to the people who've suffered," he added. On Wednesday, the Labour leader called on the government to provide transparency over whether they knew about the investigation. "What did government ministers know about it at the time?" the leader of the opposition asked. The questions came after the BBC discovered that David Cameron's government knew in 2016 that an investigation into the flawed Horizon IT system had been cancelled. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were wrongly prosecuted after faults with computer software made it look like money was missing from their branches. If the investigation into the system had shown that Horizon records could be altered remotely, it could have helped sub-postmasters prove their innocence much earlier. But records seen by the BBC show that the minister responsible for the Post Office at the time, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, was told it should be cancelled on legal advice when a group of sub-postmasters launched legal action. Mr Cameron was prime minister at the time, though there is no evidence in emails seen by the BBC that he knew about the investigation, or had knowledge the probe had been ditched. Baroness Neville-Rolfe has told the BBC she had said publicly that she had instructed the Post Office chairman to commission an independent review, but declined to comment further while the inquiry into the scandal was ongoing. At Prime Ministers' Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir asked Mr Sunak: "Had that investigation revealed that [Horizon records] could be altered, which we now know to be the case, the livelihoods of those wrongly prosecuted could have been saved. "What did government ministers know about it at the time?" The prime minister responded saying Sir Keir "had picked one particular date but this scandal has unfolded over decades" and "it was actually after a landmark 2019 High Court case that the previous [Conservative] government established a statutory inquiry, led by Sir Wyn Williams, which is uncovering exactly what went wrong. "It is right that that inquiry is allowed to do its work," he said. Mr Sunak added that following the High Court case the government "established an independent advisory board, established not one but three different compensation schemes, and as of now over two-thirds of people have received full and final offers, because what we are focused on is making sure that the victims get the justice and the compensation that they deserve". Mr Starmer asked whether the prime minister had thought of asking Lord Cameron, who is now foreign secretary, and Baroness Neville-Rolfe who is now a Cabinet Office minister, what they knew in 2016. Mr Sunak replied: "No - we have done the right thing which is to set up an independent statutory inquiry." The former sub-Postmaster Alan Bates who led the campaign which resulted in that 2019 High Court victory has criticised the government for the slow pace of paying out compensation. On 11 February he told the BBC it had become "tied up in a bureaucratic nightmare". A row has also escalated between the government and the former chairman of the Post Office Henry Staunton after he claimed he had been told by a senior official to delay compensation payouts to victims. The government has strongly denied this. Custom divider with an envelope motif Timeline: What ministers knew and when June 2014: Deloitte submits a briefing for the Post Office board on Project Zebra, outlining how Fujitsu can alter branch accounts or change records of transactions remotely. 10 September 2015: Business Secretary Sajid Javid approves a letter from Post Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe to Post Office chair Tim Parker, urging him to take "any necessary action" about Horizon, after a Panorama whistleblower reveals how Fujitsu can remotely alter postmaster's accounts. 20 November 2015: Mr Javid is briefed that Mr Parker is undertaking a review into the Post Office IT system to look into claims that sub-postmasters have been wrongly prosecuted as a result of faults in the system. 8 February 2016: The resulting report by Jonathan Swift QC and barrister Christopher Knight recommends a full independent investigation into how often and why Fujitsu altered accounts and records "throughout the lifetime" of Horizon. 4 March 2016: Mr Parker tells Baroness Neville-Rolfe and Mr Javid he has commissioned "independent persons" to address "suggestions that branch accounts might have been remotely altered without complainants' knowledge". 21 June 2016: In a letter, Mr Parker tells Baroness Neville-Rolfe that in the light of the sub-postmasters' group legal action, on "very strong advice from leading counsel", the investigation by Deloitte has been immediately stopped. It never completes its work. BAYTOWN, Texas Two dozen protesters gathered near a Texas superintendents home on Wednesday to support a Black teen who has been suspended for most of the school year over the length of his dreadlocks. Hairstylists, children and activists filled a neighborhood entrance in Baytown, about 26 miles east of Houston, chanting Justice for Darryl George and carrying signs with hashtags like #DoesMyHairOffendYou and #MyHairIsNotAThreat. They gathered near the home of Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole, one day before a judge is set to hear arguments to determine whether the district can continue to punish George for refusing to change his hairstyle. George and his family have refused to cut his hair, setting off a monthslong battle between the family and the school district. Poole did not immediately return a request for comment. hair style school protest (Char Adams / NBC News) Protesters set up displays of synthetic braiding hair and carried photos of George and other children with dreadlocks. People passing by in pickup trucks drove by the demonstration, shouting, Go home! Janaie Roberts, a loctician, set up a salon chair during the demonstration and styled protesters dreadlocks in a show of support. Im an advocate for natural hair. This is how we express ourselves, so its not fair for us to be held back, she said. Just like we have freedom of speech, we have the freedom to be ourselves. Roberts said that if she could speak to George, shed tell him hes doing the right thing. hair style school protest hair braiding (Char Adams / NBC News) You have done nothing wrong and Im so proud of you for standing up for your rights, she added. George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, has been in in-school suspension or at an off-site disciplinary program for most of the school year. His ordeal started in August, when school officials said that Georges hair, which he wears in neatly twisted dreadlocks away from his face and neck, violates a district dress code regulating the length of boys hair. There is nothing that interferes with learning when it comes to our childrens hair, said Ellen Reddy, an advocate with the Mississippi Coalition to End Corporal Punishment, an organization working to end physical punishment in Mississippi public schools. This is about policing Black hair, Black bodies, and it has to stop. Our children have a right to wear their hair in natural hairstyles. Thats all were saying. Georges family has said the district is violating the states newly implemented CROWN Act, which prohibits race-based hair discrimination at work, school and in housing facilities in the state. However, the district has held that the law does not address hair length. Darryl George, left, 17, and his mother, Darresha George, outside Barbers Hill High School on Sept. 18, 2023, in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Image: (Michael Wyke / AP file) The district filed a lawsuit in September, requesting that a judge clarify whether thats the case. Last month, State District Judge Chap Cain III in Anahuac ordered the case to go to trial. The Texas CROWN Act protects hair texture and the wearing of braids, twists, and locs. Those with agendas wish to make the CROWN Act a blanket allowance of student expression. Again, we look forward to this issue being legally resolved, Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole said in a statement shared with NBC News earlier this week. For more from NBC BLK, sign up for our weekly newsletter. Larysa fled Dnipro in February 2022 at the start of the conflict "I have this feeling, I'm not here, I'm not there, I'm nowhere," says Larysa. The 40-year-old had a career as an estate agent and a comfortable life in Dnipro but that all changed in February 2022 when war broke out. She and her teenage son fled Ukraine, finding refuge with hosts in Dorset. The rest of the men in her family stayed behind. Grateful for the kindness she has been shown, she said the change has nevertheless been difficult. "I have settled here physically but I cannot settle in my mind," she explained. "I cannot get used to a new country, new rules, new language and habits. I worry about my family in Ukraine." Larysa was speaking at the home of Ukrainian psychologist Anna Hontaruk in Poole. Ms Hontaruk, who also came to the UK through the government's Homes for Ukraine scheme, has helped dozens of women like Larysa with the psychological challenges they face. Anna Hontaruk offers free sessions at her home in Dorset "The main problem is chronic stress," she said, adding: "Despite having shelter and everything vital we need for life, we keep thinking about our country, our uncertain future. "A lot of people are ashamed to ask for help, they are used to hiding their emotions and pretend to be unbreakable but this is damaging for their mental health." Ms Hontaruk runs free sessions which combine talking therapy with physical exercises to release stress. She explained: "I help people to find internal self-support. I try to help people change their way of thinking and be opened-minded and see a lot of new opportunities, despite their mental condition." She added after the invasion of Ukraine she was in shock and felt powerless but then realised she could make a difference. "Helping people is my passion and being able to do that it is my personal coping strategy," Ms Hontaruk said. Viktoria, who has a 13-year-old daughter, ran a successful events company in Ukraine. Viktoria has been helped by Ms Hontaruk She said she has struggled to find a sense of purpose and identity since coming to England. "In my imagination, I thought we would come for four, maybe five months," she said. "When you are going through an unexpected situation in your life, like war, you have some unexpected feelings and you do not know how you can manage this. Talking with Anna in my own language has been really useful and provided me with tools to help myself." Larysa, who is working as a teaching assistant, said the sessions have helped her to feel "a little more hopeful" and more able to support her 15-year-old son, who has also been separated from friends and wider family. "Talking about the problems is half of solving them," she said, continuing: "I can't foresee the future, I am just living in this moment and doing the best I can do." The free sessions combine talking therapy with physical exercises to release stress Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday it had shipped 200,000 tons of grain in humanitarian aid to six African nations, fulfilling the Kremlins pledge to the continent last July. Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said late Tuesday that Burkina Faso, Mali, Eritrea, and Zimbabwe each received 25,000 tons of grain while the Central African Republic and Somalia got 50,000 tons each, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Shortly after backing out of a crucial deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that enabled the export of Ukrainian grain, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged free grain exports to Africa during a summit with some of its leaders in St. Petersburg last year. This move aimed to strengthen support from leaders on the continent amidst a series of sanctions from the West. The first ship departed on November 7, 2023. The average travel time stood at 30-40 days. The last vessel arrived in Somalia in late January and the unloading of its cargo was completed on February 17, Patrushev said, adding that this is the first time that our country carried out such a large-scale humanitarian operation, according to TASS. Swathes of Africa rely heavily on grain imports from Russia and Ukraine but Moscows two-year war on its neighbor has fueled a severe grain shortage that has exacerbated the continents food insecurity and sent food prices rocketing. Somalia and Eritrea had previously sourced 90-100% of their grain needs from both Russia and Ukraine before the conflict, according to the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). A strategic donation The Kremlins grain initiative has been described by analysts as a strategic move as Putins African alliance broadens. Its strategic in the sense that Russia realizes that these countries are in need, and basically takes advantage of that specific need, said Zimbabwean development economist Godfrey Kanyenze. It is geopolitics at play the major string is to control or get a head start ahead of your rivals or competitors, he told CNN, adding that Africa has become a very critical playing ground. Kanyenze, who is a founding director of the Labor and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe, also suggested that Russia could be playing the long game to emerge as Africas preferred global partner. They (Russia) are also riding on the fact that the East were not colonizers. So, theyve always taken advantage of that historical precedent where the East portrays itself as a non-colonizer and probably a better partner with Africa. So, its contestation. Many African states took a neutral stance on Russias invasion of Ukraine in perceived loyalty to the Kremlin. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Opening statements began Thursday in the trial of "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins, 42, was killed Oct. 21, 2021, during filming for Rust at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing with a prop gun for a scene when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. The case centers on how a live round of ammunition found its way onto the films set and into the gun held by Baldwin. Although Baldwin maintains he did not pull the trigger, the gun fired a bullet. Gutierrez-Reed, 26, was responsible for the weapons on the set of the Western film, which starred Baldwin. She faces up to three years in jail if convicted on both counts. New Mexico special prosecutor Jason Lewis said in his opening statement that Hutchins' death was a result of Gutierrez-Reed's "sloppy" handling of the weapons on the set and that she failed to check the gun appropriately before bringing it to the film's set that day. "We believe that it was the negligent acts and failures of the defendant ... that contributed to Ms. Hutchins' death," Lewis told the jurors. Image: Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. (Swen Studios / via Reuters) Lewis said they plan to call several witnesses during the two-week trial, who will "describe the defendant's conduct as unprofessional and sloppy. You will hear testimony that she routinely left guns and ammunition lying around the set unattended and her gun safe and ammo cart were constantly disorganized." Prosecutors showed multiple photos to the jury of what they claim were live rounds of ammunition in both the gun holster worn by Baldwin and in the boxes of ammunition found on Gutierrez-Reed's ammo cart. Lewis claimed that Gutierrez-Reed brought the box of ammunition from her home to the set. But Gutierrez-Reed's attorney Jason Bowles hit back at that theory, saying that Hutchins' death was a result of Baldwin's failure to comply with film set safety regulations. "The first event that had to happen is the actor Alec Baldwin pointed a gun on that set and he either had his finger on the trigger and the hammer cocked or he pulled the trigger, as he was pointing that at Ms. Hutchins and Mr. Souza ... make no mistake, this is not a prop gun. This is a real gun ... You will hear that Hollywood actors are not allowed to point guns, real guns at other actors or crew ... You learn these rules and go into the classes you learn these rules if youve ever owned a gun, rule number one, never point a firearm at somebody unless you intend to shoot it." NBC News has reached out to Baldwin's attorneys for comment. Following the actor's indictment in January, SAG-AFTRA the union representing over 150,000 actors issued a statement slamming the prosecutor's decision to re-charge him. Image: The set of To the extent that the charges filed on January 19 are based on an accusation of negligent use of a firearm predicated on this or any actor having a duty to inspect a firearm as part of its use, that is an incorrect assessment of the actual duties of an actor on set. An actors job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert. Firearms are provided for use on set under the guidance of multiple expert professionals directly responsible for the safe and accurate operation of that firearm. Bowles continued his opening statement by saying that Gutierrez-Reed was hired to do two jobs, both armorer and prop assistant. He claimed that because of this she did not have appropriate time to properly oversee the weapons. Bowles also said he will prove that his client was not the one who brought the live rounds to the set. Gutierrez-Reed faces up to three years in jail if convicted on both counts. The evidence tampering charge alleges she passed drugs to another person on the day of the shooting "with the intent to prevent the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of herself, according to a court filing. When asked by NBC News if Gutierrez-Reed will take the stand in her defense Bowles wouldn't answer. Baldwin, who was indicted last month on one count of involuntary manslaughter by a New Mexico grand jury, is set to stand trial this summer. Prosecutors had previously dropped a separate set of charges against the actor, citing new evidence. His attorney, Luke Nikas, said in a statement at the time of the grand jury announcement that we look forward to our day in court. Alec Baldwin practicing a scene with a revolver on the set of the western Baldwin has said in multiple interviews that he did not pull the trigger. I feel that someone is responsible for what happened and I cant say who that is, but I know its not me. Baldwin told ABC News two months after the shooting. In a report commissioned by prosecutors last year, a forensics expert found that the gun that killed Hutchins had not been modified and that Baldwin would have had to have pulled the trigger. Among the evidence and witnesses expected to be presented during the trial are first responders and sheriff deputies who arrived to the set of the Western movie immediately after the shooting. A source also said that video obtained exclusively by NBC News in November featuring Baldwin firing at least one prop gun on set could be played for the jury. Prosecutors are also expected to introduce text messages they say show that Gutierrez-Reed was using drugs and alcohol after work, including the night before the shooting. More than two years after Alec Baldwin fired the deadly shot, questions persist about who was responsible for the accidental death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the western movie "Rust." After a long and bumpy prosecution, the first trial in the "Rust" shooting tragedy begins this week in a courtroom in Santa Fe, N.M. Prosecutors will attempt to untangle a lingering mystery: How did at least six actual bullets get mixed in with so-called dummy and blank rounds common to moviemaking including one lead bullet that was loaded in Baldwin's Colt .45 revolver on that fateful October 2021 day? Read more:Full coverage: The fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set Prosecutors allege that weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez was largely responsible for the death of Hutchins, a rising star in the film industry. They plan to ask a jury to convict Gutierrez on felony charges that could send her to prison for three years, alleging that she was reckless and probably brought the live ammunition with her on only her second job as head armorer on a Hollywood movie. The 26-year-old Arizona woman denies bringing live ammunition. She has pleaded not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count of evidence tampering and an unrelated gun possession charge. On Wednesday, Gutierrez arrived with her attorney at the Santa Fe County Courthouse at 8 a.m., wearing a black suit and a high-collared, Champagne-colored blouse. The neon green and purple hair she sported during the "Rust" production more than two years ago was gone. Instead, her wavy brown hair was neatly pinned behind her ears. In this screen grab from lapel camera video provided by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, movie set armorer Hannah Gutierrez, right, speaks with a sheriff's deputy. Assistant director David Halls, center, reacts to the fatal shooting on the set of "Rust." (The Associated Press) Attorneys spent nearly eight hours Wednesday interviewing potential jurors. A few minutes after 5 p.m. local time, 16 jurors were selected, including four alternates who will hear evidence in the first high-profile trial stemming from the "Rust" tragedy. Seven of the jurors are men; five are women. The alternates are men. The proceedings, which will be televised by Court TV, begin Thursday and are expected to run through March 6. Special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey noted during Wednesday's session that "almost everyone" among the first pool of 70 potential jurors was familiar with the "Rust" shooting, cautioning that the process of picking the jury would be slow. More than a dozen prospective jurors described hardships that would prevent extended service. One woman said her dog was having surgery, a procedure that she said could not be rescheduled. Late Wednesday, Morrissey asked prospective panelists whether they might be swayed by sympathy for Gutierrez because she was young and inexperienced. At least five potential jurors answered yes but said they would follow the judge's instructions on the law. One man told the judge and attorneys that he felt Gutierrez "got a raw deal." He was not selected to the panel. Gutierrez is one of three people to face criminal charges in the 42-year-old cinematographer's death. Last month, a Santa Fe County grand jury indicted Baldwin on involuntary manslaughter charges. The actor, who has pleaded not guilty, could stand trial as early as this summer. Baldwin thought his Colt .45 revolver was empty as he began rehearsing a scene in a wooden chapel at the popular movie location Bonanza Creek Ranch, just south of Santa Fe. He has denied pulling the trigger. David Halls, the film's assistant director, had handed Baldwin the gun, saying it was "cold." A year ago, Halls pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge, negligent use of a deadly weapon, in exchange for a suspended sentence. Baldwin has acknowledged pulling the hammer back and aiming the gun at Hutchins, who was standing about two feet away. Director Joel Souza was also wounded. "You don't wake up and go to work thinking that would be your last day," Joyce M. Gilliard, founder of the nonprofit ISAFE (Industry Safety Awareness for Everyone) TV and Film, told The Times on Wednesday. "But another life lost another death that could have been prevented." Gutierrez's "Rust" trial is getting underway 10 years after another movie set accident that injured Gilliard and claimed the life of Sarah Jones, a camera assistant. Both women were crew members working on a railway trestle to prepare a scene for "Midnight Rider," a Gregg Allman biopic, when a train slammed into them. "We really have to keep safety as the top of our priorities when shooting films. Period," Gilliard said. "In 'Rust,' there were safety protocols in place, but they weren't followed." Read more:'Rust' crew describes on-set gun safety issues and misfires days before fatal shooting For the last year, special prosecutors have built the case against Gutierrez, who has acknowledged loading Baldwin's Colt .45 caliber revolver with what she thought were "dummy" bullets. Albuquerque attorney Jason Bowles has insisted that Gutierrez, his client, is being unfairly blamed for a series of on-set actions and lapses that led to the fatal shooting. Bowles alleges that Gutierrez was spread too thin, struggling to balance two jobs on the low-budget film because producers allegedly were driven to cut safety corners to save money. Producers have denied the claim. Several crew members have echoed such complaints. More than six members of the "Rust" camera crew resigned the night before the accident, citing safety concerns and a lack of nearby lodging. New Mexico's Occupational Safety and Health Bureau blamed producers for Hutchins' death. "Rust did not provide staff responsible for ensuring firearms safety with sufficient time to inspect ammunition received to ensure that no live rounds were present," according to the investigation summary. Gutierrez the daughter of Hollywood sharpshooter Thell Reed who took a job that others with more experience had turned down had asked for the opportunity to provide additional gun training for Baldwin. But production managers refused her request, text messages show. She was also scolded for devoting too much time to handling weapons, neglecting some of the duties of her secondary role as prop assistant. Read more:The day Alec Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza Prosecutors have introduced allegations of drug use by Gutierrez during her off-hours. First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer earlier this month agreed to allow into evidence some of Gutierrez's text messages that allude to drug use, including getting high in a hotel Jacuzzi the night before Hutchins was shot. "That could be impactful evidence to a jury," said former federal prosecutor John P. Fishwick. Prosecutors plan to call a former friend of Gutierrez who has testified that on the night of the shooting she stayed with Gutierrez until deputies came to the hotel room to check on Gutierrez. The armorer allegedly handed her a small plastic baggie, with another bag tucked inside. The friend testified that it contained "a white powdery substance, which I knew to be cocaine; or I mean, it could have been meth or something, too," according to a deposition transcript viewed by The Times. Gutierrez's team has disputed that Gutierrez was impaired or that the bag contained drugs, which gave rise to the evidence tampering charge. Sheriff's detectives investigating the accident did not find evidence of drug use, although they did not test crew members for the presence of drugs or alcohol. "This is a challenge for the defendant," Fishwick said. "The prosecutors will say: 'She hid evidence, and so you can't trust this person.' That might give momentum to the bigger charge manslaughter." Read more:It was supposed to be their big break. Now two 24-year-olds are at the center of the 'Rust' shooting investigation The prosecution has been dogged by missteps and problems with evidence. Morrissey and another special prosecutor, Jason J. Lewis, took over the case last spring after Gutierrez and Baldwin were initially charged. The film's property master, Sarah Zachry, told police that she threw away bullets from another gun immediately after the shooting. FBI weapons experts shattered the hammer of Baldwin's gun during 2022 ballistics testing. And investigators never uncovered the source of the bullets. "The prosecutors say that they're going to prove that [Gutierrez] brought the bullets herself, which we haven't seen any strong evidence on," Joshua Kastenberg, a University of New Mexico law professor, said this week. "When the prosecutor says substantial evidence, they're not saying they can prove it with absolute certainty." "But I think this 'substantial evidence' is going to build a bridge to what actually happened," Kastenberg said. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Ju-min Park and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) -Emergency departments at all but one of South Korea's biggest hospitals were on red alert on Thursday as trainee doctors vowed to stay off the job in protest at government plans to increase medical school admissions to boost the healthcare sector. The protests by almost two-thirds of the country's young doctors, which began this week, has forced hospitals to turn away patients and cancel procedures, raising fears about further disruptions to the medical system should the dispute drag on. So far, more than 8,400 doctors have joined the walkout, the health ministry said, equivalent to about 64% of the entire resident and intern doctors in South Korea. The government has threatened to arrest the doctors leading the walkout. The physicians are protesting against a government plan to increase the number of students admitted to medical school in a bid to bolster the healthcare system of one of the world's most rapidly ageing societies. The doctors say the real issue is pay and working conditions. Park Dan, head of the Korea Interns and Residents Association which is taking part in the protest, said he was willing to be arrested, so that the doctors' demands are heard. "Everyone is angry and frustrated, so we are all leaving hospitals. Please hear our voices," he said in a radio interview, adding they were open to dialogue if the government was ready to hear their demands. Some doctors say the increase in admissions will compromise the quality of medical education, a concern about 200 doctors and medical college students raised at a protest rally in the southwestern province of North Jeolla. "We took to the streets like this because we are concerned that South Koreas medical system, which is the most envied in the world, would collapse," Um Chul, head of the Jeonbuk Medical Association, was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying. "Doctors aren't playing turf wars," he added. More doctors in Seoul are due to hold a rally later on Thursday in front of President Yoon Suk Yeol's office. Government officials are calling on doctors to stop their protests and prioritise patients. Many Koreans support the government's plan, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing about 76 percent of respondents in favour, regardless of political affiliation. During a hearing in parliament, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo rejected claims by some doctors that the plan to increase the number of medical students was aimed at gaining votes ahead of April's general election. The protesters say South Korea has enough doctors, and that the government needs to increase pay and reduce the workload, particularly in key areas such as paediatrics and emergency medicine, before recruiting more students. Motel rooms and rental houses were fully booked near Seoul's major hospitals by patients from the countryside whose procedures have been delayed, newspaper JoongAng Ilbo reported. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Jumin Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Miral Fahmy) CHARLESTON A wave of Donald Trumps surrogates have been dispatched to South Carolina ahead of the states Republican primary on Saturday to highlight his policies and trash rival Nikki Haley, but there is one thing none will discuss: Alexei Navalny. The death of the Russian opposition figure last week drew outrage among Western leaders who largely blame Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Joe Bidens administration responded by pledging to impose major sanctions against Russia as a result of Navalnys unexpected death. Biden has directly said that Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. On Thursday, Biden also met with Navalnys wife, Yulia, and daughter, Dasha. For his part, Trump has compared Navalnys death in a prison colony to his own legal woes. But as his supporters crisscross South Carolina to stump for his presidential campaign, none are directly addressing Navalnys death. I dont know, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., during a campaign stop for Trump in Greenville, S.C., when asked if Putin was responsible for Navalnys death. When pressed by reporters she said, I really could care less. I am honestly not interested in that discussion, she added, saying she only wanted to answer questions about the United States. Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law, said on Wednesday during a campaign stop in North Charleston that she does not know enough to comment about that. Donald Trump has endorsed Lara Trump to be the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, a position she is likely to hold through the 2024 presidential election. The former president himself on Monday took to Truth Social to liken himself to Navalny because he says he is the subject of unfair prosecution, specifically a New York judge on Friday ordering Trump, his sons and business associates to pay more than $350 million in damages and barred him from running businesses in New York for three years. The ruling came after a civil fraud trial focused on allegations Trump inflated the value of assets to defraud banks and financial institutions. The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024. Trump supporters campaigning for him in South Carolina have taken his cue, responding to questions about Navalnys death by claiming Trump is unfairly being prosecuted. I think the one thing we can get out of the judgment in New York is that every business person who fears for the future of their business because of the absolute oppressive nature of the courts in New York, they are nowconsidering leaving the state, said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., after casting his early vote at a Charleston-area polling location. It is absolutely insane that you will see that kind of judgment coming down, he added. He walked away as reporters asked him for more specifics, including whether he thought Putin was responsible. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., took a similar approach, saying she hopes Trump appeals the New York ruling. I hope he appeals the fines New York wants to put on him, she said when asked about Navalny at the same event where Lara Trump spoke. There were no victims, the banks called him a whale and wanted to do more business with him, those are the things we should be looking at. Trump is up by significant margins over Haley, South Carolinas former Republican governor, who has taken a different position on the Navalny death. She not only has blamed Putin, but has used the issue to attack Trump for wavering on the issue. Donald Trump could have condemned Vladimir Putin for being a murderous thug, Haley posted on X. Trump could have praised Navalnys courage. Instead, he stole a page from liberals playbook, denouncing America and comparing our country to Russia. Navalnys death was announced Friday by Russias prison service. He had become internationally known for working to expose corruption in Putins government. He survived several poisoning attempts that were widely blamed on the Kremlin, which denied involvement. Navalny, 47, returned to Russia in 2021 from Germany where he was being treated for a poisoning attempt involving novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. He was quickly arrested and later sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of extremism that were generally seen as politically motivated. A special prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case involving former President Trump objected Thursday to a judges plan to question his former attorney behind closed doors about the timeline of his relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D). Special prosecutor Nathan Wade said Thursday that his ex-attorney and former law partner, Terrence Bradley, should not be subject to a private questioning by Judge Scott McAfee, which may unlawfully compel the lawyer to break attorney-client privilege. The request follows a hearing last week where Wade and Willis insisted they began dating in 2022 not prior, as defense attorneys purport and that their romance, now over, is not a conflict of interest. During the hearing, Bradley invoked attorney-client privilege and said he could not speak to Wades relationship without putting his law license at risk. He said he began representing Wade in December 2018, ahead of the special prosecutors divorce proceedings. Nothing under Georgia law authorizes the Court to conduct such an examination once the determination has been made that attorney-client privilege applies, and should the Court compel the disclosure anyway, it would vitiate one of the oldest and most fundamental privileges recognized both at common law and by statute, Wades lawyers wrote in the Thursday court filing. Ashleigh Merchant, defendant Michael Romans attorney, previously told the court she expected Bradley to testify that Willis and Wades relationship began earlier than they say it did. A 2020 Trump campaign operative, Roman first brought Wade and Williss relationship to light in court filings and called for them to be booted from the sweeping racketeering case. The defense contends that Willis hired her romantic partner to prosecute Trump and has since financially benefited from his employment. Wade argued Thursday that lawyers for the defendants, including Trump, were given broad leeway to pry into (his) private life and used that time to introduce intrusive and legally irrelevant personal details. And still, they provided no credible evidence he or Willis should be disqualified from the case, he said. For the judge to now question Bradley, despite the privilege invoked, would be a step too far, Wades lawyers said. The Court should not conduct the examination under any circumstance, the lawyers wrote, bolding and underlining the text. The timeline of Willis and Wades relationship is crucial for establishing whether the representations the prosecutors made under oath are accurate. While the pair has remained firm that they began dating in early 2022 and broke up in summer 2023, an ex-friend of Williss testified that the district attorney no doubt began a romantic relationship with Wade in 2019, shortly after a municipal court conference. McAfee, the judge, has said the allegations against Willis and Wade could result in their disqualification if evidence shows an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of one. He will rule on the matter at a later date. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Federal prosecutors in New York on Wednesday said they charged a Japanese Yakuza leader with conspiring to traffic nuclear materials from Myanmar to other countries in the belief that they would be used by Iran to make a nuclear weapon. The accused gangster, Takeshi Ebisawa, and his confederates showed samples of nuclear materials in Thailand to an undercover agent from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who was posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker with access to an Iranian general, prosecutors said. With the assistance of Thai authorities, the nuclear samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Manhattan said in a statement announcing a superseding indictment against Ebisawa and another man. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory later analyzed the samples and confirmed that the samples contain uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, the statement said. The indictment says that in September 2020, Ebisawa emailed the undercover DEA agent a letter in the name of a mining company offering to sell 50 metric tons of uranium and thorium for $6.85 million. Takeshi Ebisawa poses with a rocket launcher during a meeting with an informant at a warehouse in Copenhagen (U.S. Magistrate Judge / SDNY / via Reuters file) U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of the conduct alleged in todays indictment. Williams said Ebisawa brazenly trafficked the nuclear material while believing it would be used to develop a nuclear weapons program. The top prosecutor also said that even as he tried to sell the nuclear materials, the Yakuza leader also negotiated for the purchase of deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, M60 machine guns, AK-47s and armor-piercing ammunition. Ebisawa, 60, and his 61-year-old co-defendant in the case, Somphop Singhasiri, a Thai national, were previously charged in April 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, Williams office noted. Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges in Manhattan federal court on Thursday. The Yakuza is a Japanese organized crime syndicate. The superseding indictment against Ebisawa and Singhasiri says Ebisawas criminal activities have included large-scale narcotics and weapons trafficking, and his international criminal network extends through Asia, Europe, and the United States, among other places. It also says that in early 2020, Ebisawa told another person and a DEA confidential source that he had access to a large quantity of nuclear materials that he wished to sell, including uranium. Ebisawa soon after sent one of those people photographs depicting a dark rocky material with a Geiger counter, which is used to measure radiation, the indictment alleged. Ebisawa is charged with conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials; trafficking of nuclear materials; narcotics importation conspiracy; conspiracy to acquire, transfer and possess surface-to-air missiles; conspiracy to possess firearms, including machine guns and destructive devices; and money laundering. He faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. Singhasiri is charged with narcotics importation conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess firearms, including machine guns and destructive devices. He also faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. The U.S. has charged a Navy sailor based in Japan with espionage for allegedly providing classified material to a foreign government. Bryce Pedicini, a chief petty officer fire controlman, is accused of passing documents to an employee of a foreign government at least seven times between Nov. 2022 and May 2023, according to a charge sheet obtained by NBC News. Pedecini is suspected of mishandling classified documents and information, U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson Commander Arlo Abrahamson said in a statement. The incident remains under investigation and legal proceedings continue, he said. It is unclear which government Pedicini is accused of colluding with. Pedicini was assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins and delivered multiple documents to an employee of a foreign government relating to national defense, according to the charge sheet filed by the Navy. The exact nature of the documents is unknown but Pedicini is also accused of smuggling photos of a computer screen designed for classified information to a foreign official while he was in Yokosuka, Japan last May. Pedicini had lawful access to information relating to the national defense of the United States, read the charge sheet, which could be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation. US Soldier Japan Espionage (via USNI.org) The Navy also accuses him of failing to report a foreign contact, and for taking a personal electronic device into a secure room. The sailor had joined the Navy in 2009 and had served multiple naval ships and received awards throughout his career. Since being charged in May, Pedicini has been under pre-trial confinement and was set to face a court martial this week, according to the charge sheet. Earlier this year, another sailor, 26-year-old Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer in exchange for providing photos of U.S. military information. Zhao, who worked at a naval base in California, pleaded guilty for sending his Chinese handler plans for U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, including blueprints for a radar system on U.S militarys base in Okinawa, Japan. Last year, Jinchao Wei, a 22-year-old soldier aboard the San Diego-based USS Essex was arrested for espionage over sending training manuals for military exercises and photos of the ships he served on. The U.S has accused China of carrying out extensive cyber attacks and an espionage campaign, which it refutes. (Reuters) - Railroad operator Union Pacific said on Wednesday it plans to invest $3.4 billion this year to support safer operations, renew assets and increase capacity. "We invest to keep our railroad and employees safe and we will never compromise on that," CEO Jim Vena said. Union Pacific will continue to modernize the locomotive fleet, upgrading older core units. The plan also includes targeted freight car acquisitions to support replacement and growth opportunities, the rail operator said. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company, which runs through 23 states west of Chicago and New Orleans, said it is also investing in increasing capacity across its network. It will continue to expand its freight footprint, supporting business development in targeted, high-growth areas such as Southern California, Phoenix and Kansas City, Union Pacific said. (Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai) WASHINGTON The National Association of Secretaries of State Winter Conference is usually a cordial affair. Its one of two occasions every year in which top election officials from most states gather to commiserate and share nonpartisan advice. But at this years conference, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner drew rare groans from the crowd. During the question-and-answer portion of a cybersecurity panel, which included senior officials from the FBI and Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Warner stepped up to the mic. In October of 2020, the CIA lied to the American people on purpose and it was covered up by the FBI, he said. We have our own federal agencies lying to the American people. The panel thanked Warner tersely and moved on to another question. Warner, who has been in his role for eight years and is running for the Republican nomination for governor, made similar conspiratorial claims about the CIA on the debate stage in December. His statements fit into a larger false conspiracy theory that hes advanced that government agencies such as the CIA had a hand in rigging the 2020 election. The remarks have solidified him among his colleagues as the only sitting election director in the country to openly embrace the election denialism that former President Donald Trump has used to explain his 2020 loss. It is problematic when you have a chief election officer of a state embracing conspiracy theories that undermine peoples confidence in the election process for no good reason, said Rick Hasen, a professor of election law at the UCLA School of Law. People should be able to look to their election and elected officials to provide them with truthful information and not to fan the flames of conspiracies, Hasen said. Warner, more than any other top election official in the country, has vacillated over the years between promoting election conspiracy theories and fighting them. In interviews, three secretaries of state told NBC News they believe his election rhetoric is a political tactic to garner votes, something he disputes. In January 2017, after Russian intelligence conducted an election interference campaign against the U.S., the Obama administration moved to reclassify elections as critical infrastructure, meaning the government could provide the same types of security aid to elections as it does to sectors like water and electricity. Secretary-elect Warner railed against the move at the time, saying it was a federal infringement on states rights to conduct their own elections. After the Trump administration kept that decision in place, however, he changed his mind. When the Obama administration made it into critical infrastructure, we rejected or went against it, but then the Trump administration validated that so I was like, Well, both sides are doing this. They know something we dont. So we decided to play with them instead of opposing it, he told NBC News in an interview several hours after the panel. Mac Warner, Cait Conley (Jacquelyn Martin / AP file) With Trump in office, he changed his approach and began fighting against election fearmongering. By 2019, Warner was touring West Virginia local high schools with a custom presentation cautioning students to not fall for Russian propaganda that seeks to divide Americans and denigrate their faith in democracy. Theyre trying to put that division in there so citizens dont trust citizens, citizens dont trust the government, citizens dont trust the democratic process, he said at the time. That year, Warner joined Pennsylvanias secretary of state at the time, Democrat Kathy Boockvar, as co-chair on a key NASS council that worked with federal agencies to streamline potential threat information to election officials. In early 2020, he penned an op-ed with Boockvar that warned voters that misinformation and disinformation have become major threats to our democratic system, and stressed the importance of maintaining voters trust in the integrity of the voting process. Warners conspiracy theories about U.S. agencies interfering in the 2020 election, which he explained to NBC News the afternoon of his outburst, are false. The claim that the CIA lied is a reference to the fact that some former CIA employees none of whom were still with the agency openly cautioned in 2020 that mysteriously surfaced emails from Joe Bidens son, Hunter, on a laptop he allegedly brought in for repairs and forgot about, could be part of a Russian interference effort. The agency did not make any such public statement. A spokesperson told NBC News that the claim that CIA interfered in the 2020 election is absolutely false. In claiming that the FBI interfered, Warner alleges that the agency overtly pressured Facebook and Twitter to censor news about those emails. While the FBI did caution tech companies that Russia could potentially leverage them in an information operation, and Facebook and Twitter did temporarily halt the spread of a New York Post story on the emails, no public evidence exists to suggest that the agency specifically pointed to the emails as a form of Russian interference or forced the tech companies to take any action. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment. As an elected official, Warner has had to contend with the rapidly shifting politics of West Virginia. In recent decades, the state has gone from one of the most historically Democratic to almost fully Republican. The GOP holds all major state offices and has a supermajority in both chambers of the state Legislature. With Sen. Joe Manchin retiring this year, the state appears poised to send no Democrats to Congress for the first time in more than a century. That heavy partisan shift has given Warner a difficult balancing act. He has declined to formally endorse any politician while working as West Virginias chief election officer, including his wife, a current member of the state Legislature, or Donald Trump. (His campaign website does include a prominent picture of him with Trump.) One of Warners main primary opponents, the states New Jersey-raised Attorney General Patrick Morrissey, has campaigned on being Trumps true champion in the race. Despite a lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud, a majority of Republicans believe Joe Bidens 2020 election was illegitimate. Several of Warners colleagues said they believed his conspiracy theories were an attempt to win over West Virginia Republicans for his primary race. Our association is not immune to political grandstanding. Hes running for governor, said Adrian Fontes, the Democratic secretary of state of Arizona. Its really sad, I think, that he thinks he has to draw attention to himself that way. I dont even know that he really believes that, to be honest with you. He might just be pandering to a rabid base but it doesnt help the rest of us, Fontes said. We have an inherent civil faith in one another in this society. And the election denialism movement is trying to destroy that. Its no accident that Macs running for governor right now in West Virginia, said Michael Adams, the Republican secretary of state of Kentucky, who has battled with conservative conspiracy theorists in his own state. A sign is displayed at a campaign event for West Virginia gubernatorial candidate Mac Warner (Jeff Dean / AP file) My style is just different from Macs, and so when I run for higher office in the future, Im not going to do that kind of stuff Mac does. But you know, to each his own, Adams said. Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic secretary of state of Michigan, said she was personally disappointed in Warner. People can choose to further political agendas to gain popularity in their state, thats their right. But what we lose is a colleague who was a good partner and someone who helped us all be better at our respective jobs. And thats why its so hard, she said. Warner said in an interview that it would be very politically expedient for me to endorse Trump and get behind him and so forth, especially in a very red state like West Virginia. But I put principle over politics. Im just simply not gonna go down that road [and] if it costs me political points, so be it. And I think that would be a good response to somebody saying Im trying to play politics by calling out the CIA, he said. Warner, who came to politics after a long Army career, has bucked election consensus before. West Virginia was the only state to allow any willing county to experiment with an app that allowed veterans and other Americans overseas to vote with their phones, which cybersecurity experts warned could not be fully secured. The state stopped using the app in 2020. Warner told NBC News that he was absolutely confident in his conspiracy theory claims, despite the consensus against them. Warner explained that he hasnt found much use for federal government agencies he interfaces with. I havent found that much actionable material coming out of our three-letter agencies, he said. For the most part, those security clearances havent done us any good. Were reading stories people like you write. And then six months later, were getting a secret briefing and theyre saying you cant talk about this and its the same thing Ive already read in the newspaper or seen on TV, he said. Customers of numerous U.S. cell service providers reported outages and other service problems early Thursday morning, according to the website Downdetector.com, which tracks such reports. AT&T had the most by far, with tens of thousands of customers telling Downdetector they had no service. Customers of T-Mobile, Verizon, UScellular and Consumer Cellular were also reporting issues, though far fewer. T-Mobile and Verizon told CBS News that their networks were operational, although some customers may be encountering problems when trying to reach people on another network. The reports of AT&T outages appear to have started at around 4 a.m. EST, Downdetector said, then seemed to wane some two hours later, then picked up again and were about 60,000 at 11 a.m. EST. But by 3:10 p.m. EST on Thursday AT&T said the problem had been resolved. "We have restored wireless service to all our affected customers," AT&T said on its website. "We sincerely apologize to them. Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future." Later Thursday night, the company attributed the outage to a software bug. "Based on our initial review, we believe that today's outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack," the company said on its website. "We are continuing our assessment of today's outage to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve." United states cluster map showing concentration of user-submitted problem reports over the last 24 hours to Downdetector.com. Officials: Don't call 911 to test your phone Earlier in the day, some officials urged people not to call 911 to test whether their phone was working. "Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cellphone. Please do not do this," the Massachusetts State Police wrote on X, the former Twitter. Likewise, Chicago's Office of Emergency Management & Communications had a similar message for local residents, noting that on X that people who actually need to get through to 911 should use a landline or find a friend or relative who uses a service other than AT&T and ask them to make the call. Some municipalities experienced difficulties with 911 service. The San Francisco Fire Department said in a post on X, "We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911). We are actively engaged and monitoring this. The San Francisco 911 center is still operational." In North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said on X at 3:15 a.m. EST that it was "aware of a nationwide outage impacting AT&T cellphone customers this morning. Customers were briefly unable to contact 9-1-1. There are no disruptions to our call center's ability to receive 9-1-1 calls. Service should be returning shortly." And in Florida, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office posted on X at 6:43 a.m. EST that, "Texts to 911 from affected AT&T users are now being received. If you have an emergency, and cannot dial out, send a text message to 911." The transit system serving Philadelphia and its suburbs, SEPTA, said on X that, "Due to AT&T communication outages, some trains may reflect a delay, however all trains are operating on or close to schedule." AT&T outage As of 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, Downdetector had more than 60,000 reports of service issues from AT&T customers. Most of the complaints were focused on problems with their mobile phones or wireless service. Outages were highest in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Miami and San Antonio, according to Downdetector. Verizon In a statement to CBS News, Verizon said its network was operating normally, although some customers experienced issues earlier Thursday when calling or texting people who use another carrier. It said that it was continuing to monitor the situation. T-Mobile A spokesperson for T-Mobile said it didn't experience an outage and that its network was operating normally. "Downdetector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks," the spokesperson said. UScellular UScellular also told CBS News that its network was operating normally. "We are, however, aware of a disruption that could be impacting UScellular customers attempting to roam on or call customers of another carrier," it said in a statement. How to turn on Wi-Fi calling Even if you have no cellular service, you should be able to make phone calls using wireless internet access, which is what AT&T is recommending for its customers. To turn on Wi-Fi calling on an iPhone, go to "settings," then "phone" and next click on "Wi-Fi" calling. Apple says you may need to confirm or enter your address for emergency services. You'll see "Wi-Fi" in the status bar while you are looking at the control center, which means your phone will use the wireless internet service in your home or office to make calls. To turn on Wi-Fi calling on Android phones, Google says to open your phone app, then tap "more settings." Then tap "calls," and from there tap "Wi-Fi calling." If that's not an option on your phone, it means your carrier doesn't provide the option, according to Google. What does SOS mean on my phone? Some customers reported seeing an "SOS" message on their iPhones. This can happen when a cellular service isn't widely available, but your phone is letting you know that it will still work for emergency calls, according to Apple. Nikki Haley vows to continue campaign through Super Tuesday Historic lunar landing: U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon AT&T customers report widespread cellular outage A passenger aboard a Las Vegas-bound flight fashioned a weapon out of pens and rubber bands and stabbed a fellow passenger in a bloody, unprovoked attack, officials said Thursday. The passenger with the eye injury. (USDC District of Nevada) Julio Alvarez Lopez was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the Jan. 24 attack aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 604, which had left Seattle at 6:10 a.m., authorities said. The aircraft landed safely, and law enforcement took one passenger into custody after the plane arrived at the gate, the airline said in statement to NBC News on Thursday. Were thankful for our crew for their professionalism in the handling of the incident. Lopez had been acting fidgety, a person sitting next to him told investigators, before he went to the bathroom late in the flight and returned to launch an attack on the man seated across the aisle, according to a complaint by FBI Special Agent Anthony Needler. There was blood everywhere, according to Lopezs seat neighbor. Lopez eventually stopped the stabbing, dropped the homemade weapon, moved toward the front of the plane, yelled, Ill only talk to the FBI, and took an empty seat, according to the complaint. The court document included pictures of the unidentified victim, who appeared to have bruises and cuts around his right eye. A bloody hand holding pens wrapped in rubber bands. (USDC District of Nevada) The defendant armed himself with pens wrapped in rubber bands, the complaint said. The defendant stated, I planned on attacking and killing him. Lopez was restrained and taken into custody when the Boeing 737-900 landed at Terminal 3 of Harry Reid International Airport, officials said. Lopez had never met the victim, yet believed him to be a cartel agent following him, authorities said. The defendant felt the Mafia had been chasing him the last few months, the complaint said. The victim, identified only by the initials C.R., just happened to be a sworn law enforcement officer, though the complaint did not list the agency that employs him. The victims wife was also hurt in the attack as she was shielding the couples 7-year-old son, officials said. During the interview, the defendant admitted to the FBI agents that he was trying to stab C.R. in the eye to reach C.R.s brain to kill him, according to the complaint. Lopezs federal public defender could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday. Rivian (RIVN) stock tanked to a record low after the electric adventure vehicle maker reported mixed fourth quarter results and a production and profit forecast that missed Wall Street expectations. Rivian said on Wednesday it sees vehicle production for 2024 hitting 57,000 units, well below the 80,000 units expected. In terms of full-year profitability, Rivian said it sees an adjusted EBITDA loss of $2.70 billion vs. $2.59 billion expected, with capital expenditure outlays hitting $1.75 billion vs. $2.37 billion estimated. Rivian said it would cut 10% of salaried staff, citing economic uncertainty. Rivian stock fell more than 27% in midday trading on Thursday. For the quarter, Rivian reported top-line revenue of $1.32 billion vs. estimates for $1.25 billion, with an adjusted loss per share of $1.36 vs. $1.33 estimated. On an adjusted EBITDA basis, Rivian reported a loss of $1.09 billion vs. $1.05 billion estimated, narrower than last years $1.46 billion loss. We made great progress in 2023 despite economic headwinds, and were excited about the year ahead. We firmly believe in the full electrification of the automotive industry, but recognize in the short term the challenging macro-economic conditions," Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in a statement. "We are aggressively focused on driving cost efficiency throughout the business, achieving positive margins and building our go-to-market function to support our long-term growth." "Perhaps more worrisome [than Q4 results], the companys 2024 guidance appears aggressive, as it assumes an improvement in order rate, and seemingly incorporates no price cuts; Rivian also reiterated its goal of reaching positive gross margin in 4Q23 which seems optimistic amid demand concerns," Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Rosner wrote in a note to clients on Thursday morning. In terms of its cash cushion, Rivian said it had $7.86 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q4, down from the $9.1 billion it had at the end of Q3. Earlier this month, Rivian reported 13,972 deliveries in Q4, up significantly from a year ago but below consensus estimates of 14,300. Production was notably higher at 17,541 units, above estimates of 16,574. Rivian CFO Claire McDonough said on the earnings call that Rivian expects Q1 2024 deliveries to be 10% to 15% below Q4 2023 deliveries. During this quarter some of the supplier changeover that were working on [stemming from Q2 shutdown and enhancements], were going to start to feel the impact of them, Scaringe added on the call. Some vehicles in Q1 wont be deliverable to customers because they are missing components, he said. For the year, Rivian topped its production goal of 54,000 with 57,232 vehicles produced in 2023 and deliveries coming in at 50,122. Rivians production forecast for 2024 is pegged at just over 80,000 vehicles for the year, per Bloomberg consensus estimates. A Rivian R1S electric sports utility vehicle charges at a public EV charging station in Redondo Beach, Calif. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) (PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images) Rivian also reiterated its forecast to reach modest gross profit by the end of 2024. McDonough noted that the company was "very close" to achieving a positive contribution margin at the end of 2023. Rivians profitability plans are paramount to the investor thesis for the company and for its survival. Pure-play EV makers like Rivian, Lucid (LCID), and Fisker (FSR) have seen their shares hammered over the past year as a string of loss-producing quarters and a tough EV demand environment have left investors with little patience for underperformance. On March 7, Rivian will reveal its more affordable R2 EV, which will be built at its upcoming $5 billion Georgia assembly plant. Rivian is aiming for the plant to be completed by 2025, with new R2 vehicles rolling off the line in 2026. Want a closer look at R2? Watch the live reveal event March 7th, right here on X. pic.twitter.com/Hq1k66r0cG Rivian (@Rivian) February 16, 2024 "The consequences of weak demand are significant," Barclays analyst Dan Levy wrote in a note to investors last week, in which the investment bank downgraded Rivian stock to Hold from Buy. Levy also raised concerns that Rivian could miss its 2024 target for gross margin profitability. "It appears that even great product and tech is not enough to avoid the EV winter," he said. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Moscow's arrest of a Los Angeles woman on charges of high treason has cast a new spotlight on the steep challenges imposed by Russia's refusal to recognize almost all dual citizenships -- sharply limiting diplomats' ability to oversee the cases and intervene if warranted. Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old former ballerina who holds both U.S. and Russian citizenship, was arrested Jan. 27 in the city of Yekaterinburg in central Russia and then jailed in early February for allegedly organizing fundraisers for Ukraine's military, attending pro-Ukraine rallies, and posting messages against Russia's war in Ukraine, according to Russian state media. But even though a longstanding agreement between the U.S. and Russia requires both countries to immediately notify the other if one of their nationals is detained, officials in Washington had virtually no information about her case when she was publicly identified by the FSB -- Russia's Federal Security Service -- earlier this week. PHOTO: Russian authorities detained a Los Angeles woman, known in the US as Ksenia Khavana, on suspicion of treason for her efforts supporting Ukraine. (Russian Federal Security Service/TASS via ZUMA Press via Newscom) MORE: Russia open to prisoner swap for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich: Putin State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow were working to learn more and gain access to Karelina -- a provision stipulated by the same agreement that requires notification. However, Miller set low expectations, saying that in recent history, Russia has not recognized any dual U.S.-Russian national's American citizenship. "We have pressed it at a number of levels," he said on Wednesday. "We don't have a lot of regular engagements with the Russian government now, but our embassy continues to raise it on a regular basis." While cutting off U.S. officials' access to the detainee obscures information about specific cases, it also inhibits diplomats' ability to assess the well-being of prisoners who often must endure weeks or months of harsh conditions behind bars between public court appearances. PHOTO: Ksenia Khavana is shown in this undated photo. (Ciel Spa) MORE: David Barnes, American detained in Russia, found guilty by Moscow judge Russian authorities have released a video purportedly of Karelina following her arrest -- a clip showing a woman with a white hat pulled over eyes being escorted through a hallway and handcuffed by a masked security guard, put in a car, and then placed in a cell. Karelina's former employer and Russian media outlets have said that the treason charges levied against her stem from a $51.80 donation she made to a Ukrainian charity. If convicted, she could face a life sentence. Miller said Karelina's arrest was a reminder for all American citizens about the dangers of traveling to Russia, especially given current tensions. "Russia continues to detain its own citizens and continues to detain American citizens, and it's why we have tried to make clear just as plainly as we possibly can that no American citizens should consider traveling to Russia for any reason, period, because they are at risk of detention, imprisonment by the Russian regime," Miller said. "If you are considering travel to Russia for any reason, do not do it. I don't think we can say it any more clearly than that," he continued. Karelina is not the only U.S.-Russian dual national jailed by Moscow in recent months. Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested in October for failing to register as a foreign agent and later charged her with spreading false information about the Russian army, an offense that carries up to 15 years in jail. American diplomats also have not been able to access Kurmasheva, and a court recently extended her pretrial detention through April. Despite the State Department's blunt warnings against visiting Russia, its travel alert does not explicitly warn dual citizens about the treatment they will almost certainly face if they are detained. In a clause regarding Moscow's 2022 decree on military conscription, the U.S. alert warns that Russia "may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals' U.S. citizenship." However, the British government's warning includes a specific section for dual citizens, advising "dual British-Russian nationals are treated as Russian nationals by local authorities" and "if you are arrested or detained, Russian authorities are unlikely to allow us consular access." Even in cases that don't involve dual nationals, Russia has been increasingly reluctant to allow diplomats to access jailed foreign nationals in recent years and regularly restricts access to Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, two Americans the U.S. says are being wrongfully detained on espionage charges. The Russian government has dual citizenship agreements with two countries -- Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Russia denies US access to American-Russian former ballerina accused of treason originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. The basic gist of the story is this: A shadowy ex-FBI informant with ties to Russia has been arrested and charged with giving false information to the FBI, but not before the alleged lies were used by Republicans to publicly accuse President Joe Biden of bribery. When you look at the facts now, it seems ridiculous and incredible a single, unverified FBI interview blows up into public allegations against the president of the United States and fuels plans for his impeachment. But it has taken months of incremental developments to arrive at this point, and there are many unanswered questions in the developing saga of Alexander Smirnov, the accused peddler of misinformation. Smirnov has been charged with lying to the FBI and creating false records, but he has not yet entered a plea. His lawyers say hes presumed innocent and will rigorously fight the charges. Heres what we actually do know at this point: Alexander Smirnov, middle, leaves court in Las Vegas on February 20. - CNN Who is Alexander Smirnov? Smirnov is a 43-year-old dual American-Israeli citizen who moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas two years ago. A confidential human source for the FBI, he provided an FBI agent, his handler, information that had been used in multiple investigations dating back to 2010, according to a federal indictment. Very little is known publicly about Smirnov. CNN has not obtained a photograph of him, for instance, and he shielded himself by covering his face when leaving court Tuesday, although he does appear to have quite a bit of money. Prosecutors, in asking unsuccessfully for Smirnov to be kept behind bars while he awaits trial, said he has access to more than $6 million in bank accounts and claims to have contacts with multiple foreign agencies. Plus, they said he was planning a monthslong trip out of the US when he was arrested. A judge rejected those arguments. Smirnov was released from custody Tuesday but is required to wear a GPS monitoring device and had to surrender his two passports, among other conditions. What did he tell the FBI about the Bidens? There were, according to the indictment, multiple stories. First, in 2017, Smirnov told the FBI he had been in contact with executives at Burisma, the Ukrainian oil and natural gas company that paid Joe Bidens son Hunter to be on its board, including while his father was vice president and oversaw US policy toward Ukraine. Smirnov told his handler that Burisma was interested in buying a US-based oil company. Hunter Biden was briefly mentioned, but no allegation about either Biden was made by Smirnov. The handler documented all of this in what the FBI calls an FD-1023. Years later, when Joe Biden was running for president, Smirnov added a bribery allegation. In May 2020, Smirnov texted his handler multiple times about the presidential election, showing a bias against Biden, according to prosecutors. He did not make any specific allegations, but alluded to a bribe he said he would try to prove occurred. How did the story change? By June 2020, there was an investigation led by the now-former, Donald Trump-appointed US attorney in Pittsburgh, Scott Brady, into any allegations involving the Bidens and Ukraine, including dubious claims being pushed by then-Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Smirnovs handler, at Bradys request, reached out to Smirnov to follow up on his innocuous mention of Hunter Biden years before. According to the indictment, in a phone conversation in June 2020, after Joe Biden had secured the Democratic presidential nomination, Smirnov described for the first time meetings and phone calls he claimed occurred in 2015 and/or 2016 in which, he alleged, Burisma executives discussed paying $5 million bribes each to both Bidens for protection through Joe Bidens position as vice president. Smirnov said the alleged bribe was intended to help shut down a supposed Ukrainian criminal probe into Burisma, prosecutors said. As vice president, Joe Biden, along with multiple Western officials, had encouraged Ukraine to oust then-Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin. Theres no evidence Shokin was actively investigating Burisma at the time. Biden and US allies wanted Shokin fired for being too soft on corruption his ouster in 2016 actually wouldve increased, not decreased, potential scrutiny of Burisma. Smirnovs new, explosive but questionable allegations resulted in a second FD-1023. Did the FBI ever follow up? Efforts to confirm the allegations continued over the next few months, and Bradys FBI partners in Pittsburgh concluded in August 2020 that the matter should be closed. Senior FBI and Justice Department officials in Washington, DC, concurred. The information was ultimately passed on to the Trump-appointed US attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, who was overseeing investigations related to Hunter Biden. Brady told Congress last year that he had believed there was a sufficient indicia of credibility into aspects of the 1023 enough to pass it along to Weiss and to brief Weiss about the document. Years later, in August 2023, Weiss was elevated by Attorney General Merrick Garland to become a special counsel for his multifaceted investigation into Hunter Biden. That happened shortly after a plea deal between Weiss and Hunter Biden fell apart, and as Republicans pushed unproven conspiracy theories related to the 2020 FD-1023. Smirnov was officially interviewed again by the FBI in September about his Biden-related bribery allegations. He repeated the general allegations from his 2020 phone conversation, but with multiple inconsistencies, according to the indictment. Attorney David Weiss speaks during a press conference on May 3, 2018, at his district office in Wilmington, Delaware. - Suchat Pederson/The News Journal/AP/File During that formal interview, prosecutors now say, Smirnov also added details he said he learned from Russian intelligence officials, including that Hunter Biden stayed at a particular hotel in Ukraine and there are tapes of him there. Why do prosecutors say Smirnovs new story is false? For starters, Smirnov alleges the bribes were discussed at meetings with Burisma officials in 2015 or 2016, but according to the indictment there is no evidence he even met with Burisma executives until 2017, after Joe Biden was no longer vice president. Plus, people said by Smirnov to be at pertinent meetings with Burisma officials outside of Ukraine did not leave the country between 2011 and 2017, according to the indictment. The evidence at trial will show Smirnovs story to the FBI was a fabrication, an amalgam of otherwise unremarkable business meetings and contacts that had actually occurred but at a later date than he claimed, according to the indictment. Similarly, the indictment alleges that phone conversations in which Smirnov says Burisma executives discussed payments to Biden never happened. And the tidbits that Smirnov said he got from Russian intelligence officials about Hunter Biden being recorded at a Kyiv hotel? The indictment argues Hunter Biden has never traveled to Ukraine. If the FBI didnt believe Smirnov, how did his allegations make it to Congress and the public? Republicans on Capitol Hill have made investigating both Bidens a top priority dating back to the Trump-Ukraine impeachment in 2019. Last year, they pushed for months for the document with Smirnovs allegations to be released even though the FBI considered it to have been debunked. House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer had threatened to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress if the document was not released to lawmakers. Ultimately, Wray allowed members of Congress to privately view the document, but not keep it. After the document was obtained by lawmakers from someone who sought protection under a law to protect whistleblowers, Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican, released it to the public and argued it could be evidence of a cover-up. Its not publicly known who gave the document to Grassley. With a poster of a New York Post front page story about Hunter Biden's emails on display, Rep. James Comer announces a recess during a House hearing on February 8, 2023. - Alex Wong/Getty Images North How did Smirnovs allegations affect the Biden impeachment effort? Comer has embraced the unverified bribery allegation since, he said, it tracked with his broader investigation into the Biden familys overseas business dealings. Republicans tried to place the bribery allegations within the larger universe of Hunter Bidens business career, in which he admittedly traded on his fathers name and made millions of dollars from companies in China and elsewhere. Despite pursuing criminal charges against Hunter Biden for his gun ownership and tax evasions, prosecutors have not alleged wrongdoing with regard to Burisma. After releasing the FD-1023, Republicans argued it could be evidence of a cover-up. While the FBI sought to obfuscate and redact, the American people can now read this document for themselves, without the filter of politicians or bureaucrats, thanks to brave and heroic whistleblowers, Grassley proudly proclaimed in July. The unverified allegations became an article of faith in GOP efforts to undercut Bidens credibility. Every day this bribery scandal becomes more credible, Comer said on Fox News last July, seizing on Smirnovs allegations. Have Republicans pulled back any of their allegations? Grassleys decision to publicly release the unverified allegations that Weiss, a Republican-appointed US attorney, now says were lies has not aged well. Grassley has made no official comment on the recent developments. Comer recently told Spectrum News that the impeachment effort against Biden may not ultimately occur. But Republicans argue in talking points obtained by CNN that they have evidence beyond the FD-1023 that shows Biden was involved in the business dealings of his son and other family members. In a statement after the Smirnov indictment was unsealed, Comer said, the impeachment inquiry is not reliant on the FBIs FD-1023. 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. Even though Republicans are maintaining that the charges against Smirnov have no impact on their work, they removed a reference to the informant from a letter sent to an unrelated witness requesting an interview, copies of the letters obtained by CNN show. Republicans are also asking the FBI why they ever relied on the now-discredited informant in the first place. Comer says the FBI told him last year that Smirnov was credible and trusted and had been paid six figures for his information. The Oversight Committee website still, as of this writing, includes mention of the debunked form FD-1023. Where did the Smirnov information originate? The origin of the debunked bribery story is unclear. But its notable that Smirnov says he has ties to Russian officials and even admits they gave him information about Hunter Biden information that the Justice Department says is false. Given how Smirnovs story has changed over time, according to the indictment, its hard to know exactly what to believe. There is, however, a confirmed track record of Russians spreading disinformation about the Bidens in Ukraine. Its the same storyline that then-President Trump seized on when he dispatched Giuliani to build a case against Joe Biden before the 2020 election. The anti-Biden messages Smirnov allegedly sent to his handler in 2020 included references to a former Ukrainian lawmaker, Andriy Derkach, who worked with Giuliani in 2020. Derkach and his allies were labeled later that year by the US government as agents of the Russian government and sanctioned for trying to meddle in the 2020 election to hurt Joe Bidens chances. The disinformation continues. (Smirnov) is actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November, prosecutors said in court documents. What role does Weiss play in all of this? After Hunter Bidens plea deal collapsed last summer, Weiss was given the title of special counsel to give him independence from the Department of Justice, which is run by Biden appointees. He is the person currently prosecuting Hunter Biden in Delaware for illegally owning a gun while he was addicted to drugs and in California for tax evasion. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty in both cases. Weiss is now also using his special counsel powers to prosecute Smirnov for lying to the FBI and making up the bribery story about the Bidens. Ironically, Republicans cheered on his prosecution against Hunter Biden, but its now the Democrats who are trumpeting his case against Smirnov. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new law Wednesday that will allow public officials in the state to refuse to perform marriages if doing so goes against their beliefs. The measure, HB 878, is less than half a page-long and simply states that public officials shall not be required to solemnize a marriage. Those who can newly refuse include judges, county clerks and government officials. The law went into effect immediately on Wednesday. Critics have said that the measure was crafted with the intention of allowing government officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. Religious figures in the state have previously been permitted to refuse to marry same-sex couples. An original draft of the legislation, which was introduced last year, stated that a person would be allowed to refuse to perform a marriage based on the persons conscience or religious beliefs. The version of the law Lee signed does not specify under what criteria a person can decide whether to agree or refuse to marry someone. Representatives for Lee and state Sen. Mark Pody, the lead Republican co-sponsor of the legislation in Tennessees Senate, did not immediately return requests for comment. Republican state Rep. Monty Fritts, the lead co-sponsor of the legislation in the states House, could not be reached for comment. Same-sex marriage has been legal across the United States since the Supreme Courts landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015 guaranteed the right to gay and lesbian couples. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law a measure that also codified same-sex marriage into federal law, months after the fall of Roe v. Wade instilled fear in the LGBTQ community that their right to marry could also be in jeopardy. Mary Bonauto, who argued on behalf of same-sex couples in Obergefell and now serves as the civil rights project director at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, a nonprofit legal rights group, said the Tennessee law does not jeopardize the legality of same-sex marriage in the state. You can still absolutely obtain licenses, she said. Its only about performing a marriage and there are a whole variety of individuals who can perform marriages and also potentially some private entities. Bonauto added that the law lacks clarity over its application and opens up the possibility for couples to be refused marriage for a whole host of reasons, including their race, religion or national origin. The law is so broad that it could really introduce a fair amount of randomness that I think many people may not find tolerable, she said. Or I think, on the other hand, maybe they will just ignore it because it was to satisfy a particular effect on the ground. Time will tell. Nathan Higdon, the chief financial officer for Tennessee LGBTQ advocacy group Knox Pride, condemned the measure and chalked it up as a political stunt on behalf of lawmakers trying to hold onto power. You perpetually have to shake up and stir up your voters back home, Higdon said. Either youre doing really cool stuff or youre doing really s---ty things that keep their attention so you can be like, I stuck it to all the people you hate. Support for same-sex marriage remains at an all-time high in the U.S., with 71% of Americans in favor, according to Gallup, which has been tracking sentiments around same-sex marriage since 1996. Among Republicans, 49% are in favor of same-sex marriage, Gallup found. Higdon was skeptical that nationwide support for same-sex marriage would affect the everyday lives of LGBTQ Tennesseeans. Get on a plane and come here, he said. I will show you the reality of being a queer person in queer Appalachia. The enactment of the law comes amid an unparalleled number of challenges to LGBTQ rights nationwide. State lawmakers across the country have introduced and passed a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills within the last few years, with many of them aimed at limiting the rights of trans people in particular. Last year, legislators introduced more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills, including 75 that were signed into law, according to a tally by the ACLU. The ACLU is currently tracking more than 440 anti-LGBTQ measures introduced in state legislatures so far this year. Tennessee has emerged as one of the most restrictive states in regards to LGBTQ rights. Several of the laws Tennessee has enacted include a measure that restricts gender affirming care for trans children and legislation that limits trans athletes participation in school sports. Last year, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to enact a law aimed at limiting drag queens from performing in the state before the law was later struck down in court. For more from NBC Out, sign up for our weekly newsletter. A judge in Texas said Thursday that a schools suspension of a Black teenager because of his dreadlocks does not violate the CROWN Act, which forbids racial hair discrimination. State District Judge Chap Cain sided with Barbers Hill High School and against 18-year-old Darryl George, who has been on in-school suspension for months because of the length of his hair. George wears his dreadlocks on the top of his head, away from his face and neck, but the school adopted a rule that said a males student hair could not be below his eyebrows or ear lobes when let down. In a statement to The Hill, the school said, The Texas legal system has validated our position that the districts dress code does not violate the CROWN Act and that the CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that affirmative action is a violation of the 14th Amendment and we believe the same reasoning will eventually be applied to the CROWN Act. Allie Booker, Georges attorney, had earlier said the case ties into a larger movement regarding discrimination of minority groups as a whole. Booker said the school previously had a rule that hair could be longer, but it had to be tied up, which students complied with. What these individuals were doing was being able to tie up and sew up and put up their locs just like Darryl George is doing in an effort to comply with the dress and the grooming code, Booker said. Once [the principal] saw that a person could still have locs and be able to tie them up, language was changed in the handbook so hair had to be a certain length when let down. Well, if somebodys hair cant come below the eyebrow, its not gonna be long enough for you to braid. Its not going to be long enough for you to loc, especially coarse, Black hair, she added. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) called Thursdays decision anti-Black in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. Black folks deserve to show up as our full selves without punishment or criminalization. Congress must pass & enforce the CROWN Act federally to ban race-based hair discrimination once & for all, Pressley said. Greg Poole, superintendent of the Barbers Hill school district, previously told The Hill, Hair length of male students is only constitutionally protected for Native American students. Length of hair is not protected in the Texas CROWN nor in any of the CROWN Acts in the 24 states that have one. The Texas CROWN Act protects hair texture and the wearing of braids, twists and locs. Those with agendas wish to make the CROWN Act a blanket allowance of student expression. Again, we look forward to this issue being legally resolved, Poole added. Updated at 4:53 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. House Republicans reached a critical point this week in their bid to impeach Joe Biden: a closed-door interview with the Presidents younger brother James. But the coveted testimony was dramatically overshadowed by another development: The Justice Department indicting one of the impeachment inquirys lead informants for lying to the FBI about the Biden family with dirt from Russian intelligence. The revelation was the latest in a series of embarrassing setbacks for the House GOPs impeachment effort. In July, one of its whistleblowers was arrested for acting as a Chinese agent. In August, Hunter Bidens longtime associate Devon Archerwho House Oversight Chair James Comer said could become a hero of the probetestified that President Biden had no involvement in his sons business dealings. At the inquirys first public hearing in September, Comers star witness, conservative lawyer Jonathan Turley, said there wasnt enough evidence to impeach Biden. And on Tuesday, federal prosecutors claimed that FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who made false bribery allegations against President Biden and his son Hunter, had extensive and extremely recent contacts with the Kremlin. Democrats and Republicans alike saw it as the clearest sign yet that the GOP hope of impeaching Biden was slipping from its grasp. My sense is its not going to happen, says Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican. We should determine the next president through the election. Others are less diplomatic. There's no question this is dead, says Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat. To the extent that they continue to push forward with it, they are now doing it with a knowing asset of Russian intelligence. It is one thing to lead an investigation where you fail to find evidence to support unfounded conclusions. It is altogether something else when you are acting as an agent of Vladimir Putin. Since taking a slim House majority in January 2023, the GOP has made impeaching Biden its foremost priority on Capitol Hill. The investigation has largely focused on Hunter and James Bidens business dealings, with Republicans aiming to build a case against the President on corruption charges or attempting to obstruct the inquiry. As former President Donald Trump faced mounting legal peril, GOP lawmakers intensified the effort, hoping impeachment would force Biden to stand trial in the Senate just as Trump was mired in courtrooms throughout the country. But what some Republicans thought could serve as a political advantage going into the 2024 election has become more of a liability, as GOP investigators lose the confidence of even sympathetic audiences. Honestly, Im surprised that they have this high a threshold for humiliation, mocked a Fox News host on Wednesday. The House impeachment inquiry has centered on Hunter Bidens squalid past, with a heavy emphasis on his banking records. Republicans claim theyve uncovered more than 170 times that banks have filed suspicious activity reports against the Presidents son; roughly 20 subsidiary companies he created to hide earnings from overseas business interests; and other attempts to trade on his family name. Archer claims that when Biden was vice president, Hunter would call up his father and put him on speaker phone when they were meeting with business partners, but that they never discussed anything more than pleasantries. When James Biden testified Wednesday, he told GOP investigators that his brother was not involved in his business deals. Smirnovs allegations have been a central component of the investigation. They stem from a 2020 report released by GOP Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson alleging Biden family corruption, based on an unsubstantiated claim from a confidential FBI source. The source, later revealed to be Smirnov, falsely reported to the FBI that executives associated with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid Joe and Hunter Biden $5 million each when the elder Biden was vice president, according to the indictment. The filing also says that Smirnov told prosecutors that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story about Hunter Biden. Some Republicans have downplayed the Smirnov charges, and the extent to which they have relied on his claims. We've been focused on bank records and witness testimony, says a House impeachment inquiry aide. I'm not considering the informant a witness. That is not our witness. That is the FBIs informant. We never even knew who this person was. We could never interview this person, because the FBI wouldn't provide their identity. Main Street conservatives say House investigators have failed to make the case for an impeachment resolution. "It's not yet there, says Rep. Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican. It's just further evidence that it's not ready for that to be brought to the floor yet. Even two or three dissenting House Republicans may be enough to block Bidens impeachment. Last week, the House impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the administrations border policies, only the second impeachment of a cabinet member in U.S. history. But that came about a week after a vote to impeach Mayorkas failed because of a GOP absence. Republican leaders insist the Biden inquiry is still very much alive, even with potential evidence that the Kremlin is advancing the effort to influence the 2024 election. Thats come with other implications for the federal government. Next week, Congress will return from a two-week recess and have only three working days to pass a budget and avert a partial government shutdown. But House members will still be preoccupied with the Biden probe. On Wednesday, the impeachment inquiry staff is set to interview its most titillating target: Hunter Biden. Contact us at letters@time.com. Getty; BI Top Republicans have declared Trump to be the GOP's presumptive nominee. The former president will now face competing pressures to find his new running mate. Trump has a lot to choose from when it comes to either former rivals or MAGA allies. Former President Donald Trump and his allies want to turn the page to the general election. Trump's top campaign advisors have repeatedly pushed former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, arguing that Saturday's South Carolina primary will only further illustrate that she is no path to win. Earlier this week, the campaign predicted that Trump is on pace to clinch the party's nomination by mid-March. This leaves one major decision left for Trump: selecting a running mate. True, such selections normally occur far later in the calendar season. But the story of this entire primary, besides not being much of a story at all, is how it has thrown out the traditional playbook. There's also some budding pressure for Trump to make his pick, so Republicans can turn their focus toward the general election. Trump stoked speculation further this week when Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked him about six possible choices. Trump said that those six, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard were all under consideration. Here's a look at the names to watch as Trump continues his quest to retake the White House: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina Scott on stage with Trump in Laconia, New Hampshire on January 22, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The 58-year-old three-term senator endorsed Trump shortly before the New Hampshire primary. The South Carolinian also largely avoided criticizing Trump in a way that may have foreclosed him being on the ticket. Trump also confirmed earlier this week that Scott is under consideration. Scott further stoked speculation that he could be picked by telling the Wall Street Journal that he found his and Trump's contrasting styles "to be very complementary." It's worth noting that while the former president has a growing list of congressional allies, the Senate has repeatedly been an issue for him. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy Ramaswamy at an event in Des Moines, Iowa on January 15, 2024. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Like some other candidates on this list, Ramaswamy is unlikely to be chosen as Trump's next VP. But that doesn't mean there aren't people out there who would like to see it. Ramaswamy was perhaps the only candidate in the race who never dared to issue substantive criticisms of Trump, choosing instead to run as a staunch supporter of the former president who would carry that mantle forward. He dropped out immediately after coming in 4th in Iowa, endorsing Trump and likely securing himself some sort of future position in MAGA world, if not Trump's actual cabinet. But while Ramaswamy would be popular with some of Trump's most devoted followers, his penchant for conspiracy theorizing would likely be a liability in a general election. Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota Noem at a rally in Rapid City, South Dakota on September 8, 2023. Scott Olson/Getty Images The second-term South Dakota governor, perhaps best known nationally for flouting COVID restrictions during the pandemic, is perhaps the most likely pick for Trump's VP at this point. When recently asked about the prospect, Noem wasn't that shy about it: "I think anybody in this country, if they were offered it, needs to consider it," she said on CBS earlier this month. Popular with the base while bringing four years of governing experience, Noem would provide gender balance to the ticket while also satisfying Trump's desire for loyalty. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, shakes former Donald President Donald Trump's hand Michael M Santiago/Getty Images Donalds, currently in just his second term, has risen rapidly in Congress. Conservatives opposed to Kevin McCarthy's leadership put the Florida Republican forth as an alternative to the then-longtime House GOP leader. Donalds was later added to the powerful House Steering Committee after he switched his support to McCarthy and McCarthy went on to become speaker. That wasn't his only major flip. Donalds, who had previously been DeSantis' close ally, endorsed Trump last April, part of a string of Florida Republicans that snubbed their governor to back the former president. Donalds has also been floated as a potential successor to DeSantis, who cannot run for reelection in 2026 due to consecutive term limits. Donalds was also among the six potential names Ingraham suggested to the former president. Trump responded by saying, "They're all good, they're all solid." Like DeSantis, Donalds would also have to deal with potential concerns of sharing the same home state as Trump. Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Steven Ferdman/Getty Images Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is likely the most surprising name on this list. A former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, she endorsed President Joe Biden after previously declaring Trump "unfit" to remain as president. Gabbard's politics have changed drastically since then. In 2022, she announced that she was formerly leaving the Democratic Party. Over time, the four-term former congresswoman became a fixture on Fox News and at political events. According to The Washington Post, Gabbard has also advised the former president and his team about defense policy. She was also among the six names Ingraham asked Trump about in terms of potential running mates. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida DeSantis in Derry, New Hampshire on January 17, 2024. Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images Trump and his allies spent over a year ruthlessly attacking DeSantis. It was only toward the end of his disappointing primary that the 45-year-old began to return fire. DeSantis did endorse Trump immediately after dropping out before New Hampshire, but the question remains if either side would want to repair their political alliance. There appeared to potentially be a brief peace, but that now seems to be in question after a top Trump campaign official tore into DeSantis. The public attack was in response to a report that DeSantis privately expressed concern that Trump might resort to "identity politics" when selecting his vice president. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio Vance at the Capitol on November 14, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images Despite having just been elected to the US Senate last year, Vance has repeatedly been floated as a vice-presidential candidate for Trump. And he's not saying no. "Certainly if the president asked, I would have to think about it," Vance recently said while stumping for Trump in New Hampshire though he also said that the "best place for me" is to remain in the US Senate. A former venture capitalist and the author of the bestselling book "Hillbilly Elegy," Vance was once a "NeverTrumper" and a fierce critic of the former president. But he has since morphed into one of his staunchest acolytes in the Senate, and he's at the vanguard of a movement that seeks to reorient the party more towards the working class. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Haley in Hampton, New Hampshire on January 23, 2024. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Haley, who has remained clear her campaign will continue, has repeatedly said she's not interested in being anyone's vice president. Trump's choice of Mike Pence illustrates that he could tap someone to unite the party, but it's clear the former president is nowhere near happy with how that marriage ended. Haley's biggest strength would be her effort to appeal to independent voters. She could also hopefully repair Trump's long-running struggles in the nation's suburbs. It's clear, though, that her decision to keep campaigning is starting to grate on Trump. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia Greene at the Capitol on January 11, 2024. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images Greene, the fire-breathing conspiracy-minded congresswoman from Georgia, wouldn't exactly be a tent-expanding choice for the former president. But that hasn't stopped her from talking up her own prospects. "It's talked about frequently and I know my name is on a list," Greene told The Guardian in August. "But really my biggest focus right now is serving the district that elected me." A second-term legislator with no major policy accomplishments, Greene wouldn't bring much to the equation when it comes to policy chops or broadening Trump's appeal. In fact, it could damage the ticket, given her extremely poor polling . But there's little doubt that a portion of Trump's base would be happy with such a selection, if he decided to go that way. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York Stefanik at the Capitol on September 13, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The chairwoman of the House GOP Conference, Stefanik is the highest-ranking official who is seen as a potential Trump pick. The New York congresswoman, who ascended to her leadership position on the heels of Liz Cheney's ouster, has notably undergone a sharp shift when it comes to Trump, beginning with the 2019 impeachment hearings. Trump has reportedly described Stefanik as a "killer" and a potential pick in private, and the congresswoman recently said she "would be honored to serve in any capacity in a Trump administration." 2022 Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake Lake campaigning for Trump in Des Moines, Iowa on January 15, 2024. Alex Wong/Getty Images Lake, a former broadcast journalist whose devotion to Trump is unparalleled among Republicans, is technically running for another job right now: the US Senate seat in Arizona currently held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. But that hasn't quieted any speculation about her joining Trump on a presidential ticket. Lake has quickly risen to become one of Trump's most willing surrogates, stumping for him in states like Iowa despite having her own race to run. She also narrowly lost the 2022 gubernatorial election in Arizona to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs, and much like Trump, she has continued to claim that the election was stolen from her. Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia Youngkin at an event in Washington, DC on September 26, 2023. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Youngkin, 57, unlike the other governors on this list, has shown he can win a competitive state. The former private equity maven shocked political pundits by narrowly winning the Virginia governor's race in 2021. But Youngkin won in large part by ignoring Trump. The Virginian's political stock has also declined in the wake of disappointing state legislative elections that saw Democrats gain full control of the statehouse in Richmond. Trump might honestly be more concerned that Youngkin has ties to Jeff Roe, a former Cruz advisor, who left Youngkin's orbit to lead a pro-DeSantis super PAC that ended disastrously. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas Sanders delivers the GOP response to the State of the Union address on February 7, 2023. Al Drago/Getty Images No one on this list knows Trump like Sanders. As his second White House press secretary, Sanders turned her turn at the podium into a governorship. As Arkansas governor, she's pursued an array of conservative policies. She has endorsed Trump's campaign, but she has hinted that she wouldn't be interested in returning to the White House as vice president. "Look, I absolutely love the job I have. I think it's one of the best jobs I could ever ask for, and I am honored to serve as governor, and I hope I get to do it for the next seven years," Sanders told CBS News. Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa Reynolds at an event for DeSantis in Council Bluffs, Iowa on January 13. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Few states drifted further to the right under Trump's presidency than Iowa. But Reynolds, who gave the GOP's official response to Biden's 2022 State of the Union address, is likely out of favor in Trumpworld after endorsing DeSantis. Trump repeatedly tore into Reynolds in the closing days before his historic Iowa caucus blowout win. He's also suggested that state Attorney General Brenna Bird should lead Iowa someday in the future. Reynolds is a two-time incumbent who is also a former head of the Republican Governors Association, a perch that some former occupants have used to catapult them onto the national stage. Read the original article on Business Insider We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we believe in. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Costco knows what it's like to sell something that's in high demand. The brand's infamous $4.99 rotisserie chicken, for example, made headlines several times last year, and yet they still sold more than 137 million rotisserie chickens globally last year. But if you only think of Costco as a destination for bulk laundry soap and new baked goods, then you might be missing out on one of the best perks of having a Costco membership scooping up good deals on surprisingly top-tier beauty products. In fact, there are lots of bestselling beauty products at Costco, which is what we're dubbing items that have 1,000 reviews or more on the brand's site. What we didn't expect was to find so many top-rated brands like SK-II, Perricone and even La Mer (!) stocked on the virtual shelves. In some cases, you can find bulk deals on bestsellers, and in others, you can find exclusive deals that are accessible only to Costco members. Plus, right now Costco has a "Buy More, Save More" event going on through Feb. 4 where you can save on qualifying beauty items, many of which are included below. Save $30 when you buy three items or save $50 when you buy four items or more. Whether you're a longtime Costco shopper or are simply curious about the types of brands you can find at the international retailer, below are 15 best-selling beauty products at Costco that have more than 1,000 reviews. 1. Pura d'or Advanced Therapy Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo & Conditioner Duo Costco Pura d'or Advanced Therapy Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo & Conditioner Duo If you've noticed your hair is looking a little lackluster lately, Pura d'or's Advanced Therapy shampoo for thinning hair is a great choice. In fact, we've dubbed the brand's biotin shampoo as our pick for the best all-natural hair thinning shampoo in our guide to the best shampoos for thinning hair. The Advanced Therapy shampoo and conditioner set is designed specifically to reduce hair thinning due to breakage, whether that's because of dry hair, over bleaching, excessive damage and more. The formula is made with a blend of vitamins and botanical extracts including pumpkin seed oil, nettle and black cumin seed oil, all of which are shown to nourish hair follicles and prevent split ends and breakage. $40 at Costco 2. StriVectin Hyaluronic Tripeptide Gel-Cream for Eyes (2 pack) Costco StriVectin Hyaluronic Tripeptide Gel-Cream for Eyes (2-pack) Who doesn't want hydrated, younger-looking eyes? This hyaluronic under-eye cream from powerhouse brand StriVectin is the hero your bathroom cabinet is missing. The swirled gel-like formula intensely hydrates and moisturizes the delicate skin of under eyes, while battling the signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, crow's feet and puffiness. $40 at Costco 3. La Mer Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream Costco La Mer Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream (2 oz) Whether you're a devout user of La Mer's Moisturizing Cream or you've been curious what the hype is about, we can't deny we were surprised to see this top-tier, cult-famous, richy-rich face cream at Costco, of all place. La Mer's ultra-rich and hydrating face cream unlocks younger, healthier, more vibrant-looking skin in just a few uses. The brand is famous for its secret formula which they've dubbed the "Miracle Broth" and a main ingredient different from most skin care products out there: algae extract. Please note that this is a member-only product at Costco. $290 at Costco 4. Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara Costco Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara Master the no-makeup makeup look with this barely there mascara. It's both a mascara and a lash treatment and is designed to create the appearance of more lifted longer, thicker lashes while hydrating strands with every swipe. The application comb includes different bristles on each side wide and flexible, fine and firm so you can get exactly the look you want. $22 at Costco 5. EGYPTIAN MAGIC All Purpose Skin Cream Set Costco Egyptian Magic All-Purpose Skin Cream Set Discover the secret to Cleopatra's skin care secret with this all-in-one skin care set. "Based on the ancient Egyptian formula that Cleopatra used to keep her skin healthy and glowing, Egyptian Magic Skin Cream has become beautys most magical secret," according to the brand. If you're no-fuss about your skin care routine and want one product that can do it all, this might be the product for you. Use it as a moisturizer, lip balm, eye cream, cuticle and hand moisturizer, hair and face mask and even as a make-up primer. Use a swipe on eye elbows, rough enough and dry feet as well. It's an all-in-one product that deserves space in your bathroom cabinet. $33 at Costco 6. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre Daily Face and Body Cream (2 pack) Costco Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre Daily Face and Body Cream (2 pack) Made of natural ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, beeswax and soy proteins, Embryolisse Lait-Creme face and body cream is a great choice for those who are sensitive to ingredients. It's a bit of an all-use product: smooth it all over after a shower, swipe it onto dry skin, use it after shaving, and hydrate your skin after sun exposure. You'll end up with skin that's firm, smooth, soft and supple. $39 at Costco 7. RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum (2 pack) Costco RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum (2 pack) Achieve longer, fuller, healthier-looking lashes with each swipe of this lash-enhancing serum. This serum is made with ingredients like polypeptides, biotin, amino acids and hydrating oils and extracts that, when used daily, will strength each strand against breakage and will lead to more youthful-looking lashes. You can also apply it to brows to encourage thicker, fuller brows. $55 at Costco 8. simplehuman 8 Round LED Sensor Mirror with 5x and 10x Magnification Costco Simplehuman 8 LED Light Sensor Mirror with 5x and 10x Magnification A good lighted makeup mirror is essential in the mornings, especially in the winter when it's dark and dreary outside. This bestseller from Simplehuman has both 5x and 10x magnification, which can be useful for putting in contacts, plucking eyebrows, putting on lipstick and much more. We especially love that it automatically lights up when you approach it, and the light it designed to simulate natural sunlight. It's core-free and rechargeable so you don't have to worry about tripping on an unsightly cord. Choose from silver or rose gold. Please note that this is a member-only product at Costco. $150 at Costco 9. Further Food Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides Powder (unflavored) Costco Further Food Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides Powder (Unflavored) Improve your skin from the inside out with a daily dose of collagen powder. This grass-fed collagen powder delivers 8 grams of high quality collagen per scoop to reduce wrinkles and helps strengthen hair, skin, nails, bones and joints over time. Collagen can also help thicken hair as well as promote firmer, softer skin. While it is unflavored, most reviewers recommend blending it into smoothies, juices or dissolving it into morning coffee with milk or cream. $39 at Costco 10. NuReveal Resurfacing Face Scrub Costco NuReveal Resurfacing Face Scrub Cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate your own skin without having to get a facial thanks to this resurfacing face scrub. Made of exfoliating walnut shell powder, calming chamomile and anti-bacterial willow bark, this unique formula can be used on even the most sensitive skin types. The fine-ground formula is ideal for removing blackheads and deep-cleaning acne-prone skin. It's recommended to use two to three times a week. $25 at Costco 11. Brush On Block SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen (2 pack) Costco Brush On Block SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen (2 pack) If you frequently forget about sunscreen, reach for this brush-on sunscreen instead. It's innovative powdered sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB damage while remaining waterproof and reef-safe. Wear it alone or with makeup. The small self-dispensing brush is small enough to keep in your purse or makeup bag, so that you can swipe it on at the end of your makeup routine. It's also easy for men and kiddos to use, too. $35 at Costco 12. DS Laboratories Revita Anti-Hair Loss Stimulating Shampoo Costco DS Laboratories Revita Hair Stimulating Shampoo Stop hair loss and protect your strands at the source with this stimulating anti-hair loss shampoo. It's made without ingredients that can damage hair growth like sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and Phthalates. Instead, it's made with energizing ingredients that have been shown to promote healthier, thicker hair such as copper peptides, biotin and caffeine. It does, however, contain emu oil, so vegetarians and vegans might reach for another shampoo instead. For optimal results, lather and leave it on hair for two minutes before rinsing away the longer the ingredients have time on your strands and scalp, the better. $58 at Costco 13. NASSIFMD Hydro-screen Hydrating Serum Costco NASSIFMD Hydro-screen Hydrating Serum Unlock dewy, hydrated, younger-looking skin with this non-greasy serum that's designed to boost your skin's natural glow. Though technically a serum, it dries to a non-sticky, matte finish that'll leave you feeling supple and hydrated without needing to layer on thick lotions and creams. $65 at Costco 14. StriVectin SD Advanced PLUS Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate (2 pack) Costco StriVectin SD Advanced PLUS Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate (2 pack) Reduce the appearance of stretch marks, retain collage and improve skin's elasticity with this rich and creamy moisturizing concentrate. Use in the morning and evening on the face to treat wrinkles and fine lines, or use on stretch marks twice a day to improve their appearance over time. $75 at Costco 15. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence with Pump Costco SK-II Facial Treatment Essence wih Pump Facial essences are extremely common in Japanese and Korean skin care routines, but are still somewhat unfamiliar to some western shoppers. Essences are used kind of like an extra layer of hydration on the skin, and should be used after cleansing the skin and before putting on serums and moisturizers. And the queen of essences? That would be SK-II's Treatment Essence, which is formulated with the brand's very own special ingredient called "PITERA" which appears to be an organic by-product derived from the sake fermentation process. The essence is designed to be a hero product for your beauty cabinet, taking on the task of hydrating, moisturizing, softening and smoothing texture all in one. Please note that this is a member-only product at Costco. $219 at Costco Related Stories: LANZHOU A plush toy named "Happy Loong" has recently captured the hearts of visitors to the Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou, Gansu province. Modeled after a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) gold ornament in the shape of a loong, or Chinese dragon, over 1,000 of the chubby, grinning toys were sold in the first week after it made its debut earlier this year. Wu Xiaoyu, one of the toy's designers, said the museum's creative cultural product design team had aimed to create a more adorable and joyous version of the traditional loong to cater to the tastes of young people. Established in 2015, the team consists of 12 young designers, with the youngest age 24. This innovative approach to museum souvenirs reflects a broader trend of making cultural products more appealing to young Chinese museum-goers, driving up revenue across various museums. The Palace Museum's online store, for instance, offers playful and humorous souvenirs featuring emperors in Chinese history. These souvenirs range from lipsticks and fans to adhesive tape and wallets, and have received rave reviews from customers. Similarly, the Liaoning Provincial Museum has developed nearly 300 types of cultural products that generated 14 million yuan ($2 million) in revenue last year. According to Cui Youxin, head of the creative cultural product center at the Gansu Provincial Museum, the success of these innovative souvenirs lies in their ability to meet the demands of young people seeking relaxation and individuality. However, Cui emphasized that creating truly ingenious cultural products requires an intimate knowledge of cultural relics and their historical background. "Only those deeply rooted in the soil of Chinese history and culture can stand the test of time," she said. In addition to Happy Loong, the Gansu Provincial Museum offers stuffed toys inspired by the flying apsaras of the Mogao Grottoes and the bronze galloping horse from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), all of which combine rich history with Gen-Z appeal. Gao Yafang, head of the tourism college at the Lanzhou University of Arts and Science, said that such souvenirs have the potential to stimulate young people's interest in cultural heritage and encourage them to preserve traditional culture. Looking ahead, the museum souvenir market in China is expected to continue growing. China's central economic work conference, which was held in December, proposed that the country should actively develop new consumption growth points such as China-chic goods in 2024. This presents abundant opportunities for designers like Wu. "We will continue to do our best to develop innovative and satisfying products," she said. "We do this out of love and enthusiasm." Xinhua By Doina Chiacu (Reuters) -Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Wednesday that she believed frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were babies, endorsing a controversial ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court. That state's high court said that frozen embryos in test tubes should be considered children, rattling doctors and patients in reproductive medicine as well as raising legal questions. Haley, in an interview with NBC News, sided with the Alabama court. "Embryos, to me, are babies," Haley said. "When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me, thats a life. And so I do see where thats coming from when they talk about that." The former South Carolina governor said she had her son after using artificial insemination, a different procedure which does not involve embryos in a lab. Haley is the last major 2024 Republican presidential challenger to frontrunner Donald Trump. The two will face off a third time on Saturday in her home state of South Carolina, with Haley again trailing in opinion polls but refusing to drop out. Trump has not publicly mentioned the Alabama ruling. A representative for his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ruling was greeted by widespread shock in Alabama, which has one of the nation's strictest abortion laws, according to news reports, with patients confused about whether to proceed with IVF and others wondering whether to move their embryos. The University of Alabama at Birmingham paused in-vitro fertilization after the state supreme court ruling, due to fear of prosecution and lawsuits, a hospital representative said. "We are saddened that this will impact our patients attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments," the university statement said. The White House said the ruling would create chaos for American families. "This decision is outrageous - and it is already robbing women of the freedom to decide when and how to build a family," Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday in an X post. The Alabama ruling was the latest involving reproductive services after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had recognized women's constitutional right to abortion. Republican candidates this election cycle largely steered clear of the abortion issue. The party's underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm elections was seen as voter backlash against the Roe v. Wade ruling. Haley, the only Republican woman in the 2024 race, has urged Republicans to focus on finding consensus, rather than faulting those who favor abortion rights. Trump has taken credit for appointing three right-wing justices to the Supreme Court, securing the majority needed to overturn Roe in the first place. But he has also avoided saying whether he would sign a national ban into law. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Michael Perry) WASHINGTON Some of the nations largest veterans groups are pushing the Biden administration to expeditiously ease federal restrictions on marijuana, joining a growing number of calls to reschedule the drug six months after the Department of Health and Human Services recommended doing so. In a letter first obtained by NBC News, veterans groups urged the Justice Department, which oversees the Drug Enforcement Administration, to act quickly. The men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces often face difficult physical and mental challenges upon returning home, wrote the groups, which include the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, AMVETS, American GI Forum, the American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, and the Minority Veterans of America. As such, we hope that in treating the wounds of war both visible and invisible that our servicemembers and veterans would have access to the widest array of possible treatments. Cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in treatment, alongside substances like heroin. The Department of Health and Human Services has recommended rescheduling it to Schedule 3, which is far less restrictive. President Joe Biden ordered a review of federal marijuana policy in October 2022, and a formal decision from the DEA is expected soon, potentially in the coming weeks, according to two people with knowledge of plans. Though the Department of Veterans Affairs is prohibited from denying health services to veterans who use marijuana in states where it is legal, the agency does not offer medical marijuana as a treatment for veterans or pay for medical marijuana prescriptions from any source even in the more than 40 states where cannabis is legal in some form. Last summer, the VA and the Defense Department released a joint recommendation against the use of marijuana for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. But the veterans groups wrote that their members want the option, citing a survey conducted by the American Legion in which 82% of respondents said they want medical cannabis as a federally legal treatment option. The groups said that without the ruling from the DEA, many veterans remain uncomfortable discussing cannabis use with their VA providers due to fear of retribution. We understand that the administrative scheduling process involves several steps, but the sooner the DEA moves forward with a reclassification of cannabis, the sooner it could potentially be integrated into the [Veterans Health Administration] our nations largest healthcare system, they wrote. The letter follows increasing momentum in Congress to adjust federal cannabis policy. Lawmakers in both chambers and both parties introduced a slew of bills related to veterans and cannabis over the last year, including legislation that would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where it is legal, and a separate bill that would mandate that the VA study various effects of cannabis on veterans with chronic pain and PTSD. A major, bipartisan package passed out of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., last year but was ultimately blocked by Republicans on the floor. Voters increasingly favor legalizing marijuana. A Gallup Poll conducted in October found that 70% of American adults support legalization, an all-time high, including 55% of Republicans and more than two-thirds of voters under age 55. Last month, a group of Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York sent a letter to the DEA urging it to de-schedule cannabis altogether, highlighting a window of opportunity that has not existed in decades for the Biden administration to do so. Behind on your New Years resolutions? Luckily, 2024 comes with an extra day for you to catch up to your goals. Each year typically has 365 days, but every four years, the calendar tacks on an extra day to the end of February, the shortest month of the year, and gives it 366. Instead of the usual 28 days of February, Leap Day sneaks into the calendar on the 29th thanks to the pattern of the Earth's orbit. Why does Leap Day exist? In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar decided the Ancient Roman calendar, then used to keep track of farming and harvest seasons, needed to be reformed. Early Roman calendars were 10 months and used the moon as a timekeeper, but astrologers soon noticed the need for extra days to move around to align with the moon patterns, according to Britannica. February 2024 desk calendar on yellow background. That's because astrologers realized the Earth's orbit around the sun is not complete in a full 365 days. It actually takes the Earth about 365.25 days to orbit the sun, Encyclopedia Brittanica said. The creators of the Julian calendar decided to reform the calendar and catch up to the extra fourth of a day by creating 12 months, with one extra month, Mensis Intercolaris, occasionally added in between February and March. Only the Romans used the Julian calendar until 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII issued another reform to get rid of the moving month and add a February 29 every four years, which successfully gave almost equal days to every month of the year. It worked so well that most of the world still uses the Gregorian calendar today. What if you were born on Leap Day? It may be strange for most people not to see their birthday on a calendar every year. But for those unique folks born on Feb. 29, known as "leapers" or "leaplings," it's their reality for most of their lives. So, what do you do when your birthday disappears from the calendar? On a non-Leap Year, some leapers choose to celebrate the big day on Feb. 28. Some choose to celebrate on March 1. Some even choose both days or claim the whole month of February to celebrate. However, once every four years, a leaper gets to acknowledge the special day they were born and celebrate not only another year around the sun, but the uniqueness of such an event. There is a 1 in 1,461 chance of being born on a Leap Day. And with 8.1 billion people in the world, that makes around 5 million people, or 0.068% of the world's population leapers. In the U.S. alone, only around 2 million people share the "invisible" birthday. Out of around 19.5 million people in NYS in 2023, an estimated 286,000 are leapers. Each Leap Day, leapers technically turn two ages. For example, leapers born in 1960 will be turning 64 this year, but they will also get to celebrate their Sweet 16. Leapers born in 1992 will be turning both biologically 32 and celebrating their 8th real birthday. With such a low probability of sharing birthdays, some leapers inevitably wanted to find and connect with others just like them. That's why the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies was created in 1997. On Facebook, the club is now over 5,500 members strong and holds group events like meet-ups and joint birthday celebrations. They even sell frog-themed merch. Leap Day traditions Since the adoption of the intercalary day in 45 B.C., cultures around the world have created traditions to commemorate rare date. Most of them have to do with romance, which is fitting for the month of love. The most famous Leap Day tradition comes from Ireland, where women are encouraged to propose to their male fiancees, thanks to a request from St. Bridget in the 5th century. Legend has it that St. Bridget expressed her frustration to St. Patrick that women were not allowed to propose to men, so St. Patrick decided to make Feb. 29 the only day of the year where the woman in a relationship could propose. Centuries later, women across the U.K. still honor the tradition of proposing on "Bachelor's Day." The Scots took the tradition and added a twist: if the man rejects a woman's proposal on Leap Day, he must give her a pairs of gloves, a rose and a kiss. In Finland, the price is fabric for a new skirt. But in Greece, it's bad luck altogether to propose on Leap Day. This year, Leap Day falls on Thursday, Feb. 29. The next Leap Day will occur on Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2028. How will you spend your bonus day? Tell us at arivera@lohud.com This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Leap Year explained: All about February's rare last day remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan, together with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, attended the solemn pantheonization of WWII hero, Resistance fighter Missak Manouchian and his wife Melinee in Paris on February 21. Armenian and French government officials attended the event. President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the memory of Missak Manouchian and his wife, Melinee, also a Resistance fighter, during the ceremony when they were interred in the mausoleum housing Frances national heroes. Macron said that as a free man Manouchian would walk the streets in Paris and envision his beloved Armenia. "A grateful France welcomes you, Missak and Melinee, said Macron at a ceremony held exactly 80 years after they were killed. "The France of 2024 owes you this honor. Members of the French foreign legion carried the coffins of Manouchian and his wife, draped in French flags into the Pantheon. Manouchians final choice, Macron said, was freedom, and today, France is grateful to him and his wife. The names of 23 of Manouchians fellow Resistance fighters will be engraved in the vault where the couple was laid to rest, France24 reported. Missak Manouchian led a small group of foreign Resistance fighters against the Nazi occupation, carrying out attacks on German forces and acts of sabotage in Nazi-occupied France in 1943. Macron said in 2023 that Manouchian "embodies the universal values" of France and "carries a part of our greatness." In 1944, the group, which included a number of Jews, was put out of action when 23 of its members were rounded up and sentenced to death by a German military court. Manouchian was shot by the Nazis on February 21, 1944. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. France will deliver a batch of defensive armaments to Armenia on February 22, Le Figaro reports. The supplies include three Thales Ground Master (GM 200) radars which have a range of 250 kilometers, as well as night vision devices and other equipment. As part of defense cooperation, this year the French military will conduct mountain combat training courses for Armenian troops. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to arrive in Armenia. According to information revealed on February 21, 2024, by the Twitter account Osintdefender, senior Iranian officials have confirmed that since early January, Iran has transferred over 400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles to Russia, including hundreds of Fateh-110 variants and several Zolfaghar road-mobile solid-fuel short-range ballistic missiles, for their use during the war in Ukraine. They also announced that additional shipments will deepen military cooperation between the two countries in the coming months. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link Iran Zolfaghar short-range ballistic missiles (Picture source: Wikimedia) This announcement, as the editorial team of Army Recognition already mentioned on January 10, 2024, coincides with reports that Russia has also begun receiving ballistic missiles from North Korea, highlighting Moscow's efforts to diversify its military acquisitions and deepen its strategic ties with other countries. This also suggests that Russia's domestic missile production may not meet battlefield requirements. Despite significant development in its war industry in recent months, with plans to continue into 2024, Russia appears unable to meet the demand for military equipment, especially ballistic missiles which have been extensively used recently to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. Consequently, Russia is seeking international assistance, much like Ukraine, with Iran and North Korea responding to Russia's call. Some sources suggest that these ballistic missiles could be Zulfiqars. The Zolfaghar, a short-range ballistic missile developed and manufactured in Iran, has been in service since 2017 and is notable for its technical and operational characteristics. With a length of 10.3 meters and a diameter of 0.68 meters, the Zolfaghar is notably maneuverable for its category. It is powered by a single-stage solid propulsion system, recognized for its reliability and ease of maintenance compared to liquid propulsion. The Zolfaghar has an operational range of about 700 kilometers, which, combined with its accuracy, allows it to hit medium-distance targets with an estimated margin of error of 100 meters (CEP). Accuracy is crucial for a missile's effectiveness, and the Zolfaghar employs a guidance system that combines inertial navigation (INS) with GPS positioning to increase the missile's accuracy in striking targets. It is worth noting that the Zolfaghar is not the first Iranian weapon used by Russia in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has deployed Iranian-made Shahed-136 suicide drones to conduct combat operations against the Ukrainian army. However, Iran has denied supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. Defense and security relations between Moscow and Tehran have expanded since the early 1960s. In recent years, Russia has participated in joint projects with Iran for the development of weapons systems, solidifying long-standing military cooperation that seems to be intensifying in the Ukrainian theater today, raising new questions about the balance of power and military strategies in the region. All seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital are currently held by the BJP NEW DELHI: After protracted parleys, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are finally on the same page over the seat-sharing pact in Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana. Both INDIA bloc parties said on Thursday that the details will be made public soon. Talks between the two parties are in final stages and the seat-sharing formula in Delhi is likely to be announced soon, sources said, adding that the AAP will field candidates from four Lok Sabha constituencies -- the South Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi and New Delhi seats. The Congress will contest from three seats -- the Chandni Chowk, East Delhi and North East Delhi constituencies. All seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital are currently held by the BJP. "The alliance between AAP and the Congress in Delhi is on the verge of finalisation. The two parties may make an official announcement in a day or two," senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi said in a press conference. Earlier on Wednesday, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had said talks over the alliance were delayed and hinted at fresh developments in the next couple of days. When asked about the probable candidates from AAP in Delhi, the top sources in the party said, From West Delhi AAP is considering former MP Mahabal Mishra, while from South Delhi, the party may field sitting MLA from Chhatarpur Kartar Singh Tanwar. It is also being discussed that former MP and Congress leader Udit Raj may be fielded on the AAPs symbol from the North West Delhi constituency, which is reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, sources said. The AAP sources added, It is still not clear who will contest from the New Delhi constituency, but one of the sitting Cabinet minister of Delhi will be fielded from this seat." The Congress sources hinted that the party's Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely will be fielded from the North East seat. From the Chandni Chowk constituency, former three-time MP J.P. Aggarwal or the party's women wing chief Alka Lamba may be fielded. For East Delhi, former two-time MP Sandeep Dikshit is the top choice. Regarding Haryana, the AAP sources said that out of the 10 seats, the AAP will contest only one seat. In Gujarat, the AAP is likely to field candidates in two of the 26 constituencies. In Haryana, the AAP is likely to get either Gurugram or Faridabad Lok Sabha seats, while seats falling in the AAP's kitty in Gujarat include Bharuch and Bhavnagar. Former senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel's son and daughter were also contenders for the Bharuch seat. Giving Bharuch to the AAP didnt go down well with Ahmed Patel's son Faisal, who, in a social media post in Gujarati, said that if the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat is allotted to the AAP, neither he nor the "conscientious workers" of the Congress will support the AAP candidate. Earlier this month, after a political affairs committee meeting, AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak had declared AAP's Gujarat MLA Chaitar Vasava as the party's candidate from the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat and another MLA Umeshbhai Makwana from the Bhavnagar seat. The AAP and the Congress have already announced that they will go solo in Punjab. Modi attacked the Congress over its comments about his caste and said the Opposition party had no agenda except abusing him New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the BJP government at the Centre was focusing on improving the lives of small farmers through various schemes and initiatives, even as he bitterly attacked the Congress, saying it continued to live in negativity and was not ready to leave the path of hatred even when a grand Ram temple had been inaugurated in Ayodhya. Modi attacked the Congress over its comments about his caste and said the Opposition party had no agenda except abusing him, but this attitude will only strengthen the resolve to win more than 400 seats for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at the Narendra Modi stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, he referred to the BJP government's plan of creating 10,000 farmer producer organisations (FPOs), Modi said his administration was on a mission to turn small farmers into agri entrepreneurs and exporters. The PM listed many schemes meant for farmers and village-dwellers, such as Micro ATMs, GOBARdhan scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras. We are giving priority to each and every aspect of villages and our focus is on improving the lives of small farmers, on improving the health of livestock and how farmers get more income through allied activities such as fishing and bee-keeping. That is why we have decided to give Kisan credit cards to fishermen and cattle-rearers, too, he said. During his day-long visit to Gujarat, Modi travelled to Ahmedabad, Navsari, Mehsana and Surat and attended several events, including golden jubilee celebrations of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets daily products under the Amul brand, and inaugurated or laid foundation stones of a slew of projects. He dedicated to the nation two new pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) with a cumulative capacity of 1,400 MW at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Surat district. After inaugurating the Valinath Mahadev temple in Mehsana district, Modi said for a long time in independent India, the Congress created a conflict and enmity between development and heritage. If anyone is to be blamed for this, it is the same Congress which ruled the country for decades. These are the same people who made even a holy place like Somnath (temple) a cause of controversy, he said. The Congress did not even show the desire to hoist a religious flag at the Pavagadh temple in Panchmahal district, and for decades linked the Sun temple at Modhera with vote bank politics, he said. You have seen how Congress people abuse Modi's caste. But Congress people forget that the more abuses they hurl, the stronger will be the resolve to cross 400 (Lok Sabha seats), he said at a public function at Navsari in south Gujarat during his day-long visit to the state. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi recently sparked a controversy by saying, during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Odisha, that Modi was not born into an OBC family and belongs to the general category. The more mud they throw, the more gloriously 370 lotuses (BJP poll symbol) will bloom (referring to ruling party's target of winning 370 LS seats on its own). Except for abusing Modi, the Congress has no other agenda for the future of the country, asserted the PM. Due to rising political tensions and diversification strategies, only 11.4 per cent of Taiwans foreign investment went to mainland China last year, down from 83.8 per cent in 2010. Chinese investments in the island are also down. In 2022, China accounted for 34 per cent of Taiwans overall foreign investment, down from two thirds a decade ago. US lawmakers start visit in Taiwan. Taipei (AsiaNews) As tensions between Taiwan and China grow, more and more Taiwanese companies and businesses are leaving the mainland as those in power in Beijing increasingly talk about forcibly reunifying with the motherland what they consider a rebel island. Last year, Taiwanese investment in China hit a record low with 11.4 per cent of the islands total foreign investment, Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council reported, a far cry from 83.8 per cent in 2010 when relations between Beijing and Taipei were much closer. The drop is linked to Taiwanese businesses choosing to diversify their global investments, a strategy that met with considerable success in recent years. Between 1991 and 2023, 45,523 Taiwanese investments were made in China, averaging more than 1,400 a year, for a total of US$ 206.37 billion or 50.7 per cent of overall foreign investment, data from Taiwans Ministry of Economic Affairs Investment Commission show. In terms of amount and proportion, the decline becomes more evident with the latest figures, with only 328 investments last year worth US$ 3.04 billion, down 39.8 per cent over the same period in 2022. As the confrontation between the United States and China worsened, over a number of issues, from trade to technology, Taiwanese businesses have diversified their investment strategy, switching production and supply chain. As a result, Taiwanese investments are moving from mainland China to other shores, most notably the United States, Europe, and Japan. With investments from the rebel island drying up, Chinas economy is growing at a lower rate, a trend that should continue in 2024. Several major international institutions, like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, S&P Global Ratings and Goldman Sachs, expect Chinas growth to hover around 4 per cent according to the most optimistic estimates. Last year, Taiwans growth was also not particularly impressive at 1.4 per cent. According to Japan's Nomura Securities Co, Beijing faces at least four major challenges: stagnant consumption, a sluggish housing market, slow foreign trade, and overcapacity in emerging industries, including electric and hybrid vehicles. While Taiwanese businesses flee China, mainland companies are struggling to keep their business ties with the island. Official data for 2022 show that China accounted for 34 per cent of Taiwans foreign investment, followed by 31 per cent for Southeast Asian nations and India, and 13 per cent for the United States and Europe. This is in stark contrast with a decade ago when China accounted for more than two thirds of Taiwan's overall foreign investment. In the past few years, many Taiwanese investors have lost faith and hope in the Chinese economy, especially since President Xi Jinping's rise to power. As business prospects get worse, while taxes and labour costs rise, Taiwanese companies are developing five-year plans to gradually pull out of the mainland. This is an effect of Xis failed common prosperity policy and ongoing political and trade disputes between China and the United States. For its part, China's economy faces structural challenges, with many buildings standing unfinished in several provinces and cities, and foreign investors looking for ways to leave the country. The situation is compounded by severe deflation, low consumer demand, and high unemployment and savings, all indicating a weak recovery. Another sign of things to come is in agriculture, with the United States overtaking China as the main market for Taiwanese products for the first time, last year. The same goes for electronics, with the island's chipmakers boosting ties with the US at the expense of the mainland. Amid rising cross-strait tensions and warming US-Taiwan relations, Congressman Mike Gallagher began a visit to the island at the helm of a delegation of US lawmakers. The Republican chairs the House of Representatives Committee on China, which focuses on American economic and security competition with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Upon arrival with five other lawmakers, Gallagher noted that Taiwan has shown the world that it is possible not only survive, but thrive while standing up to Beijings bullying. The visit includes meetings with Taiwans top leaders, like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te. Mr Lai won last month's presidential election and is set to take office in May. For her part, Ms Tsai stressed that this visit is a sign of staunch US support for Taiwans democracy through concrete action. In 2022, then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, provoking Beijings ire; to show its displeasure, China ordered its largest-ever military exercises around the rebel island. RED LANTERNS IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHINA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY THURSDAY, CLICK HERE. Police use summons and fines for far-fetched reasons in order to end wives support for their husbands jailed for propaganda against the state. Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) While Vietnamese activists Bui Van Thuan and Bui Tuan Lam are serving extremely long prison sentences, their wives face constant harassment from the authorities. Trinh Thi Nhung, Bui Van Thuan's wife, said she was questioned by police in Thanh Hoa province about a Facebook account that used her husband's photo as its profile picture. Thuan was arrested in late August 2021 for a series of social media posts in which he described rows among Vietnam's officials as "dog fighting. For this reason, he was sentenced eight years in prison for "propaganda against the state". On 16 February, his wife Nhung and their young children were summoned to a police station without explanation. On arriving, she was told that they had discovered a Facebook account with an avatar similar to her husband and accused her of using it to write falsehoods about the government, which could result in her conviction under Article 331 of the criminal law for abusing democratic freedoms. I hope that in the future I will not be summoned for reasons that are not convincing enough, she said. If this happens again, I will not go. If that was not enough, various strangers, probably police officers, have been waiting for her outside her house day and night, and following her every time she went out. Bui Tuan Lam, known as "Onion Bae", became known for making a satirical video in which he imitated a famous chef while poking fun at Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. As a result, he was arrested on 7 September 2022 on charges of "propaganda against the state". Last year, Bui was sentenced to five years and six months, which he is serving in Xuan Loc Prison. In order to raise three young children and provide supplies for her husband, his wife Le Thanh Lam sells food products with the slogan "Supporting Bui Tuan Lam" printed on the labels. For this reason, earlier this month, police in Da Nang City and officials at the market where she sells seized all her products, accusing her of "selling contraband goods without invoices". On Monday, she was also fined for such a "crime." I have three small children and support my husband in prison and I run a small business to scrape together every penny, she wrote on a social media platform. The dishes I sell are just snacks, regional specialties of farmers, dishes made by the hands of determined people. I make money from honest sweat and effort like any other woman would do for her family, her husband, and her children. However, they won't leave me alone. Photo: Bui Van Thuan and Bui Tuan Lam before their arrest. by Vladimir Rozanskij President Savkat Mirziyoyev has called for a year of celebrations for the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly's birth, extolling his special contribution to the history and literature of all Turkic peoples. A film is also to be produced and an exhibition of artistic works illustrating the bonds of friendship and fraternity between the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples is to be held in Tashkent. Tashkent (AsiaNews) - Celebrations have begun in Uzbekistan to mark the 300th birthday of the Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy, which will culminate on May 18, the day of his birth in 1724 in a village on the banks of the Etrek River, today in the southwestern part of the Balkan velayat in Turkmenistan. The son of another poet of the Sufi movement, Dovlettamed Azadi, as an adult he took the pseudonym Pyragy, 'the separated one', to emphasise his pilgrimage through the various Turkmen lands, and also the forced separation from the woman he loved. A profound connoisseur of the Arabic and Persian languages, he is considered one of the fathers of the modern Turkic language, overcoming its dependence on Arabic-Persian metrics and approaching the language of the people. Uzbek President Savkat Mirziyoyev recalled this in the decree establishing the poet's jubilee, extolling 'his special contribution to the history and literature not only of the Turkic peoples, but of those of the entire world'. Events in his honour will therefore be held in various countries, under the auspices of Unesco, whose cooperation is increasingly sought by the leadership and cultural representatives of Uzbekistan. According to the official text, 'the works of Magtymguly Pyragy are imbued with profound humanism, expressed with unparalleled mastery of words, and illuminate the noblest values and qualities of the courageous Turkmen people, indomitable and work-loving, a true reference point for all and especially for the younger generations'. Uzbekistan is one of the countries where Pyragy's poems are most widely read and passed on, recalling his studies in the famous Ko'kaldosh madrasa in Bukhara founded by the great Turkic writer Ali-Shir Nava'i, whose 16th-century building is still one of the testimonies to the greatness of the khanate heir to the great Tatar hordes and the development of the Ottoman Empire. In Bukhara Magtymguly was able to gather many disciples, friends, admirers and supporters of his preaching, and large memorials in his honour have been built in Tashkent and Khiva, near Bukhara. The committee for the celebrations is headed by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan himself, Abdulla Aripov. New collections of the poet-philosopher's works will be published, as well as scientific articles dedicated to his life and creations. The production of an artistic film is also planned, in collaboration between directors from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and theatre performances will be staged on his life and activities. An exhibition of artistic works illustrating the bonds of friendship and fraternity between the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples will be opened in Tashkent, and a major conference on the 'Role of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan' will be held in Khiva. An exhibition will be opened in Tashkent for artistic works illustrating the bonds of friendship and fraternity between the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples in Uzbek literature and art'. In October, the year of the poet will be concluded by a musical evening in the theatre of the 'Ali-Shir Nava'i' State Academy in Tashkent, also dedicated to the memory of Pyragy. The poet had returned to his Turkmen homeland after his beloved Mengli had been stolen from him, bought at great cost by another family, and his older brothers had died during an ill-fated embassy to Sheikh Akhmed, one of the founders of the Afghan kingdom. He married and had two much-loved children, symbolically named Sara and Ibrahim (Abraham), who sadly died at an unripe age. He then decided to leave home and spent over forty years wandering the Central Asian lands, stopping in the Mangyslak peninsula on the Caspian Sea, then in Astrakhan and many other places, to be finally buried in Iran next to his father. His image also stands out on manats, Turkmen banknotes, and embodies the spirit of peoples who today wish to proudly reaffirm their identity. by Fady Noun Regional tensions add to internal divisions, further distancing the prospects for an agreement on the election of the head of state. The pro-Iranian Shia movement attacks, but Tehran and Washington do not want a full-scale war. AsiaNews diplomatic source: implementation of UN Resolution 1701 and an internal agreement are essential. Beirut (AsiaNews) - The obstacles that prevent the election of a new President of the Republic, a position that has been vacant since 31 October 2022, are added today to a further external element: the continuation of the fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza and "the war of support to Hamas that Hezbollah launched against the Jewish State. The vast majority of Lebanese are now taken hostage by this conflict. Faithful to the Iranian strategy of "unity of fronts", Hezbollah launched a low-intensity so-called "war of disturbance" against Israel, initially to relieve pressure on the Gaza enclave. This diversion "did not lead to anything" explains the military expert Gen. Khalil Helou. However, he continues, Hezbollah turns a deaf ear and says it is against any form of agreement at the border, in particular as regards the application of Security Council resolution 1701 - towards which, moreover, it does not say it is hostile - before to obtain a definitive agreement for a ceasefire in the Strip. Two deputies representing the Christian faction, Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement (Cpl) and Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb party, have reiterated in recent days their hostility to the war involving Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. And which has caused several unnecessary victims in the area, destroyed the olive trees, rendered vast agricultural areas sterile due to the widespread use of phosphorus bombs and transformed entire border villages into ruins and ruins. In a homily during Sunday mass, celebrated two weeks ago, the head of the Maronite Church, Patriarch Beshara Rai, denounced "the culture of death" and the "illusory victories" that accompany this conflict. So far the fighting has caused at least 262 deaths, including 38 civilians and 187 Hezbollah fighters, as well as displacing over 80 thousand people. In reality, the fact that Iran and the United States have made the belligerents understand that they do not want a large-scale war has highlighted the now "forced" character of this conflict, and has allowed the Jewish State to exploit it for its own purposes. advantage of this new orientation. And this is also why, on February 20th, they were able to venture to bomb the industrial area of Ghaziyeh, 40 km from the borders, with the unfounded pretext of wanting to target some "Hezbollah weapons depots". The objective of this type of attack analyzes Michael Young, an expert at the Carnegie pour le Proche-Orient center, is to try to have an impact on the population, which Israel is trying to incite against Hezbollah. The Iranian call to reduce the intensity of the conflict also explains the moderation shown by Hezbollah, which refrained from claiming responsibility for the raid on the Israeli military base in Safed, 15 km from the Lebanese border, which caused the death of one Israeli soldier and the wounding of many others. The operation was also used by the Jewish State as a pretext for a retaliatory bombing, which decimated a family of 11 people, including several children, in the city of Nabatiyeh, which hosts a large school of Antoniane nuns. In any case, Western diplomatic sources interviewed by AsiaNews believe that the only valid and practicable solution on the border with Israel is "the application of 1701", which involves the deployment of the Lebanese army and Unifil forces south of the Litani river. The key - continues the source - to the Lebanese tragedy exists, it is called Security Council Resolution 1701, but no one wants to use it. Internal vetoes On the front of the conflicting internal vetoes that have effectively frozen the presidential election, with the further block represented by the war in Gaza which seems to be closely linked to the vote, efforts continue in an attempt to reach a compromise. The ambassadors of the "Group of Five" (United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar) held a coordination meeting at the Residence des Pins on the afternoon of February 20th. They took stock of the latest developments and discussed the next steps to be taken reads a press release from the embassy. In this regard, political analysts find it difficult to imagine that Hezbollah does not want to reap the fruits of its military commitment, even if the pro-Tehran Shiite movement pays lip service to the opposite. For their part, Christian parties believe that Hezbollah itself should not be rewarded for its "adventurism". However, "the conflicting geopolitical polarizations of the Lebanese parties, which continue to slow down the process, should not prevent the main interested parties from consulting" underlines the AsiaNews source, who requests anonymity for security reasons. "And it is in the interest of all Lebanese and of the country's economy - he concludes - that the institutions resume their place in national life". Although the Raging Bull of Sant'Agata Bolognese was founded in 1963, the 33rd issue of Lamborghini celebrates 60 years of Automobili Lamborghini. Said issue further includes a design teaser of the Urus PHEV, which is coming to a dealership near you for model year 2025 in the latter half of 2024. SUV PHEV Photo: SH Proshots Lamborghini Magazine Issue 33 invites you on a journey of reflection and exciting anticipation for tomorrow, celebrating the milestones that have shaped our heritage and embracing the thrilling possibilities that lie ahead.#Lamborghini Lamborghini (@Lamborghini) February 9, 2024 As opposed to the original Urus, the S, and the Performante, this fellow is rocking a different rear end. A pair of redesigned taillights and what appears to be a more prominent spoiler also need to be mentioned. Lamborghini promises "a more powerful driving experience" from the Italian, which is twinned with the 2024 Porsche Cayenne.Emphasis on more powerful because obviously enough we're dealing with an electric motor. We further expect some improvements for the Audi-Porsche V8, which is rated at 666 ps (657 hp) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque in the S and Performante. You can think of the Urusas the punchier sibling of the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, whose twin-turbocharged V8 develops 591 horsepower at full chatter. Its electric motor belts out 174 ponies, and the combined rating is 729 hp.Pretty impressive, huh? Torque is pretty impressive as well at 700 pound-feet (950 Nm), but on the other hand, remember that Porsche's most powerful Cayenne to date weighs a lot. For the DIN unladen weight, Porsche quotes 2,570 kilograms (5,666 pounds). Lamborghini doesn't shy from using a lot of carbon fiber, but in any case, don't expect a significantly lighter vehicle from the Raging Bull.Spied on quite a few occasions with pre-facelift headlights and new units featuring revised signature lighting, the Urus PHEV has one rival to speak of, that rival being the 715-horsepower Ferrari Purosangue. When it comes to plug-in hybrids, the Urus PHEV does not compete with the BMW XM Label because nobody would consider a Bimmer over a Lamborghini. The Fezza may be a free-breathing sensation with no electrical assistance whatsoever, but as far as exoticness is concerned, it sure falls in the same category as the Urus PHEV.The first-ever Urus to feature a plug-in setup will be replaced in 2029 by the second-gen Urus. The Italian automaker has already confirmed a full-electric powertrain for the next generation. One year before Lamborghini redesigns the Urus on the Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform, the Lanzador will be revealed in all its glory.Previewed by a concept in August 2023, the Lanzador will also feature Volkswagen's upcoming Scalable Systems Platform. The concept is a one-megawatt vehicle with two drive units, but only time will tell if Lamborghini can make a case for 1,341 horsepower from its four-seat "ultra GT."Turning our attention back to all things 2024, the Urus PHEV isn't the only new Lambo confirmed to launch this year. The Huracan's replacement is also in the offing, and similarly to the Urus PHEV, it's a plug-in hybrid with twin-turbo V8 muscle. If you like your Lamborghinis naturally aspirated, your only choice for MY2025 will be the Revuelto.Codenamed LB63x, the Revuelto-styled supercar is believed to pack in excess of 800 horsepower. If the Prancing Horse of Maranello can extract more than 800 from the 296, then Lamborghini has to respond with more oomph for the V8-powered LB63x. It's no longer a secret that tech giants are slowly but surely eyeing an expansion in the automotive space. Some have already stepped into this unexplored territory, and those that haven't are working on ambitious plans that would help them expand beyond the somewhat saturated technology world. The Microsoft Car Photo: Leasing Options Microsoft's plans for the automotive expansion Photo: Microsoft Google's and Apple's strategy Photo: Polestar Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Google are some of the biggest names in the tech space whose long-term plans could include massive investments in automotive projects.However, these companies embrace different approaches, and while some develop vehicles from scratch, others stick with software and services to power next-generation cars built by traditional carmakers.Because the migration from technology to cars is still in the early days, people at Leasing Options turned to AI to envision how the models released by these companies could look. In Microsoft's case, the result is a little surprising.The artificial intelligence-generated Microsoft Car resembles the typical electric sedan, reminding of a Tesla from several angles.The colors you can find in the Microsoft logo light up the front fascia, while the Microsoft badge on the hood makes it clear this is a Microsoft Car. The car has no side mirrors, probably because it uses cameras, and the overall fluid design looks intriguing and certainly doable.While Microsoft might not build this electric car, I've seen a similar design several times before, not only on a production Tesla but also in concepts envisioning a potential Apple Car. Whether Apple's long overdue vehicle will look like this will remain to be seen, but for now, it's an idea that keeps returning every time the subject is a tech giant working on an electric vehicle.Unlike long-time rival Apple, Microsoft has no plans to build a vehicle from scratch. Not that we know of, at least, but Microsoft seems more focused on software and cloud services than on the hardware side of things.Microsoft has changed its focus several times in the last decade, including in the software world. The Steve Ballmer era turned Microsoft into a "devices and services" company. It was the first time Microsoft became obsessed with hardware, despite its first devices (Lumia phones and the Surface RT) not selling as well as the company expected.Steve Ballmer's departure and Satya Nadella taking over the CEO role represented another step in Microsoft's transformation. The software giant became a "cloud-first" company, with services like Azure and Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365) spearheading its product portfolio.Microsoft is more focused than ever on enterprises, with critics claiming the company has gradually lost its consumer appeal. Windows and Office are still alive but fitted with cloud services and products that turn them into money-making machines, especially in the enterprise.As a result, Microsoft building a car is out of the table. The software giant has already stepped into the automotive space with shy steps, including with Azure to power services requiring a cloud-based engine.Apple is already working on an electric vehicle. The work on the project started a decade ago, and people familiar with the matter claim the release date could be 2028. Apple originally wanted its first car to be a more innovative model focused on advanced self-driving capabilities. Due to roadblocks during the development phase, Apple eventually had to rethink the vehicle. The Apple Car will launch with a more conventional design and limited autonomous driving.Apple builds the vehicle from scratch with no involvement from a traditional carmaker. The iPhone maker originally wanted to collaborate with a car company, and Hyundai was the closest to become a contract manufacturer. The talks failed, and Apple embraced a strategy similar to the iPhone, building everything from scratch using its network of suppliers and partners.Google isn't building a full car but focusing on the software and service side of the automotive expansion. The company bets big on Android Automotive to conquer the cabin. Android Auto is also available in over 200 million cars, though Google's benefits are limited due to the connection with a smartphone. Android Automotive is an embedded operating system shipping with Google services pre-loaded (if the carmaker uses the GAS version). With Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other Google services integrated into the system, the search company gets access to essential vehicle data. Drivers also receive more advanced functionality, including automatic stops for charging when Google Maps determines a low battery status and voice commands for adjusting air conditioning via Google Assistant.Android Automotive is already available in several cars, with the adoption growing this year thanks to Ford and Nissan installing the operating system in new models.Apple is also embracing similar plans with the new-generation CarPlay. Porsche and Aston Martin are the first carmakers to install CarPlay 2.0 in their models, with others to follow in their footsteps in the coming years. Photo: Bentley kW Case in point: meet a one-off Bentley Bentayga EWB , which may appear to belong in Mansory's portfolio. However, it is bone stock, as only Mulliner, the Crewe company's personalization division, has had its way with it at its owners' request, a deep-pocketed couple from Irvine, California.Everything started with the couple visiting Bentley Newport Beach to order a Bentayga EWB Azure V8 First Edition. However, they were "soon inspired to let their imaginations roam free," the automaker says. The auto marque claims 46 billion different configurations are available for this model, and the couple decided to go for what you can see in the image gallery above.The car's base color is called Kingfisher Blue and was complemented by the Onyx upper body, Blackline specification, deletion of the Bentley lettering at the rear, 22-inch wheels finished in Kingfisher and Beluga with self-leveling logos, and rear privacy windows.Due to the special exterior look (we said special, not eye-catching), this Bentayga is a bespoke creation . However, it may soon be joined by other Bentaygas rocking a similar or identical specification, as the two-tone look is now a factory option at the automaker, which was forced to bring it forward by a year.Did you think the couple was going to stop at the brash exterior and not give the cockpit a similar vibe? Obviously not, and once you open the door, you will see the Mandarin and Imperial Blue leather, joined by the Open Pore Koa Veneer on various components. This model has a four-seat layout and comes with the usual ambient lighting, premium sound system, and a few other things.It also gets a Mulliner key box that mixes the Imperial Blue hide and Mandarin with Imperial Blue Alcantara on the inside, which the vehicle's owners can use to keep their valuables secured. The final touch is a bespoke message to the customer visible on the treadplates, which read "One of One for the Peck's by Bentley Mulliner."We couldn't tell you how much this commission cost, but it is clear that the couple paid way over the MSRP of the Bentley Bentayga EWB , which is nearly $230,000 in the United States. This model rocks a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that develops 542 hp (550 ps/405) and 568 pound-foot (770 Nm) of torque. It is an all-wheel drive proposal with an eight-speed 'box that can keep pushing up to 180 mph (290 kph) and does the 0 to 60 miles per hour (0-97 kph) in just 4.5 seconds. FWD AWD kW Photo: Toyota In production since 2020, it was updated for the 2024 model year last fall, benefiting from a few styling tweaks and added gear and becoming more expensive than its predecessor. The lineup comprises the LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, which come withis available as an option across the range, and it's the configuration of the Woodland Edition, too.The latter starts at $48,125, slotting between the AWD XSE and Limited in terms of pricing. The most expensive variant is the Platinum AWD, with its $53,405 MSRP, and the most affordable is the FWD LE, offered from $37,185. All prices exclude the $1,395 destination fee. An electrified 2.5-liter four-cylinder unit that kicks out 245 hp (248 ps/183) powers the entire range.No one knows what the future holds for the Sienna, but we suspect Toyota will give it another shot with an entirely new generation. We could speculate on how it would look, what would power it, likely partially electrified mills, and what platform it would use, but we have yet to learn about it. The same goes for every rendering artist who tries to imagine its styling, including Vburlapp, who recently took to social media to present a hypothetical fifth-gen.You don't need a side-by-side comparison with the actual fourth-gen to spot the differences, do you? After all, the changes are in your face. They include an entirely new face that looks pointier this time around. It has a new hood that is slightly smaller, slender headlamps, and exaggerated proportions when it comes to the lower part of the bumper, which, if tweaked a bit more, might make this Toyota look like a Lexus.The sliding rear doors are still a thing, and the window line was digitally modified to separate it from the current one. The profile shows new lines, including the reshaped rear quarter panels, and different side mirror caps. The pixel manipulator gave it a new rear bumper and fresh taillamps, which are barely visible in the digital illustration. The last touches represent the white paint finish with a few black accents and the larger wheels that look like they came from the aftermarket world.Overall, the imagined 2025 Toyota Sienna looks like an evolution of its predecessor, a comprehensive mid-cycle refresh, if you will. We certainly wouldn't complain if the Japanese automaker decided to follow a similar route. After all, the car world needs more traditional models, and as much as we would've hated people carriers a few years ago, some of them look far more appealing than their high-riding equivalents. When the returning 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser debuted in America (this new iteration is significantly different from the old 2021 Land Cruiser), the Japanese automaker revealed that on this occasion, it decided to bring the lighter 250 series instead of the full-size J300 Land Cruiser from overseas.This means it's twinned with the 2024 Lexus GX 550 this time around on the TNGA-F body-on-frame platform that debuted with the bigger sibling some time ago and now underpins the 2024 Land Cruiser, GX, Tundra, Sequoia, or Tacoma. That translates to the promised mid-$50k pricing situation for the base model which was revealed to be precisely $55,950 without the $1,495 destination fee.This is how it became $30k cheaper than the last Land Cruiser Toyota sold in America, and hopefully, that will make it a lot more enticing for prospective customers. As per the company, just three grades will be available in the US, with the base Land Cruiser 1958 and the flagship $76,445 First Edition (limited to 5k examples) sharing one major characteristic the old-school-inspired round LED headlights.Meanwhile, the 'Land Cruiser' trim features rectangular headlights and offers the most extensive selection of colors seven instead of three or four from $61,950. Given that Toyota not only announced the starting prices for the 2024 model year but also updated its online configurator tool to include the off-roader among the goodies, we decided to do a traditional dream configurator as soon as possible.Because the 1958 is offered solely in Black, Meteor Shower (grey), and Ice Cap (white), while the First Edition is probably going to disappear fast off the dealer lots, we chose the mid-tier Land Cruiser trim rocking the dual-tone Trail Dust and Grayscape roof combination for $350, went with the most expensive Black Leather interior of the four options which added the Premium Package for $4,600, and also changed the wheels to the 20-inch aluminum option for another $1,240.Because the Premium pack adds a lot of goodies a 14-speaker JBL audio system, digital key, HUD, and more we focused on accessories next. Thus, we gave it the $80 ball mount for upcoming trailering, illuminated doorsteps and Predator drop steps for $360 and $700, a $1,400 roof rack for camping adventures, and black chrome alloy wheel locks for another $80. That way, it was easy to rack another $10k to the MSRP, and the grand total was $72,155 without destination and other fees. Hopefully, there won't be too many dealers aiming to profit heavily from the eagerly-anticipated 2024 Land Cruiser, or we could see builds hitting the same prices as the old 2021 Land Cruiser soon enough. In certain respects it's shaping up to be a very rough week for Japanese carmaker Toyota, after its dealings in the U.S. have been impacted by no less than three recall actions. Granted, two of them are more of a hassle than a real issue when it comes to both the number of vehicles involved (just a few thousand units) and the issues that prompted the recalls - stuff like rearview image display and poor welds on the fold-down seats. But the one we're here to learn about now is a bit more serious. NHTSA SUV Toyota said this week it will be recalling a total of 280,000 vehicles on the American market, from the Toyota Tundra , Toyota Sequoia, and Lexus LX 600 families. Because these three share components, they are affected by the same issue, one that has to do with the transmission.The carmaker does not pinpoint a specific part that is responsible for the fault, saying only that certain elements of the transmission are to blame. More to the point, they may fail, in undisclosed circumstances, to immediately disengage. This problem seems to occur when the transmission is shifted to the neutral position.Because these unnamed parts fail to disengage, some of the power the engine is generating may continue to find its way to the wheels, despite the driver believing otherwise. That won't cause any of the affected vehicles to sprint into the nearest obstacle, but they could inadvertently creep forward at a low speed.That may happen even when vehicles are on a flat surface if braking power isn't applied and, naturally, may be the cause of more or less serious crashes.So Toyota is calling back the affected vehicles and says the fix for the fault, which of course will be provided free of charge, is a software update for the transmission.The carmaker does not specify the exact versions of the affected models but it does reveal the fact all of the impacted vehicles have been made from 2022 to 2024. If you are the owner of a Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, or Lexus LX 600, and you want to know more, you should check the status of your vehicle yourself.You can do that by visiting Toyota's official recall page and entering your VIN, or by calling the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331. Separately, thewebsite is another good way to go about this.The official letters of notification to the affected customers will be sent by Toyota starting in late April.As a reminder, in their 2024 model year incarnations the Toyota Tundra pickup truck is selling in the U.S. for prices starting at $39,965. The Sequoia, on the other hand, is going from $61,275, while the luxury Lexus LS 600 retails from $93,915. 22 February 2024 20:47 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more It is not a new phenomenon that Armenia, which is hostile to historical and religious monuments, presents its existence in a pitiful way in front of the world community by creating an artificial show. Armenia simply keeps grasping at straws. However, the case of Armenia is somewhat different here. The ideology of the "ancient Armenian" people, who made themselves residents of the South Caucasus by force and created fake historical monuments from time to time, is the product of this tradition. Nakhchivan has been a land inhabited by ancient people for a thousand or more years. An ancient land of Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan is one of the first human settlements to give birth to life on Earth. Here, the people of Azerbaijan created an ancient and rich culture. Besides, this beautiful location is closely linked with ancient Eastern civilizations, like the other districts of Azerbaijan, and has left a deep trace on the course of historical development. A rich historical, scientific, and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people has emerged here. Scientists explain the origin of the word Nakhchivan in different ways. According to Azerbaijani etymology and authoritative historical sources, Nakhchivan was developed from the words Nagshi-jahan, that is, ornament of the world, or adornment of the world. Another story widely spread among people says the geographical name Nakhchivan is linked with the prophet Noah, or more exactly, with the global flood and means Nuhchuvan - the land of Noahs followers, or Noahs land. Unfortunately, Armenians raided history and invented their own narratives. According to Armenian claims, the first Hayk descended from the son of Prophet Noah. The point is that all prophets came to preach Islam, and this shows that a generation that considers itself the successor of Prophet Noah must necessarily be connected to Islamic roots. There is no mistaking it indeed, the Oneness of God (monotheism) was brought to the people not only in the holy city of Makkah but also by all the prophets across the world since before. We are not talking about the main religion. The main issue is that Armenia carves its name everywhere and forges fantasies about itself. Armenians began to spread to the South Caucasus only during the period of Tsarist Russia. There is some information in the ancient Seljuk history that says that there were very few Armenians in these areas until that time. But why does Armenia make claims about so-called historical monuments in Nakhchivan today? On February 16, the European Parliament again adopted a resolution on Azerbaijan's cultural heritage, referring to the groundless claims of Armenians. In the resolution, it is alleged that Azerbaijan destroyed the khachgars as though from an Armenian cemetery in the Julfa district of Nakhchivan. In addition to its groundless accusation, the European Parliament demands that Azerbaijan allow the activities of missions on its territory, such as those of ICOMOS - experts working with the International Council on Monuments and Sites, who want to study the archaeological heritage and the problem of its protection, in particular the so-called Armenian heritage. The EP also demanded that its delegation be allowed to visit the archaeological excavations in Julfa. This resolution was also submitted to the Director General of UNESCO and the Secretary General of the UN. Moreover, it is mentioned in the claim that allegedly Armenians were historically expelled from the territories of Azerbaijan as a result of pogroms, and the most ridiculous point is their false territorial claims under the names of Gardman-Shirvan and Nakhchivan. It is clear that there are Shirvan or Girdman etymological names related to ancient Shirvanshahs and Girdman states in Azerbaijan. However, when they have nothing to do with Armenians, it is the last limit of impudence that Armenians try to adopt these names. Most probably, Armenians put forward such a false claim in order to slide down the issue of Erivan, which is the territory of Azerbaijan, and to avoid responding to the legitimate demands of the Western Azerbaijan Community. If so, then who will answer for the destroyed mosques and historical monuments in Erivan and Garabagh? Unfortunately, Western and especially European organisations, both relevant and unrelated to the issue, support the dissemination of Armenian lies to the world by turning every word from Armenians into a resolution. But there is still no one who wants to see the truth... --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 23:23 (UTC+04:00) By Mushfiq Alasgarli The trial of Robert Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is scheduled for May 2024. In fact, preliminary investigations about him were started in July 2022. An official charge was announced in October 2023. The reason for extending the investigation for 2 years is the discovery of new details. When the process just started, the prosecutor's office suspected Robert Menendez of entering into a corrupt relationship with 3 businessmen from New Jersey. The indictment stated that the senator and his wife received cash, gold bars, luxury cars, and other valuables as bribes. In return, they put pressure on the employees of the US Ministry of Agriculture and mediated illegal decisions. In January 2024, new facts emerged. The Menendez family is now accused of "lobbying" for foreign groups in exchange for precious stones. In fact, the facts about his cooperation with "foreign groups" are not new. Robert Menendez, who is known for his pro-Armenian and Turkophobic stance, came to the media's agenda in 2022 with the accusation of accepting bribes from the Armenian lobby. But that information was blocked because it did not seem to be in line with the general political course of the United States. Robert took advantage of this option and got out of the situation. Now the situation has changed. Facts were found that Menendez entered into cooperation with groups that do not meet the interest of the United States. It is due to this factor that he was taken to court. The investigation process is closely monitored by international media organizations. Because Menendez's role spans foreign policy, information about his investigation goes beyond US borders. It is clear that the decisions made by those responsible for foreign policy issues in Congress affect the world. Every time they make statements, they have a global resonance. These statements deal a devastating blow to the image of some countries. Or they exalt the countries they want. Now it turns out that US parliamentarians have done the job of criticizing or praising a country in return for a bribe. Here poses questions: From whom did they receive bribes, for whom did they "lobby"? Media organizations are investigating, asking questions, trying to find clues about "other names on the list". They want to know which countries and peoples' fates have been darkened by taking bribes in the name of "lobbying" by the persons responsible for foreign policy issues in the US Congress; What kind of useless country did they show the world as an example? Internet search engines show that media organizations known in global public opinion have circulated 226 articles on this topic. Most of them are also full of questions. And the US investigative agencies skillfully hide the facts that are of interest to the media. In fact, there are media organizations that have the opportunity to obtain and publicize the details kept closed on this topic. For example, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (or Azadlig Radio in Azerbaijani) is closer to the source of information. Because the founder and source of funding is connected to the US Congress. He is in close contact with Congress. That is, it is one step away from those who gather in the Senate and Congress, make decisions, and "lobby". If he is interested, he can write about this topic every day. Finds hidden information and makes it public. Thus, it can prevent Congress from making new wrong decisions. But he did not write. It is a miserable fact: if you pay attention to the website of RFE/RL or simply "Radio Liberty", it becomes clear that it has not published even a single article about the indictment of Robert Menendez. Which should have written more on this subject than anyone else. In the section "Our mission" on the website of RFE/RL, it is stated that "Radio employees provide uncensored news and open debates that the public cannot get from other media." It is added that "Radio Liberty", despite any possible influences and obstacles, tries to apply the highest standards of objective journalism, conveys the facts as they are." However, why was "objectivity" or "the principle of presenting the facts as they are" not preserved in the approach to the subject of Menendez? It is impossible to know whether it was afraid that the work of the US Congress would be overshadowed, or it was afraid that his image would be damaged? If the same fact happened in the Parliament of Azerbaijan, probably "Radio Liberty" would have published dozens of articles. In fact, there are articles on the pages of Radio that mention Menendez. But these articles are not related to Menendez's "bribery" and "lobbying" activities. It is devoted to statements condemning Turkiye and Azerbaijan and praising Armenia. Menendez called for recognition of the "Armenian genocide", and RFE/RL broadcast it. When it came to the issue of the senator's bribe, the radio's voice was exhausted and became inaudible. In other words, contrary to what they wrote in the "our mission" section, RFE/RL behaved non-objectively and unprofessionally. It exaggerated the facts when it suited his personal interests, and tried to hide the facts that did not suit his interests. If the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee took bribes under the name of lobbying, made false statements against individual countries, including biased campaigns against Turkiye and Azerbaijan, and if RFE/RL was a mouthpiece for Menendez, it appears that it supported this work. In the information space, RFE/RL has repeated Menendez's machinations that he has done in the Congress. It is not the only subject about Menendez that RFE/RL should have investigated in the Congress and the Senate, but it has skipped out it. Today, there is a reason why the world's mass media are closely following the US Congress. Congress does not approve a $61 billion financial package to support Ukraine. When Ukraine was pushed to war with Russia, the US President approved the lend-lease program to speed up the supply of weapons and other aid. Uninterrupted and unlimited aid to Ukraine was promised. They can give any reason, but the fact is that today aid has been cut off and Ukraine is in a desperate situation. Statistical agencies note that as a result of this war, the number of civilian and military casualties of Ukraine has exceeded 500,000 people. Recently, the number of losses has intensified. Because Ukraine believed in the promises of the United States, was deceived and left helpless. RFE/RL can interrogate members of Congress and criticize Ukraine for deceiving them. At the very least, it can quote from speeches by President Joe Biden. Biden calls the de facto leader of Republicans in Congress, Donald Trump, who blocked the aid package for Ukraine, "crazy". Trump also calls Biden "sick". The conflict between "Sick" and "crazy" ends the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Ukraine. RFE/RL ignores all these topics. Which is an organ of Congress. It should write more than anyone else. Why doesn't it write? There is no idea about it. The fact is that RFE/RL does not fulfill its "mission". It does not behave objectively, contrary to its ritual. It lies and hides the facts. It turns out that the nations of the world are in the hands of a "Sick", a "Crazy" men and a "Liar" who is a tool in their hands. RFE/RL does not cover the problems in the US and Congress. But what does it write about? If you look at the website of the Azerbaijani editorial office of the radio, it can be seen that 21 news have been posted on the main page for one day. All of them are dedicated to Azerbaijan. Most of them are articles devoted to court proceedings and prison life. The headlines presented by the radio on this topic have been specially prepared. It stirs up emotions, instills the readers with a negative tone against the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan. If you look carefully, it can be seen that no matter how much cruelty and inhumane treatment there is in US prisons, RFE/RL added the word "Azerbaijan" in front of everyone and presented it as an incident that happened in Azerbaijan. One gets the impression that the employees of the radio do not know where the "Guantanamo" prison is located. For 21 years, the world media has been writing about the "Guantanamo" prison, about the humiliation that the United States inflicted on people in this prison (https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/abdnin-guantanamo-hapishanesi-kurulusunun-21-yilinda-yine - what caused the reactions/2785622). Barack Obama is also criticized for lying about "Guantanamo". When the president was elected, he promised to close this death camp, but in the end he broke his promise. RFE/RL quietly glosses over this fact. It does not discuss the issue of "Guantanamo", but the prisons in Azerbaijan. All this is not without reason. USAID's pro-Armenian leader Samantha Power and pro-Armenian representative of the Congress, Robert Menendez, show the same position towards Azerbaijan and Turkiye, and RFE/RL also speaks on the same line. The slogans of "Professionalism", "Objectivity", "Impartiality" are meant to hide. The directors of the radio were so addicted to working with the order that they forgot to avoid the bias in the editorial. On November 11, 2020, the Yerevan editorial office of RFE/RL was pelted with stones. Disgruntled people entered the editorial office and damaged the equipment, humiliated the employees with insulting expressions. Congress did not consider the exaggeration of the fact acceptable. It did not order to be protected. The editors were also silent. What measure was taken of those who attacked the editorial office? There is no information about this on the website of RFE/RL. Did they mean this when they said "objectivity" and "bias" in the radio ceremony? --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 16:21 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more In the initial stage, it is planned to export 4 GW of green energy from Azerbaijan to Europe. According to Azernews, Azerbaijan's Deputy Energy Minister, Kamal Abbasov, said this at the 14th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He mentioned in his speech Azerbaijan's achievements in the energy sector in terms of both traditional and renewable energy sources. The Deputy Minister emphasised that Azerbaijan, which will host COP29 this year, pays special attention to sustainable and ecologically clean energy solutions. He said that Azerbaijan joined the initiatives related to Green Energy and energy efficiency within the framework of COP28, and it is planned to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's total installed capacity of electricity from the current 20 % to 33 % by 2027. K. Abbasov noted that Azerbaijan's interest in the field of Green Hydrogen was expressed and said that the potential for production and export of hydrogen through renewable energy sources is being investigated to meet the growing demand for low-carbon energy. It is worth noting that the symposium included 4 sessions entitled Energy Security, Technology, and SustainabilityScenarios and Markets, Key Outlook and Comparative Analysis Findings, Trade and Investment in Energy Security, Market Stability, and Affordable Access and Policy, and Energy Market Incentives to Reach Shared Goals. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 18:40 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more A discussion has taken place regarding the possibilities of increasing the trade of agricultural products, and a mission for the export of goods to Latvia is being planned in this direction, Azernews reports. According to the report, a meeting was held with the delegation led by Normunds Smits, the deputy minister of agriculture of Latvia, who is currently on a visit to Azerbaijan at the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO. During the meeting, Yusif Abdullayev, the executive director of AZPROMO, provided information about the agency's activities, mechanisms for promoting exports, including the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand, and the subsidisation of logistics. It was mentioned that a mission is being planned to export Azerbaijani products to Latvia with the aim of exploring and expanding the opportunities for local exporters to enter the Latvian market. Additionally, Latvian entrepreneurs have been invited to participate in the "InterFood Azerbaijan" exhibition in May of this year to ensure the entry of traditional Latvian food products into the Azerbaijani market. Normunds Smits, the deputy minister of agriculture of Latvia, emphasised the significant demand for Azerbaijani agricultural products in Latvia and highlighted the necessity of establishing connections between importers and exporters. The deputy minister added that collaboration in areas such as the safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary control of food products would stimulate the export of Azerbaijani goods to Latvia. In this context, an agreement has been reached for the exchange of information on potential export and import products through the networking of entrepreneurs operating in both countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 14:52 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more Azerbaijan has identified cooperation areas with the US laboratory in the implementation of the Energy Transition course, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan Energy Minister, on his official X account. "In Denver, we got acquainted with the USA's National Renewable Energy Laboratory`s (NREL) activities, which contribute to the scientific and technological process accelerating the energy transformation. We have determined the fields to cooperate with NREL on the implementation of the Energy Transition Course in Azerbaijan. In Denver, we got acquainted with @NREL`s activities, that contributes to the scientific and technological process accelerating the energy transformation. We have determined the fields to cooperate with NREL on the implementation of the #EnergyTransition course of Azerbaijan. pic.twitter.com/g7oY9W2baf Parviz Shahbazov (@ParvizShahbazov) February 22, 2024 It is worth noting that Azerbaijans Energy Minister, Parviz Shahbazov has participated in the discussions organised by the Atlantic Council, one of the influential analytical centres operating in Washington, USA. The discussions were held in the format of a business lunch moderated by Landon Derentz, senior director at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Centre. The Azerbaijani minister highlighted the strategic role of Azerbaijan, which is located in an important geopolitical position, in the security of energy supplies to Europe, especially through the Southern Gas Corridor. The participants reviewed the policy of Azerbaijan, a host country of COP29, on accelerating the energy transition at the national and global levels, decarbonisation, reducing methane emissions, climate financing, and its course on the development of renewable energy. Minister Parviz Shahbazov noted that the state policy of President Ilham Aliyev prioritising the development of Azerbaijan as a country of green growth by 2030 gave a powerful impetus to the transformation of the energy sector. Moreover, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United States, Khazar Ibrahim, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy in the Bureau of Energy Resources, Laura Lochman, state officials on energy and climate issues, and representatives of international energy companies and organisations attended the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Rashid Behbudov State Song Theater has hosted the event "Shndn sngr" (From the stage to the trenches), dedicated to the memory of the martyr of the 44-day Patriotic War Togrul Hajiyev. The event was organized by NGO Shid Analarna Dstk! (Support for Mothers of Martyrs) with the support of the Culture Ministry, Azernews reports. First, the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played, the memory of the Azerbaijani martyrs was honored with a minute of silence. As part of the event, Rufat Huseynli's book "From the stage to the trenches" dedicated to Togrul Hajiyev. The evening featured speeches from the chairman of NGO Support for Mothers of Martyrs Jeyran Hasanova, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Elchin Gashimov, Honored Artist Sabuhi Jafarov, teachers, friends and colleagues of Togrul Hajiyev. Togrul Hajiyev was born on December 24, 1996 in Baku. Since childhood, he was fond of music and dreamed of his native Fuzuli, which he knew about only from the memories of his parents. The Hajiyev family are refugees from Fuzuli district. In August 1993, when Armenian aggressors were rampant in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the Hajiyevs moved to Baku. In the capital, for many years they huddled in the territory of a former computer repair plant, and then for more than ten years - in a small room. Only in 2009 were they able to build their small house in Sulutepe and settle down. Togrul Hajiyev studied at refugee school No. 18 in the Zangilan district, and went to music school with his brother. Toghrul was a very talented boy and won competitions several times. With high scores, he entered the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and graduated with honors from his bachelor's and master's degrees. He took part in various concert programs, was a teacher at children's music school No. 3 of the Fizuli region. His father, Rufat, was a worker who fought in the First Garabagh War. In the winter of 1994, he was seriously wounded during the Horadiz operation. From the first days of the Second Garabagh War, Togrul Hajiyev went to the front as a private in active military service and fought valiantly against the Armenian occupiers. He became a martyr on October 10, 2020, during the liberation of his native Fuzuli district. Togrul Hajiyev was posthumously awarded the medals Vtn ugrunda (For the Fatherland) and Fuzulinin azad olunmasna gor (For the liberation of Fuzuli). --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 16:40 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more A batch of French "defense" weapons will arrive in Armenia today, Azernews reports, citing Le Figaro. The arms delivery includes three radars Ground Master (GM 200) of Thales company, which allow detecting enemy planes at a distance of 250 kilometers, as well as night vision devices and binoculars. It is also noted that the agreement signed between the parties on cooperation in the sphere of defense envisages that the French army will conduct 3 courses of mountain combat training for Armenian servicemen this year. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in an interview with RTL radio station that he will soon visit Armenia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 17:40 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Toivo Klaar, Special Representative of the European Union in the South Caucasus, Azernews reports, citing Foreign Ministry. Jeyhun Bayramov informed Toivo Klaar that the Armenian provocation is aimed at striking a blow to the peace process The sides discussed the current state of Azerbaijan-European Union relations, the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the prospects of the draft peace agreement. After a long period of stability, the Foreign Minister noted that the Armenian provocation, which resulted in the wounding of an Azerbaijani serviceman as a result of sniper fire without any provoking factors, was aimed at derailing the peace process. "Regarding the draft peace agreement, Azerbaijan's regular comments were presented to the Armenian side, and we are interested in starting the negotiation process in this direction. At the same time, the continuing claims to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country in the Armenian Constitution, legislative acts, international organizations and courts are inadmissible," the information reads. At the meeting the sides also exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 09:38 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded in a statement to French President Emanuel Macron in connection with the unjustified pleas, Azernews reports. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "We strongly condemn the unjustified claims against Azerbaijan in unilateral defense of Armenia voiced by President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron during a joint press conference with the Armenian Prime Minister in Paris on February 21, 2024." The document notes that it is absolutely inappropriate for France, which for almost 30 years has not spoken out about the violated rights of Azerbaijanis expelled from their territories and subjected to massacres, to speak out about the rights and security of Armenians who left the territories of Azerbaijan of their own free will and without any violence. "At the same time, it would be more useful if the French side, which, within the framework of the Alma-Ata Declaration and some maps, touched upon the importance of territorial integrity, made it clear why it did not speak out against the almost 30 years of Armenian aggression and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, including Armenia's ongoing occupation of eight villages in Azerbaijan. It is unacceptable to accuse Azerbaijan of a disproportionate response instead of criticizing Armenia, which, without any provoking factors, disrupted almost five months of stability, and such biased approaches should be stopped. We reiterate that France's insidious policy aimed at creating new tensions in the region and hindering peace and stability will not bring results," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry emphasized. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 10:01 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Pakistan Aeronautical Complex signed largest export deal in Pakistan's history with Azerbaijan Air Force, Azernews reports. The deal for JF-17C Block-III fighter jets was signed for $1.6bn, including aircraft, training and ammunition, Pakistani media reported. The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is a big company that produces airplanes and other things for the military in Pakistan. It was started in 1971 by the Pakistan Air Force. They make and fix airplanes for the Pakistani military and also for other countries. They work with companies from Turkiye and China to make some of their products. The PAC also has businesses in other countries like Myanmar, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In the past, the Pakistan Air Force realized that they needed a place to fix their airplanes instead of sending them to other countries. So, they made a factory called the Aircraft Rebuild Factory (ARF) in Kamra. They also made another factory called the Mirage Rebuild Factory (MRF) to fix a different kind of airplane. These factories were built with the help of experts from China and France. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 11:47 (UTC+04:00) Speaker of Azerbaijan`s Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has met with Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain, Azernews reports. Sahiba Gafarova highlighted the shared religious and cultural beliefs between the two peoples, emphasising their positive influence on bilateral ties. She underscored the effective collaboration between Azerbaijan and Bahrain across various areas. Expressing confidence in Azerbaijan`s successful hosting of the 14th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in Baku, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain described the organisation as a platform for cooperation. Extending his congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the presidential election, Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam expressed Bahrain's keen interest in further expanding relations with Azerbaijan in all fields. During the meeting, the sides shared views on interparliamentary ties between the two countries and acknowledged the significant potential for deepening relations in this area. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 12:43 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Milli Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said in her speech at the 14th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly held in Baku on February 22 that Azerbaijan firmly defends international law and justice in the world arena, Azernews reports. According to the Speaker, Azerbaijan's position on the Palestinian issue is principled and consistent: "Azerbaijan strongly supports the resolution of this issue on the basis of the two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions". Sahiba Gafarova added that Azerbaijan considers the Asian Parliamentary Assembly an important structure. "By uniting our parliaments, we further mobilise the efforts of our countries to achieve common goals. At the same time, in order to achieve these goals, the parliament contributes to this work. As the Parliament of Azerbaijan, we view the APA as an important structure. It reflects our common desire to deepen our inter-parliamentary dialog. I believe that developing the institutional capacity of the organisation will further strengthen our cooperation." "The work of the Assembly can be further strengthened by enhancing the activities and effectiveness of the existing bodies governed by the APA Charter. The creation of new mechanisms will significantly enrich our work," Gafarova added. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said in her speech that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of cooperation with Asian countries both at bilateral and multilateral levels. The speaker said there are important areas that can further enhance cooperation for the prosperity of the countries and the region and enable the achievement of common development goals: "One of them is transport connectivity. As a result of large investments in transport infrastructure, Azerbaijan has become one of the transport and logistics hubs of Eurasia. East-West and North-South transportation corridors pass through Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's infrastructure is accessible to all Asian countries. Expansion of cooperation in this area of economy and trade between our countries will certainly contribute to the development of relations." At the same time, Safarova noted that a clean environment and green development are among the main priority areas of Azerbaijan's sustainable development agenda. "Azerbaijan has also joined the Global Agreement to triple the world's renewable energy potential and double energy efficiency by 2030," she said. "The COP29 host country was selected with unanimous support. This is a confirmation of Azerbaijan's commitment to support international efforts on climate change." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 14:29 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova called on Armenia to change the constitution and give up territorial claims to Azerbaijan, during a speech at the 14th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly held in Baku on February 22, Azernews reports. Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan's proposal to Armenia to normalise relations and sign a peace agreement is based on the basic principles of international law: "Despite Armenia's military-political provocations for more than three years, it is still possible to sign a peace agreement." The Speaker of the Milli Majlis recalled that a few days ago within the framework of the Munich Security Conference, a bilateral meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held. The speaker noted that the agreements reached at the peace treaty negotiations and meetings on border delimitation can be assessed as a positive step: "We hope that Armenia will refrain from provocations, the participation of biased third parties, and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which is reflected in the Armenian Constitution and other legislative acts. It will renounce its claims and continue direct bilateral negotiations on a peace agreement. The only way to long-term peace and stability in the region is to establish relations with neighbours based on the norms and principles of international law". --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 12:16 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The Social Development Fund of the IDP of the Republic of Azerbaijan has concluded the procedures for 7 tenders related to projects in Garabagh. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 22 February 2024 16:45 (UTC+04:00) Cathrina Claas-Muehlhaeuser, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the German Eastern Business Association has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, dear President Aliyev, Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate you on election as President of Azerbaijan. On behalf of the German Eastern Business Association, I wish you much strength and success in your office. You are leading Azerbaijan in turbulent geopolitical times, which have become even more challenging with Russias war against Ukraine. Azerbaijan has an important role to play as a logistics partner, as an important supplier of fossil fuels and increasingly as a partner in renewable energies. In addition to its important economic function, your country also plays an important role in regional cooperation. From the point of view of the German economy, it is of central importance that the process of understanding with the region is successfully continued. We therefore welcome the agreement on Baku as the host city of COP29, which is a result of this process of understanding, and congratulate you on this. From 26 to 29 February 2024, the German Eastern Business Association, in cooperation with the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce Abroad, will lead a 50-member delegation of German companies to Baku. We are in close contact with the Azerbaijani Embassy in Berlin for planning purposes and would be very pleased if the announced meeting with you, Mr. President, could take place. Yours sincerely, Cathrina Claas-Muehlhaeuser Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the German Eastern Business Association" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 19:15 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more On February 22, the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha held the National Day of Azerbaijan in Qatar, Azernews reports. The International Horticultural Exhibition Doha Expo 2023, which began on October 2, 2023, and will run until March 28 this year, was organized under the theme "Green Desert, Better Environment". The aim is to promote sustainable innovation and combat desertification. Among the pavilions operating at the Doha Expo was the Azerbaijan pavilion, which was created with the joint organization of the Heydar Aliyev Center and the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry. As part of the National Day organized at the Doha Expo, the delegation headed by Anar Alakbarov, the assistant to the Azerbaijan President, was accompanied by Qatar's State Minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of Culture of this country Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Municipalities Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Atiyya, the Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023, Bader bin Omar Al Dafa. Anar Alakbarov discussed the experience of Azerbaijan in Expo exhibitions and the successful participation in the Doha Expo 2023. Later, the National Day was opened, the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played and the National Flag was raised. Azerbaijani and Qatar Officials and ambassadors of about 60 countries accredited in this country participated in the event. Speaking at the opening event of the National Day, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center, Anar Alakbarov said that Azerbaijan-Qatar relations are based on mutual respect and cooperation, and close contacts contribute to the further development of relations between the two countries. Anar Alakbarov emphasized that holding the National Day of Azerbaijan at Doha Expo 2023 is important for the two countries and said that he is hopeful that the International Horticultural Exhibition will contribute to one of the most important issues on the world's agenda - issues related to climate change. Pointing out that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the solution of global issues related to climate change that worries the world and continues to do practical work in this direction, the assistant to the President said that in this regard, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29 in November. Thanking the State of Qatar for organizing such a successful and important platform in Doha, Anar Alakbarov added: "The coming together of countries is very important for the development of humanitarian relations and cooperation. Based on the principles of mutual friendship and respect, our people have historically been connected by religious and cultural ties. Currently, relations between the two countries are based on the principles of mutual friendship. Relations between our countries are developing dynamically in various fields. I believe that our cooperative relations based on friendly relations will continue successfully from now on." Then there the Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023, Bader bin Omar Al Dafa had a speech. He said that the Doha Expo takes us on an interesting journey to the countries of the world. Today, the fraternal Azerbaijan brought us together to celebrate the National Day of the Republic. Reminding that Azerbaijan will host COP29 this year, Bader bin Omar Al Dafa added that Azerbaijan has an active partnership with the United Arab Emirates, which hosted COP28, and Brazil, which will host COP30, in order to improve sustainability and cooperation in international discussions on climate change issues. The Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023 emphasized that Azerbaijan, which has a fascinating nature, attaches great importance to economic diversification in addition to climate issues, and noted: "Investment policy in Azerbaijan is based on innovation and technology. Apart from the oil and gas sector, Azerbaijan is successfully diversifying its economy by rapidly developing other sectors. All this creates ample opportunities for investors in developing areas such as renewable energy, the agricultural industry, and tourism in the country. Azerbaijan has wide tourism opportunities, rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the Great Caucasus Mountains in the north, and wide plains in the central part of the country. Azerbaijan's participation in the Doha Expo 2023 resonates with the goals of this exhibition, which is the contribution of a friendly state to international cooperation, beneficial partnerships, and investments. Therefore, we expect not only the public and private sector in Qatar but also other countries participating in the Expo to use the investment environment in Azerbaijan and the successful experience of this country in many areas of the economy." Later, People's Artist Azer Zeynalov sang the song Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble performed the dance Uzundera, one of Azerbaijani ancient folk dances. Within the framework of the ceremony, a photo exhibition covering the nature and historical monuments of Azerbaijan was also organized. After the opening, the participants of the event inspected the Qatar pavilion at the Doha Expo 2023 International Horticultural Exhibition. It should be noted that Doha Expo 2023 with an area of 1.7 million square meters is being held in Al Bidda Park, one of the largest parks of the Qatari capital. Here, the territory is divided into three zones: the International Zone, where pavilions are presented, the Family Zone, where fun events are held, and the Cultural Zone, where various debates, conferences, and exhibitions are organized. More than 70 countries and about 20 international organizations participate in the exhibition. The guests then visited the Azerbaijan pavilion. Here, the richness of the Azerbaijani flora is shown in accordance with the general theme of the Doha Expo, and compositions of plants have been created according to the climatic zones. In the pavilion, the beauty of the Kharibulbul flower, which is the crown of Karabakh flora, is conveyed to the visitors. The pavilion also has exhibits and information about Azerbaijani culture. Folk crafts such as carpet weaving, coppersmithing, netting, national costumes, as well as mugham trio are displayed here. During the guests' visit to the pavilion, there was a performance of a mugham trio, samples of the works of Azerbaijani composers were presented by the quartet, and our national cuisine was presented. The National Day of Azerbaijan at Doha Expo 2023 will continue in the evening with a concert program organized jointly with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that Azerbaijan Culture Days are also held in Qatar from February 21 to 24. Azerbaijan, which attaches special importance to expo events, has previously successfully participated in international exhibitions held in cities such as Milan, Antalya, Astana, and Beijing and has been awarded high prizes. The country, selected for its successful participation in this international platform, will also be represented at the Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025 world exhibition. Azerbaijan, which attaches great importance to relations with Japan and participation in world Expo exhibitions, is the first country to sign the participation agreement in Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 12:21 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Azerbaijan became the largest supplier of oil to Italy in 2023. According to the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Azerbaijan will supply Italy with about 11.3 million tons of oil in 2023, which is 25% more than in 2022, Azernews reports, Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 22 February 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The British Navy conducted an unsuccessful test launch of the Trident II D5 ballistic missile from the repaired nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. After the launch, the missile immediately deviated from the course and fell next to the submarine, on board of which was the Defense Minister of the United Kingdom Grant Shapps, and the first sea Lord (head of the Navy) Admiral Ben Key. The incident occurred during a training mission in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Initially, it was assumed that the Trident II D5 would fly almost 6,000 km to hit a given point in the central Atlantic between Brazil and West Africa. As a result of the failed launch, a verification of the circumstances of the incident was initiated. In addition, the UK has launched a search operation to recover fragments of the missile from the seabed at Port Canaveral. The Defense Ministry of the Kingdom confirmed that "an anomaly occurred" during the launch. "HMS Vanguard and its crew have demonstrated their full readiness to operate continuous maritime deterrents, having passed all the tests during the recent standard control and training launches necessary to confirm that the submarine can return to service after thorough repairs. The test confirmed the effectiveness of the UK's nuclear deterrence, which we are absolutely confident of. An anomaly occurred during the test. For reasons of national security, we cannot provide additional information on this topic," the ministry said in a statement. The British Ministry of Defense expressed the opinion that "the anomaly was a specific phenomenon" that does not allow us to talk "about the consequences in the context of the reliability of Trident systems." "The UK's nuclear deterrence remains safe and effective," the ministry added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 21:25 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre Erdal Eren, President of the Turkish Contractors Association (TMB), stated that Turkish contractors will play a key role in Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" project and will undertake major works. "Within the framework of the development of our country's relations with Saudi Arabia, the country's new construction industry will generate a new investment of 10 billion dollars annually for the Turkish construction industry. It seems that it has become a market with business potential," Eren said. Erdal Eren told the AA correspondent that Turkish Contractors have become a sought-after brand in every corner of the world with their rich experience in different markets, cost-effective service at international standards, ability to take initiative, willingness to take risks, and extensive partnership experience. Eren stated that Saudi Arabia, one of the traditional markets, is the 6th country in which the most projects are undertaken among foreign contracting services, with 402 projects worth 27.8 billion dollars carried out by Turkish companies. Stating that they focused on activities for the Gulf countries and Iraq, where extremely positive developments have been experienced in political relations, especially with Saudi Arabia, during the past year, Eren said, "With the impact of the activities carried out, our companies have undertaken 16 projects worth 2.7 billion dollars in Saudi Arabia in 2023. It is pleasing that the level of 2018 has been reached again." Erdal Eren pointed out that they have planned to organise a contractors delegation visit to Saudi Arabia this year, under the chairmanship of Minister of Trade Omer Bolat, in order to further develop existing relations. Stating that Turkish contractors will play a key role in Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" project and undertake major works, Eren said, "Within the framework of the development of our country's current relations with Saudi Arabia, it is seen that the country has become a market with a new business potential of 10 billion dollars annually for the Turkish construction industry." Eren emphasized that, according to the studies announced by the relevant organizations, it is envisaged that projects worth 3.9 trillion dollars, 52 percent of which will be superstructure, will be implemented in the Middle East and North Africa region in the coming period, and that the largest investment is expected to be made by Saudi Arabia. Eren reminded that they had the opportunity to get first-hand information through the contracting delegation visits and high-level contacts they held last year. "From the information we obtained on this occasion, we have understood that infrastructure and superstructure projects worth 1.4 trillion dollars are planned to be carried out in Saudi Arabia in the next 15 years," he said. TMB President Eren noted that, as Turkish contractors, they want to take part in the Neom, Diriyah Gate, Qiddiya, Red Sea Global, Al'Ula projects and other energy, water, housing, and infrastructure projects in the country within the scope of the Saudi 2030 vision and Giga projects program, and that they are working and taking initiatives in this direction. He stated that they continue to do so. Eren underlined that Neom stands out as the biggest project on Saudi Arabia's agenda. "Our member companies are willing to take part not only in this project but also in all infrastructure and superstructure projects in the country. For this purpose, our companies aim to complete the registration and certification procedures required by the Saudi Arabian legislation," he said. Erdal Eren pointed out that, considering the available data in the country, the route of the sector in 2024 will be mainly foreign projects, and stated that Saudi Arabia stands out as the target country with the greatest potential. He noted that Iraq emerged as another target country with projects such as energy, health, housing, schools, and hospitals planned to be realised in the country with the Development Road project. Pointing out that, as Turkish contractors, they work in Eurasia, the Middle East, and North African countries and are increasing their activities in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, Eren said, "In addition, we are closely monitoring new markets such as the Far East and Latin American countries. In this regard, we will undertake projects abroad every year in the coming period. We maintain our new project amount target of 20 billion dollars in the short term and 50 billion dollars in the medium term," he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 20:20 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol stated that the export value of the institution exceeded 2,000 per kilogram. Providing information about ASELSAN's work to a group of journalists, Akyol stated that they have made progress in export figures in 2023. Akyol said, Turkiye's 2023 defense export amount per kilogram is 65 dollars. For ASELSAN, exports per kilogram in 2023 have exceeded 2,000," he said. Akyol stated that ASELSAN will modernise Chile's German Leopard tanks and said, We signed the modernization project of German tanks in Chile. We signed a contract for the export of air defense systems to the Philippines." Stating that there are 3 tank schools in the world (German, Russian and American) and that they, as ASELSAN, have reached the capability to modernize all of them, Akyol said that their next target is unmanned towers and more competent self-protection systems. Stating that ASELSAN currently has factories, design centers and offices in 14 different countries, Akyol pointed out that they exported to 4 new countries this year and increased the number of countries to which ASELSAN exports to 86. He also stated that they exported 21 products for the first time, and that they developed CATS after Canada's embargo on lenses used in UAVs and UCAVs, and the number of exported countries exceeded 10. Akyol announced that the ASELFLIR-600 electro-optical reconnaissance and surveillance system will be flown this year and the high-technology TOYGUN will be provided to the security forces. Stating that there will be good news about the radar soon and that it will be shared in the coming days, Akyol said that the KORKUT air defense system has been used successfully by the Turkish army and its export to allied countries is also being discussed. Akyol noted that they are working with ROKETSAN to extend the range of the HISAR-O+ missile. Akyol said, We are working with ROKETSAN to further extend the range of the missile with HISAR-O+. The system is again in mass production. "We are trying to improve the high altitude a little more," he said. Akyol announced that the SIPER air defence system will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in the first half of 2024. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 22:55 (UTC+04:00) The close relations between Georgia and China, their elevation to strategic partnership last year, and future prospects of cooperation were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. The officials welcomed the intensification of cooperation in various fields and said they hoped the strategic relations would contribute to further development of sectoral, economic and trade relations as well as people-to-people ties, the Georgian Government Administration said. The meeting focused on the cooperation between the Parliament of Georgia and the National People's Congress of China, noting parliamentary friendship groups had been established in both legislatures to expand relations. Economic cooperation was also emphasised, with the officials emphasising China was among the top five trade partners of Georgia, with the trade turnover between the states exceeding $1.5 billion between January and November of 2023. The meeting also discussed the successful cooperation of the two countries in developing Georgia's special geopolitical location, which they said increased the country's potential as an East-West connecting corridor. Kobakhidze once again expressed the strong support of his Government to the One China principle, with the sides also reaffirming their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 February 2024 23:35 (UTC+04:00) Under a $150 million project, Iveco electric vehicles will be imported for testing and subsequently acquired on an investment basis after the trial period is complete, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz news agency. Chinese firm Henan Costar Group will deliver electric ambulances to Uzbekistan. A contract worth $150 million was signed in conjunction with this initiative between the Ministry of Health, China Chamber of Commerce, and Henan Costar Group. Abduvoit Gafurov, the Director-General of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Care, noted that the company provided specialized Iveco electric reanimation vehicles. "They will be used in test mode in various regions of Uzbekistan, including hot, mountainous, and cold areas, and following the results, will be implemented into the emergency medical services," he said. The Iveco electric vehicles can travel up to 450 km on a single charge, have a 10-fold fuel economy compared to conventional vehicles, and are resistant to moisture and high temperatures. Following a successful trial period, the electric vehicles will be acquired on an investment basis. The next phase involves setting up a facility for servicing and modifying these vehicles. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The North Carolina state budget, recently enacted, expanded the powers of the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, a body that has been in existence since 1975. Expanding the Commission's authority aligns with principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and transparency in government. The use of extreme comparisons like "secret police" and "Gestapo" to describe the Commission's work is unjustified. It detracts from the legitimate goals of fiscal responsibility and accountability, focusing on the responsible use of taxpayer funds. This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation . The author of this post is Donald Bryson The recently enacted state budget, which became law without Gov. Roy Cooper's signature, expanded the powers of a legislative commission that has been around since 1975 - the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.While there has been spirited debate, the decision to enhance the Commission's authority is a positive step toward ensuring accountability, transparency, and efficient allocation of taxpayer funds. These new powers are crucial for good government and how they align with the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility.The purpose of the Commission is spelled out in state law: 120-71. Purpose.As the functions and costs of state government continue to evolve and grow in complexity, there's a compelling argument for strengthening or making the Join Legislative Commission's authority more explicit over time. By doing so, the Commission can keep pace with the evolving demands of modern governance and adapt to the changing landscape of public service needs and government reorganization. A stronger and more explicit mandate enables the Commission to fulfill its role more effectively in examining public policies, expenditures, and the impact of government reorganization, ultimately promoting the responsible use of public funds and the efficient delivery of public services.The principle of limited government suggests that the government should only intervene in areas necessary, allowing the private sector to flourish and individuals to make their own choices. The expanded authority of the Commission falls in line with this principle, as it facilitates oversight without creating new, expansive bureaucratic structures. Instead of creating new government agencies or regulations, North Carolina has empowered existing legislative bodies to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently.The new powers enable the Commission to investigate misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, mismanagement, waste, abuse, and illegal conduct. This proactive approach aligns with fiscal responsibility and limited government, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely rather than wasted or mismanaged. Such oversight can help prevent the need for more extensive government interventions to rectify financial crises or inefficiencies.Transparency is a cornerstone of good government, and the expanded powers of the Commission promote openness in allocating public funds. The Commission ensures that the public can monitor government actions by allowing access to documents and records related to state contracts and subcontracts and entry to government-owned or leased buildings. This transparency is in the best interest of all citizens, as it guarantees that their hard-earned money is spent responsibly and ethically.Furthermore, accountability is a crucial aspect of a functioning democracy. State legislators have the moral and legal responsibility to oversee the use of taxpayer funds when they pass legislation to fund governmental entities and nonprofits. Granting the Commission the authority to investigate the use of these funds enhances accountability and ensures that those who misuse taxpayer money are held responsible for their actions.An example of where these concepts matter is in hurricane recovery. Over 3,000 hurricane victims who have endured the devastating consequences of events like Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018) are still without homes. They deserve and need the highest degree of government transparency and accountability, especially on the allocation and management of state and federal funding for recovery efforts. As they wait for years to return home, every dollar of that funding must be spent efficiently and effectively. The Commission's role in overseeing government operations, expenditures, and program effectiveness becomes crucial. It ensures that the process of hurricane recovery and rebuilding is transparent and that the government remains accountable for meeting its obligations to these victims. Providing transparency and accountability through the Commission helps assuage concerns and frustrations and reassure victims - and other taxpayers - that their recovery needs are prioritized and their tax dollars are spent wisely.Empowering the Commission creates incentives for government agencies and nonstate entities receiving public funds to operate efficiently. When these organizations know their actions and expenditures are subject to rigorous scrutiny, they are incentivized to improve their practices. This oversight, in turn, can lead to a more efficient and cost-effective government.The Commission's role is not to stifle innovation or effectiveness but to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely, benefiting the state. It creates an environment in which nonprofits and governmental agencies are incentivized to operate efficiently and transparently, ultimately helping the taxpayers who fund these endeavors.The new oversight powers granted to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations have not been without its detractors. Still, those opponents seem only to want to attack it with language not based on any sense of reasonableness.Speaking on the Commission's new authority, Rep. Alison Dahle (D-Wake) said,she said.Sen. Graig Meyer (D-Orange) said the legislative Republican majority is trying to create athat directly answers to GOP leadership at the state legislature, which they could use to take revenge against political rivals.Let's be clear - drawing comparisons between a state legislative commission comprised of democratically elected officials and terms likeandis not only inappropriate but also a tired and unjustified attempt to invoke extreme imagery that has no basis in reality. Such rhetoric detracts from constructive discourse and undermines the importance of oversight and accountability in government operations.It is crucial to recognize that the Commission's mission is to ensure that taxpayer funds are spent efficiently and responsibly, not infringing upon individual rights or engaging in political retribution. The primary focus should be on the responsible use of public resources, as entities receiving taxpayer funds are expected to be transparent and accountable to the taxpayers who have earned the money. Maintaining a rational and civil dialogue around these issues is essential, rather than resorting to hyperbolic comparisons that do a disservice to the seriousness of fiscal responsibility and transparency in government.The expansion of powers granted to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations in North Carolina represents a step in the right direction for good government. It upholds the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. By empowering the Commission, North Carolina ensures that taxpayer funds are allocated efficiently, government actions are scrutinized for integrity, and incentives for responsible spending are established. In doing so, the state moves toward a more accountable, transparent, and fiscally responsible government, aligning with the core principles of free market conservatism. Sean Astin, actor and mental health advocate, spoke to on audience of nearly 1,000 on ECUs campus during the 2023-24 Voyages of Discovery series Inspiring Hope and Healing. (Photo by Steven Mantilla) This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Lacey L. Gray Rivaling pre-pandemic numbers with an audience of nearly 1,000 people, East Carolina University proudly welcomed actor, director, producer, triathlete and mental health advocate Sean Astin to campus on Nov. 16 for the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Voyages of Discovery Series.Astin's visit was true to the theme of this year's Voyages season ofas he took the evening's events in stride with charm and charisma, making multiple one-on-one connections with faculty, staff, students and community guests during his visit.An alarm to evacuate the Main Campus Student Center during a special reception in Astin's honor led to an impromptu photo and chat session with 100 enthusiastic guests on the lawn along 10th Street. Everyone was able to return inside about 30 minutes later.Astin's interactions throughout the evening touched the hearts of many, including a university staff member who received a heartfelt, personally recorded video from Astin to pass along to a family member who was not able to attend the events.said Dr. Allison S. Danell, dean of Harriot College.With an acting career that has spanned four decades, Astin is recognized by many generations. Among more than 100 roles, Astin is known for his classic character of Samwise Gamgee in thetrilogy; as Bob Newby, a former high school friend and love interest to Winona Ryder's character, Joyce Byers, in Season 2 of Netflix'sas the beloved title character ofand as Mikey in the popular classicTopics of discussion throughout the evening were split among Astin's acting career as well as the causes he is passionate about, including civic engagement, education, literacy, fitness and above all, mental health awareness and advocacy.Dr. Austin Jones, associate professor of theater in the College of Fine Arts and Communication School of Theater and Dance, moderated the reception discussion, which touched on Astin's acting career.Astin said he received great advice from his dad when he was auditioning for parts. His dad told him toand to be his natural self. Giving up control, as well as a little bit of luck, allowed him to earn many roles.He said acting allows him to explore mentalities and worlds that can be difficult to navigate if you aren't prepared for them. He fully embraces his roles and it can take him a long time to get out of character, which is something his wife of 32 years also noted when he was considering taking on the part of a drug addict.Dr. Alan Christensen, chair of the Department of Psychology, who has said that mental health is relevant to everyone and that the stigma associated with it has declined significantly in recent years, moderated the 7 p.m. discussion.he said.Although well known for his acting, Astin said it is the other aspects and activities in his life that fulfill and inspire him, including earning his undergraduate degree in history, his current pursuit of a master of public administration and public policy degree, his long-distance running, participation in numerous triathlons, and his speaking engagements about mental health and its destigmatization. The latter stemmed from his late mother's - 1960s actress Patty Duke - diagnosis, struggles and open conversation about her bipolar disorder. She subsequently dedicated her life's work to advocating for mental health, a role Astin carries on today with his messages of acceptance, inclusion and empowerment for individuals dealing with mental illness.said Astin.He said people used to be scared to discuss mental health issues, but his momand she always made Astin and his siblings feel loved - that her issues were not their fault.said Andrea Menichelli, an economics staff member who attended the event.When asked what Astin wanted the audience to remember from his visit, he said,said Danell, who also said she was onlythat this event's incredible person was Sean Astin.Ashley Harzog, director of alumni relations and outreach for Harriot College said,The evening's events were co-hosted by Harriot College Dean's Advancement Council member Harvey S. Wooten and the ECU College of Fine Arts and Communication, with additional support from many ECU and community and corporate sponsors.On Jan. 18, Harriot College hopes to continue to inspire the community as it hosts Laurie Hernandez, U.S. Olympic gold and silver medal-winning gymnast, for the final event in the 2023-24 Voyages series. For additional information, visit the Voyages of Discovery website. Tom Campbell Jim Martin was the most underappreciated governor in our state's modern history. Never the flamboyant, headline-seeking politician, Martin was a down-to-earth old school conservative Republican who had to deal with a highly partisan opposition legislature for eight years. His record of accomplishments is commendable. Since leaving office he has been judicious in speaking out in advocating public policy issues.So, when former Governor Martin writes an op-ed piece in response to an obviously partisan column in both the Charlotte and Raleigh newspapers, I want to hear what he says.The original column questioned Lee Roberts' appointment by UNC System President Peter Hans to be interim chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill. As President, Hans not only has the authority but also the responsibility to make that decision. But the main thrust of the article condemns the takeover of higher education by Republicans. The writer is appalled by it.Some of us remember the 1971 deal then-Governor Bob Scott made with the General Assembly to restructure our state-owned colleges and universities. Some say thiswas that if the legislature approved the plan, the General Assembly in turn would have absolute authority to name the governing board of the new system.Former UNC President Bill Friday frequently lamented that deal, saying our universities should not be controlled by politicians. But that's what's happened. Since Democrats dominated the legislature, they got to choose the board. There were token appointments given Republicans, women and minorities, but the boards were heavily dominated by white male Democrats.Martin responds,There was opposition from Republicans, but it didn't change anything.The governor says thatHe is obviously correct, but is the process right? Just because Democrats did it for so many years isn't sufficient justification for Republicans to do so now. Momma always saidIt points to the need for change.The manner in which North Carolina appoints members to the UNC Board of Governors (and even to university boards) needs radical change. Just because someone can garner enough votes in the legislature to get elected isn't proof of any qualifications for making important decisions about running our universities. If you were going to constitute the ideal governing board for our state's higher education institutions what experiences, what qualifications, what diversification would you believe best? That's what we need to be discussing, instead of the political party to which the potential board member belongs.And now would be the ideal time to begin this discussion, since we will be electing representatives to our legislature starting in March. Ask the candidates where they stand on changing the process for naming boards of higher education, then vote accordingly.The second issue Martin raises relates to naming Lee Roberts as interim chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill. The original column questioned Robert's qualifications, saying he does not come from the academy or academia.Governor Martin, himself a former college professor, rebuts the notion that anyone leading a university (or the system) must come from academia. That reasoning presupposes that unless they have academic bona fides a candidate can't be qualified to head a university. Martin correctly points out that former Governor Terry Sanford (although a lawyer) had no academic experience before becoming President of Duke. Neither did Judge Tom Ross, who led both Davidson College and the UNC System. Dick Spangler, who had chaired the Mecklenburg County Board of Education, ably led the UNC System, as did Erskine Bowles, former chief-of-staff to the President. Former Governor Scott headed the Community College System and current UNC President Hans served both the Board of Governors and as state Community College President. They did not come up through the academy, however few can argue they served with honor and success.Let us be clear about Lee Roberts. He has a rich family background of public service, including being State Budget Director under Pat McCrory. He has served on both the Community College and UNC Board of Governors. He is known to be a humble, good listener who makes good decisions. Roberts is a good choice and will likely be named permanently to the job.We should however, object to the recent naming of chancellors from the ranks of the Board of Governors. That opens up the very real accusation of partisan politics. Once again, this practice reaffirms the argument to change how boards and leaders are named.Education is the most important function of state government. We hope that Governor Martin, along with other prominent leaders, will speak forcefully to the need for change. Attila Nemecz Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Beaufort County Community College 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East Washington, N.C. 27889 Ph : 252-940-6387 : 252-940-6387 Cell : 252-940-8672 : 252-940-8672 attila.nemecz@beaufortccc.edu Beaufort County Community College celebrated the successful completion of its first-ever Patrol K-9 class, marking a new venture in law enforcement training. The graduating officers, hailing from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, Rocky Mount Police Department, and Warren County Sheriff's Office, completed an intensive 14-week program, accumulating 540 hours of specialized training. Beaufort CCC is one of only a few colleges in Eastern North Carolina offering the program.Greg Van Essendelft/K-9 Tinnus and Linwood Waters/K-9 Athos of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, Michael Cotton Jr./K-9 Forrest and Robert Simmons/K-9 Bacca of the Rocky Mount Police Department, and Darrell Powell/K-9 Ivor of the Warren County Sheriff's Office completed the program.The Patrol K-9 program at Beaufort County Community College is a new initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in finding missing people or suspects using highly trained canine units. Cliff Hales, director of law enforcement programs at Beaufort CCC, said that the college started offering the program help the trainees get college credit for the large amount of hours they spent in training. The graduates took time away from their homelife or families for the training and have now taken on the full-time responsibility of their canine partner.Ken Mathias of Orchard Knoll K-9 taught the course for the college. Mathias has spent his 45-year career teaching units from the Raleigh Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.said Mathias.Linwood Waters offered comments on behalf of the class and expressed the difficulty of being away from his family for an extended period during the training and the comradery the group built during that time.Mathias also awarded the Gold Collar Award to Greg Van Essendelft, who sustained the most bites from his dog Tinnus during the training.The 14-week program covered obedience training, drug detection, suspect apprehension, and daytime and nighttime search and rescue techniques. The extensive 540 hours of training ensured that each officer and their K-9 partner developed a strong bond and effective communication, fostering a seamless integration into their respective law enforcement agencies.In addition to mastering K-9 handling skills, the graduates also received education on ethical considerations and community engagement strategies.Beaufort CCC looks forward to the continued success of its Patrol K-9 program, anticipating future classes that will further contribute to the training of regional law enforcement agencies. Joe Biden is the cause of this frightening Worldwide situation, and it will end when a Republican is elected president. This delayed Worldwide dysfunction and constant conflict is all Donald Trump's fault, as it is with everything that occurs going forward, and long before the man ever became the 45th president.. Joe Biden is the "root cause" of this frightening Worldwide situation, and it will end when former President Donald John Trump is elected president. In the imitable words of Alfred E. Newman: "What, me worry?" 393 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? In December, several major health systems made headlines when they reinstated COVID-19-era mask mandates for patients and providers amid a rise in respiratory virus cases. New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals reinstated a mask policy across all of its facilities, including at its outpatient and ambulatory care centers, while the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a statement advising all healthcare facilities to "step up mitigation efforts" and supported the CDC's recommendation to mask at health facilities in counties where COVID-19 and respiratory virus transmission rates were high. The U.S. faced its highest infection rates at the end of January, which aligned with predictions from the fall. Most parts of the country have seen a decline in respiratory infections in recent weeks. Here are eight updates on masks in the U.S.: 1. The CDC has requested clarification on N95 masking guidance in healthcare facilities from the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. 2. U.S.-based N95 and surgical mask production has dropped 90% in the last two years as 70% of the startup mask companies created during the COVID-19 pandemic's shortage of personal protective equipment shuttered. 3. New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals is still requiring masks to be worn across all of its facilities. 4. Madison, Wis.-based UW Health, which reinstated mask wearing at several of its care sites in November, is still requiring masks at some locations. 5. Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham, the largest health system in Massachusetts, still requires masks for employees when in a room with patients. 6. Cleveland Clinic, which required masks across all facilities in December and January, has since adjusted its mask wearing requirements. 7. Three California counties have started requiring masks. Marin County hospitals have had a mask mandate in place since November 1. In Santa Clara County, masks have been required since April 4. In San Francisco, masks are required in hospital settings for all workers in medical fields and in prisons. 8. In the fall, the Texas government banned mask mandates in public spaces altogether, with exemptions for state-supported living centers and government-owned healthcare facilities. The Salem, Ore.-based Willamette Surgery Center, which served patients in the area for over 20 years, will be demolished after closing its doors last fall, according to a Feb. 21 report from the Salem Reporter. The ASC, which was originally owned by a group of physicians, was purchased for $5.75 million in 2018 by Salem Health, according to property records obtained by the publication. Salem Health bought 100% of the property and a majority stake in the business. The ASC was originally remodeled from a former college sorority house and specialized in joint replacements. At the time of the purchase, orthopedic surgeon Stephen Yao, MD, was the ASC's president. The ASC closed its doors in November. Salem Health is demolishing the center because it has "reached the end of its life as a surgery center," spokesperson Lisa Wood told the Reporter. Noncompetes have been a hot-button topic in healthcare, with supporters and those opposed to the practice each attempting to influence policy changes. A recent survey from NORC at the University of Chicago found that approximately 60% of employed physicians were required to sign a noncompete when starting their jobs, limiting the ability to practice at other facilities locally. Overall, almost 30 million American workers have noncompete provisions in their contract, according to an Oct. 4 report from U.S. News & World Report. The Federal Trade Commission in January 2023 proposed a rule that would ban noncompete contracts for full-time employees and independent contractors; they agency is expected to vote on the rule in April. About 87% of physicians support the FTC's noncompete ban, according to a poll conducted by Doximity. Five states have legislative policies banning noncompete agreements: California, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Oklahoma. But what states have policies that affect physicians specifically? Here is an overview of the noncompete provisions specific to the physician workforce in two states and Washington, D.C.: 1. Connecticut. In July, Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law an act that amends the state's noncompete law for physicians and adds restrictions. Now, physician noncompete agreements entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2016, may last no longer than a year or extend beyond a 15-mile radius from the physician's primary site of practice. 2. Indiana. As of July 1, noncompetes are no longer enforceable for primary care physicians and must include a buyout option for a physician. Noncompetes could be considered unenforceable under certain circumstances of the termination, such as if the physician was fired "without cause," the physician terminates their own employment "for cause," or if the physician's contract has expired and both the physician and employer have fulfilled their respective obligations of the contract. 3. Washington, D.C. The wage threshold for noncompetes is $150,000 per year, or $250,000 per year for "medical specialists." Written notice of the noncompete must be provided within 30 days of an employees acceptance of employment as well as anytime the policy changes. Mark Bovard, an Illinois Court of Appeals judge, has upheld a trial verdict clearing cardiologist Amit Dande, MD, and Springfield, Ill.-based Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants of any wrongdoing in the 2015 death of a patient. Plaintiff Cheryl Wilson alleged that her husband, Leslie Wilson, died because Dr. Dande was negligent in assessing his heart condition and recognizing its severity, according to Feb. 20 court documents. The jury in the case found that Dr. Dande was not negligent and followed the normal standard of care for a patient with stable ischemia. On appeal, Ms. Wilson alleged that it was unfair for the trial court to allow a defendant's medical expert to testify about possible causes of the patient's death. There was debate among medical experts during the trial because no one knew the actual cause of death, since no autopsy was performed on Mr. Wilson. Ms. Wilson also alleged the trial court omitted her claim that Dr. Dande failed to tell her husband to restrict physical activity while awaiting a heart catheterization procedure. Dr. Dande first met with Mr. Wilson in July 2015 and recommended an elective cardiac catheterization scheduled for Aug. 11. On Aug. 3, Mr. Wilson died while mowing his family farm. Ms. Wilson sued the defendants, claiming her husband's death was due to negligence. She claimed Dr. Dande and the practice deviated from the standard of care in failing to appreciate the seriousness of the patient's cardiac condition, failed to timely and adequately perform appropriate diagnostic tests to assess and treat his condition, and failed to provide adequate instructions regarding restricting his physical activities. "The jury could have reasonably concluded that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the defendants deviated from the applicable standard of care and/or that the deviation more likely than not was a proximate cause of Les Wilson's death. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the jury's verdict was not against the manifest weight of the evidence," Mr. Bovard wrote in his decision to uphold the not guilty verdict. Management organization ReFocus Eye Health has added eight ophthalmology practices in New Jersey to its portfolio. The new partners include Wayne-based Advanced Eye Care Center; Paterson-based Alden Leifer, MD and Associates; Jersey City-based Associated Eye Physicians & Surgeons of New Jersey; Oakland-based Diane M. Hilal-Campo, MD; Woodland Park-based EyeCare Consultants of NJ; Cedar Knolls-based Retina Associates of North West New Jersey; Belleville-based Retina Consultants; and Westwood Ophthalmology Associates. ReFocus is backed by healthcare private equity investor Zenyth Partners, according to a Feb. 22 press release. As hospitals and health systems continue to face ongoing maternity care cuts and closures in 2024, Chatham Maternity Care Center at Siler City, N.C.-based Chatham Hospital, part of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health, is working hard to defy those odds. "We're just able to really provide a different level of experience," Jeff Strickler, CEO of Chatham Hospital, told Becker's. "Some of the things that we hear from the families that choose to deliver with us, they talk about the experience they have being able to deliver close to home, and being able to have their extended family able to visit with them." The hospital's maternity care center, which opened in September of 2020, initially had two goals: promoting healthcare access to the underrepresented population in the area and to expand its rural residency track for family medicine residents to train rural providers and keep them in the area. "Staffing is so important because you have to have the talent to be able to maintain your operation," Eric Wolak, COO of Chatham Hospital, told Becker's. While the hospital and its care center have seen success over the years, it has also not been a stranger to ongoing rural healthcare challenges. "We have challenges with recruiting and retaining staff, labor costs, increase in supply costs, all those challenges you hear about in the healthcare industry," Mr. Strickler said. After initially battling significant maternity nurse turnover rates, Mr. Strickler said UNC Health System helped the hospital's maternity program get back on its feet. "We have a stable workforce and we have an increasing volume of patients, which is really helping to stabilize the program," he said. Along with a strong support system, the hospital's maternity program has put significant time and attention into fine tuning its volume. "When this program started I know we had moments where we had to have reduced operations for the maternity care center, but even when the maternity care center was open for large periods of time, we would go days, sometimes weeks without patients," Mr. Wolak said. "Having patients in the maternity care center is key to retaining maternity care center nurses. Maternity care center nurses do not want to float to other areas of the hospital." In working carefully to recruit and retain nurses, that creates a pipeline for prenatal care and prenatal referral to bring to the maternity care center. "There's opportunity there," Mr. Wolak said. "We are trying to increase foot traffic of expecting mothers to the maternity care center. When the Chatham County Board of Health performs labor classes or birthing classes, they do them on site at Chatham Hospital. When we do OB ultrasound, we do them at the Maternity Care Center, but we also are trying to grow our prenatal pipeline." Patient environment has also been a major investment in the hospital's maternity program. "The majority of our patients are Hispanic from an ethnicity standpoint, and one of our surgeons is also Hispanic," Mr. Strickler said. "From a standpoint of language and culture, just being able to connect with their care team in a different way, I think that's also been a real success for us." Along with engaging in resources from local public health departments and clinics like primary care or OB-GYN, Mr. Wolak encouraged other health system and hospital leaders who have maternity care programs to invest in backup plans for their staffing models. "Especially for a small program, one resignation can be very impactful," he said. "Whether that's hiring one full-time employee over or cross training specific nurses in your facility to provide maternity care, so that may require pulling them out of whatever staffing they're in and orienting them for three to six months in the maternity care center, but that will pay dividends in the future when you need to use their talent due to a resignation down the road." Amazon completed its $3.9 billion acquisition of virtual and in-person primary care company One Medical on Feb. 22, 2023, and has since been expanding the company's presence in the healthcare industry. Building health system partnerships Under Amazon's wing, One Medical has been increasing its partnerships with some of the largest health systems in the country. Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health, CommonSpirit Health's Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Tacoma, Wash., and Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare are just some of the health systems that have inked partnerships with One Medical since the Amazon takeover. These partnerships allow health system specialists to provide care to the tech company's primary care patients. One Medical now boasts health system partners in most of its 22 markets. In 2024, Sunita Mishra, MD, chief medical officer of Amazon Health Services, told Becker's One Medical is planning to open additional primary care offices in Milwaukee in collaboration with Advocate Aurora Health in the coming months, and in New Jersey in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health by the end of 2024 Expanding prime membership model to healthcare On Nov. 8, Amazon announced the introduction of the One Medical for Prime subscription, priced at $9 per month or $99 per year. The new service offers One Medical subscriptions to Prime members at a discounted rate, giving them unlimited 24/7 virtual visits and online scheduling for same- or next-day appointments at One Medical's more than 200 brick-and-mortar clinics. The move shows Amazon's willingness to integrate its new healthcare offerings into its existing services. Amazon Pharmacy collaboration On Jan. 23, One Medical announced that it would be integrating with Amazon Pharmacy. As part of the pilot program, One Medical providers can request drug consults from Amazon Pharmacy staff for high-risk, complex and senior patients. Layoffs, leadership changes and closures Since Amazon's takeover of One Medical, leadership switches, layoffs and closures of some corporate offices have been made. Most recently, Amazon confirmed to Becker's that it would be eliminating a few hundred roles at One Medical. "We're seeing very strong momentum and positive customer feedback across our healthcare offerings. As we continue our mission to make healthcare simpler for customers, we're realigning some resources to help accelerate our efforts to deliver the best experience for our patients, customers and members," Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services told Becker's. "Unfortunately, these adjustments will result in the elimination of a few hundred roles within Amazon Pharmacy and One Medical." Additionally, Amazon also closed some of One Medical's corporate offices due to most of the company's corporate employees working remotely. Under Amazon, One Medical also experienced some leadership changes. Its CFO, Bjorn Thaler, moved into a new role and now serves in a strategic growth initiative role within Amazon Health Services. Furthermore, One Medical's long-time CEO of six years Amir Dan Rubin left the company in 2023. Trent Green, who was previously senior vice president and COO of Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health, is now in the role. Reconstruction work has been paused at Norwood (Mass.) Hospital, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, due to contractors claiming they have not been paid, The Boston Globe reported Feb. 21. The hospital, which closed in 2020 after sustaining widespread flood damage, is in U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's congressional district. "Right now were stuck with a hospital thats not built," he told the publication during a visit to the hospital Feb. 21. "It's not buttoned up, and nothing's happening right now. So we're in a very difficult spot." Calling the site a "ghost town," Mr. Lynch said workers told him that four months had gone by since the hospital had seen regular construction activity, with no meaningful work since late January. A Boston-based construction company leading the project is waiting on Birmingham, Ala.-based Medical Properties Trust, the largest hospital landlord in the U.S. and Steward's landlord, to give it the OK to ensure the hospital is weathertight and safe, The Boston Globe reported. Efforts to rebuild the hospital started to struggle when both Steward and MPT sued Zurich American Insurance Co. and its subsidiary American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Co., opposing the insurer's Norwood Hospital policy interpretation. MPT has an overall limit of $750 million on its insurance policy and Steward's separate policy has an $850 million limit, but a lower payout limit of $100 million on each policy was claimed by the insurer due to the nature of the hospital's damage, the publication reported. While litigation on the insurance is ongoing, construction kicked off in November 2021 on the $375 million project. Since the construction pause, vendors working on site also filed lawsuits, including an architecture firm that claimed Steward and MPT owe it $2 million in unpaid invoices, The Boston Globe reported. News of the 215-bed hospital's inability to pay contractors comes amid continued financial difficulties for Steward, including being $50 million behind on rent at year's end to MPT. Mr. Lynch said he is hopeful another operator would take ownership or purchase the hospital, but recognized it as a challenge. In its recent financial reports, MPT expressed encouragement from interest in hospital operators taking on Steward's facilities. "We expect this real estate portfolio will either resume its contributions to earnings or become additional sources of liquidity as the year progresses," Edward Aldag Jr., chair, president and CEO of MPT, said in the report. Becker's has reached out to Steward for comment on Norwood Hospital and will update this article if more information becomes available. St. Louis-based Ascension continues to improve its operating performance and aims to ensure long-term sustainability for the health system on the back of a $3 billion operating loss in fiscal year 2023. In the fiscal first quarter of 2024, which ended Sept. 30, Ascension reported a net operating loss of $194 million, a significant improvement over the previous quarter. It carried that momentum into fiscal Q2 with an operating income of $38.5 million up from a $291.4 million loss during the same period the previous year. While second-quarter results demonstrate that Ascension continues to "move in the right direction," according to CFO Liz Foshage, the system remains focused on strengthening its financial performance by improving service line volumes and ancillary services and expanding its ambulatory footprint. Part of Ascension's turnaround strategy has also revolved around strategic transactions that reorganized its portfolio. The system has offloaded several key assets and hospitals in the last three years, with more deals in the pipeline. In September 2022, Ascension sold certain assets from its outreach laboratory business to Labcorp, which now manages the system's hospital-based labs in 10 states: Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Many other health systems have offloaded lab assets in similar deals with Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics, including Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health, Boston-based Tufts Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City. Every transaction is different, but these types of deals can come with valuable cash infusion, expand lab partnerships and reduce labor costs. The health system said its lab asset sale and other "labor stabilization initiatives" helped decrease its overall labor costs by 2.1% year over year to $5.9 billion for the six months ending Dec. 31, 2023. Ascension has also completed key transactions within its hospital portfolio. In August 2021, Ascension's Ministry Health Care in Milwaukee sold its membership interest in seven hospitals to Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health. In October 2023, Gulf Coast Health System, another Ascension subsidiary, sold all assets and operations associated with Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala., to the University of South Alabama Health Care Authority. That transaction was quickly followed by the sale of Ascension Wisconsin's 50% stake in Network Health to Milwaukee-based Froedtert Health on Nov. 1. The deal gave Froedtert full ownership of the health plan, a spokesperson for the system confirmed to Becker's. Earlier this month, Ascension also offloaded Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital System in Binghamton, N.Y., to Sayre, Pa.-based the Guthrie Clinic, now a six-hospital system. It also plans to sell Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan., to St. Louis-based Mercy. While Ascension continues to restructure its hospital portfolio with various sales in certain markets, it is also pursuing significant joint ventures in others. This summer, the system hopes to cement a joint-venture partnership with Detroit-based Henry Ford Health, pending regulatory approvals. The deal would essentially fold Ascension Michigan's sites of care in the southeastern region of the state under its brand. Ten Ascension Michigan hospitals and all five of Henry Ford's acute care hospitals and other care facilities and assets including Health Alliance Plan will be included in the partnership. Hospitals and health systems around the country have recently ended some or all of their Medicare Advantage contracts, citing a variety of reasons such as reimbursement delays and the burden of prior authorizations. "This battle between hospitals and MA is a manifestation of an underlying broken system in which everyone that gives care wants to give more, and everyone that pays for care wants to pay less," former CMS Administrator Don Berwick, MD, told Becker's. Medicare Advantage is now the dominant form of Medicare in the U.S., with a projected 54% share by the end of 2024, or more than 33 million enrollees. As the private Medicare plans have grown to a larger portion of hospitals' payer mixes, contract disputes between carriers and providers have grown in tandem. In 2023, Becker's reported on at least 15 hospitals and health systems that dropped some or all of their Medicare Advantage contracts, a trend that has shown no sign of slowing in 2024. "It's become a game of delay, deny and not pay,'' Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, previously told Becker's. "If other organizations are experiencing what we are, it's going to be a short period of time before they start floundering or they get out of Medicare Advantage. I think we will see this trend continue and accelerate unless something changes." In 2024, Scripps' integrated medical groups went out of network with MA plans, a move that affected more than 30,000 beneficiaries in the region. Mr. Van Gorder said the health system was facing an annual loss of $75 million on MA contracts. "It says something that places as distinguished as Scripps Health are saying that we can't carry on like this anymore," Dr. Berwick said. "It is a sign of a serious problem that needs fixing the way in which insurance companies are dealing with hospitals." It's important to note that a view of the scope of the ongoing tensions between some hospitals and MA plans is murky due to a lack of data surrounding the issue. The country's largest insurer, UnitedHealthcare, told investors in January that the payer did not see more contract splits than usual in 2023, and the vast majority of disputes with providers were resolved without disruption to patient care. "We're working really hard on behalf of our clients, on behalf of patients, on behalf of government to make sure we're getting the very best cost associated for the care delivered," UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said. "It's important that negotiation is robust." According to research published in January by FTI Consulting, contract negotiation disputes between payers and providers that were reported in the media increased 69% between 2022 and 2023. Among the 86 disputes that went public last year, 59%, or 51, involved Medicare Advantage contracts. Twelve disputes were exclusively about MA plans. "Disputes between payers and providers continue to increase, with more individuals, families, and increasingly seniors being impacted due to a rising number of disputes involving Medicare Advantage plans," Citseko Staples Miller, managing director of FTI's healthcare and life sciences public affairs segment, told Becker's. Among the most commonly cited reasons for issues between MA plans and hospitals are excessive prior authorization denial rates and slow payments from insurers. Some systems have publicly noted that most MA carriers have faced allegations of billing fraud from the federal government and are being probed by lawmakers over their high denial rates. "Hospitals are definitely becoming more discerning about which Medicare Advantage plans they contract with, though it's not happening in every single market," Shannon Drotning, a market president at Providence Health Plan, told Becker's in January. "We will ultimately pick a couple of [MA] partners going forward, and I think a lot of health systems are going to do this," Will Bryant, CFO of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health, said during a November Becker's event. Despite tensions with some health systems, the Medicare Advantage program has bipartisan support in Congress and boasted a 95% quality satisfaction rating among enrolled members in 2023. Many systems also operate their own MA plans and are continuing to grow their reach within the program. Some have partnered with payers, grocers or other systems to launch plans in 2024. "[Dropping MA] is a short-term trend that is going to backfire in a big way for these large health systems," Sachin Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Group, told Becker's in October. "I would argue hospitals with less Medicare Advantage have made the wrong choice because these health systems traditionally have not done the work to get paid appropriately through coding and risk adjustment, and they haven't necessarily made the investments to succeed in the program. They're stuck in the middle or doing the opposite." In April, CMS issued a final rule that aims to streamline Medicare Advantage and Part D prior authorizations, including ensuring consistency with traditional Medicare coverage guidelines. In January, the agency finalized another rule that will require MA carriers to approve urgent prior authorizations within 72 hours, and within seven days for standard requests. Payers will also need to publicly report prior authorization denial rates and provide specific reasoning for denied requests. For Dr. Berwick, who is a health policy lecturer at Harvard Medical School, ongoing contract fights between some MA plans and hospitals is symptomatic of the lack of a true outcome- and population-based healthcare reimbursement system. "MA plans put pressure on hospitals to accept lower payments, and some hospitals are able to absorb that or they raise their market power through mergers and consolidation to shore up revenues. When an MA plan pushes back on those higher prices, it can be helpful to relieve pressure from hospitals that are overcharging," he said. "But there are a lot of other hospitals such as community and rural facilities that are under severe financial pressure, don't have the same market power, and suffer in the Medicare Advantage environment." "To me, the untold story yet is about the physicians and nurses who don't feel directly tied to ongoing Medicare Advantage trends, but they are certainly immersed in a changing financial landscape. As venture capital, private equity and ownership of healthcare by private interests increases, it changes their worlds, what it's like to practice, their feelings about themselves, and the degrees of freedom they have to care for their patients. That chicken is going to come home to roost." Becker's full conversation with Dr. Berwick is available to listen to here. America's Essential Hospitals has called on CMS to release the list of hospitals serving the highest percentage of low-income patients so those facilities are aware of their exception from the agency's final rule that will cut Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments by $32 billion over the next four fiscal years. The final rule, published Feb. 21, will reduce Medicaid DSH payments by $8 billion a year. The cuts begin in fiscal year 2024 which began Oct. 1, 2023 and run through 2027. The legislation does not apply to safety-net hospitals serving the highest percentage of low-income patients. CMS said that hospitals in and above the 97th percentile of inpatient days comprising patients who are entitled to Medicare Part A benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits are exempt. "We call on CMS to release the 97th percentile lists for 2022, 2023 and 2024 as soon as possible," Julie Kozminski, policy manager for America's Essential Hospitals, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "Our members need to know their exception status and potential liability for repayments any further delay will hamper their ability to plan for and deliver patient care." America's Essential Hospitals said that it is also disappointed that CMS did not include all hospitals in the calculation, "only those that submit cost reports, which will lower the number that qualify for the exception." The American Hospital Association has also voiced its concern about the effect that DSH cuts will have on hospital finances. "This policy was based in-part on the flawed notion that hospitals receive the entirety of a Medicare or Medicaid payment rate when in reality most state Medicaid programs pay less than that," Ben Finder, AHA's vice president of coverage policy, said in a statement provided to Becker's. "That means that many hospitals are not compensated fully for care provided to patients dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and this policy would reduce their ability to offset those cuts and potentially create additional financial strain at a time when many hospitals are already struggling." Summit, N.J.-based Overlook Medical Center, part of the Atlantic Health System, has named Brian Radbill, MD, as its new chief medical officer, NJBiz reported Feb. 22. Dr. Radbill will join the medical center after departing his role with Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, where he has served as chief medical officer since 2017. He initially joined the Mount Sinai system in 1998. In his new role with Overlook Medical Center, Dr. Radbill will help guide clinical staff through a multipart transition plan the system is undergoing, which includes the opening of a new pediatric facility, a new behavioral health unit, and a new entrance to its emergency room. Dr. Radbill is also joining the Atlantic Health System as it begins to fully integrate with Saint Peters Healthcare System, according to NJBiz. Workers' desire to have schedules that are flexible and create improved work-life balance has prompted various phrases in the workplace in recent years, often coined by Generation Z. One of these concepts, "coffee badging," is embraced by Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Boston-based video conferencing equipment maker Owl Labs, according to CNBC. Coffee badging refers to workers showing up to the office for their morning coffee to interact with colleagues, but then leaving the office and working from home the rest of the day, according to CNBC. Fifty-eight percent of hybrid employees coffee badge, and an additional 8% say they have not but would like to try it, according to an Owl Labs survey of 2,000 full-time workers in the U.S. in June. Owl Labs also found that men (62%) tend to coffee badge more than women (38%). Mr. Weishaupt, who has more than two decades of executive experience at small startups and large companies like Yahoo, told CNBC he actively encourages employees to coffee badge. "We hire people to do a job. I don't hire people to watch them work," he said, according to CNBC. "I do love the in-office participation when we get it, but I want it to be organic." He added: "The office has a role, but mandating that you must come into the office on this day, at this time, and leave no earlier than this time that is a dead concept." Mr. Weishaupt also acknowledged that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for organizations and encouraged bosses at other companies to take the best approach for them. In healthcare, in-office policies and work arrangements vary depending on factors such as type of role and size of the organization. Executives have told Becker's they are focused on flexible work arrangements where possible to fit the needs of employees and their jobs. From HCA asking to dismiss claims from a lawsuit filed by North Carolina's attorney general to UChicago Medicine being sued for negligence in the death of an Illinois hospital CEO, here are 10 lawsuits, settlements and legal developments Becker's has reported since Feb. 13: 1. UChicago Medicine and one of its cardiothoracic surgeons were named in a lawsuit over the death of Ruth Colby, the former CEO of New Lenox, Ill.-based Silver Cross Hospital. 2. Nurses at Ascension Saint Joseph-Joliet (Ill.), who are members of the Illinois Nurses Association, filed a lawsuit on behalf of themselves and more than 90 of their co-workers who they say were not paid wages they earned for the extra shifts worked by them during the last two-week pay period of November 2023. 3. Twelve families filed a joint lawsuit against Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network, alleging the health system and its affiliates falsely accused them of medical child abuse. 4. Oklahoma City-based OU Health paid $140,000 to settle allegations of violating recordkeeping laws in its pharmacy department. 5. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is set to go before a jury in July 2025 for a lawsuit filed by a physician who alleges the health system "silenced" him. 6. Three separate Utah lawsuits are seeking a combined $40 million in damages from Dallas-based Steward Health Care after investors allege the health system took funding from five of its state hospitals to pay bills it had acquired across other states. 7. Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora ceased performing certain gender-affirming surgeries for patients 18 and older in July. Now, seven months later, a patient is suing the hospital over their canceled surgery. 8. NYC Health + Hospitals is one of three plaintiffs in a lawsuit against TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging they have created a youth mental health crisis and seeking to recover related public health costs. 9. HCA Healthcare filed a motion with the North Carolina Business Court, asking it to dismiss claims from the North Carolina attorney general that the for-profit hospital operator violated its 2019 asset purchase agreement for Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health System. 10. A Suffolk Superior Court judge dismissed families' lawsuits against Boston-based Harvard Medical School related to its morgue scandal involving the theft of human remains from bodies donated for medical research. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare has been unsuccessful in its attempt to have a proposed antitrust lawsuit dismissed in a North Carolina federal court. On Feb. 21, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger of North Carolina stated that the potential class of North Carolina health plans is currently permitted to proceed with their antitrust claims against HCA, according to court documents obtained by Becker's. The lawsuit, which was filed in June 2022, alleges that HCA engaged in an "anticompetitive scheme involving the illegal maintenance and enhancement of monopoly power" in the acute care hospital and outpatient care markets in seven counties in North Carolina. The allegations focus on HCA's 2019 acquisition of Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health. The lawsuit alleges that HCA now holds monopoly power in seven North Carolina counties and has abused that power to inflate prices. Mission Health is also listed as a defendant in the case. "We intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit, while continuing to provide excellent healthcare to the citizens of Western North Carolina," a spokesperson for Mission Health told Becker's in an emailed statement. This news comes shortly after CMS sent a letter to Mission Hospital informing its leadership that the 815-bed facility is at immediate risk of losing federal funding due to citations it received in January. CMS had set a deadline of Feb. 6 for Mission Hospital to submit a plan of correction to address the compliance issues, and the hospital met that deadline. A nurse at Jackson, Mich.-based Henry Ford Jackson Hospital was stabbed by a patient, MLive reported Feb. 21. The 23-year-old patient came to the hospital for a mental evaluation but told staff she did not want help and attempted to leave, police said. When hospital security and nursing staff attempted to detain her, she became combative and a scuffle ensued. The patient pulled out a pocketknife and stabbed a nurse in her forearm, police said. Security was able to restrain the woman until police arrived. The nurse suffered minor injuries that required stitches, police said, but no other injuries were reported. The patient was taken to Jackson County Jail to await arraignment for felonious assault charges. "Maintaining a safe, healing environment is core to our mission, and protecting our team members from acts of violence is our priority," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's. "We are providing support to our impacted team members and are directing all questions to Jackson Police." The proposed sale of Provo-based Utah State Hospital will not be going through after Utah Rep. Tyler Clancy revised his proposal that would have allowed the hospital's sale to aid funding for new state hospitals and mental health services. In a unanimous legislator approval, substitute bill HB299 features no mention of the hospital's proposed sale. "The idea for the sale of the state hospital was to build three more," Mr. Clancy told Becker's. "Industry standard for forensic beds for mental health treatment is 30 beds per 10,000 people. In Utah, [we have] about 10. The idea was that we would move to that scatter site model, increase our capacity, and help accessibility for Southern, Central, Northern Utah." However, when the initial bill went public, Mr. Clancy said the feedback was that while it was not a bad idea, it needed more time. "For the sake of the rest of the bill, which I really felt passionate about, was to take that piece out," Mr. Clancy said. The substitute bill instead would require the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Council to study issues related to civil commitment, a process in which an individual with severe mental illness symptoms is court-ordered into an inpatient hospital or outpatient community treatment. "Right now, Utah is the lower echelon for pink sheets or involuntary emergency commitments," Mr. Clancy said. "We're moving from 24 hours to 72 hours if this bill passes. Seventy-two hours is right in the middle of, state-by-state, how long someone can be held at the hospital while they're being examined by professionals." Regarding the status of the hospital sale, Mr. Clancy said that won't be addressed further in this session. While the hospital will continue to serve the state as it's done for more than 100 years, the Utah Behavioral Health Assessment and Master Plan released by the Salt Lake City-based University of Utah indicates that additional mental health resources are needed. "We are open to studying the best methods for improving mental health resources and are willing to engage with the rest of the mental health community in a review of current services to analyze the costs and benefits of providing a high-quality mental health continuum of services to meet the needs of Utahns," a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement shared with Becker's. "This continuum includes the potential construction of a long-term step-down facility that could help address the anticipated demand that will come from Utah's growing population." The bill will now move to the House floor for a full vote. CMS is asking employees to spend more time in the office, Politico reported Feb. 22. A spokesperson for the agency told the outlet it will ask employees to work at its Baltimore headquarters and regional locations more often beginning March 11, but the exact number of in-office days required varies by role and position. In April 2023, the Biden Administration told federal agencies to bring employees back to the office, while allowing flexible arrangements to recruit and retain employees. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zientz asked agencies to report their progress on returning to the office last month, according to Politico. Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, pressed HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on the agency's remote work policies at a March 2023 hearing, questioning the secretary over photos of empty parking lots at CMS' headquarters. Mr. Becerra is supportive of the return-to-office policy, Politico reported. More companies are moving to tear the "paper ceiling" by removing degree requirements from job postings that could be done without them. But there's been more talk than progress, according to a recent Harvard Business School report. Harvard Business School and The Burning Glass Institute, a research organization gathering data on "the future of work and workers," studied a sample of 11,300 roles at large firms, where they could observe hiring volume for at least one year before and after a firm removed a degree requirement. From 2014 to 2023, the annual number of roles that dropped degree requirements nearly quadrupled. But despite the shift, firms only hired about 3.5% more workers without a BA; less than 1 in 700 candidates without degrees have enjoyed a new opportunity. About 45% of firms "seem to make a change in name only, with no meaningful difference in actual hiring behavior following their removal of stated requirements from their postings," according to the report. The healthcare and social services industry has been among the slowest to hire workers without a degree, averaging a 17% decrease in BA share in roles that dropped requirements. Even if a company removes an unnecessary degree requirement, its hiring managers might be biased towards candidates with higher education, according to Joseph Fuller, management professor at Harvard Business School and co-author of the report. "All these companies are doing is removing a prohibition," Mr. Fuller told The Wall Street Journal. "So the hiring manager is not saying, 'Oh, we should now be moving affirmatively to hire someone on a skills basis without relying on credentials.' They're saying, 'If our favorite candidate has no B.A., we're no longer prohibited from hiring them.'" He shared a similar sentiment with Bloomberg, saying, "Hiring is a relative phenomenon: If you have four candidates and youre satisfied any of them can do the job, how are you going to pick? Why wouldnt you take the person with the college degree?" Many hiring managers with degrees overestimate the percentage of the population that has graduated from college, leading them to prioritize degrees further, according to research from Opportunity@Work, the nonprofit that popularized the term "paper ceiling." In reality, one-third of Americans over the age of 25 do not have a degree, rendering them ineligible for many technical and managerial roles; a recent Quartz report found that when degrees are required, 76 percent of Black, 83 percent of Latino, 81 percent of rural and nearly 70 percent of veteran workers are drained from the talent pool. Removing degree requirements could help improve economic mobility for these groups. "If youre putting unnecessary requirements on jobs, youre automatically removing 62% of the population that could apply," Kelli Jordan, vice president of growth and development at IBM, told the Journal. Iowa City, Iowa-based Steindler Orthopedics was first formed in 1950 and has since expanded to include seven practices. Here are five things to know about Steindler's president and CEO Patrick Magallanes, according to his LinkedIn. Oregon was rated as the most entrepreneurial state in the U.S. followed by Idaho and Montana, according to data from QRFY. For spine and orthopedic surgeons, that entrepreneurial spirit is often witnessed in private practices, which remain popular despite economic headwinds. Many physicians prefer the autonomy that running a private practice affords and the ability to focus on their specialties compared to a larger environment. "The physician will have some control of his or her practice hours and, hopefully, eventual subspecialty practice environment, with the additional revenue possibilities of ancillary services, including ASC ownership, physical therapy, MRI, occupational health and medical equipment, etc.," Issada Thongtrangan, MD, of Microspine in Scottsdale, Ariz., said. "You can deliver quality care in a private practice setting. You can lower the practice expenses and adjust how you see fit without disrupting patient care." The QRFY analysis looked at data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to measure the number of new businesses in 2022 compared to 2023, according to a Feb. 22 news release shared with Becker's. States were ranked by the rate of business expansion. The most entrepreneurial states are: 1. Oregon 2. Idaho 3. Montana 4. Virginia 5. Mississippi 6. Hawaii 7. Michigan 8. Tennessee 9. South Carolina 10. North Carolina Analysts also ranked the least entrepreneurial. They are Washington, Nebraska, Maryland, Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada, Georgia, Delaware, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The full dataset is here. Doron Tavlin, a former vice president of Mazor Robotics, was convicted by a federal jury for insider trading ahead of Mazor's acquisition by medical device company Medtronic. In 2018, Medtronic finalized the $1.6 billion acquisition of Mazor Robotics after making a series of investments over the span of two years. Mr. Tavlin is accused of engaging in an insider trading conspiracy with Afshin Farahan from 2018 to August 2020, according to a Feb. 20 press release from the Justice Department. While working as vice president of business development at Mazor Robotics, Mr. Tavlin learned material, nonpublic information about Medtronic's potential acquisition of his company. Mr. Tavlin provided this information about the acquisition to his friend Mr. Farahan and instructed him to keep the information secret. Mr. Farahan then purchased more than $1 million worth of Mazor stock between August and September of 2018, knowing the acquisition would probably drive up prices. The morning after the acquisition, Mr. Farahan sold off the stock, earning $500,000 in profit for himself and another individual. After the acquisition, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority was investigating certain trades of Mazor securities that occurred prior to the publicly announced acquisition. FINRA asked Mr. Tavlin, and others who knew about the negotiations, whether they knew any of the parties who traded in Mazor securities leading up to the public announcement. In January 2019, Mr. Tavlin denied that he recognized any names on a list of persons and entities that purchased Mazor securities, which included Mr. Farahan. The conspiracy included an agreement between Mr. Tavlin and Mr. Farahan that Mr. Tavlin would receive compensation for material, nonpublic information, according to evidence presented at the trial. In one instance, Mr. Farahan gave Mr. Tavlin a $25,000 check in exchange for the information that Mr. Tavlin had provided about Mazor Robotics leading up to the acquisition. On Feb. 16, Mr. Tavlin was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit insider trading and 10 counts of securities fraud and aiding and abetting securities fraud. Another defendant, David Jay Gantman, was found not guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit insider trading and six counts of securities fraud. Mr. Farahan pleaded guilty on August 4, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to engage in insider trading. Becker's has reached out to Medtronic for comment. Patient referrals and maintaining volumes is crucial for any strong spine practice. And as the healthcare landscape and technologies evolve, spine surgeons need to adapt. Five spine surgeons discuss their strategies for patient referrals. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker's invites all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next question: What policies and issues are you following most closely headed into the 2024 election? Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Feb. 28. Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: As healthcare changes, what pivots are you making to grow patient volume and referrals? Brian Gantwerker, MD. The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: Patient volume and referrals are not necessarily a package deal. Referral sources may come and go, sometimes which insurance the practice takes pushes the latter more than almost anything. Growing patient volume is the sole supporting source for many overgrown and bloated practices dependent on 'making the nut' each year. Smarter practices will focus on patient experience and satisfaction throughout the process from intake to graduation. Referral sources can be capricious and you can do an amazing job with a difficult patient or case and the referring physician may not even register your efforts. It is best to keep on grinding and spreading the gospel through happy patients and honest reviews. Jason Liauw, MD. Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Laguna Hills, Calif.): I am a big believer that the patient is the ultimate customer. And patient education is a driving choice. I have seen this play a larger role in the interest for cervical and lumbar artificial discs. Increasingly I have become a big believer in cervical and even lumbar arthroplasties as I have seen great results with my own eyes in both cohorts. In fact, with the advent of the Simplify disc which is semi-constrained, I rarely do anterior cervical fusions. I only do ACDFs when I see patients who have significant facet arthropathy or other indications of instability. With future pivots, I think patients will continue to drive innovation and adoption of technology. I think there is still significant momentum to drive spine surgery even more minimally invasive and endoscopic. I think less invasive surgery will be the way I pivot in the future to grow volume so long as I believe the technology doesn't compromise biomechanical integrity. I think a pivot towards more minimally invasive surgeries will be driven by patients. This wouldn't be dissimilar to the shift we have seen from open neurovascular and open cardiovascular surgeries to endovascular platforms. Krishna Satyan, MD. Dallas Neurosurgical & Spine (Plano, Texas): As healthcare continues to change, technology also advances rapidly. There are many new avenues of reaching patients and referring providers. One of the important things right now is to have a digital presence. Many physicians stay active on social media, but it's not my preference. I prefer a robust website that patients can access, providing information about various symptoms, pathologies and treatment options. I prioritize relationships above all else. I try to stay in constant contact with referring providers to keep them up to date on their patients. I also maintain good, honest, factual relationships with my patients. This is vital, as they are one of our biggest referral sources. Despite changing technology, you really can't beat word-of-mouth. At the end of the day, we are providing a service to our patients, and the backbone of this service should be honesty, integrity, and dedication to improving their lives. By following those values, the referrals and volume should come naturally. Hao-Hua Wu, MD. UCI Health (Orange, Calif.): Overall, I am adapting to changes in healthcare by embracing technology, collaborating with other professionals, focusing on patient education and empowerment, and implementing innovative approaches to care delivery. Embracing these changes has allowed me to expand my professional network and receive more patient referrals in cases I specialize in, such as surgical care for complex spine tumor patients. Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Our state is currently a desirable transferable location as many continue to leave for the tiresome reasons which need no mention. The influx of retirees seeking maintenance healthcare has been quite tragicomic of late, where regions of expansive housing, facilities and politics have changed. That being said, dramatic pivotal changes are not in the forecast as the local two-tiered system of patient care remains: Those employed physicians who continue administering care to all patients (larger hospital systems) and those restricting one's care to surety coverage and personal investment. Recently a patient with a symptomatic cauda equina tumor was dismissed by two insouciant surgeons who conveniently disapproved of his insurance profile defaulting to the health system where spinal neurosurgery was available. Fortunately, the system has in place a backstop to care for those especially in proper need. Cocktail bar Margot is set to extend its footprint at Donegall Square A popular Belfast cocktail bar is seeking planning permission from the council to extend its premises to include a new restaurant. Underground bar Margot opened in April 2019 after its current premises on 18 Donegall Square East were regenerated by Clover Group. According to the planning application submitted to Belfast City Council, Clover Group is seeking permission to change the use of the premises next door in order to build an extension of Margot. The basement of that building was formerly a barbers, while the ground floor had been used as office space. Documentation submitted with the applications states: The proposal is for the refurbishment of the ground floor of both no 18 and no 19 and to create a new bar/restaurant facility with new lift access to the rear. It follows an earlier successful application submitted by Clover Group in 2022 for the refurbishments to the vacant basement floor, which remains unimplemented. Both buildings are listed and the renovation plans promise to maintain the character of the buildings. The application added: Historic features such as decorative cornices, ceiling roses and moulded timber details will be retained and refurbished ensuring the special interest of the building is conserved and enhanced. The refurbishment of the ground floor to nos.18 and 19 Donegall Square East will bring substantial benefits to the city centre by contributing to the economic regeneration of Belfast city centre and by refurbishing these important listed buildings into a high-quality restaurant/cafe. The Clover Group currently operates eight Belfast bars, including Henrys & The Jailhouse and The Boneyard. Last year Whites Tavern in Belfast city centre became the home of a Guinness-only bar after investment by the Clover Group. And in October following a 3m investment by the hospitality group, historic pub The Eglantine Inn on Malone Road reopened as The Post House. Dickinson Fitzgerald Architects, which also worked on The Post House, is set to work on the extension of Margot. Seagate Technology in Derry shed 300 staff last year, its accounts have said Seagate Technology shed 300 staff in total from its Londonderry operation as part of a restructuring last year, its accounts have revealed. The US-owned tech business now employs around 1,300 people in the manufacture and development of parts for data storage products. In a strategic report filed with the accounts, it said investment in its manufacturing capability had continued during 2023. However, the business said it had been forced to cut its workforce dramatically following year-end in response to tougher economic conditions. The job cuts had been implemented by the end of the first quarter of 2024. In accounts for the year ending June 30 2023, the Cayman Islands-registered company said its turnover was $164.8m, which was down 25% from $220m the year before. It had 1,639 employees, down from 1,621 the year before. Operating profit fell from $15.5m to $11.6m, also down 25%, while profit for the financial year fell 32% from $20.3m to $13.9m. But there was a slight increase in pre-tax profits, from $15.9m to $16.4m. The strategic report said: Turnover from continuing operations and operating profit both decreased by 25% during the year, primarily due to macroeconomic headwinds impacting the data storage industry which restricted near-term demand for the companys products. "Profit for the financial year has decreased by 32% as a result of decreased demand, movement in foreign currency rates and higher tax expense in the year. The fall in demand then resulted in its restructuring, the accounts said: In April 2023, the Seagate Group committed to restructuring plans to reduce its cost structure to better align operation needs to current economic conditions, while continuing to support the long-term business strategy. "As a result, since June 30 2023 the company reduced its headcount by approximately 300, with the restructuring substantially completed by the end of the first quarter of 2024 financial year. "The cost of this restructuring plan ($17.2m) was recognised in the year ending June 30 2023 along with a corresponding credit as these costs are recoverable from a fellow group company. But despite last years difficulties, the directors stated in the accounts that the company was expected to continue to be cash-generative, even after modelling the risk of more falls in revenue due to tougher trading conditions. The accounts reveal that at $164.2m, most of its turnover was generated in Thailand, with just $554,000 made in the US. The company pay bill dropped from $100.8m to $86.6m over the year. The Millennium Forums latest Access project for older people enters stage right and prepares to take a bow The Millennium Forum has held its first Act Your Age Drama Group. This new initiative for older people is a free monthly event delivered as part of the theatres Access Programme. In partnership with Specsavers, AAA (Access to Arts for All) and the Halifax Foundation Grant, the monthly classes, the first of which was held earlier this month, are taken by drama facilitator Bernadette MacFarland. The age-friendly project is aimed at older members of the community. We have been planning this for quite a while, explains Lisa Heaney, Access manager at the Millennium Forum, speaking on the debut day. We have a dementia-friendly tea dance that we hold once a month, then we have Moves and Melody, song-and-dance workshops. The third one, we thought: Were a theatre, so lets get drama. I put the question of What could we call it? out to the staff and one of the girls came back and said: What about Act your Age? I just loved it. The aim of the project is to workshop an original theatrical piece throughout monthly classes which will culminate in a short sketch performed in the Millennium Forums Studio Theatre in the summer, as well as something to honour the Derry artistic institution. The Millennium Forum will be open 25 years in 2026, so my aim is to have them on stage performing in one of their plays that theyve written themselves along with Bernadette, says Lisa. Bernadette is going to come back and have a piece finished, going by the opinions of those who are going to be in the drama group. Theyre going to feed into whats going to be the outcome. Bernadette has been involved in theatre and drama for more than 35 years, having acted in numerous productions on stage and on screen. In the first session, everybodys voice has been heard, says Lisa, explaining that the participants were voicing affirmations about their intentions. Lots of them have been involved in drama groups before and, feeling that life has taken over, there have been different challenges. There are people who are wanting to get out of the house, who have a flair for it and who just want to do it. There are people who have written plays, have published poems. A lot of them are doing creative writing. Theres an array of talent in that room. Its brilliant. Its an opportunity for those who, for whatever reason, were unable to pursue an interest in acting when younger. Thats exactly what some of them have been saying, agrees Lisa. Some of them have also said money was a factor when growing up. Obviously, with the funding, were able to provide these classes for free. Its really great. And theyre saying [that building] self-esteem and just getting their confidence [are bonuses]. Theres a man who worked in hospitality for most of his life and he said he started to feel like hed no purpose and hed lost his confidence. Theyre having the best of craic in there, the laughs from them, its really good. Theres a range of personalities and people of all abilities and disabilities. Its really brilliant. Lisa Heaney, Access manager at the Millennium Forum For participant Goretti McLaughlin, the attendees are in a position today where she previously found herself: retired, needing something to do and wanting to develop lost confidence. Im like the one they made earlier in the oven, she says. I retired; I was fed up after a couple of months. You can only go to town so many times and look at the shop windows a couple of days a week. After that, the novelty wears off. I thought Id love to do something. An opportunity came up: a lady on the radio said about joining a group. I went along and it was the best thing for my mental health, for overall general health. I could say it was the best thing Ive ever done in my life. Having been involved in the inaugural session, Goretti says interaction and feedback has been marvellous. People have come on here, strangers to us; some people we already know through different things that have been going on, although the majority of people havent done drama before, she says. Weve got them to introduce themselves and give us a wee bit of their background and what they would like to get out of it. Theyre in there now, you can hear them laughing, theyre really interacting with everybody in the room. Its just lovely. Theyre very anxious to get something down on paper and maybe get a wee bit of drama going for the next month. Theyre all up for it and its great, because it has taken them out of their comfort zone. Its told them: Look, leave your bothers at home and come here. If you come in with a heavy heart, you absolutely will leave a lot lighter in mind. Its so good for mental health to get them out. Its been marvellous and were over the moon the way this has gone. Bernadette has been terrific; I cant praise them [the team] enough. The people have been so lovely and in from all arts and parts of the town, outside the town. Its great that they took the bother to come along, she says laughing, speaking to the Belfast Telegraph on one of Northern Irelands wettest days. That community feeling has been noticed from the first day, says Goretti, explaining the importance of how that can boost self-confidence. A lot of people have said they have retired maybe early from work and after a couple of months, when the novelty has worn off and they get tired of the dust you can only do so much dusting and housework they decide: Im on the scrapheap. What am I going to do with myself? They can feel a wee bit useless then. That has been voiced here, that people would like to come to get a bit of their confidence back and open themselves up to something totally new. Theyre trying to get something something theyre going to enjoy. They can do as little or as much. They can be behind the scenes, they can be in front, they can be on stage, she continues, adding that she attended a drama group to look after hair and ended up participating. Its lovely because these people have maybe done a wee bit of writing at home that they always thought wasnt good enough to produce. Were trying to encourage them to bring it along. This is their chance to air it out and to gain more confidence. Act Your Age Drama Group continues on a monthly basis until August in the Millennium Forum and is free to attend. Anyone wishing to take part should contact Lisa Heaney on 028 7127 2779 or email lisah@millenniumforum.co.uk to secure their space The alleged Chief of Staff" of the New IRA is to have his bail varied to allow him to have contact with his two brothers, a judge ruled today. Kevin Barry Murphy applied at the High Court to have his conditions changed to allow him to resume contact with his brothers Dominic and Anthony. Under his bail conditions, he is prohibited from having contact with them because of their previous terrorist convictions. Murphy (52), of Cappagh Road in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, is one of nine people charged as part of Operation Arbacia, with offences of directing the activities of a terrorist organisation, conspiring to direct terrorism and preparing terrorist acts. Operation Arbacia was a covert operation by the PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit and MI5 which secretly bugged two meetings held by the New IRA in February and July 2020 at rented properties in Co Tyrone. Murphy and David Jordan, who is alleged to have addressed one of the meetings as Chief of the Army Council, were granted bail on strict conditions. They were banned from attending any meetings, rallies or demonstrations related to dissident republican political activities and they were not to associate with anyone convicted of a terrorist offence. The pair were also banned from entering any premises being used or operated on behalf of the group known as Saoradh and from visiting detainees in Maghaberry or Hydebank Prison. They were made the subject of 9pm-to-7am curfews and electronic tags and were ordered to surrender their passports and report to police on a daily basis. Murphy must also reside only at an address given to police. During a bail variation hearing today, Mr Justice OHara enquired of the prosecution: I have a question for you: were Mr Murphys brothers allowed to visit him in prison? A prosecution barrister replied: Yes. They were. His two brothers did visit him in prison. They were permitted to attend the prison. Of course, we say there are certain restrictions in relation to visits within the custody environment and in terms of prison personnel. There was some debate when he was granted bail as to whether his son Caoimhin Murphy was allowed to stay at that address. He is not charged with any specific offences but he remains a suspect in an ongoing investigation. Mr Justice Fowler previously approved the address so long as Mr Murphy Jnr resided elsewhere. My instructions are there should not be contact between Mr Murphy and his two brothers. Your Lordship may consider a compromise that there could be some contact if notified in advance to police, and that may be an appropriate way to deal with this variation. A defence barrister said Murphys brothers both had convictions prior to 1998 and that the whole point of the Good Friday Agreement was to put things in the past. These two brothers have not been arrested, charged or investigated over dissident republican activity. Their convictions date back over 30 years ago. Recently, Mr Murphy attended the anniversary Mass for his mother and the applicant was not in a position to speak to his brothers on that occasion. We say this is a completely disproportionate way of dealing with his Article 8 rights. His brothers are not people who are under suspicion or investigation as far as I am aware. All we are asking is for him to be allowed to properly engage with his family. It is only in relation to his two brothers. Mr Justice OHara enquired if Murphys two brothers could provide their mobile phone numbers so that the applicants phone can be checked from time to time so police can see the extent of his text contact. The defence barrister asked: Is Your Lordship asking me if I can take instructions as to whether his two brothers will provide their telephone numbers to police? "Yes, replied Mr Justice OHara. The barrister said he would take instructions on the matter and inform the court. Ruling on the bail variation, Mr Justice OHara said: I am inclined to allow the bail variation provided the phone numbers of Anthony and Dominic are provided to the police. The applicant must also provide his device to police on request to allow them to access the phone so they can see the extent of the contact between him and the two brothers. On that condition, I am content to vary the bail condition. Police search the area after a riot in Lurgan in August 2020 (Kevin Scott for the Belfast Telegraph) A burning car on the railway lines in Lurgan during disorder on August 23, 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Judges at the Court of Appeal have reduced a prison sentence handed down a Co Armagh rioter saying it was manifestly excessive. Diarmuid McKee (29) appealed his sentence of five years and three months imposed by Judge Patricia Smyth at Belfast Crown Court last December. McKee, from Deeny Drive in Lurgan, was one of several men arrested in the aftermath of the riot, which broke out on the afternoon of August 23, 2020. Police were targeted after they arrived to deal with a suspicious device. When it was made safe, a search then commenced on waste ground. McKee broke ranks with his four co-accused and pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial on October 24, 2022, to offences of rioting and throwing a petrol bomb. In her ruling, the Belfast Recorder took her starting point for sentencing as seven years but reduced that by 25% to reflect his guilty plea, and imposed a sentence of five years and three months, divided equally between custody and supervised licence. Read more Glenanne gang: Former RUC officer will not be prosecuted over murders At the Court of Appeal today, defence counsel Kieran Mallon KC argued that Judge Smyth had been too prescriptive in the way she followed the sentencing guidelines in cases of rioting and the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive. He told Lord Justice Treacy, sitting with Lord Justice Horner and Mr Justice OHara, that only four petrol bombs were thrown during the course of the riot which lasted 45 minutes. Mr Mallon said no police officers were injured, no police vehicles were damaged and no damage was caused to any property. The throwing of a petrol bomb is a serious offence and I accept that. But this defendants involvement was for a very short period of time, said the defence KC. But he said Judge Smyth should have taken more cognisance of mitigating factors in favour of McKee which were his minimal criminal record of a single motoring offence dating back to 2015 for which he was fined 40; a previous good work record; the impact on the defendants family at the loss of a regular income of 1,500 per month; and he demonstrated insight into his offending on young people within the community. He pointed out that there was delay in the case coming to trial and delay in sentencing as a consequence of the protracted trial. The defendant has been housed within the general prison population and he has not sought to be placed with other paramilitary prisoners. The defence counsel also submitted that McKee had engaged with the Probation Service and had shown remorse for his offending. He told the appeal judges that the proper starting should have been one of either five years or at worst, six years and then reduced by 25% to reflect the guilty plea. A prosecution barrister said a sentence of six years was not unduly lenient and that a sentence of seven years was within the sentencing range. He said the sentence imposed on McKee was not manifestly excessive. Giving the judgment of the court, Mr Justice OHara said the throwing of petrol bombs are serious offences; deterrent sentences are appropriate in cases of petrol bombing and personal circumstances of defendants in such cases carry less weight. As has been repeatedly said over decades in these courts, petrol bombing is, and remains, a serious offence. In 1997 in this court, Lord Justice MacDermott said: A petrol bomb is a potentially lethal weapon that can cause burns. Judges have made it clear that throwing petrol exposes the thrower to custodial sentences that are measured in years. During the course of arguments in this hearing, Lord Justice Treacy said a deterrent sentence should not be a swingeing sentence. In our judgment, the Recorders sentence in this case is manifestly excessive because of the particular circumstances of this case, a small but short-lived riot. The starting point she took of seven years was too high. Accordingly, we take the view that the proper starting point is six years for this particular offence and we approve her reduction of 25%. Allowing the appeal, Mr Justice OHara added: The sentence of five years three months is reduced to four years, six months. A man who attacked four police officers and subjected them to verbal abuse, including telling a female officer in obscene detail how he would slice her body up to her mouth, has been jailed. George Winston Farrell (38), from Main Street, Clogher, admitted causing actual bodily harm to two officers and lesser assaults on two others. He further admitted disorderly behaviour and damaging a PSNI vehicle. Dungannon Magistrates Court heard how police attended a report of Farrell lying unconscious in Coalisland on October 7 last year. Officers tried to speak to him, but he was incoherent from intoxication. Assisted to his feet, Farrell staggered into the path of oncoming traffic and, when an officer tried to assist him from danger, he shouted: Get your f***ing hands off me. While being restrained he bit one officer and kicked out, knocking two others to the ground, yelling: Ill bite your f***ing face. After caution, Farrell gave further verbal abuse, including telling officers to f*** off. He then headbutted an officer who sustained a split lip, requiring stitches. Farrells behaviour continued, telling police: If you touch me again, Ill f***ing kill you. By this time a crowd had gathered, some of whom were hostile toward police. Farrell tensed up, shouted and swore at a female officer before spitting directly into her face. He spat all over the rear of a PSNI vehicle and told the female officer: Im going to kick your face with my boot. He said he would get a knife and slice her body. Due to his aggression, Farrell was taken straight to a cell but, in the process, kicked an officer to the thigh and attempted to headbutt him. This officer also sustained an injury from Farrells earlier behaviour. The court heard that the defendant has 107 previous convictions, including 32 assaults on police, five serious assaults and 11 for disorderly behaviour, and is currently subject to both a suspended and deferred sentence, the latter of which was permitted at court the day before the incident. Dungannon Court At first appearance a defence barrister handed in a statement from a person who allegedly witnessed the incident, contending police were heavy-handed with Farrell. However, District Judge Michael Ranaghan noted this was unsigned and dismissed the relevance. Farrell was remanded in custody and, at the most recent sitting, admitted all charges against him. The defence advised that his client had gone to Coalisland after appearing in court, when he should have gone straight home to Clogher. He was in the company of other males and ingested various substances and the incident with police occurred, said the defence. He was candid with police during interview, telling them he could not remember but accepts he does react when he engages with police. He clearly knows the issues he needs to address and accepts police officers need to be protected and apologies for his behaviour. The defence conceded the case was serious, given the injuries and the foul language he used to officers He has brought this all on himself. Judge Ranaghan said: There are so many aggravating features in this case that its difficult to know where to start. There were bites, kicks, disgusting language to a female officer, very bad behaviour and its repetitive throughout the defendants life. Its all very well apologising when sober but its very hollow. I dont have much faith in anything he says or does. Farrell was jailed for 10 months. Nurse who told teen patient at Belfast unit to kiss my a**e given suspension Fitness to practise committee found five charges against agency worker, including making rude gestures to girl The Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit Stephen Gordon Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 07:53 A mental health nurse found to have said kiss my a**e and slap my a**e to a vulnerable teenage patient has been hit with a suspension order by a tribunal. A 100,000 drugs bust in west Belfast has been linked to a probe into the INLA. Detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force seized a large quantity of suspected illegal drugs following a search at a property on Wednesday. Police said the search, in the Dermott Hill Road area, was part of an ongoing investigation into suspected criminality linked to the INLA. Local Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey welcomed the seizure. Drugs and the associated criminality is a blight on our communities and many people's lives, he said. The investigation into this seizure is ongoing and I am hopeful the police will ensure those behind this activity are brought before the courts. I would encourage anyone with information on the supply of illegal drugs or associated criminality to bring it forward to the PSNI. Detective Inspector Maguire said: As a result of the search, a quantity of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of 100,000 was seized along with assorted drugs-related paraphernalia, a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition. Enquiries are ongoing. This seizure is a demonstration of the PCTFs commitment to tackle all types of criminality linked to paramilitaries, as we work together to rid our communities of the harm these groups cause. We thank the public for their continued support and assure you that we will continue to act on the information you provide. I would encourage anyone with information on suspicious activity in the Dermott Hill area, or the supply or use of illegal drugs, to contact police on 101, or online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ The funeral of the former UDR solider was attended by hundreds of mourners after a social media appeal went viral. The headstone for Jackie Morris, who died alone in Co Antrim in October 2022, has been unveiled. A Northern Ireland veterans group has unveiled a headstone for a retired serviceman who died with no known family. Glasgow-born Ulster Defence Regiment veteran Jackie Morris passed away in October 2022 in a care home in Randalstown, Co Antrim. However, after a social media appeal for people to attend his funeral, hundreds of mourners showed up to pay their respects, including several dozen NI veterans. Funeral for Jackie Morris takes places in Antrim Mr Morris, who is believed to have come to live in Northern Ireland permanently shortly after he finished serving with the UDR, also received a pipers lament as his coffin draped in the Union flag with poppy wreathes was carried through the town. His funeral was originally only expected to be attended by a handful of care assistants from the Glenkeen Nursing Home where he resided in his latter years. At the time, UUP councillor Paul Michael, who chairs Royal British Legion Antrim, thanked the community and veterans for coming out to provide a fitting send-off for an old soldier. The funeral of the former UDR solider was attended by hundreds of mourners after a social media appeal went viral. Now, 16 months later, a headstone has been unveiled for the serviceman after it was brought to the attention of Veterans Commissioner Danny Kinahan. The Commissioners Office sourced funding and enlisted the services of UDR veteran Stuart Brooker, from Co Fermanagh, to procure the headstone. It was erected this week in Belmont Cemetery, Antrim. The headstone is inscribed with In Loving Memory of Jackie, Died 13th October 2022, Aged 71 years. As Poppy Leaves Gently fall. Mr Kinahan said: The erection of this headstone at Mr Morris grave in Antrim is a fitting tribute to a veteran who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment during the difficult and dark days of our Troubles. I was honoured to attend the funeral service at the time and for someone who had no family connections it was wonderful to see hundreds of people, including fellow veterans, come out to pay their respects. I would also like to pay tribute and give a special word of thanks to Stuart Brooker, a UDR veteran himself, who has worked closely with my office over recent months in designing, procuring and erecting this headstone in memory of Jackie and for providing his services voluntarily. It is important that we provide our veterans with the recognition they deserve both in life and in death and I am pleased to see this headstone now in place lest we forget. Soldier F is charged with the murders of James Wray (left) and William McKinney SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said common sense has prevailed after a decision not to prosecute him for walking with the Bloody Sunday families to court. Seven people who took part in the walk last August will not be prosecuted for taking part in an unnotified procession, it has been confirmed. Mr Eastwood, the Foyle MP, joined the families on the march to Bishop Street courthouse for a hearing in relation to the prosecution of Soldier F. However, after a complaint by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, police investigated and a file was sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). A solicitor welcomed the decision not to proceed with what he described as a hurtful and mischievous complaint, while Mr Eastwood said the decision was the right one. But Mr Bryson said it raised big questions for the PPS. The alleged offence took place on August 25 last year. Mr Eastwood walked with relatives to Bishop Street courthouse to a court hearing involving Soldier F. The former paratrooper, who cannot be identified, is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Derry in 1972 on Bloody Sunday. He is also charged with five attempted murders. Families, with a small number of supporters including Mr Eastwood, former Derry City & Strabane Mayor Sandra Duffy and Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy, walked about 150 metres from the Diamond in Derry city centre to Bishop Street courthouse. Mr Bryson reported what he alleged was an unnotified procession to the PSNI. After an investigation, the PPS today said no prosecutions would be taken. Mr Eastwood said: The PPS decision today is the right one. Families who walked to court together and were joined by their representatives should not have been put through this ordeal on top of 50 years of injustice. I am glad that common sense has at last prevailed. This entire process has added more hurt to families who have endured decades of pain. The complaint was completely vexatious and those responsible should be ashamed. This episode cannot be allowed to distract from what is truly important accountability for what happened in Derry on that day. The SDLP will continue to stand by the families as they continue their fight and will be by their side until the very end. Michael McKinney, one of the brothers of William McKinney, said Mr Bryson has no genuine interest in the events of Bloody Sunday. He suggested Mr Bryson is motivated by self interest, publicity stunts and an overriding concern to keep himself relevant. He said that Mr Bryson has attempted to equate the activities of loyalist bandsmen with the Bloody Sunday families and wounded who were walking the streets of their own city to attend court for the prosecution of an ex-soldier charged with murdering their loved ones. Ciaran Shiels, from Madden & Finucane Solicitors who represent the majority of the Bloody Sunday families and wounded, criticised the PSNI for mounting an investigation. He described the PPS decision as a victory for common sense. Mr Shiels added: This was a matter that never should have troubled the PPS, who have genuine and serious criminal cases that require to be progressed through the courts. This case could not possibly have passed the interests of justice limb of the well-known legal test for prosecution. The decision taken by the PPS this morning was the only sensible and rational decision that could be taken in the circumstances. Mr Shiels said the PSNI at the highest level had extremely serious questions to answer. He added: We now intend to immediately lodge a detailed complaint on behalf of the families and wounded to the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Mr Bryson criticised the PPS decision. He said: The law doesnt differentiate between loyalist bandsmen and anyone else in society. That nationalists believe it should, and the PPS seem to agree, raises far reaching issues about equality under the law. The PPS have today demonstrated that the law applies differently to unionists/loyalists than it does to nationalists. That will have useful consequences in so far as it now provides a strong basis for unionists/loyalists to undermine parading regulation, given it now has zero moral legitimacy given its unequal application. The PPS said several public interest factors informed its decision, including the procession involved a relatively small number of people and was short in duration; and the procession was peaceful and caused no public disorder. A PPS spokeswoman said: It was considered that the conduct of the reported individuals did amount to participation in a public procession and that their procession had not been subject to the legal notification required. However, the purpose of having legislative regulation of parades and processions in Northern Ireland is to control public disorder and damage, to minimise disruption to the life of the community and to enhance community relations. "In this particular case, it was clear that the procession investigated did not raise any of those risks and therefore the public interest would not be served by pursuing criminal proceedings. This decision was reached impartially, independently and fully in line with the PPS Code for Prosecutors. Each case reported by police is considered carefully taking into account the specific facts and circumstances of the alleged offending. These decisions are therefore fact specific and no indication of a general policy position in relation to the prosecution of unnotified processions or parades. The PSNI has been contacted for comment. This is the only clear image that exists of Daniel Sebastien Allen, who killed four people in the Derrylin house fire. Since it was taken, Allens appearance has changed significantly. Yesterday the Belfast Telegraph asked the PSNI to release a custody image of Allen. Other UK forces routinely release photographs of people convicted of serious crimes. Yet despite the heinous nature of Allens offending, the PSNI refused to do so. Asked for an image, the PSNI said: Following discussions with the investigating officer it has been determined there is no lawful policing purpose to release the custody image. Last year 23 police forces across the UK told the BBC they generally issued mugshots of offenders handed sentences above a certain threshold, with the majority setting that threshold at 12 months or more. Among them was Bedfordshire Police, which was formerly led by the PSNI's recently-appointed chief constable Jon Boutcher. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will not be prosecuted for walking with the Bloody Sunday families to court in Londonderry last year. The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland has said that seven people who took part in the walk on August 25 will not be prosecuted for taking part in an unnotified procession. Mr Eastwood, the Foyle MP, joined the Bloody Sunday families on the march to Bishop Street court for a hearing in relation to the prosecution of Soldier F. However, after a complaint by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, police investigated and a file was sent to the Public Prosecution Service. 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 At issue was whether the event fell under legislation in Northern Ireland that requires organisers of public processions to give advance notice to the Parades Commission. It is an offence to organise or participate in an unnotified parade or related protest. The PPS said that after careful consideration of all evidence submitted by police and the full context in which the procession took place, decisions were taken not to prosecute all seven on public interest grounds. The PPS said the procession involved a small number of people, it was peaceful and caused no public disorder, there was no inconvenience to traffic or the public and no complaints from members of the community. A PPS spokeswoman said: It was considered that the conduct of the reported individuals did amount to participation in a public procession and that their procession had not been subject to the legal notification required. However, the purpose of having legislative regulation of parades and processions in Northern Ireland is to control public disorder and damage, to minimise disruption to the life of the community and to enhance community relations. In this particular case, it was clear that the procession investigated did not raise any of those risks and therefore the public interest would not be served by pursuing criminal proceedings. This decision was reached impartially, independently and fully in line with the PPS Code for Prosecutors. Each case reported by police is considered carefully, taking into account the specific facts and circumstances of the alleged offending. These decisions are therefore fact-specific and no indication of a general policy position in relation to the prosecution of unnotified processions or parades. Mr Eastwood said: The people of Derry have been standing with the Bloody Sunday families for over 50 years and nothing will ever change that. The PPS decision today is the right one. Families who walked to court together and were joined by their representatives should not have been put through this ordeal on top of 50 years of injustice. I am glad that common sense has at last prevailed. This entire process has added more hurt to families who have endured decades of pain. Ciaran Shiels from the Madden & Finucane legal firm, represents a number of the Bloody Sunday families. He said: This is a victory for common sense. We welcome the PPS decision in this matter, which applies to all those potentially facing criminal prosecution. This was a matter that never should have troubled the PPS, who have genuine and serious criminal cases that require to be progressed through the courts. This case could not possibly have passed the interests of justice limb of the well-known legal test for prosecution. The decision taken by the PPS this morning was the only sensible and rational decision that could be taken in the circumstances. However, in stark contrast, the PSNI, at the highest level, have extremely serious questions to answer. Mr Bryson said the PPS decision was extraordinary. He said: The PPS have held the law was broken, and the evidential test was met, but then have bent themselves into all sorts of intellectual shapes to justify not prosecuting in the public interest. They have set out four criteria for the public interest, none of which they consider when deciding whether to prosecute unionists/loyalists under the parading legislation. Extraordinarily, the PPS then say this approach will not be a general policy but instead will only apply to the facts of this case. A mural commemorating the victims of Bloody Sunday in Derry (Brian Lawless/PA) Soldier F, a former paratrooper who cannot be identified, is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Derry in 1972 in an event known as Bloody Sunday. He is also charged with five attempted murders. Regarded as one of the darkest days of the Troubles, 13 people were killed on Bloody Sunday and another man shot by paratroopers died four months later. Many consider him the 14th victim of Bloody Sunday but his death was formally attributed to an inoperable brain tumour. Mr Bryson has also reported Mr Eastwood to Parliaments standards watchdog, after the SDLP leader walked out of a Derry police station in December, where he had been asked to attend an interview about the procession last August. Mr Bryson accused Mr Eastwood of seeking to place himself above the law. The DUP said Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had made the decision not to press charges (Oliver McVeigh/PA) TUV leader Jim Allister has called on Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to apologise to unionists after an investigation into the alleged threats against the DUP leader detected no criminal offences. Sir Jeffrey said people who made threats against him now know they are not beyond the reach of the law as a police investigation into the matter ends. In a statement, Sir Jeffrey said that a decision was made not to press charges. DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson first revealed the threats against him in a Commons speech last month (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) He told the House of Commons last month how he had been subjected to threats as he continued his negotiations with the UK Government over a deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The DUP later confirmed the matter had been reported to the police. A PSNI spokesperson said: Inquiries were made, no offences were detected and the investigation has now concluded. Last month, a DUP spokesperson said the party trusted that those responsible for the threats will be held accountable for their actions. On Thursday, Sir Jeffrey said: I thank the police for their investigative efforts. A decision was made not to press charges. Those who made the threats now know they are not beyond the reach of the law. They cannot threaten people in public life and stay anonymous from the police. I want to see more people in public life where issues are debated and discussed through democratic politics alone. We must stand against those who would seek to bully with violent threats. I wasnt intimidated out of politics 30 years ago and I wont be intimidated in 2024. A DUP spokesperson said the decision not to press charges was made by the party leader. However, the TUV leader said Sir Jeffrey now looked foolish. Mr Allister said: Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons claim in the House of Commons that he had been threatened was couched to try to inflict maximum damage by association with those of us opposing his protocol sell-out. He directly linked the alleged threat to such opposition. Now that it turns out there was no criminal threat, Sir Jeffrey not just looks, at best, foolish, but needs to man up and withdraw his deliberate slur on those he tried to blacken. Sir Jeffrey had revealed the threats during an impassioned Westminster speech shortly before his party ended its two-year boycott of the Stormont power-sharing institutions. He told the Commons: And yet today, because of the stirring up that is going on, I was threatened threatened by those who never put on a uniform, by those who havent served our country. He added: They are threatening people like me, who is working day and night to try to find solutions and to move Northern Ireland forward on a basis that the vast majority of people can support. Well, I would just say this to those who stir up, and those who threaten: the provisional IRA attacked me in the past and it didnt deflect me from the task that I have, and my colleagues have, to do our job and to get the best that we can for Northern Ireland. Excluding Northern Ireland from a ban on exporting livestock for slaughter and fattening threatens to create loopholes in the law, the Government has been warned. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill seeks to prevent cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses being sent to the continent for slaughter from Great Britain. But it will not extend and apply to Northern Ireland, with the UK Government saying this is to ensure the region's farmers have unfettered access to the British and Republic of Ireland markets. However, critics view it as further evidence of Northern Ireland still having to follow EU rules post-Brexit and being treated differently to the rest of the UK - a major source of contention to the unionist community despite the resumption of powersharing at Stormont. Opening the second reading debate on the Bill in the Lords, environment minister Lord Douglas-Miller stressed the importance of protecting access for Northern Irish farmers with the Republic. He said: "Farmers in Northern Ireland routinely move animals to the Republic of Ireland for slaughter and fattening. It is critical that we protect the Northern Irish agricultural sector and wider economy, and that is why the Bill's territorial extent is drafted as it is." While recognising the "complex political and pragmatic reasons" behind the Northern Ireland exemption, leading vet Lord Trees said: "But I suggest there are two loopholes associated with this. "There is a legal loophole, whereby animals could be born and reared in Northern Ireland and exported legally to the Irish Republic, after which they could legally be transported anywhere in the EU or beyond, subject to EU rules of movement. While legal, this is not in the spirit of the legislation." The independent crossbencher, who is emeritus professor at the University of Liverpool and a former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, added: "It would also be possible for unscrupulous persons to export from GB to Northern Ireland and then arrange further export from Northern Ireland, with or without the mandatory 30-day waiting period required. That of course would be illegal, but it is a possibility." The failure to extend the Bill to Northern Ireland was strongly criticised by former deputy leader of the DUP Lord Dodds of Duncairn. He said: "The reason Northern Ireland is excluded from these provisions is because the Government have had to exclude it at the behest of the EU, which has sovereignty over Northern Ireland in this area. They simply have no choice in the matter." Lord Dodds added: "Once again, the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom, the right of UK lawmakers to make democratic decisions, and the sovereignty of our country in this area have been set to one side. That is unacceptable. "The fight will go on to highlight the denial of equal citizenship to the people of Northern Ireland as a result of these inequitable arrangements." Responding to the concern raised by Lord Trees that Northern Ireland could be used as a backdoor for live exports, the minister said: I would like to assure him that the requirements when moving animals to Northern Ireland would make such a slaughter trade uneconomic. "Livestock transported for slaughter from Great Britain to Northern Ireland must go directly to the slaughterhouse. It would be an offence to take them anywhere else. "When livestock are being moved for other purposes they must be moved directly to the holding destination and remain there for at least 30 days. Failing to do so is an offence and may result in prosecution. "We will also continue to monitor volumes over the next few years as this policy takes effect." But when pressed by Brexit-supporting former Labour MP Baroness Hoey over the fate of animals in Northern Ireland crossing the land border with the south, Lord Douglas-Miller said: "It's a very good point she makes. Once animals have passed into the Republic of Ireland of course it's outwith the jurisdiction of this Bill." On receiving an unopposed second reading in the Lords, the Bill now goes for detailed line-by-line scrutiny. The head of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has said that a throwaway line was the catalyst for an issue that saw him receive payments above limits attached to Government funding. FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill received payments for expenses and in lieu of holidays not taken, which brought his pay above limits set with the Government as part of the organisations 2020 bailout. A recommendation set out in term 35 of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement with the Irish Government states the FAI chief executives remuneration should be in line with Government pay guidelines for a secretary-general. The revelation resulted in funding to the FAI temporarily being suspended. Addressing the Public Accounts committee on Thursday, Mr Hill said the issue of holiday pay arose in the context of another staff member applying via email for payment in lieu, which had been agreed by the then finance director and the chief operating officer. FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill (right) and FAI independent director Catherine Guy (left) arriving at Leinster House, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) In response to this email, Mr Hill agreed to the request and added a throwaway line in an email to a junior staff member: Can you negotiate the same for me please?! He told the committee: For me, its clear that this was not a formal request and it was in an email back to the junior colleague. Mr Hill said the then finance director, who was copied in on that email, took this as a request and uses the email chain to go to the former chair. From then on, I am not part of that process, although I am asked five weeks later, as would be normal at the end of the year, how many days holiday Ive taken. I reply and ask what is happening with them, saying clearly that I would be happy to carry them over. Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe asked whether Mr Hill was suggesting a joke in an email went on to become a formal process. Mr Hill responded to say it was the former finance directors interpretation of the email and that he followed what he believed was the right process to make that inquiry. FAI president Paul Cooke arriving at Leinster House (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr McAuliffe said: Its an extraordinary situation that an organisation would somehow in a train of emails pick up on what is a throwaway line, that they would then initiate a process to cost that organisation money. That without any recourse to you they would build a case that meant it was exceptional and unusual that you should receive this, in breach of your own organisations HR guidelines, in breach of what is best practice in terms of employee relations, in breach of perhaps legislation, that they would do all of that on their own, and that you had no part in any of that. That they did all of that on their own. Mr Hill responded: I understand your position, I understand your statement, but that is the situation. When pressed by Mr McAuliffe if he had confidence in Mr Hill, FAI president Paul Cooke said he has confidence in the senior leadership team and the board. When pressed further, he added my confidence has certainly been challenged by the events. FAI chairperson Tony Keohane (left) and FAI independent director Liz Joyce arriving at Leinster House, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr McAuliffe also criticised the FAI for documents being sent to the committee late on Wednesday which he said had put committee staff under pressure. Were trying to read redacted emails and thread them together presented to us in reverse order, by the way, in the timeline and its very, very difficult to string it together or to have a coherent understanding of what is happening. He said that usually when documents are provided late to committee that we go on to find out that theres information that was being hidden from this committee and I would say to you that you put yourself in that suspicious position. Chairman Tony Keohane said they were extremely sorry for sending in material so late last night and that it was in no way meant to be disrespectful to the committee. Asked by the chair of the committee Brian Stanley why a letter concerning Mr Hills throwaway line was so heavily redacted, and why the redaction of the name of the junior staff member would not suffice, Mr Hill said the redactions were based on legal advice. In relation to my understanding of where the legal advice that the association has received that Ive not been privy to, that redaction is to protect the junior employee involved, which I actually think from a human perspective is probably the right thing to do, but it was not my decision. Government inspectors have been sent in to a council whose elected mayor was previously found guilty of corruption, because of concerns about the authoritys culture and use of resources. A letter to Tower Hamlets Council sent on Thursday by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) details a number of issues which are said to be cause for alarm. They include budgetary proposals, financial planning, appointments to senior posts and the expansion of the mayors office, currently occupied by Lutfur Rahman. A High Court ruling in 2015 found Mr Rahman had won the 2014 election in the borough with the help of corrupt and illegal practices, including the wrongful portrayal of his rival candidate John Biggs as a racist and the allocation of grants in a way that amounted to bribery. The election was subsequently declared void and Mr Rahman was disqualified from holding office for five years, but he was re-elected as executive mayor in 2022. Lutfur Rahman (right) replaced John Biggs (left) as Tower Hamlets mayor (Aaron Chown/PA) The letter from Max Soule, DLUHCs deputy director for local government stewardship, was sent to Tower Hamlets chief executive Stephen Halsey, who took the role in July having previously been the councils head of paid service during a period of previous failures identified in 2014. The letter notifies the council that it will be inspected to establish whether it is meeting its best value duty under the Local Government Audit and Accountability Act 1999. This is a requirement for local authorities to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The letter said Mr Rahman appointed Alibor Choudhury, who was also found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices in 2014, as deputy head of the mayors office in June 2022. Mr Rahman also intended to appoint eight policy advisers to an expanded mayoral office costing an extra 1.4 million. This move, the letter said, would create a risk of a dual council sidelining officers of the authority in decision-making, which in turn risks replicating the circumstances in which decisions were made up to 2014 that were corrupt and/or failed in the authoritys best value duty. Inspectors will also examine changes to the councils grant allocation regime, which led to all funding decisions and financial management being brought back under the councils control after changes were made in the wake of irregularities being identified in the 2015 court judgment. A decision to bring Tower Hamlets homes and leisure services back in house, despite officer warnings about the financial implications, will also be scrutinised. Mr Rahmans failure to attend more than 20 meetings of the councils overview and scrutiny committee since July 2022 will also be investigated. The letter identifies a significant level of churn across management posts and notes evidence of the mayors office model causing unnecessary delays in decision-making. Concerns were also raised about the councils financial strategy, with a balanced budget in 2024/25 relying on the use of reserves, the success of untested adjustments to revenues and 31 million savings, which is described as significant level. Government Commissioners have said the financial problems at Birmingham City Council are worse than expected (Jacob King/PA) The scale of the challenge may also be compounded by some significant insourcing of services which may require additional revenue and capital investment, the letter adds. Mr Soule said the inspectors will also examine unspecified potential changes to the councils constitutional arrangements and electoral processes, including the use of resources and the maintenance of the independence of the returning officer. Former chief executive of Newham Council, Kim Bromley-Derry, will lead the inspection and is expected to report the findings to Communities Secretary Michael Gove by May 31. A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: We look forward to working in partnership to show the progress we have made as a council under our current administration. We are surprised by the decision. However, it is of course the prerogative of the government and we are confident in our work and will co-operate fully. Our work has been praised in recent independent reviews by the Local Government Association Peer Review and Investors in People. Although both reviews were positive, we are already delivering action plans to fulfil their recommendations for further improvement as is the culture in our council. In recent months, the council has also made significant progress in resolving historic financial issues of audit, assurance and governance going back to 2016. DLUHC on Thursday confirmed it will send commissioners in to oversee the running of Nottingham City Council, which issued a section 114 notice declaring effective bankruptcy last year. In an update on Birmingham City Council, which has also issued a section 114 notice, local government minister Simon Hoare said commissioners had made early progress, but had found the situation is worse than they initially expected. Birmingham has requested a 1.25 billion bailout from the Government as it tries to recover from financial distress. Budget papers published this week confirm the council is also planning to raise council tax by 9.99% this year and next, cut the cost of services by 367 million and initiate redundancies costing 100 million. Researchers split the 386 patients on the Profile trial into two groups (Alamy/PA) Starting people with Crohns disease on an advanced therapy soon after diagnosis could dramatically reduce the need for surgery, according to a study. Prescribing infliximab within two years of diagnosis would be considered early, according to University of Cambridge researchers working on the Profile trial, which included 386 newly diagnosed Crohns patients from 40 hospitals across the UK. The study initially set out to test genetic biomarkers in the blood to determine if a person with the condition which causes parts of the digestive system to become inflamed was at a higher risk of relapsing. Researchers found the biomarker test was not likely to help improve outcomes for Crohns patients, although a top-down approach of prescribing infliximab after diagnosis was both highly effective and safe. According to NHS England, many Crohns patients take steroids to manage symptoms and sometimes require immunosuppressants. In some cases, surgery may be required. The drug infliximab is usually only offered to patients who have regular flare ups and do not respond to other medication. It works by blocking a protein in the immune system and is administered through intravenous infusions or injections. Researchers found that prescribing it to patients soon after diagnosis could prevent the majority of adverse outcomes from Crohns disease. Professor Miles Parkes, director of the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and chief investigator of the Profile trial, said: Up until now, the view has been why would you use a more expensive treatment strategy and potentially over-treat people if theres a chance they might do fine anyway? As weve shown, and as previous studies have demonstrated, theres actually a pretty high risk that an individual with Crohns disease will experience disease flares and complications even in the first year after diagnosis. We now know we can prevent the majority of adverse outcomes, including need for urgent surgery, by providing a treatment strategy that is safe and becoming increasingly affordable. Researchers split the 386 patients on the Profile trial into two groups. Half were given conventional treatment while the other half were offered a top-down approach and were given infliximab as soon as possible after their diagnosis regardless of symptoms. The majority (80%) of those on infliximab had their symptoms controlled for one year compared to just 15% in the conventional group. Some 67% of the infliximab patients also showed no ulcers on an endoscopy at the end of the trial. About 5% of the patients being treating conventionally required surgery compared to 0.5% in the infliximab group. Prof Parkes added: If you take a holistic view of safety, including the need for hospitalisations and urgent surgery, then the safest thing from a patient point of view is to offer top-down therapy straight after diagnosis rather than having to wait and use step-up treatment. First author Dr Nuru Noor, of the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said the findings published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology redefine what should be considered early treatment. He added: Historically, treatment with an advanced therapy like infliximab within two years of diagnosis has been considered early and an accelerated step-up approach therefore good enough. As soon as a patient is diagnosed with Crohns disease, the clock is ticking and has likely been ticking for some time in terms of damage happening to the bowel, so theres a need to start on an advanced therapy such as infliximab as soon as possible. Weve shown that by treating earlier, we can achieve better outcomes for patients than have previously been reported. Ruth Wakeman, director of services, advocacy and evidence at Crohns & Colitis UK, said: Crohns disease affects over 200,000 people in the UK and we know that many of them have symptoms for a long time before they are diagnosed. But diagnosis is not the end of their journey, and the trial and error involved in finding the right treatment can be challenging and distressing. This study shows what a dramatic difference early treatment with advanced therapy can make to newly diagnosed patients. People with Crohns dont want to be stuck in hospital or having surgery, they want to be out in the world, living their lives. Anything that speeds up the path to remission can only be a good thing. The study was funded by Wellcome and PredictImmune Ltd, and supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. Iain Packer is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow (PA) A jury has been directed to convict the man accused of murdering Emma Caldwell of indecently assaulting her and one other charge. Iain Packer, 51, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of murdering Miss Caldwell, 27, who vanished in Glasgow on April 4, 2005 and whose body was found in Limefield Woods, near Roberton, South Lanarkshire, the following month. He faces a total of 36 charges involving offences against 25 women, all of which he denies. Among the charges Packer is accused of is one of indecently assaulting Miss Caldwell in the east end of Glasgow in August 2004. Judge Lord Beckett instructed jurors they should find Packer guilty of the charge on the indictment after he admitted the offence while giving evidence. In his second day of evidence, Packer was asked about an indecent assault on Miss Caldwell where she was paid 30 for Packer to perform a sex act on her behind a billboard in the Barras. A statement given by Packer to police said: I continued to hold on to her waist. I was saying, we have agreed before we started, I have paid for this. She managed to pull away and was upset. Emma Caldwell was found dead in May 2005 (family handout/PA) Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC said: Why did you carry on? Packer said: I have no idea why I carried on. Something that Im not very happy about, Im ashamed of. Mr Goddard said: What you did was criminal? Packer said: Yes. Mr Goddard said: You accept your guilt for indecently assaulting Emma Caldwell? Packer said: Yes. Mr Goddard said: You would know if you had indecently assaulted that poor young woman? Packer said: I apologise for that, its not something Im proud of. Lord Beckett also directed the jury to convict Packer of a charge accusing him of abducting a woman, preventing her from leaving a house and detaining her against her will. The judge is expected to complete his legal directions on Friday morning and the jury will then retire to consider their verdicts. The Kyle RNLI lifeboat went to the scene (RNLI/Andrew MacDonald/PA) A teenage kayaker has been rescued after his kayak capsized and he spent two hours clinging to the upturned hull. The 17-year-old kayaker raised the alarm by using his mobile phone to contact a family member when he capsized but they were unable to get back in touch with him. Kyle RNLI lifeboat went to the scene in Broadford Bay, off the isle of Skye, arriving at 5.40pm on Wednesday, and Portree lifeboat arrived about 40 minutes later. They searched the area, with help from local fishing vessels, and at 6.40pm a coastguard helicopter arrived at the scene. The helicopter located the teenager still clinging to his upturned kayak, and Kyle lifeboat retrieved him from the water. Norman Finlayson, helm for Kyles RNLI Lifeboat, said: The casualty was an experienced kayaker who was well equipped to be out on the water. Conditions were good when he went out, however, unfortunately, they began to deteriorate quite quickly. He did exactly the correct thing in taking and using his mobile phone to raise the alarm, and then staying with his kayak until he was located. He was wearing all the correct clothing to be out on the water, which made all the difference when spending that amount of time in the water. After assessing the teenager, the lifeboat crew began warming him up as he had been in the water for more than two hours. They took him to the pier in Broadford where they handed him over to the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Paul Deal has graduated from university at the age of 70 (University of Bristol/PA) A 70-year-old grandfather who left school with four O-levels has graduated from university despite losing much of his eyesight during his degree. Paul Deal was half way through his masters (MA) in history when his vision began to blur while he was walking the dog. Thinking nothing of it, he considered ringing an optician for advice. Paul Deal has graduated from university at the age of 70 (University of Bristol/PA) But at 2am the next day, Mr Deal would be heading into theatre, where an eye surgeon sought to halt an infection that was rapidly travelling through his right eye. Mr Deal spent 40 years as a journalist, but none of his deadlines had felt as urgent as this. It was a traumatic time. After another operation the next day I was told I might not get my sight back. I thought what the hell am I going to do about my MA now?, he said. Mr Deal was left with around 20% vision in his right eye and not much more in his left. He deferred his history MA by a year as he made frequent visits to Bristol Eye Hospital and investigated assistive technology to aid reading, after struggling with a magnifying lens. The father-of-three returned to his studies, only to suffer a spate of nose bleeds so severe that he ended up in A&E three times. Paul Deal in 1971 while working as a reporter for the Evening Echo in Basildon (Paul Deal/PA) Laser eye surgery on his left eye returned some of his sight. Still unable to drive, Mr Deal would take two trains and a bus to get to the university in Bristol from his home near Bradford upon Avon, Wiltshire. Despite this, he struggled on and finished his mammoth 15,000 word dissertation. Id always loved the idea of going back to education, said Mr Deal. Growing up in east London and Essex I never thought Id go to university. Never. None of my family had gone and I was just completely focused on becoming a journalist. Today he graduated in front of his wife, Diana and youngest daughter, Rebecca. After retirement Mr Deal enrolled on a University of Bristol history short course, which aimed to help mature students progress to a full degree (Ben Birchall/PA) Its been a heck of a time and Im very proud to be graduating. Ive been looking forward to this day immensely, he said. I wondered how Id cope at university and it was hard at times. However, I learnt that, even at prestigious institutions like Bristol, you are made welcome by students and teachers, no matter if you are older. I also feel very positively towards the university for supporting me through the difficult times. I would love to think that someone whos stopped working might see my story and consider becoming a student. I miss studying here and I made some good friends along the way. While studying for A-Levels including one in history Mr Deal got a summer job as an editorial messenger boy on the Basildon-based Evening Echo. Spotting a big story that the newsroom had overlooked got him noticed by the editor, who offered him a position as their first trainee reporter. During a successful career he reported briefly from Northern Ireland and edited newspapers including the Bath Evening Chronicle and the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. He spent 15 years at the BBC, producing national news bulletins, and later worked as a communications officer for Wiltshire Police. After retirement he enrolled on a University of Bristol history short course, which aimed to help mature students progress to a full degree. Mr Deal has a particular interest in the English Civil Wars, Irish history and Bristols role in the slave trade. Rishi Sunak has criticised the Speakers handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA) Rishi Sunak has criticised Sir Lindsay Hoyles handling of the Gaza ceasefire vote as very concerning and warned parliamentarians should never be intimidated by extremists. The Prime Minister condemned the way the Commons Speaker had changed the usual ways in which Parliament works by approving Labours bid to amend an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, a move that unleashed chaos in the chamber. But Mr Sunak acknowledged that Sir Lindsay had apologised and was reflecting on what happened. Sir Lindsay Hoyle earlier reiterated his apology, emphasising concerns over the security of MPs who have faced threats over their stance on the Middle East conflict. I have a duty of care and if my mistake is looking after members, I am guilty, he told MPs. I never, ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists. Speaking during a visit to North Wales on Thursday afternoon, the Prime Minister said: What happened in the House of Commons last night is very concerning. It seems that the usual processes and the way that the House of Commons works were changed. Now my understanding is that the Speaker has apologised for that and is going to reflect on what happened. Mr Sunak continued: But I think the important point here is that we should never let extremists intimidate us into changing the way in which Parliament works. Parliament is an important place for us to have these debates. And just because some people may want to stifle that with intimidation or aggressive behaviour, we should not bend to that and change how Parliament works. Thats a very slippery slope. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Government wants to see an immediate humanitarian pause in the Gaza war (Phil Noble/PA) Downing Street earlier repeatedly refused to say whether Mr Sunak had confidence in the Speaker, while the SNP called for a vote of no confidence in him. Sir Lindsay has come under pressure amid accusations he helped Sir Keir Starmer avoid another damaging revolt over the Middle East issue by selecting Labours amendment. More than 60 MPs have signed a so-called early day motion tabled by a Tory MP declaring no confidence in the Speaker. The Labour leader denied pushing him to make the controversial decision, which resulted in Labours call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire being passed unopposed. Speaking in Sussex, Sir Keir said: I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever. I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate so that actually the most important thing, which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them. He said Sir Lindsay did the right thing in making sure the debate was broad as he denounced SNP and Tory tactics. Sir Keir added: The tragedy is the SNP walked off the pitch because they wanted to divide the Labour Party and they couldnt, and the Government walked off the pitch because it thought it was going to lose a vote. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted he simply urged the Speaker to have the broadest possible debate on the Middle East conflict (Jordan Pettitt/PA) In a bid to calm tensions, Sir Lindsay offered the SNP the chance of an emergency debate after they were unable to vote on their proposition amid Wednesdays turmoil. But the offer failed to placate SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who told the Speaker he no longer had confidence in him. He said the debate descended into farce because of a decision that you made, and demanded a confidence vote at the earliest possible occasion. A number of Conservative MPs came out in Sir Lindsays defence as they directed their fury at Labour. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who launched a blistering attack on the Speaker as the commotion unfolded in the chamber, defended him on Thursday as a decent man. The senior Cabinet minister told MPs that Wednesdays shameful events were nothing other than party politics on behalf of the Labour Party. International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to have gained new momentum as the White House said a visit by a senior envoy with Israeli leaders was going well and other mediators reported encouraging signs from the warring parties. The new signs of progress came ahead of a summit this weekend in Paris, where mediators are expected to offer a new proposal. The US, Egypt and Qatar have been struggling for weeks to find a formula that could halt Israels devastating offensive in Gaza, but now face an unofficial deadline as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. White House Middle East envoy Brett McGurk held talks throughout the day with Israeli leaders and families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. At least 70 people have died in overnight strikes in Gaza, officials said (Fatima Shbair/AP) Spokesman John Kirby said the talks were constructive. The initial indications were getting from Brett are these discussions are going well, Mr Kirby said. A western diplomat involved in the efforts said both sides want a pause. What we have heard from our partners is that they are willing to give concessions, she said. Time is pressing them. In new fighting, Israeli strikes killed more than 70 people in southern and central Gaza, Palestinian health officials said on Thursday. Tensions were also rising in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on morning traffic at a road checkpoint, killing one man and wounding five others, Israeli police said. An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Israel declared war after Hamas militants stormed across the border on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. The Israeli offensive has left more than 29,000 Palestinians dead, caused widespread destruction, displaced an estimated 80% of Gazas population and fuelled a humanitarian disaster. Roughly half of the hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. About 100 hostages remain in captivity, in addition to the bodies of 30 others who were killed on October 7 or died in captivity. Israel is demanding the release of the remaining hostages as part of any pause but has vowed to press ahead with the offensive until Hamass military and governing capabilities are destroyed. Hamas wants an end to the war, a full withdrawal of troops and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners Israel is holding. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the Hamas demands as delusional. But in recent days, Israeli leaders have begun to voice cautious optimism and Hamas has signalled it is softening its demands. Defence minister Yoav Gallant, a member of Israels three-man War Cabinet, indicated some flexibility. We will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators, he said. At the same time, he warned that the Israeli army is preparing the continuation of intense ground operations. A mosque was among the buildings hit in air strikes in Rafah (Fatima Shbair/AP) Benny Gantz, who sits on the War Cabinet with Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu, has said that if there is no hostage deal, Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gazas southernmost town, Rafah, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins around March 10. A top Hamas official, meanwhile, voiced hope for lots of breakthroughs in the near future. More than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million is crowded into Rafah after fleeing fighting and bombardment elsewhere in the territory. Israel has said it will evacuate them before attacking, but it is not clear where they would go, with much of the rest of the tiny Mediterranean enclave consumed in combat. The US has urged Israel not to invade Rafah believed to be Hamass last major stronghold without a plan to protect civilians. Mr Kirby said that Mr McGurk was pressing the Israelis for details on their thinking about the operation. The heads of 13 UN agencies and five other aid groups issued a joint plea for a ceasefire late Wednesday, warning that an attack on Rafah will bring mass casualties and could deal a death blow to the humanitarian operation bringing aid to Palestinians. Earlier this week, the World Food Programme had to halt food deliveries to northern Gaza because of increasing chaos. If outbreaks of infectious disease, already growing, become severe, they could ultimately cause more deaths than the offensive, a senior official with the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. 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 Infectious disease is a major concern for us in Gaza, Richard Brennan, the WHOs regional emergency director, said at a briefing in Cairo. The foreign ministers of 26 European countries on Thursday called for a pause in fighting leading to a longer ceasefire. Both the western diplomat and an Egyptian official said they have seen encouraging signs from Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian official said Egypt, Qatar and the US would craft a renewed proposal at the talks in Paris, expected on Friday or Saturday. He said mediators managed to water down the demands of both sides, including the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel would release in return for women and elderly hostages during a preliminary six-week ceasefire. He said the discussions are encouraging. He said another sticking point is whether displaced Palestinians could return to their homes in northern Gaza. He said Israel, which is still battling in areas of the north, was showing flexibility. He also said both sides agreed to continue indirect negotiations for a permanent ceasefire something Israeli officials in public have ruled out. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro arrives at Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil (Luis Nova/AP) Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and some of his former top aides have met with police as part of an investigation into allegations they plotted a coup to remove Mr Bolsonaros successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Mr Bolsonaro arrived at Federal Police headquarters in the capital Brasilia, as did some of his former officials, including some top military advisers. The former leader chose to remain silent. Supreme Court documents show the alleged plot involved Mr Bolsonaro signing a decree in the event that he lost the 2022 election to declare that the vote was fraudulent, to justify a possible military intervention and convene new elections. President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Markus Schreiber/AP) Mr Bolsonaro never issued the decree to set the final stage of the alleged plan in action. Bolsonaro has never been sympathetic to any type of coup movement, his lawyer Paulo Bueno told journalists in Brasilia. No-one has been formally charged in the case. A total of 23 people were expected to give statements on Thursday, of which 13 were in Brasilia, according to a federal official. Among them were Mr Bolsonaro; his 2022 running mate and minister, General Walter Braga Netto; a former adviser, General Augusto Heleno; former justice minister Anderson Torres; and the head of Mr Bolsonaros Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto. Police can begin to identify inconsistencies or gaps in information, no matter how much they have prepared for it, said Leonardo Paz, a political scientist at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Bolsonaro said before the meeting he would probably decline to comment to police, citing a lack of access to documents. I follow the advice of the lawyers. If they have access (to the file) by tomorrow, obviously Ill talk, he said during an interview with CBN radio on Wednesday. Next steps will depend on the information police extract from Thursdays statements. Jair Bolsonaro in 2021 (Michael M Santiago/PA) Brazilian police earlier this month searched the homes and offices of top aides of the former president and of one of his sons, Carlos Bolsonaro. They also seized the former leaders passport as part of the investigation. Police said in a statement that they targeted suspects who acted to attempt a coup detat. Mr Bolsonaro repeatedly sowed doubt about the reliability of Brazils voting system, never conceded defeat and declined to attend Mr Lulas inauguration, though he left the country and kept a low profile in the days ahead of Mr Lulas swearing-in on January 1 2023. On January 8 2023, Bolsonaro supporters launched a rampage in the capital. The former president, who is barred from running for office again until 2030 after an electoral court ruling against him, has called on supporters to demonstrate in his favour on February 25 in one of Sao Paulos key arteries. US President Joe Biden has announced he is cancelling federal student loans for nearly 153,000 borrowers. Mr Biden, who is in the midst of a three-day campaign swing through California, made the announcement as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster path to forgiveness, putting the spotlight on his debt cancellation efforts in his re-election campaign. Too many Americans are still saddled with unsustainable debt in exchange for a college degree, he said from a local library, before he went on to campaign-related events. Loan relief helps the greater economy, he reasoned, because when people have a student debt relief, they buy homes. They start businesses, they contribute. They engage. 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 administration began sending email notifications on Wednesday to some of the borrowers who will benefit from what the White House has called the Save programme. The cancellations were originally scheduled to start in July, but last month the administration said it would be ready almost six months ahead of schedule, in February. Starting today, the first round of folks who are enrolled in our Save student loan repayment plan who have paid their loans for 10 years and borrowed 12,000 dollars or less will have their debt cancelled, Mr Biden posted on social media on Wednesday. Thats 150,000 Americans and counting. And were pushing to relieve more. The first round of forgiveness from the Save plan will clear 1.2 billion dollars in loans. The borrowers will get emails with a message from Mr Biden notifying them that all or a portion of your federal student loans will be forgiven because you qualify for early loan forgiveness under my Administrations Save Plan. In his email to borrowers, Mr Biden wrote he heard from countless people who have told me that relieving the burden of their student loan debt will allow them to support themselves and their families, buy their first home, start a small business, and move forward with life plans theyve put on hold. President Joe Biden speaks at Culver City Julian Dixon Library in California (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) More than 7.5 million people have enrolled in the new repayment plan. He said on Wednesday it was the kind of relief that can be life changing for individuals and their families. Im proud to have been able to give borrowers like so many of you the relief you earned, he said, asking the crowd gathered for his speech how many had debt forgiven. Many raised their hands. The president, during a campaign fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night, highlighted his efforts to help middle-class Americans and warned that a win in November by former president Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, could lead to a nationwide abortion ban, more Republican efforts to undo the health insurance programme started in the Biden administration and policies that would disproportionately help the wealthy. He asked his supporters to help win a second term so that he could finish the job in enacting an agenda that benefits American workers. After his speech, Mr Biden was heading to another fundraiser and campaign event. During a quick stop at a local restaurant, CJs Cafe, before his library talk, Mr Biden greeted customers, offering handshakes and hugs and posing for selfies. President Joe Biden takes a photo as he visits CJs Cafe in Los Angeles (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Borrowers are eligible for cancellation if they are enrolled in the Save plan, originally borrowed 12,000 dollars or less to attend college and have made at least 10 years of payments. Those who took out more than 12,000 dollars will be eligible for cancellation but on a longer timeline. For each 1,000 dollars borrowed beyond 12,000 dollars, it adds an additional year of payments on top of 10 years. The maximum repayment period is capped at 20 years for those with only undergraduate loans and 25 years for those with any graduate school loans. Mr Biden announced the new repayment plan last year alongside a separate plan to cancel up to 20,000 dollars in loans for millions of Americans. The Supreme Court struck down his plan for widespread forgiveness, but the repayment plan has so far escaped that level of legal scrutiny. Unlike his proposal for mass cancellation which had never been done before the repayment plan is a twist on existing income-based plans created by Congress more than a decade ago. Mr Biden said he remained steadfast in his commitment to fix our broken student loan system, working around the courts ruling to find other ways to get it done. Russian forces threatened to shoot down French flights patrolling international airspace over the Black Sea last month, according to the countrys defence minister. Sebastien Lecornu did not give specific details about the French flights or aircraft involved in the incident. He said Russia was returning to a particularly aggressive posture reminiscent of the former Soviet Unions behaviour during the Cold War. Mr Lecornu told RTL radio: A month ago, to give you a very concrete example, a Russian air traffic control system threatened to shoot down French aircraft in the Black Sea when we were in a free international zone where we patrol. The behaviour of Russia in 2024 bears no relation to what we saw in 2022 and, obviously, before the aggression in Ukraine. It is explained by the fact that Russia is in difficulty on the battlefield in Ukraine. French military spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere said Mr Lecornu was referring to an incident in mid-November that involved one of Frances four giant airborne warning and control system (Awacs) surveillance aircraft, describing the incident as unprecedented for a French flight in that region. It was a French Awacs flying over international waters in the Black Sea, Mr Gaudilliere said. Through a radio exchange, it was threatened by the Russians. It was a particularly aggressive radio exchange, he added. Its a first. French air force pilots regularly patrol on the eastern flank of Nato, part of efforts by the 31-nation military alliance to boost its defences since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago. French flights include long-range patrols by its AWACS surveillance aircraft. Flying high above the Black Sea coast, they use their powerful radar and other surveillance gear to peer across to the Crimean Peninsula that was seized from Ukraine by Russia, and annexed in 2014. The surveillance flights can spot missile launches, airborne bombing runs and other military activity in the Ukraine conflict. Russian pilots have at times made clear that they do not like being watched. In 2022, a Russian fighter jet released a missile near a British air force RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft that was flying in international airspace over the Black Sea, the UK Government said. The US Government released video in March 2023 of a Russian fighter jet dumping fuel on a US Air Force surveillance drone. The drone crashed into the Black Sea. Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (right) looks on after his release from the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, Feb. 15, 2024. Ten senior leaders of Bangladeshs main opposition party have been freed from detention in recent days but hundreds of party activists remain incarcerated more than seven weeks after the countrys ruling party won reelection in no-contest polls. In the run-up to the Jan. 7 vote , the Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rounded up and jailed thousands of members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party over allegations that the BNP was fomenting violence and unrest. For months, the BNP and its supporters were agitating in the streets for a free and fair election to be overseen by a neutral caretaker administration. Hasinas government, which clinched a record fourth consecutive term in the polls boycotted by the BNP, had refused to give in to that demand. On Thursday, a Dhaka court granted bail to Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, a former home minister under a past BNP government. He was arrested before the general election over his alleged involvement in an arson attack targeting the chief justices residence on Oct. 28, 2023 . The Awami League had used the state apparatus against the BNP to hold the 12th general elections in a one-sided way, Kayser Kamal, the BNPs law affairs secretary, told BenarNews. Between mid-October and mid-January, nearly 27,000 BNP leaders and activists of different levels, including our Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arbitrarily arrested across the country, he said. The whole purpose of the massive country-wide combing arrest was to hold the elections in a one-sided way. They did it, and now our leaders are getting bail, Kamal said. The BNP is the only source that gives such a high figure for the number of party activists who were rounded up. Days after the polls were held, Human Rights Watch put the number of BNP leaders and supporters arrested before the election at more than 8,000. BNP members staged a mammoth rally in front of the party office in Dhakas Nayapaltan district on Oct. 28. At one stage, opposition activists were locked in clashes with police, leading to the death of an off-duty officer. In addition, protesters set fire to the gate at the chief justices home. BNP activists and leaders were arrested in connection with an arson attack on a train in Dhaka during which four people died in December. The train fire took place during a nationwide transportation strike called by the BNP in which activists also allegedly set buses ablaze. Bail Among the BNP leaders who were released from custody, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were freed on Feb. 15. More recently, Mirza Abbas, another member of the committee, was released on Monday after being locked up for 3 months. BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, was released on Wednesday. Almost every day, our leaders and activists have been getting bail. Still more than 1,000 leaders and activists have been behind bars and facing harassment, Kamal said. This substantiates our position that the Awami League has used the law enforcers and other state apparatus against the BNP to come to power. Hundreds of our leaders and activists have been facing harassment in the court and jail, but we will continue our struggle to restore the democratic system in Bangladesh, he said. Escorted by officers, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal heads to court following his arrest on charges linked to the Oct. 28, 2023, rally in Dhaka, Dec. 18, 2023. [Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters] Awami League officials challenged the BNP allegations. Have they not carried out arson attacks on the house of the chief justice? They were arrested for the criminal offenses they carried out in the pretext of a democratic movement, Law Minister Anisul Huq told BenarNews. The judiciary is independent in giving bail. We are in dual trouble if they are arrested, then they say we ordered their arrest and if they get bail, then they say the government is giving bail. What should we do? he said. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said BNP members were responsible for their actions. They can carry out peaceful political programs. The government in no way would obstruct them. But if they resort to any sorts of violence, they must face legal actions, he told BenarNews. A political analyst, meanwhile, said there was some truth to BNPs allegations. This is clear that the Awami League has used the state institutions against the BNP, Nizam Uddin Ahmed, a political commentator and professor of political science at Chittagong University, told BenarNews. Before the elections, most of the leaders and activists were imprisoned, he said, adding the BNP could not put pressure on the ruling Awami League in the final weeks leading up to the election. Now, the Awami League has no pressure from the international community. All countries have been working with the government, he said. The release of the BNP leaders would save them from the allegation that the ruling party has put the opposition behind bars. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and spiritual adviser of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, speaks during a press conference in Davao City, southern Philippines, May 23, 2016. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes spiritual adviser, who is wanted in the United States for alleged sex trafficking and fraud, has gone into hiding after accusing Washington of a plot to abduct and "eliminate" him. Apollo Quiboloy, a Filipino televangelist preacher and pastor to the ex-leader, alleged in a message to his followers that the American and Philippine governments hatched the plot, and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had him under observation. I am under surveillance in the Philippines by the CIA and the FBI. In my own country I am hiding because they can pick me up just like that, Quiboloy said in a 36-minute voice recording uploaded on YouTube and Facebook this week. Quiboloy is the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, a Philippines-based megachurch with branches in the United States. In November 2021, a U.S. grand jury charged him on suspicion of orchestrating a sex-trafficking operation that coerced girls as young as 12 to have sex with him or risk eternal damnation, federal prosecutors said. Quiboloy, U.S. prosecutors had said, allegedly recruited girls and young women, ranging from 12 to 25 years old, to work as personal assistants or pastorals at his church. He has denied the allegations. Under the charges brought against him by U.S. authorities, Quiboloy faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of sex-trafficking, and five to 20 years if convicted of fraud and money laundering. But the Philippines has yet to extradite him to face the charges in a U.S. court, and it is believed that Quiboloy is at large in the Southeast Asian country. President Rodrigo Duterte sings to his supporters during a thanksgiving concert held before his six-year term ended, in Quirino Grandstand, Manila, June 26, 2022. [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters] Quiboloy, who calls himself the appointed son of God, alleged in his audio recording that U.S. and Filipino officials, including his Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., wanted him dead. They no longer want the extradition treaty. What they want to do, according to the CIA, the FBI, the U.S. Embassy and State Department, with the collusion of the government of Marcos and first lady, and whoever is in the government, is rendition, he said. Its not only rendition, but also elimination. If it is possible, they can also assassinate me, he alleged. He didnt say where he got this information. On Thursday, BenarNews contacted the U.S. Embassy in Manila for comment on Quiboloys allegations, but the embassy said questions about legal proceedings should be directed to the U.S. Department of Justice. However, the U.S. government was confident Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crime, the embassy said in a statement. For more than a decade, Apollo Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systematic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, and he is currently on the FBIs Most Wanted List. You did not respect me Quiboloy had backed Marcos in the 2022 presidential election in which he ran with Dutertes daughter, Sara, as his vice presidential candidate. In his recorded remarks this week, the pastor lashed out at Marcos by alleging that despite his support for him in the polls two years ago, the president was colluding with the U.S. government. I will not honor you, I will not respect you because you did not honor me, you did not respect me, Quiboloy said. Remove this evil administration, he exhorted his followers. Quiboloys church, which he founded in 1985, has branches in the U.S. and boasts 6 million followers including 2 million abroad. The televangelist preacher is considered influential in Philippine politics because of the size of his flock. Earlier this year, the Philippine Senate filed a resolution that called for an investigation into Quiboloy, whose church is based in Davao City, Dutertes southern hometown. Newly elected Vice President Sara Duterte raises the arm of newly elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their inauguration ceremony at the National Museum in Manila, June 30, 2022. [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters] Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she had heard hair-raising allegations from testimonies to the Senate last month by Quiboloys alleged victims. She said one witness told her that she was only 15 when she was recruited into the church along with her family. This alleged victim and others in the church were made to beg on the streets and were subjected to beatings if they failed to collect enough money. Quiboloy was summoned by the Senate on Jan. 23 to testify in response to allegations of sexual abuse, but he didnt appear. Quiboloy enjoyed a level of protection from Duterte during the latters presidency, from 2016 to 2022. When the FBI announced in 2020 that it had begun to investigate Quiboloy, then-President Duterte defended him. And he repeatedly defended Quiboloy against allegations of fraud. Quiboloys fortunes also rose during the Duterte administration, as he enjoyed certain presidential favors, observers have said. A kind of social disruption Former Sen. Leila de Lima meanwhile described the Duterte years as a kind of social disruption taken to its extreme, which allowed people like Quiboloy to thrive. It was a complete break from the social norms that we got used to and we thought were acceptable to a people so historically destitute in their lives that they were ready to accept everything that was decent in our society in exchange for something that promised changed, De Lima, a critic of Dutertes controversial drug war who was put in jail during his administration, said on Thursday. The senator spent six years in jail on unfounded charges that she had profited from protecting drug traffickers when she was justice secretary. De Lima was released on bail in November 2023. In December 2022, the U.S Treasury Department announced sanctions against Quiboloy, accusing him of raping women and children. However, Washington has stopped short of asking Manila to extradite the pastor. In July 2023, YouTube and Google took out Quiboloys media channels maintained by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a television station that gained prominence during the Duterte administration. Jojo Rinoza in Manila contributed to this report. Thai officials have arrested 167 people fleeing Myanmar since the country enacted its conscription laws, a migrant assistance organization told Radio Free Asia. From Feb. 12 to 20, dozens of Myanmar nationals have been arrested in Thailand on its southern and western borders, said Moe Kyo, who runs the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs based in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. It would even exceed that number. In reality, there are cases of arrests occurring in places that remain inaccessible to us, he said, citing a nationwide network of organizations sharing information about arrests. Since junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced the enforcement of the Peoples Military Service Law on Feb. 10, people in Myanmar have been scrambling to avoid conscription into the regimes army through both official and unofficial routes. A narrow stream separates Thailand and Myanmar in Wa Le, Feb. 22, 2024. [RFA] Citizens have flocked to passport offices and embassies nationwide, while mass arrests of young people have caused panic, despite junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htuns pledge that recruitment would not begin until April. The law would recruit some 50,000 people a year, with prison time if they refuse to cooperate. Women between the ages of 18 and 27 and men between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve two years, while highly skilled professionals ages 18 to 45 are required to serve five years. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a statement on Monday saying people entering the country illegally would be prosecuted, adding that security agencies have been alerted to the issue. On Sunday, 20 migrants were arrested in two locations near the border, aid worker Moe Kyo said. One group was discovered in Tha Song Yang district of Tak province. Thai authorities stopped and inspected a vehicle at a checkpoint. They discovered 13 undocumented Myanmar nationals inside, he said. It is also noted that those individuals had paid 15,000 Thai baht (US$418) to the brokers for their journey. Others have been arrested in Ranong, Songkhla, and Chumphon provinces in Thailands south. Desperate to Escape Thailands Ratchamanu taskforce, based in Tak, arrested two groups totaling more than 54 people from Feb. 14 to 16 near the border town of Wa Le. The porous border area is 57 km. (35 miles) south of the official Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing. Task Force Commander Col. Nattakorn Reuntib told RFA, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, that 249 Myanmar nationals, including 13 brokers, were arrested in five border districts from Feb. 1 to 21 in Tak. He declined to comment on the impact of conscription laws, but said the number had increased from 183 people arrested in the entire month of January. A woman and her son stand in front of a border checkpoint in Wa Le, Thailand, Feb. 22, 2024. [RFA] All 27 people in one group were between the ages of 20 and 29, he said, telling Thai media they fled because of conscription laws. Many of them came via south Wa Le village. After being arrested, they would be deported through Mae Sot, said an officer at Phop Pra police station who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. There have been many coming this way in recent weeks. We understand them, they need a job and security. Organizations focused on migrant rights said the Thai government needs to seriously consider humane solutions for people fleeing conscription as systems become overwhelmed. A house in Myanmar stands just meters from the border in Wa Le, Thailand, Feb. 22, 2024. [RFA] The Thai Embassy of Myanmar announced a 400-person per day limit as its office quickly became overwhelmed, and Chiang Mais Buddhist University stated it would no longer accept applicants from Myanmar, citing an overwhelming number of applications. I think it's a dangerous situation because weve also seen previous incidents where brokers were smuggling migrants and then there was a police chase ending in a car crash with people dying, so I can only hope that doesnt happen in the future, said Brahm Press, director of the Migrant Assistance Program in Thailand. Im sure that whatever systems are in place that migrants had previously been using are going to be further overwhelmed. Adulwitch and Jirintat Tangsupmanee, son and daughter of Chanchai Tangsupmanee, who died at age 73 of the coronavirus disease during Thailands worst wave of infections, prepare meals at their late father's food stall in Bangkoks Chinatown, Oct. 6, 2021. For 28 years, Somsak and Wanna raised three children by selling home-made soy milk from a cart in Silom, Bangkoks financial district. About a year ago, the couple began to see their income plummet, they said, because of the citys forcible relocation of their business. Before COVID there were days when we earned up to 2,500 baht (U.S. $69.50), but now some days we earn around 700 baht ($19.46), said Somsak, 65. I have attended meetings with the Bangkok officials. They said they want Bangkok to be as beautiful as cities abroad that is without vendors and stalls. As part of Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunts policy to clean up the capitals sidewalks, Somsaks soy milk cart is among dozens forced to move from their original locations. The cart used to be on a sidewalk in Silom, where malls and offices are located, but it was moved to a little alley nearby. Office workers dont walk past this way, Somsak told BenarNews. Bangkok is slowly pushing through a process to clean up the citys sidewalks and properly manage street food carts, one of its best-known tourist attractions, to accommodate foot traffic and to offer hygienic street food. For decades, street food has been an economic lifeline for the city. It offers affordable meals for office workers, day laborers and tourists alike while allowing vendors to earn regular incomes. But this long-standing street food culture is set to change. Within the capital city of around 15 million people, there has been a growing call for Bangkok to provide a safe environment for walkers on its narrow and congested sidewalks. Somsak (left) and Wanna Srisap have sold home-made soy milk on the street in Silom, Bangkoks financial district, for nearly three decades, Feb. 2, 2024. [Jitsiree Thongnoi/BenarNews] After Chadchart visited Fukuoka, a city in Japan, in August 2023, he said that its sidewalks served as a model for his plan to revamp Bangkoks pavement with its cleanliness and superb public management. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the agency Chadchart leads, is conducting a public hearing this month on draft regulations for street food. It covers zoning, the vendors screening process and certain technical aspects and rules on food hygiene. Crowded sidewalks In Bangkok, many sidewalks are occupied not only by street food vendors, but signboards, bus stops and stations for motorbike taxis, garbage bins and trees. Most Bangkok sidewalks are narrower than two meters (6.5 feet) wide. A fruit seller on Sukhumvit Road, an artery in central Bangkok, told BenarNews that she rented the front stairs area of a building for her business. This allows her to place the cart on the footpath but she can move it to the steps whenever the need arises. A pork soup stall covers much of the sidewalk in an alley in Bangkoks Silom financial district, Feb. 2, 2024. [Jitsiree Thongnoi/BenarNews] Stalls like this pose problems for Bangkok resident Manit Intharapim, 56, who has been confined to a wheelchair for more than three decades. The Bangkok sidewalks have never been improved. They have been like this for so long that no one sees anything wrong with them, he said. We want good, convenient, clean and safe sidewalks for everybody, Manit said. Sidewalks in commercial urban areas are stipulated to be at least 1.5 meters (five feet), wide enough for two people to walk in opposite directions. A ramp or a space on the sidewalk for wheelchair users like me to pass needs to be at least 90 centimeters (36 inches) wide. The metropolitan administration is planning to revamp 1,000 km (621 miles) of sidewalks across Bangkok, making them clean, clear and organized by adding more greenery and fixing problems including uneven surfaces, potholes, loose tiles and pools of water. The way Thais behave About a year ago, the BMA announced plans to move about 70 stalls in Silom, including Somsaks, to a nearby hawker center. A brawl between vendors and BMA officials almost turned physical but in the end no one was hurt. A compromise was reached as Somsak and fellow vendors agreed to move their stalls to the alley where they can still sell on the sidewalk. Patrons gather at an eatery on the sidewalk in Bangkoks Chinatown, Sept. 19, 2022. [Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP] In the Silom alley, a nearby pork soup stall sets up its tables and chairs as the eating area on the sidewalk where it gets busier as night approaches. There is no sink, water tab or drainage on the cart. Bangkoks hawker centers for vendors take inspiration from Singapore, which for decades has been exemplary in the way it manages street food stalls. A Bangkok official said Singapore began moving street food vendors to hawker centers in the 1970s and it took the city-state over a decade to achieve results. As of 2023, the BMA estimated that there were about 20,000 vendors on the streets of Bangkok. Officials said they had worked to locate about 125 hawkers centers to accommodate around 10,000 vendors. The city governments efforts, meanwhile, have led some vendors to raise concerns about potential high rent and bad locations. A hawker center opened by Chadchart in January sat nearly empty in February. A resident said vendors had to push their carts to the street outside because there were no customers. If I move to the hawker center, I have to pay about 1,000 baht ($28) rent per day and nobody walks past that way. It is just the way Thai people behave. They walk past things, if they want to buy them, they buy them, Somsak said. City officials told me to change my job, suggesting I could work as a security guard and my wife could work as a housemaid. At our age? How did they even come up with something like that? Chadchart is not the first Bangkok governor to initiate an effort to clean up the citys sidewalks. Most recently, in 2017, then-Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang announced plans to ban street food in Bangkok except for two tourist magnet areas the Yaowarat (Chinatown) district, and Khao San Road, the backpackers haven in the citys historic quarter. In 2022, Chadchart said there were two sides to the issues including the peoples hardship and the citys order, although there was no measure to be lenient when it comes to the citys order. You are the owner of this article. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. NEW DELHI (PTI): India and Greece have agreed to work towards co-production and co-development of military hardware and decided to firm up a mobility and migration pact as soon as possible with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis holding extensive talks to impart "new energy" to the bilateral ties. Modi said the two sides have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism and there was a discussion in detail on how to further strengthen cooperation in this area. Mitsotakis is on a two-day visit to India primarily to grace the Raisina Dialogue as the chief guest. In his media statement, Modi on Wednesday said he and Mitsotakis discussed many regional and international issues and it was agreed that all disputes and tensions should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India welcomes Greece's active participation and positive role in the Indo-Pacific and it is a matter of happiness that the European nation has decided to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, he said. India-Greece relations were elevated to 'strategic partnership' during Modi's visit to Greece in August last year. In the talks, the two sides deliberated on increasing cooperation in many areas like pharma, medical devices, technology, innovation, skill development, agriculture and space. "Our discussions today were very meaningful and useful. It is a matter of happiness that we are rapidly moving towards the goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030. We identified several new opportunities to give new energy and direction to our cooperation," Modi said. He said the growing India-Greece cooperation in defence and security reflects the "deep mutual trust". "With the formation of a working group in this area, we will be able to increase mutual coordination on common challenges like defence, cyber security, counter-terrorism, maritime security," he said. "New opportunities for co-production and co-development are being created in defense manufacturing in India, which can be beneficial for both the countries," the prime minister said. He said it was agreed to link the defence industries of both the countries. "Today we identified several new initiatives to give a modern form to these relations. We discussed concluding the migration and mobility partnership agreement between the two countries as soon as possible. This will further strengthen our people-to-people relations," he said. The pact would provide employment opportunities for Indians in Greece besides easing flow of students and business people between the two countries. "In today's meeting we also discussed many regional and international issues. We agree that all disputes and tensions should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy," Modi said. "We welcome Greece's active participation and positive role in the Indo-Pacific. It is a matter of happiness that Greece has decided to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative," he said. There has also been a resolve for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean region. In his remarks, Modi also referred to the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and said it would make a significant contribution to the development of humanity in the long run. "Greece can also become an important partner in this initiative. We agree to reform the UN and other global institutions, so that they can be made contemporary. India and Greece will continue their efforts to contribute to global peace and stability," he said. Launched in September, the IMEC is seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations. Modi said both sides also discussed connecting the start-ups of the two countries. "Shipping and connectivity are topics of high priority for both the countries. We also discussed increasing cooperation in these areas." Modi said that there are many possibilities for closer cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture as well. The Greek prime minister's visit to India came around six months after Modi's trip to that country. "His visit to India after my visit to Greece last year is a sign of the strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries," Modi said. Mitsotakis was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the fore-court of the Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of his talks with Modi. In the morning, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Greek prime minister. "Delighted to call on Prime Minister @kmitsotakis of Greece today. Valued his commitment to enhancing India-Greece ties. Look forward to the strengthening of our strategic partnership," Jaishankar posted on X. The Greek prime minister began his India visit this morning by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. ITV has given the go-ahead to a drama about the infected blood scandal following the success of the channels series about Post Office workers fighting for justice. Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which began airing in the New Year and stars British actor Toby Jones, pushed what has been called the largest miscarriage of justice in British legal history up the news agenda for weeks. Advertisement Since the airing, former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells promised to hand back her CBE following an explosion in signatories on an online petition and the Government promised to speed-up compensation. Campaigners have previously pushed for the infected blood scandal, where thousands died in what is widely recognised as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, to receive the same attention. Advertisement Pier Wilkie, Otto Bathurst and Peter Moffat pose with Ben Whishaw, centre, and presenter Andrew Garfield, far left, after Criminal Justice wins the award for Bafta drama serial award. Photo: Ian West/PA. Advertisement ITV announced on Thursday that Peter Moffat, who won two Baftas for BBC series Criminal Justice and has also created the screenplay for upcoming Netflix film, Scoop, about the Duke of Yorks disastrous Newsnight interview, will write the drama. Moffat, also known for BBC shows Silk and Undercover, and Showtime series, Your Honour, said: Its been a great privilege to meet those infected and affected and to learn about what they have been through. Im ashamed to say that when I started researching this story I knew next to nothing about it. Im even more ashamed that this ignorance is shared by nearly everyone I mention it to. The victims of this scandal have been let down again and again by the state I hope in some small way this drama can help their voices be heard. Advertisement The drama focuses on how haemophiliacs and those with other blood disorders were contaminated with tainted blood infecting them with HIV and Hepatitis C during the 1970s and 1980s, the broadcaster said. The series will also look at what doctors, politicians and pharmaceutical companies knew about the risk and the work done by victims and their families to bring justice. Advertisement ITVs head of drama, Polly Hill, said: Peters scripts are brilliant and do justice to this important story, while bringing it to screen with real clarity and compassion. Advertisement Des Collins, senior partner of Collins Solicitors, which represents 1,500 victims and their families, welcomed the news. We have long been approached by documentary-makers but believe this particular series will refocus public attention on the tragedy of the infected blood scandal, he added. Advertisement It will expose much of what our clients have endured, not only emotionally and health-wise, but also in terms of shoddy treatment by government, in their decades-long battle for justice during which too many lives have unnecessarily been lost. Viewers wont fail to be moved by this compelling story of the worst treatment scandal in NHS history. Sadly, it remains a devastating reality for many. We live in hope that, unlike the Post Office victims, it wont take a TV drama to air before justice and compensation is secured for our clients and the whole infected blood community. He added that all eyes will be on the Infected Blood Inquirys final report in May. The inquiry has already made its final recommendations for compensation for victims and their loved ones. Advertisement The UK government has previously been accused of dragging its feet on the issue. When UK prime minister Rishi Sunak appeared before the inquiry last year, he vowed to pay compensation as swiftly as possible. The UK's House of Commons endured a day of acrimony and descended into chaos, concluding with more than an hour of claims and criticism about speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyles handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate. The SNP opted to use one of its allocated Opposition Day Debates to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Advertisement Labour responded by tabling an amendment to the motion calling for an immediate ceasefire, emphasising this involves both sides agreeing to lay down their arms and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas, and calling for a diplomatic process for achieving a two-state solution and a lasting peace. Advertisement SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Labour appeared to have difficulties in supporting the SNPs motion because it said there has been collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Advertisement SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn criticised the Speaker (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) A UK government amendment called for an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting before supporting moves towards a permanent sustainable ceasefire that involves Hamas freeing all hostages and relinquishing control of Gaza, and international efforts to create a two-state solution. Advertisement Here's what happened on one of the chambers most heated days since the Brexit debates of 2016 to 2020. What was expected to happen on Wednesday? This might not be the most exciting place to start, but the first stop is to look at the standing orders, which are the written rules which regulate the proceedings of the Commons. Section 31 (2) explains that when the government tables an amendment to an Opposition Day Debate motion, the original words of the motion will be voted upon first and if rejected then the governments alternative wording will be put to a vote. The expectation, therefore, was that the government amendment to the SNP motion would be selected for debate with both being voted on. Advertisement What did the speaker do? Mr Hoyle said he wanted MPs to consider the widest possible range of options and announced at the start of Wednesdays debates that he would be selecting both the Labour amendment and the government amendment. He acknowledged this was an exceptional move and this provoked uproar in the chamber, with Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne lampooning the speaker by shouting bring back Bercow! a nod to the previous speaker John Bercow, whose controversial tenure concluded with the Brexit wars. Advertisement Mr Hoyle also faced shouts of resign and shame from the SNP and Conservative benches. Why was the speakers decision an issue for many MPs? The SNP have up to three days on which, as the second-largest opposition party, they can lead debates. Advertisement The selection of the amendments by the speaker led them to argue they were being denied an opportunity to have a vote on their motion given that Labours amendment would be voted on first and sought to change its content. Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle announces he has selected amendments tabled by Labour and the government to the SNPs Gaza ceasefire motion (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Claims also circulated that Mr Hoyle had bowed to pressure from Labour to select their amendment, something that was denied. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt accused Mr Hoyle of having hijacked the debate and said it had become a political row within the Labour Party, adding: Regrettably Mr Speaker has inserted himself into that row with todays decision and undermined the confidence of this House in being able to rely on its long-established standing orders to govern its debates. Did anyone else question the decision? Mr Hoyle was warned by House of Commons clerk Tom Goldsmith about the unprecedented nature of his decision ahead of the clash with MPs, with the senior official saying he felt compelled to point out that long-established conventions are not being followed in this case. The clerk is the chief adviser to the House on matters of parliamentary procedure, privilege and broader constitutional issues. What happened next? Advertisement Once tempers had calmed after the speakers initial decision, an actual debate took place in the Commons. Shortly after 6pm and after the SNP frontbench had finished their speech to wind up the debate, Ms Mordaunt made a point of order on behalf of the government. It was at this point she attacked the speakers handling of the matter and suggested the government would take no part in votes linked to the motion. As deputy speaker, Dame Rosie Winterton tried to move towards holding the votes, further points of order were raised during heated exchanges. Mr Flynn repeatedly demanded to know the whereabouts of the speaker before SNP MPs and several Conservative MPs walked out of the chamber in an apparent protest at the handling of matters. It was understood that SNP MPs headed to the voting lobby in anticipation of voting in favour of calls for a ceasefire. So they had a vote? Further points of order continued to be raised, with Conservative MP William Wragg asking if ministers could sign his no confidence motion in the speaker and Ms Winterton denying claims that Mr Hoyle selected Labours amendment amid threats from the party that they would bring him down should they win the election. Advertisement A vote then took place when Mr Wragg rose to ask that the House sat in private. This was defeated but was interpreted by some as a time-wasting ruse in the belief that if the clock ticked past 7pm the moment of interruption for the day that no other votes could take place. Deputy speaker Dame Rosie Winterton reads out the vote result (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Deputy speaker Ms Winterton later said advice had been taken and the vote on the Labour amendment was required to take place regardless of the timing. If MPs had decided the House should sit in private, the galleries would have been cleared and the broadcast feed would have ceased. OK, so at this point there was a vote on the actual debate? Yes. Labours amendment pushing for an immediate Gaza ceasefire was approved by the Commons without a formal vote being called. The deputy speaker ruled that it had been approved on the shouts of MPs. Conservative former minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg later challenged this ruling and said: It is absolutely extraordinary that that noise level was deemed to be aye. Some MPs were left frustrated that a formal vote did not take place, with many wanting to place on record their decision and show their constituents they had supported a ceasefire. And how did the Speaker respond to events? Mr Hoyle returned to the chair once Labours amendment had been approved. He apologised to the Commons amid shouts of resign from some MPs. Advertisement He said he was very, very concerned about the security of all MPs, adding: I wanted all to ensure they could express their views and all sides of the House could vote. As it was, in particular, the SNP were ultimately unable to vote on their proposition. I am, and I regret with my sadness, that its ended up in this position. That was never my intention for it to end like this. I was absolutely convinced that the decision was done with the right intentions. I recognise the strength of feeling of members on this issue. Mr Hoyle also denied meeting Labour adviser Sue Gray on Wednesday. How did MPs respond to the apology? The SNPs Mr Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the speakers position was not now intolerable and claimed his party had been treated with contempt. Mr Hoyle has offered to meet Mr Flynn and other key players to discuss the matter. What is the impact of Labours amendment being agreed? Opposition Day Debate motions are non-binding on the government. But on matters such as this, they at least signal the feeling of the Commons. What was clear from the debate is MPs from all sides want to see an end to the violence in the Hamas-Israel conflict, although they disagree on how best to achieve this. What happens next? It is unlikely the speaker has heard the last of Wednesdays events and business questions on Thursday may be another occasion when Ms Mordaunt and others consider the matter further. The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court's dismissal of convicted rapist Michael Murray's challenge against a disciplinary sanction imposed on him by the prison authorities. Murray lost ordinary privileges at the Midlands Prison for a period of 40 days for throwing a bible at a Judge during a sentencing hearing at the Courts of Criminal Justice in late July 2021. Advertisement At that hearing, Murray was given a 16-year prison sentence for making threats to the barristers who had prosecuted him, and for harassing others involved in his trial. In 2022 Mr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed Murray's action against the Govenor of the Midlands Prison over the sanction. The Govenor was "lawfully entitled" to discipline and sanction Murray in the manner which he did. Murray appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal. Advertisement In its judgement, the three judge COA comprised of Ms Justice Una NI Raifeartaigh, Mr Justice Donald Binchy, and Ms Justice Nuala Butler dismissed all but one of the arguments raised by Murray in his appeal. Advertisement The CoA said it was in agreement with the conclusions reached by the lower court in respect of the sanction imposed on Murray and was correct to dismiss his action in all but one respect. The court did find in Murrays favour in relation to the High Courts refusal to refusal to recommend payment to the legal representatives under the legal Aid Custody Issue Scheme. The CoA said it was prepared to allow the appeal on that issue only. The action arose after Murray, aged 52 years, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney in Co Dublin, was sentenced in July 2021 after being found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of threatening to kill barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy SC. Advertisement He was also convicted of harassing Mr McGinn. He was further convicted of harassing his former solicitor, and against a woman he was convicted of raping by advertising them online as prostitutes. Murray had denied the charges. Murray was excluded from the sentencing hearing, and moved to another courtroom to watch proceedings via a video link, after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. Advertisement Advertisement Murray was convicted in 2013 of the rape and sexual assault of a woman whose child he abducted. He made the threats to the parties on dates between late 2014 and early 2015, while he was serving the 19-year sentence he received for rape. A complaint about his conduct at the hearing was made to the Governor of the Midlands Prison, where he was incarcerated. Following a disciplinary process, Murray received a sanction from the Governor, which involved of a loss of ordinary privileges within the prison, including restrictions on his recreation time, visits and phone calls. Advertisement In his judicial review action against the Governor, where the Irish Prison Service, Minister for Justice & Equality, Ireland and the Attorney General Murray, were notice parties Murray claimed that the Governor was not entitled to impose such a sanction on him. He claimed that the sanction could not be imposed as the alleged misconduct was committed while he was in the custody of the court, and not of the prison authorities. The prison authorities lacked the power to impose a sanction on a prisoner for any breach of the 2007 Prison Rules Act or discipline when that person is in the custody of the court, he also alleged. Any such breach could only be dealt with by the presiding judge by way of a finding of contempt of court, it was further claimed. The claims were denied. In his judgement Mr Justice Meenan said that at the relevant time Murray was in lawful custody outside of the prison and came within the legal definition of a prisoner within the 2007 rules. Murray appealed that decision and argued the High Court had erred in its findings. Giving the CoAs decision Ms Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh said that the court was in no doubt that at all times in the custody of the Governor at the sentencing hearing. The CoA did not accept and was unpersuaded by Murrays important keystone argument that he was in the custody of the court at the time of the book throwing incident. The court added that it did not accept the novel proposition that there is a concept of judicial custody into which a prisoner passes when physically present in a courtroom. The Governor, the CoA concluded, was within jurisdiction and had acted in accordance with the prison rules when the sanction was imposed. A man who was involved in causing an explosion in Germany in 1996 has been given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a violent disorder on a Luas almost eight years ago. On Thursdday Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Michael Dickson (59) of Thornywood Rise, Nottingham, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Four Courts Luas stop on February 6th 2016. Advertisement The court heard the offence occurred on a day a demonstration was due to take place outside the GPO on OConnell Street. Dickson was taking part in a counter demonstration. Dickson has seven previous convictions, one of which is from Germany, where Dickson was sentenced to six years and six months for attempted murder and causing an explosion. Passing the sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said, political violence is never acceptable, and this man and the co-accused had a different view of the men going to a demonstration, but there was no reason to attack them. Advertisement Judge Nolan said he was familiar with this case as he had dealt with the co-accused in this case. Advertisement The judge said this must have terrified other Luas travellers. He noted that Dickson has a serious conviction dating back to 1996, which was dealt with in Germany. Judge Nolan sentenced him to two years in prison, which he suspended in full. He also ordered Dickson to pay 2,500, which would be donated to charity. Detective Sergeant Colm Davison told Kate Egan, BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, a demonstration was due to take place outside the GPO on OConnell Street. Three men were travelling on the Luas to the demonstration and one of them was due to give a speech. Det Sgt Davison said a group of 10 men got on the Luas at Smithfield and surrounded the three men. Advertisement The group of 10 began to interact with the three men, and shouting, punching, and kicking were carried out on the men. CCTV footage from the Luas was obtained by gardai and shown to the court. The group of 10 men exited the Luas at the next stop at the Four Courts. The court heard that the incident lasted for 30 to 40 seconds, and as it happened between two Luas stops and passengers were unable to get off the Luas. The accused was identified and interviewed twice, but nothing of value came from either interview. Advertisement Det Sgt Davison agreed with Paul Murray SC, defending, that the incident occurred in 2016 when an anti-Islamic demonstration was taking place, and his client and the co-accused were taking part in a counter-demonstration. The Det Sgt agreed with counsel that his client was interviewed in 2017 and gave no difficulties to the gardai. He further agreed that no charges were brought against him until October 2018, and at this point, Dickson had returned to the UK. Mr Murray said an extradition application was made in 2023, and his client was arrested in the UK and returned to Ireland voluntarily. Counsel said Dickson was granted bail, and has adhered to all bail conditions. Mr Murray said with regards to the previous conviction in Germany in 1996, it related to a bombing. He said his client was sentenced to six years and served three. He said Dickson was released under the Good Friday Agreement. An American-based Irish dancing teacher and adjudicator has secured a temporary injunction from the High Court in Dublin allowing him to be an examiner at an event in Boston this weekend. On Thursday evening, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey said that he was prepared with "some reluctance" to grant California-based Vinny O'Connor temporary orders relating to the body that regulates and governs Irish dancing, An Coimisiun Le Rinci Galeacha. Advertisement Based on the evidence put before the court in relation to the damage Mr O'Connor claims he will suffer if excluded, the judge said that he was prepared to grant the temporary injunction. The court heard that earlier this year Mr O'Connor was the subject of a disciplinary hearing conducted by the defendant relating to complaint made against him in July 2022. Advertisement Mr O'Connor was sanctioned in the form of a written warning, which will remain on his record for a period, after he was found to have breached the defendant's code of conduct and social media guidelines. However, an allegation that the plaintiff had engaged in gross misconduct was not upheld. Advertisement As a consequence of his written warning, he is not allowed to adjudicate at any major event for the duration of the sanction, the court heard. He claims that while he is an adjudicator, he is also an examiner of Irish dancing which he says are separate functions within the organisation. Mr O'Connor claims that the organisers of the Boston event asked him some time ago to be an examiner at the event. Following the defendants written warning he claims that he was not provided with documentation in respect of the examiner's role in Boston. Advertisement He claims that he sought clarification on his position from the events organisers, but claims to have not got any reply. He claims that on Wednesday of this week he was told by a representative of the defendant expressed the Comisiun's belief that the sanction prevents Mr O'Connor from acting as an examiner at any event run by the defendant. Advertisement He claims that the sanction does not prevent him from acting as an examiner at the event, where he says he will not be performing the duties of an adjudicator. He claims that, as an Irish dancing teacher for many years, his purported exclusion from the Boston event would damage his reputation and have a devastating effect on his career. Advertisement The order was sought from the Irish courts, in respect of an event due to take place in the United States, because the defendant body is based in Dublin. Seeking the injunction, Mr O'Connor's lawyers argued that the sanction, and the suspension, imposed on Mr O'Connor in late January had breached his rights to fair procedures and natural justice. In his ruling, judge said that he was reluctant to make an order that would have the effect of "forcing the two sides together". However, the court accepted that Mr O'Connor has travelled from California to Boston, and that any exclusion from the event would have an adverse impact on Mr O'Connor's reputation. Advertisement The judge said that he was also conscious of the alleged lack of communication from the defendant regarding the effect of its purported sanction on Mr O'Connor's ability to act as an examiner. In the circumstances, the court was prepared to grant an interim injunction restraining the defendant body from preventing Mr O'Connor from acting as an examiner for the Boston event. The event, due to commence on Friday morning in Boston, will run through the weekend and concludes on February 26th. The order was granted on an ex-parte basis, meaning that only one side was present in court. The matter will return before the court next week. Gardai in Donegal seized suspected cannabis valued at around 631,500, during the course of searches at an industrial premises in Donegal town on Wednesday. The searches were conducted by the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by local members from Ballyshannon District at an address in Donegal town. During the course of the search, a large scale growhouse was located with cannabis plants at various stages of growth. Advertisement The drugs seized comprised 500 cannabis plants and 13.5kg of cultivated cannabis herb. The suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis. Gardai in Donegal are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to this growhouse and seizure, to contact the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit on 074 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. No arrests have been made at this time and investigations are ongoing. If the 900MW Moneypoint coal-burning power station in west Clare doesnt convert to Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to produce electricity, "it is possible that extended power outages could occur to cover the Winter peaks in the period 2024 to 2029". That is the stark warning contained in a new ESB Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) Moneypoint Security of Supply application lodged with An Bord Pleanala seeking to convert Moneypoint from a coal-burning power generating station to one powered by HFO for the years 2024 to 2029. Advertisement Consultants for the ESB, Mott MacDonald, state that if the proposed conversion does not occur this would have a significant adverse effect, in terms of energy requirements and supply on the island of Ireland". The planning application includes the construction of two HFO tanks each with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes and the construction phase will result in the creation of 90 to 100 jobs. Advertisement The EIS shows that a Moneypoint conversion to gas was ruled out after the conversion of the three Moneypoint coal units to gas would take five years to design and build. The EIS states that the costs associated with a conversion to gas included an estimated 150 million on a 21km gas pipeline and an additional 90 million to convert the three coal units to gas. The conversion to gas "has the potential to much greater and more complex environmental impacts than the planned HFO conversion. Advertisement Asked to provide the costs of the HFO Moneypoint conversion, a spokesman for the ESB on Thursday said that the ESB "is not in a position to comment on matters relating to commercial contracts on this project". Figures provided in the extensive documentation lodged with An Bord Pleanala show that Moneypoint will continue to be a significant contributor from within the energy sector to greenhouse gas emissions after the conversion from coal to HFO. In the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)s chapter on the impact on climate lodged with the application, it concedes that "emissions from the operation of the proposed development are expected to be major adverse and significant. The EIS states that the proposed development "has a 12 per cent lower emissions intensity than the existing coal-fired plant and presents lower emissions through transition to HFO than a do nothing scenario with continued use of coal. Advertisement Advertisement On the proposed developments impact on climate, the EIS states that the proposed development annual emissions "would be approximately 39-46 per cent of total projected Irish energy sector annual emissions if operating in 2030. The EIS states that a HFO operated Moneypoint is estimated to account for four to five per cent of projected national emissions across all sectors in 2030, which is the closest projection available. The EIS also state that the HFO operated Moneypoint is to operate "with limited run hours from late 2024 until the end of 2029. The 489 page EIS compiled by consultants Mott MacDonald states that the proposed development "will act as an out of market generator of last resort and will operate only when required by EirGrid for security of supply reasons. Advertisement Mott MacDonald state that the project "aims to ensure that the power station remains viable as an energy generation node until 2029. The EIS states that currently Moneypoint "is a strategically important part of the energy generation network and meets on average ca.12-15 per cent of national demand. The report states that after 2029, the ESB intends on transforming the site and redeveloping it as a hub for the offshore renewable sector as part of the ESBs Towards Zero Strategy. The EIS states that the project "also aims to deliver the phasing out of fossil fuels under the Programme for Government. The report states that in recent years, Moneypoint has responded to national demand for electricity, particularly during unscheduled outages of other major generating stations, the Covid-19 pandemic and the prevailing energy crisis. Generating schedules are in place up to 2024, with Moneypoint anticipated to continue to play a key role meeting national electricity demands. An investigation into alleged threats made against DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has detected no criminal offences, the PSNI has said. Mr Donaldson told the UK's House of Commons last month how he had been subjected to threats as he continued his negotiations with the UK government over a deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements. Advertisement The DUP later confirmed the matter had been reported to the police. A PSNI spokesperson said: Inquiries were made, no offences were detected and the investigation has now concluded. Last month a DUP spokesperson said the party trusted those responsible for the threats will be held accountable for their actions. Advertisement DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson recently ended his two-year boycott of the Stormont powersharing institutions (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Donaldson revealed the threats during an impassioned Westminster speech shortly before his party ended its two-year boycott of the Stormont powersharing institutions. He told the Commons: And yet today, because of the stirring up that is going on, I was threatened, threatened, by those who never put on a uniform, by those who havent served our country. Advertisement He added: They are threatening people like me, whos working day and night to try and find solutions and to move Northern Ireland forward on a basis that the vast majority of people can support. Advertisement Well I would just say this to those who stir up, and those who threaten: the provisional IRA attacked me in the past and it didnt deflect me from the task that I have, and my colleagues have, to do our job and to get the best that we can for Northern Ireland. The DUP has been approached for comment. Israels response to the Hamas attack is beyond what is necessary and proportionate, Ireland has told the UNs top court. Irish attorney general Rossa Fanning also told the International Court of Justice that Israel is annexing Palestinian territory and has prevented Palestinian people from exercising their rights to self-determination. Advertisement It further said that states are obliged not to assist in maintaining Israels serious breach of the rights of Palestinian people. Ireland was contributing to a hearing at the ICJ on request for an advisory opinion on the case of Israels policies and practices in Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Advertisement Speaking in The Hague, Mr Fanning first said the Irish Government had profound concern about the background of the hearing. He said the Hamas attacks on October 7th were reprehensible. Advertisement He said: We have condemned them unequivocally, the rape and murder of civilians, destruction of civilian property, the taking of hostages, the use of human shields and the firing of indiscriminate rockets at urban centres constitutes serious violations of international humanitarian law for which those involved must be held accountable. Advertisement However, Mr Fanning said international law limits the use of force in self-defence to no more than what is necessary and proportionate. Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike on residential buildings and a mosque in Rafah, Gaza Strip (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) He added: Irelands view is that these limits have been exceeded by Israel in its military response to the Hamas attack. Advertisement This is manifest from the spiralling death toll, the extensive destruction of property including homes throughout Gaza, the displacement of up to two million people and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe. Mr Fanning noted that Ireland has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, adding that Ireland supports a comprehensive two-state solution. Additionally, the attorney general said Israel is annexing Palestinian territory in the West Bank. Advertisement In Irelands view, Israel is already engaged in the process of annexing Palestinian territory. It is doing so de facto through its policy of encouraging demographic change in that territory by population transfer, and by the continuous development and maintenance of permanent settlements and infrastructure. Advertisement Ireland is concerned that it may also be doing so de jure by increasingly extending the application of domestic Israeli law and civilian administration to the settlements in the OPT, thereby integrating them into its own territory and erasing the differences in law between Israel and the settlements. Mr Fanning said Israeli settlers had continued to unlawfully destroy and appropriate property throughout the OPT, and that Israel had a policy of encouraging and facilitating the expansion of settlements. He said this was a clear breach of international law and the Geneva Convention. The case is being heard at the International Court of Justice in The Hague (PA) Ireland also accused Israel of preventing Palestinian people from exercising their rights to self-determination. Mr Fanning said Israels prolonged occupation of the OPT has increasingly fragmented Palestinian presence and use of their land and resources. It threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. The nature, scale and duration of settlement activist is such that its purpose can only be to permanently obstruct the exercise of the Palestinian peoples rights to self-determination. Mr Fanning added: Ireland has, with regret, concluded that by its prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory and the settlement activities it has conducted there for more than half a century, Israel has committed serious breaches of a number peremptory norms of general international law. Advertisement Ireland said states are obliged to co-operate to bring an end to Israels serious breach of its duty to respect the rights of Palestinian people. Mr Fanning said this meant that states are obliged not to render aid or assistance in maintaining this situation. He said it was Irelands view that all states are required to review trading relationships with settlements in the OPT, requiring them to take steps to prevent trade which maintains settlement activity or implicitly legitimises Israels annexation of that territory. Mr Fanning also told the International Court of Justice that Israels military occupation of the OPT since 1967 has involved extensive, permanent and deliberate settlement building. He said: Neither the duration of the occupation nor the scale and extent of settlement activity is, in Irelands view, justified or permitted by the law regulating the use of force in self-defence. Indeed, if the security of one people can only be achieved by the occupation over so many decades of the territory of another people, one has to wonder whether there can be any military solution to the problem that it purports to address. In our view, the only effective solution to the problem can be a political one. RTE is currently completely unable to release details of executives exit packages dating back to 2016, the director general has said. Kevin Bakhurst said the organisation has been under pressure to release those details but said he has received legal advice that to do so would be breaking the law. Advertisement On publishing that advice, the national broadcaster confirmed that it has asked former executives to waive their right to confidentiality on their exit agreements. It follows the revelation that former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe received a voluntary redundancy package worth 450,000. RTE former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe was given an exit package of 450,000. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Advertisement Mr Bakhurst has also defended a decision to give an exit payment to former strategy director Rory Coveney, who was described as the driving force behind a musical which accrued 2.2 million in losses for the broadcaster. However, the exact amount of the payment has not been disclosed. Advertisement Advice by legal firm Arthur Cox, published by RTE on Thursday, states that both employees and former employees have a legal right that their personal data relating to their employment is not made publicly available. If such information is published, we remain of the view that this would contravene employees contractual and statutory rights thereby exposing RTE to avoidable legal challenge, a letter dated February 21 stated. Advertisement While RTE has sent letters to executives asking them to waive confidentiality themselves, Mr Bakhurst said: I dont want the expectations to be very high because that is entirely their gift to waive their confidentiality. Speaking to RTEs News At One radio programme, the director general said he would be examining other ways of driving transparency looking forward. Mr Coveney, the brother of enterprise minister Simon Coveney, received a package when he resigned and his role was made redundant in July last year the same week Mr Bakhurst took the helm. Advertisement Rory Coveney. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Mr Bakhurst said RTE expects to recoup the cost of the payment to Mr Coveney by July this year. The director general also said there were no grounds to sack Mr Coveney and that if he had taken an unfair dismissal case, he would have typically been entitled to two years pay. Advertisement Mr Bakhurst said, in that circumstance, RTE could potentially have been forced to pay out double what Mr Coveney was actually given. Advertisement These comments have contributed to speculation the payment was approximately one years salary, believed to be up to 200,000. When asked at the time if Mr Coveney had received an exit fee going out the door, Mr Bakhurst told reporters on his first day in the job that there was no ex gratia payment and added that it was not fair to talk about individuals. He said: He didnt get a payment going out the door, but he is entitled, as other people are, to statutory-level payments when they leave an organisation. Asked about the comments on Thursday, Mr Bakhurst said: I was trying to be as accurate as I can within the realms of the confidentiality thats made clear here that he deserves. Acknowledging his comment may have been influenced by his previous work in the UK, he said: Statutory level would normally mean a week for every year of service, is my understanding. So I was trying to give an idea that he did get paid, but not an extortionate amount without giving the exact details. Advertisement I was trying to tread a careful line between being as open as I possibly could in the circumstances but trying to respect whats been laid out in these legal letters. RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. It was put to Mr Bakhurst that a statutory redundancy payment in Ireland, which is two weeks pay capped at 600 euros per week for every year of service plus one bonus week, would likely be less than 20,000 euros in the case of Mr Coveneys 16 years of service. The director general replied: I think that maybe thats where I misspoke. It was further put that he had presented a situation where Mr Coveney was given a modest payment. Mr Bakhurst said: Thats not what I intended at the time. In a separate legal letter from February 21, with the subject line certain arrangements entered into with former employees, Arthur Cox states that the deals agreed represented a better commercial outcome for RTE than alternatives. We can confirm that these arrangements were carefully considered weighing up legal risk along with the cost, time and uncertainty surrounding alternative options. In our view, the terms ultimately agreed represented a better commercial outcome for RTE than the alternative options available combined with the attendant risks associated with same and fell within parameters of similar arrangements we have seen in both the private and semi-state sectors. Advertisement Asked if the organisation would be prevented from publishing the details of only some of the executives exit arrangements due to leaving open a process of elimination for individuals who decline to waive confidentiality, Mr Bakhurst said this would be something RTE would have to look at very carefully. In a third letter dated October 5, it acknowledges RTEs aim for transparency, but said it is in receipt of a number of objections and complaints expressing concerns about the potential disclosure of personal data without the consent of the employees concerned. If such information is published in a manner where employees could be identified then we are of the view that this would create significant employee and industrial relations issues for RTE, as well as potentially resulting in legal exposure depending on the nature of the publication. The potential for such issues is borne out by correspondence RTE has received to date from concerned current and former employees. Arthur Cox also said it is not aware of any contractual provision that contemplates the general publication of employees information, and said the release of sensitive data could undermine the trust and confidence required in employer-employee relationships. Mr Bakhurst said RTE was examining caps on exit payments and looking at making confidentiality agreements very much the exception. Advertisement However, he added: There are ramifications with that. If you put a cap on exit payments, and you are going through a period which you will have to shrink the organisation, you will end up unduly shrinking the organisation by losing junior colleagues because you cant afford to pay off more senior people whether its under an extra scheme or whatever else to go. International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to have gained new momentum as the White House said a visit by a senior envoy with Israeli leaders was going well and other mediators reported encouraging signs from the warring parties. The new signs of progress came ahead of a summit this weekend in Paris, where mediators are expected to offer a new proposal. Advertisement The US, Egypt and Qatar have been struggling for weeks to find a formula that could halt Israels devastating offensive in Gaza, but now face an unofficial deadline as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. White House Middle East envoy Brett McGurk held talks throughout the day with Israeli leaders and families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. At least 70 people have died in overnight strikes in Gaza, officials said (Fatima Shbair/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Spokesman John Kirby said the talks were constructive. The initial indications were getting from Brett are these discussions are going well, Mr Kirby said. A western diplomat involved in the efforts said both sides want a pause. What we have heard from our partners is that they are willing to give concessions, she said. Time is pressing them. Advertisement In new fighting, Israeli strikes killed more than 70 people in southern and central Gaza, Palestinian health officials said on Thursday. Tensions were also rising in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on morning traffic at a road checkpoint, killing one man and wounding five others, Israeli police said. An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Advertisement Israel declared war after Hamas militants stormed across the border on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. The Israeli offensive has left more than 29,000 Palestinians dead, caused widespread destruction, displaced an estimated 80% of Gazas population and fuelled a humanitarian disaster. Roughly half of the hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. About 100 hostages remain in captivity, in addition to the bodies of 30 others who were killed on October 7 or died in captivity. Advertisement Israel is demanding the release of the remaining hostages as part of any pause but has vowed to press ahead with the offensive until Hamass military and governing capabilities are destroyed. Hamas wants an end to the war, a full withdrawal of troops and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners Israel is holding. Advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the Hamas demands as delusional. But in recent days, Israeli leaders have begun to voice cautious optimism and Hamas has signalled it is softening its demands. Defence minister Yoav Gallant, a member of Israels three-man War Cabinet, indicated some flexibility. We will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators, he said. At the same time, he warned that the Israeli army is preparing the continuation of intense ground operations. A mosque was among the buildings hit in air strikes in Rafah (Fatima Shbair/AP) Benny Gantz, who sits on the War Cabinet with Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu, has said that if there is no hostage deal, Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gazas southernmost town, Rafah, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins around March 10. A top Hamas official, meanwhile, voiced hope for lots of breakthroughs in the near future. Advertisement More than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million is crowded into Rafah after fleeing fighting and bombardment elsewhere in the territory. Israel has said it will evacuate them before attacking, but it is not clear where they would go, with much of the rest of the tiny Mediterranean enclave consumed in combat. The US has urged Israel not to invade Rafah believed to be Hamass last major stronghold without a plan to protect civilians. Mr Kirby said that Mr McGurk was pressing the Israelis for details on their thinking about the operation. The heads of 13 UN agencies and five other aid groups issued a joint plea for a ceasefire late Wednesday, warning that an attack on Rafah will bring mass casualties and could deal a death blow to the humanitarian operation bringing aid to Palestinians. Earlier this week, the World Food Programme had to halt food deliveries to northern Gaza because of increasing chaos. If outbreaks of infectious disease, already growing, become severe, they could ultimately cause more deaths than the offensive, a senior official with the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. The health system in #Gaza continues to be systematically degraded. Hospitals have turned into battlefields. Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming. Water is at a trickle. I join @iascch principals in calling for an immediate ceasefire. https://t.co/7wlPYp7UaV Advertisement Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 22, 2024 Infectious disease is a major concern for us in Gaza, Richard Brennan, the WHOs regional emergency director, said at a briefing in Cairo. The foreign ministers of 26 European countries on Thursday called for a pause in fighting leading to a longer ceasefire. Both the western diplomat and an Egyptian official said they have seen encouraging signs from Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian official said Egypt, Qatar and the US would craft a renewed proposal at the talks in Paris, expected on Friday or Saturday. He said mediators managed to water down the demands of both sides, including the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel would release in return for women and elderly hostages during a preliminary six-week ceasefire. He said the discussions are encouraging. He said another sticking point is whether displaced Palestinians could return to their homes in northern Gaza. He said Israel, which is still battling in areas of the north, was showing flexibility. He also said both sides agreed to continue indirect negotiations for a permanent ceasefire something Israeli officials in public have ruled out. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and some of his former top aides have met with police as part of an investigation into allegations they plotted a coup to remove Mr Bolsonaros successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Mr Bolsonaro arrived at Federal Police headquarters in the capital Brasilia, as did some of his former officials, including some top military advisers. Advertisement The former leader chose to remain silent. Supreme Court documents show the alleged plot involved Mr Bolsonaro signing a decree in the event that he lost the 2022 election to declare that the vote was fraudulent, to justify a possible military intervention and convene new elections. President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Markus Schreiber/AP) Advertisement Mr Bolsonaro never issued the decree to set the final stage of the alleged plan in action. Advertisement Bolsonaro has never been sympathetic to any type of coup movement, his lawyer Paulo Bueno told journalists in Brasilia. No-one has been formally charged in the case. A total of 23 people were expected to give statements on Thursday, of which 13 were in Brasilia, according to a federal official. Advertisement Among them were Mr Bolsonaro; his 2022 running mate and minister, General Walter Braga Netto; a former adviser, General Augusto Heleno; former justice minister Anderson Torres; and the head of Mr Bolsonaros Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto. Police can begin to identify inconsistencies or gaps in information, no matter how much they have prepared for it, said Leonardo Paz, a political scientist at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Bolsonaro said before the meeting he would probably decline to comment to police, citing a lack of access to documents. I follow the advice of the lawyers. If they have access (to the file) by tomorrow, obviously Ill talk, he said during an interview with CBN radio on Wednesday. Advertisement Next steps will depend on the information police extract from Thursdays statements. Jair Bolsonaro in 2021 (Michael M Santiago/PA) Brazilian police earlier this month searched the homes and offices of top aides of the former president and of one of his sons, Carlos Bolsonaro. Advertisement Advertisement They also seized the former leaders passport as part of the investigation. Police said in a statement that they targeted suspects who acted to attempt a coup detat. Mr Bolsonaro repeatedly sowed doubt about the reliability of Brazils voting system, never conceded defeat and declined to attend Mr Lulas inauguration, though he left the country and kept a low profile in the days ahead of Mr Lulas swearing-in on January 1 2023. On January 8 2023, Bolsonaro supporters launched a rampage in the capital. The former president, who is barred from running for office again until 2030 after an electoral court ruling against him, has called on supporters to demonstrate in his favour on February 25 in one of Sao Paulos key arteries. Families and friends have begun burying loved ones who were among at least 16 people killed in the collapse of an illegally operated gold mine in a remote area of central Venezuela. The mournful tributes come as demands mounted for government help with the injured and recovered bodies from Tuesdays accident one of the worst in a poorly regulated mining industry that has soared as the Opec nations oil production dwindled. Advertisement The first funerals took place at the cemetery in La Paragua, the community closest to the mine known as Bulla Loca, which had been in operation for only a few months. Officials have raised the death toll to 16, and said there were also 16 injured. The casualty numbers are expected to rise. Advertisement Residents accuse officials in President Nicolas Maduros government of undercounting the full extent of the tragedy. Advertisement Several relatives, neighbours and friends, cried as the casket of 24-year-old miner Santiago Mora was lowered into the ground. We are going to miss you so much, they screamed after placing flowers on the wooden casket. Advertisement Angel Marcano, the pro-Maduro governor of the state of Bolivar where the mine is located, told reporters that all 16 bodies have been turned over to relatives. He said three of the 16 injured remained in hospital. Venezuelas government in 2016 established a huge mining development zone stretching across the central area of the country, to supplement flagging revenue from its dominant oil industry, which has seen production decline to near its lowest levels in decades as a result of mismanagement, corruption and, more recently, US sanctions. Neighbours of miner Santiago Mora attend his burial in Venezuela (Ariana Cubillos/AP) Advertisement Since then, mining operations for gold, diamonds, copper and other minerals have proliferated. Many are wildcat mines, operating on the margins of the law. Despite brutal conditions and the presence of criminal gangs, ordinary Venezuelans continue to flock to mining centres in the hope of getting rich quick and escaping crushing poverty in urban centres, from where more than eight million Venezuelans emigrated in recent years. Advertisement One would not want a colleague, a human being, to die like that, said Carlos Marcano, a miner who survived the collapse and was receiving medical treatment in La Paragua on Wednesday. Some of us made it. There are a few injured, but there are still a number of dead who have not been retrieved. Four students have been injured in a stabbing at a school in the western German city of Wuppertal on Thursday and a suspect, believed to be a student himself, was arrested, authorities said. The incident took place at Wilhelm Dorpfeld high school in the city of some 350,000 people near Duesseldorf and Cologne. Advertisement Police said four students were wounded, as was the suspect, German news agency dpa reported. Top regional security official Herbert Reul said the attack was apparently carried out with a knife by a 17-year-old student. Parents pick up their children after the attack (Martin Meissner/AP/PA) Advertisement Mr Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, said at least two of the victims were seriously injured, as was the suspected assailant. He told the state legislatures home affairs committee he had been told the suspect inflicted injuries on himself. Advertisement There was no word on a possible motive and the suspect was believed to be a lone assailant. Other students were evacuated from the building after the attack. Israeli strikes killed at least 48 people in southern and central Gaza overnight, half of them women and children, health officials said on Thursday. The strikes came as European foreign ministers and UN agencies called for a ceasefire, with alarm rising over the worsening humanitarian crisis and potential starvation in the territory. Advertisement Tensions were also rising in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where three Palestinian gunmen on Thursday opened fire on morning traffic at a motorway checkpoint, killing one person and wounding five others, Israeli police said. Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, announced on Thursday that the government will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators. His comments, delivered in a meeting with US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, signalled a small sign of progress in ceasefire talks. At least 48 people have died in overnight strikes in Gaza, officials said (Fatima Shbair/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Benny Gantz, who sits on Israels War Cabinet with Mr Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said late Wednesday that new attempts are under way to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that could pause the war in Gaza and bring the release of around 130 Israeli hostages held by the militants since their October 7 attack on southern Israel. It was the first Israeli indication of new efforts since negotiations stalled a week ago. But Mr Gantz, a former military chief and defence minister, repeated his pledge that unless Hamas agrees to release the remaining hostages, Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gazas southern-most town, Rafah, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins around March 10. More than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million is crowded into Rafah after fleeing fighting and bombardment elsewhere in the territory. Advertisement Israel has said it will evacuate them before attacking, although it is not clear where they would go, with much of the rest of the tiny Mediterranean enclave consumed in combat raising fears civilian casualties could spiral in an Israeli assault that has already killed more than 29,400 people. The heads of 13 UN agencies and five other aid groups issued a joint plea for a ceasefire late on Wednesday, warning an attack on Rafah will bring mass casualties and could deal a death blow to the humanitarian operation bringing aid to Palestinians, which is already on its knees. Advertisement An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Advertisement Earlier this week, the World Food Programme had to halt food deliveries to northern Gaza because of increasing chaos. The foreign ministers of 26 European countries on Thursday called for a pause in fighting leading to a longer ceasefire. They urged Israel not to take military action in Rafah that would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation. In Thursdays West Bank shooting, an Israeli man in his 20s was killed and five others injured, including a pregnant woman. Advertisement Security forces killed two of the gunmen and detained the third, police said. Hamas praised the attack in Jerusalem and said it was a natural response to Israels ongoing war in Gaza and raids in the West Bank and called for more attacks until they can achieve a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The militant group did not claim responsibility for the attack. A mosque was among the buildings hit in air strikes in Rafah (Fatima Shbair/AP) Since the war began, the Israeli army has carried out near-nightly raids across the West Bank, arresting more than 3,200 Palestinians, including 1,350 it says are suspected Hamas members. Advertisement Meanwhile, a flurry of seven Israeli strikes hit Rafah early on Thursday, one of them flattening a large mosque and devastating much of the surrounding block. Footage from the scene showed al-Farouq Mosque pancaked to the ground, with its concrete domes tumbled around it and nearby buildings shattered. Another strike hit a residential home in Rafah sheltering the al-Shaer family, killing at least four people, including a mother and her child. Strikes in central Gaza overnight killed 44 people, including 14 children and eight women, according to hospital officials. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, after the October 7 attack, in which militants from the territory stormed into southern Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping around 250 people. The US, Israels top ally, has been working with mediators Egypt and Qatar to try to broker a deal for a ceasefire of several months with the release of hostages. Talks stalled last week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas demands for any hostage release a complete end to Israels offensive in Gaza and withdrawal of its troops, along with the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including top militants. Albanias Parliament has approved a deal for the country to hold thousands of migrants rescued in international waters by Italy while their asylum applications are processed, despite protests from opposition lawmakers and human rights groups. Under the five-year deal, Albania would shelter up to 3,000 migrants at any one time. Advertisement With asylum requests expected to take around a month to process, the number of asylum-seekers sent to Albania could reach up to 36,000 in a year. The agreement, signed in November between Albanian prime minister Edi Rama and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, is part of Ms Melonis efforts to share the burden of addressing migration with other European countries. It was endorsed by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen but has been widely criticised by human rights groups. The Parliament, dominated by Mr Ramas left-wing Socialist Party, voted 77 to zero to approve the deal, as conservative opposition lawmakers tried to disrupt the vote with whistles. Advertisement Advertisement The president will also issue a decree as the final step of approval. A group of 30 lawmakers attempted to block ratification by appealing to the Constitutional Court, but in late January the court said a deal could go ahead. Conservative lawmakers have repeatedly disrupted voting since October to protest the Socialist government. Italys lower chamber of parliament approved the deal in January, followed by the Senate earlier this month. Advertisement Two processing centres will be set up in Albania at a cost to Italy of more than 600 million over five years. The facilities would be fully run by Italy while it fast-tracks their asylum requests. Ms Meloni has said she expects them to become operational by the spring of 2024. Italy would remain legally responsible for the migrants throughout the process and would welcome them if they are granted international protection or organise their deportation from Albania if refused. Those picked up within Italys territorial waters, or by rescue ships operated by non-governmental organisations, would retain their right under international and EU law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there. Advertisement Mr Rama has said Albania stands beside Ms Meloni in a sign of gratitude on behalf of Albanians who found refuge in Italy and escaped hell and imagined a better life following the collapse of communism in Albania in the 1990s. Italy has sought more solidarity from fellow European Union nations to help it handle the increasing number of arrivals. The number of migrants arriving in Italy by boat had nearly doubled to about 160,000 compared to the same period a year ago. Advertisement Eating outBrisbane A pair of gun ex-Honto chefs are behind a head-turning new Newstead restaurant Its modern Australian menu features king prawns with XO sauce and pulled lamb with fried puff pastry. Theres also an Aussie-focused wine list with a clutch of Queensland drops. Matt Shea February 22, 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 Monal Dining represents one of the better trends to tumble out of the food scenes pandemic-era shake-up: a talented young chef parting ways with a major hospitality group to roll the dice on his own venue. Until last year, Yogesh Budathoki was sous chef at Honto, one of the citys best restaurants and a linchpin in Anyday, the group that also includes Agnes, Same Same, Bianca and Agnes Bakery. Monal Dinings roasted chicken glazed with lemon molasses and finished with a curry sauce. Markus Ravik Now, hes teamed up with his cousin Roman Bhandari to create this 55-seater, which has been turning heads since opening in Newstead in early January. To walk away from such an amazing company wasnt easy, Budathoki says. I was running the raw bar at Honto, which for someone like me, who came from Nepal, was a real privilege. But at the same time, I knew I wanted to own a small place where everyone can come in and enjoy. Advertisement The exciting new Brisbane restaurants and bars to look for in 2024 We wanted a small neighbourhood venue where we had absolute control of everything where you can go and have a great meal, great drinks and not dig too deep in your pocket. There are operators all over town doing variations on this. Marty Coard, Noam Lissner and Mat Drummond at Ach. Andrew McCrea at Perspective Dining. Ashley-Maree Kent at Ramona Trattoria and Bar Rocco. Ben McShane at Clarence. Sometimes they have a silent backer, sometimes not. But you open a small place with limited seats in a neighbourhood usually a little way out of the city; keep the menu tight and flexible, your overheads low and the tables turning over, and you have a viable small restaurant. Monal Dining opened in Newstead in early January. Markus Ravik Advertisement It helps that landlords and developers are coming to the party, building or making available smaller tenancies. Brisbane, where just about every hospo space once seemed to be at least 250 square metres in size, is a better food city for it. Budathoki has bounced around the local dining scene since arriving from Nepal via Malaysia seven years ago, working at The Calile before moving to Greca, Yoko, and then eventually landing at Honto. Helping head up the kitchen at Monal is former Honto head chef Jake Smith. Smiths extended resume includes stints at Little Valley and Southside, and Bucci and Harrisons in Port Douglas. All those influences and experience have been poured into a menu that Budathoki and Smith shorthand as modern Australian. Thats a much more multicultural concept than it used to be, Budathoki says. Its a melting pot of different cultures, different nationalities. Thats what were trying to do with the food. Advertisement I wanted to own a small place that everyone can come in and enjoy, says co-owner Yogesh Budathoki. Markus Ravik Its as much an excuse for us to do whatever we want, Smith says. We dont want to be pigeonholed by anything weve done in the past we have Hokkaido scallops [with apple, chilli and cods roe] but then we have the momos with hemp seed sauce [and chilli oil]. There are so many different things on there but its all designed to work together. Elsewhere on the snacks and small plates menu, there are Wagyu intercostal skewers with labneh, tuna tartare with fried potato and bottarga; pulled lamb with fried puff pastry and chilli mayonnaise; and Mooloolaba king prawns with with XO butter and mustard cress. This Coorparoo bar thats not a bar is one of summers most essential Larger plates include roasted chicken glazed with lemon molasses and finished with a curry sauce; braised lamb shoulder with a tomato and chilli bean sauce; and grilled barramundi with a spring onion and ginger relish, and finished with a light soy broth. Advertisement The modern Australian theme stretches to the drinks with a 70(ish)-bottle wine list that mostly favours independent local producers, including a clutch of Queensland drops, with a generous allocation by the glass that encourages exploration. Otherwise, there are six signature cocktails and a clutch of beers (with two on tap). For Monals design, Budathoki asked Cluis Callum Lui to work up a look that was more or less based on the food. Chefs Yogesh Budathoki and Jake Smith describe Monal Dinings menu as modern Australian. Markus Ravik They were asking, What kind of lighting do you want? Budathoki says. And I said, Im not really into that. Its our first venue and a learning curve, so what I did instead was write them a menu to give an idea of what were trying to do. Its resulted in a neatly designed eatery, the defining feature a green leather banquette that traces along the Skyring Terrace side of the venue. Inside, its timber tables and bentwood chairs; outside, smart tile-topped tables and mushroom touch lamps. Theres nothing show-stopping like an open kitchen with a fiery hearth, but then that helps keep your focus on whats on the plate in front of you. Advertisement The response has been very, very positive, Budathoki says. Weekday tables are starting to fill up, and people are saying theyve been recommended the restaurant by a friend or work colleague. You cant pay for that sort of advertising. Almost half of our crowd is from word-of-mouth, which is exactly what we wanted. Open Tue-Thu 5.30pm-late; Fri-Sat 12pm-3pm, 5.30pm-late. 48 Skyring Terrace, Newstead, 0435 882 342. monaldining.com.au Fremantle architect Simon Pendal said it was important to do everything to keep the tree standing, given the protection it provided against severe heat, such as the temperatures Perth has experienced recently. The huge tree sits on private land along with a heritage-listed building, which is now up for sale. Without the protection of the register, there are fears developers could cut the tree down. The removal of a 130-year-old Moreton Bay fig tree from the City of Fremantles significant tree protection register has spurred an uproar in the community. Pendal told Radio 6PR that while many could say the tree made the site harder to develop, he would argue it should be seen as an asset that only increased the value of the land. He said old and large trees should accrue the same kind of respect as other old assets and be valued for their heritage. Its been the Perth way, probably from the 60s onwards, to see things like this tree as an impediment, but I think that has shifted greatly in the last 15 years, he said. Pendal has signed a petition calling for the new developers to save the tree, which had more than 8300 signatures as of Thursday morning. Owner Pamela Cattalini told the Fremantle Herald the property had been in her family for about 60 years, and cleaning up the figs it dropped for months of the year was a mammoth undertaking. Serial shoplifters will face jail time as the government expands sentencing options available to Western Australias courts. Shopkeepers and magistrates have expressed frustration at current laws where, if a person was charged with stealing an item worth $1000 or less, the thief would only face a fine at most. The tougher penalties will keep retail workers safer, the government says. Credit: Louie Douvis In January, Perth Magistrate Brian Glustein lamented he had little choice but to release two people who had repeatedly stolen alcohol from liquor stores, and that unless the laws were changed, there was nothing else he could do. As a last resort, liquor retailer Endeavour Group which owns BWS and Dan Murphys took the unrelenting battle with the serial thieves into its own hands, with a representative serving Nicholas Terrance Mark Rodd and Janelle Gail Martin with storewide bans as they walked out of court. Australian political leaders should push for the creation of Cold War-style red telephone hotline between the US and China to help prevent a misunderstanding between the superpowers spiralling into a catastrophic conflict, a new report argues. In a detailed report for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Australian National University expert associate William Leben writes that there is a real possibility of a war in the Indo-Pacific in the near future. Taiwanese forces conducting an anti-invasion drill on a beach. Credit: Getty The most likely triggers are a conflagration in North Korea, a conflict over Taiwan or a dispute in the South China or East China seas, he argues. Leben writes that the increased vulnerability of large surface ships to drone and missile attacks could raise the likelihood of a maritime conflict because of the perceived military advantage to whichever side strikes first. Wage price index support The surge in average earnings is supported by an increase in the wage price index, which climbed by 4.2% in the year to the December quarter. This rate signifies the highest annual rise in underlying wage growth since the March quarter of 2009. Both the private sector, with a 4.4% rise, and the public sector, up by 4.9%, contributed to the growth. While we welcome the amendments made to the Bill since it was first introduced, we will continue to work with the government and the Senate to ensure that this Bill maintains Australias appeal as an investment destination, he said. Bertolino reasoned that he and the family werent able to disclose the fact due to the frenzied atmosphere at the time. (Photo: North Port Florida Police Handout/Reuters) The prolonged legal dispute stemming from the tragic death of Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old travel blogger, has come to a close with a confidential settlement reached between her parents and the family of her fiance, Brian Laundrie, along with their attorney, Steven Bertolino. This resolution preemptively ends what was poised to be a contentious civil trial set for May, sparing both families further legal and emotional turmoil. Gabby Petito's disappearance and subsequent death captured national attention, unfolding a narrative of mystery, tragedy, and the pursuit of justice. Her parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, had filed a lawsuit accusing Brian Laundrie's parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, of being complicit in concealing Gabby's fate after she was murdered by Brian during a cross-country trip. The lawsuit also implicated the Laundries' attorney, Steven Bertolino, alleging that his public statements during the search for Gabby were designed to mislead and inflict emotional distress on her grieving family. The settlement, details of which remain undisclosed, was reached after an exhaustive mediation session involving both families and their legal representatives. "After a long day of mediation, a confidential resolution has been reached... to which all parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict," announced the Petito family's legal team in a statement to WFLA. This agreement marks a significant moment of closure for both parties, aiming to put an end to the legal wrangling and allow them to honor Gabby's memory in a more peaceful manner. The backdrop to this settlement is a tale of heartbreak and controversy. Gabby Petito's body was discovered on September 19, 2021, in Wyoming, with the cause of death later determined to be strangulation. The lawsuit against the Laundries hinged on the accusation that they had prior knowledge of Brian's guilt and misled Gabby's parents during the search, offering false hope of her safe return. Adding to the complexity were revelations from court documents and depositions. Brian Laundrie's "frantic" voicemails to his parents in the aftermath of the murder, as described in the lawsuit, painted a picture of a troubled young man. Chris and Roberta Laundrie's depositions acknowledged their son's distressed state upon his return home without Gabby, yet they maintained ignorance of her death until her body was found. The legal battle also extended to discussions around attorney-client privilege and the potential role of insurance in any civil judgment, illustrating the multifaceted nature of the case. Prior to reaching the settlement, the families had engaged in negotiations that included a previously rejected settlement offer, highlighting the contentious path to resolution. This settlement not only avoids a trial but also concludes a chapter of a story that has resonated deeply across the nation, drawing attention to issues of domestic violence and the complexities of grief and justice. Both families have expressed a desire to move forward, with the Petitos focusing on their foundation's work to combat domestic violence, a testament to Gabby's enduring legacy. This case leaves a lasting impact on public consciousness, serving as a somber reminder of the human stories behind headlines and legal proceedings. As both families look to the future, the memory of Gabby Petito continues to inspire efforts toward a world free from domestic violence, even as the legal aspects of her case come to a close. The trending shares of the Nikkei and the Shanghai Stock Exchange is displayed outside s local brokerage in Japan. (Photo: REUTERS/Issei Kato) Japan's Nikkei 225 index has soared to unprecedented heights, eclipsing the peak set during the bubble era of 1989 and signaling a new chapter in the country's economic narrative. The index closed at 39,098.68, up by 2.2%, surpassing the previous high of 38,915.87 established over three decades ago. This surge is particularly notable against the backdrop of Japan's current economic challenges, including a recession and weakening indicators across exports, manufacturing, and services. The journey from the depths of post-bubble stagnation, where the Nikkei once languished below 7,000, to this new zenith has been propelled by a confluence of factors. The revival began with a series of market-boosting measures initiated by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013, and the momentum has been sustained by robust foreign investment, particularly in technology shares. The rally on Thursday was significantly buoyed by the semiconductor sector, following Nvidia's announcement of a tripling in revenue due to the burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence technology. Major Japanese tech firms like Tokyo Electron, Advantest Corp., and SoftBank Group Corp. witnessed substantial gains, contributing to the Nikkei's historic rise. This resurgence comes at a time when global investors are increasingly turning their gaze towards Japan, shifting away from markets like China due to its economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions with the United States. The attractiveness of Japanese stocks has been further enhanced by record corporate earnings and significant improvements in corporate governance. Hiromi Yamaji, Group CEO of the Japan Exchange Group, noted the shift in investor sentiment, particularly among the younger generation who are less deterred by the memories of the past bubble's burst. This changing demographic, along with the introduction of the Nippon Individual Savings Account program offering tax-free gains, has injected new vigor into the Japanese stock market. Moreover, the weak yen has made Japanese stocks more appealing to foreign investors, with international buyers doubling their purchases of Japanese stocks in January compared to a year earlier. The technology sector, in particular, has been a significant winner, mirroring trends in the United States. Despite these gains, experts assert that Japanese shares are not overvalued, with the Tokyo market's price-to-earnings ratio standing at about 16, compared to higher ratios in other major markets. This suggests room for further growth, with some traders like Tony Sycamore of IG in Sydney predicting that the Nikkei could soon target the 40,000 mark. The Nikkei's record-breaking performance has been met with cautious optimism in Tokyo's brokerages, a stark contrast to the exuberance of 1989. This tempered response reflects a broader recognition that while the stock market's resurgence is a positive sign, it is not wholly indicative of the overall health of the economy. As Japan navigates this new financial era, the focus will increasingly be on sustaining this growth through continued innovation, strategic investments, and adaptive economic policies, ensuring that the market's rise translates into broader economic benefits. Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Democrats After Failed Mayorkas Impeachment Vote (Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America/CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)) Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has launched a vehement critique of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the judge presiding over her ethics case, in light of revelations that the judge had previously contributed to Willis' campaign. The controversy stems from a report by the Daily Caller, which unearthed a $150 donation made by Judge Scott McAfee to Willis in 2020, prior to his 2023 judicial appointment. This discovery has fueled allegations of bias, particularly as Willis is currently leading the prosecution against Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case. Greene took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to denounce Willis as a "corrupt liar," reacting to the judge's past financial support for Willis. The Republican lawmaker's comments come amidst the backdrop of a high-stakes legal battle, with Trump and 18 co-defendants facing criminal racketeering charges for their alleged efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 electoral results. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, has denounced the case as a politically motivated attack against his GOP presidential nomination campaign. The case has been further complicated by allegations of a personal affair between Willis and Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor appointed by Willis. Michael Roman, one of Trump's co-defendants, raised the issue, suggesting that Willis and Wade had misused taxpayer funds. Despite admitting to their romantic involvement, Willis and Wade have refuted any claims of a conflict of interest. The controversy led to a hearing on February 15 and 16 to decide Willis' continued involvement in the Trump case. Amidst these developments, Greene's demand for Willis' removal from the case has gained traction, with the congresswoman leveraging her platform to question the integrity of the judicial process in Georgia. This is not Greene's first foray into the matter; she previously filed a complaint accusing Willis of breaching state transparency and ethics regulations by failing to submit financial disclosure statements since commencing the investigation into Trump. In a separate but related incident, an employee at a Napa Valley winery shared a peculiar anecdote about Willis, who reportedly paid $400 in cash for wine tasting and purchases last year. This account emerged during a hearing centered on the motion filed by Trump's co-defendant, which questioned the propriety of Willis' relationship with Wade. The anecdote aligns with Willis' testimony, where she emphasized her preference for cash transactions, a practice she attributed to her father's influence. As the legal and ethical inquiries surrounding Willis and the Trump case continue to unfold, the court awaits further proceedings, including summations and a ruling on the motion to potentially disqualify Willis. Meanwhile, Trump has initiated a separate motion to disqualify Willis based on allegations of inciting "racial animus" in a speech. With investigations by the Senate Special Committee on Investigations and the House Judiciary Committee underway, the controversy surrounding Willis and the Georgia election interference case shows no signs of abating. The lack of an Indian carrier in the list would mean that the new plans would not work on domestic flights Bharti Airtel on Thursday introduced in-flight roaming packages that will allow its subscribers to use the internet and make online calls during international flights for the first time. Airtels partnership with UK-based Aeromobile, a mobile service provider for the aviation industry, will allow high-speed voice calling for both prepaid and postpaid customers when flying on any of its 19 partner airlines, the company said. This includes Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Cathay Pacific, among others, Aeromobiles website shows. The lack of an Indian carrier in the list would mean that the new plans would not work on domestic flights. Airtels primary rival Reliance Jio had begun offering in-flight connectivity on international routes back in 2020, partnering with Aeromobile. Starting at Rs 195 for 250 megabytes (MB) of data, the plans include 100 minutes of outgoing calls and 100 SMS with a 24-hour validity. Apart from the entry-level plan, a Rs 295 plan for 500 MB, and Rs 595 for 1 gigabyte (GB) was announced. Customers subscribed to roaming packs priced at Rs 2,997 for prepaid and Rs 3,999 for postpaid and above will automatically enjoy the in-flight roaming benefit at no additional cost, the company said. Aeromobile is a subsidiary of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. AeroMobiles services are available for installation either at the point of aircraft manufacture (linefit) or on aircraft in service (retrofit) across both Airbus and Boeing aircrafts. Airtel has been at the forefront of providing seamless mobile connectivity to customers across the country. Today, we are thrilled to bring the same service on-board a flight through our in-flight roaming packs that will allow customers to enjoy high-speed internet and seamless voice calling that will help them stay connected with their loved ones while on a flight, Amit Tripathi, director, customer experience and marketing, Bharti Airtel, said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a gathering during the golden jubilee celebration of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Photo: PTI Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Thursday urged stakeholders to make the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the apex organisation that markets products under the Amul brand, the worlds largest dairy company. Modi made the pitch while addressing nearly 100,000 people at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, to celebrate the golden jubilee celebration of the GCMMF. The co-operative, which began operations in 1973-74, saw its revenues touch Rs 72,000 crore in FY23. It has its sights set on becoming a Rs 1 trillion company by FY25-26, and currently exports to more than 50 countries. At present, Amul (GCMMF) is the world's eighth-biggest dairy sector company. You all need to make it the world's largest dairy company. My government is with you in this endeavour and it is Modi's guarantee, the PM said in his address. Giving an overview of India's booming dairy sector, he said it is growing at a rate of 6 per cent per annum while the global dairy sector is growing at 2 per cent. Jayen Mehta, GCMMF managing director, told Business Standard: Amul fully supports the honourable Prime Ministers vision of becoming the worlds largest dairy company. We already expect our revenues to be more than Rs 80,000 crore by the end of this financial year. It is already the worlds strongest dairy brand. PM Modi was accompanied by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and state BJP president CR Paatil at the event. Amul was established as the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and later, the GCMMF came into existence. The GCMMF is a model that showcases how the cooperative sector and government can work together. Thanks to that model, India has become the world's biggest milk producer today, Modi added. R S Sodhi, the former managing director of GCMMF said: I am lucky to have spent 41 years at Amul. When I joined the co-operative in 1982, it then had a turnover of Rs 121 crore and when I left, its turnover touched Rs 72,000 crore. I have seen Amuls journey to become a strong food company. The founders of the co-operative have put together a tremendous and efficient supply chain from farmer to the consumer and all stakeholders are happy, Sodhi added. He said that GCMMF focused on building its own distribution network in the 1980s because its milk was earlier distributed by super stockists. In the next decade, the co-operative went on to become the No.1 ice cream brand. GCMMFs biggest milestone was to take milk production outside of Gujarat after 2010. Currently, the GCMMF has 18 member unions with more than 3.6 million farmers across 18,600 villages in Gujarat. Over the past 50 years, GCMMF has played a critical role in making India the worlds largest milk producer, accounting for 24 per cent of global milk production, it said in a release. GCMMF came into existence on July 9, 1973, when six dairy cooperatives joined hands under the leadership of social entrepreneur and dairy engineer Verghese Kurien, fondly remembered as the Milkman of India. With the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) set to clinch seat-sharing agreements in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh, and negotiations in final stages in Bihar, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the constituents of the INDIA bloc are on course to field a single candidate on at least 300 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. It would also mean that the Congress is set to contest the least number of seats since 1952. If its seat-sharing negotiations with its allies come through, the party may contest at least a hundred fewer seats than it did in 2019. In 2019, the BJP contested 436 seats and the Congress 421 seats. The Congress and AAP, sources in the two parties said, have concluded their seat-sharing understanding in Delhi, Chandigarh, and Gujarat, while discussions are on to reach an agreement in Haryana. A formal announcement is likely soon. Of Delhis seven seats, the AAP will contest four and the Congress three. Of Gujarats 26 seats, the AAP could contest Bharuch and Bhavnagar seats. In 2014 and 2019, the BJP swept all of Delhi and Gujarats seats. In Haryana, the AAP is vying for one of the states 10 seats. While the parties have ruled out any alliance for Punjab, the Congress is set to contest the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, with the AAP agreeing not to field a candidate. Sharing so far Delhi (7): AAP and Cong clinch seat-sharing; AAP to contest 4 and Cong 3 Gujarat (26): AAP could contest 2 seats (Bhavnagar and Bharuch) and Congress 24 Haryana (10): AAP vying to contest one seat, Congress to contest the rest Chandigarh (1): Congress to contest, AAP not to field its candidate Sources said the AAP surrendered its earlier claim to contest Congress sitting South Goa seat. In Goa, the Congress and BJP shared a seat each. The INDIA bloc alliances for Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar are set to be announced by the first week of March. Goa (2): AAP to support Congress on both seats Seat-sharing in Bihar (40), Jharkhand (14), Maharashtra (48) and Tamil Nadu (39) in final stages In 2024 LS polls, Congress set to contest its least number of seats since 1952 SP-Congress seat sharing for UP (80 seats) announced on Wednesday INDIA set to field a single candidate in at least 300 of the 543 seats Congress contested 421 seats in 2019 and 464 in 2014, but its likely to contest 100 fewer seats in 2024 BJP contested 436 seats in 2019 and 428 in 2014 BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms In a significant move, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has accorded approval for procurement of more than 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and associated equipment for the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 19,000 crore, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The missiles will largely be deployed on various warships to enhance overall combat capabilities of the Navy, they said. It is learnt that the proposal approved by the CCS entails acquisition of a mix of BrahMos missiles having a range of around 290 km and the latest extended range variant of the weapon with a range of around 450 km. BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. The formal contract for acquisition of the missiles is expected to be sealed in the next few months. India is also exporting the BrahMos missiles. In January 2022, India sealed a USD 375 million deal with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of the missile. The supplies of the missiles to the Southeast Asian country are set to begin next month. A few other countries including Argentina have also shown interest in procuring BrahMos missiles from India. The approval to Rs 19,000 crore procurement project comes amid renewed focus on maritime security in the wake of China's growing forays into the Indian Ocean. The IAF has already integrated the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on some Sukhoi fighter jets. India has been focusing on bolstering its overall combat capabilities in the last few years. Last week, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved acquisition projects worth Rs 84,560 crore that included procurement of mid-air refuellers, heavy weight-torpedoes, air defence radars and new generation anti-tank mines. The DAC also accorded initial approval for procurement of medium range maritime reconnaissance and multi-mission aircraft for strengthening the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. A data breach that affected the systems of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in 2018 and exposed the personal data of millions of Indians was found to have been "repackaged" by a Chinese cyber agency, a preliminary investigation by New Delhi's cybersecurity agency said.However, when news of the purported breach initially surfaced in 2018, the EPFO denied that its systems were compromised, claiming that the vulnerability was exploited from systems of the Common Service Centre (CSC).Meanwhile, on Monday, a considerable amount of information was leaked on GitHub as part of documents pertaining to Chinese cyber agencies, indicating that these agencies were either engaged in the initial hack or acquired the compromised data afterward, a senior government official told The Indian Express.Following that, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) opened an investigation to ascertain whether the data in these documents was new or the result of earlier breaches.According to the information posted on GitHub, the leaked database contains information from many Indian institutions, both government and private. It claims to contain data on the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), BSNL users, and information on firms like Air India and Reliance."Cert-In had carried out a preliminary probe into the claims, and it appears that the EPFO data present in the documents is from 2018 when its systems were impacted," a senior government official told The Indian Express.At the time of the breach in 2018, a senior EPFO official stated that the alleged data leak occurred "on the CSC software" rather than "on the EPFO server or software." However, a CSC representative refuted the claims, stating that the concerned application was on the EPFO server and that the CSCs had nothing to do with the incident."No confirmed data leakage has been established or observed so far. As part of the data security and protection, EPFO has taken advance action by closing the server and host service through Common Service Centres pending vulnerability checks, the EPFO had said.However, the Cert-In's preliminary findings all but indicate that the EPFO system was infiltrated in 2018.Over the past few years, India has witnessed a barrage of cybersecurity-related incidents, the most recent of which being a high-profile attack on AIIMS Delhi's systems in 2022, posing a significant challenge to New Delhi's national security imperatives.According to the 2023 India Threat Landscape Report by Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Cyfirma, India is the most targeted country in the world, accounting for 13.7 per cent of all cyberattacks. The United States is the second most targeted country, accounting for 9.6 per cent of all attacks. Indonesia and China follow, accounting for 9.3 per cent and 4.5 per cent of all attacks, respectively.Recognising the need to strengthen the cybersecurity landscape of the country's critical sectors, the Centre has developed a policy recommending that enterprises, particularly those in critical sectors such as banking, telecom, and energy, use only security products and services developed in India.The policy, known as the National Cybersecurity Reference Framework (NCRF), aims to create an implementable measurewith clear articulation of cybersecurity tasks and responsibilitiesbased on existing legislation, policies, and guidelines. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which spearheaded an agitation in 2020-21 against three farm laws that have since been repealed, will hold a meeting here on Thursday to discuss the situation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana where thousands of farmers are camping as part of the "Delhi Chalo" call given by their organisations. Several SKM leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and other states have assembled here for the meeting. Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said the SKM will discuss what happened at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points on Wednesday. Besides, the farmers' body will also take a decision on how to support the ongoing agitation, Lakhowal added. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading the "Delhi Chalo" march to press the BJP-led Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm loan waiver. However, the SKM is not a part of the "Delhi Chalo" march. Farmer leaders put the march on hold for two days on Wednesday after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri. The deceased farmer was identified as Shubhkaran Singh (21), a resident of Ballo village in Bathinda district of Punjab. Police fired tear-gas shells at the two border points multiple times to disperse the protesters when they attempted to move towards the layers of barricades stalling their march to the national capital. Thousands of farmers are camping at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Wednesday that they will decide the next course of action on Friday evening. The Punjab farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during the agitation against the three farm laws in 2020-21. The government on Thursday permitted traders to export 54,760 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, Mauritius, Bahrain and Bhutan till March 31. "We have allowed export of 50,000 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, 1,200 tonnes to Mauritius, 3,000 tonnes of Bahrain and 560 tonnes to Bhutan with immediate effect," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. Traders are allowed to export this quantity till March 31. The modalities are being worked out, he said. Singh said the decision has been taken following a recommendation from the external affairs ministry. Currently, there is a ban on onion exports till March 31. The ban was imposed on December 8, 2023, in order to boost the domestic supply and check price rise. The UN's humanitarian appeal to meet needs in Ukraine is only 10% funded for 2024, the country's resident coordinator said Wednesday, putting in jeopardy crucial assistance needed to reach those in need across frontline areas. Denise Brown, the UN's top representative in Ukraine, said an estimated 8.5 million Ukrainians living in dire conditions near combat zones risk going without basic humanitarian deliveries, including food and water. The UN's annual appeal for Ukraine is $3.1 billion. If we don't receive that money, I don't know where that money is going to come from, Brown told The Associated Press in an interview. Without the funds, we won't be able to sustain the high number of colleagues that we have here who are absolutely dedicated to humanitarian support." As the future of military aid to Ukraine hangs in the balance, Brown is lobbying the international community and private sector to remember that humanitarian needs are also high. Ukraine's economy is still suffering the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion two years ago, families are separated by war and millions of Ukrainians living near frontline areas have little access to food and are unable to meet basic needs. There's a lot left to support, Brown said. The UN's aid deliveries to such areas across the frontline, where electricity and running water are scarce, often consist of basic supplies, Brown said. UN teams, along with partner organisations, make deliveries across embattled zones in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kharkiv. In 2023, deliveries targeted 11 million people. Needs include water and hygiene kits, which include toothpaste, toilet paper and sanitary napkins. Very often it's things like adult diapers because of the elderly people in those communities who don't have mobility, said Brown. So basic, but crucial. The intensification of battles hinders the UN's access or limits delivery times. Frontline areas like Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, for example, was inaccessible for several months. So we're always hoping that the last supplies that were delivered will be enough to carry people through, she added. A Chinese research ship arrived in the Maldives on Thursday, global ship-tracking data showed, just three months after a similar vessel visited the Indian Ocean and sparked New Delhi's security concerns. The visit follows January comments by a U.S. think tank that China's navy could "leverage the insights gained from these missions" for deployment of naval forces, a claim Beijing calls part of a concocted image-smearing "China threat" narrative. Xiang Yang Hong 03, owned by a research institute that reports to China's natural resources ministry, made a port call in the Maldives capital of Male, data from MarineTraffic showed, more than a month after leaving its home port of Xiamen in southeastern China. Prior to its arrival, the civilian ship had spent more than three weeks surveying waters just outside the exclusive economic zones of India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the ship-tracking data showed. China's foreign ministry has said research by the vessel was "exclusively" for peaceful purposes to benefit scientific understanding. In recent years, India has voiced concern about the presence of China's research vessels in the Indian Ocean, even if they do not belong to the military. An Indian security official has previously said the vessels were "dual-use", meaning the data they gather can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Xiang Yang Hong 03 has visited the Indian Ocean multiple times. It sailed through the Sunda Strait in Indonesia in 2021, alarming Indonesian authorities, who said it had switched off its tracking system three times. Chinese research vessels have also stopped in nearby Sri Lanka. In 2022, Yuan Wang 5, a military vessel capable of tracking rocket and missile launches, arrived in Colombo, alarming India. The last time a Chinese research vessel docked in Sri Lanka was in October 2023, reviving India's concerns. But in January, the island nation imposed a year-long moratorium on foreign research ships, effectively denying China a port of call. Xiang Yang Hong 03's arrival follows a January visit to China by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu that upgraded ties, with Beijing offering 920 million yuan ($128 million) in "free aid". The Maldives has said the vessel would do no research in its waters, stopping only for personnel rotation and replenishment of supplies. Lenovo is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the worlds largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of New IT technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovos world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992)(ADR: LNVGY). Motorola Mobility LLC was acquired by Lenovo Group Holdings in 2014. Motorola Mobility is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lenovo and is responsible for designing and manufacturing all Moto and Motorola branded mobile handsets and solutions. and read about the latest news via our and To know more, click on the link To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com Seclore, the leading provider of data-centric security solutions, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Justin Endres, Chief Revenue Officer, to the prestigious 2024 CRN Channel Chiefs list, which recognizes the IT vendor and distribution executives who are driving strategy and setting the channel agenda for their companies. Endres, who joined Seclore in August 2023, has over 20 years of experience in the channel having previously held executive roles at cybersecurity companies such as SolarWinds, AlienVault (acquired by AT&T), and Webroot (acquired by Carbonite). In his short time, he has played a vital role in building out Seclores channel program, helping close multiple seven-figure deals and achieve the best quarter in company history. Its an honor to have been named to CRNs Channel Chiefs list, said Justin Endres, Chief Revenue Officer of Seclore. I joined Seclore to help more customers and partners around the world unlock the power of data-centric security and overcome the challenges traditional cybersecurity solutions have failed to address. We live in an era where 'good enough security is not good enough. Seclore continues to bring exceptional value to customers by protecting their most sensitive digital assets with exceptional usability at scale." The Channel Chiefs list, released annually by CRN, showcases the top leaders throughout the IT channel ecosystem who work tirelessly to ensure mutual success with their partners and customers. These channel evangelists are dedicated to supporting solution providers and achieving growth by implementing robust partner programs and unique business strategies, said Jennifer Follett, VP, US Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. Their efforts are instrumental in helping partners bring essential solutions to market. The Channel Company is pleased to acknowledge these prominent channel leaders and looks forward to chronicling their achievements throughout the year. CRNs 2024 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. About Seclore Protecting the worlds sensitive data wherever it goes. Seclore protects and controls digital assets to help enterprises close their data security gap to prevent data theft and achieve compliance. Our data-centric approach to security ensures that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive digital assets, inside and outside of their organization. Enterprises can set automated policies and enable users to control and revoke who has access, what access they have, and for how long. Learn why leading enterprises like American Express and Applied Materials choose Seclore to protect and control their digital assets without sacrificing seamless collaboration and data sharing. For Seclore Media Inquiries, please reach out to [email protected] About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2024. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221578697/en/ About the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C., and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States. About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. 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The Tennessee Board of Regents will hold a special called meeting next Wednesday to consider appointments of the next presidents of Cleveland State Community College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Harriman, and TCAT Henry/Carroll.The meeting will be held by teleconferencing at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, and will be livestreamed and archived on the TBR website at https://www.tbr.edu/board/february-28-2024-special-called-board-meeting. Board materials are posted at the same link.Anyone needing direct access to the Microsoft Teams teleconference, other than the livestream above, should contact Board Secretary Mariah Perry at mariah.perry@tbr.edu or 615-366-3927 by 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27.Search committees recommended and announced three finalists for each of the three college presidencies. The finalists participated in public forums on the respective campuses. The finalists for each college, their resumes and information about each search are posted for review on the TBR President and Executive Searches webpage (https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches).TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings is reviewing input from the forums and conducting final interviews in preparation for making recommendations to the board for a single candidate for each presidency.Persons who want to request to address the board regarding the meetings agenda item should follow the process authorized by the Requests to Address the Board Policy here: https://policies.tbr.edu/policies/requests-address-board.Prior releases announcing the finalists for each college are available here: Cleveland State Community College: https://www.tbr.edu/news/three-finalists-selected-next-president-cleveland-state-community-college-public-forums-set-feb Tennessee College of Applied Technology Harriman: https://www.tbr.edu/news/three-finalists-selected-next-president-tennessee-college-applied-technology-harriman-campus Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll: https://www.tbr.edu/news/three-finalists-selected-next-president-tcat-henrycarroll-campus-public-interviews-set-jan-9 Registration is now open for BASFs TECH Academy, a program that introduces rising high school juniors and seniors in Hamilton County to technical and craft careers. The BASF program, in partnership with Chattanooga State Community College, kicks off the week of June 10 and guides students through hands-on demonstrations and experiments at Chattanooga State, while leading career-focused discussions with BASF personnel and providing tours of local employers."TECH Academy provides immersive learning experiences, classroom sessions and visits to nearby facilities, leveraging the knowledge of industry experts in manufacturing to introduce students to the diverse technical careers awaiting them, said Shelly King, site director of BASFs facility in Chattanooga.The program will show participants what it is like working as an operator, instrument technician, maintenance technician, lab technician, welder and many other jobs.Topics such as engineering practices, 3D printing, mechatronics and robotics are explored in classroom and in-field settings.This year, TECH Academy students will enjoy tours of Komatsu, Chattanooga Bakery Inc., Branch Technology, the Tennessee Valley Authority dam and BASFs Chattanooga facility.The program, fully funded by BASF, is free for students and is part of BASFs science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education and workforce development efforts."This program really champions STEAM education while fostering the growth of local industries and economies through dedicated investment in students, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the workforce," said Ms. King. "There's a wealth of opportunities often overlooked by high schoolers, and we're committed to bridging that awareness gap."The application may be found online at https://bit.ly/ChattTechAcademy2024 . The deadline to apply is April 14. Sheriff Austin Garrett, who visited the Texas border with a delegation led by Senator Bill Haggery, said he witnessed "an unmitigated disaster." He said, "Yesterday morning, I had the distinct privilege to join Senator Hagerty at a press conference in Nashville to discuss our recent trip to Eagle Pass, Texas. Our delegation also included Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy, Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan, Lawrence County Sheriff John Myers, 12th Judicial District Attorney Courtney Lynch, 26th Judicial District Attorney Jody Pickens, Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby, and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. "I was invited by Senator Hagerty to personally see firsthand, at no cost to Hamilton County taxpayers, the crisis our Nation is experiencing at our southern border and how it pertains to illegal immigration and the smuggling of narcotics such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl that are flowing across our border. "Senator Hagertys invitation gave me the rare opportunity to see and hear from other sheriffs, troopers, border patrol agents, and Texas Army National Guard personnel about the unprecedented issues they are facing and how these heroic men and women are fighting each day to protect our Nations border and security. "Our Nation was founded by immigrants and to this day, American citizenship is a priceless gift. What we witnessed at the border should not be confused with those who are seeking a better life for them and their families and are following the proper immigration process. At Eagle Pass, we learned there have been individuals documented from over 150 countries who have entered our country illegally, many of which have a violent past or association. While there, our delegation spent two days meeting with ranchers, Texas law enforcement and National Guardsmen, and community leaders affected by illegal immigration, drug cartels, and the smuggling of illegal narcotics. "I spoke to one rancher who has had his ranch repeatedly vandalized by illegal aliens who are stealing from his lands, including breaking into his home and barns. He also talked about young women being raped during their crossing on his ranch as well as homicides. "What our delegation witnessed at the border is an unprecedented crisis that will have serious repercussions on our Nations security and the well-being of our citizens for generations. We were shown documentation from Border Patrol agents detailing the alarming number of violent criminals who are crossing our border unchecked who will potentially commit untold numbers of crimes and potential lawless actions in every state and county in America. In many small communities, these acts of violence and drug trafficking are wreaking havoc on local law enforcements resources and capabilities. "To help our local community better understand the issues we are facing at the border and here at home, this afternoon I will be joining Senator Bill Hagerty at a public event at the Walden Club for community and business leaders to ask questions and learn about how the border crisis is affecting our county from a local perspective. Afterwards, I will be hosting a roundtable event at my office with Senator Hagerty, sheriffs and district attorneys from across our region to offer a first-hand perspective of the magnitude of illegal activity and poison infiltrating our state from the border. "The unmitigated disaster we are seeing unfold at the border not only affects the states that border Mexico; It is a crisis that is affecting every city, every county, every citizen, and every family in this country. "You elected me Sheriff to keep you and your family safe. The men and women of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office are committed to your safety and working with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure your security and quality of life in Hamilton County. As always, thank you for the privilege and honor to serve you as your Sheriff." Governor Bill Lee has once again designated March as Keep Tennessee Beautiful month. To officially kick-off the local activities, Keep Cleveland & Bradley County Beautiful will host a city-wide/county-wide Trashercise event on March 8-9. Keep Tennessee Beautiful Executive Director Missy Marshall will participate in the cleanup, along with Trashercise founder Aubrey Preston. Meetup for the cleanup event is at 8:30 a.m. EST, March 9 at the Cleveland Family YMCA at 220 Urbane Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312. Mr. Preston and Ms. Marshall will meet with volunteers at the site to warm up before heading out to various areas to pick up trash. Mr. Preston will also be the special guest speaker at the KCBCB Great American Luncheon at noon on Friday, March 8 at the Museum and Cultural Center at 5ive Points. We are grateful to Gov. Lee for continuing to support March as Keep Tennessee Beautiful Month, Executive Director Missy Marshall, KTnB, said. This is definitely a celebration, but its also a call to action. Were grateful to Keep Cleveland & Bradley County Beautiful for organizing the Trashercise events and encourage everyone to come out and have some fun picking up trash. Lets all contribute and help Keep Tennessee Beautiful. Trashercise is a statewide campaign directed by KTnB, originally founded by Cleveland native Mr. Preston. The program encourages communities to start their own Trashercise Tribe and is designed to rally everyday citizens by encouraging litter pick-up while promoting the exercise benefits of the activity. Were honored that Keep Tennessee Beautiful has decided to adopt Trashercise and do something big with it, said Mr. Preston, an entrepreneur, avid preservationist and community builder. Were excited to be part of these events in my hometown. Mr. Preston also started the Leipers Fork Preservation movement in 1994, helped save historic RCA Studio A on Music Row in Nashville, and developed the multi-state music trail the Americana Music Triangle. KCBCB Interim Director Allen Mincey encouraged volunteers in the community to get involved on March 9, join the group at the YMCA, and then go out and help make Cleveland and Bradley County even more beautiful. Weve already had some industries and companies, some churches and youth groups tell us they want to be involved, not only with Trashercise, but throughout the entire year, Mr. Mincey said. "This is Cleveland and Bradley County being a part of the Great American Cleanup for 2024. Keep Cleveland and Bradley County Beautiful is a Keep America Beautiful affiliate. The organizations mission is to educate and inspire citizens to take action every day to improve and beautify the communitys environment. To join the Trashercise movement, visit Cleveland Cleanup. In the Feb. 25 episode of 'Naked and Afraid,' Britt Laidlaw deals with an additional challenge during her 21 days in South Africa. One Naked and Afraid cast member is dealing with an extra complication on an upcoming episode of the Discovery Channel reality series. Australian survivalist Britt Laidlaw is just a few days into her 21-day challenge in South Africa when she starts menstruating. But shes not going to let getting her period sideline her, she explains in a sneak peek from the Feb. 25 episode. Naked and Afraid survivalist is free bleeding on South Africa In the clip, Laidlaw explains that although the arrival of her period has her feeling fatigued, shes decided to embrace it as a memorable part of her Naked and Afraid experience. I feel so incredibly proud with how Im listening to my body with the need to rest and lay down, she explains. I think a lot of people in a survival context would think that having a menstrual cycle out in the wild when youve got other sh*t to do would actually be a huge disadvantage, but Im not out here to combat this place. Im out here to connect with this place. I also feel like me coming into my menstruation, that ceremony is to give blood in order to receive life from the land, she adds. While past Naked and Afraid participants have said that production provides menstrual supplies to those who need them, Laidlaw is going without those items. Im basically having a period without any products like tampons or pads, she shares. I know Im going to tell this story for the rest of my life of free bleeding on South Africa, the motherland, she said. Im taking it as a real blessing. Britts partner struggles to pick up the slack in the next Naked and Afraid While Britt listens to her bodys cues, Sara Kunz, her partner on the international tribes challenge, is left to pick up the slack. I have one thing on my mind and thats food, Sara, who is from Hawaii, says in another clip from the episode. I recognize the struggle Britt has between getting things done and allowing her body to rest, but I think as a team, we need to take food more seriously. When a physically really weak Britt heads down to the water to refresh herself, she startles an antelope that her partner has been tracking. Sara struggles to contain her frustration. I hear my partner. There just cant be anything here when its hunting time. Theres just no way its gonna work, Sara says just before the animal darts off. Yup. There, I just saw him f*cking run away. Naked and Afraid airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel. Episodes also stream on Max. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. Transport and trade on the ocean blue must be made much greener. This is the goal of the new 17 million European GAMMA project, where companies and researchers from Europe will develop and convert a bulk carrier to sail on climate-neutral fuels and green power. 60,000 tonnes dead weight That is how much cargo the bulk carrier from TOPIC Fleet which is used as the case study in the new EU project GAMMA, can carry across the world's oceans. Ocean freight transport requires large amounts of fuel, mainly made up of fossil fuels today. With the GAMMA innovation project, which began in January 2024, a wide range of partners are now working to change that. This is according to Kjartan Due Nielsen, Innovation Manager at Icelandic engineering company Verkis, which is leading the GAMMA project. "On behalf of the entire group of partners, I can say that we are proud and grateful that the European Commission has chosen to support the GAMMA project and efforts to convert international shipping in a greener direction. We will retrofit a bulk carrier with highly innovative technologies and during a demonstration campaign we will prove that it is possible to replace auxiliary generators with a new fuel system that runs on e-fuels. After proof of concept in GAMMA the next step would be to replace the main engines of a ship for a full energy transition. All in all, the project is very visionary, and could be a green game changer for shipping in the future, says Kjartan Due Nielsen. Climate targets for 2050 Today, long-distance maritime transport supports 80-90 per cent of all global trade. Therefore, there will be considerable potential for climate-beneficial reductions in converting ocean-going transportation to green fuels. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set a goal for the maritime sector to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions to around net-zero by 2050. The five-year GAMMA project will contribute to this, say representatives from the start-up company Aurelia, which specialises in the concept design of climate-friendly vessels. This will include covering and supervising the engineering tasks behind the design and the integration of new green technologies into the ship without compromising its operational capabilities. The integration will be based on a trade-off between weight, volume, cost and, above all, safety. Our challenge is to consider how the systems will impact on the current vessel and to maintain safety in all operations. In this project, we will link a range of technical competences across the 16 partners from Europe for the benefit of all says Elena Prato, who with Tomas Veiga, Emmanuel Viglione and other colleagues from Aurelia will gather the threads of the technical project coordination in GAMMA. Electricity from hydrogen and green fuels An innovative fuel system will be installed. Ammonia and green methanol will be bunkered on-to the ship and then converted into hydrogen with cracker and reformer technologies. The hydrogen will be purified and then converted into electricity with a fuel cell, which will be providing electric energy to the vessel and thus replacing the use of the auxiliary generators running on fossil fuel. In addition to that, the partners have gone further, since part of the energy necessary to convert to hydrogen will be supplied by renewable energy, in this case PV panels, which will be installed on the hatch covers of the bulk carrier. Fraunhofer Institute provides the conversion technology, Amnis Pura the purifying and the fuel cell is provided by Ballard Power Systems Europe, meanwhile PV panels will be provided by Italian company Solbian. We have several decades of experience from innovation within green fuels, and therefore look forward to contributing to GAMMA with our research to convert e-fuels to hydrogen and look forward to bringing the new green technologies in the project forward. Perhaps the results from GAMMA can also be applied in other parts of the transport sector, such as ground and air transport. We look forward to working with our European partners to strengthen the climate of the future, as well as growth and employment, to the benefit of us all," says Dr Gunther Kolb, Head of Division Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems. More climate friendly sector The shipping industry will need to adapt fast to new IMO rules as most existing commercial vessels run on conventional fossil fuels. This means the ships will not be commercially nor technically competitive by 2030 if investment in new ships or retrofitting with greener technologies will not take place. ANT Topic, technical and operational managers of the TOPIC Fleet and partner in GAMMA, explains that the green transition goes hand in hand with the core service of the company: ANT has always been very keen to invest in green technologies. We are pleased to have found like-minded partners to bring new technologies and innovative thinking onboard. The GAMMA project will provide the most advanced vessels performances and environmental quality without compromising on operation effectiveness and flexibility of our ships, says Alex Albertini, ANT Topic Srl. To evaluate the environmental performance of the technologies in the project, Politecnico di Milano will perform a well-to-wake analysis and calculate the CO2 emissions. More about the GAMMA project The Gamma project began in January 2024 and will run for five years. The innovation project has received 13 million in support from the European Commission's Horizon Europe framework programme for innovation. The total budget is 17 million, and the complex application process was led by Inspiralia. Gamma stands for Green Ammonia and Biomethanol fuel MAritime Vessels and involves 16 partners from Europe: Indonesias Catholic community learned last year that thousands of dollars donated by a public official were proceeds from a multimillion-dollar telecom bribery case. Johnny Gerard Plate, a cabinet minister before he was sentenced to a 15-year prison term, had a history of donating to his religious community in Indonesias Christian-majority East Nusa Tenggara province. The courts decision stated that a portion of these graft funds had been allocated to church institutions, including the Kupang archdiocese, Widya Mandira Catholic University, and the Timor Evangelical Christian Church, a Protestant group in Kupang. Following Plates conviction, Catholic authorities pledged to return these donations, emphasizing their commitment to ethical financial practices. This is not the first time Christian officials involved in corruption cases have donated illegal funds to religious organizations. In 2017, former sea transport director general Antonius Tonny Budiono was found guilty of accepting bribes. During the trial, he stated to the judges that he used the funds for orphan care and for renovating a damaged church and school. In response to this case, Indonesias Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) challenged religious institutions, including churches, to conduct financial audits to promote transparency. In a country where the corruption situation has seemingly deteriorated in recent years, CT asked Indonesian church and ministry leaders: Should a Christian organization ever accept a donation gained from an unethical source? Answers are arranged from firmly No to more nuanced stances: Jimmy Kawilarang, director of Torchbearers Indonesia, West Java: Churches and ministries should reject all activities that do not reflect the glory of God, including unethical ways of seeking and accepting donations that do not align with the teachings of the Bible. Gods Word condemns money obtained through deception, cheating, corruption, theft, or usury. When an individual or organization intends to make a significant donation to the church, it is respectful and, for the sake of transparency and accountability, necessary to ask for an explanation of the origin of the donated money. The church can set guidelines to identify donation sources and request more details when donations exceed a certain amount. To balance financial needs and moral integrity, churches and ministries should make financial reports public, involve the church council or board of trustees when making financial decisions, and build a strong internal supervision system to ensure accountability and openness to external oversight or independent audits. Article continues below Fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance in the financial context of the church or ministry is also the primary responsibility of Christian leaders. The apostle Paul speaks about the criteria for selecting someone to be a leader or servant of God (1 Tim. 3:110). A culture of transparency and accountability can only occur when church and ministry leaders have personal integrity and where their words and actions are consistent, motivating others to follow suit. T. Christian Sulistio, lecturer at Southeast Asia Bible Seminary (SAAT), Malang, East Java: The church has limitations when tracing the origin of funds or knowing all the motivations of Christians who give offerings. To prevent Christians from giving offerings or donations from work that does not align with Gods will, the church can communicate that offerings first and foremost are presenting oneself first to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:5), meaning our entire lives are living offerings, holy and pleasing to God (Rom. 12:1). Offerings originating from money obtained unethically contradict the nature and will of God and are abominations to God. Deuteronomy 23:18 says, You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the Lord your God to pay any vow, because the Lord your God detests them both. In The Book of Deuteronomy, Peter C. Craigie writes that money that had been acquired by sinful means could not be a part of Gods gift, and therefore could not be used in paying a vow to him. In another passage, Matthew 23:23 says, Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spicesmint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the lawjustice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. We see that offerings to our Lord must also be based on the lives of Christians with these attributes. Wahyu Pramudya, pastor at Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Ngagel, Surabaya, East Java: I had an interesting experience regarding these problematic offerings. Once, when I was guest preaching, someone handed me a check after a sermon. It was not a common occurrence, so I checked the name on the check via Google. I was surprised to find that the name was on the list of the popular Panama Papers at that time. Article continues below I contacted the local church minister to inquire about his involvement in the Panama Papers. But I did not receive a response regarding this matter from the minister of the church where I preached. I decided to cash the check and give it to one of my acquaintances (who was a church minister) who needed funds for his childs school tuition fee. I explained the origin of the money, and he was willing to accept it. He felt that this money might not necessarily come from unethical business. Personally, I felt uncomfortable accepting it because I couldnt communicate with the giver of the check to clarify the source of the funds they were offering for my ministry. In our church, congregation members and attendees can access financial reports, where the reports are examined by public accountants to ensure that the income and expenditures are reasonable and accountable. This is possible because our church adheres to a collective leadership system and is not held by only one pastor. At times, such as when someone pays in cash, it can be challenging for us to know the identity of the donor and what their occupation is. Even knowing this information about our members comes at their own discretion. If proven in court, [I feel] the church is obliged to return unlawfully obtained offerings. However, the number of cases that go to court is very minimal. And what about offerings clearly originating from businesses that pose health problems, such as smoking? This business is legal and one of the largest taxpayers in Indonesia. In general, the church will reject sponsorships (from this type of donor), which take the form of printed advertisements in bulletins, but still accept offerings that do not require the donor to be listed in print. In my opinion, what pastors or churches should not do is to exploit the congregations guilt by demanding offerings as redemption from lifestyles that are displeasing to God, as if through these donations, the forgiveness and redemption of God can be bought. This behavior has occurred in the history of the church and has been one of the triggers for the churchs reformation. Pastors and churches must teach that offerings are expressions of gratitude, with a broken heart thanking Gods mercy amidst ones own sinfulness, and not as a substitute for ongoing, unending sin. Article continues below Ryadi Pramana, founder of the EFOD, a ministry that serves and equips pastors in rural areas, Jakarta: Our organizations principle in accepting donations is knowing the background of the donor and whether the donor is a Christian with the heart of a servant or just a nominal Christian. A Christian with the heart of a servant will give wholeheartedly without any hidden motives. When it comes to an organizations financial needs, the more ambitious the desired outcome, the greater the need for funds, and this often causes us to become short-sighted. An organization that has over faith [an excessive belief that its ambitious wants will be met] does not first ask God whether it is what he desires or what one desires. If we follow our own will, the result will be accepting donations indiscriminately. There are several things we do if we doubt the origin of a donation. Firstly, we advise the donor to directly give their money to those in need so that we are relieved from worrying about the origin of the funds. Secondly, we avoid using donations to purchase assets. This is because people tend to remember the money they have donated, so they feel very entitled in the journey of the church/foundation. This is contradictory to the principle of giving, where we consciously release what we have to others and the money no longer belongs to us. Many churches and Christian foundations are destroyed because they do not have good financial management. In our ministry, our organization uses financial software that facilitates Gods servants in preparing good and proper financial reports according to accounting standards. If the system and the steward are good, then the result is very good. Daniel Andy Hoffmann Sinaga, pastor at Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) Medan Sudirman, North Sumatra: Because this is an election year in Indonesia, many churches are receiving funds from legislative candidates in this years elections. It may be difficult for the church to know whether these funds are personal donations or campaign funds from their supporting party. However, church leaders should inquire further about the source of large donations, communicating with the individual in a friendly manner and private setting. To validate the source of donations, Christian leaders should communicate their offering ethics in written form or verbal communication during worship. They dont have to necessarily write these from scratch. Instead, they can use existing banking system procedures, like asking people to write a statement on the deposit form about where their money comes from, including from ones salary, savings, investments, inheritance, and so on. These guidelines should come from biblical convictions but also be combined with legal principles regulating the source of funds, such as anticorruption and anti-money-laundering laws. Article continues below That said, the church cannot automatically prohibit itself from accepting money from a source of funds regardless of whether it was obtained ethically or not. The story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus feet with expensive oil (Luke 7:3650) is an apt illustration. Much to the disdain of the Pharisees, a woman who is a prostitute pours expensive oil on Jesus and washes his feet with her tears and hair. Jesus response is remarkable; he forgives her sinsnot because of the expensive oil she uses but because her heart was moved toward God and he accepts the womans service and offering. Similarly, the church that accepts funds that come from unethical means does not necessarily have to be rejected. I have visited churches located in the midst of red-light districts, and on Sundays, many prostitutes come to worship and give their offerings. So are we becoming like the Pharisees who are reluctant with the offering of the sinful woman? Again, the Lord sees the heart and love far more than the giving and offerings. This week Heather is joined by journalist Paul Kix, whose bestselling book You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live takes readers on a sweeping tour of the chaotic streets of Birmingham, Alabama, in the spring of 1963. Its the story of the pivotal ten-week campaign of marches, nonviolent resistance, and overnight jail stays that helped turn the tide on Jim Crow segregation. Who can forget the gut-wrenching photos and video clips from Birmingham during these days? The images of young Black students being assaulted by police dogs and water cannons went viral decades before the Internet was available to go viral on. Paul walks Heather through his research on Birmingham, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and on Kings Southern Christian Leadership Conference organization. He also calls attention to the important contributions of Civil Rights Movement leaders such as Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth (whose chracteristic maxim became the books title) and Dr. Kings chief of staff, Wyatt Tee Walker, who were often overshadowed by MLKs immense fame. Pauls book reveals how those ten weeks in Birmingham changed the trajectory of American politics, religion, and race relations. Sixty years later, the Birmingham story would also have a profound impact on Paul Kixs view of his marriage and family. As a white man, married to a Black woman, with a daughter and twin sons who identify as Black, he was deeply affected by the 2020 murder of George Floyd as well as other incidents that appeared to devalue the lives of Black people. Out of his personal wrestling with those events, and hard questions from his kids, Paul found himself called to remember Birmingham 1963. When Paul originally started digging into the work of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, he was not a practicing Christian. But the faith of the men who led during the Civil Rights Movement, didnt just inspire him intellectually, it also inspired him spiritually. This poignant interview sits at the intersection of faith and social justice. Heather also welcomes back our resident social media expert, Brady Shearer, to discuss another tool for your Social Toolkit. This week, Brady shares ideas for repurposing weekly sermons into condensed content for podcasts and YouTube. Guest Bio Paul Kix is a journalist and author whose last book was The Saboteur, a bestselling and critically acclaimed true story of the most daring man in World War II. His writing has also appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, GQ, and ESPN The Magazine, among other publications. His latest book , You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live, is the subject of this episode of the podcast. He lives in Connecticut with his family. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including Ill See You Tomorrow and Its Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heathers weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 p.m. EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Producer: Loren Joseph Mix Engineer: Alex Carter Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Last week, Alabama extended protections beyond the unborn in the womb to the unborn outside it, becoming the first state to rule that frozen embryos are children under the law. The decision has elicited praise from some evangelicals who, believing life begins at conception, want to see these snowflake babies treated as people rather than as commodities. Its also complicated the future of in vitro fertilization (IVF) across the state, upsetting parents and prospective parents who have turned to the procedure. At least one hospital system has halted IVF treatments for now. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, parts of the pro-life movement evoked the 14th Amendment, which bars depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, and rallied around fetal personhood laws to ban abortion and grant human rights at conception. The move to protect embryos was anticipated by both anti-abortion and reproductive rights activists. It follows a pattern of pro-life policies in the Southern state: Alabamas constitution protects the rights of the unborn child, and the states abortion ban went into effect after Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in 2022. In a case brought by the parents of several embryos destroyed at a fertility clinic, the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed on Friday that unborn children fall under its Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, regardless of developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics, that is, even if they are stored in a freezer and have not yet been implanted. An estimated 1.5 million embryos are on ice in the US, and fertility treatments like IVF are becoming more common. Last year, 42 percent of Americansand 44 percent of white evangelicalssaid they or someone they knew had sought fertility assistance, up from 33 percent in 2018, according to the Pew Research Center. The ruling doesnt ban IVF, but since the procedure often results in leftover embryos that are kept indefinitely on ice or destroyed, fertility clinics arent sure what the implications will be for them and their storage. Why is it that all of the fertility doctors in red states were freaking out after Dobbs? Katy Faust, founder of the nonprofit Them Before Us, previously told CT. Its because they [may not be able] to do business there if they cant destroy human life. The issue of excess embryos from IVF and the ethics of the process itself have become a bigger part of the pro-life conversation among evangelicals, including advocacy for embryo adoption. Justice Jay Mitchellwho attends the Church of the Highlands, a multisite megachurchwrote the majority opinion in the embryo ruling. He focused on the understanding of the word child and didnt mention God. Here, the text of the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act is sweeping and unqualified. It applies to all children, born and unborn, without limitation, the ruling said. It is not the role of this Court to craft a new limitation based on our own view of what is or is not wise public policy. That is especially true where, as here, the People of this State have adopted a Constitutional amendment directly aimed at stopping courts from excluding unborn life from legal protection. A concurring opinion from Chief Justice Tom Parker, though, relies on a biblical understanding of personhood and references Genesis, the apostle Paul, Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, and John Calvin. Parkera member of Frazer Church, a Free Methodist congregation in Montgomeryconcluded: The theologically based view of the sanctity of life adopted by the People of Alabama encompasses the following: (1) God made every person in His image; (2) each person therefore has a value that far exceeds the ability of human beings to calculate; and (3) human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself. Andrew Walker, ethics and public theology professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called the ruling a stunning development full of moral significance. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who got pregnant with her son through intrauterine insemination (IUI), has referenced her fertility struggles on the campaign trail and agreed that embryos are babies on NBC News on Wednesday. One thing is to save sperm or to save eggs, but when you talk about an embryo, you are talking aboutto me, thats a life, said Haley, whose IUI didnt require the creation of embryos outside the body. Haley, a Methodist who describes herself as pro-life, has emphasized the need for consensus on the federal level when it comes to abortion and sees more opportunities on the state level. When you see more women who are having trouble getting pregnant, and you see more women doing artificial and in vitro, those are conversations that we need to have, she said. But its also conversations where we need to have women and doctors involved in the conversation to say, How do we want to handle this going forward? Even before the Alabama decision, Dobbs had made it harder for IVF couples to donate embryos they opted not to implant to researchers. The Washington Post reported that Stanford Universitys RENEW Biobank went from accepting embryos from 49 states to just 7the rest require extra review in case donors violate their home states laws. Catholics have historically carried more theological concerns around assisted reproduction than Protestants, though more in the pro-life movement are paying attention to the issue. Evangelical parents who desire children but struggle with infertility may opt to do IVF but limit the number of embryos created so that each can be implanted. Despite some reservations, theologian Wayne Grudem wrote in 2019 for The Gospel Coalition that if IVF is used by a married couple, and if care is taken to prevent the intentional destruction of embryos, then it is a morally good action that pleases God because it violates no scriptural guidelines, achieves the moral good of overcoming infertility, and brings the blessing of children to yet another family. Jennifer Lahl, president of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, has raised concerns for years about assisted reproduction. After Alabamas decision, she pointed to Germanys ban on freezing embryos, which has been in place since 1990. IVF is still legal, and the sky has not fallen, she said. You just cant make a lot and freeze them, you must implant them. [ This article is also available in Portugues. ] Home News 436 acts of hostility against US churches documented in 2023: report Hostility against churches in the United States appears to be on the rise, according to a recent Family Research Council report that identified 436 incidents against churches in 2023, more than double the amount reported by the group in 2022 and eight times the number identified in 2018. The conservative Christian advocacy organization released its latest "Hostility Against Churches" report this month, which FRC updated to include hostility incidents from the calendar year 2023. The organization has collected data about acts of hostility against churches since 2018, identifying 915 such incidents over the past six years. 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 Between January and November 2023, FRC reported that at least 315 occurrences of vandalism, 75 arson attacks or attempts, 10 gun-related incidents, 20 bomb threats and 37 other incidents took place at churches. According to the report, 17 of the incidents fell into more than one category, with vandalism and arson being the most common combination. "There is a common connection between the growing religious persecution abroad and the rapidly increasing hostility toward churches here at home: our government's policies," FRC President Tony Perkins said in a Tuesday statement. "The indifference abroad to the fundamental freedom of religion is rivaled only by the increasing antagonism toward the moral absolutes taught by Bible-believing churches here in the U.S., which is fomenting this environment of hostility toward churches," he continued. According to FRC, the rise in hostility against churches has "neither slowed nor plateaued" since its inaugural report in 2022 but has "accelerated" instead. Reported hostile acts against churches were "widespread" across 48 states and the District of Columbia in 2023. Incidents were more likely to occur in states with larger populations, the report notes. While Hawaii and Wyoming had no reported incidents, California had the most, 33, while Texas was second with 28 incidents. The report documented an act of vandalism in June that caused over $100,000 in damages to the Fowler United Methodist Church, a historically black church in Annapolis, Maryland. Vandals ripped pages from Bibles and hymnals, scattering the torn pages across the floor and pews. In addition to ripping the upholstered pews and taking down a large wooden cross, the vandals removed a Christian flag from its stand and stripped the church's outdoor sign of its lettering. In Ohio, several incidents appeared to be related to Issue 1, a ballot measure to amend the state constitution to establish a right to abortion. According to the report, someone pulled a "Vote No" sign out of the ground at Cincinnati's St. Monica-St. George Church and threw it in a dumpster. In a separate incident at another Cincinnati-based church, St. Bartholomew Church, someone removed between six and eight "Vote No" signs and replaced them with "Vote Yes" signs. The report lists a couple of acts of vandalism with "anti-Israel or antisemitic sentiment" after the Hamas terror group's Oct. 7 surprise attack against Israel. In November, a "We stand with Israel" sign was spray-painted with the words "Israel's Genocide" on the property of The Church at Decatur Heights in Decatur, Georgia. The report notes a dozen incidents "included satanic imagery or symbols." "In July, vandals broke into Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church of El Paso, Texas, and left behind satanic imagery, including writing the number '666' on multiple items," the report reads. "Crosses inside the church were also turned upside down, and holy oil was dumped out." "In October, someone spray-painted the words 'Devil Has Risen' and a symbol like a pentagram on the buildings of Jesus Worship Center in Jennings, Louisiana." In January 2023, vandals targeted multiple Nativity scenes, FRC notes. As for the 75 incidents of arson, attempted arson or fires with unknown causes, incidents ranged from "small fires that were quickly contained to fires that completely destroyed church buildings." In most cases, motivation was unknown. "In June, Ascension of the Lord Romanian Orthodox Church of Hayward, California, was broken into, and several religious artifacts were set on fire, including a Bible and a crucifix," the report states. "The charred items and ashes were left around an altar." Although nobody was hurt in most of the 10 gun-related incidents reported by FRC, the report also lists the shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, a Presbyterian school in which six people, including three students, were killed by a trans-identified shooter. Arielle Del Turco, director of FRC's Center for Religious Liberty and the report's author, believes that the effect of these acts of hostility is "religious intimidation." "They send the message that churches are not wanted in the community or respected in general. Our culture is demonstrating a growing disdain for Christianity and core Christian beliefs, and acts of hostility against churches could be a physical manifestation of that," the author stated. "Regardless of the motivations of these crimes, everyone should treat churches and all houses of worship with respect and affirm the importance of religious freedom for all Americans." FRC documented at least 420 acts of hostility against churches in the United States in its December 2022 report. In its previous analysis, FRC assessed available data between January 2018 and September 2022, documenting 397 incidents across 45 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. According to the FRC's April 2023 supplemental report, 69 acts of vandalism against churches occurred in the first quarter of 2023, an increase in the number of attacks compared to previous years. The supplemental report is built on previous data published in December 2022. Home News Conservative group claims widespread mail-in voter fraud cost Trump 2020 election A conservative think tank claims that a recent survey conducted in partnership with Rasmussen Reports shows that over a quarter of Americans engaged in ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election, drawing questions about the study's methodology. The Heartland Institute released a report earlier this month claiming to show that widespread absentee ballot fraud in the 2020 election likely caused Republican incumbent Donald Trump to lose the presidential race. The report comes as Trump and some supporters have repeatedly claimed election fraud cost him the election in the last three years. The highlighted findings included 21% of mail-in voters admitting that, in 2020, they voted in a state where they are "no longer a permanent resident," 21% admitting to filling out "a ballot for a friend or family member," 17% saying they "signed a ballot for a friend or family member 'with or without his or her permission,'" and 19% saying that a friend or family member "filled out their ballet, in part or in full, on their behalf." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe When looking at "raw survey data," the researchers concluded that 28.2% of survey respondents "who voted by mail admitted to committing at least one kind of voter fraud." "Because Joe Biden received significantly more mail-in votes than Donald Trump, we conclude that the 2020 election outcome would have been different in the key swing states that Donald Trump lost by razor thin margins in 2020," the report added. "Ultimately, our study shows that of the 29 different scenarios presented in the paper, Trump would have won the 2020 election in all but three (when mail-in ballot fraud is limited to 13 percent of the ballots counted)." Jack McPherrin, one of the report's authors and the director of Heartland's Socialism Research Center, told The Christian Post in an interview that he "was personally surprised by the results." "In the aftermath of the 2020 election, I was skeptical of President Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud and its potentially significant impact upon the election," said McPherrin. "With that said, as I researched the issue more heavily and as more information about potential mail-in voter fraud came to light, I became more open to the idea that illegal ballots were widespread, and did impact the results." When asked why numerous state-sponsored investigations had failed to discover this alleged fraud, McPherrin responded that he believes it was because "none of these investigations asked voters whether they did any of the things our poll asked about." "These investigations focused on potential fraud associated with voting machines and about behavior at polling places by election officials, such as throwing out ballots. The easiest type of fraud to commit is the kind of fraud that was not investigated," he said to CP. "There are many forms of illegal voting that aren't going to come up in such investigations. For instance, if multiple people live in the same home, perhaps one person is filling out the ballots for the rest of his or her family, who either don't know or don't care." McPherrin said that even if "the person filling out the ballots has 'permission' to do so, such action renders the ballot invalid, other than in exceptional circumstances." When Rasmussen announced the initial results of the survey in December, the organization was critiqued by multiple individuals, including David Thornton of The Racket News. "I'll start by saying that two things are glaringly obvious if you read the article with a skeptical eye. One is that Rasmussen makes a giant leap in claiming that helping a family member or friend to fill out an absentee ballot is 'cheating' or 'election fraud,'" wrote Thornton. "The second is that Rasmussen does not claim that these helpers marked the ballots contrary to the wishes of the absentee voters. The statement that helping someone fill out their ballot is illegal is questionable at best." Thornton stressed that the state he lives in Georgia allowed people to assist others in filling out their absentee ballots, adding, "Rasmussen did not ask whether assistance was provided in accordance with state and local laws." "The point is that modern security techniques make it very difficult to run a large-scale fraud operation," Thornton continued. "If a voter shows up at the poll and finds that their ballot has already been cast by an absentee, the whole scheme blows up. It also blows up if signatures and identifying information don't match." In an interview with CP this week regarding the new report, Thornton said Heartland "does not provide evidence that people who assisted in filling out ballots did so against the wishes of the ballot holder." "Mail voting laws vary by state so it isn't clear that the respondents broke the law in many cases. Heartland does not provide evidence that people who assisted in filling out ballots did so against the wishes of the ballot holder," Thornton said. "In the case of people who claim they voted out of state, they don't provide evidence that they voted more than once in different states. In most cases, the poll respondents are simply saying that they helped someone fill out a ballot. That's not illegal." While it is "possible to commit fraud in one or two cases of family members," Thornton said it would be "very difficult to mount a large enough fraud operation to sway an election without being noticed." "There were a multitude of fraud claims in 2020, but the claims that were made in court and under oath were starkly different and less inflammatory than the claims made on television and the internet," he said. "Those claiming widespread fraud impacting election results failed to present evidence that would stand up in court when they had the chance." McPherrin told CP he believes Thornton's arguments misrepresent the survey questions, such as the question asking if someone filled out "a ballot for a friend or family member." "There is nothing in the question about 'helping' or 'assistance.' And, while there are instances in which designated parties are allowed to help voters with disabilities such as blind, disabled, or illiterate persons it is hard to imagine that such instances are widespread," McPherrin responded. "The act of filling out a ballot constitutes voting, as it is a necessary condition to making a vote effective and included in the totals of votes cast. Our poll respondents all voted in 2020. This means that filling out another ballot constituted voting more than once, rendering the ballot illegal, except under limited exceptions." In December 2021, the conservative legal organization Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty released its own report on the 2020 election, concluding that there was "no evidence of widespread voter fraud." WILL researchers hand recounted 20,000 votes from 20 wards with "no evidence of fraudulent ballots" and also reviewed 29,000 ballot certificates in 29 wards. However, the report also stated that the group believed the election "was not adequately secure." Although Trump and his supporters maintain that the 2020 election was "stolen," others, including former members of his administration, have rejected such accusations. For example, shortly after the 2020 election, Trump's Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press that he had "not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election." In 2022, Alyssa Farah, former White House communications director for Trump, and Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, both told the Jan. 6 Committee that Trump had admitted in private that he had lost the election. Last week, it was reported that True the Vote, the group tied to the Dinesh D'Souza documentary "2,000 Mules," stated in court that they cannot provide the evidence supporting their claims that there was widespread illegal ballot stuffing in Georgia during the 2020 election. Home News JK Rowling donates to legal challenge seeking to uphold biological definition of sex A women's rights group is praising Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling for donating to its fundraiser as the group works to preserve the traditional definition of the term "sex" in United Kingdom law. In a post on X Friday, the group For Women Scotland announced a fundraiser on the crowdfunding platform CrowdJustice. The effort comes as the group seeks to convince the U.K.'s Supreme Court to rule that the definition of sex in the Equality Act only applies to biological sex and not gender identity. For Women Scotland characterizes itself as an organization established to "protect and strengthen women's rights." As of Thursday morning, the crowdfunding campaign had raised 142,100 euros, equivalent to $153,916.33. This amounts to nearly double For Women Scotland's initial goal of 75,000 euros, which equates to $81,121.03. The group estimates that its legal expenses associated with the appeal will amount to 200,000 euros, equivalent to $216,322.76. It has set that figure as its final fundraising goal. A total of 2,443 people have donated to the campaign as of Thursday morning. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In a subsequent X post Friday, For Women Scotland thanked "all who are making this challenge possible - especially @jkrowling." According to The Daily Mail, Rowling donated 70,000 (about $88,000) to the crowdfunding effort. "You know how proud I am to know you," Rowling reportedly wrote to the group in a donation message. "Thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. This is truly a historic case." Rowling became an outspoken critic of efforts to expand the definition of the word "women" to include trans-identified biological men, as well as the use of phrases such as "people who menstruate" to describe women. For Women Scotland is challenging the statutory definition of "woman" in the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018. The establishment of the fundraiser came on the same day that the Court of Session Inner House granted For Women Scotland's request to appeal its decision to the U.K. Supreme Court. According to the Statutory Guidance at issue, "In terms of section 9(1) of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is female, the person's sex is that of a woman, and where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is male, the person's sex becomes that of a man." The advocacy organization elaborated on the implications of the Scotland Inner House of Court Session's ruling upholding the Statutory Guidance. "The court decision stated that a person with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) in their acquired gender has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment," the fundraiser explained. "Separately, they also possess the protected characteristic of sex according to the terms of their GRC and have a presumptive right to access the single-sex services of their acquired gender." "The court concluded that a [biologically male] person with a GRC in the female gender comes within the definition of 'woman' for the purposes of the Equality Act, and therefore the revised Statutory Guidance issued in respect of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 is lawful," the fundraiser asserted. For Women Scotland clarified that "the protected characteristic of 'woman' in the Equality Act still includes some males." For Women Scotland believes that the Statutory Guidance upheld by the Scottish court runs afoul of the intent of the Equality Act 2010. "The court's new GRC inclusive definition of 'woman' cannot be used consistently throughout the Equality Act, and it was forced to revert to a biological understanding of 'pregnant women' to ensure females with a GRC (stating they are men) are still able to access pregnancy and maternity rights," the group reports. "We believe the Equality Act was drafted on the basis of the ordinary, common law understanding of the biological differences between the two sexes. The protected characteristic of 'sex' in the Equality Act is defined as a reference to a man or a woman, where man means 'a male of any age' and woman means 'a female of any age.' We think it is quite clear that these are distinct and separate groups and that 'woman' is not a mixed-sex category," they added. Home News Oklahoma Supreme Court to hear arguments in Catholic charter school case The Oklahoma Supreme Court had agreed to hear oral arguments in the state attorney generals attempt to block the creation of what is reportedly the first religious charter school in the United States. The states highest court is scheduled to hear arguments in Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummonds lawsuit at 10 a.m. Central time on April 2, according to The Oklahoman. Each side will get a half hour to present its arguments, according to the outlet, with Drummond being allowed to reserve some of his time for a rebuttal. A notice on who will be arguing the case and the time allocations must be filed by March 19. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In June of last year, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3-2 to approve the charter application for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The newly approved St. Isidore was to be overseen by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa and was scheduled to begin holding classes in fall 2024. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement at the time expressing support for the decision, commending the board's "courage to approve the authorization for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School." "This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child's education," stated Stitt. "Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice. Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination." However, the Republican state attorney general objected to the boards decision and filed a lawsuit last October over concerns about the separation of church and state. "As the defender of Oklahoma's religious freedoms, I am prepared to litigate this issue to the United States Supreme Court if that's what is required to protect our Constitutional rights," Drummond said in a statement released in October. "The framers of the U.S. Constitution and those who drafted Oklahoma's Constitution clearly understood how best to protect religious freedom: by preventing the State from sponsoring any religion at all." In addition to Drummond, multiple progressive advocacy groups also filed a lawsuit against the creation of the Catholic charter school last July, naming as defendants the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, individual board members, the Oklahoma Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and Saint Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, Inc. In November, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that Walters could not intervene in the attorney generals lawsuit against the states first religious charter school. This lawsuit is misguided in that it discriminates against some Oklahomans due to their faith, but also the fact that it is our agency that administers state aid for charter schools, not the Virtual Charter School Board, said Walters in a statement about his motion to intervene in the case. Rather than enshrine atheism as a state-sponsored religion, we are blessed that our Constitution guarantees religious liberty. I will never back down in the fight to uphold religious liberty in our state. In a column for The Christian Post, Dr. Richard Land, executive editor of this publication, detailed reasons why the state should not be directly funding any religious school. "If Catholics in Oklahoma want such a school, it must be funded by private money furnished by the supporters of such education. Let me be clear, I would oppose such a sectarian charter school if it were Baptist," he said. "First, a charter school is a 'public' school funded by public tax money and must be open to serve students regardless of religious conviction. The Oklahoma Charter Schools Act requires charter schools to 'be as equally free and open to all students as traditional public schools' and remain 'nonsectarian in (their) admission policies {and} employment practices.' "And yet, the Oklahoma Charter School Board approved the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic School as a public charter school. Furthermore, the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School website identifies the school as 'a collaborative effort between the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa to serve students in Oklahoma' and to provide 'quality Catholic education' to students with limited access to a Catholic school. "Those are admirable goals for adherents of the Catholic faith, but they cannot be accomplished through a public school funded by public tax funds,' Land continued. "[A]ny discussion of the Oklahoma charter school situation must include a clear distinction between public support of a charter school and the government providing parents with vouchers or tax credits to help underwrite their childrens education at a private school of their choice." Home News SBC disfellowships 4 more churches, including 2 that support women pastors The Southern Baptist Convention has disfellowshiped four more churches deemed not to be in friendly cooperation with the denomination's regulations, including one for having a female senior pastor and another that allows women in church leadership. The two other churches were ousted for issues related to sexual abuse and the retention of a "biblically disqualified" pastor. Acting on the recommendations of the SBC Credentials Committee, the Executive Committee of the nation's largest Protestant denomination voted in Nashville on Tuesday to remove Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky, from fellowship, reports the SBC's official news service Baptist Press. 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 church, which hired Rev. Katie McKown as its senior pastor in 2023, was deemed to have a "faith and practice that does not closely identify with the Conventions adopted statement of faith, as demonstrated by the church having a female lead pastor functioning in the office of pastor." New Hope Baptist Church in Gastonia, North Carolina, was formally disfellowshipped over a "lack of reported financial participation for at least the last five (5) years and its lack of intent to cooperate to resolve a question of faith and practice." Although the church doesn't list any females as part of its pastoral staff, New Hope's website states, "We believe in equality in ministry and we do not discriminate between genders." "There are more than 250 Baptist churches in Gaston County and New Hope Baptist Church is one of four churches that ordain women into ministry as deacons and pastors," the church website explains. "We believe in equality in ministry, and we do not discriminate between genders. We want our children growing up knowing that there is neither 'Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:28)." Grove Road Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, and West Hendersonville Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, were both disfellowshipped in connection with concerns related to sexual abuse. The SBC EC said in a statement that Grove Road Baptist followed "a lack of intent to cooperate in resolving a concern regarding the pastor's mishandling of an allegation of sexual abuse." According to BP, Grove Road Baptist is a congregation of about 20 people, which averaged 12 people in Sunday worship in 2021. The church is led by Pastor Terry Greene. West Hendersonville Baptist Church is accused of acting "inconsistent with the Conventions beliefs regarding sexual abuse" by retaining Pastor Jerry Mullinax, who the Credentials Committee contends has been "biblically disqualified." He was hired in 2020 on a part-time basis, BP notes, adding that his teaching license was revoked in 2004 for sending "improper emails" to a student. Reacting to the SBC's decision Tuesday, Immanuel Baptist Church defended its decision to call McKown as senior pastor. "Today we learned the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) removed Immanuel Baptist Church (Immanuel) from membership because we called Reverend Katie McKown in February 2023 to serve as Immanuel's Senior Minister," the church said in a statement on Facebook. "The life of Immanuel is informed by the Baptist tenets of the autonomy of the church and the priesthood of all believers. We share our affirmation and support of the decision to call Rev. Katie McKown to serve with and among us," the statement continued. "We pray the SBC may be blessed with wisdom and discernment as it moves forward." Brandon McKoy, New Hope Baptist Church's senior pastor, told BP that he believed the church had already been disfellowshipped long before the Credentials Committee sent his team an inquiry letter. "We haven't considered ourselves Southern Baptist since really Southern Baptists started removing women from the pulpit," McKoy said. "We haven't been Southern Baptist for a long, long time." Since the revamping of the SBC Credentials Committee in June 2019, a total of 18 churches have been disfellowshipped, according to The Tennessean. A year ago, the denomination expelled Saddleback Church, one of America's largest churches previously led by popular Pastor Rick Warren, and four others. Saddleback had hired Stacie Wood to serve as the congregation's teaching pastor. During SBC's 2023 Annual Meeting, messengers advanced a resolution that would prevent women from serving as a "pastor of any kind" as the denomination was brought one step closer to solidifying the rule as a constitutional amendment. About 80% of the 12,000 messengers approved the resolution to establish a condition for churches to affiliate with SBC that no woman may be permitted to hold the title of pastor. To enshrine the resolution into the SBC constitution, the measure must pass at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting. After Saddleback Church ordained three women pastors in 2021, Chuck Kelley, Al Mohler and Richard Land, theologians who wrote the study guide for the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession, published a statement clarifying the definition of the word "pastor," which they say means "one who fulfills the pastoral office and carries out the pastor's functions." They wrote that Article VI of The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states that the office of pastor is "limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, believes hiring women as pastors violates Scripture. "This is no longer a point of tension and debate. These moves represent an attempt to redefine and reformulate the convictional foundation of Southern Baptist faith and cooperative ministry," Mohler said. "The theological issues have not changed since the year 2000 when Southern Baptists spoke clearly and precisely in the Baptist Faith & Message. More importantly, the Holy Scriptures have not changed and cannot change." Home Opinion Catholic Armenian prisoner sends open letter to Pope Francis Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) have been illegally detained and tortured in Azerbaijans jails for the past three years in violation of international humanitarian and human rights laws. These prisoners were arrested by Azeri forces during Azerbaijan's war against the Armenian Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh in 2020 as well as its aftermath. The military of Azerbaijan with the help of Turkey attacked Artsakh between 27 September 2020 and 10 November 2020. The war was suspended through an agreement mediated by Russia and signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia. 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 According to the agreement, all prisoners of war should have been returned and none other arrested after the agreements enactment. Azerbaijan, however, refuses to honor this and continues to illegally hold and abuse Armenian POWs. One is a Catholic Armenian prisoner of war who through an open letter has called on Pope Francis and the Vatican to help him. Gevorg Sujyan is the founding president of the New Armenia Homeland-Diaspora Charitable NGO. Along with another humanitarian worker, Davit Davtyan, Sujyan was arrested by Azeri forces in Artsakh after the November 2020 ceasefire agreement. Both were part of the non-governmental organization that was providing humanitarian aid near the Shushi region of Arsakh, which was under attack by Azerbaijan. Sujyan and Davtyan faced an unjust trial in 2021, resulting in a 15-year imprisonment sentence at a Baku detention center. The charges against them, including accusations of espionage, were based on a series of articles from the Azerbaijani criminal code. The Baku Court on Grave Crimes orchestrated these trials, which were marked by illegal, illegitimate, and improper proceedings. Through his family, Sujyan sent an open letter to Pope Francis, asking for help to secure his release: The Reverend Father, I offer you the bitter sorrow and the tragic plea of my heart. Please receive these concise and sincere words with kindness, and not with anger. May my heartfelt appeal reach you now, and may the prisoners wish be granted in the name of God. I repent of my sin. I am not a murderer. I have not cheated, yet I am condemned as a criminal. I am misunderstood. I am left with no hope of survival, I am trapped in endless despair... And now I humbly beg you, merciful Father, to release me from the prison of sins for I have repented for my wrongdoings. Grant me, the undeserving, salvation and freedom. Alleviate my sadness with your mercy. I implore you, take me out of the profound abyss. I have a family, a son who awaits my return, shedding endless tears. My pleas are filled with anguish, and they resonate from the very depths of my soul. Where will I find my salvation? Please help me, be the mediator who will save my soul ... Gevorg Ruben Sujyan The first Armenian genocide in modern history occurred in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians perished. Over 100 years later, from 2020 to 2023, Armenians faced Turkish and Azeri military assaults, illegal blockades, and forced displacements. Azerbaijan and Turkey carried out an ethnic cleansing campaign against Armenians in Artsakh. This included methods such as starving, indiscriminately bombing and forcibly displacing around 120,000 Armenians. Azeri forces beheaded and mutilated Armenians both civilians and soldiers and posted videos of these beheadings on social media. The subsequent mistreatment of Armenian captives is deeply concerning. Accused of violating various articles of Azerbaijan's Penal Code, Sujyan and Davtyan underwent sham trials in Baku's Serious Crimes Court. These trials were shaped by unlawfulness, arbitrariness, and a lack of due process. Armenian detainees faced false accusations and were denied basic guarantees, including the right to a defense lawyer from the moment of their arrest. This contravenes fundamental principles of justice and human rights. Under the Geneva Convention, these individuals, classified as prisoners of war, should have been promptly repatriated after their arrest. The deliberate disregard for these international norms by Azerbaijan is a blatant violation of humanitarian principles. A report by the University Network for Human Rights entitled How Three Years of Atrocities Against Ethnic Armenians Led to Ethnic Cleansing details the types of torture that the Armenian POWs are routinely exposed to in Azeri jails: Armenians captured by Azerbaijan during and after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, as well as in the course of fighting on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border in September 2022, have been subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment while in Azerbaijani custody. Forms of torture and mistreatment have included prolonged and repeated beatings with batons, skewers, brooms, and firearms; laceration of wrists with zip-ties; employment of electro-shock and stress positions; sleep deprivation; confiscation of warm clothing during extreme cold; deprivation of food, water, and hygiene products; and infliction of mental suffering and humiliation. The actual number of Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan is unknown because Azerbaijan refuses to be transparent about the number. It is also unknown how many POWs were executed after their capture. According to the Center for Truth and Justice, Twenty-three Armenians are being illegally detained in Azerbaijan However, it is suspected that many more POWs and civilian hostages are lingering in Azerbaijani prisons. Now that both wars have ended, all detainees must be freed immediately under the Geneva Conventions. However, Azerbaijan refuses to comply. Sujyan, Davtyan and other Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan are tortured for being Christian and Armenian. Governments across the world and international human rights organizations appear to abandon them and ignore their plight. Will Pope Francis and the Vatican hear their call and help liberate them from the captivity and torture they have been suffering for the past three years? Home News After days of prayer, missing 11-year-old girl is found dead in river After multiple days of searching and prayer vigils, Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl from Livingston, Texas, who went missing last Thursday after she was sent to catch the school bus with an adult male family friend has been found dead, and the family friend has been charged with her murder, officials announced Wednesday. My heart aches with this news," Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons told reporters at a news conference Tuesday. "I express with my deepest sympathies and condolences to everyone who knew, who cared for and loved Audrii. We will continue to process the evidence that has been gathered to ensure justice for Audrii." Documents filed Wednesday in Polk County said the family friend, 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal, has been charged with capital murder, according to CNN. 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 Audriis body was found in the Trinity River along U.S. 59, Lyons said, and it had a large rock tied around it. The rope used to tie the rock around her body, investigators said, was similar to the kind found inside McDougals vehicle during a traffic stop two days earlier. The information that we have gathered in this criminal investigation is substantial, Lyons said. McDougal was described as a friend of the girls father, Joshua Cunningham, and lived in a camper on property belonging to the girls family, which include her grandparents and other family members. Authorities say McDougal had taken Audrii to the bus stop in the past or would take her to school if she missed the bus. McDougals criminal records date back to at least 2003. They show him with convictions for violent crimes and one for enticing a child, but he was not listed as registered sex offender. Elic Bryan III, who was a former co-worker of McDougal, told Fox 26 Houston that the suspect in Audriis murder was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he attacked him in 2010 and almost stabbed him. "We worked together at a quick car in Crosby changing oil. He seemed like an alright guy. He'd come over to hang out with me and my friends every now and again, then things went south with us," Bryan recalled. He got drunk one night. We threw him out of the house, and he came back with a knife, slashed tires, tried to stab me with the knife. I had to run him off with a gun, and the cops finally came out with dogs and got him. Bryan said he wishes he would have shot him, to be honest with you. Thats my one regret, he told the news outlet. Didn't want to do it then because it would make you feel bad. But looking back, maybe I should have. With all the allegations against him, he's not a nice guy, apparently. Something is wrong with him in the head. Lyons told CNN that even though McDougal had joined the search efforts for Audrii and was seen knocking on doors and in the neighborhood, he was not convinced he was genuine. To me, it simply tells me that hes trying to give the appearances that he has no play or hes not at fault in her disappearance, and that (hes) part of the concerned parties who were trying to locate her, Lyons said. The criminal complaint against McDougal notes that video footage and cell phone data places McDougal at three locations of interest, including along the Trinity River where the young girls body was discovered by authorities. On the third day of a prayer vigil held at the community and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8568 on Sunday, Ray Epps, the senior vice commander of the VFW post in Polk County, remembered the young girl as a light in the community. "She was a sparkling, vivacious young lady," Epps said, according to Fox4. "Shed come up, help him, and shed say, I want to go dance. so shed go out and learn how to dance. You know, thats the type of personality. She lit up everyones lives." Home News Putin foe Alexei Navalny leaned on Christian faith before death "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." These are the words of Alexei Navalny, one of Russia's most well-known opposition politicians of recent times, who is reported to have died in a penal colony last week. The circumstances of his death are uncertain and his family are yet to see his body. He was serving 19 years imprisonment on charges of extremism widely and internationally considered to be politically motivated for his vocal criticism of Vladimir Putin's regime. 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 He was imprisoned in the IK-3 penal colony in the Arctic Circle, where temperatures go as low as -20 degrees and where the prison discipline is known to be brutal. In 2022, he spent nearly 300 days in solitary confinement. Navalny gained prominence as a politician who vigorously exposed corruption in Russian politics. He was, for a while, an embarrassing thorn in the side of the Putin regime until he and his team gave evidence of the personal wealth of Putin and his closest allies. He was from then on viewed as a serious threat to Putin's power as many young followers responded to his activism, questioning the viability of the 2012 elections and taking to the streets in protest. Eventually, his campaign was outlawed and he was charged as an extremist. Navalny was admired for his humor and sarcasm throughout immense suffering even passing witty messages from prison to his lawyers full of his dark sense of humor. His courage is also undeniable. He chose to return to Russia from Germany after a close run attempt on his life with the deadly Novichok nerve agent, later used in the Salisbury poisonings on another Russian dissident. He returned to Russia in the full knowledge that he would be arrested upon landing separated from his family and imprisoned with no guarantee for his safety. But as The Times obituary put it, "He knew that Russians admire the uncompromising," so return he did. A friend pointed out to me this weekend that in later life, Navalny stated publicly that he was a Christian. In his public statement during his 2021 trial, he is reported to have gone into some detail, explaining his Christian faith. Like much of the activist movement, he had originally been in his own words "quite a militant atheist" and recognized that his new faith set him up for ridicule by his own political friends and allies. He seems to speak of a weight lifted from his shoulders because of the clarity of the Bible. He said, "But now I am a believer, and it helps me a lot in my activities because everything becomes much, much easier ... because there is a book in which, in general, it is ... clearly written what action to take in every situation. It's not always easy to follow ... but I am actually trying ... as I said, its easier for me probably than for many others to engage in politics." Navalny cited the Sermon on the Mount "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied" and said, "I've always thought that this commandment is more or less an instruction to activity." I wouldn't want to put words in his mouth. I, of course, did not know Alexei Navalny, and these are only his reported words from a friendly publication. But in the clarity of the Bible's instruction, he appeared to have found both a spur to action and a "real kind of satisfaction" in doing what was required of him. In the courageous example of Alexei Navalny, what can Western Christians learn? In our relative comfort, can we understand the peace he had in following his conviction and boldly stating where those convictions came from, even though it both put him at odds with the authorities who opposed him and even brought criticism and incredulity from his own allies? Imagine what it must have taken to board that flight back to Russia, trading in his freedom and family life for an uncertain future in a penal colony. Navalny shows a lesson in persistence and perspective too. He did not see the fall of Putin's regime in his lifetime, yet he was still prepared to fight with whatever he had, even if it was with letters to his lawyers from a freezing prison cell. Many of us in politics may not live to see the grave injustices in our context ended for good. Are we still prepared to act? To end, let's remember the words of Psalm 2: "Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the Earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his anointed one. ... "So now kings be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the Earth. Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for his anger may ignite in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Like Navalny, can we rest in the sure knowledge of God's sovereignty even amidst awful circumstances, while still resolving to hunger and thirst for righteousness wherever God has placed us and with whatever God has put in our hands? This article was originally published by Christian Today. Tim Farron has been the Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005, and served as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party from 2015 to 2017. Tim is also the host of Premier's 'A Mucky Business' podcast. His new book A Mucky Business: Why Christians should get involved in politics is published in November. Home News Catholic nonprofit urges Letitia James to investigate trans funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral as hate crime A Catholic nonprofit advocacy group fired off a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday urging her office to investigate last week's funeral of a trans activist at St. Patrick's Cathedral that prompted outrage. CatholicVote.org President Brian Burch claimed in his letter that the deceptive means by which activists were able to conduct a funeral in St. Patrick's for Cecilia Gentili a trans-identifying atheist and former prostitute could qualify as criminal trespassing and a hate crime under New York's Hate Crimes Act. "I am writing to request that you open an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the recent use of St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City by transgender activists to deceptively gain access and advance ideas and beliefs hostile to doctrines of the Catholic Church, while openly mocking these beliefs," Burch wrote. 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 Burch cited the footage that went viral on social media depicting the sacrilegious antics that characterized Gentili's funeral. Scantily clad attendees repeatedly erupted into raucous applause at moments throughout the service, such as when eulogists referred to the late trans activist as "Saint Cecilia, mother of whores." They also chanted the phrase as Gentili's casket was carried down the nave. Trans couples also kissed on the high altar, a reader prayed for transgender healthcare, cross-dressing actor Billy Porter sang a song by Whitney Houston, and one attendee changed the lyrics of "Ave Maria" to "Ave Cecilia" while dancing down around the casket and down the aisle. Noting a video that shows one of the funeral's organizers boasting about how Gentili's trans identity was hidden from the archdiocese, Burch argued that the funeral was a deceptive attempt to desecrate one of the most important Catholic cathedrals in the U.S. "The deception employed to gain access to St. Patricks Cathedral in order to hold a ceremony that profaned that holy place and mocked the Catholic religion cries out for justice," wrote Burch, who suggested the organizers violated New York Penal Law Sec. 485.05 regarding hate crimes. Burch also cited the 1974 case People v. Segal, which found the defendants liable for criminal trespassing after gaining access to the CBS newsroom by falsely claiming to be journalism students. "The outrageous sacrilege perpetrated at St. Patricks Cathedral is indeed a hate crime," Burch said. "Video footage shows that transgender activists intentionally used deception to obtain permission to enter St. Patricks and the facts show that access was used to desecrate that sacred space and mock Catholic faith and morals." Burch concluded by urging James "to vindicate the rights and dignity of Catholic New Yorkers, and indeed, the countless Catholics throughout this nation who regard St. Patricks as one of their most revered holy places." The Christian Post has reached out to the New York attorney general's office, and a response is pending. Gentili's funeral made headlines and drew backlash from many Catholics. As of Thursday, nearly 14,000 people have signed an online petition urging Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York to perform an exorcism of the cathedral. On his podcast earlier this week, Dolan praised the priests involved for making the quick decision not to perform a funeral Mass for Gentili, instead opting to do the less formal Liturgy of the Word. The Archdiocese of New York released a statement last Saturday from the Rev. Enrique Salvo, the pastor of St. Patrick's Cathedral, who claimed he was unaware of Gentili's identity when the funeral was being arranged, and that a Mass of Reparation had been performed at Dolan's direction. Canon Law lists "manifest sinners" whose funerals would cause "public scandal of the faithful" as those who "must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals" unless "they gave some sign of repentance before death." The funeral was organized by Ceyenne Doroshow, another trans-identifying man, who told The New York Times Gentili's trans identity was kept "under wraps" from the archdiocese. On Wednesday, Doroshow delivered a lengthy press conference during which he admitted they had kept Gentili's identity a secret from church leadership, but that media had alerted them the day before. He also cited Pope Francis and Fiducia supplicans regarding same-sex blessings as justification. Doroshow also demanded an apology from the archdiocese and claimed the trans community find themselves "in a religious war" within the Church between leaders who affirm LGBTQ behavior and those who do not. "You're preaching hate, you are teaching people to hate," Doroshow said. "You have spewed hate. My inbox is full of hate. That comes from the archdiocese, that's not coming from my community, because my community does not act this way." NEW YORK Organisers of the cathedral funeral have spoken in an explosive press conference: Admits they did not tell church of trans deceased, but claim media told church the night before Pope Francis and Fiducia Supplicans are cited as justification Demands apology pic.twitter.com/NUNddFWOV0 Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) February 21, 2024 Earlier this week, a group of Roman Catholic clergy and scholars issued an open letter to cardinals and bishops worldwide warning them that Gentili's "scandalous, grotesquely blasphemous and sacrilegious" funeral should be "a wake-up call" to the Church in the wake of Fiducia supplicans, according to LifeSiteNews. "This, Your Eminences and Your Excellencies, is what will be coming into your parishes if you do not act now and stop the document Fiducia Supplicans and its implementation," they wrote. "It will start with a priest coming together with a homosexual couple in a church for a blessing. People will gather to witness the event. There will be numerous occasions for political activists to abuse that moment to further blaspheme God and to mock the Catholic faith." "This funeral at St. Patricks Cathedral was a wake-up call," they added. "It was only the beginning." Home News Christian convert fights German authorities over Bible verse sticker A taxi driver in Essen, Germany, is contesting a fine imposed by local authorities for displaying a Bible verse sticker on his vehicle, which reads "Jesus I am the way. The truth. And the life," sparking a debate over religious expression and advertising laws. The sticker led to Jalil Mashali being fined for what the city deemed unlawful "religious advertising," the rights group ADF International said Wednesday. Mashali, a Christian convert from Iran, is challenging the fine with ADF International's help, arguing that the sticker is a personal expression of faith rather than advertising. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In October 2023, Mashali received a notice from the Essen road traffic authority, threatening a fine of up to 1,000 euros, or $1,085, for the sticker. He has refused to remove it, leading to a demand for a fine and fees totaling 88.50 euros. Mashali says the sticker is an expression of his convictions, not advertising. He has lived in Germany for 22 years, having moved from Iran, where he was born and raised as a devout Muslim. His conversion to Christianity followed a significant personal experience that he attributes to the power of prayer and faith, making the sticker a symbol of his spiritual journey. Mashali was injured severely in a bus accident in Iran. After the loss of his lower left leg, he suffered from chronic pain. When he was 33, he sought medical treatment in Germany. After 20 surgeries, the pain remained and he became suicidal. He found healing after a Christian woman prayed for him. He says the pain in his leg ceased after the prayer, inspiring him to become a Christian. "Jesus is the best thing I could recommend to anyone because he changed my life," Mashali said. "That's why I have the sticker on my car for anyone who is interested to see. I'm not looking to cause trouble, but I haven't done anything wrong. I am grateful for this country where everyone should be free to share their faith. I hope to be able to continue to do so by appealing the unjust fine." Essen authorities argue that the sticker violates a local ordinance against religious advertising on taxis, a stance rooted in a 1998 Federal Constitutional Court ruling. However, Mashali and his supporters contest this interpretation, asserting that the sticker falls within his rights to express personal beliefs. "In a free society, the government should not be silencing peaceful expressions of faith," said Dr. Lidia Rieder, a legal officer for ADF International. "Jalil's actions are protected by the basic human right to freedom of religion, which includes the right to share one's deeply held convictions with others. The state must refrain from unjustly interfering with this freedom." The case has garnered attention from various advocacy groups and media outlets. Reports from Radio Essen indicate that Mashali may face a fine of 10,000 euros if he refuses to comply, according to the rights group The Emergency Committee to Save the Persecuted and Enslaved. "The repercussions for Mashali are significant, with the possibility of dismissal as a taxi driver if he refuses to remove the text, as his car is deemed unfit for German roads," the rights group notes. Mashali's appeal may have implications for how personal expressions of faith are treated in public spaces and professions in Germany and beyond. Home News Dems upset Mike Johnson selected Pastor Jack Hibbs to serve as guest chaplain A group of Democratic lawmakers have expressed outrage that a prominent megachurch pastor they claim is a "Christian nationalist" was allowed to serve as a guest chaplain in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Chaplain Rev. Margaret Grun Kibben published Thursday, 26 House Democrats outlined their concerns about the speaker's decision to sponsor Pastor Jack Hibbs as a guest chaplain for the chamber. Hibbs, who serves as the pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California, delivered an opening prayer in the House on Jan. 30. 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 Led by Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., the signatories contend that "Hibbs is a radical Christian nationalist who helped fuel the January 6th insurrection and has a long record of spewing hateful vitriol towards non-Christians, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ community." The Democrats insisted that "he should never have been granted the right to deliver the House's opening prayer on January 30, 2024." The Christian Post reached out to Calvary Chapel Chino Hills seeking comment from Hibbs on the letter. A response was not received by press time. The other signatories to the letter were Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.; Mark Pocan, D-Wis.; Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.; Sean Casten, D-Ill.; Susan Wild, D-Pa.; Hank Johnson, D-Ga.; Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y.; Mark Takano, D-Calif.; Robert Garcia, D-Calif.; Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.; Becca Balint, D-Vt.; Delia Ramirez, D-Ill.; Katie Porter, D-Calif.; Kevin Mullin, D-Calif.; John Garamendi, D-Calif.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Raul Ruiz, D-Calif.; Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.; Julia Brownley, D-Calif.; Summer Lee, D-Pa.; and Gerry Connolly, D-Va. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a nonvoting delegate from the District of Columbia, also signed the letter. "In the days leading up to the [Jan. 6, 2021] attack on the [U.S.] Capitol, Hibbs echoed Donald Trump's election fraud lies and inflamed his followers by preaching that January 6th would go down in history alongside the War of Independence and the War of 1812," they wrote. "By preaching that God had anointed the Trump administration and could still intercede to save Trump's presidency on January 6th, Hibbs advanced a religious permission structure that led to violence by those who believed any means were justified to carry out what they viewed as God's plan." The lawmakers noted that Hibbs attended the "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington that preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters later that day. In an appearance on Family Research Council President Tony Perkins' "Washington Watch" program on Jan. 7, 2021, Hibbs declared: "This is what you get when you eject God from the courts and from the schools" and teach children they are "evolutionary byproducts." The lawmakers lamented his comments during the opening prayer as guest chaplain. They took issue with Hibbs' use of the terms "holy fear," "repentance" and "national sins," describing them as "allusions to the militant and fanatical agenda he preaches about the LGBTQ+ community, Jews, Muslims, and anyone who conflicts with his 'biblical worldview.'" They cited his referral to trans-identified people as a "sexually perverted cult" who are "in violation of the word and will of God" as well as part of an "anti-God, anti-Christ plan of none other than Satan himself" as examples of what they called "hateful and divisive" views. "He claims that same-sex marriage has 'crucified God's word' and that homosexuality and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people is evidence that humanity is living in the 'last days.' He champions discredited 'conversion therapy' and has rallied opposition to a California law to reduce LGBTQ+ bullying in schools," they added. The lawmakers condemned Hibbs' characterization of Islam as a "death cult" and his assertion that Judaism "cannot save you." "Hibbs also embraces the false and exclusionary Christian nationalist narrative that the United States was established as a 'Christian nation,' and he has repeatedly flouted separation of church and state by working to institutionalize Christian prayer and bible readings at local school board meetings, among other things," the letter states. The lawmakers maintain that Hibbs' presence in the House on Jan. 30 ran afoul of established guidelines for guest chaplains. "Hibbs is not from the district of Speaker Johnson (i.e. the sponsoring member), Speaker Johnson did not deliver a welcoming speech, the prayer was not delivered on the last legislative day of the week, and Hibbs was Speaker Johnson's second sponsored Guest Chaplain in the span of just a couple months, even though Members are limited to one request per Congress." The letter asserted that Hibbs does not meet the requirements that guest chaplains deliver a prayer that is "mindful of diversity," "transcends petty differences" and "expresses a common aspiration to a just and peaceful society." The lawmakers concluded that Johnson "decided to flout the Chaplaincy guidelines and use the platform of the Guest Chaplain to lend the imprimatur of Congress to an ill-qualified hate preacher who shares the Speaker's Christian nationalist agenda and his overriding antipathy toward church-state separation." The lawmakers requested "a complete explanation of the process by which Pastor Hibbs was recommended, vetted, and approved, including the reason(s) why the Chaplain waived basic requirements of the Guest Chaplain program for Hibbs, of all people" as well as a vow that the House leadership will "prevent someone with a hateful and divisive record from delivering the opening prayer and to ensure that people of all faiths and values are equitably represented as Guest Chaplains." Home News Supreme Court urged to allow Idaho's ban on sex change surgeries for minors to take effect Idaho is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the state's law banning hormonal and surgical gender interventions for minors to take effect after a lower court blocked the measure. Idaho's Republican Attorney General Raul Labrador filed an emergency motion in conjunction with the law firms Alliance Defending Freedom and Cooper & Kirk, his office announced Monday. The motion asks the Supreme Court to narrow an order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho preventing the Vulnerable Child Protection Act from taking effect to cover only the challengers. 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 Passed in April 2023, the legislation prohibits the performance of gender transition procedures on youth with gender dysphoria, including body-altering surgeries and use of hormone-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones. The parents of two trans-identified youths sued to get the law struck down. Labrador insisted in the statement that "the state has a duty to protect and support all children" from "the devastating consequences of drugs and procedures used on children with gender dysphoria." "I'm proud to defend Idaho's law that ensures children are not subjected to these life-altering drugs and procedures," he said. "Those suffering gender dysphoria deserve love, support, and medical care rooted in biological reality. Denying the basic truth that boys and girls are biologically different hurts our kids. No one has the right to harm children, and thankfully, we as the state have the power and duty to protect them." District Judge B. Lynn Winmill, a Clinton appointee, issued a preliminary injunction late last year striking down the law as litigation against it continues. "As matters currently stand, doctors decide based on a widely accepted standard of care whether puberty blockers, hormones, and other treatments are appropriate for any particular patient," wrote Winmill. "[The Act] would not only prevent doctors from acting in accordance with that standard of care; it would subject them to felony charges and a potential 10-year prison sentence. Again, that does not serve the State's interest in protecting Idaho's youth; it harms them." The state unsuccessfully asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to allow the law to take effect as legal proceedings continue. The American College of Pediatricians contends that gender transition procedures, which may include the use of puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones, can present "harm" to minors. The group lists "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment" and sterility as possible side effects of puberty blockers. As for cross-sex hormones, also given to trans-identified youth, potential long-term implications include "an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan." In 2022, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Psychiatric Association released a joint statement denouncing state-level efforts to "criminalize gender-affirming care" for young people. "Patients, including youth, must be able to discuss gender-affirming care with their trusted physician to determine together what care is best for them. All patients must have access to evidence-based health care, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation," they stated. Idaho is one of 23 states that have enacted bans on some or all forms of gender transition procedures for minors. The others are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. A whistleblower who formerly worked at a clinic that provided gender transition procedures for minors recounted last year how an underage girl prescribed testosterone experienced severe bleeding and a vaginal laceration while another girl had her clitoris transform into a "tiny penis" that "chafed and rubbed painfully in her jeans." The long-term effects of gender transition surgeries, which result in the removal of healthy body parts that align with an individual's biological sex and the creation of synthetic body parts that correspond with their stated gender identity, have also received particular attention in recent years. Chloe Cole, a detransitioner who once identified as a boy and underwent gender transition procedures as a minor, filed a lawsuit in February 2023 against medical providers involved in her surgical intervention. She alleges that the double mastectomy she underwent as a teenager caused her to experience suicidal thoughts and left her with "deep physical and emotional wounds, severe regrets, and distrust of the medical system." Home News Widow of assassinated Haitian president accused of being accomplice because she wanted power Martine Moise, the widow of Haitian President Jovenel Moise who was assassinated in July 2021, is among 51 people indicted by a Haitian judge for allegedly being an accomplice to her late husbands murder. It's alleged that the widow had expressed a desire to become president of the troubled Caribbean nation just days after he was killed. In addition to the former Haitian first lady, the 122-page copy of the indictment by Judge Walther Voltaire, first published by Haitian website AyiboPost, also names people like former Prime Minister Claude Joseph, The Haitian Times said. There are concordant charges and sufficient evidence likely to justify their responsibility for the acts attributed to them, Voltaire said in his order. It is ordered that [these individuals] be apprehended and incarcerated at the civil prison of Port-au-Prince, if they are not already there. 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 Martine Moise, who has three children with her late husband, is now residing in the U.S. in an undisclosed location. In response to the allegations, Paul Turner, her attorney based in South Florida, previously told The Haitian Times that she was also a victim in the assassination. She was a victim, just like her children that were there, and her husband, he told The Times. Voltaire said his decision to formally charge Martine Moise was based on statements she made to Lyonel Valbrun, then-secretary-general of the National Palace. Valbrun alleged that two days before the president was assassinated, Martine Moise took a stash of items from the National Palace and Voltaire did not see this as a random move. Valbrun further noted that two days after the Haitian president was assassinated, the former first lady told him she wanted to be president. Jovenel has done nothing for us. You must open the presidents offices for Ti Klod [Claude Joseph] to organize a council of ministers. He will have to organize elections in the next three months so that I become president, that is now that we will have power, she allegedly said in Haitian Creole. Joseph Badio, a former official in the Haitian Justice Ministry, who is also accused of being an accomplice to the assassination, said Martine Moise was plotting with others, including Claude Joseph, to get rid of her husband to monopolize power. The late presidents widow is expected to be a witness in his murder trial against 11 men who have been accused of conspiring to kill him as part of a U.S. investigation in Miami. Six of the men have already pleaded guilty, while five will go on trial in May. Some critics of the indictment have argued that the indictment against her and others is a political move by Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to get back at his critics but, Jean-Junior Joseph, a spokesman for Henry denied the allegations to The Times. The Prime Minister has no direct relationship with the examining magistrate, nor does he control him, Joseph said. The judge remains free to issue his order in accordance with the law and his conscience. Jovenel Moise was assassinated and his wife injured just months after religious leaders called on him to step down as the country faced what some described as a descent into hell amid rising political tensions and violence. He was 53. Home News Robin DiAngelo accuses Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' of 'white supremacy and patriarchy' 'White Fragility' author confuses Adam with David Author Robin DiAngelo recently claimed to believe Michelangelo's famous depiction of God creating Adam in the Sistine Chapel is the "perfect convergence of white supremacy and patriarchy," but misidentified Adam as David. "The single image I use to capture white supremacy is Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, God creating man, where God is in a cloud and there's all these angels, and he's reaching out and He's touching I don't know who that is, David or something?" DiAngelo said during a Jan. 15 interview on the podcast "Not Your Ordinary Parts." The perfect convergence of white supremacy, patriarchy Robin DiAngelo explains that Michelangelos Creation of Adam on the Sistine Chapel ceiling is the single image she uses to capture the concept of white supremacy. She also misidentifies Adam as David. pic.twitter.com/qHpXjrYBTg 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 6, 2024 DiAngelo, an affiliate associate professor of education at the University of Washington who specializes in antiracism and "whiteness studies," became famous for her 2018 book, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. The book soared to the top of the bestseller list in 2020 amid the racial tensions in the wake of George Floyd's death. DiAngelo first coined the term "white fragility" in 2011 to describe what she views as the defensive reactions white people experience when they're placed in situations where they have to reflect on their race. She posits in the book that "a positive white identity is an impossible goal. White identity is inherently racist; white people do not exist outside the system of white supremacy." During the podcast last month, DiAngelo went on to note how God, Adam and the angels in Michelangelo's iconic fresco are all white, which she claimed is problematic. "That is the perfect convergence of white supremacy, patriarchy," she said. Recounting how she saw many similar images while she was being raised as a Roman Catholic, DiAngelo suggested white people take it for granted that whiteness is the ideal race because they are steeped in Christian art that typically depicts God and other figures as white. "I was raised Catholic, so I saw many images like that as a child," she said. "So I'm sitting in church, and I'm looking up, and I see these images, I don't think to myself, 'Oh, God is white.' But that's, in a lot of ways, it's power, right? I don't need to: God just reflects me doesn't reflect me gender-wise, but it's a non-issue. I always belong racially to what is seen what is depicted as a human ideal." DiAngelo has raked in exorbitant speaking fees amid the success of her book, including $20,000 for a seminar she conducted at the University of Connecticut in 2020. She typically charges between $10,000 and $15,000 for her lectures and a phone call with her costs $320, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation. Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam," painted around the year 1512 on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, illustrates God giving life to Adam by stretching forth His finger. Some art critics have suggested that the shape of God's cloak is meant to resemble the human brain, and that the female figure nestled under God's other arm is Eve. Home News Teen facing felony for burnout on LGBT pride intersection raises over $28K for defense Podcaster Tim Pool donates $10K, says he might pitch in more A GiveSendGo fundraiser raising legal funds for a teenager charged with a felony for vandalizing an LGBT progress pride crosswalk has raised more than $28,000. The GiveSendGo fundraiser established as a defense fund for Dylan Brewer, 19, has raised $28,265 of a $100,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon. Podcaster Tim Pool announced on his Timcast IRL podcast Tuesday night that he had donated $10,000 to the crowdfunding campaign. A message on the crowdfunding campaign states: This fund not only supports Brewers legal defense but also champions the fundamental American values of freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial. By contributing, you stand for the principles that underpin our democracy, advocating for a balanced and just examination of the case. Your support not only aids Dylan Brewer but also underscores the importance of liberty and justice in our society. 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 Brewer was arrested last week for vandalizing a streetscape painted in the colors of the LGBT progress pride flag in Delray Beach, Florida. He faces charges of felony mischief over $1,000 and reckless driving. Security footage from the early morning hours of Feb. 4 shows a black truck leaving tire burnout marks as it passes through the intersection. The language of the GiveSendGo fundraiser reflects the view that the prosecution of Brewer is politically motivated. Anthony Sabatini, a Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Floridas 11th Congressional District, took to X last week to describe Brewer as a political prisoner and calling on Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to grant an immediate pardon for the fake crime of driving over an LGBTQ flag (which should have never been allowed to be placed there). Pool expressed some degree of agreement with the idea that the prosecution of Brewer, who was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on $5,250 less than 24 hours after his Feb. 12 arrest, is politically motivated. There is no circumstance, none, where anyone else anywhere burned out as they made a left turn and were pulled over and arrested and charged with a felony for it, he said. Pool suggested that even in such a circumstance, the offender would face a $150 ticket and not a felony conviction. Its a blasphemy law. They are upset over his blasphemy, Pool concluded. Based on Pools analysis, the city government is punishing Brewer for not supporting or endorsing LGBT ideology. The podcaster vowed to spend more money on Brewers legal defense if necessary. However, Pool and his co-hosts maintained that Brewer should still face some consequences for his actions, such as a simple fine or a warning. The podcaster added, I think its obvious he intentionally burned out as he was turning, and thats kind of a mean thing to do. While sharing his disapproval of Brewers actions and maintaining that he should have to clean up the damage he caused, Pool remarked, I wouldnt ... send him to prison for a felony charge and take away [his] right to vote, own a gun and travel the world. He described such a proposition as insane. Home News Ukrainian priest found dead after being detained by Russian forces The bruised body of a Ukrainian priest who was detained by Russian occupation forces turned up on a village street last Thursday, with an unconfirmed report of a bullet wound to the head, according to watchdog group Forum 18. The Rev. Stepan Podolchak, 59, of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, disappeared on Feb. 13 in the Ukrainian village of Kalanchak after Russian occupation forces took him away for questioning in his bare feet with a bag over his head. The priest had chosen to remain with his church after Russians invaded the village in southern Skadovsk District of Kherson Region in early 2022. Podolchaks battered body was taken to the morgue after a passer-by found it, and a morgue staff member phoned his shocked wife to ask her to identify it. His family buried the priests body in Kalanchak on Sunday. 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 Today it became known that the occupiers tortured the brightest person I was lucky enough to meet in my life! noted an official from the Kalanchak village military administration in a Facebook post, now operating from Ukrainian-held territory, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. Stepan Yaroslavovych Podolchak. Faithful to God, pure in soul, honest and fair! Like an angel who came down to Earth! It is impossible to believe and we will never forgive! The Rev. Nikodim Kulygin, bishop of the Orthodox Church of Ukraines Kherson and Tavria Diocese, accused occupation forces of torturing Podolchak to death, according to Forum 18. Serhy Danilov, a Kyiv-based anthropologist who supports civil society projects in Kherson, told Forum 18 that responsibility for the priests disappearance lay with the Russian Interior Ministrys Centre for Countering Extremism. He said Podolchak may have faced incarceration in a detention center in the rural settlement of Chaplinka. Podolchaks body showed bruising and indicated he was handcuffed, Danilov told Forum 18. Fr. Stepan was someone who felt he couldnt abandon his people, Danilov reportedly said. The [Russian] police and FSB repeatedly pressured Fr. Stepan to move to the Moscow Patriarchate. He told them he couldnt betray his oath and community. Unconfirmed reports claimed a bullet wound in the head caused the priests death, but the death certificate given to the family stated he died from a heart attack. Svitlana Fomina, head of the Kalanchak village military administration, believes the priest also suffered torture. The Russians tortured him to death, Fomina told the Kyiv-based Centre for Journalistic Investigations. He was always pro-Ukrainian, conducted all services in Ukrainian, prayed for Ukraine, even under occupation. Apparently, because of this, the Russians took away the most valuable thing that a person has life. Forum 18 contacted Russian police in Kalanchak on Monday to ask for details of the murder investigation. The unnamed duty officer put the phone down after responding, For a long time this [community] hasnt existed here and wont. Forget about it. An official at the Russian Investigative Committee of Kherson Region also refused to answer Forum 18s questions about the death. Fill in the form on our website, he said. We will respond within the required 30 days. Forum 18 had asked if an investigation has begun, if a criminal case has opened and whether any arrests were made via the recommended website. Podolchak led church services in a half-built construction at the Church of All the Holy Lands in Kalanchak after Russian officials banned his church fellowship from using a rented room in Kalanchaks House of Culture following the invasion in Spring 2022. Fr. Stepan had built the walls and was trying to complete the building, Danilov informed Forum 18. The priest and his wife had both children and grandchildren. Originally from Lviv Region in western Ukraine, Podolchak became a priest in 1998 and served the people of Kalanchak for 10 years. The killing of Podolchak is the latest incident affecting Christian ministers in the Ukrainian war zone. Forum 18 notes that Russian occupiers oppose the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and any religious communities with headquarters in Ukrainian government-held areas. Podolchak faced ongoing pressure to transfer his priesthood from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to the Moscow Patriarchate Russian Orthodox Church before his death. He refused to comply. The [Russian] police and FSB repeatedly pressured Fr. Stepan to move to the Moscow Patriarchate, Danilov said to Forum 18. He told them he couldnt betray his oath and community. Russia is obliged to arrest any person suspected of committing torture under its obligations to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This includes an obligation to try such suspects under criminal law, making these offenses punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature. Forum 18 stated that this requirement is routinely ignored by Russian authorities, including when torture is reported within the countrys own internationally recognized borders. Another report by Forum 18 said that a Greek Catholic priest seized from the city of Berdyansk in Ukraine on Nov. 22 is in Russia after an illegal transfer. The Rev. Ivan Levytsky is held in Rostov Region, according to Evhen Zakharov of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. His colleague and fellow priest, The Rev. Bohdan Heleta, is still held in Crimea, occupied by Russia. The priests still face alleged criminal charges concerning weapons and explosives supposedly found by occupation forces. Both men are denied contact with their families. This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. Home Opinion Putin, Christian nationalism and the American Left You would expect a saying like this to come from someone else. Heres the quote: [The church] brings together not only the territory, it brings together our souls. No one will be able to separate the soul. It wasnt the Roman Emperor Constantine who said that, nor was it an American Founding Father. With the term Christian nationalism back on the menu of media pundits everywhere (this is an election year, after all), you might expect that quote to have come from a modern-day GOP figure. You know, one of those right-wing MAGA extremists who fought in the Great Revolution of January 6th in the 45th Q-Anon brigade, or however its being characterized these days. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe But the quote didnt come from ancient Rome, or from Charlemagne, or from the American right. It came from Russian President Vladimir Putin as the closing line in his two-plus hour interview with Tucker Carlson. And lest you think that Putin has had a come-to-Jesus moment, think again. Putin soundly denies the supernatural: Carlson: So do you see the supernatural at work? As you look out across whats happening in the world now, do you see God at work? Do you ever think to yourself: these are forces that are not human? Putin: No, to be honest, I dont think so. No, Putin hasnt gotten that old-time religion, but he has gotten the message that a national mythology will serve his purposes for justifying his invasion of Ukraine. Carlsons interview with him features a number of long diatribes on Russian history from Putins perspective. During one of these excurses, Tucker interjects a question about religion, specifically Christianity: Carlson: You have described the connection between Russia and Ukraine; you have described Russia itself, a couple of times as Orthodox that is central to your understanding of Russia. What does that mean for you? You are a Christian leader by your own description. So what effect does that have on you? Putin: You know, as I already mentioned, in 988 Prince Vladimir himself was baptized following the example of his grandmother, Princess Olga, and then he baptized his squad, and then gradually, over the course of several years, he baptized all the Rus. It was a lengthy process from pagans to Christians, it took many years. But in the end, this Orthodoxy, Eastern Christianity, deeply rooted itself in the consciousness of the Russian people. When Russia expanded and absorbed other nations who professed Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism, Russia has always been very loyal to those people who professed other religions. This is her strength. This is absolutely clear. One thing that Putin neglects to mention to Carlson in his celebration of Russian religious freedom is that its pretty much a whopper of a lie. For starters, there was Stalins 1929 law on religious association, which essentially sent into the shadows any religious activity that was not monitored and regulated by the state. And Putin himself is no reformer of Soviet religious persecution. In 2016, Putin signed the Yarovaya law, which, under the guise of combatting terrorism, severely restricted religious freedom in Russia, essentially making personal evangelism illegal in many cases. Putin seems to view religion much like his communist predecessor Karl Marx. Its an opiate of the masses a kind of unifying mythological narrative. Putin is not alone among his former Soviet colleagues. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in that office continually since 1994, has hailed himself for years as an Orthodox atheist. Like Lukashenko, Putin may be a card-carrying member of an institution, but hes clearly not a believer. Religions heart stoppage Indeed, rather than moving for Christianity (or any religion, for that matter) to shape the course of his nation, Putin wants to compartmentalize and internalize it at the individual level: As for religion in general, you know, its not about external manifestations, its not about going to church every day or banging your head on the floor. It is in the heart. While its certainly true that belief resides in the heart, its likewise true that its not limited to it. Putins push to make belief a quiet matter of the heart should sound eerily familiar to Americans. In 2020, after dictating to churches how to conduct their worship services during COVID, then Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said: But this year we need to think about what is truly the most important thing. Is it the worship or the building? For me, God is wherever you are. You dont have to sit in the church pew for God to hear your prayers. Worship with a mask on is still worship. Worship outside or worship online is still worship. Now, to be clear, faith is indeed a matter of the heart. As Paul writes in Romans, For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. But Northams view is much the same as Putins in that it stops at the heart. In their view, faith is a private affair that should be kept in check when it bleeds over into public life. Christian nationalism as a tool Back to Christian nationalism, and oh, what a tricky topic that is! There are probably more definitions for Christian nationalism currently than there ever were Christian nationalists whatever that means. The term itself is relatively new to widespread usage. Google search trends for the topic (which go back to 2004), show that January 2021 is where the current American interest in the topic took hold. Family Research Council held a 2022 symposium to explore its rise, broadly concluding that in large part Christian nationalism was a term used to categorize Christians who were motivated by their faith to action in the political realm. Christ Over All devoted its October 2023 edition to the topic, examining Christian nationalism from the perspective of a number of evangelical voices, showing wildly differing perspectives. While this summary article by Andy Naselli does an excellent job of showing the framework of the differing views of political theology, its clear that many are still defining Christian nationalism as they go. For example, on a recent episode of the Outstanding podcast, Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer described Christian nationalism as people who want to suppress the vote of people who arent Christians. Vischer also appeared as a guest in the new Rob Reiner-funded documentary on Christian nationalism called God and Country. For Reiner, who is not a Christian, Christian nationalism is equivalent to Christian involvement in politics. As Reiner told Newsweek: The beginnings of this movement happened in 1954 with the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which said that everybody had to be treated equal in terms of where they could access education. And this was not taken well by a big swath of the population, they just didnt like this idea. So they created religious schools where they could keep Black people from integrating the schools. And it started this movement of bringing religion, or their idea of a religion, in maintaining the separation between Blacks and whites. But its kind of ugly, if you think about it, that that would be the basis of a political movement. [It] really didnt take root, but then along came Roe v. Wade, and by 73 this became the galvanizing issue for Christian nationalists. They latched on to that and it became the thing that drove the movement. And then over a period of time we saw the Federalist Society getting involved in making sure that the judges were put in the right place and getting them on to the Supreme Court, and all the way up to Trump, putting three judges on the Supreme Court, and we see Roe v. Wade overturned. So weve seen a growth pattern over the decades of how Christian nationalism [has] gotten stronger and stronger. Notwithstanding the fact that theres no reality in which all these dots connect just like Reiner says, for him and his colleagues on the American political Left, they do all connect very well. After all, a broad-tipped marker covers over any distinctions made by a fine-point roller pen. For the American Left, the concept of Christian nationalism is simply a tool that they can use to draw lines against political action by those who oppose their agenda. In that way, its not unlike Putins use of a religion that he himself doesnt believe in for purposes of achieving his own political stability. Putin celebrates it out loud while quietly shutting it down. The American Left lampoons it out loud to the same end: that faith would stay put in the heart of the individual. But a faith that stays put in the heart is a faith with blocked arteries. A heart that cant pump its lifeblood outward will end in cardiac arrest. Christian nationalism or not, biblically faithful believers cant let their faith be defined by political forces intent on corralling them. Putin may believe that no one will be able to separate the soul, but we believe that, neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Originally published at The Washington Stand. 2 Americans accused of preaching, conversions at Baptist hospital in India Authorities in India fined two American citizens for allegedly violating the conditions of their tourist visa by preaching and carrying out conversions a claim their host refutes. Local media outlets were notified by the Superintendent of Police of the Sonitpur district of Assam state that James Michael Flinchum, 73, and Matthew Jon Boone, 64, had been taken into custody from the Baptist Christian Hospital at Tezpur's Mission Chariali. Their Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) papers permitted Flinchum admission beginning in October 2023 and multiple entries to Boone beginning in December 2023. They were allowed to engage in "Recreation/Sight-Seeing" activities under their tourist visa, which Assam state police alleged were illegal. They were charged with engaging in religious activities at several locations by the government. On Jan. 31, the two men went to the Baptist Mission Complex in Tezpur for the opening of the North Bank Baptist Christian Association. After that, on Feb. 2, they were taken into custody at the hospital and fined. While media reports claimed the duo were arrested, Sushanta Biswa Sharma, the Superintendent of Police of Sonitpur District, told media outlets that the police hadn't arrested the two foreign nationals but had detained and fined them $500 each. Sharma also alleged that the two men had deliberately violated their visa terms and so the police had been following up with authorities to blacklist them. Speaking to Christian Today, the general secretary of North Bank Baptist Christian Association (NBBCA), Chowaram Daimari denied the detention of the two visitors. "They were neither detained nor deported but were fined. After the fine was paid, they were asked to carry-on their tourism freely as planned," said Daimari. The allegation of conversion Flinchum and Boone has stayed at the Baptist Christian Hospital campus upon their arrival to Tezpur on Jan. 31. Flinchum was the ex-associate director of Baptist General Conference (BGC), the organization that founded the Baptist Christian Hospital, Tezpur in 1954. Daimari from the NBBCA told Christian Today that he refuted accusations by authorities that the two men had led conversions at the hospital compound. The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sonitpur district, Madhurima Das, was quoted by media outlets as claiming: "A Baptist association had held a building inauguration function in Tezpur and Baptist leaders from different parts of Assam had gathered there. The two U.S. nationals were also present there. The building itself is incomplete, it is half-done, so we have to say that they had come for conversion activities. Since they were in the country on tourist visas, they cannot participate in any religious meet." Daimari explained that the proposed office of the NBBCA is in the hospital compound, and as Flinchum and Boone were staying on the campus, they attended the inauguration function, which was held on Feb. 1. "Flinchum was once closely associated with the hospital, hence we requested him to pray and share his thought on the building," said Daimari. "There is no question of 'conversion activities' taking place as stated by some media outlets, since all the participants attending the inauguration function were Christians," he added. Furthermore, he told Christian Today that the building's construction is 90% complete and that the contract was given nine months ago. "It is wrong to say that the building is half-done. It is fully complete inside and only some painting portions remain outside. The contractor had agreed to finish the paint job before the inauguration which he could not finish. We had already sent all our invitations for the inauguration and thus we did not change the date," clarified Daimari. The NBBCA, in co-operation with the Baptist General Conference, released a press statement on Feb. 10, that said: "After the function was over, two men came from the police station and asked about the function. I (Daimari) explained to them what was happening. On the next day, Feb. 2, while they (two Americans) were visiting Kaziranga National Park, the same police personnel asked for photos of the inauguration function. After receiving the photos they came and met the tourists at hospital when they arrived from the national park. Their passports and visas were checked. After some time they were informed that they needed to pay $500 each for violating tourist visa norms. There was no detention or deportation." Flinchum and Boone left Tezpur on Feb. 3 for Guwahati and left India about three days later, according to Daimari. The Assam government in October 2022 had instructed all the districts in that state to monitor foreigners who arrive and keep a close check on them if they indulge in "conversion activities," which is in violation of visa norms. They were also instructed to monitor religious gatherings and check the travel documents of the foreigners who are found attending any religious gatherings. Shocked at the inauguration function being called a religious gathering, Daimari concluded, "Praying in a building inauguration does not make it a religious function. I feel that they are interpreting the law according to their understanding." Christian Today India Lyle descendent hits out at rebrand to remove Bible link from packaging A descendent of Abram Lyle, the devout Christian creator of the Lyle's Golden Syrup tin design, has criticised a rebrand of the product's packaging that removes references to the Bible. The design of the tin has remained largely unchanged since it was created in the 1880s by Lyle, who was the elder of a Presbyterian church in Greenock, Scotland. He was inspired by his Christian faith to design the tin with a distinctive green and gold lion surrounded by a swarm of bees - a reference to the Old Testament story of Samson and the Lion. Accompanying the image was the biblical quote, "Out of the strong came forth sweetness." These are now being ditched by manufacturer Tate & Lyle Sugars to show only a lion's face in a move that has sparked a backlash. Alexander Linklater, the great-great-great grandson of Abram Lyle, said the rebrand was "a bad call in the depressing tradition of unnecessary redesigns". He told The Telegraph: "They are changing something that is both very distinctive and familiar to something generic and woolly. "It was Britain's oldest brand. The rebranding is a move away from what was a real piece of commercial history." He added, "I do not think the feeble woolly-shaped lion is very good. Why throw away 140 years of proven branding?" Tate & Lyle Sugars has said that religion played "no part" in the rebrand of the tin. What needs to happen after the death of Alexei Navalny Last Saturday Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko, the Archbishop of Russia's Apostolic Orthodox Church, was arrested in St Petersburg on his way to a memorial to victims of Stalinist terror, where he allegedly intended to carry out a Christian memorial service for the newly departed servant of God Alexei Navalny. Later the same day, an ambulance was called to the police station and took Archbishop Grigory to hospital with a stroke, where he is still believed to be. In the meantime, another clergyman stepped in to hold the planned memorial service, with further arrests along the way. In total, hundreds of people have been arrested all over Russia in the past few days for honouring Navalny's memory with Christian services or simply by bringing flowers to memorials of victims of communist terror, where the authorities have deployed 24/7 police patrols with orders to identify all those grieving for Navalny. The chain reaction of terror goes on. Political assassinations have been the trademark feature of the Russian regime throughout Putin's era. Perhaps Mr Putin (having lately acquired the taste to meditate and lecture others about his personal place in history) quietly prides himself for having excelled the great poisoning princes of the Renaissance. Yet, there is one way in which the death of Alexei Navalny stands out in the long line of deaths of Putin's other opponents from Alexander Litvinenko to Boris Nemtsov: there has been no real attempt to cover the tracks. Navalny had narrowly escaped an infamous attempt to kill him by putting Novichok into his underpants in 2020, and then caught the FSB red-handed in a masterpiece of investigative journalism: Navalny phoned one of the assassins posing as an aide to the FSB boss and tape-recorded the assassin's detailed report on the failure of his mission. After a scandal like that, Navalny's death in Russian state custody was bound to look extremely suspicious in any event. It was not for nothing that President Biden personally warned Putin in 2021 that Navalny's death in prison would have "devastating consequences". A few weeks before his death, he was suddenly transported to a remote Arctic prison camp; his whereabouts were unknown for a number of days, causing a big scare among his family and supporters, and capturing the world's attention. Then on 15 February the Kremlin chose to show Navalny to the whole world, attending a video-recorded court hearing by video-link, in good health and in defiant spirits. The following morning he was announced dead. The official diagnosis given by prison authorities was 'sudden death syndrome'. The body was promptly hidden; no meaningful excuse offered for hiding it from the family. Against that background, it is fair to say that the Kremlin's denials of complicity are evidently not intended to deceive, but to mock. By this demonstrative execution of its best known political prisoner, whose death the US President had publicly vowed to avenge, the Kremlin sends an important message both to the West and to its own subjects. To the West it says: we don't give a hoot about your "devastating consequences". Anything you can be reasonably expected to say or do in response to this from verbal condemnation to further economic sanctions won't deter us from killing whoever we want. Indeed, hours before Western leaders even reacted to Navalny's death, the Russian Foreign Ministry was already circulating statements to condemn the West for condemning it. And the message to Russians is this: don't hope that your opposition to Putin or to his war will merely land you with a 19-year term of imprisonment amidst worldwide protests, perhaps to be exchanged later for some Russian spies or POWs, or to be triumphantly released after the downfall of the regime. The penalty for political dissent in Russia is death. Raising stakes in this way is hardly consistent with the picture painted by the Russian propaganda over the past two years the picture of united fascist Russia rallied around its leader's agenda of world conquest and Patriarch Kirill's jihadist version of Christianity. The truth is that Russians responded to the invasion of Ukraine with an unprecedented nationwide storm of protest. When the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968, seven people publicly protested at the Red Square in Moscow and were imprisoned for long terms a pivotal moment in the history of the Soviet dissident movement which eventually finished the USSR off. In the 1990s, rallies against the First Chechen War peaked at a few thousand but protesting in those times was not much riskier than in Western democracies. This time, human rights organisations have recorded as many as 20,000 arrests for anti-war street protests in Russia, which is only a fraction of the total number of protesters, as not everyone was arrested and not every arrest was recorded. If seven protesters in 1968 shook the Soviet empire to its foundations, how should its heirs react to tens of thousands? This is not to mention the widespread arsons of conscription centres and dim rumours of mutinies in army units. In a statement released from prison in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Navalny appealed to Russians to go out to the streets to protest, and added "if, to stop this war, we have to congest the prisons and prison vans with our own bodies, we will do so". This is what thousands of Russians have been doing. If semi-public executions of leading prisoners cannot stop that process, nothing else can. Navalny was naturally top of the list; but there is little doubt that the lives of Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Alexei Gorinov, Mikhail Kriger and hundreds of other prisoners are now in graver danger than ever before. Navalny's death, and other deaths which may well follow, mean a lot more than one of the many humanitarian issues which have arisen out of this war. It is a fateful move on the global chessboard. The outcome of the war and the future of Europe depends on being able to counter it effectively. Nothing less than 'devastating' will do. Putin will only laugh at verbal condemnations. He is also no doubt prepared for whatever still can be scraped out of the barrel of potential economic sanctions. The only place where retaliation would really bite is the battlefields of Ukraine. The only thing that might impress and deter Putin is if every death of a Russian political prisoner promptly leads to a serious strategic disadvantage in combat. It is for military experts to say exactly how to achieve that, but the only Western response which Putin will notice is to give Ukraine something we have never given before and perhaps also to lift the restrictions previously imposed on using advanced Western weapons only in Ukraine but not on Russian soil. Anything less dramatic than this is foreseen and will be ignored. Doing what little I can in response to Navalny's death, I am putting in place a standing order for monthly donations to the Ukrainian army. The amount will sharply increase every time another political prisoner dies in Russia, until the end of the war or my bankruptcy. I hope others will do similar things according to their own means, and that the governments will do a hell of a lot more. After all, this may be our last chance before the political terror in Russia escalates to Stalinist dimensions and the only hope of lasting peace in Europe is gone for a long time. Pavel Stroilov is a Russian dissident who fled Putin's Russia to the UK in fear for his life 20 years ago. He is now a consultant to the Christian Legal Centre. With the aim to accelerate innovation and transform its digital infrastructures and services, Ferrovial created its Digital Hub to serve as a meeting point where research and experimentation with digital strategies could, for example, provide new sources of income and improve company operations. Since its creation over five years ago, the Digital Hub has included a team of experts in innovation, technologies, and trends such as IoT, big data, AI, drones, 3D printing, or advances in customer experience who work in concert with other business units to identify and execute new opportunities. Theres no defined hierarchical structure, but the Hub is based on a transversal and collaborative model where groups are created, and employees from all areas work on specific projects along with external experts. One of the main strategic transversal areas is AI. According to Luis Carlos Prieto Fernandez, head of Ferrovials AI center of excellence (AI CoE), its value is demonstrated by the work the company has been doing with all business units. They have AI-based services that either make processes automatic, more efficient, or provide the business with services that give competitive advantages, he says. With this in mind, the AI CoE acts along two clear lines at a global level. The first is the development of AI models and projects for business units that create digital solutions together with the rest of the Digital Hub team. The second, given Ferrovials global nature, is its continuous contact with all units, acting as an AI knowledge hub. This allows us to contribute ideas and solutions weve already been working on, and avoid duplicating proofs of concept and projects, he adds. Getting AI off the ground After several years of innovating in AI, Ferrovial can cite many examples of projects and services benefitting from it. If we look at what we could call classic AI, an example would be our Herbicide Train project, where front cameras have been installed in several trains throughout Spain that dont go below 50 km/h, Prieto says. And combined with the help of our computer vision models, were able to detect when theres vegetation between the rails and shoot herbicide up to seven cars behind. Being able to do this has economic as well as ecological impacts reduction in the cost of glyphosate by more than 80%, regarding the former, and only irrigating where necessary, for the latter. Plus, to provide all its businesses with the ability to obtain information in record time, the company has been working with gen AI and LLMs, specifically Azure OpenAI, since December 2022. So projects to analyze huge amounts of data in multiple formats already in production are now considerably more efficient and cost effective. The threat to banks from cyber crime is becoming increasingly complex, as state actors and criminal gangs become more adept at targeting vulnerabilities. A report by the Bank for International Settlements singled out the growth of cloud-based services and remote working as two of the primary drivers behind the heightened risk. System perimeters are more dispersed, with each remote worker providing a potential penetration point for a bad actor and enabling errant employees to cause problems from inside company defences. Threats are also becoming more sophisticated as criminals deploy numerous attack vectors. These can be via social engineering, known as hacking the human, or via unsecured technology like apps, data and networks. In essence, banks are only as secure as their least protected device. Banks biggest concerns are currently malware (40%), phishing and ransomware (both 33%), data theft or misuse (30%) and business email compromise (27%), according to one study. Primary methods of attack include ransomware-as-a-service and distributed denial of service attacks. And the impact can be severe. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach in the financial services sector was $5.9 million (the average was $4.5 million). This may not only result in financial losses but catastrophic reputational damage and censure by regulators. Banks could face fines under EU General Data Protection Regulation if confidential information becomes public. Due to launch in October this year, the EUs Network and Information Security (NIS2) directive will require banks to boost the security and resilience of critical systems and networks, with the prospect of severe penalties for noncompliance. The recently launched Digital Operational Resilience Act will also require banks to record all ICT-related incidents and significant cyber threats. Responding to the changing threat The encouraging news is that leaders are increasingly aware of the problem. A report by the Bank of England found 80% of executives believed cyber attacks were the biggest single threat to the UK financial system. This awareness is prompting action, with the global cybersecurity market in banking estimated at $77.1 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $ 285.4 billion by 2032. But with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and bringing new tools like generative AI to bear, the threat of a cyber security arms race looms and banks simply can not afford to not keep up. So, what can they do to ensure they are equipped to deal with these growing threats? Imagine if a bank Chief Information Security Officer could empower their cyber defence team with the means to cut through all the white noise of data coming and going, crisscrossing their networks and single out that vital piece of information that really matters? Not only that, but it could also propose automated responses while continuously learning and refining its operations to make even smarter recommendations in the future? All of this can be done by harnessing the power of generative AI. Leveraging AI for cyber defences Microsoft Security Copilot is one tool that uses generative AI in such a way. It simplifies the threat picture and can identify problems and automate responses, continually learning and improving to help ensure security teams are operating with the latest knowledge of attackers, their tactics, techniques, and procedures. During the chaos of multiple alerts, Security Copilot offers a vulnerability summary, prioritises risks based on the scale of the attack and gives recommendations in minutes. It also provides an audit trail for investigations. Copilot allows teams to share useful prompts, such as reverse engineering (how malicious code leads to breaches). Analysing threats at machine speed provides early warning to detect malware, trojans and phishing that is vital to the success of any bank. Its capabilities also offer solutions to the problem of disparate legacy systems and visibility gaps. By harnessing the built-in security capabilities of other Microsoft systems and taking data signals from software such as Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence, it can provide a holistic threat picture and provide suggested solutions. This all directly helps overstretched teams, transforming how they operate and enabling them to quickly and accurately investigate and identify threats. In fact, early adopters found it enhanced productivity and achieved significant time savings of up to 40%. So, it seems clear that with threats growing ever more sophisticated, leveraging generative AI software such as Security Copilot can provide the cutting edge in the ongoing battle with cyber criminals. For more information visit our Copilot for Security site. Senior Energy Efficiency expert (M/W) Departement Developpement durable - DD > Pole Energie Published on : 05/02/2024 CONTINENTAL EUROPE MOLDOVA CHISINAU Mission description Expertise France is recruiting a local Senior Energy Efficiency expert located in Moldova and familiar with the Moldovan energy sector to support the implementation activities related to the Technical Assistance (TA) provided by Expertise France via the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established for this purpose. The expert will be a staff member of the PIU and specifically responsible for supporting the development and implementation of all TA activities targeting energy efficiency objectives of Moldova. The Senior Energy Efficiency expert shall contribute, subject to its scope of expertise, to the development of the Moldova Energy Sector Reform Action Plan (MESRAP) and project annual work plans. The main role of the Senior Energy Efficiency Expert will be to facilitate the implementation of all energy efficiency related project activities and the attainment of the respective work plan deliverables and outcomes, including those related to policy reform measures, which will be supported directly by the TA. The expert shall support the process of energy policy drafting aiming at ensuring compliance with the EU acquis on energy efficiency, provide expert advice on implementation process and directly support it. In providing the support, the expert will engage in direct communication and maintain day-to-day contact with relevant counterparts and, if required, will ensure the necessary physical presence in stakeholder institutions to support the activities and facilitate implementation activities. He/She will work under the supervision of the Expertise France Team Leader in Moldova, within the framework of the Technical Assistance Program granted to the Moldovan Authorities as indicated below in the project and context description. Project or context description The Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) has launched a program of Technical Assistance (TA) to support the Moldovan Government in continuing the energy reform. Expertise France (EF), the French public agency for international technical assistance, was entrusted by the AFD with the implementation of the project. As part of several commitments undertaken by Moldova in pursuit of its accession to the European Union, the country is engaged in an in-depth reform of its energy sector, including operational, financial and structural aspects. The Technical Assistance (TA) aims at supporting the Ministry of Energy for the development of a modern legal framework with a special focus on supporting and strengthening the Public Institution National Centre for Sustainable Energy (NCSE). Close analysis of the Ministry of Energy and NCSE has concluded that one of the first and primary needs of these institutions is to build the staff capacities to ensure Moldovan institutions to perform their duties and responsibilities. To support the Ministry of Energy and NCSE to carry out their responsibilities, one of the priorities of the TA will be to continue increasing their capacities and skills to be able to implement the energy transition in Moldova. The objectives of this transition are to boost energy efficiency, increase the share of renewable energy sources in the total final energy consumption, strengthen the liability of the energy supply, enhance the energy sector resilience and enhance the legal framework linked to climate changes actions. These objectives can be achieved via consistent planning, efficient coordination and effective implementation of activities, as well as capacity building of all actors from the energy sector. As part of several commitments undertaken by Moldova in pursuit of its accession to the European Union, the country is engaged in an in-depth reform of its energy sector, with a focus on reforms in energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable energy, consumer protection, environment and climate change. These reform endeavors were jointly developed in the form of Policy Reform Measures (PRMs) contained in a Roadmap attached to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the AFD and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, represented by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. The PRMs are to be implemented during an agreed period of time by the Moldovan authorities with the support of the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) via the Expertise France. Energy efficiency and renewable energy pillars, as part of the energy sector sustainable development strategic objective, ranks highly in the list of priorities of the energy sector policy of the Moldovan government. Hence, the main activities of the project will be dedicated to supporting the Ministry of Energy and the Public Institution National Centre for Sustainable Energy (NCSE). In this framework, the expert tasks will be as follows:- Contribute to the development of the Moldova Energy Sector Reform Action Plan (MESRAP) and TA project annual work plans; - Facilitate the implementation of all energy efficiency related project activities and the attainment of the respective work plan deliverables and outcomes; - Support the process of energy policy drafting, aiming at ensuring compliance with the EU acquis on energy efficiency; - Provide expert advice to relevant stakeholders in all matters related to and support energy efficiency policy development and implementation; - Draft in cooperation with NCSE delegated representatives a work plan aiming at guiding the implementation of the energy efficiency law; - Contribute to drafting and implementation of the NCSE annual action plans; - Contribute to the expansion of the activities of NCSE to support energy efficiency measures in different sectors via: o Supporting the functional deployment of the financing program Moldova Residential Energy Efficiency Fund (MREEF), including by participation in development and drafting of the operations manual, financing instruments related documentation, databases concepts, reporting frameworks etc.; o Supporting the monitoring and evaluation of MREEF implementation; o Supporting the monitoring and evaluation of the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) implementation; o Drafting and developing a concept paper to identify sectors for the expansion of the NCSE activities; o Identifying funding requirements and drafting regulations supporting additional activities; o Contribute to draft and develop regulations supporting additional activities; o Support the NCSE to submit final regulations for adoption. - Support the Ministry of Energy and NCSE to work on the development of new pieces and amendment of the existing secondary legislation related to energy efficiency; - Engage in direct communication and maintain day-to-day contact with relevant counterparts and, if required, ensure the necessary physical presence in stakeholder institutions to support the activities and facilitate implementation activities. Required profile Master's degree in the above mentioned fields (Energy, Energy Efficiency etc.); At least 10 years of experience in the energy sector in Moldova, more particularly in the energy efficiency sector; Experience in energy efficiency policy development and implementation; Experience in energy efficiency projects implementation is an asset; Experience in realizing energy audits and feasibility studies is an asset; Sound understanding of EU policies on energy efficiency is an asset; Technical skills to support the process of energy policy drafting; Strong autonomy and impartiality; Strong organizational and project management skills; Excellent communication, analytical, drafting and reporting skills; Fluency in Romanian and English is required (French and Russian are an asset). Additional information Informations complementaires / Additional information Location: Moldova Tentative starting date: as soon as possible, to be agreed with the successful candidate Duration of the project: 57 months Type of contract: 12 months (renewable) expert contract (Salary portage) Documents to submit CV with references Cover letter Deadline for application : 04/03/2024 23:55 How to appply: Tio apply for this position, please, visit the link and click the Apply online button: https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/10622/1/senior-energy-efficiency-expert-moldova-green-transition-h-f/en_US Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Michael Gove, secretary of state for the department of levelling up, housing and communities Concerns have been raised over the governments decision to withdraw proposed funding from a 37-year-old charity, potentially leading to its closure, over a trustees membership of another organisation. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has reversed its previous decision to award funding to the Inter Faith Network (IFN) due to one of its trustees being a member of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). DLUHC, which had provisionally awarded 155,000 to the IFN for the current financial year, said it would not use taxpayer money in a way that legitimises the influence of organisations such as the MCB. IFN will discuss plans to close this afternoon, having received government funding since 2001, with 62% of its income coming from one government grant in 2022. The charity posted yesterday on social media that it had received a letter from DLUHC secretary Michael Gove saying that funding offered, subject to conditions, to IFN in July 2023 for the period until March 2024 would not be provided. The reasons are foreshadowed in his earlier letter of 19 January to them and relate to the inclusion on IFNs board of a trustee who is a member of the Muslim Council of Britain. In an article published this morning , DSC chief executive Debra Allcock Tyler wrote that the sector should be deeply worried by the governments actions in effectively forcing the closure of a charity by withdrawing funding. Government: IFN cannot rely on continuous taxpayer funding DLUHC provisionally awarded IFN 155,000 for 2023-24 but later raised concerns over its appointment of MCB member Hassan Joudi last July. The governments policy of non-engagement with the MCB began in 2009 when its former deputy secretary general Daud Abdullah signed a declaration it interpreted as advocating attacks on the Royal Navy, according to Guardian coverage . However, this was reversed in early 2010 before the last Labour government left office, according to MCBs website . IFN has 20 trustees registered with the Charity Commission, including Joudi. A DLUHC spokesperson said: The government has held a consistent policy of non-engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain. Last year, an MCB member was appointed to the core governance structure of the Inter Faith Network. As a result, government has decided to withdraw the offer of new funding for the Inter Faith Network. Interfaith work is hugely important but that does not require us to use taxpayer money in a way that legitimises the influence of organisations such as the MCB. The Inter Faith Network cannot rely on continuous taxpayer funding. We regularly remind our partners, including the IFN, of the importance of developing sustainable funding arrangements rather than relying on taxpayers money, which can never be guaranteed. Clear act of interference in the governance of a charity Allcock Tyler wrote that by pulling funding and knowingly causing the collapse of the whole charity, Gove was punishing the cause of interfaith understanding and dialogue. What seriously concerns me for our sector, however, is that there is no suggestion that the charity is guilty of wrongdoing, she wrote. To the best of my knowledge, the trustee concerned has not been publicly accused of wrongdoing. As far as I can tell, this is a perfectly legitimate charity carrying out its lawfully constituted work with its legally appointed board of trustees. Allcock Tyler wrote that the decision to withdraw funding was a clear act of interference in the governance of a charity. I cannot believe that the Charity Commission would find it acceptable if a board caved to such behaviour and dismissed a trustee on those grounds, she added. The Muslim Charities Forum also expressed concern about the IFNs potential closure. Meanwhile, a Charity Commission spokesperson said: We can confirm that, in line with our guidance, the Inter Faith Network has filed a serious incident report relating to the likelihood that it will need to close due to funding issues. IFN said it planned to publish a further statement on its future operations after meeting this afternoon after taking an in-principle decision to move towards closure of the organisation on 7 February. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, In 2019, Ecuadorean authorities allowed British police to enter the countrys embassy in London and arrest Julian Assange, the cofounder of WikiLeaks, who had been living there for more than seven years. Ecuador granted asylum to Assange in 2012 on the grounds of political persecution, but reportedly grew irritated by his behavior. Since then, Assange has been incarcerated at Belmarsh prison and fighting attempts by the US Justice Department to extradite him to face close to twenty charges, including under the Espionage Act, related to his solicitation and publication of classified documents in 2010. In 2022, Priti Patel, then Britains home secretary, signed an extradition order. This week, the UKs High Court held a two-day hearing to determine whether Assange will be allowed to appeal. While his personal freedom is clearly at stake, the case could have significant repercussions for press freedom, too. Patels was actually the second extradition order: in 2019, Sajid Javid, her predecessor, signed a similar one. Assanges lawyers argued at the time that he could not be extradited to the US because he had been charged with political offenses (a 2003 treaty between the UK and US doesnt allow prisoners to be extradited for these) and that being incarcerated in a US prison could endanger Assanges mental health and increase his risk of suicide. In 2021, a judge blocked this attempt at extradition based on the mental health argumentthough the order was later reinstated after US authorities promised that he would be well treated. Assanges lawyers say that if he is convicted, he could face up to a hundred and seventy-five years in prison in the US. The British court is expected to hand down a decision on Assanges request for an appeal next month. According to The Guardian, at the beginning of a hearing in Assanges case on Tuesday, lawyers representing him told the court that he would not be attending the proceedings in person because he is unwell, but that he was expected to appear on a video link from Belmarsh. (In the end, he did not.) Kevin Gosztola, a journalist covering the case, said that Assanges team told reporters that he had broken a rib due to excessive coughing. Other journalists in attendance suggested that the court did not seem to want to make it easy for the press to report on the case. Stefania Maurizi, a veteran Italian journalist, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that she and other reporters who tried to watch the hearing were forced to sit in a small Victorian gallery from which they could barely hear the proceedings. On Wednesday, Claire Dobbin, a British prosecutor representing the US Justice Department, argued that the charges against Assange were not politically motivated and that he went far beyond the acts of a journalist who was merely gathering information. Dobbin said that while Assanges extradition and prosecution may be unprecedented, what Assange did was also unprecedented, in that he conspired with Chelsea Manning, the former US Army intelligence analyst, to steal classified information, and tried to recruit other leakers. Dobbin also told a judge that the US could not guarantee that Assange would not face the death penalty if additional charges were filed following his extradition. (The UK has traditionally refused to extradite prisoners to countries where they might face the death penalty.) While the hearing was ongoing, Stella Assange, Julians wife, spoke at a rally in front of the courthouse, and said that the ability to publish the truth and expose crimes when theyre committed by states was at stake in the case. A number of prominent journalists and other critics of the extradition attempt also spoke at the rally, including Jeremy Corbyn, a former leader of Britains Labour Party, and Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and former New York Times bureau chief. Tim Dawson, the deputy general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, told the crowd that if Assange is extradited, other vital cases will never come to light, and that freeing Assange is necessary in order to safeguard free speech. Rebecca Vincent, the director of campaigns at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), told the rally that the group has been fighting Assanges extradition from the beginning, because the case poses a threat to journalism, press freedom, and all of our right to know. RSF has written that Assanges extradition would set a dangerous precedent that could put other publishers and journalists around the world at risk, especially since the US government has said that First Amendment protections will not apply to Assange, since he is not a citizen of the US. (He is from Australia, where politicians from across the spectrum have called increasingly loudly for his release, as my colleague Jon Allsop reported last year.) RSF argues that whether we think Assange is a journalist or not, we should defend him because of his contributions to journalism, and because his prosecution would represent an unprecedented blow to press freedom. Sign up for CJR 's daily email In a recent editorial, Alan Rusbridger, the editor of Prospect magazine and former editor of The Guardian, wrote: Enough is enough; we should set Julian Assange free. Rusbridger argued that many people, including a number of journalists, dont like Assange because of his unique ability to lose friends and alienate people, and because they dont think hes a proper journalist. Some, Rusbridger said, will never forgive Assange for his role in leaking information about Hillary Clintons campaign for US president in 2016, and see him as a Russian asset. But despite all that, Rusbridger argues, it is time to wake up and be alarmed. Meanwhile, James Goodale, who defended the New York Times in the 1971 Pentagon Papers case (which set a crucial precedent limiting the US governments ability to censor news stories prior to publication), has said that if Assange is extradited, investigative reporting will be given a near death blow. I made a similar argument in 2019, when I wrote for CJR thatwhile there is convincing evidence that Assange is a reprehensible person in a number of ways, and this makes holding him up as a defender of press freedom problematicwe dont get to choose the individuals who provide an opportunity for us to defend free speech and journalism. Like Rusbridger, Goodale, and others, I argued that the biggest risk in the Assange case is not whether he is extradited to a US prison, but whether the allegations in his case establish ground rules related to the behavior of investigative journalists that could be used to go after reporters who receive or publish classified documents. That is a very real threat to journalism, and one we should take seriously. The media critic Margaret Sullivan wrote in an op-ed in The Guardian that some journalists dismiss Assange as a data-dumping publisher, at best, and therefore are unconcerned about what happens to himbut that, in reality, his fate affects all journalists. Sullivan asks us to imagine what a future Trump administration could do to the traditional press if armed with an Assange conviction; reporting would be treated as a crime, she wrote. According to Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, meanwhile, the question of whether Assange is a journalist is a red herring. He told Al Jazeera that a successful prosecution of Assange would criminalize a significant amount of the investigative journalism that Jaffer described as absolutely crucial to democracy. In an editorial published on Sunday, The Guardian wrote that while opinions about his personality may be divided, now is a time to put all such issues firmly to one side [and] stand by Mr Assange. The request to extradite Assange, the paper said, constitutes a threat not just to Assange himself but to journalism, posing the most fundamental of questions about free speech. On those grounds alone, The Guardian says, Assanges extradition should be opposed without hesitation. Meanwhile, thirty-five law professors wrote a letter to the Justice Department last week, arguing that the Espionage Act charges against Assange pose an existential threat to the First Amendment. The professors say the implications of the case could even extend beyond national security journalism to the prosecution of routine newsgathering. In his Prospect column, Rusbridger asked us to imagine a scenario in which an American journalist based in London starts reporting on Indias nuclear weapons program. Her stories clearly breach that countrys Official Secrets Act, and the Indian government wants to prosecute and jail her for a long time. Can you imagine any circumstances in which that American journalist would be bundled on an Air India flight to Delhi? Rusbridger asks. Of course not: no American government would countenance it. And yet the Assange case goes on. Even if the High Court refuses his bid for an appeal, Assange might still have one remaining avenue. Stella Assange told a news conference that if the court rules against her husband, he will apply to the European Court of Human Rights for an order that could prevent him from being handed over to the US. Whatever the eventual outcome of the High Court hearing or this potential ECHR appeal, the repercussions of the Assange case in terms of press freedom could be with us forever. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The Citizen Labs John Scott-Railton on tackling the ongoing threat of Pegasus Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. Two arrests. Twenty-eight servers seized. And 1,000 decryption keys obtained that can help hacking victims worldwide get their data back. The takedown announced Tuesday of the Russia-linked hacking gang LockBit, which by some estimates has been responsible for a quarter of all ransomware attacks, represents what law enforcement agencies in the UK, US and Europe described as one of the heaviest blows theyve ever dealt against criminal hackers. It comes after a relentless surge of major attacks in recent months by LockBit and other groups, who have created a global scourge by extorting victims by locking up their computer systems with encryption software and stealing their sensitive data. But the episode also highlights what those same authorities acknowledge is the never-ending nature of the fight against cybercrime. Even after hacking groups such as LockBit are dealt a devastating blow, they often quickly regroup and begin attacking again. We have not arrested everyone related to LockBit this is a long-term process, Graeme Biggar, director general of the UKs National Crime Agency, said at a press conference in London. What all of them know now is that were on to them, and theyll be forever looking over their shoulders. The actions announced Tuesday include the arrest of two alleged LockBit members in Poland and Ukraine; the indictment in the US of two other alleged members, though they are located in Russia and unlikely to face extradition; the seizure of 28 servers and some 200 cryptocurrency accounts associated with the gang; and, most significantly for LockBits thousands of victims, the recovery of decryption keys which can now be used to unlock hijacked data. Many cybersecurity experts praised the multinational efforts as expansive and aggressive, and an effort likely to deal a significant setback to a group that has become synonymous with the most disruptive and costly cyberattacks of recent years. However, some also warned that recent history of similar takedowns shows its not long before hackers are back on their feet. The Lockbit website disruption and takedown is likely one of the most significant cyber operations undertaken by law enforcement ever, said Ed Dubrovsky, chief operating officer for Cypfer, a ransomware response and negotiations firm in Toronto, citing the arrests, the amount of data seized by law enforcement and the planned use of the decryption tools. Still, he cautioned that the ultimate impact on the organization and its leadership was uncertain: The ability to disrupt LockBits dominance on the threat landscape must include both financial and personnel disruption and the ability to help current victims who are left in somewhat of a limbo state. Other ransomware gangs such as Hive and Conti have faced similar law enforcement action in recent years. But the groups members are said by cybersecurity researchers to have simply rebranded and reformed under other names, then continued carrying out their attacks. In the aftermath of the latest crackdown on LockBit, the groups spokesman has already declared that the gang will rebuild its servers and has boasted that not all of the gangs websites have been taken down by the authorities, according to messages reviewed by Bloomberg News. The reasons hackers return to cybercrime are simple: ransomware is profitable and the chances of arrest are relatively slim. Many of those involved in hacking gangs live in Russia or other jurisdictions outside of the arm of Western law enforcement. Prior efforts to disrupt actors by law enforcement appear to have done little overall to stem persistence and growth of cyber extortion, said Charl van der Walt, head of cybersecurity research for Orange Cyberdefense, the cybersecurity division of French telecom Orange SA, which provided data showing that immediately after arrests, takedowns and other actions against such groups in recent years, the number of attacks and publicly disclosed victims actually goes up. After each of these reported law enforcement interventions, there was still a significant increase in the number of victims revealed on leak sites within the three months after the intervention. One of the hallmarks of LockBits operations has been its massively successful franchise business model, where it licensed its hacking tools to third parties known as affiliates who carried out attacks and shared a portion of the profits from the extortion. That network of affiliates is very wide, so a full disruption of the group is unlikely, said Gene Yoo, chief executive officer of Los Angeles, California-based cybersecurity firm Resecurity Inc. It is a huge community of actors monetizing access via ransomware, he said. It is only a matter of time for them to regroup. Since it was formed in 2020, LockBit has risen to be the worlds most prolific ransomware gang. The group gained notoriety after waging disruptive attacks on high profile companies, including the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd, the UKs Royal Mail, the financial software firm ION Trading UK and Boeing Co. It has carried out more than 1,700 attacks in total and extorted $91 million from its victims, according to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The gang is known to steal internal data and encrypt its victims computers, making them unusable. It then demands payment in exchange for unlocking the computers and not publishing the stolen data. LockBits Russian-speaking leaders tap into a network of affiliate hackers who carry out attacks using LockBits malicious software and infrastructure. They then split the proceeds of any money obtained through the extortion. In a highly competitive and cutthroat marketplace, LockBit rose to become the most prolific and dominant ransomware operator, said Don Smith, vice president of threat research for Atlanta, Georgia-based cybersecurity firm SecureWorks Corp., who provided data showing that LockBit owned about 25% of the global ransomware market at the time of the takedown, based on the number of victims identified on its data-leak site. It approached ransomware as a global business opportunity and aligned its operations, accordingly, scaling through affiliates at a rate that simply dwarfed other operations. The US Department of Justice had previously indicted three alleged hackers who were involved with LockBit. Mikhail Vasiliev a dual Russian and Canadian citizen was arrested in Canada in October 2022. That was followed in May 2023 by the indictment of Mikhail Matveev, an alleged Russia-based LockBit member. A third suspect, Ruslan Astamirov, a Russian national, was arrested in Arizona in June 2023, accused of working with LockBit to target companies in the US, Asia, Europe and Africa. Despite the arrests, LockBit continued its prolific spree of attacks, adding new victims to its darkweb page on a near daily basis, underscoring the difficulty law enforcement has faced in disrupting the gang. John Fokker, a former supervisor of a high-tech crime investigations team with the Netherlands National Police, said takedowns like the one against LockBit arent just about the immediate impacts such as the first arrests and the seizure of criminal websites. They also provide law enforcement with valuable data to continue their investigations into other members, which can be a powerful deterrent. What a lot of people tend to forget is that with ransomware it isnt only the head of the snake but also the individual affiliates, said Fokker, who is now head of threat intelligence for Milpitas, California-based cybersecurity firm Trellix Corp. It is hard to arrest all of them, but creating an unsafe environment can be quite effective, too. Cybercrime flourishes when criminals feel safe to do business, however when this safety or trust is broken it will halt development and even the biggest empires will fall apart. Top photo: Computer code and text displayed on computer screens. Photographer: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Bloomberg Creative Collection. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. When does a hallucinogenic drug become the direct cause of a catastrophic injury, triggering a homeowners policy exclusion? Not when a young man falls out of bed and is later moved by his comrades, potentially worsening a spinal injury, a Houston federal jury decided Tuesday. The verdict requires Occidental Fire & Casualty Co. of North Carolina to pay $1 million on a homeowners policy despite the controlled-substance exclusion. The jury in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas found that the illicit drug LSD did not directly cause Christoffer Cox, a former high school gymnast, to fall from the bed while staying at a friends home in Texas one night in 2019. The homeowners attorneys argued that Occidentals own amended complaint, filed in pursuit of a court declaration that the insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify, noted that Cox injury was caused in part by neglect and improper care after he had fallen from the bed. Nothing alleged in the original petition asserts Cox was injured as the result of the ingestion of LSD, reads the homeowners answer to the complaint. Occidental had a duty to defend under both the original petition and the first amended petition. Occidental, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and writing in multiple states, is a subsidiary of IAT Insurance Group. It issued a homeowners policy to Dirk and Andrea Zinkweg in 2019. The $1 million policy stated that it covered liability for injury and property damage and that Occidental would provide a defense, even if a suit was considered groundless. The policy also contained an exclusion, denying coverage for injury or damage arising out of the use, sale, manufacture, delivery, transfer or possession by any person of a controlled substance. That included LSD, cocaine, marijuana and other drugs. In the complaint and underlying lawsuit brought by Cox against the Zinkwegs, it was alleged that Cox and his friend Ryan Zinkweg ingested two squares of LSD around midnight, along with cannabis gummies. The two spent the night talking and laughing, both testified. At some point, they said, Cox fell about two feet from the bed onto the floor, and yelped that he was unable to move. Zinkweg called another friend around dawn, who helped move Cox back into bed. Medical personnel were called and arrived about 11:45 a.m. Cox had suffered a complete cervical spinal cord injury, leaving him a quadriplegic, court documents explain. Zinkweg agrees that if he had not given Cox the drugs, Cox would not have been injured, Occidentals amended complaint reads. Multiple witnesses, including medical and drug experts, testified. The jury disagreed with Occidental and unanimously found that the drugs did not cause the injury, essentially certifying that the HO policy had to cover the damages up to the $1 million limit. CLEVELAND, Ohio The former chief financial officer of a company that owned a Claddagh Irish Pub chain in the United States was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison. Ciaran Dillon, 57, of Solon, pocketed no money from the scheme, but he hid for years that he didnt pay $1.1 million in payroll taxes in eight states, including Ohio. The companys owner, Irish millionaire Pat McDonagh, later paid the taxes owed to the states. Dillon said he purposefully didnt pay because the business was struggling, McDonagh initially wouldnt help and he had to decide whether to pay employees and vendors or the taxes. There were never any funds for needed re-investment, Dillon said. When Id bring this up to Mr. McDonagh, there was no response at all. He avoided meetings with me. When it would come up at meetings, hed leave the room. U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko handed down the prison sentence, along with a $25,000 fine. Dillon is an Irish citizen and will likely be deported after he serves his sentence. Boyko acknowledged the struggling nature of the business and Dillons spotless record prior to the crime, but he also pointed out that the scheme lasted for eight years. You spent a lifetime building a good reputation and then you threw it all away, Boyko said. Dillon previously pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in connection with the scheme. Prosecutors called for between 27 and 33 months in prison and defense attorneys asked for probation. Dillon was the CFO for CDG Acquisition LLC, a Solon-based subsidiary of McDonaghs Supermacs, a large fast-food chain company in Ireland. Dillon each week skimmed employee payroll taxes from January 2010 through May 2018 for 15 restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Two of the pubs used to operate in Legacy Village in Lyndhurst and at Crocker Park in Westlake. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Abreu said the FBI began investigating after a bank flagged suspect transactions by the companys accountant, Angelo Kanaris. After the FBI confronted him, Kanaris admitted to embezzling $375,000 from CDG, told agents about Dillons tax scheme and agreed to wear a wire to the office for five months. Mr. Dillon didnt put any dollars in his pocket, but he arrived here to be the CFO and almost immediately directed his accountant to cook the books and his controller to hide the money, Abreu said. Defense attorney Robert Glickman said Dillon was put in an impossible position by his employer, McDonagh. He pointed to a letter written by former CDG Director of Operations John ODriscoll, who placed the blame squarely on McDonagh. ODriscoll wrote that McDonagh ignored pleas from Dillon to sell the business or help more financially. Instead, he wrote, McDonagh stuck his head in the sand. Dillons sentencing is the latest in a long string of lawsuits, criminal charges and controversy surrounding Claddagh Irish Pubs and McDonagh. McDonagh bought the chain out of bankruptcy after he sued its former owners, saying $21 million he gave a business partner was a loan and not an investment in the failing business. Once McDonagh took control, he put Dillon in charge of the day-to-day operations in the U.S. Federal prosecutors charged Kanaris in 2021. He was sentenced to six months in prison and six months on house arrest. After prosecutors charged Dillon in 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor sued CDG and McDonagh after they didnt release money in the retirement accounts of 65 employees. The company never responded to the lawsuit, and a judge entered a default judgement, ordering the distribution of the $103,000 in the accounts to the employees. In a separate lawsuit, the condo board in the building that used to house CDGs offices sued the company earlier this year, saying they owe $214,000 in back taxes, assessments and other fees. That case is on-going. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here. CLEVELAND, Ohio With 2024 police budget talks in full-swing on Wednesday, one question posed by City Council to Mayor Justin Bibbs team was how many officers Cleveland would need to reach the optimum level of staffing. Chief Finance Officer Ahmed Abonamah didnt answer the question outright. I dont know that that is a static number, Abonamah explained. I think thats a mistake the city got itself into several years ago -- a number was thrown out and weve all held that to be gospel. Circumstances change on a dime, he said. What is the optimal number today might not be the same as a year ago, Abonamah said. Things could get better or worse. Rather than anchor us on another number, I think we should be instead anchoring ourselves on outcomes and the conditions on the ground, which we know need to improve. The central debate during this years budget hearings is Mayor Justin Bibbs strategy around police staffing. He says he is throwing the kitchen sink at recruiting new officers to the force in 2024, to hopefully grow the department by more than 300 officers, to around 1,350 total. This year marks the second year in a row that Bibb intends to cut unfilled police positions to pay for raises and bonuses that will ideally grow the force beyond the landmark lows Cleveland is currently experiencing. At the end of December, the city tallied just 1,169 officers on staff. Thats down from more than 1,500 in 2020. Two years ago, the department was still budgeting for a target workforce of 1,640 officers, which had been the norm for some time. Bibb last year dropped the target to 1,498. This year, hes aiming for 1,350. While Bibb and council both agree that Cleveland needs to grow its ranks substantially in 2024, council members on Wednesday wanted to know how actual staffing levels and the hiring target compare to how many officers would comprise the Cleveland Division of Police in an ideal world, where the city could obtain as many officers as it thinks it needs to get the job done. Councilwoman Jenny Spencer asked if the 1,350 figure represents ideal staffing, or if its just where City Hall hopes to land by the time 2024 is through. Abonamah offered his explanation. But Council President Blaine Griffin and safety committee Chair Mike Polensek didnt appear to be sold on that answer. They said theyd been operating, for years, with the understanding that around 1,600 were needed. That recommendation wasnt a random number, Griffin said. It came from a 2017 Police Executive Research Forum Report commissioned by the city after it entered into the consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. That recommendation is likely outdated now, because the police department in January switched from three 10- or eight-hour shifts, to two 12-hour shifts. Now, only two full shifts of patrolmen are needed, instead of three. But Griffin wanted to know what the new baseline should be, and whether the city should seek outside opinions to arrive at that answer, as it did in 2017. Abonamah was more focused on growing the force beyond the size it is today. He said this years budget plan, if recruitment goals are hit, would allow the city to increase the size of the department by 15% compared to where it is now. Abonamah did provide optimum numbers for how many basic patrol officers police Chief Wayne Drummond and safety leaders believe are needed under the 12-hour shift system, which allows for fewer officers to be dedicated to patrol while still providing 24/7 coverage. That figure is 489, Abonamah said. The city was 76 officers short of that target in December, he said. If City Hall can substantially increase its hiring in 2024, police leaders will seek to fill those patrol spots first. Then, if more officers join the force, leaders will turn their focus to filling out the non-patrol specialized units, such as the detectives who investigate homicides, sex crimes and domestic violence. While the city remains below its optimal level for basic patrol, officers in the specialized units are being diverted, at times, to round out the patrol numbers, Abonamah said. That practice should stop if and once patrol reaches its optimum levels, he said. It could take months before that happens, due to the timing of police academy classes that are scheduled for this year. City leaders, including Bibb, are optimistic that the officer raises, cadet bonuses and other recruitment efforts theyve undertaken such as boosting the hiring age cap from 40 to 55 will result in much larger police academy classes this year. Drummond hasnt been keen to share how many cadets are expected to fill out the first academy class that begins in March, but Abonamah described it as likely much larger than the city has seen in some time. Hundreds of potential trainees received conditional offers last fall as part of a special recruiting event. The March academy runs for seven or eight months, so none of those officers will be hitting the streets until mid-fall, Abonamah said. Two additional classes are expected to start later in the year, including an expedited class for former Cleveland police officers who have said they want to return to the department. (Abonamah credits the pay raises that Bibb negotiated as a prime reason why several want to return to the department now.) The 12-week class for former Cleveland police isnt expected to wrap up until late summer or early fall. If attrition levels this year shake out to be the same as they were last year, the city would need to hire 346 people in 2024 to reach Bibbs 1,350 goal, officials have said. Its an aggressive target, Abonamah said Wednesday. But we think its attainable if things break our way. Read more on budget talks: Cleveland councilmans unsettling run-in with gunfire puts spotlight on crime, policing during first day of budget talks Rotunda Rumblings In the weeds: Ohios top cannabis regulator anticipates there could be up to 250 to 300 marijuana dispensaries selling product for adult-use by September 2026. Laura Hancock reports that James Canepa, superintendent of the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, based his estimate on language the law voters approved in November to legalize recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. Existing medical dispensaries and cultivators likely would be the first sell recreational marijuana, with another 50 licenses for new dispensaries in the offing as well. Facial treatment: The Ohio attorney generals office use of facial-recognition software, which was fairly recently on hold amid civil-liberties concerns, may now continue through at least 2025 with the help of a company thats been repeatedly sued over claims it collects peoples online photos without their consent. Jeremy Pelzer has the details on the new contract the AGs office has signed with Clearview AI, what state investigators are able to do with the technology, and what safeguards are in the agreement regarding Ohioans photos. Vote early vote often: Early voting for the March 19 primary election has begun, per Andrew Tobias. Click here for more details, including early voting hours. Elections officials in Cuyahoga County say they expect lower turnout than the two ballot issue campaigns last year, describing the typical low turnout in primaries and the lack of buzz despite there being a competitive Republican U.S. Senate primary race. Winner winner? Ohios casinos want lawmakers to open the doors to iGaming -- playing monied blackjack, poker and slots games on their phone. As Jake Zuckerman reports, they pitched the idea to a legislative committee thats analyzing what the future of gambling could look like in the state. Part of their sales pitch was $200 million to $400 million in potential revenue they project for the state. Figure of speech: A Warren woman who faced felony charges after a miscarriage in her home will be U.S. Rep. Joyce Beattys guest next month at President Joe Bidens State of the Union speech, Sabrina Eaton reports. A Trumbull County grand jury in January decided against indicting 34-year-old Brittany Watts for abuse of a corpse in a case that gained international attention after the countys prosecutor said he was duty bound to seek charges under Ohio law after Watts miscarried and flushed the remains down the toilet. Ramping up criticism: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno is trying to use the controversy over a proposed Interstate 71 interchange between Strongsville and Brunswick to attack one of his primary rivals, state Sen. Matt Dolan of Chagrin Falls. He voted for the law. Hes in charge of the budget where that ended up happening, Moreno told Charlie McCarthy of NewsMax. Language requiring the Ohio Department of Transportation to build the interchange was inserted into last years state transportation budget a bill that Dolan, as Senate Finance Committee chair, played a significant role in passing. That language, added by the House, was actually removed by Dolans committee, though it was re-added to the final version of the budget by a House-Senate conference committee, which included Dolan. Investigative zeal: Last weeks indictment of a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant for lying about the Biden familys business dealings hasnt diminished House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordans zeal to probe the Bidens. Before a Wednesday interview with President Bidens brother, James, the Champaign County Republican told reporters it doesnt alter the facts that hes helping to investigate, such as the fact that Hunter Biden was put on the board of the Burisma Ukrainian energy company and paid $1 million yearly despite being unqualified. When Christopher Steele lied to the FBI about President Trump, he gets paid more, said Jordan. When (FBI informant Alexander) Smirnoff lies to the FBI about President Biden, he gets indicted. Airing it out: The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments over whether to grant an emergency request by Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia to halt enforcement of new federal pollution limits issued by the Biden Administration. Lawyers representing the three states argued that the new rules will be ineffective and too expensive for them to follow. As Matthew Daly of the Associated Press reports, the courts conservative majority seemed skeptical about government lawyers argument that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys good neighbor rule will protect states that get unwanted air pollution blown their way. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from the Feb. 20, 2024 financial disclosure form filed by state Rep. Beryl Piccolantonio, a Gahanna Democrat: 1. Piccolantonio, who was appointed to the House on Jan. 10, earned $133,814.15 last year for serving as chief ombudsperson for Ohios workers compensation system and director of labor relations for the Industrial Commission of Ohio, according to OhioCheckbook.com. When she left to join the House, she cashed out her unused sick and personal days for a total of $39,737.43. 2. She also was paid somewhere between $1,000 and $9,999 from serving as president of the Gahanna-Jefferson school board last year. 3. In addition to resigning her school board post when she joined the legislature, Piccolantonio stepped down from the boards of the Ohio Center for Law Related Education and The Breathing Association, a Columbus-based nonprofit that helps low-income residents with lung-related health issues. 4. She listed two investments worth more than $1,000: an Ohio Public Employee Retirement System deferred compensation mutual fund, and a Blackrock 529 college savings plan. 5. Piccolantonio received gifts worth at least $75 last year from three other Gahanna-Jefferson school board members: Kara Coates, Sue Horn, and Dion Manley. Tick Tock The countdown is on for the March primary, where Ohioans will decide which candidates should advance to the general election. Here are key dates to remember: March 12: Applications for absentee ballots for primary election must be received by boards of elections March 18: Absentee ballots returned in the primary must be postmarked via U.S. mail to be counted, so long as theyre received by boards of election by March 23. March 19: Presidential Primary Election Day. Polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the Move State Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus, a Stark County Republican running to take over ex-U.S. Rep. Bill Johnsons 6th Congressional District seat, has been endorsed by Michael Flynn, a former general and national security advisor to then-President Donald Trump. Birthdays State Rep. Juanita Brent Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine State Rep. Marilyn John Straight from the Source If an urgent care and Starbucks had a child, thats what it looks like. Its very clinical but accommodating but secure. - Ohio Division of Cannabis Control Superintendent James Canepa, who is new to his job, speaking at the Columbus Metropolitan Club on Wednesday about his impressions when visiting Ohios licensed medical marijuana businesses. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. 22Yuriy Ihnat280004630 360520222242 Shahed 1084 141/52014Crimea Patriot /1130222 Nvidia did not just meet the moment with its latest quarter. It crushed it and sprinkled in a few surprises that brightened an already blazing outlook for the leading artificial intelligence chipmaker. Shares of Nvidia soared Thursday, up more than 15% to around $778 apiece. That gain tacked on more than $250 billion to Nvidia's market capitalization, the biggest single-session addition ever. Club name Meta Platforms held the prior record with its nearly $200 billion one-day market cap gain after its earnings earlier this month. Nvidia's Thursday stock gain also pushed the company toward a $2 trillion value market value. The only U.S. companies to go above $2 trillion are Club names Apple and Microsoft , and both of those stocks have briefly topped $3 trillion. Nvidia's stock was on its way to a fresh record high, erasing all of its losses over the prior four sessions as worries about its earnings report rose and sparked profit-taking in last year's top-performing S & P 500 member. Including Thursday's gains, Nvidia has surged 57% year to date once again the best of any S & P 500 stock. Nvidia's overall earnings report lived up to the hype , motivating us to raise our price target on NVDA shares to $850. But there also were unexpected elements to the quarter and conference call that deserve more focus. NVDA 1Y mountain Nvidia's stock performance over the past 12 months. 1. The growth of inference Nvidia's dominance in AI training thanks to its cutting-edge graphics processing units, or GPUs has been widely understood, with many estimates putting its share of the market above 80%. Less clear has been its position in the "inference" realm because traditional, non-GPU processors can perform the task well. But, on Wednesday, Nvidia estimated that 40% of its data center revenue over the past year was for inference. During training, an AI model learns patterns and relationships within large datasets. Inference is the day-to-day use of the model when it puts that "learning" to work and generates outputs. "The inference part of our business has grown tremendously. We estimate about 40%," CEO Jensen Huang said. "The amount of training is continuing. Because these models are getting larger and larger, the amount of inference is increasing." The estimate is notable for a few reasons. In the short run, it suggests demand for inferencing is significant in other words, that AI models are actually being used, not simply trained with hopes that they'll be useful down the road. A key question swirling around Nvidia has been demand sustainability. Orders for its chips are off the charts right now, but eventually, the companies pouring billions into buying them will need to see evidence that the money is paying off for them, known as "return on investment." If that return isn't there, will they keep ordering the latest and greatest Nvidia chips? Will the AI boom turn into a bust? In a note to clients Wednesday night, Raymond James analysts contended that the inference disclosure "highlights the improving monetization trends" of generative AI. That supports the idea that investments in technology may not fall off a cliff anytime soon. Nvidia's estimate is positive over the long run, too, because inference is expected to be a more significant portion of AI workloads down the road. The thinking, essentially, is the number of new models that need to be trained will moderate, while the daily use of the existing ones will be more prevalent. "There is a perception that Nvidia's share will be lower in inferencing vs. training, so this revelation helps shed light on its ability to benefit from the coming inferencing explosion," analysts at Melius Research said in a note. 2. Demand for next-gen chips For roughly the past year, Nvidia's top-of-the-line GPU has been the H100. With AI investments accelerating, the company and its manufacturing partners couldn't make enough of the chips to satisfy all the demand. Supply of the H100 has been improving recently, shortening the amount of time customers need to wait for the chips once their order is placed. Despite the overall improvements in availability, Nvidia on Wednesday indicated it will face supply-and-demand imbalances with its upcoming AI chips. "We expect our next-generation products to be supply constrained as demand far exceeds supply," CFO Colette Kress said on the earnings call. Nvidia is currently ramping up the production of the H200, an updated version of the H100 with enhanced memory capabilities that can improve its inference performance. And in the second half of the year, analysts expect Nvidia to launch the B100. "Whenever we have new products ... it ramps from zero to a very large number. And you can't do that overnight. Everything is ramped up. It doesn't step up. And so whenever we have a new generation of products and right now we are ramping H200s there's no way we can reasonably keep up on demand in the short term as we ramp," Huang added on the call. Nvidia's next-gen products are increasingly important as the company faces mounting competition from rival Advanced Micro Devices and Big Tech companies that make their chips, like Google parent Alphabet . The general goal is to deliver improved AI chips that customers want to upgrade to quicker than before in an October presentation , Nvidia indicated it plans to release a new version roughly every year, instead of every two years, or so. The commentary on Wednesday night's earnings call suggests that customer interest in Nvidia's upcoming chips is strong, further quelling the demand sustainability concerns. "We have heard that most H100 supply through end of life has already been allocated and that products such as B100 are sold out for several quarters," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note to clients. 3. China situation isn't all bad Nvidia has started shipping modified AI chips to Chinese customers that comply with the latest U.S. government restrictions, which went into effect in October, the company said. Nvidia's plans to develop compliant chips were widely known, but the timing of the rollout had been uncertain. "We reset our product offering to China and now we're sampling to customers in China," Huang said. "We're going to do our best to compete in that marketplace and succeed in that marketplace within the specifications of the restriction." The U.S. government has said its export controls are designed to keep high-powered AI chips out of the hands of the Chinese military. The controls which were first implemented in 2022 and then tightened in October serve as de-facto bans on chips that exceed certain performance thresholds. Nvidia's H100, for example, is well above the limits. In the November-through-January quarter, China accounted for a mid-single-digit percentage of Nvidia's $18.4 billion in data center revenue, according to the company. Hypothetically, if those sales were 5% of the segment, it would represent $920 million in revenue. Nvidia said it expects sales to China to remain roughly in the same in the current quarter. Historically, Chinese customers contributed between 20% and 25% of Nvidia's data center revenue, the company has said. Nvidia's update on its China business carries mixed implications. But, for the most part, it is favorable. Just as management told Wall Street, Nvidia was more than able to offset the loss of China revenue in the quarter due to growing demand in other parts of the world. Despite China plummeting to mid-single-digit percentages, Nvidia's data center segment still grew a hearty 27% compared with the prior quarter. The fact Nvidia still booked China revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars means it could take a further hit in the region. Put another way: There is room to go below "mid-single-digit percentages," whether that's due to fresh geopolitical hurdles or local competition crowding Nvidia out of the market. The alternative that Nvidia's China revenue picks up later this year appears to be the stronger possibility, particularly considering the company and the U.S. government at least publicly maintain a solid working relationship . Indeed, analysts at Truist Securities wrote in a note Wednesday that a recovery in Nvidia's July quarter is "more likely" than further deterioration. Even if the China business does not quickly jump back to its historic contribution levels, it can still be a source of additional revenue for Nvidia. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Visitors visit the NVIDIA booth at the 2023 Hangzhou Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, October 31, 2023. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Miniature models of Boeing commercial airplanes displayed at the Singapore Airshow in Singapore on February 20, 2024. SINGAPORE Boeing touted its 737 Max aircraft as "the safest airplane" and said China's latest domestic jetliner Comac C919 is similar to offerings by Airbus and Boeing that are already in the market. Dave Schulte, Boeing's commercial marketing managing director for Asia-Pacific acknowledged that the 737 Max 9 which currently faces questions over a midair blowout "is by far the most scrutinized airplane in the world, in the history of aviation." However, he insisted it was "the safest airplane that can be out there today." Speaking to media on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow, Schulte said he flew on the 737 Max aircraft with his family the last week, and pointed out that the plane was "quite full." A midflight blowout of a fuselage panel on one of Boeing's 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines earlier this year raised concerns about safety after loose bolts were found during preliminary inspections. In January, Boeing recorded a decline in aircraft orders and deliveries. On Wednesday, Boeing announced it will be replacing the head of its 737 Max program. Boeing did not bring any commercial planes to the Singapore Airshow. Instead, it is showcasing its defense capabilities, featuring many of its fighter jets, including the B-52 Stratofortress which will participate in the U.S. Air Force aerial display. The company also had a cabin display of its wide-body 777X passenger plane at the event, which it claims is the world's largest twin-engine jet. But deliveries for the aircraft, expected from 2025, have been plagued with delays. Insulated food bags branded with the logo of Foodpanda, a meal-delivery service operated by Delivery Hero, sit at the company's operations center in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, March 16, 2018. German food delivery giant Delivery Hero announced it has ended negotiations with an undisclosed third party regarding the potential sale of its Foodpanda business in selected Southeast Asian markets, where it is attempting to downsize. The company first confirmed it was in talks to sell business segments in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos in September, around the same time it embarked on another wave of layoffs in an effort to "streamline operations" and become "more agile." In a press release on Wednesday, Delivery Hero said the relevant parties failed to agree on the terms. "The decision to terminate negotiations after months of discussions was taken after careful consideration," said Niklas Ostberg, CEO and co-founder of Delivery Hero. In its latest statement, the company did not name any prospective buyers. However, German business outlet Wirtschaftswoche named its key competitor Grab as a potential buyer in a September report, attributing it to an unnamed source. Just last week, Ostberg said he was happy to hold onto the Foodpanda brand, after the German company's share price plunged on reports that negotiations to sell the Southeast Asian units had collapsed. Passengers on a platform at Frankfurt Central Station in Frankfurt, Germany, on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Germany's struggle to revive its sluggish economy is about to take an experimental turn as a host of companies take part in a pilot to work a 4-day week, with labor unions claiming that it could not only leave staff healthier and happier, but also more productive. Most companies involved in the world's largest trial of a four-day working week have made the policy permanent, according to a new report. Of the 61 British companies that took part in a six-month pilot in 2022, at least 54 (89%) said the policy was still in place, while 31 firms (51%) said they had permanently switched to a four-day working week. The companies involved were invited to take part in a follow-up study one year on from the world's biggest trial of a shorter working week to date. The results, published Wednesday by think tank Autonomy, showed that all the consulted project managers and CEOs said a four-day week had a positive impact on their organization, with more than half (55%) describing the impact as "very positive." The vast majority (82%) of surveyed companies reported positive impacts on staff wellbeing, while 50% saw positive effects on reducing staff turnover and nearly one-third (32%) said the policy had noticeably improved recruitment. Juliet Schor, the report's author and a professor of sociology at Boston College, described the one-year results as "excellent," and said the findings showed the positive effects of shorter working hours were "real and long lasting." "Overall results have held and in some cases have even continued to improve," Schor said in a statement. "Physical and mental health, and work-life balance are significantly better than at six months. Burnout and life satisfaction improvements held steady. Job satisfaction and sleep problems nudged down a bit, but the bulk of the original improvement remains." Google on Thursday announced it is pausing its Gemini artificial intelligence image generation feature after saying it offers "inaccuracies" in historical pictures. Users on social media had been complaining that the AI tool generates images of historical figures like the U.S. Founding Fathers as people of color, calling this inaccurate. Google said in a post on X on Wednesday that the AI feature can "generate a wide range of people. And that's generally a good thing because people around the world use it." But it said that the software feature is "missing the mark here," adding that the tech giant is "working to improve these kind of depictions immediately." Google posted an updated statement on Thursday, saying that it will pause Gemini's feature to generate images of people and will re-release an "improved" version soon. The image generator tool was launched at the start of February through Gemini, which was formerly called Bard. It is facing challenges at a time when Google is trying to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI. Gemini refused to generate any images at all on Thursday morning when tested by a CNBC reporter. Google plans to starts producing its Pixel smartphones in India by the next quarter, according to a Nikkei Asia report on Thursday. The U.S. tech giant has been striving to diversify its supply chain away from China amid U.S.-China tensions, while seeking to capitalize on the booming smartphone market in India, the report added. The shift will support Google's ambitious target of shipping more than 10 million Pixel phones this year, the report said citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter. The report also said Google will begin manufacturing Pixel 8 Pro phones in the April-June quarter, followed by the production of the Pixel 8 around the middle of 2024. Google will be competing with smartphone giants Apple and Samsung in India, as well as Chinese brands vivo and Xiaomi. In 2023, India became the fifth smartphone market to exceed 10 million iPhone unit sales in a single year, making it a key market for Apple, said Counterpoint Research in a report on Wednesday. "For 2023, India's smartphone market maintained stability with 148.6 million shipments overall, a minor drop of 2%," research firm Canalys said last month. "Samsung maintained pole position in Q4 2023 with a market share of 20% and shipments of 7.6 million units. Xiaomi continued its robust performance, claiming second place by shipping 7.2 million units. vivo secured third position with shipments of 7.0 million units," according to Canalys. Apple has also been shifting production from China to places such as India, as U.S.-China relations remain tense. CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. CNBC's Michael Sheetz reports and curates the latest news, investor updates and exclusive interviews on the most important companies reaching new heights. Sign up to receive future editions. We're six years on from NASA declaring it would look to American companies to deliver cargo and research to the moon. Now we're just hours away from the first potential landing Stepping aside from the history-making superlatives about Intuitive Machines' IM-1 mission we'll save that for the attempt's outcome later today it's worth exploring why a company is on the eve of pulling off the first step in NASA's dream of making the moon a regular and (comparatively) affordable destination. And, just as importantly, why it's not a disaster if the IM-1 landing doesn't go according to plan. Thomas Zurbuchen led the creation of NASA's $2.6 billion CLPS program (colloquially pronounced "clips") in an attempt to leverage the widening ambitions of private companies and fly multiple, if not dozens of moon missions for the world's marquee space agency. "Coming up with Commercial Lunar Payload Services, I basically felt that the moon as a planetary body had not been focused on enough. The question was: Can we [land cargo missions on the moon] at a rate that is substantially lower in cost than the half a billion to a billion dollars that it would take if we did it on the inside of the agency," Zurbuchen told me. Known by most as simply Dr. Z, he served as NASA's head of science for six years, overseeing almost 100 science missions. Zurbuchen left the agency two years ago but is still staunchly rooting for the success of CLPS. While NASA contracts for CLPS missions are typically $100 million to $200 million, no paltry amount, Zurbuchen says he knew from the beginning "there's a 50% likelihood of any one of these things to work." We're one down on that count, with Astrobotic's first mission having gone awry. The reality Zurbuchen emphasized is that landing on the moon is a herculean effort and the mixed record of landing attempts since the 1960s, even by superpowers, reflects that. The three leading CLPS lander companies Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace are each expected to fly at least one mission this year, and likely a second by 2025. So this NASA program is about tolerating failures and trying to help companies make as many attempts as possible, as frequently as possible, while the agency focusing its own efforts instead on its crewed Artemis missions. "We should give it a few shots on goal to just make sure it can work at the 50% level, or find out if that is a lot less likely," Zurbuchen said. As much as CLPS companies are bidding against each other for contracts, it's another example of what I've called space industry coopetition simultaneous cooperation and competition. After all, the more that companies succeed in landing on the moon, the more political capital the program has to fund further missions. Already, Astrobotic represents that dynamic, holding a briefing with other CLPS companies to share the learnings from the company's first effort. But how many CLPS mission failures will NASA tolerate? Zurbuchen emphasized that, even if the missions aren't successful, "two is not the right number to stop," while "20 is too far." "I hope we stick with it and that we give it the chance to see whether this program can be successful or not. After one or two years, then I think they should take a hard look at it," Zurbuchen said. A senior Russian official has signaled that Russian forces could make another attempt to capture Kyiv, after a failed attempt to seize the Ukrainian capital early in the war. Deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, told Russian media agencies that Russia could "reach Kiev," using the Russian spelling of the city, saying it could happen later, if not now. "Where to stop? I don't know ... Will it be Kiev? Yes, probably it should be Kiev. If not now, then ... maybe at some other phase in the development of this conflict," Medvedev said in an interview with Russian media, including RIA Novosti, which published his remarks. The comments suggest that, two years into the war and bolstered by recent gains, Moscow continues to harbor ambitions to conquer the whole of Ukraine and will not be content to occupy just a fifth of the country, as is currently the case. Russia claims that the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson are now a part of Russia, a claim roundly rejected by Ukraine and its allies. Medvedev, a former Russian prime minister and president who served alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin over the last two decades albeit remaining subservient in either role is as a vocal hawk in Russia's political establishment and is known for his saber-rattling when it comes to the war. Nonetheless, his comments indicate that within Putin's inner circle, capturing Kyiv and destroying the pro-Western government under Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains a key ideological and political ambition. In his latest interview, Medvedev commented that "this regime must fall, it must be destroyed, it must not remain in this world." Kyiv was a "Russian city," he claimed, warning that in Ukrainian hands it was "a threat to the existence of the Russian Federation." "An international threat, because although Kiev is a Russian city in its roots, it is controlled by an international brigade of opponents of Russia led by the United States of America," Medvedev said, echoing Moscow's much-repeated claim that Western nations have coerced Kyiv into fighting Russia in a bid to destroy the country. Philip Esformes attends the 15th annual Harold & Carole Pump Foundation gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on August 7, 2015 in Century City, California. Philip Esformes on Thursday pleaded guilty to health care fraud, resolving the Justice Department's years-long effort to prosecute the convicted fraudster after then-President Donald Trump commuted his 20-year prison sentence. Esformes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to filings in federal court in Miami, Florida. The DOJ agreed to drop five other counts against him. Esformes was sentenced to time served, meaning he will spend no additional time in jail, as part of his plea agreement. The Florida nursing home owner had already served over four years behind bars from his July 2016 arrest through late 2020, when his original sentence was commuted. He will face no further restrictions or fines. Trump commuted Esformes' sentence during his final days in the White House, a period during which he granted dozens of other requests for executive clemency. The commutation canceled Esformes' prison term, but not his 2019 conviction on 20 criminal counts. Those charges related to what the Department of Justice called the largest health-care fraud scheme it had ever prosecuted. Prosecutors said Esformes bribed doctors to put patients into his nursing homes, where they often received inadequate care or were given unnecessary services that were then billed to Medicare and Medicaid. Esformes personally netted more than $37 million from the years-long scheme, and spent that money on extravagances like luxury cars and a $360,000 watch, according to the DOJ. A federal prosecutor at the time of his original conviction described Esformes as "a man driven by almost unbounded greed." The jury convicted him of 20 criminal counts at trial, but deadlocked on six others. A judge sentenced Esformes to 20 years in prison. Five months after Trump commuted Esformes' sentence, the DOJ said it would seek to re-try him on those remaining six counts. The unusual move spurred accusations that the prosecutor's decision was motivated more by anger over the commutation than it was in the service of justice. U.S. President Joe Biden stops to talk to journalists about new Russian sanctions as he departs the White House on February 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB" during a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, warning there is always the threat of nuclear conflict but that the existential threat to humanity remains climate. "This is the last existential threat. It is climate. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin and others and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate," Biden told a small group of donors. Biden has previously cursed "son of a bitch" at others. In January 2022, he was caught on the hot mic using the same term of abuse against a Fox News White House reporter. Biden has a tendency to go off script during election fundraisers and in recent months has dug into the Chinese government, the Republican Party and U.S. ally Israel for its bombing of the Gaza Strip. Biden's verbal attacks against Putin have also sharply intensified at the White House and on the campaign trail. Last week, the U.S. President blamed Putin and "his thugs" for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did," Biden said at the White House after Russian prison officials announced that Navalny had died. The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny's death and said Western claims that Putin was responsible are unacceptable. Biden and Putin remain deeply at odds over Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, over which Russia has been sanctioned by the United States and other Western nations. Biden's reactions have put a further chill into already bitter U.S.-Russian relations. On Tuesday, Biden said the U.S. will announce a major package of sanctions against Russia over Navalny's death and the Ukraine war. Reuters In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin talks to students and Chelyabinsk Region industry workers at the Stankomash plant in Chelyabinsk on February 16, 2024. Alexander Ryumin | Afp | Getty Images A fresh spat between Washington and Moscow has raised alarm about the potential risk of a space-based nuclear satellite attack which could cause chaos to critical communications systems on Earth. Russia denied U.S. claims that it was developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon, with President Vladimir Putin saying Tuesday that the Kremlin was "categorically against" the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, and accusing the White House of scaring lawmakers into passing a new aid package for Ukraine. It comes after a Reuters report emerged earlier Tuesday, citing one source, that said the U.S. believes Moscow is developing a space nuke whose detonation could knock out the satellites underpinning critical U.S. infrastructure, including military communications and mobile phone services. CNBC could not independently verify the report. Alarm bells around Russia's nuclear advancements were first raised last week when U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner warned of a "serious national security threat" related to Russian capabilities in space. President Joe Biden later said Moscow appears to be developing an anti-satellite weapon but noted that it posed no urgent "nuclear threat" to the U.S. people, and said that he hoped Russia would not deploy it. However, one source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that such a capability could be launched into orbit as soon as this year. It's an indiscriminate weapon. Detonation would be omnidirectional. Kari Bingen director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Centre for Strategic International Studies. Analysts told CNBC that the deployment of such a weapon could cause "indiscriminate" damage, reaping havoc on the systems on which people rely for everyday services such as payments, GPS navigation and even the weather. "Space is integral to our daily lives, whether we realize it or not," said Kari Bingen, director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. What are space nukes and what disruption could they cause? Space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapons or so-called space nukes are a type of weapon designed to damage or destroy satellite systems. That might be for strategic purposes, for instance to incapacitate an opponent's military operations, or disruptive aims, such as disabling civilian telecoms infrastructure. A space nuke could be deployed either from Earth or from space, ultimately creating a huge electromagnetic pulse, or electrical surge, which could destroy satellites and fry electronic systems. The release of radiation into the Earth's magnetic field could also degrade space-based satellites over time though it is unlikely that radiation would cause direct harm to humans. "It's an indiscriminate weapon," Bingen said. "Detonation would be omnidirectional." No such weapon has been used in warfare so far, though China, Russia and the U.S. have all used them to shoot down their own satellites in demonstrations of military might. A hostile deployment could have serious ramifications for the extensive global satellite network. A satellite dish is backdropped against the full moon in Bogota on November 27, 2023. Juan Barreto | Afp | Getty Images As of April 2023, there were nearly 7,800 operational satellites in Earth's orbit, according to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, supporting everything from phone and internet networks to televisions, financial services, agricultural systems and space surveillance. Satellites are also critical to military operations, helping to collect intelligence and detect missile launches as well as enabling navigation and communications. Starlink, the Elon Musk-owned satellite network, for instance, provided Ukrainian forces with uninterrupted communication on the battlefield at the start of the war though concerns have since arisen that Russia is co-opting such services in occupied areas. The precise nature of any Russian-made anti-satellite system is currently unclear. However, analysts told Reuters they believe it is likely to use nuclear energy to blind, jam or fry the electronics inside satellites rather than being a nuclear warhead designed to shoot them down. The potential impact of an anti-satellite attack would also depend on the altitude of the targeted device and its proximity to other satellites. Analysts told Bloomberg that damage to a satellite in low Earth orbit the standard position of most commercial satellites could fry other satellites for hundreds of miles. "All of it depends on where a detonation would be and what satellites are in that vicinity," Bingen said. How likely is an anti-satellite attack? The deployment of a space-based nuclear weapon would mark a major advancement of Russia's military capabilities and a serious escalation of geopolitical tensions. The U.S. has already said it believes that the system Russia is developing would violate the Outer Space Treaty a 1967 agreement barring signatories, including Russia and the U.S., from placing "in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction." Moreover, it would signal a direct effort to undermine U.S. national and economic security. "They [Russia] have observed how important space capabilities are to our national security and our economic viability," Bingen said. It is incredibly hard to defend against. There is no silver bullet solution. Kari Bingen director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Centre for Strategic International Studies. In the face of such vulnerabilities, the U.S. has been shifting its strategy for space architecture over recent administrations, opting for more widely distributed models comprised of more numerous and smaller satellites. But significant vulnerabilities remain. "It is incredibly hard to defend against. There is no silver bullet solution," Bingen said. The threat of nuclear conflict has been ratcheting up since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, marking a retreat from Cold War-era arms control treaties. In 2023, Putin suspended Russia's observation of the New START treaty, the last remaining accord limiting the size of nuclear arsenals in the U.S. and Russia. Still, Bingen said she believes the use of such a tool would remain a "weapon of last resort" for Russia. "It would be crossing a nuclear threshold, so that's still an incredibly grave decision. I would have to believe it would be more along the lines of a weapon of last resort," she said. The next military frontier Space is often positioned as the next geopolitical frontier, presenting a new domain for military combat and international disputes. Space defense spending jumped to an estimated $54 billion in 2022, up from $45 billion the year prior, according to the latest figures from the U.S. nonprofit Space Foundation. The U.S. was seen to lead that charge, though the report acknowledged that official figures for Russia and China were harder to obtain. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told CNBC on Saturday that the military alliance had long been aware of the "challenges and threats" of space, and noted that it was ready to defend any space-based attack. A 2021 revision to NATO's space policy said that an attack to, from or within space would present a "clear challenge" to the alliance and could lead to the invocation of its Article 5 mutual defense clause. "NATO is prepared to defend all allies against any threat in any domain," he told CNBC's Silvia Amaro on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. Police action on agitated farmers at Shambhu Border of Punjab and Haryana on Feb. 21, 2024 near Ambala, India. Elon Musk's social media platform X said Thursday it will block certain accounts and posts from India in response to executive orders by the government. X said it did not agree with the order but failure to comply would subject the company to "potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment." "We will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts," the Global Government Affairs of the platform said without naming those accounts. The announcement did not state a reason, but several local media outlets linked the government's executive order to the ongoing farmers' protests. CNBC has reached out to the country's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for further comments. Tens of thousands of Indian farmers mostly from the northern state of Punjab have been protesting since mid-February in renewed calls for better crop prices which were promised to them in 2021. They have been marching toward the capital of New Delhi for over a week now, but protests halted on Wednesday after a young protester and others injured in clashes with the police who fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse thousands heading toward Delhi, Reuters reported. India's government and X have been at loggerheads for years. In June, Jack Dorsey co-founder of Twitter, which was rebranded to X under Musk claimed the Indian government had threatened to terminate the platform unless it complied with orders to block accounts that criticized how the government handled previous farmer protests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has refuted the allegations as a "lie." In October, the Modi government warned Musk that X would have to comply to country's new and upcoming IT rules. During the pandemic, X was ordered to remove posts criticizing the government of the way it handled Covid-19. India's freedom of expression was ranked at 0.52 in 2022, lower than Pakistan (0.66) and Sri Lanka (0.67), according to Our World in Data. X said in a post that it was unable to publish the executive orders "due to legal restrictions." However, it has written an appeal challenging the Indian government with accounts that are pending to be blocked, the company said. "We have also provided the impacted users with notice of these actions in accordance with our policies," it said in a post. "We believe that making them public is essential for transparency," the post added. "This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making." Indian residents took to the social media platform to express their frustration with the decision, posting angry sentiments like "Shame on you, Dictator Modi" and "Freedom of expression cannot mean spreading anarchy in the country." CNBC's Naman Tandon contributed to this story. Widely differing pass percentages are known in various education boards in India. However, one of the recent statements by the Director of General Education (DGE) of the Kerala State about the practice of awarding liberal marks to increase the number of students getting A Plus grades in the Standard 10 Board examination, has rocked the state, and the ripples are felt far and wide. He remarked that students who were not even capable of proper reading or writing were awarded A Plus grade. The liberal mark or grade system in the Board exams is often the gimmick of the respective governments or the political bosses at the education ministries to jack up the pass percentage to show their "efficiency and performance". Negative Implications- Individual And Social The ramifications of such political actions are much more serious not only at the individual level but also socially. The implications are not just in numbers. It is not even about the quality of the future doctors or engineers or other professionals coming out from these schools. One must really worry about the quality of teaching followed in these schools and future teachers born out of these systems. One can imagine the poor education standards, which will be followed by those teachers and their followers, going by their experience as students the easy pass methods. I'm sure the quality of the whole education system will spiral downward with a disastrous end result. Future of any state or country is decided by the quality of its human resource which are evolved from its educational system. Any oversight on the educational system will have far reaching consequences. The decision makers must clearly understand this. In order to understand it better let us look at some analogies. If a doctor does not do a proper assessment or knowingly suppresses some problem and gives us a perfect condition report when we consult him to identify any health issue that we already suffer or may suffer in future, he is certainly not helping us but actually putting us into trouble. As a result, a problem that can be treated easily at this point may lead to a life-threatening situation at a later stage. Similarly, when we take our vehicle for an inspection and if the mechanic did not identify or tell us a problem like a poor brake condition, one can imagine the consequence when the brake fails later on a highway. Therefore, the issue raised by the Kerala Director General of Education (DGE) is not limited to or cannot be solved at the level of 10 th standard. The issue is already developed at earlier classes. If one has to resolve the problem the much inferior quality of teaching or the learning skills of the students, who surprisingly score higher grades in the government race for States' success rate, there needs an immediate rethink and revamp of the system. The whole education system of the Board needs to be set right. But offering undue marks or grades is nothing but like sweeping the real issue under the carpet. Purpose Of Examination At this point, let us ask again the same fundamental question. What is the purpose of conducting the tests or the examinations? We need tests to find out how much a student has learned and has he or she learnt it correctly. The test result or marks given must reflect exactly that. These results are an indication to the student where he/she stands, and accordingly, the student and the education system can take necessary steps to move forward. Thus, an accurate assessment is essential at all times. For whatever reason, if a correct assessment is not provided, it is to the disadvantage of the student. The students lose an opportunity to correct themselves and each one of them will move forward with a false impression of oneself. In a borderless, inter-connected world one cannot hide the truth for a long time and soon be exposed. The corresponding education system will also lose its credibility and establishing it back will not be easy. Apart from those students who have lost the opportunity to correct themselves, the other losers are the talented ones who happened to be part of such a system. If the system is not set right immediately, sooner or later the talented students will leave and that will further adversely impact those educational system and ultimately the state. Children have various talents and capabilities which are very essential for their future that spans the next sixty or seventy years. A major purpose of education is to make a student realise his talents and potential, and develop it to the full extend so that in this fast-changing world he can steer himself. All those who are associated with a childs education must realise this and move in that direction. A close monitoring and accurate assessment are essential to understand the strengths and weaknesses, and to correct oneself while moving forward. Anything else is ultimately to the students disadvantage and so to the society. The author, Dr. V. Premachandran, is a member of the working group in the Kerala State Planning Board, and was a Senior Fellow at the Solar Energy Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Read his previous articles here Pakistans caretaker government has constituted a joint investigation team, including from the ISI, following a massive social media campaign against officials and functionaries of the top poll body alleging their involvement in the reported rigging of elections, according to media reports on Thursday. The report is to be submitted in 15 days. The joint investigation team (JIT) will look into the relevant people who have trolled government officials and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) functionaries and identify and prosecute the culprits under the relevant laws. The JIT formation comes in the wake of the consistent allegations by the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party that the government officials and also those from the ECP were involved in what Khan described as Mother of All Rigging, which he claimed enabled his arch rivals to steal his partys mandate. Two weeks after the voting day, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) struck a power-sharing deal to form a coalition government led by ex-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, a move that could effectively keep Khan out of power. Both the PML-N and the PPP won fewer seats in Parliament than candidates backed by Khans PTI in an election mired in controversies, including vote rigging, PTI has alleged and unleashed a substantial campaign on social media claiming that the powerful establishment was hand in gloves with the perpetrators of rigging. As per a notification issued by the interior ministry, the JIT was formed under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and an additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will be its convener, Dawn.com reported. Other members will be from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). It could also hire IT experts if required to probe the malicious social media campaign. According to the terms of reference of the JIT, it will identify and prosecute individuals involved in social media campaigns against government officials for their alleged role in irregularities on the day of polling. It will also propose measures to counter such campaigns in the future. The JIT has 15 days to submit its report to the relevant office. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Microsoft plans to quadruple its investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure in Spain, spending 1.95 billion ($2.1 billion) there in the next two years as part of CEO Satya Nadellas commitment to promote digital innovation and the responsible use of AI. Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, met with Pedro Sanchez, President of the Spanish government, to present what is the company's largest investment in Spain in its almost four decades of presence in the country. Smith is touring European nations to talk up Microsofts investments in the continent. Last week, he announced a plan to invest 3.2 billion in Germany on AI and data center infrastructure over two years. Microsoft will soon open a cloud region of data centers near Madrid, and has announced its intention to build a data center campus in Aragon that will serve European companies and public entities. These two infrastructures will help Microsoft's cloud services guarantee security, privacy, and data sovereignty, and make the company's entire range of AI solutions available to companies and public administrations. According to an IDC analysis, Microsofts data centers in Spain could add up to 8.4 billion to the countrys GDP and contribute to the creation of 69,000 indirect jobs over the period 2026-2030. A strategic alliance The investment commitment is part of the framework of collaboration announced by Sanchez and Smith. Both parties will work together on the application of responsible AI to enhance citizen services, on the promotion of AI-based innovation, and on the reinforcement of national cybersecurity and the cyber-resilience of Spanish companies, public bodies, and critical infrastructure. The strategic alliance has been defined under Spains national AI strategy and national cybersecurity strategy, and is based on four fundamental axes: extending the use of AI in the administration; promoting responsible AI; strengthening national cybersecurity; and, finally, improving the cyber-resilience of companies. They will share best practices with the aim of modernizing administrative processes and providing civil servants with the necessary AI tools to increase their efficiency and effectiveness, On the administrations side, this will cover the deployment of generative AI solutions, and plans for training civil servants in the use of AI. Meanwhile, Microsoft will share its responsible AI design standards, implementation guides, and additional documentation on best practices in this area with the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA). In addition, with the aim of strengthening national cybersecurity and, specifically, the cyber resilience of critical infrastructures, Microsoft and the National Cryptologic Center of the National Intelligence Center (CNI-CCN) will jointly explore the improvement of early warning and response mechanisms to computer security incidents in public administrations. The technology company will also collaborate with the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), offering access to telemetry and global information on potential threats and cyberattacks that may affect Spanish companies and public institutions. Joint dissemination actions in the field of cybersecurity will also be established, aimed at SMEs and citizens. Given the massive lack of housing that the world is struggling with, seeing the many unoccupied pied-a-terres of the worlds obnoxiously rich is even more bile-inducing. Its enough to make you cut a bump key and read up on squatters rights. At least, though, those annoying, empty apartments and homes are occupied for a couple days a year. Worse are massive, no-expense-spared mansions that, thanks to one reason or another, are completed and then entirely abandoned. At first, you might revel in how much money they wasted, until you remember that all that money is now just sunk into a literal rotting pit. Here are five highly expensive homes that are now completely abandoned 5 Hamilton Palace (1985) Advertisement Nicholas van Hessen, nee Nicholas van Hoogstraten, is a ruthless British businessman. I dont just mean that in the emotional way, either. He was suspected, for example, of having a business rival murdered. Its no surprise that someone who took such a medieval approach to negotiation would want a palace built to match, and the 40 million pound Hamilton Palace fit the bill. Despite the price tag, and the clear amount of money thats already gone into the project, it was never finished and never occupied. 4 King Fahd s Summer Home If you want to flex on the Western world, you could do what King Fahd of Saudi Arabia did, and build a massive summer home thats a replica of the White House. Located in Marbella, Spain, the cost is rumored to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, an obscene amount for anyone not worth $25 billion themselves. Fahd died in 2005, and his not-so-quaint summer getaway was left to succumb to nature. Its probably now filled with little mice and bugs who have no idea how good they have it. 3 Billy Hull s Weird Bachelor Pad Billy Hull was a Tennessee go-go club king with a clear admiration for the lifestyle of Hugh Hefner. With a tidy sum of money provided by both his successful nightlife ventures and possibly troves of hidden bootlegging money from his grandma, he set out to construct his own, Southeastern grotto. With such a sterling set of financial pursuits, you may be hugely surprised to find out that, while in jail for a murder-for-hire charge he was later acquitted of, he also got in trouble for tax evasion. The Tennessee party pad is now empty, rotting and probably at least 10 percent grosser than it was while he was living there. 2 The Bamboo Palace You can make all the economical excuses for wasteful billionaires you want, the owner of the next place is one you probably dont want to go to bat for, on account of him being a literal despot. The Bamboo Palace belonged to Mobutu Sese Seko, who took control of the Democratic Republic of Congo after deposing and executing Patrice Lumumba with the help of the United States and Belgium. He built this palace in his hometown, but would later be unable to continue living there, on account of being exiled to Morocco, where he would later die. The palace remains, and locals charge $20 admission to go in and have a gander. Just go ahead and buy an island, Kimmel! For at least the second time in less than a year, comedian Jimmy Kimmel is making noise about leaving the late-night hosting grind and riding off into the sunset to draw graphic novels. Or something like that. Wednesday night, I was very tired and I had all these scripts to go through I had to revise and rewrite all these pitch ideas for the Oscars and I was literally nodding off onto my computer, Kimmel told the Los Angeles Times Tim Grierson. "In those moments, I think, I cannot wait until my contract is over. But then, I take the summer off or I go on strike, and you start going, Yeah, I miss the fun stuff. Kimmel has been at the late-night comedy game for a while now, with Jimmy Kimmel Live! debuting in 2003. Hes become the genres elder statesman, earning a reported $15 million a year for his trouble. But he might finally be tiring of running on the talk-show treadmill. I think this is my final contract. I hate to even say it, because everyones laughing at me now each time I think that, and then it turns out to be not the case. I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good. That seems like enough. Advertisement That echoes Kimmels confession last summer on the Strike Force Five podcast when he told his late-night compatriots that I was very intent on retiring right around the time when the strike started. Being forced away from the show by the writers strike gave Kimmel an opportunity to recharge his batteries and contemplate how much hed miss the show. Still, I was serious. I was very serious." What would Kimmel do in two years with all that free time? He imagined Future Jimmy as a man honing his skills across a variety of spheres. He is very accomplished, joked Kimmel. He speaks Italian, he plays the harmonica beautifully. He is an expert fly-fisherman. He does all these different things that I know Im not actually going to do. Hes drawn some graphic novels that were very well-received. Whats missing is Future Jimmy taking it easy. Its funny, Kimmel says. Whenever I think of what Im going to do when I stop working, it all involves more work. Rest in peace, Big Keith. Ewen Macintosh, the actor who played Big Keith on the UK version of The Office has passed away at age 50. No cause of death has been revealed. Office creator Ricky Gervais took to Twitter this morning to express his condolences. Extremely sad news, Gervais wrote. The very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh, known to many as Big Keith from The Office, has passed away. An absolute original. RIP. Gervaiss co-creator Stephen Merchant also shared his condolences. So very sad to hear of Ewen MacIntoshs passing. A lovely, uniquely funny man who played Keith in The Office. So hilarious when we asked him to improv a voicemail message that we wrote more dialogue for him, and he stole every scene he was in. A total one-off. A tragic loss. RIP Advertisement While Macintoshs Big Keith was never one of The Offices main characters, he was certainly one of its funniest around the margins. He didn't need complicated, convoluted punchlines to get huge laughs or exemplary performance reviews. Advertisement Being a man of few words, Big Keith had plenty of time to observe what was happening in the cubicles around him. With deadpan certainty, the expert on the ladies nails Tims romantic desires. Advertisement Advertisement In case you arent convinced of Big Keiths grasp of office romance, here you go. Turns out hes also an expert on international travel safety. Here he is. The big man. Advertisement Advertisement Say what you will, but Big Keith can keep a secret, yeah? No. Yeah. Gervais shared a few other cherished Macintosh moments today, ending with this epitaph: A day without laughter is a day wasted. Like standup comedy where every single thing is funny and doesn't waste your time? Follow Cracked Comedy Club on Instagram & YouTube for exactly that. Bert Kreischer and Kevin Hart are free men regardless of what the internet (and Katt Williams) have to say about it. Ever since telecommunications first globalized the spread of information, celebrity news has been one of the fastest-spreading categories of correspondence, a fact known well to the trolls of the world who prefer shocking (and fake) celebrity obituaries to truthful gossip. Celebrity death hoaxes have been around since at least as early as the 1940s, when stars like Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra met untimely ends, according to some tragically misinformed newspapers. In the world of comedy, figures like Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Jimmy Fallon and Joe Rogan have all faced fake death reports that, nowadays, use social media for disinformation the same way everyone else does. However, just in the last few days, celebrity death hoaxes seem to be going out of style as comedian arrest hoaxes skyrocket. Both Kreischer and Hart have been hit with fake reports about their supposed felonious behavior this week. Though social media platforms exploded in response to the supposed legal troubles, any discerning comedy fan knew the arrest reports to be fake Kreischers whole shtick is getting away with outrageous crimes. Advertisement The Hart hoax stems from a murder and arrest that had absolutely nothing to do with the massively successful movie and stand-up star. Earlier this week, a different man who is also named Kevin Hart was arrested in Central Valley, California and charged with the murder of 65-year-old Jackie Robinson in nearby Seaside. In the unfortunate case that it needs to be clarified, no, the victim was not a MLB Hall-of-Famer. Despite the dark story having nothing to do with the famous Kevin Hart, #KevinHartArrested briefly trended on Twitter, inspiring outrage and confusion among his fanbase. The trend also drew bizarre claims from attention-hunters, who posted videos pretending that other celebrities like Terrence Howard had spoken out about Harts purported pending murder charge. Advertisement Kreischers arrest claims came from a joke made by his 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast co-host Tom Segura, who started a rare solo episode of the pairs show by comically explaining his partners absence. Segura said that Kreischer was doing a little bit of time in jail, adding, Hopefully, his legal matters resolve themselves. Segura further said of his friend and co-host, I know that he has the best attorneys you can hire. Hes got a lot of health troubles, so theyre taking care of him in the medical ward of the jail. Almost immediately, TikTokers who missed the joke took the clip from 2 Bears, 1 Cave and ran rampant with sensationalized reactions, never once asking themselves the important question, How exactly is Bert Kreischer going to tear his shirt off when most prison uniforms are jumpsuits? Cyberattacks against critical infrastructure are always big news, but recent headlines have once again thrust the threat faced by Western democracies from foreign powers in this domain back onto the agenda of everyday citizens. Most prominently, the director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray, claimed that Chinese advanced persistent threat actors (APTs) are preparing to cripple vital assets and systems in written testimony to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. One day prior, Jen Easterly, the director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), said that she had become increasingly concerned about a strategic shift in PRC [Peoples Republic of China] malicious cyber activity against US critical infrastructure. In addition to the Chinese threat, officials of the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six individuals linked to the Iranian government for attacking critical infrastructure in the United States and elsewhere. These include attacks on water utilities in America and industrial control devices in Israel. Experts recently supported a new law in Canada that would force stricter standards of security on critical infrastructure operators. A wave of DDoS attacks perpetrated by the Russia-affiliated hacktivist group NoName057(16) hit Swiss government websites, timed against the visit of Volodymyr Zelensky to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Swiss authorities anticipated critical infrastructure targeting, citing the groups usual targeting approach. It doesnt take an expert to understand the concern about cyberattacks on critical infrastructures, which are of high inherent value to any nation. Disrupting them is one of the few cyber-enabled outcomes likely to cause widespread harm. Critical infrastructures also come with unavoidable vulnerabilities, brought about by their disaggregated nature, common reliance on (often) outdated technology, and lack of security regulation in many countries. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure are a dimension of strategic competition in international affairs. Recent Iranian and Chinese activities against Western critical infrastructure shows differences in scale, scope, and timing that suggest divergent motivations. Nevertheless, patterns of critical infrastructure intrusion correspond to the interaction of factors from statements of geopolitical interest to the co-dependencies of critical infrastructures themselves that security planners can observe and should consider in building their threat mitigation posture. The critical infrastructure cyberattack landscape The operational realities of Chinese and Iranian activities are representative of the universe of cases of cyber assaults on Western critical infrastructure over the past two decades. The cyber operations of Tehran-backed APTs are intended to create spectacle. They target vulnerable systems for broad access (like control devices) or utilities whose disruption would have potent counter-population outcomes (like water treatment plants). Incidents like Stuxnet, the Black Energy attacks on Ukrainian grid infrastructure in 2015 and 2016, or Dragonfly 2.0 infections first found in 2015 are all examples of state actors deploying cyber assets to address singular campaign outcomes. Irans efforts may be less sophisticated than these examples, but their timing against the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict and the relative ease of mitigation suggest a deployment informed by campaign-specific considerations. On the other hand, Chinas infiltration of Western critical infrastructure is a long-term effort that has involved reconnaissance, gradual intrusion, and cross-infrastructure access compromise over years. Reporting on Wray and Easterlys comments to Congress suggest that ongoing PRC-linked intrusions of concern stretch back at least five years. Recent warnings dont reflect sudden concern; they are more an assessment of foreign capacity for disruption built on a more holistic compromise of American infrastructures than has previously been seen. Threat actors, frequently frustrated by improved enterprise security systems, increased their efforts to compromise credentials in 2023, according to CrowdStrikes 10th annual global threat report released Wednesday. Threat actors are running into EDR products out there that are making it difficult for them. Its difficult for them to bring their tools in and use them the way they used to, CrowdStrikes Head of Counter Adversary Operations Adam Meyers said at a pre-release press session. Weve seen threat actors focused on identity, Meyers added. Theyve been logging in as a legitimate user then laying low, staying under the radar by living off the land, using legitimate tools. As a result, CrowdStrike saw a 312% increase in the use of remote monitoring and management tools by adversaries in 2023. Those are tools that would likely be used by administrators or people within the environment so theyre less likely to catch attention, especially if they were deployed by a legitimate user, he explained. This is the way these threat actors are trying to camouflage themselves with legitimate behavior, or things that look legitimate, and are harder to peel away. The emphasis on identity compromise and stealth appears to have devalued the role of malware in the threat actors repertoire. According to the report, malware-free attacks have increased from 40% in 2019 to 75% in 2023. Threat actors becoming more cloud conscious Another threat trend identified in the 61-page report is an increase in cloud consciousness among adversaries, with a 75% year-over-year increase in cloud intrusions. This is not surprising, Meyer noted. Weve seen more and more organizations deploying more and more cloud resources without having a cohesive or equivalent security posture for their cloud deployments as they do in their traditional enterprise deployments. Threat actors are taking advantage of that. Theyre living in that uncertainty between the enterprise and the cloud, using the cloud to deploy tooling inside the enterprise. Financially motivated, or eCrime, adversaries are especially active in targeting cloud environments, the report noted, with 84% of cloud-conscious intrusions likely conducted by eCrime actors, compared to 16% conducted by targeted intrusion actors. After more than two years the Australian government is back to the top five sectors with the most reported data breaches to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The Australian government is also the only of the five sectors that had human error as the top cause of data breaches. The Notifiable Data Breaches report is published twice a year and reports on notifications received under the NDB scheme for a six-month period. The report published today refers to data breaches notified from 1 July to 31 December 2023. The OAIC received a total of 483 notifications during the period and the top five reporting sectors were: health services providers, financial services, insurance, retail and the Australian government. Break down of data breaches reported by the Australian government Government agencies reported 38 data breaches during the second half of 2023, which makes only 8% of all notifications received by the OAIC. From these, 26 were caused by human error 13 involved personal information being sent to a wrong person; 11 were the result of unauthorised disclosure of personal information; and two involved the loss of paperwork or a data storage device. Human error breaches generally result from a failure of process or procedure, stated the report. Entities should assume human error will occur and design systems and processes to minimise the risk. The OAIC stated that this can also be reduced by educating staff on secure information handling. The government also felt short on one of the rules under the NDB scheme which requires that the OAIC and affected individuals are notified within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. The Australian government had the largest proportion (55%) of notifications made to the OAIC more than 30 days after the agency become aware of the incident. It also had the largest proportion (50%) of notifications where the agency identified the incident over 30 days after it occurred. These statistics suggest Australian Government agencies should check they have effective systems for detecting, assessing, responding to and notifying data breaches, stated the report. The artist Christopher Wools first major exhibition in a decade will take place in a raw former office space in the Financial District. Photo: Hugo Yu Donald Judd landed in Marfa, Texas, because he was looking for a place that made sense for his work minimalist sculptures, as smooth and sharp as the Texan skyline. Generations later, the painter Christopher Wool ended up there, as the foundation dedicated to Judds legacy invited him for a residency. Wool admired what Judd had found: a landscape that rhymed with his aesthetic. Why should Wools next show have to take place in a white box? Could he find his own Marfa? This March, his first major exhibition since a 2014 retrospective at the Guggenheim will open in the Financial District on the 19th floor of 101 Greenwich, where 18,000 square feet overlook the chasms of the World Trade Center and the spire of Trinity Church. The floor was gutted before the pandemic and left raw, wires exposed, concrete shorn to reveal stripes of original mosaic tile a distressed vibe that matches the work of a punk painter who came up under the abstract expressionists. The shows curator Anne Pontegnie and two artists Wool hired to help her Rose Marcus and Marie Angeletti had no idea when they started scouting that they would land in an office. A lot of what we were looking for was ineffable, said Marcus. Its the actual feeling in the space. Does it feel dead? Does it feel alive? There are things that you cant put your finger on. Last January, they met in midtown at a hotel and started touring with brokers looking at ten or 12 buildings a day. A penthouse off Union Square seemed too slick; an old Duane Reade near Grand Central was too dark; and an artists loft off Tenth Avenue was too stylish. At a certain point, they ruled out ground-floor commercial spaces too retail, said Pontegnie. (None of Wools work is for sale.) Then they ruled out residential too private, too exclusive. Finally, they ruled out the brokers, who kept trying to show them pristine, trendy interiors, which is when they realized they were looking for something more raw. They started crossing Manhattan, looking up at high windows for empty floors, calling any brokers number pasted in a dark window. They were stunned by just how much was available. You can read in the newspaper about how much empty space there is, Marcus said. But once you taste the level of emptiness building after building, seeing 12 huge 20,000-square-feet spaces in a matter of four hours its really shocking. They found the former office at 101 Greenwich in late January and liked the contrast between the exposed, gutted floor and a formal, once-genteel tower. The 1907 building was designed to house the U.S. Express Company, a shipping company, and its ornate exteriors and views landed major tenants, including Merrill Lynch, Skanska, and architect Daniel Libeskind, who had an office on the 19th floor when he worked as the master planner for the World Trade Center memorial site. In 2013, Kushner Companies bought the building with plans to convert its narrow, windowed floorplates to residential, but the market for office was still hot and they sold it three years later for $65 million more. A group of buyers renovated and rebranded, and, when the pandemic hit, the developer BentallGreenOak was left with a depreciating asset, as workers stayed away; almost one-third of the building is currently advertised as available for rent. A workers graphite doodle on a column, next to a framed piece by Christopher Wool. Photo: Christopher Wool Senior Vice-President Sam Buckley was thrilled by the idea of Wools survey but there were physical challenges, like, how to activate a totally vacant floor that didnt have HVAC or a sprinkler loop yet, and legal challenges, like how to insure against the potential damage caused by allowing the public to traipse through a major asset and hang around art that sells for millions at auction. At the same time, the landlord hoped the show could pull tenants in, making the building feel alive. BGO cooperated, and so did Wool, who had his lawyer form a corporation mimicking a typical tenant and loan it the work to get it insured. Neither the landlord nor Wool would say what the financials were, but neither described getting a deal. He was able to contribute because hes an artist of means, Buckley said. On the back wall (left), a mosaic by Wool rhymed with mosaic floors that the team found in the space, under a section of floor that had been ripped up. Photo: Christopher Wool Once they signed for the office, with a one-year lease, the team had to solve their next problem: getting art into an office, where the freight elevator was only slightly taller than the passenger elevators. A 16-foot-wide mosaic had to be moved in pieces, paintings had to be painstakingly pulled off their stretchers and rebuilt upstairs, and some sculptures were left behind. But it all felt worth it to Wools team. His work always shows how it was made a philosophy that matches a corporate office, stripped and exposed. And then there was the actual look of the place so similar to Wools work that Pontegnie had to avoid hokey matches, like a wire sculpture beneath an exposed wire, a spray-painted painting across from a spray-painted column. On the other hand, Sometimes you put a pink drawing on a pink wall, Pontegnie said, and it really sings. See Stop Run opens March 14 and runs Thursday through Sunday until July 31. The new Skyspace at the Friends Seminary school in Gramercy. Photo: John Galayda James Turrells Skyspace at Friends Seminary, a private Quaker school in Gramercy, opened this week on the sixth floor. There are 85 Skyspaces around the world, and this one will be only the second publicly accessible Skyspace in the city, with the other at MoMA PS1. But because Friends Seminary is, well, a school full of kids, the installation, titled Leading, will only be open to the public while school is in session on the last Friday of each month. (The school is also committed to sharing the space with local schools and arts organizations.) And for the kids who attend the Friends Seminary, it will be a colorful escape from the classroom. Looking up through the roof. Photos: John Galayda. Looking up through the roof. Photos: John Galayda. Communal wood benches line the inside of the installation for kids to lie on. Photo: John Galayda Turrell is a practicing Quaker who donated his time and sold an artwork to help with the cost, and the school raised $3.9 million to construct it. The installation has a retractable roof that can be opened at dawn or dusk, and like other Skyspaces, it mixes artificial lights with the natural light from the opening to make the sky appear as a 3-D painting or installation. (As the New York Times reported, the Skyspace was technically approved as a house of worship tower, which allowed it to extend past zoning restrictions by a few feet.) Reservations are free, but with limited slots, theyre likely to go quick. The other option to send your kid to Friends Seminary is just a bit more expensive. The roof can slide open during dusk and dawn. Photo: John Deptulski Photo: Michael Vi/Alamy Stock Photo Hornblower Group, the San Franciscobased company that operates NYC Ferry, filed for bankruptcy yesterday, claiming it could not manage its roughly $1.2 billion of debt. One of its investors, the private equity firm Strategic Value Partners, agreed to acquire the company in a debt-for-equity swap thats part of a larger restructuring, according to The Wall Street Journal. Hornblower operates three primary divisions: an Australian company that seems to be doing well, a ferry and sightseeing division, and a luxury cruise division, American Queen Voyages. Its this last unit, which mostly consists of old-timey paddlewheel riverboats, that Hornblower representatives in court said was the companys Achilles heel that never recovered from the pandemic, according to Emily Lever of Law360. The company took on hundreds of millions of dollars in debt after its revenue dropped to $175 million in 2020 from $690 million just a year earlier. Exactly how New York Citys ferry service fits into Hornblowers restructuring is unclear. For now, CEO Kevin Rabbitt is adamant that service will not be affected, claiming the restructuring will allow Hornblower to eliminate debt unrelated to the ferry system while continuing record growth across the five boroughs. Indeed, a court filing described NYC Ferry as a bright spot in the companys portfolio. Just last year Hornblower re-upped its contract with the Economic Development Corporation, the city nonprofit that oversees NYC Ferry, at $405 million over the next five years, with two optional three-year extensions. The EDC chose Hornblower despite a 2022 audit by comptroller Brad Lander that put the total taxpayer subsidy for ferry rides in 2021 at $12.88, nearly double the citys previous estimate. (A 2019 study by the Citizens Budget Commission estimated taxpayers contributed ten times more to each ferry ride than each subway ride and, for a voyage on the ferrys Coney Island route, taxpayers covered $24.75.) According to the EDC, the subsidy has since been reduced to $8.55 per ride. Hornblower originally won the NYC Ferry contract in 2016 in a somewhat controversial deal. According to The City, Hornblower beat out a team of three local ferry operators, but Hornblowers underbid came with a hidden cost. While the local operators had proposed using their own armada of water taxis, Hornblower asked taxpayers to front $232 million to buy 38 vessels and an additional $137 million at a later date for more boats. A spokesperson for the EDC at the time justified the arrangement, in part, by saying it was smart for the city to own its vessels logic that flies in the face of the old adage that a boat is a hole in the water you throw money into. For Hornblower, NYC Ferry was just the latest play in a yearslong campaign to dominate the countrys waterways. The company won contracts to ferry tourists to Alcatraz and Niagara Falls, and commuters in states across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. In New York, Hornblower won the lucrative Statue of Liberty contract with the National Parks Service and, in 2016, it began running dinner-boat cruises up and down the Hudson. Soon after, it snatched up its closest competitor, Spirit Cruises. All of that growth gave Hornblower an air of infallibility. They have the biggest pocketbook, and the fear is they can come in and undercut everybody overnight, an independent charter-boat owner told me last fall. Theyre too big to sink. Should the federal bankruptcy court in Houston approve of Hornblowers restructuring, NYC Ferry would become even more important to the company, as the agreement would spin off its Australia division and sell American Queen Voyages. Thats no easy task, given paddleboats limited application beyond U.S. riverways. In addition, Deutsche Bank has agreed to refinance an existing loan to Hornblower and Strategic Value Partners; Crestview Partners, the private-equity firm that had a majority stake in Hornblower, would add new financing and become a minority owner. This story has been updated to include comment from Hornblower Group. SCHENECTADY As customers exit Villa Italia Bakery on Broadway with packages of baked goods, they might not realize they are passing a world-class drug research laboratory right next door. Co-founded by company President Paul Ambrose in 2004, the Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics utilizes pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to analyze prescription drugs. Everything we do here is to change the way antibiotics are developed and used to care for patients, Ambrose said. So we pick drug regimens that go into clinical trials for the pharmaceutical industry or we work with the FDA [United States Food and Drug Administration] on projects that are basically answer questions like, How do we use antibiotics better? Ambrose launched a second Schenectady-based company in January of 2023 with the introduction of pRxcision, an infectious-disease artificial intelligence software platform. The pRxcision software tool aims to provide doctors with the optimum personalized regimen for each patient based on the available data. The miracle is antibiotics, and theyre at threat right now, Ambrose said. How we [solve] that is by giving clinicians the tools to take the best care of their patients, and we happen to be using software as that vehicle right now. The company opened its spacious complex at 234 Broadway in 2016, with the site housing the firms labs and offices. What we do here in those laboratories and what we do with mathematical modeling, as far as other companies in the country theres maybe one [other], Ambrose said. So theres very few people who do what we do in the world, and its right here. Ambrose, who moved to Schenectady in 2005 from Buffalo, said he believes the city is an ideal location for a medical laboratory, noting the proximity to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the job candidates the school produces. For pRxcision, we plan to build right here, Ambrose said of the companys downtown office. We plan to build that software company with a big dream in Schenectady. I was able to get virtually all of the investment by saying I was going to build here. Software companies end up in Boston or San Francisco or Silicon Valley. They end up every place but here, so I wanted to build it here. Ambrose, 60, said he has seen growth in the Schenectady business environment in the past two decades. Theres more going on in downtown Schenectady sometimes than you think, he said. Ambrose is also investing in the local community through Gallery 5, an organization he co-founded thats designed to bolster visibility for local artists through pop-up art events. It was my idea to bring in the sculptures that we have downtown, Ambrose said. Ambrose received his doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb and as executive director of the division of infectious diseases at the Cognigen Corporation before co-founding the Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics. He said the mission of pRxcision is to save lives by providing doctors with more data. We believe we can change the world, he said. We believe we can give clinicians the tools to fundamentally change the way they practice medicine toward infectious diseases. Right now, one in five patients gets effective therapy at the start of therapy, and the consequence of that is that just in the U.S. alone 270,000 fewer people might get home each year. Ambrose said that as pRxcision grows, the company uses a personal touch to promote its software. Outlook 2024: John Buhrmaster of 1st National Bank of Scotia SCOTIA Despite his familys generational ties to 1st National Bank of Scotia, John Buhrmaster never thought hed spend his career in banking. If youre an investor and I tell you that we develop software as a service and we sell software to hospitals, does that make you want to do anything with me? Ambrose asked. You can hear that a thousand times. If I tell you that Im all about saving lives and that people are suffering from infectious diseases, you probably have someone in your family or friends thats died or been very sick because of resistant bacteria. Now were on the same page and that other stuff is less important. Ambrose said the top lesson he's learned in decades of business is that the intent of a company should be prioritized over the technical aspects of the work. Why you do it is more important than how you do it, he said. SCHENECTADY Maureen Neufeld had a decorated career in development for a host of historic local theaters when she decided to take on the lead role in the ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Schenectady. The former director of development at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall became the new executive director of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) in February, taking the reins from interim director Carney McGuire after former director Jim Salengo exited DSIC last August after 15 years. Neufeld, a Niskayuna resident, said the ability to connect directly to the local community in Schenectady drew her to accept her new post. Its been such an exciting place to be for the last several years, Neufeld said. More and more businesses are popping up, and I visit downtown pretty regularly. Im always looking to try new restaurants or to walk around and poke my head into shops. Its really been an exciting place to be for several years, and even in just the weeks that Ive been here Im finding more and more that I hadnt had a chance to visit before. Theres really a lot to do down here and everyones been so welcoming. Neufeld said she believes her previous experience as director of development at Park Playhouse [which manages Cohoes Music Hall] and the education coordinator at Albanys Palace Theatre will be beneficial in her new position in Schenectady. One of my favorite parts of each of those roles has been my relationship building, she said. A lot of those relationships can now continue in an entirely new capacity in this new role with DSIC. Having had touchpoints with different businesses, some which are located down here, there are so many local folks who want to invest in the community and want to see this region be as strong and powerful and vibrant as it can be, and I just love that. DSIC leads the efforts to beautify the downtown business district. The group opened the new Jay Square park last October across from City Hall. The public greenspace is located on the former site of 100-104 Jay St., where a fatal fire swept through two apartment buildings a decade ago, claiming the lives of four city residents. The organization organizes the annual Soup Stroll and Wing Walk culinary events, and is currently preparing to host the citys Restaurant Week from Feb. 26 to March 3, with the yearly event set to highlight local eateries by offering residents multicourse meals at a fixed price. Neufeld said her priority as DSIC director is to ensure that she is a community resource. I want to be here as a resource for business owners and property owners to help keep everything safe and beautiful and exciting downtown, she said. The DSIC has such an important role in elevating the position of the community, both through events that might bring some extra eyes to the downtown area for people that may not have spent a lot of time down here previously, but also to keep everything safe and fresh and beautiful to make sure that as youre walking around, you want to come back and visit. The new DSIC leader said she foresees a strong outlook for businesses downtown. I think downtown Schenectady is poised to be a great cultural destination and a hot spot for all different types of business and regional tourism and local tourism alike, Neufeld said. Id like downtown to be the point for book clubs and happy hours and all sorts of innovative business to think of bringing different branches. I think theres a lot on the horizon and the potential is really, really strong. Neufeld said that in her two decades of business experience, which began with a role in development at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 2006, she has learned that the key to success is listening to her peers and collaborators. I always try to listen before I talk, Neufeld said. I tend to have a lot of ideas about things and my brain gets very excited about new possibilities, but its so important to listen first and hear what people are actually saying, and to hear what folks actually need and to hear the history of whats happened before. I think its so important to prioritize listening over speaking, and formulating a plan from there. Prince William was probably wrong to intervene in the Middle East crisis in the way he did. As heir to the throne, he is supposed to be above politics. Hes not meant to say anything that might affect Britains relations with foreign states. Can one imagine the late Queen doing so? Of course not. And yet although he was unwise to speak out, what he said was surely morally correct, and reflected the views of millions, who are as appalled as the Prince by the deaths and injuries of so many innocent people, including thousands of children, in Gaza. William is right to be deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7. Hes also right to want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. In effect, he was calling for a ceasefire, which is something the Government has not quite done. I believe Israel was justified in retaliating to Hamass barbaric assault. Almost every country in the world would have acted in a similar way to such an outrage, though whether its possible to wipe the evil organisation from the face of the earth may be doubted. William is right to be deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 However understandable Israels reaction may have been, there comes a point when the killing is disproportionate to the original crime, writes our columnist Stephen Glover Hamas is utterly ruthless, even at the cost of the Palestinian people and their welfare. It is committed to the destruction of the State of Israel. It is unquestionably anti-Semitic. But however understandable Israels reaction may have been, there comes a point when the killing is disproportionate to the original crime. As President Biden has put it in an irritatingly folksy but nonetheless truthful way, the conduct of the [Israeli] response in Gaza ... has been over the top. Hamas has been partially disabled. An attempt by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to extirpate the terrorist group in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, would very likely involve the deaths of many thousands more Palestinian civilians, who are effectively trapped without any obvious means of escape. I write as a friend of Israel. I want it to survive and prosper, ideally alongside an independent Palestinian State, although as Ill argue later, that is unfortunately now a very distant and increasingly implausible prospect. My fear is that if the IDF persists if it kills yet more thousands of civilians, besides exacerbating the already active threats of disease and starvation then Israel will hand a propaganda victory to its enemies, and stand condemned for a generation in the minds of civilised people. Am I being unfair? Hypocritical even? Didnt British and U. S. bombers kill and maim immeasurably more blameless children in bombing raids over Dresden and other German cities during World War II? Yes, they did. Its true. But there is this difference that our parents and grandparents werent fully aware of the terrible human consequences of what was done, whereas now, thanks to ubiquitous modern media, we are painfully alive to the suffering in Gaza. And what, you may ask, about the 134-odd hostages seized by Hamas who are still unaccounted for? Doesnt Israel have the right to demand their release? Of course, it does. But when it threatens to launch an offensive against Rafah if the hostages arent set free by March 10, I begin to fear. The carnage will be terrible if a land assault goes ahead. Some 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah. Its likely that hostages would be killed. According to the Israeli government, at least 30 already have been. The best hope for the surviving hostages is that they will be released following negotiations brokered by moderate Arab states. Israel will have to accept the grotesque imbalance of handing over many more Palestinian prisoners than they receive hostages in return from Hamas. Will the Israeli government stop and consider? Im afraid it is unlikely to take much notice of the chaotic debate in the Commons yesterday, with the major political parties wrangling over what constitutes an immediate ceasefire (SNP) or an immediate humanitarian ceasefire (Labour) or an immediate humanitarian pause (the Government). The Scot Nats motion was too unconditional, and gave Hamas a virtual carte blanche to revive hostilities. Labours official approach the leadership is plagued by backbench rebels was more balanced. As for the Tories, it all depends how long a pause is. I believe it should be long. The Israeli government is more likely to listen to the United States, which is still resisting calls for a ceasefire while at the same time casting doubt in a draft UN resolution on the wisdom of a ground offensive in Rafah. It fears this would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighbouring countries. Not since the 1956 Suez Crisis when America criticised Israel after it had invaded Egypt, egged on by France and Britain has there been such a wide gulf between Washington and Jerusalem. It remains to be seen whether Israels beleaguered and unloved prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will take any notice. Israels supporters shouldnt be uncritical. Since the nations founding in 1948, and before, there have been visionary statesmen people like Chaim Weizmann, the countrys first president, and David Ben-Gurion, its first prime minister. Or Yitzhak Rabin, the former army general who worked for peace as prime minister before being assassinated by an Israeli extremist in 1995. There have been less attractive prime ministers such as Menachem Begin, a former terrorist who targeted the British before they left Palestine in 1948, and was always distrusted by Margaret Thatcher for that reason. Yet Begin made peace with Egypt in 1979. Netanyahu may not himself be an extremist, but he relies on the support of two far-Right parties who are. The finance minister is Bezalel Smotrich, whose Religious Zionist party draws support from hardline West Bank settlers. Last March, he claimed there is no such thing as the Palestinian people. As long as Netanyahu and people like Smotrich are in charge, there is a risk that Israel will continue to ignore the warnings of those who wish it well, and put itself beyond the pale. That would be a tragedy. Not that peace will be easy in any circumstances. Foreign Secretary David Cameron talks a little glibly of a two-state solution, as though all that is needed is for people of goodwill to sit around the same table. That is not so. For one thing, there are nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers on the West Bank, which is not part of Israel. What happens to them? And why should any Israeli government accept a Palestinian State given what took place in Gaza? Within two years of the Israelis withdrawing from the Strip in 2005, Hamas was in power and firing rockets into southern Israel. The road ahead is long and hard. There are certainly no instant solutions. And its far from clear that an elderly, practically senile U.S. President in the dying days of his administration will have the moral authority or the will to stand up to Netanyahu. Whether its called a ceasefire or a long pause doesnt matter. Whatever happens, the mass, often indiscriminate, killing of women and children must stop. Friends of Israel should realise that this has gone on long enough. Heres a pretty paradox. Labour is more than 20 points ahead in the polls. Yet the electorate, on cultural issues such as immigration, gender self-identification, racial politics and crime, is not just to the right of Labour; it is to the right of every mainstream party. A major survey of 13,534 voters, commissioned by the Conservative donor Lady McAlpine, found that the population at large is less woke than almost all MPs. Nearly two-thirds of people, including a majority of Labour voters, want immigration reduced. More than half want children to be banned from changing their pronouns. Labour supporters were evenly split on the issue. Why, then, does Britain seem set to give a landslide to a party which indulges in every politically correct fad, from anti-white racism to refusing to state women have wombs? Why is Britain so at odds with most of Europe, where a similar mood has produced a sharp swing to the Right? Daniel Hannan, above, points out that a major survey of 13,534 voters, commissioned by Conservative donor Lady McAlpine, found the population is less woke than almost all MPs There are, I think, three explanations. First, the Conservatives have been in power for 14 years. A fifth win would be tough even without the price rises and tax rises occasioned by the lockdowns. No party has won five consecutive general elections since the early 19th century, when 98 per cent of the population could not vote. Being in office for a long time means that you exhaust the benefit of the doubt. The mistakes of any public bureaucracy become your fault. The cost of the Ukraine war becomes your fault. Even the pandemic, or at least its effects, are somehow deemed your fault. Second, although the country leans Right on cultural issues, it leans Left on economic ones. A survey in December found that people want spare government money to go on spending increases rather than tax cuts. By 64 to 26 per cent, they preferred the statement the Government should prioritise spending on schools and hospitals to the Government should prioritise cutting income tax. Free-market policies are rarely popular when polled in isolation. And the lockdown made people much more authoritarian, because it normalised state control. Voters saw mountains of money conjured into existence, and got used to some of it being used to subsidise their bills. They may be anti-immigration but, when it comes to big government, half of their heart is in Havana. The third reason is the most significant. Put simply, voters dont think there is much difference between the two parties. They see wokery all around them. The National Trust is obsessed with slavery. The fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square carries the statue of an African revolutionary who urged his followers to murder whites. The countryside is declared to be racist. Civil servants proclaim their pronouns in email signatures. Most people see all these organisations as, on some level, the responsibility of the Conservative Government. This leads them to conclude that, when it comes to wokery, the two parties are as bad as each other. Here, Im afraid, the country makes an error. A serious error, as we shall learn if Sir Keir Starmer forms the next government. For there is a world of difference between activist officials slipping identity politics past distracted ministers, and activist officials being encouraged from the top to make everything they do about diversity, equality and inclusion. Conservatives have at least tried to constrain the Leftist tendencies of the administrative state. The Sewell report on Race and Ethnic Disparities was a forensic takedown of the race hustlers who denounced it dementedly. New rules have restored sense to how trans issues are handled in schools. Every week, Conservative legislators push, in the teeth of opposition from every other party, to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda. You might object that these efforts are insufficient, that a determined government would stamp its will on even the most woke civil servants. You might have a point though, in my experience, people who have not been closely involved with politics cant imagine how difficult it is for ministers to get policies through their departments. Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner taking the knee in 2020 at a time when it was already clear that BLM was a revolutionary Marxist organisation All I am saying is that we currently have ministers whose starting assumption is that Britain is a non-racist country, that our identity as individuals matters more than the accident of our birth or physiognomy, and that no one should be fired for expressing views that were mainstream until five minutes ago. That is a far cry from where Labour is. Remember the photograph of Sir Keir and Angela Rayner taking the knee in 2020 at a time when it was already clear that BLM was a revolutionary Marxist organisation? If that had been a one-off gesture during that over-excited summer, we might overlook it. But the fact is that that photograph captured the instincts of the Labour leadership. Sir Keir, who took over just after Covid had reached Britain, began by commissioning a report into the ethnic aspects of the pandemic. In a world where everything is racist, the coronavirus was bound to be racist, too. Sure enough, the report concluded by demanding all the things that Labour always demands, whatever the occasion, such as a review into the diversity of the school curriculum to ensure it includes Black British history, colonialism and Britains role in the transatlantic slave trade. What did that have to do with the coronavirus? Good question. It is unsurprising that a party which draws its MPs disproportionately from government bureaucracies, mega-charities and universities should be obsessed with the diversity, equality and inclusion that dominates those sectors. Its instinct, whatever the question, is to blame racism and call for state intervention. Mandatory voter ID? Racist! A free rental market? Racist! Energy bills? Racist! Climate change? Racist! We have Labour MPs calling for more lenient community courts to deal with crimes by non-white offenders. We have the party calling for government contracts to be reserved for black-led businesses. The idea that the political parties are all the same when it comes to woke does not withstand a moments scrutiny. Consider, for example, Labours promise of a new Race Equality Act, which would require companies to show that they were not paying people differently on the basis of ethnicity. Companies dont currently do this, and for good reason. Pay discrimination on grounds of race is immoral, unprofitable and, critically, already illegal. What Labour proposes is a massive new monitoring system that will create opportunities for frivolous claims by disgruntled employees and huge profits for mischievous lawyers. If you doubt me, consider the ruin of Birmingham City Council through a creative interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act. Although the local authority had been paying the same rates for the same jobs, it turned out that there were bonuses available to binmen and grave-diggers that were not available to cooks and care staff. Since the former jobs were deemed male-dominated, the local authority ended up being stung on equality grounds in a case involving 170 female workers for more than a billion pounds. It puzzles me that intelligent people can look at Labour-run Birmingham, or Labour-run London, or Labour-run Wales, and conclude that the parties are all the same. If you think things are woke now, just you wait. Just you wait. To paraphrase the 19th-century historian Thomas Babington Macaulay, there is no spectacle more absurd than the British political class in one of its periodic fits of self-righteousness. Macaulay was writing about the British tendency to fall prey to sudden gusts of kitschy sentimentality followed by vehement outrage. He concluded that that it was sinister as well as absurd. Though he aimed his remarks in at the wider public, were he around today he could have been describing the ludicrous behaviour in the House of Commons, where he once sat as a Whig MP. Not for the first time, the politicians have taken complete leave of their senses. They have managed to make the human tragedy unfolding in Israel and Gaza all about them. It has become yet another tiresome, navel-gazing Westminster Bubble story, an arcane argument about Parliamentary procedure and the future of the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle presides over a shambles in the House of Commons yesterday Goodness knows what the majority of voters make of this self-obsessed grandstanding about a war over which British politicians have absolutely no influence whatsoever. At best its displacement activity designed to distract attention from the fact that none of the MPs shouting about Israel has a clue what to do about the real problems we face here in Britain, most of which have been created by the politicos themselves - mass immigration, rising crime, housing shortages, sky-high energy costs, the failing NHS, poor productivity caused by WFH, an indolent and disobedient civil service, the highest taxes in 70 years, potholes, you name it. Far too many of them are callously exploiting for their own, selfish domestic purposes the suffering of the Palestinian people and denying Israels incontestable right to self-defence by eliminating Hamas. This cynical showboating is designed simply to make themselves look and feel good, score political points, and in the case of Labour to appease militant Muslim sentiment in the run-up to the next General Election. It is also about craven surrender to the anti-Israel mob. While MPs were squabbling in the Chamber, pro-Palestinian/Hamas demonstrators were massing outside in Parliament Square. At one stage, the vile slogan From the River to the Sea, calling for Israel to be wiped off the face of the Earth, was projected on to the side of Big Ben. As Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole and Vice Chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel, said: Members will not vote with their hearts . . . they are frightened and they are scared [of] people on our streets demanding death to Jews, demanding jihad, demanding intifada, while the police stand by and allow this to happen. This column has been making exactly the same argument since the anti-Semites crawled out from under their stones in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 pogrom, even before Israel responded. Percy also had the perfect riposte to those MPs demanding an unconditional ceasefire. Nobody in this House has any agency or business in telling the State of Israel where it is able to operate to seek to rescue hostages who are being raped by Islamist terrorists. The Boys In The Bubble can pick the bones out of what went on between Keir Starmer and Hoyle in the broom cupboard behind the Speakers Chair to their hearts content. Was Hoyle blackmailed into ripping up Parliamentary protocol and defying the Clerks advice to do Starmer a favour? Frankly, in the scheme of things, who cares? Hoyles excuse is that he was only trying to ensure the safety of all MPs being threatened by pro-Hamas extremists. Given the murder of David Amess by an Islamist headbanger and the hounding of Mike Freer, MP for a constituency with a substantial Jewish population, his concerns are warranted. Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Parliament Square as MPs debated a motion on calling a ceasefire in Gaza For elected representatives and their families to be subjected to death threats in order to influence policy and votes in the Commons is utterly intolerable. But we could be forgiven for forming the impression that MPs are more worried about their own security than the safety of British Jews being harassed and menaced every day. Yet rather than confront the pro-Hamas activists head-on, they have chosen to take the path of appeasement and submission. Labours call for a humanitarian ceasefire is at least nuanced, even though Starmer has been spooked by events in Rochdale and the rise of Muslim militancy in other constituencies. The SNPs stance is shameful. Theres nothing subtle about the Toytown Tartanistas effective demand for Israel to surrender. On Wednesday, the partys political pygmy leader at Westminster Stephen Flynn ostentatiously read out the latest Palestinian death toll claimed by Hamas without bothering to mention the Israeli dead or calling on Hamas to release Jewish hostages. He then threw his toys out of the pram because Hoyle allowed a Labour amendment to the SNPs motion calling for an immediate ceasefire. Scottish voters might ask why the SNP was wasting one of the handful of opportunities it gets to set the Westminster agenda by debating Gaza. Its not as if Israel could give a monkeys about the opinion of a humourless, jumped-up former Aberdeen councillor and his sidekick, who once played the piano in the pop group Big Country. Were deep in Skibbereen Eagle territory here. Thats the famous editorial in a West Cork newspaper in 1898 which warned the Russian Tsar over his imperialist ambitions: The Skibbereen Eagle is watching you. Today, Aberdeens Bald Eagle is watching Israel. You couldnt, etc. Flynns indignation is ridiculous. For a start, the SNP dont even want to be at Westminster. Their goal is Scottish independence. Hed have been better employed explaining why the SNP wants to abandon North Sea oil production, in vainglorious pursuit of the Net Zero chimera, crashing the economy and throwing 100,000 Scottish workers onto the dole queue. This week, Flynn had the opportunity to rail against spending limits imposed by Westminster which are allegedly preventing the Scottish governments new hospitals programme. But hes more concerned with Israel destroying Hamas tunnels under hospitals in Gaza than with building hospitals in Scotland. Meanwhile, on the streets and in the bien-pensant salons of Islington and beyond, the flood of anti-Israel, anti-Semitic activity swells unabated. Most Saturdays, Central London is turned into a No-Go area for British Jews. Andrew Percy MP, who converted to Judaism in 2017, said that after a recent visit he now felt safer on the streets of Israel than he did in London. William Shawcross, author of a report into Islamist extremism in Britain last year, said that many of his recommendations for tackling the threat had been ignored by the Government. Meanwhile, the Prevent anti-terrorism programme prefers to concentrate on the perceived threat from the Far-Right. But what are the pro-Hamas anti-Semites on the streets of Britain if not fascists? They might wear fashionable intifada scarves but they are no different to Oswald Mosleys Blackshirts who targeted Jews in the 1930s. Why is their anger directed solely at Israels genocide and not at Hamas, or Russias invasion of Ukraine, Chinas persecution of Uyghur Muslims, or Saudi Arabias war in Yemen? These genuine extremists are given succour by useful idiots who couldnt point to Gaza on a map. Prince Williams ill-advised intervention this week didnt help either. Speaking of useful idiots, Richard Edens diary column this week featured superannuated fashionista Katharine Hamnett filming herself chucking her CBE in the dustbin over Gaza. She was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Disgusted to be British. It was an echo of the anti-nuclear slogan she wore to a meeting with Mrs Thatcher in Downing Street in 1984 at the height of the Greenham Common missiles protests. Mrs T rightly took absolutely no notice of her vacuous T-shirt diplomacy and Hamnett was reduced to flogging FRANKIE SAYS RELAX and WHAM! merchandise. Wake us up before you go-go, pet. Nor should anyone take seriously Hamnetts latest publicity stunt. But it speaks to the stupidity of so many on the agitprop Left in Britain, who wittingly or otherwise have never come across a terrorist they didnt worship. Thomas Babington Macaulay would have recognised this kitsch sentimentality and dismissed it as absurd. But the self-righteous shenanigans in Parliament over the past couple of days, and the anti-Jewish hatred being spewed on the streets, isnt just absurd its seriously sinister. Have you ever wondered how morning show stars manage to avoid repeating outfits? Jenna Bush Hager, 42, revealed her simple fashion hack to guarantee she never has to re-wear ensembles on The Today Show. The mom-of-three, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, took to Instagram to show off her 'trick to avoid outfit repeating on TV.' 'I'm a member of this club called Rent the Runway,' Jenna announced, while clarifying the video is 'not an ad' and she was simply a fan of the fashion rental program. Jenna Bush Hager, 42, revealed her simple fashion hack to guarantee she never has to repeat ensembles on The Today Show Jenna, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, took to Instagram to show off her 'trick to avoid outfit repeating on TV' 'I'm a member of this club called Rent the Runway,' Jenna announced, while clarifying the video is 'not an ad' and she was simply a fan of the fashion rental program Meet the anchorwomen renting the runway! Bianca Peters, Emmy winning news reporter at Good Day New York Kendra Andrews, an NBA Reporter for ESPN Monica McNutt, sports analyst at ESPN Kathy Suarez Buccio, who covers fashion at TODAY Ginger Zee, chief meteorologist at Good Morning America Advertisement Rent the Runway offers monthly subscription, where shoppers pay between $89 and $169 per month to have designer items shipped to their home - depending on where they live and the amount of items they're renting. They can then wear the items for as long as they want before swapping them for a new shipment, guaranteeing a lack of outfit repeats. If they love an item so much they have trouble parting with it, they can buy it for a reduced price. The mom showed off her potential outfits for 'multiple moods,' including a a long-sleeve Rosetta Getty Collective Mesh Floral Dress that retails for $440, and a Black Floral Gown by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, which retails for $990. 'This is really getting out there,' she said, before showing off a form-fitting black ruffled Namana Dress by Orire, which retails for $430, and was quite different from her floral frocks. 'That way I don't have to spend and buy tons and tons of clothes, I just wear some of this stuff,' Jenna announced. 'I'm into skirts right now,' the former first daughter announced, before hinting, 'Maybe I'll wear one of these today.' 'All the same fabrics, who would've known?' she joked, before showing off multiple floral dresses and flowy skirts. The Texan wore the Rixo Petra Floral Dress, which retails for $358, but is available on Rent the Runway, which also has a store in New York City Jenna appeared on the show in the Diane von Furstenberg Oliver Dress, which retails for $538 Followers applauded Jenna's fashion choices, especially since it saves money and is more environmentally sustainable than constantly buying brand new outfits The Texan also wore the Rixo Petra Floral Dress, which retails for $358, and the Diane von Furstenberg Oliver Dress, which retails for $538. Plenty of followers applauded Jenna's fashion choices, especially since it saves money and is more environmentally sustainable than constantly buying brand new outfits. 'My favorite trick too,' Liz Teich, who has amassed more than 420,000 Instagram followers as The New York Stylist, agreed. 'I love seeing the news people in the reviews. It's so smart. I love wearing new things to work (in person and over Zoom) all the time. Plus never wearing the same thing twice when going out on the town,' an impressed commenter responded. Jenna is far from the only fashionable anchorwoman using the rental program. 'RTR for the win. My hack for TV news too,' San Francisco, California, KTVU FOX 2 anchorwoman Cristina Rendon commented. Travel aficionado Daniela Garrido called it 'every host's wardrobe hack.' Rent the Runway told FEMAIL that it's a favorite with anchors. Bianca Peters at Good Day New York, Kendra Andrews at ESPN, Monica McNutt at ESPN, Kathy Suarez Buccio, at at TODAY and Ginger Zee at Good Morning America are all renters who have been spotted in their outfits on-air. While many followers appreciated Jenna's savvy fashion sense, some asked why the studio wasn't paying for her rentals or designer outfits and questioned why she couldn't repeat outfits. 'Who cares about repeating outfits? I wear the same pants all week,' one disgruntled commenter explained. Others were simply excited to see dresses they could potentially rent. 'One of my favorite services as a working woman!' a commenter enthused. A Dragons' Den contestant whose cardboard box company was slammed as 'pathetic' on the BBC programme is now raking in 10million a year. Rachel Watkyn, from Uckfield, first set foot in the fiery boardroom in 2008 to pitch her sustainable packaging business - The Tiny Box Company. At the time they were the only company in the UK that solely dealt in recycled packaging, mainly focusing on eco-friendly gift and jewellery boxes. She and her business partner, Robin Banks, managed to bag 60,000 worth of investments from Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis - but entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne wasn't convinced. He bashed the sample product, branding it 'ridiculous' and something his then eight-year-old daughter could produce. Rachel Watkyn was told her business - Tiny Box Company - was 'pathetic' when she appeared on Dragons' Den in 2008 - but now it makes 10million a year (pictured: Rachel and her business partner Robin Banks) Duncan Bannatyne bashed the product, branding the blue and burgundy striped box as 'ridiculous' and something his eight-year-old daughter could produce Duncan said: I think its ridiculous that youve come along with what you call a business, that you describe as ethical and recyclable materials.' 'And you produce a box which my eight-year-old daughter Emily could make better at school - the ends dont match up, the lines arent straight. Twirling the burgundy and blue striped box in his fingers, he quipped: Its pathetic, it really is. However, more than a decade later the Tiny Box Company has reached new heights, broadening their horizons by creating over 1,500 packaging products and accessories. Now they offer a range of eco-friendly and recycled packaging, from large moving boxes to multicoloured mailing gift boxes, as well as foam earring inserts and more. Boasting a clientele of nearly 200,000, the company now takes in 10million annually. Reflecting on the experience with ITV, Rachel said: 'They were brutal, they were absolutely brutal. On the show, I didnt have any confidence.' But with a flurry of start-up companies emerging who needed the packaging she produced, Rachel knew it would be a success. Even though Rachel walked away with 60,000 worth of investments from Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis - she said the experience was 'brutal' At the time the Tiny Box Company was the only business in the UK that dealt solely with recycled packaging, focusing mainly on gift boxes and jewellery packaging Rachel and her business partner, Robin Banks, managed to bag 60,000 worth of investments from Peter Jones (pictured right) and Theo Paphitis (pictured left) - but entrepreneur Duncan wasn't convinced Twirling the burgundy and blue striped box in his fingers, Duncan (pictured) quipped: Its pathetic, it really is. 'Off camera, I just knew that Etsy was becoming more and more popular and Not On The High Street,' explained Rachel. Even though The Tiny Box Company is now raking in millions a year, the journey there hasn't been the smoothest. The rocky road to success has been a 'lesson in resilience' according to Rachel, who in the last few years has survived cancer three times. It has been the toughest journey of my life. Ive had cancer three times in the last five years,' she shared. Beyond personal challenges, the Tiny Box Company has had its fair share of bad luck, with a fire burning down their first warehouse. The business has also survived two severe floods, a website and bank account hacking. Reflecting on the experience with ITV, Rachel (pictured) said: 'They were brutal, they were absolutely brutal. On the show, I didnt have any confidence.' Since Dragons' Den, the company has broadened its horizons offering over 1,500 recycled packaging products and accessories (right: Tiny Box Company Earring Holder, left: Corrugated postal box) Rachel revealed that she lost her job, house and 'everything else' in the disaster. However, the hurdles to success have made her a 'resilient' person. She believes that in the face of adversity everyone has two options. They can either back away and hide or they can attempt to make the best out of their circumstances. On a brighter note, the entrepreneur finds it 'hilarious' that some people still don't understand the business concept. She divulged that warehouse visitors are often confused about what they produce and sell. But she doesn't let the confusion deter her from her sole aim, providing more environmentally friendly packaging options. Everything people buy comes in a bag or a box or some kind of packaging, and if we can help business switch from plastic or less environmentally friendly solutions to more environmentally friendly, then the jobs done, she said. Stella Assange first met Julian when she joined his legal team in 2011 Stella Assange was met with a crowd of supporters in London today ahead of her husband Julian's appeal hearing against his extradition to the US. The WikiLeaks founder, 52, is wanted by America over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information following the publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars The activist faces a jail sentence of up to 175 years for espionage, meaning if he were extradited to the States and tried and convicted, he would likely die behind bars. Speaking to the crowd outside of London's Royal Courts of Justice, his wife Stella said: 'Julian's case is about the persecution of a journalist, of a political prisoner in the heart of the west' As the two-day legal battle regarding Julian Assange controversial extradition begins, here FEMAIL delves his relationship with international lawyer Stella. Stella Assange was surrounded by a crowd of supporters ahead of her husband, Julian Assange 's appeal hearing against his extradition to the US But who is the wife of WikiLeaks? MailOnline takes a look into the life of international lawyer Stella Assange Who is Stella Assange? Stella Assange was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a Swedish father and a Spanish mother in 1983. Her mother was a theatre director, while her father had multiple jobs - including town planner, architect and artist. Whilst growing up in Botswana, both of her parents were involved in an anti-apartheid collective called the Medu Art Ensemble. Stella's parents travelled extensively for work - meaning she grew up in and around Lesotho, Sweden, and Spain. She studied at an international school in Lesotho before going on to enrol on a politics and law course at SOAS in London. Following this, she specialised in refugee law at Oxford University. In 2011, she joined Julian Assange's international legal team after her WikiLeaks lawyer friend Jennifer Robinson had asked for help challenging his Swedish charges. At the time, Julian faced extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges, which he always denied and the case was eventually dropped. Stella joined Julian Assange's international legal team after her friend Jennifer Robinson, WikiLeaks' lawyer had asked for aid in challenging his Swedish charges in 2011. Stella has politics and law degrees from SOAS and Oxford University Julian Assange and Stella began their romantic relationship in 2015, according to the international lawyer A year later she changed her legal name to Stella Moris due to concern regarding the safety of her family whilst working for Julian Assange. When did Stella and Julian start dating? Stella has been a key part of his legal team throughout his confinement in the London Ecuadorian Embassy and during his imprisonment in Belmarsh prison. Her fluency in both Spanish and Swedish aided Mrs Assange during her husband's confinement in the Ecuadorian embassy. Discussing her relationship with Assange with MailOnline, the international lawyer said: 'At the beginning it was a working relationship. 'I was in the embassy every day and Julian became a friend. Over the years he went from being a person I enjoyed seeing to the man I wanted to see most in the world. 'His public image is not what I fell in love with, it's the real person behind it. 'He is a generous and tender and loving partner. Our relationship began early in 2015. 'Despite all the public attention we managed to carve a space for a private life and, because it was serious for both of us, we began to look ahead to our years together after the embassy.' When did Stella marry Julian Assange? The WikiLeaks founder and Stella made it official in March 2023, tying the knot in Belmarsh Prison in south east London On the March 22, 2023 Stella and Julian tied the knot in a ceremony in Belmarsh Prison in south east London. The couple has been engaged since 2017, however only registered to marry in November 2022. They allege both the ex-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and the prison governor of were conspiring to stop the ceremony from happening. Their big day took place only weeks before the third anniversary of Julian's dramatic arrest, which saw him dragged out of the Ecuardorian embassy in April 2019. According to Mrs Assange, only four guests, two witnesses and two security guards were permitted to watch the ceremony. The late Dame Vivienne Westwood designed her bridal gown and a kilt for Assange - whose parents have links to Scotland. Although the event was held during ordinary visiting hours, guests were required to leave promptly after it was over. Reflecting prior to the big day, Julian Assange's then fiancee said: 'Obviously we are very excited, even though the circumstances are very restrictive. 'There continues to be unjustified interference in our plans. Having a photographer for an hour is not an unreasonable request. 'All the guests and witnesses must leave as soon as the ceremony is over, even though that will be before normal visiting time ends. 'Julian is looking forward to the wedding because it is finally happening, many months after we first made the request.' How many children does Stella Assange have? The couple share two children - Gabriel and Max - who were conceived whilst the WikiLeaks founder was held up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London (pictured left to right: Gabriel, Stella and Max Assange) Describing her pregnancies as 'lonely and challenging', Stella revealed she would hide her growing bump beneath baggy clothes Due to increased hostilities in the Ecuadorian embassy, Assange was not able to see his second son Max until he was three months old Julian and Stella Assange share two children - Gabriel and Max. The two boys were conceived in secret whilst Assange was confined in the Ecuardorian Embassy in London, dodging extradition to America. The couple managed to keep their romance and the birth of their two children - who were born in 2017 and 2019 respectively - secret from Ecuadorian diplomats. In world exclusive interview with MailOnline, Stella revealed she would smuggle scans of their unborn child into the embassy to show Assange. She said: 'It was lonely, challenging,' The accomplished academic took her first born into visit his father, the founder of WikiLeaks, only a week after he had been born. 'Seeing Julian holding his child made all the madness of his existence fade,'Mrs Assange reflected. 'Julian brought up his oldest son, mostly on his own, from when he was a toddler to adulthood so his default mode as a father is hands-on. 'He's warm, easygoing and, above all, proud. Our boys are happy children, they love seeing their daddy's face and hearing his voice.' She tried to disguise her bump in billowing clothes and then, when Gabriel was born, he was carried in and out of the embassy in the arms of a friend who passed the child off as his own. Whilst pregnant, Mrs Assange revealed that she would often camouflage her growing bump in baggy clothing. When she would bring Gabriel to visit his father he would be passed off as the friend of a child who was also visiting. However this all came to a head in January 2018, when a Spanish security guard warned the mother-of-two about a scheme to steal on of her son's nappies in order to determine his paternity. 'I was nauseous. I knew there was spying but this felt ruthless, as if there were no boundaries,' she said. 'It wasn't just an invasion of Gabriel's privacy, it made me think he wasn't safe. 'It's hard to talk about it without sounding like it was some insane plot but that is the reality of Julian's world. It can be a sinister place.' Due to the increased hostility of the Ecuadorian embassy, Julian Assange was not able to meet his second son, Max, until he was around three months old. In 2020, Mrs Assange said: 'Over the past five years I have discovered that love makes the most intolerable circumstances seem bearable but this is different I am now terrified I will not see him alive again. 'Julian has been fiercely protective of me and has done his best to shield me from the nightmares of his life. 'I have lived quietly and privately, raising Gabriel and Max on my own and longing for the day we could be together as a family.' Press junkets, social media posts and contractually obliged red carpet appearances are all par for the course when you're a movie star promoting your latest film. But now celebrities are taking marketing to the next level by dressing up in ensembles inspired by their characters at award shows as a clever way to drum up excitement for the audience. Vogue described the tactic as a 'chance to extend a project's cinematic universe onto the red carpet before the movie even premieres' and Fashion Magazine dubbed the move 'sartorial storytelling at its finest'. Fashion expert and stylist Lisa Talbot, from Maidenhead, told FEMAIL that method dressing helps actors being remembered for the role they played, and 'brings the character to life'. Most recently at the Baftas , Best Actress winner Emma Stone gave a nod to her award-winning performance as Bella Baxter in Poor Things in a creamy peach gown that puffed at the sleeves The quirky garment had a silk skirt with a statement trim and pretty button detailing down the side. The aesthetic appeared to take inspiration from Bella's Victorian-era silhouettes while adding a fashionable, modern twist that ensured all eyes were on her However, as a slew of ensembles become engrossed in the trend, she said there may be some wardrobe fatigue on the horizon. 'I think we miss seeing the actors in the gowns that we love seeing them wear at award ceremonies,' Lisa explained. 'The ones where we see the actor's personality shining through.' And branding expert Hayley Knight, Co-founder & Communications Director at BE YELLOW agency, added that it's becoming a 'go to' marketing tactic. 'Method dressing is definitely on the rise, as a marketing activation, with blockbuster films such as Barbie, The Little Mermaid and Spiderman all incorporating this trend into their promotion, much to the excitement of fans,' she said. 'But it isn't a new concept, Audrey Hepburn would dress as Holly Golightly to promote Breakfast at Tiffany's - and let's be honest, the black dress has become more famous than the film, and Geena Davis wore a dress with baseball stitching to the premiere of A League of Their Own in 1992 - and these are just two examples.' She explained that the technique has some notable pros and cons. 'As a concept, it excites audiences, gets people talking and injects a little fun and magic into the promotion, and helps the audience and fans further connect with the characters,' she said. Meanwhile, Margot Robbie was quite literally living in a Barbie world during the film's global press tour this summer. Pictured in Seoul for a Barbie news conference The Australian actress, 33, who played the famous doll, was wearing outfits inspired by or exact replicas of ensembles worn by her character Margot's commitment to pink persevered, and the star has become synonymous with her titular role Margot pictured at the European premiere of Barbie in London over the summer - wearing a dusty pink gown Margot's pink persistence hasn't yet stopped. Pictured at the Golden Globe Awards in California last month 'It's an easy way for production companies to promote the film, and use assets they already have - the actors.' But Hayley feels the method takes away from the excitement of award season fashion - but does still hold huge stylistic influence nonetheless. 'It's a great strategy for promotion runs, but it can feel a little novelty and self indulgent for award shows, when it's meant for actors to be seen to support each other,' she added. 'Costumes are a key part of any movie, with some more elaborate than others, and method dressing will definitely become a key factor when designing costumes for movies and characters, in order to transfer them in an obvious way to the red carpet. 'Wearing costume inspired outfits on the red carpet also has a huge influence on fashion trends, and what the public wear. For example Halle Berry set the mermaid core trend after appearing in her dress on the red carpet. 'It's one thing to create costumes that will be emulated for Halloween, but to use them to set trends is another level. This kind of transferable marketing is incredibly valuable. 'I think we will start to see more actors indulging in method dressing on the red carpet, or elaborate nods to their characters and costumes (Zendaya adding spider webs to her dresses for example). 'However, as with all marketing activities, it needs to be authentic, and it still needs to be stylish, so method dressing can't and shouldn't apply for all films, and certainly wouldn't fit the brand of some actors. 'But we are definitely seeing it as a trend amongst younger and newer Hollywood, who seem to be more daring, playful and involved in both their fashion choices, and the movies that they make, so I'm certainly interested to see how far this trend will go.' Most recently at the Baftas, Best Actress winner Emma Stone gave a nod to her award-winning performance as Bella Baxter in Poor Things in a creamy peach gown that puffed at the sleeves. The quirky garment had a silk skirt with a statement trim and pretty button detailing down the side. The aesthetic appeared to take inspiration from Bella's Victorian-era silhouettes while adding a fashionable, modern twist that ensured all eyes were on her. Meanwhile, Margot Robbie was quite literally living in a Barbie world during the film's global press tour this summer. The Australian actress, 33, who played the famous doll, was wearing outfits inspired by or exact replicas of ensembles worn by her character. From a monochrome dress similar to the swimsuit worn by the first-ever Barbie to the doll's 1985 Day to Night looks, Margot put her best Barbiecore fashion foot forward. For her first stop in Beverly Hills, the Oscar-nominated actress wore a modern Barbie look with a pink and white polka dot Valentino minidress. The front part of the halterneck dress was cut out and she completed her look with classic, white Manolo Blahnik heels. It was inspired by the 2015 Pink & Fabulous Barbie doll. Next Margot wore a black-and-white outfit during a trip to Australia, reminiscent of the swimsuit worn by Barbie in 1959. Then on the red carpet at the Barbie premiere in Seoul, South Korea, the actress wore a crystal-embellished ensemble by Versace. Her outfit featured a figure-hugging bodice and frilled skirt, and she completed her look with darker pink crystal Versace handbag and glittering ruby ring. The look was inspired by the 1985 Day to Night edition of Barbie, and at the premiere Margot also changed outfits into a pink blazer and classy hat. Margot's commitment to pink persevered, and the star has become synonymous with her titular role. Halle Bailey, who played Ariel in the live action of The Little Mermaid, chanelled the character through her wadrobe Elsewhere Halle Bailey made sure that it wasn't just her angelic voice audiences remembered in The Little Mermaid - but also her style The American actress, 23, leaned fully into mermaidcore as she promoted the Disney live action movie, where she played lead role Ariel Other ensembles saw her lean into bodice-style fits reminiscent of mermaids, and draped tulle fabrics which channelled a romantic fairytale look Elsewhere Halle Bailey made sure that it wasn't just her angelic voice audiences remembered in The Little Mermaid - but also her style. The American actress, 23, leaned fully into mermaidcore as she promoted the Disney live action movie, where she played lead role Ariel. At the Australian premiere this summer, she opted for a baby blue gown which featured a scalloped, corset style bodice in a satin fabric with glittering embellishments. And for Los Angeles's screening, she donned a spectacular fishtail dress that glistened and sparkled like the scales on marine life. Other ensembles saw her lean into bodice-style fits reminiscent of mermaids, and draped tulle fabrics which channelled a romantic fairytale look. Netflix sensation Wednesday also appeared to hop onto the trend, with Jenna Ortega opting for a glam goth look at the 2023 Met Gala in May. Netflix sensation Wednesday also appeared to hop onto the trend, with Jenna Ortega opting for a glam goth look at the 2023 Met Gala in May The 21-year-old actress who portrays the titular role leaned into the character's dark, gothic aesthetics Meanwhile, at the Los Angeles premiere, she leaned into Morticia Adams' aesthetics with a black lace gown and matching veil Jenna opted for the dark, chic elegance of the Addams Family as she sported a black lace gown for the world premiere of Wednesday Elsewhere the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards saw her stun in a theatrical, dark strapless Versace dress with a fitted bodice The 21-year-old actress who portrays the titular role wore a custom Thom Browne outfit that featured a black lace-up corset and matching schoolgirl bow-tie. This year's theme for the annual fundraiser held at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art was 'Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty' and Jenna's outfit also paid homage to the late designer with its black-and-white look and heavy jewelry that were typically featured in his designs. Jenna's outfit included sheer knee-high black stockings, black-and-white platform brogues and white gloves with exposed tips. Her long black skirt included golden trim and included a long train that flowed behind as she ascended the famous staircase at the annual fundraiser. Meanwhile, at the Los Angeles premiere, she leaned into Morticia Addams' aesthetics with a black lace gown and matching veil. Elsewhere the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards saw her stun in a theatrical, dark strapless Versace dress with a fitted bodice. Fashion Magazine praised Zendaya's team for being among the pioneers of the technique - citing in particular her red carpet looks while promoting Take Spider-Man: No Way Home, which included a spider web pattern emroidered gown and a superhero eye mask. Fashion Magazine praised Zendaya's team for being among the pioneers of the technique - citing in particular her red carpet looks while promoting Take Spider-Man: No Way Home, which included a spider web pattern emroidered gown and a superhero eye mask Zendaya pictured at a premier in Los Angeles, sporting a super hero esque eye mask for the Spider-Man: No Way Home premiere in 2021 Zendaya and Tom Holland pictured during an action-packed scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home The star, 27, has also continued to amp up the trend with her recent ensembles while marketing Dune 2 Last week Zendaya, who plays the warrior Chani in the franchise, wore a piece of fashion history to the event - a Thierry Mugler robot suit from his fall/winter 1995 Couture Collection Zendaya pictured in Dune 2. The star has been for years pioneering the art of 'method dressing' on the red carpet Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya pictured in Dune 2 - with the cast leaning into futuristic ensembles to promote the film The outlet also reported how beyond helping to market the movie, it also helps the actor with 'establish a defining career era in line with each respective project' - and build up a brand. The star, 27, has also continued to amp up the trend with her recent ensembles while marketing Dune 2. Last week Zendaya, who plays the warrior Chani in the franchise, wore a piece of fashion history to the event - a Thierry Mugler robot suit from his fall/winter 1995 Couture Collection. Another recent red star addition saw Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney - who were recently in Madame Web together - attend the world premiere in spider-esque aesthetics Dakota, 34, plays the titular character - a clairvoyant who is able to see into the future - and made a nod to the film's aesthetics and theme in a silver chainmail-style dress reminiscent of the patterns made by the arachnid. Pictured in the film The star plays a teenager being hunted down for being future Spider-Woman. Pictured in the movie The skintight outfit featured a cut out detail across the midriff and legs, complete with silver gloves along with matching knee-high boots. Another recent red star addition saw Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney - who were recently in Madame Web together - attend the world premiere in spider-esque aesthetics. Dakota, 34, plays the titular character - a clairvoyant who is able to see into the future - and made a nod to the film's aesthetics and theme in a silver chainmail-style dress reminiscent of the patterns made by the arachnid. Elsewhere her co-star Sydney, 26, sported a sleeveless form-fitting dress embroidered with web-like black patterns. The star plays a teenager being hunted down for being future Spider-Woman. London's famous BT Tower landmark is set to be transformed into an 'iconic hotel' after the sale of the Grade-II listed building was agreed at 275 million to an American company. The communications tower, which has serves as one of the most memorable marks on London city's skylinewas sold to MCR Hotels. Famous British architecture firm Heatherwick Studio are set to work with MCR to re-imagine the space in the Fitzrovia area of central London. Architecture firm head, Thomas Heatherwick is responsible for some of the most extraodinary and wacky building dotted throughout the globe. As the BT Tower is set for a transformation, FEMAIL takes a look at all the wacky properties Heatherwick Studios has designed. Vessel - New York, United States As famous British architecture firm Heatherwick Studio are set to work with MCR to re-imagine the BT Tower, FEMAIL takes a look at all the wacky properties Heatherwick Studios have designed The Vessel is a 150 foot tall structure that stands in the centre of Hudson Yards Public Square in New York. Imagined by Thomas Heatherwick, the ode mode building boasts 154 flights of stairs - which amounts to an eye-watering 2,500 steps and 80 landings. Inspired by Indian stepwells, the staircases are reminiscent of a climbing frame and are well over a mile long. The structure, which was constructed as part of the Husdon Yards Redevelopment Project in Manhattan, overlooks the famous Hudson River. The unique building was meant to originally carry a price tage of $75 million, however Heatherwick eventually revised its costs to $200 million due to the difficulty that came with constructing the steel pieces. Parts of the Vessel were built in Monfalcone, Italy and then transported in sections to the docks of the Hudson River, Google Bay View - Mountain View, United States Google Bay View campus in Califronai was designed by the famous architect set to redesign the BT Tower and Danish studio BI and is a whopping 1.1 million square feet in size Situated in Mountain View, California, the immense Google Bay View building was built in 2015. The campus, which was designed by the famous architect set to redesign the BT Tower and Danish studio BIG, is a whopping 1.1 million square feet in size. The three domed structures are draped with tent-like roofs which descend towards the floor. All the roof contain 50,000 inward slopping olar panels which have the ability to produce nearly seven megawatts of energy. Inside there are a myriad curtains and transparent walls which follow a squared layout in order to create a community feel. 'The idea of the 'office' has been stuck for a long time,' Heatherwick Studio founder Thomas Heatherwick told Dezeen, 'Yes, people have done different aesthetic treatments. But there hasn't been a fundamental questioning of the workplace at this scale.' 'Our approach has centred on the emotions of individuals and the imaginations of teams and how you create a whole different atmosphere of work.' Learning Hub - Singapore The hive, which has been named the dim sum baskets building, at Nanyang Technological University Only a week after they revealed their ambitious plans for the Google Campus in 2015, Thomas Heatherwick Studios finished one of their biggest projects. The structure draped in greenery is part of the Nanyang Technological University in Singaport. The avant-garde construction, dubbed the 'dim sum basket building due to its likeness to steaming basket, cost a total of $45 million to build. Boasting 12 storeys, the university facility has been built with the public atrium at its heart. The several towers surrounding the atrium draw slope towards the centre nearer to the base. Between the towers are concrete stairs and lift which are adorned with over 700 drawings from British artist Sarah Fanelli. Austin Williams from Architectural Review quipped that there was 'there is much to admire", noting that it also 'gave off something of a forlorn car-park aesthetic'. Bombay Sapphire Distillery - Hampshire, United Kingdom The Bombay Sapphire Distillery commissioned Heatherwick to imagine a new building for their in-house production facility, which eventually came into fruition in 2010 The Bombay Sapphire Distillery commissioned Heatherwick to imagine a new building for their in-house production facility. Previously a water-powered paper mill, the area was originally made up of over 40 abandoned buildings. However, a new breathe of live was given to all of them after Heatherwick Studio's master plan came into fruition in 2010. Included in the studio's plans were the construction of two new glasshouses which were able to house the ten exotic plants used for the distillation of Bombay Sapphire gin. Influenced by Britain's rich history of various glasshouse structures, the architects opted for a building that was fluid in its shape. Aberyswyth Artist Studios - Aberystwyth, United Kingdom The architecture croup won a competition so that they could build the eight low-cost stainless steel units at Aberystwyth University The eight low cost units packed with a silver foil-like exterior can be found in the heart of Wales. The units, designed by Heatherwick and built at Aberyswyth Arts Centre, were intended to be used by art businesses. The architecture croup had won a competition so that they could build the facilities at Aberystwyth University. However, instead of building a single block with several units inside, the design studio decided to construct eight smaller structures in 2009. They opted against a single block as Heatherwick believed it would dilute the wooded landscape of the area. Coated in stainless steel sheets, which are as thin as baking foil, the units are sprayed with insulation so the buildings maintain their shape. East Beach Cafe - Littlehampton, United Kingdom The seafront cafe located in Littlehampton, West Sussex was the first building Heatherwick ever designed The seafront cafe located in Littlehampton, West Sussex is owned by Jane Wood and Sophie Murray. The business owners commissioned Heatherwick to create the iconic building - which was his first ever. Sitting at 130 feet long, the cafe was built so that customers could still enjoy gorgeous sea views whilst visibility from a nearby conservation area remained protected. The strucure, made up from steelworks from Littlehampton Welding Ltd bagged a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 2009. Paperhouse - London, United Kingdom In 2009, Heatherwick was commissioned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to design a range of brass newspaper kiosks dotted throughout London In 2009, Heatherwick went on to design a range of brass newspaper kiosks dotted throughout London. The designer was commissioned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to create the kiosk, binning the common rectangular boxes found on London streets. Made with a steel frame structure and adorned with wood coated in patinated brass, the kiosk had rotating sections which permitted sellers to put their stock on display more efficiently. The unusual kiosk were kitted with windows and lights, allowing for light throughout the day. UK Pavilion - Shanghai, China The UK Pavilion in China, also known as the Seed Cathedral, is coasted in over 60,000 fibre optic roads with a plant seed at the tip of every single one In May 2010, one of Heatherwick's most bizarre constructions was made available to the public. The UK Pavilion, also known as the Seed Cathedral, is coasted in over 60,000 fibre optic roads with a plant seed at the tip of every single one. While 60,000 rods may seem excessive, their fibre optic technology brings light into the building during the day and emit it outwards when it becomes dark. The exposition was eventually taken apart, with some of the rods given to schools throughout China as well as botanical institutions in both China and the UK. The majority were sold at auction on the Chinese online shopping platform, Tabao, accumulating 2.63 million yuan for the Shanghai Cerecare - a non profit organisation which helps children with brain paralysis. Azabudai Hills - Tokyo, Japan The buildings designed by Heatherwick, consisted of three skyscrapers including the Azabudai Hills Mori JP, which was the city's tallest building when it was completed in 2023 Also known as the Toronamon-Azabudai District, the Azabudai Hills are an amalgamation of three skyscapers in the heart of Tokyo. The buildings designed by Heatherwick, consisted of the Azabudai Hills Mori JP, which was the city's tallest building when it was completed in 2023, measuring at over a thousand feet tall. The additional two building in the collection were named Azabudai Hills Residence A and B and both stand at 778 and 862 feet respectively. The area sprinkled with greenery throughout contains retailers, restaurants, a school, art galleries, two temples and offices. It also boasts a public green space of 258 square feet. Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson, 18, left her family in shock after declaring that she won't go to college unless her boyfriend can go with her. In the trailer for the upcoming episode of Mama June: Family Crisis, June's daughter Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon informed aunt Jo 'Doe Doe' Shannon about Alana's indecision over attending college in Colorado in the fall. Alana is on the fence as her boyfriend of three years, 22-year-old Dralin Carswell, may not be able to join her as she embarks on a nursing degree at Regis University owing to his alleged DUI. Lauryn revealed that Alana received an email warning her that 'she had a week to decide if she's going to go or not,' and she added concerningly: 'If she chooses not to answer within a week, the scholarship can be gone.' Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson shocked her family after she revealed that she won't go to college unless her boyfriend can go with her Alana's sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon broke the news to her aunt, Jo 'Doe Doe' Shannon in a new trailer for their show Mama June: Family Crisis Lauryn told Jo (pictured) that Alana received an email warning her that 'she had a week to decide if she's going to go or not' 'So now I have to figure out about Dralin and s***,' she said, to which Jo replied: 'Who cares about Dralin's stuff. I'm sorry, I like the dude, but this is her future.' Lauryn commented: 'But let's be real, Alana's not going to go out there, unless he can go out there.' Jo shared in her confessional: 'Alana not going to college because of Dralin - I don't think so. 'She don't need to follow in her mama's footsteps. I mean, that's all June used to do. Well, and still does. Men before anything else. 'She cannot follow her mother's footsteps, who followed our mother's footsteps. Let's break the cycle. Stop following the man. Do it on your own.' The scene transitioned back to the restaurant as Jo asked Lauryn: 'So how the f*** do we get Alana to Colorado in a week?' Lauryn said: 'I am trying so hard. I just don't know what to do about Dralin and stuff.' The aunt replied firmly: 'Put his a** in a car and go to an attorney or the bail bond or the court or whoever you got to go to and figure something out.' Alana is on the fence as her boyfriend of three years, Dralin Carswell, may not being able to join her owing to his alleged DUI. Pictured Lauryn Jo shared in her confessional: 'Alana not going to college because of Dralin - I don't think so. She don't need to follow in her mama's footsteps. I mean, that's all June used to do' The scene transitioned back to the restaurant as Jo asked Lauryn: 'So how the f*** do we get Alana to Colorado in a week?' Alana's sister said: 'I am trying so hard' Lauryn asked: 'What if Alana doesn't want me to get involved?' The aunt responded: 'Who cares? She'll get over it when she's working in a field that's her passion, making bank. She'll be grateful. Oh my God, thank you for doing that.' Lauryn confessed: 'Well it's hard being everybody's f***ing mama,' with Jo saying: 'Tell me about it. Done that, been there.' Alana graduated high school in May and she was the second person in her family to get accepted into college and is hoping to pursue nursing. Dralin allegedly drove under the influence and participated in a high-speed car chase with cops last February. He spent two days in Monroe County jail before being released on a $25,000 bond. In October, a court clerk confirmed to The Sun that Dralin had pleaded not guilty to four charges after being arraigned. A father of conjoined twins has emotionally opened up about the 'huge privilege and blessing' of witnessing a 'constant battle for life' in his inspirational seven-year-old daughters every day. Ibrahima Ndiaye candidly opened up about being a father to Marieme and Ndeye, who he brought to the UK from Senegal in 2017 when they were seven-months-old, to seek help from doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. The twins have separate brains, hearts and lungs but share a liver, bladder, digestive system, and three kidneys. Doctors had predicted they wouldn't survive more than a few days after their birth. Speaking to BBC's new Inseparable Sisters documentary, he basked in the joy of his children defying all odds as they filmed the girls celebrating their seventh birthday, and told the programme about the challenges his family has faced. 'To have conjoined twins as a parent you have something that you didn't expect,' he said. A father of conjoined twins has emotionally opened up about the 'huge privilege and blessing' of witnessing a 'constant battle for life' in his inspirational seven-year-old daughters every day 'Something that you never imagined. I would not pretend that it is easy. It is not. But it's a huge privilege, a huge blessing. 'You feel lucky to witness this constant battle for life.' Ibrahima admitted he was shocked when hospital staff told him that he was going to be a father to conjoined twins - as he had only been expecting one baby. 'I read about conjoined twins. But it's just for other people. Not for you. This is not going to happen to you,' he said. 'You're completely knocked down.' His world was thrown into orbit when he was told that his new babies likely wouldn't make it more than a few days. 'I was preparing myself just to lose them very quickly,' he revealed. 'The only thing that we could do is just to be beside them and not to let them walk alone through this journey. 'The two weeks passed, the four weeks passed. We started building hope and then we could sort of see very clearly that we're going to deal with warriors. They hung onto life.' Marieme and Ndeye were born in Senegal in 2016, where doctors believed their best chance of survival was separation. Ibrahima Ndiaye candidly opened up about being a father to Marieme and Ndeye, who he brought to the UK from Senegal in 2017 when they were seven-months-old, to seek help from doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London Speaking to BBC 's new Inseparable Sisters documentary, he basked in the joy of his children defying all odds as they filmed the girls celebrating their seventh birthday, and told the programme about the challenges his family has faced The family contacted hospitals around the world - including in in Belgium, Germany, Zimbabwe, Norway, Sweden, and America - 'begging' for help, before opting to bring the twins to London. Ibrahima had hoped that doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London would be able to separate the girls and that they would be able to return to their brothers and sisters in Senegal. But tests determined that Marieme's heart was too weak for the surgery and doctors predicted she would not survive the operation. Officials at the hospital helped Ibrahima deliberate on the options and it was ultimately decided not to separate the girls. Opening up about the impossible position he was put in, the father said: 'At this point its just killing one of my children for another. It's just something I can't do. I can't allow myself to choose who will live, who will die. 'I never expected one. So I had one, two three. It's showing whatever the complexity of your task, you can make it.' Officials at the hospital helped Ibrahima deliberate on the options and it was ultimately decided not to separate the girls Ibrahima and his daughters have been given discretionary leave to remain in the UK so that they could continue to receive medical treatment in Britain. They now live in Cardiff. The twins' mother returned to Senegal and cares for their siblings. Their father revealed in the programme that he has embraced his 'parental responsibility' to ensure that the girls 'will have somebody who will be here for them'. 'When you are told since the beginning there is no future you live for the present,' he added. 'I'm completely immersed in this journey.' An emotional ending to the programme saw Ibrahima gratefully address the hospital and school staff who have supported him and his daughters on their journey. 'You have been fighting for these girls, I witness it everyday,' he said. An emotional ending to the programme saw Ibrahima gratefully address the hospital and school staff who have supported him and his daughters on their journey 'You are making life easier for me every single moment... Thank you so much for everything.' He also told the documentary that him and his daughters are 'lucky to be a part of this community' and 'couldn't expect better'. 'This is showing you how resilient they are,' he added. They have achieved things that nobody ever thought they would and they're proving everybody wrong. 'Where it comes from, I don't know... They're bringing me such joy that I would never find anywhere. 'It's a huge blessing to be their dad.' Ibrahima concluded by urging parents who may find themselves in a similar situation as him to 'never give up' - and to 'celebrate life'. A mother of twins has claimed everyone is 'jealous' of her toddlers after they were cuddled by One Day heartthrob Leo Woodall in the new Netflix series. Holly Kinsey, 25, from Brackley in Northamptonshire, was over the moon when she was told Willow and Sienna had been chosen to feature in the series adaptation of her 'favourite' book. After sending measurements of the seven-month tots to the production team for costumes, the pair travelled down to London with Holly in December 2022 to start filming. The nursery practitioner's twins filmed on set for five days in a three-storey house in Battersea, both appearing as Jasmine, the daughter of Dexter Mayhew, played by Leo Woodall. In one scene, Sienna was asleep and was cradled by Leo. Holly said that while many people have gushed over the 'adorable' clip, others have gone as far as to say they were envious of the twins being held by Netflix's newest heartthob. Holly Kinsey is mother to Sienna and Willow (pictured together), who play baby Jasmine in Netflix's One Day series Jasmine is the daughter of leading man Dexter Mayhew, played by heartthob Leo Woodall (pictured in the show) Holly said: 'The reason I created my TikTok is because there was a gif of Leo holding Sienna asleep [from the series] trending on Twitter. 'The reactions online have been lovely and I'm quite jealous that the girls have been held by Leo.' She added on her TikTok account: 'He was absolutely amazing with them.' One Day tells the touching story of the relationship between Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter, by showing viewers the same day - July 15 - in their lives every year. It is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by David Nicholls and has surpassed over 15 million views since its release on February 8. After meeting on the last day of Edinburgh University in 1988, Emma and Dexter go on to experience a friendship filled with pining and misunderstandings over the following years. Willow and Sienna, now nearly two, featured in episode 11 of the 14-part series and Holly says their newfound stardom has only been met with positivity online. They both play Jasmine, the daughter of Leo and Sylvie, played by Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson. The adorable twins have only been met with positivity online after Holly set up a TikTok account Jasmine is the daughter of Dexter and Sylvie (Eleanor Tomlinson, pictured right) in the hit show Holly said that while most people have gushed over the 'adorable scene', others have even been jealous of the babies for cuddling with Leo (pictured) Holly said her family struggles to tell which twin is which after watching the series back She said that Leo was 'amazing' with the babies and was sad to see them go at the end of filming Because they are identical, the team could film the twins for longer hours as they could be swapped out if they started to cry Describing the exciting day itself, she said: 'On the day of filming a chaperone picked me and the girls up and took us to the London location for filming. In the sleeping scene, the twins are actually asleep. 'The director followed the girls' sleeping schedules to get these candid shots and Sienna was asleep. 'Leo said the girls were so cute. he was so lovely and so natural with the girls. 'When the girls were leaving the set after filming Leo came and waved them goodbye and was sad to see them go.' Holly said that identical twins are highly sought after for acting roles because it means they can film scenes for longer, and swap the twins out if they begin to cry. She added: 'The filming days were quite long but the girls loved it. 'When the twins were filming the feeding scene in the highchair I was literally jumping up and down behind the camera to try and make them laugh. I am so proud of them and I'm so proud of the series.' 'I am so glad how much the series has blown up and watching them shoot the scenes, especially the baby sleeping scene, was amazing.' One Day's Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter are locked in a will they, won't they relationship that spans two decades The twins filmed the scenes when they were seven months old and are now nearly two (pictured as newborns in April 2022) 25-year-old Holly, from Northamptonshire, had signed her twins up to a talent agency Fans on TikTok even said they wanted Leo to 'hold me like I'm Willow/Sienna' Holly says 'One Day' is her favourite book and thinks the Netflix series adaptation of it is much better than the 2011 film version featuring Anne Hathaway. Since the series aired in February this year, she has watched it twice through and says she watched the episode that her children feature in first. Holly said: 'One day is actually my favourite book of all time and my mum gave it to me to read. I have also seen the film with Anne Hathaway in so when the girls got asked to be part of the series I was so happy. 'In my opinion the series is a lot better than the film because I think the series is able to capture more and relate more to the book.' The twins also featured in the Christmas Special of the BBC show Motherland in 2022 but Holly says this is their biggest broadcast appearance to date. The mother-of-two said when watching the series back, she can tell which twin is in each scene but her family struggle to tell the difference. Behind the scenes: Holly's daughter Sienna aged seven months wearing the outfit she wore in the show Holly found it difficult to wait between filming in December 2022 and the series' release in January 2024 Since posting a video of the twins in One Day on TikTok, the post has racked up more than 600,000 views and 59,000 likes. One user said: 'The scene of her sleeping while he holds her. They are so gorgeous.' Another added: 'Oh to be a sleeping baby having Leo Woodall caress your face with his nose.' A third commented: 'They're so beautiful. I loved One Day and seeing that scene with Dex and Jasmine absolutely melted me.' A fourth said: 'I want Leo Woodall to hold me like I'm Willow or Sienna.' A waitress worked tirelessly for three months to fund a European tour - which was funded solely on her tips. Hannah Davis, 22, from Lexington Park, Maryland, saved nearly $4,000 in tips and spent all of it on a solo vacation around Europe. The travel enthusiast worked the longest shifts possible, to make her dream a reality - and thanks to her hard work, she managed to visit six countries in Europe. She began her European tour in Greece, before heading to Austria, Italy, Malta, Cyprus and finally, Spain. To keep all of her tips tucked away, Hannah kept them all in a glass jar, sometimes adding hundreds of dollars worth of tips at a time. Hannah Davis, 22, from Lexington Park, Maryland , worked tirelessly for three months to fund a European tour - which was funded solely on her tips Then, after the jar filled up, Hannah took her trusty hammer to the container and smashed her way through to the cash. Hannah said: 'It took me three months of saving to make the trip possible. I worked full-time and saved almost everything I made for the vacation. 'I worked 12-hour shifts from Wednesday to Sundays for the entirety of the summer, and I made sure that I wasn't spending money on anything besides necessities.' Hannah had always wanted to visit Europe and she decided that it was time to bite the bullet and put everything into making her dream turn into reality. Over the next few months, the waitress spent hours on end working at her seafood restaurant, sacrificing many nights out with her friends. To her surprise, she had stashed over $3,800 from her hard work which easily covered her flights to and from Europe, which cost $750 in total. She was ecstatic about her trip and could not wait to get started - and she had around $3,000 left to spend - just from tips alone. During her trip, Hannah managed to keep to a strict budget, by staying in cheap hostels, cooking her own food and sticking to buses instead of trains. Hannah managed to save nearly $4,000 in tips and spent all of it on a vacation around Europe alone She began her European tour in Greece , before heading to Austria, Italy , Malta, Cyprus and finally, Spain (pictured in Austria) After the jar filled up, Hannah took her trusty hammer to the container and smashed her way through to the cash However, despite keeping to a tight budget, Hannah had buckets of fun on her vacation, with plenty of sightseeing, sunbathing and new friends. Hannah's TikToks about the 'tip jar' and her European tour gathered millions of views and she aims to show people that you do not have to be rich to travel the world. Now, she has already started saving for another trip around Europe with a brand new tip jar. She said: 'I had been planning on travelling post-college graduation for quite some time but it wasn't until I started saving, that I realised I needed to be able to visualise my progress. 'I decided to find a piggy bank that was see-through, but completely unopenable so that I wouldn't be able to take any money out. It was a way to keep me on track. To keep all of her tips tucked away, Hannah kept them all in a glass jar, sometimes adding hundreds of dollars worth of tips at a time To her surprise, she had stashed over $3,800 from her hard work which easily covered her flights to and from Europe, which cost $750 in total During her trip, Hannah managed to keep to a strict budget, by staying in cheap hostels, cooking her own food and sticking to buses instead of trains Hannah's trip was done on a budget, she stayed in hostels, took buses rather than flying and cooked meals in hostels Despite keeping a tight purse, Hannah had buckets of fun on her vacation, with plenty of sightseeing, sunbathing and new friends Now, Hannah has already started saving for another trip around Europe with a brand new tip jar 'I made sure that I wasn't spending money on anything besides necessities. I stopped going out to eat with friends, wouldn't spend money at the bars, and limited all shopping unless I absolutely needed something. 'Every single moment of my trip is cherished, I spent my whole life dreaming of travelling and to be able to work towards this dream, and succeed, was so special to me. I had the time of my life, and I hope to go on another big trip as soon as possible. 'The trip was spent sightseeing, chasing the sunshine and sea, making connections with people from all over the world, and having experiences that have changed my life. It was absolutely worth all of the work. 'This trip was done on a budget, I stayed in hostels, took buses rather than flying, cooked meals in hostels at times, and overall made it as budget friendly as I could. 'I used to think travelling, especially big trips like mine, was an impossible dream, and that it was only possible for rich people. While money is necessary for big trips like this, it is entirely possible for anyone to do it if they work towards their dreams.' On the first day of Ellen Harding's new job as office manager at a swanky Manchester stockbrokers, she was welcomed with open arms. On paper, Ellen would be an asset anywhere. A former Royal Navy officer, who had launched and run her own successful designer handbag company, she even had a master's degree in staff administration. Yet the bullying began, she claims, after just a week in the job. Her colleagues joked about the fan she put on her desk to keep herself cool. The young female boss ticked her off publicly for wearing trousers, instead of a dress. Worst of all, she found a cruel post-it note - which she took a picture of, and still has - stuck on the counter in the office kitchen saying she had a 'sweaty face'. The note named her and, Ellen believes, had been deliberately put there by her boss. The insult cut deep. In her late 40s, Ellen had hit the menopause early and was suffering from constant hot flushes, a swollen stomach, and other debilitating symptoms that hit women when hormone levels fall at the end of their fertile years. 'One of the cruellest things was when the female boss told me that my face was always red from the flushes and she didn't want me to be seen in that state by important clients who came into the office,' she says. 'When I wore trousers to hide my bloated stomach and other awkward menopausal issues, I was in trouble, too.' An increasing number of women are sharing their experiences of sex discrimination and unfair dismissal in the workplace - including Ellen Harding (pictured), who hit the menopause in her late 40s and was bullied for six months in her job Now 53, divorcee Ellen, a mother of two teenagers, is the successful editor of an online magazine, specialising in women's health and wellbeing, and works from her home in the Yorkshire countryside. But she will never forget the humiliation she suffered in that job in Manchester. 'I put up with the bullying for six months. At the time, I found it hard to fight back. I was always tired and completely lost confidence in myself because of the menopause.' Ellen is not the only menopausal woman who has faced workplace hostility. Growing numbers are taking their employers to court claiming that they've lost their jobs as a result of the menopause. It's been announced this week that employers could be sued for disability discrimination if they fail to make 'reasonable adjustments' for women going through menopause under new guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Symptoms can include hot flushes, brain fog and difficulty sleeping. Employment lawyers say women are increasingly feeling empowered to challenge employers who ignore or fail to understand the devastating impact of the condition on their female workforce. Deborah (pictured) has collaborated with Government ministers to set up an accreditation programme to help employers with training and education about menopause Women aged 50 to 64 are today the fastest growing economically-active group in Britain (later state pension ages and longer life expectancy means we're all having to work longer), yet recent research found we could be losing 14 million work days a year as a consequence of menopause problems. For a significant number, it goes further even than missed days. A shocking one in four women who experience symptoms consider leaving their job altogether - and many do go on to quit - resulting in a huge loss of knowledge, experience and talent. Take the alarming case of 56-year-old Sarah Janner, a married mother of one from Lincolnshire who was fired from her job after 19 years and fought back at an employment tribunal in 2020. She was sacked for gross misconduct by a housing association where she was a welfare officer. The reason? Her bosses accused her of getting behind in her work, filing reports late, not turning up on time, and going to unauthorised medical appointments. When Sarah challenged her dismissal at a tribunal, she stood in front of a male, middle-aged judge, and told him her menopause symptoms had suddenly made it hard to stay on top of things. 'I laid it on the line to him,' she says. 'I said I had been suffering from constant hot flushes, fatigue, brain fog, heavy periods lasting for days, heart palpitations and exhaustion. 'I had lost over two stone in weight and, at just over eight stone, my clothes were falling off me. I had a lack of confidence because I didn't know what my menopausal body was going to throw at me next. 'I was going home after work and was putting myself to bed at 7.30 in the evening fully clothed because I was so exhausted. It was half an hour before the bedtime of my ten-year-old daughter who would have to be looked after by my husband.' To Sarah's dismay, the judge took little notice. He took less than a day to throw her case out. She says he treated her as though she had had a 'touch of the vapours' or was an over-hysterical woman 'making it up'. She adds: 'I think he thought it was sour grapes on my part because I had been sacked. He kept asking, in a mystified way, why I felt I had been let down at work when I was an intelligent person. He seemed to think if I couldn't do my job properly, I deserved to lose it.' Sarah - whose name we have changed - was suddenly without a career and has not worked since. She is embarrassed to tell some family and friends that it was the menopause which cost her the job she loved. 'I just say, I gave it up because I'd had enough,' she explains now. Sarah had been to the doctor about her symptoms, but the GP said: 'It is just part of being a woman, things begin to slow down when you get older.' She told him that with years of her active life ahead, she didn't want to slow down. HRT was not discussed. 'Lots of women are going through the same as me,' she adds today. 'They could be your wife, sister, mother or daughter.' Her solicitor Adam Pavey, a leading employment lawyer at Pannone Solicitors, agrees: 'There are lots of Sarahs out there who hit the menopause and then unwillingly lose, or choose to leave their jobs. It is not uncommon for women to leave employment at mid-life, or to be wrongly dismissed because of 'poor performance'. 'The organisation Sarah worked for didn't understand the menopause. I don't think this is an exclusive issue of male bosses not realising the impact of the menopause; many younger female bosses don't either.' While pregnancy is a protected characteristic by itself under UK equality law, the menopause is not. Adam thinks this is wrong: although it doesn't affect all women in such a way as to impact on their ability to work, when so many women do suffer such wide-ranging effects, the menopause should surely come under sex discrimination law. MPs are looking into it. In 2021, a parliamentary inquiry was launched into the workplace treatment of menopausal women, to examine if current sex equality laws go far enough. Indeed, the House of Commons' Women and Equalities Committee says one million UK women, many in their late 40s and early 50s and at the peak of their careers, have left their jobs because of the menopause. 'Three in five women are negatively affected at work as a result of this,' says committee chair Caroline Nokes MP. 'Excluding menopausal women from the workplace is detrimental to our economy, our society, and our place on the world stage. 'Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of UK women are currently going through this process, which can be both physically and mentally draining, it is ignored in law. 'This huge issue has been left near-invisible for far too long.' Several high-profile women have begun to speak out, however. TV presenter and menopause campaigner Davina McCall credits HRT for saving her career. 'I definitely would not have been able to continue working had I not gone on HRT,' she's said. 'Women are on the verge of losing their jobs or leaving their jobs because they can't cope with it. I would love to encourage any big business to have a menopause nurse on hand because that's what women seem absolutely desperate for.' Some businesses are already acting. HSBC, First Direct and M&S Bank signed up to a new 'Menopause Friendly Accreditation' which recognises companies willing to build awareness around the menopause. The programme is the brain child of Deborah Garlick, 56, who gave up her high-powered job at Boots 11 years ago when menopausal symptoms left her struggling to cope. Deborah Garlick, 56 (pictured) gave up her high-powered job at Boots 11 years ago when menopausal symptoms left her struggling to cope 'I loved my job, but every day was a battle and I had no idea what was happening to me. Menopause was such a taboo subject back then, I felt I had to leave before I damaged my reputation.' She set up an online community for midlife women called Henpicked, and collaborated with Government ministers to set up an accreditation programme to help employers with training and education about menopause. 'It is all about encouraging an environment where employees can talk openly about menopause, without fear of being stigmatised. The aim is to make menopause a normal subject - just like pregnancy - which you can openly discuss with your manager or HR department.' Deborah's team set up Menopause In The Workplace and they have now worked with 2,000 businesses, many of which have established 'menopause champions' to raise awareness. Clearly, if someone isn't doing their job properly, employers can't turn a blind eye. But Deborah's work shows how a sympathetic ear and understanding the impact menopause can have at work, can go a long way to solving problems. Lawyer Adam Pavey says far fewer grievance cases would come to court if employers were more sympathetic about the menopause, and had the knowledge and resources to step in before things spiralled out of control. Sarah agrees that for her, a supportive line of communication could have saved her job. 'I'd had an unblemished service record for more than 18 years, yet when I asked for help I was treated so badly it only exacerbated my stress levels. I wasn't expecting any special treatment, or special allowances - just a little bit of understanding and support,' she says. There is hope the lifting of taboos and a growing understanding of the complex nature of menopause symptoms will encourage more employers to seek training and guidance. It's a sea change that business analyst Tracy Wills, 53, wholeheartedly welcomes. She said of her horrifying experience of being in a conference with eight senior colleagues when menopausal 'brain fog' set in. She was meant to be introducing everybody. 'I got to one man I worked with every day and couldn't remember his name. Then I forgot the names of two others.' Add to this her sudden misplacing of passwords and clumsiness. 'People kept asking if I was drunk,' she adds. But when she tried to explain it all to her line manager, he looked at her as if she was 'an alien'. 'My confidence was so low. I was exhausted. I didn't have the energy to keep my "game face" on.' Quitting her job at 49, she took a year-long 'menopause break' before looking for a new company, eventually discovering a pioneering finance company, which had a menopause policy in line with the Menopause In The Workplace directives. 'I was very open about the fact my career break had been due to menopause symptoms and the woman who hired me said I was being offered the job on the strength of those experiences,' she said. Precisely the sort of enlightened attitude, say a growing band of menopause-at-work campaigners, from which many other companies could learn. This article, part of the Femail Classics series, was originally published on September 12, 2021 He has been called everything from 'babygirl' to 'the pride of Ireland' on the internet. But it would appear Barry Keoghan - who became social media's favourite after a daring portrayal of obsessive, eerie Oxford student Oliver opposite fellow crowd-pleaser Jacon Elordi - is now falling out of favour with his fans. People on X admit that the star has been oversaturating their feeds, following two barely-clothed photoshoots within the space of a week and consistent content from fans. The actor, 31, has been the subject of TikTok edits, YouTube video explainers and countless Instagram posts revelling in his acting skills and good looks. But recent weeks have seen a fatigue set over the amount of Barry footage and discourse being pushed out by 'stans' and media outlets alike. Barry most recently stripped naked for Vanity Fair's star-studded Hollywood issue this week as he paid homage to his performance in Saltburn People have begged others to stop constantly putting out content about the Irish star online, with some claiming they've seen his 'naked body more than they see their own family'. Barry's penchant for stripping down to near nothing in photoshoots has itself been a subject of discussion after Saltburn's shocking final scene saw his character Oliver dancing naked around the titular estate to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder On The Dancefloor, having gained ownership of the Catton family fortune. The film's release last year inspired a slew of memes, video trends and a resurgence of Sophie's pop hit. And this week, Barry got naked for Vanity Fair's star-studded Hollywood issue as he paid homage to the performance. Speaking to the outlet about the public's perception to it, Barry admitted he is not too phased by being nude. However, he felt it could be 'detrimental to the mind and your mental state if you read into it too much or you look at too much stuff being said'. 'But I wouldn't go there if I wasn't prepared for that, or if I wasn't open to receiving what people want to say. I think it shows an act of maturity in your craft, and if it justifies the story and moves it forward, why not,' he continued. The film's release last year inspired a slew of memes, video trends and a resurgence of Sophie's pop hit Just last week, the star also stripped down to his underwear for steamy Valentine's day shoot with dating app Bumble 'You look at European cinema and they tend to have a lot of scenes that involve nudity, and it's not a massive thing, really. But I think it's true art. It really is. And it's true vulnerability as well.' However, while feedback to his bare form has oft been enthusiastic, some have begun expressing concerns that the actor is being objectified or have shared that they simply 'had ENOUGH naked Barry Keoghan on their timeline'. 'He got naked once had hasn't put on his clothes ever since,' one said. 'Nah actually free Barry Keoghan, it's enough now,' another added. Elsewhere a third wrote: 'I'd be so mad if everyone was like "it's funny when you take your clothes off, small man! do it again!!" afford him some dignity.' Other posts on X have also expressed that there is simply too much Barry content being pushed out on social media. Pictured promoting Masters of the Air with Callum Turner and Austin Butler Barry's acting career began in 2011 when he applied for a role in Between the Canals - an Irish film following the life of three hardened criminals. Pictured this year with Callum Turner and Austin Butler One poster also remarked that he is a brilliant actor but 'the way the media has reduced his performance to shock nudity is so childish'. Another comment said: 'Barry I'm so sorry they keep making you act like a little freak.' Just last week, the star also stripped down to his underwear for a steamy Valentine's day shoot with dating app Bumble. Donning only a tiny pair of white underwear, the post simply read 'Happy Valentine's Day' as he captioned the snap: 'From us to you @bumble'. In another snap the star donned an open blue linen shirt and jeans as he leant against a pool table with a sultry look on his face. The posts only racked up more comments referencing Barry's character's lewd acts in Saltburn as others wrote that they were 'pregnant' after seeing the post. However, while feedback to his bare form has oft been enthusiastic, some have begun expressing concerns that the actor is being objectified or have shared that they simply 'had ENOUGH naked Barry Keoghan on their timeline' Other posts on X have also expressed that there is simply too much Barry content being pushed out on social media. One expressed that they would be 'trying to get through the day' but find themselves flooded with memes and edits. Another penned: 'I liked twitter a lot better when Barry Keoghan was my secret weird little guy now everyone is tweeting their opinions on him like shut UP omg... 'Saltburn you will pay for what you've done.' Barry's acting career began in 2011 when he applied for a role in Between the Canals - an Irish film following the life of three hardened criminals. One expressed that they would be 'trying to get through the day' but find themselves flooded with memes and edits He then went on to study acting at The Factory in Dublin before appearing in the Irish soap Fair City at the age of 18. His major breakthrough came when he landed a role in the second world war film Dunkirk in 2017 where he portrayed the character George Mills. Speaking to GQ about audiences seeing him in a different light in Saltburn, he said: 'It's nice, man. It's nice not just being looked at as the weird-looking guy, the unique f*****g freaky little freak man-child, freak child-man, whatever you want to call it.' He continued: 'My prettiness didn't get me this far,' but admitted he realises being someone audiences want to look at 'opens up other lanes for me it's part of the leading man thing'. He added: 'Little freak child-man era, as we call it. And now I'm just Man. Freak-Man. Man-Freak.' The Queen has praised cancer specialists for their efforts amid her husband's battle with the disease - as universities and colleges were honoured with a prestigious award at Buckingham Palace today. Camilla, 76, and the Duchess of Gloucester, 77, hosted the presentation ceremony for the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education, the day after the King, 75, was pictured meeting the Prime Minister face-to-face. Centres of learning from across the UK were recognised with awards, including the Institute of Cancer Research in London for its pioneering work on breast cancer. Thanking its winning team, Camilla said: 'What would we do without you?' The Queen donned an elegant green frock for the awards ceremony in the British capital, which is held once every two years. In 2020, the royal supported the King, then the Prince of Wales, at the occasion. But this time around, the Queen led the show, with the Duchess of Gloucester, dressed in a sophisticated blue ensemble, by her side. Queen Camilla (pictured left), 76, and the Duchess of Gloucester (right), 77, hosted the presentation ceremony for the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education, the day after the King, 75, was pictured meeting the Prime Minister face-to-face Centres of learning from across the UK were recognised with awards, including the Institute of Cancer Research in London for its pioneering work on breast cancer. Thanking its winning team (pictured right), Camilla said: 'What would we do without you?' It comes after the King met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak face-to-face at Buckingham Palace yesterday for the first time since the monarch's cancer diagnosis It comes after the King met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak face-to-face at Buckingham Palace yesterday for the first time since the monarch's cancer diagnosis. Charles revealed he has been reduced to tears by the messages and cards of support he has received since his cancer diagnosis, with Mr Sunak telling him the 'country is behind you'. After the award ceremony, the Queen was affectionately dubbed a 'local girl' by Plumpton College, a wine industry training institution that has a long association with Camilla, who grew up near to it in Sussex. Her father, Major Bruce Shand, was a wine merchant and passed on his love of the grape to his daughter, known to favour a glass of red. They lived in Plumpton village and Camilla went to school in nearby Ditchling. Jeremy Kerswell, Plumpton College principal and chief executive, received a Queen's Anniversary Prize on behalf of his institution which has trained many of the nation's wine industry experts for decades. He said: 'It means so much, our award was in recognition of all the work the college has done over a number of years which has impacted the growth and success of the wine industry. 'When I got up onto the stage she said 'I am so pleased to see Plumpton here', and she talked about wanting to come and visit and see the college and did make the point 'your wine is also very good, isn't it?' Queen Camilla meets members of Plumpton College, after presenting the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education Camilla presents the Queen's Anniversary Prize to representatives from Loughborough College The Queen donned an elegant green frock for the awards ceremony in London, which is held once every two years The Queen led the show, with the Duchess of Gloucester, dressed in a sophisticated blue ensemble, by her side The awards recognise excellence, innovation and well-evidenced benefits for education, the economy and the wider world and this year's recipients ranged from the University of Glasgow's Centre for Robert Burns Studies to Loughborough College's world-class space engineering programme. Pictured right, representatives from the University of Liverpool 'She is also the patron of our charity because she is a local girl - Plumpton College Charitable Foundation. 'It's our centenary in two years, so I did just say 'why don't you visit next year and bring your hubby for our centenary'? and she said 'I'll definitely go back to the diary'.' The awards recognise excellence, innovation and well-evidenced benefits for education, the economy and the wider world and this year's recipients ranged from the University of Glasgow's Centre for Robert Burns Studies to Loughborough College's world-class space engineering programme. This year's winners will each nominate two colleagues to join a working party tasked with tackling the 'Coronation Challenge', a year-long initiative focused on using emerging technologies and the creative industries to 'turbo charge' innovation. The group's recommendations will be sent to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and it is hoped the government of the day will implement them. After the award ceremony, the Queen was affectionately dubbed a 'local girl' by Plumpton College, a wine industry training institution that has a long association with Camilla, who grew up near to it in Sussex. Pictured left, members of Plumpton College In 2020, the Queen (pictured today) supported the King, then the Prince of Wales, at the occasion Humans are tribal. We want to be part of something larger than ourselves. Yet although we have highly evolved language skills, we don't always communicate very well. Today, as Mercury (communication) moves into Pisces, it's our ability to listen that enables deeper connections. And the weekend's Full Moon suggests that if we dare to show vulnerability, we can gain support and cooperation. Read more horoscopes from MailOnline. ARIES March 21 - April 20 Some people seem to get away with all sorts of transgressions. They don't play by the rules. They push boundaries like they're made of elastic, and don't seem to suffer from any consequences. Other folk find themselves being pulled up for the most minor of offences. What's that about? Is it all down to luck? In a way it is. Yet natural justice has a strange way of working. No one can escape their own conscience. In the end, everything catches up with everyone. This weekend brings satisfying reparations in your world. Be ready for a special time! The Full Moon brings exciting opportunities. Visit cainer.com/dm Oscar Cainer (pictured) tells us that today, as Mercury (communication) moves into Pisces, it's our ability to listen that enables deeper connections TAURUS April 21 - May 21 When construction work is taking place in a busy town, signs are put up to explain the temporary traffic diversions. We adapt to the change of route. When the project finishes, and the road system goes back to normal, it's pleasing not to have to go the long way round anymore. We appreciate the shorter journey time. You've been in the process of restructuring part of your world. You've got used to putting up with inconveniences. The weekend brings a turning point. From here on in, things will go more smoothly. The Full Moon highlights dynamic changes. Your future has huge potential. Visit cainer.com/dmfree GEMINI May 22 - June 22 In an ideal world, we'd all cook with fine ingredients and hang out with our favourite friends. To have high standards isn't egotistical; it's a sign of self-respect. The opposite is neither satisfying (or healthy). No one wants to eat bad food or invest time with people they don't really want to be with. The standards you've set for yourself are important. They represent your sense of self-worth. If you find yourself in a position where someone wants you to lower them this weekend, resist. If you hold out for the best, you'll get it. Wonderful opportunities arise as the Full Moon energises your life. Visit cainer.com/dmfree CANCER June 23 - July 23 Where are your competitors doing? Are they working together and planning your downfall? Do they actually exist? Or could your adversaries be figments of your imagination? Just because things haven't gone exactly to plan doesn't mean people are conspiring against you. This weekend, with the Moon ruling the skies, it becomes clear that quite the opposite is happening. Someone you suspected of working against you is revealed in a different light. You've got more in common than you thought. It's teamwork time. This week brings a powerful Full Moon. To create the change you wish for, visit cainer.com/dm LEO July 24 - August 23 What's stopping you from having a brighter, better lifestyle? Is someone or something standing in your way? There's a very good chance that the only obstacle between you and how you'd like things to be is your own mindset. You're fixed on a specific outcome that's proving challenging to fulfil. Yet there's another option. And it could well turn out to be just as pleasing - and possibly even better. The Full Moon brings the perceptivity to assess your current goal. With a slight modification, you'll start moving forwards, fast. How will the Full Moon transform your life? There's inspiring news when you visit cainer.com/dailymail VIRGO August 24 - September 23 Suppose someone has hypnotised you and you're in a trance-like state? When you hear a specific word, you're going to be triggered into doing something silly? Heffalump! There, I said it! Did you exhibit any crazy behaviour? Of course not! I'm playing with you! But it's to show you that you sometimes have extreme reactions in response to unconscious associations. With the Full Moon focusing on you, if you manage to keep your cool you can use its powers creatively and do good this weekend. Just don't overreact! The Full Moon brings powerful positive change! For great news about your future visit cainer.com/dmfree LIBRA September 24 - October 23 What do people involved in politics actually do? From researchers to risk analysts, at the end of the day, their ultimate purpose is to make laws. We need rules in order for society to function. If we didn't, we wouldn't need politicians. Which means that to keep their jobs, they have to keep inventing new laws! Or refreshing/updating the old ones. In your world, you've been restricted by a historic, self-imposed regulation. This weekend, the Full Moon brings the inspiration to reassess and redefine it. You can find a new sense of freedom. The Full Moon suggests good times are on the way. To find out more visit cainer.com/dm SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 Some people struggle to sleep at the Full Moon. Many of us find it hard to relax. Since there's something about the celestial climate that causes us to question assumptions and seek meaning, we can find ourselves worrying and wondering about what we're doing with our lives. Yet it's also when we can find solutions to the problems we've been wrestling with. You can put your sense of restlessness to good use this weekend. If you consciously focus it on your most heartfelt concerns, transformational insight is available. Discover why this week's Full Moon is so magical for you. Visit cainer.com/dailymail The weekend's Full Moon (pictured) suggests that if we dare to show vulnerability, we can gain support and cooperation SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21 You're motivated and ready for action. Which is perfect because there's an issue you want to bring to people's attention. So, how are you going to go about it? Is there anyone of influence in your contacts? When you want to make a difference, don't you need to go straight to the top? Fortunately, the people you know, know other people. With your energy and passion, you can make use of the Full Moon energy. This weekend, if you share your ideas, you'll create a groundswell of opinion that supports the change you wish to see. The Full Moon brings the key to the future you dream of. For info you need, visit cainer.com/dmfree CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20 We might all be created equal, but fortunately, we're not all identical. And it's our differences that make us interesting to one another. Yet sometimes (especially when it comes to our nearest and dearest) quirks and foibles can be infuriating. And although it's fascinating when someone's mind works differently to ours, if their thinking pattern doesn't resonate with our own, we can struggle to communicate. You can help maintain a state of harmony this weekend. You just need to be willing to accept someone for who they are. Maximise the Full Moon energy! For your latest forecasts visit cainer.com/dm AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19 No one quite knows how celestial helpers function. Do they watch from afar, assessing our behaviour? Does their willingness to jump in and offer assistance depend on the number of good deeds we perform? Or do they support everyone, regardless of how 'good' they are? Since you've got Venus in your sign, you don't need to worry yourself about why you're being blessed this weekend. It's safe to presume that heavenly interventions are available. If you work on that premise, you'll be able to achieve something special. The Full Moon brings positive change! Find out more! Visit cainer.com/dmfree PISCES February 20 - March 20 I'm hesitant to share good news with you. Whereas some zodiac signs embrace positive information and are cheered up by the slightest indication of hope, you tend to react differently. You're more inclined to be a bit sceptical. You can't help wondering if I'm talking to another Piscean. After all, (you think) what have you done to deserve celestial favours? Nevertheless, be assured that this weekend is going to be good. Not only is Mercury moving into your sign, but the Full Moon is opposite Pisces. Trust me! The Full Moon can transform your world. For valuable keys to the week visit cainer.com/dailymail KFC has dropped a cult-favourite secret menu item for foodies to try - but you can only order it if you know where to look. The Kentucky Snack Pack with popcorn chicken and supercharged sauce has been quietly made available to customers across Australia. However, fans will need to download the KFC mobile app to access the secret menu. The Kentucky Snack Pack was a fan favourite the last time it was added to the secret menu in early 2023. Inside the snack box is popcorn chicken and chips topped with KFC's supercharged sauce for $6.95. The Kentucky Snack Pack with popcorn chicken, chips and supercharged sauce has returned to KFC's secret menu To find the secret menu, users can download the KFC Order On the Go app, select their store then hit the menu icon at the bottom. Pull downwards as if refreshing the page until the secret menu appears. If that doesn't work, typing 'Kentucky Snack Pack' into the search bar will bring up the secret menu item. The Kentucky Snack Pack is on the secret menu now along with the Triple Stacker Burger and Triple Stacker Burger Combo. But that's not the only surprise KFC fans can find on the eatery's app. Finding hidden menu items can put you in the draw to win a trip to a top-secret location to sample some of KFC's international bites not available in Australian restaurants. Users can download the KFC - Order On the Go app, select their store then hit the menu icon at the bottom. Pull downwards as if refreshing the page until the secret menu appears If you spot an international menu item, like KFC Japan's Wafu Cutlet Burger, add it to your cart to go into the draw to win one of the five trips part of the Kentucky Fly Chicken competition. 'Turns out, the Colonel's in the mood for dropping some secrets, with Kentucky Fly Chicken taking flight earlier this week,' a spokesperson told FEMAIL. 'And that's not all, KFC has heard the cries of fans and is bringing back the cult-favourite Kentucky Snack Pack to the KFC Secret Menu.' An Australian healthcare worker has revealed some of the 'wildest' and most infuriating names she's ever come across. The professional, from Tasmania, shared that one of her favourite aspects of her job is discussing strange names with her co-workers. 'Recently we had someone come in to the emergency room and the doctor asked me how the name 'CVIILYN' was pronounced,' she shared on TikTok. 'That's really easy - I feel like it would be 'Civilian',' she remembered thinking - but it was far from correct. The young woman eventually revealed her name was 'Caitlyn' - and provided a shocking explanation. An Australian healthcare worker has revealed some of the 'wildest' names she's come across The healthcare worker relayed the peculiar sequence of events. 'A doctor went to the waiting room but no one responded to 'Civilian' for ages. 'A girl finally stood up and was pretty unimpressed with us - she said her name was Caitlyn.' The 'VIII' in her name was actually Roman numerals and pronounced like the number 'eight'. Another strange occurrence was when the healthcare worker came across a small child with an inappropriate name. 'We had a child in the paediatric room and the parents had named this child 'Shi-thead' and pronounced it Sh-theed. 'They had essentially named their child 'Sh*t head'.' Many in the comments shared other 'wild' names they'd heard. 'I met twins named Leon and Noel, can't get over how genius this is,' one said. 'I just picked my son up from after school care and there was a kid named Ricochet,' a mum wrote. A third shared, 'Worst I heard as a nurse is 'Kli-shae', pronounced cliche.' 'My kid has a friend in nursery called Allergin,' another mum revealed. Wealthy residents of Sydney's Harbourside suburb of Cremorne have been left infuriated by a 'regular vomiter' who frequents three affluent streets in the area. According to one enraged local the phantom puker has been taking aim at the paperbark trees near Benelong Road where family homes are worth over $3.7million- and are rented for more than $2500-per-week. According to an angry note written by the homeowner, the issue began 'a couple of years ago' but has recently intensified. 'It is happening about twice a week, usually between Thursday and Sunday evenings,' they fumed, insinuating the person spewing might be drunk. Wealthy residents of Sydney's Harbourside suburb of Cremorne have been left infuriated by a 'regular vomiter' who frequents three affluent streets in the area 'The last times were on Friday 9, Sunday 11 and Thursday 15,' they declared. They said they believe it to be someone walking home from a night out who 'needs to vomit before they get home'. 'The person either has a serious drinking problem or suffers from bulimia. 'It is not a one-off involuntary action - it is deliberate,' they wrote. The letter-writer worried the native wildlife and dogs who 'eat the vomit' might be at risk. Cremorne is a harbour side suburb where homes are worth millions of dollars And called for people to take notice of their family members adding it could be a 'serious' health concern. The post was quickly deleted - after sparking a wild debate in the usually tame group. Some people argued the vomit could just be messy tree sap while others told the letter writer to mind their own business. Others declared the phantom vomiter must be stopped - and the council should be called to action. Vet workers say the German Shepherd is their least favourite to see in the clinic Vets have shared the dog breeds they are most scared to treat in the clinic - and one popular pooch came out on top. Taylor is a veterinary assistant in South Carolina in the US and asked her colleagues which breed was their least favourite to handle at work. Answers included Chihuahua and Boxer but most of them agreed on German Shepherds. Taylor said her coworkers and people in the vet industry 'love' and 'respect' the 'loyal' breed but improper training, socialisation or breeding can cause them stress and anxiety in situations they're not used to. 'What's your least favourite dog breed or the one you're most scared of,' Taylor asked the employees. Scroll down for video Taylor, a veterinary assistant in South Carolina, asked her colleagues which breed was their least favourite to handle at work. Most answered the German Shepherd The feisty Chihuahua received two votes for their aggression as did the Boxer and one woman said 'little Terriers' were prone to biting. However, six vets and vet nurses were quick to answer German Shepherds as the scariest breed. Taylor posed the question to her coworkers in a TikTok video that quickly racked up almost 13 million views. Some were surprised by the answer, while people in the vet industry agreed and German Shepherd owners leapt to their beloved breed's defence. 'When you expected to hear Pitbull but heard German Shepherds instead,' one viewer said. '10 years in the vet industry. I agree, German shepherd,' a second wrote while another replied: 'Vet tech here. 100 per cent German Shepherds.' 'Justice for German Shepherds,' one dog lover commented. 'I told my German Shepherd to cover her ears during this video,' someone joked. The feisty Chihuahua received two votes for their aggression as did the Boxer and one woman said 'little Terriers' were prone to biting Taylor explained the reasoning behind vets choosing German Shepherds as their most feared breed in the clinic saying they love and respect the breed outside the clinic. 'German Shepherds are very smart dogs, these are a working breed that are supposed to have a job whether that be in the police force or whatever that may be,' she explained. 'They are a high functioning dog that needs a lot of mental stimulation and exercise and when people don't know this about the breed and they are not educated and they're not responsible owners, this leads to a lot of stress and anxiety in the dog.' Taylor said improperly trained and socialised German Shepherds can be unpredictable and sometimes 'lash out'. 'German Shepherds are also very loyal dogs, they're very protective dogs. That can make it difficult for people in the vet field or the grooming to handle these dogs,' she said. Taylor said improperly trained and socialised German Shepherds can be unpredictable and sometimes 'lash out' but vets have lots of 'love and respect' for the dog outside the clinic Taylor sympathised with the working breed saying most vets and vet assistants have a lot of love for them. 'I don't blame them. If I was a dog and you were sticking your finger up my you-know-what or you were giving me vaccines, poking me, prodding me and you're a stranger, I'm probably going to bite you too,' she said. 'I don't judge them, no one in this field judges them, we don't hate them, we just have to take proper precautions whether that be sedation or going slow.' She added another issue with German Shepherds can also be improper breeding. 'At the end of the day we're in this field because we love animals and whether a dog is reactive or not, we're not going to not respect them, we're not going to not love them,' Taylor said. 'In terms of German Shepherds, a lot of us would rather love them outside the vet doors.' A young man revealed a dark truth about life in one of Australia's most populous cities. He shared that he was only ever able to form 'shallow' connections with people despite living in Sydney for a decade. In comparison, the six months he has spent in Perth has resulted in more friends than he's ever had. 'Seriously, people of Perth, you're honestly real ones. People here are down to earth, humble, likeable, and make you want to build a community,' he said on Reddit. 'It made me realise how much of a malaise my life was in Sydney. I feel alive since I moved over. The slower pace really lets you put things into perspective and appreciate the important things in life.' A young man revealed a dark truth about life in one of Australia's most populous cities The man said that he was 'pinching himself' because he got to call such a 'wonderful place' his home. He revealed that he uses meet up groups to find people he can spend time with and it has worked brilliantly. Many others who moved between the cities shared the same sentiment. 'I was in Sydney for 14 years and have been [in Perth] for a month, already the best decision I've ever made. I can't see myself ever going back,' a man said. 'People are so much nicer here, nowhere near as many d*ckheads compared to Sydney. More relaxed life, no hustle and bustle. It's work to live here, not live to work. It's got a bit of everything, city, country, beaches, bushland,' another wrote. Many claim Perth is the 'best city in Australia' One pointed out: 'Perth is more accessible to Southeast Asia for a holiday. Cheaper flights, too.' 'I've been here two years now and no one has asked me which school I go to or which suburb I live in as a way of gauging social status. Honestly the best city in Australia and not even a close contest,' a woman added. But others were shocked by everyone's positive experiences. 'Where are you going to meet friends? I feel so lonely and isolated in this city,' one said. 'Is this satire? Perth people are so closed off. I have lived here most my life,' a man said. 'I found the opposite. I've made more friends and acquaintances from random encounters in Sydney in the month I've been here than 15 years in Perth,' a third revealed. Dr Iuliu Stan. who originally trained in Romania, has been erased from the UK medical register after a tribunal found he subjected men and boys to unnecessary, invasive and intimate procedures for his own sexual gratification A Romanian NHS doctor has been struck off for performing medical procedures, including on children, for his own sexual gratification. Patients at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust were subjected to unnecessary anal examinations and medications being inserted into their rectums by Dr Iuliu Stan. Others weren't offered a chaperone or given the chance to consent to procedures beforehand. Some patients had medications inappropriately inserted into their rectums as many as eight times. Twenty-one patients over a five-year period were 'preyed on' in this way, a tribunal ruled. An undisclosed number were minors. One victim had their genitals needlessly manhandled by the disgraced medic. Another, a teenager, had a tube used to empty his bladder inserted into his penis without clinical justification, contracting a bacterial infection as a result. A tribunal heard one patient was so uncomfortable with the doctor's 'strange and distressing' behaviour he tried to discharge himself from hospital before receiving antibiotics. They found the medic had 'subjected patients to unnecessary, invasive and intimate procedures for his own sexual gratification'. The tribunal added: 'In some cases the same patient had been subjected to intimate and invasive procedures by Dr Stan on multiple occasions.' Dr Stan, who previously enjoyed an unblemished record, has been erased from the medical register with immediate effect by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). Not all the allegations brought before the tribunal were proven. Dr Stan graduated in Romania in 2007 and worked in the UK on multiple occasions before specialising in the field of trauma and orthopaedics, the branch of medicine concerning musculoskeletal problems. He started his last NHS post in 2015. Authorities were alerted to the medic's treatment of patients in 2020 when a father became concerned about the 'length of time' Dr Stan took while giving his child a painkiller via the rectum. Patients at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (pictured) were subjected to unnecessary anal examinations and medications being inserted into their rectums by Dr Stan It was noted that the child had already been given oral painkillers shortly before Dr Stan personally gave them the rectal drug. He was subsequently warned by the Trust to 'familiarise' himself with its chaperone policy and to have nursing staff administer medication, if possible, in line with the standard procedure. An investigation was launched when Dr Stan prescribed and administered rectal medication to another child. It was discovered the medic had personally dished out rectal medications on over 200 previous occasions, sometimes to the same patient. The tribunal noted evidence he had a 'preference' towards personally administering these drugs to young men and boys. READ MORE: More than 700 Nigerian nurses under investigation for taking part in 'industrial-scale' qualifications fraud could be working in the NHS The regulator revealed in September that 48 nurses and midwives in the African nation were being investigated for paying someone to a sit computer-based exam, which checks medical knowledge and is needed to work in the UK Advertisement Dr Stan didn't attend or contribute to the hearing, with the tribunal noting there was a 'complete lack of engagement' on the medic's part. However, when defending himself in the trust's internal investigation, the tribunal heard how he claimed dishing out rectal-based medications was more common in Romania. Expert witnesses consulted by the MPTS agreed this was the case, but they added it wasn't standard practice for medics there to personally administer the drugs themselves and, like their UK counterparts, this was mainly handled by nurses. Such policies are in place to ensure there is a second pair of eyes on the drugs being given to patients. This reduces the chances of medication errors occurring. Dr Stand also defended his treatment patterns to the Trust by saying he felt it more appropriate for female staff to administer suppositories to female patients. But, considering all the evidence, the tribunal found that there were zero mitigating factors for his behaviour. In considering whether his behaviour was sexually motivated, the tribunal noted the patterns of behaviour in which patients he gave medication to. For example, of the 51 enemas Dr Stan prescribed, he only personally administered eight, all to males under the age of 40, including twice for a 17-year-old boy. In another cited example, Dr Stan administered rectal-based painkillers himself on 277 occasions for male patients, but only once for a female patient. In contrast, on occasions when Dr Stan prescribed non-rectal painkillers, such as intravenous drips, he didn't administer any personally for both sexes. Trust staff interviewed as part of the proceedings also said it was 'unusual' for junior medics like Dr Stan, who were specialising in orthopaedics, to get involved in the care of patients outside of their department, something he did while performing some of his rectal examinations. The tribunal also focused on the experience of two specific patients, referred to in the documents as 'Patient 26' and 'Patient 15'. Patient 26 was in hospital for knee pain from an infection. While there, he was subjected to a rectal examination by Dr Stan, the purpose of which was not explained to him beforehand. The patient found it 'distressing'. Despite being admitted with no symptoms that justified a rectal examination, Patient 26 was subjected to the procedure by Dr Stan during his stay. He was also given an enema without any prior consent, being told only that Dr Stan needed to 'check my glands'. Patient 26 detailed how Dr Stan had conducted three testicular exams during his stay in hospital, holding his penis each time and on one occasion pulling back the foreskin. The tribunal noted that there was nothing in Dr Stan's notes to explain why these examinations took place. Patient 26 was so uncomfortable with Dr Stan's treatment that he tried to discharge himself from hospital early and nurses had to persuade him to stay to receive the antibiotics needed to treat his infection. The tribunal said they could find no reason to dispute Patient 26's account of the events and that all the alleged procedures were sexually motivated and fit into Dr Stan's overall pattern of behaviour. Patient 15 was the only patient that Dr Stand was accused of inappropriately catheterising, a procedure where a tube is inserted into the bladder via the urethra to help expel urine. The patient, described in documents as being between 16 and 18, was admitted for a fractures but had no sign of urinary problems that would require a catheter. No clinical justification could be determined for the insertion, the tribunal ruled, and Patient 15 went on to suffer a bacterial infection in his penis as a result of the unnecessary procedure. The tribunal also noted there was no evidence Patient 15 was offered a chaperone. They also found that Dr Stan had administered rectal-based painkillers and laxatives to Patient 15 on several occasions without clinical justification. The tribunal concluded: 'On the balance of probabilities, the Tribunal determined that, where there were adequate clinical notes for patients, Dr Stans actions were sexually motivated in pursuit of sexual gratification.' The tribunal also wrote they were 'deeply concerned' about a lack of clinical justification for Dr Stans conduct and the observed disparity on the administration of rectal drugs across ages and genders. On determining a sanction, the tribunal said there was 'no doubt' Dr Stans conduct had fallen short of that expected for a medic and erasure was the only option. 'It had involved multiple breaches of the special position of trust a doctor occupies,' the tribunal wrote. 'This had been in relation to minors and patients acutely in need of Dr Stans diligent care and attention as their doctor. 'This lead the Tribunal to conclude that a sanction of erasure was the only means of protecting patients, maintaining public confidence in the profession, and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct for member of the profession.' Dr Stan, who appears to be now working in Romania as a 'medical specialist in orthopedics and traumatology', 28 days to the appeal the ruling. The MPTS tribunal also noted that neither the GMC nor the Trust had involved patients in their investigation despite the serious nature of the sexual allegations. and that Patient 26 had come forward to them of his own accord. Patient 26 was only informed of the proceedings by the Trust in relation to his medical records being sent to General Medical Council (GMC), who brought Dr Stan's case to the MPTS, earlier this month. A spokesperson for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'Dr Iuliu Iosif Marian Stan has not worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals since September 2020 and was dismissed from our employment in March 2021. 'Dr Stan's practice was reviewed by the Local Authority Designated Officer and Practitioner Performance Advice, which included Police representation, but this did not conclude there were grounds for criminal investigation into Dr Stan's actions. Dr Stan was also referred by us to the GMC at this time. 'Following the outcome of the Tribunal we will be working with safeguarding and Police authorities to assist with further investigation that may now be required.' A mosquito-borne virus that prompted Brazil to declare a state of emergency may cause an unusual and embarrassing new symptom, scientists say. Dengue fever which is typically associated with fevers, rashes and internal bleeding has now been linked to spontaneous erections that last hours. Doctors in Burkina Faso, West Africa, floated the theory after treating a 17-year-old boy who was in the emergency department with a severe dengue infection. The youngster had acute ischemia where blood flow to part of the body is interrupted and kidney problems due to his infection. But doctors also noted he was suffering from a 'soft... persistent' erection which lasted for 18 hours and had occurred 'without any sexual stimulation'. Rio de Janeiro declared a state of emergency amid surging dengue fever cases as millions of tourists prepared to arrive in Brazil for the city's famous carnival. Pictured: A health worker fumigates against mosquitos in Brazil, February 2 A patient is transferred to a hospital after receiving medical care at an improvised military aid station set up to treat suspected cases of dengue fever in Brazil, February 6 The above map shows states in the US that have reported locally-acquired dengue infections between 2010 and 2023 They believe this may have been caused by the virus infecting blood vessels in the penis and causing plasma to leak fluid into the shaft, making the penis appear larger and firmer than its flaccid state. Writing in the journal Urology Case Reports, the doctors said: 'Dengue, by causing vascular leaks, could be a rare trigger for arterial priapism [spontaneous erections].' US-based scientists told DailyMail.com that it was certainly 'possible' dengue could cause spontaneous erections, pointing out that Covid, mumps and even rabies have been linked to the symptom previously. But they said it is probably an extremely rare complication. It comes as Florida has reported two cases of dengue fever caught locally so far this year. It has also reported five cases in residents who had recently traveled outside the state. Last year, doctors issued an alert after a rise in the infection. There is also a major outbreak in Brazil with 340,000 cases reported four times more than the same time last year. The country is erecting emergency clinics to deal with the surge of patients, and says 40 deaths from dengue have been confirmed so far. For the case in Burkina Faso, doctor's treated the boy's erection using an ice pack which caused blood vessels to constrict which reduced the amount of fluid in the penis. The patient also had no medical history or underlying conditions such as sickle cell disease, which has previously been linked to spontaneous erections. He was treated for the infection using antiviral medicines and at a three-month and six-month follow up, was healthy and back to normal. Doctors said he had no complaints and was able to achieve a normal erection without pain or issues. Outbreaks of dengue were previously rare in the US, but warming temperatures are making the viral infection more common as mosquitoes advance further north. About 1,000 Americans are now infected with dengue fever every year, a ten-fold increase since 2019 when barely 100 infections a year were recorded. The number of dengue cases per year are currently at their highest level since 2013, after a major outbreak in southern Texas. Florida is the only state to report dengue cases so far this year in the US, although the infectiosn are becoming more common About 1,000 people are being infected with dengue every year in the US at present, 10-fold more than before the pandemic. Case numbers are still lower than in 2013, however, when an outbreak in Texas led to nearly 10,000 cases being detected Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes, with the virus infecting blood vessels Erections are normally triggered by blood vessels in the penis dilating, causing fluids to flow into the erectile tissue called the corpus cavernosum. Dr Richard Murphy, who advised Doctors Without Borders in Africa for seven years, said it was possible that dengue could cause spontaneous erections or priapism. 'Viruses have been linked with priapism in the past including Covid, mumps and even rabies,' he told this website. 'So, it is possible that other viruses are associated with it.' He suggested if this symptom was proven it was likely extremely rare because so many infections with dengue fever have previously been recorded. Dengue fever is spread via the bites of mosquitoes, which inject the virus into humans when they suck on someone's blood. Most patients have no symptoms, but just under half will develop warning signs of the disease including a sudden headache, fever and pain behind the eyes. It can also trigger pain in the joints such as knees and elbows that is so severe they feel like they are being shattered, earning it the nickname 'breakbone fever'. In severe cases, the disease leads to life-threatening complications such as dengue shock syndrome characterized by severe bleeding and encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. Doctors treat patients using a combination of pain medications, fluids and machines to monitor the illness. But this is labor intensive, often leading to hospitals having little bandwidth to handle other patients. There is also a vaccine available for the disease, called Qdenga, which is recommended for children aged six to 16 years old in areas where the disease is endemic. Parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can today apply for a certificate to have their grief formally recognised for the first time. The scheme will be voluntary and ministers say it will remain the choice of all parents to manage their bereavement 'however they see fit'. Babies born before 24 weeks do not need to be officially registered, leaving some mums and dads feeling ignored. The new certificates can be requested online for free from 9am and will be available to either parent who has suffered a loss in early pregnancy since September 2018. They will be official but not legal documents. The Government will issue voluntary baby loss certificates to support parents who have experienced a loss of pregnancy before 24 weeks Ministers are considering plans to extend the eligibility criteria for a certificate and whether bereaved parents should receive statutory leave from work. The certificate idea was formed as part of the Government's response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review. The government says it is 'committed to ensuring bereaved parents feel supported through their grief and recognise their loss, acknowledging their pain and ensuring they feel heard'. On a visit to a family bereavement centre at a maternity unit, Maria Caulfield, Minister for the Women's Health Strategy, said parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks can feel there is a 'lack of recognition of that baby'. Speaking at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, she said: 'Getting an official certificate means a lot. 'Parents feel it's so important to see their baby's name on a certificate that they can share with family, and friends and remember that baby. 'We've had parents user-testing the system which is why it's taken a little bit longer to get up and running than we would have liked. 'It's a very difficult time for parents, even if they don't do it straight away so we want to make it as easy as possible.' The minister was shown around the unit's specialist bereavement suite, which offers a comforting and private setting for families dealing with the emotional and physical challenges of perinatal loss. The suite at St George's was refurbished in October after the family of a baby who passed away after birth raised more than 80,000 towards its renovation. Not all hospitals have such facilities, and Ms Caulfield was told by midwives on the visit that they should be 'standard' in maternity units. The minister said: 'Having a facility like this where mums are not on a maternity ward, where they have the time and space to spend with their baby before they have to leave hospital is crucial.' Asked about calls to introduce statutory leave for bereaved parents who have lost a baby before 24 weeks, she said: 'We are looking at that.' Health secretary Victoria Atkins said: 'Losing a baby can be a hugely traumatic event and the introduction of certificates to formally acknowledge the loss of life is a positive step towards better supporting women and parents affected.' Reacting to the announcement of the scheme, Kath Abrahams, chief executive of Tommy's, the pregnancy research and baby loss charity, said: 'This announcement will be warmly welcomed by many in our community. 'The pain of losing a baby before 24 weeks is often made even worse for bereaved parents because there is no formal recognition of their experience. 'We're pleased that baby loss certificates will now be available to provide a degree of comfort for at least some of those families.' But Ms Abrahams said miscarriage remains a 'largely hidden problem' because of a lack of Government commitment to gathering statistics on the issue. 'We do believe, however, that more must be done to formally record losses before 24 weeks,' she continued. 'We cannot begin to tackle the wider problem of baby loss without a Government commitment to gather and record UK-wide miscarriage statistics. 'Without data, miscarriage remains a largely hidden problem and isn't prioritised, despite the tens of thousands of families affected by it every year.' The new scheme is being launched today in England only, although people in Scotland can already apply to have their loss recorded in the Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 weeks, and receive a certificate of inclusion in the book. Ruth Bender Atik, national director of the Miscarriage Association, said: 'For many, if not most people, even the earliest of losses can be deeply distressing, both emotionally and physically. 'It means the loss not only of this pregnancy but also of the hopes, plans and dreams that they had for this new life. 'And having no formal acknowledgement or marker of their loss can compound their grief. 'The new certification scheme will make a genuinely positive difference to many who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, offering formal recognition of the tiniest of lives.' Thousands of adults and teenagers with severe hair loss are set to benefit from a breakthrough treatment which can trigger regrowth in just six months. In what has been described as a 'monumental day' for sufferers of alopecia areata, the medicines watchdog has approved a drug found to reverse the condition for one in five patients. Characterised by patches of baldness, this is the first routine treatment recommended for use on the NHS. One of the more common causes of hair loss, it is caused by the body's immune system attacking hair follicles. Ritlecitinib is part of a family of drugs known as janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which work by dampening the immune system. Last year, Louis Theroux revealed he had shaved off his eyebrows in response to facial hair loss from a form of alopecia. Posting pictures and a video of him shaving his face on Instagram, the documentary maker quipped: 'I'd like to know how I'm supposed to continue a career based largely on raising and lowering different eyebrows without any eyebrows' US actress Jada Pinkett Smith also suffers with the condition, which came to global focus when host Chris Rock joked about it at the Oscars and was slapped on stage by her husband, Will Smith Ritlecitinib is part of a family of drugs known as janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which work by dampening the immune system. Taken as a daily pill, it works by reducing the enzymes that cause inflammation and subsequent hair loss at the follicle. Made by Pfizer, it has been recommended by NICE as an option for treating severe alopecia areata in people aged 12 and over Taken as a daily pill, it works by reducing the enzymes that cause inflammation and subsequent hair loss at the follicle. Made by Pfizer, it has been recommended by NICE as an option for treating severe alopecia areata in people aged 12 and over. Sue Schilling, CEO of the charity Alopecia UK, said: 'This is a monumental day for the alopecia areata community. 'For far too long, patients with alopecia areata have gone without a licensed treatment option available via NHS pathways. 'If new treatments are only available privately, it becomes a case of the 'haves and the have nots'. This latest NICE recommendation will go some way to address this.' Results from a large study published last year showed that 13 per cent of patients achieved 90 per cent or more scalp hair coverage after 24 weeks of taking the drug, compared with 1.5 per cent of those on a placebo. Almost half of the those treated with ritlecitinib reported 'moderate' to 'great' improvement in their hair loss. Approximately 2 per cent, or 1 in 50, of the population will experience alopecia at some point in their lifetime, with around 1 in every 4,000 developing alopecia areata each year. It can start at any age but is most common early adulthood and can lead to lack of hair on parts of the body, including eyelashes and eyebrows, nasal hair, and hair on the skin. This leaves people more vulnerable to infections and reduces a person's ability to regulate body temperature. Hair follicles are not destroyed but become dormant, making regrowth possible with the extent and duration of hair loss able to vary widely from person to person. Thousands of people with severe hair loss due to alopecia areata are set to benefit from a new one-a-day tablet to help treat the condition Last year, Louis Theroux revealed he had shaved off his eyebrows in response to facial hair loss from a form of alopecia. Posting pictures and a video of him shaving his face on Instagram, the documentary maker quipped: 'I'd like to know how I'm supposed to continue a career based largely on raising and lowering different eyebrows without any eyebrows.' US actress Jada Pinkett Smith also suffers with the condition, which came to global focus when host Chris Rock joked about it at the Oscars and was slapped on stage by her husband, Will Smith. The drug had been turned down on cost grounds in September last year but has now been given the green light following negotiations, where it is understood a substantial discount was agreed. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: 'Our committee heard how severe alopecia areata can have a significant impact on people's health and quality of life. 'I'm delighted that we are now able to recommend this innovative treatment, the first time a medicine for severe alopecia areata has been recommended by NICE for use in the NHS.' Lynn Clay, Specialty Care Lead, Pfizer UK, said: 'Alopecia areata can have a psychological impact on adults and adolescents living with the condition. 'Today's decision is an important milestone for eligible patients with severe hair loss from alopecia areata to help them access treatment. Donors and philanthropists were today urgently called upon to fund millions of pounds of vital cancer research. More than 50 charities and experts argued the scientific community now stood at a 'tipping point' requiring a united global response to tackle the disease. In the open 'letter to the world', the coalition said the next decade presented a 'unique opportunity' to transform cancer treatment for millions, fuelled by advances in AI and technology. Philanthropic support would enable developments including new blood tests to detect the disease earlier and algorithms predicting someone's cancer risk. Global cancer cases are predicted to increase by around 50 per cent by 2040. While the level of progress for cancer survival for some forms of the disease has been rapid, such as for breast and prostate cancers, others, like those for lung and pancreas have only improved at a snail's pace Domestically, Cancer Research UK estimates 110,000 deaths could be avoided over the next two decades, if UK cancer mortality rates are reduced by 15 per cent. The charity has today also launched its own 'More Research, Less Cancer' campaign, aiming to raise 400million. In November, its 200-page 'programme for Government' warned of a 1billion shortfall in research funding, as it had yet to commit to maintaining levels of spending in the field in real terms. Just 38 per cent of all publicly funded cancer research in the UK comes from the government, Cancer Research UK said, adding the US government funds five times more cancer research 'per capita' than the UK. Poor bile duct cancer awareness 'frequently' prevents patients from accessing treatment Just one in five patients have their cancer caught early, meaning they are often unable to access treatments, the charity AMMF warned today. Prognosis for patients with cholangiocarcinoma a liver cancer occurring within the bile ducts is 'dismal', they said, adding that increasing rates of disease may mean it will no longer be classed as a 'rare' cancer. Just half of NHS patients in England (49 per cent) are given treatment after diagnosis, they said. On average only 12 per cent of patients are given surgery the only current cure for this type of cancer, according to a study published in December last year. It comes as the first new treatment for the disease in 12 years was approved for use in the NHS last month. AstraZenecas durvalumab, an immunotherapy which shrinks or slows the growth of tumours, was approved for use among patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma. AMMF said that the treatment, which is taken alongside chemotherapy, offers enormous hope to patients who are not considered suitable for surgery. Advertisement It also warned charities have long had to 'pick up the burden of decades of under-investment'. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'We stand on the brink of discoveries that will transform how we understand and treat cancer. 'Discoveries like new blood tests that detect cancer at an earlier stage, and algorithms that predict someone's cancer risk and stop it from developing in the first place. 'These discoveries, that the research and scientific community are on the cusp of, have the potential to save and improve countless lives. But investment is needed. 'We're partnering with more philanthropists than ever before, all of whom share our appetite for discovery and translating results into real patient benefit. But we need to go further. 'We need people with the means and vision to help us bring about a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.' Meanwhile, letter signee Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute, added: 'With the changes that we are witnessing with technological innovations, work can now be carried out much more quickly. 'In the next decade, therapies for children's cancers can be revolutionised, blood tests and personal health data will allow for earlier detection of cancer whilst those with complex cancers will benefit from access to more personalised, life-saving treatments. 'But, if we are to continue making huge leaps in how we prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, we need the funds.' Experts believe delays in diagnosis and slow access to treatment are currently behind the UK's lethal gap in cancer survival rates. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Health leaders have consistently warned that an array of key cancer targets have not been hit in recent years. The NHS Long Term Plan, published in 2019, sets out that 75 per cent of people with cancer should be diagnosed early, at either stage one or two, by 2028. But cancer care effectively ground to a halt for some patients when the pandemic first reached the UK's shores, with appointments cancelled and diagnostic scans delayed because of the Government's devotion to protecting the NHS. They have also estimated 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of pandemic alone. Official NHS data for December on cancer waiting times also shows just seven in 10 (74.2 per cent) of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days. The target is 75 per cent. Just nine in ten (91.1 per cent) waiting a month or less for their first cancer treatment to begin after a decision to proceed with surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The target is 96 per cent but this has never been met. Britain is in the grip of an escalating crisis. Yet very few people are talking about it. Since the pandemic, and the disastrous lockdowns it sparked, an alarming trend has arisen among 18 to 30-somethings, an age group increasingly in the grip of idleness, despair and dependency on the welfare state. Some 481,000 young people aged 16 to 24 are currently unemployed. A remarkable 280,000 young people which is roughly the population of Milton Keynes now rely on some form of unemployment benefit, 50,000 more than before the pandemic and nearly twice as high as the equivalent figure a decade ago. Many readers will find these numbers astonishing, not least because our leaders in an effort to provide workers allowed net migration into the country to spiral to more than 700,000 in one year, even as young Britons lounged around at home. In January, to help fill the almost one million job vacancies, the Treasury called for even more immigration, much of which, by the way, is low-skill, low-wage and non-selective migration from outside Europe. Why cant British young people meet the countrys need for labour? What is holding them back? The answer lies in those two words we now hear on a daily basis: mental health. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a record 2.8 million Brits are not working because of long-term sickness, of which a mind-boggling 560,000 are aged between 16 and 34. In a report analysing the ONS figures, The Health Foundation charity says the proportion of people not working because of mental health issues has almost doubled in 11 years, from more than six per cent in 2012 to 12.7 per cent in 2023. In the absence of work, Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) are a financial lifeline to those who suffer a physical or mental illness. The most dependent claimants can get a maximum of 691 every four weeks, which is on top of other financial support they might receive such as housing benefit and income support. Last year, one in three new PIP claims was for anxiety, social phobia, depression and/or stress. The rise was fastest among the under-25s. As one analyst, Sam Ashworth-Hayes, recently noted: The figures are truly jaw-dropping. Personal Independence Payments, formerly known as the Disability Living Allowance, currently cost the Government around 22 billion each year, with around 38 per cent of this spend going on cases related to mental health issues. Until recently, many of these mental health benefits had no work requirements associated with them, meaning that people who could claim some kind of mental health condition did not need to show they were looking for work. After canvassing more than 1,000 unemployed young Britons exclusively for the Mail, I can reveal the gravity of this unfolding crisis for the first time. The results, collected by my firm People Polling, paint a bleak picture of Britains crisis of idleness and how, in my view, were setting up an entire generation to fail. Of the unemployed young people between 18 and 30 who made up our sample, some 40 per cent said they had been out of work for a year or longer. And 44 per cent depended on welfare benefits to survive. How that contributes to their sense of purpose and meaning, and the dignity of their lives, I cannot fathom. Some of the young Brits surveyed were carers, students or full-time parents. But a truly shocking 49 per cent of respondents, almost half, pointed to mental health issues as the driving factor behind their joblessness. No wonder theyve been dubbed Generation Sicknote a cohort of young Brits whose instinctive reflex is to prioritise their mental wellbeing above getting on with life. When we asked these young Brits to say, in their own words, why they are not in work, some of the replies included: I am unemployed because of my mental health problems. I stopped working when the Covid-19 pandemic started and since then have severe anxiety about having to work again somewhere new. I struggle with interviews due to my anxiety I have depression, anxiety and ADHD. Enough said. My job was having a negative effect on my mental health so I quit. I just dont feel safe working being around people, it makes me uneasy. I got a glimpse of this mindset during and after the lockdowns, when I noticed many of the Gen Z students (born between 1997 and 2012) I taught at university became strangely withdrawn and anxious. Having had almost no sustained contact with the wider world, many turned inwards, away from society at large. But can all of this be pinned on the pandemic? Im not convinced. Clearly, if young people are genuinely struggling with severe mental health issues, then they should be supported. But, increasingly, it appears the definition of mental health problems is widening, while we are failing to face up to a much bigger cultural problem. The rampant growth of the therapeutic state has also encouraged a culture of victimhood The blunt reality is that while Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was right to recently announce a new back to work plan to encourage people on benefits to take up employment, this will not make much difference. Why? Because were too quick to offer support and welfare for all kinds of mental health conditions and, in turn, this is expanding the role of the state and convincing more and more young people that it is perfectly acceptable to depend on the government for everything. READ MORE: Unemployment falls and wages rise for the sixth time in a row at start of crunch week on the economy for the government Advertisement And this has been a long time coming. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, there were warnings of the dangerous rise of the therapeutic state of how governments were moving away from compelling people to work in favour of ongoing treatments for mental health and serving peoples emotional wellbeing. Since then, therapy, counselling and mental health services have become key functions of the state, while our institutions from universities to schools now fall over themselves to provide emotional safety and cater to every whim and desire of a visibly fragile, insecure and anxious younger generation. As academics Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff pointed out in their recent book, The Coddling Of The American Mind, many universities today routinely stress the need for students to have safe spaces, issue trigger warnings for controversial topics and cant hire therapists fast enough to keep up with demand. This is reflected in our exclusive poll, which finds, remarkably, only just over half of unemployed young people think it is their responsibility to find work. And thats not all. The rampant growth of the therapeutic state has also encouraged a culture of victimhood. In Western societies, young people are being actively encouraged by the state, their schools and other institutions to see themselves as victims of mental health problems, racism, sexism and white privilege. As one study by U.S. sociologists Bradley Campbell and Jason Manning points out, while countries such as Britain once fostered cultures that prioritised bravery and honour, today they peddle a much weaker and more narcissistic culture of victimhood. In this context, say Campbell and Manning, struggling with mental health can give young people a kind of moral status based on suffering and neediness. You see this on full display on social media, where you dont have to look far to find visibly lost, aimless and confused youngsters talking about their mental health problems, rather than, say, what they achieved at work or how they are contributing to wider society. The drain this culture has on the public purse is bad enough it has been projected that the state will be shelling out 50 billion in disability and mental health benefits by the end of the decade but its effect on the pride and careers of a generation of people will be corrosive. This crisis looks set to get much worse unless we radically change course. One big reason Britains economy is still doing less well than other advanced nations is precisely because of missing workers, with young people becoming a big part of this story. So, if we are serious about getting Britain moving again, then getting these young Brits back to work, giving them a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives and rolling back the therapeutic state must now be the governments priority. Because, if we dont, Britain risks becoming even more sick than these young people claim to be. Three years later she says she is still unable to walk and is in excruciating pain A woman was left in excruciating pain and unable to walk after she had a rare reaction to a common antibiotic prescribed to treat her UTI. Talia Smith, 44, from Norwood, Massachusetts, was hospitalized in April 2021 after taking three pills of ciproflocaxin, also known as Cipro, from the fluoroquinolones class of antibiotics. She said it felt like a 'bomb went off' in her body and five months later her condition had deteriorated until she could not even lift her arms above her head and was moved to hospice care weighing just 60 pounds. Three years on she says she has been left wheelchair bound, forced to blend all of her meals to a puree and unable to care for her veteran husband who is also in a wheelchair. The FDA puts a black box warning on fluoroquinolones, meaning they can result in death or serious injury, but Smith says she was not informed of the risks and was told it was a 'safe and effective' drug. Talia Smith with her husband, a US veteran who is also in a wheelchair. Smith used to care for him full time before she fell ill Smith says she now has to puree all of her food as she has severe difficulty swallowing Smith went to the doctor in April 2021 for treatment for a common UTI and was prescribed Cipro. She told 25 Investigates she asked the doctor at the time: 'This is a pretty strong antibiotic, is this the right one I should be taking? And is there anything I need to know?' But she said the doctor reassured her: 'Theres nothing you need to be aware of. This is a very safe and effective antibiotic for UTIs. Days later, she said it felt like a 'bomb went off' in her body. She said: 'The third day I had stabbing pains, like in my heels, up my legs, like shooting pains, like I was getting electrocuted. And I was like: What the heck is this? 'The next [week], I was sitting in a chair showering myself. The next I couldnt get my hands above my head.' Over the next five months she continued to deteriorate, ending up in hospice care weighing just 60 pounds. A year after she took the pills, she was moved to palliative care. Even today, nearly three years later she said she still relies on a wheelchair and a round the clock aid. The former fitness fanatic now relies on a wheelchair and has to puree all of her food It is a far cry from the life she lived before taking Cipro, working in the healthcare industry as a product manager and as a full-time carer to her disabled Veteran husband and their children and step-children. She said: 'I worked out all the time. I ate well, I was healthy, I worked, I took care of my husband. I never got sick.' She told News10: 'Both of our lives were stolen from this, not just mine, his, my children, my stepchildren. 'Im sitting right next to him in a wheelchair because of three pills. Three pills. I cant take care of him. I cant take care of myself. We both require 24/7 care now.' Last year, she started sharing her story on TikTok and Instagram with some of her videos racking up 200,000 views. She is raising awareness for other people who have been 'floxed', the name given to people suffering extreme side effects after taking fluoroquinolones. Currently there are eight name-brand fluoroquinolones on the market, with 14.8 million people being prescribed it in 2022, according to figures provided by the CDC to 25 Investigates. She says she is determined to get better and to campaign for better warnings on the set of antibiotics and for doctors to be held responsible Smith shares videos about her experience with her chronic illness to raise awareness Its recommended uses include: anthrax, gonorrhea, typhoid fever, and complicated bacterial infections. It should only be prescribed for UTIs if other treatments have failed. Its black box warns it can cause 'disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions.' Smith said: 'It makes me angry because the first black box warning came out in 2008 for tendons. And then 2013 was irreversible peripheral neuropathy and 2016 was the permanent and disabling side effects. 'I took Cipro all the way in 2021. I think that would be plenty of time for doctors to get on board and to be able to convey these warnings to their patients.' Now, from her hospital bed, she is advocating to get the CDC to create a new insurance code that would help people harmed by fluoroquinolones get coverage for treatment. She also wants to make it a requirement for prescribers to report adverse reactions from fluoroquinolones to the FDA. Nearly 134,000 cancer cases were missed during the first year of the Covid pandemic, a study suggests. Researchers at the University of Kentucky made the startling prediction after comparing the number of cancers expected to be detected from March to December 2020 to the number that were actually detected. Detection rates dropped nearly 30 percent over this period, they said, with patients with prostate, female breast and lung cancer most likely to have their illness missed. It happened as hospitals turned over whole wards to battling the virus and patients steered clear of ERs for fear of 'being a burden' or catching the virus. Experts warned many of the patients whose diagnosis was missed would likely have their cancer diagnosed later when it was more advanced and harder to treat. The above graph shows the number of cancers diagnosed (green line) against the number that were expected to be diagnosed The study only looked at data for 2020, but there are signs that more cases were missed in 2021 and 2022 as hospitals continued to be overwhelmed with Covid patients. Data suggests that as many as 10million cancer screenings for conditions like breast and colon cancer were missed in 2020 and 2021. Another study on screenings for breast and lung cancer found the number of appointments attended fell 25 percent over the same period. Unlike other diseases such as viruses cancers occur at constant and predictable rates within the population every year. This means that when the number of cases detected drops slightly, this suggests many cases are being missed rather than the disease is disappearing. The researchers, led by Dr Todd Burus an oncologist who led the study wrote in the study: 'Unlike other population health outcomes studied, a decline in new cancer diagnoses in 2020 does not indicate that cancer occurrence in the US decreased, but rather that new cancers were undetected. 'The longer cancer exists undetected, the greater the risk of tumor progression and the lower the chances of survival and other positive outcomes for patients.' For their study, published in JAMA Oncology, researchers looked at data from more than 1.2million cancer cases recorded between January 2018 to December 2020. They were stored in the US Cancer Statistics 2001 to 2020 database, a national repository recording all cancer diagnoses across the country. Of the cases, 657,000 or 50 percent of the total were in males while 757,000 were recorded in those aged 65 years and older 58 percent and more than a million or 82 percent were in white individuals. Researchers initially carried out an analysis adjusting for factors including time of year to predict the number of cancers that were expected from March to December 2020. They then compared this to the number of cancers diagnosed over that same period, revealing a drop of 28 percent or nearly 134,000 cases. Their data showed prostate cancer was the most commonly missed, with 22,950 fewer cases diagnosed than expected. The second most commonly missed was female breast cancer, with 16,870 fewer cases detected, followed by lung cancers, with 16,333 fewer cases detected. Doctors have said many patients did not come forward until their symptoms were more advanced, making their cancer harder to treat (stock image) Overall, melanoma or skin cancer saw the sharpest drop in detections down by as much as 43 percent. But researchers pointed out there were drops in diagnoses of all cancers including more fatal types like pancreatic cancer, where detection rates dipped six percent. Doctors revealed in the year after the virus first emerged that many patients had early warning signs of cancer such as changes in bowel movements but waited until these became more advanced before seeking help. America's cancer fatality rate dropped 33 percent from 1991 to 2020, data showed amid advances in detection and treatments. However, it is feared that the Covid pandemic has reversed some of these gains. A second Alabama fertility clinic has halted in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children. Alabama Fertility's clinic in Birmingham has 'paused transfers of embryos for at least a day or two,' said Penny Monella, the chief operating officer at Alabama Fertility Specialists. Clinics are pausing IVF procedures out of a fear of prosecution, because the ruling means people could theoretically be sued for destroying an embryo. The ruling could open the door to wrongful death lawsuits in all cases where embryos do not survive being thawed and transferred to the uterus, potentially sending doctors in the state fleeing elsewhere to practice medicine. The highlighted states have laws on the books stipulating that life begins at the moment of fertilization. In Louisiana, the intentional disposal or destruction of a human embryo is illegal Alabama-native Gabby Goidel opted for IVF because of an unexplained genetic fertility problem. But she is now concerned about the impact that the Alabama ruling will have on her chances of getting pregnant It stated: 'The Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location,' including 'unborn children who are located outside of a biological uterus at the time they are killed.' It comes after the University of Alabama hospitals halted IVF treatments yesterday over worries doctors will be prosecuted. 'We are saddened that this will impact our patients' attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments,' Savannah Koplon, a spokesperson for the university, said on Wednesday. The unprecedented ruling by Alabama's Supreme Court is the first to endow full human rights to an organism so soon after fertilization and opens the door to similar rulings in other states. Three couples will be able to sue for wrongful death after their frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic. Justice Greg Cook said that the ruling 'almost certainly ends the creation of frozen embryos through in IVF in Alabama.' Ms Goidel and her husband Alabama doctors have been fielding calls from nervous patients like Gabby Goidel, 26, who chose to try in vitro fertilization after several miscarriages due to unexplained genetic infertility. She opted for IVF because the process allows doctors to test embryos for abnormalities and Ms Goidel believes it wouldn't be fair on her or a child to carry an unviable fetus that could miscarry or be born with severe health issues. Ms Goidel said she was filled with dread when she heard the news. She told NBC News: Most of our embryos are not going to be genetically normal. My hope would be that we could let those embryos naturally pass, but now its, Do we have to save them? I dont necessarily want to implant a child that I know is going to miscarry. IVF advocates have warned for years that restrictions on IVF were a possible repercussion of the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, said: This is exactly what we have been fearful of and worried about where it was heading. We are extremely concerned that this is now going to happen in other states. Ms Collura added that the suit did not declare IVF illegal, But it did say the embryos that are handled in an IVF process are children. Are people. And that begs the question: Can we freeze a human? And if we freeze a human, who is liable for that? The ruling is limited to Alabama, but reproductive rights advocates have warned of a potential domino effect elsewhere. An estimated 1.5 million embryos currently sit in cryogenic nurseries across the US. A lawsuit alleging wrongful death in the case of a discarded embryo could reach the courts in those states, forcing judges to make a similarly impactful ruling. Or, state legislatures would have to pass and enact a law barring the disposal of embryos and potentially penalizing those who do it. IVF is a process in which eggs retrieved from the womans ovaries are fertilized outside of the womb and implanted in the womans uterus. Doctors typically fertilize as many healthy eggs as possible to give the woman the best chance of having a baby; unused fertilized eggs are frozen and stored. Eventually, the unused embryos are discarded, though when depends on the clinic and what the patient needs. With possible consequences for discarding the unused embryos, doctors may be barred from fertilizing eggs that wont end up being implanted. This winnows down a womans chances of getting pregnant. Doctors typically fertilize as many eggs as they can retrieve during a cycle of IVF but, under possible civil penalty, may only feel comfortable fertilizing a couple of eggs, forcing women to undergo several rounds of costly egg retrievals to achieve the same pregnancy rate that they were trying to achieve with one retrieval. Providers may also be forced to leave the state for fear of being sued or because of the high cost of storing excess embryos. IVF patients also have to pay fees to store embryos, in amounts ranging from $350 to $1,000 per year. Around one in five American women are unable to get pregnant, and roughly a third have either turned to fertility treatments themselves or know someone who has. For women younger than 35 years old, IVF is successful about 47 percent of time. Oklahoma could soon set up a database that stores the details of every woman who has an abortion in the state. Under the plans, women would be assigned a 'unique identification number' that records the date, gestational age and reason for the abortion. It would then be used to track how many subsequent abortions the woman has in a state where all abortions are illegal except when necessary to save the life of the mom. Supporters of the bill say it will help them track abortions in the state in the same way as births and deaths but campaigners have called it a 'major privacy issue'. The above map shows abortion bans by state, including Oklahoma where the procedure is banned from fertilization except in medical emergencies Shown above are campaigners outside the Oklahoma state legislature. They are urging state lawmakers not to ban abortions The data would be stored by the state's Department of Health, and there are fears officials could be compelled to release the information including a woman's name by a court order. Oklahoma legislators proposed the ban in House bill HB3216, also known by supports as the state's 'Right to Life Act', earlier this month. The bill to create the database was tabled by Rep. Kevin West (pictured) If passed, doctors will be required to submit details of any abortions they have carried out including patient names to the state's Department of Health. The state would be required to keep these names confidential and to assign each woman a 'unique patient identifier' such as a string of numbers to be used in public reports of the data. There are already precious few abortions carried out in Oklahoma by doctors which the Governor has vowed to make the most anti-abortion state in the US. Doctors will also need to submit statements under oath on why the abortion was deemed necessary to 'preserve the life of the pregnant woman'. Physicians who refuse to comply with the law could have their license revoked or be sued by the state. While the data could be used to check the number of women having more than one abortion, it will not record the geographical location of the procedure. The highlighted states have laws on the books stipulating that life begins at the moment of fertilization. In Louisiana, the intentional disposal or destruction of a human embryo is illegal Cases where there is unintentional injury or death of an unborn child during medical treatment would not need to be submitted to the database. The bill has already survived two readings on Oklahoma's House floor and this week was voted through by the House Public Health Committee 5 to 1. It will face another vote on the House floor next month before going through two readings, a committee and a vote in the Senate. It will need to be signed by the Governor before it becomes law. Representatives for Kevin West, who tabled the bill, say it is not clear when it could become law as it could face hurdles in the legislature. The Republican party holds a 'supermajority' in the House 80 out of the 101 seats available and in the Senate holding 40 of the 48 seats available. The language of the bill has already been adjusted to help prevent it bringing in a ban on birth-control devices IUDs that can help to prevent pregnancy. If passed, the bill would come into force some 30 days later. Rep. West has revealed that he drafted the bill alongside the Alliance Defending Freedom which claims to be a Christian law firm and was involved in overturning Roe v Wade. Speaking at a hearing on the bill, he said he wanted to track abortions similarly to how the state already tracks births and deaths. Many campaigners have railed against the bill, however, branding it a breach of privacy and 'alarming'. House Minority Leader and Democrat Cyndi Munson, who told the Daily Beast: 'It's just a way to continue to create fear and shame. '[That is] not just for those seeking abortions, but also any physician who provides reproductive healthcare.' Democrat state representative Trish Ranson, who was on the health committee, slammed the bill as a 'major privacy issue'. 'There is a relationship between patient and doctor that is sacred,' she said. 'And the fact that that would be... reported elsewhere, that there would be a number assigned to the woman is... just alarming.' It comes as a second bill makes its way through the House which seeks to bring felony drug-trafficking charges against people found to have or to deliver abortion-inducing medication such as mifepristone. Under the bill, anyone found delivering abortion pills or possessing them with an intent to deliver could face 10 years in prison or $100,000 in fines. Mifepristone is one of two abortion bills being delivered to women in the state by online pharmacies to help them end pregnancies. It is also the subject of legal action from the Alliance of Hippocratic Medicine a collective of anti-abortion organizations who say it should be withdrawn from shelves because it is 'unsafe' and the approval process was flawed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refutes the claims, however, arguing that the drug is safe and effective. It has cited a series of studies that show that serious complications are rare. Campaigners have also pointed out that the pill has been available since 2000 and has been taken by millions of women nationwide without serious adverse reactions being recorded in the vast majority of cases. MMR vaccine coverage across America is below the safe target for the third year in a row. Coverage has dropped a further two percent between the 2019-2021 school year to the 2022-2023 school year, according to the CDC, which means that roughly a quarter of a million kindergartens are at risk of measles infection across the US. The 93.1 percent rate during the 202223 school year is lower than the 95 percent rate in the 2019-2020 school year, leaving measles coverage below the national target of 95 percent for the third year running. It comes as a sixth case of measles has been confirmed at an elementary school in South Florida. Cold-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and a runny or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles The above shows year-by-year cases of measles in the United States Exemptions from school shots was also at a record high, exceeding five percent in ten states. As of February 15, a total of 20 measles cases were reported by 11 jurisdictions across Arizona, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The most recent outbreak in Florida has seen six children test positive for measles so far. Some 33 out of 1,067 students at the school have not received any of the two doses of the MMR vaccine, Dr Peter Licata, the Broward County Public Schools Superintendent, said Wednesday. Doctors were first told of a measles case - a third grader with no travel history - on Friday February 16. Dr John Brownstein, epidemiologist and Chief Innovation Officer at Boston Children's Hospital, told ABC News: 'The absence of travel history in the measles cases suggests we are likely seeing local transmission, underscoring the serious risk to the community. 'Measles is highly contagious, and with its long incubation period of 11 to 12 days, there's a high likelihood that more children are infected without showing symptoms yet. 'This situation is alarming and requires immediate public health intervention to prevent further spread.' Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that mostly affects children under five years old. It can be prevented by two doses of the MMR vaccine and more than 57 million deaths have been averted since 2000, according to the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective against measles, the CDC reports. One dose is 93 percent effective. But measles vaccination rates have been declining, with more young children entering schools unvaccinated. Millions may have missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic when health systems were overwhelmed and fell behind on routine vaccinations for preventable diseases. If an unvaccinated child is exposed to measles, an MMR shot should be given as soon as possible. If given within 72 hours of initial exposure, the shot may offer some protection against measles, or reduce the severity of the illness. BOOK OF THE WEEK AMERICAN MOTHER By Colum McCann with Diane Foley (Bloomsbury 20, 240pp) Ysenda Maxtone Graham One of the many horrific and macabre aspects of being informed in the technological age that your son has been beheaded by a terrorist group in the Middle East, is that you have to click on the link to look at the photo that proves it. One light tap of the index finger the daily movement we all do every day and you see a sight that will burn itself into your soul and haunt you till you die. This was exactly what James Foleys mother Diane did, on a Tuesday afternoon in August 2014, at her home in New Hampshire. Her 39-year-old son Jim, a freelance journalist for the GlobalPost, had been abducted by ISIS in Northern Syria in November 2012, along with journalist John Cantlie. Both had vanished without trace. Both would never return. Diane and her family had gone through hell, not only imagining the hell Jim must be going through, but also, in the face of the Obama administrations stubborn and clear policy that negotiating with terrorists incentivises hostage takers, in failing to secure his release. So there would be no negotiation, and Dianes family might even face federal prosecution if they tried to raise a ransom to bring Jim home. Diane Foley's 39-year-old son Jim, a freelance journalist for the GlobalPost, was abducted by ISIS in Northern Syria in November 2012 Through those agonising and frustrating months, Dianes anger at the governments policy grew. It seemed that the U.S. government treated journalists as second-class citizens, although their brave, patriotic missions were of vital importance in telling the world the truth about what was happening. She felt sure that had it been 20 American marines captured in Northern Syria, the U.S. would have mounted a rescue operation. Instead, nothing happened, and she was asked to keep silent about the situation, which (after a few months of compliance) she refused to do. She was assigned an FBI agent, who was useless, clueless and took ages to reply to emails. On that fateful summer afternoon, 21 months after Jims disappearance, an Associated Press journalist rang Diane to ask her whether shed seen the tweet. She hadnt. She sobbed with dread. Her brother-in-law then called her to say thered been an update on social media. Dianes finger hovered on the link, then clicked. The photograph she saw was of the unthinkable: Jamess dead body in the desert, with his severed head placed on his back. Her instant reaction was that it must be a prank; a photoshopped image, a gratuitous lie. She remembers thinking: This could not be happening. We had prayed so hard for Jims return. It couldnt be turning out this way. Not our Jim. Not now. Not ever. Then a journalist from an international news agency called to confirm that Jim had indeed been murdered. This powerful and devastating memoir, written in the third-person at the beginning and end, but with Dianes first-person testimony in the main middle section, opens with an astonishing scene: Diane sitting in a courthouse in Washington DC, across the table from Alexanda Kotey, one of the British-born ISIS perpetrators who had tortured Jim in captivity and had possibly been a witness to his execution. That meeting took place in October 2021, seven years after Jims murder. Kotey was wearing shackles. Diane was wearing bracelets. Both rattled as they faced each other. Kotey had pleaded guilty to the taking and torturing of American hostages, including Jim, and now faced a full life sentence. Part of the plea agreement was that he would talk to the victims families, if they wanted to talk to him. And, for some reason that she couldnt even quite explain, just a deep-down gut feeling, Diane did want to talk with him. Her family was aghast. Why give him any platform? they asked her. You get the sense, reading Dianes fierce testimony, that she had taken on Jims role as a tireless seeker of the truth. If anyone would have liked to be present to report on his own death, it would have been Jim, she writes. Not to celebrate himself, but to get under the actual skin of it, the deep-down reality of what the world was becoming, and why. As Jim couldnt be there to do this, she took his place. Jim Foley moments before being beheaded by a member of ISIS in the desert Jim vanished without trace along with journalist John Cantlie. Both would never return I was certainly not there to forgive Kotey, she writes. She just wanted to get to the absolute truth, and to nudge Kotey to face up fully and emotionally to what hed done. There they sat, perpetrator and victims mother, he aged 38, she 73, for five hours, and they would meet for a second and final time a few months later, just before Kotey was taken to prison for the rest of his life. Once again, Diane felt she was banging her head against a brick wall. Kotey, she was certain, was still not being completely honest, or fully facing up to his guilt. What hed done, he said, was done under the auspices of war, and he was doing what he was told. Those barbaric, British-born terrorists were nicknamed the Beatles by their captives Jihadi John, Jihadi Ringo and so on. In a twisted sense, all too appropriate, as their main activity was to give their victims violent beatings. Since they wore balaclavas, never showing their faces, it was hard to tell which Beatle was which. Kotey (Jihadi George) claimed to Diane that he was not one of the worst when it came to beatings. But Diane had heard, via the Danish hostage Daniel Ottosen, who was released in June 2014, that Kotey was in fact exceptionally cruel when it came to beatings, starvation techniques, electric shocks, chokeholds, psychological torture and mock crucifixions. And it was Kotey who had written the recorded message that Jim, wearing an orange jump suit, was forced to read aloud just before he was killed: I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers the U.S. government for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacent criminality. Kotey claimed that on the day of Jims execution, he was not present, but was at home with his family. Diane was far from convinced. After that first meeting, Kotey wrote two formal letters to Diane in creepily neat, curly, schoolboy handwriting, reproduced in the book: To you and all your family, my sincere apologies, regards, and best wishes to you all. Diane felt that he was becoming increasingly practised in the art of self-justification beneath the polite apologising. He insisted that he did not know where Jims body was buried. Reading this book is to be side by side with Diane on her long and obsessive quests, first to bring Jim home and then, after that failed, to start a foundation, the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, to advocate for the release of American hostages held abroad. When Diane was eventually granted a ten-minute audience with President Obama, he told her, between sips of tea, Jim was my highest priority. To which Diane replied, I beg your pardon, sir. He may have been a priority in your mind but not in your heart. She wanted this to change. Of course, Diane writes, no government should be seen to be paying for the release of its hostage citizens. Wed just be providing terrorists with an ATM. But behind the scenes, governments can help families to raise ransoms something that clearly happened with Spanish, French and other European hostages, who were released at (she guesses) a ransom of about $10 million each. Thanks to the lobbying of the James W Foley Foundation, Biden in 2022 gave an Executive Order on Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained U.S. Nationals Home. They secured the release of seven hostages in Venezuela, among others. That initiative came eight years too late to save Jim and his fellow hostages. But Diane sees Jims life and story as a candle. Sometimes, she writes, the world works, and a candle gives light to other candles. A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN TWELVE SHIPWRECKS By David Gibbins (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 25, 304pp) Nick Rennison In 1545, Henry VIII, staring across the Solent, was an appalled witness to the sinking of his warship, the Mary Rose. Through misfortune and carelessness, wrote the Holy Roman Emperors ambassador, the ship... foundered, and all hands on board, to the number of about 500, were drowned, with the exception of about five and twenty or thirty servants, sailors and the like. More than 400 years later, the Mary Rose was raised from the seas. Its resurrection is one of the most significant achievements of the maritime archaeology David Gibbins celebrates in this engrossing book. Gibbins is the ideal person to tell the story of shipwrecks. He is a distinguished underwater archaeologist, veteran of thousands of dives and a best-selling novelist whose narrative skills are here harnessed to fact rather than fiction. Gibbinss most recent wreck is the SS Gairsoppa, sunk by a U-boat during the Battle of the Atlantic in 1941 Gairsoppa had been carrying 17 tons of silver bullion. Some of this was recovered and the Royal Mint struck 20,000 coins from it His earliest wreck is the Bronze Age boat discovered in 1992, its timbers miraculously preserved in the oxygen-free mud at the bed of the river that ran through Dover in prehistoric times. The Dover Boat was probably constructed some time between 1575 and 1520 BC. It would have been able to cross the Channel and make extended coastal journeys, possibly as far as the Baltic Sea northwards and the Bay of Biscay to the south. Gibbinss most recent wreck is the SS Gairsoppa, sunk by a U-boat during the Battle of the Atlantic in 1941. It had been carrying 17 tons of silver bullion. Some of this was recovered and the Royal Mint struck 20,000 coins from it. Between the Dover Boat and the Gairsoppa, Gibbins highlights ten other wrecks. The Bronze Age ship found off the Turkish coast in 1982 was carrying an astonishing diversity of goods, from pottery to weaponry. It also had enough metal on board to make 5,000 swords. Another, more unusual find, was a folding writing tablet which some scholars have described as the worlds oldest book. In 1545, Henry VIII, staring across the Solent, was an appalled witness to the sinking of his warship, the Mary Rose The Mary Rose was raised from the seas in 1982 and is now on display at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard A Greek ship from the 5th century BC, also located off the coast of Turkey, had a cargo that consisted mainly of wine. Letters stamped on the amphoras, huge jars, showed that it came from Erythrae, renowned for its wine. A scalpel handle found on a 2nd century AD Roman wreck revealed the probable presence of a skilled eye surgeon on board. It was most likely used in cataract operations. READ MORE: The best new books to read this weekend: Our critics give their verdict on everything from breathtakingly compelling crime to a delightful historic debut Advertisement What wrecks often show are patterns of trade. The discovery of a 9th century ship off an Indonesian island provided evidence of goods passing between Tang dynasty China and Persia. The huge cargo included more than 50,000 bowls, candlesticks, incense burners and mirrors. One of the items was already an antique when it sank beneath the waves. More recent wrecks shed light on British and global history of the past 300 years. The Royal Anne Galley went down off the Cornish coast in 1721. Only three out of the 210 individuals on board survived. Among those drowned was Lord Belhaven, sailing to Barbados to serve as the colonys governor. Reportedly, the day before its departure, he was warned of his fate by a mysterious woman in a mantle and hood but misguidedly chose to ignore her. Had it made it to the West Indies, it would have been used to hunt down the buccaneer, Black Bart Roberts. Gibbins is a sensitive narrator; he never loses sight of the reality that wrecks represent the tragic loss of human lives. However, he also knows they can open up many fascinating byways of history to those willing to be fully immersed. He says Tide didn't do enough to stop the fraudsters He became the victim of a 'safe account' scam and lost 100,000 Jamie* is used to dealing with huge sums of money in his day job running his own business. So when he received a call saying his business accounts had been compromised, he moved quickly to ensure his funds were safe. Instead he lost 100,000 to criminals in a 'safe account scam', where fraudsters steal a person's money by getting them to move it to another bank account that they control. Jamie* thought he was speaking to a member of Tide's anti-fraud team but lost 100,000 These scams are highly sophisticated and can dupe unsuspecting customers in a myriad of ways, including the cloning of phone numbers. Jamie, who has asked for his name to be changed, has been left reeling at what he feels is a lack of checks and balances made by his banking provider Tide and how it subsequently dealt with the scam. Two weeks after the scam, Jamie now only has a portion of the money back. He tells This is Money how the scammers managed to access his cash through this sophisticated fraud and how he feels that Tide left him in the lurch. The 'safe account' scam At the end of January, Jamie received a call from someone claiming to be working in conjunction with a major bank saying they had identified potentially fraudulent transactions on his account. After checking the number, he found it to be the genuine Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) number and continued the conversation. Believing it to be a legitimate call, Jamie told the scammers he held accounts with five other banks at which point the caller said he would liaise with his counterparts in anti-fraud. 'I was thinking they must be working together, I found that strangely reassuring,' he told This is Money. Scammers clone genuine numbers from institutions to lend an air of legitimacy to their cold calls, which means that even if you take all the necessary precautions you could be duped. What Jamie didn't know at the time was that the FSCS does not cold-call customers and banks very rarely act in lockstep when there have been instances of fraud across a number of accounts. A few minutes later Jamie received text messages from each of his banks with an FSCS reference number below previously legitimate messages from the institutions in question. From there, the caller told Jamie that because he had numerous accounts with Tide it would make the most sense for it to handle the case and he would soon receive a call from a withheld number as Tide don't have a direct facing customer service number. Indeed, Tide - which offers business accounts - is not officially a bank, as it doesn't have a banking licence with the Financial Conduct Authority, which we explain in more detail below. Jamie was passed onto another scammer called Theodore who introduced himself as one of Tide's anti-fraud team who said he would send through a message on the app. Jamie later realised it was something called a flash message, which is a notification that mimics a normal message and makes it seem as if you're receiving a message from your bank when it's in fact from the scammer. Crucially the notifications don't stay in your notifications so they can't be traced. A spokesman for the FSCS said: 'Sadly, it's all too easy for scammers to use the details of legitimate organisations like FSCS to try and appear genuine to their victims. If we hear that our number is being used fraudulently, we report it to our telecoms provider and Action Fraud immediately. 'FSCS is a free service, so we would never ask for any money or call someone who hasn't recently made a claim with us. If you're ever unsure that contact from FSCS is genuine, we'd encourage you to contact us directly using the information on our website at www.fscs.org.uk.' I lost 100,000 in a matter of hours Theodore told Jamie that his Tide account had been compromised and he would need to set up a new account with almost identical names to transfer money into. He also gave Jamie a URL to type into Google which took him to a webpage that he says was indistinguishable to Tide's. There, he was directed to type in a code provided by the fraudster and the accounts that had been 'set up' appeared. The level of sophistication and social engineering behind this has truly scared me Jamie flagged that the sort codes were different to usual but was told Tide operates on a number of different platforms, which he later found out to be untrue. At this point the scammer already had a number of Jamie's details including his mother's maiden name, previous and current address and recent transactions. All of this meant that Jamie felt confident he was speaking with someone from the anti-fraud team and proceeded. 'He told me we'd transfer the money over in small increments because if you do it one go, if it gets lost in the account migration process, it can be difficult to trace.' Jamie transferred 500 at a time and as it was leaving his genuine Tide account, he could see the balance on the spoof website more or less being updated in real time. Over the course of a few hours, Jamie transferred 106,000 from three of his Tide accounts. 'During the process the guy couldn't have been more relaxed. Obviously I'm stressing out but not because he's making me feel uncomfortable. I just want to transfer and get out because of the elaborate back story.' 'Every stage without any hesitation, the scammer knew the answer he knew page-by-page what the Tide interface looked like. He knew the inner workings of it and I didn't register that it could be someone not from Tide. 'I negotiate with people all day, I can usually smell when something's off. The level of sophistication and social engineering behind this has truly scared me.' He also said he felt secure as there was 'no plausible reason' any bank with security would allow 500 transactions to a new payee if not being orchestrated by the anti-fraud team. He says that at no point were there any messages or warnings to indicate that there was fraudulent activity on his account, despite there being hundreds of transactions. Tide told This is Money it had provided five warnings to Jamie about recipient names not matching the bank details, but he strenuously denies this. Read below for their full response. Left in the lurch The next day Jamie realised what had happened and after reporting it to Tide, he said there was 'no urgency' from Tide. At one point, he told Tide that the scammer was planning on calling again and if there was anything he could say or do to help the situation or track the scammer. At another Jamie had the scammer on loudspeaker while calling Tide on a different phone. He says no assistance was forthcoming. Nearly two days after the scam, Jamie discovered a report into the scam had only been filed some 40 hours after the scam, giving the criminals a head start and little chance of the funds being tracked. Jamie* made payments of 500 over a few hours thinking he was moving his money into a safe account After the scammers drained his Tide account, Jamie still had staff to pay but thankfully he had cash in his savings with another bank to pay his staff, contractors and his mortgage. 'Thankfully there was money in the background the scammers couldn't get it. If that wasn't the case, I would have had 13 people that wouldn't have been paid. The dominoes would have started falling and feasibly I could have lost everything.' Ten days on from the scam and Jamie still hadn't been told anything pertinent - instead told via the app that Tide would aim to resolve it in 35 days. 'For a week I was screaming into the abyss. It's your worst nightmare, losing that much money.' By contrast his local police force had already advised Jamie that one of the accounts had already been traced, while Tide said there was no update. Almost two weeks after the scam, Jamie was contacted by the complaints resolution manager who said Tide's response 'is not going to hinge on deflecting the failings of our own systems, which are self-evident given what's happened. It's plain that Tide should have stepped in to do more to protect your funds.' Tide admits failings but offers half the cash back Two weeks after scammers took over 100,000 of Jamie's money, he finally received a response from Tide's complaints team. Tide admitted that there had been 'missed opportunities' to prevent the incident and that the activity on Jamie's account that day appear 'out of character'. It added: 'Tide should have identified such a significant volume of transactions to new payees as a pattern indicative of fraud.' Under the circumstances, the checks and balances in the system weren't appropriate. Everything has been so comprehensively spoofed The team upheld his complaint but with the crucial caveat that there were opportunities for Jamie to have noticed something was amiss. Jamie therefore received just half of the funds he lost to the scammers, meaning he is 50,000 out of pocket. Most leading high-street banks are signatories of the Contingent Reimbursment Model (CRM) code, which puts measures in place to detect and prevent authorised push payment (APP) scams. They also have a duty to reimburse customers who have fallen victim to an APP scam through no fault of their own. However Tide isn't a signatory and isn't a registered bank, rather referring to itself as a 'business financial platform'. While regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), it offers e-money accounts, provided by PPS and business bank accounts, provided by ClearBank. Tide insisted it was 'reasonable to expect that our members have some awareness of 'safe account' scams given their prevalence, adding that there had been plenty of in-app warnings about a proliferation of scams. They added that while the spoofing of phone number and texts were convincing, coordination between banking providers is 'highly unusual.' Tide launched in 2016 and offers personal and business accounts but is not a bank 'It is simply impossible for so many banks to individually recognise that your accounts were compromised the fraudsters did not appear to have all this information about your banking when initially calling you - and relied on the information that you readily provided them'. Tide also told Jamie that he should have known the 'safe accounts' opened by the scammers were banks well outside of Tide and that their T&Cs clearly state who the providers are. Even if Jamie was aware of this sophisticated type of scam and social engineering, crucially Tide admitted it should have done more to stop it. As a result, Tide told Jamie that they both had opportunities to recognise the fraud and stop it and liability should be shared equally. Jamie has received 50,000 of the money back. Jamie insists that security protocols have always been lax. High street banks have cracked down on new payees and transfers in a bid to combat scams. Jamie says there has 'absolutely not' been the same treatment on Tide: 'The irony of this is that one of the ways Tide markets to small businesses is in ease, convenience and flexibility. But there needs to be a trade off with security. The ease of transferring money is one of the appeals of Tide.' Since the scam however Tide has stopped Jamie from transferring money out of his account to an existing payee - himself. 'This type of fraud has the potential to wipe so many businesses off the map by being a victim of genuine crime. It seems so unfair that your reputation, credit record, ability to complete projects could be jeopardised by it. 'Under the circumstances, the checks and balances in the system weren't appropriate. Everything has been so comprehensively spoofed. If they can get me, they can get anybody.' The next option for Jamie is to take his case to the Financial Ombudsman - and he has decided to do just that. My husband died in spring 2023. I've spent the last year sorting out his affairs, which has been a struggle while also grieving and trying to support my young children. He had a phone with Three, costing just over 50 per month. At first I wanted to keep it because it contained pictures he had taken and other sentimental things, so I continued to pay the bill. In September, I contacted Three asking if I could keep the phone on a cheaper contract, as I wasn't using it for calls or messages. I was told someone from the specialist bereavement team would call me back. The call was a very strange and upsetting experience. When I was asked to provide my husband's death certificate, I got upset and started to cry. Unwanted comments: Our reader found the call so upsetting she hung up the phone The person told me off for being upset, which I though was totally inappropriate. They said I had 'only' lost my husband, whereas my husband had lost his life, his home and his friends, and that my crying 'made things worse for him'. I hung up the call and later started a complaint. This advice seemed motivated by religion and was totally unwelcome and unwarranted in a call about a financial transaction. I'm particularly concerned that this came from an apparently trained member of the bereavement team as they could be saying similar things to other vulnerable people. Three has not apologised to me or accepted that this was inappropriate. Anon Helen Crane, This is Money's consumer champion, replies: I was very sorry to hear about your loss. Financial admin is an unpleasant thing to do at the best of times, but when you are dealing with the death of someone so close to you things like cancelling a phone contract can seem a monumental task. It is why companies have specially trained staff to help bereaved people sort out their loved ones' accounts with minimum fuss and plenty of compassion. At least, that is what they are supposed to do. Your account of the phone call with Three is appalling. What on earth was this person on the end of the phone thinking? I am astounded that they were ever put to work in the bereavement team. CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk We all slip up and say the wrong thing on occasion - but it sounded as if this member of staff had an outlook on the world that made them totally unsuitable for the role. Do they not have to do practice calls or be vetted by managers before they are allowed to have these sensitive conversations with vulnerable people? You also told me that Three has continued to write letters and emails addressed to your husband many months after you informed it of his death. I am dismayed at the attitude Three had towards your complaint when you first made it. Like you, I worry that you are not the first grieving customer this person has upset. I know that you are not an unreasonable person, because you specifically asked me to praise members of staff in Three's Bristol store who you said were very helpful when you visited and it was them that suggested you take this complaint further. But when you made that complaint, you told me that Three minimised your concerns, and kept closing the complaint without having a dialogue with you. Your husband's account also remains open. What was it playing at? I contacted the mobile giant to ask how this had been allowed to happen. 'Minimised concerns': The customer says Three didn't take her complaint seriously I am glad to say that Three immediately changed its tune - though it should not have taken my involvement for you to be listened to. Importantly, it told me it would carry out training with its bereavement team based on your experience. It has also refunded all payments made on the account since your husband died, totalling 392, and topped that amount up to 500 as a goodwill gesture. A Three spokesman said: 'We apologise for the difficulty that [this customer] has faced in making changes to this account and dealing with our bereavement team our customer service was not up to our usual high standards on this occasion. 'We have reached out to [them] and closed the account with immediate effect. We have also offered compensation, including refunding all payments made on the account since [her husband's] death. We will be conducting further training with our team based on this experience.' You said that you have now spoken to a helpful member of staff at Three and feel your complaint has now been 'heard, investigated and apologised for.' I hope that lessons have really been learned. Why won't O2 refund me after Wangiri scam? I've been the victim of a phone scam people need to know about. Yesterday I received an unsolicited call from a number in Tunisia. I may be old, but I am not stupid and indeed am very suspicious of such calls so I didn't answer. An hour later I received a text from O2 saying I had spent 150 over my monthly allowance. I then rechecked my phone and found an outgoing call to Tunisia from my phone immediately above the incoming call. I didn't make the call, though. Scammed: I.J fell victim to a type of fraud revolving around calls from premium numbers - but her network o2 initially wouldn't refund her I phoned O2 but it said I made the call so I would need to pay the charge. I have looked on the O2 forums and this is happening to other people as well. I have received more calls from Tunisia since and have ignored them. After I called again O2 said it would investigate further, but hasn't said whether I will get the money back. Can you help? I.J Helen Crane of This is Money replies: It appears that you have been the victim of what is known as a Wangiri scam. Wangiri is a Japanese word which means 'one ring and drop,' and that is exactly how it works. The victim will receive a call from a number they don't recognise. The scammers hang up after one or two rings, in the hope that the victim will see the missed call and then ring back. The sting in the tail being is that the call comes from a premium or international phone number meaning it will be charged at a high rate, and the fraudsters can pocket the money. How to steer clear of a Wangiri scam Don't pick up the phone if you don't recognise the number If you see a missed call from an international number you don't recognise, don't call back Block the number from your phone so it cannot call you again. It's usually possible to do this in your phone's call log Report suspected Wangiri calls to your mobile network including the phone number, time and date. They monitor these types of calls and can bar numbers from calling anyone on their network. In o2's case, it said customers should email nuisance@telefonica.com. Consider adding a spending cap to your account. This is when you set a limit on how much you are willing to spend on texts, calls an data each month above your usual monthly allowance, and when you hit that figure you won't be allowed to spend any more. If the victim calls back they will try and keep them on the line as long as possible and see the pounds adding up. They use all kinds of tactics to do this, so callers may be put on hold or played a long, pre-recorded message. The scam has been going for years, originating in Japan but now being run by criminals all over the world. It's not unique to the O2 network, with scammers calling thousands of numbers using automated dialling machines in the hope that a handful will bite. In your research online, you noted that others were reporting calls from Tunisia (international dialling code +216) which suggests that it could be a hot spot for the scam at the moment. Other countries where Wangiri calls have come from in the past include Botswana (+267) Comoros (+269), Cook Islands (+682), Guinea (+224) Guyana (+592) and Liberia (+231). But the curious thing about this case is that, while you insist you didn't call the number back, it does appear on your phone as an outgoing call. I do also think it is unfair that O2 initially decided not to refund you for the 150, as these bills were racked up through no fault of your own. I decided to speak to the phone firm and get to the bottom of this. The network said that there was a call lasting 50 minutes from your phone to a Tunisian number on the day in question. It said it wasn't possible for scammers to artificially change the length of a call, or for a call to be added to a customer's bill that didn't really happen. But when we have reported on Wangiri scams in the past, customers have also insisted that they never made the call or that they hung up much earlier than the network says the call lasted. Stay safe: If you do get a call from abroad and suspect a Wangiri scam, the advice is to block it so that the same number cannot contact you again The phone network did say that it had seen instances in the past whereby victims have called back and the line went quiet, so they assumed it had been ended when it had not and inadvertently stayed on the line. It is also possible that it could have been an unfortunate pocket dial. However it happened, I am pleased to say that as a goodwill gesture, O2 has credited the 150 back to your account. An spokesman said: 'Unfortunately we believe I.J fell victim to a Wangiri scam, where a fraudster leaves a victim a missed call in the hope that they'll call them back on an international or premium rate number that they can then profit from. 'We have reviewed this case and provided a full refund to I.J. 'If a customer receives a call out of the blue from an international or premium rate number they don't recognise, we strongly advise that they do not call back and report to us immediately if they believe it is a scam.' Rolls-Royce more than doubled profits last year as a turnaround led by boss Tufan Erginbilgic paid off amid a recovery in air travel. The engineering giant made 1.6billion in 2023, up from 652million in the previous year, sending its share price up as much as 11 per cent. And it has forecast further growth, with earnings on track to hit up to 2billion in 2024. Earnings for last year beat analysts expectations of 1.4billion but the firms investors were left without a shareholder payout. The British defence company last paid a dividend in 2019. Rolls-Royce explained that it was committed to resuming dividends once the strength of our balance sheet is assured. Big boost: Profits at Rolls-Royce have risen by more than 200% since Tufan Erginbilgic (pictured) took over as boss Julie Palmer, a partner at Begbies Traynor, said: Rolls-Royce investors might feel short-changed by the lack of shareholder payments, despite the improved performance in 2023. Since former BP executive Erginbilgic, who has pledged to quadruple profits by 2027, took over the 118-year-old group in January 2023, shares have soared more than 200 per cent. Yesterday, they climbed 8.3 per cent, or 27.3p, to 356.8p. Rolls was the FTSE 100s biggest riser in 2023, with shares enjoying their best year since the 1987 public listing. Erginbilgic said: Our transformation has delivered a record performance in 2023, driven by commercial optimisation, cost efficiencies and progress on our strategic initiatives. Rolls spent years underperforming under previous bosses and came close to bankruptcy during the pandemic. When Erginbilgic took over last year he described the firm as a burning platform. Yesterday, it confirmed that it had already made 150million of the between 400million to 500million cost savings outlined in a transformation plan. Last year it announced plans to cut 2,500 jobs, which is up to 6 per cent of its workforce, a measure that will mainly affect non-engineering roles. Rolls is targeting making a profit of 2.8billion by 2027 and is hoping to fatten margins at its main civil aerospace business to as much as 17 per cent. The company forecast operating profit of between 1.7billion and 2billion for 2024 but warned that supply chain challenges would continue for up to another two years. Erginbilgic also used the results to take a swipe at the Government, warning that the first of its mini-nuclear reactors could be built in Europe instead of Britain if ministers fail to accelerate their decision-making. He said he was confident the Derby companys small modular reactor (SMR) technology was still far ahead of competitors. But he said time was running out for the UK to benefit from its first mover advantage, as Rolls has also held talks about deploying SMRs in eastern Europe. It comes as Great British Nuclear (GBN), the public body that was set up to lead the UKs nuclear power revival, is preparing to choose which SMR prototypes to support from a shortlist of six companies, including Rolls. After delays to the process, GBN has promised that it will unveil winners this spring. But Erginbilgic warned the selection would not mean anything unless detailed decisions are taken within months on where the reactors will be built. Quilter Cheviot equity analyst Jarek Pominkiewicz said: The impressive results were supported by the companys transformation programme and strategic initiatives, which aimed to improve its commercial optimisation and cost efficiency across the group... the recovery is very much on track. The engine maker said revenue jumped 21 per cent from 12.7billion to 15.4billion last year. Sales were boosted as governments upped their military spending amid heightened global tensions in 2023. And a recovery in air travel, as demand for holidays soared, helped to push up sales and profits. In its civil aerospace business, large-engine flying hours a key performance measure recovered to 88 per cent of 2019 levels, up from 65 per cent in 2022. Orders for large engines hit a 15-year high, with major purchases by Air India and Turkish Airlines. And the company forecast that transactions will bounce back or beat pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. Recovery: The purchasing managers index showed business activity in the UK picking up speed Britains private sector is growing at the fastest pace for nine months according to new figures adding to evidence that the recession is already over. The purchasing managers index (PMI) showed business activity picking up speed in stark contrast to data showing a deepening downturn in Germany. UK GDP shrank for two quarters in a row late last year, meeting the technical definition of recession, but there are signs it has started to bounce back. The flash PMI survey for February gave a reading of 53.3 on an index where any score above 50 shows activity is growing. Chris Williamson, at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which compiled the figures, said: Faster growth has now been recorded for four straight months. He said the survey pointed to the economy growing by between 0.2 per cent and 0.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year, and the highest level of business optimism for two years. Simon Wells, an economist at HSBC said: We are not out of the woods, but todays PMIs add weight to the argument that the UK economy has turned a corner. The figures come days after Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey suggested that the very small recession at the end of last year could already be over. The UK looks set to emerge from recession just as Germany enters one. Yesterdays PMI figures from the country pointed to a deepening contraction which was led by a sharp and accelerated reduction in manufacturing. When Sheena Bora resigned from her workplace in 2012 no one had reason to believe anything was out of the ordinary. Her mother Indrani Mukerjea maintained her daughter had simply left to pursue higher education in the United States. On April 24, 2012, the 22-year-old also supposedly sent a break-up text to her boyfriend and step-brother Rahul Mukerjea. A month later her burned corpse was eventually found in Maharashtra's Raigad district and later identified in 2015, sparking one of India's most notorious and mysterious cases. As The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth is set to air on Netflix , MailOnline takes a look into the infamous murder case that shook Mumbai's high society. Sheena Bora's (pictured) burned body remained unidentified for three years after it was discovered by police in May 2012 - a month after her murder MailOnline take a look at what happened to the 22-year-old (pictured with her mother Indrani Mukerjea) What happened to Sheena Bora? Sheena Bora's decomposed body was found by police to have been kidnapped and strangled on May 23, 2012. Despite the discovery, her body remained unidentified and no one was arrested for her murder until three years later. On August 25, 2015, Sheena's driver, Shyamvar Rai, was taken into custody for possessing an illegal weapon. During his questioning, he confessed to his participation of a completely seperate crime - the murder of his ex-employer's daughter in the 2012. Due to his admission, Sheena's mother Indrani Mukerjea and her father Sanjeev Khanna were then arrested for her murder. The driver, who sought to become a prosecution witness in 2016, also claimed that Indrani planned the murder well in advance. He alleged she visited the murder site the day before, previously rejected two locations on the Lonavala Khopoli route. Rai alleged on the day they disposed of Sheena's body, Indrani and Khanna made to the murder appear like suicide by immolation. The driver claimed that when the pair reached the murder spot, Sheena's parents allegedly brought Sheena's body out of the car. Indrani proceeded to throw gloves and a saree on her daughter's body, according to the driver's recollection. Rai alleged that Sheena's farther then poured petrol over her body, whilst her mother set Sheena alight. According to NDTV, the Central Bureau of Investigation alleged the Indrani killed her daughter because she did not approve of her relationship with her step-son Rahul. She also reportedly had financial disputes with her daughter. In November 2015, Sheena's step-father and retired British television executive, Peter Mukerjea was also arrested by the CBI. In a charge sheet issued by the CBI in 2016, both Peter and his ex-wife were described as 'equal participants' in conspiring to get rid of Sheena according to Hindustan Times. Her mother, Indrani Mukerjea and her father Sanjeev Khanna were arrested for Sheena's murder in 2015. Indrani was allegedly unhappy about Sheena's romantic relationship with her step-brother Rahul Her step-father retired British television executive, Peter Mukerjea (pictured) was also arrested by the CBI for her murder, and was later released on bail in 2020 What happened to Sheena's mother? In the beginning of 2017 Sheena's mother, father and step-father all faced charges of conspiracy, kidnaping, destroying evidence and giving false information, as well as the murder. Two years later Peter and Indrani decided to end their relationship. In March 2020, Peter was granted bail for his step-daughter's murder, however Indrani's pleas for bail were rejected at least four times. She was eventually granted bail from Byculla women's prison in Mumbai on May 18, 2022 after seven years behind bars under trail. In her book 'Unbroken: The Untold Story', Mukerjea 'strips away the layers of sensationalism that surrounded me and reveal the raw truth of my experiences'. Indrani has claimed her daughter was still alive in her 2023 book Unbroken: The Untold Story. Indrani was denied bail at least for times, however after nearly seven years in Byculla women's prison in Mumbai she was granted bail. She now lives in her residence in Worli In an expert of the book, she wrote: 'I am now at peace after Sheena was spotted at the Guwahati airport by my friend - Saveena. Being an advocate herself, her quick thinking got us the footage of Sheena from the airport' Indrani added: 'Something changed in me after this information came to the fore. The person I am accused of killing is out and about, while I was rotting in jail. 'Why hasn't she come out openly? I don't know. I am sure there are reasons and pressures holding her back. But this is the second time I have been told Sheena is alive She is currently lives in her Worli residence and is on bail for the murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora. Alex Salmond had flown in from Berlin to appear before the Scottish affairs committee and, going by the glint in his eye, he may not have needed an aeroplane. No one wants to find themselves in front of a Westminster select committee. It invariably means youve blundered or plundered or are about to go under. Youre probably getting a block all to yourself on the next Newsnight. Not so Salmond. He was so thrilled to be there he could barely contain his vim. For all his nationalist ideals, he is a House of Commons man through and through. He loves the pomp and pageantry, the legends and the legerdemain. Through these corridors swept centuries of great men making history and canny men making mischief. There is a pulse that runs through the place and even after all these years it makes Salmonds heart skip a beat. Alex Salmond appeared before the Scottish affairs committee yesterday Committee member David Duguid billed him as the recovering member for Banff and Buchan. Not a chance. Hes as hooked as ever on Westminster. In the chair was Pete Wishart, who had summoned his old boss for some insight into intergovernmental relations. With Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh behind him in the public gallery, Salmond recounted in high solemnity how Tony Blair Sir Anthony Blair never phoned to congratulate him on his victory 17 years ago. He suspected Blair was miffed about the SNP winning the 2007 Scottish parliament elections. If Blair was aware there were Scottish parliament elections in 2007, Id be amazed. As Salmond himself noted, the man had things on his mind countries to invade. He tried to telegraph perfect indifference to this snub, even as he kept repeating the story. It was the Alex Salmond show, and all the old tics and tricks were back. The practised chortles, the emphatic hand gestures, the little gasps of incredulity in response to perfectly reasonable points. And, of course, the bombast. He regaled MPs with a tale of how he fought off an attempt by Whitehall to bill the Scottish Government tens of millions of pounds for security at the 2005 Gleneagles Summit. He also boasted of how hed got the UK ambassador in to see the top brass of the Chinese Communist Party during a period of diplomatic froideur between London and Beijing. He came gloriously close to taking credit for the golden age of Sino-British relations under David Cameron. As ever when the flashbulbs started popping, Salmond seized his chance for some score-settling. His successors chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, was not someone he would have anywhere near being a senior adviser. He deprecated messages branding Boris Johnson a clown, because Covid-bereaved families had no interest in political spats, and demurred from John Swinneys evidence to the Covid inquiry about a message deletion policy in the Scottish Government. There was a telling moment when he was talking about a breakdown in communication between No 10 and Bute House, and he recalled that Liz Truss campaigned on the issue that she wasnt going to speak to He briefly hesitated, as though having just caught himself before mentioning She Who Must Not Be Named. Instead, he went for the First Minister at the time. The Salmond-Sturgeon psychodrama is the pettiest of the Greek tragedies. Its like something Euripides mightve dashed out for the Creative Scotland grant money. He even, on occasion, turned his fire on people he didnt serve with in government. Douglas Ross tried to grill him on his involvement in the ferry contracts. Salmond pointed out that the contracts were signed the year after he stood down. Ross pivoted to ask about his role in nationalising Ferguson Marine. Salmond reminded him that nationalisation happened four years after he stood down. Two parliaments are maybe a bit exhausting, going back and forward, the old bruiser quipped. Fortunately you dont have that problem any more since youre not sitting in either, Ross purred. This is the astonishing moment a fight breaks out between an Amazon worker and a wheelchair-bound building manager in the lobby of a Notting Hill tower block. In footage obtained by MailOnline, Ramin Razzaghi is seen confronting the delivery man at 112 Notting Hill Gate, a residential building in west London, because of an argument about where he leaves parcels. The Amazon worker is seen walking into the building with his deliveries before Mr Razzaghi, who is in a wheelchair due to a workplace injury, lets him through the next set of doors. CCTV from the incident on February 15 then shows the delivery man unloading around four or five boxes onto the reception desk, which appears to anger Mr Razzaghi. The building manager tries to grab the Amazon worker's bag but the delivery man snatches it back and attempts to leave. This is the moment an Amazon worker appears to try and punch a wheelchair-bound building manager who tried to stop him dumping parcels in the lobby of a Notting Hill tower block The building manager ended up out of his wheelchair as the altercation continued Mr Razzaghi desperately tried to stop the Amazon worker leave. He is seen clinging on to his legs The fight broke out at 112 Notting Hill gate - a residential building where Mr Razzaghi is the building manager However, he is then followed by Mr Razzaghi who tries to grab him by the shirt and stop him leaving. It's at this point that the Amazon worker appears to swing a punch at the building manager. Mr Razzaghi then gets up from the wheelchair and throws a punch himself before he ends up on the floor. The Amazon worker then tries to move away from Mr Razzaghi and dodges him before trying to exit the building. However, as he tries to leave, Mr Razzaghi - still on the floor - grabs him by the legs until they both end up on the floor on the street outside. It's at this point that a second man arrives at the scene and pulls Mr Razzaghi off the Amazon worker and appears to deliver a punch to his head. He then appears to repeatedly lands blows to Mr Razzaghi's face as he lies on the floor. The Amazon worker then goes back into the tower block to pick up some of the items he dropped during the altercation. Mr Razzaghi told MailOnline: 'I have been left emotionally, physically and mentally drained. I have injured my ribs and my jaw. I just ask myself 'Why?'. Speaking about the shocking incident, Mr Razzaghi explained: 'The Amazon worker is a reoccurring deliveryman that comes very often. The problem with him is that he always leaves the parcels wherever he wants - on the floor or by the door. The incident started with Mr Razzaghi confronting the Amazon worker about leaving parcels in the lobby After the Amazon worker dropped off the parcels, Mr Razzaghi tried to stop him leaving A fight then breaks out between the pair in the lobby Mr Razzaghi was left on the floor as the Amazon worker attempted to leave the building The altercation spilled out onto the street and a second man joined in and started punching Ramin 'This time when he came, I was outside the building with my niece. I stopped the man before he came in and asked him, 'Could you please take the parcels up to the individual doors?'.' 'The man nicely agreed to this, and I then let him in the two front doors of building. Suddenly as you can see on the CCTV, he left the parcels in the lobby. I then tried to stop the postman by grabbing his bag and I told him 'give me your bag now' so I can put the parcels back'. 'Next thing, he threw the bag into my face and walked out swearing. He had a bad mouth on him. 'He then tried to get me off him but I told him 'You know what I will hold you here and call the police'. 'As soon as I said that, he became aggressive. The only thing I could do is hold onto his legs to stop him from leaving. 'The conversation dragged outside, and I was still holding onto his legs. Someone came up behind me and tried pulling me off. I thought he just wanted to separate me from the Amazon worker but as soon as I let go, this man started beating me up on the floor. 'I do not know this person.' A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police continue to investigate the circumstances of an assault in Notting Hill Gate, W11. 'The incident happened at around 13:50hrs on Thursday, 15 February when an altercation occurred between two men, one of whom was in a wheelchair. 'A 35-year-old man intervened and assaulted the man in the wheelchair; the second man left the scene and enquiries are ongoing to locate him. 'London Ambulance Service attended; the man who was assaulted was not seriously injured. 'The 35-year-old man was arrested and subsequently charged with ABH. 'Enquiries, including analysing CCTV footage, are ongoing. Anyone who has any information that could help with the investigation is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CAD 3763/15Feb.' A spokesman for Amazon said: 'We're taking this matter very seriously and we're investigating with our delivery service provider.' Spice Girl Geri Halliwell's personal businesses lost 150,000, MailOnline can reveal today - in a further blow to the star as she deals with details of the probe into her F1 chief husband, Christian Horner. Accounts for her main business Wonderful Productions Limited show she made a loss in 2023 of 77,994 - compared to a profit of more than 152,000 previously. It meant she could not pay herself anything compared to the year before when she enjoyed a 762,240 payout from her company Wonderful Productions. Falcon Queen Limited, a separate company owned by Geri, also made losses of 75,521 and plunged 276,000 into the red. While there is no suggestion of immediate financial problems as Wonderful holds reserves of almost 1.38 million, the downturn could not come at a worse time for Geri. Spice Girl Geri Halliwell 's personal businesses lost 150,000 in a blow as she deals with details of the probe into her F1 chief husband, Christian Horner. Pictured: The couple at the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco in May Christian Horner (pictured at Badbury Rings Point to Point in Dorset) is being probed over claims that he sent 'sexually suggestive' texts to a woman employee on his Red Bull F1 team Wonderful Productions was set up by Geri in 1997 at the height of the Spice Girls' fame and channels earnings from her career in music and other commercial deals. It was originally called Firecracker Productions Limited - and has seen its finances go up and down. As recently as 2020 Geri paid herself more than 1 million from the company and in 2019 it was worth 3 million. Falcon Queen Productions was set up by Geri in May 2021 to provide business support activities. She is the only director and sole employee and controls it via Wonderful Productions, which owns all the shares. Geri's husband Christian is currently being probed over claims that he sent 'sexually suggestive' texts to a woman employee on his Red Bull F1 team. He vehemently denies all the allegations, which were initially believed to centre on claims of controlling behaviour. But a Dutch paper De Telegraph claimed to have seen messages at the heart of the probe, and alleges that they were 'sexually orientated'. De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to the woman employee 'over an extended period of time'. Messages were said to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December. Most of Australia to be scorched by intense heatwave Large parts of Australia are bracing for an intense heatwave ahead of the weekend after temperatures reached almost 50C on the west coast. Weatherzone meteorologist Stephen King said the searing heat would now travel from northwest WA, where Carnarvon recorded 49.9C this week, to the southeast. Victoria sizzled on Thursday as temperatures in Melbourne hit 38C - four degrees warmer than Perth where residents endured the worst of the heatwave this week. Parts of southern Tasmania and Hobart reached 35C on Thursday, the highest temperature the island state has recorded so far this summer. Mr King told Daily Mail Australia the heat would then travel up from Victoria to New South Wales on Friday, where temperatures will reach climb to the high 30s. The coast of Western Australia could see its first cyclone this weekend with the threat of ex-tropical Cyclone Lincoln redeveloping as it continues to track west. Here, Daily Mail Australia reveals what you can expect for your part of the country this weekend. Melbourne Victoria's emergency services are preparing for more perilous weather conditions, a week after bushfires and storms razed properties and left half a million homes and businesses in the dark. Temperatures are expected to top 40C in parts of the state, with storms bringing 80km/h winds and dry lightning into the afternoon. Extreme fire warnings have been also issued in SA, Tasmania and WA, where emergency services have been fighting blazes since early summer. Total fire bans have been declared for six Victorian regions, with the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West and Central districts all facing an extreme fire danger rating. 'Last Tuesday's conditions represented the worst fire risk day Victoria had experienced since the 2019/20 fire season. The fire threat is far from over,' CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said in a statement. Tasmania Fire Service has initiated a Hot Day Response across the state, and a total fire ban in southern Tasmania. Adelaide experienced a perfect summers day on Wednesday as temperatures hit 36C WA has total fire bans in place for multiple regions, and SA's Country Fire Service has declared an extreme fire risk in the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, the Mid North and the Murraylands. Last week's bushfires in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria destroyed 46 properties and razed more than 6000ha of bush and farmland. In the east, wind gusts of up to 130km/h levelled major power lines and transmission infrastructure, cutting power to 530,000 homes and businesses and leaving 37 homes uninhabitable. More than 1000 customers were still without electricity on Wednesday but were expected to be reconnected by Friday. Victoria's State Emergency Service chief officer Tim Wiebusch warned people to be aware of of further falling branches and avoid unnecessary travel in strong winds. 'Tie down loose outdoor items including outdoor furniture and trampolines and park your car undercover or away from trees,' Mr Wiebusch said in a statement. Victoria's SES has responded to more than 5700 requests for assistance since February 13. Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent praised emergency services, volunteers and repair crews for their work so far, and urged Victorians to be aware of the multiple weather threats. 'As Victoria faces another hot day on Thursday, please look after yourself,' he said. 'Keep up to date with warnings, and be mindful of elevated risks.' Every state and territory in Australia is bracing for a ferocious heatwave ahead of the weekend (pictured, beach-goers enjoy the 36C weather in Adelaide on Wednesday) Total fire bans have been declared for six Victorian regions amid a searing heatwave Ex-cyclone Lincoln is forecast to redevelop and make landfall on the Pilbara coast - it will be the first cyclone to affect WA's coast this season HOW TO STAY SAFE IN A HEATWAVE Drink plenty of water Wear a hat and loose-fitting clothing Stay in air-conditioned buildings Check up on sick or elderly friends and family during the heat Never leave kids or pets in hot cars Advertisement Perth Urban search and rescue specialists are among the dozens of emergency service personnel deployed to Western Australia's northwest as authorities prepare communities for the likely impact of a tropical cyclone. The massive weather system is forecast to make landfall as a category two cyclone near Coral Bay on Saturday, but the Bureau of Meteorology has warned it could strengthen into a severe category three storm. A blue alert has been issued from Roebourne south to the Ningaloo area, including the mining town of Karratha, with residents urged to get ready for severe weather and potential flooding. Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said rapid response teams and equipment were on the way to Carnarvon, Exmouth, Karratha and Geraldton. 'We are significantly bolstering our resources in the northwest to ensure we're keeping the community safe,' he told reporters on Wednesday. 'Our efforts are focused on communities close to where the cyclone is expected to cross, including Aboriginal communities, mine sites and tourism operators.' The commissioner said the North West Coastal Highway was likely to close at multiple locations due to flooding and some communities could be isolated. 'People in the community should reconsider travel and people travelling in caravans must leave the area prior to a cyclone approaching for your own safety,' he said. 'Conditions on the coast will also be very dangerous over the coming days.' The coast of Western Australia could see its first cyclone this weekend with the threat of ex-tropical Cyclone Lincoln redeveloping as it continues to track west A bureau map issued on Wednesday shows the likely path of the weather system, which is expected to gather strength and reform into a cyclone as it tracks southwest down the WA coast from the Kimberley before making landfall in the southern Pilbara or Gascoyne regions. Meteorologist James Ashley said communities in northwest WA were likely to be hit by severe weather as the system moves south. 'A severe category three cyclone is not out of the question, as is a weaker system, but at the moment we're expecting this system to be a category two,' he said. 'It's likely to bring a period of dangerous winds and heavy rainfall to the area it moves over land so we have flood watches in place for the western part of the Pilbara and the Gascoyne region, as well as a tropical cyclone watch.' Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln crossed the Northern Territory coast late last week as a category one tropical cyclone from the Gulf of Carpentaria before moving inland across the Top End and into WA as a storm. It dumped heavy rain across a wide area triggering flood watches and warnings in northwest Queensland, the NT and northern WA before moving offshore again on Wednesday. A low-intensity to severe heatwave (forecast pictured) will affect parts of Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales this week Sydney Taylor Swift fans have been advised to pack an umbrella for her first Sydney show on Friday amid forecasts of rain and thunderstorms. After sweltering through a 35C day, a cool change is expected to arrive just as the megastar takes to the stage at 7.30pm. Weatherzone meteorologist Stephen King said Sydney would be rocked by some 'reasonably big thunderstorms' amid the arrival of a cool change. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hailstones for much of NSW on Friday and Saturday, placing a question mark above Swift's first and second shows. According to the Accor Stadium website, 'events will go ahead rain, hail or shine' unless the safety of patrons and the artist is at risk. This leaves the potential for organisers to make last minute adjustments to Swift's shows depending on the severity of the weather. Temperatures will plummet, with 24C on Saturday and 27C on Sunday. Taylor Swift fans have been advised to pack an umbrella for her first Sydney show with rain and thunderstorms forecast for Friday night (pictured, Swift performs in Melbourne) The Bureau of Meteorology forecast heavy rainfall and flash flooding possible with severe thunderstorms along the North Tropical Coast between Townsville and Tully and parts of the Northern Goldfields on Thursday (pictured) Brisbane Brisbane will reach 32C on Thursday and 34C on Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology forecast heavy rainfall and flash flooding possible with severe thunderstorms along the North Tropical Coast between Townsville and Tully and parts of the Northern Goldfields on Thursday. 'If you're in tropical northeast Queensland, expect showers and thunderstorms to become persistent and heavier from today,' the Bureau said on Wednesday. 'Over the next 3 days, some places north of Townsville could see over 200 mm.' However, showers will redevelop from Saturday afternoon with the chance of a late thunderstorm with heavy rainfall causing several areas to flood. Adelaide Adelaide experienced a perfect summers day on Wednesday as temperatures skyrocketed to 36C. Temperatures will drop slightly to 33C on Thursday with a cool change arriving in the afternoon to continue on Friday when clouds will form. The weekend will be slightly warmer with clouds to clear on Saturday. Residents will receive blue skies over the weekend, with highs of 30C. Thunderstorms will wreak havoc in several states this weekend (pictured, rain in Sydney) Darwin Temperatures are set to reach 32C on Thursday and 33C on Friday. Darwin is still in the thick of its wet season with showers forecast through to next week and a possible thunderstorm on Thursday. The Bureau's warning for minor flooding at the Daly River Police Station remains current with rainfall totals up to 35mm recorded across the catchment over 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday. 'The catchments are wet, and many river and creek levels remain elevated,' it said. 'Showers and storms are forecast for the next few days, which may cause some isolated renewed river level rises.' Canberra A shower or two is forecast on Friday in Canberra with possible thunderstorms. The weekend will be partly cloudy with tops of 26C on Saturday and 29C on Sunday. Friday's forecast has a higher chance of showers and could also see a thunderstorm develop with temperatures expected to stay in the high 20s for the rest of the week. Hobart Parts of southern Tasmania and Hobart will reach highs of 35C on Thursday, the hottest temperature recorded all summer. 'We haven't seen temperatures as hot as what we're expecting [on Thursday] for at least a year,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Luke Johnston said. 'Severe heatwave warnings are current for many parts of Tasmania, particularly the south-east where we've just got this elevated, prolonged period of heat lasting about three days.' Firefighters will remain on high alert during the 'worst fire conditions' experienced so far this summer with a total fire ban in place across the southern region. In the small hours of last Friday, the Conservatives lost two more Parliamentary by-elections. Scott Bentons disgrace he lost his appeal against a 35-day suspension from the Commons in all likelihood means a coming, hopeless bid to defend another, Blackpool South. This no longer looks like a government in crisis. It feels, with every passing day, like a government that is over. Its benches are rife with indiscipline. It is quite outnumbered in the House of Lords; it trails in the opinion polls. Blithe, boyish and at times seemingly in tenuous touch with reality, Rishi Sunak is but the latest failed Prime Minister since Tony Blair. We had the usual excuses after Kingswood and Wellingborough. Low turnout. The mischievous role of Reform, splitting the centre-Right vote. And that it is perfectly normal, as Sunak indeed last week argued, for a party in government to do badly in mid-term by-elections. But we are no longer in the middle of this Parliament. We are in its dying months and, were there any chance of the Tories bouncing back, there should by now be signs of recovery. We have to look back to the beleaguered days of John Major to recall another administration this unpopular for this long. David Cameron's unexpected return to high office was like Bobby Ewing's comeback in TV soap Dallas In the end, in 1997, there was a New Labour landslide, the Conservatives were reduced to 165 seats, and spent the next 13 years in opposition, howling at the moon. Another rout probably this autumn seems now assuredly on the cards. And if Nigel Farage were to bounce back into the fray and take command of Reform, the Tories could be facing an extinction event. It is all the more incredible when you recall the delirious Christmas election of December 2019. Against all odds, through preceding months, Boris Johnson had run rings around his incensed opponents. He then won the Conservatives their biggest majority since the halcyon days of Mrs Thatcher. Wrested the most improbable Red Wall seats from Labour, turned Redcar into Bluecar and could at last lead us straight out of the European Union. The world was at the Tories feet. Their opponents were in disarray. With an 80-seat majority, here was a gleaming Conservative opportunity for action on immigration, on housing, on infrastructure. For reform of the NHS and for turning back the tide of woke. It seems incredible, almost half a decade later and even allowing for the Covid-19 emergency, which blindsided governments everywhere how pathetically little this government has accomplished. There was our triumphal vaccine rollout in 2021 at pace, and far more efficiently than in the EU and, thanks to a flash of Sunak decisiveness, the fall of Nicola Sturgeon and wholesale reversal of fortune for Scottish nationalism. In contrast to the mass of timid Europe, too, we have given robust, generous and practical support to Ukraine. And thats about it. Whatever went so wrong for Boris Johnson and his successors? One has first to acknowledge inexperience. No one ever used to get near the fabled doorstep of 10 Downing Street without long service in the House of Commons. It took Churchill 40 years. Eden, Macmillan and Callaghan over 30. When Mrs Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979, she had been in Parliament for two decades and had held office under three of her Tory predecessors. We have now had a succession of PMs with Theresa May apart very brief Commons service. A decade ago, Rishi Sunak was not even an MP. Liz Truss entered Parliament in 2010. Johnson he had taken time out to serve as London Mayor had aggregated only ten years. And that want of experience, guile, perspective, resilience and backbone has hampered all of them as it will hamper Sir Keir Starmer. But there is also the dark legacy of the long period of Labour government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. They not only left the House of Lords with a majority of centre-Left peers. They packed out the public sector with people in their own image. Academe, the quangocracy, the judiciary, the BBC... and a lot of them are still there. Accordingly especially since we voted Leave in 2016 this government has always been menaced by the Lords and, at every turn, faced massive institutional resistance to its averred policies. The crowning example is immigration. Back in 2010, David Cameron vowed to reduce it to the tens of thousands a year. We are so apt to fixate on the people-smugglers and their flimsy little boats that it came as a shock to learn that, last year, the people allowed legally to move to this country totalled 1.2million. That's equivalent to the city of Birmingham and the vast majority, 968,000, were non-EU nationals. We have not the housing, the schools, the healthcare provision or the infrastructure to cope; the cultural consequences are already playing out on our streets and at no point have we ever been asked for our consent. And the reason Rishi Sunak can do nothing about the boats is that he cannot command his own Parliamentary party on the issue, so large is the rump of herbivorous centrists who, for instance, die in a pile at any suggestion we repudiate the authority of the European Court of Human Rights. In a few months, many of those MPs will be looking for new jobs, largely in the public or charitable sector. Nice little CV youve got there, mate. Be a shame if anything illiberal happened on it. The villain of the piece here is David Cameron whose recent, unexpected return to high office rather reminded one of Bobby in TV soap Dallas stepping out of the shower. Fascinated by Blair and the shaping of New Labour, Cameron and George Osborne set out on a Conservative modernisation process. And thus hollowed out their own party. The role of local Tory associations in adopting candidates was greatly weakened. Central Office drew up an A-list of favoured ones nicely balanced in gender, ethnicity, sexuality and so on and, amid this enthusiasm for getting dahn wiv da kidz, did not particularly care what these people actually believed. Thanks to these Tatler Tories we now have a considerable number of Conservative MPs who are not, in any meaningful sense, Conservative. Indeed, we saw that in the last Parliament, when several remoaners crossed the floor to the Liberal Democrats, or that breakaway outfit whose name we all struggle to remember. Not, in fact, folk who cherish the Crown, tradition, balanced budgets, private property, the right to inheritance, marriage and family and the right to police our own borders. And they have brought us to the death rattle of our third experience of protracted Conservative government since the war and, potentially, the disintegration of the Conservative Party itself, as the Liberals a century ago tumbled into irrelevance. Some new force may well replace the Tories. Gutsy, populist and nativist. But, one dreads, not necessarily benign. Scotland is in the grip of a childhood obesity epidemic with at least half now believed to be dangerously overweight by the age of 14. Experts found the obesity rate was concerningly high by the start of primary school and got worse further into adolescence. The Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study also found disadvantaged children are far more likely to be overweight or obese than those from better-off households. The SNP Government is now facing calls to put urgent measures in place to improve the health of the countrys children. Scottish Tory deputy health spokesman Tess White said: This shocking report highlights how Scotland is facing a ticking time bomb when it comes to obesity on the SNPs watch. Experts warn being overweight or obese as a child can have devastating health impacts Ministers have failed to tackle social deprivation among many communities and it is youngsters from those backgrounds who will be most affected. Obesity Action Scotland and University of Glasgow researchers followed more than 5,000 youngsters born between 2004 and 2005 for the GUS study. Some 1,697 of them had their measurements taken at ages four, ten and 14. The prevalence of overweight and obese children rose from a quarter when they were aged four, to 37 per cent of the youngsters by the time they were 14. But the report, published yesterday, warns it is now likely at least half of Scottish children today will experience overweight or obesity by the age of 14. Being overweight or obese as a child can have devastating health impacts. Not only does it have negative effects on child mental health, the report said, but it is linked to obesity in adulthood and is a risk factor for type two diabetes and high blood pressure. Childhood obesity is also associated with premature mortality, the report stated. Children from the most deprived areas were found to be 2.6 times more likely to be obese than those living in the wealthiest postcodes. Lorraine Tulloch, of Obesity Action Scotland, said healthy food must be put centre stage and within everyones reach. She added: As a nation we need to ensure children have easy and reliable access to food that can promote their health. Dr Anna Pearce, who wrote the report, warned: Tackling child poverty and disadvantage in the early years is essential if we are to avoid further rises in childhood obesity and prevent widening health inequalities in future generations of adults.' Ms Tulloch said the situation could be turned around with brave and bold policy to tackle social disadvantage. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said obesity not only affected a persons quality of life but it also puts a huge strain on the NHS. He added: Your background should not dictate your wellbeing, but since the SNP came to power that has increasingly become the case. The Scottish Government said it has a target of halving childhood obesity by 2030 and is providing the NHS with more than 2.3million this year to deliver weight management services for children. It also said it plans to consult on regulations to restrict promotions of unhealthy food and drink. Denver Public Schools has been hit with a federal civil rights complaint over a memo it sent to some 13,000 staff, asking they endorse a 'black excellence' pledge about the 'deep harm whiteness brings to students.' The conservative group Parents Defending Education (PDE) filed a complaint with the Department of Education's civil rights office this week, accusing the district of 'discrimination' by prioritizing black students over others. The memo says it was sent by the district's senior leadership and its $305,000-a-year Supt. Dr Alex Marrero, who describes himself as the son of a refugee and the 'first Latinx head of the city's school system.' The complaint is the latest example of the backlash against what many conservatives and others see as an overreaching 'reverse racism' after the Black Lives Matter movement erupted in 2020. Denver's $305,000-a-year Supt Dr Alex Marrero describes himself as the son of a refugee and the 'first Latinx head of the city's school system' The memo says black students have endured 'years of harm, trauma, and racism' 'The district should be embarrassed for promoting curricula that exemplifies the 'deep harm whiteness brings to students',' said Caroline Moore, a vice president at PDE. Poll Is 'whiteness' harmful? Yes No Not sure Is 'whiteness' harmful? Yes 8 votes No 389 votes Not sure 4 votes Now share your opinion 'No student, even those who are white, should go to school and feel ashamed for what they look like. Discrimination is discrimination, end of story.' Denver Public Schools, the biggest educator in Colorado with 207 schools serving nearly 90,000 students with an annual $1.42 billion budget, did not answer DailyMail.com's request for comment. The Department of Education's civil rights team handles complaints about discrimination in schools and colleges. It does not act on every complaint. The controversial memo presents itself as 'belief in and commitment to black excellence' designed to address the 'years of harm, trauma, and racism' that African Americans have suffered. It was made public by the @endwokeness X/Twitter account last month. The pledge states that 'all educators need to understand white supremacy, white privilege and the prevalence and deep harm whiteness brings to students and team members.' The controversial memo urges teachers to fight 'white supremacy and white privilege' It promises to deliver 'equity-based revisions to curriculum,' and urges teachers to 'work to dismantle the system that allows certain students to excel, and others to perish.' Marrero wants to tackle the 'status quo' The document quotes Robin Diangelo and Jamilah Pitts, two prominent advocates of the controversial approach to overturning racism that is known as critical race theory. According to PDE, the memo is unfair because it makes teachers prioritize the 'social, political and educational needs of some children over others solely based on the color of their skin.' It will also tie-up teachers in 'hours of onerous trainings that focus solely on outcomes for black students.' These are violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, says the complaint. Marrero has in videos spoken of the need to 'disrupt the status quo' in schools and talks about helping students of all backgrounds with an 'equity-based strategic plan.' In his profile on the school website, he is described as the 'son of a Cuban refugee and a Dominican immigrant' who became the 'first Latinx head of the city's school system.' The district wants teachers and staff to act on the 'deep harm whiteness brings to students' Thanks to this background, he 'understands firsthand and advocates for the diverse needs of his students,' it adds. Some racial justice campaigners say schools need to help overcome centuries of racial discrimination and level the playing field for black students so they have a better chance in life. Critics of this say such 'diversity, equity and inclusion' efforts very quickly become little more than 'white-shaming' or 'reverse racism' that breed enmity in classrooms and end up hurting all students. The area where Samantha Murphy went missing has been hit by a recent crime wave, as a top criminologist claims the mother-of-three could still be alive. Ms Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat, west of Melbourne, for a jog through Woowookarung Regional Park at about 7am on February 4. Police believe she entered the forest area where she regularly ran, but she was never seen again. Ballarat has been plagued by other recent crimes, with one tobacco shop firebombed and another smashed in a ram raid. Meanwhile, a couple died in a suspected murder-suicide on Friday night. Police have ruled out any connection with Ms Murphy's disappearance, Daily Mail Australia understands. The only solid clue has been that her mobile phone 'pinged' off a tower at Buninyong, on Ballarat's southern fringe, later on the day she went missing. The phone has not pinged anywhere since then. The area she was running in - bushland around the Woowookarung Regional Park - has a lot of old mine shafts. However, it's likely she would have been found by now if she fell down one of them. The theory that Ms Murphy would disappear of her own choice has been looked at, but there is no evidence to suggest that's what happened or that she would do that to her children. The theory that she has been a victim of foul play is still a major focus of the investigation. Top criminologist Xanthe Mallett (pictured) insisted there is hope Ms Murphy could still be alive It comes as criminologist Xanthe Mallett insisted there is hope Ms Murphy could still be alive. 'I mean, 18 days is a very long time, but I haven't given up hope yet,' Dr Mallett told Sunrise. 'You have to remember that Cleo Smith was recovered after 18 days in late 2021 when she was abducted. So until there's proof otherwise, I remain hopeful Samantha will be recovered alive.' Police have called in more than a dozen detectives from specialist units, including from the sex crimes, counter-terror, fraud and armed robbery divisions, and a bush-tracking expert to assist the investigation into Ms Murphy's disappearance. Dr Mallett said this development mean that police were 'recognising this could become a very protracted investigation'. 'They really need all of that expertise from those individuals who are very good add piecing together complex investigations that are very hard to follow,' Dr Mallett added. There are no witnesses, no CCTV and no dashcam footage to help crack the mystery - which is very rare in a time when consumer surveillance technology plays a vital role in many police investigations. Dr Mallett said that the dearth of clues made it a 'very unusual and obviously suspicious case'. Michael Murphy, the husband of missing mum Samantha Murphy The area she was running in - bushland around the Woowookarung Regional Park - has a lot of old mine shafts The Opposition is calling on banks to keep ATMs in regional areas after new data showed the cash dispensers have been more than halved in Australia over the space of six years. Bank-owned ATMs have dwindled from 13,814 in 2017 to just 5,693, according to figures compiled by financial watchdog the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. In the same space of time branches have declined from 5,694 to 3,588 despite banks such as the Commonwealth announcing bulging profits, including a half yearly report last week of $5billion, just down on its previous six-month record result. Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam told Sky News on Wednesday that banks were especially failing regional Australians by not at least keeping their ATMs operating. ATMs are becoming an endangered species in Australia as banks continue to close them down 'Frankly its probably cost-cutting measures on the part of banks that I find very disappointing,' he said. 'I think these organisations that make significant profits should be required to maintain these facilities in regional communities. 'Ive got nothing against profits but delivering on these services to communities is critically important. 'Theyve closed the branches. ATMs are a much cheaper alternative. Please keep them particularly in regional communities and big cities too.' Senator Duniam also pointed out the danger of over-reliance on electronic transactions recalling the recent mass outage of Optus network in November that rendered many Eftpos machines useless. 'What do we do if we dont have ATMs?' he asked about such a scenario. Figures released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority show the culling of bank-owned ATMs READ MORE: Single photo exposes why many Australians are concerned about a cashless society This Facebook post stirred a strong reaction from those opposing the push towards a cashless society Advertisement 'If people arent using cash, if shops wont accept cash we are going to be a bit stuck.' The Tasmanian Senator also noted many elderly people are uncomfortable with electronic transactions. Banks have repeatedly defended branch and ATM closures by pointing out that fewer of their customers are using those services. By the end of 2022 cash only accounted for 13 per cent of Australian consumer payments compared to 70 per cent in 2007. Last December Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock even floated the idea that businesses should charge fees to Australians who use cash. Ms Bullock admitted such a move was unlikely because of the potential backlash but said from an economist's point of view it was justifiable. 'As economists you want people to face the prices of using particular services that reflect the cost of those services,' she said. What is going to happen and what does happen at the moment is that the costs end up embedded in the costs of the financial institutions that are providing the services and people don't face them. 'I think it would be a very big challenge to get people to face the costs of cash.' LNP Senator Gerard Rennick, who initiated and sits on a Senate committee conducting an inquiry into bank closures, responded by saying Ms Bullock was 'way of touch' for touting the idea. Senator Rennick was adamant that Australians should never have to pay extra to use cash. Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said it was 'disappointing' the banks were cutting costs by culling their ATMs 'Absolutely not,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's legal tender and that's just absurd to say you should pay fees.' Senator Rennick accused Ms Bullock of losing sight of what should be her remit. 'She should be representing the interests of the Australian people,' he said. 'This is the problem of having a so-called independent reserve bank, that over the years it has shifted its focus from protecting the people to protecting the banks. 'The RBA is technically saying the banks don't have a social licence whatsoever and that's not on.' An Indigenous Labor leader fed-up with the youth crime crisis gripping Alice Springs has revealed the three ways to clean up the Outback town. Marion Scrymgour, federal member for Lingiari that incorporates the central Australian town, said the community and youths are being failed by a system that slaps them on the wrist and sends them back to dysfunctional homes. The mum-of-three had her own house broken into while she was sleeping in January with the break-in just one of a flood of crimes committed by young people. A public bus was robbed, a rock was thrown at an elderly woman while countless cars were stolen over the summer period. Ms Scrymgour outlined three ways change can immediately happen in the town as she urged authorities to stop treating child criminals like 'little angels'. Among her changes were holding parents accountable for the behaviour of their children, conducting an urgent review of the Youth Justice Act and establishing more Indigenous-led outreach programs. Labor MP Marion Scrymgour said authorities need to stop 'pussy-footing' around and crack down on youth crime Car thefts leading to wrecks are a common sight on the streets of Alice Springs Locals say youth roaming the streets and going on joyrides is an ongoing problem 'There's got to be a rethink of how we deal (with youth crime) a bit of tough love never hurt anyone and I think that's what needs to come into this equation,' Ms Scrymgour told The Australian. 'We've got to stop pussyfooting around here and thinking that these kids are being taken home to a responsible adult because in a lot of these cases there isn't a responsible adult there and the reality is these kids don't listen.' Since 2019, the rates of assaults, property offences and domestic violence incidents in the NT have risen sharply, according to official figures. Businesses have been forced to board up windows to prevent break-ins, install bollards to thwart ram raids and the local Coles supermarket is entirely locked down at night by automatic metal roller shutters. Bakery owner Darren Clark who founded the Action for Alice Facebook group said the problem is the worst he's seen it in 25 years. 'They've driven a car into the bakery. We've got now big bollards out the front. A lot of businesses around town now have got bollards so they can't ram raid,' he said in 2023. 'In one week, my business got broken into three times, and on the fourth night, they broke into my home and stole two cars. Then they broke into the shop again.' Cars are a regular target of youth offenders running amok in Alice Springs The Coles in Alice Springs after closing is fortified by metal roller shutters following break-ins Children as young as 10 have reportedly been involved in joyriding in stolen cars in recent incidents leading Ms Scrymgour to voice concerns if the problem isn't controlled it is a matter of time before one of them gets seriously hurt. Under changes to Northern Territory law in 2022 the criminal age of responsibility was raised from 10 to 12, with then Chief Minister Natasha Fyles saying 'primary school-aged kids are not hardened criminals who need to be locked away'. 'You are sentencing them to increased behavioural problems, and potentially and most likely, the evidence shows us, a life of criminal activity,' she said. THREE STEPS TO ADDRESS ALICE SPRINGS' YOUTH CRIME PROBLEM Ms Scrymgour has broken ranks with Labor to demand more action on the Outback town's crime problem. She outlines three ways authorities could take action to tackle the issues. 1. 'We can target young people but if we don't make families accountable then we're putting a Band-Aid on the situation and the Band-Aid will fall off.' 2. 'Labor is talking about a review of the Youth Justice Act, there are some critical areas in the Youth Justice Act which can be done now it doesn't need to be put off for 12 months.' 3. 'We need to help them become productive members of society ... This response needs to be led by traditional owners, who need to show leadership on this.' Advertisement Ms Scrymgour said while she didn't necessarily disagree with the change it was clear that it had not made an improvement. She said a wider review of the effectiveness of the Youth Justice Act, under consideration by Labor, should be a priority that needs to be done within the year. 'I'm not left and I'm not woke, I just think we've got to hurry up and stop thinking that all of these measures are working, because they're not.' Anthony Albanese flew into Alice Springs in January last year in response to residents' concerns about alcohol-fuelled violence, break-ins and kids roaming the streets dominating headlines ahead of the Voice to Parliament vote. But former Alice Springs deputy mayor Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in December last year accused the PM of being missing-in-action on Indigenous issues since the referendum was voted down. New NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler earlier this month announced her government's own review of youth justice laws. At the opening of the new 'high-tech' $32million Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre last Monday, Ms Lawler said the youth crime problem was a failure of government. The focus of the new centre would be partly to hold youth offenders to account for their actions but also, just as important, was to set them on a better path, she said. 'I know the community expects there to be strong consequences for young people who do the wrong thing in the Territory and this is an important part of that puzzle,' she said NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler said a new detention facility would focus on rehabilitation for youth detainees 'But part of that puzzle is also making sure that young people that do he wrong thing, that find themselves (here) also are then on a pathway to a better life. 'It is about making sure that young people who are here get the education, the training, the pathways to jobs, the pathways to working in the NT. 'So if you are a young person who finds themself (here) we need to make sure that that is an opportunity to turn your life around and get you then to being a successful citizen, a healthy citizen, a great young person in the NT.' The Prince of Wales is a thoughtful and sympathetic family man whose heart is undoubtedly in the right place. A product of the modern age, his style is more personal and informal than most of his royal forebears and he is clearly keen to engage with the world around him. Like so many of us, he will be upset by the terrible images emerging from Gaza since Israel began military action to eradicate Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks. So on one level, William's impassioned intervention in the crisis is understandable. 'Too many have been killed,' he lamented, adding that he wanted to 'see an end to the fighting as soon as possible'. Few would disagree with his plea for more humanitarian aid for Gaza, nor his urging Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages. But he does need to recognise that this is potentially hazardous territory for him to step into. As future king, His Royal Highness must be scrupulously impartial. Prince William, pictured at the British Red Cross HQ in London on Tuesday, has released an impassioned statement in which he says 'too many' have been killed' in the Gaza conflict Prince William issued the royals' strongest statement yet on the Gaza conflict He must avoid giving the appearance that he is taking sides on sensitive subjects, which could lay him open to accusations of abusing his constitutional position. William is not an elected politician nor is he an activist. He is heir to the throne and, as such, must remain above the fray of day-to-day politics as his grandmother, the late Queen, did with supreme skill for over 70 years. When his father Charles was prince of Wales, he was criticised for meddling in national affairs. But his interjections, on pet preoccupations such as homeopathy and the environment, were relatively harmless. William's intervention in arguably the most divisive issue of the day has the potential to be far more dangerous. In particular, the timing of his words on the eve of what turned out to be a highly toxic Commons debate on Gaza will seem ill-judged to some. Another concern is that he has set a troubling precedent. If the prince can issue a sympathetic royal statement on Gaza, what about for Ukraine, or the murder of Alexei Navalny, or the Uighur repression in China? Some suspect Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has persuaded William to speak out, in order to put pressure on Tel Aviv. If so, that would be reprehensible. The prince should realise that compromising the political neutrality of the monarchy will only give ammunition to those who believe the institution is past its sell-by date. Our crippled military With the world more unpredictable than it has been for many decades, it should be reassuring that Britain possesses an independent nuclear deterrent. It shows other nuclear powers that if they use their weapons, they risk obliteration. So the failed test-firing of a Trident missile from a Royal Navy submarine is more than a national embarrassment. Because our enemies know the weapon plopped straight into the sea, it also undermines our security. Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arrives back at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland following a patrol This incident adds to the sense that the military, crippled by a shortfall of troops and equipment, woeful underfunding and hopeless procurement, has never been in worse shape in modern times. To tackle this crisis, the Government must invest more in defence. And Defence Secretary Grant Shapps should spend more time at his MoD desk and less time apparently plotting a leadership campaign. Pathetic Parliament Sir Lindsay Hoyle was supposed to return dignity to the office of Commons Speaker after the bias and egomania of John Bercow. But yesterday he disgraced himself by tearing up parliamentary procedure in a failed bid to spare Labour embarrassment during a debate on a ceasefire in Gaza. Now he faces calls to quit. The Tories and SNP stormed out of the Chamber. And our narcissistic MPs taunted each other. Westminster likes to think it is the mother of all parliaments. Instead, it behaves more like a sixth form debating society. A 39-year-old woman, who suffered from AIDS since birth and once made Oprah Winfrey cry on-air, has now died due to organ failure, according to reports. Hydeia Broadbent shot to global fame at the age of 11 when she shared her heartbreaking story of being diagnosed with HIV with Winfrey, on her namesake show, in 1996. Since then, Broadbent had become a HIV/AIDS advocate and spent her life addressing the stigma surrounding the virus, especially during the AIDS crisis in the US in the 1990s when such diagnosis meant certain death. But on February 20, Loren Broadbent announced his daughter's death on Facebook and said she had 'remained determined to spread hope.' According to Kimberley R. McCoy, a family member, Broadbent was on dialysis and on life support last year. Hydeia Broadbent shot to global fame at the age of 11 when she shared her heartbreaking story of being diagnosed with HIV with Winfrey on her namesake show in 1996 Since then, Broadbent had become a HIV/AIDS advocate and spent her life addressing the stigma surrounding the virus, especially during the AIDS crisis in the US in the 1990s when such diagnosis meant certain death But on February 20, Loren Broadbent announced his daughter's death on Facebook and said she had 'remained determined to spread hope.' 'With great sadness, I must inform you all that our beloved friend, mentor and daughter Hydeia, passed away today after living with AIDS since birth. 'Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, Hydeia remained determined to spread hope and positivity through education around HIV/AIDS,' the sorrowful father wrote on the social media page. Shortly after being abandoned by her biological mother, who was addicted to drugs, in Nevada as an infant, Broadbent was adopted by Loren and Patricia Broadbent. But by the age of four, her parents discovered she had been HIV-positive since birth, and had contracted AIDS. Until the age of six, the young child was tagging along with her mother, a social worker, as she raised HIV awareness. But soon after began to talk to people about the condition herself. During her appearance on Oprah, Broadbent revealed that living with the disease was the hardest part of life for her and explained the problems it had caused her After hearing about the girl's ordeal, Winfrey had begun to well up during the interview During her appearance on Oprah, Broadbent revealed that living with the disease was the hardest part of life for her and explained the problems it had caused her. 'I had fungus in my brain, blood infections and pneumonia. I went cold blue a couple of times and that was when I was five. 'A lot of my friends have died of AIDS. Because I don't have a choice. And I see so many people living recklessly. Just putting their lives on the line. At what point do we get it? 'You are not just dealing with HIV, AIDS. We have to address a person's mental state because if I don't feel good and I'm not happy and I don't want to get out of bed, I'm not going to take these pills to save my life.' After hearing this, Winfrey had begun to well up during the interview. Years later, Broadbent revealed she did not realize that Winfrey had cried. 'I actually don't remember her crying. I remember being on the stage and spending time with her after the show. She introduced me to her dogs and she gave me an All American Girl Addy Doll. Last year when I was featured in Oprah's Where Are They Now, the response was overwhelming. 'I found out I was one of the most requested updates by viewers. So many people feel like they have watched me grow up, and are just excited to know I'm doing well and still speaking out,' the activist had written on Instagram. Years later, Broadbent revealed she did not realize that Winfrey had cried On her 34th birthday, Broadbent wrote a blog post on her website celebrating the milestone as someone in 'the first generation of children born HIV positive' A GoFundMe for Broadbent has been launched by her father in order to 'lay her to rest' She had also a featured guest on 'A Conversation with Magic Johnson' on Nickelodeon in 1992 to raise awareness among children. On her 34th birthday, Broadbent wrote a blog post on her website celebrating the milestone as someone in 'the first generation of children born HIV positive'. 'These last few years have been extremely difficult; struggles with depression, which reached scary points. 'A depression so dark, I was not sure how I would see the beauty in life again. I was unsure of how I'd pull myself back up. I now have a new outlook, I'm able to now see the blessing's, and lesson's from my valley. I am a warrior, I raise each day, with purpose, while still being a work in progress,' she had written. A GoFundMe for Broadbent has been launched by her father in order to 'lay her to rest'. 'Hi I am Loren Broadbent the father of Hydeia Broadbent. Yesterday afternoon Hydeia unexpectedly passed away. Our hearts are broken. 'Hydeia spent her whole life since the age of five showing us all how to love, fight, and speak up for those affected with HIV and AIDS. 'And as much as I wish she was still here fighting the great fight, God called her home. Letting us all know. Job well done. 'In honor of her memory the family would like to lay her to rest. So at this time we are asking for donations. Along with well wishes and prayers. We would like to thank you in advance.' The crowdfunding page has raised $3,438 out of its $20,000 goal. An activist holding a trans flag was caught on film charging at a group of anti-abortion protestors on a march in Richmond, Virginia. In the video, the activist can be seen running at the group, pushing their banners aside. In a later clip, they can be seen being led away by police officers. The incident was captured by Students for Life Action Government Affairs Coordinator Savanna Deretich who said the activist is 'infamous' and has 'appeared at events like this before'. The Students for Life group was joining the annual anti-abortion demonstration, March for Life, in the center of Richmond, attended by Republicans Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. It is not yet known who the activist is, whether they were arrested or charged and whether they were with a counter-protest group. The activist could be seen running at the group with the flag held out wide The activist ran through the group, knocking the glasses off one of the anti abortion protestors Police could be seen in the background as the activist started to run towards the group Sharing the video online, Deretich said: 'Apparently this activist is infamous and has appeared at events like this before. 'He came rushing forward, chanting something, and I knew he was going to attack so I pulled out my phone to record it. 'He sprinted up to our people, knocked the glasses off peoples heads, dashed through our march sign, and kept running. 'I saw he was arrested by police sometime later.' The activist was wearing black leggings, a purple tank top and a bright pink headband. In the video they appear to knock the glasses off of one of the protestors head with their flag and cause others to stumble and back away. Another witness, freshman at Liberty University, Kelsey McCormick, told The Daily Signal: 'We were nearing the end of the march and chanting, "We are the pro life generation" and "We will abolish abortion" with our megaphones.' The students were holding signs reading 'I love life' and 'Silence in the face of evil is evil itself'. She added: 'Then I see the trans activist running and jumping, and waving the flag, come smash into the group and go after the big banner.' DailyMail.com contacted Capitol Police for comment. The activist was seen being led away by police in a later clip Virginia's Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, right, walks with demonstrators during the anti-abortion demonstration The annual march went through the center of Richmond Republicans Gov Youngkin and Lt. Gov Earle-Sears joined thousands of Virginia activists Wednesday for the annual anti-abortion demonstration. Attendees denounced Democratic lawmakers who have blocked proposed restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Earle-Sears, who addressed a rally just outside the Capitol before attendees marched through downtown Richmond, joined other speakers in calling for housing, support and other resources for expectant parents. She also expressed compassion for women who have had abortions and exhorted attendees to keep up their advocacy. 'Lets pray that hearts will be changed. Lets pray that our legislators will change and the laws will change,' said Earle-Sears. A high-profile doctor and author has divided opinion by suggesting Australia has a housing affordability crisis because our houses are the world's biggest. Dr Kate Gregorevic posted a colour-coded map on X and suggested Australian houses were unaffordable because they rivalled homes in the United States for size. 'How much of the housing crisis in Australia is driven by the fact that we have the largest average house size in the world? People have an expectation of a large house, which means they are expensive and take significant space to build,' she said. Dr Gregorevic, a geriatric medicine specialist and the bestselling author of books on living longer and dementia, suggested Australians instead embrace apartment living. 'Apartments along with lots of parks and public spaces which means people live much more within their community,' she said. A high-profile doctor and author has divided opinion by suggesting Australia has a housing affordability crisis because houses are the world's biggest (pictured is a Masterton display home at Dapto south of Sydney) Dr Kate Gregorevic posted a colour-coded map on X and suggested Australian houses were unaffordable because they rivalled homes in the United States for size Her opinion annoyed some of her followers, with one man instead suggesting high immigration was to blame for unaffordable housing. 'How much of it is due to the fact that immigration outstrips supply of housing?' Another man was even more scathing. 'Nice try Doc, might I suggest staying in your lane. Its immigration and demand far out stripping supply.NEXT,' he said. But Dr Gregorevic had her supporters, too. 'As an American living in Melbourne. I feel that Australians want the house size of Texans with the culture and convenience of Europeans,' he said. A record 518,000 people moved to Australia during the last financial year, with a larger portion of new overseas arrivals moving to Sydney and Melbourne as more locals relocated to south-east Queensland. The annual net overseas immigration pace slowed to 447,790 by the end of last year. But in 2023, only 162,194 houses and apartments were approved for development, Australian Bureau of Statistics figure showed. With the average Australian household having 2.5 people in the 2021 Census, this meant new homes would typically be accommodating 405,485 - leaving 42,305 without somewhere to live. And that's based on homes being all finished soon, which would be unlikely. This means vastly more people are struggling to find somewhere to live with capital cities having a very tight 1.1 per cent vacancy rate in January, SQM Research data showed. Sydney's median house price of $1.395million is also the second most expensive in the world, after Hong Kong, based on a Demographia study of mid-point prices compared with median household incomes. But apartments are hardly affordable, with the city having a median apartment price of $828,525, CoreLogic data showed. This would be beyond the reach of someone earning an average, full-time salary of $98,218, based on pay in November before bonuses and overtime. When it comes to average house sizes, a CommSec study from 2020 showed the average new Australian house in the 2019-20 financial year was 235.8 square metres, compared with 233.1 square metres for the average new American house (pictured is a graphic in square feet measurements as tweeted by Kate Gregorevic) To embrace apartment living in Sydney, as Dr Gregorevic is suggesting, someone with a 20 per cent deposit would still need to borrow $662,820 - a level above the national average mortgage of $624,383. To avoid being in mortgage stress, where someone owes a bank more than six times their salary, a single borrower would need to earn $110,470, unless they bought something smaller and cheaper in an outer suburb. When it comes to average house sizes, a CommSec study from 2020 showed the average new Australian house in the 2019-20 financial year was 235.8 square metres, compared with 233.1 square metres - or 2,509 square feet - for the average new American house. That was before the Covid pandemic led to remote working and house extensions to accommodate a home office. Harrowing 911 audio has revealed the frantic moments beachgoers attempted to save a seven-year-old girl after she was fatally buried by a collapsed sand hole. A panic-stricken witness can be heard telling a dispatcher how the mother of Sloan Mattingly, 7, was desperately yelling: 'My daughter is in there.' 'Everybody's screaming' the caller continued, as people cried out in the background: 'They do not see her head, they do not see her.' After around 20 minutes, the young girl was eventually pulled out of the sand at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach in Florida, but tragically succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Sloan Mattingly, 7, died after being buried for about 20 minutes. Her heartbroken father said she was 'full of life' A witness to the tragedy said 'everybody is screaming' after the sand hole Sloan was playing in collapsed, before dozens of bystanders rushed to help dig her out Witnesses said the horror unfolded after Sloan and her older brother Maddox were playing in the hole when the ground gave way, and separate audio of the 911 dispatcher alerting officers to the beach noted that around 20 bystanders rushed to join the efforts to dig the girl out of the sand. The person who initially called 911 began by telling the dispatcher there was 'a bunch of people trying to dig.' She said she realized something was wrong when she heard 'the father yelling for help', who 'said his child is caught in a hole in the sand.' 'The mom's yelling, "my daughter is in there"', she continued. 'Everybody's screaming.' Panicked screaming and yelling can be heard in the background of the audio, and the woman who called 911's voice broke as she warned the dispatcher: 'They have not gotten the child out yet.' She said she couldn't detail the exact situation as 'everybody is surrounding' the collapsed hole, but noted that she couldn't see the young girl's head above the sand. 'Oh, this mother... oh this is awful,' they said at the conclusion of the call - seconds before a grief-filled wail was heard in the background. Sloan's older brother Maddox was able to be rescued from the hole first, and was taken to hospital in stable condition after also being injured in the collapse. The siblings, their dad and mom Therese, 36, were visiting from Fort Wayne, Indiana when tragedy struck on Tuesday. The family was visiting from Fort Wayne, Indiana when tragedy struck Sloan's older brother Maddox was able to be rescued from the hole first, and was taken to hospital in stable condition after also being injured in the collapse The siblings' parents Jason and Therese are pictured above Frantic passersby got on their knees and dug with their hands in a desperate attempt to reach the girl Frantic cell phone footage showed a crowd of desperate beachgoers falling to their knees and using their hands to dig the children out of the sand. Some tried to hold the walls back to stop more sand from collapsing in on the children. Sloan did not have a pulse when she emerged from the sand and was declared dead at the hospital, according to officials. Her brother Maddox was seen walking outside the hospital on Wednesday. The young girl's grief-stricken father Jason shared a brief note to his home improvement business' Facebook page following the tragedy, saying: 'Please be patient as we are dealing with the loss of our daughter.' He previously told WANE 15 that his daughter was 'always smiling' and 'full of love and life.' Tributes have poured in for the seven-year-old, with her school back in Indiana, Lafayette Meadows Elementary School, issued a statement on Wednesday mourning Sloan. People have been leaving tributes for the seven-year-old on the beach in Fort Lauderdale A crowd gathered to help try to dig the children out until the authorities arrived Sloan with her dad Jason, who said she was 'full of life' The family is seen on another holiday a few years back in a photo posted to Facebook The statement read: 'It is with a heavy heart that I write this letting you know we lost a precious member of the Lafayette Meadows school family. 'Sloan Mattingly was a bright, sweet, loving 1st grade student in Ms. Vanbrocklins class. Sloan passed away on Tuesday. 'We will be talking with Ms. Vanbrocklins class, as well as Ms. Kilbournes class, as Sloans brother is a member of that classroom, on Thursday. 'Our administration team and counselors have support resources available for any student or staff member who is in need during this time of loss. 'Please keep the Mattingly family in your thoughts and prayers. They have requested privacy at this time. We will pass along any further information the family wishes to share.' Spokesperson for Pompano Beach Fire, Sandra King, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that the adults who were with the children were too distraught to provide additional details at the scene. Their school back in Indiana, Lafayette Meadows Elementary School, issued a statement on Wednesday mourning Sloan King said the hole was about five to six feet deep when it collapsed leaving the boy buried up to his chest with the girl completely buried beneath him. Although sand hole deaths are very rare, they are not unheard of and there have been studies and warnings published about them. Last week at Jersey Shore Beach, a toddler became trapped after a hole he was playing in collapsed and buried him. After an initial panic, the boys father was able to save him. Last May, a 17-year-old boy died in the small resort town of Frisco, on the Outer Banks in Virginia after he became trapped in a hole that was dug in a back-dune area behind the beachs primary dune along the Atlantic Ocean. The teenager was buried under several feet of sand after an adjacent dune apparently collapsed into the hole. After his death, a property management and vacation home company in the Outer Banks Seaside Vacations wrote a blog after a fatal sand collapse in the area about the dangers of digging holes at the beach. They said: 'Sand is, by nature, structurally unstable. Beach erosion, storms, and the removal of sand can weaken the area, potentially causing issues even after the hole has been filled back in.' They recommended never digging deeper than knee height, particularly not in an area with dunes. He spoke about California-based dancer Ksenia Karelina, 32, who was detained in Moscow on treason charges for sending $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity The Soviet dissident went on to become Israel's deputy prime minister and exchanged prison letters with Navalny in March and April 2023 Putin is using the Russian-American ballerina detained in Moscow as a 'cheap bargaining chip' with the West, according to a Soviet dissident who exchanged prison letters with Alexei Navalny in the year before he died. Natan Sharansky, 76, a prominent human rights activist who survived almost a decade in the same gulag as Navalny 40 years earlier, spoke about the Kremlin's latest move and what it means for relations with America. LA-based dancer Ksenia Karelina, 32, was detained in Moscow on treason charges for allegedly sending $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity. She faces 20 years behind bars. Sharansky knows better than anyone about the horrors she is likely to face in the country's Orwellian prison system, and said her detention was 'no doubt' a sign of rising tensions between Russia and the US. 'First of all, Putins regime is extremely hostile to any expression of sympathy to Ukraine, its clear,' he told DailyMail.com on Thursday. 'Second, its a cheap way of collecting the currency to bargain with the West.' Sharansky became the first political prisoner released by former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev following an international campaign for his freedom (Pictured: Sharansky surrounded by press after meeting with US Pres. Ronald W. Reagan in 1986) LA-based dancer Ksenia Karelina, 32, was detained in Moscow on treason charges for allegedly sending $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity. She faces 20 years behind bars Sharansky wrote a book called Fear No Evil, which Navalny (pictured) read in prison and said it gave him 'hope' for Russia's future. Sharansky went on to pursue a decades-long career in politics, rising to the level of Israel's deputy prime minister in 2001 Born in Donestk, eastern Ukraine, Sharansky was jailed in the former Soviet Union in 1977 while campaigning for the rights of Jews to emigrate to Israel. He was sentenced over a fabricated charge of spying for the Americans, and spent nine years enduring torture and solitary confinement in the Siberian prison where Navalny died on February 16, 2024. Sharansky became the first political detainee released by former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev through a prisoner swap in 1986, following an international campaign for his freedom led by his wife, Avital. He wrote a book called Fear No Evil, which Navalny, 47, read in prison and said it gave him 'hope' for Russia's future. Sharansky went on to pursue a decades-long career in politics, rising to the level of Israel's deputy prime minister in 2001. Ksenia Karelina is detained in Moscow The statesman said America must make Putin 'pay a very serious price' for Karelina's detention if she is to be freed. 'To be clear, there are no laws (in Russia),' he told DailyMail.com. 'So it doesnt matter what the arrested person is accused of, whether its an American journalist accused of espionage or somebody with American citizenship who is accused of giving $50 to Ukraine, it doesnt matter... 'Really I think that America must be very clear that any steps from him - whether it is the killing of Navalny or arresting of Americans - hell have to pay a very serious price for this.' Sharansky engaged with Putin several times during his tenure in the Israeli cabinet. He said it was clear from the start of the Russian president's reign that he wanted nothing less than 'full recognition as a super power' from the West. 'When he came to power in his first years, I met him a number of times as an Israel minister. He was very irritated that America is not giving him full recognition as a superpower,' the former Israeli statesman told DailyMail.com. 'He decided that he did need power because he is forever all these presidents disappear after a few years and he is the only one still here. 'He wanted to restore the Russian Empire. The West, led by America, is making it more difficult for him to do it. 'He has all the reasons to be irritated by the free world and specifically by America because they didnt let him become the dictator so easily and the leader of the Russian Empire as easily as he would like to.' Natan Sharansky, 76, a prominent human rights activist who survived almost a decade in the same gulag as Navalny 40 years prior, spoke with DailyMail.com about the Kremlin's latest move and what it means for relations with America Vladimir Putin has been accused of orchestrating Alexei Navalny's death Pres. Reagan presenting Soviet Jewish activist Natan Sharansky (nee Anatoly Schcharansky) (2L) w. Medal of Honor w. VP Bush (R) & State Secy. Shultz (L) Civil rights activist, USSR Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky (with fur cap) and US embassador Richard Burt after his release to West Germany at the Glienicker Bridge that connects (East German) Potsdam and (West) Berlin Israeli Trade Minister Natan Sharansky is given a guided tour of Hebron January 15, 1997 by one of the Jewish settlers who live in the city Israeli President Shimon Peres (L) and former Soviet dissident and human rights activist Natan Sharansky are seen during a conference on February 21, 2010 in Jerusalem, Israel Navalny, who was the strongest domestic political force opposing Putin, shared four letters laced with dark humor, religious references, and grim insights into prison life with Sharansky in March and April 2023 - before they were cut off. In his first note, he wrote 'I hope I am the last to endure this', just less than a year before he was allegedly fatally poisoned with Novichok at a penal colony known as the 'Polar Wolf' in Siberia on February 16, 2024. Sharansky was held in a Moscow labor camp for nine years from 1977 after being denied permission to leave what was then the Soviet Union for Israel, and the two bonded over how little has changed in the brutal Russian prison system since. Their historic friendship - memorialized in the letters obtained by The Free Press - was sparked by Navalny's revelation that he read Sharansky's memoir, Fear No Evil, in the gulag where he died. They were strangers when Navalny began the correspondence - penning his first letter to Sharansky on April 3 from IK-6 'Melekhovo,' - a facility around 155 miles east of Moscow known for the abuse and torture of inmates. Sharansky was held at the same colony for a time, and Navalny joked 'I am not sure if you have retained warm memories of it' in his opening letter. 'Now there will probably be a plaque saying "Natan Sharansky was held here"', he added. 'Please forgive the intrusion and a letter from a stranger, but I believe it's permissible in author-reader relations.' A general view of a church (R) for the prisoners of the IK-3 penal colony, where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny served his jail term and where he died, in Kharp settlement near Salekhard, Yamal-Nenets Region, Russia Alexei and Yulia met while on holiday in Turkey Navalny thanked Sharansky for his book because 'it has helped me a lot' while enduring unimaginable conditions. 'I understand that I am not the first, but I really want to become the last, or at least one of the last, of those who are forced to endure this,' he wrote. Navalny said Fear No Evil gave him 'hope' because of the 'similarity between the two systems - the Soviet Union and Putin's Russia' which exposed 'the hypocrisy that serves as the very basis of their essence'. He said this 'guarantees an equally inevitable collapse' of Putin's regime like the fall of the USSR in 1991. The book also prompted an unexpected laugh from the prisoner. 'I was laughing when I was reading the passage where you wrote, I was penalized with a series of 15 days at SHIZO, and then, as an offender who broke prison rules, they sent me to the PKT for 6 months." 'I was amused by the fact that neither the essence of the system nor the pattern of its acts has changed.' Sharansky wrote back the same day from Jerusalem, saying he 'experienced a kind of shock receiving a letter from you' and referring addressing Navalny as 'dear esteemed Aleksei'. 'The thought itself that it came directly from SHIZO, where you have already spent 128 days, excites in a way that an old man would be excited, receiving a letter from his 'alma mater,' the university where he spent many years of his youth,' Sharansky wrote. He noted that Vladimir Kara-Murza, another jailed dissident who remains behind bars today, has also written to him about how the book still served as a guide to Russian prison today. 'My misfortune has brought about this silver lining,' he said. Describing himself as 'an admirer' of Navalny, Sharansky said: 'Aleksei, you are not just a dissidentyou are a dissident with a style! 'My horror over your poisoning changed to amazement and exhilaration when you started your own independent investigation.' 'I wish to youno matter how hard it may be physicallyto maintain your inner freedom,' he added. 'In prison I discovered that in addition to the law of universal gravitation of particles there is also a law of universal gravitation of souls. By remaining a free person in prison, you, Aleksei, influence the souls of millions of people worldwide.' Natan Sharansky in 1999. Sharansky was jailed while campaigning for the rights of Jews to emigrate to Israel. He was sentenced over a fabricated charge of spying for the Americans, and spent nine years enduring torture and solitary confinement in Siberian prison Sharansky, Soviet dissident and Israeli politician during photo session, January 28, 1987 in Los Angeles, California Canadians protesting in support of Sharansky on his 35th birthday on the 115th day of his hunger strike in a Soviet prison It was most recently reported that Navalny died of 'sudden death syndrome', but no details were given to back this claim up Sharansky was jailed while campaigning for the rights of Jews to emigrate to Israel. He was sentenced over a fabricated charge of spying for the Americans, and spent nine years enduring torture and solitary confinement in Siberian prison. He noted that he was writing to Navalny the day before Passover - 'the celebration of the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian slavery 3,500 years ago' - and signed off his letter to the jailed activist with 'hugs'. Navalny wrote back four days later saying he was so overjoyed to receive a response from the author that he cried. 'I was so touched that I had to hide my tears from my cellmates,' Navalny wrote. 'And this is the second time you do it to me! In the last page of Fear No Evil, where you write forgive my being a little late, it is of course impossible not to start crying. 'In your alma mater everything is as it was. Traditions are honored. On Friday evening, they let me out of the SHIZO, today on MondayI got another 15 days. Everything according to Ecclesiastes: what was, will be. 'But I continue to believe that we will correct it and one day in Russia there will be what was not. And will not be what was.' Sharansky responded 10 days later, on April 17, saying he was grateful his letters were reaching Navalny. He signed off with a chilling comment: 'Judging by all of your time in SHIZO, you will soon beat all of my records. I hope you dont succeed in this.' Navalny died less than a year later, with his widow Yulia saying he was poisoned with Novichok. In a video message, Yulia Navalnya, 47, said: 'Vladimir Putin killed my husband.' Holding back tears, she pledged to carry on her husband's work and fight for a free Russia with the help of its citizens. Sam Bankman-Fried, the jailed founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, appeared in court on Wednesday for the first time since his fraud conviction and confirmed he wanted to stick with new lawyers despite a possible conflict of interest. Returning to court, he had noticeably lost some weight and his black hair was sprouting anew - similar to the first photos seen of him in prison - as he was led into court with his ankles shackled beneath his prison-issued drab pants and shirt. In response to the judge's questions, he acknowledged that he was on antidepressants and medication to keep his attention focused. He answered questions casually, at times, saying 'nope' and 'yep' as his right foot tapped rapidly against the floor beneath the table where he sat. Bankman-Fried, 31, in January hired defense lawyers Marc Mukasey and Torrey Young to represent him through his March 28 sentencing, which could see him jailed for up to 100 years. Sam Bankman-Fried , the jailed founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX , appeared in court on Wednesday for the first time since his fraud conviction and confirmed he wanted to stick with new lawyers despite a possible conflict of interest. Pictured: Bankman-Fried in jail on December 17 Bankman-Fried, the jailed founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is sworn in as he appears in court for the first time since his November fraud conviction, at a courthouse in New York in this sketch He could face decades in prison after a Manhattan federal court jury found the former billionaire guilty of stealing billions of dollars from FTX customers. At a brief hearing before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, Bankman-Fried said he was comfortable hiring Mukasey and Young even though they also represent the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency lender Celsius Networks, Alex Mashinsky, who has pleaded not guilty to separate fraud charges. Kaplan asked Bankman-Fried, who wore a tan jail shirt and chains around his ankles, to describe the possible conflict in his own words. 'At a high level, they also represent Alex Mashinsky,' said a clean-shaven Bankman-Fried, whose curly hair has grown longer since his monthlong trial last year. Bankman-Fried described Celsius as 'a firm that the firms I ran had business interactions with.' Mukasey, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the son of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, was once part of former President Donald Trump's personal legal team. He also represented electric- and hydrogen-powered truck maker Nikola's founder Trevor Milton, who was sentenced last year to four years after being convicted of fraud for lying to investors about the company's technology - well below the 11 years prosecutors suggested. Bankman-Fried told Kaplan he had consulted with lawyers Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell, who represented him during his trial, about Mukasey's potential conflict. Returning to court, he had noticeably lost some weight and his black hair was sprouting anew. In this court sketch, he is depicted sitting with his lawyers Torrey Young (drawn left) and Marc Mukasey In response to the judge's questions, he acknowledged that he was on antidepressants and medication to keep his attention focused He said he also had discussed it with Alexandra Shapiro, another lawyer who will handle his eventual appeal. Mukasey said Cohen and Everdell will soon request Kaplan's permission to withdraw from the case. In a February 6 court filing, prosecutors in Bankman-Fried's case said his Alameda Research hedge fund used stolen FTX customer funds to repay money it borrowed from Celsius. The prosecutors said Bankman-Fried and Mashinsky may have different opinions as to whether Celsius was defrauded and entitled to restitution. Bankman-Fried, held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since August 2023, said on Wednesday he has been taking anti-depressant medication and Adderall, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. During his trial, Bankman-Fried's lawyers said in October he needed a higher Adderall dose than he had been receiving in jail each morning to focus. Mashinsky, 59, waived his right to a lawyer without any potential conflicts at a hearing on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge John Koeltl. The two lawyers said at that hearing that they could fairly represent both Bankman-Fried and Mashinsky. Bankman-Fried, 31, in January hired defense lawyers Marc Mukasey (pictured) and Torrey Young to represent him through his March 28 sentencing, which could see him jailed for up to 100 years At a brief hearing before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, Bankman-Fried said he was comfortable hiring Mukasey and Young even though they also represent the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency lender Celsius Networks, Alex Mashinsky (pictured left), who has pleaded not guilty to separate fraud charges Mashinsky is free on bail. His trial on charges of artificially inflating the value of the company's in-house crypto token and earning $42 million from selling his holdings is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2025. Bankman-Fried who was convicted last year of stealing from customers of his now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange has been pictured in prison for the first time. The former billionaire, 31, is seen in the newly surfaced photo taken at New York's Metropolitan Detention Center where he is locked up while awaiting sentencing, that could see him given 115 years in prison. He is due to be sentenced next month. The photo, thought to have been taken on December 17, shows Bankman-Fried sporting a beard while standing alongside five other inmates. Crypto crime reporter Tiffany Fong originally obtained the image, and spoke to an inmate pictured alongside Bankman-Fried. The inmate, known as G Lock, described Bankman-Fried as being 'strange as s***' but did consider him to be a 'good guy'. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Manhattan federal court, June 15, 2023, in New York G Lock, a former of the Blood gang, said: 'Sam had a belly, he was eating good. [Now] he's skinny like a toothpick. 'He's not getting a shower, he's not doing anything. He didn't snitch on nobody, Sam is a gangster. 'Sam is more gangster than Tekashi69, Sam Bankman stood on all ten toes. Tekashi ratted. 'He's a good guy, he really is. Weird as s**t, can be strange. But he is a good guy.' It's not clear what G Lock had been in prison for. Fong added: 'Hes obviously lost some weight, and Ive heard hes not showering very much. 'He's not as clean-shaven as he used to be, but he's obviously going through a lot right now.' The mother of a woman whose partner and five children perished in a house fire claims her daughter had asked the landlord to fix the smoke alarms at the property before the tragedy unfolded. Wayne Godinet, 34, died along with his four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, in an inferno at their home on Russell Island, south east of Brisbane, in August last year. The children's mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her sister were able to escape the fire. On Thursday, the family's landlord, Donna Rose Beadel, 61, was issued a notice to appear at Cleveland Magistrates Court on March 26 over the property's alleged lack of compliant smoke alarms. Ms Beadel, who lives in Tweed Heads, was not present when the fire occurred and has not been charged with any offence in relation to the deaths of Mr Godinet and his children. There is no suggestion she engaged in other wrongdoing. Ms Stephenson's mother Rebecca - the children's grandmother - has claimed her daughter asked Ms Beadel to fix the smoke alarms a week before the fire. Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) perished after they were trapped in a deadly fire on Queensland's Russell Island The blaze was so intense firefighters were only able to pick through the remains of the house in the late afternoon on Sunday after battling it from 6.18am 'The week before it happened, Sam texted the landlady and asked for the smoke alarms to be updated,' Ms Stephenson told the Courier Mail. 'Me and my partner moved in with Sam, Wayne and the boys in January and moved out a few weeks before it happened; in those months I know of three times Sam had asked for the smoke alarms to be fixed. 'It was the first thing you noticed when you walked into the house, a smoke alarm hanging from the ceiling and then a marking of one in the kitchen that had been painted over.' Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said landlords are responsible for installing smoke alarms in rental properties in Queensland. 'Existing smoke alarms manufactured more than 10 years ago, as well as any smoke alarms that do not operate when tested, must be replaced with photoelectric smoke alarms that comply with Australian Standard 37862014,' according to QFES. 'Within 30 days before the start of a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the lessor/landlord must test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling. 'During a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the tenant must test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling, at least once every 12 months.' A landlord who is found to not have installed a smoke alarm faces a maximum penalty of $800. Ms Stephenson said she was in disbelief at the size of the fine. 'Considering that Sam paid $460 a week in rent, a fortnight of them living there would have covered this fine,' she said. The children's mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28 (right with Mr Godinet) Roses and gerberas were left against a charred piece of masonry at the site of the tragedy She said her daughter Samantha is still traumatised following the horrific blaze. 'She is not well at the moment, and not coping which I guess is to be expected when you have lived through something like this,' she said. The fire was so intense it burned the house to the ground and destroyed two other adjoining properties. Mr Godinet returned to the burning building in a bid to rescue the children but perished inside when the second storey collapsed. Neighbours recalled seeing Ms Stephenson running outside screaming 'my children, my children' as her partner raced back into the inferno to rescue the five boys sleeping upstairs. Ms Beadel was spotted at her Terranora property on Wednesday with one neighbour saying they 'couldn't believe' what had happened. 'Jesus Christ. That's hectic,' he said. 'I see Donna all the time and say G'day and whatever. Five kids, that's terrible.' A heartbroken Ms Stephenson previously urged every parent to 'check your smoke alarms and hold your babies'. One of her sisters attended the site shortly after the blaze to lay three roses and three gerberas against a charred piece of masonry in memory of the victims. Dozens of Mr Godinet's family members travelled from New Zealand to pay tribute to the victims with a powerful Haka. 'Detectives continue to investigate the fire and a final report is expected to be submitted to the Coroner in the near future,' a Queensland Police spokesperson said. A woman, believed to be Mr Godinet's mother, sprinkles water on the site while his father Jacob Cope watches on in tears shortly after the fire in November, 2023 Mourners touched foreheads in a traditional Maori greeting (pictured) in November, 2023 The House Freedom Caucus is turning up the heat on Speaker Mike Johnson, telling him to meet their conservative demands in a budget deal or risk a government shutdown. Over a dozen lawmakers in the far-right group sent a letter to Johnson Wednesday stating their fears about rushing comprehensive government funding bills by the looming March 1 and 8 deadlines. They say they would prefer a yearlong stopgap spending bill that would automatically trigger 1 percent government spending cuts after April 30 instead of an appropriations deal that would require Democrat support. And they threaten that if their demands are not met, they may vote against the speaker's deal with Democrats on individual spending bills and potentially force the government to shut down at the beginning of March. 'If we are not going to secure significant policy changes or even keep spending below the caps adopted by bipartisan majorities less than one year ago, why would we proceed when we could instead pass a year-long funding resolution that would save Americans $100 billion in year one,' the letter said. Currently, the House has nine days to pass some form of funding or the government will begin to shut down. House Speaker Mike Johnson has already passed several short-term spending bills, and now conservative members in his conference want him to put forth another one Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus Bob Good wrote a letter to Johnson demanding a stopgap spending bill because it would automatically lead to budget cuts Former-Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated the automatic budget cuts with Biden in 2023 The budget cut deal was apart of a negotiation between President Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, where both agreed that if Congress had not finished passing government funding bills by the end of April, automatic cuts would take effect. It is unlikely that Democrats would go for a yearlong stopgap bill - also called a continuing resolution or CR - as they are opposed to the 1 percent automatic budget cuts that come with it. Some Republicans, meanwhile, have also said they do not want another CR, and are determined to work with Democrats to pass all 12 standalone appropriations packages. In addition to demanding the yearlong stopgap funding, the Freedom Caucus members also asked for an update on the status of current appropriations negotiations. House-passed appropriations bills must be reconciled with the Senate, which is likely to strip out the more conservative 'policy riders' attached. The group is reticent that Johnson may attempt to put forth an omnibus package, which loops an array of spending bills into one massive bill. 'With the expiration of government funding rapidly approaching, negotiations continue behind closed doors and as a result, we anticipate text for likely omnibus legislation that we fear will be released at the latest moment before being rushed to the floor for a vote,' the caucus wrote. 'House Republicans should not be left in the dark on the status of the spending levels and hard-fought policy provisions.' And the conservative group is pushing a lot of far-right policies that will never fly with Democrats. The group wants to cut recently-impeached Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas' salary to $0, prohibit funding for diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, defund Dr. Anthony Fauci's research and more. 'Many of these important policies (and more) were critical in securing the passage of bills in both the Appropriations Committee and in the House last year,' the letter continued. 'There are MANY other policies and personnel that Congress should not be funding, and a failure to eliminate them will reduce the probability that the appropriations bills will be supported by even a majority of Republicans.' But a spokesperson for the speaker's office told DailyMail.com members have been regularly updated on the funding process. 'Since January, Speaker Johnson has held regular meetings with Members, including Appropriators and HFC Members, on the status of FY24 appropriations process,' the spokesperson said. In a town that straddles the border between Utah and Nevada, the wages of sin is higher pay for municipal workers. West Wendover, Nevada is a straight shot west from Salt Lake City, making it the closest destination for residents of Utah's capital to enjoy casinos, legal recreational weed, and looser liquor laws. Although residents consider it one community, the state line bisect West Wendover, a town of 4,600 with five casinos, and Wendover, a town of 1,200 on the Utah side of the border. Last year, nine of West Wendovers 82 employees were paid more than $100,000, while only two out of Wendovers 26 employees made more than $50,000, according to a review of salary records by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'They have legal gambling on the west side, which generates a lot of money, ' Wendover's city administrator Glenn Wadsworth told the outlet. 'Whether it's fair or not, I don't make that judgment.' Wendover Boulevard is seen where it crosses the state line, with Utah on the left and Nevada on the right. City workers on either side see a big difference in their pay West Wendover, Nevada is seen looking across the border from Utah. The town is the closest place to Salt Lake City to enjoy casinos, legal recreational weed, and looser liquor laws In 2023, Wadsworth was paid just $41,000, while his counterpart in West Wendover, city manager Chris Melville, earned $170,000. Melville told the newspaper that due to its casinos, the number of people in West Wendover can swell to 30,000 on the weekend, necessitating a bigger police force and other city services. Although the two towns view themselves as a single community, municipal services are handled separately for the most part. In a sign of the unity between the two towns, West Wendover in 1999 got federal approval to switch from Pacific Time to Mountain Time, so the clocks on both sides of the border would match. It makes West Wendover the only portion of Nevada that is legally in the Mountain Time Zone. In the past, residents of both towns have voted to approve the annexation of Wendover into Nevada, so they can unite their city governments and services. However, the US House resolution permitting Wendover to leave Utah and join Nevada stalled in the Senate in 2002 and did not become law. The US Constitution requires any change to state borders be approved by both houses of Congress and the state legislatures of the two states in question. West Wendover city manager Chris Melville said that due to its casinos, the number of people in West Wendover can swell to 30,000 on the weekend Just off Highway 80 near the Utah border, the Peppermill Hotel Casino proudly lit their neon sign with a patriotic message in a file photo Wendover was established in 1908 as a station stop on the then-under construction Western Pacific Railroad. It gained fame as the place where the final telephone pole was erected to complete the 3,400-mile transcontinental telephone line on June 27, 1914. During World War II, Wendover Army Air Field was used as a training base for bomber pilots, including the crew of the Enola Gay, which dropped the first nuclear bomb used in warfare. The small town's population has never topped 2,000 on the Utah side. The first casino on the Nevada side of the state line opened soon after the state legalized gambling in 1931. Originally known as the State Line Casino, the facility has changed names and ownership and is now known as the Wendover Nugget. West Wendover grew through the 70s and 80s as a small resort and casino town, but remained an unincorporated place in Elko County. In 1991, West Wendover officially incorporated under the motto 'Come Grow With Us.' The Missouri mother accused of baking her newborn daughter to death in an oven after allegedly mistaking it for a crib could be freed for just $10,000 after a judge cut her bail in half. Mariah Thomas, 26, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after one-month-old ZaRiah Mae was found dead with 'burn wounds', according to an arrest warrant. At a hearing on Tuesday, Thomas had her bail reduced from $200,000 to $100,000 by Jackson County Judge Travis Willingham. That means that Thomas could potentially be out of jail for just $10,000, as conditions of the bond require her to come up with just 10 per cent of that. Judge Willingham apparently agreed with Thomas' attorney, who argued her client's bond should be reduced because she has no criminal history. Mariah Thomas, 26, the Missouri mother accused of baking her newborn daughter to death in an oven after allegedly mistaking it for a crib could be freed for just $10,000 after a judge cut her bail in half Prosecutors, on the other hand, believe Thomas is a flight risk and a danger to the community, according to the Kansas City Star. Cops were called to the mom's Kansas City home to reports of a child not breathing on February 9 - the day after Thomas' birthday. When they arrived, they found the infant covered in burns, with her 'blackened' clothing melted onto her diaper. A devastated friend of Thomas' told DailyMail.com that Za'Riah was a 'very bubbly' baby, who was 'smiling all the time'. She also suggested Thomas' mental health may have played a role in the tragedy. 'Mariah had mental issues from what I know and didnt have the mindset of a adult, she thought like a child,' the friend said, adding she last talked to the mom on Monday. Za'Riah's grandfather told police he received a call from her mom at around 1pm on Friday in which she told him 'something was wrong with the baby and he needed to return home immediately'. On returning home immediately began to smell smoke and found Za'Riah dead in her crib. At a hearing on Tuesday, Thomas had her bail reduced from $200,000 to $100,000 by Jackson County Judge Travis Willingham. That means that Thomas could potentially be out of jail for just $10,000, as conditions of the bond require her to come up with just 10 per cent of that Mariah Thomas, 26, has been accused of killing her baby Za'Riah Mae by putting her in an oven The one-month-old baby was found at her Kansas City home with burn marks across her body, according to Thomas' arrest warrant Thomas told police she had 'accidentally placed her in the oven instead of the crib', the charging document states Thomas told him she had 'accidentally' put her in the oven, according to court filings. Za'Riah was discovered by police in a car seat inside her home with 'apparent thermal injuries on various parts of a her body'. She was wearing a bodysuit over a diaper which appeared to have melted onto it which was 'very dirty, possibly burned'. A charred baby blanket was also discovered and taken as evidence. Thomas was transported to police headquarters for an interview where she invoked her fifth amendment right to remain silent. But she consented to detectives obtaining a blood draw and accessing her phone data. Thomas' social media presents her as a doting mom, who referred to her daughter as her 'princess'. In one Facebook post she states her desire to be, 'the best mother I can be to my beautiful daughter.' Police responded to reports of a child not breathing and found the infant dead in her car seat Thomas social media posts portray her as a loving mother but also suggested she was feeling isolated But in one haunting post made just weeks before the tragedy Thomas complained that nobody was looking out for her. 'Mfs claim they my friend by don't never check up on me or Za'Riah,' she wrote on January 20. Thomas is still currently being held at the Jackson County Detention Center. A Jewish father whose five-month-old daughter's birth certificate was returned from the Passport Office ripped with the birthplace of Israel scratched out plans to sue the individuals responsible. Israel, a father-of-three living in Edgware, north London, and his wife Dorin said they felt like a 'target' after opening the envelope only to find baby Ronnie's identification papers had been defaced. The incident, which Israel compared to something out 1930s Nazi Germany, led to a public outcry and the Home Secretary James Cleverly calling for an 'urgent review'. Last night it was revealed some members of staff at an unnamed private company working for the Home Office had been suspended while investigations continue. The family were 'not told personally that they had been suspended' but were instead informed by the Campaign Against Antisemitism who have been advocating on their behalf. Engineer Israel, 32, told MailOnline: 'I am worried because the Home Office said some staff had been suspended - not just one person - which for me raises concerns that these people working for the company were in a hostile environment.' The father revealed he had received a personal email from the head of the Passport Office who confirmed that they were 'aware of the situation' and carrying out an immediate investigation. Israel added that the Government body have also issued Ronnie a new birth certificate. Israel, who lives in Edgware, north London, with his wife and three children, said he wants to sue those responsible for defacing his baby's birth certificate Five-month-old baby Ronnie's birth certificate was returned to the family defaced, with her father's birth place of Israel scribbled out 'We are very happy that the Government took swift action but I hope whoever this public servant is is banned,' he told MailOnline last night. 'I would like to sue them personally for the damage they have carried out to my daughter's birth certificate, my property.' The family is in contact with a lawyer to discuss next steps and is considering whether to contact the police to report a possible hate crime. While they are pleased that the Government is 'doing its best' to deal with the situation in a 'swift' manner, Israel still has safety concerns, worrying that those responsible have had access to his personal details and social media. He said: 'I am very glad the government is doing its best and I really hope it's not too late for something to happen. I am worried that they might have my details or social media.' Israel also raised concerns about the vetting process of staff who work for private companies outsourced by the Government. Father-of-three Israel said earlier this week that 'being Jewish in the UK is getting worse', with his family fearing for their safety The father revealed he had received a personal email from the head of the Passport Office who confirmed that they were 'aware of the situation' 'How are they accepting [staff] who do not meet the Government's standards or values?,' he added. 'The Government absolutely needs to make sure when they get people working in their system they should be vetted and everything should be checked to ensure they are not part of a hate gang or any sort of hateful organisation.' On Tuesday the engineer, who is also father to eight-year-old Adiel and five-year-old Ella, revealed his fears of his children growing up in London due to the rise in cases of antisemitism. 'The situation here is not good,' Israel told Sky News. 'To be Jewish in the UK is very hard. And it's not getting better, it's getting worse and worse. 'I think my daughter, in 20 years, that's her future, because London is not London anymore and I literally feel unsafe.' Ever since the war broke out in the Middle East following Hamas' October 7 attacks, Israel warned his older children to avoid revealing their Jewish identity in public. He explained: 'We are hiding our identity as much as we can and we are telling our children to hide any signs of being Jewish because the environment around here is not friendly towards Jewish people. Tens of thousands gather for the anti-Semitism march on November 26, 2023, following a spike in incidents People attend a Campaign Against Antisemitism rally outside New Scotland Yard in central London 'We are seen as targets and we have seen a sharp rise in the hostile environment.' After bravely sharing his story, however, Israel has received overwhelming support from members of the public and those from the Jewish community. He told MailOnline on Wednesday: 'I do still worry about my children [growing up in London] but the kind words I received on the street today has made me feel that there will be a bigger change in tide about what's happening over here. 'It will bring more attention to such incidents. Maybe things will return to normal again and we should learn to teach kids so they have more awareness about hate crimes.' Israel and Dorin, 29, were left in disbelief when they opened an envelope to find baby Ronnie's identification papers had been tampered with. Revealing the incident on Monday Israel said: 'It was ripped half way through and my place of birth - which was Israel - had been scribbled out with a pen. 'We felt as if we had been taken back to 1930's Germany where the Nazis would put notes on Jewish people's documentation. 'It is completely warped and it hurts my heart that my daughter is not even six-months-old and she has already been discriminated on in the worst way.' Following the incident Home Secretary James Cleverly ordered an 'urgent review' declaring that the UK Government will 'not tolerate anti-semitism' The Home Secretary took to X to inform the public officials within the Home Office will investigate the matter immediately Members of staff working for a private company for the Home Office have been suspended 'The Home Office is in charge of our safety as a minority in the UK and they deal with our most private documents but instead of sending us back the certificate in the right way someone within their system has scribbled out Israel because they have hostile feelings,' Israel added. The birth certificate was returned to the family with a tear on the right hand side, while the birth place of Ronnie's father's was scratched out in what appears to be a biro pen. Her mother's birthplace of Israel, however, was left untouched. The birth certificate was sent off as part of a passport application two weeks ago and returned on Monday. The concerned father added: 'This our Government and we are putting our faith in their hands so we want the Home Office to first apologise. 'Afterwards we need to make sure this person, man or woman, cannot put their hands on other people's private documents. 'Unfortunately this birth certificate is not valid any more because it's been scribbled on. So this person has destroyed my child's identity, their birth certificate, just because it's a Jewish person. 'We are terrified because if this is the environment within the Home Office this is not a place we want to live. We are just as British as everyone else.' Tens of thousands of people gathered in central London for a rally against antisemitism in November Last week, the Community Security Trust said it had recorded 4,103 instances of anti-Semitism, up from 1,662 in 2022. Pictured: Orthodox Jewish men pass police officers on patrol in Stamford Hill A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism told MailOnline on Monday: 'This is completely unacceptable. 'When sending off a passport application to the Home Office, the last thing one should ever expect is to have their child's birthday certificate returned, torn, with the parent's place of birth scribbled out, just because it is the Jewish state. 'We are assisting the parents, who are understandably very concerned about this incident. We are also asking the Home Office to investigate how this happened. 'The Home Office has responsibility for law enforcement and the security of the Jewish community and the wider public. Confidence in the authorities among British Jews is at painfully low levels and must be restored.' Home Secretary James Cleverly said on X on Monday night that he had called for an immediate investigation into the matter. Responding to the image of the invalid birth certificate, which has since been shared widely on social media, he said: 'I have asked my officials to investigate this urgently and will see that appropriate action is taken.' The Home Office had no further updates as enquires are ongoing. Bosses have been warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they allow menopausal women to wear cooler uniforms, and work from home on hot days. The human rights watchdog also says today that women suffering from hot flushes or 'brain fog' should be given quiet rooms to rest in and have fans or air conditioning in their workplaces. In its first guidance on the topic, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told employers they must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms, just as they do for those with disabilities. They could also be found guilty of sex or age discrimination if they penalise staff for having to take time off when they are suffering. If they ridicule women for their problems, it may constitute harassment. The EHRC says it will cost managers hundreds of thousands of pounds to defend such claims as well as losing valuable employees. Bosses have been warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they allow menopausal women to wear cooler uniforms and work from home on hot days (Stock Image) In its first guidance on the topic, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told employers they must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms (Stock Image) Chairman Baroness Falkner said last night: 'We are concerned both by how many women report being forced out of a role due to their menopause-related symptoms and how many don't feel safe enough to request the workplace adjustments. 'An employer understanding their legal duties is the foundation of equality in the workplace. But it is clear that many may not fully understand their responsibility to protect their staff going through the menopause. 'Our new guidance sets out these legal obligations for employers and provides advice on how they can best support their staff. 'We hope that this guidance helps ensure every woman going through the menopause is treated fairly and can work in a supportive and safe environment.' The EHRC cites research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development that found two-thirds of working women aged between 40 and 60 said menopausal symptoms had negatively affected their jobs, including reducing concentration, increasing stress and leaving them less able to carry out tasks. Half said they had on occasion been unable to go into work because of their symptoms, while separate research by the Fawcett Society found that one in ten women had left their jobs as a result. Amid growing concern at the lack of support for the millions of women who suffer debilitating symptoms when their hormone levels drop and periods end, the Government has set up a UK Menopause Taskforce to improve access to treatment and appointed a Menopause Employment Champion to encourage major bosses to do more for staff. NHS bosses have also vowed to improve conditions for its workforce, while Labour has pledged to give menopausal women the right to work from home and have paid time off for health appointments. Half of women had on occasion been unable to go into work because of their symptoms (Stock Image) In a landmark Employment Tribunal case currently awaiting judgment, social worker Maria Rooney claims she was discriminated against and victimised by Leicester City Council for suffering menopause symptoms. Judges have already ruled that her symptoms, along with stress and anxiety, amounted to a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act. Now the EHRC, which backed Ms Rooney's case, has for the first time set out the legal obligations on all employers and given them advice on the adjustments they can make for menopausal staff. Its guidance states: 'Under the Equality Act 2010, workers are protected from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the basis of protected characteristics including disability, age and sex. 'If menopause symptoms have a long-term and substantial impact on a woman's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, these symptoms could be considered a disability. 'If menopause symptoms amount to a disability, an employer will be under a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments. 'They will also be under a legal obligation to not directly or indirectly discriminate because of the disability or subject the woman to discrimination arising from disability.' It adds that under health and safety legislation, 'employers also have a legal obligation to conduct an assessment of their workplace risks'. Women and equalities committee chairman Caroline Nokes told the Mail: 'I hope this guidance helps we know too many women are forced out of work due to challenging menopause symptoms. Of course the menopause is not a disability and should not be seen as that, rather something that will pass with the right support and medication.' Minister for Disabled People, Health & Work Mims Davies said: 'This new guidance will raise even more awareness among the business community and help women by improving understanding of their rights. Not only is this vital for the progression of women in the workforce, it's vital for the growth of our economy.' Labour's Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Anneliese Dodds said: 'This guidance from the EHRC is welcome, but women experiencing menopause deserve more. 'Labour would require large employers to produce menopause action plans and produce guidance for small employers in how to support employees experiencing menopause.' Working from home could soon become a legal right for millions of Aussies around the country. The Fair Work Commission is looking into making working from home (WFH) a legal entitlement which could impact 2.2m Aussies on award wages. The review's findings and recommendations will then be presented to the federal government, who will take the reforms under consideration. The government will then decide if they will make any changes to the legislation and take them to parliament. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 37 per cent of Aussies regularly work from home, a figure that is slightly down from 2022. If working from home is legislated, it will impact 2.2m Australians on award wages (pictured stock image of a home office) Currently, an Aussie can only request to work from home under certain circumstances. However, they need to have worked in their job for at least 12 months (pictured stock image of a zoom work call) Australian employees do not currently have a general right or legal entitlement to work from home. However, workers can make a request to their employer under certain conditions - but only if they have worked for their boss for a minimum of 12 months. If WFH were to become a new workplace law, it would most likely anger business groups who are against the federal government's latest workplace reforms. The review comes just one month after new Australian workplace laws were passed which allow workers to disconnect from the workplace. Under that new law, Aussie workers are allowed to ignore calls and texts after hours from their bosses and colleagues. According to research data from the Melbourne Institute, the majority of Australian workers would like the right to WFH at least some of the time. Sixty per cent of workers were happy with the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement - which is a mix of working from home and in the office. Fair Work released a discussion paper in January presenting evidence remote work did not negatively impact overall productivity. Fair Work also found WFH gave carers and parents more time to juggle home and work demands. Goodbye rat race? 60 per cent of workers said they are happy with hybrid working. The flexibility is also beneficial for carers and parents who can better balance their responsibilities (pictured stock image of peak commuter time in Sydney) A Fair Work report pointed out the benefits of working from home, but did warn it was more difficult for employees to have 'spontaneous collaboration' (pictured stock image) However, the paper did raise that remote working presented challenges to employers, such as making it more difficult for bosses to carry out mentoring. It also made it harder for workers to have 'spontaneous collaboration' with each other. 'Improved flexibility as to when and where people work may also create ambiguity as to when workers can disconnect from work, which can impact on wellbeing,' the discussion paper read. Liberal Senator James Paterson believes it should be up to the employer and worker to decide if an employee works from home on a full-time basis. 'For employers and employees to work together, there are some types of work where working from home works really well for both the business and employees - and not the type of work that because of the nature of it is inherent that you turn up to the office,' he said. 'And really, that shouldnt be up to the government to decide that.' Fair Work is currently talking with businesses and unions to get their perspectives on WFH as part of its awards review. Employment Hero ceo Ben Thompson told Daily Mail Australia the debate over flexible working has accelerated. 'These conversations are crucial. The shift to flexible work arrangements has unlocked a world of opportunities, not just for businesses to tap into a wider talent pool but also for a diverse set of individuals to engage with the workforce,' he said. 'And its not just limited to working from home, but enabling a work culture that is adaptive, inclusive, and productive. 'Its paramount these discussions do not digress into a political tug-of-war but instead focus on enhancing productivity and global competitiveness. 'This isn't just about individual rights or businesses' operational flexibility, but about creating a more inclusive and efficient Australian workforce.' The government's recent sweeping workplace changes saw the latest reforms passed in February, which included giving casuals working full-time the option to transition into a permanent position. The establishment of minimum pay rates and work standards for gig economy workers also came into play. Aussie workers want flexibility, which they got used to during the pandemic Radio host Antoinette Lattouf is returning to the ABC despite currently suing the national broadcaster for sacking her over social media posts in support of Palestinians. Lattouf was dumped by the ABC in December over her posts on the war in Gaza, just three days into a week-long stint as fill-in host on Radio Sydney's morning show. She launched legal action against the ABC at the Fair Work Commission claiming the decision was political, based on her stance on Palestine and her Lebanese heritage. The case is still ongoing, but Lattouf will return to the ABC airwaves this weekend with a small role in the new TV drama House of Gods which begins on Sunday. In a bizarre coincidence, Lattouf plays a radio host plunged into controversy - despite filming her scenes last April, months before the ABC row erupted. 'Art imitates life? Or the other way around?' Lattouf posted on Instagram along with a photograph of her attending the show's premiere. Radio host Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) is returning to the ABC despite currently suing the national broadcaster for sacking her over her support for Palestinians Lattouf will return to the ABC airwaves this weekend with a small role in the new TV drama House of Gods (pictured), playing a radio host plunged into controversy Broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) was dumped by the ABC over social media posts on the war in Gaza after just three days as a fill-in host on Radio Sydney 's morning show 'I had to dig deep for my acting debut in ABC TV drama House of Gods which premieres Sunday. 'I play Leila, a radio presenter who unearths something damning on air. It has wide reaching ramifications and rattles the community. 'And yes, I expect an AACTA, BAFTA, Oscar, but Ill settle for a gold star sticker or a thumbs up for my acting.' She added: 'I cried and I laughed and felt everything in between while watching this beautifully shot and written drama. 'Im so proud to be invited to play a role in this impressive piece of storytelling.' The show 'follows the lives of an ambitious Iraqi-Australian family grappling with new-found power and privilege when their charismatic patriarch is elected head cleric of their local mosque. 'A tale of faith, family, secrets and lies, House of Gods takes audiences behind the walls of an imams family and the community he leads, exploring the personal cost of power and ambition,' says ABC promotional material for the series. Messages posted in a group including high-powered Jewish lawyers were encouraged to threaten ABC chair Ita Buttrose (pictured) with legal action unless they dismissed Lattouf Lattouf was axed by the ABC on December 20 within minutes of her show ending, just hours after one member of a WhatsApp Jewish pressure group called for a day of action against her Lattouf was axed by the ABC on December 20 within minutes of her Wednesday show ending, just hours after one member of a WhatsApp Jewish pressure group called for a day of action against her. The ABC said the source of the complaints was irrelevant to its procedures. 'The ABC has a transparent complaints process and responds accordingly, regardless of the source of the complaint,' said a spokesman. Ewen MacIntosh's final screen role has been revealed: as a techno-phobic priest struggling to silence his Kindle as he haplessly tries to deliver a eulogy. MacIntosh, who has died aged 50, shot scenes for independent feature-length film film Harvey Greenfield is Running Late in August 2021 - with the movie due to have its UK premiere at the Northampton Film Festival next month. Jonnie Howard, the film's director, told MailOnline that The Office star had delivered a 'truly scene-stealing performance' in the film, which is based on a hugely successful one-man play first shown at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. The scene - a short clip of which features in the film's trailer - sees MacIntosh's priest attempting to read a eulogy from his tablet during a churchyard burial, before the device begins playing a chirpy version of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. As the titular Greenfield, played by comedy writer and performer Paul Richards, tries to maintain a solemn front, MacIntosh's priest frantically jabs at the electronic gizmo in a vain attempt to silence it. Ewen MacIntosh as the Priest in feature-length film Harvey Greenfield Is Running Late - believed to be his last screen role The Instagram account promoting the film paid tribute to him on Wednesday, sharing photos of him in costume with the cast and crew It also shared a behind-the-scenes photo of him in character - with the film's director Jonnie Howard describing his performance as 'scene-stealing' Director Jonnie Howard (right, with his brother Ray and MacIntosh) told MailOnline he had been 'truly fortunate' to collaborate with the comedy actor on two projects He then puts on a brave face as he mumbles: 'Lord, give me the strength to find the mute button.' Mr Howard said he first worked MacIntosh on comedy-horror film Triple Word Scare in 2015, calling his 'comedic timing and deadpan deliveries inimitable'. The director said: 'I was truly fortunate to have collaborated with him on a couple of projects, he was genuinely one of the greats who always supported the little guys and independent productions.' EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: The Office fans vow to pay tribute to Ewen MacIntosh's brilliant character by chomping on a Scotch egg Advertisement The veteran deadpan actor appeared as one half of a couple who recruits a priest to conduct an exorcist - only for the clergyman to attempt to communicate with their poltergeist using a Scrabble board. His performance impressed Mr Howard so much that he and his brother Ray adapted the role of the priest in Harvey Greenfield especially for MacIntosh - and they were delighted when he agreed to team up again. The film revolves around Greenfield, an 'indecisive people pleaser', struggling to maintain all of his personal commitments on 'the world's busiest day'. Mr Howard continued: 'It's been absolutely bittersweet timing as we released the first footage of the film yesterday that features a clip from one of Ewen's funeral gags and to then have this news today is heartbreaking as he truly gives a scene-stealing performance in the film. 'I'm devastated that I will never be able to show him the film and repay the trust he put in our creative efforts, my thoughts are with his family and friends during this time.' The Harvey Greenfield promotional Instagram account also shared a tribute to MacIntosh, along with some behind-the-scenes images of him on set and with the rest of the film's cast and crew. It read: 'Were incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of the inimitable Ewen MacIntosh. 'Truly fortunate to have worked with him on a couple of projects as he was genuinely one of the greats who always supported the little guys. 'RIP Ewen - Jonnie, Ray and the whole Harvey Team.' MacIntosh's death came following long-running struggles with his health, and a gradual withdrawal from public life. The death of the Office star was announced on Wednesday, prompting a wave of tributes and memories from fans and famous friends. The last known picture of him was a selfie was posted to X, formerly Twitter, on February 6 2022 - around three weeks after he had made a cameo role in Office co-star Ricky Gervais' Netflix series After Life's third and final series. The photo showed him shirtless in a hospital bed attached to monitoring equipment. He captioned it: 'Bad times for me I'm afraid chums. Stat (sic) strong out there,' signing it off with a thumbs-up emoji. Ewen MacIntosh shared this selfie of himself in a hospital bed in February 2022 - the last photo of himself he shared MacIntosh won fans for his portrayal of the deadpan, Scotch egg-loving accounts department worker Keith Bishop in The Office He made a cameo appearance as 'Buffet Man' in the final series of Ricky Gervais' After Life on Netflix - the show airing weeks before he shared his hospital selfie Ricky Gervais shared a number of tributes to MacIntosh on X, formerly Twitter, including an image of himself opposite the actor in a Red Nose Day Office sketch Fans and friends alike responded to the post at the time with best wishes, including some with references to his role in the iconic BBC series opposite Ricky Gervais. His character, Keith, was fixated on Scotch eggs and watching repeats of Peak Practice; his appraisal by Gervais' David Brent, in which he lists 'eczema' as a weakness, is beloved by fans and held up as a standout scene in the series. The hospital selfie was the last photo MacIntosh shared of himself on social media, having stopped posting on X in 2022. Up until April that year, he had been posting jokes, sharing his progress on variations of the word game Wordle, and linking to the personalised celebrity greetings website Memmo, where he could be booked for video messages. Bookings could not be made on his Memmo page as of earlier today. In 2021, he offered personalised videos for $58.50 - and offered himself up for advertising campaigns for $533.50. He also stopped posting on Instagram in 2021. However, the comments of his old posts on the Meta-owned photo-sharing website are littered with tributes posted by fans today. His cause of death was not revealed in the announcement, but his family thanked Willow Green Care Home in Darlington for their support in his last days, while friends confirmed he had been receiving treatment in the runup to his death. The statement, issued on Wednesday morning, read: 'With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved comedy genius Ewen MacIntosh. 'His family thank all who supported him, especially Willow Green Care Home. 'There will be a private cremation for family & close friends soon & a celebratory memorial later in the year.' MacIntosh's friend, executive producer Ed Scott, the CEO of Dodged A Bullet Music, also confirmed he had been receiving treatment from doctors and nurses in the runup to his death. Mr Scott added: 'Ewen was so full of empathy, kindness, and integrity and above all a really good man. 'Sending love to his parents Sara and Ewen Sr, his brother Colin and his family, as well as his many friends and fans.' He also paid tribute to those who had cared for his friend, penning: 'Thanks to the incredible care and love provided by the wonderful medical staff and especially the nurses who all loved him when he brought a smile to their days. 'I saw first hand the empathy and incredible care they gave him was just so reassuring during the toughest of times and am forever grateful to them all.' MacIntosh appeared in the final series of Gervais' Netflix show After Life as 'Buffet Man' - a man who was banned from an all-you-can-eat buffet for 'putting it out of business'. In the memorable scene in which he was interviewed by Gervais' character, journalist Tony Johnson, he was asked if he went 'twice a day' to the buffet for lunch and then for dinner. With perfect deadpan styling, MacIntosh replies: 'No, from lunch until dinner. Then I was full.' Gervais has shared a number of memories of working alongside his co-star on X today. Posting a photo of him as Keith in The Office, he wrote: 'Extremely sad news. The very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh, known to many as 'Big Keith' from The Office, has passed away. An absolute original. RIP.' Gervais later shared a picture of a trophy for 'comedy moment of the year', as awarded by the defunct TV Moments Awards - revealing it had been given for Keith's timeless appraisal scene. He also shared a photo of himself chuckling as David Brent opposite MacIntosh in a Red Nose Day sketch, in which Keith dressed up as Ali G. The picture was captioned: 'A day without laughter is a day wasted.' READ MORE: Ninth man is arrested in NSW over alleged paedophile ring At teenager who poured milk on a group of women enjoying a birthday boat ride has been suspended from his prestigious $30,000-a-year school. The 16-year-old boy was suspended from the elite Melbourne Grammar School after video of the prank began circulating on social media last month. A group of women had their day 'ruined' after they were covered in milk while on a GoBoat on the Yarra River on January 27. One of the passengers, Veronica Burgess, said the boat had been booked for a friend's birthday in a TikTok video posted on January 27. 'Imagine if someone on the boat was allergic to milk? This is beyond dangerous,' Ms Burgess wrote online. 'Would love to find the kid that ruined our day.' The teen responsible was handed a 'combination of suspension and other punitive action, reparation, apologies and counselling', the Herald Sun reports. The 16-year-old was suspended from Melbourne Grammar School after video of the cruel prank began circulating on social media last month (pictured) He was also issued a caution for unlawful assault following an investigation by Victoria Police, who said the 'matter was now complete'. Melbourne Grammar School principal, Philip Grutzner, said the school had done its own investigation which had resulted in the student being suspended. He said the school had taken action despite the incident occurring off-campus. 'We continue to have the firm view that this behaviour was completely unacceptable and have treated the matter with the utmost seriousness,' he said. 'Although the incident occurred well outside the purview of the school, we have worked with that student and his parents. 'We endeavour to instill an understanding of the importance of respect and care for others in our students every day in which students act responsibly and are accountable for their actions.' Before his suspension, the teenager took to social media to lash critics who had gone 'too far' and that he was now facing expulsion. 'Please stop contacting my school, my school has caught me and I am facing expulsion. Can't believe you would do this to (a) minor,' he wrote. 'Why'd you do this to me. You ruin my life over a ruined day, you upped the anti, I'm just a kid and you ruined my life. Too far.' A group of girls had their day 'ruined' after they and a large spread were covered in milk as they approached the Yarra River on a GoBoat on January 27 In Ms Burgess's video, which has now been viewed over 30million times, the teen is heard asking the women on the boat if they 'want some milk'. Despite one of them yelling 'don't!' the boy pours milk over the group. Ms Burgess said GoBoat helped them clean up following the incident before the group of women were able to carry on with their day. 'GoBoat (sic) were so great and helpful about the situation. They helped clean us up so we could go home,' Ms Burgess wrote on TikTok. The video was quickly flooded with dozens of sympathetic comments. 'I'd be fuming honestly,' one person wrote. 'I'd be so upset. I'm so sorry this happened,' a second said. A driver who found what he thought was a fake parking ticket slipped under his vehicle's windscreen was shocked to learn the fine was real. The motorist discovered the dodgy looking ticket placed on his car parked at Richlands Train Station in Brisbane's south-west on Tuesday. He uploaded a picture to reddit later that day with a caption saying the ticket didn't appear to look legitimate. 'Scare tactic or do police really hand out parking tickets at the Richlands train station car park?' he wrote. 'It looks fake as and even looks like an ink printer was used.' A driver was shocked to learn that what he thought was a fake parking ticket (pictured) was in fact a real fine The fine read 'QLD POLICE PARKING TICKET'. '(infringement notice) has been issued to this vehicle and will be posted to the registered owner.' A Queensland Police logo was printed on the right side of the ticket. The driver who didn't want to be named told Daily Mail Australia he was suspicious the fine could be fake as the ticket had very limited information printed on the front. '[It] didn't have an incident number or anything to make them look authorized,' he said. 'I looked at and I'm like 'this has to be fake'... I even wet the thing [ticket] a little bit and let it run and it [the ink] looked like [it was printed by] an ink jet printer'. He found out that the parking fine was not fake after he posted the picture of the ticket online. 'Sadly, not fake. These are used when the Police issue a ticket from their iPad. The ticket is printed and sent via post to the registered owner,' one user said. 'This happened to me once years ago. Got a parking ticket but it got sent to an old address. Had no idea and carried on living my life,' another user wrote. Others said the ticket looked like it had been printed in bulk even thought it didn't appear to be fake. The motorist discovered the ticket after parking at Richlands Train Station in Brisbane's south-west 'It looks real to me - not in an official way.' The driver, who was using his partner's car at the time, said he was fined for parking in the wrong spot inside the train station carpark. He parked the car at a section of the carpark close to where vehicles enter the parking lot as all the marked bays were full. He said dozens of motorists left their vehicles in the same empty spaces. However, drivers are not permitted to park their vehicles in these spots as it can obstruct incoming cars entering the carpark. The man, who moved to Richland just two months ago, said he wasn't the only one fined. 'Everyday going to the station seeing everyone else park there [I'm] going, 'it must just be a gentleman's agreement'. 'It wasn't just me, it was every person that was parked there that day got it.' A spokesperson from Queensland Police told Daily Mail the fines are real and are handed out by officers to motorists who commit a parking offence. The driver parked his partner's car in an area (pictured marked in red) towards the entrance of the parking lot as all the parking spaces had been taken 'These are legitimate parking tickets that Queensland Police leave on unattended vehicles,' the spokesperson said. 'As the infringement notice is sent to the address of the person who the vehicle is registered to, the paper notice is put on the windscreen to let the driver know theyve received an infringement while away from the vehicle'. The driver admitted that he shouldn't have parked in the space and said he now has to get his partner to transfer the fine to him so that he can make the payment. 'I've resorted to walking to the train station now, I'm not going to risk it,' he said. Pupils with low behaviour scores are being sent to the back of the food queue in a 'Dickensian' move by a secondary school. The 'Attitude to Learning' scheme, at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton, awards pupils scores based on criteria including respect, creativity and resilience. Those given the best scores are promoted to the front of the queue at breaktime, while those with the worst scores must wait until others have finished. Parents have said the system 'unfairly discriminates' against children and uses access to food as a punishment to 'shame' less able pupils. One mother, with a daughter at the school, said: 'This is positively Dickensian. Rewarding access to food is like something out of Oliver Twist. The 'Attitude to Learning' scheme, at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton , awards pupils scores based on criteria including respect, creativity and resilience 'My daughter says she gets really anxious at breaktime because she is separated from her friends and told to wait. 'I don't know what the head was thinking introducing this, and I fully expect the local authority and school governors to step in.' A father said: 'Restricting access to food or using it as a reward is totally wrong. This is 2024, not the Victorian era.' One girl attending the East Sussex school deemed a 'good' pupil but with poor scores said there is often little food left by the time she gets into the canteen. The year 11 pupil claimed she ate just a small fruit jelly one day this week. Her mother said: 'If the school is trying to improve the behaviour and learning of pupils then I fail to see how not feeding them is going to help. Kids need proper nutrition to maintain concentration levels for study and good behaviour. This policy is counter-productive. 'My daughter has been coming home starving hungry. She falls behind in just two subjects, so she is in a lower group. By the time her group gets into the canteen, everything has almost gone.' Pupils are separated into six groups, with group one getting into the canteen first. Being marked 'good' across all subjects leads to being placed in a higher group. Those 'needing to improve' are assigned to a lower group. The policy at Dorothy Stringer was piloted in year 11 last year by headmaster Matt Hillier, it was then rolled out across the school Parents said the Attitude to Learning (ATL) scheme is used in other UK schools, though it is not known how many others use it to control access to food. The policy at Dorothy Stringer was piloted in year 11 last year by headmaster Matt Hillier, it was then rolled out across the school. Mr Hillier said: 'The new system was introduced to improve queuing and ensure that students can access the canteen safely. It only applies at breaktimes, when approximately 1,600 children go through the canteen in 25 minutes, and not at lunchtimes. Lunchtime and free school meal provision is unchanged. 'Students are not separated from their friends they can choose to wait and go in together. This system does not prevent anyone from accessing food and food does not run out. It rewards students who demonstrate a positive ATL. 'It is not linked to attainment and lots of students with SEN [special educational needs] have excellent scores. A small number of students with a specific need linked to canteen entry already have passes that allow them to bypass the queue.' President Joe Biden Wednesday said climate change was an 'existential threat' to humanity as he met with a small group of supporters in San Francisco and said it was more dangerous than an 'S.O.B. like Vladimir Putin.' He also slammed former President Donald Trump for comparing his legal woes with the plight of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in prison last week. Biden made his comments during the second day of a three-day fundraising swing through California. On Wednesday evening he spoke with a high powered group of campaigners called the Climate Leaders Group in the drawing room of a Pacific Heights. 'We have a crazy S.O.B. like that guy Putin and the others and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict but the existential threat to humanity is climate,' he told them. President Joe Biden is on the second day of a three-day fundraising trip to California. He delivered a speech on debt forgiveness in Culver City before flying to San Francisco He arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon where he was greeted by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They traveled together on Marine One to a campaign reception His administration is planning to level a fresh round of sanctions on the Russian leader after the death of Navalny in a Siberian penal colony. At the same time, fears are growing that Putin is about to put a nuclear weapon into space. Yet Biden has repeatedly warned that climate change and extreme weather are now the biggest threat to humanity. A recent poll found that Democrats agree, but Republican see a far bigger threat from China and Iran, suggesting the country is polarized over even its nightmares. Biden also used the occasion to ridicule former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed his plight - pursued by courts - is similar to Navalny's. 'You listen to some of the things this fella has been saying, comparing himself to Navalny saying this country has become a communist country, and he's being persecuted just like Navalny was persecuted,' he said. 'I don't know where the hell this comes from. 'If I stood here 10, 15 years ago and said any of this you'd all think I should be committed.' He spoke to an intimate gathering of about 25 people, sitting on chairs set out by book cases with books including 'Beyond Oil,' and 'Field Notes from a Catastrophe.' Biden said he had seen the impact of climate change in the wildfires that have swept the nation Biden is planning fresh sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime after the death in a Siberian penal colony of opposition leader Alexei Navalny Data from a survey of risk perception conducted for the Munich Security Conference reveal deep divides in the US over what keeps people awake at night So while Democrats see the danger of extreme weather and forest fires as most worrying, Protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court as the court blocked President Biden's previous student loan relief plan last June Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul were at the event, just a few blocks from their home where he was attacked with a hammer in October, 2022. They also attended the next fundraiser, a $100,000-a-head dinner at the home of billionaire Gordon Getty, son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. He used it to spell out the what was at stake in his contest with Trump. 'I'm often quoted as saying, "Don't compare me to the almighty compare me the alternative. Well, this alternative is a different breed of cat,' he said. 'Don't say that about cats,' shouted Pelosi, triggering laughter. He also reminisced about some of the Republican senators he had had to work with, and how the current crop of MAGA Republicans were far worse. 'I've been a senator since 1972 ... I've served with real racists. I served with Strom Thurmond, I served with all these guys that set terrible records on race. But guess what, these guys are worse. These guys are worse,' he said. 'These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles.' He described how nine world leaders have quietly implored him to beat Trump in the next election, buttonholing him as he left meetings with them. 'Not because I'm so special ... Youve got to win because my democracy is at stake if the other guy wins,' he said. 'Nine heads of state have done that with me.' Pelosi joined Biden on Marine One as they flew from the airport to campaign reception Biden made an unannounced stop at CJ's Cafe In Baldwin Hills on Wednesday before continuing to Culver City for his speech at the library Biden, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, posed for selfies with customers and staff Earlier in the day he highlighted his work forgiving loans of people saddled with student debt and said even the Supreme Court could not stop him for acting. Officials said they were automatically canceling federal student loans for nearly 153,000 borrowers as part of a faster repayment plan. It adds up to another $1.2 billion of $138 billion canceled so far. 'Folks, I'm happy to have been able to forgive these loans because when we relieve Americans of their student debt, they're free to chase their dreams,' he told a small audience in front of the bookshelves at the Julian Dixon Library in Culver City. The administration sent out emails to some of the borrowers who will benefit from what the White House has nicknamed its SAVE program. To qualify, they must have been making repayments for at least ten years after taking out loans of less than $12,000 for college. The cancellations were originally due to start in July, but the administration says it has been able to begin six months early. More than 7.5 million people have enrolled in the plan. It represents a workaround after the Supreme Court last year struck down a mass debt cancellation plan. Biden expressed his frustration with opponents who tried to derail his efforts. 'My Republican friends in Congress, elected officials and special interest stepped in and sued us and the Supreme Court blocked it, blocked it,' he said. 'But that didn't stop me.' Biden said they were wrong to think it was just about the 800,000 people who had already had loans forgiven. 'This is kind of relief can be life changing for individuals and for their families. and it's good for the economy as a whole,' he said. 'By freeing millions of Americans from the crushing debt of student loan programmes, it means they can finally get on with their lives. 'Instead of getting their lives being put on hold, they can think about buying a house or starting a family.' After he finished his speech he was asked whether he was worried courts would try to block his SAVE program. 'I dont have a worry at all,' he said. Biden made the announcement during a three-day campaign fundraising trip through California. Before his speech he stopped by C.J.'s Cafe, a Mexican restaurant, where he shook hands and posed for selfies with supporters. He ignored a shouted question about whether he needed a strong State of the Union speech to win re-election. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass answered for him. 'He's going to win reelection,' anyway,' she said, to cheers of support. King Charles has shown he is 'still very much in charge', a body language expert has said, as the fallout from Prince William's shock statement on the war in Gaza continues. The monarch, 75, met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak face-to-face at Buckingham Palace yesterday for the first time since his cancer diagnosis, and demonstrated how he was still 'leading', communication expert Judi James has said. The meeting came 24 hours after his son ramped up his family's response to the conflict in the Middle East by insisting Hamas must release hostages and that it was critical that aid get through to those sheltering in Gaza. William, jointly with his wife Kate, argued the 'sheer scale of human suffering' had brought home the need for peace in an enclave 'where too many have been killed'. Royal experts said this week that the heir to the throne's well-choreographed intervention was evidence of how he plans to be a hands-on King - but questions have remained over whether Charles knew about the statement before it was released. It came ahead of the House of Commons debate over the war last night, which resulted in MPs passing Labour's amendment calling for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire'. King Charles has shown he is 'still very much in charge', body language expert Judi James said after his meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday (pictured) The meeting came 24 hours after Prime William (pictured Tuesday at the British Red Cross) ramped up his family's response to the war by issuing a statement of 'distress' stating Hamas must release hostages and that it is critical that aid get through to those sheltering in Gaza Wednesday's audience with the Prime Minister marked the first time Charles has been filmed carrying out official duties since late last year. The King has stepped away from public engagements to focus on his cancer treatment, but has said he intends to continue to perform his state duties. His body language during the meeting 'threw up some strong signals' that the King 'intends to keep working for as long as possible', Ms James told MailOnline last night. Wearing a navy blue suit and tie, Charles joked with Mr Sunak before their formal meeting at Buckingham Palace. The Prime Minister told the King that it was 'very nice to see you', to which Charles responded: 'A bit of a gap I'm afraid,' referring to the disruption to their weekly meetings. Mr Sunak reassured him that 'we're all behind you, the country is behind you', and added that it was 'wonderful to see you looking so well.' In typical good humour, the King jokingly replied: 'Well, it's all done by mirrors, really.' Analysing the interaction, Ms James said: 'His chuckling smile was an immediate response to his words about his face-to-face with his PM being delayed,' Ms James said. 'His handshake looked firm and the way that Sunak responded with a prolonged shake for the cameras suggested he felt no sign of a weakened response from the King.' Charles, 75, met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace yesterday as he made his first public remarks since his cancer diagnosis and showed he was 'leading', Ms James said Charles beamed as he shook hands with Mr Sunak during the in-person audience. Ms James said his 'chuckling smile was an immediate response to his words about his face-to-face with his PM being delayed' and that his handshake looked 'firm' The monarch and Prime Minister shared a joke or two during the meeting. Ms James explained that despite 'some signs of tiredness and frailty', the clues to Charles' ill-health were 'subtle' Charles was seen leaving Sandringham shortly after 3pm yesterday on his return to London The body language expert noted how Charles 'led' the meeting and was 'motioning his PM to sit'. She said: 'It was Charles performing all the active hand gestures during their chat, leading the discussion rather than just listening politely to the PM's good wishes. 'Even when Charles sat he placed his hands on his knees with no sign of needing to hold the arm of the chair as he lowered himself down and when he was sitting he adopted a very upright, regal pose.' Ms James explained that despite 'some signs of tiredness and frailty', the clues to Charles' ill-health were 'subtle'. She said: 'The way he pushed one hand into his jacket pocket after the handshake looked like a self-comfort ritual. His eyes looked tired and there were shadows beneath his eyes, and his face looked slimmer, with his chuckling smile revealing his cheeks were less plumped and rounded than usual.' Before the pair's private discussion, the 75-year-old monarch also met with members of the Privy Council in person on Tuesday evening. Charles normally curtails his public schedule for several weeks around the Christmas and New Year holidays, which was followed by the announcement of the king's diagnosis earlier this month. Buckingham Palace announced that the king would be treated for cancer less than three weeks after he was treated for an enlarged prostate. While palace officials didn't disclose the type of cancer, they said it wasn't prostate cancer. Prince William called on Tuesday for an end to the fighting in Gaza, saying the 'sheer scale of human suffering' had brought home the need for peace in an enclave 'where too many have been killed'. William is pictured during his visit to the British Red Cross on Tuesday William, while at the Red Cross, listened to Pascal Hundt, Senior Crisis Manager, International Committee of the Red Cross, dialling in on a video call from Gaza Prince William on Tuesday was guided by British Red Cross chair Liz Padmore, centre, and BRC chief executive Beatrice Butsana-Sita, right The meeting came one day after William, in an unusually direct intervention for a member of the royal family, vocalised that 'I, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible'. 'I remain deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October. Too many have been killed,' he said in a statement. 'Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home. 'There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. Its critical that aid gets in and the hostages are released.' In 2018, William became the first senior British royal to make an official visit to Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, and since then, he has followed the region closely, his office said. In response to the Prince's remarks, Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said: 'Israelis of course want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible, and that will be possible once the 134 hostages are released, and once the Hamas terror army threatening to repeat the October 7 atrocities is dismantled.' William's statement was issued with the knowledge of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and welcomed by Downing Street, which said his 'measured' call for an end to the fighting was in line with the Government's position. Royal aides emphasised that it was the 'extent of the human suffering that is on display which had led him to make the statement he has today'. Prince William has today issued the royals' strongest statement yet on the Gaza conflict British Red Cross officials Clare Clement, director of international law and policy, and head of region MENA and Europe Rory Moylan talk to BRC chairwoman Liz Padmore and William Prince William met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara during his visit to the country in 2018 They would not confirm whether it had the backing of the King. But father and son did meet in Norfolk at the weekend, where Charles is recuperating from cancer treatment. Conservative MPs were wary of publicly criticising William but some questioned the royal's 'highly political' message, calling his intervention 'unwise'. With Charles currently absent from official public duties as he undergoes treatment for cancer, William has been expected to take on more high-profile engagements. In general, the royals avoid making statements on political issues, but before his father became king, he spoke out on matters close to his heart. Charles has called the Hamas attacks in southern Israel 'barbaric acts of terrorism', and also appealed for greater religious tolerance at a time of 'international turmoil'. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams previously told MailOnline that Tuesday's intervention was evidence that William was following elements of his father Charles' 'outspoken' approach to issues of the day. He said: 'The language William used in this statement was very stark. William has not been outspoken in the same way as Charles and tends to behave more like the Queen by being very circumspect. 'But he can be outspoken in very specific circumstances when he knows his words will carry weight. So while their style is very different, there something in his father in the way he made this statement. Over time we will judge how his style develops.' A Government baby loss certificate scheme designed to recognise the grief of parents who lose a baby early in a pregnancy has been launched. The voluntary scheme offers those who experience a loss pre-24 weeks' gestation a certificate to formally recognise the devastating impact. Babies stillborn before 24 weeks do not need to be officially registered, leaving some parents feeling ignored. The new certificates, which are not compulsory, will be official but not legal documents. The idea was formed as part of the Government's response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review, with parents able to access the free service from 9am today. Babies stillborn before 24 weeks do not need to be officially registered, leaving some parents feeling ignored (stock image) A Government baby loss certificate scheme designed to recognise the grief of parents who lose a baby early in a pregnancy has been launched (stock image) Every year in Britain about 250,000 pregnancies' end through miscarriage. Other types of baby loss include ectopicpregnancies - in which a fertilised egg attempts to develop outside the womb, this affects another 11,000 each year. The same can be said for molar pregnancies - in which a fertilised egg fails to develop because of an abnormality, this affects over 19,000 women. The certificates will be available for either parent to access following a loss under 24 weeks since September 2018, with the Government planning to expand eligibility in the near future. On a visit to a family bereavement centre at the maternity unit, Maria Caulfield, Minister for the Women's Health Strategy, said parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks can feel there is a 'lack of recognition of that baby'. Speaking at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, she said: 'Getting an official certificate means a lot. 'Parents feel it's so important to see their baby's name on a certificate that they can share with family, and friends and remember that baby. 'We've had parents user-testing the system which is why it's taken a little bit longer to get up and running than we would have liked. 'It's a very difficult time for parents, even if they don't do it straight away... so we want to make it as easy as possible.' Maria Caulfield visits St George's Hospital to recognise baby loss certificates The minister was shown around the unit's specialist bereavement suite, which offers a comforting and private setting for families dealing with the emotional and physical challenges of perinatal loss. The suite at St George's was refurbished in October after the family of a baby who passed away after birth raised more than 80,000 towards its renovation. Not all hospitals have such facilities, and Ms Caulfield was told by midwives on the visit that they should be 'standard' in maternity units. The minister said: 'Having a facility like this where mums are not on a maternity ward, where they have the time and space to spend with their baby before they have to leave hospital is crucial. 'Part of our pregnancy loss review is seeing how we can get that as a standard facility in all maternity units. 'There's a number of things that we can do, that will make a difference, but that is on top of trying to reduce the number of deaths from stillbirths and neonatal deaths in the first place.' Asked about calls to introduce statutory leave for bereaved parents who have lost a baby before 24 weeks, she said: 'We are looking at that. 'As a department, we're leading the way in supporting employees at the Department of Health and Social Care. 'There's nothing formal at the moment, but a bit like we've done with the menopause, in encouraging employers to look after their staff, both mums and dads. It's really important. 'Many employers want to support those parents that work for them, but aren't always sure how to so it's about raising awareness and showcasing best practice that will really help parents at difficult times.' Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: 'Losing a baby can be a hugely traumatic event and the introduction of certificates to formally acknowledge the loss of life is a positive step towards better supporting women and parents affected. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: 'Losing a baby can be a hugely traumatic event and the introduction of certificates to formally acknowledge the loss of life is a positive step towards better supporting women and parents affected 'I'd like to thank charities and campaigners for their continuous work in bringing awareness to baby loss and making the certificates launching possible.' Reacting to the announcement of the scheme, Kath Abrahams, chief executive of Tommy's, the pregnancy research and baby loss charity, said: 'This announcement will be warmly welcomed by many in our community. 'The pain of losing a baby before 24 weeks is often made even worse for bereaved parents because there is no formal recognition of their experience. 'We're pleased that baby loss certificates will now be available to provide a degree of comfort for at least some of those families.' But Ms Abrahams said miscarriage remains a 'largely hidden problem' because of a lack of Government commitment to gathering statistics on the issue. 'We do believe, however, that more must be done to formally record losses before 24 weeks,' she continued. 'We cannot begin to tackle the wider problem of baby loss without a Government commitment to gather and record UK-wide miscarriage statistics. 'Without data, miscarriage remains a largely hidden problem and isn't prioritised, despite the tens of thousands of families affected by it every year.' The new scheme is being launched today in England only, although people in Scotland can already apply to have their loss recorded in the Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 weeks, and receive a certificate of inclusion in the book. The British public is 'at risk' from the government's Prevent scheme's failures to identify Islamist terror sympathisers, its independent reviewer has claimed. Sir William Shawcross said the anti-extremism scheme was failing to identify people sympathising with Islamist terror in the wake of the October 7 attack. He warned that the scheme continued to have a bias towards tackling the rise in Right-wing terrorists. He added that members of the 'underlying Hamas support network' within the UK were responsible for promoting the mass pro-Palestinian marches which have taken to the streets in recent months. In a bombshell report published last year, Sir William found that Prevent repeatedly 'failed' to identify attackers. The Home Office said it had implemented almost all of his proposals and eventually would enact them all. Sir William Shawcross said the anti-extremism scheme was failing to identify people sympathising with Islamist terror in the wake of the October 7 attack The Home Secretary said the counter-terrorism system needs to 'continually evolve and adapt' The scheme places public bodies, such as schools and the police, under a legal duty to identify people in danger of turning to extremism. Sir William told The Telegraph: 'The Government is failing to implement my recommendations properly and the British people are therefore in more danger from extremists and terrorists, 'Some of the things I've recommended that have not been carried out do represent such an increased threat because October 7 has changed everything. 'I am concerned about the increased threat to the public that exists after October 7 which still needs to be addressed.' He told the Telegraph he had warned ministers a year ago of the 'pernicious' threat of the terrorist group. In a separate interview with the BBC, he said: 'There are unfortunately quite a lot of Hamas sympathisers and some operatives in this country. 'Prevent and the police should have been working much harder against those Hamas people in this country.' A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC the government had made 'significant progress to deliver a strengthened Prevent'. They added: 'William Shawcross's Review was critical to ensuring Prevent is fit for purpose, which is why we accepted his recommendations in full. 'One year on, we have delivered 30 of the 34 recommendations he made, and we are making rapid progress on delivering the remaining four. 'The government agrees that extreme Islamist ideology presents the greatest threat to the UK, and has moved swiftly to update Prevent duty guidance and training to make that clear.' On Tuesday, ministers marked a year since the report's publication by saying they had brought the Prevent scheme back to its 'core mission'. Suella Braverman told MPs at the time that Prevent's focus 'must solely be on security, not political correctness' Home Secretary James Cleverly said the counter-terrorism system needs to 'continually evolve and adapt'. He added that - thanks to the work undertaken after the report - 'we have a first-class Prevent programme'. He ordered the 'major reform' of the flagship anti-terror programme in the wake of the critical report that found it was 'failing to understand' Islamist extremism. But Suella Braverman told MPs at the time that Prevent's focus 'must solely be on security, not political correctness' and said the scheme needs to 'better understand the threats we face and the ideology underpinning them'. Ms Braverman also said that antisemitism had been 'tolerated, normalised and even accepted for too long in the UK.' A rookie cop is facing criminal charges after allegedly speeding into a beloved Connecticut pastor on his way to a non-urgent callout. Zachary Lockwood, 24, was just six months out of the academy when he responded to a minor car accident in July 2023, allegedly racing to the scene before plowing into Rev. Tommie Jackson, 69, as he collected his mail. According to his arrest warrant, Lockwood ignored a dispatcher's orders to follow the flow of traffic and instead hurried to the crash with a 'Code 3' response - the fastest and most urgent. State police said he was recorded going 65mph in a 25mph zone just seconds before colliding with Jackson, a father-of-two, who died shortly after in hospital. Zachary Lockwood, 24, (pictured) was just six months out of the academy when he struck and killed Rev. Tommie Jackson in July 2023 Tributes poured in for Rev. Jackson following his death, as the city of Stamford's mayor said his loss was an 'unimaginable tragedy for our community' The rookie cop was allegedly recorded going 65mph in a 25mph zone just seconds before colliding with Jackson, a father-of-two, who died shortly after in hospital Lockwood was arrested and charged on February 7 following a six-month-long investigation - but his charges of misconduct with a motor vehicle were scrutinized by Jackson's family. The family's attorney, Darnell Crosland, said they are requesting the charges be upgraded to second-degree manslaughter. Crosland said the family are 'continuing talks' with prosecutors, and met with officials before Lockwood's arraignment in court on Wednesday afternoon. He told Hearst Connecticut Media that upgrading the charges to manslaughter would be appropriate because the rookie cop 'acted with such reckless disregard for human life.' 'I think that when you look at the evidence as its come out based on the state police investigation, it was more than just negligence, and I think misconduct with a motor vehicle sort of leans towards negligence,' he said. Lockwood turned himself in earlier this month following the investigation, which reportedly found that he ignored a dispatcher's orders and sped to the scene of a minor accident as fast as possible. The rookie cop and another officer were told to respond to the minor accident with a 'Code 1' - a non-emergency response with no lights or sirens - as the crash had no injuries. But Lockwood instead reportedly decided to escalate to a 'Code 3' with the other officer, who he was on the phone with. The arrest warrant noted that the other officer responded: 'Oh damn, don't go Code 3, go Code 2.' Lockwood, seen at his arraignment on Wednesday, allegedly ignored a 911 dispatcher's orders to respond to a non-urgent callout to a minor car accident with a 'Code 1' response, instead allegedly racing under a 'Code 3' with lights and sirens Rev. Jackson was collecting his mail when Lockwood struck and killed him in July 2023 Code 2 calls for lights and sirens only when necessary through intersections, while Code 3 - also known as a 'Hot Response' - calls for officers to get to a scene as fast as is safe while using lights and sirens. Seconds after the call with the other officer, Lockwood allegedly responded: 'I just hit someone dude. I just hit someone.' State police said he was travelling at 65mph in a 25mph zone in Jackson's neighborhood, at the same time the Reverand was collecting his mail from his mailbox. When Lockwood saw the 69-year-old on the street, he 'made an evasive steering maneuver' that led him to plow directly into the reverend, reported the Stamford Advocate. His arrest warrant said he had slowed to 45mph when he struck Jackson, who was rushed to an area hospital and died a short time later. Crosland argued that Lockwood's current charges don't 'reflect the gravity of the situation', as he also condemned how the rookie cop was freed on a $10,000 bond earlier this month, and scathed the lengthy six-month investigation. 'I think that the reason why it took so long is because theres a disparity in treatment between Joe Blow citizen and officers who break the law,' Crosland told reporters after Lockwood's arraignment on Wednesday. 'Recklessness is the crucial element of the offense,' he said in a press release calling for manslaughter charges to be brought. The reverend's family, seen at his funeral, have called for Lockwood's charges to be upgraded from misconduct with a motor vehicle to manslaughter Jackson was survived by his two daughters and wife of 46 years The reverend, seen in pictures from his obituary, was known as a cornerstone of his community. His family are also suing for $100 million, saying his loss caused an 'enormous void', and therefore his relatives' 'compensation should be just as enormous' 'It means the defendant acted with conscious disregard for a substantial and unjustifiable risk of serious physical injury or death. 'It goes beyond negligence but does not require intent to kill and the defendants actions must be the direct and proximate cause of the victims death. 'Said differently, if the acts showed an extreme disregard for human life, it would fall under manslaughter in the first degree, however, simple recklessness without extreme indifference is considered manslaughter in the second degree.' Jackson's family has also launched a lawsuit against Lockwood and the city for $100 million, saying the reverend's death caused an 'enormous void' in the community, and therefore his relatives' 'compensation should be just as enormous.' Tributes have poured in for Jackson following his death, and after Lockwood's eventual arrest in February, Crosland said: 'We're not celebrating, we're mourning.' Stamford Mayor Carolien Simmons said at the time: 'This incident was an unimaginable tragedy for our community, and my prayers remain with Reverend Jacksons family, and everyone involved.' President Joe Biden is considering an immigration crackdown that closes the border if more than 8,500 try to cross in one day, a law repeatedly used by former President Donald Trump. The law would, if the migrant crisis reached those numbers per day, unilaterally enact a sweeping ban at the southern border, according to three people familiar with the deliberations. The administration, stymied by lawmakers who rejected a negotiated border bill earlier this month, has been exploring options that Biden could deploy on his own without congressional approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly called on President Biden to use the 212(f) authority. The immigration authority the administration has been looking into is outlined in Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives a president broad leeway to block entry of certain immigrants into the United States if it would be 'detrimental' to the national interest of the United States. President Joe Biden is considering an immigration crackdown that closes the border if more than 8,500 try to cross in one day, a law repeatedly used by former President Donald Trump The law would, if the migrant crisis reached those numbers per day, unilaterally enact a sweeping ban at the southern border, according to three people familiar with the deliberations Trump, who is the likely GOP candidate to face off against Biden this fall, repeatedly leaned on the 212(f) power while in office, including his controversial ban to bar travelers from Muslim-majority nations. Biden rescinded that ban on his first day in office through executive order after Democrats were enraged and blasted Trump over the policy. But now, how Biden would deploy that power to deal with his own immigration challenges is currently being considered, and it could be used in a variety of ways, according to the people familiar with the discussions. For example, the ban could kick in when border crossings hit a certain number. That echoes a provision in the Senate border deal, which would have activated expulsions of migrants if the number of illegal border crossings reached above 5,000 daily for a five-day average. Yet the comprehensive immigration overhaul Biden also introduced on his first day in office - which the White House continues to tout - includes provisions that would effectively scale back a presidents powers to bar immigrants under that authority. The exploration of such avenues by Bidens team underscores the pressure the president faces this election year on immigration and the border, which have been among his biggest political liabilities since he took office. For now, the White House has been hammering congressional Republicans for refusing to act on border legislation that the GOP demanded, but the administration is also aware of the political perils that high numbers of migrants could pose for the president and is scrambling to figure out how Biden could ease the problem on his own. White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez stressed that 'no executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected.' Trump, who is the likely GOP candidate to face off against Biden this fall, repeatedly leaned on the 212(f) power while in office, including his controversial ban to bar travelers from Muslim-majority nations How Biden would deploy that power to deal with his own immigration challenges is currently being considered, and it could be used in a variety of ways, according to the people familiar with the discussions For example, the ban could kick in when border crossings hit a certain number. That echoes a provision in the Senate border deal, which would have activated expulsions of migrants if the number of illegal border crossings reached above 5,000 daily for a five-day average The exploration of such avenues by Bidens team underscores the pressure the president faces this election year on immigration and the border, which have been among his biggest political liabilities since he took office An aerial view shows an immigrant group trying to cross the Texan border despite heightened security measures in Eagle Pass, Texas 'The administration spent months negotiating in good faith to deliver the toughest and fairest bipartisan border security bill in decades because we need Congress to make significant policy reforms and to provide additional funding to secure our border and fix our broken immigration system,' he said. 'Congressional Republicans chose to put partisan politics ahead of our national security, rejected what border agents have said they need, and then gave themselves a two-week vacation.' Arrests for illegal crossings on the U.S. border with Mexico fell by half in January from record highs in December to the third lowest month of Bidens presidency. But officials fear those figures could eventually rise again, particularly as the November presidential election nears. The plans are nowhere near finalized and its unclear how the administration would draft any such executive actions in a way that would survive the inevitable legal challenges. The officials and those familiar with the talks spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on private ongoing White House discussions. A pile of bloodied clothes has been found dumped in a skip-bin behind a popular club. A member of the public made the gruesome discovery behind Club Cronulla on Wilbar Avenue in the Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney, on Wednesday. NSW Police were called to the scene before officers quickly cordoned off the area. A member of the public found a pile of badly bloodied clothes dumped in a large skip bin behind Club Cronulla, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire Detectives were called to Wilbar Avenue just after 11am on Wednesday The clothes are now undergoing forensic examination. A crime scene has been established as the investigation surrounding the incident continues. Several officers and detectives were spotted at the scene following the discovery of the bloodied clothes. Anyone with information is urged to contact police. A 23-year-old pregnant woman has been charged with the shooting murder of a neck-tattooed man last year in a bloody gangland killing. Rhylee Stig is behind bars with bail refused after being arrested on Wednesday over the alleged murder of Ferenc 'David' Stemler in southwestern Sydney last July. Stemler, 28, was shot dead just after 2am after he met two men outside his rental home on Broughton Street in Canterbury on July 27, 2023. After reports of a shooting, police officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command found a man with gunshot wounds. Stemler was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene. Local police, with assistance from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad, commenced inquiries before the matter was taken carriage of by Task Force Magnus under Strike Force Murrell. Rhylee Stig, 23 (above) has been arrested for the alleged murder of heavily tattooed David Stemler, who was shot dead in a 2am gangland-style attack last July Police arrested the pregnant woman who was refused bail when she appeared in court and will be behind bars at least until the middle of April Task Force Magnus was established in July as a policing strategy to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime, and to investigate links between recent organised criminal activity in Sydney. Following extensive inquiries, about 7am on Wednesday, strike force detectives arrested Rhylee Stig in Wetherill Park. Stig was taken to Fairfield Police Station where she was charged with murder. She was refused bail and appeared in Fairfield Local Court on Wednesday, where she was formally refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court in April. About 9.40am on Thursday, a 27-year-old man was transferred from Parklea Correctional Centre to Riverstone Police Station, where he was arrested and is expected to charged with murder. Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the arrests were significant for State Crime Command's Task Force Magnus. A pregnant 23-year-old woman has been charged over the execution-style murder of Ferenc 'David' Stemler (above) in southwestern Sydney last July Stemler was shot dead at 2am on Broughton Street, Canterbury (above) after meeting two men in what is believed to be part of a bloody gangland war 'Following this morning's resolution, we can now say that an arrest has been made in every homicide investigated by Task Force Magnus,' Asst Commissioner Fitzgerald said. 'While the work is never truly done, this is a huge feat for our Command, who were given the difficult job of circuit breaking the brazen violence we saw unfolding on our streets. 'Task Force Magnus supplemented their suite of capabilities with both proactive and reactive teams, to not only target offenders, but prevent more acts of violence on our streets. 'The safety of our wider community has and always will be our number one priority, and the people of NSW our motivation for crafting such a significant response; one that has evidently had noteworthy success.' Investigations under Strike Force Murrell continue. A top executive on the popular daytime talk show Sherri has died in an apparent suicide while reportedly under investigation over his handling of the show's budget. Matt Uzzle, 50, was found dead during a police welfare check at his home in Piermont, New York on February 13, with sources telling Page Six that the death appears to be a suicide. Uzzle formerly oversaw The Wendy William's Show and continued as executive in charge of production for Sherri Shepherd when she took over the syndicated slot with her own self-titled show. The show's parent company Debmar-Mercury was probing Uzzle after learning that the show had not paid rent at New York's Chelsea Studios since September, according to Page Six. A spokesman for the firm told DailyMail.com: 'Debmar-Mercury has retained [law firm] Morgan Lewis to help us investigate the matter and, pending the outcome of that investigation, will have no further comment.' Matt Uzzle, 50, was found dead during a police welfare check at his home in Piermont, New York on February 13. Sherri aired a tribute (above) at the end of the February 15 episode Uzzle's primary job was to manage production and oversee the budget at Sherri. According to Page Six's sources, there had been recent complaints about issues with petty cash in several departments. 'There was real concern among staff that the show was getting shut down. Debmar had to step in,' one person told the outlet. Uzzle reportedly told superiors that he needed a few days to organize his paperwork after being confronted about the budget problems. After he wasn't heard from for several days, he was found dead by police performing a welfare check in Piermont. Police declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation. Public records show that Uzzle lived in a condo in Piermont. The condo last sold for $590,000 in 2015 and is currently valued at $782,000 by Redfin. Uzzle was executive in charge of production for Sherri Shepherd (above) on her daytime talk show Sherri, which replaced The Wendy Williams Show At the end of the February 15 episode, Sherri included an on-air 'in memoriam' tribute to Uzzle. Uzzle, a daytime Emmy nominee in 2016 for his work on The Wendy Williams Show, also had credits with The Montel Williams Show and Maury. Sherri launched in September 2022, and served as a successor to The Wendy Williams Show. Shepherd had filled in for Williams regularly as interim host during her absence for much of the final season due to medical issues. Sherri is filmed in the same studio as Williams' show using a reconfigured set, and much of Williams' crew followed Shepherd to the new production. For confidential support, call or text the US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. NSW Premier Chris Minns has revealed the hilarious text he received from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he proposed. After sending Mr Albanese a congratulatory text after the announcement of his engagement to long term partner Jodie Haydon, the prime minister bantered back with Mr Minns. 'I texted him and he sent me a text message back saying, 'We're both punching above our weight',' Mr Minns said on KIIS 106.5. 'I said to my wife, "Is he talking about himself punching?" 'But then she goes, 'No you idiot, he means you and him are punching".' NSW Premier Chris Minns was left baffled when he received a reply from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after congratulating him on his recent engagement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the NSW Premier both men were punching above their weight with their partners after revealing his engagement to Jodie Haydon (pictured) An Australian colloquialism, to 'punch above your weight' is to be out of your league in some capacity. When musing about the wedding invite list for Mr Albanese's wedding, Mr Minns said he was unsure whether he and his wife Anna would make the cut. He added: 'I talked about that with my wife, I said, 'I wonder whether we'll be on the list?' 'I reckon we're a no. Why would he invite me? 'Doesn't he then have to [invite] all other premiers, everyone else in the cabinet, everyone on the backbench? 'We talked about it, but I suspect they're going to keep it small.' Prince William has received public backing for his statement on the war in Gaza, with a poll finding that more people felt his comments were 'appropriate' than those who did not. In a significant intervention on Tuesday, the future king said that the 'terrible human cost' of the conflict has seen 'too many killed', and that he wants 'to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible'. His carefully-chosen words are the strongest yet by a senior royal in response to Israel's devastating military action in Gaza following the sickening terror attacks of October 7. Now a survey has found that 47 per cent felt it was 'appropriate' for the heir to comment on the crisis, more than double the 24 per cent who believe it was 'inappropriate'. The remaining 29 per cent in the YouGov poll of 7,965 adults said they did not know whether the Prince should have commented on 'the situation in the Middle East'. Prince William called for an end to the fighting in Gaza in an unprecedented royal intervention In an extraordinary and symbolically significant statement the future king said the 'terrible human cost' of the conflict had seen 'too many killed' More Labour voters found the statement to be appropriate than Conservative voters - 57 per cent compared with 46 per cent respectively, according to The Times. The Prince's statement prompted responses from leading figures, with concerns voiced that the Royal family should not wade into politics. One former cabinet minister described his involvement in the issue as 'unwise'. 'I can't see any good reason for the royal family to proactively intervene in this issue,' they said. Meanwhile, Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said on X: 'I'm not sure that our future King should be doing this. He should stick to the Baftas.' No 10 was informed in advance of the Prince's statement, and the Prime Minister is said to have told colleagues that the points made by William reflected his own views. A Whitehall source said the Prince's comments would add momentum to the search for peace. 'Whenever the Royals speak, people listen,' the source said. The new poll has been published following a furious row over the actions of speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ahead of MPs voting on a Gaza ceasefire. The chaotic scenes which gripped the Commons last night left many questioning whether Britain's politicians are out of touch with public feeling on the crisis. So far, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, almost 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza and a further 1.7million displaced, out of a population of two million. So far, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, almost 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza and a further 1.7million displaced. Pictured: Palestinians search for bodies and survivors (Feburary 20) Hamas killed almost 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals on October 7, and took almost 250 hostages. Israel's government spokesman Eylon Levy responded to the Prince's statement: 'Israelis of course want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible, and that will be possible once the 134 hostages are released, and once the Hamas terror army threatening to repeat the 7 October atrocities is dismantled. 'We appreciate the Prince of Wales' call for Hamas to free the hostages. We also recall with gratitude his statement from 11 October condemning Hamas's terror attacks and reaffirming Israel's right of self-defence against them.' Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath will quit politics, saying she will not contest the next state election. The Redcliffe MP will continue in her role until the October poll before drawing the curtain on a political career spanning almost 20 years. 'My decision to not recontest is based on many considerations but not least that it is time to try to find more balance in my life, to allow myself to look after me after what will almost be 17 years of serving the people of Queensland,' she posted on Facebook. 'This decision has not been made lightly and comes with some sorrow but also excitement about what journey I may embark on next.' The Redcliffe MP will continue in her role until the October poll before drawing the curtain on a political career spanning almost 20 years Ms D'Ath said the time was right to walk away, after serving as the federal Labor member for Petrie, from 2007 to 2013, before winning a by-election for the state seat of Redcliffe a decade ago. 'By October 2024, I would have served for almost 17 years, having entered federal parliament in November 2007,' she said. 'Whilst I know I still have the passion and drive to continue to serve the people of Queensland, I believe it is better to leave politics when people are still asking me to stay, rather than telling me to go. 'I am also excited to embark on new opportunities and find ways to continue to grow professionally and to use the knowledge and skills I have gained over so many years, in so many diverse roles, to chart a new direction for myself.' A busy eight months may lay ahead for Ms D'Ath who aimed to deliver on an 'ambitious agenda' before leaving politics. 'There is still much work to do in my portfolio and I look forward to continuing my engagement with the various sectors, including the domestic and family violence and sexual violence sectors, to implement the reforms needed to deliver real change for the people of Queensland,' she said. Ms D'Ath thanked former long serving premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who quit in December, along with her successor Steven Miles. Yvette D'Ath (right) with Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard (left) at a January 2022 press conference when she was the state's health minister Mr Miles said he was keen for Ms D'Ath to stay in the ministry until the election. 'She has a lot of work under way, most of which is scheduled to be finished in time for the election, and so I welcome the commitment that she's made to stay on and finish that work,' he said. 'I certainly look forward to continuing to work with her until October and continuing to be her friend well beyond that.' Ms D'Ath was formerly Attorney-General before former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made her health minister after the 2020 Queensland state election. She then gained a national profile as she oversaw the state's at-times controversial response to the pandemic, including lockdowns and strict border shutdowns, before returning as attorney-general in May 2023. Sir Lindsay Hoyle's job as the Speaker is on the line after he was accused of 'bending the rules' to save Sir Keir Starmer from a backbench revolt, amid reports of personal lobbying from the Labour leader. The House of Commons descended into chaos last night as SNP and Tory MPs walked out of the chamber in a furious row over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire. It was sparked by Sir Lindsay upending parliamentary convention by selecting Labour's bid to amend an SNP motion on the Israel-Hamas war. His decision sparked fury from the Conservative and SNP benches, who accused him of helping the Labour leader avoid another damaging revolt over the Middle East issue. Furthermore, the Telegraph reported that Sir Keir personally lobbied Sir Lindsay to choose Labour's amendment, having visited the day before the plead his case. The Speaker issued an apology after a day of acrimony but continues to face calls to resign - with more than 30 MPs signing a parliamentary motion tabled by a Tory MP declaring no confidence. A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he later returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown Sir Keir personally lobbied Sir Lindsay to choose Labour's amendment. He visited the day before the plead his case, the Telegraph reports The House of Commons descended into chaos last night as SNP and Tory MPs walked out of the chamber in a furious row over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt also launched a bitter attack on Sir Lindsay, claiming he had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House Reports of a visit from Sir Keir raise questions about the degree to which the Labour leader leaned on the Speaker as the decision on votes was being considered, the newspaper reported. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt also launched a bitter attack on Sir Lindsay, claiming he had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. They could come face to face again on Thursday when she delivers a business statement in the Commons. The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour's amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP's original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an 'immediate humanitarian pause'. He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move, which provoked uproar in the chamber. After calls for him to return to the chamber to explain his move, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures. Amid shouts of 'resign', he said: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up.' The evening's mayhem - in scenes not seen since the Brexit battles at Westminster - raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker in a plot some are dubbing 'Just Stop Hoyle'. An early day motion tabled by senior Tory William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker has already attracted support from 33 Conservative and SNP MPs. In a protest prompted by the actions of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, huge numbers of MPs deserted the Commons following angry exchanges One veteran Tory MP told MailOnline the situation was 'absolutely disastrous'. 'I think he may well be in terminal difficulty,' they said of Sir Lindsay's position. 'He was warned by his clerks, who wrote to confirm the advice. He ignored the advice. It was the biggest cock-up I have ever seen since I have been an MP.' The MP added: 'The rumour is that he was threatened by the Labour Party. If he buckled to that sort of threat, he doesn't deserve to be Speaker.' Sir Lindsay said he took the decision to allow all sides to 'express their views' and that he was 'very, very concerned about the security' of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict. But SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speaker's position was 'not now intolerable' and claimed his party had been treated with 'complete and utter contempt'. He also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour's chief whip had exerted pressure on Sir Lindsay, a former Labour MP, ahead of his decision to pick the party's amendment for debate. Labour's amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation. Had the Speaker not chosen it, Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire could have been pushed to back the SNP motion, in a repeat of a major rebellion against the Labour leadership in November. However, Labour frontbencher John Healey told BBC Newsnight it was 'totally untrue that he (the Speaker) was put under pressure'. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (pictured), both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square Sir Lindsay was later absent from shambolic scenes in the Commons - prompting suggestions he had gone 'into hiding' - as MPs on all sides engaged in a parliamentary slanging match. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout. The three key votes that plunged the Commons into chaos SNP - 'immediate ceasefire' The nationalists called for an unconditional 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Unlike Labour's amendment, the motion also called for an end to the 'collective punishment of the Palestinian people'. It was not voted on as the Labour amendment successfully passed. Labour - 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' Labour's amendment used softer language around Israel's military action in Gaza, stating they 'cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence'. It also removed references to 'collective punishment' from the SNP's original motion. Government - 'immediate humanitarian pauses' The Government amendment, laid down late on Tuesday night, reflects the latest position outlined by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. It calls for an immediate 'pause' in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza and release Israeli hostages. This would set up the conditions for a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire' which ensures 'security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians' in a two-state solution. The amendment was not voted on after the Government withdrew it in protest to the speaker tabling Labour's amendment. Advertisement MPs then voted on whether the Commons should sit in private for the first time since 2001 as they put pressure on Sir Lindsay to return to the chamber. The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square yesterday. A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he later returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown. He told MPs: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up. 'I do take responsibility for my actions, and that's why I want to meet with the key players who have been involved.' The Speaker attempted to explain that he intended to allow the House 'the widest range of propositions on which to express a view'. But he angrily denied accusations he had met with Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray in a bid to stitch up the debate in Labour's favour. One insider said Labour had warned him their MPs would be at increased risk of attack by pro-Palestine campaigners if they could not vote for their own ceasefire motion. 'He was told he would have blood on his hands if he didn't allow this vote,' the source said. In his statement on Wednesday, the Speaker acknowledged he was 'very, very concerned about the security of all MPs'. But former Tory cabinet minister Kit Malthouse said he would have 'crossed a Rubicon' if he had allowed threats and intimidation from outside to influence the proceedings of the Commons. Sir Keir wanted to prevent his MPs from backing the SNP motion demanding an unqualified 'immediate ceasefire' by tabling his own amendment. The Labour amendment caveated that Hamas terrorists must hand back hostages and lay down weapons first. Sir Lindsay's ploy to allow all three main parties - the Tories, Labour and SNP - to put forward their own position was undone when the Government boycotted proceedings. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Ms Mordaunt also suggested the Speaker's decision may have put MPs at greater risk, warning that he had 'raised temperatures...on an issue where feelings are already running high'. She accused the Speaker of having taken action 'against the longstanding and established processes and procedures of this House', adding: 'For that reason the Government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on today's proceedings.' That move prompted last night's chaos in the Commons after the SNP were informed the Government's action meant they were unlikely to get a vote on their original motion. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had looked to avoid another major Commons revolt by his MPs over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war This evening's mayhem - in scenes not seen since the Brexit battles at Westminster - has raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker An early day motion tabled by senior Tory William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker has already attracted support from 33 Conservative and SNP MPs Mr Flynn demanded to know why Sir Lindsay was not in his chair, and asked how he could be brought to the House to explain why the SNP's views are 'irrelevant to him'. After his request for the Commons to be suspended were denied by Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton - who was filling in for the absent Sir Lindsay - SNP MPs and Tory MPs then staged their walkout. MPs later voted 212 to 20, majority 192, to reject a proposal for Commons to sit in private. Labour's amendment pushing for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza - with caveats - was then approved by the Commons without a vote. Dame Rosie was also forced to deny suggestions that Sir Lindsay was influenced by threats from senior Labour figures to accept the party's amendment. Tory MP Philip Davies referred to claims that the Speaker had been 'left in no doubt that Labour would bring him down after the general election unless he called Labour's Gaza amendment'. But Dame Rosie replied: 'That tweet is wrong and the statement is incorrect.' Labour's defence spokesman John Healey insisted the party had put 'no pressure on the Speaker', and said he had been right to allow the widest possible debate on Gaza. But even some Labour MPs questioned his judgment. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky News: 'I wish he hadn't taken this decision. Confidence in him has been significantly undermined and I speak as a friend of his.' Labour has been riven by divisions over Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. While Sir Keir has argued for Israel's right to self-defence, dozens of his MPs have been calling for Israel to end the war. Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant said Sir Lindsay's decision had created a 'constitutional crisis'. But fellow grandee Sir Charles Walker predicted that Sir Lindsay would survive, adding: 'This furore will blow over. 'When the House of Commons comes to its senses it will realise very quickly that the removal of the Speaker will only lead to metaphorical champagne corks popping in Tehran.' The SNP, which ended up being unable to vote on its own motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, reacted with fury. The party's Pete Wishart said the ruling was 'ridiculous', adding: '(Sir Lindsay) has totally lost it and this will come back to haunt him.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night. Halima Begum, chief executive of the ActionAid UK charity, said: 'We are extremely disappointed to see the utter paralysis in Parliament this evening. 'Democracy is a precious commodity and should be treated as such. 'A great disservice has been done to the British people, who expected their political parties and elected representatives to conduct a meaningful debate concerning an issue on which depends the lives of over a hundred Israeli hostages, and hundreds of thousands of Gazans suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises we have seen in recent times.' Oxfam's Katy Chakrabortty said: 'It is a disgrace that there has been so much playground politics in Parliament this evening, while so many lives are at stake. 'The people of Gaza can't wait for our politicians to stop squabbling. Much of the country lies in ruins and Rafah, where many Palestinian families have been forced to flee, is under threat of a full-scale military offensive.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, branded the Commons chaos as 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst' Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, told LBC radio the Commons chaos was 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst.' 'Politicians are trying to save themselves, rather than saving an entire nation from genocide,' he continued. Last night's drama came after a previous vote on a call for a Gaza ceasefire tabled by the SNP last November resulted in 10 Labour frontbenchers resigning in order to support the demand. Sir Keir's efforts to avoid a repeat of that revolt this evening were thrown into doubt earlier when the Government put down its own change to the latest SNP motion. Convention suggested Sir Lindsay would only choose the Government amendment to put to a vote this afternoon. That would have raised the prospect of Sir Keir seeing many Labour MPs join the SNP in the division lobbies even if he ordered them to abstain - as many have been vocal in urging an immediate ceasefire. However, Sir Lindsay sparked uproar in the chamber when he confirmed he was selecting both the Labour amendment and the Government one - over the advice of his own clerks. The SNP cried foul saying that it deprived them of a 'clean' vote on their own Opposition Day motion. And one senior Conservative was heard shouting, 'Bring back Bercow!' - a reference to Tory complaints that former Speaker John Bercow bent procedures to help opponents of Brexit. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. But Sir Lindsay said there was a precedent, adding that he thought the operation of standing orders in the House was outdated. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. 'This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation, and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options,' Sir Lindsay said. Clerk of the House of Commons Tom Goldsmith warned Sir Lindsay in a letter that 'long-established conventions are not being followed in this case' To outcry from MPs he added: 'I have therefore decided to select the amendments both in the name of the Prime Minister and in the name of the Leader of the Opposition.' Clerk of the House of Commons Tom Goldsmith warned Sir Lindsay in a letter that 'long-established conventions are not being followed in this case'. There were rumours of a meeting between Sir Lindsay and Sir Keir before the session started this afternoon. In a round of interviews this morning, shadow cabinet member Lisa Nandy said Labour was making representations to Sir Lindsay about what amendments would be selected. As it was an Opposition Day debate, the Government was simply able to ignore the result. Ms Nandy stressed that there were 'significant differences' between Labour's wording and the SNP's. 'We are clear that any ceasefire by definition must be two-sided, that Israel can't be expected to lay down its weapons if Hamas doesn't observe the terms of that ceasefire,' she said. The Government's text only called for an 'immediate humanitarian pause' followed by a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire'. Sir Lindsay was last night seeking crisis talks with all the main parties in a bid to shore up his position. A police officer has emerged as a person of interest in the disappearance of a former Channel Ten presenter and his partner after their bloodstained clothes were dumped in a skip and the TV star's blood-splattered home 30km away was declared a crime scene. The network's former red carpet reporter Jesse Baird and his Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Luke Davies are missing from the TV producer's Paddington terrace in Sydney's east. Mr Davies, 29, was with Mr Baird, 26, in Paddington on Monday but the pair then vanished and Mr Davies' family have been unable to contact him. It comes as police seized CCTV footage of the couple's last known whereabouts on Monday night. The men were captured wandering outside Mr Baird's Paddington home before heading towards the back of the terrace. Neither have been seen since. A manhunt was launched after a pile of the couple's bloodied clothes was found in a large skip bin in the centre of Cronulla in Sydney's south at around 11am on Wednesday. Police then raced to Mr Baird's $3million Federation terrace home in Paddington 30km away, where they found a 'large amount of blood' and bloodstained furniture. Detectives are now investigating whether a third person could be involved after speaking with the families of the missing men on Thursday. They have received information that a current NSW police officer once dated one of the men. That officer is yet to be located. Former Ten red carpet reporter Jesse Baird (right) and Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Luke Davies (left) have been reported missing from their Paddington home in Sydney 's east Police have seized CCTV of the couple's last known movements outside Mr Baird's Paddington terrace on Monday night Detectives are said to be seeking Jesse Baird (centre) to find out if he can shed any more light on where his partner might be 'Following inquiries, detectives are looking at a line of inquiry that a third person may be able to assist with the investigation, a police statement read on Thursday night. 'Police are currently trying to locate him. 'Detectives will continue to look at all past relationships and associations.' It was revealed on Thursday night that the AFL has been caught up in the men's disappearance. Mr Baird is also an AFL goal umpire who had been appointed to officiate a practice match between the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants game on Thursday. The AFL confirmed that it contacted his family on Thursday after Mr Baird failed to show up to officiate the match. The manhunt was launched a pile of the couple's bloodied clothes were found 30km away in a large skip bin behind Club Cronulla, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire around 11am on Wednesday Neighbours near Mr Baird's rented Paddington home heard an argument early on Monday morning but that wasn't reported to police until they began canvassing the scene two days later. Police say they're not excluding any lines of inquiry, however now hold grave fears for both men. Detectives are said to be seeking Mr Baird and his partner after Mr Davies' home in Waterloo in Sydney's inner-south was also found to be empty. Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore, Commander of Eastern Suburbs PAC, begged either of the men to make contact but said police now fear for both of them. When asked if a third person could have been involved in the men's disappearances, she said that the 'primary line of inquiry' was finding the missing men. 'There has been some sort of incident which has more than likely happened at the Paddington address and that has given us grave concerns for one, possibly both,' she said. 'It's very early stages in the investigation. We are still processing the Paddington address. All lines of enquiry are open.' She said neighbours had heard some shouting coming from the rented Paddington terrace early on Monday morning, but that was only reported to police on Wednesday. 'Witnesses reported a verbal argument but it wasn't reported to police at the time it was only when police were canvassing that they mentioned it,' Det Superintendent Radmore said. Credit cards, wallets, a mobile phone and a $8000 watch had been found among the bloodied clothes in the skip in Cronulla. Three cars belonging to the men have also been seized. Their bank accounts havent been touched since the weekend. But Mr Baird's bloodstained home has sparked serious concern for their fate, she said, admitting there was sufficient blood to believe at least one had suffered a 'significant injury'. Mr Baird was reported as being active online on Tuesday night. Mr Davies last updated his social media five days ago with a series of photographs on Instagram of himself in the mountains around Vancouver in Canada. Mr Davies grew up in Brisbane and recently moved to Sydney for work, according to friends. Qantas flight attendant Maddison Bradley - Mr Davies' best friend - said he was 'dearly adored'. 'I hope we find him. He is such a sweet soul!' she told Daily Mail Australia. Luke Davies (right) recently moved to Sydney for work. Both he and his partner Jesse Baird are now missing Qantas flight attendant Maddison Bradley (pictured with best friend Luke Davies) said he was 'dearly adored' Maddison Bradley said Luke Davies (pictured together) is 'driven, humble and super intelligent' She added: 'He is a fantastic person, so positive, bright and bubbly. We've been friends since 2017. 'We worked at Tigerair together and then he helped me get into Qantas. 'He is an international flight attendant for Qantas and he is driven, humble and super intelligent.' Friend Tomas Mian has known Mr Davies for ten years. 'Luke has a lot of friends and is very fun social person. He is a kind and generous boy,' he told news.com.au. 'He seemed to love his new job. All of his Brisbane friends are in utter shock to only find this out today.' Sophie Inez added: 'I spoke to Luke just before he moved from Brisbane to Sydney with work a few months ago.' 'He was so exited for his next chapter and flying long haul. He's such a lovely and charismatic person.' Other concerned friends took to Facebook to spread the word about the missing men. I knew Luke back in my Brissy days and he recently moved to Sydney (Waterloo, but last seen in Paddington) for work. Please share this post and report any sightings or information, even if it seems insignificant,' Anna Ghioni wrote. On February 18, Mr Baird posted pictures of the pair together at Pink's concert in Sydney two weeks ago. After three years with Studio 10, Mr Baird left his producer/presenter role with the show in January when it was axed by the network late last year. He had previously worked as a producer/presenter with Ten's Totally Wild! show for four years as well as a seven-month stint hosting Gamify! for the network in 2019. On Thursday, Totally Wild's Ranger Stacey Thompson said she was stunned. 'I'm shocked actually,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I worked with Jesse for a few years and we sat across from one another in the TW office. 'He was a lovely work friend, always professional and keen to learn. I prefer not to comment further at this time, until more details come to light.' Luke Davies (pictured left) was a flight attendant for Qantas before he vanished Jesse Baird posted pictures four days ago of the pair together when they attended Pink's concert in Sydney two weeks ago (pictured) Jesse Baird (pictured) was last seen on Monday night while Mr Davies was reported missing by his family on Tuesday Police have launched an intense investigation in the neighbourhood around the home on Brown St, Paddington, (pictured) with neighbours quizzed for any possible clues Police raced to Baird's Paddington home (pictured) after the discovery of bloodied clothes 30km away where they found a 'large amount of blood', including bloodstained furniture After entering the property, officers immediately established a crime scene Police have launched an intense investigation in the neighbourhood around Mr Baird's home on Brown St, Paddington, with neighbours quizzed for any possible clues. Forensic experts combed through the home overnight after the alarm was first raised around 1pm on Wednesday. A local resident told Daily Mail Australia police had pulled furniture out of the house and onto the street on Wednesday night as they scoured the scene. 'There were some bookshelf-type things and they were roped off,' she said. 'There weren't any soft furnishings (beds or couches) and I don't know what they were doing with them.' Police earlier issued a statement appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Forensic experts combed through the home overnight after the alarm was first raised around 1pm on Wednesday Furniture taken from the home appears to have been sprayed with blood Locals said police were seen taking out furniture and rolled carpet from the house yesterday Detectives are appealing for anyone with information about Luke's whereabouts or who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Waverley Police or Crime Stoppers 'Possessions belonging to 29-year-old Luke Davies and another man were found just after 11am on Wednesday in a skip-bin on Wilbar Avenue, Cronulla,' said police. 'Following inquiries, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended a home in Brown Street, Paddington, about 1pm on Wednesday. 'After entering the property, officers immediately established a crime scene. 'Police then attended Luke's home in Waterloo, but he has not been located and his disappearance is being treated as suspicious.' The statement added: 'Investigators are now trying to determine the location of a 26-year-old man, who they believe can assist with inquiries. Jesse Baird was a regular on Studio 10 chatting with stars like former Masterchef judge Matt Preston He worked with stars including Sarah Harris (pictured) He was also Studio 10's red carpet interview expert, popping up at gala premieres for blockbusters like Margot Robbie's Babylon (pictured) 'Information indicates Luke was in Paddington on Monday. He has not been seen since, his family have been unable to contact him and he has not been at work. 'Luke is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm-175cm tall with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes. It's not known what he was wearing at the time. 'Police are appealing for anyone with information about Luke's whereabouts or who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Waverley Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.' More to come. A pregnant woman has been left outraged after a council fined her for briefly leaving her car in a no stopping zone while she was having painful contractions. Abby Kernahan, 37, was struck with painful Braxton-Hicks contractions when she was 39 weeks pregnant in Randwick, in Sydney's east, on December 20. Even though the visual merchandiser was near her home, the painful contractions rendered her unable to drive. 'I was definitely unable to drive - it wouldn't have been smart or safe to drive,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I pulled over, I was not on a main road, my hazard lights were on and I knew people could get around me. Abby Kernahan, 37, (pictured with baby daughter Isla) experienced painful Braxton-Hicks contractions when she was 39 weeks pregnant and was unable to drive. She was forced to park in a no stopping zone until it was safe to drive The mother received a $302 fine in the mail five weeks later but when she contacted Revenue NSW with details about why she was parked in the no stopping zone (pictured), they told her it wasn't a 'medical emergency' 'It was the cafe in our apartment complex, I thought I might have to leave my keys there and go to hospital.' Ms Kernahan, who had experienced contractions earlier that day, knew that if two to three are experienced in ten minutes, she would need to act. 'I got out of my car and the contraction passed,' she said. 'I told myself I'll wait here for five to ten minutes and if they keep coming I'll start worrying.' Luckily, they subdued and the mum was able to drive away after less than ten minutes. According to Health Direct, Braxton-Hicks contractions are also known as 'false labour' due to their intensity but 'don't lead to labour and birth'. With her baby girl, Isla, born on December 28 the mum was surprised to receive a $302 fine five weeks after she was forced to stop her car. 'I thought, no, this can't be that day. I was more really surprised than anything else,' she said. Ms Kernahan contested the fine explaining her situation, but Revenue NSW refused to budge. Ms Kernahan had been parked for less than ten minutes (pictured) and she wasn't obstructing any other traffic. The mother said the ranger should have come and checked to see if it was a medical emergency - they could have rendered assistance Her $302 fine was reviewed and said her painful pregnancy symptoms didn't qualify as a medical emergency. The Sydney mum wants pregnancy's to be taken into account as 'wild' things can happen to women 'I sent all the information and they sent back a letter and photos of my car and said contractions aren't a medical emergency,' she said. 'That's when I was really angry. Do I need to be having the baby? Is that where we're at?' The mother said it feels like it was a clear example of revenue raising as the ranger didn't come over to see what the situation was. 'Despite having the hazard lights on, they didn't come over and check if it was a real medical emergency,' she said. 'No-one came over and said "Hey, what's going on?".' Ms Kernahan said it was raining heavily that day and believes the ranger didn't even get out of their car. 'I would put money on it,' she said. 'Because they don't issue paper fines anymore, they can just take photos from their car. The photos they sent me were all taken from the same angle.' The mother is understood to have since received a phone call from Revenue NSW informing her the fine had been revoked. Daily Mail Australia contacted Revenue NSW for comment. July 1: Gabby Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie left Blue Point, New York for a cross-country road trip August 12: Police in Moab, Utah respond to a domestic incident involving the couple Aug. 17: Laundrie allegedly flies back to Florida to 'clear out a storage unit' Aug. 21: Petito's father, Joseph Petito, has his last FaceTime video call with his daughter who was in Salt Lake City, Utah Aug. 23: Laundrie flies back to Utah to 'rejoin Gabby' on their trip Aug. 24: Petito is last seen at a hotel in Salt Lake City with Laundrie Aug. 25: Petito makes final call to her mother, Nichole Schmidt, saying she was in Grand Teton National Park Aug. 25 or 26: The couple chats with the owner of a shop called 'Rustic Row' in Victor, Utah for about 20 minutes Aug. 27: Video of Petito's van was taken by blogger Jenn Bethune around 6.30 pm at the Spread Creek Campground; Witnesses say they saw a 'commotion' with the couple at Merry Piglets Tex-mex restaurant in Jackson, Wyoming Aug. 29: The day that Wisconsin TikToker Miranda Baker claimed that she and her boyfriend were approached by Laundrie at Grand Teton National Park and asked them for a ride at 5.30pm Aug. 30: Schmidt receives the last text from Petito's phone: 'No service in Yosemite' Sept. 1: Laundrie returns to his parents' home in North Port, Florida in a van without Petito Sept. 6-7: Laundrie and his parents visit Fort De Soto campsite in Florida Sept. 11: Schmidt reports Petito missing to authorities in New York; Petito and Laundrie's van was impounded by police in Florida that same day Sept. 12: Grand Teton National Park rangers search for Petito Sept. 13: Laundrie's lawyer says on October 5 that his parents now 'believe' this was the day they last saw him heading for a hike Sept. 14: Laundrie issues a statement about Petito's disappearance through his lawyer; Laundrie's parents claim on September 17 that Laundrie left his parents' home for a hike this day and they hadn't seen from him since Sept. 15: Laundrie is officially named a person of interest in Petito's case Sept. 17: Laundrie family attorney confirms his whereabouts are unknown Sept. 18: North Port police and the FBI start searching the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County for missing Brian Laundrie Sept. 19: Bethune realizes she has video of Petito's van around 12am and submits the FBI with the footage 10 minutes later; Officials announce a body was found near Grand Teton National Park that matched Petitos description in the afternoon Sept. 21: Coroner confirms remains found in Grand Tetons belong to Petito. Her death is ruled a homicide but her cause of death is still under invesetigation Sept. 20 - 22: FBI and North Port police continue search for Laundrie in Carlton Reserve Sept. 22: Neighbors say they saw the Laudrie family pack up their detached camper on the day Gabby was reported missing. DailyMail.com photos show the camper was back in the driveway two days later, on September 13 Sept. 23: FBI issues an arrest warrant for Laundrie for 'use of unauthorized access device' for fraudulently using a Capitol One Bank debit card that was not his between August 30 and September 1 to spend $1,000; A probe is launched into the police handling of the Utah police incident on Aug. 12; Laundrie's parents visit their attorney in Orlando Sept. 25: Dog the Bounty Hunter joins the search for Laundrie Sept. 26: A funeral is held for Petito in Holbrook, New York, and her family launch a charity to help parents find missing children Sept. 27: Manhunt for Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve is scaled back after 10 day search doesn't find him. Dog the Bounty Hunter says Laundrie and his parents stayed at Fort De Soto Park from September 1-3 and September 6-8 - and that on the latter visit only the parents left Sept. 28: Laundrie's mom is accused of using a burner phone to contact her son Sept. 29: Documents reveal Laundrie's mom canceled a reservation for the Fort De Soto Park campsite for two from September 1 to 3 and booked for three from September 6 to 8; FBI seizes surveillance footage from site; FBI investigates lead Laundrie bought a burner phone on September 14; Sept. 30: Bodycam footage from a second officer at the August 12 incident is released showing a distressed Petito admitting Laundrie hit her; FBI agents collect more evidence from the Laundrie home Oct. 1: It emerges Laundrie's sister had contact with him after she said she did Oct. 2: A hiker along the Appalachian Trail claims to have seen Laundrie near the border of Tennessee and North Carolina Oct. 3: Investigators searched the area on the Appalachian trail for any signs that Laundrie had been there Oct. 4: Laundrie's sister told protestors outside her home that her family has been ignoring her after they rebuked her story and that she does not know where her brother is Oct 5: Laundrie's sister appeared on Good Morning America to say she would turn her brother in if she knew where he is; Oct. 7: Laundrie's father Christopher joins FBI agents on the search for his son at the Carlton Reserve but the search brings up no clues Oct. 12: Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue announces autopsy findings which show Petito died by strangulation; No specific date of death was given - only that she was dead 3-4 weeks before her body was found Oct. 16: Petito's parents are seen collecting her ashes from the Valley Mortuary in Jackson, Wyoming October 20: Human remains found in Carlton Reserve October 21: FBI confirm the body found belongs to Brian Laundrie. A notebook, backpack and dry bag are also found near the body Soon-to-be mum Rhylee Peta Stig, 23, appears to be the typical girl next door in social media photos - the blonde woman flashing a pretty white smile. But NSW Police allege the 23-year-old former Hunter Valley schoolgirl is also a killer embroiled in Sydney's deadly gang war. Stig was charged on Thursday over the alleged murder of Ferenc 'David' Stemler, 28, who was gunned down out the front of his home in Canterbury, in Sydney's west. In gruesome scenes on July 27, Stemler's tattooed body was pictured riddled with bullets lying in the middle of the road, as schoolchildren walked past that morning. Court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia reveal that Ms Stig has been charged with Stemler's murder between 1.55am and 2am that day. Rhylee Peta Stig, 23 (above) has been charged with the execution murder of David Stemler in Canterbury in Sydney's west last July and is in custody Ferenc 'David' Stemler (above) was gunned down out the front of his rental home in Canterbury, in Sydney's west Schoolchildren were forced to walk past the grisly scene It's unclear who police will allege pulled the trigger on Stemler. His death came after he met two men outside his rental home on Broughton St. Ms Stig - who is from a tight-knit family from East Maitland - was arrested at her home in Wetherill Park at 7.02am on Wednesday. She was refused police bail and was again refused bail in Fairfield Local Court over the alleged murder of in southwestern Sydney last July. Police said Ms Stig 'has not shown cause why detention is not justified'. A 27-year-old man, who has not been named, was also arrested at Parklea prison. He was also expected to be charged with murder. NSW Police released video of Stig during her arrest on Wednesday The pregnant woman was refused bail when she appeared in court. She will be behind bars at least until the middle of April, unless she applies for bail Stig has been charged with murder Stemler, who was heavily tattooed, was treated at the crime scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died. Local police, with assistance from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad, commenced inquiries before the matter was taken carriage of by Task Force Magnus under Strike Force Murrell. Task Force Magnus was established in July as a policing strategy to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime, and to investigate links between recent organised criminal activity in Sydney. Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the arrests were significant for State Crime Command's Task Force Magnus. 'Following this morning's resolution, we can now say that an arrest has been made in every homicide investigated by Task Force Magnus,' Asst Commissioner Fitzgerald said. 'While the work is never truly done, this is a huge feat for our Command, who were given the difficult job of circuit breaking the brazen violence we saw unfolding on our streets. 'Task Force Magnus supplemented their suite of capabilities with both proactive and reactive teams, to not only target offenders, but prevent more acts of violence on our streets. 'The safety of our wider community has and always will be our number one priority, and the people of NSW our motivation for crafting such a significant response; one that has evidently had noteworthy success.' Investigations under Strike Force Murrell continue. The former girlfriend of one of Australia's worst gang rapists, Mohammed Skaf, clutched her $3,000 bag as she avoided prison for intimidating her former lover and smuggling drugs into prison. Alexandra Mastropetros faced Bankstown Local Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to stalking and intimidating Skaf, and smuggling $100,000 worth of illicit drugs into prison. Wearing a white tank top, black pants and stiletto heels, the 32-year-old carried a $3,000 Yves Saint Laurent handbag as she faced court alongside her husband. Skaf was the ringleader of a spate of notorious gang rapes in Sydney's southwest in 2000, and was jailed alongside his brother Bilal and several others. When he was freed after almost 22 years behind bars, Skaf and Mastropetros began their short-lived relationship. Alexandra Mastropetros faced Bankstown Local Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to stalking and intimidating her former boyfriend and convicted gang rapist Mohammed Skaf According to court documents, the 32-year-old started her relationship with Skaf in January 2023 which lasted just a few months. She has admitted to intimidating Skaf in Greenacre in May last year, calling him during a heated phone call to 'highly suggest' he withdraw a statement. 'The accused and the victim were in an intimate relationship between January 2023 and March 2023,' court documents said. 'On May 16, the victim provided a statement to police in relation to being extorted for $20,000.' Court documents revealed Mastropetros was 'well known' to Skaf, and was well aware of his associates. After giving a statement to police, Skaf received a phone call from a private number with Mastropetros on the other end of the line. He recorded the conversation. 'Why are you calling me to withdraw a statement, it's got nothing to do with you,' Skaf said, according to court documents. Mohammed Skaf was the ringleader of a spate of notorious gang rapes in Sydney's southwest in 2000, and was jailed alongside his brother Bilal and several others But Mastropetros said she wasn't telling him to withdraw it, just that she 'highly suggests' he did. 'That's snitching, you don't go snitching,' she said. 'You've been in jail for 21 years. You should know the go.' Mastropetros said to stop 'barking you hayawem' (which means animal in Arabic). She then said he was the 'biggest snitch' in Sydney. 'If you don't go and withdraw this f***ing statement ... I promise you by oath of allah and I'm going to go and f*** up your life,' she said. The phone call ended with Mastropetros telling Skaf to go 'f*** yourself'. Court documents said Skaf feared for his life and believed Mastropetros was going to send someone to his house to cause serious harm to either him or his family. She also admitted to an unrelated charge of supplying a prohibited drug after she was caught with 4.86g of methamphetamine, totalling to about $100,000 worth. According to court documents, police found drug-filled balloons in her Louis Vuitton handbag when they stopped her rental car as she drove into Hunter Correctional Centre at Cessnock in January. She was visiting her ex-fiance at the time, and told police she had purchased 100 buprenorphine strips from a Punchbowl service station to help her calm down. The strips she told police she paid $240 for were later identified to have a value of $1,000 per strip, worth $100,000 in total inside prison. Mastropetros told police she had visited the prison for three months. 'When police stated that she must be well versed in the procedures and restrictions for visiting then, the accused did not respond,' court documents said. Mastropetros is seen outside court in November with her husband who stuck up his middle finger to media Magistrate Glenn Walsh said there was 'significant criminality' in the 33-year-old's offending. 'It must of course be viewed as objectively serious, to deal with it otherwise would be to ignore what is relevant in criminal circles,' he said. He told the court using the word 'dog' or 'snitch' to Skaf would have 'engendered real fear' in him. The magistrate acknowledged Mastropetros had suffered severe PTSD and was influenced by anti-social peers to undertake criminal behaviour. While he said the offending crossed the threshold to go to prison, he said Mastropetros was not an appropriate person to put in full-time custody. She was sentenced to an Intensive Corrections Order for 18 months, which is a term of imprisonment to be served in the community. Mr Walsh warned Mastropetros that if she doesn't comply with the orders, she will be sent to prison. An apprehended violence order is also in place for two years against Skaf. Total fire bans and weather warnings have been issued in multiple states as hot, dry and windy conditions persist in southern Australia and blazes start. An emergency warning has been issued for a bushfire in western Victoria, about 50km from where a blaze that destroyed 45 properties days earlier. Emergency services are warning people to evacuate immediately or prepare to leave from multiple communities near a state park in Victoria's west. 'Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,' Emergency Victoria said. A burst of very hot, dry and windy weather will cause extreme fire danger across parts of Vic, SA and Tas today, with temperatures predicted to reach the mid to high 30s in Melbourne and Hobart. Photo: Weatherzone.com.au Extreme fire warnings have been issued for most of western and central Victoria, along with parts of Tasmania, WA and SA. This Emergency Warning is being issued for Bayindeen, Buangor, Middle Creek, Mount Cole. Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. A watch and act warning is in place for a bushfire in central Tasmania, with emergency services urging those nearby to prepare to leave. Similar advice has been issued for people near another blaze northwest of Hobart. WA has total fire bans in place for multiple regions and part of the Eyre Highway is closed shutting off the western side of the Nullarbor, as an out of control blaze west of Balladonia burns into a third week. Emergency services urge people at the Balladonia Roadhouse to go west towards Norseman. SA's Country Fire Service has declared an extreme fire risk in the Mid North, the Murraylands, Riverland and the Upper and Lower South East regions. Temperatures are expected to top 40C in northwest Victoria, with storms expected to bring 80km/h winds and dry lightning into the afternoon. Lightning strikes were the big concern for fire authorities, particularly after most of last week's fires were sparked by strikes, State Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said. 'The strike teams are on standby and so is our aerial fleet,' she told reporters. 'We have water aircraft dispersed around the state and they can get to those fires that are difficult to access as quickly as possible.' The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a cool change bringing storms will move into southwest Victoria in the afternoon and reach the northeast overnight. Temperatures are expected to top 40C in northwest Victoria, with storms expected to bring 80km/h winds and dry lightning into the afternoon. 'With those storms, most of the rainfall evaporating before it reaches the ground could produce gusty winds ... on top of the already strong winds that we are expecting,' BOM senior meteorologist Christie Johnson said. Ms Johnson did not anticipate the weather conditions would be as strong or widespread as a week earlier, when bushfires in the Grampians National Park destroyed 46 properties and razed more than 6000ha of bush and farmland. A week later, firefighters are still working to contain one of the blazes near Pomonal, where fire destroyed 45 properties. In Victoria's east, wind gusts of up to 130km/h smashed transmission infrastructure, cutting power to 530,000 homes and businesses and leaving 37 houses uninhabitable. About 680 customers remain off power as of Thursday morning. On Wednesday, Victoria's State Emergency Service chief officer Tim Wiebusch warned people to be aware of falling branches and avoid unnecessary travel in strong winds. 'Tie down loose outdoor items including outdoor furniture and trampolines and park your car undercover or away from trees,' he said. Shocking new doorbell surveillance footage has revealed the chilling final interactions between a mother and son - before he confessed to brutally stabbing her to death next to her newborn baby girl. Derek Rosa, 13, is initially seen calmly chatting with his mom, Irina Garcia, 39, in their living room as she cradled her baby, asking her in Spanish: 'Why do you always tell me, 'Don't run?'' Hours later, Rosa was captured by the same doorbell camera after his mom's slaying, calmly asking a 911 dispatcher: 'I see officers, do I leave? Do I leave my house?' Prosecutors have also presented images allegedly taken by Rosa immediately after he stabbed his mom over 40 times - which included a smiling selfie with what appeared to be blood on his hands. Separate footage previously played in court saw Rosa confess to the crime, where he told detectives: 'I woke up, I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and I went to her room... I killed her.' Despite the recording, Rosa has pleaded not guilty. His defense has sought to postpone his trial as they say they are awaiting evidence from the state attorney's office, and he is set for a status hearing on April 17. New Ring doorbell footage revealed the haunting moments after Derek Rosa (pictured) allegedly stabbed his mom to death in her sleep Hours before, Rosa, 13, was seen casually chatting to his mom - before later conversing with a 911 dispatcher as he talked calmly about the slaying The 13-year-old allegedly sent this smiling selfie to a friend immediately after stabbing his mother, displaying a sign with what appears to be blood covering his hands Derek Rosa, 13, (left) allegedly stabbed and killed his mother, Irina Garcia, 39 (right) in her sleep before sending photos of her body to a friend on social media The new Ring doorbell footage emerged this month as Rosa's case winds through the courts, with prosecutors insisting they are ready for trial, reports NBC Miami. Rosa is seen talking with his mom like nothing was wrong, as she sits in a chair with her baby. He is then seen returning to the apartment sometime later, where his mom was still sat in the seat and still alive. The footage then cuts to the moments after Garcia was stabbed to death in her bed, as her son spoke with a 911 dispatcher in a calm voice. He tells them his apartment number, 201, before continuing: 'There's officers. I see officers. Do I leave? Do I leave my house?' 'No - do not leave, do not leave,' the dispatcher responded in a harsh tone. 'Stay right where you are in your apartment.' Sirens and lights could be seen entering his apartment complex at the end of the clip, where officers would come to find Garcia stabbed to death dozens of times in her bed. Garcia, who had given birth just two weeks before, was killed while her baby lay sleeping next to her in her crib. The infant was unharmed. Crime scene photos, released on in December, show Derek Rosa, 13, standing over his mother's bed at 11pm, before he fatally stabbed her. His newborn baby sister's crib is by her bed At 10:23pm, Irina Garcia is seen lying on the bed, cradling her 14-day-old daughter Prosecutors released the photo of the bloodied kitchen knife The knife is seen at the crime scene in Hialeah, Florida. Rosa has been charged as an adult with the killing Derek Rosa, 13, is seen in a pre-trial hearing in December. He is set to stand trial as an adult At a previous hearing, prosecutors presented disturbing babycam footage taken from the room showing the 13-year-old looming over his mother's bed, moments before they claim he murdered her. Derek was seen in an eerie black and white image, released in December 2023, with the timestamp 11pm - half an hour before he called 911 to report the murder. At 10:23pm, another haunting image from before the killing showed Garcia laying in bed, cradling her 14-day-old baby. After the killing, investigators say Rosa sent an online friend a selfie, sticking his tongue out and smiling while flashing a sign with his blood-spattered hands. Distressing images of a pink-handled knife covered with blood were also shared in court at a previous hearing, with what also appeared to be dried blood covering the blade. In audio of his call to 911, Derek said: 'I have blood all over my hands.' When asked if his mom is still breathing, he responds: 'She's dead miss... there's blood all over the floor... I took pictures and told my friends about it, was that bad?' The teen was arrested and taken into custody that night, and was also seen appearing to confess to the murder while under questioning from detectives. Footage shows Rosa calmly nodding his head yes when a Hialeah Police Department detective asks him whether he killed his mother. 'I woke up, I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and I went to her room... I killed her,' he said in the interview. The apartments where Rosa lived in Hialeah, Florida, before he allegedly stabbed his mom to death Interrogation footage shows Rosa calmly nodding his head yes when a Hialeah Police Department detective asks him whether he killed his mother The teen was seen describing the size and color of the knife he allegedly used to commit the slaying When asked what kind of knife was used in the slaying, he casually said it was a large-sized kitchen knife with a purple handle, matching images of the murder weapon presented by prosecutors. The detective further questioned: 'Your mom was sleeping?' and Rosa confirmed: 'Yeah, she was sleeping'. The video also shows the teenager showing detectives his bloody hands and pointing to his neck when asked where he stabbed his mother. When asked why he did it, Rosa then asked to go to the bathroom and for an attorney. No motive for the stabbing has been established. His family have expressed their shock at the alleged murder, saying Rosa was a 'good kid' and that 'no one could imagine this would ever happen'. Rosa has pleaded not guilty to the crime, however his attorneys are yet to argue any mental health issues in their defense. He was initially held in Miami-Dade's juvenile detention center for two weeks after his arrest on October 12, until his charged were upgraded to first-degree murder by a grand jury and he was transferred to Metro West. He is set to stand trial as an adult. Rosa's attorney, Dayliset Rielo, released a brief statement when asked by NBC Miami about the new Ring doorbell videos. 'Today would have been Irinas 40th birthday, my prayers are continuously with the family and I hope wherever Irina is in heaven she continues to give them strength and protection,' the statement read. Senator Ted Cruz has joked that Democrats would prop up Joe Biden's dead body Weekend at Bernie's-style in order to retain control of the White House. Speaking on his podcast, the Texas congressman claimed the ailing 81 year-old would be made to continue governing as a corpse, in the style of the beloved 1989 slapstick caper. 'They're not worried that he lacks the competence to do the job. There's only one thing they're worried about, that he would lose. If they believed he would win, they'd be perfectly fine to Weekend at Bernie's him to stand him up as a corpse and say Joe Biden's there and let's keep pulling the puppet strings,' he added. It comes not long after the media firestorm over the DOJ report calling out Biden's 'diminished faculties' and limited memory. Cruz, a Republican and 2016 presidential candidate, has previously claimed the Democrats were lining up former First Lady Michelle Obama to replace Biden after the ticket. Senator Ted Cruz has joked that Democrats would prop up Joe Biden's dead body Weekend at Bernie's-style in order to retain control of the White House Speaking on his podcast , the Texas congressman claimed the ailing 81 year-old would be made to continue governing as a corpse, in the style of the beloved 1989 slapstick caper While admitting he's believed that in the past, Cruz now thinks the Democrats are prepared to push Biden through after the 'corporate media' has started 'to turn on' the oldest president in US history. 'The Democrats and the media would be perfectly happy if they could wave a wand and put Joe Biden there four years or more,' Cruz said. The Senator added the Democrats only concern is really 'they're worried he's going to lose' because as long as he's well enough to continue running, they'll support him no matter what. 'If he stays the nominee, they'll get back in line and they'll immediately begin saying it's ageist and racist and horrible even ask these questions, and they have no shame,' he said. He did say that this period of media criticism on Biden's age could be 'the moment where they're trying to see if they can push [Biden] out and replace [him] with Michelle Obama.' But Cruz reiterated that they will be 'completely silent' about the issue if he makes it to September as the nominee. A vast majority of American voters 86 percent say President Joe Biden, 81, is too old for another term in office, according to a new poll. The poll came just days after the report, which also said Biden was 'a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.' Cruz's statement comes not long after the media firestorm over the DOJ report calling out Biden's 'diminished faculties' and limited memory Cruz did say that this period of media criticism on Biden's age is 'the moment where they're trying to see if they can push them out and replace it with Michelle Obama' (pictured) Meanwhile, 62 percent of respondents in the ABC News/Ipsos poll say that former President Donald Trump, 77, is also too old for another White House term. Fifty-nine percent of respondents say that both top 2024 competitors are too old while 27 percent think only the current president is elderly enough to be taken out of consideration. Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history. He broke Trump's record by eight years when entering office at the age of 78 in January 2021. If elected for a second term, Biden would be 82 at the time of inauguration. When taking into consideration only their own party's preferences, 73 percent of Democrats think Biden is too old and only 35 percent of Republicans think that about Trump. Ninety-one percent of independents say Biden is too old and 71 percent of this voting block say the same about the former president. The latest negative polling for Biden's reelection bid comes following Thursday's release of the long-awaited DOJ report, which did not recommend charges against the former president. It was, however, still just as damaging for Biden as it heightens questions over his fitness for office. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claims an Albanese government decision gave people smugglers fresh motivation following the undetected arrival of two boats of asylums seekers along the remote north coast of WA last week. Mr Dutton claimed Anthony Albanese's dropping of Safe Haven Enterprise Visas and Temporary Protection Visas which allowed 19,000 asylum seekers who had already arrived to stay in Australia permanently is a lure used by people smugglers. He told Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday that the abolition of Temporary Protection Visas is something Mr Albanese never talks about but it has undermined the effort to deter asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat from Indonesia. 'By taking the Temporary Protection Visa off the table, people know that once a Permanent Protection Visa is issued it is essentially fait acompli that they will then go on to citizenship,' Mr Dutton told interviewer Ray Hadley. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claims the dropping of Temporary Protection Visas for people already in Australia has encouraged people smugglers 'If they have to wait a couple of years before they are released in the community they will pay money for that as well if they know there is going to be an outcome.' Mr Dutton said the arrival of the two boats of over 40 asylum seekers at locations 51km apart in remote Western Australia showed that Australia's northern surveillance efforts had broken down. 'They (the Albanese government) have cut back the funding for the surveillance flights and the surveillance flights are down by 20 per cent or something of that order,' Mr Dutton said. 'You reap what you sow. This is the 12th boat arrival and the people smugglers will be rubbing their hands together.' The Opposition Leader, who as Home Affairs minister under the Morrison Liberal government was responsible for efforts to stop asylum seeker boats, claimed people smugglers also relished news about the end of permanent immigration detention. Two separate groups of asylum seekers turned up in remote northern Western Australia on Friday having arrived by boat undetected from Indonesia 'When you release 149 criminals from immigration detention, (with) very serious crimes they committed, people smugglers hear that as well,' Mr Dutton said, referring to the High Court decision in November which ruled indefinite detention unlawful. 'They say "why wouldnt you pay your money to get on a boat because even if you commit a crime you will be out in Australian society within a couple of years and on your way to citizenship".' Mr Dutton foresaw issues with what he claimed were 2,000 visas that had been rushed through for Palestinians to flee Gaza - where there is heavy fighting between the ruling Hamas regime and Israel - and come to Australia. 'They are now bringing 2,000 people from the Gaza strip during the course of a war where Hamas, a terrorist organisation in our country, is in control,' Mr Dutton said. 'They are bringing them in with one-day approvals so not with the requisite checks you would expect, the biometric checks, etc. 'They are bringing those people in in record time and you wonder why you have problems in this country. 'I think the Prime Minister is creating another issue here; his responsibility is to keep the country safe and at the moment he is presiding over decisions that are doing the opposite.' Asylum seekers attempting to land in Australia by boat has been an explosive issue in recent political history (pictured, an asylum seeker boat in 2012 being escorted to Christmas Island by navy personnel) Immigration Minister Adam Giles on Wednesday accused Mr Dutton of trying to 'whip up fear' over the Palestinian visas because 'they think theres votes in it for them'. Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said the visas were being issued with the due diligence necessary being carried out by public servants. Previously people on Safe Haven Enterprise Visas and Temporary Protection Visas had no certainty about their future in Australia. They were denied access to welfare payments including Medicare and could not apply for immigration family reunion rights for relatives. When the visas were dropped for current arrivals in February, honouring an election promise made by Mr Albanese, it was reported the navy had 'rushed' ships and planes to beef up northern patrols because of fears of renewed people smuggling. The issue of people smugglers bringing boatloads of asylum seekers to Australia has been one of the nation's most heavily charged political issues since the early 2000s. When former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd abolished Temporary Protection Visas in 2007 and scrapped offshore detention, there was a surge of people smuggling that had previously been stopped under the Howard Coalition government. When Rudd was replaced as Labor leader by Julia Gillard, she began offshore processing of asylum seekers again on the island of Nauru, a policy that remains in place until today. Temporary Protection Visas came back when the Coalition was returned to office under Tony Abbott, whose electoral mantra 'stop the boats' was manifested by the military-led Operation Sovereign Borders. While all those who were previously on Temporary Protection Visas will be granted a new status, the Albanese government has not abolished them altogether and they remain a measure that can be reapplied. Unit owners in the troubled Mascot Towers will finally be able move on after a majority voted to sell up to a consortium for a fraction of their purchase price. More than three-quarters of the owners of the 131 units and nine commercial tenancies in the development this week agreed to a deal which would see them paid a percentage of what their properties are worth. Residents were evacuated in 2019 when severe structural defects including large cracks appeared in the southern Sydney buildings but had been paying thousands of dollars a month in mortgages and strata fees since. A rescue package was put to apartment owners in January compiled by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler designed to waive the fees and pay out rock bottom prices for the uninhabitable residences. The NSW government has given the plan it's final tick of approval drawing to a close the five-year-long drama. Owner-occupiers at Sydney's infamous Mascot Towers (above) have battled millions of dollars worth of debt after their homes became uninhabitable The towers were evacuated in 2019 when structural defects including large cracks were found and the building declared unsafe One of the apartment owners, business manager Rachel Williams, 52, said she was surprised the plan was voted ahead with the prices being offered. 'They improved their initial offer but I'm still surprised they reached a 75 per cent majority,' she told Doman. READ MORE: Developer buys $20 million trophy home just days after reaching undisclosed settlement with broke Mascot Towers owners Advertisement 'There's a lot of people still missing out. People had to register for different briefings as either a 'leaver' or a 'stayer'. We would love to stay but that's too risky. You don't know what will happen. 'So everyone, really, has been forced into the 'leaver' basket even though they might not be too happy about it and it's financially difficult.' The residents unsuccessfully applied to the Supreme Court last year to have the strata scheme and their ongoing fees cancelled, which would have allowed them to sell the building as a whole to a new developer. Along with this, more than $21million in government funded rental assistance to live elsewhere is set to expire on June 30, leaving the owners with few options but to agree to the Building Commissioners package. The rescue package totals about $30million across the towers with owners required to sign contracts along with a confidentiality agreement by March 20. NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler (above) proposed selling the apartments as 'individual lots' and using the funds to repay the owners' debt after a effort to sell the building as a whole was blocked Large cracks (like above) began appearing around the residential Towers in 2019 after Aland Developments began construction on a neighbouring property 'David Chandler has managed to pull a very large rabbit out of a very small hat with this deal,' said Shelter NSW CEO John Engeler, who has been helping the owners navigate the deals and reach an agreement. 'I think many people have concerns, but most are relieved that this nightmare could soon be over.' The Mascot Towers evacuation occurred after building defects were discovered. The owners claimed construction of an underground carpark at a neighbouring building contributed to the cracking. The latter two parties settled for a confidential sum last year. The Mascot Towers saga began about six months after residents at another Sydney apartment block, Opal Tower, were evacuated due to similar concerns. The NSW government has since passed laws to make building standards more rigorous and provide care for owners of defective apartment buildings. EXCLUSIVE A popular TV presenter who worked with Channel Ten red carpet reporter Jesse Baird is 'shocked' about his sudden disappearance after sharing an office with him for years. Baird and his Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Luke Davies are missing from the TV producer's Paddington home in Sydney's east. Mr Davies, 29, was believed to be with Mr Baird, 26, in Paddington on Monday but the pair have vanished and Mr Davies' family have been unable to contact him. Stacey Thomson, known as 'Ranger Stacy' from the Network 10 show Totally Wild, worked alongside Mr Baird on the children's program. 'I worked with Jesse for a few years and we sat across from one another in the TW office,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I'm shocked actually. He was a lovely work friend, always professional and keen to learn.' A huge search is now underway to find the missing couple after their bloodstained clothes were dumped in a skip bin in Cronulla, in Sydney's south on Wednesday morning, and police declared Mr Baird's home a crime scene. Police raced to Mr Baird's Paddington home 30km away where they are believed to have found a 'large amount of blood', including bloodstained furniture. Stacey Thomson, known as 'Ranger Stacey', had worked alongside Jesse Baird and said she was 'shocked' by his disappearance Former Ten red carpet reporter Jesse Baird (right) and Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Luke Davies (left) have been reported missing from their Paddington home in Sydney 's east Detectives are said to be seeking Jesse Baird (centre) to find out if he can shed any more light on where his partner might be The manhunt was launched a pile of the couple's bloodied clothes were found 30km away in a large skip bin behind Club Cronulla, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire around 11am on Wednesday Detectives are said to be seeking Mr Baird to find out if he can shed light on where his partner might be after Mr Davies' home in Waterloo was also found to be empty. Police said they have 'grave concerns' for Mr Davies and issued an urgent appeal for anyone with any information to come forward. Mr Davies last updated his social media five days ago with a series of photographs on Instagram of himself in the mountains around Vancouver in Canada. Three days ago, Mr Baird posted pictures of the pair at Pink's concert in Sydney two weeks ago. Mr Baird left his producer/presenter role with Studio Ten in January after three years when it was axed by the network late last year. He had previously worked as a producer/presenter with Ten's Totally Wild! show for four years as well as a seven-month stint hosting Gamify! for the network in 2019. Jesse Baird posted pictures three days ago of the pair together from when they attended Pink's concert in Sydney two weeks ago (pictured) Jesse Baird (pictured) was last seen on Monday night while Mr Davies was reported missing by his family on Tuesday Police have launched an intense investigation in the neighbourhood around the home on Brown St, Paddington, (pictured) with neighbours quizzed for any possible clues Police then raced to Baird's Paddington home (pictured) 30km away where they are believed to have found a 'large amount of blood', including bloodstained furniture After entering the property, officers immediately established a crime scene Forensic experts combed through his Brown Street home in Paddington overnight after the alarm was first raised around 1pm on Wednesday. A local resident told Daily Mail Australia police had pulled furniture out of the house and onto the street on Wednesday night as they searched the scene. 'There were some bookshelf-type things and they were roped off,' she said. 'There wasn't any soft furnishings (beds or couches) and I don't know what they were doing with them.' Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore, Commander, Eastern Suburbs PAC, said neighbours had reported shouting at the Paddington home early on Monday morning. Credit cards, wallets and a mobile phone had been found among the bloodied clothes in the skip in Cronulla, she said. 'There has been some sort of incident which has more than likely happened at the Paddington address and that has given us grave concerns for one, possibly both,' she said. Forensic experts combed through the home overnight after the alarm was first raised around 1pm on Wednesday Furniture taken from the home appears to have been sprayed with blood Locals said police were seen taking out furniture and rolled carpet from the house yesterday Detectives are appealing for anyone with information about Luke's whereabouts or who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Waverley Police or Crime Stoppers 'Possessions belonging to 29-year-old Luke Davies and another man were found just after 11am yesterday in a skip-bin on Wilbar Avenue, Cronulla,' said police. 'Following inquiries, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended a home in Brown Street, Paddington, about 1pm yesterday. 'After entering the property, officers immediately established a crime scene. 'Police then attended Luke's home in Waterloo, but he has not been located and his disappearance is being treated as suspicious.' The statement added: 'Investigators are now trying to determine the location of a 26-year-old man, who they believe can assist with inquiries. Jesse Baird was a red carpet interviewer for Studio 10 until i Mr Baird is seen with Studio 10 presenter Sarah Harris Mr Baird worked as a red carpet presenter for Network Ten 'Information indicates Luke was in Paddington on Monday. He has not been seen since, his family have been unable to contact him and he has not been at work. 'Luke is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm-175cm tall with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes. It's not known what he was wearing at the time. 'Police are appealing for anyone with information about Luke's whereabouts or who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Waverley Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.' Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has been seen arriving in court as a jury was selected for her trial over the 2021 death of a cinematographer who was shot by Alec Baldwin. Halyna Hutchins died in 2021 after Gutierrez-Reed mistakenly loaded a live round into a reproduction Colt .45 revolver that Baldwin was rehearsing with on a movie set outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The revolver Baldwin was holding fired the round that killed Hutchins. He said he had accidentally killed Hutchins and denies pulling the trigger. Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin both face a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Apart from involuntary manslaughter, Gutierrez-Reed is also being tried on charges of tampering with evidence. She has pleaded not guilty and claims that she is not directly to blame for Hutchins' death. If found guilty, Gutierrez-Reed could be sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $5,000. Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was seen arriving in court as a jury was selected for her trial of the 2021 death of a cinematographer who was shot by Alec Baldwin Gutierrez-Reed, right, arrives at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, for the start of her trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence The revolver Baldwin was holding fired the round that killed Hutchins. He said he had accidentally killed Hutchins and denies pulling the trigger Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie 'Rust,' was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured) during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her Twelve jurors and four alternates have sworn in for trial that begins on February 22. Of the 12 jurors selected, seven are male and five are female. The four alternate jurors are male, court spokesman Barry Massey said. Jurors were chosen from a pool of 70 residents from the Santa Fe area including non-English speakers, a welder, a teacher, a graduate student and a mother who provides for six children. Prosecutors had asked potential jurors about their exposure to intensive media coverage and social media chatter about the case. More than 40 people are listed as witnesses for the trial set to run through March 6. Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for storage, maintenance and handling of firearms and ammunition on set and for training members of the cast who would be handling firearms, according to state workplace safety regulators. Baldwin is seen in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sherriff's office The gun Baldwin used to shoot Hutchins supplied by the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (pictured) On February 1, Baldwin has been spotted looking glum while walking the streets of New York City - a day after he pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Court documents filed on January 31 show Baldwin entered the not guilty plea in state district court in Santa Fe, waiving an arraignment that had been scheduled to take place remotely by video conference. A grand jury in Santa Fe indicted Baldwin in January after prosecutors received a new analysis of that gun, renewing a charge that prosecutors originally filed and then dismissed in April 2023. Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted. His lawyers called the prosecution 'misguided' and pushed for speedy court proceedings to 'minimize public vilification and suspicion' against the actor. Baldwin remains free pending trial under conditions that include not possessing firearms, consuming alcohol or leaving the country. The sour-faced actor, 65, wore gray trousers with a fleece-lined jacket and glasses as he strolled on his own around Manhattan The gun Baldwin was holding killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Rust movie set in 2021. His lawyers have now pushed for a speedy trial to 'minimize public suspicion and vilification' The fatal shooting of Hutchins has resulted in a series of civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims filed by members of Hutchins' family, centered on accusations that Baldwin and producers of 'Rust' were lax with safety standards. Baldwin and other defendants have disputed those allegations. 'Rust' assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm last March and received a suspended sentence of six months of probation. He agreed to cooperate in the investigation of the fatal shooting. Rust Movie Productions has already paid a $100,000 fine to the state following a scathing narrative of safety failures in violation of standard industry protocols. The report included testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires on set before Hutchins was shot. Industry-wide guidance that applied to 'Rust' says to 'treat all firearms as if they are loaded.' Baldwin's trial date has yet not been set. A swimmer has drowned at a popular beach. The man disappeared in the surf at the southern end of Broadbeach in Queensland on Thursday. Lifeguards searched for the man and pulled him from the water unconscious around 1.30pm. They began CPR until Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics arrived and took over. A man has drowned at a beach in Queensland today The man, who was in his 60s, died at the scene. Police are preparing a report for the coroner. Donald Trump's daughter-in-law said she thinks voters would support having the Republican National Committee (RNC) pay the former president's ballooning legal fees. Lara Trump - married to Eric Trump - told supporters on Wednesday at a campaign event in South Carolina that she thought the idea would get broad support among Republican voters who see his legal cases as 'an attack'. She added that she was not familiar with the RNC's rules about paying Donald Trump's legal fees which now top half a billion dollars as well as the millions he has spent on lawyers. But she said: 'That's why people are furious right now. And they see the attacks against him. They feel like its an attack not just on Donald Trump but on this country. So yeah I think that is a big interest to people, absolutely.' But a spokesperson for former president Trump later told ABC News that 'absolutely none' of the RNC's funds would be spent on his legal bills. Last week Trump called for the removal of the current RNC leaders and suggested that Lara Trump take their place as co-chair, alongside Michael Whatley, the current chair of the North Carolina GOP. Speaking at a campaign event ahead of the South Carolina primary, Lara Trump said she believed the GOP voters would support using RNC funds for Donald Trump's legal bills She said she would fight 'fire with dynamite' if she was made co-chair of the RNC The RNC is the primary committee of the Republican party, it is responsible for maintaining and developing the Republican brand as well as fundraising and election strategy. It is funded with donations from the public, with the money intended to go towards the presidential race once a Republican candidate has been selected. But Lara said on Wednesday that 'every penny' of the RNC's funds should go towards Trump's re-election and 'to ensuring that we have great candidates to expand our lead in the House and to take back the Senate.' Lara supported his call for her to take on the RNC co-chair role on Wednesday, telling reporters that GOP voters will feel more trust in the RNC by having a Trump family member installed in leadership. She said: 'Having someone like me in there I think will go a long way for people. I can assure you that my loyalty is to my father-in-law and I will make sure that every penny is used properly. 'It should be going to fight for Nov. 5 for the causes that we care about.' Trump suggested his daughter-in-law take on the RNC role after he grew frustrated with the current chair, Ronna McDaniel. Though McDaniel herself was once handpicked by Donald Trump to lead the party's political machine, the former president had grown tired with her as some of his allies complained about the party's losses in recent elections. Trump's team later rowed back on her comments saying 'absolutely none' of the RNC funds would be spent on his legal bills Lara Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, March 3, 2023 Critics also pointed to the party's finances and a perception that the party did not do enough to focus on voter fraud, which Trump has blamed for his 2020 election loss. Lara Trump said if she is made co-chair of the RNC, her loyalty would be to her father-in-law, but she believed the organization would stick to its policy of staying neutral in primary contests. She said: 'I dont know why we would change course on that now." But she drew a different line with the presidential primary, where former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is still running against Trump. 'The RNC will be supporting the whoever the Republican nominee for president is,' Lara Trump said. 'I think we all know thats going to be Donald Trump.' Trump may not need the RNC money regardless, after two scientologist MAGA fans Elena and Grant Cardone established a GoFundMe page to help pay his latest legal bill. The ardent MAGA supporters set up the page hours after the former president was ordered to pay $355 million fine for lying about his wealth for years. '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 page. Cardone is seeking donations from supporters to cover the full cost of Trump's fine. $927,000 had been donated as of Wednesday night. Believed to be ex-wife of woman found dead after house fire A second person charged over the murder of a mother-of-two found dead following a horror house fire is understood to be the alleged victim's ex-wife. Krystal Marshall, 38, was found dead by emergency services in her home in the Adelaide suburb of Aldinga Beach after a house fire on October 20 last year. A 48-year-old man was previously charged with murder and arson a day after Krystal's body was found. A breakthrough came on Thursday when detectives arrested a Para Hills West woman, 29. She was charged with one count of murder, defiling human remains and arson and remanded in custody to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday. It's understood the woman charged on Thursday is Krystal's ex-wife Anastasia Marshall, The Adelaide Advertiser reported. A second person charged with the murder of a mother-of-two Krystal Marshall (pictured) has been revealed to be her ex-wife, Anastasia Marshall It's understood that Anastasia Marshall (left) has been charged with the murder of her ex-wife Krystal Marshall (right) READ MORE: Man charged after mother-of-two's remains found in burned home The body of Krystal Marshall (pictured) was found inside the gutted home Advertisement Police revealed on Thursday that an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers three days after Krystal's body was found provided information which led to the arrest of the Para Hills West woman. Both people arrested charged over Krystal's death are known to each other. Police allege that Krystal was killed on October 19 with the house set on fire the next day. 'The allegation will be that together those two people, and those two people alone, are responsible for the death of Krystal,' Detective Superintendent Des Bray told reporters. Police hope to hear again from the anonymous caller who contacted Crime Stoppers with an online report at 5.25pm on October 22. 'That person conveyed specific knowledge in respect to the murder and who might be responsible. It's very important to the investigation that that person get in touch and ask to speak to Major Crime,' Det Supt Bray said. 'We had 15 or 16 Crime Stoppers reports but that was the only report that detailed specific and intimate knowledge of the crime, Police have also appealed to anyone who saw or heard anything in the vicinity of the Barracoota Crescent home around 3.30pm on Friday 20 October, including any dashcam or CCTV footage obtained that may be relevant to the investigation. Police have also appealed for any information about two vehicles seen in the area. The first is a blue Holden Astra which stopped outside a Barracoota Crescent home and spoke to a person on October 19. A person emerged from the premises to talk to the driver before leaving. The second was a large white van which was in the street on October 20 around the fire started and watched on for some time before leaving. The male driver is described as having facial hair and wore an orange turban, green high-vis vest and dark trousers. The police also want to speak with the driver of a blue Holden Astra (pictured) seen in the area on the day of the blaze South Australian Police want to speak with the driver of a white delivery van (pictured) seen in the area on October 20 Police allege that mother-of-two Krystal Marshall may have died a day before her body was inside her home Det Supt Bray stressed that the vehicles relevance to the case remains unclear at this stage. Firefighters were called to the home, south of Adelaide on October 19 after neighbours spotted black smoke billowing from it. Krystal was unable to escape, with firefighters finding her body in her bedroom after the blaze was put out. She lived there with her ex-wife, their two children and a friend. Two dogs and a cat were rescued from the burning home by neighbours, who didn't realise Krystal was also inside. Krystal's friends created a Go Fund Me page to support her two children and family left behind. 'Krystal wasn't just Krystal she was a daughter, a mum, a wife, a sister, an aunty, a friend or a neighbour and touched the hearts of many who knew her,' it stated. 'Unfortunately Krystal leaves behind two beautiful daughters who are still coming to terms with the loss of their mum.' The family of a transgender activist is hitting back at claims that they duped New York's iconic St Patrick's Cathedral into hosting a controversial funeral for the former sex worker. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan had slammed the 'irreverence and the disrespect' of mourners at the February 15 funeral, where activist Cecilia Gentili was eulogized as the 'mother of all whores'. 'We didn't know the background. We don't do FBI checks on people who want to be buried,' Dolan insisted in a radio interview this week. 'All they know is somebody called and said, 'Our dear friend died. We'd love to have the funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It would be a great source of consolation. She's a Catholic,'' he added. But in a statement, Gentili's family furiously denied that the church had been deceived and said 'the only deception present at St. Patrick's Cathedral is that it claims to be a welcoming place for all.' Cecilia Gentili was known as a leading advocate for other transgender people, as well as sex workers and people with HIV, but her funeral at St Patrick's Cathedral drew controversy Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan (right) slammed the 'irreverence and the disrespect' of mourners at the February 15 funeral The family said that the funeral service had 'brought precious life and radical joy to the Cathedral in historic defiance of the Church's hypocrisy and anti-trans hatred.' Similarly, the group Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society said in a statement: 'The current narrative from St. Patrick's Cathedral leadership that they were manipulated by funeral organizers of the identity of Ms. Gentili is simply not true.' 'Funeral organizers advised cathedral staff to look up Cecilia Gentili, her work, and the community she served. To now place responsibility on the funeral organizers to have affirmatively disclosed the gender identity of their loved one is imposing a burden upon the mourners that would not be expected of a non-transgender person,' they added. Videos of Gentili's funeral show an audience of more than 1,000 applauding, singing and offering praise of her stature as a leading light of the city's LGBTQ+ community. During one eulogy that was widely circulated on social media, Gentili was celebrated as 'Saint Cecilia, the mother of all whores,' and at one point the lyrics of 'Ave Maria' were changed to 'Ave Cecilia'. Dolan said that the funeral service was cut short, with no Mass as originally planned, after cathedral workers observed the tenor of the proceedings. The US conference of Catholic bishops rejects the concept of gender transition, though Pope Francis recently cleared the path for transgender adults to be baptized under certain conditions. In a written statement released Saturday, the Rev. Enrique Salvo, pastor of Saint Patrick's, thanked those who 'share our outrage over the scandalous behavior' at the funeral. '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 Enrique Salvo said in a statement. Cecilia Gentili was a former sex worker and self-declared atheist who spent years as an undocumented migrant before becoming a prominent campaigner for LGBT rights Around 1,000 friends and admirers packed St Patrick's Cathedral for the raucous funeral service on February 15 Fishnets, mini skirts and even a boa made of $100 bills adorned mourners at the service Organizers believe hers may have been the first ever funeral service for a trans person at the 19th century cathedral 'That such a scandal occurred at 'America's Parish Church' makes it worse. 'That it took place as Lent was beginning, the annual fortyday 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.' Gentili was known as a leading advocate for other transgender people, as well as sex workers and people with HIV. A former sex worker who suffered addiction and was jailed at Rikers Island, Gentili became a transgender health program coordinator, a nonprofit policy director for an established gay men's health organization, GMHC, and a lobbyist for health equality and anti-discrimination legislation, among other advocacy work. Gentili founded the COIN Clinic, short for Cecilia's Occupational Inclusion Network, a free health program for sex workers through the Callen-Lorde community health organization in New York. 'New York's LGBTQ+ community has lost a champion in trans icon Cecilia Gentili,' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on X, formerly Twitter, following Gentili's death. Just days before her death Gentili was successful in winning a $540,000 grant from the CDC for her a trans outreach program aimed at combating HIV transmission within the community. Funeral organizer Ceyenne Doroshow said she chose St Patrick's for the funeral on February 15 because 'it is an icon, just like her.' The pews were packed with around 1,000 mourners, many dressed in revealing outfits including one with a feather boa made of $100 bills. A picture near the altar showed a haloed Gentili surrounded by the Spanish words for 'transvestite,' 'whore,' 'blessed' and 'mother' above the text of Psalm 25. Actor Billy Porter began the 'political theatre' with a performance of 'This Day', before Father Edward Dougherty delivered the service, declaring that 'Cecilia died with Christ'. Cathedral pastor Father Enrique Salvo said the church 'had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way' The Catholic cathedral in Manhattan dubs itself 'America's parish church' and has hosted funeral masses for figures including Jacqueline Onassis and Babe Ruth Funeral organizers said they chose St Patrick's for the funeral on February 15 because 'it is an icon, just like her A picture near the altar showed a haloed Gentili surrounded by the Spanish words for 'transvestite,' 'whore,' 'blessed' and 'mother' above the text of Psalm 25 Just days before her death Gentili was successful in winning a $540,000 grant from the CDC for her a trans outreach program aimed at combating HIV transmission within the community 'This great whore, St Cecelia, mother of all whores,' announced one mourner from the pulpit. 'Today we say we see you soon and that you will give us the strength, the courage to continue your legacy, to continue the challenges ahead.' A priest singing 'Ave Maria' found himself unexpectedly accompanied by another mourner singing 'Ave Cecilia' as they danced down aisles, twirling a red scarf. New York City hosts at least ten gay-friendly Catholic parishes - but St Patrick's Cathedral isn't one of them. Father Dougherty has previously written fondly of his first ministry in Tanzania where gay people face life imprisonment and legislators have pushed to make a gay sex a capital offense. Gentili who faced abuse from her family and neighbors after coming out as gay at 12 became a US citizen in September 2022 and released a book called Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn't My Rapist, that year. She also worked as a stand-up comedian and appeared in the critically acclaimed FX series 'Pose', in which she played Miss Orlando, a New York City woman who provided discounted plastic surgery. Organizers believe hers may have been the first ever funeral service for an openly trans person at the 19th-century cathedral. The chairman of the US House of Representatives on China said that support for Taiwan was 'extremely strong' in a meeting with the country's newly-elected President. Mike Gallagher heads the five-member delegation that met with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te yesterday. The duo had won last month's presidential election and will take office in May. 'I actually think support for Taiwan in the United States Congress... I see growing and extremely strong support for Taiwan,' Gallagher told media. Gallagher, a vocal critic of China, added that he believed US support for Taiwan would be unaffected by the result of his country's 2024 presidential election. Mike Gallagher (left) chairman of the US House of Representatives on China said US support for Taiwan was 'extremely strong' Gallagher, a vocal critic of China, added that he believed US support for Taiwan would be unaffected by the result of his country's 2024 presidential election 'I am very confident that support for Taiwan will continue regardless of who occupies the White House,' he said. He also said any attempts made by Beijing to invade Taiwan would be 'incredibly foolish'. 'If Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party were to ever make the incredibly foolish decision to attempt an invasion of Taiwan... that effort would fail,' he said during the meeting with Lai. Earlier, President Tsai welcomed the US lawmakers, saying the visit demonstrated 'staunch US support for Taiwan's democracy through concrete action'. 'We will continue to advance our international partnerships and engage with the world. In 2024, we hope to see even more Taiwan-US exchanges in a range of domains,' she said. The delegation will stay until Saturday as part of a larger visit to the region, the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington's de facto embassy in Taipei said in a statement. Accompanying Gallagher are US Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, John Moolenaar, Dusty Johnson, and Seth Moulton. The delegation's visit will focus on US-Taiwan relations, regional security and trade and other issues, a statement from Gallagher's committee said. He also said any attempts made by Beijing to invade Taiwan would be 'incredibly foolish' Earlier, President Tsai welcomed the US lawmakers, saying the visit demonstrated 'staunch US support for Taiwan's democracy through concrete action' In November 2023, US President Joe Biden hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (pictured) for a summit on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic meeting, with the two agreeing to restore military communications The United States is Taiwan's most important ally, and the island has been at the center of tensions with China, which claims it as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control. While the United States does not formally recognize Taiwan, it is the island's main ally and supplier of military equipment - a thorn in ties between Washington and Beijing. The US State Department authorized the sale of a $75 million advanced tactical data link system to Taiwan yesterday, according to a Pentagon statement. Taiwan's defense ministry welcomed the move, saying in a statement that 'the US provides us with the means to enhance our ability to meet current and future threats'. Ahead of his election win, Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), vowed to defend the island against China's 'intimidation'. Relations between the United States and China have been fraught for years, with tensions simmering over a gamut of issues, including trade, alleged espionage, human rights and foreign policy. Tensions have eased markedly in the last year after a series of high-level meetings between US and Chinese officials. In November 2023, US President Joe Biden hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a summit on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic meeting, with the two agreeing to restore military communications. The US State Department authorized the sale of a $75 million advanced tactical data link system to Taiwan yesterday, according to a Pentagon statement Beijing has called Lai a 'troublemaker' and a 'separatist', and reacted to his victory by warning against taking any steps towards formal independence, which the president-elect has said he opposed Beijing has called Lai a 'troublemaker' and a 'separatist', and reacted to his victory by warning against taking any steps towards formal independence, which the president-elect has said he opposed. 'If anyone on the island of Taiwan thinks of going for independence, they will be... trying to split China, and will certainly be harshly punished by both history and the law,' Wang said at the time. In January, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson reiterated that Beijing was 'firmly opposed' to all official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan after Lai met a visiting US delegation. In the latest flare-up, Beijing on Wednesday accused Taipei of 'seeking to... hide the truth' about an incident where two Chinese nationals died following a confrontation between their fishing vessel and a Taiwanese coast guard boat in Taiwan-controlled waters. The Government's failure to fully implement the recommendations of a major report into Prevent means the public faces an increased terror threat from the UK's network of Hamas sympathisers, its author said today. Sir William Shawcross said the UK's flagship anti-extremism scheme is still failing to identify potential terrorists - including Hamas supporters emboldened by the October 7 atrocities in Israel. He warned that the scheme continued to be biased towards tackling right-wing terrorists despite them posing less of a deadly threat than Islamists, and that the Gaza conflict would result in a rise in radicalisation if no further action is taken. In the report published last year, the adviser found Prevent repeatedly 'failed' to identify attackers and said officials had a 'double standard when dealing with the extreme right-wing and Islamism' - in part over fears of being called Islamophobic. This led then Home Secretary Suella Braverman to vow 'major reform' so Prevent focused 'solely on security, not political correctness', while the Home Office said in a report earlier this week that it had already implemented most of his proposals. But Mr Shawcross told the BBC last night: 'The Government says they have made some of those changes that I asked for, that I proposed but not enough. And I think as a result the public is at risk.' Sir William Shawcross said Prevent continues to have a bias towards right-wing extremism instead of its more dangerous Islamist equivalent Mr Shawcross said Hamas sympathisers had been involved in organising pro-Palestine marches The former head of the Charity Commission said October 7 had 'changed everything', with members of the 'underlying Hamas support network' in the UK helping to organise pro-Palestinian marches and encouraging participants to bring anti-Semitic banners. Ministers 'should pay much more attention' to the threat posed by Hamas sympathisers, Mr Shawcross added. 'There are unfortunately quite a lot of Hamas sympathisers and some operatives in this country,' he said. 'Prevent and the police should have been working much harder against those Hamas people in this country. 'The public is more at risk because of the events of October 7 and subsequently - and many, many people in this country are much more frightened than they have ever been before.' Sir William found in his 2023 review that Prevent was 'out of kilter with the 'UK terrorism threat picture' and 'must return to its overarching objective: to stop individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism'. He quoted MI5 data that 75 per cent of its caseload was focused on Islamist threats, while the latest figures for referrals to Prevent programme showed just 11 per cent were linked to Islamist terrorism compared to 19 per cent for extreme right-wingers. Despite these figures, former Met counter-terror chief Neil Basu said last year that claims Prevent was overly focused on rightwing terrorism at the expense of Islamist terrorism were wrong. 'That is in my view driven by a rightwing viewpoint that XRWT [extreme rightwing terrorism] is either unimportant or doesn't really exist,' he controversially claimed. This graph shows the ages of people being referred to the Prevent programme The number of Prevent cases being referred to the Channel stage, which is reserved for the most serious cases Figures show the North West is responsible for the most Prevent referrals per million people Former Met counter-terror chief Neil Basu controversially said last year that claims Prevent was overly focusing on rightwing terrorism at the expense of Islamist terrorism were wrong. Mr Shawcross has quoted MI5 data that 75 per cent of its caseload was focused on Islamist threats, while the latest figures for referrals to Prevent programme showed just 11 per cent were linked to Islamist terrorism compared to 19 per cent for extreme right-wingers Several terror attacks were carried out by extremists who had been referred to Prevent. They include homegrown terrorist Ali Harbi Ali, who murdered veteran MP Sir David Amess in 2021; Reading terror attacker Khairi Saadallah who murdered three men in a park; and Sudesh Amman, responsible for stabbings in Streatham, south London, both in 2020, and the 2017 Parsons Green Tube train attacker Iraqi asylum seeker Ahmed Hassan. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - Revealed: Iran is recruiting British Muslims to spy on Jews and dissidents of the Tehran regime Advertisement Prevent places public bodies, such as schools and the police, under a legal duty to identify people in danger of turning to extremism. The Shawcross Report found that Prevent officials were treating Islamist extremism differently from its far-right equivalent. He wrote: 'Prevent takes an expansive approach to the extreme right-wing, capturing a variety of influences that, at times, has been so broad it has included mildly controversial or provocative forms of mainstream, right-wing leaning commentary that have no meaningful connection to terrorism or radicalisation. 'However, with Islamism, Prevent tends to take a much narrower approach centred around proscribed organisations, ignoring the contribution of non-violent Islamist narratives and networks to terrorism.' Among the terrorists who had been referred to Prevent was Ali Harbi Ali, 26, who murdered veteran MP Sir David Amess in 2021 Usman Khan, 28, pictured at Bank station on his way to attend a prisoner rehabilitation event on London Bridge, where he stabbed two young graduates to death. Khan had come into contact with Prevent officers who had 'no specific training' in handling terrorists, an inquest heard Reading attacker Khairi Saadallah, 27, (left) was assessed by Prevent officials but found to have 'no fixed ideology', according to reports. Sudesh Amman, who stabbed two people in Streatham, south London, last February. However, a panel decided his case did not require intervention Usman Khan, 28, (left) who stabbed two young graduates to death after a prisoner rehabilitation event on London Bridge, had come into contact with Prevent officers who had 'no specific training' in handling terrorists, an inquest heard. Parsons Green bomber Ahmed Hassan was also referred to the anti-terror scheme 20 months before he planted a device on the Tube that injured 50 people during rush hour in 2017 The majority of people killed in terror attacks in the UK since 2016 have been victims of Islamist terror. Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by right-wing extremist Thomas Mair in 2016, while in 2017, right-wing terrorist Darren Osborne drove a van into Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, killing one person. By comparison, 37 people have been killed by Islamist terrorists over the last eight years. On Tuesday, ministers marked a year since the publication of the Shawcross Report by saying they had brought the Prevent scheme back to its 'core mission'. Home Secretary James Cleverly said the counter-terrorism system needs to 'continually evolve and adapt'. He added that - thanks to the work undertaken after the report - 'we have a first-class Prevent programme'. Counter-extremism expert Ian Acheson was among those criticising the Government's approach. Palestinians check destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip yesterday He wrote on X: 'Why is the Government not forcing the changes that William Shawcross has recommended on the failing Prevent Counter Extremism strategy? 'Why has he been forced to go public on foot dragging? We absolutely must have effective interventions focused on stopping tomorrow's terrorists. 'Islamist extremism is the pre-eminent terrorist threat in this country. The body count, plots and custody figures do not lie. 'The rampant antisemitism now running virtually unchecked will elide into violent extremism if it is not stopped. This is what Prevent must focus on.' A Home Office spokesman said the government had made 'significant progress to deliver a strengthened Prevent'. They added: 'William Shawcross's Review was critical to ensuring Prevent is fit for purpose, which is why we accepted his recommendations in full. 'One year on, we have delivered 30 of the 34 recommendations he made, and we are making rapid progress on delivering the remaining four. 'The government agrees that extreme Islamist ideology presents the greatest threat to the UK, and has moved swiftly to update Prevent duty guidance and training to make that clear.' A devastating new HIMARS missile strike has killed dozens of Russian troops, shocking drone footage from Ukraine appears to show. If confirmed, it would be the second such attack by Ukraine in as many days, after Vladimir Putin was dealt a devastating blow on Wednesday by a HIMARS missile which is reported to have killed 65 Russian soldiers during a training exercise. New video, captured by a drone high above a Russian training ground in the occupied Kherson region, is said to show the second attack carried out by Ukraine using the powerful US-supplied weapons this week. The clip opens by showing a gathering of people - reportedly Russian soldiers - in a clearing covered in tank tracks near a lush green forest. Suddenly, as the drone camera circles around the group with a target marker in the centre of the screen, a huge explosion detonates amidst the unit. New video, captured by a drone high above the battlefield in the occupied Kherson region, is said to show the attack carried out by the powerful American weapons. A large grouping of what are said to be Russian soldiers are seen near a treeline Suddenly, as camera circles around the group with a target marker in the middle of the screen, a huge explosion detonates amidst the group, leaving a heap of bodies on the ground The video cuts to a second view of the open field as more soldiers are seen gathering into another group. The men look like ants from the distance as they move into position This time, the flash of a missile is seen a split second before another explosion erupts from the ground. The soldiers drop the floor, as if struck by lightning The footage ends with a third explosion near the site of the first. Moments earlier, more people appear from the trees, apparently approaching the pile of bodies left by the earlier strike A huge ball of fire rises into the air, and as the smoke clears, several bodies are seen strewn across the ground. But the onslaught is not over yet. The video cuts to a second view of the open field as more soldiers are seen gathering into another group. The men look like ants from the distance as they move into position, grouping near a copse of trees. This time, the flash of a missile is seen a split second before another explosion erupts from the ground. The soldiers drop the floor, as if struck by lightning. After a second or two, some are seen writhing around in the dirt. Others remain still. The footage ends with a third explosion, near the site of the first strike. Moments earlier, more soldiers had appeared from the trees, apparently approaching the pile of bodies left by the earlier attack. The footage, which is said to show a training ground in Podo-Kalinivka, was released by the Ukrainian side on Thursday. Podo-Kalinivka is home to the Oleshky Sands nature park, a large national park in southern Ukraine, that features expanses of sand. The footage suggests Russia is using the park as a training ground, with tank tracks seen in the sand. One Ukrainian channel claimed the victims were marines from Sevastopol in annexed Crimea, 40 miles to the south of the nature park, and reported that as many as 200 were killed. Other sources said the troops at the Kherson training ground were the 328th Airborne Assault Regiment, the 810th Marine Brigade and the 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment. On the evidence of the video, the toll appears lower than that claimed by the Telegram channel, but dozens of bodies are visible in the footage. The ease with which they were targeted twice this week - when seven Russian warplanes were also downed - is concerning Moscow. In yesterday's loss, the troops and officers had been lined up to await inspection by commander Major-General Oleg Moiseev. Footage in the aftermath of Wednesday's strike was taken by horrified survivors At least 65 Russian soldiers standing in formation were killed, reports from Ukraine said The dead soldiers are lined up as comrades prepare body bags Ukraine plainly had intelligence about the gathering with disciplinarian Moiseev, commander of the 29th Army of the Eastern Military District and a hero of pro-Putin propagandists 'The general indignation from the next HIMARS strike on yet another senseless formation of [military] personnel in the DPR [Donetsk People's Republic] did not have time to pass when another formation followed with another strike, but this time in the Kherson region,' reported Military Informant channel. 'And again, of course, no one is to blame for anything' it continued. 'Like last time, the shelling was carried out from the HIMARS MLRS with M30A1 GMLRS missiles with tungsten balls that fire over the target in the air.' Pro-war bloggers blame Russian commanders for marching and assembling their troops in formation - making them easy targets for the accurate US-made HIMARS missiles, which are guided by reconnaissance drones. In yesterday's loss, the troops and officers had been lined up to await inspection by commander Major-General Oleg Moiseev. Footage in the aftermath of Wednesday's strike was taken by horrified survivors. It showed how dozens of bodies were left strewn across a pockmarked, charred field in the aftermath of the strike. Pro-Putin war commentators have blamed general Moiseev for causing the mass deaths of his men. The pinpoint HIMARS attack was reported by Russian sources to have struck moments before Moiseev reached the spot, devastating his company. One furious comment online stated: 'One can only be surprised at the lack of learning of [commanders] in the second year of [the war].' Another channel hit out: 'He set up this formation. He killed these men.' War reporter Andrey Rudenko lambasted commanders like Moiseev for lining up their troops close to the frontline 'to simply show your importance'. He posted sarcastically: 'There is a very high probability of receiving a HIMARS MLRS rocket in what is called your head. 'Therefore, take care of yourself and your subordinates!' Prominent pro-Kremlin politician Vladimir Rogov hit out at the 'criminal practice' of parading soldiers in front of commanders in 'missile-ridden terrain'. Russia has not formally admitted to either strike this week, but both are accepted as damaging blows by Putin's pro-war online channels. But while Russia counted its losses from the strikes, they came after Putin boasted about a 'victory' in seizing blitzed Avdiivka - a key industrial town in the east. The US-supplied HIMARS missiles have allowed Ukraine to strike Russian targets from distance Ukrainian soldiers dug in around new positions outside the city say Russian forces are now pressing on toward nearby towns and villages. Russian forces secured Avdiivka after months of bombardment reduced the town to rubble. It was Russia's biggest battlefield victory in seven months - since its forces captured Bakhmut in May 2023. The capture of Avdiivka, after months of little change in the front lines, indicated a change of momentum as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion nears. President Vladimir Putin says Russian troops will push further into Ukraine. An Australia Post delivery driver has been sacked after he dumped a parcel on the footpath outside the wrong address. The postal service has apologised to the angry customer from Townsville whose package ended up outside the wrong home last month. Adding insult to injury, the delivery driver then sent the woman a photo of the package in a 'safe place' on the path on the footpath beside a patch of grass as proof it had been delivered. The furious woman took to social media to express call out Australia Post 'to do better'. An Australia Post delivery driver has been sacked after making a very poor effort at delivering a parcel (pictured) on January 13. It was left at the wrong address READ MORE: Australia Post driver's unexpected reason for not delivering a parcel to Sydney address A woman took to social media to share the unexpected message the delivery driver left on her package (pictured) Advertisement 'This is the 'safe place' my parcel was left at the wrong address' she captioned the photo of her parcel. She also complained to Australia Post, which took swift action and since has assured that the driver no longer works for them. 'Australia Post has strict protocols in place for the delivery of mail and parcels, and the driver's actions here clearly did not meet the high standards we expect,' a spokesperson told Yahoo news. 'We have been in touch with the customer to apologise and we can confirm the driver involved no longer delivers for Australia Post.' The spokesperson urged customers who have delivery issues to call them on 13 POST (13 7678). Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australia Post for further comment. The customer's online post sparked an angry response from fellow Aussies. Many agreed that the delivery was 'appalling'. 'I'm not sure what's more tragic here?' one wrote. 'The fact they'd got the wrong address or the fact they've just left it on the floor nowhere near a door or delivery box. Thick as pig s***,' one wrote. Adding insult to injury, the driver sent the woman a photo of the package (pictured) on the path, beside a patch of grass as proof it had been delivered Others shared their own bad experiences with parcels being delivered. One recalled how their package was 'left behind the rubbish bin', despite a parcel container at their block of units. In a similar story, last October, a woman called Heidi living on an 800-acre farm had to go on an unexpected and unwanted treasure hunt when she was sent a photo of her package, containing goods worth $100, under a tree in a supposed 'safe spot'. But she had no idea where that 'safe spot' was. 'Thank you Australia Post,' she said on a TikTok post. 'Just when I thought you guys couldn't get any f****** stupider. 'Any sensible person, you would think, would probably be able to drive up the driveway to the house and leave it up there.' Heidi mocked the driver in her video post, taking a guess at what was going through their mind. 'I'll just drive in and pick a tree and hope like f*** that the owner finds it.' Fortunately, Heidi eventually found the package on a random tree stump on her massive property. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was given 24 hours to save his job today after sparking a Commons meltdown by 'bending the rules' to save Keir Starmer from a Gaza revolt. Some 33 MPs have already signed a parliamentary motion voicing no-confidence in the presiding officer following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight. The SNP and Tory MPs walked out after Sir Lindsay upended parliamentary convention by selecting Labour's bid to amend an SNP motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire'. The step - taken in defiance of advice from the Commons Clerks - meant the Scots nationalists did not get a chance to vote on their own Opposition Day debate. But Sir Lindsay initially tried to leave one of his deputies to field anger in the House, before MPs finally dragged him in to face the music. In a grovelling and near-tearful apology, Sir Lindsay acknowledged he regretted the choice, arguing that he was motivated by anxiety about the safety of MPs from pro-Palestinian protesters. He flatly denied that he had been influenced by partisan concerns, despite claims Keir Starmer personally lobbied him and he was told he would have 'blood on his hands' if the amendment was not selected. Sir Lindsay is set to meet party leaders later as he fights to cling on, and could suffer a fresh barrage from critics during Business Questions in the House this morning. But many MPs are already convinced his situation is 'terminal', with jockeying for his job already under way. Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions'. Ms Caulfield told Sky News she would 'struggle to support him', adding ominously: 'We'll see what happens in the next 24, 48 hours.' A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown Sir Keir personally lobbied Sir Lindsay to choose Labour's amendment. He visited the day before the plead his case, the Telegraph reports The House of Commons descended into chaos last night as SNP and Tory MPs walked out of the chamber in a furious row over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt also launched a bitter attack on Sir Lindsay, claiming he had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions' QUENTIN LETTS: Starmer's gambit backfired like a vintage Lagonda, leaving a broken Sir Lindsay on the verge of tears Advertisement Reports of a visit from Sir Keir raised questions about the degree to which the Labour leader leaned on the Speaker as the decision on votes was being considered, the newspaper reported. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt also launched a bruising attack on Sir Lindsay, claiming he had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. They could come face to face again later when she delivers a business statement in the Commons. The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour's amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP's original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an 'immediate humanitarian pause'. He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move, which provoked uproar in the chamber. After calls for him to return to the chamber to explain his move, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures. Amid shouts of 'resign', he said: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up.' But Tobias Ellwood, whose family home was recently targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, rejected the argument that Sir Lindsay needed to select the amendment to protect MPs from backlash. The former minister told TalkTV: 'I don't agree with that. I don't understand I listened carefully to when he said that and slightly raised my eyebrows. My family have been affected by this... 'I've been very clear, despite that, I have people outside my house which was absolutely bizarre, but I think this idea is somehow the Speaker was trying to then offer options for MPs to then choose is wrong. 'We'd have done better for all three parties which I then said in the debate yesterday to go away, work out a sensible line, a motion that the whole house could agree. 'So, the world can see that we are united in wanting to, to move this forward to buy. It really was a circus yesterday.' The evening's mayhem - in scenes reminiscent of the collapse of Liz Truss and Brexit battles at Westminster - raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker in a plot some are dubbing 'Just Stop Hoyle'. An early day motion tabled by senior Tory William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker has already attracted support from 33 Conservative and SNP MPs. Some 33 MPs have already signed a Commons motion voicing no confidence in Sir Lindsay In a protest prompted by the actions of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, huge numbers of MPs deserted the Commons following angry exchanges One veteran Tory MP told MailOnline the situation was 'absolutely disastrous'. 'I think he may well be in terminal difficulty,' they said of Sir Lindsay's position. 'He was warned by his clerks, who wrote to confirm the advice. He ignored the advice. It was the biggest cock-up I have ever seen since I have been an MP.' The MP added: 'The rumour is that he was threatened by the Labour Party. If he buckled to that sort of threat, he doesn't deserve to be Speaker.' Other MPs are already talking up their credentials to take over from, with one candidate joking they could maintain order in the chamber because they are a martial arts expert. Sir Lindsay previously ran into trouble in January when it emerged he was intending to fly the Palestinian flag at Parliament. The Commons circulated a diary note that the symbolic move would happen for a meeting with the Palestinian 'ambassador' - even though there is no such thing as the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state. But the idea was dropped after a backlash from MPs that Sir Lindsay was wading into politics. He also caused some chatter by accidentally referring to Sir Keir as 'Prime Minister' during a PMQs session recently. When he became Speaker in 2019 Sir Lindsay stressed that he would draw a line under the approach used by John Bercow - who was accused of bending rules to help opponents of Brexit. Sir Lindsay said at the time: 'I've come into this job as a referee, and that's where I want to be. It shouldn't be about me, it's about the Chamber.' Sir Lindsay said he took the decision to allow all sides to 'express their views' and that he was 'very, very concerned about the security' of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict. But SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speaker's position was 'not now intolerable' and claimed his party had been treated with 'complete and utter contempt'. He also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour's chief whip had exerted pressure on Sir Lindsay, a former Labour MP, ahead of his decision to pick the party's amendment for debate. Labour's amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation. Had the Speaker not chosen it, Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire could have been pushed to back the SNP motion, in a repeat of a major rebellion against the Labour leadership in November. However, Labour frontbencher John Healey told BBC Newsnight it was 'totally untrue that he (the Speaker) was put under pressure'. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (pictured), both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square Sir Lindsay was later absent from shambolic scenes in the Commons - prompting suggestions he had gone 'into hiding' - as MPs on all sides engaged in a parliamentary slanging match. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout. The three key votes that plunged the Commons into chaos SNP - 'immediate ceasefire' The nationalists called for an unconditional 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Unlike Labour's amendment, the motion also called for an end to the 'collective punishment of the Palestinian people'. It was not voted on as the Labour amendment successfully passed. Labour - 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' Labour's amendment used softer language around Israel's military action in Gaza, stating they 'cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence'. It also removed references to 'collective punishment' from the SNP's original motion. Government - 'immediate humanitarian pauses' The Government amendment, laid down late on Tuesday night, reflects the latest position outlined by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. It calls for an immediate 'pause' in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza and release Israeli hostages. This would set up the conditions for a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire' which ensures 'security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians' in a two-state solution. The amendment was not voted on after the Government withdrew it in protest to the speaker tabling Labour's amendment. Advertisement MPs then voted on whether the Commons should sit in private for the first time since 2001 as they put pressure on Sir Lindsay to return to the chamber. The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square yesterday. A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he later returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown. He told MPs: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up. 'I do take responsibility for my actions, and that's why I want to meet with the key players who have been involved.' The Speaker attempted to explain that he intended to allow the House 'the widest range of propositions on which to express a view'. But he angrily denied accusations he had met with Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray in a bid to stitch up the debate in Labour's favour. One insider said Labour had warned him their MPs would be at increased risk of attack by pro-Palestine campaigners if they could not vote for their own ceasefire motion. 'He was told he would have blood on his hands if he didn't allow this vote,' the source said. In his statement on Wednesday, the Speaker acknowledged he was 'very, very concerned about the security of all MPs'. But former Tory cabinet minister Kit Malthouse said he would have 'crossed a Rubicon' if he had allowed threats and intimidation from outside to influence the proceedings of the Commons. Sir Keir wanted to prevent his MPs from backing the SNP motion demanding an unqualified 'immediate ceasefire' by tabling his own amendment. The Labour amendment caveated that Hamas terrorists must hand back hostages and lay down weapons first. Sir Lindsay's ploy to allow all three main parties - the Tories, Labour and SNP - to put forward their own position was undone when the Government boycotted proceedings. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Ms Mordaunt also suggested the Speaker's decision may have put MPs at greater risk, warning that he had 'raised temperatures...on an issue where feelings are already running high'. She accused the Speaker of having taken action 'against the longstanding and established processes and procedures of this House', adding: 'For that reason the Government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on today's proceedings.' That move prompted last night's chaos in the Commons after the SNP were informed the Government's action meant they were unlikely to get a vote on their original motion. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had looked to avoid another major Commons revolt by his MPs over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war This evening's mayhem - in scenes not seen since the Brexit battles at Westminster - has raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker Mr Flynn demanded to know why Sir Lindsay was not in his chair, and asked how he could be brought to the House to explain why the SNP's views are 'irrelevant to him'. After his request for the Commons to be suspended were denied by Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton - who was filling in for the absent Sir Lindsay - SNP MPs and Tory MPs then staged their walkout. MPs later voted 212 to 20, majority 192, to reject a proposal for Commons to sit in private. Labour's amendment pushing for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza - with caveats - was then approved by the Commons without a vote. Dame Rosie was also forced to deny suggestions that Sir Lindsay was influenced by threats from senior Labour figures to accept the party's amendment. Tory MP Philip Davies referred to claims that the Speaker had been 'left in no doubt that Labour would bring him down after the general election unless he called Labour's Gaza amendment'. But Dame Rosie replied: 'That tweet is wrong and the statement is incorrect.' Labour's defence spokesman John Healey insisted the party had put 'no pressure on the Speaker', and said he had been right to allow the widest possible debate on Gaza. But even some Labour MPs questioned his judgment. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky News: 'I wish he hadn't taken this decision. Confidence in him has been significantly undermined and I speak as a friend of his.' Labour has been riven by divisions over Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. While Sir Keir has argued for Israel's right to self-defence, dozens of his MPs have been calling for Israel to end the war. Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant said Sir Lindsay's decision had created a 'constitutional crisis'. But fellow grandee Sir Charles Walker predicted that Sir Lindsay would survive, adding: 'This furore will blow over. 'When the House of Commons comes to its senses it will realise very quickly that the removal of the Speaker will only lead to metaphorical champagne corks popping in Tehran.' The SNP, which ended up being unable to vote on its own motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, reacted with fury. The party's Pete Wishart said the ruling was 'ridiculous', adding: '(Sir Lindsay) has totally lost it and this will come back to haunt him.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night. Halima Begum, chief executive of the ActionAid UK charity, said: 'We are extremely disappointed to see the utter paralysis in Parliament this evening. 'Democracy is a precious commodity and should be treated as such. 'A great disservice has been done to the British people, who expected their political parties and elected representatives to conduct a meaningful debate concerning an issue on which depends the lives of over a hundred Israeli hostages, and hundreds of thousands of Gazans suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises we have seen in recent times.' Oxfam's Katy Chakrabortty said: 'It is a disgrace that there has been so much playground politics in Parliament this evening, while so many lives are at stake. 'The people of Gaza can't wait for our politicians to stop squabbling. Much of the country lies in ruins and Rafah, where many Palestinian families have been forced to flee, is under threat of a full-scale military offensive.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, branded the Commons chaos as 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst' Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, told LBC radio the Commons chaos was 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst.' 'Politicians are trying to save themselves, rather than saving an entire nation from genocide,' he continued. Last night's drama came after a previous vote on a call for a Gaza ceasefire tabled by the SNP last November resulted in 10 Labour frontbenchers resigning in order to support the demand. Sir Keir's efforts to avoid a repeat of that revolt this evening were thrown into doubt earlier when the Government put down its own change to the latest SNP motion. Convention suggested Sir Lindsay would only choose the Government amendment to put to a vote this afternoon. That would have raised the prospect of Sir Keir seeing many Labour MPs join the SNP in the division lobbies even if he ordered them to abstain - as many have been vocal in urging an immediate ceasefire. However, Sir Lindsay sparked uproar in the chamber when he confirmed he was selecting both the Labour amendment and the Government one - over the advice of his own clerks. The SNP cried foul saying that it deprived them of a 'clean' vote on their own Opposition Day motion. And one senior Conservative was heard shouting, 'Bring back Bercow!' - a reference to Tory complaints that former Speaker John Bercow bent procedures to help opponents of Brexit. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. But Sir Lindsay said there was a precedent, adding that he thought the operation of standing orders in the House was outdated. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. 'This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation, and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options,' Sir Lindsay said. The health expert behind Davina McCall's menopause documentary says it's a 'matter of health not law' after the human rights watchdog warned bosses they risked breaching equality laws unless they let menopausal women wear cooler uniforms. Menopause expert Kate Muir says the new guidance doesn't make sense and those behind it don't know enough about the menopause to be writing laws about it. The author of 'Everything You Need To Know About the Menopause (but were too afraid to ask)' says bosses should 'just be humane about it'. It comes after the human rights watchdog said yesterday that women suffering from hot flushes or 'brain fog' should be given quiet rooms to rest in and have fans or air conditioning in their workplaces. In its first guidance on the topic, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told employers they must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms, just as they do for those with disabilities. They could also be found guilty of sex or age discrimination if they penalise staff for having to take time off when they are suffering. If they ridicule women for their problems, it may constitute harassment. Did YOU quit your job because of the menopause? Email matt.strudwick@mailonline.co.uk Menopause expert Kate Muir says the new guidance doesn't make sense and those behind it don't know enough about the menopause to be writing laws about it. Bosses have been warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they allow menopausal women to wear cooler uniforms and work from home on hot days (Stock Image) The EHRC says it will cost managers hundreds of thousands of pounds to defend such claims as well as losing valuable employees. Ms Muir this morning told BBC Radio 4 that the guidance won't give women their hormones back. READ MORE: Bosses are warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they allow menopausal women to wear cooler uniforms, work from home on hot days and given quiet rooms to rest in Advertisement 'I don't think they've thought it through,' she said. 'I don't think they know enough about menopause to be writing laws around it. It's not a disability it's something every woman goes through, obviously.' She said most menopausal women suffering symptoms had not been sacked from their jobs but decided to 'self-censor' as they did not know how to cope with what was happening to them. Giving education to women about treatments such as 'good' and 'safe' hormone replacement therapy to eliminate symptoms was more vital to help them go through the menopause, she said. 'I think women in perimenopause certainly often need help when they don't know what is happening to them,' she said. 'When they are going through all these changes and get hot flushes and brain fog and they can't maybe sort out their health at that point. 'We should just be humane about that. I don't know if we need to entrench this as legislation. It is discriminating against someone who is ill at that point.' Ms Muir called on the NHS to give women 'proper' consultations which would 'solve their problems'. 'I think this [guidance] is a side alley on the whole conversation,' she said. 'It's a matter of health, not law.' In its first guidance on the topic, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told employers they must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms (Stock Image) EHRC chairman Baroness Kishwer Falkner said on Tuesday night: 'We are concerned both by how many women report being forced out of a role due to their menopause-related symptoms and how many don't feel safe enough to request the workplace adjustments. 'An employer understanding their legal duties is the foundation of equality in the workplace. But it is clear that many may not fully understand their responsibility to protect their staff going through the menopause. 'Our new guidance sets out these legal obligations for employers and provides advice on how they can best support their staff. 'We hope that this guidance helps ensure every woman going through the menopause is treated fairly and can work in a supportive and safe environment.' The EHRC cites research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development that found two-thirds of working women aged between 40 and 60 said menopausal symptoms had negatively affected their jobs, including reducing concentration, increasing stress and leaving them less able to carry out tasks. Half said they had on occasion been unable to go into work because of their symptoms, while separate research by the Fawcett Society found that one in ten women had left their jobs as a result. Amid growing concern at the lack of support for the millions of women who suffer debilitating symptoms when their hormone levels drop and periods end, the Government has set up a UK Menopause Taskforce to improve access to treatment and appointed a Menopause Employment Champion to encourage major bosses to do more for staff. NHS bosses have also vowed to improve conditions for its workforce, while Labour has pledged to give menopausal women the right to work from home and have paid time off for health appointments. Half of women had on occasion been unable to go into work because of their symptoms (Stock Image) In a landmark Employment Tribunal case currently awaiting judgment, social worker Maria Rooney claims she was discriminated against and victimised by Leicester City Council for suffering menopause symptoms. Judges have already ruled that her symptoms, along with stress and anxiety, amounted to a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act. Now the EHRC, which backed Ms Rooney's case, has for the first time set out the legal obligations on all employers and given them advice on the adjustments they can make for menopausal staff. Its guidance states: 'Under the Equality Act 2010, workers are protected from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the basis of protected characteristics including disability, age and sex. 'If menopause symptoms have a long-term and substantial impact on a woman's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, these symptoms could be considered a disability. 'If menopause symptoms amount to a disability, an employer will be under a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments. 'They will also be under a legal obligation to not directly or indirectly discriminate because of the disability or subject the woman to discrimination arising from disability.' It adds that under health and safety legislation, 'employers also have a legal obligation to conduct an assessment of their workplace risks'. Women and equalities committee chairman Caroline Nokes told the Mail: 'I hope this guidance helps we know too many women are forced out of work due to challenging menopause symptoms. Of course the menopause is not a disability and should not be seen as that, rather something that will pass with the right support and medication.' Minister for Disabled People, Health & Work Mims Davies said: 'This new guidance will raise even more awareness among the business community and help women by improving understanding of their rights. Not only is this vital for the progression of women in the workforce, it's vital for the growth of our economy.' Labour's Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Anneliese Dodds said: 'This guidance from the EHRC is welcome, but women experiencing menopause deserve more. 'Labour would require large employers to produce menopause action plans and produce guidance for small employers in how to support employees experiencing menopause.' Did YOU quit your job because of the menopause? Email matt.strudwick@mailonline.co.uk An Indian state has banned cotton candy after ruling that the treat loved by children around the world is dangerous. Last week, Tamil Nadu, a state in the south, brought in the ban after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cancer-causing substance Rhodamine-B in samples put forward for testing. Earlier this month, union territory Puducherry banned cotton candy, while other states have started to test samples, the BBC reports. The treat, also called buddi-ka-baal, meaning old woman's hair, is beloved by children worldwide, cropping up at fairs and amusement parks. However, some Indian officials say it is deceptively harmful. Last week, Tamil Nadu, a state in the south, brought in the ban after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cancer-causing substance Rhodamine-B in samples put forward for testing (File Photo) P Satheesh Kumar, food safety officer in Chennai city in the state of Tamil Nadu, told The Indian Express newspaper that the contaminants in the treat 'could lead to cancer and affect all organs of the body'. His team infiltrated candy sellers at one of the city's beaches last week. Kumar said the cotton candy sold there was the product of independent sellers rather than registered factories. A few days later, the government banned the sale of the treat after lab tests discovered the presence of Rhodamine-B in the samples. The chemical compound causes a bright pink colour, which is also used for cosmetics, dye textiles, and inks. Studies have shown that Rhodamine-B can heighten the risk of cancer. It is illegal to use it in Europe and California for dyeing food. As the ban in Tamil Nadu was implemented, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said in a statement that using Rhodamine-B in the 'packaging, import, sale of food or serving food containing it at weddings and other public events would be punishable under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006'. Neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh is also reported to have started testing cotton candy samples to determine whether or not they contain traces of Rhodamine-B. The New India Express newspaper reported earlier this week that food safety officials in Delhi were also increasing pressure for a ban on the candy treat. Leeds fans hoping to watch their club's FA Cup clash against Chelsea have been left outraged at being charged almost 220 for a train home. More than 5,000 supporters are expected to make the 400-mile round trip to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the fifth-round tie. The two Premier League sides will lock horns from 7.30pm. But fans travelling back from Kings Cross station have accused London North Eastern Railway (LNER) of hiking up prices from 47.45 for a 10pm train back to a staggering 218.65 for one at 11.33pm. Taking X (formerly Twitter), Leeds United supporter Sam Jacobs raged: 'Country is a joke. @LNER making the 23.33 train 220 knowing Leeds fans need to get back to Leeds and won't make the 22.00 train when that is 47.' 'Disgusting from the train companies, profiteering off Leeds fans,' another disgruntled fan said on X. Are YOU a Leeds fan who's been affected? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk Leeds United fans have been left outraged by the cost of a train ticket to return home from London (file image) More than 5,000 Leeds supporters are expected to make the trip to Stamford Bridge (pictured) to watch their team play Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday The prices appeared vastly different between the two trains from London to Leeds Others raged the train journey cost more than a trip to Europe, with a return flight on the same day to Pathos, Cyprus, costing as little as 69. While a 1,340-mile journey from London to Barcelona would cost just 73. 'This sums up our country and its transport system. Not only is the infrastructure an embarrassment and not fit for purpose, but those running these companies are an embarrassment for using events such as music and sport to line their pockets,' one fan fumed.' Another person added: 'That's robbery that, how the f*** do they get away with it?' 'A joke the prices trains are these days. I'm cheaper to fly to Oslo AND eat for 2 days over there than I am a return ticket from Edinburgh to Leicester,' a third social media user claimed. Explaining the apparent price hike in tickets back from London to Leeds on Wednesday, an LNER spokesman wrote on X: 'Hello, that service is fully booked so you'd be buying an anytime ticket (the most expensive) in order to board, hence the price difference. Apologies about this.' A spokeswoman for LNER later told MailOnline: 'We understand that the FA Cup fifth round game against Chelsea is an important match for Leeds United fans, with many of them travelling with us to and from London on Wednesday 28 February. 'Due to unprecedented demand for travel back to Leeds on the 23:33 service from London King's Cross, the service has sold out. We're continuing to work with our partners to explore ways to further support fans travelling back from London after the match.' The price hike comes just hours before an overtime ban by train drivers comes into effect on Thursday, February 29. A London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Azuma train at London King's Cross station (file image) The three-day overtime ban, which ends on Saturday, March 2, 'could lead to short notice changes and cancellations', LNER warned. While on Friday, March 1, members of the ASLEF union will be going on strike, causing chaos for those using the LNER. These disputes, which will affect the LNER and Northern services, are 'entirely separate' from a national pay row between union barons and 16 train operators, Aslef general secretary Mick Wheelan said. Speaking of the industrial action, he added: 'We are fed up to the back teeth with the bad faith shown, day after day, week after week, and month after month by these two companies. 'We always stick to agreements which we make. These companies think they can break agreements which they freely enter into whenever it suits them. And they're wrong. This is a shot across their bows and a sign of things to come. 'They need to stop what they are doing, start to behave properly and honourably, because their drivers our members are no longer prepared to be treated like this.' Are YOU a Leeds fan who's been affected? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk Five-month-old baby Ronnie's birth certificate was sent back torn and written on A Paris-based private company at the centre of an antisemitism row has confirmed to MailOnline that staff have been suspended as a Jewish family given a defaced birth certificate threatened to sue. Home Office contractor Sopra Steria has vowed 'appropriate action' and a 'full investigation' after Home Secretary James Cleverly ordered an 'urgent review'. The French IT consultancy firm has already been criticised for letting down hundreds of thousands of applicants during a lengthy partnership with the Home Office. It is now facing fresh questions after a Jewish father told how his five-month-old daughter's birth certificate was returned from the Passport Office ripped with the birthplace of Israel scratched out. Father-of-three Israel, from Edgware in north London, told MailOnline he is preparing to sue - and says he and his wife Dorin said they felt like a 'target' after opening the envelope only to find baby Ronnie's identification papers had been defaced. Israel, who lives in Edgware in north London, pictured here with his wife and three children, says he wants to sue those responsible for defacing his baby's birth certificate Five-month-old baby Ronnie's birth certificate was returned to the family defaced, with her father's birthplace of Israel scratched out Paris-based Home Office contractor Sopra Steria told MailOnline it was 'shocked and saddened' by reports of the defaced birth certificate and has vowed a 'full investigation' Last night it was revealed some members of staff at an unnamed private company working for the Home Office had been suspended while investigations continue. And a Sopra Steria spokesperson told MailOnline this morning: 'We are shocked and saddened by these reports and are working closely with the Home Office to ensure appropriate action is taken. 'We have commenced a full investigation into the handling of the documentation and are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness. 'In the interim, one of our service delivery partners has suspended members of staff whilst the investigation is ongoing.' His Majesty's Passport Office employs about 3,000 people across seven locations in Glasgow, Durham, Belfast, Liverpool, Peterborough, Newport and London. And Sopra Steria says it 'provides frontline and support services across all seven passport locations', adding: 'The team is responsible for receiving and processing applications from the public, involving digital scanning, verification and accuracy checks. 'Once successfully completed, applications are then passed to HMPO to complete the examination process.' The company was given a new five-year deal by the Home Office in June 2020 to build a new digital service to deal with passport applications, on top of an existing 10-year partnership between Sopra Steria and HM Passport Office. But a damning report by MPs last year condemned the poor handling of passport applications by the Home Office and its contractors. The Public Accounts Committee told how hundreds of thousands of applicants were 'let down' and caused 'misery' by outdated IT systems. Some 360,000 customers had to wait longer than the 10-week target for processing applications, between January and September 2022, the committee found. MPs criticised what they called 'unacceptable delays' which hampered many people's 'travel plans and their ability to prove their identity', while others missed out on job opportunities as a result. Their report said: 'We are concerned that in some cases it was clear that the performance of external contractors was deteriorating as early as March 2022. 'Sopra Steria, responsible for opening and scanning paper applications and supporting documentation, did not achieve its service levels targets for five months in 2022.' The father revealed he was emailed by the head of the Passport Office confirming they were 'aware of the situation' Father-of-three Israel warned how 'being Jewish in the UK is getting worse', with his family fearing for their safety HMPO received 8.5million applications in 2022, about 1million fewer than forecast - but there were still problems with how it dealt with the surge in post-Covid applications, with its digital system not as fully developed as anticipated. That meant some applications were moved on to the old system which unwittingly reset the clock on its 10-week turnaround target. The latest incident involving the defaced birth certificate led to a public outcry and promises of action by Mr Cleverly. The family were 'not told personally' that staff at the contractor had been suspended but were instead informed by the Campaign Against Antisemitism who have been advocating on their behalf. A CAA spokesperson today told MailOnline: 'The Home Secretary has rightly apologised on behalf of the department and we have relayed that apology to the victims. 'We commend the Home Secretary for acting quickly and forthrightly following this outrageous incident. 'We will be writing to Sopra Steria, which must conduct a full investigation. 'Their staff deal with some of the most sensitive information about British citizens, which demands the highest standards. 'Clearly, for someone to receive their child's birth certificate torn, with the parent's place of birth scribbled out, just because it is the Jewish state, falls well beneath those standards. It is gross misconduct, and the company must remove the individual responsible.' Engineer Israel, 32, earlier told MailOnline: 'I am worried because the Home Office said some staff had been suspended - not just one person - which for me raises concerns that these people working for the company were in a hostile environment.' The father revealed he had received a personal email from the head of the Passport Office who confirmed that they were 'aware of the situation' and carrying out an immediate investigation. Israel added that the Government body have also issued Ronnie with a new birth certificate. He said: 'We are very happy that the Government took swift action but I hope whoever this public servant is is banned. 'I would like to sue them personally for the damage they have carried out to my daughter's birth certificate, my property.' The family is in contact with a lawyer to discuss next steps and is considering whether to contact the police to report a possible hate crime. Home Secretary James Cleverly has ordered an 'urgent review' into the defaced birth certificate allegations, insisting that the Government would 'not tolerate antisemitism' The Home Secretary wrote on X, formerly Twitter, to say the Home Office would investigate He added: 'How are they accepting [staff] who do not meet the Government's standards or values?. 'The Government absolutely needs to make sure when they get people working in their system they should be vetted and everything should be checked to ensure they are not part of a hate gang or any sort of hateful organisation.' On Tuesday the engineer, who is also father to eight-year-old Adiel and five-year-old Ella, revealed his fears of his children growing up in London due to the rise in cases of antisemitism. 'The situation here is not good,' Israel told Sky News. 'To be Jewish in the UK is very hard. And it's not getting better, it's getting worse and worse. 'I think my daughter, in 20 years, that's her future, because London is not London anymore and I literally feel unsafe.' Ever since the war broke out in the Middle East following Hamas' October 7 attacks, Israel warned his older children to avoid revealing their Jewish identity in public. It comes as shocking figures last week revealed how Jewish people had suffered an 'explosion in hatred' in the wake of the Hamas terror attack. The number of antisemitic incidents leapt by 147 per cent last year to record levels, with a massive surge in the wake of the October 7 atrocities. The Community Security Trust, a charity, recorded 4,103 instances of antisemitism, 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. Tens of thousands gathered for a march denouncing antisemitism on November 26 last year A Campaign Against Antisemitism rally was held outside New Scotland Yard in central London And Israel said: 'We are hiding our identity as much as we can and we are telling our children to hide any signs of being Jewish because the environment around here is not friendly towards Jewish people. 'We are seen as targets and we have seen a sharp rise in the hostile environment.' Israel and Dorin, 29, were left in disbelief when they opened an envelope to find baby Ronnie's identification papers had been tampered with. Revealing the incident on Monday, Israel said: 'It was ripped half way through and my place of birth - which was Israel - had been scribbled out with a pen. 'We felt as if we had been taken back to 1930's Germany where the Nazis would put notes on Jewish people's documentation. 'It is completely warped and it hurts my heart that my daughter is not even six-months-old and she has already been discriminated on in the worst way.' 'The Home Office is in charge of our safety as a minority in the UK and they deal with our most private documents but instead of sending us back the certificate in the right way someone within their system has scribbled out Israel because they have hostile feelings,' Israel added. The birth certificate was returned to the family with a tear on the right hand side, while the birth place of Ronnie's father's was scratched out in what appears to be a biro pen. Her mother's birthplace of Israel, however, was left untouched. The birth certificate was sent off as part of a passport application two weeks ago and returned on Monday. Members of staff working for a private company for the Home Office have been suspended Actors Eddie Marsan, Tracey-Ann Oberman and Maureen Lipman took part in the march against antisemitism last November 26, with TV presenters Rachel Riley and Vanessa Feltz The Community Security Trust said it had recorded 4,103 instances of antisemitism, up from 1,662 in 2022. Pictured: Orthodox Jewish men pass police in Stamford Hill, north London Tess Gadot, a British-Israeli woman, has claimed her British passport was 'mysteriously lost' when she sent it to the Home Office - and believes it was lost 'maliciously' Meanwhile, a British-Israeli woman claims her UK passport was 'maliciously' lost in a fresh scandal over the alleged treatment of Jewish people by the Home Office. Tess Gadot, who lives in Tel Aviv, said she sent her passport by registered mail to the Home Office for renewal but it disappeared when it arrived. She said the passport was enclosed with other documents in one envelope, but it was the only thing to go missing. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We take all reports of missing personal documents extremely seriously. Where there is no record of receiving a document that a customer advises they have sent, we will conduct a thorough investigation to attempt to recover it.' Mr Cleverly said on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday night that he had called for an immediate investigation into Ronnie's defaced birth certificate. Responding to the image of the invalid birth certificate, which has since been shared widely on social media, he said: 'I have asked my officials to investigate this urgently and will see that appropriate action is taken.' The Home Office had no further updates as enquires were ongoing. MailOnline has contacted Sopra Steria for comment. The owner of an ice-cream shop in the Lake District has shocked customers with her cheeky new flavour, inspired by a now-notorious scene from Emerald Fennel's film: Saltburn. Owner Amy McPherson, 27, said the ice-cream is for fans of the film and heartthrob Jacob Elordi, who became a viral sensation after his star turn in the racy black comedy. The popular ice-cream flavour, entitled 'Jacob Elordi's Bathwater', is a Lakeland cream and tastes very similar to a Double Jersey or clotted cream. It is ultra thick and creamy. Saltburn's explicit bathtub scene has become one of the film's biggest talking points, leaving some viewers 'traumatised'. In the outrageous sequence, Oliver Quick, portrayed by Barry Keoghan, who is infatuated by his fellow pupil Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), secretly drinks his bath water as it drains from the tub. Amy told MailOnline: 'I saw that scene and I was like that's gross, I love it. I'm here for it. So I thought, can we try and make an ice-cream flavour? Probably, and well here we are.' Amy McPherson, 27, (pictured) decided to make the ultra creamy ice-cream flavour after watching the film In the outrageous sequence, Oliver Quick, portrayed by Barry Keoghan, who is infatuated by his fellow pupil Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), secretly drinks his bath water as it drains from the tub. The ice-cream entitled 'Jacob Elordi's Bathwater' has become very popular with teenagers Commenting on the film, Amy said: 'I'm a big fan of Emerald Fennel the director and I was very excited for Saltburn to come out. So when I saw it, I was like 'Oh Jacob Elordi's in it, it's not a bad watch, is it?'. 'I think its wacky and crazy and Barry Keoghan is a fantastic actor, so I'll watch anything he's in. I'm always interested in any movies that are a discussion of class in the UK.' Amy said the flavour has been getting a lot of attention from the younger generation who have found it hilarious and have been snapping photographs with their ice-cream to share on social media. But for those who haven't watched the film, particularly parents of teenagers, it can be difficult for her to explain the reference. 'I say 'have you seen Saltburn?' and they say 'no' and I just say, 'well just go watch the movie'. The Little Ice-Cream shop has been a top tourist destination since 2016, located in both Hawkshead and Windermere, in the heart of the Lake District. Amy opened the store when she was 18-years-old as a way to finance her dream of becoming an actress and is heading to Hollywood this month to further her career. Amy described the ice-cream as a Lakeland cream, similar to a Double Jersey and is available to buy now The Saltburn craze has seen hundreds of people rushing to the British countryside to to take in the real 'Saltburn Mansion' Drayton House featured in the film. Its success has also helped propel Murder On The Dancefloor, first issued in 2001, back up the singles charts. In the BAFTA-nominated thriller, Felix, a rich student, invites fellow classmate Oliver to stay at his estate for the summer. But a series of horrifying events soon engulf Felix's eccentric family. Barry Keoghan (pictured) as Oliver Quick in the 2023 black comedy Saltburn, available to stream on Amazon Prime The 'Saltburn Mansion' in the 2023 film is Drayton House in the village of Lowick, Northamptonshire Following the bath scene, a number of retailers have started selling candles with a 'Jacob Elordi bath water' fragrance. The cruelty-free cosmetics retailer Lush went a step further by introducing its Saltbomb a blend of coconut milk powder and mineral-rich coarse sea salt, while sharing a fragrance with the brand's moisturising bubble bar, Milky Bath. The celebrated company has gone to great lengths in promoting this product, even having their models pose in a manner reminiscent of Oliver. According to the Lush website, customers should 'pop this little pinch of paradise into your bath to create those silky, milky waters'. 'Lap it up, Saltbomb's salty, milky bath water is fit for a stately splurge,' reads the website description. Lushs limited edition Saltbomb (5) is available online and via the Lush app, while stocks last. An Iraq War veteran waged a one-man war of words against his ex-wife from his doorstep when he discovered she had moved into a pub directly opposite his digs. Ex-infantryman Michael Bona, 39, screamed degrading insults at his former spouse Lucy Boka from his front door whenever he spotted her arriving or leaving her new home. During his vindictive four-month verbal campaign Bona, who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, called Ms Boka as an 'alcoholic', a 'crack head' and a 'lesbian' in front of customers at the Antelope pub in Congleton, Cheshire. The father of five also rang the pub on multiple occasions from his terraced property directly opposite to hurl abuse about Ms Boka down the phone to her colleagues. The ex-soldier also called his ex-wife up to 100 times a day and would loiter outside the bar staring in through the window. He told Ms Boka, who has a new partner: 'I am going to make sure you lose everything and destroy you.' Ex-infantryman Michael Bona, 39, screamed degrading insults at his ex-wife Lucy Boka from his front door whenever he spotted her arriving or leaving her new home Ms Boka, who is in her 30s, works at the pub opposite her ex-husband's terraced house while running her own business The father of five rang the pub on multiple occasions to hurl abuse about Ms Boka down the phone to her colleagues Ms Boka, who is in her 30s and works at the pub while running her own business had to use the fire escape whenever she wanted to leave the pub simply to avoid her embittered ex-husband outside the front entrance. In a statement she said: 'I have lost close friends because of the verbal abuse given them. Family were abused by texts and phone calls, which stopped them visiting and he has tried to completely isolate me from everybody. 'I was close to a complete breakdown at one point I was ready to end everything. I do not want to be in contact with him again as I know he can and will lower me to that place again. 'He intimidated me, staring into the pub and turned my own children against me. 'He pulled his car up alongside when walking with the children telling them it is my fault he is not seeing them. 'He keeps telling me I am a bad mother, and puts it on social media.' Ms Boka said that Bona had told her that her business was going to fail and consistently phoned her, 'up to 100 times a day along with text messages'. She added: 'I could not walk out of the front door without him abusing me from his doorstep. Bona has suffered from PTSD following his military service in Iraq and Northern Ireland The military veteran launched a campaign of intimidation against Lucy Boka, pulling his car up alongside her when walking with the children telling them it was her fault he was not seeing them Bona told customers that Ms Boka was an alcoholic and a cocaine addict which led her to lose friends stop answering her business phone The father of five is now planning to move out of his home opposite The Antelope pub and move in with his mother to his childhood home in Prestatyn, North Wales 'He told customers that I am an alcoholic and a cokehead, to try and ruin my business and eventually I stopped answering the business phone. It sent me into depression. At the worst point I could not see a way out.' Bona, who suffered from PTSD following his military service in Iraq and Northern Ireland, was said to be upset at the breakdown of his marriage and was struggling with drug and alcohol use. He is now planning to move in with his mother to his childhood home in Prestatyn, North Wales. At Warrington Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment between September and December 2023 and was banned from contacting her for two years under the rems of a restraining order. Clare Oliver, prosecuting, said: 'Lucy Boka says Mr Bona lives directly opposite her place of work, the Antelope Pub in Congleton and he continuously called and messaged her. He rang the pub on multiple occasions knowing it was her place of work. 'During initial allegations, he stood outside of his address, and on a number of occasions shouted verbal abuse towards her. 'Because he lives opposite her place of work he is able to stand outside of her work place shouting abuse, calling her an alcoholic, crack head, c**t, a druggy and a lesbian. He was making allegations in an attempt to get her sacked from her employment there.' 'The offending was extremely persistent over a fairly prolonged period. There were over 100 calls and Ms Boka was very fearful and distressed in relation to these matters.' For Bona, defence solicitor Michael Gray said: 'He has had a very difficult time in the last 20 years. He was in the army, in the infantry, he was injured in battle himself. He has been directly engaging with the enemy in his role as an infantryman and has seen colleagues killed in front of him. 'Latterly that has resulted in PTSD for which he was treated and sometime after leaving the army he fell into a period where he was drinking to excess. 'Latterly, he suffered with a pulmonary embolism and if that wasn't bad enough, he has been treated for cancer. 'But the big change in his life really came last year when things were getting very difficult for him and he has lost over six stone in weight. He went to the gym and started to sort himself out physically. He is now trying mentally to move forwards. 'What belies this offending is his children and everything that he has done has been to try and look after his children. 'He tells me that his 10 year-old-daughter lives with him permanently and is the sole carer and he is in the process of dealing with care in relation to other children. 'It is his intention in the next few weeks to move to Prestatyn to be near his mother, to move away from the area completely. He knows the relationship has come to an end and he understands the complainant has a new partner. 'He was upset at the way the marriage was breaking down and there was an awful combination of drinks and drugs as it was coming to an end and gambling became a big problem. He has managed to stay off the drink and drugs and the gambling has now gone away too. 'He says that he has to do as much as he can now to demonstrate that he can be a good father to his children. At the moment he lives across the road from the public house where his ex-wife is, so it is very difficult at the moment.' In sentencing District Judge Jane Hamilton also ordered Bona to complete a two-year community order with requirements that he undertakes the Building Better Relationships programme, and up to 25 rehabilitation activity days. She also fined him 100, ordered that he pay 234 in costs and victim surcharge. he is now banned from entering the Antelope Pub. 'I do find that this is a serious offence which caused very serious distress to your wife to the extent that she felt that she perhaps could not go on,'. Judge Hamilton said: 'I do not know what was going through her mind at that time, but listening to her victim personal statement it sounds like she was considering suicide. It was persistent harassment over a fairly long period of time.' He added that Russia was still aiming to take Kyiv, where it would 'probably' stop A close Vladimir Putin aide and former president today warned the West that Russia is capable of starting nuclear war by accident. Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Putin's security council, told 'impotent' Western leaders they are miscalculating the risk of nuclear war both as a deliberate decision by Putin - and a terrifying accident. 'This very clock, which is ticking in a certain direction, has now accelerated very much,' Medvedev warned, gesturing towards the 'clear threat to all of humanity'. 'And in this I also see the inability, excuse me, the impotence of these Western authorities.' '[They] keep saying the same thing: "No, it's the Russians who are scaring us, they will never do it". They're wrong.' It comes just days after the ex-president threatened Russia could nuke the UK, US, Ukraine and its backers if Russia is forced to concede occupied territories. 'Attempts to restore Russia's 1991 borders will lead only to one thing - a global war with Western countries with the use of our entire strategic (nuclear) arsenal against Kyiv, Berlin, London, and Washington. 'And against all other beautiful historic places that have long been included in the flight targets of our nuclear triad,' he said on Sunday, referring to Russia's range of nuclear weapons. Medvedev reaffirmed threats Russia would be willing to resort to nuclear warfare if needed 'They're wrong,' Medvedev said in today's address, rebuffing allegations of empty threats The former president has repeated threats warning Russia could use nukes if cornered One of Russia's most aggressive pro-war commentators, critics say Medvedev's threats are empty. But recent rhetoric has stressed how ready Russia could be to use nuclear weapons if cornered and facing the loss of occupied territories. 'Sad as it may sound, this [nuclear war] scenario is real,' said the outspoken Putin lackey in his most recent address. 'We must do everything we can to prevent it from happening.' 'If it comes to the existence of our country, and I said this recently, what choice is left for the [Russian] leadership, for the head of state?' he went on. He added, unequivocally: 'So this is, unfortunately, a real threat, a direct and clear threat to all of humanity. 'And secondly, there are also accidents, from which no one is immune. And the accidental, unintentional start of a nuclear conflict cannot be discounted. 'So all these games around Ukraine are extremely dangerous.' Over the weekend, the former president - who served from 2008 to 2012 - suggested London and other Western capitals could be destroyed if Russia loses the war. He asked rhetorically: '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.' He suggested at the time Kyiv and the West should allow Putin to have the bits of Ukraine he thinks of as Russia. In his address today, Medvedev claimed the Kremlin still aims to seize Ukrainian capital Kyiv, but it may be in a later stage of the conflict. 'Where to stop? I don't know. I think that given what I said, we will still have to work hard and seriously. 'Will it be Kyiv? Yes, probably it should be Kyiv. 'If not now, then in some time, maybe in some other phase of the development of this conflict. 'For two reasons: Kyiv is a Russian city, and there is a threat to the existence of the Russian Federation from there. He added that invaded Ukrainians who oppose Putin's iron rule will be sent to Siberia for 'reeducation' in a return of the sinister Stalinist GULAG camps. 'Residents of new regions who 'harm Russia' need to be punished' he said, outlining a Stalinist method to break their opposition. 'They need to be sent to Siberia for re-education in forced labour camps.' A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk on October 26, 2022 The former president was unequivocal in warning the West of the real threat Russia poses Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Kremlin's powerful security council. Undated He spoke less than a week of leading Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny was allegedly 'murdered' in an Arctic penal colony in Siberia after apparently collapsing from a walk on February 16. The Kremlin has denied the allegations. The Kremlin slammed Joe Biden's use of 'shameful language' after the US president called Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'crazy SOB' during an event to raise awareness of climate change in San Francisco. 'This is a huge shame for the country itself... for the US. If a president uses that kind of language, it's shameful,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He remarked that Biden's statement was a poor attempt to appear like a 'Hollywood cowboy.' A brief report on the Russian-state news agency TASS' website quoted Peskov as saying: 'Biden's words about Putin cannot hurt the Russian president, but they are a disgrace to the United States itself.' Biden's full remark to a small group of reporters was: 'We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin but the existential threat to humanity is climate.' Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a staunch Putin ally, said that the true 'existential threat' in the world was 'useless old geezers, like Biden himself.' He went on to accuse the president of being 'ready to start a a war with Russia.' President Joe Biden was speaking at a climate change event when he appeared to go off script to denounce Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin has been implicated worldwide in the death of his political rival Alexei Navalny 'This is a huge shame for the country itself... for the US. If a president uses that kind of language, it's shameful,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, shown here, said Peskov said: 'The use of such language against the head of another state by the president of the United States is unlikely to infringe on our president, President Putin. 'But it debases those who use such vocabulary.' Mr Peskov said the remark was 'probably some kind of attempt to look like a Hollywood cowboy. But honestly I don't think it's possible.' 'Has Mr Putin ever used one crude word to address you? This has never happened. Therefore, I think that such vocabulary debases America itself,' Mr Peskov said. He later added in comments to a state television reporter: 'This is a disgrace for the country itself, I mean the United States.' The remarks comes less than week after Biden and many other western leaders condemned Putin and accused of murdering political rival Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony. 'We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did,' Biden said at the White House after Russian prison officials announced that Navalny had died. The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny's death and said Western claims that Putin was responsible are unacceptable. Biden and Putin remain deeply at odds over Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, over which Russia has been sanctioned by the United States and other Western nations. Biden's reactions have put a further chill into already bitter U.S.-Russian relations. On Tuesday, Biden said the U.S. will announce a major package of sanctions against Russia over Navalny's death and the Ukraine war. Biden's expected Republican opponent in November, former President Donald Trump, has expressed admiration for Putin both during his 2017-2021 White House tenure and afterward. However, he also recently compared himself to Navalny, implying that they both had faced politically motivated prosecutions. 'I don't know where the hell this comes from,' Biden said on Wednesday reacting to Trump comparing himself to Navalny. Biden has previously cursed 'son of a bitch' at others. In January 2022, he was caught on the hot mic using the same term of abuse against a Fox News White House reporter. The Scranton-native has a tendency to go off script during election fundraisers and in recent months has dug into the Chinese government, the Republican Party and U.S. ally Israel for its bombing of the Gaza Strip. A teenage influencer is demanding justice in Brazil after saying she was drugged, raped and beaten by a group of fellow influencers. Geovana Pontes claims the group invited her to a party, where they attacked her. The 19-year-old shared photographs with her nearly 250,000 followers on January 29, showing injuries which she alleges were caused by the attack. Shockingly, she accused other social media influencers of raping her and beating her - as well as a friend who had also been invited to the party hosted on a farm. She captioned the graphic photographs showing her bloodied face and her apparently lying on the floor with the word 'Justica!!!' ('Justice'). Another photo showed her outside a police station. Influencer Geovana Pontes, 19, shared photographs online on January 29 showing injuries which she alleges were caused by the attack, and accused other social media influencers of raping her and beating her - as well as a friend who had also been invited She captioned the graphic photographs showing her bloodied face and her apparently lying on the floor with the word 'Justica!!!' ('Justice') Pontes, who has nearly 250,000 Instagram followers, is demanding justice after saying she was drugged, raped and beaten by a group of fellow influencers Pontes's post has gone viral over the last month with nearly 200,000 likes. She has now spoken to local media outlet Record TV about her online claims, saying it took place at a party on a farm in Igarata, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. She said she was drugged and forced to have sex with at least three young men. Pontes also claims she was invited to the party and went with a friend, who was also attacked by the group of men. She claims the men locked a door, preventing her and her friend from leaving. 'There was no food, there was no signal, there was nothing. There was no way I could even get out. No one entered and no one left the house,' she told Record. Pontes claimed '(one of the influencers) grabbed me by the neck and punched me in the mouth. It was at that moment that I fell with everything backwards, and two others were saying: "Yeah, it really hits. That's it. That's what you deserve". 'I had sex without my consent. I was vulnerable. I didnt know what was happening.' According to Brazilian newspaper O Globo, police are investigating a complaint from the teenager of rape, aggression and false imprisonment. Sao Paulo Civil Police told the newspaper the case 'is under investigation by the Igarata Police Station', it reported. In a statement reported by O Globo, police said: 'Police requests were issued, and due to a new report of sexual abuse, another examination was requested from the Legal Medical Institute (LML). 'Those involved are being identified by the team to be qualified and summoned. Likewise, the victims will be heard to contribute to clarifying the facts. 'The investigations continue under secrecy.' Influencer Geovana Pontes pictured in happier times, before the horrific alleged attack Widely reported in Brazilian media, Pontes alleged she was attacked by other influencers On Tuesday - more than three weeks after the alleged attack - Pontes took to social media to address the pace of the investigation. Speaking to her followers, she appealed for patience. 'There are people who think I'm the one doing justice,' she said. 'I'm doing my part, but justice doesn't happen overnight, unfortunately. 'What do you want me to do? Hit the judge, the police, to solve my case? It's not like that, everything is a process,' she added. Controversial pro-Palestine chant 'from the river to the sea' was projected onto London's iconic Big Ben last night. The slogan scrolled across the Elizabeth Tower in big bold letters as pro-Palestine campaigners gathered outside the Houses of Parliament while MPs were embroiled in a chaotic Gaza ceasefire debate in the Commons. Questions are being asked as to why the slogan was allowed to appear on the side of the tower, which some say insinuates the total removal of Israel. Some on social media said Big Ben had been 'vandalised' and accused the Met Police of 'doing nothing'. People need permission from both the Commons Speaker and Westminster City Council planners to legally project onto the side of the Houses of Parliament. Controversial pro-Palestine chant 'from the river to the sea' was projected onto London 's iconic Big Ben last night (Pictured: the word 'free' on the side of Big Ben which also forms part of the slogan) The slogan (which in full also says 'Palestine will be free') scrolled across the Elizabeth Tower in big bold letters as pro-Palestine campaigners gathered outside the Houses of Parliament The 'Stop the Genocide' rally took place from 5pm and was met with a heavy police presence. Officers and police vehicles can be seen as the slogan lights up on the side of Big Ben, with 'Gaza' and 'stop bombs' being shone on the side of the building. In 2016, the Commons administration warned Big Ben and other parliamentary buildings must not be 'besmirched' by commercial images being projected onto them. Then Tory chairman of the Commons administration committe Sir Paul Beresford told the Evening Standard: 'Everybody knows Big Ben and we don't want it besmirched with graffiti, even if it's light-placed graffiti. 'Please respect the building, its importance and the fact that it's internationally loved.' Last night, protesters waved placards calling an end to combat actions between Hamas fighters and the IDF, ahead of a feared ground action in Rafah where some 1.5million displaced Palestinians are sheltering from the ongoing war. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, which organised the march as part of the Free Palestine Coalition, claimed 'thousands' had gathered in the square. MailOnline has contacted the Met Police, Westminster Council, the Commons Speaker's office, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign for comment. The action came after twelve people were arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in central London on Saturday for offences including inciting racial hatred, supporting a proscribed organisation and assaulting emergency workers. 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. 'Gaza' was projected onto the Elizabeth Tower at night as the protest outside Parliament continued as MPs debated calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East Protesters chanted 'Israel is a terrorist state' as the demo continued in Parliament Square Protesters capture images of the ongoing rally in Parliament Square as the debate inside the House of Commons continues Other projections were also shone onto the Elizabeth Tower - including a depiction of explosives and the slogan 'stop bombs' Protesters waved banners calling for MPs to back an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza Members of the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community hold placards as they protest in Parliament Square, condemning what they called 'unending Israeli brutality' Pro-Palestine demonstrators outside Parliament as MPs debate an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza Thousands of activists descended on Parliament Square for the 'Stop the Genocide' rally from 4pm - which is being met with a heavy police presence Among the speakers was former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, who both called for 'justice' for the Palestinian people. It came amid high tension in the Commons over the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire. In a controversial development, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle announced he had selected amendments tabled by Labour and the Government to the nationalists' motion. The move, which came in for criticism from the Conservatives and the SNP, means Labour MPs will be able to vote for Sir Keir's stance, which includes the caveats that Hamas must hand back hostages and lay down weapons. There had been suggestions that, with the Conservative Government also submitting an amendment stating its own position of wanting an 'immediate humanitarian pause', that the Speaker would not choose Labour's amendment for debate. Such an outcome could have pushed those Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire towards backing the SNP motion, in a repeat of a damaging rebellion that was witnessed in the autumn on the Middle East issue. In the chamber, there was uproar at Sir Lindsay's decision to choose the Labour amendment for debate. Are you older than Winifred and had your first tattoo? Are you older than Winifred and had your first tattoo? Email: gina.kalsi@mailonline.co.uk A 98-year-old grandmother has got her first ever tattoo in tribute to her grandson who took his own life. Winifred Pinner, from Birmingham, wanted to raise money for the mental health charity Mind, after her 34-year-old grandson Jamie died by suicide in September last year. The father-of-one had been suffering from depression for more than a decade and would often speak to his family about his mental health condition. Winifred, also known as Nanny Win, told the BBC: 'New Year's Day I was sitting here thinking about him and it was as if he was laughing at me and joking. 'I said "Yes, I'm going to have a tattoo with your name" and I could see him laughing at me. Are you older than Winifred and had your first tattoo? Email: gina.kalsi@mailonline.co.uk Winifred Pinner, from Birmingham , wanted to raise money for the mental health charity Mind, after her 34-year-old grandson Jamie died by suicide in September last year The tattoo features a black heart with Jamie's initial inside it along with a smaller, red love heart "Silly old nanny" he would say and that's how it all started - and lovely people out there have already donated and I'm so thankful for them.' Her granddaughter, Gemma, who has been a tattoo artist for more than 10 years, worked on the design and inked Winifred on February 18. The tattoo features a black heart with Jamie's initial inside it along with a smaller, red love heart. Speaking about getting her first tattoo, the grandmother said the sensation was 'surprising,' adding: 'It's a lot better than I thought it would be. 'It's a comfort to know that Gemma is doing it. I'd feel a bit strange with somebody else.' Her granddaughter, Gemma, who has been a tattoo artist for more than 10 years, worked on the design and inked Winifred on February 18 Speaking of mental health, she added: 'Don't be ashamed to ask for help, [It's] out there, be brave and talk to somebody.' Gemma said: 'It being my own nan makes it even more nerve-wracking. 'However I've been tattooing 10 years and I'm confident I'll be able to produce something she will be happy with. 'It's special that it's for my brother and it's a tribute for him and it feels extra special that it's in the family and she doesn't have to go elsewhere in order to get the tattoo.' The Mind fundraiser has raised more than 1,500 and Winifred thanked everyone who donated. For confidential support, call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Speaker Lindsay Hoyle suffered more devastating blows today after he 'bent Commons rules' to save Keir Starmer from a Gaza revolt. Ministers are openly discussing whether Sir Lindsay can hang on with more than 50 MPs calling for him to go following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight. During brutal exchanges in the Commons, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for 'damaging' Sir Lindsay - suggesting he had been unable to resist pressure from Sir Keir to select an amendment to an SNP motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire'. Meanwhile, Downing Street repeatedly declined to voice confidence in Sir Lindsay. The amendment decision - taken in defiance of advice from the Commons Clerks - meant the Scots nationalists did not get a chance to vote on their own Opposition Day debate. It sparked a walkout from both the SNP and Tories. But Sir Lindsay initially tried to leave one of his deputies to field anger in the House, before MPs finally dragged him in to face the music. In a grovelling and near-tearful apology, Sir Lindsay acknowledged he regretted the choice, arguing that he was motivated by anxiety about the safety of MPs from pro-Palestinian protesters. He flatly denied that he had been influenced by partisan concerns, despite claims Sir Keir personally lobbied him and he was told he would have 'blood on his hands' if the amendment was not selected. Sir Keir has 'categorically' denied threatening Sir Lindsay. Sir Lindsay briefly took the chair in the Commons this morning, but did not refer to the crisis. He is set to meet senior figures from the parties today as he fights to cling on. But many MPs are already convinced his situation is 'terminal', with jockeying for his job already under way. In a grim sign for Sir Linday, supporters of the no-confidence motion include the chair of the powerful Tory 1922 committee Graham Brady. Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions'. Ms Caulfield told Sky News she would 'struggle to support him', adding ominously: 'We'll see what happens in the next 24, 48 hours.' Lindsay Hoyle took the Speaker's chair in the House this morning as it emerged 49 MPs have now signed a parliamentary motion voicing no-confidence following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight Sir Keir personally lobbied Sir Lindsay to choose Labour's amendment. He visited the day before the plead his case, the Telegraph reports The House of Commons descended into chaos last night as SNP and Tory MPs walked out of the chamber in a furious row over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire During brutal exchanges in the Commons, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for 'damaging' Sir Lindsay - suggesting he had been unable to resist pressure from Keir Starmer Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions' A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown What happened in the Commons yesterday? It was a day when arcane procedural wrangling clashed with a decades-old global crisis. The SNP had laid a trap for Labour on its Opposition Day, when it has control of debate topics. The nationalists put down a motion demanding an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza. In a desperate bid to stop his pro-Palestinian MPs rebelling to support the motion, Sir Keir then laid an amendment with similarly wording - but crucially linking a ceasefire to Hamas releasing Israeli hostages. But the government looked to have thwarted that by laying their own amendment merely urging a 'humanitarian pause'. By parliamentary convention, a government amendment would normally be the only amendment taken on an Opposition Day motion. That avoids a situation where opposition parties amend each other's motions. It also ensures that the party whose Opposition Day it is gets a 'clean' vote on their own motion, as - in contrast to other debates - that vote happens before the vote on the amendment. However, Sir Lindsay overruled the opinion of the Commons chief clerk to overturn that convention. He selected both the Labour and government amendments for debate and vote. That sparked fury from the SNP, who pointed out that they would be deprived of a clean vote on their motion. As anger reached a crescendo at the end of the debate - with Sir Lindsay nowhere to be seen as one of his deputies struggled to contain the backlash - Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt announced that the government would boycott the proceedings. At that point many Tories and the SNP walked out. There was a highly unusual vote on whether the House should sit in private - something that has not happened since 2001 - to discuss the Speaker, although it was rejected. Eventually Sir Lindsay reappeared in the chair to face his critics, looking close to tears as he apologised for the chaos his decision had wreaked. He argued that refusing to select both amendments could have put MPs in danger from pro-Palestinian activists - something opponents derided as bowing to mob rule. Some Tories blamed Labour threats for the Speaker's decision - particularly surprising as he was elected to make a break from similar 'rule-bending' by John Bercow. Once he departed, Deputy Speaker Rosie Winterton was left to pass the Labour amendment 'on the nod' without a vote, although Tories said she should have held one. Advertisement Reports of a visit from Sir Keir raised questions about the degree to which the Labour leader leaned on the Speaker as the decision on votes was being considered. But Sir Keir said today that he 'simply urged' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to have 'the broadest possible debate' by putting a number of options in front of MPs during the Gaza ceasefire debate. Speaking at a train depot in Sussex he said: 'I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever. 'I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate. 'So that actually the most important thing , which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them.' At Business Questions in the Commons, Ms Mordaunt swiped that Sir Keir was 'happy to do what he knows to be wrong'. 'We have seen into the heart of Labour's leadership,' she said. 'Nothing is more important than the interests of the Labour Party. The Labour Party before principle, the Labour Party before individual rights, the Labour Party before the reputation and honour of the decent man that sits in Speaker's chair. The Labour Party before fairness, integrity and democracy.' Ms Mordaunt's tone was gentler than last night, when she attacked Sir Lindsay for 'hijacking' the debate and 'undermining the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Downing Street repeatedly refused to say whether the PM has confidence in the Speaker. 'The Prime Minister's focus is on addressing the situation in the Middle East,' the premier's spokesman said. 'And as I say, that is what he's spending his time focused on. Matters for the House, as I say, are matters for the House.' The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour's amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP's original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an 'immediate humanitarian pause'. QUENTIN LETTS: Starmer's gambit backfired like a vintage Lagonda, leaving a broken Sir Lindsay on the verge of tears Advertisement He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move, which provoked uproar in the chamber. After calls for him to return to the chamber to explain his move, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures. Amid shouts of 'resign', he said: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up.' But Tobias Ellwood, whose family home was recently targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, rejected the argument that Sir Lindsay needed to select the amendment to protect MPs from backlash. The former minister told TalkTV: 'I don't agree with that. I don't understand I listened carefully to when he said that and slightly raised my eyebrows. My family have been affected by this... 'I've been very clear, despite that, I have people outside my house which was absolutely bizarre, but I think this idea is somehow the Speaker was trying to then offer options for MPs to then choose is wrong. 'We'd have done better for all three parties which I then said in the debate yesterday to go away, work out a sensible line, a motion that the whole house could agree. 'So, the world can see that we are united in wanting to, to move this forward to buy. It really was a circus yesterday.' The evening's mayhem - in scenes reminiscent of the collapse of Liz Truss and Brexit battles at Westminster - raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker in a plot some are dubbing 'Just Stop Hoyle'. An early day motion tabled by senior Tory William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker has already attracted support from 33 Conservative and SNP MPs. Some 53 MPs have now signed a Commons motion voicing no confidence in Sir Lindsay In a protest prompted by the actions of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, huge numbers of MPs deserted the Commons following angry exchanges The bid to oust the Speaker has been branded 'Just Stop Hoyle', a play on the anti-fossil fuel campaign group One veteran Tory MP told MailOnline the situation was 'absolutely disastrous'. 'I think he may well be in terminal difficulty,' they said of Sir Lindsay's position. 'He was warned by his clerks, who wrote to confirm the advice. He ignored the advice. It was the biggest cock-up I have ever seen since I have been an MP.' The MP added: 'The rumour is that he was threatened by the Labour Party. If he buckled to that sort of threat, he doesn't deserve to be Speaker.' Other MPs are already talking up their credentials to take over from, with one candidate joking they could maintain order in the chamber because they are a martial arts expert. Sir Lindsay previously ran into trouble in January when it emerged he was intending to fly the Palestinian flag at Parliament. The Commons circulated a diary note that the symbolic move would happen for a meeting with the Palestinian 'ambassador' - even though there is no such thing as the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state. But the idea was dropped after a backlash from MPs that Sir Lindsay was wading into politics. He also caused some chatter by accidentally referring to Sir Keir as 'Prime Minister' during a PMQs session recently. When he became Speaker in 2019 Sir Lindsay stressed that he would draw a line under the approach used by John Bercow - who was accused of bending rules to help opponents of Brexit. Sir Lindsay said at the time: 'I've come into this job as a referee, and that's where I want to be. It shouldn't be about me, it's about the Chamber.' Sir Lindsay said he took the decision to allow all sides to 'express their views' and that he was 'very, very concerned about the security' of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict. But SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speaker's position was 'not now intolerable' and claimed his party had been treated with 'complete and utter contempt'. He also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour's chief whip had exerted pressure on Sir Lindsay, a former Labour MP, ahead of his decision to pick the party's amendment for debate. Labour's amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation. Had the Speaker not chosen it, Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire could have been pushed to back the SNP motion, in a repeat of a major rebellion against the Labour leadership in November. However, Labour frontbencher John Healey told BBC Newsnight it was 'totally untrue that he (the Speaker) was put under pressure'. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (pictured), both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square Sir Lindsay was later absent from shambolic scenes in the Commons - prompting suggestions he had gone 'into hiding' - as MPs on all sides engaged in a parliamentary slanging match. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout. The three key votes that plunged the Commons into chaos SNP - 'immediate ceasefire' The nationalists called for an unconditional 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Unlike Labour's amendment, the motion also called for an end to the 'collective punishment of the Palestinian people'. It was not voted on as the Labour amendment successfully passed. Labour - 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' Labour's amendment used softer language around Israel's military action in Gaza, stating they 'cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence'. It also removed references to 'collective punishment' from the SNP's original motion. Government - 'immediate humanitarian pauses' The Government amendment, laid down late on Tuesday night, reflects the latest position outlined by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. It calls for an immediate 'pause' in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza and release Israeli hostages. This would set up the conditions for a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire' which ensures 'security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians' in a two-state solution. The amendment was not voted on after the Government withdrew it in protest to the speaker tabling Labour's amendment. Advertisement MPs then voted on whether the Commons should sit in private for the first time since 2001 as they put pressure on Sir Lindsay to return to the chamber. The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square yesterday. A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he later returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown. He told MPs: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up. 'I do take responsibility for my actions, and that's why I want to meet with the key players who have been involved.' The Speaker attempted to explain that he intended to allow the House 'the widest range of propositions on which to express a view'. But he angrily denied accusations he had met with Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray in a bid to stitch up the debate in Labour's favour. One insider said Labour had warned him their MPs would be at increased risk of attack by pro-Palestine campaigners if they could not vote for their own ceasefire motion. 'He was told he would have blood on his hands if he didn't allow this vote,' the source said. In his statement on Wednesday, the Speaker acknowledged he was 'very, very concerned about the security of all MPs'. But former Tory cabinet minister Kit Malthouse said he would have 'crossed a Rubicon' if he had allowed threats and intimidation from outside to influence the proceedings of the Commons. Sir Keir wanted to prevent his MPs from backing the SNP motion demanding an unqualified 'immediate ceasefire' by tabling his own amendment. The Labour amendment caveated that Hamas terrorists must hand back hostages and lay down weapons first. Sir Lindsay's ploy to allow all three main parties - the Tories, Labour and SNP - to put forward their own position was undone when the Government boycotted proceedings. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Ms Mordaunt also suggested the Speaker's decision may have put MPs at greater risk, warning that he had 'raised temperatures...on an issue where feelings are already running high'. She accused the Speaker of having taken action 'against the longstanding and established processes and procedures of this House', adding: 'For that reason the Government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on today's proceedings.' That move prompted last night's chaos in the Commons after the SNP were informed the Government's action meant they were unlikely to get a vote on their original motion. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had looked to avoid another major Commons revolt by his MPs over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war This evening's mayhem - in scenes not seen since the Brexit battles at Westminster - has raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker Mr Flynn demanded to know why Sir Lindsay was not in his chair, and asked how he could be brought to the House to explain why the SNP's views are 'irrelevant to him'. After his request for the Commons to be suspended were denied by Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton - who was filling in for the absent Sir Lindsay - SNP MPs and Tory MPs then staged their walkout. MPs later voted 212 to 20, majority 192, to reject a proposal for Commons to sit in private. Labour's amendment pushing for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza - with caveats - was then approved by the Commons without a vote. Dame Rosie was also forced to deny suggestions that Sir Lindsay was influenced by threats from senior Labour figures to accept the party's amendment. Tory MP Philip Davies referred to claims that the Speaker had been 'left in no doubt that Labour would bring him down after the general election unless he called Labour's Gaza amendment'. But Dame Rosie replied: 'That tweet is wrong and the statement is incorrect.' Labour's defence spokesman John Healey insisted the party had put 'no pressure on the Speaker', and said he had been right to allow the widest possible debate on Gaza. But even some Labour MPs questioned his judgment. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky News: 'I wish he hadn't taken this decision. Confidence in him has been significantly undermined and I speak as a friend of his.' Labour has been riven by divisions over Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. While Sir Keir has argued for Israel's right to self-defence, dozens of his MPs have been calling for Israel to end the war. Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant said Sir Lindsay's decision had created a 'constitutional crisis'. But fellow grandee Sir Charles Walker predicted that Sir Lindsay would survive, adding: 'This furore will blow over. 'When the House of Commons comes to its senses it will realise very quickly that the removal of the Speaker will only lead to metaphorical champagne corks popping in Tehran.' The SNP, which ended up being unable to vote on its own motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, reacted with fury. The party's Pete Wishart said the ruling was 'ridiculous', adding: '(Sir Lindsay) has totally lost it and this will come back to haunt him.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night. Halima Begum, chief executive of the ActionAid UK charity, said: 'We are extremely disappointed to see the utter paralysis in Parliament this evening. 'Democracy is a precious commodity and should be treated as such. 'A great disservice has been done to the British people, who expected their political parties and elected representatives to conduct a meaningful debate concerning an issue on which depends the lives of over a hundred Israeli hostages, and hundreds of thousands of Gazans suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises we have seen in recent times.' Oxfam's Katy Chakrabortty said: 'It is a disgrace that there has been so much playground politics in Parliament this evening, while so many lives are at stake. 'The people of Gaza can't wait for our politicians to stop squabbling. Much of the country lies in ruins and Rafah, where many Palestinian families have been forced to flee, is under threat of a full-scale military offensive.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, branded the Commons chaos as 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst' Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, told LBC radio the Commons chaos was 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst.' 'Politicians are trying to save themselves, rather than saving an entire nation from genocide,' he continued. Last night's drama came after a previous vote on a call for a Gaza ceasefire tabled by the SNP last November resulted in 10 Labour frontbenchers resigning in order to support the demand. Sir Keir's efforts to avoid a repeat of that revolt this evening were thrown into doubt earlier when the Government put down its own change to the latest SNP motion. Convention suggested Sir Lindsay would only choose the Government amendment to put to a vote this afternoon. That would have raised the prospect of Sir Keir seeing many Labour MPs join the SNP in the division lobbies even if he ordered them to abstain - as many have been vocal in urging an immediate ceasefire. However, Sir Lindsay sparked uproar in the chamber when he confirmed he was selecting both the Labour amendment and the Government one - over the advice of his own clerks. The SNP cried foul saying that it deprived them of a 'clean' vote on their own Opposition Day motion. And one senior Conservative was heard shouting, 'Bring back Bercow!' - a reference to Tory complaints that former Speaker John Bercow bent procedures to help opponents of Brexit. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. But Sir Lindsay said there was a precedent, adding that he thought the operation of standing orders in the House was outdated. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. 'This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation, and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options,' Sir Lindsay said. Although well-known for their binocular vision, spatial hearing ability and sharp talons, owls have a tendency to stay out of sight. The nocturnal and solitary bird of prey likes to stay in the shadows and rely on stealth and surprise for its hunting strategy. They are rarely seen during the day. But an eagle-eyed photographer did manage to spot a few camouflaged on a derelict building at Elmley Nature Reserve in Kent. Can YOU spot the owl hiding in this image? Scroll down for the answer CAN YOU SEE IT? The owl's feather coat can make it hard to spot in nature The nocturnal and solitary bird of prey likes to stay in the shadows and rely on stealth and surprise for its hunting strategy Owls are excellent at camouflage by using the coloration of their plumage to sit still and blend into the environment, making them nearly invisible to prey Owls are excellent at camouflage by using the colouration of their plumage to sit still and blend into the environment, making them nearly invisible to prey. They tend to mimic the colouration and sometimes the texture patterns of their surroundings. For instance the snowy owl, most famous for appearing as Harry Potter's messenger owl Hedwig, is nearly bleach-white in colour with a few flecks of black, mimicking their snowy surroundings perfectly. Usually, the only tell-tale sign of a perched owl is its vocalizations or its vividly coloured eyes. You might need 20:20 vision to spot the owl hiding in these photos. Perhaps the most difficult image due to the distance, the own is seen perched on the right hand side of the wall You have have mistaken the feathered creature as an old brick A close up shot of the stealthy hunter The owl moved once people became aware of where it was standing The incredible snaps were photographed by Paul Meek, 47, from London. He said: 'This was the first time I had seen it as it was my first visit to Elmley. 'My research told me this was one of their locations, and I was happy to be the first to spot it. 'I spent around 20 minutes taking various types of photographs, to begin with, it was on the outer edge of the wall and was much more visible, it quickly became aware of people and scurried over to the other side and was far harder to spot.' 'A real Spot the Owl challenge.' Ready for another animal-spotting challenge? Experts warn only people with the sharpest eyes will spot these snow leopards in under eight seconds. David Cameron last night vowed Russia 'must be made to pay' as he confronted Moscow's foreign minister over the invasion of Ukraine and death of Alexei Navalny. The Foreign Secretary used a G20 meeting in Rio to challenge Sergey Lavrov over the Kremlin's ongoing war and 'murder' of an opposition leader. The stormy meeting also saw the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Norway call out Russia. Mr Lavrov, known as Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack dog, is said to have hit back at Western 'fabrication' over the death of Mr Navalny. He was also mocked for setting out an 'alternative set of facts' about events in Ukraine. Lord Cameron's address to G20 foreign ministers came shortly after Britain slapped sanctions on the chiefs of the Arctic penal colony where Mr Navalny was killed. David Cameron vowed Russia 'must be made to pay' as he confronted Moscow's foreign minister over the invasion of Ukraine and death of Alexei Navalny The Foreign Secretary used a G20 meeting in Rio to challenge Sergey Lavrov over the Kremlin's ongoing war and 'murder' of an opposition leader Mr Navalny, 47, is said to have fallen unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the penal colony where he was serving a three-decade sentence Lord Cameron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are pictured speaking at the G20 foreign ministers meeting 'Russia must be made to pay for its aggression,' the Foreign Secretary told the summit. 'There is no more serious an issue for the world, and it's the world that's gathered here, than one country invading another in this completely illegal and unacceptable way. 'And the whole world should get behind Ukraine, should support Ukraine, and should call out the illegality of what Putin and his cronies have done.' According to the BBC, Lord Cameron was joined by foreign ministers from France, Canada and Germany in naming Mr Navalny and blaming Russia for his 'murder' in front of Mr Lavrov. The Kremlin politician was reported to have looked away and at his phone, before using his own speech to deny allegations of murder and calling them a 'fabrication'. Norway's foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said Mr Lavrov replied to Lord Cameron's remarks with 'a set of alternative facts' about events in Ukraine. Mr Navalny, 47, is said to have fallen unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the penal colony where he was serving a three-decade sentence. Those in charge of his detention in the brutal prison camp were yesterday hit with asset freezes and travel bans by Britain. The death of the vociferous Kremlin opponent occurred at the remote IK-3 prison - known as 'Polar Wolf' - in the Arctic Circle. The Foreign Office pointed to the barbaric treatment of Mr Navalny, who spent his life to exposing corruption by Mr Putin's regime, while being held as a political prisoner. He was kept in solitary confinement for up to two weeks at a time, denied medical treatment, and forced to walk in -32C weather while detained at the penal colony. The Foreign Office named six sanctioned individuals as Colonel Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, the head of the 'Polar Wolf' penal colony, as well as five deputy heads Sergey Korzhov, Vasily Vydrin, Vladimir Pilipchik, Aleksandr Golyakov, and Aleksandr Obraztsov. The six men are now banned from Britain and subject to an asset freeze preventing UK companies and individuals from dealing with them. Senior Conservative MP Alicia Kearns warned the action being taken by Britain in response to Mr Navalny's killing was not yet tough enough. 'We need to go further than this. A lot further,' said the chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee. A young woman's horror has been revealed after she spent three days trapped in pitch darkness behind a basement wall after falling down a narrow gap between houses. The unnamed 22-year-old fell between the walls of two buildings in the Russian resort city of Sochi, but the floor from which she dropped was not clear, local media reported. She was screaming for help in the dark and damp space described by authorities as a 'dungeon' before being rescued. One of the rescuers can be seen peering over the wall into the darkness before locating the woman. The team then takes to it with a pneumatic drill and a sledgehammer before the dust-covered and shoeless woman emerges and uses the last of her energy to clamber free feet-first. The team took to the wall with a pneumatic drill and a sledgehammer after locating the unnamed 22-year-old who fell between a narrow gap in the Russian resort city of Sochi The dust-covered and shoeless woman later emerged and used the last of her energy to clamber free The woman making her way out of the enclosed space feet-first with the help of the rescue workers She told her rescuers that she had called for help for three days before someone finally heard her and she was rescued. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement: 'A 22-year-old girl spent three days in a dungeon. It all happened in a four-storey building in Sochi. 'A local resident heard a woman's cries for help behind the wall and went down to the basement of the house. As it turned out, the victim fell from the attic and ended up between two walls in the house. 'To get to her, employees of the Southern Regional Search and Rescue Team of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry had to dismantle part of the brickwork. Rescuers handed the girl over to doctors.' A prison officer who goaded inmates by waving a Union Jack and telling them 'it's my flag, it's my country' has been ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work. Stuart Richardson, 33, held the flag aloft on a pole days after he also tied it around his neck at HMP Low Moss in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. One colleague described how the flag had left raging prisoners being 'very angry' amid fears Richardson could have caused a fight. Richardson pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to acting in a threatening and abusive manner between June 29 and July 1, 2022. His lawyer stated that he had been 'absolutely stupid' and has lost his job of three years as a result. Stuart Richardson, 33, held a Union Jack aloft on a pole days after he also tied it around his neck Richardson told prisoners 'it's my flag, it's my country' while having the Union Jack (stock photo) tied around his neck Richardson's colleague was concerned he could have started a fight at HMP Low Moss prison (pictured) near Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire The claims that he had made sectarian remarks and that the offence was aggravated by religious prejudice were deleted by prosecutors. Richardson, of Bearsden, had originally gone on trial before his guilty plea was accepted. Former prison worker Vincent Stewart gave evidence at the trial in December. He first recalled a day that he could hear inmates 'having a laugh' at the jail's waste management area. Mr Stewart said: 'I saw Stuart coming through the door with the Union Jack tied around his neck carrying on with the other boys.' Fiscal Leo McGinn asked if anything was said at the time. Mr Stewart replied: 'There was a bit of carry on with the other boys. 'Someone said "Get the flag out, the prisoners are coming down" and Stuart replied "it's my flag, it's my country".' Richardson pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court (pictured) to acting in a threatening and abusive manner between June 29 and July 1, 2022 HMP Low Moss was opened in March 2012 with a capacity of 784 CCTV was also shown to the court where Richardson was seen flying the flag from a pole. The hearing was told that Richardson was again seen with the Union Jack days later. Mr Stewart said: 'I was sitting in the office - you can see the prisoner's day area. 'I saw a commotion going on and I could see Stuart coming through the back door with a Union Jack on a pole. 'He made his way through to the day area and the prisoners were all reacting to it. 'Stuart left through the back door and a few prisoners came into the office.' Mr McGinn: 'Could you see him doing anything with the flag?' Mr Stewart: 'He was waving it above his shoulders.' Mr McGinn: 'Could you hear any reaction from the prisoners?| The witness: 'Yes, very angry, they were shouting - some tried to jump off tables in the day area to get to the door. 'I thought s***, something serious has happened - I was looking to see if there had been a fight in the day area.' After the plea was accepted, Judith Hutchison, defending, told the court: 'He always accepted his behaviour that day. 'He was a prison officer and had been for about three years - he accepts the position in respect of the flag.' Sheriff Andrew Cubie stated that Richardson will do 80 hours of unpaid work at Tuesday's sentencing. HMP Low Moss was opened in March 2012 with a capacity of 784. It manages male prisoners on remand, short term prisoners (serving less than 4 years), long term prisoners (serving 4 years or more), life sentence prisoners and extended sentence prisoners (Order of Life Long Restriction). The facilities include a link centre where offenders are able to deal with matters relating to employment, housing, social work and addiction services. Emergency services seen at The Woods, Rochdale, throughout the night An elderly man and woman have been found dead inside their home in Rochdale after a worried neighbour contacted police. Greater Manchester Police officers forced their way into the 330,000 property at The Woods, near Castleton Moor, having responded to the call of concern for the couple's welfare on Wednesday night. Once inside, the force were shocked to find a 74-year-old man and 75-year-old woman lying dead in the house. The pair's loved ones have since been informed. A huge emergency response was seen on the quiet cul-de-sac, including fire crews, paramedics and officials from gas distribution company Cadent. The cause of the couple's death has not yet been confirmed and investigations remain ongoing at the scene, with forensics in white suits pictured entering the detached house throughout the night. Greater Manchester Police officers found two people dead in a property at The Woods, near Castleton Moor (pictured) A huge emergency response was seen on the quiet Rochdale cul-de-sac Forensics in white suits were pictured entering the detached house throughout the night Following the double tragedy, one stunned resident said: 'We don't really know the family but they're an elderly couple. A really nice couple. It's just two of them. I just moved here a year ago and it's really weird to see that on your doorstep.' Another described the scene as they returned home from work, adding: 'All I know is that I came home and saw lots of police. I know that a couple live there and I know that they're elderly. I don't know what happened but it looks pretty serious.' A Home Office post mortem will now take place and Greater Manchester Police files will now be passed to the coroner. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: 'On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at around 2pm, officers were called to a concern for welfare of an elderly man and woman at a property on The Woods, Rochdale. 'Emergency services attended the scene and sadly, a 74-year-old man and 75-year-old woman were pronounced deceased at the scene. Their loved ones have since been informed. 'A scene remains in place at the property while officers conduct further enquiries.' The grandmother who was mauled to death by her wannabe rapper son-in-law's two XL Bullies died of 'unsurvivable' dog bite wounds to her right arm, an inquest heard. Police discovered Esther Martin, 68, unresponsive inside her daughter and son-in-law's chalet in Jaywick, Essex on February 3. Ms Martin lived in Woodford Green in east London but was staying at the property on Hillman Avenue whilst she was visiting her 11-year-old grandson for the weekend. The two XL Bullies, named Beauty and Bear, belonged to her son-in-law Ashley Warren, 39, and had six puppies that were also inside the chalet. Ms Martin was reportedly attempting to calm the puppies with a broom when Beauty and Bear attacked her. Esther Martin, 68, lived in Woodford Green in east London but was staying at the property in Jaywick, Essex whilst she was visiting her 11-year-old grandson for the weekend Her wannabe rapper son-in-law Ashley Warren, 39, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences and has been bailed until March 5 Her grandson was inside the chalet at the time of the incident and ran out screaming for help. Police were called at 4pm and arrived within minutes, finding an unresponsive Ms Martin along with the 'two large dogs'. Coroner's officer Andy Flack said: 'She was unresponsive' and 'Her injuries were unsurvivable'. He said Ms Martin was pronounced dead at 4.47pm, with her medical cause of death recorded as 'dog bite wounds to the upper right limb'. The two dogs were shot dead at the scene and were later confirmed by Essex Police to be XL bullies. The two dogs were shot dead at the scene and were later confirmed by Essex Police to be XL bullies Warren's relatives have claimed that the dogs, who appeared in his music videos, were beloved pets and that the unexpected arrival of puppies 'changed their behaviour' Mr Warren was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences and has been bailed until March 5. Lincoln Brookes, senior coroner for Essex, suspended the inquest proceedings pending the outcome of the police investigation. He said: 'May I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Ms Martin on what on any view is an extremely tragic death of a loved one.' Ms Martin's daughter Sonia, 47, has since claimed that the two beasts were kept 'penned in a small chalet' along with six puppies and that her mother had previously raised concerns about them. She said that her son gave her mother instructions on how to calm the puppies if they started fighting. Sonia Martin, 47, (pictured) said that her mother had previously raised concerns about the dogs A music video created in memory of Ms Martin's late daughter - and Warren's partner - shows the grandmother alongside Warren and her other family members Warren's mother, Michelle Stotter, said that Beauty and Bear saw Ms Martin using a broom to try and calm their puppies as her attacking them and 'went' for her She said: 'His directions to my mum was - as we understand it - was that if the puppies were fighting she should put a broom in there and distract the puppies - run it over the floor and shake it to get their attention so they would stop fighting. Warren's relatives have claimed that the dogs, who appeared in his music videos, were beloved pets and that the unexpected arrival of puppies 'changed their behaviour'. Warren's mother, Michelle Stotter, told The Sun that Beauty and Bear saw Ms Martin using a broom to try and calm their puppies as her attacking them and 'went' for her. She added her son had been attempting to rehome the dogs. MailOnline found that Warren had posted an advert on social media in November offering the puppies for 500 each. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available If your children have ever complained about walking to school, show them this video and they'll quickly realise the journey could be much worse. This is the shocking moment children in Fiji are forced to swim across a raging river in order to get to their classes. In the video shared to Facebook, groups of the youngsters dressed in their school uniforms, have no choice but to plunge themsleves into the fast-flowing water to get to the other side. The clip was filmed on the main Fijian island of Vita Levi, up the Sigatoka Valley at the Wainiagwai stream, which runs down to meet the Wainimala river. It comes after the bridge, usually located further down the stream, was washed away by floods. This is the shocking moment children in Fiji are forced to swim across a raging river in order to get to their classes A flood warning is currently in place for the low-lying and flood prone areas adjacent and downstream of Wainibuka, Wainimala, Waidina, and Rewa rivers. Two days ago, it was reported by Fiji National Disaster Management Office that the water level at Wainbuka River was 3.77m above the warning level and steadily increasing. The jaw dropping video was posted yesterday by Fijian political commentator Kai Viti and comments have flooded in about the welfare of the children. One user wrote: 'I mean it makes us brave, but not every kid can swim in such strong currents'. A second added: 'It is very very sad. Our children have to take so much risk. Authorities responsible open up your eyes. Poor kids'. Meanwhile, a third explained: 'The kids are filmed upper stream where it's safer for them to swim across. 'On a no rain day we can wade across this river or stream to go to the village. 'Even a Toyota Prius can be driven across this stream on a normal sunny day, where the bridge was once located'. The clip was filmed at the Wainiagwai stream, which runs down to meet the Wainimala river in central Fiji The jaw dropping video was posted yesterday by Fijian political commentator Kai Viti and comments have flooded in about the welfare of the children A flood warning is currently in place for the low-lying and flood prone areas adjacent and downstream of Wainibuka, Wainimala, Waidina, and Rewa rivers Fiji-born Robert Kennedy remarked: '50 years of successive governments and kids still have to take their lives into their own hands just to get educated' However, when it rains, which is common in Fiji, scenarios like this one are not unique. Robert Kennedy, 53, a Fiji-born fashion designer who shared the video onto his own Facebook page, added: 'I live in Sigatoka on Fiji's Coral Coast and Im committed to jolting government into action around this. 'It's unbelievable in this day and age that kids in the relatively remote parts, just up the Sigatoka Valley, of Fiji still have to cross rivers like this to get to and from school. '50 years of successive governments and kids still have to take their lives into their own hands just to get educated'. His step-sister, Julie, has a charity in Fiji called Fiji Kids Learning for Life - the pair say they are appalled about this situation taking place in the Sigatoka Valley for the last 14 years. Theyve been doing charity work to support kids and their education. This is not the only area in Fiji that's facing this issue - news website Fiji Village reported of a similar instance in Mataso, Ra, where families of Camocamo and Navunavu settlements are calling on the government to provide urgent assistance. Children who attend the Bayly Memorial School and Mataso Primary School have been filmed using a piece of bamboo to pull themsleves across a river. People are asking the government to either raise the bridge or provide daily boats for the use of the children. The outlet sent questions to the Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau, the Minister for Rural Development and Disaster Management Sakeasi Ditoka and the Minister for Education Viliame Gavoka, who are yet to respond. King Charles is keen to mend fences with his younger son but there can be no return to royal duties for Prince Harry unless he quits money-making enterprises and issues an apology. Thats the view of Richard Eden - who says that elder brother Prince William is unbending on the issue. Writing in the latest edition of his Palace Confidential newsletter, Eden concludes that recent events provide a foretaste of life for Harry when William is on the throne. The younger brother, he says, is likely to be isolated. Prince William is unlikely to compromise on the question of a return to royal duties for younger brother Harry Meghan and Prince Harry attend the Invictus Games One Year To Go winter training camp at Whistler last year Prince Harry with Will Reeve, son of Superman actor Christopher, and a correspondent on Good Morning America Father and son as they arrive at St George's Chapel ahead of the Committal Service for the Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 What I hear is that, while the King is keen to mend fences with his younger son, Prince William is adamant that the Royal Household should stick with the Sandringham summit agreement with Queen Elizabeth of 2020, writes Eden. As the late Queen put it, in that agreement Harry and Meghan 'made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives'. Eden believes recent suggestions saying the Duke of Sussex was willing to return to a temporary royal role in support of his father were well-sourced. In an attempt to help to heal the rift in the Royal Family, King Charles and Prince Harry were said by The Times to have had several 'warm exchanges' since Charles received his cancer diagnosis. The duke was understood to have told friends that he would step into a royal role while his father was unwell. Yet the response from sources in Britain, rather than California, was swift and brutal, writes Eden. The King, my colleague Rebecca English was told, was firmly of the opinion that there was no way back for Harry as a working royal "in any way, shape or form". Meghan and Harry made surprise appearance in Jamaica as the King prepared for treatment on an enlarged prostate Duke of Sussex in Whistler to publicise next year's Invictus Games Now, Harry wants to return to royal duties, in some form, I am told. But this week hes been given a taste of what to expect when his brother is King isolation. There is no way that the Sussexes will ever be allowed to rejoin The Firm when Williams on the throne, unless they give up money-making and apologise for their behaviour over the past few years. I wont hold my breath. For more of Richard's expert royal commentary, click here . The first modern British home using straw and mud has been built as part of a project to construct more energy-efficient homes. The UK's first domestic CobBauge building was built by local builders Grocott and Murfit in January after a four-year project by Hudson Architects. The walls in the CobBauge home, in Fakenham, Norfolk, are constructed from hemp straw, water and earth - or mud - known as Cob altogether. The new technique allows the walls to be thermally insulated to modern standards. Architect Anthony Hudson used an old construction method consisting of the basic materials to build a bungalow that complies with modern building regulations. The property has large, south-facing triple-glazed windows for solar gain in winter and an air source heat pump will provide heating. The UK's first domestic CobBauge building was built by local builders Grocott and Murfit in January after a four-year project by Hudson Architects The property has large, south-facing triple-glazed windows for solar gain in winter and an air source heat pump will provide heating. Pictured: The front of the completed house in Norfolk The walls in the CobBauge home, in Fakenham, Norfolk, are constructed from hemp straw, water and earth - or mud - known as Cob altogether. Pictured: Anthony Hudson far left Mud is one of the most sustainable construction materials with some Cob buildings dating back more than 500 years but were replaced in the 1800s for modern methods The UK's first domestic CobBauge building was built by local builders Grocott and Murfit in January after a four-year project by Hudson Architects It is part of an EU-funded project to bring mud construction into the 21st century with a focus on low-carbon building as the first regulations-complaint cob building. After the EU announced it was looking for architects to come up with new ways of using earth in houses, Mr Hudson, 68, leapt at the opportunity. He said: 'The challenge was to create a home using earth as the primary building material, but which could also be thermally insulated. 'Earth is a very sustainable way to build, especially because it's so widely available here in the UK. 'The problem is that to make it an effective insulator you usually have to make the walls incredibly thick, which is impractical.' Although there is still a way to go before mud houses can be put on the mainstream market, Mr Hudson is positive that the homes will become the new normal. He said: 'Although the materials are cheap and easy to source, the building method is very time-consuming. 'At the moment it all has to be done by hand, so labour costs run high. 'However, our next step is to figure out how we can refabricate buildings to cut that down. 'Once we've worked that out, my guess is this will be a very attractive method.' Mr Hudson and his team decided to combine pure cob to create structural integrity and thermally insulated earth. Its green roof will support biodiversity and make up for the loss of green space on the site. A three-bedroom Cob home can be built for as little as 20,000 but the cost of Hudson Architect's project is currently unknown. A three-bedroom Cob home can be built for as little as 20,000 but the cost of Hudson Architect's project is currently unknown An artist impression of what the cob house would look like Mud is one of the most sustainable construction materials with some Cob buildings dating back more than 500 years but were replaced in the 1800s for modern methods. An open day for the mud house in Fakenham, Norfolk will be held in March. In 2011, Devon builder Kevin McCabe set out to create a 10,000sq ft home out of cob but the project was delayed due to problems such as bad weather. When completed, the cob house cost nothing to heat but Mr McCabe admitted he had blown his original 350,000 budget and did not know how much his total was. Have YOU been caught out on Frant Road? Have YOU been caught out on Frant Road? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk A staggering 12 cars were left stranded on one night after hitting the same pothole on a single stretch of road dubbed 'pot-hell' by furious locals, MailOnline can exclusively reveal. Multiple cars saw their tyres burst after striking the crater on Frant Road, near Crowborough, East Sussex on Valentine's Day. It was the fourth time in two years that cars have been left stranded on this stretch of road after hitting severe potholes. In November 2022, 15 vehicles broke down on Bunny Lane after striking a crater. The next month, three more vehicles were forced to park up on the same 1.2 mile thoroughfare when they suffered damage at the hands of a depression in the tarmac. And last January, eight cars were left stranded after buckling their wheels on a hole on the same lane. Have YOU been caught out on Frant Road? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Locals have described the stretch - used as a thoroughfare between Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells, Kent - as 'pot-hell'. Cleaner Jane Grace, 47, was one of the motorists whose tyre was damaged after hitting the hole on Frant Road last week. The mother-of-two raged: 'When I got out of the car I looked down the road and there were four other cars stopped with their hazards on. 'I tried to flag down other drivers to warn them but it was too dark for them to see me, so more people just kept hitting the same hole. Luckily my husband was three or four cars behind me, so he stopped and helped me to put the spare wheel on. By the time we left there were about 10 people pulled up with their hazards on and two police cars. 'I think it's got to be one of the worst stretches in the country for potholes. It's 'pot-hell'!' A total of 12 cars were left stranded after they all hit the same pothole Pictured: A pothole on Bunny Lane that did all the damage to 12 cars in one night The drivers were left with punctured tyres after their cars struck the pothole Spare wheels had to be put on many of the cars so the drivers could get home This map shows Frant Road, where 12 cars were stranded after striking a single pothole Have YOU been caught out on Frant Road? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Police directed traffic while East Sussex Highways attended to carry out interim repairs on the cavity between the junctions of Bunny Lane and Tangier Lane. No collisions or injuries were reported. Jane hit out at East Sussex County Council for carrying out 'sub-standard' repairs in the area. She said: 'The holes keep appearing again and again because the repairs are sub-standard. 'They just do surface repairs but as soon as it rains the water gets underneath them and it cracks up again. 'So unless they resurface the entire road it's just going to continue being a nightmare. 'The roads around here are shocking. I drive into Kent a lot and you can always tell when you're back in Sussex because the roads are so much worse.' Jutta Wrobel, 62, was faced with a 150 repair bill after damaging the tyre on her Fiat 500 when she hit the same hole on February 14. The furniture artist, who lives in Wadhurst, East Sussex, watched nine cars strike the three-and-a-half foot long crater within half an hour. She said: 'During rush hour, at approximately 5.45pm, I hit a huge pothole - three-and-a-half feet long and at least one foot wide and 20cm deep in parts - and sustained a blow out on my front passenger side tyre. The bottle of water gives a perspective on the depth of the pothole which caused major damage in 2023 The incident is the fourth time in two years that multiple cars have been left stranded on this stretch of road after hitting severe potholes. Pictured: The road in 2023 'I limped along slowly to get my car off the road, as that stretch opposite the Bunny Lane turning is extremely dangerous, without poor weather conditions and potholes to make it even more hazardous! 'In a surreal nightmare, one car after another crashed down the hole and pulled over to the side of the road with their hazard lights on. 'By the time I had got up level with the pothole, having spoken to the people now stranded at the side of the road, there were nine of us. Nine cars down the hole in the space of maybe 20 to 30 minutes. All damaged and unable to continue.' The 62-year-old said several motorists tried to call East Sussex Highway's emergency hotline but were unable to get through. She added: 'Someone called the police at around 6pm. Several of us tried to call the East Sussex Highways 24\7 Emergency hotline for reporting dangerous hazards in the road, to be met with a recorded message along the lines of 'calls to this number are not being answered at the moment.' 'In the absence of any police and no response from East Sussex Highways, we could only watch in dismay as more people plunged into the pothole. 'The police finally arrived at 8.30pm or thereabouts - two-and-a-half hours after being called - and cordoned off the pothole, preventing further carnage.' Andrew Wilson, Liberal Democrat District Councillor for the Crowborough South East ward on Wealden District Council, described the roads in the area as being worse than those in the Ivory Coast. He said: 'Personally, I think the roads in Crowborough look like they have been subjected to a sustained artillery strike. 'In the course of my job I have been lucky enough to travel to countries all over the world and I can honestly say the roads in the Ivory Coast are better than the roads around East Sussex. 'The situation is really, really bad. 'There is a new pothole somewhere else along Bunny Lane every single year. I don't understand how one relatively small, non-core route can be so chronically abysmal. 'If you've got a hole that's crippling 12 cars, then that is clearly an issue and should be a wakeup call for East Sussex County Council to do major work to stop it happening again. 'It's a good example of a wider problem.' Bunny Lane and Frant Road are around half-a-mile from Tunbridge Wells, where Cllr Wilson claims the road surfaces are 'materially better'. He said: 'I am very frustrated with the state of the infrastructure in East Sussex. The cars stranded on the side of the road as drivers try to put on spare wheels Another pothole on the same stretch of road from 2023 It is the fourth time in two years that multiple cars have been left stranded on this stretch of road. Pictured: a a cavity from 2023 'If you drive over the Kent border, the roads get materially better. In theory, if Bunny Lane was just a few hundred metres up the road, it would probably not be in the state it's in. 'The roads are so bad that the amount of money to fix them properly would probably be in the hundreds of millions of pounds. 'But short of a lot of money being injected into repairs, I don't see how the problem will get any better. 'And with the amount of building and developments in and around Wealden, the road usage will just keep going up and making the situation worse. 'It has been very, very frustrating on a district level because there is a limited amount we can do about it. We try to apply as much pressure as we can on the county council, but we are unfortunately beholden to the budget restrictions within East Sussex and how they use that money.' Councillor Sarah Glynn-Ives, Green Party District Councillor for the Frant and Wadhurst ward, is concerned potholes will cause a serious accident in the area. She said: 'It's terrifying to think one car after another hit that one hole and broke down. It's so dangerous. They are lucky they didn't all crash into each other. The fact so many people were affected is shocking. 'There is a real risk to everybody using the roads, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists. And the police and NHS are having to deal with the fall-out. 'I think Bunny Lane must be the only road where this has happened, on this scale, so many times. It beggars belief. 'But we've been putting up with it for years now. We know the state of the roads, and that the work is inadequate, but still nothing seems to be improving. 'My hands are tied I can ask County over and over, but the wheels move very slowly. It always comes down to funding.' East Sussex Highways said interim repairs have been carried out on the pothole on Frant Road, and a permanent repair is scheduled to be completed within 28 days. A spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of a pothole on Frant Road, between the junctions of Tangier Lane and Bunny Lane, on Wednesday (February 14) evening. 'Interim repairs were carried out that evening, and a permanent repair is scheduled to be completed within 28 days.' MailOnline has contacted East Sussex Council and Sussex Police for further information. Have YOU been caught out on Frant Road? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Britons could be allowed to buy a home with just a 1 per cent deposit under plans reportedly being drawn up by Jeremy Hunt ahead of next month's Budget. The Chancellor is said to be considering a 99 per cent mortgage scheme as the Tories try and woo younger voters ahead of the general election. It has emerged how the Government would act as a loan backer under the proposals, with ministers keen to support people struggling to get on the housing ladder. Under a 99 per cent mortgage scheme, buyers would only have to put up a 2,850 deposit to buy a house at the UK average price of 285,000. This compares to a deposit of 14,250 with a 95 per cent mortgage, or 28,500 with a 90 per cent mortgage. But industry figures warned of a greater risk of homeowners falling into negative equity, which is where the value of a property falls below the outstanding debt secured on it. They also said plans for 99 per cent mortgages would do little to address the affordability of mortgages themselves, high house prices, or a lack of housebuilding. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is said to be considering a 99 per cent mortgage scheme as the Tories try and woo younger voters ahead of the general election It has emerged how the Government would act as a loan backer under the proposals, with ministers keen to support people struggling to get on the housing ladder Government figures told the Financial Times that no final decision had been made over the 99 per cent mortgage plan but said the Treasury-backed scheme was likely to be in the Chancellor's Budget on March 6. Neal Hudson, housing market analyst at Residential Analysts, told the newspaper: 'There would be a greater risk of negative equity obviously with this. 'You'd also be paying a premium mortgage rate, and it doesn't necessarily address the problem of high prices.' Lucian Cook, head of residential research at estate agency Savills, warned any scheme that boosted buyer numbers would need to be matched with measures to increase the supply of housing. 'You might be addressing the deposit affordability issue, but you're still left with the mortgage affordability issue,' he said. Emma Humphreys, a partner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, said: 'These proposals would help first time buyers afford a deposit, but they don't fix the issue of affording a home. 'This growing matter of mortgage affordability would only be exacerbated by 99% per cent mortgages, as more people on the market increases demand and competitiveness. 'This fundamental issue comes back to supply and demand. The Government simply needs to build more affordable housing, rather than announce temporary measures which are sticker plasters covering the real issue.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a 95 per cent mortgage scheme when he was Chancellor in 2021. The new mortgage guarantee scheme enabled homebuyers to secure a mortgage up to 600,000 with a 5 per cent deposit. At his Autumn Statement in November, Mr Hunt extended the scheme until June 2025. Ministers said the scheme had already supported more than 37,000 households buy their homes, with the overwhelming number of them first-time buyers. Mr Sunak last week admitted the Tories had 'much more to do' to help younger people get on the housing ladder. He wrote in The Times: 'A home gives us a stake in the success of our economy and our country. 'So I understand people's anger when that dream feels too far away for too many, especially the younger generation.' The PM pledged to drive through plans to build hundreds of thousands of new homes in Britain's biggest cities. Three people have been hospitalised after contracting the dangerous legionnaires' disease in Sydney, prompting a warning from health officials. Anyone who has visited areas near Victoria Park in Camperdown in the past 10 days have been warned to be on high alert for symptoms of the deadly disease, which is a form of pneumonia. Anyone who visited areas close to the park, including parts of the University of Sydney Camperdown campus, are urged to monitor for symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, fevers and a headache. Two men, aged on their 60s, and a woman, aged in her 70s, were diagnosed with disease after visiting locations surrounding Victoria Park. Anyone who has visited Victoria Park in Camperdown in the past 10 days is urged to be vigilant for symptoms NSW Health said the three individuals were admitted to hospital and had since been released. Sydney Local Health District deputy clinical director of public health Isabel Hess said people could be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated waters from a cooling system were released into the air and breathed in. 'Legionnaires' disease is not spread from person to person. Symptoms of legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days from the time of exposure to contaminated water particles in the air and include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia,' Dr Hess said. Three people in Sydney were recently hospitalised with legionnaires' disease 'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and often require antibiotic treatment in hospital. 'Those most at risk are people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions and people who smoke.' NSW Health said they had directed that cooling towers throughout the area be disinfected and cleaned as a precaution. The department confirmed one tower at the Camperdown campus of the University of Sydney had returned a positive result for low levels of legionella bacteria and had since been decontaminated. Russia threatened to shoot down French flights patrolling international airspace over the Black Sea just weeks ago in a potentially catastrophic escalation of the Ukraine war, France has revealed. French air force pilots regularly patrol on the eastern flank of NATO, part of efforts by the 31-nation military alliance to boost its defences since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago. The country's defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu, did not give specific details about the French flights or aircraft involved in the incident. He said Russia was returning to a 'particularly aggressive' posture reminiscent of the former Soviet Union's behaviour during the Cold War. Lecornu told RTL radio: 'A month ago, to give you a very concrete example, a Russian air traffic control system threatened to shoot down French aircraft in the Black Sea when we were in a free international zone where we patrol. French air force pilots regularly patrol on the eastern flank of NATO, part of efforts by the 31-nation military alliance to boost its defences since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago France's defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu, said Russia was returning to a 'particularly aggressive' posture reminiscent of the former Soviet Union's behaviour during the Cold War 'The behaviour of Russia in 2024 bears no relation to what we saw in 2022 and, obviously, before the aggression in Ukraine. 'It is explained by the fact that Russia is in difficulty on the battlefield in Ukraine.' A French military spokesman, Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere, said Lecornu was referring to an incident in mid-November that involved one of France's four giant Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, surveillance aircraft. Gaudilliere described the incident as unprecedented for a French flight in that region. 'It was a French AWACS,' flying over international waters in the Black Sea, Gaudilliere said. 'Through a radio it exchange, it was threatened by the Russians.' 'It was a particularly aggressive radio exchange,' he added. 'It's a first.' French flights include long-range patrols by its AWACS surveillance aircraft. Flying high above the Black Sea coast, they use their powerful radar and other surveillance gear to peer across to the Crimean Peninsula that was seized from Ukraine by Russia, and annexed in 2014. The surveillance flights can spot missile launches, airborne bombing runs and other military activity in the Ukraine conflict. Russian pilots have at times made clear that they do not like being watched. In 2022, a Russian fighter jet released a missile near a British air force RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft that was flying in international airspace over the Black Sea, the UK Government said. The US Government released video in March last year of a Russian fighter jet dumping fuel on a US Air Force surveillance drone. The drone crashed into the Black Sea. Had to share the horrific news to her two daughters The grieving fiance of a real estate agent stabbed to death days out from Christmas has opened up about the harrowing moment he found out that she had died. Julie Seed, 38, was working at Real Estate Agents Group, in Plympton, Adelaide, on December 20, when Shaun Michael Dunk, 30, is alleged to have burst through the door and knifed her and colleague Susan Scardigno, 50. Dunk was arrested at the scene and charged with Ms Seed's murder, as well as the attempted murder of her colleague who was severely injured but survived. He had been released from psychiatric care only two days earlier. Ms Seed's fiance Chris Smith was the one forced to to break the devastating news to her two daughters, aged 12 and 17, and her family overseas that their beloved 'Jules' had died. The mourning fiance of Julie Seed (left), Shaun Dunk (right), has revealed the heartbreak of having to break the news of her alleged murder to her two daughters, 12 and 17 READ MORE: Julie Seed's shattered fiance Chris Smith reveals new details about how she was allegedly stabbed to death Advertisement Mr Smith was at home when he received a call from one of Ms Seed's distraught colleagues who told him to rush to Royal Adelaide Hospital. However, it was only when he arrived at the hospital when Mr Smith 'found out the worst'. Two months on, the moment is still painful for Mr Smith. 'That was some of the hardest stuff that I've ever had to do but it was just being there for the girls and having to be strong,' he told 9News. 'The 20th of every month is going to be hard.' Mr Smith and his fiancee's colleague have vowed to fight for answers as to why Dunk was released from hospital two days prior. 'There was obviously some mistakes along the way and Julie was just an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time,' Mr Smith said. He and and Ms Scardigno met with South Australia's chief psychiatrist this week. An independent investigation is also underway. 'It could have been prevented, so if we start at the start hopefully we can help others,' Mr Smith said. Real estate agent Julie Seed was allegedly stabbed to death at her workplace The community has rallied around Ms Seed's daughters and her fiance and have organised a major fundraiser to be held this Friday night. Proceeds will help the family get back on their feet. The sense of community has kept Mr Smith going. Hundreds of mourners, mostly dressed in Ms Seed's favourite colour pink, attended her funeral in January. Mr Smith remembered his beloved fiance as a 'loving, caring mother, a friend... who would do anything for anyone' during her funeral on January 10. 'She had no idea it was coming, but everyone else at the party did. I think it was one of the greatest days of my life," he told mourners. "Julie was the love of my life. She was a loving, caring mother, a friend, who just wanted to be the best friend for her family, and who would do anything for anyone. I'm going to miss your laugh, your smile, your loving embrace. "You'll always be remembered for who you were an amazing, beautiful soul.' This is the moment a shameless gang of thugs surrounded a lone police officer and made jeering remarks as they flicked his hat and screamed 'f*** the Feds'. The video, which shows events from April last year, has resurfaced on social media and has been widely shared on 'X' formerly known as Twitter. It depicts a group of thugs following a West Midlands Police Officer walking back to his vehicle at St Andrew's Shopping Park in Birmingham. Filming the officer on their mobile phones, the group can be heard laughing, jeering and shouting 'You fat b******', 'terrorise', 'run run run', 'get out of here' and 'f*** the feds', before the officer joins his colleague in their van. Filming the officer on their mobile phones, the group can be heard laughing, jeering and shouting 'You fat b******', 'terrorise', 'run run run', 'get out of here' and 'f*** the feds', before the officer joins his colleague in their van The video shows events from April last year, but has resurfaced on social media and has been widely shared on 'X' formerly known as Twitter. West Midlands Police said a number of arrests were made following the incident. People on social media took to the comments to defend the police officer, saying the behaviour was 'disgusting' and 'shameful', while others blamed the fact public faith in police is at an all time low. At the time, West Midlands Police issued the following statement: 'Officers worked on a joint operation with Birmingham City Council tackling illegal street trading in Coventry Road in Small Heath, however disorder broke out resulting in missiles being thrown. 'One officer was struck by a bottle, but fortunately was not seriously injured, and three vehicles were damaged. Two council officials were also kicked and spat at. 'Two 16-year-old boys and a 42-year-old man have been arrested for violent disorder and a 23-year-old man has been arrested for assaulting a police officer. They remain in custody as our enquiries continue. 'Following the disorder, we have continued evening patrols accompanied by religious leaders and community members to reassure local residents and traders, and ensure that Ramadan celebrations pass peacefully and safely.' Inspector Gary Everitt said: 'We are aware that the violence on Saturday evening involved a small group of people and I'd like to thank the wider community for their continued support. 'It's been testament to the strong relationships that we have with the local community, businesses and mosques that we have been able to continue work closely together on joint patrols offering reassurance to families who are peacefully celebrating Ramadan.' The boxer boyfriend of imprisoned America-Russian ballerina Ksenia Karelina has finally spoken about her detainment in her homeland on dubious treason charges as he attempts to raise money in order to pay for her legal representation. On his Instagram page, Chris Van Heerden, 36, posted a video showing Karelina dancing and smiling on Christmas morning in the home the pair shared in Los Angeles. '#PrayforKsenia. This is who Ksenia is. She is a beautiful soul that see only the good in everyone. She is happy and funny,' he wrote in the caption. Karelina is accused of sending $51.80 from an American bank account to a Ukrainian charity in February 2022. She was arrested nearly two years later on petty hooliganism charges for swearing outside of a movie theater in Yekaterinburg, a city more than 800 miles east of Moscow. The former IBO welterweight posted a link to his Venmo account that he will send donations to a GoFundMe page that is in the process of being set up. Chris Van Heerden said in a series of interviews that he and Karelina have been 'basically living together' for the past six months Former IBO welterweight Chris Van Heerden posted a link to his Venmo account that he will send donations to a GoFundMe page that is in the process of being set up In an emotional interview with CNN that aired Thursday night, Van Heerden said that Karelina 'had no fear' of going home to visit her aged grandmother saying that she is 'so proud of Russia' In an emotional interview with CNN that aired Thursday night, Van Heerden said that Karelina 'had no fear' of going home to visit her aged grandmother saying that she is 'so proud of Russia.' 'She did not have a worry in the world,' he went on. The boxer said that he paid for his partner to travel to Russia because she was feeling homesick and wanted to see her family. The two traveled to Istanbul together where they had a vacation just after Christmas before she went on Russia as he returned to the US. Van Heerden explained that Karelina was detained when she first landed in Russia, her phone was confiscated but that she was released to her family. She made contact with him and said she was able to return to LA and would be collecting her phone. He last heard from her on January 27, two days before she was due to fly. He told NBC Los Angeles in a separate interview that she told him she was going to pick up her phone that evening. 'It was night time here so I said, 'I'll speak to you in a couple of hours because I'm going to bed,' and then that was the last time we spoke.' Despite Russian claims that Karelina was raising money for the Ukranian military, Van Heerden said he never heard her speak about Putin's invasion. 'She doesn't watch the news, she doesn't intervene with anything.' During his interview, Van Heerden reiterated that a lawyer who is willing to take the case was charging 'an insane amount of money.' Van Heerden said in an interview that he last spoke with Karelina on January 27 'I believe in America. I do believe that America will bring her back to me and that's the hope I'm holding on to,' Van Heerden said in an interview with CNN 'I believe in America. I do believe that America will bring her back to me and that's the hope I'm holding on to,' the boxer went on. Karelina received US citizenship after marrying an American. At the time of her arrest, Karelina was working as a skin care therapist at a swanky Beverly Hills day spa. Van Heerden was a star in boxing in his homeland before relocating to the US in 2013 where his success was more mixed. At the time, Van Heerden was signed to Evander Holyfield's Real Deal promotions. His most recent fight saw him knocked out in the second round by Conor Benn in April 2022. His career record is 33 fights, 28 wins and three losses. Karelina previously lived in Maryland with her former husband Evgeny Khavana In 2018, Van Heerden's name spread worldwide when his 61-year-old father, Daniel Christoffel, was shot dead after being wounded in the back by a security guard following argument. The killing was referred to as being 'political' by the South African media as his father was white and his assailant was black. After a five-year long legal struggle, the gunman, Sabelo Dlamini, was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2023. Van Heerden said that he forgives him. This week, Van Heerden told the NBC affiliate said that he's been dating Karelina for about six months and that they have been 'basically living together.' Speaking about their trip to Turkey prior to her arrest, Van Heerden described it as 'magical.' 'She had not a worry in the world. She had no idea what was waiting for her,' he said. Van Heerden said that he's not a typical tough-guy boxer. 'Yeah, I'm a tough guy when I step in the ring. But honestly I'm more of a romantic. It's hard to enjoy anything right now, knowing I have freedom and she doesn't.' Isabella Koretz, owner of Ciel Spa at the SLS Beverly Hills where Karelina has worked for eight years, said that Karelina, a ballet dancer, came to the U.S. to study at the University of Maryland in Baltimore before relocating to Los Angeles. She said Karelina is divorced and does not have any relatives in the U.S. Koretz said she has grown close to Karelina over the years and treats her like 'shes family.' According to Koretz, Karelina tried to see her family in Russia at least once a year, usually around Christmas and New Year's. Van Heerden pictured alongside Conor Benn following the latter's brutal knockout of the South African in April 2022 Van Heerden pictured training in England in April 2022 On her Facebook page, Karelina says that she's from Yekaterinburg and that she studied ballet at the S. P. Diaghilev school Karelina moved to the US after graduating from college in her homeland in 2013 Karelina is accused of fund raising for a pro-Ukrainian organization, she attained US citizenship in 2021 White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the White House and the State Department were aware of reports of the arrest of a dual U.S.-Russia citizen and added that 'we are trying to get more information and to secure some consular access to that individual.' Kirby refrained from further comment due to respect for privacy, but reiterated 'our very strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside Russia.' He added: 'If you're a U.S. citizen, including a dual national residing in or traveling in Russia, you ought to leave right now.' Miller noted that when it comes to dual citizens of the United States and Russia, Moscow 'does not recognize dual citizenship, it considers them to be Russian citizens first and foremost,' giving US diplomats a difficult time to get consular assistance. Some analysts have noted that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including WNBA star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the US. Earlier this week, Karelina's one-time husband, Evgeny Khavana exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that his own family are living in fear and cannot speak freely because they believe they are being 'listened to' by Russian authorities. He said, 'We cannot speak, my family cannot say anything. We are being listened to.' Her mother-in-law, Eleanora Sreboski told DailyMail.com that Ksenia would spend the rest of her life in a Russian prison if America didn't intervene. Nex Benedict, the non-binary Oklahoma teenager who died after a fight at school, did not die from injuries sustained in the fight, police have said. Nex, who was born Dagny, texted their family to tell them about three 'bullying' girls jumped them in a restroom on February 8. They died the next day. Now, police say the 16-year-old did not die as a result of those injuries but they have not clarified the cause of death. 'At this time, any further comments on the cause of death are currently pending until toxicology results and other ancillary testing results are received,' police said. 'The official autopsy report will be available at a later date,' Owasso police said on Wednesday night. Oklahoma teenager Nex, 16, died on February 8 after they were savagely attacked along with a trans student in a restroom at Owasso Public High School the day before, according to the youngster's family Nex Benedict (pictured) passed away in hospital on February 8, a day after the alleged fight 'I got jumped at school. 3 on 1, had to go to the ER,' Nex wrote, adding: 'They had been bullying me and my friends and I got tired of it so I poured some water on them and all 3 came after me. School did not report to police.' Officers investigating Nex's death said that they were called to the hospital by the teen's family at around 3pm on February 7, but that no 911 call had been made by the school. Now messages Nex sent to a family member after the fight, shared by Fox23, reveal that the teenager tried to stand up to their bullies Nex was asked by the family member whether they were okay and the teen replied saying they were 'all good' and had some scrapes and bruises. They also added: 'If I'm dizzy or nauseous in the morning I might have a concussion.' Sue Benedict, Nex's biological grandmother and legal guardian, revealed that Nex was beaten by three older girls after they were bullied for a year. Ms Benedict told the Independent that Nex was badly beaten during the fight, which she said involved Nex being knocked to the ground and hitting their head, and suffered bruises over their face and eyes as well as scratches at the back of their head. She also said she was aware Nex, who she said saw themselves as neither male or female, was bullied for being gender fluid but that she 'didn't know how bad it had gotten'. The teen's guardian, Ms Benedict, described her child as a straight-A student, animal lover and a talented cook during a funeral service held on Thursday. 'I was so proud of Nex. They were going some place, they were so free,' she said. Ms Benedict said Nex had been bullied since the start of the 2023 school year, just months after Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt signed a bathroom ban bill, stipulating students must use the bathroom which aligns with their biological sex. Police were summoned to the hospital by Nex's family around 3.30pm on February 7, according to a police statement. Friends said Benedict went by the name 'Nex.' The teen was described as a nature lover and keen cook who adored their pet cat Zeus The incident reportedly involved the teen's head being repeatedly smashed on the floor of the school's restroom Nex Benedict (pictured) died on February 8, one day after going to the ER following an alleged fight in the school restroom The teen was discharged a short while later but rushed back in the next day after reportedly collapsing at home and later died. Police are yet to confirm if the death was related to the alleged fight. They are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results from the medical examiner's office, which will deliver the final verdict on cause of death. Detectives are currently interviewing witnesses to determine if any criminal charges will be filed. 'The Owasso Police Department will release all information required by law, but it is the Department's policy to not release incident reports for cases that are under active investigation when there is risk of compromising or harming the investigation,' the statement said. 'We understand that people are concerned about this incident and we can assure everyone that this incident is being taken seriously and is being investigated thoroughly. 'The Owasso Police Department offers our condolences to the family, friends, fellow students, and loved ones of the deceased student and we will do our best to discover the truth.' 'At first, I didn't feel anything. I couldn't. What am I supposed to feel at that point? Knowing that someone that I could have used to know, someone I used to walk in the halls with, someone I could have been to class with is no longer a part of our lives, no longer part of the community. It's a community that I love, and now she's gone,' school friend Alexandria Davidson told WYMT. Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology report before they release a cause of death In a statement to local media Owasso Public Schools said it could not comment amid an ongoing investigation An obituary described the teen's love of nature and 'caring' disposition, especially towards beloved cat Zeus. '[Nex] enjoyed a variety of pastimes such as watching the Walking Dead, drawing, reading and playing Ark and Minecraft,' the notice read. The teen is survived by her grandparents Sue and Walter Benedict, as well as four sisters, two brothers and a niece and nephew, according to the obituary. A GoFundMe has also been set up to help the family cover funeral costs. In a statement Owasso Public Schools said that 'students were in the restroom for less than two minutes and the physical altercation was broken up by other students who were present in the restroom at the time, along with a staff member who was supervising outside of the restroom'. It added: 'Following district protocols, each of the students involved in the altercation was given a health assessment by a district registered nurse. 'Per district protocols, students needing further support are transported to a medical facility either by ambulance or by a parent/guardian, depending on the severity of the injuries and preference of the parent/guardian. 'While it was determined that ambulance service was not required, out of an abundance of caution, it was recommended to one parent that their student visit a medical facility for further examination. 'Per district protocols, the parents/guardians of students involved in a physical altercation are notified and informed of the option to file a police report should they choose. 'Should they choose to file a police report, school resource officers are made available to the parents/guardians either at that time or they can schedule an appointment, if they choose, at a later date. These practices were followed during this incident.' Do you agree with the new guidance? Email elizabeth.haigh@mailonline.co.uk Menopausal women have welcomed greater recognition for female workers experiencing 'brutal' symptoms, but say the proposed initiatives could risk shaming them. Guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued to bosses warned they could face legal action if they do not make 'adjustments' for menopausal women, such as quiet rooms and cooler uniforms. But the move has sparked backlash from those who disagree with the menopause being classed as a disability. Women have told MailOnline such an approach is mere 'virtue-signalling' and will not encourage them to come forward in the workplace due to a fear of being shamed. But others have argued the guidance is a step in the right direction, as long as it is taken seriously by bosses. It comes after the health expert behind Davina McCall's menopause documentary called for the condition to be treated as a 'matter of health not law'. Broadcaster and commentator Narinder Kaur told MailOnline that the guidance will not take away any of the 'stigma and shame' which prevents many women from speaking about the menopause. Do YOU agree with the new guidance? Email elizabeth.haigh@mailonline.co.uk Broadcaster and commentator Narinder Kaur told MailOnline that the guidance will not take away any of the 'stigma and shame' which prevents many women from speaking out Afsaneh Parvizi-Wayne, founder of Freda Health, which provides organic period care, and My Modern Menopause, staunchly opposes menopause being defined as a disability The 51-year-old from London said: 'For menopausal women, companies should be recognising and helping us because its almost ten years of your life. You cant be sat in a meeting and suddenly having sweats or having a tidal wave of exhaustion. 'But on the other hand you still have that stigma and shame attached to it. You may have other people in an office thinking, "Karen's sat there having a hot flush, I didnt get that and I have a headache today".' READ MORE: Bosses are warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they allow menopausal women to wear cooler uniforms, work from home on hot days and given quiet rooms to rest in Advertisement One of the measures suggested by the guidance is allowing women to go into a cooler room to work or for a break, but Ms Kaur believes this is in danger of suggesting menopausal women are 'unfit to work any more'. She continued: 'The sad truth of all of this is either women have to sit there and suck it up, secretly pretending that they're not having the symptoms, because theyd be so afraid they would be seen as replaceable, or they'll be loud and proud about it but people are going to judge them for it. 'There's no winning for companies, or women or men. When Im having menopause symptoms it's not a disability but it is debilitating, I struggle to walk from the sofa if I have that exhaustion.' Ms Kaur added she struggles to 'jump through hoops of fire' to get the support she needs, while also juggling being a mother and working full time. 'It's high time it's recognised because your symptoms can be so debilitating and brutal.' Symptoms of the menopause - which include hot flushes, brain fog and difficulty sleeping - can be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if they have a 'long-term and substantial impact' on a woman's ability to carry out their usual day-to-day activities, according to the watchdog. But Afsaneh Parvizi-Wayne, founder of Freda Health, which provides organic period care, and My Modern Menopause, staunchly opposes menopause being defined as a disability. Describing it as a form of virtue-signalling, she said: 'For employers now to be penalised is rather ridiculous because we are looking at equality. Founder of Managing the Menopause Emma Thomas told MailOnline it is vital that those women who have serious symptoms - enough to be classed as a disability - are recognised Ms Kaur, from London, said her menopause symptoms are 'not a disability, but it is debilitating' 'Equality doesnt come from labelling something natural a disability. It adds to the stigma. Its come from a good place but I do disagree.' The 59-year-old said menopause has become a 'hot topic', but should be treated as 'just another cycle' in women's reproductive lives, with the focus being on educating them about the benefits of medical treatments such as HRT. She continued: 'Real research and clinical conversations are missing in the workplace. Menopause educators have their place, but they shouldn't replace that. 'This is an unbelievable opportunity to change and reframe life for women. All this noise comes from a good place, but it doesnt do what it needs to do. Lets do it properly, let's use this time to really shift the dial.' Not all women are so despondent, however. A menopause educator who specialises in giving consultations, guidance and resources to companies looking to support menopausal women said it is 'really important' to be discussing workplace changes. Emma Thomas, 51, founder of Managing the Menopause, told MailOnline that it is vital to recognise there 'will be a small proportion of people who have such debilitating symptoms for such a long time that its important that employers understand that this could be classed as a disability.' But she added: 'What we dont want is this wholesale negativity around menopause because its not helping our case about gender equity, getting women into positions of leadership. 'If somebody is struggling then they should be able to come forward and talk about it and ask for the adjustments. They need and not have the fear that it is going to be treated badly and fear they will be treated differently or it will harm their career. Bosses have been warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they allow menopausal women to wear cooler uniforms and work from home on hot days (Stock Image) 'It needs not to be the butt of jokes, it needs to be taken seriously. We know that a high proportion of individuals wont feel comfortable talking about it in the workplace and for some people they are not going to ever want to talk about it in the workplace and thats fine too. Its a highly individualised thing.' Ms Thomas, from Oxford, used to work in a corporate firm until she was made redundant during the pandemic, and said in her previous roles the menopause was not discussed at all. 'It has changed so much even in the last two to three years. In my last corporate role we did have somebody do a session around menopause which is great, but it's not a tick box exercise, we don't just wheel someone in once to do a session. Its got to be part of a wider change. 'Even just starting these conversations, making resources available, training line managers helps.' It comes after menopause expert Kate Muir said the new guidance doesn't make sense and those behind it don't know enough about the menopause to be writing laws about it. The author of 'Everything You Need To Know About the Menopause (but were too afraid to ask)' says bosses should 'just be humane about it'. The human rights watchdog said yesterday that women suffering from hot flushes or 'brain fog' should be given quiet rooms to rest in and have fans or air conditioning in their workplaces. In its first guidance on the topic, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told employers they must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms, just as they do for those with disabilities. They could also be found guilty of sex or age discrimination if they penalise staff for having to take time off when they are suffering. If they ridicule women for their problems, it may constitute harassment. Menopause expert Kate Muir says the new guidance doesn't make sense and those behind it don't know enough about the menopause to be writing laws about it. The EHRC says it will cost managers hundreds of thousands of pounds to defend such claims as well as losing valuable employees. Ms Muir this morning told BBC Radio 4 that the guidance won't give women their hormones back. 'I don't think they've thought it through,' she said. 'I don't think they know enough about menopause to be writing laws around it. It's not a disability it's something every woman goes through, obviously.' She said most menopausal women suffering symptoms had not been sacked from their jobs but decided to 'self-censor' as they did not know how to cope with what was happening to them. Giving education to women about treatments such as 'good' and 'safe' hormone replacement therapy to eliminate symptoms was more vital to help them go through the menopause, she said. 'I think women in perimenopause certainly often need help when they don't know what is happening to them,' she said. 'When they are going through all these changes and get hot flushes and brain fog and they can't maybe sort out their health at that point. 'We should just be humane about that. I don't know if we need to entrench this as legislation. It is discriminating against someone who is ill at that point.' Ms Muir called on the NHS to give women 'proper' consultations which would 'solve their problems'. 'I think this [guidance] is a side alley on the whole conversation,' she said. 'It's a matter of health, not law.' In its first guidance on the topic, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told employers they must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms (Stock Image) EHRC chairman Baroness Kishwer Falkner said on Tuesday night: 'We are concerned both by how many women report being forced out of a role due to their menopause-related symptoms and how many don't feel safe enough to request the workplace adjustments. 'An employer understanding their legal duties is the foundation of equality in the workplace. But it is clear that many may not fully understand their responsibility to protect their staff going through the menopause. 'Our new guidance sets out these legal obligations for employers and provides advice on how they can best support their staff. 'We hope that this guidance helps ensure every woman going through the menopause is treated fairly and can work in a supportive and safe environment.' The EHRC cites research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development that found two-thirds of working women aged between 40 and 60 said menopausal symptoms had negatively affected their jobs, including reducing concentration, increasing stress and leaving them less able to carry out tasks. Half said they had on occasion been unable to go into work because of their symptoms, while separate research by the Fawcett Society found that one in ten women had left their jobs as a result. Amid growing concern at the lack of support for the millions of women who suffer debilitating symptoms when their hormone levels drop and periods end, the Government has set up a UK Menopause Taskforce to improve access to treatment and appointed a Menopause Employment Champion to encourage major bosses to do more for staff. NHS bosses have also vowed to improve conditions for its workforce, while Labour has pledged to give menopausal women the right to work from home and have paid time off for health appointments. Half of women had on occasion been unable to go into work because of their symptoms (Stock Image) In a landmark Employment Tribunal case currently awaiting judgment, social worker Maria Rooney claims she was discriminated against and victimised by Leicester City Council for suffering menopause symptoms. Judges have already ruled that her symptoms, along with stress and anxiety, amounted to a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act. Now the EHRC, which backed Ms Rooney's case, has for the first time set out the legal obligations on all employers and given them advice on the adjustments they can make for menopausal staff. Its guidance states: 'Under the Equality Act 2010, workers are protected from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the basis of protected characteristics including disability, age and sex. 'If menopause symptoms have a long-term and substantial impact on a woman's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, these symptoms could be considered a disability. 'If menopause symptoms amount to a disability, an employer will be under a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments. 'They will also be under a legal obligation to not directly or indirectly discriminate because of the disability or subject the woman to discrimination arising from disability.' It adds that under health and safety legislation, 'employers also have a legal obligation to conduct an assessment of their workplace risks'. Women and equalities committee chairman Caroline Nokes told the Mail: 'I hope this guidance helps we know too many women are forced out of work due to challenging menopause symptoms. Of course the menopause is not a disability and should not be seen as that, rather something that will pass with the right support and medication.' Minister for Disabled People, Health & Work Mims Davies said: 'This new guidance will raise even more awareness among the business community and help women by improving understanding of their rights. Not only is this vital for the progression of women in the workforce, it's vital for the growth of our economy.' Labour's Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Anneliese Dodds said: 'This guidance from the EHRC is welcome, but women experiencing menopause deserve more. 'Labour would require large employers to produce menopause action plans and produce guidance for small employers in how to support employees experiencing menopause.' Do YOU agree with the new menopause guidance? Email elizabeth.haigh@mailonline.co.uk A devout Christian doctor has been convicted of punching a dementia patient who made a racist comment towards him during a medical consultation. Consultant physician Dr Xowi Mwimbi, 68, punched the patient who has complex health needs in the left temple and pushed his head into a pillow after he told him to leave his hospital room. Staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, in Lancashire had urged Mwimbi to stand back warning him that the patient would get severely distressed if anyone got to close to him. But the doctor who is a church elder at the Altrincham Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Greater Manchester and trustee of a charity which tackles poverty in Africa ignored their pleas and attacked the unnamed man. During the ensuing scuffle the patient who has limited movement due to his condition instinctively swung his arm towards Mwimbi but barely made contact. Dr Xowi Mwimbi, 68, punched the patient who has complex health needs in the left temple and pushed his head into a pillow after he told him to leave his hospital room Staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, in Lancashire had urged Mwimbi to stand back warning him that the patient would get severely distressed if anyone got to close to him Dr Mwimbi is a church elder at the Altrincham Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Greater Manchester and trustee of a charity which tackles poverty in Africa The doctor then reacted by punching the dementia patient in his left temple and pressing his head into the pillow. Care staff who were present quickly intervened and reported the assault. The patient had a care plan in place for his complex needs which included an instruction not to get too close to him as it caused him distress. He was also known to make racial comments due to his mental condition. In a police interview Dr Mwimbi from Wythenshawe, Manchester who was working as a locum at the hospital said the patient had hit him and racially abused him so he had acted in 'self-defence'. In a police interview Dr Mwimbi from Wythenshawe, Manchester said the patient had hit him and racially abused him so he had acted in 'self-defence' Dr Mwimbi was convicted of ill treatment by a care worker following a trial after jurors rejected his self defence plea He said he was 'surprised and shocked' to hear the care staff present were 'telling stories about him' and claimed their version of events was 'all a figment of their imagination'. But at Preston Crown Court, Mwimbi who qualified in Zambia in 1986 was convicted of ill treatment by a care worker following a trial after jurors rejected his self defence plea. He will be sentenced in May and he now faces an investigation by the General Medical Council which could lead to him being struck off. The maximum sentence for an offence of ill treatment by a care worker is five years in jail. Prosecutors said the incident would not have arisen if Mwimbi had followed the care plan and that the patient scarcely made contact with the doctor due to his lack of mobility. After the case Miss Sazeeda Ismail, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: 'Dr Xowi Mwimbi demonstrated a gross breach of his duty of care, when in anger he used excessive force against an extremely vulnerable man. 'His actions traumatised those who witnessed the incident. I would like to thank those witnesses for their quick action in intervening and reporting what they had seen. 'It is thanks to them that we have been able to bring Dr Mwimbi to justice for his despicable actions.' He will be sentenced in May and he now faces an investigation by the General Medical Council which could lead to him being struck off Prosecutors said the incident would not have arisen if Mwimbi had followed the care plan and that the patient scarcely made contact with the doctor due to his lack of mobility The 767 bed hospital has already been at the centre of a four year police investigation into a 'culture of abuse' by staff towards patients on the stroke unit. The probe began after a student 'whistle-blower' went to the authorities after being shocked by comments made by a senior nurse. She also said she had been told to sedate a difficult patient with prescribed drugs which hadn't been prescribed. Several members of staff have been convicted of offences relating to the theft of drugs, ill treatment of patients and sexual harassment. Last December a nurse and a healthcare worker were jailed for ill treatment after a court heard patients were sedated for an 'easy shift' and 'amusement'. Detectives are still investigating the suspicious death of Valerie Neale, 75, who bled to death on the ward in November 2018 after suffering what officers believe was a sex attack. A murder investigation was launched after a post-mortem examination found that she had died following a haemorrhage caused by a 'non-medical related internal injury'. A 20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to to the conviction of the killer but no-one has been brought to justice. An inquest into her death us due to take place in May. A spokesperson for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals said: 'This was clearly an upsetting incident and we would like to apologise for the distress caused to the patient and their family, as well as colleagues who witnessed it, intervened and immediately reported it to the Police. 'This doctor was covering a shift as a locum and not a permanent member of the team who place paramount importance on providing a caring, safe and respectful environment. 'We are very grateful the matter has been dealt with so quickly by all involved and reassure local people this is not the high standard of treatment they can expect from the Trust.' A man charged with killing a sex worker at a Soho hotel and stabbing someone else in Arizona has now been accused of choking another woman in Florida last year. Leah Palian, 26, says alleged killer Raad Almansoori, 26, held her captive in her Orlando, Florida home before choking and sexually assaulting her last April. 'I hate that I have to do this. I hate that I have to kill you,' Almansoori reportedly told Palian during the terrifying ordeal, as reported by The New York Post. Alamsoori was arrested after Palian managed to escape by running into a rest stop's bathroom and calling 911. But, despite her warnings that he was extremely dangerous, Alamsoori was freed on $2,500 bail - months before he went on to kill single mom from Queens Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, per police. Palian wrote on Facebook: 'Despite my chilling warning to the Florida state attorney that his actions were indicative of a potential serial killer, they callously released him, dropping all but one charge (car theft). Raad Almansoori, 26, charged with killing a sex worker at a Soho hotel and stabbing someone else in Arizona, has now been accused of choking another woman in Florida last year Palian managed to escape by running into a rest stop's bathroom and calling 911. But, despite her warnings that he was extremely dangerous, Alamsoori was freed on bail When staff discovered the body of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia on the morning of February 8, the 38-year-old was lying beneath a blanket and beside a broken iron, having checked in the day before Palian met Amansoori at their job at an Orlando restaurant before she started giving him rides home from work 'Even more terrifying is the fact that he contacted me off an unknown number just two weeks prior to this, despite a no contact order in our ongoing case. 'The chilling fact remains: the blood of an innocent mother stains their hands. Florida's justice system has not only failed me but has turned a blind eye to the impending danger he posed to countless other women.' Palian met Amansoori at their job at an Orlando restaurant before she started giving him rides home from work. The alleged assault happened after she asked him to sleep on her couch one night to avoid the long drive. The next day Palian woke up to Almansoori 'bear hugging' her in her bed before he declared that he was in love with her. He then grabbed her phone and saw a text where Palian described his behavior the night before as strange. Alamansoori then allegedly locked the front door and closed the windows before launching his assault. 'He got on top of me and starts strangling me with a dead look in his eyes... He knew where to grab he immediately cut off my oxygen,' Palian told the Daily News. 'He said, "Scream and Ill kill you."' Amansoori then instructed Palian into the bedroom and ordered her to perform oral sex on him. 'It was like he was so thrilled and so aroused he had just strangled someone almost to the point of death,' she recalled. 'I kept thinking Im going to die here in my apartment.' Palian woke up to Almansoori 'bear hugging' her in her bed before he declared that he was in love with her. He then physically attacked her 'It was like he was so thrilled and so aroused he had just strangled someone almost to the point of death,' she recalled A surveillance footage image shows the suspect in the grisly slaying of Oleas-Arancibia wearing a bodysuit in Manhattan Oleas-Arancibia's death has formally been ruled a homicide (pictured: interior of the room where Oleas-Arancibia was found) Palian eventually convinced Amansoori to go on a car ride to pick up his vehicle at the mechanic, and to let her use the bathroom at a rest stop, where she was able to call 911. Amansoori took off on the run with her car, but was arrested the next day two hours outside of Orlando. Orlando officials told the Daily News 'there was insufficient evidence to prove the Sexual Battery and Aggravated Assault charges beyond a reasonable doubt.' Almansoori is in custody on suspicion of killing Queens sex worker Oleas-Arancibia by strangling her and hitting her over the head in the Soho 54 hotel on February 8. Palian says the alleged killer texted her, despite a no-contact order, on the very same day of the Soho murder. 'Why did you treat me so miserably? You should never treat a man like that. I never deserved to be treated that way,' Amansoori texted. Oleas-Arancibia (pictured left) came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind family including one of her sons He was arrested in Arizona after stabbing another woman at a McDonald's, officials said. At a Tuesday press conference, the NYPD revealed new details including that Almansoori was on bail for the Florida car theft accusations. He also reportedly confessed to assaulting another three women. 'We are working with our partners to arrange extradition so he can be charged for the homicide here,' NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. However, Arizona prosecutors are refusing to send the accused killer to New York thanks to what they call the Manhattan District Attorney's lax treatment of 'violent criminals'. Maricopa County (AZ) District Attorney Rachel Mitchell appeared on Dan Abrams Live on NewsNation to explain her decision to keep the suspect in Arizona. 'I have him here without bond, meaning he cannot bond out. He cannot post any amount of money to get out of jail. And I believe that that is the best place for him right now,' she said. 'The norm is not to extradite; the norm is that the person who has him goes first. We do have extremely serious charges here and we are going to go first. Surveillance footage of Almansoori caught after the murder of Oleas-Arancibia wearing a bodysuit along a well-lit Manhattan street. Confirming the timeline of events, Kenny said that Almansoori had purchased a plane ticket from Florida to New York on January 26. According to Kenny, he used his credit card three days later in the Big Apple and visited an escort in Upper Manhattan on February 6. Oleas-Arancibia died of compression to her neck and blunt head trauma, according to a spokesperson for the city medical examiner A bloody iron was found lying by her body. Police also recovered a pair of bloody pants with a receipt in them from the hotel room The body of Oleas-Arancibia was found on the morning of February 8, and four days later, Almansoori is said to have flown back to Arizona from Newark. Officials in Arizona took him into custody on Sunday after he stabbed a woman in McDonald's after dragging her into the ladies room and holding her against her will. Police say Almansoori was arrested shortly after he tried to flee in a stolen car and admitted while in custody to an earlier stabbing in Phoenix. In that incident, a woman was stabbed when a man attempted to steal her car at knifepoint. Almansoori was booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and theft. He was also charged with robbery, assault, theft and criminal damage in the separate Phoenix investigation. He is being held without bond. Kenny added the extradition could take 'days, weeks, it could be months.' Police said last week that they had been using 'extensive video' to track down the person of interest in the death of Oleas-Arancibia. Louis Theroux has issued a tribute to US porn star Kagney Linn Karter, following her death at 36. The adult film actress is believed to have taken her own life at her home in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, last week. Her body was found at her address by her mother on February 15, Parma Police Department revealed. The force is continuing to investigate her death but told media there are 'no signs of foul play'. TV interviewer Louis Theroux featured Ms Karter in his 2012 documentary Twilight of the Porn Stars. He remembered her as a 'kind and thoughtful' person who was 'v[ery] honest'. 'My thoughts are with her friends and family,' he posted on X, formerly Twitter. Adult film actress Kagney Linn Karter, 36, is believed to have taken her low life at her home in Cuyahoga County, Ohio , last week Karter opened a pole dancing studio of her own in Akron called Alchemy Pole Fitness TV interviewer Louis Theroux featured Ms Karter in his 2012 documentary Twilight of the Porn Stars. He remembered her as a 'kind and thoughtful' person who was 'v[ery] honest' A GoFundMe page was said up for Ms Karter's mother to pay for her memorial, which has so far amassed over $20,000 (15,800)> Karter started in the pornography industry in the early 2000s and starred in films such as the Official Silence of the Lambs Parody and Not Married with Children XXX. The star was nominated several times for Adult Video News awards, including in 2011 for top female performer of the year. In 2010, she was nominated as best new starlet. Commenters flooded under her last social media post as one said: 'Kags. Love you forever.' 'Jesus, this is sad,' another wrote. The adult star had previously had a public spat with signer Chris Brown in which she claimed that he paid her $2,500 to be an escort. Karter (middle) is seen presenting an award at the 29th annual Adult Video News Awards Show in Las Vegas in 2012. She presented the award alongside other ddult film actresses Jenna Haze (left) and Dana DeArmond (right) She moved from Los Angeles to Ohio in 2019 and got involved with pole dancing fitness studios The star was nominated several times for Adult Video News awards. She was nominated in 2011 for top female performer of the year. In 2010, she was nominated as best new starlet Karter started in the pornography industry in the early 2000s and starred in films such as the Official Silence of the Lambs Parody and Not Married with Children XXX In 2015, Karter made the claims on Twitter and posted X-rated pictures, which eventually got her account suspended, according to TMZ. Brown for his part, denied ever meeting or contacting her. She moved from Los Angeles to Ohio in 2019 and got involved with pole dancing fitness studios. Karter opened a pole dancing studio of her own in Akron called Alchemy Pole Fitness. 'Her students and staff remember her incredibly fondly, both as an intelligent and intuitive instructor and as an owner who did all she could to build a little community of her own, something of which she could be proud, somewhere she could feel safe and wanted,' said the GoFundMe. For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org A police force is being investigated over its contact with an arranged marriage bride who ended up in a persistent vegetative state after 'wicked' mistreatment by her husband and parents-in-law. Two police officers visited Ambreen Fatima Sheikh three weeks before she was taken to hospital in an unconscious state from which she has never recovered after eight years. The court heard the officers acting after a report from a concerned acquaintance who went to the house the day before saw Ambreen but found no signs of 'harm, injury or neglect.' Now the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has begun an investigation following a mandatory referral by West Yorkshire Police, made after comments by the trial judge. Last week Ambreen's husband Asgar Sheikh, 31, father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, and mother-in-law Shabnam Sheikh, 52, were each jailed for seven years and nine months at Leeds Crown Court. Ambreen Fatima Sheikh (pictured) was visited by two police officers three weeks before she was taken to hospital in an unconscious state from which she has never recovered after eight years Ambreen's husband Asgar Sheikh, 31, was last week jailed for seven years and nine momnths at Leeds Crown Court They were convicted by a jury of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The court heard how 'vulnerable' Ambreen, who came to the UK from Pakistan in 2014 to live with her new husband, was 'tricked or forced' into swallowing tablets prescribed to her diabetic mother-in-law that resulted in a hypoglycaemic attack. Such tablets are extremely dangerous if taken by non-diabetics. The prosecution case was that the tablets were not taken voluntarily and by then the socially isolated and vulnerable Ambreen had suffered a 'pattern of violence' behind the closed doors of the terraced house in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, she shared with her new family. A large black wound on her lower back was said to have been caused by a caustic chemical substance, probably a cleaning fluid, in the days before she was taken to hospital on 1 August 2015. Three weeks earlier there was an incident that triggered police involvement. A relative had tried to contact Ambreen by phone and asked her daughter in Yorkshire to check on her. When she and a man knocked on the door Shabnam wouldn't let them see her and an 'angry' Asgar came to the door and allegedly threatened 'I will kill you if I see you again.' The incident was reported to police and two officers visited the next day, 12 July, to check on Ambreen. The officers were unable to properly communicate with Ambreen as she spoke little English and the Judge Mrs Justice Lambert said the presence of Khalid meant she attached 'little weight' to the officers' assessment that there was no evidence of neglect. Father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, (left) and mother-in-law Shabnam Sheikh, 52, were also jailed for seven years and nine months of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice However, after the visit one of the officers did ask the operator who took the original tip off call to get back in touch with the caller, but the court was told no further contact was made. Commenting on the investigation into the police's actions, IOPC Regional Director Emily Barry said: 'Our thoughts are with Ms Sheikh and her loved ones, as well as all those affected by this deeply distressing incident. 'In light of the comments made during the recent court hearing, and the unimaginable suffering she has endured, it is only right that a thorough investigation takes place to understand the nature and extent of the police interaction with Ms Sheikh in July 2015. 'This will be carried out entirely independently of the police and consider whether there were any missed opportunities to safeguard her in the days and weeks before she was admitted to hospital.' West Yorkshire Police said it would make no further comment as the IOPC was now investigating. Ambreen, now 39, is still alive. She can breathe unaided but has suffered 'irretrievable' brain damage that has left her with no consciousness of the world around her. Adam Montgomery is said to have spent three months trying to hide the body The father accused of killing his his own daughter by repeatedly punching her in the face and then hiding her body has said that the FBI agents looking for her are 'wasting their time'. Adam Montgomery, 34, is on trial for allegedly murdering his five-year-old daughter Harmony, who was blind in one eye, in 2019 after getting angry with the little girl when she had a bathroom accident in the car. Her body has never been found. On Monday The New Hampshire court where the trial is happening, heard an audio of a prison phone call from 2022 where Montgomery tells a friend: 'They had the FBI and everyone there digging up the river, dude. They wasted their time. 'Like, way to just waste taxpayers' money, I guess.' The prison conversation was heard just as the court wrapped up the ongoing case's proceedings for the day on Wednesday. The jury is now out to deliberate on if he is guilty of the murder. Authorities have been working tirelessly to try to find Harmony's body, who was last seen alive in 2019. Prosecutors say that Harmony Montgomery was beaten to death in the back of a car Adam Montgomery has said that FBI agents are 'wasting their time' trying to find the body Harmony and her real mother Crystal Sorey in happier times before she was brutally murdered The Sun reported on Montgomery's prison phone call where he said police are 'wasting their time' looking for the body. A public record request by WMUR TV revealed that the prosecutors at the court last year accused Montgomery of spending three months moving Harmony's body around in an effort to keep her hidden from the police. According to the report, in earlier hearings, prosecutors have alleged that the evil accused child-killer moved the body from container to container and place to place as her body decayed. The locations included the trunk of a friends car, a cooler in the hallway of his mother-in-laws apartment building, the ceiling vent of a homeless shelter and an apartment freezer. Montgomery's estranged wife Kayla, step-mother to Harmony said that at one point the body was kept in a tote bag from a hospital maternity ward according to the same report. Kayla, who is reported to have been there at the time of the murder, said she placed the tote bag in between her own young children in a stroller and brought it to her husbands workplace. Investigators allege that Montgomery finally disposed of the body in early March 2020 with a rented moving truck. The car where Montgomery allegedly beat his young daughter to death in an angry rage Montgomery's estranged wife Kayla is currently serving 18 months in prison for perjury The motive is believed to be Montgomery being angry that Harmony had wet herself in the car Harmony would be nine-years-old now if she was still alive but only lived about half of that In April, police searched a marshy area in Revere, Massachusetts - but to no avail Toll data shows the truck in question crossed the Tobin Bridge in Boston multiple times but there is no other highway data to help police identify the whereabouts of the body. In April, police searched a marshy area in Revere, Massachusetts - but to no avail. His defense attorneys have attempted to place the blame on his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, Harmony's step-mother, who was allegedly with him at the time. However, Montgomery is reported to have previously said 'I 'f***** up, I f***** up, I f***** up' and not WE f***** up. Prosecutor Ben Agati labelled Montgomery as an 'enraged titan' for his heinous crime. He said: 'Adam Montgomery was no loving father. He was an enraged titan who had no business being around Harmony. 'On the day of Harmony's death, all he has is his car, his rage, his fists. After he learns Harmony, soiled herself in the car. Missing child posters went up around New Hampshire while Montgomery 'moved' the body Teddies were left after Harmony's tragic death at the hands of her evil father in the car 'He took her life in rage over a bathroom accident.' Montgomery is reported to have said: 'I think I really hurt her this time' after the fatal punch - and went on to say: 'I felt something'. Defense attorney Caroline Smith, trying to mitigate the defendant's punishment, claimed he was influenced by Kayla. Smith said: 'Adam did not kill his baby girl. He made horrible and criminal decisions after Harmony's death to keep his family together.' 'Adam did some very, very bad things, but he did not kill his daughter.' Montgomery is facing charges of second-degree murder, second-degree assault, and witness tampering after pleading guilty to abuse of a corpse and not telling the truth in earlier stages of the ongoing trial. Kayla is currently serving an 18-month sentence for perjury after employment records proved her alibi to be a lie. However, one testimony by the step-mother that is unfortunately thought to not be a lie is her account of what happened in the car on the dreadful day in 2019. The killer smiling in court and continuing to refuse to tell authorities where the body is She said Montgomery 'kept punching her' on the way to Burger King, pausing at several stop lights to reach behind him and punch her in the head again. 'Adam kept saying, shut the f*** up, stop crying,' she said, adding that when she tried to stop him, he gave her an 'evil crazy eyes look' that scared her off. 'That was one of the first times I saw him look at me like that. But not the last,' she continued. She said her two sons in the car with them, aged 11-months and 2-years-old at the time, had 'no idea' of the horror unfolding in the car next to them. After allegedly delivering the fatal blow, Kayla said they got Burger King for themselves and her two young sons in the car, but not Harmony. She claimed Adam had covered Harmony in a blanket, but was still making a 'moaning noise' before eventually falling silent. The jury have been deliberating since Wednesday evening and are yet to reach a verdict. Alexei Navalny's daughter Dasha, 23, was today seen for the first time since the alleged murder of her father in an Arctic penal colony late last week, by her mother's side in a selfie shared on social media with a message of love and support. Yulia Navalnaya, 47, posted a photograph on X showing her and Dasha, huddled together - Yulia looking into the camera with her hand over her mouth, and Dasha wrapped in a black North Face coat. 'My dear girl. I flew here to hug you and support you, and you are sitting and supporting me. So strong, brave and resilient,' Yulia wrote to her daughter, a Stanford University student in the US. 'We will definitely cope with everything, my dear one. It's so good that you're at my side. I love you,' Navalnaya wrote on her X account, after being restored to the platform following an apparent shock suspension. Dasha and her brother Zakhar have been absent from public appearances since the tragic news broke last Friday. Yulia Navalnaya, 47, posted a photograph on X showing her and Dasha, huddled together Yulia shared a message for her daughter on X, the first appearance since Navalny's death Alexei Navalny (CB), with his wife Yulia (R) daughter Dacha (L), and son Zakhar (CF) in 2019 Alexei Navalny appears via a video link from the Arctic penal colony on Thursday, January 11 Yulia Navalnya speaks with Belgium's foreign minister in Brussels on February 19, 2024 Navalnaya, 47, was in Munich last week when she learned of the death of her husband, Russia's best known opposition leader in the West. She soon published a rousing video on social media platform X in which she declared, in no uncertain terms, that she would 'continue the work of Alexei Navalny and continue to fight for our country' - directly accusing Putin of orchestrating her husband's murder in the process. Navalnaya has pledged to continue her husband's work and blamed President Vladimir Putin for his death, an allegation the Kremlin has angrily rejected. Putin has not commented publicly on the death of Navalny, who was serving sentences totalling more than 30 years on a series of charges, including fraud and extremism, that he said were trumped up to silence him. The Kremlin has said it was not involved in his death, the circumstances of which it says are under investigation. Navalny, who is also known in the west for his 2020 Novichok nerve agent poisoning and following allegations of Kremlin responsibility, died suddenly on Friday after returning from a walk and collapsing at the IK-3 Arctic penal colony in Kharp, Russia. The Kremlin said on Saturday he had died from 'sudden death syndrome' and denied any responsibility in his death, which Navalny's team - including his family - were quick to dismiss. Suspicions grew when Russia announced it would not release the body to the family for 14 days as investigators looked to determine more about the hazy circumstances of his death. But critics suggested Navalny had been poisoned again, and that authorities were waiting for traces of evidence to disappear before returning the body. The shock death, coming only weeks after Navalny was moved from a prison near Moscow to the brutal penal colony to the north, has prompted a range of theories about how the 47-year-old may have died. One conspiracy circling in the immediate aftermath of his death was that his alleged 'murder' was intended as a 'birthday gift' for one of Putin's cronies, top criminal investigator Alexander Bastrykin. The death has provoked strong reactions world-over, sparking protests in Europe and more muted protests in support of Navalny and his family. Vigils set up in Moscow and St Petersburg were targeted by Russian police in the days immediately after his death. Now, Russia has said it will also go after Navalny's brother, fellow anti-corruption campaigner Oleg Navalny. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya in September 2020 Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia talk in a courtroom before the hearing in Moscow, Russia on April 23, 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles on Friday as he visits a forge in Chelyabinsk, Russia Yulia likewise earned a reputation for being just as outspoken and defiant as her husband and throughout the 2010s became embedded in his work, particularly after he founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in 2011. Her husband's poisoning in 2020 marked the first time Yulia was thrust into the spotlight and sparked her rise to prominence as a public figure in her own right. When Navalny fell gravely ill on a domestic Russian flight as a result of poisoning by deadly nerve agent Novichok, Yulia immediately assumed a leading role, expertly juggling duties as a de-facto spokeswoman, operational mastermind and dedicated spouse. She took to the world stage and lobbied Germany into agreeing to take care of him, and pushed hospital chiefs and local officials in Russia's Omsk, where Navalny had been admitted to hospital in critical condition, into releasing her husband. A female thug who blinded a policewoman by spraying weed killer in her eyes while already on bail and with an ASBO has walked free from court. Levi Dixon, 33, told Perth Sheriff Court that she has 'oppositional defiant disorder' which causes her to struggle to deal with authority figures. She temporarily blinded PC Rachel Roger by spraying weed killer in her eyes on October 8, 2020, when she was already subject to bail and an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO). Dixon, who previously threatened to firebomb the family home of her brother's killer, has had a number of run-ins with the law. The weed killer attack happened after Dixon refused to comply with a gas safety check which caused police to come to her door. Levi Dixon, 33, temporarily blinded PC Rachel Roger by spraying weed killer in her eyes on October 8, 2020, while she was already subject to bail and an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) Dixon told Perth Sheriff Court (pictured) that she has 'oppositional defiant disorder' which causes her to struggle to deal with authority figures Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court: 'As a background, there had been an exchange of emails between the accused and the council. 'The council had been trying to do a gas safety check but she would not comply. An appointment was made and officers attended and knocked on her door. 'She refused to answer or engage. She phoned emergency services three times while they were outside. She reported she was inside and distressed. What is oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)? Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) includes a frequent and ongoing pattern of anger, irritability, arguing and defiance toward parents and other authority figures. ODD also includes being spiteful and seeking revenge, a behavior called vindictiveness. These emotional and behavioral issues cause serious problems with family life, social activities, school and work. Treatment of ODD involves learning skills to help build positive family interactions and to manage problem behaviors. Other therapy, and possibly medicines, may be needed to treat related mental health conditions. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement 'She was encouraged to go to the door and engage but refused. The council property inspector unlocked the door using the master key. 'The accused was behind the door, pushing against it. Officers managed to push the door open slightly and the accused sprayed weed killer at the officer. 'This struck PC Roger in the eye. The officer was initially blinded. However, she regained her sight and had no lasting effects.' Solicitor David Holmes, defending, praised the police officer for her 'resilience' as she managed to take Dixon, from Perth, into custody from the scene. 'She does not wish to engage with social workers,' he said. 'She has attention deficit disorder and oppositional defiance disorder. These are conditions, rather than a state of mind.' Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC told Dixon her refusal to work with social workers limited the sentencing options for the court - but gave her another chance. She said: 'She has failed to engage with the social worker to any meaningful extent and has indicated her refusal to do any community-based disposal. 'It is a serious crime on indictment and she impeded the police in their duty. I do accept the officer was momentarily injured and was able to drive later. 'You caused the officer to be blinded in that way. It seems that you were railing against authority. The court has to impose a sentence and you are limiting your options unless you want a custodial sentence. 'It is in your best interests to engage with social work. I will give you another chance. The more co-operative you are the more favourably you may be looked upon.' After being assured by Mr Holmes that Dixon would change her anti-authority stance, the sentence was deferred until next month for background reports. Another recent case involving Dixon was in April 2021 when she admitted to phoning medical staff based at local clinics and telling them she planned to torch a house. Perth Sheriff Court was told Dixon was suffering from 'stress and anxiety' because she lived close to the family of the man accused of murdering her brother. Dixon's brother Barry Dixon, 22, was killed by Robbie Smullen, 24, in a love triangle knife attack in 2019. Dixon's brother Barry Dixon (pictured) was killed by Robbie Smullen in a love triangle knife attack in 2019 Robbie Smullen (pictured), who denied murder and claimed he acted in self-defence, fatally stabbed Mr Dixon in the heart after finding him at his former girlfriend's flat Fiscal depute David Currie told the court at the time: 'She became irate. She stated she was going to burn down the house.' Sheriff Neil Bowie said: 'In all the circumstances I am prepared to deal with this by way of a financial penalty' and he fined Dixon 450. Robbie Smullen was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Barry Dixon, 22, in Wallace Court, Perth, on June 4, 2019. Smullen, who denied murder and claimed he acted in self-defence, fatally stabbed Mr Dixon in the heart after finding him at his former girlfriend's flat. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that before the attack, Robbie Smullen had argued with Shannon Beattie, the mother of his child, as she suspected he was the father of another woman's baby. Ms Beattie, 25, said she met with up with Mr Dixon before returning to her flat where they were drinking. She said that nothing sexual occurred between them. The court heard that Mr Dixon was in his boxer shorts when Smullen arrived at the flat in the early hours. A fight then broke out between the two men, which ended up with Mr Dixon sustaining fatal stab wounds. An urban explorer has shown the condition the UK's first ever SeaLife centre has been left in after it was abandoned six years ago. Daniel Simms, 35, is from West Yorkshire but travelled to the Barcaldine SeaLife centre on the shores of Loch Creran in Oban. It opened in 1979, the first of its kind in the country, but closed in October 2018 after visitor numbers plummeted. The site lies abandoned - with tanks and enclosures still in place, and cleaning chemicals and animal food left to gather dust. Daniel Simms, 35, travelled to the Barcaldine SeaLife centre on the shores of Loch Creran in Oban It opened in 1979, the first of its kind in the country, but closed in October 2018 after visitor numbers plummeted The site lies abandoned - with tanks and enclosures still in place, and cleaning chemicals and animal food left to gather dust Pictured: The now derelict interactive touchpool in the abandoned SeaLife sanctuary Daniel said: 'I research abandoned places, and I came across an article about the SeaLife Centre shutting down a few years back - and I wanted to see if it was still there. 'The weather up there was absolutely crazy - it was completely flooding. We couldn't really find the exact spot because it was so overgrown. 'Originally, we found the gift shop, and then we started seeing the other buildings around the sides - and realised that everything had just been left. 'There were cleaning chemicals and hazardous materials that shouldn't have been left. There was food for the animals left, which was really weird.' The explorer initially found the gift shop of the sanctuary but then discovered the other buildings and 'realised that everything had just been left' Urban explorer Daniel pictured inside the abandoned SeaLife Centre in Scotland The explorer researches abandoned buildings to explore and documents his adventures The centre was known for its otter sanctuary, which opened in 2002. Pictured: Daniel exploring the site Some tanks have been left completely untouched with the glass fully intact despite years of being empty The centre was known for its otter sanctuary, which opened in 2002, and made headlines in 2011 after having a 'royal wedding' ceremony for otters Isla and Lewis. Oban's SeaLife centre also boasted a seal rescue and rehabilitation facility, offering guests the opportunity to learn more about the native creatures. Daniel said: 'We spotted the otter area - there was a sign we could measure ourselves against to see what size otter we would be. 'We mainly spent time in the seal section - we were there for about an hour and forty minutes. Pictured: The abandoned seal hospital used as a rescue and rehabilitation facility The centre made headlines in 2011 after having a 'royal wedding' ceremony for otters Isla and Lewis Oban's SeaLife centre also boasted a seal rescue and rehabilitation facility, offering guests the opportunity to learn more about the native creatures Daniel spent nearly two hours exploring just the seal section of the sanctuary alone 'We saw quite a few signs of vandalism - one side of one of the tanks had been smashed. 'That must have taken some effort, because the glass in aquariums is really thick. 'I've no idea how they managed that.' The 35-year-old has a YouTube channel called BeardedReality where he posts videos of his adventures. Daniel found a large tank full of water as well as further untouched areas. There were some signs of vandalism and Daniel even found a smashed tank (pictured) The 35-year-old has a YouTube channel called BeardedReality where he posts videos of his adventures Daniel found a large tank full of water as well as further untouched areas He added: 'On the other side, all the tanks were untouched which we thought was strange. 'There was a big circular tank which still had water in it - the water must have been there for six years now without draining away. 'The whole thing is really interesting - and the fact that it's in such good condition is surprising!' The explorer was surprised at how good the condition of the sanctuary was despite being left for nearly six years Daniel managed to find a tank that still had water inside of it. Pictured: The inside of a drained area The sanctuary was closed 'with a heavy heart' according to a statement. Pictured: Signs of vandalism, graffiti and smashed glass A statement on the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary website said: 'Sadly visitor numbers to the attraction have been in decline and after comprehensively reviewing every possible option, there isn't a viable way to sustain the significant investment that is required in order to keep the sanctuary open. 'Therefore we have come to the sad conclusion to close the sanctuary on the 31st October 2018. 'This was an enormously tough decision which has been reached with a heavy heart and with the utmost consideration.' Millions of bereaved parents including Waterloo Road actress Kym Marsh and Love Island star Malin Andersson have welcomed the introduction of baby loss certificates. The voluntary government scheme offers those who experience a loss pre-24 weeks' gestation a certificate to formally recognise their devastating loss. No clinical confirmation is needed, and any parent can apply for a certificate no matter the type of loss, meaning stillbirths, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies are all included. The scheme, which came into effect on Thursday, is designed to recognise the grief of parents who lose a baby early in a pregnancy. Until now, no pregnancy lost before 24 weeks needed to be registered. Currently, only parents who have lost a baby since September 2018 can apply for a certificate, but there are plans to gradually roll the scheme out to all people in the UK, no matter how many years ago their loss was. The move is being supported by celebrities including actress and singer Kym Marsh, 47, who was left heartbroken when her son Archie passed away at just 21 weeks following a premature birth in February 2009. Also throwing her support behind the change is Love Island star Malin Andersson who lost her daughter Consy in January 2019, when she died a month after birth, and has campaigned for baby loss awareness ever since. Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Ms Marsh said not having a baby loss certificate was 'one of the big things that really affected me' when Archie was born. Malin Andersson, 31, has also spoken out about losing her baby daughter Consy a month after her premature birth She said: 'I gave birth to my baby boy and I left hospital and it was like he didn't exist, because I didn't have that recognition, that certificate. READ MORE: Certificates marking the lives of lost babies to be given to mothers to recognise their grief under new scheme Advertisement 'It was almost like I'd just gone in with some medical problem and the fact that now people are going to get this recognition is huge.' Ms Marsh bravely opened up about the long-term impact of losing a child as she said she still celebrates Archie's birthday on the day of his birth with husband Jamie Lomas, while her niece, who has lost multiple babies, celebrates each due date. She continued: 'From the second that you find out that you're pregnant that's your baby, that's your child. And whether your baby was ever here, never here, that's still your child.' She added that the implementation of baby loss certificates would mean people could 'keep their children alive'. Ms Marsh revealed how she did not think it 'right' to scatter Archie's ashes because she did not know where he might have liked for them to go. But when she discovered her father was sadly going to pass away, the couple made the decision to lay him to rest, 15 years after his birth, alongside him. Kym Marsh described the introduction of baby loss certificates as 'fantastic news' Ms Marsh is now planning on laying her son Archie to rest with her father (pictured left) Ms Marsh is one of millions of parents who could now receive recognition of their children, years after they passed away. The new certificates, which are not compulsory, will be official but not legal documents. The idea was formed as part of the Government's response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review, with parents able to access the free service from 9am today. The certificates will be available for either parent to access following a loss under 24 weeks since September 2018, with the Government planning to expand eligibility in the near future. The Pregnancy Loss Review which resulted in the change was co-chaired by campaigner Zoe Clark-Coates, who tragically lost five children along with her husband Andy. Ms Clark-Coates was appointed by the Department of Health after setting up her own charity to support grieving parents going through loss. She was awarded an MBE for services to the baby loss community and improvement of bereavement care in June 2021. Maria Caulfield, Minister for the Women's Health Strategy, said parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks can feel there is a 'lack of recognition of that baby' She is supported in her work by celebrities such as Love Island's Malin Andersson, who is an ambassador for the baby loss charity Sands. Speaking about the certificates, Ms Andersson said her own daughter Consy had been born prematurely and was treated for a month at London's Great Ormond Street hospital before sadly passing away. She said: 'As my story was so public and I'd frequently talk about Consy on my social media, raising awareness of baby loss, so many women reached out with their own stories of miscarriages, stillborn, ectopic pregnancies, and every pregnancy matters. 'A certificate would mean so much to women who have lost their baby before 24 weeks because you feel recognised not just for the pain that you went through but also showing you that you did conceive a beautiful baby here.' She added: 'I know a certificate won't bring the baby back, but what it does for mothers and fathers, it gives them acknowledgement that the baby was once here.' On a visit to a family bereavement centre at the maternity unit, Maria Caulfield, Minister for the Women's Health Strategy, said parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks can feel there is a 'lack of recognition of that baby'. Speaking at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, she said: 'Getting an official certificate means a lot. 'Parents feel it's so important to see their baby's name on a certificate that they can share with family, and friends and remember that baby. 'We've had parents user-testing the system which is why it's taken a little bit longer to get up and running than we would have liked. 'It's a very difficult time for parents, even if they don't do it straight away... so we want to make it as easy as possible.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says President Joe Biden is doing an 'impression' of Donald Trump with new reports he is weighing an overhaul of how the country handles asylum claims at the southern border. Reports emerged Wednesday that Biden is considering executive action that would raise the standard used in the initial asylum screening interview at the border, which assesses whether migrants have 'credible fear' to be fleeing their origin countries. It would also put into effect elements of a bill that was thwarted earlier this month, including closing the border to new entrants if more than 8,500 cross in a given day or 5,000 on average per day over the course of a week. 'Doing Trump impressions isn't how we beat Trump,' Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote in a post on X in response to the reports. AOC says Joe Biden is 'impersonating' Donald Trump with reports of a new executive order that would overhaul the asylum-seeking process at the southern border Progressives are sounding the alarm against reports President Joe Biden's is considering an executive order that would mimic many of Donald Trump's policies at the border. Pictured: An aerial view shows an immigrant group trying to cross the Texan border despite heightened security measures in Eagle Pass, Texas 'Seeking asylum is a legal right of all people,' the progressive squad member added. 'In the face of authoritarian threat, we should not buckle on our principles - we should commit to them.' 'The mere suggestion is outrageous and the President should refuse to sign it.' Reports that Biden plans to overhaul how asylum seekers are handled at the border follows the historic impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this month as Republicans rebuke the administration's immigration policies. The House impeachment articles said Mayorkas breached public trust and had a 'willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law.' Progressive lawmakers have grown increasingly upset with Biden over a handful of issues, including the border crisis and his backing of Israel in the war with Hamas terrorists. Michigan progressives are planning to vote 'uncommitted' instead of Biden in the primary next week. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), a fellow squad member, is backing the effort to protest vote against the president. Meanwhile, a former senior administration official from Donald Trump's White House said he is 'obsessed' with getting the military involved at the southern border, according to The Washington Post. And if elected for another term in office, Trump has vowed he would prioritize tightening back up the southern border and said there would be 'the largest domestic deportation' in U.S. history with him at the helm. Biden is preparing executive action that would increase standards during 'credible fear interviews' for asylum seekers crossing the southern border, meaning it's likely less would be considered for asylum in the U.S. AOC said 'impressions' of Trump isn't how to beat him in the 2024 election The order, according to a Wednesday report, would adopt a 'last in, first out' policy that would more quickly deport migrants seeking asylum that don't meet reasonable fear requirements. Pictured: Migrants cross under razor wire at the U.S.-Mexico border on February 6, 2024 AOC says the proposal mimics what former President Donald Trump did with his border policies. Trump says he would conduct 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history' if president again The southern border crisis, economy and Biden's advancing age are all major concerns for voters heading into the 2024 presidential election. To address the first issue, Biden is considering bypassing Congress after repeatedly blaming the legislative body for the border crisis and taking unilateral action to make it harder for migrants to pass the initial asylum screening interview. Biden's order, officials familiar with deliberations tell NBC News, would also allow more quick deportations of recently arrived migrants who do not meet this increased criteria. The new policies would instruct asylum officers to raise the standards for 'credible fear interviews,' which assess whether migrants have a reasonable concern to fear for their lives or safety in the countries from which they fled. Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be told to adopt a 'last in, first out' policy, which would prioritize recently arrived migrants for deportation, the officials revealed. Biden is also considering closing the border if 8,500 migrants attempt to cross in a single day, which is a law repeatedly used by former President Doanld Trump. The same action would be taken if crossings average 5,000 per day over the course of a week. House Republicans rejected border negotiations earlier this month, even though it included several sweeping laws that would help quell the southern border crisis. House Speaker Mike Johnson has called on Biden to use the 212(f) authority, which gives the president leeway to block entry of certain immigrants into the U.S. When Biden entered office in January 2021, he immediately put an end to several of Trump's policies at the southern border that were put in place to quell surging migration. This has led to massive increases in border crossings every day and exacerbated the illegal immigration and drug smuggling crisis. Implementation of reversal of these policies is ultimately what led to Mayorkas' impeachment, which was a way for House Republicans to punish the administration for handling of the southern border and migration. In December, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered 301,983 migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border a new high in the number of single-month crossings. The order would also include closing the border to new migrants when crossings hit a certain number 8,500 in a single. This echoes a provision in the Senate border deal, which would have activated expulsions of migrants if the number of illegal border crossings reached above 5,000 daily for a five-day average Migrants cross the border to be received by Customs and Border Protection to be processed and have their asylum claims assessed Trump is looking to model a new immigration model off of a program under 1950s President Dwight D. Eisenhower known as 'Operation Wetback,' which is a derogatory slur used to refer to a Mexican living in the US without official authorization. This program used military tactics to gather and remove migrants working in the U.S. Trump pledges that if president again he would immediately launch a similar program that would lead to 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.' 'Americans can expect that immediately upon President Trump's return to the Oval Office, he will restore all of his prior policies, implement brand new crackdowns that will send shock waves to all the world's criminal smugglers, and marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation in American history,' Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. Some claim that military round up and deportations would bottleneck detention spaces, but Trump and his team have said they would get around this issue by building mass deportation camps. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle issued another grovelling apology today after he 'bent Commons rules' to save Keir Starmer from a Gaza revolt. Sir Lindsay said he 'regretted' his actions as ministers openly discussed whether he can hang on, with more than 50 MPs calling for him to go following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight. During brutal exchanges in the Commons, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for 'damaging' Sir Lindsay - suggesting he had been unable to resist pressure from Sir Keir to select an amendment to an SNP motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire'. Meanwhile, the Scottish nationalists have formally stated they have no confidence in Sir Lindsay, and Downing Street repeatedly declined back him. The amendment decision - taken in defiance of advice from the Commons Clerks - meant the SNP did not get a chance to vote on their own Opposition Day debate. It sparked a walkout from both the SNP and Tories. But Sir Lindsay initially tried to leave one of his deputies to field anger in the House, before MPs finally dragged him in to face the music. In a grovelling and near-tearful apology last night, Sir Lindsay acknowledged he regretted the choice, arguing that he was motivated by anxiety about the safety of MPs from pro-Palestinian protesters. He flatly denied that he had been influenced by partisan concerns, despite claims Sir Keir personally lobbied him and he was told he would have 'blood on his hands' if the amendment was not selected. Sir Keir has 'categorically' denied threatening Sir Lindsay. Sir Lindsay briefly took the chair in the Commons this morning, without referring to the crisis. He returned after meeting senior figures including SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. 'I will reiterate I made a judgement call that didn't end up in the position where I expected it to,' Sir Lindsay said. 'I regret it. I apologise to the SNP I apologise and I apologise to the House. I made a mistake. We do make mistakes. I own up to mine.' He added: 'I will defend every Member in this House. Every Member matters to me in this House.' His voice faltering, Sir Lindsay added: 'And it has been said, both sides, I never ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists.' Sir Lindsay said: 'I have a duty of care, and I say that, and if my mistake is looking after Members I am guilty.' But many MPs are already convinced his situation is 'terminal', with jockeying for his job already under way. In a grim sign for Sir Linday, supporters of the no-confidence motion include the chair of the powerful Tory 1922 committee Graham Brady. Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions'. Ms Caulfield told Sky News she would 'struggle to support him', adding ominously: 'We'll see what happens in the next 24, 48 hours.' Lindsay Hoyle took the Speaker's chair in the House this morning as it emerged 49 MPs have now signed a parliamentary motion voicing no-confidence following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight Sir Keir (pictured on a visit to Three Bridges in West Sussex today) personally lobbied Sir Lindsay to choose Labour's amendment Sir Keir 'categorically' denied threatening the Speaker to get his amendment selected The House of Commons descended into chaos last night as SNP and Tory MPs walked out of the chamber in a furious row over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire During brutal exchanges in the Commons, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for 'damaging' Sir Lindsay - suggesting he had been unable to resist pressure from Keir Starmer Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions' A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown What happened in the Commons yesterday? It was a day when arcane procedural wrangling clashed with a decades-old global crisis. The SNP had laid a trap for Labour on its Opposition Day, when it has control of debate topics. The nationalists put down a motion demanding an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza. In a desperate bid to stop his pro-Palestinian MPs rebelling to support the motion, Sir Keir then laid an amendment with similarly wording - but crucially linking a ceasefire to Hamas releasing Israeli hostages. But the government looked to have thwarted that by laying their own amendment merely urging a 'humanitarian pause'. By parliamentary convention, a government amendment would normally be the only amendment taken on an Opposition Day motion. That avoids a situation where opposition parties amend each other's motions. It also ensures that the party whose Opposition Day it is gets a 'clean' vote on their own motion, as - in contrast to other debates - that vote happens before the vote on the amendment. However, Sir Lindsay overruled the opinion of the Commons chief clerk to overturn that convention. He selected both the Labour and government amendments for debate and vote. That sparked fury from the SNP, who pointed out that they would be deprived of a clean vote on their motion. As anger reached a crescendo at the end of the debate - with Sir Lindsay nowhere to be seen as one of his deputies struggled to contain the backlash - Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt announced that the government would boycott the proceedings. At that point many Tories and the SNP walked out. There was a highly unusual vote on whether the House should sit in private - something that has not happened since 2001 - to discuss the Speaker, although it was rejected. Eventually Sir Lindsay reappeared in the chair to face his critics, looking close to tears as he apologised for the chaos his decision had wreaked. He argued that refusing to select both amendments could have put MPs in danger from pro-Palestinian activists - something opponents derided as bowing to mob rule. Some Tories blamed Labour threats for the Speaker's decision - particularly surprising as he was elected to make a break from similar 'rule-bending' by John Bercow. Once he departed, Deputy Speaker Rosie Winterton was left to pass the Labour amendment 'on the nod' without a vote, although Tories said she should have held one. Advertisement Reports of a visit from Sir Keir raised questions about the degree to which the Labour leader leaned on the Speaker as the decision on votes was being considered. But Sir Keir said today that he 'simply urged' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to have 'the broadest possible debate' by putting a number of options in front of MPs during the Gaza ceasefire debate. Speaking at a train depot in Sussex he said: 'I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever. 'I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate. 'So that actually the most important thing , which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them.' At Business Questions in the Commons, Ms Mordaunt swiped that Sir Keir was 'happy to do what he knows to be wrong'. 'We have seen into the heart of Labour's leadership,' she said. 'Nothing is more important than the interests of the Labour Party. The Labour Party before principle, the Labour Party before individual rights, the Labour Party before the reputation and honour of the decent man that sits in Speaker's chair. The Labour Party before fairness, integrity and democracy.' Ms Mordaunt's tone was gentler than last night, when she attacked Sir Lindsay for 'hijacking' the debate and 'undermining the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Downing Street repeatedly refused to say whether the PM has confidence in the Speaker. 'The Prime Minister's focus is on addressing the situation in the Middle East,' the premier's spokesman said. 'And as I say, that is what he's spending his time focused on. Matters for the House, as I say, are matters for the House.' The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour's amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP's original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an 'immediate humanitarian pause'. QUENTIN LETTS: Starmer's gambit backfired like a vintage Lagonda, leaving a broken Sir Lindsay on the verge of tears Advertisement He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move, which provoked uproar in the chamber. After calls for him to return to the chamber to explain his move, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures. Amid shouts of 'resign', he said: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up.' But Tobias Ellwood, whose family home was recently targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, rejected the argument that Sir Lindsay needed to select the amendment to protect MPs from backlash. The former minister told TalkTV: 'I don't agree with that. I don't understand I listened carefully to when he said that and slightly raised my eyebrows. My family have been affected by this... 'I've been very clear, despite that, I have people outside my house which was absolutely bizarre, but I think this idea is somehow the Speaker was trying to then offer options for MPs to then choose is wrong. 'We'd have done better for all three parties which I then said in the debate yesterday to go away, work out a sensible line, a motion that the whole house could agree. 'So, the world can see that we are united in wanting to, to move this forward to buy. It really was a circus yesterday.' The evening's mayhem - in scenes reminiscent of the collapse of Liz Truss and Brexit battles at Westminster - raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker in a plot some are dubbing 'Just Stop Hoyle'. An early day motion tabled by senior Tory William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker has already attracted support from 33 Conservative and SNP MPs. Some 53 MPs have now signed a Commons motion voicing no confidence in Sir Lindsay In a protest prompted by the actions of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, huge numbers of MPs deserted the Commons following angry exchanges The bid to oust the Speaker has been branded 'Just Stop Hoyle', a play on the anti-fossil fuel campaign group One veteran Tory MP told MailOnline the situation was 'absolutely disastrous'. 'I think he may well be in terminal difficulty,' they said of Sir Lindsay's position. 'He was warned by his clerks, who wrote to confirm the advice. He ignored the advice. It was the biggest cock-up I have ever seen since I have been an MP.' The MP added: 'The rumour is that he was threatened by the Labour Party. If he buckled to that sort of threat, he doesn't deserve to be Speaker.' Other MPs are already talking up their credentials to take over from, with one candidate joking they could maintain order in the chamber because they are a martial arts expert. Sir Lindsay previously ran into trouble in January when it emerged he was intending to fly the Palestinian flag at Parliament. The Commons circulated a diary note that the symbolic move would happen for a meeting with the Palestinian 'ambassador' - even though there is no such thing as the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state. But the idea was dropped after a backlash from MPs that Sir Lindsay was wading into politics. He also caused some chatter by accidentally referring to Sir Keir as 'Prime Minister' during a PMQs session recently. When he became Speaker in 2019 Sir Lindsay stressed that he would draw a line under the approach used by John Bercow - who was accused of bending rules to help opponents of Brexit. Sir Lindsay said at the time: 'I've come into this job as a referee, and that's where I want to be. It shouldn't be about me, it's about the Chamber.' Sir Lindsay said he took the decision to allow all sides to 'express their views' and that he was 'very, very concerned about the security' of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict. But SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speaker's position was 'not now intolerable' and claimed his party had been treated with 'complete and utter contempt'. He also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour's chief whip had exerted pressure on Sir Lindsay, a former Labour MP, ahead of his decision to pick the party's amendment for debate. Labour's amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation. Had the Speaker not chosen it, Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire could have been pushed to back the SNP motion, in a repeat of a major rebellion against the Labour leadership in November. However, Labour frontbencher John Healey told BBC Newsnight it was 'totally untrue that he (the Speaker) was put under pressure'. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (pictured), both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square Sir Lindsay was later absent from shambolic scenes in the Commons - prompting suggestions he had gone 'into hiding' - as MPs on all sides engaged in a parliamentary slanging match. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout. The three key votes that plunged the Commons into chaos SNP - 'immediate ceasefire' The nationalists called for an unconditional 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Unlike Labour's amendment, the motion also called for an end to the 'collective punishment of the Palestinian people'. It was not voted on as the Labour amendment successfully passed. Labour - 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' Labour's amendment used softer language around Israel's military action in Gaza, stating they 'cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence'. It also removed references to 'collective punishment' from the SNP's original motion. Government - 'immediate humanitarian pauses' The Government amendment, laid down late on Tuesday night, reflects the latest position outlined by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. It calls for an immediate 'pause' in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza and release Israeli hostages. This would set up the conditions for a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire' which ensures 'security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians' in a two-state solution. The amendment was not voted on after the Government withdrew it in protest to the speaker tabling Labour's amendment. Advertisement MPs then voted on whether the Commons should sit in private for the first time since 2001 as they put pressure on Sir Lindsay to return to the chamber. The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square yesterday. A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he later returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown. He told MPs: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up. 'I do take responsibility for my actions, and that's why I want to meet with the key players who have been involved.' The Speaker attempted to explain that he intended to allow the House 'the widest range of propositions on which to express a view'. But he angrily denied accusations he had met with Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray in a bid to stitch up the debate in Labour's favour. One insider said Labour had warned him their MPs would be at increased risk of attack by pro-Palestine campaigners if they could not vote for their own ceasefire motion. 'He was told he would have blood on his hands if he didn't allow this vote,' the source said. In his statement on Wednesday, the Speaker acknowledged he was 'very, very concerned about the security of all MPs'. But former Tory cabinet minister Kit Malthouse said he would have 'crossed a Rubicon' if he had allowed threats and intimidation from outside to influence the proceedings of the Commons. Sir Keir wanted to prevent his MPs from backing the SNP motion demanding an unqualified 'immediate ceasefire' by tabling his own amendment. The Labour amendment caveated that Hamas terrorists must hand back hostages and lay down weapons first. Sir Lindsay's ploy to allow all three main parties - the Tories, Labour and SNP - to put forward their own position was undone when the Government boycotted proceedings. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Ms Mordaunt also suggested the Speaker's decision may have put MPs at greater risk, warning that he had 'raised temperatures...on an issue where feelings are already running high'. She accused the Speaker of having taken action 'against the longstanding and established processes and procedures of this House', adding: 'For that reason the Government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on today's proceedings.' That move prompted last night's chaos in the Commons after the SNP were informed the Government's action meant they were unlikely to get a vote on their original motion. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had looked to avoid another major Commons revolt by his MPs over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war This evening's mayhem - in scenes not seen since the Brexit battles at Westminster - has raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker Mr Flynn demanded to know why Sir Lindsay was not in his chair, and asked how he could be brought to the House to explain why the SNP's views are 'irrelevant to him'. After his request for the Commons to be suspended were denied by Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton - who was filling in for the absent Sir Lindsay - SNP MPs and Tory MPs then staged their walkout. MPs later voted 212 to 20, majority 192, to reject a proposal for Commons to sit in private. Labour's amendment pushing for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza - with caveats - was then approved by the Commons without a vote. Dame Rosie was also forced to deny suggestions that Sir Lindsay was influenced by threats from senior Labour figures to accept the party's amendment. Tory MP Philip Davies referred to claims that the Speaker had been 'left in no doubt that Labour would bring him down after the general election unless he called Labour's Gaza amendment'. But Dame Rosie replied: 'That tweet is wrong and the statement is incorrect.' Labour's defence spokesman John Healey insisted the party had put 'no pressure on the Speaker', and said he had been right to allow the widest possible debate on Gaza. But even some Labour MPs questioned his judgment. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky News: 'I wish he hadn't taken this decision. Confidence in him has been significantly undermined and I speak as a friend of his.' Labour has been riven by divisions over Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. While Sir Keir has argued for Israel's right to self-defence, dozens of his MPs have been calling for Israel to end the war. Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant said Sir Lindsay's decision had created a 'constitutional crisis'. But fellow grandee Sir Charles Walker predicted that Sir Lindsay would survive, adding: 'This furore will blow over. 'When the House of Commons comes to its senses it will realise very quickly that the removal of the Speaker will only lead to metaphorical champagne corks popping in Tehran.' The SNP, which ended up being unable to vote on its own motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, reacted with fury. The party's Pete Wishart said the ruling was 'ridiculous', adding: '(Sir Lindsay) has totally lost it and this will come back to haunt him.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night. Halima Begum, chief executive of the ActionAid UK charity, said: 'We are extremely disappointed to see the utter paralysis in Parliament this evening. 'Democracy is a precious commodity and should be treated as such. 'A great disservice has been done to the British people, who expected their political parties and elected representatives to conduct a meaningful debate concerning an issue on which depends the lives of over a hundred Israeli hostages, and hundreds of thousands of Gazans suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises we have seen in recent times.' Oxfam's Katy Chakrabortty said: 'It is a disgrace that there has been so much playground politics in Parliament this evening, while so many lives are at stake. 'The people of Gaza can't wait for our politicians to stop squabbling. Much of the country lies in ruins and Rafah, where many Palestinian families have been forced to flee, is under threat of a full-scale military offensive.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, branded the Commons chaos as 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst' Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, told LBC radio the Commons chaos was 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst.' 'Politicians are trying to save themselves, rather than saving an entire nation from genocide,' he continued. Last night's drama came after a previous vote on a call for a Gaza ceasefire tabled by the SNP last November resulted in 10 Labour frontbenchers resigning in order to support the demand. Sir Keir's efforts to avoid a repeat of that revolt this evening were thrown into doubt earlier when the Government put down its own change to the latest SNP motion. Convention suggested Sir Lindsay would only choose the Government amendment to put to a vote this afternoon. That would have raised the prospect of Sir Keir seeing many Labour MPs join the SNP in the division lobbies even if he ordered them to abstain - as many have been vocal in urging an immediate ceasefire. However, Sir Lindsay sparked uproar in the chamber when he confirmed he was selecting both the Labour amendment and the Government one - over the advice of his own clerks. The SNP cried foul saying that it deprived them of a 'clean' vote on their own Opposition Day motion. And one senior Conservative was heard shouting, 'Bring back Bercow!' - a reference to Tory complaints that former Speaker John Bercow bent procedures to help opponents of Brexit. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. But Sir Lindsay said there was a precedent, adding that he thought the operation of standing orders in the House was outdated. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. 'This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation, and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options,' Sir Lindsay said. Britain slapped fresh sanctions on Vladimir Putin cronies in the diamond trade today in a new bid to hinder the Kremlin war machine ahead of the second anniversary of the Ukraine invasion. Lord Cameron unveiled 50 new sanctions against people and firmed linked to the Russian leader and vowed to back Kyiv 'for as long as it takes'. The Foreign Office said they target key sources of Russian revenue, clamping down on metals, diamonds and the energy trade, in a move designed to cut off funding for President Vladimir Putin's war efforts from every angle. Among those targeted are two Russian diamond companies and Pavel Marinychev, the new CEO of Alrosa, the largest state-owned Russian diamond producer. Officials added that the sanctions would also crack down on those supplying Russia's military with munitions such as rocket launch systems, missiles and explosives. They include ammo supplier Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise. Lord Cameron said continued allied economic pressure would mean Mr Putin 'cannot afford this illegal invasion' to continue, adding: 'Putin mistakenly thought that because Russia's economy is bigger than Ukraine's, he would gain a quick victory. But the economies of Ukraine's friends are 25 times bigger than Russia's.' It came after he last night vowed Russia 'must be made to pay' as he confronted Moscow's foreign minister over the invasion of Ukraine and death of Alexei Navalny. The Foreign Secretary used a G20 meeting in Rio to challenge Sergey Lavrov over the Kremlin's ongoing war and 'murder' of the opposition leader. David Cameron vowed Russia 'must be made to pay' as he confronted Moscow's foreign minister over the invasion of Ukraine and death of Alexei Navalny Among those targeted are two Russian diamond companies and Pavel Marinychev, the new CEO of Alrosa, the largest state-owned Russian diamond producer. Pictured are gems including a rare 242-carat rough diamond that was auctioned by Alrosa in Moscow in 2021. The Foreign Secretary used a G20 meeting in Rio to challenge Sergey Lavrov over the Kremlin's ongoing war and 'murder' of an opposition leader Mr Navalny, 47, is said to have fallen unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the penal colony where he was serving a three-decade sentence Lord Cameron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are pictured speaking at the G20 foreign ministers meeting The stormy meeting also saw the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Norway call out Russia. Mr Lavrov, known as Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack dog, is said to have hit back at Western 'fabrication' over the death of Mr Navalny. He was also mocked for setting out an 'alternative set of facts' about events in Ukraine. Lord Cameron's address to G20 foreign ministers came shortly after Britain slapped sanctions on the chiefs of the Arctic penal colony where Mr Navalny was killed. 'Russia must be made to pay for its aggression,' the Foreign Secretary told the summit. 'There is no more serious an issue for the world, and it's the world that's gathered here, than one country invading another in this completely illegal and unacceptable way. 'And the whole world should get behind Ukraine, should support Ukraine, and should call out the illegality of what Putin and his cronies have done.' According to the BBC, Lord Cameron was joined by foreign ministers from France, Canada and Germany in naming Mr Navalny and blaming Russia for his 'murder' in front of Mr Lavrov. The Kremlin politician was reported to have looked away and at his phone, before using his own speech to deny allegations of murder and calling them a 'fabrication'. Norway's foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said Mr Lavrov replied to Lord Cameron's remarks with 'a set of alternative facts' about events in Ukraine. Mr Navalny, 47, is said to have fallen unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the penal colony where he was serving a three-decade sentence. Those in charge of his detention in the brutal prison camp were yesterday hit with asset freezes and travel bans by Britain. The death of the vociferous Kremlin opponent occurred at the remote IK-3 prison - known as 'Polar Wolf' - in the Arctic Circle. The Foreign Office pointed to the barbaric treatment of Mr Navalny, who spent his life to exposing corruption by Mr Putin's regime, while being held as a political prisoner. He was kept in solitary confinement for up to two weeks at a time, denied medical treatment, and forced to walk in -32C weather while detained at the penal colony. The Foreign Office named six sanctioned individuals as Colonel Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, the head of the 'Polar Wolf' penal colony, as well as five deputy heads Sergey Korzhov, Vasily Vydrin, Vladimir Pilipchik, Aleksandr Golyakov, and Aleksandr Obraztsov. The six men are now banned from Britain and subject to an asset freeze preventing UK companies and individuals from dealing with them. Senior Conservative MP Alicia Kearns warned the action being taken by Britain in response to Mr Navalny's killing was not yet tough enough. 'We need to go further than this. A lot further,' said the chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee. Robert Kemp, 19, was arrested and charged in connection with a break-in of a Secret Service vehicle belonging to agents guarding Naomi Biden A 19-year-old and a 14-year-old were arrested in connection with the break-in of a Secret Service vehicle used by agents guarding Naomi Biden, the oldest grandchild of President Joe Biden. Robert Kemp, a Washington resident, was charged in early February after investigators recovered the sedan that Kemp is believed to have used as the get-away-care in the break-in. In November, agents opened fire after suspects tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle outside of Naomi Biden's Georgetown home. Kemp's criminal complaint states that the Secret Service agents said that they saw a red sedan stop on Nov. 12 near a 'Secret Service limo used for members of the first family.' A D.C. police officer later found the getaway car, a stolen red Toyota Corolla, abandoned in 16th Street Heights neighborhood of Washington. Inside it were items taken from the Secret Service vehicle, including a protective vest, night-vision goggles, a first aid bag and a computer router. They are estimated to be worth at least $1,000. Also found were McDonald's bag and food receipt; the court complaint states. Fingerprints for the two suspects were found on the McDonald's items. The fingerprints on the items led to the arrests. Naomi Biden is the daughter of Hunter Biden and his first wife Kathleen Buhle; she is the oldest grandchild of President Joe Biden Joe Biden and Naomi Biden together in 2011 Kemp was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle pertaining to the Corolla and theft in connection with the items taken from the Secret Service vehicle. When the break-in took place, one of the agents 'observed a black male, legs hanging out of the broken driver side rear window' of the Secret Service's black Ford Expedition, according to the complaint. As the agent yelled police, the suspect fled in the sedan, 'almost striking' one of the agents, who fired his weapon. Kemp was arrested Feb. 7. and is freed on bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 29. The 14-year-old was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of armed carjacking. It is alleged that he was also a member of the group that robbed three ride-share drivers of their vehicles at gunpoint in Northwest Washington in mid-January and early February. A police spokesman told the Washington Post the youth was later linked to the break-in of the Secret Service vehicle. He was charged as a juvenile, and his name was not released. The affidavit says the 14-year-old had been wearing a court-ordered GPS tracking device that put him in the area of the Georgetown break-in on Nov. 12. Naomi Biden and her husband Peter Neal were married at the White House in November 2022 and are seen on the South Lawn with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden Above, Baby Beau, Hunter Biden, Naomi Biden, Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff at the National Christmas Tree lighting in November 2022 Naomi Biden is the daughter of Hunter Biden and his first wife Kathleen Buhle. As President Biden's oldest grandchild, she receives Secret Service protection as a direct member of the first family. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Peter Neal and works at the law firm Arnold and Porter. It is unclear if Naomi Biden heard the shooting but she was made aware of the incident afterward, sources told ABC News. Washington has seen a significant rise in the number of carjackings and car thefts this year. Police have reported more than 750 carjackings in 2023 and more than 6,000 reports of stolen vehicles in the district. Public officials have been at risk. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was carjacked near the Capitol in October by three armed assailants, who stole his car but didn't physically harm him. Additionally, violent crime in Washington has also been on the rise this year, up more than 40% compared with last year. Early last year, Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in her apartment building, suffering bruises while escaping serious injury. They criticized the use of politically charged words like 'comrade' in the curriculum But parents say the materials contained no actual black history and were too 'ideological' Parents of kids at a Brooklyn elementary school have expressed concern after their children were given 'politicized' Black Lives Matter coloring books for Black History Month which contained 'no black history'. The workbooks given to all PS 321 William Penn Elementary students use drawings to promote 13 principles of Black Lives Movement at School, under titles including 'Queer Affirming,' 'Transgender Affirming,' and 'Restorative Justice'. The title 'Empathy', is explained as 'engaging comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts'. The phrase sparked concern from at least one parent of a fourth grader, whose grandparents fled Communist China before settling in the US, the Free Press reports. 'Using the word comrades comes from Communist times,' said the 'shocked' parent told the outlet. 'They are using words that I don't think are appropriate for elementary school.' Parents of kids at a Brooklyn elementary school have expressed concern after their children were given 'politicized' Black Lives Matter coloring books for Black History Month The workbooks were given to students at PS 321 William Penn Elementary students use drawings to promote 13 principles of Black Lives Movement at School, under titles including 'Queer Affirming,' ' Transgender Affirming,' and 'Restorative Justice' The use of the workbook only came to light when students of the Kindergarten to fifth grade school were learning at home due to a snow day last week. 'This is classwork, not homework,' the parent said. 'If it weren't for the snow, we wouldn't have known.' Another parent who fled the Soviet Union stated the book reminds her,' of the songs we were made to sing as elementary school children. "Dismantling" and "comrade" and everythingit really reminds me of the word salad that was a part of those songs.' The workbook lists BLM's national demands for schools, which include mandating black and ethnic studies, hiring and retaining black teachers, hiring counselors not cops and restorative justice. It asks students to reflect on the 13 principles of BLM at School, which include lessons on the importance of diversity and the importance of treating others fairly. But the tenets also promote 'radical' ideas about family structures and 'freeing ourselves from the tight grip of cis-heteropatriarchal assumptions'. Under the principle 'Black Villages', the guidance states: 'We disrupt the narrow Western prescribed nuclear family structure expectation. 'We support each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially 'our' children. We believe that radical care belongs in the public sphere.' But parents criticized the 'ideological' content of the workbooks and said it contained very little black history The curriculum is based on 13 Guiding Principles which contain controversial statements which 'demonize' the nuclear family according to critics Parents with familial links to communist states took exception to the use of the word 'comrade' throughout the curriculum Under the heading of 'Trans Affirming', students were directed to read the book When Aidan Became a Brother about a girl transitioning and answer questions. Several parents expressed concern that the materials contained very little black history and claimed they were the only lesson being offered for black history, other than a schoolwide quilt-making project featuring historic black figures. One mother with two children at the school told the Free Press it doesn't 'into enough detail and there is no mention of specific people. It just feels very vague.' She claimed her children could not name any civil rights activists or prominent black figures even after the school's Week of Action. The mom also took exception to the what she saw as an over-generalization in the book, adding: 'It's not like every black person believes in these principles.' Brandy Shufutinksy, the director of education at the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, who is black, agreed. 'There is nothing in these principles that talks about honoring greats in black American history. There is nothing in here that is actual scholarship. It doesn't speak to education. It speaks to ideology,' she told the Free Press. She also said she was 'offended' the materials 'demonizes the nuclear family' by presenting it as white supremacy. Under the heading of 'Trans Affirming', students were directed to read the book When Aidan Became a Brother about a girl transitioning and answer questions The use of the workbook only came to light when students were learning at home due to a snow day last week The curriculum was designed by Black Lives Matter at School, a network of Seattle teachers formed in 2017 with the aim of translating BLM principles into the education setting The school states it is a 'vibrant and diverse' educational institution, 'practicing antiracism'. The school's demographic is majority white, with 33 percent minority enrollment, less than one percent of which is black according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The curriculum was designed by Black Lives Matter at School, a network of Seattle teachers formed in 2017 with the aim of translating BLM principles into the education setting. According to its website, the curriculum is now taught at a total of 50 schools across 21 states and six countries. 'National Black Lives Matter at School is an organization struggling for liberation and racial justice in education for Black youth, educators, and all youth of color.,' the group's website states. 'We work to address racial justice in education by promoting restorative justice, advocating for mental health support, increasing Black teaching staff, ending police presence in schools, and mandating Black history and ethnic studies.' 'Anytime parents have a concern about resources used in school, we encourage them to share their concerns to the school principal or district superintendent,' NYC's Department of Education told the Free Press. DailyMail.com has contacted William Penn Elementary School and BLM at School for comment. This is the shocking moment three robbery suspects sprint out of a gas station and into a getaway car parked two feet in front of a police car as the cop does nothing to stop their escape. Surveillance video of the 7-Eleven parking lot first shows the cop fumbling around in the passenger seat of his cruise. All of a sudden, a getaway vehicle swings into the lot barely two feet away from the police car and the first of the brazen thieves sprints out of the store and hops in the car. Two more suspected robbers fly through the parking lot and into the car without the officer noticing. Finally, as the third thief approaches the car, the cop realizes that the drama unfolding is a robbery and bumbles around before pulling out his gun. This is the shocking moment three robbery suspects sprint out of a gas station and into a getaway car parked two feet in front of a police car as the useless cop panics Surveillance video of the 7-Eleven parking lot first shows the cop fumbling around in the passenger seat of his cruise A getaway vehicle swings into the lot barely two feet away from the police car and the first of the brazen thieves sprints out of the store and hops in the car Multiple other police vehicles had been circling the 7-Eleven while the incident took place. Security footage appeared to show one of the other cop cars flash the lights and begin to chase the vehicle as it attempted to speed away. The incident took place at 3 am on Thursday, February 8, at the 7-Eleven location at 11575 Berry Road near the intersection with US 301 in Waldorf, Maryland. Spokesperson Diane Richardson with the Charles County Sheriff's Office tells WUSA9 their officers had been alerted to a 7-Eleven robbery that happened hours earlier in Prince George's County so cops were monitoring local 7-Eleven stores. 'Our officers respond to and face dangerous situations every day, some with warning and others without,' Richardson said. 'Clearly in this case the officers were not aware that a robbery was occurring. As soon as they recognized what was happening they took action and pursued the suspects.' Two more suspected robbers fly through the parking lot and into the car without the officer noticing As the third thief approaches the car the cop realizes that the drama is unfolding and bumbles around before pulling out his gun Richardson revealed that employees inside the 7-Eleven had been forced into the back of the store at gunpoint. Federal and local law enforcement are still trying to identify the suspects, according to Richardson. Police officers stopped chasing the alleged thieves as the suspect reached high speeds and crossed into a different county. Around half of college graduates will be working in jobs where their degrees are not needed and go down a different career path than they previously planned. A new study that kept tabs on the the career paths of more than 10 million college graduates shows that 52 percent of them are underemployed in the first year after they earn their degrees. The study also indicates that 45 percent of college graduates will not have a job that requires the skills of a degree or a degree in general five years after they graduate. The data was released earlier this month by the Burning Glass Institute and the Strada Education Foundation. The researchers who conducted this study analyzed the resumes of workers who graduated between 2012 and 2021. Several factors such as race, gender, and choice of university were also taken into account. A new study shows that 52 percent of college graduates are underemployed in the first year after they earn their degrees The study also indicates that 45 percent of college graduates will not have a job that requires the skills of a college degree or a degree in general five years after receiving their diplomas The researchers who conducted this study analyzed the resumes of workers who graduated between 2012 and 2021 The conclusion of the study comes after the drop in Americans' confidence in higher education. According to Gallup, the percentage of Americans who expressed this confidence fell from 57 percent to 36 percent in the past decade. 'You're told your entire life, "Go to college, get a bachelor's degree and your life is gonna be gravy after that,"' Northern Kentucky University graduate Alexander Wolfe told the Wall Street Journal. 'In reality, it hasn't really helped me that much.' According to the study, 68 percent of those graduates who studied within the public safety and security field at school were underemployed at the five-year mark. Out of the 20 professional fields listed in the data, business majors found themselves at a 57 percent underemployment rate. Engineering and health professions and related programs were the top two workforces on the list, with only 26 percent and 23 percent respectively feeling that they were not using the skills taught in their focus of study. The data from the Burning Glass analysis of 2022 U.S. Census Bureau indicated that bachelor's degree holders in college-level jobs earn nearly 90 percent more than people with just a high-school diploma in their 20s. 'Its not that a degree isnt worth it,' said Matt Sigelman, president of Burning Glass Institute. 'Its worth it to too few people.' The data was released earlier this month by the Burning Glass Institute and the Strada Education Foundation Out of the 20 professional fields listed in the data, business majors found themselves at a 57 percent underemployment rate after five years Wolfe, who majored in integrative studies, helped him land jobs in sales, retail and food service. The college graduate now wishes he'd 'taken time off before college' to explore any potential career options. He also admitted that he regrets taking an entry-level sales job in logistics after spending months of job hunting following his college graduation. Wolfe believes that taking a job in that specific industry 'made it harder' for him to find other career options. 'I would stress to anyone out there, hold out as long as you can' for the right first job, he said. 'You dont want to pigeonhole yourself into something you dont want to do.' According to Stephen Moret, everyone needs to bee thinking of 'that first post-college job as a high-stakes milestone' The 2024 study found that most of the college graduates who don't find work in which their degrees can come into good use are severely underemployed, meaning that they're in jobs that only require a high school education or less. A total of 88 percent of those graduates are currently severely underemployed after five years, finding themselves working in office support, retail sales, and food service. 'We all need to be thinking of that first post-college job as a high-stakes milestone, and give it the attention it deserves,' said Stephen Moret, Stradas president and chief executive. An internship can also make a difference in job factors, especially since it can improve the odds of a graduate landing a college-level job after graduation. The study shows that the rate of underemployment for graduates five years after college fell by 40 percent for social-science majors if they had an internship The study conducted by the Burning Glass Institute and the Strada Education Foundation shows that the rate of underemployment for graduates five years after college fell by 40 percent for social-science majors if they had an internship. Several colleges like Tufts University require their students who are environmental studies majors complete at least 100 hours of an internship. According to WSJ, about 50 percent to 70 percent of Tufts University's students who graduate with those degrees go into environmental work afterward. This data also includes Tufts students who decide to make environmental students a second major. Brennan Bence, a graduate from Dakota Wesleyan University, admitted that he wished he got more internship experience before graduating. Bence majored in theater with a minor in business, but realized that he wanted to going into tech marketing or online gaming while he was still in school. The 2022 graduate had already done work in theater and unfortunately missed out on internships in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 'I kind of robbed myself of a lot of those experiences,' he told the WSJ. He currently works as an office administrator in Washington for the local county's public defender office, and said that 'he may have to pursue an MBA' in order to work in tech or gaming. A postgraduate named Maroua Ouadani also had issues after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Several colleges like Tufts University require their students complete at least 100 hours of an internship Ouadani revealed to WSJ that she struggled in her job in sales at a travel company in 2021. She worked remotely for the company, but later had issues once she worked in-office after most of her co-workers continued to work from home. The college graduate left that job to become an executive assistant for a social media influencer, which ended less than one year later. A staffing agency later placed Ouadani in an administrative-assistant position after more than a year of job hunting struggles. Now, she plans to rely on her connections and entrepreneurship rather than her hospitality degree. 'This job market shows how replaceable you are,' she stated. Labour's Stella Creasy today slammed a call by Just Stop Oil for eco-zealots to target MPs in their homes as they protest against new oil and gas licences. The Walthamstow MP warned of an 'infection' in British politics and voiced fears the country is headed for a 'very dark place' as she criticised the climate campaigners. 'Where does this end if we are saying MPs and their families and their homes are fair game?,' Ms Creasy asked. The ex-shadow minister also swiped at the Guardian newspaper for publishing Just Stop Oil's call for the targeting of MPs' offices and homes 'without comment'. In an opinion piece, published today, Just Stop Oil co-founder Sarah Lunnon hit out at 'cowardice' from Labour MPs and said her group were ready to 'escalate' action. Labour's Stella Creasy slammed a call by Just Stop Oil for eco-zealots to target MPs in their homes as they protest against new oil and gas licences A Just Stop Oil co-founder used a newspaper article to hit out at 'cowardice' from Labour MPs and said the group were ready to 'escalate' action Ms Creasy highlighted how Tory former minister Tobias Ellwood recently saw his family's home surrounded by a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters 'That's why we are asking Labour MPs at their offices, in their constituencies, and at their homes to find their courage - and end the Tory oil and gas policies that are wrecking stable society,' she added. 'Ordinary people will demand of them that they recognise what is needed to defend us. We all have a right to feel safe in our homes, but with the storms, the flood waters and the fires we are not safe. 'When we're choosing between heating and eating we're not safe. When there's one loaf between 10 shoppers we're not safe.' Her call comes after a Mail On Sunday investigation revealed how Just Stop Oil activists are plotting to 'occupy' politicians' offices and homes ahead of the general election. One activist told an undercover reporter: 'What our strategy is, at least in the short-term, is that we're going to be occupying Labour MPs' offices, their houses, disrupting their speeches, etc.' Ms Creasy blasted the group as she commented on growing concerns about the security of MPs amid increasing levels of abuse and intimidation. 'There is an infection in our body politic,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'If you want any evidence of that, the Guardian newspaper has today without any particular comment. 'And I am quite terrified of raising this because I realise this puts me in the sight lines of the organisation behind it. 'They've published an opinion piece calling for Labour MPs to be targeted in their homes.' Ms Creasy highlighted how Tory former minister Tobias Ellwood recently saw his family's home surrounded by a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters. 'We are normalising that,' Ms Creasy warned, adding: 'The question is where does this end?' Ms Creasy spoke out following last night's chaotic scenes in the House of Commons during a Gaza ceasefire vote. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is facing calls for resign over his handling of the debate. He issued a further apology today for his role in the parliamentary meltdown. But Sir Lindsay also emphasised concerns over the security of MPs who have faced threats over their stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ms Creasy added: 'Where does this end? It's not to do with Gaza this organisation... it's actually to do with climate change. 'I'm incredibly sympathetic to the idea we've got to make climate change a massive priority. 'But where does this end if we are saying MPs and their families and their homes are fair game? I fear that's a very dark place and I fear it for two reasons. 'One because it means we're not debating, we're not discussing, we're not trying to find a way through. 'But we're also going to get to the point where only people who want conflict, only people who want anger. 'Only people who are arguing that politics is about finding someone to blame for the things that make you cross, rather than solutions, for the challenges in the world is what it's about. 'That might be great clickbait, but it doesn't make for good policymaking.' A spokesman for The Guardian said: The article was an opinion piece, written by the co-founder of Just Stop Oil, which sets out their rationale for different methods of campaigning. The piece does not represent the views of the Guardian which, as a pluralistic news organisation, publishes a wide range of voices with different opinions on issues of public interest, including Stella Creasy, who has written for us on this topic.' The FBI is probing the self-described 'super-mayor' of a small Illinois town over mounting allegations of misconduct and misuse of office. Tiffany Henyard, 40, had her charity shut down Tuesday by the Illinois Attorney General over alleged financial corruption. 'Tiffany Henyard Cares' was ordered to stop seeking contributions. Prior reporting found that Henyard used taxpayer money and the services of public employees to support the charity, which was not registered with the AG's office. Henyard's notorious misuse of public funds, on expenditures that include personal styling, travel, and an outlandish salary, have allegedly plunged the tiny town of Dolton into $5million of debt. A spokesman for the over-the-top mayor said her office is unaware of any pending investigation. They told the New York Post: 'Mayor Tiffany Henyard and the Village of Dolton have not received any subpoenas and have not been contacted by the FBI or any other law enforcement agency.' The beleaguered leader has previously lashed out at the town's board and her constituents for criticizing her, accusing her detractors of 'attacking a black woman that's in power.' Tiffany Henyard, 40, is accused of of shutting down businesses that refused to donate to her campaign, just weeks after being slammed for using city money to fund her glamorous looks Dalton Mayor Tiffany Henyard posted a video of herself with President Joe Biden at the White House after coming under fire for her high salary and questionable spending The FBI, citing the pending investigation, declined to comment. Though, local residents say agents who have approached them about the case say they have received dozens of complaints about Henyard. 'She said we are going to get her,' one resident said, referring to an FBI agent. 'It just takes time. We have to make sure we have all our is dotted and ts crossed.' Henyard, the first female mayor of the tiny Illinois village, has been accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign. She was previously slammed for using city money to fund her glamorous looks. She's also accused of using 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 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.' Gardner told the post, he would like to 'be there' when Henyard is eventually 'handcuffed' for her misdeeds. Trustee Kiana Belcher also alleges that former Police Chief Robert Collins admitted to being directed by the mayor to target individuals. 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 recent meeting, gesturing toward 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. 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. The schoolteacher is believed to have set a mattress on fire, sending their Ferguson home into flames Pruessner left a note stating her intentions to take her life as well as the lives of her children, police say Teacher Bernadine Pruessner, 38, died along with her 2-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son and 9-year-old twins A Missouri teacher took her own life and those of her four young children by setting a mattress ablaze, just hours after writing online that the kids were 'peacefully sleeping' in her bed. Bernadine Pruessner, 38, died in a Monday morning fire at her Ferguson home alongside 9-year-old twins Ellie and Ivy, 5-year-old Jackson and 2-year-old Millie. Preliminary investigations have revealed it to be a murder-suicide, St. Louis County Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Tracy Panus told DailyMail.com. 'It is believed that Bernadine intentionally set a mattress on fire as that was the point of origin for the fire,' Panus said. 'A note was also left stating Bernadines intentions to take her life and the lives of her children.' Pruessner last posted to Facebook on the evening of February 19, just hours before the deadly fire, mentioning that her children were 'peacefully sleeping in (her) bed.' Bernadine Pruessner, 38, died in an early morning house fire in Ferguson, Missouri, along with her children: 9-year-old twins Ellie and Ivy, 5-year-old Jackson, and 2-year-old Millie The St. Louis County Police Department ruled the deaths a murder-suicide through preliminary investigations The 38-year-old is believed to have set a mattress on fire, sending the house ablaze, just hours after posting to Facebook that her children were 'peacefully sleeping in (her) bed' 'All my kids, peacefully sleeping in my bed,' she wrote. 'Curled up together. Knowing they are loved so fiercely that I'd do absolutely anything for them. This is my favorite moment.' A neighbor awoke shortly after 4:30 am and saw the glow of flames through his window. He ran over and banged on the door to rouse the family while his wife phoned 911. Other neighbors said they did not hear smoke detectors. Firefighters from four municipalities were called to combat the blaze, which was so powerful they had to back down several times. Finding evidence of criminal activity, the Ferguson Police Department requested the St. Louis County Bureau of Crimes Against Persons take over the investigation. Twins Ellie and Ivy were fourth-graders at Mason Ridge Elementary School. The Parkway School District notified parents of the 'sad news' in a letter. The district announced that a crisis intervention team would meet with each fourth-grade class 'in order for students to begin processing their feelings.' The blaze also claimed the lives of three family dogs, but around 14 rabbits, three chickens and two cats survived, as they were located on a separate part of the property. A neighbor awoke shortly after 4:30 am on Monday and saw the glow of flames through his window. He ran over and banged on the door while his wife called 911 Pruessner taught in both Missouri and Illinois. In 2022, she joined Lewis and Clark Community College as a full-time faculty member Neighbors said they did not hear smoke detectors after the fire broke out Firefighters from four municipalities were called to combat the blaze, which was so powerful that they were forced to back down several times Around 14 rabbits, three chickens and two cats survived the fire, as they were located on a different part of the property Dara Ashby with the Ferguson Animal Coalition confirmed that relatives would care for some of the animals, while others would be rehomed. Pruessner was a teacher who worked in both Missouri and Illinois. She received the Missouri Teacher of the Year Award from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence in 2013. In 2022, Pruessner joined Lewis and Clark Community College as a full-time faculty member after serving as an adjunct instructor. The 38-year-old held teaching certifications in agriculture, elementary education, English language arts, early childhood education and family and consumer science. Jared Spader, the father of Jackson and Millie, released a statement in conjunction with David Pruessner, the father of Ellie and Ivy. 'What I would want everyone to know about my two wonderful children is they are the greatest gift that a father could ever ask for,' it read. 'Jackson was the most incredible older brother, kind, intuitive and gentle. He loved his sisters, being outside, sports, art and he was always so in tune with the needs of others. 'Millie was a funny, charismatic, sweet, and kind little sister who brightened every moment of every day for all of us.' The statement continued: 'They were the two most beautiful souls that a father could ask for, and they were a gift to our lives in every way. As Dads right now we have to focus on honoring the four beautiful lives and we plan to do that together.' The heartbroken fathers thanked the community for its support, citing the generosity of both strangers and loved ones. 'We will continue to need it,' they wrote. Vladimir Putin taunted the West by taking a joyride in a modernised supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber today - as the Kremlin threatened nuclear war. The despot's stunt - which lasted around 40 minutes - appeared to be intended to enhance his macho ratings as he stands for re-election next month, and distract attention from the 'murder' of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic jail. But by flying in a type of warplane that has been used to wreak havoc in Ukraine with conventional weapons, he was sending a message that he intends to keep fighting in Ukraine, which he invaded almost two years ago. And the huge Tu-160M - aka White Swan - is a key part of his nuclear strike force at a time when the Kremlin is bluntly warning the West over the risk of nuclear war. Putin was seen taking off in Kazan a day after he visited a factory in the city where the Tupolev bombers are manufactured. Vladimir Putin taunted the West by taking a joyride in a modernised supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber today - as the Kremlin threatened nuclear war Putin is pictured boarding the TU-160M bomber in Kazan, Russia in yet another bid to taunt the West Putin was seen taking off in Kazan a day after he visited a factory in the city where the Tupolev bombers are manufactured Putin is having a two day trip to Kazan prior the 2024 Presidential Elections Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin sit in a Kamaz truck in a roadside service area of M12 Vostok highway between Moscow and Kazan The Tupolev Tu-160M Ilya Muromets strategic bomber is seen on the snow-covered tarmac in Kazan The despot's stunt - which lasted around 40 minutes - appeared to be intended to enhance his macho ratings as he stands for re-election next month Putin is seen meeting with journalists after flying in the Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bomber He clambered up a ladder at the factory to go inside the plane and spent ten minutes in the cockpit. He then made the decision to fly himself in one of his bombers - his first flight since he took to the sky in a Tu-160 in 2005. The giant swing-wing plane is a substantially modernised-version of a Soviet-era bomber that the USSR would have deployed in the event of a nuclear war with the West to deliver nuclear weapons at long distances. The TU-160M is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and can fly 7,500 miles non-stop without re-fuelling. The electioneering stunt came less than a week after a man who wanted to oust him as president - Navalny - was 'murdered' inside his bleak Arctic jail. Even though the March election is expected to be rigged in Putin's favour, he is currently more visible on state TV than he has been for years. A breathless report on Putin-controlled Russian state TV said: 'We just saw that the president [Vladimir Putin] again, for the second time in two days, climbed into the cockpit of a Tu-160 strategic bomber.' On the tarmac, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had 'made a decision to take a flight. There will be a flight [with Putin] now.' Putin later emerged from the Tu-160M to hail the improved aircraft - the model in which he had flown - as suitable for the Russian air force. 'The technology is excellent. It can be accepted into the Armed Forces,' he said. A helmeted Putin is pictured on the right in the cockpit of the strategic bomber today Vladimir Putin speaks after flying on a modernized Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber, in Kazan, Russia A close-up of the Russian president shows him during a meeting with drivers in Kazan Putin was seen taking off in Kazan a day after he visited a factory in the city where the Tupolev bombers are manufactured Putin (third from left) was seen on Wednesday taking a tour of the Kazan Aviation Factory where a number of the huge Tu-160M bombers are houses Russia's President Vladimir Putin is seen in the cockpit of a Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bomber while visiting the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant in Kazan on February 21, 2024 His stunt came after the deputy head of the Russian security council recently warned that Putin could bomb London, Washington, Berlin and Kyiv in the event of setbacks in the war with Kyiv resulting in a retreat by Moscow's forces. Today he doubled down on this warning to the West, saying that Russia is even capable of starting nuclear war by accident. Medvedev also accused Western leaders of not taking the threat seriously. 'Sad as it may sound, this [nuclear war] scenario is real,' said the Putin lackey and - from 2008 to 2012 - the former president of Russia. 'We must do everything we can to prevent it from happening. But this very clock, which is ticking in a certain direction, has now accelerated very much. 'And in this I also see the inability, excuse me, the impotence of these Western authorities. '[They] keep saying the same thing: 'No, it's the Russians who are scaring us, they will never do it'. 'They're wrong,' he said ominously. A pair of Tu-160M strategic missile carriers are seen at the Kazan Aviation Factory in Kazan during a tour of the facility by Putin on February 21, 2024 Putin signs a picture of a TU-160M nuclear bomber during a visit to the Gorbunov Aviation factory in Kazan, Russia January 25, 2018 (file photo) 'If it comes to the existence of our country, and I said this recently, what choice is left for the [Russian] leadership, for the head of state? None.' He stressed: 'So this is, unfortunately, a real threat, a direct and clear threat to all of humanity. 'And secondly, there are also accidents, from which no one is immune. And the accidental, unintentional start of a nuclear conflict cannot be discounted. 'So all these games around Ukraine are extremely dangerous.' The US has warned allies that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon designed to destroy western key satellite networks. Such a weapon would wreak havoc with Western satellite communications, GPS, space surveillance and military command operations. The Tu-160 strategic bomber is known to NATO as Blackjack, and can carry two dozen missiles with a total payload of 45 tons. The Mach 2 bomber has a variable-sweep wing of the integral low-wing scheme, and a maximum takeoff weight of 275 tons. Putin points to a map during a visit to a service station on the M12 Vostok Highway The Russian despot was seen wandering around a cafe with officials at a roadside service area The TU-160M is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and can fly 7,500 miles non-stop without re-fuelling The nuclear bomber dates from the 1960s but state controlled Russian TV reporting Putin's Kazan visit eulogised the plane's potential and claimed it was 'a technology that many of Russia's rivals have been unable to copy'. Rossiya 1 channel told its viewers that the aircraft was 'the world's biggest warplane and fastest bomber'. Channel One declared: 'This aircraft right now is about 50 years ahead of everything else.' Putin named the new plane he clambered aboard after the first president of the Tatarstan region, Mintimer Shaimiyev. Ron DeSantis says he isn't interested in being Donald Trump's vice president after the 2024 frontrunner didn't rule out the Florida governor joining his general election ticket. The former presidential hopeful said during a call with backers more than a month after dropping out of the running that he was frustrated it turned into essentially an incumbent race, according to a recording obtained by a few outlets. During a town hall in South Carolina on Tuesday, Trump said he was considering DeSantis, among a large group of others, to be his vice presidential candidate in 2024. 'People were mentioning me like, I am not I am not doing that,' he said, claiming that 'Donald Trump's criteria' for who he wants as a vice president would be different than what he would want to bring to the table. 'I have heard that they're looking more in identity politics,' DeSantis explained. 'I think that's a mistake. I think you should just focus on who the best person for the job would be.' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down the potential of being Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate when holding a call with backers who volunteered to serve as his presidential delegates more than a month after dropping out of the 2024 race Trump confirmed six people are on his shortlist for a potential running mate at a Fox News town hall in Greenville, South Carolina on Monday. The list includes two former opponents and an ex-Democrat DeSantis left the door open for a 2028 presidential bid, saying: 'I haven't ruled anything out.' Trump, 77, confirmed to Fox News Laura Ingraham during a town hall in Greenville, South Carolina on Tuesday that DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are all among the ex-rivals he is considering for VP. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) also made the short list, he confirmed. More surprisingly, Trump said he is looking at former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. A DailyMail.com poll in New Hampshire found Ramasmway is the top choice to be running mate, followed by Scott in second and Tucker Carlson and Ben Carson in joint third. 'All of those people are good. They're all solid,' Trump told Laura Ingraham Monday night. DeSantis expressed during the more than 30-minute call this week his dissatisfaction with conservative media's favorable and mostly unbalanced coverage of Trump versus the other candidates who ran against him. 'If it was really just eight, 10 Republicans who had never obviously been president, unlike Trump, I think we would have run away with it,' he said. 'Their business model just doesn't work if they offer any criticism of Trump,' DeSantis said of the conservative media outlets. 'He said at some point he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote,' the Florida governor went on. 'Well, I think he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, and the conservative media wouldn't even report on it.' Trump and DeSantis were once-close allies, but the relationship turned sour after the Florida Governor launched his bid for president in 2024 against the former president Former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley is the only remaining serious contender against Trump but she still has longshot odds of actually winning. In South Carolina, which holds the next primary election on Saturday, Haley is trailing Trump by 30 points, according to the latest polling. DeSantis noted that Trump also continued to garner 'support out of sympathy' for the repeated indictments and lawsuits levied against him throughout the race. The Florida Governor was once seen as the only one who could take down Trump in 2024. But after entering the race last year, he swiftly dropped off in the polls amid a series of indictments against Trump, which bolstered his support. DeSantis dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses and right before the New Hampshire primary election in January. Speaking of joining Trump's ticket, DeSantis says the former president has too much 'baggage.' Trump said on Tuesday that deciding on a running mate might not be the biggest decision of his campaign but noted he wanted someone that would be a good president. 'The one thing that always surprises me is that the VP choice always has no impact,' he noted. DeSantis is concerned for Republicans heading into the election in the fall. But he insisted that President Joe Biden is the 'gift that keeps giving' and that Trump has higher chances of winning against the current president's reelection bid. An Alaska Airlines passenger stabbed a man who was sitting next to him with a makeshift pen shank in a bloody attack before threatening his wife and son, police said. Julio Alvarez Lopez was arrested on Jan. 24 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon after the bloody altercation. Lopez allegedly planned an attack to kill a fellow passenger, which he attempted to carry out mid-flight on the trip between Seattle and Las Vegas using the makeshift weapon. The suspect was described as 'fidgety' throughout the flight while traveling from Seattle to Las Vegas last month, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now. When returning to his seat after an unusually long visit to the restrooms, he began 'punching and hitting' the man seated across the aisle, attempting to stab him in the eye, according to the outlet. Julio Alvarez Lopez allegedly planned an attack to kill a fellow passenger (pictured), which he attempted to carry out mid-flight using the makeshift weapon. (Pictured: victim) When returning to his seat after an unusually long visit to the restrooms, he began 'punching and hitting' the man seated across the aisle, attempting to stab him in the eye with a makeshift weapon made of pens (pictured) Lopez also allegedly attacked the victim's wife as she attempted to protect their 7-year-old child from the violent man. A witness told investigators there 'was blood everywhere.' 'During the altercation, [the victim's] wife was screaming at the defendant to stop hitting her husband,' an FBI agent wrote in a court filing. '[A witness] unbuckled her seatbelt and yelled at the defendant to stop. An official on board the flight ordered Lopez to take a seat while crew then 'worked to provide flex cuffs and the defendant was restrained for the remainder of the flight.' Following the brutal attack, Lopez started 'screaming, 'I'll only talk to the FBI.' He told airport officials during an interview that he allegedly 'felt the mafia had been chasing him' and that he had never seen the victim 'but planned on killing [him]' as he believed he was being followed, documents said. A witness told investigators there 'was blood everywhere' Boeing has reportedly fired the chief of its 737 Max program following the Alaska Airlines plane scandal , which exposed a litany of safety failings Investigators found the weapon, composed of pens and rubber bands, according to documents. A federal grand jury indicted Lopez on an assault charge Wednesday. Ed Clark, vice president of the MAX program and general manager at the Renton facility, is leaving the company after 18 years. He is set to be replaced by Katie Ringgold, the current vice president 737 delivery operations.' It comes after a faulty door plug caused a panel to detach at 16,000 feet from a Boeing 737 series aircraft on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5. The plane was assembled at the Renton facility. This comes after the Alaska Airlines plane scandal which exposed a litany of safety failings. A faulty door plug caused a panel to detach at 16,000 feet from a Boeing 737 series aircraft on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5 A photo shows the blown out window. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure The Max 9s were temporarily grounded by aviation regulators pending safety checks but are now once again in the skies. Boeing's value plunged from $150bn on the day of the Alaska Airlines scare to a low of $120bn on January 16. Clark's dismissal was announced in an email from Commercial Airplanes boss Stan Deal to employees on Wednesday morning. Deal said the leadership restructuring aims to ensure an 'enhanced focus on ensuring that every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements'. Panicked audio from the Alaska Airlines chaos showed how the pilot radioed for help after the window on the Boeing 737 Max plane blew out shortly after takeoff. The plane was assembled at the Renton facility. Reports suggest that fortunately 26A, the seat next to what appears to have been an emergency exit with a window, was not occupied Accident investigators hailed it as a miracle that everyone on board survived after the 'truly terrifying' disintegration on the flight from Portland to Ontario International in California. Toys, phones and clothes were sucked into the night after the plug door 'departed the aircraft' causing instant decompression with 171 passengers aboard Flight 1282. But the fact that most people were still wearing their seat belts just 10 minutes into the flight probably stopped them following their possessions through the hole, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 'We are very, very fortunate here that this didn't end up in something more tragic,' NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said at a press conference days later. 'No one was seated in 26A and 26B, where that door plug is.' 'With that said, I imagine this was a pretty terrifying event. 'We don't often talk about psychological injury, but I'm sure that occurred here.' Julian Assange's wife has claimed his health is declining as he awaits a decision on his extradition to the US at Belmarsh prison in London. Stella Assange gave an update on her husband's condition as she slammed the US and former CIA director Mike Pompeo for an alleged murder plot against the Wikileaks founder under the Trump administration. 'He's not doing well, he wasn't even attending these hearings and this is the decisive hearing,' Stella told Tucker Calrson during an appearance on his X show. 'If he hadn't been kept in Belmarsh prison during the past five years he wouldn't be in this state of deterioration and decline. Every day he spends in prison is a day that his health deteriorates.' Stella addressed a Yahoo News report that claimed the CIA planned to assassinate Assange after Wikileaks published sensitive agency hacking tools online, with Carlson asking how she felt that 'Mike Pompeo tried to murder her husband.' Stella Assange gave an update on her husband's condition as she slammed the US and former CIA director Mike Pompeo for an alleged murder plot against the Wikileaks founder Stella addressed a Yahoo News report that claimed the CIA planned to assassinate Assange after Wikileaks published sensitive agency hacking tools online Ep. 76 As they lecture us endlessly about human rights in other countries, the Biden administration is trying to kill journalist Julian Assange for the crime of embarrassing the CIA. His wife Stella joins us from his extradition hearing. pic.twitter.com/DetYUeaBFl Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 21, 2024 'Julian is under enormous pressure... he knows the US is a country that has plotted his assassination's. The stakes could not be higher,' Stella said. 'If the UK decides in favor of the US, the it will put Julian on a plane to the US, that is how imminent it is. Really, it's a very high-risk moment for Julian.' Pompeo allegedly led the crusade against Assange in 2017 when WikiLeaks continued publishing classified government documents. 'He's a dangerous individual,' Stella said of Pompeo. 'The CIA is a rogue organization that everyone on every level of US politics is terrified of, they are trained to assassinate, to fabricate information and place it in the media and conduct propaganda warfare and to overthrow governments and so on.' Carlson also accused the British government of degrading 'their own system and history on behalf of the US government'. 'It's the default state of affairs - the UK views itself as a lapdog,' Stella replied. Assanges fight to avoid facing spying charges in the United States may be nearing an end following a protracted legal saga in the UK that included seven years of self-exile inside a foreign embassy and five years in prison. 'Every day he spends in prison is a day that his health deteriorates,' Stella Assange said. An exterior view of Belmarsh high security prison on October 8 Court hearings this week will determine whether Assange will be extradited to the US. A demonstrator shouts slogans outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Tuesday Julian Assange, who faces espionage charges and up to 175 years in jail, pictured with his wife Stella He's facing what could be his final court hearings in London this week as he fights to stop his extradition to the US. The High Court scheduled two days of arguments over whether Assange can ask an appeals court to block his transfer. If the court doesnt allow the appeal to go forward, he could be sent across the Atlantic within weeks. Assange, 52, an Australian computer expert, has been indicted in the US on 18 charges over Wikileaks publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010. Prosecutors say he conspired with US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He faces 17 counts of espionage and one charge of computer misuse. If convicted, his lawyers say he could receive a prison term of up to 175 years, though American authorities have said any sentence is likely to be much lower. Assange and his supporters argue he acted as a journalist to expose U.S. military wrongdoing and is protected under press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution A trove of newly leaked documents has revealed a sophisticated hacking operation backed by the Chinese government that has targeted the UK and other Western states. The cache of over 570 documents, images and chat logs was leaked from i-Soon, also known as Auxun, a private tech firm that claims to be able to exploit software vulnerabilities from major tech companies including Microsoft, Apple and Google at the behest of the Chinese government. The files, posted to code-sharing platform GitHub last week, shows i-Soon's contracts with the Chinese government going back eight years to target at least 20 foreign governments, including the UK. Employees of i-Soon, which is based in Shanghai and sells third-party hacking and data-gathering services, were found to have discussed the UK's Home and Foreign offices, as well as the treasury. Also on the list were renowned think-tanks Chatham House and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, both of which are headquartered in London and have strong links to the UK government. The files, posted to code-sharing platform GitHub last week, shows i-Soon employees discussing the describing the sale of unspecified data related to the bloc in 2022 i-Soon is a a private tech firm that claims to be able to exploit software vulnerabilities from major tech companies including Microsoft, Apple and Google at the behest of the Chinese government i-Soon targeted commercial interests across the world (File image) Also in the sights of the hacking operation was NATO, with many chat logs describing the sale of unspecified data related to the bloc in 2022. It is not clear from the logs, which have been reviewed by MailOnline, what the data relates to, or how it was extracted. The leaked documents also show that hackers also targeted commercial interests across the world, with one hack managing to steal a three terabyte collection of call logs from a South Korean telecommunications company. The group also targeted telecoms firms in Hong Kong, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia and Taiwan. All pieces of software have some level of vulnerability, and there is now a complex economic ecosystem of companies and individuals who can make vast amounts of money finding them and selling software that can exploit them. In the cybersecurity world, actors who find vulnerabilities and sell the information back to the author of the software, with the intention of allowing them to patch it, are known as 'white-hat hackers', while those who sell exploits to others with the intention of facilitating a breach are known as 'black-hat hackers.' The company now works for key government departments, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State security and the People's Liberation Army The Washington Post reported that i-Soon is one of many companies that make up the 'patriotic' hacking ecosystem The Washington Post reported that i-Soon is one of many companies that make up the 'patriotic' hacking ecosystem that has been established and grown over the last two decades. The company now works for key government departments, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State security and the People's Liberation Army. One document showed that i-Soon has signed hundreds of deals with Chinese police forces that range from just 1,100 all the way up to 634,000. A leaked product guide boasts of the company's ability to steal data without being detected. One document, which describes a service that i-Soon claims allows clients to covertly access and control Microsoft Outlook and Hotmail accounts, reads: 'Information has increasingly become the lifeblood of a country and one of the resources that countries are scrambling to seize. In information warfare, stealing enemy information and destroying enemy information systems have become the key to defeating the enemy.' The company also advertises a 20,000 service that claims to allow users to obtain information from iPhones, including 'basic mobile phone information, GPS positioning, mobile phone contacts' and 'environment recording' using a 'remote access' control system. China's growing confidence in its ability to conduct cyber attacks against its adversaries is well documented, with the FBI's director warning that China's cyber attacks have grown to a 'scale greater than we'd seen before.' Christopher Wray said Beijing's plan to secretly plant technology inside the US critical infrastructure has become a significant threat to national security. Speaker Mike Johnson tore into President Biden for claiming today's congressional Republicans are worse than the racist segregationists he served with in the Senate. At a fundraiser Wednesday night in California, Biden told the crowd: 'I've been a senator since '72. I've served with real racists. I've served with Strom Thurmond. I've served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race. But guess what? These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles.' 'Outrageous,' Johnson said of the remarks on X. 'The least popular President to seek re-election is now so desperate and so underwater in the polls he's playing the race card from the bottom of the deck.' Biden during his 2020 campaign was forced to apologize for reminiscing fondly about working with southern segregationists. He gave a glowing eulogy of South Carolina's Thurmond, who died in office at 100 in 2003 and fiercely opposed racial integration for much of his career. Speaker Mike Johnson tore into President Biden for claiming today's congressional Republicans are worse than the racist segregationists he served with in the Senate At a fundraiser Wednesday night in California , Biden told the crowd: 'I've been a senator since '72. I've served with real racists. I've served with Strom Thurmond. I've served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race. But guess what? These guys are worse' Biden, however, did not apologize for that eulogy on Wednesday. 'I told the truth. By the time Strom left he did terrible things,' the president said, according to a pool report. 'But by the time he left he had more African American in his staff than any other member in Congress. He voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act.' 'I'm not making him more than he was. But my point is at least you could work with some of these guys,' Biden went on. 'Time and again Republicans show they are the party of chaos and division.' On the campaign trail in 2020, Biden recollected 'civility' in the Senate by invoking two segregationists, James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia, both Democrats. Of Eastland, he said: 'He never called me "boy, he always called me "son."' He described Talmadge as 'one of the meanest guys I ever knew, you go down the list of all these guys.' 'Well guess what?' Biden went on. 'At least there was some civility. We got things done. We didnt agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished. But today you look at the other side and youre the enemy. Not the opposition, the enemy. We dont talk to each other anymore.' Weeks later, Biden walked those comments back. 'Now, was I wrong a few weeks ago to somehow give the impression to people that I was praising those men who I successfully opposed time and again? Yes, I was. I regret it. Im sorry for any of the pain and misconception I may have caused anybody.' Biden's latest remarks come as Congress remains at an impasse over everything from must-pass spending legislation to aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific and immigration reform. The Senate passed a foreign aid package last week that Johnson has suggested is dead on arrival in the House. Johnson now insists he must sit down with Biden to discuss attaching border security provisions to the aid bill - as Biden demands he bring the Senate bill up for a vote. Congress is also fast approaching another deadline to pass spending legislation to fund the government in fiscal year 2024, after having passed three stopgap bills to kick the deadline down the road. Funding for 12 agencies of government will expire on a split timeline of March 1 and March 8. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was ordered by a federal judge to pay $5 million to a software developer who won his 'Prove Mike Wrong' challenge. Lindell initiated a contest after the 2020 election challenging participants to prove data that the pillow company founder provided wasn't real election data. Robert Zeidman, a software developer, took Lindell up on the challenge and submitted a 15-page report. Zeidman's report proved that Lindell's data wasn't complete and that it didn't represent data that could have possibly been collected in real time from the internet. Initially, Zeidman lost the challenge - but he took Lindell to arbitration and won. MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell speaks to reporters outside federal court in Washington, June 24, 2021 Lindell initiated a contest after the 2020 election challenging participants to prove data that the pillow company founder provided wasn't real election data Lindell hoped that the federal judge would rule in his favor and wipe the $5 million reward promised by the challenge. However, on Wednesday the federal judge affirmed the $5 million arbitration award against the MyPillow executive. Lindell said he plans to appeal. Asked if he can afford to pay, he pointed out that the breach-of-contract lawsuit was against one of his companies, Lindell Management LLC, and not against him personally. 'Of course we're going to appeal it. This guy doesn't have a dime coming,' Lindell said. Lindell, a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the 2020 election, launched his 'Prove Mike Wrong Challenge,' as part of a 'Cyber Symposium' he hosted in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in August 2021. Lindell offered a $5 million reward through Lindell Management for anyone who could prove that 'packet captures' and other data he released there were not valid data 'from the November 2020 election.' Zeidman then entered the challenge with his 15-page report that concluded the data from Lindell don't 'contain packet data of any kind and do not contain any information related to the November 2020 election' Robert Zeidman(pictured), a software developer, took Lindell up on the challenge and submitted a 15-page report Lindell has been upfront about his financial woes since he peddled the conspiracy that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump A panel of contest judges that included a Lindell attorney declined to declare Zeidman a winner. Zeidman filed for arbitration under the contest rules. A panel of three arbitrators last April unanimously ordered Lindell to pay Zeidman $5 million, concluding that he had satisfied the contest rules. In Wednesday's ruling, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim expressed concern about how the panel interpreted what he called a 'poorly written contract,' but said courts have only limited authority to overrule arbitration awards. He ordered Lindell to pay up with interest within 30 days. Lindell is also the subject of a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems in the District of Columbia that says he falsely accused the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election. Hes also the target of a separate defamation lawsuit in Minnesota by a different voting machine company, Smartmatic. But, it's not the only British airport launching new flights - is there one near you? Popular budget airline Ryanair is set to launch two new flights from a major regional UK airport this year. The low-cost Irish airline often operates from London Luton and Stansted airports but will soon fly from smaller airports across the UK. From April 4, the plane giant will fly from Cardiff Airport in Wales to Alicante, Spain. Two days later on April 6, passengers at Cardiff will also be able to travel to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Flights to Tenerife from Cardiff will be weekly, whereas those looking to go to Alicante from the Welsh capital can do three times a week, according to reports in The Sun. Irish airline Ryanair, known for being an ultra-low cost carrier is launching two new flights from Cardiff Airport in Wales (stock image) Before these two additions, Ryanair only flew to Dublin, Malaga, and Faro. Flights from the Welsh capital start at only 14.99 - a steal this summer when millions of Britons will be looking to go away. Cardiff Airport chief executive Spencer Birns told The Sun the new flights were 'fantastic news' for the airport. He continued: 'This exciting development will see Ryanair offering 26 weekly flights through our airport facilities and we look forward to being able to welcome passengers on these services from next spring'. Flights to Malaga start from 22.99 and flights to Tenerife start from 30.91, according to The Sun. However, Cardiff isn't the only British capital to benefit from new destinations this year. Passengers flying from Edinburgh Airport will have the chance to travel to Biarritz and Bergerac in the south of Franch. Flights will also run from Edinburgh to Agadir, Morocco, all three destinations starting from April onwards at a frequency of two flights a week. Above you can see the gorgeous sea in Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean (stock image) Pictured above is Benidorm, Alicante - a mega popular tourism destination for Britons every year (stock image) Norwich Airport in the east of England will launch its first ever Ryanair flights in April - and on April 1 locals will be able to fly to Alicante, Faro and Malta. This comes after European carrier Finnair began its voluntary programme of weighing passengers at the departure gates at Helsinki Airport, which it says will allow airlines to better calculate weight estimates for planes before they take off. The first passengers were seen standing on scales at the airport, next to a large sign that reads: 'Voluntary Customer Weight Survey.' Finnair says that the scheme is necessary to understand the weight being carried by a place on a given trip, which can massively fluctuate depending on where in the world you are, and what time of year the flight is taking place. A spokesperson previously told MailOnline the scheme would get 'accurate data for aircraft performance and balance calculations' that are 'needed for the safe operation of flights' - instead of relying on European standard weights. China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo and is in talks with the National Zoo in Washington D.C. to receive some of its iconic bears as it looks to re-establish ties with the United States. Relations have soured between Beijing and Washington amid economic competition, concerns over Taiwan, and the Chinese spy balloon but the iconic bears could be a bridge to better rapport. China had recalled nearly all its pandas on loan to the United States amid the downward spiral with the west. China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo Now, however, the China Wildlife Conservation Association has signed cooperation agreements with zoos in San Diego and Madrid and is in talks with zoos in Washington, D.C. and Vienna, the organization told the Associated Press. San Diego Zoo officials said if all permits and other requirements are approved, two bears, a male and a female, are expected to arrive as early as the end of summer, about five years after the zoo sent its last pandas back to China. In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled Beijing would send new pandas to the United States soon, making the pronouncement after his day-long summit with President Joe Biden. 'We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples,' Xi said during a dinner speech with business leaders. The two leaders held their first face-to-face meeting in a year but it ended with Chinese fury over Biden calling 'Xi' a dictator, and the United States continuing to express its concerns about Beijing's intentions regarding Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated he would send more pandas to the United States - above he walks with President Joe Biden There are currently only four panda bears in the U.S. Washington D.C.'s bears returned to China last fall - above male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji rolls around in his enclosure in the Smithsonian National Zoo Washington-Beijing relations have been seriously strained since a Chinese spy balloon flew across the U.S. in February and was eventually shot down off the coast of South Carolina. Compounding concerns were Taiwan, Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, heightened espionage, trade and human rights. At their summit, Xi told Biden that the mainland will reunify with Taiwan. Jinping also said in a New Year's address that China's 'reunification' with Taiwan is inevitable. The United States has made it clear it supports keeping the status quo. With the 'One China' policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the government of China and doesn't have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but it has maintained that Taipei is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing claims as the island as its territory. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. Amid the tension, pandas have become a symbol of diplomacy for China, who originally gifted two bears to the United States in 1972, ahead of the normalization of relations. Beijing continued to loan pandas to the United States and other countries but the bears are on a strict lease program and ultimately return to China. Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million a year for two pandas, with the money earmarked for Chinas conservation efforts. The first pandas came to the U.S. in 1972 - above then-First Lady Pat Nixon visits the two bears - Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing - at the National Zoo In November, the panda bears at Washington D.C.'s zoo returned to China - above a crate carrying Panda Xiao Qi Ji as it is moved out of the zoo Xi's announcement last November came a week after the National Zoo's three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, returned to China. Currently there are only four pandas are left in the United States, in the Atlanta Zoo. That loan agreement expires later this year. This is the moment a baby elephant sent a grinning tourist flying after she approached it to pose for a photo while it was eating. The woman can be seen smiling and whispering as she unfastens her bike helmet, with the elephant in the background beside a tree. She then walks over to the animal wearing green shorts and a swimming top, with her hair still wet, pointing to another one further away. The elephant is swaying from side to side looking mildly disgruntled. As it is feeding on some fallen branches beside the tourist, it suddenly swings its trunk and lunges at her, causing her to fall over with a shriek, before she runs away holding her backside. As the elephant is feeding on some fallen branches beside the tourist, it suddenly swings its trunk and lunges at her, causing her to fall flat on her back with a shriek The video was posted on X by user Non-aesthetic things. The caption reads: 'Girl tries to make friends with an elephant and finds out'. Social media users were quick to comment on the post, with one writing: 'Fortunate that the juvenile scared her away before that adult charged her.' Another user posted: 'Leave wild animals alone.' Someone else added: 'Never go close to the elephant when Tail is waging. It feels threatened.' The woman can be seen smiling and whispering as she unfastens her bike helmet, with the elephant the background beside a tree. After the shocking incident she runs away terrified In April last year, a woman in India was attacked by an elephant after teasing him with a banana. She daringly held it up towards the animal's mouth before pulling back just as he opened his mouth to chomp. The young woman could be seen smiling at the elephant as she dangled the fruit in front of him, but he clearly saw through the ruse, swinging his trunk and tusks, causing her to hurtle backwards. The animal was seemingly angry that the woman was playing games with him, attacking her and causing the person filming the video to recoil in terror, dropping the camera. A video has appeared online showing a woman in an unidentified Indian forest teasing an elephant through some plants with a banana, before it attacks her The young woman smiles dreamily at the animal as she dangles the fruit in front of her, but he clearly sees through the ruse, swinging his trunk and tusks in a horrifying act of aggression, causing her to hurtle backwards Just prior to the attack, the woman could be heard saying: 'How cool is he?' Footage of the incident was shared on social media by Susanta Nanda, an Indian Forest Service Officer who often posts intriguing wildlife content online. He captioned the post: 'You can't fool an elephant even though he is tamed. They are one of the most intelligent animals to be in captivity.' He cradles his rifle beneath a gun-metal sky. Behind him, a sparse, gravelly desert flecked with shrubs stretches to the horizon. His pale features are incongruous in the African sun. A camouflage hat hangs limply around his eyes, which are narrow and encircled by dark rings: a testament to the rigours of life as a mercenary warlord. It is an odd scene, but one thing is plain, this is a man driven by sadism, ambition and greed. Yevgeny Prigozhin was the leader of the Russian mercenary Wagner group until he was killed last year, and I am watching a video of this monstrous individual soon before he died. He is, he boasts, making Russia even greater on all continents, and Africa even more free. Wagner is conducting operations on the ground, he tells us, in what analysts believe is Mali. In truth, Wagner was everywhere in Africa; and so was Prigozhin. Yevgeny Prigozhin was the leader of the Russian mercenary Wagner group until he was killed last year Russian officers from the Wagner group are seen around Central African Republic president Faustin-Archange Touadera last year In some ways, the video feels personal. In early 2023, I came face to face with Wagner when they had come back from Africa to fight closer to home and I was embedded with Ukrainian special forces in the battle of Bakhmut. I was there as Prigozhin sent his Wagner storm-troopers in so-called meat waves against the Ukrainian guns. Unlike Ukraines ammunition, their lives were entirely expendable; nor did Wagner ever seem to run out of flesh for the grinder. Prigozhin was once a favourite of Vladimir Putin. His criminal army was at the service of the Kremlin until, in June 2023, he decided to march that army on Moscow complaining of a lack of support and ammunition in the fight against Ukraine. Only at the last moment did he stand down. It was too late. Two months afterwards, a bomb brought down his plane. Prigozhin had turned against his Tsar; he paid the ultimate price and his Wagner mercenaries were disbanded. So it appeared, anyway. A report this week by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) suggests that Wagner is back. Or rather that a new Africa-based militia is working for the Kremlin, offering corrupt African governments a regime survival package in exchange for access to valuable commodities such as oil and gold. It is called the Africa Corps, which is eerily reminiscent of the Nazis Afrika Korps during World War II. The fact that the new army shares the label of Rommels expeditionary force cannot be a coincidence. Indeed, in a similar vein, the Wagner group was so-named because Richard Wagner was Hitlers favourite composer and one of the mercenary armys commanders was reportedly obsessed with Nazi ideology and symbolism. Former Wagner leader Dmitri Uktin had tattoos of Nazi SS epaulettes along his collar bones while many of his men were white supremacists and members of the notorious neo-Nazi Russian Imperial Movement, which America has designated a terror group. It seems certain that the Africa Corps will take on this loathsome inheritance because former Wagner fighters have been targeted in the recruitment drive for the new army. Such men are quite simply terrifying their unyielding brutality is famous. In November 2019, a video emerged of several of Wagner conscripts beating a Syrian man to death with sledgehammers, decapitating him, stringing up his corpse and setting it on fire. Prigozhins response was to celebrate by putting sledgehammers on official Wagner merchandise. Vladimir Putin greets Burkina Faso's leader Captain Ibrahim Traore during a welcoming ceremony at the second Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg last July Prigozhin's plane was brought down by a bomb last August and a makeshift memorial was set up for him in Moscow Wagner did not care who it recruited; it took the most bloodthirsty and savage individuals it could find. Prigozhin sought out convicts to go to Ukraine and offered them a choice: fester in jail or fight. Survive six months and get pardoned. One of those rumoured to have enlisted was Oleg Sokolov, a former academic convicted for the murder and dismemberment of his graduate student. When asked about this, Prigozhin chuckled that the story was clearly false. Sokolov was a bad fit for Wagner, he added, because Women should be f*****, not dismembered. In January last year, the United States designated Wagner as a significant transnational criminal organisation. The decision was long overdue. The new army differs in one key respect from Wagner, however. It is openly part of Russias Forces, whereas Wagner was a mercenary army until now, Putin has been too politically cautious to put Russian boots on the ground in Africa. This is the Russian state coming out of the shadows in its Africa policy, says Dr Jack Watling, one of the authors of the RUSI report. But the Africa Corpss task remains the same as Wagners was: to secure Putins strategic and financial interests abroad. It is a vessel of Russian imperialism, looting governments of resources in return for military assistance to shore up the regimes of despots and dictators. People say Putin wants to bring back the USSR. Theyre wrong. He is far more ambitious than that. It is not a return to the 20th century he seeks but the 19th, when imperial powers girdled the earth, hoovering up resources and killing those who opposed their larceny. Thanks to Wagner, the vaults of Putins inner circle are already paved with sub-Saharan gold. According to the Blood Gold Report investigating mercenaries and mining in Africa, Russia has extracted 2billion worth of the previous metal from the continent in the past two years alone. When Prigozhin was killed confusion descended on Wagner. It had been active in over a dozen countries in three continents since being established in 2014, but no-one now knew what would happen to the Kremlins most effective fighting force, or to Moscows interests in Africa. Putin, however, understood he could not let the continent go. It was too lucrative and too important in Russias war on the West for Moscow to abandon it. So he stealthily started rebuilding an army for Africa. 'Wagner was everywhere in Africa; and so was Prigozhin,' writes David Patrikarakos His first move was to appoint General Andrey Averyanov as head of the newly formed Corps. Averyanov had been the head of Unit 29155, a secretive division of the Russian military responsible for assassinations and destabilising foreign governments. In the Africa Corps, as RUSIs report shows, Averyanovs role is stabilising authoritarian regimes in exchange for cash and contracts. In the three months since recruitment began, 20,000 troops have signed up for roles right across Africa. In November, a Russian military blogger advertised on the Telegram app for roles in the Africa Corps in Libya. The salary on offer is 280,000 roubles (2,400) per month, much higher than those Wagner offered its own fighters in Africa in 2023. The following month, an African-focused Russian media outlet, African Initiative, advertised for people for Africa Corps operations in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The first Africa Corps units are expected to be formed and properly operational by the summer. Reports are that some of Wagners leadership are already in place in the Corps, however. They include Vitali Perfilev, who has a degree in marketing and business, and Dmitry Sytii, a former French Foreign Legionnaire. Between them, the pair embody the traditional Wagner mix of financial acumen and professional violence. Both are running gold and diamond-mining operations in the Central African Republic. Like Wagner before it, the Africa Corps will be tasked with developing political alliances, establishing strategic military positions and extracting resources. In 2018, for example, Wagner sent 1,000 troops to defend the Central African Republics president, Faustin-Archange Touadera. In return, the group received unrestricted logging rights and control of a highly profitable gold mine. Wagner subsequently expanded its production in the country. A leaked US diplomatic cable estimated annual profits from mining in the republic at $1billion (790million) and Africa Corps has already doubled Russias presence to 2,000 soldiers and built a major strategic HQ in the capital, Bangui. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sudan estimates 70 per cent of its gold has been smuggled out of the country, most of it by Wagner to Russia. And yet its important to remember that Putin isnt only chasing money in Africa. As Moscows relations with the West have collapsed following the invasion of Ukraine, Putin sees the continent as somewhere he can establish new international alliances. He has been helped in this regard by Western negligence. In 2017, then-US president Donald Trump cut funding for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) by almost 30 per cent and got rid of the African Development Foundation, which had funded grassroots projects in 30 countries. Putin seized his chance. In 2019, he hosted the first Russia-Africa Summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. It was a great success. Last year, despite Western sanctions on Russia, 17 heads of African states went to St Petersburg for the latest summit and signed several trade and allegiance agreements with Moscow. This trans-continental diplomacy has also meant waging a propaganda war against the West in Africa. In Benin and Cameroon, Wagner hired African influencers and used online bots to flood social media with content decrying French influence in the country as neo-colonialist. For his Africa mission to work, Putin needs the hearts and minds of African people and that means vilifying the former imperial powers. Africa Corps is still in its infancy. Yet it is still the Wagner group in all but name. The major difference is that president Putin no longer feels the need to hide behind an arms-length mercenary army. A new Great Game is upon us, reminiscent of the rivalry between titanic empires in the Victorian age. Once more Africa is a battleground for imperial powers, and this time it is Russia and, of course, China who seek its riches. But Putin and president Xi Jinping understand that 19th century rapaciousness must be tempered with 21st century rhetoric. Talk of an imperial mission is out; the language of collaboration and democracy is in. More than 100 years ago, King Leopold II of Belgium, who ruled over one of the bloodiest periods of colonial rule in the Congo, told an aide he did not want to miss a good chance of getting us a slice of this magnificent African cake. With the foundation of an explicitly Russian force for Africa, Putin intends to have his slice of cake too and continue the work of his one-time friend and mercenary warlord Prigozhin. The former tour manager of the Happy Mondays who faced dying in a Turkish jail over an 80 million cocaine haul has today been sensationally cleared. Anthony Murray was facing 55 years in a hellhole prison if found guilty of the plot. His life has been on hold for three-and-a-half years since he was arrested in October 2020. He was among 15 suspects detained when sniffer dogs found 228kg of drugs stuffed inside 3,500 bags of fertiliser on board a ship from Colombia. Murray was arrested at a port in Istanbul and then spent a year on remand in a tough Turkish jail. Since then, he has been living in different locations. The 54-year-old appeared in court this afternoon in the Turkish capital after travelling from Israel where he has spent the last few months living. Former Happy Mondays tour manager Anthony Murray (left) pictured with girlfriend Laura Kopanska and lawyer Ali Dizdar The Happy Monday's during their Been There Done That Tour. Shaun Ryder (centre) with Mark 'Bez' Berry, vocalist Rowetta, guitarist Mark Day, drummer Gary Whelan and keyboard player and guitarist Dan Broad A Turkish legal source said: 'Murray appeared in court with six others, the last remaining suspects. 'He was a nervous wreck. He was asked to stand up and the prosecutor told him he had been cleared of six charges he faced and that he was free to go. 'The case against the others, who are not British, will continue. 'But Murray is now a free man. He hugged his girlfriend he is with and his legal team and walked out free. 'He went there facing 55 years but now he can get on with the rest of his life. 'It's been four years of hell but he's free.' He may be asked to return to the court in the future for a compensation hearing. Mr Murray shaking hands with his lawyer after walking free from Turkish prison The source added: 'That is not on his mind right now, he just wants to get out of there and probably go back to Israel a bit and chill out.' Murray, who is close friends with Shaun Ryder and Bez, insisted he was innocent from the start. He said it was a mix-up and he had innocently spent time with others who were also accused. They have been in contact with the former manager. He has a previous conviction for a huge cannabis deal in Britain. News of his arrest sent shockwaves through the Manchester music scene. Murray had played an integral part in the success of the band and was frequently photographed with them. The source added: 'He's just relieved. There's going to be one hell of a party to celebrate at some point.' A family of scammers have been jailed after making 300,000 by conning people into believing the puppies they were buying were much-loved pets when in reality the dogs were being bred and traded like 'commodities'. The McDonagh clan operated a wide ranging fraudulent scheme which falsely advertised the pups on popular Facebook pages and used dozens of fake emails, addresses, names, and staged photos showing the pups 'at home' to trick customers. All the while, the immoral gang were importing pups from across Europe - thought to be imported from Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic - breeding puppies, and dealing in stolen animals. The scam was uncovered thanks to a detailed investigation by the RSPCA and the true scale of the illegal puppy operation was uncovered with the McDonaghs pocketing around 300,000. The court heard how the RSPCA applied for search warrants for several Newport addresses addresses but before they could be executed police were called to a property in Caerau Road, Newport where 'five Irish men' were trying to kick their way into a property asking for 'the dogs'. A police helicopter followed their vehicles to the Ellen Ridge travellers' site in Newport and two suspects were arrested. Just before officers arrived, the duo had swapped clothes and had started to shave their heads 'presumably with the intention of evading detection' - those men were Eddie McDonagh and Patrick Christopher McDonagh. While at the site police saw a number of dogs and puppies that were kept in poor conditions and which did not appear in the best of health. Some 21 dogs and puppies were removed from the premises and four of those were found to have been stolen. A family of scammers have been jailed after making 300,000 by conning people into believing the puppies they were buying were much-loved pets The McDonagh clan operated a wide ranging fraudulent scheme which falsely advertised the pups on popular Facebook pages They used dozens of fake emails, addresses, names, and staged photos showing the pups 'at home' to trick customers Martin McDonagh and his family from Newport profited from the scheme to the tune of 300,000 Patrick (left) and John McDonagh were also jailed for their part in the immoral scam Sentencing, a judge at Swansea Crown Court said the fraud had been sophisticated and carefully planned - involving as it did the transportation of animals likely bred in Eastern European puppy farms. It also involved the breeding of pups in Wales and the keeping of animals in dirty and unsanitary conditions. The twisted adverts the McDonagh clan used to sell their dogs under false pretenses The McDonagh's produced advertisements for their dogs and marketed them on sites including Pets4Homes and Gumtree. One reads: 'This stunning little tri-coloured cavalier king Charles spaniel pup is now ready to leave for his new home. We have one boy available he is very loving affectionate pup that likes to play and have cuddles. He has been raised in our family home with our kids and he is well socialised. Mum is our family pet and can be seen with pup.' Another details: 'I've come to the very sad sale of my beautiful beagle. He is four months old I have had him since he was eight weeks but I hate to say this but my circumstances have changed and I sadly cannot have him no more I am so upset about this as I really do love him but I can no longer give him the time that he deserves and has forced me into putting him up for sale.' Advertisement Hazel Stephens, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said the investigation started thanks to an observant vet who became suspicious that a man had taken three litters of puppies into the surgery using the same phone number but calling himself by different names. Concerned about what was going on the vet contacted the RSPCA and the animal charity launched an investigation subsequently called Operation Earth. The detailed investigation would eventually reveal that members of the McDonagh family were involved in the breeding, cross-border transportation, and sale of puppies and dogs on a large and very profitable scale. Evidence gathered as part of Operation Earth showed the McDonaghs were advertising pups for sale on four of the main puppy selling sites - FreeAds, Pets4Homes, Preloved, and Gumtree. The adverts were worded to make it appear that the dogs were from home-bred litters and were socialised and healthy puppies when in reality the defendants were trading puppies and dogs 'like commodities with no care for their health or welfare'. Veterinary records acquired by the RSPCA 'demonstrated the ill-health and frequent breeding of a number of dogs'. Some of the puppies sold by the McDonaghs were found to have microchips from Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Ireland and in some cases they had been taken to vets in the UK to make them look like dogs from Britain. The prosecutor said analysis of Facebook adverts and messages and of phone records showed the defendants had used 41 different residential addresses, 47 mobile phone numbers, and 39 email addresses during the puppy-selling scam. It is estimated that between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, a total of 532,300 worth of dogs were advertised for sale online and the prosecutor said for the purposes of the case the value of the fraud was put at 300,000. The immoral gang were importing pups from across Europe, breeding puppies, and dealing in stolen animals The scam was uncovered thanks to a detailed investigation by the RSPCA and the true scale of the illegal puppy operation was uncovered The scam also involved the breeding of pups in Wales and the keeping of animals in dirty and unsanitary conditions The McDonagh family were involved in the breeding, cross-border transportation, and sale of puppies and dogs on a large and very profitable scale Veterinary records acquired by the RSPCA 'demonstrated the ill-health and frequent breeding of a number of dogs' Some of the puppies sold by the McDonaghs were found to have microchips from Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Ireland In some cases they had been taken to vets in the UK to make them look like dogs from Britain The court heard 20 victims of the scam had given statements to the RSPCA and between them they had paid the McDonaghs more than 30,000 for what they believed were socialised and healthy pups from a family home. A number of those puppies subsequently required vet treatment with some being diagnosed with pneumonia, some with campylobacter, giardia, and with various other welfare issues while two puppies were diagnosed with parvovirus. The prosecutor said many of the purchasers had been left with large vets bills. Ms Stephens said there were two sets of victims in the case - the puppies themselves and also the purchasers who suffered 'considerable expense and considerable emotional upset through the illness and in some cases death of the puppy'. Each of the McDonagh men pleaded guilty to commit fraud by false representation and to failing to meet the needs of puppies in the their care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and were sentenced to a combined total of 16 years in prison. Each of the McDonagh women pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of puppies in their care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and were given suspended custodial sentences. The great-niece of an 80-year-old Italian woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder, accused of force-feeding her spaghetti in a bid to claim her 400,000 inheritance. The woman is alleged to have killed Maria Basso by feeding her the dish after taking her out for lunch, despite the fact that she was only able to eat 'baby food', so that it would look like she had died of natural causes, Corriere della Sera reports. The great-niece of the victim was arrested by the Carabinieri and taken to the Aci Castello station in Sicily with the support of soldiers. Basso, who did not have any children and stayed in the Giovanna Maria Bonomo retirement home in Asiago, had worked abroad for a long time before taking a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She had also served in Tehran, Iran, where she had fled after the Khomeini revolution - an uprising that resulted in the toppling of the monarchy in 1979 - and then in America and Australia. The woman is alleged to have killed Maria Basso by feeding her the dish after taking her out for lunch, despite the fact that she was only able to eat 'baby food', so that it would look like she had died of natural causes, according to a report The great-niece of the victim, who contests the accusation, is now under house arrest and has been tagged with an electronic bracelet, the publication reports. Over a two-month period, the suspect, looking to take advantage of her great-aunt's particularly vulnerable state, showed a strong interest in the assets, which had been earmarked 15 years ago for a Christian youth education institute in Milan, Corriere della Sera reports. The inheritance was estimated to be worth around 428,000. The great-niece made several trips to the bank where the elderly lady held the current account, arousing suspicion from the bank's director and officials, which led them to file a complaint with the public prosecutor's office. Under the plan, the suspect would have managed to convince the elderly woman to revoke the general power of attorney, issued in favour of her long-time friend, according to the publication. On December 2, 2022, after staying in a hotel in Asiago for the night, Basso was forced to take a long car journey to a care home in Aci Castello, Sicily. She was not allowed to collect her belongings, nor to notify loved ones, who had not been told about her transfer. Additionally, the suspect had not brought along the drugs that her great-aunt took on a daily basis, despite managers at the facility where she was under care advising her to do so. Basso's family members, who were worried by the sudden disappearance of their relative, filed a complaint and a criminal case to the Vicenza prosecutor's office, which was then forwarded to the Catania prosecutor's office for jurisdiction. Under the plan, on December 9, 2022, the elderly woman would be made to sign a public will, with her great-niece established as the sole heir. Two days later, the great-niece allegedly took Basso out for lunch, forcing her to eat the spaghetti dish that caused her death. After the prosecutor's office put in a request, and the investigating judge gave the go-ahead, the suspect was placed under house arrest after she was tracked down and handcuffed in her home. A dodgy dentist who fleeced 22,000 from the taxpayer by inflating NHS treatment costs did it 'to advance his career'. Dr Tej Kumar Kundra, 37, of South Woodford, admitted one count of fraud by false representation after making 77 exaggerated claims for treatment at Mydentist between April 2021 and June 2022, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Kundra, who trained at King's College London, was working at the Mydentist when he claimed to have carried out NHS treatment for people on benefits who were exempt from making payments, prosecutor Robyn Murdo-Smith told the court. Fraudster Kundra 'inflated' claims by processing Band 1 work, worth 25.80, as Band 3, worth 306.80, putting him in a position to make personal gain from commission and a company bonus. 'He effectively invented work and put it through, and that had the effect of running up the fraudulent amount of 22,000,' said Mr Murdo-Smith. Tej Kundra (left) could return to dentistry after he was spared a prison sentence After 14 months, the fraud was discovered during an internal audit and Mydentist launched an investigation. Kundra was interviewed and made a full admission. Kundra was suspended by the General Dental Council on December 19 2022 and is next up for review on June 18, 2024. The grifter pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates' Court in December 2023. Kundra is the chief commercial officer of Kundra Group, a family-run asset management and development company based in East London. In their latest filings on Companies House, as of March 2022, Kundra Holdings LLP, where Kundra is a director, had more than 6.7 million in land and buildings. At Tuesday's hearing, the prosecution said Kundra had so far paid back 18,000. His barrister claimed the defrauded money had been paid back in full. Kundra was warned he would be brought back to court if this turned out to be false. Defence counsel Elroy Claxton pointed to a number of positive references by other professionals, and his client's remorseful apology letter. 'The fraud was clearly serious as it had an impact on others, but the seriousness of the fraud was not so substantial that is had a lasting legacy on the company,' Mr Claxton argued. Mr Claxton claimed Kundra's primary motivation was 'self-elevation' and he did not need the money. 'His intention was to present himself in the company and make out Kundra was doing well, Kundra was dealing with a lot of people, Kundra can do the task, the reflection being Kundra can do well under pressure,' said Mr Claxton. 'The result of that was the company would do well under the NHS and he would receive a bonus... His motivation, rather immature on his part, was to advance his career. That's had an effect of ruining his career as he is now suspended from the profession.' Dr Tej Kumar Kundra, 37, of South Woodford, east London, admitted one count of fraud by false representation after making 77 exaggerated claims for treatment at Mydentist. Concluding the fraud was an 'abuse of trust', Judge Ross Cohen said: 'He's expected to safeguard the public purse, as this is public money, in his role as a professional dentist. This is an abuse of trust.' Sentencing the fraudster, the judge continued: 'This was a serious offence on any analysis. Not only did you carry on for a significant period of time and cause significant loss to the company. The impact of the of the offence beyond that is it erodes the public trust in what is an important profession and, more broadly, the healthcare system. 'It causes public and patients to question the legitimacy of their treatments, and the reputation of the dental practice you worked in was invariably tarnished.' Judge Cohen told Kundra he had decided to spare him an eight-month prison sentence so he might have a chance of returning to dentistry. Instead he slapped him with a 12 month community order, with 200 hours unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement. 'Make sure you behave yourself and stay out of trouble and we won't hear any more about it,' added Judge Cohen. Kundra must also pay 350 in costs. Samantha Robinson, a Counter Fraud Specialist with NHS England said: 'As an organisation, NHS England is committed to the upholding the high standards of professionalism and good conduct that patients and the public expect. 'In this case those standards were not being upheld, and information was being falsified for criminal gain. We are therefore pleased with today's verdict, which sends a strong message and means patients can be assured that where we find wrong-doing, action will be taken.' A Republican running for Congress decided to take the migrant crisis into her own hands by fixing a portion of the Mexico-California herself using razor wire. Kate Monroe - a Marine Corps veteran and author - took 400 feet of razor wire to a gap in the southern border that has been infamous in recent months for mass migrant crossings leaving the rural area littered with trash and debris. The border opening, known locally as the 'San Judas Break' based on its proximity to a nearby Mexican town bearing the same name, sits roughly 80 miles East of San Diego near Jacumba Hot Springs, California. The opening itself is only a few feet wide. Monroe, who is running for California's 49th Congressional District, told DailyMail.com that she is sick of politicians talking about the border and neglecting to do anything about it. 'It was appalling to me that we couldn't secure that part of the wall as though it was a massive opening,' she told DailyMail.com in a statement. Kate Monroe is running as a Republican for California's 49th Congressional District The 'San Judas Break' has been a popular spot for migrants wishing to cross into the U.S. 'Thank God Amazon sells razor wire,' she added. 'I want Americans to realize you dont have to wait for someone else to do what you can do.' 'Stop being passive and just watching. Get involved.' The location has been a popular crossing spot for Chinese nationals, of which at least 450 have crossed through the gap since Monday. The 2023 fiscal year reportedly saw over 37,000 Chinese migrants encountered at the border - with a staggering 20,000 more who have crossed since October, when the 2024 fiscal year began. Jerry Schuster, a 75-year-old who owns the land the migrants cross through, estimated 3,000 individuals cross a week. Monroe told DailyMail.com she saw a group of 60 or so migrants who had recently crossed awaiting free transportation from the U.S. government. 'When we arrived on scene the border patrol was seated in their SUVs watching the migrants while they waited to be picked up and taken to the airport. We spoke to the border guys and they said they cant do anything about it.' Monroe told DailyMail.com her patching up the gap was both effective and symbolic as thousands have used the location to cross in recent months. 'That hole being closed forced them to have to trek miles up rough terrain into the mountains,' she said before adding, and 'Ill hike up there and close it too.' Monroe is the CEO of Vetcomm, a veterans affairs group that aids former service members Monroe showed just how easy it is to cross from Mexico into the U.S. Here she is shown on the Mexican side of the Mexico-California border wall Migrants frequently go through the border gap and wait for U.S. Border Patrol to pick them up Her securing the border stunt comes as Congress has hit a standstill on border security. The Senate spent months negotiating a border security and foreign aid deal that fell apart at the last moment after Republicans decried the weak migrant provisions and leading GOP candidate Donald Trump criticized the bill as a 'horrible open borders betrayal of America.' Immediately after the bill was released House Republicans said they would not take up the bill, and the Senate passed a bill without any funding for the border. The House, meanwhile, has passed its own border security bill, but the Democrat-held Senate has signaled it will never get a vote. And The White House has blamed Republicans for the current border woes. 'Every day between now and November, the American people are going to know that the only reason the border is not secure is Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican friends,' President Joe Biden said Feb. 6. Now, though, the White House is reportedly mulling executive action to stem the flow of migrants crossing illegally into the U.S. - something former President Donald Trump did often in his tenure. 'The border is left open on purpose,' Monroe said. 'If we simply called up the National Guard, allowed border patrol to do their job while we build a wall, its very simple to fix it.' 'I believe that there is a sinister plan afoot by the left to flood America with migrants even if they are drug traffickers, terrorists or human traffickers,' she continued. 'They want Democrat supremacy at all costs.' Zoe Clark-Coates and her husband Andy were at hospital with their young daughter, having a baby scan for their son, Samuel, when they both noticed their consultant's face drop like a stone. Then he turned to the couple and said: 'I don't know how to tell you this, but his heart has stopped beating.' 'I went into the bathroom and screamed, and just slid down the wall,' Zoe said. Tragically, Samuel was not the first baby she and Andy had lost - but the fourth, after Cobi, Darcey and Bailey. Unbeknownst to them, they were also to lose a fifth, a daughter they would name Isabella. Zoe underwent surgery to end her pregnancy with Samuel. Years later, they have two healthy children and have fought for years to transform the way that baby losses are recognised and treated in the UK. After a nine-year campaign, Zoe has spearheaded the introduction of baby loss certificates by the government for all parents who have lost a baby prior to 24 weeks' gestation. Until now, grieving parents have had no formal recognition of their child if they passed away less than 24 weeks into the pregnancy. Zoe and her husband Andy (not pictured) have two daughters, but heartbreakingly, five other children, Cobi, Darcey, Bailey, Samuel and Isabella, all passed away before birth Zoe Clark-Coates lost five children before birth, and has spearheaded the campaign for baby loss certificates for babies who die before 24 weeks Zoe, pictured with her husband Andy, was awarded with an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours in 2021 As well as founding her own not-for-profit The Mariposa Trust and launching remembrance services across the world for grieving parents, Zoe is the co-chair and author of the government's Pregnancy Loss Review. The review spanned more than five years and evaluated all elements of care and support services for parents who lose a child before 24 weeks. And in an unprecedented move, Zoe told MailOnline that all 73 of her recommendations were accepted by Downing Street. She and co-chair Sam Collinge are now working with NHS England and government to implement all of their proposals, the first of which is the availability of baby loss recognition certificates. Her campaign work came out of a desire to help other parents following the devastating losses of five of her own children. 'It was through our experience when we were constantly told, "don't go looking for support, there's none out there", that we decided that we needed to do something,' Zoe told MailOnline. She explained how because she had originally trained as a grief specialist she 'thought she understood loss'. 'I taught it, I helped people through grief,' she said. 'But I realised all the training in the world doesn't tell you exactly what it's like, some things have to be learned through first hand experiences.' When Zoe and Andy first decided to try for children, she said they 'presumed everything would go right.' She continued: 'We thought we would follow all our friends and everything would be easy for us. After launching a push to get baby loss certificates for all grieving parents of children who die before they are born, Zoe (left) was supported by Dame Floella Benjamin (centre) Zoe appears on BBC Breakfast to discuss her work with BBC presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty 'We got pregnant relatively easily, however we tragically lost that first baby. Like many people when you've had one loss you're devastated and you grieve, but you really just hope it's a one-off. We thought it is not something we would go through again.' READ MORE: Baby loss certificates will finally give comfort to parents grieving after a miscarriage: Move to register the death of a stillborn baby before 24 weeks is welcomed by millions including actress Kym Marsh and Love Island star Malin Andersson Advertisement After losing Cobi, Zoe fell pregnant again with a daughter, Darcey. At first, all seemed fine with the pregnancy. But one day, Zoe discovered she was bleeding. Originally told by medical staff not to worry, Zoe returned home - but days later, she began bleeding again, and far more heavily. After being rushed to A&E, Zoe said: 'I was met with a really poor level of care and impassionate care. 'I remember being asked why I was so upset.' But even after rushing to hospital, the couple were sent home. It was only out of desperation that they turned to a private clinic and had a scan, at which point they were informed that Darcey's heart had stopped beating. After this second loss, Zoe said she struggled to cope: 'It just felt so devoid of hope, so dark, so tragic, you just don't feel like you will ever feel happiness again.' But still desperate to have children, Zoe and Andy tried again, going on to conceive, and then heartbreakingly lose, their third child, Bailey. They decided they could not face the pain of losing another child. However, Zoe later fell pregnant for a fourth time, describing it as a 'relief', but adding she was left 'terrified'. Months later, Zoe and Andy welcomed a healthy baby into the world, something Zoe describes as a 'miracle'. After their fourth child was born, Zoe fell pregnant again. 'This pregnancy was going really well,' she said. 'We were watching our baby Samuel grow. In 2018, Zoe was appointed as co-chair of the government's Pregnancy Loss Review alongside Sam Collinge Zoe also authored the report (pictured above) which came up with 73 recommendations, all of which were accepted by the government 'Then, one horrible afternoon, our consultant's face just dropped.' It was then that they learned Samuel's heart, too, had stopped beating. Their fifth and final loss, of their daughter Isabella, came soon afterwards. Zoe and Andy announced to friends and family that they were expecting another child at a Christmas Eve party. Just half an hour later, Zoe began bleeding. Soon, it was confirmed: their daughter had died. The family spent Christmas in mourning for Isabella, devastated at the loss of yet another child. But as the days went on, Zoe began to get more and more ill. After further tests, it emerged Zoe had been expecting twins. While Isabella had passed away, their second child was still alive, and was later born healthy. Following their harrowing experiences, Zoe and Andy had seen for themselves the huge gap in services supporting couples like them who had lost children. So in 2012 they launched a service of remembrance for other parents who had lost babies to gather and grieve, and support one another. Months later, the services had become regular and a charity was established called The Mariposa Trust, with its main operations taking on the name Saying Goodbye. It now has outlets all over the world, including America. After the loss of their second child Darcey, Zoe and Andy struggled to cope: 'It just felt so devoid of hope, so dark, so tragic, you just don't feel like you will ever feel happiness again' Within a few months of launching, the couple's site had 650,000 hits a month. It rapidly expanded to offer support not just to bereaved parents, but also to pregnant women, people looking to adopt children, those going through fertility treatment and families who have received a terminal or life altering diagnosis for their child. And nine years ago, Zoe noticed there were thousands of people every month raising the fact that no losses before 24 weeks were formally recognised. 'Our support is now reaching 50,000 people a week, and we were hearing thousands of people each month saying, "I just want my loss formally recognised, I feel like I'm being robbed of permission to grieve",' Zoe said. 'So we launched the campaign to bring about the certificates and I went on BBC Breakfast, with Kym Marsh sitting beside me.' Waterloo Road actress Kym Marsh, 47, was also left heartbroken when her son Archie passed away at just 21 weeks following a premature birth in February 2009. After their appearance, they were contacted by Dame Floella Benjamin, who championed their campaign through the House of Lords. Nine years later, Zoe's hard work and continuous campaigning has paid off. Any parents who have lost a baby before 24 weeks since September 2018 can now apply for a certificate. It is planned to soon open applications to parents who lost children no matter how many years ago it was. The voluntary government scheme offers those who experience a loss pre-24 weeks' gestation a certificate to formally recognise their devastating loss. No clinical confirmation is needed, and any parent can apply for a certificate no matter the type of loss, meaning stillbirths, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies are all included. The scheme, which came into effect on Thursday, is designed to recognise the grief of parents who lose a baby early in a pregnancy. Until now, no pregnancy lost before 24 weeks needed to be registered. Through her work, Zoe was even recognised by the late Queen Elizabeth II and given an MBE for services to the baby loss community and improvement of bereavement care. On the day applications for the certificates opened, Zoe said: 'Its a huge day today that people are able to apply. 'They needed to be backdateable, they needed to be available to anyone who had ever gone through a baby loss. The type of loss doesnt matter, you dont need clinical recognition. 'Many never thought this day would come.' Anyone affected by the issues raised in this article can contact The Mariposa Trust at sayinggoodbye.org. Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall hopes to use the method of capital punishment for death row prisoner Alan Eugene Miller The state executed Kenneth Miller last month using the method in a 22-minute long ordeal described as 'agonizing' and 'torturous' by spectators Alabama have requested permission from the Supreme Court to carry out the state's second execution by nitrogen gas Alabama has asked the Supreme Court to approve the state's second nitrogen-gas execution less than a month after Kenneth Smith was violently executed. Alabama's attorney general on Wednesday asked the state's Supreme Court to authorize a second execution by nitrogen hypoxia, after the state became the first to kill a prisoner using the new method last month. On January 25, Kenneth Eugene Smith writhed and shook in agony as he was slowly suffocated for 22 minutes before he died. Despite the clearly agonizing and torturous death, Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall vowed to keep using nitrogen gas to execute inmates. Marshall filed a motion asking the court to allow the Alabama Department of Corrections to execute Alan Eugene Miller, who has been on death row since 2000 for murdering two co-workers and a former co-worker at separate locations in 1999. If approved, Governor Kay Ivey would set a date. Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a motion asking the court to allow the Alabama Department of Corrections to execute Alan Eugene Miller (pictured) who has been on death row since 2000 Kenneth Eugene Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 after admitting the murder-for-hire killing of a pastor's wife who was beaten and stabbed in 1988. On January 25, he became the first person in US history to be executed with nitrogen gas Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (pictured) vowed to continue using nitrogen hypoxia for the state's executions, noting that 43 Alabama death row prisoners have opted to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection Miller had previously been assigned an execution date in 2022, but it was delayed by last-minute legal action, according to the filing. 'As the State of Alabama is prepared to carry out the execution of Miller's sentence by means of nitrogen hypoxia, it is once more the appropriate time for the execution of his sentence,' the filing said. Alabama has also offered to aid other states seeking to carry out executions using nitrogen gas, a method Alabama called 'the most painless and humane method of execution known to man' but one that human rights groups have condemned as cruel and torturous. What occurred last night was textbook,' Marshall said after Smith's execution, contrasting allegations from many, including Smith's spiritual advisor who said it was 'torture' and the 'worst thing' he had ever seen. 'When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse, he popped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,' spiritual advisor Jeff Hood, who was in the chamber, said immediately after the execution. Marshall said of the 165 inmates on Alabama's death row, 43 prisoners have opted to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection when their time comes. 'We'll definitely have more nitrogen hypoxia executions in Alabama,' he concluded. In filings before the execution, the state argued that 'the experts agree that nitrogen hypoxia is painless because it causes unconsciousness in seconds.' Alabama's lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo, where Smith was executed last month Marshall reportedly conceded that this was not exactly how it unfolded Thursday night as it took longer than anticipated, but said it was difficult to discern the timing due to difficulty knowing when the nitrogen began to flow. 'It's interesting to see the attorney general say that everything went consistent with plans that they laid out,' Hedgepeth told MSNBC. 'We saw him begin violently shaking, thrashing against the straps that held him down. 'This was the fifth execution that I've witnessed in Alabama, and I've never seen such a violent execution or a violent reaction to the means of execution.' A hot mic audio of a school superintendent has been released after he was ousted for calling a principal a 'b***h* in an off-air rant with a radio host. Claude Tiller Jr., the former Superintendent for Green Bay Area Public School District announced his resignation on February 17 after his comments on the show were reviewed by the school board. Tiller appeared on WAOK and spoke with the host Dr. Adriene Harrison Berry on February 5 and discussed his role as superintendent. During a commercial breaks in the show, Tiller and Berry shared conversations that were captured on her Facebook Live recording. In one conversation, Tiller said that a high school principal in the district was 'coming after' a teacher who grew close to the former superintendent. He then referred to the principal as a 'wicked witch' that he had to protect the teacher from. 'Absolutely, first thing they'll say is "Who me?" Well, b-i-t-c-h, of course it's you,' Tiller said. Claude Tiller Jr. resigned from his Superintendent position at Green Bay Area Public School District after a radio interview was released During a commercial break, Tiller called a high school principal in the district a 'wicked witch' and a 'b-i-t-c-h.' The school board placed him on administrative leave for his comments 'We're talking about you, yes, we're talking about you,' the host replied. It is unclear who the principal is that he spoke about. Once the school board saw video of the interview, they placed Tiller on administrative leave before he decided to resign from his position. 'In the days subsequent to my appearance on the program, it was disheartening to learn that select comments in my two-hour long interview were interpreted in a manner that inadvertently caused offense with some in our school community,' Teller said in a statement following his resignation. 'Its important to emphasize that my comments were specifically directed toward the broader systemic issues within public education that contribute to ongoing challenges.' 'My intention was to not call-out individuals but to highlight areas where our collective efforts can catalyze significant improvements in the learning experience for every child,' he added. More than 40 people were in attendance on Saturday at the district's office building to support Tiller as the school board accepted his resignation. He was the first black superintendent to serve in the school district. After the vote, resident Stephanie Guzman told school board members: 'I hope that you can sleep at night when our kids see that you didnt defend Mr. Tiller, I hope that you remember that.' 'If they're doing stuff like this to the superintendent, they're silencing the voices of the community,' Amanda Garcia the executive director of Casa ALBA Melanie, a resource center for Hispanic people told WFRV. Tiller later announced his resignation on February 17 and said that his comments were comments were 'specifically directed toward the broader systemic issues' More than 40 people were in attendance on Saturday at the district's office building to support Tiller as the school board accepted his resignation. He was the first black superintendent to serve in the school district While some people criticized the school board for their response to Tiller's comments, others supported their decision. 'This man has a FRAGILE EGO, should have thought better of himself, no he pay,' one person said on Facebook. 'Get rid of him,' another wrote. During the nearly two hour interview, Tiller, who was hired as the superintendent last summer, spoke about issues in the district and where he saw room for improvements. He specifically touched on the racial disparities that he's seen as he called the Wisconsin city 'lily on top of the lily white,' while on-air. 'For the listeners out there, Im a bald-headed man, and I wear bowties, so first off, they think that Im a Muslim,' he said. 'They think I like to fix bean pies, and thats furthest from the truth, so I had to go debunk some micro-aggressions They get my passion confused with being angry.' During the nearly two hour interview Tiller specifically touched on the racial disparities that he's seen as he called the Wisconsin city 'lily on top of the lily white,' while on-air Tiller also spoke about his goals to create an incentive to get more teachers to work for the district by raising their base salary to $50,000 and added that 'there is no sense of community' He also mentioned that during his interview process, he and one other potential candidate, a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, were the two finalists for the superintendent position. 'I just thought nothing of it. White, blonde hair, blue yes, a Barbie doll. I thought she was going to get that [job],' he said in the interview. Tiller also spoke about his goals to create an incentive to get more teachers to work for the district by raising their base salary to $50,000 and added that 'there is no sense of community.' The Green Bay Public School District went on to release the live recording of the interview, both on-air and off. The radio station has since deleted the live recording from their Facebook and has not responded to comments made under its promotional post for Tiller's interview. Green Bay is made up of about 100,000 residents, with 72 percent of the population being white, according to US Census data. Those who identify as black made up approximately 4.2 percent of the overall population. A Baltimore rabbi accused of sexually abusing three young boys at an Orthodox Jewish summer camp has been found liable for battery and assault. Rabbi Steven 'Shmuel' Krawatsky, 47, was accused of abusing the boys who were then between seven and eight-years-old at Camp Shoresh in 2014 and 2015. Two of the victims claimed to have been anally raped, while another said the camp counselor offered him $100 to touch his genitals, according to the complaint which sought a $1.8 million payout. Last week, a jury ruled that he committed assault against one child and battery against another, claims against the third child were not upheld. Each victim has now been awarded $1 in compensatory and $8,000 in punitive damages. Krawatsky, of Pikesville, previously denied the allegations and has not faced any criminal charges, despite being interviewed by police and Child Protection Services who initially found indications of abuse according to the civil lawsuit against him. Maryland rabbi Steven 'Shmuel' Krawatsky has been accused of sexually abusing three young boys at an Orthodox Jewish summer camp The married father was found liable for battery and assault against two of the children. The names and images of the boys, who do not appear in this photo, are being withheld to protect their privacy The abuse was said to have taken place at Camp Shoresh (pictured) in 2014/15 The accusations first surfaced in a 2017 in a post by sexual abuse survivor Chaim Levin and were later reported in a 2018 New York Jewish Week article. Krawatsky was accused of abusing three boys while working at the camp after they came home and began displaying strange behavioral issues. Eventually, they disclosed to their parents that 'Rabbi K' had sexually abused them, a lawsuit brought by their parents states. The explosive allegations saw Krawatsky fired from his role at the private Jewish Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School. The institution issued a statement at the time insisting it had not received any safeguarding concerns directly. The married rabbi then tried to sue Levin, the publication, its reporter and the parents over the accusations. The parents countersued for the abuse of their children and Krawatsky's claims were dismissed. According to the lawsuit, Krawatsky would often host sleepovers with children at his house and would also dole out 'punishments' in the camp's pool changing room, without any other adults present. The filings state that three boys were abused although claims against just two were upheld. Allegations included that one boy was 'touched in an offensive and inappropriate manner' while at the camp and another was 'offered money to engage in sexual acts' per the lawsuit. He was not found liable for the claims relating to a third boy which stated that he was also raped. A jury awarded each of the two victims $8,000 each in punitive damages. Charges against the third boy were not upheld One of the victims claimed to have been anally raped, while another said the camp counselor offered him $100 to touch his genitals, according to the complaint. Pictured: Krawatsky with his wife Shira Krawatsky has not faced any criminal charges despite being interviewed by police and CPS in 2015, according to the lawsuit In all cases, the lawsuit describes how Krawatsky would allegedly heap praise on the boys before isolating them to carry out the alleged attacks. In his closing statement, the victims' attorney told the court that the one of the boys had described how Krawatsky 'peed on his arm'. 'You saw the terror in those kids eyes when they talked,' Jon Little said. 'They were afraid of Rabbi Krawatsky and they were afraid of the other evil, the rope running through this whole thing. The community that failed to protect its children.' Krawatsky was interviewed by Frederick County Police and CPS, according to the lawsuit. CPS initially found that abuse was 'indicated' against one victim, and 'unsubstantiated' against another, which means that they could neither prove nor disprove that it happened, the filings state. Krawatsky was placed on leave from the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, but was allowed to return after he appealed the 'indicated' finding and had it downgraded to unsubstantiated, according to the suit. The case rocked the Orthodox community where it unfolded, with allegations of intimidation on the part of Krawatsky's supporters who rallied around him despite the accusations. Little, who acted for the families pro bono, said that his practice had been bombarded with one star reviews in the wake of the case. The rabbi was working at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School when the allegations were made public but was later fired from the post The parents counter sued Krawatsky after he tried to pursue them for defamation when the allegations were made public. Pictured: Camp Shoresh He slammed the meagre damages awarded to his clients and speculated it may have been because they could not point to any large medical expenses incurred. 'When we got the liability verdict I thought okay wow, but apparently the community do not consider raping a seven-year-old a serious and traumatic event. I do, that is something that will stay with you for life,' Little said. 'Firstly I am so dismayed at the way the Jewish community rallied to defend a man accused of raping children. 'But then also the people who saw what happened and refused to take care of these children. People think they do this for money, but this was a defensive suit. 'One of the moms said to me, "I want to find out what happened to my kid but at the same time I don't want it to be true". So we talk about vindication and I'm glad the jurors saw what I have known to be true for the past six or seven years, but really what have these parents gained?' Little claimed that Krawatsky's supporters may have spent up to $7 million defending him and had attempted to bury him in legal fees by also unsuccessfully trying to sue him for defamation. 'After six years of hell that he put them through with the defamation suit and the community did with its harassment of the victims this verdict vindicates them,' said Asher Lovy, founder of Za'akah, which fights child sex abuse in the Orthodox community. The parents' lawsuit described how Krawatsky would allegedly host sleepover with kids and discipline them away from other adults 'I hope it can bring them healing, and I hope it sends a message to enablers that they can try as hard as they want to but the truth is going to come out.' In his 2017 post, Levin called Krawatsky 'extremely dangerous' and said he is 'alleged to have inflicted severe harm on multiple children'. He also accused higher ups of being aware of the concerns but protecting the rabbi anyway. After sharing his initial post, Levin claims he was flooded with threatening messages. 'Throughout this lawsuit we have learned a lot about the cover up that allowed this to happen,' Levin said. 'Many of the details are disturbing and sad. They demonstrate that this community did not and does not care about the safety of children. 'I'm proud of these kids for standing up to this bully and their families for sticking by them.' The rabbi's lawyers said in a statement: 'Rabbi Krawatsky passed a polygraph test back in 2015. The matter was fully investigated by the Frederick County Sheriffs Office and the Frederick County States Attorneys Office. 'Rabbi Krawatsky was never arrested and was never charged with any crime. Ever. The Frederick County Department of Social Services found the matter to be unsubstantiated, the records have been destroyed, and he is allowed to work with children. 'Krawatsky has never harmed a child in any way. Ever. 'The jury obviously did not believe the false accusations against him made by one of the three children because they found that he did not harm that child, in any way. And that child had made the most serious allegations. And the jury only awarded the other two children nominal damages of One Dollar. 'Unfortunately, Rabbi Krawatsky was not able to tell the full story at the trial so he intends to appeal the case in order to fully clear his name.' However, Little said the Rabbi had three opportunities to take the stand but refused. 'It is very clear that his goal is to exhaust families and that is sad. He had 3 chances to tell his story he didn't. A polygraph is not admissible in Maryland and neither is a decision not to prosecute.' CPS said in a statement: 'The department takes very seriously its duty to protect the health and well-being of children and ensure youth are safe. While confidentiality laws prevent us from providing specific details regarding your questions, Child Protective Services (CPS) has a duty to conduct either an investigation or a family assessment if someone reports that a child has allegedly been abused or neglected. 'Before closing an investigation, we will determine the nature, extent, and cause of any child abuse or neglect and, if possible, the person responsible for the abuse or neglect, and share that investigative report with law enforcement. 'Maryland Department of Human Services employees care deeply about the safety and well-being of children, and we work relentlessly to ensure all families we serve are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Reporting child abuse and neglect is everyone's responsibility, and we encourage everyone to Know the Signs and report child abuse and neglect concerns immediately.' The victims of the Horizon scandal are set to be exonerated in new legislation set out by the government. In a written ministerial statement on Thursday, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake said victims of the scandal will have their convictions quashed under a set of 'clear and objective criteria'. Earlier this week, former Post Office chair Henry Staunton revealed a bombshell memo from the government which he claimed told him to delay compensation for postmasters until after the election. Minister Hollinrake said: 'The Government recognises the constitutional sensitivity and unprecedented nature of this legislation. 'The Government is clear that this legislation does not set a precedent for the future relationship between the executive, Parliament and the judiciary. The Horizon scandal saw more than 700 subpostmasters and subpostmistresses handed criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 Northern Irish subpostmistresses Katherine McAlerney, Heather Earley, Deirdre Connolly and Maureen McKelvey arrive at Aldwych House to give evidence for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry 'The judiciary and the courts have dealt swiftly with the cases before them, but the scale and circumstances of this prosecutorial misconduct demands an exceptional response. 'We are keen to ensure that the legislation achieves its goal of bringing prompt justice to all of those who were wrongfully convicted as a result of the scandal, followed by rapid financial redress.' READ MORE: Ex-Post Office chair claims government told him to delay compensation for postmasters until after the election Advertisement He added that there would be certain elements required in order for convictions to be within the scope of legislation designed to exonerate wrongfully prosecuted subpostmasters. These would be the type of prosecutor - for example, the Post Office or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) if such prosecutions were based on evidence provided by the Post Office. But the Government will not include any convictions from the Department for Work and Pensions. Convictions will need to relate to alleged offences during the period that the Horizon IT system was in use and to offences which relate to the scandal, for example theft and false accounting. The convicted person will need to have been working in a Post Office that used the software and be either a subpostmaster, one of their employees, officers, or family members, or a direct employee of the Post Office in order to be eligible. Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake (pictured) said victims of the scandal will have their convictions quashed under a set of 'clear and objective criteria' Mr Hollinrake added: 'The legislation, which will be brought forward shortly, will quash all convictions which are identified as being in scope. That scope will be defined by a set of clear and objective criteria which will be set out in the legislation and will not require any element of discretion or subjective analysis in order to be applied.' The Government's legislation to exonerate subpostmasters is also likely to clear the names of people 'who were, in fact, guilty of a crime'. He said this was a 'price worth paying' in order quash convictions for many innocent people. In terms of measures to mitigate the risk of clearing those guilty of offences, Mr Hollinrake said people will be required to sign a statement to the effect that they did not commit the crime for which they were convicted in order to receive financial redress. If people are found to have signed the statement falsely in order to gain compensation, they 'may be guilty of fraud,' he said. Pro-life Republicans who previously supported or used IVF themselves have been largely silent after a controversial court ruling could put the GOP on the spot going into the 2024 election cycle. Earlier this week, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) are children. As a result, at least two Alabama fertility clinics have halted IVF treatments out of a fear of prosecution, because the ruling means people could theoretically be sued for destroying an embryo. It could open the door to wrongful death lawsuits in all cases where embryos do not survive being thawed and transferred to the uterus, potentially sending doctors in the state fleeing elsewhere to practice medicine. And the political fallout is poised to be enormous as pro-life Republicans will be forced to take a public stance on the popular IVF treatments that one in six Americans struggling to conceive use. President Joe Biden called the ruling 'outrageous and unacceptable' in a statement Thursday, and said it is the 'direct result' of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. According to a recent poll conducted by former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, 86 percent of Americans support access to the treatment. That includes 78 percent of 'pro-life advocates' and 83 percent of Evangelicals. Former Vice President Mike Pence disclosed in his book 'So Help Me God' that his wife Karen underwent IVF as they struggled with infertility in their marriage. Former Vice President Mike Pence disclosed in his book 'So Help Me God' that his wife Karen underwent IVF many times as they struggled with infertility Alabama 's Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are children and will therefore be given the same protections under state law 'I fully support fertility treatments and I think they deserve the protection of the law,' Pence previously said in an interview. 'They gave us great comfort in those long and challenging years that we struggled with infertility in our marriage,' the staunchly pro-life Republican added. Mike and Karen have three children - Audrey, Michael and Charlotte - and three grandchildren. A spokesperson for Pence did not immediately return a request for comment from DailyMail.com. GOP campaign operatives are also attempting to downplay the threat of any potential election blowback on Republicans in 2024 due to the decision. National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Communications Director Mike Berg simply told DailyMail.com that none of their candidates support a ban. 'There is not a single Republican Senate candidate in the entire country proposing a ban on IVF,' said Berg. 2024 GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley didn't shy away from the topic, saying this week that frozen embryos are 'babies.' Haley, who has talked in general terms about her personal struggles with fertility, said she used artificial insemination to have her son Nalin, the second of her two children. Artificial insemination is a different process than IVF that doesn't present the same complexities around creating embryos in a lab. But Haley has said her struggle to have kids has influenced her pro-life stance. But she later clarified her comments, saying she did not say she agreed with the Alabama court's decision. 'I didn't say that I agreed with the Alabama ruling,' she said on CNN Thursday. 'What the question that I was asked is, 'Do I believe an embryo is a baby?' Haley said. 'I do think that if you look in the definition, an embryo is considered an unborn baby. And so, yes, I believe from my stance that that is.' But Some Republicans including Rep. Michelle Steel who used IVF herself, are not a fan of restrictions. 'As someone who struggled to get pregnant, I believe all life is a gift. IVF allowed me, as it has so many others, to start my family,' she wrote on X. 'I believe there is nothing more pro-life than helping families have children, and I do not support federal restrictions on IVF.' A few other Republicans have maintained their support for the procedure, including Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. 'You have a lot of people out there in this country that they wouldn't have children if it weren't for that,' Kemp said. Another GOP governor, Bill Lee of Tennessee, said this week that 'generally I am supportive of IVF.' The highlighted states have laws on the books stipulating that life begins at the moment of fertilization. In Louisiana, the intentional disposal or destruction of a human embryo is illegal Haley, who has talked in general terms about her personal struggles with fertility, said she used artificial insemination to have her son Nalin, the second of her two children Embryo selection for IVF shown under a light micrograph - the treatment is overwhelmingly popular with Americans GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama flip flopped on whether he supported his state's court decision. He first told reporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Thursday that he was 'all for' the decision, according to HuffPost. But just moments later, he expressed some concern about providing access to help couples who have challenges to pregnancy. 'I know, I know,' said the senator. 'I agree, people need to have access. We need more kids. We need people to have the opportunity to have kids.' Alexei Navalny's mother has demanded that Kremlin officials give 'my sons body immediately' after investigators tried 'blackmailing' her into holding a 'secret' burial. Lyudmila Navalnaya, 69, revealed has been taken in secret to the morgue in Salekhard to see his body, but claims state investigators are refusing to hand it to her for a burial. She made the allegation in a YouTube video published on Thursday, in which she accused officials of 'threatening' to do 'something' with Navalny's body if she does not agree to a secret funeral with no mourners. Navalnaya also claimed an investigator warned that 'time is not on your side, corpses decompose.' But the grieving mother has hit back at the 'illegal' practice, saying: 'I demand that Alexei's body is released immediately, so that I can bury him like a human being.' Navalnaya's revelations suggest state investigators are seeking to prevent an independent examination of the Russian opposition leader's body for signs of torture or murder, and also prevent an open funeral where thousands could come to pay homage. There was no immediate response from Russian investigators. Alexei Navalny's mother (pictured in a video released today) has accused Russian investigators of 'blackmailing' her over the funeral of her son Navalny, Putin's strongest domestic critic, fell unconscious and died suddenly aged 47 on Friday after a walk at the 'Polar Wolf' penal colony above the Arctic Circle where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said. In the video, Navalnaya said: 'I have just left the building of the Investigative Committee of the city of Salekhard. 'I spent almost a day there alone, with investigators and forensic experts. 'The lawyer was allowed in only today after lunch. Yesterday evening, they secretly took me to the morgue, where they showed me Alexei. 'Investigators claim that they know the cause of death.' She did not say if she knows what this is. The West and Navalny's supporters, including his widow Yulia, 47, say Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. The Kremlin has denied involvement and said that Western claims that Putin was responsible were unacceptable. Putin himself has made no public comment on Navalny's death but it has further deepened a gaping schism in relations between Moscow and the West caused by the nearly two-year Ukraine war. 'They have all the medical and legal documents ready, which I saw,' Navalnaya added. 'And I signed the death certificate. By law, they were supposed to hand over Alexei's body to me immediately, but they haven't done so yet. 'Instead, they are blackmailing me, imposing conditions on me regarding where, when, and how Alexei should be buried. 'This is illegal. I've seen orders come to them in my presence, either from the Kremlin or from the central apparatus of the Investigative Committee. 'They want it to be done secretly, without a farewell. They want to take me to the outskirts of a cemetery to a fresh grave and say, "Here lies your son". I disagree with this.' 'I want everyone, those who hold Alexei dear, for whom his death has become a personal tragedy, to have the opportunity to bid him farewell. 'I'm recording this video because they started threatening me, looking me in the eye. They say that if I don't agree to the secret funeral, they will do something to my son's body.' Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the 'Polar Wolf' penal colony above the Arctic Circle where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said Since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine, the scope for dissent in Russia has narrowed even further. Russian authorities have tightened speech restrictions and jailed critics, often ordinary people, sometimes for decades. Hundreds of people who laid flowers in Navalny's memory across Russia were detained. Navalnaya appeared in a video earlier this week and appealed to Putin to turn her son's body over to her so she can bury him with dignity. Standing outside the Arctic penal colony where Mr Navalny died on Friday, she spoke to camera: 'For the fifth day, I have been unable to see him. 'They wouldn't release his body to me,' she said. 'And they're not even telling me where he is,' a black-clad Navalnaya said in the video, with the barbed wire of Penal Colony No. 3 in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow. 'I'm reaching out to you, Vladimir Putin,' she said. 'The resolution of this matter depends solely on you. Let me finally see my son. She named one state investigator Voropaev who 'openly told me: "Time is not on your side. The body is decomposing". I don't want any special conditions, I just want everything to be done according to the law.' She added: 'I demand that Alexei's body is released immediately, so that I can bury him like a human being. Russian authorities have said the cause of Mr Navalny's death is still unknown and refused to release his body for the next two weeks as the preliminary inquest continues, members of his team said. They accused the government of stalling to try to hide evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected the allegations of a cover-up, telling reporters that 'these are absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.' Mr Navalny's death has deprived the Russian opposition of its best-known and inspiring politician less than a month before an election that is all but certain to give Mr Putin another six years in power. Many Russians had seen Mr Navalny as a rare hope for political change amid Mr Putin's unrelenting crackdown on the opposition. Mr Navalny, 47, was imprisoned since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from a nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He received three prison terms since then, on charges he rejected as politically motivated. Since Mr Navalny's death, about 400 people have been detained across in Russia as they tried to pay tribute to him with flowers and candles, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors political arrests. Authorities cordoned off some of the memorials to victims of Soviet repression across the country that were being used as sites to leave makeshift tributes to Mr Navalny. Police removed the flowers at night, but more keep appearing. Mr Peskov said police were acting 'in accordance with the law' by detaining people paying tribute to Mr Navalny. Over 60,000 people have submitted requests to the government asking for Mr Navalny's remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said. The West and Navalny's supporters say Vladimir Putin is responsible for Navalny's death After the last verdict that resulted in a 19-year term, Mr 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.' In a video on Monday's, his widow Yulia Navalnaya said: 'By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me, half of my heart and half of my soul.' 'But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up. 'I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny,' Navalnaya said. MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell told DailyMail.com on Thursday he will appeal a judge's ruling requiring him to pay $5million to a developer who proved the election wasn't stolen. Lindell distanced himself from the case, noting that he was personally responsible for paying the fine, but a separate financial entity, Lindell Management LLC. 'They're not going to do that. Pay for something when every other cyber expert that was there said it was from the 2020 election,' he said in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'This guy, this is corrupt, this guy, it's all corrupt.' MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell reacted Thursday to a judge's ruling requiring his company to pay a $5 million prize to a developer who successfully challenged the validity of 2020 election data in his possession CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell waves to the crowd before he speaks during a Save America rally Lindell launched a 'Prove Mike Wrong Challenge' through his company Lindell Management LLC, for cyber experts in August 2021 claiming he had 'packet captures' data from the 2020 election that proved Chinese interference in the 2020 election. The company offered a $5 million prize if any cyber analyst could prove him wrong. Robert Zeidman, a software developer, submitted a 15-page report concluding that the data 'unequivocally did not reflect November 2020 election data,' according to his arbitrators. Lindell stressed he was moving on from the 2020 election and focusing on future elections with a nationwide effort to get rid of voting machines and replacing them with systems with paper ballots, verified by hand counting. 'That ship's gone, Donald Trump is going to win this election, we have to get rid of these machines to save our country,' he said. 'We have to get rid of the machines,' he said, repeating that computerized election voting machines were vulnerable to hacking and errors. A voter prepares to cast a ballot on an electronic voting machine inside a vote center on Election Day during the Nevada 2024 presidential primary election Voting machines stand inside a Clark County vote center on Election Day d Lindell criticized the effort by some Republicans to embrace early voting and voting by mail, warning of more opportunities for voter fraud. 'They're completely insane, that's an insane thought there, they're wrong, they're wrong, they're wrong,' he said. He vowed to continue fighting for hand counted paper ballots and same day voting. 'Our elections are too important,' he said. 'It's so much easier to cheat earlier.' 'I'm trying to get rid of these electronic voting machines,' he added. Rishi Sunak today accused Sir Lindsay Hoyle of pandering to 'extremists' by 'bending' Parliamentary rules in a debate on Gaza that sparked a bitter Westminster row. The Prime Minister said scenes of uproar in the Commons last night were 'very concerning' as more than 50 MPs called for the Speaker to quit in the wake of the controversy. Sir Lindsay today issued another grovelling apology after being accuse of having 'bent Commons rules' to save Keir Starmer from a damaging revolt over the fighting in the Middle East. In a grovelling and near-tearful mea culpa last night, he acknowledged he regretted tweaking parliamentary convention in a vote over support for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. But the former Labour MP argued that he was motivated by anxiety about the safety of MPs from pro-Palestinian protesters, rather than partisan concerns. There were claims Sir Keir Starmer personally lobbied him and he was told he would have 'blood on his hands' if a Labour amendment was not selected - something the party leader 'categorically' denies. Speaking on a visit to Wales today, Mr Sunak said: 'What happened in the House of Commons last night is very concerning. 'It seems that the usual processes and the way that the House of Commons works were changed. Now my understanding is that the Speaker has apologised for that and is going to reflect on what happened. 'But I think the important point here is that we should never let extremists intimidate us into changing the way in which Parliament works. 'Parliament is an important place for us to have these debates. And just because some people may want to stifle that with intimidation or aggressive behaviour, we should not bend to that and change how Parliament works. That's a very slippery slope.' The Prime Minister said scenes of uproar in the Commons last night were 'very concerning' as more than 50 MPs called for the Speaker to quit in the wake of the controversy, Lindsay Hoyle took the Speaker's chair in the House this morning as it emerged 49 MPs have now signed a parliamentary motion voicing no-confidence following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight Sir Keir (pictured on a visit to Three Bridges in West Sussex today) personally lobbied Sir Lindsay to choose Labour's amendment Sir Keir 'categorically' denied threatening the Speaker to get his amendment selected During brutal exchanges in the Commons this morning, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for 'damaging' Sir Lindsay - suggesting he had been unable to resist pressure from Sir Keir to select an amendment to an SNP motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire'. Meanwhile, the Scottish nationalists have formally stated they have no confidence in Sir Lindsay, and Downing Street repeatedly declined back him. The amendment decision - taken in defiance of advice from the Commons Clerks - meant the SNP did not get a chance to vote on their own Opposition Day debate. It sparked a walkout from both the SNP and Tories. But Sir Lindsay initially tried to leave one of his deputies to field anger in the House, before MPs finally dragged him in to face the music. Sir Lindsay briefly took the chair in the Commons this morning, without referring to the crisis. He returned after meeting senior figures including SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. 'I will reiterate I made a judgement call that didn't end up in the position where I expected it to,' Sir Lindsay said. 'I regret it. I apologise to the SNP I apologise and I apologise to the House. I made a mistake. We do make mistakes. I own up to mine.' He added: 'I will defend every Member in this House. Every Member matters to me in this House.' His voice faltering, Sir Lindsay added: 'And it has been said, both sides, I never ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists.' Sir Lindsay said: 'I have a duty of care, and I say that, and if my mistake is looking after Members I am guilty.' But many MPs are already convinced his situation is 'terminal', with jockeying for his job already under way. In a grim sign for Sir Linday, supporters of the no-confidence motion include the chair of the powerful Tory 1922 committee Graham Brady. Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions'. Ms Caulfield told Sky News she would 'struggle to support him', adding ominously: 'We'll see what happens in the next 24, 48 hours.' The House of Commons descended into chaos last night as SNP and Tory MPs walked out of the chamber in a furious row over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire During brutal exchanges in the Commons, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for 'damaging' Sir Lindsay - suggesting he had been unable to resist pressure from Keir Starmer Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield warned Sir Lindsay's position is 'difficult' and she was 'disappointed in his actions' A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown What happened in the Commons yesterday? It was a day when arcane procedural wrangling clashed with a decades-old global crisis. The SNP had laid a trap for Labour on its Opposition Day, when it has control of debate topics. The nationalists put down a motion demanding an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza. In a desperate bid to stop his pro-Palestinian MPs rebelling to support the motion, Sir Keir then laid an amendment with similarly wording - but crucially linking a ceasefire to Hamas releasing Israeli hostages. But the government looked to have thwarted that by laying their own amendment merely urging a 'humanitarian pause'. By parliamentary convention, a government amendment would normally be the only amendment taken on an Opposition Day motion. That avoids a situation where opposition parties amend each other's motions. It also ensures that the party whose Opposition Day it is gets a 'clean' vote on their own motion, as - in contrast to other debates - that vote happens before the vote on the amendment. However, Sir Lindsay overruled the opinion of the Commons chief clerk to overturn that convention. He selected both the Labour and government amendments for debate and vote. That sparked fury from the SNP, who pointed out that they would be deprived of a clean vote on their motion. As anger reached a crescendo at the end of the debate - with Sir Lindsay nowhere to be seen as one of his deputies struggled to contain the backlash - Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt announced that the government would boycott the proceedings. At that point many Tories and the SNP walked out. There was a highly unusual vote on whether the House should sit in private - something that has not happened since 2001 - to discuss the Speaker, although it was rejected. Eventually Sir Lindsay reappeared in the chair to face his critics, looking close to tears as he apologised for the chaos his decision had wreaked. He argued that refusing to select both amendments could have put MPs in danger from pro-Palestinian activists - something opponents derided as bowing to mob rule. Some Tories blamed Labour threats for the Speaker's decision - particularly surprising as he was elected to make a break from similar 'rule-bending' by John Bercow. Once he departed, Deputy Speaker Rosie Winterton was left to pass the Labour amendment 'on the nod' without a vote, although Tories said she should have held one. Advertisement Reports of a visit from Sir Keir raised questions about the degree to which the Labour leader leaned on the Speaker as the decision on votes was being considered. But Sir Keir said today that he 'simply urged' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to have 'the broadest possible debate' by putting a number of options in front of MPs during the Gaza ceasefire debate. Speaking at a train depot in Sussex he said: 'I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever. 'I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate. 'So that actually the most important thing , which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them.' At Business Questions in the Commons, Ms Mordaunt swiped that Sir Keir was 'happy to do what he knows to be wrong'. 'We have seen into the heart of Labour's leadership,' she said. 'Nothing is more important than the interests of the Labour Party. The Labour Party before principle, the Labour Party before individual rights, the Labour Party before the reputation and honour of the decent man that sits in Speaker's chair. The Labour Party before fairness, integrity and democracy.' Ms Mordaunt's tone was gentler than last night, when she attacked Sir Lindsay for 'hijacking' the debate and 'undermining the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Downing Street repeatedly refused to say whether the PM has confidence in the Speaker. 'The Prime Minister's focus is on addressing the situation in the Middle East,' the premier's spokesman said. 'And as I say, that is what he's spending his time focused on. Matters for the House, as I say, are matters for the House.' The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour's amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP's original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an 'immediate humanitarian pause'. QUENTIN LETTS: Starmer's gambit backfired like a vintage Lagonda, leaving a broken Sir Lindsay on the verge of tears Advertisement He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move, which provoked uproar in the chamber. After calls for him to return to the chamber to explain his move, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures. Amid shouts of 'resign', he said: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up.' But Tobias Ellwood, whose family home was recently targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, rejected the argument that Sir Lindsay needed to select the amendment to protect MPs from backlash. The former minister told TalkTV: 'I don't agree with that. I don't understand I listened carefully to when he said that and slightly raised my eyebrows. My family have been affected by this... 'I've been very clear, despite that, I have people outside my house which was absolutely bizarre, but I think this idea is somehow the Speaker was trying to then offer options for MPs to then choose is wrong. 'We'd have done better for all three parties which I then said in the debate yesterday to go away, work out a sensible line, a motion that the whole house could agree. 'So, the world can see that we are united in wanting to, to move this forward to buy. It really was a circus yesterday.' The evening's mayhem - in scenes reminiscent of the collapse of Liz Truss and Brexit battles at Westminster - raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker in a plot some are dubbing 'Just Stop Hoyle'. An early day motion tabled by senior Tory William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker has already attracted support from 33 Conservative and SNP MPs. Some 53 MPs have now signed a Commons motion voicing no confidence in Sir Lindsay In a protest prompted by the actions of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, huge numbers of MPs deserted the Commons following angry exchanges The bid to oust the Speaker has been branded 'Just Stop Hoyle', a play on the anti-fossil fuel campaign group One veteran Tory MP told MailOnline the situation was 'absolutely disastrous'. 'I think he may well be in terminal difficulty,' they said of Sir Lindsay's position. 'He was warned by his clerks, who wrote to confirm the advice. He ignored the advice. It was the biggest cock-up I have ever seen since I have been an MP.' The MP added: 'The rumour is that he was threatened by the Labour Party. If he buckled to that sort of threat, he doesn't deserve to be Speaker.' Other MPs are already talking up their credentials to take over from, with one candidate joking they could maintain order in the chamber because they are a martial arts expert. Sir Lindsay previously ran into trouble in January when it emerged he was intending to fly the Palestinian flag at Parliament. The Commons circulated a diary note that the symbolic move would happen for a meeting with the Palestinian 'ambassador' - even though there is no such thing as the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state. But the idea was dropped after a backlash from MPs that Sir Lindsay was wading into politics. He also caused some chatter by accidentally referring to Sir Keir as 'Prime Minister' during a PMQs session recently. When he became Speaker in 2019 Sir Lindsay stressed that he would draw a line under the approach used by John Bercow - who was accused of bending rules to help opponents of Brexit. Sir Lindsay said at the time: 'I've come into this job as a referee, and that's where I want to be. It shouldn't be about me, it's about the Chamber.' Sir Lindsay said he took the decision to allow all sides to 'express their views' and that he was 'very, very concerned about the security' of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict. But SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speaker's position was 'not now intolerable' and claimed his party had been treated with 'complete and utter contempt'. He also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour's chief whip had exerted pressure on Sir Lindsay, a former Labour MP, ahead of his decision to pick the party's amendment for debate. Labour's amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation. Had the Speaker not chosen it, Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire could have been pushed to back the SNP motion, in a repeat of a major rebellion against the Labour leadership in November. However, Labour frontbencher John Healey told BBC Newsnight it was 'totally untrue that he (the Speaker) was put under pressure'. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (pictured), both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square Sir Lindsay was later absent from shambolic scenes in the Commons - prompting suggestions he had gone 'into hiding' - as MPs on all sides engaged in a parliamentary slanging match. After a slew of points of order from Tory MPs and a furious SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, both the SNP and Government benches staged their walkout. The three key votes that plunged the Commons into chaos SNP - 'immediate ceasefire' The nationalists called for an unconditional 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Unlike Labour's amendment, the motion also called for an end to the 'collective punishment of the Palestinian people'. It was not voted on as the Labour amendment successfully passed. Labour - 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' Labour's amendment used softer language around Israel's military action in Gaza, stating they 'cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence'. It also removed references to 'collective punishment' from the SNP's original motion. Government - 'immediate humanitarian pauses' The Government amendment, laid down late on Tuesday night, reflects the latest position outlined by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. It calls for an immediate 'pause' in the fighting to allow aid into Gaza and release Israeli hostages. This would set up the conditions for a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire' which ensures 'security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians' in a two-state solution. The amendment was not voted on after the Government withdrew it in protest to the speaker tabling Labour's amendment. Advertisement MPs then voted on whether the Commons should sit in private for the first time since 2001 as they put pressure on Sir Lindsay to return to the chamber. The chaos inside the Commons chamber took place at the same time as a large pro-Palestinian rally was held in Parliament Square yesterday. A tearful-looking Sir Lindsay faced shouts of 'resign' when he later returned to the Commons to offer an apology for having sparked last night's meltdown. He told MPs: 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it's ended up. 'I do take responsibility for my actions, and that's why I want to meet with the key players who have been involved.' The Speaker attempted to explain that he intended to allow the House 'the widest range of propositions on which to express a view'. But he angrily denied accusations he had met with Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray in a bid to stitch up the debate in Labour's favour. One insider said Labour had warned him their MPs would be at increased risk of attack by pro-Palestine campaigners if they could not vote for their own ceasefire motion. 'He was told he would have blood on his hands if he didn't allow this vote,' the source said. In his statement on Wednesday, the Speaker acknowledged he was 'very, very concerned about the security of all MPs'. But former Tory cabinet minister Kit Malthouse said he would have 'crossed a Rubicon' if he had allowed threats and intimidation from outside to influence the proceedings of the Commons. Sir Keir wanted to prevent his MPs from backing the SNP motion demanding an unqualified 'immediate ceasefire' by tabling his own amendment. The Labour amendment caveated that Hamas terrorists must hand back hostages and lay down weapons first. Sir Lindsay's ploy to allow all three main parties - the Tories, Labour and SNP - to put forward their own position was undone when the Government boycotted proceedings. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules. Ms Mordaunt also suggested the Speaker's decision may have put MPs at greater risk, warning that he had 'raised temperatures...on an issue where feelings are already running high'. She accused the Speaker of having taken action 'against the longstanding and established processes and procedures of this House', adding: 'For that reason the Government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on today's proceedings.' That move prompted last night's chaos in the Commons after the SNP were informed the Government's action meant they were unlikely to get a vote on their original motion. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had 'hijacked' the debate and 'undermined the confidence' of the House in its long-standing rules Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had looked to avoid another major Commons revolt by his MPs over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war This evening's mayhem - in scenes not seen since the Brexit battles at Westminster - has raised thoughts among MPs of an effort to oust Sir Lindsay as Speaker Mr Flynn demanded to know why Sir Lindsay was not in his chair, and asked how he could be brought to the House to explain why the SNP's views are 'irrelevant to him'. After his request for the Commons to be suspended were denied by Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton - who was filling in for the absent Sir Lindsay - SNP MPs and Tory MPs then staged their walkout. MPs later voted 212 to 20, majority 192, to reject a proposal for Commons to sit in private. Labour's amendment pushing for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza - with caveats - was then approved by the Commons without a vote. Dame Rosie was also forced to deny suggestions that Sir Lindsay was influenced by threats from senior Labour figures to accept the party's amendment. Tory MP Philip Davies referred to claims that the Speaker had been 'left in no doubt that Labour would bring him down after the general election unless he called Labour's Gaza amendment'. But Dame Rosie replied: 'That tweet is wrong and the statement is incorrect.' Labour's defence spokesman John Healey insisted the party had put 'no pressure on the Speaker', and said he had been right to allow the widest possible debate on Gaza. But even some Labour MPs questioned his judgment. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky News: 'I wish he hadn't taken this decision. Confidence in him has been significantly undermined and I speak as a friend of his.' Labour has been riven by divisions over Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. While Sir Keir has argued for Israel's right to self-defence, dozens of his MPs have been calling for Israel to end the war. Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant said Sir Lindsay's decision had created a 'constitutional crisis'. But fellow grandee Sir Charles Walker predicted that Sir Lindsay would survive, adding: 'This furore will blow over. 'When the House of Commons comes to its senses it will realise very quickly that the removal of the Speaker will only lead to metaphorical champagne corks popping in Tehran.' The SNP, which ended up being unable to vote on its own motion calling for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza, reacted with fury. The party's Pete Wishart said the ruling was 'ridiculous', adding: '(Sir Lindsay) has totally lost it and this will come back to haunt him.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night. Halima Begum, chief executive of the ActionAid UK charity, said: 'We are extremely disappointed to see the utter paralysis in Parliament this evening. 'Democracy is a precious commodity and should be treated as such. 'A great disservice has been done to the British people, who expected their political parties and elected representatives to conduct a meaningful debate concerning an issue on which depends the lives of over a hundred Israeli hostages, and hundreds of thousands of Gazans suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises we have seen in recent times.' Oxfam's Katy Chakrabortty said: 'It is a disgrace that there has been so much playground politics in Parliament this evening, while so many lives are at stake. 'The people of Gaza can't wait for our politicians to stop squabbling. Much of the country lies in ruins and Rafah, where many Palestinian families have been forced to flee, is under threat of a full-scale military offensive.' Charities involved in efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing offensive reacted with fury to the behaviour of MPs last night Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, branded the Commons chaos as 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst' Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, told LBC radio the Commons chaos was 'disgraceful' and 'shameful', adding: 'Today we have seen British politics at its worst.' 'Politicians are trying to save themselves, rather than saving an entire nation from genocide,' he continued. Last night's drama came after a previous vote on a call for a Gaza ceasefire tabled by the SNP last November resulted in 10 Labour frontbenchers resigning in order to support the demand. Sir Keir's efforts to avoid a repeat of that revolt this evening were thrown into doubt earlier when the Government put down its own change to the latest SNP motion. Convention suggested Sir Lindsay would only choose the Government amendment to put to a vote this afternoon. That would have raised the prospect of Sir Keir seeing many Labour MPs join the SNP in the division lobbies even if he ordered them to abstain - as many have been vocal in urging an immediate ceasefire. However, Sir Lindsay sparked uproar in the chamber when he confirmed he was selecting both the Labour amendment and the Government one - over the advice of his own clerks. The SNP cried foul saying that it deprived them of a 'clean' vote on their own Opposition Day motion. And one senior Conservative was heard shouting, 'Bring back Bercow!' - a reference to Tory complaints that former Speaker John Bercow bent procedures to help opponents of Brexit. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. But Sir Lindsay said there was a precedent, adding that he thought the operation of standing orders in the House was outdated. There were also bitter accusations that both Labour and the other parties had threatened to unseat the Speaker as they tried to get their own way. 'This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation, and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options,' Sir Lindsay said. A Colorado town has voted to affirm its status as a non-sanctuary city, over fears that migrants from nearby Denver could flood the area. The town of Monument, 45 miles south of Denver, voted 7-0 to confirm the new resolution during a council meeting on Tuesday. The town council reviewed the resolution and drafted it in part after news of migrants arriving in nearby Colorado Springs, according to The Gazette. Speaking to Fox News, Mayor Mitch LaKind said: 'The goal is to make sure that Denver knows that we will not being accepting bus loads of migrants into our community. 'We don't have a budget that matches theirs, we won't utilize taxpayer funds for the support of what they've decided to take on themselves as a sanctuary city.' Your browser does not support iframes. Mayor Mitch LaKind told Fox that there was simply no room in the town for migrants, and that they don't have a budget to help LaKind said that if migrants do appear in the town: 'The town administration and police force will work with federal agencies to have them picked up and brought to wherever it is they would be held. 'Their is no room in Monument for them. I'd like to see the President announce that he is shutting the border. 'I have not heard of anybody reaching out to the council that has been against our resolution. If anything it has been a fairly unanimous "lets do this".' Denver is a city that migrants are routinely shuttled to after entering the US, with weak southern border policies allowing December to shatter the record for CBP migrant encounters at over 302,000. According to the Denver Post, Denver is currently allowing families to stay in city shelters for 42 days, up from 37 days. An online dashboard indicates that 53 migrants arrived in the city on Wednesday of this week, bringing the number served by the city to 38,726, with 2,714 in shelters. Most are Venezuelans fleeing a humanitarian crisis, according to the city of Denver. According to a report by The New York Times, the state capital has spent more than $42 million on the migrant problem. The outlet reported that if expenditure continues at the current rate of $3.5 million a week, the crisis could cost them $180 million in 2024. Due to the spending on the crisis, Denver mayor Mike Johnston announced cuts earlier this month, and warned the worst is still to come. Johnston announced cuts from its parks and recreation and DMV budget totaling $5 million. Officials are also set to take $10 million from contingency funds and $15 million from maintenance projects. 'While they are the first steps, they unfortunately will not be the last,' Johnson said, adding that the cuts also likely 'will not be the hardest.' Johnston added that he hopes the budget can return to normal in 2025, but did not appear confident as he said that 'everything is on the table for us.' Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced the budget cuts, warning they 'will not be the last' and likely 'will not be the hardest' An online dashboard indicates that 53 migrants arrived in the city on Wednesday of this week, bringing the number served by the city to 38,726, with 2,714 in shelters Venezuelan migrants wait in a line to get paper work to be admitted to shelters at a migrant processing center on May 9, 2023 in Denver, Colorado The cuts to the Parks and Rec department started this week, with reduced opening hours for recreation centers across the city. Residents will also no longer be able to enjoy recreation centers every day of the week, as those open for all seven days are set to be reduced to six days. In the cuts to the DMV, residents will no longer be able to get vehicle registrations in person after March 4. Instead, all vehicle registrations will have to be completed by mail, online, or by in-store kiosks. The impact on the DMV would not stop there, however, as four branches will be closed for one week at a time every four weeks on a rotating basis. Due to the immigration problem, Denver's hospitals are also at risk of collapsing due to the strain on the healthcare system. UCHealth was given $17 million from other hospitals, including $10 million from University Colorado Hospital, to help care for 5,800 undocumented patients. The rise in costs has coincided with the unprecedented number of immigrants who crossed America's border and arrived in Denver Struggling UCHealth was given $17 million from other hospitals to help care for migrants from Nov to Jan. The city's main public hospital, Denver Health (pictured) has already plunged deep into the red after patients received $136 million in treatment they couldn't pay for Medics believe these patients are mostly - if not entirely - migrants, because the data covers people who don't have a Social Security number or health insurance and were seeking healthcare in the US for the first time. And this figure is only the tip of the iceberg. It excludes migrants who had sought care from the system before or those who qualified for emergency Medicaid, which covers undocumented patients in labor or with some life-threatening conditions. The city's main public hospital, Denver Health, has already plunged deep into the red after patients received $136 million in treatment they couldn't pay for, bosses warned. Denver Health lost $2 million in 2022 - but that was substantially-reduced by a $20 million cash injection from the state. In 2022, the hospital system lost $35 million, with bosses warning of 'dire consequences' for the hospital if 2024 is as bad as the previous two. Senator John Fetterman has zero tolerance for Democrats criticizing President Biden ahead of the presidential election saying they might as well be Trump supporters. 'If you're not willing to just support the president, and say these kinds of things, you might as well just get your MAGA hat because you're just helping Trump with this,' the Democratic Pennsylvania senator fumed in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Thursday. The outspoken senator pulled no punches going after members of his own party who have publicly gone after the president as Biden has faced a barrage of concern over his age, but also on policy like immigration in the war in Gaza. 'I don't know what's in it for you to do that, whether you're just chasing clout or you want to make it in the news or anything like that,' Fetterman said. The freshman senator warned it is going to be a very competitive presidential race in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, but he predicted Biden would win. 'The president is going to win here in Pennsylvania, and I've always believed whoever wins Pennsylvania is going to be the next president as well too,' Fetterman insisted, but he said 'it's going to be difficult.' Fetterman appearing with Biden in Philadelphia in June, 2023. He warns it is going to be a competitive PA race but believes President Biden will win the state come November Fetterman has slammed Democrats criticizing President Biden claiming they might as well 'get your MAGA hat' referring to the red hats worn by Trump supporters President Biden won Pennsylvania in 2020 by just over 80,000 votes after former President Trump flipped the state red in 2016 by less than 45,000 votes. A February poll of Pennsylvania voters by Emerson College found the race to be a dead-heat in the Keystone State with Trump polling at 45 percent while Biden held 43 percent. It showed independents and women breaking for Biden while Trump has more support from men. Fetterman has been a fervent ally of Biden since even before taking office. He did not shy away from the president appearing with him at events as he campaigned in his own tight senate race in 2022 despite the president's low approval ratings during the midterms. Just days ago, Fetterman also traveled to Nevada to make the case for Biden's re-election where he describing the president as a 'tough motherf***er.' Fetterman has played defense on concerns about the 81-year-old president's age and mental acuity after Special Counsel Robert Hur's report raised questions about his memory. The senator, who has faced his own health challenges suffering a stroke while running for the Senate in 2022, pushed back on the report calling it a smear and a 'cheap shot.' He said Biden is 'absolutely in full control.' Fetterman has also been on the receiving end of criticism from the progressive wing of the Democratic party for his vocal support of Israel in the aftermath of the terror attack on October 7. The senator has dug in rejecting calls for a cease-fire while calling on Hamas to surrender and for Israeli hostages to be returned home. The Scout Association faces being investigated for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after an inquest jury concluded that a 16-year-old boy who plunged 200ft to his death during a botched expedition was unlawfully killed. Ben Leonard slipped and fell from a rocky ledge while trying to find an 'easier way down' during an unplanned hike on the Great Orme in North Wales in 2018. He and two friends had become 'lost' by the three scout leaders on the trip after the adults failed to warn them of the dangers of going near cliff edges, an inquest into the tragedy heard. Following a two-month inquest at Manchester Civil Courts of Justice, a jury today found a scout leader and his assistant were responsible for the unlawful killing of Ben, and this was contributed to by neglect by The Scout Association. The law prevents inquest juries from naming any individual in conclusions. Ben Leonard, 16, (pictured) suffered a serious head injury when he fell about 200ft at Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales, on August 26 2018 Ben died while on a trip with the Reddish Explorer Scouts from Stockport, Greater Manchester However Earlier, the inquest was told the Scout leader on the trip was Sean Glaister and that Mary Carr was the assistant leader. Mr Glaister declined to answer a series of questions from the barrister representing Ben's family after being told he did not need to give responses which might incriminate himself. It can now be revealed that coroner David Pojur has referred the Scout Association and an employee who cannot be named for legal reasons to North Wales Police to be investigated for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. In one of the darkest days in the world famous institution's 114 year history, it now faces the possibility of being prosecuted over its response to Ben's tragic death. Jurors were not told of the police referral and the media had been ordered not to report the matter until they reached their conclusions. Lawyers for the Scout Association and other individuals applied to extend an order banning reporting of the police referral, however this was rejected by the coroner following opposition from the media. This evening the Scout Association offered a 'wholehearted apology' to Ben's family but said it 'emphatically' refuted allegations of 'any criminal action' on its behalf. Ben was on a trip with the Reddish Explorer Scouts from Stockport, Greater Manchester, when he sustained a fatal head injury falling from the beauty spot near Llandudno on August 26 2018. Following a two-month inquest at Manchester Civil Courts of Justice, a jury found Ben was unlawfully killed by the most senior Scout leader on the trip An inquest began in February 2020 but the jury was discharged by Mr Pojur who said the Scout Association had failed to provide the court with full information and 'created a misleading impression'. In a report, he later said the organisation was putting the lives of young people at risk through inadequate operational practices. Mr Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales east and central, issued a report to prevent future deaths which listed 20 concerns. The latest hearing was held in Manchester to avoid Ben's family having to travel to North Wales each day. At the outset, the Scout Association for the first time accepted responsibility for Ben's death. But the teenager's tearful mother Jackie Leonard said the apology was five-and-a-half years too late and the treatment of her family had been 'disgusting'. She said it was 'like we didn't matter and like Ben didn't matter'. Ben joined the Beavers aged five and was an avid reader and film buff who planned to study TV and film at college. Mrs Leonard described him as 'thoughtful, very funny, extremely witty'. Around 500,000 young people and 145,000 adult volunteers take part in Scouting projects and activities each week, according to the association's own figures. Pictured: File photo of Scouts hub in Penarth, Wales But she said the Scout Association had tried to portray Ben as a 'wild child', taking a 'defensive' attitude and until their apology never accepting being at fault. The inquest also heard Ben's family were lied to as the Scout Association was worried about 'reputational damage'. It heard Ben's family were told that 'people who try and take on the Scouts are never successful' and that 'no-one can touch the Scouts' - despite it being apparent from the day of Ben's death that things had gone 'horribly wrong'. The latest inquest heard that Ben and fellow scouts Christopher Gilbert and Alex Jamieson who had not been given a map or warned about cliffs became separated from the rest of the party. One of the three scout leaders, Gareth Williams, was telephoned by a second, Mary Carr, who was ahead of him, asking if he could see Ben and his two friends. He said he told her: 'No, I thought they'd be with you.' Mr Williams then called Sean Glaister, the most senior scout leader on the trip, who then called one of the boys' mobiles, but they did not pick up so he left a voicemail. Meanwhile Ben had left his friends who were trying to head to a cafe saying it would be 'much quicker' to go another way, the hearing was told. Mr Gilbert, now 20, said he told Ben he was being 'silly' for taking a route which he described as 'really hairy'. Ben ended up on a 50cm ledge used by animals when he lost his footing, slipped and fell to his death. Scout leader Sean Glaister declined to answer a series of questions after being warned by the coroner that he did not need to if by doing so he could incriminate himself. The inquest jury heard suggestions that Mr Glaister had believed another man, Brian Garraway, group Scout leader, was also going on the trip, only to discover he was not present when he got to their campsite in Snowdonia. It meant no suitably qualified first aider was present for the trip to the Orme, which broke Scout rules for expeditions, therefore it should not have gone ahead. Mr Glaister agreed he had not warned any of the Scouts, including Ben, not to leave the paths up the Orme and he was not aware of the dangers of the cliff edges. The witness agreed The Scout Association never monitored his activities or ensured any training he was supposed to undergo had ever been done. Ben Richmond KC, representing the family, asked him: `They have hung you out to dry, haven't they?' `Yeah,' Mr Glaister replied. 'This could have happened to any of the leaders on any of the trips we went on.' Ms Carr told the hearing she'd had 'absolutely no concerns or worries about where they were or what direction they were heading in'. She had regarded the expedition as 'a country walk onto the tops', she said however she admitted she had never been up the Great Orme before and did not have access to a map. Assistant scout leader Mr Williams told the hearing he had been asked to go because 'I was basically another car to use as transport', adding that he felt the risk of falling was 'self-evident'. Mr Williams who was 26 at the time - said 'most of scouting couldn't take place' if a degree of risk wasn't acceptable. He added that as Explorers, making decisions about risk was 'a necessary part of taking part at that level'. But he admitted that those taking part in the trip should have been given clear instructions to avoid the cliff edge. Mr Richmond suggested Mr Williams had 'lost' the three boys on the walk up the Orme, putting it to him that there had been 'an absolute failure to demarcate safe and unsafe areas'. Mr Richmond asked him whether there could be 'a more basic failure of care short of pushing someone off the cliff yourself'. 'I'm not sure,' Mr Williams replied. Matt Hyde, who has been chief executive of The Scout Association since 2013, told the inquest he wanted to be able to look Ben's family in the eye and tell he had done his 'utmost' to ensure 'nothing like this happens again'. Asked by Mr Richmond whether he had considered resigning, Mr Hyde said he had done 'a lot of searching' but was committed to seeing his responsibility for thousands of young Scouts 'through'. Discharging the jury at the first inquest in 2020, Mr Pojur said was concerned that it had been 'misled' regarding evidence from the Scout Association's national safety manager, Jess Kelly, about the action taken after Ben's death in respect of the three leaders on the trip. The dramatic move came after it emerged only after they had begun their deliberations that the leaders had been put on restricted duties following Ben's death. After the inquest, Jennie Price, chair of The Scout Association Board of Trustees, said: 'We take today's conclusion extremely seriously. 'We want to restate our wholehearted apology to Ben Leonard's family and our deepest sympathies continue to be with his family and friends. 'As an organisation we are committed to learning. The jury heard how in this instance the local leaders did not follow our safety rules and processes. 'As a result of Ben's tragic death in 2018, we have already made many changes to our risk assessments, safety rules, training and support we give our volunteers. 'We will closely review the coroner's observations and adopt all further changes we can, to do everything in our power to stop such a tragic event happening again. 'Keeping young people safe from harm remains our number one priority at Scouts. 'We emphatically refute allegations made in court about any criminal action on behalf of the Scout Association.' North Wales Police were approached for comment. Around 500,000 young people and 145,000 adult volunteers take part in Scouting projects and activities each week, according to the association's own figures. or find it on Spotify or Apple Go deeper into the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon with the Mail's acclaimed podcast The Trial. Aristocrat Constance Marten received nearly 50,000 from her trust fund just months before she went on the run with her lover and newborn baby, a court heard today. Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of killing their baby daughter Victoria in January, after running away to stop as their child being taken away by social services. The baby's placenta was found in an exploded car near Bolton, Greater Manchester, sparking a huge manhunt for seven weeks before being arrested in Brighton. Victoria's remains were found in a Lidl supermarket bag inside a disused shed on an allotment on March 1 last year. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard this afternoon that Marten was given 47,886 through a prestigious Hoares bank trust between September 1 2022 and January 17 2023. She received money after a police appeal was launched on January 6 last year. Constance Marten (pictured with another child) received nearly 50,000 from her trust fund before going on the run Mark Gordon, 49, (pictured) and Marten accused of killing their daughter baby Victoria Gordon, pictured alongside Marten in a court sketch from Monday, claimed the couple had wanted to 'safeguard' the child, the 'whole thing' was for her and what happened could not have been predicted DS Steve Ferguson said that Marten was the beneficiary of a 'significant family trust' from Hoare & Co bank. The bank, which was established in 1672 and is the oldest privately owned bank in the UK, contacted Marten and asked for a meeting to discuss her future plans on 26 October. Two days later the bank emailed trying to arrange a Zoom call and on November 2 Marten apologised for missing the zoom call. On November 4 Marten said she was behind on 600 monthly payments to pay for the storage of her belongings and she was sent 1,200. She also asked for money for a camera equipment, a laptop, to replace her 20-year-old van. The telephone call regarded 'the costs of living in temporary accommodation' her plans to work again, her family, a privater investigator and her ex-landlord, the court heard. On 9 November Marten said she was planning to move to Lincolnshire. Eight days later she was sent 1,336 for camera and filming equipment. At various times Marten requested her monthly allowance was sent early, and on December 1 she asked for an increased allowance of 3,400. Marten was sent 15,590, intended for the purchase of a new car, on December 21. In footage shown during the trial, Marten is seen keeping the baby under her coat before unzipping it and exposing her in east London on January 7 Jurors were shown little Victoria's face (centre) for the first time last month as her parents Constance Marten (right) and Mark Gordon (left) sat inside a kebab shop The heartbreaking moment the body of a missing newborn girl was found inside a Lidl supermarket bag has been shown at the trial of aristocrat Constance Marten By early January 2023 she had 19,087.18 in her Metro Bank account. After their car burst into flames and her face appeared on the news, the bank sent emails to Marten saying they were 'very concerned' for her welfare and asked her to contact them. In late December, Marten made many cash withdrawals across the north of England including Scunthorpe, Huddersfield, Carlisle and Doncaster. By New Years Eve she was making a withdrawal in Grantham in Lincolnshire. DS Ferguson said that after the car explosion no significant card payments were made by Martens Metro Bank or Halifax accounts - only withdrawals in cash. Jurors were told they would hear forensic evidence and evidence from the couples family court proceedings next week. An image dated January 5, 2023 from the Metropolitan Police of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten's burning Peugeot 206 on the M61, which was played in court during their trial A picture shows the inside of the couple's burnt out car. The baby's placenta was found in the vehicle, the Old Bailey heard A photo of baby clothing found in a Lidl bag in a shed in Lower Roedale Allotments, East Sussex which included the body of Victoria Prosecutor Tom Little, KC, told them they could then expect the prosecution case to conclude next week. Marten attended court today wearing a pink shirt, black cardigan and blue hair clip while Gordon did not attend. Martens mother Virginie de Selliers and brother Tobias Marten also attended court. The wealthy family lived at Dorset estate Crichel House during Martens youth and her grandmother was a playmate of Princess Margaret and goddaughter to the Queen Mother. Marten and Gordon deny manslaughter by gross negligence, concealment of the birth of a child, cruelty to a person under 16 and perverting the course of justice. They also deny causing or allowing the death of a child. The trial continues. A police chief has said she is 'horrified' after one of her officers viewed bodycam footage showing Nottingham stab victim Barnaby Webber dying in the street. Barnaby, fellow University of Nottingham student Grace O'Malley Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed to death by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane during a city-wide rampage on June 13. Nottinghamshire Police's Kate Meynell told the BBC on Thursday that the actions of a special constable, who viewed footage of officers and paramedics assisting Barnaby and Grace before they died, were 'totally unacceptable'. In an interview with LBC yesterday Barnaby's bereaved mother Emma said she will 'never forgive' the special constable, who was sacked in December, for viewing the footage of her son. An investigation found eleven members of staff viewed material relating to the case who did not have a legitimate reason to do so. Eight have been handed non-disciplinary performance interventions and three faced formal discipline. Nottinghamshire Police's Kate Meynell said she is 'horrified' after one of her officers viewed bodycam footage showing stab victim Barnaby Webber Barnaby (pictured), Grace O'Malley Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed to death by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane Barnaby's bereaved mother Emma said she will 'never forgive' the special constable who viewed the footage of her son Ms Meynell said: 'This is one of the most brutal and horrific incidents we've seen here in Nottingham, in our history. 'There's lots of things I can't say. And that's not because I don't want to, it's because there's the ongoing reviews into what happened. 'There is another case coming up. This relates to the police staff member who we know has access to systems around the offender in this incident. 'This is ongoing, so I can't say much else. But there is no sharing of images in relation to this individual.' Superintendent Andrew Reynolds, head of Nottinghamshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate, said: 'We identified 22 people who had viewed material related to the Nottingham attacks case, also known as Operation Hendrix, which we had concerns about. 'Following our thorough investigation, we narrowed this number down to 11 members of staff who did not have a legitimate reason to view some of the material in this case. 'Eight of these members of staff were handed non-disciplinary performance interventions, which is focused around learning, and three faced formal discipline - one member of staff has been sacked, one handed a final written warning and one is waiting for their misconduct hearing to be heard. 'We have taken these matters extremely seriously. Those who access material without any legitimate policing purpose can expect the harshest of sanctions, including dismissal from the organisation.' Valdo Calocane, 32, embarked on his killing spree in the early hours of June 13, 2023 Grace O'Malley-Kumar (left) and Ian Coates (right) also died after being stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane last year Emma Webber alongside victims' relatives outside Nottingham Crown Court after Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility Members of the victims' families met ministers at Downing Street last month to discuss Valdo Calocane's sentencing after they expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, told LBC on Wednesday: 'We are horrified and sickened to know that police personnel would think it's appropriate to do anything like that. 'I think the words that we've used are 'abhorrent voyeurism' and I would ask the people who did look at that and share that to have a look at themselves and their own families.' Ms Meynell said the force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its handling of the disciplinary procedures. 'I'm not going to try and pretend that I feel the same horror as the families,' Ms Meynell said. 'But as chief constable, I do feel horror that some members of my staff have behaved in that way. That is why we have dealt with them swiftly.' Police Constable Matthew Gell was given a final written warning after a misconduct hearing in January heard he shared information about the case in a text message and had breached confidentiality standards. Mrs Webber said on Wednesday: 'We've had an apology for us not being informed in advance, and then we had the detail of how seriously they take this, and officers are specially trained, lessons will be learnt. 'But that doesn't really help with the pain of knowing that people were viewing the bodycam footage of my son in the street and I will never forgive them for that.' Calocane embarked on his killing spree in the early hours of June 13 2023 after stalking the streets late at night CCTV gathered by police during their investigation found he travelled across Nottingham before attacking his victims Grace O'Malley Kumar and Barnaby Webber pictured walking home from a night out - minutes before they were fatally stabbed by Valdo Calocane Calocane then killed Ian Coates and stole his van - using it to mow down three others in Nottingham, who all survived Police then cornered Calocane after being scrambled to find him - discharging a taser before arresting him and charging him with murder Earlier this week, The Mail revealed that two officers had been disciplined over a WhatsApp message one had written and the other shared, which detailed injuries suffered by the victims. PC Matthew Gell was given a final written warning after being found guilty of gross misconduct last month. A disciplinary panel was told the officer had sent the message on to his wife and a friend in another police force, and had also 'trawled' Calocane's custody record despite not being involved in the investigation. The officer who wrote the message was dealt with informally and carried out 'developmental learning'. A source told the Mail the special constable's misconduct hearing was held in private and chaired by Chief Constable Kate Meynell. The sacked officer has been barred from working as a police officer in the future. To the fury of the victims' families, prosecutors accepted Calocane's pleas to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after four psychiatrists concluded his schizophrenia led to an abnormality of mental functioning and impaired his ability to exercise self-control. The 32-year-old graduate was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court last month. Addressing the Attorney General's decision to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal, Mrs Webber said: 'We don't dispute that he was mentally unwell, but we do dispute that he was in psychosis and diminished to the point of no culpability and we are relieved to hear the news from yesterday. 'His sustained actions, the aggravated manner of his premeditation and lots of other reasons that we are aware of make us firmly believe that he knew what he was doing.' Deputy Chief Constable Steve Cooper said: 'Nottinghamshire Police has carried out a thorough and extensive investigation into those who viewed material related to the Nottingham attacks which had no policing purpose to do so. 'Two officers have faced misconduct hearings as a result. 'For clarity, the investigation has found that no one has ever shared any images or video in relation to these horrific attacks.' A shop worker sat on planes for nearly 10 hours on her latest adventure when she flew to and from Tenerife in the same day on a 5,000 mile round trip by herself. It's part of Danielle Mclean's plan is to explore Europe one day at a time by using cheap flights from Edinburgh airport to film herself on day trips to different countries. The 35-year-old filmed her entire trip from her Wetherspoons breakfast at the airport, to her early morning flight and her few hours exploring before returning home. Her lightning visit to the sunshine Spanish island on January 30 was her 20th fun day out involving budget return flights in the last five years. Danielle's previous overseas jaunts have included day visits to Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Malmo, Rome, Geneva, Hamburg, Prague, Krakow, Gdansk, Palma, Barcelona, Milan and Annemasse in France. She has also squeezed in flights to other parts of the UK to visit London, Brighton, Belfast and Barra in the Outer Hebrides. Danielle Mclean, 35, said she was a special fan of the Bahia Principe Fantasia hotel which includes a Disney-style castle Danielle she wanted to say a surprise 'hola' to staff at the hotel, like restaurant manager Cedric Danielle, who films herself on a Canon G7 camera, posts all her footage of her adventures on her YouTube channel which attracts thousands of views. Most of the time she travels by herself, but her mother has accompanied her on her trips to Milan and Krakow. Danielle said: 'I love travelling and I want to see as many places as possible. It is just nice to do something exciting when I have day off instead of staying at home. 'I don't have a lot of time to spare when I go away but I can still walk around and it is surprising how much you can see. 'Flights are usually cheap if you book them in advance, and I don't have to pay for hotels when I am coming back the same day.' Danielle's trip to Tenerife was her furthest ever day out and she decided to do it, despite having visited the island four times last year on week-long all-inclusive holidays Her 43 minute long video of her Tenerife adventure shows her arriving in the car park of Edinburgh airport at 4am after the short drive from her home. She is then seen braving the chilly Scottish weather in her denim shorts and T shirt as she parks up and heads into the terminal, leaving her jacket in her car. Danielle describes her joy at finding she has three seats to herself on her 6am Ryanair flight which cost her just 20, having booked it three weeks in advance Danielle, who films herself on a Canon G7 camera, posts all her footage of her adventures on her YouTube channel which attracts thousands of views After going through security and making light of the cold, she shows herself tucking into a meaty breakfast of a sausage in a roll from the airport's Wetherspoons, washed down with an orange juice. Proving faithful to her Scottish roots, Danielle then buys two bottles of IRN-BRU to take in her backpack and sustain herself during the day ahead. Danielle describes her joy at finding she has three seats to herself on her 6am Ryanair flight which cost her just 20, having booked it three weeks in advance. Her video shows her tucking into a bag of Peperami pizza buns and a packet of Skittles Squishy Cloudz sweets as an early morning snack while watching the sun rise. After landing in Tenerife and getting through passport control, she walks out of the airport skirting around the runway fence on the half hour stroll to the fishing village of Los Abrigos. She then films herself on the beach, stopping to dip her feet in the water, before heading to the Bahia Principe Fantasia hotel where she stayed four times last year on all-inclusive package holidays in March, April, September and December. Danielle said she wanted to say a surprise 'hola' to staff at the hotel, particularly a receptionist called Lissa and restaurant manager Cedric. She had bought along gifts of a box of traditional Scottish Tablet, a traditional sweet snack made of condensed milk, butter and sugar, for Cedric, and some make-up for Lissa. After landing in Tenerife and getting through passport control, she walks out of the airport skirting around the runway fence on the half hour stroll to the fishing village of Los Abrigos Danielle spent the rest of her time going for a walk to the nearby marina before popping into a HiperDino supermarket to buy four bags of tomato ketchup flavoured Pom-bear crisps and some more sweets to take home Her lightning visit to the sunshine Spanish island on January 30 was her 20th fun day out involving budget return flights in the last five years But her video shows her finding that Lissa was on holiday and Cedric was not working until later of the day, so she had to leave her gifts for them at reception. Danielle spent the rest of her time going for a walk to the nearby marina before popping into a HiperDino supermarket to buy four bags of tomato ketchup flavoured Pom-bear crisps and some more sweets to take home. She said: 'I like to get Pom-bear snacks back in Edinburgh, but you can only buy plain or cheese and onion flavours in the UK. 'I love the tomato flavour that you can get in Spain, so the trip was worth it just to get a couple of bags of them. They are absolutely delicious.' Danielle said she then ran out of time and had to walk back to the airport in time to eat a Burger King meal of chicken fries, chips and ice cream in the terminal, along with a can of drink from a vending machine, before her 55 easyJet flight home at 6.30am. Her flight arrived back on time in Edinburgh, allowing her to be in bed before midnight and able to enjoy a night's sleep before heading to work the next day. Danielle who is single said the highlight of her trip had been the feeling of walking around in the sunny 22C temperatures. She added: 'It is just so nice to be in a different country, especially when there is nice hot weather and it is cold back home. 'I love Tenerife and going there was one of my favourite one day trips, despite having two flights of 4 hours and 45 minutes each to get there and back. 'It was a shame that I did not get to see Cedric and Lissa. I hope they got their presents. I am going back to Tenerife on a proper holiday soon so I will hopefully see them then.' Danielle said she was a special fan of the Bahia Principe Fantasia hotel which includes a Disney-style castle. She added: 'I love the choice of food they have. There is snack bar like McDonald's, a buffet restaurant as well as an Italian, Japanese and a la carte steak restaurants. 'The staff are friendly and Lissa and Cedric, are really good at speaking English. 'I always film my holidays when staying there and put them on YouTube. Now when I am at the hotel lots of people stop me and ask if I am the person in my videos because they have watched them.' She said her cheapest trip had been to Hamburg when the return Ryanair flight cost just 12.99, followed by her flights to Gdansk which cost her 26. Her most expensive trip has been her day out in Krakow, Poland, were her flights cost 84. Danielle said she had been to Copenhagen twice, looking around the city on her first trip and then taking a train to visit nearby Malmo in Sweden on her second visit. She has also flown to Geneva twice, giving her a day to walk around the Swiss city on her first trip and a chance to cross over the French border to Annemasse on her second. Danielle also flew to Gatwick airport twice, so she could catch trains into central London and later into Brighton. She is now running out of destinations which she can reach from Edinburgh airport, but she said: 'There are often new flights to places, so I am sure I will be off somewhere else soon.' Two award-winning authors who sued Oxford University for employing them with 'sham contracts' on a prestigious creative writing course have won their tribunal claim for employee status. Alice Jolly, 58, and Rebecca Abrams, 61, argued that the university treated them like 'gig economy workers', keeping them on 'insecure' contracts for more than 15 years. The pair taught on the course being studied by Harry Potter star Emma Watson, and it was noted in the tribunal that they had demonstarted 'a level of dedication and care for students that all educators should aspire to'. But the respected academics were not classed as employees, and both argued that their 'personal services' contracts denied them important workplace rights. After an employment tribunal hearing last month, the judge found in their favour and ruled that they should both be classed as employees. The university says it is now reviewing the ruling. Alice Jolly, 58, and Rebecca Abrams, 61, claimed the university treated them as 'gig-economy workers' Ms Abrams said the tribunal ruling was a 'vindication of everything we've been fighting for since 2018'. She added: 'Alice and I are skilled professionals teaching at one of the world's top universities, yet we've been employed year after year on sham contracts that have denied us our employment rights and legal protections.' According to their lawyers, Oxford had told the academics that they would be offered more appropriate contracts in April 2022. Two months later, their contracts were not renewed. 'Both will seek a judgment that the failure to renew these contracts was an act of victimisation as result of their whistleblowing and trade union activity,' said a statement from Leigh Day solicitors, who represented the pair. The landmark ruling could have wider implications for the higher education sector, with casual contracts widely used across UK universities. Ms Abrams said 'Oxford is one of the worst offenders, but this is an issue that extends across UK higher education. Casualisation is a race to the bottom bad for teachers, bad for students, and bad for universities.' Lawyers have said a hearing will be held to assess what the implications of the ruling might be, The Guardian reports. Jo Grady, general secretary of The University and College Union (UCU), described it as a 'huge win in the fight against gig economy working practices in higher education'. 'This victory shows these contracts are often a sham and staff on them are entitled to the benefits of secure employment,' she said. Ms Abrams said 'Oxford is one of the worst offenders, but this is an issue that extends across UK higher education' (file image) 'Every employer in the sector now needs to pay attention to this ruling and begin working with UCU to move their employees on to secure contracts.' A report released by the UCU last month found that around two in three research staff are employed on fixed term contracts, some of which are These included 88 per cent of research staff at Oxford, 96 per cent at King's College London, 80 per cent at the University of Manchester and 96 per cent at London School of Economics, the report claims. Ms Grady described the practice as 'completely unacceptable' and said that it 'has to stop'. A spokesman for Oxford University said: 'We have been notified of the tribunal's ruling on this preliminary hearing and are currently reviewing it.' A dentist who threatened to 'stab, shoot or behead' Labour MP Barry Gardiner during four-year harassment campaign after being suspended from his job has beem detained in mental hospital. Amit Kerai, 34, was warned by police to leave the Glaswegian politician alone but simply carried on his four year campaign of harassment. Kerai suggested in a tweet, on August 11 2022, the 66-year-old MP for Brent North would be shot, stabbed, beheaded or blown up during a four year campaign of harassment. Reacting to the news, Mr Gardiner slammed the level of security offered to politicians as lamentably poor as he referenced the murders of fellow MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess 'in the course of their work'. Alongside Mr Gardiner, Kerai also harassed staff at the General Dental Council in Hampshire sending over 10,400 tweets to staff including graphic images of the war in Ukraine, sexual violence and death. In a voicemail to Emily Vidovic, who worked as an administrator at the GDC, he said: Hi Emily, I might actually come to your house and cut your head off, so let the police know that. Kerai suggested in a tweet, on August 11 2022, the 66-year-old MP for Brent North Barry Gardiner (pictured) would be shot, stabbed, beheaded or blown up during a four year campaign of harassment Kerai, of Crundale Avenue, Brent, will be held in a secure unit in the Park Royal Hospital in northwest London (pictured) I gave you a chance, I gave you a shot, youre testing me now. Kerai had begun using cocaine and cannabis after his suspension, the Old Bailey heard. He admitted making a threat to kill and two counts of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment in abusive and threatening emails, tweets and telephone calls between 1 January 2019 and 16 August 2022. Kerai also admitted sending an electronic communication to the call centre staff with intent to cause distress or anxiety. He also admitted simple possession of cocaine and cannabis found on him when he was arrested on 5 August 2022. Kerai was given an interim suspension in 2018 which was made permanent three years. In a victim impact statement Mr Gardiner, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, from June 2016 until April 2020, said: I am all too aware that Members of Parliament are increasingly being threatened and two of my colleagues have been murdered in the course of their work. I consider the level of security offered to MPs to be lamentably poor. Alongside Mr Gardiner (pictured), Kerai also harassed staff at the General Dental Council in Hampshire sending over 10,400 tweets to staff including graphic images of the war in Ukraine , sexual violence and death I refuse to allow these threats to reduce my accessibility to my constituents and I will hold surgeries and take public transport and attend other public meetings, but I feel that the job of being a Member of Parliament now places much greater strain on my staff and my family than when I began in parliament 25 years ago. The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft said: Over a four year period you carried out what can only be described as a campaign of harassment. Not only was it deeply offensive, threatening, abusive and unpleasant, it also had a significant impact on all those affected by it. You made many baseless allegations against both Keith Percival and his daughter. You made accusations of criminal activity, and alleged that those the subject of the counts were racists, and fascists. The harassment took many forms including making demands for money, defamation, intimidation, blackmail and coercion. The judge detained Kerai in hospital under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act. He said Kerai would have been sentenced to three years in prison had he not been found to be suffering from a delusional disorder. Keith Percival, a dentist working for the GDC in Hampshire said in a victim impact statement that the hundred of personal tweets made about him effected his daily thoughts. Reacting to the news, Mr Gardiner slammed the level of security offered to politicians as lamentably poor as he referenced the murders of fellow MPs Jo Cox (left) and Sir David Amess (right) 'in the course of their work' He said the campaign against him could have destroyed his professional standing and unblemished reputation formed over 30 years. Mr Percival was worried about his safety and the safety of his daughter, who worked as an administrator for the GDC. His daughter Emily Vidovic said the threats had made her scared for herself and her young family. She said she would have to go through his messages multiple times a day and that the images of the war in Ukraine and people being blown up were highly upsetting. Four other counts, which Kerai denied, were ordered to lie on file. Kerai, of Crundale Avenue, Brent, will be held in a secure unit in the Park Royal Hospital in northwest London. He was also given an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting his victims save for contacting his MP through a third party to raise an issue as a constituent. Kerai must not enter the towns of Bishops Waltham and Farrham in Hampshire. A Kremlin-backed hit squad is taking out Vladimir Putin's political opponents, an imprisoned opposition figure has claimed as he urged Russians not to give up after the death of Alexei Navalny. Vladimir Kara-Murza is currently serving a 25-year sentence for treason at Penal Colony No. 7 in the Siberian city of Omsk after being convicted of criticising Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He was handed the stiff sentence as part of a crackdown against critics of the war and freedom of speech. Appearing in a virtual court hearing on Thursday, the British-Russian citizen alleged there is a 'death squad' within Moscow's spy service that has been tasked to 'physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime'. Kara-Murza, 42, has survived two poisonings which left him in a coma in both 2015 and 2017. He said investigative journalists had shown a group of Federal Security Service officers participated in his poisoning. He also said the group was involved in Navalny's poisoning with a nerve agent in 2020 and the surveillance of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov before he was shot and killed in 2015 on a bridge near the Kremlin. Putin opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza appeared in court t with a video link from his prison cell today (pictured). He has alleged there is a 'death squad' within Moscow 's spy service that has been tasked to 'physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime' Vladimir Kara-Murza is currently serving a 25-year sentence for treason in a Siberian prison. He received the longest single sentence handed to a Kremlin critic in Putin's Russia. Vladimir Putin is pictured today visiting a cafe at a roadside service area of the M12 Vostok highway Kara-Murza also urged Russians not to give up after Alexei Navalny's death. Navalny, pictured in January 2022, fell unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the 'Polar Wolf' penal colony above the Arctic Circle where he was serving a three-decade sentence Kara-Murza appeared via a video link in a court hearing over a complaint against Russia's Investigative Committee for what he believes were two poisoning attempts against him. His complaint alleges the committee didn't properly investigate the attempts. During the hearing Thursday, Kara-Murza urged Russians not to give up after Navalny's death, according to the video shared by the Russian Sota telegram channel. Navalny, Putin's strongest domestic critic, fell unconscious and died suddenly aged 47 on Friday after a walk at the 'Polar Wolf' penal colony above the Arctic Circle where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said. 'We owe it ... to our fallen comrades to continue to work with even greater strength and achieve what they lived and died for,' he said in the video. The opposition leader also alleged there is a 'death squad within the Federal Security Service, a group of professional killers in the service of the state, whose task is to physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime'. Kara-Murza's latest hearing came after months of postponements. In January, he was moved from another prison in Siberia and placed in solitary confinement over an alleged minor infraction. The former journalist received the longest single sentence handed to a Kremlin critic in Putin's Russia - 25 years on charges of treason. Kara-Murza, pictured in a cage at Moscow City court in April 2023, survived what he believes were attempts to poison him, but kept returning to Russia despite concerns that it might be unsafe for him to do so Kara-Murza survived what he believes were attempts to poison him, but kept returning to Russia despite concerns that it might be unsafe for him to do so. He says the poisoning attempts took place in 2015 and 2017. In the first, he nearly died of kidney failure, although no cause was determined. He was hospitalised with a similar illness in 2017 and put into a medically induced coma. His wife said doctors confirmed he was poisoned. Since his April 2022 arrest, he has continued to speak out against Putin and the war in Ukraine in multiple opinion columns and letters written from behind bars. His wife, Yevgenia, has also actively campaigned to secure freedom for him and other jailed Kremlin critics. Kara-Murza was an associate of Russian opposition leader Nemtsov, another fierce Putin critic who was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015. A few years before that, Kara-Murza and Nemtsov lobbied for passage of the Magnitsky Act in the US. The law was a response to the prison death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who had exposed a tax fraud scheme. It authorised Washington to impose sanctions on Russians deemed to be human rights violators. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny looks at a camera while speaking from a prison via a video link, provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, during a court session in Petushki, Vladimir region on January 17, 2022 People come to lay flowers for late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to political repression that has become one of the sites of tributes for Navalny, in Moscow on February 20, 2024 Kara-Murza is one of several opposition figures who have either been imprisoned, forced to flee the country or killed. Ilya Yashin, an opposition figure serving 8-and-a-half years in prison for criticising Russia's war in Ukraine, alleged on Monday in a social media post shared on his behalf that Putin had killed Navalny. 'I have no doubt that it was Putin. He's a war criminal,' Yashin said. 'Navalny was his key opponent in Russia and was hated by the Kremlin. Putin had both motive and opportunity. I am convinced that he ordered the killing.' 'I feel a black emptiness inside,' he said, adding that he will continue to speak out even though he believes he is also in danger. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the illnesses and deaths of the opposition figures, including Navalny. Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, said Thursday on her Instagram account that she had flown to visit her 20-year-old daughter, Dasha, a student at Stanford University. 'My dear girl, I came to hug you and support you, and you sit and support me' she wrote under a photo of herself and her daughter lying on a carpet. Describing her daughter as 'strong, brave and resilient,' Navalnaya said the family would 'definitely cope with everything.' She also has a 15-year-old son, Zakhar. Navalny's family are still seeking to have his body returned to them. His mother, Lyudmila, filed a lawsuit Wednesday at a court in the Arctic city of Salekhard, near the prison colony where he died, contesting officials' refusal to release his body, Russia's state news agency Tass reported. A closed-door hearing has been scheduled for March 4, the report said. Lyudmila Navalnaya has been trying to get his body since the day after his Feb. 16 death. She has been unable to find out where it is being held, Navalny's team reported. Navalnaya had appealed to Putin on Tuesday to release her son's remains so that she could bury him with dignity. 'They wouldn't release his body to me. And they're not even telling me where he is,' a black-clad Navalnaya, 69, said in the video, standing in front of the barbed wire of Penal Colony No. 3 in Kharp, about 1,900 kilometres (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shows a heard symbol standing in the cage during a hearing in the Moscow City Court in February 2021 'I'm reaching out to you, Vladimir Putin. The resolution of this matter depends solely on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei's body is released immediately, so that I can bury him like a human being,' she said in the video, posted on social media by Navalny's team. Russian authorities have said the cause of Navalny's death is still unknown and have refused to release his body for two weeks as the preliminary inquest continues, his team said. It accused the government of stalling to try to hide evidence. In a video on Monday, Yulia Navalnaya also accused Putin of killing her husband and alleged the refusal to release his body was part of a cover-up. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegations, calling them 'absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.' An innocent Idaho man who spent 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit was mysteriously killed one month after he appeared on Dateline NBC to speak out about his wrongful conviction. Christopher Tapp was just 21 when he was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted in the 1996 rape and murder of his friend, Angie Dodge, then 18. He was exonerated in 2017 after the Idaho Innocence Project in intervened. The real killer, Brian Dripps, Sr., 55 confessed to the murder and pled guilty to the crime in 2021 and was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison. But after an exclusive September 2023 interview with Dateline, Tapp, then 47, had an accident in his Las Vegas hotel room. He later died at the hospital. The coroner reported that he died of blunt force trauma, and ruled his death a homicide. In Dateline NBC episode 'True Confession,' due to be aired Friday, Tapp tells host Keith Morrison: 'I am just trying to be the best person I can be - blend the two people together. The guy that was in the prison and the guy before prison.' 'We all make mistakes good or bad. We may do things right or wrong, but I am just trying to be the best person I can.' Morrison asked Tapp, though he has moved on, 'if he was still a little annoyed inside.' 'Of course I will be. These people robbed my life for 20 years,' he said during the sit down. 'I will always be mad. I will always have that little bit of tension and resentment because of what these people did to me.' Christopher Tapp, 47, was just 21 when he was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted in the 1996 rape and murder of his friend, Angie Dodge, then 18, but was freed in 2017 after the Idaho Innocence Project proved his innocence The real murderer, Brian Dripps, Sr. in Dodge's murder confessed to the killing and pled guilty to the crime in 2021. He is pictured at the Bonneville County Courthouse on February 9, 2021 Angie Dodge, was 18, when she was raped and stabbed to death in her apartment in Idaho Falls in June 13, 1996 Tapp told Morrison: 'I wish I can say I have moved on and I have moved on because again look at what all these things I have been able to accomplish since the exonerateration with the compensaton bill here in Idaho and Oregon. 'I have helped across the country passing bills to help the wrongly convicted for the next individual.' NBC Dateline has been following the case for decades, providing viewers with in-depth coverage. Its latest two-hour broadcast that is set to air Friday, February 23 at 9pm (8pm CT) will include new interviews with investigators, other suspects, family members of Dodge, and more key figures including the lead investigator Bill Squires, who is now retired, and Jeremy Sargis, a friend whom Tapp falsely accused of involvement. Additional interviews include, Steven Drizin a false confession expert who worked to free Tapp, and CeCe Moore, an investigative genetic genealogist who pointed police toward the real killer. The Real Killer: Brian Dripps, Sr., 55 confessed to the murder of the 18-year-old Dodge and pled guilty to the crime in 2021 On Thursday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told DailyMail.com the homicide investigation is ongoing, with no new developments at this time. Angie Dodge was raped and stabbed to death in an apartment she had recently moved into in Idaho Falls June 1996. The young woman's body was found by co-workers who went to check on her. Investigators were able to obtain DNA samples from hair, skin cells and body fluids at the scene. Tapp was interrogated nine times and subjected to seven polygraph tests, which he was told he failed and as a result may face the death penalty. He was convicted after a jury heard what experts would later say were false confessions under extreme duress, and was found guilty even though his DNA did not match evidence found at the crime scene. On March 22, 2017, Tapp was released, after serving 20 years of a 30 year sentence, after a plea deal with prosecutors. The judge vacated his rape conviction and re-sentencing him to time served for the 1996 murder of Dodge. Christopher Tapp, pictured right with his public defender John Thomas during Tapp's post conviction relief hearing at the Bonneville Courthouse in Idaho Falls on March 22, 2017 Christopher Tapp, right, and Jeremy Sargis, who was also originally linked to the crime but whose charges were dropped, embrace during Tapp's post conviction relief hearing at the Bonneville Courthouse in Idaho Falls, Idaho Tapp pictured hugging his attorney in the court room after he was exonerated Christopher Tapp celebrates after his post conviction relief hearing at the Bonneville Courthouse in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Tapp, who experts say was coerced into a false murder confession, is now free after spending half of his life behind bars His conviction was overturned using a pioneering DNA technology, a technique called 'genetic genealogy.' The technique requires making DNA matches with distant relatives, which in Tapp's case, led police to Dripps, a neighbor of Dodge who lived across the street. The database is taken from websites that collect DNA samples of users and allow them to find relatives online by posting their results and generating a list Police used the database of genetic profiles collected from websites such as 23 and Me and Ancestry, where people send samples of DNA to discover their roots The technique has been used to implicate suspects in previous crimes, but this is the first time it has been used to exonerate someone who had already been jailed. Christopher Tapp is pictured after his release as a media surround him Tapp was sentenced in 1998, based only a confession which he later retracted. The court agreed to release him from prison in 2017, but the charges were not dropped. On July 17, 2019, his murder conviction was vacated. Judge Alan Stephens said, 'as far as the court is concerned, you are cleared of the charges you have been living under for the past 20-plus years,' as per the Innocence Project. Bonneville County District Attorney Danny Clark, who initially said Tapp was complicit in Dodge's death, joined in the new motion to vacate the murder conviction. After he was cleared Tapp said, 'I'm thankful that I've been given this second chance at life. 'I've wasted 20 years of my life for something I never did, but I also grew up over those 20 years.' He added: 'It's a new life, a new beginning, a new world for me, and I'm just gonna enjoy every day.' In December 2019, he filed a state court lawsuit seeking damages from the city of Idaho Falls. President Vladimir Putin of Russia had fun at Joe Biden's expense on Thursday, saying his 'crazy S.O.B.' comments showed why he had Moscow's backing in this year's presidential election. He delivered his verdict on the day he taunted the West with a joyride in a modernized supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber. On Wednesday, Biden described the Russian leader as a 'crazy S.O.B.' during a reception with supporters in California where he said climate change was a bigger threat to humanity than even nuclear war. Putin responded with a mocking smiles as he told state television: 'We are ready to work with any president. 'But I believe that for us, Biden is a more preferable president for Russia, and judging by what he has just said, I am absolutely right.' Vladimir Putin taunted the West by taking a joyride in a modernised supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber today - as the Kremlin threatened nuclear war A day earlier, President Joe Biden called Putin a 'crazy S.O.B.' as his administration plans fresh sanctions. Putin appeared to enjoy the comments and used them to gently mock the U.S. The exchange comes as Biden's administration plans more sanctions after the death in a Siberian penal colony of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. At the same time, Moscow is ramping up threats of nuclear attack amid reports it is planning to put a nuclear weapon into space. Republicans have followed the lead of Donald Trump and been muted in their criticism of Putin, while the Russian leader has said he would prefer Biden to stay in power because he is more 'predictable.' Biden's comments initially attracted anger from Moscow and the Kremlin said Biden had debased the United States. Putin was more playful. 'It's not like he can say to me, "Volodya, thank you, well done, you've helped me a lot,"' Putin said. 'You asked me which is better for us. I said it then that, and I still think I can repeat it: Biden.' It was all part of a day designed to rile his opponents in the West, and distract from condemnation for his role in the death of Navalny. The Tupolev Tu-160M Ilya Muromets strategic bomber is seen on the snow-covered tarmac in Kazan Vladimir Putin speaks after flying on a modernized Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber, in Kazan, Russia He spent 40 minutes flying in the warplane, sending a message that he had no intention of backing away from the war in Ukraine, which he invaded almost two years ago. But by flying in a type of warplane that has been used to wreak havoc in Ukraine with conventional weapons, he was sending a message that he intends to keep fighting in Ukraine, which he invaded almost two years ago. And the huge Tu-160M - aka White Swan - is a key part of his nuclear strike force at a time when the Kremlin is bluntly warning the West over the risk of nuclear war. Putin was seen taking off in Kazan a day after he visited a factory in the city where the Tupolev bombers are manufactured. He clambered up a ladder at the factory to go inside the plane and spent ten minutes in the cockpit. He then made the decision to fly himself in one of his bombers - his first flight since he took to the sky in a Tu-160 in 2005. The giant swing-wing plane is a substantially modernised-version of a Soviet-era bomber that the USSR would have deployed in the event of a nuclear war with the West to deliver nuclear weapons at long distances. The TU-160M is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and can fly 7,500 miles non-stop without re-fuelling. Biden is on the third day of a three-day fundraising trip to California. He delivered a speech on debt forgiveness in Culver City before flying to San Francisco Wednesday Biden made an unannounced stop at CJ's Cafe In Baldwin Hills on Wednesday before continuing to Culver City for his speech at the library He arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon where he was greeted by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They traveled together on Marine One to a campaign reception The electioneering stunt came less than a week after a man who wanted to oust him as president - Navalny - was 'murdered' inside his bleak Arctic jail. Even though the March election is expected to be rigged in Putin's favour, he is currently more visible on state TV than he has been for years. A breathless report on Putin-controlled Russian state TV said: 'We just saw that the president [Vladimir Putin] again, for the second time in two days, climbed into the cockpit of a Tu-160 strategic bomber.' On the tarmac, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had 'made a decision to take a flight. There will be a flight [with Putin] now.' Putin later emerged from the Tu-160M to hail the improved aircraft - the model in which he had flown - as suitable for the Russian air force. 'The technology is excellent. It can be accepted into the Armed Forces,' he said. A shopper wants to know why Target seemingly can't serve their customers in some of their Southern California locations, after self-checkout kiosks were closed and cashiers were scarce. Customer Elizabeth Ryan lashed out at Target in an X (formerly Twitter) post on February 21 and asked 'what is going on' in their stores. 'Every So Cal location Ive been to in the last month has been a disaster to check out,' she wrote. '20+ people lines, not enough checkers working and self checkout is closed? This is madness.' One of the store chain's X accounts @AskTarget was quick to respond to Ryan's complaints on social media yesterday and this morning. A shopper lashed out at Target in an X (formerly Twitter) post on February 21 and asked 'what is going on' in their stores Elizabeth Ryan claimed that every target location in Southern California has been 'a disaster to check out' within the last month One of Target's X accounts quickly responded to Ryan today and this morning regarding the matter The company first requested that Ryan provide the exact Target locations she went to in which she had these disastrous self-checkout experiences. 'Yesterday is was the Target on Bellflower in Long Beach,' she wrote this morning. 'Last week it was the Target on Seal Beach blvd in Seal Beach and two weeks ago it was the Target in Carson on Avalon.' The @AskTarget X account responded by writing that the company will 'address the ongoing issues.' 'Rest assured, the store leadership team will take care of it,' @AskTarget added. Ryan's complaints on social media comes after a Target store in Illinois closed their self-checkout stations early. Ryan listed multiple California locations in her tweet, to which the @AskTarget account responded by writing that 'the store leadership team will take care of it' One of the Illinois store's employees told Business Insider (BI) earlier this month that their self-checkout stations close at 8:00 pm. Other Target employees in Oklahoma and Michigan confirmed to BI that there stores have yet to make that change. However, the workers in both states are nervous about having enough staff available to cover enough lanes so that their customers can avoid long lines. 'If and when we do have to close the self-checkouts in the morning and in the evening, we're going to have a lot of people extremely upset with us,' the Michigan worker said. The retail chain is also in the middle of testing a new policy at some of their stores that limits self-checkout lanes to 10 items or less. A spokesperson told The U.S. Sun that the policy 'was designed to cut wait times while understanding guest preferences.' Unfortunately, based on comments made by other X users, the issues regarding long checkout lines at Target still needs improvement. The retail chain is currently testing a new policy at some of their stores that limits self-checkout lanes to 10 items or less Other X users have been frustrated with the long line issues at Target and are not happy with the new self-checkout policy that was applied to some of the stores last year '@Target at my local store and it is completely unacceptable that there is 1 person working the register, self check-out is closed, and there is an extremely long line of customers,' an X user wrote on Tuesday. The @AskTarget X account left a comment on this post as well and wrote that the matter 'sounds frustrating.' Other users have been ranting about the rules and that the store has 'p*****' them off by closing the self-checkout lines. 'I will never understand why @Target limited their self checkouts to only 10 items yet refuses to open more checkout lines?,' one person wrote. 'Don't require me to use your employee and only give us 2 lanes at peak shopping time.' According to X user Matthew Bonham, a Target store in Omaha, Nebraska, only two lanes were open and no self-checkout kiosks were available at 6:30 pm on Tuesday. The user posted a photo of the long lines and claimed that there were '30 people in line' to checkout. Furious farmers blockaded a school with their tractors and brought roads to a standstill in protest of 20mph speed limits and Labour's subsidy plans. About 40 tractors took to the streets near Colwyn Bay amid fury at his demand that farmers plant trees for subsidies. It comes just days after Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford was accused of 'naked contempt' for farmers after video emerged of him apparently mocking protesters during a visit to Rhyl. The Labour leader has also claimed the demands are their fault for supporting Brexit - as he's sought to deflect criticism of his Government's controversial policy which has sparked protests across Wales. He has been accused by his Tory opposite number of treating farmers 'with contempt' by demanding they plant trees on their land in return for subsidies. And he cancelled his event at Ysgol Bryn Elian at the last minute the day after was greeted at a school in Rhyl by a chorus of jeers and boos. About 200 farmers followed him to the college and 50 tractors swamped the town. About 40 tractors took to the streets near Rhyl College amid fury at his demand that farmers plant trees for subsidies It comes just days after Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford was accused of 'naked contempt' for farmers Drakeford has been accused by his Tory opposite number of treating farmers 'with contempt' by demanding they plant trees on their land in return for subsidies Today tractors brought Colwyn Bay to a standstill as about 40 packed the roads Tina Lee, organiser of the 20mph protest, said: 'Thursday's protest / convoy was to show support to our local farmers and to come together with the 'No to default limit' as it's all part of the Welsh Labour government's Net Zero policy. 'Farmers are being forced to lose 20 per cent [10 per cent of their land and allocate another 10 per cent for wildlife habitats] of their land to plant trees [and for wildlife habitats]. Trees which can't be removed for over 50 years. They will get a subsidised but no figures have been given, but the farmers don't want to lose their land. It's like the government taking away part of our home. 'Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford was meant to have been at the venue [Ysgol Bryn Elian] but cancelled last minute. 'We received amazing the support and we are all so grateful that the public are supporting both the farmers and 'No to default 20 limit'.' A farmer from the Vale of Clwyd at yesterday's protest added: 'Everyone had their different views on Brexit. A lot of people voted 'out' because of the campaign - they were lied to. 'It's a mixed view across agriculture. Mr Drakeford doesn't quite understand farming. He's doing what he wants to do. He's not there listening to the farmers, or we wouldn't be here now.' Plaid Cymru said : 'Instead of patronising the agriculture sector, the Labour Government should be working with them and listening to their concerns.' Farming industry chiefs have warned of 'huge unrest' ahead as a mass rally featured a mock coffin in anger against rewilding reforms by Wales's Labour government. The outry comes as farmers have also been staging anti-EU protests across Europe including in Italy and Poland over issues such as taxes and green regulation. Welsh former international rugby referee Nigel Owens was among the speakers at the Carmarthen event, as concerns were raised about the rewilding plans. Mr Drakeford was unrepentant at First Minister's Questions in the Senedd this week in a clash with Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, saying: 'I think it's important that I remind the leader of the opposition why we are in the position that we are in: it's because farmers in Wales took his advice and voted to leave the European Union... Farming industry chiefs have warned of 'huge unrest' ahead as a mass rally featured a mock coffin in anger against rewilding reforms by Wales's Labour government Placards along the protest slammed the Labour government for their role in the subsidies The outry comes as farmers have also been staging anti-EU protests across Europe including in Italy and Poland over issues such as taxes and green regulation The Welsh government has put forward the Wales Sustainable Farming Scheme it says will reward farmers 'for responding to the climate and nature emergencies, as well as producing food in a sustainable way' 'Believe me, we are in the position that we are in today because we have taken back control of farming support in Wales, as we were obliged to do. If farmers in Wales were still able to have access to the funds that were available through the European Union, they would be in a very different position than they are having heard and followed his advice.' Farm adviser Merfyn Parry said Mr Drakeford made a 'stupid' comment about Brexit. He said: 'It would be criminal to plant trees on land capable of producing food. There's no real science behind what they are doing.' It came as a new poll revealed nearly two-thirds of voters backed 'don't know' over either candidate to replace him as the next Welsh first minister. The Welsh government has put forward the Wales Sustainable Farming Scheme it says will reward farmers 'for responding to the climate and nature emergencies, as well as producing food in a sustainable way'. The programme, scheduled to come into force next year, has been opposed by the NFU Cymru farmers' union which fears it could lead to as many as 5,500 job losses. A recent report suggested every farm in the country taking part could cause a 10.8 per cent cut in livestock numbers and an 11 per cent reduction in labour. Following angry protests by farmers across Wales, Mr Drakeford said: 'The Welsh Government wants to go on supporting farmers here in Wales. A recent report suggested every farm in the country taking part could cause a 10.8 per cent cut in livestock numbers and an 11 per cent reduction in labour Following angry protests by farmers across Wales, Mr Drakeford said: 'The Welsh Government wants to go on supporting farmers here in Wales' Ministers have been working on the new post-Brexit subsidy scheme for farms, with the current proposals stipulating that farms should ensure 10 per cent of land is planted with trees and 10 per cent treated as wildlife habitat to be eligible for cash 'But the bargain can't be that the public puts it hand into the pocket to put millions of pounds, nearly 300 million every year on the table, for farmers to just do whatever farmers think they would like to do with it.' He declared : 'I understand that this is a difficult time for people in rural Wales. People feel their way of life is under attack from the forces of change that go on around them. 'But change is unavoidable. What we need to do is to work together to create a pathway to that future in which the public purse in Wales will go on investing in farming communities and in rural Wales but where that investment provides a return for the public. 'The public has a right to know what that investment is creating. Top of our list is sustainable food production but there are those other environmental goods that in an era of climate change are essential for us to see in the countryside here in Wales.' Ministers have been working on the new post-Brexit subsidy scheme for farms, with the current proposals stipulating that farms should ensure 10 per cent of land is planted with trees and 10 per cent treated as wildlife habitat to be eligible for cash. Opponents say this will be unworkable and impose too much extra paperwork. House Speaker Mike Johnson is ripping into President Joe Biden for finally floating executive action to crack down on illegal immigration after millions of migrants flooded into the U.S. since he took office. Since Biden took office in 2021, over 7.2 million migrants have entered the U.S. through the southern border. That's more people than the population of 36 states. Arizona, for example, had 7.1 million residents according to the 2020 census. Now, Biden is reportedly mulling whether to take executive action on the border as polling indicates it is a top issue for voters and lawmakers rejected a negotiated border bill earlier this month. He is looking into using the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives a president broad leeway to block entry of certain immigrants, to shut down the border if more than 8,500 try to cross in one day. The top GOP leader is accusing the president of waiting until the election year to take action, which he should have done months ago. Biden previously said he could not provide border security without GOP support in Congress. President Joe Biden said he has done everything he can to fix the border crisis, but now the White House is mulling a Trump-like executive action to crack down in migration 'Americans have lost faith in this President and won't be fooled by election year gimmicks that don't actually secure the border,' Speaker Mike Johnson wrote in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com. 'Nor will they forget that the President created this catastrophe and, until now, has refused to use his executive power to fix it.' 'These reports also underscore just how brazenly and intentionally President Biden misled the public when he claimed he had done everything in his power to secure the border,' Johnson continued. The speaker wants Biden to reinstitute the 'Remain in Mexico' policy and end the administration's 'abuse' of the parole system. 'After three years of chaos, the Biden Administration is finally realizing President Trump had it right,' Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., posted on X following reports of Biden's potential executive action. After taking office on 2021, President Biden immediately canceled various Trump-era border initiatives, including the 'Remain in Mexico' policy that required migrants claiming asylum to stay in Mexico until their hearing court date in the U.S. Biden also stopped construction of the U.S.-Mexico border within days of taking office. The White House, however, has blamed Republicans for the ongoing issues at the U.S. southern border. 'Every day between now and November, the American people are going to know that the only reason the border is not secure is Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican friends,' President Biden said on February 6. Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Biden for saying he needed Republicans to fix the border Over 300,000 migrants illegally crossed into the U.S. during December 2023, a record Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate Democrat, has advocated for the return of 'Remain in Mexico' But House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said letting migrants into the country illegally is exactly what Biden wants. '7.2 MILLION illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. under Bidenmore than the population of 36 states,' he wrote on X. 'This was the Left's plan from the start when they canceled Remain in Mexico,' he continued. 'Biden could fix it by reversing his executive actionsbut he refuses.' Moderate Democrat Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, meanwhile, says Congress still has to work to fix the border crisis. 'Congress must stop abdicating our policymaking responsibility,' he posted on X. 'While the president may be considering actions to restore law and order at the border, Congress isn't off the hook. Passing Title 42 and Remain in Mexico would ensure order regardless of presidential whim.' But many members of Golden's party disagree and have called for the abolition of 'Remain in Mexico.' When Donald Trump was president in 2019, a group of over 20 Democrat senators wrote a letter to the then-president to eliminate the 'dangerous' policy. 'The growing body of evidence that migrants fleeing persecution face abuse or even death, along with the fact that the Remain in Mexico policy flouts our legal obligation to asylum seekers, underscores why we demand an end to this dangerous policy,' the group of two dozen senators wrote. 'It is imperative that the United States end this reckless course of action and reaffirm its commitment to the principles of due process on which this country was founded.' At least four people have have been killed and a further 20 are missing, feared dead, in a tower block inferno in Spain, despite the heroic efforts of firefighters who braved the raging fire. Witnesses described how the fire, which began on the seventh floor of the 14-storey building, spread 'in a matter of minutes' - rapidly moving through the main tower and then into an adjoining building. The apartment block, in the Campanar area of Valencia, was covered with highly-flammable polyurethane cladding, which experts have blamed for its rapid destruction. The material is legal but no longer widely used after it was linked to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, with an inquiry into the disaster being told that polyurethane and other combustible materials had been used in the building. If cladding is to blame in this case, it could be the first fire of its kind in Spain, according to an engineer who previously surveyed the building. Dramatic video shows the moment residents trapped in the Valencia tower block were rescued from their balcony as flames closed in around them, reducing the building to a 'skeleton'. Dramatic video shows the moment residents trapped in a tower block inferno in Spain were rescued from their balcony Flaming debris has come crashing down around firefighters as they have been working to extinguish the inferno The apartment buildings were entirely gutted by the huge inferno, which broke out on Thursday evening The fire raged late into Thursday night and left the building as little more than a shell Firefighters are saying they do not expect any of the missing to be alive. Town hall officials had earlier said 19 people were unaccounted for but the number later rose to 20. The official death toll is not expected to rise until later today when fire crews and other emergency responders are able to access the inside of the apartment block. Jorge Suarez, sub-director of emergencies for the regional Valencian government, said earlier this evening 14 people including at least six firefighters had been injured in the blaze. Confirming fears there would be fatalities, he said on Thursday night: 'We have to confirm the worst of the hypotheses that were on the table. 'Four people have died. We can now confirm that but we can't give out any more information at the moment. 'Firefighters are still working exclusively outside the building on tasks related to extinguishing the blaze. 'The characteristics of the building make it impossible to carry out any such work inside the structure so the work being done at the moment is focused on cooling down the outside and that's going to be the focus over the next few hours. 'I can't say at the moment when they're going to be able to go inside the building.' Confirming earlier reports firefighters had sighted four bodies after they put up a drone, he added: 'The information on the four fatalities is based on visual information we have.' Town hall chiefs in Valencia separately confirmed 19 people thought to have been in the apartment block when the blaze started remained unaccounted for. The 14 people injured are nine men aged between 25 and 57, four women aged between 27 and 81, and a seven-year-old boy. Twelve of them are understood to remain in hospital. The apartment block housing 137 flats caught fire around 5.30pm this afternoon. The blaze is believed to have started on the seventh floor and spread rapidly, trapping some of the 350 residents registered as living in the residential complex in their homes. Residents were trapped on their balconies - just metres from the flames - as they waited for firefighters to rescue them from the inferno Firefighters attempt to rescue two stranded residents who fled to the balcony as the building was engulfed Emergency services work at the scene of a fire of apartment building in Valencia Multiple fire pumps are at the scene battling the blaze, which reportedly spread from one residential building to another The building in the Campanar area of the port city has been completely gutted Devastated residents comfort each other at the scene of the huge fire in the Campanar area Residents were pictured watching on in horror tonight as their homes were destroyed in front of their eyes The multistorey building was left completely gutted, with crowds seen gathering to watch the destruction unfold More than 20 fire crews have been involved in tackling the blaze, with their efforts being hampered by the wind and soaring temperatures of the fire. Witnesses have said that firefighters managed to rescue several people, including a father and daughter, teenage boy and a couple, from their balconies. Speaking to EFE, Esther Puchades, who is deputy head of Valencia's Industrial Engineers Association (COGITI), blamed the building's cladding for the fire's ferocity and said that the tragedy may mark 'a turning point' in Spain. In June 2017, a fire ripped through Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey high-rise in west London, killing 72 people, with the blaze spreading rapidly due to the highly combustible cladding on the block's outside walls. A public inquiry into the disaster is still ongoing. Speaking to Valencian TV on Thursday, Puchades explained that when construction began on the now destroyed building, 'the bad reputation of polyurethane was not so widespread' as it is now, in the wake of Grenfell and other disasters around the world. 'Today it is not used, at least not in that way,' she added, referring to increased safety measures around its usage in Spain. A black cloud of smoke entirely engulfed the building on Thursday evening and flames The fire is believed to have broken out at around 5.30pm on one floor before quickly spreading to the rest of the block Firefighters have been using cranes to help rescue people from the burning building Engineer David Higuera also told Spanish newspaper El Pais that the building's cladding may have been the cause of the rapid spread of the fire. The material is 'very good at insulating against heat and cold, but very combustible,' he said. Dozens of residents were pictured watching on in horror tonight as their homes were destroyed in front of their eyes. A resident who lives on the second floor of the building told TV channel La Sexta that 'the fire spread in a matter of 10 minutes' after it broke out. He speculated that material on the facade of the building may have enabled the flames to move through the building so quickly. A resident who lives in the building opposite told RNE radio what she saw when the fire broke out. 'At first the fire came out of the balconies and parts of the facade fell down,' she said, adding that wind had blown parts of the cladding off in recent years and that it had needed to be repaired. Spain's TVE public television said there were more than 130 flats in the building. Television images showed the entire facade of the building ablaze as burning segments fell to the pavement below and small explosions were heard inside. The 14-storey flat has reportedly been 'reduced to a skeleton' while a nearby building has also been consumed by the flames A firefighter works at the scene during the building fire on February 22 in Valencia, Spain Dramatic footage shows two residents desperately trying to shelter from the fire. A number of people have been rescued from their balconies by firefighters A woman who runs a nearby flower shop told public television the building was no more than 14 years old and had more than 100 flats, all of which were occupied. 'What caused the fire to spread was mostly the wind,' she said, describing scenes of 'chaos' as the blaze took hold, snarling traffic and sending clouds of smoke everywhere. A field hospital was set up near the scene in case possible victims required treatment. Building manager and resident Adriana holds back tears as she watches the block go up in flames Firefighters work to extinguish the flames as they continue to rip through the residential block The cause of the fire is unknown and it is not known if there are any victims Images showed flames and vast clouds of black smoke engulfing the building Firefighters have been battling the blaze as it rages through the residential block in the eastern port city Local media reported several residents calling for help from the balconies of their apartments. Ana Mari Gonzalez, who works in a nearby clinic, told TVE she could see firefighters working to rescue a teenage boy trapped on the building's first floor. 'Please stay away from the area of the fire to let the emergency services do their work,' Valencia's mayor Maria Jose Catala wrote on X. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was 'shocked by the terrible fire' and was in contact with the mayor and the region's leader 'to offer whatever help they needed' and extending his condolences to everyone affected by the blaze. The Spanish Royal family sent their support to emergency services and shared their 'best wishes for recovery to the injured,' adding that they hope there are 'no more victims.' 'Our hearts are with the Valencians,' they added in the statement on X. The building is in a relatively new area of Campanar, located north west of the city centre. A hospital maintenance worker told colleagues 'this is your lucky day' moments before attacking them with a pickaxe and scalpel, a court has heard. Matteo Bottarelli, 44, savagely beat Trevor McGuire over the head with a pickaxe and stabbed Gideon Tesfay in the neck with a scalpel in a frenzied attack which sent the Central Middlesex Hospital into lockdown on June 21, 2023. He also tried to injure his line manager, Mark Quigley, who fortunately managed to escape unscathed, Wood Green Crown Court heard. Bottarelli was later arrested by armed police outside the hospital with non-life threatening injuries thought to have been self-inflicted. He earlier admitted wounding Mr Tesfay and Mr McGuire with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but was convicted by a jury of attempting to murder both men, both in their 40s and now faces years in jail. Matteo Bottarelli, 44, savagely beat Trevor McGuire over the head with a mattock and stabbed Gideon Tesfay in the neck with a scalpel Bottarelli cut one colleague's throat with a scalpel and attacked others with a mattock, which is a pickaxe-like tool Armed police at Central Middlesex Hospital in West London after the attack Officers found a number of knives and scalpels at Bottareli's home in nearby Central Way, Park Royal after he was arrested. Mr Maguire sustained a lifelong brain injury while Mr Tesfay suffered serious head and neck injuries. Bottarelli was also convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Quiqley and earlier admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon, the pickaxe, or mattock, with intent. When he first went into the canteen with the axe Mr Tesfay said 'This is a place to eat, why bring that in here?' and Bottarelli put it down. But as Mr Tesfay went to put his food in the microwave, Bottarelli slashed the victim's neck with his scalpel. During the trial jurors saw dramatic CCTV footage of Bottarelli charging at Mr Quigley with the mattock raised above his head before he attacked Mr Tesfay and Mr McGuire. He then chased Mr Tesfay around the hospital car park but he manages to evade Bottarelli by hiding behind cars. Botarelli, of Luma Apartments, Central Way, Park Royal, was remanded in custody ahead of sentence at Wood Green Crown Court on 30 April. A court artist sketch of Matteo Bottarelli appearing at Willesden Magistrates' Court in London Detective Constable Jacob Eyres, from the Met's North West Command, said: 'We have worked hard to build a case against Bottarelli who posed a clear threat to his work colleagues and to public safety. 'Throughout our enquiries we gathered a substantial amount of evidence including detailed accounts from witnesses and victims whose contribution to the investigation was crucial. 'This was an unprovoked attack on people working to help others and it is right that Bottarelli will now face the consequences of his actions. 'I hope that his conviction brings the victims a measure a comfort in knowing that justice has been served. My thoughts are with them.' Adam Montgomery has been found guilty of the murder of his five-year-old daughter Harmony. A jury found the New Hampshire father, 34, guilty of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse among other charges after six hours of deliberation following a two-week trial. Montgomery repeatedly punched the helpless child in the face after she had a bathroom accident while sleeping in the car in December 2019. Montgomery and his wife Kayla then took opioids and ate fast food as she died of her injuries on the backseat. He faces life imprisonment with no chance of parole, and will be sentenced at a later date. The young child's body has still not been found and she wasn't reported missing until years after the incident. Adam Montgomery has been found guilty of the murder of his five-year-old daughter Harmony Harmony, who was blind in one eye, was last seen alive in 2019 and her body has not yet been recovered Montgomery repeatedly punched the helpless child in the face after she had a bathroom accident while sleeping in the car in December 2019 The violent felon, who had previously been jailed for shooting a drug dealer in the face, is currently serving a 32-and-a-half year sentence for an unrelated fire arms case. Montgomery has also been found guilty of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, and tampering with witnesses and informants. Harmony, who was blind in one eye, was last seen alive in 2019 and her body has not yet been recovered. Harmony's mother, Crystal Sorey, who did not have custody of her daughter, called Montgomery a 'coward' following the verdict. 'He's a coward. He's a coward, he's always been a coward' she told reporters outside court. 'That's why he did what he did. He took her away from the people that loved her because he couldn't hack that he didn't have control. That's all he cared about, control, everything in his life. She wasn't anything to him' she explained. Harmony's mother, Crystal Sorey, who did not have custody of her daughter, called Montgomery a 'coward' following the verdict 'He's a coward. He's a coward, he's always been a coward' she told reporters outside court 'This is not a day we celebrate,' the adoptive parents of Harmony's brother Jamison said in a statement. 'It is a day that only adds to the incredible pain and heartache that surrounds a little girl who was never given a chance' Blair and Johnathon Miller, who were attempting to assume care for Harmony at the time. 'Jamison would go to the front door, hoping Harmony would find us, he would search for her in a park' they said. Adding: 'As we now dig deep within our hearts to find the ability to offer forgiveness, we look to our son to give him the strength to fight off the demons that this tragedy has brought for a lifetime.' New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu described Montgomery as a 'monster' that 'deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison.' 'I am grateful to the judge, jury, and Department of Justice for delivering justice for Harmony' the Republican wrote on X. The violent felon, who had previously been jailed for shooting a drug dealer in the face, is currently serving a 32-and-a-half year sentence for an unrelated fire arms case Law enforcement sit at the trial of Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court on Thursday Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg speak to the media at Hillsborough County Superior Court following the verdict Superior Court Justice Amy Messer talks with the lawyers during the trial of Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Thursday Montgomery's estranged wife Kayla is currently serving 18 months in prison for perjury and provided key testimony against her husband The car where Montgomery beat his young daughter to death before eating fast food and taking drugs During the trial prosecutors described how the child-killer moved Harmony's body from container to container and place to place as her body decayed. The locations included the trunk of a friend's car, a cooler in the hallway of his mother-in-law's apartment building, the ceiling vent of a homeless shelter and an apartment freezer. Montgomery's estranged wife Kayla, stepmother to Harmony, said at one point the body was kept in a tote bag from a hospital maternity ward, according to the same report. Kayla, who is reported to have been there at the time of the murder, said she placed the tote bag in between her own young children in a stroller and brought it to her husband's workplace. Investigators described how Montgomery finally disposed of the body in early March 2020 with a rented moving truck. Toll data shows the truck in question crossed the Tobin Bridge in Boston multiple times but there is no other highway data to help police identify the whereabouts of the body. Harmony was only reported missing in 2022 when her mother, Crystal Sorey, who did not have custody of the child, discovered she had never been enrolled in school During the trial prosecutors described how the child-killer moved Harmony's body from container to container and place to place as her body decayed Prosecutors claim Adam fatally beat Harmony to death after she had a bathroom accident in a car they were living in after their eviction Kayla confessed to placing the tote bag containing Harmony's body in between her own young children in a stroller and brought it to her husband's workplace In April, police searched a marshy area in Revere, Massachusetts - but to no avail. Prosecutor Ben Agati labelled Montgomery as an 'enraged titan' for his heinous crime. He said: 'Adam Montgomery was no loving father. He was an enraged titan who had no business being around Harmony. 'On the day of Harmony's death, all he had was his car, his rage, his fists. After he learns Harmony, soiled herself in the car. 'He took her life in rage over a bathroom accident.' Montgomery is reported to have told his wife Kayla: 'I think I really hurt her this time' after the fatal punch - and went on to say: 'I felt something'. Harmony was only reported missing in 2022 when her mother, who did not have custody of the child, discovered she had never been enrolled in school. Manchester police declared her a missing person in December 2022. A Massachusetts watchdog agency later found that the state's child welfare system did not prioritize Harmony's 'needs, well-being and safety' in placing her in her father's care. The disastrous cell phone outage at AT&T was only a fraction of what 'will' happen in the U.S. when China invades Taiwan, one U.S. senator warned. Some 74,000 users across the AT&T network were unable to make calls on Thursday, with thousands more at other networks left without service according to DownDetector. Thousands more at other networks were left without service. 'I dont know the cause of the AT&T outage,' said Sen. Marco Rubio, Fla., top Republican on the Intelligence Committee. 'But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion. And it wont be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water and your bank,' he went on. 'I dont know the cause of the AT&T outage,' said Sen. Marco Rubio , Fla., top Republican on the Intelligence Committee. 'But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion' The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are currently investigating the outages as a potential cyberattack. Downed cellular connection left some without the ability to call 911 for emergencies. Fellow Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez echoed Rubio's sentiment. He posted on X: 'Agreed, Senator @marcorubio! Communist #China will continue to work overtime to undermine America & the free world.' China recognizes Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control. While the United States does not formally recognize Taiwan, it is the island's main ally and supplier of military equipment - a thorn in ties between Washington and Beijing. The US State Department authorized the sale of a $75 million advanced tactical data link system to Taiwan this week. According to DownDetector, the number of outages reported climbed to over 70,000 just after 7AM on Thursday Service disruptions have been reported across the country, with outages first occurring around 4am eastern time Days ago FBI Director Christopher Wray warned China's ability to conduct cyber attacks has grown to a 'scale greater than we'd seen before.' While the Munich Security Conference was largely focused on wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, Wray warned politicians and intelligence officials not to lose sight of a subtler menace' Beijing's goals to plant malware inside the US's critical infrastructure. 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.' 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. US faces increasing concerns of cyber and satellite attacks from Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right 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. 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. It also comes after last week House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner demanded President Biden declassify information related to an urgent national security threat, later revealed to relate to Russia's anti-satellite capabilities. Meanwhile on Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin taunted the West with a joyride in a modernized supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber. The Biden administration is eyeing up more sanctions on Russia after the death of Putin dissident Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison. Since that happened last week, Russia has taken into custody an American ballerina and charged her with treason for donating $51 to a Ukrainian cause and the mysterious death of a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine and was living in Spain. The FBI has launched an investigation into claims of historic sex abuse inside a Christian cult after former members spoke out about harrowing assaults. The religious movement, which has no official name but is known by some as 'Two By Twos' is being probed over years of alleged sexual abuse. The FBI Omaha Field Office said they are seeking help in identifying victims or individuals with knowledge of the religious group. In a press release, they said: 'The group has often been referred to by others outside of the group as '2x2,' 'The Way,' 'The Truth,' and 'The Church With No Name,' among others.' The latest development comes after an investigation by the BBC last month that looked into claims of child sexual abuse. Known as 'Two by Twos', the movement was started by a man named William Irvine, seen here, in Ireland in the late 1800s The outlet caught up with one ex-minister, Robert Corfield, who admitted to them that he had sexually abused a boy, Michael Havet, in Canada in the 1980s. Havet, now 54, told the outlet that he was abused from the age of 12, saying: 'People called me 'Bob's little companion' - I just felt dirty and still do.' After abusing him, Havet said that Corfield would force him to kneel and pray beside him. He added: 'I had to work hard to get past that and find my prayer life again.' When confronted with this, Corfield admitted the child abuse allegations, telling the BBC: 'I have to acknowledge that's true.' According to survivors group Advocates for the Truth (AFTT), Corfield is one of over 700 alleged perpetrators that have been identified by a hotline. The group said that over 1,500 survivors have called their hotline and utilized their therapy resources. The group was founded last year by Cynthia Liles, Lauren Rohs and Sheri Autrey who are planning to build cases against those on their list. According to the group, the 700 odd perpetrators are situated in 21 countries across the world, including the America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Russia. The survivors group have welcomed the investigation saying in a statement: 'The FBI investigation brings validation and potential justice to survivors that have been silenced by their community for generations. 'A community that should have been wrapped around survivors with unconditional love, safety and communal care.' Back in 2013, another one of its leaders, named Jerome Frandle pleaded no contest to 'knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect' One man, named Jason Lennox (seen), who was an active member of the organization from 2012 to 2015, was also convicted of sexual abuse of a child in 2018 The cult is believed to have up to 100,000 members worldwide, with the majority in North America. Originally founded in Ireland by William Irvine in the late 1800s, William claimed that he was chosen by God to deliver a special revelation that he referred to as the 'Alpha message'. He began to implement a series of very-strict rules for his followers, which he said were told to him by God, and he used the regulations to control almost every aspect of members' lives - including what they wore, how they acted, and what music they listened to. When Christian officials heard about what he was up to, they announced that they wanted nothing to do with his ridiculous teachings and kicked him out of the church - but that didn't stop William. The group continued to hold meetings - but moved underground - and instead of doing so publicly or in a real church setting, they had their events at members' homes. For over 100 years, the religious sect has continued to grow in secrecy - even after William died in 1947. Tava Zahorka Nicholson previously told how grew up with parents who were part of the 'cult'. Speaking to Daily Dot last year, she said that she was molested by four different male members as a child - one of whom touched her inappropriately 'over 100 times.' Dean Bruer, pictured here,, who passed away in June 2022, is also said to have been a 'sexual predator' She claimed that her childhood was so traumatic she blocked most of it out, and it wasn't until she spoke to a therapist years later as an adult that she remembered what had happened to her. 'I did not and still do not remember my childhood to this day, I remember bits and pieces,' she said. She also alleged that none of the men who touched her inappropriately were being investigated by the police or the group's leaders - despite 'multiple people' speaking out against them. One former member, named Heather, who also spoke to the outlet, explained that every state has something known as an 'overseer' - who assigns a pair of preachers, known as 'workers,' to each area of that state. Since they aren't allowed to own their own house, the workers usually stay in members' abodes. And because two of them always travel together, the organization is often referred to as Two by Twos. 'Conventions' are held once a year, and involve thousands of members meeting up to 'worship together' across multiple days. Back in 2013, an overseer named Jerome Frandle pleaded no contest to 'knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect.' He was sentenced to four days in jail and 100 hours of community service in Michigan, where he worked for the church. One man, named Jason Lennox, who was an active member of the organization from 2012 to 2015, was convicted of second-degree sexual conduct with a minor and sexual abuse of a child in 2018 in Pima County, Arizona. He admitted to raping a 'very young child at least three times from 2007 to 2011,' a local Arizona news outlet reported at the time. Another former overseer, named Richard Schober, told Daily Dot that he voluntarily cut ties with the group in the '60s because he 'knew he had a problem.' 'I knew I had a problem and I stepped out because it was not the place for me to be in the homes of children,' he said. He was later convicted of indecent liberties and admitted to molesting his daughter. Last year, a letter that was written by an overseer named Doyle Smith leaked, in which he confirmed that he had discovered that another overseer, named Dean Bruer, who passed away in June 2022, had been a 'sexual predator.' Daily Dot reported that there's no record of criminal charges brought against Dean, but said that police confirmed there was a case file for him. They didn't divulge any other information. The district claimed that George's hair is too long and goes against policy Darryl George, 18, a junior at Barbers Hill High School has been suspended twice because of his hairstyle A Texas judge ruled in favor of Barbers Hill Independent School District on Thursday after they filed a lawsuit against a student because of his dreadlocks A judge in Texas has ruled against a teen who claimed that suspension over his dreadlocks was a violation of his rights. Darryl George, 18, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu has been suspended twice after the the school district declared that his hairstyle violated its length policy. The Barbers Hill Independent School District then filed a lawsuit and argued that Georges long hair, which he wears in tied and twisted locks on top of his head, would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows or earlobes when let down. District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in the school district's favor of Thursday and claimed that the ongoing discipline that George has faced is legal under the CROWN act. The act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair is a law which prohibits race-based hair discrimination against 'protective hairstyles' like braids and locks. George said that his hair is 'how I feel closer to my people. It's how I feel closer to my ancestors. It's just. It's who I am.' The Barbers Hill Independent School District filed a lawsuit against Darryl George , 18, a junior at Barbers Hill High School and argued that his dreadlocks went against the school's hair length policy George is seen speaking at a press conference before the court hearing that took place on Thursday. District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in the school district's favor and said the discipline against the student was legal George was suspended twice for his hairstyle- first in September at an off-campus disciplinary program for 30 days and again after he returned for an additional 13 days to an in-school suspension Dozens of supporters turned out for the trial in Anahuac, outside Houston, joining George and his mother, Darresha. George said 'it was just sad' that the school district was punishing him over his hairstyle. The CROWN Act came into effect in September, the same month George was first reprimanded for his dreadlocks and sent to an off-campus disciplinary program for 30 days. Once he returned to class, the school then displaced him again on the same grounds and referred him to an in-school suspension for 13 days. The act also prohibits employers and school from penalizing people because of hair texture and further hairstyles like Afros, twists and Bantu knots. Allie Booker, Georges attorney, presented two witnesses at the hearing- the teen's mother and Democratic state Rep. Ron Reynolds, who is one of the co-authors of the CROWN Act. Reynolds testified that hair length was not specifically discussed when the CROWN Act was proposed but that it 'was inferred with the very nature of the style.' 'Anyone familiar with braids, locs, twists knows it requires a certain amount of length,' Reynolds said. The school district maintained in court documents that its policy does not violate the CROWN Act because the law does not mention or cover hair length. Sara Leon, an attorney for the school district said: 'We appreciate the court giving clarity to the meaning of the CROWN Act.' The district did not offer any witnesses to testify but did submit evidence that included an affidavit from the districts superintendent defending the dress code policy. The school code states that a male student's hair cannot be worn in a style 'that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down' His mother, Darresha George, has insisted that her son's hairstyle abides by the school's policy because he wears it tied up and that the school is being discriminatory A group of protestors were seen holding up posters with the teen's face on it outside of Poole's home on Wednesday in support for George His mother has insisted that her son's hairstyle abides by the school's policy because he wears it tied up and that the school is being discriminatory. 'This has everything to do with the administration being prejudiced toward Black hairstyles, toward Black culture,' she said. 'My son is well-groomed, and his hair is not distracting from anyone's education. 'I am trying to figure out how he is in violation when he has never let his hair down. How do you know his hair is below his eyebrows? 'He is not getting a proper education. He is not getting proper instruction.' A copy of the school's notice, as obtained by CNN reads: 'Darryl's hair is out of compliance with the BH dress code when let down. If Darryl corrects his dress code violation he will be allowed to return to his regular classes.' The school district says its dress code is meant to 'teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards and teach respect for authority'. 'When you are asked to conform and give up something for the betterment of the whole, there is a psychological benefit,' said district superintendent Greg Poole. 'We need more teaching (of) sacrifice.' In a paid ad that ran in January in the Houston Chronicle, Poole wrote that districts with a traditional dress code are safer and have higher academic performance because 'being an American requires conformity.' A group of protestors were seen holding up posters with the teen's face on it outside of Poole's home on Wednesday. Their posters said: 'End discriminatory policies and practices that contribute to over policing and push out of black students,' along with the hashtag #MyHairIsNotAThreat. Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole denied the policy is racist George wears his hair up while in school. His family has insisted that his hair style complies with the school code In 2020, another student from the same school, DeAndre Arnold, 18, received in-school suspension and was told he could no longer walk in his graduation because of his dreadlocks George said he feels like is being singled out because there are other boys in the school with longer hairstyles. 'It's frustrating because I'm getting punished for something everyone else is doing, growing hair, having hair,' he said. David Bloom, a Barbers Hill Independent School District spokesperson, told CNN that George's graduation date will not be impacted despite him missing out on most of his junior year classes. 'As far as graduation impact, there is none. A program is in place for him to complete his courses in dress-code ISS if he chooses not to trim his hair,' Bloom said, adding that a teacher is assigned to each ISS classroom to help students complete regular coursework. In 2020, another student from the same school, DeAndre Arnold, 18, received in-school suspension and was told he could no longer walk in his graduation because of his dreadlocks. Activists from Black Lives Matter Houston and the United Urban Alumni Association flooded to the Barbers Hill High School's board meeting on Monday night, Martin Luther King Jr Day, to protest against what they claim is a discriminatory policy. Groups turned their back on speakers defending the school's policy. Arnold began growing his dreadlocks in the seventh grade but the length of his hair never became an issue for the school until he returned after the holiday break this year to be told the policy had changed. The teen stated that his hair is a celebration of his Trinidadian roots and that he always wears it up while in school. He has attended schools in Barbers Hill independent school district for ten years. 'They say that even (when) my hair is up, if it were to be down it would be not in compliance with the dress code. However, I don't take it down in the school,' Arnold argued. 'We're here for Deandre, but it's about more than that,' his mother Sandy Arnold told CBS News. 'This is about all the other Deandres that could come through Barbers Hill.' Foreign fighters have previously been offered as part of the International Legion Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked foreigners to join the Ukraine army - despite security concerns that overseas fighters could trigger broader conflict with Russia. Beginning Wednesday, 'foreigners and stateless persons' - including American citizens - can now directly join the Ukrainian national guard, the Ukrainian president announced. Foreign citizens who legally live in Ukraine are eligible if they choose to join voluntarily. Zelensky urged foreign fighters to join Ukraine's fight against Russia when Putin's army first invaded back in February 2022. Foreign fighters have previously been offered as part of the International Legion. The legion was created days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Since then, there is an estimated 20,000 foreigners serving in Ukraine's foreign legion - however, the exact number is unclear. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked foreigners to join the Ukraine army - despite security concerns overseas fighters could trigger broader conflict with Russia Foreign citizens who legally live in Ukraine can now join the National Guard, the military branch of the interior ministry, if they choose to join voluntarily (Pictured: Members of the Siberian Battalion of the Ukraine's Armed Forces International Legion) Zelenskyy urged foreign fighters to join Ukraine's fight against Russia when Putin's army first invaded back in February 2022. (Pictured: members of Ukraine's international legion. Volunteers from the US, UK, Sweden, Lithuania and Mexico have joined) Nearly two years after the war began, Ukraine is desperate for more troops to join its ranks in order to sustain its resistance against Russia. 'Anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians,' Zelensky said in 2022. Zelensky attempted to recruit an additional 500,000 people in December - before passing a new law decreasing the age eligibility of fighters from 27 to 25 years old. Volunteers must meet certain criteria to be eligible, as well as pass medical and fitness tests. In March, it was revealed that foreign fighters who joined the Ukrainian army were not able to go home until the war ends. Officials have warned members of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine that they will be free to leave only when the state of martial law is ended. Would-be recruits were having second thoughts at the Polish border after being handed contracts that effectively make them conscripts, the Daily Mail revealed. Since then, there is an estimated 20,000 foreigners serving in Ukraine's foreign legion - however the exact number is unclear. Nearly two years after war began, Ukraine is desperate for more troops to join its ranks in order to sustain it's resistance against Russia Multiple foreign fighters have been killed since the start of the war. A former U.S. Marine was killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces after the private security firm he worked for sent him to war in April 2022. The family of Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, of Orange County New York, confirmed that the husband and father of a seven-month-old son had died in the Ukraine fighting Russian forces. In August 2023, a British volunteer was killed in action while fighting in Ukraine, his brother has announced. A U.S. Army veteran was struck and killed by a mortar shell explosion while fighting Russian forces in Ukraine. Jeffrey Judd Jones, 48, died on July 31 in Bakhmut, an eastern part of Ukraine, mostly occupied by Russians last week, his father Howard Jones announced in August 2023. This comes as the Senate passed a massive foreign aid bill to Ukraine earlier this month. I am grateful to @SenSchumer, @LeaderMcConnell, and every US Senator who has supported continued assistance to Ukraine as we fight for freedom, democracy, and the values we all hold dear. For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) February 13, 2024 Pictured, volunteers from Portugal and Brazil in Ukraine army fatigues in the days following Putin's invasion Ian Cunningham, 74, (pictured left) with a former Polish paratrooper. Mr Cunningham has travelled to Kyiv to support the Ukrainian military The sprawling $95 billion bill captured the necessary 60 senators needed to send the legislation to the House Tuesday morning after a rare all-night session ending in a 70-29 vote, but it faces an uncertain fate. In total, the package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to deter aggression by China. Since the start of this fiscal year, October 2023, the Army has spent over $430 million on Ukraine-related operations, including training Ukrainian troops, transporting weapons and deploying U.S. troops to Europe. The Army's Europe and Africa Command has about $3 billion left to cover its operating costs that are expected to amount to $5 billion in 2024, one senior Army official told CNN - and could run out of money by May. US Army soldiers in Poland on feb 21, deployed as part of a rotation of forces to Poland to support multinational training and operations and deter adversaries in the European theater A Ukrainian soldier of the 'Tsunami' regiment fires artillery in the direction of Bakhmut, as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 19 'If we don't get a base budget, if we don't get Ukraine supplemental [funding package], if the government shuts down, if we get nothing else and nothing changes from todaywe will run out of [operations and maintenance] funding in May,' the official told the publication. For months lawmakers have looked for a way to pass a supplemental funding package to get money to Ukraine, but appetite for funding its war against Russia has waned on Capitol Hill. Soon the Army will have to arbitrage funding, with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth telling CNN she expects they will have to 'rob Peter to pay Paul.' 'Every incremental dollar I have, it's very important where I put that dollar. And I'm constantly choosing between, do we put it on barracks? Do I put it on enlistment incentives? Do I put it on exercises? Do I put it on modernization? I don't have spare cash to be just sort of donating some of that,' Wormuth, the service's civilian leader tasked with budgeting, told CNN. A Ukrainian soldier takes his position on the frontline near Klishchiivka the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 19 'This was money that we anticipated to be replenished, obviously, by the supplemental,' she added, reiterating the need for congressional action. 'We would cease to exist,' if funds are not allocated from elsewhere within the Army's budget, one official said. While US funding for Ukraine has run dry, training for Ukrainian troops has continued because it's been deemed mission critical by the president. The U.S. is currently training about 1,500 Ukrainian troops in Germany and is training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighter aircraft at Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona. Last week the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $4.83 for partners in the Indo-Pacific. It also would provide $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other conflict zones around the globe. Fox News commentator Raymond Arroyo is under fire for claiming that Donald Trump's new limited edition sneakers will win over the votes of black America. The frequent 'Ingraham Angle' guest said during a panel over the weekend that Trump's gold MAGA high tops would help the former president attract the attention and support of black Americans who 'love sneakers.' With 'black support eroding for Joe Biden, this (the sneakers) is connecting with black America - because they love sneakers,' Arroyo said on Fox's 'The Big Weekend Show.' 'They're into sneakers. This is a big deal, certainly in the inner city,' he continued, adding that Trump, he believes, is reaching the black community 'on a level that defies and is above politics.' The limited edition Trump high tops were retailing for close to $400 before selling out 'Trump understands culture like no politician I've ever seen,' he concluded, indicating that the loud shoes, which were retailing for about $400 prior to selling out, get to the heart of black culture. 'So when you have Trump roll out his sneaker line, they're like, 'wait a minute, this is cool,'' he said. Arroyo's comments were targeted online as many keyboard warriors labeled him a racist who was playing into destructive stereotypes. 'Basically he is saying ll blacks are the same and they love cheap, tacky sneakers. Call me crazy, but I think most humans of any color, would rather have a pair of Jordans,' wrote one X user. Another noted that Arroyo is like 'completely oblivious' to the way in which he comments were racist. 'His assumptions about black people, suggesting that their political decisions are based on trivial or materialistic reasons, such as a love for sneakers, is both inaccurate and disrespectful. His simplistic stereotypes is inappropriate and offensive,' wrote yet another user. A plethora of other online commenters took the opportunity to mock Arroyo's hairstyle - the majority opinion being that it appeared to be spray-painted onto his head. Wait a minute? Did Fox News pundit Raymond Arroyo really say this past weekend that black people will vote for Trump because "they love sneakers"? Yes, yes he did. pic.twitter.com/bBasJbZbNB Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 22, 2024 Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump holds a pair of his new line of signature shoes after taking the stage at Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center on February 17, 2024 in Philadelphia Arroyo's comments were targeted online as many keyboard warriors labeled him a racist who was playing into destructive stereotypes Contrary, however, the Arroyo's detractors, TMZ points out, are the sentiments of popular rapper and YouTuber Peezy, who voiced his support for the sneaker line to his impressive online audience. In a recent video, the rapper declared his political allegiance clearly by saying: 'F**k Joe Biden, I'm rocking with Trump.' He added a 'F**k Kamala Harris' just so audiences were 100 percent clear on where he stands. Moreover, he put out a call for a size 13 pair of the sold-out gold 'Never Surrender' sneaker, which it seems he'd like to sport in support of his chosen 2024 candidate. About 30 Gaza protesters infiltrated the hotel where President Joe Biden was staying in San Francisco on Thursday, before chanting: 'Ceasefire now.' Biden was at the luxury Fairmont hotel, where he earlier met the widow and daughter of Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who died in a Russian prison on Friday. The protest group mingled with guests of the hotel, before breaking into chants with a loudspeaker as Biden was due to leave. 'Biden, Biden, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide,' they sang, as bemused guests around the hotel coffee shop looked on. They unfurled a banner saying: 'Stop funding Genocide: End all US aid to Israel.' About 30 Gaza protesters entered the hotel where President Joe Biden was staying in San Francisco on Thursday, chanting: 'Ceasefire now.' At least one protester was wearing a Jewish kippah or skullcap. They followed the White House press pool through the hotel to make their point, as Biden and his team prepared to leave. Biden is on the final day of a three-day fundraising swing through California. The hotel was open to guests, who could enter the lobby and its shops without any checks. However, the did not get close to the hotel's tower wing, which has been sealed off by Secret Service agents. He has largely avoided public outpourings of anger at his full-throated support for Israel as it bombards the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, where more than 28,000 people have been killed. But the issue is dividing his party, with the progressive wing increasingly vocal in its opposition to Israel's offensive. The protest group mingled with guests of the hotel, before breaking into chants with a loudspeaker as Biden was due to leave Biden was at the Fairmont hotel, where he earlier met the widow and daughter of Alexei Navalny , the opposition leader who died in a Russian prison on Friday Biden spoke to reporters just after the protest to discuss his meeting with the Navalny family A small crowd of protesters gathered close to a Beverly Hills home where he attended a campaign reception on Tuesday evening. Some guests there donated as much as $250,000 for the honor of meeting the president. At least 23 Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli bombardments of houses in central Gaza, according to the enclave's Hamas-controlled health ministry. A recent poll found half of U.S. adults concluded that Israel had 'gone to far' in its war in Gaza. The issue could prove particularly thorny in battleground states. Biden trailed Trump 45-41 in a new EPIC-MRA poll in Michigan, a state Biden carried in 2020 and Trump won in 2016. It has a large Arab American population and substantial Muslim communities. Minutes after the protest, Biden spoke to reporters in the parking garage of the hotel. He made no mention of the disruption and instead described his meeting with the Navalny family. 'He was a man of incredible courage and it's amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that,' he said. The Arizona prosecutor refusing to send an accused prostitute killer to New York said she is looking out for his victims' families and cannot guarantee the suspect will remain locked up due to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's lax bail policies. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has ordered her staff not to extradite Raad Noan Almansoori, 26, to New York where he's wanted for the alleged murder of sex worker Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38. He was arrested in Arizona after police said he stabbed two women - one in a McDonalds and the other while stealing her car. 'We have two very violent crimes here. We have two women that were stabbed and he is facing a lengthy mandatory prison sentence here and even though there is a homicide in New York, we can guarantee that he is going to stay in custody,' Mitchell said on FOX & Friends. 'I am putting the victims first and making sure that he stays in custody,' she said. 'I don't want this individual getting out and able to victimize more people.' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell told FOX & Friends she is looking out for the families of the victims by not extraditing accused killer Raad Noan Almansoori, 26, to New York Bragg held a press conference on Thursday claiming Mitchell was refusing to extradite as a political tool Raad Almansoori, 26, was arrested by police in Arizona on a separate assault on another woman and is wanted in New York for the alleged murder of sex worker Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38 She cited Bragg's 'treatment of violent criminals' as the reason for her decision not to extradite Almansoori. 'And again, this is not casting aspersions on NYPD, but it was just a couple of weeks ago that some of the illegal immigrants that were in New York City who beat up on police officers were let go,' Mitchell said. 'They were flipping the camera off as they walked out of jail, and guess where they ended up? Four of them ended up in Maricopa County, and they had to be taken into custody here.' Almansoori is in custody on suspicion of killing Queens sex worker Oleas-Arancibia by strangling her and hitting her over the head in the Soho 54 hotel on February 8. Surveillance footage of Almansoori caught after the murder of Oleas-Arancibia shows him wearing her bodysuit along a well-lit Manhattan street. Almansoori was on bail at the time of the murder for attacking and sexually assaulting another escort in Florida in April 2023. After being arrested on that charge, he later posted his own bail in September of last year. While on bail, he allegedly killed Oleas-Arancibia before fleeing cross the country. 'Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan DA there, Alvin Bragg, I think it's safer to keep him here and keep him in custody so that he cannot be out doing this to individuals either in our state, county or anywhere in the United States' Mitchell said, according to NBC News. 'This is not aimed the New York Police Department at all. I know they did a hard job, they did a good job, but we will not be agreeing to extradition,' she added. 'I've instructed my extradition attorneys not to agree to that. We're going to keep him here.' Bragg held a Thursday press conference claiming Mitchell was refusing to extradite as a political tool. 'Her reasoning? Not because that's what the law dictates, not because that's what advances justice, not because of a concern for victims, not at the request of the NYPD - but rather, plain and simple, old-fashioned grandstanding and politics,' Bragg said. Mitchell (pictured) told reporters she's ordered her staff not to cooperate with plans to send Almansoori back to New York Mitchell hit back at Bragg's statement about her decision to extradite saying, 'It's great to see the Manhattan DA finally take interest in violent crime' Bragg refuted her claim that the migrants arrested in Arizona were involved in the attack on police in Times Square 'It is deeply disturbing to me that a member of my profession, a member of law enforcement, would choose to play political games in a murder case.' He also refuted her claim migrants arrested in Arizona were involved in a separate, high-profile attack on police in Times Square. 'This has demonstrably been proven to be false, now for weeks, so to repeat a baseless falsehood, now on national TV, is beyond the pale,' Bragg said. 'The NYPD has said that. My office has said it publicly. Different names, different dates of birth, different fingerprints. Different people. My office has indicted seven people in the despicable and heinous attack on two of New Yorks Finest.' Emily Tuttle, a representative for Bragg, said it's 'deeply disturbing' that Mitchell is 'playing political games in a murder investigation' and described her statement as 'a a slap in the face' to New York law enforcement. 'In Manhattan, we are serious about New Yorker's safety, which is why murders are down 24 percent and shootings are down 38 percent since DA Bragg took office,' a statement released by Tuttle said. 'New York's murder rate is less than half that of Phoenix, Arizona, because of the hard work of the NYPD and all of our law enforcement partners. 'It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorker's death.' In a scathing reply to Bragg's office on X, Mitchell hit back. 'It's great to see the Manhattan DA finally take interest in violent crime. My job is to focus on the victims I was elected to protect.' NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said that Almansoori had purchased a plane ticket from Florida to New York on January 26. When staff discovered the body of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia on the morning of February 8, the 38-year-old was lying beneath a blanket and beside a broken iron, having checked in the day before A surveillance footage image shows the suspect in the grisly slaying of Oleas-Arancibia wearing a bodysuit in Manhattan Oleas-Arancibia's death has formally been ruled a homicide (pictured: interior of the room where Oleas-Arancibia was found) According to Kenny, he then has credit card usage three days later in the Big Apple and visits an escort in Upper Manhattan on February 6. The body of Oleas-Arancibia was found on the morning of February 8, and four days later, Almansoori is said to have flown back to Arizona from Newark. Officials in Arizona took him into custody on Sunday after he stabbed a woman in McDonald's after dragging her into the ladies room and holding her against her will. Police say Almansoori was arrested shortly after he tried to flee in a stolen car and admitted while in custody to an earlier stabbing in Phoenix. In that incident, a woman was stabbed when a man attempted to steal her car at knifepoint. Almansoori was booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and theft. He was also charged with robbery, assault, theft and criminal damage in the separate Phoenix investigation. He is being held without bond. Judge Arthur Engoron has rejected a move by Donald Trump's lawyers to forestall enforcement of the $355 million he ordered Trump must pay after his fraud trial. It came after New York AG Letitia James threatened to go to court to 'seize his assets' if he doesn't pay the fine within the required 30 days. Trump lawyer Alina Habba has said Trump was 'prepared' Trump's lawyers sought to stay the fine from going into effect to allow for an 'orderly post-judgment process' while Trump and his advisors huddle over how to raise the eye-popping sum or figure out how to pay a bond. But Engoron, who issued a blistering ruling Friday where he said Trump's refusal to admit mistakes 'borders on pathological', was unpersuaded. 'You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay,' Engoron wrote in an email that was posted to the court docket. 'I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights. Judge Arthur Engoron denied a move by Donald Trump's lawyers to delay enforcement of his order to pay $355 million after his New York fraud trial He shut down the push a day after Habba vowed the New York AG would not succeed after she threatened to seize marquis real estate properties to ensure compliance. 'Her goal of tearing down the Trump Organization, her goal of tearing down the individuals that worked so hard, including on his campaign, his family, and the list goes on and on, her goal is frankly not going to succeed,' she said. 'That's all I'm willing to say,' Habba added. She spoke hours after James threatened to seize assets, even though Trump is inside a window to try to pay the fine or post bond pending an appeal his lawyers said he would make. 'If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,' James told ABC News. 'Her goal is frankly not going to succeed,' Trump lawyer Alina Habba said after New York AG Letitia James threatened to seize Trump Organization assets following a judge's order he pay $355 million Trump will need to come up with more like $450 million with penalties and interest, a staggering sum even for man with an estimated net worth of more than $2 billion. the interest along is approaching $90,000 per day. Habba previously told Fox News, the same network she spoke to Wednesday, that Trump would go that route. 'I can tell you what the rules are. Within 30 days, even if we choose to appeal this, we have to post the bond, which is the full amount and then some. We will be prepared to do that,' she said, even before James' threat. On Wednesday, she described posting bond as merely an 'option.' 'You can post a bond, which is an option. You can tell the judge that you should set aside the verdict, because it's insane, which this is. And all of those options are on the table,' she told host Martha McCallum. 'If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,' said New York AG Letitia James Former President Donald Trump's lawyers have vowed to appeal but haven't succeeded in forestalling the massive payment Trump's stake in the building at 40 Wall Street alone which featured in his fraud trial is estimated at $80 million. James mentioned the building as she spoke of seizing assets to secure payment But Habba held back from describing Trump's course, saying she 'will never show my cards.' 'We have a great team. I'm proud of our team and we're working around the clock to figure out what strategically is the best move,' said Habba, who faced criticism after the stunning $83 million civil award in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case. She said James' goal was 'to try and hurt the president, try and hurt his family, the company.' 'She has not chance, the appellate record is strong,' she said. James, in her interview, repeatedly referenced the skyscraper at 40 Wall St., where Trump's interest has been estimated to be $80 million. 'We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day,' she said. That comment prompted Habba to counter that James 'has a chip on her shoulder.' Trump would be expected to pay about $35 million to a bonding company, assuming he can find someone to take on the risk of a client who is barred from running a New York company for three years and who faces four criminal indictments along with a separate $83 million jury award after being found liable for defamation in the E. Jean Carroll case. 'I have a lot of cash, but that doesn't mean he can take it,' Trump said in a Fox News town hall Tuesday, referencing Judge Arthur Engoron, who imposed the fine in a stunning order Friday. 'I think he looked at my cash and he said, 'We'll take all of his cash,'' Trump posited. He testified during the case that he had $400 million in cash,. Meanwhile, James said she is prepared to seize Trump's assets if he can't find the funds to cover the fine. She made the threat despite Trump having 25 days to pay around the $35million bond to hold over the case. Forbes estimated the value of Trump's New York real estate portfolio at $690 million, meaning he most likely has the assets to pay the stunning order, but not necessarily the liquidity. CNBC reported that Trump would need to come up with $540 million for an 'appeal bond' accounting for 120 per cent of the award plus current interest. It's 'not very attractive to take real estate as collateral,' Neil Pedersen, who owns New York-based bond agency Pedersen & Sons, told the network. The activist has now been identified as 42-year-old Noah Cleveland A trans activist was caught on camera yesterday as they charged at a group of anti-abortion protestors The activist who charged at a group of anti-abortion protestors in Richmond, Virginia, while holding a trans flag yesterday has been identified as Noah Cleveland. Cleveland, 42, of Richmond was charged yesterday with a single count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. In the video, Cleveland can be seen running at the group, pushing their banners aside. In a later clip, they can be seen being led away by police officers. The incident was captured by Students for Life Action Government Affairs Coordinator Savanna Deretich who described Cleveland as 'infamous' and said they have 'appeared at events like this before'. The Students for Life group was joining the annual anti-abortion demonstration, March for Life, in the center of Richmond, attended by Republicans Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Noah Cleveland, 42, could be seen running at the group with the flag held out wide Cleveland ran through the group, knocking the glasses off one of the anti abortion protestors Police could be seen in the background as the activist started to run toward the group Sharing the video online, Deretich said: 'Apparently this activist is infamous and has appeared at events like this before. 'He came rushing forward, chanting something, and I knew he was going to attack so I pulled out my phone to record it. 'He sprinted up to our people, knocked the glasses off peoples heads, dashed through our march sign, and kept running. 'I saw he was arrested by police sometime later.' Cleveland was wearing black leggings, a purple tank top and a bright pink headband. In the video they appear to knock the glasses off of one of the protestors head with their flag and cause others to stumble and back away. Another witness, freshman at Liberty University, Kelsey McCormick, told The Daily Signal: 'We were nearing the end of the march and chanting, "We are the pro life generation" and "We will abolish abortion" with our megaphones.' The students were holding signs reading 'I love life' and 'Silence in the face of evil is evil itself'. She added: 'Then I see the trans activist running and jumping, and waving the flag, come smash into the group and go after the big banner.' DailyMail.com contacted Capitol Police for comment. The activist was seen being led away by police in a later clip Virginia's Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, right, walks with demonstrators during the anti-abortion demonstration The annual march went through the center of Richmond Republicans Gov Youngkin and Lt. Gov Earle-Sears joined thousands of Virginia activists Wednesday for the annual anti-abortion demonstration. Attendees denounced Democratic lawmakers who have blocked proposed restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Earle-Sears, who addressed a rally just outside the Capitol before attendees marched through downtown Richmond, joined other speakers in calling for housing, support and other resources for expectant parents. She also expressed compassion for women who have had abortions and exhorted attendees to keep up their advocacy. 'Lets pray that hearts will be changed. Lets pray that our legislators will change and the laws will change,' said Earle-Sears. Dramatic footage captures hero cops rescuing babies in diapers and a man on crutches as they rushed to evacuate a burning apartment building in Brooklyn, New York City. Officers from the New York Police Department sprang into action after spotting a fire on the fourth floor of the Langston Hughes Houses in Brownsville last week. The footage, released by the NYPD on Tuesday, shows officers Mark Kalwa and Vincenzo Rallo running into a wall of smoke and evacuating 12 people, including two babies, a teenager with a broken leg and a man on crutches. 'It's pretty thick - hard to breathe, hard to see. I remember a few people coming towards me,' Kalwa told NBC. Dramatic footage captures hero cops rescuing babies in diapers and a man on crutches as they rushed to evacuate a burning apartment building in Brooklyn, New York City Officers from the New York Police Department sprang into action after spotting a fire on the fourth floor of the Langston Hughes Houses in Brownsville last week Mark Kalwa (left) and Vincenzo Rallo (right) ran into a wall of smoke and evacuated 12 people, including two babies, a teenager with a broken leg, and a man on crutches The officers were driving by the complex as they heard people screaming for help last Wednesday. 'When you hear the screams, it's something in you. You can't just disregard that and wait for fire, so we went up,' Rallo said. '[Kalwa] had a flashlight, so he went in first and directed people towards me. I was at the fourth-floor stairwell door as they made their way to me, that's when we started escorting people down,' Rallo explained. Rallo recalled that the first person who approached him was a desperate mother with a child. 'She just looked like she was going to go down, so I grabbed the baby from her, helped her down the stairs and took the baby. And that was the first one we brought down,' Rallo said. Another officer arrived, carrying a teenager with a broken leg down the stairs when the fire erupted. 'Officer Alam, he carried the kid down because, quicker he could make it out the better. he carried the kid down all three flights of stairs and out the back door to safety,' Rallo said. Officers from the New York Police Department sprang into action after spotting a fire on the fourth floor of the Langston Hughes Houses in Brownsville last week Another officer arrived, carrying a teenager with a broken leg down the stairs when the fire erupted Rallo recalled that the first person who approached him was a desperate mother with a child Bodycam footage captures officers running up and down the stairs, carrying kids to an NYUP squad car. 'That's when I saw the dad come down with the other two kids and he dropped down to the ground. That's when I took the other two kids down to the car,' Rallo recalled. 'It was the most gratifying thing - the kid being safe was just the coolest feeling,' he added. In total, 12 people were evacuated from the building and two women, 61 and 29, were hospitalized in stable condition for smoke inhalation, according to the Post. 'It's just humbling to be there at their time of need and provide that service,' Kalwa said. NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry shared the clip on X, former Twitter, and commended the officers for their heroic actions. He wrote: 'Outstanding job by our NYPD officers, springing into action when they smelled and saw smoke in a building. They requested FDNY and rapidly evacuated residents, including kids, to safety.' Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire. The GOP members called the rule a 'de facto EV mandate' in their letter Republicans are outraged that the Biden administration is poised to outlaw most gas-powered cars in under a decade under proposed tailpipe emissions regulations. A bicameral group of over 130 Republican lawmakers - and one Democrat - sent a letter to President Biden and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young demanding the new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency are not adopted. The group argues that the proposal would require Americans to switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles or EVs by 2032. The proposed rule 'would require 67% of new light-duty vehicles and 46% of medium-duty vehicles to be electric by 2032,' which the group of GOP lawmakers called a 'de facto EV mandate.' 'The reality is that most Americans still prefer the internal combustion engine vehicle, and EPA's proposed rule unnecessarily restricts consumer choice and forces expensive EVs onto Americans at a time when they can least afford it,' the Republicans wrote in the letter shared with DailyMail.com. Notably, Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has long been an American energy advocate, also signed the letter. The EPA's proposed rule would require many Americans to buy EVs within this decade Gas-powered vehicles are far and away the most popular in America, but the EPA's proposed rule would require many Americans switch to EVs by 2032 Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, spearheaded the letter sent to President Joe Biden The effort was led by Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. Biden would rather force Americans 'to buy electric vehicles to advance his Green New Deal agenda than allow folks to choose the best car or truck for their families, businesses, and farms at an affordable price,' Feenstra said in a statement shared with DailyMail.com. 'I encourage President Biden to rescind this proposed rule immediately and work with Republicans to lower costs for our families, farmers, and small businesses,' he continued. Crapo also decried how the rule would force Americans to purchase expensive green vehicles. 'Consequences of rules and regulations driven by the Biden Administration's radical green agenda drastically reduce consumer choice and the affordability of vehicles available to Americans,' he said in a statement. 'Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products, not those primarily supplied by China.' The motor vehicle industry has recently revised their EV strategies as consumer demand has been low and the departments are expensive to maintain, the lawmakers write. They also say how EVs are notorious for being unreliable in extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, and how reports of Americans stranded due to faulty vehicles have become more widespread. 'These last few weeks, with EVs leaving people stranded, have underscored the reason why an EV-only approach is wrong,' the lawmakers wrote. More than 40 firefighters saved the 1,200lb horse with an excavator and a pully system Lucky's owner said his horse fell into a hole in his backyard and got trapped in the mud This is the amazing moment Los Angeles firefighters rescued a 20-year-old horse that got trapped in a sinkhole that opened up in a man's backyard. More than 40 firefighters saved the 1,200lb horse named Lucky on Wednesday around 12:35 pm from the hole in Lake View Terrace, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of the city. LA city fire captain and public information officer Adam VanGerpen said that the crew had to call the Urban Search and Rescue and the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services 'Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team' to assist because the soil the horse was trapped in was very loose. 'We brought in an excavator, we set up a height point, and we were able to dig out the horse,' VenGerpen said. Lucky's owner, Juan Lastre, said that his wife saddled up the horse just before the incident around noon and that the horse tripped and fell into the hole and sank. The Las Angeles Fire Department responded to call on Wednesday around 12:35 pm after a 20-year-old horse got trapped in a muddy hole They managed to pull the horse named Lucky out of the sink hole in two hours with an excavator and a pully system More than 40 firefighters came assisted in the rescue of Lucky the horse on Wednesday 'We took the saddle off, but she struggled with the back legs. As she struggled, she was going deeper and deeper, and I put sandbags, but that didnt help,' Lastre said. The video begins with crew members surrounding the horse as they set up a bright yellow harness. While they did this, Lucky lay against the mud inside the hole in distress. With the help of an excavator, a pulley system and tons of man power, Lucky was successfully pulled out of the scary hole. The horse, almost completely covered in mud, was then seen being washed off by firefighters and being fed carrots. VenGerpen said that it took two hours to save the animal who was actually been trapped for at least four hours. 'We evaluated the horse. Lucky is very lucky to be alive,' the captain said. Lucky is seen in the video, covered in mud, walking away from the hole with the rescue team. Lucky was given a bath after the rescue as mud covered nearly all of the horse's body Lucky was also given carrots to snack on after the miraculous rescue Commenters flocked under the astonishing video online and praised the firefighters for their successful save. One said: 'God bless you firefighter for saving Lucky...Lucky is Lucky!' 'Her name probably helped save her life,' another said. 'SHE IS ONE LUCKY HORSE,' another added. Early Tuesday morning, a horse was seen running on Philadelphia's Interstate 95 in the Port Richmond area. The horse's escape began on Kelly Drive, leading the horse to traverse Interstate 676 before ultimately ending up on I-95, police told CBS. After a lengthy pursuit, the horse was successfully apprehended in the Port Richmond area, as drone footage showed the animal safely off the highway, with a state police cruiser parked nearby. Shocking videos emerged on Tuesday morning, capturing the rogue horse sprinting at full speed along the shoulder of I-95 in Philadelphia Philadelphia police confirmed the recapture of the horse, quipping on X (formerly Twitter ): 'Hey Philly, uh, hold your horses (so we don't have to)' Philadelphia police confirmed the recapture of the horse on X and said: 'Hey Philly, uh, hold your horses (so we don't have to).' The Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club assisted authorities in the rescue, with one of the nonprofit's employees seen loading the horse into a trailer. 'I have no idea how he got loose,' he told reporters on the scene, but did not identify himself, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. One of the handlers told NBC that the horse only recently arrived at the riding club, but somebody let it out overnight. More than 1000 firefighters are working to contain a large bushfire raging in western Victoria as hot conditions set in across NSW. One home has so far been reported lost as reinforcements start arriving to bolster firefighters battling a large bushfire in western Victoria. Thousands of residents from almost 30 communities near Ballarat have been told to 'leave now,' with emergency warnings and watch-and-act alerts issued. Residents from dozens of communities near Ballarat have been told to leave for their safety. (HANDOUT/BEAUFORT PARK CAFE) On Friday morning Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan provided an update on the fire situation, describing it as 'a really tough night' for communities west of Ballarat with about 5,000 homes without power on Friday morning. Ms Allan said firefighters are continually working on the 'extremely active' fire which switched direction with the cool change. 'Given the active nature of the fire and the difficult terrain in the area, it's going to take some time to assess the full extent of the damage,' she said. 'Also, too, they need to be able to go in to areas that are made safe.' The Premier is also urging residents in Amphitheatre, Elmhurst and Mount Cole who have been given an emergency warning to 'act and leave now'. 'Please heed the advice and leave immediately because leaving immediately is the safest option,' she said. 'You can head to one of the three relief centres.' About 1000 firefighters have been battling the blaze including those operating 15 water bombing aircraft. Victorian Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said it was hoped fire conditions would abate overnight but they hadn't, with the fire progressing north towards Elmhurst. 'We are getting early reports unfortunately of some home losses, as well as multiple sheds,' he told ABC TV early on Friday, with livestock losses also expected. Elmhurst residents had been told to evacuate and firefighters were taking position to protect the township, with brisk winds from the south expected to fan the fire, Mr Heffernan said. 'I expect fire conditions will remain reasonably volatile today,' he said. More firefighters are expected to arrive to battle the blaze on Friday and on the weekend. 'We are throwing everything we can at it to try and contain the fire in the lead-up to next Wednesday's predicted high fire weather day,' Mr Heffernan said. The very large bushfire forced the closure of the Great Western Highway between the major towns of Ballarat and Ararat, in addition to a train line and bus routes in the area. The aim on Friday was to get the Great Western Highway opened but the Pyrenees highway was set to be closed due to the fire, Mr Heffernan said. Predicted fire danger ratings and total fire bans on Thursday Prisoners with health conditions that make them vulnerable to smoke have been taken away from Langi Kal Kal Prison, which is near the fire. Firefighters have also been battling bushfires in parts of Tasmania, with a watch and act warning issued for the Dee community and surrounds over a fire in the remote central highlands, with residents told to prepare to leave. A high fire danger alert has been issued for parts of central and south western NSW, in addition to the Greater Hunter region. Hot conditions on Friday are likely to be focused on Northern and Eastern NSW, according to Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Dean Narramore. He said the mercury was set to reach mid to high 30s in Sydney before widespread thunderstorm activity and a cool change in the evening. A heatwave warning is current for Western Australia's Pilbara, North Interior and South Interior Districts and Gascoyne regions. Several law enforcement officers who responded to the mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school in May 2022 have been ordered to testify before a grand jury investigating the botched response. Multiple officers who were on the scene at Robb Elementary School on May 24, where 19 children were massacred, have been subpoenaed for in-person testimony that may result in criminal charges, according to the Austin American-Statesman. A bombshell Justice Department report into the shooting released earlier this year found that Uvalde police officers stood outside a classroom for 77 minutes while schoolchildren screamed for 'help' after a gunman opened fire. Testimony is set to begin at the Uvalde County Courthouse next week and marks an acceleration into the 21-month criminal investigation. Members of the Texas Department of Public Safety and local police have been called upon to testify, with grand jurors potentially given the chance to question the officers themselves. The grand jury is expected to look at possible criminal charges over the failed response at the school. After gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, opened fire inside Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, Uvalde Police came under scrutiny after waiting for 77 minutes as the massacre erupted before confronting the gunman The victims of the Uvalde school shooting on May 24, 2022 Parents have pleaded for criminal charges over the response. 'What more does (the DA) need?' Jazmin Cazare, whose sister Jackie was killed in the massacre, questioned last month. 'What more does she possibly need to prosecute or remove these people from their positions of power when they can't do their jobs?' Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter Lexi was killed, added that the tragedy should serve as a turning point to change America's lax gun control laws, as it 'began the day an 18-year-old was allowed to buy an AR-15.' 'I hope that the failures end today, and that local officials do what wasnt done that day, do right by the victims and survivors for Robb Elementary terminations, criminal prosecutions-- and our state and federal government enact sensible gun laws,' she said. After gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, burst into Robb Elementary School on the morning of May 24, 2022, the report found that the 'single most critical tactical failure' was that police failed to view the event as 'active.' From there, it took 77 minutes before the 376 law enforcement officers were able to kill Ramos, only after he fatally shot 21 people across several classrooms. 'The response to the May 24, 2022, mass casualty incident at Robb Elementary School was a failure,' the Justice Department report concluded. Among the tragic conclusions brought by the report was Attorney General Merrick Garland's admission the lives of the young victims could have been saved had protocols been followed properly - a concession the parents say was a long time coming. Victims - both adults and children - were frantically dragged out of bloody classrooms with no stretchers readily available to get them into ambulances. One teacher was left to die on the walkway, before being covered and moved into an ambulance. Another dead body, pulled out from the school, was placed outside and then left unattended - while a group of police huddled together nearby. Ambulances took deceased victims to hospital by mistake, others did not secure critically-injured patients on to stretchers properly, and vital blood supplies that were airlifted to the scene went unused - despite being needed. The furious relatives of the victims called on their DA Christina Mitchell Busbee (pictured) to bring criminal charges, questioning: 'What more does she need?' Evadulia Orta, left, and Felicia Martinez, right, and other other family members of shooting victims hold back tears as they hear the scathing report Dora Mendoza, right, is hugged by a friend as she leaves a meeting where Attorney General Merrick Garland shared a report on the findings of an investigation into the 2022 school shooting at Robb Elementary School Police officers walk past a memorial for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 26, 2022 Injured victims were left stretchered on sidewalks outside Robb Elementary because different medical crews had abruptly taken and commandeered their ambulances. Kids - struck and grazed by bullets during the onslaught inside their school - were ushered into buses heading to the civic center without being seen by medical staff. Garland said in a statement: 'The victims and survivors of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School deserved better. The law enforcement response at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022 - and the response by officials in the hours and days after - was a failure that should not have happened.' The Justice Department collected more than 14,100 items from the scene for for analysis. This included hours of video, photos, 260 interviews, multiple visits to Uvalde, as well as police policies, procedures, and training. Federal officials said that their review of the mass shooting was made public 'to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses; identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events; and provide a roadmap for community safety and engagement before, during, and after such incidents.' KEY CHARACTERS AND THEIR FAILINGS Pictured: Shooter Salvador Ramos Police Chief Pete Arredondo, Uvalde Police Chief Mariano Pargas and Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco were all singled out in the report. They were on the scene within minutes, but none took command of the situation. Arredondo - who was the de facto on-scene commander - was slammed in the federal report for intentionally not trying to save people who were alive and trapped in the classroom with the shooter. The report said that he: 'Acknowledged the likelihood that there were victims and deceased in the room with the shooter and intentionally prioritized the evacuations over immediate breach and entry into the room. 'This is counter to active shooter response principles, which state the priority is to address and eliminate the threat.' The federal report also details well-documented communication issues that officials say hindered the response. This included Arredondo discarding his radios on arrival because he thought they were unnecessary. Although Arredondo tried to communicate by phone with officers elsewhere in the school hallway, he told them not to enter the classrooms 'because he appeared to determine that other victims should first be removed from nearby classrooms to prevent further injury.' The scathing report summarized: 'Chief Arredondo had the necessary authority, training, and tools. 'He did not provide appropriate leadership, command, and control, including not establishing an incident command structure nor directing entry into classrooms 111 and 112.' Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo was singled out in the new DOJ report for his catastrophic lack of leadership during the mass shooting City police Lt. Mariano Pargas was singled out in the new DOJ report for his catastrophic lack of leadership during the mass shooting Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco, left, is comforted by Rep. Ted Cruz. Nolasco was singled out for his catastrophic lack of leadership during the mass shooting Sheriff Nolasco was singled out by the DOJ with critical rigor. He had vital information about the gunman he did not share, the report found. The DOJ wrote: 'Sheriff Nolasco did not seek out or establish a command post, establish unified command, share the intelligence he learned from (the shooter's) relatives, nor did he assign an intelligence officer to gather intelligence on the subject. 'At one point, Sheriff Nolasco and UPD Acting Chief Pargas were within 10-15 feet of each other outside the exterior door of the northwest hallway. 'However, they were not coordinating with one another and continued to act independently. 'Without proper command and control, a game warden and constable were taking on roles traditionally performed by an incident commander. 'On the day of the incident, no leader effectively questioned the decisions and lack of urgency of UCISD PD Chief Arredondo and UPD Acting Chief Pargas toward entering classrooms 111/112.' A contender to become Labour's next Welsh First Minister is embroiled in a 'dirty money' row after pocketing a 200,000 donation from a convicted polluter who dumped waste on a conservation site. Vaughan Gething, one of two candidates bidding to take over from Mark Drakeford, has vowed to introduce tougher penalties for those who break environmental rules. But he was yesterday slammed by supporters of his rival, Jeremy Miles, over the 'unjustifiable and wrong' decision to accept two donations from a firm run by businessman David Neal. Mr Neal, 63, was prosecuted in 2013 for illegally dumping waste at a conservation site on the Gwent Levels, near the Severn Estuary, after toxic liquid had leaked into the water. Four years later he was prosecuted for again failing to remove the waste. On both occasions he was given a suspended prison sentence. Vaughan Gething, one of two candidates bidding to take over from Mark Drakeford, has vowed to introduce tougher penalties for those who break environmental rules The row came as Rishi Sunak prepared to address the Welsh Conservative conference Recently another of Mr Neal's firms faced action by a Welsh government body after odour complaints at a landfill in Pembrokeshire likened by locals to a 'stink bomb on steroids'. Mr Neal's firm, Dauson Environmental Group, made two donations to Mr Gething's campaign totalling 200,000 in December and January. A spokesman for Mr Gething said he will remain committed to his pledge of 'stricter penalties for those who break environmental rules' should he win the leadership contest. The row came as Rishi Sunak prepared to address the Welsh Conservative conference. Writing in the Daily Mail today, the Prime Minister says Labour's record in Wales 'is proof that when Labour run something, they run it badly'. Mr Sunak highlights Sir Keir Starmer's boast that the Cardiff administration would be his 'blueprint' for governing Britain. He added: 'I am sorry that people in Wales are in Labour's laboratory.' Mr Gething, Welsh minister for the economy, said the donations were 'checked and filed properly with the Electoral Commission' and 'declared to the Senedd (Welsh parliament)'. Mr Gething has criticised Mr Drakeford's deeply unpopular blanket 20mph speed limit policy, which he branded a 'big frustration' His spokesman said the payments were 'in line with the rules and Vaughan's commitment to transparency'. He added that the firm had given assurances it was 'addressing the issues' which had led to its prosecution. Lee Waters, Welsh deputy climate change minister, said: 'I'm sorry but 200,000 on an internal election in a cost of living crisis is completely unjustifiable. 'I don't want this to become a negative campaign but I am genuinely shocked and angry by this. It's wrong.' However, Mr Gething has criticised Mr Drakeford's deeply unpopular blanket 20mph speed limit policy, which he branded a 'big frustration' in televised debates on Wednesday. Mr Gething stopped short of calling for the policy to be scrapped, but admitted the administration could have done better in its 'implementation and communication'. Voting in the contest which was triggered by Mr Drakeford's announcement he was stepping down closes on March 14. The Archbishop of Canterbury has broken his silence over a church role for disgraced Post Office boss Paula Vennells. Ms Vennells, who is an ordained priest, was shortlisted for the position of Bishop of London in 2017 and Church of England sources have suggested the Most Revd Justin Welby was among her backers. The archbishop has now admitted closer attention should been paid to the 'appropriateness' of Ms Vennells' involvement with a number of CofE bodies. It came in the form of a written answer to questions submitted ahead of the church's general synod, which begins today. Mr Welby had been asked whether the Church Nominations Commission had been informed of a High Court claim by sub-postmasters against the Post Office when it considered her application to become a bishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) has broken his silence over a church role for disgraced Post Office boss Paula Vennells Ms Vennells (pictured), who is an ordained priest, was shortlisted for the position of Bishop of London in 2017 More than 700 Post Office branch managers were prosecuted based on the Horizon software, which made it appear money was missing from their offices (File Image) He replied: 'As has been said more generally about Paula Vennells' involvement in various committees and working groups in the Church of England, by 2019 and 2020, it is clear that more questions should have been asked about the appropriateness of that involvement when more had come to light about the Horizon scandal. We recognise this and will need to reflect on it.' The archbishop described the scandal as 'a terrible miscarriage of justice', but said that confidentiality rules prevented him discussing applications for the Bishop of London post. The questions highlight an embarrassing episode for the CofE which commissioned Ms Vennells to report on the implementation of the Church Buildings Review. At the time sub-postmasters had launched a legal action in the High Court, revealing the extent to which they had been victimised by the Post Office over the faulty Horizon computer system. More than 700 Post Office branch managers were prosecuted based on the software, which made it appear money was missing from their offices. Many faced financial ruin, while others were imprisoned for false accounting and theft. Ms Vennells stood down as Post Office chief executive in 2019, the same year she was awarded a CBE for services to the company. She has handed back the honour. A spokesman for the Church of England said it would not comment on candidates for senior positions. Ms Vennells was contacted for comment. Britain has given its backing to outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte to be the next Nato chief. After Ben Wallace was snubbed for the job, No 10 said Mr Rutte has 'serious defence and security credentials' to be the alliance's next secretary-general. Nato is looking to appoint a successor to Jens Stoltenberg, who by October will have been in the job for a decade. Mr Rutte, the Netherlands' longest-serving premier, announced in July he would leave politics following the collapse of his coalition government. He has remained caretaker prime minister while talks over establishing a new government in the aftermath of the country's November elections drag on. Britain has given its backing to outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte to be the next Nato chief After Ben Wallace was snubbed for the job, No 10 said Mr Rutte has 'serious defence and security credentials' to be the alliance's next secretary-general Nato is looking to appoint a successor to Jens Stoltenberg, who by October will have been in the job for a decade Rishi Sunak's spokesman said Mr Rutte had the UK's backing. The Dutch leader 'is well respected across the alliance, has serious defence and security credentials, and will ensure that the alliance remains strong and ready to defend and deter,' the spokesman added. Reports suggest US President Joe Biden has also endorsed Mr Rutte, with about two-thirds of Nato's 31 member states said to back his candidacy. Mr Stoltenberg had his tenure extended by a year in July, with Nato leaders opting to keep him in place in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His successor will be handed the task of ensuring Nato support for Kyiv remains resilient while keeping the alliance out of a direct fight with Moscow. Former defence secretary Mr Wallace had hoped to take the role but faced resistance from Mr Biden and France. Jewish leaders reacted with fury last night after a pro-Palestine slogan was projected on to Big Ben. Activists pulled off the stunt in full view of dozens of police monitoring a protest outside Parliament on Wednesday night. Scotland Yard said the officers could not act because it was 'not a criminal offence'. The words 'From the river to the sea' were beamed on to the Elizabeth Tower during a Commons debate in which MPs warned threats from 'Islamist extremists' were stifling democracy. A spokesman from the Board of Deputies, which represents the Jewish community, said: 'From the river to the sea is seen by many Jews as a hate slogan. 'For it to be projected on to Big Ben is a demonstration of the utter contempt these extreme campaigners have not only for the concerns of the Jewish community, but for our Parliament.' The words 'From the river to the sea' were beamed on to the Elizabeth Tower during a Commons debate in which MPs warned threats from 'Islamist extremists' were stifling democracy Pro-Palestinian groups used a powerful pocket-sized laser to project the message, which has been a fixture at protest marches since the October 7 terror attack, on to the clock tower from several hundred yards away on the other side of Parliament Square Pro Palestine rally called for a 'ceasefire now' outside Big Ben ahead of the Parliament vote last night on Gaza Andrew Percy, a Tory former minister who is Jewish, said: 'For months I've been standing up here talking about the people on our streets demanding 'death to Jews', demanding jihad, demanding intifadas as the police stand by and allow that to happen. 'A genocidal call of 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' was projected on to this building. That message says no Jew is welcome in the state of Israel or in that land. This is going to continue happening because we're not dealing with it.' The stunt took place just minutes after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle cited concerns for MPs' safety as the reason he broke with convention over a Gaza ceasefire vote sparking chaos inside the chamber. He is now fighting for his political life after selecting a Labour amendment that the protesters were urging politicians to back. Sir Lindsay cited warnings that the safety of some MPs was under threat if they couldn't vote for the Labour motion, with pro- Palestinian groups targeting politicians' offices. Pro-Palestinian groups used a powerful pocket-sized laser to project the message, which has been a fixture at protest marches since the October 7 terror attack, on to the clock tower from several hundred yards away on the other side of Parliament Square. They had been using the device to repeatedly beam the phrases 'ceasefire now', 'stop bombing Gaza', 'end the war now', and 'stop war'. But at 7.20pm 'From the river to the sea Palestine will be free' appeared for long enough to be captured on camera. Demonstrators wave Palestinian flags as they protest in Parliament Square during the Opposition Day motion last night They had been using the device to repeatedly beam the phrases 'ceasefire now', 'stop bombing Gaza', 'end the war now', and 'stop war'. Pictured: 'Stop Bombs' projected onto Big Ben yesterday The slogan is widely seen as calling for the destruction of the state of Israel between the Mediterranean and the River Jordan. Israeli culture minister Micki Zohar said: 'This kind of behaviour is a disgrace and it's disappointing it wasn't stopped by the authorities. I hope that these types of protests that call for Israel to be destroyed are stopped.' Heidi Bachram, a British-Israeli who lost a relative on October 7, said she could barely 'process' that 'our most iconic building in London was tainted with a genocidal slogan'. She said: 'If all this was just about a 'ceasefire' then why didn't they project that? Because this is about destroying Israel and we all know it.' Dr Matthew Offord MP told the Commons yesterday his Hendon constituents had heard men threatening to rape Jewish women, while fellow Tory Theresa Villiers said there was 'a climate of hardline support which has seen anti-Semitism on the streets of our capital city'. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick added: 'We have allowed our streets to be dominated by Islamist extremists, and British Jews and others to be too intimidated to walk through central London week after week. 'Now we're allowing Islamist extremists to intimidate British members of Parliament. This is wrong. It has to stop.' Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned last night that Britain is 'sleep-walking into a ghettoised society' that threatened free expression A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said that the stunt, along with chaos inside Parliament, was 'a wake-up call for Britain'. The comments come as former Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned last night that Britain is 'sleep-walking into a ghettoised society' that threatened free expression. Mrs Braverman accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'being in hock' to extremists' and accused him of 'taking the Speaker hostage'. Writing in the Telegraph she said: 'The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now. They have bullied the Labour Party, they have bullied our institutions, and now they have bullied our country into submission.' She added that political leaders 'bury their heads in the sand' rather than addressing issues. Requests to project images on to the Palace of Westminster should go through an approval process involving the Commons Speaker, the Lords Speaker and Westminster Council. The latter confirmed no permission had been granted. Scotland Yard said: 'While there are scenarios where chanting or using these words could be unlawful depending on the specific location or context, its use in a wider public protest setting, such as last night, is not a criminal offence.' He allegedly obtained information about the Biden family through ritzy events on super yachts and in hotels attended by Russian operatives Prosecutors state that he has 'extensive foreign ties' including to Russian intelligence operatives There will be a rehearing on Smirnov's release in front of a new California judge on Monday at 9 a.m. PST in Los Angeles Smirnov was released from federal custody Tuesday evening but was arrested for the second time on Thursday Special Counsel David Weiss charged Alexander Smirnov last week with lying about Biden after he became a presidential candidate Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov who allegedly lied about Biden family bribes was arrested for a second time for being a 'flight risk' after being released from federal custody earlier this week. Special Counsel David Weiss charged and arrested him on February 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with lying about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden taking $5 million bribes from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. He was released from federal detention on Tuesday evening - against the recommendation of DOJ - with certain conditions attached including a GPS monitor and handing over of his U.S. and Israeli passports. But he was re-arrested on Thursday morning after prosecutors insisted he was still a flight risk. His lawyers said he was 'improperly' taken into custody again while at their offices for a legal consultation. Federal prosecutors insisted that he is 'actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections' and therefore urged the judge to throw him behind bars before a trial. They also say his links to Russian intelligence officials and access to over $6 million in cash should keep him detained, and also suggested his attorneys could be helping him escape. There will be a rehearing on Smirnov's release in front of a new California judge on Monday at 9 a.m. PST in Los Angeles. Smirnov, 43, is accused of making a false statement and creating a false records for statements he made to the FBI in 2020 related to Hunter Biden's work on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. Prosecutors revealed Tuesday in a bombshell court filing that Smirnov had 'extensive contacts' with Russian intelligence operatives and obtained information on the Biden family through ritzy events on super yacht and in hotels. Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, left, walks out of his lawyer's office in downtown Las Vegas after being released from federal custody Tuesday, Feb. 20 Smirnov was released from federal custody with conditions on Tuesday evening Federal prosecutors had argued that Smirnov should be detained because his foreign contacts could 'resettle Smirnov outside the United States if he were released' and he has $6 million in 'liquid funds' - so he could live comfortably. 'The effects of Smirnov's false statements and fabricated information continue to be felt to this day. Now the personal stakes for Smirnov are even higher. His freedom is on the line,' prosecutors stated. 'If he could not be trusted to report truthful information to his FBI Handler, he cannot be trusted to report truthful information to Pretrial Services.' In the Tuesday afternoon filing, prosecutors detailed how Smirnov 'misrepresented' his assets by failing to disclose the millions he has on hand. He personally has access to more than $2.9 million and his 'wife/girlfriend' who pays his personal expenses out of her own account has the ability to get more than $3.8 million. And based on his 'weak ties' to the community in Las Vegas, he cannot reasonably be believed to remain in the area if he were to be released, prosecutors continued. 'Smirnovs anticipated travel from the United States, on Friday of last week, two days after his return, was for the purpose of meeting with Russian intelligence officials, among others,' prosecutors said. But a federal judge allowed Smirnov to be released Tuesday evening following the hearing. Smirnov did not answer questions from reporters as he departed from court. The charges against Smirnov could undercut Republican accusations of bribery and claims Biden was benefitting financial from his son's business dealings in Ukraine. DailyMail.com breaks down some of the most shocking allegations against the FBI informant who was central to the GOP's impeachment probe into Joe Biden. Smirnov was 'in contact' with Russian operative in charge of global assassinations. Smirnov was 'in contact' with Russian operative in charge of global assassinations In a shocking new filing Tuesday, prosecutors state that Smirnov, an Israeli citizen, has 'extensive foreign ties,' and his contacts with Russian intelligence operatives was 'not benign.' The filing went on to say the 'false information' Smirnov passed on to the FBI from the Russian intelligence operatives was not 'trivial' because it 'targeted the presumptive nominee of one of the two major political parties,' referring to Joe Biden. Prosecutors say his contacts were 'extremely recent' and he planned to meet with one official on his upcoming overseas travel. Specifically, 'Russian Official 1' was disclosed by Smirnov to be the son of a 'former high-ranking Russian government official,' who 'controls two groups of individuals tasked with carrying out assassination efforts in a third-party country.' In addition, the official has been described to have 'ties to a particular Russian intelligence service.' According to the filing, 'Russian Official 1 offered to stop the assassination efforts in exchange for certain things, including an agreement by "Country C" to stop targeting civilian family members of certain Russian officials living in Moscow.' The official allegedly provided him with 'specific information' about Russia's 'military resources for a winter attack in Country C.' They also told Smirnov about the Russian governments 'intentions for their war in Ukraine,' according to the indictment. 'Fake' secret recordings of Hunter in a hotel he never visited in Ukraine According to the filing, Smirnov wanted his Russian contacts to look into whether Businessperson 1 (Hunter Biden) was recorded in a hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine. The hotel, the Premier Palace, was allegedly 'wired' and 'under the control of Russians,' according to Smirnov. He claimed that Hunter went to the hotel 'many times' and that he had 'seen video footage of Businessperson 1 entering the Premier Palace Hotel.' However, investigators said they 'know that Smirnovs new story is false' because Hunter never traveled to Ukraine. 'Smirnov suggested that investigators check to see if Businessperson 1 made telephone calls from the Premier Palace Hotel since those calls would have been recorded by the Russians.' He claimed that he obtained to have learned this information from 'four different Russian officials. He also said that the Russians 'want Ukraine to assist in influencing the U.S. election,' and the tapes of Hunter at the Premier Palace Hotel is 'all they have.' The hotel, the Premier Palace, was allegedly 'wired' and 'under the control of Russians,' according to Smirnov The luxurious Premier Palace Hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine Smirnov claimed that Hunter went to the hotel 'many times' and that he had 'seen video footage of Businessperson 1 entering the Premier Palace Hotel' Special Counsel David Weiss has charged a former FBI informant with lying about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden taking a $5million bribe from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma Another contact ran an Russian intelligence operation at a hotel 'club' Another, 'Russian Official 4,' apparently ran an intelligence operation at a 'club' located at a particular hotel, according to Smirnov. Smirnov told his FBI handler that the Russian Intelligence Service 'intercepted cell phone calls made by guests at the hotel.' 'The Russian Intelligence Service intercepted several calls placed by prominent U.S. persons the Russian government may use as "kompromat" in the 2024 election, depending on who the candidates will be,' he continued. Smirnov attended birthday party on mega yacht owned by Russian steel giant According to the filing, in 2023 he was 'invited to and planned to attend the birthday party of an identified individual in the Middle East, "Country A," which would include activities on a mega yacht owned by a high-ranking member of Russias largest steel and mining company.' Russian Official 1 was one of the individuals who also was expected to attend the birthday celebrations. Another individual described as a 'high-ranking member of a Russia state-owned defense conglomerate' was planning to partake in the festivities. Smirnov was 'invited to and planned to attend the birthday party on a mega yacht owned by a high-ranking member of Russias largest steel and mining company The filing went on to say the 'false information' Smirnov he provided was not 'trivial' because it 'targeted the presumptive nominee of one of the two major political parties,' referring to Joe Biden Smirnov's efforts to 'spread misinformation' about U.S. candidates continues Special Counsel David Weiss warned that the former informant's efforts to 'spread misinformation about a candidate of one of the two major parties in the United States' is still ongoing. He wanted the court to consider this fact and his previous conduct when 'evaluating his personal history and characteristics.' 'What this shows is that the misinformation he is spreading is not confined to 2020.' 'He is actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November,' prosecutors warn. Burisma phone call about expanding business to the U.S. According to court filings, Smirnov told the FBI in March 2017 he had a phone call with the owner of Burisma about the energy companies interest in acquiring a business in the United States. In his telling of the conversation, Smirnov told the FBI that someone referred to as 'Businessperson 1' was on the board of Burisma and was also the son of an individual referred to as 'Public Official 1.' Businessperson 1 is reported to be Hunter Biden and Public Official 1 is likely Joe Biden himself, although they are not named in the indictment. Prosecutors included pictures of business cards for 'Burisma Official 2' as well as officials '3 and 4' that Smirnov allegedly messaged his handler in March and September 2017. Prosecutors included pictures of business cards for 'Burisma Official 2' as well as officials '3 and 4' that Smirnov allegedly messaged his handler According to court documents, Smirnov told the FBI in March 2017 he had a phone call with the owner of Burisma about the energy companies interest in acquiring a business in the United States Hunter Biden was appointed to the board of directors for Burisma Holdings In 2020, Ukrainian authorities said they have intercepted a $6 million bribe attempt at dropping a criminal investigation against the head of the Burisma natural gas company where Joe Biden's son once held a board seat Three years later in June 2020, the indictment alleges Smirnov provided false information about Biden and Hunter after Biden became a presidential candidate. At that time, Smirnov reported two meetings around 2015 and/or 2016. It alleges Smirnov falsely claimed that during the meetings, executives associated with Burisma admitted to him that they hired Hunter to 'protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.' He also claimed that they had specifically paid $5 million each to Biden and Hunter while Biden was still in office so that Hunter would 'take care of all those issues through his dad,' referring to a criminal investigation being conducted by the then-Ukrainian prosecutor general into Burisma. According to the indictment, the events Smirnov reported in 2020 were a fabrication. But Republicans have made the FD-1023 form in which Smirnov made the accusations central to their case to impeach the sitting president. House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., attempted to downplay the indictment saying the informant was only part of a complex money trail involving the Bidens and foreigners they are working to unravel. Smirnov is currently being held in a federal detention facility in Pahrump, Nevada The charges against Smirnov undercut the Republicans' accusations of bribery and claims Biden was benefitting financial from his son's business dealings in Ukraine The indictment states in fact, Smirnov 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 when Biden had 'no ability to influence U.S. policy and after the Ukrainian Prosecutor General had been fired in February 2016.' The indictment alleges Smirnov transformed his routine business contacts with Burisma in 2017 and later into bribery allegations against Biden after expressing bias against Biden and his presidential candidacy. When Smirnov was interviewed by the FBI in September 2023, the indictment alleges he repeated some of his false claims, changed his story with other claims, and 'promoted a new false narrative after he said he met with Russian officials.' House Republicans had seized on the FBI document alleging the $5 million bribe as part of their investigation into the president. The indictment undermines that key component in their case. Following the indictment, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-MD, called on House Republicans to end their impeachment inquiry. 'In a detailed indictment, Special Counsel David Weisswho was appointed by former President Donald Trumphas demonstrated how key evidence at the heart of House Republicans' impeachment inquiry is based on a lie,' Rankin said in a statement. But House Oversight Republicans vowed to move forward with their investigation saying in a post on X they have reasons to do so that do not rely on the 'corrupt FBI or an informant.' Liz Truss has claimed that the civil service is being staffed by 'trans activists' and 'environmental extremists'. The former prime minister said she was thwarted by the 'deep state' which opposed her mini-budget and caused the downfall of her government. In a speech at a major grassroots conservative conference in the US, she also appeared to endorse Donald Trump, telling delegates: 'We need a Republican back in the White House. We need it desperately.' She was speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) which has become a platform for supporters of Mr Trump, who will address delegates on Saturday. His allies rail against what they term the 'deep state' - career government staffers they accuse of attempting to thwart their agenda. Liz Truss has claimed that the civil service is being staffed by 'trans activists' and 'environmental extremists' while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) Ms Truss joined Nigel Farage and Steve Bannon, Mr Trump's former chief White House strategist, on a panel on Wednesday Ms Truss joined Nigel Farage and Steve Bannon, Mr Trump's former chief White House strategist, on a panel on Wednesday to mark the opening night of the conference. She reserved most of her criticism for the civil service which she accused of being biased. 'Now people are joining the civil service who are essentially activists. They might be trans activists, they might be environmental extremists, but they are now having a voice within the civil service... we have a wholly new problem,' she said. She also criticised quangos, defining them as 'the administrative state, the deep state. We have more than 500 of these quangos in Britain and they run everything.' Railing against 'wokenomics', she told delegates that her plans to transform Britain's economy had been undermined by vested interests by the establishment. She said she had faced resistance from the civil service and other institutions - and even the US President Joe Biden. 'I faced the most almighty backlash to those conservative policies I tried to put in place from the usual suspects in the media, from the usual suspects in the corporate world,' she said. Truss claimed that the civil service is being staffed by 'trans activists' and 'environmental extremists. Pictured: File photo of the Cabinet Office in Whitehall 'Also, people that were meant to work for the government, the Office of Budget Responsibility, the Bank of England, these organisations sought to undermine the policies. 'Even the IMF intervened. Even President Biden intervened to have a go at my policies. Can you imagine being attacked on your economic policies by the inventor of Bidenomics? Talk about offensive. 'The reality is with that level of antagonism I simply was not able to implement those policies, which I believe - Conservative Party members believe - would have delivered for our country.' She also criticised the UK's failure to end EU laws following Brexit, telling delegates: 'You may think that we voted for Brexit and back in 2016. 'I'm sure you're going to be surprised to hear that the vast majority of those EU laws are still on our statute books. 'A bit like getting divorced and still living in the same house as your ex-husband.' Celebrity chaser and police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has been charged with the double murder of Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies. Police will allege Lamarre-Condon, 28, shot the pair with his police pistol at Mr Baird's home in Paddington, in Sydney's inner east. Lamarre-Condon appeared in Waverley Local Court on Friday afternoon, sitting in the dock in a black t-shirt after he handed himself into police at Bondi. He only looked up briefly to acknowledge the magistrate, and had no-one in court, either family or friends, to support him during his short appearance. He did not apply for bail and was ordered to reappear in court on April 23. According to court documents, Mr Baird and Mr Davies were both allegedly killed by Lamarre-Condon at Paddington between 12.01am and 5.30pm on Monday. The shooting occurred just hours after they were last seen alive at a pre-Mardi Gras party night on Sunday at the Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills. Later on Monday evening, Lamarre-Condon hired a white Toyota HiAce van from Mascot and allegedly used it to dispose of the couple's bodies, police said. Detectives believe Lamarre-Condon then returned the alleged murder weapon to a police station's locked firearms safe on Tuesday. Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon (pictured) has been charged with murdering flight attendant Luke Davies and former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged after he handed himself in to police at Bondi following a massive manhunt (Lamarre-Condon is pictured being led away for questioning by detectives) Former Channel 10 presenter Baird, 26, (right) and his new partner Luke Davies, 29, (left) vanished from Paddington, in Sydney's east, on Monday night A crime scene was established at Newcastle, 165km north of Sydney, where the Toyota HiAce police believe was used to move the bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies was spotted (pictured) He took sick leave from the NSW Police Force for the rest of the day and failed to return to work on Wednesday. Bloodied clothes and other belongings including credit cards belonging to former Studio 10 staffer Baird, 26, and Davies, 29, were found dumped in a skip bin in Cronulla on Wednesday. That discovery led police to Baird's home in Paddington where pools of blood and blood-spattered furniture were found - sparking grave fears for the new lovers. Homicide Squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said police had matched a bullet cartridge found in the premises to a police weapon. 'Police located a projectile at the premises which had been discharged and also a fired cartridge case,' Det Supt Doherty said. 'This has now been physically matched to a NSW Police firearm and forms part of the evidence for the alleged facts to face court for this 28-year-old man.' The bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies are yet to be found. The murder investigation had multiple crime scenes at several locations across the city and stretching 165km north to a suburb in Newcastle A white Toyota HiAce police believe was used to transport the bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies was located at Grays Point near Cronulla. It is pictured being removed by police Police had frantically searched for a white van they believe was being driven by Lamarre-Condon. It was captured on CCTV (pictured) driving past Baird's home in Paddington It is understood police will allege Mr Baird was already dead when friends received messages from his phone and social media accounts on Tuesday. Superintendent Doherty said a Triple Zero call had been made to emergency services but could not confirm whether it was made by Lamarre-Condon. It is understood Lamarre-Condon handed himself in to police with the assistance of worried family members. Police raided his family's home in Balmain in the early hours of Friday. He surrendered at Bondi police station at 10.30am on Friday. That was about the time Daily Mail Australia reported that Lamarre-Condon's phone was operational. Lamarre-Condon was being questioned by police on Friday afternoon. He will be formally refused bail by police and face court on Friday or Saturday. Lamarre-Condon's phone had been switched off - but his WhatsApp account showed messages were 'last seen today at 9.55am' on Friday morning Police raided a home in Balmain connected with Lamarre-Condon's family early on Friday morning when they seized a 'number of items' New crime scene in Newcastle A street in New Lambton, Newcastle - 165km away from the Paddington crime scene - was sealed off by police on Friday after a white van was sighted near Lambton Pool in Karoola Road. The vehicle matched the description of the one police were searching for. 'There's cops everywhere, walking the streets, door knocking,' said one local resident. 'Got the road closed past the pool.' Another added: 'The park is taped off with police tape up near the bowling club and lots of police are walking the park at the moment.' Lamarre-Condon is suspected to have driven the van, registration CW 82 PM, to a home in the Newcastle suburb where it was spotted at 10pm on Thursday before it had vanished again by 2am. Police located the van at Grays Point near Cronulla later on Friday and it has been seized for forensic examination. Daily Mail Australia understands a close friend of Lamarre-Condon's lives in Newcastle and he would visit her regularly. No wrongdoing or involvement is suggested of that woman. Prior to becoming a police officer, Lamarre-Condon was a celebrity blogger, notorious for grabbing selfies with stars like Jessica Hart (pictured) His social media accounts, which featured pictures of Beau Lamarre-Condon with celebrities including Taylor Swift (pictured), have all been deactivated Who is Beau Lamarre-Condon? Prior to becoming a policeman, Lamarre-Condon was a celebrity blogger who was notorious for taking selfies with stars including Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. He joined the NSW Police Force in 2019, and hit the headlines again when he was caught on camera tasering a man during an arrest. An investigation later cleared him of any wrongdoing. Just days before Mr Baird and Mr Davies vanished, Lamarre-Condon was still following celebrities, and was pictured grabbing an awkward selfie with Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker in a Sydney street last week. Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said Lamarre-Condon was working with a specialist command unit at the time of the alleged murders but refused to go into further detail. However Lamarre-Condon had recently bragged to others that he was completing a VIP protection module as part of his new duties. Last week, Lamarre-Condon was still takeing selfies with stars, grabbing this selfie with Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Jesse Baird and Luke Davies are pictured. Police believe they have been murdered Jesse Baird and Luke Davies's disappearance Mr Baird and Mr Davies went missing from the television presenter's $3million rental home on Monday after CCTV captured them late that night entering the premises. The men were filmed wandering outside before heading towards the back of the terrace. A white van was then seen driving nearby. Neither man has been seen since, however Mr Baird's phone appeared to have last been active on WhatsApp on Tuesday evening. Now the search is on for their remains. A hoard of 122 Anglo-Saxon pennies that was found by two metal detectorists has sold at auction for 325,560. It is thought the coins, discovered near Braintree in Essex, were buried in 1066, the year of the battle between English and Norman armies for the throne of England. An expert said there was a 'tantalising possibility' that the reason they were not retrieved at the time was because their owner died in battle. They sold at Noonans Mayfair in London for a hammer price of 325,560 on Wednesday. They had been expected to fetch up to 180,000 with the proceeds of the hoard being shared between the two finders and the landowner. A hoard of 122 Anglo-Saxon pennies that was found by two metal detectorists has sold at auction for 325,560 It is thought the coins, discovered near Braintree in Essex, were buried in 1066, the year of the battle between English and Norman armies for the throne of England READ MORE: Metal detectorists made 1,378 discoveries in Britain Advertisement Following the sale, Nigel Mills, Artefact and Coin Expert at Noonans, said: 'Wow, this has exceeded all our expectations. 'The atmosphere in the packed saleroom was euphoric with bidders - in person and online - wanting to purchase just one example from this important collection.' Two metal detectorists discovered the hoard of 144 coins in 2019, and 16 of them were bought by Colchester Museum and Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum after they were processed under the terms of the 1996 Treasure Act. The coins bought by the museums included two 11th century Byzantine coins. In late 2023, the remaining coins were disclaimed and returned to the finders. Noonans Mayfair auctioned off 122 of the coins, with the others kept by the metal detectorists. It is thought the coins were buried in 1066, within five years of all bar two of the coins being minted. The highest price of the sale was paid for a very rare single specimen from the Hastings mint which fetched a hammer price of 24,000 - four times its pre-sale high estimate of 5,000-6,000. It was bought by an online bidder. Two metal detectorists discovered the hoard of 144 coins in 2019, and 16 of them were bought by Colchester Museum and Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum after they were processed under the terms of the 1996 Treasure Act It is thought the coins were buried in 1066, within five years of all bar two of the coins being minted Noonans Coin specialist Bradley Hopper said: 'While the deposition of the Braintree Hoard might not relate directly to the events of 1066, the fact that it was never recovered surely did. 'Twelve shillings was a considerable sum of money, and its retrieval must have been prevented by some great personal misfortune; we cannot say with any certainty whether or not the Braintree hoard's owner died fighting at Hastings, but it is a tantalising possibility.' The two detectorists who have been searching together for 20 years had only found copper coins and crotal bells previously on the field, but on this day a signal from the Minelab CTX 3030 revealed at a depth of only four inches a silver penny that was not recognisable. Half a dozen more turned up in a 30-metre radius and that evening they realised they were rare pennies of Harold II. Over the next few days around 70 more were found by slow and methodical use of the detectors. This was repeated in 2020 with another 70 coins uncovered. The landowners attended the sale and afterwards said: 'We are delighted with the results which is a life-changing amount of money for the finders.' For most, pet owners a dog or a cat is already wild enough. But across the UK, thousands of dangerous animals are being legally kept as pets and in private zoos. Today, shocking data revealed by animal charity Born Free shows that local councils licenced more than 2,700 animals legally considered 'dangerous' in 2023. Among these were hundreds of wild boar, deadly venomous snakes, and even entire flocks of ostriches. Chris Lewis, Born Frees captivity research officer, said: 'Many members of the public will rightly be shocked to learn of so many animals being kept by private keepers.' While not naturally aggressive, the animals have been known to become territorial and confrontational if people, or dogs, get too close Wild boar, like the ones shown here at Bryn Mynach Farm, Wales, are the most commonly owned dangerous wild animal in the UK The 10 most common dangerous animals kept in the UK Wild Boar - 819 Ostrich - 312 Bison - 249 Lemurs - 175 Camels - 60 Cobra - 60 Servals - 53 Alligators - 50 Moufflon - 40 Gila Monster - 28 Advertisement It might seem odd that there are so many animals in the UK that are categorised as dangerous, but there is nothing illegal about owning many of these animals. The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 list established a 'negative list' of animals which are forbidden to own without a licence. However, anyone can apply to the local council for a licence to own one of these animals - provided they have the means to keep it and prevent it from escaping. When you think about dangerous exotic pets, the first that may spring to mind are probably lions, tigers, and venomous snakes. However, the most common dangerous animal kept in the UK is actually the wild boar. In 2023, there were a total of 819 wild boar licenced to be kept across the UK. The largest number of these boar are in Bridgend, South Wales, where there are 219, and the New Forest, where there are 133. Wild boar were previously extinct in the UK, but escapes from farms and deliberate reintroduction have led to the animals re-establish a breeding population. And, while they might not seem particularly dangerous, an adult male boar can grow up to 330lbs (150kg) and has a pair of sharp tusks. The exact location of the boar is not specified in the data but it is believed that the majority are being kept as livestock. However, Mr Lewis told MailOnline that the data suggests boar farming is becoming less popular, as there were 4,554 wild boar registered in 2000. The UK is home to more than 2,700 animals classed as dangerous in the UK including more than 200 wild cats. Owners like Reece Oliver who keeps two lions at his home in Nottinghamshire, need a special license to keep these dangerous animals Ostriches are also farmed in the UK for their meat and the chicks, like these from Hastings Ostrich Farm, which can even be extremely valuable Your browser does not support iframes. Likewise, ostriches, which are the UK's second most common dangerous animal are also likely to be held in farms. The data revealed that there are 312 ostriches across the UK with the largest number being in Buckinghamshire where there is a large ostrich farm. This was followed by bison, of which there are 249, which are also occasionally farmed for their meat. Meanwhile, in 2023 there were 175 lemurs being kept in private ownership, up from 151 in 2020. The most common lemur is the endangered ringtail lemur, with 55 across the UK, but there were also a number of critically endangered lemurs in UK homes such as the Mongoose Lemur. Members of the public are able to keep large cats as pets with the correct licence. Kelly, 28, and Seb Jones, 29, from Oldham became the first in Britain to adopt a dangerous African wild cat (pictured) in 2017 even though they had two young children at the time Small wild cats also remain very popular with 53 servals and 43 hybrid wild cats living in UK homes, jointly making these the most popular pet species. Born Free suggests that the popularity of these wild animals may be being driven by the popularity of social media accounts promoting Servals as pets. Some of these popular accounts have as many as 800,000 followers. Mr Lewis says there is no data on whether these are kept in private zoos or as pets but the data suggests pets are more likely. He said: 'We would assume that larger collections may be private zoos which may utilise the animals for other business ventures. 'Where they are kept in smaller numbers (which the majority of licensees do) they are likely to be in private homes.' He also notes that any collection that is open to the public for more than seven days each year requires a zoo license, and so would not be included in this data. Reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, and snakes are among the most popular dangerous pets. Pictured is Caesar, a 6ft long crocodile, who has lived in the conservatory of Chris Wellers Kent home UK local authorities with the most dangerous animals Bridgend - 219 New Forest - 133 Buckinghamshire - 132 (Joint) Melton, Ribble, Shropshire - 100 Chichester - 80 West Oxfordshire - 75 Cotswolds - 60 Wiltshire - 47 (Joint) Chichester, Durham, Perth & Kinross - 40 Havant - 37 Advertisement Reptiles, including snakes, alligators, and gilla monsters, were also among the most popular dangerous animals. The data reveals that there are 50 alligators of various species, 28 Gila monsters, and 60 cobras in the UK. Venomous snakes make up one of the largest proportions of dangerous animal licences issued in the UK, with more than 400 being kept, but this is spread over a vast number of different species. Born Free estimates that there are more venomous snakes in private homes in Derbyshire alone than there are in all of the UK's zoos combined. Cobras are the most common genus of snakes, including seven King Cobras which are the world's largest venomous snakes. In addition to Cobras, the UK is also home to some of the world's deadliest snakes, including the saw-scaled viper and coastal taipan. The data also reveals the difficulty in maintaining proper records of the number of dangerous animals in the UK. The overwhelming majority of records are accurate and detailed but some are unusually vague. A woman was seen walking ehr camel through the streets of London. Camels are legal to own under a dangerous wild animals licence and are the fifth most common dangerous animal it the UK For example, in the data, 25 snakes are simply listed as 'venomous snakes'. Camels, which are the fifth most popular pet are variously listed as 'Dromedaries & Bactrian camels', 'Dromedary camel', 'Bactrian camel', and also simply 'camel' or 'camels'. In one case, the species of camel is even spelt incorrectly in the data, recording that there is one 'Bacterian camel' [sic] in Melton. Additionally, several records appear to state that there is only part of an animal being licenced. For example, the data notes that Hertfordshire is home to 7.8 American Alligators. MailOnline has sought additional confirmation from Born Free and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as to how these errors occurred. A DEFRA spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Anyone wishing to keep an animal covered by the Dangerous Wild Animal Act must be carefully vetted and apply for a licence. 'We keep this legislation under regular review to ensure it remains effective in keeping the public safe.' An online dump of classified Chinese documents from a private security contractor is shining a light on hacking efforts the country's spy agency uses on both foreigners and Chinese citizens. The leaked documents show how Chinese authorities deploy these tools to surveil dissidents overseas, hack other nations, and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media. A menu of services revealed that $15,000 granted a local government in southwest China access to a traffic police website in Vietnam. Disinformation campaigns and account hacking on X cost $100,000 - and $278,000 got customers personal information from social media accounts like Telegram and Facebook. Meanwhile, Chinese police are investigating the hack of the security contractor, which is linked to the nation's top policing agency and other parts of its government. The interior of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to China's top policing agency and other parts of its government The hacking tools are used by Chinese state agents to unmask users of social media platforms outside China such as X, break into email, and hide the online activity of overseas agents. Also described are devices disguised as power strips and batteries that can be used to compromise Wi-Fi networks. Among the apparent targets of tools provided by the impacted company, I-Soon: ethnicities and dissidents in parts of China that have seen significant antigovernment protests, such as Hong Kong or the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang in China's far west. Several of India's government ministries were targeted in 2021, the documents revealed, during the height of China's border dispute with the country, according to India Today. The dump of scores of documents late last week and subsequent investigation were confirmed by two employees of I-Soon, known as Anxun in Mandarin, which has ties to the powerful Ministry of Public Security. Analysts consider the dump highly significant even if it does not reveal any especially novel or potent tools. It includes hundreds of pages of contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client and employee lists. The documents show that I-Soon apparently hacked networks across Central and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. The 'Partner' page on I-Soon's website will no longer load in the U.S., but the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine shows that as recently as Tuesday it listed 'Police-Enterprise Cooperation' at the top. The documents in the leak revealed the private contractors role in granting the Chinese government entry into websites of foreign and domestic companies, as well as foreign governments. (AP Photo/Dake Kang) I-Soon and Chinese police are investigating how the files were leaked, the two I-Soon employees told The Associated Press. One of the employees said I-Soon held a meeting Wednesday about the leak and were told it wouldnt affect business too much and to 'continue working as normal.' The AP is not naming the employees - who did provide their surnames, per common Chinese practice - out of concern about possible retribution. READ MORE: Here's how Chinese-affiliated hacking groups target careless office workers to infiltrate critical American infrastructure 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 have revealed. Chinese military planners intend 'network warfare' targeting infrastructure to play a crucial role in any amphibious invasion of Taiwan Advertisement The source of the leak is not known. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jon Condra, an analyst with Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company, called it the most significant leak ever linked to a company 'suspected of providing cyber espionage and targeted intrusion services for the Chinese security services.' He said organizations targeted by I-Soon - according to the leaked material - include governments, telecommunications firms abroad, and online gambling companies within China. Until the 190-megabyte leak, I-Soon's website included a page listing clients topped by the Ministry of Public Security and including 11 provincial-level security bureaus and some 40 municipal public security departments. Another page available until early Tuesday advertised advanced persistent threat 'attack and defense' capabilities, using the acronym APT - one the cybersecurity industry employs to describe the worlds most sophisticated hacking groups. Internal documents in the leak describe I-Soon databases of hacked data collected from foreign networks around the world that are advertised and sold to Chinese police. The company's website was fully offline later Tuesday. An I-Soon representative refused an interview request and said the company would issue an official statement at an unspecified future date. I-Soon was founded in Shanghai in 2010, according to Chinese corporate records, and has subsidiaries in three other cities, including one in the southwestern city of Chengdu that is responsible for hacking, research, and development, according to leaked internal slides. I-Soon's Chengdu subsidiary was open as usual on Wednesday. Red Lunar New Year lanterns swayed in the wind in a covered alleyway leading to the five-story building housing I-Soon's Chengdu offices. Employees streamed in and out, smoking cigarettes and sipping takeout coffees outside. Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: 'Safeguarding the Party and the country's secrets is every citizen's required duty.' In response to the news of the leaks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that the U.S. has long been working to compromise the country's critical infrastructure. She demanded that the U.S. 'stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries.' I-Soon's tools appear to be used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media and flood them with pro-Beijing content. Authorities can surveil Chinese social media platforms directly and order them to take down antigovernment posts. But they lack that ability on overseas sites like Facebook or X, where millions of Chinese users flock to in order to evade state surveillance and censorship. 'There's a huge interest in social media monitoring and commenting on the part of the Chinese government,' said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund. She reviewed some of the documents. To control public opinion and forestall antigovernment sentiment, Ohlberg said, control of critical posts domestically is pivotal. 'Chinese authorities,' she said, 'have a big interest in tracking down users who are based in China.' The source of the leak could be 'a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor,' said chief threat analyst John Hultquist of Google's Mandiant cybersecurity division. The data indicates I-Soon's sponsors also include the Ministry of State Security and China's military, the Peoples Liberation Army, Hultquist said. One leaked draft contract shows I-Soon was marketing 'anti-terror' technical support to Xinjiang police to track the regions native Uyghurs in Central and Southeast Asia, claiming it had access to hacked airline, cellular, and government data from countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, and Thailand. It is unclear whether the contact was signed. Beijing has a strong interest in monitoring Chinese citizens on foreign social media sites like Facebook and X, sites that are not as easy for the government to access. (AP Photo/Dake Kang) The leaked documents also revealed how the Chinese government used private contractor I-Soon to spread pro-Beijing sentiment on social media. (AP Photo/Dake Kang) 'We see a lot of targeting of organizations that are related to ethnic minorities - Tibetans, Uyghurs. A lot of the targeting of foreign entities can be seen through the lens of domestic security priorities for the government,' said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. He said the documents appear legitimate because they align with what would be expected from a contractor hacking on behalf of China's security apparatus with domestic political priorities. Cary found a spreadsheet with a list of data repositories collected from victims and counted 14 governments as targets, including India, Indonesia, and Nigeria. The documents indicate that I-Soon mostly supports the Ministry of Public Security, he said. Cary was also struck by the targeting of Taiwan's Health Ministry to determine its COVID-19 caseload in early 2021 - and impressed by the low cost of some of the hacks. The documents show that I-Soon charged $55,000 to hack Vietnam's economy ministry, he said. Although a few chat records refer to NATO, there is no indication of a successful hack of any NATO country, an initial review of the data by the AP found. That doesn't mean state-backed Chinese hackers are not trying to hack the U.S. and its allies, though. If the leaker is inside China, which seems likely, Cary said that 'leaking information about hacking NATO would be really, really inflammatory' - a risk apt to make Chinese authorities more determined to identify the hacker. It is not yet clear who the source of the document leak was. One expert from Google suspected it could be 'a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor.' (AP Photo/Dake Kang) A signboard reading 'Anti-cyber crime office' is displayed near an entrance door to the I-Soon office. Minority groups like the Uyghurs were among those targeted by the firm, according to the leaked documents. (AP Photo/Dake Kang) Mathieu Tartare, a malware researcher at the cybersecurity firm ESET, says it has linked I-Soon to a Chinese state hacking group it calls Fishmonger that it actively tracks and which it wrote about in January 2020 after the group hacked Hong Kong universities during student protests. He said it has, since 2022, seen Fishmonger target governments, NGOs and think tanks across Asia, Europe, Central America and the United States. French cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert also combed through the documents and said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X, even if they have two-factor authentication, as well as another for analyzing email inboxes. He said U.S. cyber operators and their allies are among potential suspects in the I-Soon leak because it's in their interests to expose Chinese state hacking. A spokeswoman for U.S. Cyber Command wouldn't comment on whether the National Security Agency or Cybercom were involved in the leak. An email to the press office at X responded, 'Busy now, please check back later.' Western governments, including the United States, have taken steps to block Chinese state surveillance and harassment of government critics overseas in recent years. Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, an advocacy group that focuses on human rights in China, said such tactics instill fear of the Chinese government in Chinese and foreign citizens abroad, stifling criticism and leading to self-censorship. 'They are a looming threat that is just constantly there and very hard to shake off.' Last year, U.S. officials charged 40 members of Chinese police units assigned to harass the family members of Chinese dissidents overseas as well as to spread pro-Beijing content online. The indictments describes tactics similar to those detailed in the I-Soon documents, Harth said. Chinese officials have accused the United States of similar activity. U.S. officials including FBI Director Chris Wray have recently complained about Chinese state hackers planting malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure. On Monday, Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the U.S. government has long been working to compromise China's critical infrastructure. She demanded the U.S. 'stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries.' Google is pausing its new Gemini AI tool after users blasted the image generator for being 'too woke' by replacing white historical figures with people of color. The AI tool churned out racially diverse Vikings, knights, founding fathers, and even Nazi soldiers. Artificial intelligence programs learn from the information available to them, and researchers have warned that AI is prone to recreate the racism, sexism, and other biases of its creators and of society at large. In this case, Google may have overcorrected in its efforts to address discrimination, as some users fed it prompt after prompt in failed attempts to get the AI to make a picture of a white person. X user Frank J. Fleming posted multiple images of people of color that he said Gemini generated. Each time, he said he was attempting to get the AI to give him a picture of a white man, and each time. Google's Communications team issued a statement on Thursday announcing it would pause Gemini's generative AI feature while the company works to 'address recent issues.' 'We're aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions,' the company's communications team wrote in a post to X on Wednesday. The historically inaccurate images led some users to accuse the AI of being racist against white people or too woke. In its initial statement, Google admitted to 'missing the mark,' while maintaining that Gemini's racially diverse images are 'generally a good thing because people around the world use it.' On Thursday, the company's Communications team wrote: 'We're already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation feature. While we do this, we're going to pause the image generation of people and will re-release an improved version soon.' But even the pause announcement failed to appease critics, who responded with 'go woke, go broke' and other fed-up retorts. After the initial controversy earlier this week, Google's Communications team put out the following statement: 'We're working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Gemini's AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that's generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it's missing the mark here.' One of the Gemini responses that generated controversy was one of '1943 German soldiers.' Gemini showed one white man, two women of color, and one Black man. 'I'm trying to come up with new ways of asking for a white person without explicitly saying so,' wrote user Frank J. Fleming, whose request did not yield any pictures of a white person. In one instance that upset Gemini users, a user's request for an image of the pope was met with a picture of a South Asian woman and a Black man. Historically, every pope has been a man. The vast majority (more than 200 of them) have been Italian. Three popes throughout history came from North Africa, but historians have debated their skin color because the most recent one, Pope Gelasius I, died in the year 496. Therefore, it cannot be said for absolute certainty that the image of a Black male pope is historically inaccurate, but there has never been a woman pope. In another, the AI responded to a request for medieval knights with four people of color, including two women. While European countries weren't the only ones to have horses and armor during the Medieval Period, the classic image of a 'medieval knight' is a Western European one. In perhaps one of the most egregious mishaps, a user asked for a 1943 German soldier and was shown one white man, one black man, and two women of color. The German World War 2 army did not include women, and it certainly did not include people of color. In fact, it was dedicated to exterminating races that Adolph Hitler saw as inferior to the blonde, blue-eyed 'Aryan' race. Google launched Gemini's AI image generating feature at the beginning of February, competing with other generative AI programs like Midjourney. Users could type in a prompt in plain language, and Gemini would spit out multiple images in seconds. In response to Google's announcement that it would be pausing Gemini's image generation features, some users posted 'Go woke, go broke' and other similar sentiments X user Frank J. Fleming repeatedly prompted Gemini to generate images of people from white-skinned groups in history, including Vikings. Gemini gave results showing dark-skinned Vikings, including one woman. This week, though, an avalanche of users began to criticize the AI for generating historically inaccurate images, instead prioritizing racial and gender diversity. The week's events seemed to stem from a comment made by a former Google employee,' who said it was 'embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist.' This quip seemed to kick off a spate of efforts from other users to recreate the issue, creating new guys to get mad at. The issues with Gemini seem to stem from Google's efforts to address bias and discrimination in AI. Former Google employee Debarghya Das said, 'It's embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist.' Researchers have found that, due to racism and sexism that is present in society and due to some AI researchers unconscious biases, supposedly unbiased AIs will learn to discriminate. But even some users who agree with the mission of increasing diversity and representation remarked that Gemini had gotten it wrong. 'I have to point out that it's a good thing to portray diversity ** in certain cases **,' wrote one X user. 'Representation has material outcomes on how many women or people of color go into certain fields of study. The stupid move here is Gemini isn't doing it in a nuanced way.' Jack Krawczyk, a senior director of product for Gemini at Google, posted on X on Wednesday that the historical inaccuracies reflect the tech giant's 'global user base,' and that it takes 'representation and bias seriously.' 'We will continue to do this for open ended prompts (images of a person walking a dog are universal!),' Krawczyk he added. 'Historical contexts have more nuance to them and we will further tune to accommodate that.' Federal agencies are 'urgently investigating' whether the massive cellular outage that plagued Americans on Thursday was a cyberattack. The Federal Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are on the hunt to track down what disrupted service AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and a dozen other cellular providers. While the agencies have not shared details, a security expert told DailyMail.com that the outage has hallmarks of a hack. Lee McKnight, associate professor at Syracuse University in New York, said the widespread nature appears to be 'a massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attack on core Internet infrastructure.' This type of attack attempts to crash a website or online service by bombarding it with a torrent of superfluous requests at exactly the same time. The surge of simple requests overload the servers, causing them to become overwhelmed and shut down. While the agencies have not shared details, a security expert told DailyMail.com that the outage has hallmarks of a hack McKnight, who is also an Affiliate of the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSTC), noted that DDOS is becoming a popular assault among cybercriminals. He referenced the event in 2016, which saw the Mirai botnet bring down sites like Netflix, Twitter, Amazon and PayPal. 'Some of those were launched by - kids for fun - others by malicious actors,' said McKnight. 'Reality is you cant rent DDOS as a service attacks by the hour on the Dark Web, so who exactly might be behind it may never by fully known/attributed.' The purpose of disrupting cellphone services could simply be to cause chaos, by preventing 911 calls. But the outage could simply be a byproduct of the hackers' real intention - espionage. After gaining access to mobile carriers' internal servers, the hackers would have access to call data records on customers. That would provide information like geolocation data, call logs and text messages. The professor had speculated a cloud misconfiguration could also be the culprit, which means the outage was caused by human error. 'A major cloud service provider such as AWS or Azure experiencing an outage at one of their data centers is possible but less likely to be the cause in my opinion,' McKnight said. Lee McKnight, associate professor at Syracuse University in New York, said the widespread nature appears to be 'a massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attack on core Internet infrastructure' 'Back to the other services going down: if ATT business services for example are the primary business partner of other firms, their issues would affect their customers as well; at least until they could shift traffic to a possible backup service provider. 'But again this is speculation with limited information; and the first usual suspect remains human error/cloud misconfiguration.' Cloud misconfigurations are gaps, errors and vulnerabilities that occur when security settings are poorly chosen or completely neglected. Such mistakes can disrupt performance of a system or leave the cloud open to infiltration by adversaries. This issue allowed Russia and China to attack Google in 2018. Data belonging to users across the globe was intercepted by servers in Nigeria, China and Russia - including those run by major state-owned telecoms providers. However, it is unknown if hackers took advantage of Thursdays outage. DownDetector's outage map highlights New York, Boston, Washington, Montreal, Honolulu, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco as hot spots with disruptive service Cloud misconfiguration can happen in several different ways, such as unchanged defaults. Some refer to unchanged defaults as an elementary mistake, which is made by someone working with systems who did not change the default usernames and passwords. Another is ignoring logs that collect information about the systems security gaps, unauthorized access, breaches and other related items. If the logs are not attended to in a timely matter, staff working on the system will become backed up with details that become difficult to correct. However, it is unclear what type of cloud misconfiguration caused the outage or even if that was the issue. AT&T has suffered data breaches in the last year with one in March that impacted nine million people. In 2023, Ukraines top mobile service, Kyivstar, was hit by a cyberattack that knocked out services for half of the population, damaged IT infrastructure and put millions of people in danger of not receiving alerts of potential Russian air assaults. AT&T fell victim to a solar flare in 1972 that interrupted landline services. A meteorologist shared on X that a solar flare erupted on the sun around midnight - hours before Thursday's massive outage However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations website showed a radio blackout occurred on the eastern side of Africa and below Asia But in the US, most hacks have stolen data and did not cause a cellular blackout. AT&T fell victim to a solar flare in 1972 that interrupted landline services. The storm that hit Earth was compared to the event in 1859 known as the Carrington Event, which saw the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history. If such a solar storm were to happen in today's world, the effects would be catastrophic on our communications systems. A meteorologist shared online that a solar flare had erupted from the sun around midnight on Thursday, noting that the timing is interesting. Yes, there was a strong solar flare reported around midnight. But, is it connected to the cell phone outage? Not impossible and the timing is interesting, but not sure we can say that just yet, Justin Horne with Texas-based KSAT 12 posted on X. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations website showed a radio blackout occurred on the eastern side of Africa and below Asia. A solar flare ionization of the lower levels of the atmosphere which causes interference for long-range radios used by commercial airlines, military groups and government agencies. The outage, which appeared around 4am ET, left many iPhones in SOS mode, leaving them unable to make phone calls, send messages or surf the web. The SOS Only appears in the top-right corner of the control center with the latest iOS software and the top left corner in previous versions. However, you can make Emergency SOS calls to authorities. Some cellular networks appear to be coming back online, but that still leaves many asking the million dollar question of what triggered the massive outage, Shocking footage of a drunken brawl between three passengers aboard a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife has prompted some MailOnline commenters to call for the banning of alcohol on planes. The video depicted two men fighting and spitting at each other. Passengers said they endured hours of abuse on the flight to the Spanish Island, in a fracas that seemed to have started with the two men - said to be brothers - arguing in the aisle. Things turned violent after other passengers became involved. Footage showed a third man being yelled at before a woman launched an attack on another passenger. Passenger Hannah MacDonald, who filmed the fight, said the two brothers and one of their girlfriends had been drinking heavily. The footage has sparked controversy among MailOnline readers. 'Si from the lakes' said: 'Time to ban alcohol in airports.' Footage of a drunken brawl on a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife has prompted MailOnline commenters to call for a blanket ban on alcohol on flights. Passenger Hannah MacDonald, who filmed the fight, said the two brothers and one of their girlfriends had been drinking heavily 'Pingu21' agreed: 'There needs to be a breathalyser at the boarding gate with a maximum level of blood alcohol level. Too many people head to the bar as soon as they reach the airport and knock back pints.' 'Oldblueboy2' felt the answer was simpler: 'Don't sell alcohol at airports or on flights.' Not all commenters were keen on an alcohol ban, however. 'Kim Rong Un' responded: 'Of course, punish the millions who can control themselves because a handful of fools who can't.' 'Yorkypud' agreed that alcohol shouldn't be banned: 'I think just permanently ban idiots like this from ever flying again. It's not fair on those who like to sensibly have one drink to relax as part of their holiday before getting on a flight.' MailOnline reached out to experts in the travel industry for comment on banning alcohol on flights. Most were in agreement that it wasn't a viable solution. Gilbert Ott, frequent flier and founder of travel site godsavethepoints.com, said: 'Bans only encourage increasingly unscrutinised behaviour, such as sneaking drinks in lavatories or in non-obvious cups. This would only make it harder for cabin crew and authorities to monitor drinking.' He called for stricter enforcement: 'Current slaps on the wrist for disruptive offenders are pathetic. Drinks should flow as freely as ever but offenders should receive stiffer punishment.' Marika Mikusova, author of Diary of a Flight Attendant, agrees that an alcohol ban would result in covert drinking: 'If alcohol was banned on flights, some eager people would be forced to buy alcohol in duty-free and then secretly drink it on board.' However, she does acknowledge drinking on flights can prove problematic, resulting in 'aggressive passengers' or people inadvisably combining drinks with their medication and then requiring medical attention. For a flight attendant, she says a ban would have one major benefit: 'The less of anything we serve, the more free time we have to just do nothing.' Offering his thoughts, Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website headforpoints.com, said: 'There are already plenty of rules and laws around drunkenness in the air including denying boarding to anyone appearing intoxicated while boarding a plane. 'Some airlines also take steps to mitigate problems occurring such as not serving alcohol on some routes, such as "stag-do" routes. 'Dry airlines do exist and by default are not that popular with UK flyers. Not serving alcohol would significantly impact the meal service in premium cabins particularly, making it a less premium experience for those who enjoy a drink or two with their meal. It would also encourage more terminal drinking and the related consequences.' Jay Robert, a flight attendant who runs the popular Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge network, believes this 'pre-flight drinking' is the problem, not alcohol on flights. He said: 'Cabin crew are trained on how to properly serve alcohol and we know if we don't follow the procedures, we have to deal with the situation. 'I personally never had a massive issue with intoxicated passengers because we follow the procedures the airline set... [the] issue I think is passengers getting p****d in the airport bars where the servers and bartenders care more about sales than the proper service of alcohol because they know the passengers will stumble off and away. 'I think having a drink above the clouds is one of the last remaining joys from the golden age of flight, and I don't think the majority should be punished because of a few that can't drink responsibly when they fly. 'But airlines and airports need to make adjustments to the current drink-all-you-want-before-you-fly culture.' Jay Robert, flight attendant, believes the problem is pre-flight drinking, not alcohol on flights. He said: 'Cabin crew are trained on how to properly serve alcohol and we know if we don't follow the procedures, we have to deal with the situation' SHOULD BOOZE BE BANNED? A LONG-HAUL AIRLINE PILOT SAYS NO... A long-haul captain speaking to MailOnline anonymously said: 'Our crews manage it very well, both in terms of passengers boarding the aircraft under the influence or drinking excessively on board. As such incidents driven by alcohol on board are very rare - Ive had one leading to police involvement in my entire career. On the other hand lots of people enjoy that feeling of their first holiday beer or holiday fizz when they are on board. I think it would be a shame to lose that.' Advertisement A-list etiquette expert William Hanson agrees restriction, rather than a blanket ban, is required, but thinks it should extend to mid-flight. He said: 'Drinking should certainly be reduced on flights, as alcohol seems to have a different affect on people when at altitude. 'Two drinks should be more than enough and perhaps one more closer to landing for long-haul flying. Not everything in life has to be an excuse for a p**s up!' Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, agreed: 'Rather than an outright ban, airlines and regulators could work together to build an agreed framework to tackle these issues and agree on a standardised approach.' Diane Gottsman, National Etiquette Expert at the Protocol School of Texas doesn't believe enforced restrictions are necessary. She said: 'I think it's the responsibility of the passenger to use good judgment and monitor their intake.' And excessive drinking is not limited to in-flight occurrences, she argued: 'It happens on flights, it happens at parties, it happens in bars, so banning alcohol is not the answer.' Travel tour operator Rob Burley expressed concern an alcohol ban would affect business. He said: 'Many clients expect access to drinks as part of the in-flight service we promote. Removing that would take away from the trip experience we aim to provide.' One travel-industry respondent was strongly in favour of a ban, however. Founder of TravelSpain24 Timon Van Basten believes that drunken incidences on planes are increasing at an 'alarming rate'. He said: 'Given the escalating situation, the once extreme measure of banning alcohol now seems a necessary step to ensure safety. 'Partial measures and reactive policies have proven inadequate in curbing the problem. Simply cutting off disruptive drinkers does nothing for passengers already intoxicated before take-off. 'Relying on the crew to identify impairment is an unfair burden that delays response times. Technology like breathalysers is still unreliable for mass screening and fails to account for deceptive consumption. 'Some argue a ban infringes on personal freedom or hurts airline profits. However, the first responsibility is to protect flyers and crew. 'With alcohol a primary factor in many disturbances ranging from verbal abuse to physical violence, its removal is prudent for de-escalating high-risk situations in real-time. And with most incidents fueled by irresponsible overindulgence rather than casual drinking, the economic impact may be overstated.' An island off the coast of South Carolina is causing a stir, with its population of 4,000-plus wild monkeys. Morgan Island sits around 80 miles south of Charleston and the 4,489-acre outcrop consists of a mix of creeks, marshland and high ground strewn with mature trees and palms. On TikTok, videos taken from passing boats offer a glimpse of what the mysterious island is like, with troops of monkeys running riot and signs on the sandy shoreline warning 'do not feed, approach, disturb, molest, or injure the animals.' The signs also note that 'violators will be prosecuted.' The rhesus monkeys aren't native to the island, and 1,400 were shipped there in 1979 following a herpes outbreak at a primate research center in Puerto Rico. An island off the coast of South Carolina is causing a stir, with its population of 4,000-plus wild monkeys Morgan Island sits around 80 miles south of Charleston and the 4,489-acre outcrop consists of a mix of creeks, marshland and high ground strewn with mature trees and palm trees The rhesus monkeys aren't native to the island, and 1,400 were shipped there in 1979 following a herpes outbreak at a primate research center in Puerto Rico While the island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the colony is managed by the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases @daretogotravel Morgan Island is Forbidden For Visitors Where is a forbidden place you would like to visit? Morgan Island is a 4,489-acre marshland island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is also known as Monkey Island due to its colony of free-ranging rhesus monkeys, established in 1979. The island is uninhabited, and the only people allowed on the island are researchers who tag the monkeys, and take 500 per year from their home for medical testing. #Travel #Learning #Educational #Animals #Adventure The monkeys were brought to Morgan Island after a herpes B virus outbreak at a research facility in Puerto Rico. The island was chosen because it is isolated and has a similar climate to Puerto Rico. The monkeys have thrived on the island, and their population has grown to over 4,000. The monkeys on Morgan Island are used for a variety of medical research, including studies on vaccines, polio, AIDS, and bioterrorism. The research is important for developing new treatments and vaccines for these diseases. The island is off-limits to the public, and there are strict regulations in place to protect the monkeys. Visitors are not allowed to set foot on the island, and boats are not allowed to come within 500 yards of the shore. Morgan Island is a unique and important place. The monkeys on the island are helping to advance medical research, and they deserve to be protected. Here are some additional facts about Morgan Island: The island is located in the ACE Basin, a protected estuary that is home to a variety of wildlife. The monkeys on Morgan Island are Indian-origin rhesus monkeys, which are a type of Old World monkey. The monkeys are free-ranging, which means they are not kept in cages. They live in the forests and marshes on the island. The monkeys are monitored by researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The monkeys are used for a variety of medical research, including studies on vaccines, polio, AIDS, and bioterrorism. The island is off-limits to the public, and there are strict regulations in place to protect the monkeys. original sound - DareToGoTravel Since then, the colony has grown but numbers have been largely contained due to the fact that up to 600 monkeys are taken away each year for animal testing purposes. According to the Post and Courier, 'no testing is done on the island itself' and 'instead, monkeys are sent to researchers working on vaccines and medical treatments.' While the island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the colony is managed by the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. A private company is hired for the actual care of the animals, with this contract worth several million dollars a year. Members of the public are forbidden from stepping foot on the island and it is only accessible to trained researchers. But for those who wish to get close to the island, there are several outfitters running boat tours, with the route running around the periphery. Low Country Tidal Tours runs a Morgan Island tour for $250 plus gratuity and it says it is one of their most requested trips. The tour company notes: 'Morgan Island itself has a fascinating story and seeing rhesus monkeys in the low country landscape is nothing short of surreal.' Members of the public are forbidden from stepping foot on the island and it is only accessible to trained researchers For those who wish to get close to the island, there are several outfitters running boat tours, with the route running around the periphery A private company is hired for the actual care of the animals, with this contract worth several million dollars a year To date, the tour has been deemed as 'excellent' by all reviewers on Tripadvisor. One tourist wrote: 'We took a trip to Morgan Island to see the monkeys. Great trip, lots of monkeys.' Another happy customer echoed similar sentiments, writing: 'My wife and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary. 'We heard about Monkey Island a few years ago and have been trying to see the monkeys. 'Captain Scott was simply amazing. He set the date and time, took us to monkey island, shut the boat off and dropped anchor. 'Within 10-15 minutes, monkeys came out of nowhere and in another 10-15 minutes there were dozens of monkeys all around us. It was a memory we will never forget.' Drone footage uploaded by one Low Country Tidal Tours passenger reveals that there is a jetty on the island for researchers to dock at. There are also several outbuildings for conducting routine veterinary care and storing necessary supplies. Along with boat tours, several helicopter companies in the area offer trips circling Morgan Island, so passengers can get a bird's eye view of the monkeys swinging in the trees below. Inseparable Sisters (BBC 1) Rating: Bring The Drama (BBC 2) Rating: The most frustrating problems with any disability are the ones you don't think of. For dad Ibra- hima, a former managing director whose seven-year-old daughters are conjoined, he couldn't have imagined the challenges ahead. Marieme and Ndeye, joined at the pelvis, have serious and inevitable medical needs. That was clear from birth, when they weren't expected to survive more than a few days. Schooling, transport, care at home, all of these present huge difficulties, and the one-off documentary Inseparable Sisters (BBC1) did not flinch from any of them. But only people with direct experience of this rare condition could guess at how nearly impossible it would be to give the twins something all little girls love stylish clothes. The charm of this documentary was seeing not only the sweetness of Marieme and Ndeye's giggly personalities, and Ibrahima's inexhaustible optimism, but also the enthusiasm of everyone who chipped in to help. The children were born in Dakar, Senegal, and came to Britain with their parents in the hope of an operation at Great Ormond Street hospital to separate them. That wasn't possible: Marieme's heart is too weak, and she would not survive. Marieme and Ndeye, joined at the pelvis, have serious and inevitable medical needs - Inseparable Sisters (BBC1) The charm of this documentary was seeing not only the sweetness of Marieme and Ndeye's giggly personalities, and Ibrahima's inexhaustible optimism, but also the enthusiasm of everyone who chipped in to help 'At this point,' said their father, 'it's just killing one of my children for another. That is something I can't do.' With superlative healthcare here keeping them alive, the girls' mother was forced to go back to Senegal to look after her other children. We didn't hear from the mum, and if this programme had been extended to an hour, instead of being confined to 40 minutes, we might have learned something of how the girls felt about missing her. Whether Ibrahima is in touch with other families who have conjoined twins, and how rare this is in Britain, we also were not told. The twins now attend primary school in Cardiff Bay, where they share a crowd of friends despite their differing personalities Ndeye is assertive and bubbly, Marieme is thoughtful and quiet. Their dad has to get clothes altered to fit them, combining two upper bodies and a third sleeve, but Marieme often feels the cold, while her sister gets too warm easily. It's obvious, but you wouldn't think of it until it's pointed out. When she heard about the girls, textiles teacher Sue James at the University of South Wales offered exactly the help this family needed encouraging Marieme and Ndeye to choose favourite fabrics and then creating a party dress, a sweatshirt divided into snug and lightweight halves, and an equally ingenious coat. The episode ended with the duo putting on their own little fashion display. Last year Channel 4 ran a short season about clothes for people with disabilities, The Unique Boutique. But telly could do much more to help here a season of The Great British Sewing Bee devoted to providing outfits for children such as Marieme and Ndeye would be fantastic. Bring The Drama, BBC2, Bill Bailey, Gemma Crooks and Jason White Bill Bailey was dressed to kill, or at least to examine a corpse, on Bring The Drama (BBC2). Introducing an acting challenge where the contestants played characters from Silent Witness, he was wearing the gauze overalls of a forensics officer. 'I look like a beekeeper on holiday,' he grumbled. The eight amateurs are trying to impress casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry, but the secret of this format is that casting directors are like telly critics everyone's qualified to do it. Bring The Drama would work better if we spent more time watching the auditions and less listening to the X Factor-style back stories, but the show is still finding its rhythm. In an autopsy scene, the pretend pathologists were told to project 'a quizzical yet informed air'. That sums up Emilia Fox's Dr Nikki precisely. Gold Logie winner Georgie Parker has opened up about the surprise clause in her Home and Away contract. The 59-year-old has played the role of Roo Stewart on the hit Channel Seven soap for 13 years. But next month the actress will take a break from the show to lead the cast of a new David Williamson play, The Great Divide, at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney. Georgie revealed the one rule she had penned into her contract included being able to do other projects while working on the show. 'I had it written into my contract that if I was able to do a play, they would release me' the actress told The Daily Telegraph. Gold Logie winner Georgie Parker, 59, (pictured) has opened up about the surprise clause built into her Home and Away contract 'It is nice to leave and just stretch your wings in a different environment then go back because you appreciate it all the more for what it gives you and the people there'. Georgie will star alongside Kate Raison in The Great Divide when it opens on March 8 at the Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli. The production is scheduled to run through to April 27. Next month the actress will take a break from the show to lead the cast of a new David Williamson play, The Great Divide, at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney It comes a year after the actress announced plans to leave the show for an extended break to pursue her theatre dreams. The actress insisted the departures was only temporary and she had no plans to quit the soap. She said she will stay as long as her co-star, Ray Meagher, who plays Alf Stewart, remains on the series. Georgie is one of Australia's most beloved stars having appeared on A Country Practice and All Saints, winning two Gold Logies for the latter. She first joined the soap in 2010 replacing Justine Clarke as Ruth 'Roo' Stewart. 'I had it written into my contract that if I was able to do a play, they would release me' the actress told the Daily Telegraph The star married her husband Steve Worland in 1999 and the couple welcomed their daughter Holly in 2000. The actress told TV week in April last year, she felt the burden of juggling her career and being a new mum at the time. 'I got married and became a mum when I won the first Gold Logie,' she said. 'I was split between a lot of things it was a very stressful time. 'The struggle I had was that I'd never chased that kind of success, so when I got it, I was doing it more because I wanted the show to succeed.' Jasmine Stefanovic has hinted at potential business plans in the future. The designer, 40, attended the 2024 Lululemon Innovation Launch in Sydney alongside her sister Jade Yarbrough on Wednesday night. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia at the star-studded event, Jasmine admitted she's not concerned about returning to work for now. 'Just happy focusing on family at the moment,' she said. However, the entrepreneur didn't rule out future business ventures. Jasmine Stefanovic, 40, is hinting at potential business plans for the future. The designer spoke exclusively with Daily Mail Australia about returning to work Jasmine shares daughter Harper, three, with husband and Today show host Karl Stefanovic. She stepped out with her sister Jade, 31, in what was a rare public appearance together at the Lululemon Innovation Launch. The famous sisters opted to showcase two very different looks on the night, however both appeared to mix high and low end items. Jasmine looked chic in a white T-shirt and black leggings, while layering her look with a slim-fitted blazer. The designer, 40, attended the 2024 Lululemon Innovation Launch in Sydney alongside her sister Jade Yarbrough, 31, on Wednesday night (both pictured) She paired her outfit with white sneakers and a black handbag that featured a gold chain. Jade opted for a '90s dancer vibe in a gunmetal grey long-sleeved crop and high waist parachute pants. It's been nearly two years since Jasmine closed her luxury fottwear line Mara & Mine, which she co-founded with chicken heiress Tamie Ingham. In 2022, the blonde announced the news on her Instagram page, saying they have decided to take a break to 'pursue other interests'. Jasmine (centre) told Daily Mail Australia that she's 'happy focusing on family'. Pictured with husband Karl Stefanovic and their daughter Harper Jasmine and Tamie launched the company in Los Angeles a decade ago, with the embellished flats and slippers seen on the likes of Kendall Jenner, Margot Robbie and Cara Delevingne. 'Ten years after successfully establishing Mara & Mine, we have decided to take a break from our business that we cherish, to pursue other interests,' Jasmine said at the time. 'Building Mara & Mine has taken a huge amount of our passion, time, and energy over the past decade. 'Ignited by a special friendship that was formed in Los Angeles, the brand took shape from the comfort of our living rooms, and found its home in Australia at our Paddington boutique in Sydney. Jasmine announced in 2022 that she was closing her luxury footwear brand Mara & Mine - seen on the likes of Kendall Jenner and Margot Robbie - to 'pursue other interests' In an Instagram post, Jasmine said she and Tamie Ingham are 'extremely proud of what we have accomplished' and went on to thank their stakeholders, creative teams they've collaborated with over the years, and their loyal customers for their 'unwavering support' 'We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished, and it has been an incredible honour to see our designs adorn the feet of some of the most incredible women across the world.' Jasmine went on to thank their stakeholders, creative teams they've collaborated with over the years, and their loyal customers for their 'unwavering support'. The luxury footwear line was stocked in David Jones, as well as a store in Sydney's Paddington and at Birkenhead Point. The line was stocked in David Jones, as well as a store in Sydney's Paddington and at Birkenhead Point. Jasmine told Domain in 2019 the secret behind their lucrative business. 'We always put friendship before business,' she said. Pictured in July 2015 In 2019, Jasmine told Domain the secret behind their lucrative business. 'We always put friendship before business. That will never change and is the reason why it actually works. We have each other's best interests at heart,' she said. She added that having their shoes stocked alongside credible designers is a 'pinch-me moment'. The entrepreneur married Karl in a lavish four-day wedding ceremony in Los Cabos, Mexico in December 2018. They welcomed their first child together, daughter Harper, in May 2020. Strictly's new couple Bobby Brazier and Ellie Leach have made their first public appearance together at the Hadestown play press night at the Lyric Theatre in London on Wednesday. The EastEnders actor, 20, and the Coronation Street actress, 22, have sparked rumours of a budding love affair for months after growing close on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour. Bobby and Ellie seemed happier than ever as they cosied up and posed for pictures together on their first joint red carpet. The pair coordinated in all black outfits with Ellie wearing a stylish long leather coat over jeans and a top while Bobby donned a long coat as well with navy trousers. Ellie added inches to her frame in a pair of boots and accessorised with a gold pendant necklace. Bobby Brazier and Ellie Leach have made their first public appearance together at the Hadestown play press night at the Lyric Theatre in London on Wednesday The EastEnders actor, 20, and the Coronation Street actress, 22, have sparked rumours of a budding love affair for months after growing close on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour Meanwhile Bobby, who is returning to filming as character Freddie Slater for the soap next week, kept comfortable in a pair of shiny slip on shoes. Also in attendance was Laura Haddock who turned heads in a red maxi dress which she teamed with matching heels. The actress, 38, looked incredible as she draped a black blazer over the number while posing for photos. Andy Serkis cut a smart figure in a navy bomber jacket which he teamed with black trousers and trainers. Hadestown synopsis is described as, 'An unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two mythic love stories that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone.' 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. It comes after Ellie and Bobby addressed their rumoured romance last week, 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 was asked about his feelings towards the actress and praised her as 'beautiful and amazing', while avoiding denying the romance rumours. Bobby and Ellie seemed happier than ever as they cosied up and posed for pictures together on their first joint red carpet The pair coordinated in all black outfits with Ellie wearing a stylish long leather coat over jeans and a top while Bobby donned a long coat as well with navy trousers Ellie looked stylish as she posed for photos inside the theatre The actress rocked a choppy fringe for her date night with Bobby Also in attendance was Laura Haddock who turned heads in a red maxi dress which she teamed with matching heels Andy Serkis cut a smart figure in a navy bomber jacket which he teamed with black trousers and trainers Hayley Palmer looked stylish in a black mini dress and silver cowboy boots Actress Grace Hodgett looked chic in a red ruffled mini dress Meanwhile Bella Brown dazzled in a purple figure hugging gown and black heels Larissa Eddie looked stylish in a black leather skirt and blazer 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.' 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! Bobby has also got very close to Ellie's family, with the pair being spotted with her parents heading to their hotel in London together. 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. 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) 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) Last week, 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 She couldn't wipe the smile off her face as Bobby took a snap off-guard, captioning the post 'yogi Ellie', as she sat with her legs crossed. While last month, Bobby was reportedly seen knocking on Ellie's hotel room door in just his pants, while staying at the Malmaison hotel in Birmingham. To celebrate the tour kicking off, a party was thrown in the hotel bar when the soap star was spotted in his underwear on the sixth floor. A hotel guest told The Sun: 'Bobby was in our corridor knocking on Ellie's door after their late-night bash at the hotel. 'Bobby was clearly not shy about nearly being in the buff as we were making our way down to breakfast.' 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. 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. 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 He told her: 'Baby, are we about to perform our last show together? I love you so much.' As an emotional Ellie replied: 'I love you' before going on to say how lucky she felt for her experience on the show alongside Vito. In the caption, Vito wrote: 'It has been just perfect right? Love you baby and always remember our promise: always there for each other'. No more words needed! Good night baby.' Addressing their fans, he added: 'Good night beautiful people. You have been with us in every single moment since the beginning of our journey'. Ellie shared the video to her Instagram Stories, and added the caption: 'This man is one of a kind and I love him very very much'. Kim Kardashian shared a post from X to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, praising daughter North West for a new achievement becoming one of the youngest music artists to ever chart on Billboard's Hot 100. The 43-year-old mother-of-four re-shared a tweet from Chart Data that read, 'North West earns her first ever entry on the Hot 100 this week with TALKING.' It continued, 'She becomes one of the youngest artists to ever chart, at age 10.' Kardashian wrote on her Story, 'My baby!!!!' and added a string of emoji including a black heart. It comes as the pre-teen appears on her dad Kanye West's new album Vultures 1, a joint project with Ty Dolla $ign. Kim Kardashian shared a post from X to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, praising daughter North West for a new achievement becoming one of the youngest music artists to ever chart on Billboard's Hot 100 The 43-year-old mother-of-four re-shared a tweet from Chart Data that read, 'North West earns her first ever entry on the Hot 100 this week with TALKING'; pictured in July 2022 Earlier this month, the YZY designer debuted the music video for the single TALKING / ONCE AGAIN, which included North. At the top of the track, she belts the lyrics, 'Its your bestie. Miss, Miss Westie. Dont try to test me. Its gonna get messy. Its gonna get messy. Just just bless me! Bless me!' Fans have gone wild over the budding young star, whose cameo on the project was first revealed during an album listening party in Miami last December. At the time, she joined her father and Ty Dolla $ign, 41, on stage to sing and dance along to her verse. Scenes from the music video show up-close shots of North singing as two people whose faces were out of the frame braid her hair. Kardashian drew criticism last week after North shared a now-deleted TikTok post that featured a drawing of her stepmother Bianca Censori wearing an almost-nude ensemble on the Vultures album cover. Followers of Kim and North's joint TikTok account were shocked by the post, which appeared to be a list of things that North was 'grateful' for including her father's controversial new album, which has been pulled from Apple Music. Kim, who co-parents her daughter with ex-husband Kanye, 46, manages the @kimandnorth account. It comes as the pre-teen appears on her dad Kanye West 's new album Vultures 1, a joint project with Ty Dolla $ign Kanye and Kim welcomed North, their firstborn child, in 2013; pictured in Paris in 2014 In the Vultures I cover art, West stands alongside Cesori in a photo, dressed in an all-black outfit, save for a white Friday the 13th-style white mask. Kardashian drew criticism last week after North shared a now-deleted TikTok post that featured a drawing of her stepmother Bianca Censori wearing an almost-nude ensemble on the Vultures album cover The deleted post came as insiders told DailyMail.com that Kim has told Kanye to ensure Bianca 'covers up' when she's around their children as she has become known for wearing increasingly 'naked' outfits. One concerned fan wrote online: 'Let the girl be a little innocent!' Kanye's album was something North said she was grateful for, as well as one song in particular called Carnival which contains X-rated lyrics. In the cover art, West stands alongside Cesori in a photo, dressed in an all-black outfit, save for a white Friday the 13th-style white mask. Censori's backside is ever-so-slightly covered by a sheer black piece of material that hugs her trim waist with a thin, black waistband. The Australian-born beauty also dons thigh-high black pantyhose and high heels as she stands with her back to the camera. Bianca's short, jet black hair is slicked back, with the ends turned upward near the nape of her neck. A Taylor Swift fan has issued a warning to others interested in buying merchandise to be wary of the prices before purchasing. In a TikTok video, the Swiftie revealed she'd been 'overcharged' after waiting hours at the merch stand in Sydney on Wednesday. The fan, named Brittany, showed her followers the insane amount of items she purchased which included five of the same T-shirt, two of the same tote bag, a water bottle, five of the same hoodie as well as one zip hoodie. 'So just got back from buying my Eras Tour merch,' she began, stating that some of the items are for 'friends who were at work'. 'But I realised I got scammed over $300. Because instead of charging us for the five tees, they charged us five hoodies,' she added. 'The tees are $65 and the hoodies are $120. So the math ain't mathing.' Brittany then asked users and fans for advice on the matter now that she's $360 out of pocket. 'I don't know what to do. Has anyone been overcharged by the Taylor Swift merch? Has anyone fallen victim to Taylor Swift merch?' she continued. 'I know it was obviously an accident, but I don't know how to go about getting my money back. Because it's a lot of money... $120 for a tee is just not what we wanted to spend.' A Taylor Swift fan has issued a warning to others interested in buying merchandise to be wary of the prices before purchasing. In a TikTok video, the Swiftie revealed she'd been 'overcharged' after waiting hours at the merch stand in Sydney on Wednesday Taylor Swift fans in Sydney lined up for more than seven hours on Wednesday with the hope of getting their hands on some tour merchandise She wrote in her caption: 'Waited 2.5 hours so really don't want to go back. I know it was obviously an accident but does anyone know who I can contact to get a refund?' While some fans offered their support in how to get a refund, others defended the staff's 'mistake'. '"I didn't check my order before I paid" is not a scam,' one user commented. 'That's not a scam, you said yourself it was an accident,' added another. 'I don't think thats a scam. That's a mistake. Write in for a refund. Also, maybe good for folk to calculate what their total should be. To avoid this,' someone else wrote. Swifties demonstrated their passionate dedication to the US songstress by queuing for hours and handing over thousands of dollars for Eras Tour merchandise Meanwhile, others claimed several Swifties suffered similar issues in which they were overcharged. 'Same thing happened to me - got no receipt and no way they would even know how to prove it,' someone commented. 'I've heard sooooo many people get over charged in Melbourne,' another wrote. Taylor Swift fans in Sydney lined up for more than seven hours on Wednesday with the hope of getting their hands on some tour merchandise. Swifties demonstrated their passionate dedication to the US songstress by queuing for hours and handing over thousands of dollars for Eras Tour merchandise. Little did they know, Taylor herself was inside the arena doing a soundcheck as fans lined up at the merchandise stall outside There were wild scenes at Olympic Park on Wednesday morning as fans queued to get first dibs on the collection. Little did they know, Taylor herself was inside the arena doing a soundcheck as fans lined up at the merchandise stall outside. The stands are open between 10am and 6pm on Wednesday and Thursday this week, and will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you are not able to make it to the merchandise tents early, the stands will be open before and during the show as per usual. However, it is anticipated they will be very busy on concert days. There were long lines for merchandise in Melbourne last week, with some fans on Sunday claiming most of the stock had been sold out. There are a number of items up for grabs at the merchandise stands, including T-shirts, water bottles and posts. Posters are priced at $40, while a tour hoodies cost $120. T-shirts are priced at $65. Water bottles are priced at a huge $40 and canvas tapestries were available to buy for $55. Taylor Swift arrived in Australia last week and has already performed three shows in Melbourne from February 16 to 18. She has a few days off before taking the stage in Sydney from February 23 to February 26. She is scheduled to perform in Singapore from March 2, giving her just four days off in between shows. Christian Bale is an actor known for undertaking vast body transformations for a role, but for his latest role, he only lost his hair. The 50-year-old actor was spotted on the Los Angeles, sporting a freshly shaved head while heading out for coffee in Brentwood. It is believed that filming on his new Frankenstein project will begin soon, which comes weeks after he broke ground on 12 new California foster homes. Bale stepped out with a a black hoodie and black Ray-Ban sunglasses for the outing on Wednesday. He also opted for a pair of blue-grey pants and completed his look with black sneakers with white soles. Christian Bale is an actor known for undertaking vast body transformations for a role, but for his latest role, he only lost his hair. It is believed that filming on his new Frankenstein project will begin soon, which comes weeks after he broke ground on 12 new California foster homes . Bale was first attached to the project back in August, with director Maggie Gyllenhaal - making her second feature film after her critically-acclaimed debut The Lost Daughter - assembling quite the impressive cast around him. The actor will play Frankenstein alongside Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening, Penelope Cruz and Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard. Production is believed to be starting soon, with Bale mentioning he was going bald for the role during his groundbreaking ceremony for the California foster homes. 'I've got to shave my head next week [for a movie]. I asked them to please let me hold off on doing that but everyone was going, "Whats wrong with Bale? Whats up with him?"' Bale said. 'I said, "Just let me get through the groundbreaking and then Ill be off to join you,"' Bale said, adding he was starting preparations soon. 'Ill be working with the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessie Buckley and so many talented actors in the cast,' he said. 'Ive got to get busy getting on the rack, breaking my bones and eating lots of fertilizer or something to try and grow,' Bale joked. The actor is no stranger to rigorous preparations, famously losing over 60 pounds to play the emaciated Trevor Reznik in 2004's The Machinist. Production is believed to be starting soon, with Bale mentioning he was going bald for the role during his groundbreaking ceremony for the California foster homes 'I've got to shave my head next week [for a movie]. I asked them to please let me hold off on doing that but everyone was going, "Whats wrong with Bale? Whats up with him?"' Bale said He also had to put all that weight back on again to star in 2005's Batman Begins, and he also lost another 30 pounds to play Dicky Eklund in 2010's The Fighter. Bale most recently lent his voice to the English version of the beloved Japanese animated film The Boy and the Heron. He's also set to star in The Church of Living Dangerously, based on the true story of John Lee Bishop, a mega-church pastor who ended up running drugs for a Mexican cartel. He was ultimately caught at the border in 2017 and convicted, sentenced to five years in prison in 2018, though he only served three and was released in 2021. Jordan North was reportedly blindsided by the news of his Radio 1 departure. The presenter, 34, has stepped down from his Going Home show after a decade with the broadcaster to replace Roman Kemp as the Capital Breakfast host. Following Jordan's huge announcement, it was revealed Jamie Laing, 35, will take his place - Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm to 6pm - next to radio co-host Vick Hope. Now The Mirror has claimed that the news he was leaving the show was a 'shock to him' as information about the departure 'was issued without his knowledge in chaotic scenes'. The publication reports that he had unwittingly already presented his last episode of the show by the time his departure was announced. Jordan North was reportedly blindsided by the news of his Radio 1 departure (seen with co-host Vick Hope) The presenter, 34, has stepped down from his Going Home show after a decade with the broadcaster to replace Roman Kemp as the Capital Breakfast host Tensions had reportedly been high 'for months' about his departure after he let producers know he wanted to leave. The source said: 'Conversations were going back and forth between Jordan's people and the top people at the BBC for months, and over time they deteriorated. 'Once he formally requested to leave, that was it he was off air, immediately. 'It's a shame it ended on such a bad note after 10 years.' The BBC and Jordan have been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Starting on March, 4, former Made In Chelsea star Jamie will permanently replace Jordan. Thankful for all the support from his listeners, Jordan who also hosts the Help I Sexted My Boss podcast took to Instagram to thank his 834,000 followers for their positive reaction as he broke his silence last week. Sharing and album of throwback snaps of his time at the station, Jordan captioned his update: 'Hello everyone. Following Jordan's huge announcement , it was revealed Jamie Laing , 35, will take his place - Monday to Thursday, 3.30pm to 6pm - next to radio co-host Vick Hope Now The Mirror has claimed that the news he was leaving the show was a 'shock to him' as the information about departure 'was issued without his knowledge in chaotic scenes' (his exit statement pictured) Roman is now leaving Capital and recently made the emotional announcement live on air for his fans Roman looked in good spirits as he left Capital on Wednesday He wore a casual black hoodie and jeans He will soon be stepping down from his role at Capital He hopped on a motorbike to head home He looked in good spirits despite the rain 'I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all my wonderful colleagues / talented producers at Radio 1 who many I consider to be friends for life and will miss greatly, you've all reached out to me over the past 24 hours and it really has meant a lot. 'To my amazing fellow presenters I wish I could thank you all personally, I've loved working with you it's been an absolute blast! Big love to Katie Thisleton, Greg James, Arielle Free, Ricky, Melvin & Charlie, Dean & Vicky, Clara Amfo, Matt & Molly, Scott Mills, Grimmy, all the rest of you fantastic lot, and of course my partner in crime Vick Hope I'll miss being on air with you every day. 'MOST IMPORTANTLY the biggest of thank yous to the fantastic listeners who have been really generous and always made me feel welcome, your kind words & messages have been so lovely, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 'I'll be back soon, and can't wait to see you all again.' But not all fans were left happy after the announcement as some fled to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their upset. One penned: 'Why do the good ones always leave?' 'Really hope this was your decision @jordannorth1 and that it means bigger things for you - we love you and will miss you v much xx. You will be missed.' His replacement, 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: '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.' Burnley FC mega fan Jordan 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 I'm 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: '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.' Radio 1 will also 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. Jordan - who is joining Capital from BBC Radio 1, will officially start in April 2024 and be presenting alongside Chris Stark, far left, and Sian Welby, far right, while Roman's last show will be on March 28 Jordan is pictured with his co-star Vick in October Roman also took to his social media to issue his own statement as he added: 'When I started this show I was told to remember it's like a table at the pub with your friends and one chair is empty so the listener can come and join the laughs...' 'He has enjoyed huge support from the station and listeners, developing his talent to host multiple shows across the network', Aled added. '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.' Hayden Panettiere's fans are concerned for her after she canceled her speaking engagements this week, in the wake of the one-year anniversary of her brother Jansen's death. The 34-year-old actress who opened up about her sobriety and custody battle last month took to Instagram to share an up-close selfie along with a message. 'Hi, Everyone! Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict I'm sadly having to postpone my upcoming speaking engagements this week,' she began the statement to her 761,000 followers. The note continued, 'We will reschedule, so stay tuned for new dates. Anyone who has already purchased a ticket will be able to get a refund.' She made no mention of the anniversary of her brother's passing. Hayden Panettiere's fans are concerned for her after she canceled her speaking engagements this week, in the wake of the one-year anniversary of her brother Jansen's death 'Hi, Everyone! Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict I'm sadly having to postpone my upcoming speaking engagements this week,' she began a statement to her Instagram 761,000 followers; pictured with her sibling in 2019 The Nashville star ended the caption, 'I'm so sorry for the inconvenience, but I promise you it will be worth the wait Much love, Hayden.' Her supportive fans were understanding as they took to the comments to express concern. One person wrote: 'Unexpected things happen that's part of life I'm just happy as a fan your doing great and I want you to be happy and healthy.' Another sent well wishes, saying, 'I hope you are doing well Hayden.' And someone else shrugged off the cancelled appearances: 'Don't worry about it, Hayden. Hope you're well.' Last February Hayden's family shared that her brother, who was also an actor, died 'from an enlarged heart.' Jansen was found dead at his apartment in Nyack, New York near where he and Hayden grew up in Palisades on February 19, by friends who were concerned when he missed a meeting. He was discovered 'sitting upright in a chair unresponsive' and began performing CPR before his father Alan 'Skip' Panettiere arrived. Hayden paid tribute to her brother on his birthday this past September The Panettiere siblings pictured in Los Angeles in 2011 In a statement, the family said: 'Jansen's heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit.' Hayden paid tribute to her brother on his birthday this past September. The star uploaded to Instagram a throwback image of the two celebrating Christmas as young children. 'Happy Birthday little brother. I miss you everyday. I'll love you forever,' she wrote on September 25. Mischa Barton says an early romance with actor Ben McKenzie, who she costarred with on The O.C., paved a 'complicated' path for her early on in her time on the popular Fox teen drama. The 38-year-old actress says she was 17 when she dated a 25-year-old McKenzie, as their respective characters, Marissa Cooper and Ryan Atwood, were linked romantically in the storyline of the series. The romance wasn't 'just on screen,' Barton said Wednesday in an appearance on the podcast Call Her Daddy, adding 'It was kind of complicated for me.' Barton told podcast host Alex Cooper her 'first' romance was with McKenzie, adding, 'I had no idea what I was doing. 'I think that kind of set things off on the wrong foot, too, because it was like you know people hook up on these shows and whatever, these things happen, but it was we threw ourselves all into it very fast.' Mischa Barton, 38, says an early romance with actor Ben McKenzie, 45, who she costarred with on The O.C., paved a 'complicated' path for her early on in her time on the popular Fox teen drama Barton says she was 17 when she dated a 25-year-old McKenzie, as their respective characters, Marissa Cooper and Ryan Atwood, were linked romantically in the storyline of the series Barton appeared on 76 episodes of the series from 2003-2006, while McKenzie appeared on 92 episodes of the show from 2003-2007. Other series regulars included Rachel Bilson, Melinda Clarke, Kelly Rowan, Peter Gallagher and Adam Brody. Barton said that she was inexperienced in many facets of life upon beginning on the series. 'I went into that a virgin, a kid, really feeling like I needed to grow up quickly,' Barton said, noting that she was the youngest member of the ensemble cast at the time, which created a dynamic that 'was a bit tricky for everyone.' She said: 'Acting with people older than me was a bit like, "Oh wow. They know what they're doing." 'And there's gonna be relationships on this show and you're gonna need to play that part, and I didn't feel really ready for that, cause I was always a really late bloomer in school and I hadn't really dated.' Barton said she felt like she 'needed to catch up' to her elders in terms of experiences. 'I was experiencing all my firsts and I was so young and my mom would be on set and ... I just needed a lot more attention in that sense,' Barton said on the podcast. 'It was a lot of my firsts, let's put it like that. 'And that kind of really separated me, a little, from them, in the sense that I wasn't out there living on my own in L.A. yet.' McKenzie and wife Morena Baccarin, 44, were pictured at the Gotham Awards in NYC last year Barton told podcast host Alex Cooper her 'first' romance was with McKenzie, adding, 'I had no idea what I was doing' Barton said that she was inexperienced in many facets of life upon beginning on the series Barton said she felt like she 'needed to catch up' to her elders in terms of experiences Barton posed with Cooper in a promotional shot for the podcast on her Instagram Stories Barton said that matters were further complicated after she and McKenzie broke up, as they had began dating 'right out of the gate' from when the show began. She recalled of the timeframe: 'I felt overwhelmed and not ready for any of that. I remember they were like, "Mischa's disappeared with Ben and she's only 17 and-a-half, 18," and the producers went to my parents and were like - it was kind of a whole ordeal.' She continued: 'That's in the very beginning of the show before we're even halfway through a season, so there was a lot going on there. That show ... so much happened in three seasons.' McKenzie and wife Morena Baccarin, 44 - who he met working on the series Gotham - exchanged vows in June of 2017. They are parents to two children - daughter Frances Laiz, seven, and son Arthur, two. Baccarin is also mother to son Julius, 10, from her previous marriage to director Austin Chick. Barton appeared on 76 episodes of the series from 2003-2006 She was pictured signing autographs for fans in 2003 in Hermosa Beach, California Barton has past been critical of the environment on the set of the Fox series, telling E! News in a May 2021 interview that she faced a 'sort of general bullying from some of the men on set' amid her time on the show. 'Its a bit complicated,' Barton told the outlet. 'It started pretty early on because it had a lot to do with them adding Rachel in last minute as, after the first season, a series regular and evening out everybodys pay - and sort of general bullying from some of the men on set that kind of felt really s***ty. 'But, you know, I also loved the show and had to build up my own walls and ways of getting around dealing with that and the fame that was thrust specifically at me. Just dealing with like the amount of invasion I was having in my personal life, I just felt very unprotected, I guess is the best way to put it.' Dailymail.com has reached out to McKenzie's reps for comment on this story. Steph Claire Smith has opened up about her body image insecurity and how she overcame her struggles. The fitness influencer, 28, took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to share a body positive message with her fans as she opened up about her insecurities. She revealed that she used to feel self-conscious about how her arms looked and wanted them to be 'smaller' but has now learnt to be proud of their 'strength'. Steph - who is a mother to son Harvey, two - said she stopped comparing herself to others and assured her followers that everyone has their own insecurities. Sharing a mirror selfie decked out in gym gear, she wrote: 'I used to be so insecure about my arms. I just wanted them to be smaller. I'd compare myself all the time to others. Steph Claire Smith has opened up about her body image insecurity and how she overcame her struggles, urging other fans not to compare themselves to other people 'Now I look at them and I'm so proud of their strength. What they enable me to do every day. How they help me carry my little man around every day. 'I suppose it's just a friendly reminder that no matter what someone looks like, we all have our 'things', our insecurities that we feel or have worked through. 'And you can't always see them from an external perspective, so know that it's the same for your own insecurities too. 'They're more obvious to you than they ever will be to anyone else's eyes.' Her latest post comes days after she attended Taylor Swift's Eras tour concert in Melbourne on Saturday. The social media star nabbed herself a much-sought-after ticket and shared a gallery of snaps of herself glammed up for the big night to her Instagram. She showed off her incredible figure in a pink mini dress, which she styled with metallic heeled boots as she embraced the fan dress code. Steph (pictured) revealed that she used to feel insecure about how her arms looked and wanted them to be 'smaller' but has now learnt to be proud of their 'strength' She completed her look with jewelled eye make-up and toted her essentials in a small pink handbag for the occasion. 'The day is finally here! See you soon, Swifties,' Steph told her fans as she became tearful about attending the highly-awaited concert. Back in 2021, Steph surprised fans as she revealed her unexpected friendship with global megastar Taylor, 34. She opened up about how she met the pop queen during a Q&A with fans on Instagram, sharing two pictures with Taylor. She explained how they met at a gym in their younger years, while Steph was working as a model in New York and Taylor was living in the city. 'I was training with Justin Gelband, doing some of his classes and also one on one session,' she began. Her latest post comes days after she attended Taylor Swift's Eras tour concert in Melbourne on Saturday, sharing glam snaps of her outfit to Instagram to mark the occasion Back in 2021, Steph surprised fans as she revealed her unexpected friendship with global megastar Taylor, 34 'He trained Taylor and one day when I was going in for my session she had just ended hers so we met in the change rooms. 'There were heaps of paparazzi out the front of the gym so she wasn't in any rush and we got chatting.' After performing to the biggest crowd of her career last week in Melbourne, Taylor will hit Sydney this weekend, performing at four shows from Friday, February 23 to Monday February 26. Barbara Palvin Sprouse flaunted her slim 5ft9in figure in a sexy black two-piece from Brazilian bikini designer Paula Hermanny's brand, ViX Swimwear. The 30-year-old Hungarian bombshell modeled the $148 'Firenze Lou Top' and $118 'Firenze Lou Tie Side Bottom' with a saucy pair of cha-cha heels. Barbara got glam for the outdoor bikini shoot with help from hairstylist Owen Gould and make-up artist Nikki DeRoest. 'By the pool with @vixpaulahermanny,' Palvin - who boasts 20.5M Instagram followers - captioned her slideshow. 'My pick: this little black Brazilian bikini crafted to perfection in their atelier in Rio de Janeiro. Loved the unique wavy laser-cut, the flawless fit and the special texture.' Barbara Palvin Sprouse flaunted her slim 5ft9in figure in a sexy black two-piece from Brazilian bikini designer Paula Hermanny's brand, ViX Swimwear The 30-year-old Hungarian bombshell modeled the $148 'Firenze Lou Top' and $118 'Firenze Lou Tie Side Bottom' with a saucy pair of cha-cha heels Earlier this month, the Ford Model's husband of seven months - Beautiful Wedding actor Dylan Sprouse - revealed what led to a recent newlywed spat. 'Watching episodes of something that we should be watching together,' the 31-year-old former child star admitted to E! News on February 3. 'That's a big no-no. I learned that the hard way. Don't do that.' However, when asked if there were any cons to being man and wife, Dylan stated: 'In my marriage? No, I don't think so.' As for the pros, Sprouse gushed that he loves 'waking up next to' Barbara every morning in their $1.8M four-bedroom Hollywood Hills home. 'When you roll over and you see your beautiful wife and she's asleep and then you see your dog and you're in your house and the things that you like, created, it's very calming and it's very nice and it makes you want to work harder,' the Italian-born, Cali-raised star said. 'For so many years of my life, even though I have a twin [Cole Sprouse], I was working for myself. From when I started dating [Barbara], I was like, "Oh, I have someone to work for," which makes me feel very happy, and that was nice. That's the best part.' Dylan and Palvin originally met at a Harper's Bazaar Icons party during New York Fashion Week in 2017 - six months after 'he slid into her DMs' on Instagram. Earlier this month, Barbara's husband of seven months - Beautiful Wedding actor Dylan Sprouse (R, pictured February 11) - revealed what led to a recent newlywed spat The 31-year-old former child star admitted to E! News: 'Watching episodes of something that we should be watching together. That's a big no-no. I learned that the hard way. Don't do that' Palvin and Dylan originally met at a Harper's Bazaar Icons party during New York Fashion Week in 2017 - six months after 'he slid into her DMs' on Instagram The Serpentine actress is an in-demand model, having recently walked in the Moncler FW/24 presentation and fronted the Emporio Armani SS/24 campaign. Barbara was originally discovered by a scout, at age 13, on the streets of Budapest and eventually landed lucrative gigs with Victoria's Secret and SI Swimsuit Issue. Meanwhile, Sprouse and his twin brother Cole Sprouse were only six years old when they starred in their first movie Big Daddy with Adam Sandler in 1999 followed by their Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. A Michelin-star chef has reportedly been flown from the UK to Sydney to cook for Taylor Swift and her team as the star continues her sold-out Eras Tour. According to Yahoo Lifestyle, chef Clare Smyth made the 21-hour trip in case Swift felt like dining at her fine dining restaurant Oncore by Clare Smyth - which is located inside the Crown Sydney, where Swift is staying. Swift, 34, has reportedly hired out the Crown's presidential penthouse, which typically costs AUD $25,000 per night, and on Thursday her beau Travis Kelce arrived in Sydney to join her. Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, an insider said Crown was so excited by the publicly generated by Swift's stay that they are keen to make her stay a fairytale. 'They've spared no expense, increased security and had staff sign NDAs to ensure her stay is nothing but perfection.' Michelin-star chef Clare Smyth (pictured) has reportedly been flown from the UK to Sydney to cook for Taylor Swift and her team as the star continues her sold-out Eras Tour The source claimed Irish-born Smyth planned to travel from the UK to Australia before Swift had even booked her stay at the Crown, just in case Swift decided to visit her restaurant while in Sydney. Boasting breathtaking panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, Oncore by Clare Smyth has been named one of the top fifty restaurants in the world by the prestigious La Liste Awards. Prices reach up to an eye-watering $330 for seven courses, plus $190 per person for wine pairings. Smyth confirmed she had returned to Sydney on Wednesday, sharing a video of herself arriving at her restaurant She later shared a picture of her colleague, chef Alan Stuart, preparing food in the kitchen wearing a stack of handmade friendship bracelets Smyth confirmed she had returned to Sydney on Wednesday, sharing a video of herself arriving at her restaurant. 'Back in service with the team,' wrote Smyth, who is the first and only female chef in Britain to hold three Michelin stars. She later shared a picture of her colleague, chef Alan Stuart, preparing food in the kitchen wearing a stack of handmade friendship bracelets. Swift (pictured) has reportedly hired out the Crown 's presidential penthouse, which typically costs AUD $25,000 per night The incredible pentouse suite boasts panoramic views of Sydney Harbour The second floor includes a spectacular main bedroom It also includes a spacious bathroom complete with a marble spa bath and steam shower 'Alan Stuart getting excited about Taylor Swift's concert!!' she wrote, adding an audio clip of Swift's hit song Style. Swift is gearing up to perform four shows in Sydney from Friday, February 23 to Monday, February 26, with her boyfriend Travis expected to attend to support her. Over 300,000 Swifties are expected to flock to Sydney's Accor Stadium this weekend for her highly-anticipated Eras Tour concerts. Swift is gearing up to perform four shows in Sydney from Friday, February 23 to Monday, February 26, with her boyfriend Travis expected to attend to support her Clare confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that she had arrived in Australia and shared an Instagram Story saying she was 'back in service with the team'. She also hinted at Taylor's potential booking at her restaurant by sharing a picture of head chef Alan Stuart preparing food while wearing friendship bracelets. '@alan.stuart getting excited about @taylorswift concert!' she captioned the snap while also using Taylor's song 'Style' in the background. Clare Smyth is notably the first and only female chef to run a restaurant with three Michelin stars thanks to her restaurant Core in London. She previously worked under Gordon Ramsey for 13 years and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the hospitality industry in 2013. Clare is a personal favourite of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and even catered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding reception in 2018. She's also made numerous appearances on MasterChef Australia in recent years, so there's a chance she could be appearing on the upcoming sixteenth season of the reality show which is currently filming in Melbourne. Love MAFS? Don't miss our new vodcast Behind the Edit - available wherever you get your podcasts. Eden Harper and Jayden Eynaud found themselves in an awkward situation after Wednesday night's dinner party. Daily Mail Australia spotted the Married At First Sight couple arriving back at their accommodation late, and things didn't go according to plan. The reality TV couple found themselves scratching their heads - looking slightly worse for wear - unable to gain access to their suites. The MAFS cast are given a strict curfew of 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends. After each of the dinner parties or commitment ceremonies, the cast are usually let in to their hotel by a security guard or production runner. Eden Harper and Jayden Eynaud found themselves in an awkward situation after Wednesday night's dinner party. Pictured Daily Mail Australia spotted the Married At First Sight couple arriving back at their accommodation late, and things didn't go according to plan Lucky for Eden and Jayden they did eventually gain access to their sleeping quarters, but it was touch and go for a while. Eden had quite the look on the night as she donned a tracksuit over her ruffled pink dress. She completed her mish-mash ensemble with a pair of Ugg boots, which she wore in lieu of her party heels. The reality TV couple found themselves scratching their heads - looking slightly worse for wear - unable to gain access to their suites The MAFS cast are given a strict curfew of 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends Lucky for Eden and Jayden they did eventually gain access to their sleeping quarters, but it was touch and go for a while Eden had quite the look on the night as she donned a tracksuit over her ruffled pink dress. She completed her mish-mash ensemble with a pair of Ugg boots, which she wore in lieu of her party heels. Meanwhile, Jayden rocked an untucked shirt and allowed his lion's mane to roam free. Elsewhere, Sara Mesa and Tim Calwell were spotted looking loved-up as they made their way back to the hotel hand-in-hand. They looked significantly more put together than Eden and Jayden. Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine Ellie Gonsalves has revealed how she got the ultimate revenge on a married man after he sent her a racy message on Instagram. The controversial Australian influencer, 33, shared her tale of satisfaction on Thursday, also noting her action's led to the man's divorce. Sharing footage of herself in full makeup, Ellie revealed a man once sent her d*ck pics and, for fun, she decided to 'John Wick' him. It wasn't long before she found his facebook and discovered he had a wife and kids. 'I forwarded the screenshot of his message to [his wife] & long story short, theyre now divorced,' she wrote. Ellie Gonsalves has revealed how she got the ultimate revenge on a married man after he sent her a racy message on Instagram. Pictured The controversial Australian influencer, 33, shared her tale of satisfaction on Thursday, also noting her action's led to the man's divorce 'If hed just had respect for not only his wife but people in general Im sure his life would be very different,' she continued. Ellie's comments section was soon inundated with comments. 'Girls code for life,' wrote one commenter, while another remarked, 'GIRL CODE! SHE'S A GIRLS GIRL!' 'Respect! If a married man is cracking on to you, tell his wife. Sisters need to protect sisters,' wrote another. Sharing footage of herself in full makeup, Ellie revealed a man once sent her d*ck pics and, for fun, she decided to ' John Wick ' him. It wasn't long before she found his facebook and discovered he had a wife and kids It comes after Ellie divided the internet late last year when she shared her 118 reasons she will not be having children. The model and actress, who is outspoken about being childfree by choice, posted the list to Instagram and had a slew of responses. Among her reasons were: post partum hair loss, the baby may poo inside you, your vagina will be different, your house will never be tidy, childbirth can cause rectal prolapse and you miss out on things you love doing. 'I have already received hundreds of DMs criticizing me tellling me how much of a horrible and broken person that I am,' she wrote alongside the list. 'And while some of those things on my list are satirical, many are serious and factual. Societal pressure when it comes to this topic are truly questionable and I believe unfair towards those with differing opinions. It comes after Ellie divided the internet late last year when she shared her 118 reasons she will not be having children 'Very rarely do we see a voice in support of this, because let's face it, the public backlash can be too much,' the reality star added. 'I think once you decide to bring consciousness into this world... you cannot and should never walk away from that responsibility. I don't want to accept that responsibility and I can't see myself ever accepting that responsibility' Ellie went on. 'My position is NOT for everyone, it's for one person, the person I am talking on behalf of, ME. I do however find it hurtful when I see people who do feel pressured to make this decision based on friends, family and societal pressures. I know this all too well because I have felt it and have felt it for most of my life.' Ellie married her long-term partner, entrepreneur Ross Scutts, in two luxury ceremonies back in March last year. The official nuptials took place at the floating beach club La Luna on the Gold Coast in an intimate toi et moi wedding. They followed it up with a second luxury gathering where they invited their bridal party and other guests. The couple, who have been together for 15 years, have been vocal about not wanting to have children. They're one of TV's longest partnerships, with a close bond both on and off-screen. And Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have revealed that some fans have taken speculation on their close friendship to a whole new level, by asking if they've slept together. In an interview with Fault Magazine, the pair admitted that some fans have 'insinuated' that they've been more intimate than just best friends. The pair have been pals for 35 years after first meeting on the set of Byker Grove in 1989 when they were just 13. Asked whether they've faced any speculation on their relationship, Ant said: 'No one has ever asked if we've slept together...I don't think so. There you go, no one has ever asked us if we've slept together!' Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have revealed that some fans have taken speculation on their close friendship to a whole new level, by asking if they've slept together In an interview with Fault Magazine, the pair admitted that some fans have 'insinuated' that they've been more intimate than just best friends As Dec chimed in with: 'Oh...' Ant added: 'There you go. You don't have to answer it, Dec! People have always insinuated.' Dec continued: 'It's funny, people have insinuated and speculated.' Ant and Dec also told the publication that they've decided to pause Saturday Night Takeaway to focus on spending time with their families. The Geordie duo, both 48, will return to ITV1 to front the show's 20th series at 7pm on February 24, months after announcing its temporary hiatus. Ant opened up about the real reasons for the show's pause in an interview with Fault Magazine as he publicly addressed his wife's pregnancy for the first time, saying: 'We need to spend some time with our family. We've both got children.' It comes as Ant is set to become a father for the first time in June as his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, is pregnant. It will be Ant's first while Anne-Marie has two children from her previous marriage. Meanwhile Dec shares two children - Isla, age five, and Jack, one, with his wife Ali Astall. It was previously rumoured in December last year Anne-Marie could be expecting their first child, after she appeared to be several months pregnant while returning from a trip to Dubai. Ant and Dec also told the publication that they've decided to pause Saturday Night Takeaway to focus on spending time with their families Speaking to the publication as they posed for animated shots together Ant said: 'On a more personal level, part of the reason we're pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family. 'We've both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit. We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now.' Also in the candid interview the pair reflected on their relationship after working together for decades. Ant told how they had 'both changed' over their years and sometimes have to 'give each other space' as 'maintaining their friendship doesn't come naturally'. He said: 'We started working together when we were 13, and we became friends very quickly. But, you know, we're both, were are both 49 this year. 'We're obviously not the same people that we were when we were 13. So throughout our career, you know, we've both changed. But being able to maintain that friendship doesn't come naturally. 'Sometimes you have to work with friendships, and sometimes you have to compromise and sometimes you have to give each other space and time and whatever.' The interview comes as Ant reportedly told his Britain's Got Talent co-stars he is 'beyond delighted' to become a father. According to The Sun Ant had already confided the wonderful news to Dec following weeks of speculation. Anne-Marie, who has two children from her previous marriage, is believed to have already had her five-month scan which allowed the couple to confidently let the cat out of the bag. Ant is set to become a father for the first time in June as his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, is pregnant. It will be Ant's first while Anne-Marie has two children from her previous marriage (L-R Anne-Marie, Ant, Dec and Ali) A source told the publication: 'This is the news everyone wanted. Ant and Anne- Marie are beyond delighted.' 'It's no secret that Ant has always wanted children, but that it may never happen for him was something he had, sadly, come to terms with.' They went on to describe Ant as a 'wonderful doting father' to Anne-Marie's children and said the couple did everything they could to keep the news a secret for as long as possible. Adding: 'To be having a child two years short of his 50th birthday, with the love of his life, is the stuff of dreams for Ant.' Chloe Sims has revealed that her OnlyFans reality show has landed a big-money deal with Netflix. Following the success of the first season of her show House Of Sims, the series will hit the streaming platform in a matter of weeks. The TOWIE star, who has produced the show alongside her brother Charlie, said that working on the series has been 'one of the highlights of her career,' and filming for the second season is already well underway. Chloe relocated to California last year to appear in the OnlyFans reality show with her siblings, with the star previously saying she's determined to break the US. Speaking about the acquisition, Chloe exclusively told MailOnline: 'Producing two seasons of House of Sims alongside my brother Charlie and starring in it has been an entirely different challenge for me. Chloe Sims has revealed that her OnlyFans reality show has landed a big-money deal with Netflix, and will premiere on the streaming service in March 'It's one of the biggest highlights of my career! Starting out on Towie over a decade ago, I could never have imagined I'd be in LA producing our own show. 'It's not an easy journey, but it's exciting, nerve-wracking, and keeps me on my toes!' Charlie added: 'I am delighted to have facilitated the acquisition of 'House Of Sims Season One' between Netflix and OF TV. 'This project was conceived with the goal of creating a high-quality show for our fans to enjoy and engage with. 'I am proud that mine and Chloe's producing debut has received recognition from a major platform such as Netflix, affirming that our creation is a perfect fit for their audience. 'These are exciting times for all involved in the project, and I am excited to build a successful relationship with the Netflix team moving forward.' Chloe previously said that she is determined to break the US, as she said in season one of their show: 'Life in LA is amazing. I'm not who I am in the UK. 'I've had time off from being famous, but I'm hoping that everyone in the city is going to know my name eventually.' The TOWIE star has produced the series alongside her brother Charlie, after relocating to the US to film the Kardashians-style reality show While the first season of House of Sims will hit Netflix next month, filming is already well underway for the second season The Sims signed a deal last year worth 1million to become the new Kardashians on OnlyFans' growing new TV venture. After the success of the show's, the Sims started filming the ins and outs of their lives for season two. The reality series premiered in May on OFTV, and shows the Essex family in a Kardashian-esque light. The star of the family, Chloe, has hinted at wanting the show to be 'bigger and better' in the upcoming season with promises to give an even closer look at the stars since they've been rubbing shoulders with LA A-listers. Speaking about filming for the second season, Chloe said: 'You have been on our journey from Essex to LA, you have seen us rise and support each other as a family, but this season will expose who is cut from the same cloth! 'Stay tuned, as we unravel a huge season 2 as the Sims family's biggest challenge isn't to keep the Hollywood dream alive, but to keep the family together!' As well as the TOWIE sisters, the show sees their brother Charlie Sims, who co-creates and produces, alongside his fiancee Georgia Shults. The Sims signed a deal last year worth 1million to become the new Kardashians on OnlyFans ' growing new TV venture Charlie said: 'We had no idea how successful and well-received House Of Sims would be, but it was amazing to bring our fans on the journey with us from Essex to our new lives in LA through the show. 'I think we all thought it would be an easy transition, but we've all worked really hard and grown so much in the process. 'I can't wait for everyone to see what we've been up to during filming for season two, it's going to be bigger and better than any of us ever expected.' The series had been available to watch on the free OFTV app, which, unlike the parent site, features no nudity and can be watched on a smart TV. Supermodel Cindy Crawford celebrated her 58th birthday during a shopping spree in Miami with husband Rande Gerber on Tuesday. Cindy, whose birthday falls on February 20, stepped out with businessman and former model Rande for a spot of shopping as birthday messages flooded in across social media. She looked effortlessly chic in a relaxed ensemble consisting of bootleg jeans and a tasseled blue bohemian-style blouse. Cindy completed the look with a pair of casual sandals, while her long auburn hair was conventionally styled with a simple centre-parting. Meanwhile her husband kept it casual in a pair of blue skinny jeans and a khaki green jacket - which matched his trainers. Supermodel Cindy Crawford spent her 58th birthday shopping in Miami on Tuesday with her husband Rande Gerber The Fair Game actress stepped out with former model Rande for a spot of shopping on Tuesday as birthday messages flooded in on social media Cindy shared a special note to Instagram to mark her birthday with her 8.2million followers. The catwalk legend was seen blowing out the candles on a large, baby blue cake adorned with the message Happy Birthday Cindy in white icing. Cindy wore a pale blue shirt and a large gold medallion around her neck as her brunette hair was worn down in soft waves with her makeup done sparingly. From the reflection in the glass door behind her it was clear she was in a tropical setting as there palm trees swaying in the wind. The cover girl also shared a flashback photo from the 1990s when she blew out the candles to a Vogue themed 21st birthday cake. And there was another much older image of her as child in a floral print dress with black Mary Jane shoes next to a big white birthday cake. 'Grateful for another set of birthday candles - thank you for all the love,' wrote the star in her caption. The post was liked by Christy Turlington who shared: 'Happy Birthday to you, my always reliable friend and Super sister!' Helena Christensen added, 'Happy birthday to you beautiful, fun, smart, cool goddess and sweetest friend.' Iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford turned 58-years-old on Tuesday. The Fair Game actress shared a special note to Instagram to mark her birthday with her 8.2M followers. The catwalk queen was seen blowing out the candles to her very large baby blue cake that read Happy Birthday Cindy on top in white and three gold candles The leggy looker from Illinois had on a pale blue shirt and a large gold medallion around her neck as her brunette hair was worn down in soft waves with her makeup done sparingly. From the reflection in the glass door behind her it was clear she was in a tropical setting as there palm trees swaying in the wind Molly Sims, Reese Witherspoon, Claudia Schiffer, Paulina Porizkova, Julianne Moore, Sofia Vergara and Jessica Alba also hit the like button. Though Cindy is well into her fifties, her career is not slowing. She is now starring in the Donna Karan spring 2024 campaign after landing on the cover of Vogue and starring in the series The Supermodels. The ad is called In Women We Trust and features many big names from the past. Crawford is joined by her pals Linda Evangelista, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow and Carolyn Murphy. Also in the campaign are Imaan Hammam, Karlie Kloss and Liya Kebede. Photographer Annie Leibovitz was behind the camera. Evangelista talked up Donna's special touch. 'Donna believed more in women than anybody,' Evangelista, 58, said to People on Thursday. 'You can be whoever you want to be in her clothes.' Looking back, Linda said: 'I remember the pep talks before the fashion shows. 'The backstage felt more personal. She would try to instill this confidence in us, but once you were wearing her clothes, you didn't need it. The cover girl also shared a flashback photo from the 1990s when she blew out the candles to a Vogue themed 21st birthday cake And there was another much older image of her as child in a floral print dress with black Mary Jane shoes next to a big white birthday cake 'Donna's been part of the milestone moments that I've had.' 'Donna does represent both strength and sensuality,' Evangelista added. 'Donna Karan really stood the test of time.' 'She introduced a new style of power dressing, which celebrated women and their bodies. That was her sweet spot, and it still is,' Crawford said in a press release. 'In Women We Trust is such a powerful statement,' said Valletta in a release about appearing in the campaign. 'We need more women to lead us into the future because women think differently.' 'It's not about the clothes, it's always been about the woman in the clothes,' Valletta stated in a press release. The company describes the Spring 2024 campaign, titled In Women We Trust, as 'a resounding celebration of the brand's iconic heritage that now marks a new chapter in both legacy and future.' It calls the collection 'a new era of accessible luxury'. Karan launched her first collection with her namesake label in 1985. In late December Cindy posted this pinup shot while in a flirty pale blue cover up The price range of the collection is $159 to $599 (125 to 472). The new campaign is rolling out on Donna Karan's social media channels, highlighting the eight women and their individual stories. The Spring 2024 collection is available globally via the brand's website and in select retailers. This comes after Cindy and Linda starred in The Supermodels. The four-part show focused on the top models of the 1990s. In addition to Cindy and Linda were Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington. The series was directed by Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and Larissa Bills, while it was executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howards Imagine Documentaries. The series premiered on September 20. Cindy stars in the new Donna Karan spring 2024 campaign. It also features Linda Evangelista , Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow, Carolyn Murphy, Imaan Hammam, Karlie Kloss and Liya Kebede She also appeared on the cover of British Vogue with Oprah, Salma Hayek, Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid, Jane Fonda, Miley Cyrus and several other ladies The logline for the series read, 'The Supermodels travels back to the 1980s, when four women from different corners of the world united in New York. 'Already forces in their own right, the gravitas they achieved by coming together transcended the industry itself. 'Their prestige was so extraordinary that it enabled the four to supersede the brands they showcased, making the names Naomi, Cindy, Linda and Christy as prominent as the designers who styled them. 'Today, the four supermodels remain on the frontlines of culture through activism, philanthropy and business prowess. 'As the fashion industry continues to redefine itself and womens roles within it this is the ultimate story of power and how four women came together to claim it, paving the way for those to follow.' In 2020 the ladies opened up about the show. Speaking about her new venture, Naomi told MailOnline: 'My sisters Christy, Linda, Cindy and I are extremely thrilled to share our story with the world and there could be no better partners than Brian Grazer and Ron Howard which is a dream come true to bring it to life, as we knew they would respect and honor our story. 'We hope our journey seen in the docuseries will encourage, motivate and inspire young people around the world. We look forward to this great adventure ahead with director Barbara Kopple.' Cindy wrote on her Instagram page: 'Im excited to reunite with my friends to both celebrate and examine the way supermodels transcended the traditional perceptions and limits of modeling in the fashion industry through time. 'With the support of Imagine Documentaries and Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple, we plan to explore the dynamic personalities, and shifts in media and culture that helped shape and define this iconic era.' The Supermodels will take fans back to the 1980s at the start of their modelling careers and document how the four women came together from across the globe and collectively achieved a notoriety that transcended throughout the industry. The four-part series will also examine the ladies work today, in not only the fashion industry, but activism, philanthropy and business, and how the quartet have blazed a path for the next generation. Linda said of the series: 'To finally have the opportunity to tell our story in collaboration with the brilliant team at Imagine, and under the direction of Barbara Kopple, is as exciting for us as we hope it will be for viewers. 'I would love for people to see this as a celebration of not only our individual stories, but also to the power of friendship, dreams and perseverance.' While Christy added: ' I am looking forward to looking back on this unprecedented time in fashion with these incredible women whom I have grown up with.' Originally from south London, Naomi established herself among the top three most recognizable and in-demand models of the late 1980s. Cindy seen left on the catwalk at a presentation of Dolce And Gabbana's spring-summer collection in Milan in 1991. On the right, the star is seen in 2017 at the Daily Front Row's 3rd Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards The Supermodels, a four-part show about top models of the 1990s, featured Crawford, Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington The Illinois native landed on the cover of Vogue dozens of times Just before she turned 16, she was on the cover of British Elle and in 1987, she became British Vogue's first black cover girl since 1966. Meanwhile Cindy is said to have featured on around 500 magazine covers and walked for shows including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, DKNY, and previously, Valentino. The ladies, alongside fellow super models Claudia Schiffer, Helen Christensen and Carla Bruni reunited on the catwalk in 2017 for the Versace SS18 show at Milan Fashion Week. Showing the young guns how it was done, fashion's golden girls brought the show to a stunning climax, after it was opened by Kendall Jenner and model sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid. The Nineties supermodels walked designer Donatella Versace down the runway to rapturous applause as they paid tribute to her late designer brother Gianni Versace, who was killed in 1997. On the 20th anniversary of his death, it was a fitting tribute to a man with whom each of the women worked personally during their modelling days. The women were all dressed in glittering gowns, proving that their supermodel figures were all looking impeccable into their late forties - and early fifties, for some at the time. Louise Thompson has revealed she is going back to the hospital just weeks after a 12-day stay in January. The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, was rushed to hospital in January after losing 'cups of blood' due to an Ulcerative Colitis while on holiday in Antigua with her son Leo, two, and her fiance Ryan Libbey. Louise has since informed fans she will be spending a lot of time in hospital going forward as she needs to return for 'weekly check ins'. Taking to her Instagram Stories, the star shared a selfie and wrote: 'Big Steps. 1. First school run with the gang. 2. Then back to hospital for weekly check ins.' It comes after earlier this week Louise shared a sweet video of her son Leo visiting her in hospital after 12 days apart as she gave an update on her health. Louise Thompson has revealed she is going back to the hospital just weeks after a 12-day stay in January The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, was rushed to hospital in January after losing 'cups of blood' due to an Ulcerative Colitis while on holiday in Antigua Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Louise shared the moment they were reunited and how it gave her 'the motivational boost I needed' to get her home. She shared a Reel to her page alongside the words: 'I didn't see this peanut for 12 days. But a visit was just the motivational boost I needed to hurry my recovery on and get me home for good. 'More on children visiting hospital in the caption. Would love to learn your thoughts.' The Reel was sweetly set to Betty Who's I Love You Always Forever. She added in a lengthy caption: 'One of the strange things about this whole experience has been navigating time spent in hospital with a little one at home. 'When Ryan was young(ish) well weve now established he was about 8 years old - he saw his mum in hospital connected to lots of wires after a major back surgery and the memory still stings him to this day. 'Ryans not very good with hospital. I dont judge him for it. Thats one of the reasons why we thought long and hard about bringing Leo in to visit.' Louise said during her first seven days in hospital Leo wasn't allowed to visit but while she was in ITU a doctor recommended that it was good idea for her to see Leo when she was further along in her recovery. 'This is going to sound horrendous but when I was, say, septic post op I didnt think about Leo. I couldnt think about anything. I couldnt concentrate. Plus I was on Fentanyl for 5 days so I was drifting in and out,' she continued. Louise has since informed fans she will be spending a lot of time in hospital going forward as she needs to return for 'weekly check ins' 'It was only as I started to feel a bit better that I could think more rationally and could weigh up the pros and cons. 'Id facetimed him on one of the days and got a bit upset. I didnt want to show him lots of sadness. I didnt want to add any more confusion. 'I didnt want to disrupt the challenges that Ryan was dealing with at home - my health uncertainty and the change to Leos routine. 'Leo was happy and busy at nursery several days a week. Lots of family rallied around to play with him. Things were really ok for him. 'I also reminded myself that some young parents go away for work or for holidays with their partners leaving their kids behind for a week or so anyway! That made me feel a lot better.' Louise also shared an update on Instagram stories. She said: 'I wanted to let you know that I am actually doing really well recovering at home. (I keep touching my hair, aka, touching wood, whenever I say this to anyone that visits because I'm mindful I don't want to speak too soon and I don't want to jinx anything'. Louise, the elder sister of Sam Thompson, has faced series of health issues since the birth of Leo-Hunter in November 2021. She was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis during her last stint in hospital which is the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system. The condition sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time. It comes after Louise shared a sweet video of her son Leo, two, visiting her in hospital after 12 days apart as she gave an update on her health After being in hospital Louise shared an update on her Instagram stories. She said: 'I wanted to let you know that I am actually doing really well recovering at home' Before Louise's latest health scare, she was posting photos from her family trip with Ryan, Leo and her father to Antigua And Barbuda. A post on January 28 featured a carousel of snaps of herself with little Leo, alongside which she wrote an emotive caption about 'learning to lean into and be grateful for those imperfect in-between moments because nothing lasts forever'. Louise revealed a while after welcoming Leo that she and he nearly died during the traumatic labour. On December 23, 2021, Louise announced the birth of her son on her Instagram page and revealed she had been discharged from hospital to recover at home. She said: '5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn't the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU.' Louise said that Leo recovered quickly, but she had to deal with 'many bad things', saying: 'To dance with death twice brings a whole new view of the world.' She was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis during her last stint in hospital which is the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system In December, two years after Leo's birth, she reflected on the time since the traumatic series of events. She said: 'Here's a reminder that a lot can change in a year. A lot can change in 6 months. Indeed a lot can change in a month but it's hard to witness the change until you create some sizeable distance from it. 'I'm crying writing this. I'm feeling very emotional today. I can't lie it feels nice to purge my pain. I encourage you to try writing and crying too. 'Sometimes it helps. But the main reason I'm writing this is because I really want you guys to know that you must keep moving forward. Don't give up. Because there will be a time when you will want to wear a pretty party dress again. You will shine again.' The reality star announced last month she is releasing a book, Lucky, where she will tell the story of the near-death experience. ITV have already secured a successor to their drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, with a series based on the contaminated blood scandal in the works. Double-BAFTA winner Peter Moffat is penning a drama based on the shocking tale, which has been described as the 'biggest health scandal in our history.' Set in the 1970s and 80s, the drama will show how patients suffering from haemophilia and other blood disorders were contaminated with tainted blood, infecting them with HIV and hepatitis. The series will explore what doctors, politicians and giant pharmaceutical companies knew then about the risk, and the wrongs that have stretched over half a century. According to Deadline, ITV greenlit the series before a production company was attached, and head of drama Polly Hill has fast-tracked the show following the huge success of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. ITV have already secured a successor to its megahit drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (pictured), with a series based on the contaminated blood scandal in the works at the channel Double-BAFTA winner Peter Moffat is penning a drama based on the shocking tale, which has been described as the 'biggest health scandal in our history' It's thought that Peter was already working on a script for the show before Mr Bates Vs The Post Office hit screens, and conversations for a production company are in advanced stages. Polly said Peter's scripts 'are brilliant and do justice to this important story, while bringing it to screen with real clarity and compassion.' Peter added: 'It's been a great privilege to meet those infected and affected and to learn about what they have been through. 'I'm ashamed to say that when I started researching this story I knew next to nothing about it. 'I'm even more ashamed that this ignorance is shared by nearly everyone I mention it to. 'The victims of this scandal have been let down again and again by the state I hope in some small way this drama can help their voices be heard.' For decades victims of the contaminated blood scandal, and their families, have campaigned for compensation. In December campaigners said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had to be 'dragged kicking and screaming' to properly compensate victims and warned he was on the 'wrong side of history'. Set in the 1970s and 80s, the drama will show how patients suffering from haemophilia and other blood disorders were contaminated with tainted blood Up to 30,000 patients with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were given tainted medical products in the 70s and 80s, with thousands infected with HIV and hepatitis C as a result. Some even unwittingly infected their romantic partners. Tainted donations came from US prisoners, sex workers and drug addicts, who were paid to give their blood to the manufacturers of the product. A timeline of the contaminated blood scandal which began in the early-1970s 1972: NHS starts importing large batches of Factor VIII products from United States to help clot blood of haemophiliacs. 1974: Some researchers warn that Factor VIII could be contaminated and spreading hepatitis. Late-1970s: Patients continue to be given Factor VIII, with much of the plasma used to make the product coming from donors such as prison inmates, drug addicts and prostitutes. 1983: Governments in both the UK and the United States are told that Aids has been spread through blood products. Mid-1980s: By now the blood products such as Factor VIII, were being heat-treated to kill viruses, but thousands of patients had already been infected. 1991: Blood products imported from US are withdrawn from use. The government awards ex-gratia payments to haemophiliac victims threatening to sue. 2007: Privately-funded inquiry into scandal set up by Lord Archer of Sandwell but it does not get offical status and relies on donations. 2008: Penrose Inquiry launched, but victims claim the seven-year investigation was a 'whitewash'. 2017: Independent inquiry into contaminated blood scandal announced by Prime Minister Theresa May. April, 2019: Infected Blood Inquiry starts hearing evidence. Advertisement It is considered the worst treatment scandal in NHS history, with more than 3,000 killed as a result. All surviving victims and their bereaved partners are entitled to an interim 100,000 pay-out. But the current scheme leaves out parents who lost their children and kids orphaned when their parents died. Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the inquiry into the scandal, earlier this year called for a full compensation scheme to be set-up immediately. He also demanded it be widened to include other victims who remain 'unrecognised'. The Government wanted to wait for the inquiry to conclude before setting up a full scheme. But MPs called for swifter action given that someone dies due to infected blood 'every four days'. The inquiry ordered in 2017 by then-PM Theresa May was due to publish its final report in the autumn. It was delayed until March 2024 due to the 'sheer volume and scale of the material'. Since it hit screens in early January, Mr Bates vs the Post Office has sparked nationwide uproar, with hundreds of sub-postmasters speaking publicly about their horrific experiences. The drama told the true story of several sub-postmasters across the UK wrongly accused of theft and fraud because of the faulty Horizon system that was put in place. Ahead of the drama's launch, the scandal was described 'as the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history.' The show has proven to be a major success, with the drama averaging 9.8 million viewers an episode. It even had a larger viewership than the likes of Downtown Abbey and Line Of Duty's final series. Fujitsu offered its 'deepest apologies' to wronged subpostmasters and their families in a last week. More than 700 Post Office branch managers were convicted after their faulty accounting software Horizon made it look like money was missing from their shops. The Japanese firm stressed that it will coordinate with the UK government over its response, including providing funds to compensate victims. Mr Bates vs The Post Office producer Patrick Spence said executives at the under-fire firm tried to get the show's script amended in exchange for their cooperation. He told the Evening Standard: 'What they offered to do was to change our story to suit their purposes. Mr Bates Vs The Post Office sparked uproar when it aired last month, showing how hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theftand fraud 'They were obviously keen to change the narrative, but we had our facts and they couldn't stop us.' The script for the show relies on public documents and emails written by Post Office employees, including Paula Vennells, who was the firm's CEO until 2019. This week she bowed to public pressure and announced she would give up her CBE following her role in the scandal. Spence said the Post Office was 'so litigious and ghastly' that show bosses 'couldn't take the risk of inventing anything for fear they would stop it being transmitted.' The Post Office has been contacted for comment. Amber Turner has set pulses racing once again as she shared another insight into her luxury trip in Bali for filming of the latest TOWIE series on Thursday. The reality star, 30, showed off her jaw dropping figure in a skimpy bright green bikini as she posed on her lounger. Posing in some glamorous gold rimmed sunglasses, the star flaunted her toned abs and surgically enhanced assets while her blonde tresses fell in natural beachy waves. Sharing a collection of snaps to her Instagram, the star removed her shades as she pouted for the final snap while throwing up the peace sign. The swimsuit from online brand Color Super retails at 85 as Amber took to her stories to show off the two piece, writing: 'Loveeee this colour @colorsuperswim'. Amber Turner, 30, flaunted her jaw dropping figure in a skimpy green bikini in her latest Instagram post on Thursday as she enjoys TOWIE Bali trip The reality star flaunted her toned abs and surgically enhanced assets while her blonde tresses fell in natural beachy waves Posing in the mirror, Amber accessorised her look with a low waisted white maxi skirt and white handbag as she teased: 'Quick scrub up for filming'. Enjoying her time over in paradise, the star then headed to beach club Finns as she enjoyed cocktails and tequila shots with her co-stars Chloe Meadows, Elma Pazar and Courtney Green. Her latest snaps come after it was revealed Amber's ex Dan Edgar has reportedly had a holiday fling with Ella Rae Wise during the trip. Dan, 33, and Ella Rae, 23, were spotted looking loved up after The Sun exclusively revealed the couple were snapped with their arms around each other before they shared a kiss on the sunbed. Leaning in closer together, the two took a cheeky selfie before Ella gave Dan a peck on the cheek. The couple also appeared to make a 'pinkie promise' before downing shots as they enjoyed their fun date at a beach bar. An insider told the publication: 'Dan and Ella have been growing close while on the away trip with their friends. 'Ella's always had a thing for Dan and the cast could sense there was chemistry between them. Sharing a collection of snaps to her Instagram, the star removed her shades as she pouted for the final snap while throwing up the peace sign. The swimsuit from online brand Color Super retails at 85 as Amber took to her stories to show off the two piece, writing: 'Loveeee this colour @colorsuperswim' Posing in the mirror, Amber accessorised her look with a low waisted white maxi skirt and white handbag as she teased: 'Quick scrub up for filming' Enjoying her time over in paradise, the star then headed to beach club Finns as she enjoyed cocktails and tequila shots with her co-stars Chloe Meadows, Elma Pazar and Courtney Green The cast enjoyed sunset at the famous beach club Despite being at the resort only a matter of days, Amber has kept fans updated as she flooded her social media accounts with an array of sensational bikini snaps 'On a night out with the rest of the cast, Dan and Ella kissed and have spending time together ever since. The fling is set to cause major drama and fallouts between the group.' Dan was previously in long-term relationship with Amber until the couple split in May last year. The up and down couple appeared to be settling down after they moved in together and bought their dog Oliver, however both have been faced with the brunt of cheating rumours. Amber herself has never admitted any wrongdoing, however there were also rumours Dan had grown close to Ella while he was with Amber. In December, ITV announced that TOWIE, narrated by Denise Van Outen, would release two series in 2024. A source told the publication: 'TOWIE is back for two new seasons, and producers are going all out. They are splashing the cash by sending the cast away to Bali for a glamorous trip in February. 'It is the most exotic place they've ever experienced to date and is a huge treat for the lucky stars who get booked to go.' Her latest snaps come after it was revealed Amber's ex Dan Edgar has reportedly had a holiday fling with Ella Rae Wise during the trip as the pair were snapped cosying up together Amber looked incredible in a berry bikini on Instagram on Tuesday as she gave an insight into life on TOWIE 2024 ITV promised that the two new series would see 'unexpected alliances'. And fans are in for a treat as OG Lauren Goodger previously announced she would be making a return after an 11-year absence. The influencer, 37, revealed she planned to return to the reality show in February and has already started thinking about potential storylines. It's all good news for fans who thought the show was all but over, given series 30's mere 125,000 views - a drop of almost 500,000 from the previous series. Jasmine Tookes put on a leggy display in a chic cream mini skirt as she attended the Max Mara catwalk during Milan Fashion Week, in Italy on Thursday. The model, 33, oozed elegance in her glamorous cream ensemble as she posed up a storm outside the star-studded fashion show. The mother-of-one, who welcomed her daughter Mia in March 2023 with husband Juan David Borrero, flaunted her slender frame in her stylish attire. Inside the show Jasmine draped her overcoat over her shoulders as she struck a pose before the catwalk kicked off. The American beauty elevated her height with court high-heels and accessorised her look with statement gold earrings. Jasmine Tookes, 33, put on a leggy display in a chic cream mini skirt as she attended the Max Mara catwalk during Milan Fashion Week, in Italy on Thursday The model oozed elegance in her glamorous cream ensemble as she posed up a storm outside the star-studded fashion show Other stars in attendance at the event was the glamorous Lucy Hale, 34, Nicole Ari Parker, 53, and Shanina Shaik, 33. Jasmine recently revealed that she doesn't want to be 'too sexy' to the point that people can't relate to her. She flaunted her fabulous figure from multiple angles in a short TikTok video while explaining her point of view. The Victoria's Secret vet said: 'You dont want to be like too sexy, you know. You dont want people to not be able to relate to you, or thats all that they think of you as.' As she flipped her hair and turned around to show off her backside, she continued: 'I'm actually really kind of like goofy and nerdy, and I kind of just stay home, I'm not this, like, sexy person that everyone thinks I am.' Last year, Jasmine announced the joyful news that she gave birth to a gorgeous daughter Mia. She told her followers: 'Mia Victoria 22323. We are so in love with her & are so excited for this next chapter in our lives.' The supermodel also shared an image where she was holding the child's tiny hand along with her husband's hand. The mother-of-one, who welcomed her daughter in March 2023 with husband Juan David Borrero, flaunted her slender frame in her stylish attire Inside the show Jasmine draped her overcoat over her shoulders as she struck a pose before the catwalk kicked off The American beauty elevated her height with court high-heels and accessorised her look with statement gold earrings Last year, Jasmine announced the joyful news that she gave birth to a gorgeous daughter Mia Jasmine is married to 32-year-old Juan (pictured), the son of Ecuadorian vice president Alfredo Borrero Jasmine is married to 32-year-old Juan, the son of Ecuadorian vice president Alfredo Borrero. Jasmine and Juan David began dating in 2016 and became engaged four years later, in 2020. The two held a dream wedding ceremony in 2021 in her husband's home country of Ecuador. Vittoria Ceretti sent temperatures soaring as she posed for a stunning photoshoot for ELLE magazine's March issue. The model, 25, who is dating actor Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, detailed some fashion industry secrets in her interview such as her experiences with luminaries like Karl Lagerfeld and Donnatella Versace. Vittoria also told how she is following in her boyfriend's footsteps by stepping into the world of environmental activism. The stunner revealed she misses fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld who died in 2019 at the age of 85. She said: 'There's no one that I will miss more than Karl in the fashion industry. He was such a strong personality, such a welcoming human being. Vittoria Ceretti sent temperatures soaring as she posed for a stunning photoshoot for ELLE magazine's March issue The model, 25, detailed some fashion industry secrets in her interview such as her experiences with luminaries like Karl Lagerfeld and Donnatella Versace Leo and Vittoria were first spotted together in August grabbing ice cream - and their romance is going from strength-to-strength 'I remember him showing up to the studio at 4 p.m. because he always used to take his time, but we were so happy to just sit there and wait for him. 'Because he made sure that everyone was comfortable, and he would come in and grab my and the other girls' hands and start chatting on the couch. 'He cared so much about his personal relationship with the models. Work came second. You [build] the relationship first, and then afterward you can make amazing pictures.' Vittoria is on a first name basis with Donatella Versace who she regularly 'gossips' with. She said: 'Oh, Donatella, she's hilarious. I love her. We just sit there and we laugh and we share, and we drink and gossip, and we look at people and we love it.' Vittoria shares Leo's passion for the environment and for her last three birthdays has got attendees to plant trees through the certified B corp Treedom. Given that her celebrations often include 100 or 200 people, she said they are 'planting a lot of trees'. Vittoria's modelling career kicked off at 14 when she entered the Elite Model Look competition as a joke. Vittoria shares her boyfriend Leonardo DiCaprio's passion for the environment and for her last three birthdays has got attendees to plant trees through the certified B corp Treedom Given that her celebrations often include 100 or 200 people, she said they are 'planting a lot of trees' Vittoria's modelling career kicked off at 14 when she entered the Elite Model Look competition as a joke She said: 'I didn't even know what modeling was like; I had no clue. It's not something that I was fascinated by or interested in. It was not my dream.' Remembering the contest, she added: 'There were all these tall, gorgeous girls, and my mom and I were in line. 'We were like, 'Maybe we should just leave, because this is never going to work. Then my [now] agent [Elena Mansueto, of Elite] ended up walking up to us to make sure that we weren't going to leave. 'Super serious, and it's funny because it's been an adventure ever since, and an amazing adventure. I can't believe I took it as a joke, but I think that's also what made it so special, that I never took it seriously at first.' Vittoria, like her famous boyfriend, values her privacy and likes to keep her social media as a professional portforlio rather than given her followers updates on her personal life. She said: 'I'll show a glimpse of my life here and there, but I like to keep that to myself. 'Sometimes hotels are like, 'You can stay here for free, but then you are going to have to post.' And I'm like, 'You know what? I'll pay.' I feel safer. I don't want people to know where I go. I value that privacy a lot.' She said: 'I didn't even know what modeling was like; I had no clue. It's not something that I was fascinated by or interested in. It was not my dream' Vittoria, like her famous boyfriend, values her privacy and likes to keep her social media as a professional portforlio rather than given her followers updates on her personal life Leo and Vittoria were first spotted together in August grabbing ice cream - and their romance is going from strength-to-strength. Sources at the time claimed he was 'crazy' about Vittoria - who also cares deeply about environmental causes. They have yet to confirm their relationship. Insiders claim Leo is now dating her exclusively, as she has 'all of the qualities he looks for in a partner'. Vittoria has become a sought-after face for adverts and has fronted campaigns for the likes of Chanel, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Moschino, among many others. Only last Friday night Leo and Vittoria were seen at the star-studded Art Basel festival in Miami. She was also at his side for his 49th birthday party in November which boasted a guest list of A listers including Beyonce and husband Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Kate Beckinsale, Zoe Kravitz and Channing Tatum, Rita Ora, Zoe Saldana and Snoop Dogg. Leo will turn 50 later this year and he recently revealed the one goal he wants to accomplish before his milestone birthday. In an interview with Good Morning America, the Titanic star shared his surprising answer, after Chris Connelly asked him what he wants to do before his next birthday. 'You know what? Just one more movie,' he shared, before emphasizing again, 'One more movie.' Leo most recently starred in Killers of the Flower Moon, in another collaboration with iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The film follows the real life story of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo) who becomes responsible for the murders of a number of his Native American wife's relatives as part of a plot to inherit their lucrative oil rights in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Wendy Williams's family have insisted they have not been taking advantage of the TV star ahead of the release of a new two-part documentary, which exposes her heartbreaking 'mental and physical decline.' Where Is Wendy Williams? highlights the 59-year-old's struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, and her niece, Alex Finnie, has warned viewers that they are going to witness 'a broken woman' in the two-part film - which sees Wendy have a tearful reunion with Blac Chyna. During an exclusive interview with Deborah Roberts for ABC's Nightline, Alex claimed that Wendy's relatives were not 'benefitting from this' and were 'shut out' when they initially tried to help the mother-of-one, who she said had 'unhealthy habits.' Dismissing claims that Wendy has been 'exploited' by her family, Alex told Deborah in the segment that aired on Thursday's Good Morning America: 'I will say this, first and foremost, my aunt is the executive producer of this documentary and she said, "Now is the perfect time because I want to take ownership of my story."' Wendy Williams's heartbreaking 'physical and mental decline' will be played out in a new Lifetime documentary Wendy's niece Alex Finnie told ABC that the family had not been taking advantage or 'benefitting' from the TV star Alex spoke to Nightline's Deborah Roberts about her aunt's 'unhealthy habits' and her hopes to 'resume a career' EXCLUSIVE: What people will see is a broken woman who has had the world on her shoulders for so long and just cracked. Wendy Williams' niece opens up to @debrobertsabc about the private life of her aunt ahead of the @lifetimetv doc, "Where is Wendy Williams?" pic.twitter.com/EDM9dQaPTp Good Morning America (@GMA) February 22, 2024 When asked about Wendy's drinking, Alex said: 'In terms of being an alcoholic, I don't want to categorize her because I'm not a medical professional, but what I can say is that my aunt has had some unhealthy habits when it's come to alcohol. 'I said I wasn't going to cry because I feel like I have cried enough over the last year and a half, but what people are going to see is a broken woman who has had the world on her shoulders for so long and just cracked.' Alex explained that when filming first began, she knew 'right off the bat' that something wasn't right with Wendy: 'She didn't have to say one thing, I knew that every cylinder was not firing the way it should.' Her comments came before Wendy's team announced later Thursday that the former radio DJ has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as well as aphasia - which is a disorder that affects how someone communicates. FTD is a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. FTD can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement. During a pre-recorded interview that aired on Thursday's The View, Alex confirmed to the panel that 'there is more happening' with Wendy's health, and later on in the show, moderator Whoopi Goldberg announced the news of Wendy's diagnosis. 'We wanted to update you on some news that has just broke concerning Wendy Williams,' the Sister Act star said. 'Wendy and her care team just released a statement that she's been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontal temporal dementia. Our hearts go straight out to her.' Wendy's diagnosis came in 2023, but a year prior to that in early 2022, Wells Fargo froze her bank accounts and denied her access to her funds, assets, and claimed to the court that she was being unduly influenced and a victim of financial exploitation. Wendy is seen breaking down in the new Lifetime documentary and Alex said that she knew 'right off the bat' that something wasn't right with her aunt The 59-year-old is currently staying in a 'treatment facility,' but her family have no idea where she actually is The TV star's sister Wanda claimed that the 'people who love Wendy cannot see her' This resulted in a New York judge appointing a guardian to manage her life and finances, and when the topic of Wendy's finances was broached by Deborah, Alex quickly replied: 'I personally have not seen family taking advantage of my aunt's money, I haven't.' And when Deborah asked if it would be Wendy's family or managers who 'benefit' from the new documentary, Alex said: 'I think that's a question I can't even answer. I will say this, family benefitting from this, no, no. 'I just hope that the person that comes out of this victorious is my aunt. I know that, in talking with her, she does hope to resume a career. And my hope for her is that she does whatever she wants to do that makes her happy and that stays in the bounds of keeping her healthy.' Deborah ended the segment by confirming that Wendy was currently 'in a treatment facility,' but her family had no idea where she was and were 'feeling exasperated' with the situation, but claim the TV star 'sounds much better'. Speaking to People magazine recently, Wendy's family confirmed that they can only speak with her if she chooses to call them. 'The people who love her cannot see her,' Wendy's sister Wanda said. 'I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here?' Wendy's guardian was instituted in May 2023, but her family members say they don't know what sparked the legal action, and the guardian's identity has not been announced, while documents related to their appointment have been sealed. 'All I know is that Wendy and her team walked into the courtroom one way, and they walked out, and the family is completely excluded,' Alex's mom Wanda continued. Wendy's son, Kevin Hunter Jr. whom she shares with her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter comes under suspicion for allegedly stealing some of her money in the documentary, though he denies it on camera. 'I've never taken [money] without her consent,' he says in the the film, though Wendy's sister Wanda claims he is still financially supported by his mother. Viewers may have been grossed out by a very gory scene in Leave The World Behind - but spare a thought for leading lady Julia Roberts who was left pleading with bosses to wrap filming as she couldn't handle the stomach-churching moment. The Netflix movie, based on Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel of the same name, follows the Sanford family - mom Amanda (Julia Roberts), dad Clay (Ethan Hawke), and teenage kids Rose and Archie (Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) - as they swap Brooklyn for a last-minute vacation at a plush rental house on Long Island. But bizarre events start taking place, from an oil tanker running aground on the beach to malfunctioning cell phones, and a national emergency alert on TV. One particularly harrowing scene sees Archie losing his teeth before he then starts physically pulling them from his bloody gums - something that nearly proved too much for Julia, 56. Julia Roberts pleaded for filming to wrap because she couldn't handle another take of the stomach-churching moment in Netflix hit Leave The World Behind During one particularly harrowing scene in the Sam Esmail-directed flick Archie, played by Charlie Evans, physically pulls out the teeth from his bloody gums The realistic scene was the work of Gary Archer, the creator of SPFX teeth, who said his prosthetic work was so effective that Julia, and many of the cast and crew were unable to handle the 'disgusting' visuals. Recalling the scene, Gary - who created Mike Myers's distinctive teeth for the Austin Powers trilogy - told DailyMail.com: 'I had to be on set that day, because the breakaway teeth are held in by wax, so I had to keep resetting it for each take. 'Poor Julia Roberts, who has got a queasy stomach for dental gore, was sitting there as we're doing take after take after take and she was hating it.' The dental prosthetics expert, who famously worked on both the Interview With The Vampire movie and TV series, continued: 'She's like, "Can we be done? This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen." I'm like, "I guess a career in the dental field is not for you, Julia." 'I was over the moon for the fact that my work was having such an effect on her.' Gary continued: 'I love when somebody turns around and says what I've created is stomach churning or that they were awful to look at. 'Even on set when they're filming Leave The World Behind with the camera people and all the crew, to see them all going "That is just disgusting," made me think "Job done!"' Gary, who is known as The Godfather of FX teeth, moved from London to the US in 1976 with his father, where they ended up working as together as technicians in a dental lab. The realistic scene was the work of legendary dental technician, Gary Archer - who is known for creating the distinctive teeth for Mike Myers in the Austin Powers trilogy He revealed to DailyMail.com that his prosthetic work was so effective that Julia, and many of the cast and crew were unable to handle the 'disgusting' visuals The Netflix movie, based on Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel of the same name, follows two families trying to make sense of bizarre events amid a blackout in New York City He started creating prosthetic teeth for movies in the mid-1990s after special effects makeup legend Greg Cannom commissioned them to make a set of teeth that would fall out of somebody's mouth and into a glass of water. The scene featured in the beloved 1993 comedy, Mrs Doubtfire, and their work launched Gary's place in the upper echelons of the special effects world. Gary is known as The Godfather of FX teeth Since then, the dental technician has created the smiles for some of the most memorable characters - including Austin Powers's gnarly grin and Blade's incredible fangs. In more recent work, Gary created the deliberately 'silly' veneers Ben Affleck wore to transform into his character, Rex Stone, in wife Jennifer Lopez's new movie, This Is Me... Now. 'We got a request to make Ben as ridiculously unrecognizable as possible with porcelain white veneers,' he said. 'We made these ridiculously silly, square, big, whitest white veneers... I was reading an online article that said, "These teeth are the things of nightmares", which I thought was brilliant.' Meanwhile, Gary's work is also being highlighted in the FX series, Feud: Capote vs The Swans as he helped actress Naomi Watts replicate the smile of her character, 1970s socialite Babe Paley. The eight-episode series tells the tale of acclaimed writer Truman Capote, who ruins his friendships with a group of socialites - known as the 'Swans - in New York City, by writing a false account of their scandalous lives in his novel Answered Prayers. Gary started creating prosthetic teeth for movies in the mid-1990s and now has dental molds for nearly everyone in Hollywood thanks to his pioneering career Gary said: 'In real life, Naomi has very distinctive teeth. She's got two front teeth, very prominent centrals, and everything else is kicked back a little bit so the task was to make a set of teeth that wouldnt look like a fake set, but would resemble the lovely dentures that Babe Paley wore... and we were able to do that. 'I've been watching the series and I surprised myself. When I saw them on the screen and I thought, "God, did I actually do that because they looked so incredibly natural." They didn't look like its fake teeth.' However, not all stars enjoy wearing replications of their character's teeth as Gary revealed that Naomi's co-star Diane Lane rejected the dentures he made for her character, Nancy 'Slim' Keith. 'Nancy actually had pretty messed up teeth, it had a crossover at the front,' Gary explained. 'So I went ahead and I copied them but I don't think Diane Lane particularly liked the look of them - even though they were historically correct.' He added: 'I think she felt that they took away from her character, it didn't make her look as elegant as perhaps Diane wanted them. The producers gave the okay for her not to wear them.' Oti Mabuse has admitted she has found motherhood to be 'new level of exhaustion' during Thursday's installment of This Morning. The Dancing On Ice judge, 33, who welcomed her baby daughter in December 2023 with her husband Marius Lepure, opened up about her first few months as a new mother. Despite the tiredness, Oti shared she feels the upmost 'gratitude' to wake up everyday to see her baby daughter. Speaking to hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, she said: 'It's a new level of exhaustion that you learn to work with but it is the most amazing thing ever what you wake up to in the morning and you see your little babies face. 'And you are just like wow, I absolutely love you. I love motherhood, I love how it feels, I love that just new feeling of what I need to become to be strong for you and the gratitude that I have to actually have a baby girl.' Oti Mabuse, 33, has admitted she has found motherhood to be 'new level of exhaustion' during Thursday's installment of This Morning The Dancing On Ice judge, who welcomed her baby daughter in December 2023 with her husband Marius Lepure, opened up about her first few months as a new mother 'She was in the NICU for about six weeks, she came two months early, which was totally unexpected. 'And actually I gave birth at the UCLH, it was so amazing the NHS and I've said this so many times. I don't usually get sick so I'm never usually in hospital and so I never really have to use the NHS that much but then I really needed them and they were incredible. We were taken care of so much.' The new mum recently opened up about the 'traumatic' birth explaining that her daughter was born 'very premature'. The star detailed her 16 hour labour and said her daughter, who she has not revealed the name of, was whisked away straight after the birth for tests. Oti, whose husband is fellow dancer Marius, was diagnosed with sepsis during the birth and her daughter had infections as a result, leading to a six week stay in NICU. 'She was very premature, she came really, really early - unexpected premature which was a big, big shock,' she told the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast. 'Going through that emotional trauma that you go through when you have a premature baby, and then being in hospital with the little one for six weeks and then finally coming out and having her home with friends and family over Christmas was really nice.' Despite the tiredness, Oti shared she feels the upmost 'gratitude' to wake up everyday to see her baby daughter Speaking to hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, she said: 'It's a new level of exhaustion that you learn to work with but it is the most amazing thing ever what you wake up to in the morning and you see your little babies face' She added: 'And you are just like wow, I absolutely love you. I love motherhood, I love how it feels, I love that just new feeling of what I need to become to be strong for you and the gratitude that I have to actually have a baby girl' The new mum recently opened up about the 'traumatic' birth explaining that her daughter was born 'very premature' Oti, whose husband is fellow dancer Marius, was diagnosed with sepsis during the birth and her daughter had infections as a result, leading to a six week stay in NICU Oti said her baby - who was born last autumn in a British hospital - was in 'critical' condition in a 'traumatic' first six weeks. 'She had infections because it turned out I had sepsis and it's something that was missed or not tested for,' she explained. However, she was very thankful to the care her baby received. 'The NHS, midwives, doctors and consultants were amazing,' she added. Despite an initially seamless pregnancy where she felt 'sexy', 'empowered' and saw her skin 'glowing', she was told she had gestational diabetes at 28 weeks, before the premature birth. 'When I saw her for the first time, shocked that I had done it, and she was the most beautiful human being I had ever seen in my life - gorgeous,' she said. 'In that moment when you're so happy and feeling elated and it took 16 hours, and then they get taken away. 'Because now, born really tiny, really small, they had to check for infections, if her lungs are good enough, if she can eat on her own, if all her organs have developed and she's well enough.' Sofia Richie Grainge is the latest celebrity to launch her own personally branded smoothie at Erewhon. The 25-year-old star shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of her Sweet Cherry Smoothie on TikTok. She captioned the video: 'BTS of my @ErewhonMarket Sweet Cherry Smoothieavailable now. Its, as I say, chefs kiss,' she said after whipping up the smoothie. The smoothie is available at Erewhon tonic bars now through March 15 for $21 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Every Mother Counts. The pregnant mom-to-be who revealed she is having a baby girl with husband Elliot Grainge glowed in a unique red and black coat over a white t-shirt and black jeans. Sofia Richie Grainge is the latest celebrity to launch her own personally branded smoothie at Erewhon Sofia, 25, shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of her Sweet Cherry Smoothie on TikTok The model's long, honey blonde hair was parted in the middle and done in loose, beachy waves. She kept her makeup looking natural with a swipe of watermelon-colored lipstick. Sofia joins Olivia Rodrigo, Hailey Bieber and Gisele Bundchen as one of the few to launch their own limited-time smoothie at the cult favorite grocery store in Los Angeles. Erewhon's Instagram account listed the ingredients for the Sweet Cherry Smoothie by Sofia Richie Grainge. The sweet drink is made of organic unsweetened almond MALK, organic tart cherry juice, cowboy vanilla colostrum, CALM magnesium powder, organic dark sweet cherries, dark organic pure maple syrup, organic pineapple, organic avocado, organic coconut cream, and organic pitaya powder. Sofia shared a cute picture to her Instagram promoting her smoothie. She stood in the Santa Monica Erewhon holding a bowl of cherries and looking off the the side with a smirk on her face. 'My @erewhon Sweet Cherry Smoothie is officially here. We went through so many different recipes and revisions to make it perfectcant wait to hear what you guys think x,' she captioned the carousel. 'Yum,' Paris Hilton, 43, commented, adding a cherry emoji like almost everyone else who commented, including model Christy Turlington, 55, who wrote: 'Thanks Mama!!!' She captioned the video: ' BTS of my @ErewhonMarket Sweet Cherry Smoothieavailable now. Its, as I say, chefs kiss,' she said after whipping up the smoothie The pregnant mom-to-be glowed in a unique red and black coat over a white t-shirt and black jeans The smoothie is available at Erewhon tonic bars now through March 15 for $21 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Every Mother Counts Sofia joins Olivia Rodrigo , Hailey Bieber and Gisele Bundchen as one of the few to launch their own limited-time smoothie at the cult favorite grocery store in Los Angeles Erewhon's Instagram account listed the ingredients for the Sweet Cherry Smoothie by Sofia Richie Grainge The sweet drink is made of organic unsweetened almond MALK, organic tart cherry juice, cowboy vanilla colostrum, CALM magnesium powder, organic dark sweet cherries, dark organic pure maple syrup, organic pineapple, organic avocado, organic coconut cream, and organic pitaya powder The model shared BTS snaps from her Erewhon photoshoot She launched her smootie at Erewhon in Santa Monica Paris Hilton also showed her appreciation and support of Richie, calling the smoothie 'Yum' In an interview with Vogue , the daughter of Lionel Richie, 74, talked about her pregnancy, saying: 'Ive learned more in the past six months than I have in my entire life' The star also revealed the gender of her 'Gemini baby' saying: 'She's growing pretty fast, so [the due date] is a bit up in the air' In an interview with Vogue, the daughter of Lionel Richie, 74, talked about her pregnancy, saying: 'Ive learned more in the past six months than I have in my entire life.' The star also revealed the gender of her 'Gemini baby' saying: 'She's growing pretty fast, so [the due date] is a bit up in the air.' Sofia revealed she found out about her pregnancy very, very early when she was in Milan for fashion week and attending the Prada shoq. 'I was about four weeks pregnant. I was on a trip to Milan for fashion week, and I was going to the Prada show. I was doing a really quick 24-hour turnaround, and I felt terrible but didnt think much of it. I thought it was jet lag,' she explained. Their careers have followed an undeniably similar upward trajectory, but Oscar-winners Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett claim fans often confuse them when they're out in public. Both actresses emerged in the 1990s, with British star Winslet finding fame as lovelorn teenager Rose DeWitt Bukater in James Cameron's epic Titanic, while Blanchett cracked Hollywood following her titular role in royal biopic Elizabeth. The pair have since won numerous accolades for their onscreen achievements, but they admit fans frequently confuse one with the other despite them sharing few facial similarities. Appearing on Friday's edition of The Graham Norton Show, Blanchett, 54, said: 'I get it all they time. People will say, "Is it you? Is it you?" and I say, "Yes I think so." and then they say, "I loved you in Titanic."' Sharing a similar public encounter, Winslet, 48, added: 'I get people coming up to me saying, I loved you in Elizabeth. It happens a lot.' Their careers have followed an undeniably similar upward trajectory, but Oscar-winners Kate Winslet (left) and Cate Blanchett (right) claim fans often confuse them when they're out in public Poll Do YOU think Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett look alike? YES NO Do YOU think Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett look alike? YES 71 votes NO 421 votes Now share your opinion The actress was on hand to discuss her latest role in satirical drama The Regime, a six-episode series depicting a year within the palace of a crumbling authoritarian regime. Discussing her role as Elena Vernham, the chancellor of a fictional autocracy, she said: 'I never feel confident. It was completely terrifying. 'I have never played a character like this before. She is so absurd and really just nuts. 'I knew that I was going to have to try and find a way to do something I have never done before. Every single day I was like, "Come on, you can do it." It was such a wild ride.' The actress also admitted it was a relief to back on a conventional set after spending three years working around restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic. She said: 'After COVID, being in a pack of actors was overwhelming we had all missed that sense of just playing when you get into a room and fire off each other. It was just a great experience.' Talking about her own new film, Australian period drama The New Boy - in which she plays a nun - Blanchett said: 'I am fascinated by the clash of indigenous spirituality and the industrial complex that is Catholicism. 'I always wanted to play a nun, and this is my first one. I hope its not my last.' The pair were on hand to discuss their latest TV and film projects with the Irish presenter (L-R) Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett,Graham Norton, Dua Lipa, Adrian Lester and Justin Timberlake on Friday's instalment of the show Asked about the beauty of the Australia scenery in the film, she added: 'It is incredible. The landscape is a real character, its extraordinary. 'We were in the middle of nowhere and I love how benign the landscape look, that you can walk into long grass and not think about anything. 'In reality, the fear of walking into a wheat field and stepping on a Brown snake is huge, yet you have to run with spiritual joy. Now that is acting! The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One, Friday 23rd February 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer. Dua Lipa has opened up about her experience of moving to London after she left her family home in Kosovo when she was just 15-years-old. Originally born in London to Kosovar-Albanian parents who fled conflict and political instability in the Balkans, Dua left the UK in 2008 when her family moved to Pristina after Kosovo declared independence. However after a few years the star in the making decided to bravely return to the UK alone at just 15 to pursue her dreams of pop stardom. Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, which is due to air on Friday, Dua, 29, revealed how she really felt about moving back to London on her own. She explained: 'I moved back to London from Kosovo on my own when I was 15 because there were more opportunities in music in London. It was a good time.' Dua Lipa, 29, has revealed how she REALLY felt moving to London alone when she was just 15 while her family stayed behind in Kosovo Dua and her family left the UK in 2008 when her family moved to Pristina after Kosovo declared independence. However at just 15 (pictured) she decided to bravely return to the UK alone to pursue her dreams of pop stardom Asked how she felt making such a big move at such a young age, the hitmaker revealed that despite their physical absence she still felt incredibly supported by her family. 'I am very close to my parents who put a lot of trust in me, so I was as good as possible. My family keeps me grounded in all the madness,' revealed Dua. Dua returned to the UK in 2014 as she believed she needed to move if she wanted to break the international music market. Once back in London she moved in with an older family friend in Camden and attended Parliament Hill School where she achieved four A-Levels in Politics, Psychology, English and Media Studies. Despite the distance, Dua remained close to her family and her mother even flew to London for parents' evenings. Alongside school and the odd modelling job for ASOS and Topshop, the teenager was taking weekend classes at Sylvia Young Theatre School, whose alumni include Billie Piper, Amy Winehouse and Keeley Hawes, and filming covers of pop songs for YouTube and SoundCloud. Eventually her videos caught the eye of Ben Mawson at Tap Management, which represents Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey and Little Mix's Leigh-Ann Pinnock. Her original song Hotter Than Hell, which appeared on her self-titled debut album, led to her signing with Warner Bros. Records in 2014. Appearing on The Graham Norton show, the hitmaker revealed that despite their physical absence she still felt incredibly supported by her family Once back in London she moved in with an older family friend in Camden and attended Parliament Hill School where she achieved four A-Levels in Politics, Psychology, English and Media Studies (pictured age 12) Dua was joined by Oscar-winning actresses Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett, Hustle star Adrian Lester, and pop superstar Justin Timberlake (L-R) on The Graham Norton Show which is due to air on Friday Dua with her mother Anesa, brother Gjin, sister Rina and father Dukagjin in 2019 Dua also talked about her appearance in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, joking: 'It's very embarrassing to talk about it while sitting on a sofa with major legendary actors, but I am very proud of it, and it was so much fun' And it was clearly the right decision as Dua has since toured the world with a No.1 album, picked up three Grammy awards, and six Brit awards. Discussing her latest work and the release of a second single ahead of a new album, she said: 'An album will be out soonish. I haven't announced the title yet, but a big part of it will be more organic with live instrumentation.' Joined by Oscar-winning actresses Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett, Hustle star Adrian Lester, and pop superstar Justin Timberlake, Dua also talked about her appearance in Greta Gerwig's Barbie. She joked: 'It's very embarrassing to talk about it while sitting on a sofa with major legendary actors, but I am very proud of it, and it was so much fun.' Talking about the hit song Dance the Night, she said: 'Initially we wrote it based on what Greta told us about the film and we were leaning towards Barbie's existential crisis and thoughts of death. It was quite dark. 'Then we got to see the film and I had changed it up a bit, so we decided to write the song like a score following the dance moves. The whole soundtrack is amazing.' The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 23rd February 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer. Married At First Sight UK's Tasha Jay has slammed Katie Price for stealing Ella Morgan's 'slopping seconds', her ex-boyfriend JJ Slater. The MAFS star, 25, who appeared on the show with Ella and JJ, shed light on what she really thinks about Katie and JJ's new romance - which recently just stepped up an notch. The former glamour model, 45, confirmed her romance with John Joe, 31, earlier this month as they stepped out in public together for the first time. JJ's ex Ella, 29, has previously slammed the mother-of-five for 'breaking girl code' by hooking up with her ex. Speaking on FUBAR Radio with Bobby Norris and Ellen Coughlan, Tasha said: 'Katie reached out to Ella [Morgan] before Katie had met JJ. Katie was so lovely to Ella and so supportive and giving her so many compliments, just being a genuine person. Married At First Sight UK's Tasha Jay (L), 25, has slammed Katie Price, 45, for stealing Ella Morgan's (R), 29, 'slopping seconds', her ex JJ Slater, 31 The former glamour model confirmed her romance with John Joe earlier this month as they stepped out in public together for the first time 'Then next thing you know shes got her sloppy seconds. Shes not heartbroken and crying into a tub of Ben and Jerrys but it was a bit of a kick in the teeth at first. 'Its early days and theyre talking about babies and stuff now apparently so Im just a bit confused. She continued: 'I do love JJ, we got on like a house on fire when we were filming but I just dont know. I mean Katie is his type, so he says. But my only thing is, the reasons that he didnt want to be with Ella, Katie does a lot of those things. 'Thats the one thing thats confused me. Ella is quite an out there person anyway, but when shes had a drink shes a bit more out there. 'And Id say Katie is quite out there too. I thought "when Ella was doing this it was an issue, but now its not an issue". They were acting very similar.' After pictures emerged of the Katie and JJ looking close, sources close to Ella say the reality star, who is transgender, is furious and feels 'betrayed' as she had become good friends with Katie. Insiders told The Sun: 'Ella is fuming and feels really betrayed by Katie for talking to her ex JJ. Ella and Katie have become friends over recent months... 'So it surprised her that Katie would do that. She doesn't have any feelings for JJ, she's just livid that Katie went behind her back and broke girl code.' The MAFS star, (pictured) who appeared on the show with Ella and JJ, shed light on what she really thinks about Katie and JJ's new romance - which recently just stepped up an notch JJ's ex Ella has previously slammed the mother-of-five for 'breaking girl code' by hooking up with her ex (Ella and JJ pictured on MAFS) Speaking on FUBAR Radio with Bobby Norris and Ellen Coughlan, Tasha said: 'Katie reached out to Ella [Morgan] before Katie had met JJ. Katie was so lovely to Ella and so supportive and giving her so many compliments, just being a genuine person' She added: 'Then next thing you know shes got her sloppy seconds. Shes not heartbroken and crying into a tub of Ben and Jerrys but it was a bit of a kick in the teeth at first' Katie has reportedly introduced her new boyfriend JJ to some of her children as the couple's romance heats up Katie has five children - Harvey, 21, Junior, 18, Princess, 16, nine-year-old Jett and eight-year-old Bunny Katie has reportedly introduced her new boyfriend JJ to some of her children as the couple's romance heats up. Katie has five children - Harvey, 21, Junior, 18, Princess, 16, Jett, nine, and Bunny, eight. It appears her and JJ have taken their relationship to the next level with the reality star being introduced to Jett and Bunny, according to The Sun. Katie and JJ jetted off on a romantic Bulgarian ski trip, of which they exclusively shared snaps with MailOnline on Friday. A source said: 'Katie's already introduced JJ to her youngest kids. It's so important to her that he gets along with them as they're a huge part of her life. 'They've been talking for a while but it seems like it's already getting serious.' MailOnline have reached out to representatives for comment. Katie hit the slopes in in a colourful snow suit last week, while JJ opted for a grey padded jacket and trousers for the couple's first trip together. However Katie's ex Carl Woods, 35, who had been in an on/off relationship with Katie since 2021, shared a screenshot of a text he claimed was from Katie, sent shortly before her trip. Katie and Carl were in a turbulent relationship since July 2020, they were last seen together on December 21 before confirming their split Carl, 35, who had been in an on/off relationship with Katie since 2021, shared a screenshot of a text he claimed was from Katie, sent shortly before her trip The single X appeared to be a kiss, with a confused Carl replying: 'A kiss, you fry my brain'. Earlier this month Katie made a dig at her 'underserving' exes amid her recent confirmed split from Carl. Katie had spoken of marrying and starting a family with Carl many times in recent years but she announced she had split from him as she took to social media while seeing the New Year in with her pal Kerry Katona. Taking to her Instagram story, the post read: 'Girl, look at you. Everything that's happened in your life, you've handled it like a boss. 'You work hard, you are strong, you are ambitious, you are resilient. You are genuine and loyal. 'Anyone who doesn't value what you bring to the table, doesn't deserve you. You are a Queen.' As well as her recent split from Carl after the pair's on-off relationship, Katie also has three ex-husbands, Peter Andre, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler. Kirsten Dunst seemed in high spirits as she stepped out in a long grey wool coat during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday. The actress, 41, looked incredible as she tucked an eye catching red jumper into a pair of blue wide legged cropped jeans. She kept comfortable in a pair of black loafers and toted her belongings around in a coordinated handbag. The Spider Man star cut a low key figure as she donned a pair of black stylish sunglasses and accessorised with a pair of gold hoop earrings. Stylish her long blonde tresses in a neat up do, Kirsten flashed her gorgeous smile as she exited her hotel. Kirsten Dunst seemed in high spirits as she stepped out in a long grey wool coat during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday The actress, 41, looked incredible as she tucked an eye catching red jumper into a pair of blue wide legged cropped jeans It comes after Kirsten supported her husband Jesse Plemons last month at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. She attended the awards ceremony at the Peacock Theatre along with Jesse, 35, who was nominated for his work in the miniseries Love & Death. Kirsten looked lovely in a dark purple dress with small sleeves and a tail as she joined the parade of stylish stars at the awards ceremony. She had her blonde hair parted on the side and pulled back behind her ears. Kirsten accessorized with stud earrings and added a pop of color with bright red lipstick. Jesse appeared quite dapper in a classic black tuxedo and had his blonde hair parted on the side and swept over. The Dallas native sported some facial stubble and smiled while posing with his wife on the carpet. Jesse was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his work in the miniseries Love & Death. The Spider Man star cut a low key figure as she donned a pair of black stylish sunglasses and accessorised with a pair of gold hoop earrings Stylish her long blonde tresses in a neat up do, Kirsten flashed her gorgeous smile as she exited her hotel It comes after Kirsten supported her husband Jesse Plemons last month at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles He was up against Murray Bartlett, 'Welcome to Chippendales'; Richard Jenkins, 'Dahmer -- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story'; Joseph Lee, 'Beef'; Ray Liotta, 'Black Bird'; Young Mazino, 'Beef' and winner Paul Walter Hauser 'Black Bird'. The HBO Max series Love & Death was based on the true story of Candy Montgomery and starred Elizabeth Olsen, 34, as the Texas housewife who had a deadly affair in the late 1970s. Jesse also was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for his work in Love & Death. The award went to English actor Jonathan Bailey, 35, for his portrayal of Tim Laughlin in the Showtime series Fellow Travelers. Kirsten and Jesse got married in July 2002 and have sons Ennis, five, and James, two, together. Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard are starring in a new film Memory which will be released in UK and Irish cinemas from February 23 2024. The feature is centered on a social worker - played by actress Jessica, 46, - whose stable life is disrupted when she reconnects with an old high school classmate - played by Peter, 52. The film premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival where it was nominated for the Golden Lion for Best Film and won Best Actor for Peter. Written and directed by Michel Franco (Sundown, New Order, April's Daughter, Chronic, After Lucia) and produced by Michel Franco, Erendira Nunez Larios, Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery the film has garnered high critical praise. It was surrounded by awards buzz as it commenced its theatrical release on December 22 in the US. Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard are starring in a new film Memory which will be released in UK and Irish cinemas from February 23 2024 The feature is centered on a social worker - played by actress Jessica, 46, - whose stable life is disrupted when she reconnects with an old high school classmate - played by Peter, 52 The film premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival In Competition where it was nominated for the Golden Lion for Best Film and won Best Actor for Peter Sylvia (Jessica) is a social worker who leads a simple and structured life: her daughter, her job, her AA meetings. This is blown open when Saul (Peter) follows her home from their high school reunion. Their surprise encounter will profoundly impact both of them as they open the door to the past. The trailer shows the pair meeting and how their lives become intertwined with each other afterwards. In the teaser, Sylvia asks Saul: 'Why did you follow me home from the party? Or do you only remember when it's convenient?' The effects of the dementia are displayed through a series of scenes that see Sarsgaard's character perplexed. Founders of Bohemia Media, Phil Hunt and Lucy Fenton said: 'We are delighted to be sharing this superbly acted and compassionately told story, by Mexican film-maker Michel Franco. 'Exploring the vulnerability of our memories and the desire for human connection in spite of traumatic history, MEMORY is a welcome addition to our slate of films which share experiences from underrepresented and marginalised voices.' Sylvia (Jessica) is a social worker who leads a simple and structured life: her daughter, her job, her AA meetings This is blown open when Saul (Peter) follows her home from their high school reunion (seen at the subway as she goes home) Their surprise encounter at the reunion will profoundly impact both of them as they open the door to the past Deadline initially revealed Jessica and Peter were attached to the project in May of 2022. Physical production on the film took place in New York, and its team wrapped last May. The feature has received widespread critical acclaim, and it holds a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For the film, Jessica went without a makeup team, did not have a personal trailer, and secured her own wardrobe for the New York film set. Memory is Jessica's first performance since her Oscar-winning turn in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye. 'We had the Oscars, and I won for Tammy Faye, and then right after that, I showed up on set to do Memory. 'Michel said that a lot of people told him, 'Oh Jessica is going to leave your film because she just won an Oscar,' she later explained. MEMORY is in UK and Irish cinemas from February 23 2024 In the teaser, Sylvia asks Saul: 'Why did you follow me home from the party? Or do you only remember when it's convenient?' The effects of the dementia are displayed through a series of scenes that see Sarsgaard's character perplexed Eva Mendes announced that she will be releasing a children's book, entitled Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, in a post that was shared on her Instagram account on Thursday. The 49-year-old performer revealed the cover art by Abbey Bryant that showed a mom hugging her child. The book will make its official debut on September 17. The actress also shared a rare flashback photo that showed her holding one of her daughters she shares with partner Ryan Gosling; together the actors have Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, seven. Mendes went on to write a short message in her post's caption, where she described Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries as 'a true labor of love.' The book will follow a young girl who becomes afraid of the monsters under her bed and overcomes her fears with the help of her mother. Eva Mendes announced that she will be releasing a children's book, entitled Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, in a post that was shared on her Instagram account on Thursday The actress also shared a rare flashback photo that showed her holding one of her daughters that she shares with partner Ryan Gosling; together the actors have Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, seven The cast member of The Other Guys wrote that 'being the Mami to my two little girls' served as the primary inspiration for her book in her post's caption. Mendes also spoke to People and described the project as 'a love letter to my kids and yours.' The Training Day actress went on to compare her household to the one featured in her upcoming book. 'At my home and in Desi's, we try to deal with the never-ending worries and anxieties that we all have, so those negative thoughts don't take over and dominate,' she said. The performer then spoke about how she was 'especially excited that [Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries] will be available in English and in Spanish.' Mendes also stated that she had gained hands-on experience in calming children down at night during her daughters' early years. 'Inspired by our own nightly events with my daughters, Desi and Mami learn from each other on facing our monsters whether under our bed or in our head,' she said. The actress shares her daughters Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, seven, with her longtime partner, Ryan Gosling. She also revealed that Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries would make its official debut on September 17 The actress shares her daughters Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, seven, with her longtime partner, Ryan Gosling; seen in their 2012 film The Place Beyond the Pines with a baby costar The performer and the 43-year-old actor initially met while costarring in the 2011 feature The Place Beyond the Pines. The Barbie star spoke about their relationship during a 2023 interview with GQ, during which he stated that, after playing they played a family in the film, he 'didn't want to have kids without her.' Mendes and Gosling went on to start a family of their own with Esmerelda's birth, which took place in September of 2014. The 2 Fast 2 Furious actress and her partner waited until 2016 before they welcomed Amada. John Cena has shocked his fan base by announcing on Thursday that he has joined the adult-themed subscription platform OnlyFans. Made popular by porn stars, OnlyFans also hosts the work of other content creators, such as physical fitness experts and musicians - as well as celebrities like Denise Richards and her daughter Sami Sheen. It seemed as though the Argylle actor, 46, and former WWE wrestler was following in the same footsteps as he teased his 14million followers: 'like you've never seen me before. Subscribe at the link in bio. @onlyfans' However, all was not what it appeared to be as the content posted was tongue-in-cheek, with a video graphic of two office fans blowing in opposite directions. John Cena joins OnlyFans! Hunky actor shocks fans by teasing content 'like you've never seen me before' - but there's a catch... (Pictured; 2009) On closer inspection, dedicated Cena fans realized that it was actually a ploy to promote his new comedy Ricky Stanicky - in which he stars alongside Zac Efron. While the account has a picture of Cena, the bio reads: 'You've found the verified OnlyFans account for Ricky Stanicky; renowned.' The comedy - helmed by Peter Farrelly - is about three childhood pals who create an imaginary friend Ricky Stanicky - who comes to life in the film and is played by Cena. Fans will have been forgiven for falling for the prank, considering Cena has not been shy throughout his career in showing off his impressive physique. On Wednesday, Cena appeared on SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show to promote the comedy, which is available on Amazon Prime Video on March 7. Cena joined Howard in SiriusXMs Miami studios to talk about everything from his rocky road to W.W.E. stardom to his big screen versatility as both a comedic actor, starring role in Ricky Stanicky, and a skull-smashing action hero in projects like Fast X and The Peacemaker. On closer inspection, dedicated Cena fans realized that it was actually a ploy to promote his new comedy Ricky Stanicky - starring alongside Zac Efron. On Wednesday, Cena appeared on SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show to promote the comedy, which is available on Amazon Prime Video on March 7 When it came to his infamous feud with that other iconic wrestler turned actor, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, however, Cena was more interested than mending fences. 'It became a real feud between you and The Rock?' Howard asked him. 'Oh my god, yeah,' John responded. 'To me, it was [like], "I'm going to jab this guy because I have nothing to lose. I have all the leverage... My angle came from the fact that he was openly saying, 'I love the W.W.E.' 'And I was like, Man, if you love it, why arent you here?' What a stupid thing [of me] to say, he continued, adding, Im so sorry because he had a lot to lose. The prank could come as a blow to fans expecting the real thing He's no stranger to getting his clothes off either Cena stripped off at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium just last year "I can sit across from you now and say I love the W.W.E., but 'Smackdown' is in two days and Im not going to be there," he told Howard, adding, "And now I have to eat a bunch of shit and say, 'F**k, I was wrong, I'm sorry.;" Cena and The Rock grew further and further apart ahead of Wrestlemania in 2012, but in the end it was the work they did preparing to fight each other that saved their relationship. "He is so professional and so meticulous and so we incorporated every one of his great ideas into the match. Even the very end, where I get too cocky and ended up losing, Cena recounted, saying that after losing cleanly to The Rock in the ring he apologized both to The Rock and his family. Now the two are good friends. "I text him all the time. He will send me voice messages and he will send me texts," John said. "He truly is in a universe of his own and now, having to try to tread in some of his wake, I see exactly how difficult some of that isand Im not even one hundredth of his level." Iris Law looked stunning as she arrived at the Tom Ford show during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday. The model, 23, who was joined by Eva Green at the event, dazzled in a gold semi-sheer mini dress. The metallic number featured a tasseled skirt and long sleeves, with Iris completing her look with heels and huge tinted sunglasses. Meanwhile, Eva, 43, put on an elegant display in a black jumpsuit with a plunging key-hole neckline. The actress accessorised her outfit with a chunky leather belt and a pair of matching cuff bracelets. Iris Law, 23, looked stunning as she arrived at the Tom Ford show during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday She was joined by Eva Green, 43, at the event The likes of Uma Thurman, Amber Valletta, Sam Claflin, Sharon Stone and Mark Ronson joined the star-studded guest list. Amber wore a long slinky black gown, also opting for a chunky belt and cuff bracelets. Actress Uma looked sophisticated in a shimmering blazer and matching trousers with a pair of strappy heels. Milan Fashion Week launched on Wednesday with presentations from Iceberg and Antonio Marras, Diesel, Del Core, Roberto Cavalli, Etro and a debut from Marco De Vincenzo scheduled to take place throughout the day. On Thursday, Max Mara, Prada, Emporio Armani, and Moschino will dominate proceedings at Milan's the Museo della Permanente. Tods, Blumarine, Sportmax, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Gucci, Marni, Sunnei, MSGM, Versace, Philipp Plein, Ferrari, Ferragamo, Jil Sander, Missoni, Bally, and Bottega Veneta are also expected to showcase new collections over the course of the week. Global retailers said they were hoping to place orders for bold, eye-catching styles at Milan Fashion Week for the autumn 2024 season, despite a recent trend for so-called "quiet luxury" designs characterized by understated elegance. The clothing trade show, which starts on Tuesday, following New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week this month, includes big names such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace. Iris dazzled in a gold semi-sheer mini dress Iris looked incredible in a glitzy mini dress with shoulder-pads as she posed at the star-studded catwalk The model put on a very daring display in a sheer risque ensemble Meanwhile, Eva put on an elegant display in a black jumpsuit with a plunging key-hole neckline The actress accessorised her outfit with a chunky leather belt and a pair of matching cuff bracelets Also in attendance was Amber Valletta, 50, who wore a long slinky black gown The model stunned as she topped off her look with a smoky eyeshadow Sam Claflin looked trendy in a knitted deep V-neck top with a long wool coat Despite the late night, he rocked square framed sunglasses Uma Thurman looked sophisticated in a shimmering blazer and trousers The actress posed for a photo, draping a long trench coat over her shoulders She wowed in her pinstripe suit that she teamed with a pair of strappy heels Uma exuded glamour in a pinstripe suit and elevated her height with strappy black heels Sharon Stone showed off her age-defying looks She wore a black wool coat layered over a chiffon dress Dua Lipa's new boyfriend Callum Turner was in attendance arriving at the event solo The actor looked incredibly dapper in black suit trousers and a leather jacket Jasmine Tookes exuded glamour in an elegant khaki green satin dress The model looked effortlessly stylish in an elegant backless satin dress Rahi Chadda oozed sophistication at the star-studded event Bobby Gillespie rocked a leather trench and shades The Primal Scream frontman was joined by his son Lux (left) and a guest Mark Ronson was seen out and about as he departed the Hotel Palazzo Parigi ahead of the festivities The National Chamber for Italian Fashion said this year's event is expected to attract more international buyers than it did before the pandemic, but did not provide figures. Global luxury demand has settled down after a strong post-pandemic rebound, with consultancy firm Bain forecasting a "probable scenario" of a 1% to 4% growth in sales this year. 'After a period where brands were focused on classicism and simplicity, on "quiet luxury" and timeless products, I expect a move towards more pronounced creativity,' said Federica Montelli, fashion consultant and former head of fashion at Italian high-end department store chain Rinascente. 'Given smaller retailers' budgets, I hope they can find a push to go further (over that budget),' she added. Among those buyers will be Bosse Myhr, director of womenswear at British luxury department store chain Selfridges. Fur coats and gold colours were seen on the runway Power suits in purple were also a common theme Myhr said he hopes to see a "fashion moment" for Belgian designer Glenn Martens of Diesel. The Italian streetwear brand sells shimmery denim jackets for $995 and stretched leather bootcut trousers for $950. Some shoppers are tightening their spending on luxury goods amid an economic slowdown and rising prices, said Federico Giglio, chief executive of Giglio.com, an Italy-based retailer of high-end looks from Versace and Valentino, among other brands. Given that, 'what we expect from the collections is that designers come up with something new, which can motivate people to spend,' he added. Brandi Glanville's attorney has claimed she was 'used and abused by NBC, Bravo, Warner Bros., and Shed Media' as they accused the network of 'hiding evidence' that would clear her name in an explosive new legal letter threatening a lawsuit. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 51, has decided to 'wage a public reputational war' against the network after they 'silenced' her in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against Glanville by her Ultimate Girls' Trip costar Caroline Manzo. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 62, made headlines in 2023 when she alleged that Glanville kissed her without consent and even 'forced her vagina against her back' during filming of the Housewives spin off show in Morocco. Last month, Manzo, 62, officially filed to sue Bravo over her claim that production encouraged Glanville to sexually harass. Now, in a new legal demand, Glanville's attorney's appear to suggest Manzo is lying, insisting no assault took place, as they demand the network release to them 'all existing documents and data' pertaining to the accusations. 'Ms. Glanville and Ms. Manzo engaged in "dirty dancing," flirting, and playful touching,' the letter reads. 'Throughout the night, they shared a couple of kisses. Brandi Glanville's attorney claims that the TV star has been 'used and abused by Bravo' and they are accusing the network of 'hiding evidence' that would clear her name in a new legal letter Real Housewives of New Jersey star Caroline Manzo, 62, is suing Bravo and claims production encouraged Glanville to sexually harass her during filming the Housewives spinoff Ultimate Girls Trip 'We have heard about a supposed "bathroom incident" through press leaks, but Shed Media has repeatedly refused to allow Ms. Glanville or her counsel to see the footage in question; there is no truth to any allegations of impropriety'. The letter continued: 'It is apparent some allegation was made; however, neither the nature nor the source of that allegation has been clarified by NBC, Shed Media, or Warner Bros. 'We can glean from the press coverageseeded by malicious and deliberate leaksthat Ms. Manzo formally accused Ms. Glanville of sexual misconduct and that Ms. Glanville was sent home as a result.' They continued: 'It bears emphasis that Ms. Glanville and Ms. Manzo were never alone together; anything that happened took place in the presence of the cast and crew. All the events were captured on camera or picked up via microphone.' Glanville's legal team maintain her innocence and insist that the TV star was never alone with Manzo, and that her costar 'did not manifest a lack of consent at any point.' The letter also sees Glanville's reps accuse Manzo of 'feeding a defamatory narrative' to the media and of being the source behind the press leaks regarding the claims. The letter states: 'We have every reason to believe that Ms. Manzo, with the tacit or express support of Bravo and Shed Media, is the source of the early and voluminous press leaks that began immediately upon Ms. Glanvilles return home. 'Yet Ms. Glanville was admonished to remain entirely silent and to refrain from defending herself. She was further told that assuming her compliance with that directive, she would have the opportunity to work for Shed Media/Warner Bros. again on the condition that she completes 6-months of outpatient therapy with a Warner Bros.-affiliated therapist. Ms. Glanville did so. 'It became apparent afterward, however, that this was a false promise intended to ensure Ms. Glanvilles silence.' Glanville previously revealed that her face was left disfigured due to stress-induced angioedema - a condition which causes swelling under the skin The star, pictured left in 2017, has been working with a plastic surgeon to conquer her condition - pictured right in 2024 It continues: 'All the while, Ms. Manzo, Bravo, and Shed Media were feeding a defamatory narrative that destroyed Ms. Glanvilles reputation, employment prospects, mental health, and financial stability and caused untold harm to Ms. Glanville and her family.' In a statement shared with DailyMail.com, attorney Bryan Freedman called for other 'victims' of Bravo and NBC to reach out to their team and join the 'fight' against the network. He wrote: 'This is yet another example of the abusive practices of the reality TV industry. Mark Geragos and I have heard from thousands of current and former cast members on reality shows about the physical and emotional harm inflicted on them by virtue of their participation. NBC, Bravo, Warner Bros., and Shed Media intentionally obscure their legal rights, bind them to illegal contracts, and knowingly cause them to suffer in silence. 'We know there are untold numbers of innocent victims who have yet to tell their stories or seek legal redress. We encourage all of them to contact us and join our growing team as we fight for change in this sordid industry.' The letter highlighted how Glanville has been plagued with health issues ever since Manzo's allegations went public, and said she has been in 'dire straits' after Bravo tried to 'humiliate and ruin her publicly.' The reality star has talked openly about how her face was left disfigured due to stress-induced angioedema - a condition which causes swelling under the skin Glanville's team accuses the network of having a 'reckless disregard for the mental and emotional health' of employees - adding that Glanville has been treated like a 'sacrificial lamb' and has faced 'social and economic death.' They are seeking evidence from the network's servers, storage, personal computers, portable systems. The legal letter warns that 'Ms. Glanville is uniquely positioned to reveal more revelations' and is just one of thousands of stars to come forward against the network in recent years. In her lawsuit, Manzo alleged that the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum kissed her without consent and even 'forced her vagina against her back' Glanville insists she is innocent and 'vehemently denies any wrongdoing' - pictured in 2009 TMZ previously reported that Manzo is suing Bravo and claimed production plied them with alcohol as they filmed the spin-off in Morocco in January 2023. According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Manzo claims Glanville 'forced her vagina against her back' and 'proceeded to mount Manzo on the couch holding Manzo down with her body, forcibly squeezed Manzo's cheeks together and thrust her tongue in Manzo's mouth, while humping her.' The documents state: 'Defendants, including Bravo, regularly ply the Real Housewives cast with alcohol, cause them to become severely intoxicated, and then direct, encourage and/or allow them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings.' 'Caroline Manzo is a victim of those harmful actions,' it added. In her full statement in response to the suit at the time, a representative for Glanville told DailyMail.com: 'Sadly, Brandi had to wake up to yet another lawsuit that includes defamatory, false accusations about her. While filming, Brandi followed what the producers asked of her, and there was no sexual assault. 'She is innocent of these absurd accusations that have weighed on her mental and physical health for far too long without word of support from Peacock, Shed or Bravo.' The statement concluded: 'This painful storytelling seems endless and needs to stop. She is looking to move on and upward and get her life back.' This isn't the first lawsuit filed against the network over the Housewives franchise. Last year butler Marco Vega - who worked and appeared on season two of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip - filed a lawsuit for sexual assault and harassment. In his lawsuit, Vega said he was 'sexually harassed and abused' while shooting the show at Dorinda Medley's Blue Stone Manor claiming he was slapped on the buttocks by Phaedra Parks and that he was 'forcibly stripped' by Glanville, who ripped his shirt off. Leah McSweeney filed a discrimination complaint with Bravo last year, alleging she was forced to miss her grandmother's funeral due to filming commitments. A lawsuit filed by McSweeney is said to be imminent, Page Six reported at the time. Back in August, a bombshell letter revealed that 80 reality stars had teamed up to accuse the network of 'covering up sexual violence, condoning revenge porn, exploiting minors and denying mental health treatment'. Bethenny Frankel was believed to have led the charge, though the former RHONY star has since clarified that she is not one of the people who is officially taking legal action against Bravo or NBC. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives of Caroline Manzo for comment. Shanina Shaik looked very stylish as she posed for the cameras at the Max Mara fashion show during the Max Mara Womenswear Fall/Winter show at Milan Fashion Week. The Australian model, 33, stepped out for the show in Italy on Thursday wearing a huge brown teddy coat by the fashion house, which retails at $5,200. She covered up a black ensemble with the shin-length coat, as peaking out was a turtle-neck top, as well as a pair of $3,000 YSL knee-high, patent pointed boots that featured a gold buckle at the ankle. Her black locks were poker straight and framed her face, with the star again opting for a light pink make-up look to complement. Other stars in attendance at the fashion show included Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale, 45, former Victoria's Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes, 33, and The Chainsmokers songwriter Drew Taggart, 34, with his love interest model Marianne Fonseca. Shanina Shaik (pictured) looked very stylish as she posed for the cameras at the Max Mara fashion show during the Max Mara Womenswear Fall/Winter show at Milan Fashion Week Shanina is most recognised for her work as a supermodel for Victoria's Secret, but has also appeared on the covers of Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. She has appeared on Project Runway, walked the runway for Chanel, and famously opened for Jason Wu. The mother-of-one has been booked and busy as she bounced around pre-Grammy parties earlier this month in Los Angeles and prepped for fashion week in New York. The former Victoria's Secret welcomed her first child with then boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan back in September of 2022. The Australian model, 33, stepped out for the show in Italy on Thursday wearing a huge brown teddy coat by the fashion house, which retails at $5,200 She covered up a black ensemble with the shin-length coat, as peaking out was a turtle-neck top, as well as a pair of $3,000 YSL knee-high, patent pointed boots Months after giving birth, she bounced back and returned to the runway since. The pair first publicised their romance on Valentine's Day in 2021. They have been dating since 2020. The Australian beauty was linked to DJ Ruckus back in 2015, and less than a year later, the two were engaged. In April 2018, the pair got married in the Bahamas in a destination wedding. Meghan Markle showcased her high-end winter wardrobe on the sunny streets of Los Angeles on Thursday for a lunch date with her wedding dress designer at the new celebrity hotspot, Cipriani Beverly Hills. The 42-year-old Suits starturnedDuchess of Sussex flashed a smile for paparazzi as she emerged from the Italian restaurant into the warm 66F weather wearing a $6,250 (5,000) Max Mara cashmere coat in a 'tobacco' shade. She carried a matching limited-edition suede clutch by Cesta Collective that comes with a $490 (385) price tag. She also wore a black Bleusalt turtleneck, slacks by Ulla Johnson, shoes by Aquazzure and Givenchy sunglasses. She was joined by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the former artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy responsible for Meghan's bridal gown. Meghan Markle and British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller dined at new celebrity haunt Cipriani Beverly Hills on Thursday The 42-year-old Suits starturnedDuchess of Sussex wore a $6,250 (5,000) Max Mara winter coat in the warm LA weather After her wedding, Meghan wore a number of Clare's Givenchy designs - turning to the label to dress her for many prominent engagements, including her June 2018 outing at Ascot alongside the Queen. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: The secrets behind Meghan's lifelong obsession with her hair... and the heartbreaking story that shows just how close she once was to her father Advertisement In December 2018, Meghan made clear how close the two women had become when she made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards, where she presented Clare with the prestigious British Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Clare left Givenchy in 2020 and last year created a new affordable line with Uniqlo. Meghan's surprise appearance at the buzzy newly opened eatery comes as she helped open a new wing of an animal charity in London, with the announcement of her virtual visit made via her and Harry's glossy new Sussex.com website. Cipriani Beverly Hills, which is part of the storied fourth-generation-family Italian restaurant brand, only opened its doors in January of this year, following the opening of locations in Venice, Milan, New York and Las Vegas. There was no sign of Meghan's husband Prince Harry, though the couple appear to be looking to increase their public presence. She recently put her new Sussex.com website to use when she was able to honor her late friend Oli Juste by opening a new wing of an animal charity named for him. Juste was a dog trainer and behaviorist who died in 2022. As his friends and family assembled for the opening of the Oli Juste wing, Meghan got emotional in her video address as she recounted how devastated she was to learn of her friend's death in January 2022. In her Sussex.com announcement, she shared a cute photo of herself in an elegant beige coat as she crouched down to bond with an adorable Jack Russell Terrier. She also wore a black Bleusalt turtleneck, slacks by Ulla Johnson, shoes by Aquazzure and Givenchy sunglasses She carried a matching limited-edition suede clutch by Cesta Collective that comes with a $490 price tag Her dark tresses were impeccably styled into long, lustrous curls that were draped across her chest Her surprise appearance at the buzzy new eatery comes as she helped open a new wing of an animal charity in London, with the announcement of her virtual visit made via her and Harry's glossy new Sussex.com website 'A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Mayhew who have worked tirelessly to bring this dream to life,' she gushed in her message to the animal charity. 'It was so important to find a way to celebrate Oli's memory in a manner that he would have loved. 'Mayhew is a beacon of hope for those in need and a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together,' she added. The virtual appearance came just days after Meghan's husband Prince Harry reportedly told some of his friends that he was willing to return to the UK to attend to royal duties. Sources told The Times of London that Harry, 39, wanted to help carry some of the load as his father King Charles, 75, undergoes cancer treatments. However, royal expert Hugh Vickers told MailOnline that his presence wasn't desired by the royal family, despite reports that Charles is still keen to reconcile with him. 'I personally, actually don't think that there's any wish on anyone's side for him to come home at the moment, and take up royal duties again,' Vickers said. 'He can't suddenly pick up royal duties again, under the present circumstances, it's quite a long way [away]. It's always possible to reconcile. It's always possible for things to be sorted out, but not that quickly. So no, is the answer.' She was honoring her late friend Oli Juste, who died in January 2022, by opening the wing after it was named in his honor The virtual appearance came just days after Meghan's husband Prince Harry reportedly told some of his friends that he was willing to return to the UK to attend to royal duties Sources told The Times of London that Harry, 39, wanted to help carry some of the load as his father King Charles, 75, undergoes cancer treatments However, royal expert Hugh Vickers told MailOnline that his presence wasn't desired by the royal family, despite reports that Charles is still keen to reconcile with him 'He can't suddenly pick up royal duties again, under the present circumstances, it's quite a long way [away]. It's always possible to reconcile. It's always possible for things to be sorted out, but not that quickly. So no, is the answer,' Vickers said Though Harry is a counsellor of state, both he and Meghan stepped down from their positions as working royals in 2020 Vickers continued: 'His father has never responded to any of the jibes that have come in his direction [and] has left the door wide open for [Harry]. 'The other day, he came to see him and I would hope that was a tonic for the King. I don't know whether it was, but I hope so because he obviously loves his son,' he added. Though Harry is a counsellor of state, both he and Meghan stepped down from their positions as working royals in 2020. Experts have said they believe he is not currently being considered to return to any senior duties. Calvin Harris has claimed he struggles to 'keep up' with new wife Vick Hope since turning 40 last month. The Scottish DJ joined MistaJam and Rag'n'Bone Man - whom he recently released new single Lovers In A Past Life with - on the Capital Dance Evening Show, where he shed light on his future career plans. During the chat, Calvin opened up on life with wife Vick, 34, as well as revealing he will quit DJing within the next ten years. As MistaJam welcomed him to the 40s club, the presenter asked: 'Have you had any changes to your lifestyle since you turned 40?' Calvin said: 'I think so. But I think the run up to it, you're googling anti-aging supplements and what I should be eating. Yeah, I feel that it's been getting a bit heavier on my mind. Calvin Harris has claimed he struggles to 'keep up' with wife Vick Hope since turning 40 last month During the chat, Calvin opened up on life with wife Vick, 34, as well as revealing he will quit DJing within the next ten years 'And you know, my Mrs, she's got so much energy, I'm trying to keep up with her! So, yeah, but you know, it feels good. It feels good. I like, I like the age.' Calvin went on to share: 'I always said that once I get past 50, I can't see me DJing. I'd prefer to be in the studio making tunes. 'The more commercial end [of DJing], it can get a little bit... suspect.' Legendary DJ Calvin is best know for chart-topping hits like One Kiss, This Is What You Came For and Outside. He and BBC Radio Vick tied the knot in a lavish Glastonbury-themed wedding in September last year. After their wedding Calvin and Vick jetted off to Brindisi in Italy on a 25million private jet for their romantic honeymoon. The couple were joined by their family and friends in an outdoor ceremony at Hulne Priory in Alnwick, Northumberland, before partying into the early hours. They are yet to officially release any pictures from their big day, however photos from the morning after show a glimpse inside the luxury and picturesque venue. As MistaJam welcomed him to the 40s club, the presenter asked: 'Have you had any changes to your lifestyle since you turned 40? Calvin and BBC Radio Vick tied the knot in a lavish Glastonbury-themed wedding in September last year Calvin and Vick partied with their celeb pals, including Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu and BBC radio DJs Vernon Kay and Scott Mills and Vick's Radio 1 co-presenter Jordan North. Nile Rodgers and Chic, who had been flown in from the US, performed at the raucous reception, with their equipment still left out. Vick and Calvin have been dating since January 2022, according to reports, and went public with their relationship at the Chelsea Flower Show in May that year. Calvin then proposed to Vick with a huge diamond ring underneath a tree at his 138 acre Ibiza farm, Terra Masia, the same month. While Vick said she is keeping the details of her engagement private, she said it was a 'very special moment' and that 'it was... perfect.' She also revealed their love story actually goes all the way back to the early noughties when they first met when she was 19. Vick said Calvin first made a move on her when he was enjoying his first flush of success with his hit Acceptable In The 80s back in 2007 - but she turned him down at the time. The Scottish DJ (left) joined MistaJam and Rag'n'Bone Man (right) - whom he recently released new single Lovers In A Past Life with - on the Capital Dance Evening Show, where he shed light on his future career plans She told You Magazine of the twist of fate, saying: 'It's something that we laughed about on our first proper date. We still laugh about it now'. Calvin went on to become one of the highest paid disk jockeys/producers, racking up an estimated 200-plus million fortune, with Vick previously admitting she was 'shallow' and had no idea he would turn into 'an Adonis'. The happy couple split their time between Calvin's Ibiza farm and their London pad, and while Vick often follows her husband around the world for his DJ work, she admits she loves their 'peaceful' London life. Tune into MistaJam's Evening Show on Capital Dance Mondays to Thursdays from 7:00pm 10pm and on Global Player Katherine Ryan revealed the mortifying underwear mishap she suffered while getting ready for The Jonathan Ross Show. The comedienne, 40, graced the orange sofa with Eddie Kadi, Noel Fielding, and Ray Winstone. Katherine soon grossed out her sofa mates when she recounted the steps she took to get ready for the studio. She began: 'I tried to get glammed for today and I went to the nail salon. 'I put on some stockings and when I arrived I realised that to have a pedicure you have to go up some steps and sit high on a chair and I would have to take my stockings off and Id forgotten to wear underwear.' Katherine Ryan, 40, revealed the mortifying underwear mishap she suffered while getting ready for The Jonathan Ross Show on Thursday The comedienne, 40, graced the orange sofa with comedian Eddie Kadi (left), Noel Fielding (centre), and actor Ray Winstone Katherine confessed: 'I realised that to have a pedicure you have to go up some steps and sit high on a chair and I would have to take my stockings off and Id forgotten to wear underwear' Katherine continued: 'I tried to pretend like I was wearing underwear and it was the most stressful moment of my life. I had my knees together, I was wearing a short black dress and I was holding it together. She finished: 'I made it through the whole pedicure and then at the very end I was coming down the steps and I slipped on the oil and my feet were spread.' Katherine Ryan recently appeared in reality series Parental Guidance, in which she spoke to parents across the UK about their bizarre and wonderful parenting techniques. Speaking about her own parent, Katherine said, 'For my mum to come she has to live in and stay and I think that was stressful for my husband. Its a window into the future of who I am definitely turning into.' She has Violet, 13, from a previous relationship and Fred, two, and daughter Fenna, 14 months with first love Bobby Kootstra. Katherine has been dating Bobby 2018, but she didn't spend Valentine's Day with him or her children who she has openly admitted she puts first. Katherine revealed: I was with Queen Camilla on Valentines Day. I panicked because Ive met certain members of the Royal Family before, Ive also joked about certain members of the Royal Family. 'Im nervous now because I dont want to offend them. I know that youre supposed to bow or curtsy but in the moment I got it wrong and I bowed like the grandest bow when I met her. But then I saw other people shaking her hand - she seems very humble. Its a great way to spend Valentines.' She has Violet, 13, from a previous relationship and Fred, two, and daughter Fenna, 14 months with first love Bobby Kootstra Katherine made her fellow guests laugh once again when she revealed she spent Valentine's Day not with her partner of six years or her children, but with Queen Camilla She revealed: I was with Queen Camilla on Valentines Day. I panicked because Ive met certain members of the Royal Family before, Ive also joked about certain members' Katherine came under fire on Monday when she took to Instagram to slate Taylor Swift for her famous Celine Dion snub on Grammy night. The Canadian comedian and actress, 40, shared a clip from her podcast - Katherine Ryan Telling Everybody Everything - to her almost one million followers on the social media platform. In the video, Katherine empathised with it being 'a young person's mistake' (Taylor is 34) but, at the same time, emphasised that Taylor didn't just snub anyone - she snubbed Celine. However, her fans criticised her for not supporting her fellow woman, with many expressing their disappointment in her. The Jonathan Ross show streams Saturday at 21.35pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Netflix fans went wild on Thursday when the remake of an iconic animated series rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes finally dropped. All eight episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender were released on the streaming platform - a massive six years after the show was first announced. Avatar follows a young monk named Aang who is the last surviving 'Airbender' and, unbeknownst to him, the eighth reincarnation of the Avatar, the human embodiment of light and peace. Originally a Nickelodeon cartoon which ran from 2005 to 2008, this Netflix adaptation marks the second live-remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The first was 2010 feature film The Last Airbender. Netflix fans went wild on Thursday when the remake of an iconic animated series rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes finally dropped All six episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender were released on the streaming platform - a massive six years after the show was first announced Avatar follows Aang, a young monk, who is the last surviving 'Airbender' and, unbeknownst to him, the eighth reincarnation of the Avatar, the human embodiment of light and peace The Netflix series has a relatively unknown cast bar Daniel Dae Kim who portrays main antagonist, Fire Lord Ozai. Protagonist Aang is portrayed by Gordon Comier, his friends Katara and Sokka by Kiawentiio and Ian Ousley respectively, antagonist Prince Zuko by Dallas Liu, his sister Princess Azula by Elizabeth Yu, and his uncle Iroh by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: 'Avatar the last airbender is STREAMING RIGHT NOW!!!!!' 'Am crying bruv Avatar the last Airbender' 'In these terrible times.. the "Avatar: the last airbender" live action is coming out today. *Tear drop*' 'IT'S AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER DAY!!! LET'S GOOOOO!!!' 'Me calling in sick tomorrow after Binging the avatar all night #AvatarTheLastAirbender' 'IS AVATAR COMING OUT IN TWO MINS? GET UP' 'Okay episode 1 was solid and emotional! I keep having to clean my glasses due to tear bending. #AvatarTheLastAirbender' 'Goosebumps!!!!!!!!!! #AvatarTheLastAirbender' Originally a Nickelodeon cartoon which ran from 2005 to 2008, this Netflix adaptation is the second live-remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender (pictured: Aang, Katara [right], and Sokka Originally a Nickelodeon cartoon, this Netflix adaptation marks the second live-remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and fans cannot wait to watch (pictured: antagonist Prince Zuko) Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: 'Avatar the last airbender is STREAMING RIGHT NOW!!!!!' The iconic original animated show consisted of 61 episodes and originally debuted on Nickelodeon between 2005 to 2008 The Netflix series was developed by Albert Kim. The film was announced in 2018, production began in 2019 and filming lasted from November 2021 to June 2022. Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, creators of the original animated series were involved in the Netflix series at first. In June 2020, the creators departed the series due to creative differences citing a 'negative and unsupporting' environment. As of 2023, the original Avatar: The Last Airbender has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2010 adaptation has 5%. READ MORE: Constantly need to pee? Urologist shares five reasons why If you ever looked back at the toilet after using the bathroom, you may have noticed your urine appearing lighter or darker than normal. It's common knowledge that lightly colored or clear urine is a sign that you're well-hydrated, while a darker color may indicate that you need to drink more water. This is because fluids dilute urine's yellow pigments. 'When you drink less, the yellow color becomes stronger,' explained Ashley Pountney, a physician assistant in urology at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin and Albert Lea, Minnesota. However, your pee might not be yellow at all. Ms Pountney revealed that urine can turn brown, red, green, or even blue. Experts have revealed that your pee could turn a variety of colors - including green, red, or even blue - due to medications, foods, and underlying health conditions And while at times this could be because you loaded up on too much asparagus or started taking a new medication, the changing rainbow in your toilet bowl could reveal that you're exercising too much, you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), or you could be suffering from issues like internal bleeding or liver blockages. 'Keep in mind that colors can look slightly different to different people. For instance, what looks red to you might look orange to someone else,' Ms Pountney said. 'Talk with your healthcare team if you have concerns and in particular if you have painful urination or dark orange urine, which can be a sign that your liver isn't working correctly.' Here is what your pee says about your health. Red or pink Urine that's red or pink can be worrisome. According to Ms Pountney, this is because it's a sign of hematuria, otherwise known as bleeding in the urinary tract. This is commonly caused by conditions like an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and cysts, as these issues can rupture blood vessels by putting pressure on the urinary tract. Men with an enlarged prostate - a small, walnut-shaped organ between a man's bladder and rectum - may also have difficulty peeing, need to pee more often, or experience incontinence. Kidney stones and cysts can also lead to severe pain and difficulty urinating. However, bleeding is not always a serious medical issue. Ms Pountney said drugs used to treat tuberculosis can lead to increased bleeding And the blood thinner Warfarin, taken by about 20million Americans, also leads to increased chance of bleeding, according to GoodRx. Additionally, Ms Pountney noted that not all red urine is a sign of blood. 'Beets, blackberries, and rhubarb can turn urine red or pink,' she said. Orange The pigment beta carotene is responsible for making carrots orange. And eating too many carrots could do the same to your urine If your pee is orange, it could be from anti-inflammatory medications you're taking. These include over-the-counter treatments like phenazopyridine, which is sold under the brand name AZO, according to GoodRx. AZO is used to relieve symptoms of UTIs and yeast infections, which are caused by overgrowths of bacteria and fungi in the urinary tract. This medication contains an orange-red dye, which can change urine color. 'Constipation medicines can turn urine orange, as can medicine that lessens swelling and irritation, and some chemotherapy medicines for cancer,' Ms Pountney said. These include Sulfasalazine, which is used to treat conditions inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, GoodRx notes. It has also been shown to turn sweat and tears orange. Additionally, supplements could be the culprit. 'Some vitamins, such as A and B-12, can turn urine orange or yellow-orange,' Ms Pountney said. These contain beta carotene, a pigment that makes foods like carrots orange, GoodRx says. This means that eating a substantial amount of carrots can also make your pee orange. However, orange urine could also indicate a more serious issue. 'Orange urine can be a sign of a problem with the liver or bile duct, mainly if you also have light-colored stools,' Ms Pountney said. 'Dehydration also can make your urine look orange.' Blue or green Believe it or not, your pee can turn blue and green. Ms Pountney said that one common cause is dyes used in medical testing. One common example is methylene blue, a water-based dye, which is used in scans and surgeries to find conditions. It's also used to treat methemoglobinemia, a rare blood disorder that makes it difficult for red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues and other cells. Common signs of methemoglobinemia include pale skin, fatigue, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and rapid breathing. 'Some medicines for depression, ulcers and acid reflux can turn urine greenish-blue,' Ms Pountney said. These include amitriptyline, a common antidepressant, Reglan, which is used to treat nausea, and Cimetidine, an over-the-counter acid reflux medication, GoodRx notes. Ms Pountney also noted that the rare genetic disorder familial benign hypercalcemia can cause children to have blue urine. Dark brown Ms Pountney told DailyMail.com that eating a lot of fava beans, rhubarb, and aloe can darken the color of your urine If your pee is brown, it could be a sign that you've been loading up on veggies and legumes. 'Eating lots of fava beans, rhubarb, or aloe can cause dark brown urine,' Ms Pountney said. Additionally, she noted that some medications, 'including those used to treat and prevent malaria, constipation, high cholesterol and seizures,' as well as antibiotics and muscle relaxants, can darken urine. Some of the most common examples of these include the anti-convulsant Dilantin, the over-the-counter laxative Senna, and Parkinson's medication Levodopa, according to GoodRx. 'Some liver and kidney disorders and urinary tract infections can turn urine dark brown,' Ms Pountney said. For example, a blockage of the bile duct - passages that carry bile to areas of the digestive system like the liver and gallbladder - can darken urine. Though bleeding around the urinary tract can lead to red or pink blood, Ms Pountney noted that internal bleeding could darken it to brown or cola-colored. And if you exercise too much, it could lead to muscle injury that causes waste to build up in the body, darkening your pee. The carrier also raised the cost of checked bags for the first time since 2018 The airline will release a list of its 'preferred' eligible travel agencies in April Collecting miles and loyalty points with American Airlines will soon become harder - after the carrier announced changes this week. The airline said Tuesday that it would start limiting which tickets purchased through a third parties - such as travel agents or online booking sites - are eligible to earn AAdvantage miles and loyalty points. It is the first airline to make such a move - pushing customers to buy tickets directly from its website. This means it does not have to pay commission. Starting on May 1, American will only award points for flights booked through select partners and 'preferred agencies', which it will reveal in a list in April. It is the latest change to a loyalty program from a major airline, after Delta was forced to backtrack after controversially tightening its program last year. American Airlines announced it would start limiting which tickets purchased through a third party are eligible to earn AAdvantage miles and loyalty points 'We want to make it more convenient for customers to enjoy the value and magic of travel,' chief commercial officer Vasu Raja said in a statement. 'Not only does booking directly with American provide the best possible experience, it's also where we offer the best fares and it's most rewarding for our AAdvantage members.' The change should not affect corporate travelers or AAdvantage Business members, the airline said, who can still earn points on flight bookings no matter where they book their tickets. But the average traveler booking a basic economy ticket will only earn miles and loyalty points when booking exclusively with American. Hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott do a similar thing - only crediting points for loyalty schemes when booked directly. According to The Points Guy, the change could especially affected those who like to redeem transferable credit card points through booking with American Express, Chase or Capital One. If they are not on American's list of preferred partners, this could mean booking through these platforms no longer earns customers miles or status credits. American has yet to confirm who, including major travel companies like Expedia or Concur, is and is not on that list yet. That information is expected in April, ahead of the new rules kicking in at the start of May. 'American Airlines wants to cut out the middleman,' The Points Guy Managing Editor Clint Henderson told DailyMail.com. 'The airline has been pulling away from third-party booking sites for some time, but they are now taking more extreme measures. 'American is working on the theory that they don't need outside salespeople like travel agents anymore. They don't want to have to offer discounts or give commissions to another company and they think they may be able to get that business on their own.' The airline introduced a new rule which pushes customers to buy tickets directly from the carrier if they want to earn frequent flyer points (Pictured: CEO Robert Isom) He added that the move means American can make more money when you book direct, as it is able to upsell customers on other products like early boarding, better coach seats or even first class seats. American's two main rivals Delta and United still allow points however a flight is booked. 'If it works, and there's not a lot of evidence of this so far, the other airlines could follow suit eventually,' Henderson added. 'But there's a big downside risk for American here too, though. It could be kicking itself in the foot with some companies refusing to play by the new rules and taking business elsewhere.' 'We want to just make sure that customers understand what they're getting when they book with their specific agency,' Scott Chandler, American's senior vice president of revenue management and loyalty, told The Points Guy. 'So it's really for the customer so they understand that there is a better way to find products and understand what they're buying.' Booking directly through an airline can also make things easier for consumers, said Kathleen Bangs from flight tracking platform FlightAware. 'I'm not totally surprised to hear this as I've often advised airline travelers if you want the quickest easiest service with airlines buy your tickets directly through the air carrier,' the former pilot told DailyMail.com. 'That way if you have to make a change or the airline has to make changes, it's an easier process.' The change comes as American also sparked backlash after raising the cost of checked bags for the first time in almost six years. Passengers will now have to pay $40 to check a bag at the airport for domestic flights, or $35 if they pay online in advance, the company announced on Tuesday. Previously, both options cost $30. American also sparked backlash after raising the cost of checked bags for the first time in almost six years, as it looks for ways to boost revenue amid dwindling airfare costs The fee for a second checked bag will also rise from $40 to $45 both online and at the airport, making American's baggage fees among the highest. A family of four going on vacation this summer - taking a bag each - will pay $280 for a return trip within the US if paying online, or $320 at the airport. It is the first time the airline has bumped baggage fees since September 2018, as it looks for ways to boost revenue amid dwindling airfare costs. Charging for bags is a tactic that began with budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier over 15 years ago. Major airlines like American, Delta and United used to include baggage within the price of a fare, but all now impose extra charges. Customers took to social media following the news to express their frustration at the changes. One user on X, formerly Twitter, said the fee increase was a 'reason to boycott' the airline. 'American Airlines doubles down on everything that is wrong with passenger air travel,' another user wrote. India and Greece are poised to deepen their ties across various sectors The visit of Greek (Hellenic Republic (Greece)) Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis this week marks an important chapter in Indo-Greek relations, an ancient bilateral relationship that often gets shadowed in the wider European context. Legend has it that the mighty Greek conqueror Alexander reached the northwestern frontier of the Indian subcontinent some 2500 years ago, fought two mighty kings, but didnt cross the Indus to enter India. However, a diplomatic relationship was established some years down the line, under the Mauryan rule (whose ruler Chandragupta Maurya had a Greek ambassador in his court named Meghasthanes). Cut to contemporary times, Greece established its embassy in India in 1950, however, India took 28 years to start an embassy in Athens. Now a European country, just two and half hours behind Indian standard time, during summer, often featured in many Bollywood films, wasnt still an important ally until last year. During a state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership. The joint statement released in August 2023 highlighted: Appreciating the increase in bilateral trade and economic engagement in recent years, the leaders also directed that both sides work to double bilateral trade by 2030. Both leaders reiterated the need for further broadening and deepening bilateral engagements in the fields of defence, shipping, science and technology, cyberspace, education, culture, tourism and agriculture. They took note of the signing of the MOU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture... Both leaders directed their senior officials to ensure regular dialogue in the areas including political, economic, defence, security and public diplomacy. They also agreed to encourage direct flights between Greece and India. This weeks visit by the Greek PM has put the relationship under ample spotlight it deserves. When some of Greeces neighbours in Europe had made not-so-friendly statements on some of the most recent policy developments in India such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)/National Register of Citizenship (NRC), Abrogation of Article 370, Reorganisation of the new Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, and Judgement on Ram Janam Bhoomi, etc. Greece had officially stated that it is an internal affairs matter of India. Greece and India have reciprocally supported each other for a reformed UN reflecting the current realities with a permanent seat for each other in the UN security council. As per a Ministry of External Affairs booklet released in 2023, just ahead of the Indian Prime Ministers visit to Athens, Greece, voted for Indias candidature to UNSC for 2021-22. It supported India at the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008, and 2016, MTCR, WASSENAAR arrangements, and Australia Group. Greece supported Indias candidature for ICJ, ITLOS, IMO, Postal Operations Council (POC), World Heritage Committee and the position of External Auditor of the IAEA for the term 2022-27 and various other international bodies. Similarly, in Jammu and Kashmir, internal security concerns particularly arising out of state-funded terrorist activities, Greece has been on Indias side. Greece supports many of Indias concerns in the larger European Union bilateral. India interestingly has held several rounds of discussions with the EU trade representatives, to hammer out a free trade agreement. Although with elections in India around the corner, a complicated, trade agreement with the EU with several moving parts looks difficult. However, to have preferential voices in the EU, with member nations like France and Greece, Italy, looking at India favourably, is always welcome. Some of the unfavourable comments India received from EU member countries, post former, not taking a Western approach towards long-standing ally Russia, are likely to fade away with India developing closer bilateral partnerships in the region. (The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and Friday during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 61,000 crore in the two States. While Modi will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and initiate work commencement of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 48,000 crore in Gujarat, he will also launch and inaugurate projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore for transforming Varanasi and its adjoining areas, according to a statement released by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) on Wednesday. On February 22 (Thursday), at around 10.45 am in Ahmedabad, Modi will participate in the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). At around 12.45 pm, the prime minister will reach Mahesana and perform pooja and darshan at the Valinath Mahadev Temple. Around 1 pm, he will participate in a public function in Tarabh, Mahesana, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 8,350 crore. At around 4.15 pm, the prime minister will reach Navsari, where he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and initiate work commencement of multiple development projects worth about Rs 17,500 crore. At around 6.15 pm, Modi will visit the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station and dedicate to the nation two new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). On February 23 (Friday), Modi will participate in a programme for prize distribution to the winners of Sansad Sanskrit Pratiyogita at Swatantra Sabhagar, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. At 11.15 am, the prime minister will perform pooja and darshan at Sant Guru Ravidas Janmasthali. At 11.30 am, the prime minister will attend a public function commemorating the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas. In the afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will attend a public function where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 13,000 crore in Varanasi. At the two public functions in Gujarats Mahesana and Navsari, the prime minister will dedicate to nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects that will encompass important sectors such as road, rail, energy, health, Internet connectivity, urban development, water supply and tourism, among others, in districts such as Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, Anand, Mahesana, Kachchh, Kheda, Bharuch, Tapi, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari, Panchmahal, Valsad, and Narmada. At a public function in Tarabh, Mahesana, the prime minister will dedicate to the nation important projects, including Bharat Net Phase-II - Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited, which will provide high-speed Internet to more than 8,000 gram panchayats, multiple projects for rail line doubling, gauge conversion, new broad-gauge line in Mahesana and Banaskantha districts, and multiple road projects. The PMO statement also said since 2014, Modi has focused on transforming Varanasi and its adjoining areas by initiating a number of development projects catering to important sectors such as road, rail, aviation, tourism, education, health, drinking water, urban development and sanitation. Taking another step in this direction, the prime minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 13,000 crore in Varanasi. To further enhance Varanasis road connectivity, Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple road projects, including four-laning of the Ghargra-Bridge-Varanasi section of National Highway 233 and four-laning of the Sultanpur-Varanasi section of National Highway 56. To provide impetus to industrial development in the region, the prime minister will also inaugurate an HPCL LPG bottling plant in Sewapuri, Banas Kashi Sankul milk processing unit at UPSIDA Agro Park Karkhiyaon, various infrastructure work at the UPSIDA Agro Park, Karkhiyaon, and silk fabric printing common facility centre for weavers. Providing impetus to the famous textile sector of Varanasi, Modi will lay the foundation stone of a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Varanasi. The new institute will strengthen the education and training infrastructure of the textile sector, the statement said. Augmenting the health infrastructure in Varanasi, the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of a new medical college. He will also lay the foundation stone of the National Centre of Ageing at Banaras Hindu University. CBI searches Satya Pal Malik premises New Delhi: The CBI conducted searches at the premises of former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik and 29 other locations on Thursday in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 2,200-crore Kiru Hydropower project, officials said. The federal agency started its operation in the morning, with around 100 officers mobilised to swoop down at the 30 locations in Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Baghpat, Noida, Patna, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Nagaur and Chandigarh, the officials said. During searches evidence of huge cash deposits, investment in fixed deposits, investment in properties in various cities, digital and documentary evidence, etc. Have been recovered, said the CBI. US to reduce visa wait time for Indians New Delhi: The United States is working towards further reducing the wait time for visitor visas for Indians following a decrease of 75 per cent last year, according to US Bureau of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Rena Bitter. In an interview with PTI, Bitter noted that today more Indians can travel to the US than in any other time in history. Last year, the Embassy in India processed 1.4 million visas, explosion of an incredible number...In every category there is no wait time at all except in one area of travel where there is still some wait time and that is people travelling for the first time to the United States for tourism, she said. nA day after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology finalised its emergency blocking orders against 177 social media accounts and posts linked to the farmers protests, social media giant X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday said it disagrees with these actions in accordance with freedom of speech and expression but will withhold the accounts and posts in India. Elon Musk, owner of X, has said the platform has received orders from the Indian Government to block certain accounts and links. Failure to comply could result in potential penalties for the platform and its employees, including significant fines and imprisonment. This marks a new flashpoint in the escalating tensions between the social media platform and the Indian Government, with the former having sued the Centre over content-blocking orders in 2022. The ruling last year, however, went against the company. Nevertheless, the Centre is yet to respond to the allegations. Opposition parties allege that democracy is being murdered in the country after the microblogging platform X voiced disagreement with the Centres order to block accounts and posts related to ongoing farmers protests. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned, If farmers ask for MSP, shoot them is this the mother of democracy? When the youth ask for an appointment, then refuse to even listen to them is this the Mother of Democracy? According to sources, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has ordered social media platforms to temporarily block 177 accounts linked to farmers protests upon the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts, X said in a statement. The social media platform noted that a writ appeal challenging the Indian governments blocking orders remains pending and called for the order to be made public to enhance transparency. Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders, but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making, X added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the Congress, saying it continues to live in negativity and is not ready to leave the path of hatred even when the grand Ram temple has been built in Ayodhya. He said his Government is making efforts to improve the lives of people from all sections of society. The aim of Modis guarantee is changing the lives of people at the last rung in society, he said. On one hand temples are being built in the country, the government is also building pucca houses for crores of poor people, the PM said. This is the time when whether it is the work of God or work of the country, both are happening at a fast pace, he said. We will carry out development work and preserve our heritage, he added. The PM was addressing the public after inaugurating the Valinath Mahadev temple in Gujarats Mehsana district. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of various projects costing more than Rs 8,350 crore. Modi said for a long time in Independent India, the Congress created a conflict and enmity between development and heritage. If anyone is to be blamed for this, it is the same Congress which ruled the country for decades. These are the same people who made even a holy place like Somnath (temple) a cause of controversy, he said. The Congress did not even show the desire to hoist a religious flag at the Pavagadh temple in Gujarats Panchmahal district, and for decades linked the Sun temple at Modhera with vote bank politics, he said. These are the same people who raised questions about the existence of Lord Ram and created hurdles in the construction of his temple. And today, when a grand temple has been constructed at (Lord Rams) birthplace, when the entire country is happy with it, the people who live in negativity are not leaving the path of of hatred, he said. The PM also attended the consecration ceremony of Valinath Dham Temple. Gujarat also has many symbols of ancient civilisation of India. These symbols are very important not only to understand history but also to connect the coming generations with their roots. That is why it has been the effort of our government to preserve and develop them as world heritage, he said. He said only last month, traces of civilisation dating back to 2,800 years were found in Vadnagar in Mehsana district. Vadnagar is the hometown of PM Modi. A similar ancient Indian heritage was found at Dholavira in Gujarat. These are Indias pride, and we are proud of this rich past, Modi said. Every effort being made in the new India is towards creating a heritage for the coming generations, whether it is the new and modern roads or railway tracks, he said. Amid farmers protest on the borders between Punjab and Haryana, Modi on Thursday said his Government was giving priority to every aspect linked to villages and also focusing on improving the lives of small farmers through various schemes and initiatives. He said strengthening the rural economy was necessary to achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat (developed India). The PM was addressing a gathering of nearly one lakh people, mostly cattle-rearers and farmers, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera area of Ahmedabad on the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns the Amul dairy brand. Referring to the BJP governments ambitious plan of creating 10,000 FPOs or Farmer Producer Organisations, Modi said his Government was on a mission to turn small farmers into agri entrepreneurs and exporters. In his address, he listed many schemes meant for farmers and village-dwellers, such as Micro ATMs, GOBARdhan scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras. With Micro ATMs installed in villages, cattle-rearers dont have to go far to withdraw cash. We are also planning to give RuPay credit cards to cattle-rearers. As a pilot project, we have launched that scheme in Banaskantha and Panchmahal districts here, he said. Mahatma Gandhi used to say that Indias soul rests in her villages. Therefore, in order to create Viksit Bharat (developed India), we must have a strong rural economy, he added. We are giving priority to each and every aspect of villages and our focus is on improving the lives of small farmers, on improving the health of livestock and how farmers get more income through allied activities such as fishing and bee-keeping. That is why we have decided to give Kisan credit cards to fishermen and cattle-rearers too, he said. Modi said his Government also gave seeds that are capable of fighting the effects of climate change. To protect livestock from the deadly foot-and-mouth disease, his government has launched a free vaccination drive for cattle at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore and nearly 60 crore jabs were already given, he added. We have also set up Kisan Samridhi Kendras across the country so that farmers get scientific solutions to their problems near their villages. We are also making arrangements to help farmers in making organic fertilisers, he said. Referring to solar panel installations in fields and setting up of bio-gas plants which in turn produce bio-fertiliser from cow dung, the PM said his government wants to turn anna data into urja data and uvarak data (food grain growers into producers of energy and fertilisers). We are providing solar-based pumps and helping farmers in installing solar plants in their fields. Under our GOBARdhan project, we will buy cow dung from farmers to produce gas. This bio-gas is then used for producing electricity for dairy plants. The bio-fertiliser produced during that process will be given back to farmers, Modi said. The BJP government at the Centre is planning to create 10,000 FPOs or Farmer Producer Organisations or FPOs and nearly 8,000 have already been created, the prime minister added. These FPOs are big organisations of small farmers. This is our mission to turn small farmers into agri entrepreneurs and exporters. We are also providing crores of rupees as assistance to such FPOs and PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), he said. PM Modi informed the audience that his government took some important decisions during the cabinet meeting held late on Wednesday night. Among others, the government has decided to reduce the premium to be paid by farmers under the Livestock Insurance programme, he said. Referring to the past droughts in Gujarat and the hardships faced by people, Modi said Narmada river water has now changed the fortunes of the arid regions which were hit badly earlier. We also constructed 60,000 Amrit Sarovars (lakes), which will help in strengthening the rural economy. Our efforts are to connect farmers with the latest technology, such as drip-irrigation. In Gujarat, this irrigation method has become popular over the years and the state government also provides assistance to farmers to adopt this irrigation technique, the PM said. The Karnataka Governments move to collect funds from temples in the form of tax has not gone down well with the Opposition BJP. Red-flagging the Bill on the issue of Hindu places of worship being a soft target for the Congress, the BJP charged the ruling party with trying to fill its empty coffers with temple money. A related Bill was passed on Wednesday. Taking exception to the move, BJP State president BY Vijayendra said, Corrupt, inept Loot Sarkaar with its penchant for anti-Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon-off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples and religious institutions in order to fill its empty coffers, he said in a post on X. The Shivamogga MLA said the government plans to gobble up 10 per cent of the temple revenue exceeding Rs 1 crore and 5 per cent of those below Rs 1 crore. This not only reflects the deplorable condition of this government, but also shows its abject hate towards Hindu Dharma. Temple funds should be dedicatedly utilised for renovation of temples and to facilitate work beneficial to devotees, rather than diverting it for other purposes, which would be an injustice and betrayal of peoples religious beliefs, the BJP State chief said. Why only Hindu temples are targeted for revenue, leaving out other religions, is a question raised by millions of devotees, he said. Instead of grabbing the devotees money, government can install donation boxes so that the concerned citizens can help this penniless Govt boost its revenue as a gesture of goodwill, he stated. Defending the move as aimed at ensuring welfare of different sections, the Congress sought to turn the tables on its rival saying the saffron party had effected an amendment in 2011 to seek funds from high-income Hindu shrines. The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill was passed in the State Assembly on February 21. Regarding the Bill, the Government said it was necessary to enhance the amount of common pool fund, include a person skilled in Vishwa Hindu Temple architecture and sculpture in the committee of management of notified institutions and to form district and state-level committees to improve shrines and infrastructure for the safety of pilgrims. Transport and Hindu Religious Endowments Ramalinga Reddy told reporters that the provision was not new but has existed since 2003. He also said an amendment was brought by the then BJP Government in 2011 to collect funds from high income group temples. Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 1997 came into force on May 1, 2003 and provisions were made for Common Pool Fund under Section 17 of the said Act, he explained. Common Pool Fund was implemented in the year 2003 itself. Section 17 of the Act was amended in 2011 to collect funds from high income group temples so as to aid temples with lesser income under the said fund. The Rajya Dharmika Parishad, a committee to improve the temple management for the benefit of pilgrims, is authorised to utitlise Common Pool, he said. According to him, there were 3,000 C-Grade temples in Karnataka, which have an annual income of less than Rs 5 lakh from where the Dharmika Parishad gets no money. Temples earning between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh were classified as B-grade temples, from where 5 per cent of the gross income had been going to the committee since 2003. The Dharmika Parishad had been getting 10 per cent revenue from those temples whose annual gross income was above Rs 25 lakh since 2003. Now what we have done is we have made it free from paying to Dharmika Parishad if the income is up to Rs 10 lakh. We have made provisions to collect five per cent from temples whose gross income is between Rs 10 lakh and less than a crore. 10 per cent will be collected from temples whose income is above Rs 1 crore. All this amount will reach the Dharmika Parishad, Reddy said. The Minister said there are 40,000 to 50,000 priests in the State whom the State Government wants to help. If the money reaches Dharmika Parishad then we can provide them insurance cover. We want their families to get at least Rs 5 lakh if something happens to them. To pay the premium we need Rs 7 crore to 8 crore (annually), he explained. The Minister said the Government wants to provide scholarships to children of temple priests, which would require Rs 5-6 crore per year and housing facilities for C group priests and temple employees. This entire amount will benefit the temple priests only, many of whom are in poor condition, he said. Government sources said the purpose behind the Bill is to provide facilities and safety to pilgrims within the jurisdiction of Group A temples. A district level and State high-level committee will be constituted to scrutinise, review and submit the proposals regarding the construction and maintenance of buildings, roads and tunnels, electricity supply and maintenance, water supply and sanitation, construction of recreation centres and libraries to provide necessary facilities to pilgrims and to provide safety to pilgrims within the jurisdiction of Group A Temples, they added. Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar too slammed the Congress Government in the State over the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Bill and called it a new low for the States ruling party. Shankar, the solitary 27-year-old African elephant residing at the Delhi Zoo, may soon find companionship from an unexpected source - Dubai Safari Park. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd has stepped forward to facilitate the transportation of a female elephant from Dubai, according to sources at the Delhi Zoo, also known as the National Zoological Park. Initially, there were plans to bring a female elephant from South Africa, but talks could not materialise due to technical and logistic glitches. Now, officials have identified Dubai Safari Park as the potential source to bring an African female elephant for Shankar. Shankar is not alone in this predicament; at the Mysuru zoo, Rambo, another African bull elephant in his 20s, has been solitary since 2016 following the death of its sire, Timbo. African elephants, the largest land mammals, differ from Asian elephants. Sources indicate that of the three female elephants, one may be sent to Mysuru Zoo to accompany Rambo. However, plans are still being finalised. Having lived solitarily for the past two decades, concerns have arisen regarding their mental health, prompting efforts to find suitable companions to ensure their well-being and facilitate procreation. Reports have indicated instances of Shankar exhibiting aggression and self-injury, particularly during the musth phase. As social creatures, elephants become distressed when alone and lacking companionship. Zoo officials previously attempted to mate Shankar with Asiatic elephants, but without success. While elephants often heed their mahouts, there have been instances of aggression resulting in fatalities among handlers. Discussions regarding bringing female elephants from Dubai are in preliminary stages. We intend to bring at least three elephants. We approach this potential pairing with cautious optimism, recognising the importance of ensuring compatibility and a smooth transition for the female elephants from Dubai. Plans are being made for careful introductions and acclimatisation to prioritise the well-being of the animals, said the sources. With its extensive logistical capabilities and commitment to environmental stewardship, IOCs involvement marks a pivotal moment in Shankars quest for companionship. As part of its corporate social responsibility and conservation efforts, IOC has already taken initiatives by adopting rhinoceroses in various zoos across India. In fact, the rhinoceros serves as IOCs brand ambassador. Shankar has been housed singly and separately from the Asian elephants at the zoo since 2001 when the female African elephant brought from Zimbabwe passed away. Shankar was a one-year-old calf when it arrived at the Delhi zoo from Zimbabwe in 1998 as a diplomatic gift. Weighing up to 6,000 kgs and measuring up to 3.3m at the shoulder, the African Elephant is the worlds largest land mammal. The police on Thursday arrested four more persons for their alleged involvement in the Hadwani riot. The police have so far arrested 78 accused for their alleged role in the violence which took place on February 8. The Nainital senior superintendent of police Prahlad Narayan Meena said that the accused have been identified as Ayaz Ahmad, Mohammad Samir, Javed Qureshi and Mohammad Firoz. The police arrested them after identifying them with the help of CCTV footage and evidence gathered during the investigation. He said that the police are continuously working to arrest all culprits involved in the Vanbhulpura violence that killed seven people, injured over 100 persons and led to property damage worth crores. Several teams are also searching for wanted accused in nearby states. The police have also released wanted posters of the alleged masterminds of the riot and wanted accused Abdul Malik and his son Abdul Moed in Nepal. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri on Thursday said the MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party have paralysed the Assembly during the budget session by coming into the well of the house and create a ruckus. Levelling this charge, Bidhuri also said instead of taking action against them, the Speaker of the Assembly does not even warn them. Bidhuri claimed all this was being done every day as part of a planned conspiracy to save Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the ED inquiry. Bidhuri said a week had passed since the beginning of the budget session but the government, accepting its failure, did not present the budget. The budget is not even known yet. Lakhs of rupees are spent by the taxpayers of Delhi on the assembly session but no results are visible, he said. Every day the assembly proceedings begin and then the ruling party MLAs come to the well and start making noise. It never happens in democratic history that the MLAs of the ruling party create a ruckus and adjourn the meeting, Bidhuri said. The Speaker of the Assembly, who gets the opposition MLAs thrown out of the House on small issues, also keeps watching this whole drama silently and does not even warn any MLA to throw him out. After this, the House is adjourned for the next day. This drama has been happening continuously for the last several days, Bidhuri said. He said Kejriwal does not want to appear before the ED for investigation and he has also told the court in this regard that he is busy in the Assembly session while he has not come to the Assembly for many days. The budget session has been deliberately prolonged so that it can avoid ED investigation. The Leader of the Opposition said no serious issue is being discussed in the Assembly session and it is being adjourned after one or two hours of proceedings. Prof (Dr) Ajai Singh, the Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, attended the Healthcare Innovation Conclave: Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The conclave hosted by the Department of Medical Health & Family Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and supported by National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh, convened luminaries and leaders from the healthcare sector to deliberate on the transformative potential of digitization in healthcare. In his address, Prof. Singh emphasized the pivotal role of digitization in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. He underscored the significance of maintaining comprehensive health records for patients, stating that digitization ensures the seamless management of health data, thereby facilitating better patient care and outcomes. AIIMS Bhopal, under Prof. Singh's visionary leadership, has emerged as a frontrunner in leveraging technology to enhance healthcare services. Notably, the institution has excelled in linking records in the ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), surpassing all other AIIMS nationwide. Taking progressive strides towards expanding healthcare access, AIIMS Bhopal has introduced innovative initiatives such as e-ICU, e-beds, and e-consultation, effectively extending medical services to remote areas. Prof. Singh highlighted the transformative potential of digitization in medical education and training, emphasizing that doctors today are not merely practitioners but also catalysts for innovation in the medical domain. Furthermore, AIIMS Bhopal has invested in state-of-the-art simulators to facilitate immersive and practical training for students and medical professionals. These simulators play a crucial role in ensuring the proficiency and readiness of healthcare practitioners, thereby contributing to the advancement of medical education and patient care. Ambuja Cements, one of India's leading cement manufacturing companies and part of the diversified Adani Group, proposes to establish a state-of-the-art cement grinding unit with an investment of Rs. 1000 Cr in Motia Village of Godda district in Jharkhand, post requisite approvals with a capacity of 4.0 MTPA. The project is planned in close proximity to Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited, as part of a comprehensive approach to disposing of fly ash in an environmentally safe manner and contributing to the circular economy. The project exemplifies Ambuja Cements commitment to sustainable practices and reflects its dedication to fostering inclusive growth in Jharkhand. The unit will generate direct and indirect employment for over 2,500 individuals, significantly contributing to the economic and social progress of the state. Ambuja Cements already operates two cement plants in Jharkhand with a combined capacity of 6 MTPA. The proposed expansion demonstrates the Company's confidence in the region's potential for growth and development. Ajay Kapur, CEO, Cement Business, said, "With our proposed investment in this new cement grinding unit, we intend to achieve a significant milestone in our commitment to expanding our presence and contributing to the socio-economic development of the region. We believe that Jharkhand holds immense potential in terms of resources, infrastructure, and skilled manpower, making it an ideal location for this project. We look forward to working closely with the state to ensure the successful implementation of this project. Ambuja Cements is proud to be a part of Jharkhand's growth story, and we remain committed to creating value for our shareholders, customers, employees, and the community at large. The project underscores Ambuja Cements commitment to innovation, sustainability and growth and highlights its synergy with Group companies to transform Jharkhand into a thriving business-friendly state. It will not only boost the local economy but also aid the state governments efforts towards infrastructure development. Ambuja Cements remains committed to creating employment opportunities and contributing to the socio-economic development of the communities in which it operates. BJP state spokesperson and MLA Amit Mandal on Thursday said that the youth of the state are being cheated by the coalition government demanding CBI probe in JSSC and JPSC examinations conducted from 2019 till now. Mandal said that the full form of JSSC is JMM Government Services and Commission as the examination body is known for paper leaks and bugling in examinations. The examination body was in the news this year after the JSSC paper leak. JSSC CGL 2023 was scheduled on 28 January 2024. However, the question paper was leaked even before the examination was conducted. On February 6, the Jharkhand government announced the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT), to probe the leakage case. Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren announced during the assembly session that a probe into the JSSC CGL exam paper leak constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT. The BJP leader claimed that many contradictions are seen in the state government. The dispute regarding appointment rules, employment policy and language is not hidden from the youth of the state. He said that since the beginning, BJP has been fighting for the rights of the youth from the streets to the House regarding the JPSC-JSSC issues. BJP MLAs and workers, but the state government lathi-charged the BJP workers and even registered an FIR under serious section. He said that the people of the state are seeing the evidence of collusion between the paper leak case and other blacklisted agencies and government people. Said that the Jharkhand Competitive Examination Bill is a well-planned conspiracy by the government to suppress the voice of the youth. Anyone who speaks against government scams will go to jail. Said that all the agencies which were involved in the examination under the Hemant government have been banned in some state, blacklisted or action is going on. Amit Mandal said that in 2019, Satwat Infosol Private Limited Chennai was found guilty in the Railway Recruitment Board RRB JE paper leak case in Thane Maharashtra. In 2017, Infosol Private Limited was named in the CBI charge sheet in the Ordnance Factory Trichy appointment scam. He said what is the reason that Satwat Infosol Private Limited was included in Lab Assistant and JSSC PGT whereas 6 questions in Lab Assistant and 22 questions in JSSC PGT were cancelled. The BJP leader further said that BINSYS Technology Agency was involved in JSSC JE exam, this is the same agency which is blacklisted in Bihar and is involved in Bihar State Constable Recruitment Scam. Said that ICN INDIA pvt ltd was involved in the JPSC 7th to 10th examinations, which is the same agency which was banned in Bihar in 2019 and an FIR was lodged against it. AHPI officials meet Health Minister AHPI members today met Health Minister Banna Gupta in his office. They got the opportunity to acknowledge him about various problems in MMJAY like the overall MMJAY outstanding dues of private hospitals nearly Rs. 80 crore , Very slow payment of SHA the reason being poor response of telecalling by 104 as well as technical issue of PNB and Two pending enhancements of packages already approved by NHA but not allowed in Jharkhand yet. They told him that they have been following non-payment of SHA for the last two years but the problems of SHA have not been resolved yet. The Health Minister talked to the concerned officer and asked telephonically to resolve it within 24 hours. He asked them to provide papers regarding problems. Dr.Shambhu Prasad Singh, member AHPI Jharkhand and Secretary HBI IMA Jharkhand, Md. Sayeed , President AHPI Jharkhand, Dr. Rajesh member AHPI Jharkhand and Treasurer HBI IMA Jharkhand were present on the occasion. One day workshop at CCL A one day workshop on Updated Procurement Manual of Coal India Limited was organized by Central Coalfields Limited, Ranchi at the Headquarters on Wednesday. The program was inaugurated by GM (MM)/HOD Shyam Narayan Mahato in the presence of GM (HRD) RK Pandey, GM (Stores), SS Sah and GM (MM) Sunil Sahay. The program was followed by an interactive session among the participants. The latest changes in the Procurement Manual and its impact were discussed. The participants were apprised about the latest issues in GeM procurement as per the Procurement Manual. Various schemes of the government like Make in India, Public Procurement Policy etc. were discussed. It may be noted that CCL organizes such programs from time to time to keep the knowledge of its employees updated. The officers and employees of the Material Management Department had an important contribution in making this program successful. CEO Jharkhand to meet urban administrators Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand will chair a meeting with the administrators of all the urban bodies at the headquarters level on 23rd February. Along with reviewing the ongoing preparations for the Lok Sabha elections in the urban areas, a strategy will not only be made by taking suggestions from the officials of all the urban bodies to increase the voting percentage in the cities, but also Everyone will also be informed about the related guidelines of the Election Commission. Along with the administrators of the civic bodies, the directors of the State Urban Development Agency and the Directorate of Urban Administration will also be present in the said meeting. It is noteworthy that in every general election, the percentage of voting in urban areas is less than that in rural areas. The said meeting has been called to start effective efforts to minimize this gap in voting percentage. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced on Wednesday that the Chhattisgarh government will recommend a CBI probe into the murder of 22-year-old Bhuneshwar Sahu in communal violence in Bemetara district last year. During campaigning ahead of last Novembers Assembly elections, the BJP had extensively highlighted the youths killing in Biranpur village. It also fielded Bhuneshwars father Ishwar Sahu from the Saja constituency and rallied around him to ensure his victory. Sharma made the announcement about the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after Ishwar Sahu raised the incident in the House. Ishwar Sahu said his son was killed on April 8 last year and only 12 persons were arrested in the case even though the names of 36 individuals were submitted to the authorities. In his reply, Sharma briefly talked about the communal violence and said it was an amazing coincidence that Bhuneshwars father had reached the House while fighting for justice for his sons murder. So far, 12 accused have been arrested. A 13-member special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted and the probe into the matter is underway, he said. Ishwar Sahu asked whether a CBI probe would be ordered into the incident. Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the matter wqas being investigated by a SIT but today I announce in the House that a CBI investigation will be conducted into the incident. Senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar said two persons from a particular community were also found murdered (on April 11 last year) in the area. Chandrakar asked whether the CBI probe will also cover this incident so that it can be ascertained whether the murder of the duo was in reaction to the earlier incident or if there was any conspiracy behind it. Sharma said 17 persons were arrested in connection with the murder of the two persons and the chargesheet has already been filed in the court. So the CBI probe will only cover the murder of Bhuneshwar Sahu, he said. Bhuneshwar Sahu was killed in violence that erupted in Biranpur on April 8, 2023, after an altercation between school children from two communities. On April 11, Biranpur residents Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35) were found murdered a few kilometers away from the village. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his satisfaction with the states current credit-deposit (CD) ratio at 58.59 per cent. UP has set an ambitious target of taking this ratio to 65 per cent in the next financial year. The chief minister said that he was committed to offering all necessary support and security to facilitate this growth for banks. He emphasised the importance of adopting a mission-driven approach to expand digital banking and financial literacy across all 75 districts. Reviewing the quarter of the current fiscal ending December 2023 in the meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee on Wednesday, the chief minister said, Banks have played a commendable role in our efforts to provide financial incentives in the form of loans to every needy and energetic youth. This sequence of loan fairs should continue further. Do not hesitate in extending loans. In each of its schemes, the government will ensure training and capacity building of the beneficiaries before providing loans, he added. Referring to the state governments ambitious scheme Family ID scheme, he said that all the banks should provide complete data of beneficiaries of Central and state government schemes so that the situation of every family in the state could be accurately assessed. The chief minister also reviewed the progress of key social security programmes, including the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. He highlighted that in alignment with the prime ministers vision, the state has been successful in ensuring that every citizen benefits from these crucial social security schemes. In the meeting, the chief minister lauded the One GP-One BC (One Gram Panchayat-One Banking Correspondent Sakhi) initiative for its significant contribution to financial inclusion. He encouraged banks to offer additional incentives to BC Sakhis, acknowledging their pivotal role in empowering women and fostering self-reliance, thereby setting a sterling example of financial inclusion. Yogi Adityanath also addressed the recent challenges faced by BC Sakhis due to issues with the Paytm Payment Bank. He stressed the importance of quickly resolving these issues. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also called for enhancing CCTV coverage for bolstering bank security and ensuring seamless access to CCTV footage for law enforcement as needed. He noted the significant growth of the banking sector in the state, with the business expanding from Rs 12.80 lakh crore in 2016-17 to over Rs 26.80 lakh crore presently, expressing optimism for the future. As part of the event, the chief minister distributed the states share to Baroda-UP Gramin Bank and Aryavart Gramin Bank, 1.10 lakh Kisan Credit Cards, launched 1,111 new banking outlets, and provided tool kits to 10 BC Sakhis. Reserve Bank of India Chief General Manager Nisha Nambiar also had a special presence at the meeting. She emphasised the expansion of digital banking. The chief minister also gave instructions to hold the meeting of the Bankers Committee at the state level under the chairmanship of the UP chief secretary every three months and in the district every month. On this occasion, the HDFC Bank was presented with a certificate for adoption of 150 Vantangiya villages under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme. The bank will construct 75 smart classes as well as carry out many development works in these villages. How the financial situation improved: In 2016-17, a total loan of Rs 1,37,452 crore was distributed by banks in the state whereas a total loan of Rs 3,00,430 crore was given in 2022-23. By December 2023, loans totaling Rs 2,98,551 crore had already been disbursed. 2,42,097 new banking outlets established over a span of seven years. In seven years, 167 lakh new beneficiaries were added under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. In seven years, 459 lakh new beneficiaries were added under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a leader in various centrally funded social security schemes. The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will soon launch the air connectivity scheme to strengthen air connectivity in the State, the chief secretary Radha Raturi said on Wednesday. In a meeting held at the Secretariat with the officials of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and Alliance Air, she said that as a pilot project, the government will initially start air connectivity on Varanasi- Pantnagar-Varanasi and Pantnagar- Pithoragarh- Pantnagar routes. It will be done as per the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) model. Besides this, the government will also start air connectivity on Amritsar- Dehradun- Amritsar, Dehradun- Pantnagar- Dehradun and Dehradun-Ayodhya- Dehradun routes. This initiative will be based on the Cost Minus Revenue Model. She said that the services of 70-seater plane IE 72 will be used on these routes. This air service will start in the first week of March, she added. Raturi said that considering Uttarakhand is a tourism State, it is necessary to have strong air connectivity across the State besides making continuous improvements in air services. Besides giving a boost to tourism activities in remote areas of the State, strong air connectivity will also benefit locals and the administration in emergency situations like health issues and disaster management. She said that the government will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with Alliance Air in this regard. The president of All India Mahila Congress Alka Lamba has said that if elected to power the Congress party will ensure that the benefit of the 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State assemblies is immediately provided. She said that the Mahila Congress has advocated that more and more tickets are given to the women candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and it has sent names of the women for more than 50 per cent constituencies to the screening committee. She said that though the Modi government has brought and passed the women reservation bill but has deferred its implementation. Interacting with the media person at the headquarters of the State Congress here on Thursday Lamba said the Mahila Congress is working for economic and political empowerment of the women in the country. She said that the former president of Congress party Rahul Gandhi is on a Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. In the Yatra he has taken up the issues of injustice to farmers, youth, women and labourers. She said that the Mahila Congress will also start Nari Nyay Yatras in every district of the state. Lamba said that the Modi government had promised to double the income of farmers and pass a law on MSP but it has failed. She said that instead of providing justice to the farmers the government is bombarding teargas shells on farmers by using drones. Lamba said that the Congress party has promised that it will give guarantee on MSP within 100 days of coming to power and waive off the loans of the farmers. She said unemployment is at its peak in the country during the rule of the party which has promised to provide two crore employment every year. Lamba said that the Congress party favours caste census in the country which will ensure equal rights on the resources of the nation. She said that crime against women is increasing in the country and BJP leaders are involved in the cases of rape and exploitation of women. Lamba said that the report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) suggests that 10 lakh women have gone missing in the last one year. She said that Uttarakhand which is called as Devbhoomi now holds the dubious distinction of being the number one State among the Himalayan states in crime against women. Launching an attack on the BJP government, Lamba said that the recent action of the Income Tax (IT) department on freezing of bank accounts of the Congress party is an example of how the agencies are being used against the opposition. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara and the president of Uttarakhand Mahila Congress Jyoti Rautela were also present on the occasion. The standoff between Congress and Samajwadi Party, both partners of the INDIA bloc, over sharing of seats for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, finally ended on Wednesday when both the parties came together and announced a tie-up for the parliamentary polls, with the states main opposition party leaving 17 out of the 80 seats for the grand old party. The remaining 63 seats will be contested by SP but on all the seats, both the parties would work to ensure the victory of all the candidates of alliance. The Congress gave one Lok Sabha seat, Khajuraho, to the Samajwadi Party in Madhya Pradesh. The SP candidate will contest the election on the election symbol of the Congress. The announcement was made at a joint press conference addressed by SP state chief Naresh Uttam Patel, SP national general secretary Rajendra Chaudhary, Congress state president Ajay Rai and AICC in-charge for UP Avinash Pandey here on Wednesday. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday confirmed his partys alliance with the INDIA bloc for the upcoming general elections in Uttar Pradesh. He said there were no issues with the alliance. We will partner with Congress, there are no issues in the alliance, Yadav told reporters, adding, Ant bhala toh sab bhala (All is well if the end is well). With the finalisation of the SP-Congress alliance, Uttar Pradesh is all set to witness a triangular contest. While Bharatiya Janata Party would go with its partners under National Democratic Alliance, Bahujan Samaj Party has announced to go it alone. The seats to be contested by the Congress are- Rae Bareli, Amethi, Kanpur, Fatehpur Sikri, Baansgaon, Saharanpur, Pryagraj, Maharajganj, Varanasi, Amroha, Jhansi, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Sitapur, Barabanki and Deoria. Sources said that the seat-sharing talks had almost reached a dead end on Tuesday with both parties adamant on their stands, especially on some seats on which both wanted to contest. The talks also broke down as Akhilesh Yadav had set conditions for joining Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Amethi or Rae Bareli. Intervention by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, however, sealed the deal between the two parties. Sources said that Priyanka contacted senior party leaders over telephone on Tuesday night and directed them to withdraw their claims on additional seats and make a compromise on seats offered by the SP. On her intervention, SP exchanged at least three seats demanded by Congress but refused to increase the total number of seats from 17. Finally on Wednesday, Congress general secretary Avinash Pandey, along with SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary and UPCC chief Ajay Rai called a joint press conference to announce the SP-Congress alliance in UP and MP. The talks moved forward after the Congress gave up THE demand for the Moradabad seat and instead asked for Sitapur, Shravasti, and Varanasi Lok Sabha seats where the SP had already announced its candidate. Varanasi is the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The SP would withdraw its candidate from Varanasi, where it had announced its candidate. The alliance has come as a relief for the fledgling INDIA bloc. The bloc has already faced setbacks, with Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party declaring that they would fight the Lok Sabha polls in Bengal and Punjab respectively. The ongoing Dilli Chalo protest on Wednesday witnessed a tragic turn of events as a young protesting-farmer lost his life due to a head injury sustained reportedly by a rubber bullet at the Khanauri border. The incident prompted the suspension of the protest for two days, with the farmer leaders indicating a review of the situation before announcing the next course of action on Friday evening. The unrest escalated as clashes erupted between farmers and the Haryana Police, leading to several injuries and the unfortunate demise of a protester, who was in his early 20s and only brother to two sisters. Tear gas shells were deployed by the police at both the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, exacerbating tensions among the agitating farmers. The deceased protester hailed from Bathinda highlighting the widespread participation and support for the farmers cause from various regions. Additionally, reports indicate that more than a dozen other farmers sustained injuries during the confrontations, further fueling the already charged atmosphere at the protest sites. In response to the escalating situation, farmer leaders decided to suspend the planned march from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders to Delhi. However, tensions remained palpable as clashes continued sporadically, prompting both sides to exercise restraint. The significance of the Khanauri border in particular was underscored by farmer leaders, who emphasized the gravity of the situation there compared to other protest sites. They cited a higher number of casualties and injuries, indicating the intensity of the standoff between the farmers and law enforcement agencies. According to the farmer leaders, the situation at Khanauri border is more grave than at the Shambhu border. They claim that over 100 farmers have been injured, and the number of fatalities could range from four to five. Farmers also alleged that the police have damaged more than 50 tractors. At Khanauri-Data Singh Wala border, farmers and security forces came out with white flags as a mark of truce. Earlier in the day, clashes ensued between farmers and police at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, with the police resorting to rubber bullets and tear gas to deter the farmers throughout the day. Following the firing of rubber bullets at farmers near the Shambhu border, the Haryana Police resorted to tear gas shells, leading to an explosion, and the chaos ensued. Indeed, at both the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, police are intensifying barricades to disperse Punjab farmers and prevent them from proceeding to Delhi. At the Shambhu border, police are deploying tear gas shells from drones on the assembled farmers, who are retaliating by flying kites to obstruct the drones. Continuous deployment of tear gas at the Shambhu border has resulted in the Kisan Mazdoor Morchas coordinator Sarvan Singh Pandher experiencing tear gas exposure, leading to his removal from the protest site. Another prominent leader of the agitation, Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, also faced breathing difficulties due to tear gas and was subsequently escorted away from the area. Earlier, the farmers at Shambhu took proactive measures to protect themselves, wearing swimming goggles to shield their eyes and earplugs to mitigate the impact of tear gas. They had also reinforced their tractors and JCBs, outfitting their tyres with metal sheets to prevent damage, positioning all heavy machinery at the forefront of the protest. However, Punjab police had also intercepted several heavy machines intended for use, preventing them from reaching the protest site. At Khanauri border near Jind in Haryana, a crowd of approximately 15,000 protesters has congregated, with surrounding fields brimming with demonstrators. Amidst the commotion, efforts were made to mediate between the protesting farmers and the authorities. However, the deployment of tear gas and other crowd control measures only served to escalate the situation further, highlighting the deep-seated grievances driving the farmers' protest. Furthermore, solidarity among the farming community was evident as farmers from various regions rallied in support of their counterparts at the protest sites. Tractor trollies lined up at different border points symbolized the collective strength and determination of the farmers in their struggle for justice. Meanwhile, the demand for dialogue and concrete action from the government remained steadfast, with farmer leaders insisting on a clear stance regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) law. The telephonic discussions between farmer representatives and Union Ministers failed to yield any breakthrough, prolonging the deadlock between the two sides. Meanwhile, farmers from Punjab have started gathering at the Bathinda-Dabwali border, joining the ongoing protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Arriving with their tractor trollies, they voiced solidarity with the protesting farmers marking the third Punjab-Haryana border to witness such gatherings. The farmers expressed determination to continue their agitation until their demands, including legal guarantee on MSP, are met. DIG Bhullar Protests Haryana Police's Tear Gas Deployment Patiala range DIG HS Bhullar condemned the Haryana Polices use of 14 tear gas shells without provocation as farmers initiated their march towards Delhi from the Shambhu border. Bhullar expressed his dissatisfaction by registering a protest with the Haryana Police over their actions. Additionally, efforts were made to defuse tensions as the district collector, Divisional Commissioner DS Mangat, and DIG Bhullar mediated discussions between farmer leaders and the Centre at the highway police picket, aiming to find a peaceful resolution to the escalating situation. Another Haryana cop dies Tragedy struck once more amidst the ongoing farmers agitation as another police officer, Exempee Sub-Inspector (ESI) Vijay Kumar, stationed at Tohana border in Haryanas Fatehabad district, succumbed to illness on late Tuesday evening. The officer fell ill while on duty and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival. Haryana DGP SS Kapur expressed deep sorrow, stating, It is extremely sad and unfortunate for us. Haryana Police stands with ESI Vijay Kumars family in this moment of grief. This marks the third police officer to pass away in recent days, following the deaths of Government Railway Police Sub-Inspector Hiralal and ESI Kaushal Kumar stationed at the Shambhu border. Expressing deep shock over the tragic death of young farmer Shubhkaran Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced his commitment to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible. The Chief Minister said that he had seen the video of gruesome murder of the young farmer who was there to exercise his democratic right. After investigation, FIR will be registered against the people responsible for his death and exemplary punishment to them will be ensured, said Mann, adding that the State Government is fully with the family of the deceased youth in this hour of crisis and they will be helped socially and economically. Mann said that he had tried his level best to ensure that the farmers and youth do not face the bullets, water cannons, tear shells and others. For this, I acted as a bridge to ensure that the farmers and Union Government at some consensus but unfortunately it never happened, he added. He said that he was part of two out of the four meetings held between the farmers and the Union Government. However, farmers demands are to be accepted by the Union Government, which unfortunately failed to fulfill its duty. Mann said that rather than accepting their demands, the farmers were unlawfully stopped by Haryana by putting barbed wires. The farmers wanted to go to their national capital and lodge their peaceful protest but the Haryana Government stopped them forcefully, said Mann. He said that instead of listening to farmers issues, the Centre had turned a blind eye towards their genuine demands. Mann said that the last meeting between the Centre and farmers had taken place on January 22, 2021, and for three long years the demands of farmers had taken a backseat. Had the Centre been sincere about farmers grievances, this situation would have never arisen. The Centre is only concerned about toppling democratically-elected governments in opposition-ruled states, he said. Categorically stating that there is no law and order problem in the state as farmers are protesting peacefully, Mann said that on the other hand, Haryana is creating law and order problem by using force in the peaceful farmers which is unjustified and unwarranted. Reminding the BJP leaders about severe law and order problem in Manipur and even in Nuh at Haryana, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is much peaceful than that. 2 Eye-Specialists Ministers, an MLA on Alert To provide immediate health services to the agitating farmers, the State Government has deployed ambulances and vehicles of Sadak Surakhya Force at the site. As most of the farmers are coming up with eye problems due to use of tear gas, two Ministers and one MLA, who all are eye specialists, have been deployed at the hospitals, he said. Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh will oversee all such cases at Patiala, another Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur will be stationed at Patran and Khanauri, whereas Chamkaur Sahib MLA Dr Charanjit Singh Channi will be stationed at Rajpura hospital, he said, adding that they are authorized to take decisions and also give required direction to the Deputy Commissioners also. Not Afraid of Prez Rule: Mann Addressing speculations regarding the imposition of President's rule in the state, Chief Minister emphatically declared his readiness to sacrifice his position for the welfare of the people, asserting that he could relinquish his chair a hundred times if necessary. He cautioned the Central Government against resorting to intimidation tactics, emphasizing that his administration is driven by a fervent dedication to serving the people and the state rather than seeking power. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Wednesday, emphasised the boundless splendour of Naimisharanya, noting that its significance echoed across various religious scriptures. During the inauguration of the Sthapna-Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav of Sri Sri Jagdamba Raj Rajeshwari temple and the Chitshakti gate of the new temple, he highlighted its reference in revered texts such as the Ramcharitmanas by Saint Tulsidas. It was here that thousands of sages, guided by Lord Vedvyas, engaged in deep meditation and gave Indias rich heritage of Vedic wisdom and science in a written form, he said. Further elaborating, the chief minister mentioned significant events tied to Naimisharanya, such as Maharishi Dadhichis donation of his bones during the Devasur battle. Part of Satis tongue had fallen at this place in the form of Lalita Devi. Shaktipeeth. The sacred abode of Maa Lalita Devi and Chakratirtha is located here. Connecting the dots, Saint Sanmukhanand Puri Ji Maharaj established Rajarajeshwari temple and ashram, he said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after offering prayers at the site, underscored the significance of Jagdamba Rajarajeshwari, whose rituals serve as a guiding light for the nation, society and individual conduct towards public welfare. Keeping in mind the importance of Naimish teertha, the government has taken several steps. Action is underway to develop it as a pilgrimage site, he said. Highlighting that religion is much more than just a set of rituals, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised its role in guiding individuals towards virtuous paths. He stressed the universal significance of Sanatan Dharma, stating that as long as it thrives, humanity will continue to progress towards collective welfare. Conversely, any threat to Sanatan Dharma jeopardises the well-being of humanity as a whole, he added. Reflecting on the spiritual journey of Saint Shanmukhanand Puri Ji Maharaj, who devoted years to meditation along the banks of the river Narmada, the chief minister noted the tangible fruits of his devotion in the form of the Rajarajeshwari ashram and temple. A new dimension and gem is being added to the Naimish area with the Rajarajeshwari ashram and temple (Naimish kshetra mein nayi kadi aur nayi mani judne ja rahi hai), he remarked. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised the nationwide initiatives led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at revitalising Indias rich cultural heritage. He highlighted the remarkable transformation of iconic sites like Kashi Vishwanath, Mahakaal, Kedarpuri, Badrinath Dham, and Ayodhya, which have rekindled the faith of millions of Sanatan Dharma followers after centuries. Expressing his vision for Naimisharanya, the chief minister emphasised the importance of restoring its ancient glory, not only for religious reasons but also for economic growth. He underscored the potential for creating employment opportunities for thousands of local youth through the rejuvenation of the pilgrimage site. Reflecting on the economic boost experienced by traders in Ayodhya post-consecration, he emphasised the trickle-down effect of such developments on all sections of society. Furthermore, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated the overarching goal of the initiatives spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi, which transcends barriers of caste, creed, attire and cuisine. He emphasised that when every citizen dedicates their efforts and achievements to the service of the nation, Indias ascent as a global powerhouse becomes inevitable. He stressed the symbiotic relationship between public welfare and national progress, asserting that the two are inseparable and indispensable for the nations advancement. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar also expressed his views. During this, Saint Swami Sanmukhanand Puri Maharaj, Jagadguru Ramanujacharya, who came from Ayodhya, Sugriva Kiladhish Vishesh Prapancharya ji, Kamadgiri Peethadhishwar Ramswaroopacharya ji Maharaj, Narsingh Peethadhishwar Narsingh Das ji, Swami Vidya Chaitanya ji Maharaj, MP Ashok Rawat, MLC Pawan Singh Chauhan, MLA Ramakrishna Bhargava, Manish Rawat, Nirmal Kumar Verma, Gyan Tiwari, District Panchayat Chairperson Shraddha Sagar, Bharatiya Janata Party district president Rajesh Shukla, former Madhya Pradesh Minister Rampal Singh and others were present. Governor CP Radhakrishnan today exhorted students to use their knowledge and skills for the betterment of the society. The Governor was addressing students in the first Convocation of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University here on Thursday. Congratulating the degree recipients the Governor said, This is a momentous achievement, and it's not just your success but also a proud moment for your parents, the faculty members, and the staff who have supported and guided you along the way. As the Chancellor of this university, it brings me great pleasure to be with you all to share this joy. Today marks a significant milestone in your academic journey. This moment of joy and satisfaction will forever be engraved in your memory. However, let me remind you that your education doesn't end here; it's the foundation upon which you'll build your future endeavors. The knowledge and values you've acquired here will guide you through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, he said. Remember to dream big. Success doesn't happen overnight; it results from hard work, determination, and perseverance. As our former president, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said, You have to dream before your dreams can come true. I have complete confidence in your abilities to overcome any obstacles that come your way, said the Governor. Radhakrishnan further said that education is not just about personal gain but also about contributing to the betterment of society. Have you thought about how you can make a difference? Please consider the importance of ethics and social responsibility in all your activities, he said. Use your education and skills to impact your community and society positively. Extend your help to students from the economically weaker section of the society and help them of access better education opportunities. Your achievements should not only benefit you alone but also uplift those around you, he said. As many as 198 toppers of Graduation and Post-Graduation courses were given Gold medals in the convocation. Vice Chancellor Tapan Kumar Shandilya, DSW Dr SM Abbas, Registrar Dr Namita Singh, Examination Controller Dr Ashish Gupta, Deans, HoDs and members of senate and syndicate along with hundreds of students participated in the programme. The Delhi High Court on Thursday paved the way for transfer of the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) from the Delhi University to the city government, after it vacated the stay it had ordered on implementation of a Union Cabinet decision of 2005. The court said non-implementation of the Union Cabinets decision is against public interest and has only served the private interest of the employees of the institution. The high court said this was evident from an incident where an injured patient died as he could not be admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital due to non-availability of CT scan machine and ventilator on January 2 after he was turned away by other city hospitals. Established in 1971, UCMS is a government college affiliated to the University of Delhi. It is associated with Delhi government-run Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, which serves as the teaching hospital. The court said the relocation plan placed before it in another petition highlighted grossly inadequate infrastructure at UCMS because of which patients were not getting critical services. We are of the considered opinion that the non-implementation of the Cabinet decision at the instance of the petitioners herein (who have a tacit support of respondent no. 4, DU) has acted against public interest (that is, patients and students) and is only focusing to serve the private interest of the employees and the staff of UCMS, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said in a judgment passed on February 19 and made available on courts website on Thursday. The high court dismissed a batch of petitions filed by associations of teaching and non-teaching staff of UCMS challenging various orders passed by the Centre, Delhi government and the Delhi University to implement the Union cabinets August 25, 2005 decision to bring the UCMS and GTB Hospital under the unified control of the Delhi government. The GTB Hospital is the only tertiary care hospital run by the Delhi government in Trans-Yamuna area. The bench also vacated its November 16, 2016 interim order staying the Union cabinets decision. The Delhi governments counsel told the court that UCMS required an estimated Rs 250 crore budgetary allocation which will be made. A joint secretary in the city governments health and public welfare department has filed an affidavit assuring the court that additional funds beyond Rs 250 crore will be made available to UCMS and GTB Hospital, if required. The undertaking of the Joint Secretary with Department of Health and Family Welfare, GNCTD given before this court that all requisite funds required for UCMS will be made available and budget will not be an issue is accepted by this court and taken on record. GNCTD is bound down to the said undertaking, the bench said. The petitioners working at UCMS had challenged the Centres decision over apprehension that their promotions, seniority, service conditions and timely payment of salary could be adversely affected if the institution is handed over to the Delhi government. They wanted DU to retain control of UCMS. The court said the tussle between Delhi University and the city government has adversely affected the quality of medical services at GTB Hospital. The report of the incident (of death of patient on January 2) post investigation has been placed on record by GNCTD and it tells a heart rending tale of death due to denial of medical facilities. The unavailability of the CT scan and its adverse effect on public health is a direct result of an uncalled-for tussle for administrative control over UCMS and GTB Hospital, it said. The court said the petitioners have stalled the implementation of the Centres decision harming public interest as the quality of service provided by the hospital has declined. The caution to be exercised by the constitutional court, while interfering with Cabinet decisions is well settled in the decisions of the Supreme Court. As a matter of rule, this court does not substitute its view in the decision of the government with regard to policy matters and administrative decisions, unless it runs counter to the mandate of the Constitution. In the matter of policy decision by the Cabinet so long as the infringement of fundamental rights is not shown, the courts have no occasion to interfere and substitute its own judgment for the judgment of the executive, the bench added. Moving ahead on the plan to provide air connectivity to the far flung areas of the State, the Heli service from Haldwani to Munsiyari, Pithoragarh and Champawat started on Thursday. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the service under the regional connectivity scheme in a virtual mode from Dehradun. Speaking on the occasion CM expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for the commencement of the Heli service. He said that the much awaited service will not only help in providing transportation facilities and connecting far flung areas but will also prove useful in effective implementation of relief and rescue works during disaster. The service will also give a boost to tourism in the area. Dhami said that the service will also help in igniting reverse migration in the remote areas and rehabilitate the villages and houses in the mountainous areas of the State. The CM said that recently a new terminal at Dehradun airport Jollygrant was inaugurated and soon air services to Amritsar, Pantnagar and Ayodhya will start from Dehradun as a pilot project. The CM disclosed that soon Heli services to Triyuginarayan and Lansdowne will also start. These services will give an impetus to tourism and create new avenues for employment. He said that fixed wing aircraft service from Dehradun to Pithoragarh has started from January 30, 2024. He said that Uttarakhand is an important state for pilgrimage and tourism and the State government is trying to provide every kind of facility to the pilgrims and tourists. The CM said that the Dehradun airport is being developed into an international airport. The state government is also planning to start Joy ride service and Himalaya Darshan service for the tourists. Dhami said that under the leadership of PM Modi , 25 crore people of the country have come out of poverty and the dream of PM that the residents of the country donning slippers should travel by air is coming true today. The programme was virtually addressed by the union minister of State for defence and tourism Ajay Bhatt. He said that to encourage regional tourism and connectivity the UDAN scheme was started. The scheme will prove beneficial for tourism, education and health. Bhatt said that the union government has given an approval of Rs 140 crore for development of Champawat and Pithoragarh districts. The programme was addressed by MLA Bishan Singh Chufal, additional secretary civil aviation C Ravishankar and others. The Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday unanimously passed a vote of thanks and congratulations for the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla held on January 22. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar moved the official resolution, which was supported by BJP ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and main opposition Congress. Moving the resolution, Khattar touched upon the struggle linked to the construction of the Ram temple and said spirit of Lord Ram prevails in every corner of the country. It is a matter of great privilege for me to present the resolution in this esteemed House regarding the consecration of Ram Lalla's life in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. Today, every Indian feels elated and proud witnessing the re-establishment of the Ram Temple. On behalf of the people of Haryana, this House extends its gratitude to all those eminent personalities who have contributed through their thoughts, words, and actions to this remarkable achievement," he added. Home Minister Anil Vij said, We are fortunate that in our lifetime Lord Ram temple has been constructed. Many agitations were held in the past... During one such agitation, I was arrested in Lucknow and jailed for 15 days in Unnao. Vij also credited the construction of the Ram temple to Prime Minister Modi and said it is because of his able leadership that a grand temple was built after court decision. Supporting the resolution, Leader of Opposition and Congress member Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Lord Ram belongs to everyone. Congress members Raghuvir Singh Kadian, Neeraj Sharma, B B Batra, Kiran Choudhary and Chiranjeevi Rao also supported the resolution. Congress' Kiran Choudhary said, We support the resolution. 'Ram hamare kan kan mein hai, aur woh sari jagah virajmaan hai', she said. Independent MLA Balraj Kundu said, I support the resolution from the core of my heart. The BJP members said the construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram at his birthplace in Ayodhya is a historic and glorious achievement for the country. The BJP MLAs raised Jai Shri Ram slogans in the House which were reciprocated by several Congress members. Centre should accept protesting farmers demands: Congress The opposition Congress party said that the Haryana Assembly should pass a resolution urging the Centre to accept the protesting farmers various demands, including a legal guarantee on crop MSP. During a debate on the Governors Address, senior Congress MLA Raghuvir Singh Kadian said, Farmers are the backbone of the country. After the farm laws were repealed, they were given some assurances by the Centre but these have not been fulfilled. Referring to the protesting farmers camping on the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points of the Punjab-Haryana border, he said the Centre should accept their demands and give a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The assembly should pass a resolution and send it to the Centre, urging it to meet the farmers demands, Kadian said. Govt working towards implement property ID-based registries: CM Replying to a question during the Question Hour, Khattar said that the government is making efforts to make registries only on the basis of property ID in urban areas. Sonipat and Karnal districts have been taken up in the first phase. With the implementation of this system, there will be no need for inteqal, registries will be conducted solely based on property ID. Khattar said that previously, revenue records categorized areas into urban areas, rural areas, and an ambiguous "other" category. While local bodies managed property records in urban areas and respective departments handled rural areas, the "other" category created loopholes. Some individuals exploited this ambiguity to facilitate improper registries. However, the current state government has eliminated the "other" category, leading to complications for some individuals. He clarified that while property ID serves to identify properties, it does not serve as proof of ownership. Through the ongoing large-scale mapping project in the state, mapping efforts are underway in urban areas. Once this data undergoes verification against revenue records, it will become authenticated. Consequently, traditional registration processes will no longer be necessary; registrations will instead be conducted exclusively based on property IDs, he added. Approval in principle has been granted for the no-objection certificate from the National Tiger Conservation Authority for the Jamrani dam project in the meeting of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) standing committee. Informing about this, Irrigation minister Satpal Maharaj said that all obstacles to this project have been resolved and that construction of the dam will begin soon. He said that approval had been granted in October last year to include this project in the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) in the meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs chaired by the Prime Minister. Maharaj said that the approval in principle to the NTCA NOC was granted in the MoEFCC standing committee meeting held earlier in January. With this, all formalities have been completed for construction of this important project on the Gaula river in Nainital district. The minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Union minister Bhupendra Yadav and Union minister of State Ajay Bhatt for this development. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called an all-party meeting on Thursday evening to discuss the one-time settlement of water bills in the city. While Delhi Congress leaders Arvinder Singh Lovely and Haroon Yusuf joined the meeting, BJP leaders decided to boycott it, saying that they would join if the airflow meter scam was discussed. According to party officials, the meeting was held at Kejriwals residence at Civil Lines. During the meeting, Delhis Water Minister Atishi and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, shed light on the intricacies of the One Time Settlement Scheme for Inflated Water Bills. During this, the Chief Minister said that the absence of the BJP in the meeting indicated their opposition to the scheme, whereas it would waive off the bills of 90 per cent of the people upon its implementation. The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the government in alleviating the burden on Delhiites. Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Somnath Bharati was also present. Kejriwal said that the BJPs absence from the all-party meeting indicates their opposition to the One-Time Settlement Scheme, which aims to provide relief to lakhs of people in Delhi. We should expose the BJP in front of the people of Delhi because they are engaging in very dirty politics. If BJP has any suggestions, we will consider them, the CM said. Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that the water bill settlement issue currently prevalent in Delhi is a result of the problems created by the installation of air-flow water meters by the Kejriwal government. Airflow meter scam is part of larger scam in Delhi Jal Board done by Kejriwal government. We will surely attend all-party meet if Kejriwal is ready to discuss the entire Delhi Jal Board scam and other scams of Delhi government, Sachdeva said. AAP has been raising the one-time settlement scheme for the past week and also moved a resolution on it in the ongoing Legislative Assembly. According to AAP, the scheme is expected to benefit more than 10 lakh consumers receiving faulty water bills across Delhi. Consumers will be able to settle arrears by paying re-casted bills in one go. The bills will get re-casted in an automated manner. Therefore, customers will not have to individually get their bills rectified at the DJB Offices. All customers availing this scheme will need to get functional meters; this will ensure that they come within the billing ambit of DJB. This scheme is projected to bring in 11.9 lakh people under the fold of DJB. The DJB is expected to unlock a potential of Rs 2500 crores worth revenue. The OTS will provide relief to consumers as well as bring revenue to Delhi Jal Board, the AAP said in a statement. The DJB passed this scheme in its Board Meeting dated 13th June 2023. The scheme was to be brought to the cabinet by the Urban Development Department, which is the parent department of DJB. The Finance Department refused to give its comments. Finally, written directions were given by the Urban Development Minister to the Urban Development Department to present the cabinet note before the council of ministers by 14th February. However, the UD department refused to put up the proposal before the Cabinet saying no comments were received from Finance Department. At the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal had said, I request L-G sir if you just pick up your phone and tell these officers to clear the file, the scheme will be implemented in just three hours The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has released the pending funds for the purchase of school uniform, stationery and bags for students after an audit report highlighted its failure to disburse the amount since 2016-17, documents reveal. However, the MCD schools have received less funds for nearly 2,73,122 of the total 7.88 lakh students enrolled in the civic body schools, the documents showed without highlighting any reason for the less disbursement. There was no immediate response from the mayors office, commissioner MCD, and director of the education department. The corporation has approved the proposal vide 28/12/23, 31/10/23, and 28/12/23 for allocation of cash subsidy of Rs 300, Rs 1,100, and Rs 120 respectively, per child enrolled in pre-primary to fifth classes in MCD schools for the purchase of stationery, uniform, and school bags for the current year 2023-24, the documents, which shows the amount has been released for just 5,14,878 students, read. Reacting to the development, the Delhi BJP criticised the AAP-led MCD government for releasing the funds for the academic year 2023-24 after the session had ended. Out of the total number of students studying in municipal schools, only 5,14,878 students were given funds for school uniforms for the academic year 2023-24 that too in January 2024, the party said in a statement. As per the documents, MCD released the pending funds of Rs 56,63,65,800 for uniform, Rs 15,44,63,400 for notebooks and stationary, and Rs 6,17,85,360 for purchasing school bags for these students across its 12 zones. The civic body has a total of 7.88 lakh students enrolled in its schools. The funds were released for the academic session 2023-24 between December last year and January, 2024. An MCD school principal has written to the civic body regarding receiving funds for only 45 students while the school strength is 191. In the letter, the principal also raised concern that the received funds are falling short for even the 19 students of the total 64 who have their bank accounts opened. We are unable to understand out of these 64 which 45 students are to be credited with the uniform fund amount, the letter, dated February 14 addressed to the education department of MCD, read. It further enquired if the funds for the remaining students including the 19 students who did not receive the amount despite having accounts, will be released after an ongoing drive in the school to open bank accounts of students. A newly married woman committed suicide by hanging with the ceiling on Tuesday afternoon at Tara Sewania; reason of the suicide remained unclear. The mother-in-law found that her room was locked from inside and her 8-month-old daughter was crying lying under the hanging body. With the help of neighbours, the mother-in-law broke the gate of the room and took her to hospital. Where she was declared dead. The deceased's brother Shravan Kushwaha told that Pooja Kushwaha (25) was his younger sister. We are residents of Raisen. Three years ago, Pooja married Santosh, it was a love marriage. Brother-in-law Santosh, apart from farming, also does contractor work in Bhopal. Brother-in-law had left for work on Tuesday morning. Mother-in-law had gone to worship in the neighbourhood. Sister was alone at home, she had hanged herself in the afternoon. Meanwhile Awadhpuri police have booked husband and mother-in-law of female clerk of Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation who committed suicide after being harrased. Police investigation revealed that both the accused used to torture her due to anger over not getting the car and cash of their choice as dowry. Used to pressurize them to bring cash from their maternal home. According to the police, Sushma Gaur was a clerk while her husband was posted in BHEL. The woman had committed suicide by hanging herself in her house on January 26. During the investigation, the woman's mother, sister and father had accused her husband Ashish and her mother-in-law Rammati Bai of harassing her. She had told the police that after marriage, her husband and mother-in-law used to beat and torture her by demanding car and money as dowry. Based on the statements of the victim, the police registered a case against both the accused. Now the police are searching for the absconding accused. The proposed Delhi march of farmers in Noida and Greater Noida on Friday has been called off after their meeting with the local administration and the police, a farmer group said. The Thursdays announcement comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered formation of a three-member committee to look into the issue and resolve the woes of the farmers, who are demanding higher compensation and developed plots in lieu of their land acquired by the government in the past. Thousands of farmers from around 200 villages, who are protesting against the local authorities in Noida and Greater Noida, and the National Thermal Power Corporation (Dadri), had on February 8 made an unsuccessful attempt to go to Parliament to press for their demands but were stopped at the Delhi border here by the police. Representatives of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad, All India Kisan Sabha and Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Morcha on Thursday afternoon held a meeting with the police officers and the administration, including District Magistrate, in Greater Noida. After Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths action on allegations of paper leaks in the State Police Constable Recruitment Examination, the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) has sought proof from the candidates. The UPPRPB has asked the candidates to submit evidence of the paper leak till 6:00 pm on February 23. Candidates can submit their proof regarding paper going viral before the examination, on the website uppbpb.gov.in issued by Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. Many candidates in UP have alleged that the papers of the UP Police Constable Recruitment Examination held on February 17 and 18 were leaked. Not only this, there has been a lot of uproar after Sunny Leones picture was printed on a students identity card. After this Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, taking this matter seriously, ordered the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate it. As per the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi, UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board Chairperson Renuka Mishra has formed an investigation committee under the chairmanship of ADG Ashok Kumar Singh. This committee will investigate the complaint of paper leaks, irregularities in paper printing, late arrival of paper, Sunny Leones admit card issue. Further action will be taken based on the information found in the investigation report. The Police Recruitment and Promotion Board has now also sought representations from the candidates along with proof. Candidates can submit their evidence regarding papers going viral before the examination, on the website uppbpb.gov.in issued by Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. If the evidence is found true in the investigation, then further action will be taken. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the alleged paper leaks on February 17 and 18. They issued a statement confirming their preliminary findings, indicating that miscreants exploited Telegrams edit feature to disseminate false claims of paper leaks for fraudulent purposes. The UPPRPB assured the public that they, along with UP Police, are actively monitoring these cases and conducting a thorough probe. They emphasised that the ongoing examination process is being conducted securely and without disruption. It may be mentioned that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav had raised questions regarding the police recruitment exam paper leaks. While sharing several news of paper leaks, he targeted the Yogi government and said, The news of paper leak of all sessions of UP Police Recruitment Examination 2024 is spreading with screenshots on social media, due to which lakhs of unemployed youth are angry. Like other previous examinations, this time also the fear of paper being leaked in the name of providing employment is coming true and is coming out in the form of news. Former president of Congress, Rahul Gandhi during his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra also prominently raised the issue of paper leaks including in the police recruitment exams and accused the Uttar Pradesh government of playing with the future of youths. A red carpet welcome awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Thursday. The district administration and Bharatiya Janata Party have geared up their preparations to make the prime ministers visit a grand success. The BJP is more enthusiastic as Modi is visiting Kashi for the first time after the consecration of Ram Lalla in the newly-built Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, when the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner. The party has made six grand welcome points between Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur and Officers Guest House in Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) where the prime minister will stay. At each of these gates, a senior BJP leader will remain present along with supporters to welcome Modi on his arrival. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at all the venues and routes. Several traffic restrictions have been imposed on all the routes from where the prime ministers motorcade will pass through. The prime minister will participate in a programme to be organised at Swatantrata Bhawan in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on the second day of his visit on February 23. After that the prime minister will go to Sant Ravidas temple located at Seer Govardhan where he will have darshan of Sant Ravidas, the Dalit poet of medieval period, and taste langar. Later the prime minister will unveil the statue of Sant Ravidas and address a public meeting. After this, the prime minister will go to Banas (Amul) dairy plant located in Karkhiyaon where, before addressing a huge public meeting, he will give gift of 36 projects worth Rs 14,316 crore to Purvanchal (eastern UP) including his own parliamentary constituency Varanasi. The prime minister will inaugurate 23 projects worth Rs 10,972 crore and lay the foundation stones of 16 projects worth Rs 3,344.07 crore. The major projects of Purvanchal that the prime minister will inaugurate on the occasion include Rs 3,191 crore Ghagra bridge on NH-233 (Phase-I), Rs 2,935 crore Sultanpur-Varanasi four-lane road (Phase-I) on NH-56, Rs 2,143 crore six-lane Varanasi-Karmnasha bridge (Phase-I) on NH-19 and Rs 1,248 crore Varanasi-Hanumana four-lane widening in Phase-I. Besides, Modi will also inaugurate Rs 622 crore milk processing unit at Banas project in Varanasi apart from Rs 200 crore 600 TPD Waste to Charcoal at Green Coal Plant set up by NTPC, Rs 214.37 crore LPG Bottling Plant of HPCL, Rs 39.22 crore development of five paraos (stoppages) of Panchposhi Marg, Rs 36 crore catamaran boat ride facilities in Varanasi and Ayodhya, Rs 35.10 crore ROB near Babatpur railway station, Rs 32.77 crore spiritual tourist development works in Seer Govardhan, Rs 24.35 crore Paavan Path development of religious pilgrimages in Kashi, Rs 9.74 crore silk printing facility in Jagatpur and Rs 9.64 crore STP automation and online effluent monitoring system in Varanasi. Apart from these, the prime minister will also lay the foundation stones of Rs 1,317 crore six-lane Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata road under Bharat Mala Yojana, Rs 1,149 advanced research and manufacturing plant of BHEL in Karkhiyaon, Rs 432.75 crore new premises of National Institute of Fashion Technology at Bada Lalpur, Rs 150 crore new medical college project in Pandeypur, Rs 147.39 crore National Centre of Aging in Banaras Hindu University, Rs 62. 54 crore Ravidas Park and Museum at Seer Govardhan and many other projects. Replying to the Governor's address, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said that the results for approximately 28000-29000 posts will be declared within the next eight days. He said that the current state government's tenure, spanning 9 and half years, has witnessed a significantly higher volume of recruitments compared to the previous governments 10-year term. Under the present government's initiatives, the introduction of the Common Entrance Test (CET) streamlines the recruitment examination process for Group C and D positions. The CET aims to streamline the selection process by merit-based criteria, eliminating the necessity for interviews and promoting the selection of deserving youth. Khattar said that the government has established Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) to protect the employees already employed on temporary jobs through contractors from exploitation by the contractors. This initiative aims to allocate outsourced jobs to the youth while ensuring additional benefits such as EPF and ESI. In a jab at the opposition's portrayal of unemployment figures, Khattar thanked the opposition that they have come down from 36 percent to 9 percent. He pointed out that the opposition often cites data from CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy), which initially showed 2.6 percent unemployment in Haryana in December 2016 but later surged to 37 percent. In October-December 2023, CMIE recorded 8.6 percent unemployment in the state. He underscored the government's initiative of issuing family identity cards, where individuals had self declared their employment status. According to this data, the unemployment rate ranges between 7.5 to 8 percent. Khattar said that over the past nine and a half years, employment opportunities have been provided to more than 30 lakh people in the private sector. The state has witnessed a consistent rise in investment, leading to the expansion of industries and subsequently, increased job opportunities for the youth. Notably, Haryana holds the top position in per capita GST collection among major states, he added. While highlighting the significance of the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) scheme, Khattar described it as unique and integral in ensuring public access to government schemes and services. Under PPP, citizens can update or correct their details within 30 days, ensuring efficient service delivery. Of the 84,34,961 complaints received across 22 categories, approximately 80,50,611 have been resolved. The remaining approximately 3.86 lakh complaints will be resolved soon. The Sikh community has demanded immediate action against BJP MLA Subhendu Adhikari from West Bengal for his derogatory remarks against a Sikh IPS officer. Sikh advocate Kulwinder Singh appealed to the country's Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda to expel West Bengal BJP leader and MLA Subhendu Adhikari from the party. Adhikari had allegedly made racial remarks against Jaspreet Singh, an IPS Sikh officer, during official duties. Singh emphasized that such comments are unacceptable in a civilized society and constitute a crime in a constitutional democratic country. He urged for strict legal action, stating that individuals making such remarks should find their place in jail. Drawing attention to the BJP's historical stance on the 1984 Sikh genocide, Singh highlighted the need for the party's leadership to act against itself. He called for the BJP to demonstrate the same sympathy, love, and trust towards the minority community, particularly the Sikhs. Singh emphasized that Sikhs, with their history written in golden letters, do not need to prove their loyalty to the nation and criticized any attempts to label religious identity as racial commentary or indicative of Khalistan. Singh urged the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Central Government to take legal action against Sikh leaders who wear turbans, symbolizing self-respect, nationalism, and commitment to service. He criticized Sikh leaders within the BJP who, in the pursuit of party loyalty, have allegedly forgotten their history and become tools in the hands of leaders with racist tendencies, undermining national unity and integrity. In a final appeal, Singh called on the Chairman of the National Minorities Commission and the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the matter and initiate appropriate action against those who threaten communal harmony and the dignity of Sikh identity. Madhya Pradesh Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samitis prestigious honour, Hindi Sevi Samman, in the year 2023, was given by Narendra Singh Tomar, Speaker, Legislative Assembly, to Sindhi speaking Meeta Uttamchandani, Additional General Manager (Finance) of BHEL, Bhopal and Oriya speaking Pradeep Kumar Naik, Additional General Manager (Finance). Madhya Pradesh Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, Bhopal, annually honours non-Hindi speaking officers who have made significant contributions to the use of the official language in central government offices, undertakings and banks. Meanwhile, in a simple program organised at the Coil and Insulation Manufacturing Department (CIM) of BHEL, Bhopal, the coils of the sixth stator set of the motor were handed over to NPCIL by SM Ramanathan, Executive Director, BHEL Bhopal. On this occasion, Rupesh Telang, General Manager (Feeders), Vikas Khare, General Manager (EM) were specially present. VV Khare, Head of Department, CIM while giving information about the coils of the stator set to Arup Kumar Bhowmick, Additional General Manager (LEM), said that this work has been completed by the department keeping in mind the highest quality standards. He also informed about the work being done by the department for various projects. On this occasion, other officers and employees of Coil and Insulation Manufacturing Department, Feeders Quality Group were present. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said schemes ensuring welfare of women will continue. The Ladli Behna Yojana installment for the month of March will be deposited in the accounts of women on March 1st. The Chief Minister said that service to people is the top priority. He was addressing a public meeting after the road-show in Balaghat today. Yadav dedicated to people Hindustan Green Energy Limited and Hindustan Tapes Private Limited industrial units costing Rs 650 crore. He laid foundation stone for development works worth Rs 761 crore in Balaghat district. Yadav also gave away benefits to the beneficiaries of various schemes. MP Dhal Singh Bisen, former Minister Gauri Shankar Bisen, former Minister of State Ramkishore Kanvre and public representatives were present. The Chief Minister administered oath to the people to respect all women, serve the poor and remain committed to the development of the state under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Later Chief Minister Dr. Yadav interacted with the beneficiaries. The development works for which Bhumi Pujan was done included construction of PVC insulation electrical Miragpur at a cost of Rs 150 crore, Ethanol unit in Gudrughat at a cost of Rs 300 crore, construction of silicon, ferro alloys and steel unit in Sarandi at a cost of Rs 200 crore, various construction works costing Rs 12 crore 51 lakh in government high schools of Kinhi, Khurmundi, Amai, Kochewahi, Bakora, Bakori, Piparjhari, Dhapera and Basegaon, construction work in government colleges of Tirodi and Malajkhand costing Rs 2 crore 17 lakh, construction of bridge on Chandan river on Jhaliwada to Mehduli road at a cost of Rs 11 crore 43 lakh and various rural road construction works costing of Rs 20 crore 42 lakh. 45 development works constructed at a cost of Rs 45 crore 84 lakh have been dedicated in Balaghat. Among these, 20 urban drinking water schemes costing more than Rs 17 crore under AMRUT-2.0 scheme were dedicated. Along with this, construction work in 11 new sub-health centers at a cost of Rs 14 crore 63 lakh, construction and strengthening of roads worth more than Rs 6 crore, construction of Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School in Birsa Kachnari at a cost of Rs 1 crore 38 lakh and construction work of 3 high level bridges at a cost of Rs Rs 5 crore 24 lakh is also included. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the cultivation of Kodo-Kutki is being encouraged in tribal areas. A university in the name of Rani Avantibai Lodhi will soon be dedicated in Sagar. Dr. Yadav said that Lord Ram set an example an ideal ruler by taking the forest dwellers along with him and by respecting every being. Everyone is wishing to have Ram Rajya. Everyone is proud of the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the country is moving fast on the development path complying with the basic principles of Sanatan Dharma. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Swami Vivekananda had said that the 21st century belongs to India. Today the countrys economy is constantly progressing. All major countries of the world are eager to maintain friendly ties with India. Temples from Ayodhya to Arab are glorifying Sanatan culture. To make India the worlds leading economy, the Madhya Pradesh government will work hard under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen democracy. Madhya Pradesh will become a front ranking state. In an effort to combat leprosy and create a positive impact, Tata Motors and Nav Jagrat Manav Samaj (NJMS) are leading the charge in Jamshedpur. NJMS, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and controlling leprosy, has been quietly making a significant difference in the lives of countless individuals, thanks to the unwavering support of Tata Motors. NJMS, with over 500 local volunteers, including Tata Motors employees and like-minded philanthropists, has achieved substantial milestones in reducing the incidence of leprosy in Jamshedpur and its surrounding areas. The organization has been instrumental in addressing various aspects, such as health, education, employability, and livelihood initiatives. An annual door-to-door survey conducted by NJMS reaches 75,000 people for early leprosy detection. In just three years, reported cases in Jamshedpur have plummeted from 1.5 to 0.5 persons per 1000, showcasing the effectiveness of their proactive approach. Operating Antyoday Bhawan, NJMS provides free medical care, boarding, and lodging to over 4000 leprosy patients. The organization also extends support to children's education and livelihood initiatives. Tata Motors' pivotal support plays a crucial role in propelling NJMS's impactful work in leprosy prevention. This collaboration has resulted in a significant decrease in leprosy incidence, transforming lives not only in Jamshedpur but beyond. Vinod Kulkarni, CSR Head at Tata Motors, emphasized the commendable efforts of NJMS, stating, "Nav Jagrat Manav Samaj embodies the true essence of compassion and resilience in their unwavering commitment to eradicating leprosy and empowering individuals affected by this disease. Tata Motors is humbled to support NJMS in this noble endeavor, recognizing their invaluable contribution to creating a leprosy-free society. Through collaborative efforts and unwavering dedication, we believe in fostering a future where every individual, regardless of their health challenges, can lead a life of dignity and inclusion. Tata Motors Limited, part of the USD 128 billion Tata group, is a leading global automobile manufacturer offering an extensive range of integrated, smart, and e-mobility solutions. With a commitment to 'Connecting Aspirations,' Tata Motors is Indias market leader in commercial vehicles and ranks among the top three in the passenger vehicles market. The company is pioneering Indias Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and driving the shift towards sustainable mobility solutions. With operations in various countries, Tata Motors continues to focus on developing sustainable and innovative automotive solutions for the future. The tiger believed to be responsible for killing at least three women in the Corbett tiger reserve area was successfully tranquilised and captured by the Forest department on Wednesday. The male tiger estimated to be aged seven to eight years was tranquilised near the site where a woman was killed by the tiger on February 17. The Corbett administration had stepped up efforts to capture the big cat after three incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the Dhela range. Camera traps and drones were used to identify and track the tiger responsible. Two trained elephants were also brought for the operation which started on Tuesday night and ended with the capture of the big cat on Wednesday morning. The tiger has been kept in the Dhela rescue centre where he is being monitored by the senior veterinary officer. Corbett director Dheeraj Pandey said that the tiger is estimated to be seven to eight years old. A DNA sample of the tiger has been taken and is being sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology at Hyderabad for matching with the sample taken earlier. It is pertinent to mention here that a tiger had killed Anita Devi on December 6 last year, Durga Devi on January 28 and Kala Devi on February 17- all in the Dhela range of Corbett. Even as the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda extended another invitation to the farmer leaders on Wednesday for discussions on their demands including the legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP), farmer leaders maintained that holding talks in such an atmosphere is not possible. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, speaking from the Shambhu border, criticized the Central Government's approach, highlighting the recent clashes with tear gas shells and rubber bullets resulting in the death of one young protestor. We did not send any youth at the front, instead leaders themselves went peacefully. The way they attacked us (with tear gas shells), everyone saw that, said Pandher, emphasizing the challenging environment for constructive dialogue. Asserting the Centres readiness to address various concerns, Munda said: After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues like MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue, FIR in the fifth round. Amidst differing opinions among farmer leaders regarding the proposed meeting with the Union Minister, uncertainty loomed over the prospect of talks. While some advocate for engagement, others question the efficacy of further discussions given the lack of tangible outcomes from previous rounds. BKU (Krantikari) member Surjit Singh Phul expressed skepticism, alleging that the government's invitation was merely a stalling tactic. That is why they have invited us for another round of talks. Either the PM or HM should issue a statement that all demands would be met, Phul remarked, underscoring the demand for concrete assurances from the highest echelons of government. As discussions continue within the Shambhu police picket, tensions rise among the youthful demonstrators awaiting resolution. The backdrop of the impending Delhi Chalo march adds urgency to the dialogue between the Union Ministers and farm leaders. Although both sides remain in touch via phone, the likelihood of physical meetings remains uncertain. The farmer leaders have engaged in four rounds of talks with Union Ministers with the latest one held on Sunday, substantive agreements have remained elusive. The latest proposal from the government, offering to procure five crops at MSP for five years through central agencies, was formally rejected by protesting farmer leaders on Monday. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, representing the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), affirmed that the offer did not align with the farmers interests. Farmers From Across India to Attend SKM Meeting at Chandigarh Today To strategize and chart the course forward, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is set to convene a crucial meeting in Chandigarh on Thrusday. Announcing this, senior SKM leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday emphasized that the inclusive nature of the meeting, stating, Whatever Punjab farmer organisations are doing, it is not only concerning Punjab but they are raising the issues of the farmers of the entire country. He said that farmer organizations from across the nation would participate in the Chandigarh meeting to deliberate on the pressing concerns affecting the agricultural community. With the SKM at the forefront, the gathering aims to formulate a cohesive strategy to address the challenges faced by farmers nationwide. BKU Ugrahan Calls for Special Parliament Session to Enact MSP Law Punjabs largest farm union Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), led by president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, has called for a special session of Parliament to enact legislation guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all 23 crops. The Union emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of the ongoing struggle, rejecting the aggressive measures employed by the Central Government to stifle the democratic voice of protesting farmers. Delhi Lt Governor (LG) VK Saxena has expressed shock over the condition of unauthorised colonies in Burari and instructed officers to take immediate steps to ensure sanitation and cleanliness and ensure that the timelines informed to him about the completion of the projects are adhered to. These instructions came after Saxena on Wednesday visited Burari, that houses a population of nearly 20 Lakh in as many as 80 unauthorized colonies in North / North-East Delhi and took stock of the situation on ground, officials said here on Thursday. Saxena, who has been receiving repeated requests from residents of different unauthorized colonies in the capital, to visit their areas and help them address the glaring lack of civic amenities had last visited Kirari on February 10. He will be further visiting such colonies. Walking on foot on various stretches throughout the area, that comprises densely populated residential colonies like Sant Nagar, Nathu Pura, Burari village, Baba Colony, Laxmi Vihar, he was shocked at the lack of basic civic infrastructure and sanitation services that the people are entitled to, in natural course of governance, officials said. The LG was informed that, pending since years, only 70% of the areas had been provided with sewage lines till now by DJB, and even in these, connections to households were yet to be done. Similarly, out of the 80 colonies in the area, roads had been constructed only in 17 colonies. Even as the main road from Outer Ring Road leading into the area had come up with showrooms of top brands in the country, the road itself was in a pathetic condition due to neglect and disrepair. Apart from dust-filled streets, open drains choked and overflowing dotted entire stretch of colonies and garbage from the area was being disposed on the Yamuna floodplain itself, despite the Bhalaswa Landfill site being in close vicinity of the area. Locals brought to the LGs notice that the sewer lines, being laid on the main road, for years together now, had apparently not taken into account prospective needs of the area, owing to the fact that it was only of 1.5 meter dia, which was insufficient even to meet the existing drainage requirements. Additionally, the delay in the laying of these lines, that entailed open excavated roads, had resulted in the persistent problem of traffic congestion, dust and C&D Waste pollution, apart from being a constant hazard for pedestrians and two-wheelers. Even the supposedly restored water body in Burari village, that was shown to the LG, was filled with sludge and debris, with drains and sewage flowing into it. The LG was visibly upset over the state of roads throughout his route, overflowing sewers, heaps of garbage, broken pavements and dividers in the area. He was anguished that such apathy on part of the government agencies had led to pitiable living conditions in one of the most densely populated areas of the city. People of the area also complained about encroachment of roads by shopkeepers leading to traffic jams at peak hours and the lack of last mile connectivity and absence of DTC bus routes. It was apparent that no concrete efforts had been undertaken by the DJB and I&FC Department to address these issues. Punjab Government on Wednesday issued a stern rebuttal against claims suggesting a deteriorating law and order situation within the State amidst the ongoing farmers agitation. Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, on the directive of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, penned a comprehensive letter to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs vehemently refuting the allegations and providing detailed insights into the states handling of the situation. He maintained that the farmers ongoing agitation has been handled in a very apt and diligent manner in the State Punjab Government categorically denied allegations of allowing large gatherings of protesters at the borders, asserting that such claims were unfounded. The letter highlighted that the groups of farmers attempting to proceed to Delhi for protest purposes were forcibly halted at the Punjab-Haryana border by the Haryana Police, leading to congregations at border points. It is incorrect to state that the Government of Punjab has allowed a gathering of a large number of persons at the borders of Shambhu and Dhabi-Gujran as the groups of farmers which had set off for Delhi in order to hold a protest, were restrained and stopped from crossing over to Haryana, by use of force, by the State police of Haryana, he added. Despite this, it emphasized that gatherings within Punjabs jurisdiction remained largely peaceful, with minimal incidents reported, barring injuries sustained by approximately 160 individuals due to the aggressive tactics employed by the Haryana Police, including tear gas shells, rubber bullets, and drones. Despite these incidents, Punjab Government has been able to manage the crowds gathered in an orderly fashionRegular parleys are on between the state officials and the farm leaders for dispersal of crowds at the border. There is no specific information of miscreants or law breakers in the guise of protestors which is available with the police in a definite form, he added. Calling for a more sympathetic approach towards the farmers, the Chief Secretary stressed the sensitive handling of law and order during protests, especially considering Punjabs status as a border state. The state of Punjab being a border state has sensitive law and order issues and the same cannot be ignored while handling a protest of such a magnitude. The entire police force has been sensitized to the situation and as of now the situation is under control, he said. Verma underscored the Governments active role in negotiations, highlighting Chief Minister Manns personal attendance at three out of four meetings between the Centre and farmers, with a Cabinet Minister and senior officials representing Punjab in the remaining meeting. The letter emphasized the Punjab government's commitment to maintaining peace and order, with 2000 policemen, including high-ranking officers, deployed for this purpose. It assured continuous monitoring of the situation, with stringent action promised against any disruptive activities. The reliance placed upon media reports is, thus, misplaced as an adequate police force with DIG rank IPS and PPS officers along with 2,000 strong police personnel have been deputed to keep the situation peaceful and under control. The situation is being constantly reviewed at the highest level and stringent action when required will be taken to curb any disrupting activity, he added. Verma also urged the Central Government to sympathetically consider the demands of farm unions, emphasizing the need for an amicable resolution. He reiterated the Punjab Government's commitment to upholding law and order while advocating for farmers legitimate grievances. Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday described Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as a dynamic chief minister in the true sense of the term. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the new Income Tax Department Building during her maiden visit to Gorakhpur, Sitharaman emphasised the significance of the word dynamic in the context of Chief Minister Yogi saying, Please correct my number if its wrong, Mr Chief Minister. There are 75 districts in the state and there are 52 weeks in a year. Yogi ji visits each of Uttar Pradeshs 75 districts at least once, if not twice, within the span of 52 weeks. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the event. Highlighting Chief Minister Yogis tireless efforts in traversing the state like a well-oiled engine, tirelessly working in every district, she further underscored the futility of seeking appointments with him in Lucknow, suggesting instead to meet him wherever he may be during that week. Regarding her first visit to Gorakhpur, Sitharaman said, First impression is the best impression and I found Gorakhpur more beautiful than I had ever imagined. The finance minister said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi guarantees inauguration of all the projects whose foundation stone was laid. She mentioned four major projects of eastern Uttar Pradesh to substantiate her point. The finance minister elaborated that the foundation stone of the fertiliser factory and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) of Gorakhpur were laid in July 2016 and both were inaugurated in December 2021. Similarly, the foundation stone of the Regional Medical Research Centre of the Indian Council of Medical Research in Gorakhpur was laid in 2018 and it was inaugurated in December 2021. The Saryu Canal Project, pending since 1978, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in December 2021. This project is providing irrigation facilities to 29 lakh farmers living in 6,200 villages of nine districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. With the commencement of this project, irrigation of 14 lakh hectares of land has become easier, she pointed out. Discussing the achievements of the Income Tax Department, the finance minister said that the gross direct tax collection had increased by 16.77 per cent. Along with this, tax refund of Rs 2.48 lakh crore has also been made from April 2023 to January 10, 2024. In cases of old tax claims from the sixties-seventies till the year 2009, relief of an amount of Rs 25,000 has been provided. Besides, owing to the faceless system, there has been a 60 per cent reduction in complaints, she informed. The Income Tax Department makes 1.66 crore assessments every day while the process of 3.43 crore income tax returns is completed in a week, she added. The Enforcement Directorate has upgraded its Look out Circular (LC) issued against BJYU's founder and CEO Byju Raveendran in connection with a FEMA probe, seeking to stop him for going abroad. The earlier such alert meant that immigration authorities had to just intimate the agency about his movements through various ports. Official sources said that the over an year old LC was revised sometime back in light of investors' concerns and ongoing adjudication of a FEMA contravention case against Raveendran and some others. BYJU's did not comment on the development. Raveendran is currently stated to be in Dubai. The ED has asked the Bureau of Immigration to upgrade the LC against Raveendran so that he is not allowed to go abroad from any Indian land, air or land port before the investigating officer (IO) of the case is informed. Under the new LC, it will be the decision of the IO to either totally stop his foreign travel or allow him to do so after asking some questions and getting assurances, the sources said. The LC in operation till now against Raveendran only stipulated the immigration authorities to inform the ED about his entry and exit from the country.The agency, in November last year, had slapped a foreign exchange violation show cause notice of more than Rs 9,300 crore against BYJU's and Raveendran. The federal probe agency spelled out multiple grounds for charging the ed-tech company and its chief promoter that included charges of "failing" to submit documents of imports against advance remittances made outside India; failing to realise proceeds of exports made outside India by delayed filing of documents against the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received into the company, among others. The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday had refused to stay an emergency shareholder meeting called by select investors of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd -- the owner of BYJU'S -- to oust Raveendran and his family from the leadership in the edtech firm. The court gave an interim relief that any resolution passed at the EGM scheduled on Friday cannot be implemented before the next court hearing. Select shareholders of BYJU'S have issued an EGM notice to be held on February 23, demanding a change in leadership of the edtech firm while alleging several anomalies in their functioning. Meanwhile, Raveendran issued a letter to shareholders on Wednesday appealing all investors to participate in the USD 200 million rights issue floated by the company. He later shared that the rights issue has been fully subscribed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave the target of making GCMMF, which owns Amul brand, the number one dairy company in the world from its current eighth position. The PM was speaking at the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets its products under the brand 'Amul', at the Narendra Modi stadium here. "While the global dairy sector is developing at 2 per cent per annum, India's dairy sector is developing at 6 per cent," Modi said. "Today Amul (GCMMF) is the eight largest dairy company in the world, your target is to make it number one, the government will give all its support. This is Modi's guarantee," he said. Addressing thousands of members of the co-operative dairy union who had come from all over the state, Modi said after India's independence many brands were created, but none of them is like 'Amul'. PM Modi also said that the contribution of women is paramount in the development of the country's dairy cooperative movement. "India's dairy sector has seen women-led development...Women are the backbone of the dairy sector," he said. Fast bowler Wafadar Momand held Kamindu Mendis to defend 19 runs in the last over and hand Afghanistan a three-run win over Sri Lanka in the third and final Twenty20 international. Sri Lanka won the series 2-1. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss, elected to bat first, and they made 209-5 in 20 overs. In the last over, Mendis hit Momand for two fours in the first and third deliveries and the bowler was lucky to escape a waist-high no-ball in the fourth which the leg umpire failed to spot. Needing 10 off the last two balls, Mendis failed to score off the second-to-last ball and then hit a six to fall three runs short. Mendis remained unbeaten on 65 off 39 deliveries with two sixes and seven boundaries. Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga sharply criticized Sri Lankan umpire Lyndon Hannibal for not spotting a ball higher than the waist saying he is unfit to officiate international games. This cannot happen in an international match," Hasaranga said. If it was close it would have been OK but it was so high it was close to striking the batsman's head. If he cannot see such a thing, this umpire is unfit for international matches and it is better for him to find another job. Earlier, Afghanistan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz got off to a brisk start scoring 72 runs in the first five power play overs without losing a wicket. Zazai made 45 off 22 deliveries and Gurbaz ended a lean patch by scoring 70 off 43 deliveries. Gurbaz was named player of the match. Spinner Akila Dananjaya and fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana took two wickets each for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's opening batter Pathum Nissanka left the field at 60 because of an injury. He and Kusal Mendis shared 64 runs for the first wicket giving Sri Lanka a solid start. Kusal Mendis' (23) dismissal and Kusal Perera getting out without scoring with the total on 65 slowed Sri Lanka's momentum. After Nissanka left the field at 83, Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) and Kamindu Mendis shared 53 runs for the fourth wicket brining Sri Lanka back into the match. Despite late innings efforts from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan managed their first victory of the tour having lost the only test match and the three-match one-day international series 3-0. Equities research analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA Get Free Report) in a report released on Tuesday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock. China Green Agriculture Stock Down 1.4 % CGA opened at $2.79 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $2.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.29. The company has a market capitalization of $38.56 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.31 and a beta of 0.48. China Green Agriculture has a twelve month low of $1.61 and a twelve month high of $4.37. Get China Green Agriculture alerts: China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The basic materials company reported ($0.40) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $17.80 million during the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative net margin of 14.54% and a negative return on equity of 12.68%. Institutional Trading of China Green Agriculture China Green Agriculture Company Profile A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in China Green Agriculture during the 1st quarter worth approximately $175,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of China Green Agriculture by 67.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $192,000 after purchasing an additional 7,700 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new stake in China Green Agriculture in the first quarter worth about $115,000. 0.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Free Report) China Green Agriculture, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various fertilizers, agricultural products, and bitcoin in the People's Republic of China and the United States. The company operates through four segments: Jinong (Fertilizer Production); Gufeng (Fertilizer Production); Yuxing (Agricultural Products Production); and Antaeus (Bitcoin). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Green Agriculture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Green Agriculture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS Free Report) in a research report report published on Sunday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Separately, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $8.00 price target on shares of Credit Suisse Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Get Credit Suisse Group alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on CS Credit Suisse Group Stock Performance Institutional Investors Weigh In On Credit Suisse Group NYSE:CS opened at $0.89 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.53. Credit Suisse Group has a fifty-two week low of $0.82 and a fifty-two week high of $6.36. The stocks 50-day moving average is $0.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.89. The stock has a market cap of $2.77 billion, a PE ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.27. Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in CS. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Credit Suisse Group by 324.9% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 51,972,488 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $46,245,000 after purchasing an additional 39,739,500 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its position in Credit Suisse Group by 39.7% during the first quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 13,413,630 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,935,000 after purchasing an additional 3,810,643 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its position in Credit Suisse Group by 60.8% during the first quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 8,527,900 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,588,000 after purchasing an additional 3,225,000 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Credit Suisse Group by 3.9% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,131,757 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $40,284,000 after purchasing an additional 192,576 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 47.8% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,848,242 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $21,820,000 after buying an additional 1,244,676 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 11.20% of the companys stock. Credit Suisse Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR Get Free Report) in a report released on Tuesday. The firm set a hold rating on the stock. A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on DOOR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Masonite International from $122.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a $133.00 target price (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Masonite International in a report on Monday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Masonite International from $106.00 to $87.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Masonite International from $123.00 to $116.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Finally, Stephens lowered shares of Masonite International from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price target for the company from $130.00 to $93.00 in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three 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 target price of $116.89. Get Masonite International alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Masonite International Masonite International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE DOOR opened at $129.83 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $96.62 and a 200-day moving average price of $93.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.97 and a quick ratio of 2.05. The stock has a market cap of $2.84 billion, a PE ratio of 18.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.55. Masonite International has a 1 year low of $76.87 and a 1 year high of $130.80. Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.36 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $660.58 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $659.87 million. Masonite International had a net margin of 5.60% and a return on equity of 22.14%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.72 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Masonite International will post 7.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Masonite International Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Masonite International during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Masonite International by 352.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 267 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in shares of Masonite International by 134.6% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 359 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Masonite International in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Masonite International in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Masonite International Company Profile (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. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Xinyuan Real Estate (NYSE:XIN Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Xinyuan Real Estate Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:XIN opened at $2.73 on Tuesday. Xinyuan Real Estate has a 1 year low of $1.92 and a 1 year high of $6.51. The stocks 50-day moving average is $2.70 and its 200 day moving average is $2.79. Get Xinyuan Real Estate alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Xinyuan Real Estate stock. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (NYSE:XIN Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 478,629 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $536,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. owned approximately 0.90% of Xinyuan Real Estate as of its most recent filing with the SEC. 0.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Xinyuan Real Estate Xinyuan Real Estate Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in residential real estate development and construction in the People's Republic of China, the United States, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. The company develops residential projects, such as multi-layer apartment buildings, sub-high-rise apartment buildings, high-rise apartment buildings; auxiliary services and amenities, such as retail outlets, leisure and health facilities, kindergartens, and schools, as well as office, mixed-use, and commercial properties. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Xinyuan Real Estate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xinyuan Real Estate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSE:AEM Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) Equities research analysts at National Bank Financial raised their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a note issued to investors on Monday, February 19th. National Bank Financial analyst S. Nagle now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $3.70 for the year, up from their previous forecast of $3.69. National Bank Financial has a Outperform Overweight rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Agnico Eagle Mines current full-year earnings is $3.45 per share. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: AEM has been the topic of several other reports. TD Securities reduced their target price on Agnico Eagle Mines to C$62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$91.00 to C$94.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Cormark lowered their target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$97.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, National Bankshares upped their price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$84.00 to C$85.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Agnico Eagle Mines has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$83.00. Agnico Eagle Mines Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of AEM stock opened at C$65.85 on Thursday. Agnico Eagle Mines has a 1-year low of C$59.36 and a 1-year high of C$82.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.57. The stock has a market cap of C$32.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.45, a PEG ratio of 6.41 and a beta of 1.04. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$68.23 and a 200-day moving average of C$66.76. Agnico Eagle Mines Cuts Dividend The business 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 $0.537 dividend. This represents a $2.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is 30.85%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Sean Boyd sold 72,379 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Sunday, December 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$72.69, for a total transaction of C$5,261,229.51. In other Agnico Eagle Mines news, Senior Officer Dominique Girard sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$74.27, for a total transaction of C$371,350.00. Also, Director Sean Boyd sold 72,379 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Sunday, December 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$72.69, for a total transaction of C$5,261,229.51. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 87,504 shares of company stock worth $6,354,862. 0.11% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Agnico Eagle Mines (Get 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. See Also 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. AlphaCore Capital LLC trimmed its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report) by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 92,451 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 321 shares during the period. Unum Group accounts for 0.7% of AlphaCore Capital LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. AlphaCore Capital LLCs holdings in Unum Group were worth $4,548,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNM. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter worth about $744,000. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its position in Unum Group by 4.9% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 211,184 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,073,000 after acquiring an additional 9,932 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 45.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 108,882 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,194,000 after acquiring an additional 34,111 shares during the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC purchased a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $365,000. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in Unum Group by 12.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 11,545 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $551,000 after purchasing an additional 1,250 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.37% of the companys stock. Get Unum Group alerts: Unum Group Stock Up 0.9 % UNM stock traded up $0.42 during trading on Thursday, reaching $49.40. 239,693 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,391,542. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.27. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $46.87. Unum Group has a 12 month low of $36.27 and a 12 month high of $52.15. The company has a market capitalization of $9.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.87. Unum Group Dividend Announcement Unum Group ( NYSE:UNM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.79 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by ($0.07). Unum Group had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 16.03%. The company had revenue of $3.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.43 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Investors of record on Friday, January 26th were paid a $0.365 dividend. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 25th. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 22.50%. Unum Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Tuesday, October 31st that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 5.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades UNM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Unum Group from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. StockNews.com raised shares of Unum Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $59.00 to $54.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Unum Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $55.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Unum Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $55.44. View Our Latest Stock Report on Unum Group Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group In related news, EVP Puneet Bhasin sold 8,188 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.39, for a total value of $347,089.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 54,318 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,302,540.02. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.94% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Unum Group Company Profile (Free Report) Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block and Corporate segments. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Unum Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unum Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Ciena Co. (NYSE:CIEN Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $59.79. A number of equities analysts have recently commented on CIEN shares. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Ciena in a report on Thursday, December 28th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Ciena from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Ciena from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $52.00 to $57.00 in a report on Friday, January 12th. StockNews.com raised shares of Ciena from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, B. Riley lifted their target price on shares of Ciena from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Get Ciena alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on CIEN Ciena Price Performance CIEN stock opened at $54.45 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 3.84, a quick ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Ciena has a twelve month low of $39.94 and a twelve month high of $57.73. The companys 50 day moving average is $50.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.48. The stock has a market cap of $7.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.84, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.01. Ciena (NYSE:CIEN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 7th. The communications equipment provider reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $1.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.10 billion. Ciena had a net margin of 5.81% and a return on equity of 10.28%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.49 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Ciena will post 2.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Ciena news, SVP David M. Rothenstein sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.40, for a total transaction of $155,400.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 246,095 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,926,618. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Ciena news, SVP David M. Rothenstein sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.40, for a total transaction of $155,400.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 246,095 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,926,618. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Gary B. Smith sold 4,166 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.68, for a total transaction of $181,970.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 538,067 shares in the company, valued at $23,502,766.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 108,242 shares of company stock worth $5,642,792. Corporate insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ciena Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. John G Ullman & Associates Inc. boosted its position in shares of Ciena by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. John G Ullman & Associates Inc. now owns 14,600 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $657,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Ciena by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 36,296 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $2,227,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Ciena by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 28,651 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,737,000 after purchasing an additional 252 shares in the last quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Ciena by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 9,774 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $462,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in Ciena by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 28,563 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,214,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. 90.02% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Ciena Company Profile (Get Free Report Ciena Corporation provides hardware and software services for delivery of video, data, and voice traffic metro, aggregation, and access communications network worldwide. The company's Networking Platforms segment offers convergence of coherent optical transport, open optical networking, optical transport network switching, IP routing, and switching services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ciena Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ciena and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stock analysts at Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS Get Free Report) (TSE:BNS) in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Briefing.com reports. The firm set a hold rating on the banks stock. Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Bank of Nova Scotia from $73.00 to $68.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. StockNews.com raised Bank of Nova Scotia from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $69.00. Get Bank of Nova Scotia alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BNS Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of NYSE BNS opened at $47.33 on Thursday. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 52 week low of $39.79 and a 52 week high of $53.11. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $45.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The company has a market cap of $57.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.03. Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS Get Free Report) (TSE:BNS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 28th. The bank reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.21 by ($0.28). Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 11.87% and a net margin of 10.47%. The company had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.98 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.55 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of Nova Scotia Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Bank of Nova Scotia in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 71.6% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 858 shares of the banks stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 358 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Bank of Nova Scotia by 135.6% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 919 shares of the banks stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 529 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in Bank of Nova Scotia in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Bank of Nova Scotia in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $67,000. 43.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC increased its stake in International Seaways, Inc. (NYSE:INSW Free Report) by 15.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 148,639 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 20,272 shares during the quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned 0.30% of International Seaways worth $6,689,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of INSW. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in International Seaways by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 75,200 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $3,384,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in International Seaways by 2.6% during the second quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 11,962 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $457,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. AdvisorShares Investments LLC grew its position in International Seaways by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. AdvisorShares Investments LLC now owns 10,383 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $397,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in International Seaways by 55.2% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,015 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd lifted its position in shares of International Seaways by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 10,652 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $444,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.08% of the companys stock. Get International Seaways alerts: Insider Transactions at International Seaways In other International Seaways news, CFO Jeffrey Pribor sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.23, for a total transaction of $54,230.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 75,927 shares in the company, valued at $4,117,521.21. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders sold 4,500 shares of company stock worth $213,010 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com raised International Seaways from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, International Seaways currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $60.20. View Our Latest Analysis on International Seaways International Seaways Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of INSW opened at $51.36 on Thursday. International Seaways, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $34.77 and a fifty-two week high of $54.87. The business has a 50-day moving average of $49.81 and a 200 day moving average of $46.76. The firm has a market cap of $2.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.96 and a beta of -0.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 2.52 and a current ratio of 2.53. About International Seaways (Free Report) International Seaways, Inc owns and operates a fleet of oceangoing vessels for the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products in the international flag trade. It operates in two segments: Crude Tankers and Product Carriers. It serves independent and state-owned oil companies, oil traders, refinery operators, and international government entities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for International Seaways Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Seaways and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ASOS Plc (LON:ASC Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the eight ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have assigned a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 533 ($6.71). ASC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 600 ($7.55) price objective on shares of ASOS in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of ASOS in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Shore Capital reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of ASOS in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Get ASOS alerts: Get Our Latest Report on ASC ASOS Stock Down 1.2 % ASOS Company Profile ASC stock opened at GBX 365.20 ($4.60) on Thursday. The company has a market cap of 435.79 million, a PE ratio of -173.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.26 and a beta of 2.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 115.59. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 390.97 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 393.16. ASOS has a 52 week low of GBX 320.33 ($4.03) and a 52 week high of GBX 961 ($12.10). (Get Free Report ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and internationally. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ASOS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASOS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the sixteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, ten have given a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $145.26. Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MAA shares. Colliers Securities raised shares of Mid-America Apartment Communities from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $144.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $136.00 target price (down previously from $140.00) on shares of Mid-America Apartment Communities in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Mizuho lifted their price target on Mid-America Apartment Communities from $124.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Truist Financial raised Mid-America Apartment Communities from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $154.00 to $158.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Scotiabank raised shares of Mid-America Apartment Communities from a sector underperform rating to a sector perform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $133.00 to $147.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Get Mid-America Apartment Communities alerts: View Our Latest Report on Mid-America Apartment Communities Insider Transactions at Mid-America Apartment Communities Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mid-America Apartment Communities In other Mid-America Apartment Communities news, CEO H Eric Bolton, Jr. sold 4,028 shares of Mid-America Apartment Communities stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.21, for a total value of $524,485.88. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 304,523 shares in the company, valued at $39,651,939.83. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other Mid-America Apartment Communities news, CEO H Eric Bolton, Jr. sold 4,028 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.21, for a total value of $524,485.88. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 304,523 shares in the company, valued at $39,651,939.83. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, EVP Melanie Carpenter sold 371 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.33, for a total transaction of $48,723.43. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,504,069.11. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 1.33% of the stock is owned by insiders. Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Mid-America Apartment Communities by 228.2% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,984 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $834,000 after buying an additional 2,770 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Mid-America Apartment Communities by 62.2% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 5,148 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,078,000 after acquiring an additional 1,974 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its holdings in Mid-America Apartment Communities by 22.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 1,794 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $376,000 after acquiring an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Mid-America Apartment Communities in the first quarter valued at approximately $393,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in Mid-America Apartment Communities by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 50,699 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $10,619,000 after purchasing an additional 3,544 shares during the period. 93.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Mid-America Apartment Communities Trading Up 0.8 % MAA opened at $127.65 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 0.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $131.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $131.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.10, a P/E/G ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 0.81. Mid-America Apartment Communities has a 12 month low of $115.56 and a 12 month high of $166.71. Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by ($0.93). The business had revenue of $542.25 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $542.64 million. Mid-America Apartment Communities had a net margin of 25.73% and a return on equity of 8.74%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.32 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Mid-America Apartment Communities will post 9.02 EPS for the current fiscal year. Mid-America Apartment Communities Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 12th were paid a $1.47 dividend. This is a positive change from Mid-America Apartment Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.61%. Mid-America Apartment Communitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 124.84%. Mid-America Apartment Communities Company Profile (Get Free Report MAA, an S&P 500 company, is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on delivering full-cycle and superior investment performance for shareholders through the ownership, management, acquisition, development and redevelopment of quality apartment communities primarily in the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mid-America Apartment Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mid-America Apartment Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE:WOLF Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Hold from the fourteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have given a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $46.40. Several analysts recently issued reports on WOLF shares. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on Wolfspeed from $63.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Roth Mkm cut their target price on Wolfspeed from $65.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Wolfspeed from $44.00 to $43.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Wolfspeed from $42.00 to $34.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their target price on Wolfspeed from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Get Wolfspeed alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WOLF Wolfspeed Trading Up 0.6 % Insider Buying and Selling Shares of NYSE WOLF opened at $25.46 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.19 and a beta of 1.72. Wolfspeed has a 12-month low of $24.77 and a 12-month high of $77.72. The company has a current ratio of 5.13, a quick ratio of 4.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.50. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $35.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.97. In other Wolfspeed news, Director Darren R. Jackson purchased 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $25.80 per share, for a total transaction of $258,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 49,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,264,741.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CFO Neill Reynolds sold 3,000 shares of Wolfspeed stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.94, for a total transaction of $134,820.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 161,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,274,258.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Darren R. Jackson acquired 10,000 shares of Wolfspeed stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $25.80 per share, with a total value of $258,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 49,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,264,741.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.85% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Wolfspeed A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Forum Financial Management LP bought a new position in shares of Wolfspeed in the first quarter worth about $200,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC increased its stake in shares of Wolfspeed by 536.7% in the second quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 31,066 shares of the companys stock worth $1,971,000 after purchasing an additional 26,187 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Wolfspeed by 12.5% in the second quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 55,966 shares of the companys stock worth $3,551,000 after purchasing an additional 6,201 shares during the period. Centiva Capital LP bought a new position in shares of Wolfspeed in the second quarter worth about $304,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in shares of Wolfspeed by 20.2% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,011 shares of the companys stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 1,180 shares during the period. Wolfspeed Company Profile (Get Free Report Wolfspeed, Inc operates as a powerhouse semiconductor company focuses on silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN) technologies in Europe, Hong Kong, China, rest of Asia-Pacific, the United States, and internationally. It offers silicon carbide and GaN materials, including silicon carbide bare wafers, epitaxial wafers, and GaN epitaxial layers on silicon carbide wafers to manufacture products for RF, power, and other applications. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wolfspeed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wolfspeed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA Get Free Report) and Meritage Hospitality Group (OTCMKTS:MHGU Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk and profitability. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for CAVA Group and Meritage Hospitality Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get CAVA Group alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CAVA Group 0 4 9 0 2.69 Meritage Hospitality Group 0 0 1 0 3.00 CAVA Group currently has a consensus target price of $48.60, suggesting a potential upside of 0.19%. Meritage Hospitality Group has a consensus target price of $24.00, suggesting a potential upside of 28.34%. Given Meritage Hospitality Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Meritage Hospitality Group is more favorable than CAVA Group. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CAVA Group $564.12 million 9.77 -$58.99 million N/A N/A Meritage Hospitality Group $626.04 million 0.20 $8.48 million $0.12 155.85 This table compares CAVA Group and Meritage Hospitality Groups gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Meritage Hospitality Group has higher revenue and earnings than CAVA Group. Profitability This table compares CAVA Group and Meritage Hospitality Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CAVA Group -1.12% -13.72% -0.97% Meritage Hospitality Group 0.57% 3.17% 0.47% Institutional & Insider Ownership 61.8% of CAVA Group shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Meritage Hospitality Group beats CAVA Group on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About CAVA Group (Get Free Report) CAVA Group, Inc. owns and operates a chain of Mediterranean restaurants. The company offers salads, dips, spreads, toppings, and dressings. It sells its products through whole food markets and grocery stores. The company also provides online food ordering services. Cava Group, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia. About Meritage Hospitality Group (Get Free Report) Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. operates quick-service and casual dining restaurants. The company operates restaurants under the Wendy's, Morning Belle, and Stan's Tacos, as well as Taco John's brand names in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The company was formerly known as Thomas Edison Inns, Inc. and changed its name to Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. in May 1996. Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Receive News & Ratings for CAVA Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAVA Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CI Investments Inc. grew its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 2.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,384 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the period. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $1,240,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ITW. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 293.5% during the 2nd quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 29,135 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $7,288,000 after acquiring an additional 21,730 shares during the last quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,313 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,579,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Vestor Capital LLC grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 1.2% in the second quarter. Vestor Capital LLC now owns 14,834 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,711,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 7.7% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 23,360 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $5,844,000 after purchasing an additional 1,678 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Resources Management Corp CT ADV lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 1,308.0% in the 2nd quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 43,816 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $10,961,000 after buying an additional 40,704 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Activity In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total value of $205,392.42. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,505,185.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total value of $205,392.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,505,185.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,827 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.29, for a total transaction of $1,493,401.83. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,273,292.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 152,304 shares of company stock valued at $38,860,831 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock. Illinois Tool Works Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSE:ITW opened at $258.05 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $257.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $244.26. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $217.06 and a 12-month high of $267.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $77.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.49, a PEG ratio of 4.39 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.41 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 96.60% and a net margin of 18.36%. Illinois Tool Workss quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.34 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a $1.40 dividend. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.49%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and reduced their price target for the company from $277.00 to $240.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Bank of America cut Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $235.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $239.33. Get Our Latest Analysis on Illinois Tool Works Illinois Tool Works Profile (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United states and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana (NYSE:DAN Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The auto parts company reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by ($0.06), MarketWatch Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.58 billion. Dana had a net margin of 0.36% and a return on equity of 7.37%. Danas quarterly revenue was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.10) EPS. Dana updated its FY 2024 guidance to 0.350-0.850 EPS. Dana Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of Dana stock opened at $12.33 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.58. Dana has a 52-week low of $11.10 and a 52-week high of $19.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.42 and a beta of 2.55. The companys 50 day moving average price is $13.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.03. Get Dana alerts: Dana Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Danas dividend payout ratio is 153.85%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on DAN shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Dana from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Dana from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Dana from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $16.71. Get Our Latest Report on DAN Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its holdings in Dana by 9.6% in the first quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 3,612,318 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $63,468,000 after acquiring an additional 316,466 shares in the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its holdings in Dana by 2.3% in the first quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 2,621,679 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $46,063,000 after acquiring an additional 60,025 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in Dana by 1.5% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 427,547 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $7,512,000 after acquiring an additional 6,465 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Dana by 41.1% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 169,160 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $2,972,000 after acquiring an additional 49,268 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Tennessee Treasury Department boosted its holdings in Dana by 51.1% in the second quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 116,789 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $1,985,000 after acquiring an additional 39,515 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.60% of the companys stock. About Dana (Get Free Report) Dana Incorporated provides power-conveyance and energy-management solutions for vehicles and machinery in North America, Europe, South America, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in four segments: Light Vehicle Drive Systems, Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion Systems, Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems, and Power Technologies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Dana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by stock analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $35.00 to $40.00 in a report released on Thursday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus target price suggests a potential upside of 47.82% from the stocks previous close. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on BROS. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Dutch Bros from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Dutch Bros from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $30.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $37.00 price objective on shares of Dutch Bros in a research report on Thursday. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $33.00 price objective on shares of Dutch Bros in a research report on Thursday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.00. Get Dutch Bros alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on BROS Dutch Bros Stock Down 0.3 % Insider Buying and Selling Shares of NYSE:BROS opened at $27.06 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $28.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of $27.69. The company has a market capitalization of $4.79 billion, a PE ratio of 676.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 2.41. Dutch Bros has a twelve month low of $22.67 and a twelve month high of $38.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. In related news, COO Brian Maxwell sold 3,600 shares of Dutch Bros stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.00, for a total transaction of $115,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 1,112,520 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,600,640. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, COO Brian Maxwell sold 3,600 shares of Dutch Bros stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.00, for a total value of $115,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 1,112,520 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,600,640. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Travis Boersma sold 4,243 shares of Dutch Bros stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.00, for a total value of $135,776.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 1,422,503 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,520,096. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 1,901,724 shares of company stock valued at $56,459,948 over the last three months. Company insiders own 49.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dutch Bros Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Versor Investments LP acquired a new stake in Dutch Bros in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $481,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dutch Bros during the third quarter worth approximately $5,275,000. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. lifted its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 15.0% during the third quarter. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. now owns 33,678 shares of the companys stock worth $783,000 after buying an additional 4,398 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 31.5% during the third quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 14,635 shares of the companys stock worth $340,000 after buying an additional 3,507 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 17.2% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 12,253 shares of the companys stock worth $349,000 after buying an additional 1,796 shares during the last quarter. Dutch Bros Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dutch Bros Inc operates and franchises drive-thru shops. The company offers coffee-based beverages, including custom drinks, cold brews, and freeze blended beverages, as well as Blue Rebel energy drinks. It also provides tea, lemonade, sodas, smoothies, and other beverages through company-operated shops and online channels. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dutch Bros Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dutch Bros and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its holdings in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (NYSE:ASR Free Report) by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 50,100 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,000 shares during the quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned approximately 0.17% of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. worth $12,310,000 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. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 17.6% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 39,482 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $8,749,000 after buying an additional 5,900 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 13.5% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,090 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $463,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 766 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $170,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 7,059 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,538,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 360,238 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $79,830,000 after purchasing an additional 32,860 shares during the last quarter. 13.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. alerts: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Price Performance Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. stock opened at $300.39 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $291.87 and its 200 day moving average is $259.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 2.97 and a quick ratio of 2.97. The firm has a market cap of $9.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.17. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. has a one year low of $165.00 and a one year high of $317.94. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently weighed in on ASR. Bank of America raised Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from an underperform rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Citigroup downgraded Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from a neutral rating to a sell rating and dropped their price target for the company from $228.00 to $222.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from a sell rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $274.00 to $326.00 in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $274.00. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ASR Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Profile (Free Report) Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. holds concessions to operate, maintain, and develop airports in the southeast region of Mexico. The company operates airports that are located in the cities of Cancun, Cozumel, Merida, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Villahermosa, Tapachula, and Minatitlan. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ASR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (NYSE:ASR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lessened its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy Corp. (NYSE:CPG Free Report) (TSE:CPG) by 55.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,300,000 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 1,632,500 shares during the quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned about 0.25% of Crescent Point Energy worth $10,781,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Aigen Investment Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,986,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 5,309,589 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $44,070,000 after buying an additional 110,526 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Crescent Point Energy during the third quarter worth about $376,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in Crescent Point Energy by 7.2% during the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 36,370 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 2,431 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in Crescent Point Energy by 42.8% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 104,980 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $871,000 after acquiring an additional 31,468 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 35.46% of the companys stock. Get Crescent Point Energy alerts: Crescent Point Energy Price Performance NYSE:CPG opened at $7.01 on Thursday. Crescent Point Energy Corp. has a 52 week low of $5.59 and a 52 week high of $8.59. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $6.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $13.00 price target on shares of Crescent Point Energy in a research report on Monday, November 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $13.75. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Crescent Point Energy Crescent Point Energy Company Profile (Free Report) Crescent Point Energy Corp. explores, develops, and produces light and medium crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas reserves in Western Canada and the United States. It's crude oil and natural gas properties, and related assets are located in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba; and the states of North Dakota and Montana. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Crescent Point Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crescent Point Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 15th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be given a dividend of 0.42 per share by the specialty retailer on Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This is a boost from Murphy USAs previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Murphy USA has raised its dividend payment by an average of 83.7% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 4 consecutive years. Murphy USA has a dividend payout ratio of 5.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Murphy USA to earn $25.06 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.64 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 6.5%. Get Murphy USA alerts: Murphy USA Trading Down 1.4 % MUSA opened at $397.01 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $369.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $354.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.56 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.56. Murphy USA has a one year low of $231.65 and a one year high of $404.93. Analyst Ratings Changes Murphy USA ( NYSE:MUSA Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The specialty retailer reported $7.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.79 by $1.21. Murphy USA had a return on equity of 70.92% and a net margin of 2.59%. The firm had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.32 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.21 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Murphy USA will post 25.36 EPS for the current year. MUSA has been the topic of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Murphy USA from $252.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Murphy USA from $382.00 to $408.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Murphy USA from $395.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Murphy USA from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $375.00 to $425.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $425.00 target price on shares of Murphy USA in a report on Thursday, February 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Murphy USA has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $395.60. Read Our Latest Report on MUSA Institutional Trading of Murphy USA Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Covington Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Murphy USA in the 3rd quarter worth $61,000. State of Wyoming boosted its stake in shares of Murphy USA by 14.2% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 370 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $103,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Murphy USA in the 1st quarter worth $109,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Murphy USA by 110.0% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 548 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $110,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Murphy USA in the 4th quarter worth $225,000. Institutional investors own 83.95% of the companys stock. Murphy USA Company Profile (Get Free Report) Murphy USA Inc engages in marketing of retail motor fuel products and convenience merchandise. The company operates retail stores under the Murphy USA, Murphy Express, and QuickChek brands. It operates retail gasoline stores principally in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Murphy USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Murphy USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lowered its holdings in shares of Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC Free Report) by 9.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 22,041 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,280 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Brunswick were worth $1,741,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Brunswick during the first quarter worth about $52,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Brunswick by 140.4% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 41,387 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,496,000 after purchasing an additional 24,171 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in Brunswick by 10.5% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 28,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 2,694 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Brunswick by 0.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,426,552 shares of the companys stock valued at $519,843,000 after purchasing an additional 46,519 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its holdings in Brunswick by 9.7% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 45,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,746,000 after purchasing an additional 3,992 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.44% of the companys stock. Get Brunswick alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Brunswick In other Brunswick news, EVP John G. Buelow sold 2,426 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.12, for a total transaction of $211,353.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,199 shares in the company, valued at $1,237,016.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Ryan M. Gwillim sold 9,036 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.10, for a total value of $787,035.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 28,966 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,522,938.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP John G. Buelow sold 2,426 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.12, for a total transaction of $211,353.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,237,016.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 17,696 shares of company stock worth $1,525,349 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock. Brunswick Trading Up 0.6 % BC opened at $87.74 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion, a PE ratio of 14.75 and a beta of 1.55. The firms fifty day moving average price is $89.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.59. Brunswick Co. has a 12-month low of $66.47 and a 12-month high of $99.68. Brunswick (NYSE:BC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.66 by ($0.21). The company had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.44 billion. Brunswick had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 29.78%. The companys revenue was down 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.99 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Brunswick Co. will post 7.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. Brunswick Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This is a positive change from Brunswicks previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.91%. Brunswicks payout ratio is presently 26.89%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James downgraded shares of Brunswick from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Roth Mkm boosted their target price on shares of Brunswick from $85.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Brunswick from $88.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. StockNews.com raised shares of Brunswick from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Brunswick from $115.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $95.09. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Brunswick About Brunswick (Free Report) Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Propulsion, Parts & Accessories, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines for independent boat builders and governments through marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers, and marine service centers; and propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brunswick Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brunswick and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC increased its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 57.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,229 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 5,557 shares during the quarter. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $1,149,000 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. Ossiam raised its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1,304.1% in the second quarter. Ossiam now owns 80,244 shares of the companys stock worth $6,063,000 after purchasing an additional 74,529 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 3.0% in the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,072,606 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,896,000 after acquiring an additional 31,700 shares during the period. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 543.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 28,000 shares of the companys stock worth $2,112,000 after purchasing an additional 23,647 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 34.7% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 4,189 shares of the companys stock worth $320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,078 shares during the period. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 37.2% during the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 17,386 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,311,000 after purchasing an additional 4,711 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.73% of the companys stock. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance Shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland stock opened at $53.89 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $63.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $71.77. The company has a market cap of $28.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.51 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.69. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a one year low of $50.72 and a one year high of $87.30. Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 7th. This is a positive change from Archer-Daniels-Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is currently 27.86%. A number of analysts recently issued reports on ADM shares. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and set a $51.00 price target (down from $104.00) on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a report on Friday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $76.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Barclays cut Archer-Daniels-Midland from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $60.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Stephens dropped their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Roth Capital cut Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $67.08. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HF Sinclair (NYSE:DINO Get Free Report) had its price target increased by equities researchers at TD Cowen from $50.00 to $52.00 in a research report issued on Thursday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage currently has a market perform rating on the stock. TD Cowens price target suggests a potential downside of 11.14% from the stocks current price. Separately, UBS Group upgraded HF Sinclair from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $64.00 to $73.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six 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 a consensus target price of $64.50. Get HF Sinclair alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on DINO HF Sinclair Price Performance Shares of DINO stock opened at $58.52 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $10.51 billion, a PE ratio of 5.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.28. HF Sinclair has a twelve month low of $37.12 and a twelve month high of $62.20. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $56.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $55.84. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. HF Sinclair (NYSE:DINO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.15. HF Sinclair had a return on equity of 21.92% and a net margin of 6.73%. The business had revenue of $7.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.05 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.97 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that HF Sinclair will post 9.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Vaishali S. Bhatia sold 18,465 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 51,924 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,816,357.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director James H. Lee sold 2,643 shares of HF Sinclair stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.30, for a total value of $138,228.90. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 65,919 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,447,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Vaishali S. Bhatia sold 18,465 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.24, for a total transaction 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On HF Sinclair Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of HF Sinclair in the first quarter worth $566,029,000. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in HF Sinclair during the 1st quarter worth about $539,533,000. State Street Corp purchased a new position in HF Sinclair during the 1st quarter valued at about $308,240,000. Invesco Ltd. purchased a new position in HF Sinclair during the 1st quarter valued at about $102,959,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new position in shares of HF Sinclair in the 1st quarter valued at about $81,253,000. 89.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. HF Sinclair Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended 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. Shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the fifteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation and seven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $69.92. A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. They set a market perform rating and a $77.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group increased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on Charles Schwab from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Investors Weigh In On Charles Schwab In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 71,226 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $4,628,977.74. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 61,251,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,980,704,959.62. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.56, for a total transaction of $242,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 41,611 shares in the company, valued at $2,519,962.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 71,226 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $4,628,977.74. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 61,251,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,980,704,959.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 122,986 shares of company stock valued at $7,878,217 over the last three months. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 54.2% during the second quarter. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC now owns 135,940 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,705,000 after acquiring an additional 47,792 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 21.4% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 3,839 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $218,000 after buying an additional 677 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 43.2% in the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 551,682 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,287,000 after buying an additional 166,316 shares during the period. Act Two Investors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the second quarter valued at about $13,488,000. Finally, 180 Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 6.1% in the third quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 32,214 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,769,000 after buying an additional 1,843 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Charles Schwab Stock Performance SCHW opened at $64.13 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $113.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.66. Charles Schwab has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $81.32. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $65.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $59.98. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.49 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 22.07% and a net margin of 26.90%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.07 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Charles Schwab will post 3.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 8th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.37%. Charles Schwab Company Profile (Get Free Report The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Acadian Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST Free Report) by 63.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 308,728 shares of the companys stock after selling 534,787 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLCs holdings in Vista Energy were worth $9,376,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in shares of Vista Energy by 89.3% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,009 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 948 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Vista Energy by 40,275.0% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,230 shares of the companys stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 3,222 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in Vista Energy by 563.8% during the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,078 shares of the companys stock worth $123,000 after buying an additional 4,313 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Vista Energy during the second quarter worth $41,000. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Vista Energy by 68.0% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 6,256 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 2,532 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 45.68% of the companys stock. Get Vista Energy alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Vista Energy in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. Vista Energy Stock Up 3.5 % Shares of NYSE VIST opened at $36.06 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a PE ratio of 9.08 and a beta of 1.96. The business has a fifty day moving average of $31.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $29.20. Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 52-week low of $15.90 and a 52-week high of $36.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.00. About Vista Energy (Free Report) Vista Energy, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Latin America. The company's principal assets located in Neuquina basin, Argentina and Vaca Muerta. It also owns producing assets in Argentina and Mexico. In addition, the company involved in drilling and workover activities located in Argentina. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VIST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vista Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vista Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) have received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Nine 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. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $51.43. WFC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Piper Sandler cut 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. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating and issued a $51.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reissued a neutral rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Wells Fargo & Company Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wells Fargo & Company Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WFC. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Fortis Group Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Finally, Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. 72.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Shares of NYSE:WFC opened at $52.66 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $49.34 and a 200 day moving average of $44.54. The stock has a market cap of $191.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.93, a P/E/G 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 $52.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.30). The firm had revenue of $20.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.30 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 12.40%. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 1st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.66%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 29.05%. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Get 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 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. WINTON GROUP Ltd trimmed its holdings in Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL Free Report) by 21.2% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 2,647 shares of the companys stock after selling 713 shares during the period. WINTON GROUP Ltds holdings in Globe Life were worth $288,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in Globe Life by 7.2% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 93,908 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,448,000 after acquiring an additional 6,299 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Globe Life by 3.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,549 shares of the companys stock worth $1,464,000 after buying an additional 538 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Globe Life by 26.8% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,456 shares of the companys stock worth $1,354,000 after buying an additional 2,848 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its position in shares of Globe Life by 3.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 4,740 shares of the companys stock worth $477,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Globe Life by 23.9% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 25,421 shares of the companys stock worth $2,557,000 after buying an additional 4,897 shares during the period. 80.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Globe Life alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Globe Life from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Globe Life from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $122.00 to $137.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Globe Life from $133.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. StockNews.com cut Globe Life from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Globe Life from $131.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $134.14. Insider Transactions at Globe Life In related news, CMO Jennifer Allison Haworth sold 2,524 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.37, for a total transaction of $306,337.88. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,606 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,044,510.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Globe Life news, EVP Dolores L. Skarjune sold 20,479 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.28, for a total value of $2,524,651.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 4,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $610,975.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Jennifer Allison Haworth sold 2,524 shares of the firms 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 sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 8,606 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,044,510.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 24,003 shares of company stock worth $2,955,489. Company insiders own 4.33% of the companys stock. Globe Life Stock Performance GL opened at $126.59 on Thursday. Globe Life Inc. has a 52-week low of $102.23 and a 52-week high of $127.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.91 billion, a PE ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $122.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $117.20. Globe Life (NYSE:GL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $2.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.73 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $1.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.40 billion. Globe Life had a return on equity of 24.75% and a net margin of 17.82%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.24 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Globe Life Inc. will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Globe Life (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL Free Report). 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. WINTON GROUP Ltd trimmed its holdings in shares of Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HTH Free Report) by 21.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,304 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,774 shares during the period. WINTON GROUP Ltds holdings in Hilltop were worth $292,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund bought a new position in shares of Hilltop in the 3rd quarter worth $776,000. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hilltop by 126.6% in the 3rd quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC now owns 107,522 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,049,000 after purchasing an additional 60,065 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hilltop by 173.6% in the 2nd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 76,197 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,397,000 after purchasing an additional 48,345 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hilltop by 55.1% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 86,480 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,722,000 after purchasing an additional 30,723 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kingsview Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Hilltop in the 3rd quarter worth $215,000. 54.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Hilltop alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently issued reports on HTH. Raymond James upgraded Hilltop from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Friday, January 5th. TheStreet upgraded Hilltop from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, November 24th. Hilltop Trading Down 0.5 % NYSE HTH opened at $30.84 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.25 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $30.72. Hilltop Holdings Inc. has a 12 month low of $26.78 and a 12 month high of $35.66. Hilltop (NYSE:HTH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $290.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $296.89 million. Hilltop had a return on equity of 5.20% and a net margin of 7.00%. Hilltops quarterly revenue was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.39 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Hilltop Holdings Inc. will post 1.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hilltop Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 12th will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 9th. This is a positive change from Hilltops previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Hilltops dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.24%. Hilltop Profile (Free Report) Hilltop Holdings Inc provides business and consumer banking, and financial products and services. It operates through three segments: Banking, Broker-Dealer, and Mortgage Origination. The Banking segment offers savings, checking, interest-bearing checking, and money market accounts; certificates of deposit; lines and letters of credit, home improvement and equity loans, loans for purchasing and carrying securities, equipment loans, agricultural and commercial real estate loans, and other loans; and commercial and industrial loans, and term and construction finance. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hilltop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hilltop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ?? Esta todo listo para la Reunion de Viceministros de Finanzas y Bancos Centrales (FCBDM, por sus siglas en ingles) y actividades conexas del foro @APEC en #Arequipa. ?? 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Stock market today: Wall Street rises ahead of highly anticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting SHOCKING Footage From Tesla Gigafactory In Austin, Texas (Ad) Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases The funeral of former Sinn Fein Derry City and Strabane District councillor Tony Hassan took place on Wednesday morning in St Brigids Church, Carnhill. The tireless community activist and veteran Republican was then laid to rest in the City Cemetery. Tony died peacefully at the Foyle Hospice on Monday morning. He was the beloved husband of Christine, loving father of Ciaran and Aine, father-in-law of Maureen, devoted grandfather of Dearbhaile, Callum, Niamh, Conal, Caoimhin, Tara and Oisin and dear brother of Dessie and the late Ann. Tonys family requested donations, if wished, to Foyle Hospice, in lieu of flowers. In the last few days, many warm tributes were paid to Tony who championed the building of much-needed social housing in Derry. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald expressed sadness at Tony's death. On behalf of the Sinn Fein leadership, she extended her deepest sympathies to Tonys wife Christine, his children Ciaran and Aine, his grandchildren and the wider Hassan family. Ms McDonald said: Tony was a larger than life, much-loved and selfless character who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others and epitomised what it was to be a local councillor. He was grounded in community life. He was at the heart of working to transform the Greater Shantallow Area and to build Sinn Fein in the city over the decades - 21 years of those serving as an elected representative. Tony never stood still. He will be fondly remembered for his determination to deliver more homes for families and the development of the Skeoge Road and surrounding areas, famously dubbed 'Hassans Highway', in honour of one of his greatest achievements. He will be sadly missed by the whole community and everyone who knew and loved him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue described Tony as a dear friend and colleague whose passing will be a huge loss to the community he served for so many years. She said: Tony dedicated over 50 years of his life as a community activist and political representative in the Greater Shantallow area, where he did so much to bring about positive change. He was tireless in his work to make life better for others and his kindness and determination to deliver will always be remembered. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his wife Christine and family, and my thanks on behalf of the City and District for the wonderful contribution he made over the years. Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy said she had learned of Tonys death with deep sadness. My immediate thoughts are with his wife Christine, children Ciaran and Aine, and the entire Hassan family at this very sad and difficult time, Cllr Duffy said. A community activist and leader for more than 50 years, Tonys whole life was focused on standing up for peoples rights and making his community the best place it could be. Tony Hassan was a stalwart and a trailblazer who was key to the ongoing regeneration of the Greater Shantallow Area, from new homes, community facilities and better roads. First elected to the old Derry City Council in 1997, Tony helped build the foundations for the growth of Sinn Fein in Shantallow and across the city as the longest serving councillor. I had the pleasure of working with Tony and learning from him over many years. His experience, advice and friendship was invaluable. He will be dearly missed. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Having known Tony for almost 25 years, Foyle Sinn Fein MLA Ciara Ferguson said she could confidently say she had never met someone who cared so much for the people of Shantallow and surrounding areas. Ms Ferguson said: He was not only my boss at GSAP (Greater Shantallow Area Partnership) but also a good friend and great mentor and he will be missed dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family, the wider family circle and all his friends at this time. Padraig Delargy MLA said Tony was an activist and leader who always stood by his principles and did whatever he could to help others across the community. He was hugely supportive to me as I embarked on my role as an elected representative and I am eternally grateful to have been able to draw upon his wealth of experience. We will miss him. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam. In a measure of the esteem in which he was held, Tonys political adversaries also acknowledged his immense contribution to political and community development in the city. Very sorry to hear of the passing of former councillor and community activist Tony Hassan today. Tony had time for everyone and was committed to making greater Shantallow and our city better for all. Thoughts are with Chrissie, Ciaran, Aine and his Sinn Fein colleagues. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) February 19, 2024 SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP wrote he was very sorry to hear of the passing of former councillor and community activist, Tony Hasson. Mr Eastwood recalled: Tony had time for everyone and was committed to making greater Shantallow and our city better for all. My thoughts are with Chrissie, Ciaran, Aine and his Sinn Fein colleagues. Sending its condolences to Tonys family, a spokesperson for Aontu Dhoire said: A man with such a record of public service deserves nothing but respect. Just before Christmas, local publishing company Colmcille Press, released Tonys memoir: From Old Streets to New Homes: A Memoir of Derry, Bridge Street and Shantallow. In an online tribute, Colmcille Press said: Working with Tony over the past months was a real pleasure and a great learning experience. "Retired Assembly Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin, who presided at the Shantallow book launch in December, described his former friend as 'one in a million'. He said: Tony was warm and direct and honest as the day is long. He never shirked from giving his opinion - I really loved working with him. Author Garbhan Downey, who worked on the memoir said: Underneath his sometimes tough facade, Tony was kindness itself and generous to a fault. He donated all the proceeds from his memoir to Foyle Hospice, and in his final days was trying to organise a coffee morning fundraiser for them. Go raibh suaimhneas siorai air. Derry City and Strabane District Council will discuss Child Poverty at a special meeting. The meeting, scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon (February 22), will receive a presentation from Ms Mairead McCafferty, Chief Executive and Ms Alex Tennant, Head of Policy and Participation on behalf of the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People. Ms McCafferty and Ms Tennant were invited to speak about Child Poverty following a motion passed at Novembers full Council meeting. The motion, proposed by Councillor Shaun Harkin (People Before profit) read: Council notes with deep concern the distribution of almost 3,500 food parcels to adults and children across the district between April and September this year by Foyle Food Bank; a record 24% increase in food parcels distributed to children across the North; the Department for Communities report of almost 70,000 children here living in absolute poverty; and, the recent report published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation finding four million people experienced destitution in 2022, including one million children, in one of the richest societies on earth. Council notes with extreme alarm the findings of UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, Oliver De Schutter, that levels of poverty maintained by the British government violate international law. Council agrees low-pay, inadequate benefits, forced migration to Universal Credit, unregulated private rental costs, the growing housing, education and health service crises and the lack of free childcare are combining to create extreme cost of living pressures on families and households across our District - and that these pressures will mount in the Winter months. Council will urgently promote through each of its available platforms all help accessible to families and households provided by organisations working in our District and by government. Council will write to the Board of Governors for local schools to take all possible measures to reduce school costs on households. Council supports all strikes, campaigns and actions taken to alleviate hardship and inequality. Council will again write to the British Secretary of State demanding the reversal of punitive budgets, including hurtful cuts targeting children; for holiday hunger payments to be immediately reinstated; and for urgent adequate funding for discretionary housing support. Council will notify the Secretary of State and the NIO of our willingness to pursue them for extreme poverty and harm to children violations of international law. Council will invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People for an urgent special meeting of the full Council." The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has taken the decision not to prosecute seven people reported in connection with an unnotified procession in Derry. The decision relates to members of the Bloody Sunday families, their legal representatives and their supporters attending Derry's Bishop Street Court House in August 2023, to hear proceeding relating to British army 'Soldier F'. Soldier F is to stand trial for two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday. He is accused of murdering William McKinney and James Wray in Derry on 30 January 1972. In a statement just issued, PPS said: "The individuals were investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for an alleged breach of section 6 of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, after walking together along a number of streets on their way to Bishop Street Courthouse on 25th August 2023. "After careful consideration of all evidence submitted by police and the full context in which the procession took place, decisions were taken not to prosecute all seven on public interest grounds. Public interest factors that were relevant to these decisions included the fact that: The procession involved a relatively small number of people and was short in duration; The procession was peaceful and caused no public disorder (or any apparent risk of public disorder) and no need for the deployment of any policing resource; No harm or damage occurred and there was minimal disruption or inconvenience caused to traffic or the general public; and No complaints were made by any members of the local community and there was no other evidence of any negative community impact caused by the procession. "Decisions were taken by applying the Test for Prosecution, as set out in the PPS Code for Prosecutors. The Test is met if, in relation to an identifiable individual, the available evidence is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of a conviction (the Evidential Test) and if prosecution is in the public interest (the Public Interest Test)." A PPS spokeswoman said: It was considered that the conduct of the reported individuals did amount to participation in a public procession and that their procession had not been subject to the legal notification required. However, the purpose of having legislative regulation of parades and processions in Northern Ireland is to control public disorder and damage, to minimise disruption to the life of the community and to enhance community relations. In this particular case, it was clear that the procession investigated did not raise any of those risks and therefore the public interest would not be served by pursuing criminal proceedings. This decision was reached impartially, independently and fully in line with the PPS Code for Prosecutors. Each case reported by police is considered carefully taking into account the specific facts and circumstances of the alleged offending. These decisions are therefore fact specific and no indication of a general policy position in relation to the prosecution of unnotified processions or parades. In December past, Foyle MP Column Eastwood walked out of Derrys Strand Road barracks because PSNI officers refused to conduct a pre-arranged interview with him regarding the August incident. Speaking outside the barracks on that occasion, Mr Eastwood, who was accompanied by his solicitor, Mr Ciaran Shiels, said: "I was asked to attend an interview with the PSNI because I walked alongside members of the Bloody Sunday families, to the Derry Court House, at a hearing for 'Soldier F'. "I agreed to come but for one reason only, I was going to be very clear with the police that no member of the Bloody Sunday families will be attending to take part in this farce. "This is an enquiry based on a mischievous complaint and in the light of the fact, 52 years ago, 14 people were murdered on the streets of this city and only yesterday, we now have somebody going to court over that, this seems to be the priority of the PSNI today." Loganairs summer 2024 schedule will make it easier than ever to catch international connections via City of Derry airport. An improved timetable of flights to and from London Heathrow will see three flights in each direction on Sundays an increase to keep pace with demand. The afternoon service from City of Derry will now depart at lunchtime, arriving in Heathrow by early afternoon and opening up a far broader range of connections to British Airways worldwide flights and those of Loganairs other airline partners. In the evening, the Heathrow-bound service will now depart City of Derry 40 minutes earlier at 5.30pm and the final flight of the day from Heathrow will also leave at a more convenient time of 7.45pm to arrive in City of Derry at 9.10pm, some 35 minutes earlier than today. With both the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express rapid connections linking Heathrow with central London, the new flight times continue to assure a full working day in London. Loganairs Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Lovegrove, said: The new flight times at City of Derry will bring a welcome difference to connections onwards to North America, with the lunchtime service now arriving in Heathrow in good time to connect on to Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Boston, Nashville, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Washington, where the previous timetable mandated customers to take the first flight of the day to Heathrow and spend several hours between flight connections. The earlier arrival now means that connections from City of Derry are reduced to between two and four hours as opposed to up to 10 hours to a wider range of destinations. Worldwide connections to destinations in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent also remain widely available through Loganairs codeshare with British Airways and through other airline partners including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and others. Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, said: "We are thrilled that Loganair services from City of Derry Airport to London Heathrow will increase in frequency with the new schedule commencing from 31st March 2024. This will provide corporate and leisure travellers across our catchment areas of Derry City & Strabane, Causeway Coast & Glens and Donegal, with increased connectivity to these key cities as the demand grows over the spring and summer period. The additional service between City of Derry and London Heathrow on a Sunday evening will be particularly welcomed by business commuters in the North West. "We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with Loganair, which spans from back from 1979, and working together to grow our connectivity in line with the travel needs of our local market." Staying closer to home, Loganairs service linking Glasgow with City of Derry continues to operate up to five times each week with flights on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All flights on the route will be operated by 48-seat ATR turboprop or 49-seat Embraer 145 jet aircraft, increasing seat capacity in comparison to the smaller Saab 340 aircraft previously used on many of the Glasgow flights. The airline serves more airports and routes within the UK than any other airline, providing a comprehensive network of regional connectivity for UK communities ranging from Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Isles to Cornwall Airport Newquay. New ATR72-600 Next Generation turboprop aircraft seating 72 passengers and offering best-in-class performance on fuel efficiency and emissions are replacing 33-seat Saab 340s, making more seats available than ever before. Together with major upgrades to the passenger cabins and operating systems of the Embraer 145 Regional Jets, this completes a multi-million-pound investment programme by Loganair in its aircraft fleet. All Loganair fares include a checked baggage allowance and, on flights of over 45 minutes scheduled time on our Embraer and ATR aircraft, complimentary in-flight refreshments. With more seats to more destinations than ever before, Loganair expects to serve well over one million Tunnocks Caramel Wafers on its flights in 2024 and has gluten and dairy free snack options available too! NVIDIA App is the latest software from the brand for their gaming graphics cards and it aims to unify all the different apps that users have to currently deal with. As of now, gamers have GeForce Experience for optimising game settings, downloading the latest drivers, capturing key moments in video games, recording and streaming video games and more. Then theres the NVIDIA Control Panel which has some of the more critical features associated with the driver. The NVIDIA App will unify both of these by bringing some of the more frequently used settings from the NVIDIA Control Panel and GeForce Experience under the same app. NVIDIA also claims that the new app is 50 per cent more responsive and consumes 17 per cent less disk space. The NVIDIA App is currently in beta and will be released in the near future. NVIDIA App Out with the old, in with the new NVIDIAs vision for GeForce Experience (GFE) was very consumer-centric. It was borne out of the premise that more than 80 per cent of users did not tinker with the settings of their graphics cards, and thus, were missing out on making the most of their graphics cards. GeForce Experience has a simple toggle that applies a game-specific profile with optimal settings to video games leading to a better user experience. And NVIDIA would release such game-specific profiles for all popular video games. Sometimes, youd even get the profile along with the Day-1 Game Ready drivers. However, over the years, GeForce Experience got a little bloated and also implemented a rather irritating mandatory login for using features that did not require a login at all. Personally, I havent used GeForce Experience since version 3.0 that was released back in 2016 for this very reason. Hopefully, NVIDIA App doesnt go the GFE way. NVIDIA App Features NVIDIA App simply looks like a re-architected GeForce Experience app which maintains the same grey+black+green aesthetic. You are met with the home screen when you open the app and you have a very clean look. The top row has a carousel with the latest updates from NVIDIA including driver releases, if any. The next row showcases all your apps which tie into features from the NVIDIA Drivers. So this includes video games and apps such as OBS, DaVinci Resolve, etc. Then you have a row for discovering some NVIDIA apps that you would normally not have come across. Honestly, the first tab could have been a little notification bell and more space could have been dedicated to the app drawer and the discovery row. NVIDIA App Home Screen The left-hand side has a thin vertical menu bar for navigation. After the home screen, you get to the Drivers page. This page has all the information about the latest drivers and also allows you to toggle between Game Ready and Studio Drivers. At a glance, you can see driver release notes, any new hardware thats supported and what all fixes have been made. It would also be ideal to have a section highlighting known-issues since thats also important. NVIDIA App Driver downloads panel The third page brings you all the settings that you can tweak for each compatible video game and application installed on your system. This is where youll see the amalgamation of GFE and NVIDIA Control Panel in one neat arrangement. There are clear indicators showing which all apps have been optimised and you can also select the level of optimisation prioritising either performance or quality per title. And if you want any settings to be applied globally, then theres a dedicated panel for that as well. NVIDIA App Settings panel The next screen is for redeeming rewards. If any game publisher or NVIDIA is running a rewards campaign, then having a dedicated redemption page should be a welcome quality of life improvement. NVIDIA App Rewards redemption page The last panel is for app related settings. Redesigned Overlay Another change being incorporated as part of the redesign for the user is a brand new overlay. The NVIDIA Overlay was pretty massive and would take up most of the screen, which isnt a bad thing if youre only using it once in a blue moon but if you have to go back to the overlay quite regularly, then it can be quite irksome. So, the new NVIDIA App now features a redesigned overlay. All the necessary options will now be on the left-hand side, and you can trigger them using the same old shortcut keys or by opening the overlay. Upcoming and outgoing features NVIDIA Control Panel will not be going away any time soon. In fact, while the new NVIDIA App is in beta, both NVIDIA Control Panel and GeForce Experience will continue to be available. Installing the NVIDIA App will take out GeForce Experience but Control Panel will still be there. And naturally, not all features have made it to the new app. Some are still in the process of being incorporated. GPU overclocking and driver roll-back will be coming soon and there will also be support for AV1 within Shadowplay in the near future, as per NVIDIA. Whats going away are the streaming related features since they were underutilised. The built-in streaming features present in GeForce Experience never held a candle to a full-fledged app such as OBS. Sharing images and video to YouTube and Facebook are also getting the boot. And also going away are Photo Mode 360 and Stereo Captures. HIGHLIGHTS Google has revealed its revamped sign-in page which has a more modern look. The steps to sign in haven't changed. The new sign-in page has a better layout for all screen types. If youve tried to log in to your Google account recently, you might have noticed a message at the top that says: A new look is coming soon. Now, Google has finally revealed its revamped sign-in page which has a more modern look. Were updating the look and feel of our sign-up and sign-in pages with a more modern look, which is in-line with the Material Design across our other products, Google announced in a Workspace Updates blogpost on February 21st. Also read: Google launches Gemini Business & Enterprise for Workspace users: Check details The new Google sign-in page on web Lets learn more about the new Google sign-in page. Whats the same The steps to sign in havent changed. You still have to enter the same information you usually do, like your email address and password. Also read: Google now lets you access Gemini directly within Gmail, Docs & more: Heres how Why the sign-in page changed According to Google, the new sign-in page has a better layout for all screen types, which includes large and wide screens. The sign-in page will adjust to your screens size for a better user experience. Where the change happened The new sign-in page will show up on: Computers, phones and tablets. You will notice it when you sign in to a Google app or a Google service on a browser, like Chrome. However, its important to note that If you use an older version of a browser, you may still see the old sign-in page. Availability The new sign-in page is currently rolling to all Google Workspace customers and to users with personal Google Accounts. There is no admin control for this feature. Also, there is no end user setting for this feature you see these improvements automatically. The company expects the rollout to be completed by March 4th, 2024. Taiwan's green hydrogen ambitions: navigating upstream opportunities As the world moves towards carbon neutrality, hydrogen emerges as a focal point for future energy development. Electrolysis, the process behind green hydrogen production, stands as a crucial avenue in this endeavor, with related equipment presenting a prime opportunity for market entry. Notably, China, Germany, and Japan are aggressively positioning themselves at the forefront of the upstream hydrogen equipment market. With nations worldwide expanding their hydrogen initiatives, demand for electrolyzers, essential for producing green hydrogen, is skyrocketing. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), electrolyzers, a key hardware component in the global hydrogen industry, exhibit immense growth potential, with the market projected to reach US$500-600 billion by 2050. Among the frontrunners in hydrogen adoption, China's progress is particularly noteworthy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that China's proactive deployment of electrolyzers is expected to result in a capacity of 1.2GW by the end of 2023, accounting for half of the global share. Major suppliers in China, including Sungrow, Longi, and Peric Hydrogen Technologies, are ramping up their production capacities through 2025. Market estimates suggest a doubling of electrolyzer shipments in China between 2024 and 2025, with demand reaching 3GW and 6GW, respectively. Currently, mainstream hydrogen production methods include Alkaline Electrolysis (AE), Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM), Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM), and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC). While AE is widely adopted, particularly in China, PEM finds application in specific sectors like renewable energy generation and automotive hydrogen. AEM and SOEC technologies are still in the nascent stages. While hydrogen production isn't a primary focus, electrolysis remains an inevitable path toward green hydrogen for Taiwan. Taiwanese firms can leverage their expertise in electrolyzer components or system integration. Companies like Enapter from Germany have explored collaborations in Taiwan, partnering with research institutions like ITRI. It is worth noting that among Taiwanese ventures is Blade Hydrogen Green Technology, a startup supported by ITRI, focusing on AEM electrolyzer technology. Similarly, Tripod Nano Technology, backed by PCB manufacturer Tripod International, is delving into seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production in collaboration with National Central University. While Taiwanese firms predominantly concentrate on downstream hydrogen fuel cell components and applications, their advantage lies in system integration. As the future hinges on green hydrogen production from renewable sources, Taiwanese firms are gearing up for collaborations with Chinese counterparts, recognizing their critical role in achieving carbon neutrality. VinFast to break ground for EV facility in southern India Following an agreement for an integrated facility in Tamil Nadu, Vietnam-based VinFast said it would begin constructing the EV facility, a big step for the company on its way to the global foray. According to multiple media outlets, including the Financial Times and VNA, VinFast said on February 21 that it would break ground for the EV facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, on February 25. With an investment of US$500 million, the facility will take five years to be built and have an annual capacity of up to 150,000 units, generating 3,000-3,500 jobs for the state. The government of Tamil Nadu signed an MoU with VinFast for the facility at the two-day Global Investors Meet held in January in Chennai. In addition to VinFast, other companies committed to investing include Qualcomm, Pegatron, Hyundai, Taiwan-based Hong Fu, and India-based JSW Energy. According to a company filing released in December 2023, VinFast plans to establish local manufacturing facilities in strategic markets, including the US, Indonesia, and India, to take advantage of local tax benefits and local sourcing, adding that commissioning of the Indonesia and India facilities is expected in 2026 with a total capacity of up to 50,000 cars a year in phase 1 for each facility. VinFast said it plans to build the Tamil Nadu facility into a first-class EV production hub in the region, not only catering to consumers in India but meeting demands in other South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries. The Times of India, quoting official data from Tamil Nadu, the state is forecasted to have an EV production value of US$40 billion by 2030, including components, raw materials, machinery, tooling, testing, and R&D. Source: VinFast, October 2024 Subscriber content preview Rendering via Lund Opsahl [enlarge] The center will house academic instruction spaces for the School of Design as well as new event facilities. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is planning to build the new Center for Design at its campus in Kirkland. The center will contain academic instruction spaces supporting the School of Design and Applied Arts, and event facilities servicing the entire campus. . . . YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan is participating in the Raisina Dialogue, Indias premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. Every year, leaders in politics, business, media, and civil society converge in New Delhi to discuss the state of the world and explore opportunities for cooperation on a wide range of contemporary matters. The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of state, cabinet ministers and local government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private sector, media and academia. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The event began with the India-Armenia Dialogue forum. In his remarks, Minister Mkrtchyan emphasized the importance of the effective partnership between Armenia and India and spoke about the mutual steps for strengthening cooperation. He said that the relations with India have been actively developing, which is among Armenias foreign policy priorities. Cooperation between Armenia and India gained momentum in several sectors, including in trade, economy, high technologies, education and culture. The age-old mutual respect and trust between the two nations contributes to intensification of people-to-people exchanges in various sectors, Mkrtchyan said. Speaking about reforms in the employment migration, he said that the ministry is developing new approaches to ensure the required regulations. He also mentioned the MoU signed with Skill India in 2022, enabling training and skill development opportunities. Mkrtchyan highlighted the potential of cooperation in AI and proposed to consider the idea of creating a global AI innovation platform to facilitate exchange of research and solutions and promote social benefits through international cooperation. In context of the importance of peace, cooperation and mutual respect between nations, the minister also spoke about the Crossroads of Peace project, emphasizing that security, economic stability and development must be viewed as a collective global responsibility. A US tourist who lost his wife and suffered serious injuries when they were hit by a car at the Rock of Dunamase has written of his familys suffering. Doug Jones required surgery after being struck by the car which claimed the life of his wife Laura at the scenic tourist spot in Laois on October 7, 2022. Jamie Kearns, 20, of 22 Cosby Avenue, Portlaoise has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm in relation to the incident on October 7, 2022. He appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Court where details of the case were heard before Judge Keenan Johnson. William Fennelly BL outlined the prosecution case. He said that Mr Jones and his wife were in the country with their youngest daughter Erin and her partner Jacob. The family, who are from Parker, Colorado in the US, were travelling to the South West and had stopped en route to visit the Rock of Dunamase at around 1.15pm in the day. He explained that a narrow road off the N80 leads up to a t-junction and car park at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. The Jones grouping parked up outside this church, he said. The young couple went ahead and made their way towards the Rock of Dunamase. They heard the sound of what appeared to be a car driving, very, very fast, he explained. Mr Fennelly said the car appears to have gone completely out of control at high speed knocking both of them over the wall of the church. A large block then fell on top of Mrs Jones, he explained. Mr Fennelly said Mrs Jones was immediately knocked unconscious and by the time medical assistance had arrived she was pronounced dead at the scene. He said the defendant had been driving a 09 register Ford Fiesta which he had recently purchased. He was driving a group of three friends on the date in question. Mr Kearns was driving very fast and they were asking him to slow down, said Mr Fennelly. He said the car was inspected after the collision but there was no evidence of any defects. He also noted the driver was tested and no intoxicants were detected in his system. Mr Fennelly asked Garda Sergeant Katherine Kelliher about the cause of the collision. It would appear that the accident was essentially down to driver error, he said. Correct, Sgt Kelliher replied. He said the defendant was detained and questioned at Portlaoise Garda Station. During the interview the defendant told gardai he had slowed to between 20 and 25 kmh when he approached the church. I tried to hit the wall instead of the people, he told gardai. The car skidded and hit the people, he said. He spoke of attempting to help the woman after the collision. She had a stone on her chest so I lifted the stone off, he said. In his statements, Mr Fennelly said the accused had denied he was told to slow down five times by one of his friends. Mr Kearns wasnt really accepting that he was speeding, Mr Fennelly asked Sgt Kelliher. She said that was correct. The court heard estimates of the speed of the car and collision were drawn from witness statements. Sgt Kelliher said the collision occurred on a good clear day. The court heard the car had been bought two weeks before the collision on September 26, 2022 and the driver was on a provisional licence. Judge Keenan Johnson asked whether any of the passengers were qualified drivers. He was told they werent. Sgt Kelliher said she believed the defendant, who left school at 16, was working as a labourer on a building site. Defence Counsel Conor Devally SC asked whether engineers had been able to calculate the exact speed of the car. Sgt Kelliher confirmed they had not. He said there had been no reports of his driving being inappropriate on the larger roads on the day. He said it appears the defendant came to the brow of a hill where the church was and broke hard. Sgt Kelliher said that would be correct. He said there was no attempt to leave the scene. He said his client lacked driving experience. He said the young man had difficulty in school and had left at the age of 16. Mr Devally said his client was overwhelmingly sorry at what he has done and I am asked to convey that. Garda Andrea Byrne was assigned as Garda Liaison Officer to the Jones family. She said Mr Jones had surgery in Ireland and returned to the US a week after the collision. She maintained contact with the family and offered them the opportunity to attend or observe the court proceedings in person or by video. They just werent able, Garda Byrne stated. She read out a victim impact statement on behalf of Doug Jones. He explained it was hard to put into words the pain and suffering our family has endured. This was the first stop after arriving in Ireland on vacation, he explained. Our lives are changed forever, said Mr Jones. He said his eldest daughter had since been married and her mother wasnt present for the day. He said his youngest daughter had witnessed the scene of the accident. He suffered a shattered tibia and fibula and still hasnt fully recovered. This was a careless, reckless and selfish act, he said. Mr Devally said his client has a growing sense of the devastation and harm his driving has caused. He said it was a wonder that the road leading up to the church has a 80km speed limit. Something of that order would be quite dangerous on reaching the brow of the hill, he suggested. Judge Johnson asked Sgt Kelliher if she felt the speed was appropriate for the road. No, I dont, she replied. Judge Keenan said he believed 30km would be more appropriate. Mr Devally said while his clients actions could rightly be deemed stupid and reckless, the man didnt have drink or drugs in his system. Although he drove without a qualified driver, Mr Devally said the aggravating factor was his driving on the day. Judge Johnson said he would have to take time to consider judgement in the case and he would return to it on Friday. Judge Johnson offered his deepest sympathy to the Jones family on the loss of Laura Jones. Israels response to the Hamas attack is beyond what is necessary and proportionate, Ireland has told the UNs top court. Ireland also told the International Court of Justice that Israel is annexing Palestinian territory and has prevented Palestinian people from exercising their rights to self-determination. It further said that states are obliged not to assist in maintaining Israels serious breach of the rights of Palestinian people. Ireland was contributing to a hearing at the ICJ on request for an advisory opinion on the case of Israels policies and practices in Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Speaking in The Hague, Irish attorney general Rossa Fanning first said Irelands Government had profound concern about background to the hearing. He said the Hamas attacks on October 7 were reprehensible. He said: We have condemned them unequivocally, the rape and murder of civilians, destruction of civilian property, the taking of hostages, the use of human shields and the firing of indiscriminate rockets at urban centres constitutes serious violations of international humanitarian law for which those involved must be held accountable. However, Mr Fanning said international law limits the use of force in self defence to no more than what is necessary and proportionate. He added: Irelands view is that these limits have been exceeded by Israel in its military response to the Hamas attack. This is manifest from the spiralling death toll, the extensive destruction of property including homes throughout Gaza, the displacement of up to two million people and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe. Mr Fanning noted that Ireland has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, adding that Ireland supports a comprehensive two-state solution. Additionally, the attorney general said Israel is annexing Palestinian territory in the West Bank. In Irelands view, Israel is already engaged in the process of annexing Palestinian territory. It is doing so de facto through its policy of encouraging demographic change in that territory by population transfer, and by the continuous development and maintenance of permanent settlements and infrastructure. Ireland is concerned that it may also be doing so de jure by increasingly extending the application of domestic Israeli law and civilian administration to the settlements in the OPT, thereby integrating them into its own territory and erasing the differences in law between Israel and the settlements. Mr Fanning said Israeli settlers had continued to unlawfully destroy and appropriate property throughout the OPT, and that Israel had a policy of encouraging and facilitating the expansion of settlements. He said this was a clear breach of international law and the Geneva Convention. Ireland also accused Israel of preventing Palestinian people from exercising their rights to self-determination. Mr Fanning said Israels prolonged occupation of the OPT has increasingly fragmented Palestinian presence and use of their land and resources. It threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. The nature, scale and duration of settlement activist is such that its purpose can only be to permanently obstruct the exercise of the Palestinian peoples rights to self determination. Mr Fanning added: Ireland has, with regret, concluded that by its prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory and the settlement activities it has conducted there for more than half a century, Israel has committed serious breaches of a number peremptory norms of general international law. Ireland said states are obliged to co-operate to bring an end to Israels serious breach of its duty to respect the rights of Palestinian people. Mr Fanning said this meant that states are obliged not to render aid or assistance in maintaining this situation. He said it was Irelands view that all states are required to review trading relationships with settlements in the OPT, requiring them to take steps to prevent trade which maintains settlement activity or implicitly legitimises Israels annexation of that territory. Mr Fanning also told the International Court of Justice that Israels military occupation of the OPT since 1967 has involved extensive, permanent and deliberate settlement building. He said: Neither the duration of the occupation nor the scale and extent of settlement activity is, in Irelands view, justified or permitted by the law regulating the use of force in self defence. Indeed, if the security of one people can only be achieved by the occupation over so many decades of the territory of another people, one has to wonder whether there can be any military solution to the problem that it purports to address. In our view, the only effective solution to the problem can be a political one. Local band Pork Pie have released their second single 'Careful as you go' from their forthcoming album 'Golden Leaf Sheets'. In 2021, Pork Pie recorded their debut album "Pterodactyl," which has received excellent reviews. Since then, the four piece band has been in the studio recording and is back with a new album 'Golden Leaf Sheets' which is set for release in early 2024, with two singles already released from it. The band's first single was received extremely well with Rock Noir Magazine saying: The bands sound, characterized by a nostalgic aura, creates an irresistible sonic landscape that reflects the band's dedication and countless hours spent honing their craft in the rehearsal room. Pork Pie's new single 'Careful as you go' is the second to be released on 16th February. Recorded in Dundalk's Lockup Recording Studio in 2023, engineered by Pete Rust and Mastered by Fergal Davis Pork Pie is a four-piece contemporary alternative eclectic rock outfit, with strong elements of garage, funk, and psychedelia, playing almost exclusively original songs. The four original members, Shane Brett (Drums), Michael Laverty (Bass), Michael Stafford (Vocals, lyrics,Piano, Guitar and Alto Sax), and Peter Laverty (Lead Guitar), have gigged extensively and played multiple festivals and leading music venues in Europe, including the Spirit Store in Dundalk, The Paradiso in Amsterdam, Kapu Culture Centre in Linz, Austria and The Dublin Castle in London. In October 2021, the band was sponsored by the Irish Government (Department of Arts and Culture) to play an exclusive online gig at the famous Great Northern Brewery in Ireland, which was released to rave reviews in the music press. Louth County Council has been allocated 2,967,959 for national roads and greenways, as part of a total of over 500 million allocated to national roads and greenways nationwide, it was announced today. The allocations will be made to local authorities across the country through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Of the 2.9 million, 1,628,000 is earmarked for Capital Investment - Protection & Renewal & Active Travel. 240,000 has been allocated to Construction of New Roads, namely the planned Ardee Bypass. 249,959 is going towards Current Maintenance - Protection & Renewal; and 850,000 is earmarked for greenways. With regards the Capital Investment - Protection & Renewal & Active Travel allocation, 128,000 of this relates to Local Authority Support (Improvement) 2024; 50,000 for minor works at Castle Street, Ardee; 150,000 for minor works on the R169; and 400,000 for works on the Funshog pavement. 500,000 has been allocated to the N53 Hackballscross to Rassan for works, and 400,000 for works on the N52 Ballygowan pavement. The 850,000 greenway funding is to go towards the Dundalk Bay to Carlingford Lough Greenway. Welcoming the funding for works in Ardee, Cllr Dolores Minogue said that "I'm thrilled to announce additional funding for the Ardee Mid Louth area from TII. While this is a positive step forward, more funds are required. The Fine Gael councillor added that she would continue to work "to secure as much funding as possible to improve the standard of our roads in Ardee Mid Louth. Due to everyday wear and tear as well as weather conditions, roads can deteriorate rapidly." News of the funding allocation was also welcomed by Senator Erin McGreehan, who said that "the substantial new funding allocated today is hugely important for National Roads and Greenways here in Louth. "The funding is part of the governments investment in improving our national roads and greenways infrastructure. It will help ensure that our roads are safe, reliable and accessible for everyone who uses them. A top priority of Fianna Fail in Government is continuing to invest in the maintenance and improvement of our road network to make it as safe as possible while improving regional connectivity and supporting regional economic development." Senator McGreehan added that "continued investment in Greenways is welcome, as they protect important habitats and provide corridors for people and wildlife. They help improve air and water quality and provide enjoyable and safe options for transportation, which reduces air pollution, so it is important they continue to receive appropriate investment. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Russian authorities contacted Armenian police in the afternoon of February 21 to notify about the arrest of Kamil Zeynalli, the Azeri national wanted by Armenia on suspicion of war crimes committed during the 2020 war. Despite Armenia having confirmed the arrest warrant for Zeynalli, the Russian authorities apparently set him free after a brief detention in Moscow. In response to the Russian authorities notification, Armenia immediately confirmed that the Azeri national is on its wanted list. Despite the reports about the wanted mans release, the ministry of internal affairs has initiated the preparation of a package of documents envisaged by the extradition procedure, which will be submitted to the General Prosecutors Office of Armenia for conveying it to the Russian law enforcement authorities with the purpose of carrying out the required actions for organizing the future extradition process, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress. Russian authorities released Azerbaijani national Kamil Zeynalli after briefly detaining him at a Moscow airport on February 21 pursuant to an Armenian international arrest warrant. Kamil Zeynallis lawyer Alekber Garayev told Azeri media that his client is wanted by Armenia under Article 135 (crimes against humanity), 147 (mercenaryism) and 149 (aggression) of the Armenian Criminal Code. Other media reports said Zeynalli is also wanted under Article 140 (war crimes committed through prohibited methods of warfare). Zeynalli is on Armenias interstate wanted list, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress on February 21. The mentioned individual is on the interstate wanted list on a murder charge, he said. He did not elaborate. Although initial media reports said the Azeri national would face a Russian court on February 22, he then flew to Baku and gave a press briefing in the airport. According to unconfirmed media reports, Kamil Zeynalli is suspected of war crimes committed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war when he fought from the Azeri side against Armenian forces, particularly of killing and beheading an elderly civilian hostage. According to the media reports, Zeynalli is a recipient of Azeri medals for his military service. According to the reports, the man is now a 'blogger' and a fitness trainer. A man who attacked a shop's security guard, stabbing him in the neck with a ballpoint pen, has been jailed. Conor Murphy (23) of Edenmore Avenue, Coolock, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on March 18, 2021, at Centra, Neilstown Shopping Centre. The court heard that this incident occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. The security guard observed Murphy attempting to enter the shop without a facemask. He approached Murphy and asked him to put on a facemask, which he did. Later, there was an interaction in the shop between the security guard and Murphy's girlfriend. Murphy then approached the security guard before stabbing him three times in the neck with a ballpoint pen. A witness heard Murphy say to the victim that it was lucky it's only a pen. The victim suffered superficial injuries to the area under his neck. No victim impact statement was submitted to the court. Murphy has six previous convictions, including for theft and assault causing serious harm, for which he received a six-year sentence. His earliest possible release date is November 2027. The investigating garda agreed with defence counsel that Murphy was intoxicated at the time and didn't cause any difficulties during the investigation. Counsel for Murphy asked the court to take into account his guilty plea and other mitigating features of the case. Judge Martin Nolan said Murphy was in bad humour on the day and attacked the security man without reason. It's said the pen is mightier than the sword, but I don't know about that, the judge continued. He noted that Murphy is currently serving a custodial sentence and has a record of previous convictions, which is not too bad as records go. Judge Nolan handed Murphy a sentence of 16 months. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has announced his upcoming visit to Armenia. Lecornu's trip will become the first visit by a French defense minister to Armenia. In an interview with RTL, Lecornu said his delegation will include parliamentarians and representatives of the industrial sector. I will soon travel to Armenia with a big delegation composed of parliamentarians and representatives of the industrial sector, he said. Lecornu added that France is supplying arms to Armenia exclusively for defensive purposes. Armenia is our friend which is facing a serious security challenge. It is our duty to help Armenia protect its territorial integrity, the French defense minister added. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Europeans for Artsakh movement has urged the International Olympic Committee to take a stand against Azerbaijan's participation in the 2024 Olympic Games. The movement has sent a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerning Azerbaijan's participation in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris and has called on the IOC to undertake concrete measures. The letter was also sent to the French National Olympic Committee, the French Olympic Games Organising Committee, the City of Paris, the President of the French Republic and the Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Europeans for Artsakh said in a press release. Referring to the ongoing conflict and the ethnic cleansing committed by Azerbaijan against the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Europeans for Artsakh movement urged the IOC to ban Azerbaijan from being represented as a state at the forthcoming Olympic Games and to allow Azerbaijani athletes to compete only under a neutral banner. This call comes in the wake of Azerbaijan's genocidal policy and ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, which led to the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral lands and homeland in September 2023, the movement said. Only the French National Olympic Committee replied to the letter, according to the press release, acknowledging the situation and indicating that its position was in line with that of the French government and its diplomatic efforts, while stating: "we cannot remain insensitive to such a catastrophe." Europeans for Artsakh expects a clear position from the International Olympic Committee, since a failure to respond would undermine the integrity of the Olympic Games and pave the way for warmongering states.The movement will continue to put pressure for the sake of integrity and justice in this regard. Europeans for Artsakh is a pan-European movement bringing together the representative bodies of the 15 Armenian communities in Europe. It was the initiator of an appeal addressed to the leaders of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as to the leaders of the Member States of the Council of Europe, in support of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. This appeal was co-signed by more than 500 European associations. The mission of this movement is to mobilise citizens and take the necessary action to ensure that the fundamental rights of the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) are exercised and guaranteed. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of major business executives during his visit to France. During the meeting with the leadership of the leading French enterprises, the Prime Minister spoke about the Armenian economic development, prospects of growth, the governments economic programs, improvement of the business climate and opportunities of investment projects. Pashinyan said that Armenias state budget revenues nearly doubled in 2023 compared to 2018. This means that very significant changes have taken place in the country in reducing shadow [economy] and improving the competitive situation. In 2023 the economic growth in Armenia comprised 8,7%, which is an obviously high indicator. In 2022 growth was 12,6%, and 5,6% in 2021, Pashinyan said. He added that 180,000 new jobs were opened in Armenia since 2018. And this has approximately 30% growth in the total number of jobs. 2023 was significant also because we had significant progress in GDP per capita, and we are the leading country in the South Caucasus with this indicator. Pashinyan mentioned the very important and significant investments and economic cooperation with France, noting the presence of Pernod Ricard and Veolia. He also mentioned other French companies operating in the banking system and the pension fund management. He said that there have been discussions to intensify cooperation in the water supply sector. Speaking about the Armenian governments projections to secure at least 7% growth, Pashinyan said he hopes that more French companies will start operating in Armenia. The Armenian Prime Minister also mentioned the significant projects for modernization of the economy. In terms of investment projects Id like to mention the program on building 300 schools and 500 kindergartens in Armenia. Theres also the over one billion-dollar worth North-South program, he said, drawing attention of construction companies that could be interested. The Armenian Prime Minister also presented to the French companies the Academic City project. We want to create a new city in the higher education sector. Weve already launched concrete work in this direction. I have to say that we want to inquire about serious investment programs in process manufacturing. IT is still one of the leading branches of the economy. And now the finance ministry and the high tech industry ministry are engaged in discussions with the sector to understand how we can further improve the legislative regulations in IT and make our country more attractive in this sense. In 2023 Armenia recorded significant progress in tourism, and the tourism inflow has already surpassed the 2019 figures. Winemaking is rapidly developing in Armenia, and I think theres investment potential here as well. We have a broad reservoir construction project, he said. Issues pertaining to opportunities of cooperation in construction, infrastructure development, agriculture, tourism, high technologies, and industrial branches were discussed. PM Pashinyan held separate meetings with the CEOs of Thales, IDEMIA, Pernod Ricard and Societe des Troia-Valles. A TEAM of researchers, led by a UCC scientist, has been granted a prestigious Wellcome Trust Discovery Award of 5.3 million. The Irish and UK researchers including Prof Ruth Massey, based at the School of Microbiology in UCC and APC Microbiome Ireland, are investigating the leading global cause of fatal bloodstream infection. Bloodstream infections are a major cause of illness and death worldwide with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus being the leading global cause of these fatal infections. The incidences of S. aureus bloodstream infection are increasing year-on-year, with antimicrobial-resistant strains such as S. aureus compounding this major clinical problem. Prof. Massey explained: We are locked in a battle in the dark against S. aureus bloodstream infections, where the bacteria currently have the upper hand, as we do not understand what is going on during the development of the infection. We believe that alongside other patient and bacterial factors, the role of the microbiome, with respect to both the presence of the bacteria with the microbiome, and how the microbiome trains our immune system to respond to infections will be key to tackling this major global clinical problem. This funding will allow us to shine a light on this poorly understood problem with a view to developing strategies and new therapies to reduce infection rates and patient suffering. Prof. Massey, together with Prof. Rachel McLoughlin from Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Mario Recker at the University of Exeter and researchers at the University of Bristol will, through this Wellcome Trust funding, examine how this bacteria cause damage to human tissue and evade the immune system. They plan to build the first detailed description of the key bacteria-host interactions and processes, with a view to identifying key intervention points to inform treatment guidelines. Director of APC Microbiome Ireland Prof Paul Ross commented: Staphylococcus aureus infection is a huge global concern and dedicated research like that led by Professor Massey and colleagues is urgently needed to stop the loss of life and suffering of patients the world over. Gardai drove a patrol car away from a burning vehicle on Corks northside in a bid to draw attention from emergency services as fireworks were discharged at them, a well-placed Garda source has said. The source told The Echo that an absolute load of fireworks were discharged at gardai and fire services on Tuesday night as they responded to an incident involving a burning vehicle on Kilmore Road in Knocknaheeney. It is understood that a group of young people had gathered in the area around 7pm to mark the anniversary of a young male who had died tragically in the area, just before a series of violent incidents occurred. A car crashed into a concrete pipe on Kilmore Road and went on fire, with two teenagers who had been in the car requiring hospitalisation. One of the youths was later described as having sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries, while the other was described as having suffered minor injuries. Attack When gardai and fire crews responded to the scene, they came under sustained attack as lit fireworks were aimed toward them. Gardai then took the decision to drive their vehicle away from the scene in an effort to draw the attacks away from the fire crew personnel. The gardai remained in their vehicle as further fireworks were discharged toward it, the source said, describing the situation as potentially deadly. In a statement, the Garda Press Office said: Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a single vehicle road traffic collision involving a car, which occurred at Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, [on] Tuesday, February 20, at approximately 7.40pm. Two youths aged in their teens were conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. Gardai also received reports of a number of public order incidents at the same location, the statement added. Investigations are ongoing. The work of fire crews responding to the incident was made considerably more difficult by the discharge of fireworks at the scene, a spokesperson for the Fire Service told The Echo. Discharging of fireworks is extremely dangerous at any time, especially at or around emergency personnel, said Cork Fire Brigade second officer Victor Shine. Isolated Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent said that while the incident had been isolated, it served to bring into focus the urgent need to address garda numbers in the city. Local people were very upset that this happened in their area, and from talking to guards, I know that they felt under pressure, Mr Nugent said. Fianna Fail councillor Tony Fitzgerald said that the general public appreciated the work of the Gardai and Fire Service. Its disappointing that this has happened, and thank God the two young people in the car only sustained non-life-threatening injuries, he said. In general, antisocial behaviour is down, and theres a lot of preventative work going on across the city. A CORK parent involved in a campaign to develop a pedestrian crossing at a busy junction near Scoil Padre Pio in Churchfield said she is keen to see work progressing now that funding has been allocated for the crossing. It was announced in recent days that 51,800 for safety improvements works at St Colmcilles Rd has been allocated under the Department of Transports low cost safety improvement scheme. The proposed works include the construction of a 3m-long flat-top speed ramp to the north of the junction, and the installation of a zebra crossing across the flat-top ramp with flashing amber Belisha beacons and zig-zag approach road markings. Ancillary improvements such as replacement and additional road markings, road traffic signage, junction definition posts, and lighting will also be implemented where necessary. The need for a pedestrian crossing had been highlighted by local councillors and by parents of pupils in the school, who petitioned in 2021 for the crossing to be developed. A public consultation process for a pedestrian crossing at the junction of St Colmcilles Rd and Churchfield Way Lower commenced in August 2022 and it was subsequently approved by city councillors in September of that year. Local representatives in the citys North West ward were later informed that the crossing had been unsuccessful in securing funding from the Department of Transport. However, councillors have now been informed that funding has been allocated under the departments low-cost safety improvement scheme. Petition Triona Dunlea, who set up the petition in 2021 along with fellow parents of Scoil Padre Pio pupils, welcomed the fact that funding has been secured, but said works now need to progress on the new crossing. Were absolutely delighted that funding has been secured, but we are very apprehensive until we actually see work commence, she said. Ms Dunlea said a crossing has long been sought by those living locally. I spoke to one lady and she said shes 30 years talking to people canvassing at the door about a crossing there, she said. Its important, and I get asked about it on a daily basis sometimes from parents when I go to the school. We would like to thank the local councillors who have brought it up on a number of occasions with the council, that would be Kenneth Collins and Mick Nugent. 'Much-needed' Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent said he and his party colleague Kenneth Collins are delighted that funding has finally come through. Itll facilitate parents and children going to school in Scoil Padre Pio and also users of Gerry OSullivan Park and Churchfield allotments, so it is much-needed, he said. Mr Nugent commended the efforts of Ms Dunlea and fellow parents who had campaigned for the crossing. He said he would seek further details as to a timeline for the construction of the crossing at a local area committee meeting next week. A new tourism plan which will position Cork Harbour as a must-visit destination and which will aim to encourage visitors to increase their stay and spend in the region is set to be developed. Failte Ireland, in partnership with Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Port of Cork today announced their plans to develop a Cork Harbour Tourism Plan. This plan, described as a key element of Failte Irelands five-year Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) for Cork city, Harbour and East Cork, aims to position Cork Harbour as a world-class tourism destination and support the sustainable development of the area. The new Cork Harbour Tourism Plan will identify opportunities to enhance Corks tourism offering and create a focal point for Corks maritime story, seeking to improve accessibility, capacity, interpretation, visitor facilities, visitor flow as well as visitor experiences. Failte Ireland said it will also include a high-level review of visitor orientation in the Cork Harbour area with recommendations to improve transport, look at sustainable transport initiatives and encourage a greater spread of visitors throughout the area. Speaking at the announcement, head of Irelands Ancient East at Failte Ireland, Brian OFlynn, said the plan aims to unlock Cork Harbours huge potential in attracting both domestic and international visitors to the region. The plan will be key in enhancing the unique tourism offering in Cork Harbour to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more which will bring significant benefits for the local economy and community and the wider region. Failte Ireland in partnership with Cork City and County Councils, and the Port of Cork, aims to develop and deliver this ambitious plan to position Cork Harbour as a must-visit destination within Irelands Ancient East, he continued. Speaking on the importance of this new tourism plan, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn, said the Cork Harbour area has immense untapped tourism potential. The scope of this plan will identify opportunities to ensure that this area becomes a world class visitor destination encouraging visitors to stay a little longer ultimately resulting in increased economic benefits to Cork Harbour and the wider East Cork area, he added. Meanwhile, the chief executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, said the plan will support the development of new opportunities for visitors to experience and engage with the river and Cork Harbour, and harness the potential of the worlds second largest natural harbour to offer a unique world class tourism experience. Harbour master and chief operations officer at the Port of Cork Company, Paul O'Regan, added that today marks a significant milestone in the journey to unlock the true potential of Cork Harbour as a world-class tourism destination. We are thrilled to join forces with Failte Ireland and our esteemed partners, Cork City and County Councils, to unveil the Cork Harbour Tourism Plan. This initiative not only showcases our commitment to sustainable development but also underscores the rich maritime heritage and untapped beauty of Cork Harbour. Together, we will enhance visitor experiences, improve accessibility, and create lasting memories for tourists from near and far. We are excited about the opportunities this plan presents to showcase the charm and allure of our region, and I look forward to welcoming visitors to our shores with open arms. Film producer Shirley OConnor, whose father originally hails from Shandon Street in Cork, was among a number of Irish hopefuls honoured last weekend at the Bafta Film Awards in London. Ms OConnor, who was raised in Wexford before moving to London to pursue a career in film, won the award for debut writer, producer, or director for her role in the production of Earth Mama. Im absolutely thrilled, she told The Echo. Speaking on the process of making Earth Mama, Ms OConnor described the immense effort that was put in by her and her colleagues. It was just one of those projects that people really believed in and anyone who we brought on really put everything into it. Nobody got on board the project thinking that something like this would happen. Following its premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, last year, where the title was well received, Earth Mama made its way to London Film Festival for a bespoke boutique release in September, where it grew further momentum, garnering the attention that fuelled its success last Sunday. Alongside fellow Irish producer Medb Riordan and British director Savannah Leaf, Shirley described attending the Bafta Film Awards with cast and crew as an incredible experience, where they were happy to even be nominated, never mind winning. When asked what we can expect from her in terms of future projects, Ms OConnor said she is working on a number of films in the early stages of production. She said it is expected shooting will start soon, with the screenings in late 2025 and early 2026. Ms OConnors father, John B OConnor, a retired GP, was raised on Shandon Street alongside his brother, Shirleys uncle, Terence OConnor, from OConnor Brothers Funeral Homes, who said of his nieces big win: Were all very proud of her. Cillian Murphy wasnt the only Cork connection at the Baftas this year! Earth Mama is available to rent and download from Google Play, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. A HUNGRY man, who got frustrated when his card was declined as he tried to buy food at two different fast-food outlets in Cork city, lashed out at card and till equipment causing a total of 1,400 worth of damage. Judge Mary Dorgan said it was a serious matter and sentenced the culprit to five months in prison at Cork District Court. Dennis Healy, solicitor, said on behalf of the accused: He was very hungry at the time and he believed there was sufficient funds in his account for the payments to be made. He became frustrated and lashed out at inanimate objects. Stephen Moussa, of De Selby Park, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing criminal damage. Sergeant Pat Lyons said: At 6.25pm on August 16, 2023, Garda Ross Broekhuizen and Garda Emer McCarthy were on patrol when they received a call to attend at Burger King on Patrick Street where a man had caused criminal damage to some equipment. CCTV was examined and the incident was observed. The man attempted to pay for food using a debit card but the payment was declined. The man became aggressive and slapped the card machine, threw trays to the floor and threw the till on the floor. Shortly after this incident he went across the street to Abrakebabra and there was a similar incident where his card was declined. The value of the damaged property on that occasion was 300. The value of the damage caused in Burger King was 1,100. Mr Healy said the 31-year-old man suffered from mental health issues and unfortunately was not taking his medication at the time. He is now in the Midlands Prison. He has been re-medicated and is in much better shape, Mr Healy said. A Ballinhassig man paid girls aged from 14 to 16 to pose to make child sexual abuse videos and images which they sent to him by Snapchat from the UK and today he was given a one-year jail sentence. In one case he acquired such material from a 12-year-old girl without making a payment to her. Adam Palmer of Ballyhooleen, Ballinhassig, County Cork, was sentenced by Judge Colin Daly at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to two years with the second year suspended for possession of child pornography and using computer information technology for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Judge Daly said, I have to take into consideration the gravity of the offence, especially targeting teenage children. The judge added, I also take into consideration, in mitigation, he has developed a certain degree of empathy and remorse that I believe is genuine. He has been assessed as being at a low risk of reoffending, he has previous good character. Finally, the judge said he also had to concern himself with the deterrent effect of a sentence as well as the mitigation. Jane Hyland, senior counsel for the defence, said Mr Palmer signed a plea of guilty which she said was the most tangible expression of remorse. His attitude was completely unacceptable and there was a lack of empathy or understanding of the position he was putting them in. But now he is aware of the seriousness and the undoubted impact on the relevant girls, although there are no victim impact statements. He has done everything in his power to make life easier for those people. They were never faced with the prospect of a trial in which they would have to give evidence, Ms Hyland said. Detective Garda Fintan Slater of the West Cork protective services unit testified about how these sexual offences came to light. In January 2020 a mother based in the UK became aware that her 14-year-old daughter Juvenile A in exchange for sending sexually explicit images of herself was sent payments by Paypal. The girls mother called the UK police who investigated the matter and confirmed that the Paypal account was in the name of Adam Palmer of Ballinhassig. Police linked with gardai and an investigation was then launched, Det Garda Slater testified. Gardai from the protective services unit contact the accused and he made certain admissions. It was established that the child abuse images were sent by Snapchat. A total of 93 images and 90 video clips were found. Of this material 23 of the images and 80 of the videos were category 1 images the most serious category depicting children in sexual acts. Searches on Palmers computer included one for My Eyes Only which detailed how pictures can be encrypted on a phone and retrieved only with a user password. The investigation unearthed seven possible victims. Two of them gave interviews to the police. Juvenile B is 15 years old and she stated that she told him she was 15 and that he offered her money through Paypal, that he complimented her on her appearance and arranged to meet her in a London hotel room. He said to her that the owners would think it strange for him to arrive with someone young. She sent him eight images and 31 videos. He paid her over 1,000. Juvenile C was 16. Adam Palmer asked her to confirm she was 16. He asked her for images of herself masturbating She said he would be like a director He would dictate everything I would do in the video. She sent him eight images and five videos. He paid her 245. The youngest victim was Juvenile D. She was 12. There was no evidence of payment. There were 16 images and three videos of sexually explicit material, Det. Garda Slater said. The detective said the accused said at interview that he believed that if matters were consensual and confined to online activity it would not be an offence. He also denied knowing they were as young as they were. However, his lack of knowledge in this regard was not accepted by the prosecution in light of interviews with the girls. Adam Palmer made a series of payments to girls aged 14 to 16 of sums of between 10 and 150 and totalling 2,779. He was committing these offences when aged 24 turning 25. He is now 27. Ms Hyland said previously, He withdrew from college. He was working anti-social hours. His opportunity to interact with his peers was curtailed. He split up with his girlfriend. He was chatting to peer-aged women online. Unfortunately, some of them turned out to be under age and he began to exchange videos and images. He never had any intention to meet up with any of these girls Courts can be sure that he does not represent a risk to anyone in the future. Baltimore RNLI provided an evacuation last night when a woman living on Cape Clear Island required medical treatment. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat shortly after 11, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a medical evacuation for the woman. They arrived North Harbour on Cape Clear Island within half an hour, and after a quick assessment by some of the Casualty Care lifeboat crew members, the woman was transferred onboard via a stretcher. The lifeboat returned to the station in Baltimore just after midnight, at which point the casualty was handed over to the care of HSE Ambulance crew. There were seven volunteers onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Micheal Cottrell, Colin Whooley, Stuart Musgrave, David Ryan and Don ODonovan. They described conditions during the call out as fresh with a south westerly force 5-6 wind and a choppy sea. Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said, Baltimore RNLI often provide medical evacuations to residents of and visitors to the islands off the coast of West Cork including Cape Clear, Sherkin and Heir. She advised anyone who finds themselves in a medical emergency whilst on an island to call 999 or 112. THE High Kings tomorrow night (Friday, February 23) at the Opera House are sold out, but there are still, at time of going to press, some seats available for Derek Ryan on Saturday, and those evergreen warriors of traditional music, The Fureys, on Sunday. Paul Young, he of the wonderful voice, on Tuesday, is already sold out, while tickets for The Centre Stage School of Mallows big show, 20 Years On, on Thursday next, February 29, are going like hot cakes. (That one starts at the earlier time of 7pm by the way.) An exciting night of music, song, laughter, nostalgia is promised, with a confident look to the future from this vibrant stage school. Our House, currently being staged at the Everyman to packed houses, continues until Saturday, with the students of the BA in Musical Theatre at MTU showing just what they are capable of in fine style. The story of a young man who makes a fatal decision on his 16th birthday, which could take his life in either of two very different directions, this lively show is written by Tim Firth and directed by Christine Sharry, with music and lyrics by Madness. 7.30pm nightly, additional matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. And, just in case you didnt know, the Everymans February Artists Afternoon takes place this very afternoon, 2-4pm! Open to all professional artists and arts workers, it will have the director of Dublin Fringe Festival in attendance, running a workshop at 3pm to answer your queries about applying to participate in that famous event. The Everyman bar will be open for free tea, coffee and chats and, they say, feel free to bring your lunch! The workshop is free to attend but booking is essential. Dont hesitate! Booking for all Everyman shows on 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com. A delightful concert is coming up at the Cork Arts Theatre this weekend, when Leeside Voices present Say It With Music, a carefully-chosen programme of solos, duets and quartets from favourite Broadway shows like Oklahoma, Carousel, The Music Man, South Pacific, plus well-loved Irish songs from Percy French and others. Under the banner of Leeside Voices, you will find those acclaimed artistes Anne Bermingham, Siobhan Coakley, Denis Lane, and Noel Somers, expertly accompanied by Tom Doyle. Musical direction is by Aileen Scriven, and narration by Ber Madden. Thats Friday and Saturday at 8pm, with a matinee on Sunday at 3pm. From Wednesday to Saturday next week, a complete change with The Ballad Of Mossy Flood, featuring Seamus ORourkes best-loved character as he hilariously wrestles with the problems of everyday life. Great fun. Booking for all Arts Theatre shows on 021 450 5624 or www.corkartstheatre.com. Mairead Hickey, one of the people behind the Ortus Chamber Music Festival. It is, amazingly, nine years since noted Cork violinst Mairead Hickey started the Ortus Chamber Music Festival with her friend Sinead OHalloran. Now a highly popular fixture on the classical calendar, the 2024 event takes place from next Sunday, February 25 to Sunday, March 3 at venues in Cork city, Bantry, Midleton, and Mitchelstown. Participating this year are Corks own Alex and Kelley Petcu (percussion and voice), along with Amsterdam cellist Ella van Poucke and Irish pianist Sean Morgan-Rooney. From Paris, pianist Jeremie Moreau, and from Berlin, Russian violist Karolina Errera are also heading this way for the festival, where they will join Corks Marja Gaynor (violin), Aoife Nic Athlaioch (cello), and Siobhan Armstrong (harp). The opening concert this Sunday at St Brendans Church in Bantry at 3pm will include Bach, Gliere, Telemann and Ravel. Beautiful music in wonderful surroundings. Get all of the information including other venues and programmes, and where to buy tickets on www.ortusfestival.ie. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and France have had and will always maintain special relations, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said in a post on X, publishing a photo from the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. "Infrastructures, energy, education, culture. Thank you, dear Nikol Pashinyan, for the exchange of views, which reaffirm our mutual desire to strengthen cooperation between our two countries. We will continue to fully support Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Attal posted. Continuing questions for RTE, a fatal crash in Co Limerick, and a new role for Dr Tony Holohan are some of the stories on Thursday's front pages. The Irish Times reports 'Ireland spends 8.5m on Israeli drones and military equipment', while 'tensions' are said to be rising between the Public Accounts Committee and Oireachtas Media Committee over 'considerable overlaps' in their questioning of RTE. The Irish Examiner reports gardai are 'trawling' company files in connection with a crystal meth in Cork Port last Friday, while the Echo leads with a story on two teenagers who were injured in an incident involving fireworks. The Irish Independent's headline reads: 'Holohan to get new HSE job with pay of up to 257,000', referring to former chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan. The paper also carries an image of Catriona Carey, with the caption: 'Carey company at centre of alleged mortgage scam faces being struck off'. The Irish Daily Mail reports rising house prices are 'forcing couples to take fight to High Court', describing it as the 'return of "big money" divorces'. The Irish Daily Mirror joins many of the national papers in covering the fatal crash in Co Limerick on Tuesday, in which two young men were killed. Finally, the Irish Daily Star reports a 12-year-old boy was 'badly hurt' after allegedly being hit with a hurley by an 'All-Ireland star'. In the UK, a dramatic night debating Gaza in the House of Commons takes centre stage on the front pages of Thursdays newspapers. Chaos appears in several headlines as the i, Financial Times and The Independent say SNP MPs walked out of the chamber having called the original vote calling for a ceasefire. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 22 February https://t.co/q6kgysIf8R pic.twitter.com/KL5xKN3MRm Financial Times (@FT) February 21, 2024 The Guardian adds fury to the mix as it says UK speaker Lindsay Hoyle issued an apology after a fractious and occasionally chaotic six-hour debate. GUARDIAN: Fury in Commons forces speaker to apologise #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/c4GSz6NhvQ Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 21, 2024 The speaker is fighting to keep his job and facing a no-confidence motion, according to The Daily Telegraph, after he was accused of favouring Labour in breaking with convention to put their position on the Israel-Gaza conflict to a vote. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Speaker on brink after walkout'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/KVGGxvgEW2 The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 21, 2024 The Daily Express says there is fury among MPs over the stitch-up. Several papers carry pictures of Britain's King Charles III as he returned to public duty with an audience with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, The Sun leading on the Kings tears as he told of the emotions from messages of support following his cancer diagnosis. On tomorrow's front page: King Charles says public's support 'brings him to tears' after cancer diagnosis https://t.co/yhUi7fA1H8 pic.twitter.com/IWth1pi2N0 The Sun (@TheSun) February 21, 2024 The Times carries both the Commons debate and the king on its front page, but leads on guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which tells employers they could be sued for disability discrimination if they do not make reasonable adjustments for menopausal women. TIMES: Respect the menopause or be sued, firms told #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wRU6yZyF1S Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 21, 2024 The Daily Mail focuses on the same story, saying bosses have to make allowances. MAIL: Bosses MUST make allowances for menopausal women #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/PtfmZLkIzp Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 21, 2024 A 61 million Euromillions victory makes the front of the Daily Mirror and the Metro, which says the jackpot-winning couple thought they had only won 2.60. Tomorrow's Paper Today WE THOUGHT WE'D WON 2.60... IT WAS 61,708,231 Lotto Winners' Jackpot Shock #TomorrowsPaperToday pic.twitter.com/HkM1tbumS3 Metro (@MetroUK) February 21, 2024 And the Daily Star reveals more than half of us lie on a daily basis with a generation gap between telling whoppers. By Cate McCurry, PA The Government has been criticised for allocating just 1.5 per cent of its multimillion-euro funding package for Northern Ireland to public transport. Social Democrat TD Jennifer Whitmore said that of the 800 million committed by the government, some 600 million is towards the upgrade of a road, while 12.5 million has been pledged for public transport. Earlier this week the government announced a massive funding package for projects in Northern Ireland, including 600 million for the proposed upgrade of the A5 road. However, the move was criticised by Ms Whitmore, who said it contradicted the governments pledge to spend twice as much on public transport than on road building. Millions of euro have been allocated for the proposed upgrade of the A5 (Liam McBurney/PA) Appearing before the Oireachtas environment committee, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan defended the decision, saying the government has to invest for safety as well as for climate reasons. The A5 has been the subject of calls for improvement because of the high volume of fatal collisions on the route, which links the city of Derry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, close to the Irish border. A scheme to turn the A5 into a dual carriageway was first approved in 2007 but it has been held up by legal proceedings and faced funding uncertainty. Since 2007, almost 50 people have died on the single-lane road, including three members of the same family in one collision. Speaking at the committee, Ms Whitmore said that one of the governments policy shifts was a commitment to spend twice as much on public transport and active travel than on road construction. From a climate perspective, that was a key decision that was made by yourself and your department, Ms Whitmore added. Yet, this week, we saw 800 million from the Irish government be funded for Northern Ireland, of which 600 million was for the upgrade of a road. I just cannot square those two decisions. Six hundred million towards the upgrade of a road whilst at the same time only providing 12.5 million of that 800 million for public transport. So, of the funding that Ireland has given as part of that all-Ireland funding, 1.5 per cent is for public transport and 600 million is for road building. Im just wondering how and why that decision was made because obviously, as Minister for Transport, you would have signed off on that at cabinet. Does that not completely fly in the face of your commitment for a two-to-one funding? Mr Ryan said: I think anyone who has good knowledge of Donegal would recognise that the current connectivity to Donegal is very restricted and very unsafe. The road from Lifford to Letterkenny, its not fit for purpose. Its not safe, its not adequate at all. We do have to upgrade that which we aim to do. Similarly, the A5 from Strabane to Aughnacloy and then connecting obviously to Emyvale, again anyone who drives that road on a regular basis will know its not a safe road. "Its very high volume of traffic relative to the capacity of the road and I think something like 10 people were killed one year alone on the A5. We do have to invest for safety as well as for climate. Ms Whitmore said it was disappointing that so little of the funding was allocated for public transport. The Wicklow TD said it would have been a much better use of money from a climate perspective. Mr Ryan, however, went on to claim that the actual investment for the A5 road is not yet determined. It still has to go through the planning process in the north and there may be difficulties in the regard. I understand it may not get the full permission that will be a matter for the planning authorities up north, the climate minister added. Our level of allocation would depend on what the planning decision is there. Addressing the governments plan to reduce emissions with the transport sector, Mr Ryan said that the ship is turning. The Green Party leader referenced concerns echoed this week from the Climate Change Advisory Council, which stated that Ireland may not meet the first carbon budget. This echoes a recent report from the EPA (Irish Climate Change Assessment), which showed that Ireland has now used almost half of our carbon budget for 2021 2025 in the first two years, he added. However, I believe good progress is being made in the transport sector. I believe our emissions have peaked and the ship is turning, but now is the time for accelerated action, with support from all sectors of Government, and not for complacency. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. More than 2,000 residents of Australias Victoria state were under evacuation orders on Thursday due to an out of control bushfire. Residents of Beaufort, Raglan and surrounding areas were encouraged by the state emergency service to leave and head east toward Melbourne while it was safe to do so, reported Reuters. Leaving immediately is the safest option for those communities, said State Premier Jacinta Allan in a news conference, as Reuters reported. If you are located in these areas, please heed this advice, please act now to save your own life. The fire near Beaufort and Raglan covered more than 17,297 acres, according to The Age. Jason Heffernan, chief officer of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) told Melbourne radio station 3AW that Lexton and Amphitheatre to the north of the fire, as well as Burrumbeet and Addington to the east, were currently the most threatened. Wind gusts as high as 31 miles per hour had been making the fires more difficult to fight, Heffernan said. Thankfully, just before going on air here tonight, Ive started to get some initial [intelligence that] those winds are dropping, Heffernan said, as reported by The Age. Smoke, ash and embers from the blaze were being seen in neighboring communities, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said. In Tasmania, emergency and watch alerts, as well as smoke advisories, were in effect. People at higher risk from the effects of smoke, including those with medical conditions, should enact their personal plan for avoiding smoke and managing their health, advised TasALERT, according to ABC. People traveling in the area should be careful if driving in smoke. Turn on your headlights, drive slowly and be aware of emergency services in the area. Chris Hardman, chief of Forest Fire Management Victoria, told ABC Melbourne radio the bushfire was being fought by more than 1,000 firefighters. In addition, more than 100 vehicles and 24 aircraft were providing support, with more on the way, according to Allan, as Reuters reported. Approximately 12,355 acres were burning to the northwest of Ballarat, with another similarly sized area burning out of control to the west. Several districts were under extreme fire danger warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology because of hot, dry winds and a risk of thunderstorms. Heffernan expressed gratitude to firefighters and other emergency workers in a social media post. Two words Thank You! to all emergency service personnel on the fire line today and tonight. Its not over by far as many are putting their lives at risk as I type, to fight for Beaufort, Lexton, Raglan and surrounding communities, Heffernan posted on X. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. The University of Florida (UF) Student Senate on Tuesday became the first student government at a public university to pass Green New Deal (GND) legislation, according to The Guardian. The new mandate calls for complete fossil fuel divestment, a just transition, a ban on fossil fuel-funded research and disclosure of UFs financial affiliations with the private sector. This is a momentous milestone for the climate movement. The unanimous passage of a first of its kind GND resolution by UFs elected student government has now placed even more pressure on public universities to meet the moment by taking action on the greatest crisis of our time, said UF student Cameron Driggers, Youth Action Funds executive director, as The Hill reported. Climate denialism has been an ongoing issue in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has demonstrated support for fossil fuels, reported The Guardian. An energy resources bill has also been moving through the state legislature that would eliminate references to climate change. Seeing a huge campus in a red state adopt a green new deal is hopefully a sign that this movement is spreading to other universities around the country, and start treating this climate crisis like a crisis that it is, Driggers said, as The Guardian reported. Driggers pointed out that UF had received a total of $2.3 billion in a private endowment fund as of June of 2022, but how the funds had been invested were not made public. The universitys students have hopes that the new plan will lead to more transparency. Its a public university, public money, and we dont even know what its being spent on, Driggers noted, as reported by The Guardian. On March 7, UFs board of trustees will decide whether to approve the financial section of the GND. The mandate drafted by UFs office of sustainability calls for the university to immediately implement its Climate Action Plan, which includes a call for reduced emissions from campus traffic and buildings. Science has said for decades that climate change is human caused. This is not even a debate any more, said Sofia Aviles, a third-year UF student and president of Sunrise Movement Gainesville, as The Guardian reported. And were showing the government that were going to follow science, and not necessarily what they think should be or should not be in our curriculums or our state laws. Other universities across the country have been divesting from fossil fuels including New York University and the University of Massachusetts and striving for climate accountability in recent years. The student body at the University of Florida has proven that bold climate solutions [are] not only possible at private institutions in liberal states, and it has also sharply rebuked the climate denialism of the DeSantis administration, Driggers stated, as reported by The Hill. (Image: Courtesy Wikipedia)Freemasons' Hall, London, c. 1809 The Roman Catholic Church has for centuries banned its faithful from being Freemasons, yet an Italian cardinal recently urged dialogue with the group after a meeting with it. Following a confidential meeting in Milan, Cardinal Francesco "Coccopalmiero reportedly said he believed "an evolution in mutual understanding" had taken place between masonry and the church over the past 50 years, the National Catholic Register reported on Feb. 15. For almost 300 years, Catholics had been forbidden from joining the Masons, and the Vatican had issued almost 600 negative pronouncements against the secret society during that time said the Catholic publication. Freemasonry has always been religious in character, though it subscribes to no particular orthodoxy, according to Brittanica. "To become a Freemason, the applicant has to be an adult male and must believe in the existence of a supreme being and in the immortality of the soul," says Britannica. "The teachings of Freemasonry enjoin morality, charity, and obedience to the law of the land. It is not, however, a Christian institution, though it is often taken to be such." The Register carried a photo of Bishop Antonio Stagliano greeting Stefano Bisi, grand master of the Grand Orient Freemasonic Lodge, at the Ambrosianum Cultural Foundation in Milan on Feb. 16. 1983 DOCUMENT The Catholic publication reported that a 1983 document from the Catholic Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith stated Masonic principles "have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church." In November, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reaffirmed that stance, quoting the 1983 document that "active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry." The 85-year-old Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmiero while addressing the Milan meeting on the theme: The Catholic Church and Freemasonry, reportedly said he believed "an evolution in mutual understanding" had taken place between masonry and the Church over the past 50 years. "Things have moved on, and I hope these meetings don't stop there," said the retired Italian prelate, according to the Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero, quoting sources present at the meeting that was closed to the press. Cardinal Coccopalmiero, who served as an auxiliary bishop in Milan under Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini (1927-2012), said he wondered "if it's not possible to think about a permanent discussion, even at the official level, so we can better deal with each other." The Register said Cardinal Martini was known to be close to the Freemasons, who paid a warm tribute to him as a "man of dialogue" when he died. Chevron funds pilot programme to restore mangroves in Indonesia A US$2 million grant from Chevron is driving a pilot initiative aimed at restoring 50 hectares of mangroves in Indonesia, previously converted to shrimp ponds, in a bid to showcase the benefits of sustainable shrimp aquaculture and preserve vital ecosystems, Chevron reported. The programme, dubbed MESTI, an acronym in Indonesian that translates to "mangroves are friends of sustainable ponds," is a collaboration between The Nature Conservancy's Indonesian partner Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), international non-profit Pact, and Chevron, striving to harmonise social, economic, and environmental interests. Operating in three villages in Berau district, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, MESTI seeks to safeguard the livelihoods of Indonesian farmers while aiding mangrove restoration efforts. Mangroves play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and act as a natural barrier against storms, besides providing habitats for diverse species like the proboscis monkey, endemic to Kalimantan, Indonesia. Wahyu Budiarto, Chevron Indonesia's country manager, expressed pride in the collaboration, highlighting the company's commitment to mangrove restoration efforts. In these remote villages, limited access to electricity poses challenges, hindering shrimp preservation and market access. Traditional pond management methods have led to reduced shrimp yields, prompting further mangrove clearance. Now, through partnerships with Pact and YKAN, a new approach emerges, aiming to shrink pond sizes, boost shrimp yields, and foster mangrove recovery. Muhammad Ilman, YKAN's Ocean Programs director, noted the positive outcomes of their sustainable aquaculture initiatives, focusing on the potential for shrimp farmers to become allies in mangrove restoration efforts. - Chevron Sergei Lavrov and David Cameron at the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro Sergei Lavrov and David Cameron at the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro David Cameron and other top diplomats slammed Russias representative in a tense face-to-face G20 meeting on Wednesday. Cameron later claimed Russias foreign affairs minister Sergei Lavrov was left looking away at his phone as the criticism came in thick and fast. The reported clash occurred at a meeting of top diplomats from the 20 largest economies in the world including the UK, US and Russia in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. According to reports, the UKs foreign secretary slammed Russia at the meeting, saying it must be made to pay for its aggression in Ukraine. Cameron said: This is no more serious an issue for the world, and its the world thats gathered here, than one country invading another in this completely illegal and unacceptable way. And the whole world should get behind Ukraine, should support Ukraine, and should call out the illegality of what Putin and his cronies have done. The foreign secretary later told the BBCs Ione Wells that France, Canada and Germany also used their speeches to name Putins most prominent critic Alexei Navalny. He died under mysterious circumstances last week while serving in a Russian penal colony. According to Wells, a handful of countries held Russia responsible for Navalnys murder but Lavrov looked away and at his phone in response. NEW: The Foreign Secretary tells me at the G20 summit in Rio that the UK, France, Canada and Germany all used their speeches to name Alexei Navalny in front of Sergey Lavrov and hold Russia responsible for his murder - but that Lavrov looked away and at his phone. Ione Wells (@ionewells) February 21, 2024 Cameron also claimed that he asked the countries in the room if there was anything more important to them than their own nations sovereignty, telling Wells this was an important message for Russias allies in the room to hear. Story continues The foreign secretarys remarks came after he had vowed to call out Russias aggression ahead of the meeting. Journalists were not allowed into the meeting room, where each nations representative gets five minutes to speak in alphabetical order. Norways foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, also sided with Ukraine, later telling reporters: We have to support Ukraine until it emerges as a free and independent sovereign country without another army on its soil. He claimed Lavrov actually replied to Camerons remarks with a set of alternative facts. Lavrov himself chose not to speak to reporters after the summit. Russia widely refers to the war as a special military operation, and presents it as a mission against Nazism a baseless accusation it has repeatedly made against Kyiv and a means to defend itself against the Wests alleged aggression towards Russia. At the last G20 summit in India, the groups leaders did not quite condemn Russia for its aggression in a declaration, but acknowledged that no states should use force to grab territory. Brazils foreign minister used this weeks meeting to lambast the United Nations, saying the UN Security Council had been unable to stop wars pointing to both Ukraine and Gaza. The main G20 summit of 2024 will be held in November, in Brazil. Related... A notoriously annoying tumbleweed is once again engulfing regional parts of Australia, with residents complaining of piles blocking roads and even an airport exit. Residents in rural NSW say stacks of Panicum effusum otherwise known as hairy panic, tumbleweed, branched panic or kero grass for kerosene are also lining the exterior of their homes, instilling concern about the bushfire risk. Shocking images show piles of 'hairy panic' grass blocking the exit at Dubbo Airport (left) and blocking roads in regional NSW. Source: ABC Riverina/Liz Smith/Marie Katalinic Footage published by ABC on Thursday shows a wall of the seed heads blocking the exit of Dubbo Airport, with a passenger barely able to see over the top of the weeds. Last week, bus driver named Marie Katalinic told the publication a wall of hairy panic forced her to come to a sudden stop on a road, blocking her access. NSW suburbs now 'hell in paradise' Yarrawonga locals say the outbreak has turned their lovely neighbourhoods to hell in paradise. Phillip and Helen Johansen told the Yarrawonga Chronicle last week they have cleared 15 garbage bags full of the perennial grass from their front and back yards repeatedly in recent weeks. It is a massive fire hazard as it burns well. Just at our place, the working parts of the outdoor fridge are a worry because if the panic grass happens to get behind the fridge and into the wiring, a fire could start, Phillip said, adding that some houses have been inundated. There is also the risk of snakes hiding in it as we do see the odd snake out here anyway and with such an amount of hiding space for them, they could be anywhere, he said. There are many elderly residents that are still living out here and arent able to clear any, let alone the sheer amount, of tumbleweeds finding their way into their yards. 'No broad scale control' for hairy panic grass, expert says Dr Anthony Young, a senior lecturer in crop protection, told Yahoo News Australia he believes all the recent wet weather has led to a proliferation of this plant and so it is more abundant this year. Story continues He also explained that the weed - which appears during summer and can be found in every Aussie state - earned the nickname kero grass because it is super dry and can stack up beside buildings such as sheds, and a spark will make it go up like kerosene. An expert told Yahoo there are 'no broad scale control options' for the tumbleweed outbreaks. Source: Helen Carpenter/Facebook Dr Shane Campbell, a senior lecturer in pasture science and agronomy, told Yahoo Panicum effusum is one of the main species referred to as hairy panic but there are others in the genus that also fit the category. Because they are natives and pretty widespread, there are no broad scale control options to help residents in their battle. Charles Sturt University crop science specialist Asad Asaduzzaman told the ABC two consecutive years of widespread management including property owners and governments using herbicides could help tackle the problem. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Google's Gemini chatbot, which was formerly called Bard, has the capability to whip up AI-generated illustrations based on a user's text description. You can ask it to create pictures of happy couples, for instance, or people in period clothing walking modern streets. As the BBC notes, however, some users are criticizing Google for depicting specific white figures or historically white groups of people as racially diverse individuals. Now, Google has issued a statement, saying that it's aware Gemini "is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions" and that it's going to fix things immediately. We're aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions. Here's our statement. pic.twitter.com/RfYXSgRyfz Google Communications (@Google_Comms) February 21, 2024 According to Daily Dot, a former Google employee kicked off the complaints when he tweeted images of women of color with a caption that reads: "It's embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist." To get those results, he asked Gemini to generate pictures of American, British and Australian women. Other users, mostly those known for being right-wing figures, chimed in with their own results, showing AI-generated images that depict America's founding fathers and the Catholic Church's popes as people of color. In our tests, asking Gemini to create illustrations of the founding fathers resulted in images of white men with a single person of color or woman in them. When we asked the chatbot to generate images of the pope throughout the ages, we got photos depicting black women and Native Americans as the leader of the Catholic Church. Asking Gemini to generate images of American women gave us photos with a white, an East Asian, a Native American and a South Asian woman. The Verge says the chatbot also depicted Nazis as people of color, but we couldn't get Gemini to generate Nazi images. "I am unable to fulfill your request due to the harmful symbolism and impact associated with the Nazi Party," the chatbot responded. Gemini's behavior could be a result of overcorrection, since chatbots and robots trained on AI over the past years tended to exhibit racist and sexist behavior. In one experiment from 2022, for instance, a robot repeatedly chose a Black man when asked which among the faces it scanned was a criminal. In a statement posted on X, Gemini Product Lead Jack Krawczyk said Google designed its "image generation capabilities to reflect [its] global user base, and [it takes] representation and bias seriously." He said Gemini will continue to generate racially diverse illustrations for open-ended prompts, such as images of people walking their dog. However, he admitted that "[h]istorical contexts have more nuance to them and [his team] will further tune to accommodate that." A traveling exhibit that explores how prisons shape life in the region will come to Auburn next month. "Going Upstate" will open at the Seward House Museum and Auburn Public Theater beginning Friday, March 1. The exhibit is the product of six years of ethnographic research conducted by the University of Rochester's Kristin Doughty and Joshua Dubler, respectively professors of anthropology and religion, as well as their students. Auburn was one of several prison towns the professors and their students researched, Doughty told The Citizen in 2020. "Our hypothesis is that the presence of a high concentration of prisons has some impact on how we think about everyday life, the same way having lots of lakes does. But what are those impacts, and how do we understand them?" Doughty said. "Are there ideas that get normalized by the presence of walls, or by being surrounded by people who work in the industry?" Along with interviewing people who work in corrections and members of the general public in Auburn, researchers visited the city's historic and cultural sites, patronized businesses and more. "Residents of Auburn dont view the prison as something that is central to their community. It exists on the periphery, despite it being physically in the center of the town," a student wrote. "I think this is, in part, because of the fact that it has always been there. Its become a part of the community that people have accepted as theirs, so isn't conceived as being out of the ordinary." In a news release, the Seward House Museum said it and the theater hope the exhibit "will furnish occasions for robust community dialogue about Auburn's rich history." The 33 South St. museum will host a free opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 7. Also on display there will be its exhibit "Rooted in Reform," which explores the founding of Auburn Correctional Facility, its relationships to the Miller and Seward family and the history of the criminal justice system. The museum and the Correctional Association of New York will also host a community event, "The Landscape of Carceral History," at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, 25 South St., Auburn. And the theater's Cafe 108 at 108 Genesee St. will host a public feedback session with Doughty and Dubler from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 30. For more information, visit sewardhouse.org or call (315) 252-1283. A top executive on Sherri Shepherd's eponymous daytime talk show allegedly took his own life while under investigation at the show. Matt Uzzle, who served as executive in charge of production on "Sherri," was discovered dead in his home in Piermont, New York, on Feb. 13, Page Six reported, citing an unnamed police source. Police did not release details about Uzzle's death, which was described as an "open investigation." However, the police source told the outlet that the TV exec is believed to have died of an apparent suicide. At the time of his death, Uzzle reportedly was part of a probe into "Sherri's" finances. Uzzle previously worked as an executive in charge of production on "The Wendy William Show" before moving to Shepherd's show after she took over Wendy William's time slot. Sherri exec found dead after show launched investigation into productions finances https://t.co/b8GDholYz5 pic.twitter.com/3EiFWiIiAj Page Six (@PageSix) February 22, 2024 He managed production and oversaw the budget at "Sherri," according to Page Six. An internal investigation was launched into "Sherri" after parent company Debmar-Mercury reportedly learned that the rent of the show's studio in New York City had not been paid since September 2023. Several departments at the talk show also complained about issues with petty cash, unnamed sources told the outlet. "There was real concern among staff that the show was getting shut down. Debmar had to step in," Page Six quoted an unnamed insider familiar with the situation as saying. Production of "Sherri" was not affected by the probe, according to another unidentified source cited by the outlet. When Debmar-Mercury confronted him about the show's budget issues, Uzzle allegedly said he "needed a couple of days to get his paperwork together," one of the sources claimed. A welfare check was requested for Uzzle after he wasn't heard from for days, according to the sources. "We have retained [law firm] Morgan Lewis to help us investigate the matter and, pending the outcome of that investigation, we'll have no further comment," a rep for Debmar-Mercury said of the probe in a statement to Page Six. The spokesperson did not address Uzzle's death, according to the outlet. "Sherri" paid tribute to Uzzle during an "'in memoriam" segment in its Feb. 15 episode. Uzzle received a daytime Emmy nomination in 2016 for his work on "The Wendy Williams Show," the Daily Mail reported. He also served as production manager on "The Montel Williams Show" and production coordinator on "Maury," according to his IMDb page. Shepherd guest-hosted "The Wendy Williams Show" in 2022 before the long-running talk show was officially canceled after nearly 14 years on air. "Sherri" premiered in September 2022 and has since been renewed through the 2024-25 season. If you or someone you know is struggling or has had suicidal thoughts, confidential help is available for free at the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. The line is available 24 hours, every day. Archivo - COMUNICADO: A focus on deliveries early in the year can help retailers drive up peak season performance, says nShift Archivo - COMUNICADO: A focus on deliveries early in the year can help retailers drive up peak season performance, says nShift - NSHIFT/PR NEWSWIRE - Archivo (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) British final mile delivery company enables retailers to reduce carbon footprint and provide customers with a sustainable shopping experience LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- Retailers in the UK can offer customers a new zero-emissions delivery option when it comes to final mile delivery of their products. nShift, the global leader in parcel delivery management software, has confirmed zero-emissions carrier Fin as the latest edition to its library. Founded in 2022, Fin provides logistics services that create a positive impact on society and the environment. Deliveries are made exclusively using e-cargo-bikes and electric vans, meaning deliveries are emissions-free, while traffic congestion is reduced. Shoppers today increasingly choose to buy from brands and retailers whose values mirror their own. Around half of consumers report a willingness to pay more for "environmentally friendly" products or services. Meanwhile, 41% of shoppers will abandon their shopping carts if their preferred delivery provider was not available. nShift customers can access this service after Fin, founded by former Google executive, Rich Pleeth and serial entrepreneur Chris Sargeant acquired Urb-it - a carrier with whom nShift had previously established connections in Sweden. The service is launching in London, with expansion into other UK cities including Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester expected in the coming months. Fin plans to grow into central Europe later in 2024. Ian Russell, Director of Carrier Partnerships at nShift, said, "We're pleased to add Fin to our growing library of net-zero carriers. This vital offering comes at a time when pending regulation demands that sustainable shipping is no longer a nice-to-have and when companies must do more than talk about their values, but instead, make them clear and tangible." Rich Pleeth, CEO and co-founder of Fin said, "Being integrated into nShift is huge for fin, being able to tap into nShift's extensive and well-established customer base. This has accelerated our offering of zero-emissions and sustainable parcel delivery. Our commitment to sustainability is more than just a business strategyit's in our company's DNA and encompasses protecting both the planet and people, all while maintaining profitability." The partnership comes as businesses throughout the EU are preparing for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) - regulations that require businesses to disclose, and report on, environmental and social impacts. To help retailers track and report on their emissions, and highlight the impact of moving to low- and zero-emissions deliveries nShift has developed Emissions Tracker. It collates all carrier data into one reporting tool with an easy-to-use template. Calculations are made at shipment level, giving retailers the ability to drill into shipping data, compile accurate reports, and identify quick wins for emissions reduction. For more information, please visit www.nshift.com. About nShift nShift is the global leading provider of cloud delivery management solutions enabling frictionless shipment and return of almost one billion shipments across 190 countries annually. nShift's software is used globally by e-commerce, retail, manufacturing and 3PL shippers. The company is headquartered in London and Oslo. It has over 500 employees across offices in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Romania. About Fin Fin Sustainable Logistics is creating smart, sustainable large-scale logistics solutions. Their comprehensive approach to urban logistics leverages technology and innovation to streamline delivery operations, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the efficiency of last-mile deliveries in urban areas using an all-electric fleet of vans and e-cargo bikes. https://finmile.co/ View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nshift-partners-with-fin-to-bring-zero-emissions-deliveries-to-uk-customers-302068871.html Japanese stocks raced to a record peak, breaking levels last seen in 1989 during the halcyon days of the bubble economy, as cheap valuations and corporate reforms lure foreign money looking for alternatives to battered Chinese markets. Brazil criticized the "paralysis" of the UN Security Council on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine as it opened a G20 meeting Wednesday where the international community's deep divisions were on display. The outlook is bleak for progress on the thorny agenda of conflicts and crises gripping the planet as foreign ministers from the world's biggest economies gather in Rio de Janeiro for the Group of 20's first high-level meeting of the year. Opening the two-day meeting, which featured US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Brazil's top diplomat, Mauro Vieira, said the explosion of global conflicts shows international institutions like the United Nations are not working. "Multilateral institutions are not properly equipped to deal with the current challenges, as has been demonstrated by the Security Council's unacceptable paralysis on the ongoing conflicts" in Gaza and Ukraine, Vieira said, adding the situation was costing "innocent lives." EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell for his part warned multilateralism "is in crisis." The Security Council has failed to act on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, held in check by Russian veto power, and has struggled to find a response to the war in Gaza, with Israel's ally the United States using its veto to block calls for a ceasefire, most recently Tuesday. Brazil, which took over the rotating G20 presidency from India in December, has voiced hopes the group could be a forum to make progress on such questions. But that likely took a hit when Lula ignited a diplomatic firestorm Sunday by accusing Israel of "genocide," comparing its military campaign in the Gaza Strip to the Holocaust. The comments drew outrage in Israel, which declared him persona non grata, and could overshadow any bid to de-escalate the conflict via the G20. Blinken, who met Lula Wednesday in Brasilia before heading to the G20, "made clear we disagree with (his) comments," a senior State Department official told journalists. The secretary of state and Brazilian leader had a "frank exchange" in their more than 90-minute meeting at the presidential palace, the official said. - Wars of words - More than four months after the Gaza war started with Hamas fighters' unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which has vowed to wipe out the Islamist group in retaliation, there is little sign of progress toward peace. The outlook is similarly grim on Russia's war in Ukraine, which also has G20 members divided as the second anniversary of President Vladimir Putin's invasion approaches. Despite a push by Western countries to condemn the invasion, the G20's last summit ended with a watered-down statement denouncing the use of force but not explicitly naming Russia, which maintains friendly ties with India and Brazil, among other members. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he planned to use the Rio meeting to "call out Russia's aggression" directly to Lavrov, as Britain announced sanctions on six Russian officials over opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death in prison last week. Lavrov -- who will meet Lula in Brasilia Thursday, according to a Brazilian official -- meanwhile lashed out at the West for "pumping Ukraine full of arms." "Neither Kiev nor the West have shown the political will to resolve the conflict," he told Brazilian newspaper O Globo. Blinken voiced pessimism on the current chances for diplomacy on Ukraine in his meeting with Lula. "We dont see the conditions for it right now," a US official said. - Blinken-Lavrov - Brazil also wants to use its G20 presidency to push the fights against poverty and climate change. There will also be space for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the gathering -- though a Blinken-Lavrov encounter looks unlikely, given soaring tensions. The pair last met in person at a G20 gathering in India in March 2023. Founded in 1999, the G20 brings together most of the world's biggest economies. Originally an economic forum, it has grown increasingly involved in international politics. A Brazilian government source said that after recent G20 struggles for consensus, the hosts axed the requirement that every meeting produce a joint statement -- with the exception of the annual leaders' summit, scheduled for November in Rio. burs-jhb/dw Born hemiplegic, nearly blind, 43-year-old Lydie Imhoff was gradually losing the use of her limbs. Last year, she made the decision to travel from her native France to Belgium to undergo euthanasia -- for "fear of living in a dead body." Nvidia on Wednesday said its profit soared to $12.3 billion in the recently ended quarter on record high revenue driven by demand for its chips to power artificial intelligence. The Silicon Valley chip titan reported profit of $12.3 billion on record revenue of $22.1 billion in the quarter than ended late January and record high revenue of $60.9 billion for the fiscal year. Profit in the same quarter a year ago was $1.4 billion, while revenue in the same three-month period a year earlier was $6 billion, the company said. "Accelerated computing and generative AI have hit the tipping point," Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said during an earnings call. "Demand is surging worldwide across companies, industries and nations." Nvidia shares shot up more than eight percent to $732.99 in after-market trade that followed the release of the earnings results. "The AI Revolution starts with Nvidia and in our view the AI party is just getting started," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors. Wedbush expects 60 percent or more of businesses to "head down the AI use case path" in the coming decade, spending an estimated trillion dollars on the technology, according to Ives. Money taken in by the Nvidia unit specializing in data center computing hit a record of $18.4 billion in the quarter, more than quadruple the amount from the same period a year earlier, according to Nvidia. "Our Data Center platform is powered by increasingly diverse drivers," Huang said. "Vertical industries led by auto, financial services and healthcare are now at a multibillion-dollar level." The company said it expects total revenue of $24 billion in the current quarter. - 'AI factories' - Huang said Nvidia chips are at the heart of datacenters transforming into "AI generation factories" with data a "raw material" turned into experiences such as prompt-generated videos made using OpenAI's new Sora tool. In regions outside the United States, "sovereign AI" systems are adding to demand for Nvidia chips, according to chief financial officer Colette Kress. She described sovereign AI as large language models made using regional data and supported by local research and business "ecosystems." Sovereign AI infrastructure is being bult in Canada, France, Japan and many other countries, according to Huang. "The reason for sovereign AI has to do with the fact that the language, the knowledge, the history, the culture of each region are different and it belongs to them," Huang said on the earnings call. "They would like to use their data to create their own digital intelligence." - China reset - Demand for Nvidia chips for datacenters was strong everywhere except China, where revenue dropped significantly following ramped up US export controls imposed in October of last year, according to Kress. Calls to further close the supply chain grew after the world discovered the powers of AI with the launch of ChatGPT, a tool that debuted in November 2022. Also causing alarm in Washington was news that China-owned Huawei had released a new smartphone that featured a powerful home-grown advanced chip. When announcing the beefed-up curbs, US officials insisted they were intended to close loopholes and prevent China's development of AI for military use. China said at the time that it was "strongly dissatisfied" and "firmly opposes" the curbs. Nvidia paused shipments of restricted products to China, but is exploring selling alternatives that don't require licenses, according to company executives. "We reconfigured our products in a way that is not software hackable, and that took some time," Huang said. "So we reset our product offering to China and now we're sampling to customers in China. US export control regulations aimed at China and other markets including Vietnam and parts of the Middle East were expected to continue to cause sales of Nvidia data center chip to suffer in those markets. gc/dw Gallatin County is one of six counties receiving an extra boost in statewide child care scholarship funding from Montana. Following a law passed in June, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is raising reimbursement rates for its Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship, effective March 1. The scholarship lowers the cost of care for families by paying providers a portion of families costs. The funding is available for low-income families who receive care from licensed or registered child care providers, a DPHHS press release said. The reimbursement rates are dependent on several factors, such as the type of facility, the childs age group and how many hours of care the child gets. For example, a center providing care for a child aged 0 to 3 for a full day would be reimbursed $45 each day under the scholarships current rates. In March, the rate for that same child will rise to $58 per day. On top of the increased rate, a 15% bump is being added for providers in several counties that the state identified as high growth, said Tracy Moseman, administrator for DPHHS Early Childhood and Family Support Division. The counties are Flathead, Gallatin, Missoula, Ravalli, Yellowstone and Lewis and Clark. A family is eligible for the scholarship if they make less than 185% of the federal poverty guidelines income requirement, the DPHHS website said. A family of four that makes less than $31,200 per year in Montana is at poverty level, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Using these numbers, the Chronicle calculated that a family of four would need to make less than $57,720 a year to be eligible for Best Beginnings. Families using the scholarship are also charged a copay based on a small percentage of their monthly income. For example, a family of four whose income is at the federal poverty guideline about $2,600 per month would pay $13 each month. There is a gap between the number of families with children and the number of available providers in Montana. As of September, the DPHHS website lists 1,040 providers with a total capacity for 22,879 children. There are around 72,653 children under 6 years old, according to the website. Gallatin County follows a similar trend. The DPHHS website lists 7,225 children under 6 compared to a provider capacity of 2,773 in September. The states data only lists providers that are licensed or registered. A 2023 Department of Labor and Industry report said 60% of Montana counties are child care deserts where providers are meeting less than 33% of the demand from working parents with children under 6 years old. Care for infants is even more scarce, with about 32% of the demand being met, the report said. In Montana, places with a higher population density usually have more child care offerings, but still have gaps in the demand for care, said Jody Lehman, child care bureau chief for DPHHS. We see a better supply around our bigger urban areas so Billings, Missoula, Bozeman but even in those areas, theres still a pronounced gap in the amount of child care offered versus families looking for child care, Lehman said. And that, of course, drives up costs. A providers license also includes a limit on how many children theyre allowed to care for. Meeting quality and safety standards drives up the costs of child care for providers, which is then reflected onto families, Moseman said. This creates a very delicate market and a delicate balance where caregivers have to afford their expenses while not driving away families with high rates, she said. The farming industry has seen a near 12 percent drop in annual leave taken per employee from 2022-2023, a new report states. It reveals that employees in the industry are not using their full annual leave entitlement, which means that they could be working over their contracted hours. The annual leave report, conducted by HR firm Access People, analysed data from over 3,000 companies. It states that nationally, annual leave taken has dropped by 7.6% in the last year - and by 12% since 2020. The agriculture sector ranked on top in the list of 18 industries who gave up their annual leave, with an 11.85% drop in annual leave days taken per employee. On average, employees in the industry took 35 annual leave days in 2023 - down from 40 in 2022. Construction found itself in a similar situation with a 10.98% drop, and their average annual leave entitlement also dropped by 6.61% the greatest out of all the industries. The annual leave report brings attention to the importance of taking time off, which can boost employees well-being, motivation and job satisfaction. However, some companies struggled with challenges like staff shortages and increased workloads, which has made it difficult for employees to use their full annual leave entitlement. Charles Butterworth, managing director at Access People, said the number of employees taking their full annual leave entitlement had declined in all industries. He added: Workers across the UK are under a great deal of pressure with rising household expenses, work-related stress and personal commitments. "Its more important than ever that people take time off to rest and recharge so that they can come back stronger." The Royal Countryside Fund, founded by the King, has announced a donation of nearly 450,000 to support rural and farming initiatives across the UK. The funding will support those living and working in the countryside, many of whom are facing increasing challenges such as rising costs, extreme weather and isolation. The King's charity, who founded it when he was Prince of Wales, said the grants would help enable change and develop resilience in the UK's rural areas. One group to receive funding is the Rural Health Partnership, based in County Down, which was awarded nearly 25,000 to provide skills training and support to women in farming. Knoydart Farm CIC, based in the Highland, was also given the same amount to help establish a community farm to address the issues of food insecurity. Three farming charities; RSABI in Scotland, Rural Support in Northern Ireland and Tir Dewi in Wales, have each received 15,000 towards the running of their organisations. And this year, 25,000 has been awarded to seven farm support groups, to cover core costs and ensure organisations are able to continue to deliver vital services to farmers with their specific project delivery. Those being awarded these grants are Exmoor Hill Farming Network, Herefordshire Rural Hub, The Farmer Network Ltd, The Farming Life Centre, Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services Ltd (UTASS), Farm Cornwall and Dartmoor Hill Farm Project. Keith Halstead, executive director of the Fund said: We operate exclusively in rural areas and work hand-in-hand with individuals, small farms, community groups and partner organisations to change lives by investing in projects." The charity's Supporting Rural Communities grant programme is supported by the players of Peoples Postcode Lottery and Waitrose & Partners. The Peoples Postcode Lottery awarded the Royal Countryside Fund 2.28m of grant funding over the past six years. Which other groups have received funding? This winter, numerous rural organisations across the UK have been awarded a share of over 185,000: Blackhall Mill Community Association, Tyne & Wear awarded 23,000 to develop a scalable model of their community Electric Vehicle club. Broadwoodkelly Village Hall, Devon awarded 9,317 to purchase equipment to underpin the delivery of the halls programme of activities, helping to reduce social isolation. Cockfield Village Group, Suffolk - awarded 4,650 to help the village group to take over their village store and post office, helping to prevent the closure of a vital village asset. New Mills and District Volunteer Centre, Derbyshire awarded 25,000 for their service which enables elderly & disabled people in remote villages poorly served by public transport to access medical appointments & shops. North Arran Community Benefit Society Ltd, North Ayrshire awarded 25,000 to support further regeneration of the community inn, enabling it to remain open throughout the year as a hub for the community. Shopper Aide Ltd, Argyll and Bute awarded 23,478 for their project to support the local rural community with a range of services including shopping, transport, social groups, and befriending, helping to reduce social isolation. The Courthouse Kesh Ltd, Fermanagh awarded 25,000 to enable the community hub to continue to provide much needed services including a drop-in cafe and outreach in the isolated rural area of North Fermanagh. Almost one in five say they are less likely to buy food labelled 'Not for EU' which will be a requirement on all British meat and dairy produce from October 2024. The poll, undertaken by Survation on behalf of anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain, also revealed that only three in ten (28%) understand where Not for EU products are manufactured. The labels have been introduced on some food products that move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The system is meant to stop produce from crossing into EU regions, such as the Republic of Ireland, from Northern Ireland. They are designed to end the long-running dispute between the EU and the UK over the Northern Ireland protocol. But the poll's findings suggest confusion among consumers, something that could increase as new trade deals with countries like Australia and New Zealand come into effect. It also suggests that British farmers and retailers could face new financial strain from a lack of consumer confidence caused by these deals. Just under half (45%) of respondents think the UK government is responsible for the new labels and their negative impact on consumer confidence. It follows a separate study by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) which found that Not for EU labelling will pose a significant risk to UK exporters. The data has been published as the prime minister seeks to claw back support among rural communities following significant by-election defeats and worrying polling for the party in traditional Tory heartlands. Speaking at the NFU Conference, Rishi Sunak underlined his commitment to clear labelling despite these challenges. When grilled on the challenges created for farmers by the threat of regulatory divergence and the lack of a SPS agreement with the EU market, the prime minister said Ill be totally honest, its work in progress. Responding to the survey results, Naomi Smith, CEO of campaign group Best for Britain, said "almost every agricultural challenge has been made more difficult by Brexit." "This government has continued to hammer farmers and food suppliers with terrible new trade deals which undercut British standards," she added. The next government must commit to a youth mobility visa scheme to tackle labour shortages, an independent board of trade to protect farmers from fire-sale trade deals, and beneficial regulatory alignment with our largest market to slash red tape. City Claudette M. Gouacide, 42, of Auburn, was charged Feb. 20 with fugitive from justice. Andrea N. Jordan, 41, of Solvay, was charged Feb. 20 with endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree criminal trespass. Richard F. Woodman, 41, of Auburn, was charged Feb. 20 with first-degree criminal contempt. Harry Cruz, 57, of Auburn. was charged Feb. 21 with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Brandon C. Milhoff, 47, of Auburn, was charged Feb. 21 with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, sixth-degree conspiracy, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, three counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and three counts of third-degree identity theft. Corey A. Parr, 21, of Auburn, was charged Feb. 21 with second-degree assault. James F. Raymond, 65, of Auburn, was charged Feb. 21 with second-degree contempt and resisting arrest. County Chad M. McDonald, 50, of Newark, New York, was charged Feb. 21 with second-degree kidnapping. State Hunter H. Stoddard, 22, Sterling, was charged Feb. 21 with driving while intoxicated first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 of 1% first offense. The records page: Police blotter, restaurant inspections and more Visit the records page of auburnpub.com to see The Citizen's latest police blotter, restaurant inspections, property transfers and building permits. A poultry farmer from Powys has been honoured at the NFU Conference for her dedication and commitment to the UK farming industry. This years Meurig Raymond Award named after the NFUs former President was presented to mid-Wales broiler producer Sharon Hammond. Farming in Llanyre near Llandrindod Wells, she is well known for speaking regularly to the media on high-profile issues that impact farmers, offering balance on subjects such as water quality. A member of NFU Cymru, she also works closely with local schools. Using her educational background, she teaches primary and secondary pupils about Welsh food and farming. Sharon said: Theres no I in team, theres no I in NFU, Im extremely proud to farm and very proud to be part of Brecon and Radnor NFU and speak up on behalf of our industry. The NFU is a family and we are here to support each other in the good times and bad but it also gives us the ability to speak up and fight for what we believe in. Responding to this year's recipient, NFU director general, Terry Jones said Sharon "is the embodiment of what the NFU is all about". "As well as running a successful broiler enterprise, she regularly engages with colleagues from across the organisation, hosts stakeholders and politicians on her farm and speaks at NFU Cymru events," he said. Sharons continued hard work, dedication and positivity has helped raise the profile of Welsh farmers and what they do, making her a very worthy winner of this years award. Representing NFU Cymru, Sharon was selected from five nominees drawn from each of the NFUs four English regions and NFU Cymru. A Republican primary is likely in the 48th Senate District race, but Conservatives have united behind a candidate to challenge Democratic state Sen. Rachel May. The Conservative Party committees in Cayuga and Onondaga counties have endorsed Caleb Slater for state Senate. Slater, a political activist and Cayuga Community College graduate, completed the sweep when the Cayuga County Conservative Party met for its endorsement meeting Wednesday. In a Facebook post, the Cayuga County Conservatives said Slater, R-Syracuse, received unanimous support from the committee. "As a former registered Conservative who has dedicated my entire adult life advocating the principles outlined by the Cayuga Conservatives pro-life, Second Amendment and religious freedom this endorsement is an honor that I gladly accept," Slater said. "As your state senator, I will fight to maximize freedom and minimize tyranny." Conservatives endorsed Slater over Fanny Villarreal, who is also seeking the Republican and Conservative nominations to challenge May. Villarreal is the executive director of the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Villarreal, R-Syracuse, has been endorsed by the Onondaga County Republican Committee, while Slater has the backing of the Cayuga County Republicans. Although a primary is likely for the Republican line, the state Conservative Party will decide who will run on its ballot line. Because the 48th district crosses county lines it includes all of Cayuga and most of Onondaga the state committee has the authority to designate a candidate. In 2022, Conservatives in Cayuga and Onondaga counties declined to endorse a candidate for state Senate. But the state Conservative Party authorized Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott, a Republican, to run on its line in the 48th district. Local Conservative Party leaders objected to the state's move and Justin Coretti, an Auburn-area attorney and registered Conservative, decided to force a primary against Abbott. Coretti defeated Abbott for the Conservative nomination. May, D-Syracuse, won the three-way general election over Abbott and Coretti. May is seeking another two-year term representing the 48th district. She has the support of the Democratic committees in Cayuga and Onondaga counties. Democrats have the enrollment advantage in the 48th Senate District, with 22,000 more active voters than Republicans. There are 3,602 active Conservatives in the district, according to the state Board of Elections. Boredom can be good for people. Bored people shouldn't scroll on their phones Neuroscientist Professor James Danckert argues that the emotion should be seen as a positive "call to action" and be channelled into learning new skills rather than just scrolling on the phone. Professor Danckert, of the University of Waterloo in Canada, told the BBC podcast Instant Genius: "Boredom is useful because it's a call to action. It's pushing you to find something to engage in that's meaningful and valuable. "If you're bored and you just turn to your phone, you're not responding very well to the signal of boredom." The expert explained that music icon Jimi Hendrix used boredom to transform from an ordinary musician into a "guitar genius". Danckert suggests that people should use boredom to think about "small goals" such as forming relationships and acquiring new skills. Although he did warn that the feeling can cause "problematic" behaviour for some, including gambling and social media addiction. Im not surprised that Netflixs Stranger Things is a huge success. The homage to small town America is littered with 80s nostalgia teenage fads, cool nerdy stuff, vintage fashion and a great soundtrack. Recent UK TV dramas following the same zeitgeist include The Gold, shedding light on gangland crime, and The Long Shadow, revisiting victims of murder. Here are five reasons why the decade of Margaret Thatcher and Michael Jackson are so fascinating to revisit and in my case, write about. Martine Bailey Cheap and chummy In 1983, taxes were high and wages low, with an average salary of 8,528 p.a., but pubs were often packed. Beer was 60p a pint while a glass of wine set you back just 55p. The fog of cigarette smoke (twenty for 1) was brightened by generous state subsidies and cheap housing. Student tuition fees were paid by local councils alongside a maintenance grant of up to 1,430 p.a, as a non-repayable grant, not a loan. Home technology was in its infancy, mostly providing fun toys such as the Walkman cassette player and rented VHS video recorders to tape your favourite acts from Top of the Pops. The era reads as our own, but communicating by letter (12p a stamp) or public phone boxes instead of mobiles. And without our phone screens there was more time for books, live music and conversation lasting into the night, earnestly putting the world to rights. Psychological shifts I was a single mum and bass player on the Manchester scene when I got a job as a personnel officer in the NHS. One day at work a chief nurse asked me if a personality test could catch a malevolent personality. Over the years the question haunted me and in Sharp Scratch I created Lorraine Quick, the lead character who returns from her psychometrics training in Oxford to discover a hidden killer has struck at her workplace. To Lorraines dismay, the key suspects are the management team she is about to test for a new top job. The 80s abound with psychological discoveries. Forensic psychologist David Hare produced his Psychopathy Checklist to assess those with a controversial mental disorder characterized by callous self-centredness and a remorseless use of others. Detective Diaz soon spots the parallels between Lorraines tests and the offender profiling hes discovered in the FBIs Bulletins, some penned by John Douglas of the Mindhunter book and Netflix series fame. To give a taste of the era, Sharp Scratch contains sixty simplified personality test questions to head up each chapter, though I should add that outside of a novel no test can perfectly predict future performance. Best soundtrack I set Sharp Scratch in 1983, a year when we were treated to arguably the best ever bands on Top of the Pops: Echo and the Bunnymen, Eurythmics, David Bowie, the Cure, Culture Club, and Siouxie and the Banshees. In Manchester, Steven Morrissey had formed The Smiths and Mick Hucknall had created Simply Red, while New Order had emerged from Joy Division to chart with Blue Monday, the bestselling 12-inch of all time. I had been drawn to the vibrant punk scene in the 70s and, thanks to the Manchester Musicians Collective, started performing in all-women bands at ramshackle venues like the first Factory Nights. Though I have never regretted being a tiny part of an exciting moment in Manchesters musical history, the music industry was and still is glaringly misogynistic. Fashion There was more to 80s fashion than primary colours and padded shoulders. Punk had taught my art college sister and me to rip up and revamp our fashion, from our mums yoga leotard and fishnets to pink plastic raincoats. Charity shops were treasure troves of discarded finery: glass-eyed fox furs, jet-beaded mourning costumes and mens pin-striped jackets for an androgynous look worn with a leather tie or trilby hat. As a low-paid personnel officer, my lead character Lorraine is mocked for wearing Oxfam cast-offs at work, as new temptations arrive on the high street. Hey there, pretty face Forgetting my anti-capitalist principles, I signed up for my first ever store card from Richard Shops to buy a tight black skirt suit that I wore for work meetings requiring extra gravitas such as sacking hospital staff for misconduct. The Richard Shops jingle, as a friend recently reminded me, was all about womens pretty faces making the world a prettier place! Yes, feminism back then was not quite as we know it. True, the women at Greenham Common were protesting against nuclear missiles to make the world a safer place for ourselves and our children. Yet with hindsight, the casual sexism and racism of the day was incredible. On a night out it was common to be groped while waiting at a bar, and not uncommon to hear of women being seriously molested or raped. Women were still dismissed as birds, and currently unimaginable language was used around race, gender and disability. In a notorious rape trial in Cambridge, a male judge pronounced that, Women who say no do not always mean no. Like any historical era, the 80s were contradictory, the best and worst of times, even in the run-down north. Yet there was something more I took from those dark times. I owe a deep debt to my training in psychometric testing because I did find it useful in forging a path into my future. I had an epiphany when a psychometrics test confirmed that my own personality was not well-matched to work in personnel - but primarily suited to be a writer. The Book SHARP SCRATCH The first in a chilling new crime fiction series that draws upon Martine Baileys experience conducting psychometric testing during her career in the NHS, which included assessing staff for Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospital. The genesis of Sharp Scratch emerged out of a question that the author was asked by a Chief Nurse: could a multiple murderer such as Beverley Allit, or more recently Lucy Letby, have been identified as dangerous by a psychometric test? The novel combines the tension of Jack Jordans Do No Harm with the atmosphere of David Peaces Red Riding Quartet. Five candidates. One job. A killer prepared to murder their way to the top. Salford, 1983. Lorraine Quick is a single mother, a member of a band going nowhere fast, and personnel officer at the grim Memorial Hospital. A new general manager position is being introduced, and Lorraines recent training in the cutting-edge science of psychometric testing will be pivotal. As the profiles start to emerge, a chilling light is cast on the candidates. When a lethal dose of anaesthetic is deliberately substituted for a flu vaccine, and a second suspicious death quickly follows, its clear a killer is at work in the hospital. Can Lorraines personality tests lead her to the murderer? Sharp Scratch publishes on the 22nd February 2024 ISBN 9780749030841 Author Bio MARTINE BAILEY studied English Literature while playing in bands on the Manchester music scene. She qualified in psychometric testing and over her career, assessed staff for a top security psychiatric hospital and dealt with cases of sexual abuse and violence. Having writen historical crime ficton, including The Almanack and The Prophet, Baileys writing has jumped to a modern setting. She lives in Chester, UK. Follow Martine here on: Instagram X Facebook John Cena will still "love the person I love" after allegations against Vince McMahon. John Cena has addressed the allegations against former WWE boss Vince McMahon The 46-year-old wrestler turned Hollywood star has been very vocal about his friendship with his former boss, who stepped down from WWE's parent company TKO last month following allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking, which he has denied. Addressing the situation on 'The Howard Stern Show', he said: "There's still a long way to go. "I can say this, Im a big advocate of love and friendship and honesty, and communication, in the same breath, Im also a big advocate of accountability. "If someones behavior lies so far outside of your value system that the balance shifts of, 'I cant operate in a world where this works.' Thats the end result of being accountable. "Right now, Im gonna love the person I love, be their friend. 'I love you, you have a hill to climb.' " The 'Agrylle' star admitted their friendship doesn't mean the allegations and fallout are "any easier swallow". He added: "That doesnt make any of whats going on any easier to swallow. Just telling someone you love them, its a hill to climb, and well see what happens. Thats that." He insisted the situation is just a case of "one day at a time", while he has a "great relationship with the guy" and noted he has "openly" said he "loves" McMahon. He said: "Its largely my construct of operating with honesty and communication. Those are strong leads to handling any problem or achievement... "The whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks. It deals with an individual I love and an entity I love. "I want everyone to have the experience that I have. Not only do I tell a friend that I love them, but I switch to the entity and say, 'How can I help?' " McMahon, 78, is under investigation by federal authorities, but has denied the allegations. He said in a previous statement: "I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name." Natalie Portman says facing speculation about her marriage to Benjamin Millepied has been terrible. Natalie Portman says facing speculation about her marriage to Benjamin Millepied has been terrible The Black Swan actress, 42, spoke out about rumours she and dancer Benjamin, 46, were having troubles in their relationship in a new interview with Vanity Fair. When asked about the stories recently published about the pair, Natalie said: Its terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it. Natalie who was born Natalie Hershlag, married Benjamin in 2012 and with whom she has children Aleph, 12, and six-year-old Amalia also admitted shes been conscious of how she is perceived by the public since she broke into acting as a girl. She added: I got very protective of it very early on. I chose a different name when I started, which was kind of an interesting way that I separated identities. I would get upset if someone at school called me Natalie Portman. I was like, if you know me, you know me as Natalie Hershlag at school. It was kind of an extreme bifurcation of identity that Ive tried to integrate a little bit more as an adult. There wasnt a real me and a pretend me, she said, adding, they didnt necessarily have different names. And its not just two different versions, there are multitudes of ways other people see me, both public and private, and there are multitudes of ways I see myself. Natalie also revealed she lets herself merge all those internal and external attributes that come with fame, adding: Somehow the intersection of all of those are part of me, and its important to have all of those within me and as me, as opposed to being like, thats some external thing, this is the real thing. As I started having kids and a family, I started realizing that maybe it was not helpful to be like, theres two of me. I have many interactions during my day as a public person. To exclude that from my experience is not real. Insiders have claimed Natalie and Benjamin are still together. Nigel Lythgoe has been accused of sexual assault in another lawsuit. Nigel Lythgoe has been hit with another lawsuit The 'So You Think You Can Dance' creator was sued by Paula Abdul in December over two separate incidents of alleged sexual assault, which was followed by two unnamed reality show contestants alleging that he made unwanted sexual advances and groped them inside his Los Angeles home in 2003, and now the 74-year-old producer has been accused of forcibly touching a woman in 2016. According to a suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last weekend and obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, Lythgoe met the producer at a Beverly Hills hotel and he "insisted" on driving her home, before allegedly assaulting her in his car over the course of at least 10 minutes. The suite alleged: Plaintiff tried to push Lythgoe away from her and instruct Lythgoes driver how to return to her house, but Lythgoe continued to grab at Plaintiff, fondle her breasts, and kiss her. Lythgoe even shoved his hand up Plaintiffs skirt and penetrated her genitalia. The alleged victim claimed the producer eventually relented once his driver arrived at her apartment after taking an unexpecedly long route. The woman is suing for sexual battery, gender violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress and claims she has continued to suffer severe mental anguish due to the incident. She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. A lawyer for the plaintiff, Melissa Eubanks - who is also representing Paula - said in a statement: It is troubling to hear of yet another alleged incident of a woman being taken advantage of and abused by a prominent public figure." Paula has alleged that Nigel assaulted her in the early 2000s, during an early season of 'American Idol' and again during her tenure on 'So You Think You Can Dance', and is suing for sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence. She also alleged he sexually assaulted her assistant, too and was "the target of constant taunts, bullying, humiliation and harassment". Shortly after her suit was made public, multiple news outlets also obtained another legal filing, in which two anonymous women claimed they were sexually assaulted on short-lived competition series 'All American Girl' in 2003. In the wake of the allegations, Lythgoe stepped down as a judge on 'So You Think You Can Dance'. He said in a statement: "I have informed the producers of 'So You Think You Can Dance' of my decision to step back from participating in this years series. I did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great programme has always been about dance and dancers, and thats where its focus needs to remain. In the meantime, I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation. Shake up a cocktail to celebrate this day dedicated to wine and raise your spirits in a most delicious way Femina advocates the responsible consumption of alcohol These wine cocktails from Anurag Godbole, wine sommelier and bar manager at Nksha Restaurant, Churchgate, Mumbai, and Stanley Fernandes, corporate bar manager at Kyma, Mumbai, are perfect to celebrate Drink Wine Day or any day. Bombay Sour By Anurag Godbole This cocktail makes wine often perceived as a complex and subtle drink more accessible and more visually fun. Ingredients 40 ml vodka infused with raspberry and orange zest 30 ml fresh orange juice 15 ml raspberry syrup Handful of mint + extra to garnish Ice Red wine Orange slice to garnish Method In a cocktail shaker, combine the infused vodka, fresh orange juice, and raspberry syrup. Add a handful of mint leaves to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into a glass. Carefully layer red wine on top of the cocktail. Garnish with an orange slice and a sprig of mint. The Platonic By Stanley Fernandes The Platonic is a mix of fresh ingredients with no sugar added ideal for sharing with friends Ingredients Purple sugar for rimming Ice 60 ml purple gin Lime juice 30 ml pineapple juice 30 ml cherry juice Sparkling wine Gummy bears to garnish Method Rim a glass with purple sugar by wetting the rim with lime juice and dipping it into the sugar. Fill the glass with ice cubes. In a shaker, combine the purple gin, lime juice, pineapple juice, and cherry juice. Shake well. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass. Top up with sparkling wine. Garnish with gummy bears. Also Read: Try a Rajasthani Classic: Jodhpuri Gatta Curry Seychelles is visa-free to visit, but potential travellers must be alert to avoid losing money on visa scams The Republic of Seychelles makes an easy destination for Indians, with an average flight time of about four-and-a-half hours, and a wonderful set of experiences awaiting travellers once they set foot in Mahe. The convenience is heightened by the fact that there are direct flights from Mumbai to Mahe with the national carrier, Air Seychelles, and, importantly, that Indian travellers enjoy a visa-free stay for up to 30 days. All you need is a Travel Authorisation (TA) letter. This TA is available only from the Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS), which is the only official government platform issuing these letters accessible through the official government website, govtas.com. Source d'Argent, La Digue | Image: Danio Denousse And this is where we must issue a warning: Currently, there is a rash of third-party unauthorised websites that are working as mediators in the process. The Seychelles Tourism Board is asking travellers to proceed with caution, and not be taken in by these third-party operators, because the applications made by these might not be accepted by SEBS. The official fee for each TA application is 10; these unauthorised websites also charge significantly higher fees, with no guarantee of getting you a TA. The tourism board is also urging visitors to report these websites to protect yourself and other travellers from a potential scam. Make your entry into Seychelles only via SEBS, and allow yourself to fully enjoy culturally-immersive experiences in the island country and archipelagic state. Main image: Shutterstock Popular actress Kriti Verma, known for her role in the web series "Bhoot Mate," is venturing into the music industry with the release of three new songs within a week, creating a wave of anticipation among her fans. Kriti, who shared the screen with Mannara Chopra, is ready to showcase her versatility and charm in the music scene. The songs titled "Reh Vasda," "Gujjar Haryane Ka," and "Kinna Pyar" are set to release on February 22nd and February 24th, respectively, marking a significant milestone in her career. Upcoming Musical Endeavors The first of the releases, "Reh Vasda," features Kriti Verma alongside Garry Brar Zaildaar and is sung by Kamie Gill. This track, produced under Brown Records, is tipped to be a soulful melody that aims to connect with the audience on a deeper level. Following closely is "Gujjar Haryane Ka," where Kriti pairs up with Pradeep Bhati in what is expected to be a dynamic performance. The anticipation builds further with "Kinna Pyar," set to be released on Right Records, where Kritis presence is much awaited by her fans. One of these tracks has already achieved the distinction of hitting the number one spot on the charts, even before the official release, showcasing the excitement and eagerness of the audience for Kriti's musical ventures. Kriti Verma Shares Her Excitement In light of her upcoming projects, Kriti expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "I am thrilled to share these incredible songs with my fans." She further added, "Each track holds a special place in my heart, and I can't wait for everyone to experience them." This statement reflects her passion for music and her desire to connect with her audience through these releases. As the release dates of the songs approach, fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly waiting to witness Kriti Verma's transformation from an acclaimed actress to a magnetic music sensation. With her undeniable talent and charisma, Kriti is set to enchant the music world and leave a lasting impact on her fans. Prepare to be captivated by Kriti Verma's upcoming music videos, as she promises performances that will not only showcase her versatility but also leave the audience spellbound. The music scene is about to witness the rise of a new star, with Kriti Verma at the forefront, ready to capture hearts worldwide. Maharani 3 OTT Release Date: Sony LIV's acclaimed political drama, Maharani, is gearing up for its highly-anticipated third season release, promising viewers an exhilarating journey through the realms of justice and supremacy. Throughout the initial two seasons, viewers witnessed the intense power struggle between Rani Bharati and Navin Kumar, both relentlessly fighting while challenging morality and ethics. AMIT SIAL ON MAHARANI 3 TWIST, STORYLINE Actor Amit Sial states that the fights are more intense, and revenge is stronger in the all-new season and is sure to leave the audience captivated. The talented actor, while interacting with a news agency, spilled the beans on the new twist and similarities between Rani Bharti and Navin Kumar. "I feel Rani Bharti and Navin Kumar are two sides of a coin, both struggling to survive while trying hard to maintain their supremacy. This show delves not only into the realm of politics but also talks about human emotions, navigating through the intricate web of morality where the boundaries between good and evil, right, and wrong, often blur," Amit Sial said in a statement as quoted as saying by IANS. MAHARANI 3 CAST, RELEASE DATE ON SONYLIV Maharani 3 has been produced by Naren Kumar and Dimple Kharbanda. Subhash Kapoor has created critically acclaimed web series while Saurabh Bhave has directed it. Subhash Kapoor and Nandan Singh have joined hands to write script. The new season will feature several faces from the first two seasons. Huma Qureshi will be seen once again as Rani Bharti. She is well-supported by Amit Sial, Vineet Kumar, Pramod Pathak, Sohum Shah, Kani Kusruti, Anuja Sathe, Sushil Pandey and Dibyendu Bhattacharya. Maharani season 3 will be available for viewing from March 7, 2024 on Sony LIV. Maritime Zones Act hurdles 2nd Reading in Senate MANILA -- Senate Bill No. 2492 known as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act principally authored by Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino hurdled the Second Reading at the Senate on Wednesday after series of individual amendments. The said measure aims to declare the rights and entitlements of the Philippines over its maritime zones, including the underwater features for the enjoyment and cultivation by Filipinos. Tolentino, who is also the chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, has been shepherding the bill as it will make the Philippines comply with the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in establishing the maritime zones. During the Senate Plenary Session, Sen. Tol underscored that the Maritime Zones Act will bolster the Philippine claim in territorial disputes and will not abandon the other claims of the country such as what is related to Sabah. "Wala pong nabago sa ating pag-aari, sa ating kinikilalang sariling bahagi ng ating kapuluan simula doon sa mga dating Saligang Batas hanggang sa ngayon," Sen. Tol said. Earlier, Sen. Tol mentioned that it is timely and necessary for the Philippines to have its own Maritime Zones Act because it "is not merely a legal obligation, but a paramount necessity for the Philippines' national, economic, and environmental security." Beijing (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Mengshi Technology, the company behind Dongfeng Motor's luxury electric off-roader brand MHERO, announced on February 22 that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Huawei. Signing ceremony; photo credit: Mengshi Technology The collaboration with Huawei aims to achieve mutual industry resource sharing, complementing each other's strengths, and forming a long-term strategic partnership, thereby building an ecosystem for the smart automotive industry. This strategic partnership agreement signifies a new chapter in the collaboration between MHERO and Huawei. As a Chinese luxury electric off-road brand, MHERO stands as a crucial part of Dongfeng Motors business operation and technological innovation strategies. With 54 years of experience in the automotive field, MHERO pioneers the development of Dongfeng Motor's new energy and intelligent technology, aiming to become a leader in luxury electric off-road culture by creating superlative products with platforms, powertrains, and off-road capabilities. Huawei, as a global leader in ICT infrastructure and smart terminal solutions, boasts profound technical expertise and leading advantages in fields such as intelligent connected vehicles and autonomous driving. The strategic cooperation between Mengshi Technology and Huawei will leverage the strengths of a new energy luxury off-road brand and an intelligent technology pioneer. Together, they will drive the commercialization of Huawei's smart automotive solutions, and accelerate the intelligent and high-quality development of China's automotive industry. Rakshak: India's Braves Chapter 2 Release: Amazon miniTV, Amazon's free video streaming service, recently released their patriotic series Rakshak India's Braves Chapter 2. The series is an unconventional story with a strong sense of patriotism, which will also instill a sense of national pride among the viewers. This biographical war drama follows the life of Shaurya Chakra-awardee Naib Subedar Sombir Singh and DYSP Aman Kumar Thakur , unfolding the brave saga of the Kulgam Operation, a crucial chapter in India's battle against terrorism. Based on a real-life story, the series shines a spotlight on the sacrifices and bravery of the unsung heroes of our nation. REASONS TO WATCH RAKSHAK - INDIA'S BRACES: CHAPTER 2 Fact is stranger than fiction: There's a certain thrill in watching movies based on real-life personalities and incidents. Rakshak- India's Braves: Chapter 2 is a true story that reignites your love for the country, even in moments when it may have faded. It is based on the life of Naib Subedar Sombir Singh who devoted his life to serving the nation. The film brilliantly encapsulates the narrative of the Kulgam Operation capturing the high-stakes mission undertaken by the armed forces to combat militant threats and safeguard the nation's sovereignty. Igniting patriotic fervor: Right from our school days we've recited the pledge, 'India is my country...', but only a few of us truly grasped its depth. Naib Subedar Sombir Singh was one such individual, who lived and breathed this pledge, dedicating their lives to the service and protection of our nation. The series beautifully captures this profound dedication, weaving a narrative steeped in patriotism that strikes a chord with every proud Indian. This isn't about creating an overblown battle zone to visually blow people's minds, Rakshak- India's Braves: Chapter 2 is about the story that was never told to us. Stellar Performance of the cast: Produced by Juggernaut Studios and directed by Ajay Bhuyan, the movie boasts an ensemble cast starring Barun Sobti, Surbhi Chandna, and Vishwas Kini in pivotal roles. Their performances will have a profound effect on the audience, evoking their emotions, striking a chord, and giving a sense of pride and gratitude. Bringing characters to life, their captivating performances will immerse you in every emotion and moment of the series. Immersive Cinematic Experience: It is a challenge to capture war-torn images and make them visually compelling, Rakshak- India's Braves: Chapter 2 excels in conveying the strife, gloom, and stress of the terrorist-attacked Kulgam district. Every scene in the movie commands attention, drawing audiences deeper into the narrative with its compelling visuals while capturing patriotic sentiment without being preachy. Free to watch: Indulge in the spirit of patriotism, and feel the emotions, while embarking on this heroic and courageous journey for free. Watch this intriguing series without any pay or subscription. It is available to stream for free on Amazon miniTV and Fire TV in the Amazon Shopping App and Play Store. WHERE TO WATCH RAKSHAK - INDIA'S BRACES: CHAPTER 2 Foster the essence of patriotism and celebrate India's unsung heroes who sacrificed their lives to safeguard peace and harmony with Rakshak- India's Braves: Chapter 2 for free only on Amazon miniTV, available on Amazon's shopping app, on Fire TV, and on Play Store. Rating: 3.5 /5 Star Cast: Yami Gautam, Priya Mani Director: Aditya Suhas Jambhale Article 370 Review: Article 370, we have read and heard about it a lot. A decision of the current government that had become the topic of discussion. Our only source to know how the Bill to remove Article 370 was proposed and later passed was the news channels. But, actually how and what went into the whole process, we don't have much idea about it. But now, it's time to know about it in detail, thanks to the movie Article 370. The film starting Yami Gautam and Priya Mani is all set to release on 23rd Feb 2024. So, is it worth your time and money? Well, the answer is a BIG YES! The movie is about Zooni Haksar (Yami Gautam), a Kashmiri who is working as Intelligence Field Officer in Srinagar. But, due to an incident she is transferred to Delhi. Later, Rajeshwari, PMO secretary, gives an an opportunity to Zooni to head NIA in Kashmir as the government is planning something big for Jammu & Kashmir. How these two women manage the whole situation according to their respective posts forms the rest of the story... Article 370 (the movie) is written by Aditya Dhar (Uri fame filmmaker), Arjun Dhawan, Monal Thakaar, and Aditya Suhas Jambhale, and Jambhale has also directed it. The film starts on a good note, but later in the first half, the pace becomes very slow. Some scenes might also bore you. But, the film picks up amazingly from the pre-interval portions and keeps us hooked till the end. There are scenes in the second half that will give you an adrenaline rush to know what will happen next. The dialogues are clap-worthy and there will surely be whistles in theatres at a few dialogues and scenes. The last 30 minutes of the film are mind-blowing. One of the best elements about the film is that it is a well researched project. The detailing is just amazing. As we said earlier, the only source for us to know about the removal of Article 370 was news channels, but this movie goes deep into what and how it happened. The way Jambhale has narrated this detailing is commendable. Article 370 Actors' Performances Performance wise, two actresses, Yami Gautam and Priya Mani are holding the film throughout. Yami is excellent in the movie as Zooni and from anger to sadness to action, she has emoted everything just perfectly. Also, she throws her hat for Best Actress awards. Last year, Priya Mani impressed us in Jawan, and now, she is here again with a strong performance. The subtlety that her character required, she has got that perfectly and in many scenes, Priya Mani has just acted with her eyes. Kiran Karmarkar plays a character inspired by a famous political leader and he has nailed it. The climax wouldn't have been so effective without his amazing performance. Arun Govil plays the role of Prime Minister and he too leaves a strong mark. Vaibhav Tatwawadi impresses in his role, and Raj Zutshi, Skand Sanjeev Thakur, and Raj Arjun are good in their respective roles. In such movies, songs don't play a great role, but background score is very important. In Article 370, the background score is just perfect and gels well with the film's theme. Overall, Article 370 takes us deep into an incident of our country we didn't know much about. It's not a documentary, but a proper emotional and thrilling film. So, it is a must watch, and of course, if you are a Yami Gautam or Priya Mani fan, book your tickets now. Family X Review: "Family" is a Malayalam drama film, directed, written, and edited by Don Palathara, with co-writing credits attributed to Sherin Chatherine. The film made its premiere at the 52nd International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) on January 28, 2023, followed by screenings at the 14th Bengaluru International Film Festival in 2023. It has garnered recognition, being selected as one of the five contenders for the Young Jury Prize at the 68th Cork International Film Festival in Ireland. Further acclaim awaited "Family," as it was chosen as one of the two Malayalam entries in the International Competition section of the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in December 2023. Produced by Sanita Chittilappilly and Anto Chittilappilly under Newton Cinema, the film stars Vinay Forrt, Divya Prabha, Abhija Sivakala, Nilja K Baby, and Mathew Thomas in pivotal roles. The film Family hit theatres on February 22, 2024. Family Synopsis Sony, a Catholic man in his late twenties from rural central Kerala, initially appears as a benevolent and caring individual. However, beneath this facade lies a contrasting persona. Despite certain family members becoming aware of his actions, they are compelled into silence by a system that consciously shields men, their transgressions, and hidden truths. Consequently, the family evolves into a resilient vault, concealing the skeletons of its past from the outside world. The film delves into an exploration of how the family structure mirrors that of a mafia organisation when addressing internal wrongdoing. Family Cast And Crew The film features Vinay Forrt, Divya Prabha, Nilja. K. Baby, Mathew Thomas, Jain Andrews, Abhija Sivakala, Jolly Chirayath, and Sajitha Madathil in its cast. The film was directed, co-written, and edited by Don Palathara. Sanita Chittilappilly and Anto Chittilappilly served as producers. Sherin Catherine collaborated with Don on the screenplay. Basil C. J. was responsible for composing the music, while Jaleel Badusha handled the cinematography. The release of 'Family' is highly anticipated, promising an enriching cinematic experience for all film enthusiasts. Stay tuned for insightful X (formerly Twitter) reviews as audiences share their thoughts on this ensemble drama film. Manjummel Boys Climax Verdict: The highly anticipated Malayalam film "Manjummel Boys," starring Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, and Balu Varghese, hit theatres on February 22, 2024. Anweshippin Kandethum OTT Rights: Tovino Thomas' Investigative Thriller Secures Its Streaming Platform Produced by Soubin Shahir under his own banner, Parava Films, "Manjummel Boys" has garnered significant attention as one of the most eagerly awaited releases of the year in Malayalam cinema. Manjummel Boys Premise The survival thriller, which is inspired by the actual events that occurred within the notorious 'Guna Caves' of Kodaikanal, recounts the tale of a group of friends trapped within the cave with no one coming to their aid. Yodha OTT Rights: Sidharth Malhotra's Upcoming Action Thriller Secures Its Streaming Platform Rave Reviews Pouring In For 'Manjummel Boys' Climax In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post by Movie Buff Unni Rajendran, the final survival scene of the film stirred pure goosebumps and heartfelt emotion. The intensity of the moment captured on screen has left audiences captivated and deeply moved. Unni Rajendran's heartfelt words reflect the sheer power and emotional depth portrayed in the film's climax. Pure Goosebumps In the final survival scene Pure Emotion in the tail end #ManjummalBoys Unni Rajendran (@unnirajendran_) February 22, 2024 This sentiment is echoed by industry tracker Southwood, who also highlights the final rescue scenes as pure goosebumps-inducing moments. With these posts, it's evident that the film has struck a chord with viewers, leaving a lasting impact with its compelling storytelling and emotive performances. Abraham Ozler OTT Release Date And Platform: Find Out When And Where To Watch Jayaram's Crime Thriller Movie Manjummel Boys Cast And Crew Chidambaram, known for directing 'Jan.E.Man', helmed the project 'Manjummel Boys'. The upcoming film also features Deepak Parambol, Ganapathi, Lal Jr., Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Arun Kurian, Khalid Rahman, Chandu Salimkumar, and Vishnu Reghu in key roles. Oppenheimer OTT Release Date And Platform: Here's When And Where To Watch Christopher Nolan's Movie On the technical side, Shyju Khalid was the cinematographer of the film, and Vivek Harshan was the editor. Sushin Shyam was in charge of the music, and Ajayan Chalissery was the art director. Mashar Hamsa was the costume designer, and Ronex Xavier was the makeup artist. Photo Credit: Popular YouTuber, Bigg Boss Telugu fame and upcoming actor Shanmukh Jaswant, who enjoys a huge fanbase across the two Telugu-speaking states, was arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly consuming drugs. As per the updates that are pouring in on social media, Shanmukh Jaswant and his brother are caught at their home having drugs by the cops. They were arrested and an investigation was launched. Shanmukh Jaswant and his elder brother Sampath Vijay have been caught by the police who took them into custody after finding out about their consumption and possession of illegal substances. Following a police complaint registered by a woman, supposedly Sampath Vijay's ex-lover, the Narsingh police approached Sampath's house where the duo was whiling away time smoking weed, reportedly. Sampath Vinay's Ex-Lover Files A Complaint Shanmukh Jaswant's brother Sampath was in a relationship with a woman for the last ten years. The duo also got engaged three years ago. However, he started maintaining distance. He even got married to another woman about 20 days ago, which irked the jolted ex-lover. She then proceeded to file a complaint with the police and booked Sampath for cheating on her. Photo Credit: Police, who received the complaint set out to Sampath's flat along with the complainant. Fortunately for them, Shanmukh Jaswant was seen consuming drugs at that moment, while Sampath wasn't there. Police took Shanmukh into custody immediately, along with his brother. More updates on the case are yet to be officially announced. Meanwhile, Shanmukh Jaswant was earlier booked in a hit-and-run case just a month ago. In an accident case registered in Hyderabad, he is the accused. Earlier, Shanmukh was once caught drunk and driving. The 29-year-old YouTuber was popular through his short films and his love track with another YouTuber Deepthi Sunaina. The duo was a social media Jodi until Shanmukh's Bigg Boss Telugu Season 5 stint led to their immediate break-up after almost ten years of relationship. Shanmukh belongs to Visakhapatnam and finished his graduation in Business Administration from GITAM. He acted in a full-length film titled 'Nannu Dochukunduvate.' Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 21, 2024) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture services and data company in North America, is pleased to report results for the three- and six- months ended December 31st, 2023. Full financial results are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights As previously announced, the Company significantly reduced operating costs as a result of its decision to deprioritize the collection services within its carbon business unit, based on client volume experienced and future demand expectations. While this decision impacted revenue growth in the quarter, Deveron was able to post a strong increase in Adjusted EBITDA. Fiscal Q2/2024 Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA grew 17% to $5,629,992 in Q2/2024 from $4,815,798 in the same period in the prior year. Revenue for Fiscal Q2/2024 grew 1% to $15,308,396 from $15,143,300 in the same period in the prior year. Fiscal H1/2024 Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA grew 20% to $4,568,886 from $3,801,188 in the same period in the prior year. Revenue for Fiscal H1/2024 grew 3% to $23,026,999 from $22,332,794 in the same period in the prior year. Fertility testing increased in the quarter, offsetting the decline in carbon related collection services. Gross profit margin declined slightly from 77% to 74% due to higher prices for laboratory supplies and the change in the Company's revenue mix. Operating expenses increased 23% to $9.3M driven by a $3.5M year-over-year change in the non-controlling interest, put obligation. Excluding this non-cash item, expenses declined by 16% as a result of the previously announced reduction in head count in the data products group and US operations. Adjusted EBITDA rose 17% to $5.6M in the quarter, reflecting the emphasis on profitable fertility testing business and the right sizing of the US operations. Revenue grew 1% to $15,308,396 in the quarter, the busiest quarter for fertility sampling. Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA improved to $5,629,992, or 36.8% of revenue, representing an increase of 17% over the prior year. The company's Non-IFRS adjusted EBITDA margin percentage improved by 5% year-over-year to 36.8% from 31.8% in the similar period in F2023. Deveron repaid $535,000 of its acquisition loan, which now stands at $23,104,801 as of December 31, 2023. "Deveron achieved strong results in FY Q2/2024 as we focus more on profitability and our core fertility business unit," said David MacMillan, President, and CEO of Deveron Corp. "Following our decision to deprioritize the unprofitable carbon collection service, the Company saw a great improvement in EBITDA margin year-over-year. As we look to the new year, we will continue to focus our efforts on the fertility business, doubling down on our most profitable business line. We see a great opportunity to optimize our channel partner strategy, targeting ag retail, with a three-pronged approach: Onboarding new brands, onboarding new locations of existing clients, and upselling current clients to higher-fidelity sampling, complete tests and soil health products. With a more streamlined cost structure, a new approach to our sales process, and a significant opportunity within the ag-retail space, we couldn't be more excited for the upcoming year." Summary of Financial Results Result of operations For the three months ended For the six months ended December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 % Change December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 % Change Total Revenue $15,308,396 $15,143,300 1% $23,026,999 $22,332,794 3% Gross Profit 11,334,347 11,725,583 -3% 16,348,880 16,045,991 2% Gross Profit Margin % 74% 77% -3% 71% 72% -1% Operating Expenses 9,328,672 7,557,701 23% 20,167,489 16,495,633 22% Net Income (Loss) 1,436,526 3,975,835 -64% (4,539,420) (809,938) -460% Add Taxes 569,148 172,047 231% 720,811 360,297 100% Add: Interest 1,010,523 1,842,469 -45% 1,901,823 2,973,400 -36% Add: Acquisition and integration costs - - 1,050,506 - Add: Non-cash Expense^ 2,613,794 (1,174,555) - 6,485,672 1,277,429 408% Non-IFRS adjusted EBITDA (loss)* 5,629,992 4,815,798 17% 4,568,886 3,801,188 20% Weight Average Common Shares Outstanding 156,413,687 116,387,677 156,294,819 116,387,677 Per Share: Net Loss 0.01 - (0.04) (0.01) *Non-IFRS measure. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") should not be construed as alternatives to comprehensive loss or income determined in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as IFRS net loss excluding interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, share-based payments, income tax expense, integration costs, one time acquisition costs, and impairment of goodwill, property, plant, and equipment and right-of-use assets (ROU). The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful financial metric as it measures cash generated from operations which the Company can use to fund working capital requirements, service future interest and principal debt repayments and fund future growth initiatives. ^Non-Cash Expenses Calculation For the three months ended For the six months ended December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 Depreciation & Amortization 1,870,476 1,633,274 3,678,455 3,792,003 Share Based Payments 316,479 241,148 608,415 534,403 Change in NCI put obligation 426,839 (3,048,977) 2,198,802 (3,048,977) Non-Cash Expenses^ $2,613,794 ($1,174,555) $6,485,672 $1,277,429 Second Quarter 2023 Operational Highlights Deveron Announces Closing of Private Placement of Convertible Debentures On October 5th , the Company announced that further to its press release of September 25th, 2023, the Company had closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 1,750 unsecured convertible debentures at a price of $1,000 per Debenture for gross proceeds of $1,750,000. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to refinance the Company's outstanding promissory note and for general working capital. Deveron Corp Announces the Launch of PFAS Testing Service On November 1st , the Company announced the launch of a new testing service analyzing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ("PFAS") in soil, water, compost and other matrices. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have gained significant attention due to their widespread use and potential environmental and health concerns. the Company announced the launch of a new testing service analyzing PFAS in soil, water, compost and other matrices. Deveron Announces Implementation of Cost Optimization Program On December 6th, the Company announced that the Company has implemented another phase of its cost optimization program. In a continued effort to prioritize profitable fertility-related field services execution and focus, Deveron has implemented $1.5 M in cost savings mainly through the reduction of field staff and ancillary support costs within the Company's carbon business unit. The Company expects to achieve annual run rate savings totaling approximately $2,400,000 when combined with the previous $900,000 of cost synergies announced on November 21, 2023. Deveron Announces Option Grant On December 29 th , the Company announced it has granted an aggregate of 2,500,000 stock options (the "Options") to purchase common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.185 per Common Share and expiring on December 23, 2028, to certain employees of the Company. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a four-month hold period from the original date of grant. Subsequent to Quarter End On February 7th, the Company announced the onboarding of a new enterprise contract with a prominent player in PFAS remediation in water. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that have garnered significant attention due to their widespread use and potential environmental and health concerns. The Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period and the accompanying financial statements and notes are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. This news release is not in any way a substitute for reading those financial statements, including the notes to the financial statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drones, that build a basis of our best-in-class data layers. Our focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres of farmland are actively farmed annually. For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveron.com/investors or reach us on Twitter @Deveron . Philip Linton VP Corporate Development plinton@deveron.com Tel: 647-622-0076 This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198818 SOURCE: Deveron Corp. Payments leader seizes opportunity to drive adoption of real-time payments in the region DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nium, the leader in real-time global payments, continues its expansion in the Middle East region, announcing a partnership with Enjaz Banking Services, the remittance division of Bank Albilad in Saudi Arabia. Nium will work with the bank to offer free international money transfer services through the Enjaz app for smart devices. Soon, all Enjaz customers will be able to access competitive exchange rates and instant transfers via Nium's global partner network. This new customer win builds on Nium's success in the region, which includes a roster of the most prestigious financial institutions, such as Mashreq Bank, one of the Middle East's largest banks, and three of the most significant foreign exchange houses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Al Fardan Exchange, Alawneh Exchange, and Al Rostamani Exchange. This momentum is being supported by the appointment of three regional Vice Presidents, Nawal Kebouri Ammor, Ashraf Omran, and Saikat Roy, who collectively bring more than 50-years of in-depth payments and banking knowledge to Nium prospects and clients in the region. Their expertise will play a crucial role in further scaling Nium's operations in anticipation of hypergrowth. "We have a massive opportunity in the Middle East," said Anupam Pahuja, EVP and General Manager for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Nium. "Trillions of dollars flow through the region, and we expect even more volume as real-time payments adoption accelerates. Innovation continues across the region, opening the door for businesses like Nium to capitalize." Pahuja continues, "We are dedicated to helping customers in this global financial centre reach more of the world with a modern, secure, and efficient way to send and receive money. We look forward to partnering with more banks and businesses for growth." Assad Alawneh, Chairman and Founder at Alawneh Exchange commented on the partnership; "The difference between Nium and the banks is that Nium is more like our business - focused on the customer. When we were choosing who to work with, we initially explored a range of fintech businesses, but Nium won based on their size, stability, and flexibility." Leading bank Mashreq envisioned a digital customer journey that is intuitive to interact with and seamless to process. For them, partnering with industry experts was key to this endeavour. Mashreq's partnership with Nium contributes to their vision of a seamless customer experience. "I am proud to acknowledge the significant impact of our partnership with Nium," said Vilas Achuthankutty, General Manager at Al Rostamani International Exchange LLC. "Their state-of-the-art real-time and faster credit capabilities have substantially enhanced our customer experience. Nium's technology, network, and services are not only competitive but also align with market leaders. This collaboration between ARIE and Nium continues to appreciate in value, ensuring reliable transfers and fostering enduring relationships that transcend international borders." Nium provides a superior alternative to traditional systems like SWIFT, offering businesses in the Middle East a faster and cost-effective means of handling cross-border transactions. Nium's real-time payments capability provides a seamless and instantaneous experience, enhancing the speed and convenience of financial transactions for businesses and consumers alike. Nium facilitates effortless cross-border payments, effectively connecting the Middle East with the rest of the world through its network spanning more than 190 countries. Nium's user-friendly platform empowers businesses to tailor their payment solutions, ensuring they meet their specific needs and preferences with ease. Nium's expansion in the Middle East is a testament to its commitment to improving the financial infrastructure and facilitating international commerce. The company looks forward to playing a pivotal role in the growth and development of the Middle East's financial ecosystem. You can read more about Nium's global capabilities here. About Nium Nium, the leader in real-time global payments, was founded on the mission to deliver the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the on-demand economy, its payments infrastructure is shaping how banks, fintechs, and businesses everywhere collect, convert, and disburse funds instantly across borders. Its payout network supports 100 currencies and spans 190+ countries, 100 of which in real-time. Funds can be disbursed to accounts, wallets, and cards and collected locally in 35 markets. Nium's growing card issuance business is already available in 34 countries. Nium holds regulatory licenses and authorizations in more than 40 countries, enabling seamless onboarding, rapid integration, and compliance - independent of geography. The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344974/Nium_and_Enjaz.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1678669/Nium_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nium-extends-global-payments-growth-in-the-middle-east-adds-key-financial-institutions-and-foreign-exchange-houses-to-client-roster-302068130.html SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The most awaited 3D printing extravaganza of the year has arrived - behold ANYCUBIC's spectacular "Fantastic Weeks"! As a token of gratitude to their cherished customers and community, ANYCUBIC is geared up to make these weeks truly fantastic. From February 26 to March 10, prepare for a showcase filled with innovation, creativity, and exceptional offers, experience the unveiling of new advancements, and celebrate the art of 3D printing. The Grand Finale As the Grand Finale unfolds from February 26 to March 10, brace yourself for the biggest discounts of the year on ANYCUBIC's top-notch 3D printers saving up to $340. The spotlight is on no more than the three remarkable models, each with its own set of cutting-edge features and functionalities: 1.ANYCUBIC Photon Mono M5s Pro: Now priced at $479 (original $579) Ultra-High 14K Resolution, Bringing the Smallest Details to Life: Boasting an impressive 10.1-inch monochrome LCD with a stellar resolution of 13312*5120, the Photon Mono M5s Pro takes 3D printing precision to new heights. Achieving an XY resolution of 16.8*24.8m, comparable to the thickness of a single hair, this innovative technology ensures the reproduction of the minutest details and sharp edges. The enhanced light uniformity, now at 85%, further guarantees impeccable results. Air Heater & Purifier for Enhanced Functionality: Introducing the innovative Air Heater & Purifier module, the Photon Mono M5s Pro integrates air heating with purification, providing independent control and seamless installation. The cover, crafted from engineering-grade fire-resistant material, has undergone rigorous testing at 0C and continuous operation in real-world conditions. This ensures not only safety but also long-lasting performance, even in challenging environments. High Speed Coupled with Exceptional Performance: The Photon Mono M5s Pro offers a high-speed resin printing experience with an impressive average print speed of up to 105mm/h. Adopting the third-generation high-speed ACF film, it minimizes peeling force, ensuring high success rates while simultaneously reducing peeling height and increasing lifting speed. This amalgamation of speed and performance sets a new standard in resin 3D printing. 2.ANYCUBIC Kobra 2 Max: Available for just $479 (original $569) 10X Faster 3D Printing with ANYCUBIC Kobra 2 Max: Max Speed 500mm/s: The ANYCUBIC Kobra 2 Max revolutionizes 3D printing with an astounding maximum speed of 500mm/s-ten times faster than mainstream Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers. This significant increase in printing speed translates to larger model creation, significantly saving time and energy while maintaining optimal efficiency. 88L Large Print Size: 420*420*500mm: Boasting a generous print size of 420*420*500mm, the ANYCUBIC Kobra 2 Max takes on larger projects with ease. Capable of printing models with a voluminous 88 liters in a single go, it outshines similar products on the market. Compared to counterparts with a printing speed of 50mm/s, the Kobra 2 Max drastically shortens printing time by 3 days, 17 hours, and 42 minutes. This not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to energy conservation and environmental friendliness. Automatic Leveling: Upgraded LeviQ 2.0: The Kobra 2 Max features the advanced LeviQ 2.0 Automatic Leveling system, ensuring hassle-free and precise prints. Its unique module intelligently compensates for Z-axis offset after automatic leveling, providing unparalleled accuracy. Additionally, users can customize Z-axis compensation values to suit different needs and environments. With a one-click quick start, the ANYCUBIC Kobra 2 Max makes creative ideas a reality while guaranteeing successful prints. 3.ANYCUBIC Photon X 6Ks: Discounted to $269 (original $349) 9.1-inch 6K Screen for an Exceptional High-Resolution Experience: The ANYCUBIC Photon X 6Ks elevates your 3D printing experience with its 9.1-inch 6K high-definition monochrome exposure screen. Boasting an impressive resolution of 5760*3600px, this screen brings a new level of sharpness and delicate detail presentation. With a high contrast ratio of 380:1, every print is a visual masterpiece. The inclusion of a high light transmittance anti-scratch film protector not only safeguards the screen from wear and scratches but also ensures printing accuracy. Plus, we've got you covered with one free extra piece for easy replacement. 4.76L Printing Volume, Dimension of 195.84x122.4x200mm (LWH): The Photon X 6Ks offers a substantial printing volume with dimensions of 195.84X122.4X200mm (LWH). This expansive space provides a maximum printing volume of 4.76L, enabling more printings in a single go. Experience efficiency like never before. Upgraded LighTurbo Matrix for Sharp and Delicate Details: Featuring the advanced ANYCUBIC LighTurbo matrix light source and high-precision textured optical lens, the Photon X 6Ks delivers a stable and even parallel light source. This upgrade effectively removes optical layers and grid lines, creating a smooth and delicate model surface. With a printing speed ranging from 15 to 60 mm/h, you can collect all your models even sooner. Enjoy the precision of every detail in your 3D prints with the Photon X 6Ks. Discover these and more popular 3D printers at their best prices of the year by shopping in the Fantastic Weeks Big Sale. ANYCUBIC invites 3D printing enthusiasts, from beginners to professionals, to join in the celebration of creativity, innovation, and unbeatable deals during the Fantastic Weeks 3D printing extravaganza. Act fast, as these offers are available for a limited time only. About ANYCUBIC: ANYCUBIC is a leading 3D printing technology company committed to empowering creators of all levels. With a focus on innovation, quality, and community, ANYCUBIC strives to provide cutting-edge 3D printing solutions to enthusiasts worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344379/ANYCUBIC_FANTASTIC_WEEKS.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1834106/983dfccce373fc0ea429fda2723d269_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/anycubics-fantastic-weeks-unveiling-a-3d-printing-extravaganza-302067260.html CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Australian airlines Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AX, QUBSF.PK) reported that its profit attributable to members of the company for the half-year ended 31 December 2023 declined to A$873 million or 51.5 cents per share from A$1.00 billion or 52.7 cents per share in the prior year. Underlying profit before tax was A$1.245 billion for the first half of 2023/24, a decline of A$183 million from the first half of 2022/23. Earnings were 13 per cent lower than the same period of the prior year as fares and capacity continued to normalize. Lower fares contributed to reduced revenue per available seat kilometer which had around a A$600 million impact on profit, while freight yields fell by A$146 million. However, this was mostly offset by contribution from increased flying of A$485 million and unwinding of transition costs from the post-COVID restart of A$179 million. Revenue and other income for the period was A$11.13 billion up from A$9.91 billion last year. The Qantas Group has announced several major investments for customers, including revealing the interiors of its new A220 aircraft, accelerated rollout of Wi-Fi on international flights and a major upgrade to digital platforms. A double Qantas Points/Status Credits offer for Frequent Flyers has also been launched in addition to regular domestic and international fare sales. Qantas Group has confirmed eight additional Airbus A321XLRs for Qantas Domestic from its existing order book announced as part of the Group's domestic fleet renewal program. This brings the total number of Qantas A321XLRs on order to 28, with the first due to arrive in early 2025. In the first half of this calendar year, Jetstar will increase its domestic flying by around 240,000 seats and its international flying by around 200,000 seats (compared with the six months before that) to popular destinations such as Bali, Korea, Japan, Cairns, and Sunshine Coast. As part of recognizing the efforts of its people, around 24,000 non-executive employees will receive a A$500 staff travel voucher to go towards already heavily discounted standby fares available to Group employees, family and friends. Qantas said its board has approved a return to shareholders of up to A$400 million in the form of an on-market share buyback. This is in addition to the outstanding balance of A$48 million from the buy-back announced last year. The Group sees strong travel demand across the portfolio. Unit revenue is expected to remain stable for domestic and continue to normalize for international as market capacity returns. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Video-Workshop: Das kleine Einmaleins der Charttechnik In diesem kostenlosen Video-Workshop von Stefan Klotter lernen Sie alles uber Charttechnik. Lassen Sie sich diesen kostenfreien Workshop nicht entgehen! Hier klicken CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday. The yen fell to nearly a 3-month low of 162.94 against the euro and an 8-1/2-month low of 190.24 against the pound, from yesterday's closing quotes of 162.56 and 189.86, respectively. Against the U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc, the yen slid to a 6-day low of 150.47 and more than a 2-week low of 171.27 from Wednesday's closing quotes of 150.28 and 170.81, respectively. Against Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the yen slipped to more than a 10-year low of 98.69, more than a 9-year low of 93.22 and a 6-day low of 111.58 from yesterday's closing quotes of 98.43, 92.87 and 111.27, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 165.00 against the euro, 191.00 against the pound, 152.00 against the greenback, 172.00 against the franc, 99.00 against the aussie, 94.00 against the kiwi and 112.00 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On February 21, NETA Auto' CEO, Zhang Yong, took to his Weibo account to announce that the upcoming NETA-branded model code-named EP41 will officially be named "NETA SS". This revelation follows Zhang Yong's earlier statement in January 2024, hinting that the EP41 could be considered a sportier version of the NETA S sedan. The vehicle is scheduled to make its debut around the Auto China 2024 in Beijing, with deliveries expected by mid-year. Emphasizing the significance of this model, Zhang Yong highlighted that the NETA SS represents the first car built on the upgraded 2.0 version of the Shanhai platform, featuring substantial enhancements in both hardware and software. Photo credit: Zhang Yong's Weibo account From official images released, the NETA SS exhibits a rugged-looking SUV design, characterized by an elongated front end and split-headlamp design, reminiscent of the NETA S. The upper section houses LED daytime running lights, while the lower part seamlessly integrates the high and low beam lights into a unified unit within the front bumper. Additionally, the vehicle's roof is equipped with LiDAR system, showcasing NETA Auto's commitment to advanced technology. Moreover, leaked spy photos suggest that the sporty design not only enhances the overall aesthetics but also expands the utility of rear cabin space. In terms of the chassis, the NETA SS is expected to feature air suspension, promising an improved driving experience. As of now, specific details about the NETA SS remain undisclosed. However, there are speculations that the model might offer plug-in hybrid electric and all-electric powertrain options. The full-electric variant could potentially incorporate CATLs Shenxing L Series battery, touted as the world's first lithium iron phosphate 4C ultra-fast charging battery, promising an enhanced driving range. Earlier at the 2024 NETA Auto Value Chain Conference, the collaboration between NETA Auto and Hesai Technology was cemented, featuring the integration of the 128-beam ultra-high-definition AT128 LiDAR into NETA Autos new vehicle models. This advancement aims to create the NETA PILOT, an advanced intelligent driving system set to cover a wide range of driving scenarios, expected for debut this year. DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Well-known diversified real estate services provider, Colliers Project Leaders- Middle East, has elevated Yamin Shihab to Managing Director. Yamin joined the firm in 2011 in Calgary, Canada, and went on to lead the Middle East business of Colliers Project Leaders in 2015. Proficient in budgeting, project planning, risk management, regulatory compliances, and strategic guidance, he has successfully led large-scale, complex assignments for global and domestic clients over the years. Moving into a more comprehensive role, Yamin will now oversee new business development and business operations across the Middle Eastern region. Several regional markets are witnessing high demand for real estate assets across segments; mixed-use, hospitality, retail, office, industrial, residential, and several alternative asset classes are steadily growing. The firm has expanded its capabilities and service offering to meet the demands of the sector and enhance its footing in the market and being an established leader with a deep understanding of the business and market, Yamin Shihab has been appointed to build scale and strengthen business ties in the region. "The next growth phase of Colliers Project Leaders- Middle East is an exciting one, and Yamin is the apt leader to steer the business ahead. He has been with the firm for a long time and understands the nuances of the business and the Middle East market. Amid global uncertainties, the GCC region is recovering well and witnessing a scaling demand for premium real estate spaces across asset classes. Our combined capabilities and bouquet enhanced services will certainly meet the business needs of our clients. I am confident that Yamin will continue to mentor our talent, cultivate business relations, and unlock higher value for the firm," says Sankey Prasad, Chairman & MD, India & Middle East- Colliers Project Leaders. "I am grateful to the senior leadership for the support they have extended to me over the years, and for trusting me with this elevated role. This is an opportune time for the real estate market across the Middle East as several developers, investors and owners are pivoting towards these markets, given its resilience and growth potential. With improved capabilities and enhanced value offering for clients, I'm excited about this new role and look forward to accelerating success of our stakeholders and people," added Yamin Shihab. Media Contact: Sukanya Dasgupta Head, Marketing & Communications Sukanya.dasgupta@colliers.com +91 9811867682 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344295/Colliers_Yamin_Shihab.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2147073/Colliers_New_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/yamin-shihab-appointed-as-the-managing-director-for-colliers-project-leaders--middle-east-302067088.html KAMPALA, Uganda, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a leading global cross-border payments network company, and Diamond Trust Bank Uganda (DTBU), a prominent member of the Diamond Trust Bank Group, today, announced a strategic partnership to expand international money transfers and strengthen financial inclusion in Uganda. Together, both firms will deliver unparalleled benefits to customers worldwide. The key attributes of this partnership include the ability to facilitate direct account deposits from any part of the world and leverage DTB's renowned brand name to optimize advantages for customers across the globe. This partnership is poised to significantly narrow the financial inclusion gap, streamlining the processes of money transfer, savings, and credit accessibility for individuals. By forging this collaboration with TerraPay, Diamond Trust Bank Uganda will witness an expansion in its customer base for international money transfers, consequently bolstering direct international investments within the nation. Notably, this initiative will greatly benefit customers and expatriates residing in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Kenya, Germany, Qatar, Canada, and Europe, granting them the capability to execute real-time money transfers to their loved ones in Uganda, a pivotal hub within this partnership. Simultaneously, TerraPay will extend its global outreach through this association with DTBU, simplifying digital cross-border money movement for both individual consumers and businesses alike. As a result, individuals will enjoy swifter and more seamless person-to-person remittances, while businesses can anticipate streamlined payouts spanning an extensive network of 140 recipient countries. This strategic partnership is set to fuel the anticipated growth in digital transactions within Uganda, a market projected to surge to a staggering USD 1.3 billion by 2027. Talking about the partnership, Willie Kanyeki, TerraPay's Vice President, East and South Africa, said, "We are excited to partner with Diamond Trust Bank Uganda to expand our reach in East Africa and make it easier for people to send and receive money across borders. This partnership will help us achieve our goal of providing everyone with access to affordable, reliable financial services. Diamond Trust Bank Uganda is a well-respected bank with a strong track record of providing excellent customer service. We are confident that this partnership will be a success and will help promote financial inclusion in the region, by simplifying global money movement for both individuals and businesses, making it easier than ever to connect with loved ones and also, empower global commerce." Commenting on the collaboration, Varghese Thambi, Managing Director, Diamond Trust Bank Uganda said, "We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible banking experience. This partnership with TerraPay will allow us to offer our customers faster, more convenient, and more secure money transfers, with lower fees. We are confident that this partnership will be a win-win for both, our organizations and the people of Uganda. TerraPay's agile technology will allow us to reach a wider network of customers, making it easier for them to send and receive money across borders. We are certain that this partnership will have a positive impact on the lives of many people in Uganda." About TerraPay TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere - providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 30 global markets and enabling payments to 140 receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses - ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces - while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore, Bangalore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. For more information visit: terrapay.com About DTB Diamond Trust Bank Uganda (DTBU) is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development with offices in Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda. DTBU has 37 branches, 54 ATMs and over 800 Agents across the country. Founded in 1946, DTBU is regulated by the Bank of Uganda and offers an array of banking services to the population. DTB is an equal opportunities employer with over 57% female staff. DTB is a multiple award winner for service excellence in the Uganda's service industry. DTB is a leader in the money transfer services space with over 200 Money transfer outlets in Uganda. For more information please email: Marketing@dtbuganda.co.ug Contact Juveria Samrin juveria.n@terrapay.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/terrapay-joins-forces-with-diamond-trust-bank-uganda-to-simplify-global-money-transfers-in-uganda-302067516.html CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dense Air, a leading provider of shared wireless networks, will join with our partners Radisys and EdgeQ at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona the week of February 26th, 2024, to announce a state-of-the-art integrated neutral host As-a-Service offering. Dense Air and its partners are bridging the gap between physical infrastructure and the cloud, enabling carriers to cost-effectively extend and densify their networks. Together with EdgeQ and Radisys, Dense Air is introducing a first-of-its-kind platform built on a data-driven, cloud-native architecture that offers shared RAN, transmitting public and private cellular networks across a single small-cell based infrastructure for in-building, enterprise, and outdoor deployments. This innovative solution allows cities, hotels, venues, businesses, carriers, and third-party operators to facilitate seamless connectivity across different environments with ease and flexibility. "We are changing the paradigm with our approach to solving network connectivity gaps. This partnership has enabled us to offer a scalable shared network platform As a Service, with a lower total cost of ownership - bringing together a secure, seamless integration to operators' networks. Our end-to-end solution provides a quick-to-deploy, turnkey, resilient multi-tenant platform tailored to specific use cases while providing uninterrupted network coverage at a fraction of the cost," said Jim Estes, CEO of Dense Air. Powering Dense Air's proprietary indoor and outdoor small cells will be EdgeQ's highly converged LTE and 5G system on a chip, which provides the ability to simultaneously broadcast both shared and licensed spectrum, a key market differentiator that changes the economics for 5G service delivery. "We are excited to support Dense Air and Radisys in this ecosystem partnership. As 5G is a key market for EdgeQ, our converged 4G+5G system on a chip solution natively scales to the needs of operators and private enterprises at breakthrough unit economics," said Vinay Ravuri, CEO and Founder of EdgeQ. Through this ecosystem solution, Dense Air is building on its partnership with Radisys Corporation and using their market-proven centralized units (CU) and distributed units (DU) Open RAN solution, which now leverages Google Cloud Platform (GCP) as a foundation. This solution will provide carriers with a robust, reliable ecosystem - positioned to transform the pace of 5G deployment. "We are delighted to partner with Dense Air and EdgeQ in building a network that delivers a 5G network with edge processing capabilities, leveraging a flexible RAN architecture and open interfaces," said Arun Bhikshesvaran, CEO of Radisys. "Our proven 3GPP and O-RAN compliant cloud-native CU and DU software delivers scalability using Google Cloud Platform (GCP), making it possible to deliver differentiated 5G services to multiple carriers." Through this cloud-native, multi-operator, neutral host solution, Dense Air and its partners are bridging the gap between physical infrastructure and the cloud, enabling users to seamlessly connect and stay connected. Please join us for the fireside chat: 'The Revolutionary Future of 5G Networks' on Tuesday at 2pm at the Radisys booth to learn more about the groundbreaking approach to solving coverage gaps. To learn more about the ecosystem partnership visit Dense Air's newsroom About Dense Air Dense Air is leading the innovation of shared wireless networks that delivers secure and expanded coverage making connectivity more open, shared, and inclusive. Dense Air offers a unique end-to-end, As-a-Service model, with an operational expenditure path to solving wireless network coverage & capacity gaps. Providing neutral host small cell solutions that are resilient, flexible and more cost effective than existing alternatives, Dense Air's service solution ensures comprehensive in-building and outdoor cellular coverage, enabling seamless communications for carriers, enterprises, and cities. www.denseair.net About EdgeQ EdgeQ is a leading innovator in 5G systems-on-a-chip. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, with offices in San Diego, CA and Bangalore, India. Led by executives from Qualcomm, Intel, and Broadcom, EdgeQ is pioneering converged connectivity and AI that is fully software-customizable and programmable. The company is backed by world-renowned investors. To learn more about EdgeQ, visit www.edgeq.io About Radisys Radisys is a global leader in open telecom solutions and services. Its disaggregated platforms and integration services leverage open reference architectures and standards combined with open software and hardware, enabling service providers to drive open digital transformation. Radisys offers an end-to-end solutions portfolio from digital end points to disaggregated and open access and core solutions, to immersive digital applications and engagement platforms. Its world-class and experienced network services organization delivers full lifecycle services to help service providers build and operate highly scalable and high-performance networks at optimum total cost of ownership. For more information, visit www.radisys.com . Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haBLgoMYgbA Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344942/Dense_Air.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dense-air-joins-forces-with-radisys-and-edgeq-to-shape-the-ecosystem-of-shared-wireless-at-mwc-302068053.html Press release - regulated information Realised a step change in company's approach to product development with the move to the AGROBODY 2.0 technology platform Successfully closed a 7 million private placement in June at 6.166 per share, subscribed to by Agri Investment Fund and the Belgian Sovereign Wealth Fund Established key partnerships and academic collaborations for the product pipeline and platform Announced results of final round of independent field trials with first candidate biofungicide EVOCA* while progressing the regulatory review dossier Year-end cash and cash equivalents amounted to 21.6 million, higher than anticipated thanks to focus on core R&D capabilities and streamlining of the organisation Management to host a conference call and live webcast at 15:00 CET / 14:00 GMT / 09:00 AM ET today, details below Ghent, BELGIUM, Feb. 22, 2024, an Agricultural Technologyon 20 March 2024. Kevin Helash, Chief Executive Officer of Biotalys, stated: "Biotalys made significant inroads in 2023 by progressing to the second-generation of our technology platform and forging new partnerships and scientific collaborations, while carefully managing our cash position. For 2024, we plan to initiate field trials in grapes with our next pipeline program BioFun-6, building on the promising results in independent field trials with EVOCA. We will also continue to work with the competent authorities to obtain regulatory approval, further expand our product pipeline and optimise our technology platform." Operational Highlights Throughout 2023, Biotalys continued to cement its role of innovator in the biocontrol space and created internal efficiencies while advancing its technology platform and product development pipeline. AGROBODY 2.0 Technology Platform: Following a strategic review of the company in Q3 of 2023, the company announced a shift to the (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-provides-company-update)AGROBODY 2.0 platform (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-provides-company-update) to develop its protein-based biocontrols for crop protection. This next-generation AGROBODY technology is aimed at increasing the potency and efficacy of the company's bioactive agents with multiple modes of action while lowering cost of goods, allowing for a broader market penetration of our biocontrol products. Partnerships: In April 2023, Biotalys entered into a strategic partnership with Syngenta (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/syngenta-and-biotalys-enter-strategic-partnership-biologicals-innovation-advance) to collaborate on the research, development and commercialization of a new bioinsecticide to counter the threat of pest resistance and advance sustainable agriculture. The company also entered into various research collaborations (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-enters-academic-collaborations-key-scientific-leaders-europe-and-us) with academic institutes to further develop the technology platform and support the pipeline programs BioFun-4 and BioFun-7. Product Validation: EVOCA, Biotalys' first protein-based biocontrol candidate aimed at targeting botrytis bunch rot and powdery mildew in fruits and vegetables, continued to demonstrate its efficacy in extensive global field trials, both in the company's own trial program (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-continues-demonstrate-strength-first-biocontrol-latest-global-field-trials) as well as in independent academic trials (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-announces-results-independent-field-trials-us) in the U.S. Biotalys now considers its EVOCA field testing complete given the in-depth dossier of supporting independent data comparing its performance with conventional chemical and biological fungicide products. Pipeline Update: Now laser-focused on novel biofungicide and bioinsecticide solutions, the company refined its product pipeline (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-provides-company-update) in November. The status of the various programs is as follows: Biotalys continues to work with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the U.S. and the CTGB (College voor de Toelating van Gewasbeschermingsmiddelen en Biociden) in Europe on EVOCA's regulatory review. Pending the decision, the company continues to pave the way for its next generation of the product ( EVOCA NG ), a biofungicide program with the same bioactive as EVOCA but an optimized production process and formulation, leading to lower production costs which results in an attractive commercial potential. EVOCA NG is expected to be the company's first margin-generating product in both the US and EU. BioFun-4 , the biofungicide program targeting Phytophthora infestans, an Oomycete (water mould) that causes late blight/potato blight, a serious disease that particularly affects fruits and vegetable crops and potatoes, is proceeding. The company entered into a research collaboration with the University of Aberdeen (UK), within which the company will sponsor a three-year PhD project in the Oomycete Laboratory of Prof. Pieter van West, Chair in Mycology, a leader in the field, to deepen its expertise in Oomycetes on the molecular level. This fits well with Biotalys' highly targeted strategy as the core of its AGROBODY 2.0 technology platform. BioFun-6, the biofungicide program targeting botrytis, powdery mildew and anthracnose in fruits and vegetables, is in the final stages of discovery and lead molecules are expected to be tested in field trials in the course of 2024. BioFun-7, the biofungicide program in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, targeting leafspot disease in cowpeas and other legumes, is advancing and supported by new academic collaborations with the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (Dr. Filipa Monteiro and Prof. Dora Batista) at the University of Lisbon (Portugal), and the lab of Prof. Ioannis Stergiopoulos at the University of California-Davis (US). BioIns-2, the bioinsecticide program in collaboration with Syngenta Crop Protection, targeting key pests, is advancing as planned. Leadership Updates: Kevin Helash officially commenced his new role as Chief Executive Officer of Biotalys (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/kevin-helash-commences-role-chief-executive-officer-biotalys) in October. A results-driven executive with more than 30 years of international experience in commercializing breakthrough technologies in the agricultural industry on a global scale, he immediately began implementing organizational efficiencies to accelerate Biotalys' growth. Douglas Minder was officially promoted to CFO in July (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-announces-chief-financial-officer-succession-plan) while Chief Science Officer Dr. Carlo Boutton now drives all research and early development (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-provides-company-update), and Dr. Eva Van Hende heads regulatory, sustainability and field development. Following a private placement in June 2023, Agri Investment Fund BV (A.I.F.) joined the Biotalys Board of Directors, via its representative Patrik Haesen (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-announces-closing-private-placement), Chief Executive Officer of A.I.F.. Outlook for 2024 With its focus now squarely on advancing the second-generation technology platform, AGROBODY 2.0, Biotalys will continue to concentrate resources on core R&D capabilities, as well as on obtaining registration for its first product candidate EVOCA. Pending the regulatory decision for EVOCA, the company will continue the development of EVOCA NG which is set out to be the first margin-generating product for the company. Building on its successful field trial program, Biotalys plans to initiate field trials in grapes for BioFun-6 in the course of 2024. The company will progress its pipeline programs and expects to initiate a new R&D biofungicide program for a new pathogen in the first half of 2024. Together with the cash and cash equivalents balance of 21.6 million at the end of 2023, the company expects the financial runway to extend until the end of April 2025 without considering any additional financing through equity, newly awarded grants, partnerships or other sources of financing. Special Shareholders Meeting At the board meeting dated 21 February 2024, the board established that based on the non-consolidated Belgian GAAP financial statements for the period ending 31 December 2023, the net assets of the Company (22,751,230.29) dropped below half of the corporate capital of the Company (46,198,455.95) triggering the procedure under article 7:228 of the Belgian Code on Companies and Associations ("BCCA"). In accordance therewith, the Board will convene a special shareholders meeting on March 29, 2024 and propose to the shareholders the continuation of the activities of the Company. The convening notice and the related documentation including the special board report as required under article 7:228 BCCA will become available on the website of the Company in the next few days. At the occasion of this special shareholders meeting, the board will also propose the confirmation of the nomination of Mr. Kevin Helash as director of the Company. Detailed financial review for 2023 In thousand 2023 2022 Other operating income 2,611 2,949 Research and development expenses (16,608) (18,813) General and administration expenses (5,708) (5,081) Marketing expenses (1,186) (1,586) Operating loss (20,891) (22,531) Financial income 939 320 Financial expenses (502) (557) Loss before taxes (20,454) (22,769) Income taxes (56) 38 Loss for the period (20,510) (22,731) Remeasurement gains (losses) on defined benefit plans (29) (43) Exchange differences on translating foreign operations (7) 4 Total comprehensive loss for the period (20,545) (22,770) Basic and diluted loss per share (in EUR) (0.65) (0.74) Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to the owners of the company (20,510) (22,731) Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to the owners of the company (20,545) (22,770) Cash and cash equivalents 21,570 34,096 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (12,521) (22,017) Consolidated statements of profit and loss Other operating income amounted to 2.6 million and relates to R&D tax incentives received and grants awarded to support R&D activities. Income from the grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation increased by 0.3 million. R&D tax incentives remained at 0.7 million, while income from government grants decreased by 0.6 million compared to 2022 as several of these funded projects are coming to an end. amounted to 2.6 million and relates to R&D tax incentives received and grants awarded to support R&D activities. Income from the grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation increased by 0.3 million. R&D tax incentives remained at 0.7 million, while income from government grants decreased by 0.6 million compared to 2022 as several of these funded projects are coming to an end. Research and development expenses amounted to 16.6 million for 2023, a decrease of 2.2 million compared to 2022, mainly caused by a reduction of external spending for the production of EVOCA and for other collaborations, combined with a reduced number of field trials for product testing. amounted to 16.6 million for 2023, a decrease of 2.2 million compared to 2022, mainly caused by a reduction of external spending for the production of EVOCA and for other collaborations, combined with a reduced number of field trials for product testing. General and administrative expenses amounted to 5.7 million for 2023, compared to 5.1 million in 2022. This increase is partly driven by one-time costs in relation to the implemented changes in the organisation. amounted to 5.7 million for 2023, compared to 5.1 million in 2022. This increase is partly driven by one-time costs in relation to the implemented changes in the organisation. Marketing expenses decreased from 1.6 million in 2022 to 1.2 million in 2023, as a result of lower costs for the stock option program following the changes in the Marketing & Sales organisation in the second half of the year. decreased from 1.6 million in 2022 to 1.2 million in 2023, as a result of lower costs for the stock option program following the changes in the Marketing & Sales organisation in the second half of the year. Financial income amounted to 0.9 million in 2023, compared to 0.3 million in 2022, primarily due to the increased interests received on bank deposits, which were negative in 2022. amounted to 0.9 million in 2023, compared to 0.3 million in 2022, primarily due to the increased interests received on bank deposits, which were negative in 2022. Financial expenses amounted to 0.5 million and are related to interest expenses for the leases and bank loans and foreign exchange losses. amounted to 0.5 million and are related to interest expenses for the leases and bank loans and foreign exchange losses. Income taxes expenses show the impact of the reversal of a deferred tax asset related to the R&D expenses in our U.S. subsidiary. show the impact of the reversal of a deferred tax asset related to the R&D expenses in our U.S. subsidiary. Loss of the period was 20.6 million in 2023, compared to 22.8 million in 2022. was 20.6 million in 2023, compared to 22.8 million in 2022. Basic and diluted loss per share for 2023 amounted to 0.65 compared to 0.74 in 2022. The average number of shares outstanding in 2023 increased versus 2022, as a result of the capital increase in June. for 2023 amounted to 0.65 compared to 0.74 in 2022. The average number of shares outstanding in 2023 increased versus 2022, as a result of the capital increase in June. Cash and cash equivalents at year-end amounted to 21.6 million in 2023 (compared to 34.1 million in 2022), slightly higher than expected as a result of a combination of savings in external R&D expenses and organisational changes implemented by management. Auditor Statement The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, as adopted by the EU. The financial information included in this press release is an extract from the full IFRS consolidated financial statements, which will be published on 20 March 2024. The statutory auditor, Deloitte Bedrijfsrevisoren /Reviseurs d'Entreprises, represented by Pieter-Jan Van Durme, has confirmed that its audit procedures, which have been substantially completed, have not revealed any material adjustment that should be made in the accounting information included in this press release. Financial calendar and upcoming IR events 28 February 2024: Biotalys' management will attend the Regenerative Food Systems Investment conference in Brussels 4 March 2024: Biotalys' management will give a keynote speech at Danum Advisor's Knowledge Day in Amsterdam dedicated to investment in biodiversity 18-19 March 2024: Biotalys' management will participate at the annual ROTH MKM investor conference in California 19-20 March 2024: Biotalys' management will participate at the annual World AgriTech Forum in San Francisco 20 March 2024: Online publication of the Biotalys annual report for 2023 23 March 2024: Biotalys' management will speak at the Flemish Retail Investor Association (VFB) Annual Happening in Antwerp 29 March 2024: Special shareholders meeting 16 April 2024: Biotalys will host a site visit for the investor branch of Markant, an organisation for active and entrepreneurial women, at its HQ and labs in Ghent 23 April 2024: Biotalys will hold its Annual General Shareholders Meeting at its HQ in Ghent Live webcast and conference call Company management will host a live webcast in English to discuss its full year 2023 financial results and business highlights today, Thursday, 22 February 2024 at 15:00 CET / 14:00 GMT / 09:00 AM ET and can be accessed via the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/uwteb7ve/. Dial-in details: To ask questions live to management, please register for the conference call via the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe76a08c1a0544f40a864e04bbf066d2d. A recording of the webcast will be available after the event on the Biotalys investor website: https://www.biotalys.com/investors/financial-information. * EVOCA: Pending Registration. This product is not currently registered for sale or use in the United States, the European Union, or elsewhere and is not being offered for sale. -End- About Biotalys Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology. For further information, please contact: Toon Musschoot, Head of IR & Communication T: +32 Important Notice Biotalys, its business, prospects and financial position remain exposed and subject to risks and uncertainties. A description of and reference to these risks and uncertainties can be found in the 2022 annual reporton the consolidated annual accounts published on the company's website. This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'aim', 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. Biotalys' actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Biotalys makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER Attachments DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in MENA and India, is thrilled to announce its newest collaboration with Malta Tourism, aimed at providing travelers with unparalleled access to the country. This partnership aims to offer a seamless journey from inspiration to exploration. By joining forces with Malta Tourism, Wego reinforces its dedication to delivering comprehensive travel solutions while showcasing the diverse and captivating destinations Malta has to offer. Malta, a gem nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean, boasts a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. From the UNESCO World Heritage sites to the crystal-clear waters of its pristine beaches, Malta promises an unforgettable adventure for every traveler. With this collaboration, Wego users can now easily discover and plan their vacation to Malta, leveraging Wego's intuitive platform and Malta Tourism's wealth of resources and expertise. "We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Malta Tourism," said Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego. "At Wego, we are committed to empowering travelers with the tools and information they need to explore the world with confidence. Through this partnership, we look forward to showcasing the unparalleled charm of Malta and providing our users with unforgettable travel experiences." As part of the partnership, Wego will feature insider tips, and curated travel guides to Malta, ensuring travelers have access to the best of what the destination has to offer. From uncovering hidden gems to experiencing the vibrant local culture, Wego and Malta Tourism aim to inspire wanderlust and create lasting memories for travelers around the globe. "We are delighted to collaborate with Wego to promote Malta as a premier travel destination," said Arthur Grima, Director Marketing of the Malta Tourism Authority. "With its extensive reach and innovative approach to travel planning, Wego is the perfect partner to help us showcase the beauty and uniqueness of Malta to travelers worldwide. Together, we look forward to welcoming visitors to our shores and creating unforgettable experiences that will last a lifetime." Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese Archipelago comprises of three main islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. The breathtaking natural landscapes are complemented by the warm hospitality of the locals. From the oldest free-standing temples in the world, to the romantic walled city of Mdina, and the fortress capital city of Valletta, Malta is truly a historical wonder for those that choose to explore it. Whether one is looking for an active holiday, a culinary journey, a curated experience, or simply to join in the local traditions and events, a visit to Malta can be a pleasant surprise as it offers much more than one might expect! About Malta Tourism Authority and VisitMalta The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) was formally set up by the Malta Travel and Tourism Service Act (1999). This clearly defines its role - extending it beyond that of international marketing to include a domestic, motivating, directional, co-ordinating and regulatory role. The Act strengthens the public and private partnership in tourism through greater and more direct participation by the private sector in national planning and development of the industry. The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has a diverse role, but one which in essence is all about creating and fostering relationships. The MTA is the tourism industry's regulator and motivator, its business partner, the country's brand promoter, and is here to form, maintain and manage meaningful partnerships with all tourism stakeholders. Primarily, this means attracting visitors to the Islands, but also working closely alongside the private sector partners. Importantly, the MTA is also here to help strengthen the industry's human resources, ensure the highest standards and quality of the Islands' tourism product, and foster relations with local and international media. About Wego Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites. Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website. Wego was founded in 2005 and is dual headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Riyadh, Cairo, Lahore, and Kuala Lumpur. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344363/WEGO_Valletta.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wego-announces-exciting-partnership-with-malta-tourism-to-elevate-travel-experience-302068349.html ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURVY) reported Thursday that its fiscal 2023 net income attributable to shareholders grew 10 percent to $4.35 billion from last year's $3.96 billion. Earnings per share were 26.70 Swiss francs, up 6 percent from last year's 25.28 francs. Earnings per share went up 12 percent in US dollar. Group business operating profit or BOP climbed 21 percent to $7.38 billion from last year's $6.12 billion. The company noted that in the first year of its 2023-2025 financial cycle, it posted highest ever BOP, strongly supported by an excellent performance by the Commercial Insurance business, a record performance in its Life business, and growth at Farmers. P&C gross written premium and policy fees grew 7 percent to $44.40 billion from last year's $41.44 billion. Further, the company proposed dividend increase of 8 percent to 26 francs per share, supplemented by a share buyback of up to 1.1 billion francs. Looking ahead, Zurich now expects compound annual growth in 2023-2025 earnings per share to exceed 10 percent. This is compared with the previous target of 8 percent, which was established at the 2022 Investor Day. The company also sees mid-single digit growth in insurance revenue for P&C, with the Life BOP expected to be at least in line with the record high level of 2023. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VEVEY (dpa-AFX) - Swiss food and beverage giant Nestle SA (NSRGY.PK, NSTR.L) reported Thursday that its fiscal 2023 net profit increased 21 percent from last year to 11.2 billion Swiss francs. Earnings per share increased 23.7 percent year-over-year to 4.24 francs. Underlying earnings per share edged up 0.1 percent to 4.80 francs. Total reported sales were 93.0 billion francs, a decrease of 1.5 percent from last year's 94.42 billion francs. Foreign exchange decreased sales by 7.8 percent. Real internal sales were down 0.3 percent. Further, the company said its Board of Directors will propose a dividend of 3.00 francs per share at the Annual General Meeting on April 18, an increase of 5 centimes. Looking ahead for fiscal 2024, Nestle projects expect organic sales growth around 4 percent and a moderate increase in the underlying trading operating profit margin. Underlying earnings per share in constant currency is expected to increase between 6 percent and 10 percent. further, the company confirmed its 2025 mid-term targets, still expecting mid single-digit organic sales growth and an underlying trading operating profit margin range of 17.5 percent to 18.5 percent by 2025. Underlying earnings per share in constant currency is projected to increase between 6 percent and 10 percent. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. COPL Provides Business and Financial Performance Update CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited ("COPL" or the "Company") (CSE: XOP)(LSE:COPL), an international oil and gas exploration, production and development company with production and development operations focused in Converse and Natrona Counties, Wyoming, USA, provides a business and financial performance update. On December 29, 2023, the Company announced (i) that it had entered into a Forbearance Agreement with its Senior Credit Facility Lender, pursuant to which the Senior Credit Facility Lender agreed not to enforce certain rights and remedies that it might otherwise have until February 29, 2024 as a result of the default(s) under the Senior Credit Facility (ii) an equity placing, and (iii) the appointment of a Chief Restructuring Officer, all of which were intended to give the Company time to consider strategic financing or sale alternatives. On January 10, 2024, the Company announced, in response to shareholder queries, that, among other things, the Company had concluded that the value of COPL's assets were unlikely to be sufficient to cover the claims of the secured and unsecured creditors which then stood in excess of US$130 million and that the Company was in a precarious financial situation relating to its liquidity position. On January 16 th the Company closed a US$2.5m equity placing that was designed to give the Company an opportunity to remain listed whilst it obtained an independent technical review of the assets, including possible near term and medium term cash flows from various different development strategies, approach investment banks with a view to obtaining indications as to the value of COPL's assets and seek further funding. The preliminary results of the third party technical review have not changed the Company's conclusions about the value of the Company's assets. During this period, given its liquidity constraints, the Company has not been acquiring any Propane or Butane for injection. The average daily production has been for 2024 has been approximately 1,000 boe/d. Based off the most current cash-flow projections, the Company forecasts that its cash reserves will be fully depleted in the first week of March 2024 and that the Company will require additional funding to be able to continue operations beyond such date. The Company has sought, and so far been unable to obtain, such additional funding. The Senior Credit Facility Lender has indicated that it will not extend the forbearance period beyond February 29, 2024. The Company continues to consider strategic alternatives in light of the foregoing, including some form of formal insolvency protection that may or may not leave value in the Company's common shares. About the Company: COPL is an international oil and gas exploration, development and production company actively pursuing opportunities in the United States with operations in Converse County Wyoming. For further information, please contact: Mr. Tom Richardson, Chairman Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited Tel: + 1 (403) 262 5441 Charles Goodwin Yellow Jersey PR Limited Tel: +44 (0) 77 4778 8221 Email: copl@yellowjerseypr.com The Common Shares are listed under the symbol "XOP" on the CSE and under the symbol "COPL" on the London Stock Exchange. Caution regarding forward looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "initial, "scheduled", "can", "will", "prior to", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "forecast", "future", "continue", "may", "expect", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including, but not limited to, the ability to raise the necessary funding for operations, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties most of which are beyond the control of Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd. For example, the uncertainty of reserve estimates, the initiation of proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or similar legislation, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, cost overruns, health and safety issues, political and environmental risks, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, changes in legislation affecting the oil and gas industry could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Company (apart from the responsibilities or liabilities that may be imposed by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or the regulatory regime established thereunder) or by any of its affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd View the original press release on accesswire.com Sodexo and AstraZeneca extend their global partnership for a further 5 years. Issy les Moulineaux, February 22, 2024 Sodexo reinforces its contract of Food and Facilities Management Services with AstraZeneca in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway for a further 5-year period. Sodexo and AstraZeneca have built a trusting relationship over the years, with significant advances implemented to improve the daily lives of consumers. The collaboration between Sodexo and AstraZeneca began in 2008 in the UK with a first Food and Facilities Management contract. In 2012, the contract was extended to additional sites and scope of services in the UK, as well as in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. From October 1, 2023, Sodexo is subsequently proud to announce the evolution of this partnership under a Vested agreement* for a further 5-year period. Through this highly collaborative Vested agreement, Sodexo will continue to provide services across the global portfolio, including Food services, as well as Workplace services, Cleaning in GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and quality-controlled Lab areas, Technical Services, Grounds Maintenance and Waste Handling. To support AstraZeneca's activities and teams, drive efficiencies and spark further innovation, Sodexo is implementing key initiatives aligned to its 2025 ambition to deliver excellent client and consumer experience, including the implementation of: global food brands, suitable for both manufacturing and office environments, such as Kitchen Works and Modern Recipe, delivering delicious food in stylish and welcoming spaces that foster a sense of belonging and cultivate collaboration; proven solutions to reduce Astra Zeneca's environmental impact: WasteWatch initiative to track, analyze and limit food waste with the objective of reducing food waste by 50% by 2025; "Reusable Food Box" tracked by a personalized QR code to avoid single-use packaging waste; Carbon labelling on menus to drive consumers towards sustainable choices; tech & data solutions to support a consumer-centric approach with the evolution of the existing 'Everyday' consumer app, enabling consumers to pre-order meals, as well as benefitting from a digitized grab and go food offer. The partnership will also benefit from further digitization concerning other critical areas such as Health & Safety, Financial performance, Quality and Compliance through Sodexo's global Wando app. This app generates data and insights to ensure consistency and transparency that enable informed solutions, acting as the central reporting platform to drive KPIs. Johan Stellingwerf, Sodexo Chief Operating Officer for Global Strategic Accounts said: "We are very pleased to have extended our long-lasting partnership with AstraZeneca. Together, we share a mutual commitment to nurturinghealthy people, healthy planet and healthy society within our workplaces. We will continue to enhance AstraZeneca's best-in-class workplace by delivering sustainable experiences every day for everyone. Together with our teams, we will continue generating value, supporting both companies' strong commitments around Sustainability, Safety, Quality & Compliance, Innovation and People." * The Vested business model is based on award-winning research conducted by the University of Tennessee College of Business Administration. In this case, both parties commit to a high level of transparency and collaboration, starting with crafting the agreement together. Incentives are built to drive mutual business success, driven by a 'What's in it for we' mindset. The agreement aims to increase innovation, reduce long term cost, increase efficiency in FM, improve employee engagement and encourage alignment on sustainability and productivity goals. About Sodexo Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. The Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. Thanks to its two activities of Food and Facilities Management Services, Sodexo meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices. Key Figures 22.6 billion euros Fiscal 2023 consolidated revenues consolidated revenues 430,000 employees as at August 31, 2023 #1 France-based private employer worldwide 45 countries 80 million consumers served daily 11 billion euro in market capitalization (as at February 1, 2024) Attachment Tech veteran will lead the company's sales strategy and expansion in this key region The formation of a dedicated DACH sales region is an important milestone in Mitel's global expansion strategy and reflects the significance of this geography for the company Mitel, a global leader in business communications, today announced the creation of a dedicated DACH sales region and the appointment of Christian Jessel as Head of Mitel DACH. This move follows a period of growth after the successful acquisition of Unify last year and signals Mitel's ambition to cement its position as the largest UC player in the DACH region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222743954/en/ Christian Jessel, Head of Mitel DACH (Photo: Business Wire) In his new role, Christian will lead the DACH sales strategy and execution, driving growth in critically important markets such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Christian brings a wealth of experience in tech and a deep knowledge of vertical markets, including financial services, healthcare, and the public sector. He started his career at Fujitsu, followed by senior positions at Siemens Enterprise Communications and Unify where he held various leadership roles for the past 12 years. Most recently Christian served as Head of Central Europe at Unify. "I'm really excited to be joining the Mitel leadership team at such a pivotal time for the company and to be able to lead the growth strategy for the DACH region. We have a leading presence in this market through both direct and indirect sales channels, which allows us to better respond to the needs of our customers and partners and offer customized solutions," commented Christian Jessel as Head of DACH region at Mitel. "We want to expand and strengthen our market position in these areas, and we are working on new programs and innovations across products and services to ensure our strategy can continue to drive growth and help even more organizations modernize and adapt their communications capabilities to meet the evolving needs of today's workplace." In his role Christian will be supported by an expanded sales leadership team including: Andreas Koss, Head of Direct Sales Germany, Thomas Schmieske, Head of Indirect Sales Germany, Drazen-Ivan Andjelic, Head of Sales Alpine Direct Indirect. "I'm proud to be working with such an accomplished and experienced team and I look forward to integrating both organizations into one and partnering together to energize our partner and customer bases and drive more value for them," added Christian Jessel. Tarun Loomba, president and chief executive officer of Mitel commented: "This is an exciting time in Mitel's history. Following the acquisition of Unify we have strengthened our service offering, expanded our global reach, and enhanced our solutions portfolio, solidifying our role as a global leader in Unified Communications. We have ambitious plans to build on this momentum by driving organic growth across our SMB and large enterprise customers. DACH is a key region for us as part of our plans to drive continued growth and I'm convinced that Christian and his team will set this region up for success." About Mitel A global market leader in business communications powering more than two billion business connections, Mitel helps businesses and service providers connect, collaborate, and provide innovative services to their customers. Our innovation and communications experts serve business users in more than 100 countries. For more information, go to www.mitel.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X @Mitel. Mitel is the registered trademark of Mitel Networks Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222743954/en/ Contacts: Sandrine Quinton +33 (0)130-964-301 sandrine.quinton@mitel.com Read the full article on Motorious It's for a great cause. Classic Recreations, celebrated for its exquisite Diamond Edition Carbon Fiber Shelby Cobra Race Car and Shelby GT500CR Mustangs, has embarked on a groundbreaking $1 million campaign to support the American Heart Association (AHA). This initiative marks a first-of-its-kind collaboration, aligning with the AHA's Life is Why campaign, aimed at encouraging individuals to lead healthier, longer lives through philanthropy. In an extraordinary move to celebrate the AHA's centennial, Classic Recreations unveils the limited American Heart Association Life is Why Centennial Edition Carbon Fiber Shelby GT500CR. This initiative not only commemorates the AHA's 100th anniversary but also pioneers Classic Recreations' venture into philanthropy through the sale of a signature muscle car. Details of this remarkable Shelby GT500CR can be explored on the dedicated Life is Why Campaign page. ADVERTISEMENT The campaign features the sale of 10 exclusive Centennial Edition Shelby GT500CRs, each priced at $625,000. From each sale, $100,000 will be donated to the AHA's Life is Why Campaign, targeting a total donation of $1 million by the end of 2024. These collector-worthy vehicles represent a unique blend of automotive excellence and charitable giving. Jeff Stone, CEO of Classic Recreations, expressed pride in supporting the AHA's noble cause, highlighting the alignment of values between the organizations and honoring Carroll Shelby's legacy. Bryan Stone, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the unique opportunity for collectors to own a part of motorsports history while contributing to a crucial healthcare cause. The AHA's commitment to combating heart disease and stroke, coupled with Classic Recreations' innovative fundraising model, exemplifies a powerful partnership for change. Dallas Board Chair Mark Sanders commended the company's generous support, underscoring the vital role of such collaborations in advancing the AHA's mission to save lives and enhance health outcomes across communities. Story continues This landmark campaign offers an unparalleled chance for auto enthusiasts and philanthropists alike to drive forward the fight against heart disease and stroke, marking a significant milestone in the AHA's centennial celebrations. 2 / 2 Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. DUSSELDORF, Germany, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LenioBio, a life-science company offering an advanced protein expression platform for drug discovery and development, today announced the appointments of Kathrin Knauf as Chief Technology Officer and Malene Linderoth as Chief Commercial Officer. "I am delighted to welcome Kathrin and Malene on board," said LenioBio CEO, Andre Goerke. "Their extensive industry experience will be invaluable as we further scale and commercialize our groundbreaking platform technology. They will make pivotal contributions to platform robustness and scale, as well as to strong commercial growth." To her role as Chief Technology Officer, Kathrin brings over two decades of experience from multiple technical operations and quality functions, across a broad range of pharmaceutical platforms, including mRNA technology, and vaccines. Prior to LenioBio, Kathrin served at Moderna as Vice President CMC Clinical Operations. In 2020, she established and managed the global COVID CMC Project Management Office manufacturing ramp up. Enthused by novel technologies, Kathrin adds, "I am impressed with LenioBio's cell-free technology, ALiCE, and I believe it has game-changing potential. I am very excited to play a role in its commercialization, working alongside a talented team." Malene also believes LenioBio's unique technology is poised to revolutionize drug discovery and development, adding, "While its current capabilities are compelling, the prospect of ALiCE's future potential to accelerate advancements in medicine across a spectrum of diseases is truly exciting. I had to be part of this, and I feel honored to contribute to the expansion of the market for this essential innovation." In her capacity as Chief Commercial Officer, Malene will lead the company's commercial operations, drawing from her wealth of experience in strategic brand management, marketing and new business development. Prior to LenioBio, she served for more than 20 years in various strategic commercial and leadership roles in multinational organizations and startups, including GE Healthcare and Sysmex. About LenioBio LenioBio is a life-science biotechnology firm dedicated to enhancing global access to effective and affordable medicines. It advances transformative technology for the discovery, development, and large-scale production of proteins, liberating the process from conventional limitations of cells. Pioneered by LenioBio, ALiCE is an innovative eukaryotic protein expression platform that empowers scientists globally to accelerate the discovery and development of life-saving drugs. For more information, visit www.leniobio.com and follow LenioBio on LinkedIn. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1758134/4549954/LenioBio_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/leniobio-appoints-cto-and-cco-to-spearhead-growth-and-innovation-302065268.html From 28th February to 1stMarch 2024, 120 international events at Rimini Expo Centre including the next G7 Energy and Environment's side event: "Scaling-Up a sustainable electrification Africa, for Africa with Africa" RIMINI, Italy, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "KEY-The Energy Transition Expo, Italian Exhibition Group's (IEG) European benchmark trade show on energy transition and efficiency scheduled in Italy, at Rimini Expo Centre, from 28th February to 1st March, is about to start," the Group's CEO, Corrado Peraboni, announced. "At its second edition," said Alessandra Astolfi, IEG global exhibition director, "the show will also offer world-class events, defined by the Technical-Scientific Committee directed by Gianni Silvestrini." Christian Previati, KEY exhibition manager: "We have exceeded all expectations with 800 companies, +15% of foreign brands and +25% more international buyers from Germany, Spain, France, Holland, Belgium, United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Central Asia." 120 events scheduled "KEY Energy Summit" will begin the international programme with Alessandro Marangoni presenting the Althesys study "System governance, the key to transition", a coordinated strategy for renewables, storage and grids to decarbonise Italy; the same meeting will include proposals from the ANEV, ANIE Rinnovabili, Assoidroelettrica, CIB, Coordinamento Free, Elettricita Futura, FederIdroelettrica, Italia Solare associations. Simultaneous Italian-English translation available. From 29th February to 1st March "Scaling-Up a sustainable electrification Africa, for Africa with Africa", the side event of the upcoming G7 Energy and Environment that will bring European industry leaders and representatives of African countries to KEY. An international two-day event, organised by RES4Africa, focusing on North African countries and sub-Saharan regions: the theme will be innovative strategies to balance energy security and sustainability, innovation for a fair energy transition, and de-risking tools to accelerate investments for sustainable electrification (event in English, with simultaneous translation in French and Italian). On Thursday 29th February, the presentation, with simultaneous Italian-English translation, of the new edition of the 'Supply Chains of the Future' report, promoted by Symbola Foundation and IEG, in collaboration with trade Associations. And "EUPD Research Conference Session | Addressing the Challenges of Europe's Solar & Storage Boom", on the latest trends and technologies, in English on Friday 1st March, organised by International Battery & Energy Storage Alliance-IBESA. A partial list that already proves KEY's international scope: the complete programme on the following link. PRESS CONTACT SIGEP ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP head of media relation & corporate communication: Elisabetta Vitali; press office manager: Marco Forcellini; international press office coordinator: Silvia Giorgi; media@iegexpo.it, +390541744814 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2260872/4554656/Italian_Exhibition_Group_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/in-italy-800-brands-for-key-the-energy-transition-expo-global-industry-on-the-future-of-energy-302067865.html News & Information Center, Xinhua News Agency SHENYANG, China, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Unique Flavors of Liaoning" event was held in Russia on the 20th, and various "flavors of Liaoning" brought gastronomic delights to the citizens of Moscow. Focusing on the "flavors of Liaoning," the event, hosted by News & Information Center, Xinhua News Agency, showcased unique Liaoning ingredients, "top ten Liaoning snacks," "top ten Liaoning dishes", etc. Among which, the "peacock welcoming guests" sculpture, "24 solar terms" dumpling feast and other highlights, as well as live cooking presentation by Chinese and Russian chefs garnered the attention of guests from both nations. Liu Zhonghe, Deputy Director of Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee and Director of the Liaoning Provincial Public Culture Service Center, attended the event and remarked that Liaoning has been blessed with a whole range of high quality ingredients thanks to its well-established ecosystem, and this endowment underpins the unique characteristics and tastes of Liaoning cuisine. Liu also expressed the wish to use food as a bridge to further connect China and Russia, and deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in terms of economy, trade, culture and sister cities relations. Shimko, an official from the Culture and Tourism Department of Moscow Oblast, addressed the audience and said that this event has provided an opportunity for Muscovites to learn more about Chinese cuisine and Chinese culture, and that Moscow Oblast is willing to furnish support for the goals of deepening interactions and improve mutual understanding between the citizens of the two countries, so as to create more platforms and chances conducive to strengthening cooperation between both sides in various fields. Delegates from the Chinese Embassy in Russia, relevant organs from Liaoning Province, and representatives from the culture, tourism, industry and commercial sectors of Moscow Oblast attended the event alongside media personnel. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345317/Unique_Flavors_of_Liaoning.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/muscovites-enjoy-the-tastes-of-china-thru-unique-flavors-of-liaoning-event-302068513.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2)("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report that two additional mineralized outcrops have been discovered at target AM-14, located on the Company's Mining Concession within the AM District of its wholly-owned Cesar Copper-Silver Project, Northeastern Colombia. In addition, the Company has received the final data from the 10,000 line-km property-wide airborne magnetic and radiometric survey. Highlights The discoveries at AM-14 highlight the scale of potential deposits on the Cesar Copper-Silver Project: AM-14 lies along a 15-km corridor of high-grade, stratiform Copper-Silver mineralization (refer to Figure 1). The 15-km corridor is parallel to the regional strike of the sedimentary rocks and has highlight grades of 24.8% Copper and 230 g/t Silver. These discoveries bring the total number of outcrops at AM-14 to 7 and provide further confirmation that several horizons of stratiform mineralization are present within the sedimentary sequence in the AM District. The Copper-Silver bearing outcrops are exposed up to 285m along strike and are up to 4.0m thick. There is strong evidence for continuity of mineralized layers between AM-14 and AM-07, a distance of 1.5-km. Airborne magnetic and radiometric data is an important tool in identifying the geological structures that controlled the flow and emplacement of the mineralized fluids: Over 10,000 line-km high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey collected. Survey area covers 114,650 sq-km of prospective geology. Data analysis and a structural interpretation are underway with results expected in Q2. "The exploration crews continue to expand the Company's latest Copper-Silver discoveries in multiple directions, confirming significant horizontal extents of multiple Copper-Silver horizons, duplicating the success at other AM targets, at the Conejo and at URU Districts," commented MAX CEO Brett Matich. "Concentrated exploration in each of these three areas along 120-km's of the CESAR Basin continues to expand the Copper-Silver mineralization footprint, strongly supporting Max's geological model for CESAR as an analog to both Kupferschiefer in Poland/Germany and Kamoa-Kakula in DRC," he concluded. AM-14 Outcrops Mineralization at target AM-14 is hosted in layers of medium to fine-grained sandstone rich in organic material. The Copper-Silver bearing horizons are within a 700-metre-thick package of interbedded sedimentary rocks that strike 240 to 260 and dip 30 to 45. northwest. Chalcocite, malachite and azurite are the most abundant copper minerals observed in the outcrop (refer to Figure 2 to 4). The newly discovered mineralized beds are up to 2.2m thick and are exposed for several metres along strike before disappearing under cover. Systematic channel sampling of the mineralized outcrop has now commenced. Crews will continue detailed mapping in the vicinity of the discoveries with the goal of extending the footprint of mineralization. Figure 1: Image showing 15-km corridor of high-grade copper-silver mineralization at AM. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_maximage1.jpg Image shows outcrop of Copper-Silver bearing sandstone. The mineralized horizon is up to 1.3m thick and exposed for 12.5m along strike before disappearing under cover. Figure 2: Newly Discovered Outcrop #6 at Target AM-14. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_maximage2.jpg Image shows outcrop of Copper-Silver bearing sandstone. The mineralized horizon is up to 2.2m thick and exposed for 8.0m along strike before disappearing under cover. Figure 3: Newly Discovered Outcrop #7 at Target AM-14. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_maximage3.jpg Figure 4: Location of Newly Discovered Outcrops in Target Area AM-14. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_3e91aa46e4bd4820_010full.jpg Airborne Magnetic & Radiometric Survey The 10,000 line-kilometre high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey has been completed and final data received from the survey contractor (refer to Figure 5). Survey data were collected along East-West oriented flight-lines spaced at 125m and flown at a nominal height of 100m using a fixed-wing aircraft (refer Figure 6). North-South oriented tie-lines were spaced at 1.25-km. Image showing colour contours of the 1st Vertical Derivative of the Total Magnetic Intensity. Figure 5: High-Resolution Airborne Magnetic Data over Cesar Copper-Silver Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_3e91aa46e4bd4820_011full.jpg Analysis of the data has commenced with emphasis being placed on identifying geological structures that acted the conduits for mineralized fluids. Results from the data analysis will be important in both refining existing targets and identifying new ones. Figure 6: Airborne Magnetic & Radiometric Survey Aircraft in Valledupar, Colombia. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_3e91aa46e4bd4820_012full.jpg Background The Cesar Copper Silver Project comprises three districts: AM, Conejo and URU. Collectively the three contiguous districts stretch over 120-km in NNE/SSW direction (refer to Figure 7). This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's twenty mining concessions collectively span over 188-km. In 2022, Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR) (NYSE: EXK), which assists to expand its 100% owned landholdings, Endeavour will hold an underlying 0.5% NSR. Figure 7: Location and Scale of the Cesar Copper Silver Project, NE Colombia. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/198876_maximage7.3.jpg AM District Starting in the far north of the Jurassic basin, classic stacked red bed outcrops with extensive lateral continuity have been rock sampled over many kilometres within the AM District. Highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver have been documented in the sedimentary red bed sequences. The Company confirmed that stratiform mineralization continues at depth with two scout drill holes completed earlier this year (Max News Release dated April 4, 2023). In addition, Colombian field crews continue to discover and sample new mineralized outcrops including at the recently identified AM-7 target (Max News Release dated May 25, 2023 and Max News Release dated June 22, 2023). Conejo District Midway south, the Conejo District is the most recent to be recognized and is characterized by structurally controlled mineralization hosted in intermediate and felsic volcanic rocks. Numerous mineralized outcrops have been discovered over 3.7-km at the primary target in the district with surface samples averaging 4.9% copper (2% cut-off). No drilling has been conducted at Conejo, but it has emerged as an area of focus for the Company. URU District Mineralization within the URU District is hosted in intermediate volcanic rocks and is structurally controlled, similar to deposits in the Central African Copper Belt. At URU-C, a 9.0m of 7.0% copper and 115 g/t silver surface discovery was confirmed at depth by drill hole URU-12, which intersected 10.6m of 3.4% copper and 48 g/t silver. At the URU-CE target, 750m to the east, 19.0m of 1.3% copper discovered in outcrop was confirmed by drill hole URU-9, which intersected a broad zone of copper oxide returning 33.0m of 0.3% copper from 4.0m, including 16.5m of 0.5% copper (Max News Release date January 24, 2023). CESAR Target Evaluation Max has identified and is evaluating 28 targets along the 120-km-long belt for potential drill testing. The Company is focused on expanding, refining, and prioritizing these targets in preparation for a drill program. Initial efforts have been concentrated on those targets with the greatest size potential with work that includes the following field activities: Systematic chip and channel sampling of the mineralized outcrops. Detailed geological and structural mapping of each showing. Target scale prospecting and soil sampling. Airborne Magnetic/Radiometric Surveys. Regional Exploration Max has demonstrated that the Cesar basin is fertile for copper-silver mineralization over a large area; however, only a fraction of the basin has been explored. As a result, Max has dedicated one of its geological teams to regional exploration with the goal of discovering additional copper-silver prospects within its land package covering more than 1,000 sq-km. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale Cesar copper-silver project. The wholly owned Cesar project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world-class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0m. Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of transitioning the Cesar basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for Colombia's transition to clean energy. The safety of our people and the communities where we operate is most important. We conduct exploration in a manner which supports protection of ecosystems through responsible environmental stewardship. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report RT Gold Project for Max Resource Corp. by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, Mar. 8, 2023. NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/. For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. rahim@bluesailcapital.com Brett Matich T: (604) 484 1230 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198876 SOURCE: MAX Resource Corp. EPIC Suisse AG / Key word(s): Conference Invitation to the Conference Call for Investors, Analysts and Media 22.02.2024 / 10:00 CET/CEST Zurich, 22 February 2024 Invitation to the Conference Call for Investors, Analysts and Media Ladies and Gentlemen, We cordially invite you to attend our 2023 Annual Results Conference Call. Date / Time Monday, 25 March 2024 at 09h30 am CET Speakers Roni Greenbaum, Chairman Arik Parizer, CEO Valerie Scholtes, CFO We kindly ask you to pre-register in advance for the call, by clicking HERE . Once you register, you will receive personalised dial-in numbers, passcode and PIN via email. Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the beginning of the call, using the access details indicated in the email. Should you have any issues with the registration, please call the following number on the day of the conference call 10 to 15 minutes before the event: +41 58 310 50 00 EPIC Suisse AG will publish its Annual Report 2023 and the 2023 Annual Results Press Release on 25 March 2024, at 07h00 am CET. At the same time the presentation slides for the conference call will be available for download at https://ir.epic.ch/en/investor-analyst-presentations/ We look forward to your participation. Best regards, Arik Parizer CEO Contact information Valerie Scholtes, CFO, EPIC Suisse AG, Phone: +41 44 388 81 00, E-mail: investors@epic.ch About EPIC Suisse AG EPIC Suisse AG is a Swiss real estate company with a high-quality property portfolio of about CHF 1.5 billion in market value. It has a sizeable development pipeline and a strong track record in sourcing, acquiring, (re)developing and actively managing commercial properties in Switzerland. EPIC's investment properties are mainly located in Switzerland's major economic hubs, specifically the Lake Geneva Region and the Zurich Economic Area. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since May 2022 (SIX ticker symbol EPIC; Swiss Security Number (Valorennummer) 51613168; ISIN number CH0516131684). More information: www.epic.ch EPIC Suisse_Invitation Conf.call FY 2023 End of Media Release By automatically responding to changes in the network and updating and reconfiguring cell parameters without manual intervention, Magenta Telekom is taking a step further towards "zero-touch" network operations. FAIRFAX, Va., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TEOCO, the leading provider of analytics and optimization solutions for over 300 communications service providers worldwide, is supporting Magenta Telekom, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, in optimizing its wireless network operations through automation. SmartCM, TEOCO's industry-leading configuration management platform, now includes an automation framework that enables Magenta to not only monitor and adjust the configuration of their wireless network without human intervention, but also to create automated responses to changing network conditions. "Mobile networks require constant fine-tuning," says Robert Schneider, Senior Manager Mobile Engineering & Lifecycle Management at Magenta Telekom. "Monitoring hundreds of millions of cell parameters is an important but time- and labor-intensive task. SmartCM detects discrepancies and adjusts cell parameters immediately and automatically, helping Magenta Telekom to provide better network coverage in a scalable and cost-effective manner. The new framework enables engineers to define workflows that respond to external triggers and automatically take corrective actions." Magenta Telekom has been using TEOCO's SmartCM solution since 2018 to configure its 5G network. The SmartCM automation framework enables Magenta to bring data, services and existing and proven optimization algorithms into an end-to-end automated process to accelerate a variety of tasks. For example, if data traffic exceeds a certain threshold, the algorithms detect this and automatically adjust the cell parameters to balance the load. The new framework can be customized to automate a variety of network optimization tasks to achieve immediate cost savings while improving network performance. "Magenta Telekom has always been an innovator in the industry, willing to think outside the box," explains Atul Jain, CEO of TEOCO. "With the new automation features, the company can optimize its network operations for the many opportunities that will arise in the future. We look forward to working with Magenta on more exciting projects in the future." For more information please visit: www.teoco.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/teocos-new-framework-drives-zero-touch-operational-automation-at-magenta-telecom-302067797.html Major changes for Factris' platform include same-day payments, streamlined onboarding, and fraud prevention for European SMEs Automation and AI features enable adaptations to local languages, currencies, and regulations The new platform is a key component to Factris' expansion into new markets in the EU AMSTERDAM, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of designing and programming, a replacement of Factris' FAB (Finance Automation for Business) platform has been released simultaneously across all five of Factris' markets. These include Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Factris' IT engineers applied insights learned over the course of six years to the new platform to improve nearly every aspect of how Factris funds European SMEs. This includes offering more types of financing, faster approval, direct control of accounts, and easier access to funds thanks to the platform's new automated, AI-powered features. The new platform replaces the original FAB platform from 2018, which has been an integral part of Factris' main financial product known as "factoring." The first FAB platform simply enabled SMEs to upload and sell their unpaid invoices to Factris for a fee to receive working capital within 48 hours. This new version of FAB, though, enhances how Factris funds SMEs in almost every way while also offering unique features and capabilities, including: Same-day payments to SMEs and faster debt collection from debtors Streamlined onboarding for simpler, faster approval and service Three different types of factoring products are now offered, along with access to multiple insurers and funders Self-service portals for clients and brokers to directly manage their info, submit invoices, monitor statuses, and view reports AI-powered risk management to prevent fraud, late payments, or credit issues Automated compliance with local regulatory requirements, government institutions, financial reporting requirements, and VAT variations Multi-currency and multi-language capabilities for clients and debtors to interact with Factris in their local language and local currency Factris also introduces the latest addition to the platform - the AI-enhanced Robot OCR Tool. This state-of-the-art technology utilizes optical character recognition to recognize and extract text from images and documents, which allows the company to process invoices quickly. By using this AI Tool, the company can streamline its workflows and increase productivity while eliminating the need for manual data entry. These new automated features also give Factris greater control, flexibility, and scalability of their financial products. Armed with these new automated capabilities, Factris can now expand into new markets more easily and at a lower cost. The new capabilities of the latest FAB platform have CEO Brian Reaves excited for European SMEs. He commented, "Since Factris' beginning, technology and automation have allowed us to offer fast, convenient funding to SMEs. Now, with this powerful new platform, we can expand our financing services across the EU and help even more SMEs receive the working capital they need." About Factris Based out of Amsterdam, Factris is a fintech company on a mission to provide quick, affordable capital to SMEs across Europe via financial technology with personalised guidance. For more information, please www.factris.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/automated-scalable-sme-funding-now-possible-thanks-to-new-platform-from-fintech-factris-302067907.html BILBAO (dpa-AFX) - Iberdrola SA (IBDSF.PK), a Spanish renewable company, Thursday reported an increase in preliminary net profit for the full year, supported by an investment of 11.38 billion euros. For the 12 months, net income moved up by 10.7 percent to 4.8 billion euros. Grids and offshore wind were the main drivers of an annual investment of 11.38 billion euros across all geographies. EBITDA was 14.42 billion euros, up 9 percent from the previous year. Iberdrola will pay an annual dividend of 0.55 euro per share, an increase of 10.8 percent from the previous year. Looking ahead, Ignacio Galan, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, said: 'After a year of record investments, our enhanced financial solidity means we will continue to invest significantly in the energy transition in 2024. New investment frameworks in networks and our offshore wind projects under construction will help us to deliver strong and profitable growth for the year.' For the full year, the company expects an annual net profit growth of 5 percent to 7 percent, driven by a planned investment of 12 billion euros. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Eurozone private sector shrank at the slowest pace in eight months in February, provisional survey data from S&P Global showed on Thursday. The flash composite output index posted 48.9 in February, up from 47.9 in the previous month. Although the reading remained above the forecast of 48.5, the score still signals contraction in the private sector. The services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to a seven-month high of 50.0 from 48.4 a month ago. The reading was seen at 48.8. On the other hand, the manufacturing PMI fell to 46.1 from 46.6 a month ago. The expected score was 47.0. 'There is a glimmer of hope as the eurozone inches towards recover', Hamburg Commercial Bank Economist Norman Liebke said. Nonetheless, the economist said the latest PMI figures are likely to disappoint the European Central Bank as output prices increased at a faster pace for the fourth month in a row. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Synechron, Inc., a leading global digital transformation consulting firm focused on financial services and technology organizations, is proud to be Great Place To Work Certified for 2023-2024 within 12 countries. Synechron achieved this prestigious certification based solely on the direct, anonymous feedback from its regional teams of 14,700+ global employees. This marks the first time that Synechron elected to participate in the Global Great Place To Work survey (versus previous participation in country-specific surveys) as testament to its significant growth as an organization. Synechron was proudly certified a Great Place To Work in the following countries: Australia Canada France India Luxembourg Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Switzerland UAE UK USA Overall, Synechron received high marks in the following five categories based upon the Great Place To Work Trust Index Survey which measures the employees' level of trust in and organization and the consistency of the employee experience. The Trust Index assesses companies against these five key measures: Credibility - Employees perceive management and leaders to be credible, competent and have integrity - Employees perceive management and leaders to be credible, competent and have integrity Respect - Employees feel respected by management in terms of professional support, collaboration and decision-making - Employees feel respected by management in terms of professional support, collaboration and decision-making Fairness -- Employees experience management practices that are fair based upon equality, impartiality and justice -- Employees experience management practices that are fair based upon equality, impartiality and justice Pride - Measures how employees feel pride about their own work impact, pride in their team's work, and pride in the organization as a whole - Measures how employees feel pride about their own work impact, pride in their team's work, and pride in the organization as a whole Camaraderie - Measures employees' beliefs that their organization forms a strong community where colleagues are supportive and where everyone is pulling in the same direction The latest certifications for Great Place To Work follow multiple previous individual country awards Synechron has won in recognition of being an exemplary employer of choice. Synechron has always strived to recognize, support and provide its teams with the tools, support and resources to enhance their skills, thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, and take their careers to the next level. The firm is continuously seeking to enhance its full array of programs, all designed to attract and retain the best talent who will work with great passion and dedication to bring clients innovative, digital transformation solutions, such as advanced Artificial Intelligence-led tools. Faisal Husain, Co-founder and CEO of Synechron, commented, "We are incredibly honored by this global acknowledgement, proud of our company's culture and being repeatedly recognized as an outstanding employer. We take great pride in providing a collaborative, inclusive workplace where our dedicated teams of amazing individuals can leverage their talents and demonstrate to clients how modern solutions and cutting-edge tools can evolve their businesses. Our people are the cornerstone and very essence of Synechron." "Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. "By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Synechron stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees," she added. About Synechron At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,700+, and has 48 offices in 19 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community . About Great Place to Work Certification Great Place To Work Certification is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience - specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified. For more information please contact: Rashmi Joshi Synechron +91-9560694654 Media@synechron.com / Rashmi.Joshi@synechron.com Zoe Forbes-Pyfrom (+44) 7718 599666 synechron@cognitomedia.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/synechron-earns-a-great-place-to-work-certification-in-12-countries-globally-302067409.html Stellantis American truck buyers are a broad-based but inevitably finicky bunch. They demand the traditional trappings of a workhorse vehicle, but want that ability wrapped in a sumptuous package. When Ram announced it was ditching V-8 engines for their half-tons starting for 2025, fans immediately called out the violation of this long-standing understanding. Having just experienced the inline-six-powered truck, those frustrated fans are plain wrong. The 2025 Ram 1500 brings the first major refresh of the DT Generation model that arrived in 2019. Rams design team went to work on the aging offering, designing new fascias and upgraded lighting elements for 2025. There are now eight unique grille designs tied to the 1500, which are leaned forward for a tougher and more imposing feel. The Ram logo at the center of the grille is also now much larger, and mounted closer to the hood line than in previous generations. Step up to higher trim models and there's an adaptive LED front lighting system, which includes up to 15 degrees of directional beam control tied to steering inputs. Unlike its stablemates, the new range-topping Tungsten model also features a body colored fascia in place of a traditional steel bumper, bringing some high-end SUV design to the brute. Many will prefer the more traditional split bumper look, but there is a genuinely premium air to the Tungsten when placed alongside the lesser Rams. Stellantis With no V-8s for the 2025 model year, Ram 1500 buyers will now have three unique six-cylinder powertrains to choose from. The Tradesman, Big Horn, and Lone Star trim levels all come standard with the brands long-in-tooth, naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 and 48v mild hybrid system, which provide the same 305 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque as its predecessor. Rebel and Laramie customers will receive the brands new turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six in Standard Output trim. The Hurricane features a closed deck, all-aluminum design with a forged steel crankshaft and cast aluminum pistons, and happens to share the same bore and stroke as BMW Ms glorious S58. The two turbos goose output to 420 hp and 468 lb-ft in its basic spec, thanks largely to their 22 psi of boost. The more luxurious Limited, Limited Longhorn and Tungsten models receive the High Output variant of the Hurricane, which sees output jump to 540 hp and 521 lb-ft thanks to 28 psi of pressure. For those keeping score at home, thats 90 more horsepower than Fords F-150 Raptor provides with its 3.5-liter V-6. It is worth noting that while the Standard Output Hurricane is an optional upgrade for the lower trims, the High Output motor is exclusive to the big-money models. Every 2025 Ram 1500 features a license-built version of ZF's eight-speed automatic transmission. Story continues Stellantis The chassis itself remains largely unchanged, with a double-wishbone front suspension paired with a multi-link solid rear axle. An optional four-wheel air suspension system smooths out the Rams ride without sacrificing its trucking requirements. Ride comfort with the air shocks remains one of the trucks best qualities, and the civility is worthwhile. The lineup features a maximum payload capacity of 2300 lbs, which is in line with the outgoing model. Maximum towing capacity is rated at 11,580 lbs, which is down from the 12,750 lbs rating from 2024. Both an open differential and a limited-slip differential are available depending on the trim level, while the off-road-focused Rebel gets an e-locker as standard. There are three rear axle ratios to choose from, including 3.21, 3.92, and 3.55. ADVERTISEMENT My first taste of the 2025 Ram 1500 came by way of a Hurricane-equipped Lone Star model, a fitting intro given the backdrop of Austin, Texas. I hail from family that has been Ram truck customers in various forms since 2011, so Ive spent enough time in a Hemi-powered DT Generation product to understand how much character that engine brought to the table. The 5.7-liter was an ever-present companion, quick to announce its Mopar roots. It wasnt the most potent or advanced V-8 in a half-ton, but that deep rumble (and lame fuel economy) always felt right for the Dodge spin-off. Ill happily admit I wasnt so sure about the brands decision to let the V-8 go entirely. Even Ford still offers a V-8 in the F-150, though its trucks have had a V-6 standard since 2011. Stellantis It took me all of a few minutes from behind the wheel of the Hurricane-powered truck to realize those concerns were misplaced. Click the push button start and the straight-six fires to life with a minimal amount of drama. Chief Engineer Doug Killian told R&T that the brand was committed to keeping the Hurricane as natural sounding as possible, without any sort of enhancements or fakery via the speakers. Theres no tricky fuel dump in the exhaust to try and butch up the Hurricanes note for a V-8 audience. Instead, all you hear are the actual tones provided by a true dual 3-inch exhaust system. The turbos somewhat mute the straight six, but Rams focus on upping the in-cabin experience plays a bigger role in the engines lack of presence. Thats not a knock against the Hurricane, however. The level of quiet you experience in the cabin is unrivaled by Detroits other truck offerings. Specific frequencies are blasted through the speaker to cut down on road noise, with air passing over the mirrors representing the most persistent annoyance. Its shockingly quiet for a truck, especially if youre lazy with the throttle. Get a bit more aggressive with the go pedal and the Hurricane becomes a more complicated partner. Theres no mistaking this truck for anything other than heavily turbocharged. Like with the Typhoon of yesteryear, mash the pedal from a stop and theres going to be a notable amount of time before boost pressure builds. Youre then met with a wall of torque, followed by a hurried run towards the shift point around 5500 rpm. You get a bit of engine noise during that more aggressive use, which is pleasant but not too sonorous. The power is certainly all there, but it's located in what feels like a different operating window. That said, I found the engine to be well-mated to the gear ratios when off-roading. The Hurricane had no problem inching a Rebel around Rams curated off-road course, though I found myself trying to wrangle in that boosty engine during some of the Baja style sections. Ford's EcoBoost might feel a bit more flexible in that sense, but it doesn't have the character or performance of the Hurricane. Stellantis The High Output variant is even a hair more laggy than the base Hurricane, but that extra boost does not go unnoticed. The High Output-equipped tester pulled hard through the rev range, tacking on a few hundred extra RPM compared to its sibling. It may not be a Hellcat V-8, but the level of performance on offer is nothing to sneer at. The High Output motor also brings a slightly more pleasant song, which is accented by the occasional shift fart from the eight-speed. I cannot wait to see what Stellantis has in store for this powertrain, as it was my favorite part of the experience. Whats not to love about a straight-six in an American pickup that wipes the floor with the M4s output? Stellantis Lovely engine aside, the first few miles of my journey solidified why it's so hard to argue against half-tons as daily drivers. The cabin will be familiar to any current Ram owners, but with some notable enhancements to the material selection through the trim list. A 10.25-inch digital cluster sits ahead of you, which pairs with either a 12-inch or all-new 14.5-inch central infotainment screen running UConnect 5 software. Fidelity on the screens is very good, especially when using one of the onboard cameras. I only experienced the larger screen firsthand, which comes complete with a section of hard buttons on screen to reduce the need to dig through menus. There are als0 a number of actual buttons present for important features. Thanks to the brands latest electronics architecture, the higher-trimmed trucks will also support advanced driver assistance technologies. The Limited tester was equipped with a hands-free driving mode, which made handy work of the mapped roadways outside of Austin. I didnt have a chance to experience the new Tungsten model from behind the wheel, but the difference between it and the existing Limited appears scant. That said, the Tungsten does get a beautiful unique leather interior, as well as items like an upgraded Klipsch stereo setup. Losing the Hemi V-8 will hurt the Ram 1500 in some circles. These are the same buyers who still deride Ford for the EcoBoost nearly 15 years on. I love a V-8 as much as anyone, but we don't live in a world where automakers can build what they (or their customers) prefer. Ram easily could've worked over the tried-and-true Pentastar V-6 while we await (or dodge) an all-electric future, but they didn't do that. This might be a mid-cycle update, but this is a very different 1500. In "copying" BMW's beloved powertrain layout, the brand has created a package that feels like an American take on luxury. Stellantis You Might Also Like Housing Japan launches its Investment Sales Division, offering a comprehensive mix of property investment, sales assistance, and management services in Tokyo's luxury real estate market. TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Housing Japan, a premier real estate agency celebrated for its portfolio of luxury properties in Tokyo, announces this week the launch of its new Investment Sales Division. This innovative venture represents a dedicated expansion in Housing Japan's services, specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of investors, property sellers, and landlords. The new division will provide a holistic suite of services, uniting a selection of top-tier investment properties, expert sales assistance, and comprehensive property management solutions, offering a one stop service to clients onshore and offshore. Investment Opportunities Galore The Investment Sales Division at Housing Japan is poised to redefine investment in Tokyo's real estate market. It will offer selected investment properties with high potential for capital growth and competitive yield. These properties represent some of the best of Tokyo's real estate, promising both local and international investors lucrative opportunities. Housing Japan supports these offerings with its deep market knowledge and sophisticated tax management strategies, ensuring investors have every advantage in this dynamic market. Tailored Sales Assistance Navigating the unique challenges of Tokyo's property market requires expertise and precision. Housing Japan's Investment Sales Division offers personalized sales services that include comprehensive appraisals, insightful market analyses, and customized marketing strategies. This approach ensures that property owners are positioned to receive optimal returns on their sales, leveraging Housing Japan's extensive network and market understanding. Comprehensive Property Management Housing Japan's approach to property management is defined by convenience and effectiveness. The division takes charge of every aspect, from tenant acquisition and rent collection to maintenance and financial reporting. Landlords benefit from Housing Japan's robust online owner's portal, offering real-time financial insights. Each service is tailored to meet the unique requirements of each property and owner, ensuring bespoke solutions that maximize property potential and owner satisfaction. About Housing Japan Housing Japan is a leading real estate agency in Tokyo, specializing in luxury properties and offering a wide range of services to an international clientele. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the Tokyo real estate market, Housing Japan is committed to providing exceptional service and reliable investment opportunities in one of the world's most dynamic cities. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Thursday as the European stock markets traded higher, after U.S. chipmaker Nvidia said its revenue more than tripled, and profits rose nine-fold. The A.I. chip maker also projected that its revenue would more than triple again, driven by robust demand for its specialized and costly semiconductors. In the Asian trading today, the U.S. dollar held steady against the euro, the pound and the Swiss franc, while the greenback rose against the yen. In the European trading now, the U.S. dollar fell to nearly a 3-week lows of 1.0888 against the euro and 1.2710 against the pound, from early highs of 1.0819 and 1.2631, respectively. If the greenback extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.10 against the euro and 1.28 against the pound. The greenback dropped to near 2-week low of 0.8743 against the Swiss franc, from an early high of 0.8795. On the downside, 0.85 is seen as the next support level for the greenback. Moving away from an early 6-day high of 150.47 against the yen, the greenback edged down to 150.01. The greenback may test support near the 146.00 region. Against Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the greenback slid to nearly a 3-week low of 0.6596, a 5-week low of 0.6219 and a 9-day low of 1.3441 from early highs of 0.6542, 0.6177 and 1.3498, respectively. The next possible downside target for the greenback is seen around 0.67 against the aussie, 0.63 against the kiwi and 1.33 against the loonie. Looking ahead, U.K. PMI reports for February and Eurozone CPI for January are slated for release in the European session. In the New York session, Canada retail sales data for December, U.S. weekly jobless claims U.S. existing home sales data for January and U.S. EIA crude oil data are set to be published. At 7:30 am ET, the European Central Bank is scheduled to issue the account of the monetary policy meeting of the governing council held on January 24 and 25. At 10:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson will deliver a speech on the U.S. economic outlook and monetary policy before a Peterson Institute for International Economics webcast, in Washington D.C., U.S. At 3:15 pm ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker will speak on the economic outlook before an event hosted by the University of Delaware Center for Economic Education, in Newark, Delaware, U.S. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Video-Workshop: Das kleine Einmaleins der Charttechnik In diesem kostenlosen Video-Workshop von Stefan Klotter lernen Sie alles uber Charttechnik. Lassen Sie sich diesen kostenfreien Workshop nicht entgehen! Hier klicken WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices eked out modest gains on Thursday as concerns about supply offset industry data showing another hefty build in U.S. inventories. Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.4 percent to $83.36 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were up 0.4 percent at $78.23. Due to continued attacks on commercial vehicles in the Red Sea route, tankers have been diverting to longer routes. Houthi rebels have reportedly said ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea are their latest maritime targets. With no immediate possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, it is uncertain when the vessels will start using their normal routes again. Meanwhile, inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) proved to be a mixed bag. Crude stocks rose 7.17 million barrels in the week ended Feb. 16, according to API data released on Wednesday. That was much more than expectations for a build of 4.3 million barrels and marked a third straight week of builds in inventories. Gasoline stockpiles also rose while distillate fuel inventories declined. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. London South adds a further 27,000 sq m of technical space across five floors at Global Switch's London data centre campus taking the total campus to 115,000 square metres. Designed to provide high power density suitable for HPC and AI deployments with both air and liquid cooled optionality for customers. Designed to BREEAM rating of Excellent with a PUE of less than 1.2 Unique connectivity offering within established data centre campus Global Switch, a leading owner, operator and developer of large-scale network dense, carrier and cloud neutral multi-customer data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific, today announces that it has successfully been granted planning approval for the construction of a new five floor, 27,000 sq m data centre, London South, at its London campus. Once complete the addition of the new data centre will make Global Switch's London site, which includes London East and London North, one of Europe's largest purpose-built data centre campuses at 115,000 square metres with 126MVA of utility power supply capacity. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240220887279/en/ Global Switch London South CGI (Photo: Business Wire) Located in the heart of London's connectivity rich Docklands hub, London South will deliver a low latency, highly interconnected OCP compliant data centre experience, offering 40MW of IT power capacity. Less than a mile from London's Canary Wharf and within 3.5 miles of the City of London, the data centre will offer a range of densities from 3,000W/sq m as standard to >5,000W/sq m with liquid cooling optionality, making it the ideal environment for the evolving technology to support low latency AI solutions to serve London. London South complements the existing London East and London North data centres which already have the ability to provide high density air and liquid cooled solutions to the market. London South simply provides further capacity for growth on the campus for new and existing customers who demand operational excellence in a low latency Tier 1 location. The data centre is aligned with the objectives of the Mayor of London's policy requirements provided within the Energy Hierarchy of the London Plan. Global Switch's London campus already benefits from 100% renewable energy, whilst London South has been designed to incorporate the latest energy efficient and resilient technologies in order to minimise power consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of the data centre. These include low energy flexible cooling solutions for critical environments and fossil free HVO fuel for use in its backup generators, offering reductions of up to 90% of net CO2. The data centre will also have the ability to export heat to the local community if so required. With over 25 years of expertise, Global Switch has cultivated a wealth of knowledge and experience that ensures operational excellence. The data centre will target an annualised Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.2 and has been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of Excellent. Both the PUE and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) will exceed the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP) targets, and will be among the best in the industry, demonstrating our commitment to environmental sustainability. In keeping with the existing London Campus, connectivity is prioritised, and London South will include two diverse building entry points, facilitating present and future growth, bringing the total on the campus to ten. Further, an additional two Meet Me Rooms will create an interlinked network of six across the entire campus, giving the data centre instant access to the majority of the world's leading networks and cloud on-ramps. Adam Eaton, London's Executive Group Director said: "In a market expected to double in size by 2025/26, Global Switch's London South data centre is ideally positioned to provide highly resilient, low PUE space for a wide variety of customers. This latest addition to our London Campus will meet the burgeoning needs of hyperscale, large enterprise and cloud and managed services providers who are looking to house their mission critical infrastructure. As well as a commitment to utilise only 100% renewable electricity, the data centre also benefits from minimal water consumption and the potential to export heat to the local community. London South encapsulates Global Switch's most advanced design guidelines as we continue to drive towards our target of net zero across the portfolio by 2030." Ashley Muldoon, CEO said: "With this new addition to our London campus, Global Switch will provide existing and new customers with further expansion opportunities in yet another Tier 1 located, low latency, high density data centre solution. Our London Docklands campus will continue to play an essential role in delivering HPC and AI in the London market, as we grow our unique offering in 2024." NOTES TO EDITORS: About Global Switch Global Switch is the leading owner, operator and developer of large-scale, carrier and cloud neutral, multi-customer data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Founded in 1998, Global Switch has a proven business model, demonstrable track record and is one of the highest credit rated data centre companies in the world with investment grade credit ratings from Fitch, Moody's and S&P Global Ratings. Global Switch is a vital strategic partner for customers that require secure and resilient data centre services with scalable capacity and a high-level customer service. The Company's focus is on providing high power density suitable for HPC and AI deployments with both air and liquid cooled optionality, as well as highly resilient, central, low latency, network dense locations in prime city centre locations and internet hubs close to its customers on the edge of financial and business districts. Global Switch's data centres operate exclusively in the Tier I markets of Europe and Asia-Pacific to Tier III or higher and currently total around 428,000 sq m (4,600,000 sq ft) of floor space and are occupied by a broad range of customers, global and national, large and small including government organisations, financial institutions, enterprises, global systems integrators, telecommunication carriers, cloud and managed service providers and other hosting businesses. For more information visit: www.globalswitch.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240220887279/en/ Contacts: Jenny Davey FGS Global +44 20 7251 3801 jenny.davey@fgsglobal.com Ali Ballantine Group Director, Brand and Communications Global Switch +44 20 8054 9053 aballantine@globalswitch.com PARIS, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iokoo, an innovator in the field of computer troubleshooting, announces today the launch of its unique solution combining generative artificial intelligence and human expertise. This cutting-edge technology is specifically designed to meet the needs of micro-businesses, retailers, professionals, and freelancers 24/7. As a journalist, we can provide you with a complimentary standard user account with unlimited access, allowing you to test and evaluate the power of our service. Contact us at feedback@iokoo.co! "Our mission at iokoo is to provide quick, efficient, and personalized computer assistance," says Gwennhael AUDRAN, iokoo brand director. "We have developed a platform where generative AI works in harmony with our expert technicians to offer an unparalleled computer troubleshooting service." iokoo stands out for its ability to contextualize computer problems and offer tailor-made solutions. Customers can easily interact with the AI for immediate assistance or choose to switch to a human technician for more complex cases. With competitive rates and flexible subscriptions, iokoo makes computer expertise accessible to all. Annual or monthly subscriptions provide unlimited AI technical support, available 7 days a week during office hours, with a technician located in France ready to intervene within 15 minutes of creating an incident ticket. " At iokoo, we understand the importance of reliable and appealing computer troubleshooting for small businesses. Our goal is to minimize disruptions and maximize productivity," adds Gwennhael AUDRAN, iokoo brand director. For more information about iokoo and its services, visit iokoo.co. Don't forget to request your account with unlimited access at feedback@iokoo.co ! About iokoo iokoo, a subsidiary of NowBrains Group, is a global pioneer in providing computer troubleshooting solutions integrating AI and human expertise. Dedicated to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, iokoo aims to simplify IT management with innovative and accessible solutions. Press Contact Vincent Pons - Marketing Director of NowBrains Group Email: vincent.pons@nowbrains.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345376/iokoo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/iokoo-the-revolutionary-alliance-of-ai-and-human-expertise-in-computer-troubleshooting-302068672.html Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden announced that he is approving $1.2 billion in student debt cancellation for nearly 153,000 borrowers currently enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan ahead of schedule. The borrowers receiving relief are the first to benefit from a SAVE plan policy that provides debt forgiveness to borrowers who have been in repayment after as little as 10 years and availed $12,000 or less in student loans. The loan repayment waiver was originally planned for announcement in July, but the Biden Administration implements this provision of SAVE and is providing relief to borrowers nearly six months ahead of schedule. The Biden Administration will also be cancelling debt for those borrowers who are enrolled in the SAVE plan, have been in repayment for at least 10 years, and took out $12,000 or less in loans for college. For every additional $1,000 a borrower initially borrowed, they will receive relief after an additional year of payments, the White House said. For example, a borrower enrolled in SAVE who took out $14,000 or less in federal loans to earn an associate's degree in biotechnology would receive full debt relief starting this week if they have been in repayment for 12 years. The U.S. Department of Education has identified nearly 153,000 borrowers who are enrolled in SAVE plan who will have their debt cancelled starting this week. According to the White House, those borrowers will receive an email from President Biden informing them of their imminent relief. Next week, the Department of Education will also be reaching out directly to borrowers who are eligible for early relief but not currently enrolled in the SAVE Plan to encourage them to enroll as soon as possible. This shortened time to forgiveness will particularly help community college and other borrowers with smaller loans and put many on track to being free of student debt faster. The Biden Administration estimates that under the SAVE plan, 85 percent of future community college borrowers in the U.S. will be debt free within 10 years. The Department will continue to regularly identify and discharge other borrowers eligible for relief under this provision on SAVE. With this, the Biden Administration has approved a total of nearly $138 billion in student debt cancellation for almost 3.9 million borrowers through more than two dozen executive actions. Under the SAVE plan, launched last year, monthly payments are based on a borrower's income and family size, not their loan balance. The SAVE plan ensures that if borrowers are making their monthly payments, their balances cannot grow because of unpaid interest. And, starting in July, undergraduate loan payments will be cut in half, capping a borrower's loan payment at 5 percent of their discretionary income. Already, 7.5 million borrowers are enrolled in the SAVE Plan, and 4.3 million borrowers have a $0 monthly repayment. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Video-Workshop: Das kleine Einmaleins der Charttechnik In diesem kostenlosen Video-Workshop von Stefan Klotter lernen Sie alles uber Charttechnik. Lassen Sie sich diesen kostenfreien Workshop nicht entgehen! Hier klicken DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Estonia, represented by Taste Estonia, is set to make a significant impact at Gulfood 2024, highlighted by the participation of Madis Kallas, Estonia's Minister of Regional Affairs. Taste Estonia's participation in this year's event is co-funded by the EU and underscores the country's commitment to global culinary excellence and sustainability, marking a substantial representation with 18 leading Estonian companies showcasing their innovative products and services. Gulfood 2024, hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19 - 23 February, is the perfect backdrop for Estonia to demonstrate its food technology and sustainability practices. Under the inspiring theme 'Pure air. Clean Water. Fresh Food.', Minister Kallas' visit emphasises the critical role of green innovation and sustainable development in the food industry, continuing Estonia's tradition of impactful participation in previous editions of Gulfood. This year, Taste Estonia's stand at Trade Centre Arena, S-G44, will be a hub of activity, featuring a diverse group of Estonian companies, from the oldest and largest drinks manufacturer, Le Coq, to innovative start-ups like Puljong, specialising in natural broths, and Revala, a pioneer in ice cream powders and powder blends. Each company represents Estonia's rich culinary heritage and forward-thinking food production approach, offering a glimpse into the country's commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. The 18 participating companies, including notable names such as Haage Natural Mineral Water, renowned for its perfect mineral balance, and Iktos, offering 100% authentic honey, underscore Estonia's diverse food and beverage sector. Other participants like Valio Eesti showcase Estonia's prowess in dairy production, while innovative firms like Vegestar and YOOK Production, which is shortlisted for the 2024 Gulfood Innovation Awards, highlight Estonia's advancements in plant-based nutrition and sustainable beverages. Through its robust participation in Gulfood 2024, Estonia aims to foster international partnerships, explore new markets, and share its vision of sustainable and innovative culinary practices with the world. Minister Kallas' presence, alongside the collective showcase of Estonia's leading companies, positions Estonia as a dynamic force in the global food industry, ready to meet future challenges with sustainable solutions and innovative products. At the Gulfood Innovation Awards 2023, Revala, Rosena DK, and Must Umami were each awarded for their innovative approaches to healthy and organic food solutions, captivating a jury comprising industry experts and culinary figures and setting new standards for excellence in the food sector. Taste Estonia embodies the best of Estonian cuisine, with a focus on purity, sustainability, smart innovation, health, and unparalleled taste. By participating in Gulfood 2024, Taste Estonia continues to lead the way in introducing the world to Estonia's innovative food products and sustainable culinary solutions. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345397/Estonia_Gulfood_2024.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/estonias-major-showcase-at-gulfood-2024-with-minister-of-regional-affairs-madis-kallas-and-18-leading-companies-302068732.html Storied Collection member estates work together to drive better guest experiences and drive additional bookings. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Storied Collection, the esteemed consortium of privately hired estates in the UK and Ireland, today announced the launch of an innovative Lead Sharing Program, aimed at fostering collaboration and mutual growth among its members. This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionize the way historic estates such as Dunskey Estate in Scotland and Gilmerton House in Athelstaneford, Scotland, operate within the luxury rental market. Storied Collection Members Retreat Storied Collection Annual Members Retreat The program, embodying the mantra "strength in numbers," encourages member estates to share leads and referrals, thus maximizing occupancy rates and revenue potential. This collaborative approach not only benefits individual properties but also strengthens the collective brand of Storied Collection. Dunskey Estate, a 25-bedroom Edwardian estate in Portpatrick, and Gilmerton House, a luxurious Georgian manor near Edinburgh, both inaugural Storied Collection members, are at the forefront of this initiative. These estates serve as exemplary models of how collaboration can enhance the visibility and appeal of historic properties, offering unique experiences to guests seeking luxury, history, and exclusivity. Anne Tristine Nguyen, owner of Dunskey Estate, says, "There are only so many high-quality estates across the UK and Ireland. Because we can all only take one booking at a time, it makes sense to introduce our fellow Storied Collection members, when appropriate for the client, to ensure they have a great experience. This provides not only immense value for the estates in Storied Collection, but also the travelers that are seeking out these truly unique stays." "The Storied Collection's Lead Sharing Program weaves a new thread of collaboration, uniting historic estates like Gilmerton House and others in the collection in a shared vision of excellence. By joining forces, we not only enrich our individual legacies but also elevate the collective essence of the group, ensuring that every guest encounter is world-class - offering history, luxury, and unparalleled hospitality," states Graham Booth, Gilmerton House. Justin Hauge, CEO of Storied Collection, adds, "The Lead Sharing Program is expected to create a more cohesive and supportive network among the Storied Collection members, fostering a community spirit that benefits all involved. It's a step forward in ensuring the preservation and success of these treasured properties, each with its own unique story and heritage." About Storied Collection Storied Collection is a prestigious brand offering exclusive access to some of the most historic and luxurious privately hired estates in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Each estate in the collection is carefully selected for its historical significance, unique character, and the exceptional experience it offers. Contact Information: Justin Hauge CEO hauge@storiedcollection.com 847-980-6764 SOURCE: Storied Collection View the original press release on newswire.com. Pipedrive, the easy and effective sales CRM for small businesses, today announced the launch of Pipedrive School of Code Prague (Czechia). With a complete curriculum based on the Pipedrive tech stack, the program is designed for people with little to no work experience and with a strong motivation to start a career in the tech industry. The aim is to lower the gap between educational achievement and real-world experience and enhance career opportunities for young people. After two successful pilot projects in Estonia, Pipedrive is expanding its flagship internship program abroad for the first time. Home to Pipedrive's third-biggest development center, hosting the program in Prague was the next logical step in developing the scope of the project and making it a global initiative. "Prague's tech scene is blooming and the city has become one of Europe's innovation hubs. We wanted to replicate School of Code's success in other locations and we're curious to test the program in Prague and discover untapped talent to potentially join the team," said Mykhailo Dorokhov, Engineering Learning Development Lead at Pipedrive and one of the creators and mentors of the program. "The digital transformation of businesses is faster than ever before and it is a great opportunity for many companies. However, adopting new technologies tends to increase the learning gap in ICT education. Without hands-on practical training, it's disproportionately harder for young people to enter the job market and keep up with the competition. The internship should be a full experience. It will allow participants to dive not only into the depths of the technology we work with at Pipedrive but also learn about the culture, history and the people who create this magic on a daily basis. We aim to encourage participants to explore software development by combining intensive training with hands-on real-world tasks," continued Dorokhov. The third season of School of Code Prague will be hosted by key mentor Natalie Zacharova, a software engineer who has worked at Pipedrive Prague for two years. "I've been lucky enough to experience both sides of the mentor-mentee relationship. I know how important it is to jump into the tech world with an open mind and a can-do attitude. However, it's equally important to support young people throughout their journey, helping them transition to new heights and not letting them forget about staying curious about everything along the way. I'm very excited about the School of Code coming to Prague and the opportunity to start a new chapter in my career," said Zacharova. The intensive internship lasts for 11 weeks and combines theoretical knowledge with real hands-on projects that participants will tackle in the company's Prague office. The participants will have intensive training on TypeScript, databases, back-end and front-end development. In addition to learning the basics of software development, the internship and mentoring program enables participants to practice teamwork and collaboration in a real-world team setup with modern agile processes and solve problems as close to actual work experience as possible. A total of 10 people will be admitted to the program and the internship is paid. The entire internship is held in English. The pilot program was launched in 2022 in Tallinn, Estonia, and a year later in Tartu, Estonia. The feedback from the participants and internally from other teams involved in the project has been extremely positive and encouraging. Additionally, out of 18 participants, Pipedrive has hired 10 people now working as junior software engineers. More information about the program here. About Pipedrive Founded in 2010, Pipedrive is the easy and effective sales CRM that drives small business growth. Today, Pipedrive is used by revenue teams at more than 100,000 companies worldwide. Pipedrive is headquartered in New York and has offices across Europe and the US. The company is backed by majority holder Vista Equity Partners, and Bessemer Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Atomico, and DTCP. Learn more at www.pipedrive.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222211785/en/ Contacts: press@pipedrive.com John Pearley Huffman - Hearst Owned Hondas new all-electric Prologue SUV needs to be kept in context. And that comes from two separate recent events. The first is the first press drive which was in Healdsburg, California in late January. The other is a cars and bikes and coffee event organized by Honda Motor Company and held almost 500 miles south of there at the companys North American headquarters in Torrance. That happened this past Saturday morning. One is about the business reality of Honda the corporation. The other is about what Honda has always done best. The Prologue is big. It's the heaviest vehicle the brand has ever sold in the United States (and presumably anywhere else) that doesnt have wings and two jet engines. It is also available with twin electric motors that put out a combined 288-horsepower and 333-pound feet of consistent torque. Put that mass and that much power and torque together, and as a result, this is only the second Honda-branded vehicle to come with six-lug wheels. Honda The first Honda six-lugger? Thats the Passport SUV Honda sold between 1993 and 2002 which was a badge-engineered version of Isuzus Rodeo (when Isuzu was partially owned by GM). The Passport was also the last Honda sold here that wasnt assembled by Honda itself. The Prologue is also not screwed together by Honda but comes off GMs Ramos Arizpe, Mexico assembly line alongside the stop-sale'd Chevrolet Blazer EV and upcoming Acura ZDX. Theres lots of Blazer EV in the Prologue. ADVERTISEMENT At 192.0-inches overall over a 121.8-inch wheelbase, the Prologue is more than a foot shorter than Hondas 2024 Odyssey minivan. But Honda lists the heaviest Odyssey (the Elite) at 4590 pounds while the heaviest Prologue Elite is at 5273. And an all-wheel drive Pilot Elite (almost eight inches longer than the Prologue) tamps down with 4660 pounds. The lightest car in Hondas current line, the Civic LX sedan, scales at 2877 pounds. Its no longer news how heavy EVs can be, but this is way heavy for a Honda. Story continues Just for giggles back in 1973 Car and Driver weighed the first Civic in at 1536 pounds. Three original Civics put together still weigh 665 pounds less than one Prologue Elite. Honda Hondas engineers strove to make the Prologue feel distinct from the Blazer EV and akin to other Hondas. During the short morning press drive, it felt as if they succeeded in that mission. The Prologue Elite runs on thumping 275/45R21 Bridgestones, yet it has a relatively light feel to its steering and easygoing ride. Theres no sensation of eagerness the hallmark of Hondas best internal combustion powertrains but the driving experience across soggy Northern California roads was vice-free. There was no real chance to pound into corners or slalom across mountain passes, but few Prologue owners are likely to seek those situations out. Some of the light feel is likely attributable to how GM has engineered its Ultium electric vehicle platform. This isnt a full-time all-wheel drive system, and instead pairs a 241-horsepower motor upfront with a 90-horsepower unit in back that comes on when necessary. Most of the time, the Prologue is running as a front-driver like, well, most other Hondas. Honda has tuned it to feel like a Honda, but how much it would feel like a Honda without that tweaking is open to speculation. So go speculate. That in mind, 288 hp pushing and/or pulling 5273 pounds is not going to result in startling acceleration. The immediate, instantaneous hit of 333-pound feet is satisfying, but the rush is short lived. Its surely adequate for daily use, and of course its all virtually silent, but this isnt a Tesla challenger. Skip the drag racing. Expect a 0-to-60 mph run of a touch over six-seconds with the quarter-mile going by in about 14.5 seconds. Quick by historic standards, but modest in the context of all-electric zappery. Honda Inside the driver faces a very Honda-like three-spoke steering wheel and the various controls are all in the current Honda idiom. Theres a cleanliness to how its all designed, with one smaller 11.0-linch screen forward of the driver and a slightly larger 11.3-incher one atop the dash center. The Elites projected heads-up display is easy to read and appreciated. And, unlike the Blazer EV, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will work wirelessly with the Prologues system. Fortunately, Honda has put the heating and ventilation controls on a separate bank of buttons under the center screen. No fumbling through inscrutable menus to get the cabin up to temperature. Honda The seats are comfortable, but no big shakes. The rear seat seems to have plenty of legroom and, sorry, there is no third row. Theres a big sunroof, but this is the sort of vehicle that looks like it should have a roof box permanently affixed up top. John Pearley Huffman - Hearst Owned It's the nature of press launches to limit time with the vehicle and the driving routes are prescribed by the manufacturer. So the big questions when it comes to electrics driving range and charge times cant be assessed. All that can be reported is that Honda expects about 300 miles of range out of the 85-kilowatt hour battery pack. Honda also promises quick charging. When one is in hand for a longer exposure, well find out. The Prologue is a stutter step before bigger ambitions kick in. Its a way for Honda to join the battery-fed electric market without massive capital investment in a new plant and by sharing development costs with GM. For GM, its a way to insure its all-electric bets. Theres nothing wrong with the Prologue, but it doesnt represent the passion for engineering that has made Honda so beloved. And its that passion that was on hand at the cars and bikes and coffee event at Hondas headquarters. More than 1200 cars and bikes showed up and more than 3000 people. Virtually every surviving Honda Element in Southern California was there, tons of things wearing Type-R badges, and bikes ranging from dinky new Monkey minis to the stupendous six-cylinder CBX from 45 years ago. Great stuff. John Pearley Huffman - Hearst Owned From its inception, Honda has been about engines. Small internal combustion singles in bikes like the Cub to the powerplant thats sitting behind Max Verstappen in his Red Bull F1 car. Theres always been something almost joyous about how Honda builds everything from weed whackers to the Acura MDX with engines that have a distinct Honda soul. Honda has been a leader in hybrid and fuel cell tech and already produced all-electrics on its own like the super adorable Honda e. The company promises to have its own in-house e: architecture electric for sale sometime in 2025. And it has established an EV Hub in Ohio to build batteries near Jeffersonville to assemble EVs at the companys Marysville plant. Its similar to the plans other companies are making. Hearst Owned But Honda is working in the context of a history that stretches back through the V-12 Formula One cars it built in the Sixties, the innovative CVCC and VTEC engine technologies it pioneered in the Seventies and Nineties, and daring projects like the oval piston NR500 race bike it built in 1979. In what is essentially a mandated transition to all-electric vehicles, the temptation will be for Honda to me-too the change and build cars that are indistinguishable except for the logo in the steering wheel center. Whats clear at the koffee klatch is that is not what people who already love Hondas want. Hearst Owned The Prologue goes on sale any day now with prices starting at $48,795 for a two-wheel-drive EX model with a claimed 296 miles of EPA rated range. The AWD Elite will start at $59,295 with a 273-mile rated range. That makes the Prologue Elite the most expensive vehicle Honda will sell here outside the HondaJet. The context is that this is a stopgap. It's more exciting to contemplate what's next. You Might Also Like LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- XTX Markets, a leading algorithmic trading company, is excited to announce the launch of XTY Labs, a new machine learning division to be headed by newly appointed Research Director, Dr. Atlas Wang. XTY Labs is set to become a hub for elite machine learning researchers and will be home to the new 'XTY Labs AI Residency Program', offering researchers short-term AI residency contracts ranging from 6-12 months. For more details on the program and AI residencies (in terms of the roles and compensation) click here. The program is designed to provide elite researchers with the freedom, guidance and resources to create cutting-edge machine learning solutions tailored for the complexities of finance. Award-winning, machine learning specialist Dr. Atlas Wang will lead XTY Labs. He brings a wealth of experience and extensive expertise in machine learning, optimization and AI technologies to the role. Dr. Atlas Wang, Research Director of XTX Markets' XTY Labs, commented: "I am thrilled to join XTX Markets. It's an honour to lead such a unique division where the brightest minds in AI and finance will converge to redefine the future of algorithmic trading. Our mission is to rapidly turn the latest AI breakthroughs into tangible market advantages, and I eagerly anticipate the revolutionary solutions that will emerge from this truly unique endeavour. With a world-class team, unparalleled resources, and a culture that fosters pioneering research, the XTY Labs is poised to become the crucible of next-generation financial technologies." Dr. Alex Gerko, Founder and Co-CEO of XTX Markets, commented: "We are delighted to launch XTY Labs and welcome Atlas to the team. This launch is a response to the many queries we have had from exceptional candidates, who may not be ready to take the leap into finance full time. The program is designed to match the experience of XTX researchers as closely as possible and it's a fantastic opportunity for some to eventually transition into the core quant team at XTX. We look forward to supporting and nurturing the AI residents and seeing the developments from XTY Labs in the coming years.' About XTX Markets, XTY Labs and the AI Residency Program: XTX Markets is a leading algorithmic trading company and has over 200 employees based in London, Paris, New York, Mumbai, Yerevan and Singapore. XTX provides liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income and Commodity markets and trades over $250bn a day across markets. XTX Markets' expansive research cluster contains 100,000 cores and 20,000 A/V100 GPUs and is growing. We also have 390 petabytes of usable storage and 7.5 petabytes of RAM. Alongside rich datasets and advanced technological infrastructure we are at the forefront of the crossover of finance and technology. XTX's corporate philanthropy focuses on STEM education and maximum impact giving (alongside an employee matching programme). Since 2017, XTX has donated over 100mn to charities and good causes, establishing it as a major donor in the UK and globally. XTY Labs is designed to be a home for those eager to pioneer the future of algorithmic trading, with a strategic focus on developing and applying novel machine learning techniques to financial data. The division will be situated in Hudson Yards (New York) where researchers will have the opportunity to explore new ideas and transform their advanced machine learning research into real-world financial solutions, backed by XTX Markets' expansive research cluster containing 100,000 cores and 20,000 A/V100 GPUs and growing, alongside rich datasets, and advanced technological infrastructure. Emphasizing practical application, the Lab's mission is to swiftly integrate successful models into the market, directly enhancing XTX Market's trading strategies and operations. This direct pipeline from research to implementation establishes the XTY Labs as a premier destination for those looking to make a significant impact in the financial sector through original machine learning research. XTY Labs is seeking AI Residents with a history of significant contributions to research in elite academic settings, such as PhDs, post-docs, or professorships to join the XTY Labs AI Residency Program. Exceptional machine learning researchers looking to explore how their expertise can revolutionize the finance industry will find fertile ground for research breakthroughs at the intersection of AI and finance within the XTY Labs. There are two pathways within the AI Resident Program, designed to accommodate professionals at varying stages of their research careers, with both Junior and Senior AI residencies, each tailored to align with the applicants' research experience and expertise. Top-performers from the program will have the opportunity to transition into the core quantitative team of XTX Markets in London. About Dr. Atlas Wang: Dr. Atlas Wang has been a tenured Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin and has held various industry roles, most recently appointed as the new Research Director at XTX Markets. Dr. Wang, with a distinguished academic and professional track record, brings extensive expertise in machine learning, optimization, and AI technologies. His research focuses on efficiently training and scaling foundational models, model robustness, and generative AI, among other areas. Dr. Wang has received numerous awards, including the IEEE AI's 10 To Watch Award, an NSF CAREER Award, an ARO Young Investigator Award, and many other accolades from industry and professional societies. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xtx-markets-announces-launch-of-new-machine-learning-division-xty-labs-headed-by-dr-atlas-wang-302068734.html TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX: MND) (OTCQB: MNDJF) released today updated Mineral Reserves and Resources for the Costerfield mine in Victoria, Australia and an Interim Mineral Reserve update for its Bjorkdal mine in Vasterbotten County, Sweden as at December 31, 2023. All dollar amounts in this press release are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Costerfield Mineral Reserves and Resources Highlights 559,000 tonnes at a gold grade of 10.5 g/t and 1.9% antimony, for an approximate 188,000 ounces of gold and 10,600 tonnes of antimony in Total Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves; and 965,000 tonnes at a gold grade of 10.6 g/t and 3.0% antimony, for an approximate 330,000 ounces of gold and 28,800 tonnes of antimony in Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. Bjorkdal 2023 Interim Mineral Reserves Highlights 11.5 million tonnes at a gold grade of 1.32 g/t for an approximate 490,000 ounces of gold in Total Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves; and Mineral Resources remain unchanged as not updated. Frazer Bourchier, President and CEO of Mandalay, commented: "Under Mandalay's ownership since 2009, Costerfield has consistently demonstrated a stable track record of Mineral Resource replacement, contributing to an average mine life fluctuating between 2 to 5 years over this fifteen-year period. The ongoing exploration efforts have generated significant value over time, and the Company remains steadfast in its commitment to exploring both near the mine and regionally to unlock even further value at Costerfield with increased exploration spend for 2024. "Likewise, Bjorkdal remains a significant large system and this interim update of Mineral Reserves is more a methodology calculation amendment only and we are excited to further fully update the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves effective end of this year to capture 2023 and 2024 drilling, to be released in early 2025." Chris Davis, Vice President of Exploration and Operational Geology, continued: "At Costerfield, the focus has been on understanding the Shepherd discovery made in 2021. Drilling efforts aimed to delineate and accurately model the veining, revealed high grades in a network of sheeted quartz veins with complex interactions. Although defining Shepherd has bolstered mining confidence, expanding Mineral Resources has proven somewhat more challenging within this deposit. Consequently, for now, the growth in Mineral Resources was less than initially anticipated, and the current estimate of mine life is 3.5 years. "Regarding Bjorkdal, an interim reserve update was conducted factoring in the depletion of Mineral Reserves for 2023 while updating the scheduling methodology applied, resulting in an increase in tonnage with a reduction in underground mine grade. This scheduling update was an in-house initiative with engineering consultants SLR input and reflects Mandalay's commitment to continuous improvement and enhancing operational performance. A comprehensive Mineral Resources and Reserves update is planned for release in Q1 2025 which will reflect all exploration drilling from 2023 and that planned for this 2024 year." Costerfield Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Summary During 2022 and 2023, at Costerfield, Mandalay drilled a total of 82.9 kilometers ("km") of exploration diamond core. The breakdown of this drilling campaign was as follows: 34.6 km to verify through infill and test extensions of the Youle and Shepherd orebodies; 21.3 km to test and infill other near-mine targets; and 27.0 km to test regional targets beyond current mine operations. The 27.0 km of regional testing included 10.4 km drilling on the nearby True Blue deposit located approximately 2 km north west from the current Youle workings. The maiden Inferred Resource on True Blue consists of quartz and stibnite veins hosted in the Costerfield siltstone (which also hosts all other current Resources at Costerfield) akin to those seen in the Augusta and Cuffley orebodies mined from 2008 to 2018. Gold is also hosted within these veins, typically within the quartz. This will lead to increased activity on this deposit during 2024. In addition to regional exploration drilling, 1,607 metres of on-vein development was completed within the Youle orebody, and 4,341 metres of development into the Shepherd orebody. Rock chip samples used in mine grade control were also included in the geological database and used in the Mineral Resources estimation process to improve Mineral Resources classification in areas accessed by development. Drill core was logged and sampled by Costerfield geologists, who also performed mine sampling. All samples were submitted to Onsite Laboratory Services in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia for sample preparation and assay. Site geological and metallurgical personnel have implemented a QA/QC process that includes the regular submission of site specific and externally sourced standard reference materials, duplicates and blanks with drill and face samples submitted for assay. Site specific standard reference materials were both produced and certified by Geostats Pty Ltd. or ORE Research and Exploration Pty Ltd. (OREAS). Both Geostats Pty Ltd. and OREAS are Australian consultancies who specialize in laboratory quality control systems. The acQuire Geoscientific Information Management ("GIM") system was used to store and validate all geological data used for the Mineral Resource Estimate. A two-dimensional ("2D") accumulation estimation method was used for all models. This method is considered most applicable for the narrow veins of Costerfield. The Datamine Studio RM platform supports 2D accumulation estimation and was used to complete the Mineral Resource Estimation. Validated drilling and mine sampling data were imported into Datamine and composited to full intersection width. Gold accumulation, antimony accumulation (accumulation = vein true width x vein grade) and true vein width were estimated into a 2D block model for each lode using ordinary kriging interpolation. Gold and antimony grades were back-calculated using the estimated accumulated data and true vein width. Where vein true widths are less than 1.2 metres, vein grades were diluted to a minimum mining width of 1.2 metres using dilution grades of zero g/t gold and zero percent antimony for host lithologies. Where vein true widths are greater than or equal to 1.2 metres, grades were not diluted. Mineral Resources were reported above a cut-off of 5.0 g/t gold equivalent ("AuEq") which was determined using Costerfield's 2023 production costs, and using a gold price of $1,900/oz, and an antimony price of $12,000/t. Cut-off grade is expressed as AuEq to allow for the inclusion and expression of the secondary metal (Sb) in terms of the primary metal (Au). AuEq is calculated using the formula AuEq= Au + (Sb x 1.88) where Sb is expressed as a percentage, and Au is in grams per tonne, both based on 1.2 metre diluted grades. Category Inventory (kt) Gold (g/t) Antimony Grade (%) Contained Gold (koz) Contained Antimony (kt) Measured (Underground) 388 15.9 4.1 198 16.0 Measured (Stockpile) 29 5.2 1.0 5 0.3 Indicated 548 7.2 2.3 127 12.5 Measured + Indicated 965 10.6 3.0 330 28.8 Inferred (Costerfield) 214 7.0 1.8 56 2.5 Inferred (True Blue) 72 3.5 3.7 8 2.6 Inferred 286 7.0 1.8 64 5.1 Table 1: Mineral Resources at Costerfield, Inclusive of Mineral Reserves as of Dec 31, 2023 Notes: The Mineral Resource is estimated as of December 31, 2023 with depletion through to this date. The Mineral Resource is stated according to CIM guidelines and include Mineral Reserves. Tonnes are rounded to the nearest thousand; contained gold (oz) is rounded to the nearest thousand; contained antimony (t) is rounded to nearest hundred. Totals may appear different from the sum of their components due to rounding. 5.0 g/t AuEq cut-off grade over a minimum mining width of 1.2 m is applied where AuEq is calculated using the formula: AuEq = Au g/t + 1.88 * Sb % The AuEq factor of 1.88 is calculated at a gold price of $1,900/oz, an antimony price of $12,000/t, and recoveries of 94% for Au and 89% for Sb. Veins were diluted to a minimum mining width of 1.2m before applying the cut-off grade and peripheral mineralisation far from current development was excluded to comply with the Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE) criteria. The Stockpile Mineral Resource is estimated based upon surveyed volumes supplemented by production data. Geological modelling, sample compositing and Mineral Resource Estimation for updated models was performed by Joshua Greene, MAusIMM, a full-time employee of Mandalay Resources. The Mineral Resource Estimate was independently reviewed and verified by Cael Gniel MAIG RPGeo (Mineral Resource Estimation), a full time employee of SRK Consulting. Mr Gniel fulfils the requirements to be a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101, and is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for the Mineral Resource Estimate. The Measured and Indicated categories of Mineral Resources were used to update the mine plan using predominantly a long-hole stoping mining method with cemented rock fill. An operational cut-off grade of 6.0 g/t AuEq was determined from Costerfield's 2023 production costs, and minimum stoping widths of 1.5 metres were used, with planned and unplanned dilution at zero grade for both Au and Sb. An incremental cut-off grade of 3.1 g/t AuEq was applied where incremental mining conditions were met. AuEq grade for the Mineral Reserve is calculated using commodity prices of $1,800/oz for Au, and $11,500/t Sb. AuEq is calculated using the formula AuEq= Au + (Sb x 1.22) where Sb is in % and Au is in grams per tonne. Financial viability of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves was demonstrated at metal prices of $1,800/oz Au and $11,500/t Sb. Category Inventory (kt) Gold Grade (g/t) Antimony Grade (%) Contained Gold (koz) Contained Antimony (kt) Proven Reserve Underground 330 12.4 2.2 131 7.3 Stockpile 29 5.2 1.0 5 0.3 Probable Reserve Underground 200 8.1 1.5 52 3.0 Total Proven and Probable 559 10.5 1.9 188 10.6 Table 2: Mineral Reserves at Costerfield as of Dec 31, 2023 Notes: The Mineral Reserve is estimated as of December 31, 2023, and depleted for production through to December 31, 2023. Tonnes are rounded to the nearest thousand; contained gold (oz) is rounded to the nearest thousand; contained antimony (t) is rounded to nearest hundred. Totals may appear different from the sum of their components due to rounding. Lodes have been diluted to a minimum mining width of 1.5 m for stoping and 1.8 m for ore development. A sustaining cut-off grade of 6.0 g/t AuEq is applied. An Incremental cut-off grade of 3.1 g/t AuEq is applied where mining rates do not meet mill capacity and the life of the mine is not extended. Commodity prices applied are Au price of USD1,800/oz, Sb price of USD11,500/t and exchange rate USD:AUD of 0.70. AuEq is calculated using the formula: AuEq = Au g/t + 1.22 * Sb %. The Mineral Reserve is a subset, a Measured and Indicated only schedule, of a Life of Mine plan that includes mining of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources. The Mineral Reserve Estimate was prepared by Brett Nevill MAusIMM who is a full-time employee of SRK Consulting, under the direction of Dylan Goldhahn, MAusIMM, who is a full-time employee of Mandalay Resources. The Mineral Reserve Estimate was independently verified by Robert Urie FAusIMM who is a full-time employee of SRK Consulting. Robert Urie fulfils the requirements to be a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101, and is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for the Mineral Reserve. The net decrease of 123,384 ounces of gold in Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves for end 2023, relative to end 2021, consists of the addition of 13,124 ounces of gold added by Mineral Resource conversion and addition of Mineral Resources to the Shepherd ore body as well as a total of 110,259 ounces of gold depleted from the December 31, 2021 Mineral Reserves through mining production in 2022-2023 and through mining re-evaluation. The 8,970 tonnes of antimony net decrease in Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves consists of 793 tonnes of antimony added by Mineral Resources conversion and addition of Mineral Resources to Shepherd and 8,177 tonnes of antimony depleted from the 2023 Mineral Reserves through mining production in 2022-2023 and through mining re-evaluation. Leading into 2024, Mandalay is continuing to centre its regional efforts on a number of prospective targets that present major growth opportunities at Costerfield. The expenditure for near mine exploration will remain constant around Shepherd but with additional focus now on the Cuffley Extension programs as well as Brunswick Extension. In addition, Mandalay has accelerated regional exploration with a major focus and 2024 centre of attention on the True Blue deposit 'line' with step-out drilling currently being undertaken over a prospective strike length of 1.5km. Bjorkdal Interim Mineral Reserves Estimate Owing to the longevity of the Bjorkdal Mine and consistency of Mineral Resources replacement, Mandalay chose not to complete and report a full 2023 year end Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves estimate reported in Q1 2024. Rather, the below describes steps taken to produce an Interim Mineral Reserves estimate from the previous Mineral Resource model that has a drilling effective cut-off date remaining as of September 2022. Reconciliation analysis at Bjorkdal continues to show good global metal correlation between the Resource Models and production. However, owing to the structural complexity of veining at Bjorkdal, it is generally understood that gold ounces will be delivered from underground at a lower grade than modeled due to further mine development required to optimally recover the complex ore veining. As a part of the company's ongoing dedication to continual improvement, Mandalay enlisted the assistance of SLR Consulting to contribute to and verify a new scheduling methodology that accounts for veining complexity within the Bjorkdal Mine that is difficult to accurately model through drilling alone. Grade and tonnage scientific factoring has been applied in areas characterised by a high potential for discovery of new veins not predicted in the initial models but observed once mining faces intersect the veins. Stopes with diluted and recovered grades exceeding 1.8 g/t and on-vein development drives exceeding 2.5 g/t have been factored to reduce 'as-mined' grades and increase mined tonnes. This approach is well supported by historical and ongoing reconciliation data, where an increase in Run of Mine ("RoM") ore tonnes is related to mining more veins in a particular area than initially expected. This results in lower head grades at higher volumes but generally maintains total mined ounces of gold. Estimated stope ore tonnes are calculated by dividing the projected final grade of stopes or development drives by the prescribed capping value, after applying dilution and recovery modifying factors. Capping has been selectively employed in well-established areas with extensive existing development already in place. Stopes with diluted and recovered grades exceeding 1.8 g/t and, on-vein development drives exceeding 2.5 g/t, have been capped at those grades as informed by historical reconciliation data. This implementation of capping grades has been confined to regions where the likelihood of discovering new veins, with a consequential increase in ore tonnes, is limited. Capping involves constraining the projected final grade of stopes or development drives to the specified cap value. For instance, a stope with a calculated final grade of 2.6 g/t and a capping value of 1.8 g/t will only account for ounces of gold up to the capping threshold. Any ounces above this limit are excluded, while the final tonnage remains unaltered. This Interim Mineral Reserves estimation has used the existing Long-Term Block Model with a data cut-off date of September 30, 2022. No new drilling, mapping, or sampling data acquired subsequent to that cut-off date has been included as yet. However, the model was depleted for mining extraction up to December 31, 2023 prior to estimating updated Mineral Reserves. No amendments have been made to the Bjorkdal and Norrberget open pit Mineral Reserves estimates filed in the NI 43-101 Technical Report on March 31, 2023. In re-estimating the underground Interim Mineral Reserves at Bjorkdal Mine, a gold price of US$1,800 /oz has been used. Cut-off grades (CoG) have been updated for underground stoping and development using FY2023 actual operating and capital costs. The mill recovery figure was updated in line with the FY2024 budget and gold payability has been based upon actual contracts and the FY2024 budget. The updated marginal CoG was calculated to be 0.45 g/t and the stope CoG 0.94 g/t. A slightly more conservative stope CoG of 1.00 g/t has been used for estimating interim Mineral Reserves. Where Inferred material is present in designed development drives and stopes, this has been treated as zero-grade waste for the purposes of dilution and economic assessment. No Inferred material has been included in the interim Mineral Reserve re-estimation. A summary of the Interim Mineral Reserves estimates for the Bjorkdal underground and open pit mines, including Norrberget, are presented below in Table 3. Category Inventory (kt) Gold Grade (g/t) Contained Gold (koz) Proven Reserve Bjorkdal Underground 451 1.52 22 Probable Reserve Bjorkdal Underground 5,922 1.63 311 Bjorkdal Open Pit 2,816 1.12 101 Norberg Open Pit 170 2.74 15 Stockpiles 2,159 0.60 41 Total Proven and Probable 11,518 1.32 490 Table 3: Interim Mineral Reserves at Bjorkdal as of Dec 31, 2023 Notes: Bjorkdal Mineral Reserves are estimated using drill hole and sample data as of September 30, 2022 and depleted for production through to December 31, 2023. Norrberget Mineral Reserves are based on a data cut-off date of September 30, 2017. CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Reserves. Open pit Mineral Reserves for Bjorkdal are based on mine designs carried out on a December 31, 2022 resource model with a data cut-off date of September 30, 2022. A block dilution of 100% at 0.0 g/t Au was applied for blocks above 1.0 g/t and 100% at in-situ grade for blocks below 1.0 g/t, but above a cut-off grade of 0.39 g/t Au. The application of these block dilution factors is based on historical reconciliation data from 2018 and 2019. A marginal cut-off grade of 0.39 g/t Au was applied to estimate open pit Mineral Reserves. Open pit Mineral Reserves for Norrberget are based on 15% dilution at 0.0 g/t Au and a cut-off grade of 0.46 g/t Au. Underground Mineral Reserves are based on mine designs carried out on a December 31, 2022 resource model with a data cut-off date of September 30, 2022. Minimum mining widths of 4.07 m for stopes (after dilution) and 4.75 m for development (after dilution) were used. Stope dilution was applied by adding 0.6 m on each side of stopes as well as an additional 10% sidewall over break dilution. An overall dilution factor of 25% was added to development design widths. Mining extraction was assessed at 95% for contained ounces of gold within stopes and 100% for development. A cut-off grade of 1.00 g/t Au was applied to material mined within stopes. An incremental cut-off grade of 0.45 g/t Au was used for development material. Stockpile Mineral Reserves are based upon surveyed volumes supplemented by production data as of December 31, 2023. Mineral Reserves are estimated using an average long term gold price of US$1,800/oz for Bjorkdal underground mine. and US$1,600/oz for the Bjorkdal open pit and Norrberget. An exchange rate of 10.3 SEK/US$ has been used. Tonnes and contained gold are rounded to the nearest thousand. Numbers may not sum due to rounding. The Independent Qualified Person for the Bjorkdal Mineral Reserve estimate is Rick Taylor, MAusIMM (CP), Principal Mining Engineer with SLR, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The Mineral Reserves have increased in ore tonnes by 95,000t as a result of the new scheduling methodology undertaken. The Proven and Probable gold ounces have decreased by a total of 80,000 which includes 2023 mining depletion of approximately 50,000 gold ounces. The remainder, approximately 34,000 gold ounces, is due to capping losses in developed areas of the underground mine, and losses due to removal of development and stopes containing a high proportion of Inferred gold ounces. Bjorkdal have conducted further exploration drilling since September 30, 2022, and detailed mapping and sampling of on-vein development was routinely carried out during 2023 in accordance with grade control protocols. An updated Long-Term Block Model, that will include drilling up to the end of September 2024, is currently in the process of being developed in preparation for the filing of an updated Mineral Resource estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report in March 2025. Qualified Persons All Qualified Persons listed below have read and approved the contents of this news release as it pertains to the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates disclosed in this news release. The Mineral Resource estimates for Costerfield and True Blue were carried out under the supervision of Cael Gniel MAIG RPGeo (Mineral Resource Estimation), a full time employee of SRK Consulting and independent of Mandalay. He is a Qualified Person for the purpose of NI 43-101. The QP is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate. The Mineral Reserve estimate for Costerfield was carried out under the supervision of Robert Urie FAusIMM who is a full-time employee of SRK Consulting and independent of Mandalay. He is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. The QP is not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate. The Bjorkdal Interim Mineral Reserve estimate was carried out under the supervision of Rick Taylor, CP, MAusIMM, Principal Mining Engineer, an employee of SLR and independent of Mandalay. He is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. The QP is not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate. About Mandalay Resources Corporation Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based resource company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Bjorkdal gold mine). The Company is focused on growing its production and reducing costs to generate significant positive cashflow. Mandalay is committed to operating safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, while developing a high level of community and employee engagement. Mandalay's mission is to create shareholder value through the profitable operation and continuing the regional exploration program, at both its Costerfield and Bjorkdal mines. Currently, the Company's main objectives are to continue mining the high-grade Youle vein at Costerfield, bring online the deeper Shepherd veins, both of which will continue to supply high-grade ore to the processing plant, and to extend Youle Mineral Reserves. At Bjorkdal, the Company will aim to increase production from the Aurora zone and other higher-grade areas in the coming years, in order to maximize profit margins from the mine. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, changes in commodity prices and general market and economic conditions. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Mandalay. A description of additional risks that could result in actual results and developments differing from those contemplated by forward-looking statements in this news release can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mandalay's annual information form dated March 31, 2023, a copy of which is available under Mandalay's profile at www.sedar.com. In addition, there can be no assurance that any inferred resources that are discovered as a result of additional drilling will ever be upgraded to proven or probable reserves. Although Mandalay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. CONTACT: Frazer Bourchier, President and Chief Executive Officer; Edison Nguyen, Director, Business Valuations and IR, Contact: 647.258.9722 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mandalay-resources-provides-2023-year-end-mineral-reserves-and-resources-update-for-the-costerfield-mine-alongside-an-interim-mineral-reserves-update-for-the-bjorkdal-mine-302068583.html DUNHUANG, China, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TrinaTracker, the smart solutions provider that is part of Trina Solar, has connected a 120MW PV power generation plant in Dunhuang, Gansu province, northern China, to the grid. The project, developed and built by Longyuan (Dunhuang) New Energy Development Co Ltd and executed by POWERCHINA Ningxia Engineering Co Ltd, relies totally on TrinaTracker-supplied solar trackers in the Andun Basin in the Gobi desert, renowned for its intense solar radiation. The plant, covering almost 2.4 square kilometers, is set to generate 290 GWh of electricity a year, greatly benefiting the region economically, environmentally and socially. The project uses TrinaTracker's Vanguard 2P products, which have a structural configuration that significantly reduces BOS costs. Vanguard 2P has been a featured product of TrinaTracker since it was unveiled in 2021. TrinaTracker's continuing research and development of modules and trackers ensures optimal fitting of ultra-high-power 700W+ modules to maximize power generation efficiency in the new power station. Work on the project began in October and was completed by December, 2023 and was connected to the grid in January, 2024. Trina Solar's project engineer, Chen Yujia, said: "TrinaTracker has implemented a full life-cycle quality management system to ensure high-quality management throughout the product process. We have assembled a team of top professionals and are drawing on the benefits of collaboration and supply chain management to promptly meet customer requirements and ensure timely delivery. This once again underscores how quickly TrinaTracker works, something that the customer has lauded." Wang Jianfeng, project leader of Longyuan (Dunhuang) New Energy Development Co Ltd, said: "TrinaTracker's Vanguard 2P trackers offer high energy gain and reliability, effectively reducing LCOE in the long run. In our work with TrinaTracker its project fulfilment team responded quickly, and its intelligent supply chain system met the requirements for fast commissioning. We look forward to again working with TrinaTracker." Green PV technology is powering the future. TrinaTracker will continue to help optimize the energy mix and make a greater contribution to achieving China's dual-carbon goals. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345248/Project_image.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-120mw-pv-plant-utilizing-trinatrackers-vanguard-2p-in-gobi-desert-connected-to-grid-302068351.html CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Meta has announced that it is expanding Instagram's creator marketplace to eight new markets to help more brands and creators work together on partnerships. In 2022, the social media giant began testing the creator marketplace in the U.S., a tool for brands and creators to connect and collaborate around partnership opportunities. Over the next few weeks, Meta plans to invite creators and brands based in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan, India and Brazil to join Instagram's creator marketplace. Chinese export brands will also be invited to connect with onboarded creators in countries outside of China, according to Meta. Instagram's creator marketplace can help brands easily find relevant creators for any kind of collaboration, but one of the most powerful is partnership ads. Formerly known as branded content ads, it allows advertisers to amplify content with a creator or other partner's handle to scale their collaborations. Brands join Instagram's creator marketplace in Meta Business Suite. Creators join from their professional dashboard in the Instagram app. Creators can indicate brands and interests relevant to them. Creators can also create a portfolio to highlight what makes them unique. Creators receive brand messages in a dedicated Partnership Messages folder at the top of the Primary tab. Brands can reach out to creators directly or create and send a project to multiple creators outlining the branded content or partnership ad opportunity. Creators can review the details and requirements of the opportunity, as well as the rate, all within the Instagram app. Once brands and creators come to an agreement, they are ready to create. Advertisers can boost organic Instagram content as partnership ads, including branded content with the paid partnership label, or they can create new partnership ads in Ads Manager. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Recent Drilling at the Santa Cruz Project in Arizona Confirms Continuity of High-Grade Copper Mineralization within the Verde Domain Drilling at Tintic Intersects Widespread Porphyry-Style Sulfide Mineralization at Sunbeam Exploration Area Step-Out Drilling at Hog Heaven Extends Mineralization 150 Meters to the West of Nearest Drilling Results of TyphoonTM Geophysical Survey at Hog Heaven Guiding Future Drilling Plans PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Ivanhoe Electric Inc. ("Ivanhoe Electric") (NYSE American:IE)(TSX:IE) is pleased to provide a comprehensive update on the ongoing exploration activities at its projects located in Arizona, Utah, and Montana. Infill and step-out drilling at the Verde Domain within the Santa Cruz deposit confirms continuity of the Verde Domain and provides encouragement for additional similar discoveries As first reported in our January 8th, 2024 news release, infill and technical drilling at Santa Cruz has confirmed the presence of high-grade soluble copper within mineralized Oracle Granite. We refer to this area as the Verde Domain. Drilling within the Verde Domain includes seven drill holes totaling approximately 324 meters. Additional assays have been received from three drill holes, as noted in Table 1 further below. The Verde Domain boasts higher copper grades, better rock mass conditions and lower water flow rates compared to previous modeling of the surrounding sediments. The improved ground characteristics combined with higher copper grades provide significant upside potential in terms of possible mining method, mining rate, and metallurgical recovery compared to what was modeled for this area in the Santa Cruz Initial Assessment. New highlighted assay intercepts at the Verde Domain include: Drill hole SCC-150 intersected: 6.43 meters @ 5.99% Total Copper (5.90% Total Soluble Copper) composed of intense atacamite mineralization (from 632.89 meters depth) Drill hole SCC-183 intersected: 19.81 meters @ 2.64% Total Copper (2.66% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense atacamite mineralization (from 641 meters depth) Drill hole SCC-186 intersected: 59.26 meters @ 2.60% Total Copper (2.67% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense atacamite mineralization (from 625 meters depth) Recent Verde Domain drilling has intersected additional visual mineralization including: Drill hole SCC-192: 34 meters (645-679 meters) of strong atacamite mineralization Drill hole SCC-196: 68 meters (613-681 meters) of strong atacamite mineralization. Assays for the holes 192 and 196 are pending. Previously released intercepts at the Verde Domain include: Drill hole SCC-005 intersected: 57.00 meters @ 3.52% Total Copper (2.77% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense chrysocolla, atacamite, and locally chalcocite mineralization (from 636.00 meters depth) Drill hole SCC-125 intersected: 56.60 meters @ 3.22% Total Copper (3.16% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense atacamite and locally intense chalcocite mineralization (from 598.00 meters depth) A total of seven drill holes have intersected the Verde Domain. New assays from the three recent drill holes combined with previously reported intercepts, continue to support the high-grade continuity and potential for extension to the northwest and southeast as shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1. Verde Domain drilling continues to delineate and expand an area of approximately 200 meters long by 140 meters wide by 50 meters thick, as shown in the plan view. Core from drill hole SCC-186 at 648.44 meters depth from within the Verde Domain showing extensively strong atacamite mineralization hosted within Oracle Granite Table 1. Drill intercepts from the Verde Domain within the Santa Cruz Project not previously disclosed (Refer to the Santa Cruz Drill Results page on Ivanhoe Electric's website for complete details of all reported drill holes.) DRILL HOLE LOCATION FROM (M) TO (M) INTERVAL LENGTH (M) TOTAL COPPER (%) TOTAL SOLUBLE COPPER (%) SCC-150 Santa Cruz 632.89 639.32 6.43 5.99 5.90 SCC-183 Santa Cruz 641 660.81 19.81 2.64 2.66 SCC-186 Santa Cruz 625 684.26 59.26 2.60 2.67 Current exploration drilling at the Tintic Project, in Utah focuses on the source of mineralization of historical mines Eleven diamond drill holes totaling 11,568 meters have been completed since the commencement of exploration drilling in late 2022. Two rigs were operational throughout the spring and summer of 2023. We reduced to one rig for the winter months. Figure 2. Tintic Project map showing Ivanhoe Electric drill hole locations, Typhoon chargeability anomalies, key historical mines, mapped fissure veins and carbonate replacements, shown over a simplified geology map. Drilling at Sunbeam intersects porphyry system, drilling continues at Mammoth Drilling in the Silver City area has intersected part of a porphyry system associated with the Sunbeam TyphoonTM chargeability anomaly in drill hole TTD-016 (assays pending). Abundant sulfide-bearing veins are present from 800 meters to the end of the hole at 1435 meters. While visible copper mineralization appears low, the features seen in this hole are common on the margins of many large porphyry systems. This is the first hole to have tested the Sunbeam TyphoonTM anomaly directly, and there is potential to vector towards more copper-rich portions of this large exploration area with future drilling in 2024. This Sunbeam porphyry system is thought to be part of the source of mineralization in the Silver City area and separate from the source of mineralization at Mammoth and Grand Central. Exploration drilling over the winter has moved to test below the Mammoth Mine, where a vertical copper and gold-rich breccia pipe was mined from the 1870s to the 1930s and produced significant high-grade ore. The deposit may extend below the water table, where historical mining stopped, but mineralization is believed to continue, as described in our September 2022 news release. The goal of our drilling efforts, beginning with TTD-017, is to intersect this mineralization at depth, and provide support for a potential porphyry source in the Mammoth area. Photo of core from drill hole TTD-016 from the top and the bottom of the stockwork zone, showing strong sulfide mineralization hosted in sheeted veins, typically observed near the margins of porphyry copper deposits. Figure 3. North-South cross section from Mammoth-Grand Central through to the Silver City & Sunbeam areas. Relevant drilling over simplified geology model with historical mine development and potential extensions beneath the water table. TyphoonTM results and additional assays received from the Hog Heaven Project, Montana Drilling at Hog Heaven, with one rig, continues to step out in search of the porphyry copper source. The drilling continues to intersect high sulfidation epithermal style mineralization while this search continues, steadily expanding the footprint of this system. HHD-012 intersected 157 meters of high sulfidation epithermal mineralization approximately 150 meters to the southwest of the nearest hole (HHD-010). This intercept is of a similar grade and quality to that seen in previously reported holes, and demonstrates that the Hog Heaven epithermal system has growth potential to the west of the Flathead Mine. HHD-012 intersected: 156.88 meters @ 0.34 g/t Au, 18.77 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.24% Pb, 0.22% Zn (from 282.12 meters) Including 49.92 meters @ 0.40 g/t Au, 29.51 g/t Ag, 0.11% Cu, 0.40% Pb, 0.22% Zn (from 282.12 meters) Drill hole HHD-012 has been successful in opening a large new area prospective for additional shallow high sulfidation epithermal mineralization and the underlying porphyry source. Mineralization intersected by HHD-012 remains open in multiple directions and to depth. One rig remains in operation through the winter where drilling will focus to the west to determine how far the system extends. Drill hole HHD-014, currently underway, has intersected additional high sulfidation epithermal mineralization and alteration an additional 250 meters to the west. Figure 4. Cross section showing HHD-012 location and results relative to previously reported drilling. In November 2023, we conducted a TyphoonTM geophysical survey covering approximately 10 km2 of land, which was designed to cover the core areas of known prospectivity. The Typhoon data, as inverted by CGI, has extended the depth of investigation compared to prior surveys, and given greater confidence in deep targets. A review of these results and target prioritization is underway. Figure 5. Hog Heaven plan map showing Ivanhoe Electric drill hole locations over TyphoonTM conductivity data, historical mine workings and historical drilling. Table 2. Recent drill hole intercepts for the Hog Heaven Project (refer to Hog Heaven Drill Results on Ivanhoe Electric's website for complete details of all reported drill holes.) DRILL HOLE FROM (M) TO (M) INTERVAL LENGTH (M) AuEq* (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (% Pb (%) Zn (%) HHD-012 282.12 439.00 156.88 0.85 0.34 18.77 0.09 0.24 0.22 Including 282.12 332.04 49.92 1.22 0.40 29.51 0.11 0.40 0.42 *The following long term metal prices were used: 3.80$/lb Cu, 1,707$/oz Au, 22.42$/oz Ag, 0.93$/lb Pb, and 1.19$/lb Zn. *The specific formula used to report AuEq(g/t) is Au(g/t)*(0.65) + ((1.87875425724906) * Cu (%)) ((0.0121238339867514) * Ag(g/t)) + ((0.431062860010269) * Pb (%)) + ((0.551575057432494) * Zn (%)) *Recoveries are informed by historical preliminary metallurgical flotation tests and are considered conservative: 80% Cu; 65% Au; 60% Ag; 75% Pb, 75% Zn. *Intervals were derived on a AuEq basis with a cutoff of 0.25g/t AuEq*Maximum internal dilution of 5m was applied. *These are not true widths Qualified Persons Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature included in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and technical data underlying the information, have been reviewed, verified and approved by Glen Kuntz, P.Geo (Santa Cruz) and Shawn Vandekerkhove, P.Geo (Tintic and Hog Heaven), each of whom is a Qualified Persons as defined by Regulation S-K, Subpart 1300 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Both Mr. Kuntz and Mr. Vandekerkhove are employees of Ivanhoe Electric. Other Technical Information Ivanhoe Electric has had prepared an independent technical report summary for the Santa Cruz Project prepared under SEC Regulation S-K, Subpart 1300 and an independent technical report prepared under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. The reports are available on the company's website, on EDGAR and on the company's SEDAR profile: "Mineral Resource Estimate Update and S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary for the Santa Cruz, Texaco, and East Ridge Deposits, Arizona, USA," authored by Nordmin Engineering Ltd. ("Nordmin") and Met Engineering LLC ("Met Engineering"). Current to December 31, 2022, and dated February 14, 2023. "Mineral Resource Estimate Update and NI 43-101 Technical Report for The Santa Cruz, Texaco, and East Ridge Deposits, Arizona, USA," prepared by Nordmin and Met Engineering with an effective date of December 31, 2022, and an issue date of March 14, 2023. The technical report summary and technical report include relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Santa Cruz Project, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. Ivanhoe Electric employs industry-standard QA/QC and data verification protocols at the Tintic and Hog Heaven projects. The diamond drill holes were completed using PQ, HQ, and NQ diameters. The drill core was cut lengthwise into halves using a diamond-bladed saw, with one-half used for the assay sample and the other half retained in core boxes and archived at site. Pulps and rejects are also stored on site for archival purposes. Mineralized zones were generally sampled on 2 meter intervals. Each core sample was placed into a bag with a unique numbered sample identification tag. Quality control samples were inserted between core samples using the same numbering sequence. Then samples were grouped into batches for shipping and laboratory submissions. Chain of custody records are maintained for sample shipments and the custody is transferred from Ivanhoe Electric expeditor to the laboratory upon delivery. Tintic core samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories in Twin Falls, Idaho, and ALS Laboratories in Elko, Nevada for sample preparation and analysis. Hog Heaven core samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories in Twin Falls, Idaho, for sample preparation and analysis. Samples were analyzed using customary four acid digestion and ICP-MS finish. A standard gold fire assay package was used to analyze gold. Silver content was assessed using either HCl leach and ICP-AES finish or fire assay with gravimetric finish depending on silver concentrations. ALS Minerals Twin Falls and ALS Laboratories in Elko, Nevada are both independent laboratories certified under ISO 9001:2008 and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Standards Council of Canada. About Ivanhoe Electric We are a U.S. company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. We use our accurate and powerful TyphoonTM geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc., to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of electric metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona and the Tintic Copper-Gold Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States, we intend to support United States supply chain independence by finding and delivering the critical metals necessary for the electrification of the economy. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km2 of underexplored Arabian Shield in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Website: www.ivanhoeelectric.com. Contact Information Investors: Valerie Kimball, Director, Investor Relations 720-933-1150 Follow us on Ivanhoe Electric's Executive Chairman Robert Friedland: @robert_ivanhoe Ivanhoe Electric: @ivanhoeelectric Ivanhoe Electric's investor relations website located at www.ivanhoeelectric.com should be considered Ivanhoe Electric's recognized distribution channel for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation FD. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Ivanhoe Electric, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Ivanhoe Electric's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such statements in this news release include, without limitation, timing and results of drilling activities and the number of drill rigs operating at the projects, the receipt of assay results, the potential for extension of the Verde Domain and improved mining methods, mining rates, and metallurgical recovery at the Santa Cruz Project compared to what was modeled in the Initial Assessment, and other planned or potential developments in the businesses of Ivanhoe Electric. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including changes in the prices of copper or other metals Ivanhoe Electric is exploring for; the results of exploration and drilling activities and/or the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations; the final assessment of exploration results and information that is preliminary; the significant risk and hazards associated with any future mining operations, extensive regulation by the US government as well as local governments; changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with Ivanhoe Electric to perform as agreed; and the impact of political, economic and other uncertainties associated with operating in foreign countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risk factors described in Ivanhoe Electric's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Ivanhoe Electric cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable securities laws, Ivanhoe Electric does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, and Ivanhoe Electric expressly disclaims any requirement to do so. SOURCE: Ivanhoe Electric Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com TUCSON, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Western Alaska Minerals (the "Company" or "WAM") (TSXV:WAM) is pleased to announce the release of an initial mineral resource estimate for the Waterpump Creek Zone ("WPC") at its 100% owned Illinois Creek project (the "Project) located on state land in Western Alaska. The WPC discovery represents the high-grade distal zone of the +7.5km long Illinois Creek CRD system and this initial mineral resource estimate was primarily undertaken to quantify the magnitude of the mineral endowment of what has been found to date and justify further exploration in the area. Highlights of the Initial Inferred Resource Estimate at the WPC Zone: 2.39Mt @ 977 g/t silver equivalent ("AgEq") for 75.0 Moz AgEq . The zinc equivalent is 26.32% ZnEq. . The zinc equivalent is 26.32% ZnEq. Attractive mining thicknesses ranging from 5 to 49 meters and widths ranging from 25 to 70 meters over a strike length of 495 meters. ranging from 5 to 49 meters and widths ranging from 25 to 70 meters over a strike length of 495 meters. All-in discovery rate of 3198 AgEq ozs/meter drilled. drilled. Robust resource that is relatively insensitive up to a cut-off grade up to 600 g/t AgEq. that is relatively insensitive up to a cut-off grade up to 600 g/t AgEq. Significant zinc component adds important critical minerals potential. Table 1. Waterpump Creek Sulfide Zone Inferred Mineral Resource Summary (200 g/t AgEq cut-off) Sulfide Inferred Resources - Waterpump Creek Resource Area Class Tonnes (M) Average Grade Contained Metal AgEq (g/t) AgEq (oz/t) Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) ZnEq (%) AgEq (Moz) Ag (Moz) Pb (Mlbs) Zn (Mlbs) ZnEq (Mlbs) Inferred 2.39 977 31.4 279 9.84 11.25 26.32 75.0 21.4 518 592 1384 The effective date of the Mineral Resource is February 20, 2024. The QPs for the Mineral Resource are Dr. Bruce Davis FAusIMM and Susan Lomas, P. Geo of Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc (LGGC). CIM Definition Standards were used for mineral resource classification and in accordance with CIM MRMR Best Practice Guidelines. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. AgEq reporting cut-off grade calculation is based on estimated recoveries from preliminary metallurgical test work of 75% Ag, 70% Pb, and 84% Zn and metal prices of US$24.00/oz Ag, US$1.00/lb Pb, and US$1.30/lb Zn and cost inputs suitable for underground extraction method. The AgEq and ZnEq grade calculations used in the table above are based on the same metal prices (as point #3 above) and are not subject to recovery. "We believe we have a tiger by the tail at Illinois Creek and decided to proceed with an inferred resource estimate to demonstrate to the market the robust high grade (and high margin potential) of the WPC deposit as we've carried it from discovery to a significant volume of high-grade mineralization," said CEO, Kit Marrs. "This resource says we're moving in the right direction and we're looking forward to following the mineralization 7.5 km to the southwest back towards the past-producing Illinois Creek mine." Mr. Marrs continues, " We are in the early stages of developing a robust portfolio of base and precious minerals crucial for various industries. Silver, with its vital role in solar production and numerous industrial applications, and zinc, recognized as a critical mineral in the energy transition, defense, and agriculture sectors, are pivotal in driving the clean energy transition. Waterpump Creek, hosting a high-grade resource, significantly contributes to our sustainable future aspirations. This highlights our commitment to sustainable exploration practices and underscores the immense potential ahead for us at WAM." Key Highlights at the IC Project: This Initial Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate is merely a beginning and demonstrates the high-grade nature of the mineralized system and that more exploration is fully warranted. and demonstrates the high-grade nature of the mineralized system and that more exploration is fully warranted. High-Grade: The resource silver equivalent grade compares well with the most successful high grade silver projects in production or development over the last decade including Silver Crest (Las Chispas), MAG Silver (Juanicipio), Adriatic (Vares), and now Vizsla Silver (Copala). The resource silver equivalent grade compares well with the most successful high grade silver projects in production or development over the last decade including Silver Crest (Las Chispas), MAG Silver (Juanicipio), Adriatic (Vares), and now Vizsla Silver (Copala). Under-Drilled: Substantial discovery rate in just 23,450 meters of drilling (15,550 meters of drilling was completed by WAM and 7,900 meters was completed by Anaconda and NovaGold). Substantial discovery rate in just 23,450 meters of drilling (15,550 meters of drilling was completed by WAM and 7,900 meters was completed by Anaconda and NovaGold). Expansion Potential: The 2023 WAM 3D IP survey results demonstrate significant exploration potential both immediately north of WPC resource and south along the 7.5 km LH trend. In addition, the geophysics support a major new target, the Warm Springs target, which further connects the WPC/LH trend with the historic Illinois Creek mine gossan oxide Au/Ag deposit. The 2023 WAM 3D IP survey results demonstrate significant exploration potential both immediately north of WPC resource and south along the 7.5 km LH trend. In addition, the geophysics support a major new target, the Warm Springs target, which further connects the WPC/LH trend with the historic Illinois Creek mine gossan oxide Au/Ag deposit. Existing NI 43-101 compliant Au-Ag oxide resource estimate: The past-producing Illinois Creek oxide Au-Ag mine, located approximately 7.5 km to the SE of WPC has an indicated estimate of 253 Koz Au, 9.5Moz Ag and an inferred estimate of 104Koz Au, 3.8Moz Ag. For complete resource disclosure at Illinois Creek, click here. Table 2. Sensitivity table showing Waterpump Creek Sulfide Inferred Resources at various AgEq cut-off grades. Sulfide Inferred Resources - Waterpump Creek Resource Area Cut off (AgEq g/t) Tonnes (M) Average Grade Contained Metal AgEq (g/t) AgEq (oz/t) Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) ZnEq (%) AgEq (Moz) Ag (Moz) Pb (Mlbs) Zn (Mlbs) ZnEq (Mlbs) 0 2.39 976 31.4 278 9.83 11.24 26.3 75.0 21.4 518 592 1385 100 2.39 976 31.4 278 9.83 11.24 26.3 75.0 21.4 518 592 1385 150 2.39 976 31.4 278 9.83 11.24 26.3 75.0 21.4 518 592 1385 200 2.39 977 31.4 279 9.84 11.25 26.3 75.0 21.4 518 592 1384 250 2.38 980 31.5 279 9.86 11.27 26.4 74.9 21.4 517 591 1383 300 2.37 982 31.6 280 9.89 11.30 26.4 74.9 21.4 517 591 1382 400 2.33 993 31.9 284 10.02 11.40 26.7 74.4 21.3 515 585 1373 500 2.27 1007 32.4 288 10.20 11.51 27.1 73.5 21.1 511 576 1357 600 2.20 1021 32.8 293 10.37 11.63 27.5 72.3 20.7 504 565 1335 800 2.01 1051 33.8 303 10.78 11.87 28.3 67.8 19.5 477 525 1252 1000 1.36 1113 35.8 320 11.46 12.54 30.0 48.5 13.9 343 375 896 Additional Waterpump Creek Initial Resource Estimate Notes: The QPs for the Mineral Resource are Dr. Bruce Davis FAusIMM and Susan Lomas, P. Geo of Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc (LGGC). The database comprises a total of 42 drill holes for 9,715 metres of drilling completed by WAM between 2021 and 2023 and 45 drill holes for 6,223 metres of drilling completed by Anaconda in 1983 and 1984 and by NovaGold in 2005 and 2006. The mineral resource estimate is based on three three-dimensional ("3D") resource models, constructed in Leapfrog software, representing the south sulfide zone (4 domains). Silver, lead, and zinc were estimated for each mineralization domain in the Waterpump Creek prospect. 15m x 15m x 3m Blocks within each mineralized domain were interpolated using 1.5 metre composites assigned to that domain with the search domain restricted for high grade samples. To generate grade within the blocks, the ordinary kriging interpolation method was used with variograms for all domains. An average density value of 3.67 was assigned to the Sulfide zone based on 184 density determinations by the wet-dry method on full length assay sample intervals at site. High-grade samples were restricted using an outlier strategy for Ag at 1100 ppm, Pb at 40% and Zn at 40% for 45 m from the composite. It is envisioned that the Sulfide zone may be mined using underground mining methods. Mineral resources are reported at a base case cut-off grade of 200 g/t AgEq. The mineral resource grade blocks were quantified above the base case cut-off grade, below surface and within the constraining mineralized wireframes. The base-case AgEq Cut-off grade for the Sulfide zone considers metal prices of $24.00/oz Ag, $1.00/lb Pb and $1.30/lb Zn and metal recoveries of 75% for silver, 70% for Pb and 84% for Zn. The base case cut-off grade of 200 g/t AgEq for the Sulfide zone considers a mining cost of US$65.00/t, and processing, treatment and refining, transportation, and G&A cost of US$50.00/t of mineralized material. The full National Instrument 43-101 report will be filed within 45 days of the effective date Figure 1. A long-section view of the sulfide zone (looking east). As indicated, the resource is open to the north, south (subject to a cross-cutting fault), and southwest Exploration Potential of Illinois Creek - Waterpump Creek CRD system The 2.39 MT of high-grade Ag-Pb-Zn sulfide resource stands as the cornerstone for the development and expansion of the entire district. In late 2023, we unveiled our refined exploration model, outlining our system-wide targets. Refer to the press release dated December 7th, 2023 for details. Our recent drilling and geophysical modeling efforts have pinpointed three significant CRD host rock carbonate units and target areas, including: Expansion potential at the northern extent of the WPC resource along the continuation of the Waterpump Creek Fault. The south continuation of the WPC high-grade system across an offsetting fault and along a 5 km geophysical trend which is coincident with the interpreted WPC fault, the primary mineralizing fluid pathway for the WPC mineralization. The LH target is down-dip of the LH gossan and soil anomaly drilled in 2005-06 by NovaGold. The Warm Springs Fault target as interpreted from the 2022 CSAMT survey is believed to be a primary mineralizing pathway and is situated farther south and southwest along the 7.5 km trend toward the existing Illinois Creek deposit. Figure 2. System-wide CRD targets showing the modeling results of the high-resolution 3DIP (2023) and the CSAMT (2022) surveys. The 5 ohm-m resistivity domains (dark yellow) are likely pathways for mineralizing fluids and the wider, (light yellow) 25 ohm-m resistivity domains indicate CRD alteration. Both are critical vectors for discovering new zones of CRD mineralization. Western Alaska Minerals remains committed to advancing our exploration activities, delivering value to our stakeholders, and contributing to the growth and success of the mining and exploration industry. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Quality Assurance/Quality Control of drill sample assay results were monitored by WAM staff through a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind standard reference materials, blanks, and duplicates samples at regular intervals. Core logging and sampling was completed at the Illinois Creek mine camp in Alaska. Drill core was logged under an established procedure using GeoSpark commercial logging software. Core intervals selected for assay are sawn lengthwise in half. One half of the core interval is bagged and labeled for assay. The remainder is stored on site for reference. In 2022 and 2023 the bagged core samples were transported to the ALS Minerals laboratory in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, for sample submission. ALS Minerals Fairbanks is a satellite sample preparation facility accredited under ALS Minerals. The ALS Minerals Fairbanks shipped the samples to ALS Minerals in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, for sample preparation and analysis. ALS Minerals North Vancouver is an independent laboratory certified under ISO 9001:2008 and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Standards Council of Canada. ALS Minerals includes its own internal quality control samples comprising certified reference materials, blanks, and pulp duplicates. At ALS the half-core samples were weighed (WEI-21), dried if excessively wet (DRY-21), coarse jaw crushed to 70% passing 6 mm (CRU-21), fine jaw crushed to 70% passing 2 mm (CRU-31), riffle split to 250 g subsamples (SPL-21) and pulverized to 85% passing 75 m (PUL-31). Crushed duplicates were created by riffle splitting crushed samples into two parts. The gold content was determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with an AA finish (Au-AA23). Silver, lead, copper, and zinc along with other elements are analyzed by ICP utilizing a four-acid digestion (ME-ICP61). Over-limit samples for silver, lead, copper, and zinc are determined by using either an ore grade four-acid digestion and ICP-ES finish (ME-OG62) or ore-grade titration analysis (VOL50 or VOL70) for very high-grade samples. In 2021 the bagged core samples were securely transported to the SGS Canada Inc., sample prep facilities in Whitehorse Yukon via air transport to Fairbanks, Alaska from Illinois creek and then commercial trucking to Whitehorse under a strict chain of custody protocol. Sample pulps were sent to SGS's labs in Burnaby, Canada, for analysis. Gold content was determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with ICP finish. Silver, lead, copper, and zinc along with other elements were analyzed by ICP methods utilizing a four-acid digestion. Over-limit samples for silver, lead, copper, and zinc were determined by ore-grade analyses. SGS Canada Inc. is independent of Western Alaska Copper and Gold and its affiliates. SGS Canada Inc. certified under ISO 9001:2015 and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the Standards Council of Canada. ALS Laboratories also performed its own internal QA/QC procedures to assure the accuracy and integrity of results. Parameters for ALS' internal and WAM' external blind quality control samples are acceptable for the elements analyzed. WAM is unaware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. QA/QC data from the Anaconda and NovaGold drill programs was not as extensive as in the WAM programs; however, the QP's reviewed the historic QA/QC and drill program assay results. The QP's found the results were acceptable and that there were no material deficiencies. Qualified Persons The Initial Mineral Resource Estimate was completed by Bruce Davis, PhD, FAusIMM and Susan Lomas, P. Geo. of Lionsgate Geological Services. Mr. Davis and Ms. Lomas are independent Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101. Both QPs have reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. Dr. Davis's review verified the technical data disclosed, including geology, sampling, analytical and QA/QC data underlying this news release, including reviewing the reports of ALS, methodologies, results, and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice. The Waterpump Creek Sulfide Zone within the Illinois Creek CRD System The high-grade silver-lead-zinc drill discoveries at Waterpump Creek in 2021-2023 extended southward, identifying a strike length of almost 500 meters. This zone is open to the north, south and southwest. A significant, 700m step-out exploration drilling program commenced in late 2023 at the LH zone. This target lies south of WPC and across a fault. These drill results, combined with geochemical and geophysical modeling, indicate promising continuity to the S-SW towards the historic Illinois Creek gold-silver mine. About WAM Our mission is to advance a mineable and scalable CRD, ultimately reshaping the mineral landscape of western Alaska and establishing a new CRD district. WAM's 100% owned claims cover 73,120 acres (114.25 square miles or 29,591 hectares), approximately 45 km east of an ocean barge-compatible section of the Yukon River. WAM's intact mineralized CRD system encompasses the (past producing) Illinois Creek gold-silver mine, the Waterpump Creek high-grade silver-lead-zinc deposit, open to the north, and the Honker gold prospect. Twenty-five kilometers northeast of the Illinois Creek CRD lies the Round Top copper and the TG North CRD prospects. All prospects were originally discovered by Anaconda Minerals Co. in the early 1980's. Since 2010, WAM, along with its precursor company, Western Alaska Copper & Gold, reassembled the Anaconda land package and has been engaged in exploring the district. Headquartered in both Alaska and Arizona, WAM brings together a team of seasoned professionals with a shared vision of pioneering new frontiers in mineral exploration. Our strategic approach is underpinned by cutting-edge technology, innovative techniques, and a deep understanding of the geological intricacies of the region. On behalf of the Company "Kit Marrs" Kit Marrs President & CEO Phone: 520-200-1667 For further information please contact: Vanessa Bogaert, Director of Corporate Communications/IR at vanessa@westernalaskaminerals.com Or visit our website at: www.westernalaskaminerals.com. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made, and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guaranteeing of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Western Alaska Minerals Corp View the original press release on accesswire.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Rush Rare Metals Corp. ("Rush" or the "Company") (CSE:RSH) is pleased to announce that it has entered into three consulting services agreements, all dated as of the date hereof, for purposes of reaching out to new potential investors and to keep current and potential investors informed with respect to the Company and the development of its properties. Rush has secured the services of Bay Street Communications, an independent Investor Relations and Corporate Communications consulting firm based in Toronto. With more than 60 years of combined experience, and as a traditional IR firm with strategic insight and a solid network of relationships, management anticipates that Bay Street will provide invaluable help building Rush's capital markets profile. For more digital marketing and social media focus, Rush has also retained both WTS Capital and Luke Komavli (d.b.a. "Komposites Newtech"), to provide ongoing social media content creation, dissemination and consultation, social media sentiment reporting, social engagement reporting, and other related marketing services. "We are very excited to be engaging these professional services organizations," said Peter Smith, CEO of Rush. "The Company has a very exciting story to tell, with two under-the-radar projects representing huge potential, both in premier mining jurisdictions. First, we have our Wyoming uranium property, Copper Mountain, which is being advanced by Myriad Uranium via an earn-in agreement, and in which Rush retains a very significant interest (see Rush's news release dated October 20, 2023 for further details). Second, the Boxi property in Quebec, is 100% owned by Rush and remains our focus, showing substantial early promise for niobium and uranium. We anticipate there will be lots of news about both properties in the coming weeks and months, and these organizations will ensure that our story is communicated in a professional, complete and compelling manner." The agreement with Bay Street Communications is on an ad hoc, hourly basis, and fees are not expected to exceed $24,000 per annum. Bay Street Communications can be contacted at 121 Richmond Street West, #202, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2K1; (647) 496-7858; pkoven@baystreetcommuniccations.com. WTS Capital will be paid $24,000 for services to be provided over a three-month period. Rush will also issue 200,000 stock options to WTS Capital, each option exercisable for one Rush common share at $0.10 for two years. WTS Capital can be contacted at 405 Ridge Rd N, Ridgeway, Ontario L0S 1N0; (905) 321-1470; josh@walkthestreetcapital.com. Komposites Newtech will receive $3,600 over a six-month duration. They can be reached at 1133 Industrial Drive, Hamilton, Ontario L8H5L3; (647) 460-9988; kompositesnewtech@gmail.com. Each of Bay Street Communications, WTS Capital and Komposites Newtech, and each of their principals, is arm's length to Rush. About Rush Rare Metals Corp. Rush Rare Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on its Boxi Property located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Rush also owns the Copper Mountain Project located in Wyoming, USA. For further information, please refer to Rush's disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or contact Rush by email at psmith@rushraremetals.com or by telephone at 778.999.7030, or refer to Rush's website at www.rushraremetals.com. Rush Contacts: Peter Smith Chief Executive Officer psmith@rushraremetals.com ### Mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's properties. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. SOURCE: Rush Rare Metals Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to provide an operations update for the Santana gold project outlining updated plans for expanding mining and processing operations over the next year. "Last year was challenging for both our operations and our shareholders. However, we are optimistic that 2024 will see significant positive advancements at the Santana gold mine," stated Darren Koningen, CEO. "A newly modelled approach to the development of Santana utilizing the existing leach pad capacity will allow mining and stacking operations to increase significantly from 2023 levels. We are currently finalizing plans for the year and concluding our discussions with our mining contractor to implement the new production plans. In parallel we will continue our active conversations regarding approval of our permit amendments covering the future development for the Santana mine." 2024 Outlook In late 2023, the Minera operations team evaluated a series of operation scenarios aimed at balancing future planned leach pad expansion (awaiting permit amendments) against a shorter-term plan to expand mining and stacking activities using the current permitted pad space. Modelling results supported a plan of operations that can be conducted prior to any pad expansion required for longer term production plans. During 2023, the Company initiated some advanced development activities at the Nicho Main zone as preparation for the new plan of operations. This included: Pioneering/pre-stripping of waste material within the proposed 2024 mining areas. Blasting and crushing studies using material from the Nicho Main zone to determine any significant differences in the rock mechanical properties versus those for the Nicho Norte starter pit operations that were the focus of 2021-2023 mining. Approximately 20,000 oz of gold at an average grade of 0.63 g/t and an approximate strip ratio of 1.6:1 has now been defined for mining and loading over a 12-month schedule utilizing the current leach pad installed capacity. Included in the current plan are an additional 4,500 oz of higher grade (~1 g/t) mineralized material. Due to its elevated gold content, this mineralization will be stockpiled initially for future processing pending additional studies to determine an optimal approach for crushing and processing to maximize recoveries. The Company is working to conclude discussions with its mining contractor to prepare their equipment and personnel for the revised operational plan and expansion of mining and stacking activities. Included in the plan are minor modifications to the crushing equipment to help with processing and gold recoveries. Subject to a successful conclusion of the current discussions, the Company anticipates the upgrades to the Santana operations will be phased in over the next month or so which will allow production levels to significantly increase from 2023 levels. Further details regarding the Company's 2023 full year financial results will be provided prior to the end of April 2024 along with ongoing updates regarding the new plan for the Santana mining operations. Cautionary Statement The Company made its production decision at the Santana gold mine without having completed a feasibility study demonstrating economic and technical viability. As such, there may be increased uncertainty of achieving planned production levels, estimated recovery of gold, the costs associated with such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101. For Further Information Please Contact: Minera Alamos Inc. Doug Ramshaw, President Tel: 604-600-4423 Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations Tel: 289-242-3599 Email: vvargas@mineraalamos.com Website: www.mineraalamos.com About Minera Alamos Inc. Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational start-up of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and the proposed mining project is currently being guided through the permitting process by the Company's permitting consultants. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a positive, robust preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed, and the main Federal permits are in place. Minera Alamos is built around its operating team that together brought three open pit heap leach gold mines into successful production in Mexico over the last 13 years. The Company's strategy is to develop very low capex assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include timing, cost estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans, objectives and goals with respect to the Cerro de Oro gold mine including the receipt of permits and construction timeline, and the satisfaction by the Company of the closing conditions to draw the Remaining Amount. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions that, by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198882 SOURCE: Minera Alamos Inc. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Amarc Resources Ltd. ("Amarc" or the "Company") (TSXV:AHR)(OTCQB:AXREF) is pleased to provide details of its executive team's participation at three conferences during March 2024. On March 1-2 , Amarc is presenting at the Metal Investors Forum Toronto at the Delta Hotel in Toronto. Corporate Presentation by Dr. Diane Nicolson, President & CEO on March 1 at 10:10 am ET followed by a Q&A Session at the Amarc Resources Booth Learn more about the Metals Investor Forum Toronto , Amarc is presenting at the at the Delta Hotel in Toronto. On March 3-6 , Amarc will be attending PDAC 2024 in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Visit Corporate Booth #2850 Learn more about PDAC 2024 and register , Amarc will be attending in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. On March 26 , Amarc is presenting at the 2024 Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference . Corporate Presentation and live Q&A with Dr. Diane Nicolson, President & CEO at 8:00 am PT / 11:00 am ET Register now for KCMM24 Virtual Investor Conference , Amarc is presenting at the . Conference attendees are also invited to contact Diane Nicolson, Amarc President & CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or at dianenicolson@hdimining.com in advance to organize a time for a meeting or to receive further information. Amarc's expansive, 100%-owned JOY, DUKE and IKE Copper-Gold Districts are located in British Columbia in proximity to key infrastructure. Each district hosts copper deposits and a pipeline of deposit targets. Funding is in place for substantial discovery drilling across our Cu-Au Districts in 2024. For further details on Amarc Resources Ltd., please visit our website at www.amarcresources.com or contact Dr. Diane Nicolson, President and CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114, or Kin Communications, at (604) 684-6730, Email: AHR@kincommunications.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMARC RESOURCES LTD. Dr. Diane Nicolson President and CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking and other Cautionary Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All such statements, other than statements of historical facts that address exploration plans and plans for enhanced relationships are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc Resources Ltd., investors should review Amarc's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. SOURCE: Amarc Resources Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Medical technology firm Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH) announced Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of the ROSA Shoulder System for robotic-assisted shoulder replacement surgery. ROSA Shoulder is the world's first robotic surgery system for shoulder replacement, and the fourth application for the Company's comprehensive ROSA Robotics portfolio, which includes the ROSA Knee System for total knee arthroplasty and ROSA Hip System for total hip replacement. ROSA Shoulder strengthens Zimmer Biomet's innovative shoulder implant portfolio, which includes the Identity Shoulder System, and joins ZBEdge Dynamic Intelligence, which has the power to enhance the company's cutting-edge digital technologies, robotics and implant solutions. ROSA Shoulder is designed to give surgeons the flexibility to execute a total shoulder replacement using anatomic or reverse techniques and to enable precise placement for improved outcomes. ROSA Shoulder will be commercially available in the U.S. in the second half of 2024, and will work with the mymobility Digital Care Management Platform to bolster the ZBEdge Dynamic Intelligence portfolio for patients undergoing shoulder replacement surgery. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LOS ANGELESRock Candy Toys, award-winning pleasure products manufacturer, on Thursday announced plans to kick off its annual Ladies of the Industry celebration for Womens History Month. From March 1-31, Rock Candy will profile 11 honorees who have made an impact in the industry through their exceptional work and exemplary character. Each honoree will be featured with an accompanying interview on Rock Candys Instagram and Facebook accounts, as well as industry community forums. Tracy Leone, director of sales for Rock Candy Toys, expressed her enthusiasm for this year's celebration, stating, the Rock Candy team is passionate about commemorating the incredible achievements of women in our industry. We proudly celebrate Women's History Month 2024, marking our fourth consecutive year honoring the strong women who are shaping our industry, and paving the way for future generations. Leone continued, Each honoree has not only elevated me, but those who are lucky to know them personally, and professionally. We are elated to shine a light on these multifaceted women, outside of their impactful careers. Honorees are known throughout adult distribution, product manufacturing, retail, and sexual health education. Inaugurating this years lineup of women will be Jordan Cordoba, Head Buyer for Romeo & Juliets. According to the company, each honoree will receive a special gift, curated by the women-led Rock Candy team to nurture whole-body well-being; mind, body, and spirit. To coincide with Ladies of the Industry, Rock Candy and KushKards will debut its latest NaughtyKards greeting card collaboration in early March. Titled In My Self Care Era, the new collection will feature six new bullet vibrator greeting cards, including Cum Queen and Girls Best Friend. Next week, Rock Candy will be appearing at the Altitude Intimates show to support distribution partners Eldorado in booth #534, and Nalpac in booth #406. For additional information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]. DENVER, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Singularity, founded in late 2022, has successfully concluded its second funding round at the end of 2023, with this round led by Gumi Cryptos Capital. The funding will support the development of its protocol, aimed at facilitating compliant access to DeFi as well as ensuring commercial confidentiality for all on-chain activities, with an emphasis on institutional users. Notable participation from investors such as Nomura's digital asset subsidiary Laser Digital, Eureka Partners, and previous round investors including Apollo Crypto, Digital Asset Capital Management, and Gandel Invest, underscores top tier institutional and Venture Capital firms' confidence in Singularity's vision. With this latest round, Singularity has raised close to US$4 million since its inception. Singularity is leading the way in developing a KYC/KYB-compliant institutional DeFi access layer, providing access to leading protocols for on-chain institutional participants while prioritizing commercial confidentiality. Users can seamlessly access existing on-chain liquidity and conduct transactions within Singularity, all while benefiting from on-chain anonymity by utilizing advanced zero-knowledge technology. The initial cohort of institutional users comprises a significant portion of Singularity's investors, spanning liquid funds, asset managers, and venture capitalists. Singularity stands as one of the first DeFi infrastructure protocols leveraging Noir-based zero-knowledge circuits. Noir is a domain-specific language for SNARK proving systems developed by Aztec Labs. It serves as a universal language for zero-knowledge (ZK) circuits. Users can have confidence in the commercial confidentiality of their on-chain activity protected by state-of-the-art cryptography. "We look forward to launching in the coming months with our early institutional users. We focused on designing and building in 2023, and, in what was a very difficult year for primary markets, our investors' commitments validate the institutional need to transact on-chain without information leakages" said Jemma Xu, co-founder of Singularity, "We have an exciting product roadmap ahead with more integrations and multichain deployments. Our immediate focus is on growing our institutional user base." "We are proud to support Singularity in their efforts to advance DeFi accessibility. Singularity addresses a crucial need in the market, providing institutional users with both the compliance and the commercial confidentiality necessary to participate in DeFi. We look forward to partnering with Singularity in this journey," said Miko Matsumura, Managing Partner at Gumi Cryptos Capital. "We are excited to support Singularity on its journey to bring private and compliant DeFi accessibility to institutions." said Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital. Users can both leverage the underlying existing on-chain liquidity and transact within the Singularity, obfuscating both wallet addresses and order details. At launch, Singularity will be integrated with some of the major DeFi protocols and will continue to grow its integrations to provide users with a diversity of on-chain strategies. About Singularity: Singularity, a protocol developed by PG Foundation, is a compliant institutional DeFi access layer that provides access to popular protocols for institutional on-chain participants with commercial confidentiality. Users will have their wallet addresses obfuscated whilst leveraging existing DeFi liquidity. Singularity uses the state-of-the-art UltraPLONK proof system with zero-knowledge circuits based on Noir. Contact: Email: jonah@thesingularity.network Website: thesingularity.network Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityzk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularityzk View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/singularity-closes-2-2m-in-latest-funding-round-to-provide-institutions-confidential-access-to-defi-302067542.html Instead of Allowing AI to End its Consultancy, Evergrowth Embraced a Pivot and is Now On Track to Hit $500K ARR Within Three Months of Launching its SaaS. Evergrowth, the premier AI-powered B2B account-based sales platform, announced today its first fundraise of $2.2M, making it one of the largest pre-seed rounds in Baltic history. The investment, led by Impellent Ventures and Practica Capital, demonstrates the rising influence of Baltic European SaaS startups and the need for fully optimized AI-driven strategies to enable sales and revenue teams. The company is already on track to hit $500K ARR within three months of its MVP launch. Co-founded by JB Daguene, Mantas Urnieza, Tadas Cekavicius, Aivaras Rastenis, and Algimantas Padegimas, the platform's customer-centric sales frameworks are a spin-off of years helping some of the fastest growing revenue teams through a prior consulting business, which had a five-year tenure and generated millions. In 2023, Co-Founder JB Daguene began toying with OpenAI to see how it could be implemented into existing processes and templates and found that the marriage of AI and his previously proven go-to-market strategies allowed his clients to do much more effective and efficient work, with less money and time spent. This ultimately led to closing the consultancy business and going all-in on a scalable SaaS solution. Sales teams now use Evergrowth's AI-driven platform to gather account-based granular insights like intent-based signals that trigger meaningful engagement with prospects, ultimately leading to more revenue with fewer resources. Prior to the release of this innovative technology, doing such deep research on individual accounts and their contacts took days. Companies can now utilize Evergrowth to gain even richer insights and results within minutes. Evergrowth's approach aims to eliminate some of the most common challenges in B2B sales, such as non-personalized, irrelevant outreach and the misalignment between sales and marketing teams, offering a more targeted and adaptive strategy fit for the Digital Age. By leveraging AI, Evergrowth enables sales teams to identify the right company and persona while crafting the perfect message in minutes rather than hours or days, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of sales outreach. Their customizable workflow generation feature harnesses LLM technologies to create dynamic customer-centric sales frameworks that adapt in real-time. This workflow, informed by evolving market conditions, customer preferences, and organizational objectives, guides sales teams through every cycle and seamlessly integrates with their existing sales playbooks. "2020-2022 was fueled by free money and a 'grow at all costs' mentality, and sadly, this drove many sales teams to scale in the wrong direction," said JB Daguene, CEO and Co-Founder at Evergrowth. "Companies chose to mass-hire salespeople and double down on tools to make them more efficient instead of enabling them with customer-centric frameworks to help them understand their ideal customers' needs. After a year of 'hard resetting' in 2023, where we saw a return to a 'back-to-basics' mentality, we predict that in 2024, sales professionals will be expected to do more with less. The solution to finding new ways to perform and create meaningful conversations with prospects is harnessing AI-enabled account-based framework to enable sales teams with super granular machine-powered research based on ICPs and personas definition." Evergrowth's $2.2M raise is notable not only in terms of capital but also demonstrates a much more significant indication of the rise and interest in Lithuanian-based startups. The country has a thriving technology ecosystem with companies spanning various sectors, and its supportive environment for innovation and technology has contributed to Vilnius becoming known as a hub for fintech and cybersecurity startups. The Baltic states have also been branded as a "unicorn factory," producing some of the most well-known tech businesses like Vinted, NordVPN, Skype, and Bolt. According to a recent report published by Practica Capital on the Lithuanian startup scene in 2023, the country maintained its position as the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in the Baltics. The combined enterprise value of Lithuanian startups grew 7.1x between 2018 and 2023, against a CEE growth average of 3.6x and a Baltics growth average of 2.7x. The region is gaining momentum among investors due to factors like advanced digital governance and an environment conducive to innovation, enhancing the region's attractiveness for foreign direct investment. A separate study from Change Ventures and Firstpick also showed that median pre-seed rounds in the area hovered around 300k. Comparing this average to Evergrowth's $2.2M raise and the interest it received from international VCs, it's a true testament to investor confidence in Baltic equity and marking the company as "one to watch" in 2024. Mantas Urnieza, Evergrowth's CTO, explained how and why Evergrowth will use the new funding: "This funding helps us continue to expand from a scrappy MVP that rapidly got traction within several months. The strong interest shown in our solution speaks volumes about its performance and potential. We will use this funding to scale the platform as fast as possible to meet growing demand. Urnieza, a technical leader at numerous startups and a distinguished engineer with more than a decade of experience, added: "Being an AI-native startup, we are utilizing the technology at higher rates. We are molding our know-how in sales processes and acceleration with AI-powered capabilities such as multi-LLM models and real-time data to build a suite that elevates sales professionals' capacities to the next level. We familiarize ourselves with ideal customer profiles and buyer personas, track real-time data across multiple sources, and systematically capture intent signals, allowing Evergrowth clients to make the right and timely decisions to boost their revenue." Evergrowth is also investing in opening up its first U.S. office in New York City and continues to build out the rapidly expanding platform sales and engineering teams. Phil Beauregard, Partner at Impellent Ventures, discussed why he and other investors believe in Evergrowth: "Impellent has had a lot of inbound on the AI Sales Enablement side since OpenAI burst on to the scene and we've been sitting on the sidelines due to a lack of conviction around differentiation of product and team. We were especially excited when we found Evergrowth in Lithuania, a dynamic founding team rife with product, go-to-market-chops, and major sales DNA that spans decades of experience implementing customer-centric sales strategies. The level of experience and expertise that each co-founder brings to the table in their respective domains left us convinced that this was the 'dream team' to create the future of AI sales. When we had the chance to lead this investment in a country we are coming to love and respect alongside a perennial stalwart like Practica Capital, we jumped at the opportunity." Tomas Andriuskevicius, Partner at Practica Capital, provided insight on their investment: "The assembled team is full of rock stars with a proven track record of building successful startups and understanding the mindset of B2B sales optimization. While many solutions can offer generic sales strategies, Evergrowth provides specialized, data-backed frameworks to enable sales and revenue teams, and their unique approach to adapting LLM into their platform has shown us a revolutionary way to achieve sustainable, long-term business growth. We feel confident that Evergrowth will pave the way forward regarding AI-driven sales strategies and will only add to the high-caliber class of early-stage startups currently emerging from Lithuania." Andrew C. Whittaker, CRO at Scaleup Finance, shared: "As the CRO of Scaleup Finance, I can confidently say that Evergrowth, with their cutting-edge signals and AI platform, has been an indispensable partner in our journey. Their innovative solution empowered our SDR teams, making them remarkably effective and accelerating our time to market. Evergrowth played a pivotal role in helping us achieve an outstanding nine-to-one ROI by seamlessly identifying our ideal customer profile and automating key messaging and value propositions. This funding news validates their impact and highlights their strategic advantage to businesses like ours." Peter Holten Muhlmann, Angel Investor in Evergrowth and the Founder/Former CEO of Trustpilot, added: "From the early days at Trustpilot, JB's strategic approach to sales-securing six hundred customers in just two years-demonstrated the effectiveness of his system and framework. Now, with the introduction of AI into Evergrowth's methodology, JB, alongside his co-founders, is poised to transform account-based selling. This evolution resonates with my belief in the importance of a sales-led strategy for SaaS enterprises. Our shared dedication to elevating the sales profession through innovative AI applications in the B2B space is a key reason for my investment in Evergrowth. I'm enthusiastic about supporting a mission that aligns with my passion for sales excellence and promises to elevate the sales profession and redefine enterprise revenue leadership with advanced AI technology." ABOUT EVERGROWTH Evergrowth is the premiere B2B account-based sales platform, leveraging AI-driven insights to craft customer-centric sales frameworks and transform how companies engage and succeed. Its services are designed to build sustainable revenue growth machines for B2B companies, focusing on acquiring high-value clients through proven account-based strategies. Evergrowth's AI-powered customer-centric sales workflows and data analysis tools help sales teams efficiently capture, recycle, and expand their Total Addressable Market (TAM), enhancing customer engagement by providing personalized data-driven interactions and ultimately leading to better sales outcomes. The company was founded in November 2023 by serial entrepreneurs JB Daguene, Mantas Urnieza, Tadas Cekavicius, Aivaras Rastenis, and Algimantas Padegimas, and has offices in Vilnius, Lithuania, and New York City, USA. Please visit www.evergrowth.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222547944/en/ Contacts: Chelsea Waite Accelerate PR chelsea@acceleratepr.com Jill Beggs, Head of North America Treaty Reinsurance, Appointed to Reinsurance Division Chief Operating Officer Jiten Voralia, Head of Treaty Casualty Surety, Named Reinsurance Head of North America Treaty Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE: EG), a global underwriting leader providing best-in-class property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance and insurance solutions has announced the promotion of two key leaders in the Reinsurance Division, both effective immediately. Jill Beggs has been promoted to Reinsurance EVP and Chief Operating Officer of the Division. In this role, Ms. Beggs will manage the profitable growth of the division's worldwide portfolio, including Global Treaty, Facultative, and Specialty reinsurance businesses as well as Mt. Logan. She will continue to report to Jim Williamson, Everest Group COO and Head of Reinsurance. "Jill is a consummate leader whose deep experience and collaborative approach have consistently raised the bar for both the reinsurance market and Everest's business," said Jim Williamson. "Along with our outstanding leadership team, I look forward to working with Jill in her expanded role as we further strengthen our preferred lead market position and continue to deliver on our strategic objectives." Everest also announced that Jiten Voralia has been promoted to Head of North America Treaty Reinsurance, where he will lead the division's treaty reinsurance business across the United States, Bermuda and Canada, reporting to Ms. Beggs. Mr. Voralia will continue leading the division's North America Treaty Casualty business until a successor is named. "Jill and Jiten embody the collaborative, high-performing culture that distinguishes Everest in the market and makes us home to the industry's best talent," said Juan C. Andrade, Everest President and CEO. "Their well-deserved promotions are a testament to the strength of Everest's leadership team and success of our reinsurance business, which continues to deliver vital protection and exceptional value to our stakeholders." Since rejoining Everest in 2021 where she spent the first decade of her underwriting career, Ms. Beggs most recently served as Head of North America Treaty and Global Specialty Reinsurance, where she drove the portfolio's profitable expansion and key global growth initiatives. Ms. Beggs joined Everest from Munich Re where she spent more than two decades leading U.S. treaty and facultative programs across multiple lines of business, while spearheading various firm-wide innovation initiatives. Ms. Beggs is the recipient of numerous industry honors and awards, most recently named to the Business Insurance 2023 "Women to Watch" list. Mr. Voralia joined Everest in 2022 as Reinsurance Head of Treaty Casualty Surety, bringing more than two decades of diverse reinsurance experience to his role. Prior to Everest, Mr. Voralia served in various domestic and global leadership roles at Swiss Re, most recently as Head of U.S. Globals Casualty Treaty Underwriting. About Everest Everest Group, Ltd. (Everest) is a global underwriting leader providing best-in-class property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance and insurance solutions that address customers' most pressing challenges. Known for a 50-year track record of disciplined underwriting, capital and risk management, Everest, through its global operating affiliates, is committed to underwriting opportunity for colleagues, customers, shareholders, and communities worldwide. Everest common stock (NYSE: EG) is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information about Everest, our people, and our products can be found on our website at www.everestglobal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222030865/en/ Contacts: Media: Dawn Lauer Chief Communications Officer 908.300.7670 Investors: Matt Rohrmann Head of Investor Relations 908.300.7670 The addition of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) enhances Gotrade Indonesia's offerings, enabling investors to access diversified assets with lower fees, marking a significant milestone in the democratisation of investment opportunities. JAKARTA, INDONESIA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Gotrade Indonesia, a leading platform in fractional investments, is expanding its portfolio by introducing Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). This new feature allows Indonesian investors to diversify their investments and enjoy the benefits of lower fees. This move comes in response to the growing demand for more diversified investment options and the increasing awareness of the cost-effectiveness of ETFs among investors. The introduction of ETFs is set to revolutionise the investment landscape in Indonesia by offering access to a range of assets with an average expense ratio significantly lower than that of actively managed mutual funds. Gotrade Indonesia adds ETFs on their fractional investment platform Gotrade Indonesia ETF stock screen, showing access to US etfs on Gotrade Indonesia for fractional investing An article published by Investopedia in 2024 shows that ETF fees are generally cheaper than mutual fund fees. In 2022, in the United States, the average expense ratio for index ETFs was 0.16%, lower than the average expense ratio for US mutual funds of 0.66%. Norman Wanto, CEO of Gotrade, welcomed the enactment of the Indonesian Commodity and Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (CoFTRA) Regulation No. 1 of 2024 that allows the recent introduction of ETFs into the Indonesian market. "We would like to express our gratitude to CoFTRA as the regulator of our industry. Many of our users have expressed their hopes of being able to buy ETFs, and we are grateful that Bappebti has followed up on these aspirations, along with the support of Jakarta Futures Exchange (JFX)." Norman further continued, "The introduction of ETFs is a game-changer for our users. It not only broadens their investment options but also aligns with our commitment to offer innovative, cost-effective investment solutions. By incorporating ETFs into our platform, we are enabling Indonesian investors to build diversified portfolios with lower fees, enhancing their potential for long-term growth and financial stability." Gotrade Indonesia is a revolutionary investment platform that enables Indonesian investors to access the U.S. stock market with ease and efficiency through the Channeling of Customer Mandates to Foreign Exchanges (PALN) scheme. Through its partnership with Valbury Asia Futures, Gotrade offers fractional investment opportunities, allowing users to invest in shares of over 600 U.S. companies via PALN derivative contracts, including the "magnificent seven" technology giants and popular ETFs. Committed to making investing and trading accessible to all Indonesians, Gotrade Indonesia provides a secure, user-friendly platform for investors to grow their assets and achieve their financial goals. Contact Information Aji Suleiman VP Indonesia aji@tr8.io SOURCE: Gotrade Financial Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Klondike Gold Corp. (TSX.V:KG)(FRA:LBDP)(OTCQB:KDKGF) ("Klondike Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report results of a regional bio-leach extractable gold ("BLEG") survey conducted in 2023 by Newmont Canada which included the area of the Company's 100% owned Klondike District Property (the "Property") in the Dawson mining district, Yukon, Canada. Peter Tallman, Klondike Gold's President & CEO states "We have pursued the idea of conducting a regional geochemical survey for years to characterize where Klondike might fit in the major tectonic gold belt picture, and we would like to thank Newmont for their cooperation on independently delivering their own professional survey and for providing us the contextual results. These are as we expected: our Klondike District Property contains the regional #1 orogenic gold anomaly based on multiple elements. And the anomalism is throughout the strike length of the Property with new target areas indicated by this survey that require immediate prospection in 2024." Newmont Canada conducted an independent regional BLEG sampling survey totalling 292 sample sites. With permission from Klondike Gold, Newmont Canada sampled 37 sites within the Company's Klondike District Property as allowed by the Company's existing exploration permits. Field samples were collected by Newmont personnel and chemical analyses were performed in the Newmont (USA) laboratory in Denver, Colorado. Newmont Canada personnel recently provided analytical results for each of 50 elements as well as a percentile ranking value (out of 100%, where 100% is highest value) for each element analyzed from 37 samples sites collected within the Property, relative to the 292-sample regional dataset. HIGHLIGHTS: The highest percentile ranks of BLEG survey element analyses of characteristic 'orogenic gold deposit' model elements were collected from among the 37 sites within the Klondike District Property out of 292 regional samples. Analytical results for orogenic gold pathfinder elements gold (Au), tellurium (Te), silver (Ag), bismuth (Bi), as well as copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) from the Klondike District Property, where 100% is the highest and 90-90.99% is the top 10th percentile, include: Gold (Au): 1 (highest) sample at 100%, 5 (including 2 nd highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Tellurium (Te): 1 (highest) sample at 100%, 4 at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Silver (Ag): 1 (highest) sample at 100%, 4 (including 2 nd highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Bismuth (Bi): 2 (highest) samples tied at 100%, 4 (including 2 nd highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Lead (Pb): 2 (highest) samples tied at 100% out of 292 samples Copper (Cu): 6 samples at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples The six highest Percentile Au sites are shown in Figure 1 map of the Property. Each site is sampling a small drainage catchment area with none or historically limited disturbance upstream. Two of these sites are associated with large Au-soil geochemical anomalies from the Company's regional soil survey program. Another of these sites is near a c.1900 historic gold mine shaft/adit/workings exploration area that was 'relocated' by Company staff late in 2023 and is a target of 2024 field exploration. Two anomalous sites are within small drainages with no known gold mineralization as potential source that will now also be investigated in 2024. All six sites are located adjacent to major crustal faults mapped by the Company which are associated with orogenic gold mineralization within a corridor of rock types the Company has identified as highly prospective. No samples in the BLEG survey were collected within 10km of the northwestern end of the property thus excluding the highly prospective drainages of Eldorado and Bonanza Creeks where the Company has outlined the open ended Lone Star and Stander Deposits both with open pit constrained Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE")1 areas. The Klondike team continues to evaluate the 50-element dataset in detail. Data from the 50-element BLEG survey supports different geochemical domains corresponding to the Company's differentiated geology separated by major faults. The Company contends that the Klondike District is an unrecognized world-class orogenic gold belt comprised of a disparate series of thrust terranes, contradicting Yukon Territorial Government and Geological Survey of Canada mapping depicting one 'undifferentiated' Klondike Schist geology unit without faults and thus limited (hence 'overlooked') gold potential. Figure 1: Map of Gold (Au) percentile rank of 37 BLEG sample sites within the Klondike District Property out of 292 regional sample survey. QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL The technical and scientific information contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Tallman, P.Geo., President and CEO of Klondike Gold and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 policy. Interpretations of BLEG data and results herein are solely the responsibility of Klondike Gold. Exploration related technical information, specifications, analytical information and procedures can be found on the Company's website. UPCOMING EVENTS Klondike Gold will be participating in the following upcoming events: March 3 - 6, 2024: PDAC (Toronto, ON), March 5: Invest Yukon Precious Metals Luncheon (Toronto, ON,) April 19 - 21: CEM Investment Conference (Scottsdale, AZ) April 23 - 27: Germany Investment Conference (Frankfurt) July 17 - 21: Dawson Investment Conference/Property Tour (Dawson, YT) ABOUT KLONDIKE GOLD CORP. Klondike Gold is a Vancouver based gold exploration company advancing its 100%-owned Klondike District Gold Project located at Dawson City, Yukon, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Klondike District Gold Project targets gold associated with district scale orogenic faults along the 55-km length of the famous Klondike Goldfields placer district. Multi-km gold mineralization has been identified at both the Lone Star Zone and Stander Zone, among other targets. The Company has identified a Mineral Resource Estimate of 469,000 Indicated and 112,000 Inferred gold ounces1, a milestone first for the Klondike District. The Company is focused on exploration and development of its 727 square km property accessible by scheduled airline and government-maintained roads located on the outskirts of Dawson City, Yukon, within the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation traditional territory. 1 The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Klondike District Property was prepared by Marc Jutras, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Principal, Ginto Consulting Inc., an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. The technical report supporting the Mineral Resource Estimate entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Klondike District Gold Project, Yukon Territory, Canada" has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca effective November 10, 2022. Refer to news release of December 16, 2022. ON BEHALF OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP. "Peter Tallman" Peter Tallman, President and CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Telephone: (604) 609-6138 E-mail: info@klondikegoldcorp.com Website: www.klondikegoldcorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management, however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Klondike Gold does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Klondike Gold Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces that its Board of Directors has appointed Ms. Zoya Shashkova to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Shashkova is expected to commence her employment with the Company on or about March 18, 2024. Eric Caba, President and CEO of Bear Creek states, "I am pleased to welcome Zoya Shashkova to the Company. Her deep understanding of finance and accounting will be invaluable as we continue to develop and grow Bear Creek. Zoya's meticulous style and "boots on the ground" approach will add significant value to the management team." Ms. Shashkova has 25 years of consulting and finance executive experience, spanning audit and consulting, tax structuring, risk management, reporting, disclosure and mining finance. Her most recent roles include the CFO of EnviroGold Global, a mining technology company engaged in reprocessing of mining tailings. Prior to that she was the Treasurer for Torex Gold Resources, a mid-tier Canadian gold producer, where she raised over $1B in debt and equity capital to support ongoing operations as well as long-term strategic initiatives. Ms. Shashkova previously served as CFO for UraniumOne's operations in Central Asia, where she provided leadership in all areas of business and financial management, including strategic planning, performance measurement, debt financing, accounting, international tax structuring and risk management. She has also held senior leadership positions with Deloitte and E&Y. Ms. Shashkova holds an MSc in Biology and Chemistry, an MBA in Banking and Finance, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, US, Maine) and is an ICD.D certified director, Institute of Corporate Directors. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Eric Caba President & Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications Phone: 604-685-6269 E-mail: barb@bearcreekmining.com www.bearcreekmining.com Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statement regarding the anticipated contributions of Ms. Shashkova to the Company's management team; and the Company's expectations regarding the development and growth of the Company. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release and are based on the Company's knowledge of the experience, skills and reputation of Ms. Shashkova. These forward-looking statements reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur, and the additional risks described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198795 SOURCE: Bear Creek Mining Corporation Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received a letter of support for its mining project and planned purified phosphoric acid plant from the Hon. Mario Simard, Member of Parliament (BQ) for the Riding of Jonquiere, Quebec. Mr. Simard, first elected to Canadian parliament in 2019, is the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and is the critic for natural resources for the Bloc Quebecois. "The team at First Phosphate appreciates the support that Mr. Simard and his staff have provided to us since the very beginning of our concept of establishing the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec as the LFP Battery Valley of North America," says First Phosphate CEO, John Passalacqua. "In Canada, we need leadership that backs major projects and that supports job creation in local economies, especially an economy with the potential of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec." Mr. Simard's letter of support for the First Phosphate project may be found at: https://firstphosphate.com/mariosimard.pdf Mr. Simard states the following in his letter: "In the current context of climate change, all efforts to undertake the energy transition in a concrete way must be supported and encouraged. In this respect, phosphate is a key element in the development of the battery industry. Not only are lithium iron phosphate ("LFP") batteries non-toxic and have the advantage of superior fire protection, but they also contribute directly towards the green-energy transition. They provide the electric vehicle sector with environmentally-friendly batteries through their production process powered by our clean Quebec hydroelectric grid." "Thanks to the availability of phosphate (amongst the purest 1% in the world), our region has the potential to establish itself as a true leader in the energy transition, all through the development of a LFP battery industry. What's more, the development of First Phosphate's project facilities could contribute to the diversification of our regional economy with the potential to help create an additional 1,000 to 10,000 jobs in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean." "This is why, as MP for the federal riding of Jonquiere, I support a project as important as that of First Phosphate for the development of LFP battery in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region." Canadian Federal Riding of Jonquiere Quebec and Locations of the First Phosphate Project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8917/198819_78a7aa0564790804_001full.jpg About First Phosphate Corp. First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate materially devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements. For additional information, please contact: Bennett Kurtz, CFO bennett@firstphosphate.com Tel: +1 (416) 200-0657 Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com Follow First Phosphate: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate -30- Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain statements and information that may be considered "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and other similar expressions. In addition, statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements, including, among other things, the Company's planned exploration and production activities, the properties and composition of any extracted phosphate, the Company's plans for vertical integration into North American supply chains and the establishment of the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec as the LFP Battery Valley of North America. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on assumptions and estimates that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, expectations of the Company's long term business outcomes given its short operating history; expectations regarding revenue, expenses and operations; the Company having sufficient working capital and ability to secure additional funding necessary for the exploration of the Company's property interests; expectations regarding the potential mineralization, geological merit and economic feasibility of the Company's projects; expectations regarding drill programs and the potential impacts successful drill programs could have on the life of the mine and the Company; mineral exploration and exploration program cost estimates; expectations regarding any environmental issues that may affect planned or future exploration programs and the potential impact of complying with existing and proposed environmental laws and regulations; receipt and timing of exploration and exploitation permits and other third-party approvals; government regulation of mineral exploration and development operations; expectations regarding any social or local community issues that may affect planned or future exploration and development programs; expectations surrounding global economic trends and technological advancements; and key personnel continuing their employment with the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: limited operating history; high risk of business failure; no profits or significant revenues; limited resources; negative cash flow from operations and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; no dividends; risks related to possible fluctuations in revenues and results; insurance and uninsured risks; litigation; reliance on management and key personnel; conflicts of interest; access to supplies and materials; dangers of mineral exploration and related liability and damages; risks relating to health and safety; government regulation and legal uncertainties; the company's exploration and development properties may not be successful and are highly speculative in nature; dependence on outside parties; title to some of the Company's mineral properties may be challenged or defective; Aboriginal title and land claims; obtaining and renewing licenses and permits; environmental and other regulatory risks may adversely affect the company; risks relating to climate change; risks related to infrastructure; land reclamation requirements may be burdensome; current global financial conditions; fluctuation in commodity prices; dilution; future sales by existing shareholders could cause the Company's share price to fall; fluctuation and volatility in stock exchange prices; and risks related to market demands. There can be no assurance that any opportunity will be successful, commercially viable, completed on time or on budget, or will generate any meaningful revenues, savings or earnings, as the case may be, for the Company. In addition, the Company will incur costs in pursuing any particular opportunity, which may be significant. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company and, though they should be considered carefully, should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors described in the Company's other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated November 29, 2023 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking information or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198819 SOURCE: First Phosphate Corp. The Calix Broadband Platform significantly outperforms the European Commission's "Broadband Communication Equipment Codes of Conduct," for energy efficiency, enabling broadband providers to develop greener networks across Europe that require half the energy of traditional access networks Today, Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) announced its significant achievement in outperforming the European Commission's "Broadband Communication Equipment Codes of Conduct," for energy efficiency. The Calix Broadband Platform not only meets but surpasses the European Commission's power consumption targets for network and customer equipment, enabling broadband service providers (BSPs) across Europe to deploy environmentally responsible networks using sustainable innovations and supply chains. Calix collaborates with the European Commission and industry stakeholders to identify energy-efficient technologies and set new goals to reduce broadband power consumption to help make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent. Europe-based BSPs leveraging the Calix Platform-which includes Calix Cloud, Unlimited Subscriber, and Intelligent Access-can deliver broadband services more sustainably. Intelligent Access enables BSPs to deploy broadband networks with up to 50 percent less power consumption than traditional networks. The E9-2, E7-2, and E3-2 Intelligent Access systems help BSPs lower power consumption and minimize space usage. Additionally, Unlimited Subscriber helps subscribers cut broadband power consumption in half by reducing power usage and extending home Wi-Fi coverage. Germany-based Vattenfall Eurofiber leverages the Calix Platform to contribute to a sustainable future for their communities. Vattenfall runs an advanced open-access fiber network in Berlin that serves hundreds of thousands of households and businesses, delivering speeds up to 10G. Their network is built on Intelligent Access E7-2 XG801 and powered by the Network Innovation Operating System (AXOS). "Building and operating an environmentally friendly broadband network that contributes to a sustainable future for Berlin is important to us," said Marco Sick, chief executive officer of Vattenfall Eurofiber GmbH. "We are deeply committed to running a future-proof fiber network that will provide fast and reliable connectivity to at least half a million residences and businesses throughout Berlin. Since we began leveraging Intelligent Access, we have seen OPEX and CAPEX reduced year-over-year." Calix's commitment to broadband energy reduction is one of many initiatives led by its office of sustainability, headed by Martha Galley, executive vice president. "Calix's sustainability strategy is based on a 'triple bottom line' approach comprising people, planet, and partnership," said Galley. "We focus on environmental responsibility through efficient, recyclable products and a supply chain that considers the long-term impact of our products on the communities where they are deployed. We also prioritize fair treatment and diversity in our workforce, and we value collaborative partnerships with our customers built on shared success and increased value to their subscribers." By participating in the "Broadband Communication Equipment Codes of Conduct," Calix is supporting the European Commission in greatly reducing the EU's broadband electricity consumption to 25 TWh per year, which would result in annual power savings of EUR7.5 billion ($8.2 billion). Calix continues to collaborate with other global programs to enable more BSPs to build greener, sustainable networks as they connect subscribers and communities to the world. "Our commitment to the EU codes of conduct for broadband equipment is yet another proof point of our focus on ensuring our customers can run healthy broadband businesses that deliver incredible value to their subscribers and communities-just as Vattenfall has in Berlin," said Galley. Learn more about the Calix Broadband Platform at fiberdays in Wiesbaden, Germany, on February 27 and 28 (Hall North; Stand F4). Discover how Calix helps BSPs build more sustainable networks. Download the eBook, "How Broadband Service Providers Are Building Smarter, Greener Networks with Calix." About Calix Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)- Broadband service providers of all sizes leverage the Calix platform and teams to simplify their business and excite their subscribers to grow the value of their business and for their communities for generations. The democratizing power of the platform and portfolio of managed services enables them to operate efficiently, acquire subscribers, and deliver exceptional experiences. Calix is dedicated to driving continuous improvement in partnership with our growing ecosystem to support the transformation of our customers and their communities. This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix's business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. Calix and the Calix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Calix and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Calix's trademarks can be found at https://www.calix.com/pages/trademarks.html. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222745722/en/ Contacts: Press Inquiries: Alison Crisci 919-353-4323 alison.crisci@calix.com Investor Inquiries: Jim Fanucchi investorrelations@calix.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / KeyBank recently announced two multi-year Community Impact grants from KeyBank Foundation to nonprofits in Yonkers, NY, a community within the bank's Hudson Valley/Metro New York market. With one of the highest poverty rates in Westchester County, the grants aim to bring resources to Yonkers students. Both grants align with KeyBank Foundation's mission to provide skills, education and capabilities to students and young adults that prepare them for fulfilling careers and successful futures. Westhab awarded $240,000 grant to bring tutoring, college, and career advising to Yonkers teens Westhab, an organization that provides affordable housing, youth programs, and employment services in New York City and Westchester County, received a three-year $240,000 grant from KeyBank Foundation to create a pipeline to college and careers for low-income students at Dayspring Community Center in Yonkers, NY. Starting September 2024, the program will support thirty 9th to 12th grade students from Dayspring's youth program in proactively exploring and choosing the post-secondary path that suits them best. To develop the programming, Westhab will work with the Yonkers Partners In Education (YPIE), a Westchester-based nonprofit with expertise in ensuring students are ready for, enroll, and complete college. Staff will help students academically prepare for college, navigate, and complete the college application process. For students not interested in college, staff will assess teens' skills and interests and, through partnerships with programmers and guest speakers, help inspire potential career pathways. Participants will be connected to additional support, such as Dayspring's Employment Services, to help actualize their plans. "I grew up in Yonkers; this is the kind of investment our neighborhood needs," shared Dayspring Director JC Soto. "Nodine Hill of Southwest Yonkers (where Dayspring is located) has a poverty rate that is double that of all of Westchester County. Increasing college readiness and providing resources to advance their skills in careers with livable wages will allow teens to earn higher incomes, translating into better life outcomes, including health, wealth, and happiness." Over the course of three years, the program hopes to make larger shifts in the trajectory of the community. "This generous investment by KeyBank Foundation will help individual students, but also aims to create a more lasting change in the community by nurturing an ongoing college-ready culture for high school students. "We hope to broaden these teen's futures and disrupt cycles of inequality that we see in Nodine Hill," said Mr. Soto. Groundwork Hudson Valley receives $100,000 grant for Youth Leadership and Sustainability Education Program Expansion in Yonkers KeyBank Foundation also presented a two-year $100,000 grant to Groundwork Hudson Valley to support the expansion of Groundwork's Youth Leadership and Sustainability Education Programs. Groundwork Hudson Valley is an environmental justice non-profit working with communities to improve climate resilience and adaptation, promote sustainability education, and nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. KeyBank's funding will provide out-of-school education for Yonkers NY Public School K-6 students to visit the Science Barge, a floating sustainability education center, and supplement the school system's science curricula. It will also support its award-winning Green Team, a program that provides paid part-time jobs to Yonkers Public High School students to build their leadership skills and gain hands-on skills in environmental conservation, climate risk mitigation, and community engagement. "We at Groundwork Hudson Valley are immensely grateful for partners like KeyBank who are committed to creating positive and lasting change and who provide resources to organizations like ours to propel our mission forward for Yonkers youth," shared Oded Holzinger, Groundwork Hudson Valley's Executive Director. "This partnership with the KeyBank Foundation exemplifies how we can come together to lay the groundwork and empower our youth to have the knowledge and skills to become the environmental leaders of tomorrow." Helping our communities thrive KeyBank Hudson Valley/Metro New York Market President John Manginelli recently presented grant checks to each organization and spoke about the importance that KeyBank places on investing in the Yonkers community. "The core of our community commitment is supporting nonprofits that work to improve the lives of disadvantaged members in our local communities through education, workforce development and community investment," said John. "Our partnerships with Westhab and Groundwork will not only improve the lives and futures of Yonkers' youth but can help create a ripple effect for real change in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city. KeyBank is proud to support their efforts " KeyBank Foundations' grants are part of the bank's $40 billion community investment plan focused on economic access and equity to communities across the country. The scope of the plan includes investments and lending in affordable housing, home lending, small business lending, green initiatives, and transformative philanthropy targeted toward workforce development, education, and safe, vital neighborhoods for underserved communities and populations. For more information on KeyBank's work in the community, visit www.key.com/community. KeyBank Market President for Hudson Valley/Metro New York John Manginelli (center) presented the KeyBank Foundation grant to Westhab President and CEO Rich Nightingale (left) and JC Soto, Dayspring Community Center Director, Westhab. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View the original press release on accesswire.com Industry Leader Joins to Drive the Company's Next Phase of Growth NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / CyberMaxx, LLC , the leading managed detection and response (MDR) provider, today announced it has appointed Bill Hogan as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, Hogan will be responsible for driving the company's growth strategy across its entire solution portfolio. Hogan brings more than 30 years of Industry experience to CyberMaxx, gained through a successful career including roles at EMC, StorageApps, acquired by HPE, NetApp, Fortinet and SecurityScorecard. Hogan's roles at NetApp, Fortinet and SecurityScorecard may be the most significant of his career. He was critical to establishing Fortinet's dominant Wall Street presence while SecurityScorecard saw a 10-fold revenue increase and achieved unicorn status during his four-year tour of duty. "Having been in the IT/cybersecurity industry for more than three decades, I have seen MDR emerge as one of the most important solutions for organizations to bolster their overall security measures," shared Hogan. "With CyberMaxx's unique approach to enhancing MDR through insights garnered through offensive, DFIR, and threat hunting activities, customers are fully protected from both the expected and unexpected threats. I look forward to helping bring more awareness to the strength of CyberMaxx's industry-leading MDR solution." CyberMaxx had a momentous year of growth in 2023 , including the merging of CyberMaxx and CipherTechs in February 2023. Within three quarters, the newly formed company (retaining the CyberMaxx brand) was able to develop a unified service delivery model, updated offerings, and maintain customer retention rates and satisfaction, validating the integration of both companies. This was done while also posting growth across CyberMaxx's MDR offering. As part of its updated offerings, CyberMaxx launched its next-generation Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution, MaxxMDR, and its associated MDR Bundles to address the growing market demand. The MDR bundles expertly combine offensive and defensive services offerings, resulting in a strengthening of detection capabilities with insights from offensive solutions. This provides a uniform customer experience at a competitive investment level. Hogan will build off the new model and offerings proving more success for CyberMaxx in the market. "We are excited about the leadership and passion Bill will bring to CyberMaxx at this critical point in our growth trajectory," said Brian M. Ahern, CEO of CyberMaxx. "Bill's extensive industry experience and track record of success, his channel leveraged approach, along with conviction for our mission are exactly what we need to accelerate growth at a time where both the need and the opportunity have never been greater." About CyberMaxx CyberMaxx, LLC., founded in 2002, is the leading provider of managed detection and response (MDR), headquartered in New York, NY. CyberMaxx's managed detection and response solution (MaxxMDR) is designed to be scalable for clients of all sizes, providing protection and improving the organization's security posture, ultimately giving customers peace of mind that their systems and data are secure. CyberMaxx expanded its capabilities through the 2022 acquisition of CipherTechs, an international cybersecurity company providing a complete cybersecurity portfolio across MDR Services, Offensive Security, Governance, Risk & Compliance, DFIR, and 3rd party security product sourcing. For more information visit: www.cybermaxx.com Media Contact Escalate PR for CyberMaxx cybermaxx@escalatepr.com SOURCE: CyberMaxx View the original press release on accesswire.com SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Sydnic, LLC ("Sydnic"), one of the largest franchisees of Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company brand ("Precision"), has announced its acquisition of the Precision franchises of Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina, from Tim and Lynn Yeager and the Precision franchises of Virginia Beach and Richmond, Virginia, from Scott and Shauna Kale. With these acquisitions, Sydnic technicians now repair, maintain, and install residential garage doors, openers, and related equipment across 14 markets. SBJ Capital acquired the initial Sydnic platform in October 2023. Precision "We are thrilled to expand our existing footprint in North Carolina and Virginia," said Sydnic President Chad Aspinwall. "Sydnic Founder Doug Kale and I have known Tim and Lynn as well as Scott and Shauna for many years, and I have the utmost respect for the businesses they have built and for their teams. I could not be more excited to have them as our partners." "We are excited to be joining the Sydnic team," said Tim Yeager. "We considered a variety of alternatives prior to making our decision, but Sydnic was the like-minded partner that we were searching for who valued our experience and team. We very much appreciate the speed with which they moved and the value they delivered." Scott Kale added, "I have known the Sydnic team for decades and have a deep amount of respect for their operations. I am thankful for all the hard work that went into creating this partnership and am excited for the opportunities it creates for my team." Tim and Lynn and Scott and Shauna re-invested a portion of their respective ownership into Sydnic, and Tim will serve on the board of Sydnic. Sydnic is actively seeking to extend its relationship with Neighborly by acquiring other Precision franchises in adjacent markets, as well as franchises of other Neighborly brands in Sydnic's current and adjacent markets, to create a multi-brand residential services platform. O'Melveny served as legal advisor to Sydnic and K&L Gates served as legal advisor to both seller groups. About Sydnic Sydnic is one of the largest franchisees within the Precision Door Service franchise system and sells, repairs, installs, and maintains residential garage doors, openers, and related equipment. Precision Door Service is a franchise within Neighborly, the world's largest home services company. Neighborly has more than 30 brands and 5,000 franchise units collectively serving over 12 million customers in six countries, focused on repairing, maintaining, and enhancing homes. About SBJ Capital SBJ Capital is a private investment firm focused on investing in founder and family-owned consumer and services companies. SBJ provides operational resources, strategic advice, domain expertise, and a partnership approach to realize the shared goals of entrepreneurs, owners, and management teams. SBJ was founded by an experienced team of professionals with a track record of growing companies both as principal investors and as operating executives. Contact Information Katelyn Wood Operations Manager katelyn@sbjcap.com 4158481990 SOURCE: SBJ Capital View the original press release on newswire.com. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Hispania Resources Inc. (TSXV: ESPN) ("Hispania" or "the company"), a mineral exploration company focused on Spain, is pleased to provide an operational update for the company. This week, Management of Hispania Resources held meetings with key government stakeholders in Spain, including in Lumbrales and Puebla de la Reina. Regarding the company's asset Mari Tere, the former tin producing asset located in Lumbrales, Spain. Management of the company held discussions with municipal authorities of the town of Lumbrales regarding the asset, which was last operated during the mid 1980's and closed in 1986 due to low Tin prices. Discussions were positive with the local authorities and Management is very pleased with the outcome and looks forward to continued work in the town of Lumbrales, with the support of all stakeholders locally and regionally. Management also met with the mining authorities in Extremadura Province to discuss developments relating to the Herrerias property, these were very forthcoming and management is pleased with these discussions. Norman Brewster, Chief Executive Officer of Hispania commented, "the governmental bodies in both regions we met this week have been extremely supportive of Hispania and our efforts in those localities. With an emphasis on critical minerals in the European Union and specifically Spain, as well as our focus on sustainable mining efforts and positive societal and economic impacts in the communities where we will operate - like we had with Iberian - the local and regional governments where our three assets are, are supportive of the projects and we look forward to carrying them forward with all of our stakeholders' assistance." About Hispania Resources Inc. Hispania Resources Inc is a mineral exploration company focused on mining opportunities in Spain. Hispania is currently focused on developing 3 core assets across Spain, including the copper, zinc project Otero, the formerly producing tin project Lumbrales and the copper, zinc Puebla de la Reina project. The management of Hispania contains industry veterans who have more than 120 years of mineral exploration and production experience in multiple jurisdictions and have successfully managed multiple international mining companies. This includes in Spain, where some of the team was responsible for the founding and building of Iberian Minerals with the continued support of the local and regional governments, including the well-developed and sophisticated transportation and mining infrastructure. For more information on Hispania Resources Inc., visit: http://HispaniaResources.com/. Contact Information For more information or interview requests, please contact: Norman Brewster - Chief Executive Officer Norm@HispaniaResources.com (416) 970-3223 Rahim Allani - Director Rahim@HispaniaResources.com (416) 457-0549 Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information can be identified by words such as: "intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking information include, among others, the expected commencement of work on the PBR project, the expected meetings with local drilling firms, as well as information relating to Hispania. Although Hispania believes that, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Hispania can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risk that the future plans of Hispania may differ from those that currently are contemplated Additional risks include those disclosed in the Filing Statement, which are incorporate herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. This news release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) absent registration or an exemption from registration. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198887 SOURCE: Hispania Resources Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, subject to receipt of final TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval, it will issue an aggregate of 208,074 common shares (the "Shares") (the "Share Issuance") at a deemed price $0.2403 per share to Michael Tremblay and 2625286 Ontario Inc (collectively the "Vendors") to satisfy a February 8, 2024, $50,000 property payment on its Dryden Gold Property located in Northwest Ontario (the "Dryden Property") . The Shares are being issued in accordance with Dryden Gold and the Vendors option agreement dated February 8, 2022 (as amended) (the "Tremblay Option Agreement") and are based on the first thirty days of trading in the Company's stock on a volume weighted basis (the "30-day VWAP"). The proposed Share Issuance was previously disclosed in the Company's TSXV Form 3D2 Filing Statement dated December 27, 2023, (the "Filing Statement") a copy of which was filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca on December 27, 2023. Please refer to the Filing Statement for a detailed description of the Tremblay Option Agreement and the Dryden Property. Final TSXV approval of the Share Issuance is pending. All of the Shares will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP. Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers & acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys First Nations support and proximity to an experienced mining workforce. For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com. CONTACT INFORMATION Trey Wasser, CEO Email: twasser@drydengold.com Phone: 940-368-8337 Maura Kolb, M.Sc.. P. Geo., President Email: mjkolb@drydengold.com Phone: 807-632-2368 Ashley Robinson, Investor Relations Email: arobinson@drydengold.com Phone: 604-764-7493 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, the proposed Share Issuance; future development plans; general market conditions affecting junior exploration companies listed on Canadian stock exchanges, future acquisitions; exploration programs; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of regulatory approvals, legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections. UNITED STATES ADVISORY. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), have been offered and sold outside the United States to eligible investors pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, or resold in the United States or to, or for the account of or benefit of, a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless the securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Hedging transactions involving the securities must not be conducted unless in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in the state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198888 SOURCE: Dryden Gold Corp. PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH), owner of Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX Pearl), MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald), MIAX Sapphire, LLC (MIAX SapphireTM), Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC (MGEXTM), LedgerX LLC (LedgerX), The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX), and Dorman Trading, LLC (Dorman Trading), today announced that MIAX has been named the "Best Trading Platform" at the Fund Intelligence Operations and Services Awards 2024. "We are honored to be recognized for the second year in a row as recipients of the award for 'Best Trading Platform,'" said Thomas P. Gallagher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MIAX. "The members of our technology team are regarded as some of the best in the exchange industry and this award is a testament to their talents." Since 2016, MIAX has been named a winner every year at the Fund Intelligence Operations and Services Awards. MIAX won the "Most Innovative Technology" for the years 2017 through 2020, received the "Best Options Trading Platform" award for 2021, and the "Best Trading Platform" award for 2022. "Our in-house built, proprietary technology has been an integral part of MIAX's successful track record, and we continually evaluate and refine our infrastructure to support the increasing demands of the exchange industry," said Matthew J. Rotella, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of MIAX. "MIAX Exchange trading platforms have been fully operational 99.999% of the time since we launched our first exchange in 2012, even as trading volumes have surged and financial markets have experienced multiple periods of elevated market volatility. We remain dedicated to delivering world-class speed and reliability to our customers in 2024 and beyond." For over 20 years, the Fund Intelligence Operations and Services Awards have recognized and rewarded the outstanding skills and talents of the vendor community servicing the complex and evolving needs of asset managers and their clients. About MIAX MIAX's parent holding company, Miami International Holdings, Inc., owns Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX Pearl), MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald), MIAX Sapphire LLC (MIAX SapphireTM), Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC (MGEX), LedgerX LLC (LedgerX), The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) and Dorman Trading, LLC (Dorman Trading). MIAX, MIAX Pearl and MIAX Emerald are national securities exchanges registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are enabled by MIAX's in-house built, proprietary technology. MIAX offers trading of options on all three exchanges as well as cash equities through MIAX Pearl Equities. The MIAX trading platform was built to meet the high-performance quoting demands of the U.S. options trading industry and is differentiated by throughput, latency, reliability and wire-order determinism. MIAX also serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). MGEX is a registered exchange with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and offers trading in a variety of products including Hard Red Spring Wheat Futures. MGEX is a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) under the CFTC, providing DCM and DCO services in an array of asset classes. LedgerX is a CFTC regulated exchange and clearinghouse and is registered as a Designated Contract Market (DCM), Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) and Swap Execution Facility (SEF) with the CFTC. BSX is a fully electronic, vertically integrated international securities market headquartered in Bermuda and organized in 1971. BSX specializes in the listing and trading of capital market instruments such as equities, debt issues, funds, hedge funds, derivative warrants, and insurance linked securities. Dorman Trading is a full-service Futures Commission Merchant registered with the CFTC. MIAX's executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, N.J., with additional U.S. offices located in Miami, FL. MGEX offices are located in Minneapolis, MN. LedgerX offices are located in Princeton, N.J. BSX offices are located in Hamilton, Bermuda. Dorman Trading offices are located in Chicago, IL. To learn more about MIAX visit www.miaxglobal.com. To learn more about MGEX visit www.miaxglobal.com/mgex. To learn more about LedgerX visit www.ledgerx.com. To learn more about BSX visit www.bsx.com. To learn more about Dorman Trading visit www.dormantrading.com. Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by the Company remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, the Company's use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between the owners of these trademarks and the Company. Any references by the Company to third-party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third-party goods and/or services and shall be considered nominative fair use under the trademark law. Media Contact: Andy Nybo, SVP, Chief Communications Officer (609) 955-2091 anybo@miaxglobal.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1396492/MIAX_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/miax-named-best-trading-platform-at-the-fund-intelligence-operations-and-services-awards-2024-302068863.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Del Monte Foods is proud to partner with Alliance for a Healthier Generation in its America's Healthiest Schools national recognition program. This annual award recognizes and celebrates schools for implementing best practices that support the physical, mental, and social-emotional health and well-being of students, staff, and families. Schools can apply for recognition in one or more topic areas - up to nine total. Improving Nutrition & Food Access Supporting School Health Services Implementing Local School Wellness Policy Bolstering Physical Education & Activity Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools Cultivating Staff Well-Being Increasing Family & Community Engagement. For the 2023-2024 school year, Del Monte Foods is sponsoring one of the topic areas, Improving Nutrition & Food Access, to promote and increase healthy eating and food access through school nutrition programs and nutrition education. To be recognized, schools must exemplify best practices in these topic areas, as measured against criteria in the Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment - a collaborative tool that provides actionable steps and credible resources to schools and districts to advance their wellness and educational goals. The deadline to apply is April 16, 2024. Schools that are awarded will be featured on Alliance for a Healthier Generation's website and the most-recognized schools will also be invited to the America's Healthiest Schools Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. Improving Nutrition & Food Access Award presented by Del Monte Foods Del Monte Foods is proud to sponsor the Improving Nutrition & Food Access topic area, which recognizes school teams that implement strategies to maximize school meal participation, meaningfully collaborate with teachers on nutrition education, and partner with community organizations to improve families' nutrition security. This sponsorship is part of Del Monte Foods' $5 million, ten-year commitment to nourish the physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being of youth and communities across the U.S. This commitment furthers the company's Growers of Good purpose to grow a healthier and more hopeful tomorrow by making nutritious foods more accessible to all. For more information on Del Monte Foods' commitment to fostering goodness for people, communities, and the planet, please refer to its Sustainability Report. For more information on Alliance for a Healthier Generation's work to support healthy homes, healthy schools, and healthy communities, please refer to its 2023 Impact Report. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Del Monte Foods, Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Del Monte Foods, Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/del-monte-foods-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Del Monte Foods, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Dr. Quinton Hennigh and Mr. Brent Omland Appointed to Company's Board of Directors IRVING, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / DYNR-DynaResource, Inc. (OTCQB:DYNR) ("DynaUSA", and "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dr. Quinton Hennigh and Mr. Brent Omland as Directors to the Board of Directors of the Company; and that the Company accepted the resignations of Dr. Jose Vargas Lugo and Mr. Ronald Vail from the Company's Board of Directors in order to make the two Board Seats available. The appointments and resignations are effective February 16, 2024. Dr. Vargas Lugo will remain in his position with the Company as Director of Operations - Mexico, and Mr. Vail will become a non-voting Board observer. Dr. Hennigh is an exploration geologist with 33 years' experience, predominantly in the gold industry. He holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in geology and geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines. Early in his career, he explored for gold for major mining companies including Homestake Mining Company, Newcrest Mining Ltd., and Newmont Mining Corporation. Beginning in 2007, Dr. Hennigh shifted focus to the junior mining space where he has worked for several successful gold explorers, notably Gold Canyon Resources where he led the discovery of the 5.2 million ounce Springpole gold deposit, Ontario. Currently, Dr. Hennigh is Technical and Geologic Director to Crescat Capital and is CEO of private miner, San Cristobal Mining. Mr. Omland was elected to serve as a Director pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") dated August 2, 2023, by and between the Company and Ocean Partners Holdings Limited ("Ocean Partners"). Mr. Omland is the Co-CEO of Ocean Partners, which purchases substantially all the gold produced by the Company pursuant to that certain Gold Concentrate Purchase Agreement dated February 1, 2021, as amended, by and between the Company's affiliate, DynaResource de Mexico, SA de CV ("DynaMexico'), and an affiliate of Ocean Partners, MK Metal Trading Mexico SA de CV. Mr. Omland is a mining executive with 20 years of experience in the mining and metals trading industry. Mr Omland is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and a Canadian CPA. Mr. Omland has also worked in finance roles for Teck Resources and in senior finance roles for an integrated lead mining and smelting group based in Australia (Ivernia/Enirgi Metals). Mr. Omland also serves on the Board of Directors for Dore Copper Mining Corp, Galantas Gold Corporation and Nicola Mining Inc., all listed on the TSX-V. Mr. K.D. Diepholz, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of DynaResource, Inc., and President of DynaMexico, which currently owns 100% of the prolific San Jose de Gracia high grade gold project in Sinaloa State, Mexico ("SJG"); stated: "I am very pleased to add the expertise of an internationally renowned mining professional such as Dr. Hennigh to our Board of Directors. We look forward to utilizing his expertise and experience as we continue to expand the operations and resources at SJG. I also greatly appreciate the attention and support we have received from Mr. Omland and Ocean Partners since February 2021, and I am pleased to welcome Brent to the Board of Directors. Quinton and Brent will be integral and valuable additions to the Board of Directors team, and I'm certain they will provide significant and strategic contributions to the further advance and development of the prolific SJG Project. I am excited and looking forward to working with Quinton and Brent. I would also like to thank Dr. Jose Vargas Lugo and Mr. Ron Vail for their significant contributions to DynaResource over the past few years. Dr. Vargas will continue to be an integral executive for our management team, and Ron will continue to support our strategic business planning. Dr. Vargas and Ron have both contributed greatly to the significant achievements made by DynaResource." "I am delighted to join DynaResource alongside Brent Omland," commented Dr. Hennigh. "San Jose de Gracia is an exceptional low sulfidation epithermal vein camp that I have kept my eye on for many years. While it is famous for its historic high-grade gold production, I believe this is a system that remains grossly under-explored. I can see several immediate targets in which new high-grade veins might be discovered. I look forward to helping DynaResource develop their current resources as well as pursue the next generation of discoveries yet to be made at San Jose de Gracia." On behalf of Ocean Partners, Mr. Brent Omland, co-CEO of Ocean Partners commented: "We are very pleased to expand our strong relationship with DynaResource and their excellent team in the US and Mexico. We are excited to be a part of the continuing development and expansion of the world class SJG Project and we look forward to providing K.D. and his team additional support and resources." IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING CANADIAN DISCLOSURE STANDARDS The Company is an "OTC Reporting Issuer" as that term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 51-509, Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets, promulgated by various Canadian Provincial Securities Commissions. Accordingly, certain disclosure in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In Canada, an issuer is required to provide technical information with respect to mineralization, including reserves and resources, if any, on its mineral exploration properties in accordance with Canadian requirements, which differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to registration statements and reports filed by United States companies pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As such, information contained in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company concerning descriptions of mineralization under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC and not subject to Canadian securities legislation. This news release or other disclosure provided by the Company may use the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". While these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted to reserves. In addition, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities legislation, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, although they may form, in certain circumstances, the basis of a "preliminary economic assessment" as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27 A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance may be deemed "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that DynaResource expects to occur, are "forward-looking information". These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the future growth, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of DynaResource. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to DynaResource. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Certain assumptions have been made regarding the Company's plans at the San Jose de Gracia property. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of DynaResource and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such factors include, without limitation: capital requirements, fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of the United States and Mexico; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; changes in national and local governments in any country which DynaResource currently or may in the future carry on business; taxation; controls; regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which DynaResource does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labor disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks) as well as those risks referenced in the Annual Report for DynaResource available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Although DynaResource believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. DynaResource expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. For Information on DynaUSA and DynaMexico, please visit www.dynaresource.com, or contact: Brad J. Saulter, DynaUSA V.P. - Investor Relations: 972-996-7417; General Inquiries: 972-869-9400 K.D. Diepholz, DynaUSA - Chairman / CEO DynaResource de Mexico-Presidente Contact Information Brad J. Saulter DynaUSA V.P. - Investor Relations 972-869-9400 SOURCE: DynaResource, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of intellectual property rights pertaining to Listerine Antiseptic, marking a significant advancement in the company's strategic growth initiatives. Following a rigorous and competitive bidding process, Music Licensing, Inc. emerged as the victorious bidder for this esteemed asset, which boasts a distinguished 142-year history of revenue generation. This acquisition represents the culmination of our steadfast pursuit to secure a stake in the intellectual property rights for Listerine Antiseptic, a brand recognized for its enduring legacy and consistent financial performance. The established agreement, dating back to 1881, confers upon Music Licensing, Inc. a royalty interest in the global sales of Listerine Antiseptic. This enduring agreement, fortified by legal precedent, ensures a reliable stream of revenue stemming from one of the most noteworthy transactions in American commercial history. "We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of the intellectual property rights for Listerine Antiseptic," stated Jake P. Noch, CEO of Music Licensing, Inc. "This strategic move perfectly aligns with our corporate objectives and underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering value to our esteemed shareholders. We firmly believe that the inclusion of Listerine Antiseptic in our portfolio will fortify our market position and drive sustainable growth for our organization." With this acquisition, Music Licensing, Inc. consolidates its presence in the intellectual property landscape and enhances its revenue-generating capabilities. The company remains steadfast in its dedication to exploring strategic opportunities that enhance shareholder value and position Music Licensing, Inc. for sustained success in the long term. About Music Licensing, Inc.) Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) a diversified holding company, also known as Pro Music Rights, is the 5th public performance rights organization (PRO) to be formed in the United States. Its licensees include notable companies such as TikTok, iHeart Media, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, Vevo, and many others. Pro Music Rights holds an estimated market share of 7.4% in the United States, representing over 2,500,000 works that feature notable artists such as A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Lil Yachty, MoneyBagg Yo, Larry June, Trae Pound, Sause Walka, Trae Tha Truth, Sosamann, Soulja Boy, Lex Luger, Trauma Tone, Lud Foe, SlowBucks, Gunplay, OG Maco, Rich The Kid, Fat Trel, Young Scooter, Nipsey Hussle, Famous Dex, Boosie Badazz, Shy Glizzy, 2 Chainz, Migos, Gucci Mane, Young Dolph, Trinidad James, Chingy, Lil Gnar, 3OhBlack, Curren$y, Fall Out Boy, Money Man, Dej Loaf, Lil Uzi Vert, and countless others, as well as Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Created Music. Additionally, Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) owns royalty stakes in Listerine "Mouthwash" Antiseptic as well as musical works by artists such as Elton John, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, XXXTentacion, Halsey, and numerous others. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Pro Music Rights, Inc., Music Licensing, Inc., or any other person. Non-Legal Advice Disclosure: This press release does not constitute legal advice, and readers are advised to seek legal counsel for any legal matters or questions related to the content herein. Non-Investment Advice Disclosure: This communication is intended solely for informational purposes and does not in any way imply or constitute a recommendation or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, commodities, bonds, options, derivatives, or any other investment products. Any decisions related to investments should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor or professional. We assume no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this communication Contact: investors@ProMusicRights.com SOURCE: Music Licensing, Inc. Sackville, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Beal University Canada is proud to announce the establishment of the Beal University Canada BScN Scholarship, aimed at providing financial assistance to students seeking their nursing degree at Beal University Canada's campus in Sackville, New Brunswick. Beal University Logo The Beal University Canada BScN Scholarship is designed for students aspiring to pursue their degrees at Beal University Canada. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following criteria: Aspire to attend Beal University Canada's BScN program. Be an upcoming graduate of a secondary education school in Canada. Meet admission and program requirements of the BScN program at Beal University Canada. Enroll in the BScN program at Beal University Canada before funding. The deadline for submission is June 1, 2024 Scholarship awards are exclusively for tuition and fees and will be applied as a tuition discount. The award selection will be conducted by the Admissions Committee of Beal University Canada to ensure fairness and transparency in recipient selection. Holly McKnight MSW MITE, President of Beal University Canada, expressed enthusiasm for the scholarship, stating, "Beal University Canada is dedicated to supporting the educational goals and aspirations of Canadian students. We invite upcoming graduates to apply for this scholarship and consider Beal University Canada as their destination for higher education. Our BScN program is unique because it allows students to complete their degree in just 30 months, saving them a year and a half over the conventional four-year nursing programs." Beal University Canada's BScN program accepts applications six times a year, with no waitlists. This provides aspiring nurses with an opportunity to start their academic journey promptly. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, paving the way for a rewarding career in nursing as a registered nurse. For more information about the Beal University Canada BScN Scholarship and admission to Beal University Canada, visit bealuniversity.ca/scholarship-application. Beal University is committed to enrollment equity and fostering diversity within our community and developing an inclusive campus that reflects the richness of the broader community that we serve. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals who will help us achieve our goals, including women, visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Preference will be given to Aboriginal persons. Media Contact: Holly McKnight, President Beal University Canada Phone: 800-660-7351 Email: hmcknight@bealuniverstiy.ca Website: BealUniversity.ca To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198773 SOURCE: Pinion Partners West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the "Company" or "Surge") is pleased to report a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on its Nevada North Lithium Project (NNLP). The MRE, which has an effective date of February 16, 2024, was prepared by Dr. Bruce Davis, FAusIMM and includes a pit-constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 4.67 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm Li cutoff. Highlights Highest Grade Lithium Clay Resource in the USA with 4.7Mt LCE grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250ppm cutoff. MRE includes over 4Mt of LCE grading 3,167 Li PPM at a 2,000 ppm Li cutoff. Significant Expansion Potential: The MRE only covers a portion of the known footprint of mineralization with substantial potential for growth. Mr. Greg Reimer, Chief Executive Officer and Director, commented, "We are thrilled with today's maiden MRE results as they solidify that the NNLP is a significant lithium deposit and one of the highest-grade lithium clay deposits worldwide. At higher grade cutoffs, there are still very appreciable volumes of lithium that are largely contained in the clay horizons nearest surface. We will continue to derisk the NNLP through metallurgical test work, technical studies and permitting. As well, we expect to continue to expand our known resource and certainty around it through drilling." The lithium mineral resources at the NNLP are hosted by multiple shallowly dipping and laterally extensive clay beds, separated by tuff units. The primary horizon ("Cu3") contains the highest grades and is typically the first horizon intersected in drilling. Clay units primarily consist of massive green and dark brown laminated clay with white carbonate clots and euhedral calcite crystals. Seven lithium-rich beds have been identified to date that range in thickness from >50m to 2.5m and average around 15m thick. The MRE for the NNLP is based on twenty drill holes completed between 2022 and 2023 under a Notice of Intent (NOI) permit for a total of 2,758m and 1,973 samples. Eight of the twenty drill holes were reverse circulation (RC), five were sonic, and seven were diamond core. The 3D geological model used to inform the block model was developed in Leapfrog by SideQuest Geological Modelling. Many of the metrics used to derive a 1,250 ppm Li base cut-off grade were obtained in part from review of available information for deposits similar to that at the NNLP. It is expected that items such as recovery, bulk density and operating cost will change in the future with additional test work and engineering studies. The metrics used to derive a 1,250 ppm Li base case cut-off grade and define the resource pit shell include: Operating Cost per Resource Tonne: US$88.50 LCE Price: US$20,000/t LCE Recovery: 73.5% Bulk Density: 1.79 t/m 3 Pit Slope: 27 Li to LCE conversion factor: 5.323 The inferred lithium mineral resource estimate is shown in bold in Table 1. The table includes the tonnage sensitivities to different cutoff grades up to a maximum of 4,000 ppm Li. The inferred resource estimate includes 100% of the resources on Surge's 100% owned ground and 25% of resources within the private block of ground in which Surge owns 25% of the subsurface rights. Table 1. 2024 NNLP Inferred Resource in bold and sensitivity to different cutoff grades. Cutoff (Li ppm) Tonnes (Mt) Grade (Li ppm) Lithium (Mt) LCE (Mt) 1,000 310.3 2,834 0.879 4.68 1,250 309.3 2,839 0.878 4.67 1,500 293.7 2,918 0.857 4.56 1,750 267.3 3,042 0.813 4.33 2,000 241.4 3,167 0.765 4.07 3,000 143.6 3,662 0.526 2.80 4,000 28.1 4,289 0.121 0.64 The MRE has been prepared by Dr. Bruce Davis, in conformity with CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines and are reported in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators NI 43-101 requirements. Resources are constrained by a pit shell using Hexagon MinePlan 3D software. The pit shell defined uses a 27 pit slope and assumes a US$88.50/t operating cost, 73.5% recovery and a US$20,000/t LCE price. A Li to Li2Co3 factor of 5.323 was used. A fixed density of 1.79 t/m3 was used. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that any mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve. Technical Report Under NI 43-101, Section 5.3(1)(c), Surge must file a technical report regarding the MRE within forty-five (45) days of the date of this news release. Next Steps The remainder of 2024 will be a busy year as the company prepares for a much larger and expanded drill program upon receiving its Exploration Plan of Operations Permit. In 2024, Surge plans to complete the following: Metallurgical and Flowsheet Test Work Metallurgical test work is well underway with Kemetco. We anticipate releasing the results of this testing in Q1 of 2024. Surface Exploration Programs In 2024, Surge plans to complete a detailed surface mapping program over the property and additional soil sampling. Combined, these will help identify additional areas of outcropping clay units and help to improve our geological understanding. Spring / Summer Expansion Drilling In early spring, Surge will work with the BLM to determine how much disturbance can be reclaimed under the current NOI permit to complete additional drilling in 2024. As well, Surge plans to drill on the M3 JV property. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) Surge expects to undertake a PEA study on the NNLP with an anticipated target reporting date in Q4 of 2024. Qualified Person as Defined Under National Instrument 43-101 Alan J. Morris, MSc, CPG of Spring Creek, Nevada, a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release. This news release, including disclosure of the MRE has also been reviewed by Dr. Bruce Davis, FAusIMM, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 and is independent of Surge. About Surge Battery Metals Inc. Surge Battery Metals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on exploring clean, high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA. Lithium is a crucial element for powering the electric vehicles of tomorrow. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and the OTCQX Market in the US, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration, contributing significantly to the sustainable future of the electric vehicle industry. At Surge Battery Metals, we are not just exploring minerals; we are pioneering the path to a cleaner and more sustainable future, driving innovation in the lithium sector, and contributing to the evolution of the electric vehicle industry. About the Nevada North Lithium Project The Company's Nevada North Lithium Project, located in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County, Nevada. The first two rounds of drilling, completed in 2022 and 2023, identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 3,500 meters and a known width of up to 950 meters. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent. The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 4.67Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm cutoff. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Greg Reimer" Greg Reimer, President & CEO Contact Information Email: info@surgebatterymetals.com Phone: 778-945-2656 Website: surgebatterymetals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "possible", "potential", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities including lithium and nickel, the accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure or water, changes in laws, rules and regulations including in the United States, Nevada or California or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for lithium related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in the United States or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations, and intentions with respect to development of its business and of its Nevada properties may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions (including US government subsidies or incentives) on its ability to secure further financing or funding of its Nevada properties. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon several assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental (including endangered species, habitat preservation and water related risks) and social risks, contingencies, and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Figure 1: Plan view showing the Maiden MRE at the NNLP. Three section lines indicate the location of the cross sections below. Only blocks greater than 1,250 ppm Li are shown in Figure 1. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_001full.jpg Figure 2: Section 1 cross section looking NE of the MRE block model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_002full.jpg Figure 3: Section 2 cross section looking E of the MRE block model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_003full.jpg Figure 4: Section 3 cross section looking NE of the MRE block model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_004full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198890 SOURCE: Surge Battery Metals Inc. MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of State has offered a reward of $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of any individual participating in a LockBit ransomware variant attack and for information leading to the identification and/or location of any key leaders of the ransomware group. The reward offer complements announcements by the Department of Justice and FBI with the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, along with other international partners, of a coordinated series of law enforcement actions aimed at disrupting the criminal organization. Tuesday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Russian Lockbit affiliates who have been actively engaged in ransomware attacks. Ivan Gennadievich Kondratiev is the leader of the LockBit affiliate sub-group, the National Hazard Society. Artur Sungatov is a Lockbit affiliate and has actively engaged in ransomware attacks. 'The United States will not tolerate attempts to extort and steal from our citizens and institutions,' said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. 'We will continue our whole-of-government approach to defend against malicious cyber activities, and will use all available tools to hold the actors that enable these threats accountable.' LockBit is a Russia-based cybercriminal group proposing ransomware as a service. Software developed by the group (also called ransomware) enables malicious actors who are willing to pay for using it to carry out attacks in two tactics where they not only encrypt the victim's data and demand payment of a ransom, but also threaten to leak it publicly if their demands are not met. The world's most prolific ransomware, LockBit actors have executed since January 2020 more than 2,000 attacks against victims in the United States, and around the world, causing costly disruptions to operations and the destruction or exfiltration of sensitive information. More than $144 million was paid in ransom to hackers to recover from LockBit attacks. Russia continues to offer safe harbor for cybercriminals such as LockBit to launch ransomware attacks against the United States, its allies, and partners. They target critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and financial institutions. LockBit was responsible for the November 2023 ransomware attack against the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's U.S. broker-dealer. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Video-Workshop: Das kleine Einmaleins der Charttechnik In diesem kostenlosen Video-Workshop von Stefan Klotter lernen Sie alles uber Charttechnik. Lassen Sie sich diesen kostenfreien Workshop nicht entgehen! Hier klicken HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ODYSEA announced the successful offshore installation by Subsea7 of approximately eleven kilometers of deepwater pipelines utilizing ODYSEA's groundbreaking Goldilocks (GDLX) insulation technology, enabled by ExxonMobil's Proxxima polyolefin thermoset resin systems. This industry-leading project was completed with zero safety incidents and ahead of schedule while showcasing exceptional performance. ODYSEA CEO Tanmay Desai describes Goldilocks insulation as "an innovative and game-changing technology solution for line pipe, field joints, and subsea structures that enables a much faster, safer, and high-quality thermal insulation system." The insulation was applied to the flowline and riser pipes by ODYSEA for a global supermajor energy client in the Gulf of Mexico and installed in deepwater by Subsea7's Seven Oceans reel lay vessel. GDLX is a castable thermal insulation coating for subsea pipelines, field joints, and structures. Utilizing a unique molding process, ODYSEA can deliver a solution that significantly reduces the complexity of a time-intensive, multi-layer process. The solution is highly portable, which can enable in situ insulation in any location around the world. The technology is proven to generate less waste and allows clients to achieve their first oil sooner due to the ability to insulate pipes faster than traditional insulations. The technology behind GDLX is made possible by ExxonMobil's Proxxima resin system, a polyolefin thermoset with super-low viscosity and a controllable fast cure. ExxonMobil's Proxxima resin systems have an exceptional balance of strength and toughness, are highly resistant to temperature and pressure, have no depth limitations, and are extremely hydrophobic, resisting water uptake that can otherwise damage insulation properties. These factors make GDLX, enabled by the Proxxima resin system, an excellent choice for subsea insulation projects. This Gulf of Mexico project required specific and extensive validation, which ODYSEA met through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) process, multiple customer tests, and now through successful project execution. GDLX has proven its resilience and reliability from laboratory tests to meet the client's expectations on high-pressure, high-temperature projects. "The successful adoption of this new insulation technology was made possible by our collective commitment to innovation, as well as rigorous testing that ensured project certainty and timely delivery," said Jose Manuel Torres, SCM Technology Manager at Subsea7. For further information, please contact: SUBSEA7 Ashley Shearer Senior Communications Advisor +1 713-300-6792 ODYSEA Amber Murphy Marketing Coordinator +1 337-352-9240 About Subsea7: Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the energy industry. With a strong commitment to safety and innovation, Subsea7 provides project management, engineering and construction expertise across the full energy lifecycle. About ODYSEA: Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ODYSEA is an innovative company advancing thermal insulation and flow assurance solutions for subsea infrastructure using new technology to bring project peace of mind in A Simpler Way than it has been done in the past. Our commitment to technology, sustainability, and collaboration drives us to push the boundaries of what's possible in deepwater pipelines and subsea structures. ODYSEA is a division of The Bayou Companies. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344959/Odysea_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344958/Odysea_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/odysea-and-subsea7-utilize-proxxima-technology-on-gulf-of-mexico-deepwater-pipeline-302068760.html A Generative AI Revolution is Underway for Communication Professionals New York, NY, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEW YORK, NY, (February 22, 2024) -Markets EQ, the first to fuse voice tones with language in a generative AI platform for corporate communications, today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind, AI-generated scorecard based entirely on voice analysis. Designed with sales, marketing, and communications professionals in mind, EQ MarketScore brings a playful yet powerful twist to traditional corporate communication training, scoring speakers on tone, confidence, clarity, and the intricacy of their messages. With the ability to discern 58 unique emotions, the scorecard empowers spokespeople, ensuring every interview, presentation, and call resonates with precision and impact. When an audio file is uploaded to Markets EQ, the EQ MarketScore will provide the following: EQ MarketScore: Overall communications score ranging from A to D Overall communications score ranging from A to D Bottom line up front (BLUF): Brief summary of the conversation Brief summary of the conversation Complexity: Analysis of the level of language spoken Analysis of the level of language spoken Emotional Sentiment: A description of the overall tone of the speaker and message A description of the overall tone of the speaker and message Clarity Rank: A measure of how difficult it was to follow the conversation A measure of how difficult it was to follow the conversation Top Themes: The most important takeaways from the conversation The most important takeaways from the conversation FastTrack - Generative AI Summarization: A more in-depth summary of the conversation A more in-depth summary of the conversation Deep Dive: Positive feedback and areas for improvement "Empowering spokespeople to deliver compelling and clear messages every time they speak is not just a goal; it's a necessity in today's competitive and fast-paced business landscape where everything you say can be scrutinized," says Sean Austin, CEO of Markets EQ. "With Markets EQ's new scorecard feature, we're turning the art of communication into a science, cutting time substantially and providing a reliable output to train and improve your spokespeople." In a world where businesses collectively face over a trillion dollars in losses each year due to ineffective communication, Markets EQ's scorecard emerges as a pivotal tool. This innovation transcends mere damage control; it's about forging value, elevating brand presence, and nurturing deeper, more impactful relationships with an organization's key audiences. EQ MarketScore stands out not only for its comprehensive emotion detection capabilities but also for its commitment to security and excellence. Markets EQ is investing significant resources into security like the latest AI ISO certification and SOC 2 compliance for enterprise compliance needs. Markets EQ successfully closed its pre-seed funding round of $500,000 and has opened its seed round, where it's seeking $3.5 million. About Markets EQ Markets EQ is the only GenAI solution providing competitive tonal analysis, previously unavailable awareness, and understanding to investor relations, finance, and communications professionals. According to The Harris Poll, there is a $1.2 trillion annual loss among U.S. businesses due to poor communication, or approximately $12,506 per employee every year. Markets EQ makes sure you don't fall deep into this statistic. Through cutting-edge AI, we provide you with the tools to perform at your best. Learn more at www.marketseq.ai/welcome. WARSAW, Feb. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The economic cooperation between South Korea and Poland is growing stronger and stronger. This is partly due to economic factors, but also shared experiences. What exactly links this two countries, so far apart culturally and geographically? The mystery is explained by Prof. Konrad Swirski, CEO of Transition Technologies, an IT firm from Poland generating revenue of over USD 200 million a year, operating on several continents and cooperating with companies such as Doosan, Daewoo and Hyundai. Some countries, despite their distant geography, entirely different languages, and vast cultural differences, paradoxically have much in common and seem destined to cooperate with each other economically. This is definitely the case with South Korea and Poland. Why? As Prof. Konrad Swirski, CEO of Transition Technologies, explains: "First and foremost, the two countries are both located between major powers, where their autonomy has come under attack many times, along with violent uprisings, wars, struggles for independence, and the need to grow economically in the shadow of their large neighbours." The countries' common interests are particularly visible today. For Poland, South Korea is a preferred Asian investor and a partner delivering sought-after technologies (including in such areas as nuclear energy and defence). In turn, for South Korea, Poland is a "window" into the European Union and an optimal location for European investments in its own factories. Today the cooperation between the two countries is growing very rapidly, already surpassing USD 10 billion according to Statistics Poland (rising by over 20-fold in the last 20 years), and in some sectors South Korea holds a dominant position as a partner for Poland. "Huge arms contracts, the foundation of Polish national security, are based on South Korean equipment," said Prof. Swirski. "Additionally, the construction of several nuclear reactors employing South Korean solutions is under consideration. The region around the city of Wroclaw, in particular, is a preferred location for construction of Korean factories (manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, among other items). A symbol of this intense cooperation is the direct flight between Wroclaw and Seoul, demonstrating the scale of the business contacts between our countries. Nearly all of the major South Korean corporations are present in Poland as investors, led by LG but also including Doosan, Daewoo, Hyundai and many others. They are backed by South Korean banks also having a presence on the Polish market." Not just trade, but mutual cooperation Most of this business cooperation is South Korean imports to Poland-the balance of trade runs 9 to 1 in favour of South Korea. But the cooperation between Poland and South Korea is much broader and more complex, and also includes execution of joint projects. Above all, Polish firms can provide natural back-office support for Korean corporations. Moreover, they can generate synergies beneficial for both sides. This is confirmed by the experiences of Transition Technologies. This Polish IT group is one of the main Polish companies offering development of IT systems for global corporations as well as advanced solutions for process optimization and automation. The team of engineers at one of Transition Technologies' companies, Transition Technologies Advanced Solutions, specializing in systems for the power generation and transmission industry, carries out numerous projects with Hyundai E&C. They conducted their first joint project at the Ras Girtas Power Company in Qatar, a firm in the energy and desalination sector. Since then, the team of Hyundai E&C and Transition Technologies Advanced Solutions have completed some 50 joint projects in the Middle East, Asia, and recently also in Poland for a newly built installation for production of polymers. The cooperation with South Korean partners has continued on further strategic projects, for example nuclear energy, the best proof of which is the memorandum of understanding signed by this company from the Transition Technologies Group with Doosan Enerbility and Daewoo. Another Transition Technologies company, Transition Technologies Control Solutions, active in industrial automation and robotics, is a partner and direct distributor for Doosan Robotics, a leading Korean manufacturer of collaborative robots. The sales of these devices, which are a mainstay of modern industry, are growing rapidly, facilitating the development of other product lines based on this partnership, such as a universal palletizing platform or welding robots. A long list of similarities The economic cooperation between South Korea and Poland is expected to rise even more dynamically. "Although Poland and South Korea are far away from one another geographically and culturally, they have many fields in which they can fruitfully cooperate," said Prof.Konrad Swirski. "My experiences cooperating with South Korean partners clearly demonstrate that there is more linking than separating the two countries. Outlook, similar political experiences, openness to new technologies, and simple human kindness, conscientiousness and attention to detail make South Korea and Poland ideal partners for each other in the business world." Media contact: Magda Kolodziejczyk, M+G magda.kolodziejczyk@mplusg.com.pl Tel.: +48 501 168 807 Transition Technologies, founded in 1991, delivers advanced solutions for the electricity and gas market, industry 4.0, and bioinformatics, and also provides comprehensive outsourcing of IT services and software development for many global corporations. The group is staffed by the finest specialists who work every day on innovative use of state-of-the-art solutions combining the internet of things, virtual reality, augmented reality, and cybersecurity. The group delivers most of its services through the cloud computing model. The group has 26 offices on three continents, where is employs over 2,300 people. www.tt.com.pl View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/transition-technologies-sa-south-korea-and-poland--unexpected-business-partners-302068945.html MILWAUKEE, WI / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Northwestern Mutual: Originally published by Northwestern Mutual on February 1, 2024 Company: ModernTax Founder and CEO: Matthew Parker Year founded: 2021 We're proud to be investing in ModernTax through the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator in collaboration with NM Future Ventures. Matthew Parker first took the leap into entrepreneurship in 2015 when a close friend of his-who shared his dream of becoming an entrepreneur-proposed that they open a business together. "Our first business was a storefront tax preparation office in a lower-middle-income community in in West Baltimore, Maryland," Parker says. "We found that a lot of the companies that produce and provide financial and tax services avoid certain neighborhoods, which created an opportunity to build a financial business in a lower socioeconomic type environment." Though his first company didn't succeed, he started up a new company with a similar model in Washington, D.C. While running the business, Matt became frustrated with the burden of all the necessary paperwork. He started searching for online solutions, which took him in a slightly different direction, to Silicon Valley's history of technical innovation. After seeking advice from Michael Seibel at Y Combinator (a well-known startup accelerator based in Silicon Valley), he decided to move to the area. In 2021, he founded ModernTax to help simplify the filing process for small financial companies by providing on-demand tax and financial information on their customers. Below, Parker shares the lessons he's learned, what inspires him on a daily basis, and why he believes the key to entrepreneurial success comes down to focusing on your business' core concepts. What is ModernTax? Everyone knows that filing your taxes at the end of the year requires you to collect a bunch of documents to provide to your accountant. If you're trying to get a loan or some other type of financial product, then you'll probably need to collect just as much paperwork (if not more). Whether you're trying to get insurance or a banking product from a financial institution, you're going to need to provide a certain amount of information. ModernTax serves as a replacement agent for collecting those documents. This typically starts with tax records, which provide a robust view of an individual's or a business's financial life. Our goal is to help those organizations to make those decisions, more quickly, more accurately and more transparently with their customers. So we serve companies across the insurance and financial industries as well as fintech by building a better way to facilitate this process and cut down on the time that the end-users have to spend filling out forms and providing documentation for services that they might need. What inspired you to go from your first tax business to this iteration? We started that first business as a single retail storefront and did everything from buying tax software and advertising to get customers to come in our store to managing our books, our compliance obligations, our data collection and our audits with the IRS. We had to get credentials with the IRS to become a tax business. So we really learned a lot about the ins-and-outs and all the different chambers of infrastructure that you need to run that business face-to-face. So that made us realize just how much information and data is flowing across all these different systems at one time. But we really got the idea to build ModernTax during the pandemic in 2020 because 95 percent of our business became helping people figure out if they qualified for economic impact payments from the federal government in the form of PPP, EID or EIDL loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). To apply for those funds, you needed good, sound tax information. For the customers we were working with, both directly and indirectly, that information was critical for them to be able to continue their operations or pay their bills. What's your proudest moment with this company so far? The business has evolved but there's always been a central pain point of collecting information online and digitizing the process. One of the main problems we addressed early on was the way that companies integrate and access information from different sources. So ModernTax really serves as a place for these organizations to have a much more streamlined, user-friendly way to request this information on behalf of their consumer. Opening up tax data access allows instantaneous permission to businesses for financial services, real-time transactions and taxable event estimate notifications to consumers and businesses. But being selected to be a part of Northwestern Mutual's Black Founder Accelerator really helped us understand our business at a higher level. It opened my eyes to much bigger opportunities and a brighter future. I was still thinking kind of small, but now I can see how ModernTax can be a solution for large organizations. What inspires you at work every day? I am attracted to unsexy businesses; I really enjoy being involved in something that's not super cool, but can have a big impact. Our work is very much a back-office experience. It's not front-facing to the end-user, but the solutions we offer provide a lot of value to the buyer. We strive to create a more transparent ecosystem for small business owners and individuals, which I believe is a source of truth that can be used to compare apples to apples-instead of other sources like credit scores or alternative financial data assets that can bar people from the system. It's become my mission. What advice do you have for other Black founders? Spend more time focused on the core things that are going to make you successful. Build a product that works and that people can use-and then validate their willingness to pay for that product. It sounds so simple, but if you spend more time on those two things, a lot of the noise you hear-"Black people can't raise money or whatever"-will become less loud and you'll really be able to see what you can do. You can't ignore the barriers and the ceilings that might be set for you, but if you focus on those two things, you'll make a lot more progress. What are your goals for the company this year? Our primary focus in 2024 is growing our business with our current customers and also being very detailed and focused on the types of customers we want to work with. Do they have a budget? Are they experienced in this problem at a high level? And will they be ambassadors of what we're building? Because to build a great, long-lasting company, it's not enough to get a customer who's going to use your product very transactionally. You need to build a product that customers will be willing to use and also promote and share to adjacent customers or across their organization. Within the next 18 months, we aim to cross $10 million in annual recurring revenue. We have built a strong foundation, identified the business problems, and defined the types of companies we can serve. Now, our focus is on execution and achieving our targets. Our big goal is to become so tied into an organization that they not only think of us in terms of the problems we are solving but also as the partner that can help them build their businesses as they look to innovate. We are really just getting started. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Northwestern Mutual on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Northwestern Mutual Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/northwestern-mutual Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Northwestern Mutual View the original press release on accesswire.com Hexnode, the enterprise security solution from Mitsogo Inc., with a decade-long legacy in the field of unified endpoint management (UEM), is thrilled to announce its return to the esteemed Mobile World Congress (MWC). Hosted by GSMA in Barcelona, Spain, the event will take place from February 26th to 29th, 2024. Hexnode invites attendees to visit Congress Square, Stand CS84, to experience live product demonstrations, explore partnership opportunities, and engage in dialogues regarding anything related to enterprise device management. Building on its legacy of innovation and customer-centric approach, Hexnode has solidified its position as a frontrunner in the UEM market, earning recognition from renowned industry analyst firms such as Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and more. With a global footprint spanning across continents, Hexnode serves a diverse clientele, from SMBs to Fortune 100 companies across various sectors. At Mobile World Congress 2024, Hexnode will showcase its latest advancements in desktop management, rugged device management, and mobile management. In addition to being designated as an Android Silver Partner, Hexnode has also introduced the Hexnode Validation Program for its OEM partners and forged strategic alliances with key industry players such as Checkpoint Harmony Mobile, Vanta, Sony, and Zebra. Visitors to the booth will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the latest feature releases from Hexnode and witness how the platform streamlines endpoint management for its users. Attendees can also schedule personalized sessions with Hexnode's industry analysts through the company's registration portal. Join Hexnode's team for four days of networking and discovery. To talk to Hexnode's team of product experts, Register Here. For media inquiries, please contact pr@hexnode.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222118588/en/ Contacts: Elizabeth Hale liz@hexnode.com +1-415-510-2128 GURUGRAM, India, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's warehouse automation market is on a trajectory for exponential growth, fueled by a surging e-commerce sector and ambitious national goals outlined in Vision 2030. Ken Research's comprehensive report, Saudi Arabia Warehouse Automation Market Outlook to 2028: Automating the Path to Progress, sheds light on this dynamic market, poised for a remarkable 14.2% CAGR in the coming years. This press release summarizes the key findings and offers valuable insights for investors, logistics companies, and technology providers seeking to capitalize on this flourishing landscape. Market Overview: Several key factors are propelling the Saudi Arabian warehouse automation market towards a bright future: E-commerce Boom: The exponential growth of e-commerce is driving demand for efficient and high-throughput warehouse operations, necessitating automation solutions. The exponential growth of e-commerce is driving demand for efficient and high-throughput warehouse operations, necessitating automation solutions. Vision 2030: The government's ambitious Vision 2030 plan emphasizes logistics sector development, creating a conducive environment for automation adoption. The government's ambitious Vision 2030 plan emphasizes logistics sector development, creating a conducive environment for automation adoption. Rising Labor Costs: Increasing labor costs are prompting companies to seek automation solutions for cost-efficiency and productivity gains. Increasing labor costs are prompting companies to seek automation solutions for cost-efficiency and productivity gains. Increased Demand for Storage: Growing population and economic diversification are leading to higher storage requirements, making automation crucial for efficient space utilization. Interested to Know More about this Report, Request a Free Sample Report Segmentation Spotlight: Ken Research provides a detailed segmentation of the market, allowing you to pinpoint your target audience effectively: By Technology: Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) dominate the market, followed by Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and robots. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) dominate the market, followed by Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and robots. By Application: E-commerce and retail sectors are the primary adopters, followed by manufacturing, healthcare, and automotive industries. E-commerce and retail sectors are the primary adopters, followed by manufacturing, healthcare, and automotive industries. By Solution Provider: Global players like Honeywell, Siemens, and Vanderlande compete alongside regional players like Fawaz Refrigeration and Nesma & Partners Contracting Company. Competitive Landscape: The market features a mix of established players and emerging entrants: Global players: Honeywell, Siemens, Vanderlande, Swisslog, and Knapp. Honeywell, Siemens, Vanderlande, Swisslog, and Knapp. Regional players: Fawaz Refrigeration, Nesma & Partners Contracting Company, Abdullah Hashim Abunayyan Trading Company, and Al-Obeikan Group. Fawaz Refrigeration, Nesma & Partners Contracting Company, Abdullah Hashim Abunayyan Trading Company, and Al-Obeikan Group. Start-ups: Innovative start-ups are offering customized and cost-effective automation solutions. Recent Developments: Investment in automation: Major logistics companies and government entities are investing heavily in warehouse automation solutions. Major logistics companies and government entities are investing heavily in warehouse automation solutions. Focus on cloud-based solutions: Cloud-based warehouse management systems (WMS) are gaining traction for improved scalability and flexibility. Cloud-based warehouse management systems (WMS) are gaining traction for improved scalability and flexibility. Adoption of collaborative robots (cobots): Cobots are increasingly used for tasks requiring human-robot collaboration. Visit this Link :- Request for custom report Future Outlook: The Saudi Arabian warehouse automation market is expected to witness exciting developments in the coming years: Growing demand for advanced technologies: Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will be integrated for optimized operations. Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will be integrated for optimized operations. Rise of integrated solutions: Integrated automation solutions encompassing hardware, software, and services will gain popularity. Integrated automation solutions encompassing hardware, software, and services will gain popularity. Focus on sustainability: Environmentally friendly automation solutions will be increasingly sought after. Challenges to Address: Despite its promising future, the market faces some hurdles: High initial investment costs: The upfront costs of automation implementation can be a barrier for some companies. The upfront costs of automation implementation can be a barrier for some companies. Lack of skilled workforce: Training and upskilling the workforce to operate and maintain automated systems is crucial. Training and upskilling the workforce to operate and maintain automated systems is crucial. Data security concerns: Addressing data security concerns associated with connected automation systems is essential. Why This Report Matters: This report empowers various stakeholders to navigate the Saudi Arabian warehouse automation market: Investors: Identify lucrative investment opportunities across different technologies and segments. Identify lucrative investment opportunities across different technologies and segments. Logistics companies: Gain insights into emerging trends, optimize their operations, and improve efficiency. Gain insights into emerging trends, optimize their operations, and improve efficiency. Technology providers: Tailor their offerings to meet specific market needs and expand their reach. Tailor their offerings to meet specific market needs and expand their reach. Government entities: Formulate policies that support market growth and achieve Vision 2030 goals. Request free 30 minutes analyst call Taxonomy By Product Category Semi-Automated Fully Automated By Product Component Conveyor System/ Sortation System Automated Storage & Retrieval System Warehouse Management System AMR/AGV Others (Pick-to-Light and Put-to-Light Systems and automated packaging: wedging, volume reduction, personalization and more) Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) By Automated Technology Hardware Software By End-User E-Commerce Retail (Supermarkets, Hypermarket, Consumer Durables & More) 3PL/Logistics Others (Health & Beauty, Pharma, Furnishing) For More Insights On Market Intelligence, Refer To The Link Below: - Saudi Arabia Warehouse Automation Market Related Reports by Ken Research: - MDO PET Films Market in UAE Outlook to 2027 Driven by increasing population, food and beverage demand and pharmaceutical consumption Rise in cross-border shopping, with 58% of online purchases made from overseas vendors due to reliable shipping methods, and favorable pricing are the key drivers of e-commerce in the country. The growth of e-commerce in the UAE will boost the demand for packaging materials, especially tapes which are manufactured via MDO PET Films. UAE Movers Market Outlook to 2028 Driven by Real Estate and Infrastructure Development and Growing Expatriate Population in the Country Future market size for UAE Movers set for substantial growth from 2022 to 2028. Launch of over 10,000 new townhouses and villas in May 2022, with handover expected by 2025, indicating a surge in property developments and increased demand for moving services. Ongoing urban development projects, including new residential communities and commercial centers, anticipated to boost the demand for professional movers. South Korea Warehouse Automation Market Outlook to 2027 Driven By increasing demand from end-user industries and factors such as increasing labor cost and labor shortage in the country According to Ken Research estimates, the Market Size of South Korea Warehousing has shown increasing trend from 2019 to 2022. South Korea's strategic location as a gateway between Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it an attractive hub for trade. The country has been actively promoting foreign trade and industrialization, attracting international companies to set up manufacturing facilities and distribution centers. This leads to an increased demand for warehousing services to support import, export, and local supply chains. Follow Us - LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us:- Ken Research Private Limited Ankur Gupta, Director Strategy and Growth Ankur@kenresearch.com +91-9015378249 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1954972/3782349/Ken_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/automating-efficiency-saudi-arabia-warehouse-automation-market-gears-up-for-14-2-cagr-driven-by-e-commerce-boom-and-vision-2030-ken-research-302068838.html ~ Veteran executives Nilesh Thakker, Sidhant Rastogi to lead newly restructured business units ~ NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global management consulting firm Zinnov has organized its services into two main business units - Globalization Excellence and Technology Business Strategy. This strategic realignment will enable the 21-year-old company to streamline operations based on complementarity of work and serve its global customers across regions frictionlessly. To lead these two restructured business units, Zinnov has elevated two of its long-time Managing Partners to the position of Presidents - Nilesh Thakker and Sidhant Rastogi. Nilesh Thakker has been instrumental in shaping Zinnov's Globalization Excellence consulting practice, a service line that helps multinational companies establish highly productive engineering and multi-function centers in locations that are hotbeds for technology talent. Thakker and his team have helped over 100 such Global Capability Centers (GCCs), set up or scale up over the last decade. Thakker's skills lie in determining the ideal location, the ideal talent pool, and creating accessibility to this talent, so it is both de-risked and efficient; and have earned him widespread global recognition. With a storied career, having played technology and business roles in several mid and large-sized companies prior to joining Zinnov, Thakker will continue to advise Fortune 500 enterprises, mid-size technology companies on value enhancement through global expansion. Sidhant Rastogi, a long-time Managing Partner at Zinnov, has built a reputation across India and the globe as a thought leader in how technology and tech services companies can think of business growth and transformation more efficiently, and drive productive channel partnerships and alliances, especially in digital engineering. Rastogi and his team have played a pivotal role in helping Zinnov clients build multi-billion-dollar technology businesses - both organically and inorganically. As President of Zinnov's Technology Business Strategy practice, he will focus on helping tech and tech services companies to grow faster and more profitably. Additionally, he will continue to support Zinnov's Private Equity customers across the dealmaking lifecycle - from deal sourcing, commercial due diligence, value creation, and with exit strategies. Said Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov: "Our vision is to become a significant multi-generational global management consulting firm - one that stays committed to customer centricity, even at scale. This move is a natural step for us because it puts our customers' needs ahead of everything. And to accomplish this, we are empowering Nilesh Thakker and Sidhant Rastogi - two exceptional homegrown leaders - to drive Zinnov forward." About Zinnov Founded in 2002, Zinnov is a global management and strategy consulting firm in New York, Santa Clara, Houston, Seattle, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, and Paris. Over the past 21 years, Zinnov has successfully consulted with over 250+ Fortune 500 enterprises to develop actionable insights to help them accelerate their technology journeys to create value - across dimensions of revenue, transformation, and optimization. With core expertise in Digital Engineering Talent, Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Outsourcing Advisory, Zinnov assists clients by: Structuring and implementing Digital Transformation levers enabled by technologies like AI/ML, Intelligent Automation, Cloud, IOT, etc.; Helping global companies outline and drive their open innovation programs, design and operate accelerator programs, and enable collaboration with start-ups across specific use cases and predefined outcomes; Growing revenue for companies' products and services in newer markets through account intelligence, market entry, and market expansion advisory; Enabling global companies to develop and optimize a global engineering talent footprint through center setups and accelerators - in an as-a-service model, as well as optimizing their global portfolios, to achieve higher R&D efficiencies, innovation, and productivity; Advising global PE firms in asset shortlisting and target evaluation, commercial due diligence, and value creation. With their team of experienced consultants, subject matter experts, and research professionals, Zinnov serves clients from across multiple industry verticals including Enterprise Software, BFSI, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, and Telecom in the US, Europe, Japan, and India. For more information, visit http://zinnov.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345494/Nilesh_Thakker.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345495/Sidhant_Rastogi.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/694742/2315386/Zinnov_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/strategic-realignment-signals-next-phase-of-growth-for-zinnov-a-global-management-consulting-firm-302068970.html Annual retail sales of the Omani High Perfumery House have more than doubled over the past three years, now surpassing $210 million, reflecting industry-leading growth momentum and unprecedented global demand for Amouage creations. MUSCAT, Oman, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 40th anniversary year, Amouage saw its annual growth reaching +24%, driven by ambitious expansion plans and growth across all key regions. Retail sales in European markets increased by over 39%, boosted by standout performance at flagship department stores. In the Asia-Pacific region, Amouage achieved a staggering 28% growth, while Americas marked a growth of over 21%. In the GCC region, standout countries were Oman, where sales grew by 33% like-for-like, and the United Arab Emirates, where sales increased over 30%. Amouage boutiques recorded growth of 27% fueled by strong client demand behind the rollout of the proven architectural concept with powerful stand-alone, mono-brand luxury retail experiences across key geographies, including China, USA, UAE, Travel Retail as well as Malaysia and Oman. Amouage's strongest performing markets have remained Oman, the UAE, the USA, and China, which together account for over 40% of the total revenue. Reflecting the House's commitment to creating personalised, omni-channel experiences, amouage.com sales grew by over 31%. Marco Parsiegla, Chief Executive Officer of Amouage, said: "Our record sales in 2023 highlight a resounding customer demand across all product lines from Amouage. Our sustained strong performance has been achieved against a volatile macroeconomic backdrop and reflects our unwavering commitment to creativity, quality, and desirability when it comes to our products and distribution networks. Creations such as Guidance Eau de Parfum, which became our global bestselling line, further cemented Amouage's position as one of the best-performing High Perfumery Houses." In 2023, Amouage continued to captivate the world with its finely crafted perfumes, propelled by an innovative, creative and contemporary vision that resulted in the remarkable appeal of new creations as well as iconic lines. Each batch of the premium priced Exceptional Extraits, featuring category leading concentrations and ageing time, sold out in record time with the collection commanding a solid 10% share of total sales. Amouage demonstrated remarkable resilience, successfully navigating through market uncertainties including supply challenges and significantly improved fulfillment rates by a double-digit percentage following a comprehensive restructuring of the end-to-end supply chain. With its expanding international footprint, Amouage has step-changed its commitment to sustainability objectives, embracing responsible practices in the development and ethical sourcing and harvesting of natural ingredients. Initiatives such as the preservation of Frankincense trees at the UNESCO heritage Wadi Dawkah site and the pioneering endeavor to establish the first-ever smart forest in the GCC region underscored Amouage's commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation, setting new benchmarks within the industry, contributing to a brighter, greener future. In 2023, Amouage's commitment to arts and crafts was recognised across the world via ten prestigious international perfumery awards. The house has achieved unprecedented desirability and stood out as the leading voice online towards the fragrance community, which is testament to its strength and uniqueness. As Amouage continues to stay ahead of the curve while loyal to its Omani heritage and roots, the House remains focused on creation, innovation, tradition and positively impacting its clientele and the world. ABOUT AMOUAGE Amouage is an independent Omani High Perfumery House renowned for creating some of the most finely crafted perfumes in the world. Founded in the Sultanate of Oman in 1983 to be 'The Gift of Kings', the House has redefined the Arabian art of perfumery and garnered a global reputation for bringing innovative modernity and true artistry to all its creations. Masterfully paying tribute to its heritage, Amouage is a unique fusion of East meets West that defines avant-garde opulence. Today, it expresses the contemporary majesty of Oman - a historic trading center for incense - around the globe, with arresting and alluring collections that speak to a sophisticated, confident and well-traveled discerning clientele who seek something compellingly precious, extraordinary and personal, every day. Amouage creations have charmed a global audience and are now available in close to 100 countries around the world. The House's international presence encompasses 14 standalone boutiques including the recently opened flagships in the US, China, UAE, Malaysia and Travel Retail, and a highly selective network of approximately 1,000 of the world's finest department stores, perfumeries, and airports. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345531/Amouage_2023_Financial_Results.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2023-amouage-reports-outstanding-results-with-sales-growing-by-24-302068975.html OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Charge Robotics, the leading innovator in solar construction automation, announces successful deployment of SunriseTM, its groundbreaking solar construction robotics system. SunriseTM is the world's ?rst fully automated solar construction system designed to assemble, quality control, and install solar tracking hardware. Charge Robotics The recent landmark deployment of SunriseTM, in partnership with the nation's leading solar EPC contractor and solar services provider SOLV Energy, signi?es a major leap in advancing utility-scale solar installations. George Hershman, CEO of SOLV Energy, noted, "It's clear that current solar installation methods can't scale to transform the grid. We need new solutions and approaches to keep pace with rapidly growing demand." Record growth in utility solar installations is expected in 2024, and to continue through 2030. Efforts to accelerate the transition to solar energy have repeatedly been impacted by labor shortages, creating a pressing need for more advanced installation technologies. "We are impressed with Charge Robotics' technology. It offers the potential to radically accelerate our business growth, deploy solar projects faster, and support our people with additional tools to do their work safely and efficiently," shared Hershman. Charge Robotics' solar robotics system SunriseTM assists construction crews with solar hardware assembly, eliminating or reducing tedious, laborious or unsafe manual operations. SunriseTM autonomously assembles parts into completed solar bays, conducts quality control using advanced computer vision, and performs ?eld installations. Charge Robotics' co-founder and CEO Banks Hunter expressed, "This deployment marks a major milestone for the Charge Robotics team and our technology. We're excited to develop the world's most advanced systems, accelerating our nation's energy transition to renewables." "SOLV has proven themselves to be one of the most visionary leaders in the construction industry. We're thrilled to continue building the future of the energy industry with such an excellent partner," added Hunter. To reach SEIA's target of nearly 850GW solar energy by 2030, annual solar deployment must scale seven times that of 2020. Achieving this magnitude today is not feasible with current methods. Charge Robotics' technology removes a key bottleneck in advancing the nation's solar, driving cutting-edge solutions that will bene?t customers and industries worldwide. Charge Robotics is dedicated to innovating in the installation space to lead our world to a Net Zero future. About Charge Robotics: Charge Robotics is a leading robotics technology company creating solar construction automation. With a commitment to innovation, Charge Robotics strives to accelerate the transition to renewables by automating the most labor-intensive parts of construction, unlocking the potential to scale to unprecedented levels of renewable energy. For more information, visit chargerobotics.com. About SOLV Energy: SOLV Energy is the nation's leading solar services provider for utility solar, high-voltage substation and energy storage markets across North America. SOLV believes that good energy has a ripple effect. That's why SOLV only takes on projects that provide cleaner power, better jobs, greater education and a brighter future for the world's communities. Backed by a powerful legacy, SOLV has branched out to focus solely on renewable energy initiatives. Recognized as an industry-leading solar contractor and O&M services provider, the SOLV team has built and manages 12 GW of solar capacity in over 25 states. For more information, visit solvenergy.com. Reference: SEIA 2030 Targets: https://www.seia.org/research-resources/30-2030-new-target-solar-decade Contact Information Charge Press press@chargerobotics.com SOLV Media schepke@solvenergy.com SOURCE: Charge Robotics View the original press release on newswire.com. The "UK Personal Injury Market Report 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report estimates that the PI market registered a small revenue increase of 3.5% in 2022. This overall increase hides wide variations in the performances of law firms and claims companies in the sector with many still facing an uncertain future. Many of those working on serious injury and complex cases are registering the best performance and there are signs that those firms that have invested significantly in IT solutions are beginning to see the benefits. Claims volumes across most sectors of the market are still low while backlogs and delays in cases are increasing the lifecycle of many claims and impacting on cashflows for many firms. Value market growth is expected to remain relatively weak in 2023 and 2024 as claims volumes remain low. Value market growth is forecast to be stronger towards the end of the forecast period, i.e. 2026, but annual percentage increases will stay in low to mid-single figures. Selected data: The number of law firms active in the PI market has been falling each year since 2021. In August 2023, our analysis of the PI law firms listed in the respective Law Society directories for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland estimated that there were 128 fewer firms in the market compared to August 2022. M&A activity has continued in the latest year plus larger firms are still ready to buy PI work books either from smaller firms leaving the market, or larger counterparts disposing of their small claims portfolio to focus on other higher value sectors. The majority of PI claims are RTA claims and industrial accidents/injuries. In 2022, RTAs (serious and slight injuries) increased by 6.6% with numbers returning close to pre-COVID levels. Workplace accidents/injuries also increased in 2022. This increase in accidents and injuries has not been matched by a similar increase in claims made. Over the last decade, claims registered at the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) have fallen by more than half from over 1.1 million in 2013/14 to just 484,300 in 2022/23. Motor-related cases dominate accounting over three-quarters of all claims but the cases registered in this category dropped by 5.1% in the year 2022/23. Clinical negligence (CN) claims registered also decreased by 7.1%. For the fifth year running, the volume of PI claims going to court decreased, by 5.7% in calendar year 2022. This report looks at the market structure, recent developments and market drivers, the key players, the market size, trends, and forecasts. Key Topics Covered: 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Market characteristics RTA and industrial accident/injury claims increase in 2022 Official Injury Claim portal now two years old Some increase in market value in 2022 but mixed fortunes across the sector 2. INTRODUCTION Definition 3. MARKET STRUCTURE The main types of personal injury work The number of solicitors and legal companies 4. MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND DRIVERS Overview January 2023 Personal injury discount rate consultation Calls for evidence about PIDRs in Scotland and Northern Ireland Fixed recoverable costs apply from 1st October 2023 ABI appeal means compensation for mixed injuries still unclear Court of Appeal decision on deductions from damages MoJ consultation on medical reports Inquiry from MPs into the whiplash reforms 5. THE KEY PLAYERS Mergers, acquisitions and closures Key players Admiral Law Ltd Bond Turner Ltd Bott Co Solicitors Ltd Carpenters Ltd CFG DLG Legal Services Ltd Express Solicitors Ltd First4Lawyers Fletchers Solicitors Ltd Neil Hudgell Ltd InjuryLawyers4u Irwin Mitchell LLP Leigh Day Lyons Davidson Ltd Minster Law Ltd NAHL Group Redde/New Law Solicitors Simpson Millar LLP Slater and Gordon Lawyers Stewarts Law LLP Thompsons Solicitors LLP Winn Solicitors Ltd 6. MARKET SIZE AND TRENDS RTAs increase again in 2022 but still below pre-COVID levels Workplace injuries increased in 2021/22 following a low total in 2020/21 Long term decline in serious workplace injuries but an increase in 2021 Claims for criminal injuries increase in 2021/22 Overall market growth in 2022 hides mixed fortunes for PI firms Volume of cases registered with the CRU well below pre-Covid levels Increase in total recoveries Number of PI claims heard in courts drops for the fifth year running CN claims closed increase again along with damages paid in 2021/22 Official Injury Claim two years since launch and still little use by individuals 7. THE FUTURE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l537l3 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222126584/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 22 For immediate release 22 February 2024 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 198,992 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 862.92 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 33,214,509; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 191,776,794. The figure of 191,776,794 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 The Company has reported new contracts, renewals or orders valued at approximately $2.8 million CAD so far in 2024, outpacing growth in 2023. News in Summary On February 8, 2024, Cloud DX signed a new 24-month Master Deployment Agreement with Dr Lee S. Freedman, an MDVIP-affiliated internal medicine practice based in Highland Park IL. Dr Freedman intends to enroll approximately 125 patients who will best benefit from Remote Patient Monitoring with Cloud DX Connected Health, valuing the agreement at approximately $230,000 CAD. KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX)(OTCQB:CDXFF), a leading North American provider of subscription-based virtual care and remote patient monitoring services is pleased to announce a new Master Deployment Agreement with Lee S. Freedman MD, based in Highland Park IL. Dr Freedman's practice is affiliated with the MDVIP, a concierge medicine group with over 1,000 clinics nation-wide specializing in care for adults including those with complex chronic conditions. Cloud DX will work with Dr Freedman and his staff to enroll approximately 125 patients who will most benefit from remote monitoring using Cloud DX Connected Health, especially patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive health failure, diabetes, hypertension, and related co-morbidities. Typically, Cloud DX earns around $700 USD per patient per year for US deployments. In their most recent financial statements, the Company reported gross margins of 77%. Dr Freedman is the second MDVIP affiliated practice in Illinois to deploy Connected Health by Cloud DX. Dr. Freedman stated "There is no question in my mind that remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases improves care and lowers overall costs to the system. We are looking forward to launching our Cloud DX deployment in March 2024". Cloud DX Co-founder and COO Anthony Kaul stated: "These newly announced contracts indicate that the Cloud DX Connected Health platform is achieving our goal of bringing the benefits of virtual care and remote patient monitoring to the patients who need it the most. Clinicians like Dr Freedman are on the front lines of the battle against chronic disease that generate over 80% of all healthcare spending in North America. Cloud DX automates the collection of at-home patient data, enabling early detection of complications and creating a closer and richer doctor-patient relationship while improving health outcomes. About Cloud DX Accelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, winner of "2022 Top Innovator" from Canadian Business, a 2021 "Edison Award" winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada and Sanrai International. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx Investor Conference Videos Now Available Cloud DX CEO Robert Kaul presented a Zoom webinar on January 17, 2024, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada). A recording of his presentation can be seen HERE. The Maxim Group (NYC) held their Annual Healthcare IT Virtual Conference on Wednesday January 24th, 2024, with 18 companies presenting. Investors can see the Cloud DX presentation HERE. Links to statistics Cost of chronic diseases in America: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm Social Links Twitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/ For media inquiries please contact: Marketing Enquiries Phone 888-543-0944 marketing@clouddx.com For investor inquiries please contact: Jay Bedard Cloud DX Investor Relations Phone 647-881-8418 investors@clouddx.com Officer responsible for this Press Release: Robert Kaul Chief Executive Officer Phone 888-543-0944 ceo@clouddx.com Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the terms of the contract extension, the expected proceeds therefrom, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's the ability of the Company to fulfill the terms of and derive the benefits from the contract extension. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. A propos de Cloud DX Accelerant les soins de sante virtuels, Cloud DX a pour mission d'ameliorer les soins de sante pour tous. Notre plateforme de surveillance a distance des patients Connected HealthMC est utilisee par des entreprises de soins de sante et des equipes de soins partout en Amerique du Nord pour gerer virtuellement les maladies chroniques, permettre aux gens de vieillir chez eux et fournir des soins post-chirurgicaux de qualite hospitaliere a domicile. Nos partenaires obtiennent de meilleurs resultats pour les soins de sante et les patients, reduisent le besoin d'hospitalisation ou de readmission, et reduisent les couts de prestation des soins de sante grace a une utilisation plus efficace des ressources. Cloud DX est co-laureate du prix Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, laureate du prix Edison 2021, finaliste du concours World Changing Idea de Fast Company et un des dix plus importants fournisseurs de telesante au Canada. Site des relations avec les investisseurs de Cloud DX https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx La Bourse de croissance TSX et son fournisseur de services de reglementation (tel que ce terme est defini dans les politiques de la Bourse de croissance TSX) n'assument aucune responsabilite quant a la pertinence ou a l'exactitude du present communique. Tous les enonces prospectifs sont assujettis a des risques et a des incertitudes, tels que ceux decrits dans les rapports periodiques de Medtronic deposes aupres de la Securities and Exchange Commission. Les resultats reels peuvent sensiblement differer des resultats anticipes. SOURCE: Cloud DX Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 22 BH Macro Limited (the "Company") (a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235) Transaction in Own Shares 22 February 2024 BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc: Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling Sterling Date of purchase: 22 February 2024 22 February 2024 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 25,000 11,544 Lowest price per share 360 359.5 Highest price per share 360 360 Trading venue JPSI LSE Aggregate volume per date per trading venue: 25,000 11,544 Weighted average price per day per trading venue: 360.0000 359.8676 The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury. Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows: Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 364,728,712 Sterling Shares 8,876,148 Sterling Shares 29,762,912 Dollar Shares Nil Dollar Shares From 22 February 2024, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 559,153,606. Enquiries: Company website: www.bhmacro.com William Simmonds JPMorgan Cazenove Tel: 020 7588 2828 The Company Secretary Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Tel: 01481 745001 The company offers high-end management services and facilities at competitive rates across the regions of the UK. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Established with a mission to provide comprehensive management facilities in the vicinity of the UK, Crystal Facilities Management has gained solid credibility for its high-end services such as commercial cleaning, builders cleaning, deep cleaning services, office cleaning services, in London and across the UK. As a leading facilities management company in the UK, Crystal Facilities Management is driven by a team of dedicated and results-focused people. The company is dedicated to working with customers to provide high-end, tailor-made facilities management solutions such as cleaning, security and maintenance for short-term, long-term, and ad hoc contracts. Having worked in a wide range of sectors, Crystal Facilities Management has over 15 years of experience and strives to maintain a high-end reputation and meet its customers' needs. The company's wide range of services is delivered to public and private industries and covers several sectors including, National Coverage, Added Value, 24/7 Helpdesk operating 365 days of the year, a Partnership Approach, and Flexibility and Accountability. With a terminus to become a recognized facilities management company delivering customized solutions, Crystal Facilities Management promises to deliver Specialist deep cleaning services, along with offering reactive and planned maintenance to keep premises running. The CEO of Crystal Facilities Management states, "As a facilities service provider, we strive hard to offer scalable and powerful solutions for your business. Working within different industries during the past years has helped us understand and deliver a true value solution. For all their needs. Our robust and hard-working teams aim to deliver a project within a short time scale. We help your company attain its objectives." Crystal Facilities Management's proficient team strives to provide long-term facility management solutions to commercial clients from all backgrounds and industries. The skilled team strives to focus on providing the best service possible to customers, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene in their spaces. Moreover, to meet the diverse needs of customers, the company employs cost-effective strategies to manage facilities, optimizing resources and reducing operational expenses. Along with incorporating innovative solutions, Crystal Facilities Management proactively address and mitigates potential risks, ensuring a safe and compliant working environment. Over the years, the company has garnered a solid customer base and promises to deliver well-maintained and organized facilities, maintaining a clean and hygienic workplace to enhance employee well-being and create a positive impression. The CEO adds, "We care about you and your needs; you will receive a Facilities Management package that you can be proud of. Discover our premium services tailored to meet your needs in London. we pride ourselves on delivering top-notch solutions to ensure the cleanliness, safety, and functionality of your commercial and residential spaces. Explore our services in each city to discover how Crystal Services can meet your cleaning needs efficiently and effectively." For further details, visit the website https://crystalservices.uk.com/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/commercial-cleaning-in-uk/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/builders-cleaning-in-uk/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/office-cleaning-services-in-uk/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/london Media Contact Organization: Crystal Facilities Management Contact Person: Tanya Rogers Website: https://crystalservices.uk.com/ Email: info@crystalservices.uk.com Contact Number: +442089933831 Address: The Lyra, Portal Way, North Acton, W3 6BJ. City: London Country: United Kingdom SOURCE: Crystal Facilities Management View the original press release on accesswire.com SPARKS, MD / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / TridentCare is pleased to announce that Mary E. Sweeney has been appointed Senior Vice President (SVP) of Human Resources. Sweeney assumed her role at TridentCare on February 19, 2024. TridentCare Sweeney has decades of experience with crucial aspects of human resources, including recruitment and retention, organizational effectiveness, talent management, employment law and compliance, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. "I am excited to return back to the health care industry, especially with an organization that is disrupting healthcare by serving patients where they are," Sweeney said. Sweeney last served at Arcadia University where she held the role of Vice President of Human Resources and the Employee Experience. During her time at Arcadia, Mary made it a priority to enhance the experience of the faculty and staff by rebuilding many of the HR functions. Prior to joining Arcadia in 2020, Mary spent 22 years in the health care industry. She served most recently as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Regional CHRO for the Mid/South Atlantic regions at Trinity Health. There, Sweeney focused on aligning the HR strategy to Trinity's business strategy. According to CEO Dan Buning, "We interviewed numerous qualified candidates and believed Mary had the best overall experience, skills and organizational fit to help lead our TridentCare HR Team. Our people are what allows us to fulfill our mission to provide clinical diagnostic services nationwide across a wide range of home, facility, workplace or institutional settings. We gladly welcome Mary to our Leadership Team." About TridentCare Based in Sparks, Maryland, TridentCare is the leading provider of portable diagnostic services in the Country, operating in 38 states, servicing a wide variety of patients and clients. Each day, the company deploys experienced medical professionals and leading-edge technology to provide imaging, phlebotomy, laboratory, oxygen, and vascular services to tens of thousands of patients nationwide. For more information about TridentCare, please visit TridentCare.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Contact Information Deborah Shelton media@tridentcare.com SOURCE: TridentCare View the original press release on newswire.com. Aurora Sterilisation ("Aurora") and the European Innovation Council ("EIC") have signed a 2.5 million grant agreement under the EIC Accelerator 2023 research programme, This recognition confirms Aurora's impactful innovation in sterilization technology, which: Protects patients from contamination of non-sterile reusable medical devices at present. Promotes the introduction of new medical devices that previously lacked an effective sterilization process. Introduces a sterilizing agent that poses no threat to human health or the environment, reduces medical devices' carbon footprint, and is energy efficient. Expressing his enthusiasm, Jan Laarman, co-founder and CEO of Aurora, said, "We are extremely pleased to receive this grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC). This sum will be allocated to the development of our two solutions, the Aqsaniit, a sterilizer of reusable medical devices and more particularly gastrointestinal endoscopes for hospitals, and Silanaq, a sterilizer for manufacturers of single-use medical devices that want to reduce their dependence on ethylene oxide or ionizing radiation. I am very proud that the Aurora teams are recognized as one of the 1% of successful candidates." Thomas Parias, co-founder and President of Aurora added: "This grant - which is non-dilutive funding - will allow us in the coming months to accelerate market access for our innovative solutions to meet the challenges of sterilization in hospitals and for MedTech. This is the first instalment of the EIC's involvement with us. Under the EIC Accelerator 2023 programme, we could welcome the European Investment Bank as an investor in an upcoming fundraising event." About EIC Accelerator and the European Investment Bank (EIB) The EIC accelerator is the cornerstone of the Horizon Europe (2021-2027) funding programme initiated by the European Commission (EC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Its objective is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), medium-sized enterprises and innovators launch their revolutionary ideas, technologies, and products. Only the most innovative companies are selected. In the first year of the EIC Accelerator programme, out of more than 4,000 applicants, 164 projects were selected for funding. This shows how intense the competition is within the program and demonstrates the high quality of the proposals funded. A unique feature of the EIC is that it provides funding to businesses through grants and investments. Businesses also benefit from tailored marketing support and guidance - such as easier access to international trade shows. Since its creation, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has invested more than 1 trillion in innovative companies. All the investments signed by the EIB in the EU in 2023 alone will have the effect of: support 270 billion in investments, increase EU GDP by 1.03%, create 1,460,000 additional jobs About AURORA STERILISATION Founded in 2019, Aurora is a French MedTech company specializing in sterilization. It owes its creation to a 2018 partnership between Aurora, the BIOS Laboratory of the University of Reims-Champagne Ardennes (URCA), and the Regional Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer of Charleville-Mezieres (CRITT-Materiaux). This collaboration has given rise to patents centered around a new unique sterilization technique with natural plasma, low temperature and which activates air gases. It is important to note that Aurora's medical device sterilization procedure is the first of its kind - using only chemical-free atmospheric gases. For media inquiries, please contact: Alain Sarraf - alain.sarraf@aurora-sterilisation.com - 33 06 13 06 29 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: xZifk5Vnlm6blW9rkp2bbGhpmZljl2LGaZOWmZKemJyVmWxplJxhb8qcZnFlmGZs - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-84316-aurora-cp-222-mis-en-page-ang.pdf Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Amarvir Gill (the "Acquiror"), the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Biosenta Inc. ("Biosenta") listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: ZRO) announces that he acquired 1,250,000 common shares (the "Shares") and 625,000 warrants to purchase common shares (the "Warrants") pursuant to a debt settlement transaction whereby Biosenta issued the Shares 1,250,000 and 625,000 Warrants to settle $500,000 in debt owed to the Acquiror (the "Debt Settlement Transaction"). Prior to the Debt Settlement Transaction, the Acquiror owned 3,764,380 Shares, representing 13.61% of the then issued and outstanding Shares and had ownership of stock options to acquire 270,000 Shares (the "Options"). If the Options were to be exercised, the Acquiror would have had ownership or control over 4,034,380 Shares, representing 14.45% of the then issued and outstanding Shares, on a partially diluted basis. Following the Offering, the Acquiror has control over 5,014,380 Shares, representing 16.93% of the issued and outstanding Shares following the Debt Settlement Transaction and has ownership of 625,000 Warrants and 270,000 Options. If the Warrants and Options are exercised, the Acquiror will have ownership or control over 5,909,380 Shares, representing 19.37% of the currently issued and outstanding Shares, on a partially diluted basis. The Acquiror does not have any current plans or future intentions which relate to or would result in any of the events, transactions or circumstances enumerated in paragraphs (a) - (k) in the early warning report filed with the press release (the "Early Warning Report"). In accordance with applicable securities laws, the Acquiror may, from time to time and at any time, acquire additional Shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments (collectively, "Securities") of Biosenta in the open market or otherwise, and Acquiror reserves the right to dispose of any or all of its Securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to the Securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of Biosenta and other relevant factors. The head office of Biosenta is 18 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 3S2. For further information please refer to the Early Warning Report to be posted on Biosenta's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca or which may be obtained by contacting the Acquiror at 416- 410-2019. For further information contact: Am Gill, President and CEO Biosenta Inc. 18 Wynford Drive, Suite 704 Toronto, ON M3C 3S2 Phone: 416-410-2019 Email: am@biosenta.com info@biosenta.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198909 SOURCE: Biosenta Inc. Karen Harvey Consulting Group (KHC), one of the leading international executive search and brand advisory firms in fashion, luxury, lifestyle and beauty with offices in New York, London, Paris and L.A., is pleased to announce the appointment of Anais Goujon to Director, Executive and Creative Search of the firm's Paris office, Kate Sunderland to Vice President, Creative Search of the firm's London office, and Charlotte Reeve as Associate Director, Executive Search also of the firm's London office. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222508513/en/ From left to right, Kate Sunderland, Anais Goujon, and Charlotte Reeve. (Photo: Business Wire) These new appointments come as the company continues to evolve alongside a rapidly changing landscape in talent strategy for fashion, retail and lifestyle brands and businesses. "Since founding KHC, my goal has been to build an international group of highly dedicated and talented leaders who are more inspired working together than separately, and who appreciate the unique way that we work on an international basis. Our culture, coupled with our narrow and deep approach, has been the cornerstone of our success, and I have been very fortunate to work with these women over the past several years to build our presence across Europe. Their commitment to working across all key markets I believe provides a truly international perspective for our clients, which is invaluable in a world where global experience is fundamental to success. These promotions signal the next stage of growth for our company, and I'm so pleased to announce the promotions of Anais, Kate, and Charlotte. Anais' unique and multi-national background has been a powerful foundation for her coming into this firm, and her wonderful manner, combined with her exceptional skills across the creative and executive search side of the firm, have been critical to our growth in Europe. Kate's incredible eye, deep knowledge of the market and highly strategic approach has been pivotal for our global, creative search endeavors and Charlotte's talent agility has been indispensable in connecting the firm to emerging talent. They are not just team members, but partners in the architecting of KHC's next chapter, and I'm so excited to see what we build next together. Their advancement is a testament to their hard work and the bright future they will help shape for KHC." Karen Harvey Anais Goujon, based in the firm's Paris office, has served as Senior Consultant since 2020, and has been working internationally across both the business and creative side of KHC's search practice. She focuses on placing high level creatives and senior executive leaders with KHC's global portfolio of brands. Prior to joining KHC, she had been working for m-O conseil, a boutique recruitment firm working with prestigious international clients from the luxury, fashion and culture worlds. "I am deeply honored to step into the role of Director, Executive and Creative Search at KHC. What truly sets us apart is our global footprint and perspective. We don't just operate within regional boundaries; we embrace a worldwide vision. Under Karen's visionary leadership, we've cultivated an environment of collaboration, not competition. By bringing together diverse generations and perspectives from various cultures and countries, we are not just a team we are a global family, united in our mission to serve our clients with unparalleled insight and expertise." Anais Goujon Kate Sunderland is now Vice President of Creative Recruitment at KHC, based in London, where she oversees global creative search across disciplines. Kate has twelve years of experience working closely with world-class creative talent and clients worldwide in fashion, luxury, retail, beauty, and home. With a BA Degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion from the acclaimed Central Saint Martins, and prior experience with the London-based and internationally recognized fashion recruitment and consultancy firms Denza and Smith Pye, Kate brings a strong foundation and knowledge of the fashion industry to KHC's London Office. "To me, being part of KHC means working with the most incredible leadership, team, clients and world class creative talent. It is an honour to come to work each day and continue to build the relationships that we do, and I am thrilled to grow further within the firm and work for a business and Founder that I have such deep respect for." Kate Sunderland Charlotte Reeve was previously an Executive Search Consultant for KHC and the Director of Recruitment for INDX, based in our London office. She has over a decade of experience in both search and contingency recruitment, working with high profile businesses and brands at the forefront of digital innovation, and supporting those driving exciting transformation projects across the luxury, fashion, beauty, travel and tech spaces. "It's so exciting to be working for a business which is not only partnering with innovative brands, but instrumental in driving innovation as a true strategic partner. I feel an immense privilege to be working with this all female, very talented leadership team, and I am very much looking forward to continuing what has been an incredible three years with the company so far." Charlotte Reeve KHC is an international executive search and advisory services firm with multi-industry expertise and an extraordinary network. With offices in New York, London, Paris and L.A., they partner with leading companies in their search for world-class talent, and bring a unique approach to advising clients on modern brand and talent strategies that serve today's complex and dynamic consumer and business needs. With a core focus on executive search and advisory services for brands in fashion, luxury, lifestyle and beauty, KHC has earned global recognition for bringing some of the industry's most successful CEOs, CMOs, creative leaders, and collaborators to powerful global companies changing the arc of their businesses today to recalibrate for the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222508513/en/ Contacts: Dana Supnick-Guidoni Love Creative Ventures dana@lovecreativeventures.com Ranking in the Top 50 Best IT Products and Top 100 Fastest Growing Products. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / ScalePad is honored with two prestigious awards in G2's 2024 Best Software Products list. Recognized for its innovative solutions, ScalePad ranked among the Top 50 Best IT Products for Backup Radar, which ensures MSPs mitigate backup failure risks. Scalepad was also named among the Top 100 Fastest Growing Products, ranking #35 for Lifecycle Manager, which helps MSPs show clients their IT risks and easily collaborate to mitigate them, as well as offering value-added services, including Warranty Services, Workstation Assurance, and end-of-life disposal. ScalePad Wins G2's 2024 Best Software Awards ScalePad ranked among the Top 50 Best IT Products for Backup Radar and named among the Top 100 Fastest Growing Products for Lifecycle Manager. "These awards serve as a testament to our team's remarkable dedication and expertise, for their tireless work behind the scenes to craft and refine each of ScalePad's products to deliver real value to MSPs," said Dan Wesnely, CEO at ScalePad. "We're immensely proud of their contributions in equipping our MSP partners' adventure and to excel in delivering unparalleled service to their clients." ScalePad's strategic acquisitions in 2023, including Lifecycle Insights, Control Map, Cognition360 and Quoter, have fortified its suite of solutions for MSPs, aligning with its refreshed brand promise of "Equipping Your MSP Adventure!" This commitment has solidified ScalePad's position as a leader in empowering MSPs and their success by equipping them with cutting-edge technology, unparalleled expertise, and unwavering support. "As a team, we're deeply committed to listening to our partners, understanding their unique needs, and crafting products that foster a harmonious experience between our MSP partners and their clients," said Adam Hert, VP of Product at ScalePad. "Our focus on collaboration and innovation ensures that every solution we build is tailored to enhance operations and drive mutual success." "B2B software buyers, just like consumers, start their purchasing journey with research," said Sara Rossio, Chief Product Officer at G2. "As the world's largest software marketplace, G2 attracts more than 90 million buyers to our site each year - more than any other B2B marketplace - reaching those from companies of all sizes, in all industries. Based on their authentic feedback, we're proud to announce the 2024 Best Software Award winners. Congratulations to the less than 1% of vendors listed on G2 who made one of our 30+ lists this year, achieving recognition driven by verified data rooted in the source that truly matters - authentic customer voice." To learn more, view G2's 2024 Best Software Awards and read more about G2's methodology. About G2: G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 90 million people annually - including employees at all Fortune 500 companies - use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of software and services companies of all sizes partner with G2 to build their reputation and grow their business - including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, and Adobe. Visit www.g2.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Jenny Gardynski at G2 jgardynski@g2.com or press@g2.com About ScalePad: ScalePad provides MSPs of every size with the knowledge, technology, and community they need to deliver increased client value while navigating the continuously changing terrain of the IT landscape. With a suite of integrated products that automate and standardize MSP's operations, analyze and uncover new opportunities, and expand value to clients, ScalePad is equipping the MSP adventure. ScalePad has received awards such as MSP Today's Product of the Year, G2's 2024 Fastest Growing Product, and 2024 Best IT Management Product. In 2023, it was named a Best Workplace in Canada by Great Place to Work. ScalePad is a privately held company serving over 12,000 MSPs across the globe. Learn more at scalepad.com. Media Contact: Brittany Thibaudeau media@scalepad.com (604) 334-8986 Contact Information Brittany Thibaudeau Communications Specialist media@scalepad.com (604) 334-8986 SOURCE: ScalePad View the original press release on newswire.com. Photo taken on Oct 28, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, DC, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua] Global Times-Recently, during his participation in the Munich Security Conference (MSC), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a statement that offers significant room for interpretation and is worthy of in-depth analysis. When responding to a moderator's question concerning that "the US-China tensions are leading to greater fragmentation," he used an American slang phrase, stating that "if you're not at the table in the international system, you're going to be on the menu." Translated into Chinese, the meaning is akin to "if you're not the knife and the chopping board, you'll be the fish and meat on the board." As the chief diplomat of a superpower, Blinken's use of this phrase reveals a worldview characterized by a harsh and chilling perspective of a world where the strong prey on the weak. This is not the first time Blinken has made such remarks. On January 24, 2022, during a forum, Blinken used this same phrase to elucidate the China-US relationship, emphasizing that in competition with China, they should make sure that the US is "at the table," but not on the menu. Going back further, this phrase appeared in a 1993 article in an American Middle East affairs journal, describing the situation in Lebanon at that time. Subsequently, individuals of different backgrounds used it in various contexts. However, Washington politicians gradually found that it "vividly and accurately" encapsulates the US worldview and foreign strategy, making it resonate with their beliefs. Hence, Blinken reiterated the remarks. The phrase "if you're not at the table, you'll probably be on the menu" is extremely straightforward, even blunt, representing a stark zero-sum game mentality. In plain language, if you have the strength, you devour others at the table; if you lack strength, you become the prey on the menu. It adheres completely to a jungle law where power and status, not ethical or legal norms, dictate actions. Over 200 years ago, the massacre and land usurpation against the indigenous peoples living in North America were manifestations of this mind-set. World War I instigated by old European empires and, to some extent, the Cold War can also be seen as examples. However, with the progress of political civilization and the development of economic globalization, this mind-set and approach are increasingly unpopular. In fact, even within the US, the use of this slang phrase is filled with criticism and reflection, because it implies that when privileges that can be enjoyed at the table appear, it is usually at the expense of sacrificing others. The corresponding Chinese phrase "if you're not at the table, you'll probably be on the menu" is even more filled with the humiliation of being at the mercy of others. Strictly speaking, Blinken, as the chief diplomat of the US and a professional diplomat, speaking such words can be considered a slip of the tongue and a loss of composure. However, his repeated blunt remarks in international public forums also indicate the unapologetic hegemonic thinking of current American diplomacy. Washington's current official diplomatic rhetoric emphasizes the so-called "rules-based international order," but it is all used as tools to demand, restrain, and accuse others, or to cover up US own hegemonic intentions. Blinken's "table and menu" remarks indicate that the underlying logic that Washington truly believes in and follows in its foreign strategy has not fundamentally changed. He may also be intended to create a sensationalistic effect of intimidation. In the US Congress, there is a mobilization of public opinion on the strategy of containment against China, while internationally, the US is coercing other countries to take sides between it and China, or else they will end up on the menu. Former US president Woodrow Wilson once said "the small states of the world have a right to enjoy the same respect for their sovereignty and for their territorial integrity that great and powerful nations expect and insist upon." The principle of sovereign equality of states established by the Westphalian system has long been one of the fundamental principles of international relations and international law. All countries, especially small ones, have a higher awareness and insistence on sovereign equality. However, centuries later, the chief diplomat of the US seems more convinced of power politics, and unashamedly uses the privilege of "sitting at the table with a Western knife and fork to prey on others" to pressure and entice other countries. It must be said that this is also the tragedy of American diplomacy. Today's world is not a private restaurant monopolized and controlled by individual superpowers, but a broad stage where all countries should share prosperity, bear responsibilities, and compete fairly. The vast majority of countries in the international community share the common desire for peace over war, justice over hegemony, and cooperation over confrontation. No country is destined to become the fish on the menu. Going against this historical trend is bound to be criticized and opposed by the international community. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Forza Petroleum Limited (TSX: FORZ) ("Forza Petroleum" or the "Corporation") and Zeg Oil and Gas Ltd. ("Zeg Oil") today announced the completion of the transactions contemplated by the previously announced statutory plan of arrangement under section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Arrangement") involving Forza Petroleum, Zeg Oil and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zeg Oil (the "Purchaser"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Purchaser acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Forza Petroleum ("Common Shares") not already owned by Zeg Oil or the Purchaser for C$0.15 per Common Share in cash. Forza Petroleum has applied to have the Common Shares delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange and to cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws. Further information regarding the Arrangement and payment of the consideration payable for Common Shares is provided in the management proxy circular of Forza Petroleum dated January 5, 2024 (the "Circular"), copies of which are available under Forza Petroleum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on Forza Petroleum's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. ABOUT FORZA PETROLEUM LIMITED Forza Petroleum Limited is an international oil exploration, development and production company. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "FORZ". Forza Petroleum has a 65% working interest in and operates the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which has yielded oil discoveries in four areas. Further information about Forza Petroleum is available at www.forzapetroleum.com or under Forza Petroleum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . For additional information about Forza Petroleum, please contact: Kevin McPhee General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 00 info@forzapetroleum.com Early Warning Information Prior to completion of the Arrangement, Zeg Oil owned and controlled 500,152,674 Common Shares, representing approximately 82.5% of the Common Shares outstanding. Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Purchaser, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zeg Oil, acquired an additional 106,086,174 Common Shares for C$0.15 per Common Share in cash, being C$15,912,926.10 in aggregate. As a result, Zeg Oil now owns, directly or indirectly, and controls all of the 606,238,848 issued and outstanding Common Shares. An updated early warning report will be filed by Zeg Oil and will be available at www.sedarplus.com or may be obtained directly from Zeg Oil upon request to Sylvia Frett by telephone at +1 284 949 8445. The head office of the Corporation is located at 3400 First Canadian Centre, 350 7th Av. SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 3N9. The head office of Zeg Oil is located at 4301 Trinity Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Reader Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information", including statements related to the Corporation's intention to cease to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and to cease to be a Canadian reporting issuer and Zeg Oil's intention to file an updated early warning report. Statements that contain words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potentially", "project", or the negative of such expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical fact, also constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Although the Corporation believes these statements to be reasonable, the assumptions upon which they are based may prove to be incorrect. The assumptions relied on to support these statements include that all requirements to delist and cease to be a reporting issuer will be met and approval of same obtained. For more information about risks facing the Corporation, refer to the Circular and the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 available at www.sedarplus.com and the Corporation's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. Statements including forward-looking information in this news release are made as at the date they are given and, except as required by applicable law, the Corporation does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. If the Corporation does update one or more statements containing forward-looking information, it is not obligated to, and no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198912 SOURCE: Forza Petroleum Limited Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Akwaaba Mining Ltd. (TSXV: AML) ("Akwaaba" or the "Company") previously announced its private placement of up to $103,600 CAD in common shares at a purchase price of $0.14 per share (the "Offering") on February 8, 2024. The Company is pleased to announce that it has closed $28,000 of the Offering (the "First Tranche"). No new insiders were created because of the closing of the First Tranche. Additional tranches of the Private Placement are still under review with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and are subject to final Exchange acceptance before closing. As an Insider (and entities controlled by the Insider) are participating in remaining tranches of in the Offering, the transaction constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of the TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Company is relying on exemptions from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under, relying on exemptions found in sections 5.5(a), 5.5(b), 5.5(c), 5.7(a) and 5.7(b), as the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by Insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company and the fair market value is not more than $2,500,000, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. No new Control Persons will be created as a result of the Offering. All Shares issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four-months and one day, as well as to any other restrictions imposed by applicable securities regulatory authorities. As previously announced, proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the ongoing exploration program at the Company's Akorade project in Ghana, for working capital and for future acquisitions. On behalf of the Board of Akwaaba Mining Ltd.: "Iyad Jarbou" Chief Financial Officer Tel: 604.362.7685 Email: iyad@akwaaba-mining.com FORWARD-LOOKING AND OTHER CAUTIONARY INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This release may contain statements that are forward-looking statements and are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198914 SOURCE: Akwaaba Mining Ltd. Glen Ellyn, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Richard Montanez, the creative force behind Flamin' Hot Cheetos and a former PepsiCo executive, is set to share his compelling journey of rising from janitor to a top executive as part of the "COD Presents" series Thursday, April 4, at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn. Richard Montanez, the creative force behind Flamin' Hot Cheetos, discusses his journey from janitor to top executive April 4 at College of DuPage. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9467/198905_headshot.jpg The presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion with McAninch Arts Director Diana Martinez and an audience Q&A. Montanez also will be on hand to sign copies of his book "Flamin' Hot," which was adapted into the Disney+ film directed by actress Eva Longoria. With a career spanning multiple decades, Montanez rose from working as a Frito-Lay janitor in 1976 to pivotal leadership roles at PepsiCo across North American divisions, championing Multicultural Sales & Marketing initiatives. He stands celebrated as the creative force behind the Flamin' Hot product line, which has evolved into a billion-dollar enterprise and a cultural phenomenon. Recognized as a visionary leader and innovator, Montanez has earned numerous prestigious awards and accolades, consistently ranking among the most influential Latinos in corporate America. Additionally, he serves on various boards of directors and advisory panels, notably as the first Latino board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a venerable African-American civil rights organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For more information, visit cod.edu/cod-presents. COD's Speaker Series "COD Presents" features keynote presentations and facilitated conversations with prominent individuals from across the country who are using their resources, influence, creativity and passion to make a positive impact in the world. These candid dialogues with guests create an opportunity for COD students, faculty, staff and community members to exchange ideas and walk away inspired. Contact: Angela Mennecke Menneckea@cod.edu (630) 942-3134 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198905 SOURCE: College of DuPage Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - OBSIDIAN ENERGY LTD. (TSX: OBE) (NYSE American: OBE) ("Obsidian Energy", the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") announces that it has filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities its audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"). Obsidian Energy has also filed its Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, which includes the disclosure and reports relating to reserves data and other oil and gas information required pursuant to National Instrument 51-101. Obsidian Energy's Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to its rules and regulations. Copies of these documents may be obtained electronically on the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca), EDGAR website (www.sec.gov for the Form 40-F) or Obsidian Energy's website. Hard copies of Obsidian Energy's audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related MD&A are also available upon request, free of charge, by contacting our Investor Relations group or by requesting them through our website. CONTACT OBSIDIAN ENERGY Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3 Phone: 403-777-2500 Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707 Website: www.obsidianenergy.com; Investor Relations: Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633 E-mail: investor.relations@obsidianenergy.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198908 SOURCE: Obsidian Energy Ltd. The broadcasters won the Ruth Rendell Award 2024 for their work promoting reading in schools. LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) and the National Literacy Trust are delighted to announce the winner of the 2024 Ruth Rendell Award, which recognises those who have had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year. Broadcasters Greg James and Chris Smith were announced as the winners at the ALCS Annual Awards ceremony, held at the Goldsmiths' Centre in London on 22 February. Greg and Chris were nominated for their work profiling the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Random House UK's Libraries for Primaries campaign to transform primary school libraries in the UK, which face underinvestment. The pair also visited schools throughout the country to inspire a love of reading and writing. On winning the prize, Greg and Chris said: "We're absolutely delighted and actually really rather shocked to receive this award, considering the other amazing nominees. We love visiting schools and meeting our readers, and hopefully this incredible honour will help get the message out there that every primary school should have a library." The judges praised the pair for their passion: "Chris and Greg have both compassion and passion for libraries and children's access to reading, and that is really crucial right now". Poet and Author-in-Residence in the Department of Public Health & Primary Care at the University of Cambridge, Laura Mucha, was announced as runner-up for her poetry workshops and training sessions in schools. The judges said: "Laura's sensitivity is extraordinary, and she is deeply committed to what she is doing. Thinking about the vulnerability of young people's mental health at the moment, her work is so important." National Literacy Trust Chief Executive Jonathan Douglas said: "I am thrilled to celebrate Chris Smith and Greg James as the winners of the Ruth Rendell Award this year. They have given their time, enthusiasm, and passion to championing school libraries and consistently promoted the importance of reading for enjoyment with children across the country. At the National Literacy Trust, we know that reading for pleasure can have a real impact on a child's future, supporting their literacy skills, their wellbeing, and their confidence, and Chris and Greg's dedication has made such a difference to so many lives. Congratulations to them both - they are deserving winners." ALCS Chief Executive Barbara Hayes said: "As an organisation deeply committed to championing literacy, we are delighted to see those shortlisted going above and beyond to promote this important life skill. Greg and James are such passionate advocates and have inspired a love of reading in school children up and down the country. Congratulations to Greg and James, as well as our runner up Laura and all those shortlisted." The shortlist also included Michael Morpurgo, Sharena Lee Satti, Richard O'Neill, Harry Heape and Ellie Crawshaw-Prince. The award was launched in 2016 by ALCS and the National Literacy Trust in honour of the best-selling crime author and literacy advocate Ruth Rendell, who passed away in 2015. Previous winners include Andy McNab and Cressida Cowell. Dapo Adeola and Nigel Lungenmuss-Ward were last year's joint winers. This year's judges were Chief Executive at the National Literacy Trust, Jonathan Douglas, screenwriter and Non-Executive Director at ALCS, Di Redmond, school librarian, Lorraine Gill and previous winner of the Ruth Rendell Award, author Tom Palmer. ALCSAwards EDITOR'S NOTES Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) ALCS is a not-for-profit organisation started by writers for the benefit of all types of writers. Owned by its members, ALCS collects money due for secondary uses of writers' work. It is designed to support authors and their creativity; ensure they receive fair payment and see their rights are respected. It promotes and teaches the principles of copyright and campaigns for a fair deal for writers. It represents over 120,000 members, and since 1977 has paid over 650million to writers. alcs.co.uk National Literacy Trust The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that empowers children, young people, and adults with the literacy skills they need to succeed. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills give you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. For over 30 years the National Literacy Trust has continued to support schools, families and communities on a local and national level to help people change their stories. literacytrust.co.uk View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/djs-greg-james-and-chris-smith-win-literacy-award-at-the-alcs-awards-302068915.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - iMining Technologies Inc. (TSXV: IMIN.H) ("iMining"), a publicly listed technology company, is excited to announce that its subsidiary, AiMining Technologies Inc. ("AiMining"), has been accepted into the prestigious NVIDIA Inception program. This exclusive program is dedicated to nurturing startups with cutting-edge technologies during the critical stages of product development, prototyping and deployment. AiMining Technologies received approval for its application to the NVIDIA Inception program, marking a significant milestone for the company. By joining this esteemed community of startups, AiMining gains access to invaluable resources and support to further propel its innovative endeavors. Additionally, AiMining has been accepted into the NVIDIA Development program, providing further opportunities for growth and collaboration. As part of the NVIDIA Inception program, AiMining Technologies will benefit from a wealth of resources tailored to accelerate its growth and development. This includes exclusive access to NVIDIA's accelerated computing platform and a repository of tools, training, and programs designed to enhance GPU-accelerated applications and skill development. In addition to program membership, AiMining Technologies has the opportunity to attend the GTC 2024 Keynote delivered by NVIDIA founder and CEO, Jensen Huang. This keynote will delve into how NVIDIA's accelerated computing platform is driving advancements in AI, digital twins, cloud technologies, and sustainable computing, offering invaluable insights to program members. Furthermore, AiMining has access to the following resources: NVFLare SDK : This SDK provides federated privacy, setting a new standard in privacy and data protection. : This SDK provides federated privacy, setting a new standard in privacy and data protection. NeMo : An open-source framework to train conversational AI models. : An open-source framework to train conversational AI models. NeMo Retriever: This resource integrates enterprise-grade RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) capabilities. The models at the core of this solution have been trained using responsibly selected, auditable data sources. With multiple pre-trained models available as starting points, developers can quickly customize them for their domain-specific use cases, such as IT or HR help assistants, and R&D research assistants. Khurram Shroff, CEO of iMining Technologies, expressed his enthusiasm: "The acceptance into the NVIDIA Inception Development program, alongside the invitation to NVIDIA GTC, marks a pivotal moment for AiMining Technologies. It's a reflection of our team's unwavering commitment and hard work. We're both excited and humbled by this opportunity to harness the industry's best resources for our R&D efforts. Our heartfelt thanks go to Jensen Huang for his visionary leadership and profound impact on the AI community. We're keen to make our mark within this vibrant ecosystem and to advance AI innovation." As AiMining Technologies continues its journey of innovation, its participation in the NVIDIA Inception Development program positions it at the forefront of technological advancement, poised to make lasting contributions to the global landscape. About iMining Technologies Inc. iMining Technologies Inc. is a publicly listed technology company that acquires, builds, and manages future technology companies in Canada. The Company's industry-specific technology businesses provide specialized and innovative solutions in future technologies and serve private sector markets. iMining Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About AiMining Technologies Inc. AiMining Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of iMining Technologies Inc., is a start-up at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Comprising a dedicated applied research lab focused on collaboration with esteemed institutions and a commercialization program geared towards market engagement, AiMining seamlessly integrates into iMining's technology portfolio and is committed to advancing responsible AI development. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Khurram Shroff" Khurram Shroff, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact: iMining Corporate Offices: Saleem Moosa, CFO and Director Email: investor@imining.com Telephone: 1-604-602-4935 Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198919 SOURCE: iMining Technologies Inc. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Despite data showing a jump in U.S. crude inventory, oil prices climbed higher on Thursday as rising tensions in the Middle East raised the possibility of a near-term supply disruption. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures for April ended higher by $0.70 or 0.9% at $78.61 a barrel. Brent crude futures settled at $83.67 a barrel, gaining $0.64 or 0.77%. Data from Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed crude stockpiles in the U.S. rose by 3.5 million barrels in the week ended February 16th, compared with forecasts for a rise of 3.9 million barrels. Gasoline stockpiles were down by 294,000 barrels last week, substantially down from an expected drop of 2.1 million barrels. Distillate stockpiles declined 4 million barrels in the week, more than twice the expected drop of 1.7 million barrels. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 741,000 barrels last week to 29.5 million, the EIA data showed. The Houthis have reportedly stepped up attacks in the Red Sea near Yemen, raising concerns about disruptions to crude supply. The rebel group leader said there will be an escalation in attacks on ships in the Red Sea and that they have introduced submarine weapons. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reputation Advisors International (RAI), a worldwide association of distinguished communications professionals, welcomes Nathalie Bergeron of Nota Bene Strategie of Montreal and Eric Rose of EKA PR of Los Angeles as the network's newest members. The addition of Ms. Bergeron and Mr. Rose furthers the network's continuing growth over the past year. Dirk T. Schmitt of Rosenberg Strategic Communications in Frankfurt and Chris Cartwright of Chris Cartwright Communications in Geneva, Switzerland, joined RAI in mid-2023. Earlier in 2023, Kajsa Stenstrom of Stenstrom Consulting in Brussels and Barry Ahern of Business Management Communications (BMC) in Dublin also joined the network, which now boasts members in 16 cities across the globe. Also, in 2023, Ben Haslem of Sydney, Australia rejoined the network, along with his partner Mark Forbes in Melbourne. Ben and Mark are leaders of Icon Reputation , one of Australia's leading integrated communications agencies. "We are excited to see the network grow with the addition of these esteemed professionals," James F. Haggerty , President of Reputation Advisors International, said. "Each new member represents the expertise and professionalism we look for across the globe. "We look forward to adding additional members worldwide throughout the coming year," Haggerty added. New RAI Members Nathalie Bergeron, a certified crisis counselor, brings solid in-house and in-agency experience that helps brands gain thought leadership and win market share. A former journalist, Nathalie is known for her strategic communications, reputation, and issues management. Having provided senior-level counsel to the world's most recognizable brands, she counsels her clients in crisis communications preparedness, crisis management, and reputation management. Eric Rose is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience guiding companies, associations, and individuals across all political, governmental, and public relations challenges. A trusted advisor to numerous Fortune 500 companies, Eric specializes in crisis management, reputation repair, and communications expertise. A court-qualified expert witness in reputation repair, local, national and international media regularly seek Rose for his expert commentary. Eric has also shared his knowledge as a guest lecturer at various universities. Dirk T. Schmitt, who joined Reputation Advisors International in the Summer of 2023, brings extensive experience advising companies on their communication strategy, crises, and mergers and acquisitions. Chris Cartwright, who joined Reputation Advisors International in October 2023, is the founder of Chris Cartwright Communications, which specializes in helping clients in crises in various industries, including healthcare, technology, and international organizations. Kajsa Stenstrom joined Reputation Advisors International in March 2023, and is the founder of Stenstrom Consulting in Brussels. Kajsa has more than 25 years of experience providing strategic advice to clients in EU affairs. Barry Ahern, who joined Reputation Advisors International in March 2023, is the managing consultant of Business Management Communications, an independent consultancy firm that provides both strategic advice and operational execution in financial communications, corporate affairs, and litigation support management. About Reputation Advisors International (RAI) Reputation Advisors International is a worldwide association of senior communications professionals with expertise in high-stakes issues related to reputation management, brand positioning, legal and regulatory communications, crisis planning and response, and related areas. The network currently has members in 16 cities across the globe, including Brussels, Chiasso, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Montreal, Munich, New York, Oslo, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Zurich. To learn more about Reputation Advisors International, visit: www.reputationadvisors.net Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345662/Reputation_Advisors_International_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/reputation-advisors-international-welcomes-new-members-302069204.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / CNH, through their investment arm CNH Ventures, is supporting the scientific development of the first viable compostable net wrap for bales in agriculture. The company's investment in the Canadian start-up, Nature's Net Wrap, aims to accelerate their mission to eliminate waste from the process of collecting and storing crops. Shifting to compostable net wraps has the potential to significantly benefit farmers. It reduces landfill use, haulage and disposal costs. It also eliminates soil contamination, improves animal safety, and reduces the risk of water contamination, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. High growth in this market is propelled by the general demand for chemical and plastic-free solutions. Initial product launch is expected in 2024. This latest investment furthers CNH's commitment to sustainably advance the work of farmers everywhere. This latest investment furthers CNH's commitment to sustainably advance the work of farmers everywhere. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH Industrial View the original press release on accesswire.com Press Release February 22, 2024 Poe: Time for tight law vs. financial scams Sen. Grace Poe stressed the need to put in place tighter measures to curb financial fraud and protect the Filipinos hard-earned money as more shift to online banking and digital payments. "They say that there are only two certain things in life: death and taxes. Ngayon, mukhang kinakailangan na nito ng amendment: death, taxes, and scams," Poe said. "These fraudulent schemes and rackets have become the bane of our financial consumers," she added. As one of the sponsors of Senate Bill No. 2560 or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, which she filed as early as 2021, Poe said the measure was "borne of necessity." The pandemic pushed the people to rely on online financial transactions heavily. However, she rued the spike in digital transactions came with a spike in fraud as well. Last week, Poe said news reports revealed at least 120 e-wallet account holders losing money from a phishing scam as reported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Years ago, she said some teachers were scammed into giving away their financial details, eventually losing as much as P26,000 to P121,000 from their bank accounts. "These stories and other countless reports of scams, shams, and other deceits only cement our status as a scamming hotbed in Asia," Poe said. In 2022, the senator said the Philippines ranked 5th among Southeast Asian countries in terms of phishing attacks and incidents. In the same year, the country lost a staggering P623 million to fraud; P623 million to phishing; and P409 million to identity theft. "Mas malala pa ito as cybersecurity experts believe that these incidents will only get worse in 2024 and beyond," Poe said. Poe earlier worked for the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the SIM Registration Act to bolster security in digital transactions. "Ngayon naman, hihigpitan natin ang seguridad ng ating mga financial accounts tulad ng GCash, Maya, online banks, pati mga e-wallets ng mga pinakagamit na apps tulad ng Shopee, Lazada at Grab. Poe was also a co-author of RA 11765 or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act to protect consumers of financial products and services such as credit, securities, and investments. "While financial education and literacy is still key in preventing these schemes, kinakailangan natin ng mas kongkretong aksyon para habulin at parusahan itong mga manloloko at masasamang loob," Poe said. "These schemes chip away the trust in our financial system--threatening to undo years of progress in financial inclusion and digital innovation," Poe added. The Burleigh County Commission will petition North Dakota regulators to reconsider a finding that state authority automatically overrides local rules in pipeline siting decisions. Commissioners also will consider taking the matter to court if their request to the state Public Service Commission is rejected. The issue has been brought to the forefront in the siting application for Summit Carbon Solutions' controversial planned multistate 2,000-mile carbon dioxide pipeline, which would capture emissions from 51 ethanol planets across five states for ultimate storage in western North Dakota. Burleigh and Emmons counties last year placed restrictions on pipelines carrying hazardous materials within their borders, in response to Summits project. The company sought to have the PSC declare these ordinances automatically preempted and superseded by state authority. The PSC rejected the pipeline application last summer and at the time also declared the local ordinance question moot. After the PSC granted Summit a petition for reconsideration in September, the company made the local ordinances request again. Both Summit and the intervenors presented arguments on the matter at a hearing in December. State regulators earlier this month ultimately sided with Summit's arguments, citing changes to state law from 2019 in which the word "may" was removed from the language regarding the PSC's authority relative to localities in pipeline siting decisions. The PSC is yet to make a decision on whether the pipeline itself will be approved. Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer voiced her disagreement with the PSC's legal interpretation to the county commission on Wednesday. A designated corridor and a route permit need to both be approved for a company to build a pipeline. These applications can be combined into one hearing process, but Lawyer argued this is just to make applications more efficient and that the PSC's authority to override local rules only exists for the route permit which goes within a designated corridor -- the general area where the pipeline would be allowed to travel through. The commission voted unanimously to ask the PSC to reconsider its finding. Lawyer added that Burleigh County could also appeal the decision in court. Commissioners indicated it was likely that they would eventually go the judicial route, but they would try again at the PSC for now which would also extend their timeline to challenge the decision in court, no matter the outcome. MILPITAS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Altigen Technologies (OTCQB:ATGN), a leading provider of digital transformation solutions and services, announced today its financial results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2023. First Quarter Highlights (Fiscal 2024 versus Fiscal 2023) Net Revenue decreased 6% to $3.2 million; Cloud services revenue increased 4% to $1.9 million; GAAP net loss and loss per share of ($0.3) million and ($0.01), respectively; Non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP loss per share of ($0.2) million and ($0.01), respectively. The company also announced that Joe Hamblin has joined the leadership team as Chief Digital and Transformation Officer, effective February 19, 2024. Furthermore, the company announced the resignation of Trent Rowley, Chief Operations Officer and Chris Weidemann, Chief Technology Officer, effective March 1, 2024 to pursue other interests. "Our first quarter results were impacted by a number of issues related to new product rollouts, new internal systems and changes in our organization structure to better align with our business objectives", said Jeremiah Fleming, Altigen President & CEO. "Appropriately dealing with many of these issues required an increase in expenses on a short term basis. The majority of the issues, and associated expenses, have now been addressed with plans to deal with any remaining items this quarter. With the short term expense increases largely behind us along with our new solutions beginning to roll out, Altigen is in a much stronger position to execute than ever before." "Joe Hamblin's return to the company is also a very exciting development. Joe's experience in the industry, knowledge of the Altigen business, leadership skills and passion for success will be an impactful force in driving the company forward." Joe Hamblin commented, "I'm pleased to rejoin the Altigen team, particularly at this pivotal point in the company's journey. As Chief Digital and Transformation Officer I have the authority and responsibility to drive all technical, operational and execution strategies. This includes our current solutions and services as well as our new AI initiatives. I believe the company is absolutely poised for success and I'm here to make sure that happens." Select Financial Metrics: Fiscal 2024 versus Fiscal 2023 (in thousands, except for EPS and percentages) Fiscal 1Q24 Fiscal 1Q23 Change Total Revenue $ 3,240 $ 3,460 -6.4 % Cloud Services 1,890 1,822 3.7 % Services an Other 996 1,174 -15.2 % Legacy Products 354 464 -23.7 % Software Assurance 342 424 -19.3 % Perpetual Software License 12 40 -70.0 % GAAP Operating Loss $ (343 ) $ (188 ) nm Operating Margin -10.6 % -5.4 % Non-GAAP Operating Loss $ (330 ) $ (156 ) nm Non-GAAP Operating Margin -10.2 % -4.5 % GAAP Net Loss $ (346 ) $ (187 ) nm GAAP Loss Per Share $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) nm Non-GAAP Net (Loss)/Income $ (156 ) $ 44 nm Non-GAAP Diluted (Loss)/Earnings Per Share $ (0.01 ) $ 0.00 nm Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ (159 ) $ 44 nm Cash Flow from Operations $ (498 ) $ (167 ) nm nm = not measurable/meaningful; *may not add up due to rounding (1) Throughout this release, the use of non-GAAP financial measures is intended to provide useful information that supplements Altigen's results in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure at the end of this release. Trended Financial Information (in thousands, except for EPS and percentages) Fiscal 1Q23 Fiscal 2Q23 Fiscal 3Q23 Fiscal 4Q23 Fiscal 1Q24 FY2023 FY2024 Total Revenue $ 3,460 $ 3,373 $ 3,366 $ 3,482 $ 3,240 $ 13,681 $ 3,240 Cloud Services 1,822 1,894 1,957 1,983 1,890 7,656 1,890 Services and Other 1,174 1,028 999 1,100 996 4,301 996 Legacy Products 464 451 410 399 354 1,724 354 Software Assurance 424 390 384 353 342 1,551 342 Perpetual Software License 40 61 26 46 12 173 12 GAAP Operating (Loss)/Income $ (188 ) $ (131 ) $ (147 ) $ 30 $ (343 ) $ (436 ) $ (343 ) Operating Margin -5.4 % -3.9 % -4.4 % 0.9 % -10.6 % -3.2 % -10.6 % Non-GAAP Operating (Loss)/Income $ (156 ) $ (101 ) $ (118 ) $ 58 $ (330 ) $ (317 ) $ (330 ) Non-GAAP Operating Margin -4.5 % -3.0 % -3.5 % 1.7 % -10.2 % -2.3 % -10.2 % GAAP Net Loss $ (187 ) $ (140 ) $ (183 ) $ (2,813 ) $ (346 ) $ (3,323 ) $ (346 ) Non-GAAP Net (Loss)/Income $ 44 $ 95 $ 40 $ 145 $ (156 ) $ 324 $ (156 ) Non-GAAP Diluted (Loss)/Earnings Per Share $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.01 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.01 $ (0.01 ) Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 44 $ 95 $ 4 $ 109 $ (159 ) $ 252 $ (159 ) (1) Throughout this release, the use of non-GAAP financial measures is intended to provide useful information that supplements Altigen's results in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure at the end of this release. Conference Call - Altigen will be discussing its financial results and outlook on a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. ET). The conference call can be accessed by dialing (888) 506-0062 (domestic) or (973) 528-0011 (international), conference ID #924003. A live webcast will also be made available at www.altigen.com. To access the reply, dial (877) 481-4010 (domestic) or (919) 882-2331 (international), conference ID #49956. A web archive will be made available at www.altigen.com for 90 days following the call's conclusion. About Altigen Technologies Altigen Technologies (OTCQB: ATGN) is focused on driving digital transformation in today's modern workplace. Our Cloud Communications solutions and Technology Consulting services empower companies of all sizes to elevate customer engagement, increase employee productivity and improve operational efficiency. We're headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations strategically located in five countries spanning three continents. For more information, call 1-888-ALTIGEN or visit our website at www.altigen.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking information. The statements are based on reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations of management and the Company provides no assurance that actual events will meet management's expectations. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the Company's views of future events and financial performances which are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, statements regarding our ability to execute our business plans; our ability to successfully introduce new products and services, as well as our ability to control costs and any statements of execution strategies, growth and expectations and timing related to new solutions. There can be no assurances that the Company will achieve the expected results, and actual results may be materially different than expectations and from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Company's most recent Annual Report filed with the OTCQB over-the-counter market for a further discussion of risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Contact: Carolyn David Vice President of Finance Altigen Technologies (408) 597-9033 www.altigen.com ALTIGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) December 31, 2023 September 30, 2023 (unaudited) (1) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,031 $ 2,641 Accounts receivable, net 1,559 1,495 Other current assets 349 236 Total current assets 3,939 4,372 Property and equipment, net 2 3 Operating lease right-of-use assets 328 301 Goodwill 2,725 2,725 Intangible assets, net 1,522 1,568 Capitalized software development cost, net 1,197 1,215 Deferred tax asset 3,737 3,737 Other long-term assets 12 - Total assets $ 13,462 $ 13,921 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 103 $ 58 Accrued compensation and benefits 286 417 Accrued expenses 441 455 Deferred consideration - current 516 510 Operating lease liabilities - current 260 324 Deferred revenue - current 413 477 Total current liabilities 2,019 2,241 Deferred consideration - long-term 211 208 Operating lease liabilities - long-term 84 - Deferred revenue - long-term 144 134 Total liabilities 2,458 2,583 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 24 24 Treasury stock (1,565 ) (1,565 ) Additional paid-in capital 73,145 73,133 Accumulated deficit (60,600 ) (60,254 ) Total stockholders' equity 11,004 11,338 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 13,462 $ 13,921 (1) The information in this column was derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2023. ALTIGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (amounts in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 2022 Net revenue $ 3,240 $ 3,460 Gross profit 1,954 2,208 Operating expenses: Research and development 1,236 1,250 Selling, general & administrative 1,061 1,145 Operating loss (343 ) (187 ) Other income/(expense), net (3 ) - Net loss before provision for income taxes (346 ) (187 ) Net loss $ (346 ) $ (187 ) Per share data: Basic $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) Diluted $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 24,919 24,223 Diluted 24,919 24,223 ALTIGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited, amounts in thousands) Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 2022 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (346 ) $ (187 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1 1 Amortization of intangible assets 46 46 Amortization of capitalized software 130 153 Stock-based compensation 12 31 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable and unbilled accounts receivable (64 ) (205 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (113 ) (93 ) Other long-term assets (12 ) - Accounts payable 45 (7 ) Accrued expenses (143 ) 51 Deferred revenue (54 ) 43 Net cash used in operating activities (498 ) (167 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Capitalized software development costs (112 ) (185 ) Net cash used in investing activities (112 ) (185 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - - Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (610 ) (352 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,641 3,232 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 2,031 $ 2,880 ALTIGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) (amounts in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 2022 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Gross Profit: GAAP gross profit $ 1,954 $ 2,208 Amortization of capitalized software 118 137 Amortization of acquired customer relationships 40 40 Non-GAAP gross profit $ 2,112 $ 2,385 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Expenses: GAAP operating expenses $ 2,297 $ 2,395 Depreciation and amortization 1 1 Amortization of capitalized software 12 16 Amortization of intangible assets 6 6 Stock-based compensation 12 31 Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 2,266 $ 2,341 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net (Loss) Income: GAAP net loss $ (346 ) $ (187 ) Depreciation and amortization 1 1 Amortization of capitalized software 130 153 Amortization of intangible assets 46 46 Stock-based compensation 12 31 Non-GAAP net (loss) income $ (157 ) $ 44 Per share data: Basic $ (0.01 ) $ 0.00 Diluted $ (0.01 ) $ 0.00 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 24,919 24,223 Diluted 24,919 25,632 Non-GAAP Financial Measures In calculating non-GAAP financial measures, we exclude certain items to facilitate a review of the comparability of our core operating performance on a period-to-period basis. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, depreciation and amortization expenses, acquisition-related costs, change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance, litigation costs and other non-recurring or unusual charges or benefits that may arise from time to time that we do not consider to be directly related to core operating performance. We use non-GAAP measures to evaluate the core operating performance of our business and to perform financial planning. Since we find these measures to be useful, we believe that investors benefit from seeing results reviewed by management in addition to seeing GAAP results. We believe that these non-GAAP measures, when read in conjunction with our GAAP financials, provide useful information to investors by facilitating: (i) the comparability of our on-going operating results over the periods presented and (ii) the ability to identify trends in our underlying business. SOURCE: Altigen Technologies View the original press release on accesswire.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Everybody Loves Languages Corp.. ("ELL") (TSXV:ELL)(OTC PINK:LMDCF)(FSE:LIMA), www.everybodyloveslanguages.com, an edtech language learning edutainment and content development companyis pleased to announce the results of its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") held in Toronto on February 20, 2024. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders have re-elected Messrs. Gali Bar-Ziv, Khurram Qureshi, Robert Martellacci, Laurent Mareschal and Tommy Weibing Gong as directors of the Company. In addition, shareholders also approved amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan and re-appointment of RSM Canada LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as auditors. The directors held a board meeting subsequent to the Annual Meeting and re-appointed Gali Bar-Ziv as President & CEO and Khurram Qureshi as Chief Financial Officer. More specific details of the matters approved at the Annual Meeting are set forth in Everybody Loves Languages's Information Circular dated January 16, 2024 and posted on SEDAR PLUS at www.sedarplus.ca. About Everybody Loves Languages Corp. (TSXV:ELL)(OTC PINK:LMDCF)(FSE:LIMA): Everybody Loves Languages Corp. is an edtech language-learning and content development company empowering language educators to easily transition from traditional teaching methods to digital learning by integrating education, edutainment, and technology. The Company provides online and print-based solutions through two distinct business units: Everybody Loves Languages Inc. and Lingo Learning Inc. Everybody Loves Languages is a state-of-the-art technology platform that delivers personalized learning experiences in classrooms and online. Its programs provide innovative SaaS-based eLearning solutions, including online and offline content, a learning management system, assessments, real-time reports, speech recognition technology, and white-label tools. At the same time, Lingo Learning is the content development arm and co-publishes print-based English language learning materials in China. Everybody Loves Languages has established successful relationships with key government and industry organizations internationally, with a presence in LATAM and China, and continues to expand its product offerings and extend its market reach. Follow Everybody Loves Languages on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everybodyloveslanguages Twitter: twitter@elltechnologies YouTube: Everybody Loves Languages (ELL) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elltechnologies For further information, contact: Everybody Loves Lanaguages Corporate Communications Khurram Qureshi Tel: (647) 831-1462 Email: kqureshi@elltechnologies.com Media Relations Dwain Schenck Tel: (203)-223-5230 Email: dwain@schenckstrategies.com Portions of this press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from management's expectations and projections and thus readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Everybody Loves Languages has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. Everybody Loves Languages' expectations depend upon general economic conditions, the continued and growth in demand for its products, retention of its key management and operating personnel, its need for and availability of additional capital and other uncontrollable or unknown factors. No assurance can be given that the actual results will follow the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by securities laws, Everybody Loves Languages undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. Certain factors that can affect the Company's ability to achieve projected results are described in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE SOURCE: Everybody Loves Languages Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Atlanta, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - As Kids 'R' Kids celebrates 39 years in business and a rise to nearly 170 locations, President and CEO David Vinson credits multiple factors including the company's STEAM AHEAD and BRAIN WAVES programs for helping to spur its continuing growth. "Kids 'R' Kids is our opportunity to support our industry's needs with a strong and structured educational program," he says. "We believe the work we do is essential." The Kids 'R' Kids STEAM AHEAD program incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math into children's daily learning, through play. This curriculum uses fun activities to foster problem solving and critical thinking skills, and to inspire kids at every age to become lifelong learners. Likewise, the BRAIN WAVES curriculum stimulates children at ages 1-5 to stimulate brain development through interesting and challenging learning activities that help to form the neural pathways for language, cognitive, social/emotional and physical development. The Learning Academies provide BRAIN WAVES activities every day, with an emphasis on one of the brain's four lobes on their own. For older preschool children, the academies also offer a Brain Waves Station for children to visit and to select and perform focused activities on their own. As the nation's priority on early education rises, Kids 'R' Kids looks forward to continued development and expansion of its 170 locations in 2024 and beyond. Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies is also proud to report that Research company 1851Franchise has acknowledged Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies as one of 10 Emerging U.S. companies leading out in the early education/childcare industry that now accounts for more than $60 billion per year. About Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies Headquartered in the North Atlanta suburb of Duluth, Georgia, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies focus on providing secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children 6 weeks - 12 years. Kids 'R' Kids International is a family-owned and operated organization that ranks in the top three nationwide for franchised early childhood education centers. Parents can learn more about Kids 'R' Kids Learning academy by visiting www.KidsrKids.com If you are interested in owning your own business and making a difference in your community, find more information by going to www.kidsrkidsfranchise.com. Source: Kids 'R' Kids International, Inc. EarlyEducation, STEAMEducation, ChildcareFranchise Media Details: Frenik Labs Leslie Skelton Leslie@Freniklabs.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197874 SOURCE: Ascend Agency BeCause, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based enterprise software company enabling global hospitality, travel, and tourism industries to manage their sustainability data, raised $600K in Seed extension funding. The round, which brought the total amount to $2.5M, saw participation from Curiosity VC. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth rate to meet demand from global enterprise customers, such as Booking.com, easyJet, Google, Radisson Hotel Group, and other global marquee brands across the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, and further enhance ts solution developed to support the European Unions Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Led by CEO Frederik Steensgaard, BeCause is an enterprise software company that streamlines the flow of sustainability data and creates synergies between different stakeholders in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries, empowering them to make decisions that result in positive, responsible change for people, the planet, and their profits. It works with over 20,000 hotels, including brands like Radisson, certification entities like GreenKey, industry partners like the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and marketplaces like Booking.com. Commenting on the news, Frederik Steensgaard said: We reserved some space at the end of our round for a strategic investor to join on equal terms and are thrilled to have found that partner in Curiosity VC. As an AI-focused fund, Curiosity brings key competencies and an international network to the table that will prove invaluable to us as we continue to unfold how artificial intelligence can enable more sustainability-focused operations in hospitality and tourism and across our growing set of solutions. FinSMEs 22/02/2024 Cryptocurrencies have seen a massive rise in popularity in the last few years, and the cryptocurrency exchange is now the largest in the world. As you start dealing increasingly with digital currencies, its essential to understand the unique position Binance holds in this landscape. Despite its significant global presence, Binance faces a series of regulatory challenges across different regions. In this post, youll gather insight into these turbulences and the various hurdles that Binance encounters. We aim to shed light on what these challenges mean for users like us by offering a comprehensive view of Binances journey. Even if youre not an investor using Binance to deposit in your online casino account, for example, you should pay close attention to this post. Binance: The Making of the Biggest Crypto Exchange Its the timing of things that matter the most in the cryptocurrency industry. Binances journey, for example, began in 2017. Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, is the man behind the mystery. This ambitious venture quickly rose from a startup to a dominant force in the crypto exchange market. Although it was quick compared to many other ventures, it wasnt overnight. In its early days, Binance faced quite an uphill battle. It grappled with the typical challenges of any emerging tech enterprise. Securing user trust, the uncertainty of volatile cryptocurrency values, and establishing a secure platform in a market still finding its footing. What Services Does Binance Offer? One of the main reasons Binance managed to climb the ladder is that it offers a diverse range of services to its users. However, its important to note that these services can vary from region to region. Heres an overview of the services you can expect from Binance: Cryptocurrency Trading: Binance allows users to trade a wide variety of cryptocurrencies. It supports numerous trading pairs and is known for its high liquidity. Binance allows users to trade a wide variety of cryptocurrencies. It supports numerous trading pairs and is known for its high liquidity. Binance Coin (BNB): BNB is Binances native cryptocurrency, which users can use for trading on the platform, often at a discounted rate. Also, trading with BNB helps to cut down on trading fees. BNB is Binances native cryptocurrency, which users can use for trading on the platform, often at a discounted rate. Also, trading with BNB helps to cut down on trading fees. Binance Smart Chain: A blockchain platform that supports smart contracts and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Its also the chain where you store your BNB or BUSD assets. A blockchain platform that supports smart contracts and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Its also the chain where you store your BNB or BUSD assets. Staking and Savings: Users can stake or save their cryptocurrencies on Binance to earn rewards or interest. Compared to many other platforms, it offers pretty good returns. Users can stake or save their cryptocurrencies on Binance to earn rewards or interest. Compared to many other platforms, it offers pretty good returns. Crypto Loans and Margin Trading: Binance offers crypto loans and supports margin trading, enabling users to leverage their positions. Binance offers crypto loans and supports margin trading, enabling users to leverage their positions. Binance Academy: An educational platform where users can learn about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. An educational platform where users can learn about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Binance Launchpad: A platform for launching new cryptocurrencies and conducting Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs). A platform for launching new cryptocurrencies and conducting Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs). Binance Trust Wallet: An official, decentralized wallet for storing cryptocurrencies, which Binance acquired in July 2018. An official, decentralized wallet for storing cryptocurrencies, which Binance acquired in July 2018. NFT Marketplace: A platform for buying, selling, and trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs). A platform for buying, selling, and trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Binance Visa Card: A cryptocurrency card that allows users to convert and spend their cryptocurrencies at more than 60 million merchants worldwide. A cryptocurrency card that allows users to convert and spend their cryptocurrencies at more than 60 million merchants worldwide. Binance DeFi: Decentralized finance products that let users lend or borrow against their crypto assets. These services are a part of Binances efforts to cater to the unique needs of its global user base. As of 2023, Binance has seen remarkable growth in users and trading volumes. It had a staggering 128 million registered users as of 2022, with a peak 24-hour trading volume hitting US$147.6 billion in 2021! The platforms user demographics show a majority of male users with an average age of around 35 years. Binances revenue grew tenfold in the last two years, topping approximately $12 billion in 2022, despite a decline in trading volumes, which could impact its revenues. Challenges and Turbulences: Its not Smooth Sailing for Binance Sure, it didnt take long for the company to reach the heights of success in the crypto world. But it hasnt been a smooth journey. Soon after it blew up, different government agencies around the world scrutinized its somewhat shady practices. In particular, Binance has encountered various specific legal and regulatory issues since its launch in the U.S. It faced accusations of devising a strategy to evade regulations in the country, which Binance denied, obviously. This situation led to significant changes in the management of Binance.US. Moreover, the companys global operations have often put it at odds with the regulatory norms of different countries, requiring ongoing adjustments to comply with local laws and regulations. In Europe, Binance was under investigation by the UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which resulted in warnings to consumers and limitations on Binances operations in the UK. Additionally, in Italy, the Consob warned that Binance was unauthorized to provide investment services and activities in Italy. The Chinese governments crackdown on cryptocurrency trading impacted Binance significantly as well, as youd expect. The countrys strict stance on cryptocurrencies, including bans on crypto exchanges and initial coin offerings (ICOs), affected Binances operations, leading to the exchange reducing its presence in China. 2023 has been a particularly turbulent year for the company. On November 21, 2023, Changpeng Zhao, the founder and CEO of Binance, pleaded guilty in a Seattle federal court to significant charges concerning violations of U.S. anti-money laundering laws. The charges against Zhao and Binance included failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program, which violates the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). At the same time, Binance Holdings Limited, the entity operating Binance.com, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the BSA, failure to register as a money-transmitting business, and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The charges highlighted Binances prioritization of growth, market share, and profits over compliance with U.S. law. The plea admitted that Binance failed to implement necessary controls and procedures to prevent money laundering. It also failed to prevent U.S. customers from conducting transactions with customers in sanctioned jurisdictions, including Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. Final Thoughts Despite facing regulatory hurdles in the U.S., Binance continues to thrive globally. People still trust it with their money. Its too early to comment on whether Binance will keep operations in the US. With the SEC cracking down on crypto for the entirety of 2023, a new era might just be waiting. Conservation Labs, a Pittsburgh, PA-based provider of an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that decodes audio data into actionable insights in the built environment to reduce carbon emissions and energy and water usage, raised $7.5M in Series A funding. The round was led by RET Ventures Housing Impact Fund and included the participation of Sustain VC. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate product development and go-to-market strategies for both of its core products. Led by Mark Kovscek, Founder and CEO, Conservation Labs is an artificial intelligence company whose edge-to-cloud AI platform decodes the sounds of any object into actionable data. They provide: H2know, which monitors water systems to deliver actionable water insights, leak alerts, and custom conservation recommendations. It is a smart sensor that attaches to water pipes in residential, multifamily and commercial buildings and listens to the sound going through the pipes. Using proprietary machine learning trained on thousands of hours of pipe acoustics, H2know translates those sounds into actionable water insights, leak alerts, and custom conservation recommendations. The sensors can monitor individual units or entire buildings, providing remote visibility and insights as well as critical leak alerts. Sustainable Machines, which monitors and predicts the condition of any machine, reducing maintenance costs and extending its life. By interpreting a machines sound profile, the product delivers operational insights and predictive maintenance recommendations, thereby reducing maintenance costs and extending the machinerys life. With early adopters of Sustainable Machines generating an ROI over 100% through increased maintenance efficiency and improved uptime, the company has already sold nearly 10,000 sensors across the country. Commenting on the news, Mark Kovscek said: In a typical building, water is one of the largest consumers of energy; by reducing water usage our technology has also enabled buildings to cut their energy costs in a significant way. With this funding in hand, were excited to accelerate H2know deployments as well as build out other product lines that leverage our AI-powered edge to cloud platform. FinSMEs 22/02/2024 Napier AI, a London, UK-based company providing financial crime compliance software, raised 45M in funding. The round saw participation from Crestline Investors. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth trajectory. Led by CEO Greg Watson, Napier AI is a provider of AI-enhanced financial crime and regulation technology compliance software providing AML solutions across the banking, payments and wealth & asset management industries. Its solutions are used by customers to screen, monitor and identify, criminal or suspicious activities, with the added functionality of regulatory reporting. Commenting on the news, Greg Watson said: We are pleased to deliver strong, continuous growth in a challenging market. Financial crime compliance operations and regulatory pressure continue to be large overheads for financial institutions, so there is a need to invest in NextGen AI-enhanced solutions with the benefit of trusted technology and delivery. FinSMEs 22/02/2024 The report also suggests that their statements have been recorded as witnesses in the case. However, a confirmed report is yet to be issued by the agency In a piece of shocking news for all Bigg Boss fans, former contestants Shiv Thakare and Abdu Rozik have landed in legal trouble as they were reportedly summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection to a money laundering case. According to a report published by the Free Press Journal, Shiv and Abdu were apparently called in to provide their statements regarding their connection to a case related to alleged drug lord Ali Asghar Shirazi. Advertisement The report also suggests that their statements have been recorded as witnesses in the case. However, a confirmed report is yet to be issued by the agency. According to the media outlet, Ali Asghar Shirazi had floated Hustlers Hospitality Pvt Ltd, which financed several startup companies including Shiv Thakares Thakare Chai and Snacks and Abdu Roziks Burgirr in Mumbai. The alleged drug lords company reportedly made money through illegal means such as narco-funding and invested the same in these food chains. Shiv Thakare s statement to ED in money laundering case The former Bigg Boss contestants shared that they terminated their contracts after coming to know about Ali Asghar Shirazis involvement in the narco business. Advertisement During the interrogation, Thakare said that he met Krunal Ojha, the director of Hustlers Hospitality Pvt Ltd through somebody else in 2022. It was during that time that Kunal offered him a partnership deal for the Thakare Chai and Snacks. Shiv Thakare, Abdu Rozik in Bigg Boss 16 One of the most popular contestants on the 16th season of Salman Khan-hosted Bigg Boss, Shiv Thakare and Abdu Rozik met for the first time and eventually developed a close bond with one another. While their friendship remained a major highlight of the show, the same was maintained even outside the house. Advertisement Besides Shiv and Abdu, they were friends with other housemates like Sajid Khan, MC Stan, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, and Sumbul Touqeer, and were popularly called the mandali. After BB16, the two were often spotted partying together and were even seen taking part in Rohit Shettys Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. Thakare also participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11. Sanzgiris is one of at least three films that were withdrawn by their creators, while other events at the festival also saw artists pulling out Indian-American filmmaker Suneil Sanzgiri was set to showcase his film about anti-colonial resistance against the Portuguese empire at this months Berlinale film festival but dropped out. Announcing his boycott on Instagram, Sanzgiri accused the German authorities of silencing voices speaking out for Palestinians in the war in Gaza. I will not be complicit. We all have blood on our hands, he wrote. Advertisement Sanzgiris is one of at least three films that were withdrawn by their creators, while other events at the festival also saw artists pulling out. The withdrawals showed the tricky waters Germanys cultural institutions are navigating, caught between protecting artistic freedoms while recognising what many Germans see as a historic responsibility for Israel after the Nazi Holocaust. Such disputes have also flared elsewhere in Europe since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas militants. The European Broadcasting Union has resisted calls for Israel to be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest. Advertisement Protests erupted in the Italian city of Naples in February after state broadcaster RAI distanced itself from an appeal made by rapper Ghali to stop the genocide during the closing night of the popular Sanremo Music Festival. In Britain, a network of artists has been documenting events that were axed over artists pro-Palestinian views. The Arnolfini art gallery in Bristol also sparked a backlash after cancelling two Palestinian film events, fearing they could stray into political activity. Advertisement In France, a group of artists in November organised a silent march where they held a white banner with no slogans. STRIKE GERMANY In Germany, anger over the Israeli offensive in Gaza , which has killed 29,000 Palestinians, has clashed with sensibilities over supporting Israel. Critics say crackdowns on pro-Palestinian voices confuse criticism with legitimate protest. Advertisement As cultural events are often state supported, critics say the government has used its financial power to prevent any criticism of Israel, a charge the government strongly rejects. Freedom of art and freedom of expression are among the most important basic principles of democracy in Germany, which are of course also protected by the federal government, a spokesperson for the culture ministry said. Advertisement The institutions and projects funded at the federal level have curatorial freedom and decide for themselves which artists they work with, the spokesperson added. While announcing his Berlinale boycott, filmmaker Sanzgiri voiced support for Strike Germany, an initiative launched by anonymous artists in January calling on filmmakers, musicians, writers and artists to withdraw from cultural events in Germany. Advertisement It is a call to refuse German cultural institutions use of McCarthyist policies that suppress freedom of expression, specifically expressions of solidarity with Palestine, the organisers wrote. Some 1,600 artists have signed up, according a list on the initiatives website, including French Nobel prize winner Annie Ernaux. Reuters could not verify the lists authenticity. Advertisement Last month, Berlins CTM music festival announced several artists withdrawing in solidarity with Strike Germany. Strike Germany calls for the adoption of a different definition of anti-Semitism that does not include criticism of the state of Israel. The Berlinale has not shied away from the Gaza issue. It is hosting a so-called Tiny House initiative, a small space inviting disparate voices to debate the war. One of the films spotlighted Israeli settlers encroaching on land. Advertisement It is one of several cultural events in Germany clouded by anger over Gaza. Hundreds of international writers condemned the Frankfurt Book Fair after a Palestinian writers award was postponed in October. In November, the entire selection committee for one of Europes most important art exhibitions, documenta, resigned after disputes over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Advertisement Reporting by Riham Alkousaa Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper in London, Lalyi Foroudi in Paris and Alessandro Parodi in Gdansk; editing by Matthias Williams, William Maclean. (Reuteurs) Taking to their official X account, BJP Karnataka tweeted- Frustrated by constant rejections by Indians, Rahul Gandhi has sunk to a new low of demeaning Indias Pride Aishwarya Rai. During the recent the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke about the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir and how it was not attended by the OBC, Dalit or tribal communities that comprise of over 73 percent of the countrys population. Gandhi was quoted saying, Television channels only show Aishwarya Rai dancing. They dont show anything about the poor people. They show Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan 24 hours. Advertisement Reacting to the statement, BJP slammed the Congress leader for his demeaning remarks against the actress and said on X- Congress Clown Prince @RahulGandhi now has a dangerous & creepy obsession with successful & self-made women. Frustrated by constant rejections by Indians, Rahul Gandhi has sunk to a new low of demeaning Indias Pride Aishwarya Rai. Congress Clown Prince @RahulGandhi now has a dangerous & creepy obsession with successful & self-made women. Frustrated by constant rejections by Indians, Rahul Gandhi has sunk to a new low of demeaning India's Pride Aishwarya Rai. A fourth-generation dynast, with zero pic.twitter.com/6TA442wWTZ BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) February 21, 2024 Advertisement The tweet added, A fourth-generation dynast, with zero achievements, now resorts to slurs against Aishwarya Rai, who has brought more glory to India & than Rahul Gandhis entire family. Advertisement About Ram Mandir Bollywood celebrities and film stars started arriving in Ayodhya for the grand inauguration ceremony of the historic Ram Temple. While many were papped leaving for Ayodhya, actors were also spotted landing in the holy city on Monday morning. Joining the likes of the celebrities, actor Amitabh Bachchan along with his actor-son Abhishek Bachchan also arrived in Ayodhya. Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan joined other celebrities in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir on Monday, 22 January. Advertisement Ahead of the ceremony, several pictures and videos of the father-son duo from the airport and later from the temple premises were going viral on social media. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will be in Washington, D.C., from Thursday through Saturday. He plans to attend the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, taking part in a White House business session and attending sessions on workforce, housing and artificial intelligence. Burgum also will attend a session with U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett, who will share their perspectives on How to Disagree Agreeably. He also will meet with members of the Western Governors Association. These gatherings of governors provide a valuable forum to share ideas, best practices and solutions to the common challenges facing our states, Burgum said. Months after Tamil actor Mansoor Ali Khan passed derogatory comments against Trisha Krishnan, the actress has once again become a victim of a similar incident. Former AIADMK leader AV Raju recently made some offensive remarks against the Tamil actress, alleging that Trisha was brought to a resort on the insistence of MLA in exchange for money. Advertisement In a strong reaction to this, the actress was seen slamming the political leader and also threatened to take legal action against him. While many fans came out in support of Trisha, Tamil actor Vishal, who is also the General Secretary of the Artists Association, was seen condemning the political leaders statements. In a long post shared on X, Vishal, without mentioning Trisha or Rajus name, called him a stupid idiot. Actor Vishal supports Trisha Krishnan I just heard that a stupid idiot from a political party spoke very ill and disgustingly about someone from our film fraternity. I will not mention your name nor the name of the person you targeted because I know you did it for publicity. I definitely will not mention names because we are not just good friends but also mutual co-artistes in the film fraternity. I wish and hope that the women in your house welcome you back home after what you have done, if they even have a conscience, even if you dont have one. Yes, it truly pains me to put up a tweet to even retaliate over such a demon on Earth. What you have done is absolutely filthy and not worth mentioning, But these particular ppl mean a lot personally and professionally, a part of the tweet read. Advertisement https://twitter.com/VishalKOfficial/status/1759956361578688975 The actor also noted how it has become a trend to try to make money out of negative publicity about celebrities. Trisha Krishnan files defamation case against AV Raju Amid massive message backlash from the actress as well as her fans, the ex-AIADMK leader recently called a press meeting and was seen defending his statement. Mentioning that it was misconstructed, he said that the agenda was to show AIADMK members in a bad light and no one else. Advertisement Advertisement Seemingly unconvinced by the same, the LEO actress has now filed a defamation case against Raju, details of which are shared on her X handle. Earlier, she called out the person in question on social media and wrote, Its disgusting to repeatedly see low lives and despicable human beings who will stoop down to any level to gain attention. Rest assured, necessary and severe action will be taken. Anything that needs to be said and done henceforth will be from my legal department. Abderrahmane Sissako added that films about Africa suffered from being burdened with cliches that at times proved harmful For director Abderrahmane Sissako, it was important to show a side of Africa that is not often portrayed on the big screen in his bicontinental tea-obsessed romance Black Tea, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on Wednesday evening. It was important for me to think about opening up this gaze. Theres very often a European or Eurocentric gaze, as if that was all that made up the world, the BAFTA -nominated director told journalists ahead of the premiere. Advertisement But there is another world that exists. The at-times dreamlike film opens on a wedding in the Ivory Coast, as Aya, played by Nina Melo, leaves her groom at the altar and ends up in the well-established African Diaspora community in Chinas Guangzhou. There, Aya falls quietly in love with Cai, the owner of the tea shop where she works, played by Chang Han, as he teaches her the intricacies of the tea ceremony in the shop basement. Its very important to show Africa with a strong, proud figure, because there arent enough stories told about Africa, and there arent enough good stories told well about Africa, Sissako said. However, Melo pushed back against the notion that her character could be considered a stereotypically strong African woman. What I liked in Aya is that shes vulnerable. Its the vulnerability that makes her so forceful and powerful, she said. Advertisement The Mauritania-born director added that films about Africa suffered from being burdened with cliches that at times proved harmful. Weve had a difficult experience with the West, with those responsible for colonialism, and we are poor as a result of that, and are growing increasingly poor, said Sissako. In a globalised world, Africa needs to open up to others and not be afraid of any partner. Theres China, but theres not just China. Advertisement (Reuteurs) In a recent decision, the Alabama supreme court said that frozen embryos created through IVF are considered children. This means that people could be sued for destroying an embryo. Now a major hospital has paused the procedure. Whats going on? A doctor performs a sonogram to confirm pregnancy on a patient at a reproductive clinic in the US. The Alabama supreme court ruling is likely to affect fertility clinics in the state and possibly the nation. Representational picture/AFP Reproductive rights in the United States have been a subject of huge debate and concern. The US supreme courts decision to overturn Roe vs Wade in 2022 has only emboldened some states to restrict abortions and other procedures. Now in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is in the limelight, as doctors and patients tread carefully following a ruling by the Alabama supreme court it said that frozen embryos created through IVF are considered children under the state law. This means that people could be sued for destroying an embryo. Advertisement The decision could potentially leave clinics vulnerable to lawsuits and restrict access to treatment, says a report in The Associated Press (AP). We take a look at what the Alabama court said, how embryos are frozen and what implications is this ruling likely to have. What did the Alabama supreme court rule? The case is related to a wrongful death lawsuit by three couples whose embryos were lost at a fertility clinic in 2020. They were destroyed after a patient accidentally dropped the embryos. The three couples went to court and sought to sue the Center for Reproductive Medicine and the Mobile Infirmary Association under Alabamas Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. That law covers foetuses but does not specifically cover embryos resulting from IVF, according to a report in the BBC. A lower court ruled that the wrongful death lawsuit could not move forward. But the Alabama top court decided in favour of the couples on Friday, saying frozen embryos were considered children. In its order, the Alabama SC said that wrongful death law applied to all unborn children, regardless of their location. Advertisement The ruling is likely to have implications for people seeking IVF. The plaza of the Alabama judicial building in Montgomery, Alabama. The states supreme court has ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, a ruling critics said could have sweeping implications for fertility treatments. AP What is IVF and how are embryos frozen? In-vitro fertilization, popularly known as IVF, offers a possible solution when a woman has trouble getting pregnant. It involves retrieving her eggs and combining them in a lab dish with a mans sperm to create a fertilised embryo. This is then transferred into the womans uterus in an attempt to create a pregnancy. Advertisement The procedure can use a couples eggs and sperm or those from a donor. The ruling in Alabama comes from a wrongful death lawsuit brought by three couples whose embryos were lost at a fertility clinic in 2020. Representational picture/Reuters The freezing process of embryos involves replacing the water in embryo cells with a protectant fluid and flash freezing with liquid nitrogen, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Frozen embryos can be used for future pregnancies, and the vast majority survive the thawing process, reports AP. Advertisement Frozen embryos are stored in tanks containing liquid nitrogen at hospital labs or reproductive medicine centres. These can be safely preserved for a decade or more. Also read: Explained: How the decision to overturn Roe v Wade exposes the complex ties between judiciary and public How the Alabama court ruling could impact IVF Advertisement The ruling does not ban IVF but has made doctors and patients opting for the procedure wary. Days after the ruling, Alabamas largest hospital has paused its IVF services amid fears that it could expose them to criminal prosecution. The University of Alabama at Birmingham said that it would continue retrieving eggs from ovaries but would halt the next step in the IVF process, which involves fertilisation of the eggs with sperm and implanting it in the uterus. Advertisement On Wednesday, spokesperson Savannah Koplon said that the institution was saddened that this will impact our patients attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments. Advertisement What are doctors and medical experts saying? Dr Paula Amato, the president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, an organisation that lobbies on behalf of fertility experts and patients told The New York Times (NYT) that the ruling was very concerning. The ruling potentially criminalises or sets a high civil penalty for standard procedures that we do every day. Advertisement The US supreme courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade sparked speculation about how the ruling could lead to problems with fertility care, said Greer Donley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. This is one of the first places that is proving that, she said. Donley expects that IVF will remain available in Alabama but embryos will not be stored there. However, moving them to other states for storage will increase the cost, logistical challenges and risk associated with the procedures. This opens up the possibility of using the child welfare laws more holistically for criminalising doing anything that could harm the embryo, Donley said. Advertisement A container holding frozen embryos and sperm is stored in liquid nitrogen at a fertility clinic in the US. Critics say the Alabama ruling could have sweeping implications for fertility treatments in the US. File photo/AP Gail Deady, senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told NBC News, that the ruling does not appear to create criminal liability for IVF providers. What it does implicate is the Wrongful Death Act, which is civil liability and negligence, she said, meaning people could be sued for the destruction of embryos and have to pay monetary penalties. Nevertheless, anyone who cares about reproductive autonomy should be terrified of this decision, Deady added. Advertisement Will the Alabama decision affect the rest of the US? Doctors outside the state are worried about the possible national implications of the recent court decision. It could substantially restrict access to a very vital fertility treatment that has helped countless folks today expand their families, said Dr Jason Griffith, a reproductive endocrinologist in Houston. When you look at the percentage of pregnancies in the United States that result from in vitro fertilisation, its around two per cent. Advertisement It could also increase the cost of IVF for many families although its unclear by how much because of things like additional storage fees and liability costs, he said. One cycle of IVF, including all embryos transferred, now costs about $15,000 to $25,000, Griffith said. Another possible ramification is that there will be fewer IVF providers, he was quoted as saying by AP. People participate in a protest in support of womens reproductive rights, in New York City, US. File photo/Reuters Dr John Storment, a reproductive endocrinologist in Lafayette, Louisiana, agreed that the Alabama decision could have a ripple effect across the entire country. Its one of the bigger things to happen in reproductive law in the last decade, he said. Infertility affects nine per cent of men and 11 per cent of women of reproductive age in the United States, according to data. _ With inputs from agencies _ Ordained as a priest in 1976, Christopher Saunders spent decades as bishop of Broome diocese a sparsely-populated territory region around the size of Turkiye and home to several Aboriginal communities in which he was a towering figure. The 74-year-old has been charged with 19 offences including rape, child abuse, indecent assault and indecently dealing with a child Christopher Saunders was famed for socialising, his advocacy and escorting young men on fishing and camping trips. AP A retired Australian bishop who served the church in a remote part of Australias northwest for nearly five decades has been charged with rape. Christopher Saunders, 74, whow was taken into custody on Wednesday, has been charged with 19 offences including child abuse, indecent assault and indecently dealing with a child. The allegations date back to 2008. Advertisement They cover Broome in Australias northwest as well as the far-flung towns of Kununurra and Kalumburu. Saunders has previously denied any wrongdoing. But what do we know about Saunders? Lets take a closer look: Saunders was ordained as a priest in 1976. He became a bishop in 1995. According to BBC, Saunders was appointed Bishop of Broome the next year. Saunders served the church for most of his time as clergy in the Kimberley region. The diocese, which has a population of only 50,000 people, is around 770,000 square kilometres the size of Turkiye. According to France24, the diocese is home to several Aboriginal communities. Saunders was famed for socialising, working for causes and taking young men on camping and fishing trips. A towering figure in the community, he has a beer named after him. Advertisement Broome resident Natalie Dean told ABC News, We attended church maybe three or four days a week and the bishop was one of our main figures that we trusted." Dean told the outlet she would be following the case closely. Saunders resigned in 2021 as bishop of Broome after police announced they had dropped a sex crime investigation. He had stood down a year earlier after media reported the allegations, but remained emeritus bishop of Broome. But with persistent rumours swirling around the clergyman, the Vatican launched its own probe in 2022 using sweeping powers first established by Pope Francis. Advertisement The Vos estis lux mundi powers, meaning You are the light of the world in Latin, were drawn up in 2019 to help the church investigate sexual abuse accusations at the highest levels. Tthe Vatican launched its own probe against Christopher Saunders in 2022 using sweeping powers first established by Pope Francis. Reuters The confidential church findings were later shared with police, who subsequently re-opened their investigation. According to ABC, he was seen in the diocese in October 2022 in spite of a Vatican decree that he depart. Advertisement That investigation became public knowledge last year when an Australian television news network reported the contents of a 200-page Vatican report on Saunders. The Western Australia Police Force said at the time they had requested a copy of that report, which restarted the criminal investigation. Saunders is among Australias most senior former or current clerics to be accused in a clergy abuse scandal that has rocked the church. Advertisement Footage from TV network Seven showed Saunders being led away by police after his arrest on Wednesday. Police said the man was refused bail. Australias problem with pedophile priests Australia in recent years has had a problem with pedophile priests. CNN quoted a 2017 government inquiry as finding a serious failure by Australian institutions to protect the most vulnerable. Advertisement Of those that reported being abused in a religious institution, 61.4 per cent said it occurred in a Catholic organisation. The outlet quoted the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as stating that seven per cent of Australian Catholic priests had been accused of abusing children. In some orders, more than 40 per cent of priests were involved, the report added. Advertisement Cardinal George Pell was the third highest-ranking cleric in the Vatican when he was convicted in an Australian court in 2018 of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral in 1996, when Pell was an archbishop. Cardinal George Pell, who had served as Francis first finance minister for three years before returning to Australia to face child sex abuse charges, died in January 2023. He maintained his innocence until the end Pell spent 13 months in prison before the convictions were overturned on appeal. He maintained his innocence until his death in Rome last year. Also in 2018, a judge quashed former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilsons conviction for covering up child sexual abuse by a pedophile priest in the 1970s in New South Wales state. Advertisement Wilson had served almost four months of a one-year sentence in home detention at his sisters house before his appeal was upheld. He had been Australias highest ranking bishop from 2006 to 2010 when he was president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Wilson died in 2021. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said the church would continue to cooperate with the police. Advertisement Allegations against the former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, are very serious and deeply distressing, especially for those making those allegations, Costelloe said in a statement. With inputs from agencies In a bid to make spaceflight operations sustainable, NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are considering launching the LignoSat probe, the worlds first wooden satellite into space. The successful probe launch and its satisfactory performance in orbit could pave the way for the use of wood in satellite construction The space age began in human history around the 1950s. Since then, around 50,000 tonnes of material have been launched into orbit. Our advancements in space exploration have not come without consequences, as we have also increased the amount of orbital debris, or space junk. NASA says that there are around 100 million objects one millimetre or smaller in orbit, and about 500,000 marble-sized objects. There are another 25,000 things larger than 10 centimetres. Advertisement Therefore, it is imperative that we refrain from adding to the clutter. In a bid to make spaceflight operations sustainable, NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are considering launching the LignoSat probe the worlds first wooden satellite, into space. Heres all we know about it. The worlds first wooden satellite Kyoto University scientists worked with the logging business Sumitomo Forestry to build the tiny satellite. The LignoSat probe is built from magnolia wood, which has proven to be extremely durable and resistant to cracking in research conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). According to The Guardian, in the initial experiments, conducted in laboratories that mimicked space, it was found that samples of wood had not degraded, been damaged, or changed in mass. Advertisement Subsequently, the samples were sent to the ISS for nearly a year of testing before their return to Earth. Interestingly, there wasnt much damage visible. The project manager, Koji Murata, said that this was because there was no oxygen in space that could burn anything. After testing a variety of wood kinds, including Japanese cherry, it was discovered that magnolia tree wood was the most efficient. Its been utilised to construct the satellite, which will contain experiments to determine how effectively spacecraft function while in orbit. Advertisement One of the missions of the satellite is to measure the deformation of the wooden structure in space. Wood is durable and stable in one direction but may be prone to dimensional changes and cracking in the other direction, the UK-based outlet quoted Murata as saying. Murata added that a decision on the launch vehicle was still pending and that the options had been narrowed down to a trip to the International Space Station on an Orbital Sciences Cygnus supply ship or a similar SpaceX Dragon mission later in the year. Advertisement About the size of a coffee cup, the LignoSat probe is expected to remain in orbit for a minimum of six months before being allowed to enter the upper atmosphere. The Guardian reported preparations are still underway for its launch aboard a US rocket later this year. Why it is a big deal The biodegradable nature of the satellite is said to have the potential to protect the Earths ecosystem. Advertisement At present, spacecraft, mostly satellites made primarily of aluminium, are releasing metal particles into our atmosphere. All the satellites which re-enter the Earths atmosphere burn and create tiny alumina particles, which will float in the upper atmosphere for many years. Eventually, it will affect the environment of the Earth," said Takao Doi, a Japanese astronaut and aerospace engineer at Kyoto University, per The Guardian. Advertisement Experts believe that these metals could harm Earths delicate ozone layer, even if the long-term effects are still unknown. Researchers at a Japanese university discovered wood that doesnt burn or degrade in space while searching for alternatives and keeping the environment in mind. Nevertheless, upon re-entering Earths atmosphere, it burns swiftly into fine ash, limiting environmental harm. Advertisement Chances of working The development comes after recent research indicated that aluminium from reentering satellites may degrade the ozone layer and affect the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground through the atmosphere, as per NDTV. Wood-based satellites like LignoSat wont have this problem because they burn up and re-enter the atmosphere after completing their mission, emitting only a small mist of biodegradable ash. Advertisement The successful launch of LignoSat and its satisfactory performance in orbit could pave the way for the use of wood in satellite construction. Though steel skyscrapers and aluminium rockets, and glossy facades were all envisioned in sci-fi films, it appears that we may need to reimagine what the future of space might look like. Advertisement Space junk Space junk, or orbital debris, can include minor rocket or satellite components as well as retired spacecraft like the ERS-2. Even human faeces from astronauts on space trips may be present. The last 30 years have seen a sharp increase in the number of objects in Earths orbit, as per USA Today. Advertisement As of December 2023, the majority of the 16,990 satellites that have been sent into space since 1957 roughly 9,000 of them were still whizzing around the Earth, according to the ESA. On Wednesday, 21 February, an uncontrolled European satellite fell back to Earth somewhere between Alaska and Hawaii, astronomers confirmed. The pioneering satellite known as ERS-2 was launched in 1995 and deactivated in 2011. Advertisement The dead satellite was thought to have broken into pieces, with the majority burning up in the atmosphere, reported The Guardian. The remains are now plummeting into the ocean below. Meanwhile, space trash isnt limited to satellite and missile debris. As per USA Today, some unusual items include a 1969 Andy Warhol drawing left behind on the Moon by the Apollo 12 mission, a spatula lost by astronaut Piers Sellers in 2005, the red Tesla and its Starman driver launched in space in February 2018, and a bag of tools that floated away on a maintenance spacewalk on 1 November. With inputs from agencies India is all set to deliver BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. Other countries, including in West Asia and Africa, have reportedly shown interest in the projectiles. Lets trace the journey of these weapons and what makes them stand out Indian Army's BrahMos weapon systems are displayed during a full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, 23 January 2015. Reuters File Photo The demand for Indias BrahMos missile is rising in the world. While the supersonic cruise missile will be delivered to the Philippines by March, reports have surfaced that BrahMos Aerospace an Indo-Russia joint venture is in talks to sell BrahMos to Saudi Arabia. Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto is keen on buying the BrahMos missiles, as per an Economic Times (ET) report. BrahMos cruise missiles and other defence goods have also been offered by New Delhi to Vietnam. Advertisement India has set a target of achieving defence exports of Rs 35,000 crore by 2025. The sale of these missiles could play a significant role in that. As countries show interest in BrahMos, lets trace the incredible journey of the supersonic cruise missiles. The origin of the BrahMos missile By the early 1990s, India felt the need for cruise missiles, which are strategic guided missiles that travel most of their flight path at nearly constant speed and deliver warheads to carry out precision strikes. After cruise missiles were deployed in the Gulf War, New Delhi believed it was necessary to arm the country with a cruise missile system. Eventually, an Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed between Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the then Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief, and then Russian deputy defence minister NV Mikhailov in Moscow in February 1998. Advertisement The name BrahMos has been derived from the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. The 1998 pact resulted in the creation of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM). The aim was to design, develop and manufacture the supersonic cruise missile system. A Brahmos supersonic cruise missile is on display at the International Maritime Defence Show in Saint Petersburg on 28 June 2017. AFP File Photo On 12 June 2001, the BrahMos missile was first tested from a land-based launcher in Odishas Chandipur. Since then, it has been upgraded multiple times with various versions of the missile being launched. Advertisement Features of BrahMos missile According to the Brahmos Aerospace website, Brahmos is a two-stage missile with solid propellant booster as its first stage and liquid ramjet as the second stage. Cruise missiles like BrahMos are standoff range weapons, meaning they are fired from such a distance from the target that helps it avoid defensive fire from the adversary. Advertisement The original flight range of BrahMos was 290 kilometres. The versions of the missile are being tested to have an extended range of around 400 kilometres, as per Indian Express. More versions with higher ranges, including up to 800 km, are also being developed. The Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force carry out tests of different versions of the missile regularly. Advertisement The BrahMos missile has a low radar signature and a high supersonic speed throughout its flight. It is a fire and forget type of missile that can achieve a cruising altitude of up to 15 km and a terminal altitude as low as 10 metres. Compared to subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos has three times more speed and 2.5 times flight range. Versions of the BrahMos missile that can be launched from land, warships, submarines and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets have already been developed. These projectiles can hit surface and sea-based targets. Advertisement Last November, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired an extended-range BrahMos missile from its warship in the Bay of Bengal. Launched from a stealth destroyer by the eastern fleet, the projectile precisely hit its target, paving the way for its induction into the Indian Navy, as per The New Indian Express (TNIE). Advertisement ALSO READ: Why does India want to contain China in the South China Sea? What makes BrahMos special? The BrahMos is gaining popularity in international markets, including in Southeast Asia and Africa. Several countries in West Asia have also reportedly shown interest. Speaking to Sputnik India about the growing global allure of BrahMos, Indian Navy veteran Seshadri Vasan explained, BrahMos is the worlds Supersonic Darling because once it goes into supersonic mode with Mach-3 speed, it gives very little time to the enemy to respond or react to an attack from the missile. Advertisement Visitors walk past a model of Indias Brahmos supersonic cruise missile displayed at the Defence Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar on 18 October 2022. AFP File Photo BrahMos Aerospace recently disclosed that the portfolio of orders for the missile has touched the $7 billion mark. The portfolio of orders of BrahMos has already reached $7 billion, which includes both Indian and export orders, Pravin Pathak, the companys export director, said at the World Defence Show in Riyadh earlier this month. Advertisement So, what makes BrahMos special? According to senior DRDO scientists, the missile systems preciseness and versatility make it unparallel, reported Indian Express. In addition to the multi-dimensional capabilities of the BrahMos, whenever India has carried out a test, it has given 100 percent results, Vasan told Sputnik India. A former DRDO scientist believes the features of BrahMos projectile make it stand out. One would not find any parallel to the BrahMos and whichever armed forces would have it in their arsenal, it would give them a cutting edge over their adversaries, retired DRDO scientist Ravi Gupta told Sputnik India. Advertisement Moreover, the cost of production of a missile in India is much less than in most countries. When one considers the price of the BrahMos coupled with its technological superiority, it is a highly potent weapon for foreign nations to acquire from the South Asian country, he added. As India tries to boost its defence exports, BrahMos missiles can help the country in achieving its goals and going much beyond. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Tune into Firstpost Defence summit on 24 February at 3 pm. You can register at www.firstpostdefencesummit.com Several Indians have alleged they were deceived by agents who promised them jobs as army security helpers in Russia but were later forced to fight on the battlefield against Ukraine. The name of an agent, Faisal Khan who runs a YouTube channel titled Baba Vlogs, has cropped up A russian serviceman stands guard next to monument to metallurgists with a Russian flag on the top, at the entrance of Mariupol on 12 June 2022. AFP File (Image used for representational purposes only) At least three Indians were reportedly forced to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine after allegedly being duped by agents who offered them work as army security helpers. Dozens of Indians are stuck in Russia where they have been sent to the battlefields. The issue has been flagged by All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi who wrote a letter in January to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and the Indian Embassy in Moscow, seeking their intervention. Advertisement But how were Indians duped to fight in the Russian-Ukraine war? Lets take a look. Indians cheated by job agents A 22-year-old youth from Telangana and three others hailing from Karnatakas Kalaburagi have sent a desperate plea for rescue from Russias border with Ukraine, as per a Times of India (TOI) report. The Telangana youth dressed in combat uniform said in a video to his family: Please save us. We are victims of a hi-tech fraud. He and several others are reportedly stranded at the war zone in Russia. Moscow has been fighting Ukraine since invading the country in February 2022. Ukrainian servicemen of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are seen at a position near the front line village of Robotyne, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, 21 February 2024. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Reuters These four Indians working in Dubai were lured by agents who promised them fatter paychecks. After returning from Dubai last November, they boarded a flight from Chennai next month and were sent to Russia on visitor visas, reported TOI. Advertisement A source told the newspaper that the youth were promised salaries in the range of Rs 2 lakh for the job as security personnel or helpers by the agents in Dubai. According to the victims families, the agents charged Rs 3.5 lakh each from the youths for the promised job in Russia. Advertisement As per TOI, the families of these youth suspect they have been recruited by the Wagner mercenary group, a private military company, fighting on the frontlines alongside the Russian Army in Ukraine war. UP youth narrates ordeal Speaking to The Hindu, one of the victims from Uttar Pradesh alleged they were hoodwinked by an agent, who told them that they would not be sent to the war zone. Advertisement The victim, who is in his early 20s, said he and two others received basic training in weapons handling from the Russian Army and were then dispatched to Rostov-on-Don along the Russia-Ukraine border in January. We arrived here in November 2023, were made to sign contracts, which said that we are being hired as army security helpers. We were categorically told that we will not be sent to the battlefield and promised Rs 1.95 lakh salary and Rs 50,000 additional bonus per month. Except the Rs 50,000 bonus for two months, I have not received any money, the UP resident told The Hindu. Advertisement The name of an agent Faisal Khan who runs a YouTube channel titled Baba Vlogs has cropped up. The YouTuber, whose channel has garnered over 300,000 subscribers, posts videos on how to get job offers in different countries and how he helps people obtain work permits, noted NDTV. As per The Hindu, the UP youth said Khan helped him go to Russia and two Indian agents linked to the YouTuber received him in the foreign country. Advertisement On 13 November, we were admitted into a camp and taken to a deserted place around two-and-half hours away from Moscow. We contacted the Indian agents and they assured us that we will be posted as helpers. We lived in tents and were trained to handle weapons. On 4 January, we were sent to Donetsk to fight, he alleged. Advertisement The UP resident said that he faced bullets several times and was coerced to fight at gunpoint. Speaking to The Hindu, a Jammu and Kashmir resident stranded in Russia said he mailed and tried to call the Indian Embassy several times but did not get any response. An agent who received the victims in Russia told The Hindu that these youth come from different parts of India and face threats to their lives if the Indian government does not help. Advertisement They were offered to work as army helpers. The deal was that they would be given basic training for three months following which a psychological assessment and other tests will be done and willingness ascertained if they want to continue as kitchen helpers or any other job. But after a month, their passports were snatched, and they were forced to fight on behalf of Russia. People from other countries are also stuck here, the agent was quoted as saying by the English daily. Advertisement At least 18 Indians are stuck at Mariupol, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Rostov-on-Don along Russia s border with Ukraine since last November. One person has also been killed in the war, The Hindu reported citing the agent. Hundreds of youth hired by Russian Army An Indian-origin official working for the Russian Ministry of Defence told The Hindu that around 100 Indians were hired by the Russian Army over the past year. Advertisement The official claimed that these recruits were informed about the risks involved with the job of army security helpers before they signed the one-year contract. No money was charged by the Russian Army before the recruitment, he added. The workers undergo a psychometric test and are explained the risks before they are sent for training. Since they are hired as helpers, it all depends on the command to which they will be sent. It could either be to the battlefield or they may be asked to work as porters. Their consent is taken. A background check is conducted to ensure no spies are recruited, the official said. Advertisement There could be more Indians hired by the Russian Army as this figure is only for the recruitment centre in Moscow, reported The Hindu. Owaisi seeks MEAs intervention On 25 January, Owaisi wrote to EAM Jaishankar and the Indian Embassy in Moscow raising the issue. The Hyderabad MP was approached by one of the victims family. Unemployed men from Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh were promised jobs by agents in Russia, where they were told that they would work as building security agents but were duped and sent to the battlefield. I met the families of these men in December last year who sought help from me. Ive written to the External Affairs Minister and Indias Ambassador to Russia to bring them back, NDTV quoted Owaisi as saying. He alleged that Faisal Khan, who is in Dubai, along with Sufiyan and Poja from Mumbai deceived the unemployed youths. Owaisi said that three of the victims want to return to Hyderabad, adding that their families are worried about them as they have had no contact with them for 25 days. He has urged Union minister Jaishankar to bring the men back home. The MEA is yet to comment on the matter. With inputs from agencies The King County prosecutors office stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that officer Kevin Dave consciously disregarded safety when he ran over Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student in Seattle On 23 January 2023, Jaahnavi Kandula was struck by a police vehicle driven by officer Kevin Dave as she crossed a street in Seattle. PTI The tragic incident involving Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student, has once again captured widespread attention, as the Seattle police officer responsible for her death while responding to an overdose call will not be charged with any criminal offences. On 23 January, 2023, Kandula was struck by a police vehicle driven by officer Kevin Dave as she crossed a street in Seattle. Dave was travelling at a speed of 74 mph (over 119 km/h) while rushing to attend a report of a drug overdose. Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle. The incident became a major diplomatic scuffle, with India demanding an investigation into the officers actions. Advertisement He is eventually cleared, though. Heres why. Why isnt the officer charged? Authorities believe there isnt sufficient evidence against Dave in the case. Dave was responding to a priority one call at the request of the Seattle Fire Department, according to the Seattle Police Department, which involved a report of a drug overdose. In a memo to the Seattle Police Department on Wednesday, as reported by AP, the King County prosecutors office noted that Dave had his emergency lights on, and other pedestrians reported hearing his siren. Additionally, it was observed that Kandula appeared to attempt to run across the intersection after noticing Daves approaching vehicle. It was also mentioned that she could have been wearing wireless earbuds, which might have impaired her hearing. A photo of Jaahnavi Kandula is displayed with flowers in Seattle, at the intersection where she was killed by a Seattle Police officer driving north while responding to a nearby medical incident. File image/AP According to Seattle local media, Daves speed was the cause of the collision because it did not give him or Kandula enough time to detect, address, and avoid a hazard that presented itself. Advertisement For these reasons, a felony charge of vehicular homicide was not warranted. There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dave was consciously disregarding safety, the memo stated. So, they arent punishing him? According to an AP report, it remains possible that city prosecutors will file lesser charges, such as negligent driving. Advertisement The Seattle City Attorneys Offices spokesman, Tim Robinson, said Wednesday that the case had not been referred to them for possible misdemeanour prosecution, and the Seattle Police Department did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry about whether it might refer the case to that office. Kandulas death sparked outrage, particularly after a recording from another officers body-worn camera surfaced last September, in which the officer laughs and suggests that Kandulas life had limited value and that the city should just write a cheque. Advertisement Officer Auderers comments were unprofessional and undermined the publics trust in the Seattle Police Department and law enforcement in general, noted attorney Leesa Manion. As egregious as officer Auderers comments are, they do not change the Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) legal analysis into the conduct of officer Dave. It is the Office of Police Accountability that bears the responsibility of disciplinary investigation and proceedings relating to officer Auderers comment, not the PAO. Advertisement Protesters march through downtown Seattle after body camera footage was released of a Seattle police officer joking about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old woman hit and killed in January by officer Kevin Dave in a police cruiser, in Seattle. File image/AP Auderer was pulled from patrol in September 2023 and reassigned to a non-operational position. Auderer could still be fired after the fallout of his insensitive comments captured on bodycam. Auderers chain of command and the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) found he acted unprofessionally. For that, he faces the highest disciplinary range of nearly two weeks suspension up to termination, according to a disciplinary action report. Advertisement Before a final disciplinary decision, Auderer will have the chance to meet with Police Chief Adrian Diaz to disagree. His disciplinary hearing is scheduled for 4 March, K5 News reported. What do we know about Jaahnavi Kandula? Jaahnavi Kandula was a masters student from Adoni, Andhra Pradesh, attending Northeastern Universitys South Lake Union campus. She went to the United States from Bengaluru on a student exchange programme in 2021 and was set to graduate in December of that year. Advertisement Kandula previously studied commerce at Dr Jyothirmayi Degree College in Andhra Pradesh. According to The Seattle Times, the student was raised by a single mother who also teaches at a school. Kandulas mother took out a loan to send her daughter to the United States to study. David Thurman, dean of Northeasterns Seattle Campus, described Kandula as a stellar student and a delightful and effervescent human being. Advertisement The university said in January 2023 that they would award her degree posthumously and present it to her family. With inputs from AP and PTI Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian citizen, has been arrested and charged with treason in Russia. Moscow alleges that the 33-year-old amateur ballerina was raising funds for a Ukrainian organisation that bought weapons. If convicted, she faces a 20-year-old jail term Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian citizen, has been arrested and charged with treason in Russia for her donation to a non-profit. Image Courtesy: Ksenia Karelina/Facebook When US-Russian Ksenia Karelina flew to Russia in January from Istanbul, she never thought that she would be detained and become another name in the list of American citizens Moscow has in its custody. But thats exactly what happened on Tuesday (20 February) when Russias securities services, known as FSB, said that it had arrested a dual citizen of Russia and the United States on accusations of committing state treason by raising funds for Ukraine. The agency said that the 33-year-old woman, who lives in Los Angeles, was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg, in central Russia. Advertisement What do we know of the case and what happens next? We get you the answers. Ksenia Karelina woman at the centre of it all On Tuesday, the Russian agency announced it had detained a 33-year-old woman living in Los Angeles from the city of city of Yekaterinburg, in central Russia. RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, published a video that it said showed the woman, wearing a white hat that covered her eyes, being handcuffed and escorted by masked security service officers. Later, NBC News confirmed the identity of the woman to be Ksenia Karelina based off information it received from a senior US official. The 33-year-old had, according to reports, married an American citizen and moved to the US. She had obtained US citizenship in 2021 and worked at a spa in LA in addition to her being an amateur ballerina. Advertisement Her former mother-in-law Eleonora Srebroski described Karelina as just a very beautiful human being, and said that as far as she knew, the recently naturalised US citizen had returned to Russia to attend university-level classes on the tourism industry. The Ciel Spa in Beverly Hills, California confirmed that Ksenia was their employee for the past eight years and following the news of her arrest said that she had travelled to Russia to visit her 90-year-old grandmother, parents and younger sister. Advertisement The statement by the spa said: To know Ksenia is to love her. This heartbreaking news is so difficult to share, but it must be done to spread her story and seek justice. The spas owner, Isabella Koretz, was quoted as telling CBS News, This girl is like an angel. You have to understand that she wouldnt hurt a fly. Advertisement Ksenia Karelina was a proud Russian, according to her boyfriend. Image Courtesy: Ksenia Karelina/Facebook Reason for her arrest The FSB, which did not name Ksenia in its statement announcing the arrest, had been proactively raising funds for a Ukrainian organisation since February 2022 money that it says was subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Perviy Otdel, a group of Russian lawyers who specialise in cases involving alleged treason, said the woman has been accused of sending just over $50 (Rs 4,145) to Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit in New York that sends assistance to Ukraine. Advertisement The FSB added that she also took part in public actions in the US in support of Kyiv. But did not provide further details about the allegations. They said that shes been detained as preventative measure while it continues its investigation. Ksenia has now been charged with treason; if convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison. Advertisement However, her now boyfriend Chris Van Heerden has rejected the allegations that the FSB has levelled against her. Speaking to CNN, he said that Ksenia was so proud to be Russian, and that she never spoke about Russias two-year invasion of Ukraine she doesnt watch the news, she doesnt intervene with anything, he said. Advertisement Ksenia is escorted to a Russian court after being charged with treason. Image Courtesy: TASS media/X Razom, the non-profit involved in the matter, had put out a statement, saying it was appalled. Our activities, which are in keeping with our charitable purpose and our legal obligations as an American charitable organisation, are focused on humanitarian aid, disaster relief, education and advocacy, Razom for Ukraine CEO Dora Chomiak said. Advertisement Razom calls on the US government to continue to do everything in its power to demand that President Putin release all those unjustly detained by Russia and to hold Russias political and military leadership accountable for their unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, it rejected claims about providing aid for weapons or ammunition. Mykola Murskyj, the director of advocacy for Razom told New York Times, Thats nonsense. We do provide first-aid supplies to Ukrainian soldiers and those fighting for Ukraines independence, but never weapons or ammunition. Advertisement Concerns for Ksenia Following her detention, Ksenias family and friends have expressed concern about her release. Her former mother-in-law, Eleonara Srebroski was quoted as saying, If we do not do anything, she is going to die in jail. She does not have any hope to get out, because they do not have any justice [in Russia>. Advertisement And if we as a country do not help her to come back here, to where she is were going to lose a beautiful person. Even Van Heerden has said that he was hopeful the US would not give up on her. I believe in America. I do believe that America will bring her back to me and thats the hope Im holding on to, he told CNN. Advertisement Ksenia, 33-year-old, if if convicted could face up to 20 years in prison. AP The White House, meanwhile, has said it is seeking further information on the matter. When asked about the same, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that he couldnt comment much on the case, but that the administration was gathering more information. He said that it is dangerous for US citizens or dual citizens to be in Russia right now. If youre a US citizen, including a dual national, residing in or travelling in Russia, you ought to leave right now if you can, Kirby said. Just depart immediately. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a briefing Tuesday that the US is seeking consular assistance, but that has not yet been granted. Russia does not recognise dual citizenship, considers them to be Russian citizens first and foremost, Miller said. And so oftentimes we have a difficult time getting consular assistance, but we will pursue it in all matters where a US citizen is detained. Other Americans jailed in Russia Ksenia joins other US citizens in prison, including journalist Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan. Theres also US national Robert Romanov Woodland, who was arrested and detained on drug trafficking charges in January. And, Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual Russian American reporter, who was detained late last year and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. Russian investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov told CNN that the main goal of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) was to build up a bank of hostages with American passports. He said Moscow would use it as leverage in any future negotiations with Russia. In fact, in an interview to former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson , Russian president Vladimir Putin had said on the release of Gershkovich that an agreement can be reached. With inputs from agencies Myanmars military junta has said it will go ahead with mandatory military service. While women have been exempted from conscription for now, the law has led to concerns among young people with many seeking ways to escape the war-torn country People gather outside the embassy of Thailand to get visas in Yangon on 16 February 2024, after Myanmar's military government said it would impose military service. AFP Myanmars military junta has activated mandatory military service, triggering a backlash in the country, especially among youth. While the conscription law was originally brought in 2010 under previous military regime, it was not enacted until now. The conscription law has led to concerns of a mass exodus in the conflict-ridden country. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military-led coup in 2021. Advertisement What is the mandatory conscription law? Why is the youth in Myanmar worried? What are other concerns triggered by the law? Lets understand in detail. Myanmars conscription law The conscription order, known as the Peoples Military Service Law, states that all men aged between 18 and 35 and all women in the 18-27 age group have to serve up to two years in the military. For some vocations such as doctors and engineers, the upper age limit for men is 45 and for women is 35 with the term of service being three years, as per CNA. The service term can be extended to five years during a state of emergency. Evading conscription is punishable by three to five years in jail and a fine, reported CNN. Advertisement Those with a medical reason, civil servants, students and carers have been granted temporary deferments. Members of religious orders are exempt. According to VOA, Myanmars military said the conscription was necessary amid the conflict with rebel groups. Ethnic armed groups have seized hundreds of strategic border towns, key military positions, and important trade routes since launching coordinated attacks last October in the Southeast Asian country. Advertisement Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the Myanmar junta, reportedly said that at least 13 million men and women are eligible for military service. Mynamar s population was reported at 55 million in 2021. He said although the military government wants to recruit 60,000 people every year, it cannot call up more than 50,000 per year due to budget constraints, VOA reported. Advertisement The junta spokesman said each recruitment batch would include 5,000 conscripts, with the first group being called up in mid-April after Myanmars new year holiday Thingyan. He said the implementation of conscription law is intended for young people to understand the responsibility of national defence. After public backlash, the military government on Tuesday (20 February) exempted women from mandatory military service for now, with Zaw Min Tun saying: At present, there are no intentions to include women in the conscript pool, reported Nikkei Asia. Advertisement Will youths leave Myanmar? Youths are already looking to flee Myanmar after the militarys announcement to enact the conscription law. As per CNN, footage shared on social media showed people standing in long queues outside the Thai Embassy in Myanmars biggest city Yangon to get visas. The French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that over 1,000 people lined up outside the Thai embassy in Yangon last week. Advertisement More than 1,000 people lined up at the Thai embassy in Yangon on February 16 as young people sought to leave Myanmar. AFP On Monday, two women were killed in a stampede outside a passport office in Mandalay. Speaking to CNN, youth in Myanmar expressed fear that recruits would be sent to the frontlines without proper training. People know for sure that no matter what is written in the conscription law, they will have to go to the front lines. That is one thing that every person in the country is sure of, Kyaw Naing, 28, a teacher from Yangon region who used a pseudonym, said. Advertisement Neighbouring Thailand could be the choice for those seeking to escape the juntas military service law. This law is impossible to accept. There are proper procedures for military conscription. But in this case, we can just be arrested on the street and forced to join, a 27-year-old man living in Yangon was quoted as saying by VOA. Advertisement We have no choice but to leave; its extremely frustrating, he said when asked about his plans if he fails to comply with the military conscription. Maung Nyein, a 32-year-old resident of Yangon, told CNN he is afraid of being forced to fight and kill his compatriots. In other countries, this law is to train you in case of another countrys invasion, but here there is civil war going on. This is to force you to kill each other. Advertisement Miemie Winn Byrd, a former US Army lieutenant colonel and Myanmar-US military relations expert, told VOA that the military conscription will trigger a mass exodus in Myanmar. Youre going to see a mass exodus of young people, especially those who can afford to leave. So, then you have a brain drain. A lot of the businesses and other groups are not going to have enough workers or qualified workers, she stated. Advertisement Can the law be misused? Analysts say the conscription law could force young people to fight their own people and might be misused to justify human rights abuses. Khin Ohmar, founder and chairperson of Progressive Voices, a Myanmar human rights research and advocacy organisation, told CNN the law will provide the junta legal cover for abusive forced recruitment practices grabbing young men and women, especially the disenfranchised and impoverished including minors, from bus stops and factories in the cities. Advertisement The possible mass exodus could also fuel instability in the region as Myanmarese flee to neighbouring countries. There are also concerns that the law can lead to corruption, with military officers accepting bribes from wealthy families wanting their children to evade conscription. Middle-class families have been selling their properties so that they can send their kids abroad and evade this conscription law, Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security think-tanks executive director Min Zaw Oo was quoted as saying by CNA. Some experts also say that conscription is a desperate effort by the military to ramp up troops hit by casualties, desertions and defections. Soldiers stand next to military vehicles as people gather to protest against the military coup, in Yangon, Myanmar, 15 February 2021. Reuters File Photo While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous. Troop losses and recruitment challenges have become existential threats for the junta, which faces vigorous attacks on frontlines all across the country. As the junta forces young men and women into the military ranks, it has doubled down on its attacks on civilians using stockpiles of powerful weapons, Tom Andrews, United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, was quoted as saying by CNN. With inputs from agencies Editor's note: This is the first part of a two-part series on Indigenous maternal healthcare in South Dakota. On a small, triangle-shaped reservation in the northeast corner of South Dakota, a nondescript one-story beige building in the middle of the small city of Sisseton serves the healthcare needs of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. The Couteau Des Prairies Health Care System, a 25-bed, nonprofit hospital, is the only inpatient resource for the entire reservation and was the only hospital with a functioning OB-GYN Department. But as of February, the hospital no longer provides specialized womens healthcare. The Coteau Des Prairies Health Care System looked at what would be best for the patients and the competency that our staff and obstetrics provider had, said Craig Kantos, chief executive officer of the CDP Hospital. We had one obstetrics provider and he was leaving. The days of having one OB provider who is on call 24/7 arent feasible anymore. The closure of the only OB-GYN hospital program serving the Lake Traverse Reservation illustrates the many challenges facing healthcare providers fighting against disproportionate rates of Indigenous infant and maternal mortality. Over three-quarters of Coteau Des Prairies patients are Indigenous, Kantos said. In 2023, 45 babies, most of whom are Indigenous, were born there. Each and every baby is listed on the hospitals website with their name, birthday and a photo. While there is another medical facility in Sisseton, the Indian Health Service-operated Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center is only an outpatient clinic not equipped for emergency births or specialized care. The reservation, which borders North Dakota and Minnesota, is the home of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate two bands of Santee Dakota people forcibly relocated from their homelands in southern Minnesota. Situated over 90 miles from any large city, the reservation is a rural area with few opportunities for specialized medical care. With the closure of Coteau Des Prairies OB-GYN services, women looking for specialized care on the Lake Traverse Reservation now have to travel either to Watertown or Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or to Fargo, North Dakota. Such a long commute is one of the hallmarks of a maternal healthcare desert, an issue affecting many rural areas across South Dakota and the United States. Nearly 25% of South Dakota women live over 30 minutes away from a birthing hospital compared to a 10% nationwide average. Western South Dakota reservations experience abnormally long commute times to birthing centers, sometimes over 118 miles, or 128 minutes. A lack of access to specialized maternal healthcare has been shown to lead to higher rates of poor birthing outcomes such as preterm births and infant and maternal mortality. Indigenous women in South Dakota already experience disproportionate rates of negative birth outcomes. According to the South Dakota Department of Public Health, Indigenous women accounted for 46% of the pregnancy-associated deaths in the state from 2012-2021, despite accounting for only 9% of the states total population. The DOH noted that the leading causes of death include motor vehicle accidents, unintentional overdoses and suicide. While access to specialized care decreases, birth rates on reservations continue to rise. On the Lake Traverse Reservation, the birth rate was 1.5 times higher than the United States average and the rate of births among women ages 25-29 is double the United States average. On the Standing Rock Reservation, where some women experience commutes of over 118 miles to the nearest birthing center, the rate of births is 20 percent higher than the national average. After deciding to close the Coteau Des Prairies OB-GYN Department, Kantos said hospital administrators reached out to representatives from local and tribal police departments, emergency services, the local IHS clinic and all hospitals between Watertown and Fargo to inform them. We met with the goal of discussing what we do in inclement weather. In some parts of the state the interstate closes periodically, and weve been told that if we need to get people out we can, Kantos said. Weve asked the tribe about potential hotel vouchers for tribal families who need to leave in inclement weather, but we havent heard back about if thats doable or not. When it comes to emergency births and the need to drive over an hour to receive care, many Indigenous people are less likely to have a reliable form of transportation. With an increased need to travel for specialized OB-GYN services, tribally operated resources are bracing for an increase in home births and support. Were taking steps to adapt to this. One of the changes were planning for is having some of my core visitors including myself become doulas and attend doula training, said Leona Iyarpeya, a Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate citizen and manager of her tribes Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. I think were pretty prepared, but I do see that number increasing and hitting the 40 marker as one of our services is transportation. Iyarpeyas program provides items like phone cards, diapers and support services, as well as transportation to pregnant women, expectant fathers and parents, and caregivers of children under 5 years old. Families dont need to be enrolled citizens to benefit from the program. Travel itself poses a risk to mothers seeking healthcare. Not only is cost often an issue, but travel-related deaths are a risk not accounted for in the maternal mortality rate. Typically when we determine maternal mortality, we dont consider accidents, said Dr. Lyle Best, a former healthcare physician who worked with the Great Plains Area Indian Health Service for over two decades. If youre pregnant and youre in a car accident and die, thats not maternal mortality. (In the 1990s) we had a situation in Indian Health Services where a woman was being transferred to Sioux Falls and the plane crashed. The woman was killed and the pilot was badly wounded. Is that considered maternal mortality? She wouldnt have been on the plane if she wasnt pregnant. Obstetrics doesnt generate a lot of revenue for hospitals, especially those in rural communities. Kantos said 45 babies were born at Coteau Des Prairies in 2023, and the hospital only had one obstetrics provider during that time. Half of the counties in the United States lack an obstetrics provider, according to a report from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Its difficult for many rural places to provide obstetrics services. It doesnt generate a lot of money, and its hard to find physicians who want to work in a small town and take on that added responsibility, Best said. Obstetrics is a terrifying experience, it generally goes well and its a happy time but as someone who has been there for hundreds of deliveries, your stomach is in a bit of butterflies trying to think of what would happen if, heaven forbid, you lost either the baby or the mother. While maternal mortality rates continue to rise across the United States, Indigenous mothers remain the most at risk of dying during or after pregnancy. Indigenous mothers across the United States are two times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white mothers, according to the CDC. Hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia are the leading cause of maternal deaths in developed countries. Pre-eclampsia affects between 5-8% of all pregnancies. Indigenous people are rarely included in studies focused on pre-eclampsia. Research in general is limited when it comes to Indigenous mothers and pregnancy complications. Best is currently working to research conditions like pre-eclampsia, though hes faced barriers when obtaining records and data in areas with large Indigenous populations. What is known about the increased risk that Indigenous mothers face when giving birth is that the social environment plays a major role. Living in a rural community with a lack of reliable transportation, specialized services and social deprivation affect the population deeply. The medical environment can sometimes lead to perhaps having less than adequate care through either Indian Health Services or other facilities they may depend on, and theres probably some implicit bias or racism involved in the medical decisions that get made, Best said. But it doesnt take a genius to understand that the American Indian maternal mortality rate is not in line with their portion of the South Dakota population. As Coteau Des Prairies discontinues its obstetrics services, Kantos emphasized that a majority of medical needs can be covered by family medicine. Even though obstetrics will be closed, we will still do general OB-GYN services. Well still continue with the full gambit of family medicine and wellness checks. We know we can still do it, Kantos said. Twenty-two-year-old Shubkaran Singh, a resident of Baloh village in Punjabs Bhatinda district, died on Wednesday as farmers clashed with the police at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. Friends described Singh as hardworking; he believed it was the responsibility of farmers to secure their rights Shubkaran Singh, 22, was a resident Baloh village in Bhatinda district and was described by his friends to be hardworking. Image Courtesy: @SukhpalKhaira/X A pall of gloom has descended upon Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border where the farmers are camping out after suspending their Delhi Chalo march following the death of one of their own. The farmers also decided to suspend their march for two days following the news of the 22-year-olds death during the clash with the police on the Punjab-Haryana border, with farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher saying they will decide the next course of action on Friday evening. Advertisement We take a closer look at who was this farmer and what led to his death amid the agitation. A hardworking farmer On Wednesday (21 February), as farmers resumed their Delhi Chalo march, pressing the Centre for their demands , they clashed with the Haryana Police at Khanauri along the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmers alleged that the authorities fired rubber bullets, besides tear gas shells to disperse protesters, leading to violence, which led to the death of one farmer 22 year-old Shubkaran Singh. The young farmer hailed from Baloh village in Bhatinda district and was described by his friends to be hardworking. According to an Indian Express report, he was engaged in contract farming and also managed livestock, which included a bull that he was very proud of. Shubkaran, who quit his studies before completing Class 12, was raised by his grandfather following the divorce of his parents. His family also included two sisters and he had no contact with his mother. Advertisement Pala, a young farmer and a friend of Shubkaran, told Indian Express, He was a hardworking small farmer engaged in contract farming to make ends meet. According to his friends, Shubkaran also believed in standing up for farmers and actively participated in events to secure their rights. He believed it was the responsibility of farmers to actively participate and secure their rights, said Mahinder Singh, another village friend. Advertisement Shubkaran, according to one of his uncles, had also participated in the protests against the now-repealed farm laws. And as per reports, when he learnt of the farmers plan to march to Delhi on 13 February, he joined them without a second thought. In fact, an India Today report stated that on Wednesday morning the day he died he had prepared breakfast for himself and others at the Khanauri protest site. His fellow protesters said that Shubkaran asked them to sit and have breakfast together, saying that they might not get another chance to share a meal or sit together. Advertisement Police fire tear gas to disperse farmers during their Delhi Chalo march, near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border, in Patiala district. PTI Protests and death Shubkarans death came as protesting farmers, who aim to reach Delhi, came face-to-face with Haryana Police personnel at Khanauri. Farmers allege that the cops didnt allow them to move forward and started firing rubber pellets and tear gas at them. It is amid this melee that Shubkaran was injured and then rushed to Government Medical College and Rajendra Hospital in Patiala. Harnam Singh, medical superintendent of the institution, was then quoted as telling The Quint: He was already dead when he was brought to the hospital around 3 pm. He suffered bullet injuries in his head. We would know more details about the injury and the nature of the bullet only after the post-mortem. Advertisement Other farmer leaders also confirmed Shubkarans death with Baldev Singh Sirsa also alleging that the 22-year-old was shot in the head. Pandher too alleged, He sustained a bullet injury on his head, and said that the agitating farmers had decided to call off their march for two days and take a decision then. Advertisement Protesting farmers disperse after a tear gas firing during their Delhi Chalo march, near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, in Patiala district. PTI However, the Haryana Police rejected the claim of Shubkarans death. According to the information received so far, no farmer has died today at the farmers protest. This is just a rumour. There is information about two policemen and one protestor being injured at the Khanauri border who are undergoing treatment, the police said. Advertisement The authorities further alleged that it was the farmers who had sprayed chilli power in the stubble and set it on fire. At least 12 police personnel were injured in the process, they wrote in a post on X. #WATCH | At the Data Singh-Khanori border, the protesters surrounded the police personnel from all sides and burned stubble by pouring chilli powder in it, attacked the policemen using sticks and maces along and also pelted stones. About 12 policemen were seriously injured. We pic.twitter.com/4q68gfDXQT ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2024 Advertisement Condolences and condemnation Political leaders across the board condemned the death of the 22-year old, with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann saying that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it. After post mortem, a case will be registered. Those officials responsible for his death will have to face stringent action, said Mann in a video message. Advertisement Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also mourned the loss of the farmer, saying: Was it for this very day that we fought for freedom, that one day the governments elected by us in our own country will martyr our own sons like the British? We are completely with Shubkaran and will ensure strict punishment to his murderers. Advertisement Please also read: Delhi Chalo: How the ongoing farmers protest is different from the 2020-21 stir What does farmers protest mean for India ahead of 2024 polls? Congress Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge used the death to criticise the Centre. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, When farmers lives will not be savedThen, how will India remain silent? Advertisement The death of young farmer Shubkaran Singh of Bathinda due to firing on Khanauri border is very painful, he said. The Modi government has first taken the lives of 750 farmers, the son of a minister in Modi government crushed farmers with a car in Lakhimpur, it is important to remind that in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh too, farmers had lost their lives in police firing under the BJP government. Modi ji himself has called farmers abusive words like Andolanjeevi and parjeevi (parasites) in the Parliament. The 10 years of BJP rule for farmers - is like a stick on the back and a kick in the stomach. Shame on Modi government, the Congress president said in the post. , ? 750 , , Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) February 21, 2024 Rahul too came down heavily on the government saying, One day history will definitely demand an account of the killing of farmers from the BJP which is hiding behind the friendly media, using the hashtag #FarmerLivesMatter. With inputs from agencies A Michigan man whose two-year-old daughter shot herself in the head with his revolver is the first person charged under the states new law requiring safe storage of guns. The law requires guns to be kept unloaded and locked either in a device or a box or container if a minor is present on the premises Firearms in 2020 were the number one cause of death for children in both Michigan and the United States. Reuters A Michigan man has become the first to be charged under the states new gun law after his two-year-old daughter shot herself in the head with his revolver. Michael Tolbert, 44, from Flint, was charged with nine felony counts including violating Michigans gun storage law and child abuse in the first degree. Advertisement Tolberts daughter remains hospitalised in critical condition from the 14 February shooting. The toddler shot herself the day after the new safe storage gun law took effect. This comes a week after a Michigan jury convicted a shooters mother of involuntary manslaughter, making her the first parent in the US to be held responsible for a child carrying out a mass school shooting. Gun accessibility was an issue in the trial and investigators say Jennifer and James Crumbley failed to properly secure the gun. James Crumbley faces trial on the same charge next month in the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School that killed four students. But what do we know about the law? And what about the states problem with guns? Advertisement Lets take a closer look: What we know about the law According to Michigan.gov, the law is entitled the Public Act 17 of 2023. It mandates that guns be kept unloaded and locked either in a device or a box or container if a minor is present on the premises. The law holds individuals responsible for minors gaining possession of the firearm. Advertisement It says they will be liable under Public Act 16 of 2023 if: A minor holds or shows off the firearm in a public space or in the company of another person in a careless, reckless or threatening manner this mandates a prison term of up to three months and a fine of up to $500 or both. Advertisement If a minor fires the weapon and hurts themselves or someone else this mandates a prison term of up to five years, a $5,000 fine or both. If a minor fires the weapon and seriously hurts themselves or someone else this mandates a prison term of up to 10 years, a $7,500, fine or both. Advertisement If a minor fires the weapon and kills themselves or someone else this mandates a prison term of up to 15 years, a $10,000 fine or both. The law went into effect on 13 February the one-year anniversary of when a gunman entered a classroom at Michigan State University leaving two students dead and others critically wounded. Advertisement The law took effect on the one-year anniversary of a shooting at Michigan State University. Reuters Tolbert, who also faces one count each of felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, lying to a peace officer in a violent crime investigation and four counts of felony firearm, entered a not guilty plea Monday. Tolbert is barred from possessing firearms and ammunition because he has multiple firearms-related felony convictions and drug-related convictions. Advertisement Tolbert was being held at the Genesee County Jail on bond amounts totaling $250,000, according online court records. He became the first person charged with violating the law. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at a news conference Tuesday announcing the charges against Tolbert that the law went into effect one week ago today. This incident occurred the very next day. Advertisement Because Michael Tolbert is a habitual offender, he could receive an enhanced prison of up to life in prison if hes convicted of failing to safely store his firearms. Reuters Flint police learned of the shooting after Tolbert took the girl to a hospital. Officers found two guns in the bedroom of the mans home: a revolver used in a the shooting and a semiautomatic pistol. Both were unsecured and loaded. Police said they found no gun locks or safes in the bedroom. Advertisement Tolberts next hearing is a 29 February probable cause conference. A court employee said Tolbert would be assigned a public defender but directed calls to the countys chief public defender. A message was left Wednesday with the chief public defender by The Associated Press asking for the name of Tolberts attorney. Because Tolbert is a habitual offender, he could receive an enhanced prison of up to life in prison if hes convicted of failing to safely store his firearms. Advertisement Tolbert also could face up to life in prison if hes convicted on the first-degree child abuse charge. Michigans gun problem Firearms in 2020 were the number one cause of death for children in both Michigan and the United States. This was more than deaths in car accidents and other injuries More than half of suicide deaths in the state also include firearms. Advertisement According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 67 per cent of unintentional firearm injury deaths among kids occur when weapon was being toyed with or shown off. In 76 per cent of cases, weapons were left unlocked. Ninety-one per cent of such weapons were loaded. Weapons were most frequently taken from a nightstand or other sleeping areas (30 per cent). Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at a news conference Tuesday announcing the charges against Tolbert that the law went into effect one week ago today. This incident occurred the very next day. Reuters Experts say storing weapons securely can stop suicide. Firearm violence is preventable, and a leading cause of death in our young people, said Dr Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. In Michigan, and across the United States, childhood deaths from firearms now exceed deaths from pediatric cancers and drownings. We have had major success over the past decades in reducing pediatric deaths from motor vehicle accidents, and we need to harness the same public health approach - including education and community outreach - to help keep Michigan children and families safe from firearm violence. We want to make sure Michigan families are aware of the new law designed to prevent unintentional deaths involving guns and how to comply with the new requirements, Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director was quoted as saying. Data shows firearms involved in unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents were often stored both loaded and unlocked, and children were most often fatally injured when the shooter was playing with or showing the firearm to others. As the top law enforcement officer in the state of Michigan, as a former Wayne County prosecutor and as a mother, I too am exasperated and deeply saddened that thousands of Michigan residents fall victim each year to the scourge of senseless, preventable gun violence in our state, said Attorney General Dana Nessel. I am proud that our state has finally implemented new commonsense gun safety measures and am committed to using the resources of my office to educate residents about the new measures and support our communities through implementation. Experts say people need to take gun safety seriously. Its like a pool in your backyard. You got to be responsible for the pool. You got to be responsible for your car keys, you got to be responsible for your gun, Glenn Duncan, the owner of Duncans Outdoor Shop in Bay City, was quoted as saying by Wnem.com. On May 13, we hope that we can get back on that program and really get people looking at gun locks gun safety boxes. If youre going to have any guns at home with kids, we all understand kids. Theyre inquisitive. And so, you want to be able to lock it up properly and keep your kids safe just like you do everything else in your house, Duncan added. With inputs from agencies The VHP filed a case against the Bengal Zoo Authoritys decision to keep a lion and lioness named Akbar and Sita in the same enclosure. The two lions, which were born in Tripura, were brought from the Sepahijala Zoological Park to Bengals Safari Park in Siliguri on 12 February. The court said animals should not be named after any deity or figure belonging to any religion "Sita" is five-and-a-half years old and "Akbar" is seven years old. Representational image. Whats in a name? A lot apparently. The Calcutta High Court has asked the West Bengal Zoo Authority to rename a lion and lioness named Akbar and Sita. The court also wondered why a controversy was being created by bestowing such names on lions. But what happened? And why has the court requested the name change? Advertisement Lets take a closer look: What happened? On 12 February, a lion and lioness named Akbar and Sita were brought from Tripuras Sepahijala Zoological Park to Bengals Safari Park in Siliguri. According to Moneycontrol, Sita is five-and-a-half years old and Akbar is seven years old. They were both born at the Tripura zoo from where they were brought to Siliguri. According to Live Law, the VHP then filed a case against the decision to keep the lions in the same enclosure. The VHP claimed the names of the lions hurt the religious sentiments of a section of citizens. Sita cannot stay with the Mughal emperor Akbar, VHPs Anup Mondal was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Advertisement The Times of India quoted VHP lawyer Subhankar Dutta as saying, It has hurt the religious sentiments of numerous people. We have, therefore, moved the Jalpaiguri circuit bench of Calcutta HC demanding rechristening of the lioness. Vishwa Hindu Parishad has with deep anguish observed that a species of cat family has been named after the name of SITA the consort of Lord Rama and she is sacred deity to all Hindus across the world. Such act amounts to blasphemy and is a direct assault on the religious belief of all Hindus, the plea stated according to Live Law. Advertisement But West Bengal forest department official, Dipak Kumar Mandal was quoted as saying by The Guardian that the lion and the lioness are now kept separately." The single judge bench of Saugatta Bhattacharya said last week,It may be named out of affection, we worship lions during Durga Puja. It depends on the mental orientation of the person. Can we imagine Durga without a lion? Advertisement However, the lawyer representing West Bengal claimed that the two animals were named in Tripura and not in Bengal and there are documents to prove it. The bench then asked the state counsel to determine where and when the lions were named and adjourned the matter. On Thursday, Additional Advocate General (AAG) told the court the animals were named by zoo authorities in Tripura. Advertisement The states lawyer submitted that two animals were brought to West Bengal under an exchange programme, for which permission was granted by the central government. The Calcutta High Court bench said He claimed that the lion and lioness received from Tripura bore the names of Akbar and Sita as per the documents sent by the Sepahijala zoo authority. The states lawyer said the lion and lioness were born in Tripura in 2018 and 2016 respectively, but there was no protest about the names thus far. Advertisement Only when the animals were brought to Bengal that the petitioners woke up, he contended. But Indian Express reported that the lions were named Ram and Sita. Why create controversy? The judge in todays hearing remarked that it is frequently said by leaders that What Bengal thinks today, the rest of the nation thinks tomorrow. So, the state should show the path by renaming the two animals, he observed. Advertisement When informed by the petitioners lawyer that a lioness at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata has the name Sruti, the judge said that this kind of name should be given to avoid controversy. These are the uncontroversial names. Will you name a lion after a Hindu deity, a Muslim prophet or Christian god or freedom fighter or nobel laureate? Generally anyone who is revered or respected by the people of our country? the bench was quoted as saying by Live Law. Advertisement An animal should not be named after any deity or figure belonging to any religion, the judge remarked. The court also wondered why a controversy was being created by bestowing such names. The Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench asked whether an animal can be named after gods, mythological heroes, freedom fighters or Nobel laureates. It then went on to ask whether a lion could be named after Swami Vivekananda or Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Advertisement You are a welfare state and it is a secular state. Why should you draw controversy by naming a lion after Sita and Akbar? This controversy should have been avoided. Not only Sita, but I also dont support the naming of a lion Akbar. He was a very efficient and noble Mughal emperor. Very successful and secular Mughal emperor. If it is already named, the state authority should shun it and avoid it, Justice Bhattacharyya was quoted as saying by NDTV. Advertisement Observing that West Bengal is already burdened with several controversies starting from school jobs appointments to several other issues, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya said, Therefore, take a prudent decision, avoid this controversy. Maintaining that this would not be reflected in his order, the judge suggested to the states lawyer that he use his good offices and ask the zoo authorities to give different names to the lion and the lioness. Advertisement The court said that India is a secular country and every community has the right to pursue or follow their own religion. Why should you draw controversy by naming a lioness and a lion after Sita and Akbar? The judge said Sita is worshipped by a large section of citizens, while Akbar was a very successful and secular Mughal emperor. Justice Bhattacharya said he did not support the names of both animals. The court said that if the naming was done there, then the zoo authority in Tripura needs to be made a party to the matter. The judge said in his order that since a social organisation and two individuals came up with petitions claiming that the naming hurts the religious sentiments of a section of citizens of the country, it appears that the personal right of the petitioners is not in breach. He said that the petitioners have rather espoused the cause of a greater section of people of India who belong to a particular religion. The writ petition in its present form is not maintainable, the court said in its dictated order, holding that it can, however, be reclassified as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Noting that naming of the two animals has already been done, Justice Bhattacharyya granted leave to the petitioners to reclassify the petition as a PIL. The court directed that if the reclassification is done by Friday, the registry will transmit the same to the regular bench hearing PIL matters for consideration within 10 days. The judge then directed that the matter be released from the list in his court. With inputs from agencies EAM S Jaishankar said India is a bridging power to a great degree and that was reflected under its G20 Presidency External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that India took the Kashmir aggression issue to the UN while others made it an accession issue. Jaishankars comments came at the ninth edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2024. While responding to a question by Firstposts Managing Editor Palki Sharma as to whether its time to accept that global relationships are based on interests and not values, the foreign minister said, That is not something new and was always the case. Look at our own example, in the first year of Independence, we put our trust in multilateralism and took the Kashmir aggression issue to the UN, and others made it into an accession issue, and they did it for geopolitical reasons. Advertisement So, the fact is, if you say, are people playing multilateralism, they always did. Weve grown up, Jaishankar said. He said that no one should be against multilateralism. The external affairs minister noted that multilateralism will exist side by side with national interest. During the A Tapestry of Truths: Can the Two Hemispheres Agree?, Jaishankar also said, India is a bridging power to a great degree and that was reflected under its G20 Presidency. The idea of Vishwamitra (universal friend) is what India is trying to promote." The Raisina Dialogue is an annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. During the Dialogue, sessions are conducted focusing on addressing the most challenging issues faced by the world. The conference takes place in New Delhi and is attended by people from political, business, media, and civil society backgrounds. The conference is hosted by the Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. Advertisement The theme for this years edition is Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create. The Greek prime minister presented his nation as an interlocutor between India and the Europe, and Global North and Global South It is easy to see the genuine excitement over India at a global geopolitical conference such as Raisina Dialogue. Many attendees at the event have flown to India fresh from Munich Security Dialogue, and the frequent refrain heard over the inaugural day was the contrast in mood between Europe, that seems to be battling deep depression and pessimism and India, which reflects infectious optimism. Advertisement Some of that optimism was shared by Greece prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the chief guest at this years Raisina Dialogue, during his inaugural address also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and a house packed to full capacity and some more. Calling India a great ally, Mitsotakis, whose arrival marks the first visit to India by a Greek head of state in 15 years, said: India is a great power on the world stage, a rising force and a great ally. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, Mitsotakis, who is on a two-day visit to India, and Modi during their bilateral meeting identified several new opportunities to give new energy and direction to our cooperation that includes agriculture where both sides are taking steps to implement the agreements reached in this area last year and both nations are increasing cooperation in many areas like pharma, medical devices, technology, innovation, skill development, and space, according to a statement released by the prime ministers office. Mitsotakis during his address in the evening referred to the European Union president Ursula von der Leyens remarks at the Raisina Dialogue at an earlier edition where she had said strengthening of ties with India is a priority for Europe. The Greek prime minister said: I want to go further. Strengthening the partnership with India should be the cornerstone of Europes foreign policy. This is certainly Greeces. Advertisement In a measure of the nervousness in the democratic world about the crucial elections looming in key countries this year in the backdrop of rise in authoritarian states, Mitsotakis said the partnership between Greece and India is one between the worlds oldest and the worlds largest democracies. He described 2024 as a year of striking geopolitical importance and a defining year for democracies where polls in 64 countries would be held, deciding the trajectory of the nations and the shape of the world. Advertisement Elections in India, he said, convincingly challenge the flawed notion that scale is a barrier to democracy. India has shown that strong economic growth can deliver prosperity and social cohesion. The Greek prime minister presented his nation as an interlocutor between India and the Europe, and Global North and Global South and expressed hope that the much-discussed IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) that is now in abeyance due to the war in Middle East, will become a reality because at its heart is also a peace project. Advertisement The IMEC holds great promise to supercharge connectivity between India and Europe. Greece is sitting right in the centre of this corridor. To India, I say, we are your bridge. Your connect. On the Ukraine war that has animated Europe, the Greek PM said, I understand that the Global South sees this as a European war. But Id like to make the point that Ukraine is much more than a local war. It is a brutal war on the rules-based order and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines. Advertisement He said, India is now often regarded as a consensus builder and a voice of reason in an increasingly polarised world, keeping the suggestion hanging that he would like to see New Delhi taking a more proactive role. While delivering the vote of thanks, foreign minister Jaishankar said, Mitsotakiss message that democracies can deliver resonates strongly with us. This event comes at the end of the day that has seen strengthening of strategic partnership. India and Greece are two civilizational states that tend to take a long view of challenges and a considered one. Advertisement Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . There are many naysayers who are of the vehemence that the fencing of the entire 1,643 km India-Myanmar border is not a good idea. Such personages and they unfortunately include people such as a former Indian envoy to Myanmar cite aspects ranging from the virtual end of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) which permits people living along the border on either side to travel 16 km into each others country, without visa, for primarily trade to the human aspect pertaining to the demographic contiguity, that characterises both India and Myanmar in the borderlands. But if a dispassionate cost-benefit analysis of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs decision to fence the border is undertaken, then the pros will outnumber the cons. Advertisement The ongoing turmoil in Manipur is a direct result of the open border with Myanmar. As I have written earlier in these columns, the Valley-Based-Insurgent Groups (VBIGs), including the United National Liberation Front (Koirang), the Peoples Liberation Front (Manipur), the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, the Kangleipak Communist Party and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (collectively known as the Group of Five (G-5), which is the new avatar of the Coordination Committee (CorCom) after the return of the United National Liberation Front (Pamei) to the mainstream, are billeted in three neat clusters in Myanmars Sagaing Division. After the military takeover of February 1, 2021, the above underground groups came to an understanding with the Myanmar Army (MA). The VBIGs will no longer be touched, harassed or ousted from their safe havens in what has come to be known as the Northern, Central and Southern clusters in Sagaing Division. In return, the VBIGs would have to aid the MA to quell the civil unrest that erupted after the coup detat. The development not only led to an end to the modicum of military cooperation that had been witnessed in the years preceding the military takeover by way of Operations Sunrise-I and Sunrise-II, which demolished several India Insurgent Groups (IIGs) camps in and around Taga (a hunting ground for IIGs just West of the Chindwin river), but the unprecedented situation in Manipur saw hordes of VBIG cadres entering Manipur to battle the Kukis and the security forces. The fact that the porous border also facilitated illegal migration, drugs and arms smuggling from Myanmar by social formations that had affiliations with people in Manipur and have begun to occupy forest lands in the state seems to be borne out by a plethora of facts. Advertisement Also, several thousand anti-Junta rebels have fled to India since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Of late, even MA personnel had begun to enter Mizoram in a bid to escape the pursuing Peoples Defence Force (the National Unity Governments armed wing) and various ethnic militias. It is in this backdrop that I wish to examine the issue of the India-Myanmar border fence. Advertisement At the very outset, it must be understood that fences are not walls. They are created to manage legal, regulated movement. I was an international visitor to the United States at the invitation of the US Department of State in 2003. One of the tours took 25 other law enforcers and conflict theorists from around the world as well to many places in the US including the US-Mexico border in San Diego. The manner in which the completely (and concretely, not merely fenced) sealed border is run has to be seen to be believed. We watched as US law enforcers carefully checked the credentials of Mexicans entering the US territory for a days work. They would return after work after paying their taxes to US treasuries and naturally stringent rules governing such entry and exit ensured that they had no political rights in the US. Advertisement We also witnessed American K-9 dogs waylaying a car entering from Mexico. The driver, we later learnt, was attempting to ferry drugs into the US. Detailed briefings, a tour of the detention centres where Mexicans who were caught trying to enter the US illegally and the formidable wall which led into the Pacific brought back a recall of my own. Advertisement In an article I had written way back in the North East Sun (Delhi) in its 20-26 May 1995 issue, I had worked out a blueprint for a work permit idea. In San Diego, eight years later, I felt smug about the idea of a work permit for Bangladeshis illegally entering Assam. The fact that it was almost on similar lines with what I witnessed at the US-Mexican border, convinced me that my theory, if it were to be tried and tested, could work for Assam and the rest of the Northeast as well. After all, in 1995, when I first seriously thought of the problem of illegal migration into Assam from Bangladesh, the issue was taking ominous portents and shapes. Indeed, the problem has not left us until today. Advertisement But today, I hail the Modi governments commitment to construct impenetrable borders. Amit Shahs decision to build a fence along the entire 1643-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border is bold. It will facilitate better surveillance and prevent illegal migration and ingress of VBIGs. Furthermore, the fencing of the border has nothing to do with the Neighbourhood First policy. I have been critical of the policy for a number of reasons, but fencing the India-Myanmar border is not one of them. Advertisement Indeed, even if the Free Movement Regime (FMR) has to be jettisoned, then so be it. I, for the life of me, cannot think of one reason which characterised it as a great idea, even when it came into being in 2018. If the FMR was anvilled to keep border trade alive then there are several mechanisms to ensure its continuance including the Border Haat system that is in place at the India-Bangladesh border. Advertisement I had been to Mon not too many months ago. Although I could not make it to Longwa (Oting held greater interest for the student of security in me), the Konyak chieftains village where the Angh (King/Chieftain) sleeps in India and eats in Myanmar is an interest for many. But the fact of the matter is that these are fables for travelogues and tourist brochures. The Assam Rifles, which guard the border with great tenacity and for which it is now being lampooned in Valley Manipur, too, would testify to the fact that although all borders are in the final analyses imaginary, walls make better neighbours. Even beasts mark their territory and would not countenance trespass. On the India-Myanmar border, it is trespass, transgression and temerity. Advertisement If one is pointing fingers at the decision to fence the India-Myanmar border stating that it would sound the death knell to people-to-people contact between the two countries, then it must be stated that the FMR has not achieved that by any standard or measure. If anything, it has only facilitated the unfettered movement of insurgents, drug peddlers and gun runners. It is surprising that knowledgeable people who are aware of Indian Insurgent camps just across the border (for instance in Somra Tracts of the Sagaing Division) should be criticising Amit Shahs decision to fence the India-Myanmar border. Even a fool knows that a Naga of Myanmar who has a social affiliation with a Naga of India has no interest in Bodh Gaya, the pilgrimage circuit of which would continue, fence or no fence. Advertisement Also, the contiguity which characterises, for instance, the Naga people (if the broad social formation can be termed as Naga people) is not limited to just 16 km that the FMR has permitted, but can actually go all the way to Taga, a place which is inhabited by Rangpang Nagas. The distance from Longwa in Nagalands Mon district to the Chindwin Valley in Myanmar where Taga is located took the famed traveller and Myanmar expert, Bertil Lintner, two weeks to traverse. I emailed him to procure this piece of information. I also looked up Google Earth and found that it would take 39 hours of driving or 1,349 km on the Asian Highway 1 to get from Longwa to Chindwin. Sceptics of Amit Shahs decision to fence the India-Myanmar border must get both their geography and demography right before they make irrational protests against sound judgement. Advertisement Harsh times necessitate intrepid calls. The situation in Manipur, Myanmar and Mizoram intertwined as they are with a curious mix of black, white and grey calls for courageous decisions. Manipur of the present is not presenting itself to any easy solution. It is also a known fact that much of the subterfuges in the Land of the Sangai are a result of the sinister and motivated entry of the VBIGs into the state from Myanmars Sagaing Division. Satellite images that have been made available to me by certain central agencies have also indicated that forest lands in Manipur have been taken over by human movement from across Myanmar. While analyses, at least by me, cannot decisively put a finger on the issue and pass judgement about whether it is one social formation or the other that is responsible for forest cover depletion in Manipur, laying logic and demographic growth pattern studies seem to showcase that migration from across Myanmar could be a plausible explanation. It would also be unfair to state that the Centre has fallen hostage to a narrative of the Manipur government. I went to Manipur in early October 2023. I visited Imphal and Churachandpur. Yes, the ethnic divide is complete, but it is also true that May 3, 2023, was just a trigger. There has always been a divide. It was just being tolerated. If I have recently written critically about radical Meitei groups such as Arombai Tenggol, then I must in the same breath state that there has been illegal ingress of the Kukis and affiliated tribes from Myanmar. It is also the case that the Kukis of Imphal were the most affluent community. While I cannot hold my hand to my heart to wager whether drug money was at the heart of the matter, there is certainly much substance that the product of poppy cultivation in Myanmar was entering Manipur and the Northeast with impunity. Indias national security is paramount. As a theoretician and student of conflict, I have been unsparing in the past for what I have termed as the Indian states ineptitude handling of the Northeast. But today, I join my hands both to laud and praise the farsightedness with which Amit Shah has decided to fence the India-Myanmar border. The author is a conflict theorist and bestselling author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . In addition to the trafficked, sexually abused, and missing Hindu women and children, Sandeshkhali has the distinction of a suspicious demographic change where Hindus have become a minority In Hindu-minority Sandeshkhali, the problems are many, from unabated crime against Hindu women to demographic change to land grabbing. ANI Since the story broke out on Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, many political statements have been passed. While a few Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have asked for proof of rape, some have stopped short of vilifying the aggrieved, questioning the veracity of their accusations. Even though the Hindu women of Sandeshkhali have spoken out clearly, stating that they have endured systematic abuse at the hands of the police and the TMC, there have been no sympathisers from within the party ranks. Victims have alleged that during party meetings, they were molested and feared speaking out because of the repercussions they had to endure. Advertisement According to reports, they were beaten viciously enough to be hospitalised for days on end by prime accused Shahjahan Sheikh and his henchmen. Shahjahan Sheikh is one of the most influential leaders within the TMC; he wields power beyond the Sandeshkhali area in North 24 Parganas and has a stack of cases to his name, from assault to murder. Absconding since January 5 and nothing recommending his innocence, it is anything but surprising that the TMC has only suspended Sheikhs aide Noor. The easiest offering the TMC could make to the Hindu women of Sandeshkhali who are refusing to back down this time around Possibly because they know that if they back down without ensuring kingpin Sheikhs arrest, the TMC leaders in the areas will settle scores with them for daring to raise their voice. Advertisement One resident whose daughter went missing recounted that when she went to file a complaint, the police asked her to get consent from the prime accused, Sheikh Shahjahan, or his men, Shibu Hazra or Uttam Sardar, alias Noor Alam (a practice found in West Bengal wherein converts do not change their previous Hindu names). Another resident said she had to send her daughter-in-law to Madhya Pradesh because she was beautiful, and beautiful women were not spared by Shahjahan Sheikh. Advertisement So, when TMC spokespersons like Kunal Ghosh, without fear of public judgement or at the very least karmic retribution, brazenly question the authenticity of these claims, or worse, make asinine statements like Adivasi women of Sandeshkhali are easily identifiable, unlike the women complaining who are all fair-complexioned, it is but natural for one to question the normalisation of violence in West Bengal. Advertisement In the age of Me Too, where the repercussions for the accused were harsh and vilification almost immediate, it is surprising to see the absence of social justice warriors who have raged at every incident from Gaza to Delhi. TMCs self-proclaimed Ma Durga, Mahua Moitra, has also adopted an uncharacteristic dignified silence. Surely, this highly educated woman would know that her silence cannot abandon the fact that the state of West Bengal stood first in women trafficking in India. Advertisement As per the 2016 National Crime Record Bureau, the number of women trafficked was 3,579, and in 2017, the number suspiciously went down to 357. It is important to point out here that these numbers are sent from the state to the centre. And if truly the West Bengal police had managed this record decrease in numbers, then they should have taken the opportunity to put a paper out on their stellar achievement to at least counter womens organisations who alleged that the West Bengal police had registered FIRs as kidnappings and not trafficking. However, there were accusations that the police were protecting trafficking agents. Advertisement A woman whose daughter went missing and is yet to be found also claimed that in Basanti block (in north Sandeshkhali), there is one girl child missing in every four houses. Reportedly, this horrific fact was corroborated by a social worker in the area. The claim itself should be enough to hold the state government responsible and for them to display some humility. In 2022, 40,725 women and 10,571 girls went missing from West Bengal, the highest numbers in the country. Advertisement A senior officer of the states anti-human trafficking units in an anonymous statement made to The Hindu said that South and North 24 Parganas clocked the highest number of missing cases for years. Child trafficking, too, was the highest here. In addition to the trafficked, sexually abused, and missing Hindu women and children, Sandeshkhali has the distinction of a suspicious demographic change where Hindus have become a minority. Hindus are also a minority in 10 blocs of North 24 Parganas, in 16 blocs of South 24 Parganas, and in all the blocs of the Sunderbans area. Advertisement There has also been a massive jump in population in many border towns, such as Basirhat sub-division of North 24 Parganas, where between 2009 and 2019, voters increased by five lakhs. There are many such examples of sudden demographic change in the area, along with accusations of land grabbing. After the 1977 land reforms by the Left Front government in West Bengal, many of the middle classes left the area in search of alternative livelihoods, while the poor farmers were either coerced into selling their land to the likes of Shahjahan or their lands were forcibly taken. Advertisement In Hindu-minority Sandeshkhali, the problems are many, from unabated crime against Hindu women to demographic change to land grabbing. However, to see each of these issues in isolation would be a narrow view that would only point towards a broken socioeconomic model. But to analyse the gamut of problems as a whole would bring a larger understanding of what lies beneath the tip of the iceberg that has emerged with the Hindu women of Sandeshkhali coming out in the open. Advertisement All permutations of analysis point to the larger design of demographic engineering. An exercise to shift the ethnic balance of the area in favour of an ethnically homogenous population. Demographic engineering includes coerced population transfer, resettlement, ethnic cleansing, and, in the worst case, genocide. Political analyst John McGarry, who has written some of the most influential books on ethnic conflict, identifies demographic engineering with state policies but also accepts the existence of a grey area where state representatives use surrogates to inflict violence on minorities. Advertisement The case of Sandeshkhali fits all the criteria of demographic engineering, with Shahjahan Sheikh being the surrogate. Nevertheless, it is for the country to see when and if the absconding surrogate is arrested. But with pressure mounting on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the chances are that even if she loses one surrogate, there are many others who will be ready to take his place. In a conducive political environment with a despondent Hindu population, the Shahjahans of West Bengal will continue to thrive, and the women of Sandeshkhali will continue to suffer, until the demographics of the state are engineered to the satisfaction of CM Banerjee. The writer is an anthropologist, author and scholar specialising in the northeast region of India. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ This is a race you cannot fall behind in, because once you do, it takes ages to level the playing field Artificial intelligence has many faces. It is not just a funny and informative chatbot, but it can also be a killer machine. And it looks like the Pentagon wants to meet this alter ego. Maybe even recruit it. The Pentagon already has an AI department. On Tuesday, it organised a symposium in Washington. The topic was AI and the military, specifically large language models, or LLMs. Advertisement It could be useful for spy agencies. They have access to a lot of information. Some of it is in the public domain, and some of it is painstakingly gathered. You could say that there is a data overload. So todays challenge isnt gathering or collecting data. The challenge is analysing it, like, how do you join the dots? How do you figure out patterns? Humans may take a long time to decode such puzzles, but AI will not. It can comb through data in the blink of an eye, which is why security agencies are looking at language models. But the uses dont end there; the LLMs can also be used for other military purposes, like wargaming, training officers, or even real-time decision-making. Advertisement The pentagon is exploring this. It has roped in a company called Scale AI; its job is to test out large language models in military operations. It can be understood why they are doing it; bots are a lot faster. They can crunch more data and, hence, make more informed decisions. They can also cut down on human labour. Advertisement Think of surveillance or reconnaissance. Earlier, human pilots or soldiers would do it. They would enter or loiter in enemy territory, but bots can reduce the risk factor. One can leave such dangerous jobs to them. So on paper, AI can help, but it isnt perfect. Some language models are prone to hallucinations; that is, they make stuff up. Do you remember the Chinese spy balloon over America last year that the US eventually shot down? Well, researchers asked AI about that incident. And the response was: Advertisement The Chinese were not able to determine the cause of the failure. Im sure theyll get it right next time. Thats what they said about the first test of the A-bomb. Theyre Chinese. Theyll get it right next time. The first problem is obviousa bias towards China. This AI model believes China will eventually get things right. Such a bias can affect decision-making. Also, the facts are inaccurate. Advertisement China does know what happened to the balloon. Beijing criticised Washington for shooting it down. So that is a big problemhallucinations. The second is the cyber security risk. All language models eat data for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and military ones will need sensitive data. But what if someone hacks it? Or games to leak the training data? Advertisement Some hackers did that with ChatGPT. They got it to leak its training data. Troves of sensitive information could be at risk if the same happens with military AI. But the biggest problem isnt hallucinations or data leaks. It has a real-world impact. There are no rules around bots on the battlefield. One cannot say it is illegal. But modern warfare is rooted in international laws. Advertisement Most importantly, the international humanitarian law. It has three major principles, or foundations. Number one: Making a distinction between civilians and combatants. Number two: Proportionality, that is, making sure the military response is justified and limited. Finally, number three: Precaution, trying to limit casualties from the onslaught. The question is whether the AI can follow these rules. Many experts say it cannot be. Machines and computers are calculated, and they operate without emotions; they dont understand responsibility or accountability. Advertisement Maybe for them, missions outweigh civilian lives. But are humans any different? No, they didnt. But in that case, you know who to blamehere, with artificial intelligence, its different. The responsibility cannot be held by any individual. The AI on the battlefield is a legal and moral grey area, yet it is also powerful enough to be a game changer. That is why every country is racing for it. In 2017, China made a major announcement. Beijing said it wants to become the worlds AI leader by 2030, but sanctions have hurt them. Advertisement Experts say Chinese AI models are behind the American ones by around 18 to 24 months. So, it looks like the US has the edge. It is a wake-up call for other countries too. Warfare is changing before our eyes; it is not just about the armys size anymore. It is also about how smart it is. So countries like India need to work on their own sovereign AI models. Models that can crunch Indias data. Models that can calculate Indias strategic interests. This is a race you cannot fall behind in, because once you do, it takes ages to level the playing field. Advertisement Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ As Guinea grapples with the aftermath of the governments dissolution and the looming deadline for the restoration of democracy, the implications for stability in West Africa remain uncertain In a startling turn of events, Guinea finds itself at the centre of yet another political upheaval as the military, which seized power in 2021, has dissolved the civilian government and sealed its borders. The country, nestled within the volatile West African coup belt, has witnessed a familiar narrative of military intervention, echoing similar crises in neighbouring nations like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Advertisement Alpha Conde ousted The militarys takeover stemmed from the ousting of President Alpha Conde, who controversially sought and secured a third term in office. Promising to restore democracy, the junta captured Conde, assumed control of the presidential palace and pledged to oversee a transition back to civilian rule. However, recent developments have thrown this transition into disarray. On Monday, the junta issued a decree announcing the dissolution of the civilian government without providing any explanation. Government functions are now to be managed by junior officials until a new administration is established, leaving the timeline for this transition uncertain. The announcement, delivered with a display of military presence, underscores the juntas intent to wield power unilaterally, raising concerns about intimidation tactics and the erosion of civilian authority. Advertisement Amara Camara, secretary general of the presidency read out the military decree: Article One: The government is dissolved. Article Two: Everyday matters will be managed by the Cabinet Directors, Secretaries General and Deputy Secretaries General until a new government is put in place. Article Three: this decree, which abrogates all previous provisions to the contrary, takes effect from the date of its signature and will be registered and published in the Official Journal of the Republic. Conakry, 19 February 2024. Lieutenant General Mamadi Doumbouya. Advertisement Furthermore, the juntas directive to block ministers bank accounts, confiscate their passports and seize official vehicles signals a deepening divide between the military rulers and the civilian appointees. With tight control over information and a history of quashing dissent, the juntas actions cast a shadow over the prospects for a peaceful transition and raise questions about the timeline for returning power to civilian hands. Advertisement Junta making friends Amidst these uncertainties, the juntas potential alliances with neighbouring juntas, as seen in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, add another layer of complexity to Guineas political landscape. The formation of an alliance and discussions of a common currency among these nations may influence the juntas decision-making, potentially prolonging its grip on power. Advertisement As Guinea grapples with the aftermath of the governments dissolution and the looming deadline for the restoration of democracy, the implications for stability in West Africa remain uncertain. The juntas actions, coupled with regional dynamics, underscore the fragile nature of governance in the region and the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian rule. In the days ahead, the world will closely monitor Guineas trajectory, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes democratic principles and the well-being of its people. Advertisement Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Despite their aspirations to lead in generative AI, Chinese firms heavily rely on underlying systems from the United States, mainly open-source models like Metas LLaMA LLM Despite their aspirations to lead in generative AI, Chinese firms heavily rely on underlying systems from the United States, mainly open-source models like Meta's LLaMA Chinese tech companies would like people to believe that their AI bots and applications are home-grown and completely indigenously developed. However, a new report by The New York Times seems to indicate that Chinas tech sector is still largely dependent on the US and its technology for their home-grown AI models. Advertisement As restrictive as Chinas AI landscape is, several Chinese tech companie have managed to develop their own AI bots and applications. What has been surprising is the way several startups in China have gone toe to toe against major, established tech companies, some of which have the backing of the Chinese Communist Party. Several fledgling Chinese startups like 01.AI, had a blast thanks to open-source artificial intelligence systems, just a year after the release of ChatGPT. Founded by renowned investor and technologist Kai-Fu Lee, the company, despite being only eight months old, boasted a staggering $1 billion valuation, backed by deep-pocketed investors. However, like many other AI startups in China, 01.AIs rise to prominence came with a twist - it leveraged technology from Metas LLaMA, presenting its AI system as an alternative to existing options. Advertisement Despite their aspirations to lead in generative AI, Chinese firms heavily rely on underlying systems from the United States, mainly open-source models like Metas LLaMA. The fact that most startups are relying on solutions from American companies goes on to show that tech companies in China are lagging significantly behind the US in generative AI. This is deeply concerning among industry insiders about the trajectory of technological competition between the two nations. Advertisement China has placed significant emphasis on advancing AI technology, particularly highlighted by the victories of AlphaGo over leading Go players in 2016 and 2017. This success prompted Chinese policymakers to establish an ambitious agenda aimed at global technological leadership by 2030. To achieve this, substantial investments were promised to support AI research and development within both academic and corporate sectors. Advertisement However, in November 2022, when OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT, numerous Chinese enterprises found themselves constrained by stringent regulatory measures imposed by the Beijing government. Additionally, Chinese tech giants also have to contend with new and arbitrary regulations governing the training of AI models. These regulations imposed constraints on the datasets permissible for training AI models, delineated acceptable applications, and mandated the registration of AI models with the government. Advertisement These regulations discouraged innovation without official approval, hindering the ability of tech firms to explore new ideas freely. Moreover, censorship guidelines aimed at controlling public discourse and minimizing dissent against the Chinese Communist Party added further challenges for technology companies in China. When Chinese companies are leveraging American open-source technologies to play catch-up, the questions become very complicated wrapped up in issues of national security and geopolitics, said Oren Etzioni, a University of Washington professor and the founder of TrueMedia.org, a nonprofit working to identify disinformation online in political campaigns. Advertisement Some experts believe that China could be at least two to three years behind the US in generative AI. The implications of this AI race are substantial, potentially tipping the global technological balance of power. While Chinese firms scramble to catch up by adopting U.S. open-source AI models, Washington finds itself in a complex position, balancing strategic interests with technological sharing. Advertisement This reliance on U.S. AI systems has sparked deeper questions about Chinas innovation model, particularly as it navigates authoritarian controls. Oren Etzioni, a University of Washington professor, emphasized the complexities intertwined with issues of national security and geopolitics. According to Yiran Chen, a John Cocke Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, tech investors in China have been prioritizing quick returns from AI investments. This focus has led to capital flowing towards easily implementable applications rather than more ambitious endeavors centered on fundamental research. Chen notes that as much as 50% of Chinas AI investment has been directed towards computer vision technology, primarily utilized for surveillance purposes, rather than towards the development of foundational models for generative AI. Advertisement Recently, major players like Baidu, Alibaba, along with unexpected entrants such as the dairy company Mengniu and the tutoring firm TAL Education, have all joined the race in developing generative AI technology in China. This surge of activity has led Chinese media to dub the phenomenon as the battle of 100 models, signifying the intense competition and proliferation of initiatives in the field. Advertisement Yet, challenges persist, including US restrictions on AI chip sales to China. Despite stockpiling chips, Chinese companies face hurdles in sustaining operations. While China grapples with these obstacles, the unveiling of OpenAIs Sora, a tool for generating Hollywood-like videos, highlights the ongoing dynamism in the global AI landscape, where innovation remains fiercely competitive. Advertisement (With inputs from agencies) LINCOLN, Neb. A rural Nebraska county delivered a blow Tuesday to plans by an Iowa corporation to build a pipeline carrying carbon dioxide across the state. The Stanton County Board on a 3-0 vote denied a conditional use permit for Summit Carbon Solutions, which is seeking to build a CO2 pipeline from more than 50 ethanol plants in the Midwest to a sequestration site in North Dakota. Stanton County Clerk Wanda Heermann said commissioners stated that they needed more information about the health risks and possible foreign ownership of the company and that they wanted to see more public education and consideration of alternative routes, the Nebraska Examiner reported. Summit, Heermann said, would have to reapply for a conditional use permit if it wants to cross the northeast Nebraska county. One Stanton County landowner who opposes the project noted that not one landowner testified in favor of the pipeline prior to the county boards vote Tuesday. I want it to be advertised that counties, or at least one, as of now was presented with this decision and denied it unanimously denied, said Justin Kennedy, a member of an opposition group, the Nebraska Easement Action Team. It is a wing of the Bold Alliance, which led the opposition to the crude oil Keystone XL pipeline. A Summit spokeswoman said the company respects the decision of the Stanton County Commissioners and will address their feedback. More than 90% of the landowners in Stanton County have signed voluntary easement agreements, demonstrating broad understanding and support of the project, spokeswoman Sabrina Ahmed Zenor said. Also Tuesday, the Dakota County Planning and Zoning Commission tabled until April a decision on whether to recommend approval of a county conditional use permit for Summit. Commissioners said they needed more information, according to Joe ONeill, the countys zoning administrator. Last fall, Summit Carbon Solutions announced it was postponing its project until 2026 because of opposition to the $5.5 billion, 2,000-mile CO2 pipeline. It is the largest carbon pipeline being proposed in the region and would pass through Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, as well as Nebraska. Proponents of corn-based ethanol have touted the plan to capture and sequester CO2 produced by ethanol plants as a way to make the fuel more environmentally friendly and ensure a market for the fuel into the future. Billions in federal funds have been set aside to help capture the greenhouse gases. Opponents have questioned the safety of the high-pressure, liquid pipeline, pointing to a pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, in 2020 that caused an evacuation and sent several people to the hospital. Questions have also been raised about whether the technology of sequestering carbon in deep underground formations is sound. Opposition has been especially strong in Iowa and South Dakota. Bold Alliance in a statement said one of the Stanton County commissioners, Doug Huttman, asked Summit at Tuesdays meeting for a model of how CO2 would disperse and flow in the event of a rupture. Nebraska has no state regulations concerning carbon pipelines, but counties that have zoning ordinances require companies to obtain conditional use permits to build in that county. The Government of India is loosening its FDA norms for private aerospace sector as it wants to attract major investments. Under the amended FDI policy, India now permits up to 74 per cent FDI under the automatic route in satellite manufacturing and operation The Government of India is loosening its FDA norms for private aerospace sector as it wants to attract major investments. Under the amended FDI policy, India now permits up to 74 per cent FDI under the automatic route in satellite manufacturing and operation The Indian government has announced the relaxation of foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in the space sector. The move, approved by the Union Cabinet, entails the division of the satellite sub-sector into three distinct activities, each with defined limits for foreign investment. Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, highlighted the significance of this step, stating, This will encourage foreign investment in the country and Make in India. Advertisement Under the amended FDI policy, India now permits up to 74 per cent FDI under the automatic route in satellite manufacturing and operation, satellite data products, and ground and user segments. However, beyond this threshold, government approval will be necessary for FDI in these areas. For launch vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, as well as the creation of spaceports for spacecraft launching and receiving, up to 49 per cent FDI is allowed through the automatic route. Any FDI exceeding this limit will require government approval. Additionally, the government has sanctioned up to 100 per cent overseas investments under the automatic route for the manufacturing of components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground, and user segments. The relaxation of FDI norms aligns with the vision and strategy outlined in the Indian Space Policy 2023. The Department of Space collaborated with internal stakeholders such as IN-SPACe, ISRO, NSIL, and various industrial stakeholders to formulate these amendments. Advertisement This move is expected to bolster private sector participation in the space sector, leading to employment generation, technology absorption, and bolstering sector self-reliance. Furthermore, it aims to integrate Indian companies into global value chains and facilitate the establishment of manufacturing facilities. By liberalizing FDI policy provisions, the government seeks to streamline entry routes and offer clarity for overseas investments in satellites, launch vehicles, spaceports, and manufacturing of space-related components and systems. Advertisement (With inputs from agencies) X as agreed to comply with the takedown orders fearing the potential threats of significant fines and other legal actions. Nevertheless, X has taken steps to challenge these directives by filing a writ appeal X as agreed to comply with the takedown orders fearing the potential threats of significant fines and other legal actions. Nevertheless, X has taken steps to challenge these directives by filing a writ appeal X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced that it will be adhering to executive orders that were issued by the Indian government, mandating the suspension of certain accounts and posts on the platform. The platforms notice stated that although it is complying with the directives to withhold certain identified accounts and posts within India, the platform disagrees with the governments actions, and is dedicated to freedom of expression and free speech. To that effect, the platform will be challenging the order using a writ appeal. Advertisement And while X has notified the users whose accounts and posts have been withheld in India about the orders, the platform has chosen not to disclose the identities of the affected accounts. The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) February 21, 2024 Xs announcement of complying with the government of Indias orders comes following the temporary blocking of approximately 177 accounts and web links associated with the farmers protest. According to Twitters official Global Government Affairs account, the platforms compliance with the Indian governments orders is influenced by potential threats of significant fines and legal proceedings. Nevertheless, X has taken steps to challenge these directives by filing a writ appeal, which is currently pending. Advertisement X has emphasised that due to legal constraints, the platform cannot publicly disclose the contents of the executive orders. Furthermore, the platform was critical of the lack of transparency and said that orders such as these could lead to arbitrary decision-making and a lack of accountability. The government of India and X corp have been at loggerheads for a long time. The ongoing conflict escalated last year In September 2023, when the government of India accused the platform of habitual non-compliance during legal proceedings in a Karnataka court. Advertisement The government filed a document stating that Xs non-compliance of takedown orders, often undermined the authority of the law, judiciary, and executive. This was in in response to a challenge filed by the platform appealing against a different court order, seeking the dismissal of certain government directives and a fine of Rs 50 Lakhs. Advertisement The government, in its court filing, argued that all blocking orders were issued following legal processes and in the interest of Indias sovereignty and security. It accused X of deliberate non-compliance, characterizing it as an abetment to offences of publishing prohibited content. Pros: - Energetic sound output, support for LHDC 5.0 codec - Comfortable in-ear fit, IP55 dust and splash resistance - Customisable sound and controls through the companion app - Smart implementation of volume control on the buds - Wear detection, dual-pairing support - Impressive call quality - Good battery backup, supports fast charging - Well priced Cons: - No ingress protection for the charging case - Smart noise cancellation is not very smart - Could have got a bit more out of the dual-driver setup Advertisement Price: Rs 5,499 Rating: 4.25/5 OnePlus latest true wireless (TWS) earbuds have a mighty impressive feature list. The specifications are similar to the flagship OnePlus Buds Pro 2, while the price is closer to the midrange OnePlus Buds Z2. The OnePlus Buds 3 sits right between the two in the companys earbuds hierarchy. A company official clarified that the Buds Z series has been discontinued, and the Buds number series without the Pro suffix will succeed it. Time to tell you everything you need to know about the OnePlus Buds 3. Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi OnePlus Buds 3: Design and Comfort (8/10) The OnePlus Buds 3 looks pretty much like the Buds Pro 2 in terms of shape - the case and the buds both. Other than black, you also get a Splendid Blue colour variant of the Buds 3 that is soothing on the eyes, especially the matte finish of the charging case. The buds are extremely glossy and the opinions about their aesthetics were quite polarising from uber cool to super flashy. It is a matter of individual taste. I was at peace with the design except for their stems attracting smudge marks. Advertisement The build quality is quite solid despite the buds weighing less than 5 grams each. The preinstalled mid-sized silicone tips worked best for me and offered decent passive noise isolation. Two more pairs of tips are included in the bundle to choose from. The buds have an IP55 rating for dust and splash resistance. However, the charging case is void of any IP rating unlike the Buds Z2 or Buds Pro 2. The case is well-built yet lightweight (41 grams) and pocketable too. You get a tiny charge indicator LED at the front, a USB-C port at the back and a Bluetooth pairing/reset button inside. Advertisement Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi The earbuds sit nicely into the ear canals and cause no discomfort even after wearing them for a few hours. While the fit is comfortable, it isnt the most snug. Having said that, on most occasions, they stayed in place during jogs and didnt pop out. But at times, I did feel the need to adjust them slightly. The pressure-sensitive pinch controls on the Buds Pro 2 give way to simple touch controls like on the Buds Z2 with the addition of slide gestures, which I will talk about in a bit. Advertisement OnePlus Buds 3: Features and Specifications (9/10) Just like the Buds Pro 2, the Buds 3 also flaunts dual dynamic drivers, but the company has used a different combination here. Each bud has a slightly smaller 10.4 mm woofer to handle the lows and a dedicated 6 mm tweeter to take care of midrange and high-end frequencies. Each earbud also has three microphones for active noise cancellation (ANC) and calling. In addition, you get wear detection sensors to pause the audio when you remove a bud from an ear, and resume when you put it back. These earbuds also support dual pairing to connect to two devices simultaneously. Both features work fine. Advertisement Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi The OnePlus Buds 3 is Bluetooth 5.3 compliant and supports SBC, AAC and LHDC 5.0 audio codecs. Though the adoption rate seems to be growing, LHDC is still not available on phones from several popular brands. If you do not have a phone that supports it, you will have to make do with AAC. Support for a more popular codec like aptX HD/Adaptive or LDAC would have been better. We tested the Buds 3 with the OnePlus 11 which supports LHDC 5.0. The latency can go as low as 94 ms on these earbuds and there was no perceptible lag between audio and video when watching content on popular OTT platforms. Advertisement The back of the buds are touch sensitive, and the touch zone is marked with a matte texture on the otherwise glossy stems. The touch sensitivity is perfectly fine. You can assign various tasks like play/pause, previous/next tracks, game mode, voice assistant or nothing to single-tap, double tap or triple-tap gestures. Not all tasks can be assigned to all gestures; like ANC mode toggle can only be assigned to touch-and-hold gestures. Advertisement The Buds 3 are the first from the company to support slide gestures. So one can slide a finger from top to bottom or the other way across the touch zone to decrease or increase the volume of change tracks. It is a great addition, something I was hoping would grow in popularity since it was introduced on the Oppo Enco X over three years ago. Finally, its here! The controls can be configured through Bluetooth settings on OnePlus phones released in the past half a decade. HeyMelody app lets you configure these earbuds on other phones. Advertisement Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi You can choose between four ANC modes - Mild, Moderate, Max and Smart. The Max mode can reduce ambient noise up to 49 dB; a jump of just 1 dB from the Buds Pro 2. But hey, the Buds 3 costs half of that, so any improvement is great. Smart ANC mode is meant to automatically switch between the other three modes depending on the quantum of ambient noise. I will tell you how smart it is in the performance section. You also get the usual four OnePlus sound presets - Balanced, Bold, Serenade and Bass, along with a 6-band equaliser to create your own profiles. Advertisement OnePlus Buds 3: Performance (8/10) Pairing these earphones with the phone is a standard process. It also supports Google Fast Pair. The connection stays strong for the specified 10 metres with a clear line of sight. The firmware was updated to the latest version 121.121.101 at the time of review. These earphones are quite loud and rarely did I need to go beyond 60 per cent loudness even when outdoors. We will talk about the sound quality soon, but lets start with the ANC. Advertisement As I mentioned earlier, you get 4 ANC modes, and unlike previous OnePlus earbuds with variable ANC, one can actually tell the difference between Mild, Moderate and Max here. Moderate is good enough in quieter areas but one needs to switch to Max when things get noisy around you. Mild is rather pointless and can be avoided. While Smart mode is meant to select the right mode automatically, it is not always as smart as it should be. Case in point, it stuck to Moderate ANC in a noisy local train to the point where I thought the ANC was off. Advertisement Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi I had to manually change it to Max, and strangely it reverted to Smart after some time or the next time I paired the earbuds. I noticed this a couple of times and OnePlus should fix it in the next update. Max mode does a good job of reducing several low-frequency ambient sounds like the whirr of a fan or the hum of an AC, and even traffic noises when outdoors. It is also effective against certain midrange sounds, and though it cannot eliminate the background human chatter, it does noticeably reduce it. The Transparency mode here is pretty decent but not as good as on the OnePlus Buds Z2. The Buds 3 are among the loudest around and while the output isnt as bass-heavy as most OnePlus earbuds, the default sound favours the low-end frequencies. The sound output can be termed as V-shaped with boosted lows and highs, but for once the Balanced preset sounds a lot more balanced than it has ever been on the companys earphones. For those who need more bass, you have the Bass preset and for those who prefer a sharper sound with less bass, Serenade will do the job for you. The Bold profile that I generally like on OnePlus earphones is below par here. Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi While the sound presets do a decent job, for even better results, simply open the Sound Master EQ and play with the 6-band equaliser to create a profile that suits your taste. You can even try the sample profile displayed in our app screenshot. With sufficient tweaks, the output feels a lot more crisp and lively, making the OnePlus Buds 3 one of the best sounding TWS earbuds in the segment, and are enjoyable across various genres of music. Theres still ample thump in the bass, just that it masks the midrange frequencies a little less. The vocal clarity is quite good here in music as well as other content. The highs are quite sharp and can be tempered better using the EQ without losing the sparkle. The overall detail in sound, though not as good as what one expects from a dual-driver setup, is pretty good for the segment. The soundstage too is reasonably broad for the category. The obvious question on your mind would be whether the Buds 3 sounds as good as the Buds 2 Pro. The answer is no; it is probably a notch or two lower when it comes to overall detail and balance. But again, the Buds 3 costs half of that. Credit to Dynaudio for doing a better job with the tuning on the Buds 2 Pro. The Danish audio company isnt officially involved with the Buds 3. Some of the fancy features of the Pro model like head tracking and wireless charging are also missing here, but I wouldnt bother much given the price difference. While there is no mention of support for Google Spacial Audio, you do get OnePlus 3D Audio here. It tends to broaden the soundstage in certain cases but things can get erratic too. Try it but keep your expectations in check. Beyond the presets and EQ, you can also create your own audio profile using the OnePlus Audio ID 2.0 with a listening test that determines your hearing profile based on your sensitivity to different sounds. The app prefers to call it Golden Sound. It boosts certain frequencies to produce a sharper output. I found it a tad too bright for my taste, but it is worth a shot. You can try configuring it a few times in a quiet room and disable it if you dont like the results. Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi OnePlus Buds 3: Call quality (8.5/10) The call quality on the OnePlus Buds 3 is quite impressive for the segment. Not just indoors, the person on the line could clearly hear me even when I answered the call from a busy street; he couldnt believe I was outdoors. The wind noise suppression works well too, and most of the ambient sounds were kept well in check barring human voices in the vicinity. Interestingly, the din of a not-so-distant procession couldnt be heard by the person on call but a chatter from 20 feet away was picked up and transmitted by the microphones. Neither impacted our conversation much. So all in all, the Buds 3 is an excellent option if a lot of calling sits high on your list of requirements from your wireless earphones. OnePlus Buds 3: Battery life (8.5/10) Each bud here is fitted with a 58 mAh battery, while the case hosts a 520 mAh battery. OnePlus shares a bunch of battery backup figures when using different codecs with and without ANC. Lets quickly run through them before looking at the actual numbers. The company promises an impressive 10 hours of playback for the buds and 44 hours along with the case when using AAC codec at 50 per cent loudness with ANC off. With ANC switched on, they come down to 6.5 hours and 28 hours respectively. Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi If you switch to the LHDC codec, the numbers drop to 7 hours and 30 hours respectively without ANC, and 5.5 hours and 24 hours with ANC. I am happy to report that the actual battery figures werent too different from those above, which makes the battery backup of the OnePlus Buds 3 quite impressive. I largely used LHDC codecs during my testing with loudness between 50 to 60 per cent, and the buds lasted a good 5 hours with ANC switched on all the time and a shade under 7 hours with ANC off. The case can recharge them fully thrice more taking the overall battery backup figure in the range of 20 to 28 hours depending on your use of ANC on LHDC codec. Though I did not test these buds as extensively using AAC codec, my single run did result in close to 9 hours of playback without ANC, so one can expect the backup to be in the range of 24 to 36 hours, which is commendable. Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi The OnePlus Buds 3 supports quick charging, and a 10-minute charge can give you close to 7 hours of playtime on AAC codec with ANC off, and over 4 hours on LHDC, which is more than handy. The battery status of each earbud as well as that of the charging case is visible in the companion app. OnePlus Buds 3: Price and verdict The OnePlus Buds 3 is priced at Rs 5,499 in India with a one-year warranty. The price is quite competitive given its performance, features and versatility. It may be Rs 500 more than the OnePlus Buds Z2, but it does pack a lot more goodies and performs better too. While better-sounding earbuds are priced a few thousand higher, they will face stiff competition from one pair in particular that can be purchased under Rs 5,000. We are talking about the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro which has a lot in common in terms of features and performance. It sports a dual-driver setup too and has impressive call quality and battery backup. The ANC is a little better on the Realme and the buds are also compliant with LDAC codec. Now, that can be a point to consider if your phone doesnt support LHDC. But if it does, the Buds 3 sounds slightly better of the two. Both are excellent options around 5K and neither would disappoint you. All said and done, the OnePlus Buds 3 ticks a lot of boxes, delivers in areas that matter and offers the best price-to-performance ratio among all OnePlus TWS earbuds around. OpenAIs ChatGPT suffered from a massive glitch earlier this week when it began answering to queries in gibberish. The chatbot was glitching for over 16 hours because of a bug affecting the models language processing capabilities OpenAI's ChatGPT suffered from a massive glitch earlier this week when it began answering to queries in gibberish. The chatbot was glitching for over 16 hours because of a bug affecting the model's language processing capabilities OpenAI recently tackled an unexpected glitch in its ChatGPT model, which resulted in hours of nonsensical responses to user queries. The company attributed the issue to a software tweak that inadvertently introduced a bug affecting the models language processing capabilities. Upon identifying the cause of the incident, OpenAI promptly rolled out a fix and confirmed that normal operations were restored. Developers utilizing the tool reported encountering peculiar responses during the glitch, including the generation of nonexistent words, incomplete sentences, and overall incomprehensible output. Advertisement In a discussion forum on the OpenAI website, one developer lamented receiving meaningless words followed by a bizarre list, expressing concern over potential compromises to the systems integrity. It took over 16 hours for OpenAI to update its status page with a message indicating that ChatGPT was functioning normally again. The San Francisco-based technology firm responded to inquiries by directing attention to the ChatGPT status page. This incident occurred amidst significant developments for OpenAI, which recently finalized a deal with investors reportedly valuing the start-up at $80 billion or more. The reported deal, although unconfirmed by OpenAI, suggests a substantial increase in the companys valuation within a short span of under 10 months. OpenAI gained prominence in the field of artificial intelligence with the launch of its ChatGPT program in late 2022. The programs immediate success generated widespread interest in its capabilities, which include generating text, sounds, and images on demand. Advertisement In addition to ChatGPT, OpenAIs portfolio includes DALL-E, an image-generating tool, and the recently unveiled Sora, capable of producing realistic videos based on user prompts. The companys partnership with Microsoft, which has invested approximately $13 billion in OpenAI, underscores the growing importance of AI technology in various sectors. Microsoft integrates OpenAIs technology into its search engine Bing and other services, reflecting the intense competition with rivals like Google in deploying AI-infused tools. Advertisement The substantial investments by tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon in specialized AI start-ups have drawn regulatory scrutiny. In January, the US Federal Trade Commission initiated an investigation into these investments, highlighting the competitive dynamics within the AI industry. (With inputs from agencies) Japan is investing heavily in its semiconductor industry and offering several incentives to chipmakers, especially from Taiwan to set up foundries and R&D centres in the country. Taiwanese chipmakers too, are considering investing heavily in the country Japan is investing heavily in its semiconductor industry and offering several incentives to chipmakers, especially from Taiwan to set up foundries and R&D centres in the country. Taiwanese chipmakers too, are considering investing heavily in the country Japan is seeing a surge in investment and expansion from Taiwanese chip companies, signalling a significant shift in the global chip industry landscape. The move comes amidst evolving alliances and strategic realignments driven by efforts to curb Chinas semiconductor advancements and strengthen ties among allied nations, particularly encouraged by the United States. Advertisement Alchip Technologies, a prominent fabless chipmaker specializing in application-specific integrated chips (ASICs), exemplifies the trend of decoupling from China. Previously reliant on Chinese-based research and development, Alchip has begun relocating roles overseas, with a notable emphasis on Japan. The companys expansion underscores a broader trend as at least nine Taiwanese chip firms have either established operations or expanded in Japan over the past two years. eMemory Technology, a leading chip design company, opened an office in Yokohama, Japan, tapping into the countrys skilled workforce and fostering closer ties with local clientele. The favourable business environment, coupled with a weak yen, has further incentivized Taiwanese firms to consider Japan as a strategic expansion destination. While Japans semiconductor dominance has waned over the years due to trade tensions and increased competition, recent initiatives aim to revitalize the industry. Massive investments, spurred by global chip shortages during the pandemic and support from Washington, underscore Japans commitment to reclaiming its position in the semiconductor market. Advertisement The forthcoming inauguration of TSMCs plant in Kyushu represents a significant milestone, contrasting with challenges faced by its Arizona counterpart. Additionally, plans for a second fab in Japan reflect TSMCs confidence in the countrys conducive business environment and supportive government policies. Japans proactive approach, characterized by substantial subsidies and minimal political interference, has garnered praise from industry experts. The countrys efforts extend beyond TSMC, with government-backed ventures and subsidies attracting investments from Taiwanese firms like Global Unichip Corp and Materials Analysis Technology. Advertisement However, challenges loom as Japan grapples with a declining workforce in the semiconductor sector. Despite intensified efforts to encourage students interest in the field, concerns persist regarding the availability of skilled talent to sustain the industrys growth trajectory. As Taiwanese chip firms continue to strengthen their presence in Japan, the trend of decoupling from China is expected to persist, reshaping the dynamics of the global semiconductor market. Advertisement (With inputs from agencies) Experts noted that religious, nationalist, and Zionist communities in Israel and the West Bank are home to a large number of American immigrants. Large families with several members enlisting in the armed forces or serving as reservists are common Since the beginning of the ground operation in Gaza, 23 US citizens have died while serving in the Israeli military, making up nearly 10% of all IDF fatalities, according to the Washington Post. Of that number, twenty-one perished in the Gaza conflict. Three families of American citizens killed fighting for Israel were interviewed by The Washington Post. Having found in their adopted nation an identity that largely transcended their American passport, they were united in their fierce commitment to the Jewish state. Advertisement Experts noted that religious, nationalist, and Zionist communities in Israel and the West Bank are home to a large number of American immigrants. Large families with several members enlisting in the armed forces or serving as reservists are common. The Israel Defense Forces estimates that there are currently 23,380 American citizens serving in the Israeli military. Its not surprising to see Americans disproportionately represented, said Sara Hirschhorn, a visiting professor of history at Haifa University. Many American Jews who have immigrated to Israel are very idealistic. At least thirty-two Americans lost their lives in the initial Hamas attack. Among the hostages that day were at least 11 more people who came from southern communities where many American families resided. Some of these individuals were left-leaning peace activists who had come to Israel decades earlier after being involved in the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights movements. Advertisement According to the State Department, six Americans are still detained in Gaza. According to history professor Hirschhorn, Americans living in Israel are a reflection of the countrys diversity and activist culture, both on the religious right and the secular left. Hundreds of Palestinian Americans fled from Gaza in the first weeks of the war. None of those who remained have been confirmed to be among the more than 29,000 people killed. The Gaza Health Ministrys count does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. Locals reported seeing Chinas Xiang Yang Hong 3 at the industrial port of Thilafushi, which is close to Male, the capital. The 100-meter-long (328-foot) ship was Thursday night at an anchorage close to Male, according to the website Marinetraffic In the most recent indication of the archipelagos diplomatic reorientation towards Beijing and away from its longtime benefactor India, a controversial Chinese research ship arrived in the Maldives on Thursday. Locals reported seeing Chinas Xiang Yang Hong 3 at the industrial port of Thilafushi, which is close to Male, the capital. The 100-meter-long (328-foot) ship was Thursday night at an anchorage close to Male, according to the website Marinetraffic. Advertisement The ship was docking for a port call to rotate crew and pick up supplies, according to the Maldives pro-Beijing government. However, they stipulated that the vessel would not be conducting research while in their territorial waters. India is suspicious of Chinas increasing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are strategically placed halfway along key east-west international shipping routes. Relations between Male and New Delhi have chilled since pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu won elections last year. Muizzu has asked India to withdraw 89 security personnel based in the Maldives to operate reconnaissance aircraft by March 15. But the president has also insisted he does not want to upend ties with New Delhi by replacing Indian troops with Chinese forces. Advertisement Sri Lanka refused entry to Xiang Yang Hong 3 after two other port calls from Chinese vessels since 2022 raised objections from India. That included the ship Yuan Wang 5, which specialises in spacecraft tracking and which New Delhi described as a spy ship. With inputs from AFP Ed Clark, head of the 737 Max programme, has been replaced with Katie Ringgold as vice president and general manager of the 737 delivery operations Boeing has removed Ed Clark, the head of the 737 Max programme, and has replaced him with Katie Ringgold as vice president and general manager of the 737 delivery operations. Clark, who had overseen Max production since 2021, was asked to exit Boeing immediately. The plane manufacturer took the step at a time when it is battling to better its reputation after an incident in January during which an Alaska Airlines jet lost a door plug in an explosive decompression during a flight. Advertisement For the unversed, on 5 January, a door plug of a passenger plane, operating for Alaska Airlines, blew out mid-flight. Following the incident, the FAA grounded 171 MAX 9 planes that had a similar configuration. Though there were no serious injuries, inspectors pointed out that the situation could have been catastrophic. In a memo to employees, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Stan Deal, said Clark, who was also general manager of Boeings plant in Renton, Washington, is leaving the business with immediate effect. Clark helped ramp up 737 production in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. The company said he is stepping down effective immediately after nearly 18 years at Boeing. Advertisement The grounding of 171 Max 9 jets for several weeks also sparked the biggest safety crisis for Boeing since the crashes of two of its Max 8 jets, in 2018 and 2019, in which 346 people were killed. Big rejig in Boeing 737 Max Programme Apart from Clarks exit and Ringgold replacing him, Boeing has also created a new role of senior vice-president for quality in its commercial airplanes business and has appointed Elizabeth Lund to the post. Advertisement The changes came after an initial report by the US safety regulator found the Alaska Airlines jets cabin panel appeared to have been missing four key bolts, meant to hold the door plug in place, were missing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. Boeing, in a message to its employees, said the changes were made as part of its enhanced focus on ensuring that every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements. Our customers demand, and deserve, nothing less. Advertisement Clark departs with my, and our, deepest gratitude for his many significant contributions over nearly 18 years of dedicated service to Boeing, Stan Deal said. The amendments were incorporated after a meeting of Boeings board, a report by The Guardian quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying. With inputs from agencies The leaked documents show, in detail, the methods that are used by Chinese authorities to keep a hawk eye on dissidents overseas, hack other nations and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media China has been carrying out hacking activities against India and other foreign governments for over eight years to access and extract highly sensitive data. A trove of documents that includes more than 570 files, images and chat logs, leaked from a Chinese state-linked hacking group, shows how Beijings intelligence and military groups have been carrying out systematic cyber intrusions against at least 20 foreign governments, companies and infrastructure at a large scale. Advertisement China has now put its police on the task of investigating how these sensitive documents were leaked online and finding out who the leak is. Target Countries According to a report by The Washington Post, the leaked documents show contracts to extract foreign data over eight years and describe targets within at least 20 foreign governments and territories, including India, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Malaysia. It includes hundreds of pages of contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client and employee lists. The leaked documents show, in detail, the methods used by Chinese authorities to keep a hawk eye on dissidents overseas, hack other nations and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media. Meanwhile, hackers claim that they are able to find gaps in secured systems because of vulnerabilities in software of US-based companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple. Advertisement The documents also give an unusual glimpse inside the intense competition in Chinas national security data-gathering industry. Officials from the police, military and several intelligence agencies in China, get comprehensive access to government contracts and other sensitive information of other nations How it All Started? The leaked documents come from I-Soon (also known as Auxun), a Chinese company headquartered in Shanghai. Advertisement I-Soon has ties to the powerful Ministry of Public Security and deals in selling third-party hacking and data-gathering services to Chinese government bureaus, security groups and state-owned enterprises. Interestingly, the leaked documents dont have any mention of the data extracted from Chinese hacking operations but lists out targets and summaries of sample data amounts extracted and details on whether the hackers obtained full or partial control of foreign systems. Advertisement The documents show I-Soon hacking networks across Central and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. When These Documents Were Leaked? The leaked documents from I-Soon were posted to GitHub last week and are being considered credible by cybersecurity experts. As per a report in the Associated Press, Chinese state agents have been using hacking tools to get into the social media accounts of users outside China on platforms such as X (previously Twitter), and also break into emails They have also been found to hide the online activity of people overseas. Advertisement The report also describes devices disguised as power strips and batteries, which can be used to compromise Wi-Fi networks. Among the documents, was a spreadsheet that listed the 80 overseas targets that I-Soon hackers have been successful in breaching apparently. The haul included 95.2 gigabytes of immigration data from India and a collection of 3 terabyte worth of call log data from South Koreas LG U Plus telecom provider. The documents also showed that I-Soon had a sample of 459 gigabytes of road**-**mapping data from Taiwan, the island nation of 23 million that China claims as its territory. Advertisement The group also targeted other telecommunications firms in Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal and Taiwan. It is worth mentioning that I-Soon has joined the Chinese police in their investigation to find out how the files were leaked. AP quoted an employee of I-Soon saying that the company held a meeting Wednesday about the leak, in which they were told it wouldnt affect business too much and asked them to continue working as normal. Advertisement One of the spreadsheets showed that I-Soon has signed hundreds of deals with Chinese police that range from small jobs priced at $1,400 to multiyear contracts costing as much as $800,000. With inputs from agencies Xinmin said that the Palestinian people have the right to use force to resist foreign oppression and to complete the establishment of the Palestinian state based on the pursuit of the right to self-determination China says Palestinians have the right to 'armed struggle' against Israel. Reuters file China has said that Palestinians have the right to lead an armed struggle against Israel as the latter continues to wage a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Ma Xinmin, a Chinese Foreign Ministry legal adviser, made the comments at the fourth public hearing of the Palestinian argument that Israel is creating a permanent and illegal occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Advertisement Xinmin said that the Palestinian people have the right to use force to resist foreign oppression and to complete the establishment of the Palestinian state based on the pursuit of the right to self-determination. The official argued that the acts of violence committed by Palestinians are not terrorism but legitimate armed struggle. He defended his statement by citing examples of various people [who> freed themselves from colonial rule using armed resistance. Numerous other resolutions recognize the legitimacy of struggle by all available means including armed struggle by people under colonial domination or foreign occupation to realize the right of self-determination, Xinmin told ICJ. Chinas come at a time when the country slammed the US for vetoing a draft UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Advertisement The US veto sends a wrong message, pushing the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one, Chinas envoy to the UN Zhang Jun said. Only by extinguishing the flames of war in Gaza can the world prevent the fires of hell from engulfing the entire region, he added. Thirteen council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted text, while Britain abstained. It was the third US veto of a draft resolution since the start of the current fighting on Oct. 7. Washington has also used its veto to block an amendment to a draft resolution in December. Advertisement With inputs from agencies ChatGPT: The Risks and Myths of Chatbot AIs From integration with customer service support to personal assistants and translation services, businesses like yours are already utilizing ChatGPT in an abundance of use cases. But theres a dark side to this AI boom. Tune into this webcast to understand the risks and myths of ChatGPT in InfoSec. It's Tuesday: Do You Know if Youre Compromised? To access insights from recent threat hunts conducted by Trustwaves SpiderLabs, view this webcast. 2023 Manufacturing Threat Landscape Recent findings show that the average data breach in the manufacturing sector costs $4.7 million. This webcast investigates the unique challenges involved in securing manufacturing operations, as well as key research findings and strategies that can be used to overcome these challenges. Watch to learn more. 2023 Retail Threat Landscape $2.9 million: This is the average cost of a data breach in the retail industry. Retailers, are you prepared to pay that massive price? To help you avoid doing so, in this webcast a security expert from Trustwave SpiderLabs Threat Intelligence Team is here to equip you with the insights you need to defend against attacks. Tune in now. ChatGPT Update: How AI Models are Changing the Face of Infosec How are AI models like ChatGPT transforming InfoSec? Find out in this webcast, which features insights from Senior Security Research Manager of Trustwave SpiderLabs Threat Intelligence Team, Karl Sigler. Decrypting the Future: Trustwaves 2024 Cybersecurity Predictions Between groundbreaking advances in AI, as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions, cyber threats are evolving rapidly with no end in sight. In this webcast, experts from Trustwave and SpiderLabs analyze how these circumstances have affected the threat landscape and formulate predictions for the future of cybersecurity. Read on to learn more. Actionable Intelligence for an Active Threat Landscape In 2022, over 28.5 million healthcare records were breached, according to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. So, how can todays healthcare organizations protect their records and defend against advanced threats? To unlock actionable insights, dig into this 46-page report. 2023 Hospitality Sector Threat Landscape Because of the sheer amount of sensitive data that hospitality organizations maintain, a data breach can cause major reputational damage. This report delves into the hospitality industrys unique cybersecurity threat profile. Read on to learn about boosting your companys security stance. Cybersecurity Solutions and Services: Managed Security Services - SOC (Large Accounts Take a look through this ISG Provider Lens Quadrant report to learn about 27 MSSPs that can support the needs of large enterprises. Cybersecurity Solutions and Services: Managed Security Services - SOC (Midmarket) Review this ISG Provider Lens Quadrant report to compare the strengths, challenges and capabilities of 20 top MSSPs for midsize enterprises. What MDR is and Why You Need It What is managed detection and response (MDR), and how can it benefit your organizations security team? Unlock answers in this white paper. Why a Zero Trust Architecture Must Include Database Security Browse this white paper to discover why and how to apply Zero Trust to your businesss database security. For Improved Data Security, Burn, Baby, Burn Are you familiar with back burning and its security benefits? Review this white paper to learn how and why you should consider implementing the process in your organization. IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Managed Cloud Security Services in the Multicloud Era 2022 Vendor Assessment To secure their workloads, many businesses are turning to managed cloud security services (MCSS) providers. The popularity of such services led IDC to analyze the market for MCSS. Dig into this report for a breakdown of one of the 18 providers evaluated: Trustwave. 11 Questions to Ask Your Pentesting Service Provider To augment their security stances, many organizations have partnered with a penetration testing (pentesting) service provider. Is your business considering doing the same? Step in 11 Questions to Ask Your Pentesting Service Provider, a white paper that can guide your market exploration. Read now to unlock insights. Trustwave Managed Detection and Response Services For your business to succeed in a cyber landscape riddled with threats, you need to detect and respond to those threats rapidly. So, how can you do so? This overview explains how Trustwave Managed Detection and Response (MDR) can help. Continue reading to discover 5 benefits that Trustwave MDR can deliver for your organization. Understanding Managed Security Services Provider Offerings Which offering from a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) does your business need? First, you have to understand your options. Dig into this brief guide to learn about and compare SIEM, Managed SIEM, SOC-as-a-Service and Co-managed SOC. How Curtin University Partnered with Trustwave for Complete Cyber Insight and Response Curtin University of Western Australia knew that they needed to protect their more-than-57,000 students from phishing attacks and data breaches. This case study explores why they chose Trustwave as a partner to achieve this goal. Dig in to learn about the benefits that Trustwaves MDR services delivered for Curtin. Get Maximum Value from Your SIEM Your business must not only identify cyberattacks but also understand them. To supply organizations with the information that they need to do so, security information and event management (SIEM) systems have populated the cybersecurity scene. Learn about one such solution in this overview. The Trustwave Difference: Your Trusted Partner in Cyber Security The duties of CISOs are seemingly endless. According to a report by Nominet Cyber Security, 48% of CISOs shared that the stress caused by the job has impacted their mental health. In an effort to alleviate some of that stress, Trustwave developed teams to serve as resources for CISOs. Explore this overview to learn more. Rapid Time-to-Value: Trustwave Managed Services Onboarding When undergoing a digital transformation, a prolonged onboarding process can present security and efficiency challenges to organizations. Thats why Trustwave delivers security services onboarding in as little as 10 days. Read this white paper to understand Trustwaves 5-phase strategy. Frost Radar: Global Managed Detection and Response Market, 2022 With a shortage of cybersecurity experts in the workforce, many companies turn to managed detection and response (MDR) service providers to fill their needs. Learn all about the state of the MDR market, including top companies to consider and strategic insights in this analyst report. 8Experts on Achieving Better Supply Chain Security According to Gartner, 89% of organizations have experienced a supply chain security risk event in the past 5 years. This white paper compiles the opinions of 8 industry-leading experts with the goal of providing insight into the difficulties faced when securing a supply chain, and what can be done to overcome them. Read on to learn more. Get the Most Out of Your SIEM System SIEM platforms remove a huge burden from your security team and allow them to focus on other analysis-related tasks. However, SIEM systems are not infallible. Discover how to better employ your SIEM system to produce the most accurate event analysis you can hope for. The monuments operator, SETE, has urged visitors to either check the Eiffel Towers official website before showing up or postpone their visit Frances iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to tourists for the fourth day on Thursday as its employees extended a strike over the monuments management. The monuments operator, SETE, has urged visitors to either check the Eiffel Towers official website before showing up or postpone their visit. Meanwhile, existing ticket holders will be reimbursed, the operator further said. Advertisement This marks the second strike at the Eiffel Tower in two months, citing the same reason. Critics, including unions, have voiced concerns over SETEs business model, alleging it relies on inflated projections of future visitor counts while underestimating construction expenses. The Eiffel Tower, Pariss iconic landmark, typically welcomes nearly seven million visitors annually, with approximately three-quarters of them being international tourists, as per its website. Visitor figures plummeted during the Covid pandemic due to closures and travel limitations but rebounded to 5.9 million in 2022. Anticipated visitor numbers are set to surge this summer as Paris hosts the Olympic Games. With inputs from agencies According to Frances defence minister Lecornu, a Russian air traffic system threatened to shoot down French planes over the Black Sea that were at the time patrolling in international airspace As tensions rise, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday that Russian forces have threatened to attack French air force pilots while they are on patrol in international air space. He told the broadcaster RTL that Russia had attempted to take control of French air force and navy patrols, adding that Russia was pushing the limits with such actions. Advertisement According to Lecornu, a Russian air traffic system threatened to shoot down French planes over the Black Sea that were at the time patrolling in international airspace. You have Russian operators threatening French pilots with the shooting down of their aircraft, he stated. The incident took place a month ago but his ministry later said it had actually happened in November and involved a French AWACS aircraft specialising in airborne control and detection operations. It was a particularly aggressive radio exchange, a ministry spokesperson said, calling such an intimidation attempt in that particular area was a first. In a separate incident, a Russian warship was detected near the Bay of the Seine, an inlet of the English Channel on Frances Normandy coast, Lecornu said. Although the Russian vessel was in international waters, it was as if it had come to intimidate France, he said. Advertisement His remarks are the latest in a string of French accusations of aggressive Russian behaviour, including alleged cyberattacks and propaganda directed at France. Such incidents were as old as the Cold War, Lecornu acknowledged, but warned that Russia is pushing the limits in terms of aggressive behaviour. One cyberattack had targeted a French weapons factory, he said. Advertisement Lecornu last weekend ordered his ministry to be more vigilant towards Russian sabotage and cyberattacks, according to an internal directive seen by AFP on Tuesday. President Emmanuel Macrons government is a major supplier of weapons and aid to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russias invasion for the past two years. Macron declared last month that Europes priority must be to not let Russia win. Advertisement With inputs from AFP We have great people-to-people connections, we have a vibrant Indian community in Greece, and we want to foster these connections much further, he said, taking part in the India-Greece Business Forum hosted by Ficci and Enterprise Greece Drones, agriculture, ICT, tourism, and defense are just a few of the industries that have enormous potential for Greece and India, according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. We have great people-to-people connections, we have a vibrant Indian community in Greece, and we want to foster these connections much further, he said, taking part in the India-Greece Business Forum hosted by Ficci and Enterprise Greece. Advertisement As a follow-up to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Athens last yearthe first by an Indian premier in four decadesMitsotakis is the first Greek premier to visit India in sixteen years. He said we expect to make concrete announcements very soon regarding the signing of the mobility migration agreement, enabling more Indian labour to come to Greece in an organised manner. He said India is a powerhouse for technological development, and Greece, emerging over the past decade, has a very dynamic tech sector, primarily fuelled by startup companies that have been doing incredibly well. I can see interesting natural synergies emerging in the technology space, he added. Konstantinos Fragkogiannis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness of Greece, said to further strengthen economic relations between the two countries, we should capitalise on the unique advantages of India and Greece. Advertisement He added that both nations have specific areas of interests, primarily in diversifying sources, routes, and supplies, as well as developing regional interconnections to improve energy security. Bilateral engagements with India with a focus on sectors like artificial intelligence, culture, science and technology, tourism and energy are the top priority of the government, Fragkogiannis said. India-Greece Business Forum was jointly organised by industry body Ficci and Enterprise Greece, which is the investment and trade promotion agency of Greece. Advertisement With inputs from PTI The shipments, which began in early January, are part of a deal struck by Tehran and Moscow last year. The delivery includes the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar. Experts say that these road-mobile missiles are capable of attacking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km Iranian President Raisi attends the joining ceremony of ballistic missiles to the Armed Forces, in Tehran. Reuters file Iran has delivered a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles to Russia, highlighting the deepening military ties between the two US-sanctioned countries. Sources told Reuters that the delivery includes the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar. Experts say that these road-mobile missiles are capable of attacking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km. Advertisement The shipments, which began in early January, are part of a deal struck by Tehran and Moscow last year. An Iranian military official - who, like the other sources, asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information - said there had been at least four shipments of missiles till now and that there would be more in the coming weeks. He declined to provide further details. Another Iranian source said that some of the deliveries were made to Russia via the Caspian Sea while others were made by plane. There will be more shipments, the second Iranian official said. There is no reason to hide it. We are allowed to export weapons to any country that we wish to. Advertisement In January, the White House national security spokesperson John Kirby had warned that Russia and Iran were close to striking a deal to acquire short-range ballistic missiles, in addition to missiles Russia had already received from North Korea. However, Ukraines top prosecutor last week said that the missiles provided by North Korea to Russia are ineffective, with only 24 of them hitting the target. Advertisement By contrast, Jeffrey Lewis, an expert with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said the Fateh-110 family of missiles and the Zolfaghar were precision weapons. They are used to point at things that are high value and need precise damage, said Lewis, adding that 400 munitions could inflict considerable harm if used in Ukraine. He noted, however, that Russian bombardments were already pretty brutal. Israel was unable to determine the nature of the fire or its source. But long-range ballistic missiles with a warhead intended to kill objects in orbit are intercepted by the Arrow system A trail of white smoke in the air from what the Israeli military said was an intercepted target is pictured in Eilat, Israel. Reuters According to officials, Israel stopped what looked to be an attack launched by the Houthi rebels in Yemen on Thursday near the port city of Eilat. The organisation is intensifying its attacks in response to Israels battle against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Early on Thursday morning, sirens were heard over Eilat. Shortly after, footage of what looked to be an intercept in the skies overhead were uploaded online. Advertisement Afterwards, the Israeli military claimed that their Arrow missile defence system was responsible for the interception. Israel was unable to determine the nature of the fire or its source. But long-range ballistic missiles with a warhead intended to kill objects in orbit are intercepted by the Arrow system. The system successfully intercepted a launch which was identified in the area of the Red Sea and was en route to Israel, the Israeli military said. The target did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to civilians. The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack. They typically acknowledge assaults they conduct hours afterward. Eilat, on the Red Sea, is a key port city of Israel. On Oct. 31, the Houthis first claimed a missile-and-drone barrage targeting the city. The rebels have claimed other attacks targeting Eilat, which have caused no damage in the city. Advertisement Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for trade among Asia, the Mideast and Europe. Those vessels have included at least one with cargo for Iran, the Houthis main benefactor. Advertisement Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, the Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks. This week, they seriously damaged a ship in a crucial strait and downed an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. The Houthis insist their attacks will continue until Israel stops its combat operations in the Gaza Strip, which have enraged the wider Arab world and seen the Houthis gain international recognition. Advertisement On Wednesday, ships in the Red Sea off the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen reported seeing an explosion, though all vessels in the area were said to be safe, according to the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centers. The UKMTO earlier reported heavy drone activity in the area. Advertisement The U.S. militarys Central Command acknowledged shooting down a Houthi bomb-carrying drone during that time. U.S. airstrikes separately targeted seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one mobile anti-ship ballistic missile prepared to target ships in the Red Sea, Central Command said. The U.S. State Department criticized the reckless and indiscriminate attacks on civilian cargo ships by the Houthis that have delayed humanitarian aid including food and medicine bound for Ethiopia, Sudan and Yemen. That includes the Sea Champion, a ship carrying corn and other aid to both Aden and Hodeida. Advertisement Contrary to what the Houthis may attempt to claim, their attacks do nothing to help the Palestinians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Their actions are not bringing a single morsel of assistance or food to the Palestinian people. Hamas claimed the plan was doomed to fail and would effectively mean an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza. The Israeli official claimed the plan would also bar anyone employed by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority (PA) Palestinians ride a donkey cart through a destroyed beach road, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kosay Al Nemer/File Photo As part of its plan to prepare for post-war administration of the enclave, Israel is looking for non-Hamas affiliated Palestinians to oversee civilian affairs in parts of the Gaza Strip, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday. However, Hamas claimed the plan was doomed to fail and would effectively mean an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza. The Israeli official claimed the plan would also bar anyone employed by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority (PA). Advertisement According to the Israeli official, the planned humanitarian pockets would be in areas of the Gaza Strip where Hamas has been driven out. However, the success of these efforts would ultimately depend on Israels ability to eradicate the Islamist group throughout the small coastal region that it has been in charge of. Were looking for the right people to step up to the plate, the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head. The plan, the official added, may be achieved once Hamas is destroyed and doesnt pose a threat to Israel or to Gazans. Advertisement Israels top-rated Channel 12 TV reported that the Zeitoun neighbourhood of northern Gaza City was a candidate for implementation of the plan, under which local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid. The Israeli military would provide peripheral security in Zeitoun, Channel 12 said, describing renewed troop incursions there this week as designed to root out remnants of a Hamas garrison that was hit hard in the early stages of the war. Advertisement SIGN OF CONFUSION Asked about the Israeli officials comments and the Channel 12 report, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said such a plan would be tantamount to Israel reoccupying Gaza, from which it withdrew troops and settlers in 2005. Israel says it will have indefinite security control over Gaza after the war, but denies this would be a reoccupation. Advertisement We are confident this project is pointless and is a sign of confusion and it will never succeed, Abu Zuhri told Reuters. The Israeli official also made clear the Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, would also be barred as a partner in the humanitarian pockets on account of its failure to condemn the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Advertisement The militants killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in that attack, Israel says, prompting an Israeli ground offensive and aerial bombardment of Gaza in which nearly 30,000 people have been killed, according to Gazan health authorities. Anyone who took part in, or even failed to condemn, October 7 is ruled out, the official said. Advertisement Wassel Abu Yousef, a senior official with the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation of which the PA is part, also appeared dismissive of the Israeli plan on Thursday. All of Israels attempts to change the geographic and demographic features of Gaza will not succeed, he told Reuters. The United States has called for a revitalised PA to govern Gaza after the war. But Israel has been cool to the idea, noting that the PA provides payouts to jailed militants. Advertisement Still, the official said, Israel would be willing to consider humanitarian pocket partners with past links to the PAs dominant Fatah faction, a more secular rival to Hamas. With inputs from Reuters I take full responsibility for my actions and surrender myself before the authorities for any kind of legal action, Chatha, former Rawalpindi commissioner, was quoted as saying by Geo News In a volte-face, former senior bureaucrat Liaquat Ali Chattha, who alleged that 13 candidates from Pakistans garrison city of Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners in the elections, on Thursday withdrew his allegations and said that he was extremely ashamed and embarrassed over his claims. I take full responsibility for my actions and surrender myself before the authorities for any kind of legal action, Chatha, former Rawalpindi commissioner, was quoted as saying by Geo News. Advertisement On Saturday, Chattha resigned from his office after accepting responsibility for manipulation of poll results. 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 had said. He had also accused Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa of facilitating the rigging. Retracting his allegations in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday, Chatha said that all of this was done in coordination with jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who had promised him lucrative positions. With inputs from PTI Britains General Medical Council initiated fitness checks between 1899 and 1994 against 40 male doctors over their sexual orientation, an internal investigation has revealed UKs oldest medical regulator will issue a formal apology to gay doctors who have been dismissed over their sexual orientation over the years. According to a report by The Guardian, Britains General Medical Council (GMC) will formally apologise to medical practitioners who have been investigated, sanctioned or barred from practicing medicine under the now-banned legislation that outlawed homosexuality. Advertisement UK decriminalised homosexuality among men aged above 21 in 1967 under the Sexual Offences Act. The history of banning gay doctors GMC, which is one of the worlds oldest medical bodies, initiated fitness checks between 1899 and 1994 against 40 male doctors over their sexual orientation, an internal investigation has revealed. At least eight of these 40 doctors were struck off in the medical register as a result of which they were unable to practice medicine ever again. Based on findings by the GMCs archivist, who collaborated with the medical bodys LGBTQ+ staff network to search records of such doctors, the last doctor to be banned from practicing medicine was in 1996. However, some other doctors were under the scanner even after 1996 or were issued warnings over their sexualities. Advertisement We truly apologise The Chief Executive of GMC, Charlie Massey, said, As a regulator we took action against male doctors who were convicted of engaging, or attempting to engage, in consensual sexual activity with other men. He added, We adversely impacted, and in some cases ended, careers. For that, we want to apologise. Advertisement On Thursday, the medical body will issue a statement expressing how " truly sorry GMC is. Homophobic laws and attitudes, that were in place into the 1980s and beyond, caused personal and professional harm, Prof Dame Carrie MacEwen, the GMC chair will say. We compounded that harm when we also took additional regulatory action against those who were on the medical register. In some cases that meant the end of a practitioners career. For this we are truly sorry, the statement will read. Advertisement LGBTQ body respect apology The Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists welcomed the GMCs decision to apologise. The profound impact of these actions on their lives cannot be overstated. This apology is an important step in righting the wrongs of the past and, while the hurt and damage that has been caused to those doctors cannot be undone, it is important to acknowledge past injustices, Duncan McGregor of the association said. Advertisement He added, This apology represents progress towards justice for those impacted by these historic homophobic laws and progress for the LGBTQ+ community. We hope this gesture brings some measure of solace to those affected doctors and their loved ones. The Spanish intelligence services have no doubt that the long arm of the Kremlin was behind this unprecedented crime in Spain: the murder in Alicante of Maxim Kuzminov, stated the newspaper Maxim Kuzminov fled in his Mi-8 helicopter from Ukraine in August. AFP El Pais newspaper reported on Thursday that Moscow sent hitmen who shot and killed a Russian deserter in Spain last week, six months after he fled to Ukraine in his helicopter. The report cited Spanish intelligence sources. The Spanish intelligence services have no doubt that the long arm of the Kremlin was behind this unprecedented crime in Spain: the murder in Alicante of Maxim Kuzminov, stated the newspaper. Advertisement Six bullets pierced the victims body, which was discovered in Villajoyosa on February 13, twelve kilometers (seven miles) from the beach resort of Benidorm. His fingerprints, according to Spanish media on Monday, identified him as Kuzminov. Kuzminov, 33, flew his Mi-8 helicopter into Ukraine in August saying he opposed Russias military offensive, with Kievs GUR military intelligence confirming his death. Although Russias SVR foreign intelligence service hailed news of Kuzminovs death, it did not confirm or deny Moscows involvement. Spanish intelligence sources quoted by El Pais said the only question was whether the operation was carried out by the SVR, the FSB security service or Russias GRU intelligence agency. But they admitted it would be very difficult to obtain incriminating evidence. Advertisement The paper, which is known for its connections to circles of power, also quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the incident was very serious and that Spain would respond forcefully if Moscows involvement was confirmed. - Russian glee over pilots murder - Spanish officials have until now refused to confirm the victim was Kuzminov. Advertisement A spokesman for the Guardia Civil police, which is running the investigation, told AFP on Thursday that there was no new information on the case, and the interior ministry refused to comment. Contacted by AFP, the defence ministry, which is responsible for Spains intelligence services, said: Let the police do their work and carry out the investigation, parroting the governments official line. Advertisement Spanish intelligence officials believe the shooting, which occurred in an area with a big Russian population and was initially thought to be a settling of scores, was carried out by hitmen who have already left Spain. After shooting Kuzminov six times, they ran him over with his own car and then fled, they said. Advertisement The car was later found completely burnt out in a nearby town. When Kuzminov deserted, there were two other Russian servicemen on board his helicopter who were unaware of his plans. They were killed when they tried to flee after the chopper landed in Ukraine, according to Kievs military intelligence services, which said it had spent six months planning Kuzminovs defection. Advertisement Russias SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin on Tuesday hailed news of the pilots death. This traitor and criminal became a moral corpse at the very moment when he planned his dirty and terrible crime, he said in remarks reported by Russian state news agencies. With inputs from AFP The 1956 fishing deal allowed British vessels into the rich fishing grounds of the Barents Sea, the coast of the Kola Peninsula and along the coast of Kolguyev Island Russia is pulling out of a 1956 fishing agreement that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev signed with Britain. This move is a sign of how far apart the two countries have become following two years of hostilities and Cold War rhetoric. The most significant conflict between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was brought on by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and both sides portray the other as a cunning foe. Advertisement At a turning moment in the Cold War, the May 1956 fishing agreement was signed in London. That year, Khrushchev had criticised Josef Stalin, suggested peaceful coexistence with the West, and had even paid a visit to Britain in April. The perspective from Moscow is more bleak today. President Vladimir Putin casts the United States and its allies as a crumbling empire that wants to destroy Russia and steal its natural resources. The West casts Putin as a killer and Putins Russia as an enemy. The 1956 fishing deal allowed British vessels into the rich fishing grounds of the Barents Sea, the coast of the Kola Peninsula and along the coast of Kolguyev Island. When Nikita Khrushchev accepted this deal in 1956, it is difficult to say what guided him but it was definitely not national interest, Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma lower house of parliament, said in a statement. Advertisement The British need to study some proverbs: Russians harness the horse slowly, but ride it fast. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the West slapped what it cast as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. Russia cast the sanctions as a declaration of economic war, though its economy grew 3.6% last year. Advertisement Britain on Wednesday imposed sanctions on six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last week. When people ask if we can respond to sanctions, the answer is: we can, Volodin said, adding that British vessels caught thousands of tonnes of cod and haddock in Russian waters. Advertisement Volodin, a close ally of Putin, repeated the current orthodoxy of the Kremlin which views the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as a tragedy and Mikhail Gorbachev as a failure who was tricked by an deceitful West intent on humiliating Russia. With Gorbachev, we lost our country, and with Putin we got it back, Volodin said. China's Path to Socialist Modernization BY VIJAY PRASHAD AND TINGS CHAK OCTOBER 28, 2022 https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/10/28/chinas-path-to-socialist-modernization/ Photograph Source: Hou Bo Public Domain The Communist Party of China (CPC) held its 20th National Congress from October 16 to October 22, 2022. Every five years, the delegates of the CPCs 96 million members meet to elect its top leaders and to set the future direction for the party. One of the main themes of the congress this year was rejuvenation of the country through a Chinese path to modernization. In his report to the congress, Xi Jinping, the CPCs general secretary, sketched out the way forward to build China into a modern socialist country. Most of the Western media commentary about the congress ignored the actual words that were said in Beijing, opting instead to make wild speculations about the deliberations in the party (including about the sudden departure of former Chinese President Hu Jintao from the Great Hall of the People during the closing session of the congress, who left because he was feeling ill). Much could have been gained from listening to what people said during the National Congress instead of putting words in their mouths. Socialist Modernization When the Communist Party took power in China in 1949, the country was the 11th poorest country in the world. For the first time since the century of humiliation that began with the British wars on China from 1839 onward, China has developed into a major power with the social situation of the Chinese people having greatly improved from their condition in 1949. A short walk away from the Great Hall of the People, where the congress was held, is the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, which reminds people of the immense achievement of the Chinese Revolution of 1949 and its impact on Chinese society. Xi Jinping became the general secretary of the CPC at the 18th National Congress in 2012 and was elected president of the Peoples Republic of China in March 2013. Since then, the country has gone through significant changes. Economically, Chinas GDP has almost doubled to become the worlds second-largest economy, growing from 58.8 trillion yuan in 2013 to 114.37 trillion yuan in 2021, and its GDP expanded at a rate of 6.6 percent per year during the same period. Meanwhile, the countrys per capita GDP almost doubled between 2013 and 2021, with China approaching the high-income country bracket. In terms of the world economy, Chinas GDP was 18.5 percent of the global total in 2021, and the country was responsible for 30 percent of world economic growth from 2013 to 2021. China also manufactured 30 percent of the worlds goods in 2021, up from more than 20 percent in 2012. This adds to the decades of historically unprecedented growth rate of 9.8 percent per yearfrom 1978 to 2014 since the launching of economic reform in China in 1978. These economic achievements are historic and did not come without their set of challenges and consequences. While delivering the report at the opening of this congress, Xi spoke about the situation that the Chinese people faced a decade ago: Great achievements had been secured in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization At the same time, however, a number of prominent issues and problemssome of which had been building for years and others which were just emergingdemanded urgent action. He went on to talk about the slide toward weak, hollow, and watered-down party leadership, pointing out that money worship, hedonism, egocentricity, and historical nihilism were the deep-seated problems in a development process that was imbalanced, uncoordinated, and unsustainable. These are significant self-criticisms made by the man who has led the country for the past decade. Corruption A decade ago, in his speech at the 18th CPC National Congress, outgoing Secretary General Hu Jintao mentioned the word corruption several times. If we fail to handle this issue well, he warned, it could prove fatal to the party, and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state. Xi Jinpings first task after taking over as general secretary of the CPC was to tackle this issue. In his inaugural speech as the party head in 2013, Xi said he was committed to the fighting of tigers and flies at the same time, referring to the corruption that had spread from the high echelons down to the grassroots level within the party and the government. The party launched eight-point rules for its members in December 2012, to limit practices such as inconsequential meetings and extravagant receptions for official visits, and advocated diligence and thrift. Meanwhile, a year after the launch of the mass line campaign by Xis administration in June 2013, official meetings were reduced by 25 percent in comparison to the period before the campaign, 160,000 phantom staff were removed from the government payroll, and 2,580 unnecessary official building projects were stopped. Over the past decade, from November 2012 to April 2022, nearly 4.4 million cases involving 4.7 million officials were investigated in the fight against corruption. Party members have been investigated. In the first half of this year alone, 24 senior officials were investigated for corruption, and former ministers, provincial governors, and presidents of the biggest state-owned banks have been expelled from the party and given harsh sentences, including life imprisonment. Hu Jintaos comments and Xi Jinpings actions reflected concerns that during the period of high growth after 1978, CPC members grew increasingly detached from the people. During the first months of his presidency, Xi launched the mass line campaign to bring the party closer to the grassroots. As part of the targeted poverty alleviation campaign launched in 2014, 800,000 party cadres were sent to survey and visit 128,000 villages as part of this project. In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, China successfully eradicated extreme poverty, contributing to 76 percent of the global reduction in poverty till October 2015. Beyond the partys self-correction, Xis strong words and actions against the corrupt flies and tigers contributed to the Chinese peoples confidence in the government. According to a 2020 research paper by Harvard Kennedy Schools Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the overall satisfaction with the governments performance was 93.1 percent in 2016, seeing the most significant growth in the more underdeveloped regions in the countryside. This rise of confidence in rural areas resulted from increased social services, trust in local officials, and the campaign against poverty. Right Side of History At the 20th Congress, Xi Jinping reflected on the history of colonialismincluding Chinas century of humiliationand the implications this would have for China going forward. In pursuing modernization, Xi said, China will not tread the old path of war, colonization, and plunder taken by some countries. That brutal and blood-stained path of enrichment at the expense of others caused great suffering for the people of developing countries. We will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. Chinese officials routinely tell us that their country is not interested in seeking dominance in the world. What China would like to do is to collaborate with other countries to try and solve humanitys dilemmas. The Belt and Road Initiative, for instance, was launched in 2013 with the purpose of win-win cooperation and development and has thus far built much-needed infrastructure with investment and construction contracts totaling $1 trillion in almost 150 countries. Chinas interest in tackling the climate catastrophe is evidenced by its planting of a quarter of the worlds new forests over the past decade and in becoming a world leader in renewable energy investment and electric vehicle production. On the public health side, China adopted a COVID-19 policy that prioritizes lives over profit, donated 325 million doses of vaccines, and saved millions of lives as a result of this. As a result of its initiatives in the public health sector, the average life expectancy of Chinese people was 77.93 years in 2020 and reached 78.2 years in 2021, and for the first time, surpassed life expectancy in the United States77 years in 2020 and 76.1 in 2021making this drop the biggest two-year decline in life expectancy since 1921-1923. Chinas communists do not see these events without putting them in the context of the long process undertaken by the government toward achieving and ensuring their social development. In 27 years, China will celebrate the centenary of its revolution. In 1997, then-President of China Jiang Zemin spoke about the two centenary goalsthe 100-year markers following the founding of the Communist Party (1921) and the Chinese Revolution (1949)that underwrite all Chinas long-term economic planning programs and contemporary macroeconomic policy agendas. At that time, the focus was on growth rates. In 2017, Xi Jinping shifted the emphasis of these goals to the three tough battles: to defuse major financial risks, to eradicate poverty, and to control pollution. This new congress has gone beyond those tough battles to protect Chinese sovereignty and to expand the dignity of the Chinese people. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Naftali Bennett actively investigated the idea while he was a candidate. The report claims that following the May 2022 terror attack in Elad, the Shin Bet once more proposed a plan to kill Hamass leader, but the IDF objected The Shin Bet has made several attempts to persuade the government to authorise a strike against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar since his release from prison back to the Gaza Strip in the 2011 Gilad Shalit exchange, according to Yedioth Ahronoths Nadav Eyal. According to Eyal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vetoed Sinwars death five times in an attempt to prevent a conflict with Hamas. Advertisement Naftali Bennett actively investigated the idea while he was a candidate. The report claims that following the May 2022 terror attack in Elad, the Shin Bet once more proposed a plan to kill Hamass leader, but the IDF objected. Benny Gantz, the defense minister at the time, opposed a strike as well because he thought it would deter Hamas. Eyal does not cite a source, but the piece does appear to reflect the Shin Bet placing responsibility on the political leadership. The surge coincides with shifting alliances and interests in the global chip business, as the United States seeks to impede Chinas advancement in cutting-edge semiconductors while strengthening cooperation among its allies Japans efforts to restore its semiconductor industry are gaining momentum as more Taiwanese chip businesses invest here, not just to support a new TSMC factory, but also because they are optimistic about the Japanese sectors potential. The surge coincides with shifting alliances and interests in the global chip business, as the United States seeks to impede Chinas advancement in cutting-edge semiconductors while strengthening cooperation among its allies. Advertisement Alchip Technologies, a fabless chipmaker that specialises in bespoke semiconductors known as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), is an example of the China decoupling trend. The majority of Alchips research and development engineers were situated in China in 2022, but the company has begun to relocate responsibilities overseas, mainly to Japan, according to a person familiar with the situation. The corporation stated that it is hiring in Japan, North America, and Taiwan, but declined to provide additional details on personnel concerns. Were expecting Japan semiconductor market growth, were continuously capitalising on Japan ASIC opportunities and already engaging in several good projects, said Hiroyuki Furuzono, general manager of Alchip Japan. At least nine Taiwanese chip firms have set up shop or expanded operations in Japan over the past two years, according to a Reuters count. Advertisement Chip design company eMemory Technology, for example, opened an office two years ago in Yokohama, which neighbours Tokyo, and has 11 employees after hiring from Japan conglomerates which once dominated the industry. After we built the office there we are receiving more frequent communication with the customers and they are more willing to talk in Japanese with our local people, so we see business is booming, eMemory President Michael Ho told Reuters. Advertisement More Taiwanese chip sector firms are also looking at increasing their presence or making their first foray into Japan, said the source and another person with knowledge of the matter, adding that a weak yen has made such decisions easier. The sources declined to be identified as the information was not public. Proactive Support Advertisement While Japan still boasts leading semiconductor material and equipment makers, it has seen its share of the global chip manufacturing market shrink to 10% from around 50% in the 1980s after trade tensions with the U.S. and competition from South Korean and Taiwanese rivals. But in recent years Japan has thrown huge sums to rebuild its chip manufacturing sector, recognising that semiconductors are vital for economic security and spurred on by the global chip shortage during the pandemic as well as encouragement from Washington. Advertisement This Saturday, TSMC, formally known as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, will hold the opening ceremony for its first plant on the southern island of Kyushu, a chipmaking hub. The on-track plan contrasts with the troubled construction of TSMCs Arizona factory. It has also just announced plans for a second fab in Japan, bringing total investment in the venture to more than $20 billion. Advertisement The chipmaking giant, Reuters has reported, sees Japan as a natural fit in terms of an industrious work culture and a government that is easy to deal with and generous with subsidies. The core strength of a strong semiconductor country lies not just in leading firms but in a robust ecosystem, said Nori Chiou, investment director at White Oak Capital. Advertisement Japans proactive government support, marked by substantial subsidies and minimal political interference, sets it apart, fostering superior progress compared to many other countries. In addition to TSMC, the Japanese government-backed chip foundry venture Rapidus plans to mass produce chips on the northern island of Hokkaido from 2027. Taiwans Powerchip is also seeking government subsidies to set up a $5.4 billion foundry in Japan. Advertisement Taiwanese firms boosting their presence in Japan include TSMC-backed Global Unichip Corp (GUC), another fabless designer of ASICs, which said it is attracted by both the engineering talent and business opportunities. Additionally, Materials Analysis Technology (MA-tek), which inspects semiconductor materials and cites TSMC as its biggest client, opened a new lab in Kyushu late last year. Semiconductor equipment and maintenance firm Finesse Technology, another key TSMC contractor, is building a factory in Japan. Advertisement TSMC supplier Marketech is also expanding in Japan, the sources said. Marketech declined to comment. The trend will continue for the foreseeable future as part of decoupling, said Takamoto Suzuki, head of China economic research for trading house Marubeni. He warned, however, that Japan may not have sufficient young science industry workers to meet demand. Advertisement The number of workers in Japans chip-related businesses has declined by around a fifth over the last roughly two decades, although the government and universities have ramped up efforts to encourage students into the field. Among the victims, a man in his twenties tragically succumbed to his injuries, while a pregnant woman aged 23 was severely injured, along with four others in moderate condition and five treated for minor injuries and acute anxiety Officers responding to a shooting incident in the West Bank on February 22, 2024, outside Ma'ale Adumim. AP An Israeli man lost his life, and 11 others sustained injuries in a terrorist shooting incident involving three Palestinian gunmen near a checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement city of Maale Adumim on Thursday morning, as confirmed by police and medical professionals. The attack occurred on the Route 1 highway, close to the az-Zaayyem checkpoint, just before the city of Maale Adumim. The gunmen, armed with automatic weapons, targeted Israeli civilians waiting in traffic. Advertisement Among the victims, a man in his twenties tragically succumbed to his injuries, while a pregnant woman aged 23 was severely injured, along with four others in moderate condition and five treated for minor injuries and acute anxiety. Two of the attackers were neutralised at the scene by security forces and armed civilians, while the third was later apprehended following a police search in the area. They were identified as Muhammad Zawahra, Kathem Zawahra, and Ahmed Al-Wahsh, all residents of nearby villages. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the terrorists fired into vehicles, prompting people to abandon their cars and flee. Medical teams faced challenges reaching the injured due to the chaotic situation caused by the attack. The incident has raised concerns about security measures at West Bank checkpoints, with local politicians calling for improved infrastructure to prevent similar attacks in the future. Advertisement This act of terror comes amid heightened tensions in the region due to ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has praised the attack as a response to what it perceives as Israeli aggression. Tensions have been escalating since October, with continued violence and security operations in both Israel and the West Bank, underscoring the fragile situation in the region. The package, which covers over 50 people and organisations, was unveiled two days prior to the full-scale invasions second anniversary on Saturday. It is a component of a concerted Western effort to impose economic restrictions on Russia Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his welcome, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 12, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Two years after the invasion of Ukraine, Britain announced on Thursday that it was imposing additional sanctions on Russia with the goal of reducing President Vladimir Putins war chest and arsenal of weapons. The package, which covers over 50 people and organizations, was unveiled two days prior to the full-scale invasions second anniversary on Saturday. It is a component of a concerted Western effort to impose economic restrictions on Russia. Advertisement Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion due to the pressure we are applying on the global economy. David Cameron, the foreign secretary, said in a statement that our sanctions are starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war. The European Union on Wednesday approved its own package of sweeping sanctions, banning nearly 200 entities and individuals accused of helping Moscow procure weapons or of involvement in kidnapping Ukrainian children. Britain sanctioned companies linked to the Russian ammunition industry, including what it said was the largest, the Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise, and targeted sources of revenue in the metals, diamonds and energy industries. That included a Turkish company Britain said was supplying electronics to Russia, three electronics companies in China and executives at Russian diamond producer Alrosa. It also added managers of copper producer UMMC to the list. Advertisement Alrosa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The foreign office also imposed sanctions on what it said were key Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools used to manufacture defence systems and components ranging from missiles and engines to tanks and fighter jets. The government also said it was preparing to strengthen its powers to target malign Russian shipping activity and individual shadow fleet vessels used by Russia to soften the blow of oil-related sanctions. Advertisement Britain this week imposed sanctions on six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died. There are more than 2,000 Russian individuals, companies and groups on Britains sanctions list. With inputs from Reuters The Justice Department must keep pace with rapidly evolving scientific and technological developments in order to fulfill our mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe and protect civil rights, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Alarmed by the disruptive and transformative effects that artificial intelligence can wreak on federal law enforcement and the criminal justice system, the US Justice Department Thursday appointed its first official changed specifically with AI. The Justice Department must keep pace with rapidly evolving scientific and technological developments in order to fulfill our mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe and protect civil rights, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Advertisement Know the Chief AI Officer Jonathan Mayer, a professor at Princeton University who researches technology and law, will serve as chief science and technology adviser and chief AI officer. Mayer served as the technology adviser to now-Vice President Kamala Harris when she was a senator and also worked for the Federal Communications Commission. Mayer will advise Garland and the department on how AI can be integrated into the departments investigations and criminal prosecutions, apart from other issues related to emerging technologies. The professor is set to lead a newly formed board of law enforcement and civil rights officials that will advise Garland and others at the Justice Department on the ethics and efficacy of AI systems. He will also seek to recruit more technological experts to the department. Advertisement Double-edged Sword US officials have been caught in a dilemma: while AI has helped them crack some extremely difficult law enforcement problems, they have also had sleepless nights staring at the potential hazards of a loosely regulated, but rapidly expanding new technology. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, during a speech in Britain last week, said the Justice Department had already used AI to trace the source of opioids and other illegal drugs, analyze tips submitted to the FBI, and organize evidence collected in its probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Monaco said the technology could help the United States detect and disrupt terror plots and hostile actions from U.S. adversaries. But she said the department is also concerned about its potential to amplify existing biases, tamper with elections and create new opportunities for cyber criminals. Every new technology is a double-edged sword, but AI may be the sharpest blade yet, Monaco said during the speech at Oxford University. The delegation will stay until Saturday as part of a larger visit to the Asia Pacific region, the American Institute in Taiwan, Washingtons de facto embassy in Taipei said in a statement A US delegation led by Republican lawmaker Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House of Representatives committee on China and a vociferous critic of the nation, arrived in Taiwan on Thursday to meet with the islands senior authorities, according to Taipeis administration. China has referred to Taiwans vice president, Lai Ching-te, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, as a troublemaker and a separatist following her victory in last months presidential election. Advertisement According to Taipei, the group will meet with Lai and President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday. Taiwans most important ally is the United States, and the self-governing island has been at the focus of hostilities with China, which claims it as its own territory and has threatened to use force to subjugate it. The visit demonstrated the firm bipartisan support of the US Congress for Taiwan, said Taiwan presidential spokeswoman Olivia Lin in a statement. We believe that Taiwan and the United States can continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation, jointly safeguard peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and defend hard-won democracy and freedom, she said. Advertisement The delegation will stay until Saturday as part of a larger visit to the Asia Pacific region, the American Institute in Taiwan, Washingtons de facto embassy in Taipei said in a statement. Chinese Have a Different Mindset to Americans! Who is right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkY2TPkwPd8&ab_channel= Ben Coleman 2024222 Many things affect the way we think, talk and act but is that a good thing or bad thing? People in China and in Western countries have very different mindsets, but who is living life the right way? 31 @kelwang446 4 Chinese mindset 1: (due to Confucius value system) propriety, polite, justice, integrity, shame, and respect. Western mindset 1: (because not going to Sunday church any more) severely lack on all above aspects. Chinese mindset 2: The world is equally shared by all. Live and let live. Western mindset 2: If you're not at table, you're in the menu. Either with me or against me. @liamporter1137 3 Informative. Thanks for sharing. @bruceyung70 3 Whats more sad to me is how Chinese students to become doctors and scientists or engineers comes to big cities in America and ends up getting killed or end up in a prison. A Chinese scholar student went missing and body was never found. Murderer was caught but I wont be surprised if he is already out from prison. Its just a fact that Chinese dont understand streets of America. Scary stuff. @boogieman4170 3 Filial piety is one Most Chinese do practice being respectful to old @kofeesala23 2 The universal rule of thumb is "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. " To a large extent, China is a universe by itself, therefore, it is hard for any hostile outsiders to harm/impact/change China. I think this is the very reason for us to say: We don't care! @MrKAmsterdam 4 News about the vis-free policy: as people from most European contries are allowed to travel for 15 days visa-free to China now on Hainan it has been prolonged to 30 days: By Xinhua China has eased its visa-free policy for entering the country's southern island province of Hainan, allowing eligible visitors to enter the province for more purposes, the relevant authority announced Friday. Starting Friday, visitors from 29 countries are allowed to enter Hainan visa-free for purposes including business, a tourist visit, visiting a relative, medical treatment, an exhibition or sports, China's National Immigration Administration said in a statement. Such visitors can stay in Hainan Province for up to 30 days, the statement said. The previous policy also allowed visitors from these countries to enter Hainan visa-free but only for tourism purposes, according to the administration. The statement from the administration said the new policy aims to advance reform and opening up across the board in Hainan and to support the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port. @cliffleung5950 4 thank you Ben spread the truth @josephdewuhan 2 Thumbs up as always. @lordumas 2 I watch Ian's channel too! Upstanding bloke! @woodyquach4302 1 Thank you and truly appreciate your honest video, I don't know much about life in China I only traveled to China two times last time was in the year 2000, and I think I need to take more trips to visit this great country. @kr8972 12 As Ben said, there are a lot of food deliverers in China. I have seen many of them leave their E-bikes unlocked with keys to save time when they enter restaurants to pick up food packages or go to deliver such to buyers. And none of them is afraid that their E-bikes would be stolen. @tonyyin8524 3 Was there ever a time in the UK when people "expected" to be safe and not have their stuff stolen as something common? From personal experience, US was "safe" in the 60s and parts of the 70s, but things changed in the 80s and not all for the good. I remember a time when victims had more rights than criminals, the middle-class had most of the nation's wealth, and father-mother-children families with affordable housing (often on single incomes) were the rule rather than the exception. Since then, American elites ruthlessly changed mindsets of the country for the worse, but it doesn't have to remain that way, unless We the People do nothing to set the country straight. @albertwoodeasy9021 12 random strangers always called me "son" when I was in the states mostly in the southern states, thirty some years ago. @philiptan2051 1 In order to understand China you have to know first that China is a very old civilization with 2500 years of Confucianism. This philosophy has been entrenched within the Chinese culture that it has become a way of life. Respect for the elderly and for teachers because they have more life experience and they give knowledge and knowledge is worth more than money. Parents save money just to give the best education to their children. @SunilchitriDebarma-lq3fi 2 China Don @SunilchitriDebarma-lq3fi 2 America India negative over country in the world I know that bro @sfukuda512 3 It's the collectivist vs. individualist mindset. Still, there are positive aspects of individualism. You are less likely to get caught up in stupid trends. Also, a more individualistic culture tends to produce entrepreneurs or "free thinkers". Overall, though, a society focused on hyper-individualism isn't really a society at all. Just a collection of isolated people. OnePlus launched its flagship OnePlus 12 smartphone in India last month. It has several upgrades from last years OnePlus such as improved display, faster SoC, bigger battery, improved camera, and brings back the wireless charging support which was removed last year. However, the price of the phone has increased. Is the phone a good upgrade to OnePlus 11? Let us dive into the review and find out. Box Contents OnePlus 12 (16GB+512GB) in Flowy Emerald colour 100W SUPERVOOC charger USB Type-C Cable Protective case SIM ejector Quick Start Guide and Warranty Information Display, Hardware and Design The OnePlus 12 features a 6.82-inch (31681440 pixels) 2K AMOLED display with 1-120Hz refresh rate LTPO display, which is better than OnePlus 11. This is the biggest screen on a phone in OnePlus history. The phone has 510 PPI pixel density, less than the 11 since the display size has increased, but you wont notice it. The display is bright since it has up to 4500 nits peak brightness, which works for HDR, and the global maximum brightness has also increased to 1600 nits, spread across 8192 separate levels. It offers good colour output since it has 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and the sunlight legibility is good as well. You can select from vivid, Natural and Pro screen colour modes. I am also a fan of nature tone display feature, which adjusts the display based on the ambient lighting conditions. The phone has a 2160Hz high-frequency dimming technology. In dark environments (brightness below 70 nits) where DC dimming cant work, the phone will automatically switch to 2160Hz PWM dimming mode to maintain accurate colors on display with a more comfortable eye experience, said the company. The phone has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The phone also has HDR 10 support, which works for YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and Dolby Vision works for Netflix. You can enable video color boost from display settings, which increases the colors in select apps. There is also image sharpener option. The phone doesnt have a notification LED, but this has an always-on-display that shows contextual info and notifications all day or as per schedule. There is also music playback option in the always-on-display with the Spotify integration, and there is also Zomato and Swiggy integration to show order details on your lock screen. The phone has ultra narrow bezels side bezels, making it compact to hold. It has strong vibration motor. The phone has a tiny punch-hole that houses a 32-megapixel camera. Above the display, there is an earpiece on the top edge that doubles up as a secondary speaker. It has an in-display fingerprint scanner. Coming to the button placements and ports, the power button is present on the right side along with the volume rockers. The alert slider has been moved to the left side. This is for new integrated antenna for an enhanced antenna performance for gaming, said the company. You can also see the antenna bands, since this has a metal frame, which feels premium compared to the 11R. This has more than 20% aluminium, from the aluminium alloy frame to the magnesium aluminium alloy internals, compared to the 11R, says OnePlus. The Dual SIM slot, primary microphone, USB Type-C port and the loudspeaker grill are present on the bottom. The secondary microphone is on the top, along with a speaker vent and an IR blaster. The Flowy Emerald colorway that we have has an emerald green glass technology, and patterns are inspired from the braided channels of Dart River, and the phone also comes in black that has a matte finish that has silk glass craftsmanship. There is Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Protection on the back. The phone is 9.15mm thick, making it slightly thicker than the OnePlus 11 which is 8.5mm thick. It weighs 220 grams, even though it packs a huge, 5400mAh battery, but the OnePlus 11 is about 15 grams lighter. It only has IP65 for dust and splash resistance and lacks IP68 ratings. Camera 50MP rear camera with 1/1.4 Sony LYT-808 sensor, f/1.6 aperture, OIS 48MP 114 ultra-wide camera with 1/2 Sony IMX581 sensor, f/2.2 aperture, 3.5cm macro 64MP 1/2 Omnivision OV64B, periscope telephoto camera with f/2.6 aperture, OIS, 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, up to 120x digital zoom, 4th Gen Hasselblad camera system 32MP front-facing camera with Sony IMX615 sensor, /2.4 aperture, up to 4k 30 fps video recording The camera UI in the OxygenOS 14 is familiar. There is Pro mode, Panorama, Macro, Flim, Slo-mo, Time-Lapse, Dual-View video, text scanner, starry mode and tilt-shift. The rear camera offers 12.5MP output after pixel binning, and the front camera images are 16MP in size. Daylight shots came out well, thanks to the new 50MP sensor, and the dynamic range is better with auto HDR. Zoom is also good since the phone has 3x optical zoom, and 6x in-sensor zoom. Up to 30X looks good, but you lose details when you zoom further. The phone has 4th Gen Hasselblad Camera for Mobile and Hasselblad Portrait Mode. 2x portrait mode offers 50mm, for medium long or medium portraits and 3x portrait mode in 70mm can be used for medium close-up portrait or close-ups in complex backgrounds. Thanks to the periscope telephoto sensor, 3x portraits are way better than the 2x telephoto in the OnePlus 11. Even when you zoom further, images look good. Ultra-wide shots are good as usual. Low light shots are good with a lot of details and less noise. The night mode is useful, but it takes a few seconds to process. There is also a tripod mode. The 32MP front camera does a good job in daylight, but it could have been better in low light. Edge detection is good in portrait shots. Check out the camera samples. It can record videos in up to 8K in 24fps, 4K 60 fps in Dolby Vision HDR, slow motion 1080p at 240fps, and the front camera can record 1080p 30fps videos. Ultra-wide camera shooting works in 4K 60 fps, but Portrait video mode video with the main camera is limited to 1080p, 30 fps. Front camera can finally record 4K 30fps videos. There is OIS and EIS which does decent job. There is ultra-steady mode which is limited to 1080p 60fps. Software, UI and Apps It runs Android 14 based OxygenOS 14 out of the box. It has Android security patch for December 2023. The phone will get 4 Android updates and 5 years of security updates, similar to OnePlus 11. OxygenOS 14 offers Trinity Engine with HyperTouch, HyperBoost and HyperRender. There is a new GO Green feature, promoting climate change awareness. The File Dock feature enables collection, analysis, and sharing of global information through the Dock or other applications simply by making gestures. Notes 2.0 offers more convenient, enriched, and intelligent editing capabilities. The Smart Cutout feature is also able to accurately recognize and extract the subject from complex backgrounds, or background that shares a similar color scheme with the subject, or in group photos. Apart from the usual set of OnePlus apps and Google apps, it comes with several pre-loaded apps such as Spotify and Netflix. These apps can be uninstalled, but come back once the phone is reset. The IR remote app is useful. Out of 16GB LPDD4X RAM, you get 14.9GB of usable RAM, and about 9GB of RAM is free when default apps are running in the background. It also has DRE or dynamic RAM expansion feature, which uses the built-in storage as RAM. This has up to 12GB of additional RAM expansion. Out of 512GB UFS 4.0 storage, you get about 455GB of free storage. Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock It has an in-display fingerprint sensor that unlocks the phone quickly, but it still has an optical fingerprint scanner, and doesnt use an ultrasonic scanner. You can add up to 5 fingerprints. You can also use the fingerprint for app local and payments in apps. Furthermore, you can change the fingerprint animation and also disable it, and also enable quick launch option to launch apps directly from the lock screen by holding the fingerprint. The phone also has face unlock feature. Music and Multimedia YouTube Music is the default Music Player. It has have Dolby Atmos which works with headset and has customizable Smart, Movie, Game and Music modes. It doesnt have FM Radio support. Audio through the stereo speakers is good without any distortion even in full volume. Audio through earphones is good as well. This has Widevine L1, so that you can play HD content on Netflix and other streaming apps. It supports HDR content on YouTube, and Netflix. There is also Dolby Vision for Netflix. Dual SIM and Connectivity The OnePlus 12 has support for n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28A/n38/n40/n41/n77/n78/n66 Network Bands in India. It has 4G Wi-Fi and VoLTE, with support for Carrier Aggregation on 4G, but it lacks eSIM support in India. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 802.11 be (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.4, GPS (L1+L5 Dual Band), GLONASS, Galileo (E1+E5a Dual Band),Beidou, A-GPS, QZSS, NavIC . It has OTG support, and NFC support. Moving on, the call quality is good, and we did not face any call drops and the earpiece volume was loud. The OnePlus 12s body SAR is 0.68W/Kg and head SAR is at 1.18/Kg, which is well under the limit of 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) in India. Performance and Benchmarks The OnePlus 12 is one of the first phones to launch in India with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. It has a new 1-5-2 microarchitecture that uses 1 x Kryo Prime CPU (Arm Cortex-X4 based) at up to 3.3GHz, 5 x Kryo Performance CPUs (3 x Arm Cortex-A720 at up to 3.2GHz and 3 x Arm Cortex-A720 based at up to 3GHz), 2x Kryo Efficiency CPUs (Arm Cortex-A520 based) at up to 2.3GHz. It is fabricated using the TSMC 4nm Process Technology, same as Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It promises 30% performance improvements and 20% improved power efficiency. The phone has the largest, Cryo-velocity cooling system with 9140mm VC heat dissipation area that includes a 3,686mm small VC + 5,454mm large VC. We did not face any issues or frame drops in the graphic-intensive games like COD, BGMI and Genshin Impact. It reached maximum 43 in our testing indoors in Wi-Fi, but this might vary outdoors in 5G. Check out some synthetic benchmark scores below. Battery life Coming to the battery life, the phone packs a 5400mAh (typical) battery, which is slightly bigger than the 5000mAh battery in the 11. It can easily last for a day with heavy use and for 2 days with typical use. I got close to 6 hours of screen on time with 1 and half days of use, mostly on Wi-Fi, and occasional 5G use in 120Hz. Since the phone has support for 100W SuperVOOC fast charging, it can charge from up to 100% in less than half an hour. There are smart charging, option to stop charging at 80%, and the smart rapid charging can charge the device faster if the battery is too low. The OnePlus 12 brings back the wireless charging support which was removed in the OnePlus 11. The phone has 50W wireless flash charging, and also supports wireless reverse charging. It can be charged up to 100% in less than an hour with a wireless charger, if you are ready to spend Rs. 5499 in a wireless charger since it is properitary. Conclusion At a starting price of Rs. 64,999, the OnePlus 12 is a good upgrade, and a good comeback from OnePlus, since it has several improvements right from the display, performance, cameras and also brings back the wireless charging. Wish the phone also had IP68 ratings making it waterproof instead of just IP65 ratings for splash resistance. Pricing and availability The OnePlus 12 is priced at Rs. 64,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model and the 16GB + 512GB model costs Rs. 69,999. It is available from Amazon.in, OnePlus online store and offline stores. Alternatives The iQOO 12 also comes with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, but only has a 1.5K screen, and lacks wireless charging, but it is a lot cheaper. The upcoming Xiaomi 14 should be a good competition since it has wireless charging support and comes with IP68 ratings, but it only has a 1.5K screen. Pros 2K AMOLED 120Hz LTPO display is brilliant Smooth performance and good gaming performance Good cameras Solid build quality Long battery life with 100W fast charging, 50W wireless charging Cons No IP68 ratings Additional camera samples by Siva Bharani Google has unveiled Gemma, a new series of open models designed to support developers and researchers in responsibly building AI systems. Gemma, derived from the Latin word for precious stone, is a set of lightweight models inspired by Googles Gemini models, developed by Google DeepMind and other teams across the company. Key Features of Gemma Two Sizes: Gemma 2B and Gemma 7B come with pre-trained and instruction-tuned variants. Gemma 2B and Gemma 7B come with pre-trained and instruction-tuned variants. Responsible AI Toolkit: Google offers tools supporting safer AI applications with Gemma. Google offers tools supporting safer AI applications with Gemma. Framework Support: Inference and supervised fine-tuning (SFT) toolchains are provided for major frameworks like JAX, PyTorch, and TensorFlow. Inference and supervised fine-tuning (SFT) toolchains are provided for major frameworks like JAX, PyTorch, and TensorFlow. Easy Deployment: Gemma models can run on various platforms and integrate seamlessly with tools like Colab and Kaggle. Gemma models can run on various platforms and integrate seamlessly with tools like Colab and Kaggle. Commercial Usage: Gemma permits responsible commercial usage and distribution for all organizations. Performance and Responsible Design Gemma models, despite their lightweight design, offer top-tier performance compared to larger models. They can run directly on developer devices and surpass larger models on key benchmarks while ensuring safe and responsible outputs. Google emphasizes responsible AI principles in Gemmas design. Automated techniques are employed to filter sensitive data from training sets, and extensive evaluations ensure safe and reliable behavior. A Responsible Generative AI Toolkit is also provided to assist developers in prioritizing safety. The toolkit offers: Safety classification: A new approach by Google to construct strong safety classifiers with minimal examples. A new approach by Google to construct strong safety classifiers with minimal examples. Debugging: Tool for examining Gemmas behavior and resolving potential problems. Tool for examining Gemmas behavior and resolving potential problems. Guidance: Access to best practices derived from Googles experience in building and deploying large language models. Optimization Across Frameworks and Hardware Gemma supports fine-tuning on various data and applications, with compatibility across multiple frameworks and devices. Its optimized for Google Cloud deployment, offering flexibility and efficiency across different hardware infrastructures. Free Credits for Research and Development To encourage community engagement, Google offers free access to Gemma through platforms like Kaggle and Colab, along with credits for first-time Google Cloud users and researchers. Collaboration with NVIDIA NVIDIA has collaborated with Google to optimize Gemma for their AI platforms, enhancing performance and reducing costs for developers. This collaboration extends to tools like TensorRT-LLM and deployment on NVIDIA GPUs. Soon, Gemma will be supported in Chat with RTX, a tech demo by NVIDIA enabling generative AI capabilities on local, RTX-powered Windows PCs. This allows users to personalize chatbots with their data while ensuring privacy and fast processing. Availability Gemma is now available worldwide, with resources and quick start guides accessible on ai.google.dev/gemma. Users can also experience Gemma models directly through the NVIDIA AI Playground. Speaking about the launch, Tris Warkentin, Director, Google DeepMind, said: Google has instructed its suppliers to begin producing Pixel smartphones in India starting from the next quarter, signaling the tech giants intent to broaden its supply chain beyond China and tap into the thriving Indian smartphone market, as reported by Nikkei Asia. At last years Google for India event, it was announced that production would initially focus on the high-end Pixel 8 Pro in southern India, with manufacturing slated to commence in the April-June quarter, followed by production of the Pixel 8 in the north around mid-year. This move is part of Googles plan to ship over 10 million Pixel phones this year, building on the approximately 10 million units it shipped in 2023 amidst a global economic slowdown. Googles shift to India signifies a significant change in its supply chain strategy, previously reliant heavily on China for Pixel production. This move aligns with a broader trend among tech companies to diversify their manufacturing beyond China. This strategy, dubbed China+2, aims to enhance supply chain resilience by having multiple non-China options for production. In addition to market dynamics, Googles move aligns with Indias push to become a tech manufacturing hub, offering incentives and considering tighter import restrictions to attract companies like Apple, Acer, and Asustek to establish local supply chains. This reflects a broader trend of tech companies seeking to reduce reliance on China amidst geopolitical tensions. Googles decision to produce Pixel phones locally in India likely considers these factors, along with the countrys sizable domestic market. By collaborating with international and domestic manufacturers in India, Google aims to meet the increasing demand for Pixel smartphones in the country. Source Over 45 years after his death, Elvis Aaron Presley remains one of the most successful and fascinating recording artists of our era. Countless novels, articles, television series, and films have chronicled his rise to fame and his tragic fall. While its Elvis world, young Priscilla Beaulieu was a part of it and endured the best and worst the King of Rock and Roll could offer. Until she wrote her own 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, the woman was little more than a side character in the man's story. The story of those tumultuous times was never about her. Sophia Coppola takes her sharp eye for staging human drama and focuses on one of the most famous pop culture romances of the 20th century with Priscilla. She used to be known as Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny). She was a simple, average fourteen-year-old girl living on a U.S. Army Base in Germany with her parents. She just so happened to be living there at the same time the most famous musician of a generation happened to be serving his tour of duty. When young Priscilla was invited to the house of Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi), what girl her age would say no? One invitation became two. Two became three. Three became a trip back to the United States to stay at his house, Graceland. A visit to Graceland became permanent. As their romance blossoms, Priscilla grows from a simple teenager into a woman fully in the shadow of Elvis blinding spotlight. And within that shadow lurks the darkness of Graceland the tabloids never saw. As I mentioned in my recent review of Lenny, I dont have much love for Biopics. I will watch them, especially if the subject at hand is interesting and I like the filmmakers behind the project. The ones I enjoy I think are pretty great. The ones I dont like I cast off as completely forgettable and unlikely to revisit. Usually, thats because theyre too shiny and overly complimentary and vapid. In the case of Baz Luhrmanns 2022 Elvis, Austin Butler certainly delivered a dynamic performance but it was the films frenetic pace, disjointed tone, and casting Tom Hanks Col. Parker as a weird boogeyman with a bad accent that ankled the impact of that film. Now we have Sophia Coppolas take on key events in the life of Elvis Presley with Priscilla intent to focus the story from her perspective. While I appreciated the approach to this film and giving Priscilla Presley a voice beyond being a side character in Elvis story, the film itself is frustratingly antiseptic and clinical. But then, in its way, so was Priscillas memoir on which this film was based. In her book, Priscilla Presley went out of her way to simply state events as they happened without flamboyant embellishment, speculative pondering, or trying to damage the legacy of her deceased ex-husband. This film keeps true to that approach (somewhat), but it also doesnt let us see Elvis or Priscilla as tangible human characters. As Coppola moves her camera throughout Graceland and observes the high fashion and adornments, the film feels more like were watching characters in a medically sealed isolation chamber. We watch them, but we never know who they are. To be fair to the actors, Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi are clearly working their asses off. Spaeny exudes the innocence of a confused young girl as she grows into a woman trapped in a world not of her making. Elordi might slip a tad into parody with his Elvis accent, but in terms of physicality and intensity, he is fierce and dynamic. But in terms of getting to know these real-life characters as human beings through these actors performances, Priscilla just didnt do it for me. They always feel too distant even when they're framed in extreme closeup. Its a lavish production, almost slavish to perfectly recreate the look and feel of an era, but it never really captures the character. We see Priscilla Beaulieu humbly living an average life with an average house and some of the latest modern conveniences. Then we watch as Priscilla Presley basks in elegant vogue hairstyles, makeup, and clothing. There are moments where the film tries to infer that Elvis is a groomer, staking her out and systematically molding her into what he wants her to be. Some moments suggest Elvis may have been a closeted homosexual or at least doubted or questioned his sexuality. But the film never is bold enough to push those threads beyond a scene or two before being dropped for another fashion and makeup montage. While I dont generally look forward to Biopics, I was excited to see what a filmmaker like Sophia Coppola could do with this material. As shes demonstrated countless times now in past (better) films, she has a knack for capturing the mood, style, and feeling of a unique time and place. But her other films like Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides, or even her remake of The Beguiled at least had a sense of humanity in the characters. Priscilla didnt capture that humanity. I felt like it was just great actors delivering excellent performances while caught in a maze of artifice. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Priscilla comes home to Blu-ray in a two-disc Blu-ray + DVD + Digital release from Lionsgate. Pressed on a BD-50 disc (but only uses 32 gigs of that space), the discs are housed in a two-disc eco-friendly case with a slipcover. The disc loads to an animated main menu with standard navigation options. Issue Date: 21st February 2024 Gardai are renewing their appeal to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 16-year-old Sennora Ward, who went missing from her home in Tuam, Co. Galway on Saturday, 10th February 2024. Sennora is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a slim build. She has brown hair and blue eyes. When last seen, Sennora was wearing a beige jumper, blue jeans and white runners. She was also carrying a small white clutch bag. It is believed Sennora may have travelled to Oranmore, Co. Galway. Anyone with information regarding Sennoras whereabouts is asked to contact Tuam Garda Station at 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Issue Date: 21st February 2024 Gardai at Ballina are continuing their investigation into a collision involving a car and two pedestrians on Lord Edward Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo, which occurred on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024. A male pedestrian aged 33 years, who sustained serious injuries in the incident, was pronounced deceased in Mayo University Hospital this evening, February 21st, 2024. The local Coroner has been informed, and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination. Additionally, a female child who was also injured has been discharged from hospital. Following the completion of examinations by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, the road, previously closed, has been reopened to traffic. Gardai are renewing their appeal for witnesses to the collision to come forward. Those with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area at the time are urged to provide it to Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballina Garda Station 096 20560 or any Garda Station. Robin Dunnigan, the US ambassador to Georgia, spoke about the strategic partnership with Georgia, emphasizing that their primary focus is to support Georgia's accession to the European Union.The ambassador also addressed the topic of elections, highlighting the importance of fair elections as the cornerstone of a strong democracy. Dunnigan emphasized that the US is dedicated to assisting Georgia in guaranteeing free elections."Let me talk more generally about the elections. It is an election year both in Georgia and the United States of America. Fair elections are the cornerstone of a strong democracy. So the United States is focused on helping Georgia ensure free, fair, competitive elections.We are working closely with civil society groups, opposition parties, and the ruling party, and especially with the Central Election Commission, to ensure that the citizens of Georgia know that their votes will be counted fairly, that their votes are secret, and that the process is free and fair. So, I look forward to Georgians exercising their democratic right and voting," Dunnigan said.Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Irakli Kobakhidze on his appointment as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister thanked the NATO Secretary General for his support.The meeting, held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, focused on the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia. The Prime Minister emphasized that NATO integration remains a foreign policy priority for Georgia, as outlined in the country's constitution.During the meeting, both parties discussed the NATO-Georgia agenda, reviewed the progress made towards integration, and outlined concrete plans for future cooperation.Attention was focused on security issues in the Black Sea region. In this context, the importance of stability in the Black Sea region for ensuring common Euro-Atlantic security was emphasized. Irakli Kobakhidze expressed gratitude to Jens Stoltenberg for his support and personal efforts towards NATO integration, as well as his strong support for Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-recognition policy. Discussions also encompassed the complex security environment both regionally and globally. The Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Alliance explored potential solutions to the existing challenges. Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel People experiencing homelessness inside Emerson Park are preparing for the parks closure near the end of February, as the park will be closed and transformed into a skate park over the duration of 2024. Grand Junction City Council on Wednesday denied a ban on tents in city parks. Grand Junction High School junior Zoe Plumb and sophomore Jasmine Eichmann gathered their peers for a school-wide assembly to discuss a topic close to their hearts on Wednesday. Today Im sharing my story with you because I dont want you to be the next person talking about your best friend while wearing their ashes around your neck, Eichmann said. The 45-minute assembly was a collaborative effort between the two students and the Western Colorado Health Education Center (WCAHEC) to raise awareness of fentanyl, fentanyl poisoning and the overdose-reversal drug Narcan. In the past year, the Mesa County Opioid Response Group has facilitated similar presentations across the school district, but Grand Junction High School Principal Jory Sorensen and Mesa County Opioid Response Group facilitator Lyndall Young agreed this assembly was unique because of the student involvement. Zoe has been amazing to really take the assembly underneath her wing and say, This is what my peers would benefit from and this is something they might not benefit from as much to really make it fit the students of Grand Junction High School, Young said. The idea came to Plumb last fall during a school safety summit where she watched a presentation on addiction and opioids. The subject hit close to home for her because she lost two people to opioid overdoses, so she decided to make fentanyl awareness her Agents of Change capstone project. Eichmann became a part of the effort after approaching Sorensen to organize fentanyl-related outreach after the death of her friend Miah VanHouten. Miah was not a drug addict this was out of her control. She didnt want this, Eichmann said. I think everyone should be aware that this is a real thing and very scary. Before, I only heard stories and never thought it could happen until it did. VanHouten was 16 years old when she passed away from fentanyl poisoning in May 2021, only one year before she was slated to graduate high school. Opioid Epidemic An average of 220 people died of opioid overdose each day in the U.S. during 2021. These deaths are a fraction of the total overdoses resulting from the Opioid Epidemic, a 30-plus year trend that was exacerbated in 2013 by the popularity of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical used for severe pain, most commonly prescribed to patients with advanced cancer pain; it is estimated to be 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Fentanyl is often mixed into other drugs, with or without the consumer knowing. The rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids in 2021 was nearly 22 times more than what it was in 2013. Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, has become an increasingly popular tool against the epidemic since the Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray, Narcan. Sources: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Miahs story is one of many that is an example of what has happened to thousands of others in the United States, Plumb said during the assembly. Over 108,000 people have lost their lives due to overdosing on opioids. This surpasses losses from gun violence and car accidents combined, and it is the leading cause of death for those aged 18 to 45 years old. Eichmann and Plumb said deaths like these can be prevented through increased awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, the importance of Narcan and the states Good Samaritan Law. Accordingly, the majority of the assembly was focused on teaching what fentanyl and Narcan are, how they work and what to do if someone experiences fentanyl intoxication. Young joined the two in explaining what to do if someone overdoses, from calling 911 and giving Narcan, to performing rescue breaths and positioning someone in a recovery position. Plumb added the Good Samaritan Law protects those reporting, treating and experiencing an overdose from legal consequences, so it is critical to stay by the victims side until paramedics arrive. Pauline Gerard, a second-year medical student at the University of Colorado-Denver, spoke as well, but with a focus neuropsychology the study of how behavior and cognition relate to the brain and nervous systems physiology. Gerard discussed the neuropsychology of opioid use to convey how it fosters addiction in a more rapid and severe manner than many other drugs. In addition to the assembly, there was an outreach table for teachers that distributed educational resources as well as donuts. There was another outreach table for students during their lunch period that provided supplemental information and prizes for participating in a topical question-and-answer session. I hope that even if people get mad or dont like what we have to say, the people who need it are going to take to it, Eichmann said. This is something that needs to be talked about. Im so glad that were able to talk about it. Sorensen said this student-led initiative was especially rewarding for him to see as the schools principal because the grassroots nature demonstrates their mission of student ownership. Anything in education that involves student ownership is really what were aiming for, Sorensen said. I think it restores public faith in young people that they want to bring such a positive message and help save people from a potentially bad situation, to save lives. After the Grand Junction City Councils pledge of $500,000 of the citys American Rescue Plan Act funds to help graduates of Colorado Mesa Universitys Masters of Social Work (MSW) program repay their loans, Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP) on Wednesday announced it would be making a matching contribution to the school for the same purpose. CMU President John Marshall and RMHP President and CEO Patrick Gordon held a roundtable at the CMU University Center to announce RMHPs contribution to match the city, upping total donations to the school for MSW students to $1 million. Between what the city and Rocky are doing, the number of lives that are going to be impacted in a positive way is really staggering. Its not just the individuals that will be getting the assistance to get the kind of education that we all need but the number of lives those people will touch makes the multiplier really staggering, Marshall said. For us, thats a no-brainer. We know that behavioral health is complicated. Theres a maldistribution of workforce. Theres not a great economic model for students interested in that training or finding placement afterward, certainly in communities that lack those resources, and most communities do, but its particularly pronounced on the Western Slope, Gordon added. When President Marshall approached us, we jumped at the chance. A community-based solution is always more effective, it always reaches the needs faster than when we work through systems, and we know that the systems that gave rise to this problem need to be reformed, but we dont need to wait for federal action and we dont need to wait for state action; this is where the action is. Gordon said the citys and RMHPs contributions will help grow the social workforce coming from the school, keep them local and eventually improve the citys economy while driving down health care costs. The roundtable featured Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout; Grand Junction City Council members Abe Herman, Randall Reitz and Cody Kennedy; CMU MSW Program Director Michelle Sunkel; CMU MSW student Jamie Moats; and Intermountain Health licensed clinical social worker Marrie Hibbard. Herman said the City Council identified three uses for American Rescue Plan Act monies: housing, homelessness and mental health. He said it was fairly easy to find projects for the first two categories, but tackling mental health was more difficult since one-time donations usually go toward capital projects and not ongoing operations. Trying to think about how to use one-time funds to really advance the mental health of our community, it made complete sense for us to partner with CMU and their new MSW program to find ways to keep our graduates in town, Reitz added. Stout, who is stepping down as CEO of the Roice-Hurst Humane Society this spring, provided an example of the importance of social workers by talking about how most animals placed at the shelter are there because of people problems. According to Stout, about 8 years ago, Roice-Hurst became one of the first animal shelters in the nation to hire a social worker for people as a staff member. This worker, Stout noted, is set to graduate from CMU in May. Social work is not just in the really obvious places but it really permeates every aspect of society, and when we look at the work that non-profits are doing, you can typically find an intersection with mental health or social needs that people have in most of the areas that non-profits are serving, and many for-profits, as well. Its the recognition through that work that really carries over into our role as local elected officials, Stout said. Our job as elected officials is to look at systems within our community and to have a multi-systemic approach to how we serve our community, acknowledging that, while we are not mental health providers, mental health permeates our community and it intersects with everything that our residents are experiencing on a day-to-day basis. New Hampshire man convicted of killing daughter, 5, whose body has not been found A New Hampshire man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his 5-year-old daughter, who police believe was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021 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 40%. For the week of Feb. 12 through 17, there were five motor vehicle stops, one report of loose dogs and one report of a deer being hit by a vehicle. Monday, Feb. 12 1745 Caller reported she smells what she believes to be natural gas. An officer... Todd Kolstad and Krista Cummins-Kolstad, of Glasgow, filed an emergency petition on Feb. 6 with the Montana Supreme Court asking the highest Court to overturn the 17th Judicial District Court Judge Yvonne Lairds gag-order and for the Court to t... Two weeks ago, your Glasgow Elks Lodge 1922 hosted the Montana mid-year Elks convention, with 135 in attendance. The meeting was a huge success, and I think it is proper to give credit where credit is due. The businesses in the Glasgow community s... Alpha Battery, 5-4 Air Defense Artillery Battalion redeploys from NATO's Eastern Flank By Alexander Watkins February 20, 2024 ANSBACH, Germany -- Alpha Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, is set to host a redeployment ceremony in Ansbach, Germany, at 11 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2024. The unit, part of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, was the first in the U.S. Army to field and test four prototype Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) systems. It provides short-range air defense to protect forces against fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aerial system threats. "This deployment was the first step toward reintroducing integrated maneuver short-range air defense. Our Soldiers, NCOs, and officers have all developed immensely," said U.S. Army Capt. Michael Archer, Alpha Battery 5-4 commander. "Alpha Battery stepped up to the challenge and achieved greatness throughout the first operational deployment of the M-SHORAD." Integrating SHORAD into Army maneuver operations is a deliberate process that involves building credible capabilities and conducting joint training and operations with maneuver forces. This deployment has yielded lessons and recommendations for system and operational improvements. During the deployment, Soldiers collaborated with NATO and other partner nations. With a significant presence across the Eastern Flank, Alpha Battery has played a crucial role in defending infrastructure and supporting U.S. and NATO forces. "At each location, our forces defend key infrastructure, support U.S. and NATO units, and provide base defense," Archer said. "The air defense mission here encompasses many different tasks in support of U.S. and NATO goals." The rapid deployment to Poland, Slovakia, and Romania underscores our commitment to readiness and interoperability with host nations, bolstering our capabilities and strengthening integration for regional security and stability. Elements of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade and 1-62 Air Defense Battalion remain forward deployed to safeguard NATO's eastern flank from hostile activity and hostile influence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Houthis Target Ship Linked to Humanitarian Aid U.S. Central Command Press Release | Feb. 20, 2024 USCENTCOM Feb. 20, 2024 Release Number 20240220 - 02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. - On February 19, between 12:30 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Sea Champion, a Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier bound for the port of Aden in Yemen. One of the missiles detonated near the ship causing minor damage. Nevertheless, her crew proceeded on course to their ultimate destination: delivering grain to Aden, Yemen, for the benefit of the Yemeni people. M/V Sea Champion has delivered humanitarian aid to Yemen 11 times in the past five years. Houthi aggression in the region has exacerbated already high levels of need in conflict-impacted Yemen, which remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 80 percent of the entire population needing humanitarian assistance. We are committed to countering the Houthis' malign activities, which directly endanger the imports of foodstuff and humanitarian aid to Yemen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Georgia: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after the Association Council European External Action Service (EEAS) 20.02.2024 Brussels EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Let me be the first one talking to welcome you, Prime Minister [Irakli] Kobakhidze here in Brussels. It is your first visit abroad and coming to Brussels demonstrates that you are taking [the] Georgian path to the European Union very seriously. This is our first Association Council with Georgia as a candidate country, and we have entered a new strategic phase in our relations. This discussion today - I am sure you share with me this approach, together with the Commissioner in charge of [Neighbourhood and] Enlargement [Oliver Varhelyi] - has highlighted our mutual commitment to reach irreversible progress on Georgia's accession path. Irreversible, but hard work starts in front of you. Being a candidate country requires a new level of efforts, and also increases the responsibilities of the government, the opposition, of everybody. The civil society, all parties. Every Georgian has to be engaged in the reform progress. Allow me to convey three messages because we have to be telegraphic. Time is running, and we have been discussing since this morning. First, you have to accelerate the implementation of reforms, including those of the Association Agreement, to meet the nine steps of our [European] Commission's recommendation. And for that, you have the asset of a vibrant civil society and it is important to have everybody - as I said - on board. This requires to take decisive steps to decrease political tensions. Second, our Union is a Union based on common values and principles. This foundation has become increasingly important because we are living in a very difficult and even dangerous geopolitical context. We welcome your strategic choices towards the European Union's membership. We note the increase, slight increase, but increase at the end, in alignment with our foreign and security policy decisions. We expect a significant increase in this alignment in the coming years. We are also worried by the proliferation of anti-Western disinformation and rhetoric [in Georgia], and we encourage you to redouble efforts to fight information manipulation and foreign interference. We are going to see more of that in the next European Union elections and maybe in your elections too. And the third one is, this year will be an important test for Georgia's democracy. I link [it] to the previous reference to your electoral process. We welcome the electoral reforms undertaken so far and encourage you to finalise them well ahead of the upcoming elections, addressing all relevant Venice Commission and ODIHR recommendations for free, fair and competitive parliamentary elections. Last but not least, [at] our meeting today [we] discussed how we can jointly strengthen Georgia's resilience. We are fully committed to your sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have a Special Representative for the region [Toivo Klaar, EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia]. We have an EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. It is our longest [serving] mission in the region. I think they do an important work on a daily basis for your people. We have also massively strengthened our security and defence cooperation with Georgia. Through the European Peace Facility, with support in engineering, logistics and cyber-defence [capabilities] which amounts to [almost] 63 million to date. This support will increase this year. We have a wide range of cooperation, and the last one is your proposal to join the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). Something that should be agreed by the end of the year. Prime Minister, when I visited Georgia last September, I was struck by the high number of EU flags everywhere in the streets of Tbilisi. They were full. I thought it was for me, but no. [I thought] it was a welcome for the EU High Representative. No, it was because they were there before me coming and after me leaving. It shows the strong commitment to the European Union of your citizens. You have the responsibility to deliver on these expectations, and we have also the responsibility to seize with you this historic opportunity and step-up our efforts for Georgia becoming member of the European Union, to increase your resilience, in full respect of your independence and sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Thank you. Q&A My question is about geopolitical investment for our common future, the perspective of future enlargement, and the symbolic date set by President [of the European Council, Charles] Michel of 2030. We often hear in Brussels that, at this stage, the organisation is not ready to accept new members, and also the organisation itself must prepare for new members along with the candidates. Can you tell us more about the future window of opportunity we are waiting for so much? When is the European Union going to open the door for us? As the Commissioner [Varhelyi] said, and everybody has to be aware: the door has been opened. [Now] you have to go through the door. And, through the door means what everybody knows. There is a merit-based process, conditions have to be met, reforms have to be done. You cannot ask for more. Do not look for the 5th foot of the cat. The door is open, and it is a matter of fulfilling the requirements that are being set for everybody. Minister Borrell, has your Georgian partner informed you of any threats from Ukraine? Because the Prime Minister previously talked about his intention to pass this information to international partners. Well, I do not know if you have upgraded or downgraded me by calling me Minister. Maybe it is more than High Representative, maybe it is less. In any case, I am happy to answer your question. Yes, we would like Ukraine and Georgia to have the best relations. [If there are] any issues between them, the only one who is taking benefit is Russia. And certainly, I will do my best and pass messages to the Ukrainian side of the good will of Georgia to have the best possible relations. About the second front, I think it is a long story. Nobody seriously is considering that, and I do not see any call for that coming from Ukraine or from nowhere else. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-253126 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 24h Operational Update: Armed Terrorists Identified and Eliminated IDF Press Release February 20, 2024 20.02.24 IDF , Media Center IDF troops are continuing intensive operations in western Khan Yunis and killed dozens of terrorists over the past day. The troops directed aircraft that killed a number of the terrorists, and additional terrorists were killed by tank and sniper fire. IDF troops in Khan Yunis identified a number of terrorists armed with an RPG missile and an AK-47. The terrorists were killed by the soldiers at close-range. The IAF directed by IDF troops struck a Hamas weapons storage facility in Khan Yunis. During the strike, secondary explosions were identified at the site, indicating that large quantities of weapons were stored at the site. In the central Gaza Strip, IDF troops are continuing to operate and have killed a number of terrorists over the past day. During one of the activities, IDF troops identified a terrorist in the area, and within a few minutes, the terrorist was killed by sniper fire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Los Angeles, CA February 20, 2024 Aboard Air Force One En Route Los Angeles, California 3:48 P.M. EST MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, it's cold back here. Q It's very cold. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi, guys. All right. I have a couple of things at the top. See? Aamer has his hat on. It's it is cold. Q I'm sorry. I'll take it off. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no, I'm not no judgment. I'm just saying it's cold. All right. If House Republicans are serious about border security, serious about standing up to Putin, and serious about protecting our national security, they must act immediately to pass the bipartisan national security supplemental bill. Instead, right now, they are on vacation as the stakes for our security and the security of our closest partners and allies continue to mount. The events of the last few days have only underscored this fact. Let's be clear, President Biden has led the way on the urgent need to secure our border, working with Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on the toughest, fairest border legislation in decades. And he has put forward the resources we urgently need to enable Ukraine to stop Russia in their tracks and from posing a great threat to our NATO Allies. Now, this Saturday, the President will participate in a video conference call with other G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss our continued support for Ukraine and steps we can take together to continue holding Russia accountable. This is the third year that G7 leaders have convened in February to condemn Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine and express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. As you recall, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, President Biden quickly pulled together a G7 leaders call to coordinate our response, and he continues to work together closely with our allies and partners. Ahead of Saturday's meeting and you heard this from the President before he boarded on Marine One this afternoon on the South Lawn we will be announcing a significant new package of sanctions on Russia on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the invasion and to respond to the death of Aleskey Alekskey [Aleksey] Navalny, who courageously stood up to the corruption and the violence of the Putin government and ultimately gave his life in pursuit of Russia where the rule of law exists and is applied equally to everyone. As the President said on Friday, this urgently reminds us this tragedy, pardon me, reminds us of the stakes of this moment and of the need to stand up to Putin and pass the national security supplemental bill and the Ukraine aid it contains, which overwhelmingly passed the Senate on a bipartisan basis. Time is of the essence. House Republicans must take urgent action to support national security legislation that would easily pass the House. And while the President is in California just want to lay out a couple of things the Vice President and the First Lady will be hitting a few states to make some important announcements. Today, the Vice President the Vice President traveled alongside EPA Administrator Michael Regan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as part of the administration's Investing in America tour, where they announced $5.8 billion in funding for clean water infrastructure. This is part of the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to ensuring a future where every child and family has access to clean, safe water, and it brings the total amount of clean water funding announced by EPA from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to $22 billion. Then, on Thursday, the Vice President will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to continue her nationwide Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour. During the fourth stop of her tour, the Vice President will highlight how organized organizers, advocates, and elected leaders in states like Michigan have worked to protect reproductive rights since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. And finally, the First Lady will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to highlight the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, which President Biden launched in November to fundamentally change how we approach and fund women's health research. With that, Aamer, you want to kick us off? Q Yeah. On the sanctions. The U.S. has already thrown quite a bit of sanctions at Russia. How should we see what's going to be announced Friday? Will this be substantive and have actual teeth in what it does to Russia and to Putin? Or is this more symbolic as we reach the two-year anniversary and also in reaction to Navalny's death? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, you've heard from the President earli- earlier early right before he got on Air Force One when he was on the South Lawn. He said the those sanctions would be major. I'm going to be really careful. We don't preview, as you know, the details of sanctions ahead of the time for a variety of reasons, including to avoid capital flight risk. So, we have to be super careful. But, again, as the President stated, it's clear that Russia is responsible for for Navalny's death and what has happened to Navalny is yet more proof that Putin's brutality no one not in not in Russia, not here at home, and not anywhere around the world should be fooled here. He does not only target the citizens of other countries, as we are we have been seeing happen, obviously, in Ukraine for the past two years. He also inflicts terrible crimes on his own people. So, I'm going to be super careful. You will hear from from this administration on Friday, when the time when the time is right. Q Are the punishments for Navalny going to be different from the sanctions that were already planned for the anniversary? Is there something in addition to what was already arranged for that? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm going to be really careful. Obviously, there's a connection, obviously, to Naval- Navalny's death here. And so and, obviously, it's going to be the two-years anniversary coming up. But I'm just going to be careful and not You'll hear directly from us, from the administration, as to the sanctions, why the sanctions are happening. And I just don't want to get ahead of that. Q Why why should we expect these sanctions to be any different? We've been imposing sanctions since 2022, and none of them have had their desired goal. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things here. We and our partners have imposed the most severe sanctions on Russia that any economy this size has ever faced. That so, that is a fact. We've kicked them out of the international organization and worked to isolate them on the world stage. We've been able to do that along with, obviously, our NATO Allies, right? We've provided Ukraine with the capacity to impose massive costs on the Russian military, and the Russian military has been severely degraded as a result of the brutal and unprovoked war they launched against the people of Ukraine. It's critical now, obviously what we've been saying for the past couple of weeks, couple of months that Congress needs to act. We saw a bipartisan bipartisan agreement come out of the Senate in order to fund the really important national security supplemental. We need to see the House do the same. We have heard from Republicans House Republicans say that if that bill were to get to the floor that it would get bipartisan support. We need Congress to act. Q Right at the beginning, you talked about Congress going on recess. The President has the authority to call Congress back. Why doesn't he simply do that? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, here's the thing. The Senate did their job, moved forward a bipartisan piece of legislation to deal with the national security ri- risk that we currently are facing. And it was critical, it was important, and it was done in li- in a bipartisan 70 to 70 to 29 in a bipartisan way. And we need to see House act. They went home early. They went home early. Q But he could call them back. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, this is for Speaker Johnson to deal with, right? He has already said these bills are dead. And it shouldn't be that way. He shouldn't be putting playing politics. He shouldn't be playing with our national security. And this is on Speaker Johnson. It is this is a question for Speaker Johnson. Why does he continue to say these bills are dead when we know we know for a fact that if he were to put this particular bill that came out of the Senate in a bipartisan way and put it on the floor, the national security supplemental, it would pass in a bipartisan way? We're talking about funding for Ukraine. We're talking about funding for Israel. We've talked about the Indo-Pacific, right? And and what did we have to do? They had to the Senate had to strip out a border security from it another another piece where negotiation was had for months, and we got a bipartisan negotiation. Speaker the Speaker continues to get in the way and play politics here. Q Karine, you've mentioned the you've mentioned Q (Inaudible) on the Q Sorry. You've mentioned the the supplemental several times, but we also don't have funding for the whole government, right? So, what is the President going to do on that when Congress comes back? And, two, does this mean that you're optimistic about a CR? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, the President has been really clear. We have to prevent a needless shutdown, right? We've said this. Every time we come to this space, we say we have to prevent a needless shutdown. House Republicans must finally do their jobs and work across the aisle to pass funding bills that deliver for the American people. So, we support bipartisan negotiations happening on the Hill, obviously. And so, House Republicans should not waste their waste our time, waste their time, waste the American people's time. They should move forward. We this is their basic duty. Their basic duty is to keep the government open, and we're going to be Q And what will the President do? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it is their job. It is their job to keep the government open. What we're going to do is we're going to continue to call that out and say, "Hey, you know what? This is about" these are we're talking about programs that the American people need they need. And so, this is for Congress to work out. They got to get this done. Q So, the President sa- Q Does that mean that Q The President the President said yesterday he's willing to meet with the House Speaker. Is there any update on that? Any progress made? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, obviously the President, if it it is if it is indeed a serious discussion, he to be had, he's open to that, obviously. Right? He's alw- if it's a serious discussion. But I have to remind everybody right? what Putin Putin is a deep threat to our national security. You guys know this. I don't even have to remind you of that. Our borders needs needs to be secured. Right? You've heard us say this. The President has has led on both when it comes to getting a bipartisan agreement on the border security, when it when you saw what the what the Senate was able to do on getting that national security supplemental in a bipartisan way. But so far, it's the Speaker. As I just stated moments ago, it's the Speaker that is the only one who is actively hurting America's national security by killing those priorities that I just laid out, then going on an early early vacation, as I mentioned already. So, this is a question to the Speaker: Is he going to choose Trump is this what he's going to do? and his own internal politics over the doing doing what's right for the Ukraine, doing what's right for our national security, doing what's right for our border, doing what's right for Israel and the Palestinian civilians? Or and let's not forget the Indo-Pacific. If so, let's have that real discussion. Let's have a serious, good-faith discussion. But we all know where the Speaker stands already. And he's playing politics on this. Q Karine, what does a "serious" discussion entail? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's up to Q How is that different than MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look Q the last conversation they had? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, that's look, here's the thing: We know that the Senate already has put forth a bipartisan a bipartisan agreement passed 70 to 29 on the floor of the Senate to deal with the national security. Right? They've also came together to deal with border security. And what we keep hearing from the Speaker this is why it's it's kind of it's kind of bizarre, right? Because they they keep swinging, right? They keep saying, "We must have bipartisan border legislation now" to "Where on Earth did this bipartisan border legislation come from? Get it away from me. We'd like to talk about reversals." Right? It's just bizarre. I mean, this is the Speaker. This is the Speaker of the House who goes from one side to another and doesn't actually know what he wants. So, it's up to him: What is is he really serious about having a conversation? But there are it's in front of him, right? The agreement that came out that came out of the Senate to deal with the national security, it's in front of him. There's a there there was an agreement on the border. It's in front of him. He keeps saying these things are dead. He keeps saying these things are dead. And so, the President is like, "Okay, well, if it's a serious conversation, let's have it." But he's not serious. He isn't. Where where is the seriousness coming from the Speaker right now? Q So, on on Rob's question, you said no, there is no update on a meeting with Speaker Johnson and and the President? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have an update. What I'm saying is we are open to having a serious conversation, is the if there is one to be had. But I'm also laying out where the Speaker has been for the past couple of weeks on this. He's not serious about this. Right? I mean, he you guys have written about how he swung from from back and forth on this issue. Q What's the sign what's the sign? What could the Speaker do to demonstrate he's acting in good faith? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean I mean, if he's acting in good faith, then take it up. Take it up. Take up the national security supplemental. Say say you're going to bring it to the floor or say that you're going to have a discussion about it. He's saying it's dead. He's saying it's dead before he even brings it brings it to brings it to his own caucus. Right? His own caucus has said if it puts if it goes to the floor, it would pass in a bipartisan way, the border the border security negotiations. He just said it's dead. Didn't even do go through a process of trying to go through it to see, "Hey, well, how how much can we move this further in the House?" No. So, where is the seriousness here? Q Karine, on on Senator Joe Manchin. What was the President's reaction to the fact that a fellow Democrat didn't want to endorse him right now? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look and you've heard us say this. We the President has had a very good working relationship with Senator Manchin the last three years. They the two of them, along with other other congressional members and have been able to get some historic legislation passed and on behalf of the American people. Whether it's the CHIPS and Science Act, whether it is the American Rescue Plan, there has been a lot of effort and good work with with the with the senator. I can't speak to his decision. That is something for him to speak to. We appreciate, obviously, our working relations- relationship with the senator. And I'm not going to talk politics, you know, as I can't. Q Was the President disappointed? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm just not going to I'm not going to go beyond a private conversation with the President. I'm just going to say that we respect Senator Manchin. We've had a very good relationship. The President has had a very good relationship with the denator over the past three years. Q (Inaudible.) Q Karine, on Gaza. Could did you want to follow up on that? Q No, go it's okay. Q On on Gaza. Could you talk a little bit about the President's thinking in terms of endorsing this terminology around ceasefire? You have this U.N. resolution. It's the first time the U.S. has backed that word. It's crept into the President's own language. What is his thought process in introducing that word? And is it too little too late? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, a couple of things here. There's no change in our policy U.S. policy, obviously. We we are steadfast on that. You heard President Biden talk about this last week. It expresses our position if the U.N. resolution that you're talking about that we have put forth in support of a hostage deal that would pause the fighting for an extended period of time. So, that policy stays the same. That potential deal represents the best opportunity to reunite all hostage hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in fighting and it would bring about the conditions for more lifesaving food, water, fuel, medicine, and other essentials to get into the hands of Palestinian civilians who so desperately need it. The resolution also includes other priorities that we have been vocal on, such as supporting the protection of civilians in Rafah and the ongoing U.N. UNWRA investigation into whether whether some of its employees were part of the horrific terror attacks on October 7th, to name a couple. We're proposing this resolution because it is vital that any Security Council efforts help help ongoing diplomatic efforts on the ground, not hinder them. Regrettably, other proposals in the Council, such as the one being that was deliberated today, as you all know, serve to hurt these diplomatic efforts. And just as you as you are asking me about the word, and so look, it's not the first time we've called for a temporary ceasefire in order to free the hostages held by Hamas and other and allow more assistance to get into Gaza, as I just stated. President Biden has used the term "a temporary ceasefire" twice earlier this month. And he he was talking about a temporary ceasefire for hostages as far back as November. And so, this the U.S. policy does not change what we're trying to do and what the President and his team has been working on around the clock in a diplomatic fashion to make sure that we get that that we get we get those hostages home, including American hostages home to their families and to their loved ones and get that all-important humanitarian aid into Gaza. This is something that we have been doing, right? This is something that we were able to do, that that we were able to have that short period of time of humanitarian pause, obviously, and got more than 100 100 hostages home. And so, this is what we've been talking about. This is the temporary ceasefire that the President wants to see. Q And another one on language. Do you do you agree with with Prime Minister Netanyahu that it was inappropriate for Lula of Brazil to compare the plight of the Palestinians with the plight of the Jews in the Holocaust? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I'm not I'm going to let Lula speak for himself. We've been very clear where we stand. We stand, obviously, with Israel being able to defend itself against Hamas and this terrorist organization. That's why we continue to push for obviously, one of the reasons we continue to push for the national security supplemental. What we saw on October 7th was 1,200 1,200 people more than 1,200 people who were killed and more than obviously, more than 150 people who were who were taken hostage. And it was a it was a devastating, tragic day. And we want to continue to make sure that Israel is able to defend itself. Obviously, we want to also make sure that the all-important humanitarian aid get to get to Palestinian civilians, who are who are victims of who are victims themselves of what Hamas is doing. Let's not forgot forget: Hamas is embedding themselves into hospital, into civilian infrastructure, and they're causing harm to their own people. And so, we want to make sure we get that that temporary ceasefire and get that done so we can get that aid in and also make sure that we get those hostages home to their families. Q And if I could just follow on just what Trevor asked. Is it just to put a fine point on it, is it appropriate, as terrible as the suffering is in Gaza, to equate it with the with the Holocaust? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I I I'm not going to this is a very sensitive situation right now obviously, a very sensitive issue. We understand that as it relates to what folks are seeing in Gaza, it's incredibly personal. And what I can say is that we support obviously, our policy in Israel is is steadfast. And and I'm just going to be super mindful. Obviously, those are two different scenarios right? two different situation: what we saw in the Holocaust. And it is it is two different things that should not be compared. But obviously, what we're seeing in what we're seeing the devastation that we're seeing in in with the Palestinian civilians, what Hamas is causing is devastating. It is devastating. Q Just quickly on MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But they're two different times in history, and we have to be very clear about that. Q Any reaction to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling on the frozen em- on frozen embryos? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, I'm going to be careful on on commenting on specific case. But this is exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make. All across the country, women are being forced to grapple with the devastating consequences of action by Republican elected officials, from undermining access to repro- reproductive reproductive care and emergency care to threatening access to contraception. And, as a reminder, this is the same state whose Attorney General threatened to prosecute people who helped women travel out of state to seek the care they need. The President this President and this Vice President will continue to fight to protect access to reproductive healthcare and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law for all women in every state. Q The President Q Karine, can you give us an idea of what the President is doing tomorrow? What are his remarks about? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, we Q Where is he going? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We certainly will have more to share later today on what Pr- the President's day is going to look like tomorrow. Q The President has talked a lot about stimulating competition in the financial services sector. How concerned is this administration about the Discover-Capital One merger? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that last part. Q The Discover-Capital One merger. How how concerned are you guys? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, again, with this as well: I'm not going to speak to any particular case. But let me lay this out. Bank mergers are reviewed by bank regula- regulators on a case-by-case basis. As we have said, we need a diverse banking sector with a healthy mix of of large, regional, and community banks. And as the President says, capitalism without competition isn't capitalism, it's exploitation. His comp- his compet- his competition executive order urges the Department of Justice and bank regulators to review bank merger policies. This administration will continue to fight to protect consumers and enforce our antitrust laws. Anything further, obviously, I'm going to refer you to Department of Justice. Q Karine, the the publisher of the New York Times has talked about getting flak from the White House for its coverage of the President's age. Can you talk to us a little bit about what you think is, sort of, fair game when covering the nation's oldest president and what might be off limits? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I mean, a couple of things there that I would say on that on that particular particular item. Look, you know and, you know, you you all ask me pretty regularly about the President's age and we lay out what our perspective is. We lay out what we see we've seen this president do in the last three years, which is deliver on historic historic piece of legislation that's going to change the lives of Americans for generations to come. That so wh- now, to your question, more specifically, about about the New York Times coverage, is that that display what we believe a journalistic objectivity about coverage of the President's age speaks to why we agree with former New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan, and she says, "Maybe the Times and other major media outlets ought to look in the mirror." "Self-scrutiny and and course correction are not among their core strengths." And I'll leave it there. Q Yeah. Has has the President reached out to Congresswoman Tlaib following her com- her social media posts over the weekend to vote uncommitted? And do progressives does he believe that progressives have a right to be outraged over the administration's handling of Israel and Gaza? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, what I'm about to say, I think, answers both questions. So, I'm on the first one, I'm being really careful because there's an upcoming election obviously, an upcoming primary. So, I'm going to be really careful. But, as you know, the we had se- White House senior officials, they traveled to Michigan earlier this month to hear from Muslim and Arab Americans, leaders during what has deeply pain pain what has been deeply painful and personal moment. We care very much about that and what the community is going through and wanted to convey that in a strong way. Obviously, we know that this has been a difficult time, and the President cares very deeply. And importantly, it's why he is working day and night to stop the suffering and loss of life of life among innocent Palestinians and Israelis who have been caught in the middle of this conflict between Israel and Hamas. And so, that is our commitment. But we understand how deeply how deeply people feel about this. And and we value what they have to say. Going to be really careful on commenting specifically on on the congresswoman. Obviously, there's an upcoming primary. Q Was the President was the President offended by Charlamagne's comments on main was it "main character energy" that he said is lacking? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm going to be really careful. Again, this is related to 2024. So, I can't I'm not going to speak to Charlamagne's Q No, that was related to MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And I refer you I refer you to Q I don't think that was related to the campaign. I think that was related to how he's he's handled his administration. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I have not heard I'm going to be very honest. I have not heard Charlamagne's comments. I know he's had specific thoughts about 2024. So, as it relates to that, I'm going to refer you to the campaign. Q Any plans for the President to speak with Yulia, Aleksey Navalny's widow? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't have anything to to read out at this time. But as you all know, the Vice President met with met with Navalny's wife recently. But I don't have a meeting I don't have a meeting with the President to to read out at this time. Q Can you share anything on what priorities the President is tackling on this long trip to California? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Priorities? Q Phone calls? What's he doing up there? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, the President, as always, is always working on behalf of the American people. We'll have more on what his day looks like tomorrow. I don't have anything beyond that. Q As a follow-up, last month was the worst month we've had in layoffs in the tech sector. Any chance that the President will address that fear it's going to spread into the larger economy? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's the largest month of what? Q The largest largest lump monthly largest excuse me, largest layoffs in a single month in the tech sector since, I think, May of May of 2023. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So so, we closely monitor, obviously, all reports of Americans losing their jobs. President Biden knows what losing a job can mean for a family and entire community. You've heard him talk about his own personal experience growing up. But broadly speaking, thanks to the strong economy under President Biden, layoffs are near record lows. In fact, they're lower than the average during the prior administration, even before COVID. As you know, unemployment is at under 4 percent. And and, also, 3 million jobs were created just last year, more than any year under the previous administration. And companies continue to grow. We've seen small business application boom at 16 million applications in the last three years. And so, that tells you a lot about the economy. But obviously, anytime we hear about Americans losing jobs, that's something that we monitor. All right. Q Does the President plan to meet with his son, Hunter, while he is in California? He was with MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not I'm not going to speak to to the President's family. Q And then, is he is he aware is he aware or in touch with his brother James heading into his interviews with House Republicans MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I I'm not Q tomorrow? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not going to I'm not going to speak to the President's private conversation with his family. I never do, and I'm not going to do that now. All right. Thanks, everybody. Q Thanks, Karine. Q Thank you very much, Karine. 4:14 P.M. EST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pennsylvania Guard Takes Over Horn of Africa Security Mission By Sgt. Jalen Miller, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa February 21, 2024 CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti -- The Pennsylvania National Guard's Task Force Paxton assumed control over the security mission in East Africa from Task Force Tomahawk during a Feb. 10 transfer of authority ceremony. Task Force Paxton comprises primarily Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and Soldiers from eight other companies from across Pennsylvania. Task Force Paxton now has the essential mission of providing critical security support at installations across the Horn of Africa. As the United States' largest tactical unit on the continent of Africa, the security task force makes up more than two-thirds of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa force and is critical to providing security and building partnerships throughout East Africa in support of U.S. Africa Command. "We look forward to joining that proficient team that you've built," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Erik Ponzek, commander of 2-112th Infantry. "We strive to meet the expectations of each mission set in the Horn of Africa, working tirelessly through the heat of the long days to overcome the challenges ahead." During the ceremony, Ponzek and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Barclay, the 2-112th Infantry senior enlisted leader, unfurled their unit's colors. This act represents Task Force Paxton assuming control over the SECFOR unit in CJTF-HOA. Task Force Tomahawk included about 1,000 Soldiers from Oklahoma's 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and from the Nebraska and Indiana National Guard. They have been deployed to the Horn of Africa for nine months, providing operational security and crisis response operations across outstations in the Horn of Africa. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, CJTF-HOA commanding general, gave a heartfelt goodbye to the Task Force Tomahawk, thanking them for their outstanding professionalism, discipline and resilience. "Tomahawk, your accomplishments and sacrifices only add excellence to your distinguished heritage. When Tomahawks of the future look back and talk about their distinguished legacy, the pride in their eyes when they talk about the shoulders of giants that they come from, those are your shoulders," Shawley said. During their tenure at Camp Lemonnier, Task Force Tomahawk operated security posts across Africa and provided landside security operations for naval vessels. The team also conducted Emergency Defense Readiness Exercises in Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya and other East African nations to support CJTF-HOA's crisis response mission. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brent Weece, commander of Task Force Tomahawk, expressed appreciation for his Soldiers' work. "As we completed this ceremony nine months ago, I couldn't predict all the events and challenges that Task Force Tomahawk would face, but I was confident that our Soldiers would succeed," said Weece. The 2-112th Infantry's call sign, "Paxton," is derived from a Native American word meaning "Where the waters stand" for a specific place in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The unit's heritage traces to the Logan Guards of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and the Bellefonte Fencibles, who were both organized in 1858 and went on to fight with distinction for the Union Army during the Civil War. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Czech Republic has two new mission commanders to command NATO air operations in case of conflict Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic Author: by editorial staff (ob) 21.2.2024 Since February, the Caslav AFB has two new Mission Commanders, who are able to control a multinational air operation in case of conflict. JAS-39 Gripen fighter pilots completed the test in a Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) exercise in Spain two weeks ago. "We have proven that we can be good leaders both on the ground and in the air. While the Mission Commanders do not do the planning itself as it is all about teamwork, they control the whole process and put in their experience. They are also authorised to decide the final shape of the mission," said one of the successful course graduates on the importance of their role. He and his colleague became the first ones to have completed the challenging course on JAS-39 Gripen fighters. This very intensive international exercise is held several times a year with the participation of few dozen aircraft from various European countries. The program includes the Composite Air Operations (COMAO) that involve a multitude of various types of aircraft operating together. The AWACS aircraft attend on regular basis, and the air assets this year included Eurofighters from Italy and Spain, Rafale from France, Greek F-16s and Swiss F-18. The fighters again took off from the Los Llanos airbase in the southeast of Spain. The three week exercise comprised 12 missions and trained a total of 650 personnel. The 21st Tactical Air Force Base in Caslav participated with roughly three dozen of flight and ground specialist personnel plus three JAS-39 Gripens. Two weeks of stress The primary objective of the exercise is planning and preparation of complex missions. According to the Czech Air Force fighter pilot, the TLP differs in its high demands, extensive scope of various types of missions and presence of highly experienced instructors involved in after-action reviews of mission planning and performance. All participants are subject to extreme pressure as they are required to plan, perform and assess an operation in one day. "While other exercises run in a two-day cycle, with planning done on one day and flying on the second day, here everything is concentrated into a single day. We started very early in the morning and ended up late in the evening, which was demanding, especially mentally, given the accumulating fatigue," says the Czech pilot and expands that the difficulty level was growing as well as mission variedness - no mission was like the previous one. "The difficulty was growing, no mission repeated. The organisers always added something that necessitated a different course of action and different planning process," he added. During the two weeks of the flight part of the course, the Czechs spent thirty hours airborne, and an average sortie took under two hours. As opposed to the previous editions, they played the good guys in the Blue Air team. The days started early in the morning, when the trainees heard a new tasking order. The instructors then selected the mission commander - always a new one - and the leaders of partial missions. Every mission had its objectives both in the air and on the ground. The plan had to be ready under the control of the mission commander within a couple of hours. "What we are talking about here are composite air operations involving about forty various aircraft, ground units and UAVs. You have to include that in the plan and write down for everybody what they are required to do in individual steps," the pilot explains. Understanding each other For the operation to be successful, it is necessary that the participants, who come from all over the world and serve at different posts with various tasks, understand each other. The course is held in English and individual language levels can of course differ. "We stuck by the rule Communicate to Win'. When you talk to both native and non-native speakers and you are in a stressful situation, you can often mishear something or not be sure what you heard. Here, we were forced to verify every single detail do get the right information, which is key for mission success," he emphasized. He also mentioned that most of the missions were demanding from the point of view of communication. "The events often followed one after another or overlapped and each mistake impacted the following phases. It was therefore necessary to think each mission through and prepare it with regard to planned as well as unplanned contingencies which might occur," said the second of the pilots. Even though some of the tasks were not fully finished, the Czech team was satisfied with the overall results. Thanks to the feedback from their instructors and colleagues, they learned valuable lessons to be used in the future. Czech contingent's success The Caslav AFB service members were successful even outside of air operations. Their contingent was the only one to be commended for their pilot support, language levels and attitude of the ground specialist personnel to the environment. "Our aircraft were evaluated as the best prepared and our international colleagues commended our kindliness and helpfulness. We were the only ones who managed the entire exercise with full serviceability," said Deputy Commander of the 211th Tactical Squadron for Ground Support Service Major Jan Koudelka, who was the commander of the Czech team during the exercise. The TLP includes a total of 10 countries of the Alliance and its objective is to improve the effectiveness of the air force with a focus on tactical leadership. Although the Czech Republic is not a member of the program, Czech Air Force personnel participate in TLP exercises regularly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the session on 'The G20's role in dealing with the ongoing international tensions' European External Action Service (EEAS) 21.02.2024 Rio de Janeiro, 21/02/2024 EEAS Press Team As delivered Dear Chairman, I would like to welcome the African Union's representatives to their first G20 meeting as a permanent member. In 25 years from now, one out of four people in the world will be living in Africa. That is why an African strong voice is essential when we discuss global challenges. Today, the global landscape is marked by multiple crises, confrontation and escalation. Multipolarity is a living reality, but multilateralism - that should underpin it - is in crisis. Yes, today we are facing serious crises. Let me mention two of them: the war of aggression against Ukraine, and the Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza. It is almost exactly two years ago, that Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine. War is back in Europe, but this should concern every country in the world. It is a clear violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter: sovereignty and territorial integrity. And it affects all of us, in terms of economics, scarcity and destabilisation. At the same time, we cannot turn a blind eye to the tragedy suffered by the civilian population in Gaza. Too many innocent lives have been lost. 90% of the population [is] being displaced from their homes. This humanitarian catastrophe [is] not a natural one, it is not an earthquake, not a flood. It is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, and it must stop. That is why 26 out of 27 Members of the European Union urge the Israeli government not to take military action in Rafah and require an immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and [the] provision of more and quicker humanitarian assistance. The issue is not that Israel has to fulfil international law and humanitarian law. Certainly, everybody has to do it. The issue is: are they doing that? That is why two Members of the European Union - two Member States - have put the question [on the table]. We will discuss about that in the framework of our EU-Israel Association Agreement. This is particularly important following the binding International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision. The European Union has been warning about the situation in the West Bank. It is not only Gaza, it is [also] about the West Bank. The West Bank is boiling. Extremist settlers are indiscriminately attacking Palestinian civilians. Some EU Members have already taken actions by sanctioning violent settlers. What is happening in the West Bank is the real obstacle - well, there are many obstacles, but this is an important one - to the two-states solution. Dear ministers, we may disagree on Ukraine. But we agree on the need for a two-states solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. And if there is a consensus that only a two-states solution will resolve this conflict - too [long-lasting] conflict -, then we need to redouble our efforts to implement this solution. If we reaffirm this objective here today - everybody - we need to work on how to achieve it. And dear Mauro [Vieira, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Brazil], dear Minister, we would appreciate if, in your press conference, you could mention that the G20 supports this two-states solution. And we need a framework - and which better framework than the United Nations? As you, dear Argentinian [Foreign] Minister [Diana Mondino], have said. The [UN] Security Council can provide this framework by recognising the principle of the two-states solution through a unanimous resolution that could give it international legitimacy. We have to prevent regional escalation - many of you have said that. That is why the European Union has just launched a new maritime operation in the Red Sea, [Operation] Aspides, to protect commercial vessels. Many countries in the region are the first to suffer from it [the escalation in the Red Sea]. It is a defensive operation, and it shows the commitment of the European Union as a security provider. Unhappily, we devoted financial resources that were meant to be spent better on sustainable development to be reallocated to strengthen defence and military production. This is a bad allocation of resources, but this is the consequence of some actions. Our priorities should be a just peace in Ukraine - both 'just' and 'peace' in Ukraine - and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Both tragedies are man-made. But none of them is in our destiny. Ending them will free up political and financial resources to address many of the challenges that need solving. The G20, that represents more than 80% of the world's GDP, has a crucial role in that. Thank you. (There is no video recording available) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The 21st China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chinese side of Moldo-Chushul border on Monday, China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Wednesday. Global Times By Global Times Published: Feb 21, 2024 06:37 PM The 21st China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chinese side of Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on Monday, China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Wednesday. Both sides engaged in positive, in-depth and constructive communication on addressing the border issues of mutual concern. Both sides agreed to continue communication through military and diplomatic channels to reach a solution acceptable to both sides. The two sides agreed to maintain peace in the border areas, according to the ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 21st round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting India - Ministry of External Affairs February 21, 2024 The 21st round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on 19th February 2024. The discussions built on the previous rounds, seeking complete disengagement in the remaining areas along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh as an essential basis for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas. The two sides shared their perspectives on this in the talks held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. The two sides have agreed to maintain communication on the way ahead through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. They also committed to maintain peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas in the interim. New Delhi February 21, 2024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US vetoing of Gaza resolution diplomatic catastrophe of century: Iran FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has described a decision by the United Sates to veto for a third time a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to impose a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as the diplomatic catastrophe of the century. In a message on his page on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Amirabdollahian said that the US will be responsible for the continued genocide of the Palestinians by the Zionist regime because of its repeated vetoing of a UNSC resolution on Gaza. "The world must hold the US accountable," he said in the message in Farsi. Washington vetoed the UNSC resolution drafted by Algeria on Tuesday. The measure was supported by 13 out of 15 UNSC members while Britain abstained. 4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns US vetoing of UNSC Gaza resolution IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned the United States for vetoing a draft United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that included a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza where the Israeli regime has been pressing on with an incessant campaign of genocide against the Palestinians. Kanaani said in a statement on Wednesday that the US decision to block the UNSC resolution drafted by Algeria once again proved that Washington cannot be part of a solution to the crisis in Gaza and in the region. He said that the US' excessive use of veto power in the UNSC, which has taken place three times since the start of the war in Gaza in early October, has created a serious challenge for regional and international peace and security. The spokesman said the vetoing of the resolution vindicated Iran in its stance regarding the role of the US in the genocide of children and women in Gaza by the Israeli regime. The latest resolution was supported by 13 out of 15 UNSC members while Britain abstained in the vote that was held on Tuesday. 4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chilean envoy accuses Israeli regime of violating int'l law IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Chile's special representative to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Ximena Fuentes has accused the Zionist regime of committing systematic violations of international law in the Gaza war. Fuentes made the accusation against the regime during the second hearing session of the ICJ against Israel, the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina reported on Wednesday. Chile believes that Israel is violating the Palestinians' absolute right to decide for their fate, the representative underlined. In her remarks, she described the regime's occupation of Palestinian lands as an illegal act. She underlined that her country recognized Palestine as an independent state in 2011. Some 100 Chilean lawyers had already filed a complaint with the ICJ against the Israeli regime due to its war crimes and crimes against humanity. Also, in November 2023, South Africa lodged the same complaint against the regime. 1483**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: US veto of truce resolution greenlit Israeli genocide on Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the US veto of a UN Security Council resolution proposed by Algeria for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas said in a statement that US President Joe Biden and his administration are directly responsible for blocking the ceasefire resolution to end the Zionist regime's war on the besieged Gaza Strip. "The resolution called for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian reasons and opposed the displacement of Palestinians, and its failure means a lack of international will for a ceasefire and is in line with serving the Nazi occupation regime, whose goal is to kill and displace the Palestinian nation," it said. The statement further said that Washington's veto means giving the occupiers a green light to continue its aggression, killing and bombing against the defenseless Palestinian nation. On Tuesday, the United States once again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. It marked the third time Washington used its veto power in favor of the Israeli regime since it launched a bloody war on Gaza on October 7 last year. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NAM condemns Israeli regime's continued aggression on Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 New York, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Zahra Ershadi has said, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), that the movement slams the Israeli regime's continued aggression on Gaza. Ershadi read out a statement on behalf of the NAM members on Tuesday local time at the meeting of the special committee of the United Nations Charter. The NAM categorically denounced the Israeli regime's continued brutal military operation against the defenseless Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, she noted. The official underlined that the movement calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and support for the Palestinian nation. Ershadi said that the Movement is deeply concerned about the warnings of UN special rapporteurs about the flagrant genocide in the Gaza Strip. The NAM calls on the international community to halt the genocide in the enclave and take all necessary measures to end the measure, she noted. The Movement welcomes a request by South Africa on December 29, 2023, to bring a lawsuit against the Israeli regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the violation of the commitments under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, she added. The NAM calls on the Israeli regime to implement a temporary agreement ordered by the ICJ, the official underscored. The Zionist regime's deadly war on Gaza has so far killed nearly 29,000 people. 7129**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Longtime Republican Southern Tier Assemblyman Andrew Goodell will retire at the end of the year. Goodell has represented New Yorks 150th District which covers all of Chautauqua County and the Seneca Nation Cattaraugus Reservation in Erie County for 14 years. His retirement at the end of this year marks the end of his seventh term in office. I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to represent Chautauqua County and a portion of the Seneca Nation, Goodell wrote in a Facebook post Thursday announcing his retirement. It was an experience of a lifetime, for which I am very grateful. Before he was elected to the Assembly in 2010, Goodell was the Chautauqua County attorney in the 1980s and the Chautauqua County executive from 1990 to 1997, according to his biography. During his time in office, Goodell helped secure $30 million for the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. He sponsored legislation to increase the number of Family Court judges in Chautauqua County and add a judge to the Jamestown City Court, as well as legislation to expand Medicaid eligibility for assisted living in Chautauqua County. Lawmakers push bill to give Chautauqua Institution security guards arrest power "Our world has become more violent again," said State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, who is pushing the measure with Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown. Goodell is sponsoring a bill that would give security guards at the Chautauqua Institution the power to arrest people, following the assassination attempt that wounded author Salman Rushdie in August 2022. Goodell has served as the minority floor leader in the Assembly since 2018. He is a member of the Governmental Operations Committee and the Social Services Committee and previously served on the Judiciary, Health and Housing committees. I am forever indebted to all those who helped me along the way, gave me great advice and counsel, and shared their invaluable time and insights, both at home and in Albany, Goodell wrote, giving a special thank you to his wife, Lisa. Without the tremendous support of others, I would never be successful. A graduate of Cornell Law School, Goodell said he plans to continue practicing law after he retires. He is a partner at the Jamestown law firm Goodell & Rankin. US, UK launch new joint attacks on Yemen IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni media have reported yet another joint attacks by American and British warplanes on the Arab country. A reporter working for the Al-Mayadeen TV network said that the Al-Jabaneh area of Hudaydah city was the target of aerial strikes in the early hours of Wednesday. Separately, the Masirah network reported that the Al-Araj area in the northwest of same city in western Yemen were hit twice overnight. There were immediately no reports of possible casualties and damage from these attacks. The United States and Britain have carried out a number of joint strikes on Yemen under the pretext of protecting maritime trade in the Red Sea. But Yemenis say the US-UK aggression is part of their efforts to protect Israeli interest as Yemen keeps blocking Israeli-linked or bound ships from sailing through the Red Sea over the regime's genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed that the US military carried out 32 attacks on Yemen using warplanes and missiles until Tuesday. The Deputy Spokesman of the US Department of Defense also acknowledged that the Yemeni army had shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone near Yemen. Earlier, the Yemen military claimed to have downed a attack drone, which it said "was carrying out hostile missions against the country on behalf of the Zionist entity". 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Assault on Rafah will be met with decisive response: Resistance groups IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Senior officials of the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance movements have warned the Zionist regime against any ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying such assault will be met with a strong and decisive response. The warning came from Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official and Abu Shahin, a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Jihad who were addressing a joint press conference on the sidelines of the 24th Iran Media Expo in Tehran on Tuesday. "Our nation is stable and the Palestinian resistance showed that it has great strength and the Zionist army is desperate against the resistance forces," Hamdan emphasized. Hamdan also accused the West of being a partner to the Israeli crimes and said: The world is witnessing a human disaster in Gaza, but the United States and some European countries ignore the crimes of the occupying regime. While calling the resistance a source of unity among Palestinians and the Islamic-Arab world, the Hamas official reiterated demands for the Gaza ceasefire, saying the movement would not settle for anything less than the end of the war, the withdrawal of the occupation forces, the flow of humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of Gaza and the release of prisoners. Hamdan also said that conditions laid out by the resistance for any ceasefire deal with the Zionist regime are not negotiable. He, however, blamed the Israeli regime for trying to make the ceasefire negotiations futile, saying the regime doesn't want to accept the demands and regrets the response it had given to the proposals. "But our response to the proposal is same and will not change", Hamdan said in reference to a framework that was hammered out in the Paris talks on the potential Gaza ceasefire last month and a follow up meeting between American and Israeli spy chiefs as well as Egyptian and Qatari officials in Cairo that ended inconclusively. He also touched on a visit to Cairo by Hamas political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh and said he will convey the resistance movement's stance to the mediators on the framework of past proposals. Stating that some truce proposals serve the interests of the Israeli regime, he said the rights of the Palestinians cannot be ignored. "The history of Palestine does not begin with the Al-Aqsa Storm but the Palestinian nation has witnessed the crimes since the creation of the Zionist regime, and we are ready to die for the rights that have been taken away from us", he underlined. The Hamas official further said that the message of Al-Aqsa Storm is to stand against oppression and occupation and lay the groundwork for making fundamental changes in confronting the occupiers in such a way to achieve the goal of freedom and realize the end of the occupation. Islamic Jihad pledge During the presser, the member of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Jihad Movement reiterated Palestinians' resolve to defeat enemy plots with courage, patience and resistance. While highlighting Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, Ali Abu Shahin warned that the Israeli attack on Rafah, which is crammed with about one and a half million Palestinians, will be the biggest crime in modern history. He also touched on the Gaza ceasefire and said that Israeli captives will not be freed unless the regime agrees to a complete cessation of the war among other conditions. "Accepting ae ceasefire means Israel's defeat and this regime intends to compensate for its defeat by attacking Rafah, but the resistance is prepared to counter such move as they pinned down the enemy in northern Gaza and in the city of Khan Yunis", he underlined. Elsewhere in his remarks, Abu Shahin called the United States and many European countries accomplice in Israeli crimes against Palestinians. "America is not only a supporter of the Zionist regime, but a partner in crime as it has provided Tel Aviv with billions of dollars in financial and military aid". "Millions of people worldwide, especially in Western countries, demonstrated against the policies of their governments, including their support for Israel, but these governments keep supporting the regime", he responded to a question on the West's self-proclaimed democracy and human rights. On Israeli threats to Lebanon, the Islamic Jihad official called them a psychological warfare but warned about the regional escalation if the Zionist regime opens a new war front. Hailing Yemen, Iran The senior members of Islamic Jihad and Hamas also expressed their gratitude to the Yemeni people for standing by the Palestinian cause, saying they are partner in the victories of the Palestinian nation. Ali Abu Shahin highlighted the role of Yemen in supporting the people of Gaza and said: The Yemeni front was very effective and was able to incur heavy economic losses on Israel. He also lauded Iran's support for Palestinians and their cause and said: There is no doubt that Iran's efforts have played an important role in supporting the Palestinian nation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic was effective in defeating Western diplomatic plots at international institutions. "Some Arab regimes are watching the Gaza war, if they had only listened to the words of the Iranian leadership about the need to put an economic embargo on Israel, the conditions of resistance would have been much better" he emphasized. Abu Shahin also criticized certain Arab governments for placing their ports and land in the service of the Zionist regime and said: The stance of these states on Israeli crimes show not only their double standards but even encourage the occupation. He said that despite all odds, the Al-Aqsa Storm proved that the impossible can be made possible and the resistance in this operation changed the military equations and proved that Palestinians' will is invincible. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah conducts strikes against Israeli positions, military bases ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 21 February 2024 / 11:43 In a series of operations on Monday, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah targeted various Israeli military positions and sites across the Lebanese-Palestinian border, the group said in a statement, confirming that all attacks achieved direct hits. Tehran -ISNA- The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah declared that the operations are in support of the "resilient Palestinian people in Gaza and in solidarity with their brave and honorable Resistance." At 3:45 pm, Hezbollah said its fighters struck the Birket Risha Israeli base with appropriate weapons, adding that the base was directly hit. Shortly after, at 4:15 pm, the Resistance carried out a successful rocket attack targeting "Al-Ramtha" Israeli military outpost in occupied Shebaa Farms, another statement read. Al-Summaqa site, also in occupied Shebaa Farms, came under rocket fire at 4:25 pm, the Resistance announced, confirming that the operation resulted in a direct hit. As Hezbollah continues striking Israeli bases for over 130 days, Israeli settlers and top officials are warning that the situation in the north is becoming extremely difficult and frustrating, pointing out the entity's inability to deter the Resistance as hundreds of thousands are fleeing their settlements in northern occupied Palestine. In a report on Sunday, Israeli media underlined that Hezbollah is advancing toward precision technology in its rockets, serving as an alternative to the lack of aerial capabilities. Observing the Resistance's daily operations, Israeli media reports suggested that Hezbollah has transformed Grad rockets and other short-range rockets into guided and precision weapons. On another note, Israeli media revealed that the northern settlements in occupied Palestine fear the outbreak of a comprehensive war since the recent speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the implications it carried. It further added that Nasrallah's threat of missiles capable of reaching "Eilat" in southern occupied Palestine led thousands of Israeli occupation settlers to rush to stores, fearing shortages of essential supplies. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We will offer better conditions and new infrastructure to U.S. troops, says A. Anusauskas meeting with Ambassador K. McDonald Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-02-21 On February 21 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anusauskas had a meeting with the recently appointed United States Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald on the regional security situation and the most pressing issues of bilateral defence cooperation. Minister underscored that continued uninterrupted presence of the U.S. combat capabilities in Lithuania was the priority for the Ministry of National Defence, therefore the effort was made to improve infrastructure and ensure every kind of host nation support for allied troops in Lithuania. "You have come in the times of tensions and multiple challenges in our region. We can feel your support and presence and our cooperation has never been closer. Soon, when the military infrastructure is expanded, we look forward to being able to better meet the military readiness needs of the Lithuanian and Allied troops. We will provide better conditions and new infrastructure to the U.S. troops," said A. Anusauskas. Minister also expressed gratitude for the persistent U.S. support to capability development of the Baltic states, which, according to A. Anusauskas, increased deterrence in the region and accelerated filling in the capability gaps. Another topic addressed with the Ambassador was assistance to Ukraine. "It was a pleasure to meet with Minister Anusauskas and reaffirm to him the strength of the U.S. commitment to the transatlantic security and our Ally Lithuania. We welcome Lithuania's investment in Armed Forces modernization and the significant assistance to Ukraine. We also appreciate the Host Nation Support hospitality of Lithuania to the rotational U.S. Army units deployed in the Pabrade Training Area," said Ambassador K. McDonald after the meeting. The United States is one of the key Allies for security in the Baltic region and one of Lithuania's principal partners in defence acquisitions. Lithuania signed contracts on acquisition of the HIMARS artillery systems and the AMRAAM missile acquisitions from the U.S. last year, that comes after the earlier agreements on 500 units of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles JLTVs, four Black Hawk helicopters, Switchblade drones. Lithuania has also been purchasing the Javelin antitank missile systems and various communications equipment from the U.S for many years. Rotational U.S. battalions have been maintaining an uninterrupted presence in Lithuania since 2019. The current units serving in Pabrade are the Hounds Battalion (3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment (3-67) and the Battle Kings Battalion (1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery (1-9). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CRRT chairmanship back in Lithuania Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-02-21 Cyber security | International cooperation The Cyber Rapid Response Team (CRRT) of the Lithuanian-initiated CRRT and Mutual Assistance in Cyber Security project has identified its 2024 objectives to be implemented under supervision of the Ministry of National Defence. Lithuania is the standing coordinator of the project and now the chair of the project council for the second time: the responsibility is rotated annually between the nine members. On February 20 the Ministry of National Defence hosted the sixth meeting of the EU CRRT Council, technical experts and observers of the project. Welcoming the gathering, Vice Minister of National Defence Greta Monika Tuckute pointed out that the CRRT was in its full operational capability starting 2021 and ready to take different cyber incidents, as well as improve cyber resilience of EU members and partners. According to Vice Minister, the force has a potential for much more visibility and activity within and beyond the EU. "The CRRT Council Chair Lithuania has put together an ambitious action plan for the capability this year, it encompasses the various activation modes, exercises, technical expert training, etc. Moreover, we expect several new members in the project in 2024. Lithuania will continue working actively to further grow the skillset and readiness level of the CRRT," said G. M. Tuckute. Belgium, Slovenia and Denmark became full-fledged members of the project in 2023. The current CRRT composition includes 16-18 cybersecurity experts delegated at national level by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Netherlands, Romania, and Slovenia. Four more countries are in the process of weighing the possibility to join the project. Formed in PESCO framework in 2018, the EU CRRT offers assistance in managing cyber incidents or preventive measures (vulnerability assessment, election observation, etc.). The CRRT capability has been successfully tested in assisting such partner nations as Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the European Union Training Mission in Mozambique. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: Israeli forces attack MSF shelter in Al-Mawasi Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders The violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza must end now. February 21, 2024 NEW YORK/JERUSALEM, February 21, 2024 -- The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of two MSF staff family members during an Israeli offensive on Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Six others were injured in the attack. Late in the evening of February 20, Israeli forces conducted a military operation in Al-Mawasilocated on Gaza's coastlineduring which an Israeli tank fired on a house sheltering MSF colleagues and their families. The attack killed the daughter-in-law and wife of an MSF colleague. Six other people were injured, five of whom were women or children. Bullets were also fired at the clearly marked MSF building, hitting the front gate, the building's exterior, and the interior of the ground floor. Following the attack, shelling in the area delayed ambulance teams for more than two hours, but they were later able to reach the site and bring the woundedsome of whom sustained burn injuriesto the International Medical Corps Field Hospital in Rafah. "We are outraged and deeply saddened by these killings," said Meinie Nicolai, MSF general director, who is currently coordinating MSF medical activities in Gaza. "On the same day the United States chose to veto an immediate ceasefire, two daughters saw their mother and sister-in-law killed by an Israeli tank shell." At the time of the attack, 64 people were sheltering in the house. All parties to the war, including Israeli forces, are regularly informed of the whereabouts of MSF teams in specific locations, and have acknowledged their presence. Israeli forces have been clearly informed of the precise location of this MSF shelter in Al-Mawasi. In addition, a two-by-three-meter MSF flag was draped on the outside of the building. No evacuation orders were issued by Israeli forces before the strike. MSF has since contacted Israeli authorities and is seeking further explanation. "These killings underscore the grim reality that nowhere in Gaza is safe," said Nicolai. "Promises of safe areas are empty and deconfliction mechanisms unreliable. The amount of force being used in a densely populated urban area is staggering, and targeting a building knowing it is full of humanitarian workers and their families is unconscionable." Some MSF colleagues and their family members who were living in the MSF shelter before the attack in Al-Mawasi had already survived a strike on another MSF shelter on January 8 in Rafah, which killed the five-year-old daughter of an MSF staff member. This demonstrates, once again, that Israeli forces are not ensuring the safety of civilians in their military operations and shows a complete disregard for human life and lack of respect for medical aid. This makes it almost impossible to sustain medical humanitarian activities in Gaza. MSF teams are supporting our colleagues and their family members who survived yesterday's attack, as well as the loved ones of those who were killed. Five MSF staff have been killed since the beginning of the war, in addition to numerous family members. MSF reiterates our call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza. The violence against civilians must end now. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General and Georgian Prime Minister discuss strengthening ties NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 21 Feb. 2024 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Brussels on Wednesday (21 February 2024) to discuss further strengthening the Alliance's long-standing partnership with Georgia. The Secretary General emphasised that Georgia is a close partner and reiterated NATO's full support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "NATO continues to call on Russia to reverse the recognition of Georgian territories as independent states", Mr Stoltenberg said. "Any threats by Russia to annex Georgia's occupied regions are unacceptable." Ahead of a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission which discussed NATO's partnership with Georgia and regional security, the Secretary General commended Georgia for hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine. NATO is stepping up its cooperation with Georgia in areas such as crisis management, cyber security, military engineering and secure communications. Mr Stoltenberg urged Georgia to continue and step up domestic reforms and uphold democratic values on its path toward full membership in the Euro-Atlantic family. "NATO will continue to stand by your side as you work toward fulfilling those aspirations", the Secretary General said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S., British warplanes strike Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:33, February 21, 2024 SANAA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and British warplanes launched four airstrikes overnight on Houthi sites in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, the group's al-Masirah TV said on Wednesday. The airstrikes hit areas in the north of the city, where residents reported hearing loud explosions and seeing jets flying overhead. No casualties were reported. The Houthis on Monday fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Sea Champion, a Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier bound for the port of Aden in Yemen, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on social media X, formerly Twitter. The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on international shipping since mid-November last year, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who faced intense Israeli attacks. The U.S.-British forces have responded with dozens of airstrikes on Houthi targets, including mobile missile launchers and underwater drones, but have failed to deter the group from launching more attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli army instructs soldiers not to film 'revenge videos' in Gaza amid ICJ genocide case Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 7:10 PM The Israeli army's chief of staff Herzi Halevi has instructed troops "not to film revenge videos" after footage was used as evidence in the case against the regime for genocide before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. In a message to the Israeli army on Wednesday, Halevi stated that "we must be careful not to take anything that is not ours - a souvenir or weapons - and not to film revenge videos." An Israeli veterans' organisation said on Wednesday the troops in Gaza are publishing videos of items they've looted from Gaza. "We've collected many testimonies over the years from different areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which occurred in varying circumstances. But these past few months have been different," it said. The organization noted that "looting has never been normalized in the way it has over the last four months. It's never been done with such glee, knowing that the Israeli public and the world are watching - and all with such little interest from the military's top brass, not to mention our politicians." Media reports indicated that the Israeli army has looted nearly $25 million worth of money and gold artifacts from the Palestinians' houses across the Gaza Strip amid the ravages of the months-long war. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor recently revealed that Israeli forces are systematically looting Palestinians' homes across the besieged territory, stealing their property in addition to killing thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip. It added that Israeli soldiers participate in and witness the deliberate theft of the assets and money of Palestinian civilians, including laptop computers, gold, and large quantities of cash. In recent months, dozens of Israeli soldiers also appeared in videos documenting retaliatory actions in Gaza since Oct. 7. Videos showed Israeli soldiers blowing up Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip in revenge for dead troops amid a deadly offensive on the war-battered region. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Israeli military chief also confessed the Palestinian resistance fighters were far from being defeated in Gaza. "We have been fighting for four months, and we still have a long way to go," he said Several countries last month hailed an interim ruling by the ICJ on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel over the regime's war on the Gaza Strip. The developments come as the top UN court on Wednesday held a third day of hearings on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. World envoys call for an urgent end to the occupation. The Russian representative slammed Israel's collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The majority of the speakers have demanded that Israel end its occupation. At least 52 countries and several International organizations are taking part in the six-day oral proceedings at The Hague. In contrast, the US continues with its unconditional support for the Israeli regime as the ICJ held oral hearings on the consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. The US says the court shouldn't urge Israel to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territory. The most recent US veto of a UN Security Council resolution which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza has prompted widespread criticism. China has warned that the US decision could push the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous phase. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also expressed its deep regret over the UNSC failure to adopt the resolution. The OIC also renewed its call for the international community to take urgent measures to stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza. The Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Gaza keeps unfolding as the regime pounds the blockaded territory with airstrikes and artillery now more than four months into the genocidal campaign. So far, it has claimed the lives of over 29,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Arab League, OIC, and Egypt condemn US veto of Gaza ceasefire Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 6:54 PM The Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Egypt have censured the third veto by the United States of a draft resolution proposed at the United Nations Security Council demanding an immediate end to Israel's brutal war in the besieged Gaza Strip. The US used its veto power at the UNSC on Tuesday to block the Algeria-drafted resolution, which rejected the "forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population" and urged "all parties to comply with international law." Representatives of 13 countries at the 15-member Security Council voted in favor. Britain abstained. Washington vetoed similar draft resolutions in October and December. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, said vetoing a resolution "calling for a ceasefire in an armed conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 29,000 civilians, most of them children and women, is a shameful precedent" in the history of the Security Council. The ministry said the international community has a moral and human obligation to work for an end to the daily suffering of the Palestinians. "Egypt strongly denounces ... selectivity and double standards in dealing with wars and armed conflicts in various regions of the world, which has come to question the credibility of the rules and working mechanisms of the current international architecture, especially the UN Security Council, which is entrusted with the responsibility of preventing and settling conflicts and halting wars," the statement read. The ministry said Cairo would continue to demand a safe passage for humanitarian aid in the tightly-blockaded territory. It also said Egypt would be against any attempts aimed at displacing the Palestinians outside their homeland. Separately, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement that the veto "clearly indicates its political and moral responsibility for the continuation of the war." He also warned that the veto "undermines the credibility of the UN system and reinforces the state of paralysis witnessed by the UN." "(It) provides political cover for Israel to continue the aggression in light of the international community's inability to stop the heinous crimes committed every day against Palestinian civilians," Aboul Gheit said. The veto also drew condemnation by the OIC, which expressed its "deep regret" over the failure of the UNSC to adopt the draft resolution. "The OIC also regrets deeply the United States' use of veto against the draft resolution, describing it as a negative reflection of the Security Council's role in the maintenance of international peace and security, protection of civilians and ensuring delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement. Condemnations have poured in from across the world. Countries such as China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and even Washington's close allies, including France and Slovenia, have denounced the veto. Washington has supplied the Israeli regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment over the past months of hostilities in Gaza. Israel has killed more than 29,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 69,000 others in Gaza since early October. The regime ignited the brutal war machine on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alden State Bank is going back in time. The bank bought a building down Broadway in Alden from its headquarters that served as its original branch, from 1925 to 1963. Following renovations, 13200 Broadway will return to service as an Alden State Bank branch. The bank will then close a branch inside its headquarters, providing more space for its operations. I hope our customers see it as reminder of our past and a commitment to our future, said Steve Woodard, the president and CEO. My hope is that everyone will be excited about not just saving this historical building but also bringing it back to its original function and purpose. The usual narrative about branches is that theyre going away, and there are certainly plenty of examples of closings. Customers are doing more transactions digitally a trend that accelerated during the pandemic leading some customers to say they dont need to come into a branch much, if at all. Many banks have consolidated their networks in response. But banks are hardly giving up on branches. New ones are opening, and some existing ones, like KeyBanks branch at Elmwood Avenue and Summer Street, remain busy places. We still get lines every day, said Dorothy Sands-Carboni, the branch manager. People like to come in. They like the interaction. Banks newer branches certainly look different from the old days. They resemble sleek offices, with few teller windows and ample room for meetings. Chase, as part of a relaunch into Buffalo, has opened six local branches. Whos using their branches? Its a combination of residents, students attending colleges here, and people who come to town for events like Bills games, said Chala Khorana, Chases market director for Western New York. The common theme I keep on hearing is that clients are thrilled to see a nationwide financial institution serving the area, which permits them to continue serving their banking needs uninterrupted, Khorana said. For Chase, branches also create visibility and awareness. Thats important, because the Chase name had been absent from Buffalo-area branch banking for 23 years, before returning in 2022. Its branches can handle basic transactions, and there are digital tools available. But customers can also meet with Chase employees to get financial advice. Were not really focused on the transaction line, per se, but what the customers needs are, and how we can meet them, Khorana said. Those kinds of conversations are essential to branches nowadays, said Rachael Sampson, Cleveland-based Keys head of community banking. We see across the industry that branch banking and transactions have decreased, but one thing that has increased is the need for financial wellness, she said. All banks keep tabs on transaction volumes in branches, and use that information when they evaluate which locations to keep and which to consolidate. The nice part about Buffalo is, we have some of the highest transaction volumes across Keys footprint, when you look at our branch model, said Matthew Zvolensky, Keys Buffalo market retail leader. I think thats a testament to our teams and the relationships theyve built. Chiwuike Chi-Chi Owunwanne, Keys corporate responsibility officer in Buffalo, said branches help build trust with customers, especially in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Having a physical place where we can start to build that trust, and assuage those fears and concerns, thats the critical role that branches play, especially in communities like the East Side of Buffalo, he said. Thats why opportunities for face-to-face connections with bank employees are so valuable, he said. Its harder for you to build trust when you have to talk to someone on the phone who may be who knows where. Bank branches can also combat blight, by reviving empty storefronts, Owunwanne said. With community input, Key chose to open a branch at Delavan Avenue and Grider Street in a building that used to contain a Rite Aid. The branch has become a community resource, beyond a place of business. A customer visiting the branch might see a flier for an event happening at the nearby community center. Key is also using the branch to pilot a program called HOPE Inside, in partnership with the nonprofit Operation HOPE, focused on homebuyer and financial education. And some branches have taken a new tack. A few years ago, M&T Bank relocated a Jefferson Avenue branch into a smaller location at a YMCA. The bank said that was in response to community interest in access to more financial guidance, in areas such as building or rebuilding credit, buying homes, improving money management and growing small businesses or careers. Evans Bank in 2021 opened a branch tucked away in the Westminster Commons housing and community development in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood, to establish a presence in the community. Around the region, more bank branches are on the way. Bank on Buffalo is getting to work on a new one in Depew. Chase has two more in the works. Chemung Canal Trust plans to open a branch in Amherst its first in Western New York this year. So more branches might still close this year, but dont write off branches just yet. Gaza situation inhumane, ceasefire now: WHO chief Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 6:07 PM The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm over the "inhumane" humanitarian situation in Gaza, which continues to deteriorate as Israel's bombs keep falling on the besieged territory. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for an immediate halt to the regime's war in the densely populated strip and demanded unhindered access to international aid. "Gaza has become a death zone. Much of the territory has been destroyed," Ghebreyesus said. Tedros said, "What type of world do we live in when people cannot get food and water, or where people who cannot even walk are not able to receive care?" The head of the UN health agency also criticized the israeli regime's military forces for bombing hospitals and medical facilities. "What type of world do we live in when hospitals must close because there is no more power or medicines to help save patients, and they are being targeted by military forces?" Tedros also expressed concern about severe malnutrition among the people of Gaza which "has shot up dramatically since the war started, from under one percent to more than 15 percent in some areas, putting more lives at risk." "This figure will rise the longer the war goes on and supplies are interrupted," he warned. The regime started its war on Gaza in October last year after Hamas launched its unprecedented Operation al-Aqsa Storm against Israeli-occupied territories, during which the resistance movement took more than 240 captives. "We need a ceasefire now," Tedros said. "We need hostages to be released. We need the bombs to stop dropping and we need unfettered humanitarian access. Humanity must prevail." In northern Gaza, the situation is even worse, as the area has been almost completely cut off from aid for weeks. Tedros said the UN health agency "notes with apprehension that the World Food Program cannot get into northern Gaza with supplies." One in six children under age two 15.6 percent are acutely malnourished in northern Gaza, according to nutrition screenings conducted at shelters and health centers in January. Of these, almost three percent suffer from severe wasting the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. The health condition puts children at the highest risk of medical complications and death unless they receive urgent treatment. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Monday that the Gaza Strip "is poised to witness an explosion in preventable child deaths." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen says in talks with EU over Red Sea shipping safety Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 4:56 PM Yemeni authorities have held "constructive talks" with the representatives of the European Union (EU) to ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea, Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein al-Ezzi says. The Yemeni minister said on Wednesday that his country had ensured EU authorities during bilateral talks that the Red Sea is safe for international transit. "We once again reiterate that the Red Sea is absolutely safe. Only passage to ships linked to three parties, namely the US, Israel and Britain, are blocked," al-Ezzi was quoted as saying by Yemen's al-Masirah TV channel. Yemeni forces started carrying out attacks on Israeli-linked ships weeks after the regime launched the bloody hostilities in the besieged Gaza Strip in early October. The strikes later expanded to target ships linked to the United States and Britain. The two countries have carried out airstrikes and naval attacks on Yemen's territory in the recent past. Yemen's Ansarullah movement says attacks on ships will continue until Israel ends the campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 29,000 people since early October. The Yemenis have sought to ensure international shipping companies that their vessels can safely sail in three major regional waterways of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden if they have no connection to Israel, the US or Britain. Ezzi said some 283 commercial ships had sailed in the Red Sea with complete safety this week despite claims by Washington that the waterway is not safe for commercial shipping. "Unfortunately, shipping companies have been deceived by the US propaganda and reduced passage through the Red Sea because of US efforts to militarize the region," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Diplomatic catastrophe of century': Iran's foreign minister slams US veto of Gaza resolution Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 4:18 PM Iran's foreign minister has censured Washington for vetoing, for the third time, a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said "diplomatic catastrophe of the century" had taken place and the United States remains responsible for Israel's savage campaign in Gaza since early October. "Continued veto by the US administration clearly creates liability for the White House for the forged Israeli regime unceasing genocide in Gaza and war crimes in the West Bank, Palestine. The world must hold the US accountable," the Iranian minister wrote in a post on X on Wednesday. The United States used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to block the draft resolution prepared by Algeria. The draft rejected the "forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population" and urged "all parties to comply with international law." Representatives of 13 countries at the 15-member Security Council voted in favor. Britain abstained. The United States vetoed similar draft resolutions in October and December. Washington has supplied the Israeli regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment over the past months of hostilities in Gaza. Condemnations have poured in from across the world. Countries such as China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and even Washington's close allies, including France and Slovenia, have denounced the veto. The Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour has said the move was "absolutely reckless and dangerous." "The message given today to Israel with this veto is that it can continue to get away with murder," he said in a statement to the Security Council. 'US part of the problem' Separately, Nasser Kan'ani, the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, condemned the veto. "The US measure ... proved to the world once again that the US is not only not part of the solution to the crisis and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, but is the most important factor in the continuation of the crisis and the cause of its expansion to the region." Kan'ani said the veto "clearly confirms Iran's accurate assessment since the beginning of the ongoing crisis in Gaza that the US is the main director of the war and the one preventing the end of genocide and the killing of Palestinian children and women in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank." The uncalculated measures, Kan'ani said, by the US at the Security Council and its repeated use of the veto power have endangered global peace and made the United Nations unable to fulfill its main objective of protecting international security. "This has weakened the trust of governments and nations in the UN role in guarding international peace and security," the Iranian official said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Feb. 20: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 10:05 AM By Press TV Exclusive Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians so far, including at least 13,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, February 20, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Feb. 20: Engaged in intense clashes with Israeli forces in the southern axis of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Targeted three Israeli military Merkava tanks with Yassin-105 shells in the southern axis of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Clashed with a group of Israeli regime soldiers, resulting in casualties, in the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Successfully detonated an explosive device on an Israeli military contingent comprising at least six soldiers inside a building west of Khan Younis city, causing casualties. Destroyed an Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) with a Tandem rocket south of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Shelled Israeli concentrations south of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City with mortars. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Feb. 20: Targeted Israeli forces in the Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, with 107mm rockets in a joint operation with the Omar al-Qassem groups. Targeted an Israeli force holed up in a building in the western camp in Khan Younis city with a TPG rocket. Engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers and their vehicles using machine guns and anti-armor RPGs in the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Al-Aqsa Brigades' operations on Feb. 20: Shelled a gathering of Israeli regime forces and their military vehicles with mortars and short-range rockets east of Jabalia camp. Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers and their vehicles with machine guns and RPGs in the Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City. Sniped at least two Israeli soldiers positioned on the roof of a house in the "Al-Amal" neighborhood west of Khan Younis city. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Feb. 20: Targeted gatherings of Israeli forces in southeast Gaza City with several short-range rockets. Targeted the positioning and deployment of Israeli soldiers, east of Beit Hanoun, with heavy-caliber mortars. Hezbollah's operations on Feb. 20: Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the Ramim Barracks with rockets. Targeted Israeli soldiers near the Ramim Barracks with a Burkan IRAM rocket. Targeted the Al-Marj site with appropriate weapons, causing direct hits. Targeted the Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Shebaa Farms with rockets. Targeted the Ruwaysat Al-Alam site in the occupied Shebaa Farms with rockets. Targeted the Ramim Barracks with rockets, causing direct hits. Yemeni military's operations on Feb. 20: Targeted American warships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea with several kamikaze drones. Targeted sensitive Israeli army locations in Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat), south of occupied Palestine, using kamikaze drones. Targeted the Israeli "MSC SILVER" ship in the Gulf of Aden with anti-ship missiles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel raids Gaza 'safe' area sheltering displaced Palestinians; MSF says 'horrified' Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 9:03 AM The medical aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has expressed horror over a deadly Israeli assault on a southern Gaza town that was previously designated as "safe" area by the regime's military. In a social media post on Wednesday, MSF said the attack by Israeli ground force targeted al-Mawasi, which is situated west of Khan Yunis and houses a shelter for MSF staff and their families. "We are horrified by what has taken place," in al-Mawasi, where the Israel troops killed at least two relatives of MSF staff and injured several others, it added. Amani Shnino, a mother taking refuge in the Gaza town, told the Middle East Eye (MEE) news portal that she was getting her three children ready for bed when an Israeli quadcopter broadcast a message to remain indoors. It was followed by intense clashes, bombings and the roaring sounds of tanks and warplanes, she noted. "My three children and I were scared to death... We were also in panic and had no clue of what was going on," Shnino said. "We expected the worst. We thought they (the Israeli soldiers) were coming to arrest or even execute people. It was highly likely." She further said that the clashes continued for about three hours before subsiding. Israel waged a genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out its historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 29,195 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 69,170 others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hun Sen's youngest son named Cambodian deputy prime minister The appointment comes as Hun Sen traveled to Thailand for a private meeting with Thaksin Shinawatra. By Mike Firn for RFA 2024.02.21 -- The family of former Prime Minister Hun Sen is solidifying its already iron grip on Cambodia after the National Assembly on Wednesday voted unanimously to appoint Minister of Civil Service Hun Many as a deputy prime minister. Hun Many, 41, is the youngest son of Hun Sen, who stepped down as prime minister after last year's national elections in favor of eldest son Hun Manet, 45. He received all of the 120 votes during an extraordinary session of the Assembly and is now one of 11 deputy prime ministers, local media reported. The family of former Prime Minister Hun Sen is solidifying its already iron grip on Cambodia after the National Assembly on Wednesday voted unanimously to appoint Minister of Civil Service Hun Many as a deputy prime minister. Hun Many, 41, is the youngest son of Hun Sen, who stepped down as prime minister after last year's national elections in favor of eldest son Hun Manet, 45. He received all of the 120 votes during an extraordinary session of the Assembly and is now one of 11 deputy prime ministers, local media reported. The promotion of Hun Many was in line with the need to achieve the "highest efficiency of the government's policy" as the government seeks to turn Cambodia into a high-income country by 2050, Prime Minister Hun Manet told lawmakers, according to Agence France-Presse. The appointment was not unexpected. On Feb. 16, exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Hun Many's new position would show that "this regime is a feudal clan, as far away from public accountability as any in the world." Instead of working to resolve major national issues, Hun Manet is apparently focusing on strengthening his family's influence, said In Nath, the president of the Cambodia Alliance for Paris Peace Accords, an organization that seeks to educate Cambodians about democracy. "Dictators have always appointed their family members and close relatives to consolidate power," he said. Thaksin and Hun Sen Also on Wednesday, Hun Sen traveled to Bangkok on a private plane to visit Thaksin Shinawatra at the former Thai prime minister's residence. Hun Sen, 71, was pictured sitting next to Thaksin, who wore a neck brace and had his right arm in a sling, as they enjoyed coconut drinks in the living room, according to BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. "Despite Thaksin being ill, he gave a warm welcome as if we were siblings, with Paetongtarn, his youngest daughter and leader of the Pheu Thai Party, also present. I have invited Paetongtarn to visit Cambodia on March 14-15," Hun Sen said in a post on his Facebook page. Thaksin was released from the Police General Hospital on Sunday, after being held there due to ill health for six months on corruption charges following his return from exile. He served as Thai prime minister from 2001 to 2006. Hun Sen provided Thaksin with sanctuary during his subsequent 15-year exile, allowing him to visit frequently as a special adviser to Cambodia. Thaksin's Pheu Thai party returned to power in September at the head of a new coalition government. During Hun Sen's visit, the area around Thaksin's home saw heightened security, with traffic police and plainclothes officers out in force. Metal barriers were placed around the residence, upon orders from Police Gen. Torsak Sukvimol, the national police chief. "His visit was personal, but given his status as a former head of state, orders were given for officers to provide external security," Torasak said. "Coordination was made with security officials to ensure protection and facilitate the visit." Cambodian activists in Thailand Sitanan Satsaksit, the sister of Wanchalearm, a Thai activist who went missing four years ago while hiding out in Cambodia, was waiting on the sidewalk about 1 kilometer from Thaksin's home. She said she was there to submit a letter to Hun Sen about her missing sibling, who is feared to have been abducted. "We came to demand justice, given that Wanchalearm disappeared while Hun Sen was prime minister," she told BenarNews. "Cambodia claims to be investigating, but why haven't they informed the family? We want to ask about the progress and insist the family should be informed," Sitanan said. Hun Sen was Cambodia's prime minister from 1985 to 2023, the longest-serving premier in the country's history. He retains power as president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party and is set to become the president of the Senate following an election on Sunday. Brad Adams, former Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, told RFA that it's likely that Thaksin and Hun Sen spoke about the thousands of Cambodians living and working in Thailand - including pro-democracy activists who have sought political asylum there. For many years, Thailand was a relatively safe place for threatened Cambodians to hide, he said. "What I'm worried about is that there are a lot of Cambodians in Thailand who could be at risk," Adams said. "We've seen that the Thai authorities have been cracking down on Cambodians living in Thailand who are critical of the Cambodian government." Edited by Taejun Kang, Elaine Chan and Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sweden Struggling to Replenish Weapons After Ukraine Expenditures - Reports Sputnik News 20240221 Sweden, along with many other European nations, has supplied several packages of military support to the Kiev regime, including heavy equipment such as artillery, tanks and combat vehicles, as well as ammunition. It has now become evident that this has had an adverse effect on its own defense capabilities. Extra funding granted to the Swedish defense industry is not enough to replace everything that has been sent to Ukraine, Swedish broadcaster SVT reports, highlighting soaring prices in the sector. Jonny Lindfors, commander of the Swedish army, admitted that the financial compensation allocated to the armed forces is not enough to replace every missing unit. According to the media, it was initially assumed that the donated equipment would be quickly replaced with new units. However, the defense industry has since seen a serious price jump, even doubling in some cases. The commander acknowledged that this situation has led to weaker combat readiness in the country. "It's hard for us," Lindfors summarized. On Tuesday, Sweden's Defense Minister Paul Johnson announced that the country would send Ukraine a 15th package worth $680 million. According to Swedish media, the recently announced military package would be the largest one yet. In total, Stockholm has allocated $2.9 billion to fund the Kiev regime. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United Kingdom urges the Government of Central African Republic to ensure all parties are included in the peace process: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Alternate Political Coordinator Laura Dix at the UN Security Council meeting on Central African Republic. 21 February 2024 Thank you, President and SRSG Rugwabiza for your briefing this morning. I'll make three points. First, the United Kingdom welcomes the achievements that have come from closer cooperation between MINUSCA and the Central African Republic authorities, following the Council's reprioritisation of the Mission's tasks. Commitments by CAR to establish human rights mechanisms to implement the Political Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation, and prepare for local elections this year, provide a basis for lasting security and prosperity. It is important that the Central African Republic authorities, with the support of MINUSCA, deliver on these commitments. The United Kingdom urges the Government of Central African Republic to ensure all parties are included in the peace process and in local elections, and fulfil the decentralisation provisions of the Political Agreement. MINUSCA's good offices role remains central, as ensuring inclusive dialogue at the national and local levels is the only way to address the root causes of conflict. Second, security in Central African Republic will not come through the wrong partners. The Wagner Group's human rights abuses against civilians threaten to cause prolonged insecurity and undo MINUSCA's achievements. There must be accountability for all human rights abuses no matter who commits them. And to that end, the UK requests MINUSCA to ensure its annual human rights reports are shared in a timely manner. Third, we emphasise that MINUSCA remains central to the pursuit of peace and stability in Central African Republic, and pay tribute to the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the pursuit of this mission. The effectiveness of MINUSCA depends on strong cooperation with the Government of Central African Republic, including by ensuring freedom of movement for its unmanned aerial vehicles. MINUSCA's Strategic Review should focus on how the Mission can further prepare for a sustainable transition once conditions are met. President, the United Kingdom remains committed to working with the Central African Republic authorities to support the people of the Central African Republic achieve long-term stability and prosperity. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza has become a 'death zone', warns UN health chief 21 February 2024 - An "inhumane" health and humanitarian situation now prevails across Gaza with conditions continuing to deteriorate, the head of the UN World Health Organization warned on Wednesday. "Gaza has become a death zone," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General told correspondents at a press briefing in Geneva. "Much of the territory has been destroyed. More than 29,000 people are dead; many more are missing, presumed dead; and many, many more are injured," he added. Across the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, severe malnutrition has shot up dramatically since the start of the war on 7 October, from under one per cent of the population, to over 15 per cent in some areas. "This figure will rise the longer the war goes on and supplies [are] interrupted," Tedros said, expressing deep concern that agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are unable to access the north. WFP suspended its aid deliveries there due to lack of security for both humanitarian personnel and those seeking assistance. Medical charity attacked The war has taken a severe toll on aid workers, with hundreds reported killed. A Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) shelter was shelled Tuesday night (local time), injuring staff and killing members of their family. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said he was appalled by the attack, adding that he stood with them in their grief. "Humanitarians are putting their lives on the line. Like all civilians, they must be protected," he added, in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 'What world do we live in' WHO chief Tedros reiterated the grave risks for humanitarians and the need to ensure they are protected. "What type of world do we live when people cannot get food and water, and when people who cannot even walk are unable to receive care?", he lamented. "What type of world do we live in when health workers are at risk of being bombed as they carry out their life saving work [and] hospitals must close because there is no more power or medicines to help save patients?" He underscored the need for an immediate ceasefire, for hostages to be released, the guns to fall silent, and unfettered humanitarian access. "Humanity must prevail," Tedros said. Hospital evacuations Over the past three days the UN health agency and partners carried out several emergency missions to the Nasser medical complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, to evacuate critically ill patients, including children. "With the intensive care units no longer working, WHO helped move patients, many of whom cannot even walk," Tedros said. Around 130 sick and injured patients and at least 15 doctors and nurses remain in the hospital, amidst ongoing Israeli military operations, no electricity and running water and dwindling lifesaving medical supplies. Implement 'long overdue' measures Also on Wednesday, UN independent human rights experts called on Israel to urgently implement an immediate ceasefire and concrete humanitarian measures, with a particular focus on the needs of Palestinian women and girls. Citing the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s 26 January ruling, the experts underscored the pressing issues of disrupted schooling, destruction of homes, limited access to healthcare and heightened risks faced by women and girls in Gaza and the West Bank, including gender-based violence. With increasingly limited access to treatment, the experts demanded an end to Israeli forces' attacks on hospitals, emphasizing the need for gender-responsive measures to address the urgent needs of the vulnerable. They specifically called for the establishment of a field hospital, facilitation of aid delivery, prioritization of menstrual hygiene products, building additional shelters and schools and providing safe spaces for survivors of gender-based violence. "Implementing these measures would be a long overdue demonstration that Israel cares about the protection of civilians and respects their human rights," they said. Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor key human rights issues, the experts are independent of the UN or any government, serve in their individual capacities and draw no salary for their work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNRWA Situation Report #80 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information from 18-19 February 2024, is valid as of 19 February 2024 at 22:30 (local time) ) UNRWA 21 Feb 2024 Key Points The Gaza Strip Increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened fears that they will further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations. Nearly 1.5 million people are in Rafah, more than six times the population in comparison with before 7 October. Intense fighting in and around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last four weeks is causing loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA's largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC). This is forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee further south towards Rafah, which is severely overcrowded. At the same time, population movements out of Rafah and towards Deir Al Balah and Nuseirat refugee camps in the Middle Area have been reported, following intensified airstrikes on Rafah. As of 19 February, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis continues to be besieged by Israeli forces. Access was finally granted on 18 February and UN and Palestine Red Crescent Society officials visited the hospital and managed to evacuate 14 patients; negotiations are on-going for the evacuation of the remaining patients, who are believed to number over 100. There are reportedly 10,000 displaced people within the hospital's premises, including 300 medical personnel, and reportedly up to 70 medical personnel have been detained. On 16 February, Ministry of Health reported that eight patients had died due to a lack of oxygen supplies and a number of people who were relocated to a building within the Nasser Hospital premises had no food, water or baby formula. The number of trucks entering Gaza remains well below the target of 500 per day, with significant difficulties in bringing supplies in through both Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah. The Food Security Cluster reported that a consistent food supply to serve the entire population continues to be hindered by frequent border closures. Supplies of flour inside Gaza are extremely limited due to lack of access to the north and law and order challenges at the crossing. During this period, UNRWA has at times had to temporarily stop discharging supplies due to security concerns. Furthermore, provision of security to manage law and order at the crossing has been severely impacted due to de facto-police authorities being targeted over the last few weeks. As of 19 February, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is now 158. As of 19 February, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population) ** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south. *This includes one million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of 12 October, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in North Gaza and Gaza governorates. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times. **UNRWA reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs were either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered. *** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem Between 15 - 19 February, more than 129 search operations by ISF were reported across the West Bank, averaging more than 25 per day. At least 92 Palestinians were detained during this period, including four children. Two Palestinians were shot dead in Tulkarm Camp, northern West Bank, on 18 February during an search operation that also resulted in the evacuation of UNRWA schools in the refugee camp. Clashes in Shu'fat Camp, East Jerusalem, escalated over 16-18 February after a camp resident allegedly opened fire at Israelis at a bus station in Kiryat Malakhi settlement, killing two and injuring four before being killed during the exchange of fire. Both live ammunition and tear gas were used on camp residents, and relatives of the Palestinian involved were detained or summoned for interrogation. A number of settler incidents were recorded between 15 February and 19 February. On 16 February in Kisan, southern West Bank, residential and agricultural structures and a vehicle were burnt by settlers. On 17 February in Asira al Qibliya, southern West Bank, settlers deployed a mobile checkpoint at the entrance to the village and assaulted Palestinian residents. On 18 February in Turmus'ayya, central West Bank, settlers attacked Palestinian houses, set fire to Palestinian vehicles, and sprayed anti-Arab slogans on the walls. On 19 February clashes between settlers, ISF and Palestinians were reported in Burqa, northern West Bank, wherein houses and vehicles were set on fire, tear gas was deployed, and Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulances were prevented from entering the village. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang has issued a clarion call to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state education leaders. Remember the plight of incarcerated students in the coming wave of education reforms. We have to be vigilant to the issue its a tragedy in state custody, said Lang, whose office focuses on accountability but does not have authority over the state Education Department, which answers to the Board of Regents, or the governor. Langs career stints as a prosecutor, educator in jails and now inspector general have produced a deep understanding of how kids may end up in juvenile detention, revealing links between learning differences, frustration in the classroom and aggressive behavior that results and the potential for those young people to become incarcerated. Gov. Hochul eyes new approach for some to boost literacy in New York schools The governor said her "Back to Basics" plan would make sure students receive foundational, evidence-based instruction in reading. And Hochul said she will propose legislation providing $10 million to train 20,000 teachers across the state in what is known as the "science of reading." Hochuls Back to Basics plan to improve students reading proficiency, teased in her state budget preview, will invest $10 million toward tailoring reading instruction to scientifically proven methods by which children best learn how to read. The science of reading instructional approach includes strategies that generally stress phonetic skills and encourage students to decode words on their way to building their vocabulary and comprehension. The governor has also approved a task force that will help students overcome dyslexia. Lang also sees a state responsibility for a student population left behind. Through personal experiences, she and leaders of two Buffalo-area organizations describe a juvenile youth detention system with barriers so immense that even dogged efforts by prison instructors and re-entry case workers cannot fully recover the academic ground lost after a student is charged with a crime. Buffalo schools implementing 'science of reading' training for teachers, mentors Buffalo schools have invested close to $1 million in Orton-Gillingham training programs to not only curb learning loss but serve as a building block for the future. Lang, OLV Human Services Principal Rachael Refermat and Peaceprints of WNY Chief Executive Officer Cindi McEachon have seen inequities in prison instruction compared to the general population and strive to give young people within it a realistic second chance. McEachon describes it as a paramilitary system that often treats incarcerated youth as inferior and less deserving of educational rights. Its the humanity thats missing, she said, describing an ongoing fight against the label of being bad kids. The tragedy of custody After years pursuing prison sentences for youthful offenders as a Manhattan district attorney, Lang then witnessed firsthand the bleak realities of secure detention centers as a college instructor for inmates. As inspector general during the last two years, her platform has permitted her to publicly appeal for change. She recently toured New Yorks 44 prisons and nine juvenile detention facilities. Haphazard was how Lang described education in prisons, which have no standard curriculum because New York relies on local control, wherein school districts can determine their curriculum preferences. The lack of resources and attention clash with tremendous needs of students. Incarcerated youth display learning differences at a higher rate than the regular population, she found. The dangerous ripple effects young students with special needs may experience can take them down a dark path, she realized. New program offers a second chance for some young first offenders The program targets young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who have been arrested on a non-violent felony or misdemeanor charge who have no prior record and gives them a chance to lower the charges against them. Her daughter, Tessa, was diagnosed with dyslexia last year after entering first grade. Before the diagnosis, Lang said Tessa shared openly her frustrations with reading, telling her mother that she would begin at the same time as her friends but would still be on the first page while they were on page four. How are they doing that? Tessa wondered to her mother. It was alienating to her because she was not progressing as quickly as her peers, Lang said. Tessas behavior became problematic. She was acting out with dyslexia, her mother said. It was reminiscent of the students in prison. Refermat has been principal at the Erie County Youth Services Detention Center, at 810 E. Ferry St., for the last three years. She estimated that 35% to 40% of students enter the facility with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), or legal documents that act as tailored learning plans for students with disabilities. She said IEPs are generally split between students with learning differences and emotional disturbances. Many are united by some kind of trauma. How dentists and counselors aim to address health inequity in one of Buffalo's poorest neighborhoods This $2 million project, a partnership between nonprofits Gerard Place and Lackawanna-based OLV Human Services, could boost access to mental health and dental services in Buffalo's Bailey-Delavan neighborhood. Trauma affects every area of life, Refermat said. It has an impact on learning. About 15% of students in the nations kindergarten through 12th grade population have special needs, according to Pew Research Center. A chief challenge, Refermat said, is how youth are grouped at the detention center in Buffalos East Side, which holds ages 13-18. Their living pods are determined by the severity and nature of their crimes, and its with these pods they attend classes. This tends to generally separate the eight different groups by age, but not at all by educational achievement. For example, two ninth graders, an 11th grader and a 12th grader might be in the same class, but the freshman might read at a fourth-grade level, while the junior may have already passed an English Regents exam. Unlike in a public school, where struggling students might receive individualized attention outside the classroom from specialists, detention center teachers must scaffold their lessons to connect with this wide breadth of learners. Sean Kirst: At the peak of the basilica: Restoration and Father Baker's legacy "I climbed it. I was thinking of 1920s orphans, in faded uniforms, staring up as fearless workers shaped this place out of the sky," writes Sean Kirst. Teachers usually cannot use textbooks or anything that could be a weapon, or any electronic device that could connect to the internet. Photocopying lessons is a common approach, Refermat said, but without paper clips or staples. Constant student turnover is another struggle, she said. In one week earlier this month, four students left while another eight arrived. McEachon called the facility a gateway, given the many reasons someone may be sent to the detention center: awaiting a court date, placement in another facility or stationed there indefinitely. Many students come from Buffalo Public Schools, Refermat said, but youth from other districts and charter schools arrive, as well. Its busy, too. The building is so full that teachers are operating without prep periods, she said. McEachons nonprofit aims to avoid repeat prison stints. Peaceprints case workers attend court hearings, communicate with attorneys and assist with housing, food and educational placement to help move of some of the facilitys most challenged youth back into the community. Workers continue to be a resource for up to a year after release. Peaceprints Empower Youth program has grown exponentially in the last eight years, but McEachon said the nonprofit runs into hurdles as simple as accessing the juvenile detention center. Security shutdowns, which she said occur at East Ferry regularly, often prevent work from being done. Thanks to help from Project Blue, inmate believes latest jail stint will be his last Project Blue pairs inmates with counselors who work with them on everything from mental health and substance abuse to eventually finding housing and employment once they are released. Circumstances do not immediately get easier once a youth re-enters society, in part because theyve fallen behind academically. Kids arent in school, theyre not getting the education they should be getting, and it has an effect on their school placement, said McEachon, whos also a member of the Buffalo School Board. When they return to the public school system, many incarcerated youth from Buffalo are assigned to the Academy School, the districts alternative option that has changed locations multiple times in the last few years. About 35% of the Academy Schools students have been suspended this year, according to the districts data dashboard. School suspensions are an important identifier in students that may eventually be incarcerated. Finding hope Refermat extols the efforts of her seven teachers theyre trying to hire one more and noted how two are certified in special education. Through her teams effort to mimic and parallel outside schools, Refermat said incarcerated youth meet state standards, pass Regents exams and earn high school diplomas, just like their peers outside the center. We dont take their education as a joke, she said. Change in political temperature brings chance for change for Erie County inmates It has been decades since the sheriff, County Legislature and county administration have seemed so like-minded in their desire to invest in jail programs that give inmates the tools to succeed on the outside. Small class sizes in the detention center in place for safety reasons have an added benefit in teachers quest to individualize their instruction as much as possible. In addition to core subjects, electives such as life skills are offered. The Erie County Department of Mental Health has a presence on-site at East Ferry, too. Counselors have proven particularly useful for emotionally disturbed students, the principal said. Refermat said she is in regular communication with Buffalo Public Schools about curriculum and professional development opportunities that can complement her teachers experience. Teachers have different tricks to help kids along, she said. Peaceprints Empower Youth has made a dent in the rate of recidivism, as its dropped to 7% for cases in which the organization is involved. Patience and forgiveness are two traits that make a difference, McEachon said, especially when youth through their behavior may test case workers dedication. We understand there are going to be hiccups, she said. We wont cut you out or let you go. The bigger issue State Inspector General cites minority business fraud on Southern Tier casino project Contractors evaded state rules requiring minority or women-owned businesses be hired for portions of the $44 million Tioga Downs casino job, the State Inspector Generals Office said in documents made public today. The inspector generals call acknowledges the innate challenges of learning in juvenile detention facilities, which are rife with students struggling with mental health, past trauma, behavior challenges and learning differences. Lang is grateful her daughter received individualized attention and a special curriculum. Because of the resources afforded her, Tessa is showing immense progress in her fight with dyslexia. Lang knows not everyone gets that help and can avoid a slippery slope. Mine, she said, is an incredibly fortunate story. SECNAV Del Toro Delivers Remarks at USNS James D. Fairbanks (T-ATS 13) Naming Celebration US Navy National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC Speech by Carlos Del Toro Presented on 21 February 2024 Date Published 21 February 2024 Good morning, everyone! It is an honor to be with you all today at the National Museum of the American Indian. Thank you, Associate Director Maria Marable-Bunch, for that kind introduction and for welcoming us to this incredible museum that so beautifully captures the history of indigenous peoples in North America. Chairman Fairbanks and Governor Walz, I'm honored you were both able to make the trip and join us here in D.C. for this event. Finally, friends, family, and representatives of the several organizations presentthank you for coming. Before I go further, I'd like to point out that we are not here by accident. The names of thousands of indigenous heroes that have served with distinction in our militaryand especially our Navy and Marine Corpsecho and inspire us still. From the very moment of our nation's foundingand even beforeNative Americans have served in our armed services. Right outside, on the grounds of this museum, is the National Native American Veterans Memorial. To paraphrase Harvey Pratt, a Vietnam veteran, member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, and the memorial's designer, "Native American people have defended this land, this country, from the very beginning. And you're still here. You're still defending this land, this country." During the Civil War alone, more than 20,000 Native Americans served with Union forces both at sea and on landGeneral Ely S. Parker, a member of the Seneca Nation, was future President Grant's military secretary and drafted the Confederate terms of surrender. Another 15,000 volunteered to fight during World War Idespite the fact they were neither recognized as citizens nor allowed to vote. Nearly 13% of the entire Native American population of the United States volunteered for the military in World War IImaking them the demographic with the highest volunteer rate in the country. Of the 42,000 Native Americans who served in Vietnam, 90% of them were volunteerscompared to just 75% for the military overall. And during the conflicts following the September 11th attacks, nearly one-fifth of all Native Americans have chosen to serve our countryto raise their right hand and swear the same oath I first swore on Induction Day at the Naval Academy in 1979. Today, more than 183,000 Native Americans are veterans of our armed services, and more than 24,000 serve on active duty. These brave and selfless men and women follow in the footsteps of Sailors and Marines, like Lt. Cmdr. Maria Emiliana Aquino, the first Occupational Therapist in the Navy's Medical Service Corps, Commander John B. Herrington, the first enrolled member of a tribe to fly in space, or Corporal Ira Hayes, one of the six Marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. Veterans understand that service is not merely a duty. It is a calling, an opportunity to contribute to something greater than ourselves, to defend the values that define our nation, and to make a lasting impact on the world. The service of the many thousands of indigenous veterans over the past 250 years have proven, continually, their bravery, dedication, and unyielding commitment to freedom and libertythe very fabric of our nation. And some of our ships still bear the names of indigenous Sailors and their tribes. From destroyers like USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) and the future USS Ernest E. Evans (DDG 141)named for Medal of Honor recipientsto the Navajo-class of seagoing tugs, the Department of the Navy is committed to honoring the contributions of native individuals and peoples to our fleet, our force, and indeed our nation. Of course, most veterans cannot claim service in both halves of my Departmentthe Navy and the Marine Corps. But Force Master Chief James D. Fairbanks, who grew up on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota, was one who could. He first graduated from basic training in 1970 at storied Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and served as a Marine with Second Battalion Eleventh Marinesachieving the rank of Corporal before being discharged in 1972. But after a few years as a civilian, he returned to active duty in the Navy and became a Seabee in 1977. After serving for two more years, he temporarily left the service to work for American Iron and Supply Company back home in Minnesotabut he couldn't stay away. The Navy has a way of bringing people back, and Master Chief Fairbanks certainly heard and answered the callre-enlisting for the final time in 1986. He rose through the ranks during his long, distinguished careerfrom Seaman Recruit to Force Master Chief of the Seabeesand received numerous awards, including a Bronze Star for actions in Iraq. He served from the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, through the 1990s and into the Global War on Terrorismand his honor and courage were a credit to the community that raised him. And it is with great honor and conviction that I announce the name of the next of the Navajo-class will bear his nameUSNS James D. Fairbanks (T-ATS 13) will carry his legacy of service forward and symbolize his dedication to the Seabees. This class of Fleet Ocean Tugsnamed for indigenous tribes, communities, and distinguished Native American veteransare critical to the future of our Fleet, enabling a wide range of military operations. They will include ocean-going salvage, towing, rescue, humanitarian assistance, oil spill response, and wide-area search and surveillance operations utilizing unmanned platforms. To the Fairbanks family and members of the Ojibwe nation, we are honored to have you here with us today. I am also pleased to announce that the ship's co-sponsors will be Ms. Paulette Fairbanks MolinMaster Chief Fairbanks' sisterand Mrs. Susan Sharpethe wife of the current Force Master Chief of the Seabees. Ladies, please join me on stage. The role of a ship's sponsor is to serve as the connection between a ship, her crew, and her namesake. I can think of no better representative and liaison for Master Chief Fairbanks than the two of you. I know you will certainly be a guiding light to the crew of USNS Fairbanks wherever she may sail, and I thank you for your presence during today's ceremony. Thank you to everyone joining us today for this special occasion, and for your support for our Fleet, our Marine Corps, the Fairbanks family, and our Nation. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you to all who have fought, served, and sacrificed in the long history of defending freedom around the worldand to all the families who served and sacrificed alongside them. May God bless our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families with fair winds and following seas. And now, I would like to introduce Chairman Michael Fairbanks of the White Earth Nation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VCNO Visits Defense Industry, Navy Leadership in Newport US Navy - Press Release 21 February 2024 NEWPORT, R.I. -- Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby visited Newport, R.I., to meet with defense industry leaders at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Quonset Point and Navy leadership at Naval Station Newport, Feb. 20. Kilby began his visit at Electric Boat's Quonset Point facility, which works on the Navy's major submarine components and a critical industry partner for the Navy's submarine industrial base. While at Quonset Point, Kilby received updates on the company's work on the Navy's Virginia-class fast-attack submarines and the Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine to include engineering and design, construction, and overhauls and repairs. Kilby also toured the tube and module outfitting facilities. Submarine hull cylinders completed at Quonset Point are transported to Electric Boat's Groton facility or Huntington Ingalls-Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, for completion. The Columbia-class will replace the Ohio-class as the Navy's contribution to the nuclear triad, which remains the most survivable leg of the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent force. "This is the future of our nation's undersea dominance," said Kilby. "We must deliver our submarines on time and on budget and we can't do it without our industry partners, Congress and the immense support of the New England community." During his time at Naval Station Newport, Kilby spoke to enlisted leadership attending the Senior Enlisted Academy, stressing the Chief of Naval Operation's three priorities. "As we look to the future, CNO is focusing us on three areas," said Kilby. "First, Warfighting - improving our readiness and getting more players on the field to deliver decisive combat power at sea. Second, Warfighters - because platforms don't fight and win war...people do. Third, Fortify the Foundation to build trust, align resources, and ensure that we're ready for anything." The U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy is a six-week leadership development program for active and reserve E-8 and E-9 personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, Space Force, as well as international service partners. The SEA is the Navy's only professional military education institution dedicated to senior enlisted personnel, focusing on management, leadership, national security and physical fitness. Naval Station Newport is home to 50 different commands and is the Navy's premier site for training and educating officers, officer candidates, senior enlisted personnel and midshipman candidates into future leaders, as well as testing and evaluating advanced undersea warfare and development systems. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SECNAV Del Toro Names Ship in Honor of Force Master Chief Petty Officer of the Seabees James D. Fairbanks US Navy - Press Release 21 February 2024 Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the future Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) ship will be named in honor of James D. Fairbanks, member of the Chippewa Tribe and the 13th Force Master Chief Petty Officer of the Seabees. Secretary Del Toro made the announcement during a ship naming ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian, Feb. 21. The naming selection of the future USNS James. D. Fairbanks (T-ATS 13) follows the tradition of naming towing, salvage and rescue ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes. "The names of thousands of indigenous heroes who have served with distinction in our military - and especially our Navy and Marine Corps - echo and inspire us still," said Secretary Del Toro. "This Navajo-class ship bearing the name James D. Fairbanks will carry his legacy of service forward and symbolize his dedication to the Seabees and our Nation." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Chairman of the White Earth Indian Reservation Michael Fairbanks joined Secretary Del Toro for the ceremony honoring James D. Fairbanks, who was born and raised on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota. Both spoke about the honor and meaning behind the naming of the Navy's newest T-ATS. "What the Navy knows, and what White Earth [Nation] knows, is that stories matter. That history matters. That traditions matter. Honoring warriors like FORCM Fairbanks matters," said Governor Walz. "Force Master Chief James Fairbanks was in our language an Ogiichidaa, a Warrior for our People - the Anishinaabeg, and the citizens of the United States. He served with distinction and valor with great honor," said Michael Fairbanks, Chairman of the White Earth Indian Reservation. "A Warrior in Native American culture holds a great deal of respect by tribal members. James Fairbanks was a true Warrior that represented the White Earth Nation and the U.S. Navy with honor. He unknowingly became a great role model for not only White Earth youth, but for all Native youth. Due to his exemplary leadership, he has earned the right to have a ship named in his honor." Born Jan. 9, 1952, James D. Fairbanks served in both the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1970 and served as an ordnanceman with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, until he was honorably discharged in 1972. He then worked as a civilian welder until 1977 before enlisting in the Navy. Fairbanks served with an amphibious construction battalion (ACB) until his honorable discharge in 1979. In 1986, he resumed Naval service as a Seabee. While deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fairbanks received the Bronze Star for meritorious leadership under proximate enemy fire and threat of enemy attack. From 2005 to 2008, Fairbanks served as the 13th Force Master Chief for the Seabees, the highest-ranking enlisted Seabee and first Native American to hold this position. Along with the ship's name, Secretary Del Toro also announced the sponsors for the future USNS James D. Fairbanks as Paulette Fairbanks Molin, the late Fairbanks' sister, and Mrs. Susan Sharpe, the spouse of the 19th Force Master Chief Petty Officer of the Seabees. They, in their role as sponsors, will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew. "The USNS James D. Fairbanks is the namesake of a great leader, one who worked selflessly and tirelessly to serve our great country throughout his extraordinary career," said Fairbanks Molin. "He was a builder, but not just any builder, he was a Seabee." Navajo-class ships will provide ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support Fleet operations. The current capabilities are provided by Powhatan-class T-ATF Fleet Tugs and Safeguard-class T-ARS Rescue and Salvage vessels, which began reaching the end of their expected service lives in 2020. Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing U.S. Navy ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems. Read Secretary Del Toro's full remarks here. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US MQ-9 Drone Shot Down by Houthis By Carla Babb February 21, 2024 The Pentagon has confirmed that Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen shot down a MQ-9 Reaper drone on Monday. "A U.S. MQ-9 was downed or went down off the coast of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, in the Red Sea. Initial indications are that it was shot down by a Houthi surface-to-air missile," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters in response to a question by VOA. Earlier, a U.S. official requesting anonymity to discuss national security issues had confirmed to VOA the U.S. drone was shot down near Hudaydah in eastern Yemen. It is still unclear whether the drone was armed at the time of the downing. Video circulating on social media allegedly shows parts of a busted drone on a beach. This marks the second downing of an MQ-9 by the Houthis. The first was in November in international airspace. Houthi militants launched a massive wave of attacks on Monday, hitting two ships traveling in international shipping lanes. One, a Marshal Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier, sustained minor damage from a Houthi-launched drone attack, while the Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned grain carrier M/V Sea Champion reported minor damage from an attack by two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Gulf of Aden. The M/V Sea Champion continued toward its scheduled destination to deliver grain to Aden, Yemen, according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Singh criticized the Houthis for targeting a ship meant to provide food for "starving" Yemeni civilians. "I mean, look at exactly what you're doing. You're putting your own population at risk," she said. CENTCOM said it destroyed a surface-to-air missile launcher in Houthi-controlled Yemen on Monday, along with a drone in western Yemen that was prepared to launch at ships in the Red Sea. U.S. and coalition aircraft and warships also shot down 10 drones and one anti-ship cruise missile in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden overnight. "It is progress. And we're going to keep holding them accountable until they stop," Singh told reporters. But she warned that without the support of Congress to get a budget and supplemental funding passed through the U.S. House of Representatives, "things are not going to be sustainable." The Houthis hit the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, U.K.-owned bulk carrier, with an anti-ship ballistic missile on Sunday. The ship was transported to a nearby port by a merchant vessel and a coalition warship. The U.S. conducted five strikes on Saturday against the Houthis, one of which took out an unmanned submarine. CENTCOM said in a statement it was "the first observed Houthi employment" of an underwater drone since attacks began in October. The Iranian proxies have said their attacks against international shipping lanes are carried out in solidarity with Hamas. Hamas launched an attack on October 7 that killed 1,200 people in Israel and captured about 240 hostages, about 100 of whom were released in November. The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry says Israel's counteroffensive has now killed more than 29,000 Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Somalia Approves Defense Agreement With Turkey By Harun Maruf February 21, 2024 Somalia's executive and legislative branches have approved a crucial 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced. Following a meeting in Mogadishu, Somalia's Cabinet approved the "Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement." Shortly after the Cabinet approval, the two houses of Somalia's parliament voted to endorse the pact in a 213-3 vote. Under the agreement, Turkey will build, train and equip the Somali navy, said Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, addressing members of the cabinet. Barre said the agreement will help to remove "any fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, toxic dumping and any external violations or threats" to Somalia's sea coast. Somalia has Africa's longest coastline. He described Turkey as a "true and reliable brother." President Mohamud, who also spoke to the media, noted Turkey is already helping Somalia with humanitarian assistance, budgetary support and the training of security forces. The new agreement comes amid increasing tension between Somalia and Ethiopia, sparked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between Ethiopia and Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region. Under the MOU, Somaliland would lease to landlocked Ethiopia about 20 kilometers of coastline along the Gulf of Aden, allowing access to the Red Sea. Somaliland said that in exchange, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent country. Ethiopia has not yet officially confirmed it will recognize Somaliland. Somalia's federal government, which considers Somaliland part of its own territory, sees the deal as a violation of sovereignty and is demanding its cancellation. Mohamud said the agreement with Turkey is not aimed against Ethiopia. "We asked for the support not to fight Ethiopia or invade another country," he said. "It's to support us in defending our country. That is the origin of the agreement we have entered with Turkey." A Somali official who spoke to VOA Somali on the condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to discuss the subject with media said the agreement includes deployment of Turkish warships in Somalia's waters. It also includes "tapping marine resources for Somalia." The agreement was signed in Turkey on February 8 by Somalia Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Turkey Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler. Guler said at the time he believes the deal will lead to the further development of "our bilateral military relations." Mohamud said Somalia has been looking for a country to enter with a bilateral agreement on building a navy. He said Turkey was the first country ready to help. Asked whether the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia prompted the agreement, Mohamud said the government has been working on the agreement for some time. "It's just a coincidence," he said. Ethiopia and Somaliland have defended their deal. Ethiopian Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed recently said his country does not intend to cause harm to Somalia. "Ethiopia, being a friend, does not wish any harm to come upon Somalia," he said in a February 6 message posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Ethiopia does not acknowledge war against any country in principle," he wrote. "However, some forces are trying to incite conflict between the two nations, which should not happen. Our request is for sea access based on mutual benefit." Somalia external military support Turkey, the United States and Eritrea all have trained Somali soldiers with the goal of helping Somalia rebuild its army after decades of internal strife. In September 2017, Turkey established its largest overseas military training facility in Somalia. Since then, Turkey has trained thousands of Somali commandos known as Gorgor (the Eagle), as well as hundreds of officers and non-commissioned officers. Turkey said its engagement with Somali forces is to contribute to peace and stability in Somalia and improve the organization and infrastructure of the Somali National Army as it battles al-Shabab militants. Last week, Somalia's government and the U.S. signed an MOU for the construction of up to five military bases for the U.S.-trained elite Somali National Army forces known as the Danab (Lightning) Brigade. Hussein Sheikh-Ali, national security adviser to Somalia's president, told VOA last week that the U.S. will train 3,000 soldiers, most of whom have already completed the training. The aim is to start building the bases soon and finish within the calendar year, he said. "It would look like a military camp with a full capacity to host special forces," said Sheikh-Ali. He also said Somali security forces are aiming to assume responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), which is expected to withdraw from Somalia by the end of 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Humanitarian Agencies Call On Israel to Provide Aid to Palestinians By Margaret Besheer February 21, 2024 The heads of 19 United Nations agencies and partner organizations expressed their frustration in a joint statement Wednesday, calling on Israel "to fulfill its legal obligation" to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations to Gaza, and for world leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening. "Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming. Water is at a trickle. Basic infrastructure has been decimated," the humanitarian coalition wrote. "Food production has come to a halt. Hospitals have turned into battlefields. One million children face daily traumas." U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee a consortium of humanitarian organizations along with the heads of the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, the U.N. Children's Fund UNICEF, CARE International, Mercy Corps and others, wrote that Palestinian civilians are displaced, traumatized, hungry and have little support. "We are calling on Israel to fulfill its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world's leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening," they said. Their statement comes a day after the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, and as the Palestinian death toll climbs toward 30,000 in less than five months of war between Israel and Hamas. The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7 terror attack inside Israel, which officials there say killed 1,200 people. About 250 others were taken hostage, and about 130 of them remain in captivity. The U.N. officials said their relief operation is "already on its knees" with only 12 hospitals partially functioning, and their staffers are working in unimaginable circumstances. The officials said no amount of aid will make up for the months of deprivation Gazans have endured, but they remain committed to trying to alleviate the suffering despite the dangers. "This is our effort to salvage the humanitarian operation so that we can provide, at the very least, the bare essentials: medicine, drinking water, food, and shelter as temperatures plummet," they said. The committee appealed for an immediate cease-fire, the release of the hostages, and the protection of civilians. They also called for more reliable entry points into Gaza for aid convoys, including into northern Gaza, which has been mostly cut off from aid and where famine is believed to be looming. Israel denies it is hindering or limiting the delivery of aid and has accused Hamas of diverting it. Israel's agency for coordinating aid, known as COGAT, says on its website that it has facilitated the entry of more than 250,000 tons of relief, including food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment to Gaza since the war started, as well as some fuel and cooking gas. On Tuesday, for example, COGAT says 98 aid trucks were inspected and allowed to enter Gaza. The U.N. says that the current flow is inadequate for the scale of the emergency. Before the war, it says, an average of 500 trucks a day would enter Gaza with aid and commercial supplies for the 2.3 million residents. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee also made an appeal for funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, but it has faced an existential crisis in recent weeks after Israel accused a dozen employees of participating in the October 7 attacks. At least 16 countries, including top donor the United States, have suspended their funding to the agency. The staffers were fired, and the U.N. is conducting an internal investigation, as well as commissioning an independent external probe headed up by the former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have called for UNRWA to be dismantled. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has defended the agency, saying there is no other organization that has a presence in Gaza that could replace it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WHO Chief Calls Gaza a 'Death Zone' By Margaret Besheer February 21, 2024 The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had carried out airstrikes in northern and southern Gaza, as the head of the World Health Organization said the enclave had become a "death zone." Israeli media reported that the Israel Defense Forces had announced the death of one soldier killed Tuesday in heavy fighting in northern Gaza, bringing to 237 the number of troops killed in the offensive against Hamas. The IDF said it had carried out strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood, including weapons depots and tunnels. In the south, it reported having killed dozens of militants, including in the Khan Younis area. Medical aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres said Israeli forces conducted an operation Tuesday in Al Mawasi, northwest of Khan Younis, where a shelter hosting MSF staff and their families was shelled. The organization said at least two family members of staff had been killed and six wounded, including two children who suffered burns. "We are horrified by what has taken place," MSF wrote on the social media platform X. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said he was "appalled" by the attack. "Humanitarians are putting their lives on the line," he wrote Wednesday on X. "Like all civilians, they must be protected." In an opinion piece published Wednesday in the Brazilian newspaper Folha, Griffiths urged G20 members meeting in Rio de Janeiro this week to use their political leadership and influence to help end the war in Gaza, where the Palestinian death toll is approaching 30,000. "The atrocities befalling the people of Gaza and the humanitarian tragedy they are enduring are there for the world to see, documented by brave Palestinian journalists, too many of them have been killed while doing so," he wrote. "No one can pretend not to know." Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said Wednesday that Gaza "has become a death zone." "Much of the territory has been destroyed, more than 29,000 people are dead, many more are missing, presumed dead, and many, many more are injured," he told reporters in Geneva. WHO has worked this week with the Palestine Red Crescent Society to evacuate patients from the besieged Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to two field hospitals in southern Gaza. Tedros said they had carried out several emergency missions. "Around [111] sick and injured patients and at least 15 doctors and nurses remain in the hospital," he said. Israel accuses Hamas of operating in and under the hospital. Cease-fire demands fail The latest fighting followed the failure Tuesday of the U.N. Security Council to demand an immediate cease-fire, after the United States vetoed an Algerian-drafted resolution that had the support of 13 of the council's 15 members. "Demanding an immediate, unconditional cease-fire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about a durable peace," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said of the proposed text. Algeria first presented the council with its text three weeks ago and delayed a vote to give negotiations led by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar for the release of the hostages time to succeed. But the country's ambassador said silence was no longer an option. "We are rapidly approaching a critical juncture where the call to halt the machinery of violence will lose its significance," Ambassador Amar Bendjama said of Israel's impending incursion on the southern city of Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering. Israel's envoy called the idea of a cease-fire "absurd" and not a magic solution. The United States is proposing its own draft resolution, which was presented to council members on Wednesday, diplomats told VOA. Seen by VOA, it supports a "temporary cease-fire in Gaza as soon as practicable, based on the formula of all hostages being released." It also objects to an expected major Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying "it should not proceed under current circumstances." Israel has warned it plans to carry out an offensive on Hamas targets in Rafah before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan if the hostages are not released. Ramadan starts around March 10. Israeli officials have also spoken of evacuations of civilians from the area without providing any detailed plans. Israel began its military campaign to eliminate Hamas after the group's fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials, and taking about 250 others hostage. Hamas, designated a terror group by the U.S., the U.K. and EU, is believed to still be holding about 130 hostages in Gaza, including 30 who are believed to be dead. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WHO Chief Calls Gaza a 'Death Zone' By Margaret Besheer February 21, 2024 The Israeli military said Wednesday it carried out airstrikes in northern and southern Gaza, a day after the United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, scaled up aid access and rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians. The Israel Defense Forces reported killing dozens of militants, including in the Khan Younis area of the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Wednesday it recorded 118 deaths during the past day, pushing the total number of Palestinians killed to 29,313 with another 69,333 injured since the war began in October. "Demanding an immediate, unconditional cease-fire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about a durable peace," said U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the Algerian-drafted resolution. For weeks, the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Israel have been involved in delicate negotiations aimed at the release of all hostages and an extended pause in the fighting. "Instead, it could extend the fighting between Hamas and Israel, extend the hostages' time in captivity, an experience described by former hostages as 'hell,' and extend the dire humanitarian crisis Palestinians are facing in Gaza," Thomas-Greenfield said, adding "none of us want that." Algeria first presented the 15-member Security Council with its text three weeks ago and delayed a vote to give those negotiations time. But the country's Ambassador Amar Bendjama said silence is no longer an option and it is time for the council to act. "We are rapidly approaching a critical juncture where the call to halt the machinery of violence will lose its significance," he said of Israel's impending incursion on the southern city of Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering. "Today, every Palestinian is a target for death, extermination and genocide," he said. "We should ask ourselves; how many innocent lives must be sacrificed before the council deems it necessary to call for a cease-fire?" The Algerian text had strong council support - 13 members voted for it, Britain abstained, and the U.S. cast its veto. It is the third time Washington has used its council veto to block a cease-fire measure. "The call for a cease-fire should have been agreed to a long time ago," Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said. "What fresh hell needs to be crossed for this council to finally demand a cease-fire?" Israel's envoy called the idea of a cease-fire "absurd" and not a magic solution. "So why is the council charged with security so fixated on aiding these monsters staying in power?" Ambassador Gilad Erdan asked, warning Hamas would attack Israel again given the chance. Erdan urged the council as a whole to condemn the Hamas terror attack of Oct. 7, which it has so far not done. Several council members said in their remarks that the council should take this step. US counter-proposal The United States is proposing its own draft resolution, which several diplomats said had not yet been officially circulated at the council. Seen by VOA, it calls for a temporary cease-fire "as soon as practicable" and based on a formula of all hostages being released. It also notes the "urgent need for a viable plan" to protect civilians from an Israeli offensive in Rafah. The U.S. proposal "underscores that such a major ground offensive should not proceed under current circumstances" and "rejects any other effort at forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza." "Colleagues, this is not, as some members have claimed, an American effort to cover for an imminent ground incursion," Thomas-Greenfield said of the U.S. text. "Rather, it is a sincere statement of our concern for the 1.5 million civilians who have sought refuge in Rafah." Thomas-Greenfield told reporters that the United States would work with other council members in good faith to get the resolution "over the finish line." Israel has warned it plans to carry out an offensive in Rafah, the area of southern Gaza along the Egyptian border. Israeli officials say the operation is necessary to target Hamas members there. The officials have also mentioned evacuations of civilians without providing any detailed plans. United Nations officials have repeatedly said no place is safe for civilians to go in Gaza. Egypt objects to the evacuation of Palestinians into its territory, saying it would amount to their forced displacement. Israel denies that is its intention. The World Food Program said it is pausing deliveries in northern Gaza, until safe conditions are in place for distribution. About 300,000 people are believed to still be living in the north, in dire conditions including looming famine. WFP said it resumed deliveries Sunday after a three-week suspension after an aid truck was hit in an air strike. But chaotic situations with crowds climbing aboard their trucks, looting and violence, including gunfire, had impeded food distribution and made it unsafe. Israel began its military campaign to eliminate Hamas after the group's fighters crossed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people according to Israeli officials and taking about 250 others hostage. Hamas, designated a terror group by the U.S., the U.K. and EU, is believed to still be holding about 130 hostages in Gaza, including 30 who are believed to be dead. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken to Brazil's Lula: US Rejects Nazi Comparison to Israeli Attacks on Hamas By VOA News February 21, 2024 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday, briefing him on U.S. efforts to end the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza but also telling him the U.S. disagrees with his assessment likening Israel's war effort to that of Nazi genocide in World War II. A U.S. official privy to the talks in Brasilia said the leaders had a "frank exchange" about the war, now in its fifth month, but declined to characterize Lula's response to Blinken's criticism. Blinken "talked about all the efforts [the U.S. is] making, not just as it relates to Gaza itself, but in the broader region, that we think is the path to doing that. ... The president seemed to appreciate the efforts the U.S. is making to do that," the U.S. official said. Blinken and Lula did not discuss the U.S. veto Monday of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the war, the official said. The U.S. has been committed to discussions, so far unfruitful, involving Israeli, Eqyptian and Qatari officials targeting a more limited halt to the fighting, accompanied by the release of the 100 or so remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Lula's comments likening Israel's attacks in Gaza to the Holocaust came after he visited the Middle East last week and just ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers in Rio de Janeiro as part of Brazil's presidency of the G20 group of advanced economies. Israel said Monday that Lula is not welcome there until he takes back the comments. The U.S. official said Blinken emphasized the American commitment to support Lula's G20 agenda to combat hunger, protect the global climate and improve global governance. "Our hope would be that in the meetings we're going to have [in Rio] that that would be [the] focus of how these countries, the G20 countries, have the responsibility to work together to address these shared challenges," the U.S. official said. The official also said the leaders discussed "the importance of strengthening democracy in the region and Venezuela particularly." VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Fund Untapped in Switzerland, Taliban Make No Demand By Akmal Dawi February 21, 2024 Sixteen months after its establishment, the U.S.-backed Fund for the Afghan People has yet to release any payments for its intended purposes, a board member reveals. The fund, created using half of Afghanistan's frozen assets in the United States, aims to help stabilize the Afghan economy without benefiting the de facto Taliban authorities. Established in the wake of the Taliban's takeover in 2021, the Switzerland-based fund holds $3.5 billion that formerly belonged to the Afghan Central Bank. It is authorized to support activities such as paying Afghanistan's debts to international organizations, funding electricity imports and even printing currency. "I'm surprised that they [the Taliban] have not asked for any payment so far," Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, a co-chair of the fund's board of trustees, told VOA. Ahady emphasized his willingness to facilitate the funding of authorized activities. Taliban officials declined to comment. Despite the fund's inaction, the Taliban recently announced payment of outstanding electricity bills using domestic funds. Additionally, a European donor helped settle Afghanistan's World Bank debt last year, unlocking new bank aid. Last week, the World Bank announced it had approved a new approach to Afghanistan aimed at supporting income-generating activities. Under the new approach, work will be resumed on a $1.2 billion project that will bring clean energy from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan via Afghanistan. Afghanistan is also in arrears to the Asian Development Bank, resulting in a hold on the ADB's regular assistance programs since 2021. Ahady said the fund would consider paying the ADB debt. "But we are the last resort," he added. Saving the assets Over $9 billion in Afghan assets remain frozen in the U.S., Europe and the United Arab Emirates, inaccessible to the Taliban. In the U.S., $3.5 billion face claims from 9/11 victims' families. It is unclear if that frozen portion generates interest like the funds in Switzerland. The fund has already accrued more than $200 million in interest in less than two years, according to Ahady. "Afghans see this as their national treasure," said Masuda Sultan of Unfreeze Afghanistan, an organization advocating the release of the frozen assets. "Afghans believe the funds should not be used to pay for consumption of goods and services." Despite dire poverty in Afghanistan, the fund in Switzerland is not earmarked for immediate humanitarian needs a deliberate choice, according to Ahady. "Humanitarian needs are so huge at this juncture that [if used], this amount of money [the fund] will disappear quickly," he said. The United States and other donors have given billions in humanitarian assistance to Afghans over the past two years. As the Taliban remain a pariah regime widely condemned for their repressive policies, the future of the frozen assets remains uncertain. "The funds belong to Da Afghanistan Bank," said Ahady, referring to the Afghan Central Bank, now governed by the Taliban. The now $3.74 billion fund can only be released if the Afghan Central Bank demonstrably acts independently from the Taliban and complies with anti-terrorism safeguards. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By the end of next year, visitors to Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park will be able to get closer to the Buffalo River while not disturbing the fragile ecosystems. State Sen. Tim Kennedy and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced Thursday the state has awarded the county a $450,000 grant to help construct a raised boardwalk at the park. The park in South Buffalo along the river is being restored to its native condition. Officials said despite significant progress, erosion, invasive species and landscape degradation persist. The boardwalk will increase accessibility while protecting the ecosystems. Seneca Bluffs is a key aspect of preserving our citys natural heritage, Kennedy said. Poloncarz said the revitalization of the park has been an ongoing success story. This park is a hidden gem in the City of Buffalo, a natural oasis of peace in an urban setting, and offers parkgoers a chance to get away from it all while still in the city, Poloncarz said. The park includes 15 acres of floodplain along the river and is located near the Seneca Street bridge between Elk Street and Avon Place. It is on the State Birding Trail and was one of at least two places where a roseate spoonbill, a bird native to Florida, was spotted last August. Located within the Great Lakes migratory bird flyway, a large diversity of migratory birds, wading birds and waterfowl can be found there, according to Erie County. Work to reduce the amount of invasive species has changed the makeup of the park. Its vegetation was approximately 85% invasive and non-native in 2016. Within two years, just 20% of the vegetation was invasive. The grant from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation to the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry will help fund the $650,000 boardwalk project at the county park. Construction of the boardwalk is to be finished in December 2025. Seneca Bluffs also is benefiting from a state grant of nearly $1 million administered by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for the Buffalo Blueway Project, which seeks to create or improve a series of natural spaces along the Buffalo River and Outer Harbor. The county also was awarded another state grant of $1.45 million to construct a green parking lot and to add improvements such as curbing, plantings, access and storm water retention. This project is in the bid phase and also expected to be completed in 2025. US Ambassador Meets With Gabon Coup Leader By Moki Edwin Kindzeka February 21, 2024 A U.S. delegation met with the military ruler of Gabon on Tuesday and reiterated the need for a quick return to constitutional order six months after the nation's August 30 coup. Even so, the U.S. ambassador to Gabon who led the delegation, Vernelle Trim FitzPatrick, said economic and diplomatic relations with the Central African state will be reinforced despite sanctions imposed on Gabon's coup leaders. Military ruler General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema pleaded for U.S sanctions to be lifted. Speaking later on Gabon's state television, FitzPatrick said the United States finds it important to discuss strengthening trade and commercial relations with Gabon to gain the support of the U.S Congress in fostering ties with the nation. FitzPatrick, who has been ambassador to Gabon for about a month, also said the United States will assist with the transition to civilian rule but did not say how. Gabon's military, led by Nguema, ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba in a bloodless coup on August 30. The military accused Bongo of rigging Gabon's August 26 elections and ruining the country's economy. After the coup, Washington suspended most nonhumanitarian aid and asked for a quick return to constitutional order. Gabon's military leaders said elections would be held in August 2025, after an inclusive national dialogue this April. Nembe Patrice, an economic adviser at Alternance 2023, a group of opposition parties created in 2023 to fight for political change in Gabon, said civilians want Nguema to organize elections and hand power to democratically elected officials. He also said he hopes the United States will advise Nguema not to be a candidate. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns U.S. for vetoing UNSC resolution on Gaza truce People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:14, February 22, 2024 TEHRAN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday condemned the United States for repeatedly vetoing UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. During an emergency session of the UNSC held in New York on Tuesday, the United States vetoed the draft resolution on the Gaza ceasefire, the fourth time it has done so since the outbreak of the conflict. Describing the U.S. move as a "diplomatic catastrophe of the century," the foreign minister said on social media platform X that the repeated veto by the U.S. administration created liability for the White House for Israel's "unceasing genocide in Gaza and war crimes in the West Bank and Palestine." He called on the international community to hold the United States accountable. Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani also condemned the U.S. veto of the resolution, according to a statement released on the ministry's website. He said the U.S. move once again proved to the world that Washington was not part of the solution to the crisis and humanitarian disaster in Gaza, but the most important factor for the continuation of the crisis and its expansion in the region. The draft resolution proposed by Algeria received support from 13 out of the 15 UNSC members, with the United States vetoing it and Britain abstaining. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian presidency, Hamas condemn U.S. veto of Gaza ceasefire resolution People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:12, February 22, 2024 GAZA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Wednesday condemned the United States veto of a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In a statement released by Palestine's official news agency WAFA, the Palestinian presidency expressed its "surprise at the continued refusal of the U.S. to stop the war" that Israel is waging against the Palestinian people. "The U.S. veto, which defies the will of the international community, will give an additional green light to Israel to continue its aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, and to carry out its bloody attack on Rafah," the statement said, adding the U.S. showed its "support and protection" for Israel by vetoing the resolution. The Palestinian presidency called on the international community to search for solutions to stop the Israeli war in the occupied Palestinian territory, especially in the Gaza Strip. Hamas said in a statement that the U.S. administration bears responsibility for obstructing efforts to end Israeli "aggression" in Gaza. The U.S. gives "a green light for Israel to kill our defenseless people through bombing, starvation, and is a partner in the war," read the Hamas statement. During an emergency session of the UN Security Council held in New York on Tuesday, the U.S. vetoed a draft resolution put forward on behalf of Arab states by Algeria demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Algeria's draft resolution was backed by 13 out of the 15 Security Council members, while the United States vetoed against it and Britain abstained. It is the third time since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October of last year that the U.S. interfered to fail a draft resolution aimed to reach a ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kamikaze drone attack targets illegal US base in eastern Syria: Report Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 February 2024 12:03 AM A kamikaze drone has reportedly struck an illegal outpost housing the United States' occupation forces in eastern Syria. Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television news network announced the development in a report in early Thursday. The report specified the target of the attack as the base that houses the US troops in the Conoco gas field in the Syrian province of Dayr al-Zawr. The drone has hit the "specified target," resulting in a "massive explosion" that rang out throughout the nearby areas, it noted. The extent of the likely casualties or material damages resulting from the strike is yet to be known. No person or group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. The attack, however, bears the hallmark of numerous such strikes that have been carried out against targets housing American forces across the Arab country and neighboring Iraq by the latter's Islamic Resistance. The Resistance, an umbrella anti-terror group, has escalated its attacks against such targets since October 7 last year, when the Israeli regime began waging its yet-ongoing war on the Gaza Strip. The Iraqi strikes have been seeking to protest the United States' unbridled political and military support for the war that began following al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements. The US has so far blocked the passage of three United Nations Security Council resolutions that have called for implementation of an immediate cessation in the Israeli military onslaught. Washington has also armed Tel Aviv with more than 10,000 tons of military hardware since the onset of the warfare. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 21 February 2024 - Day 727 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian Ground Forces have continued and highly likely increased their ground attacks on the Robotyne axis in southern Ukraine, which was recaptured by Ukraine during its counter-offensive in summer 2023. The village has remained on the frontline since. The Russian 58th Combined Arms army and Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) operating in the area sustained heavy casualties during the Ukrainian counter-offensive. However, the lower operational tempo since, and continued Russian recruitment efforts have likely enabled Russian forces on this axis to reconstitute. Russian forces have intensified attacks across several points of the front line within the last week, likely intended to stretch Ukrainian forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 21, there were 51x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile and 84x air strikes, carried out 71x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in wounded civilians. Residential private and apartment buildings as well as other 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 Milove, Vil'khuvatka, Hryhorivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Bleshnya, Hrem'yach, Yeline (Chernihiv oblast), Popivka, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Krasne, Luk'yantsi, Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces made 2x assault attempts near Syn'kivka and Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults near Terny and Vyimka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Lyman, Svyato-Pokrovs'k, Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x attack in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike near New York (Donetsk oblast). More than10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks in the vicinities of Stepove, Lastochkyne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Novopokrovske, Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Semenivka, Orlivka, Lastochkyne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Berdychi, Semenivka, Sjeverne, Netailove (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 10x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian adversary launched air strikes near Krasnohorivka, Katerynivka, Antonivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Novopavlivka axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x attacks west of Verbove and in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. During the day, Russian forces made 2x attempts to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces launched air strikes near Krynky and Chornobaivka (Kherson oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Kherson, Krynky, Ivanivka, Tyahynka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. During the day of February 21, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x air defense systems. On top of that Ukrainian Air Force units destroyed yet another Su-34 fighter-bomber as well as 3 reconnaissance UAVs. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 5x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x fuel depots, 3x command posts, 8x artillery systems, 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces repelled seven attacks of assault groups of the AFU 14th, 32nd mechanised, 25th Air Assault brigades, and 115th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Chugunovka (Kharkov region) and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). Moreover, the Russian troops repelled five counter-attacks of the enemy close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region). Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four pick-up trucks, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been eliminated. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated units of the 93rd mechanised, 81st airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade in vicinity of Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Razdolovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The losses of the Armed Forces were over 425 troops, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, as well as the AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery radar. In addition, an ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed close to Mayaki (Donetsk People's Republic). In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted fire defeat on AFU manpower and hardware of the 24th, 53rd mechanised brigades, 59th motorised infantry, and 3rd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rozovka and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Furthermore, the Russian troops repelled seven counter-attacks launched by the Ukrainian units close to Lastochkino, Kirovo, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 450 troops, one tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, six armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS vehicle, as well as one D-30 howitzer. In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces repelled the enemy's counter-attack near Novozlatopol (Zaporozhye region) and inflicted a fire defeat of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Vladimirovo and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses amounted to up to 210 troops, two tanks, three motor vehicles, as well as the AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery radar. In Kherson direction, the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted comprehensive fire damage on the units of the 65th mechanised, 82nd air assault, and 128th mountain assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino, Verbovoye, and Lugovoye (Zaporozhye region). AFU losses amounted to 75 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled artillery system, and two D-30 howitzers. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged a fuel depot as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 123 areas during the day. Russia's air defence systems shot down 12 HIMARS MLRS projectiles and one JDAM bomb. Moreover, 99 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye, and Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Yampolovka, Verkhnetoretskoye, and Staromlynovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Pologi, Veseloye, Ulyanovka, and Vasilyevka (Zaporozhye region), and Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region). In total, 572 airplanes and 266 helicopters, 13,042 unmanned aerial vehicles, 471 air defence missile systems, 15,149 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,223 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,124 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 18,900 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Federal Council opens consultation on draft legislation to ban Hamas Swiss Government Bern, 21.02.2024 -- Switzerland is to ban Hamas. The Federal Council decided at its meeting on 21 February to open the consultation on the necessary legal basis. The ban will also include Hamas cover and successor organisations as well as organisations that act on its behalf or in its name. On 7 October, Hamas gunmen launched an attack on Israel, killing almost 1,200 people from Israel and other countries, including two Swiss nationals. The attack deliberately targeted the civilian population. In addition to those killed, almost 250 men, women and children were abducted: around 130 hostages are still being held by the organisation. In response to this unprecedentedly brutal attack, the Federal Council decided on 11 October 2023 to designate Hamas a terrorist organisation. In December 2023, the National Council and the Council of States each adopted an identical motion calling for a ban on the organisation. Under the new 'Federal Act on the Proscription of Hamas and Associated Organisations', Hamas and cover or successor organisations as well as organisations or groups that act on its behalf or in its name are to be banned. The Federal Council may also designate organisations and groups as terrorist organisations if they have a particular affinity with Hamas or share its objectives, leadership or resources. Ban to create legal certainty and have preventative effect The ban aims at having both a preventative and repressive impact on Hamas, in particular by: reducing the risk of Hamas and associated organisations using Switzerland as a safe haven or carrying out terrorist activities on Swiss territory; enabling law enforcement services to impose preventative police measures such as entry bans or expulsion orders more easily and effectively; creating clarity and greater legal certainty for law enforcement services when presenting criminal evidence and enabling them to take more targeted action against Hamas supporters; providing legal certainty for financial intermediaries in combating terrorist financing and allowing the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) to exchange information more easily with foreign partner authorities on financial flows with suspected links to terrorist financing; designating Hamas and associated organisations as terrorist organisations in accordance with Article 260ter of the Swiss Criminal Code (SCC), thereby making acts of support punishable by a custodial sentence not exceeding 10 years or 20 years if the person has considerable influence in the organisation. Ban limited to five years - extension by Parliament possible The Hamas ban has far-reaching consequences for the organisations, groups and individuals concerned. For this reason, the law is limited to five years. Parliament has the option of extending it by means of the ordinary legislative procedure. The consultation procedure lasts until 28 May 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On-the-Record Press Call on the Biden-Harris Administration Initiative to Bolster the Cybersecurity of U.S. Ports February 21, 2024 Via Teleconference (February 20, 2024) 5:38 P.M. EST MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. And thank you for joining our background call to preview a series of actions that the Biden-Harris administration will announce tomorrow, Wednesday, February 21st. For awareness, today's call will now be held fully on the record. That means both the opening statements and Q&A all on record. And it will be attributable to Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies; Iranga Kahangama, Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience at the Department of Homeland Security; and Rear Admiral John Vann, who is the Commander of Coast Guard Cyber Command. One flag that today's call will be embargoed until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 21st, at 5:00 a.m. Eastern. I will now turn it over to Anne for opening remarks. MS. NEUBERGER: Thank you so much, Sam. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us this evening. Right now, America's ports employ 31 million Americans, contribute $5.4 trillion to our economy, and are the main domestic point of entry for cargo entering the United States. The continuity of their operations has a clear and direct impact on the success of our country, our economy, and our national security. And that's why the Biden-Harris administration is taking a series of actions to strengthen the cybersecurity of our nation's ports to not just shore up our cyber defenses, but fortify our supply chains and deliver for the American people. Tomorrow, we'll be announcing a set of four actions. First, President Biden will sign an executive order that will bolster the Department of Homeland Security's authority to address maritime cyber threats. You see, most critical infrastructure owners and operators have a list of safety regulations they have to comply with, and we want to ensure that there are similar requirements for cyber, when a cyberattack can cause just as much, if not more, damage than a storm or another physical threat. So this executive order will give the Coast Guard the authority to respond to malicious cyber activity by requiring maritime transportation vessels and facilities to shore up their cybersecurity and institute mandatory reporting of cyber incidents. The Coast Guard will also issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish minimum cybersecurity requirements that meet international and industry-recognized standards to best manage cyber threats. The administration is also excited to announce that we will invest over $20 billion into U.S. port infrastructure over the next five years through the President's Investing in America agenda. As part of that, PACECO Corporation, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Mitsui E&S, is planning to onshore domestic manufacturing capacity for American and Korean production for the first time in 30 years, pending final site and partner selection. Finally, the Coast Guard will announce a maritime security director, which Admiral Vann will outline in greater detail, regarding the security of ports related to these cranes. Tomorrow's actions are clear examples of the President's work to invest in America to secure the country's supply chain and strengthen cybersecurity of our nation's critical infrastructure priorities this administration is focused on relentlessly since taking office. And before I turn it over, I'd like to begin just by recognizing individuals on the NSC, Caitlin Clarke and Jon Murphy, at DHS and at the Coast Guard, who have put in a great deal of work into this effort over the last number of months. So now I'd like to turn it over to my colleague, Iranga Kahangama, to detail more the actions of DHS, and then over to the Coast Guard. Thank you. MR. KAHANGAMA: Thank you, Anne. And thanks, everyone, for being here this evening. Really to foot-stomp what Anne had mentioned, the department is really excited about the actions that we're taking as a comprehensive whole-of-DHS approach to mitigating cyber threats to our critical infrastructure, particularly in the maritime sector and port infrastructure, which have downstream implications to our supply chains. Specifically regarding the notice of proposed rulemaking on DHS regulations and minimum cybersecurity standards, we are excited to put this out for public comment. We believe it is an exemplar of our commitment to partnership in developing these regs and building off of lessons learned as part of the administration's approach to instituting mandatory cybersecurity minimum standards. The department worked closely with entities such as TSA, who have done some of this work through some of its emergency directives, and in close partnership and consultation with industry partners to ensure that the cybersecurity requirements are in line with expectations. And so, we enthusiastically welcome public comment on these as we develop cybersecurity standards in line with the Biden-Harris administration's approach to identifying and using mandatory regulations to improve critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, where we deem it most necessary. Also in line with the department's approach to harmonization, we are attempting to make sure that those rules and regulations align with other efforts that we're taking underway, and are doing our best to align those with existing frameworks instituted by CISA and partners at NIST as well. I just wanted to emphasize that the department also sees that the threat posed to critical infrastructure, particularly maritime and port infrastructure, is a whole-of-department approach, not only leveraging the Coast Guard's authorities and announcements tomorrow, but as mentioned, the department's newly announced Supply Chain Resilience Center last November as part of a White House rollout, but that this component is going to seek to bolster U.S. supply chain security, harness and maximize the department's capabilities related to lawful trade and travel, and manage critical infrastructure security, leveraging its unique resources around the department. In its inaugural effort, we have done things like convene with members of industry and government organizations to share information and guidance to advance supply chain resilience and hosting department-wide tabletop exercises to better understand what causes supply chain disruptions and provide recommendations and develop policy to leadership to mitigate impacts to our domestic supply chain. The Supply Chain Resilience Center was also created as a recommendation from our Homeland Security Advisory Committee. And just as we are excited about the actions of the Coast Guard, we're also looking forward to leveraging the Supply Chain Resilience Center to push forward port security and maritime security throughout the industry. So, with that, I want to turn it over to Admiral Jay Vann to deep-dive on some of the specific Coast Guard actions. Thank you. ADMIRAL VANN: Thank you, Iranga. And thanks to everyone for joining us this evening. I'm going to jump right in. My name is Rear Admiral Jay Vann, and I'm the Commander of the United States Coast Guard Cyber Command. Coast Guard Cyber is responsible for conducting cyberspace operations in support of the administration, DHS, DOD, and Coast Guard priorities. I want to reemphasize the criticality of the Marine Transportation System that we seek to protect. I'll refer to it as the MTS. This interconnected system within our transportation critical infrastructure is vital to national security and economic prosperity. As was mentioned, America's system of ports and waterways accounts for over $5.4 trillion of our nation's annual economic activity, and our ports serve as a gateway for over 90 percent of all overseas trade. The MTS enables critical national security sealift capabilities that enable the U.S. Armed Forces to project and maintain power around the globe. Any disruption to the MTS, whether man-made or natural, physical or in cyberspace, has the potential to cause cascading impacts to our domestic or global supply chains. The executive order to be signed tomorrow ensures Coast Guard authorities are aligned with emerging cybersecurity threats and reflects the commitment of the administration, DHS, and the Coast Guard to safeguard maritime critical infrastructure. The EO directly amends federal regulations and provides a Coast Guard captain of the port with clear authority to take action in the face of cyber threats. This includes controlling the movement of vessels that present a known or suspected cyber threat, requiring facilities to correct unsatisfactory cyber conditions that may endanger port safety and security, or inspection and search of vessels and waterfront facilities to include their cyber systems and networks. The update also empowers the Commandant of the Coast Guard to prescribe measures to prevent, detect, assess, and remediate an actual or threatened cyber incident. As we undertake measures to prevent cyber incidents, let me address a specific, acute MTS cyber vulnerability that was mentioned earlier. The People's Republic of China-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes make up the largest share of the global market and account for nearly 80 percent of cranes at U.S. ports. By design, these cranes may be controlled, serviced, and programmed from remote locations. These features potentially leave PRC-manufactured cranes vulnerable to exploitation. On the heels of this executive order, the Coast Guard is issuing a Maritime Security, or MARSEC, Directive based on the prevalence of PRC-manufactured cranes in the U.S. and threat intelligence related to PRC's interests in disrupting U.S. critical infrastructure. The MARSEC Directive will impose a number of cybersecurity requirements on the owners and operators of PRC-manufactured cranes. The specific requirements are deemed sensitive security information and cannot be shared publicly. Our captains of the port around the country will be working directly with crane owners and operators to deliver the directive and verify compliance. Finally, also as was mentioned, we're announcing a notice of proposed rulemaking that will establish baseline cybersecurity requirements to protect the entire MTS from cyber threats. Those draft requirements are primarily based on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's cross-sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals, which the maritime industry should already be familiar with. The proposed regulations would require a number of cybersecurity measures to be implemented by all regulated entities. The Coast Guard highly encourages MTS stakeholders to provide feedback and input during the period of public comment, which begins tomorrow. A federal register notice will outline the process for submitting comments through the federal decision-making portal, and the public comment period will be open until April 22nd of this year. I look forward to your questions. Thank you. MODERATOR: Thank you, everyone, for those remarks there at the top. If you have a question, please use the hand-raising feature. If you are on your cell, please use *6 and you should be able to raise your hand. Our first question will go to Justin with Bloomberg. Q Hey, guys. Thanks for doing this call. I was wondering if you could talk about the extent to which this is or isn't a response to the notice that you guys or the advisory you published earlier this month about Volt Typhoon and concerns that you have there. MS. NEUBERGER: Thank you so much, Justin. So, since the really, since the beginning of administration, we've put a focus on securing critical infrastructure. Certainly critical infrastructure that also has ties to national security in terms of our ports from which our military deploys, from which our materiel deploys, as well as through which our economy operates are at the top of the list. So we've been working on this notice of proposed rulemaking and executive order for the last 18 months. So while it certainly ties to particular concerns about Chinese cyber activity, we also have concerns regarding criminal activity. One of Japan's largest ports, the port of Nagoya, was disrupted by a criminal ransomware attack for several days. So, Chinese threats are one key threat that this executive order and notice of proposed rulemaking will help protect ports against, and certainly the focus on cranes and the risks, as Admiral John Vann talked about, of remote access to cranes and to their operations. There's a reason that we not only are issuing cybersecurity minimum requirements for ports, but also putting in place a maritime directive focused on cyber risk management for ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by China. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Colleen with the AP. Q Hi there. I wanted to ask about enforcement enforcement of requirements for reporting a cyberattack and then also, potentially, you know, enforcement of the cybersecurity requirements that will be put into place. Can you just talk a little bit about how it would work, how people would be or, I guess, companies and governments would be encouraged to do, in particular cyberattack reporting, particularly because there's such an unwillingness to come publicly when people are hit with a cyberattack? MS. NEUBERGER: Colleen, that's a great question. The core aspect we have here is ensuring that the regulatory agencies in this case, the Coast Guard for ports have the authority to directly require minimum cybersecurity requirements and require that reporting. And as a regulator, that can be enforced. I'll turn it over to Admiral Vann, if you'd like to elaborate on that. ADMIRAL VANN: Yes. Thanks for the question, Colleen. So, the notice of proposed rulemaking will not only include those requirements but enhanced definition of reporting requirements to include specific regulated facilities and vessels reporting to Coast Guard Coast Guard sharing reports with CISA and other government agencies. So, as far as enforcing reporting, is that really your question? Q Yeah. I'm just wondering how you you know, if you're asking people to report when they have a cyberattack, how do you enforce that reporting. MS. NEUBERGER: It's a requirement rather than a request. The Coast Guard is the regulator for ports, and the executive order takes their existing physical authorities to set security rules for ports and extends that to the cybersecurity domain. So, ports will be required to report that to the Coast Guard. As Admiral Vann noted, the Coast Guard can then share that with other entities, including CISA and the FBI. So it's a shift from requesting to requiring. Q Got it. Thank you. MS. NEUBERGER: Thank you, Colleen. MODERATOR: Thank you both. Our next question will go to Sean with CNN. Q Hey, thanks all. Just to follow up quickly on Colleen's question: What's the punishment for failure to report? And then a second question for the Admiral about the cranes trying to track, other mentions of that concern in open source. I'm not seeing a ton. How many roughly, how many cranes are out there that U.S. officials are concerned about? And is there any effort to sort of rip and replace, if you will, these machines? Or is it all a case of just trying to manage what's already out there? ADMIRAL VANN: Okay, thanks for the question, Sean. I'll take the second part first. There are over by our count, over 200 PRC-manufactured cranes across U.S. ports and regulated facilities. Our Coast Guard cyber protection teams have assessed cybersecurity or hunted for threats, as of today, on 92 of those cranes. And so, those assessments determine the cybersecurity posture, and the hunt missions actually look for malicious cyber activity on the cranes. And so, we've almost canvassed about 50 percent of the existing cranes. I don't have an answer for your rip and replace. I might refer that question to Deputy National Security Advisor Neuberger regarding other manufacturers and where we're heading, as far as that goes. As for punishments for failure to report, again, what will go out after the EO is signed tomorrow is a notice of proposed rulemaking. And so, after we receive public comment and input on the regulations, regulations will be finalized to include enforcement actions being defined. MS. NEUBERGER: Thank you very much, Admiral Vann. Sean, I'll come in on the rip and replace question. At this point, we're not exploring rip and replace for ports. What we are focused on is ensuring that all the investment in port infrastructure that I mentioned at the outset, that's part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, can go to buying trusted cranes and to bringing back manufacturing to the United States, given how important cranes are to port operations. So our goal is focused that new investment is secure, and then the steps are being outlined here minimum cybersecurity requirements, the Maritime Security Directive being used to secure the existing infrastructure. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Alex with GovExec. Q Hi, thank you very much for taking my question. Very briefly, I heard the Admiral outline the specific forms of maritime critical infrastructure that the new executive order will apply to, but I did want to clarify that any new cybersecurity provisions and protocols pursuant to the executive action will not cover landing stations that govern undersea cables. Is that correct? MS. NEUBERGER: Admiral Vann, do you want to speak to that? ADMIRAL VANN: Alex, thanks for the question. So what is in the executive order is an enhancement an addendum, if you will to the Magnuson Act, which surrounds the captain of the port's authority to prevent and respond to cyber incidents. The specifics of what is covered by regulations are really what will be covered by the rulemaking process. And so that process, while it will be initiated immediately, will need to play out to its end to determine what is covered and what is not. Q Okay, thank you very much. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Christian with CyberScoop. Q (Inaudible) the infrastructure bill, will there be new markers or, you know, you have to have (inaudible) or some kind of added security benefits in order to receive the funds or something along those lines? Thank you. MS. NEUBERGER: Hi, Christian. Thank you. That's exactly what will be in the notice of proposed rulemaking in terms of what the minimum cybersecurity requirements are for products for technology products that are being used at ports. MODERATOR: Thank you. We have time for one more question. We'll go to David with Inside Cybersecurity. David Jones, you should be able to unmute yourself. Hey, we see you're unmuted, but we can't hear you. Okay, if you want to shoot me your e-mail I mean, your question over e-mail we'll get back to you as soon as we can. And that goes for the rest of the folks. If you start writing your pieces and have any other questions, feel free to reach out and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. As a reminder actually, sorry, I think Anne had one thing that she wanted to mention before we close the call. Over to you, Anne. MS. NEUBERGER: Thank you so much, Sam. I'd given a shout-out to some of the folks here at the White House who have worked on this initiative over the last 18 to 24 months, but I didn't have a complete list. I want to make sure that I say that here, because as you can tell by the actions we're rolling out tonight, it's been a lot of work, both on the executive order, on the notice of proposed rulemaking, on the Maritime Security Directive, and working with trusted vendors around the world to see which would be interested in onshoring some crane capacity to ensure that new cranes that were purchased and deployed across our critical port infrastructure could be trusted. So in addition to the names I mentioned, I want to thank Celina Ladyga, Robert Obayda, and William Hennigan here at the White House, and Rob Le Monde at DHS, and Captain Andy Meyers at the U.S. Coast Guard, for the partnership and hard work over the last number of months. Thank you all for joining us this evening. We're excited to roll this out, and appreciate your time. MODERATOR: Okay. And thank you to all of our speakers. As a reminder, today's call is embargoed until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 21st, at 5:00 a.m. Eastern. And everything here tonight was on record. Thanks. 6:02 P.M. EST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Executive Order on Amending Regulations Relating to the Safeguarding of Vessels, Harbors, Ports, and Waterfront Facilities of the United States February 21, 2024 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of title II of the Act of June 15, 1917, as amended (46 U.S.C. 70051) (the "Act"), and in addition to the finding in Executive Order 10173 of October 18, 1950, and any other declaration or finding in force under section 1 of the Act, I find that the security of the United States is endangered by reason of disturbances in the international relations of the United States that exist as a result of persistent and increasingly sophisticated malicious cyber campaigns against the United States, and that such disturbances continue to endanger such relations, and hereby order that: Section 1. Amendments. Part 6 of title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended by: (a) Amending section 6.01-3 to read as follows: "6.01-3. Captain of the Port. Captain of the Port, as used in this part, means the officer of the Coast Guard, under the command of a District Commander, so designated by the Commandant for the purpose of giving immediate direction to Coast Guard law enforcement activities within the Captain of the Port's assigned area. In addition, the District Commander will be Captain of the Port with respect to the remaining areas in the District not assigned to officers designated by the Commandant as Captain of the Port."; (b) Amending section 6.01-5 to read as follows: "6.01-5. Security zone. Security zone, as used in this part, means all areas of land, water, or land and water, which are so designated by the Captain of the Port for such time as the Captain of the Port deems necessary to prevent damage or injury to any vessel or waterfront facility, to safeguard ports, harbors, territories, or waters of the United States or to secure the observance of the rights and obligations of the United States."; (c) Adding after the existing section 6.01-6 the following new section: "6.01-7. Damage. Damage, as used in this part in connection with any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure, has the meaning ascribed to "damage" under 18 U.S.C. 1030(e)(8)."; (d) Adding after the new section 6.01-7 the following new section: "6.01-8. Cyber incident. Cyber incident, as used in this part, has the meaning ascribed to an "incident" under 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(2)."; (e) Amending section 6.04-5 to read as follows: "6.04-5. Preventing access of persons, articles, or things, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure, to vessels, or waterfront facilities. The Captain of the Port may prevent any person, article, or thing, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure, from boarding or being taken or placed on board any vessel or entering or being taken into or upon or placed in or upon any waterfront facility whenever it appears to the Captain of the Port that such action is necessary in order to secure such vessel from damage or injury or to prevent damage or injury to any vessel, or waterfront facility, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure therein or thereon, or waters of the United States, or to secure the observances of rights and obligations of the United States."; (f) Amending section 6.04-6 to read as follows: "6.04-6. Establishing security zones; prohibitions with respect thereto. The Captain of a Port may establish security zones subject to the terms and conditions specified in 6.01-5. No person or vessel shall enter a security zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port. No person shall board or take or place any article or thing, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure, on board any vessel in a security zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port. No person shall take or place any article or thing upon any waterfront facility in any such zone without such permission."; (g) Amending section 6.04-7 to read as follows: "6.04-7. Visitation, search, and removal. As consistent with law, the Captain of the Port may cause to be inspected and searched at any time any vessel, waterfront facility, or security zone, or any person, article, or thing, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure thereon or therein, within the jurisdiction of the United States, may place guards upon any such vessel, waterfront facility, or security zone and may remove therefrom any and all persons, articles, or things, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure, not specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port to go or remain thereon or therein."; (h) Amending section 6.04-8 to read as follows: "6.04-8. Possession and control of vessels. The Captain of the Port may supervise and control the movement of any vessel and shall take full or partial possession or control of any vessel or any part thereof, within the territorial waters of the United States under the Captain of the Port's jurisdiction, whenever it appears to the Captain of the Port that such action is necessary in order to secure such vessel from damage or injury, including damage to any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure thereon or therein, or to prevent damage or injury to any vessel or waterfront facility or waters of the United States, or to secure the observance of rights and obligations of the United States."; (i) Amending section 6.10-7 to read as follows: "6.10-7. Identification credentials. The identification credential to be issued by the Commandant shall be known as the Coast Guard Port Security Card, and the form of such credential, and the conditions and the manner of its issuance shall be as prescribed by the Commandant after consultation with the Secretary of Labor. The Commandant shall not issue a Coast Guard Port Security Card unless the Commandant is satisfied that the character and habits of life of the applicant therefor are such as to authorize the belief that the presence of such individual on board a vessel or within a waterfront facility would not be inimical to the security of the United States. The Commandant shall revoke and require the surrender of a Coast Guard Port Security Card when the Commandant is no longer satisfied that the holder is entitled thereto. The Commandant may recognize for the same purpose such other credentials as the Commandant may designate in lieu of the Coast Guard Port Security Card."; (j) Amending section 6.14-1 to read as follows: "6.14-1. Safety measures. The Commandant, in order to achieve the purposes of this part, may prescribe such conditions and restrictions relating to the safety of waterfront facilities and vessels in port as the Commandant finds to be necessary under existing circumstances. Such conditions and restrictions may extend, but shall not be limited to, the inspection, operation, maintenance, guarding, and manning of, and fire-prevention measures for, such vessels and waterfront facilities. Such conditions and restrictions relating to the safety of waterfront facilities and vessels in port may also extend to measures the Commandant finds to be necessary under existing circumstances to prevent, detect, assess, and remediate an actual or threatened cyber incident that could cause damage or injury to vessels, harbors, ports, or waterfront facilities."; (k) Amending section 6.14-2 to read as follows: "6.14-2. Condition of waterfront facility a danger to vessel. Whenever the Captain of the Port finds that the mooring of any vessel to a wharf, dock, pier, or other waterfront structure would endanger such vessel, or any other vessel, or the harbor or any facility therein by reason of conditions existing on or about such wharf, dock, pier, or other waterfront structure, including inadequate guard service, insufficient lighting, fire hazards, inadequate fire protection, unsafe machinery, internal disturbance, damage to any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure, actual or threatened cyber incident, or unsatisfactory operation, the Captain of the Port may prevent the mooring of any vessel to such wharf, dock, pier, or other waterfront structure until the unsatisfactory condition or conditions so found are corrected, and the Captain of the Port may, for the same reasons, after any vessel has been moored, compel the shifting of such vessel from any such wharf, dock, pier, or other waterfront structure."; (l) Amending section 6.16-1 to read as follows: "6.16-1. Reporting of sabotage, subversive activity, or an actual or threatened cyber incident. Evidence of sabotage, subversive activity, or an actual or threatened cyber incident involving or endangering any vessel, harbor, port, or waterfront facility, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure thereon or therein, shall be reported immediately to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (for any cyber incident), and the Captain of the Port, or to their respective representatives."; (m) Amending section 6.16-3 to read as follows: "6.16-3. Precautions against sabotage. The master, owner, agent, or operator of a vessel or waterfront facility shall take all necessary precautions to protect the vessel, waterfront facility, and cargo, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure thereon or therein, from sabotage."; and (n) Amending section 6.19-1 to read as follows: "6.19-1. Primary responsibility. Nothing contained in this part shall be construed as relieving the masters, owners, operators, and agents of vessels or other waterfront facilities from their primary responsibility for the protection and security of such vessels or waterfront facilities, including any data, information, network, program, system, or other digital infrastructure thereon or therein.". Sec. 2. Coordination. In enforcing regulations amended by this order, the Commandant shall coordinate with the Department of Justice and other relevant executive departments and agencies, as appropriate under applicable law or policy. Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. THE WHITE HOUSE, February 21, 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Forces combine on the Indian Ocean By Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring 21 February 2024 Warships of the Royal Australian Navy, United States Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted two days of combined training in the Indian Ocean while sailing to India for Exercise Milan. Australia's Anzac-class frigate HMAS Warramunga joined with the United States' Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey and Japan's Takanami-class destroyer JS Sazanami from February 17-18 while sailing from Singapore to the Indian port of Vishakhapatnam. Called 'Noble Dingo', the two-day training activity in the Bay of Bengal was designed to enhance the three navies' ability to operate together. The ships steamed in formation and conducted tactical manoeuvring, coordinated helicopter operations, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare exercises as well as conducting a combined 5-inch gun firing. Five personnel each from Halsey and Warramunga participated in a cross-deck exchange to experience life in their ally's ship while building professional relationships. Warramunga, Halsey and Sazanami arrived in Vishakhapatnam on completing Noble Dingo, in time for the Exercise Milan harbour phase, which commenced on February 19. Noble Dingo was part of the Indo-Pacific regional presence deployment Warramunga has been undertaking throughout South and South-East Asia since early February. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Working with partners to control the skies By Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny 21 February 2024 Controlling almost 4 million square km a mission, the Royal Australian Air Force has established its position in the skies. For the first time, air force experts have gathered in Australia to share solutions on Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) of the skies. The Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) joined Australian partners for the E-7 Wedgetail Trilateral Working Group meeting at RAAF Base Williamtown from February 5 to 9. The E-7A Wedgetail provides Australia with one of the most advanced airspace capabilities in the world, while its AEW&C system provides battlespace surveillance, and command and control of air, sea and land assets. Established in 2022, the trilateral agreement is a commitment of the RAAF, USAF and RAF to work together under an E-7 Joint Vision Statement towards collaboration and interoperability. Flight Lieutenant Adam Beasley, a RAF exchange officer and E-7A Wedgetail mission computing system asset manager, said these regular engagements supported the RAF and USAF fleets in the move towards further cooperation. "My position here is a reflection of the three nations' drive towards the establishment of a cooperative program under the Air Force Chief's E-7 Joint Vision Statement," Flight Lieutenant Beasley said. "Since signing the Joint Vision Statement in 2023, the USAF have established a sizeable footprint of personnel across operations, maintenance and support to assist with the introduction of the USAF E-7 Wedgetail. The UK have continued with their acquisition program ahead of the first aircraft delivery this year. "In the short term, the joint intent is cooperation on the E-7 Wedgetail's introduction to service for the RAF and USAF; in the longer term, to cooperatively pursue a common interoperable capability." Project Director Group Captain Darren Spee said cooperation with Australia's close partners would deliver wide-ranging benefits both now and into the future. "Future advanced AEW&C will bring some really exciting capabilities to us. Developing it together with our partners will share development costs and provide some economies of scale that will make it affordable," Group Captain Spee said. During the event, partners had the opportunity to tour RAAF Williamtown E-7A Wedgetail operations, maintenance and support facilities, and to conduct familiarisation with the aircraft itself. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Red Cross is assisting seven people after a fire Wednesday afternoon destroyed a home in Buffalo's Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood, city spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge reported. Damage from the blaze at 22 Gibson St., near Memorial Drive, was estimated at $200,000 to the structure and $80,000 to the contents. An emergency demolition was ordered. Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 2 p.m. Fire officials said the blaze apparently started on the first floor of the two-story residence. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation. Dale Anderson Analysts warn multibillion navy overhaul 'irrational and dangerous' as Australia eyes largest navy buildup since WWII Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: Feb 21, 2024 09:57 PM Australia on Tuesday announced a multibillion overhaul of its navy, claiming it is responding to "increasing geostrategic uncertainty." Chinese analysts criticized the plan as being "irrational and dangerous" as it neither matches Australia's real needs in geopolitics nor its economic capability. They warned that the assertive plan may trigger an arms race and deal a blow to the security and stability of Australia as well as the whole Asia-Pacific region. According to a CNN report, Australia on Tuesday unveiled plans to build its largest navy since World War II, allocating more than $35 billion for the defense project over the next 10 years, a move analysts said pointed to heightened tensions with China in the Asia-Pacific. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the government's plan would eventually increase the navy's surface combatant fleet from 11 to 26 vessels, the largest naval complement since the end of WWII. Those surface vessels will join a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines Australia plans to build under the AUKUS pact with the US and the UK, the first three of which are expected to be delivered early next decade, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Reuters reported that the government's defense strategic review out last year said that intense competition between the US and China is defining the Pacific region, and that the major power competition had "potential for conflict." Australian naval forces are outdated and relatively weak within the entire Australian military, so as a maritime nation, it has been emphasizing the need to increase the naval budget for the past few decades, analysts said. But this time, the increase can be considered quite significant, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. He explained that currently, Australia's military expenditure stands at 2 percent of its GDP, and if this increase is sustained over the next decade, overall military spending will be much higher. Considering it is an island nation surrounded by oceans in the South Pacific region, Australia's geographical location provides the country with a certain level of security compared to many other countries, Chen said. "Making this surge in military spending is not in line with the country's geopolitical reality. This is excessive," the expert noted. It is notable that the demands for a defense budget increase come from pressure from the US, analysts believe. In recent years, the US has been consistently urging its allies, especially NATO allies and other partners, to increase defense spending, but with less than half actually responding, Chen pointed out. Additionally, the US strategy consistently includes South China Sea issues and the Taiwan question as important aspects of its strategic pressure, coercion and provocation against China, with the South Pacific region playing a crucial strategic role in this process. He said the aggressive defense plan would push Australia to the forefront of the US' anti-China strategy. On the other hand, the announcement of an increase in defense budget is mainly for the Albanese administration to prepare for the Australian elections next year, analysts said. With the Albanese administration now in the latter half of its term, his approval ratings have been declining, facing criticism from the opposition and some public opinion for being weak, which is clearly disadvantageous for his reelection next year, Chen remarked. Therefore, by increasing the defense budget, he is making empty promise to voters. However, such an ambitious defense buildup can easily trigger an arms race, and with Australia's economy currently stagnating, investing hard-earned economic gains into military spending is risky. Pacific region countries and people will be very wary, according to Chen. "The Albanese administration is pushing itself into a corner by choosing a very unwise and cost-ineffective approach," Chen said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus of utmost concern as crackdown continues, human rights office ODIHR says OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe WARSAW, 21 February 2024 -- The human rights situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate as those who voice dissent or stand up for the human rights of others are subject to investigation, persecution, and frequently prosecution, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today. "Human rights work can include criticism of the government and contributes to the wellbeing of any society. It is regrettable to see that this work has now been criminalized in Belarus," said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. "Many human rights defenders, activists and ordinary citizens voicing their dissent have been convicted, imprisoned and harassed. We call once again on the Belarusian authorities to respect the rights of human rights defenders and of all citizens, as the health and even life of these citizens and of their families is at stake." Since 2020, dozens of human rights defenders including independent journalists and citizen election observers have been arbitrarily detained, some multiple times, and many remain imprisoned in deplorable conditions, without the right to a fair trial being respected. Hundreds of civil society organizations have been ordered to shut down or decided to cease their work amid intimidation, raids or confiscation of property. ODIHR is gravely concerned at the continued arrests of people merely for participating in the peaceful demonstrations of 2020-2021, or for interacting with social media content critical of the official line of the national authorities. The Office reiterates its call for the release of all citizens who have been detained unjustly. The human rights situation has resulted in the flight of thousands of Belarusians to safety abroad, including many members of civil society and the political opposition. Recent changes to Belarusian legislation mean that some may even be arbitrarily deprived of citizenship and made stateless as a punishment for poorly defined "extremist activity", which goes against international human rights law. ODIHR reminds the Belarusian authorities of their international obligations and OSCE commitments to respect human rights and the rule of law, and to ensure accountability for human rights violations. ODIHR has reiterated its offer on many occasions to assist in this process by monitoring the trials of human rights defenders together with the Office's other expertise and tools to protect the rights of all citizens. Particularly given this context, ODIHR deeply regrets the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to issue an invitation to observe this weekend's parliamentary elections, depriving the country's citizens and institutions from an impartial, transparent, and comprehensive assessment by an international body. ODIHR also reiterates the importance of citizen election observers and their ability to work free from intimidation or pressure. While the Office is unable to observe the elections, ODIHR continues to follow closely the events in Belarus and their consequences for democracy and human rights from all the areas covered by its mandate. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with the Brazilian newspaper O Globo, February 21, 2024 21 February 2024 10:52 331-21-02-2024 Question: What role, do you think, should the Group of 20 play today, and what objectives does it have now that Brazil holds its presidency? Sergey Lavrov: The G20 was originally created as an economic format. The decision to create it was prompted by the deep financial crisis in the United States in 2008. Back then, the world's largest economies managed to develop effective solutions. At the same time, it became clear that relying on just one centre of economic power is not a viable approach and most recently the G20 has engaged in a dialogue to reform and to restore the functionality of global economic institutions. The positive dynamics of this forum are largely attributable to the fact that emerging markets are acting independently and insisting on fair consideration of their interests. The declaration adopted at the 2023 Delhi summit reflects the developing countries' priorities. The accession of the African Union to the G20 came as a major achievement. We are positive about Brazil's initiative to convene a G20 ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly. The agenda of Brazil's presidency in this association is in line with Russia's plans regarding BRICS, which Russia chairs in 2024. Brazil has invited the New Development Bank to interact with the G20. The focus on overcoming the challenges of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals is fully justified. It is important to develop balanced solutions regarding the energy transition, digital transformation, rebuilding supply chains, and ensuring access to energy and food. It is important for the G20 countries to commit to not weaponise the economy and to not engage in unfair competition. Question: Brazil and Russia are BRICS partners. This group was expanded not long ago to include new countries, such as Iran. How important is BRICS for Russia's foreign policy and its vision of global geopolitics? Are BRICS countries Russia's main allies today? Sergey Lavrov: Strengthening the potential and role of BRICS in international affairs is our priority. BRICS members represent different economic and political systems, religions, and macro-regions and are able to work together as equal partners. Its international standing is steadily growing which can be seen from five more members joining it on January 1. BRICS is a pillar of the multipolar world. Russia has been chairing BRICS since January 1. The 2024 programme includes over 200 events. We will contribute to the seamless integration of new members into the association's activities. Question: The special military operation has been going on for two years now. A variety of ways to end the conflict are being discussed, but what is the ultimate goal of the special operation as of the moment? Sergey Lavrov: The goals and objectives of the special military operation were outlined by President Putin and include the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine and eliminating threats to Russia's security that come from its territory. The root causes of the Ukraine crisis need to be eliminated if we want to achieve a sustainable and fair settlement. The West must stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, and Kiev must stop hostilities. Ukraine should reinstate its neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear status and ensure the rights and freedoms of its citizens. It is critical that the basis be the new territorial realities and the situation on the ground. Neither Kiev nor the West demonstrates any sign of political will to settle the conflict. We have no choice but to continue the special military operation until its goals are achieved. Question: Acting in line with its diplomatic traditions, Brazil has condemned the special military operation, as well as sanctions on Russia and the supply of weapons to Kiev by the United States, among others. The Brazilian President's top foreign affairs adviser Celso Amorim met with President Putin in Moscow and President Zelensky in Kiev. What's your take on Brazil's role in bringing an end to the conflict? Can it act as a possible mediator or an aid in talks since it maintains contact with both sides? Sergey Lavrov: We appreciate Brazil's commitment to promoting a political and diplomatic settlement. In April 2023, Brazilian President Lula da Silva proposed creating a "peace group." We took Brazil's initiative under advisement. Russia is open to resolving the conflict peacefully. However, our opponents in Kiev and the West are focused on promoting Zelensky's formula, which contains an unacceptable ultimatum for Russia, and flat out rejects other initiatives, including Brazil's. Before anything else, Kiev must lift its ban on dialogue with Moscow, which it has imposed on itself. Question: Europe maintains a relative consensus with regard to supporting the Ukrainian government and its relations with the Russian Federation. How do you see future contacts between Moscow and European countries? Do you believe normalising relations is achievable in the near future? Sergey Lavrov: The EU countries have imposed this enmity for Russia on themselves. It is up to them to decide how to go about this choice. Considering Brussels' determination to inflict a "strategic defeat" on us, talking about prospects for restoring relations is beside the point. If the European countries drop their Russophobic policies and come up with realistic ideas regarding new principles of relations, we will consider them. Our decisions will be based on our national interests. Question: The United States is at the height of a presidential race, and the main contest is likely to come down to two figures that are well-known in Moscow, President Biden and former President Donald Trump. Some analysts and even officials alluded that President Putin would rather see Donald Trump take the White House office and he may even get his wish in November, after which talks to end the Ukraine conflict could begin. I would like to know what you think about this speculation and ask you if the Kremlin indeed has a preferred candidate? Sergey Lavrov: The ruling elite of the United States views Russia as an adversary and a threat regardless of party affiliation. The former president did nothing to improve Russia-US relations during his four-year stint in the White House. We have no illusions and do not expect the anti-Russian course of the United States to change in the foreseeable future. We are prepared to work with any leader who wins the American people's trust. What matters to us is not specific political figures, but their policies towards Russia. President Putin made that clear recently in his televised interview. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Brazilian President Lula da Silva US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson February 21, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Brazilian President Luiz InAcio Lula da Silva today in Brasilia, Brazil. Secretary Blinken expressed U.S. commitment to partner with Brazil on its G20 presidency agenda to combat hunger and poverty, mobilize against the climate crisis, and make global governance more effective. Secretary Blinken highlighted the upcoming U.S.-Brazil bicentennial anniversary in May 2024 when our two countries will celebrate the benefits of 200 years of strong political, economic, and cultural ties. Secretary Blinken commended President Lula for Brazil's role in de-escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region. Secretary Blinken underscored our position that Nicolas Maduro must return to implementation of the Barbados electoral roadmap agreement to ensure competitive presidential elections in 2024. He also recognized Brazil's long-standing support for the people of Haiti and reiterated the urgent need for international assistance to improve the security situation in Haiti. The Secretary discussed U.S. engagement on the conflict in Gaza, including working urgently with partners to facilitate the release of all hostages and to increase humanitarian assistance and improve protections for Palestinian civilians. Secretary Blinken thanked President Lula for Brazil's participation in Ukraine's Peace Formula process. Secretary Blinken commended President Lula for defending workers' rights through the U.S.-Brazil Partnership for Workers Rights. He thanked President Lula for Brazil's global leadership on climate, including Brazil's pledge to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. He noted the importance of strengthening cooperation on critical minerals with Brazil, including through the Minerals Security Partnership. The Secretary welcomed President Lula's interest in deepening cooperation on clean energy and diversification of global supply chains as well as continued engagement on the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken Meets with Brazil's President Ahead of G20 Talks By Nike Ching February 21, 2024 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Brazil Wednesday with President Luiz InAcio Lula da Silva ahead of talks with his counterparts from the Group of 20. "The United States and Brazil are doing so many important things together, we're working together bilaterally, regionally, globally. It's a very important partnership," Blinken said after the meeting in Brasilia. The secretary of state then left for Rio de Janeiro, where the G20 ministerial meetings are taking place. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be in attendance so there's potential for a rare face-to-face interaction between the two. Blinken also plans to discuss the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti with G20 partners on the sidelines of the meetings, addressing the Haitian people's call for help to restore security and stability. No G20 joint statement expected on Gaza, Ukraine The G20, comprising 19 countries including the G7, the European Union and the African Union, represents about 85% of global GDP, 75% of global trade and two-thirds of the global population. The G7 comprises the world's richest and most powerful countries. Last week, G7 foreign ministers expressed outrage over the detention death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny and pledged unwavering support to Ukraine as the two-year mark of Russia's invasion approaches. The G7 foreign ministers' joint statement also advocated for "prolonged and durable pauses in the hostilities leading to a sustainable cease-fire" in Gaza while expressing "deep concern" over the "devastating" impact of Israel's planned military operations in Rafah, where more than a million civilians are taking refuge. Ramin Toloui, assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs, said the U.S. will underscore the damage caused by the "Kremlin's war of aggression" and "encourage all G20 partners to redouble their calls for a just, peaceful and lasting end" to the war on Ukraine. But Toloui said Brazil would not "attempt to mobilize a joint statement" during the upcoming G20 foreign ministers' meetings. Distinct foreign relations From Brazil, Blinken will travel to Buenos Aires to meet with the newly inaugurated Argentine President Javier Milei to discuss bilateral and global issues. Argentina boasts one of the largest Jewish populations in South America. Following Milei's recent visit to Israel, a senior U.S. official said Blinken will engage in discussions with Milei regarding "the way forward between Israel and Gaza." Other topics high on the agenda include critical minerals and sustainable economic growth. Blinken's diplomatic missions to Argentina and Brazil will navigate the countries' distinct foreign relations concerning various countries and issues, such as Russia, Gaza and China. Lula initially assured Russia that President Vladimir Putin, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, would not be arrested if he attended the G20 summit in November in Brazil. However, he later amended his stance, indicating that the decision would ultimately be in the hands of Brazil's judiciary. During his visit to Cairo, Feb. 14 and 15, Lula strongly criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza, advocating for a "definitive cease-fire." He announced Brazil's new contribution to the United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency, or UNRWA, and supported Palestine's recognition as a sovereign state with full U.N. membership. Lula wrote on the social media platform X, "While Hamas militants' attack on October 7 against Israeli civilians is indefensible and deserved strong condemnation from Brazil, Israel's disproportionate and indiscriminate response is unacceptable." In contrast, during his visit to Israel in early February, Milei, a pro-Israel far-right leader, announced his intention to relocate Argentina's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move previously made by only the United States and a few other countries. Milei also announced his government's intention to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. This visit marked his first bilateral trip since his inauguration in December. Following his meeting with Blinken on Friday, Milei plans to visit Washington and speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, on Feb. 24, a gathering expected to be filled with supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump. BRICS and China In 2025, Brazil will lead the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) of emerging nations, in which China is a key player. During a state visit to Beijing last year, Lula called for BRICS countries to trade in their own currencies and end the U.S. dollar's trade dominance. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates officially joined the bloc on Jan. 1. Last month, Lula held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in which the two pledged to strengthen a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. In comparison, Milei has turned down an offer to join BRICS. During his presidential campaign, he said he would freeze relations with China. Milei also chose to acquire secondhand American F-16 fighters from Denmark, favoring them over new Chinese JF-17 fighter aircraft. "The United States is the largest source of foreign direct investment in Brazil, and we have a robust presence of U.S. companies in Brazil, as well as in Argentina, and we're looking forward to deepening our economic ties between both of them," Brian Nichols, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, told VOA in a recent phone briefing. Nichols emphasized the importance of countries trading freely while understanding the trade-offs involved. "The United States is offering up a comprehensive and powerful alternative to those who may not necessarily have others' best interests at heart," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China calls for mindset change to grow, end 'lying flat' bureaucracy Hunan province directive seen as countering Deng Xiaoping's reform theory despite a sputtering economy. By Kitty Wang for RFA Mandarin 2024.02.20 -- A directive from a Chinese provincial government seen as aiming to further shore up the ideology of Chinese President Xi Jinping and break away from late leader Deng Xiaoping's reformist thoughts has stirred up heated debate. The campaign by Hunan officials called for "large-scale discussions on emancipating the mind" throughout the province, known for its red propaganda. It was launched on the eve of the 27th anniversary of Deng's death. The notice of "emancipating the mind" was a reference to the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to introduce economic reforms after the death of Mao Zedong under the opening-up policy of which Deng has been credited to be the architect. But it also stated that it is "to consolidate and expand the educational achievements of learning and implementing the theme of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," emphasizing "an inherent requirement to further unify thinking, unify will, and unify action." 'Emancipating' from Deng's thoughts? United States-based chairman of the National Committee of the China Democratic Party, Wang Juntao, said the main thrust of the campaign is to "liberate ourselves from Deng Xiaoping's structure." "We know that Xi Jinping wants to reverse history and go back to Mao Zedong thought [reverting to hardcore leftist]. But there is a problem, he cannot get around Deng Xiaoping," he said in an interview with Radio Free Asia. Wang said there may be many people within the Chinese Communist Party who will use the thoughts and theories of Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and even Hu Jintao to counter Xi's leftist turn, which compels Xi to feel the need to "liberate" from the existing Party theories. "You need two things for a dictatorship: one, a saber and a sword, and two, an orthodox scripture. Both are indispensable as you need violence and ideological control." Xi, who has ruled China for more than ten years, has violence grasped firmly, Wang said. The next step is to resolve the "ideological" problem. History has provided examples. Wang said one was Mao's rectification movement in Yan'an to seek truth from facts by getting rid of book worship, dogmatism and party stereotypes targeted at the-then Soviet Union with the goal to unify ideology towards himself. Deng also latched on to "seek truth from facts and emancipate the mind" to back his reform and opening-up policy, which meant liberating from Mao's dogma. 'Seek truth from facts' Wang pointed out that while Xi is playing up the emancipation factor, he has omitted to "seek truth from facts." "What is Xi's embarrassment now? He talks about 'emancipating the mind' - liberating from Deng, which is equivalent to liberating from a situation where economic development is relatively successful. But under him, his entire economy is now in a mess ... he wouldn't dare mention 'seek truth from facts'." The central province of Hunan is known for its ideological solidification of political propaganda and conservative policies. The first thing Party-Secretary Shen Xiaoming did when he took office was to go to Shaoshan, Mao's hometown, bow and pay his respects. A Chinese political commentator in the U.S., who goes by the name Yokogawa, told RFA that the Hunan campaign, however, has nothing to do with Deng's theory on emancipating the mind. "Deng's original plan to emancipate the mind actually involved two concepts, one is an ideological issue, and the other is an organizational form." He said Deng also held a major discussion on the "standard of truth," which liberated people's minds from Mao's dogma and communist thought, as well as negated Hua Guofeng, Mao's successor, opening the path for reforms. On the other hand, the ideological emancipation by Hunan officials is carried out under the guidance of the "Xi Jinping Thought for the New Era." "The problem now is that Xi Jinping himself does not actually have a relatively clear system. Unlike Mao's era, which was a planned economy, Deng's era was to partially cede power and then carry out market economic reforms," Yokogawa said. He added that Xi neither dares to completely dismiss the market economy, nor admit the advancement of state enterprises and the retreat of the private sector. "What is Xi Jinping Thought? No one knows. Under the guidance of this thought, we must emancipate the mind, and emancipating the mind means breaking the guiding ideology which is not possible, and that itself is contradictory." Resolving bureaucratic lying flat The "emancipating the mind" notice issued on Sunday also stated it aimed to resolve issues surrounding officials lying flat - the Chinese neologism describing a person's rejection of societal pressure to over-work or over-achieve - such as lack of confidence in development, weak sense of mission, insufficient spirit of responsibility. It proposed 10 changes to reversing the lying flat mentality and the "ostrich mentality" of deliberately avoiding and covering up conflicts and problems. Yokogawa said he believes that the notice does not deny Deng's reform and opening up policy, but outlines that bureaucrats lying flat under the current situation needed to innovate under the guidance of Xi's Thought. That said, he pointed out that Xi's Thought itself inhibited innovation and risk-taking as his series of measures are all about strengthening control. Yet Yokogawa said Xi wanted to improve the economy and avoid officials lying flat. "So he came up with the idea of aaaaliberating the mind, but he couldn't think of a new term," he added. Translated by RFA staff. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM meets with Macron in Paris, concludes Europe trip Global Times High-profile reception underscores positive attitude, strategic consensus By Chen Qingqing Published: Feb 21, 2024 08:40 PM French President Emmanuel Macron met with the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Paris on Tuesday local time, where Wang also co-chaired a new round of strategic dialogue between China and France. Experts believe that such a high-profile reception reflects France's positive attitude toward the development of China-France relations, in anticipation that in 2024, China-France relations will continue to lead China-EU relations, injecting new impetus into dialogue, exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe in various fields. Wang, also member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, arrived in France after attending the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) and concluding his visit to Spain. The bilateral relationship between China and France has been a paradigm within China-EU relations, which has continuously evolved from the very beginning to the present day, Chinese experts said. When the current overall situation in Europe, which is fraught with crises, is taken into consideration, it is evident that Europe's potential recovery from these crises is inseparable from a sound bilateral relationship between China and Europe, they noted. Meanwhile, China-France relations serve as a strategic indicator for the direction of China-EU relations as France is a major power in the continent. As France plays a significant role in shaping the overall policies and decisions of Europe, the development of China-France relations contributes positively to the overall progress of China-EU relations. Particularly, France's strong emphasis on strategic autonomy and its influence in shaping the EU's decision-making regarding China have a constructive impact on the development of China-Europe relations, experts said. High-level consensus During the meeting with Wang, Macron fondly recalled his successful visit to China last year and expressed his expectation for jointly preparing for this year's high-level exchanges. Macron said he hopes that both sides will take the opportunity of the China-France strategic dialogue to implement the important consensus he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached and further develop a lasting and close France-China relationship. France has consistently adhered to the one-China policy, which is clear and unequivocal, Macron said. "The high-level reception of Foreign Minister Wang Yi reflects France's emphasis, particularly during critical moments in China-EU relations this year, on further consolidating and expanding the relationship and enhancing strategic interaction and consensus between the two sides," Dong Yifan, a research fellow at the Institute of European Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The China-France strategic dialogue goes beyond diplomatic domain. It involves dialogues between leaders and decision-makers in foreign affairs, highlighting strategic leadership in China-France relations, Dong said, noting that this underscores the mutual reliance and deepening of bilateral ties. On the occasion of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France in January, President Xi hailed the two countries as being "at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries," and called on the two sides to respond to global uncertainties with the stability of their relations. Over the last 60 years, China-France relations have been distinctive for their strategic, global, and contemporary significance, consistently leading the way in China's relations with Western powers, meriting reflection and summary, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye told the Global Times in an exclusive interview in January. Also on Tuesday local time, Wang and French President's Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne co-chaired the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris. Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, artificial intelligence and aerospace and other issues of concern. They also agreed on increasing the frequency of direct flights, and to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges. "The China-France strategic dialogue serves as a leading mechanism for us to engage in strategic discussions, cultural exchanges, and economic dialogues with major countries worldwide. It is expected that in 2024, we will witness China-France relations to take the lead in guiding China-Europe relations," Gao Jian, an expert on European studies at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times. Whether it is from the perspective of the bilateral economic and trade relations or future trends in European security and development, stable and strong China-France relations and China-Europe bilateral relations would play a fundamentally constructive role, Gao said. China-EU relations in focus According to media reports, in addition to the visits to France and Spain, Wang met at least seven European leaders and high-level officials including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, which concluded on February 18. Amid calls from some voices to "de-risk" from China, Wang warned during the MSC that those who attempt to shut China out in the name of "de-risking" would be making a historic mistake. Meanwhile, some Western media said the China-Europe ties have worsened due to the Ukraine crisis, and the EU is proposing to sanction Chinese companies that have aided Russia in the conflict. "Europe views 'de-risking' differently from 'decoupling.' In the European strategic community, there is a belief that Europe's excess reliance on China in certain areas poses certain risks to its economic stability. However, Europe has never stated its intention to 'decouple' from the Chinese economy," Gao said. Gao said he believes there are some fundamental differences between China-Europe bilateral economic relations and those between China and the US. "China-Europe bilateral relations should have strong complementary significance," he noted. During his visit to Europe, Wang reiterated China's position on the Ukraine issue by saying that China has stayed committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue and will not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope. The EU should not view China-EU relations through the "prism" of the Ukraine crisis and both China-Russia and China-EU relations are multifaceted. "I believe that the EU's linking of EU-China relations with the Ukraine crisis is not a rational approach," Fu Cong, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, was quoted as saying in media reports in 2023. Both China and Europe should play a stabilizing role in the current turbulent world, which signifies mutual reliance between the two sides, experts said. "In the future, there may be new changes in many geopolitical issues. It is important for both sides to enhance communication and jointly address potential risks or uncertainties. This holds significant importance for both parties," Dong said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address G20 not a platform for resolving geopolitical struggles and security issues: Chinese FM Global Times By Zhao Yusha Published: Feb 21, 2024 08:59 PM The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, not a platform for resolving geopolitical and security issues. This is a G20 consensus. We hope that the foreign ministers' meeting will help enhance solidarity and cooperation and contribute to global economic growth and development, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said ahead of a G20 foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Brazil, while some Western countries are again seeking to turn the event into arena for geopolitical struggles and prevent countries from reaching consensus. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, due to his schedule, could not attend the meeting and has designated Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu to represent China at the meeting, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday. Brazil is presiding over the G20 this year, and this will be the first meeting of the year of the major economies' foreign ministers. According to the G20 Brazil website, issues topping the agenda will be the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Middle East, among others. Russia though has said that the topic of Ukraine is "non-core" for the G20. "The Russian delegation intends to draw special attention of partners to the unacceptability of politicization of the G20, which, according to its mandate, is designed to focus strictly on socio-economic challenges," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Addressing the Russian foreign ministry's remarks, Mao said at a Wednesday press briefing that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, not a platform for resolving geopolitical and security issues. "We hope that the foreign ministers' meeting will help enhance solidarity and cooperation and contribute to global economic growth and development," she said. Chinese experts pointed out that in light of increasing global challenges, the US and its Western allies may transform the G20, a platform for global economic cooperation, into a battleground for geopolitical rivalry. This could hinder countries from reaching consensus on important global issues. "Not only will these countries fail to reach agreement on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, they are unlikely to agree on the Palestine-Israel conflict. Such a dilemma poses a challenge for host Brazil," Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. Despite a push from Western countries for the group to condemn Russia, the G20's last summit, held in New Delhi, India in September, ended with a statement that did not explicitly condemn Russia. Citing a Brazilian government source, AFP reported that after recent G20 struggles for consensus, the hosts axed the requirement that every meeting produce a joint statement - with the exception of the annual leaders' summit, scheduled for November this year in Rio. In addition to geopolitical challenges, the world is looking to the countries attending the G20 summit for solutions to stimulate the sluggish economy. Politicizing the event could hinder the agreement-seeking process and ultimately disappoint the global populace, according to Qian. It is reported that Brazil also wants to use its G20 presidency to push for more to be done to combat poverty and climate change. The African Union will this year make its debut as a full member of the G20, and Brazilian President Luiz InAcio Lula da Silva has reinforced the importance of multilateralism and the role of Global South nations in building a more just world, according to the G20 Brazil website. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM welcomes World Bank's appointment of Zhang Wencai as managing director, chief administrative officer Global Times By Global Times Published: Feb 21, 2024 05:18 PM China welcomed an announcement by the World Bank of the appointment of Zhang Wencai, vice president of the Export-Import Bank of China, as managing director and chief administrative officer (CAO) of the bank, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Wednesday. Mao noted that China is the world's largest developing country, and the World Bank is the world's largest multilateral development institution. Over the past 40 years, the two sides have established a close partnership for development and carried out fruitful cooperation. China supports the reform of the World Bank to strengthen its development objectives and institutional capacity, and help developing countries realize sustainable development and effectively respond to global challenges, Mao said. "We look forward to continuing to deepen our cooperation with the World Bank and making positive contributions to the global cause of poverty reduction and development," the spokesperson noted. The World Bank also has had a number of Chinese experts in important positions. For example, Lin Yifu served as World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Development Economics and Chen Guangzhe was the Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank as of February 1, 2023. According to China's Ministry of Finance (MOF), the World Bank announced on Tuesday the appointment of Zhang, with responsibility for institutional strategy, planning, budgets, information technology services and the sanctions system. Zhang is the vice president of the Export-Import Bank of China and also a trustee of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation. Previously, he served as vice president of the Agricultural Development Bank of China, vice president of the Asian Development Bank, and director general of the Department of International Economic and Financial Cooperation at the MOF, having rich experience in the development field. As the third-largest shareholder of the World Bank, China supports the bank's reforms to strengthen its development objectives and institutional capacity, to help developing countries address global challenges and to realize the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the ministry said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on February 21, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2024-02-21 18:15 CCTV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a successful visit to France and held the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron met with him. What major outcomes has the visit achieved and what role has it played in advancing China-France relations? Mao Ning: China and France are comprehensive strategic partners. This year marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations and bears great significance as the two countries build on past achievements and aim for a brighter future. President Xi Jinping and President Macron exchanged messages of congratulations and delivered video speeches, stressing that the two sides need to work together for a more solid and dynamic China-France comprehensive strategic partnership for the next 60 years. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to France was the first high-level visit as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary. It shows the strategic significance of China-France relations and gets the second 60 years of diplomatic relations off to a good start. The visit has been a full success. The visit helped deepen strategic communication and consolidate political mutual trust between the two sides. In the past six decades since China and France established diplomatic relations, the world has undergone tremendous changes, but China and France have never changed in their commitment to independence, to a multipolar world and to the diversity of civilizations. The two countries have continued to consolidate mutual trust, expand consensus and enable their relations to grow more mature and stable. The two heads of state have built strong mutual trust and sincere friendship, charted the course for bilateral strategic cooperation, and had important and positive influence on the world. President Macron expressed hope for the Strategic Dialogue to be an opportunity for the two sides to deliver on the important common understandings between him and President Xi and further grow France's close and sustained ties with China. The French side reiterated that they attach great importance to the France-China comprehensive strategic partnership and will continue to uphold the one-China policy. The two countries will continue expanding practical cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchange. During the visit, the two sides agreed to step up cooperation on climate response, bio-diversity preservation, sustainable development, agricultural and food products, clean energy, nuclear energy research and development, artificial intelligence, aerospace and forest carbon sink. China and France are major Eastern and Western civilizations respectively. This year is the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. The two sides agreed to hold hundreds of cultural and people-to-people exchange events throughout the year and increase the number of direct flights to further facilitate cross-border travel. China and France will act as a force of stability for China-Europe relations and for today's world. China and France are both independent major countries, permanent members of the UN Security Council and important forces in a multipolar world. The two countries share similar positions on major issues. The French side stressed that facing global challenges, France has strategic independence and stands ready to strengthen strategic coordination with China to avoid major-country rivalry, prevent bloc confrontation and improve global governance. China sees Europe as an important pillar in building a multipolar world and supports Europe in enhancing strategic autonomy and holding its future in its own hands. The two sides agreed that building a multipolar world is indispensable for peace and stability and that the two sides will continue to step up strategic coordination on this. China News Service: It's reported that on February 20, the US vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution put forward by Algeria demanding "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza. The US was the only country to reject the draft. This is the third time that the US has vetoed a draft resolution on the Gaza conflict. What's your comment? Mao Ning: China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations has elaborated on China's position in the explanation of vote. The protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza and severely impacted regional peace and stability. The Security Council must take immediate actions to push for a ceasefire. This is a moral obligation that the Council cannot shy away from and a legal responsibility that the Council must assume. Even more so, this is a political requirement that the Council must fulfill in accordance with the Charter. Algeria, on behalf of the Arab states, put forward the draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, immediate release of all hostages, guaranteed access for humanitarian supplies, and the rejection of forced displacement. This is both urgently required by the situation on the ground and it is also based on the minimum requirements of humanity. The draft resolution was supported by the overwhelming majority of Council members. China voted in favor of the draft resolution as well. The United States' veto pushes the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one. Various parties, including China, expressed strong disappointment by and dissatisfaction with the veto. We will continue to work with the rest of the international community to push the Council to take further actions that are responsible and meaningful for an early end of the fighting in Gaza, deescalation of the humanitarian situation, implementation of the two-state solution and lasting peace and security in the Middle East. Beijing Youth Daily: The World Bank announced yesterday the appointment of Zhang Wencai, Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of China, as the Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Administrative Officer. What is China's comment? Mao Ning: We welcome the World Bank's appointment. China is the world's biggest developing country and the World Bank is the world's biggest multilateral institution for development. Over the past four decades and more, the two sides established a close partnership for development and carried out productive cooperation. China supports the World Bank in underlining its purposes of facilitating development and strengthening its capability through reform, so as to help developing countries realize sustainable development and effectively address global challenges. We hope to continue deepening cooperation with the World Bank and make positive contribution to the global poverty reduction and development cause. Reuters: Is China sending any representative to attend the G20 meeting of foreign ministers in Brazil that starts today on Wednesday? Is Minister Wang Yi attending? If not, why not?a Mao Ning: Foreign Minister Wang Yi, due to his schedule, could not attend the meeting and has designated Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu to represent China at the meeting. AFP: Yang Jun, the Chinese-born Australian citizen with pending suspended death sentence for espionage, will not appeal according to his family. They say that his health has deteriorated. Does China provide medical assistance to him and what's Yang Jun's health status? Mao Ning: My colleague has shared information on this case. Let me stress that China is a country that upholds the rule of law. Chinese judicial authorities handle the case in accordance with the law and will continue to protect the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned in accordance with the law. Reuters: Also related to the G20 meeting, Russia has objected to putting Ukraine on the meeting agenda. Would China agree to discussions on Ukraine at the G20 meeting? Mao Ning: The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, not a platform for resolving geopolitical and security issues. This is a G20 consensus. We hope that the foreign ministers' meeting will help enhance solidarity and cooperation and contribute to global economic growth and development. Bloomberg: Bloomberg has reported that the US has told its allies that Russia could deploy a nuclear weapon into space as early as this year. The people said that Russia is developing a space-based capability to knock out satellites using a nuclear weapon. As China has urged the international community to avoid the use of nuclear weapons in the past, we wonder if the Foreign Ministry has any comment on this report? Mao Ning: You mentioned that Russia might deploy nuclear weapons in space. I noted that Russia has made a response, emphasizing that Russia remains opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in space and urges everyone to adhere to all the agreements that exist in this sphere.a China's policy and position on relevant issue are consistent and clear. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nawal Abuhamdeh of St. Louis shared a bracelet-making fundraiser that her 10-year-old daughters Girl Scout troop started earlier this month to raise money for urgent humanitarian needs for children in Gaza. She never expected the organizations leadership would threaten her with legal action for doing it. Abuhamdeh had led the troops annual cookie sale, which raises funds for the troops activities, for the past four years. But as this years sale approached, her heart just wasnt into it. Since the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, shes witnessed the destruction of her parents homeland in Palestine. Israels assault in Gaza one of the most destructive military campaigns in recent history has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians since the war began, according to the territorys Health Ministry. That includes around 12,000 children. A cluster of UN agencies and nonprofits warned this week that child deaths were poised to skyrocket because food and safe water have become incredibly scarce in the Palestinian territories. Virtually all young children have infectious illnesses. The girls in Abuhamdehs troop, who come from diverse backgrounds, including Somali, Indian, Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian, have been emotionally affected by the news reports. The videos circulating are traumatizing. Abuhamdeh watched an inconsolable Palestinian father collect body parts of his slain children in a shopping bag. A doctor tried to save his 16-year-old nieces life by amputating her leg without anesthesia on his dining table. A wailing 4-year-old tried to get up and look for his parents both of whom were killed, and his own legs amputated. Im grieving. We are all grieving. We literally couldnt muster the energy to sell cookies, Abuhamdeh said. She asked the girls if they had ideas for a community service project. They suggested making and selling beaded bracelets to raise money for the Palestine Childrens Relief Fund. Abuhamdeh recalled seeing Girl Scout efforts to raise money for war victims in Ukraine highlighted by the organization. It seemed like a good way to channel their sadness into a positive action. She shared a post on social media, advertising bracelets for $5 or $10 with all the proceeds going to the relief fund. Soon after, she received an email from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. It said members could not raise money that represents partisan politics and must stay neutral. The organization asked her to immediately remove all references to the Girl Scouts from any communications and social posts about the girls efforts. Abuhamdeh replied by explaining how important the fundraiser was for the girls and how critical the situation in Gaza was for children. She assured them that the troop wasnt making any political statements. We condemn any innocent lives taken whatever religion they are, whatever ethnicity they are, said Abuhamdeh. She asked the leadership how their bracelet sale was any different than the Girl Scout fundraisers for Ukraine. She received a lengthy response, in official language, informing her that the activity had not followed the appropriate policy, procedures and approval processes as outlined in our volunteer and leader training documents. The last sentence hit her hard: Unfortunately, if this direct violation of the organizations governing documents and policies continues, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Girl Scouts of the United States have no other choice than to engage our legal counsel to help remedy this situation and to protect the intellectual property and other rights of the organization. I got a little scared; Im not gonna lie, she said. I wondered, what are they going to do to me? For years, she had strived to give these girls the opportunities she had missed out on herself. The troop had formed a sisterhood, growing up together since kindergarten. Abuhamdeh reached out to the other parents. They decided the organizations values didnt align with what they were trying to teach their daughters. Abuhamdeh sent an email to the Girl Scouts expressing her disappointment and hurt, and explaining that the troop wanted to disband from the Girl Scouts. They sent her instructions on how to leave the organization. When I asked Kelly Daleen, chief membership and marketing officer for the Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri, why this project was different from other fundraisers for war victims, she wrote that the troop leader had failed to get prior approval. Abuhamdeh said she wished they had simply said so at the start, and asked her to suspend the activity until she got the necessary approval. Instead, they made her troop feel unvalued and vilified in a moment of deep grief and vulnerability. The tone of their emails felt like a cold reprimand to her. It reminded her of the times growing up that simply existing as a Palestinian American had offended someone. What did we do wrong? the girls have asked her. Abuhamdeh gets emotional when she talks about the decision to leave an organization that teaches girls to make the world a better place. In the end, she said, deciding to stand up for their beliefs was the Girl Scout way. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Havana, February 19, 2024 19 February 2024 20:26 308-19-02-2024 Dear Bruno, friends. I would like to begin by thanking you for your traditional hospitality, as is customary between our countries. I'm glad to see you and to be in Havana. I was here last year. I expect our next meeting to take place in Russia at any time that is convenient for you. I look forward to seeing you there. In September 2023, you and I met in New York on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. As always, we had a trust-based exchange concerning the unprecedented processes unfolding in the international arena, when the realities of the multi-polar world, objectively shaped and reflecting the unstoppable course of history, are not just being tested, but are eliciting an aggressive response from the United States and other Global Minority countries. These countries are using every available avenue to preserve their dominance, hegemony and control. The means used by the American and other Western policymakers to get there include blackmail, ultimatums, threats, heavy-handed military force, and sanctions rather than diplomacy. Cuba has firsthand experience of the unlawful pressure and total embargo that the United States continues to enforce as a supposed legitimate course of action. Although the rest of the international community finds it intolerable, Washington persists in its actions. We have global tasks at hand, including the mobilisation of the Global Majority to uphold their legitimate rights. We are working on it actively within the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter established in 2021. The interest in this Group is steadily increasing. We will work to safeguard the fundamental principles of the UN Charter against attempts to rewrite international law and replace it with obscure rules. The Charter explicitly states that the UN is based on the sovereign equality of states. It is imperative that we hold our Western colleagues accountable, as they have long ago disregarded that principle and continue to go about their affairs the way they did in colonial times. I hope we will exchange assessments of the bilateral relations, which are expanding. I realise that much remains to be done, and I am confident that our conversation will be productive. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Cuba and of the Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and Movement of Vessels February 21, 2024 On March 1, 1996, by Proclamation 6867, a national emergency was declared to address the disturbance or threatened disturbance of international relations caused by the February 24, 1996, destruction by the Cuban government of two unarmed, United States-registered civilian aircraft in international airspace north of Cuba. On February 26, 2004, by Proclamation 7757, the national emergency was expanded to deny monetary and material support to the Cuban government. On February 24, 2016, by Proclamation 9398, and on February 22, 2018, by Proclamation 9699, the national emergency was further modified based on continued disturbances or threatened disturbances of the international relations of the United States related to Cuba. The Cuban government has not demonstrated that it will refrain from the use of excessive force against United States vessels or aircraft that may engage in memorial activities or peaceful protest north of Cuba. Further, the unauthorized entry of any United States-registered vessel into Cuban territorial waters continues to be detrimental to the foreign policy of the United States because such entry could facilitate a mass migration from Cuba. It continues to be United States policy that a mass migration from Cuba would endanger United States national security by posing a disturbance or threatened disturbance of the international relations of the United States. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national emergency with respect to Cuba and the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of vessels set out in Proclamation 6867, as amended by Proclamation 7757, Proclamation 9398, and Proclamation 9699. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. THE WHITE HOUSE, February 21, 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea bans more than 100 patriotic songs that refer to reunification Pyongyang metro's Unification Station renamed 'Station' amid messages that uniting with the South is no longer a priority. By Kim Ji Eun for RFA Korean and Taejun Kang for RFA English 2024.02.21 -- North Korea has banned more than 100 patriotic songs because they refer to reunification with the South - the latest step making it clear that unifying the divided peninsula is no longer a priority for Pyongyang, generating confusion among residents. "The place our general pointed to was oh, a unified country, and a race made as one!" go the lyrics of the popular song, "Where Our General Pointed," which talks about the pain of a divided country and a longing to join the tallest mountains in North and South together. It is among dozens of songs composed since the end of the Korean War more than 70 years ago that contain the word unification, or tongil, in Korean. But since the start of the year, supreme leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the government to take several steps to distance the North from the South. They include removing language from state media indicating that Koreans on both sides of the DMZ are "one people," ending all economic cooperation with the South, and even tearing down a major Pyongyang landmark symbolizing a future reunion. Kim has also publicly threatened to "annihilate" Seoul. This has even extended to metro station names. This week, Unification, or Tongil, Station on the Pyongyang subway's Chollima Line has been renamed just "Station," photos posted on Facebook by the Russian Embassy revealed. And now, suddenly all songs that contain the word "unification" or make references to places in the South are prohibited. Confused populace The leadership wants to make it clear that reunification with the South and its people is no longer a priority, but the people are confused by the sudden shift, a resident in the northwestern province of North Pyongan told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons. During the reigns of Kim Jong Un's father and grandfather, unification was always emphasized as the major goal for the country, he said. "This is not just a reversal of the lifelong instructions of previous leaders, but also a denial of the identity of the Korean people," the person said. Banning "Where Our General Pointed" is particularly shocking because it was a song closely tied to thoughts expressed by Kim Jong Un's late father Kim Jong Il, he said. "[The authorities] keep bragging about having nuclear power, but they lack confidence in everything else. That's why there are so many things that they've banned," the resident said. "How can the Korean people, who have lived in one territory and one region for five millenia, now have nothing to do with each other just because they banned unification songs?" Though the starting point of Korean history is not clearly defined by consensus, legends suggest that the kingdom of Gojoseon was founded 4,357 years ago by the mythical figure Dangun. Even so, Korea is often colloquially said to have a history spanning 5,000 years. Other banned songs include "Nice to Meet You," "Until We Meet Again," and "Our Wish is Unification," a resident in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely. The latter song is also taught to children in South Korea and has been used as an unofficial anthem during inter-Korean cultural exchange and sporting events. "When residents get a chance to sing in their daily lives, they sing a lot of these unification songs," the second resident said. "But the authorities have ordered us not to sing even 'Where Our General Pointed' from now on, so the residents are saying that the [previous leaders'] lifelong wishes of unification have come to an end under Kim Jong Un." Other changes Another reason for the ban is that the people are increasingly in awe of the economically vibrant South at a time when North Korea's economic situation is worsening, she said. The banning of the songs is seen, however, as orders from the authorities to "accept the separation of Korea and division of the Korean race," she said. Last month, the North's state-run broadcaster aired a map that highlights only the northern part of the Korean Peninsula in red, a move seen as its push to drop references to unification. Additionally, the authoritarian state has dropped a phrase symbolizing a unified Korea from the lyrics of its national anthem, while erasing an image of the Korean Peninsula, viewed as a unification reference, from its major websites, according to media reports. They include Foreign Trade of the DPRK, a website created to promote North Korea's trade and attract investments, and Publications of the DPRK, a foreign language publishing house. DPRK, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is North Korea's official name. South Korea's Unification Ministry has voiced regret over the North's move, lamenting it as an "anti-national" act. Translated by Claire S. Lee and Eugene Whong. Written in English by Eugene Whong and Taejun Kang. Edited by Malcolm Foster, Elaine Chan and Mike Firn. Updates story to add description of banned patriotic songs and other details. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on the visit of Prime Minister of Greece to India (February 21, 2024) India - Ministry of External Affairs February 21, 2024 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this special briefing by Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra on the ongoing state visit of the Prime Minister of Greece. Sir, I hand over the floor to you. Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you and good afternoon to the members of the media on this special briefing with regard to the ongoing visit of the Greek Prime Minister. Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, His Excellency Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is as Randhir said, is on a state visit to India on today and tomorrow. He is accompanied by a high-level official delegation, has also a 60-plus strong business delegation. Greek Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome this morning at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, after which he visited Rajghat to pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi. And this afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Greek Prime Minister held detailed talks both in the restricted format as also in the delegation-level format. They also addressed the media thereafter, and Prime Minister Modi hosted a lunch in honor of the visiting dignitary thereafter. Just a while ago, Prime Minister Mitsotakis called on the honorable Vice President, and earlier in the morning, External Affairs Minister had called on the Greek Prime Minister. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Mitsotakis will be the chief guest and the keynote speaker at the ninth Raisina Dialogue, to be inaugurated later this evening. The Greek Prime Minister will also be meeting the business leaders in the second leg of his visit. He would also be visiting Mumbai before returning to his country. You would all recall that Prime Minister Modi had visited Greece in August last year. This visit of the Greek Prime Minister is taking place within the six months time frame of Prime Minister Modi's visit. You would also recall that during Prime Minister's visit to Greece, both countries had decided to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. This visit of the Greek Prime Minister and the discussions - comprehensive discussions - during the ongoing visit have focused on enhancing and enriching all elements of strategic partnership, whether it's in the political domain, security aspects, economic relationship, as also the cultural ties. Both leaders also discussed the regional and the global issues of common concern, as also the ongoing developments in Europe. When Prime Minister had last visited Greece, both leaders had expressed commitment to double bilateral trade by 2030. During the discussions today, they identified several areas of cooperation in which our partnership would help us achieve that target of doubling our trade volume. In this includes the space of pharmaceuticals, one, infrastructure development, particularly relating to ports, cooperation in the shipping space, chemical industry, the digital segment of cooperation, food and communication sectors, as also defense cooperation, agriculture and tourism also came in for particular mention during the bilateral discussions today. The two leaders also focused on the importance of enhancing connectivity, both maritime connectivity as also partnership through corridors, particularly India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and also the air connectivity in terms of intent of both the leaders to encourage the private sector to start direct bilateral flights between India and Greece. In the terms of areas of cooperation, besides the segments that I mentioned - areas of space, nanotechnology, biotechnology, quantum computing, clean energy, renewable energy, start-up and innovation sectors - also were discussed in detail. An important element of people-to-people ties that was emphasized by both the leaders in terms of our efforts to structure that cooperation is migration and mobility partnership agreement, an area where there is complementarity of interest, it's in advanced stages of consideration and we expect that this agreement could be finalized in months ahead. There was also a focus on cultural cooperation between the two sides, both in terms of enhancing the cross-cultural collaboration, protection and preservation of the cultural heritage, and also enhancing cooperation in terms of the academic institutions between the two countries. During the August meeting, when the Prime Minister had visited Greece, both leaders had agreed on regular contacts and exchange of views with regard to developments across the world as also on the regional security threats, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean and also in the Indo-Pacific regions. As a follow-up to those decisions during the August visit, the two national security advisors have subsequently met and are progressing their conversation on matters of security interest between the two countries as also how they impact both countries based on the developments elsewhere in the region. Both leaders reinforced their commitment to build in this regard the partnership in the Mediterranean Sea as also in the Indo-Pacific. As I mentioned, they also exchanged views on how to build our cooperation in the context of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Prime Minister Mitsotakis also conveyed the decision by Greece to join the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative led by India. The two leaders also exchanged their common concern with regard to challenge of terrorism and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. On the climate change action, the Greek Prime Minister underlined the importance of India's leadership in the International Solar Alliance. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the work that India is doing and scope of building partnership with Greece in so far as the alliance of the CDRI is concerned. This is the Coalition on Disaster Resilience. Besides the discussions between the two leaders, several MoUs and understandings have also been arrived separately between the private sectors, as also between the think tanks of the two countries. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, the return visit of Prime Minister of Greece within six months of Indian Prime Minister's visit to Greece brings to fore the shared commitment of the two sides to deepen their strategic partnership, and very comprehensive and rich discussions today focused on...I would say, all aspects of building that strategic partnership - economic, political, as also security. I'll stop here and take questions if there are any. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Start here. Shudhi. Shudhi Ranjan: Sir, Shudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Sir, you mentioned about IMEC port infrastructure, figuring in the Prime Minister's - the leaders' discussion. If you could give us any details about whether any particular ports will be identified and if it will be a government-to-government contract, or if there is a private sector, if so, who - and the format of it, Sir, and the contours. Thank you, Sir. Siddhant: Hello, Foreign Secretary, I'm Siddhant from CNN News 18. Sir, Prime Minister of Greece, in his remarks, said that Indian companies are investing in Greece. If you could perhaps elaborate the sectors in which Indian companies are investing, and you know, has these - the investment that the Prime Minister of Greece has spoke about, they've started or the talks are going on? Thank you. Huma Siddiqui: Sir, I'm Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. You mentioned that the talks also featured on defense and space. So, in the defense sector, was the buying of Mirage 2000s on the agenda, and also in space sector, what exactly was the discussion about? Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION, were there any discussions on specific ports, the Piraeus port? Was there talks between the two sides? Rishabh: Foreign Secretary, Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, as you mentioned, mobility has been discussed, as well as academic institutions have been discussed. If we can have a clear picture whether the academic institutions, they are public, for example, we have opened some IITs in overseas campuses, are there any discussions about that? And when it comes to mobility, anything that students can expect between India and Greece? Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: See, with regard to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, the discussions were not limited to identifying the segments in which the partnership would take place. The discussions took place in the larger context of stronger connectivity between India and Greece, and to look at all possible options that would strengthen this connectivity. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is one such corridor that would strengthen this connectivity, and given the importance, the strategic importance that Greece holds in terms of its location, its importance, and the manner in which Greece could partner with the IMEC corridor was discussed. Going forward, as the specifics of this will get fleshed out, naturally it would have to focus on the ports which would form part of such...its connectivity with this corridor. It would also have to look at the enabling provisions which happen through G2G agreements, and naturally there will have to be a private sector partnership also in these things. So I don't think the discussions were not in an exclusive frame of reference that this is excluded, this is included. It was all encompassing, with the direction being positive and comprehensive. With regard to the investments reference by the Greek Prime Minister, a significant Indian business presence is already there in Greece. So whether you take the field of pharmaceuticals, or you take the field of chemicals, or you take the field of infrastructure, these are the areas in which Indian companies already have a strong economic presence in Greece. The two leaders, and that is perhaps also the intent behind the strong business delegation accompanying the Greek Prime Minister, the two leaders identified new areas in which this economic presence could be built. I mentioned to you the startup and the innovation sector. I mentioned to you the quantum part, I mentioned to you the nanotechnology and the microelectronics. So for example, microelectronics and nanotechnology and the quantum computing, there is a fair bit of strong presence of institutions relating to these sectors in Greece. The main objective of the discussion was how does the institutions in both the countries - both the private sector as also the government - come together to leverage cooperation in these sectors. Biotechnology is another area which featured, both in terms of commercial cooperation as also G2G cooperation. Similarly, tourism, as I mentioned to you. Air connectivity is linked in that case because in our context it would essentially now be the private sector which would set up this air bridge connectivity between India and Greece. So it is not that the Indian economic presence in Greece is just starting to be talked about. It's already there. The discussions were focused more on how to broad base this across different domains and within the existing domains where there is economic and commercial presence, how do we deepen it in that sense. Defense sector and the space sector, which you mentioned. See, in the defense sector both India and Greece are looking at partnership which is not just limited to defense trade. And even when I talk about defense trade, I'm not referring to particular platforms. Defense trade extends to many areas of defense technologies which is not limited to defense platforms. So for example, there are many parts of defense industrial supply chains where there could be trade relationship between the defense industries of the two countries. You heard Prime Minister say in his press remarks that co-production and co-designing in many areas of defense industrial technology could be an important element of partnership. You would also be aware that Greece uses same aviation platforms that are employed by the Indian defense forces also. Clearly, the interoperability and those commonality of the platforms enables defense force to defense force collaboration. Both defense forces of both the countries have also been doing very extensive exercises between the two countries. So it's not...defense was talked about in a...I should say in a very comprehensive form, not limiting itself to a purely defense trade segment. With regard to the space sector, Prime Minister Modi highlighted to the Greek Prime Minister India's core competencies and capabilities and strengths in this area. And the Greek Prime Minister acknowledged it and did say that in so far as running a strong space sector on budget is concerned, Greece would definitely be...it would definitely be of interest to Greece. So we are looking at collaborations in those areas. Again, space is a sector within which you have several subsegments which are heavily technology-dependent, industry-reliant. And I think the private sectors on both sides could partner in those areas. Specific ports were discussed or not. I think, you see, when they discussed cooperation in the context of connectivity, when they spoke of the need for that connectivity, the discussions were not, as I said, limited in one particular context. So while no specific ports came up for conversation, came up in the conversation, the idea was that how exactly do you enhance strategic connect between the two economies through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and in that context, if you have to use particular ports, what would be the framework of such cooperation in the port sector, in the logistics sector, in the shipping aspect of it. So no specific ports as such came up for discussion. Mobility partnership...the discussions between the two leaders clearly brought out the areas in which there is complementarity between the two economies, where the two economies could harvest the benefits through the mobility partnership agreement. Skilled manpower across various domains is one element of it. The sectors of construction, agriculture, the reference to what you mentioned about students, the students per se didn't come up, but as and when the university linkages between the two countries get strengthened, and as more and more Indian students, for example, were to travel to Greece to study, then the post-study placement of the students and how they connect with the domestic economy and the presence in the country, those would hopefully all get covered in the mobility partnership agreement. I must mention that agreement is still under negotiation. It has not been finalized. So I at this stage cannot identify for you the specific segments that will be covered, but you heard about it in the remarks by the Greek Prime Minister, and this also was a very...they spent considerable time, both leaders spent considerable time discussing this element of India-Greece cooperation. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So we have a question here, Suhasini. Suhasini Haidar: Foreign Secretary, this is Suhasini Haidar from The Hindu. I just wanted to pick up on your answer to Sidhant's question. It is now, this month will mark six months since the IMEC proposal was launched at the G20 summit. In that MoU, it says very clearly that the parties would meet within I think 60 days to take forward the contours of the MoU. Of course, since then the conflict has broken out with Israel and Hamas in Gaza and it seems as if on the ground there doesn't seem to have been much movement either in terms of the meetings on IMEC or in terms of taking some of these proposals forward. I wanted to ask if the Prime Minister and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis actually discussed the situation when it comes to the conflict in Gaza because that continues and continues to hold up the IMEC proposal and whether they discussed possibly diverting the IMEC route around Israel so that they can take it forward while the conflict still ensues. Kadambini Sharma: Kadambini Sharma from NDTV. Sir ye direct flight shuru karne ki baat hai, iska time frame kya hain? [Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Kadambini Sharma from NDTV. Sir, what is the timeframe for starting these direct flights? Raghvendra Verma: Yeah, Foreign secretary this is Raghvendra Verma from ZDF, German Television. So you mentioned pharmaceuticals been discussed. This is also a subject if you can elaborate on that because then there will be India-EU free trade agreement which is under discussion that before that is India with the other four countries including Switzerland and there the data exclusivity is being discussed. So can you elaborate if with the pharmaceuticals exactly what came up with the Greek Prime Minister? Abhishek: Hi sir, Abhishek Jha from CNN News 18. My question is regarding this direct air connectivity. Six months ago also the two leaders had talked about it and so could you give us some timeline as to when we can expect there will be some direct flight between India and Greece? Vishu: Hello sir, this is Vishu from ANI. Sir, in higher education sector can we expect any participation from Greek universities? Can we expect any campus of Greek universities there or vice versa? Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: With regard to the discussions around IMEC, and we had in some ways had an exchange on this element, even one of the previous pressers. First, yes, there seems to be an implicit linkage in the question with regard to what is happening in the Gaza and whether in any way that is related to IMEC in so far as the discussions between the two leaders are concerned. The situation in Gaza, the conflict there as also the challenges we are experiencing in the Red Sea, the commercial shipping being diverted through Cape of Good Hope, economic cost being incurred by the shipping and by the economies as a result of that. All that was definitely an important segment of discussion between the two leaders. They shared their perspectives on what the nature of these challenges and going forward how exactly India-Greece could cooperate to see that the result of these challenges is mitigated and also the possible direction of this conflict and the need and you heard this probably, I think it was there in Prime Minister's remark, the need for these conflicts to be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy. When it came to India Middle East Economic Corridor, there are two parts to your question. One, in terms of the work that has happened on this particular corridor since its launch in September and two, whether there was a discussion to bypass the corridor through a particular geography. As I have mentioned in one of my previous responses also, not today but in the earlier presser, the discussions with regard to the specifics of the individual sub-segments of the IMEC Corridor, whether these are segments relating to the railways, segments relating to the shipping, segments relating to putting the logistics standards that will operate in the corridor, they have been progressing very strongly and very robustly in the months since the launch. I am sure you would have closely followed a couple of MoUs which were signed during the Prime Minister's recent visit to the UAE between the RITES and the Abu Dhabi ports companies. Some of them do have a linkage to how they would network with the IMEC Corridor. Insofar as the alignment of the IMEC Corridor is concerned, that remains unchanged as of now. Direct flight ki samay sarini, dekhiye ye direct flights dono deshon ke bich me Bharat me jo is samay paripekshya hai woh private sector dwara chalegi. Dono sarkaron ka ye prayas hai ki niji kshetra ki jitni airlines hain unko dono deshon ke bich me jo tourism related potential hai, jo business related sambhavnaye hain usko lete hue dono deshon ke niji kshteron ko encourage kiya jaye, protsahit kiya jaye, ki ye flights jitni jaldi se jaldi shuru ho sake. Ye ab kitne samay me shuru hogi ye toh kehna thoda kathin hoga kyuki ye jo nirnay hain, ye private sector ke dwara, jo ki private sectors se liye jayenge. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] The timeframe for direct flights, you see, these direct flights between the two countries in India at this time will be operated by the private sector. It is the effort of both the governments that as many private sector airlines as they have, as there is tourism related potential between the two countries, as there are business related possibilities, to encourage private sectors of both countries to start flights as soon as possible. It is a bit difficult to say how soon they will start because these decisions will be taken by the private sectors. I didn't quite understand the question that you asked with regard to...I mean I got the pharmaceutical part but I did not get the pharmaceutical part as connected to data connectivity that you mentioned about India and Europe. But restricting myself to the pharmaceutical sector, this is an area which is already of substantial cooperation between India and Greece. And the idea is to broad base this cooperation further within the field of pharmaceuticals, extend it to different segments of generics within this, perhaps extend it to the APIs if required. Trade is already a strong component of it but also brings in the manufacturers in the field of pharmaceuticals. I do not think the cooperation that we are doing with Greece in the pharmaceutical space has anything directly to do with the current ongoing discussions with the European Union on FTA or other elements. When those negotiations advance, when those discussions advance, then the questions of pharmaceuticals - we will see how they come up there. But during this visit and also during Prime Minister's visit in August, the focus was on strengthening and broad basing cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals. Universities, Vishu, your question. Look, it is our expectation that the university linkages between the two countries will enhance. We are in the process of expanding and encouraging universities of other countries to come up and set up their educational linkages in India with different universities. At this stage, I really do not have the names of specific universities that, you know, would form part of this linkage insofar as Greece is concerned. But as and when the discussions in this field expand and build up, as and when the university's name come up, we will definitely share them with you. Thank you. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: With that, we come to the close of this special press briefing by Foreign Secretary. Thank you very much for your presence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aeronautical Development Agency Signs MoU with Indian Air Force India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 21 FEB 2024 6:41PM by PIB Delhi Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has signed an MoU with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for integration of futuristic Weapons and Sensors for LCA Tejas aircraft. The MoU was signed by Shri Prabhulla Chandran VK, Technology Director (Avionics and Weapon Systems) of ADA and Air Vice Marshal KN Santosh VSM, Commandant, Software Development Institute (SDI) of IAF. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is a premier organization under the aegis of the Department of Defence R&D with mandate to Design and Develop Tejas-LCA and its Variants. In present war scenario, there is a continuous need of upgrading the weapons and sensors suite of the aircraft and towards this, ADA has initiated the know-how transfer for integration of weapons and sensors to SDI. This will facilitate the IAF to independently carry out sensors, weapon integration and flight testing to enhance the operational capabililty of Tejas-LCA fighter. ADA has successfully developed and type certified Tejas LCA with a credit of more than 10000 sorties of incident free flying. IAF has already formed two squadrons of this fighter aircraft and twin seater aircraft are also being inducted. *** ABB/GC (Release ID: 2007797) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Farmers Pause March to Delhi After Protester's Death By Anjana Pasricha February 21, 2024 Indian farmers paused their protest march for two days after clashes with police left one protester dead, the protest leaders said Wednesday. Indian police used tear gas and water cannons earlier Wednesday to disperse thousands of protesting farmers as they attempted to resume a march to the capital, New Delhi, after negotiations with the government failed to resolve a deadlock over their demands for guaranteed crop prices. A young farmer, Subhkaran Singh, 21, died of what appeared to be a bullet wound to his head. He arrived at a local hospital with two other protesters, who also appeared to have bullet wounds. They are in stable condition. Farmers' leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters one person had been killed and others injured, but Haryana state police denied anyone died. It is the second time the police used tear gas to thwart attempts by farmers to reach Delhi since they launched their protest on Feb. 13. Farmers mounted on tractors came equipped with masks and gloves to protect themselves from the tear gas at Shambhu, about 200 kilometers from Delhi, where thousands have gathered. Some had also brought bulldozers and excavators to dismantle barricades erected along highways, but hundreds of security personnel lined both sides of the highway and prevented them from moving ahead. Using loudspeakers, farm leaders urged them to fight for their rights. Local media showed police using water cannons at farmers at another protest site. Highways leading to Delhi have been heavily barricaded with concrete blocks, barbed wire and iron spikes to prevent the farmers from laying siege to key roads on the capital's outskirts as they did during a yearlong mass protest in 2021. The farmers' leaders have urged the government to let them enter the capital. "We will remain peaceful, but we should be allowed to remove these barriers and march towards Delhi," Pandher told reporters. Farmers launched their protest last week, accusing the government of failing to meet some promises it made when they called off the protest two years ago. Four rounds of talks in recent days have failed to break an impasse over their key demand for legislation that would guarantee prices for all crops. The farmers say that would buffer them from market fluctuations and help improve their incomes. Currently, the government announces subsidized prices for about two dozen agricultural products each year and buys some crops, such as rice and wheat, at guaranteed prices a a system that began in the 1960s to encourage farmers to sow food grains at a time when India faced severe shortages. At the last round of talks, which broke down on Monday, the government had offered to extend price guarantees to some more crops such as pulses, maize and cotton, but that failed to satisfy the farmers. The government is urging the farmers to continue negotiations. "After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues," Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda posted on X. "I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace." Farmers in India complain of stagnant or dwindling incomes, saying that crop prices have failed to keep pace with rising costs of inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. More than two-thirds of the country is dependent on farm incomes. The protest is being held months before India holds national elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is widely seen as winning a third term in office. Political analysts said the government is using heavy security to prevent the farmers from reaching the capital because images of tens of thousands of farmers sitting around the capital were "bad optics." "If farmers reach the capital, they would get much more media attention just as they did during the last protest in 2021," political analyst Rasheed Kidwai explained. "Anything happening around Delhi becomes magnified. That is why the government wants to control the protest away from the city." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Extradition of Polad Omarov from Czechia to the United States Wednesday, February 21, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the extradition of Polad Omarov from Czechia to the United States: "Last year, I announced charges against three defendants for their roles in a conspiracy to murder a U.S. citizen who has long been targeted by the Government of Iran. At the time of the announcement, two of the defendants were in U.S. custody, and we said that the long arm of the law would find and bring to justice those who seek to threaten, silence, or harm American citizens. Today, we have done just that. The third defendant, Polad Omarov, was extradited to the United States to face charges for attempting to murder on U.S. soil, a journalist, author, and human rights activist who is a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin. "We are grateful to our Czech government counterparts for this extradition. "The Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to undermine the rights to which every American citizen is entitled." Topic: National Security Component: Office of the Attorney General Press Release Number: 24-197 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli conspiracy behind Iran gas pipeline explosions: Minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 21, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran successfully foiled a plot by the Israeli regime to damage the natural gas transmission pipelines in southern and central parts of the country earlier this month, the country's Oil Minister Javad Owji has said. Owji said on Wednesday that gas pipelines affected by the sabotage operations were mostly located in mountainous and hard-to-reach regions, adding that they had been repaired in the shortest time possible. He said that those behind the attack on gas pipelines had been seeking to cut off gas supplies in big provinces of Iran. The minister said it had taken no longer than two hours for technicians and rescue teams to repair the pipelines. Owji said that no major gas cuts has been reported anywhere in the country due to the incident. Authorities said at around 1 a.m. local time (21:30 GMT) on February 14 that two "acts of sabotage" had hit natural gas pipelines in Boroujen, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and in Safashahr in Fars province. 7129**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New drones join IRGC UAV fleet ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 21 February 2024 / 11:46 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has taken delivery of sophisticated homegrown kamikaze and combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), featuring state-of-the-art technologies suitable for operations against enemy targets. Tehran-ISNA- Shahed 131 (Witness 131) suicide and Ababil-5 combat drones were supplied to the force during a Tuesday ceremony attended by senior IRGC commanders and other top-brass military figures. The sophisticated homegrown drones are supposed to bolster the IRGC Ground Force's surveillance capabilities and help it counter threats posed by anti-Iran terrorist groups. During the large-scale Great Prophet 15 military exercise in January 2021, the IRGC Aerospace Force released video footage, showcasing successful engagement of various targets by Shahed-131 drone. This marked the first public presentation of the drone's effectiveness in combat scenarios. Shahed-131 drone further exhibited its operational prowess during the Great Prophet 17 exercise, where it conducted precision strikes on a simulated facility representing the Israeli Dimona nuclear power plant. Measuring 2.6 meters in length and 2.2 meters in width, the unmanned aerial vehicle distinguishes itself with unique design features. It weighs 135 kilograms and can detonate targets within a radius of 900 kilometers. Ababil-5 combat drone was first unveiled on April 18, 2022 during the National Army Day. It is being manufactured by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA). The combat drone shares design elements with its predecessors in the Ababil UAV family, including the Ababil-3 and Mohajer-6 models. Shorter wings allow Ababil-5 to carry a heavier payload of weapons. The UAV has been furnished with a retractable front landing gear to enhance its surveillance capabilities. Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient. Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Dena destroyer participates in India's Milan 2024 naval drills Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 6:42 PM Iran's Navy has dispatched its domestically designed and manufactured Dena destroyer to India to participate in the Milan 2024 multilateral naval exercise, which is the Indian Navy's biggest ever maneuver. Deputy commander of the Iranian Navy's southern fleet said the destroyer has partaken in the war game in line with the "very good and growing relations" between the naval forces of Iran and India. Admiral Jalil Moqaddam said Iran and India, with rich historical backgrounds, are two naval powerhouses in the region. He said naval cooperation between the two countries could help ensure maritime security and serve regional interests. The Indian Navy's largest-ever multilateral naval exercise - Milan 2024 - kicked off in Visakhapatnam port city, also known as Vizag, on Monday with several warships from the Indian Navy and foreign navies participating in the Harbor Phase of the drills. The Harbor Phase, which began on February 19 and winds down on February 23, features a city parade, maritime seminar, and tech expo, among other events. During the Sea Phase from February 24 to 27, the participating navies will hold advanced air defense, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare drills. Gunnery shoots on aerial and surface targets, maneuvers and underway replenishment would be conducted, according to the Indian English-language daily newspaper The Times of India. Iran's Navy has in recent years achieved self-sufficiency in manufacturing surface and sub-surface vessels. It has also increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers. The Iranian naval forces have also staged military drills with several countries, including Russia, China and Pakistan, over the past years with the aim of promoting combat readiness. They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Jan. 29 issue of The Buffalo News carried two stories encouraging a ceasefire in Gaza. I am all for peace but there are times when peace only comes through defeating a ruthless oppressor. For the sake of peace, Israel relinquished Gaza in 2005; painfully relocating her own citizens. What did Israel get in return? Continual terror attacks and war, followed up with ceasefires while Hamas reloaded. While it is difficult to witness the rising death toll in this war, make no mistake the Palestinian people need to be free from Hamas! They are behind all this pain and suffering; they are the ones responsible for depriving their own citizens of human rights; and they are the ones responsible for diverting aid money for the construction of terror tunnels and stock piling munitions. None of this was done for the sake of peace. The preamble of Hamas 1988 charter demands the absolute destruction of Israel. Article 13 explicitly rejects initiatives for peace and reconciliation and states: Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement. Peace? Follow the facts, not ones feelings. Seek truth, not hearsay. Israel too suffers greatly. Terrorists do not seek peace. The late Golda Meir said it best, "We can forgive [the Arabs] for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace with [the Arabs] when they love their children more than they hate us. Frank Lowinger Tonawanda IRGC Navy's new warships are equipped with SAM, cruise missiles: Commander Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 6:03 PM The two warships recently added to the fleet of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy are equipped with domestically-developed surface-to-air (SAM) and cruise missiles, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri says. The IRGC Navy commander told the IRIB TV1 television channel on Wednesday that the two homegrown catamarans, dubbed Shahid (Martyr) Sayyad Shirazi and Shahid Hassan Bagheri, are named after the legendary Iranian military commanders known for their heroics during the imposed war in the 1980s. Each of the vessels is furnished with six Sayyad-3 (Hunter-3) surface-to-air missiles, 16 vertically launched Navvab air defense missiles, as well as six cruise missiles with a range of between 40 and 750 kilometers. Their radar systems can identify targets up to a range of 150 kilometers, the commander stated. Tangsiri said the new military catamarans are 68 meters in length, 18.5 meters wide, 14 meters in height, and have four marine engines. The IRGC Navy chief said the hulls of the vessels are made of aluminum, meaning they would neither sink nor lose mobility in case of a maritime incident. He said Iran is the third country in the world capable of manufacturing such watercraft. The vessels enjoy good seakeeping abilities and stability features. They can withstand rogue ocean waves of up to Force 7, Tangsiri said. The commander said the IRGC Navy is in close contact with 103 domestic knowledge-based firms as well as 32 universities in order to develop the military gear it requires. On Monday, the IRGC Navy took delivery of Shahid Sayyad Shirazi and Shahid Hassan Baqeri military vessels during a ceremony in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient. Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiation. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Blames Israel For Explosions At Gas Pipelines That Disrupted Supplies By RFE/RL's Radio Farda February 21, 2024 Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji has blamed Israel for a spate of recent explosions that disrupted gas transmission lines in two of Iran's provinces, incidents that have heightened tensions further between the two rivals. Speaking to reporters on February 21, Owji described the incidents as a deliberate act orchestrated by Israel, aimed at undermining Iran's domestic gas supply in major provinces. Owji provided no evidence to support his claims. Israeli authorities have not made any public statements regarding the allegations. The February 14 explosions targeted the country's national gas lines, leading to severe disruptions in the flow of gas to at least five Iranian provinces. The sound of the blasts was reported in Fars, Chaharmahal, and Bakhtiari provinces, with the national gas company characterizing the incidents as "sabotage and terrorist acts" targeting two main pipelines. In a report on February 16, The New York Times cited two Western officials and a military expert linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as saying it was possible Israel was behind not only the pipeline explosions but also a separate incident at a chemical factory in west Tehran. Israeli officials also have not commented on the factory incident. Owji said the damaged gas lines have been repaired. Iran and Israel have been engaged in a years-long shadow war. Tensions between Iran and Israel, its regional foe, have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The collapse of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers has also added to regional tensions as Tehran reduces its commitments and expands its nuclear activities. Talks to revive the deal that curbs Iran's sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions have been deadlocked. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-gas- pipeline-explosions/32829214.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rights Group Says Number Of Christians Arrested In Iran On The Rise By RFE/RL's Radio Farda February 21, 2024 The number of Christians arrested in Iran jumped sharply in the last six months of 2023, according to a religious rights group, which called on the government to "immediately and unconditionally" release all Christians detained on charges relating to their faith and religious activities. The report, released by Article 18, a rights organization focused on the protection of Christians, showed 166 Christians were detained last year, an increase from the 134 arrests recorded in 2022. The group said that while the first half of the year saw only a "handful" of arrests, a worrying trend was that from June to August there were 100 arrests and then "a further rash" of detentions around the Christmas period. "Very few of those arrested agreed to publicize their cases, leading to an increasing number of faceless victims," Article 18 said. Christians are recognized as one of three religious minorities in the Islamic republic's constitution. Despite this, the report notes, the Iranian government has harshly punished Muslims who convert to Christianity or those involved in promoting and teaching religions other than Islam. The findings are part of a collaborative 40-page investigation by Article 18, in partnership with global Christian organizations Middle East Concern, Open Doors, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The report showed that in 2023 at least 17 Christians arrested during the summer had been sentenced to prison terms of three to five years. Others faced penalties including fines, whipping, and community service, it added. Authorities appeared to target distributors of the Bible, with more than one-third of those detained found in possession of multiple copies of the publication. The report urges the government to "immediately and unconditionally" release the jailed Christians and to ensure the freedom of worship for the faith's followers without the threat of arrest or legal action. In the face of such pressures, numerous Christians, particularly new converts, have been compelled to flee Iran, seeking asylum in other nations to escape the restrictions and persecution faced at home. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities in Iran amid calls for greater religious freedom and international scrutiny of the country's human rights practices. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-christians-arrests- on-the-rise-religious-freedom/32828638.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Justice Department Announces Nuclear Materials Trafficking Charges Against Japanese Yakuza Leader Wednesday, February 21, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Takeshi Ebisawa, Leader within the Yakuza Transnational Organized Crime Syndicate, Allegedly Trafficked Nuclear Materials, Including Uranium and Weapons-Grade Plutonium A superseding indictment was unsealed in Manhattan today charging a Japanese national with conspiring with a network of associates to traffic nuclear materials from Burma to other countries. According to court documents, Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, and co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, 61, were previously charged in April 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, and both have been ordered detained. "The defendant stands accused of conspiring to sell weapons grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Burma, and to purchase military weaponry on behalf of an armed insurgent group," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who traffic in these materials and threaten U.S. national security and international stability." "As alleged, the defendant brazenly trafficked material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium from Burma to other countries," said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. "He did so while believing that the material was going to be used in the development of a nuclear weapons program, and while also negotiating for the purchase of deadly weapons. It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of this conduct. I want to thank the career prosecutors of my office and our law enforcement partners for ensuring that the defendant will now face justice in an American court." "As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material - going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons," said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life. I commend the men and women of DEA and this prosecution team for their tireless work to protect us from such evil." According to the allegations contained in the indictment, beginning in early 2020, Ebisawa informed UC-1 and a DEA confidential source (CS-1) that Ebisawa had access to a large quantity of nuclear materials that he wanted to sell. Later that year, Ebisawa sent UC-1 a series of photographs depicting rocky substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation, as well as pages of what Ebisawa represented to be lab analyses indicating the presence of thorium and uranium in the depicted substances. In response to Ebisawa's repeated inquiries, UC-1 agreed, as part of the DEA's investigation, to help Ebisawa broker the sale of his nuclear materials to UC-1's associate, who was posing as an Iranian general (the General), for use in a nuclear weapons program. Ebisawa then offered to supply the General with "plutonium" that would be even "better" and more "powerful" than uranium for this purpose. An example of a photograph sent by Ebisawa is shown below: Source: Superseding Indictment, filed publicly in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, case S3:22-cr-2566. Photo sent by the defendant depicting rock substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation. Photo sent by the defendant depicting rock substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation. During their discussions regarding Ebisawa's access to nuclear materials, Ebisawa also engaged with UC-1 concerning Ebisawa's desire to purchase military-grade weapons. To that end, in May 2021, Ebisawa sent UC-1 a list of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, that Ebisawa wished to purchase from UC-1 on behalf of the leader of an ethnic insurgent group in Burma (CC-1). Together with two other co-conspirators (CC-2 and CC-3), Ebisawa proposed to UC-1 that CC-1 sell uranium to the General, through Ebisawa, to fund CC-1's weapons purchase. On a Feb.4, 2022 videoconference, CC-2 told UC-1 that CC-1 had available more than 2,000 kilograms of Thorium-232 and more than 100 kilograms of uranium in the compound U3O8 a referring to a compound of uranium commonly found in the uranium concentrate powder known as "yellowcake" a and that CC-1 could produce as much as five tons of nuclear materials in Burma. CC-2 also advised that CC-1 had provided samples of the uranium and thorium, which CC-2 was prepared to show to UC-1's purported buyers. CC-2 noted that the samples should be packed "to contain . . . the radiation." About one week later, Ebisawa, CC-2 and CC-3 participated in a series of meetings with UC-1 and CS-1 in Southeast Asia to discuss their ongoing weapons, narcotics, and nuclear materials transactions. During one of these meetings, CC-2 asked UC-1 to meet in CC-2's hotel room. Inside the room, CC-2 showed UC-1 two plastic containers, each holding a powdery yellow substance (the Nuclear Samples), which CC-2 described as "yellowcake." CC-2 advised that one container held a sample of uranium in the compound U3O8, and the other container held Thorium-232. UC-1 photographed and video-recorded the Nuclear Samples, an example image of which is shown below: Source: Superseding Indictment, filed publicly in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, case S3:22-cr-2566. Photo of the Nuclear Samples Photo of the Nuclear Samples With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement authorities. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined that both samples contain detectable quantities of uranium, thorium and plutonium. In particular, the laboratory determined that the isotope composition of the plutonium found in the Nuclear Samples is weapons-grade, meaning that the plutonium, if produced in sufficient quantities, would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon. A table containing the charges and maximum penalties for Ebisawa and Singhasiri is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Count Defendant(s) Maximum Penalty Count One: conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials Ebisawa 20 years in prison Count Two: international trafficking of nuclear materials Ebisawa 10 years in prison Count Three: narcotics importation conspiracy Ebisawa and Singhasiri Life in prison; mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison Count Four: conspiracy to possess firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices Singhasiri Life in prison Count Five: conspiracy to acquire, transfer, and possess surface-to-air missiles. Ebisawa Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison Count Six: narcotics importation conspiracy Ebisawa Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison Count Seven: conspiracy to possess firearms, including machine guns and destructive devices Ebisawa Life in prison Count Eight: money laundering Ebisawa 20 years in prison The DEA Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, and law enforcement partners in Indonesia, Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand. Trial Attorney Dmitry Slavin of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li, Kaylan E. Lasky and Kevin T. Sullivan for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Ebisawa superseding indictment. Topics: Countering Nation-State Threats National Security Components: Criminal - Office of International Affairs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Security Division (NSD) Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 24-199 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Problems Seen Remaining in Kazakhstan Despite New Government By Naubet Bisenov February 22, 2024 Kazakhstan has a new government with a big mandate from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev - to clean up the fallout from years of corruption while delivering a huge boost in the size of the economy over the next five years. Tokayev accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and his government on Feb. 5 in what was seen as a bid to consolidate his power two years after deadly unrest rocked the country. The next day, Tokayev replaced Smailov with his 43-year-old chief of staff, Olzhas Bektenov, who had previously served as the country's corruption czar. Smailov became prime minister in January 2022 after an earlier government was dismissed for increasing fuel prices, a move that sparked protests that turned violent and resulted in at least 238 deaths. Smailov was considered a compromise figure to ease the transition from a political setup in which long-time ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev still exercised enormous powers through his chairmanship of the Security Council a a body that had the power to overrule presidential decisions a despite having resigned the presidency in 2019. Tokayev replaced Nazarbayev as chairman of the Security Council days before Smailov's appointment. Bektenov is seen as having been picked because of his loyalty to Tokayev, although he has no experience holding executive posts in the government; his anticorruption position was not part of the government. Moreover, although Tokayev has highlighted Bektenov's "vast knowledge in the economic sphere and other spheres" and "great organizational skills," others expressed doubts. "He's loyal to the president and enjoys his trust," Shalkar Nurseitov, director of the Almaty-based Center for Policy Solutions think tank, told VOA. With an eye on his own legacy, Tokayev is placing his confidence in Bektenov to deliver an economic revolution that will boost the size of the economy to $450 billion by 2029, when he is due to leave office. For this to happen, the government calculates that the economy would have to grow, considering exchange rate changes and other factors, by at least 6% annually over the coming years - an ambitious target that the former government was clearly not going to deliver, experts say. The country's gross domestic product grew by 5.1% last year. After Smailov's government resigned, the president leveled a host of criticisms at the former Cabinet, complaining about the low efficiency of the budget, tax policies, and government spending of public funds. He also accused it of focusing too much on immediate problems rather than pursuing long-term strategies. "The efficiency of the budget and tax policy should be radically improved. ... This means the government still faces an objective of efficiently managing budget and making quality forecasts for budget parameters," Tokayev said. "Another systemic problem is the way the budget is spent, because it doesn't promote economic activity, but money is spent on solving immediate problems, while strategic goals take a back seat," he said while chairing the new government's meeting Feb. 7. Retreat from tax reform proposal Bektenov's government has already retreated from one key proposal of the old Cabinet, to raise Kazakhstan's value added tax to reduce the budget deficit, estimated at $6.2 billion in 2023. That proposal would have raised the rate from 12% to 16% but without eliminating provisions that allow large companies to claim it back. Kassymkhan Kapparov, the founder of the Ekonomist.kz economic analysis website, told VOA that the VAT structure benefits mostly large corporations, such as oil giants Chevron and Shell, because as foreign investors or exporters they can claim it back. Tokayev criticized the plan to boost the tax because of opposition from business and called for "reforming" it. Bektenov subsequently said the plan would be abandoned, although he did not say what would replace it and he has not said how the government will meet its ambitious growth target. "Tokayev's criticism of VAT sends a message to them [Chevron and other exporters and investors] that this loophole would be closed or their contracts should be renegotiated," Kapparov said, noting there had been discussions about replacing it with a sales tax. "Sales tax is more transparent than VAT and it works in the U.S.," he said. Bektenov's performance in his former role as anti-corruption czar, when he was charged with recouping assets illegally appropriated during Nazarbayev's rule, evidently pleased his boss, who said efforts to claw back illicit assets would continue. As of late last year, the state had recouped some $2.2 billion, including $600 million from abroad, according to government figures. However, skeptics are not convinced by the Tokayev's anticorruption drive, which officials tout as part of their efforts to rid Kazakhstan of the legacy of Nazarbayev. The former president fell into disgrace after the violent unrest in 2022, in which some of his associates are believed to have been complicit. Nurseitov, from the Center for Policy Solutions, pointed to a lack of transparency in the asset return program, with neither the public nor parliament provided with specifics about what the assets are, who appropriated them, and whether those who engaged in wrongdoing faced any repercussions. "The main issue is where these assets are being returned to. It looks more like the redistribution of property rather than return of assets to the state coffers because there is no transparency or any information," he said. "Tokayev now has to solve all the problems in the system and while attempting to clean all that mess up, placing responsibility on the old regime," Kapparov said. "Everything that was stolen during Nazarbayev's rule he would try to bring to light to show that he is different from his predecessor and cares about the state and people." With the change of government, Tokayev is trying to emphasize the difference between the old regime and what he bills as his New Kazakhstan. Part of his strategy is to tackle some of the economic problems that sparked the socioeconomic grievances that brought the public out onto the streets in 2022. Although he has instituted some political reforms over the last two years, analysts say he is not rooting out the authoritarianism that is Nazarbayev's main legacy. "We don't see the main fight against the most important legacy - authoritarianism. On the contrary, the current authorities aim to benefit from this system," Nurseitov said, "Only the frontman and his entourage have changed." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar: Mandatory conscription shows junta's 'desperation', rights expert says 21 February 2024 - Myanmar's military government is becoming an even greater threat to civilians following the imposition of a mandatory draft this month, the UN independent expert on human rights in the country said on Wednesday. Describing the move as a further sign of the junta's "weakness and desperation", Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews called for stronger international action to protect vulnerable populations across the country. "While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous," he said. "Troop losses and recruitment challenges have become existential threats for the junta, which faces vigorous attacks on frontlines all across the country." Filling the ranks The junta issued an order on 10 February that he said purportedly brought the 2010 People's Military Service Law into force. Men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 can now be drafted into the army, though "professional" men and women up to the ages of 45 and 35, respectively, also may be conscripted. The plan is to enroll 5,000 people per month starting in April. Those who evade military service, or help others to do so, are subject to up to five years imprisonment. Appeal for action "As the junta forces young men and women into the military ranks, it has doubled down on its attacks on civilians using stockpiles of powerful weapons," Mr. Andrews said. He added that in the face of inaction by the UN Security Council, countries must strengthen and coordinate measures to reduce the junta's access to the weapons and financing it needs to sustain attacks on the population. "Make no mistake, signs of desperation, such as the imposition of a draft, are not indications that the junta and its forces are less of a threat to the people of Myanmar. In fact, many are facing even greater dangers," he said. Coup, conflict and casualties The military seized power in Myanmar three years ago, deposing the elected Government. Army forces have since been battling with armed opposition groups, sparking mass displacement and casualties. Latest UN figures show that nearly 2.7 million people remain internally displaced nationwide, which includes almost 2.4 million who were uprooted after the February 2021 military takeover. Conflict continues to rage in various parts of the country, with a deteriorating situation in Rakhine state, located on the western coast, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported earlier this week. Rakhine has seen escalating fighting between the armed forces and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, which has constrained humanitarian access, despite escalating needs. Meanwhile, a ceasefire continues to hold in northern Shan state, allowing most of the people who were displaced at the end of 2023 to return home. Almost 23,000 civilians who fled the conflict escalation in the region last year remain displaced in 141 sites in 15 townships. OCHA added that the conflict situation in northwest and southeast Myanmar continues, with armed clashes, airstrikes and mortar shelling threatening civilian safety and driving displacement. Young people 'horrified' For Mr. Andrews, the junta's decision to activate the conscription law is an attempt to justify and expand a pattern of forced recruitment that is already affecting people across the country. He said that in recent months, young men have reportedly been kidnapped from the streets of Myanmar's cities or otherwise forced to join the military, while villagers have reportedly been used as porters and human shields. "Young people are horrified by the possibility of being forced to participate in the junta's reign of terror. The numbers fleeing across borders to escape conscription will surely skyrocket," he warned. The rights expert called for an infusion of humanitarian aid for impacted communities in Myanmar, including through the provision of cross-border aid, as well as greater support for leaders committed to a democratic transition. "Now, more than ever, the international community must act urgently to isolate the junta and protect the people of Myanmar," he said. About UN rapporteurs Special Rapporteurs like Mr. Andrews are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and given mandates to report on specific country situations or thematic issues. These experts work on a voluntary basis and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and are neither UN staff nor are they paid for their work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK government has summoned the Russian Embassy to make clear that we hold the Russian authorities fully responsible. 16 February 2024 A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: Alexei Navalny dedicated his life to exposing the corruption of the Russian system, calling for free and open politics, and holding the Kremlin to account. We stand today with his family, friends, colleagues and supporters. Our thoughts go out to them. The Russian authorities saw Mr Navalny as a threat. Many Russian citizens felt he gave them a voice. In recent years, the authorities imprisoned him on fabricated charges, poisoned him with a banned nerve agent, and sent him to an Arctic penal colony. No-one should doubt the brutal nature of the Russian system. His death must be investigated fully and transparently. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office today summoned the Russian Embassy to make clear that we hold the Russian authorities fully responsible. Mr Navalny was a man of great courage and iron will. Even from his prison cell, he continued to speak up for the rights of the Russian people. His dedication to human rights and exposing corruption was an inspiration to millions. The ideals for which he stood and died will live forever. Russia: ChargA d'Affaires a.i. of the Mission to the EU summoned by the EEAS European External Action Service (EEAS) 20.02.2024 EEAS Press Team The EEAS Managing Director for Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, regional cooperation and OSCE, Michael Siebert, summoned the ChargA d'Affaires a.i. of the Mission of the Russian Federation to the European Union, Kirill Logvinov, in Brussels. The EU side conveyed EU's outrage over the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities. Managing Director Siebert called upon Russia to allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of Alexei Navalny's sudden death. He urged Russia to release his body to his family without further delay and allow the family to organise a funeral. During the summoning of the Russian diplomat, Managing Director Siebert reiterated that Russia must immediately and unconditionally release all other political prisoners, as well as all those detained in cities across Russia when paying tribute to Alexei Navalny. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Visiting the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant Vladimir Putin visits the capital of Tatarstan and the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant. February 21, 2024 14:00 Kazan The President looked at information stands on the Kazan Aviation Plant's achievements and inspected three overhauled Tu-160M strategic missile carriers. Vladimir Putin climbed into the cockpit of one of them and sat at the control wheel. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Rostec Director General Sergei Chemezov and United Aircraft Corporation Director General Yury Slyusar accompanied the President during the visit to the plant. * * * The Kazan Aviation Plant, a Tupolev subsidiary, ranks among major Russian aviation industry enterprises and employed 8,400 people in 2023. The plant was modernised, its production and test-flight facilities were rebuilt, and the runway renovated. The design centre features modern equipment. The world's largest facility for machining titanium parts has been restored. Today, the Kazan Aviation Plant is preparing to produce new Tu-160M strategic bomber/missile carriers, a new version of the legendary Tu-160 plane. There are also plans to expand production of Tu-214 passenger airliners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Presentation of state decorations to military units and divisions of the Aerospace Forces The President presented state decorations to the military units and divisions of the Aerospace Forces at Chkalovsky airfield. February 21, 2024 11:40 Moscow Region Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu welcomed the President and reported that the troops were ready for the ceremony. The Order of Suvorov was presented to the 344th Combat Training and Flight Crew Transition Centre of the Defence Ministry. The Order of Zhukov was presented to the flight personnel of the 15th Army Aviation Brigade. The Order of Kutuzov was presented to the 487th Separate Helicopter Regiment. Vladimir Putin also presented a copy of the Icon of Christ Not-Made-by-Hands to the High Command of the Aerospace Forces. The icon, which is respected as the patron of the Russian military, will be kept in the Church of Ascension at the Serpukhov Gate, the main church of the Aerospace Forces. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades, We are meeting ahead of the Defender of the Fatherland Day, and first of all, I would like to congratulate you on this day, which long ago became a nationwide holiday. I am happy to have this opportunity to present high state decorations to the military units and divisions of the Aerospace Forces. Their personnel, both privates and officers, acted bravely and courageously during the special military operation, making thousands of combat flights, demonstrating top skills and achieving their assigned objectives. You have been fighting selflessly, proving your commitment to the oath and the best Russian military traditions. These traditions were forged over centuries by our great military leaders, privates and officers, the loyal sons and daughters of our Fatherland. We are proud of their achievements and victories, and their names will always be associated with courage and the boundless respect of the Russian people for their army. Training is an integral part of the "science of victory." The Order of Suvorov has been awarded to the 344th Combat Training and Flight Crew Transition Centre of the Defence Ministry. It has created a unique base for military professionals and conducts operational trials of advanced aviation equipment. A special helicopter group set up at the centre is working in the special military operation zone, and the centre's tactical warfare studies have been used to expand the potential uses of the Aerospace Forces. The Order of Zhukov has been awarded to the flight personnel of the 15th Army Aviation Brigade. Thanks to their heroic operation and faultless training, we achieved a breakthrough in the most complicated parts of the front. The Order of Kutuzov has been awarded to the 487th Separate Helicopter Regiment. Its pilots demonstrated exceptional courage and professionalism, proving on numerous occasions their ability to act effectively in combat, achieve their objectives and quickly carry out search and rescue missions. Friends, I would like to congratulate you once again on the upcoming professional day and on the presentation of the decorations you fully deserve. Thank you for your courage and your commitment to the homeland. I wish you further success and all the best to your families and loved ones. Let us commence. (The awards ceremony.) Vladimir Putin: Friends, Today we are presenting the Icon of Christ Not-Made-by-Hands to the High Command of the Aerospace Forces. It is a copy of an icon that has an enormous historical value and a special spiritual significance. It has long been the patron of the Russian military and a bright symbol of our miliary victories, our traditions and our faith. Let this icon continue to safeguard and protect our military personnel and strengthen their commitment to their service and their resolve to carry on the righteous struggle for the right cause, for our people and for our Russia. We have great respect for our brothers of Russia's other traditional religions. They are fighting side by side with us, and they are also with us spiritually. I congratulate you on receiving this icon. Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces Viktor Afzalov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Allow me to thank you for praising the achievements of military units of the Aerospace Forces and for presenting us with a copy of the Icon of Christ Not-Made-by-Hands. We will send this holy relic to all our military units and organisations, and we will keep it at the Main Cathedral of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, allow me to assure you that the Aerospace Forces are ready to accomplish our objectives in defence of the Fatherland, in keeping with its motto: Success in the Air - Victory on the Ground. I salute you! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CCTV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi just wrapped up his visit to Europe. Apart from visiting Spain and France, Minister Wang also met during the Munich Security Conference with leaders or foreign ministers from several European countries, including Serbia, Germany, the UK and Poland. He also held a meeting with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. What kind of signal does this visit send on the future of China-Europe relations? Mao Ning: Two decades on since China and the EU forged a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two sides have become two major forces promoting a multi-polar world, two major markets supporting globalization and two major civilizations advocating diversity. The world has entered a new period of disorder and transformation, which further highlights the strategic significance and global influence of China-Europe relations. Europe is a key priority for Chinas major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and also an important partner for achieving Chinese Modernization. We welcome Europe to share the opportunities provided by Chinas supersize market and to actively participate in Chinas high-level and institutional opening-up. We believe European countries will see more opportunities for cooperation in Chinas high-quality development. The European side is positive in enhancing exchanges at all levels between China and Europe and is enthusiastic about deepening practical cooperation. They hope that more concrete outcomes will be achieved in cooperation of areas such as economy and trade, energy, green and digital development, education and people-to-people exchange. Both China and Europe support a multi-polar world, greater democracy in international relations and the important role of the UN and oppose bloc confrontation and zero-sum games. The two sides will strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks, including the UN, WTO and G20 to jointly facilitate a political settlement of hot-spot issues and build international consensus and play a leading role in tackling climate change, AI and other major agenda. In the future, the two sides will always make partnership the underlining tone and cooperation the defining feature of China-EU relations. The two sides will seek common ground while shelving and resolving differences to promote steady progress and long-term development of China-Europe relations. Reuters: Today, Mike Gallagher and other US lawmakers emphasized during their visit to Taiwan that the US will continue to support Taiwan, no matter who becomes the next US president. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. China opposes any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan authorities and rejects US interference in Taiwan affairs in whatever form or under whatever pretext. We urge the US to be mindful of the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan question, abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, prudently and properly handle issues relating to Taiwan, stop official contact with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces for Taiwan independence. Xinhua News Agency: Today marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the Republic of the Congo. How would China comment on the growth of China-ROC relations in the past six decades? What is Chinas expectation for deeper and broader cooperation between the two countries and the growth of the overall relations between China and African countries in the future? Mao Ning: Today marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of the Congo. President Xi Jinping and President Denis Sassou-NGuesso exchanged messages of congratulations to commemorate this important day. When meeting with President Sassou-NGuesso last October, President Xi Jinping noted that shared ideals, mutual trust and mutual support are the key to the sustained and steady growth of China-Congo relations. Over the past six decades, no matter how the international landscape has evolved, the two countries have always shared weal and woe, and given each other mutual understanding and support on major issues of core interests. Our two countries have journeyed together with similar philosophies, and been each others true partners with mutual trust and iron-clad friends with mutual support. Over the past six decades, the two sides have striven forward together, made solid efforts and engaged in sincere cooperation that delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples. The No.1 National Highway in the Congo has shortened travel time between the capital Brazzaville and the economic center Pointe-Noire from one week to eight hours. The Sino-Congolese Bank for Africa is providing convenient financial services to local residents. The aircraft maintenance center that is under construction will further boost the aviation industry of the Congo and the sub-region. The China-Congo Friendship Primary School, built with the aid from the Congo to the earthquake-stricken area in Yushu, Qinghai, is a vivid illustration of China-Congo friendship that shines in difficult times. Going forward, China stands ready to continue working with the Congo to deliver on the common understandings of the leaders of the two countries and bring the China-Congo comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. China will take the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation meetings to be held this year as an opportunity to seek synergy between Chinese modernization and Africas peace and development, work with friendly countries of Africa including the Congo, and build the China-Africa community with a shared future at a higher level. Fuji TV: The international community is closely watching the incident in the Taiwan Strait. No side wants to see any escalation. In Chinas view, whats the most appropriate way to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait? Mao Ning: First of all, cross-Strait issues are not diplomatic issues, so Id refer you to competent authorities. To uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the key is to adhere to the one-China principle and firmly oppose Taiwan independence. China Daily: Its reported Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro recently commented that the old colonial world characterized by wars, interventions, genocide, and a superiority complex is being replaced by a new world order in which BRICS plays a significant role. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: As an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS is committed to upholding multilateralism and has taken an active part in global economic governance to make the international order more just and equitable. Amid emerging risks and challenges in todays world, the developing countries share an increasing desire to pursue solidarity and progress, reject external interference and seek strength through unity. That is why BRICS is widely recognized by the emerging markets and developing countries and has become a staunch force for good in international affairs. BRICS advocates openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation for common development and prosperity. China stands ready to work with all parties to continue to deepen the BRICS strategic partnership, actively expand practical cooperation in various areas, with a view to advancing a more balanced and effective global governance architecture and making more BRICS contribution to world peace and development. Bloomberg: I have two questions from Bloomberg. The first one is that there have been more media reports on the US telling allies that Russia plans to launch a nuclear weapon into space likely this year. Russia has denied such an intention. We wondered if the Foreign Ministry could share Chinas position on sending nuclear weapons into space? The second question, according to the Chinese Embassy in the US, Chinas wildlife agency reached an agreement with the San Diego Zoo in California and also the Madrid Zoo in Spain on a new round of international cooperation on panda conservation. We wondered if China will be sending more pandas to the United States? Mao Ning: On your first question, Chinas position on space arms control is consistent and clear. We advocate the peaceful use of space and oppose arms race in space or weaponizing the space. On your second question, about giant panda international cooperation, this morning, the China Wildlife Conservation Association announced that China will carry out a new round of international cooperation on giant panda conservation. Giant pandas are a national treasure of China and enjoy affection from people across the world. Since the 1990s, China has carried out giant panda conservation cooperation with 26 institutions from 20 countries, which enhanced the capacity for giant panda conservation and research, increased international cooperation on rare and endangered wildlife conversation, and deepened friendship between the people of China and other countries. We learned that relevant Chinese authorities have signed new agreements with Zoo Madrid of Spain and San Diego Zoo of the US on cooperation on giant panda conservation. There is ongoing consultation with the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and Schonbrunn Zoo in Austria on new giant panda cooperation. We hope that the new round of international cooperation on giant panda conservation between China and relevant countries will further enrich scientific research in protecting giant panda and other endangered species, and forge closer bonds between our peoples. CCTV: Its reported the Pentagon said the US Department of State has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of advanced tactical data link system upgrade planning worth USD 75 million. Whats the Foreign Ministrys comment? Mao Ning: The US arms sales to Chinas Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique of 1982. Such sales undermine Chinas sovereignty and security interests, and harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China always firmly opposes them. We urge the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, stop selling arms to Taiwan and having military contact with Taiwan, and stop creating factors that could cause tensions in the Taiwan Strait. China will take strong and resolute measures to firmly defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. AFP: A Chinese tech security company was able to breach foreign governments, infiltrate social media accounts and hack personal computers, according to a massive data leak analyzed by experts. This company is called Anxun. The company has competed for Chinese government contracts. I have a specific question for you. Can you specifically confirm or deny whether the Chinese government has hired third-party contractors to conduct hacking operations abroad? Mao Ning: I don't have the specific information on what you mentioned. As a principle, China firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with the law. Kyodo News: According to a report by Japanese opposition party Social Democratic Party (SDP), when meeting with SDP Leader Fukushima Mizuho this January, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said China is considering removing the suspension of all seafood imports from Japan but such removal will not come off now. Can you confirm this consideration? Mao Ning: We stand by our position on the ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water. Their work should be applauded. And now it is being rewarded. East Side residents who later formed the Restore Our Community Coalition, organized in the early 2000s to discuss something that had barely been dreamed of: undoing the unspeakable damage that the intrusion of the Kensington Expressway/Route 33 inflicted on their neighborhoods. However this goes, its an important moment. Gov. Kathy Hochuls announcement last week that a final approval from the Federal Highway Administration had been received and that construction could start was cause for joy for all those who have fully embraced ROCCs efforts and believe a cap over the expressway, from Dodge Street near Martin Luther King Jr. Park to Sidney Street, will go a long way toward healing the wounds this highway has caused. The cap, to be planted with trees and other landscape features, would, for three-quarters of a mile, approximate what existed decades ago: Olmsteds Humboldt Parkway, which was harmonious with its surrounding neighborhoods, not destructive of them. The cost is estimated to be $1 billion; Route 33 traffic would flow in a tunnel underneath the cap. It is not the full parkway restoration and filling in of the highway between Delaware and MLK Park that many advocates have more recently called for. And there are questions that remain to be satisfactorily answered. What about the plumes of exhaust that will be pushed out of either end of the traffic tunnel with fans? The New York Department of Transportation says these emissions are within federal standards, but, with respiratory health along this corridor already a problem, its not surprising that many doubt these assurances. Originally, a more comprehensive air filtration system was under consideration. If this project is constructed, the impact on the health of nearby residents needs to be closely monitored. And will the cap be extended? Given the price tag of this project in conjunction with the disappearance of pandemic-related government largesse, its reasonable to question if the cap could ever be later extended to Delaware Park, a significant reconnection that would better deserve the term transformative. Some experts whove studied the project cite the underground existence of Scajaquada Creek as a formidable barrier to any extension, even if the money were there. Buffalo residents deserve real answers that take these issues into account. The cap project has benefits. It will connect the streets along its 3/4-mile length; the residents on those streets will be able to look out their windows at greenspace and a tree-lined parkway, not down into an exhaust-filled highway cavern. Theyll be able to walk across from one neighborhood to the next in a way that has not been possible for more than 60 years. And its no small thing that 9 miles of surrounding streets will receive new hardscaping. But this project cannot really be compared to the highway removals underway in Syracuse and Rochester. Rochesters Inner Loop has been partially transformed with more in the works from a sunken highway to a walkable, bikeable boulevard, removing 12 lanes of high-speed roadway. In Syracuse, an elevated highway that splits the city will be removed. Both of these projects go further than whats planned for the Kensington Expressway, and cannot fairly be grouped with the Buffalo project, as Hochul did in her speech announcing the federal approvals. The expressway, itself, will essentially remain as it is. Construction on the Kensington project may begin as early as this fall, though its opponents, the East Side Parkways Coalition, dont seem ready to concede and theres at least one lawsuit in the works. But even those who rally against the project nearly always begin by lauding ROCCs longtime chairwoman, Stephanie Barber Geter, who died earlier this year. More than anyone, Barber Geter understood the damage that was done to her community and wouldnt give up on fighting to correct the errors of the past. Without her work, and the work of those who fought with her, last weeks announcement would not have been possible. These activists, and everyone who has been harmed by the expressway, deserve that this project lives up to its promises. Supreme Court Rejects Nadezhdin's Latest Appeal Over Decision To Bar Him From Russian Presidential Vote By RFE/RL's Russian Service February 21, 2024 Russia's Supreme Court on February 21 threw out anti-war presidential candidate Boris Nadezhdin's latest appeal of the Central Election Commission's (TsIK) decision to bar him from next month's presidential election. The Uzbekistan-born 60-year-old academic and former lawmaker had appealed the Central Election Commission's final decision to bar him from the election. TsIK, which routinely refuses to register would-be opposition candidates on the pretext that they submitted an insufficient number of valid signatures, disqualified thousands of signatures Nadezhdin's representatives gathered across the country to reach the 100,000-signature threshold needed to be registered as a candidate. "The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation refused to satisfy my claim to challenge the refusal to register. I will appeal the decision within 5 days. On February 26, the Court will consider appeals on the first two claims," Nadezhdin said in a post on Telegram. "I will not accept failure." Last week the same court rejected two other appeals he filed over TsIK decisions related to the collection of signatures on petitions to register his candidacy. The decision on February 21 can be appealed to the Appeal Board of the Supreme Court. The first appeal was related to the TsIK's explanation of its decision by the fact that many of Nadezhdin's representatives who collected the signatures had power of attorney papers certified by notary offices in regions other than the ones in which they were collecting signatures. Nadezhdin insists that TsIK abused its powers because no Russian law says signature collectors' powers of attorney must be certified by notary offices in the same regions where the signatures are collected. In his second appeal, Nadezhdin questioned the TsIK's documents on checking his supporters' signatures, saying the TsIK failed to add written conclusions of handwriting experts to its signatures' inspection protocols. Nadezhdin, who was proposed as a presidential candidate by the Civic Platform party, is the only politician with presidential ambitions who has publicly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and criticized incumbent Vladimir Putin. Russia's presidential election is scheduled to be held March 15-17. Russian elections are tightly controlled by the Kremlin and are neither free nor fair but are viewed by the government as necessary to convey a sense of legitimacy. They are mangled by the exclusion of opposition candidates, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, and other means of manipulation. Meanwhile, the Kremlin's tight grip on politics, media, law enforcement, and other levers means Putin, who has ruled Russia as president or prime minister since 1999, is certain to win, barring a very big, unexpected development. But the surprising show of support for the little-known Nadezhdin, whose platform says the invasion of Ukraine was a "fatal mistake" and accuses Putin of dragging Russia into the past instead of building a sustainable future, is complicating the Kremlin's more aggressive ambition of boosting the perception of Putin's legitimacy. Those who were expected to be Putin's main challengers currently are either incarcerated or fled the country, fearing for their safety. Aleksei Navalny, a leading opposition voice who attempted to run against Putin in 2018, was barred by the TsIK over a conviction in a fraud case in what is widely seen as a politically motivated conviction. Navalny died in prison on February 16 after he reportedly collapsed while being on a daily walk out of his cell. No official cause of death has been given by authorities, who have refused to turn the body over to family saying they will need two weeks to investigate "chemical forensics." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-supreme-court-appeal- nadezhdin-election/32829618.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dodik Doubles Down On Refusal To Join Sanctions Against Moscow In Meeting With Putin By RFE/RL's Balkan Service February 21, 2024 Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russia president of the Serbian entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 and reaffirmed the entity's refusal to join Western sanctions against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, said he "confirmed the good relations" that Republika Srpska has "with the Russian state and with you" at the meeting in the Russian republic of Tatarstan. "What we are doing in the current circumstances is that we reject any possibility of joining Western sanctions against Russia," Dodik added, according to Radio-Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS), the Bosnian entity's public broadcaster. It was Dodik's fourth meeting with Putin since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Dodik is under U.S. and U.K. sanctions for his alleged obstruction of the Dayton agreement and violating the legitimacy of Bosnia. He has spent the past two years attempting to erode central Bosnian authority and establishing parallel institutions to further his longtime threats to divide the country for good, receiving harsh rebukes from Western officials. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia told RFE/RL that Bosnia "has undertaken to follow the security and foreign policy guidelines of the EU" as a candidate country for membership. "This excludes cooperation with countries that are under sanctions, as well as personal meetings with the heads of those countries," the OHR said. In addition to its EU candidate status, granted in December 2022, Bosnia as a nation has joined the EU sanctions against Moscow. However, the implementation has faced obstacles due to the obstruction by Republika Srpska officials led by Dodik. Dodik is among the few Western Balkan officials to engage in talks with Russian and Belarusian counterparts despite Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Putin said Dodik's visit would be "useful" and expressed gratitude for regular contacts, Republika Srpska news agency SRNA reported. "Representatives of the [Republika Srpska] leadership visit us regularly. We cooperate with you in various fields," Putin said, according to SRNA. "I am sure that this visit will also be useful, and that we will use the time to discuss bilateral relations in a whole range of areas." He added that "Russia knows that the situation is not simple." Dodik and Putin last met in Moscow in May 2023, when Dodik said Republika Srpska "remains pro-Russian, anti-Western, and anti-American." European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi warned then that EU allies "don't go to Russia." Dodik arrived in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, after a two-day visit to Belarus that included a meeting with Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Minsk on February 19. Lukashenka and his allies are isolated and under a series of Western sanctions over the brutal crackdown on mass protests that followed Lukashenka's disputed reelection in 2020 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. With reporting by Goran Katic Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-dodik-refusal- sanctions-moscow-meeting-putin/32829529.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Approves 'One Of Broadest' Sanctions Packages Against Russia So Far By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 21, 2024 The European Union has approved a new package of sanctions against Russia, its 13th since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, in what the bloc's rotating president Belgium said was "one of the broadest approved by the EU." The new package, agreed on February 21, will add nearly 200 more entities and individuals to the list and will include restrictions aimed at blocking the purchase of "drone components that end up in the Russian military complex and then on the battlefield in Ukraine," EU diplomats were quoted as saying, adding that the list includes several Russian companies, as well as third countries. The Belgian presidency said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the package will be formally approved for February 24, the second anniversary of the start of Russia's invasion. RFE/RL journalists who saw the sanctions lists as it was being prepared for publication said sectoral sanctions apply to 27 companies, among them some from China, India, Turkey, Serbia, and Kazakhstan. The EU ambassadors also reportedly rejected an attempt by Hungary to strike down the names of three Russian oligarchs -- Alisher Usmanov, Vyacheslav Kantor, and Dmitry Mazepin, Jr. -- from the lists. The list includes the names of 48 heads of military companies as well as more than 50 companies that produce heavy and light weaponry and their components as well as IT and logistics firms that cooperate with the Russian Defense Ministry and the firms' chiefs. It also includes 12 individuals who hold self-styled positions of judges and ministers in the Russian-imposed institutions in occupied territories in Ukraine. Among them is Valentina Lavryk, the so-called minister of education, science, and youth in occupied Crimea, who "controls the implementation of the militarization of education for Ukrainian children in...Crimea, as well as the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture for these children," according to the document that justifies the sanctions. Lavryk, the document adds, was "responsible for the coordination and supervision of the transfer of children from the illegally occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya to camps located in Crimea," the document says. The list also includes the so-called acting ministers of health, labor, education, youth policies, and industry of the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/european-union-new-russia- sanctions/32829071.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Adds Navalny's Self-Exiled Brother To Its 'Wanted List' Again By RFE/RL's North.Realities February 21, 2024 Russia's Interior Ministry on February 20 again added self-exiled Oleg Navalny, a younger brother of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who died in Russian prison last week, to it "wanted list" on unspecified charges. The last time the ministry added Oleg Navalny to its wanted list was in January 2022 after penitentiary service officials demanded a one-year suspended prison term handed to Oleg Navalny in 2021 on a charge of violating COVID-19 prevention regulations be turned into a real prison term. In February 2022, a Moscow court approved the penitentiary service officials' demand, but Oleg Navalny had fled Russia by that time. That request was canceled later, most likely because time ran out under the statute of limitations. Oleg Navalny's current whereabouts are unknown. He was given the one-year suspended prison sentence after a court in Moscow in August 2021 found him guilty of publicly calling for the violation of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. He and his supporters called the sentence politically motivated. In 2014, Oleg and Aleksei Navalny were convicted of stealing about $500,000 from two Russian firms, one of which was affiliated with the French cosmetics company Yves Rocher, and of laundering some of the money. Both were sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, but Aleksei's sentence was suspended at the time. The brothers denied the charges, saying the case was politically motivated -- in part as an effort to turn Oleg Navalny into a "hostage" who could be used to blackmail his brother into refraining from his political and anti-corruption activism. In late June 2018, Oleg Navalny was released from prison after serving a 3 1/2-year prison term. His eldest brother, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin and his government, died last week in a notorious Polar Wolf prison in the remote Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region in the Arctic, where he was transferred in December after a court extended his prison term to 19 years on extremism charges which Aleksei Navalny and his associates rejected, calling them politically motivated. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/oleg-navalny-russia-wanted- list/32828630.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro 21 February 2024 00:33 325-21-02-2024 Thank you very much, Mr President. It is good to see you. I am happy to be back in Caracas among friends, at home, as you said. President Vladimir Putin sends you his warmest greetings and best wishes. On February 17, three days ago, we marked the 167th anniversary of our interstate ties. Since then, our friendship and the traditions accumulated over this period have been strengthening and contributing to the development of bilateral relations, and the mobilisation of supporters of a just world order to fight against the manifestations of diktat, blackmail, Nazism and colonialism. Today we had useful meetings with Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and talks with Foreign Minister Yvan Gil. We confirmed good progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation, including in trade and the economy. The latest meeting of the High-Level Intergovernmental Russian-Venezuelan Commission outlined a truly long-term, sustainable and mutually beneficial programme in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medicine, space, and high technology. We talked about our cultural ties. In the morning we unveiled a monument to Alexander Pushkin. It was a bright event with the participation of the Mayor of Caracas Carmen Melendez and the Minister of Culture Ernesto Villegas. We discussed our cooperation in the international arena, primarily in the UN and other platforms. The fight against unilateralism, diktat and blackmail in world affairs is now led by the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter, established on the initiative of Venezuela with our support. It is attracting a growing number of supporters. At the same time, the "For the Freedom of Nations" Forum of Supporters of the Struggle Against Modern Practices of Neocolonialism was recently held with the participation of Venezuelan friends. We are aware of the interest of our Venezuelan friends in rapprochement with BRICS. Russia, as chair of the association this year, will contribute to this. Nicolas Maduro: I hope we will hear good news soon. When are the elections in Russia? Sergey Lavrov: March 17. Nicolas Maduro: Immediately after them, I would like to visit Moscow to celebrate the victory of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sergey Lavrov: We look forward to seeing you, Mr President. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK sanctions heads of Arctic penal colony where Alexei Navalny was killed The UK has sanctioned 6 individuals heading up the penal colony where Alexei Navalny died on 16 February 2023. 21 February 2024 the UK has sanctioned 6 individuals heading up the penal colony where Alexei Navalny died on Friday after years of mistreatment by the Russian authorities sanctioned individuals will be subject to asset freezes and travel bans the UK calls for Mr Navalny's body to be released to his family immediately and for a full and transparent investigation to take place Those in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was detained and killed will be banned from the UK and see their assets frozen under new sanctions announced by the Foreign Secretary today. The sanctioned individuals include Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, who oversaw the brutal prison camp where Mr Navalny was kept in solitary confinement for up to 2 weeks at a time. Mr Navalny's condition had deteriorated in his 3 years in prison. Mr Navalny suffered from being denied medical treatment, as well as having to walk in -32C weather while being held in the prison. The UK is the first country to impose sanctions in response to the death of Mr Navalny, a political prisoner who dedicated his life to exposing the corruption of the Russian system, calling for free and open politics, and holding the Kremlin to account. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: It's clear that the Russian authorities saw Navalny as a threat and they tried repeatedly to silence him. FSB operatives poisoned him with Novichok in 2020, they imprisoned him for peaceful political activities, and they sent him to an Arctic penal colony. No-one should doubt the oppressive nature of the Russian system. That's why we're today sanctioning the most senior prison officials responsible for his custody in the penal colony where he spent his final months. Those responsible for Navalny's brutal treatment should be under no illusion - we will hold them accountable. The following individuals are being sanctioned under the UK's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations for their responsibility for activity that violates the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right to life. Namely, they are responsible for the custody of Alexei Navalny in their positions as Head or Deputy Head of Arctic Penal Colony IK-3: Colonel Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin: Head of IK-3 Arctic Penal Colony 'Polar Wolf' Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Nikolaevich Korzhov: Deputy Head Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Alexandrovich Vydrin: Deputy Head Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Ivanovich Pilipchik: Deputy Head Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Vladimirovich Golyakov: Deputy Head Colonel Aleksandr Valerievich Obraztsov: Deputy Head Following Mr Navalny's death on Friday, the FCDO summoned a representative of the Russian government to make clear that Alexei Navalny's death must be investigated fully and transparently, and those in the Russian regime responsible held to account. Following news that Mr Navalny's family is being denied access to his body, the UK is also calling for the Russian authorities to release his body to them immediately. The Foreign Secretary will attend the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brazil today, where he will use the opportunity to call out Russia's aggression and its global impact directly to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Background We designated 13 individuals and 1 entity in 2020) and 2021 in response to Mr Navalny's poisoning. We have designated 29 of those on the original 'Navalny List' of 35 individuals linked to his poisoning and imprisonment in 2020. The UK has sanctioned over 1,900 individuals and entities under the Russia sanctions regime, over 1,700 of which were sanctioned since President Putin's full-scale invasion. Definitions asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two killed as fresh Israeli strike targets position in southwestern Damascus Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 9:27 AM At least two people have been killed when Israeli military aircraft carried out an airstrike against a residential building in the southwestern sector of the Syrian capital city of Damascus. The state-run al-Ikhbariyah Syria television news channel reported that an Israeli attack with a number of missiles targeted an apartment in the Kafr Sousa residential neighborhood. The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) also published images from the Israeli air raid, showing the outside of multi-story building partially blackened and windows blown out. An unnamed military source was later quoted by SANA as saying that "the Israeli enemy perpetrated an air aggression at around 9:40 a.m. local time (0740 GMT) on Wednesday, and fired missiles from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights at a residential building in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood of Damascus." The source added that the airstrike resulted in the death of two civilians as well as injury of another individual. It also inflicted material damage to the targeted apartment and adjacent buildings. The upsurge in Israel's acts of aggression against Syria comes following the Tel Aviv regime's onslaught against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel waged the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm in the occupied territories in retaliation for the Tel Aviv regime's incessant crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Since the start of the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 29,195 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 69,170 others. Israel also frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria Says Israeli Airstrike Hit Damascus By VOA News February 21, 2024 Syria said Wednesday that Israeli airstrikes hit a residential building in Damascus, killing at least two people. Syrian state media said the strikes took place in the Kfar Sousseh neighborhood, which is also home to security and military headquarters. There was no immediate comment on the strikes from the Israeli military, which has carried out numerous airstrikes in Syria in recent years. Israel rarely acknowledges the strikes but has said its actions in Syria target Iran-backed forces. A February 2023 airstrike hit the same neighborhood as the one in Wednesday's attack, killing several Iranian military experts. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CGA fails to clarify if collision caused fatal capsizing ROC Central News Agency 02/21/2024 07:42 PM Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Wednesday failed to clarify if a patrol boat hitting a Chinese vessel it was pursuing caused a fatal capsizing off the coast of Kinmen last week. In a press release, CGA Fleet Branch Director Liao Te-cheng () said only that the brief five-minute maritime pursuit could not be fully documented, without addressing the cause of the Chinese vessel's capsizing. Liao was referring to a CGA patrol boat's pursuit of a trespassing Chinese vessel off the coast of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen on Feb. 14, which left two of the Chinese vessel's crew dead. "While the situation may have resulted in the dispersion of evidence, it does not change what really happened," Liao said. Earlier on Wednesday, the Chinese-language newspaper United Daily News reported that the CGA crew involved admitted during questioning that there were collisions during the chase, citing Shih Chia-jung (), head prosecutor of Fuchien Kinmen District Prosecutors Office. However, Shih said in a video posted following the report's publication that the Fuchien Kinmen District Prosecutors' Office "has not expressed any opinion to the media regarding the attribution of responsibility for the incident." "Whether the vessels collided and overturned has not been confirmed by either the spokesperson for the district prosecutors' office or in a press release," Shih added. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the CGA issued a statement saying that as its patrol boat attempted an inspection, the Chinese vessel fled in a "zigzagging fashion." During the chase, the Chinese boat "accidentally capsized," causing four of its crew to fall into the water, according to the CGA. Although the patrol boat was able to rescue all four from the water, two of the crew members were later declared dead at hospital, the CGA said. While the CGA press release on Wednesday did not respond directly to the UDN report, it did say that coast guardsmen faced challenges collecting evidence of the high-speed pursuit in which repeated contacts between vessels took place. According to the CGA, the four CGA members onboard-- two preparing for inspection, one operating the boat, and another responsible for vigilance and evidence collection-- had to remain focused on maintaining balance before a secure boarding. The CGA said it would consider upgrading evidence collection facilities on its relatively small 10-ton inspection boats, such as installing cameras on the gunwale, to avoid the same situation where the crew have no time to reach hand-held cameras kept in the cabin. Meanwhile, Kuan Bi-ling (), head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, which oversees the CGA, said in a Facebook post Wednesday that "every CGA chase involves multiple contacts." "The CGA has no reason to hide the facts," Kuan added. According to prosecutors, the two survivors, who were deported back to China Tuesday, said they had no objection to the law enforcement procedures of the Coast Guard. However, during an interview with China Central Television on Wednesday, the two surviving Chinese crew members blamed the CGA for the capsizing, saying that the patrol boat had rammed their own vessel. "Our boat couldn't have capsized on its own - even with a sharp turn. They [the CGA patrol boat] rammed us, flipped our boat and that's why we ended up in the water," the Chinese crew members said. (By Hung Hsiuh-kuang, Chang Yi-liang and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's military to stay out of China dispute to avoid escalation ROC Central News Agency 02/21/2024 02:13 PM Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) Taiwan's military has no intention to "directly intervene" in an ongoing maritime dispute with Beijing over an incident in waters off a Taiwan-held island near China's coast to avoid escalating tensions, it said Wednesday. Captain Lee Chang-fu () of the Ministry of National Defense's (MND) joint operations planning section said the case that triggered the dispute is under the jurisdiction of Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and is currently under investigation. For the time being, the military has chosen to keep close watch on the situation around Kinmen and will let the CGA do its job based on the principles of "no direct involvement, no escalating of tension," Lee said. The military has also not boosted its defense presence in the Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu islands following the incident, Lee said. Though it has no intention to intervene in the situation, however, the military has contingency measures in place should tensions with China escalate, Lee said. The MND also said it so far has found no irregularities in Chinese troop deployments in areas facing Taiwan following the Feb. 14 incident, in which two Chinese nationals died when their boat capsized while under pursuit by Taiwan's Coast Guard. The Chinese vessel was spotted trespassing in "prohibited" waters within 1.1 nautical miles of the eastern coast of Kinmen on Feb. 14. After refusing a Coast Guard request to board their vessel, the men fled, setting off the chase in which their speedboat capsized, according to the CGA. The two survivors on the capsized boat were deported back to China on Tuesday after being questioned by Kinmen prosecutors investigating the case. The incident near Kinmen, a frontline Taiwanese island less than 10 kilometers from the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, has led to verbal sniping between the two sides. Taiwan has maintained it was acting legally to chase off a boat that had entered prohibited waters, while China has condemned Taiwan for the men's deaths and disputed the legitimacy of Taiwan having "prohibited or restricted areas" around Kinmen. China pledged on Sunday that its own Coast Guard would begin regular patrols in Kinmen's vicinity. On Monday afternoon, Chinese Coast Guard personnel boarded and inspected a Taiwanese sightseeing vessel 2.8 nautical miles northwest of Kinmen's Wushajiao, sparking protests from Taiwanese officials. Taipei has since called on Beijing to exercise restraint as Taiwanese prosecutors investigate if there was any wrongdoing on the part of the Coast Guard authorities in the deaths of the two Chinese. (By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. calls for peace amid Taiwan-China maritime dispute ROC Central News Agency 02/21/2024 12:41 PM Washington, Feb. 20 (CNA) The United States reiterated its commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday amid a dispute triggered by a boat chase in waters near Taiwan-held Kinmen Island last week that led to the death of two Chinese nationals. Jake Sullivan, national security advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden, said in a regional press call that Washington has been clear on its stance on the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Although he declined to comment specifically on the incident, Sullivan said the U.S. is "against any kind of action, by any party, that undermines that peace and stability." Sullivan was referring to the dispute between Taiwan and China after a Chinese speedboat capsized while being pursued by Taiwanese authorities because it intruded in Taiwanese waters off the eastern coast of Kinmen on Feb. 14. Taipei and Beijing have traded barbs over the legitimacy of Taiwan's "restricted" and "prohibited" waters around the Kinmen coast, with Beijing announcing on Feb. 18 that it would enhance its maritime law enforcement capabilities and increase regular patrols in the region. On Feb. 19, the China Coast Guard (CCG) boarded a Kinmen sightseeing boat in the region by conducting a surprise inspection, and a CCG vessel entered "prohibited" waters off Kinmen's coast before being driven away by Taiwan's Coast Guard. The Kinmen Islands have long been considered a potential flashpoint in Taiwan-China relations because they are located less than 10 kilometers from China's southeastern coast. At a separate press briefing Tuesday, U.S. Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington is closely monitoring Beijing's actions, while it continues to "urge restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo." The U.S. also urged China to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan to reduce the risk of miscalculation, Miller said. (By Chiang Chin-yeh and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan authorities 'shoot self in foot' by concealing facts over fatal boat incident Global Times 'Taiwan side must give families of the victims, compatriots across Straits an explanation' By Deng Xiaoci Published: Feb 21, 2024 06:23 PM Taiwan authorities on Wednesday morning changed the wording and admitted there had been multiple collisions between vessels in the process of a fatal incident in which Taiwan authorities chased a Chinese mainland fishing boat and capsized it in waters near Kinmen Island, just a few kilometers off Xiamen city, Fujian Province, leading to the deaths of two mainland fishermen on February 14. Two survivors of the incident returned to the Chinese mainland on Tuesday, accompanied by representatives of the Red Cross Society of China branch from the port city of Quanzhou in Fujian. Mainland observers said such inconsistent behavior by the Taiwan authorities is emblematic of "shooting itself in the foot," adding that the motive behind Taiwan authorities' dishonesty is a means of acting tough while fearing serious consequences, with the initial accusation against the mainland vessel serving as a disguise. "We strongly condemn the Taiwan authorities' brutal treatment of mainland fishermen, and strongly condemn their disregard for life with 'violent law enforcement' and deliberately concealing the truth; we express strong indignation toward Taiwan authorities' inhumane and indifferent words and actions toward the incident," said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday. Zhu urged the Taiwan authorities promptly to disclose the truth and facts, and punish the people responsible severely. On February 14, a fishing boat from Fujian was brutally treated by Taiwan authorities in waters near Kinmen, leading to all four people on board falling into the sea, with two of them perishing. Initially, the Taiwan's ocean affairs authority accused the mainland fishing boat involved in the incident of refusing to be checked and sailing erratically, causing it to capsize. However, this wording by the Taiwan ocean affairs authority has been overturned after Kinmen authorities revealed on Tuesday that there had been multiple collisions between the vessels during a high-speed chase, and there was no video recorded to document the incident, Taiwan media reported on Wednesday. Per Taiwan media reports on Wednesday, the Taiwan ocean affairs authority admitted and confirmed the multiple collisions between the vessels. Local media criticized that the embarrassing situation lies at the feet of the Taiwan ocean affairs authority's dishonesty. A mainland observer reached by the Global Times on Wednesday said on condition of anonymity that the incident reflects to some extent that the Taiwan authorities aim to incite cross-Straits confrontations to steer the island's public opinion against the mainland. They also hope to test external support from foreign forces through the incident, but the reality proves that such a hard-line stance is futile. Taking into consideration the serious consequence of the fatal incident, in addition to "law-enforcement" measures that lack standard video recordings available to assist the investigation, it proves that the Taiwan authorities deliberately created the incident and concealed facts, which is a continuation of the island's long-term practice of brutal treatment against mainland fishermen in the waters of the Kinmen and Matsu islands, Wang Jianmin, a senior cross-Straits expert at Minnan Normal University in Fujian, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Defending the inconsistent wording, Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's ocean affairs authority wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the authority did not conceal the facts at all, as they had mentioned the third-party liability insurance in the first place, saying that "it was common sense that there had been collision, otherwise it would not involve the third-party liability insurance." Kuan also wrote that "there has been no concealment of facts with such matter, nor there has been any hidden motive." The two survivors of the incident that returned to the mainland on Tuesday told media that they were sailing at around noon time and the vessel of Taiwan authorities charged at them around 12:50 pm. "It is impossible for our fishing boat to capsize, not even if we make sharp turns. It took a collision to capsize it," one of the surviving fishermen told reporters. Chinese observers refuted how the Taiwan authorities depicted the incident, saying that clearly, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island, which so far are yet to show any regrets over the incident, would attempt to win sympathy and hype the issue as a case where the mainland bullies the island. These attempts would be in vain as their brutal behavior is in clear contradiction with laws and any moral standards. Observers urged that proper compensation for the families affected by the incident, a formal apology from the Taiwan authorities and a thorough investigation and punishment of the culprits should be essential going forward. This case should establish a new reference for the Taiwan authorities in future handling of similar affairs to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. In the wake of the fatal incident, the mainland strengthened law enforcement and patrols in the waters between Xiamen and Kinmen to protect the safety of mainland fishermen, with experts from both side of the Straits maintaining that the mainland's operation is fully justified, and urged the DPP to respect the lives and property of mainland fishermen with concrete actions. No doubt, the mainland's law enforcement in relevant waters will become a new normal, which would further consolidate the international consensus that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. According to Taiwan media, a Taiwan tour vessel was boarded and inspected by the Fujian coast guard for about 30 minutes in waters between Kinmen and Xiamen on Monday. The coast guard officers examined the vessel's navigation plan, documents and captain and crew licenses. On Sunday, China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said that the Fujian coast guard will strengthen its maritime law enforcement and carry out regular law enforcement and patrols in the waters between Xiamen and Kinmen to ensure the safety of fishermen's lives and property. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 2 surviving fishermen return to mainland after fatal incident Global Times By Wang Qi Published: Feb 21, 2024 12:05 AM The two surviving fishermen of a fatal incident caused when their vessel capsized after being chased near Kinmen Island returned to the Chinese mainland on Tuesday, accompanied by representatives of the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) branch in the port city of Quanzhou, Fujian Province. At 9:20 am on Tuesday, RCSC representatives escorted six family members of the fishermen aboard a vessel bound for Kinmen, a few kilometers off Xiamen city of Fujian Province, according to a Xinhua News Agency report. On February 14, a fishing boat from Fujian was treated brutally by Taiwan authorities in waters near Kinmen, leading to all four people on board falling into the sea, with two of them perishing. In the wake of the fatal incident, the mainland strengthened law enforcement and patrols in the waters between Xiamen and Kinmen to protect the safety of mainland fishermen. Experts said Chinese mainland's operation is fully justified, and urged the DPP to respect the lives and property of mainland fishermen with concrete actions. Limited kindness A cross-party alliance of Kinmen county council and a non-party alliance group in Kinmen held a press conference on Tuesday, expressing their condolences and regret over the deaths of the two mainland fishermen. They said they hope that Taiwan authorities will release the truth of the incident investigation as soon as possible to dispel outside doubts, according to Taiwan media. The Labor Party of Taiwan on Tuesday called on Taiwan society, especially the DPP authorities, to pay attention to dealing with the aftermath of the death of the two mainland fishermen, in order to create an environment for rational communication and avoid further inciting cross-Straits confrontations. A few days ago, Chen Fu-hai, the county chief of Kinmen, expressed condolences over the death of the mainland fishermen. However, other than local groups and opposition parties, the DPP authorities have yet to apologize or express their condolences for the deaths. "People can say that Taiwan authorities' reaction is low-key, but in the eyes of the mainlanders, they have exhibited complete indifference, when even just a little apology and mourning could make the situation better than it is now," Xin Qiang, director of the Taiwan studies center at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. After the incident, Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's ocean affairs authority claimed the actions of the Taiwan side were necessary law enforcement, and blamed the mainland vessel for entering into "prohibited waters." The mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said on Saturday that fishermen from across the Taiwan Straits have traditionally operated in the waters of Xiamen and Kinmen, and that there is no such thing as "prohibition or restriction of waters." The DPP authorities' attitude toward mainland fishermen is very unfriendly and hostile, Zhang Wensheng, deputy dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, said, noting that they have neither the ability nor the desire to resolve cross-Straits fishing disputes, and just pass the buck to the mainland. According to Zhang, politicians in the Taiwan island who harbor the ideology of "Taiwan independence" regard law enforcement in the Straits as state-to-state relations. Experts noted that fishermen from both sides have traditionally operated in the Xiamen-Kinmen waters and there is no "territory under Taiwan control" in legal sense. The mainland's regular law enforcement patrols in the related waters are legitimate and clarify the confusion. Through this incident, the mainland public can also see that the Taiwan authorities do not have the ability or courage to engage in high-intensity confrontation with the mainland, experts said, the mainland has the strategic initiative on how to solve the Taiwan question. Fully justified According to Taiwan media, a Taiwan tour vessel was boarded and inspected by Fujian coast guard for about 30 minutes in waters between Kinmen and Xiamen on Monday. The coast guard officers examined the vessel's navigation plan, documents and captain and crew licenses. On Sunday, China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Gan Yu said that the Fujian coast guard will strengthen its maritime law enforcement and carry out regular law enforcement and patrols in the waters between Xiamen and Kinmen to ensure the safety of fishermen's lives and property. The word "regular" means an upgrade inmultiple aspects in terms of marine lawenforcement, such as frequency, scope andintensity, Xin said. According to the expert, in the past, the mainland did not conduct very frequent law enforcement and inspections in the waters between Xiamen and Kinmen, nor did the mainland strictly enforce the law on fishermen from Taiwan, and rarely took tough countermeasures against the illegal law enforcement by the Taiwan authorities. These are evidence of the goodwill and restraint shown by the mainland, but they have led the Taiwan authorities to further take risky provocations, Xin said. Xin believes that regular patrols by the Fujian coast guard will definitely get closer to Kinmen and its associated islands. The mainland will also step up efforts to protect the legitimate rights and interests of mainland fishermen from possible harassment by Taiwan authorities. Zhang said that strengthening law enforcement and patrols in relevant waters is actually a denial of Taiwan authorities' self-claimed "prohibited or restricted waters." Taiwan is part of China and so is Kinmen. Relevant waters are under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China, and it is natural to exercise law enforcement power and jurisdiction, Zhang said. Regular law enforcement of the Fujian coast guard is a declaration of jurisdiction and a manifestation that the two sides belong to one and the same China, Zhang added. According to the expert, the coast guard's operations are conducive to protecting the safety of mainland fishermen and avoiding the further expansion of cross-Straits fishing disputes. It is also a warning to Taiwan authorities that they should not take brutal enforcement actions against mainland fishermen, which is not conducive to the stability of cross-Straits relations. Regarding mainland's latest inspection and patrol, Kuan of Taiwan's OAC said that the vessels from Taiwan need not stop for mainland coast ships, according to Taiwan-based media. If DPP authorities choose a confrontational stance and do not restrain themselves, the mainland has too many options in its toolbox to counter it, Xin said. The risk of cross-Straits friction would be reduced if Taiwan authorities stops its provocations and shows basic respect for the lives and property of mainland fishermen, Xin added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Feb. 21, 2024 ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/02/21 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Tuesday to Wednesday , Feb. 20-21 2. PLA activitiesis 10 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. State Dept. approves sale of military equipment to Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 02/22/2024 12:27 PM Taipei, Feb. 22 (CNA) The U.S. Department of State has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of advanced tactical data link system upgrade planning worth US$75 million, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The approval -- the 13th under the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and the first since Taiwan's Jan. 13 elections -- comes amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China relating to the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands. In a press release, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the package would include cross-domain solutions, high-assurance devices, GPS receivers, communications equipment, technical services and other related elements of logistics and program support. "The proposed sale will improve [Taiwan's] ability to meet current and future threats by enhancing communications and network security, and providing infrastructure to allow the secure flow of tactical information," the DSCA said. The DSCA said it had notified the U.S. Congress of the potential sale. The approval does not indicate that a contract for the equipment has been signed, and the principal contractors have yet to be determined. In response, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday it had requested that Washington upgrade the Taiwanese military's command and control system and intelligence surveillance system data links, to enhance the effectiveness of the existing common operational picture and establish military interoperability. "Taiwan and the United States will continue to consolidate our security partnership to jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region," the MND said. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also expressed gratitude to the United States for fulfilling its security commitments to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. The arms sale shows that the Biden administration has placed great importance on Taiwan's defense needs and strengthening its defense and deterrent capabilities, MOFA added. (By Chiang Chin-yeh, Christie Chen and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Feb. 22, 2024 ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/02/22 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Wednesday to Thursday, Feb. 21-22 2. PLA activitiesis 11 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Embarrassing blow: UK nuclear missile crashes into ocean during rare test launch Iran Press TV Wednesday, 21 February 2024 11:28 AM A UK Trident nuclear missile has misfired and crashed into the ocean off the US coast of Florida during a failed test launch by a British nuclear submarine in an embarrassing blow for the United Kingdom's outdated naval warfare force. British news outlets cited the UK's Ministry of Defense (MoD) statement, confirming that an "anomaly occurred" during a missile launch on January 30 off the coast of Florida. The MoD said the "anomaly" during the exercise was "event specific". The officials said they could not say any more because the incident related to national security. They said there remained "absolute confidence" in Britain's constant at-sea nuclear defense system. One British official said the test-launch from the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Vanguard would have been successful had it been carried out for real with a nuclear warhead. The Sun reported that a dummy Trident 2 missile was propelled into the air by compressed gas in its launch tube but that its so-called first-stage boosters did not ignite. It quoted an anonymous source as saying, "It left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them." It is said to be the second misfiring in a row, with a test launch of a Trident missile by the Royal Navy off the coast of the US in June 2016 also reported to have been a failure. The British shadow defense secretary, John Healey, said, "Reports of a Trident test failure are concerning. The defense secretary will want to reassure parliament that this test has no impact on the effectiveness of the UK's deterrent operations." UK's Defense Secretary, Grant Shapps, had been onboard the submarine at the time of the failed launching. Shapps is now expected to release a written ministerial statement on Britain's nuclear deterrent. Americans, who had removed US nuclear warheads from the UK in 2008 after risk assessments back then showed that the Cold War military threat from the Russian Federation had diminished, plan to redeploy nuclear weapons in the UK. Last year, MoD announced plans to boost UK's stockpile of Trident nuclear warheads by 40 percent, to 260 - the first such increase since the end of the Cold War. British government sources have been quoted by media as saying that the UK has "a clearer appreciation" of its role as a nuclear power in a renewed era of global rivalry with Russia and China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Navy Carries Out Unsuccessful Launch of Trident II Ballistic Missile Sputnik News 20240221 MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The navy of the United Kingdom has carried out an unsuccessful launch of a Trident II intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the HMS Vanguard ballistic missile-armed submarine while UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps was on board, The Sun reported on Tuesday, citing sources and the UK Ministry of Defense. The report said the missile dramatically misfired and crashed into the water just feet from the submarine that launched it. The missile was launched into the air, but the first-stage boosters did not ignite, and the missile carrying dummy warheads splashed into the water and sank, the report read. "It left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them," a source told the newspaper. The newspaper reported that the incident occurred on January 30 off the coast of the US state of Florida. A probe into the circumstances of the incident was immediately launched, and a search was ordered to recover the top-secret missile technology from the seabed, the report said. The UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement issued to the newspaper that an "anomaly occurred" during the launch but assured that London's nuclear deterrent remains "effective." "HMS Vanguard and her crew have been proven fully capable of operating the UK's Continuous At-Sea Deterrent, passing all tests during a recent demonstration and shakedown operation (DASO) - a routine test to confirm that the submarine can return to service following deep maintenance work. The test has reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK's nuclear deterrent, in which we have absolute confidence. During the test an anomaly occurred. As a matter of national security, we cannot provide further information on this, however we are confident that the anomaly was event specific, and therefore there are no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpile. The UK's nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective," the report quoted the ministry as saying. The newspaper reported earlier that the UK Navy was preparing to carry out the first launch of a Trident II ICBM for the first time since 2016 in the Atlantic Ocean. The missile was planned to fly over 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) before splashing between Brazil and West Africa. The previous launch of a Trident II ICBM from a UK submarine in 2016 also failed. The missile was planned to fly 9,000 kilometers from the Florida coast to a target southeast of Ascension Island, but it reportedly veered off course toward the United States and self-destructed. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Council of Europe commemorates the second anniversary of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Strasbourg 21 February 2024 On 23 February, the Council of Europe will hold a ceremony to mark two years of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, followed by an extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Ministers (to be broadcast live). At 9 am, on the Council of Europe forecourt, Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Theodoros Rousopoulos, Ambassador Domenik Wanger, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein (on behalf of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers), and a high-level representative from Ukraine, will address those gathered for the ceremony. The national anthem of Ukraine and the European anthem will be performed. At 9.45 am, an extraordinary meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (ambassadors) will discuss the consequences of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. After the meeting, at around 12 noon, the artwork entitled "Guernica: Ukraine" by French artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud will be inaugurated in the Committee of Ministers lobby (2nd floor). This contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary painting by Pablo Picasso will remain installed until 22 March. From 19 to 23 February (Hemicycle lobby, 1st floor), the Council of Europe is also hosting an exhibition by the Franco-Ukrainian photographer Youry Bilak, containing 23 photographs of children taken after 24 February 2022 in several Ukrainian towns (Boutcha, Irpin, Hostomel, Borodyanka, Tchernihiv, Vinnytsia, etc.). On 23 and 24 February the Palais de l'Europe will be lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese think tank finds Western sanctions fail to undermine Russia Global Times By Yang Sheng Published: Feb 21, 2024 10:04 PM As Saturday will see the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Chinese strategists, economists and experts on international relations have recently given their reviews of the crisis. They have a series of key findings, including that Russia will not be defeated by Western sanctions and weapons, and the Russian economy could re-rise in the future; the war is likely to be a long-term conflict; and the West is losing faith and the US might abandon Ukraine if Donald Trump gets elected later this year. Although China is not directly involved in the Ukraine crisis, Chinese elites and the public have been paying close attention to the situation, as they care about its impact on the Chinese economy and China's ties with Russia and the West. China has always tried to contribute to the mediation of the crisis and eyed a post-war reconstruction for the two countries, analysts said. They noted that all of these have driven Chinese scholars to make efforts to find valuable information from the conflict and use it to guide China's policymaking. Profound changes The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China (RDCY) held a senimar on Wednesday to release three major reports about the institute's researches in the past two years about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the findings about future development of China-Russia relations, as well as Russia's domestic market after Western companies pulled out from the country in 2022. Wang Wen, executive dean of the RDCY, said at the event that since 2022, he and his team have visited 21 Russian cities, and their biggest finding is that "after more than 20,000 sanctions by the West, Russia received relatively small impact, so we have concluded that Russia will not be defeated by sanctions," but Russia is also unable to gain full victory against Ukraine in the short term. "The most important conclusion that we have drawn in the report is that the Russia-Ukraine conflict will become a long-term fight," Wang said, citing the newly-released report. According to the World Economics Research, a London-based institute, the official estimate for Russia's GDP was $4.148 trillion at the end of 2023 in terms of the purchasing power parity (PPP). The institute has developed a database presenting GDP in PPP terms with added estimates for the size of the informal economy and adjustments for out-of-date GDP base year data. World Economics Research estimates Russia's GDP to be $5.733 trillion in 2023, and with this number, Russia ranks No.5 on the list of world economies, following China, the US, India and Japan. Chinese experts said this result is different from the expectation that many observers had in 2022, when they used to be extremely pessimistic about Russia after the West launched all-out sanctions, and this result has once again proved that Western sanctions are not as scary as expected, and Russia's survival from the sanctions has undermined the US hegemony. Ding Yifan, former deputy director of the Research Institute of World Development under the Development Research Center of the State Council, said at the event that Russia's experiences in handling Western sanctions are very valuable to China, as China needs to be prepared for the worst-case scenario when the US launches all-out sanctions with extreme hostility against China some day in the future. Ding said Russia has built a complete supply chain to not only serve its military operation but also ensure the normal operation of its economy, so that Russian people's daily lives get almost no impact from the on-going war and Western sanctions. The RDCY report also said that a key change that happens in the international system after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is that trade and finance have been weaponized by the West in the past two years, with the global supply chain and industry chain being seriously interrupted. "Another key experience of Russia is that it develops and maintain its ties with non-Western countries, or the Global South, and it also reduced its reliance on the US dollar and the euro. After the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, non-Western countries, especially the major powers like BRICS members, didn't follow the West to sanction Russia, and this is also a key reason why Russia can withstand pressures from the West," Ding said. The sanctions launched by the West have frightened many non-Western countries, including the BRICS members and many Middle East major countries, and this is the reason why think tanks of many non-Western countries are researching about reducing reliance over US dollars and US-dominated international payment system, Ding noted. Future of the conflict In 2022, many analysts believed that the US-led NATO was using Ukraine to undermine Russia's strength, but now, with the Russia's control over the stronghold Avdiivka, it seems that Moscow is using the war with Kiev to undermine the whole West, and this makes Western elites losing faith to maintain their support to Ukraine, and many of them are considering getting rid of the crisis, experts said. Ma Xiaolin, dean of the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that as the US presidential election is near, Russia is unlikely to take a big risk to launch any new major operation, and what Moscow needs to do right now is to be patient and to focus on economic recovery, and wait and see who will become the next US president. Donald Trump said that as president he would be able to resolve the Ukraine war in one day, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 11, 2023. "How could Trump end the war in one day? Can he defeat Russia in one day? It's impossible. But, to abandon Ukraine in one day, that's feasible for Trump for sure, and the US is very likely to do so if Trump returns to the White House," Ma noted. Many elites in European countries have increasingly doubted the necessity of assisting Ukraine to fight Russia, and they are being prepared to adjust their policy to support Ukraine as they have seen no meaningful outcome from the battlefield while Russian troops control more and more territories,Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday. Cui attended the just-concluded Munich Security Conference in Germany. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Than 45,000 Russian Soldiers Believed Killed Since Start Of Ukraine War By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 21, 2024 At least 45,123 Russian troops have been killed since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, according to research by journalists from Mediazona and the BBC's Russian Service who have established the deceased soldiers' identities. Two-thirds of all confirmed dead -- volunteers, conscripts, ex-inmates, and fighters from private military companies -- were not connected to the military before the start of the invasion, researchers found. The number includes 5,406 mobilized soldiers, 80 percent of whom were killed in the second year of the war. Krasnodar, Sverdlovsk, Bashkortostan, and Chelyabinsk are the regions with the highest number of dead. Journalists have identified 27,906 Russian soldiers killed last year -- 57 percent more than the confirmed losses in the first year of the invasion. From October last year until this month -- roughly the period during which Russian forces advanced on the industrial city of Avdiyivka and in neighboring areas in the Donetsk region -- researchers confirmed the deaths of 6,614 Russian soldiers. Avdiyivka fell to Moscow's forces last week. The journalists based their research on data from open sources such as obituaries in the media, messages on social networks by relatives of the victims, reports from local administrations, as well as data from cemeteries. The researchers say that the actual figures could be at least twice as high. The Russian Defense Ministry does not disclose data on personnel losses and does not comment on figures reported by journalists. In January, CIA Director Willam Burns said in an article published by the magazine Foreign Affairs that at least 315,000 Russian soldiers had been wounded or killed during the war in Ukraine. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-war-deaths- ukraine-45000/32828776.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Some 60 Russian Troops Reportedly Killed By Strike While Waiting In Formation By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 21, 2024 A Ukrainian strike on a training ground in Moscow-occupied Donetsk has killed at least 60 Russian troops, the BBC's Russian Service quoted sources as saying. Russian soldiers from the 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade had been lined up and were waiting for the arrival of Major General Oleg Moiseyev, the commander of the 29th Russian Army, when the strike occurred on February 20, the report said. Ukraine has not commented on the report. Pro-Russian social media outlets posted videos and photos purportedly showing dozens of uniformed dead bodies, accusing Moiseyev of making soldiers stand in line waiting for his arrival when they were hit. sian and Ukrainian services) Meanwhile, three civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded by Russian shelling of three eastern Ukrainian regions, local authorities reported on February 21. One person was killed in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region, while eight others were wounded, regional Governor Vadym Filashkin said. In the Kharkiv region, two farmers were instantly killed when their car was struck in the village of Petropavlivka in the Kupyansk district, while one woman was wounded, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said. In the Kherson region, four people were wounded in Russian shelling, mortar, and drone strikes, local authorities reported. Air-defense forces shot down 13 out of 19 drones launched by Russia at four Ukrainian regions early on February 21, Ukraine's Air Force reported, adding that one S-300 missile and four Kh-22 cruise missiles were also destroyed. The drones were downed in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk regions, the air force said. It said that some of the remaining six drones did not reach their targets. The four Kh-22 cruise missiles were shot down in the central Poltava region. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-downs-russia- drones-missiles-war/32828680.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Best Way To Honor Navalny, NATO Chief Says, Is Ensuring Russia's Defeat In Ukraine By Zoriana Stepanenko February 21, 2024 BRUSSELS -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the death of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and the first Russian gains on the battlefield in months should help focus the attention of NATO and its allies on the urgent need to support Ukraine. According to excerpts from an interview Stoltenberg had in Brussels with RFE/RL on February 20, the NATO chief said the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city of Avdiyivka after months of intense fighting demonstrates the need for more military aid "to ensure that Russia doesn't make further gains." The death of Navalny in an Arctic prison on February 16 under suspicious circumstances -- authorities say it will be another two weeks before the body may be released to the family -- adds to the need to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin's authoritarian rule does not go unchecked. "I strongly believe that the best way to honor the memory of Aleksei Navalny is to ensure that President Putin doesn't win on the battlefield, but that Ukraine prevails," Stoltenberg said in the interview, a full version of which will be released on February 23. Ukraine's allies have been focused on a $61 billion U.S. military aid package, Stoltenberg said, but while that remains stalled in the House of Representatives, other countries, including Sweden, Canada, and Japan, have stepped up their aid. Sweden announced its 15th aid package and largest to date since Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago. Worth 7.1 billion Swedish kroner ($684 million), the package will provide combat boats, mines, artillery ammunition, and air-defense equipment, among other items, Sweden's defense minister announced. Canada's Defense Department said on February 19 it would expedite the delivery of more than 800 drones, adding in a statement that drones have become a critical capability for Ukraine in the war. They will cost more than $95 million Canadian ($70 million) and are part of a previously announced military aid package for Ukraine. Deliveries will start as early as this spring, the statement said. The additional aid from Tokyo amounts to $106 million to aid Ukraine's reconstruction from war damages, including areas such as demining and infrastructure. "Of course, we are focused on the United States, but we also see how other allies are really stepping up and delivering significant support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said. On the question of when Ukraine will be able to deploy F-16 fighter jets, Stoltenberg said it was not possible to say. He reiterated that Ukraine's allies all want them to be there as early as possible but said the effect of the F-16s will be stronger if pilots are well-trained and maintenance crews and other support personnel are well-prepared. "So, I think we have to listen to the military experts exactly when we will be ready to or when allies will be ready to start sending and delivering the F-16s," he said. "The sooner the better." Ukraine has actively sought the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to help it counter Russian air superiority. The United States in August approved sending F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands as soon as pilot training is completed. It will be up to each ally to decide whether to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, and allies have different policies, Stoltenberg said. But at the same time, the war in Ukraine is a war of aggression, he said, and Ukraine has the right to self-defense, including striking legitimate Russian military targets outside Ukraine. Asked about the prospect of former U.S. President Donald Trump returning to the White House, Stoltenberg said he believes that, regardless of the outcome of the U.S. election this year, the United States will remain a committed NATO ally because it is in the security interest of the United States. Trump, the current front-runner in the race to become the Republican Party's presidential nominee, drew sharp rebukes from President Joe Biden, European leaders, and NATO after suggesting at a campaign rally on February 10 that the United States might not defend alliance members from a potential Russian invasion if they don't pay enough for their own defense. Stoltenberg said the United States is safer and stronger together with more than 30 allies -- something that neither China nor Russia has. The criticism of NATO has been aimed at allies underspending on defense, he said. But Stoltenberg said new data shows that more and more NATO allies are meeting the target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense, and this demonstrates that the alliance has come a long way since it pledged in 2014 to meet the target. At that time, only three members of NATO spent 2 percent of GDP on defense; now it's 18, he said. "If you add together what all European allies do and compare that to the GDP in total in Europe, it's actually 2 percent today," he said. "That's good, but it's not enough because we want [each NATO member] to spend 2 percent. And we also make sure that 2 percent is a minimum." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-stoltenberg- interview-russia-navalny-ukraine-war/32828617.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine '1,000 Percent Sure' Military Aid Will Continue, But Unsure When By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 21, 2024 KYIV -- U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said on February 20 that she is fully confident that Congress will approve additional funding for Ukraine but that it is not possible to predict when it will happen. "I am 100 percent -- 1,000 percent -- sure that we will continue to support you in this," Brink told journalists on February 20 in Kyiv. A critical $61 billion aid package has been stalled in Congress for months over political differences, despite warnings from President Joe Biden that failure by the Republican-led House of Representatives to authorize it would play into Russian President Vladimir Putin's hands. "This is a very political issue that I cannot predict. But I can say that we all present the most compelling arguments why it is necessary, why this is not an open-ended request, why it is really important for you to succeed not only on the battlefield but also to have economic security and independence," Brink said. She said she has spoken with House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana) and knows that he supports Ukraine and "understands the importance of Russia losing the war." Brink said Biden and all the U.S. diplomats working on the matter are pushing hard to move it forward as quickly as possible. "My message is this: You can't waste time, you can't waste a single day, not a single hour, not a single second. People die here every day," she said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's comments over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference about the lack of weapons and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city of Avdiyivka. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video message on February 19 that delays in weapons deliveries had made the fight "very difficult" along parts of the front line and that Russian forces are taking advantage of the delays in weapons deliveries. Putin on February 20 congratulated his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on capturing Avdiyivka and urged him to press Russia's advantage. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said he and Oleksandr Syrskiy, commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces, discussed the situation at the front and ammunition supplies in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Syrskiy "gave updates on the current dynamics on the front line," Umerov said on Facebook. "The common understanding of the situation and the action plan were discussed. The ammunition supply was in focus as well." On February 20, Sweden announced its biggest aid package since Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago -- worth 7.1 billion Swedish kroner ($684 million). Sweden's 15th aid package to date will provide Ukraine with combat boats, mines, artillery ammunition, and air-defense equipment among other supplies, Defense Minister Pal Jonson said at a press conference in Stockholm. Canada said a day earlier that it would expedite the delivery of more than 800 drones. The announcements came as Russian drones killed more Ukrainian citizens and damaged private property. Two people were killed and one was injured in the Kharkiv region on February 20 when a Russian drone hit a civilian car, said Oleg Synyehubov, head of the regional military administration. The attack by a "kamikaze" drone occurred around 4:50 p.m. local time in the village of Petropavlivka. There were three passengers in the car -- a 38-year-old civilian driver and a 50-year-old civilian man, who died on the spot, and a 48-year-old woman, who was taken to a hospital, Synyehubov said on Telegram. The woman is the wife of the 50-year-old man. According to Synyehubov, all three were local farm workers returning home after work. Earlier on February 20 in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy, a Russian drone struck a house, killing five members of the same family, the regional administration said. A mother, her two sons, and two other relatives died as a result of the strike in Nova Sloboda, a village about 6 kilometers from the Russian border. The house was completely destroyed, Ukrainian officials said. The Prosecutor-General's Office in Kyiv announced a war crimes investigation. The Ukrainian military dismissed a statement by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Moscow's forces had secured full control over the village of Krynky on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region. A statement on Telegram by the Ukrainian military's southern district said Russian forces had made no headway on the eastern bank. Russian troops abandoned the western bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region in late 2022 but remain in areas on the eastern bank. Ukrainian forces captured some districts on the eastern bank last November. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/united-states-ukraine-aid- brink-ambassador-russia-war/32828075.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses Up to 450 Soldiers Near Avdeyevka in Past Day - MoD Sputnik News 20240221 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine has lost up to 450 soldiers in the Avdeyevka area over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Wednesday. Russia repelled seven Ukrainian counterattacks near the Rozovka and Vodyanoye around Avdeyevka, the MoD noted. "The enemy lost up to 450 soldiers, a tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, six armored combat vehicles, five military vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher system, as well as a D-30 howitzer," the MoD said in a statement. Ukraine has also lost more than 425 soldiers in the Donetsk region and up to 210 soldiers, as well as two tanks south of Donetsk, the ministry added. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Up to 1,000 Ukrainian Troops Believed to Be Captured in Retreat From Avdeyevka - Reports Sputnik News 20240221 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Between 850 and 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers appear to have been captured or are unaccounted for during the Ukrainian retreat from Avdeyevka, a former Ukrainian stronghold north of the city of Donetsk, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two Ukrainian soldiers. The newspaper cited senior Western officials and soldiers fighting in Ukraine as saying that the retreat of Ukrainian troops from Avdeyevka is a devastating loss that could deal a blow to already weakening morale and may be more significant than it initially seemed. The report also cited officials as saying that the Ukrainian withdrawal was ill-planned and began too late, but American officials told the newspaper that the loss of Avdeyevka was not a significant strategic setback. However, the report said, American officials believe that morale among Ukrainian soldiers was already eroding against the background of a failed counteroffensive in 2023 and the removal of Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, which may further complicate Kiev's efforts to recruit soldiers. On Saturday, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the decision to withdraw troops from Avdeyevka, a northern suburb of Donetsk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the decision to pull out the troops had been made to "save people's lives." Later, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian military had taken full control of the city of Avdeyevka. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's war has had devastating impacts on the environment: UK statement to the OSCE Ambassador Neil Holland notes the environmental impacts of Russia's invasion that have had far-reaching consequences in Ukraine and beyond its borders. 21 February 2024 Thank you Chairs. To our keynote speakers, Minister Dalli, Minister Panayiotou and Secretary General, dear Helga, thank you for your remarks. Thank you also to our expert panel. Before I speak to today's important topic, it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the tragic death of Alexi Navalny who dedicated his life to exposing the corruption of the Russian system. It is clear the Russian authorities saw Navalny as a threat, that is why they imprisoned him on fabricated charges, poisoned him with a banned nerve agent and sent him to an Arctic penal colony. No-one should doubt the brutal nature of the Russian system. Our thoughts are with his family, his supporters and the people of Russia. We will revert to this issue at the next Permanent Council. In addition to acts of internal repression, Russia's war of aggression has had devastating impacts on the environment, with far-reaching consequences in Ukraine and beyond its borders. At a time of global climate crisis, Russia's actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the environmental consequences of war. We have witnessed the widespread destruction of Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including industrial facilities and energy installations. This has led to severe pollution and environmental degradation which pose threats to both human health and ecosystems across large areas. While thankfully the risk of radiological release remains low, Russia's seizure and ongoing occupation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains cause for grave concern. Russia must immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine and return full control of the nuclear facilities at ZNPP to their rightful owner to ensure safe and secure operation, and to minimise the risk of an incident with catastrophic environmental consequences. The UK sees an undeniable link between climate, nature, and security. Environmental and climate factors can act as both catalysts and multipliers for conflict. And both the environment and our climate can be impacted by military activity. The growing climate and nature crisis demands that we consider more carefully the environmental impact of military actions. Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is one of the UK Government's key international priorities. It is underpinned by a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The UK Defence establishment is fully committed to playing its part. Climate change is now seen as a whole-of-Defence issue in the UK. The intersection of gender, conflict, and the environment is a complex and crucial area. Existing gender inequalities mean that the impact of climate change and disasters fall unequally on women and girls. Inequality means that their access to resources is limited and their exposure to disaster-induced risks and losses is increased. Recognising these impacts is essential for sustainable recovery and peace efforts. Women and girls are often excluded from formal systems to address the drivers of climate change yet are key to finding localised solutions. We welcome this important discussion today. The OSCE's comprehensive approach to security makes it the right place to discuss the intersection between security and climate. We are grateful to the Secretary General and Chair-in-Office for continuing to make climate security a key theme within the organisation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense of the sky and our frontline positions from Russian air and missile strikes is one of the key tasks this year - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 21 February 2024 - 20:04 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! A summary for the day. First, I want to thank our Air Force, everyone who defends our skies. There are good results with regard to Russian military aircraft. Seven combat aircraft - Russian "Su" jets - were shot down in a week. Thank you, our warriors, for your accuracy. One of the key tasks for our country this year is to defend the sky and our frontline positions from Russian air and missile attacks. The second is our priority in terms of neighborhood policy and relations with partners in the European Union. The Ukrainian principle is pragmatism. And in terms of security, we must be as pragmatic as possible to make sure that both Ukraine and each of our partners become stronger, so that each of us has more opportunities to defend ourselves against Russian evil. We must also be pragmatic in our approach to solving social and economic problems - without excessive politicization, without manipulation - manipulation of relations between states and peoples. The more pragmatic we are, everyone in Europe, the more protected our common values are, the stronger our independence is. And, of course, this is our priority right now in terms of relations with Poland. Today I proposed to our partners in Poland to solve the existing problems on the border for the sake of common interests. Our government and all our institutions are ready for meetings and dialogue. I am ready to join these meetings. It is very important for the European Commission to be engaged in this dialogue as well. We all need a result. Especially when our states and peoples in Europe are facing the threat of Russian aggression in one way or another. When Ukrainians and Poles, or anyone else in our Europe, fail to find common ground, it is Moscow alone that rejoices. Third, we are preparing new security agreements with our partners. Very substantive ones. They include new defense support for our warriors, very specific financial guarantees for our state, and political cooperation that brings Ukraine - our state, our society - closer to greater opportunities, greater interaction with the world, and greater strength. We are preparing several new security agreements in the coming weeks. I am grateful to our teams that are preparing them, I am grateful to our partners. And, of course, our warriors. Lastochkyne, Avdiivka sector. Novomykhailivka, Maryinka sector. Synkivka, Kupyansk sector. Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia sector. The highest intensity of Russian assaults over the last day. And the resilience and bravery of our warriors, which is of utmost importance. I thank everyone who is in combat, at combat posts, on combat missions. I am grateful to everyone who works for Ukraine and its defense. I thank everyone who helps. Believing in Ukraine means believing in yourself and working for common strength. We must achieve our Ukrainian goals. We must win. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address I have instructed our government to come to the border between our countries by February 24; Ukraine seeks to resolve the situation on the border jointly and fairly - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine 21 February 2024 - 16:34 Dear Ukrainians! And all of Ukraine's partners in our Europe, especially in Poland. Now I would like to address everyone who remembers the full meaning of the word 'solidarity.' The word that changed the history of our entire Europe for the better so dramatically. This was the case. And in many ways it still is. However, we are now witnessing an excessive and unfair politicization that threatens to waste common achievements. In the same way as the Ukrainian grain that, unfortunately, the world saw flagrantly dumped from trucks and railroad cars on Polish roads. This is the grain that our farmers and peasants cultivate with great difficulty, despite all the hardships of ruthless Russian aggression. Despite the shelling. Often in fields that had to be cleared of mines. Despite the threat of elevators and businesses being burnt by missile and drone strikes. The cost of Ukrainian grain is special to us. Just like that of any other product generated by our economy at this time. As it is a wartime economy. These are the enterprises whose functioning enables Ukraine to provide for the frontline and preserve our independence - our freedom, and thus your freedom. Ukraine will always remember Poland's choice made on February 24 in response to the Russian invasion. It was a choice in favor of joint strength. In favor of winning the battles on the Dnipro together so that we would not have to look for ways to perform a new miracle on the Vistula. Millions of Poles have been and remain with us - in heart and in deed. And I am grateful to all of them. I am grateful to everyone who does not remain silent now and who calls for a fair solution for the sake of our common interests. I think everyone will understand that Ukraine cannot accept what is happening on the border between our countries. And even more so the appearance of outright pro-Putin slogans there. This is wrong. This is anti-solidarity. And, in particular, in yesterday's case with our grain dumped from the railroad car, this was also simply dishonest. Because not a single gram of that grain was heading to Poland for sale, it was not intended for the Polish market. Currently, there is not a single approval for the export of grain from Ukraine to Poland. Although this is obviously unprofitable for Ukrainian producers, we are sticking to it because relations with Poland are an absolute priority for our national security. Our partnership - between Ukraine and Poland - is about safeguarding national security, both ours and yours. And this agricultural trade story has been dragging on for many months already. A lot has happened over this time. However, it's evident to all that politics significantly outweigh economics in this situation. And it is only Moscow that is rejoicing now. When our Ukrainian drivers are blocked on Polish roads, it means that politicians should intensify a real dialogue. At all levels. And ensure the result. Ukraine appreciates relations with Poland - all aspects of our relations. People-to-people contacts. Defense and political cooperation, which always makes our nations stronger. Cooperation in Europe. And, of course, we value our economic relations, our cooperation in trade. And we want to preserve all this. Ukraine seeks to resolve the situation on the border jointly and fairly, in a completely pragmatic manner. I would like to address Polish society and express Ukraine's gratitude to all those who distinguish between political manipulations and fundamental issues of national security. I would like to address the Polish government - Mr. Prime Minister Tusk and the ministers. I have instructed our government to come to the border between our countries in the near future, by February 24. The Prime Minister of Ukraine, our entire government, from logistics to the agricultural sector, and, of course, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, as this blockade on the border, unfortunately, increases the threat to the weapons supply to our guys at the front. And I urge you, Donald, Mr. Prime Minister, to come to the border as well. And Andrzej, Mr. President, I urge you to support this dialogue. This is national security. We must not delay this. The next few days give us a chance to do so. I am also ready to come to the border with our government. And I want to address the European Commission now: we must preserve unity in Europe. This is the EU's fundamental interest. That is why Ukraine urges the European Commission to have its representative involved in this meeting - for the sake of common interests and an end to political manipulation. We have had enough of Moscow's presence in our lands. We have had enough of misunderstandings. We should not humiliate each other, we should not humiliate either Ukrainian or Polish farmers. We need unity. We need solutions - between us, Ukraine and Poland, and at the level of the whole of Europe. We can do everything to turn this disagreeable page and make the next chapter of our relations one of cooperation and mutual strength again. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two years of the Ukraine conflict: 'This war should never have started' 21 February 2024 - Peace in Ukraine still seems to be a distant prospect, but thousands of UN staff continue to support the population, even in frontline towns coming under daily attack. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022. Over four million people have been displaced, and six million have left the country. Soldiers have been mobilized, infrastructure, health clinics, and schools have been damaged. Two years on, Denise Brown, the UN Resident Coordinator in the country, sat down for a special interview with UN News and told us that humanitarian support will continue, despite the ongoing threats to staff and civilians. Denise Brown: I think it's important to emphasize that attacks take place almost every single day in certain parts of the country. There is an immediate reaction of fear, not knowing what's coming at you, hearing the explosions, and thinking, will the defence system shoot them down, or will the drones and missiles get through? And then there's the immediate response from the government and humanitarian side, working closely together, deploying psychosocial support, repairing windows, doors and roofs, and often providing food or cash. But what also comes with those attacks, particularly for the population, is loss; loss of life, loss of your home, loss of your sense of security. And often, when schools or health clinics are hit, then there's also loss of access to essential services, loss of access to a doctor, a clinic, a school, or electricity. Loss is the big sentiment here. It's with great sorrow that I say we've become pretty good at this, because we have to do it almost every single day. UN News: How do you coordinate these relief efforts throughout the country? Denise Brown: I think we have real added value in the regions. There's an immediate coordination through OCHA - the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - and we have people deployed in the regions along the oblasts [Ukrainian administrative regions], who work alongside the authorities. We have a network of over 500 partners, local actors who are the closest to where these things happen and they deploy immediately and we support them. It's a good network, the coordination works well. UN News: Are you still able to travel throughout the country? We have more than 3,000 UN staff,many deployed in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk; placeswhere there are daily hits.That means that it's even more importantthat I,and senior UN colleagues,go out as much as possible.I can't expect UNstaff, national or international,to sit in Kharkivand live through dailymissile strikes in the city,and not go there and be with them. So that's what I'm doing.But it also gives me the opportunityto talk to the regional and local authorities andgo on convoys to the frontline. So, the authorities knowand understandthat the most senior person from the UN in Ukraine is prepared to be with them.And that has become, I think, one of the most powerful messages of this response. It's not just about our delivering supplies. We, and the NGOs, are providing support. I think it's an incredibly importantsignal from our sidethat, no matter how difficult it gets,we will make every effort to be with them. UN News: Did you ever think that the war would go on this long? Denise Brown: I'm surprised that it's gone on this long because this is not the answer. It was never the answer. And the Ukrainians are living through such violence and loss and grief. All I can say is it needs to be over. The economy is in shatters, civilian infrastructure seems to be targeted regularly, lives are being lost, families broken up, and gender-based violence is going up. All of these things have an impact on the people of Ukraine. There needs to be peace here. These people need to get back to their lives. The war should never have started. UN News: But there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Are you expecting this war to several more years? Denise Brown: I base [things] myself on the data. These people are in huge need. And even if the war were over tomorrow, the needs would remain enormous in this country. It will take years and years to rebuild this country and for the country to deal with the trauma. So, my projection is that whatever happens with this horrendous and illegal war, the people of Ukraine will continue to need support, both on the humanitarian side and on the recovery side, for the foreseeable future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Approves New Russia Sanctions Over Its War on Ukraine By VOA News February 21, 2024 The European Union agreed Wednesday to enact a new round of sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow's continued war in Ukraine. The sanctions include about 200 people and entities being banned from doing business with companies in the EU or traveling there. "With this package, we are taking more action against entities involved in circumvention [of sanctions], the defense and military sectors," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. In addition to Russian firms, the sanctions target Chinese companies providing military technology to Russia. "We must keep degrading Putin's war machine," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "With 2,000 listings in total, we keep the pressure high on the Kremlin. We are also further cutting Russia's access to drones." Ukraine's military said Wednesday that Russia attacked overnight with 19 drones and multiple missiles. The Ukrainian air force said the country's air defenses shot down 13 of the 19 drones, as well as one of six missiles. The drones were intercepted over the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said on Telegram that drones were shot down over two districts and Russian shelling also targeted the region. Lysak said there were no reported injuries. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed battlefield developments in a phone call Tuesday, the Pentagon said. "Secretary Austin reiterated the steadfast commitment of our coalition of some 50 Allies and partners to continue supporting Ukraine as Russia's full-scale war of aggression approaches the two-year mark," Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement. The U.S. has brought together a coalition of countries to coordinate support for the Ukrainian military in its fight against the full-scale Russian invasion. The latest round of talks last week took place amid a continued pause in U.S. contributions after funding for new Ukraine aid ran out in December. Umerov said Ukraine's new army chief, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, joined the call to provide updates on the situation on the frontlines as well as Ukraine's ammunition supply. Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed a $683 million military aid package from Sweden. Zelenskyy called Sweden's support "a significant contribution to Ukraine's resilience in the face of Russian aggression and a powerful investment in preserving peace and freedom in Europe." "Artillery ammunition, air defense, grenade launchers, combat boats, armored vehicles, and other items are meeting some of our frontline warriors' most pressing needs," Zelenskyy posted on social media. Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said the aid package was the largest yet his country is supplying to Ukraine, and that the equipment and weapons meet "some of Ukraine's most pressing needs." "Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom but that of all of Europe," Jonson said. "Sweden will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Russia cannot be allowed to win this war." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Millions of Displaced Ukrainian Refugees Face Uncertain Future By Lisa Schlein February 21, 2024 A recent study by the U.N. refugee agency warns that millions of Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people face an uncertain future as Ukraine enters its third year of war with Russia and its battle for survival risks becoming a protracted crisis. "After two years of full-scale war in Ukraine, amidst massive destruction and ongoing shelling and missile attacks across the country, the future for millions who have been displaced remains shrouded in uncertainty," Philippe Leclerc, the UNHCR regional director for Europe, said on Tuesday. Speaking in Athens, Greece, Leclerc told journalists in Geneva that preliminary findings from the study indicate that the majority of those surveyed expressed a desire to return home one day. He noted, however, that "the proportion has declined, with more expressing uncertainty due to the ongoing war." The UNHCR study is based on interviews conducted in January and February with some 9,900 Ukrainian refugees, internally displaced and returnee households inside and outside the country. Leclerc said, "Those displaced who were surveyed cited the prevailing insecurity in Ukraine as the main factor inhibiting their return, while other concerns included a lack of economic opportunities and housing." This Saturday marks the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a stark reminder of the cost of the war, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says at least 10,000 civilians have been killed and more than 18,000 injured; nearly 6.5 million Ukrainians have sought refuge globally, while some 3.7 million people remain forcibly displaced inside the country. "As war rages on, humanitarian conditions remain dire inside Ukraine, where some 40% of the population a 14.6 million people a are in need of humanitarian and protection support," said Leclerc, noting that this week also marks 10 years "since the war in eastern Ukraine began." Although the war shows no sign of abating, Leclerc said 59% of Ukrainian refugees surveyed said they feared they would be compelled to return home "if they continue to face challenges in host countries, mainly related to work opportunities and legal status." Separately, he said the study shows that despite the fighting, many refugees choose to return home because of the challenges they face abroad. That is due to family separation and the sorrow they feel about the many male family members remaining in Ukraine. "The report reveals that family reunification was a main driver for refugees who have returned home permanently," he said. Dusan Vujasanin heads the International Committee of the Red Cross Central Tracing Agency Bureau for the war between Russia and Ukraine. He said his job is to learn the fate and whereabouts of people who have disappeared in this conflict. He explained that one of the main tasks of the ICRC's tracing bureau in this, as in other international conflicts, is "to centralize all information about prisoners of war, about civilian internees, and all the other affected persons alive and also dead." As of now, he said, "There are still 23,000 persons that are reported to the ICRC as missing, and that number keeps growing." Vujasanin said that Russia and Ukraine have abided by the obligation specified under the Geneva Conventions to put in place national information bureaus. Noting that both countries had put the system in place two years ago, he said the system is not perfect, but functions. "We receive on a regular basis the list from the two parties to the conflict." At the same time, Vujasanin said, people searching for their family members contact the ICRC daily. "We have been contacted in these two years over 100,000 times by different families, and in that period, we have opened up over 31,000 requests to search for missing persons." To date, he said the ICRC has been able to clarify the fate of 8,000 of the 31,000 missing persons and inform the families of their fate and whereabouts. "Even talking now about it gives me goose bumps because I can assure you that we have families, mothers who are receiving news of the fate of their children after two, three, eight months, learning that they are alive." He said, however, the job is not finished because 23,000 families still do not have news about what has happened to their loved ones. "The impact that this has on families, on this ambiguous loss of not knowing what happened to family members, weighs extremely heavily on these families," he said. "And we also know from past experiences, from past conflicts, that this is an engagement that will take ICRC years of comforting the families and of continuing that search," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Q&A: US Ambassador in Ukraine Reaffirms American Support as War Drags On By Myroslava Gongadze February 21, 2024 U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is reassuring Ukrainians that Washington intends to help them finish the job as the country enters another year of war against Russian invaders. Since the onset of Russia's full-scale assault on Feb. 24, 2022, Brink said the U.S. has earmarked billions of dollars to Ukraine's war effort, all under what she says is strict oversight. In an interview with VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze, the U.S. diplomat reaffirmed that the U.S. remains committed to supporting Ukraine, despite the growing debate in Washington and in European capitals about the future of funding for military aid to the country. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. VOA: You arrived in Ukraine as a U.S. ambassador a few months after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. How did you find Ukraine back then? And how do you find Ukraine now? U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink: I found Ukraine and Ukrainians tough and resilient. And I find it exactly the same today. And I'm really proud we have supported Ukraine. We just have to help you finish the job. VOA: Today, Ukraine is in dire need of military support. There are delays in Congress for this support. How are you explaining to Ukrainians why it's taken so long for the U.S. to decide when and how they will support Ukraine? Brink: Well, what I've been explaining to Ukrainians is that there's bipartisan support for Ukraine in America and in our Congress. I have been doing and the president and everyone in the administration has been doing everything possible to communicate to Congress and also to the American people why it's important to support Ukraine. And we will continue to do that. VOA: Despite Congressional inaction to send much needed support, Pew Research Institute had research [showing] 73% of Americans supporting Ukraine as a national security interest for the United States. There is bipartisan, as you said, support in Congress as well. Is Ukraine winning in the U.S. national interest Brink: Absolutely, yes. As President [Joe] Biden said, we support Ukraine winning this war, making sure that it's a strategic defeat for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And I think there's broad support for that in the Congress and among the American people. VOA: Conservative voices in [the U.S.] Congress are asking about accountability on U.S. aid for Ukraine. U.S. inspectors recently visited Kyiv. Can you give us some insight [into how their audits went]? How [does] the accountability process work here in Ukraine? Brink: I can tell you we're watching like a hawk from the Embassy. About a third of my team is devoted to oversight. We also have three inspectors general who are at the Embassy, as well. And they have a staff of 400 people around the world. So, there is oversight happening, both with the Ukrainians, with us at the Embassy, and also just generally. VOA: Do they have access to the facilities where those weapons and other ammunition are held? Brink: They have access to every place that we can get to physically, and to places where they can't have access, for example, on the front lines, we have developed some alternative means to account for things like weapons. VOA: What are [those] alternative means? Brink: I probably can't say specifically, but we have found ways that we can adhere to the policies and the law, without putting people at risk. VOA: In the last two years, the United States helped Ukraine a lot militarily, but a lot of money actually stays in the United States. In the rural [communities] that produce those weapons. Do you have some insights into how the money is spent? Brink: Actually, the money that we are allocating to Ukraine is spent in 31 states across the nation, and that includes Patriot missiles in Arizona. It includes artillery in Pennsylvania. It includes even vehicles from my home state of Michigan. So, this is actually also very important to Americans and American jobs while it also supports Ukraine. VOA: [The] Ukrainian economy, despite the war and significant downturn, [has] survived. The U.S. helped a lot. What is the outlook for the next year for [the] Ukrainian economy, from your perspective? And what new mechanism are you planning to use to help Ukraine to survive economically? Brink: This is actually, maybe, one of the biggest successes that Ukraine has had outside of the military sphere. Your economy, the Ukrainian economy, has grown by 5% in the last year. It's phenomenal. [A] big part of that is Ukrainian ability to continue exports. And that was done even though Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain initiative. Through incredibly brave and creative efforts, a new corridor was created out of the Black Sea ports. And now 760 ships and over 23 million metric tons of goods have set sail safely. And that's important to the world because it's getting grain and other supplies out, but also very important to Ukraine's economy. VOA: I talked to Ukrainian business, and they are really appreciative of, especially, [the] insurance mechanism the Western financial institutions are using. Are you planning to expand that effort? Brink: Yes. We're working together with Ukrainian government as well as other partners to support in every way we can. Increasing exports out of the Black Sea ports, out of the Danube ports, and also improving border crossings and other things to facilitate these exports and ultimately bring money back into state coffers. This is a big part of our assistance, and it's supporting Ukraine's ability to sustain itself. VOA: What is your outlook for the next year, for Ukraine, and for the region? Brink: It's the same as when I started. Ukraine must win. The United States, together with partners and allies, are going to continue to support Ukrainians in this objective. And what that means is to reclaim their territories, to move closer to Europe, to the EU and ultimately to NATO; to move toward what Ukrainians want, which is a sovereign, independent, prosperous country that's integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions, that will be a strong and important partner for the United States. And that's what we support. Anna Chernikova contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic have differences in the size of certain structures in the brain, compared to infants born before the pandemic, according to a new study led by researchers at Childrens National Hospital. The team found differences in the brains of both infants whose mothers were infected with COVID while pregnant, as well as those born to mothers who did not test positive for the virus, according to the study published in Cerebr a l Cortex . The findings suggest that exposure to the coronavirus and being pregnant during the pandemic could play a role in shaping infant brain development, said Nickie A n d e s c a v a g e , M.D. , the first author of the paper and associate chief for the Developing Brain Institute at Childrens National. The study's authors looked at three groups of infants: 108 born before the pandemic; 47 exposed to COVID before birth; and 55 unexposed infants. In all cases, researchers performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the newborns brains during the first few weeks of life. The MRI scans, which are non-invasive and do not expose patients to radiation, provided 3D images of the brain, allowing doctors to calculate the volume of different areas. Researchers found several differences in the brains of babies exposed to COVID. They had larger volumes of the gray matter that makes up the brains outermost layer, compared to the two other groups. In contrast, an inner area of the brain, known as deep gray matter, was smaller than in unexposed babies. These are areas that contain large numbers of neurons that generate and process signals throughout the brain. Their brains formed differently if they were exposed to COVID, said Dr. Andescavage, adding that those exposed to COVID had unique signatures in the brain. Doctors also measured the depths of the folds in the babies brains a way to determine how the brain is maturing during early development. Babies born to mothers who had COVID in pregnancy had deeper grooves in the frontal lobe, while babies born during the pandemic even without being exposed to COVID had increased folds and grooves throughout the brain, compared to babies born before the pandemic. There was something about being born during the pandemic that changed how the brain developed, Dr. Andescavage said. The study authors cant fully explain what caused the differences in brain development in these babies, Dr. Andescavage said. But other studies have linked m a tern a l stress a n d depression to ch a n ges in the newborn br a in . In a future study, Dr. Andescavage and her colleagues will examine the relationship between infant brain development and how stress and anxiety during the pandemic may have played a role in early development. Because the babies in the study were just a few weeks old, researchers dont know if their altered brain development will affect how they learn or behave. Researchers plan to follow the children until age 6, allowing them to observe whether pandemic-era babies hit key developmental milestones on time, such as walking, talking, holding a crayon and learning the alphabet. Researchers have been worried about the effect of COVID on the fetus since the beginning of the pandemic. Studies show that b a bies exposed to COVID in the womb m a y experience development a l imp a cts , and research is underway to better underst a n d long-term outcomes . Although the coronavirus rarely crosses the placenta to infect the fetus directly, there are other ways maternal infection can influence the developing baby. Dr. Andescavage said inflammation is one potential harm to a developing baby. In addition, if a pregnant woman becomes so sick that the levels of oxygen in her blood fall significantly, that can deprive the fetus of oxygen, she added. In recent decades, studies of large populations have found that maternal infections with influenza and other viruses increase the risk of serious problems in children even years later, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, although the reasons behind the association are not well understood. Technology may allow doctors to answer a number of questions about COVID and the infant brain. With advanced imaging and MRI, were in a position now to be able to understand how the babies are developing in ways we never previously could, Dr. Andescavage said. That will better allow us to identify the exposures that may be harmful, and at what times babies may be especially vulnerable, to better position us to promote maternal wellness. This, in turn, helps infant wellness. Media contact: Katie Shrader | kshr a der@childrensn a tion a l.org ### About Childrens National Hospital Childrens National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow up stronger. Today, it is the No. 5 childrens hospital in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Childrens National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. The Childrens National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Childrens National has been designated three times in a row as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Childrens National is home to the Childrens N a tion a l Rese a rch Institute and Sheikh Z a yed Institute for Pedi a tric Surgic a l Innov a tion . It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the world marks Cancer Awareness Month, Malaysia has made significant strides in the field of cancer treatment, earning recognition as a premier destination for individuals seeking advanced care. With its state-of-the-art medical facilities, renowned healthcare professionals, and commitment to innovative care, Malaysia has emerged as a beacon of hope for patients battling cancer. In recent years, Malaysia has experienced a significant increase in medical tourism, particularly in the field of cancer treatment. According to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), the country welcomed over 1.3 million medical tourists in 2023, with a substantial number seeking cancer-related care1. This surge underscores Malaysia's growing reputation as a leading destination for individuals seeking effective and affordable cancer treatment options. Malaysia has garnered international recognition for its excellence in cancer care and treatment. The country's healthcare system boasts advanced medical infrastructure, including internationally accredited hospitals and specialised cancer centres equipped with cutting-edge technology. These facilities offer a comprehensive range of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and surgical interventions, tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient. At the heart of Malaysia's appeal is the expertise of its healthcare professionals. Oncologists, surgeons, nurses, and support staff undergo rigorous training and accreditation, ensuring that patients receive top-notch treatment and personalised care throughout their cancer journey. This dedication to excellence has earned Malaysia recognition as a hub for advanced cancer treatment in the region. Cost-effectiveness is another compelling factor driving individuals to choose Malaysia for cancer treatment. The relatively lower cost of medical procedures, combined with competitive pricing for accommodation and transportation, makes Malaysia an attractive option for patients seeking high-quality care without financial burden. Beyond medical treatment, Malaysia prioritises the holistic well-being of cancer patients, offering comprehensive support services to address their physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Safety and accessibility are paramount considerations for patients traveling abroad for medical treatment, and Malaysia excels in both aspects. The country's stable political environment, modern transportation infrastructure, and welcoming hospitality ensures a safe and seamless experience for international patients seeking cancer treatment. Malaysia's commitment to combating cancer is exemplified by the establishment of its first National Cancer Institute in 2013. This milestone marked a significant advancement in the country's efforts to provide comprehensive cancer care, further solidifying Malaysia's position as a leader in the field of oncology. To further bolster its position as a global hub for cancer treatment, Malaysia continues to invest in research and development, fostering collaborations with renowned institutions worldwide. These efforts aim to drive innovation, improve treatment protocols, and ultimately contribute to the global fight against cancer. As Cancer Awareness Month unfolds, Malaysia stands tall as a beacon of hope for patients battling this devastating disease. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, skilled medical professionals, affordability, and commitment to advancing cancer care, Malaysia offers a compelling destination for individuals seeking effective cancer treatment options. For more information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, please visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org/ or visit our social feeds at: www.facebook.com/MHTCMalaysia or at LinkedIn (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council). For media enquiries: Chandrika Bhaskaran Senior Manager, Public Relations and Content Communications Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council chandrika.b@mhtc.org.my Falliq Effendy Manager, Public Relations and Content Communications Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council m.falliq@mhtc.org.my ABOUT THE MALAYSIA HEALTHCARE TRAVEL COUNCIL The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of facilitating and promoting the countrys healthcare travel industry, recognised as a key export service sector for the country. Founded in 2009, MHTC works to streamline industry players and service providers in facilitating and growing Malaysias healthcare travel industry under the brand Malaysia Healthcare with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. MHTC works closely with over 90 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia, who are registered members of MHTC. ___________________________________ 1 MHTC Informatics Westborough, MA , Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneFire Outdoor Living and StoneFire Core, esteemed providers of outdoor living solutions and manufacturers of premium outdoor fireplaces, proudly announce a significant transition in ownership. Founder and longtime owner, Giuseppe Ventriglia, affectionately known as Joe, is passing the torch to his dedicated business partner, Dennis DePierri, and his wife, Stephanie DePierri, a long standing employee of StoneFire. StoneFire Outdoor Living Joe Ventriglia's journey in the masonry and outdoor living industry is a testament to perseverance, craftsmanship, and community engagement. Born and raised in Italy, Joe moved to the United States at the age of 15, where he cultivated his passion for masonry. Over the years, Joe established himself as a prominent figure in Westborough and surrounding towns, building his business, StoneFire Outdoor Living, on a foundation of integrity and unparalleled workmanship. In the 1980s, Joe embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with 'Joe's Masonry,' which evolved into 'Terrascaping and Construction' in 2001. His dedication to excellence and innovation led to the establishment of 'StoneFire by Design' in 2012 and the subsequent merger of both companies into 'StoneFire Outdoor Living' in 2017. Throughout his career, Joe's hands-on approach, coupled with his commitment to quality, has left an indelible mark on countless landscapes and communities. Dennis DePierri, a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst, joined forces with Joe after meeting him on a collaborative project. Dennis's expertise in landscape contracting and design complemented Joe's mastery of masonry, laying the groundwork for a fruitful partnership. His mechanical skills and innovative spirit were instrumental in the development of StoneFire's signature Pre-Constructed Units (PCU), paving the way for the establishment of StoneFire Core in 2019. Stephanie DePierri, born and raised in Brazil, found her calling at StoneFire through a serendipitous encounter with Joe. From humble beginnings as Joe's tenant to becoming the cornerstone of the company's operations, Stephanie's journey exemplifies dedication and adaptability. Her multifaceted role encompassed various responsibilities, from his first office employee to showroom management and sales, underscoring her invaluable contributions to the organization. The transition in ownership marks a new chapter for StoneFire Outdoor Living and StoneFire Core, symbolizing continuity and a shared vision for the future. Dennis and Stephanie's unwavering commitment to Joe's legacy and the company's core values ensures a seamless transition and continued excellence in outdoor living solutions. Joe Ventriglia will remain an integral part of the StoneFire family, serving as a mentor and member of the sales team in the years to come. His passion for the craft and steadfast dedication to customer satisfaction will continue to inspire future generations of outdoor living enthusiasts. As Dennis and Stephanie embark on this new chapter, they express gratitude to Joe for his unwavering support and guidance. Together, they look forward to preserving and expanding upon the legacy of StoneFire Outdoor Living and StoneCore, enriching lives and landscapes for years to come. Joe has always been more than just a boss to Dennis and I. He is a friend, mentor and a father figure. We love what he started, we love his passion, his (and companys) reputation and couldnt be happier to take on his legacy and continue on, states Stephanie DiPierri. For more information about StoneFire Outdoor Living and StoneFire Core, please visit www.stonefireoutdoorliving.com. ### Media Contact: Stephanie DePierri StoneFire Outdoor Living 206 Turnpike Rd Westborough, MA 01581 Phone: 508-614-9696 Email: stephanie@stonefireoutdoorliving.com https://www.stonefireoutdoorliving.com/ StoneFire Outdoor Living 206 Turnpike Rd Westborough, MA 01581 Attachment This disclosure is sent on behalf of a certain large shareholder in Ensurge Micropower ASA (the "Company" or Ensurge). The Company disclosed on 20 February 2024 that it had successfully placed a private placement of 233,468,885 new shares in the Company. In connection with the private placement, a share lending agreement was entered into by the manager Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), the Company and Robert Keith. Robert Keith has lent shares in connection with the settlement of the private placement. As a result of the share lending, Robert Keith discloses the following information pursuant to Section 4-2 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and the Securities Trading Act Regulations: On 21 February 2024, following allocation in the private placement, execution of the share loan and the subsequent temporary disposal of 233,468,885 shares in the Company, Robert Keiths holdings of shares went from 350,711,353 shares, representing 14.25% of the total number of shares and votes in the Company, to 117,242,468 shares, representing 4.76% of the total number of shares and votes in the Company. The disclosure obligation was triggered by Robert Keith crossing below the 10% and 5% thresholds of total number of voting rights and shares in Ensurge. PRESS RELEASE Neuilly-sur-Seine, France February 22, 2024 Bureau Veritas becomes the market leader in Consumer Products Services in Mexico through the acquisition of ANCE S.A de C.V., a leader in the testing and certification services for Electrical and Electronics consumer products Bureau Veritas, a global leader in the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry, announces the acquisition of the Conformity Assessment entity from ANCE Estandares S.C.: ANCE S.A de C.V. (Asociacion de Normalizacion y Certificacion), a leader in testing and certification services for electrical and electronic products in Mexico. ANCE S.A de C.V. is the Mexican leader for conformity assessment covering many segments including electrical and electronic products, household appliances, and lighting and wireless products. ANCE S.A de C.V. is a strategic partner to a wide portfolio of domestic clients including manufacturers, retailers, importers, and brands in Mexico, but also worldwide. The company employs around 400 people across its various laboratories across the country and generated a revenue of c.21 million in 2023. Through this acquisition Bureau Veritas will establish a center of competence supporting Mexicos continued growth as an importer, manufacturer, and exporter of technology products. This acquisition significantly enhances Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services presence in the Americas, entering a large and growing domestic market with increasing regulatory requirements for quality, safety and energy efficiency. It positions Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services as the market leader in Mexico. Hinda Gharbi, Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas, commented: We are delighted to welcome ANCE S.A de C.V. to Bureau Veritas. With the reconfiguration of supply chains, global sourcing shifts, and with customers investing in fast-growing 'near-shoring' markets, it is critical for our future growth to accompany these transformations. Mexico being one of the fastest-growing exporters to the USA, the integration of ANCE S.A de C.V.s labs and technical knowledge provides an excellent platform for growth in the Americas and is fully aligned with our Consumer Products strategy to diversify into new segments and new geographies. Abel Hernandez, General Director of ANCE S.A de C.V., stated: With its history, customer portfolio, services diversity, shared values and integrity, we are delighted to join Bureau Veritas. Mexico is well positioned for growth with a lot of new investment continuing to flow into the country. In combining Bureau Veritass global business platform with ANCE S.A de C.V.s local expertise and brand strength, we will be able to consolidate our leadership position in Mexico. Jointly, we will offer comprehensive testing, certification and global market solutions that are truly unique in our industry. About Bureau Veritas Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has circa 82,000 employees located in nearly 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its 400,000 clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20 and SBF 120 indices. Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI. For more information, visit www.bureauveritas.com, and follow us on Twitter (@bureauveritas) and LinkedIn. Our information is certified with blockchain technology. Check that this press release is genuine at www.wiztrust.com. ANALYST/INVESTOR CONTACTS MEDIA CONTACTS Laurent Brunelle Anette Rey +33 (0)1 55 24 76 09 +33 (0) 6 69 79 84 88 laurent.brunelle@bureauveritas.com anette.rey@bureauveritas.com Colin Verbrugghe +33 (0)1 55 24 77 80 colin.verbrugghe@bureauveritas.com Karine Ansart +33 (0)1 55 24 76 19 karine.ansart@bureauveritas.com Attachment Westford,USA, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest's latest global research of the IoT in the Manufacturing market , increasing adoption of edge computing and edge analytics to process data closer to the source reduces latency and improves real-time decision-making. Industrial IoT platforms are becoming more open and interoperable, allowing for seamless integration with existing systems and technologies are the trends that aid in the market's growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "IOT in Manufacturing Market" Pages - 157 Tables - 69 Figures - 75 IoT in manufacturing, also known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is the use of internet-connected sensors and devices to collect and exchange data from manufacturing machines and processes. This data can then be used to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase product quality. Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/iot-in-manufacturing-market Prominent Players in IOT in Manufacturing Market Cisco IBM PTC Microsoft Siemens AG GE SAP Huawei ATOS HCL Intel Oracle Schneider Electric Zebra Technologies Software AG Wind River Samsara Telit ScienceSoft Impinj Bosch.IO Litmus Automation Uptake Mocana Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G) Demand to Grow Substantially in the Forecast Period Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G) dominates the global online market as they gained traction in manufacturing for their flexibility and ease of deployment. The rollout of 5G networks was seen as a potential game-changer, promising low latency, high reliability, and support for massive IoT connectivity. Predictive Maintenance is the Leading Application Segment In terms of application, the predictive maintenance is the leading segment as it involves using IoT sensors and data analytics to monitor machinery and predict when maintenance is needed. This application segment is a major driver because it helps manufacturers reduce downtime, prevent equipment failures, and optimize maintenance schedules, leading to significant cost savings. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/iot-in-manufacturing-market North America is the leading Market Due to Technological Advancements Region-wise, North America is one of the largest growing markets with a huge emphasis on technological advancements. The region has a strong manufacturing base, technological innovation, and early adoption of IoT in industrial settings. The the presence of leading technology companies and robust R&D activities has also contributed to North America's leadership. A recent report thoroughly analyzes the major players operating within the IOT in the Manufacturing market. This comprehensive evaluation has considered several crucial factors, such as collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing invaluable insights into the key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Additionally, the report has carefully scrutinized the market share of the top segments and presented a detailed geographic analysis. Finally, the report has highlighted the major players in the industry and their ongoing endeavors to develop innovative solutions that cater to the ever-increasing demand for IOT in Manufacturing. Key Developments in IOT in Manufacturing Market Rockwell Automation Inc. announced a partnership with Microsoft Corporation to develop a cloud-based IoT platform for industrial customers. The collaboration aims to combine Rockwell Automation's expertise in industrial automation and control systems with Microsoft's Azure cloud services to enable seamless connectivity, data analytics, and AI capabilities for improved productivity and operational performance in manufacturing. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/iot-in-manufacturing-market Key Questions Answered in IOT in Manufacturing Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market Global Military Software Market Global Airport Sleeping Pods Market Global Embedded Analytics Market Global Cloud Robotics Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Sodexo and AstraZeneca extend their global partnership for a further 5 years. Issy les Moulineaux, February 22, 2024 Sodexo reinforces its contract of Food and Facilities Management Services with AstraZeneca in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway for a further 5-year period. Sodexo and AstraZeneca have built a trusting relationship over the years, with significant advances implemented to improve the daily lives of consumers. The collaboration between Sodexo and AstraZeneca began in 2008 in the UK with a first Food and Facilities Management contract. In 2012, the contract was extended to additional sites and scope of services in the UK, as well as in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. From October 1, 2023, Sodexo is subsequently proud to announce the evolution of this partnership under a Vested agreement* for a further 5-year period. Through this highly collaborative Vested agreement, Sodexo will continue to provide services across the global portfolio, including Food services, as well as Workplace services, Cleaning in GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and quality-controlled Lab areas, Technical Services, Grounds Maintenance and Waste Handling. To support AstraZenecas activities and teams, drive efficiencies and spark further innovation, Sodexo is implementing key initiatives aligned to its 2025 ambition to deliver excellent client and consumer experience, including the implementation of: global food brands, suitable for both manufacturing and office environments, such as Kitchen Works and Modern Recipe, delivering delicious food in stylish and welcoming spaces that foster a sense of belonging and cultivate collaboration; proven solutions to reduce Astra Zenecas environmental impact: WasteWatch initiative to track, analyze and limit food waste with the objective of reducing food waste by 50% by 2025; Reusable Food Box tracked by a personalized QR code to avoid single-use packaging waste; Carbon labelling on menus to drive consumers towards sustainable choices; tech & data solutions to support a consumer-centric approach with the evolution of the existing Everyday consumer app, enabling consumers to pre-order meals, as well as benefitting from a digitized grab and go food offer. The partnership will also benefit from further digitization concerning other critical areas such as Health & Safety, Financial performance, Quality and Compliance through Sodexos global Wando app. This app generates data and insights to ensure consistency and transparency that enable informed solutions, acting as the central reporting platform to drive KPIs. Johan Stellingwerf, Sodexo Chief Operating Officer for Global Strategic Accounts said: We are very pleased to have extended our long-lasting partnership with AstraZeneca. Together, we share a mutual commitment to nurturing healthy people, healthy planet and healthy society within our workplaces. We will continue to enhance AstraZenecas best-in-class workplace by delivering sustainable experiences every day for everyone. Together with our teams, we will continue generating value, supporting both companies strong commitments around Sustainability, Safety, Quality & Compliance, Innovation and People. * The Vested business model is based on award-winning research conducted by the University of Tennessee College of Business Administration. In this case, both parties commit to a high level of transparency and collaboration, starting with crafting the agreement together. Incentives are built to drive mutual business success, driven by a Whats in it for we mindset. The agreement aims to increase innovation, reduce long term cost, increase efficiency in FM, improve employee engagement and encourage alignment on sustainability and productivity goals. About Sodexo Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. The Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. Thanks to its two activities of Food and Facilities Management Services, Sodexo meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices. Key Figures 22.6 billion euros Fiscal 2023 consolidated revenues consolidated revenues 430,000 employees as at August 31, 2023 #1 France-based private employer worldwide 45 countries 80 million consumers served daily 11 billion euro in market capitalization (as at February 1, 2024) Attachment Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hitachi Energy today announced an investment of more than 30 million euros (approx. $32 million) in the expansion and modernization of its power transformer manufacturing facility in Bad Honnef, Germany. Expected to be completed in 2026, the project will generate up to 100 new jobs in the region and address the rising demand for transformers to support Europe's clean energy transition. Operational since 1906, the facility in Bad Honnef is one of Hitachi Energys key manufacturing locations in Europe. The factory produces large power transformers, forming critical components of the electrical grid used to step up or down the voltage level for efficient transmission and distribution. Electricity will be the backbone of our entire energy system. In the global power system of 2050, we need around four times the power generation capacity and transfer of up to three times as much electrical energy compared to 2020, said Bruno Melles, Business Unit Transformers Managing Director at Hitachi Energy. The Bad Honnef facility is one example of our commitment to expand our global footprint and capacity at speed to meet accelerating demand driven by the energy transition. The investment signifies an expansion of the facility to over 15,000 square meters. Combined with process enhancements, the upgraded facility is geared towards optimizing operational performance and boosting the overall manufacturing capacity to address the growing demand. Over the years, the factory in Bad Honnef has delivered transformers to many of the leading transmission system operators, utilities and industries in Europe, such as those included in the strategic partnership with TenneT. The expansion of this factory reflects a wider scaling up of Hitachi Energys capacity in Europe. Last year, the company expanded production in Sweden with an additional 2,000 new jobs over the next two years, in addition to the acquisition of power electronics companies eks Energy and COET. -END- About Hitachi Energy Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. We integrate more than 150 GW of HVDC links into the power system, helping our customers enable more wind and solar. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ more than 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of over $10 billion USD. https://www.hitachienergy.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy https://twitter.com/HitachiEnergy About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com. Attachment Dublin, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Malaysia Loyalty Programs Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Loyalty Programs Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - A ground-breaking report has been added to the cache of market intelligence data, offering extensive insights into Malaysia's burgeoning loyalty programs market expected to reach a substantial market size by 2024. In an era where customer retention is paramount, the Loyalty Programs Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook for Malaysia demonstrates a compelling growth trajectory. The data-backed publication reveals a robust Year-Over-Year (YoY) growth rate, underscoring the market's potential to scale new heights. Key Findings from the Market Intelligence Report: An impressive projection of the loyalty programs market, reaching US$720.9 million in 2024, further escalating to a noteworthy US$1.04 billion by 2028. A documented Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.4% between 2019-2023, with expectations to maintain a solid 9.7% CAGR through 2024-2028. Enhanced with 50+ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the report delivers a comprehensive analysis of consumer behavior and retail product dynamics. Exclusive insights into varying operational KPIs, loyalty spend market size, and expansive growth dynamics within the Malaysian market. Scope and Versatility of the Loyalty Market Analysis The databook spans across diverse sectors, offering clarity on market trends and opportunities poised to influence the future of loyalty programs. With a focus on consumer demographics and behavior, the report delves into the intricate details of: Retail Sector Spend Value Trends - including eCommerce and Point of Sale (POS) engagements, revealing shifts in consumer purchasing patterns. Loyalty Programs Performance - dissecting the functional domains from scheme types, program varieties, and implementation channels. Sector-Specific Loyalty Dynamics - evaluating the role of loyalty programs in sectors ranging from retail and finance to travel, hospitality, and beyond. Technology Integration in Loyalty Programs - examining how digital access and mobile apps are transforming the loyalty space. Assessment of Loyalty Program Accessibility - analyzing card-based versus digital access, and how these platforms cater to varying consumer types. Business acumen and strategic planning are prerequisites in todays data-driven market landscape. This publication not only underpins the necessity of informed decision-making but also equips businesses with knowledge to benchmark, innovate, and lead. As Malaysian businesses continue to embrace the quantifiable benefits of loyalty programs, this databook is expected to serve as a vital resource in navigating the market complexities and understanding the nuanced needs of the modern consumer. Explore the Intricacies of Consumer Loyalty: From the allure of loyalty schemes to the adoption of sophisticated loyalty platforms powered by analytics and AI, Malaysia's loyalty spend market is at the cusp of transformation. Understanding these trends and their implications is pivotal for businesses looking to foster stronger customer relationships and a competitive edge. The insights gathered through this comprehensive market analysis are indispensable, offering a window into the nuanced and dynamic realm of loyalty programs in Malaysia. The report provides an invaluable perspective for businesses aiming to amplify their customer loyalty strategies in an evolving marketplace. This newly published report garners attention for its meticulous detail and profound conclusions on the Malaysian loyalty programs market, illustrating the dimensions and scope that businesses, investors, and market analysts will find indispensable. Key Topics Covered Market Insights: Malaysia Retail Sector Analysis Ecommerce Trends Market Segmentation: Loyalty Spend Analysis Schemes, Channels, Business Models Key Sectors Regional Analysis: Malaysia Loyalty Market Dynamics Future Outlook: Growth Projections Methodology and Disclaimer: Research Approach and Definitions Data Accuracy Note Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 117 Forecast Period 2024 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $720.86 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1042.24 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.7% Regions Covered Malaysia For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dyzo7b About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Micronutrient Fertilizer - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts 2016 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Micronutrient Fertilizer Market size is estimated at USD 5.60 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 8.24 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.65% during the forecast period (2024-2030). Key Highlights Largest Segment by Type - Zinc : Zn is the most applied micronutrient fertilizer due to the increasing Zn deficiencies in soils of major growing regions. The application of Zn is proven to give higher yields. Fastest growing segment by Type - Iron : The alkaline soils with high pH are deficient in iron micronutrients. The degrading health and quality of agricultural soils are declining the availability of iron. Largest Segment by Crop Type - Field Crops : Field crops are widely cultivated worldwide and are a staple food in many parts of the world. They account for a maximum share by area in most agricultural countries. Largest segment by Country - India : Micronutrient fertilizers are being used increasingly as Indian soils are deficient in boron (47%), iron (37%), and zinc (39%), as per the Center for Science and Environment. Micronutrient Fertilizer Market Trends Zinc is the largest segment by Product. Micronutrients play an important role in many plant metabolic activities, such as cell wall formation, pollen formation, germination, chlorophyll production, nitrogen fixation, and the synthesis of the essential parts of proteins. The global micronutrient fertilizer market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 3.0% during the forecast period. Zinc accounted for a share of 38.3% of the global micronutrient fertilizer market in 2021. Of the total share held by zinc fertilizers, conventional zinc fertilizers accounted for about 65.7%, and specialty zinc fertilizers accounted for about 34.3%. Specialty zinc fertilizers have the advantage of uniform distribution and fast acting on crops compared to conventional fertilizers. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the global market, accounting for 31.6% of the market share in 2021. The distribution network of micronutrient fertilizers is well-established in the major Asia-Pacific countries, further boosting the market for various micronutrient fertilizer products in the region. The increasing demand for food grains, coupled with decreasing nutrients in the soil, is one of the major factors driving the growth of the market in the region. Recent studies have indicated that zinc deficiency is China's most widespread micronutrient deficiency. More than 50% of the arable soils are low in zinc, thereby limiting agricultural growth and improvement in human nutrition. Widespread micronutrient deficiencies across the world are becoming a rising concern for plant health, coupled with increasing encouragement from various government agencies and other organizations to increase the use of micronutrients to enhance plant and soil health. These factors are driving the market growth. Asia-Pacific is the largest segment by Region. The global micronutrient fertilizer market grew at a stable rate during the study period, with a value of USD 3.61 billion in 2021 and an overall consumption volume of 1.5 million metric ton. Asia-Pacific occupied the largest market share of 38.8% in 2021, followed by Europe and North America. In Asia-Pacific, countries such as India and China are the major micronutrient fertilizer markets, accounting for 36.0% and 17.0% of the market share in 2021. The increase in micronutrient deficiency in Chinese crops resulted in 73.6% of micronutrient fertilizer consumption in 2021 in China. The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of China added zinc, at a rate of 15-30 kg ZnSO4/ha, to its national fertilizer recommendation, which was recently extended for summer crops like rice and corn. France is the third-largest market for micronutrient fertilizer in Europe after Russia, with an estimated market value of USD 121.9 million in 2022. The increasing area under cultivation of horticulture crops, which increased from 1.2 million hectares in 2017 to 1.3 million hectares in 2021, is further expected to increase in the following years. Apart from Asia, zinc and iron deficiency in the soil is quite widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and the northwest of South America. The overall advantages of micronutrient fertilizers are being widely accepted and recognized currently. The global export value for zinc in 2021 amounted to USD 1.6 million, with the Netherlands as the top exporter of the micronutrients, with a value of USD 275.6 thousand. The global micronutrient fertilizer market is growing because of the widespread micronutrient deficiencies around the world, with iron and zinc deficiencies becoming a rising concern for plant health, and also due to the increasing encouragement from various government agencies to increase the use of micronutrients. A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes BMS Micro-Nutrients NV Coromandel International Limited Haifa Group K+S AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT Koch Industries Inc. Nouryon Cooperatief UA The Mosaic Company Yara International For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y282p3 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Amsterdam, 22 February 2024 - Heineken N.V. ('HEINEKEN') today published its combined financial and sustainability annual report. Key highlights from HEINEKENs Annual Report 2023 include: Q&A with Dolf van den Brink, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, on our EverGreen strategy. 2023 detailed business review, highlights from our brands and innovations and financial statements. Insights about our EverGreen strategic priorities to shape the future of beer and beyond; fund the growth, fuel the profit; raise the bar on sustainability & responsibility; become the best-connected brewer; unlock the full potential of our people. Progress made on Brew a Better World 2030: 34% reduction of absolute carbon emissions in scope 1 and 2 since 2018, on our path to become net zero by 2030, and in our full value chain by 2040. We maintained water usage in our breweries to 3.0 hectolitre per hectolitre (hl/hl) in water-stressed areas and improved to 3.2 hl/hl on average worldwide; We also launched our global circularity strategy focused on packaging, where we aim to increase reusability, maximize recycled content, and improve recyclability. We increased the percentage of women in senior management positions to 28%, with the aim to increase this to at least 30% by 2025 and 40% by 2030. 100% of our direct employees now earn a fair wage according to the Fair Wage Network, reaching our 2023 goal. 100% of our in-scope markets had a social impact initiative in place, as well as a partnership with governments and society to address alcohol related harm . Heineken 0.0 is now available in 114 markets. To continue to lead the debate, our operating companies have invested 14% of Heineken media spend, reaching almost 900 million unique consumers worldwide through responsible consumption campaigns . The full Annual Report 2023 is available here: https://www.theheinekencompany.com/our-company/our-2023-annual-report ENDS Press enquiries Joris Evers/ Michael Fuchs E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-355 Investor and analyst enquiries Federico Castillo Martinez / Mark Matthews E-mail: investors@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-590 About HEINEKEN HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKENs over 90,000 employees, we brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. Our dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts of consumers. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brew a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Most recent information is available on our Company's website and follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter and Instagram . Attachments Dublin, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Application, Drone Type, Mode of Operation, Infrastructure, Range, Component, and Country - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to reach a value of $72.42 billion by 2033 from $18.1 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 14.8% The emergence of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), occasionally known as drones, represents a significant technological advancement, changing operations in a variety of commercial and government sectors. These systems, distinguished by their remote piloting capabilities and adaptable architecture, have spread beyond military applications to industries including agriculture, real estate, infrastructure, and emergency services. In agriculture, UAS is transforming precision farming by delivering comprehensive aerial images that allow farmers to check crop health, monitor irrigation, and optimize pesticide distribution. The real estate business uses UAS for aerial photography, which provides immersive property views and improves marketing methods. Drones play an important role in infrastructure inspections, damage assessments, and construction progress monitoring, providing a safer and more cost-effective alternative to traditional techniques. Nowadays, unmanned drones are characterized by fast technical progress and rising use across a wide range of industries, including commercial, environmental, and public service activities. Cutting-edge breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and sensor technologies are greatly improving UAS's autonomy, dependability, and adaptability. Companies such as DJI and Parrot are constantly developing and producing drones with advanced features such as real-time data processing, obstacle avoidance, and extended flying endurance. The sector is also seeing an increase in strategic partnerships between tech giants and drone start-ups, with a focus on developing integrated solutions for precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster management, and delivery services, demonstrating the UAS industry's robust growth and pivotal role in shaping the future of autonomous technology and aerial operations. Industrial Impacts The introduction of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has signaled a transformational period in a variety of industrial sectors, characterized by higher efficiency, improved data collecting, and a fundamental shift in operating paradigms. UAS technology has transformed traditional agricultural methods, allowing precision agriculture by providing high-resolution airborne imagery for crop monitoring, health evaluation, and land management. This detailed level of data enables educated decision-making, optimizes resource allocation, and considerably increases agricultural yields while reducing environmental effects. Furthermore, in the field of infrastructure and construction, UAS have proven useful in conducting extensive inspections of difficult-to-access buildings such as bridges, skyscrapers, and wind turbines. This not only assures greater safety standards by allowing early detection of structural flaws, but it also results in significant cost savings by decreasing the need for manual inspections and minimizing the danger of workplace accidents. Simultaneously, UAV system technology is at the forefront of altering emergency response and catastrophe management procedures. In situations when every second counts, UAS provides quick, real-time observation and evaluation of disaster-stricken areas without exposing people to dangerous conditions. This feature facilitates the quick and efficient deployment of emergency services, which improves the efficacy of rescue operations. Furthermore, in environmental monitoring and conservation activities, unmanned aerial system (UAS) or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) provides an unprecedented platform for large-scale data collecting and habitat monitoring, enabling insights into patterns and changes that are invisible at ground level. This high-level overview provides a more thorough and proactive approach to environmental stewardship, which helps to preserve biodiversity and manage natural resources sustainably. As these systems mature and include powerful AI and machine learning algorithms, UAS's potential to promote innovation and operational excellence across sectors is likely to grow, ushering in a new era of industrial efficiency and environmental awareness. Market Segmentation Commercial Segment to Dominate the Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market (by Application) The global and Asia-Pacific unmanned aerial system (UAS) market is led by the commercial application segment, which held a 98.11% share in 2022. The growing emphasis on technological advancement, shifting consumer preferences, and favorable economic conditions are expected to create demand and opportunities for expansion. For instance, in February 2023, Zipline International, Inc. received authorization from the FAA to use drones for commercial package deliveries in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. These drones are permitted to operate beyond the operator's visual line of sight without the need for visual observers. Rotary Wing Segment to Dominate the Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market (by Drone Type) The global and Asia-Pacific unmanned aerial system (UAS) market is led by the rotary wing drone type segment, which held a 78.88% share in 2022. The growing demand within the segment is propelled by technological advancements such as advanced imaging technologies, such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and high-resolution cameras, commercial adoption, and supportive regulatory environments. Remotely Piloted Segment to Dominate the Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market (by Mode of Operation) The global and Asia-Pacific unmanned aerial system (UAS) market is led by the remotely piloted mode of operation segment, which held a 64.83% share in 2022. The segment's growth is driven by the increased adoption of remotely piloted UAVs for diverse applications, including surveillance, reconnaissance, border patrolling, and monitoring, and the surge in demand for advanced technologies in UAVs. Drone Receptacle Segment to Dominate the Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market (by Infrastructure) The global and Asia-Pacific unmanned aerial system (UAS) market was led by the drone receptacle infrastructure segment in 2022. The segment's expansion is driven by the rising number of UAVs and UASs and their increasing applications across various sectors, including agriculture, logistics, surveillance, and transportation Visual-Line-of-Sight (VLOS) Segment to Dominate the Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market (by Range) The global and Asia-Pacific unmanned aerial system (UAS) market is led by the visual-line-of-sight (VLOS) range segment, which held a 65.12% share in 2022. The advanced autonomous VLOS drones with enhanced capabilities for various applications in both military and commercial sectors present in the market have been experiencing robust growth due to the increasing adoption of these technologies in various industries and the continuous development of advanced drones. Airframe Segment to Witness the Highest Growth between 2023 and 2033 in the Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market (by Component) The airframe component segment dominated the global and Asia-Pacific unmanned aerial system (UAS) market (by component) in 2022. Being the essential component of the body of the UAV, the demand for this component is everlasting. North America, Europe, and Rest-of-the-World were the highest-growing markets among all the regions, registering a CAGR of 14.87%. The regions are anticipated to gain traction in terms of UAS adoption owing to technological advancements, favorable economic conditions, and different consumer preferences. Moreover, favorable government policies are also expected to support the growth of the UAS market in North America, Europe, and Rest-of-the-World during the forecast period. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 129 Forecast Period 2023 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $18.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $72.42 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 14.8% Regions Covered Asia Pacific, Global Industry Outlook Overview: Global and Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Market Expansion of Drone Delivery Networks Automated UAS Captured Data Management/Usage Integration of Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) with Cloud-Based Infrastructure and Services Growing Need for Drones Integrated with AI/ML, Enhanced Sensors, and Advanced Communications Key Players Start-Ups and Investment Landscape Some prominent names established in this market are: Draganfly Innovations Inc. Skydio, Inc. EHang DJI Elbit Systems Ltd. Adani Group AiviewGroup HighEye MMC Hanwha Group Terra Drone Raptor Maps, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2xwk24 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment MONTREAL, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the remaining drilling and underground chip sampling results from new development areas as part of its 2023 exploration program at its 100%-owned Trixie test mine ("Trixie"), within the Company's wider Tintic Project ("Tintic" or the "Tintic Project"), located in the historic East Tintic Mining District in central Utah, U.S.A. DRILL ASSAY HIGHLIGHTS This news release includes assays from fourteen underground diamond drill ("DD") holes (see Table 1). Select assay highlights include: 66.04 grams per tonne (" g/t ") gold (" Au ") and 167.64 g/t silver (" Ag ") over 8.99 meters (" m ") in TRXU-DD-23-072A (1.93 ounce per ton (" oz/t ") Au and 4.89 oz/t Ag over 29.50 feet (" ft ")) including 610.00 g/t Au and 1,523.00 g/t Ag over 0.46 m (17.79 oz/t Au and 44.42 oz/t Ag over 1.50 ft) 180.00 g/t Au and 691.00 g/t Ag over 0.76 m (5.25 oz/t Au and 20.15 oz/t Ag over 2.50 ft) grams per tonne (" ") gold (" ") and 167.64 g/t silver (" ") over 8.99 meters (" ") in TRXU-DD-23-072A (1.93 ounce per ton (" ") Au and 4.89 oz/t Ag over 29.50 feet (" ")) including 23.89 g/t Au and 151.04 g/t Ag over 9.45 m in TRXU-DD-23-068 (0.70 oz/t Au and 4.41 oz/t Ag over 31.00 ft) including 81.23 g/t Au and 98.14 g/t Ag over 0.76 m (2.37 oz/t Au and 2.86 oz/t Ag over 2.50 ft) and 151.04 g/t Ag over 9.45 m in TRXU-DD-23-068 (0.70 oz/t Au and 4.41 oz/t Ag over 31.00 ft) including 102.67 g/t Au and 740.43 g/t Ag over 1.07 m in TRXU-DD-23-061 (2.99 oz/t Au and 21.60 oz/t Ag over 3.50 ft) including 281.00 g/t Au and 1,644.00 g/t Ag over 0.30 m (8.20 oz/t Au and 47.95 oz/t Ag over 1.00 ft) and 740.43 g/t Ag over 1.07 m in TRXU-DD-23-061 (2.99 oz/t Au and 21.60 oz/t Ag over 3.50 ft) including 10.84 g/t Au and 35.29 g/t Ag over 4.57 m in TRXU-DD-23-066 (0.32 oz/t Au and 1.03 oz/t Ag over 15.00 ft) and 35.29 g/t Ag over 4.57 m in TRXU-DD-23-066 (0.32 oz/t Au and 1.03 oz/t Ag over 15.00 ft) 5.79 g/t Au and 101.98 g/t Ag over 13.72 m in TRXU-DD-23-065 (0.17 oz/t Au and 2.97 oz/t Ag over 45.00 ft) DRILL RESULTS SUMMARY In 2023, the company completed a total of 6,028 m (19,776 ft) of underground drilling in 73 DD holes at Trixie. Assays have now been received for all 2023 holes testing the Trixie high sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag targets. A new mineral resource estimate ("MRE") for the Trixie deposit ("Trixie MRE") is in progress and is expected to be released in March 2024. The Trixie MRE will include all underground drilling and chip sample assays from the 2023 program. One additional hole (TRXU-DD-23-073) was drilled to a depth of 759.6 m (2,492 ft) and targeted a copper-gold porphyry target below Trixie. Assays for this hole are pending. The focus of these recent holes was to test for mineralization along one of the priority target areas south on strike from the known T2 domain, south towards the Sioux Ajax fault (see Figure 2). Results from holes TRXU-DD-23-065 (5.79 g/t Au over 13.72 m), TRXU-DD-23-066 (10.84 g/t over 4.57 m) and TRXU-DD-23-068 (23.89 g/t Au over 9.45 m) indicate that the mineralization appears to be plunging to the south towards the Sioux Ajax Fault. One diamond drill rig is currently active at surface testing a copper-gold-molybdenum target at Big Hill and is at a current depth of 922 m (3,028 ft). The target depth for this hole is approximately 1,524 m (5,000 ft). Assays are pending for this drillhole. UNDERGROUND CHIP SAMPLE ASSAY HIGHLIGHTS Assay highlights include underground chip samples from 55 new development faces at Trixie. Of these, 25 faces had samples with greater than 1.0 g/t Au or greater than 50.0 g/t Ag values (see Table 2). The remaining chip samples returned no significant assays. Selected assay highlights include: 123.67 g/t Au and 658.46 g/t Ag over 4.27 m in CH01683 (3.61 oz/t Au and 19.21 oz/t Ag over 14.00 ft) including 717.86 g/t Au and 2,996.98 g/t Ag over 0.61 m (20.94 oz/t Au and 87.41 oz/t Ag over 2.00 ft) and 658.46 g/t Ag over 4.27 m in CH01683 (3.61 oz/t Au and 19.21 oz/t Ag over 14.00 ft) including 40.84 g/t Au and 67.16 g/t Ag over 3.66 m in CH01694 (1.19 oz/t Au and 1.96 oz/t Ag over 12.00 ft) including 153.72 g/t Au and 227.32 g/t Ag over 0.91 m (4.48 oz/t Au and 6.63 oz/t Ag over 3.00 ft) and 67.16 g/t Ag over 3.66 m in CH01694 (1.19 oz/t Au and 1.96 oz/t Ag over 12.00 ft) including 385.26 g/t Au and 1094.04 g/t Ag over 0.30 m in CH01687 (11.24 oz/t Au and 31.91 oz/t Ag over 1.00 ft) and 1094.04 g/t Ag over 0.30 m in CH01687 (11.24 oz/t Au and 31.91 oz/t Ag over 1.00 ft) 26.89 g/t Au and 186.63 g/t Ag over 3.05 m in CH01682 (0.78 oz/t Au and 5.44 oz/t Ag over 10.00 ft) and 186.63 g/t Ag over 3.05 m in CH01682 (0.78 oz/t Au and 5.44 oz/t Ag over 10.00 ft) 28.62 g/t Au and 150.08 g/t Ag over 2.23 m in CH01676 (0.83 oz/t Au and 4.38 oz/t Ag over 7.30 ft) including 62.60 g/t Au and 247.62 g/t Ag over 0.91 m (1.83 oz/t Au and 7.22 oz/t Ag over 3.00 ft) and 150.08 g/t Ag over 2.23 m in CH01676 (0.83 oz/t Au and 4.38 oz/t Ag over 7.30 ft) including 7.74 g/t Au and 202.67 g/t Ag over 7.62 m in CH01679 (0.23 oz/t Au and 5.91 oz/t Ag over 25.00 ft) and 202.67 g/t Ag over 7.62 m in CH01679 (0.23 oz/t Au and 5.91 oz/t Ag over 25.00 ft) 18.48 g/t Au and 355.54 g/t Ag over 1.52 m in CH01664 (0.54 oz/t Au and 10.37 oz/t Ag over 5.00 ft) CHIP SAMPLE SUMMARY Chip samples were collected in new development areas in the face and walls of exploration crosscuts to explore along all domains of the Trixie deposit on the 625 Level, to the north towards the Trixie Fault and to the south towards the Sioux Ajax Fault. The sampling and drilling results indicate that target areas to the north of Trixie and to the south down plunge of the T2 structure are potentially mineralized and warrant further follow-up exploration drilling and sampling to understand the extent of mineralization. About Trixie The Trixie test mine is one of several gold and base metal targets within the larger Tintic Project consisting of >17,000 acres of patented mining claims and mineral leases (14,200 acres of patented mining claims and a further approximately 3,000 acres of overwhelmingly leased patented mining claims) within the historic East Tintic Mining District of Central Utah, U.S.A. The T2 and T4 structures at Trixie show multi-ounce gold grades associated with high sulphidation epithermal mineralization, structurally controlled and hosted within quartzites. The T2 structure mineralization consists of native Au, and rare Au-Ag rich telluride minerals with quartz. The T4 is a mineralized stockwork zone is located in the hanging wall of the T2 and is comprised of Au-Ag rich mineralization in host rock quartzite with quartz-barite-sulphosalt stockwork veining. Mineralization reports consistent multi-ounce gold grades along the entire strike length. A 3D model and virtual site tour of Trixie and the wider Tintic Project is accessible on the Company's VRIFY page at: https://vrify.com/decks/12801. Information relating to the Tintic Project and the current MRE for the Trixie deposit (the "Trixie MRE") is supported by the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Trixie Deposit, Tintic Project, Utah, United States of America", dated January 27, 2023 (with an effective date of January 10, 2023) prepared for the Company by independent representatives of Micon International Limited (the "Tintic Technical Report"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Tintic Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com. Figure 1: Tintic Project Trixie Area Figure 2: Trixie Long Section with Drill Highlights Figure 3: Trixie Long Section with Target Areas Table 1: Drilling Length Weighted Assay Composites at Trixie Hole ID Depth from (m) Depth to (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Depth from (ft.) Depth to (ft.) Length (ft.) Au (oz/t) Ag (oz/t) TRXU-DD-23-060 6.10 6.61 0.52 1.19 35.10 20.00 21.70 1.70 0.03 1.02 TRXU-DD-23-060 73.15 74.68 1.52 7.14 100.00 240.00 245.00 5.00 0.21 2.92 TRXU-DD-23-060 95.40 106.38 10.97 2.95 11.77 313.00 349.00 36.00 0.09 0.34 TRXU-DD-23-060 Including 102.84 103.94 1.10 22.53 77.10 337.40 341.00 3.60 0.66 2.25 TRXU-DD-23-060 110.79 113.54 2.74 1.51 6.59 363.50 372.50 9.00 0.04 0.19 TRXU-DD-23-061 36.12 37.19 1.07 102.67 740.43 118.50 122.00 3.50 2.99 21.60 TRXU-DD-23-061 Including 36.88 37.19 0.30 281.00 1,644.00 121.00 122.00 1.00 8.20 47.95 TRXU-DD-23-061 43.28 44.50 1.22 3.67 6.41 142.00 146.00 4.00 0.11 0.19 TRXU-DD-23-062 No Significant Assays TRXU-DD-23-063 74.98 77.63 2.65 2.35 68.43 246.00 254.70 8.70 0.07 2.00 TRXU-DD-23-064 No Significant Assays TRXU-DD-23-065 64.31 65.23 0.91 2.78 12.87 211.00 214.00 3.00 0.08 0.38 TRXU-DD-23-065 94.18 107.90 13.72 5.79 101.98 309.00 354.00 45.00 0.17 2.97 TRXU-DD-23-065 Including 97.23 98.76 1.52 8.24 11.86 319.00 324.00 5.00 0.24 0.35 TRXU-DD-23-065 and 100.68 101.35 0.67 11.09 254.00 330.30 332.50 2.20 0.32 7.41 TRXU-DD-23-065 and 101.80 102.93 1.13 18.73 230.00 334.00 337.70 3.70 0.55 6.71 TRXU-DD-23-065 and 104.70 106.38 1.68 12.04 508.00 343.50 349.00 5.50 0.35 14.82 TRXU-DD-23-066 65.07 67.97 2.90 13.01 140.85 213.50 223.00 9.50 0.38 4.11 TRXU-DD-23-066 65.07 66.60 1.52 19.96 206.00 213.50 218.50 5.00 0.58 6.01 TRXU-DD-23-066 79.86 81.23 1.37 2.14 30.27 262.00 266.50 4.50 0.06 0.88 TRXU-DD-23-066 87.78 89.00 1.22 7.90 133.00 288.00 292.00 4.00 0.23 3.88 TRXU-DD-23-066 98.45 99.97 1.52 3.20 5.60 323.00 328.00 5.00 0.09 0.16 TRXU-DD-23-066 103.33 107.90 4.57 10.84 35.29 339.00 354.00 15.00 0.32 1.03 TRXU-DD-23-067 No Significant Assays TRXU-DD-23-068 75.59 85.04 9.45 23.89 151.04 248.00 279.00 31.00 0.70 4.41 TRXU-DD-23-068 Including 75.59 76.20 0.61 33.56 140.00 248.00 250.00 2.00 0.98 4.08 TRXU-DD-23-068 and 76.20 76.96 0.76 81.23 98.14 250.00 252.50 2.50 2.37 2.86 TRXU-DD-23-068 and 78.33 79.25 0.91 26.95 120.00 257.00 260.00 3.00 0.79 3.50 TRXU-DD-23-068 and 80.62 81.69 1.07 37.34 220.00 264.50 268.00 3.50 1.09 6.42 TRXU-DD-23-068 and 81.69 82.30 0.61 52.50 330.00 268.00 270.00 2.00 1.53 9.63 TRXU-DD-23-068 and 84.43 85.04 0.61 23.03 530.00 277.00 279.00 2.00 0.67 15.46 TRXU-DD-23-069 102.11 108.81 6.71 3.06 10.33 335.00 357.00 22.00 0.09 0.30 TRXU-DD-23-069 Including 106.22 106.98 0.76 5.34 7.98 348.50 351.00 2.50 0.16 0.23 TRXU-DD-23-069 and 106.98 107.90 0.91 8.00 25.90 351.00 354.00 3.00 0.23 0.76 TRXU-DD-23-070 28.35 31.39 3.05 6.94 12.00 93.00 103.00 10.00 0.20 0.35 TRXU-DD-23-070 Including 30.18 31.39 1.22 9.27 20.00 99.00 103.00 4.00 0.27 0.58 TRXU-DD-23-071 6.10 7.01 0.91 3.41 16.00 20.00 23.00 3.00 0.10 0.47 TRXU-DD-23-071 9.91 10.36 0.46 19.45 73.00 32.50 34.00 1.50 0.57 2.13 TRXU-DD-23-071 17.53 18.59 1.07 4.70 44.00 57.50 61.00 3.50 0.14 1.28 TRXU-DD-23-071 21.64 23.01 1.37 7.70 21.00 71.00 75.50 4.50 0.22 0.61 TRXU-DD-23-071 25.30 27.13 1.83 4.88 14.58 83.00 89.00 6.00 0.14 0.43 TRXU-DD-23-072 1.22 2.13 0.91 2.03 20.00 4.00 7.00 3.00 0.06 0.58 TRXU-DD-23-072 6.71 7.47 0.76 2.30 12.00 22.00 24.50 2.50 0.07 0.35 TRXU-DD-23-072 9.45 10.36 0.91 10.66 71.00 31.00 34.00 3.00 0.31 2.07 TRXU-DD-23-072 13.56 18.14 4.57 3.32 3.00 44.50 59.50 15.00 0.10 0.09 TRXU-DD-23-072 Including 13.56 14.33 0.76 6.36 0.00 44.50 47.00 2.50 0.19 0.00 TRXU-DD-23-072 and 17.22 18.14 0.91 5.80 15.00 56.50 59.50 3.00 0.17 0.44 TRXU-DD-23-072A 9.45 10.06 0.61 5.84 38.00 31.00 33.00 2.00 0.17 1.11 TRXU-DD-23-072A 13.41 22.56 9.14 2.94 11.45 44.00 74.00 30.00 0.09 0.33 TRXU-DD-23-072A 23.47 32.46 8.99 66.04 167.64 77.00 106.50 29.50 1.93 4.89 TRXU-DD-23-072A Including 25.91 26.52 0.61 9.62 53.00 85.00 87.00 2.00 0.28 1.55 TRXU-DD-23-072A and 30.18 30.63 0.46 23.04 254.00 99.00 100.50 1.50 0.67 7.41 TRXU-DD-23-072A and 30.63 31.09 0.46 610.00 1,523.00 100.50 102.00 1.50 17.79 44.42 TRXU-DD-23-072A and 31.09 31.85 0.76 180.00 691.00 102.00 104.50 2.50 5.25 20.15 Table 2: Face Chip Sample Length Weighted Assay Composites at Trixie Site ID Depth from (m) Depth to (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Depth from (ft.) Depth to (ft.) Length (ft.) Au (oz/t) Ag (oz/t) CH01661 1.52 3.05 1.52 1.20 0.00 5.00 10.00 5.00 0.04 0.00 CH01664 4.57 6.10 1.52 18.48 355.54 15.00 20.00 5.00 0.54 10.37 CH01667 3.05 4.57 1.52 1.03 13.75 10.00 15.00 5.00 0.03 0.40 CH01670 0.00 3.84 3.84 4.17 51.40 0.00 12.60 12.60 0.12 1.50 CH01670 Including 1.95 3.05 1.10 7.37 136.99 6.40 10.00 3.60 0.21 4.00 CH01672 3.05 4.57 1.52 1.68 13.09 10.00 15.00 5.00 0.05 0.38 CH01674 0.52 1.37 0.85 2.37 32.88 1.70 4.50 2.80 0.07 0.96 CH01674 3.96 4.57 0.61 6.31 231.80 13.00 15.00 2.00 0.18 6.76 CH01676 1.43 3.66 2.23 28.62 150.08 4.70 12.00 7.30 0.83 4.38 CH01676 Including 1.83 2.74 0.91 62.60 247.62 6.00 9.00 3.00 1.83 7.22 CH01677 0.67 0.88 0.21 19.44 1364.11 2.20 2.90 0.70 0.57 39.79 CH01678 3.81 4.57 0.76 1.30 20.40 12.50 15.00 2.50 0.04 0.59 CH01679 0.00 7.62 7.62 7.74 202.67 0.00 25.00 25.00 0.23 5.91 CH01679 Including 5.49 6.10 0.61 18.00 386.36 18.00 20.00 2.00 0.52 11.27 CH01679 and 6.10 6.71 0.61 29.35 560.88 20.00 22.00 2.00 0.86 16.36 CH01680 0.00 4.57 4.57 2.72 97.08 0.00 15.00 15.00 0.08 2.83 CH01682 4.57 7.62 3.05 26.89 186.63 15.00 25.00 10.00 0.78 5.44 CH01682 Including 4.57 4.88 0.30 77.34 439.29 15.00 16.00 1.00 2.26 12.81 CH01682 and 6.40 7.62 1.22 41.10 290.02 21.00 25.00 4.00 1.20 8.46 CH01683 0.00 4.27 4.27 123.67 658.46 0.00 14.00 14.00 3.61 19.21 CH01683 Including 0.00 0.34 0.34 103.67 583.89 0.00 1.10 1.10 3.02 17.03 CH01683 and 0.64 0.88 0.24 134.02 1961.66 2.10 2.90 0.80 3.91 57.22 CH01683 and 1.80 2.04 0.24 40.25 195.20 5.90 6.70 0.80 1.17 5.69 CH01683 and 3.66 4.27 0.61 717.86 2,996.98 12.00 14.00 2.00 20.94 87.41 CH01686 3.05 3.66 0.61 5.35 60.37 10.00 12.00 2.00 0.16 1.76 CH01687 0.00 0.30 0.30 385.26 1,094.04 0.00 1.00 1.00 11.24 31.91 CH01689 0.00 1.07 1.07 2.13 8.23 0.00 3.50 3.50 0.06 0.24 CH01690 0.00 7.19 7.19 2.38 31.17 0.00 23.60 23.60 0.07 0.91 CH01690 Including 3.29 4.02 0.73 4.94 117.96 10.80 13.20 2.40 0.14 3.44 CH01692 1.77 4.39 2.62 2.85 41.40 5.80 14.40 8.60 0.08 1.21 CH01692 1.77 2.19 0.43 4.53 132.43 5.80 7.20 1.40 0.13 3.86 CH01694 0.91 4.57 3.66 40.84 67.16 3.00 15.00 12.00 1.19 1.96 CH01694 Including 3.66 4.57 0.91 153.72 227.32 12.00 15.00 3.00 4.48 6.63 CH01696 0.00 0.91 0.91 2.23 43.16 0.00 3.00 3.00 0.06 1.26 CH01698 1.52 3.66 2.13 4.31 28.81 5.00 12.00 7.00 0.13 0.84 CH01698 Including 1.52 1.83 0.30 20.84 137.68 5.00 6.00 1.00 0.61 4.02 CH01699 0.00 1.52 1.52 2.30 4.56 0.00 5.00 5.00 0.07 0.13 CH01705 2.68 4.05 1.37 2.57 59.75 8.80 13.30 4.50 0.07 1.74 CH01707 0.00 0.91 0.91 3.09 37.47 0.00 3.00 3.00 0.09 1.09 CH01708 0.91 4.57 3.66 2.99 20.77 3.00 15.00 12.00 0.09 0.61 CH01708 Including 0.91 1.83 0.91 5.73 25.27 3.00 6.00 3.00 0.17 0.74 Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maggie Layman, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Osisko Development, and a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Face Sampling Methodology As most structures at Trixie are steeply dipping to the east or west, current sampling procedures are designed to sample the structure. Chip samples are collected and do not exceed 1.0 m (3 ft.) in length. The face is washed for safety, and for better identification of mineralization, alteration and structures. The hanging wall and footwall of the structures are marked up on the face and back, samples intervals are marked up and follow lithological contacts. Samples are collected in feet and assays are reported in grams per tonne and troy ounce per short ton gold and silver. Conversions to metric and imperial measurements are rounded to two decimal places. Quality Assurance (QA) Quality Control (QC) All drill core and exploration samples are dispatched to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, British Columbia for offsite sample preparation and analysis. Samples are assigned a unique sample ID. All geological and sampling information is entered into Datamine Fusion database. Core is sawn in half and half is sampled. Certified standards and blanks are inserted into all sample dispatches. Samples are collected by Old Dominion Transportation and dispatched to SGS Canadas laboratory in Burnaby, British Columbia. Sample submission forms accompany the samples, and digital copies are emailed to SGS Canada. All core sample preparation is completed by SGS Canada, including drying, crushing, and pulverizing of samples. Analytical assays include gold by 30 gram fire assay with AAS finish (GO_FAA30V10), and gold overlimits by fire assay with gravimetric finish (GO_FAG30V). Multielement analysis (including silver) is by four-acid digest with ICP-AES/ICP-MS finish (GE_ICM40Q12). The pulps are returned to Osisko Development and coarse rejects are disposed after 90 days. Assays are reported to Osisko Development and then loaded into Datamine Fusion. Quality Assurance-Quality Control samples are checked, and assays are merged with sample information for future reporting. Underground face samples are collected by Company geologists from each of the active mining faces, with samples transported by the geologists from Trixie to the on-site Company laboratory located at the Burgin administrative complex. Underground samples are dried, crushed to <10 mm and a 250 g split is taken. The split is pulverized, and a 30 g Fire Assay with gravimetric finish is completed to determine gold and silver grades, reported in oz/short ton and g/t. The Company's Burgin laboratory is not a certified analytical laboratory, but the facility is managed by a qualified laboratory manager with annual auditing by technical staff. Inter-laboratory check assays using ALS Laboratory as a third-party independent analysis of samples is routinely carried out as part of ongoing QA/QC work. Certified OREAS QC standards and blanks are inserted at regular intervals in the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. True width determination is estimated to be approximately 0.3 m to 2.4 m (1 to 8 ft.) wide for the T2 structure, approximately 3 m to 25 m (10 to 80 ft.) for the T4 mineralized stockwork zone located in the hanging wall of the T2 structure and 1.5 m to 3 m (5 to 9 ft.) for the 75-85 structure. ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP. Osisko Development Corp. is a premier North American gold development company focused on high-quality past-producing properties located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company's project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources. For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact: Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Director, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644 CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS Cautionary Statement Regarding Test Mining Without Feasibility Study The Company cautions that its prior decision to commence small-scale underground mining activities and batch vat leaching at the Trixie test mine was made without the benefit of a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result there may be increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of material or the cost of such recovery. The Company cautions that historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Small scale test-mining at Trixie was suspended in December 2022 and resumed in the second quarter of 2023. Even with the resumption of small-scale test-mining at Trixie, there is no guarantee that production will continue as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The failure to continue production may have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs may have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and potential profitability. In continuing current operations at Trixie, the Company has not based its decision to continue such operations on a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the applicable Canadian securities laws and, as a result, reports information regarding mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, in accordance with Canadian reporting requirements, which are governed by NI 43-101. As such, such information concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, is not comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the significance of the high-priority target drilling; the utility of modern exploration techniques; the potential of Tintic to host a copper-gold porphyry center; the significance of regional exploration potential; the results in the Tintic Technical Report; the capital resources available to Osisko Development; the ability of the Company to execute its planned activities; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing and the terms of such financing; management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; unique mineralization at Trixie; the potential of high-grade gold mineralization on Trixie; the potential for unknown mineralized structures to extend existing zones of mineralization; category conversion; the timing and status of permitting; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling and chip sample assays, and face sampling methodologies) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability to generate additional drill targets; the ability of management to understand the geology and potential of the Company's properties; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the ability of the Company to complete its exploration objectives for its projects in 2023-24 in the timing contemplated (if at all); the ongoing advancement of the deposits on the Company's properties; the deposit remaining open for expansion at depth and down plunge; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain further capital on reasonable terms; assay results presented in this news release; the profitability (if at all) of the Company's operations; the Company being a well-positioned gold development company in Canada, USA and Mexico; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company's properties; as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Material assumptions also include, management's perceptions of historical trends, the ability of exploration (including drilling and chip sample assays, and face sampling) to accurately predict mineralization, budget constraints and access to capital on terms acceptable to the Company, current conditions and expected future developments, regulatory framework remaining defined and understood, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions and the Company's ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company's properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; the ability of exploration activities (including drill and chip sampling, and face sampling results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability to expand operations or complete further exploration activities, including drilling and chip sample assays and face sampling; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022 as well as the financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the SEC's EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors applicable to the exploration results. Although the Company's believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca20159c-ce11-4e10-a191-d03ef6018356 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0404a289-0c7a-4643-aaa6-06754449de38 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4caaf3c5-f4d6-46a0-81db-53fa85b2404e AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmallCapVoice.com Inc. (SCV) announces a new interview with Chris Jackson and Luis Trujillo, Founder and Managing Partner of PAARC Consulting (www.paarcconsulting.com) to discuss their combined efforts to obtain SOC 2 Certification for CyberloQ Technologies and how the companies are working together to combat cyber fraud. This in-depth conversation sheds light on their innovative strategies to combat cyber fraud, highlighting the impactful partnership between the two companies. Stay tuned to gain valuable insights from industry experts driving significant advancements in cybersecurity. The full interview can be heard at: https://youtu.be/0AuVsF9LZEE. SOC 2, aka Service Organization Control Type 2, is a cybersecurity compliance framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The primary purpose of SOC 2 is to ensure that third-party service providers store and process client data in a secure manner. SCV's Stuart Smith engages with the minds behind CyberloQ Technologies, extracting the key factors driving the company's ascent in the tech world. Jackson shares his perspective on how CyberloQ capitalizes on the strengths of its diverse partnerships, including PAARC Consulting, QRails, TPL, and more, to amplify their impact. With a focus on a groundbreaking multi-factor authentication platform featuring advanced geolocation-based security, CyberloQ is setting new standards in safeguarding digital transactions. Tune in to learn how these tech titans are shaping the future of payment security. Chris Jackson states, We're excited to share with our audience the benefits of having a fully compliant platform as we move into integration with not only QRails, but TPL integrated finance and some of the other partners that we have globally. He continued, We're confident that the CyberloQ protocol and the delivery mechanism will make a difference. We will start to get inroads here in the first half of 2024 when we start integrating into these program managers and processing engines that can prevent fraud in real time. In discussing how the two companies will work together Trujillo states, You can think of us as an extension of CLOQ's team that comes with the expertise of knowing what the expectations of SOC auditors are. We assist the CLOQ the team quickly evolve to becoming a SOC 2 certified organization and help them integrate policies, procedures and internal control framework to ensure that the SOC 2 certification is achieved quickly. Furthermore, we can achieve this at a much lower cost than it would generally cost the company to reach the status of being a SOC 2 certified organization. About CyberloQ Technologies, Inc. CyberloQ is a publicly traded company listed on the OTC.QB under the ticker symbol, CLOQ. CyberloQ has only one purpose: we efficiently and effectively secure access to our client's digital assets. Our comprehensive solution - CyberloQ Secure - achieves this purpose by implementing an innovative Adaptive Trust Architecture. At the heart of this architecture is a proprietary Transaction Risk Assessment engine that leverages leading-edge Multi-Factor Authentication and Authorization (MFA) protocols to prevent fraudulent access to our client's online systems and the digital assets and sensitive information that they house. CyberloQ Secure is delivered as a robust API for rapid, seamless integration into our client's existing systems. And the entire platform - our highly secure, highly elastic, highly scalable Adaptive Trust Architecture - is hosted in a flexible cloud-based Infrastructure Implementation. About SmallCapVoice.com SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. is a recognized corporate investor relations firm, with clients nationwide, known for its ability to help emerging growth companies, small cap and micro-cap stocks build a following among retail and institutional investors. SmallCapVoice.com utilizes its stock newsletter to feature its daily stock picks, podcasts, as well as its clients' financial news releases. SmallCapVoice.com also offers individual investors all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the stocks in which they are interested. Tools like stock charts, stock alerts, and Company Information Sheets can assist with investing in stocks that are traded on the OTCMarkets. To learn more about SmallCapVoice.com and its services, please visit https://www.smallcapvoice.com/small-cap-stock-otc-investor-relations-financial-public-relations/. Socialize with SmallCapVoice and their clients at YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@smallcapvoice Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallCapVoice/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallcapvoice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallcapvoice/ Safe Harbor: From time to time, the Company may issue news releases that contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material may contain statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statement provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any amendments thereto. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions, or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." "Forward-looking statements" are based upon expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated. The Company discourages any and all promotional activity by non-Company actors and encourages investors and potential investors to review the Company's public filings, its website and its press releases, and to discuss these matters with their personal legal and financial advisors. Non-Company newsletters/recommendations, websites or general stock symbols/classifications or other identifiers regarding our securities, whether positive or negative, should not be relied on because these items are simply opinions/policies of a third party. These third parties are, in many instances, paid by the publisher or other third parties and the Company believes that they profit from the publication of this literature and the results on the market. These materials should not be a substitute for investors' research and/or independent decision-making. Contact Information: CyberloQ Technologies, Inc. Chris Jackson 612-961-4536 chris@cyberloq.com SmallCapVoice.com Stuart T. Smith 512-267-2430 Info@SmallCapVoice.com Source: SmallCapVoice.com A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2d0d8ae-5162-42e8-9aaa-542978f08f10 Sedona, Arizona, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Modern life bombards us with distractions, from endless notifications to never-ending to-do lists. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by these constant demands and pressures, hence the need for people to take a step back, unwind, and embark on a journey of personal transformation. This journey is all about finding inner balance and peace, which are essential for facing life's challenges. Eagle Dancer, Sedona, Arizona's exceptional retreat, offers a sanctuary for couples and solo travelers seeking unparalleled beauty and personal growth. Here, visitors can disconnect from the noise of everyday life and focus on rejuvenation, self-discovery, and introspection. It is situated at the highest residential point in Sedona, offering unparalleled views of the surrounding red rock landscapean experience unmatched by any other in the area. With this, it emerges as a destination within a destination. The premier wellness oasis is the culmination of a lifetime of extensive travels and diverse cultural experiences of its founders, Huib Stroomberg and Iona Brode. Huib and Iona, both with deeply spiritual roots, made it their mission to build a haven that goes beyond conventional hospitality following their successful careers as master sommeliers and a global corporate executive, respectively. Their journey began in 2018 when they stumbled upon Eagle Dancer while searching for a home of their own. Despite the daunting renovations required, they were captivated by the property's beauty, magic, and unique energy. The property itself encompasses a transformative energetic frequency, adding to its appeal of being the ultimate destination for those seeking renewal and healing. Eagle Dancer has a rich history, dating back to its construction in 1969 by the renowned architect Bob McIntyre. Its adobe brick walls, bearing McIntyre's distinctive curved style, portray timeless elegance and craftsmanship. It was originally the home of Platt Cline, a newspaper editor and champion of Native American rights. It then became a property of the Hollywood icon Ann Miller and the esteemed Wrigley family. Essentially, Eagle Dancer boasts a lineage as rich and diverse as its architecture. Huib and Iona believe that beauty, love, and intention possess the transformative power to enrich lives. Therefore, they built Eagle Dancer with the vision to create a space for guests to experience rejuvenation, reconnection, and inner harmony, leaving them feeling revitalized and centered. Their philosophy revolves around emanating love, opening oneself to beauty's healing powers, connecting to the energy of life and each other, and celebrating abundance. With an all-encompassing foundation, Eagle Dancer offers various experiences designed to nurture the mind, body, and spirit. Its contemporary luxury accommodations showcase jaw-dropping views of Sedona's iconic red rocks, providing a sense of privacy yet remaining conveniently located just a 1.2-mile drive from the finest dining, shopping, and attractions in Sedona. It is also worth noting that guests have access to a private trail leading to over 15 hikes, including Sugarloaf Mountain and The Seven Sacred Pools, allowing them to immerse themselves fully in the tranquility of the Sedona experience. Meanwhile, the amenities at Eagle Dancer elevate the guest experience to new heights of luxury and relaxation. The spa area boasts indulgent features, including an aromatherapy steam room, a commercial-grade cedar dry sauna, a hydrotherapy hot tub, and a saltwater swimming pool. Each room is designed with indoor fireplaces, fire pits, and double showers, creating an atmosphere of romance and comfort. Wine enthusiasts are in for a pleasant surprise with guaranteed curated wine experiences led by Huib, a master of wine and hospitality. Unique evenings in Eagle Dancer entail exploring a selection of fine wines while enjoying lively conversation and expert guidance from their hosts. What makes Eagle Dancer further stand out is its on-property energy vortexes that serve as conduits for harnessing the healing powers of beauty. Huib and Iona incorporate distinct elements, such as pure granite walls, fountains, and hand-carved Buddha statues, to foster deeper connection and inner peace. The founders even draw inspiration from the insights of Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto's work on the effects of human consciousness on water to incorporate elements of water consciousness into their offerings. They also partner with Sedona's most accomplished practitioners to offer a range of healing modalities and wellness services. Guests can embark on a holistic wellness journey with experts on energy experiences like Reiki and Sound Healing and physical healing modalities like massage and reflexology. When asked about their primary objective with this venture, the founders remarked, "The human element is most important to us. At Eagle Dancer, we prioritize personal interaction with our guests. Our goal is to provide guests with an experience that leaves them feeling awestruck by the beauty of Sedona's red rocks and invites them to immerse in a world of refined luxury and total relaxation. We want to do this all while retaining the history and architecture of the place and also bringing modernization to the forefront." To show their commitment to this mission, their plans include the opening of two new properties, one at Lake Powell, (Arizona) and another in Santa Barbara (California). These expansions build upon the concept they initiated over five years ago, aiming to refine and enhance the unique experience they offer. Media Contact Name: Iona Brode Email: iona@simplybe.love SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmartDV Technologies, provider of flexible, highly configurable, customizable semiconductor design IP (intellectual property) and verification IP, is taking a fresh look at IP deployment and customer support under the leadership of Vice President of Application Engineering Sergio Marchese. In an industry where off-the-shelf IP cores are ubiquitous, the additional flexibility of SmartDVs IP Your Way is attractive to customers who need to customize IP to meet their unique chip design needs. Customization necessitates a deeper customer-supplier relationship than is typical in the IP space, and SmartDV quickly saw the need for a streamlined process for specifying projects, delivering IP, and supporting users. SmartDVs application engineers (AEs) support customers throughout the entire engagement lifecycle: from IP evaluation and configuration, through to customization considerations, delivery, and silicon bring-up. The engagement follows a well-defined, documented process that allows for the flexibility of requirement changes (common in most projects); interfaces between the user and the research and development team designing the IP; and ensures predictability and transparency. As VP of application engineering, Sergio Marchese is creating a new team and shifting the focus from IP deliverables to IP consumablesguiding the deployment of tools and processes that put the experience of both customers and SmartDV employees at the center. SmartDVs AEs are on a mission to make fast, friendly, expert support a reality for every IP user, Marchese proclaimed. We are the customers arm inside SmartDV. We aim to be their trusted advisor, to deeply understand their project needs and expectations, and to ensure that they can leverage the IP that SmartDV provides to make their chip designs successful. The changes we have put in place over the past two years, coupled with robust plans for expanding our team, have set us on the right path to achieve these goals. About Sergio Marchese Sergio Marchese is Vice President of Application Engineering at SmartDV Technologies. Sergio has nearly 25 years of experience in electronic chip design and deployment of advanced hardware development solutions across Europe, North America, and Asia. His expertise covers IC design, functional verification, safety standards (including ISO 26262 and DO-254), and detection of hardware Trojans and security vulnerabilities. Sergio is passionate about enabling the next generation of high-integrity chips that underpin the Internet of Things, 5G, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles. About SmartDV At SmartDV Technologies, we believe theres a better way to approach semiconductor intellectual property (IP) for integrated circuits. Weve been focused exclusively on IP since 2007so whether youre sourcing standards-based design IP for your next SoC, ASIC, or FPGA, or seeking verification solutions (VIP) to put your chip design through its paces, youll find SmartDVs IP straightforward to integrate. By combining proprietary SmartCompiler technology with the knowledge of hundreds of expert engineers, SmartDV can customize IP to meet your unique design objectives: quickly, economically, and reliably. Dont allow other suppliers to force one-size-fits-all cores into your chip design. Get the IP you need, tailored to your specifications, with SmartDV: IP Your Way. Learn more about SmartDV at www.smartdvtech.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn. SmartDV, SmartDV Technologies, SmartDV NA, SmartCompiler, IP Your Way, and the SmartDV logo are trademarks of SmartDV Technologies India Private Limited. Any and all other trademarks present in this release are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Media Contact McKenzie Ross Vice President of Marketing, SmartDV press@smartdvtech.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a91a5815-98cf-417c-bbef-c9d06ce32eb5 Westford, USA, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Medical Holography market size is expected to reach USD 16407.14 billion by 2031 and exhibit a CAGR of 32.94% in the forecast period (20242031), according to Skyquest's latest research report. The increased demand for advanced medical imaging, technological advancements in holography, improved patient engagement and education, growing adoption of holographic displays, enhanced surgical planning and navigation, need for non-invasive diagnostics, research and development in medical holography, rising applications in medical training and education, and the potential for telemedicine and remote consultation using holographic representations of medical data is fueling the market's growth. According to SkyQuest's latest global research of the Medical Holography market, increased use of holographic displays in medical education, holographic telemedicine solutions, 3D holography in pathology and anatomical studies, holographic visualization for surgery planning and intraoperative guidance, growth of augmented and virtual reality in healthcare, expansion of wearable holographic devices for medical professionals, integration of artificial intelligence in medical holography, advancements in real-time 3D holographic imaging, and the development of compact and portable holographic systems for point-of-care diagnostics and field applications are the trends that aid in the market's growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "Medical Holography Market" Pages - 157 Tables - 64 Figures -77 Medical holography is a type of holography that is used in the medical field. It uses lasers to create three-dimensional images of internal organs and tissues. Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/medical-holography-market Prominent Players in Medical Holography Market Aesculight EchoPixel HoloMed Holoxica IMRIS Integraf Light Field Lab Magicscope Medical Holography MedicoR Nanolive RealView Imaging Surgical Theater Voxel-Man Voxon Waygate Technologies Z-Medica Report Scope & Segmentation: Attributes Details Forecast Period 2024-2031 Market Size in 2022 1265.12 Billion 2031 Value Projection 16407.14 Billion CAGR 32.94% Segments Covered Product Holographic Display, Microscope, Print, Software Application Medical Imaging, Medical Education, Biomedical Research Regions Covered North America (US, Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Rest of Latin America), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC Countries, Rest of MEA) Computer-Generated Holography (CGH) Demand to Grow Substantially in the Forecast Period Computer-Generated Holography (CGH) dominates the global online market as they allow for the creation of holograms using computer algorithms, offering a high degree of flexibility in generating holographic content. This flexibility is essential in medical applications, where specific anatomical structures or patient data must be accurately represented in holographic form. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/medical-holography-market Surgery Planning and Navigation is the Leading Application Segment In terms of application, surgery planning and navigation is the leading segment as it provides three-dimensional, high-resolution representations of anatomical structures and patient data. These holographic models are invaluable for precise surgical planning, allowing surgeons to visualize the surgical site accurately. North America is the leading Market Due to Technological Advancements Region-wise, North America is one of the largest growing markets with a huge emphasis on technological advancements. The region has a well-established healthcare infrastructure, significant investment in medical technology, a high level of research and development, and the presence of key medical holography companies. The region's focus on advanced healthcare solutions and innovation has propelled its prominence. A recent report thoroughly analyzes the major players operating within the Medical Holography market. This comprehensive evaluation has considered several crucial factors, such as collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing invaluable insights into the key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Additionally, the report has carefully scrutinized the market share of the top segments and presented a detailed geographic analysis. Finally, the report has highlighted the major players in the industry and their ongoing endeavours to develop innovative solutions that cater to the ever-increasing demand for Medical Holography. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/medical-holography-market Key Developments in Medical Holography Market In April 2023, the company Holo Surgical announced the launch of its Holographic Surgical Trainer. The trainer is a 3D holographic system that allows surgeons to practice complex surgical procedures safely and in a realistic environment. In March 2023, the company RealView Imaging announced the launch of its Holographic Imaging System. The system is a 3D holographic imaging system that can create detailed images of internal organs and tissues. Key Questions Answered in Medical Holography Market Report What specific growth drivers will impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Neurosurgery Market Global Paresthesia Treatment Market Global Neonatal Intensive Care Market Global Recombinant Vaccines Market Global Bacterial Cell Culture Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Colum Eastwood says the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable has apologised to him over an investigation into a walk he took part in with Bloody Sunday families. Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Mr Eastwood accompanied relatives of some of the victims to a court hearing in Londonderry involving an ex-soldier accused of crimes including murder on Bloody Sunday. In January police submitted a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) reporting seven people. On Thursday the PPS said it was not in the public interest to charge the Foyle MP and the others. Soldier F is accused of two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday. SDLP MP Colum Eastwood described the police investigation as a "farce" Mr Eastwood described the PPS decision as the right one and said Chief Constable Jon Boutcher had apologised to him after he was asked to attend Strand Road police station in Derry in December. "The area commander phoned me first, then Jon Boutcher phoned me over the weekend," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today. The PSNI have handled it terribly, Mr Eastwood said. Of course, the PPS were going to throw this out. They had no choice but to throw this out because its ridiculous. It wasnt a planned parade, it wasnt a protest, it was a walk up a street, it didnt give any offence to anybody. Thirteen people were killed and 15 wounded on Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972, when soldiers from the Parachute Regiment opened fire on protestors. A former British soldier, known as Soldier F, is to stand trial for the murders of William McKinney and James Wray, plus five counts of attempted murder. In Northern Ireland you must give 28 days' notice if you want to hold a parade or procession. William McKinneys brother, Mickey, is one of the other six people who were investigated for walking to the courthouse in August. He said he felt let down by the PSNI and called for a public apology. Outside of a five-minute walk, going up Bishop Street, we didnt disrupt anything, we didnt cause any bother, he said. Story continues We all know the reason we did it was because the [Soldier F] case was being carried on again. We were let down. 'Decision raises questions' Thirteen people were killed and 15 wounded on Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972 Democratic Unionist Party assembly member for Foyle, Gary Middleton, said that the decision by the PPS raised "questions about consistency". Everyone should be equal under the law and equally subject to the law," he said in a statement. "In this case the Public Prosecution Service seems to have abandoned that approach. "The case raises questions about the consistency of approach from the Public Prosecution Service, particularly if they take forward prosecutions in the future. 'Victory for common sense' Solicitor Ciaran Shiels, who represents a number of victims' families and also Mr Eastwood, said the PPS decision was a victory for common sense. This was a matter that never should have troubled the PPS, who have genuine and serious criminal cases that require to be progressed through the courts, he said. The decision taken by the PPS was the only sensible and rational decision that could be taken in the circumstances." Mr Shiels said the PSNI had "extremely serious questions to answer. He said he intended to lodge a complaint with the Police Ombudsman. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme on Thursday, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who said he made the initial complaint to the PPS over the procession in Derry, told the programme he found the decision "extraordinary". "A number of people in unionist and loyalist communities and loyal orders have been prosecuted for unnotified public processions over many years," he said. "It is the first time that I can recall such a public interest test with that criteria being applied." In a statement the PSNI said prior to submitting the file to the PPS its investigation had been conducted in line with our statutory obligations. We acknowledge their decision, and have nothing further to add at this time, the PSNI said. MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Union , a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative , participated in Osseo Senior High Schools mock interview day, a training exercise that simulates a real-life job interview. Eight TopLine employees volunteered their time to interview Osseo High School students to help prepare them for post-secondary education options, future career exploration and to develop interviewing skills. Nearly 800 students participated in Osseo High Schools mock interview program which aims to give students practice applying and interviewing for jobs. Over the course of 2 hours, eight TopLine employees conducted a mock interview with students asking them education and career related questions. TopLine Financial Credit Union has supported the local Osseo Area Schools in several ways including mock interviews, career days, personal finance education efforts and donation drives. "We are glad to partner with our neighbor, Osseo Senior High School, and have several employees participate as mock interviewers to assist students with personal growth and professional development, said Mick Olson, TopLine President and CEO. This is a great opportunity for students to learn new skills through practice interviews, and emerge more confident and prepared for the real-world interviews." ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools is an award-winning school system that inspires and prepares all students with confidence, courage, and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning. Osseo Senior High School is a four-year public high school located in Osseo, Minnesota. Visit https://osh.district279.org to learn more. TopLine Financial Credit Union , a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 11th largest credit union, with assets of nearly $800 million and serves over 51,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com . Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation. CONTACT: Vicki Roscoe Erickson Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer TopLine Financial Credit Union verickson@toplinecu.com | 763.391.0872 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5a708fc-5375-44f5-a7a2-fcccee531653 Washington, D.C., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Highlights Existing-home sales expanded 3.1% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million. Sales declined 1.7% from the prior year. The median existing-home sales price climbed 5.1% from January 2023 to $379,100 the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year price gains. The inventory of unsold existing homes increased 2.0% from one month ago to 1.01 million at the end of January, or the equivalent of 3.0 months supply at the current monthly sales pace. Existing-home sales grew in January, according to the National Association of Realtors. Among the four major U.S. regions, sales accelerated in the Midwest, South and West, and remained steady in the Northeast. Year-over-year, sales improved in the West, and decreased in the Northeast, Midwest and South. Total existing-home sales[1] completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops elevated 3.1% from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million in January. Year-over-year, sales slipped 1.7% (down from 4.07 million in January 2023). While home sales remain sizably lower than a couple of years ago, Januarys monthly gain is the start of more supply and demand, said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Listings were modestly higher, and home buyers are taking advantage of lower mortgage rates compared to late last year. Total housing inventory[2] registered at the end of January was 1.01 million units, up 2.0% from December and 3.1% from one year ago (980,000). Unsold inventory sits at a 3.0-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 3.1 months in December but up from 2.9 months in January 2023. The median existing-home price[3] for all housing types in January was $379,100, an increase of 5.1% from one year ago ($360,800). All four U.S. regions posted price increases. The median home price reached an all-time high for the month of January, Yun added. Multiple offers are common on mid-priced homes, and many homes were still sold within a month. The elevated share of cash deals 32% indicated a market full of multiple offers and propelled by record-high housing wealth. REALTORS Confidence Index According to the monthly REALTORS Confidence Index, properties typically remained on the market for 36 days in January, up from 29 days in December and 33 days in January 2023. First-time buyers were responsible for 28% of sales in January, down from 29% in December and 31% in January 2023. NARs 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers released in November 2023[4] found that the annual share of first-time buyers was 32%. All-cash sales accounted for 32% of transactions in January, up from 29% in both December and one year ago. Individual investors or second-home buyers, who make up many cash sales, purchased 17% of homes in January, up from 16% in December and January 2023. Distressed sales[5] foreclosures and short sales represented 2% of sales in January, virtually unchanged from last month and the previous year. Mortgage Rates According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.77% as of February 15. Thats up from 6.64% the previous week and 6.32% one year ago. Single-family and Condo/Co-op Sales Single-family home sales moved higher to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.6 million in January, up 3.4% from 3.48 million in December but down 1.4% from the prior year. The median existing single-family home price was $383,500 in January, up 5.0% from January 2023. At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 400,000 units in January, existing condominium and co-op sales were unchanged from last month and down 4.8% from one year ago (420,000 units). The median existing condo price was $339,400 in January, up 5.7% from the previous year ($321,100). Regional Breakdown At 480,000 units, existing-home sales in the Northeast were unchanged from December but down 5.9% from January 2023. The median price in the Northeast was $434,300, up 10.1% from the prior year. In the Midwest, existing-home sales increased 2.2% from one month ago to an annual rate of 950,000 in January, down 3.1% from last year. The median price in the Midwest was $271,700, up 7.6% from January 2023. Existing-home sales in the South rose 4.0% from December to an annual rate of 1.84 million in January, a decline of 1.6% from the previous year. The median price in the South was $345,100, up 4.1% from one year ago. In the West, existing-home sales elevated 4.3% from a month ago to an annual rate of 730,000 in January and grew 2.8% from one year earlier. The median price in the West was $572,100, up 6.3% from January 2023. More listings will help Americans move, said NAR President Kevin Sears, broker-partner of Sears Real Estate in Springfield, Massachusetts. Thats why NAR has pushed for the passage of H.R. 1321 The More Homes on the Market Act which would lower the tax hit on home sales and bring additional inventory to the market. About NAR The National Association of Realtors is Americas largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. # # # For local information, please contact the local association of Realtors for data from local multiple listing services (MLS). Local MLS data is the most accurate source of sales and price information in specific areas, although there may be differences in reporting methodology. NOTE: NARs Pending Home Sales Index for January is scheduled for release on February 29, and Existing-Home Sales for February will be released on March 21. Release times are 10 a.m. Eastern. Information about NAR is available at nar.realtor. This and other news releases are posted in the newsroom at nar.realtor/newsroom. Statistical data in this release, as well as other tables and surveys, are posted in the Research and Statistics tab. [1] Existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings from Multiple Listing Services. Changes in sales trends outside of MLSs are not captured in the monthly series. NAR benchmarks home sales periodically using other sources to assess overall home sales trends, including sales not reported by MLSs. Existing-home sales, based on closings, differ from the U.S. Census Bureaus series on new single-family home sales, which are based on contracts or the acceptance of a deposit. Because of these differences, it is not uncommon for each series to move in different directions in the same month. In addition, existing-home sales, which account for more than 90% of total home sales, are based on a much larger data sample about 40% of multiple listing service data each month and typically are not subject to large prior-month revisions. The annual rate for a particular month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month were maintained for 12 consecutive months. Seasonally adjusted annual rates are used in reporting monthly data to factor out seasonal variations in resale activity. For example, home sales volume is normally higher in the summer than in the winter, primarily because of differences in the weather and family buying patterns. However, seasonal factors cannot compensate for abnormal weather patterns. Single-family data collection began monthly in 1968, while condo data collection began quarterly in 1981; the series were combined in 1999 when monthly collection of condo data began. Prior to this period, single-family homes accounted for more than nine out of 10 purchases. Historic comparisons for total home sales prior to 1999 are based on monthly single-family sales, combined with the corresponding quarterly sales rate for condos. [2] Total inventory and months supply data are available back through 1999, while single-family inventory and months supply are available back to 1982 (prior to 1999, single-family sales accounted for more than 90% of transactions and condos were measured only on a quarterly basis). [3] The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical of market conditions than average prices, which are skewed higher by a relatively small share of upper-end transactions. The only valid comparisons for median prices are with the same period a year earlier due to seasonality in buying patterns. Month-to-month comparisons do not compensate for seasonal changes, especially for the timing of family buying patterns. Changes in the composition of sales can distort median price data. Year-ago median and mean prices sometimes are revised in an automated process if additional data is received. The national median condo/co-op price often is higher than the median single-family home price because condos are concentrated in higher-cost housing markets. However, in a given area, single-family homes typically sell for more than condos as seen in NARs quarterly metro area price reports. [4] Survey results represent owner-occupants and differ from separately reported monthly findings from NARs REALTORS Confidence Index, which include all types of buyers. The annual study only represents primary residence purchases, and does not include investor and vacation home buyers. Results include both new and existing homes. [5] Distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales), days on market, first-time buyers, all-cash transactions and investors are from a monthly survey for the NARs REALTORS Confidence Index, posted at nar.realtor. Attachment Five clinical trials across three prioritized immuno-oncology platforms with encouraging safety and efficacy signals Encouraging early results from the VAXINIA (CF33) oncolytic virus trial, including one complete response in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma (bile tract cancer) and two partial responses in patients with melanoma; two out of three of the responses were achieved with monotherapy CF33; receipt of US FDA Fast Track Designation for bile duct cancer Potential near-term registrational study and fast-to-market strategy for azer-cel allogeneic CAR T therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who progressed after autologous CAR T therapies World-first onCARlytics trial designed to convert targetless tumors to CD19-expressing solid tumors that are otherwise hard to treat; trial combines a CD19-expressing oncolytic virus with a CD19 targeting drug SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, highlighted recent progress across the company's immuno-oncology portfolio and provided an update on anticipated upcoming milestones. Imugene Managing Director & CEO Leslie Chong said: We are encouraged by the initial safety and efficacy signals seen to date. Notably, in our Phase 1 MAST CF33 oncolytic virus trial, weve seen encouraging response rates during dose escalation, including one complete response in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma, and two partial responses in melanoma as we continue to dose escalate with no safety issues. Importantly, two out of three of these responses were achieved with CF33 monotherapy. In addition, we have seen encouraging response rates with azer-cel, our allogeneic CAR T cell therapy for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma who have failed auto CAR T treatments, and we look ahead to a potential registrational trial. Ms. Chong continued: In addition, we continue to advance our novel onCARlytics combination immunotherapy program that, in simple terms, a mark-and-kill approach. onCARlytics uses an antigen/target-armed CF33, followed by treatment with a CD19 targeting therapy directed against that antigen or target. We believe onCARlytics may provide a new solution for clinicians to treat previously untreatable solid tumours. Program Highlights Oncolytic virus (CF33) - a chimeric vaccinia (pox) virus known as CF33 that has the potential to act as both a target delivery vehicle and an oncolytic agent. The engineered CF33 virus selectively replicates itself in tumor cells, causing the cell to rupture, releasing new virus particles capable of infecting other tumor cells CF33 has demonstrated multiple ways to kill cancer cells: by direct killing, by the activation of immune cells to kill cancer cells, and by priming the tumor environment to enhance the immune response; CF33 has been shown to turn cold tumors hot The Phase 1 MAST trial assesses the safety and efficacy of CF33 administered alone, or in combination with pembrolizumab and either dosed intravenously (IV) or intratumourally (IT) As of January 2024, 34 heavily pre-treated patients had been dosed with VAXINIA Data presented at ASCO-GI in January demonstrated the following: 31 patients were evaluable for efficacy Response rates seen during dose escalation at doses lower than the current dose In the IT cohorts (14 patients), 7 of 15 (47%) injected lesions had a reduction in tumor burden, 3 lesions were completely eradicated 3 patients (21%) had an objective response: 1 monotherapy complete response (CR) by iRECIST in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma who previously failed three lines of chemotherapy; the patient has been in remission for over a year and half 2 partial responses in patients with melanoma (skin cancer) by RECIST, one with monotherapy and one in combination with pembrolizumab. In IV cohorts (17 patients), 53% of patients achieved stable disease as their best response All treatments to date have been determined safe and tolerable The company received US FDA Fast Track Designation for bile duct cancer in November 2023 Expansion of cholangiocarcinoma and other indications are planned for 2024 Biliary tract cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare but aggressive malignancy that originates in the bile ducts Its estimated that the total incident population of biliary tract cancers (BTC) is around 38,000 in the U.S., the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom and Japan 2 The U.S. accounted for 10,064 total incident cases of BTC in the year 2023, which is expected to increase at a moderate rate2 Azer-cel: allogeneic (off-the-shelf) CAR T cell therapy targeting CD19 for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, CAR T-cell therapy, uses T cells from healthy donors, making the treatment immediately available to patients, more potent, and less expensive than current approved autologous CAR T treatments Ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) who relapsed following autologous CAR T therapy Data from prior Phase 1 azer-cel trial demonstrated clinically meaningful activity with an acceptable safety profile in 84 patients across leading US centres. Results from 18 patients with DLBCL who relapsed from prior autologous CAR T showed: 83% Overall Response Rate (ORR) 61% Complete Response (CR) 55% of patients achieving durable responses greater than or equal to six months in patients with DLBCL who had relapsed following auto CAR T therapy (n=18) Positive FDA guidance on the potential registrational study, which could start after completion of the confirmation study; if successful, azer-cel has the potential to become the first approved allogeneic CAR T cell therapy for cancer DLBCL is the most common type of NHL, with approximately 80,500 cases per year 1 and approximately 30,000 new cases per year in the U.S. and approximately 30,000 new cases per year in the U.S. Relapsed/refractory DLBCL has a high unmet medical need; 60-65% of patients treated with autologous CD19 CAR T relapse onCARlytics (CF33-CD19) A novel engineered oncolytic virus (CF33) that can deliver a CD19 target to targetless solid tumors that are otherwise hard to treat onCARlytics is a CD19-expressing oncolytic virus that enters tumor cells and forces them to express the CD19 protein on the cell surface, presenting a target for CD19 targeting therapies Solid cancers like breast, lung, gastric, and colon, etc. dont have a common target such as CD19 on their cell surface; the goal of onCARlytics is to present a target for CD19 therapies Solid tumors make up 90 percent of the cancer market; if successful onCARlytics could make CD19 therapy an option to treat patients with solid tumors The Phase 1 OASIS trial is a world-first in combining a CD19-expressing oncolytic virus with CD19 targeted therapy (blinatumomab, Blincyto ) ) The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of onCARlytics, either by intratumoural (IT) injection or intravenous (IV) infusion, either alone, or in combination with blinatumomab, in approximately 52 adult patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors The first patient in the monotherapy IT arm was dosed in October 2023; the first patient in the monotherapy IV arm was dosed in February 2024 The next step is to combine onCARlytics with azer-cel allogeneic CAR T therapy, a combination strategy that has shown preclinical proof-of-principle *iRECIST and RECIST: (immune) Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors *PFU: Plaque Forming Unit References: 1NIH National Library of Medicine, PDQ Cancer Information Summaries, May 18, 2023; 2DelveInsight Business Research LLP Biliary Tract Cancers (BTCs) - Market Insight, Epidemiology And Market Forecast - 2032 For more information please contact: Leslie Chong Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer info@imugene.com General Investor Enquiries shareholderenquiries@imugene.com U.S Investor Enquiries Heather Armstrong harmstrong@imugene.com Media Enquiries Matt Wright matt@nwrcommunications.com.au Connect with us on LinkedIn @Imugene Limited Follow us on Twitter @TeamImugene Watch us on YouTube @ImugeneLimited Join us on InvestorHub; investorhub.imugene.com About Imugene (ASX:IMU) Imugene is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing a range of new and novel immunotherapies that seek to activate the immune system of cancer patients to treat and eradicate tumours. Our unique platform technologies seek to harness the bodys immune system against tumours, potentially achieving a similar or greater effect than synthetically manufactured monoclonal antibody and other immunotherapies. Our pipeline includes an off-the-shelf (allogeneic) cell therapy CAR T drug azer-cel (azercabtagene zapreleucel) which targets CD19 to treat blood cancers. Our pipeline also includes multiple immunotherapy B-cell vaccine candidates and an oncolytic virotherapy (CF33) aimed at treating a variety of cancers in combination with standard of care drugs and emerging immunotherapies such as CAR Ts for solid tumours. We are supported by a leading team of international cancer experts with extensive experience in developing new cancer therapies with many approved for sale and marketing for global markets. Our vision is to help transform and improve the treatment of cancer and the lives of the millions of patients who need effective treatments. This vision is backed by a growing body of clinical evidence and peer-reviewed research. Imugene is well funded and resourced, to deliver on its commercial and clinical milestones. Together with leading specialists and medical professionals, we believe Imugenes immuno-oncology therapies will become foundation treatments for cancer. Our goal is to ensure that Imugene and its shareholders are at the forefront of this rapidly growing global market. Zendit, the Fast Growing Pre-Paid B2B Provisioning Platform, Will Unveil a Comprehensive eSIM Catalog at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona Stop by the Zendit Booth at MWC 2024 for a Free Spain eSIM! NEWARK, NJ, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zendit, a cloud-based prepaid-as-a-service business of IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT), will unveil its eSim (embedded Subscriber Identity Module) initiative at the Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, from February 26th to 29th. eSIMs are an industry standard digital SIM that enables international tourists, business travelers, digital nomads, and anyone outside their home mobile networks geography to access mobile networks without installing a physical SIM card. eSims enable effortless global data connectivity usually at significant savings compared to roaming charges and for much less than most carriers daily travel charge. In fact, eSIM plans average cost per gigabyte can be as little as 5% of roaming charges. Zendits eSim initiative offers businesses, organizations, entrepreneurs, and developers an outstanding opportunity to tap into this rapidly expanding and exciting global market, said Emilio del Rio, President of IDT Digital Payments. The Zendit prepaid-as-a-service platform makes it easy for anyone to build and offer curated eSIM collections to their audiences and customers. Our eSim offerings are also an ideal solution for international shippers and fleet managers who require secure, scalable connectivity for IoT devices. Currently, popular mobile phone models are increasingly eSIM compatible, helping to drive the rapidly expanding demand for eSIMs. According to the IMARC Group, the global eSIM market was approximately $10 billion in 2023, and it is expected to reach roughly $44 billion by 2032, achieving an annual compounded growth rate of over 17%. To tap into the dynamic eSIM market, developers worldwide can open an account at zendit.io , obtain integration credentials, fund their wallets, and go live all in a matter of minutes. MWC 2024 attendees are invited to stop by the Zendit booth (Hall Congress Square - CS24) for a personal demonstration of the Zendit eSIM platform offerings and get a free Spain eSIM (1GB/4 days)! About IDT Corporation: IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) is a global provider of fintech, cloud communications, and traditional communications services. We make it easy for families to contact and support each other across international borders. We also enable businesses to transact and communicate with their customers with enhanced intelligence and insight. Our BOSS Money international remittance, IDT Digital Payments and BOSS Revolution international calling services make sending money, paying for products and services, and speaking with friends and family around the world convenient and reliable. National Retail Solutions (NRS) point-of-sale retail network enables independent retailers to operate and process transactions more effectively while providing advertisers and consumer marketers with unprecedented reach into underserved consumer markets. net2phone s communications-as-a-service solutions provide businesses with intelligently integrated cloud communications and collaboration tools across channels and devices. Our IDT Global and IDT Express wholesale offerings enable communications service enterprises to provision and manage international voice and SMS services. Contact : Bill Ulrey IDT Investor Relations Phone: (973) 438-3838 E-mail: invest@idt.net # # # If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in NYCB stock or options between March 1, 2023 and February 5, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/NYCB. There is no cost or obligation to you. NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYCB or the Company) (NYSE: NYCB) and reminds investors of the April 8, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (i) the Signature Bank acquisition would not be immediately accretive to New York Community Bancorp because it caused New York Community Bancorp to be required to comply with materially enhanced prudential standards, including, among other things, risk-based and leverage capital requirements, and liquidity standards, and required that New York Community Bancorp build capital, reinforce its balance sheet and strengthen its risk management processes; (ii) New York Community Bancorp failed to comply with the materially enhanced prudential standards; (iii) New York Community Bancorp overstated the quality of its commercial office loan assets; (iv) New York Community Bancorp was experiencing higher net charge-offs and deterioration in its commercial office portfolio than represented; (v) New York Community Bancorp was reasonably likely to incur higher loan losses because it was experiencing higher net charge-offs and deterioration in its commercial office portfolio; (vi) New York Community Bancorp was reasonably likely to be forced to increase its allowance for credit losses due to its status as Category IV bank; (vii) New York Community Bancorp's loan loss provisions were understated so it overstated quarterly earnings and/or understated quarterly losses; and (viii) New York Community Bancorp failed to have adequate internal risk or disclosure controls and procedures. On January 31, 2024, New York Community Bancorp disclosed that it had recorded a $552 million provision for loan losses, up significantly from the $62 million reported just one quarter earlier, and that as a result, New York Community Bancorp had incurred a 4Q23 loss of $252 million, or $0.36 per share, down significantly from a profit of $0.27 per share Wall Street consensus estimate. New York Community Bancorp also disclosed it would cut its quarterly dividend from $0.17 to $0.05 per share. On this news, the price of New York Community Bancorp stock fell nearly 38%. Then, on February 5, 2024, Bloomberg reported, citing "people with direct knowledge of the matter," that it had been "mounting pressure from a top US watchdog" that "led to" New York Community Bancorp's "surprise decision to slash its dividend and stockpile cash in case commercial real estate loans [went] bad." According to the Bloomberg article, "[t]he drastic financial moves . . . followed behind-the-scenes conversations with officials from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the people said, asking not to be identified describing the confidential discussions." On this news, the price of New York Community Bancorp stock fell more than 22%. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding NYCBs conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2ad7b9e-eb05-4653-8bd7-44772bb1ad7b PARIS, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TSplus, one of the leading providers of remote access solutions, continues to expand its activities in France with the official announcement of its partnership with IONOS, the European leader in web hosting and cloud solutions. This collaboration will enable IONOS customers to benefit from enhanced remote access capabilities through TSplus solutions. The primary goal of this partnership is to offer users efficient, secure, and sovereign remote access solutions aligned with European standards for data privacy. This agreement will allow IONOS customers to easily integrate "Remote Access," TSplus' remote access solution, into their dashboard, thus providing a seamless and centralized user experience. TSplus solutions, which offer an intuitive and user-friendly interface, will allow users to navigate easily and make the most of their remote access experience. Francois Stoop, in charge of TSplus operations in France, stated, "We are delighted to partner with IONOS in this strategic partnership. This collaboration marks an important step for TSplus in France as we extend our industry-leading remote access solutions to IONOS customers. Together, we are providing businesses with the tools they need to improve productivity and enable smooth remote work experiences. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on all users." Thomas Brown, Senior Channel Account Manager at IONOS, adds, "By joining forces with TSplus, IONOS strengthens its commitment to digital sovereignty. This strategic partnership offers our customers a gateway to innovative remote access solutions, compliant with European privacy standards. Together, we provide a seamless user experience, enabling businesses to optimize their productivity in a remote work environment." To download and try Remote Access, visit TSplus website. About TSplus: TSplus is a global software publisher with headquarters based in France, specializing in remote access solutions and server application security, with over 10 million users. TSplus solutions facilitate secure and efficient access to applications, desktops, and data from any device, on any network. TSplus offerings are designed to enhance productivity, collaboration, and flexibility in modern work environments. This allows users to access their virtual desktops and applications from different devices, providing a consistent and secure user experience. TSplus offers an ideal alternative to Citrix and Microsoft RDS for remote desktop access and Windows application delivery. TSplus enables you to make your applications accessible via the web, create SaaS solutions, or remotely access your centralized tools and files. About IONOS: IONOS is the leading European partner for digitizing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company serves approximately six million customers and operates in 18 markets in Europe and North America, with its services accessible worldwide. With its portfolio of web presence and productivity solutions, IONOS serves as a single point of entry for all digitization needs, from domains and web hosting to classic website builders and DIY solutions, from e-commerce to online marketing tools. Additionally, the company offers cloud computing solutions for businesses looking to transition to this solution as their businesses evolve. Press Contacts for IONOS: Weber SHANDWICK for IONOS Axel PATINET / Eric CHAUVELOT Phone: +33 6 61 82 62 77 / +33 (0)6 21 64 28 68 apatinet@webershandwick.com echauvelot@webershandwick.com TSplus Contacts: Sales & Partnership: Francois STOOP francois.stoop@tsplus.net Marketing and Press: Caleb ZAHARRIS caleb.zaharris@tsplus.net, Floriane Mer floriane.mer@tsplus.net A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07c6e12a-2bd6-46d4-a2ba-c557155fffe8 Dublin, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Optical Position Sensor Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global Optical Position Sensor Market was valued at USD 3.08 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 8.19% through 2028. The Optical Position Sensor market refers to a specialized sector within the broader sensor technology industry that focuses on the development, production, and distribution of sensors designed to precisely determine and monitor the position, movement, and orientation of objects or components in various applications. These sensors primarily rely on optical principles, such as light or laser-based technologies, to detect and measure the exact spatial location and relative motion of objects in real-time. Optical Position Sensors are widely employed across diverse industries, including manufacturing, robotics, automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, healthcare, and more. They offer high accuracy, non-contact measurement, and immunity to environmental factors like dust, making them essential for applications where precision and reliability are paramount. As technological advancements and automation continue to proliferate, the Optical Position Sensor market experiences steady growth. The sensors play a pivotal role in enabling automation, enhancing gaming experiences, improving healthcare devices, facilitating autonomous vehicles, and contributing to numerous other emerging applications, cementing their significance in modern industries. Competitive Market Dynamics: Intense competition within the global Optical Position Sensor market poses challenges for both established players and newcomers. Low barriers to entry allow numerous companies, including startups, to enter the market, resulting in abundant choices for buyers and fierce price competition. Market saturation in certain applications leads to price erosion, pressuring companies to operate with slim profit margins and potentially hampering investment in research and development. Rapid technological advancements necessitate continual investment in R&D to stay ahead, which can be financially burdensome. Evolving Technological Demands: Meeting evolving technological demands, such as higher precision, faster response times, and improved resistance to environmental factors, presents challenges for optical position sensor manufacturers. In sectors like automotive, the transition to autonomous driving and electric vehicles requires sensors that provide extremely accurate and real-time data, driving the need for substantial R&D investments and potentially reevaluating existing sensor designs. Consumer electronics and gaming demand more immersive and responsive experiences, necessitating sensors with enhanced performance and capabilities. Shrinking sensor size for use in miniaturized devices like wearables and medical implants without compromising performance requires innovations in manufacturing processes and materials. Addressing the Challenges: Differentiation and Innovation: Companies must focus on differentiation through technology innovation to stand out in a competitive market. Investing in R&D to develop novel features and capabilities can help companies maintain a competitive edge. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with complementary technologies or strategic partners can enhance product offerings and expand market reach. Customer Support: Providing exceptional customer support can differentiate companies in a crowded market and foster long-term relationships with clients. Strategic Investment: Companies should invest wisely in R&D, balancing innovation with financial sustainability to avoid overextending resources. Market Monitoring: Staying informed about emerging technological trends and market demands is essential for anticipating changes and staying competitive. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $3.08 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $4.98 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.1% Regions Covered Global Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Optical Position Sensor Market. AMS AG Honeywell International Inc. Infineon Technologies AG NXP Semiconductors N.V. ON Semiconductor Corp. Panasonic Corporation Sharp Corporation STMicroelectronics N.V. Texas Instruments Incorporated Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. Report Scope: Optical Position Sensor Market, By Type: Extrinsic Optical Sensor Intrinsic Optical Sensor Optical Position Sensor Market, By Sensor: Fiber Optic Sensor Image Sensor Photoelectric Sensor Ambient Light Proximity Sensor Optical Position Sensor Market, By Application: Industrial Medical Biometric Automotive Consumer Electronics Optical Position Sensor Market, By Region: North America United States Canada Mexico Europe France United Kingdom Italy Germany Spain Asia-Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Kuwait Turkey For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rhfnqq About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Colorado Springs, Colorado, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Catalyst Accelerator is excited to announce the selection of seven outstanding small businesses with innovative, complementary tech solutions. These companies will come together from across the globe to participate in the Accelerators 13th cohort focused on Space Domain Awareness. The Catalyst Accelerator, powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), exists to empower nontraditional technology companies to accelerate their involvement in the national defense ecosystem by providing connections, mentorship, and business development in a collaborative setting for a lasting national impact. Space Domain Awareness is the ability to rapidly detect, track, characterize, and attribute threats to our nations space assets, and plays a pivotal role in national security. The United States Space Force recognizes the urgency of protecting space mission sensors and systems and sought to leverage commercial software capabilities to enhance, supplement, support, and refine existing Space Domain Awareness capabilities. The Space Domain Awareness cohort (#CASDA2) is the first Accelerator in partnership with The Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications & Processing Lab (SDA TAP Lab). Maj Sean Allen, Chief of the SDA TAP Lab, explained, The TAP Lab is partnered with Catalyst Campus to feed companies directly from the Catalyst Accelerator into the lab. They mature the business model, and the lab helps accelerate the product. This means companies are better positioned to build what the NSDC and Delta 2 need, and are more likely to make sales. Last week, I had the privilege of reviewing pitches for the Catalyst Accelerator. It was amazing to see the expertise of these startups. I learned a lot and am confident our partnership will ultimately improve the quality of commercial space battle management software. The #CASDA2 cohort will meet two weeks per month beginning March 19th and ending June 14th. Each company will collaborate with subject matter experts, work with government and commercial Navigators, and complete an intensive customer discovery process. The cohort will culminate in a Demo Day on June 13th where they will pitch their technology to Government and Industry partners as well as investors assessing the potential of cohort company technologies. After the conclusion of the program, the companies will be positioned well to participate in the SDA TAP Labs 4th Project Apollo cohort if they choose to do so. The Catalyst Accelerator team, with technical advisement from Government, Industry, and Academia, underwent a rigorous selection process in order to carefully choose the companies for the #CASDA2 cohort. The following startups were chosen based on their demonstrated potential and innovative capability solutions: Active Vigilance (Cheyenne, Wyoming) At Active Vigilance, we are spearheading the deployment of onboard artificial intelligence and machine learning for aerospace applications. Our vision is a safer world where space assets survive through events no one could have predicted, limiting the effects of hostile action, and maintaining deterrence. Active Vigilance provides the most efficient and trustworthy machine learning, enabling human-on-the loop control of autonomous space assets. Active Vigilance has developed machine learning which needs minimal training data and collaborates with human oversight to ensure mission goals are met. With flexible hardware implementations including in space and on the ground, Active Vigilance offers a new resilience for in-space and other high-value, complex assets. https://activevigilance.com Astra Ultra (Littleton, Colorado) Astra Ultra is revolutionizing space domain awareness with our cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. Our AI systems provide unparalleled accuracy in tracking and predicting orbital patterns, ensuring enhanced safety and strategic planning for satellite operations. By integrating advanced machine learning algorithms, Astra Ultra offers real-time data analysis and decision-making capabilities, ensuring continued mission capability and success. Our commitment to innovation positions Astra Ultra as a pivotal player in shaping the future of space domain awareness. https://astra-ultra.ai The Exclosure (San Francisco, California) Exclosure stands at the forefront of space situational awareness, revolutionizing the field with our global network of AI/ML-enhanced observatories. Compact yet powerful, our observatories deliver unprecedented revisit rates for analyzing orbital and atmospheric objects. We blend cutting-edge artificial intelligence with advanced data processing to offer real-time insights, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space observation and security. Exclosure seeks to provide not just space domain awareness, but space domain empowerment. https://www.exclosure.io iMETALX Inc. (Sausalito, California) iMETALX is at the forefront of space technology, offering cutting-edge observation and surveillance services. Utilizing sophisticated sensors and algorithms, the company excels in identifying, tracking, and analyzing satellites and debris across low earth orbit and beyond. Essential for maintaining space situational awareness, iMETALX's services safeguard the functionality and safety of space assets through comprehensive imagery and data, while also facilitating effective operations for in-space services. https://www.imetalx.com Orbital Services Corporation LLC (OSCorp) (Colorado Springs, Colorado) OSCorp is an in-space services company at the vanguard of cementing U.S. space supremacy to safeguard the space domain and build a thriving in-space economy. We develop cutting-edge technologies at the nexus of GN&C, AI/ML, LiDAR sensors, space robotics, and lasercom terminalsthe building blocks that would enable safe and robust ADR involving RPOC of uncooperative spacecraft. https://www.orbitalservicescorporation.com Quasar Satellite Technologies (Sydney, Australia) Quasar has developed a state-of-the-art, fully digital multibeam phased array antenna, capable of simultaneously delivering SDA & SATCOM from a single aperture, marking a revolutionary advancement in All-Sky visibility. https://quasarsat.com TRL 11 Inc. (Irvine, California) TRL11 is advancing the development and utilization of full motion video for spacecraft operations and space security. The company is building cameras and recording systems emphasizing real-time and low power video feeds from space. Central to TRL11s innovative approach is its proprietary AI/ML video processing software which employs a novel compression technique and downlinks only the valuable content in a recording to streamline insights for ground operators while minimizing bandwidth costs. https://www.trl11.com The Catalyst Accelerator is proud to play a pivotal role in driving technological advancements and fostering innovation in the space sector. By bringing together talented startups and industry leaders, the Accelerator aims to fast-track the development and deployment of technologies that will shape the future of the space industry. About Catalyst Accelerator The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate and United States Space Forces Catalyst Accelerator is a NewSpace-focused defense and national security industry accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CCTI is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, entrepreneurs, startups, government, academia, and investors intersect with Colorados aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation, and stimulate business growth. The Catalyst Accelerator is a collaborative program hosted by Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI, a Colorado 501(c)3) in partnership with the United States Space Force, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to provide a robust, mentor-driven curriculum for accelerator teams. Attachment SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden State Wealth Management, a registered investment adviser, is proud to announce that two of their wealth advisors have been named to the 2024 Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State lists. The advisors recognized in this years Forbes list include: Sandra Cho, Founder and President of Pointwealth Capital Management, Encino, CA Kristy Motta, President and Co-owner of Consolidated Financial Management, Beaverton, OR This award marks the eighth annual ranking of Forbes/SHOOK Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State, which features 1,991 women managing cumulative assets of over $2.8 trillion. Forbes list was compiled by SHOOK Research, which uses financial data and interviews candidates nominated by their firms to rank advisors. We are proud to have Sandra and Kristy within our community of advisors. Having worked beside them for some time now, I can attest that they both demonstrate a strong work ethic, a commitment to their clients and dedication to the industry. They each spend their days building and preserving their clients wealth. An attribute that I see both women have in common is the care and time they take to know and understand the needs of each client they work with. I truly believe this is what sets them apart and makes them successful, says John Nahas, Founder and President, Golden State Wealth Management. About the Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors and Best-In-State Lists Forbes recognizes the top women advisors in America based on a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including in-person interviews, best practices, service and investing models, compliance records, revenue trends and assets under management. All advisors have a minimum of seven years' experience. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor their research partner SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success. For full methodology, click HERE. About Sandra Cho and Pointwealth Capital Management Sandra Cho is the Founder and President of Pointwealth Capital Management (Pointwealth) in Encino, California specializing in comprehensive, generational wealth management. The advisors of Pointwealth Capital Management collectively serve over $200 million in brokerage and advisory assets as of 1/24/2024. With 20 years in the financial services industry, Ms. Cho has previously been named as a Forbes Best-In-State 2023 & 20221, and Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor 2021 & 20201. Learn more at www.pointwealthcm.com. About Kristy Motta and Consolidated Financial Management Kristy Motta is the President and Co-owner of Consolidated Financial Management (CFM) in Beaverton, OR. With clients across the country, CFM has a clientele of Executives, and their focus is to put clients happiness first and foremost. She has previously been named as a Forbes Best-In-State 2023 & 20221, and Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor 20201, Learn more at www.cfmplanners.com. About Golden State Wealth Management Golden State Wealth Management is a Registered Investment Adviser that is dedicated to financial professionals and their clients. The firms initial company was founded in 2013 by a group of executives who collectively contribute over 50 years of industry experience and have partnered with advisors serving over $1.5 billion in assets under management2. Golden State Wealth Managements infrastructure provides an extensive support network through succession planning, compliance oversight, dedicated transition support, and a Turnkey Asset Management Program. Golden State Wealth Management maintains business alignments with LPL Financial, the nations largest independent broker/dealer3, BNY Mellon | Pershing, and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., some of the nations largest independent custodians, who provide comprehensive tools and research necessary in todays complex markets. With offices across the country, the firm is committed to creating an atmosphere that benefits both advisors and their investors. Learn more at www.teamgoldenstate.com. 1The Forbes ranking of America Top Women Wealth Advisors and Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative data, learned through surveys and interviews conducted in-person, by telephone and virtually to evaluate best practices, level of service, investing models and compliance records as well as quantitative data, such as revenue trends and assets under management. 2Source: SEC filing as of April 30, 2023. 3As reported in Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2023, based on total revenue. Sandra Cho and Kristy Motta are registered representatives and John Nahas is a registered admin with, and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Golden State Wealth Management (GSWM), an investment adviser registered with the SEC. GSWM, Pointwealth Capital Management and Consolidated Financial Management are separate entities from LPL Financial. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For information pertaining to the registration status of our firm, you may refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). Media Inquiries: Jennifer Nahas CMO, Golden State Wealth Management Jennifer.nahas@teamgoldenstate.com NEW DELHI, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indiaspora and the Ananta Centre jointly organised an exclusive interaction with Her Excellency Janaina Tewaney, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama on the 22nd of February in New Delhi. Bharat Joshi, CEO, J-Curve Ventures, began the interaction by commenting briefly on Indo-Panama relations and how the generational shift now visible in Panama finds common ground with Indiasporas objectives for DiasporaNEXT, which aims to cultivate and nurture the new age of Indian Diaspora leaders across the globe. Indrani Bagchi, CEO, Ananta Centre, welcomed the Minister and hoped that Panamas new foreign policy would soon envisage reaching out to India. Her Excellency Janaina Tewaney, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama, began by commenting upon the diversity of Panama and how it is historically South American, geographically Central American and culturally Caribbean. Panama is unique largely because of its various diasporas Indian, Jewish, Lebanese, Spanish, Italian, among others. These diasporas crucially become living bridges to their ancestral land; therefore, Panama is not just a land with a canal but it embodies connectivity in its very spirit. She ended by remarking that Panamas new foreign policy is ready to shed the baggage of the 70s and is looking forward to engaging more with India. Contact: shrenya@indiaspora.org How many times does the United States have to veto a misguided UN Security Council resolution on the Israel/Hamas war until the other countries on the council understand that Hamas must be condemned by name, the fighting should stop and all the Israeli hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 have to be released? The answer is at least three, as this week U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield correctly cast another U.S. veto on the war, following ones in October and December. The problem with this current resolution, offered by Algeria, is that again Hamas went blameless and there was no causation between a pause in the combat and freedom for the hostages. Thomas-Greenfield says that she is working on a draft resolution to do just that, but it faces a veto threat by the peace loving Chinese and Russians, who jointly vetoed an October resolution because it was too harsh on the murderers and rapists of Hamas. Beijing and Moscow are striving to sow as much discord as they can while Washington is trying to achieve a ceasefire and the return of the hostages. American diplomacy, working with Qatar and Egypt, succeeded earlier and negotiations are still underway. War is horrible and Hamas started this war, bringing death and destruction to the people of Israel, which has brought death and destruction to the Gaza Strip as the cowards of Hamas hide among the innocent Palestinian civilians. Hamas has had thousands of its terrorists killed, but along with those dead terrorists, there have been too many Palestinian civilians killed and wounded. While Hamas doesnt care about the Palestinian civilians, as they see every death as another martyr in their holy war to annihilate the Jews, they do want the fighting to stop before all of the terrorists and the ring leaders have been taken out. So how to make sure that every hostage is released when the guns go silent? That is what Thomas-Greenfield is seeking. Time is short. The last of Hamas (and likely the remaining hostages) are in Rafah in the southern corner of Gaza, with the IDF poised to enter the city, swollen with refugees who fled the fighting to the north. It could be a humanitarian nightmare on top of the other humanitarian nightmares of this war, and the U.S. is trying to find a way to avoid the potential catastrophe of the Israeli army hunting for desperate Hamas fighters amid the innocents. Story continues But the Algeria plan would not work. Hamas would use the quieting of the fighting to retrench and rearm, extending the war instead of ending it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also has in mind the March 10 start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. That date is just 2 weeks away, adding to the pressure on all sides, in the Middle East and in East Midtown at the UN headquarters. The best outcome would be for Hamas to immediately surrender all remaining Israeli hostages and leave Gaza. The terrorists 17-year reign over Gaza ended in disaster for Palestinians, as well as for death for Israelis. Instead of freedom, prosperity and liberty, they brought on a war which has ruined the lives of everyone in the Gaza Strip. The long-suffering Palestinians must be freed from Hamas. ___ Bouygues Telecom has signed an exclusivity agreement with La Poste group for the acquisition of the virtual operator La Poste Telecom and a distribution partnership Paris, 22 February 2024 18H30 Bouygues Telecom has signed an exclusivity agreement with La Poste group, with the aim of : acquiring 100% of the capital of its subsidiary La Poste Telecom, the leading virtual operator in the French market (currently 51%-owned by La Poste group and 49%-owned by SFR); and concluding an exclusive distribution partnership involving La Poste group, La Banque Postale and La Poste Telecom. This transaction is fully in line with Bouygues Telecom's growth strategy. It would allow Bouygues Telecom to strengthen its mobile customer base of around 2.3 million individuals with a high level of customer satisfaction. It would also allow Bouygues Telecom to draw on La Postes distribution network and benefit from a brand that is strong and recognised for its values of trust and proximity. In 2023, La Poste Telecom is expected to generate approximately 300 million in sales and to have 400 employees. This strategic partnership would allow La Poste Telecom to continue developing its mobile business and build a new fixed offering for its customers, based on the common values of the two partners: quality of service, customer proximity, and respect for employees. The acquisition price for the shares is 950 million, which will be adjusted based on the timing of the transaction. It corresponds to an enterprise value of 963,4 million. When the exclusivity period of SFR's wholesale contract ends at the end of 2026, La Poste Mobile's mobile customers will be migrated to Bouygues Telecom's radio network. Given Bouygues Telecoms radio network capacity, no additional investment would be necessary for the network part. However, Bouygues Telecom plans integration costs (opex/capex) in 2025 and 2026 to prepare for the customer migration in the best possible conditions. Following the migration of customers in 2027, the contribution of the La Poste Telecom acquisition is expected to be approximately 140 million in EBITDAa1 per year starting in 2028. The transaction, to be submitted for consultation with employee representative bodies, is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, subject to: obtaining the necessary administrative authorisations, including from the Antitrust Authorities; SFR not exercising its pre-emption right. If this significant transaction closes, Bouygues Telecom will communicate, within the months following its completion at the latest, a new guidance which will replace the Ambition 2026 guidance announced during the Capital Markets Day on 15 January 2021. In 2024, Bouygues Telecom confirms its strategy and remains fully focused on growing its customer base, and improving its results and cash flow generation. Edward Bouygues, Chairman of Bouygues Telecom, said: Bouygues Telecom is pleased with this strong strategic partnership project with La Poste group. This long-term agreement, favourable to both parties, is based on a shared vision and values between our groups which are founded on proximity, trust and respect. Benoit Torloting, CEO of Bouygues Telecom, said: Bouygues Telecom is delighted with this transaction and the partnership project with La Poste. Thanks to this agreement, Bouygues Telecom will be able to increase its customer base and strengthen its position in both mobile and fixed services drawing on La Postes distribution network throughout the country. Bouygues Telecom will bring its expertise and the quality of its fixed and mobile infrastructures to La Poste Mobile, on which La Poste Mobile will be able to draw to continue its development. Disclaimer: This information was considered by Bouygues SA, before its disclosure, as non-public information within the meaning of the applicable regulations (Article 7.1 of EU Regulation 596/2014, 16 April 2014). Responsible for notification: Didier Casas, General Counsel. Press contacts: Alexandra Berry: alberry@bouyguestelecom.fr - 01 39 26 62 42 About Bouygues Telecom Bouygues Telecom is 90.5%-owned by the Bouygues group. As a full-service electronic communications operator, Bouygues Telecom stands out by providing its 28 million customers access to the best technology has to offer on a daily basis. The very high quality of its 5G and 4G network, which currently covers 99% of the French population, combined with its fixed and Cloud services, provide its customers with simple solutions, enabling them to fully enjoy their digital lives, both in the home and at work, regardless of their location. Bouygues Telecoms 5G network now covers nearly 15,000 municipalities and over 3 out of 4 people in France. Since 2000, Bouygues Telecom has pursued an environmental policy that aims to reconcile improved access to quality digital services for all with a reduction in its environmental impact. In October 2022, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) endorsed Bouygues Telecom's short-term greenhouse gas reduction targets for the period 2021-2027. #OnEstFaitPourEtreEnsemble www.corporate.bouyguestelecom.fr 1 EBITDAaL = EBITDA after Leases = Current operating profit after lease (current operating profit after taking account of the interest expense on lease obligations) before net charges for depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, before net charges to provisions and other impairment losses and before effects of losses of control. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almadex Minerals Ltd. ("Almadex" or the "Company") (TSX-V: DEX) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases of July 11th and December 14th 2023 describing the identification of new targets, it has acquired by staking a 100% interest in the Radio porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold exploration target in Mineral County Nevada, USA. The Radio project covers a roughly 2.8 by 1.3 kilometre area of hydrothermal alteration developed in volcanic and intrusive rocks and crosscut by mafic intrusive dykes. The observed hydrothermal alteration and zoning is characteristic of porphyry copper systems. To date Almadex has completed a preliminary surface alteration and geologic mapping program along with surface outcrop rock sampling. First pass surface rock chip sampling has returned important values of copper, molybdenum and gold. A total of 32 samples were collected and assayed during this field campaign, including 31 outcrop samples and 1 talus sample. Of 31 outcrop samples, a total of 5 samples returned greater than 0.05% Cu, and up to 0.59% Cu and 0.18 g/t Au, and three samples returned higher than 100 ppm Mo, and up to 276 ppm Mo (Table 1). The base and precious metal values occur within malachite-stained mafic dykes and magnetite veined intrusive rocks. Fluid inclusion petrography was carried out on select samples of vein material. This work confirmed the fluid inclusion signature of a porphyry system with one sample displaying the distinctive characteristics of A-type porphyry veins. Table 1. Significant assays from 32 samples collected at Radio Project 2023. Sample ID Material Lithology Cu (%) Au (g/t) Mo (ppm) 869212 Outcrop Mafic Dyke 0.59 0.18 - 781207 Outcrop Mafic Dyke 0.44 - - 23ARP022 Outcrop Mafic Dyke 0.33 - - 869213 Outcrop Quartz vein 0.02 - 276 869214 Outcrop Rhyolite Porphyry - - 149.5 23ARP025 Outcrop Rhyolite - - 129 The alteration mapping has identified minor zones of pyrophyllite and kaolinite alteration considered representative of an advanced argillic altered zone interpreted to be the remnants of an eroded lithocap. Importantly a 2.8 km phyllic alteration trend was also defined which is characterised by high crystallinity muscovite and paragonite. The phyllic zone is bordered by propylitic chlorite and epidote alteration. These alteration minerals were identified using a Terraspec mineral spectrometer. This interpretation suggests that a potential porphyry deposit could be located at shallow depths from the current surface. J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almadex commented, Radio is the result of first principals based conceptual exploration. We hope to make more additions to our project portfolio in 2024 and to advance Radio towards a drill decision. Our CAD$17 Million cash position as of Q3 2023 gives us the luxury of advancing these projects in the manner best suited for shareholders. We have a track record of discoveries, and we feel the varied and exciting projects in our portfolio have the potential to add to that record. Lithocaps are extensive areas of hydrothermally altered rocks that occur above or adjacent to intrusive rocks and related porphyry deposits. The hydrothermal alteration forms when ascending high temperature magmatic fluids are released from the source intrusion below and alter permeable and reactive rocks occurring above and or adjacent. Lithocaps can be over 10 by 10 km in surface area and over 1 km thick. The alteration mineral assemblages vary, usually with distance from the intrusive source. Often more neutral and higher temperature stable alteration mineral assemblages are seen at depth, closer to the source intrusion and potential porphyry deposit. More acid and lower temperature stable assemblages generally occur higher up and farther away. Mapping of alteration minerals and geochemical analysis using soil and rock samples can map these changes in mineralogy. This mapping can then provide a vector towards potential underlying porphyry systems. If large areas of lithocap alteration are well preserved, they can obscure deep unexposed porphyry and other styles of mineralisation. If no mineralisation is present at surface, drilling based on vectors provided by geochemical and alteration vectors is the best way to explore for buried deposits. Qualified Persons and Technical Details Alfonso Rodriguez, M.Sc., P.Geo. (BC), Senior Geologist of APEX Geoscience Ltd. and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical contents of this news release relating to rock geochemical sampling. The analyses reported were carried out by ALS Chemex Laboratories (ALS) using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples were analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) at ALS in Reno. Copper and molybdenum were analyzed by ALS in North Vancouver by 4-acid digestion with either an Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish. Morgan J Poliquin, PhD, PEng, the President and CEO of Almadex and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved all other scientific and technical contents of this news release. About Almadex Almadex Minerals Ltd. is an exploration company that holds a large mineral portfolio consisting of projects and NSR royalties in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. This portfolio is the direct result of many years of prospecting and deal-making by Almadex's management team. The Company owns a number of portable diamond drill rigs, enabling it to conduct cost effective first pass exploration drilling in house. On behalf of the Board of Directors, J. Duane Poliquin J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman Almadex Minerals Ltd. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within it, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among other things, any work to advance the Radio project to a drill decision, the addition of more projects to the portfolio during 2024, and the likelihood of future discoveries. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, permitting, continued availability of capital and financing, equipment availability, relationships with third-party clientele and their willingness or ability to continue to use the Companys drills for exploration, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Contact Information: Almadex Minerals Ltd. Tel. 604.689.7644 Email: info@almadexminerals.com http://www.almadexminerals.com/ Atlanta, Georgia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AACSB International (AACSB), the worlds largest business education alliance, has recognized Delta Analytics Academy, a nine-month certificate program to remove barriers to career paths in analytics for the operational experts of Delta Air Lines, as one of its 2024 Innovations That Inspire. The Analytics Academy was co-developed by the carrier with Georgia State Universitys J. Mack Robinson College of Business. It is one of 26 programs AACSB is recognizing this year. AACSBs Innovations That Inspire recognizes institutions worldwide that serve as champions of change in business education. According to AACSB, the business schools highlighted in 2024 are leveraging innovation to drive new value for the communities they serve. These schools are leading boldly to enable equitable access, empower problem-solvers, design timely curricula and credentials, deploy adaptive learning methods, create new knowledge, and develop societal impact leaders. The Delta Analytics Academy offers a career pathway for Deltas frontline employees, including flight attendants, reservation specialists, and airport customer agents, to transition into business analyst roles. Participants in the Analytics Academy develop analytical skills in areas such as Excel, Python, SQL, and Tableau, which they then combine with their extensive operational and customer-facing expertise. Three cohorts have graduated thus far. The Analytics Academy offers several advantages to Delta Air Lines: It creates new career pathways for some of Deltas most dedicated employees; it enables the airline to integrate individuals with extensive operational knowledge into analytical roles, where they can provide unique insights that enhance the management of Deltas business; and it supports the attainment of Deltas diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. We are honored to be recognized for the Delta Analytics Academy, part of our skills-based talent strategy that has removed barriers to entry, accelerated career mobility for our frontline employees and expanded our talent pools all in service of creating equitable outcomes. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are excited to continue to invest in the talent we have throughout our operation, said Stephanie Asbury, Senior Vice President of Global Talent at Delta Air Lines. We are gratified that AACSB is recognizing the Delta Analytics Academy as a 2024 Innovation That Inspires, said Robinson College Dean Richard Phillips. This breakthrough program is consistent with Georgia States determination to promote social mobility by providing educational access to learners of all backgrounds. We are proud to support Delta Air Lines through this partnership. In a world facing social, economic, and technological challenges, business schools are innovating to develop powerful solutions. The Delta Analytics Academy exemplifies the unique ways that business schools create value and impact for their stakeholders, said Lily Bi, AACSB president and CEO. Through bold leadership and innovation, the Robinson College of Business is contributing to a better world, demonstrating the important role business schools play in our society. Now in its ninth year, AACSBs Innovations That Inspire initiative has highlighted 240 business school efforts that exemplify forward-looking approaches to education, research, community engagement, entrepreneurship, leadership, and diversity and inclusion. This is the fourth recognition Georgia State has received from AACSB for an Innovation That Inspires, more than any other U.S. business school. Georgia State is one of four institutions worldwide recognized four or more times for an Innovation That Inspires. Lebanon: American University of Beirut (5 Innovations That Inspire) Australia: University of South Australia (4 Innovations That Inspire) France: NEOMA Business School (4 Innovations That Inspire) United States: Georgia State University (4 Innovations That Inspire) Attachment TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: DGS, DGS.PR.A, GDV, LBS, LCS, PWI, SBC) Brompton Funds announces distributions payable on March 14, 2024 to class A shareholders of record at the close of business on February 29, 2024 for each of the following funds: Fund Name Ticker Amount Per Share Dividend Growth Split Corp. (DGS) DGS $ 0.10 Global Dividend Growth Split Corp. (GDV) GDV $ 0.10 Life & Banc Split Corp. (LBS) LBS $ 0.10 Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. (LCS) LCS $ 0.075 Sustainable Power & Infrastructure Split Corp. (PWI) PWI $ 0.06667 Brompton Split Banc Corp. (SBC) SBC $ 0.10 Brompton Funds also announces distributions payable on March 14, 2024 to preferred shareholders of record at the close of business on February 29, 2024 for the following funds: Fund Name Ticker Amount Per Share Dividend Growth Split Corp. DGS.PR.A $ 0.1375 The funds noted above offer distribution reinvestment plans (DRIP) for class A shareholders which provide class A shareholders with the ability to automatically reinvest distributions, commission free, and realize the benefits of compound growth. Class A shareholders can enroll in a DRIP program by contacting their investment advisor. About Brompton Funds Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other TSX traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Bromptons investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell shares of the investment funds on the Toronto Stock Exchange or other alternative Canadian trading system (an exchange). If the shares are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying shares of the investment fund and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning shares of an investment fund. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the funds. You can find more detailed information about the funds in the public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the funds, to the future outlook of the funds and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the funds. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as may, will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, predict, potential, continue or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. PATCHOGUE, NY, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA), recently announced the recipients of their 2023 Congressional Awards and honored U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-NY, with their Leadership Award for his work to defeat the so-called Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, H.R. 4417/S. 2019, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-IA, and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS. In October of 2023, Rep. Garbarino led a House Republican sign-on letter to Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn GT Thompson, R-PA, and Ranking Member David Scott, D-GA, alongside Reps. Nancy Mace, R-SC, David Valadao, R-CA, and Michael Waltz, R-FL, against EATS, a measure that is designed to nullify state ballot initiatives across the country enacted by a direct vote of the people. Industrial agribusiness interests failed to secure the enactment of similar legislation led by former Rep. Steve King, R-IA, in the 2018 Farm Bill thanks to the work of OCM leaders and former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-TX Thompsons predecessor who is currently working with the Competitive Markets Groups to defeat EATS in 2024. Im honored to be recognized by such a wide array of American family farmers who keep our country fed, said Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-NY. The EATS Act would directly harm producers who practice more humane, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture and to the safety and security of our food supply. House Agriculture Committee leadership should deliver a bipartisan Farm Bill that helps keep family farmers in business instead of shutting them down. We are grateful to Rep. Garbarino for his leadership and tremendous work fighting against the China-backed EATS Act that would federalize American agriculture under Smithfields factory farming standards and allow the Chinese to gain more control over our food production systems, said Marty Irby, President & CEO at Competitive Markets Action and Board Secretary at the Organization for Competitive Markets. Make no mistake, if EATS or anything like it is included in the Farm Bill, American family farmers will be put out of business and our foreign enemies will gain a tighter grip on the consolidated 4-Big-Packer-Monopoly that already runs Joe Bidens USDA. We applaud Rep. Garbarino for his tireless work, tremendous leadership, and intestinal fortitude in standing up to Chinese interests and multinational conglomerates who continue to further consolidate American agriculture, said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets and Founder of the Wyoming Independent Cattlemens Association. If Agriculture Committee leaders want to get a Farm Bill done in 2024 theyd be wise to jettison any language that nullifies state and local agriculture laws and include a provision to reform USDAs swampy checkoff slush funds. As a proud American and lifelong producer, I proudly applaud Rep. Garbarino for being committed to defeating Big Ags Chinese and Brazilian backers that threaten our food supply, said Jonathan Buttram, Treasurer at the Organization for Competitive Markets, and President of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association. The industrial agriculture mafia is petrified of our work because they see the writing on the wall and we hope they soon meet the same fate as New Yorks infamous Five Families. "Independent farmers in Kansas applaud Rep. Garbarino and hope to see our U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall shift toward helping his constituents instead of pandering to China and the industrial ag interests that line his campaign coffers, said Mike Schultz, founder of the Kansas Cattlemen's Association, and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. OCM and CMA also conducted its third fly-in since July of 2023 to Washington, D.C. this month and engaged in nearly 90 meetings against the EATS Act, H.R. 4417/S. 2019; S. 3382, the Protecting Interstate Commerce for Livestock Producers Act (PICLPA), led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, with no additional cosponsors; and other legislation like it. In the past week, the Missouri-based Moms for America, and Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, came out swinging against the EATS Act, joining more than 2,000 diverse opponents that stand firmly against the measure. The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The foundation of the Organization for Competitive Markets is to fight for competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and our duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agricultural economy as a regulator and enforcer of rules necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible and competitive for all citizens. Competitive Markets Action (CMA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that was formed with the mission of shaping policy to promote more regenerative and sustainable agriculture, and competitive markets in the U.S., and to defend against attacks on states rights by the federal government. CMA works to raise awareness of the harm caused by multinational conglomerates to the American family farmer, the consumer and our U.S. economy as a whole in an effort to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms. Attachments Ivry-sur-Seine, France, February 22, 2024 Fnac Darty implements a share buyback program Fnac Darty has announced the implementation of a share buyback program, as part of the share buyback program authorised at the Shareholders Meeting of May 24, 2023. The buyback mandate, which is granted to investment services provider NATIXIS, is for the balance of the previous mandate i.e a maximum amount of 4.5 million. This initiative follows on from the Board of Directors decision to allow share buyback in the proportion necessary to offset the dilution caused by the vesting of free shares allocated to the Groups employees. CONTACTS ANALYSTS/INVESTORS Domitille Vielle Head of Investor Relations domitille.vielle@fnacdarty.com +33 (0)6 03 86 05 02 Laura Parisot Investor Relations Manager laura.parisot@fnacdarty.com +33 (0)6 64 74 27 18 PRESS Audrey Bouchard Head of Media Relations and Reputation audrey.bouchard@fnacdarty.com +33 (0)6 17 25 03 77 Attachment LAS VEGAS, NV, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA), recently announced the recipients of their 2023 Congressional Awards and honored U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-NV, with their Leadership Award for her work to reform the U.S. Dept. of Agricultures Commodity Checkoff Programs with the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, H.R. 1249/S. 557, that Titus has championed since 2017. Titus has worked in bipartisan fashion alongside former Rep. Dave Bratt, R-VA, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-SC, and Sens. Mike Lee, R-UT, Rand Paul, R-KY, Cory Booker, D-NJ, Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, to reform the U.S. Dept. of Agricultures scandal-ridden checkoff programs that have been plagued by unethical and illegal activities for decades. This measure is backed by more than 200,000 farmers and ranchers across the country and groups like Latino Farmers & Ranchers International, Farm Action, Farm Aid, the Women, Food, and Agriculture Network, the American Grassfed Association, National Taxpayers Union, and Environmental Working Group to name a few. OFF would reform USDAs checkoff programs by bringing transparency and requiring the programs be audited for compliance; by prohibiting disparagement of one product over another and picking winners and losers in the marketplace; and by prohibiting checkoffs from contracting with lobbying entities like the National Cattlemens Beef Association who lobbied against Country-of-Origin Labeling, and the National Pork Producers Council who has been outspoken against state ballot measures like Californias Prop 12 that benefit American producers who practice more regenerative and sustainable agriculture. Titus also signed a bipartisan House sign-on letter against the so-called Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, H.R. 4417S. 2019, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-IA, and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, that is designed to nullify state ballot measures across the country enacted by a direct vote of the people. Industrial agribusiness interests failed to secure the enactment of similar legislation led by former Rep. Steve King, R-IA, in the 2018 Farm Bill thanks to the work of OCM leaders and former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-TX, who is currently working with the Competitive Markets Groups to defeat EATS in 2024. In the 117th Congress, Titus also cosponsored the Pigs in Gestation Stalls (PIGS) Act, H.R. 7004, that would have provided more space for breeding sows in pork production facilities across the U.S., a policy similar to many of the corporate pledges made by top retailers in the last several years who are working to eliminate the use of gestation crates in U.S. pork production. Im proud to receive the Competitive Markets Leadership Award for my work to improve federal oversight of the agriculture industry, said Rep. Dina Titus, D-NV. I am committed to promoting antitrust provisions in the Farm Bill that deter anti-competitive practices by Big Ag and keep independent producers in business. My legislation, the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, would rein in the corruption weve seen consistently in checkoff programs. Although it has been an uphill battle since introducing the bill in 2017, weve never been closer to the finish line. I strongly urge House Agriculture Committee leadership to include my legislation in the upcoming Farm Bill to protect the interests of independent farmers, ranchers, and producers around the country. We applaud Rep. Titus for her tireless work, tremendous leadership, and intestinal fortitude in standing up to Chinese interests and multinational conglomerates who continue to further consolidate American agriculture, said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets and Founder of the Wyoming Independent Cattlemens Association. If Agriculture Committee leaders want to get a Farm Bill done in 2024 theyd be wise to jettison any language that nullifies state and local agriculture laws and include a provision to reform USDAs swampy checkoff slush funds. We are grateful to Rep. Titus for her tremendous leadership and tireless work to enact the OFF Act over the past seven years, said Marty Irby, President & CEO at Competitive Markets Action and Board Secretary at the Organization for Competitive Markets. Family farmers owe Titus a great debt of thanks for her persistence and dedication to reforming USDAs scandal-ridden commodity checkoff programs and ending the unethical lobbying practices the National Cattlemens Beef Association has utilized to put American farmers and ranchers out of business. Since the inception of the checkoff programs, illegal relationships between checkoff boards and lobbying organizations have continued and Id bet they are illegally using our money to lobby for the enactment of EATS, the greatest threat weve seen in a decade, said Mike Schultz, founder of the Kansas Cattlemens Association, and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. Independent farmers in Kansas applaud Rep. Titus and hope to see our U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall shift toward helping his constituents instead of pandering to China and the industrial ag interests that line his campaign coffers." As a proud American and lifelong producer, I proudly applaud Rep. Titus for being committed to defeating Big Ags Chinese and Brazilian backers that threaten our food supply, said Jonathan Buttram, Treasurer at the Organization for Competitive Markets, and President of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association. The industrial agriculture mafia is petrified of our work because they see the writing on the wall and we hope they soon meet the same fate as New Yorks infamous Five Families. OCM and CMA also conducted its third fly-in since July of 2023 to Washington, D.C. this month and engaged in nearly 90 meetings in support of the OFF Act, checkoff reform; and against the EATS Act; S. 3382, the Protecting Interstate Commerce for Livestock Producers Act (PICLPA), led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, with no additional cosponsors; and other legislation like it. The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The foundation of the Organization for Competitive Markets is to fight for competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and our duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agricultural economy as a regulator and enforcer of rules necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible and competitive for all citizens. Competitive Markets Action (CMA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that was formed with the mission of shaping policy to promote more regenerative and sustainable agriculture, and competitive markets in the U.S., and to defend against attacks on states rights by the federal government. CMA works to raise awareness of the harm caused by multinational conglomerates to the American family farmer, the consumer and our U.S. economy as a whole in an effort to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms. Attachment WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last week, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Bidens cabinet for Americas more than 33 million small businesses, visited three Black-owned small businesses in Washington, D.C. to highlight how President Bidens Investing in America agenda is delivering for Black entrepreneurs. Administrator Guzmans visit included a stop at Black + Forth and Spice Suite, where she learned about owner Angel Gregarios initiatives to support Black entrepreneurship with free classes on topics like marketing and bookkeeping. Administrator Guzman also visited Here's the Scoop!, a Black woman-owned ice cream and dessert shop, and talked with owner Karin Sellers about her businesss focus on building community. At Bens Chili Bowl, a historic Black-owned business in the heart of Washington, D.C.s vibrant U Street Corridor, Administrator Guzman spoke with owner and founder Virginia Ali for a conversation about her familys entrepreneurial journey. See below for a video highlight from Administrator Guzmans visit to Bens Chili Bowl: https://youtu.be/Vv7jDqT2eiE For more information about SBAs loan programs, financial assistance, and other services, visit www.sba.gov. Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Health Incorporated (RHI), developer of cutting-edge technology to provide health insights on-demand and a division of Rajant Corporation, the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, has received endorsements from three industry leaders in healthcare for its new cutting-edge wearable Q-Stat, which can detect life-threatening medical events. The Q-Stat, a wrist-worn device, continuously and transparently measures key biometrics such as ECG, SpO2, and activity for remote health management. Phillip Koren, MD FACC Medical Director at the Cooper Heart Institute, shares, As a practicing cardiologist for over thirty years, my interest in Rajant Health and its product development is based on using high-level technology to help our patients and healthcare providers improve lives, prevent illness, and prolong life. Emerging technology in the cardiovascular world is at a critical inflection point. Using medical devices that bridge patient information and patient data with healthcare providers is where information can affect the care of our patients. My interest in working with Rajant Health is driven by our growing need to access patient information and how it affects disease progression and medical management. Imagine a world that expands monitoring while the person is not yet ill or hasnt visited their healthcare professional, and we can use remote monitoring medical devices, such as Q-Stat, to prevent a medical condition. The conditions can include stroke, heart attacks, sepsis, or others. In addition, we could use remote medical monitoring to prevent disease progression in high-risk individuals. Steven Back, MD PhD interventional cardiologist practicing in Newark, Delaware, states, I became a physician to improve the quality and longevity of patients lives by preventing and treating disease. To achieve these goals, artificial intelligence is becoming integrated into the technology at our disposal to help care for patients. The scientists and engineers at Rajant Health are harnessing and incorporating artificial intelligence into multiple products, like Q-Stat, to care for patients more effectively. I am honored and proud to work with the team at RHI to develop the latest technology to provide the best patient care. I share the companys vision of creating the latest wearable technology to help usher in the AI revolution to diagnose and treat cardiovascular and lifestyle diseases. Mark A. Rubino, Founder and President at Fusion Healthcare Solutions, offers, I've worked in the healthcare sector for over 35 years now, mainly with start-up ventures. After meeting with the team at Rajant Health and learning about the products they are developing, I was completely blown away. Healthcare continuously evolves, and you must stay one step ahead to succeed. Rajant Health is three steps ahead. Prevention, early detection, remote health management, and individualized healthcare are paramount to the future of medicine. Learning about the RHI Q-Stat, I was immediately intrigued. The Q-Stat wearable monitors a patient's body digitally, conveniently measuring key biometrics to help patient's take on more of an active role and interest in their health. It promotes dialogue with their physician, which should translate into informed decision-making and better health outcomes. AI and predictive analytics will power the future of medicine, and I believe that Rajant Health will be a major player in this arena. RHIs ever-expanding product and service offerings include an ecosystem comprised of enterprise Edge (Cowbell), personal Edge (Q-Stat), and analytics (Trovomics). To learn more about RHIs healthcare assurance ecosystem to enable proactive and personalized health, visit RajantHealth.com. ### About Rajant Health Incorporated Rajant Health Incorporated (RHI) is building a healthcare assurance ecosystem to enable proactive and personalized health. We provide personalized health insights to promote a patient-centered experience that improves diagnostics, therapeutics, and communication. Our monitoring solutions, data integration, and advanced analytics turn raw data into actionable insights that can be applied to various clinical, biomedical, and research needs. Our premiere lineup of products includes the Cowbell, the Q-Stat, and Trovomics. Together, these versatile technologies can revolutionize health discovery through enhanced data acquisition, ingestion, and analysis. Our current applications include large animal monitoring, remote health management, and biomarker identification. RHI is backed by our parent company, Rajant (Malvern, PA), with 20+ years of technological experience. For more information, visit RajantHealth.com or follow Rajant Health on LinkedIn and YouTube. Attachment La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the heart of winter, La Paz emerges as a haven for marine enthusiasts, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive into extraordinary wonders beneath the waves. February marks the peak season for remarkable marine encounters in the azure waters of Baja California Sur, positioning La Paz as the ultimate destination for those seeking an immersive and enchanting experience. Up Close with Whale Sharks: Embark on a journey into the deep as La Paz welcomes the majestic whale sharks to its pristine waters. Known as the gentle giants of the sea, these magnificent creatures gather in unparalleled numbers, creating a spectacle that leaves visitors in awe. Snorkel alongside these colossal beings, showcasing the harmony between nature and those fortunate enough to witness it. Majestic Grey Whale Watching: February unveils a breathtaking spectacle as La Paz becomes a haven for grey whale watching. Witness the awe-inspiring journey of these magnificent creatures as they migrate to the warm waters of Baja California Sur. Board a whale-watching excursion in Puerto Chale, located 1.5 hours north of La Paz by road, a unique experience that showcases the natural beauty of the region. Local fishermen serve as knowledgeable guides, providing insight into the whales' behaviors and their marine environment. Beyond the thrilling whale encounters, visiting Puerto Chale promotes sustainable tourism practices by directly supporting the local community. Playful Sea Lions at Espiritu Santo Island: Venture to the iconic Espiritu Santo Island, where lively sea lion colonies inhabit the shores. Dive into the crystal-clear waters to engage with these playful marine mammals, as they twirl and dance through the ocean currents. An underwater ballet awaits those seeking an intimate encounter with the ocean's most charismatic inhabitants. Espiritu Santo Island also features more than 10 dive points and sunken ships for diving enthusiasts to explore, as well as, glamping camps, providing visitors with a unique and immersive way to experience the stunning natural surroundings. Conservation and Responsible Tourism: La Paz is committed to the conservation of its marine treasures. Local tour operators adhere to strict guidelines to ensure responsible wildlife interactions, preserving the delicate balance of the underwater ecosystem. Visitors can partake in these extraordinary experiences with the knowledge that their presence contributes to the protection of these remarkable marine species. Plan Your Aquatic Adventure: As February unfolds, La Paz invites adventurers, nature lovers, and curious souls to dive into a realm of marine marvels. From snorkeling with whale sharks to witnessing the playful antics of sea lions, the underwater wonders of La Paz promise an unforgettable journey into the heart of the ocean. Adventure and Flavor: Fishing and dining in the bay of La Paz offers a rich bounty of marine life, including prized species like tuna and mahi mahi. Anglers can enjoy the thrill of the catch before embarking on a gastronomic adventure at local restaurants. Anzuelo, located in La Paz Marina, is a popular choice for its expertly prepared "catch of the day" dishes, showcasing the freshest seafood flavors. This combination of adventure on the water and culinary delights ensures a memorable and satisfying experience for fishing enthusiasts in La Paz. About La Paz La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is a coastal paradise nestled between the Sea of Cortez and the desert landscape. With its rich cultural tapestry, diverse marine life, and commitment to sustainable tourism, La Paz invites travelers to explore, connect, and experience the true essence of Baja California Sur. Attachments Heathrows CEO says a demand for transit passengers to pay 10 and enrol online for a permit will hurt the UK. Thomas Woldbye criticised plans for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to apply to connecting travellers even if they spend only two hours at the airport between international flights. He told The Independent: It clearly reduces the competitiveness of the hub that we have built in Heathrow, which I think is critical to the UK. The ETA scheme is currently open to visitors from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The scheme will expand worldwide to include all travellers who do not currently need a visa to visit or transit through the UK, including nationals from Europe and America. Unlike all other major European nations, passengers making same-airport international connections must have the same documentation that they would need if arriving in the UK for a holiday or business visit. At Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle, connecting passengers do not need to meet local border requirements if they are flying on to another destination outside Europes Schengen Area. Mr Woldbye said: We support the ETA system because it makes sense, immigration-wise. But he said passengers who are entirely transiting airside to move on to another country should avoid the hassle of an online application and paying 10 for a brief stop. Honestly, I think its a mistake, the Heathrow chief executive said. I think that should be changed as fast as possible. Mr Woldbye was speaking to The Independent on the day Heathrow announced its first profit for three years. About 30 per cent of passengers using Heathrow are on connecting flights representing around 25 million journeys in a year. On a route such as Bahrain to Boston, which has no direct flights, passengers could choose to connect at Frankfurt, Istanbul or London Heathrow. But only for a journey through Heathrow would Bahraini travellers need to apply online and pay for permission to be in the airside transit lounge. Story continues British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are expected to lose traffic to European rivals. Paul Charles, director of The PC Agency and former Virgin Atlantic communications director, said: Taxing transit is tantamount to failure. If other airports offer free transit then they will pick up market share. Airports should be zones of ease, enabling seamless travel. This proposed tax needs removing. A spokesperson for the Home Office said: We are introducing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to enhance border security by increasing our knowledge about those seeking to come to the UK and preventing the arrival of those who pose a threat. Requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK. We are keeping this under review as we continue to roll out the scheme. Government online information about the new scheme says: Requiring those transiting to obtain an ETA will stop transit being a future loophole for people to use to avoid needing an ETA. This is in line with the US Esta scheme. There is a big difference between the UK and the US, though. All arrivals at American airports are required to pass through the US border, as though they were planning to stay for weeks or months, before connecting to an onward flight. This will not be required of transit passengers in the UK. The European Union is expected to roll out its much-delayed Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) next year. The EU says explicitly to passengers making international connections: You do not need an Etias travel authorisation if you only remain in the international transit area. Listen to the full interview between Simon Calder and Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow CEO CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Premium Sand Inc. (CPS or the Company) (TSXV: CPS) is pleased to announce its first quarter 2024 financial results. The Companys interim financial statements and notes thereto and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended December 31, 2023, are available under CPSs SEDAR+ profile. Highlights The Company devoted its time and resources during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, to advancing its patterned solar glass manufacturing facility in Selkirk, Manitoba (the Project). Specifically, the Company: Continued discussions with debt and equity capital investors that have expressed interest in financing the Project; Completed two financing initiatives in support of the ongoing process to raise project financing. On December 11, 2023, the Companys insiders, including board members and management, as well as certain key strategic investors exercised 4,747,692 common share purchase warrants, at an exercise price of $0.40 per warrant, resulting in net cash proceeds of $1,899,042. Additionally, the Company reached an agreement with the holders of its outstanding convertible debentures to extend the maturity date by one year from February 26, 2024 to February 26, 2025. All holders of the convertible debentures are insiders or key strategic investors in the Company; and Subsequent to the period, the Company announced on February 15, 2024 an acknowledgement of the support it received for its Project from the Province of Manitoba. We look forward to making continued progress in 2024 with our efforts to raise capital for the construction of our integrated patterned solar glass manufacturing facility. The pledge of support we received recently from the Province of Manitoba is an important milestone. Reflecting on the meaningful level of job creation and the potential to attract other solar energy supply chain investments, this project represents significant economic and strategic value to the City of Selkirk, the Province of Manitoba and Canada overall. We remain committed to establishing North Americas first source of patterned solar glass and contributing to our customers stated goal of securing a low-risk and low-carbon solar energy supply chain, stated Company President & CEO, Glenn Leroux. About Canadian Premium Sand Inc. The Company is developing manufacturing capacity for ultra high-clarity patterned solar glass through a Company-owned facility to be located in Selkirk, Manitoba that utilizes the high-purity, low-iron silica sand from its wholly owned Wanipigow quarry leases and renewable Manitoba hydroelectricity. The Company is a reporting issuer in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Its shares trade on the TSXV under the symbol "CPS". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT INFORMATION: Canadian Premium Sand Inc. Glenn Leroux Cam Deller President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer glenn.leroux@cpsmail.com cam.deller@cpsmail.com Investor Relations IR@cpsmail.com 587.355.3714 www.cpsglass.com Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation, expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including information as to the future events, results of operations and the Companys future performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, plans, seeks, projects or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs, estimates and opinions regarding its future growth, results of operations, future performance (both operational and financial), and business prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made by the Company that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, but not limited, to: the ability of the Company to make continued progress in 2024 with its efforts to raise capital for the construction of the Project; the meaningful level of job creation and the potential to attract other solar energy supply chain investments; the significant economic and strategic value of the Project to the City of Selkirk, the Province of Manitoba and Canada overall; the commitment to establishing North Americas first source of patterned solar glass and contributing to our customers stated goal of securing a low-risk and low-carbon solar energy supply chain; future development plans; industry activity levels; industry conditions pertaining to the solar glass manufacturing industry; the ability of and manner by which the Company expects to meet its capital needs; and the Company's objectives, strategies and competitive strengths. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Vancouver - - February 21, 2024 - RT Minerals Corp. (TSXV:RTM) (OTC:RTMFF) (the "Company" or "RTM") is pleased to announce, further to its news release of January 19, 2024, that the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement of 9,999,999 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at $0.03 per Share for gross proceeds of $300,000 (the "Offering"). All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day in accordance with applicable securities legislation ending on June 21, 2024. No finders' fees were paid in connection with this Private Placement. No insiders of the Company participated in the Offering. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company intends to use approximately $89,442 to pay its current accounts payable and accrued liabilities to arms length contractors and service providers including transfer agent, legal, miscellaneous administrative costs, field reconnaissance and drilling costs. Within the subsequent six months from the closing of the Offering, the Company intends to make the following payments to arms' length parties and vendors: up to $12,000 for field contractors and related report; up to $4,200 for mineral claim payments to the Province of Ontario; $1,493 in interest expenses and bank charges; $2,009 corporate consulting and expenses; $34,000 to the Company's Auditors for 2023 Audited Financial Statements and tax consultant; $6,000 in legal fees; $6,300 in transfer agent, overhead office expenses, telephone and website; up to $30,000 allocated for future public relations promotions and IR, subject to TSXV filings and acceptance, if as and when such providers are identified by the Company; $8,000 for an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders; and $9,000 for TSXV annual sustaining fees and filing fees for the Offering and sundry matters. Within the subsequent six months from closing, the Company shall make the following payments to non-arms' length parties: $500 per month to one director for a six month total of up to $3,500; monthly fees to senior officers of the Company for up to a total of $17,500; and CFO, accounting services, and office expense of up to a total of $23,300. The proceeds' balance of $59,163 is anticipated to be allocated towards the Company's unallocated operating capital. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Appointment of Director and Interim CFO The Company would also like to announce the appointment of Ryan Torres to the board of directors following the resignation of Mark Lofthouse. Mr. Torres will also be appointed as Interim CFO replacing Matthew Anderson as CFO. Mr. Torres has over 20 years of sales experience focused on mid to conglomerate level companies. With a proven record of success in various high-level sales positions in Canada, Mr. Torres brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as director. With a keen understanding of market dynamics and a passion for building high-performing teams, Mr. Torres is eager to take on the role. His strong commitment to customer-based satisfaction and his ability to navigate complex business transaction make him a valuable asset to the organization's future. Through his sales, branding and strategic planning experience in the technology, telecommunications, manufacturing and automotive industries, he has gained a broad network of key contacts to accelerate the company's opportunities. The Company would like to thank Mr. Lofthouse and Mr. Anderson for their time with the Company and wishes them well in their future endeavours. About RT Minerals Corp. RTM is a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RTM". The Company holds a 100% interest, largely royalty-free, in a portfolio of 12 rare earth element, gold and base metal properties in Ontario, Canada. The most prominent properties are: Nordica Property (Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Pt, Pd, V, Se) is 100% owned by RTM. It is comprised of 34 claims in Nordica Township that cover the ultramafic layered Nordica Intrusive Complex in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, within the Superior Province, 60 km southeast of Timmins, Ontario. Nordica is prospective for copper, nickel, cobalt, chromium, platinum, palladium, Vanadium and Selenium mineralization. Previous exploration activity on the Nordica property has encountered Cu grading up to 0.292% (rock-grab samples), Ni up to 0.24% in drill core over 1.0 m, Co up to 614ppm (outcrop), Cr up to 17.7% (grab-rock sample) and Pd up to 1.2ppb (outcrop chip and drill core over 3 1.0m)(MNDM files OFR 6102). There is a 2.5% NSR on all RTM Nordica claims. Case Batholith Group 1 and 190 Claim Staking (Rare Earth Element) consists of 90 claims covering the Case Batholith centered on Heighington Township, 85 km northeast of Cochrane, Ontario. The Case Batholith properties are 100% owned and royalty free. The properties occur within the boundaries of the Case Batholith and are specifically located in Heighington, Kenning, Sequin, and Case Townships. Five properties are situated 12 km north of the Power Metals Case Lake lithium/cesium discovery in Steel Township. The 190 newly staked claims adjoin Power Metals and Beyond Lithium land holdings located in the southeastern portion of the Case Batholith. Case Batholith Group 2 (Rare Earth Element) consists of four properties (113 claim blocks) that are 100% owned and certain of the claims are subject to a 2% NSR royalty, within the boundaries of the Case Batholith in northern Ontario. The four properties are in Agassiz township (29 claims), Potter township (51 claims), Seguin/Challies township (14 claims) and Bragg township (19 claims), Ontario. Substantially all the claim blocks have been acquired based on magnetic signatures resembling east - west trending pegmatitic dykes and laccolith structures contained within the tonalite/granodiorite rock assemblages of the Case Batholith. Ireland Property (Rare Earth Element) is a royalty free 52 claim block covering an inferred carbonatite complex (the "Ireland Complex") located in Ireland Township, 45 km northeast of Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario. The Ireland Complex is 100% owned by RTM and is approximately 4.0 km long, 2.8 km wide, oval shaped and is positioned along a southern extensional splay fault contained within the Kapuskasing Structural Trend. The Kapuskasing Structural Trend contains several well documented carbonatite complexes that contain Niobium, Iron, Titanium and Rare Earth Element resources within various assemblages of carbonatite rocks. Kenogaming, Pharand I and Pharand II Properties (Ni, Cr, Co) consists of 38 claim blocks that are 100% owned with 32 claims royalty free and 6 claims subject to a 2% NSR royalty. The properties are situated in Kenogaming and Pharand Townships in the Northern Swayze Greenstone Belt, located within the Abitibi sub-province of the Superior Province, southwest of Timmins, Ontario. The Properties are located within the Hanrahan assemblage which is confined to the southeastern part of the Northern Swayze Greenstone Belt. Cumulate ultramafic bodies are the specific targets comprising the Kenogaming, Pharand I and Pharand II prospects. In 1979, previous operators tested a strong magnetic anomaly with a 184.5m long diamond drill hole, which intersected up to 0.25% nickel in carbonated and serpentinized cumulate ultramafic with interbeds of chlorite and talc alteration over a 3.0m section at the bottom of the hole. For more information on the Company please visit the company's website at www.rtmcorp.com. On behalf of the Board and for further information contact: Mr. William Elston, President, CEO, Director RT Minerals Corp. Telephone: (604) 725-0604 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Study outlines opportunity to accelerate expansion; advancing a Tier 1 asset All amounts in Canadian dollars except where otherwise noted After-tax NPV of C$3.25 billion at long-term gold price of US$1,800 per ounce ("oz"), after taking into account repayment of Phase 1 Project Loan Facility ("PLF"), as well as the effect of the gold and silver streams Greater than 500,000 gold equivalent ("AuEq") oz average annual production for first 10 years Average all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") of US$712/oz gold for first 10 years, placing Blackwater in lowest decile of the global cost curve for gold mines Average annual free cash flow of approximately C$500 million for first 10 years Potential for mine life extension VANCOUVER, Feb. 21, 2024 - Artemis Gold Inc. (TSXV: ARTG) ("Artemis Gold" or the "Company") announces the results of an expansion study for the Blackwater Mine in Central British Columbia. Blackwater is a world-class, large-scale advanced development project in a tier-one mining jurisdiction. The construction of the Phase 1 processing plant of 6 million tonnes per annum ("Mtpa") is well advanced, and the expansion study considers that Phase 1 has been completed. The purpose of the expansion study is to optimize the timing of mine expansion through the advancing of Phase 2 to year 3 of operations at an increased production capacity of 15 Mtpa, and Phase 3 to year 7 of operations at an increased production capacity of 25 Mtpa. The expansions are expected to be funded from operating cash flows based on the input assumptions of the expansion study. The expansion study is based on Blackwater's existing Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves and no changes were made to the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates. The relevant capital and operating estimates have been updated to reflect 2024 cost estimates. The Company's Board of Directors is yet to commit to the acceleration of the Phase 2 expansion. A decision is expected to be considered in H2 2024. Table 1 - Key Results of Expansion Study Metric Units First 5 years First 10 years LOM Average annual production AuEq oz1 488,000 506,000 469,000 Average AISC2 per gold ounce US$/oz US$615 US$712 US$781 Average annual free cash flow3 C$ C$552M C$489M C$413M Notes 1. The Company expects to produce gold and silver dore. Gold equivalent ounces have been determined using a gold:silver ratio of 78:1 (or US$1,800:US$23) 2. AISC includes selling costs, royalty payments, operating costs, sustaining capital and closure costs, less silver by-product credits and adjustments to stockpile inventory, divided by payable gold ounces 3. Free cash flow = operating cash flow less sustaining capex, closure costs and taxes Table 2 - Operating and Financial Results of Expansion Study Units First 5 years First 10 years LOM (17 years) Average throughput capacity Mtpa 12 18 20 Gold grade g/t 1.29 0.91 0.75 Silver grade g/t 7.75 5.92 5.78 Gold equivalent grade AuEq g/t1 1.36 0.96 0.79 Gold recoveries % 93 % 93 % 93 % Average annual gold production Au oz 463,000 478,000 438,000 Average annual silver production Ag oz 1,944,000 2,165,000 2,376,000 Average annual AuEq production AuEq oz2 488,000 506,000 469,000 Strip ratio Waste:Ore 1.99 2.13 2.01 Growth capital3,4 C$ C$1,174M C$1,497M C$1,497M Sustaining capital4 C$ C$499M C$874M C$1,122M Operating costs C$/tonne milled C$26.86 C$23.00 C$20.03 Cash costs5 US$/oz US$456 US$577 US$645 AISC6 US$/oz US$615 US$712 US$781 Average annual free cash flow7 C$ C$552M C$489M C$413M After-tax NPV 5% 8 C$ C$3.25B Notes 1. Gold equivalent grades have been determined using a gold price of US$1,800/oz, a silver price of US$23/oz, a gold metallurgical recovery of 93%, a silver metallurgical recovery of 65%, and mining smelter terms for the following equation: AuEq = Au g/t + (Ag g/t x 0.0085) 2. Gold equivalent ounces have been determined using a gold-to-silver ratio of 78:1 (US$1,800:US$23) 3. Includes deferred initial capex 4. Excludes closure costs and salvage value 5. Cash costs include selling costs, royalty payments, operating costs, less silver by-product credits and adjustments to stockpile inventory, divided by payable gold ounces 6. AISC includes cash costs as defined above, sustaining capital and closure costs, divided by payable gold ounces 7. Free cash flow = operating cash flow less sustaining capex, closure costs and taxes 8. After-tax NPV represents the net present value of after-tax project cash flows, discounted at a rate of 5%. The after-tax project cash flows take into account the repayment of the PLF of $385 million, as well as the effect of the gold stream and silver stream arrangements Phase 1 Investments In Q2 2023, Artemis Gold announced additional investments of approximately C$50 million in the Phase 1 scope of work to facilitate the potential fast-tracking of Phase 2. These additional investments were included in the Phase 1 guided initial capital cost of C$730-C$750 million and included additional structural steel and increased conveyor belt widths in the crushing circuits, as well as the introduction of variable-speed drives to the ball mill. Selected electrical components were also upgraded to facilitate the Phase 2 requirements and to include optionality in relation to the use of redundancy backup power sources. Other Phase 1 optimizations included upsizing of the oxygen plant coupled with down-shaft-sparging of oxygen to the pre-leach and carbon-in-leach ("CIL") trains, along with the optimization of the CIL layout to facilitate non-intrusive expansion to Phase 2, as well as full conversion of the detoxification process to remove the need for tanker-supplied liquid sulphur dioxide. At the end of December 2023, C$389 million of the guided initial capital had been spent, and C$615 million, or 84% of the lower end of the guided capital range, was fully contractually committed. For the expansion study, the Phase 1 guided initial capital costs are considered to have been spent and are not included in the reported net present value. The net present value is reported net of the scheduled repayment of the PLF associated with Phase 1 of C$385 million and all gold and silver stream participations. Infrastructure On completion of Phase 1, the majority of infrastructure requirements for the Phase 2 expansion will already be in place, including the primary crushing circuit, water storage and distribution, hydro-electric power, maintenance workshops, laboratory, site administration buildings, warehouse and workforce facilities. Additional infrastructure required for Phase 2 includes a secondary crushing circuit, crushed ore stockpile, a second ball mill, a semi-autogenous ("SAG") grinding mill, the associated expansion of the mill, gold recovery and reagent buildings, additional leach and CIL tanks, expansion of the elution circuit, as well as the associated expansion of mobile maintenance infrastructure to support additional mining equipment. Mining The expansion study mine plan considers conventional open pit mining methods (drill-blast-load-haul) in all phases. Open pit mining operations are anticipated to run for 15 years, excluding pre-production mining. Following mining operations, stockpiled low-grade material is expected to be processed for an additional two years, resulting in a total mine life of 17 years. The open pit would be developed with a series of pushbacks. The initial stages would expose near-surface, high-grade, lower-strip-ratio ore providing mill feed over the early years of the project. The remaining stages expand the pit to the north and south, targeting progressively deeper ore. Owner-managed mining and fleet maintenance operations are planned for 365 days/year, with two 12-hour shifts planned per day. Contractor drill and blast services are planned for the first three years of operations, with drill operations converting to an owner-operated function thereafter, and contractor blasting services continuing throughout the remaining life of operations. Mining will be undertaken using 600-tonne class hydraulic shovels, 400-tonne class hydraulic excavators, and 240-tonne payload class haul trucks. The initial drill and loading fleets are planned to be diesel-drive, with the expansion fleet for drill and loading being electric-drive. The haul fleet is currently assumed to be diesel-drive for the entire life of mine ("LOM"). The initial mine equipment fleet is paid back through a lease arrangement with the supplier the expansion fleet being funded from operating cash flows. Details of mining volumes and material movements contemplated in the expansion study are included in Appendix A to this news release. Metallurgy and Processing Phase 1 The processing plant for Phase 1 comprises the following: Three-stage crushing, consisting of a primary gyratory crusher, a secondary cone crusher and two tertiary cone crushers, each of which will be housed in stand-alone structures, with conveyors transporting material between each stage; Crushed product will be stored in a crushed ore stockpile and conveyed to a dual-drive variable-speed ball mill for grinding, with the circuit being closed by cyclones. Gravity concentration will be incorporated into the grinding circuit using two centrifugal concentrators. An intensive cyanide leach unit will be used for recovering gold from the gravity concentrate; The leach and adsorption circuits will consist of one pre-oxidation tank, two leach tanks and six CIL tanks fitted with mechanical agitators, with cyanide being added to the leach tanks and CIL tanks. The leach and adsorption circuit residence time will be 24 hours, with gravity flow between the pre-oxidation and leach tanks and interstage screens moving leached slurry between the tank units. The carbon will advance counter current to the main slurry flow during periodic transfers of slurry; The loaded carbon will be treated in an AARL elution and electrowinning circuit consisting of an acid wash column and an elution column operating at 120C. An electric heating system will provide the necessary temperature, and two additional heat exchangers will control the temperature around the circuit. An electric-powered rotary kiln operating at approximately 750C will be used to reactivate carbon. Electrowinning will be carried out to recover gold and silver from the elution solution and the resulting metallic values will be dried and smelted into dore bars; Cyanide destruction will be carried out in the final tailings slurry, using oxygen and the sulfur dioxide produced by the combustion of sulfur prill. Phase 2 Expansion The expansion study assumes the Phase 2 expansion to 15 Mtpa would be implemented with some modifications and upgrades to the Phase 1 process, including splitting the ore crushed in the primary crusher into two streams. One stream would be fed through the existing Phase 1 crushing and grinding circuits. Another stream would be processed with another secondary stage of crushing, stockpiling, followed by SAG and ball mill grinding. The rest of the plant circuits, including gravity concentration, leaching, adsorption, elution and cyanide destruction, as well as the process and reagent buildings would be expanded. Minor upgrades would be carried out on some infrastructure to accommodate the increased throughput. The capital cost estimate to complete the Phase 2 expansion is C$592 million. Phase 3 Expansion The Phase 3 expansion to 25 Mtpa would require a new process line comprised of two-stage crushing, stockpiling, SAG and ball mill grinding and other plant circuits similar to the processing methods of Phases 1 and 2. The capital cost estimate to complete the Phase 3 expansion is C$852 million. Production Profile and Costs The average annual production per the expansion study is 469,000 AuEq oz at an average AISC of US$781 per gold oz, with average gold equivalent production of greater than 500,000 oz per annum throughout Phases 2 and 3. AuEq oz are determined using a gold:silver ratio of 78:1 (or US$1,800 to US$23). Operating Costs Phase 1 operating costs are estimated at C$28.67/t milled, with economies of scale driving down the processing and G&A costs to achieve an average estimated operating cost of C$20.03/t milled over the LOM. Selling Costs The expansion study assumes payable factors on gold and silver of 99.9% and 95%, respectively. Refining, treatment, transport, and insurance charges have been included at C$3/oz, applied to gold equivalent ounces. Hedging and Commodity Price Assumptions The expansion study reflects the impact of the Company's hedge program in place as of the date of the study. This includes forward gold sales contracts to deliver a total of 190,000 ounces of gold bullion between March 2025 and December 2027 at a weighted average price of C$2,851/ounce, as well as zero cost collars for 30,000 oz gold with settlement dates from December 2024 to February 2025. The collars have a weighted average put price of C$2,600/oz and a weighted average call price of C$3,353/oz. The commodity price assumptions for unhedged production and exchange rate assumptions in the expansion study were derived from market consensus forecasts and are as follows: Table 3 - Commodity Price Assumptions Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Long-term Gold price (US$/oz) US$2,000 US$1,950 US$1,900 US$1,850 US$1,800 Silver price (US$/oz) US$23 US$23 US$23 US$23 US$23 Exchange rate (CAD:USD) 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 Taxes The expansion study includes estimates for the following taxes: British Columbia mining tax: 2% provincial minimum tax payable on net current proceeds which is creditable against the 13% effective mining tax rate which is calculated based on operating profit less applicable capital cost deductions. The mining tax is deductible in computing provincial and federal income tax; British Columbia provincial income tax: 12.0%, payable after applicable deductions are made; Canadian federal income tax: 15.0%, payable after applicable deductions are made. Economic Outputs The expansion study returns a base case after-tax NPV 5% of C$3.25 billion and takes into account the repayment of the PLF of $385 million, as well as the effect of the gold stream and silver stream arrangements. Table 4 - Sensitivity on Base Case After-tax NPV 5% (C$ Billions) to Changes in Long-term US$ Gold Price and CAD:USD Exchange Rate (base case highlighted) CAD:USD Long-term gold price (US$/oz) $1,600 $1,650 $1,700 $1,750 $1,800 $1,850 $1,900 $1,950 $2,000 $2,050 $2,100 $2,150 0.71 $2.9 $3.1 $3.2 $3.3 $3.4 $3.6 $3.7 $3.8 $3.9 $4.1 $4.2 $4.3 0.72 $2.9 $3.0 $3.1 $3.3 $3.4 $3.5 $3.6 $3.7 $3.9 $4.0 $4.1 $4.2 0.73 $2.8 $2.9 $3.1 $3.2 $3.3 $3.4 $3.6 $3.7 $3.8 $3.9 $4.0 $4.2 0.74 $2.8 $2.9 $3.0 $3.1 $3.25 $3.4 $3.5 $3.6 $3.7 $3.9 $4.0 $4.1 0.75 $2.7 $2.8 $2.9 $3.1 $3.2 $3.3 $3.4 $3.5 $3.7 $3.8 $3.9 $4.0 0.76 $2.7 $2.8 $2.9 $3.0 $3.1 $3.2 $3.4 $3.5 $3.6 $3.7 $3.8 $4.0 0.77 $2.6 $2.7 $2.8 $3.0 $3.1 $3.2 $3.3 $3.4 $3.5 $3.7 $3.8 $3.9 Artemis Gold Chairman and CEO Steven Dean commented: "The expansion study underlines that Blackwater is a true tier one asset, with gold equivalent production in excess of 500,000 ounces per year once Phase 2 is implemented, with lowest-decile operating costs, in a safe, stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction, as well as industry-leading ESG." The Study The expansion study is led by Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd.("Lycopodium") together with Knight Piesold Ltd. ("KP"), Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS"), ERM Consultants Ltd. ("ERM"), Lorax Environmental Services Ltd. ("Lorax") and JAT MetConsult Ltd. ("JAT MetConsult"), all of which are independent of the Company. An updated Technical Report will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release. Data Verification Data verification programs have included a review of QA/QC data, re-sampling and sample analysis programs, and database verification. Validation checks were performed on data, and comprise checks on surveys, collar coordinates and assay data. In the opinion of MMTS, sufficient verification checks were undertaken on the database to provide confidence that the database is virtually error-free and appropriate to support Mineral Resource and Reserve estimation. Additional Opportunities The expansion study does not reflect the following additional opportunities which the Company continues to evaluate: Increased mine life - the current reserve estimate is based on a US$1,400/oz gold price. By applying a higher gold price for pit design and cut-off grade, some of Blackwater's estimated resources could be converted into reserves and extend the mine life. The next steps would include re-running a pit optimization incorporating updated gold pricing and mine economics to assess the potential for increased reserves and mine life. Exploration of open resource extensions - past exploration data suggests Blackwater has additional exploration potential and that the resource is open to the North, Northwest and at depth. The Blackwater land package also remains largely under-explored. The next step will be to design an exploration program to test these extensions and the regional potential. Evaluation of alternative methods for transportation of waste material - the ex-pit haul route for waste material is expected to be relatively fixed for the LOM, opening up the possibility to perform hauling of waste material using alternative methods which may have the potential to significantly reduce operating costs and lower Blackwater's greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. The next steps will include further engineering and analysis, including engaging with the vendors of these systems. Electrification of the hauling fleet - the deployment of battery electric vehicles has the potential to significantly reduce operating costs and reduce Blackwater's GHG emissions. The Company is currently working with Caterpillar Technology to assess the economic potential for incorporation of battery electric vehicles into the mine fleet. Automation of hauling operations - the potential to automate hauling operations presents an opportunity to optimize production efficiencies and reduce operating costs. The Company is currently undertaking the implementation of a fleet management system that would allow for potential automation of hauling operations in the future. Process engineering initiatives - as Blackwater starts producing more fresh rock ore at depth in the pit, the Company may evaluate alternative processing methodologies which may result in lower capital and operating costs for Phase 3. The next steps would include an assessment of alternatives, preliminary flowsheet design, and identification of any additional metallurgical test work required to support further engineering. Conference Call and Webinar Live Artemis Gold will host a conference call and webinar on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 9am PT (12pm ET). Participants may dial in using the numbers below (no access code is needed). Toll-free (Canada and US): 1 844 763 8274 International: +1 647 484 8814 The webinar may be accessed here. Archive The conference call will be available for playback until end of day on March 22, 2024 by dialing the following numbers and entering access code 0719#. Toll-free (Canada and US): 1 855 669 9658 International: +1 604 674 8052 The webinar will be archived on the Company's website at www.artemisgold.com. Qualified Persons The Qualified Persons that will prepare the Technical Report on the Study include: Sohail Samdani, P.Eng., (Lycopodium), Olav Mejia, P.Eng., (Lycopodium), Marc Schulte, P.Eng., (MMTS), Sue Bird, P.Eng. (MMTS), Daniel Fontaine, P.Eng. (KP), John A. Thomas, P. Eng. (JAT MetConsult Ltd.), Rolf Schmitt, P. Geo. (ERM) and John Dockrey, P. Geo. (Lorax). Each of the Qualified Persons has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in the expansion study and this news release in their area of expertise and is independent of the Company. Jeremy Langford, FAUSIMM, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the Additional Opportunities section in this press release. About Artemis Gold Artemis Gold is a well-financed, growth-oriented gold development company with a strong financial capacity aimed at creating shareholder value through the identification, acquisition, and development of gold properties in mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company's current focus is the construction of the Blackwater Mine in central British Columbia, approximately 160km southwest of Prince George and 450km northeast of Vancouver. The project is one of the largest capital investments in the Bulkley-Nechako, Fraser-Fort George and Cariboo regions of B.C. in the last decade. The first pour of gold and silver from Blackwater Mine is expected in H2 2024. Artemis Gold trades on the TSX-V under the symbol ARTG. For more information visit www.artemisgoldinc.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Steven Dean Chairman and Chief Executive Officer +1 604 558 1107 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking statements. In certain cases, forward-looking statements and information can be identified using forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans", "potential" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date of this press release, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the expansion study, including but not limited to, anticipated average annual production and the costs thereof, average annual free cash flow and the re-optimization of contained resources and consequential mine life extension; the potential of the Blackwater Mine; long term gold prices; the optimization of mine expansion and the funding thereof; expectations with respect to a development decision at the Blackwater Mine; the infrastructure requirements at the Blackwater Mine and the costs thereof; anticipated mining methods at the Blackwater Mine and the duration thereof; metallurgy and processing at the Blackwater Mine; the jobs to be created in connection with the project; alternative methods for transportation of waste material; the electrification of the hauling fleet; the potential to automate hauling operations; the potential evaluation of alternative processing methodologies; agreements and relationships with Indigenous partners; the future of mining in British Columbia; the plans of the Company concerning the project, including construction, site preparation, clearing, consultation with indigenous groups, and other plans and expectations of the Company concerning the project. These forward-looking statements represent management's current beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events and operating performance, which are based on information currently available to management, management's historical experience, perception of trends and current business conditions, expected future developments and other factors which management considers appropriate. Such forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results may vary. Important risks and other factors that may cause actual results to vary include, without limitation: risks related to the ability of the Company to accomplish its plans and objectives with respect to the development of the project within the expected timing or at all, the timing and receipt of certain required approvals, changes in commodity prices, changes in interest and currency exchange rates, risks inherent in exploration estimates and results, risks inherent in exploration and development activities, changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors, unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications, cost escalation, unavailability of materials, equipment or third party contractors, delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances, job action, and unanticipated events related to heath, safety and environmental matters), changes in governmental regulation of mining operations, political risk, social unrest, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets, and other risks related to the ability of the Company to proceed with its plans for the project and other risks set out in the Company's most recent MD&A, which is available on the Company's website at www.artemisgoldinc.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumptions that: (1) market fundamentals will result in sustained mineral demand and prices; (2) any necessary approvals and consents in connection with the development of the project will be obtained; (3) financing for the development, construction and continued operation of the project will continue to be available on terms suitable to the Company; (4) sustained commodity prices will continue to make the project economically viable; (5) there will not be any unfavourable changes to the economic, political, permitting and legal climate in which the Company operates; (6) anticipated metallurgical recoveries will be achieved; (7) refining and offtaking arrangements will be concluded on terms equivalent to those assumed in the expansion study; (8) forecasted operating and capital cost will not be materially different from the assumptions in the expansion study; and (9) that the tax benefits assumed in the expansion study will be realized. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause the actual results or performance by the Company to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or the financial condition of the Company. Investors should therefore not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Non-IFRS Performance Measures The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this news release. The company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the project. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable with other issuers. Cash Costs Cash costs are a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry but with no standard meaning under IFRS. Artemis Gold considers and discloses cash costs on a sales basis. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, such as sales, certain investors use this information to evaluate the project's performance and ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its mining operations. Management uses this metric as an important tool to monitor cost performance. Cash costs in the Study include production costs such as mining, processing, refining and site administration, less revenue generated from silver sales and adjustments to stockpile inventory, divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at cash costs per gold ounce sold. Costs include royalty payments, permitting costs, and payments that are expected to be made to Indigenous Nations. Other companies may calculate this measure differently. All-in Sustaining Costs The Company believes AISC more fully defines the total costs associated with producing gold. The Company calculated AISC for the Study as the sum of cash costs (as described above), sustaining capital and closure costs, all divided by the gold ounces sold to arrive at a per-ounce figure. Other companies may calculate this measure differently because of differences in underlying principles and policies applied. Differences may also arise due to a different definition of sustaining versus growth capital. Note that in respect of AISC metrics within the Study, as such economics are disclosed at the project level, corporate general and administrative expenses were not included in the AISC calculations. Appendix Table A - Average Proposed Annual Mine Production for the Blackwater Mine - Expansion Study Table B - Operating and Financial Results of Expansion Study by Phase Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Stockpile Phase9 LOM Years 1-2 3-6 7-15 16-17 17 Growth capital1, 2 $53m $592m $852m n/a $1,497m Sustaining capital2 $140m $457m $498m $28m $1,122m Throughput capacity (Mtpa) 6.0 15.0 25.0 25.0 Variable Gold grade (g/t) 1.51 1.18 0.65 0.30 0.75 Silver grade (g/t) 7.59 7.87 4.96 6.75 5.78 Gold equivalent grade (g/t)3 1.57 1.25 0.69 0.36 0.79 Gold recoveries 93 % 93 % 93 % 93 % 93 % Average annual gold production (oz) 338,000 530,000 483,000 155,000 438,000 Average annual silver production (oz) 1,190,000 2,468,000 2,590,000 2,418,000 2,376,000 Average annual AuEq production (oz)4 353,000 561,000 516,000 186,000 469,000 Strip ratio (waste:ore) 1.89 2.00 2.03 n/a 2.01 Operating costs ($/tonne milled) $28.67 $25.80 $19.02 $12.83 $20.03 Cash costs5 (US$/oz) US$408 US$477 US$722 US$1,173 US$645 AISC6 (US$/oz) US$561 US$637 US$807 US$1,240 US$781 Average annual free cash flow7 $536M $544M $414M $109M $413M After-tax NPV 5% 8 $3.25B Notes 1. Includes deferred initial capex 2. Excludes closure costs and salvage value 3. Gold equivalent grades have been determined using a gold price of US$1,800/oz, a silver price of US$23/oz, a gold metallurgical recovery of 93%, a silver metallurgical recovery of 65%, and mining smelter terms for the following equation: AuEq = Au g/t + (Ag g/t x 0.0085) 4. Gold equivalent ounces have been determined using a gold-to-silver ratio of 78:1 (US$1,800:US$23) 5. Cash costs include selling costs, royalty payments, operating costs, less silver by-product credits and adjustments to stockpile inventory, divided by payable gold ounces 6. AISC includes cash costs as defined above, sustaining capital and closure costs, divided by payable gold ounces 7. Free cash flow = operating cash flow less sustaining capex, closure costs and taxes 8. After-tax NPV represent the net present value of after-tax project cash flows, discounted at a rate of 5%. The after-tax project cash flows take into account the repayment of the PLF of $385 million, as well as the effect of the gold stream and silver stream arrangements. 9. Stockpile Phase involves the processing of low-grade ore stockpiles mined during Phases 1-3 Table C - Operating Costs by Phase units Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Stockpile Phase LOM Mining* $/t mined 2.46 2.15 2.78 n/a 2.57 Processing $/t milled 10.51 10.06 9.80 9.83 9.88 G&A $/t milled 5.30 3.43 2.41 1.90 2.67 * Mining costs excludes the cost of major component replacements which are reported as sustaining capital and include low-grade ore stockpile rehandle. LOM mining costs exclude pre-stripping. SOURCE Artemis Gold Inc. The actress seemingly purchased the expensive bag when she was a teenage Disney star working on 'Lizzie McGuire' Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Hilary Duff/ Instagram Hilary Duff just pulled out an old accessory from the back of her closet: a Birkin bag! On her Instagram story, the actress shared a photo of the iconic purse sitting on the bench at the end of her bed. The bag appears to be Hermes Blue Zellige Togo Birkin 35cm Gold Hardware and features gold detailing, including a gold-plated lock hanging on the strap. The bag usually sells for around $25,000, "Bought this girl almost 20 years ago in Paris and decided to dust her off and let her see the light of day for our weekend away. So cute," Duff, 36, captioned the Instagram story, meaning she purchased the bag around her 16th birthday when she was a Disney star on the hit Lizzie McGuire. Hilary Duff/ Instagram Related: Hilary Duff's 6 Secrets to Dressing for Her Petite Frame Back in 2011, the mom was spotted in Los Angeles, Calif., rocking the same oversize brightly-hued bag. At the time she paired it with a salmon-colored, sheer sweater, jeans, a ponytail and statement earrings. 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. GONZALO/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Related: Hilary Duffs Crossbody Bag Reminds Us of This $22 Amazon Bag with 23,000+ Five-Star Ratings More recently Duff has opted for bags that give off a more casual-mom vibe. In 2016, she spoke to PEOPLE more about her style secrets including how the bags she's used have changed over the years. "I'm not into giant bags. I think I got over big ones when I was carrying around a diaper bag all the time," she said. "Now I'm more into a comfy cross-body bagomigod, I'm such a mom! I just don't carry that much stuff around anymore. I even like a clutch for daytime. It doesn't need to be sparkly, but it looks cute with a pair of jeans and a blazer." Story continues Fast forward to present day, and the How I Met Your Father star, who is expecting her fourth child, is dressing for comfort. She shared on Instagram recently that she can no longer fit into a pair of her favorite jeans thanks to her growing belly. Hilary Duff/ Instagram These perfect vintage Levis carried me through this pregnancy as long as they could, she wrote over the photo, adding that she needed to come for a visit while tagging clothing store With Love, Lenny. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Highlights: E3 Lithium is looking forward to another significant year of growth in 2024 as it advances its Clearwater Project towards commercial operations and revenue generation With the commercial viability of Direct Lithium Extraction Technology and E3 Lithium's brines-to-battery flow sheet demonstrated in 2023, achieving the milestones set for 2024 marks a fundamental shift in E3 Lithium's business and sets it on a clear and demonstrated pathway to commercial operations E3 Lithium looks forward to discussing its 2024 guidance during its February 22 webinar at 10 a.m. MST / 12 p.m. EST - details to join are provided below E3 Lithium Ltd. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), "E3 Lithium" or the "Company," a leader in Canadian lithium, is pleased to share its plans for the upcoming year. The Company made significant progress in 2023 on the path for producing commercial lithium in Alberta. Looking ahead into 2024, E3 Lithium's primary focus remains on advancing the Clearwater Project to commercial operations. The milestones it will achieve in 2024 will establish its project as one of the few advanced stage lithium developments in Canada and North America. In addition to the Clearwater Project, the magnitude of E3 Lithium's resources enables the Company to unlock the potential of the significant land package throughout 2024 across its permit areas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221541557/en/ E3 Lithium's Alberta Assets (Graphic: Business Wire) Going into 2024, E3 Lithium maintains a strong financial position. In the current market conditions, E3 Lithium has positioned itself to continue accelerating a path forward to producing first commercial lithium from its significant resources in South-Central Alberta. "E3 Lithium had a very successful 2023 by progressing all core aspects of our business, putting us in position to deliver ambitious targets in 2024 moving us closer to first commercial lithium," said Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. "The achievement of this year's goals will mark a fundamental shift in our business, one that sees us move from a technology and resource developer to a commercialization company on a clear and demonstrated pathway to operations." E3 Lithium is focusing on the following goals in 2024. Progressing the Clearwater Project Towards Commercial Operations E3 Lithium's Clearwater Project is the Company's primary focus for its first commercial lithium facility, located in South-Central Alberta. The milestones the Company will achieve in advancing its development this year, including progressing engineering studies and commercial permitting, will establish the Clearwater Project as one of the few advanced stage lithium projects in Canada and North America. The PFS for the Clearwater Project represents a monumental milestone for Canadian lithium brines as it results in the booking of reserves. To move towards commercial operations in the Clearwater Project, the Company looks forward to completing the PFS and releasing the NI 43-101 report, aiming for late Q2 2024. E3 Lithium is working diligently to deliver the PFS report in Q2; the critical path to be able to do so is receiving engineering packages from external vendors. If delivery is delayed, the public report may be delayed as well. The Company will update the market on its progress and delivery times as they become firm. The PFS is designed to a level of detail that will enable the Company to move directly into Feasibility Study (FS) and includes the full design of the first commercial facility, along with an updated cost estimate and development schedule. With the publication of the PFS NI 43-101 report, E3 Lithium will book Canada's first lithium-in-brine reserves in the Clearwater Project area, a significant milestone for the Canadian lithium brine industry. E3 Lithium has initiated the permitting process for the commercial facility and will look to advance this throughout 2024. The milestones E3 Lithium looks forward to completing include publishing the PFS NI 43-101 report, selecting the EPC for and kicking off the FS, completing environmental and wildlife surveys and public consultation for its commercial facility, and preparing regulatory applications for approval. While the PFS will outline details of the first commercial facility, the Clearwater area is likely to be able to support further production expansion. Based on the sheer size and consistency of E3 Lithium's resources in Alberta, demonstrating a successful development in the Clearwater area supports the value of the remaining land in the Exshaw (northern Bashaw) and Rocky areas. E3 Lithium believes it has enough brines to produce approximately 150,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium per year once fully operational across multiple commercial facilities, which is enough lithium for approximately 2.2M EVs1 annually. Developing E3 Lithium's Other Significant Resource Areas In addition to its Clearwater area in Alberta, E3 Lithium's significant land package includes the Exshaw and Rocky areas and its Saskatchewan property. While E3 Lithium's focus remains firmly on the Clearwater Project, the team is evaluating and progressing additional projects across its resource base. Exshaw Area In the Northern part of the Bashaw District lies the Exshaw area. The brine composition in the Exshaw area is very similar to the Clearwater Project, and the development of this area is expected to be similar to the Clearwater area. This area is larger by total brine volume than the Clearwater. E3 plans to begin the evaluation of how to develop the Exshaw area once theClearwater PFS is complete. Rocky Area In the Western trend of the Leduc Aquifer lies the Rocky area. This portion of the aquifer is largely disconnected from the Bashaw District and hosts a significant volume of lithium enriched brine. The Company plans to update the resource to include the full aquifer trend in 2024. Once complete, the Company will evaluate how this area fits into its larger development plans. Nisku Aquifer across E3 Lithium's Alberta Resource Areas Recent sampling results indicate that the Nisku Aquifer, located above the Leduc Aquifer, has similar concentrations of lithium to the Leduc. This aquifer is coincident with the Leduc in the Bashaw Area, making it a candidate for co-production. As the Company's production wells will go through the Nisku to reach the Leduc, it offers the potential to add more production to the plant in a commercial setting by co-producing both the Leduc and the Nisku. If successful, the benefit would be an increase to the lifespan of each well and therefore, a reduction in the well capital required over the life of the plant. Saskatchewan E3 Lithium holds a strategic land position in the heart of the Estevan lithium belt in Saskatchewan. Resource holders that surround E3 Lithium have recently completed resource updates and economic studies that look to advance Saskatchewan into a commercially producing region for lithium. E3 Lithium plans to complete an inaugural resource in Saskatchewan in 2024. As this area does not form the core of E3 Lithium's focus, the Company is evaluating the best options for creating value from the land for its shareholders. Advancing Commercial Development and Offtake E3 Lithium has been developing strong relationships with potential customers that include companies in the automotive, cell and cathode manufacturing sectors. The completion of the PFS is a major milestone for these discussions to mature towards sale contracts. E3 Lithium has been working to grow its commercial team to support this effort and will continue to prioritize identifying mutually beneficial arrangements with offtakers. E3 Lithium's Strengths Going into 2024 Balance sheet strength supports ability to execute 2024 plans: E3 Lithium raised more than $30M CAD via capital raises and grant funding in 2023 and has more than $20M remaining to draw down on from the Strategic Innovation Fund. The Company is in a strong financial position to execute on its goals in 2024. E3 Lithium continues to actively seek, identify and pursue all sources of non-dilutive funding to meet the Company's ongoing needs for capital. Long-term outlook for EV uptake and lithium demand: The long-term outlook for EV uptake and demand remains strong, with North American policy objectives in full alignment with a comprehensive shift to EVs into the 2030s. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, entering 2024, North America is expected to grow lithium production to approximately 40,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery-grade lithium, while demand is expected to be more than 150,000 tpa. By 2030 global demand could exceed 3M tpa, growing at over 15% per year. Commercial production to coincide with rising demand: E3 Lithium's initial commercial production is likely to be timed in to coincide with the increase in demand for and shortfall of supply of lithium, which may create favourable pricing environments for E3 Lithium's offtake. Lithium offtake sold in long-term contracts: Most lithium today is sold in long-term offtake arrangements that contain negotiated sales prices. The best gauge for these prices is long term price forecasts provided by reputable research firms, which are outlining prices much higher than current spot prices. The price forecasts provided by reputable research firms will be relied upon for the PFS. Efficient and well-known permitting regime: Alberta is home to one of the world's most efficient and well known regulatory and permitting processes for energy project development, led by the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Energy Regulator. Recently E3 Lithium's permits to its significant land position in Alberta were converted to the province's new Brine-Hosted Mineral Licences, reaffirming E3 Lithium's ownership of 'surface to basement' mineral rights to saline aquifers throughout its operating areas and underscoring the province's commitment to providing regulatory certainty and growing the lithium industry. The requirements for E3 Lithium's commercial permits are well understood and the Company looks forward to progressing its regulatory work in 2024. Join us at our Upcoming Webinar E3 Lithium will be hosting a webinar for investors and other interested parties to share more information about its 2024 Corporate Guidance and the progress made to-date. Details for this virtual webinar are below and questions can be submitted in advance to investor@e3lithium.ca. Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024 Time: 10 a.m. MST / 12 p.m. EST / 9 a.m. PST Log in details: Zoom (click here to log in at the time of the webinar; no need to register in advance) ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Doornbos, President & CEO E3 Lithium Ltd. About E3 Lithium E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 16.0 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated and 0.9 million tonnes LCE Inferred mineral resources1 in Alberta. As outlined in E3's Preliminary Economic Assessment, the Clearwater Lithium Project has an NPV8% of USD 1.1 Billion with a 32% IRR pre-tax and USD 820 Million with a 27% IRR after-tax1. E3 Lithium's goal is to produce high purity, battery grade lithium products to power the growing electrical revolution. With a significant lithium resource and innovative technology solutions, E3 Lithium has the potential to deliver lithium to market from one of the best jurisdictions in the world. 1: The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Clearwater Lithium Project NI 43-101 technical report is amended Sept 17, 2021. Gordon MacMillan, P.Geol, QP, Fluid Domains Inc. and Grahame Binks, MAusIMM, QP (Metallurgy), formerly of Sedgman Canada Limited (Report Date: June 15, 2018, Effective Date: June 4, 2018 Amended Date: September 17, 2021). The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the North Rocky Property, effective October 27, 2017, identified 0.9Mt LCE (inferred). The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bashaw District Project, effective March 21, 2023, identified 16.0Mt LCE (measured & indicated). All reports are available on the E3 Lithium's website (e3lithium.ca/technical-reports) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the Company's brine, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ___________________________________ 1 Based on a typical 68 kg EV battery. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221541557/en/ Contact E3 Lithium - Investor and Media Relations Robin Boschman Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications investor@e3lithium.ca 587-324-2775 Vancouver, February 22, 2024 - Bear Creek Mining Corp. (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces that its Board of Directors has appointed Ms. Zoya Shashkova to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Shashkova is expected to commence her employment with the Company on or about March 18, 2024. Eric Caba, President and CEO of Bear Creek states, "I am pleased to welcome Zoya Shashkova to the Company. Her deep understanding of finance and accounting will be invaluable as we continue to develop and grow Bear Creek. Zoya's meticulous style and "boots on the ground" approach will add significant value to the management team." Ms. Shashkova has 25 years of consulting and finance executive experience, spanning audit and consulting, tax structuring, risk management, reporting, disclosure and mining finance. Her most recent roles include the CFO of EnviroGold Global, a mining technology company engaged in reprocessing of mining tailings. Prior to that she was the Treasurer for Torex Gold Resources, a mid-tier Canadian gold producer, where she raised over $1B in debt and equity capital to support ongoing operations as well as long-term strategic initiatives. Ms. Shashkova previously served as CFO for UraniumOne's operations in Central Asia, where she provided leadership in all areas of business and financial management, including strategic planning, performance measurement, debt financing, accounting, international tax structuring and risk management. She has also held senior leadership positions with Deloitte and E&Y. Ms. Shashkova holds an MSc in Biology and Chemistry, an MBA in Banking and Finance, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, US, Maine) and is an ICD.D certified director, Institute of Corporate Directors. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Eric Caba President & Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications Phone: 604-685-6269 E-mail: barb@bearcreekmining.com www.bearcreekmining.com Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statement regarding the anticipated contributions of Ms. Shashkova to the Company's management team; and the Company's expectations regarding the development and growth of the Company. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release and are based on the Company's knowledge of the experience, skills and reputation of Ms. Shashkova. These forward-looking statements reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur, and the additional risks described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198795 Saguenay, February 22, 2024 - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received a letter of support for its mining project and planned purified phosphoric acid plant from the Hon. Mario Simard, Member of Parliament (BQ) for the Riding of Jonquiere, Quebec. Mr. Simard, first elected to Canadian parliament in 2019, is the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and is the critic for natural resources for the Bloc Quebecois. "The team at First Phosphate appreciates the support that Mr. Simard and his staff have provided to us since the very beginning of our concept of establishing the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec as the LFP Battery Valley of North America," says First Phosphate CEO, John Passalacqua. "In Canada, we need leadership that backs major projects and that supports job creation in local economies, especially an economy with the potential of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec." Mr. Simard's letter of support for the First Phosphate project may be found at: https://firstphosphate.com/mariosimard.pdf Mr. Simard states the following in his letter: "In the current context of climate change, all efforts to undertake the energy transition in a concrete way must be supported and encouraged. In this respect, phosphate is a key element in the development of the battery industry. Not only are lithium iron phosphate ("LFP") batteries non-toxic and have the advantage of superior fire protection, but they also contribute directly towards the green-energy transition. They provide the electric vehicle sector with environmentally-friendly batteries through their production process powered by our clean Quebec hydroelectric grid." "Thanks to the availability of phosphate (amongst the purest 1% in the world), our region has the potential to establish itself as a true leader in the energy transition, all through the development of a LFP battery industry. What's more, the development of First Phosphate's project facilities could contribute to the diversification of our regional economy with the potential to help create an additional 1,000 to 10,000 jobs in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean." "This is why, as MP for the federal riding of Jonquiere, I support a project as important as that of First Phosphate for the development of LFP battery in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region." Canadian Federal Riding of Jonquiere Quebec and Locations of the First Phosphate Project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8917/198819_78a7aa0564790804_001full.jpg About First Phosphate Corp. First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate materially devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements. For additional information, please contact: Bennett Kurtz, CFO bennett@firstphosphate.com Tel: +1 (416) 200-0657 Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com Follow First Phosphate: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate -30- Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain statements and information that may be considered "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and other similar expressions. In addition, statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements, including, among other things, the Company's planned exploration and production activities, the properties and composition of any extracted phosphate, the Company's plans for vertical integration into North American supply chains and the establishment of the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec as the LFP Battery Valley of North America. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on assumptions and estimates that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, expectations of the Company's long term business outcomes given its short operating history; expectations regarding revenue, expenses and operations; the Company having sufficient working capital and ability to secure additional funding necessary for the exploration of the Company's property interests; expectations regarding the potential mineralization, geological merit and economic feasibility of the Company's projects; expectations regarding drill programs and the potential impacts successful drill programs could have on the life of the mine and the Company; mineral exploration and exploration program cost estimates; expectations regarding any environmental issues that may affect planned or future exploration programs and the potential impact of complying with existing and proposed environmental laws and regulations; receipt and timing of exploration and exploitation permits and other third-party approvals; government regulation of mineral exploration and development operations; expectations regarding any social or local community issues that may affect planned or future exploration and development programs; expectations surrounding global economic trends and technological advancements; and key personnel continuing their employment with the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: limited operating history; high risk of business failure; no profits or significant revenues; limited resources; negative cash flow from operations and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; no dividends; risks related to possible fluctuations in revenues and results; insurance and uninsured risks; litigation; reliance on management and key personnel; conflicts of interest; access to supplies and materials; dangers of mineral exploration and related liability and damages; risks relating to health and safety; government regulation and legal uncertainties; the company's exploration and development properties may not be successful and are highly speculative in nature; dependence on outside parties; title to some of the Company's mineral properties may be challenged or defective; Aboriginal title and land claims; obtaining and renewing licenses and permits; environmental and other regulatory risks may adversely affect the company; risks relating to climate change; risks related to infrastructure; land reclamation requirements may be burdensome; current global financial conditions; fluctuation in commodity prices; dilution; future sales by existing shareholders could cause the Company's share price to fall; fluctuation and volatility in stock exchange prices; and risks related to market demands. There can be no assurance that any opportunity will be successful, commercially viable, completed on time or on budget, or will generate any meaningful revenues, savings or earnings, as the case may be, for the Company. In addition, the Company will incur costs in pursuing any particular opportunity, which may be significant. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company and, though they should be considered carefully, should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors described in the Company's other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated November 29, 2023 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking information or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198819 Vancouver, February 22, 2024 - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF), ("Altamira" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Pieter Le Roux to the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mike Bennett, Altamira's President and CEO commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Pieter to the Board of Directors. We believe Pieter's broad expertise in finance, portfolio & capital allocation, capital management, transformational M&A, investor & stakeholder engagement and reputation management will be invaluable to the Company going forward. We believe that the fact that we have been able to attract someone as experienced and successful in our industry as Pieter to our Board speaks to the potential of our project portfolio in the Alta Floresta region of Brazil and, in particular, is a significant endorsement of the Cajueiro gold project and the nearby Maria Bonita gold discovery." Pieter Le Roux has a BCom (Hons) in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg and is a Member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. He is also a Member of the Singaporean Institute of Company Directors and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Pieter has significant finance, policy, legal, regulatory experience across a range of jurisdictions including Canada and Brazil, and has worked at Board and senior executive level in Australia, Singapore, China, Korea, Japan, India, Switzerland, UK, The Netherlands, USA, Brazil, Peru & Chile. From 1997 to 2017, he was employed by BHP in a variety of senior executive roles. He is currently a non-executive director of International Gulf Mining which is developing a bauxite deposit in Guinea, and was previously a non-executive director of PanAust Limited from 2016 to 2023. Pieter was also Vice President and Managing Partner of Cyient Limited from 2018 to 2024. Cyient is a technology, asset performance and management consulting organization with 15,000 staff in 19 countries. Pieter will act as an independent director of Altamira Gold and Chair of the Audit Committee. In connection with his appointment, Altamira also announces that it has granted 350,000 stock options which are exercisable for a term of 5 years at an exercise price of C$0.165 per common share. The options are subject to the Company's Stock Option Plan. About Altamira Gold Corp. The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold projects within western central Brazil. The Company holds 8 projects comprising approximately 190,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz in the Inferred Resource category. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Altamira Gold Corp. "Michael Bennett" Michael Bennett President & CEO Tel: 604.676.5660 Toll-Free: 1-833-606-6271 info@altamiragold.com www.altamiragold.com Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198881 Vancouver, British Columbia, February 22nd, 2024 - Atco Mining Inc. (the "Company" or "Atco") (CSE: ATCM) (OTC: ATMGF) (Frankfurt: QP9) is pleased to announce that mobilization has commenced in preparation for the Company's inaugural drill program at the 3,061-hectare Atlantic Project ("Atlantic" or "the Project"). The Atlantic Project is situated in the prolific Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan (Figure 1). The Project is currently under option with Standard Uranium Ltd., an arms-length company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: STND). Pursuant to the option, Atco can earn a 75% interest in the Project over three years. Highlights: Approximately 2,000-3,000 metres planned across 4-6 drill holes, targeting high-grade unconformity-related uranium mineralization. One diamond drill testing high-priority target area A on the Project (Figure 2), investigating a significant density anomaly coincident with modeled electromagnetic ("EM") conductors, and interpreted faults. Additional drill holes will follow up on highly anomalous uranium results and major structure intersected in drill hole BL-16-32. Diamond drilling crews mobilized to the Atlantic Project on February 19th The Company considers uranium mineralization with concentrations greater than 1.0 wt% U3O8 to be "high-grade". "This is a significant step for our team" says Etienne Moshevich, CEO of Atco Mining. "The fact that we are already drilling is extremely exciting. We are giving our shareholders a chance at drilling a very mature uranium project in one of the most prolific high-grade mining jurisdictions in the world surrounded by companies with substantially higher market caps than ours. With the drill team on site and ready to go, this is going to be a very busy time for us and I can't wait to update our shareholders with our progress in the coming weeks." Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1. Regional summary map of the Atlantic Project highlighting nearby uranium occurrences, historical drill holes, geophysical anomalies, and EM conductors. 2024 Winter Drill Program The winter program will be the first drill campaign completed following successful identification of high-priority targets by Standard Uranium in 2022-2023. The Project covers 6.5 km of an 18 km long, east-west trending conductive exploration trend which hosts numerous uranium occurrences. Standard Uranium completed a high-resolution ground gravity survey on the western claim block in 2022, revealing multiple subsurface density anomalies, potentially representing significant hydrothermal alteration zones in the sandstone rooted to basement conductors. This current drill program is designed to follow up on highly anomalous uranium results returned from drill hole BL-16-32, in addition to testing the newly outlined gravity lows defined by the 2022 ground survey. On the western Atlantic claim block, drilling by Denison Mines in 2016 (Hole BL-16-32) identified 342 ppm uranium over 0.5 metres at the base of the sandstone, just north of target area A (Figure 2). Winter drilling will be focused in target area A which is defined by a 1,400-metre x 850-metre density anomaly at the unconformity coinciding with stacked EM conductors and an interpreted regional fault. Figure 2 shows the 3D density anomaly target at the unconformity depth slice, with projected basement EM conductors and interpreted fault trends. A team from Base Diamond Drilling arrived at the Project on February 19th to begin access trail and drill pad preparation, and the Standard Uranium team is slated to mobilize on February 26th, 2024. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2. Geophysical map of the western Atlantic claim block, highlighting drill hole BL-16-32 and key geophysical features defining high-priority target areas A and B. Residual gravity-low anomalies are shown at the unconformity depth slice. Target area A will be the focus of the winter 2024 drill program. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information contained in this news release, has been reviewed, verified and approved by Mr. Neil McCallum, PGeo, director of both Atco Mining and Standard Uranium and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. About Atco Mining (CSE: ATCM): Atco is a junior exploration mining company focused on exploring for green energy metals throughout Canada. Atco is also exploring salt opportunities in Western Newfoundland. Investors are encouraged to visit the company's website here: www.atcomining.com For further information contact: Atco Mining Inc. Email: info@atcomining.com Telephone: (604) 681-0084 www.atcomining.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Toronto, February 22, 2024 - Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. ("Noble") (TSXV:NOB), (FRANKFURT:NB7), (OTC:NLPXF) is pleased to report results form drilling completed by Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel") on the optioned Mann Twp properties, as reported in the Canada Nickel news release of February 22, 2024, copied below. The Mann Twp properties that are the subject of the news release are subject to an Option and Joint Venture Agreement between Noble and Canada Nickel. That agreement provides Canada Nickel the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the subject properties, with Noble retaining a 20% interest. The results announced by Canada Nickel arise from exploration conducted by Canada Nickel in earning its up to 80% interest. Canada Nickel Confirms Discovery at Mann Central, Successfully Completes Initial Drilling at Mann Northwest Property Highlights A new discovery, Mann Central, successfully delineated across 2.5 kilometre strike length by six holes Three additional drill holes at previously announced Mann Northwest discovery, extended mineralization across a 2.7 kilometre strike length Mann Northwest and Mann Central are two of five targets (others are Mann Southeast, Newmarket and Reaume) each with a geophysical footprint larger than Crawford, and a combined strike length of over 25 kilometres TORONTO, February 22, 2024 - Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel" or the "Company") (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) is pleased to announce the final set of assay results from its initial exploration program at the Mann Property, a joint venture with Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. ("Noble") whereby Canada Nickel can earn an 80% interest by completing certain cash and share payments and exploration expenditures (see original press release dated November 22, 2021). Commenting on these initial results, Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel said, "Mann is an exceptionally large property with ultramafic targets extending beyond the township from Reaume through Mann and into Newmarket with a combined target strike length of over 25 kilometres. All fifteen initial holes at these first two targets successfully intersected large intervals of target mineralization. This area will be a focus of our exploration program in 2024. Further details on our 2024 exploration program will be provided at a conference call on Friday, February 23rd at 11am." Mann Property The Mann Property is located 22 kilometres east of Crawford, 20 kilometres south of Cochrane, and 45 kilometres northeast of Timmins, covering Mann Township. The property contains three large ultramafic bodies, each of which has a target geophysical footprint larger than Crawford at 1.6 km2. Mann Northwest has a target footprint of 6.0 km2; Mann Central is 3.1 km2 and Mann Southeast is 4.1 km2. Mann Northwest is on same trend to mineralized ultramafics in Reaume Township while Mann Southeast connects to a long ultramafic sill in Newmarket Township, both properties being owned by Canada Nickel. The total trend from Reaume to Newmarket exceeds 25 kilometres as various units. This press release summarizes drill results from Mann Northwest and Mann Central that were completed during the summer of 2023. Mann Southeast is planned to be drilled during the summer of 2024. Mann Northwest The drill program at Mann Northwest consisted of nine drillholes, with all holes intersecting mineralized sections of predominantly well serpentinized peridotite and dunite (see press release August 22, 2023, for results of the first five holes). Eight of the nine drillholes delineated mineralization along a 2.7 kilometre strike length within a folded structure having a width of at least 500 metres (see Table 1 and Figure 1). The target remains open in all directions. The ninth hole (MAN23-06) was drilled on a north extension of the main target area. The strike length of this sub extension remains to be tested. Platinum group metals (PGMs) were also intersected in addition to the nickel mineralization. The PGMs are associated with highly serpentinized peridotite-pyroxenite with hole MAN23-13, for example, intersecting interlayered pyroxenite grading 0.43 g/t platinum+palladium (Pt+Pd) over 16.5 metres. Mann Central Six drillholes delineated mineralization along a 2,500 metre strike length and over a width of at least 600 metres. The target remains open in all directions. All six drillholes intersected strongly serpentinized peridotite-dunite, with visible nickel mineralization. PGMs were also intersected in Mann Central within a pyroxenite horizon with hole MAN23-11 intersecting 0.55 g/t Pt+Pd over 28.5 metres. Table 1 - Mann drilling downhole composites. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ni % Co % Pd g/t Pt g/t Cr % Fe % S % MANN NORTHWEST MAN23-06 6.9 402.0 395.1 0.20 0.01 0.007 0.010 0.39 7.18 0.04 MAN23-13 40.5 152.4 111.9 0.20 0.01 0.023 0.015 0.43 6.88 0.06 and 166.5 183.0 16.5 0.04 0.01 0.263 0.166 0.41 4.32 0.02 and 185.5 444.0 258.5 0.20 0.01 0.003 0.004 0.40 7.23 0.02 MAN23-14 30.0 420.0 390.0 0.23 0.01 0.005 0.007 0.22 5.96 0.03 MAN23-15 36.0 298.5 262.5 0.15 0.01 0.020 0.018 0.30 6.94 0.06 and 357.4 450.0 92.6 0.21 0.01 0.025 0.025 0.29 6.51 0.11 MANN CENTRAL MAN23-07 80.4 266.5 186.1 0.24 0.01 0.004 0.007 0.17 6.16 0.10 and 283.5 444.0 160.5 0.24 0.01 0.005 0.007 0.17 6.22 0.02 MAN23-08 39.1 396.0 356.9 0.22 0.01 0.005 0.007 0.39 6.69 0.04 MAN23-09 96.0 402.0 306.0 0.21 0.01 0.005 0.006 0.25 6.59 0.16 including 202.5 258.4 55.9 0.25 0.01 0.005 0.007 0.12 6.31 0.12 MAN23-10 11.5 402.0 390.5 0.21 0.01 0.004 0.007 0.45 7.17 0.04 MAN23-11 10.5 402.0 391.5 0.17 0.01 0.028 0.022 0.36 6.89 0.03 including 117.0 145.5 28.5 0.03 0.01 0.330 0.220 0.34 5.32 0.02 and 157.7 306.0 148.3 0.22 0.01 0.003 0.004 0.33 6.82 0.03 MAN23-12 14.8 402.0 387.2 0.22 0.01 0.003 0.005 0.32 6.23 0.03 *True width undetermined. All lengths are drillhole lengths. Figure 1 -Mann Northwest and Central - CNC Drillholes Over Total Magnetic Intensity. Click Image To View Full Size Table 2: Drillhole Orientation Hole ID Zone Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Azimuth (?) Dip (?) Length (m) MAN23-01 NW 495641 5412486 235 -50 432 MAN23-02 NW 495967 5412226 235 -50 402 MAN23-03 NW 495967 5412226 35 -50 402 MAN23-04 NW 496257 5411972 235 -50 402 MAN23-05 NW 495360 5412699 225 -50 402 MAN23-06 NW 499728 5413633 0 -50 402 MAN23-07 CE 498762 5410346 345 -50 444 MAN23-08 CE 498762 5410346 180 -50 396 MAN23-09 CE 499200 5410800 160 -50 402 MAN23-10 CE 497600 5410380 0 -50 402 MAN23-11 CE 497600 5410380 180 -50 402 MAN23-12 CE 496800 5410171 0 -50 402 MAN23-13 NW 494930 5413340 240 -50 444 MAN23-14 NW 494429 5413990 62 -50 420 MAN23-15 NW 494845 5413725 60 -50 450 Statement Regarding TSX Venture Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Quality Assurance and Control, Drilling and Assaying Edwin Escarraga, MSc, P.Geo., a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for the on-going drilling and sampling program, including quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC). The core is collected from the drill in sealed core trays and transported to the core logging facility. The core is marked and sampled at 1.5 metre lengths and cut with a diamond blade saw. One set of samples is transported in secured bags directly from the Canada Nickel core shack to Actlabs Timmins, while a second set of samples is securely shipped to SGS Lakefield for preparation, with analysis performed at SGS Burnaby or SGS Callao (Peru). All are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs. Analysis for precious metals (gold, platinum and palladium) are completed by Fire Assay while analysis for nickel, cobalt, sulphur and other elements are performed using a peroxide fusion and ICP-OES analysis. Certified standards and blanks are inserted at a rate of 3 QA/QC samples per 20 core samples making a batch of 60 samples that are submitted for analysis. Qualified Person and Data Verification Stephen J. Balch P.Geo. (ON), VP Exploration of Canada Nickel and a "qualified person" as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of Canada Nickel Company Inc. Mr. Balch has approved Noble's reissuance of the extracted disclosure from Canada Nickel's news release as contained in this news release. Vance White President & CEO of Noble said "we are very pleased with the results on the Mann Twp option to date and look forward to advancing this project. About Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. is a Canadian-based junior exploration company that, in addition to its shareholdings in Canada Nickel Company Inc., Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd., Go Metals Corp., and MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. It also has an interest in the Holdsworth gold exploration property in the area of Wawa, Ontario. It continues to hold ~25,000 hectares of mineral rights in the Timmins-Cochrane areas of Northern Ontario, known as Project 81, as well as an additional ~11,000 hectares in the Timmins area and ~14,400 hectares of mining claims in Central Newfoundland. Project 81 hosts diversified drill-ready gold, nickel-cobalt, and base metal exploration targets at various stages of exploration. It also holds ~14,600 hectares in the Nagagami Carbonatite Complex and ~4,600 hectares in the Boulder Project near Hearst, Ontario. In addition, Noble has ~482 hectares in the Cere-Villebon Nickel, Copper, PGM property, ~3,700 hectares in the Buckingham Graphite Property, ~10,152 hectares in a Havre St Pierre Nickel, Copper, PGM property, ~518 hectares in the Laverlochere Nickel, Copper, PGM property, all of these are in the Province of Quebec. More detailed information can be found on Noble's website at: https://www.noblemineralexploration.com Noble's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NOB". Cautionary Statement Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission, or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. The preceding information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the Company's plans and expectations. These plans, expectations, risks, and uncertainties are detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with the TSX Venture Exchange and securities regulators. Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contacts H. Vance White, President Phone: 416-214-2250 Fax: 416-367-1954 Email: info@noblemineralexploration.com Investor Relations: ir@noblemineralexploration.com Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Marko plays down Red Bull's enormous early pace advantage Even embattled team boss Christian Horner was all smiles in Bahrain on Wednesday as Red Bull's new and radical car for 2024 stunned every other Formula 1 rival on the opening day of pre-season testing. Max Verstappen, Abu Dhabi GP 2023 Red Bull Maybe they didn't copy the latest model, smiled Dr Helmut Marko as the nearest challenger, McLaren's Lando Norris, failed to get even within a second of Max Verstappen's best laptime. Frederic Vasseur denies Ferrari is among those who have 'copied' the now-defunct 2023 Red Bull, but he also admits the gap remains enormous . We haven't started copying anyone, the Frenchman insisted. If you do, you're always one step behind. Nonetheless, if Red Bull's 2024 pace is real, the rivals are now a step behind in terms of the basic concept, as innovative air intakes on either side of Verstappen's cockpit emerged on Wednesday. We knew that the others would copy us, Red Bull's technical guru Adrian Newey said. If we had simply developed last year's car a bit more, it would not have been enough. Top Red Bull consultant Marko, meanwhile, tried to play down Red Bull's early testing pace, insisting the gap to the rest of the field is not as big as it looks . We were the only ones who took to the track with fresh medium tyres in the cool evening hours, he told Auto Motor und Sport. That explains the big jump we made in the afternoon. Marko thinks the actual gap to the others, however, is three tenths . Mercedes' chief engineer Andrew Shovlin surmised: "There's almost nothing between Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin and us. But one thing is clear - Red Bull are ahead. George Russell said the new-concept Mercedes, having ironically scrapped the philosophy that Red Bull has now adopted, is nicer to drive. But if it's slow, that won't help us, admitted team boss Toto Wolff. The base we have now is better than last year, but the Red Bull is fast. Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss at CPAC (AP) Nearly 18 months ago, Liz Truss was the UK Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, with the authority to direct the actions of Her Majestys Government and even to unleash the United Kingdoms store of nuclear-tipped Trident missiles. But on Thursday, standing before a half-empty ballroom at a Washington DC-area hotel and convention centre, she cut a far less impressive figure. Ms Truss is appearing at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual right-wing confab once home to conservative and libertarian stalwarts such as Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney but which, in recent years, has morphed into a Trumpian pep rally. To that end, she made her CPAC debut at a hastily-arranged international summit alongside Nigel Farage, the ex-UKIP MEP and former Brexit Party leader who has spent more and more of his time since Brexit focused on boosting Donald Trumps effort to return to the White House. Mr Farage has long been a darling of the American far-right and a CPAC regular. But Ms Truss appearance at the gathering appears part of a new offensive meant to give her a base of support in the US and new allies in the populist, antidemocratic milieu inhabited by Mr Trump, Mr Farage, and other authoritarian-friendly gadflies such as ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon. To that end, she peppered her remarks on Wednesday and a second speech in the main CPAC ballroom on Thursday with attacks on unelected civil servants and non-governmental agencies who she blamed for her time in Number 10 coming to a disastrous end after just 49 days. (She was infamously outlasted by a lettuce.) She told attendees that the most almighty backlash she faced after the catastrophic reaction to her 2022 mini-budget which sent the pound into a nose dive and sparked a crash in the markets came both from the usual suspects in both media and the corporate world, as well as government, the Office of Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England. Story continues Ms Truss also levelled partisan attacks on the sitting American president, accusing Mr Biden of being asleep at the wheel and projecting weakness from the White House, while also accusing him of playing a part in her ouster and having intervened to have a go at my policies. Can you imagine being attacked on your economic policies by the inventor of Bidenomics? Talk about offensive, she said. Her comments about Mr Bide, which parroted the right-wing talking points of the string of MAGA speakers at the event, drew some applause while her diatribes about the British civil service fell flat. Whether Ms Truss attempts to remake herself as a right-wing celebrity will succeed is anyones guess. When The Independent sought to survey CPAC attendees on their reactions to her remarks, Americans appeared negative or worse, indifferent towards the former PM. One MAGA hat-wearing attendee who declined to give his name called her a secret globalist and bad news, citing her prior opposition to Brexit. She was against it and she flipped, he said, before walking quickly away. Another Mr Trump fan wearing a student ticket to the conference and the obligatory red hat told The Independent Ms Truss was a loser and said he wasnt sure why she was there. But Jamile Davies, an international attendee who had travelled all the way from Wales, thought the former prime minister had made a good impression on the American crowd. I do believe that she has all the right words and the good intentions. And she was not given the opportunity to act on them or much support from the Conservative Party, she said, adding that Ms Truss most likely came to the US because the British publics just fed up of good words and very little actions. Ms Truss attacks on the president even drew some praise from the conferences lead organiser, American Conservative Union chair Matt Schlapp. Mr Schlapp told The Independent he saw nothing untoward in the former prime ministers behaviour, calling it standard procedure when pressed on whether hed object to attacks on a Republican president by Sir Keir Starmer or another high-profile Labour MP. He also implied the criticism was justified because President Biden had not had an in-person meeting with Ms Truss during her short time in Number 10. A lot of these politicians, they come here and they get featured on places like CNN, when theyre negative, so no, Im not clutching my pearls over the fact that we have a former Prime Minister of Great Britain who comes to CPAC, shows these people great respect, and yes, has criticisms of the current president United States, who by the way she worked with, and I dont think ever had a meeting with her, he said. So if she has some criticisms of Joe Biden, I think its warranted Im okay with it. Newey could be part of Hamilton bombshell? Former Ferrari driver Mika Salo thinks there is more to the story when it comes to Lewis Hamilton's shock move from Mercedes to Maranello for 2025. Adrian Newey, Las Vegas GP 2023 Red Bull Hamilton, 39, triggered an exit clause in his newly-signed 2-year contract and stunned his boss Toto Wolff with the bombshell impending team switch. Finn Salo, who made his own surprise debut for Ferrari in 1999 when Michael Schumacher broke his leg, suspects there are major parts of the story that the world does not yet know. I believe Hamilton knows something that the rest of us do not yet know, he told Iltalehti newspaper. Whether it is related to the development of Ferrari's car or the staff of the team, it is difficult to say. However, there must be a reason why he made the decision to move. In light of the current power balance in F1, it would otherwise make no sense. Seven time world champion Hamilton argues simply that it's always been his childhood dream to race in red - but 57-year-old Salo suspects that more bombshell news might still be brewing. It's hard to assess how much Hamilton's arrival will impact Ferrari, he said. "Success involves so many other requirements than the driver. There are a lot of question marks in Red Bull's situation at the moment, for example, and there is no other car designer like Adrian Newey. If Ferrari could sign him too, I think they would have a winning team again. Salo drove briefly for Ferrari in the heady Schumacher days, but he says he was never fazed by the special pressure of representing the fabled brand. Two ex-F1 drivers tip Sainz to secure 2025 seat Carlos Sainz insists he has "no idea" what team he will be racing for beyond the looming Formula 1 season. Carlos Sainz, Abu Dhabi GP 2023 Ferrari The Spaniard had headed into the winter break insisting that he wants his future to be decided before the first race of 2024. Instead, he only learned that Lewis Hamilton will be replacing him at Ferrari for 2025. Funnily enough, my future was decided before the first race and it is that I am not going to continue at Ferrari, the 29-year-old smiled in Bahrain. As I've said before, it happened in an unexpected way. I was looking forward to signing a contract with them, everything seemed on track for that, everything was going in that direction. In the end it didn't happen, as you know. He has been linked with a move to Sauber in advance of the works Audi project for 2026, but interestingly his famous father, rally legend Carlos Sainz, was spotted in conversation with Red Bull's Christian Horner, Dr Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey in Bahrain on Wednesday. I am free for 2025, Sainz revealed, "and I have no idea yet who I will race with. I have to take my time to decide, see all the options available and try to choose the best one for me, not only for 2025, but also for the next three or four years. "I have to do my best to join a winning project in Formula 1 and see who gives me the best chance. But I guess all the drivers whose contracts expire are looking at all the options as well and talking with the teams. At the moment winter testing is my priority, it only lasts three days and these are the only days we have. So if your mind is elsewhere, you are wasting time. We will still have time to sit down and decide, he added. As for the earliest signs of the F1 pecking-order for 2024, every team appeared to be a long way behind the new-concept Red Bull on the opening day. Let's hope that for F1 and for Ferrari, there are more victories like mine in Singapore this year, more battle with Max (Verstappen). If not, 24 races is a lot, he smiled. When asked about Sainz's future beyond 2024, fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa thinks he will have no problems continuing in F1 after this year. I'm sure he will handle this year well as he has been in more complicated situations in the past and he continues to grow, the Aston Martin ambassador and former F1 driver told Marca. A driver like him will have no problems continuing in F1. Ulviyya Shahin Social Development Fund of IDP of the Republic of Azerbaijan has concluded the procedures for 7 tenders related to projects in Garabagh. "Azermemarlayih?" State Main Project Design Institute won 5 of the tenders, while the remaining 2 were secured by the Baku State Project Institute, Azernews reports. In total, the institution has signed contracts with winning companies worth 5,706,610 manats. Azernews presents that the procurement subject and amounts have been determined as follows: (Getty Images) A test launch of the UKs Trident nuclear missile has ended in failure for the second time in a row. The Ministry of Defence said it was due to an anomaly but concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of Britains nuclear deterrent. Last months test launch was the first in eight years after an earlier attempt in 2016, which also failed. We hear from one of the University of East London scientists behind a heart disease breakthrough. The researchers have created a new heart in a dish using stem cells and it could help lead to treatments for cardiovascular heart disease. Dr Prashant Ruchaya, senior lecturer in physiology at University of East Londons School of Health, explains how they used technology to grow stem cells and separate them into heart tissue, so they can function like a miniature human heart. Nasa is looking for US volunteers for a paid one-year mission to Mars simulation. This would be the second of the space agencys planned ground missions called the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, and is scheduled to start in the spring of 2025. And the rest: WikiLeaks: Julian Assanges wife addresses crowds outside the Royal Court of Justice amid their last chance to stop UK officials extraditing Julian to the US. Elon Musk says the human implanted with a Neuralink brain chip 'can control computer mouse just by thinking', the biggest snake species in the world has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest, and a study suggests red light can reduce blood glucose levels. Plus, why using emojis or GIFs can help when delivering bad news at work. Listen above, or wherever you find your podcasts. CHEYENNE The Wyoming House of Representatives and Senate approved mirror budget amendments Monday that would allow the state to send $2 million to Texas or provide resources like personnel to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. If the amendments in both chambers are, in fact, identical, and no additional changes are made to this amendment on third reading of the budget bills, the allocation will be automatically adopted in the states 2025-26 biennium budget and would not be up for negotiation in a joint conference committee. On both sides of the Capitol, the budget amendment to House Bill 1, General government appropriations, and Senate File 1, General government appropriations-2, included language explaining that the $2 million expenditure would provide direct financial aid to the state of Texas or for other expenses incurred by the state of Wyoming in supplying appropriate resources to the state of Texas for the purposes of securing the United States border. Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, introduced the amendment to the Senates budget during second reading on Monday. Rep. Abby Angelos, R-Gillette, introduced the House amendment. Hicks referred to the testimony by FBI Director Christopher Wray, appointed by former President Donald Trump, before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security last November. Wray told federal lawmakers that the border crisis is a national security threat thats turned every state into a border state. Hicks tried unsuccessfully last year to send money to the Lone Star State. Senate File 166 would have set aside more than $5 million to pay for the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and for the removal of people who are not citizens in Texas, Arizona and Florida to sanctuary cities in other states. Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, who voted against the amendment, said the $2 million was nothing compared to the historic $321.3 billion budget recently passed by the Texas Legislature. Nethercott read a letter from one of her constituents that listed their concerns over increased costs of property taxes, medication, food and so on. The letter also addressed their issue with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Megen Degenfelders recent decision to refuse a federal program that would provide lunches to kids over the summer. Gov. Mark Gordon has already used hundreds of millions of dollars in his budget allocated to him by the Legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee to send Wyomings own law enforcement to Texas, she added. The proposed allocation of $2 million is not only pennies compared to Texas budget, but is better off going toward solving Wyoming problems. Michael Pearlman, the governors spokesperson, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle via email, The governor knows that he currently does not have budget authority to pay to support border states, so this amendment would give the state and local law enforcement additional resources to help protect Wyoming people from public safety threats like fentanyl and human trafficking. Senate President Ogden Driskil, R-Devils Tower, who also voted against the amendment, agreed that the border crisis is a major concern, but Wyomings taxpayer dollars were better spent serving Wyoming taxpayers. Folks, weve had a shooting a couple blocks from the Capitol. Weve got our own problems in the state of Wyoming, Driskill said. If were going to be fiscally conservative in the state of Wyoming, lets put our dollars where they do the most work inside our state. Republican Cheyenne Sens. Lynn Hutchings and Anthony Bouchard spoke in favor of the amendment. Hutchings recited Article 4, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which states that every state shall protect each other against invasion. Bouchard said it isnt enough for Wyoming to simply say they are in solidarity with Texas, and that the state should put its money where its mouth is. Bottom line is that talks cheap, whiskey costs money, Bouchard said. The amendment passed on a vote of 20-10 with one senator excused. On the House floor, not a single lawmaker spoke directly against the allocation. Angelos said that it is lawmakers job to protect life, liberty and our personal property. While the federal government is failing their basic duty to protect us, its citizens, it is the states that now need to band together and protect them ourselves, Angelos said, adding that Gordon has made a public commitment along with 24 other states that Wyoming would stand with Texas. This is a small amount that they could use for expenses incurred to secure the border, Angelos said. Walls work. Open borders do not. Rep. Allen Slagle, R-Newcastle, was also listed as a sponsor on the House amendment. He said the role of government is to protect citizens, and with an open border, states need to band together to do so. Rep. Dave Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, said that he liked the idea of what is to be accomplished in the bill, but there is more than one state to the south of Wyoming. It just seems to me that we ought to be sending our support to the state that we, the state of Wyoming, feels that needs to go to. It may be (Texas) but it also might be one of the other four (border states), Zwontizer said. The budget amendment including the $2 million allocation passed the House in a 51-10 vote. In the frenzy of ongoing openings, between the highly publicized new chapters from name-brand megachefs and whispered, word-of-mouth semi-private debuts stoking curiosity (hello, Frog Club!), there is a gap a mile wide. A hardworking restaurant critic can go out every night, discreetly belch his way through the newest and the loudest hotspots, maintain ready answers to friends and strangers interrogations of Where should we eat now?, and still overlook some of the neighborhood steadies whose Resy pages are not a source of constant frustration, who open quietly and serve excellent food night after night after night. I am guilty. I am here to make amends. I have been to Jean-Georgess new Park Avenue dining room, and I have occupied one of April Bloomfields 20 seats at Sailor. Having recommended both, let me now recommend an uninspiring stretch of Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, hard by the tire shop and a nondescript liquor store. In an area I called Park Slope, until a Park Sloper of my acquaintance protested that the Gowanus dividing line is right down the middle of the avenue and we were west of it, stands Alma Negra, which opened in May 2022, during the long tail of the streetery era. Inside, half of Alma Negras dining room is taken up by a long, wood-topped bar, around which orbit a bank of tables and a greenhouses worth of plant life. I never visited Alma Negra with more than a few hours notice, and I never encountered a problem or an attitude. Most important: I never had anything less than a very good meal. Alma Negra is the third restaurant from Fermin Teco, who arrived in New York from Puebla, Mexico, in 2000 the city has seen such a Poblano influx in the last few decades that its now called, in some corners, Puebla York and began cooking at the kind of restaurants that teach a cook to be a chef, if not always a particularly novel or creative one. (He worked at Carmines, the Manhattan red-sauce tourist trap.) From there, he worked for Maximo Tejada at Rayuela and, in 2015, opened Amaranto in Bushwick. There, as at Alma Negra, he began cooking Mexican food thats far older than whats served at most of New Yorks factory-line burritoriesits Mayan as much as Mexican. Theres no margarita on the colorful and extensive cocktail menu, and there doesnt need to be. Theyll make you one if you want it, just like your local Irish pub will. There is guacamole listed among the entradas a Mexican restaurateur probably cant get away without it if they want to make payroll and its fine, served with homemade fried tortillas. But why fill up when you could have a cool, spicy bowl of aguachile de tuna, a spoonable, cevicheish salad of nearly raw loin in an herby green broth with thin coins of jicama? Or one of Tecos tamales, magically both dense and light in its ruddy bath of sikil pak, a smoky Mayan pumpkin-seed sauce? Unlike many traditional tamales, made with lard, Tecos is vegan, which must be the secret to its soft touch. (It is also, like every dish save dessert, gluten free.) . . Photo: Hugo Yu. Photo: Hugo Yu. Teco doesnt skip steps. Down in the basement, he nixtamalizes his own corn imported from Mexico and presses his own tortillas, not in batches but to order. Theyre not actually listed on the menu, but you should order them anyway. They arrive swaddled in a napkin-lined basket, blue as a bruise and earthy as anything. Theyre perfect for wrapping up short ribs, braised for five hours in huaxmole, a tart, funky sauce made from guaje, sometimes called river tamarind. There is very little on the menu that I wouldnt stick in one, authentic or not, like the pile of shrimp and squid atop vivid arroz verde, or the excellent octopus, a giant biceps whose bulk belies its tenderness, served in a peanut mole with an unexpectedly perfect complement of cauliflower. Mexican food is never in short supply in this city, but at the moment, intriguing spots are coming fast and furious. Im eager to try the newly opened Corima, from Fidel Caballero, in Chinatown, and Soledad, from Julian Medina, on the Upper East Side. Soon, Im sure, I will, and the buzz and the rush of the latest will take hold again. But until then, Im glad to have Alma Negra in my back pocket. On the nights I went random weeknights it filled up to a comfortable but not squashed fullness. I watched couples sipping mezcal and groups of three and four ordering dinner unhurriedly. I asked a Park Slopedwelling colleague if hed been, and he looked as though my asking left him confused. Yeah, its good, he said, furrowing his brow a little, and then, Very good, actually. Couldnt have said it better myself. Huawei introduced Pocket 2 today its latest clamshell foldable with improvements all across the board. This is the first Huawei of this type to implement a waterdrop hinge for zero gap, and it is also the first flip foldable in the world with four cameras on its cover. Huawei put a 6.94 foldable LPTO OLED on the inside, while the cover screen has a 1.15 circular screen next to the camera island in a dual-circle symmetric design. The big display has Full HD+ resolution, while the circular has 340 x 340 pixels. The company stopped disclosing its chipsets a while ago, and we can only assume this new phone is powered by the Kirin 9000S. RAM is 12 GB with three storage options 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB. There is also a Pocket 2 Art with fancier looks and a 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage combo. The main camera on the back of the Pocket 2 is a 50 MP shooter with OIS and f/1.6 aperture in front. The ultra-wide-angle cam has a 12 MP sensor and f/2.2 aperture, while the F/2.4 3x telephoto lens sits in front of an 8 MP imager and offers OIS. The fourth unit is actually a 2 MP UV sensor. According to Huawei, the hyperspectral camera can detect UV intensity, suggesting you to apply sunscreen protection on your face, and even detect deep sunspots. Huawei Pocket 2 The phone supports two-way satellite messaging through Beidou, the Chinese satellite navigation system. The Pocket 2 comes with a 4,520 mAh battery, which is bigger than any previous flip foldable in the company's portfolio. On top of that, there is also 40W wireless charging for the first time, while the wired is rated at 66W. A relatively small phone heats up quickly at these rates, so Huawei is using a VC, conveniently placed in the top half. There are also multiple graphite layers to improve the thermal conductivity. Huawei Pocket 2 The phone comes with HarmonyOS 4 out of the box, and the UI makes customization of the cover screen a lot easier. It could be a clock, a mood wallpaper, a GIF with a cute animated pet, or even an avatar; the possibilities are practically endless. Of course, it is also used for notifications and a second screen for the taking selfies with the main camera, and since the phone is being launched in China first, the display can visualize a QR code for smart payments. Huawei Pocket 2 in Tahitian Gray, Rococo White, Purple, Black, Dream Blue Art Edition The first flash sale is scheduled for today, February 22, at Huawei's own online store Vmall.com. Huawei is offering Pocket 2 in four colors Tahitian Gray, Rococo White, Purple, and Black. The Art version is called Dream Blue and costs CNY 10,999 (over $1,500). The more affordable options are CNY 7,499 ($1,040) for 256 GB storage, CNY 7,999 ($1,110) for 512GB or CNY 8,499 ($1,180). Source (in Chinese) Satellite connectivity was something that was rumored about the Xiaomi 14 Pro, but the models that were launched in China back in November didnt have it. That is because the feature is limited to the Titanium clad special edition model. This model is now up on Xiaomis online store in China at a price of CNY 7,000 with 16GB of RAM and 1TB storage. For comparison, the regular 16GB/1TB model costs CNY 6,000. Even the base Xiaomi 14 Ultra is CNY 6,500, though the titanium variant of that is CNY 8,800. The two-way satellite connectivity is there in case of emergency outside of the usual network coverage for carriers. The system communicates with Chinas Tiantong satellites. Xiaomi hasnt changed its mind and the Pro model will not be available outside of China. Thats not true of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which will be widely available and it too has satellite communication on board. Whether any carrier outside of China will support it is another question, however. Both phones rely on the Xiaomi Pengpai T1 chip. Xiaomi even posted a demo video of the 14 Ultra establishing a call over satellite in the South China Sea. As for the material that this edition of the Xiaomi 14 Pro is named after, the company says that it used 99% pure aerospace-grade titanium for the middle frame along with high-strength aluminum alloy. Additionally, Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass was used for the front and back of the phone. You will recognize it by the orange trim highlight around the camera. That camera is the same triple 50MP module as on the regular Pro. In short, a 1/1.31 sensor in the main with OIS and a variable f/1.4-f/4.0 aperture, a 3.2x 75mm telephoto lens and a 115 ultra wide (with AF). The phone has a 6.73 120Hz 12-bit LTPO display with QHD+ resolution and a 32MP front-facing camera. Its powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and a 4,880mAh battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. Follow the Source link to Xiaomis store in China to have a closer look at the Xiaomi 14 Pro Titanium edition. Source (in Chinese) Senators are expected to vote Friday on whether another $15.8 million should be put down to give residents additional three months of $100 power credit each month. A vetoed bill that would ban the re-hiring of government employees convicted of official misconduct will also be up for an override vote, as Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero urges senators to uphold the veto. Residents will see three more months of $100 power credits that ended in December, if Sen. William Parkinsons Bill 208-37 becomes law. Funding for the measure would come out of the excess revenue from taxes and fees that GovGuam collected so far in fiscal 2024, which amounted to around $17.3 million at the end of January. Though lawmakers supported the decision of spending more to extend the credit program, which has cost the government about $95 million since it was enacted in the summer of 2022, it did raise some concerns. Parkinson noted that there were other priorities going unfunded because of the program, like getting fire trucks, building roads, or raising pay for nurses. But it was necessary, he said, as power bills on the island are expected to increase again. We are setting other critical needs aside to use this money to put it directly into the pockets of people. Because the need for relief for our people is great, he said. Every family with a power bill had essentially received $1,800 from the Legislature already, he noted. Speaker Therese Terlaje said she had similar concerns about the cost of the program, but agreed that it was necessary given there are now middle-income families coming to her office because of struggles to pay their power bill. She said she wished the administration would put some federal American Rescue Plan money towards assisting with the costs, especially as the local government is struggling with issues at the Guam Memorial Hospital and other areas. I just think this is not all that the people need. They need a lot more. We need to take care of so much more, Terlaje said. Budget Chairman Sen. Joe San Agustin was more positive. If this is the best way we can do it for now, then lets do this, he said. On the next round, hopefully the administration can provide an additional three months support to the $100 a month, San Agustin said. Misconduct Individuals convicted of official misconduct would be banned from getting another job with the government of Guam, should lawmakers vote to override the governors veto on Bill 30-37. Main sponsor Sen. Joanne Brown said she disagreed with the governors concerns over the bill, mainly that it might affect employees who are already working for GovGuam with a past conviction under their belt. I very specifically discussed the language with legal counsel before this bill was introduced, Brown said, to make sure that the bill wouldnt be applied retroactively. Hours later, the Office of the Governor issued a statement saying the bill was poorly drafted and could result in GovGuam getting sued for millions of dollars in the future. Regardless of what some senators may think about specific government employees in Guam, classified employees who were hired on the basis of merit and in good faith are entitled to certain Organic Act and Constitutional protections, the release from Adelup said. We call upon the Legislature to do the right thing and uphold the Governors veto, the release said. Brown has been pushing similar legislation since 2021, though the previous bills didnt pass. Allegations that law enforcement at the airport assaulted a man returning to Guam from Chuuk last year were found to be unsubstantiated, according to airport management, but details of the investigation into the incident wont be released. An internal affairs investigation was launched into the Guam International Airport Authority last November, after the Pacific Daily News published allegations from the family of an individual who was allegedly assaulted after being arrested at the airport. Findings of the investigation handled by the Guam Police Department have since been provided to airport management, GIAA said in release this week. The GPD findings exonerate our Airport Police Division employees who were simply doing their job, a statement from the airport said. But the airport did not provide a copy of the findings of the investigation to the PDN, when requested. According to airport spokesperson Rolenda Faasuamalie, the report had been added to the personnel file of those who were investigated, and could not be disclosed. We urge future published reports to strive for accuracy and fairness, rather than seeking sensational headlines, GIAA said in its statement. The airport was not at liberty to release the names of officers involved, Faasumalie said. The PDN had asked GPD for the report earlier this week, but had not received any copy as of press time Thursday. Police spokesperson Officer Berlyn Savella said she could not comment because it was a personnel matter of another agency, and said an inquiry would be brought to Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio. Faasumalie told the PDN Thursday that GPD had deferred to the airport for inquiries on the investigation. The arrest A citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, whose identity was withheld out of fear for his safety, was apprehended at the airport on Nov. 14, the PDN previously reported. He was returning from Chuuk, and had an outstanding warrant because he had failed to appear in court for a civil dispute with his old landlord, according to court records. According to airport management, U.S. Customs and Border Protection notified the airport of the mans arrival, Airport Police arrested him, and he was transferred to the Department of Corrections Hagatna Detention Facility. Faasumalie Thursday said the investigation upheld that sequence of events. There was no record of the man being injured when he was handed over to DOC, the PDN reported. He appeared in court the following day, and was released from DOC custody at 10:15 p.m. On Nov. 17, the mans daughter told the PDN that he had been held down and beaten by law enforcement at some point during his apprehension at the airport. He had been handled by two different sets of law enforcement officers, according to the daughter. The mans arrest was corroborated by prison and court records, and the PDN reviewed and published photos of his injuries. The PDN asked Faasumalie Thursday whether the investigation found there was no use of force, or if it found there was force used and that it was justified. Thats an unfounded question, because it was unsubstantiated, any types of allegations of misconduct, she said. Records request According to Faasumalie, the investigation report was not being provided because of the limitations on what records are required to be disclosed to the public in the Sunshine Reform Act of 1999. The law deals with what public documents every person has a right to inspect and copy. Limitations on that right to inspection are laid out in the law, and Faasumalie said the section dealing with those limitations was self-explanatory with regard to protections and restrictions on personnel matters. Asked whether the airport had the discretion to disclose the investigation report, anyways, she said, certainly not. She said it was her understanding that it was standard for GPD not to disclose the results of internal affairs investigations. GPD spokesperson Savella did not respond as of press time, when asked to confirm whether that was standard practice. There are a number of types of records that are not required to be disclosed, under the Sunshine Act. Here are a few, according to the law: Records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, or records of intelligence information, or security procedures or information, of an agency or its personnel Records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, or records of intelligence information, or security procedures or information, of an agency or its personnel All existing privileges or confidential records or other information expressly protected under the law An official Freedom of Information Act request was being prepared by the Pacific Daily News as of Thursday. Charges for Jenna Rose Calinagan Manibusan, an alleged co-conspirator in the robbery and murder of Sumittra Lairopi on Valentines Day, were dropped on Tuesday because the charging documents submitted to the Superior Court dont connect her to that crime, according to Alternate Public Defender attorney Richard Dirks, who represents Manibusan. The charges against Manibusan were dismissed without prejudice, which means they can be refiled at some point. Manibusan, identified as the girlfriend of suspect Domingo Chargualaf Mendiola, was originally charged with complicity to commit both aggravated murder and first-degree robbery, as well as theft of a vehicle. Mendiola needed money for an owed drug debt, according to the magistrate complaint filed in local court. He is being held on a $500,000 cash bail. The robbery shooting victim, Lairopi, died from her injuries two days later at Guam Memorial Hospital. Shes a 53-year-old wife and mother to three children. Her family has set up a gofundme online fundraiser for her funeral expenses. Court has no choice Dirks said the magistrates complaint filed on Feb. 20 dont connect Manibusan to any of the charges listed. They have charged very specific things in very specific instances but they dont put her at the scene, nor do they show her showing specific intent for the crimes that were actually committed, Dirks said during Tuesday afternoons hearing. Then they have her rummaging through a bag of stolen property...but theres nothing that shows she even knew that a homicide had occurred. Dirks also noted that neither of the two witnesses in the complaint made any mention of seeing a woman, nor was there anything linking her to the theft of the victims automobile. He then made a motion to dismiss the charges for lack of probable cause. Magistrates Judge Jonathan Quan, at the hearing, said the People of Guam (the Attorney Generals Office) have complete control of the affidavit that is the sole document to determine probable cause, and that the AGs office, in turn, is limited by what the Guam Police Department provides them. The People have not provided sufficient detail linking this defendant to that victim...therefore the court has no choice, and does not find sufficient probable cause...to dismiss the three charges against this defendant without prejudice at this time, Quan said. Acting Chief Prosecutor Gloria Rudolph told the Pacific Daily News that reports and information continue to be received, and police will have more time to vet the information, which we will use to formulate the appropriate charges to include in an indictment against Ms. Manibusan. With the multinational Cope North 2024 military exercises wrapping up Friday and thousands of personnel from bases across the U.S. and the globe soon to be headed home, Andersen Air Force Base hosted a static display where members of the public could meet the airmen involved and have a closer look at the aircraft they used. Air crews and aircraft from France, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the U.S. were out at the flight line at Andersen for the event that drew in military families, local residents with base access, and high school students interested in a future career in the military. It also drew a line of protestors just outside the main gate of Andersen, who were opposed to the large military presence on the island. Thursdays event was organized to give Andersen members and others a firsthand look at the aircraft that have been used, said Andersen spokesperson 1st Lt. Ariana Wilkinson. Theyve been flying in the sky and doing amazing missions and operations and so we want to be able to see and meet some of our allies and partners and see just how strong our relationships are, she said. Allied nations Building those relationships with air crews from allied nations is one of the highlights of the exercise, said Capt. Drew Flickinger, with the U.S. Air Force 756th Air Refueling Squadron. Normally based out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Flickinger pilots a KC-135 stratotanker, and is responsible for keeping aircraft topped up through Cope North. The event allows newer airmen to get exposed to working in a new environment, and with aircraft from other nations, assets that were not typically doing on day to day, routine ... training and operations when were back home, he said. Flickinger has stopped through the island a few times for training missions, but its a first for others, like 1st Lt. Sakae Yamanaka, a pilot with the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. It was Yamanakas first time participating in the exercise, and first time on Guam. It was also the F-2 fighter pilots first time to participate in dogfighting exercises with American F-18 pilots, an experience he said he especially enjoyed. Its very different to experience in English, said Yamanaka. Only English and I have to do my best. With communication coming in every language from French to Japanese, translators are on hand throughout the exercise, according to Andersens Wilkinson. Thats something that were learning as well, being able to overcome that communication barrier, she said. New recruits The event also drew a large number of Junior Recruit Officer Training Cadets, like Gabriel Ichihara and Carlos Ko, both from John F. Kennedy High School. Ichihira and Ko, both 16, said they have plans to try and become firemen in the Air Force upon graduation. Its really a good experience because not a lot of people have these kinds of sources where the kids go out and go into a military base and look at different types of planes and talk to certain people, said Ichihira. Both cadets said theyre looking forward to checking out the fighter jets, and talking to pilots from different countries out on the flight line. Protestors out But the experience wasnt looked on as positive by all, with protestors holding signs that say, Cancel Cope North. Low flying military aircraft exercises have been a point of contention since 1992, when Angel Santos, Ed Benavente, and members of the Nasion Chamoru jumped the fence at the old Naval Air Station in Tiyan, said Monaeka Flores of Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian. Cope North is being crowded as an exercise for security with an economic advantage without addressing environmental and social costs, said Flores. She pointed at the large amounts of jet fuel being burned over the island throughout the exercise, and said that the same weapons of war are being used to bomb and kill civilians in Palestine. It doesnt make sense that theres a war game going on here while the genocide is happening, she said. A former firefighter was improperly fired from his job in 2021 allegedly over late filing of his sick leave by two days. That was the consensus of the Civil Service Commission on Thursday when it unanimously voted in favor of former Guam Fire Department firefighter Juan San Nicolas appeal. The management failed to adequately provide the reasons to justify the termination under Guam laws, according to the commission. GFD terminated San Nicolas in 2021 for gross insubordination, allegedly after being late for two days in filing his sick leave. San Nicolas said he took his sick leave in October 2021 and was fired in December 2021 due to submitting his sick leave certification during the termination period. This whole thing is about a sick leave form that is two days late when youre allowed to turn in your sick leave form at the end of the pay period, San Nicolas said during a commission hearing held Tuesday. Based on the commission document dated Jan. 19, 2022, GFD notified San Nicolas of his failure to submit sick leave forms on Oct. 29, 2021, so he submitted the sick leave form on Nov. 3, 2021. San Nicolas said GFD also did not pay him during his sick leave because the management found he took leave when he had already exhausted all his leave days. This contradicts the Department of Administrations payroll evaluation, he said, which indicates he still had around five months of leave. Now, the DOAs payroll assessment for October shows I have around five months of leave remaining, yet I didnt receive a paycheck, he said. San Nicolas, who flew back to Guam for the hearing, currently lives in Hawaii following the loss of his job but expressed his intent to return to Guam if reinstated at GFD. Internal Affairs investigation Jacqueline Terlaje, San Nicolas attorney, mentioned that GFD conducted an Internal Affairs investigation regarding the submission of his doctors note. How embarrassing is it to me that they would call my clinic to confirm that my sick leave is legitimate. And when they found out its legitimate, they still terminated me, and now theyre saying its insubordination, said San Nicolas. He expressed feeling harassed and scared when the Internal Affairs did an investigation without his knowledge while he was on sick leave. San Nicolas stressed his clean record during his tenure at GFD, finding it unfair to be terminated over something as minor as being two days late on sick leave. He said he thought that his termination might be an attempt by the management to silence him, possibly because he had previously lodged multiple complaints against the department. I believe that management wants to get rid of me because I have a problem keeping my mouth shut, he said. The firefighter said he couldnt afford to be a bystander when issues arise within the department. Its better to just close your mouth and go on. And dont bring up any issues. Dont follow any grievance. Even if you see something wrong, shut your mouth. I cant do that, San Nicolas said. If I see something wrong, I have to bring it up. This is not why were wearing a badge. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Del. James Moylan asked for the reauthorization of federal funding to cover Guam and other territories' costs associated with hosting citizens from island nations with compacts of free association with the United States, among other issues, during a meeting hosted by the Department of the Interior on Feb. 21 in Washington, D.C. Interior held its annual interagency plenary sessions with territorial members of Congress and governors, including Leon Guerrero and Moylan. Interior's Office of Insular Affairs coordinated the meeting, which seeks to provide territories the opportunity to share their unique pressing issues, while allowing federal entities to share developments. Moylan, in a statement, said Guam's position is clear in requesting OIA and DOI in general "to be true advocates for the territories, as one of the objectives of their mission is to be the insular voice within the Executive Branch." "We also asked for quarterly sessions versus these annual ones, so that effective follow-through discussions on action items can take place," Moylan said. "Further, we expressed our disappointment in the lack of advocacy from the OIA when it comes to issues such as COFA reimbursements for Guam, or even when it comes to SSI benefits for the territories." The federal government stopped the annual $30 million funding that Guam and other territories used to receive that helped them to partially cover their costs in hosting COFA migrants, from providing them with public safety to public health and public education, among others. The governor said critical services provided to COFA citizens such as education, medical supplies and firetrucks services are not federally funded and cannot be covered by the Compact Impact Fairness Act. "I was disappointed to learn for the first time during the hearing for H.R. 6273, the Guam Host Community Compensation Act, that the Interior opposed the bill, which would compensate Guam for COFA-related costs. We can better work together, and I ask the Interior to work more closely with us. In this regard, I urge Congress to reauthorize the Compact Impact funding," the governor said in her prepared remarks for the meeting. In the same prepared remarks, the governor talked about Guam's "strong" finances and its economy continuing to expand with Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, missile defense construction and private and government construction projects. The governor also asked Interior for an initial $400,000 funding to develop the Micronesian Islands Forum Secretariat in Palau "as a regional center for the sustained advancement of the cultures and economies of the Micronesian region." Moylan, in a statement, said they had the opportunity to raise additional concerns, such as addressing Agent Orange for civilians and even support for infrastructure. Announcements were made on various grant opportunities for Guam, and we will be sharing them with stakeholders, he said. Moylan and Lou Leon Guerrero joined Dels. Amata Radewagen of American Samoa, CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., American Samoa Gov. Lemanu Mauga, Interio Secretary Deb Haaland, Interior Undersecretary Carmen Cantor of OIA, and Tom Perez, director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, along with numerous others, for the discussions. Other discussions during the session included potential waivers for the Buy America-Build America program, funding to tackle invasive species, potential opportunities for Department of Defense grants, updates from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and programs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Guam was well represented in todays discussions, and I thank Gov. Leon Guerrero for her partnership in these endeavors, as for success to be realized, it would entail a consistent voice for Guam. This was certainly on display today," Moylan said. "We look forward to enhancing these conversations with federal partners, while working within our respective committees in Congress and the local government to bring more results for our community. Biba Guam." Flames, ash and choking smoke rise into the air as a Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry Division worker, barely seen here with burning brush, and Guam Fire Department personnel try to battle a grass fire that erupted in the hills along Route 17 or Cross Island Road on Feb 8, 2024. Professional MMA fighter Ricky Mike Camp was released from the Department of Corrections on Wednesday following dire warnings from Superior Court Magistrates Judge Jonathan Quan, and after posting $20,000 cash bail. It is the third time that Camp has been released on bail since his initial arrest in August 2023. Camp, along with co-defendant Joseph Christopher Mendiola, were charged with aggravated assault after a victim reported that he had been attacked in Tumon. Camp was also questioned about two other cases and was charged in those as well. He posted a $3,000 bail days after his arrest but within a month, found himself back behind bars for failing to comply with the conditions of his release, specifically for not checking in with the Probation office three times a week. Camp posted the $7,000 bail and again, Quan issued a warrant for his arrest. During one of his drug screening tests, Camp tested positive for cocaine use. He denied using the illegal drug, but court officials got independent verification by sending a bio sample off-island for a second opinion. The results matched the initial tests administered locally, and Camp again found himself in jail. Quan set bail again for Camp, this time at $20,000 and with several restrictions in place. Under house arrest, he is prohibited from leaving his residence except to go to and from religious services, to the Probation office, or to meet with his attorney. He is also wearing an electronic monitor. Camp asked about going to work. You seem to have a problem with compliance, said Quan. Prove to me you can comply and then well talk about potentially modifying it, based on your attorneys request. But right now, you dont have a stellar track record. Members of the Marianas Practical Shooting Association on Thursday asked the CHamoru Land Trust Commission for available property that could be used for a shooting range. Phil Santos, a firearms instructor, said Guams large community of firearm enthusiasts have nowhere to go, nowhere safe to shoot since the shooting range in Piti closed several years ago and the closure of Sportsland Shooting Range in Dededo last year. People have started to shoot wherever they can. A lot of this has led to un-officiated shooting, he told commissioners during a meeting Thursday. This can be dangerous to the public, he added. Santos and Deborah Reyes, members of the nonprofit organization, spoke to the commission to see if theres any Land Trust property available to develop a shooting range. An arrangement can be made to allow for a public-private partnership which would keep the range ownership with the government of Guam and operate privately, Santos said. He said while he and Reyes are interested in investing in the shooting range, there are others out there who would be willing to invest as well. The issue they are facing, he said, is not knowing what property is available out there and which ones are owned by GovGuam that could be used for a shooting range, Santos said. Land Trust Commissioner Earl Garrido asked if the group would be interested in working with Guam Community College, which has also requested an area for small arms shooting since it cant keep using its backyard as a firing range. They are also looking at a rifle firing range, he said. Santos said he spoke with GCC President Mary Okada a few years ago about helping the college maintain the shooting range because of the condition it was in, and to allow classes to be taught there. But the talks didnt go anywhere, he said. We would be more than happy to work with any other agency because this is needed. The island needs a shooting range, he said. Santos said people need a safe place where they can enjoy their sport. Attorney Norman Miller Jr., with the Office of the Attorney General, said a good place to start is working out a plan on what the range would look like, and what the costs would be to construct a safe range and if they are comfortable with those numbers. He said the commission doesnt want to spend time looking at its land inventory and then be told there isnt enough money to build it. The commission would like to see a business plan that would show how much land they are seeking and how much it would cost so that it can be more productive and efficient, Miller said. Santos said knowing what land is available would help figure out how much it would cost to build a shooting range. For example, land in the northern part of Guam could be much more expensive because of mitigation efforts that would need to be put into place to protect the aquifer, he said. A shooting range would put out high volumes of hazardous metals and mitigation efforts and disposal would be extremely expensive, he added. Areas down south, he said, would also need to be looked at to ensure the site is away from rivers. He said numbers cant be put onto something until they have an idea of where they can actually go since certain areas would skew the numbers significantly. So far, theyre looking at about 25 acres that could be configured to allow for both a handgun range and larger weapons such as shotguns and long guns, Santos said. Reyes said this isnt the first time they met with the Land Trust but the last one was several years ago. Since then, new commissioners and new management have taken over, which could restart the process. However, commission members on Thursday asked the two if they could provide the date of the meeting so the commission could go back into the recordings. In the meantime, commissioners asked the group to submit a letter and a plan to help move the process forward. Former Del. Michael San Nicolas has confirmed hes seeking a return to Congress, and the Democrats are potentially headed for a three-way delegate primary in August. It is with great humility that we make ourselves available once again to serve if our people will so have us, San Nicolas said. San Nicolas, Sen. Amanda Shelton and former federal official Ginger Cruz all picked up delegate candidate packets from the Guam Election Commission. Sheltons team has started putting up delegate campaign signs. Whoever wins the Democratic primary would be facing off in the general election with incumbent Republican Del. James Moylan, who also confirmed he is seeking re-election. Moylan is only the second Republican to represent Guam in Congress since 1972. San Nicolas ran for governor in 2022, but lost the Democratic primary to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. The latter secured a second term after defeating former Republican Gov. Felix Camacho in the general election. Now, the former delegate and former member of the Guam Legislature is seeking a political comeback. Kathy, Kaleb, Keke and I talk often about what we know our island and people deserve, and that everyones lives and futures should be filled with greater opportunities we want this for Guam, he said. It is our hope and belief that the island shares this vision, and that we all know the only way to achieve this is to make it happen with true grit and unrelenting determination. He said the years-long congressional ethics investigation into him went nowhere. Earlier on, San Nicolas asserted he had never accepted an illegal $9,000 cash contribution in 2018 from an unnamed campaign donor, whose interview is cited in a 2022 final House Committee on Ethics report. At the time of the alleged donation, the limit for a single campaign donor was $2,700 and just $100 for cash donations. The final ethics report was released just months ahead of the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary. We humbly ask the people to join us, from all walks of life, all political parties; lets build a responsible Guam, San Nicolas said in a statement. San Nicolas former running mate, former broadcast journalist Sabrina Salas Matanane, also picked up a candidate packet for a potential senatorial run as a Republican. Its only a few days away from the Feb. 26 start of filing candidate packets with GEC. May 3 is the last day to file candidate packets, three months before the Aug. 3 primaries. The general election is Nov. 5. Most incumbent mayors and senators are seeking reelection. UPDATED: 1 hospitalized for minor injuries in 4-vehicle collision by Deadman's Curve on Marine Corps Drive in Asan (Editor's note: This story has been updated to add statement from the governor's office.) Speaker Therese Terlaje on Wednesday said Adelup could have saved veterans time, energy and other resources since May if it communicated much sooner that the governor could use federal American Rescue Plan money to fund a veterans convention. The veterans convention was initially set for November, but has been moved to April 6. The speaker introduced last May Bill 114-37, which seeks to appropriate $40,000 from the fiscal 2024 general fund revenues to the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs so it could fund its planned Islandwide Veterans Convention. Terlaje said since then, veterans have been working together to urge passage of her bill to appropriate $40,000 for the convention. Turns out, the governor was able to use ARP money all along and finally released $100,000 on Feb 2, 2024, to the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs. Today, as we started deliberations on Bill 114 in session, is the first time the GOVA or Legislature was told of this transfer specific for the convention, the speaker said in a statement Wednesday. Adelup on Thursday said "any time the legislature spends working to help veterans is not a waste of time." "The fact that two branches of government worked so quickly to help veterans that it created gaps in communication is a problem we can deal with. At the end of the day, veterans asked for help and received itthat is what we should care about," the governor's office said in a statement. A public hearing on the speakers appropriations bill was held on Feb. 5. Valuable time and resources of our veterans have been needlessly expended because of the lack of communication from the governor. I sincerely hope this convention is able to reach the estimated 28,000+ veterans in Guam and bridge the gap on information and resources available to these veterans, the speaker said. Most of all, I hope our veterans will feel the support of our entire community. The speaker urges all veterans to attend the veterans convention on April 6, 2024, and to contact the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs for more information. Have an idea? Want to praise or comment on something? Submit your letter to the editor. An outbreak of measles has swept through a Florida school, with six confirmed cases by Wednesday. On Friday, Broward County Public Schools sent an email notifying parents at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, Florida, of one confirmed case of measles. But over the weekend, the emails continued and the numbers grew. Appearing before the Broward County School Board on Wednesday, the Superintendent of Broward County Schools, Peter Licata, emphasized that despite some student and employee absences, the school was operating normally and children were actively engaged in learning. As of now we have six confirmed cases, Licata said. Currently, there are 33 of 1,067 Manatee Bay students that do not have an MMR vaccine for various reasons. Highlighting the close collaboration between the district and the Florida Department of Health, Licata noted that representatives were present at the school, ready to administer vaccines to anyone who wished to receive one. Further, he said, any student at Manatee Bay, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, is permitted to stay home for 21 days, if they choose to do so. We are in the process of developing how to ensure there is continuous learning for families who exercise these options, Licata said. This will not be virtual learning, but will offer a bridge during the 21-day period. He also assured the public that the school has taken all available measures to ensure the safety of students and staff by deep cleaning the entire campus and their fleet of school buses. On Tuesday, Licata paid a visit to the Manatee Bay Elementary School, taking a moment to speak with reporters. Its safe if your child is vaccinated, he said. So, theyre here, theyre learning, theyre enjoying pizza and corndogs inside. However, not everyone was there. On a typical school day, there are usually around 100 absences but on Tuesday, 219 students were absent. And on Wednesday, there were 174 absences. How does measles spread? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes the highly contagious nature of the measles virus, which takes residence in the mucus of the nose and throat and spreads through coughing and sneezing. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours and its contagiousness is so potent that if one person is infected, as many as 90% of those in close proximity who lack immunity also might become infected. According to the CDC, common complications from measles are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. The CDC says that one out of every 1,000 measles cases will develop acute encephalitis, which often results in permanent brain damage. One to three out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications, according to the CDC website. What are the symptoms of measles? According to the Florida Department of Health, measles is usually considered a childhood disease, but it can be contracted at any age. Most cases occur in preschool children, adolescents and inadequately immunized individuals and health officials stress the best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after a person has been infected and include: High fever. Cough. Runny nose. Red, watery eyes. Within three to five days, a rash often develops on the face and neck and can spread to the rest of the body. The CDC recommends the MMR vaccine as a safeguard against measles, mumps and rubella. Children should receive two doses, with the initial dose administered at 12 to 15 months and the second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. Although the MMR vaccine is required for enrollment in both public and private child care, as well as K-12 schools in Florida, certain students may qualify for exemptions based on medical or religious grounds. Haiti - FLASH : Bahamian soldiers are preparing for an intervention in the country Raymond King, the Commodore Chief of Defense of the Bahamas, told the media this week that the Bahamian contingent of approximately 150 soldiers would depart for Jamaica for 3 weeks of intensive training with other regional soldiers of the Caribbean Community and South Americans with a view to participating in the Multinational Mission to Support the National Police of Haiti (PNH) in the fight against gangs. A team of officers will also travel to Jamaica to prepare for the training exercise which will also involve soldiers and security forces from Chile and Argentina, among others : Guyana, Trinidad and several other countries in the regional bloc have already committed to also participating in the multinational force. "Kenya and the Republic of Haiti are signing an agreement that will allow the Kenyans to deploy their police officers. Kenya is preparing to send its first team of some 200 people to Haiti as part of the forward team [...] It's an integrated training of about three weeks to ensure that the forces can operate, that they have the same doctrine, the same orders, the same rules. To ensure that all the different forces are able to operate seamlessly and cohesively," King said. Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands are eager for calm to return to Haiti, as they often bear the brunt of Haitian "boat people" and economic migrants fleeing the chaos and misery of their countries. Haiti will be a key item on the agenda of the 46th Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Guyana (February 25 to 28, 2024) SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Insecurity : The IACHR concerned by the intensification of violence in Haiti The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its concern about the intensification of violence in Haiti at the hands of organized criminal groups and calls on the Haitian State and the international community to seek comprehensive and lasting solutions to overcome the humanitarian, political, social and security crisis that the country has been going through for decades. According to the most recent data released by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), during the year 2023, more than 8,400 people were victims of gang violence, including people killed, injured and kidnapped. . This represents an increase of 122% compared to 2022. More specifically, Port-au-Prince accounted for 83% of recorded homicides and injuries. In particular, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), there is an increase in reports of elderly people, women and girls being brutally raped, tortured and kidnapped by gangs. The report also states that sexual violence against women and girls is used as a weapon of war, intimidation, territorial control and domination in areas controlled by gangs. In this context, a total of 3,056 cases of rape were reported between January and August 2023, representing an increase of 49% compared to 2022. The IACHR reiterates its call for global and lasting solutions to the crisis through a process of peaceful and inclusive dialogue, free and fair elections and the strengthening of security mechanisms. These solutions must integrate the protection of human rights from a gender and intersectionality perspective, the strengthening of democratic institutions, the consolidation of institutions responsible for citizen security and the restoration of citizens' trust in public institutions. . The IACHR reiterates its call to the international community, in particular to the States of the region and to the agencies of the regional and universal system while respecting the sovereignty and self-determination of Haiti to seek the most effective mechanisms more effective and participatory measures to adopt measures capable of putting into practice the principles of solidarity and cooperation at all stages of the identification, development and implementation of development and assistance actions, including increased food and humanitarian aid, working hand in hand with the country. These mechanisms should also focus on building, supporting and strengthening institutional capacities, civil society networks and public policies, which are essential for raising protection standards in the Haitian state. Learn more about the IACHR: The IACHR is a principal, autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate emanates from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission's mandate is to promote respect for and defense of human rights and to serve, in this area, as an advisory body to the OAS. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members, elected in a personal capacity by the OAS General Assembly and do not represent their country of origin or residence. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Mirebalais : 2 bandits killed At the start of the week, as part of an intervention carried out by agents of the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) and the Departmental Order Maintenance Unit (UDMO - West) aimed at dislodging bandits in the area of Fonds Cheval (Mirebalais), two bandits were mortally wounded in exchanges of fire with the Police. This police intervention follows the attack by armed individuals against the Terre Rouge police station, including the locality of Fonds Cheval, in order to provide reinforcement to the Departmental Police Directorate of the Center. Computer center for vulnerable young people With the support of the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health (UNFPA - Haiti), the "Fondasyon Ayiti Toma" launched last week a computer center aimed at promoting the socio-professional integration of young people in difficult situations, particularly those living with a disability in vulnerable neighborhoods. Duchity in solidarity with Digiciel "Duchity showed his solidarity today. The blockages erected for several days were removed and we were able to supply more than twenty sites to serve the population of Grande Anse" declared Jean Philippe Brun, General Manager of Digicel See als o: "Digicel: Supply and maintenance blocked" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41721-haiti-news-zapping.html Health : PAHO/WHO providing support in 25 camps In support of the emergency response of the Ministry of Public Health to displaced populations, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO Haiti), provided technical and operational support in 25 displaced persons camps. Treatment, epidemiological surveillance, vaccination and psychological support activities have been implemented. As well as the distribution of medicines and medical equipment. Aggressive behavior of police officers condemned The National Union of Haitian Police Officers (SYNAPOHA) condemns the aggressive behavior of law enforcement officers against the population during anti-government demonstrations. However, he invites the population to continue to support the police institution. Training on the repression of corruption The United Nations Development Program (UNDP - Haiti) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are delighted to support the School of Magistracy of Haiti in holding, February 20 to 22, training on the repression of corruption, financed by the Embassy of Canada in Haiti and "UN Peace Building". This training aims to provide judicial police officers with practical skills essential for the rigorous application of the laws. HL/ HaitiLibre Rosendale still hasnt declared reelection bid Former long-time Congressman and lobbyist Denny Reberg is looking to get back into the U.S. House of Representatives, declaring his candidacy for Montanas eastern district seat, joining a crowded field of primary opponents, one that does not yet include the seats current occupant Matt Rosendale. Rehberg announced his candidacy Wednesday, touting his years of experience in public service and painting a dire picture of the country under Democratic leadership which he cited as his primary reason for his run. Joe Biden is making America unrecognizable and I want our country back, Rehberg said. ... The number one question people ask me is: Why are you running for Congress again? Its a simple one-word answer: Grandkids I want to ensure there is a country left for our grandkids. When asked for further comment on his candidacy, a Rehberg press spokesperson said they plan to roll out Rehbergs legislative priorities and goals in the coming weeks. Rehberg was Montanas sole Representative in the House from 2001 to 2013 after years in the Montana State House and a term as Gov. Marc Racicots lieutenant governor after that. Rehberg lost a close Senate race in 1996 race to incumbent Max Baucus, but would later win the 2000 election for the states only seat in the U.S. House, a seat he would keep for six terms before losing another Senate race to Jon Tester in 2012. After losing that race Rehberg managed his familys ranch, several fast food franchises, and also became a lobbyist, serving as co-chair of Washington, D.C., public affairs firm Mercury. Rehberg joins a crowded field of seven other Republican candidates including Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen, State Auditor Troy Downing and Montana State Sen. Kenneth Bogner, along with former state senators Ric Holden and Ed Walker, former state representative Joel Krautter, and former Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Stacy Zinn, who have also announced runs for the seat. Business owner and community organizer Kevin Hamm and prominent Billings Democrat Ming Cabrera are running on the other side of the aisle. Arntzen put out a statement in response to Rehbergs announcement calling him a RINO, Republican In Name Only, and accused him of acting like a Democrat, across his career and of being a lobbyist with direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Potentially adding to what may already be a messy primary is the seats current occupant, Matt Rosendale, who has not said whether or not he will seek reelection after shuttering a run for Senate against Republican primary opponent Tim Sheehy and incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester after less than a week. Rosendales campaign did not respond by printing deadline to a request for comment this morning. Many conservative figures, including Montanas Republican Sen. Steve Daines, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have thrown their support behind Sheehy and urged Rosendale, whod been hinting at it for months, not to run so they could focus Republican support on one candidate and Rosendale could build seniority in the House. Rosendale declared his run for Senate earlier this month, opposing Sheehy on the grounds that McConnell and the Washington, D.C., Cartel or uniparty should not be hand choosing Montanas senator. but after Sheehy gained a public endorsement from former Republican President and current Republican candidate kingmaker Donald Trump, he dropped out after six days, declaring the electoral hill too steep, in the wake of said endorsement. Finnish Central Criminal Police are currently investigating a significant fraud scheme involving the misuse of social benefits provided by Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The case, which spans the years 2022 to 2023, involves fraudulent activities leading to a suspected financial damage of over 100,000 euros. Such extensive misuse of Kela benefits is rare, highlighting the exceptional nature of this case. The investigation has unveiled a complex operation where the prime suspect acquired control over dozens of rental properties in the Helsinki metropolitan area. These apartments were subsequently sublet to individuals registered as residents, who received housing and living support benefits from Kela. In a deceitful exchange, these tenants surrendered the apartments to the suspect, who then rerented them for cash payments. With at least 25 apartments identified as part of this fraudulent subletting operation, the financial impact on Kela and, by extension, Finnish taxpayers is substantial. The Social Insurance Institution became aware of the fraudulent activities through the Central Criminal Police and has since prepared legal demands for potential future litigation, signaling the seriousness with which it views this breach of trust. This case stands out not only for its scale but also for its breach of the societal contract, exploiting funds meant to support those in genuine need. Kela, in response, has condemned the misuse of social security benefits as unacceptable, emphasizing the harm it does to both the institution and society at large. In efforts to prevent such abuses, Kela collaborates extensively with other authorities, sharing information within the bounds of current legislation to combat grey economy activities and benefit fraud. The ongoing investigation into this large-scale fraud underscores the continuous challenge of safeguarding social security systems against exploitation. As the case progresses, it serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation among institutions and citizens to ensure the integrity of social support mechanisms. HT Shepherd faces legal trouble on multiple fronts Defying a judges order that she exercise no control over Shepherd Memorial Park, Melody Shepherd attempted to make attorney Michael Edney CEO of the cemetery and authorize him to hire a general manager to run the business on a day-to-day basis, court records show. As a result, Superior Court Judge Marvin P. Pope of Buncombe County found Shepherd in contempt of court, saying that the effort directly violated his previous court order and was in direct opposition to duties assigned by this court to the receiver. Popes order last month came in the three-year-old lawsuit by the North Carolina Cemetery Commission that forced the business into receivership and stripped Shepherd of any role in its operations. The contempt order added to a growing mound of legal trouble for Shepherd, the widow of Thomas R. Tom Shepherd, the third generation funeral home owner who died of severe depression on Dec. 31, 2021. Shepherd was charged on Jan. 2 with forging two checks for $3,000 in order to pay Jacob Watts for tree or excavation work. I'm not really interested in talking or whatnot, he said in a phone interview. She paid me. So whatever she does is on her. Asked whether the payment had been with forged checks, he said, No, because it wouldnt clear if it was forged. Watts, the owner of Broken Spur Tree Service and Excavation in Edneyville, refused to say whether the work he had done for Shepherd was the demolition of homes she owns on South Washington Street. That work also landed Shepherd in legal trouble. City Code Enforcement Officer Kathy Bragg cited Shepherd on Jan. 22 with three code violations for leaving construction debris on the lots where the homes were razed. The homes were in the 100 block of South Washington Street behind the former Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors building. Shepherd has also been cited for an ongoing code violation where shes got all her dead vehicles parked, Bragg said. Shepherd funeral home hearses, a van and other vehicles remain on the part of the parking lot that Melody Shepherd still owns. Theyre not tagged and theyre not operational as they stand, Bragg said. She knows it. Ive been back and forth with her. Foreclosure sale leaves balance of $916,080 Meanwhile, a final consent order in the foreclosure case against Shepherd and the funeral home property on South Church Street disbursed $277,473 in surplus funds to three creditors, leaving a balance of $916,080 that could ultimately go to Shepherd. The balance has been encumbered because of other lawsuits that are still pending, including the Shepherd Memorial Park receivership, court officials said. After the North Carolina Cemetery Commission sued the cemetery based on numerous customer service complaints, Judge Pope impounded its assets, appointed a receiver to manage the property, business and finances and barred Shepherd from any management or administrative control. As far back as July 2022, the cemetery commission filed a motion to hold Shepherd in contempt for refusing to turn over business records. Thirteen months ago, in January 2023, Edney was released as Shepherds attorney of record in the case and attorneys Stephen P. Lindsay and Mary Ann J. Hollocker were brought on. In a motion they filed this past Jan. 5, Lindsay and Hollocker themselves asked the court to release them as Shepherds attorneys. Although the attorneys have a good faith basis to move to withdraw, they said, stating the reasons in a public court motion would not be in the best interest of their client. Judge Pope delayed ruling on the attorneys request to withdraw. Judge appoints guardian ad litem In his order finding Shepherd in contempt of court, Pope noted that Shepherd in a Jan. 8 court hearing testified that she, as the sole owner and officer (of Shepherd Memorial Park), executed a corporate resolution on Jan. 6 purporting to appoint Edney chief executive officer. In drafting the document, Shepherd willfully violated the courts receivership terms and acted in contempt of court, Pope said in his Jan. 11 order. Nowhere in the order is there any mention of the $205,867.35 that cemetery commission attorney Sharon Alexander has said in court motions is unaccounted for. Attorneys agreed last May to hire a forensic accountant to try to track down the money. Popes order also appointed Brevard attorney Mack McKeller, a former District Court judge, as guardian ad litem for the business. Essentially my role I believe is to stand in the shoes of the corporation and act on behalf of the corporation in the corporations best interest, McKeller said in an interview. He said he is early in the process of obtaining information about the case. Obviously Im going to have to figure out whats best for the corporation and follow that rabbit down the hole. Attorneys Lindsay, Hollocker and Edney were all in court for the Jan. 8 hearing along with Shepherd and the court-appointed receiver, Gary McDowell, a court clerk confirmed. Subpoenaed to appear at the hearing were Edney, former cemetery employees Valerie R. Strickland and Daniel Allan Yaeger Jr.; and Dr. James J. Caserio, who was Tom Shepherds physician. Judge Popes order makes no mention of whether any of them testified. Melody Shepherds cell phone could not accept voice messages. Edney texted in a response to the Lightnings request for comment that he was tied up in court. Neither Hollocker or Lindsay returned calls seeking comment. BRAG honors top growers, friends of farming Blue Ridge Apple Growers President Rex McCall presented the Grower of the Year Award to Danny and Judy Justice. Around 300 growers, suppliers and industry supporters turned out for the 2024 Southeast Apple School Feb. 6 and 7 at Blue Ridge Community College. The two-day event featured site visits to two apple packing operations in Edneyville and more than 15 presentations at BRCCs Blue Ridge Conference Hall on such topics as ag-tourism, orchard weed management, apple breeding and direct marketing. Growers also celebrated the first official Apple Growers Day, now set on the first Wednesday of February thanks to a resolution adopted last month by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. North Carolina Apple Growers Association President Jon Klimstra, a Polk County apple farmer, presented the organizations Lifetime Membership Award to Tommy Atkins, who has devoted his career to selling, servicing and installing apple sprayers and packing machinery. I have 3 acres, Klimstra said. Every time I called him up and asked him for something I felt like I always got the same attention as somebody who had 200 acres. Blue Ridge Apple Growers President Rex McCall presented the Grower of the Year Award to Danny and Judy Justice. Other BRAG awards went to Gary Pryor, Lifetime Achievement Award; 2023 BRAG secretary-treasurer Dawn Creasman, Behind the Scenes Award; and Cooperative Extension migrant worker specialist Chris Just, Friend of the Apple Industry Award. McCall, president; Trey Enloe, vice president; and Linda Pryor, secretary-treasurer; were installed along with 2024 directors Grayson Laughter, Alan King, Cheryl McCraw, Bryan Gilbeert, Cole Revis and Todd Kirmss. AN art installation has been installed at Dorchester Abbey to honour activist Alexei Navalny. The installation, which was conceived and created by Adrian Brooks, who lives in the village, invites visitors into a 3m by 2m imitation cell like the one the anti- corruption campaigner lived in following his sentencing in January 2021. Now it has become a memorial following his death in prison on Friday. Navalny, an outspoken critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, had been sentenced to solitary confinement and hard labour for 28 years on charges deemed by human rights activists to be trumped up. His death has led to widespread condemnation of Mr Putin, with many accusing him personally. The outside of the cell features portraits of other prisoners of conscience who have been incarcerated and sometimes executed. On one wall is inscribed a quote from Navalny in Russian, which translated means: I am not going to call for violence or aggression of course not. Beneath it a message in English reads: At the end of the day, love and compassion will win. Inside the cell is a timer for three minutes a five millionth of Navalnys sentence. Visitors can close the door and set the timer, at which point music is played, to gain a sense of what it was like for him. Steph Forman, the abbeys events co-ordinator, said: Adrian approached the abbey and asked if he could do it. We worked together and found a space. The piece was originally centred around Navalnys incarceration as a prisoner of conscience, which sits well in a church. Adrian was inspired by what it would feel like to sit in a cell for that long and how a person would cope with that. By the time it was in the abbey, Navalny had been sent to the Arctic and within days of it being here, he was dead so what started off as an art installation has become more like a shrine. She said visitors were now using the installation as a way of mourning Navalny. She said: People are coming in with flowers and cards and using it as an opportunity to pray and think. It is a really thought-provoking piece. We get many visitors to the abbey who didnt realise it was there and it is a powerful piece. Theres a steady stream of quiet visitors. We have had other art installations but never anything as timely as this. Its moving. Rev Jane Willis, team rector at Dorchester Abbey, said: To spend three minutes in that cell with the timer going is an invitation to all of us to contemplate how we spend the time that has been gifted to us. We are really excited to host pieces of art which encourage people to engage more deeply with our faith. We thought Lent would be a good time to have this here, especially as we engage with the images of people who have really suffered for their faith. THE Reform UK parliamentary candidate for the Henley and Thame seat has been withdrawn over his offensive posts on social media. David Carpin, an IT worker from Woodcote, was sacked live on GB News by his party leader after he was asked about the Facebook posts, which comprised memes and cartoons. These included a photo of the European Union flag with the stars replaced with swastikas, a collage of three non-binary or transgender public figures and Adolf Hitler with the quote: [The] room is completely engulfed in flames, you can only save one... and cartoons depicting transgender women as mentally ill men. Another showed the date July 1, the first day after June, which is gay pride month, and a cartoon of a man sweeping the Pride flag into a gutter with the caption: Its July and Pride is a sin. Richard Tice, who leads Reform UK, a right-wing, Eurosceptic party founded with support from Nigel Farage in 2018, sacked Mr Carpin live on air after being questioned about him by GB News presenters Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce. He said: So he has posted some inappropriate and frankly daft stuff. Were a serious political party and Ive told our candidates, you dont put daft stuff up there. Hes an ex-candidate. Ive fired him. Hes not a candidate and thats the point. Im a serious leader that will take decisions immediately when they need to be taken. Hes gone. Hes done. Finished. And people need to learn a lesson that: Look, youve got freedom of expression, thats the joy of being in a democracy like ours, but Ive also got freedom of choice as to who is going to be my candidate and hes not going to be one of them. When asked if he was concerned about his partys vetting process, Mr Tice said: He was vetted before this and then at some point, I dont know, he has done something daft, written something daft, post-the vetting procedure. Theyve all been told: Dont do this stuff and if you do, youre going to be fired. Its as simple as that. Weve got lots more candidates great candidates applying. Mr Carpin told the Henley Standard he wasnt upset about his dismissal. He said: Its no big deal. Its more a problem for the voting public that under their own constitution they no longer have any form of freedom of speech or expression. There is no party out there that will support their constitutional rights. Mr Carpin said the posts were intended to provoke discussion. All of these are within the law, he said. They are intended to get a discussion about certain organisations. Nothing is about private individuals. We have freedom of expression so we can go to the market place of ideas. What I am looking for is individuals to come back with their opinions on things. He said the post comparing the EU to Nazi Germany was a statement that some see the union as a dictatorship. Caroline Newton, the Conservative candidate, described his posts as contemptible. She said: Freedom, including freedom of speech, is something millions died for last century. Invoking Adolf Hitler and Nazi symbols in defence of it is staggeringly insensitive and contemptible. A spokesman for Reform UK said a new candidate would be selected. This March, Marilyn Shapiro will be celebrating a milestone in her writing career: the tenth anniversary of her blog, There Goes My Heart. Wait! You don't know she has a blog? And if you knew, you have never typed www.theregoesmyheart.me into your browser? Well, you don't know what you have been missing! In 2014, with only about 10 stories published in the Capital Region, New York's The Jewish World, Shapiro decided that she needed a blog as another way to share her stories and to appease her inner geek. After researching a few options, she chose WordPress, "a web content management... (JNS) As word spread about four residents of Judea and Samaria being sanctioned for settler violence, some scoffed while others wondered what exactly the four did to deserve the infamy. I wonder what took them so long, said Professor Yossi Spiegel of Tel Aviv Universitys School of Management, president of the Israeli Economic Association. The international community considers the settlements illegal, but until now consequences were just a threat. Now they mean business. However, some are taking action. Marc Zell, an American-Israeli attorney who practices interna... (JNS) France banned 28 Israelis from entering the European country, accusing them of attacking Arabs in Judea and Samaria, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday. One day earlier, the U.K. announced similar measures. The statement did not name the 28 individuals who allegedly carried out acts of violence against Palestinians but urged Israeli authorities to put an end to it and prosecute its perpetrators. These measures come at a time when violence perpetrated by settlers against the Palestinian population has been increasing in recent months. France reaffirms its strong condemn... (JNS) Paris has brought a proposal to Beirut that aims to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah over the Iranian terrorist proxys cross-border attacks from Lebanon. Last week, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne delivered the draft document to top officials in the Lebanese capital including Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Reuters reported on Monday, citing four senior Lebanese and three French officials. Additionally, Jerusalem and Hezbollah were presented with the two-page proposal, underscoring the importance placed on it by French mediators. The proposal c... The attitude about antisemitic groups in Central Florida used to be if you ignore them, they will go away. Not anymore. Now people hold to if you see something, say something. On Saturday, Feb. 17, a group of neo-Nazi demonstrators stood on the corner of Lee Road and Orlando Avenue waving a Nazi flag and a Confederate Flag, while holding signs that read Jews love genocide, The ADL protects pedophiles and We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. The protesters drew the attention of Sen. Rick Scott, who posted on Facebook We... (JNS) U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that Israel should not proceed with a military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, without a plan for the more than 1 million civilians currently sheltering in the area. Speaking alongside the visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House, Biden added that there have been too many Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza. He appeared to cite statistics from the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, despite having criticized those numbers in the past. For the past four months, as th... (JNS) The Israel Defense Forces is expected to increase troop activity in northern Gaza in the coming weeks following attempts by Hamas to reestablish a foothold there. Israels Army Radio reported that the military is planning to carry out extensive raids due to increased activity by the terror group in northern Gaza, which included a rocket barrage on Sunday night that set off air-raid sirens in Ashkelon for the first time in nearly a month. The report also noted a recent gun battle near the coast in northern Gaza in which IDF soldiers killed five Hamas operatives. According to... Israeli soldiers and armored vehicles are seen as smoke rises in the background near Kibbutz Sufa on the Gaza border, July 17, 2014. (JNS) - The Israeli Defense Ministry has approved the purchase of more than 200 armored vehicles for civilian security squads in parts of the country facing increased security risk, including Judea and Samaria, the Gaza envelope and the Lebanon border. The purchase is estimated to be worth around 150 million shekels ($41 million), the ministry announced on Tuesday. The project is "intended to strengthen the resilience of the localities and the standby units" and provide a "quick response during a security incident," the announcement added. Standby squads are made up of locals, usually for... Last November, circumstance connected the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Orlando and Central Florida Hillel. On Feb. 9, 2024, that connection was solidified in the traditional Jewish manner over Shabbat dinner. The connection was, in fact, prompted by shared outrage. In November, local U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost, to the surprise and dismay of the local Jewish community, voted against a congressional resolution condemning the rise of antisemitism on college campuses in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas terrorists. Representative Frost met with students... (JTA) - Jewish billionaire businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein has reportedly agreed to purchase the MLB's Baltimore Orioles. Rubenstein, a Baltimore native who is best known as the co-founder of the private equity firm The Carlyle Group, is leading a new ownership cohort that includes Jewish former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Orioles Hall of Fame player Cal Ripken Jr. Rubenstein's group will initially purchase a 40% stake in the franchise, taking over from the Angelos family, who have owned the Orioles since 1993. The deal is valued at $1.725 billion, and Rubenste... By Christine DeSouza Natalie Sopinsky speaks candidly about Israel's needs February 23, 2024 Natalie Sopinsky speaking at Fellowship Church on Jan. 30, 2024 For access to this article please sign in or subscribe. (JNS) The National Library of Israel has embarked on a massive project to collect and archive all published materials about the Oct. 7 massacre, both the good and the bad. While scholars and the curious public explore the new library building in Jerusalem and its Israel, Judaica, Humanities, Islam and Gershom Scholem collections, Chaim Neria is quietly gathering more recentand sometimes painfulprinted and digital items associated with the murder by Hamas of some 1,200 people. The significance of this project to Israel and the Jewish people globally stems from its role in prese... (JNS) During his call on Sunday with U.S. President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the U.S. administrations move to sanction four residents of Judea and Samaria over purported settler violence, Axios reported. Netanyahus protest signaled his belief that the sanctions, allowing the imposition of penalties on Israeli officials directly or indirectly involved in vaguely defined settler violence, could have implications for the entire country, including the political and defense establishments, according to the report. During the call, N... (JNS) The Hamass Oct. 7 invasion of Israel has spurred a historic level of Jewish philanthropy, with the largest emergency fund set up when the war broke out alone raising nearly $800 million, the Jewish Federations of North America said on Monday. The surge in donations following the Hamas massacre that triggered the now four-month-old war created a huge surge in interest in giving to the Jewish state as it fights the Islamic terrorist group after years of decline in giving. In these past months, we have witnessed our community coming together in extraordinary ways and rising up... (JNS) Israeli forces in Gaza recently found a secret document written by a senior Hamas official detailing the terrorist groups psychological warfare strategy against the Israeli public, Channel 12 reported on Monday. Furthermore, the document was discovered at a site visited by Hamass senior leader in the Strip, Yahya Sinwar, according to the report. However, it was unclear whether the mastermind of the Oct. 7 massacre had penned the paper. The document orders that photos and videos of the Israeli hostages continue to be published due to the psychological pressure they... (JNS) I once heard a story about two Jews back in Russia who got into a terrible argument. Their blood pressure was rising fast. One fellow got so incensed that he shouted, I am so angry at what youve done to me that I uh I uh I know: I wont go to your funeral! Whereupon the other guy very calmly replied: I dont take revenge. I will go to your funeral. While other cultures sanction and may even encourage revenge, in Judaism revenge is explicitly forbidden (Leviticus 19:18). Some Muslim countries still practice amputation as a punishment for stealing. It se... (JNS) The media defies satire. Palestinians in Rafah Describe Night Full of Horror During Israeli Hostage RescueNew York Times Dozens reported dead in Rafah strikes as Israel rescues two hostagesWashington Post Israeli military says its rescued 2 hostages during Rafah raid; Palestinian officials say dozens of Palestinians killedCBS News Israel frees two hostages in Rafah under cover of air strikes, Gaza health officials say 67 killedReuters How bizarre is this coverage? Heres what normal coverage of a hostage rescue looks like: How Isr... Fatime Letifova At the Azerbaijan Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, a meeting was held with the World Bank delegation, Azernews reports. The Labour and Social Protection Minister, Sahil Babayev, said that a successful cooperation experience was formed between the Ministry and the World Bank in the past period. The achievements of reforms carried out in the social field in Azerbaijan and the steps taken in the direction of expanding active employment programs were brought to attention. The importance of joint projects with the World Bank in the process of social reforms and the expansion of employment programs was noted. One such project, the Employment Support Project, which aims to support 22,000 unemployed people's access to small businesses, was discussed. According to the project, about 14,000 unemployed people from vulnerable population groups were given assets, and small businesses were established for them in the fields of production and services. Also, in recent years, with the development of a new employment strategy, the improvement of the disability assessment system, the strengthening of potential in the field of adoption, etc., the positive results of cooperation in these directions were mentioned. Stefanie Stallmeister, the country manager of the World Bank for Azerbaijan, Mirey Ovadiya, a senior specialist in social protection issues, and others. They expressed their interest in cooperating in the process of social reforms carried out in our country. At the meeting, the current cooperation agenda, as well as the implementation of the Employment Support Project, and issues of future cooperation in the fields of labour, employment, and social protection, were discussed. Measures that would legalize medical marijuana, spend $125 million to combat pollution from forever chemicals and allow election officials to speed up the counting of absentee ballots all appear to be doomed as the Wisconsin Legislature approaches the end of its session for the year. The Assembly plans to meet for a last time on Thursday, while the Senate will return for a final day in March. Lawmakers will then quickly turn to campaigning for the fall election under new maps Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed into law on Monday. Republicans are expected to lose seats under the maps, which create more competitive districts. With the session almost over, the fate of some measures is clearer than others. Here is a rundown: Medical marijuana The proposal backed by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is dead under opposition from Senate Republicans. They objected to the state running dispensaries. Democrats who want full legalization also had concerns about how restrictive the proposed program would have been. Vos said he planned to hold a public hearing later to build support for next session. Tax cuts Evers has indicated he will support parts of a package of tax cut bills sponsored by Republicans that passed on Tuesday. The centerpiece of the package, a nearly $800 million income tax cut, appears to be the least likely to become law as it is similar to tax cuts Evers has rejected twice before. A measure expanding a child care tax credit, which got bipartisan support in the Legislature, is similar to an Evers proposal and appears to have the best chance of becoming law. Two other bills would increase the income tax credit for married couples and increase the amount of retirees income exempt from the state income tax. PFAS A Republican bill that would spend tens of millions of dollars on grants to help municipalities test for contamination from so-called forever chemical known as PFAS appears to be dead. The Senate passed the measure in November, and the Assembly was set to approve it on Thursday. But Evers opposes the proposal because it limits the Department of Natural Resources authority to hold landowners accountable for contamination. Absentee voting Vos on Tuesday urged the Senate to pass a bill that would allow for absentee ballots to be processed the day before Election Day, a bipartisan measure the Assembly already passed. Supporters have said the measure will speed up the counting of ballots on Election Day by easing the workload of election officials, particularly in Milwaukee, where the counting of ballots at a central location can go deep into the night. Former President Donald Trump and election skeptics have falsely claimed that those so-called ballot dumps are the result of election fraud. Child care The Senate passed a bipartisan measure that would extend Medicaid coverage for women in poverty who have just given birth from 60 days to a full year. Evers supports the measure, but Vos is blocking it in the Assembly, saying that I dont think its right to give it away for free. Vos said those in need of the coverage could leave state-funded Medicaid and instead purchase private health insurance. School safety The Assembly was set to pass a bill Thursday that would use state money to replace federal pandemic relief funds to fund positions in the state Department of Justices Office of School Safety for nine months. The current funding is slated to run out at the end of the year. Approval would send the measure on to the Senate, but it is unclear if it will get a vote there. Power lines The Assembly passed a bill that would limit competition among companies constructing power lines, but the proposal has yet to come up for a vote in the Senate. The bill would establish a right of first refusal on new power line projects for utilities already doing business in Wisconsin. Transmission line owners such as American Transmission Co., Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power Cooperative wouldnt face competition from out-of-state companies on projects that call for building lines that connect with their existing lines. Wolves The Legislature has passed a Republican-authored bill that would force the DNR to set a limit on the states wolf population in the agencys new wolf management plan. Evers is likely to veto it. (JNS) Nick Ut, a Vietnamese American photographer, snapped the Pulitzer Prize-winning picture on June 8, 1972 of nine-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc, burned by napalm, running naked down a road. She has been known throughout her life as the girl in the picture. That war correspondents poignant image both captured the brutality of the Vietnam War and greatly influenced American attitudes. A Feb. 8 article in The Wall Street Journal describes the accomplished Sheryl Sandberg and Her Mission to Make Sure Oct. 7 Horrors Arent Forgotten. The story shares that her film ... (JNS) It is time that the Jewish establishment infrastructure worldwideand Israels government, in particularrecognizes that at this time, the pro-Palestine resistance campaign we now witness seeks to terrorize Jews. It is not the normal type of antisemitism that we have studied, polled and prepared for. It is the extension of the war of extermination against Israel by eradicating the support of the Jews, and their allies, for the State of Israel. In a recent tweet I saw, Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll expressed her understanding of the feeling of pain and empathy for ch... (JNS) Staffan Tillander, a retired Swedish diplomat, wrote an assessment of terrorist-stronghold territories published by the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune. XX is only estimated to have perhaps 4 to 5000 fighters, but it thrives on rifts and conflicts in society threatening (the people) into obedience and forcing them to supply the group with support and people. It extorts taxes from businesses and individuals and kidnaps children and forces them to become fighters. As long as XX controls land in YY, peace and development will remain an uphill battle, with constant setbacks ... (FLAME via JNS) Refugee crises have afflicted millions of innocent war victims in the last century, but only one has stretched for a record-breaking seven decades a problem precipitated and perpetuated by Israels Arab enemies, including Palestinian Arabs themselves. In 1948, following Israels declaration of independence, five Arab nations launched a genocidal war to destroy the nascent Jewish state and annihilate its Jewish population. Despite overwhelming odds, Israel managed to repel the Arab invasion and preserve its independence. Because of this war, hundreds of thousa... By Harun Maruf Thursday February 22, 2024 Somalia's executive and legislative branches have approved a crucial 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced. Following a meeting in Mogadishu, Somalia's Cabinet approved the "Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement." Shortly after the Cabinet approval, the two houses of Somalia's parliament voted to endorse the pact in a 213-3 vote. advertisements Barre said the agreement will help to remove "any fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, toxic dumping and any external violations or threats" to Somalia's sea coast. Somalia has Africa's longest coastline.He described Turkey as a "true and reliable brother."President Mohamud, who also spoke to the media, noted Turkey is already helping Somalia with humanitarian assistance, budgetary support and the training of security forces.The new agreement comes amid increasing tension between Somalia and Ethiopia, sparked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between Ethiopia and Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region.Under the MOU, Somaliland would lease to landlocked Ethiopia about 20 kilometers of coastline along the Gulf of Aden, allowing access to the Red Sea. Somaliland said that in exchange, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent country. Ethiopia has not yet officially confirmed it will recognize Somaliland.Somalia's federal government, which considers Somaliland part of its own territory, sees the deal as a violation of sovereignty and is demanding its cancellation.Mohamud said the agreement with Turkey is not aimed against Ethiopia."We asked for the support not to fight Ethiopia or invade another country," he said. "It's to support us in defending our country. That is the origin of the agreement we have entered with Turkey."A Somali official who spoke to VOA Somali on the condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to discuss the subject with media said the agreement includes deployment of Turkish warships in Somalia's waters. It also includes "tapping marine resources for Somalia."The agreement was signed in Turkey on February 8 by Somalia Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Turkey Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler.Guler said at the time he believes the deal will lead to the further development of "our bilateral military relations."Mohamud said Somalia has been looking for a country to enter with a bilateral agreement on building a navy. He said Turkey was the first country ready to help.Asked whether the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia prompted the agreement, Mohamud said the government has been working on the agreement for some time."It's just a coincidence," he said.Ethiopia and Somaliland have defended their deal. Ethiopian Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed recently said his country does not intend to cause harm to Somalia."Ethiopia, being a friend, does not wish any harm to come upon Somalia," he said in a February 6 message posted on X, formerly Twitter."Ethiopia does not acknowledge war against any country in principle," he wrote. "However, some forces are trying to incite conflict between the two nations, which should not happen. Our request is for sea access based on mutual benefit."Turkey, the United States and Eritrea all have trained Somali soldiers with the goal of helping Somalia rebuild its army after decades of internal strife.In September 2017, Turkey established its largest overseas military training facility in Somalia. Since then, Turkey has trained thousands of Somali commandos known as Gorgor (the Eagle), as well as hundreds of officers and non-commissioned officers.Turkey said its engagement with Somali forces is to contribute to peace and stability in Somalia and improve the organization and infrastructure of the Somali National Army as it battles al-Shabab militants.Last week, Somalia's government and the U.S. signed an MOU for the construction of up to five military bases for the U.S.-trained elite Somali National Army forces known as the Danab (Lightning) Brigade.Hussein Sheikh-Ali, national security adviser to Somalia's president, told VOA last week that the U.S. will train 3,000 soldiers, most of whom have already completed the training. The aim is to start building the bases soon and finish within the calendar year, he said."It would look like a military camp with a full capacity to host special forces," said Sheikh-Ali.He also said Somali security forces are aiming to assume responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), which is expected to withdraw from Somalia by the end of 2024. Thursday February 22, 2024 Mogadishu (HOL) - Former Prime Minister and ex-President of Puntland State, Abdiwali Mohamed Ali Gas, urged Somali politicians to support the federal government in its defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey. Mr. Gas emphasized that the agreement is in the interest of the country's ability to secure its sea, prevent illegal fishing, and combat piracy. He also called for this agreement not to be politicized and urged support for the country's leaders in defending unity and preventing any threats. advertisements Somali Cabinet approved the "Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement" on Wednesday. Shortly after the Cabinet approval, the two houses of Somalia's parliament voted to endorse the pact in a 213-3 vote.President Mohamud noted Turkey is already helping Somalia with humanitarian assistance, budgetary support and the training of security forces.The new agreement comes amid increasing tension between Somalia and Ethiopia, sparked by signing a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between Ethiopia and Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region.The Somali government has vehemently opposed the agreement, alleging that Ethiopia aims to annex parts of Somalia's territory. President Hassan Sheikh has voiced this concern at African Union meetings and other occasions. Google has told suppliers to start making its Pixel smartphones in India by next quarter, Nikkei newspaper reported. This is part of Google's plan to ship more than 10 million Pixel phones this year, it added. The company had said last year in October that Google would start manufacturing smartphones in India and its flagship Pixel 8 will be available in 2024. Google has focussed on India as a key growth market as it aims to diversify its supply chain away from China, the Nikkei report said. A logo is pictured above the entrance to the offices of Google.(AFP) What is Google's plan for India? Google will prepare production lines for its high-end Pixel 8 Pro smartphones in the coming weeks. After this, it will start producing phones in the April-June quarter, the report added. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. However, it remained unclear as to how many phones Google plans to manufacture India. It is also unknown if the phones will be for sale in the country or for exports, the report claimed. Paytm shares fell around 3 percent today (February 22) as Goldman Sachs put a 'neutral' rating on the stock and cut the target price to 450 from 860 per share. Goldman Sachs decreased revenue and adjusted EBITDA estimates for FY24E-26 by up to 36 percent and 80 percent as they expect FY25 revenues to decline by 21 percent on-year. On February 21, Paytm stock closed 5 percent higher at 395.05 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Paytm share price: A QR code for the Paytm digital payment system at a store in Mumbai, India.(Bloomberg) Paytm stock fell after RBI imposed strict restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank Ltd. (PPBL) but it has witnessed a sharp recovery recently, hitting 5 percent upper circuit three days in a row after RBI extended the deadline to March 15 and Paytm struck a deal with Axis Bank. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Although, Jefferies discontinued its rating on Paytm and has moved it to its list of 'Non-Rated' stocks while Morgan Stanley maintained an equal-weight rating on the stock with a target price of 555. Bernstein remained bullish on the stock saying, Given the still depressed valuation and the removal of a major regulatory overhang, we see considerable upside and maintain our Outperform rating with a Target Price of 600. The evolving world of cryptocurrency has presented enthusiasts with a myriad of challenges and opportunities in 2024. Crypto giants like Bitcoin have seen ups and downs throughout their history as investors continue to monitor Bitcoin trends. Despite the enduring grasp of the bear market and increasing regulatory scrutiny, the crypto space may remain vibrant, with a multitude of trends shaping its trajectory in 2024 and beyond. Market Dynamics: A Prolonged Crypto Winter The persistent bear market, often referred to as "crypto winter," extended its grip for over 350 days. Fueled by multiple factors including the collapse of FTX, massive withdrawals, and widespread fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), the market has seen a significant decline from its all-time highs. But amidst these challenges, positive signals may still shine through. Bitcoin, a key indicator for the entire market, approached its 200-day moving average, possibly hinting at a potential end to the bear market. According to certain reputable finance platforms, bitcoin trends may suggest potential room for further recovery. The Resurgence of NFTs: Beyond the Market Collapse Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have experienced what appears to a notable resurgence despite a market collapse in November 2022. Some now predict that the NFT market could reach a staggering $231 billion by 2030. The gaming sector has proven to be a robust space for NFTs, with platforms like ImmutableX witnessing significant growth. Beyond gaming, NFTs may be integrating into diverse industries, including fashion and real estate, showcasing their versatility and evolving use cases as NFTs expand their reach. FTX Fallout: Impact on Cold Wallets and Market Consolidation The aftermath of the FTX collapse continues to send ripples through the crypto industry. The widespread incident underscores the potential importance of cold wallets in securing cryptocurrencies, exemplified by the seizure of hundreds of millions in assets from FTX's founder. Cold wallets, with their offline storage solution, are gaining increased interest, and some even predict a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 28% through 2028. Intensified Regulatory Scrutiny: The Call for Comprehensive Legislation The collapse of FTX has prompted intensified regulatory scrutiny, leading to calls for comprehensive legislation. While current US regulations on cryptocurrency remain limited, the government is taking steps to address criminal activities within the crypto industry. There is also speculation regarding the possible introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), offering a centralized and managed virtual currency. Environmental Impact of Cryptocurrency Mining: A Growing Concern An often-overlooked trend pertains to the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining. The production of crypto assets consumes between 120 and 240 billion kW hours of electricity annually, raising significant concerns about sustainability. Ethereum has taken steps to address this concern by transitioning to proof of stake, which may reduce its electricity use. However, Bitcoin's reliance on proof of work continues to contribute to environmental challenges. A Look Ahead: Navigating the Ever-Changing Terrain The cryptocurrency market is often defined by the ebb and flow of market trends, regulatory developments, and environmental considerations. While the bear market persists, there are possible signs of recovery and innovation. The evolving role of NFTs, the aftermath of the FTX collapse, regulatory adjustments, and environmental concerns collectively shape the crypto industry's future. Enthusiasts navigating this modern territory must stay informed about these trends to make knowledgeable decisions and anticipate the evolving nature of the cryptocurrency space. The crypto journey continues to require adaptability. Awareness of existing and incoming trends remains paramount for thriving in the dynamic and transformative crypto sphere. This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be used as investment advice. As with all investments, there is risk and the past performance of a particular asset class does not guarantee any future performance. Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its participation in the country's freedom struggle stating that unlike members of Congress who are true nationalists the "BJP and Jan Sangh never took part in the independence movement." Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (HT) Replying to the debate on the Governor's speech in Legislative Council, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "Are those who fought for the freedom of the country, who went to jail are not nationalists? Those who did not participate in the freedom struggle are not nationalists?" Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. READ | New low of appeasement politics: Union minister slams Karnataka govt for 10% tax on temples Explaining the role of Congress in the freedom movement in detail, Siddaramaiah said that there is no history available for BJP in its fight for the country's independence. "There is no history of freedom struggle for the BJP. There is no history of them fighting for the country. After the country got freedom from our struggle, now they are claiming to be nationalists. But the history of India has recorded who are the real nationalists," he said. While the chief minister was detailing the record and achievements of the Congress in the country's freedom struggle and nation building in the Parishad, JDS member Boje Gowda tried to intervene. READ | Karnataka govt to create separate ministry for NRI Kannadigas Reacting to the intervention by the member, Chief Minister said, "Boje Gowda, if you are secular, come here. If you are communal, stay there." On P Puttanna taking oath as member of Vidhan Parishad after defeating the BJP-JDS coalition, Chief Minister praised the Congress leader and said "Sir, you have won eight times. No one can match your record at present." Karnataka's Budget Session commenced on February 12 with the address by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Thursday demanded the registration of a murder case against those responsible for the death of a protester, Shubhkaran Singh, 21, of Bathinda, due to Haryana Police action at Khanauri on the Sangrur-Jind border. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal (in green turban) with additional director general of police (ADGP), intelligence, Jaskaran Singh and Punjab Police officials at Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on Thursday. (HT Photo) Pandher said the Punjab government should take action against the Haryana personnel for allegedly damaging 25-30 tractor-trolleys after entering into the states territory. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read: Punjab assembly budget session from March 1-15 A farmer died and 12 Haryana Police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on Wednesday. The incident took place when protesters tried to head towards the barricades put up to prevent their entry into Haryana as part of their Delhi Chalo march. Speaking to reporters in Patiala, Pandher accused the Haryana security personnel of entering into Punjab territory and using force against protesters at Khanauri border point. We want the Punjab government to register a case under Section 302 (murder of the IPC), said Pandher. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal demanded that the Punjab government give the status of martyr to Shubhkaran. Family members of Shubhkaran Singh, including his grandmother Balbir Kaur (extreme left) in mourning at Balon village of Bathinda district on Thursday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT) Dallewal also demanded that the Punjab government take notice of Haryana security personnel allegedly damaging 25-30 tractor-trolleys in Punjab territory. The farmer leaders gave a call for putting up black flags atop houses and on vehicles to register their protest against the death of the protester. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for the death. After the post-mortem, a case will be registered. The officials responsible for his death will have to face stringent action, Mann had said. Meanwhile, additional director general of police (ADGP), intelligence, Jaskaran Singh and Bathinda district police chief Harmanbir Singh Gill met Dallewal at the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where he was admitted on Wednesday night after he complained of uneasiness. Farmer leaders on Wednesday put the Delhi Chalo march on hold for two days after the death and said that they would decide their next course of action on Friday evening. Haryana Police on Wednesday fired tear-gas shells at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points multiple times to disperse groups of protesters when they attempted to move towards the layers of barricades stalling their march to the national capital. Thousands of farmers remain camped at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks agitating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver. The Punjab farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for 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. Terming the Ghar Ghar Muft Ration scheme launched by the Punjab government recently as illegal, the depot holders met Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, expressing discontent over the schemes negative impact on their livelihoods. The ration depot holders said the scheme is illegal and will affect their livelihood negatively. (HT File Photo/ for representation) The depot holders of Punjab stated that the state government cannot convert National Food Security Act (NFSA) wheat into flour and distribute it as the scheme of the Centre, which has 1.41 crore beneficiaries in Punjab. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Punjab Raj Depot Holders unions said that around one year ago, when Punjab government had announced atta scheme to the beneficiaries from ration depot shops, they had challenged this and filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High court on September 28, 2022. In reply, the Punjab Government withdrew the scheme, but they launched the scheme on February 10. The depot holders said that the scheme is illegal and will affect their livelihood negatively. Gurjinder Singh Sidhu, president of the union, stated that the bags in which the flour is distributed bears the name of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and photo of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, which directly reflects that they want to drive political mileage out of the scheme and are depriving the depot holders of their income. According to depot holders, the governments scheme, aimed at facilitating ration distribution to 25 lakh people, has put 1.15 crore individuals, who relied on ration Depots, at stake. The depot holders had earlier met Union minister Piyush Goyal on January 6. Karamjit Singh Arechha, the national general secretary of All India Fair Price Prime Shop Dealers Federation, said that the Punjab government is processing wheat received from the Centre under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojna to distribute flour among underprivileged individuals. Inadequate biometric machines pose a challenge, with only 1,000 available for use against the number of depots. Additionally, the AAP government had opened 437 Markfed Fair Price shops in Punjab. The government plans to extend these to 750 Markfed fair shops, allocating a budget of 670 crore for the schemes implementation. The government has transferred nearly half of the ration cards to Markfed fair price shops and has also provided them with all the biometric machines. Consequently, we will be unable to distribute wheat until we receive the machines, Singh said. In a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a day after the Supreme Court verdict in the Chandigarh mayor elections, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the party represents adharma (injustice) and uses all means to rig elections and topple governments. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal speaks during the Budget session of the Delhi assembly on Wednesday. (HT Photo) The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the results of Chandigarh mayoral polls and declared the Aam Aadmi Party candidate (AAP) the winner. The controversy erupted last month when the returning officer of the polls was caught on camera brazenly defacing ballots before declaring the BJP candidate the winner though the AAP and Congress alliance had more votes. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In Chandigarh, they rigged the election to turn the loser into winner. Same thing had happened in Pakistan elections. In Pakistan, the Rawalpindi election commissioner had confessed that election was rigged. They have turned our country into Pakistan. What our country had achieved in the last 75 years has been erased in one stroke, Kejriwal said during a speech in the Delhi legislative assembly. In his 17-minute speech, the CM said that divine intervention has taken place in the case of Chandigarh elections, crediting the Supreme Court for its verdict. He also said that only injustice is prevailing under the BJPs rule. Manish Sisodia, who tried to provide good education to poor children is in jail, and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is in power. Satyendar Jain who provided Mohalla Clinics is in jail and most corrupt people....are being added to their party and enjoying pleasures of power, he said. The reference was to two AAP leaders who were arrested for their alleged roles in excise and money-laundering cases, and the BJP strongman who headed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) despite charges of assault by women athletes. The BJP, in response, said that the Delhi CM will soon be going to jail -- a reference to repeated summons to him by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise case that he has skipped. During his speech, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP uses all tactics to win elections. They will manipulate EVM, use ED, and topple governments just to win elections. All opposition leaders are being put in jail so that there is no one left to fight elections. They sealed the accounts of the Congress and now it is being discussed that the AAPs accounts will be frozen. Bringing up the Chandigarh mayor polls, Kejriwal said: In Chandigarh election, they tried to rob democracy.... BJP was trying to get the cameras switched off but they remained functional. They tried everything but the cameras continued to record everything that was being done. It seemed as if there was some divine intervention in the Supreme Court as well.... It appeared as if God was speaking in the voice of Chief Justice of India. We want to thank the CJI for saving democracy in such tough times. The chief minister added that it was clear the battle now was between dharma and adharma, and concluded his speech to chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram. ALSO READ: Will Cong and AAP finally unite for Lok Sabha poll fight in Delhi? Kejriwal replies Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor, on his part, mocked the CM for invoking Ram and Krishna at a time when he was in the dock. No matter how much he invokes the gods, Kejriwal will have to go to jail. We are pleased to see that the chief minister has become Ram and Krishna devotee. A few years back, he used to say that instead of temple, schools and hospitals should be built. When a person is facing a crisis, he remembers god, Kapoor said. Kejriwal on Wednesday also came out strongly in support of the protesting farmers who have been stopped at the Punjab Haryana border from proceeding towards Delhi, saying that they should be provided a designated space to protest peacefully, and added that there is nothing wrong in seeking adequate compensation for farm produce. Speaking in the Delhi assembly, the chief minister said that the farmers want to come to Delhi, and being the capital of the country everyone should be allowed to come here. They have no arms or weapons and they should be allowed to come to Delhi. We also started our protest at Ramlila Maidan. Provide them Ramlila Maidan where they can sit and protest peacefully. Everyone has the right to raise their issues under Article 19 of the Constitution, he said. They will not give the just rates for crops and on top of it wont allow them to protest either, the Delhi chief minister said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in its excise policy money laundering probe asking him to appear before it on February 26, people familiar with the development said on Thursday. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Raj K Raj/ HT Photo) The latest (seventh) summons were issued after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener continued to skip interrogation by the financial crimes probe agency since November 2 last year. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. People cited above said Kejriwal needs to be questioned to know more about the alleged bribe amounts which came to the AAP and other leaders in the excise policy, and same were used for election campaigning. In its sixth charge sheet filed in the case on December 2, 2023 naming AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra, ED has claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party used kickbacks worth 45 crore generated via the policy for its assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022. The federal agency has already gone to the court against Kejriwal for disobeying its summons. The findings that AAP benefited directly are expected to be used by ED when it names the party in its next charge sheet. ED has claimed that total bribes worth 100 crore were paid to AAP leaders in connection with the excise policy. In one of its five charge sheets, ED claimed that the excise policy was Kejriwals brainchild. Kejriwal has also been mentioned in the remand papers with references to alleged meetings, commissions for private players, and the entry of political players and businesspeople from the south into Delhis liquor business. The financial crimes probe agency has so far filed six charge sheets in the excise policy probe against 31 individuals and entities, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Both Sisodia and Singh are currently lodged in Tihar jail. The excise policy was aimed to revitalise the citys flagging liquor business and replace a sales-volume-based regime with a license fee for traders. It promised swankier stores and a better buying experience. The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in Delhi. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxenas move to order a probe into alleged irregularities in the regime prompted the scrapping of the policy. The AAP accused Saxenas predecessor Anil Baijal of sabotaging the move with a few last-minute changes that resulted in lower-than-expected revenues. A joint committee comprising members of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday suggested that a portion of the 6.5-km Kushak drain near Greater Kailash-1 (GK-1) be covered with acrylic fiber sheets to temporarily block the foul smell emanating from the sewage, the panel informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) . Grievances raised by residents of GK-1 said that toxic gases were being released through the drain that flows through several neighbourhoods. Though 85% of the drain is covered, but it is open in the remaining parts, including the area behind GK-1s B block. (HT Photo) Informing NGT in a report, the committee has said that the stormwater drain is likely to be sewage-free by middle of 2025, with six out of the 11 sewage entry points already being trapped and connected to sewage treatment plants (STPs). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Last year in May, NGT formed the joint committee to look into the grievances raised by residents living in different parts of south Delhi, including GK-1, saying that toxic gases were being released through the drain that flows through several neighbourhoods. Though 85% of the drain is covered, but it is open in the remaining parts, including the area behind GK-1s B block. In order to mitigate the suffering of the petitioners and RWA (residents welfare association) and to safeguard the residents from the foul gases emitting out from the open portion, the RWA (GK-1) may be permitted to temporarily cover the drain by placing arch-shaped transparent acrylic fiber sheets or a removable pre-cast RCC slab, said the submission, dated February 19, adding that the RWA has already decided to do so, during an informal meeting held recently, by utilising its own funds. Kushak drain flows through a number of south Delhi neighbourhoods, including Chirag Dilli, Mehrauli, INA, Shahpur Jat, Defence Colony, GK and Pushp Vihar. It eventually meets the Barapullah drain and the sewage flows into the Yamuna. All drains in Delhi come under the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which also runs the citys sewage treatment plants. The report said that the six points from where sewage was entering the drain have already been connected to the existing STPs, with the remaining work to be completed over the next 18 months. Sewage was still entering the drain from five points Jagdamba camp in Sheikh Sarai, Krishi Vihar in Chirag Dilli, Press Enclave Road, Tigri & Sangam Vihar and Mehrauli, it added. Bimal Kapoor, secretary, GK-1s B block RWA, said that the RWA would welcome solutions and would be open to contributing funds to cover the drain, but MCD and DJB also need to do the same. Over 50 metres of the drain is currently uncovered, from which sewage flows right behind the houses and a strong pungent smell comes from the drain. Living in the area has become extremely difficult for the residents. Until the drain is sewage-free, we are open to temporary solutions, but it is difficult for RWA alone to fund the acrylic sheets. We want DJB and MCD to contribute too, he said. Top artificial intelligence (AI) experts and investors, who took part in the three-day groundbreaking ceremony (GBC) 4.0 that ended here on Wednesday, have expressed optimism over the state governments commitment and potential of Uttar Pradesh to become an AI hub. AI is a fast growing technology with vast applications right from the smartphones in our hands to accelerating social impact. (For Representation) On February 20, CM Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh is poised to emerge as a data centre hub with Lucknow as a prominent centre of artificial intelligence (AI) at an event held as part of the GBC 4.0. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Four weeks back, I met a delegation from Uttar Pradesh at the World Economic Forum in Davos. We held discussed and exchanged ideas on how the ETH AI Center and U.P. could build synergies, Daniel Naeff, head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, ETH AI Center, Zurich, Switzerland told HT. With the ETHs vision to lead the way towards trustworthy, accessible and inclusive AI systems for the benefit of the society, I realised how big a potential it could be with U.P. being the economic growth engine of India and having a focus on AI applications in the field of health, education and agriculture. There is a lot AI will change. It might not be as fast as some expect but it definitely will be transformative. And besides all its criticism, there is a substantial impact AI can bring in the economic growth, he added. Its exciting to see how much emphasis and investment U.P. is putting in strengthening its infrastructure, providing a great basis for Swiss innovations to access a large market with a tremendous impact potential, he said. Showcasing the cutting edge AI research and AI application during the GBC 4.0 was opportunity to strengthen potential ties with both ETH AI Centers innovation and U.P.s growth engine. The soon to be opened and largest airport of India in Noida (NIA), operated by the Zurich Airport International AG, could prove to be yet another great infrastructural advantage, Naeff added. Initiatives like Swiss AI where we advance the development of large, vertical specific (e.g. health) and open source AI Foundation Models could further benefit AI applications in U.P.. With ICAIN (International Computation and AI Network), an initiative geared towards leveraging the worlds most powerful supercomputers, U.P. and India in general could position itself at the forefront of AI technologies that are sustainable, accessible to all and help reduce global inequality in full support of the UN SDGs, he said. It is fast growing tech with vast applications Shekar Sivasubramanian, CEO, Wadhwani AI who signed an MoU with U.P. government said, AI is a fast growing technology with vast applications right from the smartphones in our hands to accelerating social impact. The Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence sees a significant opportunity in Uttar Pradesh. Our mission is clear to systematically and efficiently deploy our solutions for the benefit of the people. The MoU with the U.P. government enables us to scale multiple solutions across various sectors, including health, agriculture, education and urban development. We plan to leverage AI to bridge the gap between advanced technology and those needing it most, he added. We will collaborate with the U.P. government to identify and allocate resources effectively. The state government will appoint nodal officers to facilitate the integration of AI solutions in the department operations and digital ecosystem, Sivasubramanian said. The Maulana Azad Memorial Academy conducted a memorial programme at Eram Girls Degree College, on the 66th death anniversary of Maulana Azad, the first minister for education in India. A compilation of letters written by the activist, writer and senior leader of the Indian National Congress, was also launched at the event. Dr. Abdul Quddoos Hashmi, general secretary, Maulana Azad Memorial Academy, addresses the audience at the memorial function held on Maulana Azads 66th death anniversary (HT Photo) Several academicians, scholars as well as former bureaucrats and law enforcement officers were present to pay their respects to the education luminary. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speakers talked about Azads contributions to the Indian education system in his 10-year tenure as minister. He had a hand in the establishment of the Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Academy, IIT, Culture Council and more. Azad was also a journalist, and ran a magazine called Al Hilal, where he spoke of the British policy of divide and rule, and promoted Hindu-Muslim unity, it was said. In attendance at the event were Shailendra Sagar, former DGP (UP Police); Shariq Alvi, president of Maulana Azad Academy, Khwaja Kaifi Yunus, director, Eram Educational Society, among others. AYODHYA On weekdays, the destination of a dozen bankers from State Bank of India (SBI) in Ayodhya is not their branch office but the outpost that has come up at the Ram temple complex. Every morning, these officials gather here to account for each rupee that comes into donation boxes as an offering to the deity and work in two shifts to perform the task. Devotees arrive to offer prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, in Ayodhya on Thursday. (ANI Photo) Since the consecration ceremony on January 22, the Ram temple is seeing a surge in footfall of devotees and donations, bulk of which are coming online (details of which have not been made public). Temple trust authorities said apart from the online donations, cash offerings in small denomination currency notes are estimated at 4 crore since January 22 and the daily figure could be 13 to 14 lakh. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As most of these donations are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500, it is a mammoth exercise to account for the cash, including coins, said Ram temple trust office-bearers. To address the issue, a hi-tech cash management system has been put in place at the Ram temple complex by the Ayodhya branch of State Bank of India, which operates the account of the Ram temple trust. The bank has installed four automatic counting machines at the temple complex. The cash is put into these machines and the machines sort notes of different denominations and pack them in bundles. The temple trust expects a surge of footfall and donations during Ram Navami festival when about 50 lakh devotees will be present in Ayodhya. On an average, we receive cash donations of 13-14 lakh per day, said Prakash Gupta, office in-charge of the Ram temple trust. A dozen computerized counters have also been set up by the trust to issue receipts to donors while a dozen donation boxes of 20sq ft are kept at the temple premises. Soon, a big counting room will be constructed on the temple premises, said Gupta. The work of valuation of gold/silver jewellery and precious materials received as gifts for Ram Lalla has been handed over to the mint Institution of Government of India. The team has reached Ayodhya and started its work, said Anil Mishra, member of the temple trust. As per an MoU signed between SBI and the trust, the bank will take full responsibility of collection of donations, offerings, cheques, drafts and cash and depositing it in the bank, added Mishra. The counting machines automatically segregate notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 denominations and pack them in bundles of 100 each. With this, the counting work is completed in less time, he said. Bhiwandi: Three dacoits broke the main door of a bungalow owned by former municipal council chairman Sadhna Choudharys bungalow in Bhiwandi and after threatening her with sharp weapons decamped with gold jewellery and cash, totaling 21 lakh, the police said. HT Image According to police, the incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday when Sadhana Chaudhary was sleeping in the house. According to the police, three suspects entered the bungalow after breaking through the main door lock. They then entered the Chaudharys bedroom and threaening her with sharp weapons, decamped with 50 tolas of gold ornaments woth 20 lakh and cash of 95,000. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The police lodged a case under sections 454, 457 (house breaking) and 397 (Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of Indian Penal Code. Rohan Shelar, police sub inspector, Narpoli Police Station, said We have formed four teams on the instructions of senior police inspector Bharat Kamath. One team will scan the CCTV footage and identify the suspects another team will work on technical intelligence and work with local informers. Last week, the Legislature continued our work on bringing broadband to the entire state. LB61, introduced by Sen. Brandt, was advanced to Select File on the 15th of February. Dark fiber refers to the unused strands in an underground fiber optic line. Currently, there are fiber optic lines across the state that are not entirely used. This bill creates a new streamlined process for the leasing of dark fiber to serve unserved areas of the state. The bill would allow for public-private partnerships between utilities and internet providers to reach those high-cost areas of the state. Sen. Brewers LB895 was advanced to Select File as well. Currently, the Adjutant General of the Nebraska National Guard has the authority to provide incentive payments to encourage individuals to enlist or reenlist in the Guard. LB895 allows for the Adjutant General to also provide similar payments for commissioned officers. LB685, introduced by Sen. Lowe, is a bill to increase regulation and enforcement of laws involving games of skill. Amendment 2329 replaces all of the language in LB685, and it adds a definition for manufacturer of cash devices into statute and changes rules and licensing fees surrounding the manufacture of skill machines. A cash device is defined as any mechanical amusement device capable of awarding cash prizes or anything exchangeable for cash. AM2329 would also require background checks for any individual interested in applying for a license to own and operate these machines. Importantly, LB 836 was amended into LB 685. The bill creates a definition and regulation for a new class of alcoholic beverage: a co-branded alcoholic beverage. An example of a co-branded alcoholic beverage would be a hard Mountain Dew. This bill focuses on how and where these beverages are displayed in retail spaces. The speaker priority request deadline passed on the 14th, as did the committee priority and Senator priority deadline on the 15th. This session, I designated Sen. Brewers LB399 as my personal priority bill. LB399 would require that before public power entities or private electric suppliers construct an electric generation facility, they must first hold a public meeting, with members of their board present, affording the general public a chance to comment on the proposed facilities. The Transportation and Telecommunication committee has selected Sen. Mosers LB1200 and my bill, LB1031, as the committees priority bills for the 2024 session. LB1031 phases out Nebraska Universal Service Fund Support for services that cannot provide 100/20 Mbps over specified timeframes. NUSF provides telecommunication providers with funds to build out fiber and upkeep their infrastructure. Right now, we are subsidizing big national telecommunications carriers, well-capitalized corporations, to maintain the infrastructure those carriers have allowed to become obsolete. LB1031 ends this poor use of funds. Constituents can contact my office with any questions or thoughts on legislation impacting District 23. You can reach my office at 402-471-2719 or bbostelman@leg.ne.gov. MUMBAI: A special NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act court on Wednesday sentenced a 40-year-old Zimbabwean to 10 years of imprisonment for having 8.5kg of methamphetamine and heroin in 2022. The court has also imposed a fine of 2 lakh on the accused Rosie Diamon-. Zimbabwean woman gets 10 years in jail for carrying 8.5kg of heroin Diamon was arrested on February 13, 2022, based on a tip-off. A day before her arrest, the Air Intelligence Unit received information that a passenger would be arriving with narcotics substances. Accordingly, the unit kept a watch on the passengers. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The unit officers recognized Diamon through her passport and noticed she was carrying a trolley bag and a handbag. The trolley bag was checked, and it was found that the files and folders in the bag contained 8.486 kg of yellowish-coloured powder granules and white crystals. On going through the evidence in its entirety, it precipitates that the accused was found in possession of a commercial quantity of contraband methamphetamine and heroin. The evidence of the prosecution witness is trustworthy and reliable, said special judge AV Kharkar while convicting Diamon. In her written argument, the accused submitted that her cousin was part of a gang from Zimbabwe and that he had lured Diamon for money, handing over a bag which she was asked to carry to India, in which the contraband was found. Seeking leniency, the accused further stated she was unaware of the bags contents and belonged to a poor family with her children dependent on her. Considering the written submissions of the accused, the court noted that the accused had neither denied that the contraband was recovered from the bag nor that the bag from which the contraband was recovered was in her possession. Rather, in her written arguments, she has submitted that the bag was handed over to her by her cousin, who is involved with a gang. In such a case the court will have to presume that the accused was carrying the contraband and that her possession was conscious, the court said. Diamon was convicted of committing an offence punishable under section 8(c) (No person shall produce, manufacture, possess, sell, purchase, transport, warehouse, use, consume, import inter-State, export inter-State, import into India, export from India or tranship any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance), 21(c) (punishment for contravention in relation to manufactured drugs and preparations) of the NDPS Act. A Class 12 student died after he allegedly jumped off the 22nd floor of a building at a group housing society in Noida Extension, within hours of taking the board exam on Thursday, police said. In Uttar Pradesh, the police have often appealed to people, including school and college students, to dial emergency number 112 for help in case of suicidal thoughts. (Representative file photo) While the exact reason for the extreme step was yet to be ascertained, the police said the student, aged about 19 years, was unable to clear the exam last year also. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Around 4.20 pm today, the local Bisrakh police station officials were alerted about the student's death at the Mahagun Mywoods society. The police team rushed to the site and forensic experts were also sent there," a police spokesperson said. "The parents of the student were also there and they told the police that their son had returned home after taking the English Core exam for Class 12 today. After reaching home he went to sit on the terrace of the building at the 22nd floor. The family informed police that he was unable to clear the Class 12 exam last year also," the spokesperson said. Further legal proceedings in the case were being carried out, the police added. Mental health experts believe that suicides are preventable if first observers like parents, siblings, spouse or friends, recognise the behavioural changes in a person and talk to them in order to not let them doubt their self-esteem. In Uttar Pradesh, the police have often appealed to people, including school and college students, to dial emergency number 112 for help in case of suicidal thoughts. (suicide helpline - (If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secundrabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290)) Purnea: A woman assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was suspended on Thursday for allegedly demanding and taking a bribe from a rape survivor in Bihars Purnea. (Representative Photo) ASI Annu Kumari, posted at Sadar police station, was suspended after prima facie she was found guilty of taking a bribe of Rs.10,000 from a Nepalese woman to initiate a probe into the allegations of rape against a man. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. District superintendent of police (SP) Upendranath Verma said that Kumari was suspended based on the probe report submitted by the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), adding that further investigation is underway. The woman, a resident of Morang district in Nepal, in a video clip which has been circulating on social media for the past week, alleged that the woman ASI in Purnea took Rs.10,000 bribe from her to initiate a probe into the rape allegations. In the video, she alleged that one Shambhu Yadav from Purnea, with whom she came in contact with on social media, raped her on several occasions for over a year on the pretext of marriage. She alleged that she approached the police, and even here, a woman police officer demanded a bribe, which she paid to her. Taking cognisance of the video, Purnea SP directed the SDPO to probe the allegations, and after the investigation found the ASI guilty, she was suspended. Asia Economic Dialogue 2024, annual geo-economics conference, organised jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Pune International Centre (PIC), will be held in the city from February 29 to March 2. The event is organised jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and Pune International Centre. (HT PHOTO) Focused on the theme, Geo-economic Challenges in an Era of Flux, AED 2024 will feature 46 speakers from 11 countries who will participate in 12 sessions over three days. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The inaugural session on the theme Promoting Economic Integration in South Asia will be chaired by Amb. Gautam Bambawale, convenor, AED 2024, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan and former Ambassador to China and Bhutan. Panellists include Amb Vinay Mohan Kwatra, foreign secretary, Government of India; along with Amb Sewa Lamsal, foreign secretary, Nepal, and Amb Masud Bin Momen, foreign secretary, Bangladesh. The other highlight of the session is a one-hour fireside chat with Anniken Huitfeldt, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Norway, hosted by Amb (Retd) Latha Reddy, former deputy national security advisor of India and former ambassador of India to Portugal and Thailand, on the theme Women and Geo-Economics. The conference will feature 12 sessions over 3 days. These sessions will include Women and Geo-economics; Generative AI: Impact on Organisations and Society; Indias Role in Information Technology and Digital Diplomacy; The Third Globalisation; The Future Automobile and Future Fuels; Drones: Revolutionising the Future?; India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): A New Spice Route?; Reimagining and Revitalising the World Trade Organization; Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET): Securing our Future; and Expanding Regional Connectivity: Towards a More Integrated South Asia. The conference will be a dynamic platform for exploring and expanding on the most pressing matters of todays world, bringing together diverse perspectives to drive positive change, reads PIC release. The Earth Chem Laboratories, the pharmaceutical unit at MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) Kurkumbh allegedly found manufacturing banned Mephedrone (MD) drug, was operating without the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licence. The firm procured raw materials to manufacture the banned drug by claiming to make 25 types of drugs and medicines, said officials. The Pune police on Tuesday morning raided the unit and seized 700kg of MD, also known as meow meow, worth 1,400 crore and 400kg of the banned drug worth 800 crore was confiscated from Delhi. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) The Pune police on Tuesday morning raided the unit and seized 700kg of MD, also known as meow meow, worth 1,400 crore and 400kg of the banned drug worth 800 crore was confiscated from Delhi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In the ongoing anti-narcotics action, the Pune police have seized 1,100 kg of MD drugs worth 2,200 crore and several arrests have been made till date, the officials said. The police have written to FDA and MIDC requesting action against the unit. FDA on Wednesday replied to the Pune police stating that the unit never approached them for getting licence. According to the officials, the pharma unit procured environment clearance in 2022. Earth Chem Laboratories on paper had mentioned that the unit manufactures 25 drugs used in treatment for HIV, blood pressure, diabetes, anti-bacterial, Covid-19, herpes, and painkillers amongst others. SV Pratapwar, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune region, said, The Earth Chem Laboratories was operating illegally and without permission from us. The unit never approached us for licence. We routinely inspect licenced units in our jurisdiction. The unit claims to manufacture drugs but none of its medicine is available in the market. It was not on our radar as it was not a licenced unit. The singular success of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) which owns the iconic Amul brand spurred the Prime Minister to urge it to target becoming the largest dairy company in the world. Fifty years after it was set up, it is the eighth largest. That GCMMF has thrived, and not just survived, in a country where failed cooperatives are legion, is perhaps its defining achievement. PREMIUM Ahmedabad, Feb 22 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects an exhibition by Amul during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, in Ahmedabad on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (PIB) So, what has made it tick? GCMMFs secret sauce has many ingredients its natal link with the White Revolution, the enduring strength of the Amul brand, its exemplary nimbleness in diversifying offerings, among others. What sets it truly apart, though, is the trust its 3.6 million milk-producer members repose in its professional management. The model has become a template for 27 other state federations. Why havent cooperatives in other areas tasted similar success? Maharashtras sugar cooperatives did well initially before they started declining. Some failures have left cooperative banks teetering on the edge. Sugar cooperatives had no antidote for the toxic combination of administered cane prices and sugar imports to cool off prices. But they cant be absolved of poor management decisions, especially when they willingly became tools to further political interest and became a channel to launder money. Such problems have now become endemic to the larger cooperative ecosystem in the country. There is now desperation for reform. A start has been made with the RBI being made the regulator for cooperative banks and a Union ministry of cooperation to oversee multi-state cooperative societies. Professionally managed cooperatives, where the agency of member units is not circumscribed no matter what their respective political affiliations are, can rekindle optimism about the space. Everyone can learn from Amul. Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now! Continue reading with HT Premium Subscription Daily E Paper I Premium Articles I Brunch E Magazine I Daily Infographics Subscribe Now @1199/year Already Subscribed? Sign In When will I start working? have you asked yourself this question as a teenager? Right from our adolescent years or maybe even earlier than that, we start having serious thoughts about working in a good position as an adult - whether it be in the corporate sector or the government machinery, and earn sufficiently well to lead a life of comfort and purpose. Individuals who are willing to do all that it takes to start their venture create employment opportunities for others while being their own masters at the same time. (Shutterstock) While getting employed is a normal and universal phenomenon, how would the scenario be if you were to be a job creator rather than a job seeker? As simple as it may sound, this option is only considered by individuals who are willing to do all that it takes to start their venture, thereby creating employment opportunities for others while being their own masters at the same time. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Surveys done as recently as September 2023 show most of the millennials and Gen-Z are inclined towards starting their businesses but not always able to make much headway owing to familial responsibilities or financial constraints. Also read: PM inaugurates 3 IIMs, lays foundation for permanent campuses of 3 IITs The road to becoming an entrepreneur is not all rosy it may take months, even years to set up your dream project. You must be ready to take all the risks that come your way in order to reap the harvest eventually. But if you have a good plan in mind with a solid determination to materialize it, the outcome is bound to yield the desired results. Thankfully, there are several schemes launched by the Government of India today that aim to aid individuals, particularly the youth in their journey to entrepreneurship. Some of these schemes include Startup India, Standup India, Atal Innovation Mission, and Credit Guarantee, to name a few. To know more about the benefits of becoming a job creator, Hindustan Times spoke to some of the entrepreneurs who were once employed in well-paying jobs but chose to carve out a different niche for themselves. 1. Gives you a new identity A primary benefit of becoming an entrepreneur is that it gives you a new identity and a sense of pride. Take the example of Avilekh Ranjan Das, a former employee of Amazon who decided the turn the table and do something on his own. Today, he is a proud owner of a popular resort in Guwahati. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Avilekh recalled, After an incredible 5-year stint in Amazon, I wanted to start a venture of my own. I had been thinking about it for the longest time. I returned to my hometown with a clear objective to set up a business for myself. Although I am still on the journey, I am proud to be called an entrepreneur. It has allowed me to see life from another perspective, facing challenges head-on, and the importance of keeping patience in life. 2. A solution to unemployment Unemployment continues to be a major issue in India, with most individuals still finding it difficult to get employed. This is where you can make a change by becoming an entrepreneur. In other words, by setting up a business, you also open avenues for others to join your firm. By setting up my resort, I have also ensured that I generate employment opportunities as most of the staff that are working in my resort are from the rural belt who were unemployed for a very long time, said Avilekh. Also read: ICSE English Language Paper 2024 was balanced and Easy, says students 3. Success hits you differently It's true that being employed in a job is safe and leads you to success as you climb up the corporate ladder. Yet, the happiness you derive when your own venture touches the profit charts is unparalleled, as the profit not only relates to your success but provides immense gratification for being able to create smiles in the lives of others. For instance, Bichitra Kumar Sarma, a real estate developer, once occupied a managerial position at Macneil and Magor Limited, a tea company of great repute in India. However, he chose to be on his own and be a job creator rather than a seeker. He said, Despite the company providing me with good perks and a reasonably good pay package, I always had it within me to do something on my own and become a service provider. This urge and self-belief prompted me to leave the company and start my business as a real estate promoter, generating self-employment for a few associated with my company. 4. Attaining leadership qualities Being a job creator requires you to have leadership qualities to ensure your business is on the right track. The values you set as the team leader is a primary motivating factor for your employees, said Gangesh Das, who risked all odds to start his transport venture. He stated, When you are start your venture, you will have to be ready to take risks, and constantly give your team the motivation when times are tough. You can only excel as an entrepreneur when you have a team that looks up to you as the pilot of the ship, and not someone who only gives instructions. 5. The experience of a lifetime Finally, the thrilling part of being an entrepreneur is that you will have the experience of being a provider and social benefactor throughout your life. The glamour of a white-coloured job is certainly satisfying. But it cannot substitute the gratification of the job creator as the impact of his efforts perpetuates through generations culminating in the benefit of many others and by extension, of the society at large, said Bibhuti Dutta, an established businessman and Resident Director at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (North East Region). Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba is one of the biggest anime sensations of the past decade. The series has won the hearts of millions of fans with its captivating story, stunning animation, and memorable characters. Whats Next for Demon Slayer? Find Out in the Theatrical Event and Season 4(Ufotable, Inc.) As the series approaches its final arc, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke must train under the Hashira, the strongest demon slayers, to prepare for the ultimate showdown with Muzan Kibutsuji. Along the way, they will face new enemies, allies, and revelations that will test their resolve and determination. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. If you are a fan of the series, you wont want to miss the new season that is coming soon. But before that, you can enjoy a special theatrical event bridging the gap between Season 3 and Season 4. The event is called Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training, and it will feature the last episode of Season 3, A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light, and the first episode of Season 4 in a movie-like format. The event will be screened in theatres in 140 countries around the world. Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training will debut in North America on February 23, 2024. ALSO READ| Full list of Spring 2024 anime releases: Blue Lock, Demon Slayer, Kaiju No. 8 and more Here is the list of the release dates and regions for the Demon Slayer Season 4: February 21: Malta, Switzerland (French-speaking), India. February 22: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland (German-speaking), Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela. February 23: Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States. February 24: Belgium, Estonia, France (note: two-day event screening), Luxembourg, and select countries in French-speaking Africa. February 27: Austria, Germany. ALSO READ| One Piece Chapter 1108 leaks hint at key character's death, will he die exposing secrets? All we know Where can you buy tickets for Demon Slayer Season 4? Here is the official website's link. What About Streaming Demon Slayer Season 4? If you prefer to watch Demon Slayer Season 4 on streaming, you will have to wait a bit longer. The new season will be streamed on Crunchyroll sometime later this year. The exact release date is not yet announced, probably because of the theatrical event. We will keep you posted on the latest news about the animes return to streaming. Esha Deol, earlier in February, announced her separation from husband, Bharat Takhtani. She was recently in Goa for Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani's beach wedding. On Thursday, Esha shared her first Instagram post since announcing her separation. The actor posted a sun-kissed selfie of herself from a car. Also read: Esha Deol, husband Bharat Takhtani head for separation; read their full joint statement here Esha Deol posted her first pic after announcing separation. Esha Deol's Instagram post "No matter how dark it gets the sun will rise (yellow heart and sun emoji)," Esha wrote in the caption. She added the hashtags 'sunshine, sunrise and 'gratitude' to her caption. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Esha wore a Dior hat and a black top in the picture that was seemingly taken on Thursday as she travelled after attending Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani's Goa wedding on Wednesday. "You are gorgeous. You are beautiful. You are strong and dont let anyone let you doubt that," read one of the comments on Esha's new Instagram post. Esha and Bharat's relationship Esha Deol is the daughter of veteran actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini. She and Bharat Takhtani married in Mumbai in 2012. They share two daughters Radhya, who was born in 2017, and Miraya, born in 2019. After more than 11 years of marriage, Esha and Bharat Takhtani announced their separation earlier in February. They said in a joint 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. Wed appreciate our privacy is respected." Dharmendra sad about Esha Deol's separation As per a report by Bollywood Life, Esha's father, veteran actor Dharmendra, is 'sad' about the couple deciding to end the marriage, and thats the reason he wants Esha and Bharat 'to reconsider getting separated'. A source had told the portal, "No parents can be happy seeing their childrens family being broken. Even Dharmendra ji is a father and one can understand his pain. Its not that he is against his daughters decision to get separated but wants her to rethink over it." The source added, "Esha and Bharat both respect Dharmendra immensely. He is like a son to the Deol family, while Esha is the apple of the eye of father Dharmendra and he wants her to be happy always. As her family is getting hooked, he is indeed sad, and thats the reason he wants them to reconsider getting separated. Esha and Bharat have two daughters, Radhya and Miraya. They are very close to their grandparents, paternal and maternal. Separation affects the kids badly and hence Dharamji feels if the marriage can be saved they should." Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Kunal Kemmu is not sure whether viewers should be taking the portrayal of portrayal of alpha male heroes in films like Kabir Singh and Animal seriously. In a new interview on Raj Shamani's YouTube channel, the actor said that in reality if one practices such selective alpha traits, they will get beaten up and end up in jail. (Also read: Huma Qureshi 'really loved' Animal, wants to 'do a film where I can hold a machine gun, kill thousands of people') Kunal Kemmu also shared what he felt while watching Ranbir Kapoor's Animal. What Kunal said Speaking about the portrayal of alpha male heroes, Kunal said, Isko sahi-galat bol ke fayda nahi hai, kyuki aap ek human tendency aur trait ki baat kar rahe ho Aap samajdar ho, aap kar lo try. Aapko aisa banda chahiye? Jab teen din aapko thappad padenge, chaute din aap bologe ki main police ko phone kar dungi. Usko bhi samajh aa jayega aapko bhi samajh ajayga (There's no point in terming it as right or wrong. You are sensible, try it out. You want such a guy? When he will slap you for three days, you will file a police complaint on the fourth day. Both of you will know what's the deal). Become the alpha in the true sense Kunal further added that even he felt like hitting someone while he was watching Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal because that is what Cinema does, it makes one feel strong emotions. Become the alpha in the true sense. It is very easy to sit here today and say I want to be a selective alpha. Do the entire thing. Or if you want to be selective, live the life. See where it goes. You will either go to jail, either get beaten up Acchi picturein dekh ke, Munnabhai 2 dekh ke Gandhigiri bhi sikh lo (Watch a good picture like Munnabhai 2 and learn some nonviolence)! he added. Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal remained unstoppable at the ticket counters despite many calling out the film for toxic masculinity, violence and misogyny. Apart from Ranbir, the film starred Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in pivotal roles. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place The Columbus Alzheimers/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at the Columbus Senior Center (old hospital), 3111 19th St. Attendees should use the door on the north side. Adam Lassen will be the facilitator. There will be information and conversation about Alzheimers and dementia. For more information, contact Lassen at 402-910-8111 or Martha Davidson at 402-910-8580. Actor Sonam Kapoor described her father and actor Anil Kapoor as an extreme one who doesnt smoke or drink. Talking at the launch of Dr Shiv K Sarins book Own Your Body: A Doctors Life-saving Tips in New Delhi, she explained the lifestyle of the three brothers - Anil, Boney and Sanjay. (Also Read: Sonam Kapoor wore mom's 35-year-old Gharchola for a wedding) Sonam Kapoor called her father Anil Kapoor an 'extreme one' They are all good looking men Talking about her father and uncles, the Neeraja actor said, My father is an extreme, he doesn't drink, smoke or doesn't do anything. Boney chachu loves the good life, he loves to eat, occasionally he likes to drink, and Sanjay chachu is a moderate one, in between. But they all are good looking healthy men. She also cited the example of film producer and her grandfather Surinder Kapoor, pointing out how he looked the same till he passed away in 2011, besides the white hair. The book launch was also attended by Sonam's husband Anand Ahuja and father-in-law Harish Ahuja. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. My mom helps him stay healthy Despite Anil staying away from smoking and drinking, Sonam said that its her mom Sunita who is health conscious and keeps him in check especially when he feels like indulging himself. She also stated that her mom has been health conscious from the very beginning. Honestly, since I remember my mom started the first personal training gym in Mumbai. This was many many years ago, she said, adding, So it is my mother who has been very very healthy from the very beginning. Very health conscious. My dad would love to indulge sometimes but my mother kind of controls him like a very good Indian wife. Upcoming work Sonam took a break from acting after the 2019 film The Zoya Factor, playing a cameo in the 2020 film AK vs AK. She made a comeback in the 2023 film Blind, which did not receive favourable reviews. Anil was recently seen in the Siddharth Anand film Fighter with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as his co-stars. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Shutting all controversial headlines down, the Queen returns with another groundbreaking win. On Wednesday, Beyonce became the first Black woman to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, all thanks to her latest track, Texas Hold Em. FILE - Beyonce performs at a Get Out the Vote concert for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 4, 2016. Beyonce teased the possibility of new music during a Verizon Super Bowl ad, and then added a cryptic Instagram video that ended with the words "act ii" and a release date of March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)(AP) Her song was released on February 11, during the Super Bowl, and instantly debuted at the top of the Hot Country Songs chart. While it isn't the first time for her to top the Billboard charts, she's now won the unattainable, too. Beyonce's starry solo career has landed at the top of the Hot 100 eight times so far. She keeps conquering the music land, and her latest victory comes with yet another song from her forthcoming album - 16 Carriages - securing the Number 9 spot on the country music chart. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Texas Hold Em sits tight on its debuting position No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, right above Kanye West and Ty Dollar $ign's brand-new song Carnival. Beyonce's 16 Carriages grabbed the 38th spot on the Hot 100. Also read: #TSTheErasTour: Taylor Swift's Melbourne Moment was a showstopping attraction for Australia's culture hub About Texas Hold Em and Beyonce Billboard landmark The new uptempo Beyonce song is the lead single of her upcoming album, which also appears to be a full-fledged country collection. Scheduled to release on March 29, this album has been proclaimed the Act II of the three-act music project that started with the 2022 masterpiece, Renaissance album. Texas Hold Em has been particularly praised for reclaiming country music's Black roots. Beyonce Texas Hold Em controversy The new track was also shrouded in controversy when the country radio station KYKC rejected a request to play it. Its general manager, Roger Harris, denied the request, stating that they don't play Beyonce because they are a country music station. His reply went viral, launching a new X (formerly Twitter) trend, #Beyonceiscountry. The station personnel eventually clarified that they had no idea the song had country inclinations. With the country genre predominantly decked with hits by white artists, Beyonce's intervention has re-opened a significant conversation around diversity therein. In addition to topping the country charts, Beyonce is the first woman to lead the R&B/ hip-hop charts since the genre charts were instituted in 1958. Billboard confirms that she has joined the ranks with Morgan Wallen, Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus and Ray Charles, the only acts to have conquered both charts. Beyonce also shares the No. 1 country song spot with Taylor Swift since they're the only two solo women artists to have debuted atop the chart. When Mansoor Ali Khan commented that he wished he had exploitative scenes with actor Trisha in Leo, she seemed to forgive him after he publicly apologised to her. He even filed a legal case that backfired on him. However, she seems to be not in the mood to forgive and forget the allegations former AIADMK member AV Raju has made against her. (Also Read: Trisha furious at former AIADMK member's disgusting comments on her: Low life and despicable human being) It looks like Trisha is in no mood to forgive and forget this time Trisha sends defamation notice Trisha took to X to share pictures of the defamation notice her lawyers sent to Raju on Wednesday. The statement refers to him talking to the press recently and claiming that what he said about Trisha was taken out of context. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In the legal notice, Trishas lawyers asked him to compensate her, though the actor blurred out the amount she asked of him. Raju has also been asked not to issue any more defamatory statements on Trisha, take steps to remove all the articles published on various publications and social media, apart from tendering an unconditional apology to her 24 hours after he receives the notice. The notice also claimed that failure to do that would result in her proceeding with criminal and civil action against Raju. It also stated that he would be liable for all costs after that. Given that the notice was sent to him on Wednesday, it remains to be seen if Raju will speak to the press again. What transpired AV Raju, recently expelled from AIADMK, alleged that Trisha was brought to a resort on the insistence of an MLA for a particular amount of money. Responding to his allegations on X, Trisha had written, It's disgusting to repeatedly see low lives and despicable human beings who will stoop down to any level to gain attention. Rest assured, necessary and severe action will be taken. Anything that needs to be said and done henceforth will be from my legal department. Upcoming work Trisha will return to Telugu cinema after years with Chiranjeevi co-starrer Vishwambhara, directed by Vassishta of Bimbisara fame. She will also soon be seen in Mani Ratnams Thug Life with Kamal Haasan, apart from Vidaa Muyarchi with Ajith Kumar. She is also shooting for films called Ram and Identity in Malayalam. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela were blessed with a baby girl in June last year, and they named her Klin Kaara. And now, Upasana is ready for round two and have another baby soon. Talking to iDream Media on the sidelines of an event in Hyderabad, Upasana spoke about womens health, her choice to have a baby later in life and more. (Also Read: Ram Charans sister-in-law welcomes twins. 'Awesome threesome', says Upasana) Upasana and Ram Charan with their first born Klin Kaara Upasanas statement Talking about how womens health matters, Upasana said, I feel our health also matters and we must put ourselves in front. If we dont care for ourselves, no one else will care for us. I really feel like women dont have to suffer when there are solutions here. Women can make a choice when they want what in their lives. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Talking about having Klin Kaara at 34, she said, I made a choice to have a kid late in life, and I dont regret it at all. That was my choice; that was my thing to do. And Im ready for round two whenever my doctor is. My health, my choice, hinting that shes looking to have another baby soon. Ram and Upasana Ram and Upasana were friends for years before dating and getting engaged in 2011 and married in 2012. On June 30, 2023, they welcomed their first child. The couple often shares a glimpse of their lives on social media, especially when they head on vacations together. Ram and Upasana were recently present at the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. Rams father, actor Chiranjeevi and several other celebs also attended the ceremony. Upcoming work Ram is currently shooting for Game Changer with director Shankar and actor Kiara Advani. The film will release this year. He will resume shooting for Uppena director Buchi Babu Sanas untitled film. Casting is currently in progress and the rest of the cast is yet to be announced. Music composer AR Rahman has been brought on-board the exciting project that will see Shiva Rajkumar in a key role. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Ciao, belle! Rashmika Mandanna, who was last seen in Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal, is now grabbing attention on the global fashion stage. She made an appearance at Milan Fashion Week 2024 on Wednesday. The actor took to Instagram Stories to share pictures of herself decked up in a sleek black outfit paired with matching black boots as she attended a fashion show in Milan. Also read: Rashmika makes it to 2024 Forbes India list of 30 under 30 Rashmika Mandanna looked stunning in black at Milan Fashion Week 2024. Rashmika Mandanna dazzles at Milan Fashion Week At Milan Fashion Week 2024, which runs from February 20-26, Rashmika wore a black dress with a long black coat. Sharing her picture from a fashion show, she wrote on Instagram Stories, "Milan for a minute." She wrote with another photo of herself posing at the fashion show, tagging her hair and makeup team, "When the girlies do their magic on me..." Rashmika also shared a glimpse of models walking the runway at the fashion show. She also posted photos of herself posing on the streets of Milano on Instagram. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Rashmika Mandanna shares pictures of herself at Milan Fashion Week 2024. When Rashmika's flight made emergency landing Rashmika recently made news after she said she 'escaped death' and posted a photo on Instagram following an emergency landing of her flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad. As per a recent report by Deccan Chronicle, the actor's flight was forced to land due to 'a technical glitch and extreme turbulence'. Rashmika is set to appear on the sixth season of actor Neha Dhupia's chat show No Filter Neha, and was recently in Mumbai for the recording of the show with Neha. Rashmika's projects Rashmika is flying high on the success of her action film Animal. Helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film also starred Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Anil Kapoor in the lead roles. Animal was one of the most successful films of 2023, and there's also buzz around a sequel, titled Animal Park. Rashmika will soon be seen in Pushpa 2, titled Pushpa: The Rule, with Allu Arjun. The film is slated to be released on August 15. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had recently summoned and questioned actor and Bigg Boss 16 contestant Shiv Thakare in an alleged money laundering case linked with alleged drug lord Ali Asghar Shirazi. According to a report by Free Press Journal, Shiv's statement was recorded as a witness in this case. The ED also summoned his Bigg Boss 16 co-contestant Abdu Rozik to appear before it. Also read: Abdu Rozik refutes claims of FIR against him for allegedly 'playing' with a loaded gun at his Mumbai restaurant Bigg Boss 16 contestants Shiv Thakare and Abdu Rozik have been summoned by the ED as witnesses in a money, as per a report. Shiv Thakare, Abdu Rozik summoned Per the portal, Ali Asghar Shirazi had floated Hustlers' Hospitality Pvt Ltd., which financed several startups including that of Shiv Thakare and Abdu Rozik. The company apparently made money through narco-fundinging in several startup projects, including Thakare Chai and Snacks, a food and snack brand and a restaurant. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Abdu Rozik also ventured into the fast food startup scene with Burgiir, a burger brand, in partnership with Hustlers Hospitality Through Hustlers. Reportedly, Ali Asghar Shirazi made substantial investments in Burgiir. According to Free Press Journal sources, both Shiv and Abdu terminated their contracts after learning about Ali Asghar Shirazi's reported involvement in narco business. Earlier in 2023, Abdu had opened his burger restaurant in Mumbai; several celebs, including Sonu Sood had attended the opening bash. More details According to sources, during his statement to the ED, Shiv Thakare revealed that he met Krunal Ojha, the director of Hustlers Hospitality, through someone in 2022-23. Krunal offered him a partnership deal for the Thakare Chai and Snacks. According to the contract, Hustlers Hospitality invested a substantial amount of money in Thakare Chai & Snacks. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Ex-Bigg Boss Telugu contestant, YouTuber and actor Shanmukh Jaswanth finds himself in legal trouble again. According to a report by TV9, the actor was taken into custody in Hyderabad after ganja was found at his home. (Also Read: Bigg Boss Telugu 7: Pallavi Prashanth declared winner, his fans attack runner-up Amardeeps car. Watch) This is the second time Shanmukh Jaswanth finds himself in legal trouble(Instagram) Brothers arrested Shanmukhs brother Sampath Vinay allegedly dated a woman for years and even got engaged to her. But a week before their wedding, he married another woman. The woman he was engaged to filed a complaint with the Hyderabad police, claiming that Sampath cheated her. She met Sampath through Shanmukh and also alleged that his parents pressured her to move on given that hes now married to someone else. The report states that on Wednesday evening, the police went to Shanmukhs house in Hyderabad to arrest his brother. While he wasnt home, they found Shanmukh in possession of ganja. The police arrested him and his brother in two separate cases, states the report and an investigation is currently underway. RTV released details of the complaint, in which the ex-fiance details that she was hestitant about the relationship but was convinced by Shanmukh to date his brother. In the complaint, she also alleges that a constable called Javed pressured her to take back the case. Shanmukh was booked for DUI In 2021, Shanmukh was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Hyderabad. He was taken into custody after he rammed his car into three parked cars and two bikes. His BAC count was found at 170 mg/100 ml. He appeared in court and was asked to appear for counselling at the traffic training institute. The Indian Express reported that Shanmukh had attempted to influence the cops and bunked a counselling session before the sentencing. About Shanmukh Shanmukh gained fame when he acted in the short film Viva, directed by Sabarish Kandregula and his brother. The short film also got actor Harsha Chemudu fame. He dated YouTuber, actor Deepthi Sunaina, with whom he would make multiple music videos. The duo broke up after he took part in the fifth season of Bigg Boss Telugu in 2021, he was the runner-up. In 2022, he starred as the lead in Aha web-series Agent Anand Santhosh. His brother Sampath is an entrepreneur and is listed as the COO of Urban Kisaan, which has Samantha Ruth Prabhu as the brand ambassador. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place One of the top execs of the Sherri show died while a financial investigation at the show was underway. Matt Uzzle, the executive-in-charge of Sherri Shepherds daytime talk show, was discovered dead in his Piermont, New York home on February 13, a police source said, according to Page Six. Representational image (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Police only said it is an open investigation, but sources said he died of apparent suicide, according to the outlet. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Financial investigation Uzzle used to manage production and oversee the budget at Sherri. At the time of his death, he was under investigation at the show after many departments claimed they were facing issues with petty cash. Parent company Debmar-Mercury recently learned that rent at the shows Chelsea, New York City, studio has yet to be paid. It had not been paid since September. There was real concern among staff that the show was getting shut down. Debmar had to step in, a source said. However, a different source claimed Debmar-Mercury has continued production of the show, which had not been impacted. Shepherd brought Uzzle in from The Wendy Williams show. After being confronted about the financial status of the show, he said he needed a couple of days to get his paperwork together. Police found him dead during a welfare check. We have retained [law firm] Morgan Lewis to help us investigate the matter and, pending the outcome of that investigation, well have no further comment, a rep for Debmar-Mercury said. Uzzles death has not been widely reported. Only small news outlets like County Local News and National Memorial Site have reported on it calling Uzzle a respected production manager who was known for his outstanding contributions to The Wendy Williams Show and several other significant projects. However, his work on Sherri was not mentioned. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). India has made remarkable strides in the decline of child marriages over the last few decades and has led global progress to eliminate the practice. Child marriage is prohibited in India and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 envisions protecting the fundamental rights and liberties of minor girls and boys. Despite this, one in three girls face a heightened risk of violence and poverty, along with violation of their right to education, health, and protection. Illustrating this, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) analysis of National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-V) data suggests that in terms of demographics, 48% of girls who were married below 18 years of age had received no education as compared to only 4% who gained higher education. Poster against child marriage (Representative Photo) There is also a discrepancy in reported numbers, where despite high prevalence of child marriages recorded under NFHS-V (23.3%), National Crime Records Bureaus (NCRB) annual Crime in India report recorded an average of only around 360 incidents per year of child marriages between 2011 and 2020 under the Act. Due to pandemic-induced poverty perhaps, a sudden spike in child marriage cases was also reported both across the country and globally. Reported cases per NCRB data during this time were 785 in 2020, and shot up to 1050 in 2021, lowering only slightly to 1,002 in 2022. More recently, in a written response to Parliament in August 2023, the ministry of women and child development (WCD) suggested that an increase in the number of reported cases under the Act could also be attributed to awareness initiatives and enhanced reporting mechanisms undertaken by various states. While this may be the case, the issue remains multilayered, and there are several areas that need to be addressed to solve the problem, ranging from social norms and beliefs to the implementation of policies. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Research by the Kailash Satyarthi Childrens Foundation highlights that there is high underreporting, but even for reported cases, more than 90% of child marriage cases were pending trial as of 2021 and the overall conviction rate under the Act has been found to be poor. Other barriers have also impeded the effective implementation of the Act due to wide variations in state capacity and institutional support. For instance, as per the WCD website, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand had either not formulated or not uploaded their rules as of 2020 under the law leaving crucial roles like the Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) unappointed. In late 2021, Uttar Pradeshs Directorate of Women Welfare circulated draft rules for public consultation but the outcome of this exercise is unknown as the rules have still not been notified. UNICEF data suggests that over half of Indias child brides reside in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and civil society organisations have sought the courts support to ensure the effective implementation of the Act. In response to a petition filed before the Supreme Court last year, the ministry of WCD has been asked to provide the steps taken for the effective implementation of the provisions of the Act. In Maharashtra, emphasising the need for effective implementation of laws against child marriage, the Bombay High Court has also requested information on the appointment details of child marriage prohibition officers (CMPOs). To address the issue of child marriage in India, a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach is imperative. Prioritising the fast-track trial of reported incidents under the Act, immediate notification of rules and the appointment of a CMPO equipped with the necessary infrastructure, is crucial. However, legal measures alone can prove insufficient. Holistic socio-economic solutions must be implemented to raise awareness among girls and their families and facilitate their improved access to education and support institutions, including financial networks. In addition to socio-economic solutions, comprehensive measures will be required to streamline coordination and promote convergence among key stakeholders, including those charged with implementing the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA), the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), as well as police officers, district magistrates, child helpline coordinators, and shelter homes, who collectively strive to achieve the common objective of preventing child marriages. The government can lead the way by prioritising the swift implementation of rules under the Act and devising key policy measures for the empowerment of adolescent girls. Socio-behavioural change campaigns can go a long way in collectively raising awareness of society, challenging social norms and ensuring better reporting of incidents. This article is authored by Suhani Pandey, analyst, public policy and Sonakshi Chaudhry, manager, strategic partnerships & communications, The Quantum Hub (TQH). Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday informed the Assembly that the Bhupendra Patel-led government has demolished 108 mazars in the crackdown on encroachments that have come up as part of a conspiracy. Sanghavi also reassured the public that the government is vigilant in protecting temples from any malicious intent. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai Patel with Minister for State for Home Harsh Sanghav.(PTI) Referring to an earlier speech by a BJP MLA from Ellisbridge, Sanghavi said, Today, the point mentioned by Amitbhai He said that a derasar was removed in Jamalpur. Now, Dadas (Bhupendra Patel) bulldozer is moving around in every nook and corner of the state so that no temple or devsthan can be removed while hatching a conspiracy. Nobody knows where will it (bulldozer) go. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Sanghavi was speaking in the Assembly while seeking the House approval for budgetary allocation for the home department. He raised questions regarding the sudden appearance of multiple mazars within the Uparkot Fort premises in Junagadh, which was recently redeveloped. In Uparkot, it was not known where (and when) all mazars were built. How can it be built suddenly? Sanghavi added, In all, 108 mazars have been demolished (in the state) and the states properties have been opened The encroachment around Somnath has been removed. This bulldozer of Dada can enter a 20-ft wide street and an 80-m wide road. The minister also addressed criticism surrounding the extension of Navratri festivities into late-night hours. He lamented opposition to the late-night garba performances, citing a recent PIL filed in the high court, and defended the cultural practices integral to the state's identity. Navratri was allowed (to be celebrated) the whole night so that the people of Gujarat could worship the goddess and play raas throughout the night. Considering the Supreme Court and (Gujarat) high court and its fear, we definitely got the sound (of music) decreased. But because Navratri could be allowed till late night, it brought Diwali to numerous households. To get a figure of that (how many households), one needs to ask the poor, the vendors and those running small restaurants, he added. I made a statement (then) that if the people of my state cannot perform garba then would they do so in Pakistan? The very next day of this statement, people from a party (moved) a PIL in the HC. They have a problem if people of the state perform garba till late in the night. Cant people perform garba till late? We had to face that situation, the minister said. The FBI on Tuesday asked for the public's help in identifying victims of abuse dating back to the 1980s within a religious group active in Nebraska and elsewhere. In a press release, a spokeswoman for the FBI Omaha field office said the group traditionally does not have a name but is referred to by others outside the group as "2x2," "The Way," "The Truth," and "The Church With No Name." The FBI asks anyone with information about the ongoing investigation, or who has been victimized or knows of children who may have been victimized by people affiliated with this religious group, to go to fbi.gov/2x2 or call the Omaha field office at 402-493-8688. The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution and rights under federal and state law. The kin of multiple Indian nationals have claimed that their family members have been duped by foreign recruiters in Russia and have been forced to join the Wagner Group, a private military company. Four Indians have alleged that they were duped into joining the Wagner Group (Representational image)(AP) Mohammed Sufiyan, a 22-year-old man hailing from Telangana, along with three others from Karnataka's Kalaburagi have sent an SOS to their families about being stranded in Russia and forced to join the army to fight the war against Ukraine, reported TOI. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Sufiyan sent a video to his family where he was seen in army fatigue and said they were a victim of recruitment fraud. He said that they were sent to Russia on December 23 by recruiters who promised them a job as security helpers, but were forced into fighting the war. Sufiyan could be heard saying in the video, Please save us, we are victims of a hi-tech fraud. How did four Indians get trapped into joining Wagner Group? The four Indians met with recruitment agents during their visit to Dubai in 2023, where they were promised heavy salaries. They returned to India in November and were sent to Russia a month later. They boarded a flight to Russia from Chennai on a visitor's visa. The youth were offered a salary of over 2 lakh per month for working as army security helpers in Russia, reported TOI citing sources. A family member said they had given 3.5 lakh as a security amount to the recruiters. The families were shocked to hear that the youth were on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war, likely hired by the Wagner Group, which is a private military company funded by the Russian government to fight the Ukraine war. Not only these four Indian nationals, but another 60 Indians have been forcibly drafted into Russia's private army during the Ukraine war, as per the report. The youth have reportedly been posted just 40 km from the Ukraine border, and sent a message to their families by using the mobile phone of a Russian army man. The Indian nationals were duped into joining the Wagner Group allegedly by a man in Maharashtra who runs a YouTube channel, offering security personnel/helper jobs in Russia. New Delhi In the annals of legal history, there are few figures as iconic as Fali S Nariman. With an exemplary career spanning over seven decades, Nariman distinguished himself not only by the sheer magnitude of his legal acumen but also by his unmatched ability to argue some of the most consequential cases of his time. Equipped with a deep understanding of the law and a resolute commitment to the ideals of fairness, he boldly pursued cases that others thought were either unwinnable or unachievable. Fali S Nariman has an exemplary career spanning over seven decades. (HT Photo) HT documents some of the landmark cases that Nariman was a part of as an advocate whose expanse of legal arguments transcended courtroom outcomes and resonated with the broader public conscience. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. IC Golaknath vs State of PunjabThis case was decided in 1967 by an 11-judge bench, which held by a thin margin of 6-5 that none of the fundamental rights could be amended by Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution, which allows Parliament to amend the Constitution. In that matter, Nariman appeared as a junior counsel for some of the petitioners. The judgment held that Parliament cannot curtail the fundamental rights of citizens, and that all amendments are amenable to judicial review. This case laid the basis for the basic structure doctrine formulated in the Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973. Judicial appointments cases In shaping the collegium system of appointing judges of high courts and Supreme Court, Nariman played a seminal role by arguing in the landmark Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association Vs Union of India (1993) that came to be known as the Second Judges case and the Presidents Special Reference No. 1 of 1998 (the Third Judges Cases) which ended the sole primacy of CJI in appointing judges. It expanded the meaning of the word consultation occurring in Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution to mean the opinion of CJI and his two senior colleagues. In the 1998 case, the collegium was enlarged from three to five judges. Years later, when the government brought the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act, 2014 to replace collegium, Nariman opposed the move and contributed to another landmark verdict in 2015 striking down NJAC. TMA Pai Foundation vs State of Karnataka The 2003 landmark verdict by an 11-judge bench forms a significant decision in the judicial landscape governing the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. Nariman argued the matter in favour of upholding minority rights under the Constitution. The ruling set forth guidelines for government to regulate private educational institutions but held that these regulations cannot destroy the minority character of the institution. Union Carbide Corporation Vs Union of IndiaIn the backdrop of the horrendous Bhopal gas tragedy of December 1984 which claimed more than 2,660 lives, the Union Carbide Corporation, responsible for the gas leak, approached the Supreme Court challenging vicarious liability for the tragedy in compensating victims. A five-judge bench in 1989 settled the matter after UCC agreed to pay a sum of $470 million, without accepting liability, as full and final settlement of all civil and criminal claims. Nariman was the lead advocate for UCC, for which he even faced criticism from human rights watch organisations. In Re: Destruction of Public and private property Vs State of AP This was a suo motu case decided by the Supreme Court in 2009 to bring accountability for large scale destruction of public and private properties in the name of agitations, bandhs and hartals. The court formed two committees, one of which was chaired by Nariman, for laying down specific guidelines for investigations and prosecution of offences involving destruction of public property, assessment of damages and determination of compensation. The court adopted the recommendations of the two committees and the judgment still holds the field where the Parliament is yet to enact a law. Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Vs SEBI In 2012, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court undertook an exercise to examine whether guidelines could be issued to media to ensure administration of justice in criminal case trial does not get affected. Nariman, who appeared in the matter, fiercely batted in favour of press freedom and questioned the courts jurisdiction to enforce any such guidelines on press freedom. The court accepted his submission and held that while an accused can seek postponement of reporting for a brief period no guidelines regulating media can be issued. At best, it held that such regulations should be self-regulatory or advisory. Lily Thomas Vs Union of India In 2013, the Supreme Court gave a landmark decision by striking off Section 8(4) of the Representation of Peoples Act by directing that upon conviction, a member of Parliament or state legislature will attract immediate disqualification. Section 8(4) provided for a three-month window for the convicted legislator to file an appeal during which the disqualification would not take effect. One of the petitioners in the case was advocate Lily Thomas, for whom Fali Nariman appeared. Nariman rejected former Supreme Court judges caseIn a role reversal, Nariman was the person nominated by the Supreme Court to assess the worth of a former top court judges contention. The senior lawyer was appointed as amicus curiae in 2016 to assist the court after justice Markandey Katju sought quashing of Parliaments resolution condemning him for his comments against Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose. The tables were turned on the retired judge and Nariman rejected justice Katjus views. Nariman said Parliament has absolute immunity under the Constitution and that no court can question its proceedings. Justice Katjus petition was finally dismissed by the court in December 2016. As these cases manifest, the veteran lawyers dedication to the pursuit of justice was not merely a profession but a calling -- a testament to his belief in the transformative power of the law to effect positive changes. NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and leave the remaining three to its alliance partner, the Congress, as part of a seat-sharing agreement being finalised by leaders of the two parties, people aware of the matter said. FILE PHOTO: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a meeting, in New Delh on January 13. Citing the discussions between the two sides, a Congress leader said an agreement had been arrived between the two sides on the formula and the talks on the seats to be contested by the two parties were in the final stages. According to one arrangement being discussed, the Congress may contest East, Chandani Chowk and North East Lok Sabha seats; while AAP may contest New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and North West Lok Sabha seats. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. AAP minister Atishi declined to comment on the details of the negotiations. The talks are on and we are hopeful of closing the deal, she said. A senior Delhi Congress leader said the 4-3 formula was final but there could be some changes to the seats contested by the two sides. All of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi are currently held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has been winning all the seats since 2014. In 2019 when the AAP and the Congress contested the Lok Sabha elections separately, the Congress was second on five seats and the AAP was second on two. The AAP had come to the negotiating table with an offer of just one seat for the Congress, citing its alliance partners track record in previous assembly and municipal elections. Congress has zero Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, it has zero seats in Delhi assembly. Out of 250 wards, the Congress won only 9 seats in the (2022) MCD election, AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said on February 13. AAP has 62 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi assembly. Even on a merit basis, the Congress party does not deserve a single seat according to the available data. But only data is not important. As per the alliance dharma and out of respect, we are ready to offer one seat to the Congress, Pathak had said. AAP and Congress, constituents of the opposition bloc INDIA, have been in seat-sharing talks for several weeks for different states including Goa, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi but there hasnt been a breakthrough. Delhi BJP leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said the AAP and Congress didnt trust each other but were trying to ally due to fear of losing the election.There is a serious trust crisis between the Congress and AAP but despite that they are going to form an alliance is nothing but politics of opportunism, he said. Bidhuri said the alliance wouldnt impact the BJP because the people of Delhi have decided to give all the seven seats once again to PM Narendra Modi because the Modi government is committed to their growth and development unlike the AAP which is just trying to use the opportunity to make its political expansion. The anti-Hindu Congress is at a point of no return, the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (ABSS) said on Thursday, after the partys government in Karnataka passed an act that empowers the state to collect 10% tax from temples with revenue exceeding 1 crore and 5% in case of 10 lakh to 1 crore. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (PTI/File) This will be the first instance in the country of religion-based tax. This is the same as Jaziya tax that was collected during the Mughal regime. The Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti is of the view that tax on income is central subject, while the act being brought by the Karnataka government is an open attack on the fundamental right of freedom of religion, Jitendranand Saraswati, general secretary, ABSS, said in a video statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Calling the tax illegal and anti-constitutional, he appealed to the Karnataka governor to not give assent to the act, adding that outfit will take the matter to the Supreme Court. Earlier, the opposition BJP too called out the anti-Hindu Congress government, with BY Vijayendra, the formers state unit chief, alleging that the grand old party will use the funds for another purpose to fill its empty coffers. Responding to Vijayendra, minister Ramalinga Reddy said that contrary to the BJPs charge that the Congress is anti-Hindu, the grand old party is, in fact, the true proponent of Hinduism. Also Read | 'Anti-Hindu': BJP slams Karnataka government for 10 percent tax on temples This is because over the years, Congress governments have consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests, Reddy stated. Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party called the Congress government in Karnataka "anti-Hindu" after the latter passed the 'Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024' in the state assembly on Wednesday. BJP state chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa in Bengaluru. (ANI file photo) The bill empowers the government to collect 10 percent tax from temples that have revenues exceeding 1 crore and 5 percent from those with revenues ranging between 10 lakh and 1 crore. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa said the Congress government wanted to fill its depleted coffers by adopting anti-Hindu policies. "The Congress government, which is adopting consistently anti-Hindu policies in the state, has now taken a crooked look at the revenue of Hindu temples and passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments bill to fill its empty coffers," he said on X. He said the collected funds will be used for "another purpose". "Under this, the government will collect 10% of the income from temples earning over 1 crore, this is nothing but poverty. The offering dedicated by the devotees for the knowledge of God and the development of the temple should be allocated for the renovation of the temple and for the convenience of the devotees. If it is allocated for another purpose, it is on the divine beliefs of the people. There will be violence and fraud," he added. Also read: Soon, bill to free state temples from govts control, says Karnataka CM Bommai Yediyurappa also wondered why only Hindu temples are being targeted and not other religions. Reacting to the remarks, Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy accused the BJP of bringing religion into politics. He said the Congress is the true proponent of Hinduism. "Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, it is clear that BJP always pursues political gains by claiming that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true proponents of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests," he said. "Did your BJP government neglect its responsibilities between 2008 and 2013, as well as from 2019 to 2023? It seems they turned a blind eye to the revenues of Hindu religious institutions and charitable endowments, despite the existence of acts or bills in place since 2001," he added. With inputs from ANI West Bengal director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar on Wednesday visited Sandeshkhali, which has been on the boil since early this month following allegations of sexual abuse of women by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, to assess the situation in the troubled area. HT Image Kumars visit to Sandeshkhali coincided with the local police registering a second case of gang rape against an arrested TMC leader and his two aides based on a statement registered by a woman before a magistrate. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A second FIR (first information report) was registered over allegations of gangrape of a woman. The woman made a statement before a judicial magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC based on which the FIR was registered, a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity. Since February 7, Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing protests led by local women, demanding action against TMC strongman and zilla parishad member Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides over allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing by the ruling party leaders. Shahjahan has been absconding since January 5 after a mob, allegedly comprising his supporters, attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that had gone to search his premises in a money laundering case pertaining to the multi-crore ration distribution scam. So far, 18 people, including local TMC leaders Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, both close aides of Shahjahan, have been arrested in connection with complaints of sexual assault, land grabbing and inciting violence in Sandeshkhali. On February 17, DGP Kumar confirmed that charges of gang rape and attempt to murder under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376D and 307, respectively, have been added against Hazra and Sardar. The second FIR, registered on Wednesday, booked Hazra and his two aides Amir Ali Gaji and Bhanu Mondol for gang rape, officers said. Meanwhile, DGP Kumar, who was on his first visit to the area since the protests began, was accompanied by senior police officers, including ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar and superintendent of police (Basirhat police district) HM Rehman, went to Sandeshkhali police station and held meetings with local officers. He visited some of the areas and spoke to villagers and civic police volunteers in Sandeshkhali. He also held a meeting with senior officials at the police station, an officer from Sandeshkhali police station said. Amid ongoing tensions, police have maintained a strong presence in Sandeshkhali and clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in at least 12 rural pockets. We have installed around 10 CCTV cameras in five locations. Large police contingents are still deployed in the villages. We are reviewing the situation. The pockets where prohibitory orders have been imposed will be brought down soon, an IPS officer in North 24 Parganas district said. A special investigation team (SIT) led by additional director general of police (ADGP) Manish Karbikar questioned senior IPS officer Sandeep Patil on Wednesday in connection with the Bitcoin scam. The bitcoins were initially seized from the prime suspects in the Bitcoin scam (REUTERS) A few deputy commissioners of police (DCP) and 10 assistant commissioner of police(ACP) have also been questioned regarding the Bitcoin scam. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A team of investigators inside the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bengaluru recorded the statement of Sandeep Patil. I have been called for inquiry today and I just came out. It is part of the regular investigation process since I was the joint commissioner of crime, Bengaluru city when the alleged scam happened. So, I have been called for as part of routine procedure. There are about 10 ACPs, few DCPs and many have been questioned by SIT. Its part of the investigation process, Patil said. When the alleged scam came to light, the Congress party had alleged that several senior IPS officers were involved in the scam on behalf of the then-ruling party politicians. When asked about him being questioned a third time, Patil said There are a lot of rumours going around in this case and many of them have zero legitimacy. When Hindustan Times tried to contact SIT chief, Manish Karbikar, the call went unanswered. Recently, the SIT recorded magisterial statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of prime accused in the crypto scam Srikrishna alias Sriki and his close associate Robin Khandelwala. The special investigation team of CID has been actively investigating the Bitcoin scandal in Karnataka. The investigation found the involvement from various individuals, including police inspector Prashanth Babu and tech expert Santosh Kumar, who were found to have transferred bitcoins, which were seized during the investigation, into a cryptocurrency hardware wallet. The exact value of the bitcoins involved is still under investigation. The bitcoins were initially seized from Sriki, and Kandelwala, who are prime suspects in the Bitcoin scam. Additionally, the remand report filed by the police indicated that Gagan Jain, a cyber security expert, and Sathvik V, director of Unocoin Technologies Private Limited, allegedly assisted in destroying crucial evidence related to the case. The recent developments in the Bitcoin scam investigation have shed light on the involvement of various individuals, including Babu, Kumar, Jain, and Sathvik. These individuals are accused of transferring bitcoins into a cryptocurrency hardware wallet and attempting to destroy vital evidence related to the case. The investigation also uncovered an email sent by Sriki, one of the prime suspects, to a female friend while he was in police custody, raising questions about the handling of suspects during the investigation. SIT has accessed the email dump of Sriki during his time in Ashok Nagar police custody on January 22, 2021. In the email dump of Sriki, we have found that when Sriki was in Ashok Nagar police custody on January 22, 2021, he sent an email to a female friend explaining his situation in police custody. It is considered that Sriki was given a laptop, internet and a free hand to use them when in police custody for some ulterior motives, the remand application said. The SITs remand application has provided insights into the actions of the accused, highlighting their efforts to conceal evidence by erasing crucial details from bitcoin wallets and deleting bash history. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the full extent of the scandal and bring those responsible to justice. BHUBANESWAR: People lost their trust in politicians as the Congress did not fulfil promises made to people during elections but the credibility crisis in politics has been ended by the Bharatiya Janata Party, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, launching a sharp attack on the Congress in his speeches during the day. Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh launched a sharp attack on the Congress in his speeches in Odisha (X/RajnathSingh_in) Singh, however, went easy on Odishas state government led by Naveen Patnaik, a gesture that came days after Patnaiks party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) helped Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw get re-elected from the Rajya Sabha this week. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The BJP won the trust of the people by fulfilling all its promises. You can check our election manifesto and find that all the promises are met. No other government except the Modi government created schemes with the maximum beneficiaries in India. Modi has lifted 25 crore people from poverty after coming to power. The Centre has provided toilets for 11 crore people, and pucca houses for 4 crore people. This government ended the crisis of credibility in politics. People now have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We (BJP) do politics to serve the people and build the nation and not just to rule the country, Singh said at his meeting in Nabarangpur. The top BJP leader also addressed party workers from the Lok Sabha constituencies of Berhampur and Mayurbhanj. To be sure, Rajnath Singh, who is campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections expected to be held in April and May, did insist that a double-engine government - a term used by the BJP to advertise the benefits of having the same party in power in a state and at the Centre - would soon be formed in Odisha, In May last year, Patnaik and Modi heaped praises on each other during the flagging off of the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express train, a sharp contrast to the campaign in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when union home minister Amit Shah described Patnaik as a burnt transformer. Earlier this month, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the BJD and BJP as two sides of the same coin and Rahul Gandhi accused the two parties of being in a partnership. Whenever I go to BJD to talk with their members, they say that they have instructions from Bhubaneswar to support Modi ji. In any discussion or during the passage of any bill, the BJD has never criticisied the Modi government. There is no difference between BJP and BJD as they are two sides of the same coin, Ramesh said on February 7. Bombay high court on Thursday asked Netflix to hold a special screening for investigating the high-profile Sheena Bora case before releasing it on the OTT platform. Netflix told the court that it would not release the documentary series on Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the case, till February 29. Netflix docuseries, The Indrani Mukerjea Story Buried Truth, was slated to release on February 23. The docuseries titled The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth, which claims to feature new revelations in the disappearance of Sheena Bora, was scheduled to drop on popular streaming platform Netflix on February 23. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had objected to the release saying that docuseries could affect the investigation of the case, its outcome and people's perception. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Manjusha Deshpande directed the makers to arrange a special screening for CBI officers and posted the matter for next Thursday. The docuseries, in which prime accused Indrani Mukerjea will be putting up her narrative, digs into the disappearance of Sheena Bora and the shocking aftermath. Announcing the release date, Netflix India wrote last month in its Instagram caption, "A sensational scandal that rocked the entire nation, with one family's darkest secrets at the center of it all. The Indrani Mukerjea Story Buried Truth, coming on 23 February only on Netflix!" What is Sheena Bora case? Sheena Bora, a 24-year-old woman, was allegedly murdered on April 24, 2012, in Mumbai. She was the daughter of Indrani Mukerjea, a media executive, and Siddharth Das, though she was raised by her maternal grandparents, with Indrani posing as her sister. The case came to light in 2015 when Indrani's former driver, Shyamvar Rai, confessed to the police about his involvement in Sheena Bora's murder. Rai's confession led to the arrest of Indrani Mukerjea, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna, and her then husband, Peter Mukerjea. The investigation uncovered a complex web of lies, deceit, and family dynamics. The motive behind the murder was purportedly financial and personal, involving disputes over property and relationships. The case garnered significant media attention due to its sensational nature, involving prominent individuals and allegations of conspiracy. The trial progressed over several years, witnessing twists and turns, including claims of innocence and attempts to manipulate evidence. In May 2022, the Supreme Court granted bail to Indrani Mukerjea saying she has been incarcerated for more than six years and the trial will not end soon. The apex court also noted that the other accused in the case, Peter Mukherjea had already been on bail since February 2020. A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai and AS Bopanna passed the order in a special leave petition filed against an order passed by the Bombay high court in November 2021. (With ANI inputs) The Bombay high court on Thursday ordered OTT platform Netflix to organise a pre-release screening of the documentary series The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the agency sought a stay on the February 23 release of the series. The documentary revolves around Indrani Mukerjea, the main accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. (Netflix India trailer screengrab) The documentary revolves around Indrani Mukerjea, the main accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The CBI has filed a plea in the high court seeking to halt the release of the web series due to the ongoing trial in the Sheena Bora murder case after it failed to obtain a stay from the trial court. A division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Manjusha Deshpande suggested that it will be suitable for the CBI to preview the series before presenting any arguments regarding their plea for a stay. Also Read: CBI moves HC after special court refuses to stay documentary series on Indrani Mukerjea Initially expressing concern about potential pre-censorship, Netflix eventually agreed to the suggestion and assured the court that the series will not be aired until the next hearing February 29. The CBI, during the hearing on Thursday, emphasised that the series includes interviews with the accused and some witnesses in the case. Advocate Shreeram Shirsat, representing the agency, argued that since the CBI had only viewed the trailer, they were unaware of the number of witnesses featured in the series. The high court, therefore, requested Netflix to provide the exact count of witnesses interviewed. Senior advocate Ravi Kadam, representing Netflix, informed the court that five witnesses, including Indranis son, Mikhael, and her daughter, Vidhie Mukerjea, were interviewed in the series. He further added that the examination of two of the five witnesses had concluded, while three were yet to be examined. Following this, the court suggested that Netflix could exhibit the series to the CBI before the bench proceeded with the matter. Why should the CBI not be allowed to see the series? She (Indrani) is an accused. The series is her depiction of what happened. One of the bail conditions is not to tamper with evidence. When you sort of interview people in support of your case... We are asking you, before we hear you, why cannot the CBI watch the series? What is the difficulty in sharing the docuseries? the court asked. Initially, Kadam opposed the suggestion, arguing that it might lead to pre-censorship and highlighting the absence of a gag order against the witnesses. However, he later agreed to screen the series for selected CBI officers and lawyers, including additional solicitor general Devang Vyas. The court also enquired whether Netflix could delay the release of the documentary until the next hearing. They should be allowed to view it. The release can be postponed by a week without dire consequences. If youre unable to provide instructions and make a statement, we will issue this order, the court stated. As a result, Netflix agreed to defer the broadcast of the series until the next hearing. The series, initially set to premiere on February 23, will now not be released until a further date of hearing. Indrani was arrested in 2015 for allegedly murdering her daughter, Sheena Bora, with the assistance of her former husband Sanjeev Khanna, current husband Peter Mukerjea, and driver Shyamvar Rai in 2012. In May 2022, the Supreme Court granted her bail. A former Nebraska corrections employee was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to sexually abusing an inmate and having his baby. Samantha Cedillo, who was 31 at the time she was charged in 2023, wiped away tears in court after District Court Judge LeAnne Srb sentenced her to three years of probation. She also was ordered to follow numerous other restrictions and attend a parenting program. "This is a disturbing case," Srb said to Cedillo, with her attorney James McGough by her side. "What happened here should not have happened." Srb added that after reviewing the presentencing investigation report, she believed Cedillo has fought an uphill battle in life and found she has taken responsibility for her actions. In March of last year, Cedillo was charged with first-degree sexual assault of an inmate which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Cedillo pleaded no contest and was sentenced to probation on the amended charge of attempt of a class 2A felony. Before sentencing, McGough told the court a number of positives had come from what he called a sad, tragic situation. "One of the issues created with trauma she has experienced in her past, it changes someone and has ripple effects. A struggle to create clear lines and boundaries," he said. Since her resignation and arrest, Cedillo has been raising the child and found a job, he added. According to court records, Cedillo worked at the Omaha Correctional Center as a nonclinical program manager beginning in June 2021. In November of that year, prison staff members were advised that Cedillo was suspected of having an inappropriate relationship with a library clerk, a 47-year-old man serving a life sentence for murder. Staff members documented at least 10 questionable interactions or violations of conduct between them over the next four months. Cedillo was warned and the man was removed from his position as a library clerk, but the two continued to spend time together in Cedillo's office with the door closed. In March 2022, Cedillo was seen on surveillance taking off her radio belt while the inmate was in her office and they moved behind the door and out of the camera's view. When another officer came into the library, Cedillo was seen hurrying back to her chair with an untucked shirt and messy hair, according to reports. Cedillo was asked to write a report about the incident but she resigned. Investigators discovered a baby registry she had created, with a due date in mid-December which was nine months after the March incident. She and the inmate continued to message each other through an illegal phone in his possession or through prison communications, many of the messages about their love and the birth of their child. After the baby was born, authorities served a search warrant to obtain the child's DNA which confirmed the inmate was likely the baby's father, authorities said. It is a felony for any employee or contractor within a state prison, city or county jail to subject an inmate or parolee to sexual contact, regardless of consent. Prosecutor Erin Hurley said Cedillo was given a valuable and important position in the system and she violated it. "In her time there, she did not take responsibility. It seems clear that she has taken accountability since. But she continued with the behavior even when confronted by authority figures and said she resigned for different reasons," Hurley said before sentencing. Hurley said the state had no objection to probation as it is an opportunity for Cedillo to better herself so she isn't placed in a situation like this again. Srb agreed. She prohibited Cedillo from owning or possessing a firearm and ordered her to maintain employment, abstain from drugs and alcohol, attend a women's trauma group and a parenting program. Cedillo also must register as a sex offender. If Cedillo completes probation, she is eligible to have her conviction set aside. The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that it could not straightaway allow the reopening of Vedantas Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadus Thoothukudi as it must also protect the voiceless people and the well-being of the community living in the area. The Supreme Court as hearing an appeal by the Sterlite Copper against a judgment of the Madras high court. (HT Photo) We have to protect the health of the people and their welfare. They are voiceless people. They all cannot come here. We have a duty towards protecting their well-being. We cannot be oblivious of the wider concerns of the community there...The sequitur arising for you to start operations cannot be there. If we take upon ourselves and reject the high court order and three years later, we see that there is a leak then imagine the moral responsibility will be on us, said a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing an appeal by the Sterlite Copper against a judgment of the Madras high court that affirmed a shutdown notice by the Tamil Nadu government and the state pollution control board in 2020. The plant by Sterlite Copper, the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta Resources -- a global mining and metals conglomerate -- has remained shut since 2018 over alleged violation of environmental norms and protests of the local population against its operation. On Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu government opposed the courts suggestion on the constitution of a panel of experts that could assess the feasibility of the resumption of the plants operation. Balancing the national interest does not call for the reopening of the plant, said the state government, arguing that Vedanta was a repeat offender and polluter, which could not be allowed to treat India as a dumping ground for polluting wastes while the valuable resource is being exported. On February 14, the bench had urged the Tamil Nadu government and the state pollution control board to suggest a way forward for restarting the plant while mulling over a committee, comprising experts on pollution control and environment, which it said could submit the report on copper smelter operations, conditions for operations and reparations payable for environmental harm. But senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the state government on Wednesday, opposed the courts suggestion. Vaidyanathan was emphatic that the Sterlite Copper plant did not have to be considered a national asset nor was there any loss to the regional economy owing to the closure of the plant since Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin) is emerging as a new hub for the automobile industry. The local employment figures, port handling figures, and economic growth figures show that the closure of Vedantas unit has not had any detrimental effect on the local economy of the area. On the other hand, the pollution caused by it is established. The local interest would also require that the unit remain shut, he argued. Vaidyanathan further claimed that given the current state of Indias copper industry, Vedantas reopening would not augment domestic supply, but would be aimed largely at the foreign market. Vedanta imports copper concentrate with about 30% copper. The remaining 70% of the concentrate is waste, including slag and other polluting wastes, which would remain in India forever while the copper itself is exported. India cannot be treated as a dumping ground for polluting wastes while the valuable resource is being exported, he said. The state government also pointed out that while Vedanta claimed to have invested about 3,700 crore to set up its plant, over the years of its operation, it more than recovered the capital cost incurred by it and earned its capital several times over. Today, considering the poor state of the environment, the private financial interest, having already been subserved, needs little further consideration, it said. The state government emphasised that the Supreme Court ought to give greater weight to the public interest of citizens when weighed against private corporate financial interest. It further alleged that Vedanta misrepresented the quantity of gypsum and copper slag its plant generated before the green tribunal and the constitutional courts, disentitling itself from any indulgence. On its part, Vedanta agreed with the courts suggestion on forming a committee of experts, adding that a retired judge of the Supreme Court could chair the panel, and suggesting that the committee submit its report in a month. The court will continue hearing the case on Thursday. Tens of thousands of protesters had taken to the streets of Thoothukudi in May 2018 against a proposed expansion of Sterlites 400,000-tonne annual capacity smelter. After the protests turned violent and police opened fire, 13 protesters died. A week later, the state pollution control board and the state government ordered the plant shut for alleged pollution. The plant, at that time, was producing over 400,000 tonnes of metal ores annually and accounted for 40% of Indias copper output. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considering trials of Open-Book Examination (OBE) in select schools for classes 9 to 12 this year as part of the new national curriculum framework (NCF) recommendations of adopting innovative assessment methods, officials familiar with the development said, while emphasising that there is no such plan to adopt the OBE format in board examinations. The proposal was discussed during the curriculum committee meeting of CBSE in November last year. (HT file photo) The proposal was discussed during the curriculum committee meeting of CBSE in November last year, officials said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The plan to carry out an OBE pilot in some schools was discussed as a part of the NCF recommendations. It could be used in internal exams to promote innovative thinking among students. However, it is only in an ideation phase, and there is no plan to adopt the OBE format in the CBSE class 10 and 12 board examination, said a senior CBSE official, requesting anonymity. Also Read:Students taking board exams in Delhi-NCR bear the brunt, struggle to beat rush According to the curriculum committee meeting held on November 16, 2023, the board has proposed a pilot run of open-book tests for classes 9 to 12 in subjects like English, Science, Mathematics and Biology in line with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE). Under open book exams, students are allowed to access textbooks and other relevant resources to answer the questions asked in the test. These tests are usually composed of conceptual and analytical questions that make students read multiple texts, interpret the text, and apply the concept. The proposed timeline to design the test for select schools is June 2024 and pilot testing is November-December 2024. The board will only consider adopting the mode of assessment as part of its multi assessment scheme after taking into account views of all stakeholders, the official quoted above said. The Delhi University had adopted the online OBE format for examinations amid the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020-2021. However, it resumed to the normal pen and paper format from 2022. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate's latest summons to Arvind Kejriwal is the government's reaction to the Supreme Court's verdict on the Chandigarh mayoral polls, the Aam Aadmi Party said on Thursday. Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal. (PTI file photo) Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of India ordered a recounting of votes, which led to the victory of AAP's mayoral candidate in Chandigarh. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Ever since the Supreme Court gave its order on the Chandigarh Mayoral polls, we have been getting information regarding arrests and raids that are likely to happen by the ED and CBI. Because BJP wants to take revenge for the AAP's win in Chandigarh, and the way the Supreme Court has upheld Indian democracy. The summons sent by ED today (against Arvind Kejriwal) is just an attempt to take revenge for what happened in Chandigarh," said AAP leader Atishi. Also read: Supreme Court cites Article 142 in Chandigarh poll verdict. What does it mean? AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said the ED reacts to AAP's every action. "Everyone in the country now knows that as soon as AAP does something, the ED immediately sends summons to Arvind Kejriwal. Just a day ago, the honourable Supreme Court showed a mirror to the Centre over Chandigarh mayoral polls and yesterday ED issued fresh summons to Arvind Kejriwal," he said. Also read: Enforcement Directorate sends seventh summons to Arvind Kejriwal The Enforcement Directorate issued the seventh summons to Kejriwal, who skipped the previous six appearances. Earlier this week, the AAP said the agency should have sent the summons after the court's decision on its complaint against Kejriwal for skipping the summonses. The Supreme Court declared 8 votes cancelled by presiding officer Anil Masih valid and ordered recounting. It also ordered prosecuting Masih for defacing valid votes. The cancellation of these eight votes had paved the way for the victory of BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar, who resigned hours before the Supreme Court's judgment. Also read: Chandigarh mayor polls: What Supreme Court said in its verdict? Kejriwal thanked the Supreme Court later and claimed AAP snatched victory from the BJP. We thank the Supreme Court...dictatorship is going on in the country...democracy is being trampled upon, all institutions are being trampled upon. In such times, this ruling by the SC is very important for democracy and to save democracy. It's a very important decision, said Kejriwal. With inputs from PTI, ANI NEW DELHI: Chinas behaviour in the context of Taiwan, the South China Sea and the border dispute with India is concerning and Beijing is even questioning the international rules-based order, German minister of state for foreign affairs Tobias Lindner said on Thursday. German minister of state for foreign affairs Tobias Lindner said China was getting more and more assertive and sometimes even questioning the international rules-based order (X/FollowCII) Permanent members of the UN Security Council have a special responsibility to protect the global rules-based order and all disputes need to be resolved peacefully, Lindner said at an interaction with the media on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We see that China is getting more and more assertive. Its sometimes even questioning the international rules-based order, he said. Therefore, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries is key and what we can see with respect to Taiwan [and] the South China Sea, but also with respect to border disputes with India, thats concerning because we are convinced that any such disputes need to be solved peacefully and with mutual consent, he added. The first-ever China strategy approved by the German government last year covers political, economic and security relations with the region and also focuses on working with other countries such as India, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Singapore, Lindner said. Lindner rejected the accusation that Europe is only focused on Russias invasion of Ukraine and said this issue has repercussions for the Indo-Pacific and even India in terms of food prices and energy security. I can assure you we are aware that our own security [and] prosperity is intertwined with the security here, he said. Russias actions amount to a blatant violation of the international rules-based order and their implications affect everyone. We know that Germany and India might have a different voting behaviour in the United Nations. But we share a common interest [in the] territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries, he said. The peace formula proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains the only plan on the table right now, and Russian President Vladimir Putins proposal for ending the conflict is similar to an unconditional surrender of Ukraine, and this is something we cannot accept, he said. Lindner expressed the hope that India will participate in a peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland for discussions with countries in the Indo-Pacific, Latin America and Africa to find a way out of the Ukraine war. Germany remains a staunch supporter of Ukraine, in terms of both military backing and reconstruction of the country, but at the same time, Germany needs the entire international community and global partners such as India to find a way out of that war, he said. Asked about external affairs minister S Jaishankars recent remarks that Russia has never harmed Indias interests, Lindner sought to draw a parallel between Germanys efforts to end its dependence on Russian energy supplies and Indias attempts to diversify its supply chains in the wake of tensions with China. The lesson [of not being] too dependent on one country alone is something I believe is well understood here...Thats also a good security policy because it raises your independence and your sovereignty, he said. In this context, he also pointed to Indias efforts to procure military hardware such as submarines from Germany and to diversify its international ties by strengthening cooperation with the US and other countries. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government is committed to fulfill all promises made to the farmers of the country. His remark came a day after the Centre increased the sugarcane FRP by 25 to 340 per quintal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(PTI) "Our government is committed to fulfill every resolution related to the welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters across the country. In this context, a historic increase in the price of sugarcane purchase has been approved. This step will benefit crores of our sugarcane producing farmers," he wrote on X in Hindi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The government on Wednesday decided to hike the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers by 25 to 340 per quintal for the 2024-25 season starting October. This is the highest Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government since coming to power in 2014. In terms of quantum, this is the second time that the Modi government has increased the FRP by 25 per quintal in one go. The decision to increase the FRP was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It also comes ahead of the general elections. Sugarcane is grown mainly in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. "This is a historic price of sugarcane which is about 8 per cent higher than FRP of sugarcane for the current season 2023-24," Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said. PM Modi's remark comes amid the Delhi Chalo protest by farmers from Punjab, who are demanding MSP support for all crops. On Wednesday, farmers clashed with the police at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. One protester died and 12 police personnel sustained injuries in the fight. With inputs from PTI New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party is stealing money from the Congress's bank accounts, said party leader KC Venugopal on Thursday, reacting to the Income Tax department deducting 65.89 crore from AICC, Indian Youth Congress and NSUI accounts. New Delhi: Congress MP KC Venugopal at the Parliament House complex.(PTI file photo) The politician said the Congress never subjected the BJP to such treatment when it was ruling at the Centre. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "They (BJP) are stealing our money from the banks...We also ruled this country. If any such instance BJP can point out that they had this type of experience during the Congress-led UPA government or Congress government," he said. KC Venugopal said the BJP has never given any income tax as a political party. He said the income tax's deduction was an attack on the democratic principles and values. "And they're trying to shut the voice of India's opposition...This is clearly an example of dictatorship," he said. KC Venugopal said unlike the BJP, the Congress got this money from the workers of the party. "As per the latest information from the banks, the BJP government forced the banks to transfer approximately 65.89 crores from our deposits to the government. This amount is from AICC and Indian Youth Congress account and NSUI. Unlike the BJP, we got this money from ordinary workers of the party...Just before the parliament elections, the account of the principal opposition party has been hijacked by the BJP government," he added. Also read: 'Does BJP pay?': Income Tax department deducts 65 crore from Congress accounts On Wednesday, Congress leader Ajay Maken wrote on his X account that neither the BJP nor the Congress pay the income tax, but still his party is facing 210 crore tax demand. The Congress has moved the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against the recovery of the outstanding tax. On Wednesday, the department told the court that the Congress had violated rules and hence it was being treated as a normal tax payer. It also said that the party was attempting to create a false narrative that "they're being targeted before the general elections". Last week, Congress said it has no money to pay its bills as the income tax department froze its accounts over flimsy charges. "Power drunk Modi Govt has frozen the accounts of the countrys largest Opposition party - the Indian National Congress - just before the Lok Sabha elections. This is a deep assault on India's Democracy," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had said. With inputs from ANI Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday lashed out at the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress dispensation in Chhattisgarh, calling it a worthless government. Union home minister Amit Shah at the Vijay Sankalp Shankhnad rally in Chhattigarh's Janjgir. Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Shankhnad rally in Chhattigarh's Janjgir, Shah said,"The Congress government was a worthless government that never worked to end Naxalism, never worked to give justice to the people of Chhattisgarh but got involved in scams worth rupees lakhs of crores and inflicted injustice upon them." He thanked the voters of the state for electing a BJP government, thereby appealing to them to make saffron party candidates the winners in the Lok Sabha elections. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The upcoming election is going to determine the future of our nation. This election is going to be a significant one to make Bharat a fully developed nation and Bharatmata the Vishwaguru," the minister said. ALSO READ: Amit Shah's dynastic, directionless jibe at Cong in Rajasthan BJP govt fulfilled 30% of Modi guarantees in just three months: Shah Shah said that the Vishnu Deo Sai government has fulfilled 30 per cent of the Modi guarantees in just three months after taking over reins of the state. Whether it is paying the bonus for paddies to farmers or paying RS.1000 per month to women from the next month the government is committed to fulfilling all the promises, he said. "The Modi government in the last 10 years have done the work of welfare of 60 crore poor. In Chhattisgarh itself, 38 lakh poor have been given drinking water in their homes, a development that took place after 75 years of independence. As many as 60 crore poor have been given health insurance up to Rs.5 lakhs. In Chhattisgarh 2 crore people are getting this benefit, the home minister added. Shah added that the Modi government built more than 10 crore toilets and out of them, 38 lakhs were built in Chhattisgarh. ALSO READ: India can tackle any disaster under PM Modis leadership': Amit Shah The mothers and sisters got the benefit of toilets after 75 years. In Chhattisgarh 2 crore people have got 5 kg of free food grains every month. The Modi government has given 36 lakh women gas cylinders, 10 lakh people have been given homes and all the people in the state have been given free vaccination and freed the state from Corona, he added. ALSO READ: In Modi 3.0, India will be free from terrorism, separatism, Naxalism: Amit Shah Modi gave respect to Dalits, tribals and backward classes: Shah Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah appealed to the people to elect him for third time to make India the third largest economy in the world. Modi Ji has given respect to the tribes, Dalits and backward classes. After 75 years, a poor tribal lady Droupadi Murmu has become the President of India. For the first time ever, the OBCs have been given constitutional recognition, he said. They have been given a 27% reservation and the OBC Commission has been formed and implemented the welfare schemes for the Dalits, poor and the tribes, Shah added. New Delhi: Reacting to the Income Tax department's decision to withdraw 65 crore from its accounts, the Congress has questioned the move, claiming political parties don't pay the direct tax in India. Ajay Maken wrote on his X account that neither the BJP nor the Congress pay the income tax, but still his party is facing 210 crore tax demand. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken questioned why the Congress is facing the IT demand of 210 crore. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) "Yesterday, the Income Tax Department mandated banks to transfer over Rs65 crores from INC India, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the government--Rs5 crores from IYC and NSUI, and Rs60.25 crores from INC, marking a concerning move by the BJP Government," he said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Is it common for National Political Parties to pay Income Tax? No," he added. "Does the BJP pay Income Tax? No," Ajay Maken asked. Ajay Maken questioned the Income Tax department's demand of 210 crore, claiming it was an undemocratic act that posed a threat to India's multi-party system. Also read: Congress claims bank accounts frozen: No money to pay electricity bill, salaries "This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat?, he said in his post on X. Ajay Maken said the money in question was raised through crowdfunding and membership drives. "This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat? Our hope now lies with the judiciary," Maken added. The Congress has moved the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against the recovery of the outstanding tax. On Wednesday, the department told the court its action against the Congress was in accordance with the law. It said the court breached certain rules, which is why it must be treated as a "normal assesse". IT Department counsel said a false narrative is being created that "they're being targeted before the general elections and this narrative is completely baseless". The Congress last week said its accounts were frozen by the department as its return were just a few days late. It said it had no money to settle bills and pay the salaries of its employees. The party linked the action with the Lok Sabha elections. "Power drunk Modi Govt has frozen the accounts of the countrys largest Opposition party - the Indian National Congress - just before the Lok Sabha elections. This is a deep assault on India's Democracy," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had said. With inputs from ANI Madhya Pradesh minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kailash Vijayvargiya asserted that the saffron party does not need Congress veteran and former state chief minister Kamal Nath and its doors are closed for the latter. Kailash Vijayvargiya and Kamal Nath(File) Read here: Will Kamal Nath, son Nakul participate in Nyay Yatra amid BJP switchover buzz? Congress leader replies Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. While reacting to queries over speculation of Nath switching sides, Vijayvargiya said, "I had said there is no need of Kamal Nath in our party and that's why its doors were closed for him." The state minister's remarks came amid the rumours of Congress veteran's BJP switch plan. Meanwhile, several party leaders from Nath's stronghold MP's Chhindwara district joined the BJP on Wednesday. However, several Congress leaders including Digvijaya Singh and the party's state unit chief Jitu Patwari have refuted the claims of Nath joining the BJP and claimed that the rumours were spread by the BJP and media. Kamal Nath's loyalist Sajjan Singh Verma has said that the veteran leader has not made any decision on leaving the grand old party, while the party's general secretary Jitendra Singh has claimed that the veteran leader and his son Nakul Nath would participate in the grand old party's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra when it enters the state. There has been a buzz among the political corridors that Kamal Nath and his son were likely to end their ties with the Congress. As per reports, Kamal Nath is said to be disgruntled over not getting a Rajya Sabha seat and also Rahul Gandhi being opposed to him since the party lost the assembly polls late last year. Read here: Is Kamal Nath leaving? Loyalist reveals what Congress leader told him In the 2023 Madhya Pradesh elections, the BJP decimated the Congress after winning 163 of the 230 assembly seats. The Congress managed to win just 66 seats. Nath was later replaced as the Madhya Pradesh unit chief. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is hopeful of finalising a trade deal with India within a few days or weeks and the four-nation bloc has a clear ambition to sign the agreement before the country enters its election cycle, Norways deputy foreign minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik said on Thursday. Norways deputy foreign minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik (Photo/X) Against the backdrop of India reportedly seeking a commitment from EFTA, which comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, to invest up to $100 billion in the next 15 years, Kravik declined to go into specifics but said the issue of specific targets for investments and possible ramifications if such targets arent met had come up in the negotiations. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I think what were looking at now is that there will have to be some sort of targets that we are bound to promote, which we think is a good compromise, he said in an interview on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue. There is a lot of appetite for the agreement in the Norwegian business community, and this coupled with Indias economic growth of close to 10% a year makes the EFTA states very confident f reaching those targets, he said. I met with some of the leading businesses in Norway just before travelling here and...theyre very eager to get started to get into the Indian market, which is very interesting for them. So, were very optimistic, Kravik said. The two sides held the 21st round of negotiations on the proposed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in New Delhi during January 8-13. Also Read: India, 4 European countries eye trade deal as Delhi pushes for $100b investment Asked if the EFTA members intend to sign the trade deal before India enters its election cycle, Kravik replied: Thats our clear ambition. Of course, there are always things in flux...but were very hopeful and quite comfortable in saying that this will be finalised within a few days or weeks perhaps. Advancing and expanding the relationship with India is one of Norways core foreign policy priorities since this is also crucial for good relations with the Global South, he said. India also affords an opportunity for Norwegian companies with expertise and technology for the green transition to scale up their products, he added. Referring to attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea by Yemens Houthi rebels to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Kravik said the situation is concerning for both Norway and India since vessels from both countries have been targeted. India also has a stake in this because you have Indian vessels and Indian crew on lots of these vessels, he said. Norway hasnt been part of the military coalition that targeted the Houthis, not because it doesnt share the same objectives, but because it believes in remaining engaged with the rebels to ensure the cessation of hostilities in the Red Sea if a ceasefire comes into effect in the Gaza Strip, Kravik said. Kravik, who travelled to India after attending a UN-sponsored meeting on Afghanistan in Doha, said Norway backed the recommendation to appoint a UN special envoy to Afghanistan. Acknowledging that it is easy for Afghanistan to recede on the global agenda because of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Kravik said: Weve said repeatedly there needs to be more engagement with the Taliban. Of course, in that engagement, we need to be very clear-eyed about their commitments to human rights, especially the rights of women and girls. Weve been very concerned about some of the regressions that weve seen since the Taliban took over. Nebraska lawmakers on Tuesday began a debate over a bill that would gradually phase out the states inheritance tax by 2028. The measure (LB1067) from Sen. Rob Clements would join the Cornhusker state with the more than 40 others that have already eliminated what the Elmwood legislator referred to as the tax on death paid by roughly 12,000 Nebraskans each year. Currently, direct relatives like children or siblings pay a 1% tax on inherited property and financial assets over $40,000, while distant relatives pay 11% and those who arent related pay 15% of any inheritance they receive. Clements said that spurs some Nebraskans to flee the state to areas where those taxes won't be assessed and collected. Allowing people to transfer more of their assets to family and loved ones will keep them from leaving Nebraska upon retirement, Clements said, while also allowing families to build wealth and spur economic growth. But a pair of provisions within Clements bill intended to offset the estimated $65 million in revenue counties would lose once the inheritance tax is phased out something opponents of the bill said would likely result in property tax hikes raised concerns during the early stages of the debate. Clements plan would reinstitute the State Prisoner Reimbursement program that ended in 2009, providing $35 a day or more an amendment from the Revenue Committee would raise that to $100 per day for state inmates housed in county jails. Another piece of Clements plan would give county boards greater flexibility in how they use lodging taxes. State law currently restricts lodging taxes to tourism and visitors promotion; Clements would allow those funds to be tapped for road and bridge projects. The attempt to reduce the sting counties feel went too far for senators from both urban and rural areas, however. Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, who said she supported the Legislature taking a look at the inheritance tax in order to ensure it wasn't overly burdensome on middle class and farm families in Nebraska, said the bill tried to do too much at one time. Conrad said she understood why Clements and the Revenue Committee sought to combine those issues, which adjust the dials for how much funding counties have to work with, but she said it's too much at once. She filed a motion to divide the question, which asks lawmakers to break the bill's pieces down to individual parts for consideration. Her motion was taken under advisement on Tuesday, giving the Clerk of the Legislature and bill drafters time to develop language that will come before senators. I do think there is a significant track record in the legislative history that shows these are separate and distinct issues and should be debated and deliberated as such, she said. Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte said that while he favored eliminating the inheritance tax, he was nervous about allowing county boards to use funds intended to spur tourism to supplement their general budget. "I will vote against the bill if we can't separate the tourism dollars," Jacobson said, saying the plan before the Legislature created a "slush fund" for county boards. Jacobson also said counties would be taking a risk housing prisoners for the state because the reimbursement would only be available if the Legislature appropriated that money. If there was no state appropriation available, the onus would fall on property taxpayers to pay for those services, he added. "There's one thing I hate more than inheritance tax and that's property tax," Jacobson said. Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould, who formerly served on the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners, called Clements' plan "insufficient." "It needs to go back to the drawing board to find better and more substantial and permanent ways to supplement this loss of revenue to cities and the counties," Raybould said. A motion filed but not taken up Tuesday by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh would return LB1067 to the Revenue Committee. Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn said he supported Clements' plan, calling the inheritance tax "a simple redistribution of wealth." "Friends, that is pure socialism," he said. "If your goal is to take from the rich and give to the poor, we've already read that story." The Legislature debated LB1067 for less than an hour on Tuesday, Day 30 of the 60-day legislative session. Lawmakers will reconvene for floor debate on Wednesday morning, but LB1067 was not on the agenda posted to the Legislature's website Tuesday evening. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 KANHANGAD: Theres a hint of pride in Sarada BKs voice when she says that her eight-year-old daughter Alvisha manages to call her amma ( Malayalam for mother). But as she goes on to describe her daughters traits, the pride is quickly swallowed by a deep sense of pain. In January 2017, the Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to pay a compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to over 5,000 victims of endosulfan (File Photo) She speaks very little. She can stand up on her own, but she is prone to regular seizures. She cannot walk very long, so I have to carry her. She cannot chew and usually swallows food, so I have to feed her. She doesnt know how to use the latrine. She is eight but has the intelligence of a two-year-old, Sarada summarizes. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Alvisha is a victim of endosulfan pesticide poisoning, a scourge that has officially wrecked the lives of over 6,500 individuals and their families in the northernmost Kerala district of Kasaragod for over two decades. In this part of the state, with its distinct red laterite soil that blows with the wind and tropical conditions during most of the year, the organochlorine insecticide was sprayed in massive quantities from the late 70s to early 2000s in cashew estates where it percolated into the soil and eventually found its way into rivers, ponds and streams which were a drinking source for lakhs around it. While Sarada was a worker in a cashew factorys cutting section for years, potentially being exposed to the pesticide, it was her daughter, born in 2016, who suffered its worst effects through intrauterine exposure. At a special medical camp organised by the state government in April 2017 in Kasaragod, Alvisha was recognised as an endosulfan sufferer by doctors and subsequently added to the government list of victims in 2019. She received a one-time compensation of Rs.5 lakh in 2022 and has since gotten benefits like a monthly pension of Rs.1,700 and subsidised medicines. But five years later, Sarada is now anxious that her daughter, who suffers from neuro-behavioural disorders, would be stripped of the government perks as a victim. On November 18 last year, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan framed guidelines to identify new endosulfan victims and declared that only those who lived in these places or had intrauterine exposure from January 1980 to October 2011 would be defined as exposed, essentially striking many children like Alvisha out. The government, based on the advice of an expert committee, reasons that the persistence of endosulfan in the environment lasts for a maximum of six years. Since the pesticide was banned officially in 2005, its effects on the population would remain only till 2011, it argued. It is a bizarre order. My daughter was officially recognised as a victim of endosulfan poisoning in 2017. So, the government is basically contradicting itself. Now that the (cut-off year) is 2011, will they take back the compensation and benefits they provided us all this while? I want to know, asked Sarada, who stopped going to work to take care of Alvisha and her younger child Arush. Her husband Babu is a daily-wage worker and the family survives on a meagre income, she added. Also Read: Why India must ban highly hazardous pesticides Sarada is not alone. Seven years have passed since the state conducted the last medical camp in Kasaragod to identify new endosulfan victims and in this period, many suspected victims and their families have been lingering outside the social security net, devoid of benefits like free medical treatment and cheaper medicines. Activists say that the 2023 government order ignores the visible long-term genetic impact on unexposed generations and aims to diminish the size of the tragedy. A study conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, whose final findings are expected in a few months, on endosulfan imprint on mice, has a signalled impact on its next generation. These findings run contrary to the administrations methodology. On January 30 this year, an action council of endosulfan victims began an indefinite protest outside the mini civil station in Kanhangad town, demanding the recall of the 2023 government circular, inclusion of 1,031 eligible names in the victims list, conduct of medical camp with specialist doctors and timely payment of pensions. So far, the government has not batted an eyelid. It was in the mid-1970s that large acres of cashew trees, held by the state entity Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) in hilly parts of Kasaragod, were facing threats from swarming tea mosquito bugs. To counter the pest attack, the PCK ordered its staff to initially spray endosulfan, an organochloride insecticide, manually with hand. Having found results, the use of the pesticide was intensified, with PCK giving a green signal to aerial spraying over the estates using choppers three times a year. This went on in Kasaragod for the next 25 years until the horrifying effects of the chemical became apparent to the locals and activists. The first thing we noticed was the disappearance of honey bees from the region. Its like they were wiped out. Then, we began to see that the fish and frogs were dying in large numbers. Birds and reptiles were missing. I initially suspected that something was wrong with the water in the two rivulets that flowed through the region like maybe there was a radioactive element. At the time, no one could really connect the dots, remarked Dr YS Mohan Kumar, a general physician who was among the first to open the lid off the injustice in the name of endosulfan. As a doctor, who interacted with locals widely at the grassroots in panchayats like Enmakaje and Kumbadaje in the 80s and 90s, Kumar began to spot increasing cases of congenital abnormalities and neurological disorders in children. It was unusual to spot so many in such a small area, he added. The suspicions transformed into an agitation in the late 1990s against the PCK and its use of endosulfan as scientific tests conducted on samples of water from rivers and wells confirmed the presence of the deadly chemical. In February 2001, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in the magazine Down to Earth published a damning report showing the presence of the chemical in everything from the regions water and soil to samples of human blood and breast milk. The report said, The laboratory results strengthen the suspicion that the Padre residents are subsidising the governments cashew production with their lives. One womans blood showed 900 times the amount of endosulfan that is permitted in water CSE could not find any permissible limit for blood, meaning that it is unlikely that there is a minimum level at which the pesticide would not harm the human body. The womans elder son Kittanna (21) has cerebral palsy; the younger son Sridhar (16) is mentally retarded. The published lab findings, coupled with the visible impact on the physical and mental health of the local population, were enough to attract the international media, which put Kasaragod under the spotlight. While the spraying of the pesticide was put on hold in Kasaragod by the year 2001, it was banned across Kerala through a gazette notification in 2005 and across the country in 2011. In January 2017, the Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to pay a compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to over 5,000 victims of endosulfan as well as families of those who died as a result of its exposure within three months. It also said the government must consider providing special medical facilities and treatment for those suffering long-term effects. Though the Rs.5 lakh compensation was directed to be paid within three months, the state government took over five years to make the payments to the victims and was pulled up by the top court in May 2022 over the delay. All your decisions are only on books. The money has to be released. Five years have gone by since our judgment. Many victims would have died. Even the number of victims is bound to increase over a period of time, the SC said. Inside a small temporary shed with a thatched roof erected outside the gates of the mini civil station in Kanhangad, Kunhikrishnan Ambalathara, a man in his 60s wearing a tweed cap, is quietly building resistance to what he claims is a government attempt to close the chapter of endosulfan poisoning once and for all. The walls of the shed bear photographs of victims who passed away and news reports on the unfolding tragedy. Around 20 men and women sit on plastic chairs inside the shed, all of whom are relatives of suspected victims whose names didnt make it to the official government list. The governments mission is to systematically reduce the number of victims because it means they dont have to hand out compensation, conduct medical camps, offer free treatment and give subsidised medicines. They are basically trying to cut down the scale of the tragedy, said Kunhikrishnan, who heads the victims action council and has been associated with it since 1998. The LDF government, he said, had promised to conduct special camps every year to address the grievances of victims and identify new ones. But the last camp it held was in 2017 where over 7,000 applications were received and just over 3,800 attended. Following the 2017 camp, the administration added around 500 names to the list of victims, leaving over 1000 eligible persons out of it, the activist claimed. Ambalathara termed the 2023 order of the health department setting October 2011 as the cut-off date for exposure to the pesticide as comical and devoid of any scientific basis. The government says it took the decision based on the advice of an expert committee. But it hasnt explained what the scientific basis for it is. The logic of setting a year as the cut-off date is akin to claiming that when the pesticide was aerially sprayed, it would remain only within the borders of the plantation. But that was not true. The chemical leeched into the soil, and when it rained, it percolated down into rivers and streams, polluting the entire area. As recently as four months ago, a three-year-old child with hydrocephalus in Badiadka panchayat, close to the plantation, passed away. Isnt she evidence that its still happening? he asked. HT reached out to several members of the expert committee but they were either not available or chose not to respond. Professor Sathees C Raghavan, one of the five researchers who worked on the endosulfan study on mice at IISc, Bengaluru, told HT, Previous studies published from our lab using mice model suggested that endosulfan can induce DNA damage, particularly DNA strand breaks in the exposed animals. Repair of such DNA damage through microphone-mediated end joining resulted in small deletions in the repaired junction. Reproduction ability was also compromised in the female mice. Our studies were conducted in mice, but the findings can have implications in humans as well. Latest results suggest that the observed effect on genomic integrity could also have an impact on the next generation in mice, added the professor, who declined to comment on the government order as the studys final findings were yet to be made public. On Feb 14, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan, raising the issue in the budget session of the Assembly, said, The victims of endosulfan still remain as Keralas grief. They continue to suffer serious health issues and complications. For a section of people who have suffered so much pain for no fault of their own, they are today on the streets demanding their rights. Calling for the withdrawal of the 2023 government order, he said, Studies have shown that the effects of this deadly pesticide can travel through five generations. It is genetic in nature. So, the government order stipulating that those born after October 2011 cannot be termed as victims must be withdrawn. The poor mothers, leaving their children and kin at home, are protesting on the streets. Those ineligible should not be included in the list of victims, but at the same time, not a single eligible person should be denied justice. To this, Minister for Social Justice R Bindu merely repeated that the government has released guidelines to identify new victims based on the report of the expert committee. To include new names to the list of victims of endosulfan, the government invited applications in December 2022 to conduct a medical camp and over 20,000 applications were received. Steps are being taken to identify new victims as per the guidelines by organising a medical camp. But such promises have been made in previous years as well, without any result, say activists. Sarada sums up, The government simply does not understand the struggle that the kin of an endosulfan victim goes through. The experience cannot be spelt out in words. It has to be lived through. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued the seventh summons to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case. The agency has asked him to appear before it on February 26. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal(ANI) Arvind Kejriwal has ignored ED's six previous summonses. Earlier this week, AAP said Kejriwal wouldn't appear before the agency because the summonses were illegal and that the agency should have waited for the court's decision instead of repeatedly asking him to appear. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "We have replied to all summons from the ED. In court, the last date was February 17th and CM Arvind Kejriwal was virtually present there. The next date of hearing is March 16th. We are law-abiding people; whatever the court says, we will follow. ED should have waited for the verdict on the case. So this is a wrong summons," AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said on Monday. The Enforcement Directorate had moved a Delhi court against Kejriwal for skipping its summonses. The agency recently filed a fresh complaint case under sections 190 (1)(a) and 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 63 (4) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for non-attendance in compliance with Section 50 of PMLA. On February 17, Kejriwal appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court via video conferencing over his alleged non-compliance with its summonses. The Congress and BJP had slammed Kejriwal for skipping the summons. "Whatever the intention of the ED is,... we should always be a part of the judicial process and fulfil our duty... I say that you (Arvind Kejriwal) should go to the ED and present your point to finish the matter," said former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit on Monday. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala had called him 'bhagoda' or fugitive. "He has become 'bhagoda' number one. He has something to hide as the mastermind of the liquor scam...The court says that the summons are proper and you should go and attend these summons. But even then you are calling the summons illegal," he said on Monday. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been in jail for months over similar charges. AAP claims the Enforcement Directorate plans to arrest Kejriwal so that he can't campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With inputs from ANI Good evening! Here are the top stories in your evening news bulletin. AAP and Congress have finalised the seat-sharing deal for Delhi.(PTI) What AAP and Congress agreed upon The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and leave the remaining three to its alliance partner, the Congress, as part of a seat-sharing agreement being finalised by leaders of the two parties, people aware of the matter said. Citing the discussions between the two sides, a Congress leader said an agreement had been arrived between the two sides on the formula and the talks on the seats to be contested by the two parties were in the final stages. According to one arrangement being discussed, the Congress may contest East, Chandani Chowk and North East Lok Sabha seats; while AAP may contest New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and North West Lok Sabha seats. AAP minister Atishi declined to comment on the details of the negotiations. The talks are on and we are hopeful of closing the deal, she said. A senior Delhi Congress leader said the 4-3 formula was final but there could be some changes to the seats contested by the two sides. Full story here. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Bombay high court order to Netflix The Bombay high court on Thursday ordered OTT platform Netflix to organise a pre-release screening of the documentary series The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the agency sought a stay on the February 23 release of the series. The documentary revolves around Indrani Mukerjea, the main accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. The CBI has filed a plea in the high court seeking to halt the release of the web series due to the ongoing trial in the Sheena Bora murder case after it failed to obtain a stay from the trial court. A division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Manjusha Deshpande suggested that it will be suitable for the CBI to preview the series before presenting any arguments regarding their plea for a stay. Initially expressing concern about potential pre-censorship, Netflix eventually agreed to the suggestion and assured the court that the series will not be aired until the next hearing February 29. The CBI, during the hearing on Thursday, emphasised that the series includes interviews with the accused and some witnesses in the case. Advocate Shreeram Shirsat, representing the agency, argued that since the CBI had only viewed the trailer, they were unaware of the number of witnesses featured in the series. The high court, therefore, requested Netflix to provide the exact count of witnesses interviewed. Senior advocate Ravi Kadam, representing Netflix, informed the court that five witnesses, including Indranis son, Mikhael, and her daughter, Vidhie Mukerjea, were interviewed in the series. Full story here. Avalanche in Gulmarg One skier died on Thursday after an avalanche hit Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir while several foreigners remained trapped. An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow on the slope of a mountain which may get triggered by many factors. There was an avalanche warning as J&K recorded incessant rainfall, snowfall in the past few days. Officials said the avalanche on Thursday struck the Kongdoori slopes where many foreigners went without local residents. Five skiers have been rescued and are being treated in a local hospital. Personnel of the Army and a patrolling team of the Jammu and Kashmir administration are carrying out rescue-cum-search operations. Full story here. Griha pravesh at Smriti Irani's Amethi house Union minister Smriti Irani and her husband Zubin Irani performed the rituals of griha pravesh at the minister's new residence in Amethi, the Lok Sabha seat that Smriti Irani wrested from Rahul Gandhi in 2019. The occasion comes months ahead of the Lok Sabha election 2024 in which Amethi may witness another high-octane fight as the Congress has not given up hopes on Amethi and negotiated for the seat in its seat-sharing deal with INDIA bloc ally Samajwadi Party. The griha pravesh occasion comes days after Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra passed through Amethi. In 2019, Smriti Irani promised that she would have a permanent address in Amethi if she got elected. In February 2021, she bought a plot of 15,000 square feet of land in the Gauriganj area. In 2023, Smriti Irani hosted a 'khichdi bhoj ' at her new residence in Amethi. A year later, the griha pravesh ceremony was held on Thursday. Full story here. IPL star's link in model death case Police are delving into the friendship between model Tania Singh and Sunrisers Hyderabad player Abhishek Sharma as part of their investigation into Singh's suspected suicide. According to a statement from a Surat police officer on Wednesday, preliminary findings suggest a connection between the two, prompting authorities to send a notice to Abhishek Sharma for questioning. Tanya Singh, 28, was found hanging from the ceiling of her apartment in the Vesu area of the city on Monday. With no suicide note recovered at the scene, investigators have been piecing together clues to understand the circumstances surrounding her death. "We have so far learnt this much that Abhishek Sharma was in friendship with the deceased model. More details will be known in the investigation," said Assistant Commissioner of Police VR Malhotra. Authorities are now turning their attention to verifying the Call Detail Records (CDR) and IP Detail Record (IPDR) data from Singh's phone. Preliminary investigation revealed that the model had sent Sharma a message on WhatsApp chat but it was not responded to, he said. Full story here. New Delhi: The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is hopeful of finalising a trade deal with India within a few days or weeks and the four-nation bloc has a clear ambition to sign the agreement before the country enters its election cycle, Norways deputy foreign minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik said on Thursday. Norways deputy foreign minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik (Twitter Photo) Against the backdrop of India reportedly seeking a commitment from EFTA, which comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, to invest up to $100 billion in the next 15 years, Kravik declined to go into specifics but said the issue of specific targets for investments and possible ramifications, if such targets arent met, had come up in the negotiations. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. What are Norways priorities for the bilateral relationship with India? We have a very strong relationship with India, a formidable country which is ascending and becoming more and more important on the global stage. For us, maintaining, advancing and expanding our relationship with India is one of our core foreign policy priorities. I hope people understand and know that for us, good relations with the Global South are critical and we see India as one of the leaders, if not the leader, of the Global South. Were very adamant about maintaining close relations with India. Thats one of the reasons why were very happy were getting very close now to finalising the free trade agreement with India, which I think will consolidate our relationship and create parameters that will facilitate more mutual investments, more trade, more creative thinking, economic thinking in terms of green technology and green industries. What are the tricky issues in negotiations for a trade deal between EFTA and India? How are you handling Indias call for a commitment to invest about $100 billion over a period of time in the Indian economy? Im not privy to all the conversations as I havent been part of the delegation. This is being led on our side by the minister of trade and I am in close contact with the minister. Those are some of the issues weve been attaching a lot of importance to. Were still doing the final touches but the results, at least the tentative results, are very promising. As you highlighted, the investments and the targets are issues that have come up. Whether we should adhere to or have specific targets and [whether] there will be some sort of ramifications if we dont meet those targets. I think what were looking at now is that there will have to be some sort of targets that we are bound to promote, which we think is a good compromise. Again, this is an agreement theres a lot of appetite for in the Norwegian business community. When you couple that with the economic growth were seeing in India, close to 10% per year, I think were very confident in saying that we will reach those targets and thats the reason companies are leaning in and want to play a constructive role. I met with some of the leading businesses in Norway just before travelling here and they were inquiring about this agreement, and theyre very eager to get started to get to the Indian market, which is very interesting for them. So, were very optimistic. Its difficult to talk about timeframes, but do you think the FTA is doable before India goes into its election cycle? Thats our clear ambition. Of course, there are always things in flux and you never know exactly before we see it on paper. But were very hopeful and quite comfortable in saying that this will be finalised within a few days or weeks perhaps. But were very optimistic that we will have something tangible now in the coming days. Is the green transition and the possibility of scaling up Norways technologies in India among the key areas you are looking at in the bilateral partnership? Thats exactly right. I think our economies are complementary. I think theres a high demand for lots of the know-how and technologies that we have here in India, We have lots of cutting-edge companies in Norway and there is high demand for those companies in India and we have a cultural know-how in terms of a strong history of collaboration. I think thats something which is conducive to more interactions between our companies. When I consulted with our companies just a few days ago, they were making the exact point that the technology, know-how and expertise we have in Norway is something that is in high demand in India and were interested in enforcing it in the market with more intensity and to scale up their products. Thats something we want to help facilitate not just because we think its important for investment companies to make a profit, although as a Norwegian politician, thats something were mandated to do and have an obligation to try to facilitate, but thats something that is one of our foreign policy objectives and we need to make that transition. In order to make that transition, we have to have the full support of Norwegian and Indian companies that need to collaborate for that purpose. Then thats something that we really want to try to facilitate. Perhaps more than any other European country, Norway has been very invested in Afghanistan. How do you look at the situation in Afghanistan, given that you came to India after attending a key meeting in Doha? We thought the report that came from the Special Coordinator in the UN was a good report and the recommendations were solid and robust, something that we support. There needs to be a [UN] special envoy appointed. I think one of the challenges that Afghanistan is now facing is that its easy for Afghanistan to recede on the international agenda in terms of priorities because you have Ukraine, Gaza, and the green transition that we need to facilitate. So, Afghanistan is something that is receding and our collective bandwidth is limited to a certain extent. Thats why I think a core task of a special envoy would be to travel to Oslo, Washington, Brussels, and New Delhi and remind countries about the importance of Afghanistan and why we need a stable Afghanistan at peace with itself, the region and the international community. The meeting in Qatar was very important in that regard and we had a few tangible outcomes. I think one of them is that we need more dialogue between key countries and the UN. I think there will be another meeting in Qatar in the not-too-distant future and that was one of the takeaways. The UN Secretary-General was clear he intends to move forward on the issue of the special envoy. I think what needs to be done is for the UN to consult widely and extensively with key countries, including Norway, to find an individual with the necessary credibility and legitimacy, both with the international community but also with the de facto authorities in Afghanistan, and thats something that we fully support. Weve said repeatedly there needs to be engagement with the Taliban and Norway has a special history in that regard for two reasons, one because youll be hard-pressed to find a Western government which has had more interactions with the Taliban over the course of the last few years than us and also we have a long tradition in terms of peace and reconciliation. We talk to people, movements, organisations, and individuals even if we have concerns with some of their ideologies or some of their actions. But we still think dialogue is important and we repeated this at the meeting. But weve said repeatedly there needs to be more engagement with the Taliban. Of course, in that engagement, we need to be very clear-eyed about their commitments to human rights, especially womens rights and the rights of girls. Weve been very concerned about some of the regressions that weve seen since the Taliban took over. One of the core messages we have been trying to convey is that even if we dont see the necessary progress, that should not be a pretext for us to stop engaging because when you deal with movements like the Taliban, strategic patience is critical and you just have to keep being adamant. I hope to be able to travel to Kabul in the not-too-distant future and meet with them to convey our messages and hopefully, that will resonate. But I think its also important for the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to understand that this is an opportunity for them, there is a willingness on the part of the UN to look at potential normalisation if they are willing to show increased commitment to human rights, to international law but theyre not going to get that normalisation unless they accommodate some of the needs and priorities of the international community. So there needs to be some sort of a reciprocal relationship there. Ahead of the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, it would appear the conflict in Gaza has shifted a lot of the attention of the world community. How much of a concern does Ukraine remain and what do you think of many countries in the Global South which have said this is something that Europe needs to take care of? Ukraine is our first priority in terms of our security. Ukraine is for us an existential issue. Weve had a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law in terms of Russias aggression towards Ukraine. Thats not something that can stand and weve been very clear with our partners and friends in the Global South that this is not a regional topic. This is something that should concern all of us because territorial integrity and respect for the UN Charter is something that has to be at the centre of our collective foreign policy. But I think the global South, to a certain extent and with some legitimacy, has been concerned about this issue of double standards. Theres been more attention given to international law in the context of Ukraine-Russia, as opposed to other parts of the world. I think weve been relatively successful in being clear-eyed about that. International law is our yardstick and we have been very clear about Russia having violated fundamental international legal norms but weve said in order for us to be principled, we have to call out other transgressions of international law, and weve done exactly that in the context of Gaza. When we saw Hamas attack Israel, that was a blatant violation of international law, but also when Israel responded in a way that we dont think comports with basic principles of humanitarian law and basic legal principles. Weve been very clear in saying thats just not something we can tolerate. So there needs to be a unified, clear, principled approach to these various conflicts. Thats where when I meet with my partners from the Global South, I say to them that we are extremely concerned about Gaza and the transgressions of international law perpetrated by Israel. We are fully aligned there, but there also needs to be concerned on your part with what Russia has done in Ukraine. That cant be a regional issue just as much as whats happening in the Gaza Strip is not a regional issue for the Middle East. Its something that concerns all of us. Thats a sort of cornerstone for us when we engage other countries. India and Norway have tremendous stakes in merchant shipping, which drives trade and commerce. Do you think European countries like Norway can do more with India in view of what is happening in the Red Sea? Thats an excellent question. I think whats happening in the Red Sea is extremely concerning and weve been saying very clearly this is not something the international community can tolerate. Were part of this coalition of states that is engaging in Prosperity Guardian. Norwegian vessels have been targeted for no legitimate reasons and this is a clear violation of international law. International law is our yardstick and enables us to be very clear-eyed about these things. India also has a stake in this because you have Indian vessels and Indian crew on lots of these vessels. This is something the prime minister has discussed with his counterpart from India and also the foreign minister discussed this with his Indian counterpart. I think India has a role to play and I think India has also been relatively clear about this. Now the question is how do you approach the Houthis? Because from their vantage point, at least to a certain extent, this has been a good thing for them because theyre gaining credibility, and legitimacy and are now an actor on the global stage. How can we interact with those tendencies and those incentive structures? We havent been part of the military coalition that targeted the Houthis, not because we dont share the objectives, but because we think another approach might be equally important. For us whats critical is that if theres a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which we think will materialize in the not-too-distant future, then there needs to be a cessation of hostilities in the Red Sea and the Houthis need to declare that publicly. Any attack by the Houthis is unacceptable, but at least if we are able to manage the conflict in the Gaza Strip that needs to also have an impact on their operations. We have a discrete dialogue with the Houthis where we try to impress upon them that they really need to rethink. Theres also a process with the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government and that also needs to go forward. The extension of internship cut-off for admissions to post-graduate dental course is a policy matter, the Supreme Court has said while leaving it to the government to take a call on the demand for an extension of the March 31 deadline preferably within a week. The Supreme Court. (HT PHOTO) Since the issue of fixing the cut-off date essentially pertains to the policy domain, it would be more appropriate to submit a representation...We direct that the representation be dealt with expeditiously and preferably within a period of one week from the date of this order, a bench of Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said on Wednesday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The court was hearing a petition of dentists due to take the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test-Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) on March 18. They have sought the postponement of the internship cut-off of March 31. The petitioners argued many of the candidates appearing for the examination will be ineligible to take it as it requires them to complete a mandatory one-year internship. The last date to register for the examination ended on February 19. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who appeared for the petitioners, said the issue was also of parity as the internship cut-off for the NEET-PG examination was August 15. Advocate Gaurav Sharma, who represented the National Dental Commission, said the government was actively considering the demand of the petitioners. He added the issue may not require the courts intervention as the government will take a call after looking at the extent of the problem and the number of candidates to be affected due to the March 31 deadline. Feb 22, 2024 8:11 PM IST Farmers protest LIVE updates: When questioned about the possibility of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) joining the ongoing protest at two points along the Punjab-Haryana border, Rajewal stated that the SKM is conducting its agitation independently, as reported by news agency PTI. Several leaders affiliated with the SKM from Punjab, Haryana, and other states participated in the meeting. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are leading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to pressure the government into meeting their demands, which include a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and the waiver of farm loans. On Wednesday, farmer leaders decided to temporarily suspend the march for two days following the death of a farmer, identified as Subhkaran Singh, stating that they would determine their next steps by Friday evening. Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old farmer from Bhatinda, was killed on Wednesday in clashes between security personnel and protesting farmers at the Khanauri border. Twelve police personnel were also injured in the clashes. Shubhkaran Singh died on Wednesday during farmers' protest in Punjab. Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital's medical superintendent H S Rekhi said the Singh suffered an injury to his head. However, the exact cause of death will be ascertained after the post-mortem. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to officials, Shubhkaran Singh died of a bullet injury. "He was brought dead, and on initial examination it appears that he was hit by a bullet. We will be able to ascertain the nature of the bullet only after a post-mortem, Rekhi said. Farmers at the border said the police fire rubber bullets along with tear gas shells. The Haryana police said the farmers attacked security personnel with stones and sticks. The police also said the protesters poured chilli powder on stubble and set it on fire after surrounding the security personnel posted at the Khanauri border. AAP leader and Punjab health minister Balbir Singh called the police action "murder of democracy". Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed Singh died due to police firing. However, there is no confirmation for the cause of his death. Also read: SKM blames govt for farmer's death; road blockade in Haryana today | 10 points "The death of Maur (Bathinda) boy Shubhkaran Singh in Haryana police firing at Khanauri border has sent a pall of gloom in Punjab. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's conspiratorial double game is responsible for the loss of this young life, the only brother of two sisters. The police of another state are allowed to assault and kill Punjabis on Punjab soil, with Bhagwant Mann collaborating with Haryana against Punjab farmers. Peaceful protest being met with bullets unheard of in a democracy. The innocent blood of Shubhkaran Singh is in Bhagwant Mann's hands," Badal alleged in a post on X. Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed Shubhkaran Singh died due to a rubber bullet fired by the police. "Farmer Shubkaran Singh of village Ballo, district Bathinda, allegedly died with a rubber bullet fired by the Haryana police while he was still in Punjab's jurisdiction protesting peacefully," Bajwa claimed in his statement. Earlier, the protesting farmers amassed heavy machinery like earthmovers and bulldozers. The Punjab and Haryana high court had said they were not allowed to move on the highway. Who was Shubhkaran Singh? Shubhkaran Singh was a resident of Balloh village in Bhatinda, about 15 kilometres from Rampura Phul city. His friend Pala described him as a hard-working contract farmer. He and his uncle Charanjit Singh used to cultivate 20 acres of land on contract. Shubhkaran also owned livestock. He was a school drop out. Shubhkaran Singh was raised by his grandfather after his parents' divorce. He is survived by two sisters. Shubhkaran Singh owned only two acres of land. The locals are taking care of his four buffaloes and five calves as her sister is in a state of shock. His another village friend said Shubhkaran Singh was an activist of the Bhartiya Kisan Union Sidhupur and would attend protests and gatherings. Shubhkaran Singh had also protested at the 2021 farmers' agitation, which resulted in the repeal of the three central laws. Shubhkaran Singh was among 15 farmers from his village who joined the Delhi Chalo march. Singh's father suffers from a mental illness. He was the family's breadwinner. Shubhkaran Singh arrived at Khanauri on February 13. He used to work in the kitchen. His elder sister is married. His next goal was to get his younger sister married. With inputs from PTI Union minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that dialogue is the only way to address the concerns of the farmers, whom he addressed as the country's Annadatas (provider of food). "Earlier also we were ready for discussions, still we are ready and in the future also we will be ready. We don't have any problem, they are our Annadatas," ANI quoted Thakur as saying. Farmers protest LIVE coverage Union minister Anurag Thakur.(PTI file) The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and a farm loan waiver. The protest has been suspended for two days and the next course of action will be decided on Friday. On the other hand, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which spearheaded the 2020-21 farmers' protest has now formally joined the new agitation and will observe Black Day or Aakrosh Diwas on Friday against the death of a farmer on Punjab-Haryana border on Wednesday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Thakur highlighted the Modi government's work for the farmers, saying, "Despite the increase in the prices of fertilizers across the world, we prevented the rise in fertiliser and urea costs for farmers. The Government of India provided subsidies amounting to 3 lakh crore." ALSO READ: Cabinet hikes sugarcane prices for 2024-25 by 8% "We worked continuously in the last three years and brought Nano Urea and not only this, I want to tell you that in the 10 years of UPA, 5.50 lakh crore were spent on MSP for wheat, paddy, and oilseeds. The Modi government has allocated 18.39 lakh crore, which is more than 3.50 times," Thakur said. UPA did not respect farmers, says Thakur Anurag Thakur lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government, saying that the previous government did not respect the farmers. "If I give you the example of pulses, the UPA government spent 1936 crore, the Modi government spent more than 55,000 crore," he said. ALSO READ: Cong to guarantee MSP to farmers if it comes to power The Union Minister continued his attacks on the UPA government and said that during the time of Congress, there was neither respect for farmers nor funding. They (UPA) spent 11,000 crore in oilseeds, we spent 33,000 crore. They spent 2.80 lakh crore on wheat, we spent 12.80 lakh crore. It was the Modi government that deposited 2.81 lakh crore in the accounts of 12 crore farmers, and during the UPA, farmers did not get compensation, the minister said. "At our time, compensation worth 1.54 lakh crore has been given under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana," he added. "During their (UPA) time, money was not received from banks. In 2013-14, 7.3 lakh crore was given. We gave more than 20 lakh crore to the farmers in 2021-22. This was our duty towards the farmers, that is why Modi ji has created the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Look at each step in that direction, we spent 15,511 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Sichayi Yojana," the minister said. (With ANI inputs) Vijayawada: In a political showdown in Andhra Pradesh, state Congress chief YS Sharmila Reddy, who is the sister of YSRCP leader and chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, said on Thursday that she stayed at the Congress office to escape the government's alleged attempt to house-arrest her. Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila during a public rally in January.(File photo) A viral video shows her lying on a cot on the floor of the party's Vijayawada office. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This came a day after she led Congress workers during the party's Chalo Secretariat protest. The Congress has called the protest to seek redressal of alleged problems being faced by unemployed youth and students. On Wednesday, speaking to the media at Andhra Ratna Bhavan in Vijayawada, YS Sharmila said Jagan Mohan Reddy had utterly failed in addressing important issues of youth, unemployed and students in the last five years. She later claimed on X that there were attempts to house-arrest her. "If we call for protest on behalf of the unemployed, will you try to keep us under house arrest? Don't we have the right to protest in a democracy? Is it not shameful that as a woman I have been forced to evade the police and spend the night in the Congress Party office to avoid house arrest?" she wrote on X. Also read: YS Sharmila begins Andhra tour, throws open challenge to Jagan government On Thursday, she claimed thousands of policemen had surrounder her. "Thousands of policemen were placed around us. Iron fences have been put up and we have been held hostage. If we stand on the side of the unemployed, they are arresting us. You are dictators who are trying to stop us. Your actions are proof of this. YCP Sarkar should apologize to the unemployed," he added. Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of having what he called a dictatorial attitude. "Standing up against Jagan's arrogance and standing for democracy, Joining YS Sharmila and countless others in condemning the unjust behavior of Jagan's police for the suppression of democratic rights against advocates for the unemployed. It's time to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy and respect the right to peaceful protest" Manickam Tagore posted on X. YS Sharmila joined the Congress on January 4. Within weeks, she was elevated as the party's state chief. Also read: YS Sharmila launches tirade against brother Jagan Mohan Reddy Before that, after an apparent fall out with brother YS Jagan Reddy, Sharmila was heading the YSR Telangana Party, which she had floated on July 8, 2021. After becoming the Congress chief in Andhra Pradesh, she accused Reddy of throwing development on the proverbial backseat. "There has been a steep increase in atrocities on Dalits. Mining and sand mafia are ruling the roost, she had told Congress workers. "Even Jagan, who raised a hue and cry over the special category status to AP, has not bothered to take up any movement against the Centre for denying the same," she had added. With inputs from ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government was focused on making the lives of small farmers easier, expanding the scope of animal husbandry, and promoting fisheries and bee-keeping in the villages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. (ANI) The previous government had a fragmented view towards the rural economy, while the present government is making progress by prioritising every aspect of the village, he said at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets its products under the name of Amul, in Ahmedabad. About 100000 dairy farmers attended the celebration. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Modi referred to the benefits of Kisan Credit Cards for livestock and fish breeders, seeds that can cope with climate change, and the National Gokul Mission that aims to improve the dairy cattle species. He said the government was working to eradicate Foot and Mouth disease by 2030. Modi spoke about the losses cattle farmers incur due to the disease and a free vaccination programme worth 15,000 crore. Modi said over 70 million vaccinations have been carried out under the programme so far. Modi said the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved inclusion of additional activities under the National Livestock Mission to promote indigenous species. Financial assistance will be provided to use non-arable land for fodder purposes. Insurance premiums for livestock protection have been significantly reduced. Modi said the cooperative movement was gaining momentum with the establishment of cooperative societies in villages across the country. We endeavour to integrate small-scale farmers in villages with modern technology, he said. He added Kisan Samriddhi Kendras have been established to provide scientific solutions to farmers near their villages. He said efforts were underway to assist farmers in making organic fertilizers. Modi said a scheme for the purchase of cow dung from livestock farmers under the Gobar Dhan Yojana will facilitate the production of biogas for electricity generation. The establishment of biogas plants by Amul in Banaskantha is a significant step in this direction. Modi referred to the record investment in livestock infrastructure and added dairy cooperatives were getting more rebates on interest now. He noted that Amul will complete 75 years when India completes 100th year of independence. Modi said Amul has set a target of doubling the processing capacity of its plants in the next five years. Today Amul is the eighth largest dairy company in the world. You have to make it the worlds largest dairy company as soon as possible. The government stands with you in every way, and this is Modis guarantee. Modi said several brands emerged in India after independence, but there were none like Amul. Amul has become the symbol of the strength of the cattle rearers of India. He said Amul means trust, development and peoples cooperation, farmers empowerment, etc. Mod said over 50 countries import Amul products. More than 18,000 co-operative societies with more than 3.6 million farmers produce 3.5 crore litres of milk every day... more than 200 crore of online payment to cattle farmers. This is not an easy task. Small livestock farmers working together is the strength of the federation. Amul is an example of how decisions taken with forward-thinking can sometimes change the fate of future generations. Why Finland Could be Europes Next Crypto Mining Giant Finland is emerging fast as an attractive place for crypto mining due to its relatively cool climate, which helps with cooling mining rigs, and its abundant renewable energy sources. Additionally, Finland has a stable political and economic environment, which can be beneficial for long-term investments like crypto mining operations. However, factors such as electricity costs, regulatory environment, and infrastructure availability should also be considered and taken into consideration. Miners in Finland see the country as an attractive location due to the unique situation of near-zero energy costs during periods of overproduction has attracted the bitcoin mining industry to the Nordic region, Lennu Keinanen co-founder of Once Mining, a crypto mining firm based in Finland told Cryptonews.com. Finland remains Europes most unexplored Bitcoin mining frontier in Scandinavia although over the years its Nordic neighbours Norway, and Sweden have been seen as more desirable locations. Many crypto miners headed to the region to seek refuge from rising electricity prices in 2022. Finland Offers Near-Zero Energy Costs In 2023, electricity prices in Finland fell below zero due to surging hydropower, nuclear energy, solar, and wind. That year the Nordic nation witnessed its first monthly power surplus in almost 20 years. Analysts forecast that 25 TWh of renewable energy will be built in Finland by 2030, which will push down prices further, according to a report by European energy markets newswire Montel News. Low energy prices are crucial for crypto miners because mining cryptocurrencies requires a significant amount of electricity. The lower the cost of electricity, the higher the profit margins for miners, as it reduces the operational expenses associated with running mining hardware. Since energy costs can heavily impact the profitability of mining operations, miners often seek locations with access to cheap electricity to maximize their returns. The unique situation of near-zero energy costs during periods of overproduction has attracted the bitcoin mining industry to Finland. Bitcoin mining requires substantial amounts of electricity, and the ability to operate at lower costs significantly enhances profitability, said Keinanen. Government Subsidies and Wind Energy The Finnish government has been providing substantial subsidies for wind energy, aiming to boost renewable energy production and reduce carbon emissions, explains Keinanen. While well-intentioned, these subsidies have led to a rapid expansion of wind energy capacity. This in turn has had an impact on energy production resulting in a significant increase in fluctuating energy production. Wind energy, by nature, is variable and depends on wind conditions. As a result, when wind conditions are favourable, theres an overproduction of energy, leading to instances where the price of electricity can drop below zero, reaching as low as -0.3/kWh. Conversely, during periods of low wind, underproduction can occur, causing electricity prices to spike, at times reaching up to 2/kWh, said Keinanen. Finnish Tax Administration The Finnish Tax Administration has made it clear that crypto is subject to tax. Miners have to pay tax on capital gains from disposing of cryptocurrency by selling, trading, or spending it, as well as Income Tax on any income earned from activities such as crypto mining. The mining industry is still in the infancy here but about to become quite significant in the next few years, explains Keinanen. He goes on to explain that there is huge interest in opening mining sites and theres a continuous buzz of site scouting activities going on in Finland. Bitcoin mining cost efficiency is primarily determined by the price of electricity, as mining consumes significant amounts of power. Lower electricity costs increase profitability, as the expense of running mining hardware is reduced. Therefore, locations with cheap electricity are more cost-efficient for Bitcoin mining. Mining is not tax-free but can be organized quite tax efficiently, adds Keinanen. The central government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure farmer welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while addressing farmers at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation in Ahmedabad. PM Modi speaks during the golden jubilee celebrations of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (PTI)(PTI) "We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure farmer welfare. The government has built 60,000 Amrit Sarovars across the country. This initiative will not only benefit farmers but will also strengthen the rural economy. Our goal is to provide modern technology and its know-how even to the small farmers of the country," PM Modi said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Our focus is to improve the life of small farmers, to increase the scope of animal husbandry, to improve the health of animals, to encourage animal husbandry as well as pisciculture and beekeeping in the village," PM Modi. He said that the government has provided the farmers with modern seeds to combat climate change. "For the first time, we have also provided Kisan Credit Card facility to cattle farmers and fish farmers. We have given farmers such modern seeds which can combat climate change," the Prime Minister said during his address at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Speaking on occasion, the Prime Minister hailed the 'Nari Shakti' as the driving force behind the "flourishing dairy sector" in the country. PM Modi affirmed the government's commitment to stepping up the economic power of women. "Today we are the largest milk-producing country in the world. Eight crore people are directly associated with India's dairy sector. Our dairy sector has a turnover of 10 lakh crore. It is noteworthy that the driving force behind our flourishing dairy sector is Bharat's Nari Shakti," the Prime Minister said. "To make India developed, it is necessary to increase the economic power of every woman in India, hence today our government is also working all-round to increase the economic power of women," he said. The PM said that about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of the more than 30 lakh crore provided by the government under Mudra Yojana are "sisters and daughters." During the last 10 years, the number of women associated with the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) has crossed 10 crore!" he added. "Today, when India is moving ahead with women-led development, this success of India's dairy sector is a great inspiration for it," he said. The Prime Minister extended wishes to the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation on its golden jubilee saying that "the sapling planted by the villages of Gujarat 50 years back, has become a big banyan tree today." The branches of this tree have now extended across the country as well as the world, he added. "It's the wonderful synergy of 'Sarkaar' and 'Sehkaar' that Bharat has emerged as the world's largest milk producer. The large scale on which this organisation of small animal farmers is working today is the power of organization, the power of cooperation," the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister also lauded the growth of Amul, the Indian multinational cooperative society under GCMMF, saying that it has become a symbol of the strength of India's cattle rearers. "After India's independence, many brands were created in the country, but none like Amul. Today Amul has become a symbol of the strength of India's cattle rearers," he said. "Amul means faith, Amul means development, Amul means public participation, Amul means empowerment of farmers, Amul means integration of modernity with time, Amul means inspiration of self-reliant India, Amul means big dreams, big resolutions and even bigger achievements," the Prime Minister remarked. The Prime Minister further highlighted the growth of the dairy sector emphasising the increase in milk production during the last 10 years. He also outlined that India's dairy sector is growing at a rate of 6 per cent against the global growth rate of 2 per cent. "In the last 10 years alone, milk production in India has increased by about 60 per cent. Per capita milk availability has also increased by about 40 per cent in the last 10 years. The dairy sector in the world is growing at the rate of only 2 per cent, here the dairy sector in India is growing at the rate of 6 per cent," PM Modi said. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi that the 'soul of India lies in the villages', the Prime Minister said, "To build a developed India, it is necessary to strengthen India's rural economy. Earlier governments looked at the needs of the rural economy in a piecemeal manner. We are taking the work forward by giving priority to every aspect of the village." Speaking on occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said, "Taking complete advantage of the double-engine government, Gujarat is leading in the cooperative production of milk. In the last 2 decades, the number of milk corporations in the state has doubled from 12 to 23." "More than 36 lakh people are connected with the dairy industry, including 11 lakh women. Out of the 16,384 milk houses, 3300 are completely run by women. These women have become financial support for their families," he said. "The dairy industry has made a huge contribution to making the country the 5th largest economy. More than 150 crores are paid via DBT to the milk producers. PM Modi's tenure has been of Perform, Reform and Transform. India will soon generate an identity of the World's Dairy in the Amrit Kaal," CM Patel said. Later, PM Modi also visited an exhibition by Amul, in Ahmedabad, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the GCMMF. The event also saw participation from farmers in large numbers from different parts of the state. Cultural programs were organised at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where the Golden Jubilee celebrations were held. PM Modi is set to unveil development projects in Gujarat worth more than 22,850 crore later in the day. The projects will encompass important sectors like road, rail, energy, health, internet connectivity, urban development, water supply, tourism etc in districts like Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, Anand, Mahesana, Kachchh, Kheda, Bharuch, Tapi, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari, Panchmahal, Valsad, and Narmada. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate development projects worth more than 5,040 crore for Surat Municipal Corporation, Surat Urban Development Authority, and Dream City. This includes foundation stone laying for 41 development projects costing more than 3,000 crore and the inauguration of 18 development projects valued at over 2,000 crore. PM Modi will also launch 50 electric buses that have been acquired at a cost of 840 crore. He will also inaugurate various components of the Tapi Purification Project constructed at a cost of 597 crore, and various projects of DREAM City Limited constructed at a cost of 49 crore. He will tour 11 districts in the South Zone of Gujarat, including Vadodara, Navsari, Bharuch, Tapi, Valsad, Panchmahal, Surat, Chhotaudepur, Dahod, and Mahisagar where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects exceeding 5,400 crore across 10 different departments. HT brings you a round-up of the most important and interesting stories, so you dont miss your daily dose of news. Fali S Nariman has an exemplary career spanning over seven decades. (HT Photo)(HT_PRINT) 1) Fali Nariman: Public intellectual and jurist, Gods good man, writes Gopalkrishna Gandhi Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to Prime Minister (PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and National Security Adviser, was not an excitable man. And he did not speak two words when one would do. But in 1999, when PM Vajpayee had recommended to President KR Narayanan the name of Fali S Nariman for being nominated under the Presidents discretion to the Rajya Sabha, the tough former diplomat rang me (I was then secretary to the President) with barely suppressed happiness to convey the glad tidings. I think the President will be pleased with the name, he said. Nariman is so fair-minded, so objective, and so very well-liked across the board. President Narayanan was indeed very happy with the name. Read more. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. 2) Stir on hold as farmer killed in police action Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said there will be a thorough investigation into the death of the 24-year-old farmer Shubh Karan Singh by the Haryana Police during a clash at the Khanauri border. Mann said his government will stand by the farmers and won't bow down even if there are 100 threats of President's Rule in Punjab. Following the death, the protesters announced that the 'Delhi Chalo' march will be paused for two days as the leaders need to chart out the future course of action. Read more. 3) Boosting ties with India should be cornerstone of EUs foreign policy: Greek PM Strengthening the partnership with India should be a cornerstone of the European Unions (EU) foreign policy since the country is seen as a consensus builder and as a voice of reason in an increasingly polarised world, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis, who was delivering the keynote address as the chief guest at this years edition of the Raisina Dialogue, challenged the Global Souths perception of Russias invasion of Ukraine as a European war by saying that it represents a brutal challenge to the international rules-based order that India has supported. Read more. 4) Indians duped into fighting for Wagner Group The kin of multiple Indian nationals have claimed that their family members have been duped by foreign recruiters in Russia and have been forced to join the Wagner Group, a private military company. Mohammed Sufiyan, a 22-year-old man hailing from Telangana, along with three others from Karnataka's Kalaburagi have sent an SOS to their families about being stranded in Russia and forced to join the army to fight the war against Ukraine. Read more. 5) A call that broke the ice All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi spoke to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday morning to facilitate a breakthrough between the two parties and to finalise the seat-sharing agreement. The Samajwadi Party has agreed to allocate 17 Lok Sabha seats to the grand old party in Uttar Pradesh. Those aware of the development said both Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav held a long discussion on seat-sharing over phone and the AICC general secretary persuaded the SP chief to leave 17 seats that the Congress wanted to contest from. Read more. New Delhi: Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday proposed that European nations deepen their economic engagement with India so as to reduce their production costs, enhance supply-chain reliability, and gain access to a burgeoning market. His comments, made at the India-Europe partnership for better sustainable future conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, come at a time when New Delhi is intensely engaged with the United Kingdom, the European Union and the European Free Trade Association to sign separate free trade agreements. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal proposed that European nations deepen their economic engagement with India (Hindustan Times) Responding to the mention of various free trade agreements (FTAs) by other speakers , the minister said: I can assure you, India negotiates with fairness, India negotiates with open mind, but India also takes care of its wider and larger interests in the long run. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. FTAs, bilateral investment treaties (BITs) or pacts on geographical indicators (GIs) will have to stand the tests of fair, equitable and balanced agreement,the minister added. Goyals comments assume importance at a time when New Delhi is separately negotiating FTAs with the UK, the EU and the EFTA involving total 32 countries. While EU is a group of 27 countries, EFTA has four members -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Two officials, working in different ministries, said on condition of anonymity that negotiations for two FTAs the UK and the EFTA -- are at an advanced stage, and now require political approval. India is currently holding the seventh round of talks with the EU in New Delhi. And a high-level delegation led by commerce secretary is in London to iron out the UK deal, one of them said. Goyal made it clear that India is negotiating trade deals from a position of strength and that the developed world has to gain from its association with the worlds fastest growing major economy. We believe that FTAs or bilateral agreements have to be fair, equitable and balanced. Countries across the globe need to recognise that India as a rapidly growing country; it is poised to become a $35 trillion economy by 2047, he said. The current size of the Indian economy is $3.7 trillion. According to the minister, New Delhi is committed to sustainable development and environment protection, which are embedded in its civilization and culture, but he warned that the developed world must not try to mix non-trade issues in bilateral or multilateral trade talks. We in India always believe that we are trustees of the earth he said adding that the world must leave behind a better planet for the next generation but those who have been responsible for the mess must own up . Goyal is schedule to represent India at 13th Ministerial (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation from Monday in Abu Dhabi. The ministers comments are a reference to climate talks. He said the responsibilities and obligations on this matter must be shared equitably. India continues to be the smallest contributor on per capita basis for the mess out there. We are not responsible for the mess in the first place at all, and I can assure all the participants, India will continue to be a very responsible country when it comes to the global effort to make the world a better place to live in, he added. He said India is blessed with demographic dividend as for the next 30 years, average age of Indians will be less than 30. We are confident of the future. We are confident to continue providing political stability and decisive leadership, he said offering what he termed a three-D vision -- democracy, demography and demand to the world. Ageing population is one of the major cause of concerns for the developed world, particularly Europe, which would require young and efficient workforce to offer affordable goods and services in future. Today we have a new sense of enthusiasm to manufacture in India, to design and innovate in India, to become a hub of economic activity for other parts of the world. We are for an India with a conducive business climate where we focus on ease of doing business, reducing compliances and working in partnership with businesses across the world with a very strong and robust regulatory mechanism in place, he said. Speaking at the forum Juraj Blanar, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Republic said Slovakia, a member of the EU, is interested in deepening the EU-India strategic partnership and his country would like to see the successful conclusion of a well-rounded FTA. We would like to start the negotiations on FTA between EU and India which would be to the mutual benefit of both sides and about the investment protection agreement and the agreement on protecting the geographical indicators, said Peter Szijjarto, foreign minister of Hungary, an EU country. India and Germany are working closely to tackle climate change and to achieve sustainable growth and development, Tobias Lindner, minister of state, Federal Foreign Office, Germany said. He added that ongoing negotiations for EU -India FTA holds immense potential to amplify trade and foster economic integration. According to CIIs data, Europe is Indias second largest trading partner with bilateral trade in excess of $185 billion in 2022-23 with $96.90 billion worth of exports. Europe accounts for 21.8% of Indias total exports. Strengthening the partnership with India should be a cornerstone of the European Unions (EU) foreign policy since the country is seen as a consensus builder and as a voice of reason in an increasingly polarised world, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the 9th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI) Mitsotakis, who was delivering the keynote address as the chief guest at this years edition of the Raisina Dialogue, challenged the Global Souths perception of Russias invasion of Ukraine as a European war by saying that it represents a brutal challenge to the international rules-based order that India has supported. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. ALSO READ: 'India an example': Greek PM praises election system Addressing an audience that included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and ministers and diplomats from across the world, Mitsotakis pitched for closer ties between his country and India. Greece, uniquely placed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indo-Pacific, can serve as Indias natural doorstep to Europe through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), he said. Referring to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens remarks at the Raisina Dialogue two years ago about the priority given by the EU to strengthening the partnership with India, Mitsotakis said: Strengthening our partnership with India... should be a cornerstone of Europes foreign policy, and this certainly true for my country. Greece, which has been a corridor for the exchange of goods and knowledge since ancient times, has excellent relations with Gulf countries and is uniquely placed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indo-Pacific, can act as an interlocutor between India and Europe, he said. In this context, he pointed to Greeces efforts to privatise more ports and Greek ship owners controlling the worlds largest merchant marine fleet. The IMEC, he said, holds great promise to supercharge connectivity between India, Middle East and Europe, with Greece sitting at the centre of this new corridor and serving as Indias natural doorstep to Europe and beyond. While the war in Gaza and the turmoil in the Middle East is destabilising, they have not undermined the logic behind the IMEC. The conflict has given more reasons to promote peace since the IMEC is a peace project that can lead to stability and prosperity for all participants, Mitsotakis said. Describing India as a great power on the world stage and a leading player in the fight against climate change, Mitsotakis said the world is looking to India like never before in shaping the direction of the global debate and addressing great challenges. India, he added, is seen as a consensus builder and as a voice of reason in an increasingly polarised world at a time when the world community cannot overlook the cost of conflicts such as the protracted war in Ukraine and new hostilities in the Middle East accompanied by a horrifying death toll of civilians and the risk of regional destabilisation. Acknowledging that there may be some truth in the Global Souths perception of the Ukraine conflict as a European war, Mitsotakis said: I would like to make the point here in New Delhi that Ukraine is much more than a local war on European soil, it is a brutal challenge to international stability and the international rules-based order that India has supported and has every interest in maintaining. He added, I am convinced that on Ukraine, India has an important role to play, it has a voice that should be heard. Mitsotakis also highlighted the threats faced by democracies around the world at a time when half of the global population is set to go to the polls in 64 countries and the EU during 2024. The scale of elections in India challenge any flawed notion that significant scale is a barrier to democracy, and the country is an example that demonstrates democracy can deliver stronger economic growth, which in turn leads to prosperity and strengthens social cohesion, he said. ALSO READ: India, Greece agree to bolster ties as Modi meets Greek counterpart Mitsotakis Democracy is not an inconvenient barrier to delivery against contemporary challenges but represents the greatest hope for such delivery. However, democracy is vulnerable and facing profound threats, and countries must be alert to emerging challenges and adaptable enough to address them with real solutions, Mitsotakis said. He characterised artificial intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool for deceptive use by malicious actors who wish to disrupt democratic elections, and stressed the need to regulate the emerging technology. Jaishankar, in his vote of thanks, said India and Greece have a special responsibility to contribute to the evolution of the contemporary global order, and the talks between the two prime ministers on Wednesday had focused on enhancing links between the global economic centres of India and Europe. As India deepens its footprint abroad, Greece has emerged as a favourable destination. Our pharmaceutical industry, our agro-business and aviation are already established there...We expect that a mobility agreement will bring us even closer, he said. Raisina Dialogue is Indias flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics and the theme of the 2024 edition is Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create. Over three days, participants from across the world will focus on six thematic pillars, including regulation of technologies, war and peace, decolonising multilateralism and defending democracy. New Delhi: Income Tax authorities have attached 65 crore from five bank accounts of the Congress and its youth and students wings against the lien of 115 crore placed by the tax department on the accounts of the countrys principal Opposition party in a case related to a delay in filing IT returns for assessment year (AY) 2018-19. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken questioned why the Congress is facing the IT demand of 210 crore. (PTI) Registered political parties are exempted from paying tax on specified income such as voluntary contributions, house property, income from other sources and capital gains, under section 13A of the Income Tax Act, but they have to file IT returns annually. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Yesterday, the Income Tax Department mandated banks to transfer over 65 crores from @INCIndia, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the government 5 crores from IYC and NSUI, and 60.25 crores from INC, marking a concerning move by the BJP Government, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken posted on X. The finance ministry did not respond to a query on this matter. A government official familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: Laws are not different for political entities and common citizens. These are routine procedures of the Income-Tax Department to recover dues. The case pertains to tax dues of financial year 2017-18. The assessee had enough time to act as per the law. Maken also questioned why the Congress is facing the IT demand of 210 crores. Is it common for national political parties to pay income tax? No. Does the BJP pay income tax? No Why then is the Congress party facing an unprecedented demand of 210 crores? he added. Tax officials said the case pertains to the Congresss tax dues of assessment year (AY) 2018-19. The initial due to the tax department was 103 crore, and 32 crore was added to this on account of interest. The tax due was reassessed at 105 crore on July 6, 2021. After this, the tax officials said, the Congress appealed before the Commissioner, Appeals but did not pay the mandatory 20% of the tax due to initiate the appeal. It paid only 78 lakh, prompting the commissioner to dismiss the plea. The Congress, the officials added, then appealed Commissioner, Appeals again in May 2023, and in October, paid 1.72 crore. They pointed out that the Congress has not applied for any stay on the tax demand in its appeal. IT officials have attached 17.64 crores from the partys current account in Bank of Baroda, KG Marg branch, 41.85 crores are frozen from Union Bank of Indias CP branch and 74 lakhs from a PNB branch. And 5 crore has been attached from IYC and NSUI accounts. We tried RTGS (electronic bank transfer) payment. But it failed as banks have been instructed to not allow any payment from our accounts, added Maken. A lien is a sort of a hold on an amount that is owed. In this case, the Income Tax department has a lien of 115 crore on the Congresss accounts that was put through two letters sent by the department the managers of Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India on Tuesday. The Congresss legal representatives appeared before the IT tribunal for the second hearing on the tax dispute, but Congress leaders said the tribunal will sit again on Thursday as the hearing remained incomplete. Congress member Vivek Tankha, a Rajya Sabha MP, had said last Friday that the Congress showed around 198 crore as revenue in 2018-19 and 197 crore as expenditure and also termed the tax demand disproportionate. The Congress had said it was unable to operate its accounts on February 13 and 14 and that this was lifted after it approached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on February 14. Tankha said he was told by ITAT that there would be no freeze, but that there was a lien. New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar will travel to South Korea and Japan during March 4-5 for talks with his counterparts on bilateral, regional and global issues, including challenges in the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi, Feb 21 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attends a joint press statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Rahul Singh) (Rahul Singh) The visit to South Korea and Japan, two of Indias major partners, will impart further momentum to bilateral exchanges and set the agenda for future cooperation, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Jaishankar will first travel to Seoul for a two-day visit during which he will co-chair the India-South Korea joint commission meeting with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul. He is expected to meet other dignitaries, heads of think tanks and the Indian community. The India-South Korea special strategic partnership has expanded to diverse areas such as trade, investments, defence, education and technology. The joint commission meeting is expected to comprehensively review bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for further strengthening it, the statement said. The meeting will also be an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on regional and global issues. In the second leg of the trip, Jaishankar will visit Japan from March 6. In Tokyo, he will attend the India-Japan foreign ministers strategic dialogue with his counterpart Yoko Kamikawa. The two ministers are expected to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues and exchange views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive and peaceful Indo-Pacific, the statement said. Also Read: Red Sea events exposed fragility of existing connectivity: Jaishankar The India-Japan special strategic and global partnership has deepened in the last decade in areas such as defence, digital technologies, semiconductor supply chains, clean energy, high-speed rail, industrial competitiveness and connectivity, it added. Jaishankar s visit and meetings in Tokyo will provide strategic guidance to functional cooperation between the two sides in these areas. He is also expected to interact with business leaders, think tanks and academia. Meanwhile, Jaishankar met his visiting Danish counterpart on the margins Lars Lkke Rasmussen of the Raisina Dialogue on Thursday and signed a bilateral mobility and migration partnership agreement. They decided to explore the possibilities of establishing a partnership for recruiting Indian healthcare professionals in Denmark. They also discussed bilateral, regional and international issues and released a joint logo to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between India Denmark. The ministers assessed the outcomes under the bilateral Green Strategic Partnership and agreed to finalise a mid-term review of the initiative in 2024, to conclude an updated joint action plan for 2021-26 and hold the next round of the bilateral joint commission. Jaishankar and Rasmussen also agreed to expand the bilateral partnership into new areas such as defence, security and new technology, and to work towards an enhanced strategic perspective for a Comprehensive Green Strategic Partnership. A meat shop in Bihar's Begusarai has been named after Union minister Giriraj Singh following the firebrand BJP leader's request to Hindus to consume only jhatka, the flesh of animals slaughtered by a single blow of the blade. Giriraj Singh met the shop owner and encouraged people in his parliamentary constituency to open more Jhatka meat shops. Banner of a meat shop in Begusarai named after Union minister Giriraj Singh More Jhatka meat shops will be opened and expanded in the future, and I will personally promote their shop, the Bengusarai MP said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In a video shared on his X account, the union minister for rural development was seen interacting with locals and highlighting the significance of sacrificing animals in Hindu tradition. You protect your religion, others will protect their religion. In our religion, jhatka is (mandated), so we will eat jhatka. We won't stop others (from eating Halal), Giriraj Singh says. Singh also commended the shop owner who has named his shop Giriraj Amar Jhatka Meat. In December last year, Giriraj Singh made his supporters in his Begusarai take the pledge that they will henceforth not spoil their 'dharma' by eating halal meat. Talking to reporters, he said, "I admire the Muslims who make it a point to consume only halal meat. Now Hindus should demonstrate a similar commitment to their own religious traditions." "The Hindu way of slaughter is jhatka. Whenever Hindus perform 'bali' (animal sacrifice), they do so in a single stroke. As such, they must not corrupt themselves by eating halal meat. They must always stick to jhatka," said Singh. He had also stressed the need for a new business model in which there would be abattoirs and shops selling only jhatka meat. The Karnataka state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urging the rescue of three persons who have been allegedly forced to fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Russian soldiers line up during an opening ceremony of the memorial to Russian service members killed during Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Yevpatoriya, Crimea.(REUTERS) State minister Priyank Kharge said that he has urged the entre to urgently address the issue and come to young men's rescue as soon as possible, news agency PTI reported. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As per the reports, three men from Karnataka's Kalburgi district and one man from Telangana were allegedly trapped in a job fraud case when their recruiters offered the position of army security helpers and sent them to Russia amid war. Now, these young men are being stranded on the Russia-Ukraine border forcibly fighting in Russia's war with Ukraine against their will. According to reports, not only were the men duped in terms of the job that they were signing up for, but the agent who sent them to Russia also managed to extract 3 lakh from each of them. "There is information that it (such job fraud) has happened in several places -- Telangana, Karnataka, also several places in north India. Whatever it is, taking someone to war by cheating or through fraudulent means (is wrong). The Central government has to take this seriously and should come to their rescue immediately," he added. Priyank further said that he has also requested his father and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to raise the issue with external affairs minister S Jaishankar. One of the trapped victim, Hyderabad's Mohammad Sufiyan's family has urged the central government as well as the Ministry of External Affairs to safely evacuate the youths trapped in Russia and also take strict action against the agents. Imran, the brother of Sufiyan, told news agency ANI about all the events that happened. "My brother was taken by Baba Blocks Company, which has offices in Dubai, Delhi, and Mumbai. The first batch went out on November 12, 2023. A total of 21 youths were sent and 3 lakh was taken from each one of them. They were made to sign an agreement in Russia on November 13," he said. He said that the agents told the youth that they would get the job as army helpers, but were eventually drafted into the army and were deployed inside the Ukrainian borders. "The agents gave the wrong translations of the documents to them. They were told that it is the job of army helpers. But, two days later, they were taken for military training. Even when the youths protested, the Indian agents again misguided them, saying that it was only part of the training and they wouldn't be sent to the frontlines," Imran said. "After it came to our notice that they have been recruited into the Wagner Group (a private military allegedly funded by the Russian government) for war with Ukraine, our Deputy Commissioner (Kalaburagi) as per protocol has written a letter to the Central government's External Affairs Ministry representative here in Bengaluru," PTI quoted Priyank as saying. Priyank's request came days after AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi pointed out the issue and urged the Centre to talk with the Russian government and bring back the youths. "The Narendra Modi government should hold talks with the Russian government and bring back the 12 youths trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war," AIMIM posted on X. He has written to Jaishankar and sought his help in getting the young men back to India. (With inputs from PTI, ANI) Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda has said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a battle between dynastic politics and corruption on one side and development on the other. HT Image Addressing party workers from Mumbai's western suburbs during his visit to the metropolis on Wednesday, Nadda said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India is well on its way to become the third largest economy in the world from fifth now. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Attacking anti-BJP opposition parties, he alleged that they were either dynastic or steeped in corruption. "You have to reach out to voters and seek their support for a fresh mandate (for BJP at the Centre). First-time voters in the last ten years have seen only development and not corruption like previous governments," Nadda asserted, referring to the decade-long rule of the Modi administration that started in 2014. He said the Lok Sabha elections, likely to be held in April-May, will be a fight between dynastic politics and corruption on one side and development on the other. Dynastic politics and corruption will lead to destruction, Nadda said and highlighted the BJP's development agenda. Earlier in the day, Nadda met BJP office-bearers from all the 36 assembly constituencies in Mumbai besides party MPs and MLAs from the metropolis. In his address, Nadda asked BJP leaders from Mumbai to ensure the party ideology reaches the last person in society and urged them to give a befitting reply to opposition attacks on the saffron outfit and its government. He advised BJP leaders to extensively use social media and seek support of prominent personalities on issues of public interest. Nadda also chaired the Election Management Committee's meetings for all the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai as part of preparations for the national polls. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its then-ally, the undivided Shiv Sena, won three seats each in Mumbai. In the Maharashtra assembly polls held in October that year, the BJP won 16 of the 36 seats in the city, while 14 were bagged by the Sena. The state, where the BJP is in power in alliance with the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Ajit Pawar-headed NCP, has a 288-member legislative assembly. New Delhi: Compensation for those killed in human-wildlife conflict has been revised to Rs.10 lakh compared to the earlier compensation of Rs.5 lakh until last year, Union minister of environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday. Union minister of environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav (File Photo) He also announced a number of interventions that the Centre will be making to address man-animal conflict in the southern region. The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, which is currently under the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), will be developed as a centre for handholding with states like Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu on mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, Yadav said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. All southern states need better cooperation, coordination, and collaboration on wildlife issues. The Centre will facilitate inter-state coordination meetings. The ministry will support capacity-building of frontline staff and other frontline departments for use of early warning systems, use of modern technology and equipment and modern tracking systems, the Union minister said. Yadav said that the Centre has sanctioned Rs.15.82 crore during the FY 2023-24 under various schemes to the state of Kerala. Based on the demand/annual plan of operations proposed by the state government, the Centre will consider funding support under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and other schemes for site-specific elephant-proof walls and other mitigation measures, he said. The Centre, through WII, will assist in preparing corridor management plans in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Yadav added. The Union minister, along with officials from the wildlife wing of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC), are in Wayanad to assess the situation following the death of one Ajeesh Joseph Panachiyil, who was allegedly trampled to death by an elephant on February 10, triggering tensions between citizens and the Kerala forest authorities in the district. 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. The Karnataka government last week announced Rs.15 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who represents the Wayanad constituency in the Lok Sabha, visited the family on February 17. ...The spate of wildlife attacks, especially elephant attacks have caused tremendous damage to the lives and livelihoods of the people in Wayanad. They have paid a huge price due to the rising instances of human-animal conflict, Gandhi wrote on X on February 10. He claimed that the Congress party has repeatedly demanded intervention to mitigate such attacks in Wayanad. However, the lack of a comprehensive action plan to tackle this issue has only aggravated the conflict. I urge the Central and State governments to take decisive steps and put in place a response mechanism that can protect both our communities and the wildlife of the region, Gandhi said. Bitcoin Price Prediction: $51,400 Dip Amid Senate Regulation Standstill & Global Trends; Whats Next? Bitcoin is trading value of $51,400 reflects a modest decrease of 1.20% on Thursday. This financial landscape is continuously shaped by various factors, including regulatory discussions and global market trends. Amidst this backdrop, the anticipation around Bitcoin price predictions gains momentum, offering insights into potential future trajectories. Such forecasts are crucial for stakeholders aiming to navigate the complexities of the cryptocurrency market, especially as discussions on regulation and innovation, such as those in the U.S. Senate and initiatives by Switzerlands Postfinance, influence investor sentiment and market dynamics. The evolving regulatory environment and advancements in cryptocurrency adoption underscore the importance of closely monitoring Bitcoins price predictions to make informed investment decisions. Senate Crypto Action Remains on Hold Despite Calls for Regulation Despite mounting concerns and calls for regulation within the crypto space, the Senate Banking Committee, led by Chairman Sherrod Brown, is currently not prioritizing cryptocurrency legislation. Even with Senator Elizabeth Warrens notable push for incorporating cryptocurrency firms under anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, the committees focus lies elsewhere. Although discussions on combating crypto-related crimes, particularly through enhanced AML protocols, are underway, no concrete legislative plans are on the agenda. The urgency to regulate the use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities is recognized, with both Warren and Deputy Secretary of Treasury Wally Adeyemo advocating for stricter enforcement mechanisms. However, the committees current inaction reflects a broader hesitation or focus on other priorities rather than a denial of the issues at hand. The U.S. Senate Banking Committee isn't poised to act on any crypto money-laundering legislation, sources have said. Meanwhile, the industry remains nervous about what @SenWarren has in mind.@jesseahamilton and @nikhileshde reporthttps://t.co/Fwrv0BevDy CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) February 21, 2024 Meanwhile, efforts to regulate cryptocurrencies are brewing in the House, indicating a fragmented approach to tackling the complexities of the digital currency landscape. The crypto industry, represented by entities like the Chamber of Digital Commerce, watches these developments closely, albeit with concern over potential impacts on the market, particularly Bitcoin. The outcome of any legislative action remains speculative, as the specifics of proposed regulations and their direct influence on cryptocurrency adoption and usage are yet to be determined. The situation underscores the cautious and deliberative pace at which governmental bodies are approaching the rapidly evolving crypto sector. Postfinance Launches Crypto Trading & Custody Service in Switzerland Switzerlands Postfinance, the financial arm of Swiss Post, has launched a new service allowing customers to buy and securely store 11 cryptocurrencies. This move, in partnership with the FINMA-regulated crypto bank Sygnum, aims to make cryptocurrency more accessible by lowering entry barriers. This initiative marks a significant step towards mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies in Switzerland. By leveraging its substantial client base of over 2.5 million, Postfinance seeks to make cryptocurrencies more approachable to the average investor, potentially increasing confidence in the sector and encouraging wider adoption and investment in digital assets like Bitcoin. Key Points: Partnership with Sygnum to ensure regulatory compliance with FINMA. Offers an easy way to buy and securely store 11 different cryptocurrencies. Aims to democratize cryptocurrency investment, making it more accessible. Could boost investor confidence and encourage broader adoption of cryptocurrencies. Japan Eyes Allowing Investment Funds to Hold Cryptocurrencies, Boosting Bitcoin The Japanese government, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is set to propose a bill that would enable venture capital firms to directly hold cryptocurrencies. This legislative update aims to expand the permissible assets for investment limited partnerships, incorporating crypto assets. The move aligns with Kishidas strategy to bolster web3 companies reliant on blockchain technology. If enacted, this amendment could significantly heighten demand for cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, which recently hit a record high. The proposed change is seen as a pivotal step towards integrating cryptocurrencies more fully into Japans financial landscape, potentially making the country a more attractive market for digital asset investments. This legislative shift underscores Japans commitment to fostering innovation and could influence global perceptions and regulations around cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin Price Prediction On February 22, Bitcoin (BTC/USD) oscillates narrowly, trading between $51,000 and $52,500. The cryptocurrency stands just above its pivot point at $52,515, indicating a cautious but positive market sentiment. Resistance levels are identified at $53,943, $55,214, and $56,497, whereas support lies at $50,783, $49,527, and $48,321. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 47, suggesting a balanced market without clear overbought or oversold conditions. The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $51,079 reinforces a bullish stance, provided Bitcoin remains above the $51,000 threshold. Considering these technical indicators, Bitcoins outlook is cautiously bullish, contingent on sustaining above $51,000. Top 15 Cryptocurrencies to Watch in 2023 Stay up-to-date with the world of digital assets by exploring our handpicked collection of the best 15 alternative cryptocurrencies and ICO projects to keep an eye on in 2023. Our list has been curated by professionals from Industry Talk and Cryptonews, ensuring expert advice and critical insights for your cryptocurrency investments. Take advantage of this opportunity to discover the potential of these digital assets and keep yourself informed. Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital. In a significant development, the Manipur high court on Wednesday deleted a paragraph from its March 27, 2023 order, with this being the order in which the high court recommended the state government to consider including the majority Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. Manipur has been in the throes of ethnic violence between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis since May 3 last year. (PTI) The proposal to include Meiteis in the ST list was opposed by the tribal Kukis and the high court order is believed to sparked the ethnic clashes that began in May and are still going on, and claimed hundreds of lives. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Which paragraph was removed? Paragraph 17(iii) of the judgment has been deleted. It stated: "The first respondent shall consider the case of petitioners for inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order in terms of the averments set out in the writ petition and in the line of the order passed in W.P.(C) No. 4281 of 2002 dated 26.05.2003 by the Gauhati High Court." Why was the paragraph removed? Passing Wednesday's order, a bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu observed that the said paragraph in the original judgment was passed in a misconception of the law as the petitioners failed to assist the court properly at the time of hearing of the said writ petition due to this misconception of fact and law. Also Read: Manipur tribal body asks govt employees in Churachandpur to abstain from work Justice Gaiphulshillu noted that the March 2023 order was contrary to the Supreme Court judgment in the State of Maharashtra vs Milind & Ors case, in which the apex court ruled that courts cannot modify, amend or alter the ST list. Accordingly, the direction given at Para No. 17(iii) needs to be deleted and is ordered accordingly for deletion, the single-judge Manipur HC bench ruled. The death of a 21-year-old protester at the Punjab-Haryana border appeared to galvanise disparate farm unions on Thursday as cultivator groups upped the ante of their two-week-long protests, demanding murder charges against the police, as well as the chief minister and home minister of Haryana, and announcing a slew of new joint programmes. Tractors and trolleys of the protesting farmers parked on a highway during their ongoing protest over various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, in Patiala district, on Thursday. (PTI) All eyes are now on whether the unions decide to resume their attempted march to the national capital after a two-day pause, announced due to the death of Bathinda resident Shubh Karan Singh, ends on Friday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The call for intensified protests including a Jan Aakrosh rally on Friday, a nationwide tractor rally on highways on February 26, and a mahapanchayat in Delhis Ramlila Ground on March 14 was given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) which had till Thursday stayed away from the stir. Haryana Police entered Punjab, fired at us and also broke our tractors. A case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code should be registered against the Haryana CM and Haryanas home minister. A judicial inquiry should be conducted. On March 14, a mahapanchayat of farmers will be held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, said SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal after a meeting of the powerful union which forced the roll-back of three contentious farm laws in 2021 in Chandigarh. The current agitation, which began on February 13, was led by a splinter group of the SKM, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political), and the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangh Committee (KSMC). But SKMs decision to initiate protests indicated that the death of Singh the first such casualty due to direct police action across the 2020-21 farm stir and the ongoing agitation had brought together, at least temporarily, feuding farm unions. ALSO READ: Farmers' protest: How did Shubhkaran Singh die at Khanauri border? KSMC head Sarwan Singh Pandher said separately that the cultivators will be open to talks with the government, but only if a legal guarantee for crop minimum support price (MSP) was on the agenda. We have not received any invitation for another round of talks with the Union government. If we get an invite, we will consider only if the agenda of the meeting is a legal guarantee to MSP. We are open for talks, said Pandher. He also accused Haryana security personnel of entering into the Punjab territory and using force against farmers at Khanauri border point. We want the Punjab government to register a case under Section 302, said Pandher. The farmer leader added that the groups will discuss within themselves on when to resume their protest. The protest is going on very peacefully. We all the farmer leaders will hold a meeting on the future course of action of the protest. Only after assessing the situation at Khanauri, where hundreds of farmers have been hurt, will we be able to take a decision on our next action in the ongoing protest, said Pandher. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the leader of SKM (non-political), has been admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where he demanded that the Punjab government give Singh the status of a martyr. Thousands of farmers have been camped at the Punjab-Haryana border since last week, demanding a law on minimum support prices (MSP) for 23 crops and other pro-cultivator measures. But four rounds of talks gave way to violence on Wednesday, leading to the deadliest clashes since the stir was first announced on February 13. The two Punjab-Haryana border points Khanauri and Shambhu were the epicentre of the clashes as police personnel fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to scatter the farmers trying to march to Delhi, days after they rejected a government offer on prices for their produce, prompting an offer of fresh talks. Doctors at the Rajendra Hospital said Singh died of bullet injuries but refused to specify the type of bullet found. The post-mortem of the 21-year-old Shubh Karan Singh whose dead body has been kept in the mortuary of Government Rajindra Hospital could not be conducted on Thursday as farmer leaders have demanded that Punjab government should give the status of a martyr to Shubhkaran. Even as unions leading the protest were busy organising Singhs funeral, the stir got a boost as the SKM announced a series of protests. A case of murder should be registered over the death of the farmer at Khanauri border and his family be given 1 crore in compensation, Rajewal told reporters. The SKM announcement came after the meeting in Chandigarh where it also decided to burn effigies of Union home minister Amit Shah and his Haryana counterpart Anil Vij to condemn the police action. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan condemned the repression of farmers sitting at Shambhu and Khanauri. Farm leader Rakesh Tikait said a tractor march will be taken out on highways on February 26 and accused Khattar and Vij of orchestrating the attack on protesters. Besides MSP, the farmers from Punjab are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations on farm prices, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, and repealing of police cases filed during the 2021 agitation. The government, meanwhile, cited the fresh hike in cane prices to contend it was committed to farmers welfare. India is paying the highest price for sugarcane in the world, Union minister for information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur said, briefing reporters on Thursday. The two sides have held talks four times. During the last one, the government offered an assured, five-year purchasing contract with various cooperative societies.All of the talks ended in an impasse, with the latest prompting the cultivators to resume their stir. Urging farmers to resume negotiations, Thakur said the government was ready for talks earlier and (we) are ready even today and will be ready to discuss their issues even today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, said his administration was committed to farmers, although he did not allude to the agitation on the Haryana-Punjab border directly. Our government is committed to fulfil every resolve related to the welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters across the country, Modi posted on X earlier on Thursday, and referred to a cabinet decision on Wednesday to raise the floor price that mills must pay for sugar cane by 8%. Later on Thursday, while addressing a large gathering of mostly cattle-rearers and farmers at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabads Motera, Modi said listed government schemes meant to help them. We are giving priority to each and every aspect of villages and our focus is on improving the lives of small farmers, on improving the health of livestock and how farmers get more income through allied activities such as fishing and bee-keeping. That is why we have decided to give Kisan credit cards to fishermen and cattle-rearers, too, he said. Farmers halt protest Farm leaders on Wednesday paused their protests for two days after clashes between protesters and the police led to the death of a 21-year-old man at the Khanauri border. The farmer died of injuries from what officials described as a bullet, without clarifying if it was a rubber bullet or a normal bullet. Doctors said that a post-mortem examination will be conducted on Thursday, after which it will be ascertained if it was a rubber bullet or a normal bullet. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher said that protest leaders will discuss future action and until then, all farmers will remain camped at the borders. He warned that the death is likely to trigger an escalation and scupper future talks between the farmers and the government. Police and farmers clash at the Shambhu border of Punjab and Haryana. (Ravi Kumar/HT)(HT_PRINT) I-T recovery The Congress has questioned the Income Tax department's decision to attach 65 crore from five bank accounts of the party and its youth and students wings. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said political parties don't pay the direct tax in India but still his party is facing 210 crore tax demand. Maken said the money in question was raised through crowdfunding and membership drives. The Congress has moved the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal against the recovery of the outstanding tax. Registered political parties are exempted from paying tax on specified income such as voluntary contributions, house property, income from other sources and capital gains but they have to file IT returns annually. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Boeing shake-up Boeing says the head of its 737 jetliner program is leaving the company immediately, paving the way for the aircraft maker to appoint new leadership at the troubled division. The company said Wednesday that Ed Clark had been with Boeing for 18 years. Katie Ringgold will succeed him as vice president and general manager of the 737 program, and the company's Renton site. The shakeup comes weeks after the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Boeing is not paying enough attention to safety. In January, an emergency door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 over Oregon. Indian Wells World number two Carlos Alcaraz says the ankle sprain that forced him out of the ATP Rio Open will sideline him for "a few days" but he will be ready for his Indian Wells title defense. Alcaraz was injured on the second point of his first-round match against Brazilian wild card Thiago Monteiro, his right foot catching in the red clay surface at the Jockey Club Brasiliero. He returned to win the interrupted opening game but after dropping his serve in the second decided to call it quits. Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference that physiotherapists had indicated the injury was "not serious" and Wednesday's further tests bore that out. He still intends to play a made-for-Netflix exhibition on March 3 in Las Vegas against 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal. Jackky Bhagnani ties knot with Rakul Preet Bollywood actors Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani tied the knot in Goa at a five-star hotel on Wednesday. The couple got married as per Punjabi and Sindhi ceremonies, in the presence of their family and industry friends including Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Shilpa Shetty Kundra. Singh was seen wearing a pastel shade lehenga, while Bhagnani opted for beige sherwani. The couple took to social media to post special moments from their wedding with their fans and followers. Bhagnani unveiled a special gift for Singh, a heartfelt song titled 'Bin Tere.' The song has been written, composed, and sung by the actor-producer himself. Bhopal The Madhya Pradesh government is coming up with a new cow policy that looks at providing dignified life for the bovine with regulations from birth to death, officials aware of the development said. The policy will replace one that has been in place since 1959. The state has roughly 1600 cow shelters housing around 270,000 cows. A senior official of the states animal husbandry department said the scientific and respectful disposal of cows would be mandatory in the state and in case of violation, administration will take action under section 188 of IPC (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant). Currently, non-disposal of cow carcasses is a large-scale problem in the state as most are left abandoned in open spaces by shelter managements. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The department conducted a study in 2022-23 that showed that roughly 15 of 100 cows in a shelter die every year . These are usually either left abandoned in open spaces or in forests. Now, there are rules on how to cremate the bodies. The state has roughly 1600 cow shelters housing around 270,000 cows. Most of the animals are either old males that can no longer work, or cows that are no longer productive. The state banned cow slaughter in 2004 with introduction of Madhya Pradesh prohibition of slaughter of cow-progeny (amendment) Bill). Under the new rules, the department will offer two options to shelters:a samadhi or a composite pit; or cremation in an electric crematorium. For samadhi cremation, the shelter will need 20 kg salt, cow dung and 20 kg limestone to convert the carcass into manure within six months and it would be a solution to land required for burial of cows. The government would provide financial aid for salt and limestone, said an officer involved in formulating the new policy who asked not to be named. The government will also provide one-time financial assistance for setting up an electric crematorium at the division level, like the one currently set up in Indore, he added. To deal with stray cattle, the officer said, the new policy will provide for the setting up of clusters of cow shelters along the highways and roads in the state. We are also looking at restarting the cow kanji house (lock-up) at panchayats, said another officer associated with drafting of the new policy who too asked not to be named. According to the 2019 animal census, there are 8,54,000 stray cattle in Madhya Pradesh.Ahead of the 2018 elections, the Congress had raised the issue and promised to open cow shelters in over 23,000 gram panchayats. After it came to power in 2020, the BJP-led state government decided to make rearing of non-milching cows a profitable business by announcing the making of cow phenyl with cow urine and used cow dung cake for cremation. The officials quoted above admitted that stray cattle have been a reason for several accidents and recently a union minister Nitin Gadkari asked the state government to address the stray cow menace on highways. We plan to authorise panchayats to lock up these stray cattle in kanji houses and release them to the owner after paying the cost of the cow feed, he added. The second officer said that the policy will also provide for monthly government aid of 20 per cow per day to cow shelters every month. As of now, cow shelters get aid either once or twice in a year, as per the availability of budget but now the government will release the money on a monthly basis. In its budget for 2023-24, the state earmarked 192 crore for the upkeep of 300,000 stray cows living in cow shelters. On February 25, the state government plans to hold a meeting of all stakeholders with chief minister Mohan Yadav and his cabinet colleagues on the issue. The draft of the policy will be shared with stakeholders and their feedback will be taken, animal husbandry principal secretary Gulshan Bamra said. He added: Unlike other states, Madhya Pradesh will have a cow policy where administration and planning will be done by the government. Two major issues which will be addressed through the policy are scientific disposal of cows and clearing the stray cattle from the roads. In 2020, the then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government introduced a so-called cow cabinet comprising chief minister and ministers and head of six departments. Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the grand old party-led Karnataka government after it passed the contentious Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024' which mandates the state to collect 10% tax from temples having revenue exceeding 1 crore and 5% which have revenue between 10 lakh to 1 crore. Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (PTI)(HT_PRINT) Chandrasekhar said that the bill is a new low of appeasement politics and has been brought to fund the accounts of chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Read here: 'Anti-Hindu': BJP slams Karnataka government for 10 percent tax on temples "Rahul Gandhi is holding Bharat Jodo Yatra in the country. His Congress party government in Karnataka has brought the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the assembly to fund the the ATM of DK Shivakumar & Siddaramaiah. This is a new low of appeasement politics. We will oppose this bill," he said in a video message. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the bill and slurred the state government of being "anti-hindu" for implementing such policies. Party's state unit chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa alleged that the government passed the bill to replenish its depleted coffers. "Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples and religious institutions in order to fill its empty coffers," he said in a long post on X. He further questioned that why only Hindu temples are being scrutinised and not the incomes of other religions. Meanwhile, state government minister and Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy reacted to Yediyurappa's claims and questined the saffron camp of consistently engaging in religious politics. He accused the BJP of pursuing political gains by labeling the Congress as anti-Hindu. Reddy asserted that the Congress has consistently protected temples and Hindu interests over the years. "Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, It is clear that BJP, always pursue political gains by claiming that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true proponents of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests," he said. He asserted that the people of Karnataka are aware of the BJP's tactics, and in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they will likely "teach them a lesson". (With inputs from ANI) Walmart-backed Indian fintech PhonePe on Wednesday launched its app store for Android called Indus Appstore, becoming the first Indian rival to Googles Play Store. The digital payment service PhonePe (Bloomberg) The new platform, which enables the download of Android-based applications was launched with over 200,000 apps such as Bing, Kotak, MapMyIndia, and the governments DigiLocker, and takes off in 12 Indian languages. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The launch of the app store is significant as it is the first serious competitor to Googles dominance backed by a homegrown tech behemoth, especially after the Supreme Court ordering Google to allow third-party app stores on Android in January 2023. Indus Appstore is currently available as a sideloaded APK (Android application package) from its official website. The company is in conversation with multiple phone manufacturers so that the app store can come pre-loaded on different Android cellphones, founder and PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam said at the launch event in Delhi. We are trying to create a highly localised, a highly personalised and efficient platform which is called an app store, Nigam said. Users will log in using their Indian mobile numbers to download apps, and recommendations will be personalised on the basis of the users mobile number profile. Your mobile number is the de facto digital identity today, Nigam said. The recommendations will be personalised on the basis of location, neighbourhood, region and multiple other signals, he said. The bigger apps are listed directly on Indus and the company has signed individual contracts with such developers, but for smaller apps, Indus is currently sourcing them from different platforms, Nigam said. The app store was launched by IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Bharat Mandapam in the presence of G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant. In 2022, Indias competition watchdog had imposed a 1,337 crore fine on Google for abusing its market dominance through Android and Play Store. In response to Googles challenge in the Supreme Court, the apex court had allowed the American tech giant to not pay the fine but had ruled that it must allow third-party app stores on Android. Indian developers have been waging a legal battle against Googles Play Store policies in Madras high court. As per these policies, app developers must use the Google Play Billing System on Android or pay a higher commission for using third party payment gateways. Nigam addressed these concerns. All the apps will be free to use any payment gateway they want. You dont have to pay a penny [if you dont use PhonePe], he said. For monetisation, Indus will rely on advertising solutions and content distribution, and on payment solutions for developers, Nigam said. Commissions charged by Apple and Google on paid app downloads, and in-app purchases, have been a bone of contention between app developers and the two giants across the world. Epic Games had sued Apple in the United States over the latter charging 30% of total transaction amounts but ultimately lost. Elon Musk, too, had railed against this issue and had thus introduced Twitter Blue, now X Premium, on iOS at $11 per month compared to $8 per month on desktop. Advertising is where we want to make money, not usage, he said. For paid app downloads, the commission will be in lower single digits, not in high double digits, he said. On the question of legal apps on Indus, Nigam said that if it is allowed by Indian law, it will be allowed on Indus. Real money games is one of those categories where if millions of Indians are using it and if the law of the land allows for it, it is welcome. Why not? I am not going to sit here and decide whether a category is welcome or not, he said. On cybersecurity, Nigam said that Indus was thus conducting KYC for all developers. The Indus team said that all apps on Indus are scanned by multiple anti-virus partners on the server side so that no infected apps are made available to users. Every single app on the Indus Appstore undergoes a rigorous 7-step security check by our antivirus and cybersecurity experts, the Indus website says. Here, we will get some things right and we will get some things wrong. ...To begin with, we will probably try and get every app developer in. ... In that we might get some spurious apps, we are sure of it. Then there will be a cycle where we will filter hard. ... but we will publish the reasons, Nigam said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his two day visit to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh today, February 22. During his visit to the two states, PM Modi will be launching developmental projects worth 60,000 crore, a press released by the Prime Minister's Office stated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (HT File) PM Modi will commence his visit to Gujarat and UP from Ahmedabad on Thursday, set to participate in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation at Narendra Modi Stadium. He will also be interacting with several farmers from different event in the state today. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The prime minister posted on his official X account, "I will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh starting tomorrow, 22nd February. Tomorrow's programmes will be in different parts of Gujarat. In Ahmedabad, I will take part in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation in the presence of several farmers from different parts of the state." Later, I will be attending programmes in Mehsana and Navsari where key projects will be inaugurated pertaining to connectivity, infrastructure, urban development, textiles and more, PM Modi further said. At the two public functions in Gujarat at Mahesana and Navsari, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than 22,850 crore. PM Modi's schedule for February 22-23 PM Modi will participate in Golden Jubilee celebration of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) on Thursday morning at around 11 am, and will later reach Mahesana to perform puja at the Valinath Mahadev Temple. On Thursday evening, PM Modi will reach Navsari where he will launch and lay the foundation stone of key developmental projects for the nation worth 47,000 crore. He will also visit the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station. PM Modi will reach Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Friday morning to participate in a prize distribution programme at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He will also visit and do puja at the Sant Guru Ravidas Janmasthali. On February 23 afternoon, the prime minister will launch the lay the foundation stone of developmental projects worth over 13,000 crore in Varanasi. (With inputs from ANI) NEW DELHI Defence minister Rajnath Singh remotely laid the foundation stone of the Nyoma airfield, located at a height of 13,300 feet and 23 km from LAC in Ladakh, in September 2023. (FILE) The upcoming inauguration of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, which will help boost the Indian Armys posture near the China border, stands testament to the countrys unwavering commitment to fortifying its border infrastructure, exemplifying a strategic imperative aimed at bolstering national security, said military affairs expert Lieutenant General Harpal Singh (retd), who oversaw critical phases of the project as the head of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the tunnel soon, the worlds longest twin-lane tunnel above 13,000 feet, built at a cost of 700 crore on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road. The completion of the Sela tunnel, whose foundation stone was laid by Modi in February 2019, has put spotlight on Indias border infrastructure push aimed at bridging the gap with China, which has fast-tracked the development of its forward areas. India and China have been locked in a dragging military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May 2020, and a full resolution of the border crisis through ongoing negotiations still appears elusive. India has made notable strides in recent years in the face of environmental, geographical and geological hurdles in matching Chinas expansive array of roads, tunnels, and other infrastructure undertakings, said Singh. He served as BRO chief during 2018-20 and retired as the armys engineer-in-chief a year ago. While Chinas rapid and extensive border infrastructure development is undeniable, Indias endeavours underscore a steadfast resolve to bridge the infrastructure disparity and elevate its strategic prowess in the region, he added. Chinas unrelenting infrastructure push over a span of just three to four years, confirmed by satellite images, encompasses new airbases, missile sites, roads, bridges, tunnels, reinforced bunkers, underground facilities to protect military assets from aerial strikes, accommodation for soldiers and ammunition depots. Indias infrastructure push is a direct response to the Chinese thrust on developing its border areas. The Sela runnel will allow faster deployment of weapons, soldiers and equipment to forward areas near LAC in the Tawang sector. India is narrowing the infrastructure gap with China at a brisk pace and if the current level of budgetary support continues, the country will surpass the neighbour on the border infrastructure front in five to six years, said Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry, who retired as BRO chief last year. Many projects have been accelerated during the last four to five years. As many as 330 projects worth around 9,000 crore have been dedicated to the nation in the last three years alone. BROs capital outlay has jumped 160% since 2021-22. The rising budgetary support reflects the governments sharp focus on border infrastructure development, he said. Speedy execution of projects, increased spending, and focussed adoption of technology and techniques to fill gaps that came into focus after the border standoff with China began in eastern Ladakh almost four years ago have provided a boost to military mobility and logistics support for Indias deployed forces. The skirmish between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Galwan Valley in June 2020 was the inflection point that sharpened the countrys focus on building military capabilities and spurred unprecedented infrastructure construction to counter the adversarys moves, Chaudhry said in an earlier interview. Bilateral ties plummeted to a six-decade low after the Galwan Valley clash killed 20 Indian soldiers. According to Indias assessment, PLAs casualties were twice as many as the Indian Armys though Beijing officially claimed that only four Chinese soldiers were killed. BRO constructed an average of 934km of roads every year during 2020-23, compared to 809km per year during 2015-20, and 632km per year during 2008-15, official data shows. It also built an average of 3,652m of bridges every year during 2020-23, compared to 2,715m per year during 2015-20, and 1,224m per year during 2008-15. Most of these projects have been executed in treacherous terrain and have brought to fore the risky roles BRO workers fill in the countrys farthest frontiers. Their contribution has been recognised by the government too. In January, defence minister Rajnath Singh approved a proposal to provide insurance cover to tens of thousands of casual workers employed by BRO to build infrastructure in the countrys border areas. Last year, the government rolled out a new policy for BROs casual workers to give them dignity in case of death. Singh had then approved the policy for the preservation and transportation of the mortal remains of casual labourers to their native place while also raising funeral expenses from 1,000 to 10,000 for those whose last rites are performed at the worksite. The Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked the West Bengal state government to rename the lion named 'Akbar' and the lioness named 'Sita', after the controversy erupted when both the wild cats were placed in the same enclosure at the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri, reported Bar and Bench. The five-year-old Asiatic lioness was brought to the Siliguri zoo from Tripuras Sepahijala Zoological Park (Representative Photo) While hearing a plea by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) over their objection to the naming of a lioness as Sita, a single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya urged the state to consider giving the two lions some other names to ensure that any controversy is put to rest. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. While hearing the plea, the court observed that goddess Sita is worshipped by a large majority of people in the country and Akbar was an efficient and successful Mughal emperor. Justice Bhattacharya said, "Mr Counsel, will you yourself name your own pet after some Hindu God or Muslim Prophet ... I think, if any one of us would have been the authority, none of us would have named them as Akbar and Sita. Can anyone of us think of naming an animal after Rabindranath Tagore?" "Sita is worshipped by a larger section of this country ... I also oppose naming the lion after Akbar. He was an efficient, successful and secular Mughal Emperor," she added. Meanwhile the state government told the high court that the naming of two lions was done by the Tripura Zoo authorities in 2016 and 2018 before the lions were transferred to West Bengal. The VHP had opposed the state government's decision to keep the lions together. It demanded to change the name of the lioness, contending that keeping the two lions together was disrespectful to Hindus. The seven-year-old Asiatic lion and five-year-old Asiatic lioness were brought to the park from Tripura as a part of an animal exchange program along with other animals including two spectacled langurs, two leopard cats and four black bucks. This is, however, not the first time that animals in Indian zoos have been named after Indian Gods and Goddesses. Delhi Zoological Park, has a white tigress named Sita. A cheetah in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was named after Indian god of fire Agni. (With inputs from Bar and Bench) The Tamil Nadu police have arrested two men for attacking a trans woman who worked at a software company, suspecting her to be a child kidnapper. The incident took place on Sunday, but the trans woman filed a complaint only on Tuesday. The police are on the lookout for five more accused. Representational image. A video from the site of the incident showed the woman tied to a flagpole and screaming as she was being beaten. The accused told the police that she was behaving suspiciously covering her face and head. The victim told the police that she was returning home to Pammal in Chennai. Hearing her screams, some people untied her and rescued her, a police officer said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. There have been similar instances of people attacking those they suspected to be child kidnappers in Chrompet in the outskirts of the city, the police said. The city police recently also issued a circular stating that there were no child kidnappers in the locality. Nigeria Asks Telcom Firms to Restrict Access to Binance, Coinbase Websites Heres Why Crypto exchange behemoths are facing serious scrutiny in Nigeria, as the country aims to clampdown crypto transactions. Though Nigeria is sought to be the most crypto-savvy nation ahead of the United States and European countries per a ConsenSys data last year, the country has been recently tightening crypto regulations to circumvent financial crimes. In line with this, Nigeria has directed telcoms to prevent access to crypto websites such as Binance, Coinbase and OctaFX. As first reported by a local media on Wednesday, the restriction aims at slowing crypto speculation activities in the country. This move notably comes few mounts after the Central Bank of Nigeria lifted its ban on crypto transactions. The CBN instructed lenders to open accounts for crypto firms, marking a reversal of the ban it imposed in 2021. In 2021, CBN became one of the first central banks to issue a central bank digital asset (CBDC). Following the nations restrictions on crypto exchange websites, one user posted on X (Twitter) that Nigerians can look for alternatives now. Binance don't work in Nigeria anymore, you just can't open the app. I believe we know our alternative Steve Yo Trader (@yo_dir) February 22, 2024 Binance dont work in Nigeria anymore, you just cant open the app. I believe we know our alternative. Following complaints from users in Nigeria, Binance exchange noted that it has initiated efforts to ensure regulatory compliance. Binance has released statements emphasizing its dedication to regulatory compliance and user protection. We have stringent measures in place to protect users in the market, including real-time monitoring, immediate removal of non-compliant advertisements, and permanent removal of bad actors from using our P2P product. Presidents Adviser Calls to End Exchange Operations In a separate note, the Special Adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, accused crypto exchanges of manipulating the naira leading to the continued fall in the forex market. The advisor urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the CBN to take quick action against them. The Naira-Dollar manipulators I chanced on an X post Tuesday night by one Brother Bernard @Mikael C Bernard who railed against what he called the order of the EFCC, NSA on Finance to set a cap on traders selling USD tokens for Naira equivalent. He disclosed that token sellers pic.twitter.com/c9YBjawJMz Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) February 21, 2024 In a long post on X, he noted that Binance, facing regulatory showdown in many countries, should not be allowed to dictate the value of the Naira. Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday said it will withhold some accounts and posts in India as per the Indian governments orders even as it disagreed with the action citing the freedom of expression. The company cited legal restrictions and added it was unable to publish the executive orders. (X) The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts, the platform announced via its Global Government Affairs account. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Consistent with our position, a writ appeal challenging the Indian governments blocking orders remains pending, X added. X has appealed against the Karnataka high courts 2023 order imposing a 50 lakh fine on the company for not complying with the emergency blocking orders issued during the 2021 farmers protest. X, then Twitter, in 2022 filed a plea in the high court against the blocking orders. Twitter refused to block the accounts and links for over a year until it eventually challenged them. In its post on Thursday, X said: We have also provided the impacted users with notice of these actions in accordance with our policies. Multiple users whose posts and accounts have been withheld in India over the last two weeks reported that they had not received emails from X informing them about their content being blocked. X said due to legal restrictions, it was unable to publish the executive orders. ...but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making. Until April 15, 2023, Twitter used to provide details of the links and accounts blocked in India to the Lumen database, an independent research project by the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University that catalogues blocking orders and court-ordered takedowns from around the world for services such as Google and Twitter. HT reported on February 15 and 20 that the government has issued two sets of blocking orders for social media accounts and links related to fresh farmers protests. As per the February 19 order, 177 links and accounts were blocked. They include 42 X accounts and 49 links. On Wednesday, another set of blocking orders was issued to multiple social media platforms, including X and YouTube on the recommendation of the Union home ministry. These were not emergency orders but regular blocking orders. HT could not ascertain the number of links the order has been issued against. Xs statement on the fresh blocking orders came days after fact-checker Mohammed Zubair wrote a lot of accounts critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party government have either been suspended or withheld in India. Many influential X accounts of ground reporters/influencers/prominent farm unionists covering [fresh] Farmers Protest in India are suspended too. Sharing a few accounts. But there are many more X accounts which were suspended or withheld in India... he wrote on X attaching screenshots of withheld accounts. The screenshots included those of accounts of independent journalists Sandeep Singh and Mandeep Punia, news portal Gaon Savera, Tribal Army, its founder Hansraj Meena, and @tractor2twitr_i providing updates about farmers protests. Singh and Punias accounts were also blocked during the previous farmer protests. Milan Fashion Week highlighted diversity and in a new initiative that aims to promote inclusion across the industry and the return of a showcase for underrepresented designers as five days of mostly womenswear previews for Fall-Winter 2024-25 got underway on Wednesday. An agreement signed Tuesday by the Italian fashion council, a governmental anti-discrimination office, and a nonprofit promoting African fashion seeks to trace, identify and fight discriminatory practices. From left, designers Glen and Bruce Proctor pose for portraits in front of their creations at the fashion hub part of the women's Fall-Winter 2024-25 collection presented in Milan, northern Italy.(AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) The initiative will start with a broad survey to create a snapshot of the representation of women, people of color and other underrepresented groups across the industry, from fashion houses to suppliers. The president of the Italian National Fashion Chamber, Carlo Capasa, told The Associated Press that he hopes to have results in a year. Capasa said he was approached by Premier Giorgia Meloni s anti-discrimination office for the initiative to understand what can be done better, tapping the fashion industry as a closely watched agent of change in society. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A model walks the runway during the Etro collection show at the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2024-2025 (AFP) I dont think an association like ours can solve the (discrimination) problem, or it would be very simple to fix. I think we can try to make a small contribution," Capasa said, adding that the government's role was critical. The level of awareness has changed, which is already a step forward." The Italian fashion industry has been under pressure since the Black Lives Matters movement to be more transparent about representation of people of color in decision-making roles. But ascertaining numbers has been stymied by privacy limits that Capasa said the new survey hopes to overcome. He distinguished the initiative's focus behind-the-scenes from others promoting designers of color, such as the We Are Made in Italy, which mentors designers of color living and working in Italy, and the Black Carpet Awards, which honors diversity across sectors. FASHION HUB SHOWCASES EMERGING BLACK DESIGNERS The Fashion Hub again showcased emerging designers from underrepresented communities, featuring U.S. brands BruceGlen and anOnlyChild and British brand Sabirah. The initiative, sponsored by Blanc Magazines Teneshia Carr and the Italian fashion council, offers a space to meet buyers and the fashion community on the hunt for new brands. Creations of BruceGlen brand are displayed at the fashion hub part of the women's Fall-Winter 2024-25 collection presented in Milan, northern Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)(AP) Bruce and Glen Proctor, the twins behind the BruceGlen brand, gave a superhero vibe in their colorful Thrills tracksuits in layered v-lapels recalling Michael Jacksons Thriller jacket. Bruce in burgundy, violet, pumpkin and umber, and Glen in bright fuchsia and eggplant with an aqua-blue base. With a collection built around a light-catching melange of rainbow colors, BruceGlen is not about staples, but spreading joy. That is our goal with BruceGlen, to design clothing that ignites joy. When I look at myself in the mirror with this outfit it makes me smile, Bruce said. Designer Deborah Latouche poses in front of her creations Saribah at the fashion hub part of the women's Fall-Winter 2024-25 collection presented in Milan, northern Italy.(AP) Deborah Latouches latest Sabirah collection was inspired by Dominique Deveraux, the first Black fictional character featured on the 1980s TV series Dynasty. She wore head to toe monochrome, with a matching hat, matching bag and matching shoes. She was just everything, Latouche said. Definitely in the U.K. we thought, we are seeing someone who has an amazing presence on television.'" Creations of Saribah by Deborah Latouche are displayed at the fashion hub part of the women's Fall-Winter 2024-25 collection presented in Milan, northern Italy, (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Latouche recreated the Deveraux's spirit with a liquid golden dress cascading down the figure into a train and topped with a snood, a look fit for any red carpet and in keeping with the brand's modesty ethos. Maxwell Osborne took inspiration from his Jamaican roots for his New York-based anOnlyChild collection, creating looks out of mostly deadstock fabrics that suggest an elevated repurposing of hand-me-downs. My family grew up with nothing but their uniforms for school always had to be pressed and clean. But they also had no shoes,'' said Osborne, a self-taught art student who cut his teeth at Puff Daddy's brand Sean John. There was this joy and playfulness. This was their world." World Peace and Understanding Day 2024: The special day is here. Every year, World Peace and Understanding Day is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur all over the world. Rotary International is an international organisation dedicated to -services. The first meeting for the formation of the organisation was held on this day, many years back. Hence, World Peace and Understanding Day is a crucial day in bringing peace and goodwill to the world. Every year, this special day is observed to remind people of the ways that they can contribute to the world positively. As we gear up to celebrate the special day, here are a few things to keep in mind. World Peace and Understanding Day 2024: Date, history and significance(Unsplash) ALSO READ: 'World little less safe than last year': Global peace index study; Check India's rank Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Date: Every year, World Peace and Understanding Day is observed on February 23. This year, the special date falls on a Friday. History: In 1905, Paul P. Harris called a meeting with three of his friends in Chicago this was the first meeting for the formation of Rotary International. In 1910, the first Rotary Clubs in America were formed, mainly in San Francisco, Seattle, Oakland, and in Los Angeles. The club soon spread to the world and became one of the important organisations hence, the name of the organisation was changed to Rotary International. Rotary International's goal is global peacebuilding and positive resolution. Significance: The best way to celebrate the special day is by hosting events dedicated to meditation, communication and conflict resolution skills. We can also explore ways to contribute to the world and how we can make the world a better place. We can find local organisations dedicated to conflict resolution and volunteer for them. The message of global peace and understanding can be conveyed through various art forms as well. We can urge our family and friends to also participate in these events. Yoga experts claim that Yoga can play a significant role in promoting healthy digestion and alleviating symptoms of digestive disorders. They reason that the practice involves a combination of physical postures, breath control and mindfulness, contributing to improved overall digestive well-being. Yoga for happy stomach: Exercises for gut health and to ease digestion issues (Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash) Yoga asanas In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, shared, One of the primary ways Yoga supports digestion is through the performance of specific asanas or poses. Poses like the seated forward bend (Paschimottanasana) and the spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana) gently massage the abdominal organs, stimulating blood flow and enhancing digestive function. These postures help in relieving bloating, gas, and constipation. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He revealed, Certain Yoga postures specifically target organs associated with digestion. The Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), for instance, engages the muscles of the abdomen and stimulates the digestive organs, enhancing their function. Regular practice of such poses contributes to a more efficient digestive process. Twisting poses, like the Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana), are beneficial for wringing out toxins and tension from the digestive organs. These twists improve circulation in the abdominal area, fostering a healthier environment for digestion. Pranayama techniques Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar said, Deep diaphragmatic breathing, a fundamental aspect of yoga, aids digestion by promoting the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system. When we're stressed, the sympathetic nervous system dominates, hindering proper digestion. Yoga's emphasis on mindful breathing helps shift the body into a more relaxed state, facilitating optimal digestive processes. Cleansing and healing According to Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, specific Yoga practices, such as Kapalbhati Pranayama (skull-shining breath), are believed to cleanse the digestive system. This breathing technique involves forceful exhalations that engage and strengthen the abdominal muscles, promoting detoxification and enhancing digestive efficiency. Easing digestive issues Asserting that Yoga also addresses issues related to stress, a common factor in digestive disorders, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar said, Chronic stress can lead to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Through relaxation techniques like Savasana (Corpse Pose) and mindfulness meditation, Yoga helps manage stress levels, indirectly benefiting the digestive system. In addition to the physical and breath-focused aspects, yoga encourages mindful eating practices. Practitioners are often guided to eat slowly, savouring each bite and paying attention to their body's hunger and fullness cues. This mindfulness in eating can prevent overeating, aid in proper digestion, and promote a healthier relationship with food. He added, Siddha Walk has the ability to improve your emotional and spiritual wellness in addition to your bodily health. It is a dynamic system founded on science that has the power to fundamentally alter the human body and psyche. The figure 8 or infinity plays a significant part in this stroll. This image stands for connectedness and how we go from one work to another. It demonstrates how one's actions or decisions from today affect the subsequent set of decisions or tasks that one must complete. Yoga's impact on the nervous system is crucial for digestive health. The Vagus nerve, a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, connects the brain to the digestive organs. Yoga practices activate the Vagus nerve, promoting better communication between the brain and the gut. This can result in improved digestive function and relief from symptoms associated with digestive disorders. He concluded, Yoga offers a holistic approach to promoting healthy digestion and alleviating symptoms of digestive disorders. From specific postures that target the abdominal organs to mindful breathing and stress management techniques, the practice addresses various aspects of digestive well-being. Incorporating yoga into a routine can contribute to a healthier digestive system, fostering overall physical and mental wellness. In the world of beverage enjoyment, few experiences compare to the sensory voyage provided by a flawlessly brewed cup of coffee. Extending far beyond a simple energy boost, the brewing of coffee has evolved into an art form, with each method unveiling its distinct symphony of flavours and aromas. 5 unique coffee preparation techniques that you must know (Photo by Najib Kalil on Unsplash) For coffee aficionados, brewing coffee transcends mere routineit becomes an art form, a harmonious blend of flavours waiting to be orchestrated. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Devanshi Tripathi, Founder of North Star Cafe, explained, From the meticulousness of drip brewing to the intensity of espresso, the finesse of pour-over to the creativity of Aeropress, the endurance of cold brew to the simplicity of single-serve brewing, there are numerous methods available to elevate humble coffee beans into an extraordinary beverage. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. She highlighted 3 unique coffee preparation techniques - Drip Coffee: This is the classic, no-fuss method. You just need a coffee maker and some ground coffee. Put the filter in the basket, add your coffee grounds, pour in the water, and let the machine do its thing. In a few minutes, you'll have a hot, fresh pot of coffee ready to go. French Press: This one's a bit more hands-on, but it's worth it for the rich, full-bodied flavor. Start by heating some water (not boiling), then add your coarse coffee grounds to the French press. Pour in the water, stir it up, and let it steep for about four minutes. Then, slowly press down the plunger, and you're good to go. Pour Over: If you're looking for a more controlled brewing method, the pour-over is for you. You'll need a pour-over cone, a filter, and some ground coffee. Place the cone on top of your mug, add the filter and coffee grounds, and slowly pour hot water over the grounds in a circular motion. This method allows you to control the strength and flavor of your coffee. Adding to the list of unique coffee preparation techniques, Pankaj Rautela, Co-Founder of Agastya Cafe & Homestay, revealed - The Schengen area, consisting of 27 European countries, is one of the world's most widely visited tourist destinations. Apart from the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, what makes Schengen a hot pick among travellers is the fact that these countries have abolished mutual borders. The border-free Schengen area offers tourists free movement. Is travel insurance mandatory for Schengen visa? Here's all you need to know (File Photo) People planning to visit this area often question if they need travel insurance to apply for its Visa. If you have a similar question, read on to find the answer. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa: A Must Yes, you need travel insurance for a Schengen visa. If you don't have a travel insurance policy in tune with the standards set by Schengen countries, your visa application will get rejected. Schengen countries have made travel insurance mandatory to safeguard tourists financially against any medical emergencies and untoward incidents. Requirements for Travel Insurance to Obtain a Schengen Visa Not any travel insurance can help you get a Schengen Visa. Your travel insurance policy needs to meet certain requirements. These include: * The sum insured offered by the policy should be a minimum of 30,000 euros * It should be valid in all 27 countries in the Schengen area * The validity of travel insurance should be for the entire duration of your time in Europe How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost for a Schengen Visa? The cost of travel insurance for Schengen Visa isn't fixed and depends on various factors. These include: * Your age Your age is vital in determining the premium you must pay to obtain travel insurance for a Schengen Visa. The older you are, the more you need to pay for insurance and vice versa. As we age, the likelihood of experiencing health concerns rises. This translates to a higher potential for needing medical attention while travelling, which insurance companies see as a greater risk. To cover this risk, they set a high premium. * Trip duration Another essential consideration is the trip duration. Usually, insurance companies offering travel insurance for the Schengen zone calculate the cost on a daily basis. This implies that the longer your stay is, the higher the policy price. Longer stays translate to a greater window for potential mishaps, which is why your insurer charges higher premiums. Importance of Travel Insurance Besides being mandatory, travel insurance can help you in several ways during your visit to Schengen nations. These include: * Coverage for Healthcare costs Healthcare costs are high in Schengen countries. Travel insurance can help offset high medical expenses in the event of hospitalisation because of illness, accident, or injuries. Paying them from your pocket can disrupt your finances and throw your travel plans in disarray. * Emergency Assistance Services In case of an emergency, you might need services such as medical evacuation and repatriation, which can be crucial in case of serious illness or injury. This requires transportation to another medical facility or back to your home country and can be an expensive affair. A travel insurance policy can help you meet the cost of such services. * Costs for Trip Cancellation and lost baggage A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for non-refundable trip costs if your trip gets cancelled or interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances. That's not all. You will also be reimbursed for lost or stolen baggage and important documents such as passports. How You Can Purchase Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa? You can purchase travel insurance for Schengen Visa through: * Travel insurance providers online * Your travel agency * Local Schengen-accredited travel insurance company Irrespective of the mode of purchase, you need to remember certain things. These include: * Minimum Coverage Amount Ensure the insurance policy provides a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros for medical emergencies, including repatriation due to medical reasons. Note that this is the minimum requirement set under Schengen visa regulations. * Compare Different Travel Insurance Plans Research different insurers and compare plans based on your needs and budget. Don't simply select the cheapest option. Read online reviews and the insurer's track record before buying the policy. Familiarise yourself with the claims process to ensure smooth handling if you need to make a claim. * Read the exclusions While comparing different plans, read the exclusions. Understand what's covered in your policy and what's not. This helps avoid surprises later and unnecessary stress. If you are unsure about something, get it cleared beforehand. * Disclose pre-existing ailments While buying travel insurance for Schengen Visa, disclose any pre-existing ailments you might have. Though this may increase the premiums for your policy, it helps avoid claim rejection later. Also, if your trip extends by any chance beyond the initial policy period, find out if you can extend the policy duration. In Conclusion Remember that travel insurance for Schengen Visa is not just about fulfilling a mandatory requirement. It's also about safeguarding your trip from unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance gives you much-needed peace of mind and allows you to enjoy your Schengen journey to the fullest. The United States is working towards further reducing the wait time for visitor visas for Indians following a decrease of 75 per cent last year, according to US Bureau of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Rena Bitter. US working to reduce visitor visa wait time for Indians after decrease of 75% (Photo Courtesy issa.house.gov) In an interview with PTI, Bitter noted that today more Indians can travel to the United States than in any other time in history. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Last year, the Embassy in India processed 1.4 million visas, explosion of an incredible number...in every category there is no wait time at all except in one area of travel where there is still some wait time and that is people travelling for the first time to the United States for tourism," she said. "It has been reduced 75 per cent over the last year and we are working really hard on this. We recognise that it is an incredibly important bilateral relationship and the foundation of the relationship is the people-to-people ties, the business travel and the family ties. All these things are important to us and in Washington we are doing a lot of work to support this post (Indian) so they can meet the exploding demand," she added. Asked about the plans for H1B visa, Bitter said the pilot programme which is underway to permit Indians living in the US to renew their H1B visa without travelling abroad will conclude in February. "There is special place for Indian skilled workers in United States, they contribute so much to our economy. Indian embassy issued 34 per cent more H1B visas last year which is also the maximum in the history of the post. We take this issue seriously and this was a huge topic of conversation between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden during their meeting last year. "We introduced a pilot programme in January for revalidation of 20,000 Indian skilled workers in the United States. The pilot programme will conclude at the end of this month. It is going really well and once we complete the pilot period we will reevaluate and see what comes next to make it as easy as possible for Indians working in the US," she said. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries such as India and China. The pilot programme was started months after the White House announced the plan during the state visit of Prime Minister Modi in June last year. Talking about student visas, Bitter said, "one in four international students studying in United States is from India. It is incredible because it is not only they are getting top notch education which we are really proud of but they are also enriching our classrooms with their unique perspective and the key points that they bring to our classrooms. "They make our students smarter too...So we are really excited about that. This is really important programme for us to make sure that Indian students have access to education in the United States and we have all pieces in place going forward to ensure that we meet the demand," she added. The number of Indians who travelled to the United States for higher education increased by 35 per cent and resulted in an all-time high of 2,68,923 students in the academic year 2022-23. Last year, the US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third year in a row. There is a new guessing game on in Delhis power corridors: Who will be next to leave the Congress for a Congress-yukt (Congress-filled) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? While the BJP leadership boasts of crossing 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, an enfeebled Congress is confronted with a more discomfiting question: Will the grand old party cross at least 54 seats to earn the Leader of Opposition status this time? Recall the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when the Congress ended with its lowest-ever tally of just 44 seats. 2019 was only marginally better with the party winning 52 seats, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu providing some southern comfort. In 2024 too, most opinion polls suggest the Congress will struggle to enter double digits in any state barring Kerala and possibly Telangana. The north-west wave that swept the BJP to power on both previous occasions threatens to do so again in a vast belt stretching from the western seaboard to the Hindi heartland, leaving the Congress floundering. In 2019, for example, the Congress won just six out of 243 seats in 10 states across this north-west belt. The Congresss electoral decline did not begin in 2014 with the ascent of Narendra Modi. The Congress hasnt won a simple majority in the Lok Sabha since the landslide sympathy wave in 1984 in the aftermath of Indira Gandhis assassination. But even beyond the shrinking numbers, the nagging question remains: What has the Congress done in the past decade to make itself more electable? Congress leaders will allege institutional capture by the BJP (including large sections of the media) as proof that there is no level playing field. Be it a rigged mayoral poll in Chandigarh or Operation Lotus-like plots to topple elected governments, the brazen misuse of State power has undoubtedly given the BJP a hefty edge over its political rivals. But the Congress leadership cannot escape responsibility for its own failures in rebuilding the party as a cohesive national alternative. Rahul Gandhis yatras are a laudable exercise in re-establishing a lost mass connect, but episodic journeys cannot compensate for years of organisational neglect. At times, Gandhi looks like a valiant but confused captain of a creaking ship amidst turbulent waters. While the captains determination to sail on regardless may be seen as an act of courage, it is foolhardy to expect the ship to stay afloat when the parts are falling off. While party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has made a genuine effort to be more accessible and link with even block-level workers, he lacks the stamina or authority for a prolonged fight. Ironically, there are as many as eight sitting chief ministers (CMs) who were once in the Congress. At least 13 former Congress CMs have left the party in the last decade alone. In many cases, this can be attributed to vaulting ambition, the ugta suraj (rising sun) syndrome of constantly staying on the right side of power. In some cases, the obvious fear of enforcement agency action has precipitated a departure. But there is also a growing disconnect between the partys status quoist central leadership and restive state units that has spurred periodic acts of rebellion. For example, a Jyotiraditya Scindia in Madhya Pradesh or a Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam quit the party after losing out to an old guard unwilling to cede power to gen-next leaders. A pragmatic and accommodative big tent approach that once managed competing interests within the Congress has been replaced by a more inflexible them versus us tug of war where a small coterie calls the shots. At the Jaipur party session in 2013, Rahul Gandhi spoke of power as poison, perhaps forgetting he was addressing a grouping whose core identity is driven by the power principle. The BJP, by contrast, is a political wing of an ideological force called the Hindutva sangh parivar. It is this cadre-based brotherhood in saffron that holds the BJP together through good times and bad. For example, when the party won just two seats in 1984, there was no mass exodus from its ranks at any level. Now, when Modis personality cult towers over all else, there may be private rumblings over the highly centralised decision-making but no one dares to rebel against the diktats from above. The recipe for a Congress revival is not to become more authoritarian like the new BJP but to become more inclusive like the old Congress. This means creating more avenues for talent recognition and jump-starting the careers of younger leaders in the states, who have shown the appetite for a tough battle rather than relying on tired and fossilised geriatrics. Revanth Reddy in Telangana is a good example of how an empowered 54-year-old leader was able to inspire the Congress by leading from the front. Who is to say that projecting a Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan or even a Shashi Tharoor in Kerala or investing in younger leaders in Maharashtra or Madhya Pradesh will not deliver similar results in the future? As for Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi parivar, the family surname alone is subject to diminishing returns beyond traditional Congress faithfuls. A third big Lok Sabha defeat would be catastrophic, only accelerating the distinct atrophying of a once dominant force. The belief that the Gandhis are the only glue that holds the Congress together has been shaken by a number of high-profile departures in the last decade. Sooner or later, the Congress will have to decide: Can the party bank on a family that isnt quite a vote-catcher any longer, or should the umbilical cord finally be severed? 2024 is an acid test for shaping the Congresss immediate future. Post-script: At a recent luncheon gathering, party chief Kharge was surrounded by senior Congressmen. As one of them sought permission to leave, a journalist quipped: Hope you are only leaving the lunch and not the party! The writer is a senior journalist and author. The views expressed are personal Faced with a matter from Bihar (Rajanti Devi@Rajanti Kumari v. the Union Of India), where an application for anticipatory bail had not been decided for a year, the Supreme Court (SC) pressed all high courts to scrupulously follow its guidelines for giving bail and disposing applications swiftly, within two weeks if possible. These exhortations are useful reminders of what should be and what really is the ground reality. Prisons are meant to hold the convicted, not punish with incarceration those who have not yet been properly tried. However, Prison Statistics of India 2022 say 74% or four lakh people in Indias 1,330 prisons are undertrials people who have been arrested, are under remand or awaiting investigation or trial to be over. This is up from 66% a decade ago. Delays in deciding and reluctance to grant or ability to afford bail directly contribute to overcrowding in jails. On average in 25 states, prisons run at more than 100% capacity. In 19 of them, undertrials account for more than 70% of all inmates. The national average for overcrowding runs at 131%, a significant increase from 112% a decade ago. Not only is this population growing, but the prison time of undertrials is more than ever before. In 2012, 22% of them spent between one and five years in confinement; a decade later, despite targeted initiatives aimed at releasing undertrials, the percentage has risen to 28%. In Bihar, the state which prompted the latest exhortation from the SC, prisons are operating at an occupancy rate of 135%. In 13 of its 59 prisons, occupancy is between 200% and over 400%, 25 have between 100%-200%. Only seven of the 31 district prisons have less than 100% and two of the eight central prisons have less than 100% occupancy. Of the two womens prisons, one has 123% occupancy. With a nearly 70,000 inmate population, Bihars prisons have the largest number of undertrials in any state in India. In 46 prisons, undertrials make up over 90% of all inmates. To bring accommodation to no more than 100%, Bihar will have to release at least 32% of its undertrials. For instance, Jamuis district prison, which holds more than four times the numbers it should be holding, will have to release 82% of its inmates. Sadly, Bihar is no exception. To address the issue of unfair pretrial incarceration and consequent overcrowding in prisons, the SC in Re-Inhuman conditions in 1382 prisons (2015) directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) along with the ministry of home affairs and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) to form Undertrial Review Committees (UTRC). The committees were to meet quarterly. Since then, based on 14 criteria, undertrials identified by UTRCs under Section 436A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) were to be identified and recommended for release annually. But committees meet less frequently than mandated, restrict their recommendations to a few categories and their recommendations are often resisted by the bench. Of over 1,000 undertrials identified nationally for early release in 2022 under Section 436A of CrPc, only 537 (36%) were released. An year earlier, 1,491 were identified but just 591 (39%) released. In Bihar, of just 59 prisoners identified as eligible for release, only 48 were released. Accelerated campaigns such as Release_UTRC@75 managed to effect a temporary uptick in these numbers. The effect of intensely concentrated efforts for a limited period is lost as officials go back to business as usual. The chances for women undertrials seem near non-existent. The NALSAs guideline recommends that women prisoners be considered for release irrespective of their alleged offence. However, of the over 2,500 women undertrials across Bihars prisons, only one was identified as eligible for release in 2022, but she was not released. Between 2016 and 2022, out of two women undertrials identified as eligible for release, only one has been released in 2021. Nationally, only 74 of the 178 women undertrials have been released during this period. As of December 2022, about 12% (347) women undertrials in Bihar have spent between one to five years in prison. Bail not jail is the oft repeated nostrum of the SC and high courts and a great many do manage to get bail. But it is not enough. In 2022, of over 53 lakh arrests in IPC and SLL crimes across India, 28% (1,470,848 undertrials and 52,320 convicts) prisoners were released on bail. Too many factors collude to prevent the remedy coming to the aid of most of these hapless undertrials: These include growing delays and pendency at court, the inability to afford adequate legal representation, lack of access to legal aid, the challenge of meeting heavy bond amounts or providing local sureties, and ignorance of procedure and law among undertrials. At the beginning of 2023, 5,380 undertrials whod been given bail remained in custody nationwide. A shortage of judges and consequently, a slow case clearance rate add to the problem. In January 2024, the department of justice put judge vacancies in Bihar at 34% in the high court and about 33% in the subordinate courts. This coupled with case pendency over six lakh in the HC and over 1.3 million in the subordinate courts will lead to crowding of prisons. Even as the authorities struggle to reduce numbers in pretrial detention, the newly minted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 with increased periods of police custody for 41 offences, compulsory minimum punishment in 25 offences, and enhanced fines promises to swell the number of incarcerated. This hollows out the notion of prisons becoming places for rehabilitation and correction, as promised in the Model Prison Rules 2016. Maja Daruwala is chief editor and Arshi Showkat is a researcher with India Justice Report. The views expressed are personal Logistics and industrial leasing in India has crossed the 50 m sq ft mark in the last two years on the back of strong economic and industry fundamentals, rapidly growing sectors like manufacturing and third party logistics (3PL), and supportive government policies like the Production Linked Incentive scheme, a report by Cushman & Wakefield has said. Logistics and industrial leasing in India has crossed the 50 m sq ft mark in the last two years on the back of strong economic and industry fundamentals (Picture for representational purposes only) (Pixabay) Industrial leasing witnessed a 23% y-o-y growth in 2023 at nearly 16 msf, with Pune and Chennai accounting for 8.37 msf (53% of pan India leasing volume) and 3.81 msf (24% of pan India leasing volume) respectively. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The growth in industrial leasing indicates that manufacturing is on an uptrend on the back of healthy capacity utilization, implementation of business plans by domestic firms and incentivization of investments by multinationals through favourable government policies such as the multi-sector PLI scheme. In terms of cities, Chennai's logistics and industrial sector witnessed a stellar 2023, driven by robust leasing activity across warehouses and industrial sheds. With 10.78 msf of overall leasing in 2023, the city registered 2.1x growth over 5.16 msf recorded in 2022. For the full year 2023, warehouse leasing activity stood at 6.97 msf, nearly two-fold increase compared to 2022, it noted. Oragadam submarket witnessed robust demand with gross leasing reaching 2.14 msf, a 5x growth compared to 2022. Throughout the year, demand was predominantly driven by the 3PL/logistics sector, contributing 64% to the yearly gross leasing activity, followed by the engineering and manufacturing sector with a 31% share. For the full year, manufacturing tenants leased 3.8 million sq ft in Chennai, with Oragadam and Sriperumbudur dominating. Electronics and automobile sectors held the top spots in the city with 28% and 24% shares respectively. Also Read: Industrial & Logistics leasing in MMR touches high of 9.9 mn sq ft: report Leasing for warehouses dips by 7% In 2023, warehousing leasing dipped slightly by 7% to 37.7 msf from 40.4 msf in 2022. According to the data, while warehouse leasing by e-commerce firms posted a decline in 2023, demand from 3PL operators, manufacturing and retail firms remained strong. This shift suggests a possible growing trend of e-commerce companies outsourcing their logistics and warehousing operations to 3PL specialists, allowing them to focus on their core business activities, the report showed. Also Read: Strata completes sale of Jaipur warehousing asset for 23.25 crore; provides full exit to investors Mumbai emerged as the top warehousing hub in 2023, capturing a commanding 27% share of the market. Chennai followed closely with 19%, while Delhi and Pune held 18% and 12% shares, respectively. Delhi-NCR warehousing market Delhi-NCR saw a noticeable decline in activity, likely due to fewer major space transactions in the latter half of the year. This was effectively offset by the continuous expansion of Chennai and Pune, ensuring consistent overall activity across India. Also Read: Draft logistics plan for goods movement in Delhi Delhi NCR witnessed leasing of 3.05 msf in the warehousing sector during the second half of 2023, which was 57% lower on a y-o-y basis. This could be attributed to the limited number of large deals executed during 2023. With this, annual warehousing demand for 2023 reached 6.8 msf, a drop of 52% when compared to 2022, although in line with the average witnessed over the last five years. In H2 2023, Gurgaon dominated warehouse leasing with a share of 52%, followed by 22% share of Ghaziabad and 13% share of Sonipat. These top-3 submarkets also held a cumulative share of 81% in annual warehouse leasing for 2023, the report showed. Industrial leasing activity in NCR in the second half of 2023 was recorded at 0.3 msf, 58% lower than an exceptional first half of 2023, and 34% lower than H2-22. However, the annual industrial leasing in NCR (0.98 msf) was merely 8% lower than a good year of 2022, and it remained 40% higher than the average volume of the past five years. The industrial demand for H2-23 was entirely concentrated in Gurgaon, of which Manesar held a share of 42%, it said. Logistics & Industrial segment in India has defied global uncertainties to achieve a stable growth for two years in a row. This is fuelled by a confluence of factors, including strong economic and industry fundamentals, rapidly growing sectors like manufacturing and 3PL, and supportive government policies like the PLI scheme. We expect this momentum to continue in 2024, solidifying L&I as a key driver of Indian real estate growth," said Abhishek Bhutani, Managing Director, Logistics & Industrials, Cushman & Wakefield. Azerbaijan has identified cooperation areas with the US laboratory in the implementation of the Energy Transition course, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan Energy Minister, on his official X account. "In Denver, we got acquainted with the USA's National Renewable Energy Laboratory`s (NREL) activities, which contribute to the scientific and technological process accelerating the energy transformation. We have determined the fields to cooperate with NREL on the implementation of the Energy Transition Course in Azerbaijan. It is worth noting that Azerbaijans Energy Minister, Parviz Shahbazov has participated in the discussions organised by the Atlantic Council, one of the influential analytical centres operating in Washington, USA. The discussions were held in the format of a business lunch moderated by Landon Derentz, senior director at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Centre. The Azerbaijani minister highlighted the strategic role of Azerbaijan, which is located in an important geopolitical position, in the security of energy supplies to Europe, especially through the Southern Gas Corridor. The participants reviewed the policy of Azerbaijan, a host country of COP29, on accelerating the energy transition at the national and global levels, decarbonisation, reducing methane emissions, climate financing, and its course on the development of renewable energy. Minister Parviz Shahbazov noted that the state policy of President Ilham Aliyev prioritising the development of Azerbaijan as a country of green growth by 2030 gave a powerful impetus to the transformation of the energy sector. Moreover, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United States, Khazar Ibrahim, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy in the Bureau of Energy Resources, Laura Lochman, state officials on energy and climate issues, and representatives of international energy companies and organisations attended the meeting. Sen. Elizabeth Warren Calls Republican Opponent John Deatons Campaign a Threat, Presses Donor Base for Funding Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) referred to Republican opponent John Deatons campaign as a threat as she called on supporters to help fund her campaign against him, newly surfaced emails from the politician over the past week reveal. Warren Launches Email Campaign in Fight for Senate Seat Deaton, a noteworthy attorney from Rhode Island, moved specifically to Massachusetts to challenge Warren for her seat in the Senate. My biggest regret right now is not buying the house I looked at in Rehoboth Massachusetts but instead, bought the house I currently live in, in Barrington Rhode Island. Had I bought the Massachusetts house, I would run against this lighting, self serving, hypocrite. https://t.co/HHloklix5I John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) October 13, 2023 We should expect more from our representatives in Washington than simply checking a box by changing their address, one email with the logo Warren for Senate reads in part. We cant expect someone from out of state to swoop in from out of state and get the job done but we also cant underestimate this threat. Originally revealed in a February 22 post to X by journalist Elanor Terrett, the emails show that Warren has gone as far as reaching out to Senator Chris Murphys (D-CT) donor base to drum up support for her campaign. Apparently, the MAGA Republican machine couldnt find a single Republican in Massachusetts to run against me so they brought in someone from Rhode Island who will have the backing of the GOP and special interest groups, an email allegedly from the Connecticut Senator read. The Crypto Lobby Has Put A Target On My Back The latest communications from Warrens camp came shortly after the Senator claimed she wasnt afraid of Deatons challenge but will need to prepare to adequately fight his campaign. In the same email, Warren alleged that the crypto lobby has put a target on my back following her stance for increased regulation in the sector, with the Senator even penning a scathing letter to a number of key players in the crypto industry. Warren has been an outspoken advocate against crypto and recently proposed the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act (DAAMLA) which critics argue will negatively impact the crypto industry by broadening the Bank Secrecy Act to apply to digital assets. We believe the enormous costs of stifling blockchain development in the United States by applying the Bank Secrecy Act to individual participants and users will far outweigh any benefits, a reply to Warren from the Blockchain Association reads. Blockchain Association and the individuals that make up its membership intend to continue to exercise our Constitutional rights petitioning the government and speaking freely on this issue. Where Deaton Stands On Crypto Deaton, on the other hand, previously gained notoriety for his role as a lawyer in the SEC v. Ripple case. Unlike Warren, Deaton has a long track record of advocacy across the crypto sector, having recently praised Grayscale for its landmark court victory against the SEC. Democratic and Republican primaries in Massachusetts will be held on September 3, 2024. While flying, people are expected to behave in a certain way to ensure that their journey and that of others travelling with them remains safe and pleasant. However, there are occasions when the behaviour of unruly passengers makes one wonder Didnt they get the memo? From trying to open a flight door midair to punching a steward, here are some recent stories of flyers that will leave you in disbelief. These stories of unruly passengers on flights will leave you in disbelief. (Unsplash/@brokk) 1. Passenger opens emergency plane door This shocking incident took place when an Aeromexico flight was waiting for takeoff from the Mexico International Airport. A man opened the exit door of the flight and climbed onto the planes wing to go for a walk. He did this after waiting inside the plane during a five-hour delay. He was arrested once he re-entered the aircraft. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. 2. Man punches a steward A man was taken into custody by police after he punched a steward in the face, which made him fall to the ground. The incident took place on a Thai Airways flight flying from Bangkok to London. The man first went around smashing things inside the plane bathroom and later engaged in a fight with the flight staff and fellow passengers when they tried to stop him. During the commotion, he punched the steward. A video showing the fight also made its way onto X: 3. Man tries to open door midair A man caused a disturbance on an American Airlines flight when he tried to open the emergency door in midair. One of the scariest days of my life. Flying back home from ABQ and weve been in the air for about 30 minutes and a huge gust of wind comes out of nowhere. This guy opened the emergency exit door. People were tackling him down and put him in zip ties. Had to emergency land back, an X user wrote and shared a video. The clip shows the man being escorted out of the aircraft by authorities. 4. Man buys two first-class tickets, demands seat for three A man in China caused a flight to be delayed for three hours after he engaged in an argument over a first-class seat on a flight from Beijing to Chengdu. The man reportedly purchased two first-class tickets and one for his son in economy class. However, when the child started crying, he demanded a free upgrade. The passenger continued demanding the seat even after refusal from the flight crew. He was later escorted off the plane by police. A cleaner working for a law firm in London was fired after she ate a leftover sandwich. As per reports, she ate a 1.50 tuna sandwich that was left after a meeting. Her employer, Total Clean, a company hired to clean the law firm Devonshires Solicitors, fired her after an employee of the firm complained about her eating the food. A cleaner is taking legal action against a law firm after being fired for eating a leftover sandwich. (Unsplash/@Pixzolo) Gabriela Rodriguez, who hails from Ecuador, has been cleaning the offices of Devonshires Solicitors for two years as an employee of Total Clean, reports the Guardian. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As per the outlet, United Voices of the World Union (UVW), which supports migrant workers, claimed that Rodriguez was "unjustly" fired just before Christmas last year in 2023 for eating the leftover tuna sandwich. She is now taking legal action against the law firm for indirect race discrimination. Cleaners are routinely dismissed on trivial and, we argue, discriminatory grounds like this every day around the country. Many describe feeling treated like the dirt they clean and Gabriela is one of them. We will raise our voices and unite to fight any employer even big powerful companies like Devonshires Solicitors, Petros Elia, the general secretary of UVW, told the Guardian. And just because we clean their dirt, does not mean they can treat us like dirt. We demand respect, dignity and equality, regardless of the language we speak, our country of origin, or the colour of our skin. We are taking both Total Clean and Devonshires Solicitors to an employment tribunal. For Total Clean, the claims are for unfair dismissal and direct race discrimination. For Devonshires Solicitors the claims are for direct and/or indirect race discrimination, Elia added. According to the Guardian, UVW argues that Rodriguezs removal was an act of discrimination. They contend that she would not have been removed if she was not a Latin American with limited English. UVW has also initiated a Justice for Gabriela campaign, reports RollOnFriday. A few members of the organisation also showcased a protest earlier this month outside the offices of Devonshires Solicitors. They also gave out leaflets with I ate a leftover tuna sandwich and got sacked! written on them. What did Total Clean say about their decision? While we would not typically comment on personnel issues, we would like to address the misleading and inaccurate information that is being alleged by our ex-employee. It is important to us to maintain the integrity of our workforce and service by ensuring we deal appropriately with any actions that undermine the hard work and reputation of our incredible team who conduct themselves impeccably. Trust and honesty is of paramount importance, a spokesperson from Total Clean told the Guardian. All steps taken have been in accordance with UK employment law following the proper investigative and disciplinary process. We will be making no further comment on the matter, they added. How did Devonshires Solicitors react to the controversy? Devonshires did not make a formal complaint against Gabriela and expressly told Total Clean not to take any action against her. Total Clean carried out their own investigation and the decision to dismiss Gabriela was taken without any input or influence from Devonshires whatsoever. This is a private matter between Total Clean and Gabriela but we have made clear to Total Clean that we would not object as we never have done to Gabriela attending and working on our premises if Total Clean changes its position, the law firm told the Guardian. A man faced arrest after he claimed ownership of a hotel where he stayed for five years for free. As per reports, the man found a loophole in the local housing law and exploited it to stay at a hotel in New York without paying any rent. Reportedly, he also claimed ownership of the building and demanded rent from another tenant. The man who was arrested after claiming ownership of the New Yorker Hotel first stayed in the place back in 2018. (AP) According to the court documents by Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the man, identified as 48-year-old Mickey Barreto, allegedly registered the hotel in his name, demanded rent from tenants, attempted to evict the previous owner from premises while making a series of fraudulent filings. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the Citys most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel, said District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. We will not tolerate manipulation of our citys property records by those who seek to scam the system for personal gain, Attorney Bragg added. How did Mickey Barreto manage to stay in the hotel for free? As per the court documents, Barreto first stayed at the New Yorker Hotel for one night in 2018. However, the next day he requested the hotel to enter into a lease agreement with him. Barreto shared that when he moved to New York from Los Angeles, his boyfriend told him about a loophole in local law, reports the Los Angeles Times. The loophole reportedly allows the occupants of single rooms in buildings constructed before 1969 to demand a six-month lease. Barreto argued that he should be counted as a tenant in the hotel as he paid for one night. When the hotel refused to agree, Barreto kept his belongings in the room and left the building, according to the court documents. The hotel, in turn, returned his belongings and asked him to leave. Barreto then filed a lawsuit in housing court and claimed that he was wrongfully evicted from the court. Following which, the housing court judge issued an order granting Barreto possession of a particular room at the hotel. However, the saga didnt end there. In 2019, Barreto uploaded fake documents onto the New York City Department of Finances Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS), according to the court statement. He also uploaded a fraudulent deed purporting to transfer ownership of the entire New Yorker Hotel from a religious organization, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA), to himself. He then started holding himself out as the owner of the hotel, including demanding rent from one of the hotels tenants. The real hotel, HSA, owner filed a lawsuit against Barreto in New York County Supreme Court after he demanded they vacate the hotel and also send the tenants rent payments to him. He got in touch with the hotels franchisor, Wyndham, to get the franchise transferred to him. The hotels real owner successfully obtained an order forbidding Barreto from making further false filings or holding himself out to be the hotel owner, as per the court documents. How did Barreto react to this new ruling? I never intended to commit any fraud. I dont believe I ever committed any fraud, Barreto told the Los Angeles Times. And I never made a penny out of this, he added. As per the outlet, Barreto says that his legal dispute is actually activism. He aims at denying profits to the HSA. The church holds mass weddings and has reportedly been previously criticised over its friendly relationship with North Korea, the birthplace of the church's self-proclaimed messiah, the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. The church, however, was founded in South Korea. Barreto told the outlet that he never hired a lawyer and always represented himself. However, he recently hired the services of a criminal attorney. A video of a performance at a wedding in Pakistan has gone viral on Instagram. It shows a group of men in similar outfits dancing to the popular Bollywood song Chaiyya Chaiyya. The performance of the men will likely make you go wow. The image shows a few men dancing to Chaiyya at a wedding in Pakistan. (Instagram/@weddingsbysalman) The video opens to show a decorated stage against the backdrop of a beautiful sky. The dancers are seen wearing all-black traditional attire. They go on to show synchronised and amazing steps while performing to the hit track Chaiyya Chaiyya. Though everyone gave an amazing performance, one person in the front stole the show with his expressive dance moves. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Take a look at this Chaiyya Chaiyya dance video: The video was posted on February 10. Since then, the clip has accumulated more than 7.6 million views - and the numbers are still increasing. The share has collected tons of comments from people, with many appreciating one dance for his energetic performance. Heres how Instagram users react to the dance video: Bro you should mention the ID of that guy, who's stealing everyone's light, posted an Instagram user. He is so good that I can't look at the others, added another. Everyone else is basically invisible in front of the middle one's energy! joined a third. This proves confidence and the right attitude is everything, wrote a fourth. About Chaiyya Chaiyya: Chaiyya Chaiyya from Dil Se is picturised on Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora. With lyrics from Gulzar, the song was sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi. AR Rahman created the music for this track which was released in 1998. What are your thoughts on this wedding dance video? Did the power packed performance make you shake a leg too? Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddys ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and N Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party (TDP) engaged in heated exchanges on social media on February 21. Both parties shared videos showcasing condoms, which had the other party's names and symbols printed on the packets. The image shows condom packets with TDP and YSRCP names and their party symbols printed on them. (X/@YSRCParty and @JaiTDP) YSR Congress Party quoted a video showing condom packets with TDP branding on it with a caption in Telugu. When translated to English, it reads, Finally distributing condoms to people for their party campaign Telugu Desam Party. Where is the publicity madness? Will next share viagras? At least stop there; otherwise it will further decline. The party even tagged N Chandrababu Naidu, Lokesh Nara, and Pawan Kalyan. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. After YSRCP claimed that TDP is distributing condoms to people as part of their campaign, the latter retorted. TDPs tweet, when translated to English from Telugu, reads, Why are you shouting about preparation readiness? Instead of doing such vile campaigns, we can spend money on corpses? Alongside, they shared a video of a packet of condom with YSRCP branding on it. Also Read| TDP brings Kishor on board ahead of Andhra polls YSR Congress Party tweeted the video at around 4 pm on February 21. TDP retorted to the allegation by posting another video at around 6 pm on the same day. These allegations come at a time when political parties across India are campaigning to attract voters ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny may have been killed with a single punch to the heart, a hallmark of the KGB, a human rights activist has said. Vladimir Osechkin, founder of the human rights group Gulagu.net, told the Times of London that Navalny was found dead with bruising on his head and chest consistent with the one-punch technique. Osechkin cited a source at Polar Wolf penal colon, where Navalny died. Flowers are seen placed around portraits of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian Arctic prison, at a makeshift memorial in front of the former Russian consulate in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on February 20, 2024 (Photo by AFP)(AFP) It is an old method of the KGBs special forces divisions, Osechkin said. They trained their operatives to kill a man with one punch in the heart, in the center of the body. It was a hallmark of the KGB. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. They first destroyed his body Osechkin said that before the punch, the 47-year-old had been kept outdoors for over two hours in the subzero temperatures of the Yamalo-Nenets region, which weakened his body. I think that they first destroyed his body by keeping him out in the cold for a long time and slowing the blood circulation down to a minimum, Osechkin said. And then it becomes very easy to kill someone, within seconds, if the operative has some experience in this. Osechkin went on to say that other people who had served their time in the prison claimed some of their fellow inmates were murdered this way by guards. Navalnys official cause of death has not been revealed. The Russian authorities have not handed over his body to his family, and have claimed that it is required for a two-week chemical examination, according to Navalny aide Kira Yarmysh. Navalnys wife, Yulia, has alleged that Putins regime poisoned her spouse with the nerve agent Novichok. She also accused them of trying to cover up the murder by delaying the release of his body to his family. However, Osechkin does not think this is likely. Its possible, of course, but when someone is under the control of the prison system, there are many options as to how to kill them, the activist said. Novichok would leave a trace in his body and would lead directly back to Putin, given he has tried it once before. The Kremlin has maintained that they are not involved in Navalnys death. Putins spokesperson blasted the allegations as unfounded and rude. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday met the wife and daughter of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died last week, "to express his heartfelt condolences", the White House said. Biden meets Navalny's wife, daughter in California(Twitter) During the meeting in California, Biden expressed his admiration for Navalny's "extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone", the White House said in a statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Biden also affirmed that the United States will announce major new sanctions against Russia on Friday in response to Navalny's death, Russia's repression and aggression and its war in Ukraine, it added. The latest punitive measures will target a range of items, including the country's defense and industrial bases, along with sources of revenue for the economy, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan had previously said. Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" penal colony above the Arctic Circle where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said. It's common to hear residents chatting in Arabic just as often as English in this Detroit suburb's stores or mosques, those buildings themselves often sporting bilingual signage out front. HT Image But no matter the language, residents in this Arab American and Muslim stronghold in the Midwestern state of Michigan are convinced President Joe Biden, as he steadfastly stands by Israel in its war in Gaza, is not listening to them. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Vote for Palestine. No Biden," political organizer Samra'a Luqman says in English, passing out fliers outside a mosque after prayers. "Don't vote for Biden," the activist with Yemeni origins adds in Arabic. "Of course," respond many passersby. As the Gaza Strip death toll climbs, residents here -- once firmly in the Democratic fold -- are turning against the president in a crucial swing state he won by just 150,000 votes in 2020. Some are hoping to pressure Biden to back off from his Israel support and call for a ceasefire. Others, like Luqman, say they would never vote for him. "He's committing the genocide. He's funding it," Luqman, a campaign leader with a group called Abandon Biden, tells AFP. A campaign is underway by Luqman and others urging voters to vote "uncommitted," or write in "Free Palestine" on their ballots in the state's primary next week -- a symbolic gesture, since Biden faces no serious challengers for the Democratic nomination. "This is a campaign about pressuring our current president who can do something about the mass killing of children," says Abbas Alawieh, a former Democratic chief of staff on Capitol Hill and member of the Listen to Michigan campaign group. "In this community there are a lot of people who are directly harmed by war," the Lebanese-born Alawieh tells AFP. Biden, he says, "is threatening to lose this community. Not just in November, but perhaps for a generation to come." The war started when Hamas launched its attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. But concern has mounted amid the high civilian toll in Israel's retaliatory campaign, now at 29,313 people dead, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Listen to Michigan began as a pressure campaign, but some voters say their frustration with the president is permanent. Voting for Biden was the "worst mistake of my life," says Mohamed Alemara, a 23-year-old medical student of Iraqi descent. "You don't kill 30,000 of our people and expect us to vote for you." Arab Americans' vows to ditch Biden often baffle liberal political pundits. What will Muslims and Arabs do, the thinking goes -- vote for Donald Trump, the Republican behind the "Muslim ban" immigration policy, whose supporters flirt with ideas like "Christian nationalism"? "We're not a stupid community," says Luqman. "I've survived a Muslim ban, but those kids in Gaza have not survived Joe Biden." "My intention is not to vote in an Islamophobe, another genocidal maniac," she adds. Yet she tells AFP, "the only way I would vote for Biden is if he resurrected" the Gaza dead. In America's two-party system, where voters often hold their nose to pick candidates they don't back 100 percent, 27-year-old nurse Fatima Elzaghir says that "at this point, the lesser evil is Trump." Others, like Alawieh, reject the premise of the question. "How dare you come to me and say, 'Oh, but later, Trump will be your fault,'" he says. "Call your representative. Tell them you want a ceasefire.... Once we stop the bloodshed, then we can talk about the political consequences." Biden will also have to deal with Michigan's unions -- where some are defecting from the labor-friendly president's camp. Many union and workingclass voters already support Republicans, drawn in by their conservative social policies. But for Merwan Beydoun, a steel mill worker and member of the United Autoworkers Union, Gaza was the breaking point. "Furious" at Biden, whom the UAW endorsed, Beydoun stopped his contributions to the union's political arm. Beydoun says he still believes "in a lot of Democratic policies" and would rather not say how he'll vote in November. But to earn Beydoun's vote, the president "needs to wake up" and "change his ways." The Biden administration has tried to assuage Arab and Muslim voters' concerns in part by portraying the president as frustrated with Benjamin Netanyahu's government. But US weapons have flowed to Israel since October 7, while Washington's efforts to broker a second pause in fighting have failed, and on Tuesday the US blocked a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire. "My intention is to punish Biden for what he's doing now," says Luqman. "For the betrayal that he's done to me and all the community members that have voted for him." iba/seb/nro/dw/mlm Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza's Nasser Medical Complex on Thursday, a week after raiding it, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said in a statement. Members of Israeli security forces(REUTERS) The World Health Organization says the hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza's second largest and crucial to the territory's crippled health services, stopped working last week after a week-long Israeli siege followed by the raid. Kevin Dave, the Seattle police officer who ran over and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call, will not be facing any criminal charges due to lack of sufficient evidence, said the authorities. Jaahnavi Kandula was killed on January 23 by a speeding car being driven by a cop (GoFundMe) The King County Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday that they will not be moving ahead with the trail against Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave, not pressing any criminal charges against him. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The King County Prosecuting Attorney released a statement on Wednesday saying, "Kandulas death is heartbreaking and impacted communities in King County and across the world." Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23 year old Indian student residing in Seattle, was struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Dave when she was crossing a street in Seattle on January 23. Dave was responding to a drug overdose call, and was driving his vehicle at around 120 kmph at the time of the incident. Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle, and died instantly after the incident. In bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department, officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the deadly crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary. It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt, said Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion. Controversy over bodycam footage The bodycam footage from Jaahnavi Kandula's death sparked a major controversy as Seattle police officer Danier Auderer was heard laughing at the crash while pointing out that the student had died. Auderer, who was not involved in the January collision, was captured in the video saying, "But she is dead" and laughing while on the phone. "She was 26 anyway," Auderer said in the video. "She had limited value." After his comments on Kandula's death sparked backlash against the police force, Auderer was pulled from patrol in September 2023 and reassigned to a "non-operational position." (With inputs from PTI) South Korean Crypto Chat App Channel Scams on the Rise, Warn Police South Korean crypto scammers are targeting chat app users on trading- and investment-themed channels, police warned on February 21. Per News1 and Daejon Ilbo, the Sejong South Police Station announced it was investigating multiple cases. The agency said that it had received about 20 reports from people in the city. Citizens said they had been deceived by false or exaggerated claims in so-called investment reading rooms. South Korean Crypto Reading Rooms Now Rife with Scammers? South Koreas retail crypto market is large and highly active. Investors regularly congregate online in chat app channels often labelled reading rooms. Most use apps such as Telegram and its channels function, as well as KakaoTalks Open Chat feature. Cryptonews.com has seen hundreds of crypto-themed chat rooms on KakaoTalk, some of which have up to 1,500 members. Smaller channels also have hundreds of members. Most of these channels are populated by traders talking about the future of BTC and popular altcoin prices. Some others are entirely dedicated to little-known, low-cap tokens or obscure trading platforms. Upon visiting some of these rooms, Cryptonews.com was able to spot what appeared to be posts from obvious scammers promising guaranteed monthly gains. Some of these prompted channel group members to send them direct messages (DMs) for further details. In some cases, messages possibly from potential scammers appear to have been deleted by channel moderators, with members removed. Other, smaller rooms claimed to be run by expert traders who were willing to share their investment secrets. Crypto Scammers Also Active on YouTube? Police said many victims joined investment reading rooms after seeing false and exaggerated advertisements on YouTube. These include promises of guaranteed returns of at least 500% on initial stakes and talk of advanced crypto trading tips. Officers said that many reading room operators offer free services. But they often later encourage people to join [paid] VIP member rooms. Those who do so are inevitably prompted to deposit large amounts of money on unlicensed crypto exchanges. Scammers then reassure their victims that profits will soon be forthcoming, police said. But, officers explained, these scammers then unfailingly either disappear or refuse to return their victims money. A police official said: There is no such thing as a financial investment that can produce high returns while guaranteeing the initial stake. Crypto reading room members must always be suspicious of potential fraud. Bithumb Korea, the operator of the countrys No. 2 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb, has failed to seal a deal with major local lender KB Kookmin Bank for issuance of real-name accounts, jeopardizing its plan to attract more traders.https://t.co/7nuvJj42Xo The Korea Herald (@TheKoreaHerald) February 16, 2024 In December 2023, police in Busan said they had shut down a $32 million chat app-based crypto scam ring run by a network of gangsters. Officers said that nine groups of violent gangsters operated such crypto reading room sites on chat app platforms. Police made 87 arrests, and said that the gang duped 572 people nationwide to invest in bogus South Korean crypto sites. (Bloomberg) -- Japan protested to South Koreas ambassador after Japanese company funds lodged with a Seoul court were paid out as compensation over colonial-era forced labor, a step Tokyo said was a breach of a 1965 treaty. HT Image Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masataka Okano summoned Yun Dukmin Wednesday and told him the payment placed Japanese companies at an unfair disadvantage, describing it as extremely regrettable, the ministry said in a statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The plaintiff, a relative of a deceased former laborer, received 60 million won ($45,000) in funds that Hitachi Zosen Corp. had deposited at the court during the legal battle, after the Supreme Court in December upheld an order for damages, Kyodo News said the previous day. Yonhap News said the payment was the first of its kind. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa expressed her strong regret over the courts move that inflicts unjustifiable damages and costs on the company when she met South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in Brazil, Japans Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Read more: South Korea Seeks Revived China-Japan Summit to Firm Up Ties (1) The dispute risks reigniting ill-feeling between the two US allies, who have recently sought to set aside a long-running disagreement over whether Japan paid sufficient compensation for its 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula. US President Joe Biden has encouraged the rapprochement, in a bid to balance growing threats from China and North Korea. Read more: Why South Korea-Japan Ties Are Plagued by History: QuickTake Japan says agreements signed in 1965 and accompanied by $800 million (about $7.5 billion today) in grants and cheap loans settled all South Korean claims over the colonial period completely and finally. South Korean courts have found that individual laborers were not properly compensated for their suffering. The payout comes as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares to travel to Seoul to meet President Yoon Suk Yeol next month, according to the Asahi newspaper and other media, amid improved sentiment between the two countries. About 44% of South Koreans had positive feelings toward Japan, according to a survey commissioned by the Japan Press Research Institute in November, the highest since the annual survey began in 2015. (Updates with statement from Japans Foreign Ministry in paragraph four.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. From the Telegraph reporting bad omens to a royal commentator poking this buzzworthy topic surrounding the Sussex couple on news.com.au, there has been a lot of noise around their supposed divorce. What's really happening? Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Whistler Sliding Centre during the training camp for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier(REUTERS) The latest news.com.au report suggests that the couple are indeed splitting. Professionally, that is. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have long been associated as a party of two since their royal departure. However, as Daniela Isler writes, the past week has made several announcements about the couple's official commitments that firmly assert that the formerly inseparable professional twosome are parting ways on the work front. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Prince Harry - Meghan Markle divorce on the work front explored Meghan Markle solo path: Harry and Meghan are said to be exploring their respective solo gigs. This track was kicked into motion when the podcast company Lemonada Media signed Meghan alone after Meghan and Harry's joint Spotify deal fell through. The platform will re-release her Archetypes podcast series along with the launch of the new title. Prince Harry solo projects: While Markle is overjoyed to be treading closer to the Lemonada family, Prince Harry was recently seen giving a solo Good Morning America interview. This chat touched upon the One Year to Go celebrations for the 2025 Invictus Games and the royal family debacle. Harry even expressed his latent desire to become a US citizen. Also read: Intuitive Machines' Odysseus US Moon landing: Touch down time, how to watch This isn't Harry's first solo venture, as everything in the house. Everything out of the house keeps him busy. Last year, his fiery memoir Spare spared no detail in outlining his childhood behind the royal curtain. The book had him open up on a series of issues, from holding Queen Camilla culpable for outing royal secrets to the media to an alleged altercation with his brother, Prince Harry, who also disparaged Meghan as difficult, rude, and abrasive. The couple that has so far always move(d) together but is now on different professional paths still has their Netflix deal. Moreover, they also recently launched the Sussex website that will share personal updates for the couple". Isler, however, is out to prove something else entirely. She asserts that the couple faces separate paths if Netflix is taken off the table. She seems to have a bone to pick with Prince Harry because as she regards Meghan "ideating in the other room", she also runs out of ideas about what the self-exiled duke could be up to next. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry split rumours dusted off While Isler came clean about the couple's work divorce, body language expert Judi James picked another outlook in her talks with The Mirror. Analysing Meghan and Harry's Canada gala snaps, she maintained that the duke and duchess are still a unified double act. Being the centre of attention, their mirroring body images suggested their like-mindedness. James added that their smiles were a testament to the message the couple sent to the world: We will not be broken. Despite the make or break hubbub that drowned the couple under these noisy rumours, they seem to be going strong. While a work divorce appears inevitable, that professional position hasn't seeped into other considerations the world seems obsessed with. Russian forces threatened to shoot down French flights patrolling last month in international airspace over the Black Sea, signals of a particularly aggressive posture from Moscow as its invasion of Ukraine struggles to make headway, France's defense minister said Thursday. The Russian Navy's guided missile cruiser Moskva sails back into a harbour after tracking NATO warships in the Black Sea.(REUTERS) The minister, Sebastien Lecornu, didnt give specific details about the French flights or aircraft involved in the threatened shootdown. But he said Russia was returning to a particularly aggressive posture reminiscent of the former Soviet Union's behavior during the Cold War. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A month ago, to give you a very concrete example, a Russian air traffic control system threatened to shoot down French aircraft in the Black Sea when we were in a free international zone where we patrol," he said on RTL radio. The behavior of Russia in 2024 bears no relation to what we saw in 2022 and, obviously, before the aggression in Ukraine, the minister said. It is explained by the fact that Russia is in difficulty on the battlefield in Ukraine." SEATTLE (AP) Prosecutors in Washington state said Wednesday they will not file felony charges against a Seattle police officer who struck and killed a graduate student from India while responding to an overdose call a case that attracted widespread attention after another officer was recorded making callous remarks about it. HT Image Officer Kevin Dave was driving 74 mph (119 kph) on a street with a 25 mph (40 kph) speed limit in a police SUV before he hit 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula in a crosswalk on Jan. 23, 2023. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In a memo to the Seattle Police Department on Wednesday, the King County prosecutor's office noted that Dave had on his emergency lights, that other pedestrians reported hearing his siren, and that Kandula appeared to try to run across the intersection after seeing his vehicle approaching. She might also have been wearing wireless earbuds that could have diminished her hearing, they noted. For those reasons, a felony charge of vehicular homicide was not warranted: There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ofc. Dave was consciously disregarding safety, the memo said. It remains possible that city prosecutors could file lesser charges, such as negligent driving. Tim Robinson, a spokesman for the Seattle City Attorneys Office, said Wednesday that the case had not been referred to it for possible misdemeanor prosecution, and the Seattle Police Department did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry about whether it might refer the case to that office. Kandula's death ignited outrage, especially after a recording from another officer's body-worn camera surfaced last September, in which that officer laughs and suggests that Kandulas life had limited value and the city should just write a check. Diplomats from India as well as local protesters sought an investigation. The city's civilian watchdog, the Office of Police Accountability, found last month that the comments by Officer Daniel Auderer the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild damaged the departments reputation and undermined public trust on a scale that is difficult to measure. Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is weighing Auderer's punishment. The comments were "derogatory, contemptuous, and inhumane, wrote Gino Betts Jr., director of the accountability office. In a statement to the office, Auderer acknowledged that his remarks during a call with Mike Solan, the police union's president sounded callous, but that they were intended to mock a legal system that would try to put a value on Kandula's life. King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion called Kandula's death heartbreaking, but she said Auderer's appalling comments did not change the legal analysis of whether Dave should be charged. It is the Office of Police Accountability that bears the responsibility of disciplinary investigation and proceedings relating to Officer Auderers comment, rather than the prosecutor's office, Manion said. The Seattle Police Officers Guild did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The union has said the comments were highly insensitive but also taken out of context. Kandula was a graduate student at Northeastern Universitys Seattle campus. Britain announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, saying it was seeking to diminish President Vladimir Putin's weapons arsenal and war chest two years on from the invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shake hands at the end of a press conference.(AFP) The package of measures, covering more than 50 individuals and entities, was announced days ahead of the anniversary and is the latest part of a coordinated Western effort to restrict the Russian economy. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Our international economic pressure means Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion. Our sanctions are starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war," Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement. Britain sanctioned companies linked to the Russian ammunition industry, including the largest enterprise Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise, and targeted sources of revenue in the metals, diamonds and energy industries. The foreign office also said those included in the sanctions were key Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools that are used to manufacture defence systems and components ranging from missiles and engines to tanks and fighter jets. The European Union on Wednesday approved a package of sweeping sanctions, banning nearly 200 entities and individuals accused of helping Moscow procure weapons or of involvement in kidnapping Ukrainian children. Earlier this week, Britain also sanctioned six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died. United Airlines says it plans to resume flights to Israel next month, reviving a route that was suspended in October at the start of the Israel-Hamas war. A United Airlines flight(Bloomberg) The airline said Wednesday that it will start flights from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv with a stop in Munich on March 2 and March 4. United said it hopes to begin daily service on March 6 and to add a second daily flight as soon as May. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also stopped flying to Tel Aviv after the war started and have not announced when service might resume. Germany's Lufthansa and its affiliates Austrian Airlines and Swiss brought back flights to Tel Aviv in January, followed by Air France. Other European carriers have said they plan to restart flights to Israel this spring. United said it conducted a detailed safety analysis and consulted security experts and government officials in both countries before deciding to resume the flights. The airline said it also worked with the two unions that represent its pilots and flight attendants. The Chicago-based airline said it will evaluate whether to resume flights this fall to Israel from San Francisco, Chicago and Dulles airport outside Washington, D.C. Akul Dhawan, an Indian-origin student at Illinois University, died last month on West Nevada Street after freezing to death near a club that refused him entry during a night out with friends, according to the Champaign County Coroners Office. Akul B. Dhawan, found dead outside Illinois University(Akul B Dhawan/LinkedIn) On February 20, Champaign County Coroner Stephen Thuney released a statement, providing an official cause of Dhawan's death. The release ruled that the death was accidental. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. An autopsy was performed on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, that confirmed the death of Mr. Dhawan was due to hypothermia. Acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures, significantly contributed to his death, the press release stated. On February 11, community members attended a vigil to pay tribute to Dhawan in presence of his parents, who expressed their grief over the news in a letter to the News-Gazette. "We have a big massive hole left in our family; we will never be the same," they stated in the letter. On January 19, Dhawan left the bar about midnight but declined requests to take him home via rideshare. All phone calls and text messages from his friends to Dhawan's phone went unanswered, and he was reported missing at 1:23 am. 18-year-old Dhawan's body was found 10 hours later, as per the campus police department. Also Read: Jaahnavi Kandula death: US cop who ran over Indian student won't face criminal charges Preliminary report says no foul play found Last month, the coroner's office said the preliminary report showed no evidence of significant trauma. "There was no foul play involved and the death is initially believed to be accidental." Dhawan's parents have filed a complaint against the university's police department, accusing them of negligence in the way the search was conducted, reported The News-Gazette newspaper. After Akul reported missing, school police "searched the area where the student was last seen, the student's residence hall and the likely path between the two locations, including the main Quad and streets." Police also looked into nearby hospitals and made phone calls to the student. Dhawans parents, who live in California, said they met with top university officials while in town this week. They even filed a complaint against the school's police for negligence. His uncle, Rishab Mehandru stated that in order to prevent others from going through the same pain, they would like to know more about the UI's search policy and whether there are any problems with its procedures. Dhawan took admission in the University of Illinois' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to study robotics despite his parent's resentment, who wished him to study closer to home in California. An Alaska Airlines passenger allegedly plotted to attack and kill another person aboard during a nasty mid-flight argument while flying from Seattle to Las Vegas. Alaska Airlines(AFP) The altercation took place on January 24 and the man identified as Julio Alvarez Lopez was arrested at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to documents reviewed by 8 News Now Investigators. He was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to records, Lopez allegedly "began punching and hitting" a man sat across the aisle from him after returning from a restroom. He even attempted to stab him in the eye. He also allegedly attacked the victim's wife while she was protecting their 7-year-old son. During the altercation, [the victims] wife was screaming at the defendant to stop hitting her husband, an FBI agent wrote in the document. [A witness] unbuckled her seatbelt and yelled at the defendant to stop. Investigators later found a weapon, which was made using a bundle of pens and rubber bands, documents said, adding that Lopez started shouting "Ill only talk to the FBI" after the gruesome incident. Also Read: Alaska Airlines flight attendant meets baby flamingos who hatched from eggs she saved mid-air Lopez reveals why he planned to attack co-passenger Witnesses told authorities that there "was blood everywhere," and that a "pen and tape bundle" had fallen on the floor. The male victim suffered serious injuries. An onboard law enforcement official directed Lopez to sit down, and the crew members "worked to provide flex cuffs, and the defendant was restrained for the remainder of the flight." He was apprehended by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after the plane arrived at 8:30 a.m. Lopez then revealed that he plotted the attack because he "felt the mafia had been chasing him," and that he wasn't familiar with the victim "but planned to kill him." According to Fox News, he told police that he was seeking asylum in the United States, adding that he thinks the victim was with "the Cartel" and was chasing him. On Wednesday, a federal grand jury convicted Lopez on charges of assault. Lopez was scheduled to return to court on March 1. Days after interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson spoke to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's wife Stella after conclusion of a two-day of crucial hearing on his extradition. Tucker Carlson speaks to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's wife Stella after conclusion of a two-day of crucial hearing on his extradition.(X@TuckerCarlson) During her appearance on Carlson's show Uncensored on X, Stella blasted the UK government for supporting the United States, claiming it would be a "very high-risk moment" for Assange if Britain favours Washington. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Well, look, we've just been in court for two days, and this decision could be the final one. We didn't know when we were coming into it yesterday whether we would have a decision today, and if the UK decides in favor of the US, then it will put Julien on a plane to the US," she said. Notably, Assange has spent nearly five years imprisoned in London's highly secure Belmarsh Prison. According to sources, after WikiLeaks released Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) hacking tools, then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo discussed with officials the possibility of assassinating Assange under Donald Trump's administration. He spent a considerable amount of time detained at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Also Read: Timeline of Julian Assange's court appearances as he makes final bid to avoid US extradition Stella talks about Mike Pompeo and the murder plot When Carlson asked her about Pompeo attempting to murder her husband, Stella, who is a lawyer and human rights defender, called CIA a rogue organisation. They are trained to assassinate; they are trained to fabricate information and place it in the media, conduct propaganda warfare, and overthrow governments, she said. Assange's wife chastised Pompeo as dangerous individual within the CIA. And you know, Mike Pompeo's ability to move around Washington without consequence, I don't think is because of his attractiveness to the Washington circles, but because there he's seen as a dangerous person. We know the story about Julian and the murder plot because people within his organization said that he had lost the plot, that he had become obsessed with Julian, that he wanted to kill Julian, and that he was discussing it with the White House, she added. Stella blasts UK govt for acting as lap dog to the US Assange's wife argues that there will be no more opportunities for an appeal should they lose the current legal battle in the UK. He can try to go to the European Court of Human Rights, but last year, only one application to the European Court of Human Rights to stop an extradition or deportation was granted, she stated. Notably, in 2023, 63 applications pertaining to extradition were submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. Slamming the UK government for acting as a lap dog to the US, Stella told Carlson that the European Court of Human Rights "should stop an extradition if the UK finds against him, but it's not a given". Julian could be on US soil within a matter of weeks, she continued. Carlson stated at the start of the conversation that he had just been to the jail where Assange is being held. When the American Conservative speaker questioned Assange about whether he regretted disclosing classified information that belonged to prominent politicians like Hilary Clinton, the founder of WikiLeaks allegedly said, "it was fun." Assange won't know until at least next month if he can fight extradition to the United States on allegations of spying or if his protracted court battle in Britain has come to an end. Following a two-day hearing in which Assange's attorneys contended that extraditing him to the USwould result in a "flagrant denial of justice," two High Court justices announced on Wednesday that they would take some time to examine their decision. A family friend who was suspected of killing Texas girl Audrii Cunningham, 11, is now charged with capital murder, according to court documents filed in Polk County. Don Steven McDougal has been ordered to be held without bond. Don Steven McDougal was identified as a person of interest in Audrii Cunninghams disappearance (Polk County Sheriff, Polk County Jail via AP) Video footage and cell phone data places McDougal at three locations of interest, including along the Trinity River, where the little girls body was found, a criminal complaint said, according to CNN. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. How the events unfolded According to investigators, McDougal agreed to take Cunningham to a school bus stop on the morning she went missing. However, she never arrived. A sheriffs deputy said in the complaint that there is evidence McDougal lied about his whereabouts and activities on the day of February 15, 2024. McDougal was Cunninghams fathers friend. He lived in a trailer behind the house, and would occasionally take Cunningham to school. The court documents said a large rock was tied around Cunninghans body when it was discovered. The rope used was consistent with rope that was observed in McDougals vehicle on a traffic stop two days prior, the complaint said. Last week, McDougal was arrested on unrelated charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was reportedly given several opportunities to cooperate" with their investigation into Cunninghams disappearance. McDougal has faced previous charges in the past, from the early 2000s. He has been accused of crimes like enticing a child in Brazoria County in 2008, assaulting a family member and evading arrest in Liberty County, among several others. On February 16, Polk County Sheriffs Office issued an Amber alert for Cunningham. Audrii was last seen near her residence, at approximately 7:00 AM, on February 15, 2024, in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive, in Polk County, Texas. Audrii should have caught the school bus at her neighborhood bus stop; however, school officials reported to the Sheriffs Office that the school bus did not pick Audrii up, nor did she report to school, they said in a press release on Facebook. South Koreas KODA Sees 248% Growth in Crypto Assets Under Custody in Second Half of 2023 Korea Digital Asset (KODA), the largest institutional crypto custody service in South Korea, has seen a remarkable growth in crypto assets under its custody. The company revealed that the value of these crypto assets under its custody expanded by nearly 248% in the second half of 2023. KODA, which was established through a collaboration between major Korean bank KB Bank, crypto venture capital firm Hashed, and blockchain tech firm Haechi Labs, said that the value of these assets reached approximately 8 trillion Korean won ($6 billion) by the end of last year. This was a substantial increase from the 2.3 trillion won recorded at the end of June 2023. KODA: South Korean Investors Turn to Custodians Currently, South Korea imposes restrictions on institutions and corporations, preventing them from directly investing in crypto through exchanges. However, crypto custodians have been offering institutional investors a regulated avenue for managing crypto assets. According to KODA, their market share in the local crypto asset custody sector reached 80% by the end of June 2023. The company stated that it currently serves approximately 50 corporate clients, managing over 200 wallets. KODA claimed that the demand for crypto custody services is expected to continue rising in the future. This statement comes in light of recent announcements by both the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea, pledging to launch local spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) as part of their election promises ahead of the general election on April 10. Lee Bok-hyun, South Koreas head of the Financial Supervisory Service, also aims to visit the United States later and discuss the crypto industry with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler. Specifically, the official is set to speak with Gensler regarding spot Bitcoin ETFs. Both parties have also vowed to lift the ban restricting institutional investments in crypto. FACTBLOCK: Both the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea are proposing poll promises favorable to the crypto market as part of their campaign for the upcoming general election in April. The implementation of these favorable poll promises would have a positive impact on pic.twitter.com/xO8u4WsW27 Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 21, 2024 Ruling Party Seeks Crypto Tax Delay as Election Promise More recently, South Koreas ruling People Power Party has asked for a two-year postponement of the taxation on gains from cryptocurrency investments as a potential campaign promise. The party aims to prioritize establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies before implementing taxation measures. As part of its election campaign strategy, the ruling party is considering introducing a bill that encompasses essential elements for potential crypto regulations. These regulations may include requirements for crypto custody providers and guidelines for token listing. If implemented, these regulations would supplement South Koreas initial set of crypto regulations set to become effective in July. Currently, the tax plan imposes a 22% tax rate on crypto gains exceeding 2.5 million Korean won (approximately $1,875). In contrast, gains from stocks are only taxed when they surpass 50 million won. In December last year, South Korea announced that high-ranking public officials would be required to disclose their cryptocurrency holdings starting next year. A guilty plea from a man who kidnapped a 9-year-old girl from a state park last year landed him in prison for the rest of his life. Charlotte Sena, 9, who vanished during a camping trip in upstate New York. Authorities say that Sena has been found safe Monday, following a two day search. (Family photo via AP/NYPD)(AP/NYPD) WRGB reported that Craig Nelson Ross Jr. admitted to the charges of first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault against a child in court on Wednesday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The girl was riding her bike in Moreau Lake State Park when Ross Jr. snatched her on Sept. 30, 2023. He hid her in a cabinet inside a camper at his mothers house, where she was found by the authorities less than 48 hours later. ALSO READ| Hes disgusting!' Charlotte Sena's alleged abductor's son wants him to die The police traced Ross Jr.'s fingerprints from a ransom note that he allegedly put in the girls familys mailbox. The fingerprints matched a DWI case from 1999 in Saratoga, N.Y. No emotion at all According to The Times Union, Ross Jr. showed no emotion as he confessed to his crimes. He could face up to 47 years in prison, with 25 years to life for the kidnapping charge and 22 years to life for the sexual assault charge. Ross Jr. accepted a plea deal that spared him from going to trial on April 8. If he had gone to trial, the girl might have had to testify against him. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17 and is being held without bail at the Saratoga County Jail. WTEN reported that the prosecution had a strong case against Ross Jr., with Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Buckley saying that they had over 2,000 photos, hundreds of body camera and surveillance videos, emails, radio transmissions, and witnesses as evidence. ALSO READ| The Office star and comedy genius, Ewen MacIntosh dies at 50 The girls family expressed gratitude to the people who helped bring her back safely. They thanked the FBI, the New York State police, all of the agencies that were mobilized, all of the families, friends, community, neighbors and hundreds of volunteers. They also said that they were thrilled that she is home, and we understand that the outcome is not what every family gets. Ross Jr. had a previous arrest in April 2017 for a physical domestic incident, in addition to his 1999 DWI case that resulted in a fine and a 90-day suspension of his drivers license. All set to make history as the first private lunar lander, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus spacecraft is slated to land on the Moon safely on Thursday, February 22. After a 50-year leap, NASA has hopeful plans to make it to the Moon again. If all goes well, Odie will be the first private spacecraft to soft-land there, in addition to it being the first successful US lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. In this photo courtesy of Intuitive Machines, Odysseus passes over the near side of the Moon following lunar orbit during the IM-1 mission on February 21, 2024. An Intuitive Machines Nova-C class lunar lander is bound for the moon, where it will attempt to land near the south pole and carry out experiments that pave the way for the return of American astronauts later this decade. (Photo by Handout / Intuitive Machines / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / INTUITIVE MACHINES" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS(AFP) Through the coming together of the two worlds of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign, Intuitive Machines' first mission to the Moon lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Odysseus will bridge the gap between NASA science and the Moon by studying various interactions on the lunar surface when it lands on the South Pole region near Malapert A (185 miles from the pole) on February 22. If you're wondering how you could be a part of this historic moment, too, then look no further, as NASA brings this feat closer to you instead. How and when to watch Intuitive Machines' Odysseus moon lander NASA will be live-streaming the Odysseus landing on YouTube on Thursday, February 22. The main highlights will start at 4:15 pm EST, whereas the Odysseus moon lander was expected to come in contact with the lunar surface around 5:49 pm EST. Also read: Russia threatens to shoot aircraft patrolling Black Sea, claims France However, NASA has confirmed that the landing opportunity is likely at 5:30 pm EST / 10:30 pm UTC / 4 am IST (February 23) instead. You can also watch the landmark event unfold live on the NASA website and IM-1 Mission web page. Watch the Intuitive Machines-1 Lunar Landing (Official NASA Broadcast) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg2ffigGcYM The spacecraft will descend to the lunar surface after orbiting the Moon for approximately one day. What will the Intuitive Machines' mission, labelled IM-1, achieve: The joint project between NASA and the Houston-based private company seeks new insights about the Moon's environment to support future crewed missions (later in 2026) listed under the Artemis campaign. NASA hopes to harvest ice for drinking water and rocket fuel. Investigation of the lunar surface and how it interacts with the engine plume from a spacecraft. Space weather - lunar surface interactions Radio astronomy Precision landing technologies Communication and navigation for future autonomous navigation technologies Flight controllers of the hexagon-shaped autonomous lander are expected to confirm its touch-down around 15 seconds after the landmark occasion has been achieved. During its descent, the spacecraft will shoot out an EagleCam to capture the images of the lander reaching its destination. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. IM-1 is the second commercial mission funded by the US space body with the same intent. This endeavour follows last month's failed Astrobotic Peregrine Mission 1. So far, only China, India and Japan have soft-landed on the Moon in the 21st century. A new lawsuit accuses Jeffrey Epstein of using the mother of one of his victims, who had a brain tumour, as a tool to coerce and abuse the young ballerina repeatedly and of threatening to cut off her medical care if the teen spoke out. Jeffrey Epstein and his cronies manipulated a young dancers mother to get what they wanted (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)(AP) The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday, names two of Epsteins closest advisers, Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, as defendants. It was brought by Danielle Bensky and another accuser who remains anonymous. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to the court documents, Bensky was an aspiring dancer who met Epstein in 2004, when she was paid $300 to massage him at his New York mansion. She said she was intimidated by his wealth and power and returned to him several times for similar massages, some of which involved him ordering her to strip and him masturbating. ALSO READ| Woman 'clears' billionaire Leon Black of rape at Jeffrey Epstein's mansion, withdraws lawsuit Epstein used Bensky and other girls for years Bensky said that Epstein exploited her mothers condition, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, to manipulate her. He claimed he was familiar with neurology and asked her to show him the brain scans, the suit says. Epstein told Bensky that he knew the best surgeons in New York, but that if Bensky wanted Epstein to help her mother, then she would have to recruit other girls for him, the suit alleges. Over the next year, Epstein threatened Bensky in many ways including threatening that if she did not abide by his demands, her mother would not get the medical treatment she needed for her brain tumor. Bensky said that she was trapped in a cult-like life by the notorious paedophiles threats and the people who helped him carry out his sex trafficking scheme, according to the suit. Epstein had 100s of victims The suit also claims that Indyke and Kahn were part of the complex financial infrastructure that enabled Epstein to sexually abuse hundreds of victims for over 20 years. Bensky and the other accuser, referred to as Jane Doe 3, allege that the two advisers were fully aware of Epsteins crimes and that they knowingly and intentionally personally benefited from the operation. ALSO READ| Jeffrey Epsteins victim says release of documents was retraumatizing: Consistently triggering Indyke and Kahn rejected the allegations on Wednesday, through their lawyer, Daniel Weiner, who said they were extraordinarily surprised and disappointed by the new lawsuit. These newly-filed claims are factually baseless and legally frivolous, Weiner said in a statement. Neither Mr Indyke or Mr Kahn has ever been found in any forum to have committed any misconduct, and they emphatically reject the allegations of wrongdoing contained in the complaint. US president, Joe Biden, threw a scathing attack on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and his former rival, Donald Trump, at a fundraising event in San Francisco on Wednesday. Biden accused Putin of being a crazy SOB and expressed his disbelief at Trumps self-comparison to the late Russian dissident, Alexey Navalny. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks after it was reported Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most formidable domestic opponent, fell unconscious and died at the "Polar Wolf" Arctic penal colony where he was serving a three-decade jail term, during brief remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo(REUTERS) Biden said that Putin and other leaders like him posed a constant threat of nuclear war. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, he said. He also slammed Trump, who is seeking to challenge him in the next presidential election, for likening himself to Navalny, who died after being poisoned and imprisoned by the Kremlin. ALSO READ| Joe Biden trips twice while boarding plane with shorter stairs, netizens say it's as embarrassing as it is sad I dont know where the hell this comes from, Biden said. It astounds me the things that are being said. I mean, if I stood here 10, 15 years ago and said any of this, youd all think I should be committed. It was a part of a San Francisco fundraiser The fundraiser was part of Bidens three-day trip to the West Coast, where he also attended events in Southern and Northern California. According to reports, his campaign has raised $130 million as of the end of January. Trump equates himself with Navalny On Tuesday night, Trump appeared on a Fox News town hall, where he sympathized with Navalnys plight and claimed that he faced similar political persecution. He said that Navalnys death was a very sad situation and that his own four criminal indictments were motivated by his opponents. He did not criticize Putin for his role in Navalnys death or the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. ALSO READ| Not happening: Truckers backtrack on NYC boycott as protest over Trump trial judgment fizzles out Meanwhile, the White House announced that it would unveil a major sanctions package against Russia on Friday, in response to Navalnys death and the continued aggression in Ukraine. The sanctions would add to the existing measures against Putins regime. However, Congress has not yet approved more aid to Ukraine, as partisan disputes stall the issue. The House of Representatives is on a break this week. President Joe Biden was seen tripping twice as he boarded Air Force One, although the staircase was easy to climb and had shorter steps. Biden just managed not to topple over on Tuesday, February 20, as he prepared to fly to Los Angeles. President Joe Biden arrives on Marine One to attend a fundraiser in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)(AP) Video of the incident shows Biden saluting US military personnel at the bottom of the staircase Andrews Air Force Base, Md., before beginning to climb. He tripped slightly while halfway up. He grabbed the railing and steadied himself, but tripped on the next step again. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This is as embarrassing as it is sad Social media users erupted in the comment section of the video, with one user saying, He'll need to start riding the conveyor belt into the baggage compartment soon. Just lay down, and zoooop, he's in. Quick, get him in the door before the meds wear off! one said, while another user commented, We're probably a month or two from them rolling out a body double. If they haven't already. I literally just ruptured my entire Achilles Tendon and can still walk up stairs better than this man, one user said, while another wrote, I mentioned this to a family member a few months ago. Shorter stairs, and he's still tripping. As much as I despise this man, I do not want to see him fall down a flight of stairs just because they are trying to hide what is evident to everyone. Can someone please have @SecretService walk a step behind/in front of him when he is going up or down stairs?? one user said. This is as embarrassing as it is sad, one user said, while another wrote, Oh well. This does not look good. No matter how you hold up, you don't have the strength anymore, said one user. Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity, another said. A convicted felon from Minnesota has been arrested in connection with the murder of Los Angeles-based model Maleesa Mooney. Mooney was found beaten with her wrists and ankles bound inside a refrigerator. The cause of death was listed as homicidal violence. She was discovered dead on September 12 last year. Maleesa Mooney was last seen on video surveillance at her apartment on September 6 (Jourdin Pauline/Instagram) Months after her murder, 41-year-old Magnus Daniel Humphrey was arrested by police at his Hopkins home on an unrelated warrant. He was identified as the suspect responsible for Mooneys murder. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Humphrey was arrested at his home in Minnesota on an unrelated federal warrant. Humphrey is on federal probation for narcotics offence, the LAPD said in a statement. The Los Angeles District Attorneys Office filed murder charges against Humphrey. Humphrey waived extradition and will be transported back to Los Angeles to face charges, the statement added. FOX 11 LA reported that the murder charge also includes a special allegation of murder during the commission of torture, as per court records. It is unclear what relationship Mooney and Humphrey had between them. Humphrey had been convicted of several felonies in Minnesota and Illinois gun charges, assaults, sexual assaults, and false imprisonment, as per court records viewed by New York Post. What did the autopsy reveal? Mooney was last seen on video surveillance at her apartment on September 6. On September 12, officials went to visit her apartment after her mother requested a welfare check, where they found her dead. An autopsy revealed that blunt force trauma was also found on her body. A toxicology report revealed that Mooney had benzoylecgonine in her system along with a mix of cocaethylene and ethanol. "The blunt force traumatic injuries observed at autopsy are generally not considered acutely life threatening on their own," the medical examiner wrote in the autopsy report. "However, based on the circumstances of how Ms. Mooney was found, these injuries suggest she was likely involved in violence physical altercation prior to her death." The report added that it is uncertain what role the alcohol or drugs played in her tragic death. New Yorks Attorney General, Letitia James, has vowed to take over Donald Trumps properties if he fails to pay the $355m penalty for his NYC financial fraud case. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference at the Office of the Attorney General in New York on February 16, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)(AFP) James told ABC News on Tuesday night that she would use legal means to force Trump to surrender his assets if he does not have enough money to cover the fine. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We will ask the judge to seize his assets, James said. We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day. James was referring to Trumps skyscraper in Manhattan, one of the many buildings the state could seize. ALSO READ| Not happening: Truckers backtrack on NYC boycott as protest over Trump trial judgment fizzles out Why the fine? The fine was imposed by a New York judge last Friday, after finding Trump, his two eldest sons, and associates guilty of inflating his net worth to get better loan terms. The judge, Arthur Engoron, said Trump exaggerated his net worth by up to $3.6bn a year, when he was running for president in 2016 and 2020. Trump and his lawyers have rejected the verdict and accused James of pursuing a political agenda. They have announced their intention to appeal the ruling. Trumps lawyer, Alina Habba, called the verdict manifest injustice and part of a multi-year, politically fueled witch-hunt that was designed to take down Donald Trump. Trump refutes the verdict The former president also defended himself on his social media platform Truth Social, saying that there were no victims in the case. But James dismissed Trumps claims and said she had a strong case against him, pointing out that financial frauds are not victimless crimes. ALSO READ| Donald Trump equates himself to Alexei Navalny, 'am also a victim of...' He engaged in this massive amount of fraud. It wasnt just a simple mistake, a slight oversight, the variations are wildly exaggerated, and the extent of the fraud was staggering, James said. The fine is not the only legal trouble for Trump. He also faces a $83.3m judgment for defaming the writer and journalist E Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault. As United States prepares for the 2024 mandate illegal immigration has emerged as a big discourse to jeopardise Joe Biden's chances to return as President. On the back of rising internal rebellion Biden administration is now contemplating taking unilateral executive action to address illegal immigration. Government is preparing to take measures to restrict asylum claims by migrants crossing the US southern border. Protesters hold up signs and speak through a bullhorn supporting the "Take Our Border Back" convoy near Cornerstone Childrens Ranch near Quemado, Texas(AFP) This move comes after House Republicans rejected a bipartisan Senate immigration agreement, leaving President Joe Biden to explore alternative avenues, according to sources familiar with the matter. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Among the measures under consideration is the utilization of Section 212(f) powers, previously employed by former President Donald Trump. Although the legal validity and scope of these actions are subject to debate, conservative voices have been urging Biden to consider deploying them. However, the potential effectiveness of these measures in addressing the situation at the border remains uncertain, with questions looming over their ability to withstand anticipated legal challenges. The growing illegal immigration crisis in US The border crisis has emerged as a central issue affecting Biden's key priorities, including the approval of assistance for Ukraine amidst escalating tensions with Russia. The House's reluctance to advance aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan without additional border restrictions underscores the significance of the immigration issue in the current political landscape. Any action taken by Biden underscores the increasing prominence of the border and migration as focal points in the lead-up to the 2024 elections. Recent polling indicates that a majority of swing-state voters attribute at least some responsibility to Biden for the surge in migrants, highlighting the political significance of addressing the issue. While the White House declined to directly address the reports, it urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to support the bipartisan bill. White House spokesman Angelo Fernandez Hernandez criticized Congressional Republicans for prioritizing partisan politics over national security, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to address border security concerns. Despite the administration's exploration of various options, including potential executive actions, no definitive decision has been made on their implementation. The discussions surrounding these measures reflect the complexities and competing agendas confronting Biden as the elections draw nearer. Biden faces pressure from mayors, governors, and immigration advocates to address the rising number of individuals crossing the US border while upholding due process for asylum seekers. Kerri Talbot, director of the Immigration Hub advocacy group, emphasized the importance of ensuring a fair, efficient, and humane asylum system in any border security executive action undertaken by the Biden administration. The Kremlin on Thursday hit back at US President Joe Biden, stating that his recent remarks about Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin were a disgrace for the United States. U.S. President Joe Biden, right and Russia's President Vladimir Putin(AP) Such boorish statements from the mouth of a US leader are hardly capable of hurting the head of another country in any way, much less President Putin. But it is a great shame for the country itself, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as per TASS. It debases those who use such vocabulary. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Peskov added that Biden's comments were clearly "demonstrating Hollywood cowboy behavior to cater to domestic political interests." The Kremlin spokesperson emphasised that he wants his team to "compile and find a single insulting statement" that Putin has made about Biden. He continued, "If the president of such a country uses such language, he should be ashamed of himself." At a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, Biden referred to Putin as a crazy SOB and warned that nuclear war is always a possibility. We have a crazy SOB like Putin and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate. His comments coincided with the US plans to announce major sanctions against Moscow in response to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys death. Also Read: Biden will be happy to impose major sanctions on Russia for 'what it's done' to Navalny, Ukraine Biden attacks against Putin intensified after Russian invasion of Ukraine Biden has previously called Putin a butcher, a war criminal, a killer, and a pure thug. Shortly after Russian invasion into Ukraine, he stated that Putin cannot stay in power. Last week, the US President held Putin and his thugs responsible for the death Navalny. "We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did," Biden said at the White House after Russia announced Navalny's death. Russian authorities are going to tell their own story. But make no mistake. Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny's death, he added. Hailing Navalny's for bravely challenging Russian government's "violence and corruption", the US President said he was "contemplating" extra moves to punish Russia. We're contemplating what else can be done. We're looking at a whole number of options, that's all I'll say right now, he told reporters. Also Read: Joe Biden calls Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB and says Donald Trump is no Navalny US set to announce major sanctions on Russia On Thursday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also talked about the sanctions plan, asserting "its clear that President [Vladimir] Putin and his government are responsible for Mr. Navalnys death." In response, at President Bidens direction, we will be announcing a major sanctions package on Friday of this week to hold Russia accountable for what happened to Mr. Navalny and quite frankly, for all its actions over the course of this vicious and brutal war, he said. The Seattle police officer whose speeding car killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula will not face criminal charges due to lack of "sufficient" evidence, it has been reported. The King County Prosecutor's Office said they have decided not to move forward with criminal charges against Kevin Dave. Jaahnavi Kandula was killed on January 23 by a speeding car being driven by a cop (GoFundMe) Kandula, a Northeast University student, was killed on January 23. Jaahnavi arrived in Seattlefrom Bengaluru, India, in 2021 to receive a masters degree, and was pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at the College of Engineering. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Who is Kevin Dave and what did he do? Dave, in his 30s, has been employed in the Seattle police department since 2020. He was reportedly responding to a high priority call when the incident took place. He had chirped his siren, but did not have it running consistently, video footage released by prosecutors and published in part by PubliCola revealed. In a body camera footage, one can hear a loud roar from the engine as Daves speedometer showed an acceleration of up to 74 miles per hour. Kandula, 23, was hit at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street within moments of the car reaching the top speed, according to Fox13 Seattle. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries. Bodycam footage shows the officer performing CPR on Jaahnavi. Lights were on. I was chirping the sirensshe was in the crosswalk. She saw me, she started running through the crosswalk. Slammed on my breaks. Started staying back where she should before crossing, Dave can be heard telling a responding officer. In another footage, he said, I can have a hundred minutes. I could havetheres nothing for me to do right now, but sit. And that is the fking worst thing thatyou just have to sit here. So many questions that are unanswered, so many questions. We lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law Meanwhile, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said there is a lack of evidence to prove a criminal case against Dave. "It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt, Manion said. Startale Labs Secures $3.5 Million in Extended Seed Funding from Samsung and UOB Startale Labs, a Singapore-based Web3 firm, has secured an additional $3.5 million in funding from Samsung Next and United Overseas Bank (UOB) Venture Management. According to a recent blog post by Startale, the newly acquired funds are set to fuel the expansion of the companys web3 product lineup, including Japans largest web3 products, Astar Network and the Startale Web3 Cloud, and to enhance its efforts in attracting top industry talent. $7 Million Seed Funding for Web3 Development This funding was part of an extended seed round, which, along with a previous $3.5 million investment from Sony Network Communications in September 2023, totaled Startale Labs seed financing to $7 million. We are thrilled to announce that we have closed a $3.5m seed extension round and raised from UOB Venture Management and Samsung Next. Together with a $3.5m seed investment from Sony, we raised $7m at the seed round in total. Lets go bold.https://t.co/u5zQfgRK2g pic.twitter.com/qrHl4adniL Startale Labs (@StartaleHQ) February 22, 2024 Although Startale was established in January 2023, within a year, we have received support from leading Asian enterprises such as Sony, Samsung, and UOB Venture Management, significantly broadening our potential, said Startale Labs CEO Sota Watanabe. With the funds raised, we aim to invest in product development and recruitment to create a truly representative Web3 company of Asia and beyond, said Watanabe. The firm has already launched the beta version of the Startale Web3 Cloud, a platform designed to simplify blockchain infrastructure deployment and management for developers. We believe that onboarding new users to web3 will be enabled by real-world use cases, said UOB Venture Management Executive Director Paul Ng. Startale Labs, with its expertise and experience, is well-positioned to bring Web3 to the masses, especially in Asia. Startale Labs Joint Venture with Sony In September 2023, Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs formed a joint venture named Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd., aimed at developing a blockchain designed to underpin global web3 infrastructure. The objective of the joint venture was planned for leveraging blockchain advancements to develop compelling web3 use cases that encourage wider adoption of this technology. Sony Network Communications Labs was backed by an initial capital investment of 1,000,000 SGD. Within this financial structure, Sony Network Communications would hold a 90% stake in the venture, while Startale Labs would contribute the remaining 10%. The United States will soon impose new sanctions on Iran over its backing for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Thursday. John Kirby ((Bloomberg)) "In response to Iran's ongoing support for Russia's brutal war, we will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days, and we are prepared to go further if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Iran is not helping Russia for free. In return for Iran's support, Russia has been offering Tehran unprecedented defense cooperation. So in total Iran is seeking billions of dollars' worth of military equipment from Russia," Kirby said. Ukrainian forces are running short of ammunition as they fight against invading Russian troops, with additional funding for Kyiv held up in the US Congress. Moscow has turned to Tehran as well as Pyongyang to obtain arms for use in Ukraine, while Russia has also massively ramped up its domestic arms production. Prince Harry and Queen Camilla had a tense exchange when, during his recent visit to the UK to see his cancer-stricken father, King Charles III, after the queen asked the exiled prince to leave. Was this why the Duke of Sussex left the UK earlier than expected? Royal tensions escalate as Queen Camilla and Prince Harry clash over a brief visit to see King Charles III amidst his cancer diagnosis.(Reuters/AP) On January 6, Prince Harry travelled 5,500 miles from his LA mansion to his fathers residence at Clarence House to see him, 75, who was recently diagnosed with cancer following a treatment for an enlarged prostate. But his visit turned sour when the Queen reportedly told Harry to go away after only half an hour and allegedly said he should never return, as per RadarOnline. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Her Majesty was furious Harry flew in from his ritzy California home without getting palace approval - and came with an attitude, a well-informed insider told the National Enquirer. The insider claimed that the Duke of Sussex kept His Majesty waiting for hours and insisted that Camilla leave the room while they talked. This upset his stepmother (who wed Charles in 2005). ALSO READ| Queen Camilla wants King Charles to abdicate the throne? Im told Camilla was outraged, the insider went on. Shes taken a lot of bile from Harry for years and couldnt wait to let him have it. Camilla has taken it all on the chin, but using her husbands cancer as a loving son PR stunt was the last straw. After the father-son reunion, I hear she told Harry hes a disgrace to his father, the family and the monarchy - and she left no doubt he isnt wanted back! Feud between Queen Camilla and Prince Harry The hostility between Camilla and her youngest stepson has a long history, with Harry reportedly blaming her for ruining his parents marriage before his mother Diana passed away. It is also rumored that he called the kings consort dangerous, evil and a villain. The family feud is said to be so deep that several sources say Camilla, 76, and Prince William, 41, could try to prevent Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, 42, from getting a share of the Royals $2billion fortune. ALSO READ| Meghan Markle desperate to be Taylor Swift's friend, royal expert claims They want Harry to be stripped of his titles, chopped from the line of succession and cut from the monarchs $2 billion will, the insider added. Harry is already a palace pariah. They want to make it official. Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said on Tuesday that Moscow has successfully shipped 200,000 tons of free grain to six African countries as part of President Vladimir Putin's promise from July last year. The shipments included 50,000 tons of free grain each to Somalia and the Central African Republic along with 25,000 tons of free grain each to Mali, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, and Eritrea. Russia Ships Free Grain to African Countries The Russian president had promised to deliver free grain to the six African countries during a summit with African leaders in July last year. Soon after that event, Moscow pulled from a deal that had allowed Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports despite the war that Russia has been waging on its European neighbor. The Black Sea grain initiative helped to lower the prices of grain on the global market. However, Russian President Putin argued that it was failing to get supplies to the countries in most urgent need, as per AOL. In a statement, Patrushev said that after the Russia-Africa summit, they have maintained relations with African countries and built cooperation. He noted that as a result of these efforts, they were able to deliver a large volume of wheat to the countries relatively quickly. The Russian agriculture minister also said that his country is expecting to export up to 70 million metric tons of grain in the 2023-2024 agricultural year. In the previous season, Moscow shipped 66 million tons which was worth roughly $16.5 billion, according to the Straits Timers. The situation comes after Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan discussed with Putin a new mechanism to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. The meeting was held during the Russian president's visit to Ankara earlier this month. Read Also: Russia Allegedly Uses North Korean Missile Against Ukraine, Contained US, European Components Black Sea Grain Initiative During an interview, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that there are currently efforts to find "new methods" to transport Ukrainian grain to the world markets. He added that the previous grain initiative worked within a certain mechanism, adding that now it has been seen that there is a possibility of going with a different mechanism. Ankara has been seeking to persuade Russia to return to the Black Sea grain deal after the agreement was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. Kyiv said that negotiations were underway to revive the deal but Moscow said that there was no prospect of ever reinstating the agreement, said Reuters. Erdogan and Putin were said to have discussed a variety of issues during their meeting, including the relationship between their two nations as well as bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that the two world leaders also discussed regional issues as well as Ukraine. The trip marked the Russian president's first visit to a member state of the NATO military alliance following the start of his invasion of Kyiv. This month, Turkey also ratified Stockholm's application to join NATO after Sweden applied to become a member at the same time as Finland. The two Nordic countries ended their tradition of military neutrality soon after the start of Russia's march on Ukraine, as per RUDAW. Related Article: Philippines, US Conduct Joint Air Patrol Over South China Sea Amid Maritime Tensions A Trident missile misfired and crashed into the ocean and almost hit a Vanguard-class nuclear missile submarine from where it was launched in a recent launch test of the UK's nuclear deterrent. The British Ministry of Defense confirmed that the incident happened during a Jan. 30 exercise involving the HMS Vanguard while off the coast of Florida. The crew successfully completed its drill after the Trident 2 missile was propelled off the surface of the ocean by compressed gas in the launch tube. However, the missile's first-stage boosters did not ignite, causing it to splash into the ocean and sink. The missile was fitted with dummy warheads. "It left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them," a British defense source told The Sun on the condition of anonymity. The Vanguard launched the test missile under the surface but was not hit by the missile as it plunged back into the Atlantic. It was also revealed that British Defense Minister Grant Shapps and First Sea Lord Adm. Ben Key were board the Vanguard during the failed test. Read Also: Navalny's Death Takes Center Stage at 2024 Munich Security Conference Second Time Failure A frantic probe immediately began to find out what went wrong and a search was ordered to recover the classified missile technology from the seabed off the coast of Port Canaveral in the US's Florida state. The launch test failure was the second in a row for the Royal Navy since 2016 when a Trident fired from HMS Vengeance veered off course and self-destructed. Despite the setback, British defense officials insisted that they were confident that the misfire was "event specific" and would not jeopardize the whole nuclear missile submarine fleet, which was composed of four Vanguard-class submarines, all of which have been in operation beyond its service life. Crucially, it was understood that had the firing taken place on a real patrol mission rather than under test conditions, it would have been successful. However, no further details were being made public about what went wrong on the grounds of "national security," despite calls from the opposition Labour Party to improve the development of the UK's nuclear deterrent. "HMS Vanguard and her crew have been proven fully capable of operating the UK's Continuous At-Sea Deterrent, passing all tests during a recent demonstration and shakedown operation (DASO) - a routine test to confirm that the submarine can return to service following deep maintenance work," a Whitehall statement shared to local media said. "The UK's nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective." Related Article: US Warship Shoots Down Another Missile Fired by Houthis Over Red Sea Indian police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse farmers participating in a protest march towards New Delhi on Wednesday (Feb. 21) after they rejected a government offer on prices for their produce, prompting another offer of fresh talks. According to Reuters, the farmers mostly came from the northern state of Punjab, and they have been demanding higher prices backed by law for their crops, forming an influential bloc of voters Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not afford to disenfranchise ahead of May's general elections. All of the farmers have used multiple radial roads leading towards Delhi, some of them bringing tractors, cranes, and excavators. However, they were stopped by police stationed at barricades on the border of Punjab state with Haryana after they fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the farmers. "It is not right that such massive barricades have been placed to stop us," Jagjit Singh Dallewal - one of the leaders of the farmers' protest - said. "We want to march to Delhi peacefully. If not, they should accede to our demands." The chief of Haryana police ordered late Tuesday (Feb. 20) to immediately seize the farmers' heavy equipment to keep protesters from using it to destroy the barricades. Police estimated that the protesting farmers numbered about 10,000, bringing with them 1,200 tractors and wagons to the town of Shambhu on the state border. Read Also: Angry Farmers Storm Brussels to Protest EU Summit Modi's Government Urges Farmers to Negotiating Table The police action came as Modi's government made a new offer to resume talks on farmers' demand for guaranteed crop prices. "The government is ready to discuss all the issues," Indian Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace." On the other hand, another farmers' leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher, told local media that they would discuss among themselves how to respond. Earlier this week, the farmers rejected the government's previous proposal for five-year contracts and guaranteed support prices for produce like corn, cotton, and pulses. An earlier government proposal of minimum support prices to farmers who diversify their crops to grow cotton, pigeon peas, black matpe, red lentils, and corn was rejected by the protesters, who wanted additional food grain covered. Related Article: Indian Farmers Use Kites To Battle Police Drones Trying To Disperse Demonstrators Syrian military officials and state media claimed that an Israeli airstrike killed two people after a munition hit a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district in the capital, Damascus, on Wednesday (Feb. 21). A military source cited by Syrian state TV said that the strike, which allegedly happened at about 09:40 local time (06:40 UTC), also wounded a number of other people. The deceased were identified as civilians. Images published by Syrian state media showed the damage the building sustained, with the defense source saying that the "attack did not achieve its aims." Witnesses to the blast heard several back-to-back explosions, which scared children at a nearby school, while ambulances rushed to the scene. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Read Also: US Strikes Destroy Most Iranian Militia Targets in Syria and Iraq Syria's 'Little Iran' Reuters reported that Kafr Sousa - the neighborhood within the Syrian capital that hosts residential buildings, schools, Iranian cultural centers, and even a nearby heavily guarded complex used by security agencies - was previously attacked in February 2023 and killed Iranian military experts. Meanwhile, Iran's semi-official Student News Network said that no Iranian citizens were killed in the strike. The Shi'ite Muslim religious regime has been a major supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's 12-year-old civil conflict. Since Iran was supporting the current Syrian regime, as well as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Syria has drawn regular Israeli air strikes meant to curb Tehran's extraterritorial military power. Such strikes increased after Israel retaliated against Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack, with a handful of Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers killed in suspected Israeli strikes on Syria since December. As a result, the Guards have scaled back deployment of their senior officers in Syria and have planned to rely more on allied Shi'ite militia to preserve their sway there, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier this month. Related Article: US Coast Guard Foils Weapon Shipment to Houthi Militants in Arabian Sea Iran's oil minister claimed on Wednesday that a series of explosions on an Iranian natural gas pipeline was caused by an Israeli sabotage attack, further escalating tensions between the regional enemies amid Israel's war on Gaza. The comments by Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji follow accusations blaming Israel for a series of attacks targeting Tehran's nuclear program. The "explosion of the gas pipeline was an Israeli plot," Owji said, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. "The enemy intended to disturb gas service in the provinces and put people's gas distribution at risk." He added, "The evil action and plot by the enemy was properly managed." Owji provided no evidence to support his claims. The Associated Press reported the blasts on Feb. 14 hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran's western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The roughly 1,270-kilometer (790-mile) pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran's offshore South Pars gas field. This Is Not The First: Owji had previously compared the attack to several mysterious and unclaimed assaults on gas pipelines in 2011, which happened to coincide with the anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran also marked the 45th anniversary of the revolution just days before the pipeline blasts. According to the AP, Israel has carried out attacks on Iran that have mainly targeted its nuclear program. Last week, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog warned that Iran is "not entirely transparent" regarding its atomic program, particularly after an official who once led Tehran's program announced the Islamic Republic has all the pieces for a weapon "in our hands." Groups that Tehran is allegedly arming in the region, such as Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels, continue to launch attacks targeting Israel over their war in Gaza. Iran's nuclear program has only added to the rising concern as the Houthis prolong their strikes on commercial shipping in the region despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes. Al Jazeera reported no casualties from the attack on the pipeline. However, an Israeli airstrike hit a neighborhood in Syria's capital, Damascus, on Wednesday. Israel has struck Syria several times as it allegedly believes members of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard are hiding there. State media reported supplies had been disrupted in the provinces of North Khorasan in the northeast, Lorestan in the west, and Zanjan in the northwest. Former President Donald Trump was ordered to pay a $354 million fine when a New York State Supreme Court justice found him liable in a civil fraud lawsuit for engaging in decades of fraudulent business practices. In an interview with ABC News, New York General Attorney Letitia James says she will request to seize the assets of the former president should he refuse to make payment. James told ABC her team is "prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers," adding that Trump's 40 Wall Street skyscraper could also be on the hook. "If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets," James said. What happens now? Trump was fined $354.8 million plus approximately $100 million in prejudgement interest on Friday after Judge Arthur Engoron determined that he inflated his net worth to get more favorable loan terms. James continued to say she feels "very confident" with the strength of her case on appeal as she reiterated there is no hesitation to seize Trump's assets. James made sure to mention Trump's 40 Wall Street skyscraper by name should the former president be unable to find the means to pay the judicially mandated restitution. "We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day," James said of the standard court process for collecting judgments in civil cases. James directly countered Trump's claim that the case lacked any victims, describing her case as vital to ensuring financial markets treat New Yorkers fairly. "Financial frauds are not victimless crimes. He engaged in this massive amount of fraud. It wasn't just a simple mistake, a slight oversight, the variations are wildly exaggerated, and the extent of the fraud was staggering," James said. "If average New Yorkers went into a bank and submitted false documents, the government would throw the book at them, and the same should be true for former presidents." James dismissed Trump's assumption that businesses would leave New York over the case and doubled down with, "Last I checked, tourism is up. Wall Street is doing just fine." Trump has lost two civil cases against columnist E. Jean Carroll. He currently faces Georgia election interference charges from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and has lost his case against Letitia James. "Someone once told me if you want something done, give it to a woman," James concluded. Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing and intends to appeal the verdict. An agenda item to cease programs provided by the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County without board approval drew discussion from the board and the public during the Big Spring School Boards meeting Tuesday night. The boards final verdict on third-party services was one of several topics of conversation during the meeting that included future board and finance committee meetings, as well as audit results. Third-party services Board member Julie Boothe recommended the agenda item Tuesday that called for a stop to YWCA programming, agreements and any material distribution or instruction without pre-approval from the board. She said it stemmed from a letter several district parents received about a program the YWCA was expected to provide for elementary school students, which raised questions in the community. Board President John Wardle said the program was pulled until the board could discuss it, and it was not yet presented to Big Spring classes. When Boothe looked back through previous board meeting agendas, she found no mention of the YWCA offering the program. I introduced this because introducing programs without going through the proper channels does not allow transparency for the board members or for the public prior to their implementation, she said. Some community members spoke out against the agenda item, questioning the selection of the YWCA specifically when they are one of many third parties that offer services to the district. I never did say I had anything against the YWCA or any other third party that comes in, Boothe said. I think parents and the public should have the opportunity to allow their elected officials to make decisions on these things prior to [them] getting introduced. Maddie Young, executive director of the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County, said the conclusion shes heard from community members is that the board targeted the YWCA for indoctrination because the organization supports LGBTQ+ services. However, she said it was the district that initially reached out to the YWCA about addressing some specific needs. Young said the YWCA is not providing any LGBTQ+ services to the district and instead focused the programming on the information the district had requested. Id like to be very clear that we did not come down and seek approval because we were not down here pushing our agenda or trying to indoctrinate students, she said. We were responding to a request by your school district in collaboration with other agencies that also provide programming in your school. According to Young, the YWCA also provides menstrual products, sexual assault services and crisis services for students free of charge. I think youre going to have to request this (pre-approval) out of every agency that comes into the school district to provide any type of programming, she said. Boothe thanked Young for the clarification saying it just so happened in this case that the YWCA was the organization that hadnt received approval. She proposed an amendment to the initial agenda item calling for any third-party group to receive approval from the board. Board members then passed the amended motion. Young agreed for the YWCA to present information the district requested for the program at an upcoming committee of the whole meeting. Meetings An earlier start to the boards finance committee meetings also was approved Tuesday night. Boothe recommended the meetings be held at 5:30 p.m. rather than 6:30 p.m. to allow extra time for budget discussions and increased transparency, according to the agenda. Finance committee meetings are typically held prior to the boards committee of the whole and regular meetings each month. Upcoming finance committee meeting dates include March 18, April 22, May 20 and June 3. Additional meetings could also be added to next years district calendar. While the board approved the academic calendar Tuesday, discussion ensued about the drafted board meeting schedule for the 2024-25 year, which includes one board meeting per month several times throughout the school year. School board policies indicate that the board is to meet on the first and third Monday of each month unless otherwise advertised. Board members agreed updates to the policy are necessary to reflect the correct meeting time and location. However, some members favor maintaining two meetings per month, while others suggested the board should meet once monthly. Superintendent Nicholas Guarente said the same number of agenda items would be approved whether the board met once or twice per month. The decision would affect the number of meetings and the amount of information presented at those meetings, either spread out over two meetings or combined into one. Board members Tuesday voted to table the motion, and Wardle asked each member to reach out to the administration with their thoughts. A recommendation is expected to be considered at the boards March 18 meeting. Audit results Tuesdays committee of the whole meeting included a presentation of results from the districts 2022-23 audit. Kevin Stouffer, of Smith Elliott Kearns & Co., said overall, the district had very positive results. Auditors issued an unmodified opinion, which, he said, is the best opinion the district can receive. Essentially, we feel that the financial statements are materially correct and can be relied upon, Stouffer said. He said auditors perform a sampling of transactions to make the determination and a compliance audit of federal programs also produced no findings. The districts 2022-23 financial statements and audit results were approved for distribution to several state agencies and the Capital Area Intermediate Unit during Tuesdays regular board meeting. Photos: Northern girls basketball outlasts Big Spring, captures Mid-Penn Colonial title On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow has no plans of deploying nuclear weapons in space and further claimed that the country's space capabilities are similar to those of the United States. This statement follows the White House's confirmation last week of Russia having obtained "troubling" anti-satellite weapons capability, although the weapon is not operational yet. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby reminded the public that such a capability would violate the International Outer Space Treaty. Still, he declined to comment on whether the weapon is believed to be nuclear-capable. Putin's statement follows the White House confirmation last week that Russia has obtained a "troubling" anti-satellite weapon capability, although such a weapon is not operational yet. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it would violate the international Outer Space Treaty but declined to comment on whether the weapon is nuclear-capable. The Outer Space Treaty The Outer Space Treaty is formally known as the Treaty on Principles, Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. (Try saying that three times fast.) It was originally negotiated and drafted under the United Nations and signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, as well as all major space-faring nations. More than 130 countries would eventually sign it. The treaty prohibits the "deployment of nuclear weapons or any other kind of weapons of mass destruction in orbit or the stationing of weapons in outer space in any other manner." Putin's Statement "Our position is quite clear and transparent: we have always been and remain categorically opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in space," Putin said. "Just the opposite, we are urging everyone to adhere to all the agreements that exist in this sphere." Putin noted that Russia has only developed space capabilities that "other nations, including the U.S. have." "And they know it," he added."We haven't deployed any nuclear weapons in space or any elements of them to use against satellites or to create fields where satellites can't work efficiently," Shoigu said. "The U.S. and the West, for one thing, are calling for Russia's strategic defeat, while, on the other hand, they would like to have a dialogue on strategic stability, pretending that those things aren't connected," he said. "It won't work." A prominent pro-war Russian blogger has reportedly died by suicide, according to an article published by The Guardian. Andrey Morozov, who went by the pseudonym 'Murz' on Telegram, was an ultra-nationalist commentator who fought alongside Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and participated in Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Morozov's death follows outrage over a post in which he claimed that the Russian army lost 16,000 soldiers during the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. On Sunday, Morozov revealed to his 120,000 followers on Telegram that Russia had lost 16,000 personnel and 300 pieces of armor during its months-long capture of Avdiivka. The post drew heavy criticism from senior Russian propagandists, who accused the blogger of "slandering the Russian defense ministry." Russia hides its war losses as well as the casualty toll from its invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, western officials believe the war has cost the country more than 315,000 dead and injured troops. Avdiivka Falls Avdiivka, which once had a population of 32,000, fell to Russia on Saturday, giving Vladimir Putin his biggest battlefield victory since Russian forces captured the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, reported The Guardian. Morozov left a final message for his followers on Tuesday morning, announcing his suicide and attributing the decision over pressure by his superiors to delete the post detailing the number of casualties in Avdiivka. Several people close to the reporter confirmed his death, with some saying he shot himself. Triggered in part by the rebellion by then-Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin cracked down immensely on voices such as Morozov. Morozov was once part of a loud group of ultra-nationalists who openly criticized Moscow over weaponry shortage and accused Russian military leadership of hiding the actual death toll among its forces. What about Ukraine? Ukraine has also suffered heavily during the defense of the city. Citing Western officials, the New York Times revealed hundreds of Ukrainian troops may have been captured by Russian forces during Ukraine's retreat from the city. Ukraine blames the fall of Avdiivka on the US failure to approve critical aid. "We wouldn't [have lost] Avdiivka if we had all the artillery ammunition that we needed to defend it. Russia does not intend to pause or withdraw. ... Once Avdiivka is under their control, they undoubtedly will choose another city and begin to storm it," Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said. Putin announced his troops will push further into Ukraine to build upon their success on the battlefield. "As for the overall situation in Avdiivka, this is an absolute success, I congratulate you. It needs to be built on," Putin told his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu. United States President Joe Biden is reportedly considering plans for executive action that would prevent migrants who illegally cross the border from claiming asylum. The rumored decision could suspend longtime guarantees that give anyone who steps foot onto U.S. soil the right to ask for a safe haven. The plan would also put into effect a key policy written in a bipartisan bill that Republican lawmakers thwarted earlier this month. Joe Biden on the Border Crisis The situation comes even though the bill itself had some of the most significant border security restrictions that Congress has contemplated in years. The bill would have essentially shut down the nation's border to new entrants if there were more than an average of 5,000 migrants who tried to illegally cross every day in the course of a week or if more than 8,500 tried to cross on any given day. The executive action that the White House is said to be considering now would have a similar trigger for blocking asylum to new migrants. The people who have knowledge of the proposal spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, as per the New York Times. If the move is enacted, it would echo a 2018 effort by former United States President Donald Trump to block migration. That particular effort was assailed by Democratic lawmakers and blocked by federal courts. While such action would no doubt face legal challenges, the fact that the president himself is considering it shows just how far he is willing to shift on immigration since coming into office. He initially promised a more humane system following his predecessor's presidency. The Democratic president has taken a much harder line as the number of people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border has reached record levels. Additionally, the chronically underfunded and understaffed asylum system has reached a breaking point. For years, the handling of the border has dogged Bden as thousands of migrants arrived at the border. There has not been any final decision made yet on the action under consideration, which involves using an authority known as 212f between ports of entry to curb unlawful border crossings, according to CNN. Read Also: Migrant Surge: Denver Buckles Amid Border Crisis, Slashes $5 Million from Public Services Funds Action Under Consideration One official said that the administration often evaluates actions that could be taken but noted that they do not always move forward. It remains unclear how the proclamation under discussion would actually be executed and what would be different from what the Trump administration enacted during its time. A spokesperson for the White House did not comment on the actions that are said to be under consideration. Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said that the administration has spent months negotiating in good faith to deliver the toughest and fairest bipartisan border security bill in decades. He added that no executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources that Congress is capable of providing and that Republican lawmakers rejected. The actions under consideration are expected to anger Latino groups and the progressive wing of Biden's party. The latter has expressed alarm about some of the policy changes that the president has been considering, said Axios. Related Article: Republican Judge Gives Texas Governor's Illegal Immigrant Law the Side-Eye The authorities confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Sloan Mattingly, a five-year-old Indiana girl, died, and her brother, Maddox, was hospitalized after the sand hole they were digging in at a Florida beach collapsed on top of them. A video taken by a bystander at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's beach showed that the boy was buried in his chest, but the girl was fully covered. It also showed about 20 adults trying to dig her out using their hands and plastic pails, but the hole kept collapsing. Indiana Girl Dies at Florida Beach Tragedy According to The Guardian, Mattingly died when a 4-5ft-deep hole collapsed on her. Lifeguards were off duty at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a little community north of Fort Lauderdale, so no professionals were immediately available to help. According to 911 calls released by the Broward county sheriff's office on Wednesday, the first deputies arrived about four minutes after the collapse, followed by paramedics and firefighters moments later. In the background of the emergency call, passersby can be heard wailing in pain as they try to rescue Mattingly. Two callers were identified as registered nurses, but they could do nothing to help. One nurse told an operator that there was a little girl buried under the sand, and they had not rescued her yet. Another weeping woman told the dispatcher that there was a whole circle of men trying to dig the sand. Sandra King, a representative for the Pompano Beach fire-rescue department, said the girl was found unconscious after rescue workers took over for the bystanders. The rescue workers used shovels to clear the sand and boards to stabilize the hole. However, King claimed that Mattingly was declared dead at the hospital. Maddox's medical status is still unknown. She added that the paramedics who treated the children had to be relieved from their shift as the children's parents were extremely distraught. Furthermore, King described the incident as horrible and said that children playing in the sand could encounter a life-threatening situation at any time. Read Also: Machine Gun Kelly Unveils Shocking New 'Spiritual' Blackout Tattoo on Upper Torso Lifeguards Warn Families Patrick Bafford, the lifeguard manager for Clearwater, Florida, said his staff will alert families if a hole gets too big, but sometimes they are not detected in time. Bafford continued, "You want them to have fun, [but] there's a difference between fun and a hazard they might face. Bad things can still happen no matter what. Use good judgment." Shawn DeRosa, the owner of a company that trains lifeguards, said many people do not consider the dangers of allowing children to dig deep or wide holes. He also claimed that the families knew the sand might slide down or a wall could collapse. But he said they did not seem to envision their child being buried in the sand so quickly. Related Article: Phillip Island Mass Drowning: 4th Person Dies in Hospital After 3 Others Drowned at Scene The European Union approved the latest sanctions package against Russia that targets Chinese and Indian companies that are said to be supporting Moscow's war on Ukraine. The 13th round of sanctions has a heavy focus on fighting circumvention and target firms worldwide that are accused of providing Russia with advanced technology and military goods that were manufactured in the EU, particularly drone components. EU Sanctions Against Russia Several companies from Turkey and North Korea, among other nations, have also been targeted by the new sanctions. Officials added nearly 200 people and entities, the majority from Russia, to the blacklist, which now contains more than 2,000 names. However, the latest package does not cover any person who was allegedly involved in the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the most prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, the new sanctions also did not include tighter restrictions on aluminum as the topic itself remains divisive. The exact details of the new sanctions will become available after publication in the EU's official journal, which is expected to happen sometime later this week. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that they need to keep degrading Putin's war machine, as per EuroNews. Previously, the bloc had tried to punish a handful of firms that were based in mainland China. However, complaints made by officials from Beijing and reservations from some member states prevented the action from taking place. Eventually, the growing relationship between China and Russia pushed diplomats in Brussels to give the idea a second chance. Trade between the two countries reached a record high of more than $240 billion last year based on data from the Chinese government. The new round of sanctions by the EU also targets Russian-operated institutions that re-educate children who have been kidnapped from Ukraine. The alleged kidnappings triggered an arrest warrant for Putin that was made by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which treats the charge as a war crime. Read Also: Russian War Reporter Who Revealed Avdiivka Losses Dies by Suicide Targeting International Companies In a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Belgium said that EU ambassadors have just agreed in principle on a 13th package of sanctions in the framework of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, according to Reuters. EU diplomatic sources for Reuters said that the focus of the new listing is roughly split between entities and individuals. They are part of Russia's military-industrial complex and include those who are involved in trafficking and kidnapping Ukrainian children. They added that one North Korean and one Belarusian firm were also added to the list. Last March, the chief prosecutor of the ICC said that Russia had transferred "at least hundreds" of children from orphanages and care homes in occupied regions of Ukraine, many of whom have been given up for adoption. On top of the latest round of sanctions, EU officials are also discussing a further package in response to the death of Navalny. The United Kingdom has decided to impose sanctions on six managers of the prison colony where the Russian opposition leader was found dead, said the Financial Times. Related Article: Ukraine's Zelenskyy Asks Polish Leaders for Talks Over Farmers' Protest Russia is facing challenges in supplying ammunition and weapons for its military operations in Ukraine, as reported by Western officials. An official stated that Russia is seeing "extreme challenges" in acquiring adequate equipment and material. Concerns are growing about the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine, as per BBC News. Western Officials Expose Russia's Military Struggles Western officials provide an overview of the current difficulties facing Russia's military industry, largely due to the effects of sanctions. According to hidden sources, Russia's access to Western components has been substantially restricted affecting its ability to create new systems and maintain current ones. The situation has exacerbated as Ukraine faces its own shortages, particularly in ammunition, while relying heavily on Western support for financial aid and equipment. Political deliberations in Washington have stalled the disbursement of $61 billion in US assistance, further complicating Ukraine's ability to sustain its military operations. Experts and frontline soldiers have observed a stark disparity in artillery shell supplies, with Russia's artillery reportedly operating at a rate five times higher than that of Ukraine. However, Western officials highlighted that Russia is not immune to challenges, facing setbacks in military production due to sanctions-induced delays and increased costs. Moscow's requisitioning of military equipment intended for foreign allies underscores the strain on its resources. Notably, the Indian Air Force reported Russia's failure to deliver crucial supplies committed to the Indian military, citing disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict. The representatives underlined that, in spite of these difficulties, Russian President Vladimir Putin is firm in his goals, among them influencing Ukraine. Moscow's influence over almost a fifth of Ukrainian land, which includes the annexed Crimea peninsula, showcases its strategic goals, according to Deccan Herald. Read Also: Russian War Reporter Who Revealed Avdiivka Losses Dies by Suicide Putin's Military Surge Shadows Ukraine's Defense While Ukrainian armed forces number approximately 800,000, Putin's directive to increase Russia's forces by 170,000 troops signals a significant military buildup. Moreover, Moscow's defense spending far surpasses that of Ukraine, with a budget allocation of $109 billion compared to Ukraine's $43.8 billion target for 2024. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov highlighted the critical shortage of artillery ammunition in a plea to the European Union for increased support. Despite efforts to mobilize additional personnel, significant reinforcements remain elusive for Ukrainian soldiers engaged in frontline combat. Amidst the conventional warfare, a drone arms race has emerged as a pivotal battleground. Both Ukraine and Russia have heavily invested in drone technology, utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to surveil enemy movements and execute precision strikes. The proliferation of drones has reshaped battlefield dynamics, forcing troops to adapt to evolving tactics and countermeasures. As both sides escalate their use of drones, the deployment of electronic warfare systems emerges as a critical component in disrupting enemy operations and maintaining strategic advantage. Modern battle situations need technical innovation and adaptation due to the ever-evolving nature of warfare. Amid the ongoing conflict, Ukraine and Russia are facing an uncertain future marked by sanctions, geopolitical tensions, and advances in military technology, Reuters reported. Related Article: Nuclear Dud: Trident Missile Misfires in Test Launch Aboard UK's Vanguard-Class Sub Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, made a court appearance on Wednesday following his fraud conviction. He expressed his intention to continue with new legal representation despite a potential conflict of interest. Back in court, he appeared to have shed some pounds and his dark hair was growing back, reminiscent of his initial prison photos. He was escorted into the courtroom with his ankles chained under his plain prison outfit. FTX Founder Faces 100-Year Sentence The 31-year-old mastermind behind cryptocurrency exchange FTX, faced a pivotal moment in his legal odyssey during a recent hearing before the US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan. Bankman-Fried, having been found guilty of embezzling billions from FTX customers, now navigates a web of legal complexities, with his sentencing on March 28 potentially leading to a staggering 100-year prison term. During the courtroom scene, Bankman-Fried responded to questions with a relaxed attitude, occasionally tapping his foot continuously under the table. His legal team, consisting of Marc Mukasey and Torrey Young, has been leading his defense since January. Keeping Mukasey and Young, who are also representing Celsius Networks founder Alex Mashinsky, currently facing fraud charges, led to questions from Judge Kaplan. Bankman-Fried, wearing a tan jail shirt and ankle chains, clarified the alleged dispute by mentioning that, on a broader scale, the legal team also represented Mashinsky due to their previous business interactions with Celsius and projects overseen by Bankman-Fried. Mukasey, a former federal prosecutor with ties to former US Attorney General Michael Mukasey and a stint on Donald Trump's personal legal team, brings his own legal baggage into the mix. Having represented individuals like Trevor Milton of Nikola Motors, Mukasey's involvement adds an extra layer of complexity to Bankman-Fried's defense. Bankman-Fried's assurances to the court regarding discussions with his previous legal counsel Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell about potential conflicts did little to quell concerns. Alexandra Shapiro, slated to handle Bankman-Fried's eventual appeal, was also part of these deliberations, as per to Daily Mail. Read Also: China Criticizes US Officials Over Decision To Veto UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza Allegations Deepen Against Sam Bankman-Fried Strategically, Mukasey hinted that Cohen and Everdell would be requesting Kaplan's permission to step down from the case, underlining the importance of starting fresh with new legal representation. Prosecutors, in a filing dated February 6, alleged that Bankman-Fried's hedge fund, Alameda Research, diverted funds from FTX customers to settle debts with Celsius, a revelation that could deepen the fissures between Bankman-Fried and Mashinsky on matters of fraud and restitution. Bankman-Fried revealed his personal struggles in the course of the legal action, sharing his use of antidepressants and Adderall to cope with ADHD. Throughout the trial, it came through that he needed an increased amount of Adderall to stay focused, in addition to his prescribed jail regimen. Meanwhile, Mashinsky, 59, opted to waive his right to a lawyer, asserting a conflict-free representation during a recent hearing before US District Judge John Koeltl. Mukasey and Young maintained their stance, claiming they could fairly represent both Bankman-Fried and Mashinsky. Mashinsky, who is now free on bond, is preparing for his trial on January 28, 2025, which is slated to address allegations that he inflated the value of Celsius Networks' cryptocurrency token and made large gains from its sale, while the legal wrangling goes on. The cryptocurrency community eagerly anticipates the outcome of these prominent legal cases, which will significantly impact the industry's future, according to Reuters. Related Article: Putin Vows To Escalate War With Ukraine After Captuyring Avdiivka, Slams Kyiv's Fight A prosecution and arrest have been made against the former Bishop of Broome for alleged previous sexual offenses. Christopher Alan Saunders, 74, was taken into custody at his residence on Piggott Way in Western Australia on Wednesday afternoon, as per Daily Mail. Senior Australian Bishop Arrested A 74-year-old Catholic bishop, one of the highest-ranking in the Australian Catholic Church, was arrested in Broome after police and the Pope conducted concurrent investigations. Bishop Saunders has strongly disputed the claims that led to his imprisonment. He was denied bail and will face 19 accusations, including two counts of rape, 14 of illegal and sexual assault, and three of indecently engaging with a minor in authority. Mr. Saunders, who was first ordained in 1976 and served as the Bishop of Broome since 1996, holds a significant position within the Catholic hierarchy. His arrest marks a rare instance of a senior Catholic figure facing such serious charges. Several Aboriginal males from his parish have accused Mr. Saunders of 2008 sexual assault. In 2020, police investigated these complaints but concluded no reason for charges. In 2020, Mr. Saunders resigned as Bishop of Broome but stayed an emeritus bishop. A Vatican-ordered Vos Estis Lux Mundi investigation changed the case. Pope-commissioned inquiries into Catholic Church sexual abuse are rare globally. Only the Pope may nominate or defrock a bishop, hence Vos Estis investigations are important. The leaked sections of the 200-page Vatican report, which became public last year, not only detailed the alleged sexual abuse but also contained claims that Mr. Saunders maintained a stash of guns and cash on church property. This leak sparked a renewed effort by investigators, leading to the current arrest, according to BBC News. Read Also: Polish Farmers Use Tractors To Block Much of Ukraine's Western Border Amid Grain Row Controversial Vatican Report on Australian Bishop The full Vatican report, criticized for its lack of speed and transparency, was handed to WA Police for their ongoing investigation but has not been publicly disclosed. The allegations outlined in the leaked report include sexual assault against four teenagers and young men, as well as potential grooming of another 67 individuals. Despite the allegations, WA Police found insufficient evidence to press criminal charges related to at least one victim from the Kimberly region between 2018 and 2020. Mr. Saunders officially resigned from his duties in August 2021 but retains the title of Emeritus Bishop of Broome. Concerns about Mr. Saunders' continued involvement in charitable activities surfaced when it was revealed that he was listed as the "responsible person" for nine charities associated with his former diocese. One charity, the Kimberley Native Mission Fund, lacked auditing records in its accounts, raising questions about financial transparency. The Vatican report that was leaked also identified Mr. Saunders' excessive spending, which included large sums of money on alcohol, cigarettes, bus fares, and airfares. In January, the police conducted a search at Mr. Saunders' home as part of their continuing investigation. The happenings in this case indicate a thorough and extensive investigation into past accusations against a well-known Catholic figure in Australia, highlighting major problems regarding transparency and accountability in the Church, Sky News reported. Related Article: India: Police Fire Tear Gas on Protesting Farmers Marching to Delhi A person known to the family is accused of the tragic death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. They were meant to accompany the Texas girl to her school bus stop, but instead, she was found deceased in a river days later, as per court records disclosed on Wednesday. The capital murder criminal complaint against Don Steven McDougal was filed on Tuesday. It says that when search crews located her body on Tuesday in the Trinity River in an isolated area north of Houston, around 10 miles from her house, a huge rock was linked to it, as per WDSU. Audrii Cunningham's Body Found Investigators confirmed the discovery of the lifeless body of 10-year-old Audrii Cunningham. The young girl had been missing since the morning she failed to reach her school bus stop on February 15, 2024. The primary suspect, identified as McDougal, had initially agreed to escort Audrii to the bus stop, but she never arrived, leading to heightened concerns. Authorities revealed that McDougal, accused of misleading investigators about his actions on the day of Audrii's disappearance, now faces serious charges, with a large rock found tied around the girl's body when her remains were located. The use of a rope consistent with the one observed in McDougal's vehicle during a prior traffic stop raised additional suspicions. Audrii's family, initially under the impression that McDougal was accompanying her to the nearby bus stop, grew increasingly anxious when she didn't board the school bus or attend her classes. A bag resembling Audrii's distinctive Hello Kitty backpack was later discovered near a local dam. The tragic culmination of the search occurred when Audrii's body was found downstream in the Trinity River, near the reservoir where her backpack had been located. Investigators utilized cell phone records, video analysis, and information provided by McDougal to pinpoint the location of the remains, according to CNN News. Read Also: UK Demands Immediate Humanitarian Gaza Ceasefire for First Time To Avoid Party Row Audrii Cunningham Murder Case The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office is responsible for determining the cause of Audrii's death, so information about her remains is not being disclosed despite the seriousness of the situation. Sheriff Byron Lyons expressed condolences to those affected by this heartbreaking incident and assured a thorough examination of the gathered evidence for justice. The search for Audrii involved coordinated efforts, including the strategic adjustment of water flow from the Lake Livingston reservoir, allowing authorities to unveil her remains. Meanwhile, on social media, Audrii's mother, Matthews, defended herself against various speculations. She refuted claims of neglect, emphasizing her dedication to finding her daughter. Matthews highlighted her involvement in the ongoing situation, countering online rumors and expressing her single-minded focus on locating Audrii. District Attorney Shelly Sitton confirmed the preparation of capital murder charges against McDougal, signaling a potentially severe legal consequence. McDougal's criminal history, revealed through court records from Brazoria County, indicated previous charges related to enticing a child in 2007, Daily Mail reported. Related Article: Putin Vows To Escalate War With Ukraine After Captuyring Avdiivka, Slams Kyiv's Fight Israeli lawmakers have voted to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of any "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state as international calls have grown for the revival of Palestinian statehood negotiations. Wednesday's symbolic declaration, issued during Israel's war on Gaza, also received backing from members of the opposition with 99 of 120 lawmakers voting in support, a Knesset spokesperson said, as per Al Jazeera. Israeli Parliament Rejects External Mandates The Israeli parliament decisively dismissed the idea of creating a Palestinian state through external mandates, including the value of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, representing the Knesset, these impositions do not lead to peace and also endanger the state of Israel. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry immediately condemned the vote, alleging that Israel was impeding the rights of Palestinians by taking up territories necessary for a Palestinian state. The ministry confirmed that the recognition of the State of Palestine by various nations and its full membership in the United Nations do not need approval from Netanyahu. Progress towards a two-state solution, envisioning a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel, has been minimal since the signing of the interim Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. A primary obstacle remains the expansion of Israeli settlements in territories captured during the 1967 Middle East war, widely regarded by most countries as a violation of international law. The international community, particularly Western nations, has long supported the two-state solution. However, recent events, including the Gaza war in October, have prompted the United States to advocate for steps leading to the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a broader Middle East deal, involving normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states like Saudi Arabia, according to Philenews. Read Also: Russia Allegedly Uses North Korean Missile Against Ukraine, Contained US, European Components UK Considers Recognizing Palestinian State Despite opposition to Israel's military actions in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to possible harm to civilians, powerful European figures have alluded to the possibility of early recognition of a Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the importance of acknowledging a Palestinian state, recognizing the long-suppressed aspirations of the Palestinian people. British Foreign Minister David Cameron echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the UK could officially recognize a Palestinian state post-ceasefire in Gaza. However, Israel's ongoing military actions, including intensified operations in Khan Younis near Rafah, raise concerns about the humanitarian crisis and may impact international decisions. The situation in Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million people are crammed close to the Egyptian border, worsens as Israel's military onslaught displaces numerous residents. Reports of airstrikes, naval attacks, and civilian casualties add to the mounting humanitarian crisis. Furthermore, aid entering Gaza from Egypt has drastically reduced in the past two weeks, exacerbating the already dire situation. While Israel attributes the decline in aid deliveries to the United Nations, citing security concerns, the UN points to the collapse of security within Gaza, hindering the distribution of aid in the makeshift camps where most residents are confined, CBC News reported. Related Article: Nuclear Dud: Trident Missile Misfires in Test Launch Aboard UK's Vanguard-Class Sub A free gym opened at the Yancey Community Center last week, part of an ongoing effort to improve health disparities in southern Albemarle County. With row machines, treadmills, stationary bikes and hand weights, the new facility is one of the only gyms in the countys more rural southern region, and the only one that is free for public use. Theres plenty of public spaces to walk but were the first one to open up a high-quality gym facility for the public to use to improve health and well-being, Edward Brooks, the centers community engagement manager, told The Daily Progress. The facility was made possible with a grant from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving inequities across the region. Its three-year, $300,000 Strengthening Systems Grant is what allowed Brooks to begin his role at the Yancey Community Center in 2020, as well as other health programs in the area. But when the COVID pandemic put much public life on pause, the center wasnt able to spend all the money as had been mapped out in the grant. About $35,000 was remaining, and Brooks asked the foundation for more time to decide what would be a good use of the remaining funds. The foundation allowed it, and when the center decided on installing a gym, the foundation threw in an additional $15,000 to make it a $50,000 facility. Albemarle County Parks and Recreation also made a contribution, committing to keep the facility open for 20 hours each week, with supervisors watching over the gym and making sure the equipment is working properly. To come in and add a quality fitness room, the way that this one looks just blows people away to see how advanced it really is, said Brooks. Were trying to decrease heart condition issues, diabetes and to increase longevity to match longevity rates of other parts of the county population. Data collected by the University of Virginia Equity Center shows southern Albemarle residents are not only more likely to have less education and lower income than their neighbors to the north but also lower life expectancy. The discrepancies in scores between neighborhoods suggests substantial differences in residents connections to the resources that expand choices, opportunities, and access across the County, reads the Albemarle County equity profile. Those numbers help guide the work of the Yancey Community Center and its goal to increase wellness in the rural region. When we flesh it out to different areas of the county, any rural county in Virginia and America seems to have lower health indicators than perhaps people in the suburbs. We dont want that to be the accepted story, said Brooks. Were not going to accept that well just have lower than average numbers just because we live in the country and rural area. The centers new gym, and the grant that funded it, is one of the ways officials are seeking to improve the health of those living in the southernmost corner of the county. Were looking to have long-term metrics thatll show a community that is focused and concentrated on better health can actually get it done with the right resources, said Brooks. Interested parties should not the gym keeps irregular hours. The Yancey gym is open from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays; 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m Tuesdays; 9:00 a.m. to noon and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays. Aerospace giant Boeing announced the departure of Ed Clark, the head of its 737 Max program, as confirmed by Stan Deal, the CEO of the company's commercial airplanes unit, in a memo to employees on Wednesday. Clark, who oversaw 737 production for nearly 18 years, is "leaving the company," Deal wrote in the memo. The move comes in the wake of the midair door blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines flight last month, which raised fresh concerns about the safety and quality control measures within the company. New Leadership at Boeing's 737 Max Program Katie Ringgold, former vice president of 737 delivery operations, has been appointed as Clark's replacement, effective immediately. Ringgold will also take over as the manager of Boeing's production facility in Renton, Washington, where the final assembly of 737 MAX airliners takes place. The decision to replace Clark comes after an alarming incident on January 5, when a portion of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft's door blew out mid-flight during an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that missing bolts, which were supposed to secure the door plug, were to blame for the incident. The FAA subsequently grounded all Boeing 737 Max 9 planes temporarily for inspections, although nobody was seriously injured in the incident. The investigation revealed loose hardware on other aircraft as well, prompting concerns about the overall quality control standards within Boeing. The NTSB's preliminary findings suggested that quality control issues were behind the door plug blowout. The missing bolts, which should have prevented upward movement of the door plug, pointed to lapses in Boeing's manufacturing processes. Clark's departure is part of a broader leadership overhaul at Boeing. In addition to his replacement, Elizabeth Lund, the former senior vice president of airplane programs, will now lead the company's quality control and quality assurance efforts in a new role. Read Also: NTSB New Report: 4 Bolts Missing from Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 Before Door Plug Blowout Boeing's Issues Beyond Previous Midair Blowout Boeing has been under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, not only due to the door plug blowout incident but also because of other manufacturing issues. Spirit AeroSystems, one of Boeing's suppliers, notified the company of additional manufacturing problems in some 50 undelivered 737 Max 9 planes. These issues, including incorrectly drilled holes on fuselages, are expected to cause further delays in aircraft deliveries. Despite the challenges, all Boeing 737 Max 9s have returned to service after undergoing extensive inspections mandated by the FAA. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the NTSB, expressed confidence in the safety of the aircraft but emphasized the need for systemic changes in the industry's regulatory framework. Homendy agreed with FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker's assessment that the current system, which relies heavily on aircraft manufacturers for self-regulation, is inadequate. "The current system is not working 'cause it's not delivering safe aircraft," Whitaker said Tuesday in a testimony before Congress. "So we have to make some changes to that." Homendy stressed the importance of addressing quality control problems beyond the specific incident involving Alaska Airlines, echoing concerns about the broader safety implications for the aviation industry. "I absolutely agree that it needs to change," remarked Homendy in an interview with CNN, further elaborating that the issue extends beyond Alaska Airlines' fuselage blowout last month and is primarily "a quality control problem." Related Article: FAA Boss Vows to Hold Boeing Accountable for Air Safety Violations The parents of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have reached a settlement over an emotional distress lawsuit in relation to the murder case of the 22-year-old travel blogger. The settlement was reached on Wednesday, which would avoid a civil trial in relation to the murder case. The parents of the victim, Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, filed a lawsuit against Laundrie's parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, as well as their attorney, Steven Bertolino, for intentional infliction of emotional distress in March 2022. Settlement Over Emotional Distress Lawsuit Petito's parents claimed that the Laundries were aware of their daughter's murder soon after her death in August 2021 and deliberately chose to do nothing other than issue a statement through the attorney. The statement that they made expressed hope that she would be found by law enforcement. The two sides on Wednesday came to an agreement to avoid a civil trial that would have started in May this year. A statement from Joseph and Tara Petito and Nichole and James Schmidt read that they had a long day of mediation and made a confidential resolution, as per ABC News. It added that all of the parties involved reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict. The hope was that the development would close the issue and allow them to move on and continue to honor the legacy of Petito. In a statement, Bertolino said that he and the Laundries participated in mediation and noted that the terms of the resolution were confidential. He noted that they were looking forward to putting the matter behind them. The victim's family first reported the travel blogger missing on Sept. 11, 2021, which was at the time that she was on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie. Officials then discovered her body roughly a week later in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. A coroner ruled that she had died of "blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation." Read Also: Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Fatally Stabbing 19-Year-Old Ex-Girlfriend in Front of Police Officer Gabby Petito Murder Case Her fiance was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, furthermore, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered a notebook in which he allegedly confirmed that he was responsible for killing Petito. Prior to the settlement, the parents of both parties settled a separate wrongful death lawsuit for $3 million. The recent lawsuit claimed that the Laundries, hiding their knowledge of Petito's murder, "acted with malice or great indifference to the rights of Petito's parents," according to CBS News. Furthermore, the lawsuit called the Laundries' behavior shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. They previously said that the last time they saw their son was two days after Petito was reported missing when Brian left their home to go hiking in the nearby Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida. The development comes a week after court documents showed that Laundrie's parents acknowledged in depositions that their son had told them that Petito was "gone" and that he would need a lawyer. This was during a frantic phone call that was made on Aug. 29, 2021, which was three weeks before the victim's strangled remains were found, said CNN. Related Article: Suspect in Death of Audrii Cunningham Charged With Capital Murder On Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that the city is suing fossil fuel companies for allegedly deceiving the public about the climate crisis. Johnson said in an emailed statement that there is no justice without accountability. Chicago Sues Fossil Fuel Companies In the lawsuit, the city targets major oil companies BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Phillips 66, and Shell, alleging they intentionally misled the public about the impact of their products despite having long-standing awareness of the climate dangers of oil and gas. The American Petroleum Institute, the nation's largest oil and gas lobbying group, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit for allegedly working with oil firms to sow doubt about the climate crisis and for setting up front groups to spread climate disinformation. Chicago also charged the defendants for contributing to climate destruction throughout the city, including coastline erosion, susceptibility to flooding, and dangerously high summer temperatures. It specifically mentioned the over 700 people who died in the city during a brutal four-day heatwave in the summer of 1995. "From the unprecedented poor air quality that we experienced last summer to the basement floodings that our residents on the West Side experienced, the consequences of this crisis are severe, as are the costs of surviving them," Johnson said. Furthermore, Chicago will have to construct new infrastructure and repair existing damage to prepare for these increasingly extreme climate events. The city has committed to spending almost $200 million to protect the city's most vulnerable areas from climate destruction. Since 2017, eight states, three dozen municipalities, and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against Big Oil for allegedly hiding the risks of their products from consumers and investors. Chicago is one of the biggest individual municipalities to file such a suit against ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and the American Petroleum Institute in 2021. Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, a non-profit that supports the litigation, said that Big Oil has lied to the American people for decades about the catastrophic climate risks of their products. He claimed that Chicago and communities nationwide are now rightfully insisting on paying for the damage they have caused. The Chicago lawsuit was filed by the San Francisco law firm Sher Edling, which has brought 20 other cases involving climate misinformation, and the local firm DiCello Levitt. The lawsuit includes ten counts of fraud, nuisance, conspiracy, and other offenses. The city wants the defendants to discontinue their "deception" campaign and pay an undisclosed sum of money for the harm caused by climate change. Read Also: Ukraine's Zelensky Asks Polish Leaders for Talks Over Farmers' Protest Fossil Fuel Companies Speak Out Senior vice-president and general counsel of the American Petroleum Institute Ryan Meyers told The Guardian that the industry provided "affordable, reliable" energy and reduced emissions. He called the current wave of extensive oil litigation a waste of taxpayer resources and meritless, politicized lawsuits against a foundational American industry. He added that climate policy is for Congress to debate and decide, not a patchwork of city halls and courts. A Shell spokesperson said the company was attempting to reduce its emissions. The spokesperson claimed they do not believe the courtroom is the right venue to address climate change. Shell believes that smart policy from the government and action from all sectors are appropriate ways to reach solutions and drive progress. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Phillips 66 also stated that efforts around energy and climate solutions are best addressed outside the courtroom. ConocoPhillips spokesman Dennis Nuss informed The Guardian that the company would not comment on ongoing legal matters. Requests for response from BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil were not immediately answered. Furthermore, Chicago Alderman Matt Martin stated that the challenge could lead to accountability. Martin noted that both the facts and the law are on their side. Related Article: COP28 Deal: World Leaders Agree To Transition Away From Fossil Fuel A Seattle police officer will not be facing criminal charges over the killing of graduate student Jaahnavi Kandula while he was driving his cruiser. On Wednesday, prosecutor Leesa Manion announced the result of an independent investigation into the crash that led to the death of the 23-year-old student. Manion's office said that it will not charge the police officer, Kevin Dave, who fatally struck Kandula in January 2023. Fatal Collision With Indian Graduate Student In a statement, Manion said that after they staffed the case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, it was determined that there was a lack of sufficient evidence under Washington state law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. The announcement comes nearly 13 months after the graduate student was killed, whose death sparked international condemnation after the publication last summer of inadvertently recorded remarks by a Seattle police union official. That person was Daniel Auderer, who apparently laughed and downplayed Kandula's death, suggesting that her life had "limited value" and that the city should just write a check, as per the Seattle Times. The government of India, the victim's home country, demanded an investigation into the matter through its consulate in San Francisco. Manion said that she had spoken with a Kandula family representative on Wednesday and was making additional arrangements to speak with her mother, who was in India. During a briefing in the afternoon, Manion and senior prosecutors who reviewed Kandula's case explained that there was no evidence that Dave was impaired or driving recklessly. These are the two primary justifications for criminal charges in a fatal crash involving a pedestrian. She added that there was nothing that showed the police officer was driving with "disregard for the safety of others," despite operating his cruiser at nearly three times the legal speed limit in the area. Read Also: Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Fatally Stabbing 19-Year-Old Ex-Girlfriend in Front of Police Officer No Criminal Charges Bodycam footage that was released by Seattle Police showed Auderer laughing about the deadly crash before dismissing the need for an investigation. He was then heard making insensitive comments about Kandula's age and value, according to NDTV. In September 2023, Auderer was pulled from patrol and reassigned to a "non-operational position" as he faced potential termination pending a disciplinary hearing that was scheduled for Mar. 4. The footage of him discussing the Indian student's death not only fueled the fire but also raised questions about the culture within the Seattle Police. Local media reported that the primary cause of Kandula's death was the speed of the collision with the police cruiser. Dave's high-speed movement did not give the victim enough time to react, address, and avoid the impending hazard. A report noted that Dave, during the deadly collision, was responding to a "priority one" call that the Seattle Fire Department requested. It also added that the police officer was responding to a report of a drug overdose. It was also noted that the law enforcement personnel did not have his siren activated continuously and instead "chirped" his siren at the intersection. A previous statement from the police department added that he also had his emergency lights on, said King5. Related Article: Suspect in Death of Audrii Cunningham Charged With Capital Murder Iran reportedly sent 400 ballistic missiles to Russia that are capable of conducting short-range attacks, supplementing Moscow's continued invasion of Ukraine. The development is seen as an effort to deepen the military cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries. Iran's provision of hundreds of ballistic missiles include many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfagha. Iran Sent Ballistic Missiles to Russia Experts explained that the road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets that are located at a distance of between 300 and 700 kilometers. Iran's defense ministry, as well as its Revolutionary Guards, which is an elite force that is responsible for overseeing the nation's ballistic missile program, declined to comment regarding the development. On the other hand, Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the development. The situation comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin's military troops claimed to have recaptured a key bridgehead on the Dnipro river, the village of Krynky, amid the war. Ukraine's military has dismissed a claim by Moscow's defense ministry that Russia's forces have secured full control over the village of Krynky, which is located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in southern Kherson, as per the Independent. In a separate statement, the Ukrainian military's southern district said that Russian forces had made no headway on the eastern bank. They added that Sergei Shoigu's statement was a "falsification of the facts." The shipments of Iran's ballistic missiles to Russia reportedly started in early January this year after a deal was finalized in meetings that were held last year. The meetings were between Iranian and Russian military and security officials. They took place in Tehran and Moscow. One anonymous Iranian military official said that there had been at least four shipments of the ballistic missiles and noted that there would be more that would come in the following weeks. He declined to provide any further details regarding the shipments. Read Also: EU Approves 13th Sanctions Package Against Russia, Targets Chinese, Indian Companies Supplementing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Another senior Iranian official said that some of the ballistic missiles were sent to Russia by ship via the Caspian Sea while others were transported to the region by plane. The second official said that there would be more shipments, adding that there was no reason to hide that fact, according to Fox News. The shipments come as United Nations Security Council restrictions on Iran's export that include missiles, drones, and other technologies, expired in October last year. However, the United States as well as the European Union retained sanctions on the country's ballistic missile program. This was amid concerns over exports of weapons to its proxies in the Middle East as well as Russia. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said in early January that the U.S. was concerned that Moscow was close to acquiring short-range ballistic weapons from Iran. This was on top of the missiles that Moscow already sourced from North Korea. An American official said that Washington had seen evidence of discussions actively advancing but no indication yet of deliveries having taken place. On the other hand, the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Iran's supposed missile deliveries, said Reuters. Related Article: Russia Runs Out Enough Weapons To Continue Fighting Ukraine, West Claims The actor Tom Cruise has allegedly split up with his Russian girlfriend, Elsina Khayrova, a few days after reports claimed that he met her children. The couple started liking each other for the first time in December last year after they were seen cuddling during a private party in London's Mayfair. Tom Cruise Breaks Up With Khayrova According to a report by The Sun, the 'Top Gun' actor ended his relationship with Khayrova. However, he said he still wanted to stay friends with Khayrova because they lived in the same apartment block in London. "To end things on a bad note would have been awkward if they'd bumped into each other in the lift," a source told the news outlet. "There are no hard feelings between them, and for Tom, their relationship simply ran its course." The couple broke up days after the actor had met Khayrova's children. She and Russian oligarch Dimitry Tsvetkov, her ex-husband, share a son and daughter. A source told Page Six that Cruise had been staying at Khayrova's place and that they enjoy hanging out together as they still do many things that normal couples do despite their wealth. Furthermore, an insider claimed that the couple never appeared in photos together during their brief affair. The insider added that they take great care not to be photographed together to maintain privacy. Read Also: UK Lawmaker Apologizes After Gaza Ceasefire Debate Descends Into Chaos Khayrova's Ex-Husband Warns Cruise Following the media's revelation of Cruise and Khayrova's romance, Tsvetkov spoke out. The Russian oligarch had an 11-year marriage to Khayrova, a phase he recalls without fondness. He claimed that to meet Khayrova's "expensive and luxurious taste," he spent millions of dollars purchasing designer clothing, handbags, and other luxury goods during their marriage. Given her expectations for such luxury, Tsvetkov believes that any new man entering his ex's life should be prepared to match or exceed those expenses. Tsvetkov told the Daily Mail that whoever she was with, Tom Cruise or anybody else, they should be aware that she likes the finer things in life and has expensive and luxurious taste. He warned Cruise to keep his eyes and wallet wide open but noted that he was happy for Khayrova and wished her all the best. The Russian oligarch claimed to have lost a considerable portion of his fortune throughout the three years of their court battle to pay for their expensive divorce settlement and legal bills. Tsvetkov added that Khayrova received all of the luxury gifts he bought her, some of which cost more than $40,000. Although he did not share his reasons, Tsetkov revealed that he had not communicated with Khayrova since their divorce. He added that he did not talk to her about her supposed connection with Cruise at the time. Related Article: Tom Holland Shows Support for Zendaya Following Breakup Rumors, Attends Dune Part Two Premiere Party Together The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) health system has announced a temporary suspension of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, citing concerns over potential legal repercussions. This is in response to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are to be considered children, a verdict with far-reaching implications for the state's fertility treatment landscape. The ruling actively extends legal protections typically afforded to children to frozen embryos, regardless of their location. This includes scenarios where embryos are stored in cryogenic facilities, a common practice in IVF procedures. Alabama Supreme Court's Landmark Decision The court's decision emerged from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by couples whose embryos were inadvertently destroyed at a fertility clinic in 2020. "We are saddened that this will impact our patients' attempt to have a baby through IVF," stated a spokesperson from the UAB health system, reflecting on the decision's immediate consequences. "But we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments." The legal landscape surrounding fertility treatments in Alabama has been significantly altered by the court's ruling. Previously, embryos resulting from IVF procedures were not explicitly covered under the state's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. However, the recent decision expands the scope of this legislation to encompass embryos, extending legal personhood to these entities. Chief Justice Tom Parker, concurring with the majority opinion, underscored the sanctity of human life from conception. "Even before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory," Parker stated in his opinion. Read Also: Michigan Transgender Woman Loses Case Against Ex-Boyfriend Over Argument on Refrigerated Testicles Concerns About Reproductive Rights, IVF Access The Alabama Supreme Court ruling raises questions about the legality of standard IVF practices, such as the storage and handling of embryos, potentially complicating the provision of fertility treatments in the state. Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, highlighted the broader implications of the ruling in an interview with BBC. "Not all [IVF] embryos are used, nor can they be. To enact legislation granting legal personhood to embryos could have disastrous consequences for the use of IVF - a science many people rely on to build their families," Smith cautioned. The ruling could exacerbate existing disparities in access to fertility treatments, particularly for marginalized communities. Patients may face increased financial burdens and logistical challenges as they navigate a landscape reshaped by legal uncertainties. Furthermore, the repercussions of this decision extend beyond Alabama's borders, eliciting concerns from medical experts and reproductive rights advocates nationwide. While the ruling represents a significant development in the ongoing debate over reproductive rights, its journey to the US Supreme Court remains uncertain. Legal experts suggest that the decision's reliance on state law may limit its potential for federal review. Related Article: Alabama Supreme Court Defines Frozen Embryos as 'Children' in Landmark Ruling United Airlines said on Wednesday (Feb. 21) that it was planning to resume its direct US flights to Israel on March 6, making it the first American carrier to resume service since the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel. Specifically, one flight from Newark to Tel Aviv using Boeing 787-10 jets would be resumed first but does not plan to restart flights from other US cities until at least this autumn, The Times of Israel reported. Restarting US carrier flights to Israel signaled the potential turning point for travel and tourism to Israel after it dried up due to security fears following the Hamas attack and the Israeli military retaliation in Gaza. Before the nonstop trip, United would operate flights from Newark to Tel Aviv with a stopover in Munich on March 2 and 4, while return trips from Tel Aviv to Newark, also via Munich, were scheduled for March 3 and 5. "[We] conducted a detailed safety analysis in making this decision, including close work with security experts and government officials in the United States and Israel," United said in its statement. The Israel Airports Authority also confirmed United's announcement. Read Also: FAA Boss Vows to Hold Boeing Accountable for Air Safety Violations United Plans to Add More Direct Flights Soon The company further planned to add at least another flight from Newark as soon as May while continuing to "monitor the situation in Tel Aviv and adjust the schedule as warranted," Prior to Oct. 7, United had four direct daily flights to Tel Aviv from Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington. The airline explained that the flights where service has not yet resumed would be "evaluated for resumption" before they were green-lit. Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Aegean, and Air France have since restarted their flights to Tel Aviv, while Delta has canceled flights to Israel through April 30 and American Airlines through October 28. Israeli aviation officials said Delta would resume its flights on May 1, but the airline did not comment. Last October, over 30 US lawmakers urged airlines to resume flights to Israel "as soon as possible." Related Article: United Flight 1909 Makes Emergency Landing in San Francisco Due to Bomb Threat Following the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison last week, his widow and longtime political supporter, Yulia Navalnaya, solemnly vowed on a stage in Munich, "I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny." Alexei Navalny rose to prominence as President Vladimir Putin's biggest adversary. Going by the pseudonym "Murz" on Telegram, he was an ultra-nationalist commentator who fought alongside Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and participated in Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Navalny allegedly died by suicide in a Russian penal colony following outrage over a post in which he claimed that the Russian army had lost 16,000 soldiers during the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. Via video on social media, Yulia Navalnaya announced her intention to "continue the work of Alexei Navalny to fight for our country" and called on supporters to stand with her as she works "to build a free Russia." As reported by Forbes, Navalnaya also indicated her keenness to confront Putin directly to accuse him of killing her husband. It is an allegation the Kremlin has denied. However, Navalnaya claims that she knew "exactly why" Putin allegedly killed him, adding to her video message, "We will tell you about it soon." She faces obstacles as to whether she can rally her husband's troops and work with other opposition groups to mount any successful challenge to Putin, who is expected to serve another six years in the Kremlin after the presidential election in March. Political Landscape: According to a piece by The Associated Press, Navalnaya has prior experience standing up to Putin. She and Navalny were married for more than 20 years, and she was at his side as he helped lead the biggest protests in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union and through subsequent jail sentences. Navalnaya is unlikely to travel to Russia because of security concerns and now faces a similar issue to that of her husband-- finding a way to lead her husband's organization from exile. On Friday, after the news of Navalny's death, she met a woman in a similar situation. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took on the political duties of her husband, Belarusian opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski, after being jailed in 2020 in the run-up to Belarus' presidential election. "We understood each other without any words," Tsikhanouskaya said about Navalnaya. Tsikhanouskaya said she has no idea about her husband's condition or whether he is dead or alive. "It's so difficult when you feel such huge pain, but you have to ... give interviews to encourage the democratic world to make decisive actions," Tsikhanouskaya said in an Associated Press interview. While Navalnaya has dominated headlines since her husband's death, her challenge will be "to stay relevant" when interest inevitably fades, said Graeme Robertson, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The mission ahead of her is demanding, and she will maneuver them while grieving for her husband and fighting for the return of his body. "By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me, half of my heart and half of my soul," she said. "But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up." The two men accused of stabbing a fellow inmate at Charlottesvilles jail last year are situated at the center of a criminal nexus, a web of crimes including murder, robbery and childhood sexual abuse. That much became clear in Albemarle County General District Court earlier this month, when one of those men, 18-year-old Zayon Payne, pleaded guilty as an accessory to the Dec. 8 stabbing at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Accused of hiding and flushing a homemade weapon after it was used against a fellow inmate, Payne signed a deal giving him 12 months in jail. Youre pleading guilty to a misdemeanor, and the commonwealth agrees theyre not bringing any additional charges on this, Judge Matthew J. Quatrara said as Payne, wearing a striped jail jumpsuit, listened. The judges Feb. 1 acceptance of the plea deal, brokered by Paynes court-appointed lawyer Jessica Phillips and prosecutor Susan Baumgartner, capped just the latest chapter in a history of violence. Last year, Payne was accused of being the lead gunman in a Charlottesville shootout that closed Preston Avenue for several hours and forced city schools to delay dismissal on May 16. While the shooting charges against him were later dismissed late last year, a grand jury certified a felony robbery charge against Payne that remains pending in Charlottesville Circuit Court. Meanwhile, the case against the man accused of the jailhouse stabbing itself, 25-year-old Tajuan Rahmeen Allen of Esmont, is pending, with a preliminary hearing slated for Feb. 22. Allens more serious charge is the three-years-ago slaying of DreShawn Rayvon McDonald, a 27-year-old Charlottesville man shot to death in the 900 block of South First Street. Allens trial on a charge of second-degree murder in that Nov. 5, 2020, slaying, is slated for June 10. New details about the stabbing were revealed by the victim in a January hearing. I was targeted for no reason, 36-year-old Brian Thomas Draper said as he testified in his own criminal case. Charged after erratically waving a gun last summer at the EconoLodge on Holiday Drive, Draper was in court Jan. 9. to deliver a guilty plea. He ended up delivering something darker. It happened to me when I was a kid, began Draper, who then told a tale of sexual abuse that spanned more than seven years and began when he was as young as 8. They arrested the animal, said Drapers mother, Cynthia Draper, as she tearfully testified about the abuse her son received at the hands of a neighbor and her sons ensuing mental struggles. While Drapers mental injuries were as invisible as the jailhouse attacks physical scars hidden under his striped jumpsuit, Draper and his mother implored Judge Claude Worrell to render a light sentence on the firearm charge that would allow him to return to Alabama, where he recently found work as a building contractor. He takes accountability for everything hes done, said Cynthia Draper. Hes caring and hes loving, and with everything hes been through In addition to two years of probation and five years of good behavior, prosecutor Nina-Alice Antony suggested a five-year sentence with all but seven months suspended, a punishment that would have led to the jailed mans immediate release. This is not in exchange for anything, said Antony. This is a fair recommendation irrespective of what may have happened at the jail. Judge Worrell heeded most of Antonys recommendation but gave Draper nine months. He was released from the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail nine days later. When we send people to jail we expect them to be safe, said Worrell. The same might be true of visiting a neighbor. Drapers and his mothers testimonies pointed to the identity of the animal, the man accused of sexually abusing Draper. He is Steven Barry Dudley, and when he came to court for his own criminal case last summer he appeared older than his 67 years. Sitting alone in Albemarle Circuit Court, Dudley had white hair, glasses, a broad-brimmed hat and a walking cane. Although he spent 10 days in jail following his April arrest, Dudley won bail by noting that he survived cancer and is immunocompromised. He also won zero active jail time despite pleading guilty to abusing Draper. Dudleys sentencing hearing on a carnal knowledge charge, which can carry a 10-year penalty, occurred prior to its docketed time in August, and prosecutor Alicia Milligan, citing standard Albemarle Commonwealths Attorneys Office practice, declined to provide her reasoning for accepting the no-jail plea deal. Dudley noted in one court document that he was a married, retired veteran with no criminal history who has lived in the Charlottesville area his entire life. The sex crimes that he perpetrated took place more than two decades ago, but sex crimes can have lasting repercussions, and Draper said the jailhouse stabbing triggered memories of Dudleys deeds. It brought everything back, said Draper, who also alleged that Dudley made threats of violence against his family to ensure his silence. Draper eventually broke his silence, and while a jail psychiatrist called him a future focused individual who has recently made great strides, Drapers mother said her sons post-traumatic mental issues still include nightmares, and a mental health expert isnt surprised. Sexual abuse is such a fundamental breach of human relationships and safety, retired forensic psychologist Jeffrey Fracher told The Daily Progress. Fracher said that victims often live in a constant state of hyper-vigilance that can explain both erratic behavior and the desire to be armed. Theyre constantly looking for threats, said Fracher. You can never turn that off. Still, Draper told the court that he hopes to build a positive life without guns or erratic behavior in Alabama. Ive got a place in Birmingham, said Draper. Im ready to get back to work. (Photo : MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images) An Israeli tank convoy rolls towards the outskirts of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah 20 May 2004, on the third day of the massive Israeli army operation in the area. A total of 41 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli army launched the Rafah raid early 18 May, dubbed "Operation Rainbow" and aimed at stopping arms smuggling from Egypt through cross-border tunnels. The continued offensive onslaught in Gaza by the Israel Defense Force has claimed the lives of 48 people in southern and central Gaza. According to Palestinian authorities, half of the victims were women and children. The violence seems to be escalating as the calls for a ceasefire become louder and louder. Tensions are also rising on the West Bank as well. Three Palestinian militants opened fire on morning traffic at a highway checkpoint, killing one person and wounding five others, according to Israeli police. Last week, a member of Israel's War Cabinet said new attempts are underway to finally reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which could result in a pause in the violence in Gaza as well as bring about the release of the Israeli hostages still in Hamas custody. But former military chief and defense minister Benny Gantza told the AP that unless Hamas agrees to release the remaining hostages, Israel will launch its ground offensive into Rafah, the last remaining refuge for Palestinians, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan-which begins in March. Over 1 million Palestinians are currently crammed into Rafah after fleeing fighting and airstrikes elsewhere in the territory. Though Israel has said it will evacuate the city before attacking, it is unclear where the refugees are expected to go, seeing as though much of the rest of Gaza and the West Bank is still engulfed in fighting. Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. On Wednesday, the heads of 13 UN agencies and five other aid groups released a joint plea for a ceasefire over growing concerns of mass casualties that will certainly occur if and when Israel attacks a small town stuff with over a million scared, exposed, and hungry civilians. "Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming," they said, adding that aid workers are facing "shelling, death, movement restrictions, and a breakdown of civil order." They called for the opening of more entry points for aid to Gaza - including in the north -- security assurances of safe passage for distribution and a release of hostages." A man and a 14-year-old were arrested in connection with the break-in of a Secret Service vehicle used by President Biden's granddaughter, Naomi Biden. The vehicle had been parked outside a Georgetown residence in November when a secret service agent fired at a getaway car that nearly hit him during the incident the night of Nov. 12, reported The Washington Post. In court documents obtained by the news outlet, it states the Secret Service vehicle is used by members of the president's family. A law enforcement official confirmed the car was for Naomi Biden, Biden's adult granddaughter. What does the break-in encompass? The arrests of the suspect and accompanying youth came after D.C. authorities located the getaway car, a stolen red Toyota Corolla, abandoned in 16 Street Heights. Items stolen from the Secret Service vehicle include a protective vest, night-vision goggles, a first aid bag, and a computer router. Law enforcement also found a McDonald's bag and food receipt that ultimately led them to the culprits from the fingerprints found on the items. In a complaint procured by ABC News, two Secret Service agents first reported the incident at Naomi Biden's residence. While the complaint does not specifically name Naomi Biden, ABC News confirmed through familiar sources that the incident occurred outside her home. The affidavit names 19-year-old Washington resident Robert Kemp as the primary suspect. Kemp agreed to speak with investigators at his home in December but was only taken into custody on Feb. 7. He allegedly told officials that he had been driving the sedan at the time of the break-in but blamed the incident on another individual named "JR." He "denied knowing the whereabouts of the items stolen and wasn't sure of what was taken from the 'black truck,'" the complaint states. It's noted that one of the agents "observed a black male, legs hanging out of the broken driver side rear window" of the Secret Service vehicle. As the agent yelled police, the suspect fled in the sedan, "almost striking" one of the agents, who then fired his weapon. The juvenile believed to be with Kemp was also under GPS monitoring, which validated their presence in the area at the time of the break-in. He was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of armed carjacking. Kemp is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 29. Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, said that she is resisting pressure from Russian authorities to hold a secret burial for her deceased son. In a video statement, the elder Navalnaya said investigators have allowed her to see her son's body in a city morgue. "They are blackmailing me, they are setting conditions where, when, and how my son should be buried," she said. "They want it to do it secretly without a mourning ceremony." On Thursday, imprisoned opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza stated that a government-backed assassination team was responsible for killing political leaders opposed to the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin, according to a video posted on social media. The British-Russian citizen is currently serving a 25-year sentence for treason at Penal Colony No. 7 in Siberia. The comments came as he appeared at a court hearing by way of a video link in a complaint against Russia's Investigative Committee for what he says were two attempts to poison him. He also claims the authorities did not properly investigate his claims. He is but one of many opposition figures who have been jailed, killed, or forced to flee the country. Kara-Murza was convicted of criticizing the invasion of Ukraine and was jailed as part of a crackdown against critics of the war and proponents of free speech. Kara-Murza says the attempts to poison him took place in 2015 and 2017. His wife said doctors confirmed he was poisoned. "We owe it ... to our fallen comrades to continue to work with even greater strength and achieve what they lived and died for," Kara-Murza said in the video shared by the Russian Sota telegram channel. On Monday, Ilya Yashin, an opposition figure serving 8 1/2 years in prison for criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine, alleged in a social media post shared on his behalf that Putin had killed Navalny. "I have no doubt that it was Putin. He's a war criminal," Yashin said. "Navalny was his key opponent in Russia and was hated by the Kremlin. Putin had both motive and opportunity. I am convinced that he ordered the killing." "I feel a black emptiness inside," he said, adding that he will continue to speak out even though he believes he is also in danger. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the illnesses and deaths of the opposition figures and has denied complicity in the death of Navalny as well. Darryl George, 18, is a junior who has not attended any of his regular classes at his Houston-based high school since Aug. 31. For most of the new school year, George has either served in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu or spent time at an off-site disciplinary program. The monthslong suspension has kept the black high school student from attending classes due to his refusal to change his hairstyle. George wears his long hair in tied and twisted locs atop his head in the protection of a new state law prohibiting race-based hair discrimination. George's school district, Barbers Hill, found the student violated its policy limiting the length of boys' hair. The district filed a lawsuit arguing George's long hair violates the dress code policy because it would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows, or earlobes when let down. The school maintains its stance and has said other students with locs comply with the length policy without issue. After just a few hours of testimony in Anahuac, state District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in favor of the school district, saying its ongoing discipline of George over the length of his hair is legal under the CROWN Act, reported The Associated Press. Dozens of supporters filed into the Anahuac courtroom outside of Houston, where George and his mother, Darresha George, told reporters they were hopeful. "We're going to get justice today," Darresha George said. "I'm nervous but I'm happy." The CROWN Act According to the AP, the CROWN Act, which took effect in September, prohibits race-based hair discrimination and bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of hair texture or protective hairstyles that include Afros, braids, locs, twists, or Bantu knots. An attorney for the school district, Sara Leon, told Cain that the Barbers Hill dress code "is consistent with the CROWN Act" and that the policy "is race-neutral." Allie Booker, Darryl George's attorney, presented two witnesses, mother, Darresha George, and Democratic state Rep. Ron Reynolds, one of the co-authors of the CROWN Act. Reynolds testified that hair length was not specifically discussed when the CROWN Act was proposed, but "length was inferred with the very nature of the style." "Anyone familiar with braids, locs, twists knows it requires a certain amount of length," Reynolds said. The judge pressed Reynolds on the legislation, asking for exact details mentioning hair length. Reynolds explained that it is implied within the law. It is "almost impossible for a person to comply with this (grooming) policy and wear that protective hairstyle," he said. In court documents, the school district asserts its policy does not violate the CROWN Act because the law does not mention or cover hair length. Hopeful his punishment would soon end and allow him to return to regular classes, George's family has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The suit also includes the school district, alleging they failed to enforce the CROWN Act. Not The First Time: Barbers Hill's hair policy was also tested in a May 2020 federal lawsuit by two other students. Both withdrew from the high school, but one returned after a federal judge granted a temporary injunction, saying there was "a substantial likelihood" that the student's right to free speech and freedom from racial discrimination would be in violation if not allowed to return. The lawsuit is still pending. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin flew on a Tu-160M strategic bomber in what was likely a propaganda stunt aimed at the West to remind the United States and its allies of the nuclear capability of his country. Codenamed Blackjack by NATO, the swing-wing plane was originally a Cold War-era bomber that was created and deployed by the former Soviet Union and was designed to deliver nuclear payloads over long distances. State television showed Putin climbing down a ladder after the flight and telling reporters of the modernized and reliable planes' capabilities and the likelihood that it would be accepted by the Russian Air Force. "It's a new machine, a lot about it is new. It's easier to control. It's reliable," said Putin. Putin is up for election next month and will likely win a new six-year term in a landslide next month. The flight was made at a time when Moscow and its Western adversaries are at odds over the war in Ukraine and the recent death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison. Some observers in Russia and the United States say that they cannot recall a time when relations between the two countries were this bad, including the infamous Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The Russian media has given the planes the nickname "White Swans." Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, said the bomber's flight path was classified but that it had lasted 30 minutes. The Tu-160M is manned by four and is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles up to 7,500 miles without refueling. Russian nuclear doctrine states that the president can consider using a nuclear weapon as a response to a nuclear attack or other weapon of mass destruction or the use of conventional weapons against Russia if the existence of the state is under threat. In October, Putin reportedly stated that the existence of the Russian state was not being threatened and that "no person of sound mind and clear memory would think of using nuclear weapons against Russia." The newly modernized Tu-160M bombers are expected to be delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2027 for $163 million each. The plane was modernized by Tupolev, the original manufacturer, and is said to be 60% more effective, with significant improvements to weapons, navigation, and avionics. Before Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826, theyd had precious time to patch up their fractured friendship. Jefferson and George Washington werent as fortunate, as they remained estranged when Washington died in 1799, but a new book reveals that their bond was genuine. When Frank Cogliano started researching the ties between a young nations first and third presidents, he discovered to his surprise that no one had studied the two friends letters in chronological order before. I read Jefferson and Washingtons correspondence from start to finish, Cogliano said. It was revelatory, and that was the story I tried to tell in this book. The resulting book, Coglianos 11th, is A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson and the American Republic, and the Howard and Abby Milstein Theater at Jefferson's Monticello estate-turned-museum was packed Saturday for a celebratory book launch. The launch occurred on the actual date of publication from Harvard University Press. Jane Kamensky, Monticellos new president, welcomed the audience with opening remarks before Cogliano, who is serving as interim Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies until July, spoke about his book. Then it was time for Cogliano, who also serves as professor of American history and dean international at the University of Edinburgh, to join a spirited conversation with fellow historians Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter Onuf. These three are revolutionary friends, Kamensky said. Cogliano said that Jefferson and Washington knew each other for roughly three decades and were friends for about 10 of those years. He described the combination of personalities as the valedictorian and the prom king, adding that their traits were complementary. They mesh because each has what the other doesnt, Cogliano said. Washington has got that physical presence. He has that charisma; he has military bearing and military experience. Jefferson, 11 years Washingtons junior, knew multiple languages and had a more scholarly approach, and although Jefferson didnt rise through military ranks, Washington had a really good eye for talent. Although Jefferson and Washington had many qualities in common as Gordon-Reed noted, they also were Virginians, slaveowners and tall it was only a matter of time before their ideas of what the new nation should become would diverge. I think Washington outgrows Virginia and becomes a national leader, and Jefferson never does, Cogliano said. Jefferson wants America to be Virginia writ large. ... They are both Anglo Virginians, and they both see this place as part of the British Empire. Its easy for people today to forget that the creation of the United States was a bold experiment with major hurdles to overcome. In their letters, both Founding Fathers wondered if the Declaration of Independence is a failure, Cogliano said. Its an admission that this idea of a greater British Empire isnt working. Jefferson is more pessimistic late in life, because he lives longer. When Gordon-Reed asked Cogliano if he felt hed gotten to know Washington through the correspondence, he responded, I dont know if I got to know him, but I got to appreciate him. He came away with an impression of Washington as smart and a man of real convictions. They agreed about much more than they disagreed about, Cogliano said, adding that Washington saw Jefferson both as a friend and a talented person he could work with. Things end badly for the founding friends after Jefferson wrote an unflattering letter about Washington in 1796 that ended up getting translated from Italian into French and later resurfaced when Jefferson was serving as vice president, Cogliano said. Washington, who was very thin-skinned, was offended. Washington fell ill and died before he and Jefferson had a chance to reconcile. Jefferson gained valuable perspective about Washington in his own remaining years, Cogliano said. He served two terms as president and learned the hard way how difficult that job was, the author said. His respect for Washington grew. Jefferson also had more time in retirement to reflect, he added. The friendship, and the estrangement, hold lessons for leaders today, Cogliano said. Jefferson realized that with time to reflect, once passions have cooled, we really agreed much more than we disagreed. Jeffersons image may have taken a beating in recent years, but its premature to count him out, Cogliano said. I think hes going to come back, Cogliano said. He always does. He should. Jefferson will be remembered despite his relationship with slavery, and not because of it, he said. Jefferson is a person of world historical significance, but he was a person, and people are complicated, he said. When asked what surprised him the most during his time spent with the presidents correspondence, Cogliano said, I was surprised by Washingtons brains, and I was surprised by the depth of their friendship. The nonprofit Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which operates Monticello, has faced a series of high-profile departures, a list that includes both Gordon-Reed and Onuf. Gordon-Reed, who is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University and received the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family, resigned from the board late last year, telling The Daily Progress she is concerned about the foundations future direction. Onuf, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor Emeritus in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia, previously told The Daily Progress he resigned his spot on the International Center for Jefferson Studies advisory committee because of his disappointment that Cogliano was not named director of the center. Last year, foundation President Leslie Greene Bowman stepped down after nearly 15 years in the top post. Bowman's departure was later described by a foundation board member as a surprise. "Racial Trauma: It is an inescapable byproduct of persistent exposure to repressive circumstances that emotionally, psychologically, and physically devastate one's sense of self. They simultaneously deplete one's strategies for coping. It is a life-altering and debilitating experience that affects countless numbers of people of color over multiple generations. Unfortunately, the failure to consider the interrelationship between racial oppression and trauma limits clinicians' ability to work effectively with many people of color who live amid sociocultural conditions that are injurious to their psyches and souls. Even when therapy is trauma-informed, it rarely devotes adequate attention to racial oppression and the pervasive trauma associated with it." -Kenneth V. Harvey, "Racial Trauma" Apostle Sarah Kelley, pastor of Faith, Hope and Love International Healing and Deliverance Center, has served many public functions in Charlottesville. After four years as vice president of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, or CCC, she is concluding her two-year presidency of CCC, whose brave leaders faced down our citys 2017 assault by White Christian nationalists. In an interview with Richard Freeman Allan, illustrated with personal incidents, she invites readers of diverse Charlottesville communities into deeper understandings and intraracial prospects for hope and healing in 2024. Please share some details about your girlhood and coming of age. I was born at UVa hospital 82 years ago, when my mother was 14 years old. She moved to Washington with her husband and worked as a housekeeper. I was raised by my great-grandmother Susan Jackson from the age of 2. My father had a supervisors job at the Pentagon in Washington, and I did not meet him until I was 16 years old. Later, my mother married another man and moved to Washington herself. I never knew much of my fathers Jackson family. Because I started reading at age 3, I entered grammar school when I was 5. I went to school through third grade in Charlottesville then moved to live with my mother through sixth grade in Washington. When I was 11, there was domestic violence in our home. Because of this trauma, I came home to great-grandmother for seventh grade. I returned to Washington and was able to live as a foster child with a friends family. I finished my 11th and 12th grade in Washington and graduated at age 16 ... but I always ended up in Charlottesville for summer vacation. I was mostly homeless during my last year of high school and had to take care of myself. I walked almost from the Maryland line to Constitution Street for school every day. I didnt have money for school, so I learned early what it is to dumpster dive. I have actually been on my own since I was 15 years old. I got my first room here by working at the Virginian restaurant, then at the university hospital. I had to work as a licensed professional nurse, because they didnt start the RN [registered nurse] program for Black people until 1970. Even then, we were called the Hidden Nurses since racism prevented us from taking classes on campus. I went to school from eight to noon and then worked at the hospital from one until 9 p.m. in the UVa cafeteria kitchen. Yes, 13- or 14-hour days. I had a White kitchen supervisor who was very mean to me. I was only a tray server, and she was over me. She couldnt read too well. I said to myself, Someday, I plan to become your supervisor. In 1959, I married my husband of the past 65 years, who later became a psychiatric orderly and a psychiatric technician at UVa hospital. By my age 18, we had two small children. I met him while working in that kitchen. I also learned nutrition skills there, which really helped me when I became an LPN. So even from your young womanhood you faced many extraordinary challenges? Yes, in Washington I didnt have a lot a friends. Mostly there were boys on my street. There was some violence there too. My sisters were my closest friends. I never worried about the 43-block length of my walk to school; I just was so blessed that I was able to finish and graduate. I remember when I was 5 years old my aunt bought me a navy-blue pleated skirt and a little white blouse. I was so tickled with that I wanted to wear it every day. I seldom got anything at Christmas, but on my birthday in January my cousin gave me a black quilted coat. Those are happy times I remember. And by the time the RN course opened for Black nurses, I had already finished my LPN course and was on the job at the hospital. But the LPNs received a lot of mistreatment and hard labor. So at that time, I went to school and became a computer programmer. A company in Crozet came to the school and asked for four computer programmers, and I applied as the only Black applicant. They hired the three White applicants but didnt hire me. I called the Equal Opportunity Commission, and they investigated. They learned the only reason I was not hired was because I spelled the COBOL program COBALT, which was a medical term I knew from my nursing course. Then they did try to hire me, but I refused. I just needed to know why I was not hired, when I was qualified. I was 25 then. And where do you think it came from, this kind of assertive behavior that seems to be part of your background? I made up my mind by watching my great-grand, also my aunts who worked as White peoples cooks and my uncle who worked at the city laundry all his life. And it came watching my grandmother working at the Dolly Madison as the head cook. She would come home to her second job, doing the washing on the scrub board, White customer laundry. She had me in on the cook stove, starching all the shirts. Thats when I told myself, Theres no way I want to be doing that for a career. Legs swollen, nose bleeding from high blood pressure. My people were just trying to survive. I remember once I delivered shirts to a White lady, and she made me bring them back for some small problem. And watching my grandmother need to redo all those shirts. When I took them back, saying to that lady, Tell your husband to wash his dirty neckline. So, my grandmother lost that customer. These kinds of barriers made me want a different path. Because of all the LPN lifting, I had trouble with my back since I was 28 years old. I couldnt be marching in the streets for civil rights. But I did my own type of activism by not taking racism from other people. I knew then that I was not going to watch Whites mistreat our people. I needed to stand up for young people who would come after me and not let this kind of treatment be done to me. I remember grandmother telling me, Im not going to have to worry about you, Sarah, because I can see you know your own way. In various roles, I have been that first Black person 15 times. I was the first African American nurse at Martha Jefferson Hospital, the first female African American programmer at UVa Medical Center. At the March of Dimes concert, our choir from the church got the first standing ovation. We sang Were Marching to Zion. In the Lions Clubs annual show, I was the first African American performer, singing Blues in the Night. Then I learned this group also performed in blackface. I knew I must remove myself, go from the world of the senses into the world of spirit and find a higher consciousness with my music. How did you choose the name apostle for your work in ministry, and please describe the role of faith healing? I had been told by some there would never be allowed a female pastor at the pulpit. But I became licensed as a reverend, being consecrated and then affirmed in 2002 by a Pentecostal bishop. An apostle is someone who has been sent in the name of God; apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist the fivefold ministry. It was those kinds of people who were in the upper room with Jesus and were sent out in all directions. And during this period, I became the first Black chaplain at the University Hospital. Our congregation had someone come from Maryland who was blind, desiring to receive sight, also someone wanting to be free from the trauma of addiction. The Lord blessed them. Our services are not by fixed program, but as led by the Lord Jesus. It is his church. Commemorating Black History Month, The Daily Progress presents a three-part interview between local writer Richard Freeman Allan and the pastor of Faith, Hope and Love International Healing and Deliverance Center. Apostle Sarah Ann Kelly has just stepped down after six years leading the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, the last two as its president. Here she speaks about understanding and healing a persons inner racial trauma. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. SH Hotels & Resorts, the sustainable hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, is pleased to announce Frank Sorgiovanni's appointment as Vice President of Development (Asia Pacific). With notable expertise in brand positioning and extensive experience across key markets in the region, Sorgiovanni is poised to spearhead new business opportunities in the Asia Pacific region across each of the company's esteemed hotel brands. He will pursue new development opportunities, offering expert guidance as SH Hotels & Resorts actively expands its presence throughout the region. In joining the SH Hotels & Resorts global development team, led by Senior Vice President of Development, Abhay Bakaya, Sorgiovanni brings a distinguished background in the hospitality industry, honed through years of leadership as Head of Development Asia Pacific at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. With a proven track record in strategic advisory and research at JLL, a leading professional services firm specializing in real estate and investment management, Sorgiovanni has demonstrated his adeptness at navigating complex negotiations and forging strategic partnerships. As the Vice President of Development, Sorgiovanni will source and execute deals in the Asia Pacific region to drive the company's growth. He will play a pivotal role in evaluating potential opportunities and negotiating management and branded residential contracts. SH Hotels & Resorts is rapidly expanding its presence in Asia Pacific. The company launched 1 Hotel Haitang Bay (Sanya) in 2020 and in early 2025 will open 1 Hotels & Homes Melbourne, a breathtaking waterfront sanctuary situated on the Yarra River. Additionally, Treehouse Hotels will open Treehouse Adelaide in 2027, which combines the spirit of Australia's lively coastal city with the brand's whimsical ethos. CHICAGO (February 20, 2024) - As a result of strong growth in the Americas region, Hyatt today announced new senior leadership appointments in the Americas region and subregional structure designed to further support Hyatt's continued focus on growth, operational excellence and performance optimization within its largest region. With this new organizational structure, Hyatt's Americas region is now comprised of two subregions: U.S. & Canada and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC), led by two newly appointed subregional presidents, respectively: Susan Santiago and Gabriel Felip who both report to Pete Sears, Group President, Americas, effective January 2024. As President, Latin America & Caribbean, Felip leads operational performance for all managed and owned Hyatt hotels in the region across all brands, including Hyatt's Inclusive Collection. Felip is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of hospitality and tourism experience and previously served as Hyatt's Group President of Inclusive Collection Global Operations. Next in our exclusive series dedicated to unlocking the doors to your future is one of the most dynamic and lucrative roles in the industry: real estate analyst. Get ready to dive into the captivating world where every property holds a story, and every investment opportunity is a chance to shape communities and futures. Ever wondered what's behind the curtain of the real estate world? Real estate analysts are the wizards making magic happen, guiding investors and developers toward golden opportunities. Heres what we know What is a real estate analyst? Real estate analysts are akin to your modern-day Sherlock Holmeswith a keen eye for detail and a knack for unraveling complex mysteries, they delve deep into the labyrinth of market statistics, property valuations, and potential risks. Their expertise lies in deciphering the clues hidden within data, enabling them to make the right decisions, and guide investors towards savvy investment moves that stand the test of time. My 'aha' moment struck during a hotel asset management class at EHL. We scrutinized properties, tackling challenges from both a real estate and operational perspective, and it was like a light bulb moment, confirming that real estate was my calling. Alice Garnier, real estate analyst/EHL Graduate (2020) What does a real estate analyst do? Curious to know more about the daily grind of a Real Estate Analyst? Heres what you might expect to do on a typical day on the job: Youd dive into market data, unraveling pricing trends, supply and demand dynamics, and rental rates. Next on the agenda: appraising properties with a fine-tooth comb, considering everything from sales history to location and market demand. As a risk evaluator, youd analyze current market conditions to assess potential investment risks. Always right in the middle of the financing action, youd collaborate with banks and lenders to determine project debt capacity and reviewing loan requests. Last but not least, youd be in the limelight, prepping and presenting complex insights to stakeholders like investors, developers, lenders, and brokers. To sum it up, the role of a real estate analyst is all-encompassing and requires, wella little bit of everything. The most thrilling part of my job involves collaborating with architects and immersing myself in renovation projects. It's really exhilarating to examine a building, strategize on how to enhance it, and contribute to prestigious projects, especially in bustling cities like Paris. Alice Garnier, real estate analyst/EHL Graduate How to become a real estate analyst Becoming a real estate analyst is like gearing up for an epic adventure. You need the right skills and knowledge to embark on this journey. First things first: you'll want a solid educational background. Most analysts start with a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, real estate, or even something cool like hospitality management. And if you're really serious about leveling up, once youre done with that, youll want to pursue a masters degree in finance or real estate. Once you're (finally) done with school, it's time to jump into the real world. You might start off as a research associate or financial analyst, soaking up knowledge and experience like a sponge. As you move up the ladder, you'll soon become a full-fledged real estate analyst, ready to tackle property markets, spot investment opportunities, and dish out savvy recommendations to clients and stakeholders. What are real estate analyst skills? The real estate market is a buzzing hive of activity, and to thrive in it, you need some serious skills: Analytics: First and foremost, youll have to be great at analysis. After all, its in the title of the job. As a data detective, youll have to sift through loads of information to uncover insights and make savvy recommendations. Having a knack for numbers is key to understanding how they impact project success. First and foremost, youll have to be great at analysis. After all, its in the title of the job. As a data detective, youll have to sift through loads of information to uncover insights and make savvy recommendations. Having a knack for numbers is key to understanding how they impact project success. Communication: Next up: you need to be great at communication. Picture yourself as a master storyteller, adept at conveying your findings and ideas clearly to clients and stakeholders. Next up: you need to be great at communication. Picture yourself as a master storyteller, adept at conveying your findings and ideas clearly to clients and stakeholders. Real estate know-how: To navigate the real estate realm, you'll need to master the lay of the land. Understanding the regulations, history, and trends will be your compass through this dynamic and complex landscape. To navigate the real estate realm, you'll need to master the lay of the land. Understanding the regulations, history, and trends will be your compass through this dynamic and complex landscape. Tech-savviness: Were not saying you need to be a computer whizz, but having a knack for different types of software, data tools, and financial apps will make your life so much easier when youre digging through all that data and trends. Were not saying you need to be a computer whizz, but having a knack for different types of software, data tools, and financial apps will make your life so much easier when youre digging through all that data and trends. Problem-solving: Last (but not least), youll need to be equipped with the creativity and problem-solving skills to tackle challenges head-on. Whether it's unraveling complex issues or devising innovative solutions, your ingenuity and prowess will be the cornerstone of your success. With these skills in your toolbox, you'll be well-equipped to conquer just about any challenge in the exciting world of real estate! I genuinely believe in the adage that there are no stupid questions. Asking questions when working in the industry or networking with professionals and fellow students is essential. Alice Garnier, real estate analyst/EHL Graduate What is a real estate analyst salary? Alright, let's cut to the chase! When you're the Sherlock Holmes of property markets, what kind of paycheck can you expect? Well, here's the deal: Real estate analysts usually pull in a decent salary. But like any gig, it can vary depending on where youre located, how much experience you have, and of course, what skills you bring to the table. Starting out, newbie analysts might pocket around $50,000 to $70,000 per year. But with a few years of experience under your belt, you might expect to rake in between $70,000 to $100,000. As a seasoned pro, especially in hotspots like New York City or San Francisco, you might expect to score over $100,000. Just remember, these are ballpark figures, and your mileage may vary! Source: Zippia Source: EHL Why study at EHL? At EHL, our Bachelor program in International Hospitality Management isn't just about hospitality it's your gateway to the future, especially if its real estate that youre after. Imagine this: you'll immerse yourself in real-life case studies alongside top-notch experts, gaining insights that'll set you apart. With a comprehensive hands-on curriculum, youll have a chance to get a taste of everything (quite literally!). And in your third year, you can specialize in real estate, delving deep into analytics, investment strategies, and market dynamics. But that's not all our course isn't just about textbooks and lectures. We'll also equip you with confidence and essential interpersonal skills through student-led presentations, teamwork, and group projects. EHL doesn't just open doors, we pave the way! With our extensive industry connections and global network of successful alumni spanning over 150 countries, you'll have unparalleled access to internships, networking events, and potential job placements worldwide. So why wait? Join EHL today! EHL has given me valuable skills in networking, socializing, and public speaking. It also offered plenty of chances to engage with industry professionals, encouraging connections among students and peers from around the world. EHL's curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, legal studies, finance, operations, microeconomics, and more, which has been incredibly beneficial. Alice Garnier, real estate analyst/EHL Graduate About EHL Group EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector. With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source In our fast-paced world, where productivity and efficiency are often prized above all else, it can be easy to forget the importance of leaving room for some unscripted, unplanned moments. These are the moments where the magic happens. In this article, we will delve into understanding why and how I believe, we should leave room for magic, both in our personal lives and in business. Frequently, people commend me for my exceptional organizational skills, a trait that admittedly brings me a sense of pride. However, it also elicits a certain discomfort. Why, you might wonder? Allow me to explain: In the complexity and stress of modern life, a sentiment amplified by the presence of COVID-19, I, like many others, can easily feel overwhelmed by the myriad tasks that demand my attentionor at least, I perceive them as such. Recognizing this, I realized early on that maintaining a high level of organization serves as a valuable tool to keep my anxiety in check. Consequently, I embraced the use of calendars, to-do lists, reminders, and other organizational tools to effectively address and mitigate my inherent tendencies towards disorganization. In my quest for order, I found myself adopting a bit of Monica Geller's flair from Friends, taking her meticulousness as my own. Much like Monica, I became a cleaning enthusiast, embracing precision and order in my surroundings. I shared her obsession with keeping things in designated places, a practice aimed at avoiding forgetfulness. Even her secret messy closet and her unwavering loyalty to friends were aspects I identified with, finding humor and relatability in her character traits. However, these traits also bring along challenges when faced with chaos or unpredictable events that disrupt this meticulously organized world. While society may view these traits as highly functional, they come with a certain inflexibility. In instances where we fall short or are unable to meet the high standards set by ourselves, it can trigger feelings of stress, a sense of unaccomplishment, and more. Similar to Monica, each of these valuable traits can sometimes work at our expense, highlighting the delicate balance between order and the adaptability needed to navigate the unpredictability of life. The concept of magic When we talk about 'magic', we aren't referring to pulling rabbits out of hats or levitating objects. Instead, we're talking about those moments of serendipity, spontaneity, and unexpected discovery that light up our lives and our work. Cultivating an environment that encourages these magical moments has the potential to foster greater creativity, spur innovation, and enhance personal satisfaction. It's about embracing the beauty of the unpredictable, finding joy in the unforeseen, and allowing room for the enchantment that unfolds when we least expect it. The magic is in the mess. Brene Brown Leaving room for magic in business In the business world, magic can represent the moments that happen outside our scheduled meetings and structured processes. These are the moments that can't be captured or repeated, but have the potential to be transformative. This might look like a spontaneous brainstorming session during a morning coffee between colleagues that leads to a breakthrough idea, or an unplanned conversation that sparks a new collaboration. But can we also encourage more of these magical moments? I strongly believe we can: by creating opportunities for them to occur! This might mean leaving some blank spaces in our schedules, being open to deviating from our planned agendas, allocating time for brainstorms and team reflections, or being present and attuned to the needs and ideas of those around us. However, we are forced to notice that this is not always the case in many organizations. Why? The most accurate answer I could find is: it is simply not part of their culture! This magical culture should certainly incorporate some of these aspects: Encourage open communication: It implies fostering a culture of open communication where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, even unconventional ones. Within teams, it can take the shape of regular brainstorming sessions or virtual suggestion boards where team members can freely contribute ideas. Embrace diversity: Recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences. A diverse team brings various insights, increasing the likelihood of innovative solutions and unexpected breakthroughs. Recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences. A diverse team brings various insights, increasing the likelihood of innovative solutions and unexpected breakthroughs. Promote flexibility: Allow for flexibility in work processes and encourage adaptability. This enables the team to respond effectively to unforeseen challenges and take advantage of unexpected opportunities. Allow for flexibility in work processes and encourage adaptability. This enables the team to respond effectively to unforeseen challenges and take advantage of unexpected opportunities. Provide autonomy: Empower employees by providing autonomy in their roles. When individuals have the freedom to explore and experiment, it can lead to the discovery of innovative approaches and solutions. Empower employees by providing autonomy in their roles. When individuals have the freedom to explore and experiment, it can lead to the discovery of innovative approaches and solutions. Celebrate mistakes as learning opportunities: Create a culture that views mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement, rather than as failures. This mindset encourages experimentation and risk-taking. Create a culture that views mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement, rather than as failures. This mindset encourages experimentation and risk-taking. Create collaborative spaces: Design physical and virtual spaces that encourage collaboration and spontaneous interactions. These spaces can be conducive to idea generation and creative problem-solving. Design physical and virtual spaces that encourage collaboration and spontaneous interactions. These spaces can be conducive to idea generation and creative problem-solving. Incorporate play and creativity: Integrate elements of play and creativity into the work environment. This can include team-building activities, creative workshops, or designated time for unstructured exploration. Integrate elements of play and creativity into the work environment. This can include team-building activities, creative workshops, or designated time for unstructured exploration. Acknowledge serendipity: Recognize and celebrate moments of serendipity and unexpected success. Highlighting these instances reinforces the value of leaving room for magic in the business process. Recognize and celebrate moments of serendipity and unexpected success. Highlighting these instances reinforces the value of leaving room for magic in the business process. Support continued learning: Foster a culture of continuous learning, encouraging employees to explore new skills and knowledge. This can lead to unexpected intersections of expertise and innovative solutions. Foster a culture of continuous learning, encouraging employees to explore new skills and knowledge. This can lead to unexpected intersections of expertise and innovative solutions. Encourage cross-functional collaboration: Facilitate collaboration across different departments and functions. This cross-pollination of ideas can lead to novel perspectives and innovative problem-solving. By incorporating these strategies, businesses can create an atmosphere that not only embraces the unexpected but actively encourages the magic that can fuel creativity, innovation, and overall success. Ultimately, leaving room for magic in business is not about relinquishing control but acknowledging that, sometimes, the most remarkable achievements emerge from the unexpected and the extraordinary. Leaving room for magic as a personal motto When we're working on a project or tackling a problem, be it personal or work related, it can be tempting to keep pushing until we find a solution. However, sometimes the best thing we can do is to step away and let our minds rest. By doing something completely unrelated, we can give our creativity time to percolate and regenerate. Studies have found that after a period of mind wandering, the mind makes more creative connections between bits of information you already know. As for the shower? It's kind of the ideal epiphany incubator. Not only does the warm water elevate your mood, you focus your attention inward. It requires commitment, at first, to creating an open and flexible, space where the unexpected can unfold, before it can be become a guiding principle. Not that easy for over-organized and over-prepared people like me! Yes Usually, over-organization and over-preparation go hand-in-hand. Indeed, meticulous planning is my forte. Whether orchestrating a family getaway with meticulously researched destinations and pre-booked tickets, or navigating a work project with a methodical approach to every step, I thrive on organization. Yet, there are instances when my penchant for control impedes the potential for genuine engagement and shared experiences. In both personal and professional settings, being overly prescriptive can stifle the sense of adventure and discovery that enriches any journey. Participants, be they family members or colleagues, may feel more like passive observers than active contributors. Embracing the concept of creating space for magic involves relinquishing some control and nurturing an environment where others can participate in shaping the experience. So, how do we cultivate these conditions? Here are three essential responsibilities: Understand what 'magic' means to each group you're serving. Recognize that the definition of magic varies among individuals, and tailor your approach accordingly. Recognize that the definition of magic varies among individuals, and tailor your approach accordingly. Engage the group as co-creators of the conditions conducive to magic. Encourage collaboration and invite input from all stakeholders to foster a sense of ownership and empowerment. Encourage collaboration and invite input from all stakeholders to foster a sense of ownership and empowerment. Allocate dedicated time and physical space for magic to manifest. Allow for spontaneity within the framework of your plans, and be open to unexpected discoveries along the way. Overcoming the habit of over-preparation Overcoming the habit of over-preparation requires a delicate balance between readiness and allowing space for spontaneity to flourish. While meticulous planning can instill confidence and ensure readiness for important projects or meetings, excessive preparation can become a hindrance rather than an asset. Drawing from the principles of the Marine Corps' 70% Rule, which emphasizes that: You take action on any decision when you have 70% confidence in the success of the decision, we can apply a similar mindset to our preparation process. Instead of striving for absolute certainty, we can aim for a level of preparedness that allows for flexibility and adaptation when necessary. This approach saves time and creates opportunities for unexpected magic to unfold. Here are some strategies to help combat the tendency to over-prepare: Track your time: Take stock of how much time you allocate to preparation tasks and evaluate whether it aligns with the importance and complexity of the project. This awareness can help you streamline your preparation process and avoid unnecessary time sinks. Take stock of how much time you allocate to preparation tasks and evaluate whether it aligns with the importance and complexity of the project. This awareness can help you streamline your preparation process and avoid unnecessary time sinks. Have a partner: Seek input from a trusted colleague or mentor who can offer an objective perspective on your preparation efforts. Their insights can help you gauge whether your level of readiness is appropriate or excessive. Seek input from a trusted colleague or mentor who can offer an objective perspective on your preparation efforts. Their insights can help you gauge whether your level of readiness is appropriate or excessive. Determine your triggers: Reflect on the situations or factors that trigger your inclination to over-prepare. Whether it's pressure from a demanding client or a fear of failure, understanding these triggers can empower you to address them proactively and adopt healthier preparation habits. Reflect on the situations or factors that trigger your inclination to over-prepare. Whether it's pressure from a demanding client or a fear of failure, understanding these triggers can empower you to address them proactively and adopt healthier preparation habits. Create a framework: Develop a preparation framework that outlines the essential elements to cover while leaving room for flexibility and improvisation. This framework serves as a guide to ensure thoroughness without succumbing to unnecessary detail. Develop a preparation framework that outlines the essential elements to cover while leaving room for flexibility and improvisation. This framework serves as a guide to ensure thoroughness without succumbing to unnecessary detail. Rip the band-aid off: Challenge yourself to enter low-risk situations with minimal preparation and observe the outcomes. This hands-on approach allows you to test the validity of your preparation habits and discover that not every endeavor requires exhaustive preparation. In conclusion, embracing the concept of leaving room for magic is not just a whimsical notion; it's a powerful strategy for both personal and professional development. By creating space for spontaneity and serendipity in our lives, we unlock a myriad of opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Whether you're planning a business meeting, working on a creative project, or simply going about your daily routine, remember to pause and ask yourself: Am I 70% confident in the success with this level of preparation? In doing so, you'll discover new pathways to creativity, innovation, and overall satisfaction. So, embrace the unexpected, cherish the moments of spontaneity, and always leave a little room for the magic. EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas Surpassing all previous records, the nation welcomed a total of 9,654,838 visitors in 2023, marking a historic milestone in its journey as a leading global tourism destination. This figure represents a 38% increase over 2022 and a 33% increase compared to the previous 2019 record. The 2023 result reveals a remarkable 17% percent increase in foreign air arrivals, totaling 1,719,980 visitors, compared to 1,470,244 in 2022. This significant growth underscores the increasing appeal of The Bahamas as a premier air travel destination. Sea arrivals also saw an unprecedented surge, with 7,934,858 visitors in 2023, up 43.5% percent from the 5,530,462 who visited by sea the previous year. The distribution of visitors across the 16-island destinations further illustrates the widespread appeal of The Bahamas. New Providence attracted 4,441,540 visitors, up 36%, compared to 2022. Grand Bahama welcomed 559,812 visitors, marking a 44% increase. The Family Islands saw an impressive 40% rise, with 4,653,486 visitors arriving by sea and air. The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, expressed his elation over these achievements. "The Bahamas has not only surpassed its targets but has set new benchmarks in the tourism industry. These figures are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in our tourism sector, the irresistible charm of our islands and the friendliness of our people," said Cooper. The remarkable increase in visitors across all categories - air, sea, and the various island destinations demonstrates the comprehensive appeal of The Bahamas. New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands have all experienced significant growth, showcasing the diverse attractions and experiences available to tourists. "This record-breaking year is a clear indication of The Bahamas' position as a top-tier destination for travelers seeking unparalleled experiences. Our islands offer a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality, making it a favorite of visitors from around the world," Cooper added. Mrs. Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism added "As The Bahamas continues to welcome visitors with open arms, we look forward to building on this momentum. With our commitment to excellence and innovation in the tourism sector, The Bahamas is poised for even greater success in the years to come." Chicago, IL (60637) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A few flurries are possible. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 46F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Clark Art Lecture on Littoral Law WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. On Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 pm, the Clark Art Institute's Research and Academic Program hosts a lecture by Sora Han (University of California, Irvine / Clark Fellow) at 5:30 pm in the Clark's auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center. The free talk examines the colonial law of the high seas and its various doctrines regulating everchanging natural borders between land and water to inform a reading of the break between the oceanic of law's words and how contemporary artists rearticulate them into other aesthetic forms. The focus of Han's lecture is Charles Gaines's Manifestos 4 (2020) and Sky Box II (2020), which break the words of the infamous 1857 Supreme Court opinion, Dred Scott v. Sanford, with alternative rules-based processes of musical and sculptural composition. Breaking law conceptually offers a portal to a mystical realm of legal experience and interpretation beyond nomos into an arranging, translational field of black study. Sora Han is professor of criminology, law & society, comparative literature, and African American studies, and is affiliated faculty with the School of Law at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on the law and history of slavery and abolitionism, and Lacanian psychoanalysis and poetics. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including Letters of the Law?(Stanford University Press 2016); the law casebook, Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law, 3rd Edition (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020); the multimedia essay, Res Nulla Loquitur in b2o (2022); and Mu: 49 Marks of Abolition (Duke University Press 2024). Her first book of poetry, ?: to regard a wave, is forthcoming from Selva Oscura Press in 2024. At the Clark, she will be working on a book project titled Break Law, which explores how a new genre of contemporary art uses the written texts of American jurisprudence to make drawings, sculptures, videos, musical compositions, and other multimedia forms. A 5 pm reception in the Manton Research Center reading room precedes the free program. Abbas Ganbay Deputy Energy Minister Kamal Abbasov said at the 14th International Energy Agency (IEA) - International Energy Forum (IEF) - Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Energy Review Symposium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that Azerbaijan plans to export 4 GW of green energy to Europe at the initial stage, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. Abbasov talked about Azerbaijan's achievements in the energy sector in the use of traditional and renewable energy sources. The Deputy Minister emphasized that Azerbaijan, which will host COP29 this year, pays special attention to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions. As a reminder, the 14th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlook takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 21, 2024. The joint producer-consumer dialogue was hosted by Joseph McMonigle, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum, H.E. Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. The current market volatility and the widening gap between different scenarios make a dialog on energy outlook and market signals more important than ever. The symposium is divided into the following four key sessions. Energy Security, Technology and Sustainability - Scenarios and Markets: Welcome and opening remarks by the host and co-organizers, with IRENA and GECF as invited organizations. Key Perspectives and Benchmarking Findings: Presentation of the key findings of the IEA, OPEC and EIA projections and the IEF benchmarking findings. Trade and investment in energy security, market stability and affordability: Panelists' views on key trends and discussion of how governments and industry can deal with excessive volatility and restore market stability and affordability. Energy Market Policies and Incentives to Achieve Common Goals: Panelists' views and a discussion of harmonized policy approaches to leveraging markets and accelerating an orderly and equitable transition. The annual IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks is part of a broader joint work program agreed by the three organizations and endorsed by Energy Ministers at the 12th International Energy Forum (Cancun, March 2010) as part of the Cancun Declaration. This weekend, young members of the Yakama Indian Nation in Washington will come to Corvallis to present a distinctive musical performance. Its called "Dancing Our Prayers," a program that brings Native American teens together on regional and national trips to share their culture and spirituality. A Place to Sleep, episode 3: Corvallis Do unhoused people know where to go in Corvallis? Well, the city has outlined where they shouldn't be: near creeks, rivers, wetlands, sidewalks or within 20 feet of trees. Students from the program will perform traditional dances and music in full regalia at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 NW 35th St. It's courtesy of Sundays@3, the churchs monthly concert series. For the church's music director, Zachary Duell, the concert is an opportunity to mix up the series performance lineup and shine a light on indigenous music. Its something not heard often enough around the country, (and) certainly our area, he said. Duell has an eye for variety, and usually hosts a range of performances, including jazz, classical and organ recitals. This year, he was looking to do something different, and Native music was at the top of mind. Duell said a Native American member of the church recommended "Dancing Our Prayers," having seen the group perform at a conference in Eastern Oregon. The group is a product of Mending Wings, a nonprofit agency based in the Yakama Nation in Wapato, Washington. The organization primarily works with middle and high school students. Along with musical performances, Mending Wings runs excursions to the Yakama Indian Reservation, exposing youth to the lives of Native people, and runs culture classes that allow Yakama elders to pass down their Indigenous knowledge. That includes language, songs, drumming, crafts and other cultural practices. Its all about empowering Native American youth and revitalizing and retaining culture, according to Mending Wings president and founder, Corey Greaves. "Dancing Our Prayers," led by Dewy Bill, furthers that mission by having young students build bridges between Native and non-Native communities. The main reason why they're part of this is because theyre culture bearers, Bill said. Students are recruited from schools on and off the reservation, and travel around the region for performances about twice a month, according to Bill. But the group also has organized further excursions. In 2021, the group flew to Orlando, Florida, for a performance at Universal Studios, traveling down the Panhandle state afterward to meet with members of the Seminole Nation, Bill said. Mending Wings has also hosted performances in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and as far south as Southern California on the West Coast, Bill said. Both regional and national trips serve a key purpose, according to Greaves. To illustrate, he recalled an exchange between one of his youth members and her grandmother, who asked why she performed for non-Native communities. She told her grandma she was sharing her Yakama identity, her culture and spirituality with people who don't know anything about her. It was a moment that made Greaves especially proud. So, there's this impact of them understanding, 'This is one of my roles within the community; Im taking (my culture) not only to the generations after me here on the rez, but to people all across the country, so they can understand us better,'" Greaves said. "And maybe that dispels stereotypes and myths, and all of that," he added. Those performances are also about instilling in youth a sense of self-respect and confidence, as well as a healthy dose of pride. People often wait after performances to tell students how much they admire their regalia and their music, wanting to learn more. The performers feel affirmed, Greaves said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today. Duell is looking for a community impact too, hoping the performance reaches a broader audience than the Sunday concerts usually attract. I hope that this will draw folks from the community to experience this culture and this history, and just learn and be aware of this rich tradition that exists, Duell said. He also hoped it would spark greater motivation among non-Native communities to learn about tribes in and around Corvallis. The performance is free; donations are accepted. Berkshire Nonprofits See Housing, Recruitment as Critical Needs GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. Housing has become a critical issue that's affecting all aspects of the Berkshire economy. It rose to the top during conversations with state lawmakers last week at a virtual legislative town hall hosted by Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. Lack of affordable housing leads to the nonprofits' other major concern recruitment and retention issues. "What we hear from you as far as your biggest concerns around housing and recruitment and retention is the same issues that we hear from the for-profit sector in the county. So these are very common themes that we are facing these challenges together," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. "I would say for the last few weeks, it feels like I talk about all housing all the time, because we have an opportunity in front of us with the largest bond bill that we've ever had in anything, certainly around housing, and you all adding your voices to back it will be extremely important." Gov. Maura Healey last fall filed a $4 billion Affordable Homes Bill to support new and existing public housing, create a tax credit for homeowners to increase development, and reduce barriers to housing through legislation and executive orders. The bill's goal is to create more than 40,000 homes and preserve and rehabilitate another 27,000 existing units. On the other hand, Healey implemented $375 million in 9C cuts statewide to nonprofits in this budget cycle in the face of falling revenues. Berkshire Theatre Group saw two of its earmarks for wayfinding and demolition cut in half as did the North Adams Council on Aging. "These 9C cuts scare me a little bit. Because it predicts something that's going to happen," said state Rep. John Barrett III. "We can hopefully get some of these funds restored in in both the House and the Senate and, eventually, the governor will approve that. She may end up vetoing, that's a fear that's out there, too. He acknowledged that this would be a tough budget year to get that money back in the House budget and the lawmakers will be probably have a better picture in the next month or so. "You know, when Charlie Baker left office and he sent a check out to everybody in the commonwealth that paid income tax, close to $3.4 billion. Wouldn't it be nice if we can have that $3.4 billion now?" he said. Moderator Thomas Bernard, president of Berkshire United Way, asked Farley-Bouvier to give a brief rundown on the budget process. She pointed out that the lawmakers needed feedback from their constituents. "So when the governor's budget comes out you each of you look at your portion of that budget, because we can't look at those however many thousands of line items fast enough to see where any problems are," she said. "And then please inform us if there's a problem there and they want to like hey, take a look at this. ... "You're educating us and we have meetings with lots of you over the next few weeks about what you're looking for in a budget." Barrett echoed her remarks, saying the governor "whacked" $7 million out of the budget. "See where it's gonna hit, look at the child care and look at the housing programs that are out there. All of those types of things," he said. "Austerity only gets you so far again, because we're worried about the people who do this work of serving the people who are in need in the in the community," said Bernard. "So this is this is really, really important." The lawmakers frequently touched on the topic of what will work in Boston may not in the Berkshires. State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli encouraged communities to come up with a plan to address housing in ways that can be supported within their communities. Farley-Bouvier said they should be paying attention of the governor's commission on housing and what policies and barriers it will be looking at. "Between now and whenever the money gets out the door, I think cities and towns and organizations have an opportunity to develop a plan," Pignatelli said. "I agree with Tricia 1,000 percent. We have a lot of public housing now that is in deplorable shape. People have moved out after 10-15-20 years, and the housing agencies don't even have enough money to change the carpet or paint the walls so somebody new can move in." But what North Adams can support in housing may not be suitable for say, West Stockbridge, he continued. "As you all know, there's several 100 housing needs here in the Berkshires maybe thousands," Pignatelli said. "But I can't think of one agency or one community that wants 1,000 new units. So I've been a big advocate for sprinkling them around." He pointed to the work the Community Development Corp. of South Berkshire has done in scattering 25 or 30 at a time since it's easier to absorb that number rather than 400 or 500 in one location. Nonprofit leaders also pointed to concerns over safety because of the rise of opioid use that can lead to conflict. Licensed clinicians, for example, are "less and less enthused" to provide home services. There's a need for bilingual speakers that's also being affected by slow work authorizations at the federal level. And younger workers are more apt to move as a way to raise their wages. "You can't blame them, because most of the people who work for all of you are not paid that well. Right? And so and then they have to afford housing and they have to afford their medical care because they have terrible insurance," said Farley-Bouvier. Pignatelli said free community college, of which he's been a big supporter, should be a strong factor in workforce development, particularly if the colleges offer certificate programs along with associate degrees. As well as getting away from insisting certain jobs have degrees. "I think hopefully that will start diminishing that student debt argument that's holding them back from achieving a decent job," he said. "So we should be exploring that possibility as well." One nonprofit representative said raising wages to recruit new talent means the existing employees also have to be "stepped up." How do you accomplish that with limited funding? she asked. Bernard said another factor was the cliff effect that affects a lot of people in the nonprofit sector who are receiving public benefits. A salary hike can improve work circumstances but then they lose a child-care voucher. "Career advancement becomes much more fraught, because it's just hard to keep that budget balanced," he said. Other topics covered included the lack of public transportation, the possibility of collaborating on health insurance to bring down costs, the importance of having dedicated personnel to steer projects, joining to use political clout to spark action and collaborating with local governments. "On the issue of collaboration. Indeed, it's easy to play and hard to execute. But that's why Complex problems need us all to come together with a shared vision and with a plan and I think we've identified a number of issues today," said Peter Taylor, president of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, who took over halfway for Bernard. "We're only going to make headway in the Berkshires if we continue to come together and plan and execute." The owners of Maries North Street Eatery and Gallery hold a ribbon cutting recently. Marie's North Street Eatery and Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PreviousNext Marie's North Street Eatery Cuts Ribbon in Pittsfield Well-wishers toast the opening of Marie's North Street Eatery and Gallery. The owners of Maries North Street Eatery and Gallery hold a ribbon cutting recently. PITTSFIELD, Mass.- Maries North Street Eatery and Gallery brings grab-and-go offerings to North Street in a revamped storefront. White it has been open since December, a ribbon cutting was held last week as a formal debut. Owner Neil Davis wanted a place to put my foot down in the community while making social connections. Partner Ashley Marie handles the kitchen and menu curating, focusing on breakfast and lunch favorites. We want to have grab-and-go availability for the downtown worker crowd but also we have a made to order lunch menu, she said. This includes sandwiches, soups, a salad bar, a rotating hot or cold dip, and future made to order breakfast items. The turkey avocado on farmer's bread has been a customer favorite. Former tenant Maria Sekowski wont be found singing karaoke regularly, but the legacy of Marias European Delights is honored with her well-known kielbasa on the menu. There is also a Marias Pantry section with favorites like her packaged pierogis. The new name pays homage to its predecessor. The last week before she closed the business, I sat here with her every day all day and learned her customers, Marie said. I do have a lot of returning customers that came back so I learned what people come in here and look for and mainly we found that it was the kielbasa and the frozen pierogis so they could take home and cook later. She added that her and Sekowski spent a lot of time talking about recipes for soup and kapusta, a Polished cabbage dish, and she will always be there to lend a helping hand while enjoying her retirement. Marias European Delights closed at the end of 2022 after 15 years in business. Sekowski's late husband Krzysztof "Kris" opened the store in Great Barrington in 2007, and, in 2013, it was moved to Pittsfield. The Eastern European deli was known for the smell of homemade soup, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and impromptu musical numbers. Davis, a Veteran entrepreneur, has kept an office in the historic Shipton building for about 10 years and Marie was a formal administrative assistant before they went into business together. He also owns a shredding business in California and has other startup ventures. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fans of Netflixs popular disaster film Leave the World Behind were left concerned after they found themselves in a similar state of affairs to the films leads: without cellular and internet access. On Thursday (22 February) morning, more than 70,000 AT&T customers in the US were impacted by a nationwide mobile phone outage. Some Verizon and T-Mobile customers were also affected. This left people unable to make phone calls, including emergency calls to 911. The state of affairs was reminiscent of the 2023 apocalyptic thriller based on Rumaan Alams 2020 novel of the same name, which follows Amanda and Clay Sandford, played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, as they take their two children Rose and Archie (Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) on a weekend getaway to Long Island, New York. While there, the owner of their luxurious rental home, GH Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myhala Herrold) return to the property under mysterious circumstances, claiming that the city has experienced a blackout. This is how Leave the World Behind started, one tweeted about the outages on Thursday. Literally just watched Leave the World Behind last night and woke up to all 3 cellphone networks being down, a second noted, with a third adding: This AT & T outage is very much giving Leave The World Behind vibes. Nationwide cell phone outage definitely hits different after watching Leave the World Behind, another commented. Following its release, the movie quickly rose to No 1 on the streamer. However, it currently has an audience score of just 35 per cent on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with multiple viewers lodging complaints about its lengthy runtime. Critics, however, remained more favourable. In her four-star review for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey wrote: Esmail goes big and bold with his Hitchcock allusions and showy camera work... Yet nothing quite shows Esmails hand more than Roses chemical-like reliance on Friends, a show which Ruth describes as nostalgic for a time that never existed. Yes, its ironic that the series is currently available on Netflix but thats exactly the kind of thoroughly modern hypocrisy Leave the World Behind revels in. Leave the World Behind is available to stream on Netflix. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Whoopi Goldberg has defended Malia Obamas decision to ditch her famous last name for her creative projects. Last month, the eldest daughter of former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama premiered her debut short film, The Heart, at the Sundance Film Festival. The 18-minute short starring Tunde Adebimpe and Latonya Borsay, is written and directed by the 25-year-old. However, instead of being credited as Malia Obama, she chose to go by her first and middle names: Malia Ann. Her decision has been picked apart by critics who see the switch as an attempt at trying to shield herself from any nepo baby stigma. Addressing the naysayers on the latest episode of The View, Whoopi argued: She knows shes an Obama, why do you care? Why do you care what she calls herself? If she wanted to call herself Jeanette McDonald, she has the right to! If I can be Whoopi Goldberg, she can be whoever the hell she wants to be! Whoopi Goldberg and Malia Obama (Getty Images) Goldbergs real name is Caryn Elaine Johnson. However, in the early years of her career, the comedian renamed herself professionally after a whoopee cushion, she revealed in a 1997 PlayBill interview. I mean, why are people triggered by this kind of stuff? Why are people wasting their time? she said. While Goldbergs co-host Joy Behar mostly agreed, she added: Its not like her last name is Nixon. Her last name has great vibes around it. So she might as well use it. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin considered Behars comment before saying: Damned if you do, damned if you dont. If she went as Malia Obama, theyd be like Shes riding her parents coattails. And I cant think of a bigger shadow to feel like youre living in than the president and first lady of the United States. The Heart is about a grieving man who receives an unusual request from his mother in her will. It is also about lost objects and lonely people and forgiveness and regret, Malia teased in a Meet the Artist video from the festival. But I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things. Before making her directorial debut, Malia worked as a writer on Donald Glovers Prime Video series Swarm. She has also worked as an intern on the HBO series Girls, as well as a production assistant on the TV series Extant, starring Halle Berry. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tiffany Haddish got emotional while defended her decision to travel to Israel in order to learn more about the 7 October attacks and their aftermath. On Tuesday (21 February), the comedian and actor, 44, announced on her Instagram Live page that she was on her way to visit the Middle East. Im gonna meet my future man out there, Haddish said, in a video that was later reposted by Israels official Twitter account. Im going to the Holy Land. Speaking to TMZ, the Girls Trip star said that the reason for her trip was to understand more about what is happening on the ground in the country. I cant believe everything that I read, she said. I need to go see for myself. I want to talk to the actual people thats here, the people that actually experienced the situation that happened on the 7th. The people that actually have family members that are hostages that were taken out of their own homes, that were on their way to work driving from Palestine to Israel, working here on a daily basis, and how they were taken as well. I wanted to talk to the people. I wanted to be with the people. I wanted to see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears. Asked what she had heard since arriving in the region, Haddish responded: Ive learned a lot. Ive learned that people were taken out of their homes. Ive learned that people were taken away from the actual event that was happening. Tiffany Haddish in Las Vegas in February 2024 (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) There were a lot of people killed, but a lot of people were kidnapped from that event. I didnt know that before. Ive learned that there were 100 people that have been freed from being hostages in Gaza, but there are still 100 plus people that are over there. Haddish was then asked whether she would also be looking at Israels retaliation in Gaza, which health officials say has resulted in over 25,000 deaths. Yes, Im going over there too, she replied, growing audibly emotional. Im a firm believer in: Go see with your own eyes before you pass judgement. Go over there cautiously, be cautious, but go see for yourself. I care about both sides. I care about humanity. Human beings. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free I know theres a lot of religious stuff going on, a lot of control of the land, No Jews here, no this there whatever... thats neither here nor there with me. Its about human life, human beings. Human beings, man! Thats what I care about. Thats why Im here. In response to social media critics who argued Haddish was wrong to joke about finding a man in Israel given the seriousness of the situation, the comedian replied: Im here all by myself. Just like I was saying in 2018 when they were asking me about MoNique and her husband, I said I dont do my business like she does her business. Because I dont have a husband. Im all alone! Thats what Im trying to tell you guys. Im doing this all by myself. I dont have a whole family full of men, or a man supporting me. Im doing it on my own. Im learning on my own. For people to say... I have to make light of something that the average female wouldnt do, The average female wouldnt have the courage to go see for themselves. Theres a lot of scary ass b****es out here, and yall can be scared, but Im going to go ahead and follow my instincts, and learn as much as I can learn. Educate myself before I go speaking on subject matters. Last November, Haddish addressed her arrest for a suspected DUI offence and said that it would never happen again. The star was taken into custody after she was found asleep at the wheel of her car for the second time in two years. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Memory would be too contrived a work to buy into if it werent for the talents of Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard. Directed by Mexicos Michel Franco a light provocateur known for his cool-headed portraits of violent retribution against the wealthy its a romantic drama of sorts, in which affection becomes secondary to suffering. Chastain plays Sylvia, a care worker in a facility for disabled people. We first meet her at Alcoholics Anonymous, where shes celebrating 13 years of sobriety by introducing to the group her teenage daughter, Anna (Brooke Timber). Sylvias life is comfortable, if cyclical and stagnant, chopped into listless pieces by Franco and his co-editor, Oscar Figueroa. But the signs of trouble are there: she seems uneasy around her sister, Olivia (Merritt Wever), and compulsively attached to a routine of home alarms and door locks. She denies her daughters most basic requests for independence, and rifles through her bedroom drawers. So, when shes browbeaten into attending a school reunion, unease spills almost naturally into outright terror when a man, Saul (Sarsgaard), sidles up to her seat. She heads home. He follows her back, all the way to her front door, and stays there until morning, resting limply on a pile of spare tyres from the garage next door. Here begins Francos rolling series of revelations, a buffet of traumas served up for the benefit of narrative intrigue. It turns out Sauls motivations were entirely innocent as his brother Isaac (Josh Charles) explains, he has early-onset dementia. It manifests largely, for now, in erratic incidents of confusion and disorientation. However, theres a reason Olivia was so jumpy with him, and an accusation is introduced and then dismissed, in order to make way for even further trauma. The camera holds back in order to watch her, from afar, as she sobs in the middle of a park or in the living room after shes confronted by her estranged and controlling mother (Jessica Harper). Memory is eventually able to surpass all that calculated misery. Chastain and Sarsgaard invest much in the fragile connection that Olivia and Saul eventually build, and find something much more poignant between them. Sauls dementia has left him with little of his present but much of his past of his childhood and his long-deceased wife. In a sense, he still lives there. Sarsgaard shifts sensitively between the energised way he talks about his lost love and the subsequent shutdown his mind experiences when hes forced to confront the fact shes gone. Traumatised: Jessica Chastain in Memory (Bohemia Media) Olivia, too, is stuck, albeit for very different reasons. Chastain allows the grief of a lost girlhood to twist her body inwards, to keep it taut and perpetually on the defence. When Olivia and Sauls timid flirtations inevitably ease into physical passion, the actors move with such innocence and desperation that its hard not to be touched here are two people whose minds struggle to see whats before them, daring to hope that theres still something to build upon. Together, both actors rise above the most blatant of Memorys manipulations. Dir: Michel Franco. Starring: Jessica Chastain, Peter Sarsgaard, Merritt Wever, Brooke Timber, Elsie Fisher, Josh Charles, Jessica Harper. Cert 15, 99 minutes Memory is in cinemas from 23 February Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} If there are no other pleasures to Wicked Little Letters beyond the tomes worth of expletives launched by Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, then so be it. Thats plenty enough to sustain this witty, joyously written piece of forgotten history, scripted by comedian Jonny Sweet. Colman plays Edith Swan, the Littlehampton resident who, in the early 1920s, found herself inundated with vulgar correspondences, peppered with phrases like: The cakes you make look like theyve fallen out of some f***ing sheeps f***ing arsehole. Buckley, in turn, plays Rose Gooding, the Irish immigrant with a colourful turn of phrase, who was dragged into court accused of authoring the letters, on the sole evidence that she seemed rude enough to have done it. Colman and Buckley, clearly, are delighted by the material at hand. They savour every piss country wh*** and foxy-assed rabbit f*****s as they would a monologue by Arthur Miller. These are larger-than-life performances but knowingly so, delivered with a slapstick sensibility that sees Buckley streak naked across the village, aim darts at a mans head, and take a shovel to the face. Colman, meanwhile, offers an indulgent, self-satisfied smile truly, like the cat who just raided the birdcage when the judge refers to her as a pretty, young Christian woman. Here, she gets to demonstrate in minor form the kind of talent that won her the Academy Award for The Favourite. She has a canny ability to take silly, superfluous people, and elevate them in both humanity and tragedy. Wicked Little Letters nods to the post-war shifts in womens societal roles not only in its use of foul language, of course, but in the way a single mother like Rose lives openly and unmarried with another man (Malachi Kirbys Bill). Shes what we feared would come after the war, Edith warns. Yet Edith must also wrangle herself out from under the hand of her domineering father, Edward (Timothy Spall), whos already whittled her mother (Gemma Jones) down into a crumb of a person. Meanwhile, the local woman police officer, WPC Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan), strives to be taken seriously by her dim-witted and chauvinistic colleagues. Really, any form of observation here is secondary to the softer, sweeter little bits of character work, and to the fine-tuned comedic performances where even Tim Keys single scene as an unnervingly soft-spoken priest feels ideally pitched. Its immediately obvious whether Rose is guilty, and who the real culprit might otherwise be, but Sweets script is interested primarily in how a mystery like this might spread across a sleepy, button-down town. Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins and Joanna Scanlan feature as an amusing trio who cant help but poke their noses into the investigation. Gasp: Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman in Wicked Little Letters (Supplied) Its clear, too, that director Thea Sharrock and cinematographer Ben Davis appreciate the kind of talent they have on board. The camera looks up to Colman and Buckley in adulation, often allowing their features to seize the entire frame. Heres a film that understands perfectly well that the two of them are all we need to enjoy ourselves. Dir: Thea Sharrock. Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, Timothy Spall. Cert 15, 100 minutes Wicked Little Letters is in cinemas from 23 February For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The resignation of thousands of striking junior and trainee doctors in South Korea in response to a government initiative to increase medical student admissions has left the healthcare system in disarray. The government said on Monday it was ready to take legal action against the striking trainee doctors after a prior ultimatum failed to break the deadlock. About 70 per cent of the countrys junior and trainee doctors, totalling around 9,000, have been on strike since 20 February, disrupting medical services and emergency departments. South Korea has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios among major economies and recently the government proposed to add 2,000 slots to the current annual quota of 3,000 medical students. The plan was immediately criticised by doctors, who took to the streets to protest with signs that read end of healthcare. The striking doctors argue this expansion wont solve the actual shortages in certain specialities, where conditions and pay are poor, and could degrade medical service quality. The government had previously warned the doctors of potential administrative and legal consequences, including the possibility of having their medical licenses suspended, and facing fines or imprisonment if they did not return to work by the end of last month. On Monday, health minister Cho Kyoo-hong announced that officials will conduct hospital inspections to ascertain if doctors have resumed their duties, vowing to enforce the law and take action according to the law and principle without exception. During a broadcasted briefing, he warned that doctors who have not returned to work could face significant repercussions affecting their professional careers. We are deeply disappointed and concerned that the collective action by trainee doctors has led to a disruption in medical services, vice health minister Park Min-soo said at a news briefing recently. We cannot give justification to the actions of the doctors leaving their patients behind to protest a policy despite knowing what the collective action could result in. He added that the government was deeply disappointed in the situation where trainee doctors are refusing to work. The government had asked doctors to return to work, issuing direct orders and threatening legal actions against those leading the strike. In fact, emergency measures to mitigate the impact on healthcare services have been introduced, including telemedicine expansion and the utilisation of military hospitals. South Koreas health ministry announced it will permit telemedicine services across all hospitals and clinics to address the challenges posed by the walkout by trainee doctors. The medical system has been collapsing for a while, Park Dan, the head of the Korean Intern Residents Association told The New York Times. He resigned from his job at the emergency wing of Severance Hospital in Seoul on Monday. I couldnt see a future for myself working in emergency for the next five or 10 years. Doctors warned the government they will take unbearable steps and could walk off the job indefinitely if the government continues to threaten interns and residents opposing its plan, according to The Korea Times. Earlier, South Korea escalated its health alert to the highest level in response to the widespread strike. The prime minister also announced that public hospitals would increase their operational hours to tackle the increasing pressures on the healthcare infrastructure. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Korea Medical Association (KMA), representing the majority of doctors in South Korea, made the statement after the ruling People Power Party (PPP) said theyll take strict action against striking doctors. We express strong regret over the governments inappropriate comments threatening to revoke licenses and discouraging the individuals will to voluntarily step down as a trainee doctor, the KMAs emergency committee said. If they continue to intimidate, we warn that we could seek legal action, the committee added. On Sunday, thousands of South Korean doctors participated in a large-scale demonstration organised by the Korean Medical Association [KMA], which speaks for private practitioners, openly challenging government demands for striking trainee doctors to resume their duties. We have nowhere to retreat any more. We will not just sit idly by the government acting undemocratic, Lee Jeong-geun, the interim head of the KMA, said on Sunday. Kim Taek-woo, head of the KMA emergency committee, told reportersearlier: By collection action, we dont mean a day off, but an indefinite strike. A proposal in 2020 to increase medical school admissions by 4,000 students over a decade sparked similar protests and a strike, ultimately resulting in the abandonment of the plan. According to 2022 data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], doctors in South Korea are among the highest earners globally, with specialists at public hospitals averaging nearly $200,000 (159,000) annually. This salary significantly surpasses the national average income. However, some have also criticised the striking doctors. More doctors mean more competition and reduced income for them... that is why they are against the proposal to increase physician supply, Prof Kwon Soon-man, a public health expert at Seoul National University told BBC. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) South Koreas president Yoon Suk-yeol asked the doctors to go back to their jobs and said that they were taking peoples lives and health hostage. The plan to boost admissions to medical schools is a component of a broader health care policy strategy unveiled by Mr Yoon several months ahead of an important parliamentary vote in April. As he has maintained his position against the medical professionals, his approval rating has slightly risen. Public opinion in South Korea appears largely supportive of the governments plan, contrasting with the medical communitys concerns over the implications for healthcare quality and working conditions. A Gallup Korea poll last week revealed that 76 per cent of the respondents reacted positively to the governments plan for medical school quota expansion. Observers note that the existing structure of insurance and government reimbursements enables only doctors in certain fields, such as cosmetic surgery, to earn a substantial income. Moreover, the doctors opposing the governments plan argue that boosting the number of medical professionals could inadvertently foster increased competition, potentially resulting in the overtreatment of patients. Authorities have temporarily revoked the medical licenses of two high-ranking officials from the Korea Medical Association. They have reportedly been warned that these licenses will be permanently revoked if investigations confirm they incited the strike. Police have also indicated they might arrest the strikes organisers. We are considering measures that involve cooperating with prosecutors to indict and arrest the leaders of the medical community who are responsible for the mass resignations, Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said during a press conference. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Earlier this week, reports of disruptions in medical services across the country were being shared widely, with Severance Hospital, among the nations largest healthcare facilities, announcing reductions in services and the cancellation of half of its scheduled surgeries. Hong Jae-ryun, a brain cancer patient in his 50s from Daegu, reported that his chemotherapy treatments have been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing situation, despite the cancer spreading to his lungs and liver. Its absurd. In the midst of the conflict between the government and doctors, what can powerless patients say? It feels like a betrayal, Mr Hong was quoted as saying by AFP. When there is no one to trust and rely on other than doctors, it seems excessive to handle things in this manner. Another patient, Lee Jin-wook, 52, who is scheduled to undergo brain surgery at Severance Hospitals Sinchon location told Hankyoreh Shimbun: All around the ward, patients and their families are talking about surgeries being delayed. It looks like theyre pushing back all non-essential operations. It is particularly troubling for patients who live outside Seoul and regularly travel to the capital for treatment. Originally, we scheduled an operation for the beginning of March. But the strike has pushed that back to the end of March, one person identified as Cho, 44, a resident of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province told The Korea Times. Chos father is being treated for esophageal cancer at Gangnam Severance Hospital. We tried contacting other hospitals, as my father needs his operation as soon as possible, but they all turned us down, Mr Cho added. My father managed to get his first session of checkup today, but the operation schedule really concerns me. The patients really have no choice or power, he said. Physicians from Gyeonggi province gathered for a demonstration in central Seoul. They wore red headbands bearing the message (We) fiercely oppose the expansion of medical school admissions and displayed banners with the words Stop populist healthcare policies pushed by socialist leftist scholars and bureaucrats. Hankyoreh Shimbun quoted a Severance Hospital insider as saying that emergency surgeries [at hospitals in Sinchon and Gangnam] are being conducted as normal, but surgeries in other departments are under 50 per cent capacity. Meanwhile, it is the nurses who have been left to manage the patients at the hospitals and clinics in the absence of doctors. They too have called for doctors to resume their duties, despite expressing their opposition to the reform. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Korean Young Nurses Association appealed to doctors sense of duty to their patients in a social media post stating: Do not ignore your conscience toward the patients being left behind. Kim Jae-heon, the secretary-general of a non-profit organisation that promotes free medical care and counts medical doctors among its members, criticised the mass resignation of trainee doctors as unjustified. Opposing the expansion of medical school admissions to ensure greater profitability by reducing competition when they establish their own practices in the future is unlikely to garner public support, he said. Joo Soo-ho, a spokesman of the Korean Medical Association, said last month that under current conditions, it was impossible for doctors to take care of patients with a sense of mission. The World Medical Association, a group representing physicians, said in a statement on Sunday it strongly condemns the actions of the Korean Government in attempting to stifle the voices of elected leaders within the Korean Medical Association, adding it affirmed the right of doctors to collective action, including strikes. The Independent has reached out to the Korea Medical Association for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Some of Indias states have banned candy floss and others are preparing to over concerns that an artificial dye used for colouring the popular sweet has a cancer-causing substance. Tamil Nadu in southern India banned the sale of the sweet last week after lab tests revealed it contains Rhodamine-B, a cancer-causing substance. Puducherry, a union territory, also banned the famous childrens treat while other states are preparing to conduct their tests on the candy popular with children. Tamil Nadus health minister Ma Subramanian said in a statement last week that the lab tests revealed the presence of Rhodamine-B, present in an industrial dye added to the candy as an artificial colouring agent. He said that as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, this was confirmed to be substandard and unsafe food. Rhodamine-B is linked to an increased risk of cancer and is banned in food products in Europe and California. P Satheesh Kumar, designated officer, Food Safety Department, Chennai, was quoted as saying by The Hindu: It [Rhodomine-B] 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. Andhra Pradesh and Delhi are also considering banning cotton candy to protect public health. Andhra Pradeshs food safety commissioner said earlier this week that samples are scheduled for testing this week. Following the outcomes of these tests, a decision regarding its ban will be made. Earlier this month, an order issued by Puducherrys lieutenant governor Tamilisai Soundararajan stated that sellers who obtain a quality certificate from the food safety department can continue to sell cotton candy. Those who have not got the quality certificate can immediately approach the food safety department and get it. After that, they can start selling cotton candy. The faster they get the food safety certification, the faster they can start their business. Until then, the sale of cotton candy is banned, the order read. Mr Soundararajan added in a video appeal to people: We have directed officials to inspect shops that are selling cotton candies, and they will be seized if the presence of this toxic substance is found in the cotton candies. According to the National Library of Medicine website, Rhodamine-B ingestion can lead to oxidative stress, injury, increase in cell apoptosis and brainstem. It adds that 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. 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 Singaporean woman died in a go-karting incident during her birthday trip to Indonesia's Batam island. Indonesian police said they were investigating the incident in which 33-year-old Arini Mohamed Adinan died at the Golden City Go Kart in Bengkong. Adinan was on a birthday trip with her friends in Batam when the incident took place around 3.30pm (local time) on Wednesday, just a day after she celebrated her birthday, The Straits Times reported. The woman was making high-speed laps when she hit a barrier lined with tyres, according to senior superintendent Zahwani Pandra Arsyad, a spokesperson for the Riau Islands. Witnesses saw the victim in a go-kart with the number 14 and driving two laps around the track, he said. She was speeding and her go-kart hit the barrier in the circuit. The witness, who is a staff at the venue, approached the victim and saw strands of the woman's hair stuck in one of the rear wheels of the cart. The woman's helmet flew off during the crash. The woman was rushed to a nearby medical facility, where she was pronounced dead. Her body was taken back to Singapore on Thursday. The local police said they would take action if any negligence was found on the go-karting operator's part. "In principle, operators of tourist attractions should have standard operating procedures that take care of the environment, health and safety (of the visitors), the spokesperson said. Every such operator when carrying out his duties must supervise and manage the places visited by tourists. Mohamed Redzwan, the brother of the victim, told Berita Harian: "We are really shocked and saddened when we were told of the incident. We were unaware of her movements in Batam. The last time we met was on Tuesday when I returned from work, and she had to leave the house at 1pm. The headline of this article was changed on 26 February 2024. It originally stated incorrectly that the accident happened in Singapore, when it happened in Indonesia. 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 }} An astronaut sweetly offered words of wisdom to a six-year-old child who was bullied by his classmates for wearing space-themed shirts. The astronaut, Jose Hernandez, shared his candid advice in a recent video posted to his daughter Vanessas TikTok. The clip started with a video posted by a woman named Meg, who could be seen hugging her younger brother after he was teased at school. Just me crying because my six-year-old brother came home from school and threw away all his shirts with outer space, [and] shirts with astronauts and planets on them, because some kids keep calling them stupid, Meg wrote in the text over her video. In Vanessas clip, her father then stepped in, introducing himself as astronaut Jose Hernandez. While wearing his blue astronaut suit, which had his name and the Nasa logo on it, he encouraged the six year old to keep wearing his astronaut-themed clothes. Hernandez also opened up about the scrutiny he faced when he was younger for being interested in space. I wanna tell you to still keep wearing your clothes that have space, rockets, and planets, he said. If I would have listened to my friends when I told them I wanted to be an astronaut and they said it was a dumb idea, I would have never been able to wear this flight suit and go up into space. He then described some of the career opportunities hes had, noting that he flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery, a retired American aircraft, to the International Space Station for 14 days on a mission. Hernandez also recalled that while it was difficult for him to reach this milestone, he was still determined to do so. It took me 12 attempts, he said about reaching the International Space Station. But I never gave up. Even when my friends said it was a silly idea, I just kept going forward and forward and forward. Hernandez once again told the six year old not to be afraid of wearing [his] space-themed clothes, before adding: You should be proud of them. He then concluded to the child: Hopefully, if you study hard, Ill see you working at Nasa with me. The video of Hernandez has quickly gone viral on TikTok, with more than 11m views, as of 21 February. In the comments, many people went on to praise Hernandezs remarks, while pointing out how social media brought him and the six-year-old boy together. This is an A++ human interaction, Microsoft Education wrote, while another viewer added: I would literally cry if an astronaut sent me a video hyping me up. This is the sweetest, someone else wrote, while one viewer added: As an aerospace engineer, this makes my heart happy. While other fans emphasised how much they loved Hernandez, they also pointed out that they recently watched A Million Miles Away, which is about the astronauts career. The film which features Michael Pena as Hernandez follows the astronauts journey towards becoming a crew member on the Space Shuttle mission STS-128. After Hernandezs advice went viral, Meg then shared a TikTok video of her six-year-old brothers response. In the clip, Meg and her brother could be seen watching Hernandezs video, while the child is seen smiling and laughing. In the caption, Meg addressed how Hernandezs video made a difference, writing: [My brother] got a little silly but he cant believe a real astronaut saw his video!! Afterwards he said okay maybe Ill wear my space shirts. According to his bio on Nasa, Hernandez was a part of the STS-128 Discovery, which took place from 29 August to 11 September 2009. The occasion was also the 128th Shuttle mission and the 30th mission to the International Space Station. In addition, while the crew at the orbital outpost, they rotated an expedition crewmember, attached the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), and transferred over 18,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the station. 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 }} Barry Keoghan is sticking with the whole naked thing, and his fans are loving it. The 31-year-old actor was one of Vanity Fairs cover stars for their 30th annual Hollywood issue. And while other Hollywood favourites like Bradley Cooper, Jenna Ortega, and DaVine Joy Randolph were pictured in elegant garb, the Saltburn lead went nude. In the outlets Instagram promotion of their latest edition, 11 A-listers were filmed in front of a green screen that was made to look like the VF cover. Natalie Portman, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Jodie Comer, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Melton, and the three previously mentioned others causally passed before Keoghan was seen mooning the camera. His lack of clothes was a nod to the on-screen regulars iconic final scene in Emerald Fennels film, where he dances around the Saltburn mansion naked. Just as they enjoyed the Irish entertainers end performance in the comedic thriller, fans were pleasantly wowed by his magazine feature. OMG BARRY, one excited individual wrote, while another commented: Barry at the end I cant even. Yall at that. The way my jaw dropped at Barry, a third enamoured Instagram user added. One blunt individual exclaimed: Barry is UNHINGED. Barry said lets break the internet, an obsessed enthusiast said. The Killing of the Sacred Deer star is also gracing the cover of W Magazines Directors Issue alongside Emerald Fennel. Yet, in this shoot, hes much more clothed and shielded. Keoghan dons knight armour, gloves included. In a conversation with Lynn Hirschberg ahead of the issue release, Keoghan revealed intimate details about his life his fans might not already know about him. However, his type confession in terms of romantic partners isnt as much of a surprise when you think about the women hes dated and his now rumoured girlfriend. When asked who his old movie star crush was, Keoghan admitted: Marilyn Monroe. Ive got a type. You know what I mean? he continued. As of recently, Keoghan is speculated to be dating Sabrina Carpenter another bold blonde artist. And before Carpenter, he had dated another blonde woman, Alyson Sandro, for three years. 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 }} Some people have a rule when searching for a place to eat that they wont go beyond a certain price range, but one group of diners had a different idea. Daniel recently took to TikTok to share an experience he and his friend had with a restaurant that they thought was too expensive. No shame, baby, were poor and proud, he captioned his clip. The video shows Daniel and his friend walking out of a restaurant as both of them explain why they are leaving. Id just like to document this because Im man enough to admit it, he said. We just walked into a restaurant that we couldnt afford, so here we are leaving. And Ill do it again with our heads held high! Were going to the next restaurant, baby! the TikTok ended. Daniels video went on to receive over one million views, with many people turning to the comments to applaud the decision to leave instead of ordering and paying the restaurants prices. Ballers that know their budget, baby, one commenter praised the two for leaving. Another commenter agreed, writing, Normalize this. Nothing to be ashamed of. Well done! Too many people wouldve just stayed and gone into debt for a dinner just to save face, a third commenter pointed out. A few commenters suggested that restaurants should find ways to prevent this from happening. Thats why restaurants should post their menus outside. so you can gauge their range, declared a user. Even a server chimed in by mentioning that they appreciate customers that make decisions like these instead of complaining about the price to a manager or server. Yall are my favorite type of customers the ones that dont complain to me as if i control the prices, they wrote. This isnt the first time a server has taken to the platform. Recently, Syd, under the username @poorandhungry, took to TikTok to reenact a situation she had with a set of customers in a restaurant. This happened at every brunch shift Ive ever worked, the TikToker captioned her video, indicating that it was a regular occurrence. In the video, she was playing the role of both the customers and herself as she began to ask the group as a server if she could get them started with coffee or mimosas. We brought our own coffees I hope thats fine, the customer said, before asking Syd for warm water. The server went on to explain that they were in a restaurant and couldnt allow outside food and beverages. Looks like youre almost done with your coffee, so its whatever, she said, visibly annoyed. Maybe we can get started with some things that are on our menu. This time the customer replied saying that they brought their own granola bar and that they would only be sitting there for a few minutes. Syd then asked if this meant they needed a few more minutes with the menu when the customer replied, Wow, servers really have turned into salespeople nowadays. Yeah, well just keep our money in our pockets. This isnt a public place. Will you be ordering from our restaurant? the server asked. When the customer refused to order, Syd accused her of trespassing. If youre not planning on actually dining with us, may I ask why youre here? she asked. When the customer said that they were there to chat up a longtime friend, Syd gave them a 15-minute grace period before advising her to go to a nearby Starbucks. 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 }} Fashion designer Katharine Hamnett has thrown away her CBE due to what she considers Britains part in Israels ongoing assault on Gaza. The designer, known for her political slogan T-shirts, expressed her disgust with the British governments response to the killings and destruction in the Palestinian state since 7 October, when Hamas attacked Israel. Hamnett, 76, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion industry in the 2011 New Year Honours. However, she did away with her medal in a video posted on Tuesday (20 February), while wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase: DISGUSTED TO BE BRITISH. Im disgusted to be British for our role in genocide in Gaza, the 76-year-old designer says to the camera with her medal in hand, outside of a residential property. This is my CBE. It belongs in the dustbin, with [Rishi] Sunak and [Keir] Starmer. The clip then shows Hamnett opening the lid of the waste bin before casually dropping the medal inside. Directing her followers to visit the parliamentary monitoring site theyworkforyou.com, Hamnett adds: Find your MP and tell them youll never vote for them again unless they support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. British designer Katharine Hamnett throws CBE in the bin (Instagram / Katharine Hamnett) Hamnett then informs viewers as to where her T-shirt can be purchased. The designer has long used fashion to engage with political and social issues. She launched her T-shirts, often decorated with large punchy slogans, in 1983. Her iconic CHOOSE LIFE slogan has been worn by acts such as Wham! and Queens Roger Taylor. Hamnetts post was made shortly before a chaotic House of Commons session on Wednesday (21 February), in which the SNP pressed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Labour responded by tabling an amendment to the motion on top of the governments, with Speaker Sir Linday Hoyle deciding to select the partys amendment for a vote and debate. His decision angered the SNP, who felt their opposition day had been hijacked by the speaker. Although Hamnett points to the horrors in Gaza as the key motivation for her disgust in the clip, a subsequent social media post from the designer shed further light on additional reasons behind the frank messaging of her new T-shrits. Complicity in genocide, ending aid to Gaza, appalling treatment of refugees, mixing up anti-Zionism with antisemitism, making boycott illegal, poor political leadership, the treatment of Julian Assange, she wrote in a post shared to Instagram on Wednesday (21 February). To officially relinquish her status as a commander of the British Empire, Hamnett must write to the forfeiture committee, which will amend the register. The King must formally sign off on the amendment before it is enacted. 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 }} Mischa Barton confirmed that she and her The OC co-star Ben McKenzie had a complicated off-screen romance. On Wednesdays episode of Call Her Daddy, the 38-year-old actor came clean about the nature of her relationship with her on-screen paramour and love interest. She shared what it was like coming onto the set of the Fox series as the youngest cast member, saying that she felt like she had to grow up quickly. I went into that a virgin, a kid, really feeling like I needed to grow up quickly, she said. Acting with people older than me was a bit like, Oh wow. They know what theyre doing. And theres gonna be relationships on this show and youre gonna need to play that part, and I didnt feel really ready for that cause I was always a really late bloomer in school and I hadnt really dated. At the time, Barton said that she felt that she had no idea what I was doing. She noted that she tried to compensate for being the youngest, So I felt like I needed to catch up I think a lot of the time. With her experiencing a lot of her firsts and her mom being on set, things were tricky between her and her co-stars, including Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody. I was experiencing all my firsts and I was so young and my mom would be on set and ... I just needed a lot more attention in that sense. She added, It was a lot of my firsts, lets put it like that. And that kind of really separated me, a little, from them, in the sense that I wasnt out there living on my own in LA yet. One of her firsts was with her love interest McKenzie, who was 25 at the time while she was 17. And I had no idea what I was doing, she said of her relationship with the now-45-year-old actor. I think that kind of set things off on the wrong foot, too, because it was like you know people hook up on these shows and whatever, these things happen, but it was we threw ourselves all into it very fast. Because the pair had coupled up right out of the gate, things became complicated on set after they split up. I felt overwhelmed and not ready for any of that, she told Cooper. I remember they were like, Mischas disappeared with Ben and shes only 17 and a half, 18, and the producers went to my parents and were like... it was kind of a whole ordeal. Barton added that her three-season run on the show felt like a lifetime. She said it was like seven years, explaining that the experience was crammed into this tiny little space and starting a show by dating her costar made things worse. Thats in the very beginning of the show before were even halfway through a season, she noted. So there was a lot going on there. That show ... so much happened in three seasons. This isnt the first time Barton addressed how she lost her virginity. In a 2021 essay for Harpers Bazaar UK, Barton got candid about how she felt like she was pressured to lose her virginity while she was on the show because she felt like a fraud being a virgin playing wealthy party girl Marissa, whom Barton described as fast and loose. 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 }} Republican senators in Georgia want to cull sexually explicit books from schools, ban sex education for younger students, display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and allow religious chaplains to counsel teachers and students. The measures, which passed Senate committees Wednesday, could spark contentious debate ahead of a key legislative deadline next week. Many of them mimic measures passed in other states, part of a broad GOP effort to reshape education. Its not clear if the bills would be favorably received in Georgia's traditionally more moderate House. But even if they don't pass, they will give Republican senators a chance to display their conservative stripes in an election year where some could face primary challenges. Heres a look at the measures, each of which will go to the full Senate for consideration: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS Public schools would be banned from acquiring any materials that depict sex acts after Dec. 1 under Senate Bill 394, dubbed the Clean Libraries Act by its sponsor, Senate Education Committee Chairman Clint Dixon. It has to do with sexual content in books, said Dixon, a Buford Republican. Heterosexual, homosexual, any of that, we dont want to expose our kids to any of that when theyre minors. The measure passed by the Education Committee would ban distribution of any sexual materials to students in sixth grade and below and restrict them for seventh grade and above. At least some materials deemed necessary for teaching could be accessed by older students with written parental permission. The rules would apply to books, videos, sound recordings, websites or other electronic material. Materials of great religious or historical significance may be exempt if they dont portray sexually explicit material in a patently offensive way. The measure would create a council to set standards and restrict materials. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR LIBRARIANS Senate Bill 154, also passed by the Education Committee, would subject K-12 librarians to criminal penalties if they violate state obscenity laws. Current law exempts public librarians, as well as those who work for public schools, colleges and universities, from penalties for distributing material that meets Georgias legal definition of harmful to minors. The bill makes school librarians subject to penalties only if they knowingly give out such material. The sponsor, Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming, says Georgia shouldnt have a double standard allowing for the prosecution of teachers for obscenity but not librarians down the hall. The bill was amended to let librarians argue that they should be exempt from prosecution if schools review every item in a library for obscenity. Sen. Ed Setzler, the Acworth Republican who offered the amendment, said the measure creates an incentive for schools to scrub their libraries. SEX EDUCATION School districts could drop sex education and students would only be enrolled if parents specifically opt in under Senate Bill 532, which the Education Committee also passed. Dixon's measure would ban all sex education in fifth grade and below. It would keep the requirement for age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education. This bill protects our kids and keeps our children from premature education on sexual topics for children who are 10 to 11 years old or younger, said Chelsea Thompson, a lawyer for the Christian conservative group Frontline Policy Institute. Currently state sex education standards call for little explicit discussion of human reproduction below eighth grade, although second graders are supposed to learn the names of all body parts and appropriate boundaries around physical touch. Fifth graders are supposed to learn about puberty, and most mandated sex education happens in a high school health course. The bill would require the state Board of Education to set new standards and let any school district refuse to teach sex education. Instead of the current parental opt-out system for sex education, it would be opt-in. SCHOOL CHAPLAINS Public schools would be able to use chaplains under Senate Bill 379, which passed the Government Oversight Committee. Chairman and bill sponsor Marty Harbin, a Tyrone Republican, said chaplains provide an outlet for conversations that students dont feel comfortable having with counselors. We need good, sound counsel sometimes, or just a friend to talk to. Isolation is a real problem today, Harbin said. The bill would leave it to school districts to decide whether to hire chaplains or accept volunteers, and to determine qualifications for chaplains. Democrats expressed concerns about qualifications for chaplains, as well as whether they are appropriate for schools. How are we going to verify that these chaplains are prepared for secular spaces? said Sen. Nabilah Islam Parks, a Democrat from Duluth. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION The Government Oversight Committee also advanced a bill that would ban the spending of public money on the American Library Association. Sen. Larry Walker III, a Perry Republican, has said Senate Bill 390 is needed because he believes the association is a radical, left-leaning organization. The move comes among other attempts nationwide by Republicans to cut ties to it. Walker amended his original bill to let Valdosta State University continue paying for ALA accreditation for its masters degree in library science after university officials warned that losing accreditation would wreck the program and drive students out of state. Walker had also originally proposed to abolish state certification for librarians, but his amended bill shifts certification to the Georgia Council of Public Libraries. TEN COMMANDMENTS The Government Oversight Committee also advanced a bill that would add the Ten Commandments to the list of historic civic documents schools are encouraged to display, alongside texts like the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address. To be ignorant of the Ten Commandments is actually to be uneducated, because they are a foundation of all law, said Harbin, the sponsor of Senate Bill 501. The measure enshrines the text of the Ten Commandments found in the Protestant King James Version of the Bible. Other Christian and Jewish texts have different versions. Harbin said displaying the precepts would encourage virtue: These have been hidden to us, to a great degree, and from our people and from our students. 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 number of antisemitic incidents registered in Denmark since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that ignited the war in Gaza has reached levels not seen since World War II, the head of the Scandinavian country's small Jewish community said Thursday. We have seen the the biggest antisemitic wave in Denmark since 1943, when Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, Henri Goldstein, head of the 1,800-strong Jewish Community, told The Associated Press on Thursday. That was the year some 7,200 Danish Jews were evacuated to neutral Sweden to prevent their deportation to a Nazi concentration camp, leaving almost no Jews in Denmark. The figures, compiled by the community's security organization, were on a par with reports in other European countries. Goldstein said that "after Oct. 7, we have seen antisemitism on steroids. We have seen a violent escalation, not least fueled by the uncontrolled spread of hatred on social media, he said, adding that in 2023, all 121 incidents were Jew-hatred - and not 'just criticism of Israel.' Of the 121 incidents, 20 were death threats which we have not since since the 1980s, Goldstein said, referring to threats made then against two leading figures in the Jewish community - an editor-in-chief and the chief rabbi. Jews in Denmark were advised not to wear Jewish symbols openly, Goldstein said. Most of the cases involved hate messages, more than half of them online. The report only mentioned known cases of antisemitism but the community said that the vast majority of antisemitic incidents are never reported." Many European countries have registered a rise in reported antisemitic acts and comments since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. There are currently up to 7,000 Jews in Denmark. Denmark, which was occupied by Nazi Germany from April 1940 to May 1945, was one of the few European countries whose Jewish population was largely saved from the Holocaust. About 95% of Denmarks Jewish population managed to escape by crossing the narrow waterway from northeastern Denmark to neutral Sweden in a risky rescue mission between September and October 1943. 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 }} Albanias Parliament votes Thursday on a deal with Italy to hold thousands of migrants rescued in international waters by the Italian authorities while their asylum applications are processed. Under the five-year deal, Albania would shelter up to 3,000 migrants at any one time. With asylum requests expected to take around a month to process, the number of asylum-seekers sent to Albania could reach up to 36,000 in a year. Two processing centers will be set up in Albania at a cost to Italy of more than 600 million euros (about $650 million) over five years. With Albanian Prime Minister Edi Ramas left-wing Socialist Party holding 74 of Parliaments 140 seats, the deal is expected to pass. The president will also issue a decree as the final step of approval. A group of 30 lawmakers attempted to block ratification by appealing to the Constitutional Court, but in late January the court said a deal could go ahead. Italys lower chamber of parliament approved the deal in January, followed by the Senate earlier this month. The agreement, signed in November between Rama and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, is part of Melonis efforts to share the burden of addressing migration with other European countries. It was endorsed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen but has been widely criticized by human rights groups. The two facilities in Albania would be fully run by Italy while it fast-tracks their asylum requests. Meloni has said she expects them to become operational by the spring of 2024. Italy would remain legally responsible for the migrants throughout the process. It would welcome them in should they be granted international protection or organize their deportation from Albania if refused. Those picked up within Italys territorial waters, or by rescue ships operated by non-governmental organizations, would retain their right under international and EU law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there. Rama has said that Albania stands beside Meloni in a sign of gratitude on behalf of Albanians who found refuge in Italy and escaped hell and imagined a better life following the collapse of communism in Albania in the 1990s. Italy has sought more solidarity from fellow European Union nations to help it handle the increasing number of arrivals. The number of migrants arriving in Italy by boat had nearly doubled to about 160,000 compared to the same period a year ago. ___ Follow Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini ___ Follow APs coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration 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 Los Angeles City Ethics Commission unanimously rejected a proposed settlement between the city and Les Moonves on Wednesday, saying a tougher penalty is warranted for the former CBS chief executive accused of interfering with a police investigation into sexual assault allegations against him. Moonves had agreed to pay an $11,250 fine to settle the ethics commission complaint, which alleged that he worked closely with a police department official to obtain information about a sexual assault victims confidential police report. Ethics commission staff worked with Moonves on the proposed fine, but it still needed approval by the volunteer panel that oversees the commission, the Los Angeles Times reported. The commissioners felt that the extremely egregious nature of the allegations warranted a stronger penalty, ethics commission president Jeffrey Daar said. A Moonves representative declined to comment to the Times on Wednesdays action. According to documents released last Friday, Moonves acknowledged working closely with then-Capt. Cory Palka of the Los Angeles Police Department in 2017 to get details of the police report. Palka, who had provided private security for Moonves between 2008 and 2014 at the Grammy Awards, which CBS produced, notified network officials about the complaint against the executive in November 2017, the documents show. Through Palka, they say, Moonves obtained an unredacted copy of the police report, which also included personal information such as the home address and phone number of the accuser. Moonves also met with Palka for an hour at a restaurant to discuss the complaint and ways to quash it. Moonves was accused of three violations of city rules. Palka retired in 2021 as a commander after nearly 35 years with the LAPD. Los Angeles Government Ethics Ordinance governs the conduct of city employees and forbids them from misusing or disclosing confidential information acquired through their work. Weeks after the #MeToo movement erupted with sex abuse allegations against film mogul Harvey Weinstein in 2017, Phyllis Golden-Gottlieb reported to police in the LAPDs Hollywood Division that she had been sexually assaulted by Moonves in 1986 and 1988 when they worked together at Lorimar Productions. Golden-Gottlieb, who went public with her accusations in 2018, died in 2022. The police interference allegations against Moonves came to light in 2022, when New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement in which CBS and Moonves agreed to pay $30.5 million for keeping shareholders in the dark while executives tried to prevent the sexual assault allegations from becoming public. Moonves acknowledged having relations with three of his accusers but said they were consensual. He denied attacking anyone, saying in a statement at the time, Untrue allegations from decades ago are now being made against me. The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to file criminal charges against Moonves in 2018, saying the statute of limitations from Golden-Gottliebs allegations had expired. 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 }} Almost a year after state lawmakers passed a law giving Floridas governor control over Walt Disney Worlds governing district, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday called the takeover a success, despite an exodus of workers, ongoing litigation and scandal surrounding one of his appointees. DeSantis made a victory lap of sorts during a news conference at Disney World, touting a first-round victory in litigation with Disney over who controls the district, which had been led by Disney supporters for more than five decades until the takeover last year. The governor also said the takeover of the district with his appointees had created more transparency and accountability, reduced the tax burden for Disney and outside shops and restaurants at the theme park resort and made the awarding of contracts by the district more competitive. The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things. That is a win, not just for people in this region, but the state of Florida, DeSantis said. DeSantis' visit to Disney World came three weeks after a federal judge in Tallahassee dismissed Disneys free speech lawsuit against the governor and his appointees to the board of the governing district. Disney is appealing the ruling. Disney had argued that the legislation which transferred control of the district from Disney supporters to DeSantis appointees was in retaliation for the company publicly opposing the states Dont Say Gay law. The 2022 law banned classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who had used Disney as a punching bag in speeches on the campaign trail until he suspended his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination earlier this year. A separate lawsuit over who controls the district is still pending in state court in Orlando. Before control of the district changed hands early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the eleventh-hour deals neutered their powers, and the district sued the company in state court to have the contracts voided. Disney has filed counterclaims that include asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. Since the takeover, around 50 of the district's 370 employees have departed, raising questions about how well the district is able to operate with so many vacancies. Many of the departing workers complained that the district has become politicized, that politically-connected associates have been hired or awarded contracts, and that the backgrounds of the five DeSantis appointees have been distracting. One of the appointees, Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, has been called out for hypocrisy after admitting to a sexual relationship with her husband and another woman, even though the Zieglers very publicly have fought against LGBTQ+ rights. Her husband, Christian Ziegler, recently was ousted as the head of the Republican Party of Florida, and the Sarasota Police Department has asked prosecutors to charge him with illegally video recording the sexual encounter he had with the woman. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on X, formerly known as Twitter: @MikeSchneiderAP. 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 }} Details of deaths in Britains prisons will now be published weekly in a truly momentous improvement in openness and transparency. The prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO) will post weekly updates identifying those who have died, the prison where they were being held and the date of their death. Previously, details of those who have died inside prisons have not been released until an inquest has been held which can take months or even years. The move comes after self-inflicted deaths in prison soared by nearly a quarter last year, according to Ministry of Justice figures. Of 311 deaths in prison during 2023, 93 deaths were recorded as self-inflicted a rise of 22 per cent on the previous year. Self-harm incidents have also soared, with one recorded every seven minutes inside the nations prisons. Overall there were 67,773 self-harm incidents in the 12 months to September 2023, up 17 per cent compared to the previous year. Announcing the change, ombudsman Adrian Usher said he felt it was important to improve transparency and improve public confidence in investigations. He told The Independent: Since I joined the PPO, it has been my goal to be more transparent about our work and in our investigations. I decided to announce the names of deaths we are investigating in order to be more transparent, and to acknowledge the person behind the death at the start of our investigation. We also feel that if we did not name the individual, this might be profoundly upsetting for the families of all living inmates at that institution until they are reassured it is not their loved one. He said the PPO will ensure next of kin has been notified before details are shared, adding: If we get feedback that the announcement is too soon, then we will seek to delay it. My hope is that the public will have more confidence in our investigations and feel reassured that we are investigating circumstances around deaths straight away. On Thursday, the first list of recent deaths was published on the ombudsmans website revealing the watchdog is investigating six deaths which took place during the week until 22 February. They include two deaths at HMP Littlehey, a category C prison for male sex offenders in Cambridgeshire, and further deaths at HMP Lindholme, Serco-operated HMP Fosse Way, HMP Whatton and HMP Northumberland. Further details of the investigation into each fatal incident will continue to be published after inquests have concluded. Mark Leech, editor of The Prisons Handbook for England and Wales, welcomed the move from secrecy to openness however the charity Inquest has raised concerns over the impact on bereaved families. Mr Leech, who wrote a scathing editorial on the failure of the PPO to disclose details of those who have died in custody in the 2023 edition of the annual reference book, said: Make no mistake, this change of ombudsman policy, moving from secrecy to openness in disclosing the details of those who have died inside our prisons within a week of their deaths, is truly momentous. That shocking failure to acknowledge the publics right to know who, where and when someone had died in the custody of [the] state shortly after it happened, has been an issue I have raised with every prisons ombudsman since 2010 all without any success, until now. This abrupt about turn will rightly have a welcome and vitally important effect on the perceived independence of the prisons ombudsman, and it shows respect too for bereaved families who, since the office of prisons ombudsman was created exactly 30 years ago, have been treated with an appalling lack of respect. Inquest, which supports bereaved families, said the move is welcome but raised questions over the impact of rapid publication on grieving families who may not have held a funeral. Spokesperson Lucy McKay told The Independent: Transparency following deaths in prison is vital to ensure that the public are aware of the fatal consequences of our failing criminal justice system. The regular publication of information on individual deaths and the prisons they are taking place in is welcome but must be balanced with the needs of the bereaved people. Behind every person who has died in prison are countless bereaved family members and friends who are responding to the loss of a loved one. 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 }} Most of the UK companies that participated in a ground-breaking four-day working week trial have made the policy permanent, a new study shows. The trial, the largest ever of its kind, tested the new way of working in 61 companies. 54 of them (89 per cent) are still operating the policy a year later, with 31 (51 per cent) committing to the change permanently. Conducted by the Autonomy thinktank and researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Salford and Boston College in the US, the study found that every project manager and CEO consulted said the four-day week had a positive impact on their organisation. With a public sector pilot soon to arrive in Scotland, and South Cambridgeshire District Council already establishing shorter working hours, awareness of the four-day work week is growing year on year. Heres everything you need to know: Could a four-day work week become the norm in our lifetime? It is an inevitability says Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign. Were at the beginning of society shifting, he explains, with innovations like AI and automation allowing workplaces to become both more productive and use less time. But workers are not seeing a reduction in their hours. The new report proposes a number of benefits of the four-day week, from increased productivity to improved worker wellbeing. Many individuals reported being less stressed and feeling more positive about work, learning to work smarter and cut out unecessary meetings. It has had a huge impact. I am now able to spend a day a week with my daughter, one anonymous participant said. This made transitioning back to work from maternity leave much easier. It has also saved us childcare costs However, the government has not been receptive to calls for a four-day working week. Last year, the Levelling Up Department went so far as to threaten withholding funding from local authorities who adopt the practice. Weve got a Conservative party thats stuck in the past, Mr Ryle says. Meanwhile, he says, the four-day week campaign has received positive feedback from frontbench Labour MPs such as Angela Rayner, Ed Milliband and Liz Kendall. It was almost 100 years ago that society shifted from a six-day week to a five-day week, Mr Ryle says. In many ways its long overdue. How would a four-day week work? The 4 Day Week Campaign sets out a mini-manifesto which it calls on political parties to back. This includes a reduction to the maximum working week from 48 hours to 32 by the end of the decade. The group also calls for an amendment to the official flexible working guidance, allowing workers to request a four-day, 32 hour working week with no loss of pay. However, Matthew Percival, a director at the Confederation of British Industry, says the four-day week should not be considered a one size fits all answer. He said: If businesses have the budget to add to their offer to employees, then they will be considering the relative merits of reducing working hours compared to increasing pay, pensions or paid parental leave, as well as better supporting health and wellbeing. Companies that trialled the four-day week all used slightly different models, however. Some chose to adopt models where everyone got the same day off, whereas others allowed for a more flexible approach. There were also differences in whether the day was guaranteed, or conditional on certain work being completed. Responding to the new report, a government spokesperson said: We have no plans to introduce a four-day working week. Ultimately it is for employers and employees to agree what working arrangements work best for them, and we will be making changes to our flexible working legislation in April, including the right to request flexible working from day 1 of a new job. 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 }} Households are set to learn that their energy bills will fall to their lowest level in more than two years from the start of April. Ofgem will announce its latest price cap on Friday, with energy consultancy Cornwall Insight predicting the regulator will lower it by around 293 a year. That would see the typical households bill falling from 1,928 per year to 1,635 from April 1, a drop of around 15%. Energy bills are set to fall (PA) Cornwall Insights forecast, which noted that the UKs energy prices look to have weathered disruption in the Red Sea, is normally very close to Ofgems announcement, as both are based on publicly available data. However, the firm warned that as long as the UK is reliant on fossil fuels it will have to continue importing expensive gas from countries which could decide to stop selling to Britain. While the forecast from Cornwall is considerably lower than the current price cap, it is marginally higher than the 1,620 that the consultancy forecast just over a month ago. Cornwall Insight principal consultant Dr Craig Lowrey said that despite the predicted fall, prices would remain a struggle for many and remained hundreds of pounds above pre-pandemic levels. On Wednesday it was announced E.On and Tru Energy had been given permission to return to forcibly fitting prepayment meters (PPMs) after they were temporarily banned following a scandal around the practice. The typical households energy bill is forecast to fall from 1,928 per year to 1,635 from April 1 (PA) (PA Wire) Ofgem said the two firms had met its strict conditions, which include conducting internal audits to identify PPMs wrongfully installed before the February 2023 moratorium and offering compensation and a return to a non-prepayment payment method to any affected customers. They follow EDF, Octopus and Scottish Power, who were granted the same permissions in January. Once suppliers meet the conditions and restart involuntary PPM installations, they must also provide regular monitoring data to Ofgem to identify any concerning practices. The firms must still make at least 10 attempts to contact a customer before a prepayment meter is installed and carry out a site welfare visit before proceeding. They are not allowed to forcibly fit a PPM if the household is considered to include highest risk customers, including those which require a continuous energy supply for health reasons, have an older occupant aged 75 and over without support, or those with children under two years old. Customers and consumer groups will be able to check energy suppliers that can install prepayment meters without a households permission on the Ofgem website. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The public has been left at risk after the government ignored key recommendations from a counter-terror review, the reports author has warned. Sir William Shawcross said ministers had not implemented some of his key recommendations for the governments anti-radicalisation programme Prevent, while warning of an increased risk in the UK due to the war in Gaza. He said the government should pay much more attention to the Hamas support network in the UK, especially after the events of 7 October. His comments come after ministers marked a year since the publication of Sir Williams independent review by declaring that they had brought Prevent back to its core mission. The whole counter-terrorism system needs to continually evolve and adapt to the ever-changing threat from terrorism, home secretary James Cleverly said in a progress report on Tuesday. Thanks to the work undertaken in response to [Sir Williams] review, we have a first-class Prevent programme that can play a central role in this effort. However Sir William insisted the glass is still only half full. The government has published a report saying that they have made some of those changes that I asked for, that I proposed - but not enough, he told the BBC. Sir William added ministers had ignored some of his key recommendations and I think as a result the public is at risk. He said his concerns were heightened in light of Hamas attacks on Israel, adding: There are unfortunately quite a lot of Hamas sympathisers and some operatives in this country. Prevent and the police should have been working much harder against those Hamas people in this country. The public is more at risk because of the events of October 7 and subsequently - and many, many people in this country are much more frightened than they have ever been before. Sir William found in his 2023 review that the scheme had repeatedly failed to identify attackers - and there was a sense of lost purpose in the scheme. The government claims thirty of the 34 recommendations made by Sir William have already been delivered, while progress has been made against each of the remaining recommendations. A Home Office spokesperson said: We have made significant progress to deliver a strengthened Prevent which places tackling terrorist ideologies at its core. William Shawcross Review was critical to ensuring Prevent is fit for purpose, which is why we accepted his recommendations in full. One year on, we have delivered 30 of the 34 recommendations he made, and we are making rapid progress on delivering the remaining four. The government agrees that extreme Islamist ideology presents the greatest threat to the UK, and has moved swiftly to update Prevent duty guidance and training to make that clear. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The government is facing questions over the effectiveness of Britains nuclear deterrent after a test launch of the UKs Trident nuclear missile failed, crashing back into the ocean close to the submarine that fired it. The unarmed Trident II missile was launched from the nuclear-powered HMS Vanguard as part of final tests following a 500m overhaul, before the vessel returns to patrol service. It left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them, a source said. The launch was carried out off the east coast of Florida on 30 January but has only just been revealed. Shapps said the government retained absolute confidence in the UKs nuclear deterrent (AP) The failure, at a time of heightened international tensions and when the readiness of Britains navy is under scrutiny, is embarrassing for ministers. Another Trident missile veered off course during a test launch in 2016. Defence secretary Grant Shapps was on board the 150-metre submarine at the time of the most recent failure, and first sea lord Admiral Sir Ben Key was also reportedly there. The Labour Party has sought assurances from Rishi Sunak in the wake of the incident, calling the missile test failure concerning. But Mr Shapps said the government retained absolute confidence in the UKs nuclear deterrent. The anomaly had no implications for the UKs ability to deploy nuclear weapons, he insisted. It comes just 10 days after the departure of the UKs flagship aircraft carrier for a major Nato exercise was postponed after an unspecified issue was found in final checks. Last month, Mr Shapps said the UK was in a pre-war phase. However, former Trades Union Congress (TUC) chief Frances OGrady said the vision of Mr Shapps on board seemed like a terrible metaphor for what is happening in the country. We know about the squeeze on budgets; we have 25,000 fewer troops than in 2010; we know how important the defence sector is for jobs, but lots of procurement failures too, she told the BBCs Politics Live. It feels like this is a time, especially in a world that feels really unsafe, where we need a proper strategic review and a look at what are the real threats we face and the best way to meet them. The Trident missile had been due to land thousands of miles away, in the Atlantic Ocean between Brazil and west Africa. It was successfully propelled into the air by compressed gas in the launch pipe, but the first-stage boosters did not ignite and the missile crashed back into the water. Former Royal Navy warfare officer Chris Parry said the missile had operated correctly the procedural error meant a command abort had to happen for safety reasons. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security think tank, said the Vanguard fleet was operating beyond its expected service life. Theyre working on the basis that the Vanguard submarines are going to be at least a decade beyond their original service lives, he said. And that creates stresses and strains on the system. HMS Vengeance, another Royal Navy Vanguard class Trident ballistic missile submarine (Reuters) Shadow defence secretary John Healey said: Reports of a Trident test failure are concerning. The defence secretary will want to reassure parliament that this test has no impact on the effectiveness of the UKs deterrent operations. Labours support for the UKs nuclear deterrent is total. We recognise the special service of those whove maintained our continuous at-sea deterrence for over 50 years. Mr Shapps said the test had been the culmination of a demonstration and shakedown operation to gauge the performance of Vanguards weapons and crew after the refit. He said the operation reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UKs nuclear deterrent, and that the submarine and crew were successfully certified ready for operation, but that an anomaly had occurred that was event-specific. There are no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpiles, he said. Nor are there any implications for our ability to fire our nuclear weapons, should the circumstances arise in which we need to do so. The prime ministers official spokesperson said the government had complete confidence in Britains nuclear deterrent. He repeated the Ministry of Defences explanation that there had been an anomaly, but said that, for national security reasons, he was unable to expand on what that meant. There was this specific anomaly, but we are confident that the anomaly was specific to the test and that there are no wider implications, he said. Britains nuclear deterrent is provided by four nuclear-powered submarines equipped with the American-built Trident ballistic missile system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The warheads are built in Britain. Britain and the US say there have been more than 190 successful tests of Trident, which can be fired at targets up to 4,000 miles away and can travel at more than 13,000 miles an hour according to the Royal Navy. In the 1980s, the UK spent 12.52bn on acquiring Trident the equivalent of 21bn in 2022-23 prices, according to figures from the House of Commons Library. It costs around 3bn a year to operate. The Ministry of Defence said it is spending more than 50bn a year in cash terms on the armed forces, supporting global deployments and continuing to invest in new tanks, fighter jets and warships. 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 }} Schools were forced to close and rail passengers faced disruption as heavy rain swept across much of England and Wales, leaving many areas facing flood warnings and alerts. The downpours on Wednesday, falling on already sodden ground, led to roads being closed and rivers bursting their banks. Met Office experts had issued three yellow warnings for rain, covering most of southern, southwestern, central and eastern England, as well as parts of south Wales. They had warned of the potential for travel disruption, power cuts and dangerous conditions near coasts. Roads in the Somerset Levels in Somerset started to flood (PA) On Thursday night, the Environment Agency issued 73 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 274 flood alerts in England. National Resources Wales issued two flood warnings and 22 flood alerts. In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, several schools closed because of rising flood levels and treacherous road conditions, councils said. In Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury Borough Council distributed sandbags to householders. A number of roads in the county were closed because of flooding. Flooded fields near to Glastonbury Tor, Somerset, on Thursday (PA) An estimated 30mm-40mm of rainfall about a weeks worth came down in the East Midlands, east of England, London and southeast England, the southwest and West Midlands. Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: This is falling on saturated ground, which elevates the chances of flooding and disruption. Many roads across the West Midlands in particular were submerged and rail operators worked to try to get services running again. Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway services operated a replacement bus service between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. Flood warnings and alerts issued across England after heavy downpours on Thursday (Environment Agency) Flooding halted CrossCountry rail services between Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa for a time, although passengers were warned of more cancellations or delays. Great Western Railway said flooding had disrupted services between Plymouth and Newton Abbot, with CrossCountry trains from Penzance also affected. Met Office shipping forecasters issued 20 gale warnings for sea areas including Plymouth, Thames, Wight and Dover. Red Funnel Ferries warned that high winds could disrupt its service between Southampton and West Cowes, while WightLink ferry journeys between Portsmouth and Fishbourne were cancelled or delayed by four hours. In Cornwall, St Mawes Ferry, which links St Mawes with Falmouth, was cancelled because of adverse sea conditions and strong winds. An Egyptian goose protects its gosling from the rain in St James Park in London on Thursday (PA) Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, said: The current forecast contains a typical mix of winter weather, including strong winds and heavy rain. In themselves these conditions arent exceptional, but following on from significant amounts of rainfall across February, then the cumulative effect means that river catchments are more sensitive to additional rainfall. During these warning periods we urge people to follow sensible advice and keep up to date with the warnings and the forecast. Friday is expected be breezy. Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said that a fair amount of rain was likely to push across southern parts and possibly into central England and Wales, while further north it would be mostly dry. Temperatures are forecast to be lower, more towards average for the time of year. He said showers should reduce through Saturday, giving most areas a drier spell, before rain returns from Tuesday. The Indian government is working on developing an Indian mobile phone brand, a minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, whose portfolio includes communications, said this week. He suggested that the government would also work on creating the entire handset ecosystem in the country, arguing that the success to date of large-scale mobile manufacturing would benefit the project, encouraging ecosystem partners to come to India in the next five years. This follows a similar initiative relating to semiconductors which has seen a Micron plant under construction and, the minister suggested, more approvals on the way. Quoted by Indias Economic Times, he apparently said: In that sense, we are moving from the design ecosystem to fab and ATMP (assembly, test and packaging) ecosystem. An indigenously developed app store Indus Appstore has also been developed, with apps accessible in 12 Indian languages. Of course, India does already have a home-grown mobile handset company. Its called Lava and is a manufacturer of smartphones, feature phones, tablet computing devices and laptops or notebooks, with operations in Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mexico, the Middle East and Russia as well as India. It says it is now the only mobile handset company that makes truly Make In India phones with complete control on design and manufacturing within India. Preparations are also being made to launch indigenous operating system BharOS-based smartphones on the Lava smartphone. In the next six months there will be about 500 Lava-designed and manufactured phones in India, which will work on BharOS. 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 number of Islamophobic incidents reported to an organisation monitoring anti-Muslim sentiment and abuse in the UK more than tripled in the four months since the Hamas attacks in Israel last year. Tell Mama, which describes itself as the leading agency on measuring anti-Muslim hate, said there were 2,010 cases of this kind between 7 October 2023 and 7 February this year. This was a steep rise from the 600 cases reported for the same four-month period a year previously. We are deeply concerned about the impacts that the Israel and Gaza war are having on hate crimes and on social cohesion in the UK Iman Atta, Tell Mama director Of the total cases recorded after the Hamas 7 October attacks, 1,109 were classed as online cases while 901 took place offline, Tell Mama said. Incidents it recorded included a Muslim woman in Islamic clothing being assaulted on a bus in east London and told you Muslims are troublemakers; a written death threat to worshippers at a mosque; a woman whose car was vandalised with a Nazi swastika; and cases of Muslim women being called terrorists. In almost two-thirds of cases women were the target of attacks, which the organisation said once again demonstrates that British Muslim women have borne the majority of the brunt of anti-Muslim hate during this time. Iman Atta, the organisations director, said: We are deeply concerned about the impacts that the Israel and Gaza war are having on hate crimes and on social cohesion in the UK. Hate crimes against British Muslims have substantially risen and our data clearly demonstrates this. This rise in anti-Muslim hate is unacceptable and we hope that political leaders speak out to send a clear message that anti-Muslim hate, like antisemitism, is unacceptable in our country. There really is no space for hate and, more than ever, it is essential that we sustain, nurture and protect the bonds that we have between communities, so that we all feel valued and safe in our communities and in our country. Tell Mama was founded in 2012 and is supported by the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities. Earlier this month, the Community Security Trust (CST) said it had recorded an explosion in hatred against the Jewish community since the 7 October attacks. More than 4,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the UK by the CST in 2023, with the all-time high being put down to the sheer volume which took place following the Hamas attacks. The CST said there was a total of 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023, up from the previous annual record of 2,261 incidents which had been reported two years previously. Close SNP and Conservative MPs walk out of the Commons over the speakers handling of the Gaza vote Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has said it is unacceptable for protesters to demonstrate outside MPs homes as Downing Street said protest must not turn into abuse. Speaking during a tour of North Wales on Friday, the prime minister said: Its simply unacceptable for intimidation or aggressive behaviour to threaten our parliamentary democracy and our freedom of expression. He added that he is giving police more power to clamp down on intimidation and aggressive behaviour. A No 10 spokesperson said: We will continue to keep MPs security under review to ensure that they have the protections that they need. Were also both clear that we wont allow democracy to be silenced or stifled. And intimidation against MPs is an attack on democracy and we wont allow that to win. James Cleverly also vowed to be vigilant against threats and pressure on MPs after Sir Lindsay Hoyle argued his actions in the Gaza ceasefire vote were motivated by concern about security. More than 70 Conservative and SNP MPs signed a no-confidence motion in Sir Lindsay in the aftermath. 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 }} Pressure is mounting for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to resign, after a motion of no confidence in the speaker was signed by more than 50 MPs. On Wednesday, MPs walked out of the chamber in protest at his handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate. The speaker later apologised to the House of Commons and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures amid calls to resign. He said: I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how its ended up. He added he wanted to allow all sides to express their views and that he was very, very concerned about the security of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict. We want to know what you make of last nights chaos in the Commons. Should Sir Lindsay resign following the Gaza ceasefire debate? Or is it all much ado about nothing? If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments and well highlight the most insightful ones as they come in. All you have to do is sign up and register your details - then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen. Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines , which can be found here . For a full guide on how to comment click here. Join the conversation with other Independent readers below. Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to deny he threatened the Commons speaker after a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza descended into chaos. Sir Lindsay Hoyle is scrabbling to save his job after he was accused of hijacking a debate on the war and ripping up parliamentary procedure to favour Labour. More than 65 MPs have signed a motion demanding his head, while Rishi Sunak described his actions as very concerning. 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 }} Liz Truss has hit out at Joe Biden and members of the Tory party over the most almighty backlash that led to her own failed UK premiership. At times echoing the rhetoric of former president Donald Trump, Ms Truss who lasted just 49 days in office also blamed quangos and bureaucrats and lawyers for her political demise. Ms Truss made the remarks as she ranted to a half-empty crowd at the right-wing Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac), on Thursday. Her appearance is part of a publicity tour for her forthcoming book, Ten Years to Save the West. She has also attempted to coin a new phrase, CINO, meaning Conservative In Name Only similar to Mr Trumps RINO (Republican In Name Only). Its people who think I want to be popular, I dont want to upset people, I dont want to look like a mean person, I want to attend nice dinner parties in London or Washington DC, I want my friends to like me, I dont want to cause trouble, she told the conference. At times echoing the rhetoric of former president Donald Trump, Ms Truss also blamed quangos and bureaucrats and lawyers for her political demise (PA Wire) What those people are doing is they are compromising, and they are triangulating, and they are losing the argument. Ms Truss left office shortly after taking it, following her disastrous 2022 mini-budget, which sent the pound into a nosedive and sparked a crash in global markets. During her 15-minute address on Thursday she claimed that the catastrophic reaction to the budget had come from the usual suspects in both the media and the corporate world, as well as government, the Office of Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England. She went on to blame the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Mr Biden, accusing him of having intervened to have a go at my policies. Can you imagine being attacked on your economic policies by the inventor of Bidenomics? Talk about offensive, she said. Ms Truss later launched into a laundry list of complaints and conspiratorial musings about how the left is undermining the Conservative-led British government because they did not accept that they lost at the ballot box similar to Mr Trumps infamous claims of a stolen US election. Liz Truss (left) accusing Joe Biden of having intervened to have a go at my policies during her appearance at Cpac (CPAC, Getty Images) Instead, theyve been weaponizing our court system to stop us contorting illegal immigrants, theyve been using the administrative state to make sure that conservative policies are faulted and theyve been pushing their woke agenda through our schools, through our campuses, and even in our corporations, she said. Elsewhere, despite not endorsing Mr Trump the GOP frontrunner and Cpac favourite by name, Ms Truss also asserted that the world needs a Republican back in the White House and that it was the only way to save the West from opponents such as Russia, Iran and China. Of course we need a Republican back in the White House. By the way, it isnt just America that needs it desperately, we need it desperately right across the free world, because you are the leaders of the free world, like it or not, she said. We need Republicans who are prepared to fight. We need Republicans who arent going to cave in to the establishment. Ms Truss appearance at Cpac came a month after her predecessor in Downing Street, Boris Johnson, used his Daily Mail column to endorse the former president, who continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen from him, faces multiple criminal charges, and suggested he would be willing to let Vladimir Putin attack Nato countries. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Lindsay Hoyle is under pressure to stand down as speaker following chaos in the Commons when Conservative and SNP MPs walked out in protest at his handling of the much-talked about Gaza ceasefire vote. A total of 33 MPs have signed a motion of no confidence in the speaker after his actions, accused of favouring Labour, prompted anger. Sir Lindsay had deviated from long-standing procedures to allow a Labour amendment to the SNP motion on a ceasefire to be debated and voted on. He later made a statement to apologise profusely, saying he regretted what had happened but it was met by jeers from some quarters of the chamber, and hes now under pressure to resign from the job he has held since November 2019. Among those to sign the Early Day Motion of no confidence are Tories Lee Anderson, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Brendan Clarke-Smith. Announcing procedures on an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Sir Lindsay had been expected to select just the government amendment seeking an immediate humanitarian pause to the fighting. But he defied convention in deciding the Commons would first vote on Labours amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNPs original motion and then the governments proposals only if either of the first two failed to garner enough support. House of Commons Clerk Tom Goldsmith had warned him about the unprecedented nature of his decision, saying he felt compelled to point out that long-established conventions were not being followed. The move sparked fury from the Conservative and SNP benches. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt pulled the governments participation, claiming Sir Lindsay had hijacked the debate and undermined the confidence of the House in its long-standing rules by selecting Labours amendment first. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speakers position was not now intolerable and claimed his party had been treated with complete and utter contempt. He said he was disappointed that a pantomime in the Commons was detracting from the crisis in Gaza. SNP MP Pete Wishart called for the speaker to go, saying: I think its intolerable, and its really difficult to know how you could remain in the chair after what happened today. Now I know he came down and took responsibility and said sorry, but quite frankly its not good enough. He added: I think (it) requires him to look at his situation as Speaker of the House of Commons. And I know that nearly all of my colleagues have signed the early day motion asking for him to go, and speaking to several Conservative colleagues this evening, I know that a great number of them have also signed that, too. He added: I cannot see a route for him to be able to command the respect of the whole of the House which will enable (him) to be in that chair. Mr Flynn also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Labour figures had exerted pressure on the speaker. 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 }} Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has found himself at the centre of a political storm this week following his controversial and unprecedented decision to allow MPs to vote on a Labour amendment to the SNPs Gaza ceasefire motion. Hoyle claims he made his decision to allow the widest possible range of options to be considered. In an unlikely union, many SNP and Conservative MPs have called for his resignation, lodging accusations of bias towards his former party. Heres everything you need to know about the Commons speaker, his life and political career: Commons Speaker 2019-Present Hoyle become Speaker of the House of Commons in November 2019, beating rival Labour MP Chris Bryant with 60 per cent of the final vote. In his acceptance speech, he said he would be a transparent speaker, telling MPs that this House will change, but it will change for the better. Until recent events, Hoyle has remained a largely uncontroversial speaker. His predecessor John Bercow had been accused of bullying during his time in the role, with an independent panel upholding many of the allegations against him. Hoyle has made clear his aim of distinguishing himself from predecessor: Ive come into this job as a referee, he said after his election. It shouldnt be about me, its about the Chamber. Hoyles reputation as impartial has not regularly come into question before now. In 2019, his support from both sides of the chamber was seen as a sign of trust in his commitment to non-partisanship in the crucial speaker role. MP for Chorley 1997-2019 Hoyle served as MP for Chorley, a seat in the northern county of Lancashire, for nearly 22 years. At the time of his election, he was the first Labour MP for the consitency in 18 years. Hoyle served on the backbench for the entirety of his time as an MP. He has previously discussed his tensions with former Labour prime minister Tony Blair over issues such as tuition fees and Gibraltar: Im not anti-Tony; he made us electable and won three times. But there are principles and promises you dont break, In 2010, Hoyle became deputy commons speaker, with many considering him a rising star in the role. In 2013, he won acclaim for shutting down jeering MPs during a budget debate. Later, in 2017, he scolded SNP MPs for singing the European National Anthem in Commons culminating in a heated clash with then-Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. In 2018, Hoyle was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours for political and parliamentary services Life and education before parliament Before becoming an MP, Hoyle was a Labour councillor in the Chorley Borough for the ward of Adlington. He remained in this position from 1980 until his election as an MP in 1997, serving for 27 years and being re-elected four times. Hoyle was born and raised in Adlington, Lancashire. He attended primary school in the area and college in the nearby town of Bolton. Before his election as an MP, Hoyle ran his own textile and screen printing business. 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 }} Ksenia Karelina had been looking forward to spending New Year's Eve with her family. Though she'd long ago chosen to settle in the USA, she'd kept in touch with her relatives back in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Instead, it appears that the 32-year-old dual citizen is confined in a Russian jail cell on charges of high treason all for allegedly sending $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity. "She's just that kind of person," Karelina's former mother-in-law Eleonara Srebroski, 56, tells The Independent. "If somebody needs help, she will be helping. Whether it's an animal, or a child, or a grown-up, she's the one who is always opening her heart and her wallet." According to Russian human rights activists, Karelina also known as Ksenia Khavana, after her first husband was arrested on public order charges in late January outside a cinema in Yekaterinburg, before being charged with treason this month. The country's notorious Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed in a statement this week that an unnamed woman, later identified by Russian media as Karelina, had been "proactively collecting funds" for the Ukrainian war effort. Now Srebroski has a stark message for the government and people of her former daughter-in-law's adopted nation. "If we do not do anything, she is going to die in jail," she says. "She does not have any hope to get out, because they do not have any justice [in Russia]. "And if we as a country do not help her to come back here, to where she is... we're going to lose a beautiful person." (Ksenia Karelina via Facebook) She is just sunshine Ksenia Karelina appeared in Srebroski's life back in 2012, when she visited the older woman's Baltimore home hand in hand with Srebroski's son Evgeny Khavana. The young woman had come to the USA from Russia on a work and travel programme, where she met Evgeny. As it happened, she and Srebroski originally came from the same region: the Ural mountains, of which Yekaterinburg is the district capital. Though Karelina and Evgeny married in 2013, the relationship didn't last, and she eventually moved to California. Still, they remained friends, and Karelina made an effort to keep in touch with Srebroski, reaching out for birthdays and other holidays. "She is the one who will never be rude to anyone. She is just sunshine; full of love, positivity, smiles, care," says Srebroski, who has lived in the US for 24 years. She refers to Karelina as "Ksyusha", the diminutive form of Ksenia. "I don't know anybody who would not like her. I'm actually the one who is supposed to dislike her, because she is my ex daughter-in-law. And I still adore her, because of her personality." Over the years, Karelina built a new life for herself out in Los Angeles. She worked at a luxury hotel spa in Beverly Hills, often posting joyful photos in Facebook. Having attended dance school as a child, she passionately pursued her hobby of ballet, and travelled keenly across the US and beyond. In 2021, she became a US citizen. "She's a very good friend," says Srebroski. "Funny, outgoing, sincere, kind. Smiling all the time, finding good in anything. "She was happy when she was selling fruit and vegetables off of a food stand here [in Baltimore] as a student... she will always be happy in any circumstances." Accused of petty hooliganism, then treason Karelina was meant to return from Russia by the beginning of February, having spent the new year with her parents, grandparents, and youngest sister. That is according to Srebroski, who has not spoken personally to Karelina in more than a year but says her son was in the loop about her travel plans. When he didn't hear from her, he was confused until the news broke about her arrest. Isabella Koretz, Karelina's boss at the Ciel Spa in Beverly Hills, gave a slightly different account of her travel plans, telling local broadcaster KTLA that her company became concerned when Karelina did not show up for work as planned in mid-January. Karalina celebrates her US citizenship in 2021 (Ksenia Karelina via Facebook/First Department) According to Russian media, Karelina was originally accused of "petty hooliganism". Court officials said she had used "coarse, obscene language in front of other citizens, and was behaving rudely and defiantly." The officials further claimed that she violently resisted arrest. On 29 January she was reportedly found guilty and sentenced to 14 days in jail. Things appeared to change after she filed a complaint about her arrest with the court. The FSB now claims that she donated money to Razom, a Ukrainian aid charity based in New York City, on the day of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The charity raises money for humanitarian aid and medical equipment, and its website says that it sometimes provides the latter to Ukrainian military units as well as civilian emergency services. Razom's chief executive Dora Chomiak told the New York Post that she was "appalled" by Karelina's arrest, and called on the US government to "do everything in its power" to secure her release, along with others who have been "unjustly detained". "Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly shown that he holds no sovereign border, foreign nationality, or international treaty above his own narrow interest. His regime attacks civil society activists who stand up for freedom and democracy," she said. If we dont help her, nobody else will Speaking to The Independent, Srebroski declines to discuss the details of Karelina's alleged donation, because she did not want to put her in danger. But she says Karelina had regularly donated to a wide range of GoFundMe pages and other charitable causes, including helping Srebroski herself when she was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago. "She was keeping in touch with me to check how I'm doing, medically and physically, all the time, because she's just a very compassionate person. Very sincere, sympathetic," Srebroski said. Indeed, Karelina's Facebook page showed several posts linking to fundraising pages before it became inaccessible on Tuesday evening. Asked what message she would give to Karelina's captors, Srebroski says she has nothing because there is "no point". "I cannot talk to my family who are in Russia. They're brainwashed, they think we are enemies," she says. "I have a very hard time communicating with my sister and my childhood friends, because they think I'm a traitor since I myself support Ukraine. "So if I have to talk to the officials, what can I tell them that they don't already know? The whole country is covered with lies. They trust what they've been told on TV... they believe everything, even things that do not make any sense." She is scornful about American TV host Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Vladimir Putin, which even the Russian dictator criticised as too soft and whose release coincided, deliberately or otherwise, with Karelina's treason charges. The unexplained death in prison of famed opposition leader Alexei Navalny last week which supporters have blamed squarely on Putin underscores the potential consequences for those who defy the Russian government. For now, Srebroski says she wants to make as much noise as possible to bring attention to Karelina's plight. "Things are getting cruel there," she says. "I mean, it's been tough all the time, but now it's even more devastating and drastic. So I'm very concerned that she will go through a lot of physical abuse there... "If we do not help her as a country, because she's an American citizen, nobody else will." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Justice Department announced a series of arrests and indictments Thursday against Russian businessmen and their facilitators in five separate federal cases that span New York, Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia. The action was timed to coincide with the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, 2022. Charges were unsealed in New York against sanctioned Russian banker Andrei Kostin and two of his U.S.-based facilitators. The facilitators, Vadim Wolfson and Gannon Bond, were arrested Thursday. Kostin is the longtime president of VTB Bank, a state-owned bank and Russia's second largest. He is charged with engaging in a scheme to evade sanctions and launder money to support two superyachts. Kostin and the two facilitators are also accused of trying to evade sanctions related to a luxury home in Aspen, Colorado. Michael Khoo, a co-director of the departments Task Force KleptoCapture, said on a call with reporters that the announcement was meant to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that were not going away and we can play the long game as well" so long as the war continues. The KleptoCapture task force enforces the economic restrictions within the U.S. imposed on Russia and its billionaires. The Justice Department says over the past two years it has secured court orders for the restraint, seizure, and forfeiture of nearly $700 million in assets and has charged more than 70 people with violating sanctions and export controls. The Justice Department is more committed than ever to cutting off the flow of illegal funds that are fueling Putins war and to holding accountable those who continue to enable it, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a statement. That is why today we are announcing several additional enforcement actions that the Justice Department has taken to bring prosecutions against and seize assets of sanctioned enablers of the Kremlin and Russian military. Also Thursday, an indictment was unsealed in Washington, D.C., charging Vladislav Osipov with bank fraud connected to operating a 255-foot luxury yacht owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Osipov, a Russian national, lives in Switzerland. The indictment identifies the superyacht as the Tango, the first belonging to a sanctioned Russian with close ties to the Kremlin to be seized at the request of the U.S. government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Florida, Serhiy Kurchenko, a sanctioned pro-Russian Ukrainian metals magnate, was indicted for trying to evade sanctions, among other charges. Also in Florida, a civil forfeiture complaint was filed against two luxury condos in Bal Harbour owned by sanctioned Russian businessman Viktor Perevalov, the co-owner of a Russia-based construction company. And in Georgia, Feliks Medvedev pleaded guilty earlier this month to helping launder over $150 million through bank accounts he controls. Medvedev, a Russian citizen, lives in Buford, Georgia. Movistar Colombia has begun the deployment of 5G, making it the first operator to roll out the technology in the country. The company said in a statement on Tuesday that it hopes to put the 5G network into operation in the coming weeks in Colombias main cities. As we reported in December, a number of participants in last year Colombian spectrum auction were awarded 80MHz in the 3500MHz band, including Telefonica-owned Movistar in a joint bid with fellow operator Colombia Movil (or Tigo), whose CEO Marcelo Cataldo is reportedly eyeing the end of February as a possible date for the launch of 5G. Colombia will become Telefonica's fifth 5G operation in Latin America, after Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Mexico. According to the BNamericas news service, since 2020 Movistar Colombia has carried out seven pilots with the technology. Telefonica has also opened 5G experimentation centres in Chile and other parts of Latin America through its Wayra innovation hub, offering testing environments for solutions and use cases. In the coming weeks Movistar hopes to have more than 50 devices approved for the new technology. In a related story, the board of Colombian service provider Une EPM this week authorised a binding agreement between its subsidiary Colombia Movil (Tigo) and Movistar with the aim of forming a single mobile access network and sharing radio spectrum permits. Announced last June, the Tigo and Movistar deal will result in the creation of a new infrastructure company for mobile access that will make the management of current networks more efficient and act as a vehicle for the deployment of new mobile technologies. The integration of the two companies' networks would allow coverage of 35 million mobile users in 700 municipalities of Colombia, the partners said last year. As we reported at the time, in October trade and industry regulator SIC authorized the integration of the Tigo and Movistar networks but with certain conditions attached to mitigate adverse effects on competition. 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 }} Adam Montgomery has been found guilty of murdering his five-year-old daughter Harmony during a fit of rage after the little girl soiled herself. Jurors in Montgomerys three-week trial in Manchester, New Hampshire, heard testimony from more than two dozen witnesses before the prosecution and the defence delivered closing arguments on Wednesday morning. Montgomery, 34, was found guilty on a second-degree charge in connection with Harmonys death in December 2019. Earlier in the trial, Montgomery had conceded on two lesser charges of abuse of a corpse and falsifying information. Shortly after 1pm on Thursday after nearly seven hours of deliberation, Judge Amy Messer announced that a verdict had been reached. Harmonys mother Crystal Sorey, and her foster parents Michelle and Timothy Raftery were in the courtroom when Judge Messer read the guilty verdict. Montgomery himself only attended the first day of jury selection and did not return to the courtroom for the remainder of the proceedings. After the verdict was read Ms Sorey remarked on Montgomerys absence: Hes a coward. She said, I hope he never falls asleep without seeing her beautiful face and that he will constantly replay this verdict in his mind. She added that its all about control for him and that Harmony wasnt anything to him. Harmony Montgomery was last seen in October 2019 (Manchester Police Department) When asked if justice had been served for Harmony, Ms Sorey said, Were almost there. She said the police and the family continue to look for the little girls body. The defence rested their case without calling any witnesses, but told jurors to take testimony from Montgomerys estranged wife Kayla Montgomery with a grain of salt. Attorney Caroline Smith said that, while his client did horrible things to conceal Harmonys body, he did not kill his daughter. Earlier this week, Judge Amy Messer denied a motion by the defence to toss Kaylas testimony alleging Montgomery hit Harmony in the head after he became enraged because the little girl had wet herself. Adam did some very very bad things but he did not kill his daughter, Ms Smith told jurors. Can you put your trust for one of the most important decisions of your life, in Kayla? Ms Smith asked jurors. The police know that she is a liar, the state knows that she is a liar. She was charged with perjury for lying to a grand jury. Meanwhile, prosecutor Ben Agati warned jurors not to be fooled by Montgomerys partial admission. Lets quote people accurately, Mr Agati said, referencing Ms Attorneys closing arguments. I f***ed up. His language, that he used ... the night that he disappeared Harmonys body to wherever place it is now, where he knows. His words, I f***ed up. Not she, not we, not Kayla. I. Singular, personal, solo. Adam Montgomery has refused to attend all but the first day of his trial (AP) Mr Agati argued that Montgomery had only conceded on two charges because he thought jurors would then let the murder charge slide. He admits what he cant deny. He denies what he cant afford to admit, the prosecutor told the court. He continued: And the other parts of her body. Her torso, her face, her eyes, that smile ... only the defendant, as we sit and stand here today, knows where they are. And he cant afford to say where they are, because the evidence contained on them will show that he caused her death, so she wont get the burial that she deserves. Adam Montgomery pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in 2022 and proclaimed in court last year in an unrelated case that he did not kill his daughter. As his trial got underway in Manchester, his attorneys acknowledged he was guilty of two lesser charges of falsifying evidence and abusing a corpse. The defence argued, however, that he did not kill Harmony, and instead suggested she actually died while alone with her stepmother. Montgomery, who is serving a 30-year prison sentence for an unrelated gun conviction, hasnt been attending his trial. Montgomery and Harmonys mother were not in a relationship when Harmony was born in 2014. The child lived on and off with foster families and with her mother. Ms Sorey lost custody of Harmony in 2018, and Harmony was sent to live with her father in February 2019. Kayla Montgomery gave evidence at the trial (AP) Ms Sorey testified that she last saw her daughter during a FaceTime call around Easter of that year. Kayla Montgomery has been the star witness against her estranged husband. She is serving an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to perjury for lying during grand jury testimony about where she was when Harmony was last seen. She was not given immunity, but she acknowledged to defence lawyers that she hasnt faced further consequences for inconsistencies in her various statements to police or prosecutors. Kayla testified that her husband repeatedly punched Harmony in the head because the girl had wet herself. She said her family, including the couples two young sons, had been evicted and were living in a car at the time. According to Kayla, Adam punched Harmony at several stop lights as they drove from a methadone clinic to a fast food restaurant on the morning of 7 December 2019. She also testified about handing food to the children without checking on Harmony, as well as the subsequent discovery that the girl was dead, and all the places she said her husband hid the body, including in a ceiling vent at a homeless shelter and the walk-in freezer at her husbands workplace. Close Adam Montgomery convicted of second-degree murder of daughter Harmony The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The mother of slain five-year-old Harmony Montgomery spoke to reporters outside a courtroom after the little girls father was convicted of her murder. Jurors convicted Adam Montgomery on all charges following a gruelling trial which took place more than four years on from when Harmony was last seen alive in 2019. Authorities failed to search for the missing child who was known to protective services for more than two years after she went missing. Kayla Montgomery testified that her husband struck the Harmony several times after she had a bathroom accident. She testified that, after killing her, the family drove to a Burger King. She fed her two young sons and placed a sandwich on Harmonys lap without realising she was dead. After the defendant repeatedly struck Harmony. After he put the blanket over her. After she moaned. After the strange crying moaning stopped. After you did drugs and after the car died, you thought she was sleeping under that blanket, the prosecutor said. After the verdict was handed down, Harmonys mother Crystal Sorey told reporters she was grateful that it was over but vowed that she and authorities would not stop fighting to find her daughters body. She also slammed Montgomery as a coward for failing to attend any of his trial. In a press conference, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg also vowed to continue to push to find Harmony. Were still going to find her, Chief Aldenberg told reporters as he choked back tears. This girl deserves better than the life that she had. This is never about winning or losing, this is about a five-year-old girl who was killed by her father. And I cant think of a worse crime. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The families of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have reached an out of court resolution, avoiding the need to go to trial over emotional distress claims later this year. The confidential resolution was announced on Wednesday in a joint statement from Joseph and Tara Petito and Nichole and James Schmidt. The parties had agreed reluctantly to the resolution, the statement said. After a long day of mediation, a confidential resolution has been reached between the parents of Gabby Petitio, the parents of Brian Laundrie and Attorney Steven Bertolino to which all parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict. Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby. Petitos parents accused the parents of her fiance of knowing that their son had killed their daughter but deliberately concealing information. Christopher and Roberta Laundrie said they did not know that Brian had killed Gabby but Ms Laundrie admitted the thought probably went through my mind. Petitos remains were discovered in Wyoming on 19 September 2021, eight days after she was first reported missing by her parents after failing to return from a cross-country roadtrip with her fiance Laundrie. She had been strangled. Gabby Petitos remains were discovered in Wyoming on 19 September 2021 (Joseph Petito/Instagram) Petito, who is believed to have been killed by Laundrie in late August, was 22. Her parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, first filed their lawsuit against the Laundries in March 2022, accusing them of hindering the search for their daughter. Laundrie told his parents that Petito was gone and that he needed a lawyer in a phone call to his father weeks before her remains were found in Wyoming, according to depositions taken by lawyers for the Petito family. The suit alleged that the Laundries had known about Gabbys death for weeks before her body was found, but acted with malice or great indifference. Petitos father previously said he questioned why the parents of his daughters boyfriend were not helping to bring her home, despite their claims that the couple were sweet together. They supposedly love Gabby, but all they did was show that they didnt give two s***s about her, he said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The storm of unfortunate events that led to a Massachusetts court awarding custody of Harmony Montgomery to her father would eventually prove fatal. For the first four years of her life, Harmonys childhood had been a lot like her little brother Jamisons. They were born two years apart to a mother who was actively struggling with substance abuse issues and constantly found themselves in and out of foster homes. The trauma that they had been through at a very young age ... All they really had was each other. Harmony was Jamisons only constant, Blair Miller, who adopted Jamison along with his husband Jonathon Bobbitt-Miller, tells The Independent. Jamison officially became a Miller in November 2019 and a week later, the family gathered to celebrate the little boys birthday at their Boston home. That same weekend, just over 50 miles away in Manchester, New Hampshire, Harmony was killed. She was five years old. All I can think of is, Gosh, we were celebrating Jamisons birthday when Harmony was being beaten in the back of a car, Mr Miller said. The Millers had inquired about adopting Harmony, a rambunctious little girl with an infectious grin who was blind in her right eye, but were told that would not be possible. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) informed the family that Harmony had been reunited with her biological father, Adam Montgomery. Montgomery was found guilty by a jury on Thursday of beating Harmony to death after she had a bathroom accident. A constellation of missed warning signs, systemic failures, inconsistent laws across two states, and vague policies resulted in Harmony being placed in the hands of her father, who had a violent criminal history and was in jail at the time she was born. It was one decision after another that put her on a path of lethality with her father, Carol Erskine, a Massachusetts child advocate, juvenile court judge, and author of an upcoming book about Harmony Montgomery told The Independent. From June 2014, when DCF opened the case, to February 2019, when her father was awarded custody of Harmony, the DCF case management team never completed an assessment of him, the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) noted. Just 40 hours of visitation and an extensive criminal history Perhaps if a proper assessment of Adam Montgomery had been conducted, agencies would have noticed his lengthy criminal history, which includes everything from robbery to armed assault. There was just a list of dangerous crimes that made him a clear risk, in my opinion, to being able to parent their child, Ms Erskine said. The former judge explained that when determining the placement of a child, a judge will only consider a criminal past if the crimes are relevant. For example, when theres a record of ongoing unabated violence, with weapons and crimes against individuals, then it becomes more relevant in terms of parenting. Another red flag appears to have been ignored when deciding to award Harmonys father custody: the lack of time he had spent with her during her life. Mr Montgomery was in and out of Harmonys life since birth, not consistently visiting with her for more than four to six months at a time, with long periods of no contact, the Massachusetts OCAs 2022 report states. One gap between Montgomerys visits to Harmony spanned 11 months. The OCA estimated that the child had spent 40 hours across 20 supervised visits with her father from the time she was born to age four and a half. The report also noted that there is no evidence that her father tried to understand or accommodate her visual impairment or the emotional trauma she already had endured in her young life. Ms Erskine laid out a series of issues in court when Montgomery was awarded custody. The DCF attorney, while opposed to Adam being awarded custody of Harmony, did not pursue important lines of inquiry like his parental capacity, job stability, housing situation, or understanding of her visual impairment according to the Massachusetts report. Because DCFs case was extremely weak, the judge didnt hear substantial relevant evidence, Ms Erskine said. On top of this, Harmony didnt have a court-appointed child advocate. If there had been an independent voice for Harmony, things might have been very different because the judge might have heard information that was not conveyed to the court by the lawyers, Ms Erskine added. Regardless of the dearth of information, the judge awarded Adam Montgomery full custody. This was a case that was open with the court for four years and eight months and the trial lasted somewhere between six and eight hours, Ms Erskine added. At the same time, Harmonys mother Crystal Sorey had a scheduling conflict in a different court regarding the care and protection of Jamison, Harmonys half-brother. Harmonys hearing therefore proceeded without her mother. Harmony was then sent to live with her father in New Hampshire. Interstate issues played big role in lack of safety checks Moving to another state opened the floodgates for more missed warning signs. Ms Erskine said that the major problem in the case is that there are different interpretations by Massachusetts and New Hampshire of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) which is a law enacted across all 50 states that requires check-ins about the childs welfare. The ICPC requires an investigation, including a criminal background check and a home study. The Massachusetts juvenile court judge requested an expedited ICPC to analyse what placing Harmony in Adam Montgomerys care in another state would look like. However, the Massachusetts report said that the New Hampshire ICPC Compact Administrator had not acted on the ICPC request by the date of the February 2019 hearing. So, Harmony was placed in the custody of Mr. Montgomery without a completed ICPC, the Massachusetts report states. Cassandra Sanchez, a child advocate at the New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), explained that Massachusetts had sent an ICPC request to be completed by New Hampshire but some documents were missing. The sending state is the one that needs to follow up, she said. Ms Sanchez also worked at the Massachusetts OCA during the Montgomery case. She said it was surprising that the judge moved forward with placement of the child to a parent before that was completed. There was never a home study at Adam Montgomerys house. Ultimately, the judge determined that the ICPC did not apply, and the DCF attorney the only attorney to argue that the ICPC applied to Harmonys case did not appeal that decision, the Massachusetts report states. When the ICPC didnt happen, it left Harmony alone in a home with a man who had a dangerous, violent criminal past, Ms Erskine said. The beginning of the end for Harmony Montgomery It only took months after Harmony moved in with her father for abuse allegations to surface. In July 2019, Kevin Montgomery, Adams uncle, reported that Harmony had been abused after seeing a black eye on the little girl and said that her father had admitted to causing it. I bashed her around this house, Kevin said Adam had told him. The uncle said he contacted DCYF and had also noticed that Adam had subjected his daughter to other forms of abusive discipline, like scrubbing a toilet with her toothbrush and being spanked hard on the butt. Michael Montgomery, Adams brother, also told investigators he had concerns that Adam was physically abusive to the child and was super short with her. New Hampshire DCYF visited the home the same day as the call and determined the claim to be unfounded. However, as the New Hampshire report notes, the DCYF worker only saw the child for a fleeting moment: This assessment was conducted as Adam Montgomery and Harmony were entering their vehicle and departing. A few weeks later, in August, when the worker conducted a second, more detailed assessment, they noticed a red mark in her eye and faded bruising under her eyelid, the report says. Harmony, her father and his wife, Kayla Montgomery, all told the worker that the child had been accidentally hit with a toy lightsaber while playing with a sibling. After yet another assessment in October 2019, the worker rated the situation as high risk for future child welfare involvement. No one saw or heard from Harmony again. A murder left unreported for two years Police have narrowed down the window when Harmony Montgomery would have died to between late November and early December 2019. At the trial, the court heard graphic details of the little girls death. According to the testimony of her stepmother, Harmony was beaten to death after she soiled herself but Montgomery and his estranged wife Kayla did not realize she was dead for hours. Kayla was the star witness at Adams trial after reaching a plea deal on unrelated charges of perjury. She is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence and has not been charged with any offence against Harmony. The little girl made weird moaning noises, according to Kayla, as she lay in the back of the car after the beating. Her severely bruised, tiny body was covered under a blanket and her face was dirty with blood from beatings in the days before. Adam and Kayla drove to a Burger King and then to a friends apartment complex to buy drugs before they realized Harmony was not breathing, Kayla said. For the next two months, Adam Montgomery went to horrific lengths to reduce Harmonys remains before he disposed of what was left of her in March 2020. Still, two years on from her death, no authorities were even looking for Harmony. In January 2020, the New Hampshire DCYF received yet another report about the Montgomery household; Adam Montgomery informed the agency that Harmony was not there, and instead was living with her mother in Massachusetts. DCYF proceeded to try to get in touch with Crystal Sorey to no avail. Both state reports say that she did not return their one call and voicemail attempting to contact her. At this time, There was not a strict guideline in place at the time for [DCYF] to have to connect with the parents they made attempts, Ms Sanchez explained. The Montgomery household received numerous child welfare reports from January through March 2021 none of these complaints pertained to Harmony. When agents asked about Harmonys whereabouts, Adam Montgomery said that she was with her mother and he hadnt seen his daughter in a year, state reports say. Strangely, both state reports make no mention of the little girl from March 2020 when agents tried, unsuccessfully, to contact Ms Sorey until a year and a half later in September 2021. The gap underscores that seemingly no one had been trying to keep tabs on the little girl in that time frame, despite neither agency being able to confirm where she was staying. It wasnt until September 2021, when someone close to Ms Sorey inquired to the New Hampshire child welfare agency about Harmony, that anything was done. That person said that the childs mother hadnt seen her daughter since Easter 2019 and hadnt been able to get in contact with Adam Montgomery to visit with her daughter. It also wasnt until this time that New Hampshires child welfare agency confirmed that Harmony had never been registered for school in the state. At that point, she would have been seven years old. So, in December 2021, the search for the girl began, with agencies believing they were looking for a missing seven-year-old. On December 31, the same day that police publicized Harmonys disappearance, New Hampshire officers found the little girls father living in his car. When asked about where his daughter was, he provided contradictory explanations, reports say. Days later, he was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, interference with custody and endangering the welfare of a child. In October 2022, Adam Montgomery was charged with murder. More than four years later, Harmonys body has yet to be found. A loving family who would have adopted her Blair Miller and his husband watched Montgomerys trial with an eye open and the other closed, he told The Independent before the jury reached a verdict on Thursday. Naturally, a child murder case was slated to have its share of grim details, but the information that emerged during the two-and-a-half weeks of proceedings proved disturbing beyond comprehension. During closing arguments, prosecutor Ben Agatis voice cracked with anger and outrage. The only parts of Harmony that are left will be with you in that deliberation room, on that pink toothbrush, and on that part of [bloodied] ceiling wall, Mr Agati told jurors before deliberations began on Wednesday, of the last objects known to contain Harmonys DNA. And the other parts of her body, her torso, her face, her eyes, that smile ... only the defendant, as we sit and stand here today, knows where they are. He cant afford to say where they are, because the evidence contained on them will show that he caused her death, so she wont get the burial that she deserves. Although Harmonys body was abused in unimaginable ways, her legacy lives on in her little brother. After he was adopted by the Millers, Jamison looked for Harmony in every blonde little girl he saw while out with his parents and siblings. We were talking to his mom about trying to figure out where exactly Harmony was because Jamison was so determined to want to keep that relationship. He would ask about her a lot. Wed be at a park and hed say thats Harmony, off in the distance, Mr Miller said. As a dad, you want to help fix that situation. The Millers would have gladly adopted Harmony. When they were told Jamison had a sister, they reached out to Montgomery via Facebook messages about being told that she was living with her biological father, but they never heard back. We had always said, If anything changes, we would want to keep them together, Mr Miller said. We feel a lot of guilt from that because we wish we could have done more. We wish we would have pushed harder. We were trying to keep a relationship between Jamison and his sister. Jamison is not yet aware of the horrifying abuse his sister endured but understands that Harmony is no longer alive. His fathers welcome conversations about Harmony and have tried to fill in the gaps with age-appropriate information. On Jamisons bedroom door, the Millers have placed a picture of him and Harmony. In the photo, theyre both smiling. Harmony is wearing her round glasses and a shirt featuring Minnie Mouse, her favourite cartoon. Jamison is holding a stuffed animal tight in his hands. Its a frozen moment in time of the special bond they once shared, before Harmonys life was taken and Jamisons was irreparably changed. Hes still very much talks about his relationship with Harmony and what she means to him, said Mr Miller. Just the other night, he was saying during his evening prayers ... I pray to God that he could just do one thing and thats to bring Harmony back to life. What has been done so theres not another Harmony? There have been some changes implemented to address the wide range of missteps that occurred in Harmonys case. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts OCA told The Independent that its child welfare agency decreased the caseloads of its staff attorneys. Similarly, the New Hampshire OCA said its child welfare agency workers now have a more manageable caseload that is closer to the [proposed] national standards, Ms Sanchez said. Since this case, New Hampshire has also put in place new policies for how children are evaluated after the child welfare agency receives a report. New Hampshire child welfare agents are now required to see children within a certain time frame and ensure they are directly laying eyes on the child and not seeing a child in passing, Ms Sanchez said. Hopefully, this will avoid another fleeting moment where an agent spotted Harmony from afar while she got in a car. The agents are also required to sit down and meet with the child separate from the parent and potential perpetrator, she added. There are also tighter definitions pertaining to the child-parent relationship. On top of this, seemingly in order to address Adam Montgomery being awarded custody after seeing his daughter for just 40 hours, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have signed a memorandum of understanding requiring parents to prove that they have a pre-existing relationship with a child. If the parent and child dont have a pre-existing relationship or it cant be proven, then the two states have agreed that the parent will undergo a home study process, Ms Sanchez explained. After Adam Montgomery told the New Hampshire child welfare agency that Harmony was living with her mother, the agency tried contacting Ms Sorey once without follow-up. Now, the agency is required to continue to try to get in touch with the parent until they connect and are able to validate the whereabouts of the child. If that parent says they dont have the child, the agents must then take steps to seek out where else that child may be, Ms Sanchez said. While some state policies have been addressed, Ms Erskine has her sights set on changing federal legislation. She hopes to alter the language of the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act to make a home study and follow-up mandatory in the cases in which a child is to be with a parent in another state. The New Hampshire legislature announced in February that it had started the Harmony Commission. The House Speaker said that a committee on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is charged with considering all matters on due process and practices concerning DCYF and can make recommendations for future legislation. Ms Sanchez said the commission seems like it will explore parents rights and their due process. And for us, thats the opposite of what we need to be looking at right now. She added, Childrens needs need to be at the forefront. It comes back to whats going to happen? After this verdict, what are we going to do? Mr Miller told The Independent. I know people are outraged but how do we harness that into creating change so theres not another Harmony? At the Miller household, Harmony is a central focus. The couple has met with lawmakers in Massachusetts and DC to discuss potential ways to avoid history repeating itself. Every year, the Millers celebrate Harmonys June 8th birthday. Its a tradition that dates back to when she was reported missing. Last year, they held the celebration at the Potomac River in DC. Jamison said, Lets get some flowers and go put them in the river, Mr Miller recounted. He said, All rivers eventually lead to heaven. He wanted the flowers to reach her. 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 }} US prosecutors have charged a 60-year-old alleged member of the Japanese Yakuza mafia with conspiring to traffic nuclear materials. Takeshi Ebisawa was charged with allegedly attempting to sell uranium and plutonium intended for Iran to build a nuclear bomb. Mr Ebisawa, along with Thai co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, 61, had previously faced weapons and drug charges in April 2022. The defendant stands accused of conspiring to sell weapons-grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Burma (Myanmar), and to purchase military weaponry on behalf of an armed insurgent group, assistant attorney general Matthew Olsen of the US Justice Departments National Security Division said in a statement. Currently held in a Brooklyn jail, Mr Ebisawa is considered a senior figure in the Yakuza with operations extending through Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and the US. Mr Ebisawa and his confederates showed samples of nuclear materials in Thailand to an undercover agent from the US Drug Enforcement Agency, the US Department of Justice said in a statement. The 60-year-old Japanese mafia boss reportedly also sent pictures depicting rocky substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation, according to the indictment, as well as pages of what Mr Ebisawa said were lab analyses indicating the presence of the radioactive elements thorium and uranium. The US Drug Enforcement Agency agent was reportedly posing as a trafficker with connections to an Iranian general. These samples, originating from Myanmar, were seized by Thai authorities and confirmed by a US laboratory to contain uranium and weapons-grade plutonium. Mr Ebisawa is also accused of attempting to procure large quantities of military-grade weapons for a rebel group in Myanmar, including surface-to-air missiles and various firearms. It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded, and the justice department will hold accountable those who traffic in these materials and threaten US national security and international stability, Mr Olden said on Wednesday in a statement. Charges against Mr Ebisawa include conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials, narcotics importation conspiracy, conspiracy to acquire, transfer, and possess anti-aircraft missiles, and money laundering. Both Mr Ebisawa and Mr Singhasiri face life imprisonment if convicted. Their arraignment is scheduled in a New York federal courtroom on Thursday. US attorney Damian Williams said in a statement: It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of the conduct alleged in todays Indictment. As alleged, Takeshi Ebisawa brazenly trafficked material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium from Burma to other countries. He allegedly did so while believing that the material was going to be used in the development of a nuclear weapons program, and the weapons-grade plutonium he trafficked, if produced in sufficient quantities, could have been used for that purpose. He continued: Even as he allegedly attempted to sell nuclear materials, Ebisawa also negotiated for the purchase of deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Minnesota man has been arrested in connection to a homicide case five months after a model was found stuffed in a fridge in a Los Angeles apartment last year. Maleesa Mooney, 31, was murdered inside her apartment last September and was found with her wrists and ankles bound and a gag around her face. Her cause of death was labelled in an autopsy report as homicidal violence. Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, who is on probation for federal narcotics offences, was taken into custody at his Minnesota home on an unrelated federal warrant, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. Police said Humphrey is the suspect responsible for the murder of Maleesa Mooney and have filed murder charges against him. Humphrey has waived extradition and will be transported back to Los Angeles to face charges, police added. It is not yet clear what led investigators to connect Mr Humphrey with this case. Mooneys death has been deemed caused by homicidal violence (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Mooney was found dead on 12 September in her apartment on the 200 block of South Figueroa Street after her family requested a police welfare check. When Mooneys body was discovered by responding officers, she was found wedged inside the refrigerator, with blood pooled on the floor outside of it, the autopsy report, obtained by KTLA, said. The horrific details from the scene do not end there, however, as the autopsy report also said the models wrists and ankles were bound, tied to each other behind her back with a mix of various electrical cords. An article of clothing was also fashioned to make an apparent gag which was stuffed in her mouth, the report said. She also had blunt force injuries, such as lacerations, abrasions and contusions, found on her face, head, back and upper left arm, the report said, according to KABC. However, the injuries she received from blunt force trauma are generally not considered acutely life-threatening on their own, but they do acknowledge it was likely she was involved in a physical altercation before she died. A toxicology test also found traces of cocaine use, but the role of alcohol or drugs in her death is uncertain. A street-side memorial for Maleesa Mooney, who was killed in her apartment, is displayed on Sept. 20, 2023, in downtown Los Angeles (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Mooneys sister, Jourdin Pauline, previously told People that at the time of her death, Mooney was two months pregnant. Mooneys death was previously reported alongside the death of another LA model, 32-year-old Nichole Coats, who was also found dead in her apartment. At the time, the similarities between the two deaths, happening to two LA modes, both similar ages, and both in their apartments, made people, including Coats family members, suspicious that the cases could be connected. However, police said in September that there was no evidence that the two cases were linked. Coats death was ruled by the medical examiner as an accident due to cocaine and ethanol toxicity. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The son of disgraced YouTuber Ruby Franke, who pleaded guilty to a slew of horrific child abuse allegations joked about the ordeal in a TikTok video. Chad Franke, one of Frankes six children, shared the video just three days before his mother was sentenced to four to 60 years in prison on multiple charges. The TikTok video showed Chad alongside his girlfriend whose caption read Youd love my mom! In response, Chad is seen smiling and dancing as his caption reads My moms in prison. Chad was in Utahs 5th District Court along with his sister, Shari, on Tuesday as their mother sobbed and apologised to her younger children for abusing them in what prosecutors called a concentration camp-like setting. The 42-year-old momfluencer was once a YouTube sensation, drawing in millions of subscribers to her channel where she offered parenting advice. Ruby Franke was sentenced Tuesday on child abuse charges (AP) But her reputation unravelled when she and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested in August 2023 after one of Frankes sons escaped Hildebrandts home and sought help from a neighbour. The malnourished boy said Hildebrandt put cayenne pepper and honey on their wounds that were caused by being tied with rope, according to arrest warrants. In December, both women pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse. They were both sentenced to between one to 15 years in prison for each count - up to 60 years in total. However, the women will only serve up to 30 years in prison due to a Utah state law that caps the sentence duration for consecutive penalties. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will consider their behaviour while incarcerated and determine how much of that time each will spend behind bars. In the plea deal statement, they both admitted to a slew of horrific acts that included forcing Frankes children to work outside in the sweltering heat without adequate water until they blistered. In this image made from video provided by the Utah State Courts, Jodi Hildebrandt is seen during a virtual court in September Franke also admitted to kicking her son while wearing boots, holding his head under water and cutting off oxygen by placing her hands over his mouth and nose. Ropes were used to tie together handcuffs that secured his hands and feet as he lay on his stomach, lifting his arms and legs off the ground and injuring his wrists and ankles, the plea agreement stated. Hildebrandt also admitted that she physically forced Frankes nine-year-old daughter to jump into a cactus multiple times, to run barefoot on dirt roads for extended periods and kept her isolated from others. They tried to convince the children that they were evil and possessed and that the punishments were necessary to repent. Franke described the abuse as acts of love. But in a tearful statement made in court before she was sentenced on Tuesday, Franke claimed she was deceived by a dark delusion. I was led to believe the world was an evil place, Franke said. For the past four years, I have chosen to follow counsel and guidance that have led me to a dark delusion. YouTuber Ruby Franke apologises to children as judge sentenced her to 60 years Franke told Judge Walton that she was under the influence of Hildebrandt, who was sentenced on the same child abuse charges. The two women will serve their sentences consecutively. She also issued a tearful apology to her children for abusing them and said she was willing to serve her time. To my babies, my six little chicks. You are part of me, the former Youtuber said. I was the mama duck who was consistently waddling you to safety. I can see now that over the past four years, I was in a deep undercurrent that led us to danger. 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 }} Police on Wednesday identified the 7-year-old girl who died after she was buried inside a sand hole while playing during a vacation on a Florida beach as Sloan Mattingly. Mattingly had come from Indiana with her family and was playing with her 9-year-old brother at Lauderdale-by-the-Seas beach when a 5-feet deep sand hole collapsed on them. The boy, Maddox, was submerged up to his chest in the sand and the girl was fully buried, Broward County Sheriffs Office. Around 20 people worked at the scene to dig out the children using their hands and plastic pails but the sand kept collapsing. The first deputies arrived almost four minutes after the collapse and paramedics followed moments later, according to 911 calls released by the Broward County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday. Rescue crews took over for the bystanders, using shovels to dig out the sand and boards to stabilise the hole, but when they got to the girl she had no pulse, said Sandra King, spokesperson for the Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue Department. The siblings were rushed to the hospital but Sloan was pronounced dead at the hospital while the boys condition has not been released. Videos from the scenes showed bystanders working to rescue Sloan as wails of anguish could be heard in the background. "There is a little girl buried under the sand and they have not got to her yet," one nurse told an operator. The children and their parents were on a vacation from Indiana, the sheriffs office said. Ms King, whose department services Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, said the childrens parents were extremely distraught and the paramedics who treated the children had to be relieved from their shift. "It was a horrible, horrible scene. Just imagine one minute your children are playing in the sand and then in seconds you have a life-threatening situation with your little girl buried," said Ms King. The American Lifeguard Association advises beachgoers to not dig holes in the sand deeper than knee-level. Three to five children die in the United States each year when a sand hole they are digging at the beach, a park or at home collapses on top of them, according to news reports and a 2007 medical study. Others are seriously injured and require CPR to survive. Last year, a boy, 17, died after he was buried at a North Carolina beach last year. Similar deaths were reported in 2022 of a 13-year-old at a state park in Utah and an 18-year-old at a New Jersey beach. "The risk of this event is enormously deceptive because of its association with relaxed recreational settings not generally regarded as hazardous," the New England Journal of Medicine study concluded. Patrick Bafford, the lifeguard manager for Clearwater, Florida, said his staff will warn families if a hole gets too big but sometimes they arent noticed in time. "We have had events where people have had close calls or died because of a collapse," he said. "You want them to have fun, (but) theres a difference between fun and a hazard they might face. Its hard really for people to understand that the beach can be a hazard. Bad things can still happen no matter what. Use good judgment." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A South Carolina community became increasingly concerned after a Halloween decoration that looked like a body in a bag caught their attention outside a residents house. The president and CEO of the Racial Justice Network, Elder James Johnson, told WCSC that local residents of Hollywood in South Carolina felt intimidated by the human-like figure hanging from the tree. Hollywood mayor Dr Chardale Murray also said to WCBD that she had a few of her constituents reach out to her because they were intimidated or afraid by this behaviour. This is very offensive to the Black community, simply because we know our history, during the Jim Crow Era, that many Blacks were lynched, even here in South Carolina, Mr Johnson said to WCSC. Racial Justice Network leader said the display was very offensive to the Black community (WCBD-TV) The decoration has since been taken down. It was surrounded by signs that Mr Johnson assumed were written by the person who lived in the home that the fake figure was hanging outside of, the outlet reported. Footage captured by local media showed the figure lying on the ground with the handwritten signs surrounding it. The signs claimed that the human-like figure was just an old Halloween decoration that had been taken down for two years. This decoration is mass-produced from Walmart. It is a white inflatable object wrapped in a black body bag made for Halloween that Ive been too lazy to take down, one sign said, the local outlets reported. The fake body was taken down and signs were put up explaining why it was in the tree (WCBD-TV) Yet, Mr Johnson said that despite the object being a Halloween decoration, he acknowledged that it is now mid-February and that the Halloween season was over three months ago. We understand that she has signs in her yard saying that its Halloween, but Halloween was in October, he told WCBD. And for the family to keep it up until February sends a strong message of hate to people who travel this road. The sign added that despite the decoration being up for two years, neighbours had yet to raise any concerns or complain about it before. Chardale Murray said the decoration was was not welcoming (WCBD-TV) If this was about my neighbours feeling threatened by my family, it would have been addressed sooner. This is targeted harassment that is playing on a very sensitive subject to gain the most attention, the sign states. Now the figure has been taken down from the tree, Mr Johnson, according toWCSC, said that he is thankful to the homeowner for doing so, adding that his organisation does not tolerate this sort of display. However, he also asked the community not to harass the residents of the property. Mayor Murray also told WCBD that this type of behaviour is not welcoming in the town of Hollywood or acceptable. 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 }} In 2004, Ken Middleton made a decision that has cost him nearly two decades of freedom. After being convicted of killing his wife, a crime he maintains he did not commit, prosecutors offered him a deal: He had already spent 14 years in prison for her murder but if he took a plea deal, he would be able to walk free. Mr Middleton refused, determined to clear his name with a new trial and have his entire conviction overturned. Nineteen years later hes still waiting for that chance. Most innocent people would have taken that plea just to get out of prison, so I dont fault anyone for taking it who is innocent, his son Cliff Middleton told The Independent., But one thing I can tell you beyond any doubt whatsoever Every guilty person is going to take that plea. Mr Middleton insists his wife, Kathy Middleton, died by accident as she fumbled with a gun. For the last two decades, Mr Middleton, now 79, has been waiting for a trial that was promised to him and never delivered. Months after prosecutors plea offer, Judge Edith Louise Messina granted Mr Middleton a new trial after an evidentiary hearing in which Mr Middletons new counsel presented evidence that it would have been nearly impossible for him to shoot at the trajectory that his wife was shot. Prosecutors waited until Judge Messina ruled in favour of Mr Middletons request to then file a motion alleging that the judge did not have the jurisdiction to decide on the matter. We put on all this evidence and we win, Cliff told The Independent about the evidence suggesting his father is innocent of murdering his stepmother. And then [the prosecution] comes back and say, You did it in the wrong courtroom, and threw it all out, never addressing the merits that the judge ruled on in a 38-page order tossing out his conviction. Ken Middleton has always maintained his wife, Kathy Middleton, died by accident as she fumbled with a gun. He was convicted of murdering her in 1991, but the judge that presided over his convictio granted a new trial in 2008 (Family handout ) Ever since, Mr Middletons case has been tangled in the technicalities of a system that gave him a glimpse of hope in his fight for freedom and then took it away. Imagine after the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, and they said, Hold on a minute. We should have played it in California, not in Las Vegas and took away their Super Bowl, said Cliff. Thats the equivalent of what happened to us. Last year, Mr Middletons attorney filed legal documents arguing that Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has failed to file an order to vacate Mr Middletons conviction under a 2021 law that allows the state to do so when evidence emerges that a convicted person may be innocent or may have been erroneously convicted. It is the same law that allowed Ms Baker to vacate Kevin Stricklands conviction . Mr Strickland was exonerated 43 years into a 50-year prison sentence for a triple homicide he did not commit. But the prosecutor has shown no interest in correcting the systems wrongs in Mr Middletons case. Ms Bakers office has not yet responded to The Independents request for comment. Its cruel and its wrong, Cliff said. After turning down his freedom, after [securing] a new trial. He has sat in prison, proven a wrongfully convicted man. And those years of injustice hurt. When I see people get out, they seem forgiving that justice finally worked, Cliff said. Theyre a different breed than I am because Ill never forget what the state of Missouri has done to my father and my family. A promise 19 years due In 2004, family members and friends of Ken Middleton sat in the gallery for his evidentiary hearing. There had been momentum building around the hearing, and Mr Middletons family spent a large sum to make sure this time he had a strong defence. The hearing was akin to a mini-trial, Cliff said, and by the end of it, Mr Middletons supporters believed they had reached a turning point. The Middleton family flew in forensic experts from out of state, and they had a new team of lawyers. They had their hopes set on a favourable ruling and it seemed like freedom was lurking around the corner. One of the arguments introduced by Mr Middletons defence was that the attorney who represented him during the trial had not presented a case at all. After he was arrested, Mr Middletons assets were frozen and he had to rely on the kindness of a close family friend who paid for his trial lawyer, Robert Duncan. Duncan was handling three death penalty cases along with Mr Middletons and was found to have left out facts critical to Mr Middletons case. He was later found to be ineffective and disbarred . During Mr Middletons trial, he did not raise a defence, didnt put experts on the stand and didnt enter any evidence. There were also personal relationships with the legal team that may have impacted the trial. In a 1996 affidavit seen by The Independent, Duncan said that he later found out the father of the lead prosecutor in Mr Middletons case was representing his wifes sisters in a civil lawsuit against Mr Middleton. The law firm of the prosecutors father also represented the police department that led the investigation into Kathy Middletons death. Neither the prosecution nor the police department disclosed the conflict of interest. An expert who testified at the 2004 two-day hearing cast doubt on the police departments theory of the shooting. The expert testified that it was just impossible for my dad to have shot her because she was shot from eight inches away, and the trajectory of the bullet was at a steep angle. He couldnt have shot her and gotten out of the way [to avoid] any blood spatter on him, Cliff said. Kathy Middleton was shot from the left. Although her right hand tested negative for gun residue, the results of the test taken from her left hand never made it to court. The left-hand test was also never sent by police to the laboratory. In excerpts of Judge Messinas ruling reviewed by The Independent, she wrote that jurors saw a document filled out by crime scene investigators that stated the right hand had been tested and when held to light, it could be seen that the left hand part had been removed with white-out. To this day, nobody has ever explained where the left hand went, Cliff said. Kathy Middletons hands were tested for gun residue. The right hand sides test came back negative, but police never submitted the test from the left hand to the laboratory (Family handout ) Id plead guilty to killing Abraham Lincoln At the hearing, former Governor Missouri Joseph Teasdale also said Mr Middletons was the worst case of constitutional violations he had witnessed, according to a transcript seen by The Independent. Judge Messina wouldnt rule for another 11 months, but just two weeks after the evidentiary hearing concluded, the Jackson County Prosecutors Office came back to Mr Middleton with an Alford plea offer a type of deal that allows a defendant who maintains their innocence to accept a plea bargain. Mr Middleton did not take it. When Judge Messinas ruling came, the state appealed the decision on jurisdictional grounds. An appeal court later ruled in favour of the prosecution and revoked the judges decision. They offered him his freedom if he pleaded guilty, but because he wanted the trial judge to exonerate him What does [the prosecution] do? They turn around and appeal the decision and hide behind a procedural background, Cliff says. Ill never forget. One of the [prison] guards told my dad that he would have pled guilty to killing Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy if they would let him out of that place. Mr Middletons current attorney, Kent Gipson, joined his case five years after the prosecutions appeal. He has exhausted nearly every legal remedy available to Mr Middleton since and now hopes that a new judge can give them a new chance to argue their case at a status hearing scheduled for March. This case has probably got more twists and turns than just about anything Ive dealt with, Mr Gipson told The Independent. Ive been up and down through the courts, I dont know how many times in the last 14 years and nothings ever worked. The way I look at it, and thats probably the only way I havent gone insane or dropped dead is, all I can do is do the best I can. Cliff Middleton says that advocating for his fathers freedom has been his lifes work (Family handout ) Son crusades for fathers freedom Following Judge Messinas ruling, the Kansas City Star ran an article featuring Mr Middletons story titled Son crusades for fathers freedom . So for now he remains in prison, the last line of the piece read. Inspired by the headline, Cliff bought a billboard in downtown Kansas City with the same legend. The Kansas City Star ran an article featuring Mr Middletons story in 2005 (Screenshot/Kansas City Star Archive ) But for now turned into months, then years, and Mr Middleton has since remained in prison for two more decades. He speaks to his son nearly every day, but the missed family gatherings, birthday celebrations, and time with his grandchildren and now great-grandchildren have weighed heavily on the familys morale. [My children] have never seen him outside of a prison visiting room with a white T-shirt on, Cliff said. Theyve never seen my dad in street clothes as a normal human being like I did. Still fighting a legal system that has proved flawed, unreliable and even negligent, Cliff now knows by heart the date of every legal defeat. He has spent the last three decades studying any case that bears similarities to his dads, and learning a myriad of legal terms he never dreamed of becoming familiar with when he first found out his father had been arrested in 1990. This has been my lifes work, Cliff said. I thought my dad was coming home. I thought it was over. And we had that yanked away from us. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The lush valley enveloping Medellin was once the heart of a brutal war involving the Colombian government, drug cartels and a smattering of other armed groups. But a sharp dip in violence in the countrys second-biggest city has attracted a flood of tourists to its vivid colors, busy cafes and booming nightlife. About 1.4 million visited last year, many of them American. Now the tourism boom has presented officials with a new set of dark challenges, including an uptick in sex trafficking and the killing of tourists and Colombian women after rendezvous on dating apps. This area has spun out of control, Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez said recently while touring a park known for the sex trade. Sex and drug tourism has long been a problem in Medellin, but the dangers came to a head late last year. Between November and December, eight American men were killed, many after meeting local women who are often used as pawns by criminal groups that target foreigners. The killings prompted the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to warn in January that some tourists had been slipped drugs and were later robbed or killed. American officials cautioned men against using dating apps. The apps offer a way to seek out sex workers, whose business is not criminalized in Colombia. Medellin lead prosecutor Yiri Milena Amado Sanchez said most of the recent killings followed similar scripts: A tourist contacts a local woman through social media or a dating app. When they meet, the man is handed a drink spiked with a substance such as scopolamine, which can cause people to fall unconscious and block their memories. The victims lose their belongings and, in some cases, their lives. Police detain a minor for breaking curfew in Lleras Park in Medellin, Colombia (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Of the killings, the most is known about the death of Tou Ger Xiong, an activist and comedian from Minnesota who went on a date with a Medellin woman, police say. After meeting the woman, Xiong was kidnapped on Dec. 10, tortured, beaten and robbed. Despite his family paying a ransom for his release, he was taken to a nearby wooded area and thrown down a 250-foot cliff. He was found dead the next day. Colombian authorities have not suggested that he was involved in prostitution. They said Xiong went out several times with the woman, who has been charged in the case, along with two men. Friends and relatives described Xiong as a gregarious man who loved to travel, especially to Colombia, where he had friends. Its almost like a second home; he loved it there, his brother, Eh Xiong, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, adding that his brother knew about the U.S. government warnings, but that he assumed only "the best in people. Just this year, authorities have investigated the deaths of five more tourists, including a Dutch visitor found dead in a hotel, three Americans and a Lithuanian, who may have died by suicide. Foreigners, too, have been behind some of the violence. Police ask a woman for proof of age at a checkpoint at an entrance to Lleras Park during an operation to enforce a curfew (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Earlier this month, the body of 20-year-old Colombian Laura Lopera was found jammed inside a suitcase. Authorities say her middle-aged Canadian ex-boyfriend, whom she met on a dating app, was likely behind the death. Gutierrez, the Medellin mayor, said the boyfriend fled the country and is now being pursued by Interpol. The Associated Press contacted the suspect over social media but did not receive a response. The Canadian Embassy in Bogota said it was tracking the case but could not share more information due to privacy concerns. How sad and painful it is to learn of another femicide, Gutierrez wrote on X, formerly Twitter. I send my solidarity to her family. The rise in tourism has also coincided with an uptick in sexual exploitation and trafficking in a place where rates of violence against women are already sky-high. In 2023, the city documented 1,259 cases of possible sexual exploitation of minors, a nearly 60% increase from the year before, according to data collected by the city. Much of the city's sex work is also fueled by poverty and a migration crisis from neighboring Venezuela. Vulnerable women often sell sex to make ends meet. That was the case for one young sex worker, who fled economic crisis in Venezuela five years ago. A hotel worker displays a sign that says in Spanish No to pornographic exploitation and sex tourism in Medellin (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Every weekend, she walks dressed up through Lleras Park, which is surrounded by clubs frequented by foreign tourists. The small park is a hub for Medellin's sex industry. An American will pay 100 or even 200 dollars for sex, but a Colombian never pays that much, she said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. Far from making a lucrative salary, she needed to scrape together at least $50 to pay for the room where she lives with her 8-year-old daughter and her mother. Some think that we are going to harm them, she said, referring to the crimes against tourists. But not all of us are criminals. On a recent night, dozens of police officers and local government officials patrolled the park, accompanied by Mayor Gutierrez. They asked for identification from women entering the park through police checkpoints. Most were let through, but a couple of teenagers were stopped and taken into a van. When the police left, the area once again filled with sex workers of different ages. Despite the rise in sex tourism, many visitors to Medellin are pulled in by its vibrant culture, the stunning natural beauty of the valley and the citys complicated history. Tourists take photos in the Comuna 13 neighborhood of Medellin, Colombia (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) In a hillside neighborhood known as Comuna 13, hundreds of people take walking tours each day to see the areas transformation. The neighborhood was once a battleground for fighting among drug cartels, leftist guerrillas, military forces and government-linked paramilitary groups. The dead were buried in mass graves. While the area still struggles with gang problems, tourists walk through colorful streets connected by electric staircases. Visitors take photos of intricate murals painted by local artists and shop for handicrafts in small stores. In the middle of a tour, 38-year-old Ola Aiyedun of New York stopped to take some pictures with two friends. He said he wasnt worried about safety or the warning to avoid dating apps because he didnt come to Colombia in search of a partner. Colombia has more to offer than just women, Aiyedun said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A female stingray in a North Carolina aquarium is pregnant even though there are no males in her tank. The mysterious pregnancy has become the subject of widespread fascination, with many wondering how the round stingray, named Charlotte, came to be pregnant. The unique thing about Charlotte is we dont have a male ray, Brenda Ramer, executive director of the Aquarium & Shark Lab in Hendersonville, said in a video on Facebook. Aquarium staff believe Charlottes seemingly immaculate conception is the result of parthenogenesis, a rare form of asexual reproduction observed in some animals, including fish, birds, insects, and amphibians. Charlotte was found covered in shark bites a sign of mating in sharks which initially led some to speculate that a shark was the father, and Charlottes baby would be a shark-stingray hybrid. But Kady Lyons, a research scientist at the Georgia Aquarium, told the Associated Press this sort of interspecies copulation is not biologically possible. We should set the record straight that there arent some shark-ray shenanigans happening here, Lyons said. Even so, Charlottes pregnancy is no less remarkable she is the only known case of her species to become pregnant by parthenogenesis, Lyons said. We dont know why it happens, Lyons said. Just that its kind of this really neat phenomenon that they seem to be able to do. Charlotte is expecting three or four pups, and is expected to give birth in about a week. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An Oklahoma city council member has accused the states board of education and Libs of TikTok influencer Chaya Raichik of having blood on your hands over the death of nonbinary student Nex Benedict. Sean Cummings, the vice-mayor of The Village, a suburb of Oklahoma City, told members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education at a Thursday hearing that they had emboldened bullying and hatred towards the LGBTQ community and that that discourse may have led to Nexs death. You emboldened these three girls yourself, Mr Cummings said. Chaya Raichik emboldened these three girls by being on the library board. Its already difficult to be in high school. Its very difficult to be different. Nex, 16, died on 7 February, one day after their family say they got into a fight with three girls in a bathroom at Owasso High School, after being bullied for their gender fluid identity. Mr Cummings told The Independent in an interview afterwards that he felt compelled to speak at the meeting even though his wife Cathy Cummings, a former mayor of The Village, had died earlier this month. At the Thursday board meeting, Mr Cummings said that the rhetoric from the education board Mr Walters had been partially responsible for emboldening bullies to attack Nex in a school bathroom. Three older girls dont just jump a 16-year-old in a bathroom for no apparent reason, especially when theyre from the alphabet community, who you personally have attacked ever since you ran for office, Mr Cummings said, in a reference to Nex identifying as LGBTQ. Nex Benedict, 16, died one day after being assaulted in a bathroom at Owasso High School in Oklahoma, police say (GoFundme) Superintendent Walters, who was in attendance at the meeting, appointed anti-LGBTQ activist Ms Raichik to a state library advisory board in January. You and worthless ass Chaya Raychick literally have blood on your hands, Cummings told Oklahomas superintendent of public schools Ryan Walters. Ms Raichik, who is New York-based, runs the Libs of TikTok social media account and posts edited, anti-trans videos that target LGBTQ friendly public school teachers and librarians. And you brought in the chief attacker of this, Chaya Raichik. Its on you, Mr Cummings said directly to Superintendent Walters. A video of Mr Cummings remarks was posted to X/Twitter by an OKC Fox reporter. Nexs death remains under investigation by police. Initial autopsy results indicate they did not die from trauma, Owasso police say. In a statement, the Benedict family said Nex was attacked and assaulted in a bathroom by a group of other students. Sean Cummings, an Oklahoma councillor, with his late wife Cathy, who passed away earlier this month (Courtesy of Sean Cummings) Nexs mother Sue Benedict told The Independent in an interview this week that they had been bullied due to their nonbinary identity for more than a year. Cummings said he believed the school board was liable in creating an atmosphere of anti-trans rhetoric that helped possibly lead to Nexs death. I think what youre looking at now is a federal lawsuit for each one of you personally and I hope it happens because it will bankrupt you, Mr Cummings told the board members in the room. Did I not tell you this was going to happen? And Im sure when I leave here Chaya Raichik will tweet my stuff out again and Ill get death threats again. Thats who you brought into the room. You have no deniability here. It is a pattern, Forrest Gump could see the pattern. I am humiliated and embarrassed for everyone who showed up today. Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters appointed Chaya Raichik to a library advisory board in January (Associated Press) The Independent has contacted Ms Raichik and the Oklahoma State Department of Education for comment. LGBTQ advocacy groups in Oklahoma have linked Nexs death to the rise of hateful rhetoric and anti-trans legislation that the state legislature has passed. Freedom Oklahoma described Nexs death as a possible hate-motivated attack, while the Oklahoma Pride Alliance blamed the hateful rhetoric spewed by leaders in our state. Mr Cummings told The Independent that he had shown up to speak at the meeting to call out Ms Raichik and Superintendent Walters. Nexs death is life-changing for everybody involved, and its made okay because of the rhetoric of those two individuals and that just pours downstream and these kids are drinking that water, he said. Mr Cummings, who owns an Irish bar in Oklahoma City, said he was targeted by Ms Raichik in January after criticising her appointment to the library committee. Sean Cummings, the vice mayor of The Village in Oklahoma, made an impassioned speech at a State Board of Education meeting about the death of Nex Benedict on 22 February (Payton May / X / Screenshot) The Oklahoman reported that Mr Cummings raised an August 2023 incident where the Libs of TikTok account posted the work location of an Oklahoma librarian, who was later the subject of bomb threats. Mr Cummings told The Independent that the keyboard cowboys didnt scare him, and that he often felt like a lone voice standing up for LGBTQ rights in such a red state. Im a dad, I have a dog at home. I dont have anyone at home. If anybody wants to come after me they can come after me. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The death of non-binary Oklahoma student Nex Benedict after they were allegedly beaten up by three older kids in a school bathroom has led to an outpouring of grief and anger from their family and the LGBTQ community. On 7 February, Nex suffered severe head injuries during a physical altercation in a bathroom at Owasso High School, according to the Owasso Police Department. Nexs mother Sue Benedict told The Independent they were badly beaten in a fight with three older students in a bathroom and hit their head on the floor. Nex collapsed at home the next day and was later pronounced dead in hospital. The exact cause of death is currently unknown. Owasso Public Schools officials said in a statement they did not call for medical help or notify police about the fight, based on district protocols. On Monday, the Owasso Police Department said they were interviewing staff and students at Owasso High School, and were awaiting toxicology and autopsy reports from the medical examiners office before deciding whether to lay charges. On Wednesday 21 February, Owasso police issued an updated statement that an autopsy had been completed which indicated Nex had not died as a result of trauma. While the investigation continues into the altercation, preliminary information from the medical examiners office is that a complete autopsy was performed and indicated that the decedent did not die as a result of trauma, police said. The family later released a statement through lawyers saying they would conduct an independent investigation into Nexs death. The family said that the facts surrounding Nexs death, some of which have not been released publicly, were troubling at best. The 10th-grade student, who used them/they pronouns, had been bullied by students at Owasso High School for more than a year for their transgender identity, Ms Benedict told The Independent. The bullying had begun at the beginning of the 2023 school year after Republican state lawmakers passed a bill that required public school students to use bathrooms that matched the sex listed on their birth certificates. LGBTQ advocacy groups in Oklahoma have linked Nexs death to the rise of hateful rhetoric and anti-trans legislation that the state legislature has passed. Freedom Oklahoma described Nexs death as a hate crime, and blamed the hateful rhetoric spewed by leaders in our state and far-right social media influencers. Nex Benedict, 16, died one day after being assaulted in a bathroom at Owasso High School in Oklahoma, police say (GoFundme) Nex should still be alive, Freedom Oklahoma stated. Owasso schools failed to create that environment for Nex. And we know that is the story for too many kids across our state. Ms Benedict told The Independent that Nex was a courageous, smart teenager who had simply been living their true identity. What we know about the assault Nex had faced taunts and insults at school due to their gender fluid identity for over a year, Ms Benedict said. I said youve got to be strong and look the other way, because these people dont know who you are, Ms Benedict told The Independent in a phone interview. I didnt know how bad it had gotten. Owasso Public Schools acknowledged that a physical altercation broke out in a restroom at Owasso High School west campus. The incident lasted less than two minutes, the school said in a news release, and was broken up by other students and a teacher. The school district said it determined that an ambulance service was not required. Out of an abundance of caution, it was recommended to one parent that their student visit a medical facility for further examination. Ms Benedict told The Independent she arrived at the school to find Nex with bruises over their face and eyes, and with scratches on the back of their head. Nex told her they had been knocked to the ground during the fight and hit their head on the floor. Nex Benedict stood up to bullies who tormented them due to their non-binary identity (Courtesy of Benedict family) Ms Benedict was informed by the school that Nex would be suspended for two weeks, and took them to the Bailey Medical Center in Owasso for treatment. Nex was given an MRI and discharged. Ms Benedict said Nex went to bed with a headache that night. The next day, Nex collapsed at home. Ms Benedict called 911, and said Nex had stopped breathing by the time Owasso Fire Department medics arrived. Nex was taken to St Francis Pediatric Emergency Room where they later died. Text messages published by a Fox affiliate in Oklahoma showed that Nex told a relative the night of the fight that theyd tipped water over three girls who had been bullying them. Nex texted that they got jumped by the three students, and that they felt dizzy and nauseous and if it continued it could be a concussion. Ms Benedict told The Independent she understands the messages are genuine, but were released without her permission by a young relative. Owasso PD spokesperson Nick Boatman told The Independent that detectives were interviewing school staff and students and would be submitting their investigation to the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office for prosecution review. Mr Boatman said that police were awaiting the results of toxicology and autopsy reports from the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office before determining whether anyone will be charged. Ms Benedict said she remains furious at the school for failing to call police or seek medical attention for Nex, and wants to see the children who allegedly assaulted Nex punished. After widespread outcry, the Owasso Public Schools defended its decision not to notify police or call for an ambulance, saying it had determined that emergency medical treatment was not required. The Owasso school district said extra counselling services were being made available to affected students and staff. In a statement released through their lawyers on Wednesday night, the Benedict family urged police to investigate all potentially liable parties to do so fully, fairly and expediently. On February 7th, 2024, the Benedict Family sent their child, Nex Benedict, to Owasso High School, trusting, like any parent or family member should be able to, that it was a safe environment for their loved one, Oklahoma City-based Bibi Law Firm said in a statement. While at Owasso High School, Nex was attacked and assaulted in a bathroom by a group of other students. A day later, the Benedicts beautiful child lost their life. The Benedict family called on school, local, state and national officials to join forces to determine why this happened, to hold those responsible to account and to ensure it never happens again. Notwithstanding, the family is independently interviewing witnesses and collecting all available evidence. Who was Nex Benedict? Nex was born in El Paso, Texas, on 11 January 2008. Ms Benedict is Nexs biological grandmother, and raised them since they were two months old along with her five other children. She formally adopted Nex a few years ago. Ms Benedict said that Nexs biological father was in prison, and had relinquished all rights to them when they were young. Ms Benedict told The Independent that Nex had identified as non-binary from an early age, and that she and her husband Walter at times struggled to understand the nuances of Nexs gender fluidity. Nex did not see themselves as male or female, Ms Benedict said. Nex saw themselves right down the middle. I was still learning about it, Nex was teaching me that. When youre old school, you dont always understand it, Walter told The Independent. But it would be very boring if we were all the same. Its on the inside that matters the most. Nex Benedict with their cat Zeus. The straight-A student was going places (Courtesy of Benedict family) The family encouraged open discussions about questions of gender and identity, and traced their roots to the Choctaw Nation. I was very open with my children to be who and what they thought was best, Ms Benedict said. They could talk to me about anything, as long as that respect goes both ways. A child needs to figure out who they are and what they want to be, and you cannot force it upon them. Nexs sister Malia Pila, who is also a member of the LGBTQ community, told The Independent in an interview that Nexs fluid gender identity was not an issue nor anything that anybody cared about within the family. Nex was a straight-A student who enjoyed drawing, reading, playing video games Ark and Minecraft, and was devoted to their cat Zeus, Ms Benedict said. I was so proud of Nex. They were going some place, they were so free, she said. Nexs funeral was held at the Mowery Funeral Service on 15 February. After the service, police officers from Owasso and the neighbouring city of Collinsville accompanied members of the local chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse as they provided an escort from the service to the graveside. Ms Benedict told how Nex was close with members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, and members had attended their adoption service. Nex had a light in them that was so big, they had so many dreams, Ms Benedict said. I want their light to keep shining for everyone. That light was so big and bright and beautiful, and I want everyone to remember Nex that way. A GoFundme page set up to help with funeral costs has raised more than $100,000 and Ms Benedict said she plans to donate most of the money to LGBTQ anti-bullying organisations. The family said in a statement that it graciously accepts and appreciates the outpouring of support, thoughts and prayers from across the nation for the loss of their child. The Benedicts know all too well the devastating effects of bullying and school violence, and pray for meaningful change wherein bullying is taken seriously and no family has ot deal with another preventable tragedy. It further asked that any threats of violence against students and employees of the Owasso Public Schools cease immediately. What have lawmakers said In a statement on Tuesday, Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt said: Our hearts go out to Nexs family, classmates, and the Owasso community. The death of any child in an Oklahoma school is a tragedy and bullies must be held accountable. Mr Stitt has been at the forefront of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state, and last year signed an executive order defining an individuals sex as the biological sex at birth Oklahoma state representative Mauree Turner, who is the states sole non-binary lawmaker, held a minutes silence in the Oklahoma City capitol building on Monday in honour of Nexs death. In an Instagram post , representative Turner wrote: this one hurt. They added that trans Oklahomans deserved less compromising of our identities because its just not comfortable for you. More unquestioned community advocacy. More tenderness and care. My brain is still spinning about it all and Im not sure Ill have enough words to really do Nex justice. Im so sorry, they wrote. Former Owasso student reacts to teen death Senator John Fetterman posted a link to an article about Nex on X, along with the words: If we continue to normalize cruelty in deeply intimate issues in hyper-local spaces, the most vulnerable will pay the tragic price. The states superintendent of public schools Ryan Walters has been accused of inflaming anti-trans bigotry towards students. In June 2023, he put out a public service message describing transgender students as a threat in schools. Mr Walters appointed Chaya Raichik, an anti-LGBTQ activist who runs the Libs of TikTok social media account, to a state library board last month. Ms Raichik posts edited, anti-trans videos that target LGBTQ friendly public school teachers and librarians. In a statement to The Oklahoman, Mr Walters said he mourned the loss of our student in Owasso and pray for Gods comfort for the family and the entire Owasso community. What indigenous leaders have said Nexs family also take great pride in being Native American. Their mother Sue Benedict is a registered member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. In a statement, Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton told The Independent that Nexs death weighs heavily on the hearts of the Choctaw people. The loss of a child is always difficult for a community and a family to accept, Chief Batton said. We pray Nexs family and their loved ones will find comfort. Media reports incorrectly stated that Nex was affiliated with the Cherokee Nation, and Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr released a statement offering the support of the tribal police to the Ossawa police. Nex was a child living within our reservation and deserved love, support and to be kept safe, Chief Hoskin Jr said in a statement. As a partner with all law enforcement agencies across the reservation, I have asked the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service to offer its support to the Owasso Police Department in investigating Nexs case. What have advoacy groups said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, described Nexs death as a gut-wrenching tragedy that exposes the chilling reality of anti-trans hatred. The depths of this cruelty is sickening. Nex's life demands justice. We are reaching out to the DOJ, we are encouraging the community to speak out. We are determined to fight for Nex and their family. Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Oklahoma issued a joint statement saying they were gravely heartbroken about Nexs death. The assault on Nex is an inevitable result of the hateful rhetoric and discriminatory legislation targeting Oklahoma trans youth. We challenged Oklahomas law requiring schools to discriminate against students like Nex because we believe every student should have the safe and affirming environment they need to thrive, and policies that put transgender students in danger make schools less safe places for all students. 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 }} Prosecutors will not file felony charges against a Seattle police officer who struck and killed a graduate student from India while responding to an overdose call. The case attracted widespread attention after another officer was recorded making callous remarks about it. Officer Kevin Dave was driving 74 mph (119 kph) on a street with a 25 mph (40 kph) speed limit in a police SUV before he hit 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula in a crosswalk on January 23, 2023. In a memo to the Seattle Police Department on Wednesday, the King County prosecutor's office noted that Dave had on his emergency lights, that other pedestrians reported hearing his siren, and that Kandula appeared to try to run across the intersection after seeing his vehicle approaching. She might also have been wearing wireless earbuds that could have diminished her hearing, they noted. For those reasons, a felony charge of vehicular homicide was not warranted: There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ofc. Dave was consciously disregarding safety, the memo said. It remains possible that city prosecutors could file lesser charges, such as negligent driving. Tim Robinson, a spokesman for the Seattle City Attorneys Office, said Wednesday that the case had not been referred to it for possible misdemeanor prosecution, and the Seattle Police Department did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry about whether it might refer the case to that office. Protesters march through downtown Seattle (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Kandula's death ignited outrage, especially after a recording from another officer's body-worn camera surfaced last September, in which that officer laughs and suggests that Kandulas life had limited value and the city should just write a check. Diplomats from India as well as local protesters sought an investigation. The city's civilian watchdog, the Office of Police Accountability, found last month that the comments by Officer Daniel Auderer the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild damaged the departments reputation and undermined public trust on a scale that is difficult to measure. Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is weighing Auderer's punishment. The comments were "derogatory, contemptuous, and inhumane, wrote Gino Betts Jr., director of the accountability office. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) In a statement to the office, Auderer acknowledged that his remarks during a call with Mike Solan, the police union's president sounded callous, but that they were intended to mock a legal system that would try to put a value on Kandula's life. King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion called Kandula's death heartbreaking, but she said Auderer's appalling comments did not change the legal analysis of whether Dave should be charged. It is the Office of Police Accountability that bears the responsibility of disciplinary investigation and proceedings relating to Officer Auderers comment, rather than the prosecutor's office, Manion said. The Seattle Police Officers Guild did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The union has said the comments were highly insensitive but also taken out of context. Kandula was a graduate student at Northeastern Universitys Seattle campus. 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 }} Joe Biden has met with the family of Alexei Navalny, following the recent death of the 47-year-old political activist in a Russian prison. The president met with Yulia Navalnaya and Dasha Navalnaya on Thursday during a trip to California, and promised to honour the legacy of the late Russian dissident. The President expressed his admiration for Aleksey Navalny's extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone, a statement from the White House read. The President emphasized that Aleksey's legacy will carry on through people across Russia and around the world mourning his loss and fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. During the meeting, the White House said, Mr Biden affirmed that his administration will announce major new sanctions against Russia on Friday, in response to Navalnys death, Russia's repression and aggression, and the brutal and illegal war in Ukraine. The president met with the family of Alexei Navalny on Thursday during a trip to California (Potus/Twitter) We already have sanctions, but we are considering additional sanctions, yes, Mr Biden said previously, noting that while the US was unsure of the circumstances of Navalnys death were unclear, that it was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did. The meeting in California comes after Navalnys mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, said had finally been shown her sons body, a week after his death, but said that Russian authorities were seeking to blackmail her into burying him in a secret ceremony without mourners. Ms Navalnaya, 69, said that she was taken to the city morgue, and that officials told her that if she doesnt agree to a secret funeral, they will do something to her sons body. They want this to be done secretly, with no farewell. They want to bring me to the edge of a cemetery, to a fresh grave and say: here lies your son. I dont agree to this, she said. Dressed in black for a video posted on YouTube, from the Arctic city of Salekhard Ms Navalnaya added: The investigators claim that they know the cause of death, they have all the medical and legal documents ready, which I saw, and I signed the medical death certificate. Western leaders have echoed this, saying the blame lies with Russian authorities including president Vladimir Putin. Navalny, a fierce critic of Mr Putin, had been sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony around 40 miles of the Arctic Circle. Navalnys wife has said she believes her husband was poisoned with Novichok. That was after Russian prison authorities announced earlier on Friday last week that Navalny felt unwell after going for a walk and became unconscious almost immediately. The anti-corruption campaigner had already survived a poisoning attempt apparently by Russian secret service agents before choosing to return to Russia following treatment in Germany. He said at the time that he knew he might be imprisoned or even killed. Navalny was moved from his former prison in the Vladimir region of central Russia in December to the special regime penal colony the highest security level of prisons in Russia. Last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to share any details regarding the new sanctions or how they would interact with the strong sanctions already put in place following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Mr Kirby said the sanctions will be specifically supplemented with additional sanctions regarding Mr Navalnys death. Similar to the US president, Mr Kirby placed responsibility for the death at the feet of Russian authorities. Regardless of the scientific answer, Putins responsible for it, he told the press. 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 }} Joe Bidens dog bit Secret Service agents on so many occasions that the presidents staff were forced to adjust operational tactics to keep themselves safe. The highly-trained team, who are experts in hand-to-hand combat and selected from the US military elite, are ready to lay down their lives to keep their charge safe. But in the case of the Commander, the German shepherd dog , they were forced to trade bulletproof vests for dog biscuits. According to newly released documents, at least 24 incidents of biting took place at the White House and the presidents Delaware residence over a 10-month period including one in which an agent required six stitches. When the agent returned to duty they were given items for future safety purposes including pepper spray, a muzzle, and in case of emergencies dog treats. In another incident the bite was so severe that blood spilled onto the floor of an area of the White House open to public tours, forcing it to be closed off briefly. The recent dog bites have challenged us to adjust our operational tactics when Commander is present please give lots of room (staying a terrain feature away if possible), a senior agent in charge of the Presidential Protection Division wrote in a June 2023 email. The unnamed person, whose code name was blacked out in the document, warned agents must be creative to ensure our own personal safety. Commander on a White House balcony in 2022 (AP) The document was heavily redacted to protect the identities of Secret Service agents and their security tactics. It was released in response to a freedom of information request. The biting incidents, which took place between October 2022 and July 2023, also recorded agents suffering bites on their wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh and shoulder. These incidents did not include the 11 reported attack incidents in the White House last July and the document does not necessarily record all biting episodes. The cache of emails not only recorded numerous incidents in sometimes vivid detail but also depicted the conversations among agents and officers who exchanged strategies on how to best avoid injury. One individual narrowly escaped injury thanks to their ammunition pouch the documents also contained a photograph of a torn shirt. I was in shock that the incident occurred, a special agent wrote after he was attacked while holding open the door for the president on 2 October 2022. Commander attacked by grabbing the agents left arm and stood on his hind legs. He is literally my height standing, the agent wrote. After this I was concerned about him getting out of the residence or being out without a leash for others safety and mine. Another agent came away from an encounter with a severe injury. On 14 June 2023, the dog raced towards an agent and caused a deep bite on his left arm that required stitches. East Wing Tours were stopped for approximately 20 minutes due to blood from the incident being on the floors in the area of the Booksellers, one of the halls in the White House, one document reported. A month after the incident, another agent was bitten at the presidents home in Delaware and caused a severe deep open wound, and the agent started to lose a significant amount of blood, a message said. The president and first lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day, said Elizabeth Alexander, the communications director for Jill Biden. Despite additional dog training, leashing, working with veterinarians and consulting with animal behaviourists, the White House environment simply proved too much for Commander. Since the fall, he has lived with other family members. Commander was a gift to Mr Biden from his brother James in 2021. Commander is the second of Bidenss dogs at the White House to display aggressive behaviour. Their first dog another German shepherd named Major was also sent to Delaware after exhibiting aggressive behaviour. 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 }} Joe Biden has hit out at Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the wake of the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny last week, also chastising Donald Trump for comparing his own legal affairs to the dissidents tragic fate. Speaking at a fundraising event in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday evening, President Biden told his audience: We have a crazy SOB [son of a b****], that guy, Putin, others. And we always have to be worried about a nuclear conflict. But the existential threat to humanity is climate. According to CNN, the Kremlin has already reacted angrily to the comment, with Mr Putins spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov calling the presidents rude remarks a huge disgrace to the White House and adding: Clearly, Mr Biden is demonstrating behaviour in the style of a Hollywood cowboy to cater to domestic political interests. Recounting Mr Trumps self-serving and shocking comparison of his own legal persecution with Navalnys suspicious death in an Arctic prison, the president said at the same event: Hes comparing himself to Navalny and saying that because our countrys become a communist country, he was persecuted, just like Navalny was persecuted. Where the hell does this come from? he asked in exasperation. If I stood here 10 to 15 years ago and said all this, youd all think I should be committed Its astounding. The Republican frontrunner, who is vying for a return to the White House with four criminal indictments and 91 felony charges hanging over his head, waited three days before commenting on Navalnys passing, finally doing so on Monday but only to cast himself as a victim. The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024. Tributes have been paid to Alexei Navalny across the world since his death was announced (AP) By contrast, when the news first broke last Friday, President Biden called a press conference and paid an emotional tribute to Navalny, saying that he bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence and all the bad things that Putins government was doing. He continued: In response, Putin had him poisoned. He had him arrested and prosecuted for fabricated crimes [then]... sent to prison and held in isolation. Even in prison, he was a powerful voice for the truth. On Navalnys brave decision to return to Russia after he was poisoned with Novichok on a domestic flight in August 2020 and taken to Germany for treatment, President Biden said that the activist knew all too well what was likely to happen to him but did it anyway, because he believed so deeply in his country and Russia. He concluded: Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. What happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putins brutality. US vice-president, Kamala Harris and secretary of state, Antony Blinken also joined world leaders in paying respects to the imprisoned dissident that day while attending the Munich Security Conference, stating unequivocally: Russia is responsible. Former House speaker, Nancy Pelosi was also at that event, where she met Navalnys grieving widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and returned to take Mr Trump to task for his crass intervention, calling the Republican candidate Mr Putins buddy in vileness on MSNBC and saying that his post about Navalny shows you he is a person without values and that his remarks had been beneath the dignity of a human being to express. It has since emerged that Navalny mentioned the prospect of a second Trump administration in a letter to a friend from his prison cell, describing it as a really scary outcome for the United States. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As pressure mounts for a solution to the situation at the US-Mexico border, Joe Biden is reportedly mulling a variety of avenues that could reduce the number of immigrants who enter the country. For weeks now, the White House has been locked in a stalemate with Republicans in Congress over a deal that would pair funding for Ukraine with tougher security measures at the southern border. A bipartisan bill would be good for America and help fix our broken immigration system and allow speedy access for those who deserve to be here, and Congress needs to get it done, Biden said last month, according to the Associated Press . Itll also give me, as president, the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control, he added. If that bill were the law today, Id shut down the border right now and fix it quickly. With the presidential election less than a year away, the calls for Mr Biden to take action on immigration are increasingly growing more pronounced even within his own party. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 49 per cent of Democrats say they view the federal governments handling of the border situation as somewhat bad, with another 23 per cent saying they see it as very bad. Seen from an aerial view, immigrants walk along the U.S.-Mexico border wall after crossing the Rio Grande into El Paso, Texas on 1 February 2024 from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (Getty Images) The presidents administration is reportedly weighing a number of policies that could help to decrease the influx of immigrants, the numbers for which hit record highs in December. According to NBC News , officials involved in these talks are considering making it tougher to qualify for asylum by utilising a stricter approach to credible fear screenings. These interviews are used to determine whether a person has a valid reason to fear persecution or torture if they are forced to return to their home country. Additionally, officials are reportedly considering more deportations for more recently arrived migrants, in what they described as a last in, first out policy. Mr Biden has not yet said what actions he will ultimately choose to take, and the possibilities remain broad and sweeping. He has the authority to re-implement former President Donald Trumps border policies, CBS reported, such as the Remain in Mexico program, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their immigration case is still pending. The administration might also opt to double down on efforts to deem migrants as ineligible for asylum if they attempt to enter the US through illegal means a policy they previously passed, but have struggled to implement due to insufficient resources. Despite calls from Republicans for Mr Biden to suspend federal legislation that allowed migrants even those who enter the country illegally the right to request asylum, he reportedly does not have the legal grounds to do so. This was the strategy Mr Trump implemented in 2018 as part of his travel bans, but it was later blocked by the Supreme Court . On the other side of the coin, the Biden administration could also take steps that would allow more people to immigrate through legal pathways a strategy 69 per cent of Democrats and 43 per cent of Republicans said they believe could improve the border situation, according to the recent Pew Research Center survey. Immigrant families prepare to wade across the Rio Grande into El Paso, Texas on 30 January 2024 from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (Getty Images) An even larger pool of bipartisan surveyees 75 per cent of Democrats and 47 per cent of Republicans said they think boosting the number of immigration judges and staff so that asylum rulings could be decided more expeditiously might help. More than half of Democrats also voiced support for improving the resources necessary to provide safe and sanitary conditions for incoming migrants, as well as for making it easier for them to legally work while awaiting a decision on their asylum application. Support for the border wall, however, has plummeted in popularity even among Mr Trumps own constituents with 72 per cent of Republicans saying they believe expanding the wall would improve matters at the border, compared to 82 per cent who supported it in 2019. 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 }} Joe Biden holds a small lead over Donald Trump among registered voters even as the former president leads his successor on issues such as age, and mental and physical fitness in a new poll. Forty-nine per cent of registered voters back the president, while 45 per cent support Mr Trump in a Quinnipiac University national poll released on Wednesday. In late January, the same pollster found that 50 per cent backed Mr Biden and 44 per cent supported Mr Trump. Among Democrats, 93 per cent support Mr Biden and four per cent back the expected Republican nominee. Meanwhile, 91 per cent of Republicans support Mr Trump, with seven per cent backing Mr Biden. When the hypothetical matchup is expanded to include independent and Green Party candidates, Biden receives 38 per cent support, Trump receives 37 per cent support, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. receives 15 per cent support, independent candidate Cornel West receives 3 per cent support, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein receives 3 per cent support, Quinnipiac notes in a summary of its findings. Sixty-seven per cent of voters think Mr Biden, 81, is too old to serve another term while 31 per cent think hes not too elderly to go on. In September last year, Quinnipiac found that 68 per cent thought Mr Biden was too old to continue as president while 28 per cent thought he was not. Meanwhile, a majority of voters 57 per cent also thought Mr Trump, 77, is too old, while 41 per cent said hes not too old compared to 63 to 34 per cent in September. Asked about if the candidates have the physical fitness needed to serve a second term, 35 per cent said Mr Biden does 60 per cent said the same for Mr Trump. Sixty-two per cent said Mr Biden does not have the fitness required 37 per cent said so about Mr Trump. Mr Trump also beats Mr Biden when it comes to mental fitness 34 per cent said yes for Mr Biden when asked if he has what it takes mentally 48 per cent said the same about Mr Trump. Sixty-four per cent said Mr Biden doesnt have the mental fitness needed 51 per cent said that about the former president. Voters were also asked about their ethics, empathy, and temperament, a category in which Mr Biden came out on top on all three questions. Forty-nine per cent said Mr Biden was ethical 47 per cent said no 51 per cent said he cares about average Americans 47 per cent said no and 49 per cent said he has the kind of personality and temperament it takes to serve effectively as president 50 per cent said he does not. Comparatively, only 29 per cent said Mr Trump was ethical while 68 per cent said he isnt, 42 per cent said he cares about average people, 57 per cent said he doesnt, and only 37 per cent said he has the personality and temperament to be president while 61 per cent said he doesnt. Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement: A Biden-Trump split decision on physical and emotional fitness leaves both looking vulnerable. Yes, Trump wins walking away on the age and stamina question, but voters have more confidence in Bidens empathy toward them and his emotional stability to handle the job. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former FBI informant who was arrested last week in Las Vegas was arrested again on the same charges in California, after being accused of making false statements against President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Alexander Smirnov was arrested on 22 February the second time this month on the same charges and based on the initial indictment following an arrest warrant issued from California, his lawyers said in a Thursday filing. A California district judge ordered Smirnov to appear in court at 9am on Monday 26 February. His attorneys are now asking the court for an immediate release and say he has not set foot in the state of California since being released from custody on 20 February, days after his first arrest on 14 February. A magistrate judge in Nevada granted Mr Smirnovsrelease on various conditions. He has fully remained fully compliant with his conditions of release since his court-ordered release, the filing states. The former FBI informant was arrested while having a meeting with his attorney at his law office. The fact that the Defendant was attending a legal consultation meeting at his attorneys office contradicts the notion that he is a risk of flight, his lawyer wrote. However, a Thursday order from the Central District Court of California wrote that Smirnovs attorney sought an emergency hearing in the District of Nevada to arrange the release of Defendant Smirnov, likely to facilitate his absconding from the United States. On Friday, in a statement attorneys for Smirnov did not remark on this assertion, but said: We are advocating for Mr. Smirnov's release in both the federal district court and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. We will have no comment on the case and look forward to appearing in the appropriate federal court. His lawyers wrote that no order setting a date and time for Mr Smirnovs appearance and detention hearing in California had been set at the time of the filing on Thursday. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury, states Mr Smirnov allegedly provided false derogatory information to agents about President Biden and Hunter Biden. He was charged with two counts: providing a false statement to a government agent and creating a falsification of records in a federal investigation. Prosecutors allege that Mr Smirnov made the false allegations to agents in June 2020, when he allegedly told them about two meetings with an executive from Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company which employed Hunter Biden as an attorney and later as a member of its corporate board. Mr Smirnov allegedly told agents that executives associated with Burisma, including Burisma Official 1, admitted to him that they hired [Hunter Biden] to protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems. In a statement given toThe Independent, attorneys for Mr Smirnov said that their client was rearrested on an arrest warrant issued from the same Court where he was planning on voluntarily appearing when required. He had previously been released by a federal Magistrate Judge after a full and complete hearing where both sides were heard. He was inside ourlaw office at the time of his arrest, preparing his defense. We arepursuing lawful remedies to once again seek his release, the statement said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Nikki Haleys campaign is pulling out all the stops as she hopes for a showing of life in South Carolinas Republican primary this weekend. The former governor of South Carolina continues to trail Donald Trump by a significant margin in all available polling, She vowed to stay in the race at a media briefing on Tuesday but clearly heads into the weekend with little to no expectation of beating the former president in the state where she built her political career. But Ms Haley is clearly doing everything she can to avoid a blowout defeat. And that includes doing everything possible to drive up the turnout of South Carolinas independent voters, who make up about 10 per cent of the states total electorate. As part of that push, Ms Haley sat down for an interview with The Breakfast Club host Charlamagne Tha God, a fellow South Carolinian who grilled her about her past support for Mr Trump and her gaffe in response to a question about the cause of the US Civil War. It also includes an effort by the super PAC backing her campaign, SFA Fund, to reach Democratic voters and encourage them to vote in the Republican primary for Ms Haley. A mailer reported by NBC News was sent to Democratic voters in the state imploring them to please participate by voting for Nikki Haley and making your voice heard. Under South Carolinas open primary rules, registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters can participate in either (but not both) major party primary contests in the state. If you did not vote in the February 3rd Democratic primary, you are eligible to vote on February 24th, the mailer helpfully notes. Ms Haley has lost every primary and caucus so far. That includes Nevada, where she lost an uncontested stakes-free primary to none of these candidates. This move is a longshot bid to boost Ms Haleys numbers in the Palmetto State; Democrats in the state actively urged their own voters to turn out for their partys primary on 3 February in an effort to retain the states relevance in the Democratic Partys primary calendar. That means a smaller pool of voters for Ms Haley, especially given that the Democrats most likely to cross party lines with the sole intention of blocking Donald Trump from the GOP nomination are likely the same ones most likely to vote in a largely ceremonious Democratic primary to appease the national party. As a guest editorial in South Carolinas largest newspaper, the Post and Courier, correctly declared, Nikki Haley needs more than independents (and Democrats) to win in the state. She needs to make serious inroads with conservative Republicans who dominate the GOP electorate in the state, voters who are already firmly in Donald Trumps camp. Polling expert Ashley Koning, an associate professor at Rutgers University, explained that Ms Haley was focusing on turning out whatever voters she could as the former governor has likely realised that winning over conservatives is a goal now out of reach. The extreme conservative Republicans don't need to be persuaded to go out and vote, and they certainly can't be persuaded in terms of who they're going to vote for. Those minds are already made up, she told The Independent on Wednesday. Donald Trump attended a town hall hosted by Fox Newss Laura Ingraham in Greenville on Tuesday; he also appeared at a private fundraiser. Ms Haley was nearby, speaking to supporters at Clemson University. The former president is set to hold a get out the vote rally on Friday in Rock Hill, while Ms Haley is slated to hold numerous events in the leadup to Saturdays primary. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is now placing blame for her meltdown after just 49 days in Number 10 Downing Street on Sir Tony Blair and a slew of government agencies who she says do not care about the lives of average Britons. Speaking alongside ex-Brexit Party and Ukip leader Nigel Farage at an "international summit" on the eve of the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, Ms Truss told attendees her tenure as prime minister was marred by a "huge establishment backlash". She also said some people joining the civil service who are essentially activists they might be trans activists, they might be environmental extremists were part of a wholly new problem. Her comments about trans activists come after her successor as UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, caused a storm with a joke in the House of Commons about trans people on the day the mother of Brianna Ghey a trans teenager whose brutal murder shocked Britain was visiting Parliament. Speaking in Washington DC on Wednesday, Ms Truss said: "What has happened in Britain over the past 30 years, is power that used to be in the hands of politicians has been moved to quangos and bureaucrats and lawyers. So what you find is you find a democratically elected government actually unable to enact policies,. Interrupted by moderator and former Trump deputy national security adviser KT McFarland, who asked about the meaning of "quangos," Ms Truss replied that she meant "Quasi-Non Governmental Organisations". Quangos are administrative bodies outside the civil service that receive funding from the government, such as the Forestry Commission and the British Council. "In America, you call it the administrative state or the deep state, but we have more than 500 of these quangos in Britain, and they run everything. So we've got the Environment Agency, we've got the Office of Budget Responsibility. We've got the Bank of England, we've got the Judicial Appointments Commission," she said before turning to criticism of Sir Tony, who she blamed for eliminating the Lord Chancellor's traditional role as head of the judiciary and instituting a British Supreme Court in place of the Law Lords. Sunak refuses to apologise to Brianna Ghey's father over trans jibe at PMQs "He got rid of the traditional role of the Lord Chancellor, who sat in the cabinet and was the head of the judiciary he instead put control of appointments in the hands of a quango. So what you have is rather than democratically elected politicians being accountable for decisions, often those decisions are now in the hands of people who aren't elected," she said. Ms Truss continued venting to the assembled crowd of conservative activists about a group she described as the "economic establishment" who "didn't want things to change and ... didn't want their power taken away," apparently blaming them for the catastrophic reaction to her 2022 mini-budget, which sent the pound into a nose dive and sparked a crash in the markets, leading to her eventual defenestration from Number 10. "I think that's the issue we now face as conservatives, is it's not enough just to will conservative policies and say, we want to control our borders or we want to cut taxes, or we want to reform our welfare system, because we have a whole group of people now in Britain with a vested interest in the status quo, who actually have a lot of power and power has been taken away from democratically elected politicians. And it now sits in the hands of bureaucrats. And people don't want to admit that no minister wants to admit that they can't actually do things. And I think that has become a big problem in Britain," she said, adding later that a future Conservative PM should be "prepared to be unpopular at London dinner parties" by taking on the civil service and people who "work in big corporates". "Unless you are prepared to be unpopular with those people, you will not succeed as a conservative in actually changing things," she said. The former PM also lashed out at civil servants and complained that the British government lacks sufficient political appointments to control the apparatus of government. "We get 100 political appointees, and these political appointees aren't heads of department. They are special advisers that sit alongside. So we have a major problem with our administrative bureaucracy not being responsible, responsive, and democratically accountable," she said. "Now people are joining the civil service who are essentially activists they might be trans activists, they might be environmental extremists but they are now having a voice within the civil service in a way I don't think was true 30 or 40 years ago, so we just have a wholly new problem. And frankly, 100 political appointees, doesn't even touch the sides in terms of dealing with that." Her comments about trans activists come after Mr Sunak challenged the opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer to define a woman during Prime Ministers Questions. The jibe came on the day that Brianna Gheys mother Esther was at Parliament. Amid the uproar over the prime ministers comments, Briannas father Peter Spooner said he was disgusted and called on Mr Sunak to apologise. Brianna Ghey's mother discusses potentially meeting parents of daughter's murderer The prime minister refused to do so, saying his comments were "absolutely legitimate" because he was attacking Sir Keir's indecisiveness and claiming it was "sad and wrong" that the Labour leader had linked his comments to Brianna. Asked if he would apologise, he said: "If you look at what I said, I was very clear, talking about Keir Starmer's proven track record of u-turns on major policies because he doesn't have a plan." 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 }} Pennsylvania Rep Scott Perry argued that the House GOPs narrow majority is to the benefit of hard-right Republicans as leadership vies for their support on each individual vote to get measures passed. Speaking about the 2022 midterms, Mr Perry said, We knew we were going to take the majority. The Pennsylvanian, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, said during a panel discussion at CPAC on Thursday in National Harbor, Maryland that some in the party thought there was going to be a big majority. But we didnt see that because we hadnt earned it. We thought there was going to be a small majority. And the good news about that is that folks like myself, chairman of the Freedom Caucus and Russ Fulcher, a member of the Freedom Caucus, knew that were going to potentially have an outsize influence so we prepared for it, he added. So we went to the guy that wanted to be the speaker six months before that and said things have got to change around here. Hardright members have wreaked plenty of chaos during the 118th Congress, including the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who needed 15 votes in January to grasp the gavel after a drawn-out fight with righting members of the Republican ranks. The process to replace him was also devoured by intra-party Republican rancour, with Speaker Mike Johnson eventually being elected after several others failed. Scott Perry (Getty Images) The urgency in America to save the Republic needs to be addressed. People are demanding it and we should deliver it, and thats what the majority is all about. So we cant keep doing the same things the same way with the same people and expect a different outcome, Mr Perry said on Thursday. I will tell you this. There are Republicans, there are conservatives some Republicans are conservatives. And then you got the folks that are willing to save the Republic, he added. Thats [who] we need to be elected, regardless of whether theyre from New York or from Pennsylvania or from Texas. It doesnt matter where they come from, but there are certain things that are perennial, and that is that government is too big. Its involved in our business. Its ... failing us on an international scale. Unfortunately, there are many Republicans that want to continue the spending, and they have their project and its so important to them, Mr Perry said. Theres always a deal to be made because theyre gonna vote for that and they can always find enough Democrats to vote for all the other stuff and they cobble that together. And then folks like me and [Congressman] Russ [Fulcher] are left off, he added. 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 }} House speaker Mike Johnson reportedly raised eyebrows at a weekend retreat for Republican lawmakers when a presentation he was delivering on maintaining the partys slim majority in the lower chamber of Congress mutated into an unwelcome religious sermon. The Louisiana representative, known to be a devout Southern Baptist, was addressing his partys Elected Leadership Committee at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami, Florida, when his slideshow about the GOPs prospects of clinging onto their two-seat advantage in the House of Representatives took an evangelical turn, according to several people in attendance who spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity. Mr Johnson is understood to have exasperated colleagues by veering off on a tangent about dwindling church membership in the United States, suggesting that citizens often look to the government for leadership when their spiritual needs are not being met and advised his fellow Republicans that they should seek to capitalise on that desire for direction and guidance. One source cited by Politico suggested his inspirational message had fallen flat in the room and that the presentation had been horrible. Im not at church, the attendee complained. I think what he was trying to do, but failed on the execution of it, was try to bring us together. The sermon was so long he couldnt bring it back to make the point. Another source said Mr Johnson had devoted around a third of his talk to historical and religious themes and otherwise discussed recent polling around the issue of illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border, policy differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump and party messaging. The Independent has reached out to Speaker Johnsons office for further comment about the meeting. With the House on a two-week vacation, Mr Johnson also used the Florida getaway to drop in on Mr Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach on Presidents Day, a gesture that did nothing to dispel persistent insinuations that the speakers conduct on Capitol Hill is being dictated by the man who looks all but certain to become the Republican Partys presidential candidate once again. The pair discussed growing the majority and securing Republican victories up and down the ballot in November, a spokesperson told Fox News, after what was at least Mr Johnsons second trip to the former presidents club since his surprise elevation to the speakership last October. Mr Johnson has endured a rocky start to his tenure in the top chair, struggling, like his predecessor Kevin McCarthy before him, to strike a balance between the more moderate wing of his party and the hard-line MAGA contingent embodied by Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, whose uncompromising positions frequently make life difficult for the GOP leadership during bipartisan negotiations. House Republicans have faced huge criticism in recent weeks for taking their vacation without voting on a $95bn foreign aid bill that was passed by the Senate and for pursuing impeachment inquiries into President Biden and homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that have been widely dismissed as baseless and without merit. Even Speaker Johnson himself appeared to acknowledge that the House impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas over the state of the southern border, which is unlikely to advance in the Senate, was desperate when he justified the strategy by observing: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage appeared to forget a large part of British history on Wednesday when he told a gathering of American conservatives that "religious sectarianism" was a new problem in British politics. Speaking at an "international summit" held on the eve of the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference alongside former British Prime Minister Liz Truss and other right-wing international figures, Mr Farage told attendees that Western nations are facing now a "huge internal problem" that he described as a "new phenomenon". That phenomenon, which he said was "beginning to dominate British politics," was "religious sectarianism". Mr Farage was referring to the pro-Palestinian voices protesting outside the House of Commons as Parliament debated the Israel-Gaza war, and he complained about "religious hatred" that "exists against Israel, against the Jewish people" and blamed "successive labour and conservative governments" for having "pursued completely irresponsible immigration policies" and not encouraging integration by Muslim immigrants. "Now we have radical Islam is becoming mainstream in British politics. We will have by the 2029 general election, we will have a radical Islamic party represented in Westminster and this is why borders, you can't be a proper country, unless you control your borders," he said. "The internal threats of religious divide and sectarianism, that happening to us first, but if you're not very careful ... all of us will face it". Mr Farage's comments about religious sectarianism appeared to whitewash centuries of British history and leave out important moments such as the 16th century English Reformation, during which Henry VIII broke the Church of England away from the authority of the Catholic Church. The former Brexit Party leader and Ukip MEP also appeared to leave out of his analysis the bloody English Civil War, the beheading of Charles I and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, all driven by causes including sectarian disputes between Catholics and Protestants. Former UK prime minister Liz Truss and ex-Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage at CPAC in Washington DC (AP) He also did not seem to count in his analysis the three decades of The Troubles, during which Catholic Irish Republicans, Protestant Unionists and British troops fought a quasi-guerilla war over the status of Northern Ireland which killed more than 3,500 people, the majority of whom were civilians. The decades of violence only came to an end with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which established a power-sharing devolved government in Belfast. Asked if he wanted to clarify his comments, Mr Farage who has appeared at rallies with Donald Trump told The Independent that he believed sectarianism was indeed a new phenomenon in Britain. We've had it in Northern Ireland, we've seen the baleful effects of it, and it's now coming to England. I've never seen it in my lifetime," he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations, has dropped out of the Presidential race after a prolonged fight as the last remaining challenger to Donald Trump for the Republican Partys presidential nomination I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that, Ms Haley said in her concession speech. I have no regrets. And while I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in. Ms Haleys decision to drop out comes after suffering 14 state primary defeats in a matter of hours on Super Tuesday. Her only victory, the Vermont GOP primary, marked her second-ever win this cycle after securing Washington, DC on Sunday. Notably, the former ambassador did not endorse Mr Trump after backing down. Now, Mr Trump stands alone as the GOP-frontrunner. Is Donald Trump now the Republican nominee? Not yet however, he is essentially the unofficial nominee-presumptive for the Republican party. That being so, the states that have yet to stage their primaries or caucuses will still hold them. There would be no doubt about the outcome and voter turnout would almost certainly be low, given the greatly reduced stakes. However, the people of those states will at least have had an opportunity to cast a vote and have their say, even if the whole affair effectively amounted to a victory lap for Mr Trump (a situation roughly comparable to this years parallel Democratic primaries, in which President Joe Biden is ambling to the nomination, almost without challenge). Donald Trump declared victory for himself after winning fourteen state primaries on Super Tuesday (EPA) The former president will presumably continue to rack up state primary wins until the Republican National Convention (RNC), scheduled for this July. There, the GOP delegates from each state will vote to nominate the Republican Presidential candidate a victory for Mr Trump all but guaranteed at this point in the race. Why did Nikki Haley stay in the race so long? Prior to Super Tuesday, Ms Haley finished third in the Iowa caucuses and went on to come second in New Hampshire, picking up 43.2 per cent of the vote to Mr Trumps 54.3 per cent, prompting the frontrunner to express his irritation after she delivered an upbeat address to her supporters rather than admit defeat and bow out. She also suffered the humiliation of scoring fewer votes than the none of these candidates box on Nevada ballot papers and lost overwhelmingly to Mr Trump in her own backyard of South Carolina as well as in Idaho, Michigan and Missouri and in North Dakota. The former president has targeted her from day one, from labelling her with belittling nicknames (Birdbrain, Tricky Nikki) to threatening her donors with ex-communication from his movement and taunting her over her husbands absence from the campaign trail (Major Michael Haley is deployed overseas with the South Carolina Army National Guard). Trump allies like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tim Scott also took to cable news calling on the former South Carolina governor to drop out. But Ms Haley remained undeterred until this week, keeping her promise to remain in the race until Super Tuesday. That begs the question, why did Ms Haley stay in the race so long? Is she hoping to stake a claim for the leadership of what remains of the Reaganite wing of the Republican Party in anticipation of some post-Trump GOP civil war? Is she setting herself up for another presidential run in 2028? Nikki Haley dropped out of the 2024 Presidential race on Wednesday after a hard-fought battle (REUTERS) The Independents Eric Garcia argues: At this point, its fairly clear that Haley is simply waiting out Trump, hoping that his legal affairs get the better of him and that she could be seen as a viable alternative to him if or when he becomes engulfed by the lawsuits and criminal cases against him. She effectively admitted as much herself recently when she said of Mr Trump: Hes going to be in a courtroom all of March, April, May and June. How in the world do you win a general election when these cases keep going and the judgements keep coming? Despite it all, Mr Trumps legal woes have so far had little impact on his supporters. Conservative voters appear apparently undeterred by the fact that his first term ended in a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol and a second impeachment, his long-touted Mexico border wall left unfinished, nor the fact that he has four criminal indictments and 91 felony charges hanging over him and has already this year been ordered to pay $83.3m in defamation damages to sexual assault accuser E Jean Carroll or $354.9m to the state of New York after being found guilty of engaging in fraudulent business practices for the better part of a decade. Given her spirited showing, Ms Haleys return to the political stage is likely inevitable. But for now, all eyes are on the Trump-Biden rematch set for this November. 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 }} Donald Trump made a series of blunders at a rally in Michigan over the weekend, as questions continue to swirl about his mental capacity. At one point the presidential hopeful reminded voters of the very important date of the Michigan state primary and proceeded to get it wrong. It comes ahead of the South Carolina primary on 24 February, which is followed by the Michigan primary on 27 February. Mr Trump and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley are the only two significant Republican candidates who remain in the race. Addressing voters on Saturday, Mr Trump said: We need you to get out and vote to set the stage for November. Go vote November 27th. Remember this, thats a date that is very important. Later he admitted that during my whole life he had not known what the word indictment meant, though he now faces a plethora. Mr Trump also appeared to fumble his stance on electric vehicles. Ms Haley, UN ambassador under Mr Trump, has questioned how the 77-year-old former presidents mental state will affect his ability to carry out his role should he return to the White House. During a campaign rally in New Hampshire back in January, Mr Trump repeatedly confused Ms Haley with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. At the event, he falsely stated that his rival for the Republican presidential nomination had been in charge of Capitol security in Washington, DC, on 6 January 2021, rather than Ms Pelosi who was actually also not in charge of Capitol security that day. The former president later tried to claim he had not erred at all with his remarks, but had knowingly mixed-up the two so as to underline his contempt for both women. He went on to complain about the subsequent adverse press coverage he received by observing bitterly: Its very hard to be sarcastic. He continued: When I interpose Im not a Nikki fan and Im not a Pelosi fan. When I purposely interpose names, they say he didnt know Pelosi from Nikki. Mr Trumps increasingly regular slip-ups are somewhat ironic, given his repeated attacks on Joe Biden, whom he has derided as too old to run for president again at 81, even though Mr Trump himself is only four years younger. Mr Biden has a decades long history of verbal gaffes, though his mistakes earned new attention following a special counsel report that decided the president shouldnt face criminal charges for his handling of classified documents. The report, from Robert Hur, described Mr Biden as an old man with trouble remembering dates, even the date his son Beau died. The president angrily disputed the claim while some of his supporters have sought to characterise elements of Mr Hurs report as a politically-motivated attack. 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 }} Retired bishop Christopher Saunders has been charged with rape and child abuse in a remote part of Australia's northwest. The 74-year-old former bishop of Broome was arrested and taken into custody by Western Australia police on Wednesday following investigations launched by law enforcement and the clergy. Mr Saunders is the most senior Catholic official in Australia to be charged with child sexual offences after Cardinal George Pell. Mr Saunders has previously denied any wrongdoing. He was taken to the Broome police station and charged overnight with 19 offences two counts of rape, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault and three counts of being a person in authority indecently dealing with a child. Mr Saunders will appear in the Broome magistrates court on Thursday in the heart of the sprawling Outback diocese where he had actively served as a cleric for 45 years. The alleged offences date back to 2008 across Broome as well as the far-flung northwest towns of Kununurra and Kalumburu. The allegations were brought to light in 2020 but an initial police investigation was closed without charges being laid against the bishop. Mr Saunders resigned in 2021 as bishop of Broome after police announced they had dropped a sex crime investigation. A Vatican investigation into child sexual abuse allegations against Mr Saunders began in 2022. The renewed police investigation was triggered last year after the contents of a 200-page Vatican report were leaked. The Western Australia police at the time said they had requested a copy of that report, which restarted the criminal investigation. Mr Saunders began working in Broome as a deacon in 1975 and became bishop in 1996. Timothy Costelloe, the Archbishop of Perth, in a statement, said the church would continue to co-operate with police. "It is right and proper, and indeed necessary, that all allegations be thoroughly investigated," he said, according to ABC News. "The church will continue to cooperate fully with police and take every necessary step to avoid any actions which may compromise the integrity and autonomy of the police investigation." Cardinal Pell was the third highest-ranking cleric in the Vatican when he was convicted in an Australian court in 2018 of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral in 1996. Pell spent 13 months in prison before the convictions were overturned on appeal. He maintained his innocence until he died in Rome last year. In 2018, a judge quashed former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson's conviction for covering up child sexual abuse by a pedophile priest in the 1970s in New South Wales state. 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 }} Alexei Navalnys mother has said she has finally been shown his body almost a week after his death in an Arctic prison but that that Russian authorities were seeking to blackmail her into burying him in a secret ceremony without mourners. Lyudmila Navalnaya, 69, said that she was taken to the city morgue and that officials told her that if she didnt agree to a secret funeral, they would do something to her sons body. They want this to be done secretly, with no farewell. They want to bring me to the edge of a cemetery, to a fresh grave and say: here lies your son. I dont agree to this, she said. A number of Western leaders have accused Vladimir Putin and Russian authorities of killing Mr Navalny, the Russian presidents most prominent critic. Mr Navalnys wife, Yulia, has said she believes her husband was poisoned and that Russian authorities are keeping hold of the body to let traces of the nerve agent novichok leave Mr Navalnys system. My husband was unbreakable. And thats precisely why Putin killed him, she said earlier this week. Mr Navalny was moved to the remote Polar Wolf Arctic prison late last year and faced multiple sentences on charges the international community and Mr Navalnys supporters believe were trumped up to try and silence him. His death came a month before a presidential election where Mr Putin is expected to easily claim re-election, a vote that Mr Navalny repeatedly railed against, even in prison. Dressed in black for a video posted on YouTube, from the Arctic city of Salekhard, Lyudmila Navalnaya said: The investigators claim that they know the cause of death, they have all the medical and legal documents ready, which I saw, and I signed the medical death certificate. Navalnys family and team have accused Putin and the Kremlin of murdering him (EPA) According to the law, they should have given me Alexeis body right away, but they have not done so until now. Instead, they are blackmailing me, setting me conditions on where, when and how Alexei should be buried. This is illegal. She added: Im recording this video because they started threatening me. Looking into my eyes, they say that if I dont agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my sons body. She quoted one of the investigators as saying: Time is not on your side, corpses decompose. I dont want special conditions, she said. I just want everything to be done according to the law. I demand that my sons body be returned to me immediately. The opposition leaders team said on X/Twitter on Thursday that Navalnys death certificate says he died of natural causes, while they accuse the Russian state of murdering him. Russian authorities said in announcing the death last week that the 47-year-old politician fell unconscious and died suddenly while out for a walk, while serving his latest near two-decades-long prison sentence. Mr Navalny had been behind bars since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after receiving life-saving treatment in Germany from novichok poisoning, an attack he blamed on the Kremlin. Western leaders have lined up to condemn the Kremlin over the killing of Navalny. Britains foreign secretary, David Cameron, used a meeting at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro to confront his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and say to his face that Russia murdered the opposition leader. Lord Cameron said Mr Lavrov refused to meet his gaze and instead looked at his phone. A view of IK-3 prison where Navalny was being held (EPA) Speaking to the BBC, Lord Cameron said that representatives for France, Canada and Germany joined him in using speeches to name Mr Navalny and say they hold President Putin and the Russian state at large responsible for his murder. The meeting occurred behind closed doors, with each nation present getting five minutes to speak. On Wednesday, the UK froze the assets of six Russian prison bosses in charge of the Polar Wolf prison colony, becoming the first country to issue sanctions over the killing of Navalny saying that those responsible for his brutal treatment will be held to account. Lyudmila Navalnaya had travelled to the remote IK-3 prison after her sons death was announced last Friday but had been prevented from seeing his body with the Kremlin appearing to be trying to ensure a funeral for Mr Navalny does not turn into a public show of support for his ideals. On Tuesday, she appealed to Mr Putin directly in a video, saying: Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexeis body be released immediately so that I can bury him in a humane way. The following day, a court in Russias far north agreed to hear her case on 4 March, over two weeks after his death. More than 75,000 people have submitted requests to the government asking for his remains to be handed over to his relatives, according to human rights group OVD-Info. In a post on Thursday, Mr Navalnys wife Yulia, said on her Instagram account that she had flown to visit her 20-year-old daughter, Dasha, a student at Stanford University. My dear girl, I came to hug you and support you, and you sit and support me, she wrote under a photo of herself and her daughter lying on a carpet. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, with her daughter Dasha Navalnay (via Reuters) Describing her daughter as strong, brave and resilient, Ms Navalnaya said the family would definitely cope with everything. She also has a 15-year-old son, Zakhar. In a nine-minute video earlier in the week, Yulia said Mr Navalny had been killed because Mr Putin couldnt break him and vowed to continue his political activism. I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia, she said. I urge you to stand next to me. I ask you to share the rage with me. Rage, anger, hatred towards those who dared to kill our future. Also on Thursday, imprisoned opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza urged Russians not to give up after Mr Navalnys death. He alleged that a state-backed hit squad was taking out the Kremlins political opponents, according to a video posted to social media. A British-Russian citizen, Mr Kara-Murza is serving a 25-year sentence for treason at Penal Colony No 7 in the Siberian city of Omsk. His comments came as he appeared via a video link in a court hearing over a complaint against Russias Investigative Committee for what he believes were two poisoning attempts against him. He alleges the committee didnt properly investigate the attempts. Mr Kara-Murza was convicted of criticising Russias invasion of Ukraine and was handed a stiff sentence as part of a crackdown against critics of the war and freedom of speech. We owe it ... to our fallen comrades to continue to work with even greater strength and achieve what they lived and died for, he said in the video, which was shared by the Russian Sota Telegram channel. Mr Kara-Murza says the attempts to poison him took place in 2015 and 2017. In the first, he nearly died of kidney failure, although no cause was determined. He was hospitalised with a similar illness in 2017 and put into a medically induced coma. His wife said doctors confirmed he was poisoned. Mr Kara-Murzas latest hearing came after months of postponements. In January, he was moved from another prison in Siberia and placed in solitary confinement over an alleged minor infraction. According to the video shared by Sota, Mr Kara-Murza alleged there is a death squad within the Federal Security Service, a group of professional killers in the service of the state, whose task is to physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime. The Russian president himself has yet to say anything about Mr Navalnys death but, after a flight on board a bomber that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, he called comments from Joe Biden that he was a crazy SOB as rude. 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 }} Watch as the EU Parliament hears testimonies from Russian opposition members after the death of Alexei Navalny on Thursday 22 February. It was announced yesterday that the heads of the Arctic penal colony where Navalny was detained and killed will be banned from the UK and see their assets frozen under new measures announced by David Cameron. Britain is the first country to impose sanctions in response to the politicians death, which has been widely blamed on the Kremlin, the Foreign Office said. Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, who allegedly oversaw the brutal prison camp where Navalny was kept in solitary confinement for up to two weeks at a time, is among those targeted, according to a statement from the department. Five others have also been sanctioned for activity that violates the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right to life, the government said. 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 widow of Alexei Navalny is the leader that Russias opposition needs after his cold-blooder murder, a key ally of the Putin critic said. Director of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation Vladimir Ashurkov said Yulia Navalnaya was her husbands rock throughout his career and it was quite natural she would carry on his work. Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic penal colony last week in what Ms Navalnaya claimed was a novichok poisoning. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in his death. Navalnaya has said she will carry on her husbands fight (AP) Yulia has been the rock on which Navalny has been standing throughout his political career. She is a very strong lady and it is quite natural that she decided to carry his torch of trying to bring freedom and the rule of law to Russia, Mr Ashurkov told The Independent. Everything is very raw and fresh and painful but her initial statements addressed to a Russian and European audience showed her strong resolve and leadership. Yulia is the type of leader that is needed in this situation. On Monday, Ms Navalnaya vowed to continue her husbands work and urged Russians to share her rage, fury, anger and hatred for Putins regime. Vladimir Ashurkov, left, pictured with Alexei Navalny, both of whom founded the Russian Anti-Corruption Foundation (Vladimir Ashurkov) I will continue Alexei Navalnys work. I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia, Ms Navalnaya said in a powerful nine-minute video published on social media. I call on you to stand with me. To share not only grief and endless pain. I ask you to share with me the rage. The fury, anger, hatred for those who dare to kill our future. Mr Ashurkov met Navalny in 2010 and established the Russian Anti-Corruption Foundation two years later, where he became a long-term friend and associate of the dissident. Ashurkov said Navalnaya was her late husbands rock (Reuters) He added that Navalnys death was a complete shock to those who knew him and the Russian opposition believed he was indestructible. He had such a standing that we really believed he was indestructible despite all the struggles and risks. It is a tragic loss. It was a cold-blooded murder by Putin and his clique, Mr Ashurkov said. Even from the harsh conditions of Russian prisons he was sending words of truth, he was speaking against the Ukraine war, Putins tyranny and providing words of inspiration and courage to democratically-oriented Russians. His mother Lyudmila Navalnaya also filed a lawsuit at a court in the Arctic city of Salekhard on Wednesday contesting officials refusal to release her sons body. Floral tributes that Navalnaya had left a day earlier at the towns memorial to the victims of repression had been cleared away overnight, while several police officers continued to keep watch close to the monument. A number of people have been arrested at Navalny vigils in Russia (AP) More than 75,000 people have submitted requests to the government asking for Navalnys remains to be handed over to his relatives, according to human rights group OVD-Info. In early December last year, Navalny disappeared from a central Russian prison where he was serving a two-decade sentence on extremism and fraud charges, that supporters and the international community claimed were trumped up. It then emerged three weeks later that he had been transferred to the IK-3 prison camp in Kharp, about 1,900km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, where temperatures drop as low as -30C. Navalny said he was forced to endure forced injections of unknown drugs, solitary confinement and constant pro-Putin propaganda since he was jailed upon his return to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had life-saving treatment for nerve agent poisoning. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russia is pulling out from a landmark fishing deal struck with Britain in 1956 as a response to further sanctions imposed by the UK. The deal allowed British vessels into the rich fishing grounds of the Barents Sea, the coast of the Kola Peninsula and along the coast of Kolguyev Island. The agreement was made in London by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in May 1956 at a turning point in the Cold War. In the same year, he denounced Joseph Stalin, proposed peaceful coexistence with the West and even visited Britain in April. Russia is pulling out from a fishing deal struck with Britain in 1956 that allows British boats to fish in the Barents Sea (Getty) Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma lower house of parliament, said in a statement: When Nikita Khrushchev accepted this deal in 1956, it is difficult to say what guided him but it was definitely not national interest. The British need to study some proverbs: Russians harness the horse slowly, but ride it fast. It comes as Britain on Wednesday imposed sanctions on six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last week. Since the invasion began, Britain has repeatedly placed sanctions on Russia with increasing severity. The sanctions were declared as economic war by the State Duma, despite the countrys economy growing by 3.6 per cent last year. Vyacheslav Volodin announced the decision to withdraw the 1956 fishing deal with the UK (AP) When people ask if we can respond to sanctions, the answer is: we can, Mr Volodin said, adding that British vessels caught thousands of tonnes of cod and haddock in Russian waters. The close Putin ally repeated the current orthodoxy of the Kremlin which views the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as a tragedy and Mikhail Gorbachev as a failure who was tricked by a deceitful West intent on humiliating Russia. With Gorbachev, we lost our country, and with Putin we got it back, he said. 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 }} Watch as China and Iran were among the countries to address the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the fourth day of public hearings to allow parties to give their views on the legal consequences of Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories. In a first-of-its-kind case, at least 52 countries are presenting arguments on controversial Israeli policies in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem. Its the largest number of parties to participate in any single ICJ case since the court was established in 1945. The case was triggered by a request from the UN General Assembly on 30 December 2022, when a majority of members voted to seek the courts opinion on the legal consequences of the continuing Israeli occupation of Palestine. Israel has declined to present, choosing to submit a written argument instead and a court ruling is likely to come in the months after the hearing. 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 }} David Cameron has told Russias foreign minister to his face that Russia murdered Alexei Navalny but Sergei Lavrov refused to meet his gaze and instead looked at his phone. Britains foreign secretary used a meeting at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro to confront the Russian representative about Mr Navalny Vladimir Putins most prominent critic who was announced dead in the Arctic prison where he was serving a decades-long prison sentence last week. On Wednesday, the UK froze the assets of six Russian prison bosses in charge of the Polar Wolf prison colony, becoming the first country to issue sanctions over the killing of Navalny saying that those responsible for his brutal treatment will be held to account. Speaking to the BBC, Lord Cameron said that representatives for France, Canada and Germany joined him in using speeches to name Mr Navalny and say they hold President Putin and the Russian state at large responsible for his murder. The meeting occurred behind closed doors, with each nation present getting five minutes to speak, usually in alphabetical order. David Cameron at the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Rio de Janeiro (AFP/Getty) Mr Navalnys wife, Yulia, has accused Mr Putin of killing her husband, who was moved to the remote Arctic prison late last year and has faced multiple sentences on charges the international community and Mr Navalnys supporters believe were trumped up to try and silence him. His death comes a month before a presidential election where Mr Putin is expected to easily claim re-election. Ms Navalnaya has said that she believes Russia is hiding her husbands body, which is yet to be returned to his family, until traces of novichok disappear from his system. Mr Navalny faced life-saving treatment for poisoning with the nerve agent in Germany in 2020, an attack that he blamed on the Kremlin. Mr Navalny returned to Russia in 2021, was instantly arrested and had been in prison ever since. Yulia last saw him in person two years ago. Calling Mr Putin and the Russian authorities cowardly, Ms Navalnaya spoke with anger in a video address released on Monday. My husband was unbreakable. And thats precisely why Putin killed him, she said. Shamefully, cowardly, without ever daring to look him in the eye or just say his name. And just as shamefully and cowardly, they are now hiding his body, not showing it to his mother, not giving it back, and pathetically lying and waiting for traces of another Putin novichok to disappear. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in her video address (AP) We know exactly why Putin killed Alexei three days ago, Ms Navalnaya said. We will tell you about it soon. We will definitely find out who exactly carried out this crime, and how exactly. We will name the names and show the faces. Mr Navalnys mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, has filed a lawsuit at a court in the Arctic city of Salekhard contesting officials refusal to release her sons body. Lyudmila appealed to the Russian president on Tuesday to release her sons remains so that she could bury him with dignity. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, with David Cameron (right) and US secretary of state Antony Blinken in the background (Reuters) For the fifth day, I have been unable to see him. They wouldnt release his body to me. And theyre not even telling me where he is, a black-clad Navalnaya, 69, said in the video, with the barbed wire of Penal Colony No 3 in Kharp, about 1,200 miles (1,900km) northeast of Moscow. Im reaching out to you, Vladimir Putin. The resolution of this matter depends solely on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexeis body is released immediately, so that I can bury him like a human being, she said in the video, which was posted to social media by Navalnys team. Russian authorities have claimed the cause of Navalnys death is still unknown and refused to release his body for the next two weeks as a chemical analysis takes place, members of Mr Navalnys team have said. At the G20 summit in Brazil, Lord Cameron said he used his speech to ask all the countries in the room if there was anything more important to them than the sovereignty of their own country, citing Russias invasion of Ukraine, which will reach the two-year mark on Saturday. He added that messages about both Mr Navalny and Ukraine were important for Russias allies to hear. The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against Mr Putins forces. Associated Press contributed to this report 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 }} Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was forced to sit and listen at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday as Russia was lambasted for Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Top diplomats from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Norway gathered in Brazil holder of the G20 presidency this year as they made scathing remarks against Russia at the start of the two-day meeting which Mr Lavrov is attending. Addressing the closed session, British foreign secretary David Cameron said Russia must be made to pay for its aggression. "There is no more serious an issue for the world, and its the world thats gathered here, than one country invading another in this completely illegal and unacceptable way, he said. "And the whole world should get behind Ukraine, should support Ukraine, and should call out the illegality of what Putin and his cronies have done," Mr Cameron said. The foreign secretary also noted the death of Russian critic and opposition figure Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison last week. He had promised ahead of the Rio meeting to call out Russias aggression directly to Mr Lavrov. Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said the G20 session mainly focussed on the continuing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. We have to support Ukraine until it emerges as a free and independent sovereign country without another army on its soil, Mr Eide said. He added that Mr Lavrov replied to the British foreign secretarys remarks with a set of alternative facts about events in Ukraine. Mr Lavrov did not speak to reporters or share details of his remarks at the summit. Russia initially justified its invasion of Ukraine two years ago, which it calls a "special military operation", as a campaign to "de-Nazify" the former Soviet country, despite the fact Ukraine is led by a democratically-elected Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky. It now claims it is fighting to defend its borders against Western aggression, after many countries around the world moved to support Ukraine with financial and military aid. In the previous G20 summit hosted by India, the groups leaders adopted a declaration that avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states not to use force to grab territory. This weeks gathering in Rio is aimed at formulating the agenda for Brazils main G20 summit, which will be held in November. Criticising the UN and other multilateral institutions for their inability to prevent global conflicts, Brazils foreign minister Mauro Vierira called for reforms of the global agency. He said the UN Security Council has been unable to prevent or halt conflicts such as those playing out in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Thousands of Ukrainian troops, many wounded more than once, all mentally drained, with Russian corpses piling up in front of them, are putting up a desperate fight to keep Vladimir Putins forces from advancing in eastern Ukraine. That is the picture painted by Lieutenant Colonel Kremen, the codename of the commander of a Ukrainian battalion on the front lines southwest of the town of Avdiivka, which has become symbolically significant to both Kyiv and Moscow. He says one thing is clear, that in the days after Ukraine withdrew its forces from the town in the Donetsk region his men have come under heavily intensified attack from the Russians. Kremen believes his battalion is now facing Russian men and weaponry freed up by the capture of Avdiivka to attempt further advances while they believe Ukrainian forces are reeling and off balance. Moscow sees Avdiivka as a stepping stone as part of its broader war aim of taking control of the whole of the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. But given the town has been destroyed in months of intense fighting, for Kyiv it is about showing it can keep Moscows forces at bay, while the withdrawal from Avdiivka gave the Kremlin a propaganda victory. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has lost connection to its last external power backup line, UNs nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday. The loss of the last power backup to keep the nuclear facility running is once again underlining the fragile nuclear safety and security situation at the site, the International Atomic Energy Agency director general said. He said IAEA officials present at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which sits in Russia-occupied territory, were informed that the 330 kilovolt (kV) power line was disconnected at 2.04pm local time on Tuesday. A team of experts present at the site were told the disconnection occurred due to a problem which occurred on the other side of the Dnipro river, some 13.5km away from the 330 kV switchyard, which supplies back-up power to the site. The cause of the disconnection was not immediately known, the ZNPP said, adding it had been informed by the Ukrainian grid operator that work on the line was under way, the statement said. Before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2024, the plant had four 750kV lines and six 330kV lines available to keep the nuclear facility running. There are no longer backup options for off-site power. Any disconnection of power or damage to the electricity lines to Zaporizhzhia can threaten the highly reactive reactors and its other essential functions which need electricity to cool them down, even when all reactor units have been shut down. The ZNPP is still receiving the electricity it needs from its only 750 kV line, but the loss of the 330 kV line means the plant currently has no back-up options available for off-site power, the IAEA said. Mr Grossi said the extremely vulnerable off-site power situation continues to pose significant safety and security challenges for this major nuclear facility. Even though the main power line remains in operation, the lack of back-up power demonstrates that the nuclear safety and security situation at the plant remains precarious, he said. The ZNPP has suffered complete loss of off-site power since August 2022 on at least eight events, relying temporarily on emergency diesel generators. Fears over the fragile security situation at one of the worlds biggest atomic power plants has been a feature throughout Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. The IAEA has expressed alarm about the facility amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe. The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February in 2022, and seized the facility within days of their military offensive. Of particular concern is the Russian decision to block access for Ukrainian staff employed by Kyivs national operator, who refused to sign contracts with the Russian operator at the site. The staff working at the plant now are former Energoatom workers who adopted Russian citizenship and signed new contracts with Russias operator at the site. 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 }} Five people have been injured in an incident at a school in the western German city of Wuppertal on Thursday, with a suspect arrested, according to police. The incident took place at the Wilhelm Dorpfeld high school in the citys Elberfeld district. Police said there was no shooting in the incident, German news agency dpa reported, but gave no further information. The Bild newspaper, which did not name sources, said it was a knife attack. Police said they deployed a large number of officers to the scene. They said the suspect was injured. Wuppertal is a city of some 350,000 people near Duesseldorf and Cologne. 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 air-dropped aid to war-torn Gaza for the first time in four months since Israel's offensive against Hamas began in October last year. Four tonnes of aid supplies, including medicines, fuel and food, were dropped at an unreachable part of Gaza following a deal with Jordan. The British aid packages were dropped at Tal Al-Hawa hospital in north Gaza by Jordanian Air Force aircraft, Britain's foreign office said on Wednesday. The Jordanian military said this was its 12th aid drop into Gaza during the war. "Thousands of patients will benefit and the fuel will enable this vital hospital to continue its life-saving work," British foreign secretary David Cameron said. Aid that will be airdropped to a Jordanian field hospital in Gaza, seen here being loaded onto a plane in Zarqa, Jordan on Wednesday (via REUTERS) The UK has previously sent aid to Gaza by land and sea but for the first time air-dropped aid to the northern part of the Gaza Strip which has been fortified by the Israeli army. An estimated 300,000 Palestinians remain in the north of Gaza where UN agencies and aid groups have found it extremely difficult to deliver necessities. The Israeli militarys refusal to facilitate deliveries and the breakdown of order inside Gaza have made it increasingly difficult to bring vital aid to much of the besieged enclave. The World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday said it was forced to halt deliveries in north Gaza because of Israeli gunfire and complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order" in the region. The British aid packages were dropped at Tal Al-Hawa hospital in north Gaza by Jordanian Air Force aircraft (via REUTERS) The UK has previously sent aid to Gaza by land and sea (via REUTERS) The WFP, which previously warned of famine-like conditions affecting the entire Strip, said its staff witnessed unprecedented levels of desperation in the north of Gaza. The British foreign office said it signed an agreement with Jordan earlier this week to send 1m worth of aid to Gaza. The prime minister [Rishi Sunak] welcomed Jordans innovative efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza by land and air, and he set out the UKs work to unblock aid access and alleviate the humanitarian crisis," a Downing Street spokesperson said last week. David Cameron called the situation in Gaza desperate and said significantly more aid is needed, and fast (via REUTERS) Mr Sunak reportedly called on Israel to fully open the Kerem Shalom crossing to allow for the delivery of international aid in a call with Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The situation in Gaza is desperate and significantly more aid is needed, and fast. We are calling for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow additional aid into Gaza as quickly as possible and bring hostages home," Lord Cameron said. More than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on 7 October, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. 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 cargo ship was set on fire off the southern coast of Yemen after being struck in a missile attack on Thursday that has prompted US-led naval forces to respond, British maritime agencies reported. The UK-owned, Palau-flagged ship was en route to Egypt from Thailand, according to maritime security firm Ambrey and ship tracking data. Islander is the name of the vessel, two shipping sources said. US-led coalition forces are responding to the incident, which involved two missiles being fired at the ship some 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November. The Houthis have said they are acting out of support for Palestinians in Gaza. US and British forces in January began retaliatory strikes on Houthi facilities. Newly recruited Houthi fighters attend a protest march against the US-led strikes on Yemen (AP) No ships have been sunk nor crew killed in the Houthi attacks, however there are concerns about the fate of the Rubymar cargo vessel which was struck on Feb 18. The Houthis said the Rubymar was at risk of sinking but a US defence official said as of Thursday the ship remained afloat. Such attacks are disrupting a route which accounts for about 12% of global maritime traffic and forcing firms to take a longer, more expensive route around Africa. If anything, Houthis attacks on cargo ships are intensifying in the Red Sea and around the Gulf of Aden, Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM wrote in a note on Tuesday. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police are on the scene after one person was killed and five more injured in a shooting at the entrance to the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank on Thursday 22 February. Three Palestinians opened fire at motorists near an Israeli checkpoint near Jerusalem, killing one person and wounding five others, emergency services said. Two women were seriously wounded, the head of Israels ambulance service Eli Bean told public broadcaster Kan. Police said officers shot dead two gunmen and wounded a third. A spokesperson said the gunmen were Palestinian but gave no further details. Tensions in the West Bank are already high due to Israels war in Gaza. The Israeli offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, laid much of the enclave to waste and displaced most of its 2.3 million population. Israel says its goal is to dismantle Hamas, which is sworn to Israels destruction, after it burst through the Gaza border on 7 October killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage. Close AT&T users facing cell service outages nationwide Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech 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 IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} AT&T has said that a massive outage that left people unable to make calls including to 911 was not caused by a cyber attack. The provider said thew outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process during network expansion. We are continuing our assessment of todays outage to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve, the statement read. The White House echoed this saying that there was no evidence the outage was caused by a cyber attack According to CNN, John Kirby, a National Security spokesman, said the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are looking into the Thursday incident and contacting partners to see what we can do from a federal perspective to lend a hand to their investigative efforts to figure out what happened there. Still, he said, officials are unsure about what caused the widespread outage. The bottom line is we dont have all the answers to that. I mean, this just happened earlier today. And so were working very hard to see if we can get to the ground truth of exactly what happened. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is now working with AT&T to get to the root of the issue. CISA is aware of the reports and we are working closely with AT&T to understand the cause of the outage and its impacts, and stand ready to offer any assistance needed, the agencys Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, Eric Goldstein, said in a statement. The outage, which began early on Thursday, led to warnings from emergency services and advice from companies to get around the issue. AT&T has around 250 million customers, making it the USs biggest phone network by some distance. The company said all its entire network had been restored around 3pm ET. Follow for all the latest on the outage below. 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 }} When it comes to food, the United States are a land of plenty. Great meal options abound, from lobster-filled sea to shining sea, with portion sizes tending towards the gluttonous. Those hoping to eat their way across America would be wise to travel with their most loose-fitting trousers and a taste for adventurous new cuisines. From farm-to-table fine dining and innovative vegetarian dishes to comforting fast food staples like cheeseburgers and hot dogs, you never have to travel far in the States to find temptation. There are certain places, however, that have developed a culinary world all their own; here are the US cities no true foodie should miss. Read more on USA travel: New Orleans, Louisiana Try a New Orleans poboy (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Theres nowhere else on Earth quite like New Orleans. The Big Easy is a mind-boggling mix of European, Caribbean and African influences and it has the wholly unique cuisine to prove it. At restaurants like Cochon you can sample roots Cajun and southern home cooking as it has tasted for generations, with stand-out dishes including smoked ham hock with red beans and charred radish and chicken hearts. And where else but at Creole restaurant Jacques-Imos could you be offered a slice of Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake? New Orleans is also home to one of the worlds great sandwiches, the poboy, a flaky French baguette stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and a plethora of fillings that include shrimp, roast beef and catfish. If you can still find room after all that, an order of doughy beignets from Cafe Du Monde should finish you off. Dont miss: After Beyonce performed in New Orleans in 2013, she ordered 150 poboys from Parkway Bakery and Tavern for her crew and entourage. Thats Americas equivalent of a royal seal of approval for this popular neighbourhood hangout that dates from 1911. San Francisco and The Bay Area, California Fishermans Wharf is paradise for seafood lovers (Getty Images) Given that its surrounded by the Napa Valley wine country to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and bountiful Californian farm country to the south, its no surprise that San Francisco is one of the worlds great food cities. Fishermans Wharf is paradise for seafood lovers, and is home to famed bakery Boudin Sourdough with its mouth-watering bread bowls filled with chowder. However, its on the other side of the bay in Berkeley that modern California cuisine was born at Alice Waters legendary Chez Panisse, the original farm-to-table restaurant. Just around the corner is FAVA, a delightful organic lunch spot that specialises in flatbread sandwiches and salads. Dont miss: The world has San Franciscos historic Mission District to thank for the Mission-style burrito, a super-sized version of the Mexican favourite stuffed with rice, beans, avocado and meat. If that still doesnt sound mammoth enough, head to the brightly-decorated Taqueria Cancun where the signature Burrito Mojado comes topped with extra helpings of guacamole, sour cream, and red salsa. Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is known for its barbecue (Getty Images) If youre a barbecue lover, there are few greater pleasures in life than sampling the vast array of hickory-smoked meats on offer across Memphis. Paynes Bar-B-Que, located in an old cinderblock gas station, serves up unbeatable chopped pork sandwiches, while even unassuming dive bars like Alexs Tavern can be counted on to deliver first-class ribs (their secret ingredient is a dash of salty Cavenders Greek seasoning). Dont miss: Even in a city renowned for its barbecue, The Bar-B-Q Shop stands out as special. Its descended from Brady & Lils a seminal Memphis joint near Stax Records where legend has it the Beatles once bought out every rib in the place. New York, New York New York is famed for its pizza slices (Getty Images/iStockphoto) It may be a city most closely associated with dollar pizza slices, Nathans Famous hot dogs and hulking slices of cheesecake, but the Big Apple is also home to some of Americas most acclaimed restaurants. Eric Riperts fish-focused French restaurant Le Bernardin earned its three Michelin stars with inventive dishes like tuna tartare with sea urchin toast. Less award-winning but just as satisfying is the pastrami on rye from Katzs Delicatessen, the quintessential New York diner, where a prominent sign points out exactly where Meg Ryan sat in When Harry Met Sally. Well have what shes having. Dont miss: Forward-thinking Korean restaurant Atomix was the most highly-rated restaurant in the United States on the most recent list of The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. Try the Spanish mackerel with turnip and lentil to find out why. Portland, Maine Harbor Fish Market in Portland (Getty Images) Portlands prime location on the North Atlantic coast makes it one of the best places in the world to eat seafood. Its hard to go wrong with plentiful Maine lobsters, juicy mussels and salty oysters: Eventide Oyster Co. offers no less than 18 varieties of them. Its not all lobster brioche rolls and raw molluscs, however. The citys foodie reputation has attracted world-class chefs like Thomas Takashi Cooke. His Japanese restaurant Izakaya Minato uses the fruits of the sea in endlessly inventive ways, like their bite-size mochi bacon and broiled oysters, served with miso custard. Dont miss: Seafood doesnt get fresher than at Harbor Fish Market, a New England institution that dates from the late 19th century. Los Angeles, California The In-N-Out Burger chain is a fast food favourite (Getty Images) Los Angeles food scene is as vast and sprawling as the city itself. Beyond fast food favourites like the beloved In-N-Out Burger chain and the cities innumerable, and uniformly excellent, taco trucks theres a whole world to be explored. Koreatowns all-you-can-eat restaurants, like Jjukku Jjukku BBQ, are hard to beat, while Jitlada is a simple strip-mall joint which promises, and delivers, the spiciest Thai food in town. There are few better cities in the world to be vegetarian, too. Celebrity-favourite Crossroads Kitchen serves an astonishing spaghetti carbonara topped with a vegan egg sunny side up. The exact recipe is a closely-guarded secret, but the perfectly runny yoke is said to be made with yellow tomatoes. Has to be eaten to be believed. Dont miss: Downtowns Grand Central Market dates from 1917 and today is home to dozens of stalls offering cuisines from across the city and around the world. The perfect one-stop-shop to get your head, and mouth, around LAs staggering culinary diversity. Hungry for more? Heres a gas station culinary trail around No Mans Land, Louisiana Fans have been given a first look at Lindsay Lohans new film, Irish Wish, in its first trailer. Netflixs first trailer for the flick sees the Mean Girls actor, 37, star as Maddie, who flies to Ireland to be a bridesmaid for her friend who is getting married to the love of her life. Maddie makes a wish days before the wedding for true love but wakes up with far more than shed hoped for. Irish Wish will be released on Netflix on 15 March 2024. A search team in California conducted a 21-hour rescue of a female hiker who had fallen and became immobile on 16 February. Footage shows rescuers from Monterey County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue working day and night to perform the rescue. The team hazarded the inclement weather and over a period of 21 hours was able to locate, triage, and extract the patient, officials said. Special thanks to our allied agencies and Coast Guard for the hoist aspect of the operation. Hundreds of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza gathered outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, 21 February, as MPs debated a Scottish National Party (SNP) motion calling for an end to the bloody conflict. It came as there was uproar in the Commons as Sir Lindsay Hoyle sparked anger among Tories and the SNP after breaking with convention to allow a vote on Labours call for a ceasefire. MPs called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire amid chaotic scenes which saw Conservative and SNP MPs walk out of the chamber in protest over the Speakers handling of the debate. Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs after facing calls to quit. The House of Commons descended into chaos as Conservative and SNP MPs walked out in protest over the Speakers handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said Sir Lindsay Hoyle had hijacked the debate by selecting Labours bid to amend the SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. It had been expected he would select just the governments amendment seeking an immediate humanitarian pause to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which could pave the way for a more permanent stop in fighting. But instead, he decided the Commons would first vote on Labours calls before moving on to further votes on the SNPs original motion, and then the governments proposals if either of the first two were to fail to garner enough support, causing a furore. Laman Ismayilova The National History Museum has hosted a book presentation by Polish inventor and geologist Witold Zglenitski, who made great contributions to the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan. Azernews reports that Polish public figure Professor Andrzej Jan Khodubski is the author of the book "Polish Nobel", which was jointly organised by the Polish Embassy in Azerbaijan and the National History Museum. The museum director, academician Naila Valikhanli, who spoke at the ceremony, highly appreciated the publication of the book. The Polish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Rafal Poborski, emphasised the importance of historical and cultural relations between the states of Azerbaijan and Poland. Samir Sattarov, the translator of the book, gave a lecture about the life and achievements of V. Zglenitsky. "Witold Zglenitski graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Warsaw School of Economics and the Mining Institute in St. Petersburg. At first, he worked as an engineer in Poland, but a significant part of his life is connected to Baku. He worked in Baku from 1891 until his death. V. Zglenitsky, engaged in the modernization of oil extraction methods, put forward the idea of extracting it from the bottom of the sea. He developed not only the concept of the drilling platform but also a number of inventions to facilitate drilling - devices for measuring the curvature of oil wells and technical solutions that allow drilling shafts to go faster and deeper," Samir Sattarov said. "V. Zglenitsky was also involved in determining the abundance of hydrocarbon resources in the territory of today's Azerbaijan and at the bottom of the Caspian Sea. He was called "the father of Baku oil ", because his geological activities and inventions greatly contributed to the prosperity of the oil industry in Baku. The public activity of V. Zglenitsky is also worth remembering. For example, he participated in the construction of water facilities in Baku, co-financing the construction of the first Roman Catholic Church. In his will, V. Zglenitsky allocated the income from oil fields to the development of science and charity. The implementation of the provisions of the will was interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. After the revolution of 1917 in Russia, the fund fulfilling the will of V. Zglenitsky was deprived of the right to exploit the oil fields given to it. "V. Zglenitsky died in Azerbaijan, but his body was taken to Poland and buried in the Wola Kielpinska cemetery," he added. At the end of the event, newly published books were presented to the guests. Layla Moran pleaded with Parliament to unite and back a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as she said members of her family remain trapped in a church in northern Gaza. The British-Palestinian Liberal Democrat MP said her relatives are stuck with "No food, no water, no way of getting down to the south." "Without an immediate ceasefire, they and other families who are trapped can't achieve anything," she told the Commons. Ms Moran spoke during a debate as MPs prepared to vote on an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Aid to Gaza has been loaded and dispatched as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to raise international concern. The UK-funded consignment of aid, delivered by the Jordanian Air Force, was dropped on Wednesday 21 February into the Tal Al-Hawa Hospital in northern Gaza. Four tonnes of vital supplies were provided in the air-drop, including medicines, fuel, and food for hospital patients and staff. The Tal al-Hawa Hospital, set up by the Jordanian Armed Forces, is located in Gaza City and has treated thousands of patients since the start of the crisis. Sir Lindsay Hoyle apologised to the House of Commons after chaos ensued during a debate over a ceasefire in Gaza. The Commons Speaker faced shouts of resign from both sides of the House after selecting Labours bid to amend an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. It had been expected Sir Lindsay would select only the governments amendment seeking an immediate humanitarian pause to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which could pave the way for a more permanent end to fighting. I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how its ended up, Sir Lindsay said. Sir Keir Starmer said he did not threaten Sir Lindsay Hoyle in any way to ensure Labour got its way on a vote on Gaza on Wednesday night (21 February). The Labour leader insisted he simply urged to ensure we have the broadest possible debate as he spoke to reporters the following day. Sir Linsday has faced calls to resign after taking an exceptional decision to allow multiple Commons votes on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Sir Keir has been accused by Penny Mordaunt of using the Speaker for political gain over the vote. The Commons leader accused him of putting the interests of the Labour party before the interests of the British people. The moment 2.5m worth of top-quality wine was spilled at a warehouse in Spain was caught on video on Sunday, 18 February. Footage shows a hooded person opening three tanks at the Bodegas Cepa 21 winery in Castrillo de Duero, with the drink gushing out of one of them. One tank contained the winerys top product, Horcajo - bottles of it cost 56 (48). Spanish Civil Guard police said they are investigating the incident. Winery president Jose Moro described the act as cruel and vile. Residents trapped in a raging fire at a Valencia apartment building were rescued by firefighters on Thursday, 22 February. Footage shows people inside the tower block being rescued from the balcony as onlookers cheer. At least seven people were injured when the blaze engulfed two residential buildings in the city, officials said. Flames were seen bursting from the windows of the 14-storey high-rise where the fire apparently began. State news agency Efe reported the blaze started around 4pm GMT and spread to an adjacent building. Bank of Ireland is close to sub-letting almost all of its former HQ at 40 Mespil Road, Dublin 4. It recently signed up two new tenants. Azets, an accounting and business advisory firm services, has taken 16,000 sq ft of offices on the third floor, while Omnicom, a marketing communications firm, has secured a similar footprint on the second floor. Other occupants are Huawei, a Chinese ICT firm, and Crowe, an Irish accountancy and business advisory firm, who previously committed to the fourth floor and penthouse office suite respectively. Agents Savills are now quoting 49 per sq ft for the remaining space on the ground and first floors which have the advantage of existing fit-outs. Consumers are being hit with a barrage of scams designed to steal their money There's been an increase in the number of fraud attempts against consumers Bank of Ireland is to invest 50m in fraud prevention and protection as criminals become ever more sophisticated in how they try to steal from unsuspecting consumers. The bank said the money will be directed towards technology, consumer awareness and customer support in order to counter efforts to perpetrate fraud on customers. Bank of Ireland said it now has more than 225 staff dedicated to fighting fraud and financial crime. There have been increasing waves of activity by criminals attempting to trick consumers into either handing over money or divulging their banking details. The vast majority of us have received texts, emails, or calls from fraudsters, said Bank of Ireland group chief executive Myles OGrady. He said that at first glance, many of those messages appear as if they have originated from trusted organisations, such as government departments, banks, the post office or delivery firms. Some even appear to have come from family members or colleagues, he noted. Whatever form they choose they all have one common aim to steal your money, said Mr OGrady. According to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, reports received by Gardai from victims of fraudulent texts increased by over 30pc in 2023. Banks are on the front line in defending our customers, and wider society, from this threat, said Mr OGrady. However, more action is needed from all of us including telecoms companies, social media and tech firms, banks and fintechs, and State agencies. Bank of Ireland is holding a number of fraud awareness events across the country in coming months, which can be attended by anyone, including those who are not customers of the bank. Nicola Sadlier, head of fraud at Bank of Ireland, urged consumers to treat every unsolicited call, text or email as a potential fraud attempt. We see more and more fraud attacks starting from social media and tech platforms, she said. Fake ads should be caught before they are published online, but many are not. If we see a fake ad, we report it to the channel operator, but even then some ads are removed very slowly and sometimes not at all. Bank of Ireland said that if people suspect they have been a victim of fraud they should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can take action to stop a fraud in progress and try to recover funds. The number of people in jobs in Ireland hit a record high last year, boosted by rapid integration of immigrants including from Ukraine into the labour force. The Irish labour force reached record highs last year, with a rise in population as a result of migration contributing to this increase, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Non-Irish nationals now make up a fifth of the total numbers employed in the country, according to analysis from Goodbody. It also pointed to other findings from the Department of Social Protection, which showed the diverse range of nationalities receiving Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) numbers in Ireland in 2023. Around 33,000 PPS numbers were given to those from Ukraine, followed by 25,000 to those coming from India and 13,000 to people from the UK. "This is broadly reflective of firms attempts to fill gaps in their workforces and policy efforts by the Irish government to facilitate this, Goodbody chief economist Dermot OLeary said. The CSO said the rising number of people in the labour force is driven by changes in the size of the working age population, as well as changes in participation rate which means there are more people here and a higher share of them have jobs. The number of those who joined the workforce last year was 52,500. However, this peaked in the year to the second quarter of 2007, when 90,500 people joined the Irish labour force. The number of women working rose 4pc in the year to the final quarter of 2023, while the number of men in employment was up by 2.9pc in the same period. Overall, the estimated number of people in employment in the final three months of 2023 was over 2.7 million, up 3.4pc compared to the corresponding period in 2022. The 3.4pc crease in persons in employment in the year to Q4 2023 was equivalent to 89,600 more people working than 12 months earlier, CSO statistician Sam Scriven said. The total estimated labour force, which is the sum of all people aged between 15 and 89 either employed or unemployed, rose 3.5pc to 2.8 million, while the overall participation rate rose by 0.7pc to 65.4pc. The CSO found that the education sector saw the largest growth year-on-year in the last three months of the year, with the number of those employed in this area rising by 25,500. This was followed by a 9pc increase in the numbers employed in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector. The transportation and storage sector saw employee numbers drop 5,500 in the three months to the end of December, while the construction industry also recorded a decrease of 4,100 people. The Government aims to have 8GW of installed solar capacity in Ireland by the end of this decade. Stock image: Getty UK-based renewable energy giant RES said it is now actively progressing more than 500MW of new solar projects across Ireland. The solar farms would cost hundreds of millions of euro to develop and generate enough electricity to potentially power the equivalent of tens of thousands of homes. It is understood that RES is ramping up its activity in Ireland as it eyes continuing opportunities from the Governments aim of having 8GW of installed solar capacity by the end of the decade. Edel Burke, RES project manager, said the solar farms will play a vital role in supporting the transition to a net zero carbon economy. RES is scaling its solar portfolio to match this ambition and is actively progressing over 500MW of new projects across the country, potentially worth millions to the national economy, she said. We continue to work on projects across this portfolio to design sites based on comprehensive landscape, ecological and environmental assessments as well as feedback from communities. In 2021, RES sold 240MW of solar projects in Ireland to Power Capital Renewable Energy. That sale included six solar farms in development in various counties including Galway, Kildare, Clare and Waterford. The projects all had planning permission and had secured connections to the grid. Construction of the solar farms was slated to begin in 2022. Projects that RES currently has underway in Ireland include the 90MW Ballyteige solar farm near Tullamore in Co Offaly, which received planning permission in 2022. RES is also planning a solar farm in Co Tipperary, at Ballydonagh, and planning for another solar farm is also advanced. A number of large scale solar energy farms are planned in Ireland. In January, an Irish subsidiary of Germanys GP Joule sought permission to construct a 190MW solar farm in Co Meath. It is likely it will cost in the region of 200m to develop. Earlier this month, a unit of Irish renewables firm Everay Energy filed a planning application for a near 100m solar farm that will generate up to 105MW of electricity. Last year, the Irish arm of French renewables firm Neoen was refused planning permission by Westmeath County Council for a huge solar energy farm in the county. Neoen recently started hunting for a buyer for its Irish operations, which include wind and solar farms. As of last summer, Neoen had eight operational wind farms and three operational solar farms in Ireland. Uptake of state supports remains unattractive to businesses, survey finds Access to finance remains the biggest hurdle to Irish tech start-up founders, according to a new survey from one of the sectors largest representative bodies in Ireland. Almost 80pc of CEOs and founders say it is now difficult to attract capital, with just over half saying that funding is their biggest challenge. The survey, taken among 340 indigenous tech firms by Scale Ireland, comes after other indices show that venture capital funding for start-ups and SMEs has fallen in recent months alongside leaner times for the tech industry. However, investment in artificial intelligence (AI) looks set to rise with over four-fifths of those questioned saying that they are putting some form of AI into their business. Around one in eight say recruitment and retention is the biggest problem, although this has eased from the same time last year as layoff rounds and belt-tightening in the tech sector take hold. One in six say that their biggest hurdle is the cost of doing business. Scale Irelands State of Start-ups Survey 2024 estimates that there are over 2,200 indigenous tech start-up and scale-up companies, employing more than 52,000 people, in Ireland. Of these companies 943 are, it says, based outside of Dublin. Scale Irelands main lobbying issues are around tax credits and state supports for start-ups. Its survey found that among respondents, uptake of state supports remains unattractive, with 89pc of respondents not using the Keep share options scheme to retain and recruit staff. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of survey respondents say they are not availing of the R&D tax credit, while and 54pc say they find it complicated. Scale CEO Martina Fitzgerald, which conducted the survey In answer to other questions around tax credits, 80pc of the Scale Ireland survey respondents said that a 5pc increase in the R&D tax credit could have a positive impact, with 58pc saying they believe a reduced capital gains tax rate for angel investors would have a reasonably positive or big impact. The survey demonstrates the challenging investment landscape facing start-up and scaling companies and the need to attract more private investment into the sector, said Brian Caulfield, chairperson of Scale Ireland. It also highlights the complexity of many state supports so this years consultation by Revenue to simplify such schemes is very welcome. Responding to the surveys findings, the CEO of Scale Ireland, Martina Fitzgerald, said: Our findings are very clear on the potential of AI. The founders and CEOs of Irish tech start-up and scaling companies are embracing AI in a big way. Libraries clash with publishers over restrictive ebook rights Dubbed the Netflix model by some librarians, licensing is not only more expensive, but some worry it allows companies to track reading habits, remove books or censor content Ebooks have become more popular - but you don't own the books, just a licence to access the content. Stock image: Getty Carey L Biro Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 03:30 They dont go missing or get torn and tattered, but ebooks are posing concerns for US libraries as publishers insist on restrictive and costly digital licensing contracts, librarians say. Devil Wears Prada stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt are to reunite at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremony this weekend. The Hollywood stars will join forces to present onstage at the event which is being held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles and airing on Netflix. The reunion comes 18 years after the trio starred in the classic 2006 comedy drama which follows new graduate Andrea, played by Hathaway, who lands a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestly, the demanding editor-in-chief of a high fashion magazine, portrayed by Streep. 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 Blunt plays Priestlys long-term assistant Emily, who gets jealous of Andrea when she starts to get more responsibilities. Streeps performance earned her SAG and Oscar nominations for best actress. Streaming giant Netflix announced the news on Thursday by sharing pictures of the trio as well as one of Priestly looking disparagingly over her sunglasses. Dont be ridiculous, Andrea. Everybody wants a Devil Wears Prada reunion, was written alongside the post. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt will reunite LIVE to present at the 30th Annual SAG Awards! February 24 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET, only on Netflix. Blunt is nominated for a SAG award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role for her role in Christopher Nolans epic biopic Oppenheimer. Meryl Streep , Stanley Tucci and Anne Hathaway at the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada in 2006 (Ian West/PA) The films whole cast is also nominated for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. Only Murders In The Building, which sees Streep star with Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short, is nominated for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series. It was previously announced that Luther star Idris Elba will open the SAG Awards ceremony. Also among the presenters lined up for the night are Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy and his co-star, US actor Robert Downey Jr. Friends actress Jennifer Aniston, a long-time Barbra Streisand fan, will present the life achievement award to the musical star, writer and director, known for Funny Girl, Yentl and A Star Is Born. In cinemas; Cert 15A Is this the beginning of a beautiful partnership? The first time Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman shared a film together, they played the same character. An anxiety-inducing holiday drama with a twist, Maggie Gyllenhaals 2021 feature The Lost Daughter picked up a couple of Academy Award nominations for its accomplished co-stars. For obvious reasons, Ms Colman and Ms Buckley never got to share a scene, so it is with great excitement that we approach this sugary British comedy starring Irelands finest and the UKs greatest as warring neighbours in 1920s Sussex. Inherently odd and intentionally goofy, Wicked Little Letters will not have the same impact as The Lost Daughter. That isnt necessarily a bad thing. Thea Sharrocks film is a delightful venture, giddily plotted and playfully performed but it was not designed for awards season glory. It is, at its core, a cheerful Sunday afternoon feature, the kind they no longer make the kind that takes a demented real-life story and turns it into a witty crowd-pleaser with vibrant characters and a breezy, straightforward narrative. Sometimes, thats exactly what we need. Jessie Buckley as Rose Gooding in 'Wicked Little Letters'. Photo: StudioCanal Our story begins and ends in the seaside town of Littlehampton, where a God-fearing woman named Edith Swan (Colman) receives a nasty letter from an anonymous troublemaker. Sweary, inelegant, full of ridiculous innuendos, the letters have been coming for weeks, and Ediths Bible-quoting father (Timothy Spalls Edward) is convinced theyre from the rowdy Irish immigrant next door. Enter Rose Gooding (Buckley), a free-spirited newcomer who makes a hell of a first impression. Rose is chatty, confident, always up for the laugh. Edward thinks shes trouble - so too does Ediths nervous wreck of a mother (Gemma Joness Victoria) who fears the letters will send her to an early grave. Wicked Little Letters cast and crew embrace 'inspiring women-led' production The police are called in, and poor Rose ends up behind bars. Roses boyfriend (Malachi Kirby) panics; so too does her daughter Nancy (Knocklyon actress Alisha Weir). Why would I send a letter when I can just say it? asks Rose. Why, indeed. Something smells fishy, and it falls to a singular female crime-solver (Anjana Vasans Gladys Moss) to try and prove Roses innocence. It wont be easy. Her head-the-ball male colleagues are insufferable, and they refuse to lend a hand. Turning to some of the quirkier villagers for help, Gladys launches her own private investigation, and we discover that, before they were enemies, Edith and Rose were, in fact, good pals. Ediths miserable old man disliked Rose from the moment he laid eyes on her, but what was it that spoiled her friendship with Edith, and whos been writing all those wicked little letters? Olivia Colman as Edith Swan in 'Wicked Little Letters'. Photo: StudioCanal If youre paying attention, then youll probably figure it out within the first quarter. Thus, Sharrock working with a simple screenplay by Jonny Sweet - sets a tricky challenge for everyone involved. A mystery flick without a proper mystery, Wicked Little Letters wont work as a drama and so this peculiar little film embraces its silly side. A good joke goes a long way, and Wicked Little Letters has plenty of them. How does Sharrocks irresistible presentation differ from the real-life scandal that inspired it? Beats me, but its not important. Not for one second does Wicked Little Letters strive for authenticity but that isnt to say it is without a heart. Dust away the extravagant profanity and the imaginative punchlines, and youll find a surprisingly sweet centre. Buckley, a master of every genre, delivers a performance not entirely dissimilar to that which won her universal acclaim in 2018s Wild Rose. Here, she portrays another outsider with a lust for life. Brilliant with drama, handy with comedy, Buckley is clearly enjoying herself, and Sharrocks film lights up whenever she enters the frame. Its the same for Colman, who understands the complexities of a character who isnt quite as straightforward as she appears. There is a tremendous sadness to Edith Swan, and when a small-town nuisance becomes a nationwide scandal, she seems to enjoy the attention it brings and the anger it causes her father. It helps that Colman delivers one-liners better than anyone else. Alone, she is a triumph; together with Buckley, they create fireworks. There should be a rule that our phenomenal leads make at least one film together every other year. I look forward to the next one. Four stars Measles is on the rise what do you need to know? Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth has said she is "very concerned that Ireland is at high risk of a measles outbreak. It comes as there has been a rise in measles cases in the UK and Europe, which Ms Smyth has described as particularly concerning. "If you are considering travelling to these areas, I would strongly urge you to ensure that you and/or your child are protected, she said. "Its never too late to vaccinate. This comes after a man died in the Midlands in recent weeks after he contracted the virus while on a trip to the UK. In order to prevent measles infection from spreading, 95pc of Irelands population needs to be vaccinated. 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 uptake rate for the MMR vaccine in Ireland has fallen below 90pc nationally and now stands at 89.2pc. Meanwhile, the rate in some counties is below 80pc, with Co Louth or Co Meath having the lowest rate. No counties in Ireland have achieved the target of 95pc uptake. The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) said the probability of exposure to measles in Europe is expected to rise due to the increasing number of confirmed cases in the region. The man who died in Mullingar Hospital early this month had been on a Bus Eireann bus and in a restaurant before he was hospitalised with measles. The HSE issued an alert to people who might have been in contact with the man to be vigilant for symptoms of the disease. His was the only confirmed case of measles here so far this year, although suspected cases in children have been notified in other parts of the country, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. "Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through respiratory droplets, Ms Smyth said. The symptoms of measles can be cold-like, including sore, red eyes, fever, and small greyish-white spots in the mouth. They might also involve the loss of appetite, tiredness, irritability, general lack of energy, and rash for two to four days after the first symptoms. "It can lead to several complications like encephalitis infection of the brain, or pneumonia infection of the lung, she said. In extreme cases, it can lead to death. Breda Smyth described the MMR vaccine as safe and very effective. "The MMR vaccine offers a high level of protection against measles, mumps and rubella. "Its delivered in two doses, the first through your childs GP at the age of 12 months, and the second when your child is in junior infants in primary school. "Please talk to your GP or go to immunisation.ie for more information, she added. A discount retailer has been ordered to pay just short of 77,000 to a former in-house counsel who claimed she was left chasing the Roadrunner as she tried to close a gender pay gap on its legal team but ended up resigning because of how she was treated. There were dozens of CCTV cameras, but no clue where she is disappearance of Jean Tighe four years ago was plagued by confusion from the start BREAKING | Kinahan cartel murder plot target arrested in Hutch gang drugs raid Three men in garda custody after seizure of 2m worth of drugs in west DublinOperation was targeting members of Hutch organised crime gang Stock image Ken Foy, Robin Schiller and Neil Fetherstonhaugh Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 20:54 A criminal who survived a number of murder plots by the Kinahan cartel is one of three men in garda custody tonight after the seizure of 2 million worth of drugs in west Dublin earlier today. Sex chat rooms and fantasy games: The private life of man who killed four members of same family in Irish house fire Daniel Sebastien Allen has been jailed for at least 29 years over deliberate blaze Daniel Allen Kurtis Reid Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 13:15 It was a horrific scene that, for anyone who was there that cold February morning in 2018, will never be forgotten. A tech firm that admitted unfairly sacking its Irish founder has been ordered to pay him a record 464,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Hyph Ireland Ltd, formerly Xhail Ireland Ltd, was hit with orders to pay 440,000 for loss of earnings and 24,000 for notice pay on foot of statutory complaints by musician, composer and entrepreneur Mick Kiely, who was ousted as its chief executive officer in 2021. Mr Kiely, who had a 340,000-a-year salary at the firm he founded in 2013, was able to claim almost all his lost earnings for a 17-month period after the WRC decided the businessman could not be reasonably expected to mitigate his full losses while he was subject to a non-compete clause. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 22nd February 2024 The tribunal added in its findings that Mr Kiely had shown considerable effort and tenacity by re-establishing himself in business in just 17 months. The 440,000 Mr Kiely has been awarded under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 is the highest-ever dismissal award made by the Workplace Relations Commission, surpassing by around a third the previous record award of 329,000, which was made to a fired sales executive in May 2022. Mr Kiely, who was represented by barrister Jason Murray BL, appearing instructed by Aine Curran of OMara Geraghty McCourt, had claimed that his dismissal was contrived by the Xhail Group based on an allegation that his visa status did not comply with US law. On November 19, 2021 the companys chief of staff told him by email he was no longer an employee and that he was prohibited from accessing or entering Xhail premises by any means. Please understand it will be considered trespassing if you do so, and Xhail will not treat such an unlawful act mildly, the chief of staff wrote. Mr Kiely said he had been locked out of the companys premises by the following day with all access to company systems and his emails blocked since then. The main matter in dispute was how much money was due to Mr Kiely the company having admitted in advance that his contract of employment was governed by Irish law, and that the dismissal was unfair. Mr Kielys case was that he was left with significantly reduced earnings following his dismissal. The tribunal heard the complainant made around 10,000 in 2022 by operating a holiday business in Co Clare, and a further 2,000 as an artist. Mr Murray submitted that this was because his client was subject to a non-compete clause restricting him from going into business in the respondent companys area. Mr Kielys position was that he wanted to continue his innovative work and asked Xhail to let him set up a new company, but was refused. The company denied this. Mr Murray submitted that his client was down 478,000 as a result of the dismissal. The employer, which was represented by Mary-Paula Guinness BL, appearing instructed by solicitors Whitney Moore LLP, took the position that Mr Kiely had failed make efforts to mitigate his loss because of inertia on his part. The tribunal noted submissions from Ms Guinness that there were areas of the music and technology fields where Mr Kiely could have worked that were not restricted by the non-compete clause and that the complainant could have looked outside his area of interest. The companys view was that the hospitality business established by Mr Kiely was a substantial one and could have been run successfully; however, the complainant decided to stay in the US where he could not work and in turn this is the reason why his earnings during this period [are] relatively modest, it was noted. The company also claimed Mr Kiely owed it $231,000 on loans to rent a property in Los Angeles and buy furniture -- a contested issue which is the subject of a lawsuit in the United States, the WRC noted. Adjudicator Brian Dalton calculated Mr Kielys losses over the 17 months between dismissal and a WRC hearing last September at 460,000, and said he would reduce the figure by 20,000 on the basis of the average industrial wage for the five-month period after the non-compete clause expired. It is not reasonable that he could be expected to mitigate his full loss considering the restrictive covenant, Mr Dalton wrote adding that as Mr Kiely had started up a new business in a very reasonable period he had fully mitigated any future losses. The complainant was a successful entrepreneur and has every right to pursue that goal to re-establish himself in a similar role that he was dismissed from. He has used his time well to do this, Mr Dalton wrote. He said it was remarkable that Mr Kiely, at 58, had been able to get back into business in just 17 months. That demonstrates considerable effort and tenacity, and that time was used well, Mr Dalton added. A further award of 24,000, compensation equivalent to four weeks' notice pay, for a breach of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973 brought the total sum awarded to Mr Kiely to 464,000. Official action to restrict short-term letting of residential properties for tourism is stalled at European level, the Tanaiste has confirmed to the Dail. The advertising of accommodation for tourism online was targeted by the Government in order to improve the chances of city properties being leased to domestic tenants, even on a short-term basis. But Micheal Martin admitted to Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik that the effort was being delayed by consultations with the European Commission. Ms Bacik said it was now five years since the Oireachtas first debated a Labour Bill to regulate Airbnb-style lets. "Now we understand that the European Commission is still delaying a decision on the Government's proposal to do just that, she said, adding that the Government "needs to remind the Commission how dire the housing crisis is here and let it know of the urgency. She added: "We cannot afford to wait any longer for EU proposals. For years, we have called for stronger regulation of short-term letting. "We know how many homes these platforms take out of use because, during the pandemic, suddenly they all became available." The situation had now been allowed to worsen again, she said. Mr Martin agreed that Ms Bacik "is correct in what she said about short-term tourist letting." He added: "It is frustrating that the Commission has sought further time to review the short-term tourism letting [STTL] legislation which would provide a statutory basis for the establishment of the STTL register." He said the there had been "provisional political agreement" last November on an EU-wide approach to short term lets. But Mr Martin said: "Those issues are still with the Commission." On the broad situation for renters, Mr Martin said the Government's 750 rent credit, up from 500 last year, had still not been taken up by some renters, although there is "a significant number" receiving it. "That is something that also needs to be explored," the Tanaiste said. Ms Bacik said there had been no tangible strengthening of renters' rights since the general election. "No fault evictions are still taking place. And while inspections in the private rented sector have gone up since the pandemic, enforcement is practically non-existent in many areas, she said. "Not a single prohibition notice was issued in ten local authority areas last year. It is a Wild West for renters out there." RTE is currently completely unable to release details of executives exit packages dating back to 2016, the director general has said. Kevin Bakhurst said the organisation has been under pressure to release those details but said he has received legal advice that to do so would be breaking the law. On publishing that advice, the national broadcaster confirmed that it has asked former executives to waive their right to confidentiality on their exit agreements. It follows the revelation that former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe received a voluntary redundancy package worth 450,000 euros. While RTE has sent letters to eight former executives asking them to waive confidentiality themselves, Mr Bakhurst said: I dont want the expectations to be very high because that is entirely their gift to waive their confidentiality. Mr Bakhurst told Newstalks The Hard Shoulder: We have to wait for their responses. But look, I want to be realistic about whether theyre likely to do it. I dont think they are but its the only avenue open to me to try and see if thats possible. The organisation agreed confidentiality as part of the legal settlement in many cases. So therefore, they may question why they want to do it but you know, Ive written to see if they are prepared to do it. RTE is also considering transferring some of its Montrose site to the Land Development Agency (LDA) for social housing, Mr Bakhurst said. The director general said he has held talks with the state body and the Government about the possibility of the LDA acquiring the land. Mr Bakhurst said that as part of its plans to reduce the size of the organisation, the national broadcaster could also potentially sell parts of its campus in Donnybrook. "There are other things that could be valuably done with the site, whether we sell it or whether we look at is there something useful that could be done about social housing or whatever. We will look at that in due course, but that'll be over a period of years," he said. "We have talked to the Land Development Agency, we talked to Government. "I think if we can get a proper public funding settlement that we can invest in all these things, I think there will be a merit in looking at is the land suitable for social housing or something similar, rather than us trying to sell it." Asked about his future plans to restructure the broadcaster, Mr Bakhurst said he wants a smaller organisation and one that will produce more projects outside the capital. He said Cork is becoming a major production centre for RTE. "It's also about investing much more with the independent sector and becoming a creative driving force for Ireland, so that the money that comes into RTE is not spent within RTE alone, but it's actually spent with our brilliant independent producers around the country," the director general added. Introducing caps on exit packages may make it difficult for the national broadcaster to let go of senior staff, Bakhurst said. He said confidentiality agreements around exit packages would ideally become the exception in RTE and a cap is being considered. Earlier today, RTE released updated legal advice in relation to the exit packages received by executive-level senior management after departing the broadcaster. It confirmed to Media Minister Catherine Martin that it has written to former members of the executive, who departed the organisation since 2016, requesting their consent to waive their right to confidentiality. The public broadcaster said yesterday it had received full legal advice regarding the publication of exit payment details. Photo: Collins The State broadcaster is also taking external advice with regard to future caps on severance pay and termination agreements, as well as options regarding confidentiality. In discussions with the Minister, I said we would look at the use of confidentiality agreements. Ideally they would become very much the exception with the right framework around them, Bakhurst told RTEs News At One. "The same goes for a cap, but again there are ramifications for that. If you put a cap on exit payments and you are going through a period, which well have to, of shrinking the organisation, you will end up unduly shrinking the organisation by losing junior colleagues because you cant afford to pay off more senior people. Mr Bakhurst said the ramifications of addressing issues around exit packages in RTE are very significant and he is prepared to address them but it wont be straightforward. "Its very difficult to exit people, to sack people, so therefore you often have to go through a legal process and confidentiality agreements. This is not just RTE, he said. Advice by legal firm Arthur Cox, published by RTE today, states that both employees and former employees have a legal right that their personal data relating to their employment is not made publicly available.. If such information is published, we remain of the view that this would contravene employees contractual and statutory rights thereby exposing RTE to avoidable legal challenge, a letter dated February 21 stated. In a statement this morning, RTE said it has been assured by its independent legal advisors that exit agreements fell within parameters of similar arrangements seen in both the private and semi-state sectors. It has also undertaken to look at bringing forward publication of the IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures figures, which will include an aggregate statement of termination benefits paid in 2023. This comes after indications suggested that confidentiality clauses relating to exit payments may not be able to be breached without court action being taken. RTE stated yesterday that it had received "full legal advice" concerning the publication of details of exit packages and that it had briefed Minister Martin. There are some suggestions that the overall figure for the payments could be revealed to the Oireachtas Media Committee. This would be how much was paid out to top executives and how those amounts were calculated as well as if proof can be provided that the roles where exit payments were given were made redundant and that savings were achieved for the organisation as a result. Meanwhile, the Government is considering bringing RTE under the remit of the State auditor, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told his parliamentary party last night. The Dails Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to recommend that the broadcaster is brought under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in a report published shortly. The Comptroller and Auditor General edits the accounts of Government Departments and State bodies to ensure public funds are being used appropriately. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 22nd February 2024 Minister Martin also backs the move, it is understood. Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Mr Varadkar again said he believes "that there should be a cap" on the value of exit packages which use public money. Bringing RTE under C&AG remit will mean the auditor will scrutinise its accounts every year. This will be in attempt to increase financial oversight at RTE. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also indicated that it was something she would like to see. Former chief medical officer was previously at centre of botched appointment Former chief medical officer Tony Holohan has lined up a new medical role after his previous planned job collapsed in scandal. Dr Holohan, who became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic, is poised to become a consultant in public health medicine on a far bigger salary. He will be working specifically on cancer prevention and treatment, despite his role in the CervicalCheck scandal being the source of controversy. The salary with the new post ranges up to 257,000 well above what he was paid as chief medical officer (CMO). Dr Holohan was previously at the centre of a scandal over a botched plan to appoint him to a university post. He is now understood to have been the successful candidate in an open competition for a new post of consultant in public health medicine in the HSEs National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). Former chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan to land new job at HSE paid up to 257,000 The HSE said the process for filling that post was still ongoing and declined to comment further. The NCCP works with health service providers around the country to prevent and treat cancer, and increase survival and quality of life for those who develop the disease. The formal offer of the job has not yet been made and he has not yet been appointed, but Dr Holohan has been informed he is the preferred candidate for the role he applied for. Dr Holohans previous salary as chief medical officer was more than 187,000. He will now be signing up to the new medical consultants contract salary ranging from 214,000 to 257,000. Since stepping down as chief medical officer, Dr Holohan has written a memoir. His wife, Dr Emer Holohan, died in 2021 after suffering for the previous decade from a rare of form of blood cancer. Following the pandemic, the Government decided to hire 84 consultants in public health medicine. These consultants will be attached to different parts of the HSE. Dr Holohans role in the CervicalCheck scandal provoked controversy. He advised the government against a review of the screening programme. After the late Vicky Phelan, then a terminally-ill campaigner, exposed the CervicalCheck scandal by taking her case to the High Court, Dr Holohan urged the government to order a report that he would prepare himself. He advised then health minister Simon Harris that the appropriate way forward was to state that you have asked me to provide a report on the matter, including whether further actions or steps are required. His warning was issued the day after Ms Phelan stood on the steps of the High Court and said publicly that CervicalCheck had essentially failed her and that she now had terminal cancer. Dr Holohan told the minister that to announce a review could unnecessarily undermine public confidence in CervicalCheck when there was no evidence at this stage that there are quality or patient safety concerns with the CervicalCheck programme. Mr Harris ignored the advice and announced a review that day. Dr Holohan was also criticised for saying last year that there is a very poor understanding of what happened during the CervicalCheck scandal and the adversarial model of medical negligence that exists in Ireland played a major role in the controversy. When he was finishing up as CMO, Dr Holohan was due to move into academia. But the report into his botched Trinity role found he should not have been exclusively personally involved in the negotiation of research funding linked to his possible secondment. The substantial proposed funding commitment of 2m a year until the retirement of Dr Holohan bypassed all of the accepted protocols for research funding and was linked atypically to one named individual. The Department of Health had announced Dr Holohan would be taking up a post in Trinity College, but it did not say it was secondment and he would remain an employee of the Department of Health or that 2m a year in funding would be directed to Trinity College. Dr Holohan decided not to take the post and stepped down as CMO. He said when he sought the move, it was at all times with the full knowledge and support of the secretaries general of the Department of Health and the Department of the Taoiseach. It appears that An Taoiseach had no knowledge of the proposed secondment and associated funding elements nor did other members of government, the report said. Girl (13) dies in Gaza hours after familys appeal: We need international help too many children are dying' Sally Herzallah, 13, died this morning after suffering for two days her family said rocket shrapnel hit the child in her skull Sally Herzallah, 13, has this morning died after suffering catastrophic injuries from rocket shrapnel entering her skull in Gaza. Her family appealed for Irish help as the health system collapses in the war-torn enclave. Laura Lynott Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 13:52 The family of a 13-year-old Palestinian girl who died overnight have appealed to Ireland for help. 12.5m also announced for new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast Louth TD Deputy Fergus ODowd says he is absolutely delighted to see the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Oldbridge is set to benefit from 10m in investment to build on and improve the visitor experience at the site to reflect its unique historic significance to communities North and South. This is a project I have been working on with my colleague Minister of the OPW, Patrick ODonovon since November 2021 when we first met with OPW officials in Oldbridge House to discuss the possible opportunities for the facility to become a key meeting point for North South activities, he says. I also note the 12.5m announced to introduce a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast; this is key to link the two largest cities on the island as we try to further improve our connectivity over the coming years. This is Louth Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Louth newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details He adds that he firmly believes that Oldbridge will become an international destination for tourists which will create very welcome employment and development opportunities. When fully restored and operational the complex will provide an improved heritage experience with the flexibility to serve as a location for Government business into the future, says the Louth TD. The Minister has also confirmed plans to refurbish and conserve the Farmyard Complex, located between the battlefield and the River Boyne, which they plan to open to the public to expand the scope of the visitor experience. Alongside the ongoing development of the Boyne Greenway it really is exciting times for Oldbridge and the wider area. His party colleague Cllr Sharon Tolan also lauded the possibilities. This funding is about all-island investment, boosting local and all-island economy and improving connections North and South. It is particularly wonderful news locally that the Government has confirmed a major investment in developing a renewed visitor experience for the Battle of the Boyne site as a priority to raise the heritage and tourism profile of Oldbridge which has a unique historic and community significance on the island, she added. A commitment of 10m from the Shared Island Fund has been made as part of the overall funding package for the project, once finalized. This work will be spear headed by the OPW (Office of Public Works) as part of an overall Conservation Management Plan for the site. The slower the better six tips for planning your first Camino Organising your Camino de Santiago holiday neednt be difficult, but it pays to start early. Responsible Travels Rob Perkins offers his tips for planning this iconic pilgrimage walk... Bronagh, Victor and Leo walked a section of the French Way on the Camino Rob Perkins Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 03:30 Over 400,000 people complete the Camino de Santiago every year, according to Statista, but the level of challenge involved shouldnt be taken lightly. Your editorial of February 19 on the RTE debacle highlighted the importance of an independent, trusted and diversified media. Unfortunately, many polls show trust in the mainstream media is at an all-time low because many do not see it as impartial and representative of the diversity of opinion in society. The mainstream media have been captured by ideologues and special interest groups. Any divergence from the views of these progressive elites is given the cancel treatment and its authors maligned and ridiculed. For journalists and politicians, this can be career limiting or even career ending. Censorship is censorship, whether it comes from Putin, within the media itself or is self-imposed, and it has the same chilling effect on democracy as it limits debate and freedom of speech. As we see in the US and lately in Ireland, the lack of tolerance for diversity of opinion leads to resentment and polarisation. This plays into the hands of megaphone populists as it shifts moderates towards the extremes. Instead of being blinded by the relatively trivial matter of RTE payouts, we should be examining the much more important matter of the failure of RTE and the mainstream print media in fulfilling their crucial roles as trusted and impartial voices to inform and encourage debate on issues of national importance, roles vital for a robust and healthy democracy. James Doran, address with editor A phrase RTEs big boss Bakhurst is hardly likely to be saying any time soon I have thus far not heard RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst use the old politicians standard: Im glad you asked me that question. Perhaps its because he is not. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 Its time to summon the US ambassador and tell him of our disgust over Gaza Who gives the US the right to veto a UN Security Council motion for a ceasefire in Gaza, where children and women are slaughtered daily? As usual, the UK abstained, knowing Americas decision was enough. That would satisfy their Israeli friends. Our Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador over the death of Alexei Navalny, so ought we not summon the US ambassador and express our disgust at their decision in the UN? John Cuffe, Co Meath If our bodies were planet Earth, temperature rise would be very bad news Consider the human body as a metaphor for the planet. Now imagine our bodies had changed irreversibly to run at 1.5C hotter than the 37C we are used to. At 38.5C we would be sick and running a fever, and this would be for the rest of our lives. Would our organs cope? Too much heat forces the heart to beat faster. Could we work feeling sick all the time? With difficulty. Now extend the metaphor to the world. By our own hand we have changed our climate, our environment. We have compromised the intricacy and balance of life systems for at least 100 years. The only vote that matters now is one for those people who want to take their foot off the pedal; to leave fossil fuels in the ground; who no longer want to extract the millions-of-years-old remains of dead plants and animals in the Earths crust to burn them to keep us warm or cool or to hurry us from A to B because we dont care to go slowly. Alison Hackett, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin State funeral was fitting tribute to Bruton, a man of honesty and integrity We watched the state funeral of John Bruton on television, and it was a most fitting tribute. The mourners represented all strands of Irish political life and society and reminded us that John came from an honourable tradition in Irish politics that traces its roots back to the Home Rule Party of Parnell and Davitt. This was the party of the majority of the nationalist population before 1916 and the elites of the Irish people back in the day. John never made any secret of his political position and was respected for his honesty and integrity. He was castigated for removing a portrait of Collins from the taoiseachs office when he arrived there and replacing it with one of John Redmond. Perhaps he would have been better advised to hang a portrait of Parnell. While Redmond did in theory deliver home rule, he was also responsible for urging the Irish Volunteers in September 1914 to join the British war effort wherever the firing line extends. A total of 200,000 Irishmen did enlist and 35,000 died fighting for king and country in World War I. That was a far greater number than died later in all the physical force conflicts in Ireland in the 20th century. John Bruton did not need to get involved in the controversy that revolved around the name of John Redmond his true political home was in the Parnellite tradition and as such he will be remembered. Patrick Keys, Dublin 16 Letting Stephen Kenny go with no replacement lined up was a terrible own-goal There is an old saying: Dont throw out the dirty water until the fresh water comes in. Stephen Kenny was an honest and good Ireland manager. Why was he disposed of when the powers-that-be hadnt a clue who would replace him? With no replacement in sight, they have scored an own-goal. Leo Gormley, Dundalk, Co Louth Dont worry about lack of a Metro sure, the Greens will give us all bicycles I dont expect to see a Dublin Metro, whatever about those born this century. Dublin is built on ground difficult to tunnel, so our costs would be extremely high I imagine twice the stated estimate of 11bn. But dont fret the Greens will give everybody a free bike, ensuring central Dublin will look like Beijing back in 1980. David Ryan, Co Meath Lets hope irresponsible US Republicans take note of your editorial on Putin I wish to comment on your editorial on Tuesday on Putin. Well done you must make sure those insular, mean- minded, irresponsible Republicans get to study it and cop themselves on. Sean Flanagan, address with editor On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian discusses the current crackdown on dodgy boxes with producer, JJ Clarke. This time, authorities say they will be cracking down on Fire TV sticks which are often used to access dodgy box services. The organisation behind the enforcement, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, stated that they are going after the middlemen selling the service rather than punters. Ireland has one of the highest rates of dodgy box use in the EU with close to 5% of people owning some form of the technology. Figures from one survey conducted five years ago, showed 170,000 users in Ireland used a dodgy box. Adrian made the point that the impact of clamping down on the middlemen of this criminal enterprise may be limited in its effect. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Putin the tyrant: What next for Russia, as enemy of state Alexei Navalny dies suddenly? The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny made headlines across the world, yet his demise was a cruel inevitability given the physical plight he was forced to suffer having already been poisoned. On Friday, February 16, Vladimir Putins most prominent political opponent died in mysterious circumstances, inside a Russian penal colony located near the Arctic Circle. Mr Navalny had been behind bars since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Before his arrest, he campaigned against official corruption; he organised major anti-Kremlin protests; and ran for public office. He had since received three prison sentences, all of which he rejected as politically motivated. Western leaders, including US president Joe Biden, paid tribute to Navalnys courage and, without citing evidence, accused Putin of being responsible for the death. Britain said there would be consequences for Russia. With another enemy of the state now dead, what is next for Russia and its tyrannic leader? Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheehan is joined by Russia analyst Jason Corcoran, to discuss whether the death of Alexei Navalny will embolden Putin to embark on more rash and dangerous actions. Jean Tighe (38) disappeared from the town of Parede, Portugal, in July 2020. Garda investigators liaising with Portuguese police over the disappearance of a Cavan woman who went missing more than three years ago while on holiday have come under fire over their handling of the case. Munterconnaught woman Jean Tighe was 38-years-old when she vanished without a trace from Parede on July 13, 2020. Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd February 2024 Local TD Brendan Smith raised the matter in the Dail on Wednesday in an attempt to progress the case. Mr Smith said Ms Tighes family have exhausted every possible avenue to try and secure a breakthrough into her disappearance. It took an inordinate and totally unacceptable time for the Portuguese police authorities to put Jean's name on the missing persons database, he said. It was clear from early on that modern investigative and search tools were not used in the search. Those scathing remarks were ones which the Fianna Fail TD directed at authorities back home. Mr Smith revealed how he has repeatedly called for an investigation into Ms Tighes disappearance as he expressed his own frustration at the level of communication that had been made between both jurisdictions over the past three years. I was extremely disappointed and indeed furious to learn that the Portuguese authorities have been awaiting responses from An Garda Siochana and the Department of Justice for some time, he said. The least our authorities can do is to act with urgency. We have a young woman who is missing and a very distraught family, friends and community. This State, by its actions, must show that it cares. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin was cognisant of the case and had taken action on it. Mr Varadkar also vowed to take the matter directly to the Portuguese government ahead of proposed talks next month. The Body Shop stores across Ireland are set to close from Thursday, February 29. Staff in Cork have received email communications informing them that Irish stores will be closing. In the email, they were advised that a store may remain open for the purpose of selling off stock, but this was not guaranteed. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The Body Shop currently employs 40 full-time staff across seven stores in Ireland, including the Cork store on Oliver Plunkett Street. Last week, The Body Shop UK went into administration, since announcing the closure of nearly half of its 198 stores, leaving thousands of staff members facing redundancy. The Oliver Plunkett Street store in Cork city is currently still open and staff are trading as normal. At this point in time staff have said they are unclear on information regarding redundancies, and that they have engaged with SIPTU to discuss redundancy options. The Body Shop was founded back in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon. The first Irish store was opened in Dublin in 1981, and the next store to open was located in Cork. Food delivery company Deliveroo has just announced the winners of its 2024 Restaurant Awards, and three Cork establishments have taken home gold. The awards celebrate the best and most loved independent restaurants in Ireland and the UK, and three restaurants in Cork beat off stiff competition across Ireland after Deliveroo food fans voted for their favourite local establishments. Oak Fire Pizza, Burritos & Blues and Koto from Cork have been named among the best restaurants in Ireland after customers cast their votes online to help decide the winners. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Oak Fire Pizza was named Best Pizza in Ireland thanks to its authentic pizzas that use locally-sourced ingredients. The Best Mexican in Ireland went to Burritos & Blues, while family-run Koto won the award for Best Thai in Ireland. It is incredible to have won the Deliveroo award for Best Pizza in Ireland. A heartfelt thank you to those who voted for us, your support means everything. We hope to continue to serve award-winning pizza to the communities of Cork for a long time to come, said Sarah Loane from Oak Fire Pizza. This year 60 awards were up for grabs and over 66,000 votes were cast by loyal customers over a two-week period. Winners were announced on Deliveroos social channels as part of a 2024 Restaurant Awards social takeover, which will spotlight all 60 award winners. It might have been easier to film this weeks episode of First Dates Ireland in Cork, as three participants from the Rebel county will enter the restaurant in the hopes of finding love. Cafe manager Lorraine (35) describes herself as weary of flash boyos and is looking for a male version of herself. She will be paired with barman and fellow Corkonian Eoin (44) who confidently admits to being a lover of romantic comedy movies. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Eoin takes over from First Dates barman Neil to whip up a special cocktail for Lorraine on the date. The episode also welcome a third person from Cork as perennial student Andrew (61) hopes to win over free spirited hair stylist Clare (59) from Wexford. But will their shared experience of life in the States unite them? Other pairs on this weeks show will include software developer Joseph (37) from Donegal who will embark on a romantic voyage of discovery with multilingual tech translator Hyeji (32) from Dublin via Spain, Japan and Korea. Looking for someone with whom he can go full goblin mode, musician Ben (23) from Dublin matches with fine art photography student and self-confessed weirdo Kyra (24) from Limerick. First Dates Ireland airs on Thursdays at 9.35pm on RTE 2. The funding will be put to great use enabling festivals, artists and voluntary arts organisations deliver projects The Arts Grant Scheme will support access to the arts for people with disabilities, older people and local communities. Photo of Musician by Shane Broderick. Nearly 130 artists and organisations in Cork are set to collectively receive funding of over 166,000, which will allow the creation of art and running of events that will directly impact and revitalise social life in local communities. The funding will be made available to 128 artists and arts groups across the county through the 2024 Arts Scheme, which is a County Council programme that aims to support events, activities and new initiatives that enhance public access to the arts and support cultural development. Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn, said that the council are delighted to announce the funding for the various individuals and groups that will be able to avail of it. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The arts and culture are central to our lives individually and as a society, it is important that Cork County Council plays a role in supporting such activity, Mayor OFlynn said. The wide range of proposals from arts organisations around the county is very heartening, demonstrating a desire to help our citizens connect with each other through participation and engagement in arts and cultural activity. This funding will be put to great use enabling festivals, artists and voluntary arts organisations deliver projects which will directly impact and revitalise social life in local communities, putting art and creativity at the heart of our lives in 2024. We particularly welcome the funding allocation for projects that promote inclusion and address barriers preventing access to the arts. The council said that there has been a sharp rise in applications for the Arts Scheme for this year, with a 42% increase in requests for funding indicating that arts and cultural activity has returned to pre-pandemic levels and that Cork artists have ambitious plans for the coming year. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie OSullivan, said the aim of the Local Authority was to see the arts thrive and ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to access and enjoy the arts. We are delighted to support the wonderful work by so many organisations throughout the county who deliver creativity at a local level enhancing lives and place simultaneously, the Chief Executive said. The council said that it is one of the few local authorities that offer a specific scheme supporting arts projects that promote the use of Irish language, with two initiatives based in Youghal and the Mhuscrai Gaeltacht that will assist young people in making films through Irish being supported this year. 18 bursaries and residencies will also be awarded to individual artists this year, including two awards supporting artists developing projects to promote their work abroad, while the Arts Grant Scheme will also support voluntary groups and arts for older people and disability access. . The competition aims to highlight the importance of waterbodies to people across Ireland A photograph of the River Blackwater by renowned Mitchelstown historian and photographer Bill Power, who authored 'The Blackwater History and Images from the Irish Rhine. Cork photographers and nature lovers are being encouraged to submit a photo of their favourite body of water to a new competition that boasts a 500 hotel voucher as its top prize. The Local Authority Wetlands Programme (LAWPRO), which is a national shared service that works on behalf of Irelands 31 local authorities to achieve good water quality, launched its My Favourite Waterbody competition earlier this month with the aim of showing how important Irish rivers, lakes and beaches are to people. The photography competition, which has a theme of Wetlands and Human Wellbeing, is open to everyone in Ireland and the overall winner will receive a 500 voucher for Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa and an A3 framed print of their winning photo. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The overall winner will be selected from five regional winners from the south east, south west, midlands and east, western, and border region. Regional prizes will consist of framed prints and a selection of top photos entered in the competition will be featured in LAWPROs calendar for 2025 and these winners will receive a free copy of the calendar. Speaking at the launch of the competition on World Wetlands Day earlier this month, LAWPRO director Anthony Coleman said the organisation was looking forward to finding out about peoples favourite waterbodies through the photography entered. 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 to be in with a chance of winning a prize, Mr Coleman said. The closing date for entries to My Favourite Waterbody is 5pm on Friday, March 15. Those who want to enter the competition should email their photo (which must have been taken between February 2 and March 15) to photocomp@lawaters.ie as an attachment along with their name, age, address and the location of their submitted photo. More information on the competition can be found on lawaters.ie. The OPW confirmed that around 40 deer that die each year are buried within the grounds of the Phoenix Park. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire A full investigation is needed after it was revealed a substantial number of deer are buried in Dublins Phoenix Park each year. A herd of wild deer has been a fixture in the 700-hectare park for hundreds of years. The number is regularly culled to keep the population at 550. The Office of Public Works (OPW) carries out a number of culls each year, overseen by veterinary experts and with the animals sold to a Department of Agriculture approved game dealer. However, the OPW said that around 40 deer die every year of other causes, including disease and road-traffic accidents. As first reported in the Irish Mirror this week, these animals are buried close to the perimeter of the park as part of a longstanding practice, which means the area likely contains a substantial number of deer. This grave is located in a designated conservation area that runs between the Ashtown Gate and the Castleknock Gate, along a wall directly parallel to the Castleknock Road. There is also a lake roughly 300 metres from where the animals are being buried. In Ireland, it is no longer legal for farmers to bury their own domestic animals, which they did for many years. However, an exception for wild animals remains in place. Fianna Fail councillor Howard Mahony, for the Castleknock Local Electoral Area, told the Irish Independent he wants a full investigation, as the practice could have a negative impact on groundwater quality. My major concern is the contamination of the water table. People that live close by are shocked that in 2024 the OPW is disposing of animals in this way, he said. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 22nd February 2024 He pointed out that recent works were carried out on the Castleknock Road to address regular flooding, and this water is feeding back into the water system and local rivers. We look to the OPW within the Phoenix Park to lead with environmental issues. They are the benchmark many of us go by, and then we learn this information, he said. This burial site may potentially be contaminating the areas groundwater. He added that, upon writing to Minister for the Office of Public Works Patrick ODonovan, he was told they will be in touch when the situation is investigated. Cllr Mahony asked that the OPW stop disposing of the deer in this way, and called for soil and water testing to make sure contamination is not coming into the main system. The bottom line is if farmers cant do it, then why is the OPW doing this? I want answers quickly, and I dont want the OPW sitting on this, he added. The OPW has been contacted for comment. Plans to sell the building that currently houses the post office in Rathmines, which has been serving the community for nearly a century, have been described as insulting. Staff were informed last week that the premises would close, and the building would be put up for sale. The post office is expected to be on the market in the next 3-6 months. Current employees will have the option of potentially working with the postmaster at a new Rathmines location, or being redeployed within the company. In line with the ongoing transformation of the national post office network, An Post announced that three of its Dublin offices Phibsboro, Rathmines and Tallaght will integrate into the mainstream of national post offices. Currently, less than 40 post offices in the entire country are directly run by An Post. Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan described the news as a really sad day for Rathmines, adding he is bitterly disappointed with the way the news has trickled out. There has been no forewarning or engagement with the community by An Post regarding this decision, he said. It was only because I reached out to them when some suggestion of it appeared in the media that I was briefed on what was actually taking place. I think this is insulting to both their existing customers and their staff, but also the Rathmines community. He added that he will be submitting a motion for the next area meeting and plans to seek answers from An Post to ensure that at the very least there will be no interruption of service. Celine Clarke, Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs at Age Action, told the Irish Independent that the erosion of financial services such as the post office, has a negative impact on the quality of life of older persons, especially those who are digitally excluded or have transport issues. She outlined that digital banking is not the answer, as 6 in 10 older people experience digital exclusion, meaning they are not using the internet or do not have the skills to use it safely. These people must have access, in their communities, to the full range of essential financial services that a post office provides. Otherwise, they are at risk of social exclusion and financial abuse, she added. The funds from the Iveragh Charity Shop in Cahersiveen are handed over every year to Valentia Community Hospital. Presenting the latest funds 45,000 are Ann Egan, Aoife Murphy, Alan Hicks, Irena Burlaka, Eileen Healy, Margaret Lynch, Tara Hunt, Liam Lynch, Con O'Shea, Kathleen O'Donoghue and John Falvey. Photo by Christy Riordan. Given the rural location of Valentia Island, its community is more than lucky to have a vital facility such as a local community hospital, right on its doorstep. This wonderful hospital has allowed the elderly to be looked after close to home but, without huge community support, the hospital would not be able to function. And key to ensuring that the day-to-day running costs of the hospital can be met and that renovations and improvements can be undertaken is Iveragh Charity Shop. The charity shop, located on Main Street in Cahersiveen and once a drapers shop in the town, is run by volunteers with all proceeds donated to the hospital. Anna Egan of Aghatubrid, who was involved in the voluntary management of the shop for 12 years, officially handed over the voluntary running of the shop to the Valentia Community Hospital in 2016. This is Kerry Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Kerry newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details In tandem with the handover, Anna presented a cheque to the value of 13,000 to the hospital and over the years she and her volunteering staff have raised a total of 65,000 for the long established hospital. Since the shop was handed over, it has become a vital support for Valentia Community Hospital and now operates five days a week. In the past eight years the hospital has received a whopping 157,000 vital funds that have ensured the facility remains open and of course allowed it to modernise and expand. Valentia Community Hospital has a long history dating back to the transatlantic cable station in 1870. The original building was able to accommodate 14 patients and one nurse. It served as a general hospital for the people of Valentia and Portmagee and there were even surgeries performed there until the 1960s. The hospital has long since developed and in the past 10 years it has been modernised and expanded to become a 24-bed facility to cater for the aging population on the island. The hospital has 20 ensuite single rooms with an integrated electric hoist. Two of the beds are paid for by the HSE and are for short stay respite residents (patients). Twenty two beds are for long-stay care and are paid for through the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The expansion of the hospital has cost in the region of 1.3m and has mainly been possible thanks to fundraising and a one-off Government support. Plans are also underway to upgrade the facility with 100,000 needed to install a new generator plus ancillary work, along with plans to replace ageing appliances (kitchen and laundry equipment that will cost 25,000) and refurbish the older section of the building. Fundraising from the shop and the community has also helped the management and voluntary board purchase new beds at the cost of 70,000 along with ancillary equipment like wheelchairs. The organisation that runs the hospital is Valentia Community Health and Welfare CLG (VCHWA) membership is open to anyone aged 18 or over. They want to pay tribute to everyone who has supported them, including Iveragh Shop who have handed over proceeds form the shop in 2023 which this time is 45,000. We sincerely appreciate all the help we get from the charity shop and all funds donated go into construction and refurbishment costs. We still need to get the project finished and ensure the building is compliant with all regulatory standards and guarantee the continuation of the hospital and service to the community for generations to come, said chairman Tony Curran. Manager of the shop, Eileen Healy, has thanked all the volunteers who run the shop and ensure that it remains open and helps Valentia Community Hospital. She particularly thanked CE Supervisor Marie ONeill and her CE workers, Supervisor Emily Moran of TUS and her TUS workers as well as the various volunteering workers who give their time including many Ukrainian. She also thanked all those who have donated and supported. A special word of thanks also go to Jimmy and Ann Madigan who own the premises and who have been particularly generous and accommodating in facilitating the charity shops endeavours and needs through the years. The sale of high-quality apartments in one of Tralees most historic buildings could soon be on the cards following the purchase of a stunning landmark close to Ashe Street. Built between 1885 and 1890, the sandstone building was once part of the Latchfords Mill and is referred to as the old mill. It was also a warehouse that was used when the old railway line operated close to the building. The five-storey structure with its attractive ashlar limestone quoins and red bricked window arches was placed on the market in 2023 generating widespread interest within Ireland and further afield. Paul Stephenson of Sherry FitzGerald Stephenson Crean said the sale of the building, which is on a 0.37-acre site, was finalised this week. It was purchased for an undisclosed sum by a construction company based in the US with connections to Kerry. Its great news for the town and something positive to look forward to, especially on the basis of the Astellas development at Kerry Technology Park. Its also great that guys in the US with Kerry connections had the foresight to buy it, Paul said. The building is in a prime location close to the town centre and Tralee bus and rail stations. That plans are now being prepared to bring the building back into use is seen as a huge positive for Tralee. This is Kerry Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Kerry newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details There is quite a big site at the back of it, so its a very substantial holding. Its a great advertisement for the town that this historic building is going to be redeveloped. Its a fantastic good news story. I want to wish the new owners every success with the building in the future, Paul added. Hothouse Flowers and John Spillane are among the acts lined up for the 2024 Kilkenny Tradfest where legends and newcomers will entertain the crowds over the weekend of March 15 to 18. The festival coincides with St. Patricks Day celebrations in the medieval city and will include a mix of evening gigs and the Bulmers Music Trail earlier in the day. Organisers suggest that if you get lost, just follow the sound of the music! John Spillane. Kicking off Kilkenny Tradfest, Irish rock group Hothouse Flowers will bring their infectious brand of traditional Irish music, with influences from soul, gospel and rock, to the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel on March 15. Folk legend, John Spillane and his Band of Wrens, will take the stage at Kyteler's Inn on Saturday, March 16. What promised to be very memorable and unique concert takes place in the Set Theatre on March 18, featuring the inspired combination of twice Grammy nominated vocalist Iarla O Lionaird with renowned pianist/composer Cormac McCarthy and acclaimed clarinet maestro Matthew Berrill. Iarla will be supported by Kilkenny Tradfest newcomers, Burnchurch, a four piece group made up of two pairs of brothers. Clare Sands. The 2024 Kilkenny Tradfest bill also includes performances from Shaskeen, Clancy's Kitchen, Clare Sands, the Tulla Ceili Band, Padraig Jack, Breaking Trad, Buioch, Nell Ni Chronin, Kilfenora Ceili Band, the Leonard Barry Trio and Reel to Reel. Tickets can be booked on kilkennytradfest.com In early March, thousands of residents across the state will head to the polls to vote in the primary election. Primary elections allow voters to determine which candidates compete in the general election and can be nonpartisan or partisan. In partisan primaries, voters choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate in the general election. The laws governing primary elections vary from state to state and can even vary within states by locality and political party. This variation has created a number of different types of partisan primary elections. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Alabama Supreme court to draw new Alabama congressional map with greater representation for Black voters. In October, federal judges selected new congressional lines for Alabama to give the state a second district where Black voters comprise a substantial portion of the electorate. The new districts could help Democrats trying to flip control of the House of Representatives. Deadlines in the March 5 primary election Friday, Feb. 16 Last day to hand-deliver voter registration forms Saturday, Feb. 17 Last day to postmark voter registration forms Monday, Feb. 19 Must register to vote electronically by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 -Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail. Thursday, Feb. 29 - Must apply apply in person for absentee ballots by 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 4 Last day to hand-deliver an absentee ballot Tuesday, March 5 - Mail in absentee ballot accepted until noon Where and how to register to vote If a persons name does not appear on the list of registered voters for the polling place, the poll worker will contact the county Board of Registrars to determine if the person is eligible to vote at that polling place. If the Board of Registrars are unable to verify the persons voter registration, the voter may vote a provisional ballot. Do you want to find out what you can find on the ballot? Visit the Alabama Secretary of State's website for sample ballots for every county in the state. A citizen can register to vote or update voter registration by: visiting alabamavotes.gov when you have your valid Alabama drivers License or non-driver ID card handy; using the Vote for Alabama app with your valid Alabama drivers license or non-driver ID card handy; applying for or renewing an Alabama drivers license or non-driver ID card; visiting state and local government offices when applying or recertifying SNAP, TANF, Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid, Aid to Dependent Children, or Rehabilitation Services; by visiting armed forces recruiting stations; by visiting your county's Board of Registrars office; by submitting a mail-in form available at Probate Judge and License Commissioner offices, colleges, universities, public schools or library; by requesting a mail-in registration form be mailed to you by contacting the Elections Division at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) and mailing it to your local Board of Registrars office; by downloading a voter registration from the Secretary of States website at alabamavotes.gov and mailing it to your local Board of Registars office. Key local races in Barbour County Barbour County Commission, District 1 Challenger Donna K. Kent, Democrat Incumbent Rachel T. Smith, Democrat Barbour County Commission, District 6 Challenger Karen Y. Collins, Democrat Incumbent Patricia Ivey, Democrat Barbour County Commission, District 5 Challenger John Martin, Republican Incumbent Jerry A. Jerry A. McGilvray, Republican Challenger Brad Snell, Republican Key local races in Henry County Henry County Commission, District 1 Joe Falkner, Republican Murray J. Yance, Republican Henry County Board of Education, District 1 Heidi Condrey, Republican Faye Shipes, Republican Henry County probate judge Ray Marler, Republican Matthew Quincey, Republican Key federal and statewide races President/vice president U.S. House of Representatives (Seven seats) Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justice of Supreme Court (Places 1, 2, 3, and 4) Court of Criminal Appeals (Places 1, 2, and 3) Court of Civil Appeals (Places 1, 2, and 3) Find your polling place When you register to vote or update your registration information, the county Board of Registrars office sends a Voter ID card to each voter. The card is a postcard which includes the voters precinct information and polling location. Voters can verify their polling place by going to the Secretary of States website at www.sos.alabama.gov and selecting the link labeled, "My Voting Information." For municipal elections, check with the city clerk. Alabama polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone who attempts to join the voting line after 7 p.m. shall not be permitted to vote. If you have not received a Voter ID card, call your county Board of Registrars Office. What do you bring to the voting polls? How to obtain a free Alabama Voter ID Card? The voter arrives at the polling place and provides their name to a poll worker. The voter must also present an acceptable form of photo identification .Prior to the date of the election, any registered voter who does not possess a form of valid photo identification may receive a free Alabama Photo Voter ID. To receive a free Alabama photo voter ID card, a voter must show: A photo document or a non-photo identity document that contains one's full legal name and date of birth; Documentation showing the voters date of birth (can be verified by information in the statewide voter file); Documentation showing the person is a registered voter (can be verified by voter registration information); Documentation showing the voters name and address as reflected in the voter registration record (can be verified by voter registration information). When a voter can submit an absentee ballot and how? According to the Alabama Secretary of State's office, any qualified voter can submit an absentee ballot application by mail or in person to the Absentee Election Manager's Office under certain circumstances. Multiple absentee ballots cannot be mailed in the same envelope. Each absentee ballot must be mailed separately. Alabamians may obtain an application or register to vote online at https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/register-to-vote. They may also obtain a voter registration application at driver license offices, libraries, and at Alabama Public Assistance offices such as Medicaid, WIC, and DHR. Citizens can submit an absentee ballot under these circumstances: The voter is out of the country or state on Election Day; The voter has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents the voter from attending the polls; The voter works a shift that has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at the voters regular polling place; The voter is a student enrolled in school outside the county of residence; The voter is a member, a spouse, or a dependent of a member of the United Stated Armed Forces or is similarly qualified to vote absentee according to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; The voter is a caregiver for a family member who is confined to their own home; The voter is incarcerated in prison or jail and has not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude. A Limerick family is asking the community for help after a dad of four was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease as well as a rare condition called Multiple System Atrophy. After setting up a Go Fund Me page, Patrice explained that she was fundraising for her husband Gerard, with whom she lives in Askeaton, in County Limerick, along their four sons. Patrice explained that Gerard was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2018, at the age of 44. Then, after a scary incident in 2022, he was also diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Follow Independent Limerick on Facebook Patrice explained: In October 2022 he woke up one Saturday morning and didnt recognise any of us, we have 4 sons who all live at home, after been admitted into hospital he was been treated for an infection on the brain but his memory never recovered and the 32 years we have been together never came back to him. It was during this time with more tests eing done that they discovered he had MSA (Multiple System Atrophy) a rare condition of the nervous system that causes gradual damage to nerve cells in the brain. Patrice explained that this condition affects balance, movement and the nervous system, which controls several basic functions such as breathing, digestion and bladder control. The condition has severely affected his life as Patrice added: He gets a lot of pain, his speech has deteriorated and he now needs an aid to help him with it, he is wheelchair bound and is unable to dress himself without help, he sometimes needs help with eating and drinking. She explained that there is no cure yet for MSA, however, there are treatments to help Gerard and his family is asking for help in order to improve his quality of life. Patrice said: Theres no cure but there are treatments to reduce the impact it has on a persons daily life, but these treatments are expensive and mostly abroad. Im Gers carer now and he now needs 24 hour care. Im looking to help to raise money for him so our house can be adapted for him and for any equipment he will need to improve his quality of life, also to avail of treatments to help him. Hes an amazing man and going through all this he still manages a smile on his face. Any donation at all will help Ger get his equipment/treatment and house adapted to help him. If you can help in anyway at all we would be greatly appreciated, thanks so much for your support. The link to the fundraiser can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-gerard-fight-msa-multiple-system-atrophy European Day for Victims of Crime is observed every year on February 22 On EU Day for Victims of Crime, victims of Michael Shine, former surgeon at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, are pleading with the Government for a public inquiry. European Day for Victims of Crime is observed every year on February 22 and is used to create awareness about the pertinent issues of security. This years theme focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 16 specifically calls for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Dignity4Patients, which provides, support, information, and advocacy to over 300 victims of sexual abuse by former surgeon and convicted sexual offender, Michael Shine is calling for a public inquiry. The disgraced surgeon while working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and private consultants rooms, allegedly abused male children for decades. Many are still waiting any form of justice. Friday February 23 will be two years since Michael Shine was released from Midlands Prison (Portlaoise) without having to face his victims or the media, after serving only three years of a four-year sentence," says Dignity4Patients CEO, Adrienne Reilly, "Today we will see and hear statements from politicians in relation to their commitment to victims of crime. However, they need to actually listen to victims and be serious in their commitment to provide proper, real and effective accountable justice, such as in our victims case, a public inquiry". She says the groups victim-survivors stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors of sexual abuse in current inquiries such as the Spiritan Scoping Inquiry into sexual abuse in schools, but they cannot understand why they, in their hundreds, asking for exactly the same thing, are being ignored. We are are calling for Ministers Helen McEntee, Stephen Donnelly and Michael McGrath to agree a way forward on a public inquiry into the sexual abuse of mostly young boys, she adds. They now need acknowledgement and access to effective justice. They want and deserve a public inquiry. A security operation was put in place in Dundalk this afternoon after the discovery of what Gardai are describing as suspicious material by works personnel on the grounds of a premises on Barrack Street. Residents of Barrack Street, Peter Street and Quay Street were evacuated from their home for a number of hours while Gardai and Army personnel attended at the scene. A gardai spokesperson said that the security alert that had been put in place and been resolved. The cordon has been lifted. Louth Gardai have posted on Facebook to inform all residents of Barrack Street, Peter Street & Quay Street, Dundalk. The area has been re-opened and is fully safe. People are free to return to this area. They also thanked the public for their co-operation. The streets which were evacuated are close to Quay Street area of Dundalk where a German plane dropped a bomb on the night of July 24, 1941, prompting fears that it was an old explosive device from World War 2. The Steminist Team are competing in the Junk Kouture World Final in Monaco. A group of County Roscommon students are ready to take on the world in this years Junk Kouture World Final. Three Elphin Community College students; Vanessa Kielty, Mary McNulty, Martha Nugent and art teacher, Ms Susan Prendergast have arrived in Monaco to represent Elphin, County Roscommon and Ireland in the 2024 Junk Kouture World Final. The final is taking place in Monte Carlo in Monaco on Thursday, February 22. After securing one of ten coveted places, the girls will face opposition from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Great Britain and France. Inspired by designers John Galliano and the late Vivienne Westwood, their stunning creation STEMinist is largely made from discarded, broken and unused building materials such as copper taken from old electrical wiring, copper water cylinders, nuts and bolts, rusted corrugated iron, high-vis jackets, tool mats, gears and plastic. Hand crafting and manipulating the material through the heating of plastic medical tubing retrieved from waste in a local factory is key to the design. The STEMinist creation by Elphin community College students. Photo: Junk Kouture. The skills of weaving and plaiting were used to give additional texture to the items they produced. Bodice and shoulder pieces were engineered with nuts and bolts to secure the material. A dismantled grandfather clock allowed brass cogs, clock hands and chains were used to fit into the concept for the groups Steam Punk inspired design. The girls' theme is linked to the fashion genre of Steam Punk and so STEMinist was created to inspire future budding young female scientists, architects, artists, designers, engineers, mathematicians and technology developers with their creative, bold and eye catching design. The design immensely impressed judges and the team was awarded the golden ticket to the big final in Monte Carlo. All at Elphin Community College are extremely proud of the team and are looking forward to the final on Thursday. Wishing them well, a post on the schools Facebook read, We are immensely proud of our "STEMinist" team who are such fabulous ambassadors for our school, and we are so excited for them as they take their place amongst prestigious finalists from around the globe. Thank you in advance for all your support as we step up to take our place at the World Finals of Junk Kouture in Monte Carlo, the unforgettable event that thrills the senses and inspires the planet. Roscommon Arts Centre was the venue recently for Roscommon County Council's Civic Reception, which honoured a number of teams and individuals for outstanding sporting and artistic achievement, including the Junk Kouture World Finalists from Elphin Community College. Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board has announced the founding of a new college, Sligo College of Further Education and Training (FET). Building upon the productive and mutually cooperative working relationship of Sligo College of Further Education/ Ballinode Community College, North Connaught College of Further Education and Sligo Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme this new college will bring together all entities in a major evolution of further education and training for the region. Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB Chief Executive Mr Tom Grady said The new college will be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive college hosting a wide range of further education and training opportunities at Level 1 to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This is an exciting development for Sligo and the wider region as Sligo College of Further Education and Training will be a college of scale and initially, home to over 600 full-time students across the three campuses in Sligo Town, Ballinode, Sligo Quay St. and Tubbercurry. The FET programmes and courses offered by Sligo College of Further Education and Training will enable students and staff to meet the demands of the modern social and economic environment. The college will offer a diverse range of educational opportunities for school leavers, lifelong learners, returning learners, employers, employees, and the wider community. It will serve as a beacon of learning for the region and afford learners the opportunity for vocational, academic, employment and social progression. Sligo College of Further Education and Training will: be a leading centre for learning in Sligo and the West/North West of Ireland. be a technology-enhanced centre of excellence. have a robust European dimension with the Erasmus+ programme, and offer a range of social and sporting activities for learners. The development will be aligned with the goals of the SOLAS Future FET: Transforming Learning, National FET Strategy 2020-2024. The college will focus on building skills, fostering Inclusion and creating pathways. Mr Peter Egan, Director of Further Education and Training Mayo, Sligo Leitrim ETB, commented This is a genuine evolution in terms of educational provision in Sligo. It is an exciting and encouraging development for the region. We are confident that the establishment of this new college will not only enrich Sligos educational landscape but also empower learners with the vital knowledge and skills needed to thrive in today's dynamic and fiercely competitive economic and social environment. Over the coming months, Mayo Sligo and Leitrim ETB will continuously engage and work with staff, learners and stakeholders to gather their views and agree on the best way to establish and structure the new college. "The new college with showcase the expertise of our staff and provide a future-proofed, consistent, integrated and easily accessible approach to further education and training. Mayo, Sligo Leitrim ETB has appointed David McGuinness as Principal, with David Downey and Deirdre OConnor as Deputy Principals, of Sligo College of Further Education and Training. Fergal OBoyle will lead the provision of full-time courses in Quay Street. Pop impresario Louis Walsh and broadcasting doyenne Anne Doyle are spearheading the hunt for Irelands most eligible bachelor as the countdown begins to The Westmeath Bachelor Competition 2024. The celebrity pair are among the judges for this years competition which takes takes in Mullingar on Friday, August 24. Organisers are urging the men of Ireland to step into the spotlight and show the nation they have what it takes to be the face of Irelands modern man. They say, age is not a barrier once you are over 18; a good head of hair and your own teeth is preferable but not necessary! Follow Independent Westmeath on Facebook Last year Louis and Anne were joined on the judging panel by special guest couple Pippa OConnor and Brian Ormond. Bachelor finalists were whittled down from hundreds of entrants who had to undergo rigorous questioning from the celebrity judging panel, as well as perform a talent piece. Last year's winner Ciaran Clarke. In what was a tense, nail-biting final, 29-year-old Westmeath man Ciaran Clarke was crowned winner after impressing the judges and wowing the audience with his self-penned song which he performed on guitar and harmonica. Applications are now open for the 2024 competition. Along with the title of Westmeath Bachelor, the winner receives an all-inclusive holiday, a new wardrobe that would be the envy of James Bond himself and a cash donation to his chosen charity. For entry information, visit westmeathbachelorfestival.com. In other Westmeath Bachelor Festival weekend news, Friday, August 2, will also see The Bachelor Barndance /Hoedown with the best of Ireland's American country jive on show, along with vintage USA cars, rodeo bulls, a Garth Brooks tribute act and more. The weekends festivities will culminate with the Wolfe Tones in concert. As part of their 60th Anniversary tour, the legends will play The Bachelor Dome tent in Blackhall car park, Mullingar, with support from Gary O'Brien, Fieldsy, Some Ones Sons and George Murphy & the Rising Sons. Wolfe Tones tickets are on sale from Friday, February 23, at 9 a.m. A Garda investigation is under way after a local authority in the midlands was hit by a 500,000 fraud. Westmeath County Council has confirmed it learned of the incident last Friday and immediately contacted gardai. Follow Independent Westmeath on Facebook Its believed the incident, which has been described as a payment fraud took place in January and was initiated by a third party. The total sum lost by the council is understood to be approximately 515,000 and involved payments to a single supplier. Westmeath County Council chief executive Barry Kehoe is expected to make a public statement on the matter today. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 22nd February 2024 The Irish Independent has also learned the council has engaged specialist advisers through Irish Public Bodies (IPB), the body that insures local authorities in the wake of the revelations. Leas Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Louise Heavin, confirmed elected members were informed of the alleged fraud via email on Wednesday night. The current Mayor of Athlone-Moate Municipal District declined to comment any further because the matter was now the subject of a full garda investigation. In a statement, Westmeath County Council confirmed the incident and said the issue was now the subject of a full garda investigation. "Westmeath County Council confirms that it has recently been the subject of a payment fraud (initiated by a third-party) in the amount of approximately 515,000, read the statement. As soon as the council became aware of the mater, it immediately contacted An Garda Siochana and engaged the services of specialist advisers. The issue is currently under investigation by An Garda Siochana and the Council is cooperating fully with that investigation. "When investigations are complete, a further statement will issue. The Irish Independent has contacted the Garda Press Office for comment. Just over six months after the establishment of cardiac care services in Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre (EPCC) specialists say 80 per cent of those with chronic disease will soon be able to receive care in their local community. An open day at the EPCC showcased work being carried out in this field, such as the Integrated Community Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme and Lipid Clinic, which are both now available in Wexford community healthcare services. The Integrated Cardiology service sees patients referred by their GP/practice nurse to a service which includes a consultant/nurse specialist-led cardiology clinic and newly launched Community Cardiac Rehabilitation programme. The Cardiac Rehabilitation programme, now operational in the Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre, is an expansion of the service originally established in Wexford General Hospital in the early 1990s. These new services are led by Dr. Cyril James (Consultant Cardiologist/Integrated Care, Wexford General Hospital/South East Community Healthcare), with additional clinical services provided by his team of clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapist and clinical psychologist further enhancing access to essential cardiac services throughout Co Wexford. Speaking at the open day, Integrated Cardio-Vascular Specialist Nurse Liz Murphy said, With the support of the HSE, Wexford General Hospital, South East Community Healthcare and GP practices locally, the opening of the Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre last year has seen the establishment of a Chronic Disease Management Hub here. "We are well under way in Co. Wexford in meeting the aim set for 80 per cent of those living with chronic disease be it respiratory, cardio or diabetes to receive care in the community. With our colleagues in the Ireland East Hospital Group, South East Community Healthcare has been progressing a cardiovascular service for GPs and linking in the expertise of the cardiac care services based in Wexford General Hospitals unit in Ely Hospital. As detailed here today by Dr. Quigley, we are also delighted to welcome retired Consultant Physician Dr. McKiernan to the Open Day. Dr. McKiernan was instrumental in establishing the first cardiac care unit at Wexford General Hospital (WGH) 30 years ago in 1994. "We are also delighted to be joined by John Quinn and Sean Lacey, who were active in the initial fundraising efforts for its development by the Friends of Wexford Cardiac Care Unit, and by former Director of Nursing in WGH Margaret Curran who managed the unit. Patricia Hackett (Operations Manager Clinical Services, Wexford General Hospital) is also here to demonstrate Wexford General Hospitals commitment to the exciting developments in integrated care. Community Engagement Manager with SSE Renewables Deirdre Keogh pictured with Senator Malcolm Byrne, Cllr Joe Sullivan, District Manager of the Gorey and Kilmuckridge Minicipal District Philip Knight and members of the Ballymoney Kildermot Community Group at the unveiling of a plaque at the Ballymoney winch. The plaque highlights the history and challenges faced by fishers in hauling their vessels from the shoreline onto land. Ballymoney Kildermot Community Group was supported by Wexford County Council and SSE Renewables Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 Sponsorship Fund to complete this project. The original winch was donated by Arthur Martin and was located on the headlands overlooking the north beach in the mid 1900s. The winch was used by fishers and sea farers to haul their boats and yawls from the shoreline back onto the beach particularly during the herring season, and provided welcome mechanical support after their long hours spent at sea. "Whilst the original winch still stands, it fell into disrepair and regrettably could not be refurbished so a decision was taken to seek a replica, said Danny OConnor, a representative of Ballymoney Kildermot Community Group. The replica winch was sourced in Wexford and restored by a local engineer. It was originally mounted in July 2023 at the entrance to the south beach near the shop. To this day, the original winch still sits on the bank above the north beach in Ballymoney. The original winch was small and hand operated. It was brought from Dublin by Jack Rickerby and placed there in 1962. Jacks son in-law Ken Ward recently spoke about the history behind the winch at the Ballymoney Community Group AGM on Sunday, February 11. "We are delighted to officially unveil the plaque and acknowledge our appreciation to Wexford County Council and to SSE Renewables for its donation toward furthering this project. We sincerely hope that visitors and locals will pause to take a few minutes to read the plaque, view the winch and remember the bygone days of our local maritime history, said Danny. Community Engagement Manager, SSE Renewables Deirdre Keogh said they are delighted to see the installation of the commemorative plaque. SSE Renewables Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 Sponsorship Fund has supported a number of maritime activities and projects along the development site coastline in the past. "This project had particular appeal as it aligned so well with our fund criteria to support projects that are engaged in enjoying or preserving the marine environment and its local heritage. The work undertaken by volunteer members of the Ballymoney Kildermot Community Group in seeing the project through to today is to be commended. "We also wish to extend our thanks to Wexford County Council for its work and support on the winch project. On behalf of everyone at SSE Renewables, we trust that our support for the winch project and planting upgrades at the Ballymoney Crossroads, will benefit the community and tourists who visit the area, said Deirdre. Members of the Ballingly Joinery Syndicate during the celebrations at the National Lottery after collecting their winnings. Pic: Mac Innes Photography Members of the Ballingly Joinery Syndicate during the celebrations at the National Lottery after collecting their winnings. Pic: Mac Innes Photography Members of the Ballingly Joinery Syndicate during the celebrations at the National Lottery after collecting their winnings. Pic: Mac Innes Photography The group, who work together in Ballingly Joinery in Co Wexford, were thrilled to make their way to Dublin to collect their winnings from the February 3 draw after purchasing their winning ticket at Wallace Costcutters in Wellingtonbridge. The Ballingly Joinery Syndicate manager, Wayne ONeill, spoke about the excitement and disbelief that the Wexford winners felt when they heard about a big win in the area. After the draw that Saturday night, one of the syndicate members logged on to the National Lottery app and saw that the 1 million prize was won in Wellingtonbridge where we purchased our ticket. We knew there was a special promotion on that night and that a Raffle winner would definitely win the bigger prize so we were well and truly hopeful at that stage. Of course, I was quick to check our ticket after hearing that and I could see that we had the Raffle number but I wasnt sure if it was just the 500 that we won or the special Raffle prize of the additional 1 million. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details While a long weekend would usually be welcomed by all, the group found the extra day to be a bit of a burden that week. That particular weekend was a Bank Holiday which meant that it was Tuesday before I could confirm our win with the Claims team so to say it felt like the longest Bank Holiday weekend in history would be an understatement. I must have been first on the phone on Tuesday morning. As soon as I spoke to the guys in Claims and they gave me the news I had been hoping for, I was straight into our syndicate Whatsapp group to share the news. I think everyone was waiting in anticipation because the phone was hopping with calls and texts for days after. I thought I might have to leave the group or switch the phone off for a bit of peace! The group shared the good news with their Wexford community and one syndicate member had no choice but to join in the celebrations from a very special trip. The news was quick to get out to the community with there being so many of us in the syndicate. We were getting well wishes for days and days after. One of the members well and truly got her married life off to some start because she was actually on her honeymoon we won. While the rest of us were here celebrating together, she was seeing all of this through Whatsapp while living it up on holiday. What a time for a win! Were all absolutely thrilled and have different plans for what we would like to do. We have been living for the big event in Lotto HQ and handing over the all-important ticket which has been living in a safe for the past few weeks. Now the most pressing plan we have is to enjoy a celebration together to mark the occasion. Black History Gala 2024, a celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of a selection of local African-American professionals will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Dothan Country Club. Many of the honorees boast notable accomplishments such as being the first or only Black physician in their workspaces.In addition to those honorees Deborah Pearson, WOOF-FM Radio news director, and Reginald Jones, a local pastor and long-time WTVY news anchor are being recognized as community legends. The event, organized by Linda C. Garrett and Anita Dawkins Weatherington, and will be hosted and sponsored by former Dothan mayor Mike Schmitz.This will be the fifth annual Black History Gala in the Wiregrass. The committee chose to honor African-American physicians this year because of the collective value they bring to the communities where they live, work, and serve, said co-chair Linda Garrett. We want to bring them out of the shadows and shed a light of appreciation for the sacrifices they have made and the obstacles they have overcome to reach this pinnacle of success. The 25 honorees are physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and scientists. Some grew up right here in the Wiregrass area and others have relocated and established successful careers. Dr. Olawale Osunsanya got his medical degree from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria at the age of 22. He received his Internal Medicine training at Texas Tech University and Nephrology training at Virginia Commonwealth University. After 29 years as a doctor, Dr. Osunsanya has advice for young people pursuing a career in the medical field. The only limiting factor is your ambition and how much work youre willing to put in, said Dr. Osunsanya. Be ambitious. The sky is the limit. Dr. Osunsanya is a board-certified nephrologist, the current president of Flowers Hospital medical committee, the medical director of Wiregrass Kidney Center and Ozark DaVita dialysis clinic, and chairman of Dothan Hypertension Nephrology Associates. According to Massachusetts General Hospital, Black Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, but just 2.8 percent of physicians in this country are Black women. Dr. Jerlyn C. McCleod M.D. is a part of that 2.8 percent. Serving as an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She received her degrees from University of Illinois, College of Medicine (MD), Emory University for her Psych Residency and Child Psych Fellowship, and Howard University (BSPsychology). I am truly humbled, said Dr. McCleod. Black History Month is a time where I am much more accustomed to recognizing others than I am to being a history maker. It is extremely gratifying. Here is a list of the Black History Gala 2024 Honorees: Dr. Michelle Dandridge M.D., Family Dentist. Currently a general dentist and practicing owner of Dandridge Dental Family Dentistry in Dothan. Dr. Alicia Ward M.D., Family Medicine. Joined the Southeast Health Westgate Clinic, part of the Southeast Health Medical Group, which is the largest multispecialty group in the region. Jerlyn C. McCleod M.D., Child Psychiatrist. Currently she serves as the Medical Director of Southeast Alabama Youth Services Louisville Program, Diversion Center and the Boys and Girls Attention Group Homes. She is owner and founder of J.C. McCleod, MD Psychiatric, PLLC. She serves as a clinical faculty member for the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine supervising medical students. She also supervises nursing, counseling, and social work students in the field of psychiatry as a clinical preceptor. Dr. Danielle Tolbert M.D,. Internal Medicine. A board-certified Internal Medicine physician practicing at Southeast Health as a nocturnist. Dr. Latoya Torrence M.D., Obstetrician Gynecologist. Currently she works at Aventa Specialized Womens Care, where a passionate desire to provide the best care for women at all stages of life is practiced. Dr. Olawale Osunsanya M.D., Hypertension Nephrology. Dr. Osunsanya is currently the Chairman of Dothan Hypertension Nephrology Associates. Dr. Nowoghomwenma Ibie M.D., Nephrologist. Currently he practicing in Dothan and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System-Montgomery and Flowers Hospital. Dr. Olusina M. Akinduro M.D., Internal Medicine, Worked with the Southern Clinic, Dothan. Dr. Kevin Brown M.D., Internal Medicine. Currently works within the Southeast Health Enterprise Clinic. Dr. Yusef Williams M.D., Primary Care Doctor. Currently practicing at Flowers Medical Group. Dr. Elisha Collins M.D., Surgeon/ Urgent Care. Currently oversees Physicians for American Family Care Urgent Care Clinic. Dr. Esiri Esin, M.D., Psychiatry. His expertise extends to the management of acute suicidal patients, offering psychiatric care to several nursing homes in the Wiregrass area of Alabama, and continuously contributing to the field through the treatment of a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders and conditions. Dr. Shawn Watts M.D., General Surgery. Currently she serves as the Department Chair of Surgery at Dale Medical Center in Ozark. Dr. Monique R. Trice M.D., Dentist. Currently works for the United States Army Dental Clinic Command at Fort Novosel. Dr. Jawaunna T. Blackmon M.D., Hematology Oncologist, loves being back in the Wiregrass. Dr. Lamesa Danzey, Chiropractic. Currently a wellness practitioner specializing in Chiropractic Care. Dr. Aristotle Kirkland MSPT/DPT, Physical Therapy. Dr. Kirkland is an entrepreneur and self-employed Physical Therapist who loves treating patients with musculoskeletal and neuromuscular problems as well as post-surgical procedure treatments. Dr. Leona Graham M.D., Psychiatric Services. Currently works full-time with the North Florida South Georgia Veterans Health System serving veterans with mental health and substance use disorders. Dr. Russell D. Nichols, DMD. Dr. Nichols serves as a Board Member for Family Services, a member of Gideons International, and an active participant in the Alabama Dental Association. Anthony Tony Cook, Hypertension/Diabetes Research Scientist. Currently practices at the School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Temeka Buggs PMHNP-BC, FNP Nurse Practitioner. Currently employed at the Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic providing mental health services to patients across the lifespan. Tiffany Jazz Britt, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently working with the Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic. Jessica Jones, CRNP, Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Jones, founder and CEO of Modern Health Family Care Practice, stands as one of the top %1 of Nurse Practitioners in the State of Alabama, pioneering healthcare solutions in rural areas through her ownership and operation of a Primary Care Clinic. Chasity Cooper MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner. Currently, she is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at a nonprofit organization, Life Management Center of NW Florida. Dallarie C. Jamison, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner. She currently has private practice within Wiregrass Behavioral Group, for the last four years, and has been working with the Veterans Health Administration for the past two years. The owner of a house in Wexford has come into conflict with the planning authorities over wanting to get rid of the thatched roof on her house because insurance companies will not provide cover for the property. Maeve Dunne claims she is facing years of stress and trauma on the issue after Wexford County Council rejected her application to replace the thatched roof on her home at Ard na Ba in Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford with one of natural slate. The local authority refused Ms Dunne planning permission for the proposed change of roof material because council planners claimed it would have a significant impact on the visual appearance and special character of Kilmore Quay given the houses location at the entrance to the seaside village. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The council also claimed allowing the removal of thatched roofs from contemporary dwellings would set a precedent that would have a detrimental effect on the character and future development of Kilmore Quay. In an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, Ms Dunne said the principal reason why she was seeking to change the material of her roof was due to her inability to get the property insured. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 22nd February 2024 Ms Dunne said she had unsuccessfully tried to get insurance cover for her home since she has used her entire savings to buy it in 2020 at a time when she considered its thatched roof a key attraction of the property. The Dublin woman claimed she was assured by an auctioneer that there would be no issue with getting insurance cover. She said she had not taken the decision to change the roof material lightly as the proposed works were massively expensive. She estimated the construction work would cost in excess of 20,000 together with the process of planning applications which had already cost her more than 1,500. Consultants for Ms Dunne told An Bord Pleanala that the decision has been taken due to the absolute unavailability of insurance options. They claim that she had contacted every insurance company that she could find as well as using an insurance broker to seek policies but could find none. It is not a case that the insurance is too expensive but that policies are not available whatsoever, they added. Ms Dunne pointed out that a newspaper article published last year had highlighted how approximately half of all owners of thatched properties are without insurance cover. In her appeal, she also highlighted how a planning report by Wexford County Council on her application had recommended planning permission should be granted as the thatched roof was on a modern building and such properties were not genuine historical thatched cottages. However, a senior planner in the council overruled the recommendation and stated that he did not accept that only older buildings should be thatched. He added that the use of thatch as a building material at both the historic core and entrance to Kilmore Quay needs to be enhanced. Consultants for Ms Dunne claim the refusal of her application is based on a personal opinion given the other planner had found the change of roof material was considered to comply with the Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028. They claim the requirement on their client to retain a thatch roof is onerous in the extreme and the councils position is unreasonable. They argue that Ms Dunnes house is not located in an architectural conservation area nor is it a protected structure, while it does not form part of the historic spine of thatched houses in Kilmore Quay. The consultants also pointed out that a mixture of building types add to the charm of Kilmore Quay with a patchwork of sympathetic roof materials including both thatch and slate being a central component of the villages unique character. In a letter seeking help on the issue from various Government ministers last year, Ms Dunne wrote: I have worked hard all my life, paid my taxes and I am now facing years of stress and trauma all because I cant get insurance. She claimed a report by the Department of Housing on insurance last year was just a whitewash with no real investigation into the way insurance is regulated in this country. The report surveyed the views of around 480 owners of thatched properties in the Republic. A ruling by An Bord Pleanala on Ms Dunnes appeal is due by mid-June. Wexford County Councils Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 was officially adopted by the members at last weeks monthly meeting. County Councils across Ireland were tasked by Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan to create a plan that laid out specific actions they would be taking to assist climate objectives. A lengthy document, Wexfords plan consists of 133 actions listed in areas such as governance and leadership, built environment and transport, natural environment and green infrastructure, communities, resilience and transition and sustainability and resource management. Director of Services Carolyne Godkin said: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021 required Wexford County Council to produce a Climate Action Plan. "This plan incorporates actions that will aid both Wexford County Council and the people of County Wexford to contribute to reducing our Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by the required 51% by 2030. Cllr Mary Farrell, chair of the Climate Change, Biodiversity & Environment Strategic Policy Committee, added: This Climate Action Plan will allow County Wexford to transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Speaking at the February meeting, she also added that the 133 actions listed would help us to prepare for the impact of climate change and mitigate in a range of areas. Welcoming the plan, Fine Gael Cllr Jim Moore worried about funding. "What happens the action plan now in terms of the structuring of funds? he asked. Where will we be in the pecking order when it comes to accessing resources and funds?" "Are we just now into the melting pot with all other local authorities? Because we have 260km of coastline in Wexford, a lot of it at risk, and it would be ludicrous to think we can come up with a costal management plan without resources. Its the most vulnerable coastline between Cork and Dublin. Aontu councillor Jim Codd agreed. "We can create all the plans we like, but until we get adequate funding to clear the gripes and clean out the ditches, were at nothing. Any kind of wet day is flooding our roads now. We need to come up with something tangible. A huge amount of money needs to be invested in rock armour around our coast. "Broad strokes like this plan are no good. We need specifics. Meanwhile, Enniscorthy councillor Cathal Byrne was frustrated to see an image of the cathedral town feature prominently in the document. "I see the front of the draft plan has an image of Enniscorthy underwater in it, he said. Its a big regret that in the past four and a half years, the Enniscorthy Flood Relief plan has still not been passed. "Looking at the duration of this plan from 2024 to 2029, people in Enniscorthy cant wait that long for flooding to be addressed. His Enniscorthy colleague Cllr Jackser Owens agreed, summing up: This is going on longer than Coronation Street! Addressing the views of the members, outgoing Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Tom Enright said that the plan will most definitely help the local authority to attract government funding. "It will help in terms of funding for active travel, flood relief, coastal protection and also with things like upgrading our fleet and buildings, he said. The members unanimously voted to adopt the plan, which will be published on the Wexford County Council website on March 12. Wexford councillor and hurling legend Garry Laffan distanced himself from his colleague's comments around matchday arrangements at Wexford Park. Wexford councillor and a member of Wexfords All-Ireland winning team of 96 Garry Laffan has moved to distance himself from comments made by his Fianna Fail colleague Joe Sullivan in relation to matchday arrangements at Wexford Park. There were a few raised eyebrows around the chamber at the last meeting of Wexford County Council as Cllr Sullivan criticised stewards, or the welcome to Wexford brigade as he branded them, and the closing off of various roads and housing estates around Wexford Park on matchdays. An Offaly native, Cllr Sullivan had travelled down to watch his native county taking on Wexford in an Allianz League clash. A man with a large amount of experience of Wexford Park, Cllr Garry Laffan had reflected on his colleagues comments and wished to raise them at the February meeting of the Wexford Borough District. "I just wanted to raise the topic of parking and traffic management around Wexford Park again, he said. A colleague of mine highlighted it last week and I dont want to be associated with any of those remarks, particularly with me being the county board representatives for Glynn Barntown (GAA Club). "I think the parking situation has been working very well up at the park. The people in the estates are entitled not to be overrun with traffic on matchdays. "Ive had no complaints about this for years. Maybe the councillor involved hasnt been down in the park for a while, I dont know. Cllr Sullivan had had made the remarks at the previous weeks meeting of Wexford County Council. I was in at a match the other night when I was greeted by the welcome to Wexford brigade in their high-vis vests, he said. They had barriers right across all the housing estates. I was under the impression that only the council and the gardai can close a road? I dont believe a road closure was in place? What I want to know is do we supply barriers for illegal road closures? And if so, can this practice be stopped. The high-vis brigade seem to be busy closing off roads there anyway. Director of Services Eamonn Hore informed Cllr Sullivan that this was a long standing arrangement. These road closures were agreed as part of a management plant put in place for each game, he said. We assist Wexford GAA and An Garda Siochana with it. If we open up the likes of Corish Park and Beechlawn, residents cant get out of their houses. Image 1: L-R: Cllr. Tommy Annesley (Cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District), Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, Cllr. Gail Dunne (AILG President), Cllr. Aoife Flynn Kennedy (Cathaoirleach of Wicklow Co.Co), Emer O Gorman, Chief Executive Wicklow Co. Co. Declan Hayden, Stakeholder and Public Engagement Manager, Land Development Agency, speaking at the morning training session of the conference. The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) welcomed hundreds of councillors from across the country to Arklow as its annual training conference took place in the Arklow Bay Hotel. The conference, held over two-days on February 14 and 15, centred around the theme of The 21st Century Councillor in Irish Local Government, inspired by the recently launched research report commissioned by AILG from Maynooth University and the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD). It was the first time the annual training conference was ever held in Co Wicklow. The conference commenced with a distinguished panel of speakers, including AILG President and Wicklow County Council member, Cllr Gail Dunne, who praised the research report as a reflection of AILGs commitment to shedding light on the contemporary issues and trends in the work of councillors. Wicklow County Council CEO Emer OGorman emphasised the crucial relationship between elected members and council staff, underlining the pivotal role of councillors in effective executive functioning. Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy who, in considering some of the issues raised in the report, called on councillors to ensure they build a culture in their own chambers that is inclusive and welcoming, because, despite the erosion of the councillors remit, it remains in their power to make their councils safe spaces. Several important local government discussions took place throughout the training conference, which was delivered by the AILG, who provide tailored training and education programmes to the 949 city and county councillors across Ireland. Representatives from the Land Development Agency (LDA) engaged councillors on their initiatives concerning affordable and social housing. Noteworthy examples included the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, aimed at assisting the "squeezed middle" demographic seeking homeownership, and the LDA's comprehensive register of public lands for sustainable housing development. The conference concluded with targeted training sessions for councillors in anticipation of the upcoming local elections. Topics ranged from election expenditure limits to leveraging community radio for campaigning and utilising communication tools to amplify campaign messages in the lead-up to the June local elections. Minister Stephen Donnelly TD, Minister for Health, delivered the closing remarks to conclude the conference alongside AILG President Cllr. Dunne, recognising the invaluable research commissioned by AILG on councillors' roles and challenges. A transition year (TY) student from Bray has been re-elected as the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) Regional Officer in Wicklow, and will work together with his counterpart in Kildare to tackle issues affecting students within both counties. Jason Tamayo, a TY student from Woodbrook College, Bray, who has been involved in the Regional Officer Body (ROB) since 2023, will join Aoibhe Toft, a 5th year student from Cross and Passion College, in Kilcullen, County Kildare, after they were both elected as the ISSU Regional Officers for the Kildare-Wicklow region. The ISSU is the national representative body for second-level students and the officers were elected to the ROB by member schools from Kildare-Wicklow last November at the Regional Councils, in Liberty Hall, Dublin. They began their term on January 1, 2024 and will work together for the year ahead, alongside the Coiste Gno (CG), Monitoring & Advisory Committee (MAC), and Regional Officer colleagues, to attend events, consultations, lobbying governments and other events. While this is Aoibhes first term as a Regional Officers, it is Jasons second outing, and they are both eager to get started on issues affecting students within counties Kildare and Wicklow. Commenting on what he hopes to achieve as Regional Officer, Jason expressed how important the issue of discrimination was for him. The reason why I ran again for a second term was because I saw the issues that are being faced by students and I wanted to make a bigger difference than last term, Jason explained. I only completed a small portion of my regional project, which was mental health and the stress of exam years, and I wanted to do more than that. As part of the Asian community, I strongly believe that racism and discrimination is a major issue not only in my community but is a national issue and I hope to work alongside the Equality Officer to ensure that the discrimination is not a thing. Aoibhe echoed Jason's comments on the need for more awareness on equality. I ran for Regional Officer this year because I want to ensure that students in all areas are represented. I come from a rural village where I hadnt heard of ISSU until our school became a member, and so I want every student in Kildare and Wicklow to experience the benefits. "Over my time in school I have realised that as young people we face a huge problem with xenophobia, racism, and homophobia. During our term I hope to work with Officers for Welfare and Equality to create healthier, safer environments for our students. Throughout their tenure, the Regional Officers seek to work with local politicians, organisations, and councillors, as well as represent the over 10,000 second-level students in Kildare and Wicklow on a regional and national level. Jason and Aoibhe said they plan to make sure student voices are heard at the local level this year, to address subjects such as anti-bullying campaigns, discrimination within our local areas, free period products for all students and other issues that affect students at secondary level. They can be contacted at kildarewicklow@issu.ie Wicklow crafter Cathy Burke will showcase her work at the Collect 2024 international fair in London. Acclaimed Wicklow crafter Cathy Burke will showcase her stunning work at this years Collect 2024 festival in London as part of the Design & Crafts Council Irelands (DCCI) exhibition. A selection of Irelands master craftspeople will feature at Collect 2024, the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design, with 2024 marking the 20th year of Collect taking place at Somerset House in London, which will host the fair between March 1 and 3 this year. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, Design & Crafts Council Irelands (DCCI) exhibition features work by 23 Irish makers chosen from DCCIs Portfolio Critical Selection, who have participated in Collect over the last 20 years. Wicklow artist Cathy, who was previously a horticulturist, draws on her botanical experiences for sources of inspiration in her hand-built works using stoneware clay. This is Wicklow Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wicklow newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Each of her fabulous pieces is finished with multiple, complex and volatile glazes to emulate flaking rusts, mossy lichens or tidal flow, referencing a continual cycle of decay and renewal. An award-winning artist whose most recent accolades include the 2023 Golden Fleece Special Award, as well as exhibitions at the Royal Ulster Academy 142nd Annual Exhibition and Sculpture in Context 2023 at NBG Glasnevin, Cathy will display her Lecanora and Lecidea series at Collect 2024. DCCI, supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is working in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Craft NI and Crafts Council UK to bring this spectacular exhibition of work to London, a DCCI spokesperson said. The representation of Ireland on such a large international stage with a display of exemplary craftsmanship and cross-border and channel collaboration is a key objective of the Government of Irelands Global Ireland initiative. It is particularly meaningful at the start of March, the month when we encourage countries all over the world to celebrate all that is Irish. Global Ireland is a government initiative to double the scope and impact of Irelands global footprint in the period from 2018 to 2025, with a particular focus on promoting Irish arts, heritage and culture to new generations and new audiences across the world. Specialist galleries, dealers and collectives representing 400 artists will gather from across the globe at Collect. Design & Crafts Council Ireland exhibitors include ceramicists, Deirdre McLoughlin, Antonio Julio Lopez Castro, Alison Kay, Grainne Watts, Marcus O Mahony, Susan O'Byrne, Mandy Parslow and Mike Byrne, artist Mary Nagle and sculptors Nuala O'Donovan, Jennifer Hickey, Mary Conroy, and Alan Meredith. Textile maker Helen OShea will exhibit alongside designers Annemarie OSullivan and Sasha Sykes. Other makers include John Lee, a furniture designer, Jack Doherty, a porcelain designer, Roisin de Buitlear, a glassmaker, Angela OKelly, Stuart Cairns and silversmith Cara Murphy. On Friday, March 1, Irish exhibitors Jennifer Hickey and Mike Byrne are set to engage in an insightful exhibitor talk. Joining them on Saturday, March 2, will be Sasha Sykes and Jack Doherty. Commenting on the launch of Collect 2024, Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: Design & Crafts Council Ireland is delighted to work collaboratively with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Craft NI and Crafts Council UK to bring our finest master craftspeople to Collect in London for the 20th year. Collect provides Irish designers and makers an opportunity to celebrate the range of design and craft on an international level. Bringing them to Somerset House in London is the perfect opportunity to showcase their work to international collectors on a leading world stage. I would like to extend my congratulations to all the makers involved this year. Fr Brendan McCarron of the St Patricks Missionary Society was laid to rest in the society cemetery, having passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 11, in the St Patricks care unit in Kiltegan. Brendan was a wonderful missionary and blessed with a deep faith. He loved the people of Zambia and immersed himself in the language and culture of the people whom he served so generously. He had a special care for the sick and dying, both in Zambia and when he was at home in Castlederg, Co Tyrone. He had a great devotion to St Faustina and visited her convent in Poland and returned with a first-class relic, gifted to him by the Sisters, which he greatly treasured. Brendan remained close to his family and the people of Castlederg all his life. His family supported him throughout his missionary life and this loving bond was clearly seen during his final illness with their visits to Kiltegan, and they kept his spirits up right to the end. Brendans deep faith helped him to cope with his illness and diagnosis, which he accepted with fortitude and serenity. Brendan Francis McCarron was born in Castlederg, Co Tyrone on December 11, 1948, to Geoffrey and May McCarron. He was the fifth born in a family of five girls and two boys. He attended St Patricks Primary School Castlederg from 1952-61 and had his secondary education in Omagh CBS from 1961-66. Brendan joined the spiritual year in Kiltegan in September 1966 and proceeded to Douglas, Cork for his philosophy studies. From 1969 to 1973 he studied Theology in Kiltegan. He was ordained in 1973 in St Marys Church, Killamoate. After ordination Brendan was appointed to the archdiocese of Lusaka and was among the pioneering St Patricks missionaries in Zambia. He ministered in different parishes, beginning in Mpanshya. In 1986 he was in Chongwe and in 1990 was appointed to St Pauls parish. He was appointed as Society Coordinator in Lusaka in 1990 for six years. In 1995 he moved to the parish of Kabananana. In 1997 Brendan took a sabbatical. After completing his sabbatical, he was appointed to the promotion team in the UK and was based in East Molesey. He travelled around England and Wales promoting the work of the Society and sharing his missionary experience of working in Zambia. In 2006 he was reappointed back to Lusaka where he opened a new parish which he named St Faustinas. In 2012 Brendan returned to Ireland to be with his mother. His regular visits to Parkview House nursing home were a great source of comfort to all the people there. After his mothers death in 2015 he moved to our community in Leeson Park where he took an active part in the activities of the house. In 2023 his health began to decline, and he had to be admitted to hospital a few times. On January 18, he came to the Care Unit in Kiltegan where he was lovingly cared for by all the staff. On Sunday February 11, Brendan attended Mass in the company of his nieces and their husbands and enjoyed their company for the day. After they left, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died just before 9pm with five Society priests holding vigil at his bedside. It was the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Being a man so devoted to Our Lady and having suffered his own share of sickness, it was so appropriate and surely Gods way of granting Brendan a final gift. Brendan was predeceased by his parents, Geoffrey and May, his brother Billy and sister Lucia. He is deeply regretted by his sisters, Margaret, Marian, Eithne, Christina and his brother Anthony, his sister-in-law Margaret, his brothers-in-law Tim and Eugene, his nephews and nieces and their families, and by his Society family in Kiltegan. Former Colaiste Eoin Hacketstown student Ailbhe Maguire pictured with Ad Astra Academy Director, Professor Barbara Dooley, at the UCD Ad Astra Awards Ceremony. Former Colaiste Eoin Hacketstown student Ailbhe Maguire pictured with Colaiste Eoin Principal Alan Costello at the UCD Ad Astra Awards Ceremony. A Wicklow student who achieved the maximum 625 points in her Leaving Certificate has received the prestigious Ad Astra Academic Scholarship from UCD. Former Colaiste Eoin Hacketstown student Ailbhe Maguire was joined by her parents Johnny and Bronagh, and Colaiste Eoin Principal Alan Costello at a recent ceremony in UCDs OReilly Hall, where the high achiever was awarded the exclusive scholarship. After achieving 7 H1 marks in Irish, English, Mathematics, Home Economics, Biology, Art and Business and a distinction in the LCVP last year, Ailbhe credited her success to consistency and striking the right balance between study and extracurricular activities before declaring her desire to pursue a career in the sciences. The Ad Astra Academic Scholarship, which translates to 'To the Stars', has set Ailbhe on that path, with the leadership programme aimed at motivated students who can demonstrate high intellectual achievement and want to reach further through undertaking a challenging university programme and developing their leadership skillset. This is Wicklow Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wicklow newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Ailbhe will have the support of a dedicated mentor, who will have a close knowledge of her academic commitments and will provide guidance on how best to develop her potential, along with access to a series of seminars and workshops. Praising their former students outstanding achievement, a Colaiste Eoin spokesperson said: Ailbhe is a great source of inspiration for all the students of Colaiste Eoin. Ailbhe completed her leaving cert in Colaiste Eoin last year, achieving the maximum points possible. This is a remarkable accomplishment. Congratulations, Ailbhe, we are very proud of you. The Happy Pear, Glendalough and Djouce Mountain are just some of the locations namechecked as Netflix has released the trailer for Lindsay Lohan and Ed Speleers new movie, Irish Wish, which was shot on location around County Wicklow, including in Killruddery, Bray, as well as Lough Tay and will be on screens just in time for St Patricks Day. Lohan, whose family can trace their roots back to Italy and Ireland, jumped at the chance to explore this side of her heritage, she told the Netflix blog, Tudum. Irelands so beautiful, she said. Id never been, [but] my grandfathers from there. We stayed in this little town called Dalkey. The people are so nice, and the Guinness pies were amazing. Id often find myself with a morning to go off-trail running and discover some of the stunning countryside, co-star Ed Speleers added. Two of my favourite runs were Glendalough and running up Djouce Mountain, then heading back to the coast for a decent bit of grub at the excellent Happy Pear in Greystones. This is Wicklow Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wicklow newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The rest of the cast also took advantage of the films idyllic setting to do some sightseeing. That place [Wicklow] has the most epic views and vistas and history, Ayesha Curry remarked. Theres so much history there, and getting to explore that a little bit in between shoot days was really cool. It is the second of Lindsay Lohans collaborations with Netflix, the first being Falling for Christmas which released on the platform in November 2022. Irish Wish was shot on location in Wicklow in 2022, and also doubled up Temple Bar in Dublin for New York. Irish Wish follows Maddie (Lohan), who puts her feelings aside to be a bridesmaid at a wedding in Ireland when the love of her life gets engaged to her best-friend. Days before the pair are set to marry, Maddie makes a spontaneous wish for true love, only to wake up as the bride-to-be. With her dream seeming to come true, Maddie soon realizes that her real soulmate is someone else entirely. The film stars Lohan, Ed Speleers (You), Alexander Vlahos (Watchtower), Ayesha Curry (Gary Unmarried), Elizabeth Tan (Emily in Paris), Jacinta Mulcahy (Much Ado About Christmas), and Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman). Irish Wish was directed by Janeen Damian (Falling for Christmas, High Strung Free Dance) and will be released on Netflix, just ahead of St Patricks day, on March 15. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have said they are taking a break from Saturday Night Takeaway to spend some time with their families. McPartlin married Anne-Marie Corbett in 2021 while Donnelly shares two children, 5-year-old daughter Isla and 18-month-old Jack, with his wife Ali Astall. The award-winning presenting duo announced last year they would be stepping back from the show after the 20 series milestone as they said it seemed like the perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath. Speaking to Fault magazine, McPartlin said: Part of the reason were pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family. Weve both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit. It has been reported that McPartlin and Anne-Marie Corbett are expecting their first child together. Corbett also has two teenage daughters from her previous relationship. McPartlin and Donnelly have been working together for more than 30 years, starting out on teen drama Byker Grove. They launched Saturday Night Takeaway in 2002, with the show pausing for a period in 2009, before returning four years later in 2013. It has received multiple Bafta and National Television Awards (NTA), including presenting accolades for the Geordie duo. The show consists of a selection of comical games, participation from studio audience members or unsuspecting members of the public, with a musical or dance performance to finish. The pair are set to continue their working relationship with ITV, as hosts of popular shows including Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, Britains Got Talent and Limitless Win. Reflecting on their next moves, McPartlin said: We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now. Like I say, were turning 49, and what do we want to do next? Whats the next phase of our career? And weve got lots of ideas and lots of offers on the table, lots of options of things we can do. But its working on what we do next and where the next chapter begins. So thats what were gonna do when Saturday Night Takeaway is out of the way. Well sit down, take a bit of time, and reevaluate everything. Music mogul Simon Cowell is set to be the victim of McPartlin and Donnellys famous Undercover prank segment when the show returns on February 24. The popular feature sees the Geordie duo dress up in disguises in a bid to prank their famous friends. Ant & Decs Saturday Night Takeaway will return to ITV on February 24 at 7pm. Australia has launched its AI Sprint program, aimed at assisting startups and entrepreneurs in rapidly developing AI solutions to tackle pressing national issues. These include the cost of living, governance, supply chain resilience, human and environmental well-being, and workforce transformation. The AI Sprint is a collaborative effort between the National AI Centre (led by Australias national science agency, CSIRO), Stone & Chalk (Australias largest innovation community), and Google Cloud. Winners of the AI Sprint will receive $300,000 worth of research and development support from selected Australian research institutes, with second and third place recipients awarded $100,000 each. Additionally, winners will benefit from facilitation services provided by CSIROs SME Connect. Stone & Chalk will offer support services to help winners secure capital, customers, expertise, and talent for a successful business launch. The program spans three months and is designed to provide startups and entrepreneurs with resources, tools, and expert support to refine AI-powered ideas into demonstration-ready prototypes. Participants will be selected based on proposals aligned with the programs opportunity statements, with the first phase scheduled to begin in April 2024. Selected participants will progress to the second stage, receiving enhanced support and resources in preparation for a Demo Day, where prototypes will be presented to industry stakeholders. The partnership between Stone & Chalk, Google Cloud, and NAIC aims to nurture AI innovation and position Australia at the forefront of responsible AI advancement. The program offers access to expert guidance, infrastructure, and connections needed to create and launch AI-powered solutions. It commences on April 3, 2024, and culminates in a Demo Day in June. Winners will also receive research and development support valued at $500,000 from selected Australian research institutes. The AI Sprint is open to individuals and entities with an Australian Business Number (ABN), provided they meet certain criteria, including having a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and employing fewer than 20 full-time staff members. Participants will benefit from two stages of the program, including AI educational content, expert guidance, business mentoring, introductions to investor networks, and the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the Demo Day. Applications are open until March 21, 2024. The program aims to contribute to the growth of Australias AI industry and accelerate the nations sovereign AI capabilities. National AI Centre Director Stela Solar said Australias AI Sprint is central to the NAICs mission to create a thriving local AI industry and accelerate the nations sovereign AI capabilities. Australias AI Sprint offers our innovators the technological expertise and commercial savvy to create AI solutions with real impact for Australia. The initiative provides start-ups and entrepreneurs with the end-to-end support needed to refine their innovations, gain visibility, and bring their AI solutions to market. This is the springboard opportunity to transform AI concepts into real-world impact. CEO of Stone & Chalk Group, Chris Kirk, said by partnering with NAIC and Google Cloud, Australias AI Sprint has the unique ability to accelerate the long-term growth of AI in Australia. By uniting our organisations unique strengths, we have an unprecedented opportunity to cultivate world-class AI talent, drive innovation, and develop solutions that will benefit Australians in the digital age, Mr Kirk said. Australias AI Sprint is a game-changer that will significantly strengthen our nations AI ecosystem for the future. Applicants can access further details and apply here. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Claudia Winkleman at Victoria station in London during filming for the second series of Channel 4s The Piano (Lucy North/PA Wire) TV presenter Claudia Winkleman has been spotted filming at Victoria station ahead of the second series of Channel 4 programme The Piano. The 52-year-old, who hosts The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing, was dressed in an all-black outfit that matched her signature heavy fringe and eyeliner, as she took selfies with commuters and fans at the London railway station. On the first series of The Piano, Winkleman met talented pianists at train stations across the country, before they played to passers-by while the shows judges, pop star Mika and Chinese pianist Lang Lang, secretly watched on. Claudia Winkleman pictured filming the second series of Channel 4s The Piano at Victoria station in central London (Lucy North/PA) They also travelled to Londons Kings Cross St Pancras and stations in Leeds, Glasgow and Birmingham to choose a winner for each city. On Thursday, members of the public gathered around an elevated platform with a piano at Victoria, where Winkleman stood while surrounded by a camera crew. The first series culminated in a concert at the Royal Festival Hall featuring performances from Lang Lang, Mika and the four chosen finalists. Winkleman was spotted at the London station on an elevated platform with a piano, surrounded by a camera crew (Lucy North/PA) A visually impaired 13-year-old girl called Lucy won the competition, having impressed the judges with her rendition of Debussys Arabesque. A 2023 Christmas special also saw pianists from series one return to play festive numbers in front of commuters at Kings Cross. The programme has been extended from five episodes to seven for its second series, which is expected to air later this year. Elon Musk has backed calls by former UFC champion Conor McGregor to vote no-no in Irelands upcoming referendum on care and the definition of family. The owner of X, formerly Twitter, posted on his social media platform that Conor is right in reference to the Irish fighters position on the referenda, due to take place on March 8. On Tuesday, Mr McGregor posted Vote NO/NO! to his 10.4 million followers about the proposed constitutional change on care and the definition of the family. 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 An upcoming referendum proposes deleting Article 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the constitution, which make reference to a womans role and duties in the home, and replace it with a new article, 42B, that acknowledges family carers. The second referendum proposes amending Article 41 of the constitution to extend the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and include those based on durable relationships. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 22nd February 2024 It comes months after the tech billionaire backed Mr McGregor to run for president of Ireland, after the mixed martial arts fighter said he was considering a career change. On Wednesday, Mr Musk replied that would be epic, to a post calling for Mr McGregor to become the countrys next president. David Cameron has told Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, to his face that Russia murdered Alexei Navalvy but Lavrov refused to meet his gaze and instead looked at this phone. Britain's foreign secretary used a meeting at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro to confront the Russian representation about Mr Navalny Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic who was announced dead in the Arctic prison where he was serving a decades-long prison sentence last week. We must keep degrading Putins war machine EU agrees new sanctions against Russia Decision comes ahead of second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion and days after death of Alexei Navalny Vladimir Putin (Russian Presidential Press Service/AP) Samuel Petrequin Thu 22 Feb 2024 at 03:30 EU countries have agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia to target individuals and businesses suspected of assisting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, including Chinese companies. US President Joe Biden on Thursday met the wife and daughter of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who was killed last week, "to express his heartfelt condolences", the White House said. During the meeting in California, Biden expressed his admiration for Navalny's "extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone", the White House said in a statement. VinFast to break ground on $2B factory in India Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast plans to build a US$2 billion factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with groundbreaking scheduled for this Sunday. The company signed an MoU with the state government last month for building the plant in the port city of Thoothukudi. It will invest $500 million in the first phase of the project. The plant will help VinFast expand into India and other countries in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Last November Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of VinFasts parent company Vingroup, met with Indian entrepreneur Gautam Adani, who in 2022 was briefly the worlds third richest person, to discuss potential tie-ups. VinFast has also started hiring in India, where it is expected to create 3,000-3,500 jobs. The Tamil Nadu plant will have a capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year. It will help promote development of green transportation in India and help the country realize its goal of having EVs account for 30% of all newly registered private cars by 2030. VinFast has also announced plans to expand into Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East. It will invest a minimum of $1.2 billion in Indonesia with plans to distribute made-in-Vietnam vehicles and build an EV manufacturing plant with a capacity of 30,000 - 50,000 vehicles a year. GSM, Vuong's electric taxi company, also announced plans to invest $900 million in Indonesia. Since switching to EVs in 2022 VinFast has been making a wide range of electric SUVs, motorcycles and buses. US cop who killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula will not face criminal charges due to 'lack of evidence'. Photo Courtesy: Saloni vxrse X page US authorities on Wednesday (February 22, 2024) said the Seattle cop who stuck and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call will not face any criminal charges due to 'lack of evidence'. King County Prosecuting Attorney said in a statement as quoted by Kiro7: " It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office (PAO) to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt." Cop's remark triggered massive outrage The alleged remarks of an American cop over the death of an Indian student, Jaahnavi Kandula, revealed in a viral video, had triggered massive outrage. In a video, recovered from a body-worn camera of vice-president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Daniel Auderer, the cop reportedly said Kandula had little value and the city should write her kins a cheque. Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anywayShe had limited value, Auderer is heard talking about the accident in a call with the guild's president Mike Solan. He laughed several times after saying she is dead. The accused driver, Kevin Dave, reportedly was driving the car at 74 mph (119 kmph) on the way to a report of an overdose when he hit Kandula at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street. The student was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. Who was Jaahnavi Kandula? Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, an Indian student from Andhra Pradesh, who was studying in Northeast University. Photo courtesy: X/@INCIndia New Delhi/UNI: The Congress on Thursday accused the BJP government of "stealing its money from the banks" and imposing "financial terrorism" against the grand old party. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, party General Secretary K C Venugopal, along with General Secretary Communication Jairam Ramesh and Treasurer Ajay Maken, said, "The BJP government has unleashed financial terrorism against all the opposition parties, especially the Congress. "The BJP is trying to handicap the principle opposition party by stealing its money from the banks, and it is not an attack on the Congress but on democracy." He said, "According to the latest information from banks, the BJP has forced the banks to transfer the party's deposit of Rs 65.88 crore to the government accounts." "We got the money through crowdfunding, unlike the BJP. The money is from the ordinary party workers, IYC and NSUI. What is the BJP doing? It is stealing our money," Venugopal said. Calling it a ploy by the BJP government to stop the Congress, which has been getting stronger due to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said, "Just before the Parliament elections, the accounts of the principle opposition party, which is a law-abiding party, are being hijacked by the BJP." Venugopal said that in the history of India, where the Congress too has ruled for many years, such incidents have not happened. Adding to that, this was an attempt to shut the voice of the opposition. He also asked the BJP whether the party had paid Income Tax? And if not, then why is tax being collected from Congress? "We have gone to the tribunal. We are taking legal action, and we will also go to the people and expose the dictatorship attitude of the BJP," the party general secretary said. Meanwhile, Ajay Maken, while accusing the BJP government and Income Tax officials of stealing Rs 65.8 crore from Congress' accounts, said that the party has filed an application in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. But a day before the hearing, Income Tax officials went to the bank branches and collected Rs 65,8 crore through demand draft by threatening. He said political parties are exempt from Income tax as the money that comes to the party is to keep democracy alive in the country and is not any kind of income. He said the penalty imposed by the Income Tax Department was an attempt to break the Congress party financially so that "we are not able to contest elections". Jairam Ramesh said that the objective of the Modi government was to weaken the Congress party financially so that they would not be able to contest the election. Photo courtesy: Facebook/Arvind Kejriwal | UNI New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress have reached a primary agreement to divide electoral constituencies in Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Chandigarh, and Haryana ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election, media reports said. This development indicates progress for the struggling INDIA bloc, formed last year with the aim of defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The agreement, negotiated at Congress leader KC Venugopal's residence, is anticipated to be officially confirmed at 4 pm. However, the party has hinted that there are still some details to be ironed out. Earlier today, sources indicated that a deal for Delhi, where the AAP holds power, was nearing finalization. As per the agreement, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's party is set to contest four seats, while the Congress will nominate candidates for three seats. The report said citing sources that Congress and AAP have reached seat-sharing agreements for three BJP-ruled states and Chandigarh. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest two seats: Bharuch and Bhavnagar, currently held by the BJP's Mansukhbhai Vasava and Bharti Shiyal. The Congress will contest the sole Lok Sabha seat in Chandigarh, currently held by the BJP. According to the report, in Haryana, the AAP will field candidates in one seat. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had earlier announced Venzy Viegas as its candidate for the South Goa seat. However, they have decided to withdraw Viegas, who is the Benaulim MLA, and offer the seat to the Congress. The Congress candidate for this seat in the last election was Francisco Sardinha. It remains uncertain which party will contest the North Goa seat, currently held by the BJP, the NDTV report said. AAP and Congress have not negotiated on any seat in Punjab. In Uttar Pradesh, Congress has reached an understanding on 17 seats with the Samajwadi Party of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats, the report said. The deal comes after speculations that the two parties may end up without any seat-sharing deal. Manipur HC modified its order directing the state to include Meiteis in ST list (Photo courtesy: hcmimphal.nic.in) Imphal: The Manipur High Court Thursday revised its order from last year regarding the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribes list, which had sparked intense ethnic tensions in the northeastern state, media reports said. In the detailed order issued today, the court deleted its directive to the state to consider Meiteis for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list, a move that had upset the Kuki community, NDTV reported. Referencing a Supreme Court constitution bench order, the Manipur High Court stated in its decision that the process for inclusion and exclusion of tribes in the Scheduled list is outlined by the apex court, it said. The Supreme Court had emphasised that courts do not have the authority to modify, amend, or alter the ST list, as this responsibility lies with the Central government. Last year, the direction of the High Court was challenged by the Kuki community in the Supreme Court, prompting the top court to question the ruling. Photo courtesy: wikipedia.org New Delhi: Concerned at the quality of judgments being delivered by the non-judicial members of the tribunals and commissions, including the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), the Supreme Court has decided to lay down clear guidelines on the issue. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and KV Viswanathan while deliberating on the issue of whether tribunals/commissions across the country, like the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) should comprise a non-judicial member, who shall also be the presiding member, asked the Attorney General to examine the composition of various tribunals (or commissions, appellate Authorities, etc.) constituted under the Act. The court directed Attorney General R Venkataramani to examine the composition of various tribunals, commissions, appellate authorities, etc. constituted under Articles 323A and 323B of the constitution as well as statutes, and file a compilation regarding the composition of benches thereof, especially Judicial members. The Court also instructed the appellant's counsel to formulate issues in the meantime. The court said though some decisions in the past given by a technical member have been well-reasoned, "invariably", the quality of writing some orders was "extremely" poor. Justice Kant lamented the fact that the top court has to often hear appeals over decisions of various commissions/tribunals constituted only by a technical member. Justice Kant said that the judicial members of tribunals/commissions, with their judicially trained minds, are often sitting as junior members on the benches and not authoring decisions. In some instances, it was the chairpersons/presidents themselves who constituted the benches in a manner such that they were presided solely by non-judicial members. Justice Kant asked the AG why it should not be made mandatory for two-member benches to comprise at least one judicial member. Tribunals are a very effective alternative modicum of justice delivery and their orders ultimately land up before us...we have to see what kind of quality of order they are passing" Justice Kant further said wherever tribunal/commission benches are constituted by a single member, the same should be a judicial member. The AG told the court that a petition challenging the Tribunal Reforms Act (which deals with appointment of Tribunal/Commission Members) is pending for consideration by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court. He further mentioned that the same issue is also pending before the Delhi High Court. Distinguishing the statutory aspect of the matter from the practical internal management issues in Tribunals/Commissions, the AG said that whenever a statute provides for a Tribunal/Commission to be constituted in a particular manner, that provision governs the field. However, in certain statutes, such as the one under which NCDRC is constituted, there is no explicit provision saying whether the bench should comprise a Judicial or Technical Member (or how many). It is the President who constitutes the bench. The AG suggested that the statute may require a second look and sought time to come back with the government's response. At the same time, the AG highlighted how the issue of selection of Tribunal/Commission Members, which is being raised in various High Courts and even the Supreme Court, was giving rise to working management difficulties. Justice Viswanathan pointed out the matters on the jurisdiction issue and said, "Look at the jurisdiction that the National Commission is exercising...ordinarily it would have been suits, now they are hearing insurance claims, builder buyer disputes...there has to be a judicial component...the law has always been it is to be predominantly a judicially...a judicially trained mind not being there, how will they grapple with the issues?" Justice Kant asked, It is the determination and adjudication of the rights of the people or the litigant, which is predominantly the responsibility assigned under the conventional system to the Court...we are creating an alternative to the Court and in that alternate, if there is lack of a judicially trained mind in the adjudication, in the writing of the decision...particularly when a Single Bench is presided by a Technical Member and the appeal comes to us...the question is what kind of quality assistance we get out of such order?" The Bench said, look at a situation where a Bench of a State Commission, presided by a former Judge of a High Court, may pass a decision which is ultimately challenged before the National Commission. What will be the outcome if that appeal is heard and decided by a Technical Member of the National Commission? Justice Kant said, "If the statutory provision is silent, then definitely it requires to be interpreted or construed in a manner that there has to be a judicial member and it should be interpreted to save the faith and trust of the people, The judge said." The AG suggested that due to the huge pendency of cases and vacancies, there is an internal management issue and the same may be dealt with as such because there is no case of violation of the law. The appellant's counsel, referred to Section 58 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and contended that there is no question of a Single Member hearing the matter. Sub-section (2) of this Section provides, "The jurisdiction, powers, and authority of the National Commission may be exercised by Benches thereof and a Bench may be constituted by the President with one or more members as he may deem fit: The AG conceded and said that he understood the Court's concern for judicial presence in Benches of Tribunals/Commissions. Justice Kant commented "Litigants have their own opinion about the extent to which there is judicial infusion in the decision-making process...moreover, judgment writing is an art, and you can't learn in months...it takes life to learn the art of writing judgments" The matter is next listed for consideration on April 3. (With UNI inputs) Representative image of lions/ courtesy: Pixabay Kolkata/IBNS: The Calcutta High Court Thursday asked the West Bengal government to rename the lion "Akbar" and lioness "Sita", whose names caused controversy after both animals were kept in the same enclosure at Siliguri's Safari Park. The court made the direction while hearing a plea by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to change the name of the lioness who was recently transferred to West Bengal from Tripura, media reports said. The single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, in an oral direction, asked the state to avoid controversy and consider renaming the animals. "Will you name a lion after a Hindu deity, a Muslim prophet or Christian god or freedom fighter or nobel laureate? Generally anyone who is revered or respected by the people of our country?" Justice Bhattacharyya asked. The Additional Advocate General (AAG), representing West Bengal, told the court that the lions were named in Tripura and the state itself was already considering renaming the lions. The court also questioned the reasoning behind naming an animal after "a god, mythological hero, freedom fighter, or Nobel laureate" and asked why the state did not challenge the names given by Tripura. "You are a welfare state and it is a secular state. Why should you draw controversy by naming a lion after Sita and Akbar? This controversy should have been avoided. "Not only Sita, but I also don't support the naming of a lion Akbar. He was a very efficient and noble Mughal emperor. Very successful and secular Mughal emperor. If it is already named, the state authority should shun it and avoid it," Justice Bhattacharyya said. Image posted on LinkedIn by Akul Dhawan An 18-year-old Indian-American student, named Akul Dhawan, studying at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US, died last month after going missing for several hours, media reports said. The Champaign County Coroner's Office in Illinois this week said the Indian-American student died of hypothermia following "acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, which significantly contributed to his death." The student was found dead on Jan 20 after his body was found on the back porch of a building near the university campus in west Urbana in the US state of Illinois. There were signs of hypothermia when his body was recovered, however, the exact cause of death was under investigation by the campus police. According to reports, Akul and his friends went out for drinks on Jan 20. Around 11:30 at night, they decided to go to the Canopy Club - a venue close to the campus that they had visited before that night. However, he was denied entry by the staff of the club. He tried to enter the club "multiple times" but was repeatedly denied by staff," investigators said, adding that he also turned down two rideshare vehicles called for him, said reports. Illinois and much of the midwest experienced brutal cold and freezing temperatures during that period, with wind chills dipping between -20 to -30 degrees. Several calls were made to him that went unanswered and a friend contacted the campus police to search him. According to police, an officer looked for Dhawan by driving his car "at a walking pace" near the "likely path" he would have taken back to campus but could not locate him. The next morning, an employee of the university notified police and emergency medical services regarding "a man on the back porch of a building". Police said that he was "dead at the time he was found". A girl and her mother come to a police station in HCMC to report a child molestation case. Photo courtesy of lawyer Do Ngoc Thanh A New Zealander in HCMC has been accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl who is his friend's daughter. Police of Tan Binh District on Thursday summoned the New Zealand man, who lives in Binh Thanh District, to investigate him for allegedly molesting a girl, who returned to Vietnam with her family from the U.K. for Tet celebrations. The girl's family reported that on Feb. 11, their New Zealand friend came to their house to hang out, then traveled to the house of an acquaintance named Mai in Tan Binh District along with the girl and her father. While the adults were talking in the living room, the girl went to Mai's bedroom upstairs. Mai then came up to the bedroom with the girl. The New Zealand then followed them and talked with the girl in English. Mai thought the man was a close friend of the girl's father, so she left the girl alone with the man when she went to the kitchen for around five minutes. When Mai returned to the bedroom, she saw the man and the girl lying on the bed. The man was taking the girl's hand and putting it into his pants. Mai then immediately separated the two and informed the girl's parents about what happened. The girl later told her mother that the New Zealand man had done similar acts to her a few times in the past. When the father questioned the man about what happened, the man reportedly texted and admitted to his behaviors, adding that it was "nothing serious." The girl's family then enlisted the help of a lawyer to report the matter to the police. The highly anticipated sequel to DJ Tillu titledTillu Square is all set to be released on March 29, 2024. Ever since the trailer of the movie has been released, the Telugu film starring Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Anupama has amped up the excitement level of fans. Now, as per the latest buzz, the film's OTT rights have been sold for a whopping amount. Where to watch Tillu Square on OTT? X As per a report on 123Telugu.com, the OTT rights of Tillu Square have been sold to Netflix for Rs 35 crores. A statement from the platform earlier confirmed its release on Netflix. "These movies are scheduled to be available on Netflix this year after their theatrical exhibition, granting fans the opportunity to enjoy them in cinemas initially and then relive the magic of their favourite actors performances in the comfort of their homes, across the world," it read. When to watch Tillu Square on OTT? The movie will most likely be released on OTT two months after its theatrical release on March 29. It is expected to be available online around June. However, an official announcement on the same is awaited. The original film DJ Tillu was released in 2022. The movie was loved by the audience. So much so that Siddu's catchphrase "atluntadi manathoni" became popular. The original film was directed by Vimal Krishna. However, the sequel has been directed by Mallik Ram. The story of the sequel revolves around Siddu who falls in love again and is ready to put himself in danger for his romantic relationship. Just like everyone expected, he will find himself in trouble. Tillu Square was earlier supposed to be released in July 2023. However, its release was postponed to October and then delayed to 2024. apart from playing the lead role, Siddhu Joannalagadda has also worked on the script of the film. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Paparazzi spotted Poonam Pandey outside a temple, likely Mumbai's Sidhivinayak, in her first public appearance following the recent Instagram death hoax. Confirmation is pending on the temple location. Poonam Pandey's Surprise Temple Outing In her first interview after the whole death hoax saga, she said, "Aisa Jhooth Mai 1000 Baar Bolungi" (I will say such lies a thousand times) while also being sorry for her fans. In the interview, Poonam Pandey defended her stunt, emphasizing that it was for a good cause and shouldn't face such criticism. Poonam Pandey Death Hoax Explained On February 2nd, Poonam Pandey's team announced her demise on various social media platforms, citing cervical cancer as the cause. The news garnered sympathy from celebrities like Kangana Ranaut and TV stars. However, in a later video, Poonam disclosed that it was a stunt for a cervical cancer awareness campaign. Alive And Advocating for Cervical Cancer Awareness In a significant Instagram post, Poonam Pandey shared a video expressing her survival. She emphasised the preventability of cervical cancer, contrasting it with the unfortunate cases of other women who lost their lives due to a lack of knowledge about the disease. Public Backlash And Celebrity Criticism Celebrities, including Vivek Agnihotri, Ekta Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut, criticised Poonam Pandey's actions in the wake of the death hoax. Poonam Pandey Faces Defamation Lawsuit Poonam Panday/Instagram Poonam Pandey and Sam Bombay are reportedly facing a Rs 100 crore defamation lawsuit filed by Faizan Ansari. Ansari alleges that the couple staged the death to downplay the seriousness of her cancer and manipulate emotions, especially within the Bollywood industry. FIR Details Serious Allegations According to Pinkvilla, the FIR alleges that Poonam Pandey and Sam Bombay (filmmaker) collaborated to orchestrate her death, trivializing the severity of cancer. The lawsuit accuses them of exploiting the situation for personal gain and breaching the trust of millions. Poonam Pandey Addresses Backlash On Instagram Poonam pandey cervical cancer news - Instagram In response to the backlash, Poonam Pandey has again addressed the criticism in a recent Instagram post, reiterating her commitment to cervical cancer awareness. She hinted at feeling exploited by certain individuals, expressing her determination to support the cause despite the challenges. This series of events has sparked intense discussions surrounding Poonam Pandey's controversial actions and the ensuing legal repercussions. Holi 2024 in USA: Holi is not only celebrated in India but also worldwide including in America, where it is observed by some Indian-American communities and individuals with great pomp and enthusiasm. It is typically celebrated in the spring, usually in March, and involves people throwing coloured powders and water at each other to celebrate the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. In some cities with large Indian-American populations, such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, Holi events may be organised by local cultural organisations or temples, where people can participate in traditional dances, music, and food. Some universities and colleges with significant Indian student populations also host Holi celebrations on campus. Holi 2024 date in USA (America) As Holi becomes more popular in the United States, many people, including non-Indians, are participating in the colourful festivities across America. Most of the Holi celebrations are scheduled for the upcoming weekend, drawing in hundreds of attendees. In previous years, large-scale celebrations have taken place in Houston, Texas, and New York City, attracting thousands of people, including non-Hindu Americans. In 2024, the Holi festival will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 25 in the USA. Holi 2024 Celebration Date, USA Festival Date Holika Dahan Sunday, March 24, 2024 Happy Holi Monday, March 25, 2024 Is Holi 2024 a Public Holiday in the USA? Holi, a festival celebrated in India, is not a national holiday in the United States, but it is still a significant cultural event for many Indian Americans. The festival is known for its colourful celebrations and is celebrated by people of all religions and backgrounds. The date of Holi changes every year based on the Hindu calendar and usually falls in March. Holi History & Significance Holi, the festival of colours, is one of India's most vibrant and joyful celebrations. It takes place in the spring, usually in March, and is known as the "Festival of Love" and the "Festival of Colours." During Holi, people come together to forget their differences and celebrate the happiness of life. The origins of Holi can be traced back to ancient Hindu mythology. The festival is believed to have originated from the legend of Holika and Prahlad. According to the legend, Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was saved from the evil intentions of his father, Hiranyakashyap, by Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap's sister, Holika, had a boon that made her immune to fire. She tried to use this boon to kill Prahlad by tricking him into sitting on her lap while she sat in a burning fire. However, the fire did not harm Prahlad, and Holika was consumed by the flames. The triumph of good over evil is celebrated on the first day of Holi, known as Holika Dahan. Holi 2024 Dates and Time: FAQs When is Holi celebrated in 2024? Holi is celebrated on different dates each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2024, the festivities will take place on: Holika Dahan: Monday, March 24th, 2024 (evening), Rangwali Holi: Tuesday, March 25th, 2024 What is the significance of Holi? Holi celebrates multiple auspicious themes: Victory of good over evil: Symbolized by the burning of Holika, the evil sister of King Hiranyakashipu. Arrival of spring: Welcomes the end of winter and the beginning of a new season. Renewal and forgiveness: A time to mend relationships and start fresh. Equality and unity: Everyone plays with colors regardless of social status, fostering community spirit. What are the main events of Holi? Holika Dahan: Bonfires are lit in the evening to symbolize the burning of evil. People gather around to sing and offer prayers. Rangwali Holi: The "main event" where people throw colored powders (gulal) and water balloons at each other in a vibrant and joyful celebration. (Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.) For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. International Womens Day 2024: Annually, on March 8th, the global community commemorates International Women's Day (IWD). This designated day aims to heighten awareness about various issues concerning women's rights, encompassing topics such as gender equality, the right to abortion, and addressing violence and abuse against women. International Women's Day is a momentous occasion that celebrates the achievements and contributions of women worldwide. This day, marked annually on March 8th, serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the need to empower women in all spheres of life. The roots of International Women's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century, a time when women were advocating for their rights across the globe. The celebration has evolved over the years, encompassing a broad spectrum of issues related to women's rights and equality. Speech on International Womens Day 2024 The inaugural celebration of Women's Day can be attributed to the Socialist Party of America, who organised the event on February 28, 1909, in New York City. Initially named "National Woman's Day," the suggestion for this event came from the activist Theresa Malkiel. While some claims connect the day to a march by female garment workers in New York on March 8, 1857, scholars argue that this narrative is a myth fabricated to separate International Women's Day from its socialist origins. International Women's Day 2024: Theme The theme for International Womens Day 2024 is "Inspire inclusion." This means that when we appreciate and respect women from all different backgrounds like where they come from, how much money they have, and their beliefs about politics the world gets better for everyone. When women feel like they belong and are important, they feel stronger and more empowered. Speech on International Womens Day 2024 Every year, on March 8th, International Women's Day becomes a platform for various educational institutions, private organisations, and government sectors to celebrate and highlight the importance of women in every person's life. Numerous events are organised to commemorate this day, emphasising the significant contributions of women across different sectors. If you find yourself in need of inspiration for your Women's Day speech, here are some of the best International Women's Day speeches in English tailored for students. International Women's Day is a momentous occasion that celebrates the achievements and contributions of women worldwide. This day, marked annually on March 8th, serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the need to empower women in all spheres of life. How to Write an Impressive Speech for International Womens Day 2024? Before stepping onto the stage to deliver a speech on International Womens Day 2023, students are encouraged to take a moment to relax and reflect on compelling points that will captivate the entire audience. This significant occasion warrants a thoughtful approach, and incorporating inspirational quotes throughout the speech can add depth and resonance to the message. To begin the speech, express gratitude for the opportunity to address the audience, extending warm greetings to dignitaries, teachers, and fellow students present. Acknowledging the collective presence creates a positive atmosphere and establishes a connection with the audience from the start. In crafting the speech, it is imperative to keep it suitable in length, ensuring it does not fatigue the audience. The content should be pertinent, brief, unambiguous, and devoid of unnecessary fillers. Each point made should contribute meaningfully to the overall message, keeping the audience engaged and attentive. As the final moments approach, take the time to revise the speech meticulously. Carefully read through the content, making necessary adjustments to enhance clarity and coherence. The speech should only be considered finalised after a thorough and careful review, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with the intended message. Last but not least, practice is key. Before delivering the speech, invest time in practicing extensively to build confidence. Rehearse the delivery, paying attention to tone, pace, and gestures. Projecting confidence is essential for an impactful presentation. Through meticulous preparation and a confident delivery, students can truly make a meaningful contribution to the celebration of International Womens Day. Womens Day 2024: 1 minute Speech Good morning/afternoon everyone, Today, on International Women's Day, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history and around the world. From scientists and artists to doctors and teachers, women are shaping our present and building our future. The theme for this year, "Inspire Inclusion," reminds us of the importance of creating a world where all women, regardless of background or identity, have the opportunity to reach their full potential. This means advocating for equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. It means challenging harmful stereotypes and dismantling barriers that hinder women's progress. Let us not only celebrate women today, but continue to stand alongside them every day, supporting their voices and amplifying their efforts. Together, we can create a world where all women feel empowered, valued, and included. Happy Women's Day! Short International Womens Day 2024 Speech in English Respected Sir/Madam, esteemed guests, and my fellow students, On this International Womens Day 2024, let us unite to celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of women around the world. It's a day to honour their resilience, strength, and unwavering spirit. In a world striving for equality, let us reflect on the progress made and the road ahead. Today is not just about acknowledging women; it's about advocating for a future where every woman has equal opportunities and rights. As we commemorate this day, let us pledge to break societal norms, challenge stereotypes, and empower each other. The potential of a society is truly unleashed when women are given the platform to shine. Lets stand together, hand in hand, to create a world that recognises and values the indispensable role of women. Happy International Womens Day to all, as we continue our journey towards a more inclusive and equitable tomorrow. Thank you. Happy Women's Day! 500 Words Essay On Womens Day 2024 "A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult." - Melinda Gates Distinguished professors, esteemed Chief Guest, and my dear friends, a warm welcome to all. It is an honour to deliver a brief yet inspiring speech on this momentous occasion of Women's Day. As we gather on March 8th, joining people worldwide, we pay tribute to the remarkable achievements of women across various fields. In the contemporary world, women showcase their prowess in every facet of life, demonstrating that they are equally capable as their male counterparts. The essence of International Women's Day lies in advocating for the fundamental principle that individuals of all genders deserve equal treatment. The historical context of Women's Day serves as a reminder of the multifaceted roles women play in a society historically dominated by men. This global observance seeks to reshape perceptions and contribute positively to our collective mindset. Traditionally, women were confined to domestic responsibilities, with societal norms dictating limited roles for them. Such notions deterred women from exploring opportunities beyond the household. International Women's Day challenges these stereotypes and promotes inclusivity. Despite progress, data reveals persistent gender disparities, with women facing discrimination and unequal access to education. Men often wield decision-making power, influencing critical aspects such as abortion rights, and gender-based pay gaps persist. It is crucial to address these issues openly and globally. Shockingly, four out of every five cases of harassment target women, particularly leaving them vulnerable to domestic abuse and sexual assault. Daily, thousands of girls are forced into child marriages, and some fall victim to illegal trafficking and gender-based violence. In acknowledging these challenges, Women's Day becomes not just a celebration but a call to action. It urges us to engage in meaningful conversations, set agendas, and demand global attention to issues that affect women universally. On this International Women's Day, let us collectively commit to fostering a world where every woman's voice is heard, respected, and celebrated. Together, we can pave the way for a future where women stand as equals in every aspect of life. Thank you. Best 2 Minute Speech For Women's Day Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and cherished friends, I stand before you today with a heart full of admiration and respect as we commemorate International Women's Day. In these brief two minutes, let's reflect on the profound impact of women throughout history and acknowledge the strides we've made toward gender equality. International Women's Day is not just a day; it's a testament to the resilience, strength, and indomitable spirit of women across the globe. It's a day to celebrate achievements, amplify voices, and recognise the crucial role women play in shaping our world. As we embrace this occasion, let's remember the trailblasers who defied societal norms, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for generations to come. From suffragettes advocating for the right to vote to modern-day leaders breaking barriers, women continue to be architects of change. But our celebration is not without acknowledging the challenges that persist. Gender disparities, discrimination, and violence against women still mar our society. International Women's Day serves as a call to action, urging us to collectively address these issues and strive for a more equitable world. In every sectorbe it science, arts, politics, or businesswomen have showcased brilliance and resilience. Their contributions are not just a testament to their capabilities but a reminder that diversity strengthens us all. Empowering women isn't just a moral imperative; it's a strategic one for the progress of humanity. So, as we honour this day, let's not only celebrate the women around us but also commit to fostering an environment where every woman's potential can flourish. Let's challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and ensure that the coming generations inherit a world of true equality. In these two minutes, let's reiterate our commitment to championing women's rights, because when we empower women, we uplift society as a whole. Happy International Women's Day, and may we continue this journey towards a more inclusive and equitable future. Thank you! 10-Line Speech on International Womens Day Today, we celebrate the power, resilience, and achievements of women around the world! From scientists to artists, entrepreneurs to mothers, women shape our societies in countless ways. Yet, gender inequality persists, holding women back from reaching their full potential. This year's theme, "Inspire Inclusion," calls for action to empower women in every field. Let's champion education for girls, equal pay for equal work, and safe spaces for all. Support women-owned businesses, amplify their voices, and challenge biased norms. Each of us, regardless of gender, can play a role in dismantling barriers. Let's celebrate women not just today, but every day, by fostering a more inclusive world. Together, we can build a future where women thrive and contribute their unique gifts fully. This International Women's Day, let's commit to action, inspiration, and change! Happy Women's Day 2024 Wishes It's Women's day! Feel special and unique on the top of the world!. On this lovely occasion, to honour all the beautiful and powerful women in your life, here are some wishes and messages that you can share with your girlfriend, wife, mother, sister and friend. This day belongs to you. I wish you success and courage as you go through life. Greetings for International Women's Day. Without a powerful ally like "woman" at every stage of life, from maternity to marriage, from sister to daughter, this life would not exist. Cheers to Women's Day! Happy Women's Day to all the incredible women! Shine on.... Not just today but everyday! Women are always a source of inspiration for the family and the society. Happy Women's Day to you! International Women's Day 2024: FAQs Why is International Women's Day celebrated? International Women's Day is celebrated to honour the achievements and contributions of women throughout history and advocate for gender equality. How can students actively participate in Women's Day celebrations? Students can actively participate by organising events, discussions, and awareness campaigns within their schools and communities. What is the significance of addressing challenges in a Women's Day speech? Addressing challenges highlights the importance of acknowledging and working towards overcoming gender disparities, fostering a sense of responsibility among the audience. How can parents support Women's Day education at home? Parents can engage in conversations with their children, share stories of influential women, and promote a gender-neutral environment at home. What long-term impact can Women's Day celebrations in schools have on students? Women's Day celebrations in schools can have a long-term impact by shaping students' perspectives, fostering empathy, and inspiring them to contribute towards creating a more inclusive society. Header Image: Shutterstock.com For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Lathmar Holi 2024: Holi is one of the biggest Hindu festivals celebrated in India. It is the festival of colours that brings happiness and joy to the lives of people. Though it is widely celebrated in North India, some states celebrate Holi with great pomp and show, and this makes it unique. Barsana, located in Mathura, is renowned for its vibrant celebration of 'Lathmar Holi.' This annual event draws thousands of devotees and tourists to the town, creating a lively and colourful spectacle that pays homage to the divine couple, Radha and Krishna. This year the Barsana Lathmar Holi would be on March 18, but what makes it stand out? Lets check it here. 'Lathmar Holi' is a unique and joyous festival that holds deep cultural significance. The name itself, "Lathmar," translates to "hitting with sticks," and this lively celebration involves good-natured playfulness where women playfully chase and hit men with sticks. The tradition is rooted in the legendary love story of Radha and Krishna. Holi 2024 Schedule Dates in Mathura, Vrindavan, And Barsana Why is Lathmar Holi celebrated? The festival is said to be a recreation of a famous Hindu legend, according to which, Lord Krishna (who hailed from Nandgaon village) visited his beloved Radha's town, Barsana. If legend is to be believed, Krishna teased Radha and her friends, who in turn responded by taking offence at his advances and driving him out of Barsana. Keeping in tune with the legend, the men from Nandgaon visit the town of Barsana every year, only to be greeted by sticks (aka lathi) of the women there. The ladies hurl sticks at the men, who try to shield themselves as much as they can. The unlucky ones are captured by the enthusiastic women who then, make the men wear female clothing and dance in public. The festivities take place at the sprawling campus of the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, which is said to be the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Radha. The Lathmar Holi festivities last for over a week, where the participants dance, sing and immerse themselves in colour alongside the occasional consumption of thandai--a traditional drink synonymous with the festival of Holi. Lathmar Holi 2024: History & Significance Not just in Barsana, Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Nandgaon in Rajasthan as well. The towns of Barsana and Nandgaon are popularly known as the towns of Radha and Krishna. Both these towns are all set to witness the drench of womenfolk with colours and women wielding batons playfully hitting men to drive them away. Holi in Barsana virtually is a repeat of Holi representing the 'Dwaapar' age with menfolk trying to drench womenfolk with colours and women preventing them through baton attacks. The men protect themselves by carrying leather shields, says a priest of Ladli temple in Barsana. There are several legends associated with the celebration of Lathmar Holi. One such popular legend is that when Lord Krishna visited Barsana to shower colours on his beloved Radha and her friends, they playfully hit him with sticks across the town. Since then, Lathmar Holi is played across the town. What is Rang Panchami? Ranga Panchami is a festival of colours, just like Holi, but celebrated in some parts of India only. It's the day when we celebrate the fundamental component of the universe, according to spirituality. The universe is huge but it is made up of the smallest particle as science has already proved in the past. In science, we call these particles atoms and molecules but as per Hindu beliefs, the universe is made up of three gunas, namely, Sattwa, Raja, and Tama. Rang Panchami is the victory of Raja Tama. This day reminds us of the basic component and lives that have formed everything. Lathmar Holi 2024: FAQs Where is Barsana Lathmar Holi celebrated? Barsana Lathmar Holi is celebrated in the towns of Barsana and Nandgaon, which are located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Barsana is known as the "Land of Radha" and Nandgaon is known as the "Land of Krishna." What is the significance of Barsana Lathmar Holi? Barsana Lathmar Holi is a celebration of the love between Radha and Krishna. It is also a celebration of the strength and power of women. The festival is a way for women to express their playful side and to show that they are not afraid to stand up for themselves. How can I get to Barsana and Nandgaon? Barsana and Nandgaon are located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The nearest airport is Agra Airport, which is located about 40 kilometers away. You can also take a train to Mathura Junction and then take a taxi or bus to Barsana or Nandgaon. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. An adrenaline-fueled pursuit unfolded dramatically on the highways of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, as police engaged in a high-speed chase with a fleeing car, captured in a startling video that has since surfaced online. The video quickly went viral on social media, amassing thousands of views. Police received a tip-off about a white Hyundai i-20 being driven recklessly by an allegedly drunk driver. During an attempted interception of vehicle, the driver skillfully evaded the police by reversing the car. The pursuit was captured in a 42-second video, which shows the Ghaziabad Police chasing the car as it travels in the wrong direction on the highway. Screengrab Despite their efforts, the driver managed to evade capture, weaving through traffic in a daring attempt to escape. Reports indicate that the police initially tried to stop the car on the highway, but the driver refused to comply and resorted to driving in reverse to evade capture. The video depicts the driver navigating the highway in a zigzag pattern, further intensifying the dramatic chase. While the footage looks like a scenario straight out of a Bollywood movie, it is indeed a real-life incident and not a staged performance. The Ghaziabad Police persisted in their pursuit, but the driver ultimately managed to elude them, driving off into the night. Fortunately, there were no injuries or accidents reported during the chase. In response to the viral video, the police issued a statement confirming the incident and detailing their efforts to apprehend the driver. Representational Image In their official statement, the police stated, "PC received information that an I-20 car was driving recklessly from Rajnagar, with suspicions of drink-driving. When the PC attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver began driving in reverse." They further added, "Today, a video has gone viral on social media depicting a car I-20 travelling in reverse on the elevated road, being pursued by police. Upon investigation, it was found that the incident occurred around 9:30-10:00 pm last night. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. US tech giant Google is reportedly gearing up to manufacture its Pixel smartphones in India. According to reports, Google is planning to start the production of made-in-India Pixel smartphones as early as next quarter. Reuters Made-in-India Pixel phones Google has told suppliers to start making its Pixel smartphones in India by the next quarter at the earliest, Nikkei Asia has reported. Initially, Google will prepare the production line for its high-end Pixel 8 Pro, followed by manufacturing in the April-June quarter, the report said. The first production line will be in South India, and the report added that Google will also produce Pixel 8 smartphones in North India around the middle of this year. REUTERS Growing list of smartphones made in India Several top smartphone makers including Apple, its arch rival Samsung, and Chinese brands like Oppo and Xiaomi are already making a large chunk of their devices in India. In 2023, Google had announced that its first made-in-India Pixel phones will be available this year. Brands want to end dependence on China Like other smartphone makers, Google has also been striving to diversify its supply chain away from China, which for a long time had been the manufacturing hub of the world. But as tensions rise between the US and China, smartphone makers have been trying to move some of their production out of the country to India and Vietnam. "Googles decision to move part of its Pixel phone production to Vietnam was prompted by the U.S.-China trade war. As for its extension into manufacturing in India, we believe the company also takes into account the country's investment incentives, import tariff policies, as well as its massive domestic market, Eddie Han, research director of Isaiah Research, told Nikkei Asia. REUTERS Taiwanese Contract manufacturer Foxconn, which assembles most of these devices for these brands already has massive production facilities in India, and has promised to invest more in the country. Smartphone market in India As per IDC data, the Indian smartphone market grew 1 per cent to 146 million units in 2023, with the second half of the year seeing an 11 per cent increase over the previous year. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a shocking incident, a woman from Hyderabad has been left with a 'mutilated' lip and a lot of physical and mental pain due to the alleged medical negligence of a dentist. The incident that took place last year only came to light recently, following another case of medical negligence at the same hospital, that allegedly led to the death of a patient. UNSPLASH Same hospital where a patient died "At FMS Hospital in Jubilee Hills, where a patient passed away during a dental procedure due to anesthesia overdose, one of my friends too had a horrific dental treatment experience there earlier. The dentist accidentally chopped off her lip, leaving a deep depression in her mouth," Sowmya Sangam, a social media user wrote on X. At FMS Hospital in Jubilee Hills, where a patient passed away during dental procedure due to anesthesia overdose, one of my friends too had a horrific dental treatment experience there earlier. The dentist accidentally chopped off her lip, leaving a deep depression in her mouth. pic.twitter.com/43vt4fBcZF Sowmya Sangam (@sowmya_sangam) February 20, 2024 She also attacked the photo of her friend's lip, which clearly showed that a portion of it was missing. Struggling even after a year Sowmya further elaborated on how her friend has been living with the mental and physical trauma of the incident. "Even after more than a year, she is left with scars and is unable to fully stretch her lip. Corner of her lip is missing, preventing her from laughing or smiling widely. She is still on steroids to regain flexibility and will require further surgeries in the near future," she said. Pexels Lied, harassed and threatened The woman's mother, described in detail what her daughter went through, in a Google review of the hospital. "Doctors here mutilated my daughter, harassed and threatened her. During her tooth extraction the "senior" dentist (also maxillofacial surgeon) with his assistant burnt off her mouth with their dental instruments. They assured her help after the wound healed. Said it will heal in a month, then few months which eventually turned into more than a year. We had to be patient because immediate surgery was not an option. Her life is miserable from the constant pain. When she finally expected treatment after FMS, the hospital in-charge Shekhar along with his colleagues mocked her pain and trauma and humiliated her and her father. Threatened to throw them out if they didn't leave. Told her she looks good that way and laughed at her. Harassed her with their vulgar comments," she wrote. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. The Karnataka Assembly has passed a bill that bans hookah bars in any bar and restaurant, and other public places in the state. The bill also prohibits the use of tobacco products in public places. Age limit for sale of cigarettes According to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024, the age limit for the sale of cigarettes will be 21. UNSPLASH The new bill, passed on Wednesday also bans the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products near educational institutions. Can't use tobacco products in public places The bill that prohibits the use of tobacco products in public places, says no person shall use tobacco products in any public place, and "use" means and includes smoking and spitting of tobacco. The exceptions are in a hotel having 30 rooms or a restaurant with a seating capacity of 30 persons or more, and in airports, where, the bill says, a separate provision for a smoking area or space may be made. No more hookah bars in Karnataka As far as hookah bars are concerned, the bill states that "No person shall either on his own or on behalf of any other person open or run any hookah bar in any place, including the eating house or pub or bar or restaurant by whatever name it is called." Pexels It defines a hookah bar as "an establishment or place where people gather to smoke tobacco from a communal hookah or narghile, which is provided individually." Why hookahs are banned Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao who introduced the bill said that today's youth consider the hookah a "fashion statement or fashionable", and added that "It not only affects those consuming it, but also people around -- passive smokers." "Considering that smoking cigarettes is harmful to health, it is already prohibited in public places. In the case of hookah, tobacco and nicotine are used along with other substances like narcotics, and to prohibit it this amendment has been brought," the minister said. Pexels Punishment for violators Punishment for running hookah bars has newly been introduced in the bill, he said, adding that violators of section 4A will be imprisoned for a term between one and three years, and be fined an amount between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Passengers on an American Airlines flight heading to Chicago had to take action when a man attempted to open a plane door mid-air, leading to chaos in the cabin. AP The incident occurred on Tuesday aboard AA Flight 1219 departing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, for O'Hare International Airport, as confirmed by an American Airlines spokesperson to USA Today. Videos circulating on social media depicted a man in a red shirt and black hoodie being restrained near an exit door by fellow passengers. He was subdued by a group of individuals and secured with duct tape. Law enforcement later took him into custody upon landing. Chicago American Airlines Passengers Restrain Man with Duct Tape After He Tries to Open Plane Door Mid-Flight A Chicago-bound American Airlines flight had to return to Albuquerque International Sunport on Tuesday after a man tried to open the emergency exit mid-flight. pic.twitter.com/oevlVqzZRO Abhay (@AstuteGaba) February 22, 2024 According to eyewitnesses interviewed by Albuquerque TV station KOAT, the man tried to open an emergency exit door while the plane was in the air. "He was sitting at the emergency exit and he cracked open the window that was protecting the handle," said passenger Emma Ritz. Plane makes emergency landing after mid-air incident The situation escalated as the disruptive passenger attempted to open the door mid-flight, prompting others to intervene and restrain him with duct tape and zip ties before authorities arrived. The airline's spokesperson stated that the flight returned to Albuquerque International Airport shortly after takeoff "due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer." Law enforcement officials boarded the plane upon landing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the safe return of the flight to New Mexico at 2:40 p.m. and stated that an investigation is ongoing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also involved in the case. Unruly passengers disrupt international travel Representational Image This incident adds to a series of unruly passenger reports disrupting air travel worldwide. Just this month, a Canadian national's actions in Thailand led to the evacuation slide deploying after attempting to open a plane door before takeoff, as reported by CNN. Similar incidents occurred in South Korea when a passenger felt suffocated and tried to open a plane door to exit quickly. According to FAA data, there have been over 250 reports of unruly passengers by flight crews this year. This number surged to nearly 6,000 in 2021, following a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 2,000 incidents reported in both 2022 and 2023. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Jake Norris (R) and Sean Down on a 2,000 km journey to raise funds for charities for Vietnamese children. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Charity Walk: A Walk For Change's Facebook page Two teachers from Australia and Ireland will finish a Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City trek this Saturday after three months, during which they have raised US$35,000 to support charity foundations dedicated to children in Vietnam. Australian Jake Norris, 37, and Irishman Sean Down, 45, started "Vietnam Charity Walk: A Walk For Change" late last year when they left Hanoi on Dec. 2 to walk 2,000 km to HCMC. The duo decided to take a mountainous route that has likely never been attempted before. Their ambitious initiative, sponsored by the Australian embassy as part of a commitment to fight trafficking and to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, has captured the attention and support of individuals, companies, and communities around the globe. The pairs mission has been to raise funds to support Thanh Loc Project, which focuses on providing education, housing, food, water, and shelter to underprivileged children in Vietnam, and Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, which works to combat human trafficking, as well as to rescue and support Vietnamese street kids. To date, the campaign has raised more than $35,000, and with still upcoming fundraising events that also receive support via gogetfunding.com/vietnam-charity-walk/. Norris, who has lived in Hanoi for seven years and visits an orphanage every year, thought of a charity walk during the Covid-19 lockdown three years ago. "I wanted to give back to the country and its people who have given me so much," he said, as cited by a statement from the Australian embassy. When his original partner pulled out, Down, who has lived in Hanoi for five years, stepped in to revive the walk. They temporarily quit their jobs as English teachers in the city. Norris said he was motivated by the children he has met on his travels that continue to show tremendous kindness and happiness, despite the daily hardships they face. "The challenges these children face is unimaginable, and it's our duty to make a difference," he said. He said they have had three months of "intense highs and lows." They struggled to find food at times, and dealt with one entire week of torrential, freezing rain, and soaring temperature over the past month. "We've been doing 35 kilometers per day in 40 C heat. So now we're often up and out the door by 4 a.m. to avoid the heat!" A man found himself in legal trouble after exploiting a loophole in local housing laws to stay rent-free at a hotel in New York for five years. Taking advantage of the loophole, he not only avoided paying rent but also went as far as claiming ownership of the building and demanding rent from another tenant. AP Allegedly registered the hotel in his name According to the court documents by Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the man, identified as 48-year-old Mickey Barreto, allegedly registered the hotel in his name, demanded rent from tenants, attempted to evict the previous owner from premises while making a series of fraudulent filings. As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the Citys most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel, said District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. We will not tolerate manipulation of our citys property records by those who seek to scam the system for personal gain, Attorney Bragg added. Found a loophole in local rules According to court documents, Barreto's stay at the New Yorker Hotel began with a single night in 2018. However, he subsequently approached the hotel, seeking to establish a lease agreement. Barreto cited advice from his boyfriend, who purportedly informed him of a loophole in local regulations upon his relocation from Los Angeles to New York. This loophole, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, purportedly permits occupants of single rooms in pre-1969 buildings to demand a six-month lease. Barreto contended that his payment for a single night qualified him as a tenant under this provision. When the hotel declined to enter into a lease agreement, Barreto reportedly left his belongings in the room and exited the building. Then filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful eviction Subsequently, the hotel returned his belongings and requested his departure. Barreto responded by initiating legal action, filing a lawsuit in housing court and alleging wrongful eviction. Consequently, a housing court judge issued an order granting Barreto possession of a specific room within the hotel. However, the saga didnt end there. In 2019, Barreto uploaded fake documents onto the New York City Department of Finances Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS), according to the court statement. He also uploaded a fraudulent deed purporting to transfer ownership of the entire New Yorker Hotel from a religious organisation, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA), to himself. He then started holding himself out as the owner of the hotel, including demanding rent from one of the hotels tenants. I never intended to commit any fraud. I dont believe I ever committed any fraud, Barreto told the Los Angeles Times. And I never made a penny out of this, he added. As per the outlet, Barreto says that his legal dispute is actually activism. He aims at denying profits to the HSA. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. A TikTok user, known as Reesa Teesa, has captivated audiences with her 50-part video series detailing her experience of being married to a pathological liar. Titled "Who TF Did I Marry?" the series has amassed over 122 million views collectively, with each video garnering more than one million views. Reesa Teesa, in her storytelling, chronicles the trajectory of her relationship with a man she refers to as "Legion," drawing parallels to the Biblical character possessed by demons. Throughout the series, she delves into their relationship's evolution, from its inception to its unraveling, including their cohabitation during the COVID-19 pandemic and their subsequent marriage in January 2021. @reesamteesa/TikTok Woman recorded a 50-part series on "Who TF Did I Marry?" The viral success of "Who TF Did I Marry?" underscores the potency of engaging storytelling on social media platforms. Reesa Teesa strategically divided her narrative into 50 segments, allowing viewers to consume her story like an audiobook. In one video, she expresses her intent for the series to encompass not only her mistakes but also her journey towards self-redemption and forgiveness. Reesa Teesa's meticulous attention to detail and her ability to sustain audience engagement across each video, spanning between nine and ten minutes, contributed to the series' popularity. She initially teased the series on February 14, garnering over 13 million views with an introductory video. The first installment of the series, released the same day, garnered the highest viewership, accumulating over 22.8 million views. Throughout the narrative, Reesa Teesa recounts numerous red flags in her relationship with Legion, including his refusal to provide proof of funds to realtors while house-hunting and his alleged fabrications about his profession, financial status, and personal history. In one of the videos, Teesa says she describes a love so riddled with red flags, you would have thought I was colorblind because I ignored all of that. She tells the story without any frills, and in the hopes that her traumatizing story can help others trust their gut and avoid a similar fate. She discloses a traumatic experience of miscarriage during which Legion failed to provide adequate support. Upon discovering discrepancies in Legion's social security information, Reesa Teesa unearths a web of deceit surrounding his identity, prompting her to file for divorce less than a year into their marriage. If just one woman watches these videos and shes like, You know what? Something dont sit right with me. Let me look into this, then it was worth it, Teesa said in an interlude video. Unsplash Internet goes berserk The compelling nature of Reesa Teesa's story has sparked widespread fascination, leading to the creation of reaction videos and memes. Viewers have expressed their captivation with the series, praising its organisation and Reesa Teesa's storytelling prowess in TikTok's comment section. The immense popularity of "Who TF Did I Marry?" culminated in a TikTok live session by Reesa Teesa, drawing hundreds of thousands of views for each of its 20 parts. Viewers began suggesting the titles Legion of Lies or Surviving Legion for the eventual book or Netflix or Lifetime movie the series would inspire. Some have begged for proof of funds to be emblazoned on merchandise. (Official T-shirts were announced Tuesday, but they say I survived Legion and #WhoTFDidIMarry.) Other commenters said Teesas dreams deserved to come true: to own a BMW X5, take the trip to London and Paris she mentioned in the story, and find an honest, loving partner. (She announced Wednesday that shell be traveling to London and Paris, and shell document her trip on TikTok.) For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. In an astonishing feat of nasal endurance, a Danish man has pushed the boundaries of human capability by cramming 68 matchsticks into his nostrils, securing himself a coveted spot in the Guinness World Records. This remarkable achievement, which defies logic and comfort, highlights the extraordinary lengths some individuals will go to in pursuit of recognition. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, demonstrated unparalleled skill and determination as he meticulously inserted each matchstick into his nasal passages, undoubtedly leaving onlookers in awe and disbelief. While some may view such endeavors as peculiar or even reckless, there's an undeniable fascination in witnessing the limits of human potential being pushed to new heights. As this astonishing accomplishment reverberates across the globe, it serves as a reminder of the boundless diversity of human talent and the ceaseless quest for distinction that drives individuals to extraordinary acts. What Did This Danish Man Do To Break The World Record? The Guinness World Records (GWR) continuously documents many remarkable achievements. Recently, a unique feat joined its ever-expanding roster: a Danish individual clinched a title by successfully fitting 68 matchsticks into his nostrils. Peter von Tangen Buskov from Denmark earned this distinction, marking him as the pioneer in this particular record category. According to GWR guidelines, 45 matchsticks must be accommodated within the nostrils to establish the record. An amazing Danish man stuffs 68 matches into his nostrils | Image: X Peter had contemplated various "fun records" before settling on this matchstick challenge, describing the idea as "somewhat spontaneous." He had never considered inserting objects into his nose, even in childhood. Nonetheless, inspired by his fascination with Guinness World Records since his youth, Peter is delighted to have achieved this unique feat. Reflecting on his approach to life, he remarked, "I always strive to uncover the intriguing and unconventional aspects of existence. There's an abundance of astonishing things waiting to be experienced, seen, or attempted, provided we maintain an open mindset." Discussing his experience with the unconventional challenge, Peter remarked, "Interestingly, it wasn't particularly painful." An amazing Danish man stuffs 68 matches into his nostrils | Image: X He elaborated, "My nostrils are relatively large, and my skin is quite elastic, which I'm sure made a significant difference." Presently holding the record, Peter pursues a career in business administration and intends to return to teaching social science at a secondary school. Although he managed to fit only 68 matchsticks into his nostrils this time, Peter anticipates surpassing his record. He noted, "To increase my capacity, I might need some practice, or perhaps my nose will naturally enlarge as I age." Additionally, he emphasized that through this unusual achievement, he emphasizes the importance of incorporating a sense of enjoyment into life. Where Can You Check Out The Post? You can check out the post on X posted by @GWR. "Surprisingly it didnt really hurt." Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 18, 2024 How Did The Internet React? On social media, numerous users shared their reactions to the remarkable record. One user commented, "This is incredible! People truly have unique talents." Another user remarked, "You look quite amusing... although I can imagine it might be a bit uncomfortable. Internet reacts to an amazing Danish man stuffs 68 matches into his nostrils | Image: X Internet reacts to an amazing Danish man stuffs 68 matches into his nostrils | Image: X What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Back in 2015, the Hinduja Group acquired Winston Churchill's war office (Old War Office) from World War II and then transformed it into a renowned hotel. The transformation from a dilapidated building to an ultra luxurious hotel did come at a huge cost. Before we get down to the numbers, not many know that the Hindujas came across the decrepit building opposite Downing Street during their morning walk in London. It was then that they made up their mind to acquire it. forbes india According to Moneycontrol, the Hinduja family made a substantial investment of Rs 13,000 crore (1.3 billion pounds) in the project. This included an initial payment of Rs 3,973 crore and an additional Rs 9,000 crore spread over the following eight years. The investment aimed at creating a high-end, contemporary hotel equipped with modern facilities. Sanjay Hinduja had said, No expense has been spared in bringing it back to its former glory and paying homage to its heritage, whilst breathing new life into it. Along with Raffles London at The OWO, we hope to create a legacy that is both timeless and unsurpassed, as per a report in The Hindu Business Line. Hindujas Are One Of The Wealthiest Families In London The family's extensive business portfolio includes interests in Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil Limited, and IndusInd Bank. According to Forbes and publicly accessible information, the Hinduja family boasts a net worth of $20 billion (more than Rs 1.7 Lakh crore approx). In collaboration with Raffles Hotels & Resorts, the Hindujas undertook the transformation of a historic building, once the office of Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II, into an ultra-luxurious hotel. Raffles Hotel at The OWO Was Inaugurated Last Year AFR The Old War Office, originally erected in 1906, was inaugurated as a world-class hotel in 2023. Co-chairman GP Hinduja, in an official statement shared by the Hinduja Group, had said, It took us eight years, and in these eight years we had a lot to do, but finally, this iconic building has been converted into peace and solace, not World Wars. It is the legacy not only of the Hinduja Group but London as a great destination. Everyone who lands in London will first come here to see what it is. Inside The Ultra-Luxurious Hotel pinterest Nevertheless, the hotel is just one facet of the narrative. The compound not only features a high-end hotel with nightly room rates spanning from Rs 1,10,000 to Rs 25,00,000 but also comprises 85 furnished residences open for acquisition, accommodating various budget ranges. These fully furnished properties are available for Rs 4 crore for a one-bedroom flat, Rs 8 crore for two bedrooms, Rs 10 crore for three bedrooms, and starting from Rs 17 crore for four-five bedrooms. Ever since the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir, Ayodhya has become a gold mine. With the spotlight now on the holy town, residents who previously migrated to other big cities to make a living are finally getting the gratification of living on Ram Janmabhoomi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched projects worth Rs 10,155.79 crore in Ayodhya earlier this week. The House of Abhinandan Lodha is the top investor in Ayodhya with investments of 3,000 crore. It is coming up with luxury housing and commercial real estate project in New Ayodhya township. BCCL Not just business prospects, many natives are now benefiting from it. Many homeowners are now refurbishing at least one room in their houses so that they can offer it to tourists as a homestay facility. A Daily Wager, Deepak Pandey Used To Rent Out One Of His Rooms For Rs 3,000 Per Month. Post The Consecration Ceremony, He Now Charges Rs 3,000 Per Day For The Same Room! A few years ago, Deepak Pandey had intentions to relocate to another city in pursuit of employment. However, his current aspirations involve purchasing land in the Uttar Pradesh district and constructing a new residence. Pandey credits the transformation in his financial circumstances to Lord Ram, a positive change that gained momentum after the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya last month. The 48-year-old lives in a three-room house in one of the alleys leading up to Ram Path, the main route for the devotees visiting the temple. "I used to rent out one of the rooms for Rs 3,000 per month. Since the consecration ceremony, I have been renting it out for the same amount per day," Pandey said in an interview with PTI, adding that he has hosted a new guest almost every day this month. bccl Ever Since The Consecration Ceremony On Jan 22, An Average Of One Lakh Devotees Visit The Holy Town Daily Since the consecration ceremony on January 22, almost one lakh devotees have been visiting this Hindu holy town in Uttar Pradesh on a daily basis, according to the local administration. A huge number of these devotees come from outside the state. Like Pandey, the owners of almost every house in the alley have refurbished at least one room in their houses to offer to tourists as a homestay facility. Pramesh Pandey stands at the entrance of an alley, asking devotees if they need a room to stay. "I have six rooms in three-four different buildings. I offer a room for Rs 1,400 to Rs 3,000 per day, depending on the rush of visitors," he said. Most of the residents of the alley do odd jobs or sell items that the devotees offer at the temple. "Lord Ram is showering his blessings on us. The god comes here in the form of devotees and helps us lead a better life," said Jaswanti Sharma, a resident of another alley who runs a shop selling pictures of Ram and other souvenirs. BCCL "The number of people visiting the town has gone up substantially since the new temple was opened. This has helped my business," she said. Many shop owners are expanding their shops by adding a new floor above the existing structures. Food Joint Owner Prabhat Gupta Cannot Help But Chant Jai Shri Ram Every Time He Hands Out A Plate Of Food To His Customers Prabhat Gupta, who runs a food joint, is busy handing out plates of hot dosas to people. He says "Jai Shri Ram" every time he hands over a plate to a customer. "The construction work for another floor has already started. If Lord Ram wishes, we will be able to host more customers once the construction is complete," he says. Apart from eateries and shops selling puja items, offices of travel agencies and shops selling clothes, mobile phone accessories and gift items have started coming up on Ram Path. (With PTI inputs) At the age of just six, Warren Buffett made his first few pennies by selling gum sticks around the neighborhood. Fast forward to today, the 93-year-old billionaire is among the most successful investors of all time, and has a net worth of more than $130 billion. Delivering Newspapers At The Age Of 13 warren buffett first job newspaper delivery/ap Warren Buffett took on the task of delivering copies of The Washing Post in Washington, D.C., at the age of 13. He even made the task into a competition with himself. Buffett got up at 4:30 a.m., even on Christmas holidays, to deliver newspaper copies because his father was a congressman for a Nebraska district. He also set a goal for himself to find a faster way to service each of his five buildings. Next, he devised methods to monitor the expiration dates of magazine subscriptions at the homes along his route and made side sales of calendars and new subscriptions. Amount Of Money He Earned From The Side Hustle warren buffett/fortune In 1940s, Buffett reportedly earned $175 a month (approx Rs 14,000 as per current US dollar-Indian Rupee conversion rate), and had three paper routes by the time he was 14. Buffett had earned $592.50 in 1944 and even filed his first federal income tax return in that year. At the time, the IRS required all Americans, including minors, to file a return if their income exceeded $500. Buffett had earned $2,000 delivering papers by the time he was 15. According to a CNBC report, he put $1,200 of that into a 40-acre farm where he and a Nebraskan farmer had a profit-sharing arrangement. Also Read: Warren Buffett Heaps Praise On Berkshire's Indian-Origin Employee Ajit Jain Lesson Warren Buffett Learnt From Delivering Newspapers indiatimes In the 1940s, he learned the value of getting up early and working hard to progress by delivering newspapers door-to-door. "I learned, frankly, that if you did a good job, you were gonna move up. The very fact that I did a good job in Spring Valley got me the Westchester routes later on," Buffett had told economics reporter Barry Wood in a 2015 interview, as per a CNBC report. "I was fortunate in that I was here during probably the most interesting period you could probably be here in Washington, during World War II. I delivered the papers when Roosevelt died and when the atomic bomb dropped." Also Read: 15 Books Recommended By Billionaire Warren Buffett For Investors For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here A new study reveals that Greeces hospitality sector is in immediate need of 30,000 employees to meet the demand ahead of the tourism season LAGOS, Nigeria February 9, 2024 ALX Nigeria, a leading tech accelerator, recently hosted a media conference to highlight the profound impact of its tech courses on the lives of their learners and fellows (graduates). The event served as a platform to share inspiring success stories and testimonials from individuals who have benefited from ALXs innovative programmes. Nduchekwe Ezekiel, an ALX learner, expressed his gratitude for the transformative experience he gained through the tech courses. I joined ALX with a passion to explore the possibilities available in cloud computing technology and ALX did not only give me the skills to make my dreams possible, but they also helped me channel this passion appropriately. Their mantra of Do Hard Things encourages us as learners to take full advantage of the learning experience. We are encouraged to ask questions and of course, the community is always there to support. Oluwatosin Mogbadunade, ALX Fellow and CEO, Planned Path Consult, shared her journey from being a learner at ALX to achieving significant milestones in her career. ALX has given me the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitude I need, not just in my tech career, but in life. With ALX you are taught not just to know what to do, but how to do it. As a result of my journey with ALX, I have been able to use data in my business as an entrepreneur to make informed decisions. ALX is also big on community, and I have been able to build lasting relationships that have helped me move forward in the achievement of my goals. Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager, ALX Nigeria reiterated that ALX Nigerias tech courses are high quality and up to date, designed to keep up with the evolving demands of the tech industry. With a variety of course offerings such as Artificial Intelligence Career Essentials (AiCE), Software Engineering, Data Science, AWS Cloud Engineering, Salesforce Administration, and many more, ALX learners are equipped with the skills, mindset, and network needed to succeed in the rapidly changing digital landscape. We are thrilled to see the positive impact of our tech courses on the lives of our learners and graduates. At ALX, we are committed to empowering individuals with the tools and opportunities to thrive in the digital economy. The success stories shared today are a testament to the effectiveness of our approach and the dedication of our team, she further stated. ALX continues to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and talent development even beyond the Nigerian tech ecosystem. Through its comprehensive programmes and collaborative initiatives, it remains at the forefront of empowering individuals to unlock their full potential and shape the future of technology throughout Africa. For more information about their tech courses, visit bit.ly/alx9ja. Also catch up with ALX Nigeria with the YouTube link below. Also follow ALX Nigeria on TikTok and Instagram on their handle @alxnigeria. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has reacted to the arrest of Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Party in Benin City, Edo State. Recall that on Wednesday, Abure and four others were arrested by Nigeria Police Force Zone 5, over a petition written against them by a undisclosed petitioner. Tijani Momoh, the police spokesperson said, it is a case of attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of arms and other related offences. They were also in possession of firearms; a short gun and three rounds of ammunition. Reacting, via X on Wednesday night, the former Anambra State Governor said, Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, earlier today in Benin City, Edo state. Throughout my roles as a private individual, public figure, Governor, and Presidential candidate, I consistently advocated for the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law in any sane society. I firmly believe that, as citizens, we are all duty-bound irrespective of our status in society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority. My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest. This act is undesirable, demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria. These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness. According to him, the actions of the police must be denounced and actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of citizens. Addressing the circumstances surrounding Abures arrest, he furthered that it is crucial to emphasize that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency and established arrest procedures, embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law. It is crucial to emphasize that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr. Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Most importantly, political Parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect. It is imperative to reiterate that no pretext or subterfuge should be employed to stifle Nigerias political opposition. Therefore, I urge that he should be granted bail based on his status while the investigation his alleged offence continues. The Senate, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government not to hike electricity tariff under any guise. Doing so, the upper legislative chamber said, would worsen the plight of Nigerians. The warning was issued at a plenary presided by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. The Senate further adopted a resolution asking its Committee on Power to investigate the over N2 trillion subsidy requirements, as claimed by Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, and another N1.3 trillion owed electricity Generation Companies (GenCos) as well as a $1.3 billion debt to gas companies. Lawmakers who earlier contributed to the motion, expressed concerns about the planned increase in electricity tariff, wondering if the Federal Government was sensitive to the plight of Nigerians over the current economic crisis. READ ALSO: Power Minister, Adelabu Advocates For Electricity Subsidy Removal, To Clear Debt Owed GenCos The motion which was sponsored by Senator Aminu Iya Abba alongside 10 other lawmakers notified the upper legislative chamber of the planned electricity tariff hike and warned that doing at this time would have backlash. Abba also called on the electricity companies to stop arbitrary billing of unmetered customers. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, supporting the motion, cautioned the Federal Government, saying it should first tackle hunger and hardship faced by citizens before contemplating electricity tariff hike. After a debate, the Senate resolved that the Federal Government should stop the planned electricity tariff hike in the interest of Nigerians. They further resolved that the Minister of Power should be investigated over the N2 trillion he said was needed for electricity tariff to avoid the repeat of fuel subsidy scandal. Abbas Ganbay Pakistan Aeronautical Complex signed largest export deal in Pakistan's history with Azerbaijan Air Force, Azernews reports. The deal for JF-17C Block-III fighter jets was signed for $1.6bn, including aircraft, training and ammunition, Pakistani media reported. The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is a big company that produces airplanes and other things for the military in Pakistan. It was started in 1971 by the Pakistan Air Force. They make and fix airplanes for the Pakistani military and also for other countries. They work with companies from Turkiye and China to make some of their products. The PAC also has businesses in other countries like Myanmar, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In the past, the Pakistan Air Force realized that they needed a place to fix their airplanes instead of sending them to other countries. So, they made a factory called the Aircraft Rebuild Factory (ARF) in Kamra. They also made another factory called the Mirage Rebuild Factory (MRF) to fix a different kind of airplane. These factories were built with the help of experts from China and France. Thailand extends visa exemption for wealthy Kazakh tourists for another six months Umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand, Jan. 19, 2023. Photo by Reuters The Thai government has decided to extend the visa-free policy for high-spending Kazakh tourists for another six months until Aug. 31 in an effort to boost tourism spending. Each Kazakh tourist spends as much as 75,000 baht (US$2,083) on average while visitors in general spend about 45,000 baht each, Prime Minister SretthaThavisin said, according to Bangkok Post. Srettha said the government decided to extend visa waiver for this nationality because they were big spenders and helped revive the Thai tourism industry, Nation Thailand reported. Thailand began allowing tourists from Kazakhstan to enter without a visa on Sept. 25 last year, and this waiver was to be in effect until Feb. 29. Last year, a record 172,000 Kazakhs visited Thailand. The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has demanded N1bn damages from Senate President, Godswill Akpabio over what he described as defamatory statement. Recall that the Akpabio had, at Senator Barinada Mpigis thanksgiving service in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State on February 18, stated that President Bola Tinubus administration did not know the crime to charge Emefiele with. He added that the President inherited an economic mess from the former CBN governor. However, Emefiele, through his lawyer, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), on Wednesday, considered Akpabios comment false, distorted and clearly aimed at disparaging his character and indeed made in bad faith. Burkaa said that, contrary to Akpabios claim, the Federal Government had since August 14, 2023 preferred charges against Emefiele and his client had pleaded not guilty of the said allegations. He said: Your statement attributing the present economic woes of the country solely on Our Client is most appalling and exposes the inaccuracies in Your assertions, especially, as you were a major player in the immediate Past Administration and worked closely with Our Client and indeed witnessed the innovations he introduced in the banking sector and its Senate impact on the economy whilst in office, as well as the role he played despite all odds in salvaging Nigeria in the P&ID Saga and the positive result it brought for Nigeria. READ MORE: We Dont Even Know What To Charge Emefiele With Akpabio You are also aware that no single policy was carried out by Our Client without the approval, directive or authorization of the President and/or the Federal Executive Council of which you were a key and powerful member. These baseless and false allegations clearly defames the character of Our Client and has also caused him great pains and embarrassment as it has lowered his esteem before the right thinking members of the Society in addition to the obvious odium and opprobrium from the unsuspecting members of the Society as a result of the falsity contained in that statement. We therefore have Our Clients further instruction to demand from you an unreserved apology in writing, published and circulated by the same medium with which you have defamed his character and the sum of One Billion Naira (N1,000,000,000) as reasonable compensation for the willful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard earned reputation. In the event that you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with this legitimate demand, Our Client will be at liberty to seek the appropriate redress available to him under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that some persons are calling for a military coup in Nigeria amidst economic hardship the facing the country. He described such people as enemies of the country, while assuring that a coup would not happen in Nigeria. Musa added that the military would go after such persons advocating for a coup in the country and ensure they face the wrath of the law. The CDS led this out on Wednesday, shortly after he inaugurated the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He said, Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy. READ MORE: Simon Ekpa Is A Threat To Nigeria, Hes Being Protected By Finland CDS, Musa We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than Democracy are evil people and I think they dont mean well for Nigeria. And they should be very careful because the law will come after them. We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes we are going through trying periods, I mean in life nothing is hundred percent. Everybody goes through a trying period in life, and it is what you do with them. You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better. And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. And so we are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better. The Department of State Services, has urged organised Labour to shun its planned nationwide protest over economic challenges in the interest of peace and public order. Recall that The Nigeria Labour Congress, had last Friday, declared a two-day nationwide protest over the hardship being experienced by Nigerians security situation in the country. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that in a statement released to the public via its X handle, on Wednesday, by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the DSS called on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions. Afunanya stated that the government at all levels are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given benefit of the doubt. He said: The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to plans by sections of the organised labour to stage protests between 27th and 28th February 2024 in parts of the country over sundry economic issues. READ MORE: NLC Declares Two-Day Protest Over Economic Hardship While the Service recognises such action as the legitimate right of the labour movement, it, however, urges the body to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order. The DSS further calls on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions. This is more so that the Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence. The development, without a doubt, will worsen the socio-economic situation across the country. Renowned American rapper Rick Ross expressed his wish to honour Nigerias President Bola Tinubu and spread knowledge of Nigerian culture. This is in response to his previous announcement that he intended to work with some Nigerian musicians. In a video that surfaced on Instagram on Wednesday, he expressed his desire to demonstrate love to several African Presidents. The iconic hip-hop musician emphasised his aim to highlight global cultures and show love to international leaders, beginning with Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu. READ MORE: Even In Famine, My Family And I Will Be Satisfied Pastor Bolaji Stirs Reaction Over Recent Declaration In his words, I want to show love to the presidents of some of these amazing countries. I just want to bring attention to the cultures and amazing artists. Lets start with Nigeria: Bola Tinubu! SEE VIDEO: Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, says Binance and other crypto platforms should be banned from operating in Nigeria. Onanuga who made his position known via X on Wednesday, added that Foreign Exchange (FX) aggregator, abokiFX, should be banned also. He noted this while reacting to a comment by Mikael C. Bernard, an X user, who shared posts on cryptocurrency and FX rates. His statement is also coming amid the continuous depreciation of the naira, which fell to N1,900/$ at the parallel section of the FX market on February 20. The naira declined by 9.83 percent from N1,730/$ recorded on February 19. According to him, Binance is blatantly setting exchange rate for Nigeria, and hijacking the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The cryptocurrency trading platform, he added, is facing restrictions in multiple jurisdictions, such as the United States, Singapore, Canada and the United Kingdom. According to Data Wallet, Binance is prohibited in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority from conducting any regulated activities. In Japan, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) banned Binance for operating without the necessary regulatory approval. READ ALSO: CBN Makes U-Turn, Lifts Ban On Cryptocurrency Transactions Ontario, Canada, has also suspended Binance services following its inability to meet the provinces securities regulation criteria. The Monetary Authority of Singapore also banned Singaporean investors from accessing Binances services. Binance, facing regulatory showdown in many countries, and causing disruptions in the currency market, should not be allowed to dictate the value of the Naira, not on its crypto exchange platform. Other crypto platforms such as Kucoin, Bybit should be banned from operating in our cyberspace. FX platform Aboki should be re-banned, he averred. Onanuga called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the CBN to move against the platforms, adding that the firms are trying to manipulate our national currency to ground zero, or else this bleeding of our currency will continue unabated. Onanugas call for a ban on cryptocurrency trading platforms followed the directive of the CBN on February 5, 2021, to banks, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs), to close accounts of persons or entities involved in crypto transactions. The regulator also warned local financial institutions against dealing in crypto assets or facilitating payments for crypto exchanges. CBN cited concerns over money laundering, terrorism financing, cybercrime, and the volatility of cryptocurrencies as reasons for the ban. The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four persons for parading themselves as army officers at Aina Street, Oshodi and other parts of the State. It was gathered from a Police source on Wednesday that the quartet Ben Okafor, Darlington Iheanacho, Jonathan Yahaya, and Mohammed Umar were nabbed following sting operations across the State. Okafor and Iheanacho were apprehended on Monday at about 10:30pm at Aina Street. Having claimed to be a corporal in the Nigerian Army, Okafor was caught with a jackknife alongside Iheanacho during a scuffle with another man identified simply as Oludotun. Although the police had yet to ascertain the extent of Oludotuns involvement in the alleged crime, he was suspected to be an accomplice of the duo. After some policemen who arrived at the scene searched the two suspects, when their identities became doubtful, a fake Nigerian Army identity card bearing Corporal Geoffrey Emmanuel with serial number 140861, a jackknife, and pepper spray were said to have been recovered from them. The police source told Punch, Okafor, who claimed to be a Corporal in the Nigerian Army, was seen with a jack knife alongside one Darlington Chidebere Iheanacho fighting one Oludotun. The latter reported that the soldier was chasing him with a jack knife and threatened to kill him. READ ALSO: Man Bags 14 Years In Jail For Sexually Assaulting Neighbours Daughter After the suspects were arrested and searched, a fake Nigerian Army identity card bearing CPL Geoffrey Emmanuel with serial no. 140861, a jack knife, and pepper spray were recovered from them. In a similar development just a few hours apart, Yahaya and Umar were also arrested for allegedly wearing black combat boots and camouflage trousers from the Nigerian Army uniforms. Upon interrogation, the suspects were believed to be imposters after they had failed to disclose their real identities and how they had obtained their uniforms. A Major attached to 81 Division Nigerian Army Provost, Bonny Camp Lagos, took Jonathan Yahaya and Mohammed Umar to the Onikan Division after the suspects were arrested when one of them was wearing a pair of camouflage trousers and a black combat boot, while the second was wearing a Nigeria Army uniform. On interrogation, it was discovered that both suspects were fake soldiers; they could not ascertain how the suspects got the army uniforms, hence their apprehension, the source added. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest, stating that all the suspects would be charged to court immediately after the investigation into their crime was completed. The suspects will be charged to court after the investigation, he said. Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), who was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Edo State on Wednesday, has been released. Recall Abure was arrested alongside Kelly Ogbaloi, the LP Chairman in Edo state. The police said Abure was arrested over a petition accusing him of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit dangerous harm. Addressing supporters and party members after his release, Abure said no struggle to liberate a country comes easy. According to him, he was released by the police on bail following several interventions. Let me thank and appreciate all of you here for the solidarity, for the support and for your commitment. READ ALSO: Why Labour Party Chairman, Julius Abure Was Arrested Police No struggle to liberate a country comes easy. Many countries of the world where freedom fighters have fought for the emancipation of the people suffer injustice, suffer prosecution and it is what is happening to me and my other colleagues since after the general election. After the general election, they have tried to instigate crisis in the party, they tried to bring false accusations against us. They have come to talk about forgery at a time, when it did not work, they came with embezzlement. Any person that is aggrieved within the party, they go and instigate them to write petition and to make trouble. And the irony is that the police even act on those things (but) at the end of the day, they will find out that those things are false. Yesterday, we were making arrangements for the primaries and of course the police swamped on us, arrested us over what I would not want to discuss now because investigation is going on and therefore, I do not want to preempt them. But I must state clearly that following several interventions, they have graciously released me on bail. Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is against the zoning of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship ticket in the Edo State. Recall that the Partys leadership declared the State governorship primary election inconclusive after some aspirants were declared winners of the exercise. A fresh primary is expected to be conducted in the State today. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday after a meeting with Tinubu, Oshiomhole said he came to seek clarification from the president on rumours regarding the primary. The former Edo governor said the President expressed commitment to a free and fair primary. The President has affirmed that he has no voting right in Edo state. Even though the Edo people have the right to vote for the President, therefore, what matters to him is to ensure that APC members in Edo State in the direct primaries, participate in the free and fair primaries. That is the decision of the president. There have been rumours in the air that there is probably zoning to one area or zoning to another area. The president said that as far as he is concerned, he is committed only to free and fair primaries not based on zoning because you dont do zoning on the eve of the primary. READ ALSO: Confusion As Two Winners Emerge Edo APC Governorship Candidate If theres going to be zoning those involved in the decision will have to be so comprehensive that the people of the state understand it. And number two, if you have zoning, you will not allow people who are not from the particular zone to procure forms, the former Edo Governor said. Oshiomhole said it is unfair to single out Edo State for zoning when the same was not done for the Kogi and Benue governorship tickets. Is it not the same APC where recently, in Kogi state, you have back-to-back somebody from one senatorial zone succeeding the other? He asked. Why is Edo different? In Benue state, since 1999, youve had only people from one part, one particular language, the Tivs that have produced governor after governor since 1999. Are you about to change the rules? In any case, who are you and I to dictate to Edo APC members where their candidate must come from? If you impose a candidate, as some of you want to suggest when you go for the election proper, are you going to tell people to vote based on your privileged elite consensus of turn-by-turn democracy? What Ive committed to is that in a democracy, the majority must necessarily have their way. You cant do it otherwise, there is no sentiment about it. Fairness means that the outcome is a reflection of the will of the people. Fairness is not when you allocate. This turn-by-turn democracy kills fairness. A non-binding proposal to acquire MariaDB, the provider of the relational database management system (RDBMS) of the same namea fork of the open-source MySQL database, has sparked speculations about the companys future and what the acquisition would mean for its enterprise customers. The proposal was for MariaDB PLC, the firm that provides database services and SaaS offerings built on the core open-source database that is managed by the MariaDB Foundation. Earlier this month, MariaDB PLC received a proposal of acquisition, to the tune of $37 million, from California-headquartered investment firm K1 Investment Management. The proposal, which is non-binding and may not result in an actual offer for acquisition, puts a value of $0.55 for each share of MariaDBa 189% premium over the database firms closing share price on February 5. A rocky ride for the last year MariaDB PLC has been on a rocky ride for the past year, including laying off staffers, changing leadership, spinning off parts of its business, and filing cautionary statements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The companys path to financial difficulty began in December 2022 when it decided to go public via the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) route with Angel Pond Holdings. After going public, the company saw its market capitalization plummet from $445 million to just over $10 million by the end of 2023. The sharp drop in value can be attributed to the companys poor quarterly performance and history of losses since the last quarter of 2022, according to statements filed with the SEC. While the first quarter of 2023 saw the company lay off staffers, the second quarter saw it file cautionary statements about its financial health via a prospectus. The company said at the time that it was looking at attracting financial investments to keep the lights on. This was followed by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) issuing a warning to the company in September. The stock exchange had warned MariaDB that it was failing to meet listing norms that make it necessary for listed firms to ensure that their market capitalization doesnt drop below $50 million for a trading period of 30 days. October brought in more woes for the database-as-a-service provider with the company being forced to lay off 28% of its workforce and shut down two of its products, MariaDB Xpand and MariaDB SkySQL. Three months later, Microsoft announced that Azure Database for MariaDB was scheduled for retirement by September 19, 2025. In the meantime, the company received a takeover proposal from existing investor Runa Capital, which didnt work out. Then an associate company of Runa Capital by the name of RP Ventures offered MariaDB a loan of $26.5 million at an interest of 10%. Commercial business on the brink The continued losses that forced layoffs, de-listing, and product shutdowns may have also ensured the ruin of MariaDBs commercial business, experts said. More enterprises have been switching from the MariaDB Enterprise Server edition to the MariaDB Community Server edition ever since Microsoft announced the end of life in 2025, according to Thomas Spoelstra, a database expert with Dutch database management services firm OptimaData. OptimaData manages multiple database management systems including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database, Sybase, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL. MariaDB Enterprise always has been less popular than the community edition, Spoelstra said, adding that most of OptimaDatas clients use the latter because technical support for MariaDB Enterprise is very expensive. This results in most enterprises using the community edition along with MariaDB offerings such as the Galera Cluster, the expert explained. Additionally, Spoelstra said that not only have the financial difficulties forced enterprise customers to look at other options but have forced cloud service providers to slowly steer away from MariaDBs commercial offerings. Samsung is one example of an enterprise customer who might face challenges due to the shuttering of MariaDB Xpand and eventually look at other options. This could pose a significant cost for the Korean giant, as the company uses 50 MariaDB Xpand nodes to operate a single database where it hosts data of its smartphone customers. An email sent to Samsung seeking more details on their MariaDB investment went unanswered. In addition, the Korean electronics giants cloud and technology services division, Samsung SDS, offers MariaDB as a managed database offering. A separate email seeking responses on the availability of the service and its planned continuity also went unanswered. Customers losing confidence The discontinuation of offerings by MariaDB has forced enterprise customers to lose confidence in the company, said Tony Baer, principal analyst at dbInsight. These kinds of developments will make any customer enterprise insecure about whether their investments will be next for the chopping block, Baer added. Although the decisions, such as laying off staffers or discontinuation of offerings, were taken by MariaDB to reduce costs, these decisions have impacted the profile of the company, according to Matt Aslett, director at Ventana Research, an arm of research and advisory firm ISG. The impact has been profound, especially in relation to the companys DBaaS and distributed SQL offerings, which were potential areas of long-term growth and innovation, Aslett explained. Given the current plight of MariaDBs commercial business, Baer said that he sees any acquisition activity as nothing more than a Hail Mary pass to protect what are now stranded legacy customer investments. In fact, if Spoelstra is correct the acquisition by K1 or any other company will further accelerate the movement of customers from MariaDB to MySQL, ProxySQL, and other options. Presently, MariaDB, according to data from 6Sense, has a 2.08% share of the relational database market category, which is 0.07% less than what the company had reported in April of last year. For the quarter ended December, MariaDB PLC posted a net loss of $8.8 million, driven by interest expense, restructuring costs, and costs associated with the discontinuation of products. On Thursday, Patricia Wellenbach, president and CEO of the Please Touch Museum, announced that she will resign in early 2025. The board will launch a nationwide search for a new president this year, aiming to announce the hire by the end of this year. Wellenbach will remain onboard to support the leadership transition. Its been a job that I have loved since day one, and Im deeply proud of everything that we have accomplished as a museum and as a part of our city and the community of West Philadelphia, said Wellenbach, 66, in an interview with The Inquirer. Her departure comes amid contract negotiations with the Please Touch Museum employees recently formed union and ahead of the museums 50th anniversary in 2026. In the last decade, the popular childrens museum in West Philadelphias Fairmount Park has survived bankruptcy and a pandemic closure under Wellenbachs direction. After the museum moved out of Center City in 2008, it incurred $60 million in debt and filed for Chapter 11 in 2015. Initially hired as an adviser, Wellenbach was brought in to save the nonprofit institution, which she achieved through significant fundraising and using reserves from the organizations 2006 bond sale, ultimately paying $11.25 million to shed the debt and exit bankruptcy. Advertisement After becoming president in March 2016, Wellenbach spearheaded new initiatives to attract bigger and more diverse audiences with an eye toward expanding programs for older kids up to age 8. When she got there in 2015, Wellenbach said, probably about 15 percent of the attendance was from children who were from marginalized families and communities, now that number is about 30 percent. The museum organized its first Pride Family Festival in 2018 and though it faced backlash from conservatives, Wellenbach defended the successful event. In 2019, Please Touch Museum hosted the landmark exhibition, America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far, inviting Philadelphias large Muslim community and kids of all backgrounds to explore Islams local and global impact. Other programs include free admission community days and Play Without Boundaries, aimed at kids with autism. Wellenbachs momentum stalled once the pandemic forced the museum to close for more than a year, resulting in a loss of $6 million in revenue. The museum laid off most of its staff, slashing the workforce from 71 to 18 employees. Even before COVID, employees voiced concerns about Wellenbachs leadership. In 2021, Billy Penn reported that 17 ex-employees and one former museum trustee said Wellenbach created a hostile work environment that led to high turnover and low morale. From 2016 to 2019, 13 high-level staffers left and employees repeatedly petitioned the board to intervene, with little luck, according to the investigation. Thats a long time ago now, says Wellenbach about the report. We continue to work on our commitment to be a place of belonging for everyone, and that includes our employees. I think that we have done a very good job in listening and learning. The museum now has 80 employees. In 2023, Please Touch Museum staffers voted to form a union, joining workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Penn Museum as part of Phillys chapter of Cultural Workers United, with the goal of improving compensation and instituting policies to address discrimination and harassment. Museum management has recognized the union and contract negotiations are underway. Well support what the employee community is looking for, to the best that we can, said Wellenbach. Wellenbach says the museum is in great shape for an incoming leader: Its out of debt and seeing visitors return in droves. Annual visitorship is in the mid-400,000, nearing pre-pandemic numbers that saw 500,000 visitors. She believes this is the right time for her to step down so that the next president can lead the museum into the future and organize the celebrations for its 50th anniversary in 2026. The organization also just announced the start of a $4.2 million renovation to replace flooring throughout the historic Memorial Hall building in preparation for 2026, which will mark the halls 150th anniversary. School, family, and museum this is the ecosystem around a young child. Its the strength of those three that guarantees the highest potential being realized in each child, said Wellenbach. We have a lot of work to do, but were not going anywhere. In testimony before Congress, U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins said the worlds new security landscape requires the United States lead with innovation to protect itself and its Allies from current and emerging challenges. Those challenges include Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine; the Peoples Republic of Chinas pressure on Taiwan; the conflict in the Middle East as Israel defends itself from Hamas terrorism; the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels; the deepening cooperation among Russia, the DPRK and Iran. Under Secretary Jenkins said the United States is responding to these and emerging threats: This Administration has secured Allied unity to suspend the Treaty on Armed Conventional Forces in Europe in response to Russian withdrawal. We proposed and passed United Nations resolutions calling on countries to not conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests and to not use radiological weapons. We led states to endorse responsible practices regarding artificial intelligence for military applications, and we completed the destruction of U.S. chemical weapons stockpiles, eliminating an entire category of declared weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, Under Secretary Jenkins said, the United States is strengthening nuclear safeguards and security, as it assists nations partnering in nuclear energy and peaceful nuclear cooperation. It is also enhancing interdiction measures to guard sensitive U.S. technologies from exploitation, as well as working to protect semi-conductor and other emerging technologies. Standing shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies is one of the hallmarks of American diplomacy, said Under Secretary Jenkins. She pointed to the strengthening of Taiwans self-defense capabilities by the United States, as well as U.S. assistance to its allies and partners in transitioning away from Russian-origin equipment. Under Secretary Jenkins also called the trilateral security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, known as AUKUS, a prime model of American diplomacy. A generational opportunity that deepens cooperation with our closest allies, strengthens our long-term defense and security partnerships, provides us a clear pathway to continue advancing our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and sends a very strong signal of deterrence and commitment to the highest nonproliferation standards in the region and around the world, she said. Under Secretary Jenkins declared the United States is clear-eyed about the areas in which our adversaries or competitors are making inroads, and how our actions will determine the safety and security of future generations. The U.S. Marshals took Abiud Torres, 20, into custody early Thursday in Kensington. Torres was wanted in connection to the killing of his girlfriend, Tatiana Vargas. Read more A U.S. Marshals task force arrested a man in Kensington early Thursday who was accused of shooting his girlfriend to death during an argument two days before Christmas. Abiud Torres, 20, was taken into custody just before 7 a.m. outside a vacant home on Hart Lane near Kensington Avenue, according to U.S. Marshals Supervisory Deputy Robert Clark. Two months earlier, in a home not far from there, Torres killed Tatiana Vargas, 35, as her 11-year-old son Noah, sat in a room nearby, according to investigators. On Thursday afternoon, hours after Torres was taken into custody, her father, Joe Vargas, said he was still in shock. Its a blessing, but its not going to bring my daughter back to life, he said. This is all just feels like a dream. Its hard. Vargas oldest daughter was shot inside her apartment on Hartville Street near Tioga in Kensington on Dec. 23. Torres fled the scene, leaving his girlfriend of about two months behind. But, according to U.S. Marshals, he didnt go far. Advertisement Torres was spotted around Kensington in recent weeks, coming in and out of vacant buildings, Clark said. At 6 a.m. Thursday, a group of marshals surrounded a home on Hart Lane near Kensington Avenue in anticipation of finding him. Roughly 45 minutes later, Torres showed up and was taken into custody without incident. A spokesperson for Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Thursday that Torres will be charged with murder, reckless endangerment, gun offenses and related crimes. Torres is also wanted in Virginia in connection with an unrelated crime, the spokesperson said, but the details of that other offense were not immediately available. Abiud Torres committed a senseless crime against a woman who had her whole life ahead of her, Clark said in a statement. I am hoping this arrest can bring some closure to the Vargas family and all who knew Tatiana. Joe Vargas said his daughter was a kind, giving soul, often providing for those who were less fortunate than she. In addition to helping cook and serve food at South Philly Italian Kitchen, the familys restaurant in West Mount Airy, Vargas worked as an ESL teacher with Nyman Associates in a preschool in the city, according to her family. Her son, they said, was her pride and joy, and she adored and doted on her sister Josies children, as well. Her father said he had warned her against moving to Kensington, and told her he had heard bad things about Torres from people he knew in North Philadelphia. READ MORE: Where to find help if youre experiencing domestic violence in the Philly region Vargas said those same contacts in North Philadelphia passed along tips about Torres location to him, which he said helped investigators close in on him. She was just an angel, someone who would help anyone before she helped herself, he said of his daughter. Were looking to close this chapter, and this helps. Four Philadelphia police officers fired for misconduct, including sexual harassment and using racial slurs, have been reinstated after arbitrators concluded they should be permitted to return to the force, city officials said. The officers, who were fired between 2019 and 2022, were reinstated following a lengthy arbitration process between the city and Fraternal Order of Police. They were permitted to return in late January, as first reported by Axios. The arbitrators in three of the cases determined for various reasons that, although the officers had acted inappropriately, they should not have been fired. Most had their dismissals reduced to suspensions, and all were ordered returned to the force with back pay. The citys arbitration process has long been the subject of scrutiny and calls for reform. A 2019 Inquirer investigation found that, in cases between 2011 and 2019, the police union successfully overturned or reduced discipline about 70% of the time, and taxpayers were footing millions of dollars the city doled out in back pay. Advertisement One of the four recently reinstated was Carl Holmes, a police commander who was accused of sexually assaulting women at work. After the criminal case against him fell apart last year, an arbitrator granted the unions grievance. The withdrawing of the criminal case, which was the crux of the citys argument to fire Holmes, was fatal to any case to keep him off the job, the arbitrator wrote. While Holmes return was the most high-profile, three other men including two who were accused of making racist or discriminatory statements were reinstated alongside him. A spokesperson for the FOP declined to comment on the cases. Heres what they involved: Lt. Anthony McFadden McFadden, a 32-year member of the force, was fired in 2022 after he was overheard saying the N-word on the phone with a 911 dispatcher. According to the arbitration agreement, McFadden was responding to a call for a person with a gun when he called the radio dispatcher for help connecting with the person who made the report. While he was driving and on hold with the dispatcher, another car suddenly pulled in front of him, causing McFadden to swerve and sending his lunch and coffee flying onto the floor. He swore, uttering a racist comment. The dispatcher overheard and reported the incident to Internal Affairs. After a recording of McFaddens statements circulated through the media, then-Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw fired him. The union challenged that move shortly after. During the arbitration hearing, McFadden testified that he did not know the dispatcher overheard his comment, and that it wasnt directed at her. He said he regretted saying it. Its something I completely regret. I dont think Ill ever get past it, he said, according to the filing. Then-acting Police Commissioner John Stanford told the arbitrator he agreed McFadden should be fired, and said the use of such a slur creates tension within the department and erodes community trust. The arbitrator, Alan Symonette, said the facts were not in dispute but that the context of why McFadden used the slur was never completely considered in the decision to fire him, nor were his 32 years of service and various accolades. He reduced McFaddens discipline to a 30-day suspension, and ordered he be reinstated to his former position and rank, with back pay. Within 30 days of returning to work, McFadden must apologize to the police commissioner, 911 dispatcher, and the Citizens Oversight Board and explain his actions. McFadden did not respond to a request for comment. Officer Eddie Garro-Garcia Garro-Garcia, a three-year member of the force, was fired in 2022 after a woman accused him of sexually harassing her after he responded to a domestic incident at her home. According to the arbitration report, Garro-Garcia, an officer with the 22nd District in North Philadelphia, was responding to a call that a woman had a mans guns and drugs inside her apartment. According to the records, when Garro-Garcia reached the apartment, the woman told him her ex-boyfriend had been harassing and threatening her and made a false report. After he took down details for the report, Garro-Garcia asked probing questions that were sexual in nature, the woman later told investigators. According to the records, he asked if she had ever been with a white guy, and complimented her lips. The woman said he then asked to use her bathroom adding, Do you want to come show me what your lips do? The woman asked what he meant and he said, Never mind, before he asked for a hug, which she denied, and left, the records say. Garro-Garcia, who did not turn his body camera on during the encounter, then said over police radio that no one answered the door to the apartment and the report wasnt founded, according to the report. The womans mother later reported the incident to the officers supervisor. Garro-Garcia told Internal Affairs investigators that he did ask the woman some personal questions but that they were mutually flirting with each other. He denied asking for oral sex, but admitted that his conduct was inappropriate. He apologized and said he would never act that way again. The department fired him. The union filed a grievance, saying such punishment was not warranted and noting that he had no earlier disciplinary issues. The woman Garro-Garcia was accused of harassing died before his arbitration hearing took place, the records said. It was not clear how she died, and her name was retracted from the report. The arbitrator, Robert Gifford, ultimately ruled that because she was not available to testify, there was insufficient evidence to support the dismissal, and that because the officer admitted wrongdoing and expressed remorse, his penalty should be reduced to a 45-day suspension followed by a return to work. Garro-Garcia could not be reached for comment. Sgt. Joseph Przepiorka Przepiorka, a 30-year veteran and sergeant in the Marine Unit, was fired in 2019 after the Plainview Project revealed that he was one of dozens of officers who had made offensive, racist, or otherwise discriminatory posts on social media. According to the arbitration records, he was said to have made nearly 100 posts that violated the Police Departments social media policy and were defamatory to LGBTQ people and Muslims, and advocated for vigilantism and violence. Reports showed that in one 2017 post, he shared an image of a skeleton wrapped in a U.S. flag, carrying a gun, and the words Death To Islam across the top. Przepiorka later told internal investigators he did not believe he was on duty when he made the posts. A deputy commissioner testified at the arbitration hearing that Przepiorkas posts were considered some of the most egregious of those in the Plainview report. Przepiorka said he had no previous disciplinary issues and had never been accused of discrimination on the job. He said his posts, some of which were meant as a joke, were directed toward radicals or Islamic terrorists rather than the entire Muslim population, and that he does not support extrajudicial violence. The union argued that the department did not adequately train him in off-duty social media behavior, and that Przepiorka should have been permitted to undergo counseling and sensitivity training before being fired. His posts, the union said, did not define his 30-year career. The arbitrator, Gifford, said that while the posts were unacceptable, the city should have taken a corrective rather than punitive approach to discipline. He said that because Przepiorka had been on the force for decades and this was his first social media violation, dismissal wasnt warranted. He ordered that the termination be reduced to a 30-day suspension, and that Przepiorka return to work. Przepiorka did not respond to a request for comment. Beanie Feldstein stars as Philadelphia cop Sukie in 'Drive-Away Dolls,' a lesbian comedy out in theaters on Feb. 23, 2024. Credit: Wilson Webb / Working Title / Focus Features Read more One recent Friday afternoon, Beanie Feldstein, Margaret Qualley, and Australian actor Geraldine Viswanathan stopped by Tattooed Mom on South Street to promote their new film, Drive-Away Dolls. This bar is really cool, I heard its kind of infamous, said Feldstein, who has family friends in the area. All three actors agreed that Tattooed Mom looked similar to the lesbian bars featured in the movie. In the film, opening in theaters on Friday, Qualley plays Jamie, a reckless heartbreaker; Viswanathan is her uptight friend Marian; and Feldstein is Sukie, Jamies bitter ex and a Philadelphia police officer. The zany road-trip rom-com set in the 1990s is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke. Jamie and Sukie live in Philadelphia, but after the breakup Jamie joins Marian to leave everything behind and drive to Tallahassee, Fla. They rent a car going one way and chart a route to stop at lesbian bars with names like the Butter Churn and She Shed along the way. Advertisement The only snag: The rental car wasnt meant for them. A valuable briefcase in the trunk was meant for the Chief, played by West Philly native Colman Domingo, and his goons. An interstate chase ensues and the goofiness escalates with hilarious cameos from Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon, and Miley Cyrus. (Whats worth all that trouble? A hint: The film pulled inspiration from the work of real-life groupie and artist Cynthia Albritton, a.k.a. Cynthia Plaster Caster, who created casts of rock stars penises, including Jimi Hendrix. She also inspired Philly songwriter Jim Croces song Five Short Minutes.) Cooke, who is queer, cowrote the script with Coen as a trashy B-movie and a love letter to lesbian bars, which were at their peak in the 90s; today there are fewer than 30 left in the country, and none in Philly. Feldstein lives in Chelsea with her wife, Bonnie Chance Roberts, near the popular lesbian bar Cubbyhole. These bars, she said, have been important to her and they deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged and saved. In this trippy, winding journey, the city of Philadelphias role is small and fleeting with a requisite shot of the William Penn statue. The movie was filmed entirely in and around Pittsburgh. I feel like we cheated on Philly with Pittsburgh, thats kind of the vibe Im getting, joked Feldstein. For the role of Sukie, Coen and Cooke told her to hold nothing back. It was such a joy to just lay it all on the table and go for it, especially when you get to do like fighting and stunts and more action-y stuff. Whenever I put the [cop] costume on in my trailer, I was just like, its so funny, a true kind of Coen character. Correction: A previous version of this article misstated where Beanie Feldstein lives and the location of the Cubbyhole. Feldstein lives in Chelsea and Cubbyhole is in the West Village Inside Neighborhood Ramen, all may be quiet, but just a three-minute walk away, Jesse Pryor and Lindsay Steigerwald are busy at work every Thursday in their workshop, transforming over 100 pounds of dough into the noodles that have made their ramen shop in Queen Village a Philly staple. The two owners pop over to the workshop on South Fourth Street around 9 a.m., coffees from Green Line Cafe or Ox in hand. They blast their go-to track, Praise The Lord (Da Shine) by A$AP Rocky and Durdenhauer featuring Skepta, and get to work on the noodles theyve perfected over five years. The couple recently announced their decision to move Neighborhood Ramen to Japan. The pair will close the doors of their restaurant at the end of June to open a six-seat ramen shop with an 11-seat reservation-only dining room called ESO Ramen Workshop for about a year, until they open a restaurant in Tokyo. READ MORE: Where to find great ramen in Philly Advertisement We realized that it is a doable thing and very possible its going to be challenging, but its challenging to run a restaurant here [in Philly], too, Pryor said. ESO will open on South Fourth Street, in the space where they currently process their noodles, in September and will feature one to two Japanese style-ramen bowls (think niboshi or dried fish ramen) for counter seating, and gyokai tsukemen, a dipping-style pork and fish dish, available through reservation-only dinners in the dining room behind the noren curtain. This six-seat shop that we have at ESO will be our test run for Japan just running a little shop with me and Jesse, Steigerwald said. Steigerwald and Pryors culinary footprint began with dinners at Pryors apartment, which evolved to pop-ups and eventually, the BYOB brick-and-mortar on South Third Street in 2019. The two take research trips to Japan once or twice a year, where they slurp many bowls of ramen and spend time with local chefs. Since 2018, the couple has ventured out to see chef Hiroshi Nukui of Menya Nukaji in the Shibuya region of Tokyo, building a relationship with Nukui and later in May 2023 collaborating on a pop-up at the ramen shop. Pryor has dreamed of moving to Japan as soon as he kind of fell in love with ramen, Steigerwald said. Serving bowls over the years with limited ingredients in the U.S., Pryors desire to be in a city with better ingredients grew with each trip overseas. Jesse has been studying ramen for about seven years, Steigerwald said. The first time he went to Tokyo in 2018, he dreamed of one day having a shop there, but it seemed like a pipe dream. After running Neighborhood Ramen in Philly for four-plus years [and] when we did the pop-up in May last year, we felt that it was no longer just a pipe dream. The Inquirer had an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the workshop behind the noren curtain at the upcoming ESO, revealing how some of the finest ramen noodles in Philadelphia are made. Transforming water, salt, and flour into ramen noodles It all begins with the kansui, or alkaline water. Steigerwald mixes salt, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, and water, adjusting the ratios based on the desired texture for the noodles. She then pops it in the fridge to dissolve the salts. Meanwhile, Pryor measures out noodle, pastry, and tapioca flours from giant buckets. Turning to the hefty Japanese noodle-making machine, Pryor pours the flour blend into the built-in mixer for six minutes of dry mixing before adding the chilled kansui in parts for even hydration. As the machine continues to hum in the background, their work playlist switches through plant and culinary podcasts like Delicious City Philly, hits by English rapper Skepta, and audio of Japanese conversations for language comprehension practice. Working in sync, the couple handles the crumbly dough, known as soboro, breaking up the large clumps that emerge from the mixer into a tray. Rollers press the soboro dough into a long sheet that rolls onto a big rolling pin. The rolled dough gets split into half on a second rolling pin and feeds into the machine combining the two layers of dough this process, called sheeting, goes through two rounds for a thick roll of four-layer dough. Hydration is really big [in this process], Steigerwald said. The huge roll of dough rests for about an hour, allowing it to fully hydrate and the gluten to form. After, the dough is thinned. Once the cutting equipment snaps into the machine, Pryor gets comfortable on a stool in front, weighing out each batch of thin-cut noodles and packing them into neat little bunches. At the end of the day, Steigerwald and Pryor dust off their flour-covered clothes and leave the workshop with about 120 pounds of noodles an average 360 ramen bowls in the Neighborhood Ramen kitchen. (The two also make an additional amount for Cambodian hot spot Mawn in Bella Vista, and roughly two more batches on Saturdays and Sundays.) Its really nice to have a partner that youre on the same page with you both have the same work ethic, Steigerwald said. You can pick each other up when ones not feeling 100% and bring each other back to why were here and why were doing this. READ MORE: Owner of Tokyos viral Philly cheesesteak joint dishes on what he loves most about the city A bit of Philly in Tokyo And its the same grit and grind they plan to take to Japan. I would say the things that we will take with us from Philadelphia are more philosophical, Pryor said. Rather than cheesesteak ramen bowls, its working hard and pushing through the challenges thats very Philadelphia to me. Philly has definitely made us tough, Steigerwald said. I think that is what gives me confidence that we can do this anywhere in the world, as long as we have that hardworking spirit. Steigerwald and Pryor arent looking to do anything crazy, but rather putting our heads down, being humble, and working our [butts] off, she added. [Were] showing that even though were foreigners, we can have the same dedication to the craft and putting out quality ramen in the same league as the chefs we admire, she said. Its not necessarily about competing but being inspired by other shops and contributing to the ramen scene as a whole. The president of the union representing roughly 10,000 Philadelphia municipal workers has been removed from office for making decisions on staff salaries and certain other expenditures without getting approval from the unions executive board. Ernest Garrett was elected president of AFSCME District Council 33 in 2020, unseating incumbent Herman Pete Matthews, who had held the position for more than two decades. He vowed to bring respect, dignity back to DC33. A judicial board for AFSCME at the international level found that Garrett made numerous unilateral decisions to change staff salaries, according to a copy of the AFSCME decision obtained by The Inquirer. The report also said that Garretts hiring of his sister-in-law for a catering job, while not technically a violation, gave the appearance of nepotism. His business relationship with another family member, whose company made hooded sweatshirts for the union, created the appearance of improper conduct, the decision said. Advertisement During the judicial boards investigation, which was launched in October, Garrett testified that he cut the salaries of district council employees by $10,000 to $50,000, according to the report, dated Feb. 20. I didnt know you needed board approval. Now I know, Garrett said in an interview Wednesday. I wanted to eliminate wasteful spending. Also to save money, Garrett merged some jobs as people left their positions, he said, but he didnt know that required board approval. He said he will likely appeal the judicial boards decision, but for now hes going back to work proudly as a dues-paying member of District Council 33. Before his 2016 election as business agent for the union, a position he held until he became president, Garrett worked as a water department employee for 18 years. Leading District Council 33 is no small job. Its one of the biggest unions in the region, with 15 locals representing municipal employees including sanitation workers, correctional officers, and library staff. Its members could essentially shut down the city by going on strike, and their contracts are pivotal in the citys budget. The allegations against Garrett were initially brought by a group of officers for DC33 locals, including Omar Salaam, who is vice president of DC33. Salaam said the district council will follow its constitution with regard to a leadership transition to finish out Garretts term, which ends in May. Until that is settled, Salaam is DC33s top leader, he confirmed. We have some work we need to do to stabilize our council, Salaam added. Garrett is also barred from holding any elected position in ASFCME for four years. The decision noted that there was no evidence he directly benefited from the violations, so his penalty was lessened. Natalia Perez Santos, an AFSCME official, said the judicial panels decision followed a thorough investigation, and actions that violate AFSCMEs constitution are not taken lightly. Now, we must move forward to ensure that we are building a stronger union for the dedicated members of DC33 who depend on their voice on the job to secure fair wages, safer working conditions, and a brighter future for their families, Santos said. AFSCMEs decision said nine job salaries were modified without board approval, including two positions that were merged. Brother Garretts defense that he relied on a practice established by his predecessors in office over multiple years does not justify his violations of the international constitution, the decision said. While the district council may have saved money through Brother Garretts actions (as he alleges), it does not excuse the violations. Garrett wrote a letter to DC33 members on Wednesday and posted it to the district councils Facebook page, but it was taken down within hours. In the letter, Garrett emphasized the judicial panels statement that no evidence showed Garrett had personally benefited from his violations. And thats exactly how I tried to lead our union for the benefit of the members alone, never myself, Garrett wrote. The Municipal Services Building, on the north side of City Hall, is one of the many office buildings around City Hall where workers may be required to work five days per week under Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's proposed plans. Read more Mayor Cherelle L. Parker made clear last week that she wants to see city workers in the office full-time. Philadelphia can only truly say we are open for business when all of our workers are back in the office Monday through Friday, and youll be hearing more from me on the citys plan to bring city workers back, she said in a statement to The Inquirer. That quote reverberated among the citys workforce. Philadelphia employees who spoke with The Inquirer said they worry such a policy would make people leave municipal employment, and some said they and other colleagues are already job-hunting. The pivot to full-time office work comes amid a staffing crisis in which almost one of every five municipal jobs is vacant. Advertisement READ MORE: City workers say they feel like pawns for Center City revival as Mayor Parker pushes for full-time in-office requirement We know that the removal of hybrid will just demolish morale, said David Wilson, president of AFSCME Local 2187, District Council 47. DC 47 represents much of the citys currently hybrid workforce, including professional and supervisory roles. This is 2024. We would like to see the city of Philadelphias workforce be treated like the modern-day professionals that they are. During last years mayoral campaign, Parker spoke about bringing municipal workers back to the office more often. She argues that it is important to have parity between the citys office-based workers and those who have jobs that require them to be on-site. She has also said ending hybrid work would boost foot traffic in Center City, help small businesses, enhance public safety by putting more eyes on the street, and make it easier for private-sector employers to ask their workers to come back more often. As the Parker administration readies a return-to-work policy, it does so with a central principle in mind: We seek to establish a framework of collaboration and efficiency and delivering on the Mayors promise of a more visible and accessible city workforce for our citizens, administration spokesperson Joe Grace said in a statement. He estimates 80% of city employees are already working in-person. Well continue to work closely with a wide array of stakeholders on the implementation of this important policy in the months and time ahead, Grace added. The Inquirer spoke with workers across nine departments about Parkers forthcoming proposal. Most of those interviewed asked for anonymity to speak frankly. The administration recently instituted a rule that all public statements by municipal employees be approved by the mayors office. City workers argue that the policy would penalize parents and other caregivers, that COVID remains a risk, and that the commute and City Hall station itself are unsafe. Others noted that because of the citys residency requirements, making them spend more time downtown would just shift where in Philadelphia their dollars are spent. The idea of coming back to the office to support the revitalization of downtown, in many cases, offended them. Its really clear that shes just using us as pawns to make Center City look [better], said a Water Department engineer. Thats not what my job is for. Worker exodus coming? Engineers with the Water Department, urban planners with the Department of Planning and Development, and social workers with the Department of Human Services are some of the city employees who currently benefit from a flexible hybrid work schedule that they argue is the new norm in the private sector and in the federal government. A lot of the best people who are working for the city will not stay, said a city outreach employee whose job involves office work and interacting with residents in their neighborhoods. Multiple people I know saw [Parkers statement] and immediately said, Its time to look for a new job. The Water Department engineer noted that workers in the agency have begun receiving messages from recruiters on LinkedIn, who are using the potential end of hybrid work as an inducement to leave municipal employment. I had never really gotten LinkedIn messages before, but now Ive started getting some that say [things like], With the recent changes to the remote policy at Water, maybe youre interested in other opportunities, said the engineer. Under former Mayor Jim Kenney, the administration established a virtual hybrid policy with the unions that allowed departments to individually bargain how many days a week their workers had to be in the office. At first, two days a week in-office was standard, but some agencies eventually had their workers come in more often, creating a patchwork of requirements across city government. One worker with the Office of the Director of Finance told The Inquirer they are required in the office only once a month. Parkers planned policy change comes as some major private-sector employers in the region, including Comcast and Independence Blue Cross, are trying to bring their workers into the office more often. But few companies are asking for five days a week. Boosters of hybrid work say that city government should preserve perks such as work from home because it is not able to pay its workers as much as the private sector. Wilson of Local 2187 said average pay across the unit is $66,640. The vaunted benefits of public-sector work have also been reduced, they say, specifically citing a 2019 pension change that pushed younger workers toward a 401(k) system. Part of taking a city job is that youre usually paid less than your private-sector counterparts, but it comes with good benefits, said another Water Department employee. One of those benefits right now is the hybrid schedule. Theyre not paying us any more, but theyre taking away our work-life balance. Where city workers live Many municipal jobs have residency requirements. Data provided by Local 2187 show that many local government employees reside on the edges of the city. Roxborough, parts of the Northeast, and West Philadelphia near City Line Avenue have the highest concentrations of these unionized city workers. Although the city purchased SEPTA Key Advantage cards for its employees, reducing the financial cost of commuting, the trip to Center City from those outer neighborhoods takes time that many municipal workers are not happy to surrender. Thats especially true as SEPTA service continues to fall short of pre-2020 levels, as operator shortages result in frequently canceled buses, and Regional Rail schedules still arent back to pre-pandemic frequency. Some city workers who use the Market-Frankford Line and, to a lesser extent, the Broad Street Line emphasized that they did not feel safe commuting by public transit. Because of the safety concerns on SEPTA, and the increase in violence and uncontrolled guns in the city, its causing anxiety, said a social worker with the Department of Human Services who lives in upper North Philadelphia. It affects your mental health, thinking about trying just to get to work with the way the city is right now. Workers also emphasized that with hybrid work, they could support businesses in their neighborhoods, as well as those in Center City. Were supporting other Black and brown businesses throughout the community that dont get the same kind of financial support as Center City businesses, said the social worker. Why everybody? Many municipal workers in fields such as sanitation, streets, and fire were never able to work from home because their roles require in-person work. And other city employees, such as most City Council staff, have already moved toward more in-person work. Each Council member has decided the policy for their staff, and several Council members decided five days in-person would be the best arrangement, said Vincent Thompson, communications director for Council President Kenyatta Johnson. We are more effective as a team and certainly more accessible to our constituents when were here all the time, said Max Weisman, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas communications director, noting that Thomas has allowed case-by-case flexibility for personal and family needs. Wilson, president of Local 2187, says Parker has argued to him and other labor leaders that increased in-person requirements for office-based workers is an equity issue because large swathes of the public-sector workforce never had the option to work remotely. But some workers argued that there are better ways to achieve equity between garbage collectors and Revenue Department auditors. Bringing city workers who can work from home back to the office full-time doesnt improve the quality of life for city workers who work in the field or at branches, said a worker with the Department of Planning and Development. If you want to improve their working conditions, they should just be paid more. Mayor Cherelle Parker signs executive orders in her new office on Inauguration Day at City Hall in Philadelphia on Jan. 2, 2024. Her desire to have city workers return to the office five days a week is not going over well. 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! Its Thursday. Itll be partly sunny at times with a high near 48, but theres a chance it may rain later in the afternoon. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has a plan to bring city workers back to the office five days a week. But some are worried that the pivot to full-time office work will have negative consequences at a time when almost one of every five municipal jobs is already vacant. In our lead story, hear from some employees on their concerns surrounding Parkers proposal. Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) Advertisement If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Last week, Mayor Parker told The Inquirer: Philadelphia can only truly say we are open for business when all of our workers are back in the office Monday through Friday, and youll be hearing more from me on the citys plan to bring city workers back. The Inquirer spoke with workers across nine departments about the mayors forthcoming plan. Most of them asked for anonymity to speak frankly on recruitment efforts, safety concerns and pressure to revive Center City. There are worries that doing away with hybrid work will drive people out of municipal employment amid a staffing crisis. Some said that they and other colleagues are already job hunting. The workers argue that the policy would penalize parents and other caregivers, that COVID remains a risk, and that the commute and City Hall station itself are unsafe. Others noted that the idea of coming back to the office to support the revitalization of downtown, in many cases, offended them. In their own words: Its really clear that shes just using us as pawns to make Center City look [better], said a Water Department engineer. Thats not what my job is for. David Wilson, president of AFSCME Local 2187, District Council 47, represents much of the citys currently hybrid workforce, including professional and supervisory roles. He said that morale will be diminished once hybrid work is no longer an option. Keep reading for more on workers pushing back on Parkers plan. Every year, PennDot receives about 20,000 personalized license plate applications so people can show off their regional pride (GO BIRDS), express their love (NO1 NANA), and dispense advice to other drivers (PASS ME). But many dont cross the proverbial finish line because, well, they crossed the line. PennDot has rejected 2,872 vanity plates in its history. How (and why) they do it: PennDot staffers check plates against an internet acronym dictionary, a slang/euphemism dictionary, translations from foreign languages, and upside down and reverse readings of requested configurations. The department lists 16 reasons a request would be denied, but some drivers either dont read them or, like stop signs, they ignore them. The Inquirers Stephanie Farr spent hours poring over the full list of scrapped plates. She came to find that each one was an insight into a Pennsylvanians mind and how they want to express themselves in seven characters or less. Some examples: LFG PHLS (Lets [expletive] go Phils) HGIH MI (Im high backwards) FECKIT (PennDot doesnt take kindly to tangential swear words, like this Irish euphemism) 2020SUX (because people really wanted to express their disdain for the first year of this decade) From clever to crude, see more rejected plates in Stephanie Farrs latest. What you should know today Trivia time A rogue animal was spotted walking along I-95 early Tuesday morning. What was it? A) alligator B) bear C) horse D) deer Think you know? Check your answer. What we're... Learning: Philly-area homeowners are staying in their homes longer than most. Hearing: Potholes in the Philadelphia region are getting fixed this week. Catching up on: Reesa Teesas wild Who TF Did I Marry? TikTok series. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Strut down the runway like you mean it for this annual celebration of local style NAY FELLOWSHIP HIKE Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Melanie Ellison-Roach who correctly guessed Wednesdays answer: Dilworth Park. Photo of the day Todays date is kind of cool 2/22 though its not quite Twosday. Thanks for spending the morning with me. Ill bring you the latest happenings tomorrow. By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. "Destruction by Fire of Pennsylvania Hall. On the night of the 17th May, 1838." Read more Philadelphia has yet to acknowledge or atone for the cruel and callous violence it inflicted upon its Black residents in the pre-Civil War era. In a 20-year period between 1829 and 1849, the citys Black community suffered a series of very brutal race riots that saw mobs of white people attack Black people in their homes, burn Black buildings to the ground, and beat Black people to death in the street. Racial tensions in the city had been simmering for several years, fueled by white residents deep-seated disgust at having to compete with Black people for jobs, the Black communitys aspirations for social advancement, the increasing militancy of the abolition movement, and the waves of Black people migrating to Philadelphia from the South, especially formerly enslaved people. Philadelphias hostility to the movement to end slavery immediately known as the immediate abolition movement was the root cause of a riot in 1829. Fanny DArusmont, an English social reformer and abolitionist, caused an uproar that summer when she gave a series of speeches in the city calling for freedom for enslaved people. Her lectures enraged a large segment of white Philadelphia society; on Nov. 22, their rage exploded into a riot. Advertisement Only a few years later, in the Flying Horses riot of 1834, at least 44 dwellings home to Black families were damaged or destroyed. The disturbance started as a series of minor racial incidents, including a fight on Aug. 8 between Black residents and white firemen from the Fairmount Engine Co. On Aug. 12, a mob of several hundred young white men, some armed with clubs, advanced to the Flying Horses, a tavern near Seventh and South Streets named after a popular carousel on the property, seeking revenge. The mob destroyed the carousel, demolished the tavern, and attacked any Black person found in the vicinity. The following day, the mob launched an all-out assault. Rioters broke into the homes of Black Philadelphians, beat the inhabitants with clubs, destroyed their furniture, and pillaged their personal belongings. The mob launched an all-out assault The rampage lasted through Aug. 15. Less than a year later, the 1835 riot was sparked by the beating of white attorney Robert R. Stewart by his Black servant. Hell-bent on collective punishment, a white mob numbering 1,500 people broke into a collection of Black-owned houses south of Catharine Street known as Red Row and assaulted any young Black man found inside. One petrified Black man jumped from his roof to try to escape the rioters. The mob found his leap amusing, gave him a round of applause, and let him go free. Perhaps the most well-known race riot in Philadelphia history, the 1838 riot is infamous for the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall. Built by abolitionists at Sixth and Haines Streets, the hall opened on May 14. Three days later, a pro-slavery mob burned it to the ground. The first sign of trouble came on Pennsylvania Halls opening day, when a mob began to form outside and someone threw rocks through the windows. On May 15, signs were discovered posted around the city calling on all citizens who respect the right of property to stop the hall proceedings, forcibly if they must. By nightfall on May 16, the mob had grown to around 3,000. On May 17, approximately 15,000 rioters broke down the hall doors and set it aflame. Firemen arrived on the scene, but instead of fighting the fire, they decided to let the fire burn. The 1842 riots, known as the Lombard Street riots, began on Aug. 1, when Black people were marching in a parade marking the end of slavery in Jamaica. When a white mob began pelting them with projectiles, the marchers fought back, and the altercation erupted into a riot. Again, Black residents and their homes were targeted. Smith Hall, built by a wealthy Black man near Seventh and Lombard Streets to replace Pennsylvania Hall, was burned to the ground. So was the nearby Presbyterian church. READ MORE: How Haitian immigrants and local Black resistance helped subvert slavery in 18th-century Philadelphia | Opinion A main target of the mob was the home of Black leader Robert Purvis, who oversaw Underground Railroad activity in the city. Purvis sat on a staircase in his home armed with guns while rioters lurked outside. Forced to flee to his country home in Bucks County, his absence temporarily brought Underground Railroad work in the city almost to a standstill. The 1849 riot was kindled by one of the gravest crimes a Black man could commit in the 19th century: having consensual sex with a white woman. On Oct. 9, a white mob attacked a building where Benjamin Jackson, a Black man, lived with his white wife, first pelting it with stones. Around 9 p.m., rioters set the house on fire, which ended up burning several adjacent Black-owned buildings and businesses. The wrath of these riots had a devastating effect on the citys Black population. Hundreds of people were chased from the city, and most never returned. For a while, Black leaders, seemingly in shock, began to move away from provocative issues like abolition, before waking up and recommitting themselves to antislavery and civil rights. Philadelphia must show remorse for its inhumane treatment of Black people in the antebellum period. As a first step, it can dispose of false notions about racial harmony in the North, and start telling the truth about its own history. Greg Johnson is a writer and editor in Philadelphia and the creator of The History of Black Philadelphia Facebook page. He is working on a book about the history of Black people in Philadelphia. gjohnson41@outlook.com Long before Alexei Navalnys death, Donald Trump had zero moral qualms about leaders who commit murder, like Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin, writes Trudy Rubin. Read more Blame America. Blame Joe Biden. Blame Alexei Navalny for his own death. But never blame Vladimir Putin. Donald Trumps continued refusal to criticize the Russian leader for the death of Russian dissident Navalny is a stunner, even if you have been numbed by Trumps constant pandering to Putin. Trumps response has been to portray himself as an innocent victim of corrupt U.S. courts and politicians while continuing to boast about his relationship with the Russian strongman. No word of criticism for a Russian system of telephone justice, where a top official calls the judge and dictates the verdict. Not a word about the horrific Polar Wolf maximum security penal colony in the freezing Russian Artic, where Navalny was tortured and died under circumstances that may never be clear. Especially since the Kremlin is refusing to turn over his body to his mother unless she agrees to a secret funeral. Advertisement READ MORE: Vladimir Putin killed Alexei Navalny. It is a stark warning to the West | Trudy Rubin No mention from Trump of Putins decades of killing and/or poisoning dozens of journalists and political opponents. Yet, he managed a slap at Navalny for being foolish enough to return from Berlin to sure arrest in Moscow after being treated for poison administered by Putins security officials. No comprehension of a principled sacrifice made to fight dictatorship in Russia. Ive heard the explanations of why Trump behaves this way: the embrace of isolationism, Putin as an exemplar for evangelicals of anti-wokeness and Christian values, a Trumpian desire to hobnob with the big mens club of powerful dictators. But I believe the real reason is Putin-envy. How can Trump decry Putin, when the Kremlin killer is only doing exactly what Trump wishes he could do in perhaps not so lethal terms if only the U.S. system of checks and balances didnt constrain him? That is, delivering vengeance to his enemies if he wins a second term. The whole idea was perfectly summed up in the Trump legal teams argument in January before a federal appeals court, claiming former presidents are immune from criminal prosecution, even for murders they ordered while in office. Judge Florence Pan asked, Could a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival be subject to criminal prosecution? Trumps lawyer, D. John Sauer, effectively said no, unless they had first been impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate. (No president has ever been so convicted.) A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected this claim, and Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily suspend the lower courts action, pending a formal appeal. I have to believe that even this Supreme Court would ultimately reject Trumps premise. So, one has to ask: What else than Putin-envy could make Trump so unwilling to condemn Navalnys murder and to call Putin out for the killer he is? You will recall that Trump declared during his 2016 presidential campaign that he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters. Long before Navalnys death, the likely GOP presidential candidate had zero moral qualms about leaders who commit murder. Just recall in his 2017 Super Bowl interview with Fox News, when he shoved aside criticism of Putin as a killer by insisting: There are a lot of killers. Weve got a lot of killers. Do you think our countrys so innocent? In other words, after 17 years of Putin after opposition leader Boris Nemtsov had been shot dead in front of the Kremlin, after high profile Russian intelligence defector Alexander Litvinenko had been killed by Russian agents with polonium in London, and dozens of other enemies had been dispatched by Putin at home and abroad Trump had nothing bad to say about the Russian leader and nothing good to say about America. Trumps take was echoed by his acolyte Tucker Carlson, after the latters sycophantic interview with Putin shortly before Navalnys death. Following the interview, Carlson was asked by a TV interviewer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, why he didnt ask about the imprisoned Navalny or the assassinations of Kremlin opponents. Every leader kills people, including my leader, Carlson responded. Leadership requires killing people. In the wake of Navalnys death, and his gushing videos praising Moscow supermarkets and subways, Carlson labeled the event barbaric. Yet, he insisted to Londons Daily Mail that people who say Putin killed him are idiots. Given that Putins minions had nearly killed Navalny in 2020 and Putin had ensured the dissident would suffer for decades in a brutal prison, only a useful idiot such as Carlson could make such a dumb remark. (The term useful idiot was coined by Vladimir Lenin for naive Western intellectuals who blindly followed the Bolsheviks.) Consider how free Putin believes himself to murder opponents at home or in Europe, as he watches Trump instruct the GOP to cut off aid to Ukraine and threaten to abandon NATO members to Russian attack. This week, the bullet-riddled body of Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian military defector, was found in Spain, where he had been living. After Kuzminov flew his Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine in August, interviews on Russian state-controlled TV made clear he would be assassinated. He should have remained in Ukraine. In Carlsons interview, Putin suggested he might be open to swapping Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who is being held on trumped-up spying charges, if Germany released a Russian agent who fatally shot a former Chechen rebel in broad daylight in a Berlin park in 2019. In other words, the release of an American hostage depends on whether Germany permits a Russian assassin to go free. READ MORE: History wont forget GOPs bow to Putin over Ukraine | Trudy Rubin Meantime, inside Russia, a prominent pro-war Russian blogger has reportedly died by suicide this week after he angered the Kremlin by posting that the Russian army lost 16,000 soldiers during its recent capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. (The Kremlin keeps military casualty figures secret.) Russians joke grimly that suicide means either tea or the window, meaning poison or defenestration. Even pro-war Russians are at risk of being murdered if they utter any truths or embarrassing statistics. This is the Kremlin regime that Trump and Carlson claim is superior to our democratic system. This is the modus operandi Putins political murder at will that Trump and Carlson justify by saying every leader does it, even in America. That is a grotesque lie so long as our imperfect system retains independent courts, a Congress that functions, and fact-based media that arent overtaken by internet conspiracy mongers. Trumps disdain for Navalny and the embrace of his killer makes clear the risk America is facing: electing a man infected with Putin-envy in 2024. The Philadelphia Board of Ethics is moving to amend city campaign finance regulations in the wake of its botched lawsuit against the super PAC that supported Jeff Browns unsuccessful campaign in last years mayoral election. The most notable change would clarify what constitutes illegal coordination between candidates and independent expenditure committees, political groups that can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts but are legally required to operate separately from candidates campaigns. That issue was at the center of the legal fight last year between the ethics board, Brown, and the super PAC supporting him. In its April lawsuit against For a Better Philadelphia, the board accused Brown of improperly coordinating with the PAC and its related nonprofit because he raised money for it in the months before he launched his campaign in late 2022. The suit made waves in the mayors race and contributed to the longtime ShopRite proprietors fifth-place finish in the primary, which Mayor Cherelle L. Parker won. Advertisement READ MORE: Inside the Board of Ethics case against the super PAC supporting mayoral candidate Jeff Brown Months after the primary, a judge threw out the boards lawsuit, which Brown said was vindication of his actions in the run-up to the mayors race. Last month, he and For a Better Philadelphia filed a lawsuit of their own, accusing the ethics board of conducting a harassment campaign to hurt his candidacy. For a Better Philadelphia won the initial case by arguing that the coordination rules do not apply to candidates-to-be before they launch their campaigns. The board, meanwhile, pointed to a provision in its regulations that says coordination occurs if a campaign or candidate has solicited funds for or directed funds to the [super PAC] making the expenditure, but only if the solicitation occurred within the 12 months before the election that the expenditure seeks to influence. After Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Joshua Roberts ruled in favor of the super PAC, the board initially planned to appeal the decision to the Commonwealth Court. But it later announced it would instead amend its regulations to clarify its position, forgoing a drawn-out legal fight. Jordana Greenwald, the boards general counsel, unveiled the draft regulation amendments at the ethics board meeting Wednesday. The changes include provisions that directly respond to the circumstances involved in the For a Better Philadelphia dispute, such as: A coordinated expenditure is an expenditure made by a spender in concert, cooperation, consultation, or collaboration with an individual who is a candidate at the time of the expenditure, regardless of whether they were a candidate at the time the conduct constituting coordination took place. In many ways, the updated regulations reiterate what the boards stance has been since at least 2018, when it issued an advisory opinion that made clear it considered coordination could occur before future candidates publicly launch their campaign. But the boards own regulations were muddled because other provisions appeared to indicate that coordination could occur only after someone filed paperwork to launch a campaign or publicly announced a candidacy. Had the regulatory changes been in place before last years elections, Browns actions in the run-up to the mayors race could have resulted in the largest-ever fine issued by the ethics board. On the other hand, its likely that Brown and For a Better Philadelphia would have gone about things differently if the regulations were clearer at that time. Brown did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The five board members will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes at 1 p.m. March 20 before deciding whether to approve the changes. Families in Mayfield, Kentucky went about their night just like any other. Watching television, doing dishes and putting their little ones to bed. They had no idea disaster would soon strike. On the evening of December 10, 2021, a catastrophic tornado hit their city. It struck with winds of up to 190 miles per hour, causing widespread outages and devastation throughout the community. Precious lives were lost, families were displaced and resources like electricity and water were scarce. The tornado left a mark on the city that remains an impact to this day. Two years later, Mayfield continues to work towards a full recovery and rebuild what was lost. No stranger to weather emergencies This was not the first major weather emergency Mayfield had experienced. An ice storm in 2009 left 10,000 residents without power. The service provider lost all communication capabilities and the slick roads stalled restoration efforts. Add to the challenge no precedent for such a large outage. Marty Ivy, the general superintendent of Mayfield Electric & Water Systems, became adamant that he and his team be better prepared for future emergencies. He created a list of challenges they faced from the ice storm, mistakes they made in their response efforts and ideas for improvement next time. Little did he know how helpful this would be 12 years later. Image credit: Xylem Image credit: Xylem Image credit: Xylem Facing disaster once again The tornado touched down at night, and its vast destruction only took 3 minutes. The severe weather tragically took 22 lives and leveled 481 homes, businesses and structures. Uncertainty and grief filled the community when they found the path of destruction to be more than a mile wide. Yet, the team at Mayfield Electric & Water Systems turned their grief into action. My first thought was, Are my employees okay? said Ivy. I connected with each of my managers, and they began making calls to the rest of our team members. Once he found his crews were safe, Ivy secured 100 hotel rooms in neighboring communities for employees, so they would have electricity, running water and temporary housing for their families. Giving them a warm place to stay allowed his employees to put their best foot forward and go to work for their community. Recovery efforts began with evaluating their equipment and checking the power grid, transformers and substations. They discovered most everything was destroyed including the main office, the computers and servers and some of the fleet of bucket and digger trucks. They immediately purchased new trucks to begin work. Help poured in With $45 million in damages, it was clear the City of Mayfield needed all the help it could get. Vendors, friends and strangers alike poured in from neighboring towns and states to lend a hand. It all happened so quickly, said Ivy. On Friday, we had a company of 42 employees. On Monday, we had 250 people helping us. From linemen to water operators and pipe fitters, people from all over the Tennessee Valley and Kentucky were there to pitch in. Of course, the utility industry is known for its mutual aid. Everyone helps each other out, said Ivy. One of the first groups to call and offer support was [a Washington, DC-based] provider of smart technologies and services for utilities. Weve been a customer of theirs for 12 years now, and I consider them my friends. Within 48 hours, the engineers visited Mayfield to check the equipment. They ensured both electric and water meters continued to provide reliable operations alongside the service providers communication network in the storms aftermath. The services provider also partnered with Americares to set up a charitable campaign that yielded $28,000 in relief funds for Mayfield. The neighboring utility, West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative, pitched in, as well. The assistance enabled Mayfield to bring three circuits back online and to restore power at the local hospital just five days after the tornado. The diligent persistence and teamwork of crews and volunteers sped up the outage restoration timeline and resulted in: Bringing the substation back online within one week; Reenergizing more than 80 percent of the city within two weeks; Restoring power to all customers who could be reconnected to the grid within one month. Times like these emphasize how important relationships are. As Ivy looks back on the 2021 tornado, he says close-knit partnerships were key to his teams resilience. You cant do it yourself, said Ivy. So many people poured their hearts out to help us and I will never be able to repay them. Using technology to persevere Mayfield lost a lot, but the community support they gained, coupled with the existing technology is what helped them prevail. They used their advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and meter data management (MDM) system to remotely track each time someones power was restored. The AMI system also helped the team identify the biggest water issues and leaks in the tornados path and repair them before they became major breaks. In just 30 hours, Mayfields water system was fully operational and pressurized, providing more time for them to prioritize power restoration. Its invaluable to have an AMI system, said Ivy. We used ours to export visual graphs of our electric restoration progress. Knowledge is power, and we used this information to understand our remaining workload and to share status reports with the community. Ivy credits the success so far to slowing down, planning and committing to not push his team too hard. They worked tirelessly for several weeks, but he capped their hours to prioritize safety and productivity. The recovery wouldn't be what it is today without the teams discipline and precision to ensure an efficient recovery and safe environment. Mayfield now has a more concrete process for responding to crises like the ones they experienced in 2009 and 2021. If a weather emergency happens again, they are prepared. Meanwhile, they hope their story helps others. According to ABC, Australian intelligence has linked Ermakov to REvil, a prominent Russian cybercrime group known for providing hacking tools to beginners in return for a portion of any collected ransoms. Experts in cybercrime have also suggested that Ermakov likely did not act alone in the theft of Medibanks data. A place on the 5-Star Brokerages list will provide your company with professional recognition as one of the best brokerage businesses in the US market. Winners can use this ranking as a marketing tool to enhance their business reputation and credibility. This achievement has led to the highest ever return on equity (BOPAT ROE) for the company, standing at 23.1%. Further elevating its financial standing, Zurich has also announced a 12% rise in earnings per share (EPS) in $ terms, with a 20% increase on an adjusted basis, and a 10% increase in net income attributable to shareholders, amounting to $4.4 billion. Third party litigation financing is a secretive and unregulated practice that increases frivolous lawsuits and contributes to higher litigation costs, which are then passed on to households and businesses, and can result in higher prices for gas, groceries and insurance, Logan McFaddin, APCIA vice president of state government relations, said in a statement. Without important reforms, this issue is not going away and is likely to only get worse. In the final weeks of session, it remains critical for Florida legislators to implement common-sense reforms that address transparency and disclosure and protect consumers. The addition of six new insurers has done little to stabilize the market, leaving many Floridians struggling with coverage costs. Economist Benjamin Keys from the Wharton School was quoted by Newsweek expressing concern that the real estate sector could be crippled without access to affordable insurance, thereby affecting the broader economy. Christopher Shafer, VP, head of North American cyber, Odyssey Reinsurance Company also affirmed his belief that the cyber re/insurance market is well-poised for growth, and he said the reinsurer is also seeing an increase in limits being pushed up, which will inherently bring some additional premium to the sector. Overall, he said, he expects to see new segments and different geographies being accessed. Like Egan and Finley, he does not expect growth in the market to be driven by rate just yet. Donald Trumps planned appeal of a $355 million judgment against him in his civil fraud case may focus on the former presidents contention that there were no actual victims from his conduct at issue in the case, which was brought under a New York anti-fraud law typically used to protect consumers. The civil lawsuit, filed by New York state Attorney General Letitia James in 2022, centered on misleading financial statements that Trump provided to banks to secure better terms on loans that he ultimately repaid. Unlike many similar cases, this one did not involve ordinary people losing lots of money. The attorney generals office argued that the law at issue does not require the existence of victims to be enforceable. They also disputed the notion that there were no victims, saying Trumps bankers were harmed because they could have charged higher interest on loans if they knew his true net worth was lower than he claimed. Trumps claim that there were no obvious victims, while not helpful for him when presented to Justice Arthur Engoron during the trial, could be a matter of concern for appellate judges. It is unusual, and thats one of the issues here, said white collar criminal defense attorney Paul DerOhannesian, who was not involved in the case. We havent really seen this type of proceeding before against a very large New York business. In his Friday ruling, Engoron also barred Trump from running a corporation in New York or applying for a loan with a bank registered or chartered in the state for three years. The lending restriction could be particularly painful because most major banks are chartered in New York. Trump, the frontunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election, has denied wrongdoing and accused James and Engoron of political bias. James, a Democrat, brought her lawsuit in 2022 under New York Executive Law 63(12), which gives her office broad powers to file civil lawsuits for repeated or persistent fraud. This law historically has been used to protect consumers, investors and small businesses from scams, price-gouging and other predatory business practices. These cases typically involve many victims who lost large sums of money to businesses that exploited their poor financial savvy, according to legal experts. Defendants in those cases have run the gamut, from chicken suppliers to crypto exchanges and loan sharks. A common thread is often a large group of victims who were exploited because the did not know any better, according to legal experts. The attorney generals job is to protect people who cant protect themselves, Syracuse University law professor Gregory Germain said. Here, were dealing with very sophisticated lenders who are fully capable of protecting themselves and havent asked the attorney general for help. On appeal to a five-judge panel of the New York Appellate Division a mid-level state appeals court Trumps lawyers are expected to reiterate arguments they made to no avail during the trial. They told the judge that lenders at Deutsche Bank were finance experts who were obligated to do their own due diligence and were savvy enough to know that Trump was probably exaggerating his property values. Trump admitted on the witness stand in November that his company did not always provide accurate estimates of the value of some of his trophy properties to banks. Trump said the discrepancies did not matter because his estimates bore disclaimers and that he had plenty of cash to back up his loans. A former Trump banker at Deutsche Bank, David Williams, testified in November that conducting due diligence on information clients provided was standard practice. In one instance, the bank adjusted Trumps net worth down to $2.6 billion from the $4.9 billion he reported, Williams said, adding that such a revision was not unusual or atypical. Severe penalties in a novel case like this one could potentially be met with skepticism on appeal, legal experts said. They could also prompt appellate judges to consider whether the attorney general overstepped her authority, according to Germain. I think the judges are going to have to look carefully at what the powers of the attorney general are here, Germain said. Are they so broad that any lie can put you out of business, even if nobody believed it? Engoron has been unequivocal in rejecting Trumps arguments, saying in a September ruling in the case that Trumps claim about a lack of victims was completely irrelevant. In Fridays decision, Engoron said that repaying loans secured on false pretenses does not extinguish the harm that false statements inflict on the marketplace. The states lawyers are expected during the appeal to offer the same arguments they presented to Engoron. They have said this law can be used to police the integrity of the market generally and does not require complaints from victims. They are expected to emphasize Trumps outrageous conduct, including overstating his net worth by as much as $3.6 billion and lying about the size of his own apartment. They also may argue that Trumps case is unusual because few companies are accused of fraud on this scale, according to some legal experts. Theres dusk and dawn, and then theres night and day, University of Michigan business law professor Will Thomas said. The attorney general will probably push back by saying even if these were sophisticated actors, this behavior was so transparently fraudulent that it cant be standard practice. (Reporting by Jack Queen; editing by Will Dunham, Noeleen Walder and Amy Stevens) Topics New York Fraud ELKO Elko Senior Citizen Center executive director Matt McCarty explained how the nonprofit provides food options to a wide range of Elko County seniors. We use our Meals on Wheels program within the city of Elko limits and the community of Spring Creek. Its designed for anyone 60 and better whos homebound, McCarty said. We currently have 142 members that we deliver to, with 213 residences, he said, adding 115 members reside in the Elko area and 27 live in Spring Creek. In addition, the senior center holds daily group meals in its dining hall, which tends to fill with eager attendees. The meals our members get when they come to congregate dining are the same meals our Meals on Wheels folks get, McCarty said. For instance, on Wednesday the Elko Senior Center served a meal of Santa Fe chicken with Aztec grain. We have mixed vegetables, we provide them a salad, mandarin oranges and a chocolate chip cookie, he said. Financial backing for the program comes from Nevadas Aging and Disability Services Division which, in turn, receives funding from the Older Americans Act, a 1965 legislation which prompted state governments to support the needs of elderly populations. The state funding reimburses Elko Senior Citizen Center roughly $3.50 or so averaged out because we get different funding based on whether the client is here at the congregate dining room or on our Meals on Wheels, McCarty said. Grant funds support the program as well, he added. The William N. Pennington Foundation also provided a grant of functionally $2 per meal, he said. On top of the $5.50, roughly, that we already received from the grant side, we also have a suggested donation of $3.50 for Meals on Wheels folks. That helps us a little bit. However, McCarty said, our current average income for the Meals on Wheels is only $1.85. Additional donations and the senior centers general cost savings help address this issue, he said. McCarty shared some current goals and concerns for Elko Senior Citizen Centers facilities. Currently, the property sits on the corner of Ruby View Drive and Indian View Heights Drive, hemmed in at the back by city water towers. High volumes of cars tend to occupy the parking lot. We are outgrowing our building, particularly our parking, he said. For example, today we have five different groups that will be here. We just dont have room for them all at the same time. So we have to get a little creative. My office will actually be used for Nevada Legal Services to come in and do legal services with our senior members. That one is easy, because its a one-on-one visit with them. But our other rooms, weve got every room full at that point, McCarty explained. Our dining room holds about 120 people. And were averaging close to 100, 110 on a daily basis. When were full, when we have a busy day like for example, last Thursday was oven-fried chicken with mashed potatoes we dont have parking. McCarty said that if guests enter all at once in large throngs rather than in a gradual manner, we open up other rooms and put them wherever we can get them. Another imminent goal for the Elko Senior Citizen Center is to create an endowment fund, he said. The $2 that the Pennington Foundation has granted us is amazing, and certainly helpful. But we dont anticipate that it will be a forever thing. So we need to build an endowment to be able to supplement our meal income, because the only other way is to increase the amount our seniors are donating or reduce the quality or quantity of food that we give. McCarty said he would also like to raise awareness about how far the Meals on Wheels program reaches. Weve been in Spring Creek now for a year, and we received two grants over the past three years to allow a truck to be out in Spring Creek, he said. Just trying to get people to know we have that program is sometimes a bit of a challenge. If more Spring Creek community members show interest, we have a second truck that we can dedicate to Spring Creek once we get enough demand out there, McCarty said. A gang member who ran a fire restoration company has been convicted of using violence, threats of violence, and extortion to terrorize and dominate the fire restoration industry in New York City. After presiding over a two-week bench trial in December, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff for the Southern District of New York last week found Jatiek Smith guilty of racketeering and extortion conspiracies. Fire restoration or mitigation businesses provide repair, mitigation, demolition, and construction services to properties that have suffered fire damages. Smith was involved the practice of chasing fires, which refers to a fire mitigation companys or public adjusters efforts to solicit business from the owners of fire-damaged properties. One such company, First Response, primarily operated in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island but also did business in the Bronx and Manhattan. Insurance companies pay for the services of mitigation companies. Smith claimed that he worked to reduce the industrys conflicts and violence and his system was not extortionate. After he joined First Response, Smith recruited other gang members and associates to join him at the company, a firm that he would eventually take over. He and his associates formed an enterprise that not only controlled First Response but also operated outside of First Response, court documents showed. As the leader of this enterprise, Smith asserted control over the industry by first driving First Responses main competitor, American Emergency Services (AES), out of the business through violence, threats, and extortion including demanding that AES pay $100,000 to continue chasing fires, the court found. Smith Denial Smith claimed that AES was the aggressor in the industry and he worked to reduce the conflicts and violence by standing up to AES and setting up a rotation system to assure that all chasers got a minimum number of fires each month. He maintained the system was not extortionate. However, the judge found that Smiths defense was undermined by the governments proof of Smiths use of violence and extortion to enforce the rotation. Offering up these benign explanations for the rotation system is akin to a mobster calling extortion payments protection money,' the judge wrote. According to prosecutors, once Smith and his crew had established control over the industry, they imposed rules under which First Response got a preferential share of fires in the rotation system. Fires would be allocated first to Smiths chasers. Also, all fires that occurred during the night or were on Staten Island belonged to Smiths crew. The government showed how these rules were backed by threats and violence and how industry participants who violated Smiths rules were assaulted. According to the government, Smith and his crew extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars and he also maximized his own profits by concealing illegal conditions in properties and defrauding insurance companies. After AES was forced out of the industry, other companies were also extorted by being forced by threats to join the rotation system. The judge found credible evidence that ServPro and EFS were coerced into participating in the rotation system to their economic detriment and to the advantage of Smith and his co- conspirators. Overall, the judge found that the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Smith and his co-conspirators agreed to extort AES, ServPro, EFS and another individual but failed to prove extortion relating to iFlood and a contractor. The simple fact is that the government has put forward substantial evidence that violence and intimidation by Smith and his co- conspirators were used to enforce the rotation system, the judge concluded. Prosecutors evidence included recordings of Smith threatening to kill competitors and ordering an attack on a rival firms employee and videos recovered from his cellphone showing his crew members assaulting employees of rival emergency mitigation services firms. According to the government, Smith and his crew extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from industry participants and Smith also maximized his own profits from by concealing illegal conditions in properties and defrauding insurance companies. Racketeering and Insurance Fraud In terms of racketeering, Smith was charged with entering into an agreement between 2019 and June 2022 with one or more co- conspirators to conduct the affairs of an association-in-fact enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. The judge found that there was ample proof of the actual existence of such an enterprise, of Smiths participation in it, and of the commission of two or more continuous and related specified crimes, namely extortion and mail and/or wire fraud. The judge found the government did not prove a third charge against Smith of obstruction of justice. Smith admitted he has made poor choices and even committed crimes. But he insisted that none of the fights or assaults at issue in this trial occurred in order to obtain money or property from others. Smith denied being involved in any racketeering conspiracy that committed insurance fraud. He said that while he learned at one point that conditions at homes were being concealed for insurance purposes, he said the evidence at trial showed that the relevant instances barely even involved him, let alone constituted acts furthering the enterprise he was the supposed leader of. But the judge said Smith was wrong that the insurance fraud was unrelated to the purpose of dominating the fire restoration industry. The judge wrote: Dominating the fire restoration industry, including by increasing the number of fires signed by the Enterprise, was only profitable if insurance companies paid out insurance claims. Because the insurance frauds were a means to ensure those insurance claims were paid, these frauds directly facilitated the profits generated by the Enterprise through its dominance of the restoration industry and its extortion. Smiths Background Smith, 39, a pro se defendant who handled his own defense, pointed out in his closing summation that he came from projects, poverty, and prisons and joined a gang at a young age. He said he grew up in a rough neighborhood plagued with violence and spent time in a prison plagued with violence. He said he has been the victim of violence by officers. This is what he knows and how he was raised. And despite that, violence was not his first resort. He showed restraint while being threatened, intimidated, and even shot at. But at points, his anger got the better of him, his summation stated. Smith, a pro se defendant who handled his own defense, pointed out that he came from projects, poverty, and prisons and joined a gang at a young age. Smith admitted he has made poor choices and even committed crimes. But he insisted that none of the fights or assaults at issue in this trial occurred in order to obtain money or property from others. The feud with AES, the slaps and punches of public adjusters, and the violent language used toward EFS employees none of it was in service of a racketeering enterprise aimed at extorting other individuals or companies in the fire mitigation industry, he argued. Smith, of Staten Island, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and extortion conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 12. Prosecutors U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, whose office prosecuted the case, said Smiths audacious takeover of the New York City fire mitigation industry with the help of his gang associates presented a new form of organized criminal activity in the community. After a federal grand jury on June 23, 2022 indicted Smith and eight others, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security and New York police officials charged Smith and eight others including gang members with a violent racketeering and extortion conspiracy in attempting to take over an entire industry designed to help victims after a fire. Topics New York Carmakers have begun compensating leasing companies for the sliding value of used electric cars as Tesla Inc.s price cuts rip through an industry that must sell more EVs or face hefty fines. Ayvens, the biggest multi-brand leasing firm, already has received checks in recent weeks to make up for slumping prices, according to Chief Executive Officer Tim Albertsen. Leasing companies are demanding concessions from EV makers, including agreements that manufacturers will buy back vehicles, to protect against further erosion in the $1.2 trillion second-hand car market. Prices for used EVs plummeted last year as weakening demand for new battery-powered cars prompted Tesla to slash sticker prices, forcing others to follow suit. The moves are reverberating through leasing firms, such as Europe-focused Societe Generale SAs Ayvens and BNP Paribas SAs Arval, which serve as middlemen in the corporate car market that accounts for roughly 60% of sales in the region. Manufacturers today need to keep selling EVs, Albertsen said during the companys earnings call this month. We then need some kind of protection from the manufacturers in terms of their future pricing. Typically, leasing agreements are based on the estimated used value of a vehicle at the time the contract expires, with payments designed to cover depreciation. If the value drops more than expected, as it has recently for EVs, the leasing companies lose money on those cars. A range of carmakers operate leasing arms, like Volkswagen AG Financial Services, Stellantis and Credit Agricoles Leasys or Mercedes-Benz Mobility. Ayvens, formed from the 2022 merger of ALD Automotive and LeasePlan, has more than half a million EVs in its fleet. The company is in talks with carmakers to cover the risk of depreciation such as agreements to re-lease well-maintained cars a second or third time Albertsen said last week. Fueled by generous subsidies and tax breaks, corporate cars are especially popular in Europe, with Volkswagen, Stellantis and BMW leading a market with nearly 13 million deliveries last year. Fully electric cars made up nearly 16% of sales then. Carmakers need to comply with tightening fleet emission levels, or pay fines. In the European Union, the permissible level of carbon dioxide emissions will drop next year with Volkswagen still some way off, according to an analysis by market researcher Jato. In the UK, zero-emissions vehicles must make up 22% of sales this year, rising to 28% the year after. But without stable pricing in the used-EV market, Europes target for phasing out sales of new combustion-engine cars by 2035 looks less likely. To recoup the drop in second-hand values, EV leasing rates have started to go up to exceed those for combustion-engine cars, according to a study by CAR Institute that focused on Germany. There will not be an EV transition without structured and liquid markets where EVs hold their second- and third-hand values, Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois said in a note. In the end it is the difference between new and used price that is the real cost of a car. But major corporate customers have started to pull back. SAP SE this month said it will stop offering Teslas to employees because fluctuating prices are complicating planning and risk management. The move added to pressure after Hertz Global Holding Inc. in January decided to offload 20,000 EVs from its fleet. Europes biggest rental company Sixt SE also said in December would drop Teslas. All EV manufacturers are now offering buyback guarantees to leasing companies to keep selling new battery cars, said Ursula Weigl, a partner at McKinsey consultancy. While this helps shift risk into the future, carmakers remain on the hook to find used-car buyers at a decent price, or risk writedowns. US-based residual value insurer RVI Group said it had seen a surge in demand for its specialist cover in recent months as customers mostly financial institutions look to protect themselves from falling EV values. The EV market is extremely distorted by incentive schemes around the world, Weigl said. Demand is artificially stoked, and it currently ends with the second-hand market. Photograph: A logo on an electric vehicle charging station in Paris, France, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. The French government reduced electric vehicle subsidies it grants to the wealthiest half of the population and suspended a state-financed leasing plan as it seeks to avoid overspending and tries to target support to the middle class. Photo credit: Benjamin Girette/Bloomberg Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Aon and the London markets electronic trading platform, PPL. A summary of these new hires follows here. Aon Promotes Goosen as Head of Professional Services, London Global Broking Centre Insurance broker Aon plc announced the promotion of Alicia Goosen to head of its Professional Services Group, in the Global Broking Centre. Goosen will be based in London and will report into Aons head of Product Specialties & Financial & Professional Services Group, John Brosnan. In her new role, Goosen will work alongside local and international teams to support Aons professional services growth within the London market. She will be responsible for accelerating the development of market-leading, specialist solutions to address the dynamic needs of law, accounting, consulting, and design firms. Goosen has been at Aon since 2011 and previously worked as the head of Commercial Risk and chief broking officer for Aon in South Africa. Prior to this, Goosen led the Financial & Professional Services Group locally and spent more than 15 years at Marsh, where she worked as a divisional executive. Alicia brings extensive leadership experience to the role, and it is fantastic to see that we can mobilise such high calibre talent globally across the organisation. Her expertise and principal role in overseeing a large broking team and experience of direct client management, will be highly valuable in the new post, commented Brosnan. *** Mason Named Chief Exec of Londons Electronic Trading Platform PPL John Mason has been appointed as the new chief executive of PPL, the London markets electronic trading platform. Mason will take up his role in April, succeeding interim CEO Joe Gordon, whose tenure will end following a handover period. Mason was group head of Platform for the London Stock Exchange until recently. Prior to joining LSEG, he ran the European Enterprise Solutions for Bloomberg and also led Thomson Reuters response to MiFiD II and other regulatory and market structure initiatives. Following whats been a very competitive recruitment process, Im delighted weve been able to attract someone of Johns calibre to lead PPL, according to Steve Hearn, PPLs chairman. John Mason is someone whos been immersed in successful transformative projects across a range of financial services. During his career, he has acquired exceptional experience of data platform capabilities and operations. Hes uniquely placed to lead PPLs digital transformation and to enable the London Market to realise the power and value of the data it holds. Hearn offered his thanks to interim CEO Gordon, who joined PPL last year. Its fair to say that under Joes leadership PPL has successfully transitioned to a business set for growth, Hearn said. Delivering a new technology architecture, strengthening collaboration with market bodies and defining a transformative strategy, means PPL can be the market enabler to unlock the commercial benefits of digitisation. His vision and his contribution have been invaluable. Topics London Aon A North Carolina insurance agent has pleaded guilty to tax evasion and could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday. Arturo Barcenas Gonzalez, is owner of Barcenas Insurance Agency and Barcenas Financial Services in Cary, North Carolina, near Raleigh. He was arrested in 2023 after an investigation and search of his businesses found that the agency operated a cash-based enterprise that registered and titled vehicles on behalf of undocumented aliens, through the use of assumed business names, the U.S. Attorney for Eastern North Carolina said in a statement. Barcenas filed false information on his 2017 tax return and did not report more than $300,000 in revenue that year, the prosecutor said. The false filings continued through 2022, according to the criminal information sheet filed in federal court, and, altogether, Barcenas skipped more than $1 million in tax payments. The vast majority of American taxpayers pay their fair share in taxes, supporting our nations infrastructure, innovation, and military, said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. Meanwhile, Barcenas failed to file any federal tax return for years while he padded his personal accounts with money from his businesses. National Association of Insurance Commissioners records show that Barcenas had an active license and was approved as a property, casualty, accident, health and life insurance producer in North Carolina. He had been appointed with more than 30 carriers this year, including some of the largest U.S. p/c insurers. His Linkedin page and the North Carolina Secretary of State show that he also was owner of a construction company in Cary and a western wear clothing shop in Raleigh. A sentencing date for Barcenas has not been set. Topics Agencies North Carolina Anne Belinn joined Alliant Insurance Services as a vice president within its employee benefits group. Belinn will provide employee benefits consulting to a wide variety of clients nationwide. Belinn has over 25 years of experience in employee benefits consulting and served a lengthy tenure as a senior vice president and partner at Woodruff Sawyer. Alliant is headquartered in Irvine, California, Topics Alliant A California regulator has put on hold until June 19 an application by Alphabets Waymo to expand its robotaxi services to parts of the Los Angeles area and San Franciscos peninsula, amid rising safety concerns over autonomous vehicles. The application has been suspended for further staff review, a notification on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website showed on Wednesday. It was unclear when the notification was posted. The suspension of an advice letter is a procedural part of the CPUCs standard and robust review process, Waymo said in a emailed response to Reuters. An application that is not approved within the first 30 days of initial review goes into suspension for up to 120 days, according to CPUC regulations. That suspension can be extended for another 180 days if it is not approved. It can also be rejected or withdrawn. Waymo, which now operates in San Francisco and Phoenix, applied on Jan 19 to expand its driverless services, saying it would work with policymakers, first responders and community organizations. The suspension comes amid growing public hostility towards robotaxis following accidents involving Waymo and rival General Motors Cruise. A Waymo robotaxi was attacked and set on fire this month as it stopped amid Chinese New Year revelers lighting fireworks in San Franciscos Chinatown. That followed an incident in which another Waymo car struck a bicyclist at a city intersection. In October, a self-driving vehicle made by GM-owned Cruise hit and dragged a pedestrian 20 feet (6 meters). California subsequently suspended Cruises driverless testing license. The incidents have pushed California lawmakers to call for stricter regulation of robotaxis and autonomous trucks in the state. Last week, Waymo said it had recalled vehicles after two minor collisions in quick succession in Phoenix because a software error could result in their inaccurately predicting the movement of a towed vehicle. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Cynthia Osterman) Topics California Nevada regulators have issued the first license to operate a lounge where cannabis can be consumed recreationally, marking the first of what are expected to be dozens of such operations. The state Cannabis Compliance Board announced that the license was awarded to a business in Las Vegas following an inspection by agents earlier this week. The lounge dubbed Smoke and Mirrors is owned by Thrive Cannabis Marketplace, the states largest independently owned cannabis business. There are currently 19 lounges that have been approved by the compliance board for a conditional license. A final inspection will be required before a license is granted and they can open to the public. Its been years since Nevada voters first approved legalizing recreational cannabis. In 2021, lawmakers cleared the way for business owners to apply for licenses to establish on-site consumption lounges. The states cannabis industry had promoted the lounges for their economic development potential and pitched them as a draw for tourists who visit Las Vegas annually but cant legally use the products in places like hotels. Thrive Cannabis Marketplace officials said their consumption lounge will open to the public in late February. It will have a range of products for customers including cannabis-infused cocktails and will serve as a hub for artists and musicians to showcase their work. Its more than a venue, its a platform for the cannabis industry as a whole, where tourists and locals alike can be a part of a new chapter in the evolution of hospitality, said Chris LaPorte, managing partner of RESET, a Las Vegas-based cannabis hospitality company. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cannabis Nevada DURHAM, NC., February 22, 2024 Simply Easier Payments, a top-rated major provider of billing and invoicing solutions for insurance organizations, has appointed Michele Shepard as Chairperson of its Board of Directors. Shepard is a highly accomplished insurance technology executive, with more than 25 years of experience in leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Chief Commercial Officer at financial software company Paya, now part of Nuvei Corporation. Before that, Shepard was the Chief Revenue Officer at insurance software leaders Insurity and Vertafore. In addition to developing and implementing growth strategies for technology companies, she has advised leading insurance companies, investors, and global insurance brokers. For three years, Shepard served on the board of ACA Group, supporting significant go-to-market transformation, revenue growth, and margin improvement for the governance, risk, and compliance advisory company. In addition to her role with Simply Easier Payments, she serves as chairwoman of the board at Thinksurance, a German digital insurance distribution platform, and as a strategic advisor to Agentsync, a provider of digital infrastructure solutions for agencies and insurers. Even in an industry like insurance with many talented executives, Michele Shepard stands out. She has a long record of impressive results in the technology space, said Duke Williams, CEO and Founder of Simply Easier Payments. We are excited to work with Michele in continuing to execute on our growth and innovation strategy. Bradley Whitley-Williams, President of Simply Easier Payments, added: Micheles knowledge, experience, and success in driving growth for technology companies will be enormously beneficial to Simply Easier Payments, our partners, and our insurance industry clients. Shepard said: I could not be more pleased to join Simply Easier Payments at this point in the companys history. Simply Easier Payments has evolved into a top provider of payment, billing and invoicing solutions. Where many specialty payment providers very narrowly focus on one part of the market, Simply Easier has a unique consultative approach to serving its clients which creates a value-add across agencies, insurers, and service providers throughout the insurance industry. I am eager to help the company achieve its growth goals and further broaden its impact on the insurance industry. Among other personal interests, Shepard is an active volunteer. Since 2017, she has served as Strategic Advisor to Maven Clinic, an organization dedicated to offering accessible and affordable healthcare to women via a digital platform. For more information about Simply Easier Payments, visit www.simplyeasier.com. About Simply Easier Payments Run by a team of insurtech professionals that have been innovating technology in the insurance industry for decades, Simply Easier Payments is a modern payment processing platform that specializes in providing easy-to-use, secure and cost-efficient solutions to thousands of insurance agencies, brokers, carriers and premium finance companies. The platform integrates with a variety of accounting, agency management, policy management and other software platforms, making it easy for business to manage their payments, invoicing and reporting in one place. MEDIA CONTACT: Bradley Williams bradley@simplyeasier.com 800.768.0907 Topics InsurTech Tech Leadership February 22, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A total of 910 deals (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity and venture financing deals) were announced in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region during January 2024, which was a decline of 23.8% compared to the announcement of 1,194 deals during January 2023, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Deal activity remained subdued globally with all the regions experiencing decline in deals volume owing to the dent in deal-making sentiments amid the volatile market conditions. APAC region also saw decline, but it was relatively lesser compared all other regions." North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America witnessed year-on-year (YoY) decline in deal volume of 38.4%, 35.8%, 33%, and 52%, respectively, which are relatively higher compared to the decline experienced in the APAC region. An analysis of GlobalDataas Deal Database revealed that all the deal types under the coverage recorded significant decline YoY in deal volume in the APAC region. The number of M&A deals declined by 29.5% during January 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year while private equity and venture financing deals volume declined by 68.8% and 15.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, most of the key APAC markets also experienced subdued deal activity. China and India, which are the top two APAC markets in terms of deal volume, registered decline of 20.9% and 33.9%, respectively. Other markets Japan, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand witnessed YoY decline in deal volume by 25.5%, 16.7%, 6.8%, 23.5%, 25%, 46.4% and 41.2%, respectively. Notes to Editors Quotes are provided by Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData The information is based on GlobalData's Financial Deals Database This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData's team of industry experts. About GlobalData 4,000 of the world's largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData's unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData's mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. 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That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Zurich Insurance Group AGs operating profit beat estimates and announced a buyback program of up to 1.1bn Swiss francs (1.16bn). Operating profit rose 21% to 6.8bn in 2023, above analyst estimates, and resulted in the insurers highest-ever return on equity at 23.1%, with positive momentum expected to continue, the company said in a statement on Thursday. The results were driven by growth in Zurichs commercial insurance business and record performance in its life business unit. I expect this positive momentum to continue and to achieve earnings-per-share growth above 10% over the cycle, Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco said in the release. "One year into the three-year plan we are beating or running to beat all the targets for 2025." Net income rose 10% compared to the previous year to 4.05bn, slightly below analyst estimates. The firms life insurance new business premiums increased 26%. The dividend for 2023 will increase to 26 Swiss franc per share. Insurers have coped well with unexpected claims in recent years from issues such as COVID-19, climate disasters and the war in Ukraine, mainly by raising premiums and excluding some business. Zurich Insurances key property and casualty unit saw a slight increase in its operating profit of 7% to $3.9bn Swiss francs (4.1bn), driven by the increase in insurance revenue and an improvement in investment results. Last month, the Swiss firms plan to offload its $20bn Zurich Life Legacy back book in Germany to Viridium Holding fell through after the insurance consolidator pulled out of the deal due to considerations relating to Viridiums current ownership structure. Zurich, Europe's fifth-largest insurer, said at the time it was committed to finding a solution for the portfolio, which administers around 700,000 life insurance policies in Germany, and would continue to explore options. Reuters and Bloomberg. ELKO Landmark Title Assurance Agency recently a new branch in Elko. The addition marks the privately held title companys fourth branch in Nevada. The company, based in Phoenix, opened its Nevada operations in July 2020 with its first office in Las Vegas. Since that time, the growing escrow and title company also added offices in Reno and Incline Village. We are building an incredible team in Nevada of experienced escrow officers, said Greg Hulett, president of Landmark Title Nevada. Opening an office in Elko will allow us to serve more clients in that area, as we continue to expand our business throughout the state. Renee Jones was hired to fill the position of senior escrow officer in the Elko Branch. Jones comes to Landmark Title with 45 years of experience in the title and escrow industry. Hulett also hired assistant escrow officer Breana Keil and office administrator Cassie Wilcott to serve the Elko community. With branches located in key areas of Nevada, we are well positioned to work with realtors, brokers and their clients as the markets heats up, said Hulett. The new office is at 455 Eighth St. in downtown Elko. The company operates seven offices in the Greater Phoenix area, one in Prescott and now four in Nevada. To learn more about Landmark Title and its services, visit ltaag.com. Coca-Colas Irish operations has announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Dublin-based vending machine company BDS Vending, as it seeks to enhance its route-to-market capabilities. BDS Vending Solutions operates depots in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo, Limerick and Wexford. It sells a range of products including cold beverages, hot beverages, snacks and a limited fresh food assortment. In addition to its vending services offering, the company is also active in providing contract catering services to offices and other work environments. General manager of Coca-Colas Irish operations Davide Franzetti said BDS would provide us with a joint platform to build capabilities in our route-to-market, to offer our customers greater choice and to further enhance our consumer experience. BDS Vending was founded in 1993 by David Mullan and Brian Berry. In that time, it has grown to operate about 2,000 vending machines. The two founders will continue to lead the company through the transition period. The founders said they felt it was the right time to join forces with Coca-Cola and transition our business model to become part of a larger group with a much wider geographic reach. We have worked hard on innovation and our vending offering over the past three decades so bringing this model to the Coca-Cola HBC family will be an exciting journey, the pair said. The acquisition is subject to approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. If the 900MW Moneypoint coal-burning power station in West Clare doesnt convert to Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to produce electricity, "it is possible that extended power outages could occur to cover the Winter peaks in the period 2024 to 2029". That is the stark warning contained in a new ESB strategic infrastructure development (SID) Moneypoint Security of Supply application lodged with An Bord Pleanala seeking to convert Moneypoint from a coal-burning power generating station to one powered by HFO for the years 2024 to 2029. Consultants for the ESB, Mott MacDonald state that if the proposed conversion does not occur this would have a significant adverse effect, in terms of energy requirements and supply on the island of Ireland". The planning application includes the construction of two HFO tanks each with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes and the construction phase will result in the creation of 90 to 100 jobs. The EIS shows that a Moneypoint conversion to gas was ruled out after the conversion of the three Moneypoint coal units to gas would take five years to design and build. The EIS states that the costs associated with a conversion to gas included an estimated 150m on a 21km gas pipeline and an additional 90m to convert the three coal units to gas. The conversion to gas "has the potential to much greater and more complex environmental impacts than the planned HFO conversion. Asked to provide the costs of the HFO Moneypoint conversion, a spokesman for the ESB on Thursday said that the ESB "is not in a position to comment on matters relating to commercial contracts on this project". Figures provided in the extensive documentation lodged with An Bord Pleanala show that Moneypoint will continue to be a significant contributor from within the energy sector to greenhouse gas emissions after the conversion from coal to HFO. In the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)s chapter on the impact on climate lodged with the application, it concedes that "emissions from the operation of the proposed development are expected to be major adverse and significant. The EIS states that the proposed development "has a 12% lower emissions intensity than the existing coal-fired plant and presents lower emissions through transition to HFO than a do nothing scenario with continued use of coal. On the proposed developments impact on climate, the EIS states that the proposed development annual emissions "would be approximately 39-46% of total projected Irish energy sector annual emissions if operating in 2030. The EIS states that a HFO operated Moneypoint is estimated to account for 4-5% of projected national emissions across all sectors in 2030, which is the closest projection available. The EIS also state that the HFO operated Moneypoint is to operate "with limited run hours from late 2024 until the end of 2029. The 489 page EIS compiled by consultants Mott MacDonald states that the proposed development "will act as an out of market generator of last resort and will operate only when required by EirGrid for security of supply reasons. Mott MacDonald state that the project "aims to ensure that the power station remains viable as an energy generation node until 2029. The EIS states that currently Moneypoint "is a strategically important part of the energy generation network and meets on average ca.12-15% of national demand. The report states that after 2029, the ESB intends on transforming the site and redeveloping it as a hub for the offshore renewable sector as part of the ESBs Towards Zero Strategy. The EIS states that the project "also aims to deliver the phasing out of fossil fuels under the Programme for Government. The report states that in recent years, Moneypoint has responded to national demand for electricity, particularly during unscheduled outages of other major generating stations, the Covid-19 pandemic and the prevailing energy crisis. Generating schedules are in place up to 2024, with Moneypoint anticipated to continue to play a key role meeting national electricity demands. Nobody on the PTSB executive committee wanted to take responsibility for the tracker mortgage issue when it first arose in January 2009. Instead it defaulted back to the marketing department to coordinate a response, the banks former marketing chief has told an inquiry. The second day of the Central Banks inquiry saw the former marketing manager for PTSB Niall OGrady testify. Mr OGrady was one of the top people in the bank who oversaw the initial response to the issue when it first arose. The inquiry is looking into whether former PTSB chief executive David Guinane participated in the commission of a regulatory breach by PTSB during the period January 19, 2009 to April 2010. The inquiry is focused on PTSB customers who had been on a tracker mortgage with the bank but elected to go on a fixed rate. As this fixed rate was expiring, some customers wanted to go back on their tracker mortgage which they would have been entitled to under their loan agreement. However, for some customers, the original tracker mortgage would have been a lower rate than the one that PTSB offered at the time but only customers who contacted the bank were put back on their original rate. The Central Bank contends that PTSB treated customers who did not complain about the tracker rate unfairly in breach of the Consumer Protection Code 2006. During his testimony, Mr OGrady distanced himself from the eventual policy saying his role was in coordinating subject matter experts, getting their input and moving it through the organisation as appropriate. Mr OGrady said that this unusually came to them in the marketing department. It started with a single customer query, through their mortgage broker, as they sought to get back on their lower original tracker rate. On January 12, 2009, a meeting was convened with various departments within the bank which Mr OGrady did not attend. From this meeting, a proposal on how to deal with this issue which had been raised by just one customer at the time had been drafted. The next day, Mr OGrady took the proposal to the executive committee of the bank to see if anybody around the table was either aware of it or could give input into it or could resolve it or take ownership of it. Mr OGrady said he either wanted someone on the committee to either own it or give perspective on it. There was nobody putting their hand up to take it. A couple of days later on January 16, 2009, Mr OGrady sent an email to Mr Guinane summarising the issue and the proposed solution. In the email he wrote that the tracker rate customers would be entitled to the original rate or the current rate was ambiguous so the bank has the option of making whichever we choose available to them. I propose we allow customers who actually contact, to revert to their original tracker, Mr OGrady wrote. When Mr OGrady contacted Mr Guinane a few days later to get his approval on the plan, Mr Guinane responded OK with that. Mr Guinane served as chief executive of PTSB between 2007 and 2012 and is now the first individual to be put before a public inquiry as part of the Central Banks investigation into the tracker mortgage scandal. He denies that he participated in the prescribed contravention of the consumer code. Ireland's bid to host the EUs new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) was unsuccessful as Frankfurt secured the watchdog role after winning a vote in the Council of the EU member states. "Deal! The EU Council and European Parliament agreed that the new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority will be located in Frankfurt," the Belgian presidency said in a statement on X. It added that AMLA will play a key role in fighting illicit financial activities in the EU. It will have more than 400 staff, and will start operations mid-2025, it said. In March last year, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath declared interest to have the authority based in Ireland. Locating Amla in Ireland can benefit the authority, as it would have close proximity to a range of entities from which it can learn whats needed to develop its operational expertise, said Mr McGrath at the time. Hosting it could pay dividends by boosting Irelands international standards, he added. The Amla will be tasked with the supervision, either directly or jointly with national supervisors, of entities in the financial services sector and eventually also in the non-financial sector. The supervision will be in relation to compliance with anti-money laundering, and countering financing of terrorism. The institution is due to be established this year, although it is not expected to be fully operational until 2026/2027. The authority is being formed following concerns at EU level that rules and standards need to be strengthened across member states and applied in a uniform manner. The authority will host the secure communications network for the EU member States national Financial Intelligence Units. In Ireland, this is a division of An Garda Siochana, which is currently maintained by Interpol. Wrong-way Corrigan, an American pilot of Irish descent, was refused permission to fly solo from the US to Ireland. But he did so anyway, claiming that, due to an instrument malfunction, he had taken a wrong turn. Douglas Corrigan landed at Baldonnel on July 28, 1938 after a 28-hour flight. On May 8, 2006, an avian kindred spirit turned up at Mizen Head. Slightly smaller than a yellowhammer and not as colourful, the visitor was identified as a cirl bunting a species never recorded previously in Ireland. The birds arrival here might seem unremarkable but this species hardly ever migrates, although flocks of buntings roam the countryside visiting local stubble fields, and a ringed one flew from Belgium to the south of France. The cirl bunting is less glamorous than its cousin the yellowhammer. Shy and retiring, its plumage is a discrete mixture of brown, black, and yellow. These little seed-eaters breed in southern Europe Morocco and Algeria. Up to the 1930s, they were relatively common in England and Wales. Then a decline set in. Nowadays, only about a thousand pairs of these French yellowhammers nest in Britain, all in the Jurassic Coast region of the West Country. Its the most northerly population of the species. In an effort to halt the relentless decline, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds began a translocation project in 2006. Buntings do not do well in captivity so, each year up to 2011, six-day-old chicks were removed from nests in Devon. The youngsters were hand-reared until about 28 days of age, then released on the Roseland Peninsula, south of Truro, in Cornwall. The project led to an interesting finding, details of which have just been published. No foreigner, its sometimes said, can fully master German. Human immigrants invariably retain traces of their original accents. Songbirds generally learn their songs and calls from adults as nestlings and fledglings. The translocated birds had heard only the bunting recordings of a single CD played to them. Lacking normal education, would they be able to communicate well enough to mate and defend territories? The organisers need not have worried; the translocated population grew from nine pairs in 2007 to 52 in 2015. (a)Locations of cirl bunting populations sound recorded for this study, points reflect the center of the location. Location 1 is the reintroduced population in Cornwall. Locations 4 and 5 are near each other but are separated by water. Inset photo shows a cirl bunting (Ben Andrew rspb-images.com). (b) The relationship between the number of males recorded and the number of different song types in the population (location of population on map in label brackets). Confidence interval and fit line displayed Researchers recorded bunting songs of both the host population in Devon and the translocated one in 2011 and 2019. Males begin singing, as normal, from song posts at around 8am. Each vocalist was recorded at least twice to determine the extent of his repertoire. Spectrograph analysis enabled the ranges and numbers of different song types in the source and introduced populations to be compared. Fewer song types were recorded at Roseland in 2011 and there were abnormal ones. By 2019, however, the song types had become typical and corresponded to those of the original population. According to lead author Sarah Collins "this is ultimately a positive conservation story". But she warned that the results "cannot be guaranteed to occur in all song-learning birds" and that "the song development of a species needs to be considered in translocation projects and that could include playing typical songs to young chicks before they are released in the wild". Location A mere 350-metre stroll from Grafton Street, with an outdoor terrace with seating that looks towards Johnson Place and the top of South Willam Street, the Grafton Hotel really is in the heart of the action. Its ideal for a city shopping spree, a family trip to The Gaiety or as a base for the capitals main tourist attractions. Despite being so central to the main drag guestrooms are peaceful all night. 10/10 Style & decor A bright vibrant lobby with double-height ceilings sets the tone for a welcoming and stylish hotel. Guests linger with drinks, coffees and luggage and theres a nice buzz. Bedrooms borrow loosely from Art Deco, with pleasing colour schemes and bold design touches. Bartley's Bar is eclectic and fun but the restaurant decor, with its dark balustrade feature, and the patterned bedroom carpet, are the only bum notes in the distinctive design. 8/10 The lobby of the Grafton Hotel Service From the welcoming receptionist to the charming barman who mixes us a sensational signature cocktail to the manager on breakfast duty the next morning, we are bowled over by the warm, sincere and attentive service. Someone is clearly working hard here to recruit and train the best. There are no cold or corporate vibes in this welcoming gem. We leave something behind upon check-out and return the next day where its been safely stored for us. 9/10 Amenities Built on the site of the legendary Bartley Dunnes bar, the hotel has kept Bartleys spirit alive in both name and nods to the bars underground energy. Theres the large Bartleys Restaurant, spacious Bartley's Cocktail Bar and the colourful Coffee Terrace wraps around the hotel lobby and opens out onto the street, offering great summer pavement seating. Theres no gym, but the central location means there is a choice of facilities close by. 7/10 Guest rooms Art Deco notes, a well-designed bathroom, comfy beds and a super view over Johnson Place make our stay enjoyable. Bedrooms are stylishly designed with plenty of power sockets, USB ports by the bed, a neat desk and a lovely picture window with views. Despite 7 different types of lighting, wed prefer one central light and a better bedside light. We appreciate the styling, classy brass details and gorgeous bathroom with Rituals toiletries. Theres plenty of room too. 8/10 In-room perks An empty mini-fridge is useful but looks a little sad. The compact beverage station is cool with Barrys Tea and sachets of Nescafe Gold Blend and 2 Butlers Chocolates. Water comes in recyclable cartons. 6/10 Bartley's restaurant On the menu The biggest surprise here is the quality of the food served at Bartleys Restaurant. Despite endless competition on their doorstep, theres real talent in the kitchen and the food is really good. An interesting all-day menu includes tasty prawn cocktail and an excellent chicken supreme with squash, gnocchi and kale. Breakfast the next morning is decent with a buffet that includes all the usual hot-cooked food. Omelets are made to order and ours fell short of expectations. 8.5/10 Value for money Double rooms from 161. Family rooms sleeping 6 from 405. Breakfast extra. Room to improve? Open shelving by the door is a little too shallow for storing clothing and we found the armchair in our room uncomfortable. Access for guests with disabilities? 6 wheelchair-accessible rooms and all public areas of the hotel are accessible. Family-friendly? Excellent family room options for 2-4 kids and competitive pricing. Dogs welcome? No. A scoping paper on how disruptive artificial intelligence (AI) will be for the Irish workforce is being undertaken by the Government. The Irish Governments chief economist John McCarthy said that AI is being viewed as the fourth industrial revolution and will be transformative for the Irish economy. The Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise are examining the effect the new technology could have, and are working with the team at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that published research in January indicating that 40% of jobs globally will be affected by AI. The Department is expected to publish a scoping paper on the issue by the summer. Mr McCarthy said that digitalisation was evolving rapidly, including the move to remote working during the pandemic and card payments, and now AI was coming at us thick and fast. If you look at previous industrial revolutions, from the spinning wheel to the computer, and economists see AI really as the fourth industrial revolution, there will be job losses, there will be job gains, he said on Wednesday. Some occupations will no longer exist, as was the case back when the spinning wheel was invented, so that will happen. From a policy perspective, the importance is ensuring a smooth transition so that people losing jobs, gain jobs, that they have the requisite skills to move from one sector to the other. Is it a case of complementing labour or substituting labour? We all got computers and suddenly became more productive. We got the spinning wheel 100-200 years ago, we produced more jumpers, we became more productive. The worry is with this new technology, are more jobs going to be lost than are gained? The answer is, nobody knows. The IMF research indicated that in advanced economies, the proportion of jobs that could be affected by AI is higher (60%). I think what we can definitively say about about AI, is that it is going to be transformative. Lets hope its transformative good, and policy has a role to play here, but you cant rule out the possibility of transformative bad, Mr McCarthy said. Israel has committed "serious breaches" of international law over many decades and should face legal consequences for its actions, the Attorney General has told the UN's highest court. AG Rossa Fanning has also raised the "spiralling death toll" in Gaza and Israel's "extensive destruction of property, including homes" in the Palestinian enclave since the Hamas attacks on October 7. Mr Fanning was representing Ireland in a case which is looking at the legality of Israels conduct over many years in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. It is the first time the International Court of Justice has been asked to give an advisory opinion on the issue. The case is separate to a genocide case against Israel which being taken by South Africa. But Mr Fanning told the court the backdrop to the hearing "is a matter of profound concern to the Irish Government". "The attacks launched by Hamas against Israel on 7 October were reprehensible and we have condemned them unequivocally. The rape and murder of civilians, destruction of civilian property, taking of hostages, use of human shields and firing of indiscriminate rockets at urban centres constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law for which those involved must be held accountable." But he said international law limited the use of force in self-defence to no more than what is necessary and proportionate. "Irelands view is that these limits have been exceeded by Israel in its military response to the Hamas attack. This is manifest from the spiralling death toll, the extensive destruction of property, including homes, throughout Gaza, the displacement of two million people and the ensuing, humanitarian catastrophe. Ireland has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and we are dismayed by the implications that these latest hostilities in Gaza may have for the prospect of resolving the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr Fanning said Ireland remained committed to the realisation of the two-State solution endorsed by the UN Security Council, which would mean a safe and secure Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State, living side by side in peace, within secure and recognised borders based on those of 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. Addressing the court in The Hague, Mr Fanning said: "Ireland has, with regret, concluded that by its prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory and the settlement activities it has conducted there for more than half a century, Israel has committed serious breaches of a number of peremptory norms of general international law." Mr Fanning said a two-state solution must be progressed, adding recent statements by Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he openly rejected this, have caused "such widespread international dismay". Irelands last remaining pay phone boxes are to be finally decommissioned by the end of the year. Utility firm Eir said the decision had been taken due to a rapid fall in demand for their use. A number of boxes will instead now be used to house defibrillators or be repurposed to hold electric vehicle chargers. Eir chief executive Oliver Loomes said: The public pay phone was an important part of our lives for generations. We've taken deliberate steps, in collaboration with communities and local authorities, to thoughtfully transition this legacy infrastructure. "Our goal has been over the past four years to find the best ways to repurpose or preserve these kiosks, directly involving the communities they serve. We are pleased that more than 200 sites will now keep people connected via new digital pedestals or electric car charging points. He said the work done on the phone box network was complementing the companys ongoing investment of 250m-a-year fibre broadband and 5G mobile network rollout across Ireland. Open Eir Networks managing director Una Stafford said: "The removal of the last payphone boxes by the end of this year is a symbolic step towards a more connected, digital future. While we close this chapter in Ireland's telecommunication history, we open another, focusing on innovative solutions that align with the needs of our communities and the environment. Although the first telephone exchange in Ireland was opened in 1880, it would not be until the 1970s before the more remote parts of Ireland had landlines. After the introduction of the first public payphone box in Dublin in 1925, many relied on them in the absence of their own landline. Eir chief executive Oliver Loomes and managing director of Open Eir Networks Una Stafford at the 100-year-old 'K1' kiosk. Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennells It was not uncommon to see queues of people waiting to use one of the boxes, which totalled 3,300 at their peak, along with another 5,000-plus indoor units. The most iconic were the older ones made of a concrete base with a wooden box, topped off with a roof emblazoned with the classic Telefon logo. Starting out as solely coin boxes, by the late 1980s, they also started to double up with a phone card reader. But their popularity declined rapidly since the explosion of mobile phone use in the 1990s, following on from when broadcaster Pat Kenny famously took Irelands first mobile phone call in December 1985. By 2020, the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for the Provision of Public Payphones was removed. As a tribute to the end of the payphone era, Eir has restored a 100-year-old 'K1' kiosk, the first type of payphone box introduced in Ireland, for public exhibition later this year. The kiosk is one of only seven in Ireland or the UK and will be donated to preserve a part of Irish heritage. Since the removal of the USO, six of the iconic concrete Posts and Telegraphs kiosks now house life-saving defibrillators. In a partnership between Eir and EasyGo, a project is under way to install 142 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Another 60 pay phones have also been transformed into so-called digital kiosks, which local authorities use as information points for tourists as well as locals. Protests demanding reforms of eating disorder services in Ireland will take place in Cork, Limerick and Dublin on Saturday. The protests have been organised by Dublin-based Amy Hanley, whose now 16-year-old daughter was a patient in five different facilities in just over a year, as she sought help for anorexia. Ms Hanley arranged a protest in Dublin last November and decided to organise Saturdays three events ahead of Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which starts on Monday. All three will kick off at 11am, with the Cork event at the plaza at City Hall. The Limerick event takes place outside the main gates of University Hospital Limerick while the Dublin protest will start in front of the Department of Health at 11am and walk towards the Dail in Kildare Street at 12pm, via St Stephen's Green. The protesters will demand a reduction in waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services, as well as increased inpatient beds; provision of nasogastric feeding in all inpatient facilities, and the availability of ED specialists and mental health services in all public hospitals. "No family or individual should endure the obstacles we faced in securing treatment for my daughter. It's time to dismantle the multiple barriers that impede access to care for eating disorders in this country," said Ms Hanley. Ms Hanley said her daughter ended up in adult settings on three occasions after turning 16 years old, instead of in childrens services. She points out that eating disorders have a high mortality rate and says: "Countless young individuals and their families across Ireland are needlessly suffering as they grapple with the lack of resources in the face of deteriorating physical and mental health. This is unacceptable. We need our voices heard once and for all. In January 2018, the HSE published a five-year Model of Care for community eating disorder care, with a plan to have sixteen specialist teams in place in by 2023. However, this deadline has not been met. Minister Stephen Donnelly said recently that recruiting into ten eating disorder teams around the country is ongoing. He acknowledged: We have seen a significant increase in general youth mental health presentations, including for body dysmorphia and eating disorders. ELKO Schools Superintendent Clayton Anderson said he is hoping parents, teachers and friends speak up in support of a healthy tax levy for school projects during a public hearing that Elko County commissioners plan on March 6. Right now, we are bleeding quite a bit as it relates to our capital improvement needs. Those needs keep piling up, and the longer they pile up and the less money we have to do anything about it, the longer they will continue to be a problem, and they will become a massive issue, he said. Anderson also told the school board on Tuesday he is urging parents, teachers and school supporters to complete Elko Countys quick survey on a tax levy that would go toward school projects. I dont think we should just sit back and hope the right decision gets made, he said. The public hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. as part of the Elko County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Nannini Administration Building on Court Street for continued discussion and input of citizens regarding the school district capital improvement projects tax levy rate, according to the hearing notice. That notice states AB519 requires Elko County to levy and/or dedicate a portion of the current Elko County tax rate to fund school construction and improvement needs or allows Elko County to go over the $3.64 tax cap for school projects, but commissioners unanimously decided not to exceed the cap. Commissioners voted Feb. 7 to notify the Nevada Department of Taxation that the county wouldnt surpass the tax cap. Anderson told school trustees that, despite the unanimous recommendation of the AB 519-required county oversight panel that county commissioners approve a 22-cent levy for school projects, commissioners havent taken action but rather have said they need community input. The county earlier this month announced the quick survey and posted it on the county website as part of the effort to gather public comments on a school tax, but the surveys questions only list a tax as high as 20 cents, rather than 22 cents as recommended by the panel or the maximum 25 cents. AB519, which provides $64.5 million for a new school in Owyhee, also states Elko County must levy a tax of 1 cent to 25 cents or the state will step in and levy 25 cents in taxes for school projects. Trustee Joshua Byers, who is on the oversight panel, said the panel wasnt aware the county was doing a survey and didnt initiate it, and he said the school district and county need to work together, but that is getting really difficult. He said efforts so far dont seem to be in good faith. We didnt create this mess, so it has to be cleared up. This literally falls into county commissioners hands under AB519, he said. We didnt create this mess. It has to be cleared up. The mess Byers was talking about is the loss of school project funds with the 2020 defeat of the longtime pay-as-you-go tax that brought in 75 cents per $100 assessed valuation from taxpayers throughout the county for school projects. Voters then defeated a bond proposal for schools the following year. The 50 cent bond proposal would have provided for bonds up to $150 million to pay for new schools, school expansions, school maintenance and upgrades once pay-as-you-go expired in June 2022. Byers said when voters said no to the bonds, he told people it would take years to fix the problem. He said the tax levy is for the community. Its for the children. The boards president, Matt McCarty, said he believes we can find a solution to this. We just need to work in a positive manner toward this, so, providing we are treated with the respect I believe we are due, we can move forward on this. Information on the school district website about the survey states the maximum of 25 cents in taxes for schools would provide roughly $5 million a year, and the remaining balance in the school districts pay-as-you-go account is $14.23 million. AB519 also provides two $25 million funds to be used for school projects. One is for rural school districts, the other for tribes. They must apply for the matching funds. Elko County took 50 cents of the 75 cents that was going to pay-as-you-go to use for community projects and the wildfire protection district, and the cities of Elko, Carlin, Wells and Wendover grabbed portions of the remaining 25 cents rather than let the already-approved 75 cents in tax assessments expire and be lost to the county. Elko, Wells, Carlin, and West Wendover each levied 20 cents of the remaining 25 cents and the Elko County TV District received 5 cents. With all the juggling, taxpayers didnt see taxes go up because they had been paying the 75-cent levy for the schools. The defeats at the ballot box for pay-as-you-go and bonding have been attributed to the decision by prior school boards to build the performing arts building at Elko High School when the community already had theaters at the Elko Convention Center and at Great Basin College. Health experts believe drug dealers were testing the market when they supplied a batch of a highly dangerous synthetic opioid drug into the Dublin and Cork heroin scene, the countrys top addiction expert has said. Dr Eamon Keenan, HSE clinical lead on addiction, said laboratory tests were able to show the nitazenes which resulted in 77 overdoses in the two cities last November and December were from the same batch. He said the threat posed by these synthetic substitutes for heroin was ongoing and that there was a significant seizure of a second nitazene drug in Dublin late last month. Garda sources said the amount seized, understood to be 2kgs of protonitazene, was big and that charges were forthcoming. Dr Keenan said this seizure led the HSE to issue a second red alert to users and services in Dublin and Cork in early February. Overdoses Addressing a webinar for health professionals, Dr Keenan said protonitazene can be 100 times more powerful than heroin and that some nitazenes are estimated to be 500 times more powerful. He said that within 24 hours in Dublin, starting on November 9, there were 34 overdoses linked with nitazenes, compared to three or four on a normal day. A total of 57 overdoses in total were documents in Dublin, with a further 20 in Cork in December. The laboratory was able to tell us that this was actually the same batch that had been used in Dublin and seem to have been transported down, Dr Keenan said. So, to our minds, it was like the drugs dealers were sort of testing the market by introducing these synthetic opioids. He said it was an ongoing issue and that the HSE set up a National Red Alert Group, which included representatives from the Gardai, National Ambulance Service, laboratories and hospital EDs. To highlight how this is an ongoing issue, in January 2024, there was a significant police seizure of protonitazene in Dublin, Dr Keenan said. So this was the second nitazene in Ireland and we were able to issue an additional drug warning, on February 2. Opium production He launched a new fact sheet for medical care providers at the webinar regarding nitazene and to signpost them to resources. He said this emergence of nitazenes was against the background of the collapse in opium production in Afghanistan, where 80% of the worlds heroin comes from. Recent UN estimates said opium production fell by 95% in 2023, following on from a national ban on its growth by the Taliban regime in 2022. It is going to have an impact on the heroin market, Dr Keenan said. We may not see it straight away, but it will become apparent in time. He said the heroin antidote naloxone was effective for nitazenes as well, though it might require two doses of it. He said the HSE was increasing provision of naloxone, distributing over 6,500 of it in 2023 and training 2,000 people. He said they were currently working with gardai in relation to training and pilot carrying of naloxone. Dr Keenan said it was advisable to scale up treatment services and overdose responses and that this would require investment in both people and equipment. He said engagement with all the relevant people was essential in preparing and planning for any possible increase in nitazene availability and harm. A man charged with the attempted murder of two young girls and a boy in a knife attack in Dublin in November has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court. A girl, aged five, was left in a serious condition after a stabbing on the afternoon of November 23 at Parnell Square in the city centre. Two other children were released from hospital. Creche worker Leanne Flynn Keogh, from Dublin, was also seriously injured during the incident. Riad Bouchaker, 50, who has no fixed abode, was charged on December 21 and held in custody following a brief hearing. Last month, Judge Alan Mitchell heard the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was still preparing a book of evidence, that it was a large file "with over 200 statements" and a "large amount of exhibits and medical evidence". Judge Mitchell had also heard it was a "complex file". Mr Bouchaker appeared again at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. State solicitor Paul Bond said that the book of evidence had been completed, and it was then served on the accused. The DPP had directed trial on indictment on eight charges in the book of evidence. Mr Bouchaker spoke only once to confirm his name and listened to the proceedings with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter. Judge Mitchell agreed to Mr Bond's request to grant a return for trial order, sending the accused's case forward to the Central Criminal Court. A date has yet to be allocated for his next appearance, but it will take place during the present court term, which ends shortly before Easter. Mr Bouchaker was warned to notify the prosecution if he had an alibi, and the judge also directed the disclosure of interview videos to the defence. Legal aid was granted to include senior counsel due to the seriousness of the case and its trial venue and for the book of evidence to be translated into Arabic. The accused has yet to indicate a plea. At his first hearing in December, Dublin District Court heard he made "no reply" when charged with "attempted murder of a female child". Mr Bouchaker's answer to a second charge for the attempted murder of another girl was, "I am a sick person". He had no response when charged with attempted murder of a male child. Mr Bouchaker had "no response" to charges of assault causing harm to another male child and a girl. The man did not answer when charged with causing serious harm to a care worker. He had no reply when charged with assault, causing harm to a French national at the scene. The final charge was for the production of a 36-centimetre kitchen knife, and in reply to that offence, he told gardai: "I am a sick person". The District Court does not have the power to consider bail in an attempted murder case, which requires a High Court application. He was also granted an order for medical attention in custody. Mandatory reporting restrictions under section 93 of the Children Act apply to injured children who cannot be identified. The media has also been directed not to name members of Mr Bouchaker's legal team due to "safety concerns" and "after what occurred around the city". That order was continued. The incident triggered a wave of unrest in the city, which led to riots, looting and vehicles being set on fire. More than 40 people were arrested; about 30 have already been charged and are before the courts. Plans are underway to unlock the tourism potential of Cork Harbour and develop the location into a world-class tourism destination over the coming years. The idea, coined the Cork Harbour Tourism Plan, will be a key element of Failte Irelands 5-year Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) for Cork City, Harbour and East Cork, aiming to boost visitor numbers to the world's second largest natural harbour. The plan, which was launched on Thursday, aims to enhance Corks tourism offerings and boost visitor numbers to the harbour, which they described as an underutilised tourism facility. The initiative involves all of the surrounding areas along the mouth of the River Lee, including Whitegate, Cobh, Crosshaven, Carrigaline and Midleton and the six major islands, including Cobh. Cork Harbour is home to a population of 72,000 individuals, providing 30,000 jobs, which co-exist uniquely in an area of exceptional beauty. By identifying opportunities to increase visitor numbers for the area, the plan will identify a focal point for Corks maritime story, improving accessibility, capacity and visitor experiences, among other elements. The initiative also outlines a significant sustainable tourism development opportunity for the area, including recommendations to improve transport, analysis of sustainable transport initiatives and encouraging a greater spread of visitors throughout the area. This will be helped with the development of existing greenways, blueways and transport links, aiming to increase the accessibility of the harbour with Cork City and boosting land and sea linkages between the city, the harbour and its surrounding areas. Andrew Hayley director, The Paul Hogarth Company; Ann Doherty chief executive, Cork City Council; Brian OFlynn head of Irelands Ancient East, Failte Ireland; Valerie OSullivan, chief executive, Cork County Council; Damian Allen assistant harbour master, Port of Cork; and Paul ORegan, harbour master and COO. Photograph: Gerard McCarthy Brian OFlynn, Head of Irelands Ancient East at Failte Ireland said the plan aims to unlock Cork Harbours huge potential by attracting a mixture of domestic and international visitors to Cork. The plan will be key in enhancing the unique tourism offering in Cork harbour to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more which will bring significant benefits for the local economy and community and the wider region, Mr OFlynn said. Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn welcomed the development, saying the Cork Harbour area has immense untapped tourism potential, as the second largest natural harbour in the world. Paul O'Regan, Harbour Master and Chief Operations Officer at the Port of Cork Company described todays move as a significant milestone in the journey towards unlocking the full potential of Cork Harbour. Together, we will enhance visitor experiences, improve accessibility, and create lasting memories for tourists from near and far, he said. The Attorney General (AG) is to make an intervention in a case involving Israel's occupation in the Palestinian territories in The Hague today. AG Rossa Fanning SC will address the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on behalf of Ireland in a case which is looking at the legality of Israels conduct over many years in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It is the first time the worlds highest court has been asked to give an advisory opinion on the issue. The case is separate to a genocide case against Israel which is being taken by South Africa. Meanwhile, the Government is working to get the support of more EU countries in recognising the state of Palestine. Speaking in the Dail, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett that the Government is in negotiations with "around half a dozen other countries" on a joint recognition of Palestinian statehood. He said that the joint recognition would be done as part of a recognition of the Palestinian Authority retaking control of Gaza after the Israeli bombardment has ended. Mr Varadkar pointed out that the Dail had voted in 2014 on a motion in favour of recognition, but that to do it alone would be "little more than a press release". It comes after Mr Varadkar and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a joint letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Gaza. The letter also called for an "urgent review" into whether Israel was complying with its human rights obligations under its trade agreement with the EU. The Taoiseach has yet to receive a reply to the joint letter, however, it is understood there has been disagreement among senior EU officials over who should be responsible for considering the request. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sought the views of foreign ministers attending a meeting in Brussels earlier this week and it is understood that he wants to take a greater role in preparing the response. Mr Varadkar has suggested that there are a number of other countries that might also join the letter calling for a review of EU/Israel Association Agreement. "This is something were going to follow up, something were going to pursue, have already been speaking to some other Prime Ministers who may be interested in adding their names to the letter, even at this stage and Ill pursue it again in March at the European Council," Mr Varadkar said. Sinn Fein is up for reforming the Stormont institutions to remove the ability of one party to collapse powersharing, Conor Murphy has said. Northern Ireland's economy minister said his party recognised that the veto was a continued problem and was keen to find agreement with other parties to reform the structures. Mr Murphy said the Stormonts Assembly and Executive Review Committee was the appropriate forum to initiate the process and test the mettle of other parties in regard to making changes to aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. His comments came amid calls from the Government for reforms to be examined ahead of the next Assembly election. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has insisted that never again should one party in Northern Ireland have the power to collapse powersharing. The Stormont institutions incorporate a system based on mutual veto powers, enabling blocs of unionist and nationalist MLAs to stop moves that otherwise command majority support and, in extreme circumstances, pull down the institutions and prevent them operating. Northern Ireland Economy Minister Conor Murphy (Liam McBurney/PA) The DUP exercised its veto to blockade Stormont for two years in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. The ending of that boycott enabled devolution to return earlier this month. In 2017, Sinn Fein collapsed the ministerial executive amid a furore about a botched green energy scheme. It was down for three years. The SDLP, the Assemblys official opposition, has called on the DUP and Sinn Fein to commit to never again collapse the ministerial executive. Mr Murphy was pressed on the issue during an interview on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday. He insisted Sinn Fein was in the executive to stay and had absolutely no intention of walking out. We are also quite happy to look at the arrangements, as weve said all along, to look at the arrangements to try and prevent that [collapse] happening again, he said. On reforms to prevent any one party preventing an executive being formed, he added: Were very happy for that to be tabled, to be discussed and an agreement sought among the parties and in relation to that. We said all along that the place to resolve the issue where a party could bring down the executive was within a functioning assembly, thats where it needed to be resolved. There is an Assembly committee set aside to do this. Were quite content for those issues to be brought there and to try and secure the agreements that are necessary to change the arrangements in the Good Friday Agreement, because this isnt simply a matter of a stroke of a pen, these are arrangements in the Good Friday Agreement, which need consideration, dialogue and consent to bring them through and were quite happy to be part of that process. Asked if his party was up for change, he replied: Yes, absolutely. Weve always said that, prior to the Assembly going back, weve always said that. He added: We do recognise that it is a continued problem. Were quite happy to sit down with others and try and resolve that. Mr Murphy emphasised that the discussions on the issue had not yet commenced. We havent got into the room to test the mettle of everyone in relation to that. Tanaiste Micheal Martin during a visit to Ulster University in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) On a visit to Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Martin reiterated his case for reform to be considered. He expressed concern at how often the executive had been in cold storage since the 1998 Good Friday deal. I think over the lifetime of the agreement it has been down as often as its been up and thats a problem, he told reporters at Ulster University. And I think we cant go blindly into the next Assembly elections without endeavouring to rectify some of those issues, which I think can be done. And I think there should be discussions around that. And some parties will want that, and I support that. Asked about the calls for reform last week, DUP deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the best way to ensure stability of the institutions in Northern Ireland was by fostering strong working relationships between the parties within the administration. Oireachtas committees really should not be blockbuster affairs. When all is going smoothly, meetings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) do not tend to be particularly exciting. Between the likes of RTE, the University of Limerick, and now the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), PAC hearings are not dull at the moment. Thursdays meeting with the Department of Sport, its administrator Sport Ireland and the FAI was bizarre. The FAI showed up with a mission of demonstrating the John Delaney years are firmly in the rearview mirror. Instead, it came off looking like a basket case of misgovernance. To be fair, it had been well-flagged there was going to be trouble at this one. Of key interest would be a payment of 11,500 made to the associations chief executive Jonathan Hill in March 2023 in lieu of 12 days off not taken. On the surface this might sound, if not ideal, innocent enough. Unfortunately, that payment took Mr Hills salary past the level of a grade 1 department secretary general 258,000 which led to a breach of the 2020 memorandum of understanding agreed with Sport Ireland for the rehabilitation of the organisation. Even more unfortunate is how the FAI has dealt with this breach. Mr Hill went before the Oireachtas Sport Committee last December and said he had not specifically requested the holiday payment, but it had inadvertently resulted from the same request being made of him by a junior colleague. At the last minute before the PAC meeting on Thursday, a heavily-redacted sequence of emails was delivered to both the committee and Sport Ireland detailing the train of events which led to the payment to Mr Hill. One email from senior finance executive with the FAI, Alex OConnell, stated Jonathan [sic] requesting to be paid out his unused holidays. From the get-go, the PAC was enraged that 70 days after Mr Hill addressed the Sport Committee, the email thread was only delivered in piecemeal form at the very last minute. His explanation of how he had not actually made a request to be paid for his unused holidays, yet still ended up receiving the money, did not go down well. He said he had made a throwaway remark by email to the aforementioned junior colleague along the lines of can you request the same for me please?!, and Mr OConnell had simply misinterpreted that jocular statement, a misunderstanding which led to Mr Hill accepting a payment of nearly 12,000, which, to be fair, he has since repaid. The email containing the remark was fully redacted, on foot, Mr Hill said, of legal advice that to publish it in full would have compromised the junior colleague who made the initial request. FAI president Paul Cooke told PAC: 'My confidence has been challenged by events.' File picture: Inpho/Ryan Byrne Mr Hill was at pains to state the idea to fully redact that mail was not his. Nevertheless, without sight of any of that text it is impossible to corroborate his "throwaway remark". Why the mail could not have been partially unredacted, thus concealing the colleagues identity, your guess is as good as mine. Mr Hill, while unwilling to agree he had misled the Oireachtas back in December, did concede he had "explained himself better" on this occasion, a sentiment it is hard to agree with. From there things only got worse. TD Paul McAuliffe said taking the holiday payment would have amounted to incredibly bad practice, while drolly describing the offending redacted correspondence as this magic email. Mr McAuliffe then asked FAI president Paul Cooke if he had confidence in Mr Hill. Mr Cooke replied he had confidence in our senior leadership team. So Mr McAuliffe asked again and got the same response. He asked a third time and Mr Cooke replied: Jonathan is part of the leadership team. A fourth time, and he replied: My confidence has been challenged by events. The chair of the organisation Tony Keohane did not agree however. He did agree huge reputational damage had been done to the FAI by how it had handled the controversy, but nevertheless, given the organisations journey has taken it an awful long way from the legacy of the past, he was of the opinion Mr Hill deserved his confidence. There were other issues outed at this committee. We heard the FAI had used just under 1m in covid funding from Sport Ireland to reduce its outstanding debt. We heard some FAI employees have received cash payments in lieu of pension contributions, and this is a routine board member Liz Joyce has seen in all of the organisations she has been involved in. On any other day, they might have been the headline. But the holiday pay issue dominated, or rather the way it came about and the manner in which the FAI has completely failed to explain it did. What does one make of all this? Notwithstanding the progress the FAI has made, how will an embarrassment of an appearance like this play out? Can Jonathan Hill survive when clearly his own president cannot express full confidence in him? You have to presume the chief executive is fully cognisant of the mess the FAI found itself in four years ago. How on earth did he not realise the trouble that this little "throwaway" interaction might cause? Such a lack of judgement will add even more pressure on his position. The proposed development of 101 homes in Lotabeg, Cork City, has been blocked by An Bord Pleanala. Rebel Abu Limited had been denied permission by Cork City Council for the development, which would be located on a 3.8ha site in Tivoli, east of Cork City. The site in question is inaccessible from public roads and is currently in agricultural use. It is also on a steep slope, with a drop of 15m, running from its peak at Tivoli Ridge to Lotabeg House, a protected structure on its south. City planners blocked the development, noting the site in question was in a landscape protection zone and was an "area of high landscape value". The developer appealed this ruling, noting its proximity to high-frequency public transport systems, and noting the various uses for the land listed in its zoning were a general guide, not an exhaustive list. However, An Bord Pleanala has upheld the local planning decision and blocked the development. In its decision, it cited the zoning on the land and that it would be contrary to some aspects of the local area development plan. Bantry homes blocked Elsewhere, a separate planned development of 54 new homes on land in Bantry has also been blocked. Aiden McCarthy was granted permission by Cork County Council for the development at Dromleigh South and Sheskin in the West Cork town. But this was appealed by several third parties, who raised concerns about the traffic impact, noting the "narrow and badly surfaced" road that accesses the site in question. An Bord Pleanala has overturned the council's decision and blocked the scheme. It noted the potential for traffic hazards as a result of the development, and also raised concerns about the "poor overall site layout" that would result in poor quality open space. Reardens of Washington Street, one of Cork's biggest pubs, has been refused planning to retain its outdoor seating. KMont Properties Holdings Limited, acting on behalf of Reardens, had sought permission from Cork City Council to retain its existing external seating area and surrounding structure on Little Cross Street. It had also lodged plans to install metal frames and glass panels over the existing development to create a sheltered seating enclosure. However, planners said the location of the proposed development and area to be retained was on an existing pedestrian footpath and a section of the public street, adding that both the existing and proposed developments would inhibit access for emergency service vehicles. Planners also noted that its placement would endanger the safety of pedestrians and road users by reason of traffic hazards or obstruction of road users. The Council also said in their refusal that the proposed and existing developments would have a "negative visual impact" due to their location and would "adversely affect the character" of nearby protected structures and North Main Street's Architectural Conservation Area. Well-known publican and owner of Clancy's Bar in Cork city, Paul Montgomery said in a submission to Rearden's planning application that he "wholly supports public realm improvements" but that Rearden's neighbour, Dwyers, which also has outdoor seating was granted only temporary permission. Mr Montgomery sought that if planning was granted, Rearden's outdoor seating would also have just temporary permission, the duration for which would coincide with that of Dwyers which is until 2025. Reardens Bar has operated in Cork city for more than 25 years, with its outdoor seating area popularised during the covid pandemic. Last year, the Reardens group, which employs more than 220 people, posted an 46% increase in turnover, totalling just under 18m in the twelve months ending in March, 2023. The Group, which comprises several other pubs and bars across Cork recorded a pre-tax profit of 4.45m in the same period, up 33% on the previous year. US President Joe Biden has announced he is cancelling federal student loans for nearly 153,000 borrowers. Mr Biden, who is in the midst of a three-day campaign swing through California, made the announcement as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster path to forgiveness, putting the spotlight on his debt cancellation efforts in his re-election campaign. Too many Americans are still saddled with unsustainable debt in exchange for a college degree, he said from a local library, before he went on to campaign-related events. Loan relief helps the greater economy, he reasoned, because when people have a student debt relief, they buy homes. They start businesses, they contribute. They engage. Starting today, the first round of folks who are enrolled in our SAVE student loan repayment plan who have paid their loans for 10 years and borrowed ,000 or less will have their debt cancelled. Thats 150,000 Americans and counting. And were pushing to relieve more. President Biden (@POTUS) February 21, 2024 The administration began sending email notifications on Wednesday to some of the borrowers who will benefit from what the White House has called the Save programme. The cancellations were originally scheduled to start in July, but last month the administration said it would be ready almost six months ahead of schedule, in February. Starting today, the first round of folks who are enrolled in our Save student loan repayment plan who have paid their loans for 10 years and borrowed 12,000 dollars or less will have their debt cancelled, Mr Biden posted on social media on Wednesday. Thats 150,000 Americans and counting. And were pushing to relieve more. The first round of forgiveness from the Save plan will clear 1.2 billion dollars in loans. The borrowers will get emails with a message from Mr Biden notifying them that all or a portion of your federal student loans will be forgiven because you qualify for early loan forgiveness under my Administrations Save Plan. In his email to borrowers, Mr Biden wrote he heard from countless people who have told me that relieving the burden of their student loan debt will allow them to support themselves and their families, buy their first home, start a small business, and move forward with life plans theyve put on hold. President Joe Biden speaks at Culver City Julian Dixon Library in California (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) More than 7.5 million people have enrolled in the new repayment plan. He said on Wednesday it was the kind of relief that can be life changing for individuals and their families. Im proud to have been able to give borrowers like so many of you the relief you earned, he said, asking the crowd gathered for his speech how many had debt forgiven. Many raised their hands. The president, during a campaign fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night, highlighted his efforts to help middle-class Americans and warned that a win in November by former president Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, could lead to a nationwide abortion ban, more Republican efforts to undo the health insurance programme started in the Biden administration and policies that would disproportionately help the wealthy. He asked his supporters to help win a second term so that he could finish the job in enacting an agenda that benefits American workers. After his speech, Mr Biden was heading to another fundraiser and campaign event. During a quick stop at a local restaurant, CJs Cafe, before his library talk, Mr Biden greeted customers, offering handshakes and hugs and posing for selfies. President Joe Biden takes a photo as he visits CJs Cafe in Los Angeles (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Borrowers are eligible for cancellation if they are enrolled in the Save plan, originally borrowed 12,000 dollars or less to attend college and have made at least 10 years of payments. Those who took out more than 12,000 dollars will be eligible for cancellation but on a longer timeline. For each 1,000 dollars borrowed beyond 12,000 dollars, it adds an additional year of payments on top of 10 years. The maximum repayment period is capped at 20 years for those with only undergraduate loans and 25 years for those with any graduate school loans. Mr Biden announced the new repayment plan last year alongside a separate plan to cancel up to 20,000 dollars in loans for millions of Americans. The Supreme Court struck down his plan for widespread forgiveness, but the repayment plan has so far escaped that level of legal scrutiny. Unlike his proposal for mass cancellation which had never been done before the repayment plan is a twist on existing income-based plans created by Congress more than a decade ago. Mr Biden said he remained steadfast in his commitment to fix our broken student loan system, working around the courts ruling to find other ways to get it done. A satellite that has been in orbit for nearly 30 years has fallen back down through the Earths atmosphere, the European Space Agency (ESA) has said. The ERS-2 satellite fell in the North Pacific Ocean somewhere between Alaska and Hawaii at around 5.17pm GMT on Wednesday, bringing to an end a nearly three-decade-long orbit. ELKO Elko County is on its way to bouncing back better from wildfires, thanks to efforts from the U.S. Forest Service. Ranger Josh Nicholes shared how the forest service will help the situation. Nicholes, whose district includes the Mountain City, Ruby Mountains and Jarbidge, said much is at stake in this region, including a population of 60,000, watersheds, native plants, wildlife habitats, recreational facilities and private property. He said about 81% of the area, known as the Elko Front landscape, encompasses 23 rural communities, including the city of Elko, and is classified as high or very high as a fire hazard. The Upper Humboldt Watershed is located in the landscape area and a major source of drinking and irrigation water for 60,000 people, he said. In January 2022, the Forest Service launched the wildfire crisis strategy to address the wildfire crisis in the places where it poses the most immediate threats to communities, said Nicholes, named Ranger of the Year by the Forest Service Intermountain Regional Forester Awards. Now, an Elko County-tailored game plan, which branches off the project, is seeking public comment. Through Feb. 29, the Forest Service would like to know Nevadans thoughts on a specific branch of efforts to improve the Elko County ecosystem. He said the purpose of the project is to mitigate wildfire risk to local communities and resources. The goals of the project are to reduce hazardous fuels to provide defensible areas near the wildland urban interface, private lands, critical infrastructure and heritage resources while increasing ecosystem resilience and improving wildlife habitat, Nicholes said. In other words, the project will clear Nevadas ecosystem of excess plant matter that is likely to fuel fires. It will also make the land more resistant to fires. The first step to implementing our overall plan is to finish the National Environmental Policy Act analysis and reach a decision, he said. Once we have a NEPA decision completed, we will collaborate with our partners to implement the project. Our goal is to treat approximately 20,000 acres per year over the next five to 10 years. Teamwork Reducing fire impact requires intentional teamwork, Nicholes explained. The wildland fire community is made up of a wide variety of agencies, partners and disciplines across the country. During a fire we often bring in resources from all over the country, he said. Almost everyone that works for the Forest Service has a role in fire and often it can be a secondary duty. In addition, our fire personnel are very often the ones out assisting with fuels implementation. Certain daily job responsibilities come with the career of a park ranger who fights fires. I have been involved in wildland fire my entire career, usually in a support role or as part of an incident management team, Nicholes explained. In his most recent role as agency administrator, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the fire response and responsible for all the people who are responding or suppressing the fire. All the resources on the fire ultimately work for the agency administrator, he said. My job is to make sure that we account for firefighter and public safety. Nicholes addressed some common misconceptions about fighting forest fires. First of all, the use of firefighting aircraft does not entirely tackle a fire. Planes and helicopters are only one step in the firefighting process. Aircraft set the stage for firefighters effort to slow the fire down, allowing fire personnel on the ground to get in and establish fire and control lines, Nicholes said. A control line refers to either a natural or manmade fire barrier. For example, a natural control line could be a river, stream, or rocky ridge which does not have much fuel. A manmade control line, on the other hand, may consist of an extended stretch of land firefighters have cleared out to reduce potential fuels, he said. Such a barrier can greatly help wildland firefighters contain a fire by controlling how and where it spreads. When a portion or strip of a control line has been completely cleared out to eliminate all flammable materials by scraping or digging down into the mineral soil, that portion is known as a fire line. Addressing another misconception, Nicholes explained how municipal and wildland firefighters are not the same kind of firefighter. Rather, they have different sets of job duties and rules of engagement. They also have different tours of duty. Municipal firefighters have at least a 90% year-round workforce, while wildland firefighters have an 80% seasonal workforce, he said. Timing matters Nicholes raised a further point to consider: large wildfires do not always happen in the heart of fire season. Prime time for wildfire depends on summer temperatures, rainfall, and wind, he said. While wildfires historically tend to take place between May and October, the fire season is gradually lengthening due to a rise in drier, warmer seasons, he explained. This not only increases the frequency of fires but their severity, too. Year-round fire season is becoming the new reality, particularly in the western part of the United States, Nicholes said. How exactly do wildfires start? He said 89% of the average number of wildfires between 2018 and 2022 were manmade. Human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, equipment uses and malfunctions, negligently discarded cigarettes and intentional acts of arson. While wildfires can start with a natural occurrence, such as a lightning strike or a human-made spark, weather conditions can also play an important role, causing the fires to grow. Nicholes explained how wildfires take a toll on the environment: They can exacerbate impacts on both ecosystems and human communities. High-severity fires can impact tree regeneration, soil erosion, and water quality. A centurylong policy of putting out wildfires as soon as they start, coupled with other factors such as a warming climate and growing development in the wildland urban interface, has created many forests overloaded with surface fuels, brush and small trees. Such a forest climate can lead to fire in treetops and faster-moving, more damaging fires, Nicholes said. Nicholes shared how the Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Landscape Resiliency Project will change Nevadas environment for the better, reducing the scorching impact of wildfires. The project includes a wide variety of treatments to be applied across the landscape to reduce long-term wildfire risk, improve native vegetation and wildlife habitat, and address forest and rangeland resiliency, he said. Mechanical treatments will reduce Pinyon Juniper that is encroaching into open sagebrush areas. The Forest Service may donate leftover wood to the public as firewood, Nicholes added. Grazing will also play a part in reducing the amount of natural fuel in the landscape that could catch on fire. Another goal is to reduce invasive annual grasses that are more prone to fast moving fire and replace them with native vegetation that is more resilient to fire. Nicoles said the improvements will also involve creating and strengthening fuel breaks, giving fire resources places to stop and hold a fire. Prescribed fires for reducing fuel amounts are on the menu as well. Healthy, thriving forests and grasslands are less vulnerable to extreme wildfires that can risk lives and property, impact watersheds, and wildlife habitat, he said. We are using prescribed fire and mechanical thinning to promote healthier forests and reduce the risks of wildfire. Continued use of prescribed fire is a key component of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, Nicholes said. Elko County will receive these treatments with the aim to implement approximately 20,000 acres of fuels treatments per year across the 245,532-acre project area within the Elko Front Wildfire Crisis Strategy landscape, Nicoles said. The parts of the Nevada environment most in need of help will receive tailored solutions to help reduce the scorch of wildfires. The scoping notice and other project documents are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65063. Written comments must be submitted to Josh Nicholes, District Ranger, 660 S. 12th St., Suite 108, Elko, Nevada 89801 or hand-delivered during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Faxes can be sent to 775-752-1799. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, pdf, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc). They can be uploaded to the Comments/Objection on Project section of the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65063 under get connected. Please put EHRM Project into the subject line. Albanias Parliament has approved a deal for the country to hold thousands of migrants rescued in international waters by Italy while their asylum applications are processed, despite protests from opposition lawmakers and human rights groups. Under the five-year deal, Albania would shelter up to 3,000 migrants at any one time. With asylum requests expected to take around a month to process, the number of asylum-seekers sent to Albania could reach up to 36,000 in a year. The agreement, signed in November between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, is part of Ms Melonis efforts to share the burden of addressing migration with other European countries. It was endorsed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen but has been widely criticised by human rights groups. The Parliament, dominated by Mr Ramas left-wing Socialist Party, voted 77 to zero to approve the deal, as conservative opposition lawmakers tried to disrupt the vote with whistles. The president will also issue a decree as the final step of approval. A group of 30 lawmakers attempted to block ratification by appealing to the Constitutional Court, but in late January the court said a deal could go ahead. Conservative lawmakers have repeatedly disrupted voting since October to protest the Socialist government. Italys lower chamber of parliament approved the deal in January, followed by the Senate earlier this month. Two processing centres will be set up in Albania at a cost to Italy of more than 600 million euros (513 million) over five years. The facilities would be fully run by Italy while it fast-tracks their asylum requests. Ms Meloni has said she expects them to become operational by the spring of 2024. Italy would remain legally responsible for the migrants throughout the process and would welcome them if they are granted international protection or organise their deportation from Albania if refused. Those picked up within Italys territorial waters, or by rescue ships operated by non-governmental organisations, would retain their right under international and EU law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there. Mr Rama has said Albania stands beside Ms Meloni in a sign of gratitude on behalf of Albanians who found refuge in Italy and escaped hell and imagined a better life following the collapse of communism in Albania in the 1990s. Italy has sought more solidarity from fellow European Union nations to help it handle the increasing number of arrivals. The number of migrants arriving in Italy by boat had nearly doubled to about 160,000 compared to the same period a year ago. Czech farmers were driving their tractors and other vehicles to several border crossings on Thursday to meet colleagues from neighbouring countries and join forces in their protests against European Union (EU) agriculture policies. Farmers complain that the 27-nation EUs environmental policies, such as the Green Deal, which calls for limits on the use of chemicals and on greenhouse gas emissions, limit their business and make their products more expensive than non-EU imports. The mother of Russias top opposition leader Alexei Navalny said she has seen her sons body and that she is resisting strong pressure by authorities to agree to a secret burial outside the public eye. Speaking in a video statement from the Arctic city of Salekhard, Lyudmila Navalnaya said investigators have allowed her to see her sons body in the city morgue. She said she reaffirmed the demand to give Mr Navalnys body to her and protested against what she described as authorities trying to force her to agree to a secret burial. They are setting conditions where, when and how my son should be buried They are blackmailing me, they are setting conditions where, when and how my son should be buried, she said. They want it to do it secretly without a mourning ceremony. Mr Navalnys spokesman, Kira Yarmysh, said on X, formerly Twitter, that his mother was also shown a medical certificate stating that the 47-year-old politician died of natural causes. Mr Navalny, Russias most well-known opposition politician, suddenly died in an Arctic prison last week, prompting hundreds of Russians across the country to stream to impromptu memorials with flowers and candles. The Russian authorities have detained scores of them as they seek to suppress any major outpouring of sympathy for Vladimir Putins fiercest foe ahead of the presidential election he is almost certain to win. Mr Navalnys mother has filed a lawsuit at a court in Salekhard contesting officials refusal to release her sons body. A closed-door hearing has been scheduled for March 4. On Tuesday, she appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to release her sons remains so that she could bury him with dignity. Alexei Navalnys mother Lyudmila Navalnaya (Navalny Team/AP) In the video released on Thursday, Ms Navalnaya said she had spent nearly 24 hours in the Salekhard office of the Investigative Committee, where officials told her that they have determined the politicians cause of death and have the paperwork ready, but she has to agree to a secret funeral. They want to take me to the outskirts of the cemetery to a fresh grave and say, Here lies your son. I dont agree to this. I want you too to whom Alexei is dear, for whom his death was a personal tragedy to have the opportunity to say goodbye to him, she said. Ms Navalnaya accused the authorities of threatening her: Looking into my eyes, they say that if I do not agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my sons body. Investigator Voropayev openly told me, Time is not on your side, the corpse is decomposing, she said, reiterating her demand to release her sons body immediately. Mr Navalnys death has deprived the Russian opposition of its best-known and inspiring politician less than a month before an election that is all but certain to give Mr Putin another six years in power. Many Russians had seen Mr Navalny as a rare hope for political change amid Mr Putins unrelenting crackdown on the opposition. Since Mr Navalnys death, about 400 people have been detained across in Russia as they tried to pay tribute to him with flowers and candles, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors political arrests. We owe it... to our fallen comrades to continue to work with even greater strength and achieve what they lived and died for Authorities cordoned off some of the memorials to victims of Soviet repression across the country that were being used as sites to leave makeshift tributes to Mr Navalny. Police removed the flowers at night, but more keep appearing. Earlier today, imprisoned opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza urged Russians not to give up after Mr Navalnys death, and he alleged a state-backed hit squad was taking out the Kremlins political opponents, according to a video posted to social media. A British-Russian citizen, Mr Kara-Murza is serving a 25-year sentence for treason at a penal colony in the Siberian city of Omsk. His comments came as he appeared via a video link in a court hearing over a complaint against Russias Investigative Committee for what he believes were two poisoning attempts against him. He alleges the committee did not properly investigate the attempts. Mr Kara-Murza is one of several opposition figures who have either been imprisoned, forced to flee the country or killed. He was convicted of criticising Russias invasion of Ukraine and was handed a stiff sentence as part of a crackdown against critics of the war and freedom of speech. We owe it to our fallen comrades to continue to work with even greater strength and achieve what they lived and died for, Mr Kara-Murza said in the video, which was shared by the Russian Sota telegram channel. A tribute to Alexei Navalny (Markus Schreiber/AP) Mr Kara-Murza says the attempts to poison him took place in 2015 and 2017. In the first, he nearly died of kidney failure, although no cause was determined. He was admitted to hospital with a similar illness in 2017 and put into a medically induced coma. His wife said doctors confirmed he was poisoned. Mr Kara-Murzas latest hearing came after months of postponements. In January, he was moved from another prison in Siberia and placed in solitary confinement over an alleged minor infraction. According to the video shared by Sota, Mr Kara-Murza alleged there is a death squad within the Federal Security Service, a group of professional killers in the service of the state, whose task is to physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime. He said investigative journalists had shown the group of FSB officers participated in his poisoning, as well as Mr Navalnys poisoning with a nerve agent in 2020 and the surveillance of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov before he was shot and killed in 2015 on a bridge near the Kremlin. On Monday, Ilya Yashin, an opposition figure serving more than eight years in prison for criticising Russias war in Ukraine, alleged in a social media post shared on his behalf that Mr Putin had killed Mr Navalny. I have no doubt that it was Putin. Hes a war criminal, Mr Yashin said. Navalny was his key opponent in Russia and was hated by the Kremlin. Putin had both motive and opportunity. I am convinced that he ordered the killing. Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza is seen on a TV screen during a video broadcast provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (Russian independent news outlet Sota telegram channel via AP) I feel a black emptiness inside, he said, adding that he will continue to speak out even though he believes he is also in danger. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the illnesses and deaths of the opposition figures, including Mr Navalny. Mr Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, said on Thursday on her Instagram account that she had flown to visit her 20-year-old daughter, Dasha, a student at Stanford University. My dear girl, I came to hug you and support you, and you sit and support me she wrote under a photo of herself and her daughter lying on a carpet. Describing her daughter as strong, brave and resilient, Ms Navalnaya said the family would definitely cope with everything. She also has a 15-year-old son, Zakhar. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and some of his former top aides have met with police as part of an investigation into allegations they plotted a coup to remove Mr Bolsonaros successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Mr Bolsonaro arrived at Federal Police headquarters in the capital Brasilia, as did some of his former officials, including some top military advisers. The former leader chose to remain silent. Supreme Court documents show the alleged plot involved Mr Bolsonaro signing a decree in the event that he lost the 2022 election to declare that the vote was fraudulent, to justify a possible military intervention and convene new elections. The president of Brazil claimed that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians (Markus Schreiber/AP) Mr Bolsonaro never issued the decree to set the final stage of the alleged plan in action. Bolsonaro has never been sympathetic to any type of coup movement, his lawyer Paulo Bueno told journalists in Brasilia. No-one has been formally charged in the case. A total of 23 people were expected to give statements on Thursday, of which 13 were in Brasilia, according to a federal official. Among them were Mr Bolsonaro; his 2022 running mate and minister, General Walter Braga Netto; a former adviser, General Augusto Heleno; former justice minister Anderson Torres; and the head of Mr Bolsonaros Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto. Police can begin to identify inconsistencies or gaps in information, no matter how much they have prepared for it, said Leonardo Paz, a political scientist at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Bolsonaro said before the meeting he would probably decline to comment to police, citing a lack of access to documents. I follow the advice of the lawyers. If they have access (to the file) by tomorrow, obviously Ill talk, he said during an interview with CBN radio on Wednesday. Next steps will depend on the information police extract from Thursdays statements. Jair Bolsonaro in 2021 (Michael M Santiago/PA) Brazilian police earlier this month searched the homes and offices of top aides of the former president and of one of his sons, Carlos Bolsonaro. They also seized the former leaders passport as part of the investigation. Police said in a statement that they targeted suspects who acted to attempt a coup detat. Mr Bolsonaro repeatedly sowed doubt about the reliability of Brazils voting system, never conceded defeat and declined to attend Mr Lulas inauguration, though he left the country and kept a low profile in the days ahead of Mr Lulas swearing-in on January 1 2023. On January 8 2023, Bolsonaro supporters launched a rampage in the capital. The former president, who is barred from running for office again until 2030 after an electoral court ruling against him, has called on supporters to demonstrate in his favour on February 25 in one of Sao Paulos key arteries. ELKO A snafu that led to the Nevada Secretary of State displaying inaccurate voter history on its website was a coding problem that had no impact on the presidential preference primary results in Elko County or statewide, Elko County Clerk Rebecca Becky Plunkett said. Plunkett told Elko County commissioners that clerks and the secretary of states office worked closely to resolve the technical issues. The problem was fixed on Feb. 20, she said in the public comment portion of the commissioners meeting Wednesday. We will be working with the state in a top-down system so everyone is using the same codes from now on. Plunkett said the data issue was statewide and created panic with concerned voters and rightfully so, adding there was a voter credit discrepancy that had nothing to do with the ballot counts. Basically, the state website displayed inaccurate voter history for voters who were mailed paper ballots but didnt vote in the presidential preference primary, the clerk said. She said no personal identifiable information was compromised. There was no corruption, just a mistake, Chairman Wilde Brough summarized. The secretary of states office stated in a memo on Wednesday provided by Plunkett that the miscommunication in code highlights the importance of modernizing our election system. The memo said voter registration and election management systems are kept separate. Chief Deputy Secretary of State Gabriel Di Chiara and Deputy Secretary for Elections Mark Wlaschin also wrote that at no point was any county data inaccurate. Any claims to the contrary are false. They wrote the memo to Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and provided copies to county clerks. Aguilars office reported late on Monday that some of the steps county workers are required to file in the system were not taken, resulting in inaccurate data, but that didnt affect the primary results. The offices services include providing a vote history that allows voters to log in and see what elections they voted in and by what method. Plunkett told commissioners how individuals vote in any election is not disclosed in the voter services. The memo stated over the weekend of Feb. 18 individuals who did not participate in the primary but checked their vote history on the Secretary of States Office website found they had a presidential preference primary vote history of Mail Ballot Counted. This primarily seemed to be affecting individuals who did not vote in the PPP and did not surrender their ballots, the memo writers said. Shortly after the news broke about the technical issues, the Nevada GOP issued a statement noting the party had received complaints from people who did not vote in the primary but received notification that their mail ballots were counted. The party said it would investigate, The Nevada Independent reported. The voter credit discrepancy problem came ahead of a planned county agenda item on March 6 proposing that Elko County go to all paper ballots. Commissioners agreed to a citizen request at their special Feb. 14 meeting held to certify election results to put the paper ballots question on the agenda. Plunkett also wrote that the audits for the presidential preference primary included random examination of four voting machines, and they passed with 100% accuracy. She said her office invites the public to view election audits to encourage voter confidence. In the presidential preference primary in Elko County, 2,089 Republican votes went to None of These Candidates, followed by 440 votes for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and 119 votes to former Vice President Mike Pence, who had withdrawn from the race. Elko County Democrats preferred President Joe Biden, who received 595 votes, with None coming in second with 148 votes, followed by 33 votes for Marianne Williamson. Thursday, Feb 22nd, 2024 (2:14 pm) - Score 8,400 O2 (Virgin Media / VMO2) has today become the second major UK mobile operator, after Vodafone, to switch-on a commercial 5G Standalone (SA) network in the UK, which will deliver faster mobile broadband speeds (inc. latency) and more service flexibility. The service has initially gone live in parts of 14 cities and comes at no extra cost to customers. At present most existing 5G networks in the UK are classed as Non-Standalone (NSA), which are partly reliant upon some older and slower 4G infrastructure. By comparison, SA networks are pure end-to-end 5G networks that can also deliver improvements such as ultra-low latency times (fast), greater energy efficiency, better upload speeds, network slicing capabilities, improved support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, increased reliability and security. NOTE: Network slicing allows for multiple virtual network slices across the same physical network. Each slice is isolated from other network traffic to give dedicated performance, with the features of the slice tailored to the use case requirements (online gaming, enhanced mobile broadband etc.). The new network from O2 will be available to consumers with 5G Standalone compatible SIMs and devices (more on that later) at no extra cost, which means that customers will seamlessly switch between 4G, 5G or 5G Standalone to ensure they experience the best connectivity wherever they are. The initial launch cities include: Manchester, Liverpool, London, Lincoln, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham and Slough. But O2 has yet to clarify how much 5G SA coverage theyve been able to deploy in each location and what bands theyre using for the service. Jeanie York, CTO of VMO2, said: The launch of 5G Standalone is the culmination of a multi-year programme and is a real leap forward in the evolution of our mobile network. While its still early days, our customer-centric rollout will continue throughout 2024 with some consumer customers seeing the immediate benefits including increased reliability and coverage. This new technology will future proof our mobile network for years to come and paves the way for exciting customer led innovations in the future. The operator plans to continue deploying 5G SA technology to more towns and cities throughout the UK during 2024, although theyve yet to specify any specific coverage targets. However, the Governments recent Wireless Infrastructure Strategy (WIS) did set out a related ambition, which calls for mobile operators to ensure that all populated areas to be covered by standalone 5G (5G-plus) by 2030 (here). One catch with new mobile technologies like this is that customers will need the latest software and an R15 SIM in order to access the service, which is currently said to be available on the following devices: Samsung S24 Samsung S24+ Samsung S24 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Samsung Galaxy S23+ Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Samsung Galaxy A34 5G Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 5G Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 5G Samsung Galaxy S22 Samsung Galaxy S22+ Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Sony Xperia 1 V Sony Xperia 5 V Samsung Galaxy S23 Netgear M6 Samsung A25 1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241 A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. For the first time in Reno, workers at a Starbucks filed a petition this week with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to unionize, joining four Southern Nevada locations that have sought to unionize in recent years. The Reno store, at McCarran Boulevard and Lakeside Drive, was one of 21 stores across the country with workers who announced efforts to unionize on Tuesday. Starbucks Workers United, the national organization that has helped coordinate Starbucks union drives, said it is the largest number of stores to file in a single day. Fenrir Larsen, an organizer at the Reno Starbucks who has worked as a shift supervisor for eight years, said staff at the location want to be a part of changes moving forward together as a team. Weve had a hard time being noticed as individuals but with collective bargaining we get to have a seat at the table and be heard by management, Larsen said in a statement. Workers at four stores in southern Nevada previously voted to unionize since December 2022. Companies across the country including Starbucks, Trader Joes and Amazon have attempted to unionize in recent years in an effort to secure stronger worker protections. Starbucks Workers United said it has sought to reign in unpredictable schedules, secure wages as well as push back against unfair discipline policies and racism and sexual harassment. The group proposes a base wage of $20 an hour with a 5% cost of living adjustment and requires full-time status for those working an average of 32 hours per week along, with benefits for those working less than 20 hours per week. Workers in roughly 400 stores representing more than 9,500 baristas have voted to unionize since 2021. However, no store has successfully negotiated or signed a contract so far. In a letter to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan on Tuesday, workers from those 21 stores reiterated that they deserved fair pay, clerk communication with all partners, a say in the decisions that affect our day to day, better power balance, and manageable expectations. Across the country management is cutting hours, writing inconsistent and unreliable schedules, and placing more and more work on fewer and fewer partners, the workers wrote. We partners demand a say. We are the face of Starbucks. As employees, we deserve the same respect and dignity as the CEO. In a statement, Andrew Trull, a spokesman with Starbucks, said the company has increased total hourly compensation at U.S. stores by 50% since 2020 and the company has worked to address unpredictable hours. While we believe our direct relationship as partners is core to our culture and our continued improvements to the partner experience, we respect the rights of partners to organize and reaffirm our aim to negotiate first contracts for represented stores this year, he wrote. An art performance at the event (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the event, Mr. Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe and Honorary Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic, said that in 2023, the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic faced various difficulties due to the impact of the regional and world situation. However, overseas Vietnamese associations in the country always accompanied the community, organizing many practical activities towards the homeland, preserving national cultural traditions as well as making contributions to the host country. Nguyen Dieu Linh, Charge d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic, stated that the bilateral relationship saw remarkable development last year with both sides enhancing exchanges at high levels. She also highly appreciated of the important role of the Vietnamese community as a bridge to promote the traditional friendship between the countries. Within the framework of the program, overseas Vietnamese and Czech friends enjoyed a unique art program imbued with Vietnamese national traditions performed by artists from Ho Chi Minh City's art troupe./. Ulviyya Shahin The digital economy refers to the economic activities that are primarily based on digital technologies, including the production and consumption of digital goods and services. The growth of the digital economy has been significant in recent years, driven by advancements in technology such as the internet, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Effective regulation in the digital economy indeed requires a collaborative effort among various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and other key participants. Striking the right balance between fostering innovation and addressing regulatory concerns is essential for creating an environment that encourages economic growth while ensuring fair practices, consumer protection, and cyber security. Here poses question: What has Azerbaijan accomplished and what steps should it take in this field? British journalist and economist Neil Watson told Azernews that Moodys has highlighted Azerbaijani economic diversification as a boost for the banking sector and, for several years, the growth of the digital economy has rightly been one of the key development areas for the Azerbaijani government. This was recognised by the Asian Development Bank, which regarded it as a driver of economic diversification in a hydrocarbons-rich nation, and programmes have been developed by the OECD and World Bank, amongst others. This is particularly the case for education, as young people will grow up in a world where oil and gas is of reduced value, with digital skills being highly prized. For example, the Digital Skills Programme is now being taught in 202 Azerbaijani educational institutions. Not only does this transform the use of the latest technologies into second nature for students, but also education can be tailored to specifically meet their needs and abilities. This also eliminates any differences between city and rural schools. According to him, the digitalization of the work of public authorities via the e-gov.az platform and, most notably, the ASAN service, have enhanced efficiency and negated corruption. Digitalization is also regarded as the future of the liberated regions, where energy will be generated from sustainable sources, and the obvious industry will be related to the provision of IT services. Azerbaijan is undeniably the IT hub for the South Caucasus and has a higher level of reliable connectivity than many western countries, with a young population who are very receptive to digital services and solutions. It is destined to make the entire region reliant on Azerbaijan for internet service provision and, by so doing, this should positively impact cohesion between the three nations. It will also control cyber security, countering malicious IT threats and misinformation from third countries. According to the World Bank, the Azerbaijani government is focusing on growth of the digital infrastructure, digital skills, digital platforms, digital financial services and digital entrepreneurship. In addition, the evolution of the digital economy is playing an integral role in the shift from megalithic state-run monopolies to privatised small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on specific elements of the digital economy. The state is supporting this by improving SMEs access to financial tools to facilitate entrepreneurship, he added. N. Watson said that in the UK, this has already occurred. He also gave a debrief about the growth of the internet in the UK back in the 90s. First of all, it should be remembered that the developer of the internet was Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist, and the growth of the internet coincided with the end of British manufacturing in the 1990s, after many years of decline. The growth of the internet and digital economy created endless new professions and companies in a de-industrialised nation, and the UK was a pioneer in the digital solutions which are used across the world. Every aspect of life in the UK has been impacted by the digital revolution. In 2020, the digital sector contributed GBP142.3 billion to the UK economy, and from 201019, the digital sector grew by a massive 66.6 per cent. The concentration of worldwide IT services in the UK is huge, and it secures the importance and influence of the country for the future. Economist stressed in the end that a healthy, developing and responsive digital is key to future success, and this is likely to be the case for Azerbaijan if it continues on its current trajectory. Saigontourist Travel Company is responsible for welcoming the cruise ship at the port and taking the tourists to visit the coastal city of Vung Tau, experience the western region of My Tho and Tien Giang rivers and explore vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. Spectrum of the Seas carried more than 4,000 multinational tourists Since the beginning of the year, many international cruise ships docked at Vietnamese ports, taking thousands of tourists to experience exciting cross-Vietnam journeys. This is a positive signal, heading towards an optimistic year for the international tourism industry in general and cruise tourism in particular in Vietnam. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luu, General Director of Saigontourist Travel Services Company, the international cruise tourism segment is showing rapid recovery and growth in the 2023-2024 cruise tourism season. In the first 2 months of 2024 alone, Saigontourist welcomed and served 10 international cruise ships belonging to Royal Caribbean Group, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Crystal Cruises to Vietnam, bringing over 30,000 international visitors, an increase of 15% over the same period in 2023. Following Spectrum of the Seas, Saigontourist will welcome Celebrity Solstice back on a 5-day journey to Ha Long, Thua Thien Hue, Ba Ria-Vung Tau from February 22-26; and provide maritime agency services for Crystal Symphony cruise ship, belonging to Crystal Cruises, coming to Vietnam from February 20-25. In 2024, cruise passengers are expected to increase by 10-15% compared to 2023. And international shipping lines are increasing cruises to the Asia-Pacific, including destinations in Vietnam./. Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows the iconic white pagoda of Baita Temple standing among the buildings covered with snow in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows the iconic white pagoda of Baita Temple covered with snow in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows the courtyard of Baita Temple after snow in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows the courtyard of Baita Temple after snow in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows people taking photos with their phones at Baita Temple in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows people taking photos at Baita Temple in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows a child making a snowman with her mother at Baita Temple in Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. Following a snowfall on Feb. 20, the 750-year-old Baita Temple is enveloped in a pristine white blanket, while its red walls and ivory pagoda combine to create an unmistakable and picturesque landscape, attracting many visitors. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows a cafe at Baita Temple Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. In recent years, Baita Temple Street has carried out housing renovation and business investment to attract shops and restaurants, transforming itself into a stylish neighborhood that is popular among netizens, and the white pagoda in the distance has become the most iconic view. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows the lunar New Year's decoration at Baita Temple Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, capital of China. In recent years, Baita Temple Street has carried out housing renovation and business investment to attract shops and restaurants, transforming itself into a stylish neighborhood that is popular among netizens, and the white pagoda in the distance has become the most iconic view. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows children playing with snow at Baita Temple Street, with the white pagoda in the distance. In recent years, Baita Temple Street has carried out housing renovation and business investment to attract shops and restaurants, transforming itself into a stylish neighborhood that is popular among netizens, and the white pagoda in the distance has become the most iconic view. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online) Editor: ZAD Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Crisis in Gaza: Scenario-Based Health Impact Projections, a joint report by the the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health at Johns Hopkins University, issued this week, warns that a further 85,750 Palestinians could die in the next six months from physical trauma and disease if the conflict in Gaza continues and escalates. The figure of 85,750 is a worst case scenario and deaths would reach that level only if the military assault on Gaza escalates and if the poor hygienic conditions of the 1.9 displaced Palestinians cause epidemics. But if an immediate ceasefire were achieved and no epidemics break out, a further 6,550 excess deaths would occur, or 11,580 if there are epidemics. If there is no epidemic and if the Israeli military campaign continues on its current pattern without a significant escalation, then the death toll would rise by 74,290 over the next six months. Since the Israeli military had already killed at least 29,313 people in Gaza, 70% of them women and children and the bulk of the remainder being non-combatant men, the study is saying that the total death toll is now fated to rise to between 35,800 and 40,893 even if not another shot is fired. If Israel goes on fighting for another six months just at its current pace, the death toll rises to 103,603 in the absence of major disease outbreaks. It seems unlikely that the fighting will go on at the current pace for six months. But it seems highly likely that there will be epidemics. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported yesterday, The dire water and sanitation conditions are also aggravating the state of health in Gaza, with more than 300,000 reported cases of acute respiratory infections and more than 200,000 reported cases of acute watery diarrhoea, of whom more than half are children under five, among other outbreaks. The authors of the Crisis in Gaza report say, Our projections indicate that even in the best-case ceasefire scenario, thousands of excess deaths would continue to occur, mainly due to the time it would take to improve water, sanitation and shelter conditions, reduce malnutrition, and restore functioning healthcare services in Gaza. The report only appears to consider deaths from military attacks and disease, and factors in hunger mainly as enabling the latter. People weak with hunger cannot fight off diseases and famine and epidemics go along with one another. OCHA quotes Dr. Mike Ryan of the World Heath Organization as saying, Hunger and disease are a deadly combination. Hungry, weakened and deeply traumatised children are more likely to get sick, and children who are sick, especially with diarrhea, cannot absorb nutrients well. Its dangerous, and tragic, and happening before our eyes. Palestinians are also exposed to the cold and wet weather of February in the Levant, which weakens immunity. France 24 English Video: War-torn Gaza children disproportionately impacted by acute malnutrition, family separation, death But I think they should have considered deaths from hunger alone, since the Israeli government appears to be deliberately keeping the civilian, noncombatant population malnourished by limiting the number of aid trucks, the goods of which are allowed to enter the Strip. The fascist Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has refused to allow US shipments of flour to reach Gaza, reneging on a promise made to President Joe Biden by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. On February 5, Israeli troops in Gaza fired on a food aid convoy they had previously authorized, destroying the food. OCHA points out that the relief organization Anera highlighted the silent crisis of hunger-induced deaths: In the tragic circumstances of starvation in Gaza, theres a compounding issue: many who perish from starvation-related symptoms arent accurately documented. Their deaths often get attributed to other physical causes, masking the true toll of starvation. I have argued, based on Gaza health statistics, that thousands are already dying silently of hunger in Gaza. I wrote, OCHA says that the Israeli campaign has left 378,000 people at catastrophic phase 5 levels of starvation. US AID explains that Phase 5 levels of starvation indicate that acute malnutrition levels exceed 30 percent, and more than 2 per 1,000 people are dying each day. Given that 378,000 people are being categorized by the UN as at phase 5, this definition suggests that 756 Palestinians in Gaza are dying of hunger each day, which comes to a projected 22,680 deaths from starvation over the next month. OCHA observes, Catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity are reportedly intensifying across Gaza, with growing reports of families struggling to feed their children and a rising risk of hunger-induced deaths in northern Gaza. The Global Nutrition Cluster is reporting a steep rise in malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip. The situation is especially serious in northern Gaza where 1 in 6 children under the age of two (15.6 per cent) who were screened at IDP shelters and health centres in January were found to be acutely malnourished, a decline in a populations nutritional status that is unprecedented globally in three months. In comparison, 5 per cent of children under the age of two in Rafah were found to be acutely malnourished, evidence that access to humanitarian aid can help prevent the worst outcomes. Let me just reiterate that the finding is that among the 150,000 people left in North Gaza, 1 in six children under the age of two are severely malnourished. Severe malnutrition has skyrocketed under the Israeli militarys reckless disregard for civilian life. The London/ Johns Hopkins study concurs: Before the current conflict, the global acute malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) prevalences were low amongst children 6-59 months (3.2% and 0.4%, respectively). As of 7 Feb 2024, we project they had already risen significantly (14.1% and 2.8%, respectively), albeit with likely geographical variations. They dont think a ceasefire will help with this issue of child malnutrition very much, with GAM and SAM only reduced slightly (12.4% and 2.7% at 6 months, respectively. In contrast, they fear that if the military campaign continues for six months, child malnutrition will increase many times over. As for the possibility of epidemics, they write: If epidemics also occur, those that are projected to cause the most excess deaths are cholera (3,595-8,971), polio (both wild-type and vaccine-derived; 1,1145-2,444), measles (260-793), and meningococcal meningitis (24-143). So cholera is the big threat and could cause almost 10,000 deaths over the next six months all on its own. When I lived in Eritrea in the 1960s I knew a teenager who contracted cholera. He survived, but spent days expelling liquid from all his orifices. It was horrible. You die of dehydration. The citation for the report is: Zeina Jamaluddine, Zhixi Chen, Hanan Abukmail, Sarah Aly, Shatha Elnakib, Gregory Barnsley et al. (2024). Crisis in Gaza: Scenario-based health impact projections. Report One: 7 February to 6 August 2024. London, Baltimore: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins University. The pdf is here. ( Middle East Monitor ) Emotions ran high yesterday as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) started its hearing on Israels occupation of Palestinian territory, with Palestines UN envoy Riyad Mansour moved to tears as he delivered his final remarks. Mansour spoke about a future where the children of Palestine would be treated as children and not as a demographic fit; when the human rights of Palestinians would not be diminished because of their ethnicity and identity; and where two states would live side by side, in peace. Over six days, the world court is hearing oral arguments from 52 countries and three international organisations, following a UN General Assembly request filed in 2022 for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. The hearing comes as Israel continues its devastating war on the Gaza Strip, where it has now killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians and laid waste to most of the besieged enclave. The UNs top court is already deliberating on a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, having ordered provisional measures and finding a plausible risk of genocide in its interim ruling in January. All of the speakers during the hearing will present their views on why they support or oppose the measures that Israel has enforced in the occupied Palestinian territory. Israel itself has opted out of the hearing and instead submitted a written argument. A court ruling is likely to take months, but could be possible somewhere between April and June, suggested Victor Kattan, assistant professor of international law at the University of Nottingham in the UK. Any decision in favour of the Palestinians will be a vindication of their rights by the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, he told Anadolu. If the court comes out and holds Israel responsible for the prohibition of the crime of apartheid, for example, that could be quite significant, explained Kattan, because the UN has special organs and institutions to deal with combating apartheid, which have not been used for almost four decades. They could be used to coordinate policies aimed at putting pressure on Israel to end its occupation in discriminatory policies against the Palestinian people. Kattan has written extensively on the Israel-Palestine issue, and said that the ICJ has essentially been asked to defend international law and to make it relevant again. In a way, it kind of reinforces the importance and value of this approach to the International Court of Justice. The hearings, Kattan explained, will deal with two issues, the first being to look at the ongoing violations that Israel has committed by prolonging its occupation, denial of self-determination, major demographic changes, human rights violations and racial discrimination, as well as apartheid. The second is the question about the consequences for states arising from these violations of international law. Al Jazeera English Video: Palestine demands end to Israeli occupation at ICJ hearing The legal expert noted that the participating countries had submitted their arguments well before the 7 October Hamas attack, so it would be interesting to see how Israels allies shape their arguments in light of its deadly actions in Gaza. The argument that Israel or these allies would be putting in front of these proceedings will be that this does not come under the (courts) jurisdiction or that this is not admissible. They may say this is a political issue that needs to be resolved in negotiations. According to Kattan, Theyre going to simply ask the court not to consider the request at all on the grounds of jurisdiction and admissibility. However, in my view, its a very weak argument given the special role of the court in matters concerning decolonisation and the like. They may also say that this is a bilateral process and that peace can only come statehood can only come when the Palestinians reach an agreement. That may be their argument, but UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron just came out and said that, actually, a Palestinian state doesnt have to wait until the end of negotiations, Kattan pointed out. So, we may already be seeing a shift even in the stance of Israels friends in that regard, and this would explain why [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is coming out with such belligerent statements and saying that hell never accept a Palestinian state. Kattan warned that the ICJ proceedings have enough significance that Israel might do something to divert the worlds attention away from them. That could, for example, be deciding to attack Rafah, a reference to Israels planned ground assault on the southern Gaza city currently sheltering over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians, an attack which has been condemned around the world. Once the oral arguments conclude on 26 February, the court will start its deliberations and likely give an opinion in a few months. The judges will have heard the oral submissions, and they have access to written statements and comments on written statements since last year, which they have undoubtedly read, which may have also informed them, by the way, on the genocide case as well. The key points to look out for are how far does the court accept some of the arguments that Palestine has made, what kind of majorities or dissenting opinions emerge, and what are the reasons for the dissent, said Kattan. If the court does give a good opinion, a majority opinion, that the occupation, for example, is illegal or that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid, for example, and that states have an obligation to refrain from trading in arms [with Israel] that will then be referred back to the UN General Assembly. The General Assembly will take note of it and then itll have to pass a resolution. The legal expert pointed out that these resolutions are not formally binding, and if it gets to the UN Security Council, we can expect the US to veto any attempts to enforce international law against Israel. However, it is possible that some states may take matters into their own hands if the opinion is drafted well. If its got a large majority, it would give some states the opportunity to enforce international law themselves. he said. These states could contend that the court has said they should not be trading with Israel or with entities that are operating in the occupied territories, Kattan suggested. It might give a reason for those states to cut diplomatic relations or to take measures to enforce international law. So, even if it doesnt come from the UN Security Council level, its possible for states to implement sanctions unilaterally. Whether they do so or not, we have to wait and see. Regarding the participation of countries in favour of Palestine, Kattan said that it is testimony to the hard work of Palestinian diplomats, who undoubtedly would have been lobbying their friends to support them in this case. The case also shows that Israel is more isolated than before 7 October, particularly in the Global South. Perhaps it is also becoming more isolated with states from areas it considers its friends, such as in Europe, he added. Initially there was massive sympathy for Israel after the Hamas attacks, continued Kattan, but that has now dissipated because of the Israeli military operations and attacks in Gaza. He asserted that Israels war on Gaza has revived the issue of Palestinian statehood and brought it back onto the global agenda. It has undoubtedly galvanised the tension and reminded everyone that this conflict, although its very old, is not finished. It is still there, festering. While most states recognise Palestine, there are some like the UK that have already made a legal determination that Palestine is a state, but have withheld formal recognition for political reasons. There were some states, for instance, that voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution according Palestine observer status and statehood all the way back in 2012, but withheld from upgrading their relations, said Kattan. And now we can see that for some Western countries the idea of recognising Palestine is back on the agenda in connection with debates on how to end the conflict in Gaza, how to give the Palestinian people a political horizon, and how to ensure that the conflict that we are seeing never happens again. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment. HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (TSXV:SLVR) (OTCQX:SLVTF) ("Silver Tiger" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Company's ongoing Pre-feasibility Study ("PFS") drilling program on the Stockwork gold deposit on its El Tigre Project in Sonora, Mexico. The Company continues to advance and de-risk the Stockwork Deposit. A 25,000 metre drilling program focused on Mineral Resource expansion and classification, metallurgical and geotechnical as it progresses from an exploration to a development project. The value-added PFS progresses on schedule for publication in H2-2024. Goals of the PFS drilling programs are to: a) de-risk the project with enhanced metallurgical and geotechnical review; b) increase confidence of the Mineral Resource with in-fill drilling in the near-surface Starter Pit'; and c) expand the known Mineral Resource through targeted drilling. During the PEA review, it was observed that three main areas of the Stockwork mineralization lacked adequate drilling and had potential for expansion: a) the footwall, b) the hanging wall and c) bottom keel'. Now, after releasing the first 15 drill holes of the program, the Company is pleased to announce conversion, expansion and de-risking of the potential Starter Pit'. Silver Tiger's CEO, Glenn Jessome, stated, "We are excited to announce that initial results are both confirming and expanding the near-surface potential Starter Pit'. These promising assay results help to further de-risk the project in conjunction with the underway PFS-level geotechnical and metallurgical studies." Mr. Jessome further stated, "We also continue the work to deliver a PEA for the permitted underground MRE during H2-2024." Near-surface, Stockwork Zone, seen in below highlighted intercepts: Drill hole ET-23-479: 54.0 metres grading 0.85 g/t gold equivalent or 63.7 g/t silver equivalent or from 22.0 metres to 76.0 metres, consisting of 10.1 g/t silver and 0.71 g/t gold and 53.5 metres grading 110.0 g/t 1.47 g/t gold equivalent or silver equivalent from 96.5 metres to 150.0 metres consisting of 19.5 g/t silver and 1.21 g/t gold including 22.1 metres grading 2.06 g/t gold equivalent or 154.4 g/t silver equivalent from 97.9 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 5.9 g/t silver and 1.98 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; or 63.7 g/t silver equivalent or from 22.0 metres to 76.0 metres, consisting of 10.1 g/t silver and 0.71 g/t gold and or silver equivalent from 96.5 metres to 150.0 metres consisting of 19.5 g/t silver and 1.21 g/t gold including or 154.4 g/t silver equivalent from 97.9 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 5.9 g/t silver and 1.98 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; Drill hole ET-23-486: 79.0 metres grading 0.86 g/t gold equivalent or 64.5 g/t silver equivalent from 104.0 metres to 183.0 metres, consisting of 31.3 g/t silver and 0.44 g/t gold including 26.0 metres grading 1.60 g/t gold equivalent or 119.7 g/t silver equivalent from 158.0 metres to 184.0 metres consisting of 85.2 g/t silver and 0.46 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; or 64.5 g/t silver equivalent from 104.0 metres to 183.0 metres, consisting of 31.3 g/t silver and 0.44 g/t gold including or 119.7 g/t silver equivalent from 158.0 metres to 184.0 metres consisting of 85.2 g/t silver and 0.46 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; Drill hole ET-23-489: 89.5 metres grading 0.89 g/t gold equivalent or 67.1 g/t silver equivalent from 101.0 metres to 190.5 metres, consisting of 22.3 g/t silver and 0.60 g/t gold including 10.0 metres grading 1.50 g/t gold equivalent or 112.6 g/t silver equivalent from 110.0 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 4.1 g/t silver and 1.45 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; and or 67.1 g/t silver equivalent from 101.0 metres to 190.5 metres, consisting of 22.3 g/t silver and 0.60 g/t gold including or 112.6 g/t silver equivalent from 110.0 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 4.1 g/t silver and 1.45 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; and Drill hole ET-23-494: 78.1 metres grading 0.75 g/t gold equivalent or 56.5 g/t silver equivalent from 0.0 metres to 78.1 metres, consisting of 22.9 g/t silver and 0.45 g/t gold including 15.3 metres grading 0.93 g/t gold equivalent or 70.1 g/t silver equivalent from 3.0 metres to 18.3 metres consisting of 28.1 g/t silver and 0.56 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone. Figure 1 : Stockwork Zone - Plan View Figure 2: Stockwork Zone-Cross Section 4100N Highlights from the on-going Pre-feasibility Study Drilling Program include the following: Expanding known mineralization by 10-15%; to the footwall and hanging wall zones, as well as the higher-grade keel' at PEA pit bottom associated with the El Tigre and SK Veins; Converting first three years of material in the potential Starter Pit' from Indicated Mineral Resource to Measured; Converting a significant portion of the 2km strike length ultimate' PEA pit-constrained Inferred Resource to Indicated; Completion of enhanced PFS Metallurgical Drilling, with samples underway comminution and leach testing; and Completion of enhanced PFS Geotechnical Drilling, with samples undergoing testing. Mineral Resource Drilling P&E Mining Consultants ("P&E") of Brampton, Ontario completed the intial MRE in 2017. In late 2023, P&E released an the updated El Tigre Project MRE with a pit-constrained Indicated Mineral Resource totaling 43.0 million tonnes containing 818 thousand ounces AuEq grading 0.59 g/t AuEq; and a pit-constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 11.5 million tonnes containing 267 thousand ounces AuEq grading 0.72 g/t AuEq (see update MRE press release dated September 12th 2023). PEA-level bench optimization of the Pit-constrained Mineral Resource highlighted the higher-grade (~0.80 gpt AuEq), low strip ratio (~0.3) potential Starter Pit which contains 5.7 million tons of ore material (see PEA press release dated November 1st 2023). Recommendations of the PEA-level study included increasing Mineral Resource confidence in potential Starter Pit' and additional exploratory drilling to target the 1) footwall, 2) hanging wall and 3) keel' areas of the Stockwork Zone. P&E were again retained to lead the current El Tigre PFS-level study with 17,000m of the program complete (Figure 1). Complete and final assay results from the first fifteen (15) drill holes are listed in Table 1. Below, highlighted intersections are enumerated with reference to the three (3) zones targeted: Drill hole ET-23-479: Confirms higher-grade Tiger Vein area in starter pit, and expands HW and FW (Fig. 2); Drill hole ET-23-486: Downhole intersection expands keel' associated with Tiger and SK veins at bottom of PEA pit floor; Drill hole ET-23-489: Downhole intersection expands keel' associated with Tiger and SK veins at bottom of PEA pit floor; and Drill hole ET-23-494: Shows at surface in Starter Pit'. Metallurgical Studies The Company retained D.E.N.M. Engineering Ltd. (DENM), of Burlington, Ontario for the PFS-level metallurgical test work. After review of the PEA-level metallurgical studies completed, DENM recommended drilling six (6) new PQ-sized drill holes over a one-kilometre strike length of the designed PEA Stockwork (Figure 1). DENM selected McClelland Laboratories Inc. of Sparks, Nevada complete the independent PFS metallurgical testing of the gold and silver mineralization at the El Tigre project. Over 3,000 kg of mineralized material from six (6) 85 mm PQ drill holes were shipped to the laboratory for metallurgical testing with column leach testing underway. All metallurgical holes were subsequently assayed were appropriate to be included in PFS-level updated MRE with results listed in Table 2. Geotechnical Studies The company retained Golder/WSP for the PFS-level Stockwork design criteria. After an extensive desktop review and site visit, Golder recommended drilling thirteen (13) HQ-sized oriented drill holes in the western and eastern slopes over a two-kilometre strike length of the designed PEA Stockwork (Figure 1). Geotechnical drilling is completed with point load testing underway. All geotechnical holes will be assayed were appropriate to be included in PFS-level updated MRE. Upcoming Mining Conference Attendance Silver Tiger will also be attending the BMO Global Metals, Mining and Critical Metals Conference from February 25 to February 28, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida. Silver Tiger will also be attending PDAC in Toronto from March 3 to March 6, 2024. Our booth number will be 3206. Underground Mineral Resource to Preliminary Economic Assessment - H2-2024 The Corporation will also continue to work on this substantial, permitted underground Mineral Resource Estimate and advance this towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment by H2-2024. The Indicated Out-of-Pit Mineral Resource at El Tigre is 21 Moz AgEq grading 279 g/t AgEq contained in 2.3 Mt and the Inferred Mineral Resource is 70 Moz AgEq grading 235 g/t AgEq contained in 9.2 Mt. For higher grade sensitivity cases refer to the Company's updated MRE press release dated September 12, 2023. Table 1-Mineral Resource Drill Hole Results AuEq Total (2) AgEq Total (2) Drill Hole ID Comment From To Length(1) Gold Silver m m m g/t g/t g/t g/t ET-23-479 STOCKWORK ZONE 22.0 76.0 54.0 0.71 10.1 0.85 63.7 STOCKWORK ZONE 96.5 150.0 53.5 1.21 19.5 1.47 110.0 including 97.9 120.0 22.1 1.98 5.9 2.06 154.4 including 132.0 147.0 15.0 0.96 29.9 1.36 101.8 and 166.9 173.5 6.6 0.18 172.5 2.48 186.0 ET-23-482 STOCKWORK ZONE 44.0 120.0 76.0 0.30 14.8 0.50 37.3 including 56.0 65.0 9.0 0.29 56.6 1.04 78.3 including 93.0 120.0 27.0 0.49 11.0 0.64 47.7 ET-23-483 STOCKWORK ZONE3 18.0 70.5 52.5 0.58 16.4 0.79 59.6 Including 12.0 29.0 17.0 0.70 16.3 0.92 68.9 STOCKWORK ZONE 121.0 129.0 8.0 0.49 1.1 0.50 37.9 STOCKWORK ZONE 157.5 170.0 12.5 0.76 1.4 0.78 58.3 ET-23-484 STOCKWORK ZONE 45.0 110.5 65.5 0.34 32.0 0.77 57.4 Including 91.5 107.5 16.0 0.58 104.3 1.97 147.6 ET-23-485 STOCKWORK ZONE 65.0 136.0 71.0 0.72 2.8 0.76 56.9 Including 114.0 136.0 22.0 0.89 3.3 0.93 69.9 Mining VOID 136.9 141.0 4.1 * * * * ET-23-486 STOCKWORK ZONE4 104.0 183.0 79.0 0.44 31.3 0.86 64.5 Mining VOID 155.0 158.0 3.0 * * * * Including 158.0 184.0 26.0 0.46 85.2 1.60 119.7 ET-23-487 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 23.0 23.0 0.35 15.7 0.56 42.2 STOCKWORK ZONE 45.0 49.0 4.0 1.80 7.3 1.89 141.9 STOCKWORK ZONE5 62.0 84.5 22.5 0.20 15.2 0.40 30.1 Mining VOID 69.5 70.5 1.0 * * * * ET-23-488 STOCKWORK ZONE 4.5 23.4 18.9 0.59 3.1 0.63 47.2 STOCKWORK ZONE 36.0 100.1 64.1 0.40 15.0 0.60 45.1 including 49.5 61.5 12.0 0.74 29.9 1.14 85.5 Mining VOID 100.1 102.0 1.9 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 114.6 142.5 27.9 0.68 12.8 0.85 63.7 ET-23-489 STOCKWORK ZONE6 101.0 190.5 89.5 0.60 22.3 0.89 67.1 Including 110.0 120.0 10.0 1.45 4.1 1.50 112.6 Including 142.5 151.4 8.9 1.69 14.3 1.88 141.0 Mining VOID 173.9 174.6 0.7 * * * * ET-23-490 STOCKWORK ZONE 1.3 45.0 43.7 0.45 27.8 0.83 61.9 Including 32.0 43.5 11.5 0.49 75.8 1.50 112.4 STOCKWORK ZONE 66.0 94.5 28.5 0.09 36.3 0.57 43.0 Including 83.5 90.5 7.0 0.19 103.0 1.56 117.3 ET-23-491 STOCKWORK ZONE7 20.0 101.0 81.0 0.50 9.5 0.62 46.7 Mining VOID 95.2 96.7 1.5 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 118.1 130.1 12.0 0.59 59.8 1.39 104.3 ET-23-492 STOCKWORK ZONE 16.0 67.5 51.5 0.53 8.2 0.63 47.6 Including 36.5 49.1 12.6 0.86 2.0 0.88 66.2 Including 59.0 67.5 8.5 0.91 6.3 1.00 74.9 ET-23-493 Footwall Vein 8.2 12.0 3.8 0.17 22.4 0.47 35.1 El Tigre Vein 48.0 53.0 5.0 1.03 2.4 1.07 79.9 SK Vein 67.5 73.5 6.0 1.21 53.8 1.92 144.2 ET-23-494 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 78.1 78.1 0.45 22.9 0.75 56.5 including 3.0 18.3 15.3 0.56 28.1 0.93 70.1 including 67.0 75.0 8.0 0.67 69.8 1.60 120.2 Mining VOID 78.1 81.7 3.6 * * * * ET-23-495 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 27.0 27.0 0.29 15.9 0.50 37.6 Mining VOID 61.5 62.8 1.3 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 62.8 77.1 14.3 0.16 38.8 0.68 50.9 Notes: Not true width. Silver Equivalent ("AgEq") ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 (Au:Ag). Excludes 2.7m of Mining VOID Excludes 3.0m of Mining VOID Excludes 1.0m of Mining VOID Excludes 0.7m of Mining VOID Excludes 1.5m of Mining VOID Table 2-Metallurgical Drill Hole Results AuEq Total (2) AgEq Total (2) Drill Hole ID Comment From To Length(1) Gold Silver m m m g/t g/t g/t g/t ET-23-475 STOCKWORK ZONE 37.0 51.0 14.0 0.34 2.4 0.37 27.8 STOCKWORK ZONE 101.0 104.0 3.0 0.63 2.5 0.66 49.8 STOCKWORK ZONE 121.3 143.3 22.0 0.25 25.1 0.59 44.1 including 121.3 123.2 1.9 1.03 80.4 2.10 157.8 including 141.2 143.3 2.1 0.36 155.9 2.44 183.1 Mining Void 153.5 156.2 2.7 * * * * ET-23-476 STOCKWORK ZONE 33.0 40.1 7.1 0.28 5.8 0.36 27.1 STOCKWORK ZONE 66.5 92.4 25.9 0.28 11.2 0.43 32.5 including 69.5 88.5 19.0 0.33 13.4 0.51 38.3 Mining Void 92.4 94.5 2.1 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 106.5 173.0 66.5 0.56 1.9 0.59 44.0 including 106.5 126.0 19.5 1.19 1.6 1.22 91.2 including 119.0 126.0 7.0 2.52 2.0 2.55 191.2 Mining Void 142.5 143.7 1.2 * * * * ET-23-477 STOCKWORK ZONE 45.0 109.0 64.0 0.33 15.1 0.53 40.0 including 92.5 108.0 15.5 0.50 34.6 0.96 72.2 including 92.5 96.7 4.2 1.24 7.7 1.34 100.8 and 169.2 175.0 5.8 0.09 134.7 1.88 141.1 ET-23-478 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 34.7 34.7 0.77 14.3 0.96 72.4 including 4.5 28.2 23.7 0.95 18.2 1.19 89.1 STOCKWORK ZONE 57.7 130.2 72.5 0.40 10.7 0.54 40.5 including 58.7 93.0 34.3 0.64 5.8 0.72 53.8 including 128.2 130.2 2.0 0.36 72.5 1.32 99.2 ET-23-480 STOCKWORK ZONE 19.0 65.0 46.0 0.32 3.5 0.37 27.6 STOCKWORK ZONE 86.0 117.3 31.3 0.40 14.5 0.59 44.6 including 88.0 113.0 25.0 0.47 16.4 0.69 51.4 ET-23-481 STOCKWORK ZONE 139.0 162.0 23.0 0.88 43.8 1.46 109.5 including 140.0 145.5 5.5 1.36 43.7 1.94 145.6 including 151.0 152.9 1.9 3.14 301.0 7.16 536.9 Notes: Not true width. Silver Equivalent ("AgEq") ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 Table 3-Drill Hole Locations Drill Hole ID Easting (UTM) Northing (UTM) Elevation (masl) Azimuth (o) Dip (o) Length (m) ET-23-475 671,036.0 3,384,546.1 2097.7 90 -60 176.0 ET-23-476 671,085.8 3,384,317.5 1978.3 90 -45 175.1 ET-23-477 671,111.8 3,384,070.9 1958.3 90 -45 176.0 ET-23-478 671,136.2 3,383,846.2 1893.8 90 -45 150.7 ET-23-479 671,082.8 3,384,128.3 1943.8 90 -45 190.0 ET-23-480 671,153.3 3,383,764.8 1931.7 90 -45 122.3 ET-23-481 671,188.6 3,383,604.5 2033.1 90 -50 202.0 ET-23-482 671,116.3 3,384,091.7 1971.0 90 -45 120.0 ET-23-483 671,146.1 3,384,143.4 1983.3 90 -50 170.0 ET-23-484 671,112.3 3,384,070.5 1958.3 90 -45 180.0 ET-23-485 671,054.7 3,384,175.7 1921.0 90 -51 141.0 ET-23-486 671,045.6 3,384,070.9 1951.2 90 -45 212.0 ET-23-487 671,146.1 3,383,927.6 1868.4 90 -45 111.0 ET-23-488 671,094.7 3,384,222.9 1939.9 90 -57 165.0 ET-23-489 671,042.9 3,384,049.3 1942.6 90 -45 220.0 ET-23-490 671,121.6 3,383,922.4 1862.3 90 -45 123.0 ET-23-491 671,089.4 3,384,190.6 1932.6 90 -45 180.0 ET-23-492 671,181.1 3,384,050.9 1949.4 90 -47 170.0 ET-23-493 671,206.1 3,383,925.4 1893.8 90 -45 120.0 ET-23-494 671,136.7 3,384,022.2 1931.8 90 -50 122.0 ET-23-495 671,152.4 3,383,948.0 1881.8 90 -46 130.5 Figure 3: El Tigre - Conceptual Cross-Section Showing Mineralization Styles Figure 4: El Tigre-Longitudinal Projection Showing Exploration Potential About Silver Tiger and the El Tigre Historic Mine District Silver Tiger Metals Inc. is a Canadian company whose management has more than 25 years' experience discovering, financing and building large hydrothermal silver projects in Mexico. Silver Tiger's 100% owned 28,414 hectare historic El Tigre Mining District is located in Sonora, Mexico. Principled environmental, social and governance practices are core priorities at Silver Tiger. The El Tigre historic mine district is located in Sonora, Mexico and lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre silver and gold belt which hosts many epithermal silver and gold deposits, including Dolores, Santa Elena and Las Chispas at the northern end. In 1896, gold was first discovered on the Property in the Gold Hill area and mining started with the Brown Shaft in 1903. The focus soon changed to mining silver veins in the area with production coming from 3 parallel veins the El Tigre Vein, the Seitz Kelley Vein and the Sooy Vein. Underground mining on the middle El Tigre Vein extended 1,450 metres along strike and was mined on 14 levels to a depth of approximately 450 metres. The Seitz Kelley Vein was mined along strike for 1 kilometre to a depth of approximately 200 metres. The Sooy Vein was only mined along strike for 250 metres to a depth of approximately 150 metres. Mining abruptly stopped on all 3 of these veins when the price of silver collapsed to less than US20 per ounce with the onset of the Great Depression. By the time the mine closed in 1930, it is reported to have produced a total of 353,000 ounces of gold and 67.4 million ounces of silver from 1.87 million tons (Craig, 2012). The average grade mined during this period was over 2 kilograms silver equivalent per ton. The El Tigre silver and gold deposit is related to a series of epithermal veins controlled by a north-south trending structure cutting across the andesitic and rhyolitic tuffs of the Sierra Madre Volcanic Complex within a broad silver and gold mineralized prophylitic alteration zone developed in the El Tigre Formation that can be up to 150 metres wide. The veins dip steeply to the west and are typically 0.5 metre wide; however, locally can be up to 5 metres in width. The veins, structures and mineralized zones outcrop on surface and have been traced for 5.3 kilometres along strike in our brownfield exploration area. Historical mining and exploration activities focused on a 1.6 kilometre portion of the southern end of the deposits, principally on the El Tigre, Seitz Kelly and Sooy veins. The under explored Caleigh, Benjamin, Protectora and the Fundadora exposed veins continue north for more than 3 kilometres. Silver Tiger has delivered its updated NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA, and is currently drilling to update its Mineral Resource Estimate and publish a PFS. VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation - Silver Tiger's El Tigre Project VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps. Access the Silver Tiger Metals Inc. Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for Silver Tiger Metals Inc. can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/492 and on the Corporation's website at: www.silvertigermetals.com. Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full drill core is sawn with a diamond blade drill core saw with one half of the drill core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the drill core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work. The sealed and tagged drill core sample bags are transported to the Bureau Veritas facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. Bureau Veritas crushes the samples (Code PRP70-250) and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 200 mesh (Code PUL85). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 30-gram charge by fire assay (Code FA630) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code MA200 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed Silver Tiger's QA/QC protocols. Qualified Person David R. Duncan, P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Corporation, is the Qualified Person for Silver Tiger as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Duncan has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. For further information, please contact: Glenn Jessome President and CEO 902 492 0298 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the ability to convert Inferred Resources to Indicated Resources, the ability to complete future drilling programs and infill sampling, the ability to extend Mineral Resource blocks, the similarity of mineralization at El Tigre to Delores, Santa Elena and Chispas, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of Silver Tiger, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "may", "is expected to", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans", "projection", "could", "vision", "goals", "objective" and "outlook" and other similar words. Although Silver Tiger believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Silver Tiger's expectations include risks and uncertainties related to exploration, development, operations, commodity prices and global financial volatility, risk and uncertainties of operating in a foreign jurisdiction as well as additional risks described from time to time in the filings made by Silver Tiger with securities regulators. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM) (FSE:FIR) (OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to report that diamond drillhole PIU-01 (refer figure 1) was completed at a downhole depth of 867m. First assay results are expected shortly. Drillhole PIU 02, the second hole of the current program, has commenced. Hole PIU-01, designed to extend Cu-Au mineralization to depth on the southwestern margin of the Piuquenes Central porphyry, intersected a 160m zone of supergene copper enrichment between 220m and 380m downhole, coincident, and overlapping with primary mineralization from 350 meters. Strong primary mineralization associated with intense porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining is evident from 350m to approximately 650m. From 650m to the end of hole at 867m quartz veining and mineralization continues, becoming progressively less intense with depth. From 830m disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization is hosted in volcanic host rocks outside the porphyry intrusive and remains open at depth. PIU-02, the second hole of the current program is oriented on an east-west section proximal to two historical holes drilled by Inmet Mining Corporation which reported 413.5m at 0.47% Cu and 0.52 g/t Au and 67.5m at 0.63% Cu and 0.51 g/t Au respectively. PIU-02 is designed to test the lateral extent of the Piuquenes Central porphyry mineralization, along the western margin of the deposit. Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: " We are very pleased to have intersected wide intervals of both supergene enrichment and primary copper mineralization on the first hole of our maiden drill campaign at the Piuquenes Project and now eagerly await first assay results. Excellent progress was made to reach target depth on our first hole, and we look forward to completing an additional two, and possibly three, holes to further test the depth and lateral extensions of the previously reported high-grade copper-gold intervals at Piuquenes Central. Subsequent drill programs will also test the undrilled Piuquenes East porphyry target and other nearby targets identified on the property. " A Company Presentation is available at: www.pampametals.com/investor/presentations Figure 1: Piuquenes Central Schematic Cross Section Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-01 Moderate porphyry A-type quartz stockworks are present from approximately 150m downhole, increasing in intensity from 220m depth. Supergene copper enrichment is evident from 220m to 380m depth, partially coincident (from 288 m depth) with increasing intensity of porphyry A-type quartz vein stockworks and evidence of intermineral potassic alteration. A narrow zone of copper oxides is observed from 220 - 229m downhole. Dense porphyry A-type quartz vein stockwork with chalcopyrite and traces of disseminated bornite mineralization hosted in potassic altered diorite porphyry was intersected from 350m to approximately 650 m. From 650m to approximately 740m downhole a zone of moderate intensity quartz veining was intersected, prior to a zone of sporadic quartz veining which remains open at 867m (EOH). From 730m intermediate argillic alteration is present, and molybdenite, sphalerite and hematite/specularite associated with grey sericite-chlorite veining and fine-grained disseminated chalcopyrite-bornite. From 830m the host-rock is volcanic, superimposed by sericite-chlorite alteration and disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization, veining and breccias. Image 1: Intense porphyry A type qtz vein stockwork overprinting early potassic altered diorite porphyry Image 2. Porphyry A-type qtz-veining with potassic (K-Spar) altered vein halos and disseminated chalcopyrite ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO INVESTOR CONTACT Joseph van den Elsen | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ABOUT PAMPA METALS Pampa Metals is a copper-gold-silver-molybdenum porphyry exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges. In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Previous intervals of significant copper and gold mineralization at Piuquenes Central (refer 5 December 2023 News Release) include: 413.5 m (167-580.5 m) @ 0.47% Cu and 0.52 g/t Au (0.87% CuEq)*; and 558.2 m (362-920.2 m EOH) @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au and 2.4 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq)* including 130 m (362-492 m) @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag (1.31 % CuEq)* Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company. * %CuEq values are calculated based on copper and gold metal prices: Cu = US$3.20/lb, Au = US$1,700/oz and Ag = US$ 20/oz. The formula utilized to calculate %CuEq is: Cu Eq Grade (%) = Cu Head Grade (%) + [(Au Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Au Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04) + [(Ag Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Ag Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.0. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK) (Arras or the Company) is pleased to announce the initial results of its 2023 soil sampling program conducted over the Berezski Target located within the Companys Elemes 425 square kilometer (km) exploration licence (Elemes or the Licence) in northeastern Kazakhstan. The Elemes licence is not included in the Teck-Arras Strategic Exploration Alliance announced on December 7, 2023. Highlights from the Soil Sampling program 8.8 km x 1.5 km NE-SW trending coherent copper (Cu) anomaly (>150ppm) linking two zones of shallow (<298m) high-grade historical drilling that sit 5 km apart and include re-assayed results of 108m @ 0.94% CuEq (including 30.8m @ 2.21% CuEq), and 132.6m @ 0.80% CuEq (including 57.1m @ 1.00% CuEq) starting from surface. Bulls eye 2.8 km x 1.6 km coherent Molybdenum (Mo) anomaly interpreted to be the core of an at surface porphyry system that is untested with drilling. An Arsenic (As) peripheral to copper-molybdenum anomaly thought to be associated with an intermediate-sulphidation epithermal system which recent sampling by Arras has returned gold and silver grades up to 29g/t Au & 287g/t Ag. Results confirm a multi-kilometer-scale system, delimited by several mineralized zones which may be contiguous under surface cover. Arras collected 31,000 soil samples over the Elemes Licence in 2023. The results presented in this news release cover only the western half of the Elemes Licence and represent approximately 60% of the soil samples collected. The results of the remaining 14,000 soil samples are expected in the next 3 to 4 weeks. Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals stated, The coherence and continuity of the copper soil anomaly over 8.8 kilometers is impressive. The results of our soil sampling program combined with widely spaced historical drilling, some of which we have been able to re-assay, all points to a very large and intact porphyry system that starts at surface and has unknown extent as it continues under recent cover to both the northeast and southwest. The re-assay results we put out at the start of this year on some of the historical shallow drillholes in the area show strong copper-gold mineralization grading up to 0.94% CuEq over 108m, and 0.80% CuEq over 132.6 meters, ending in mineralization in some cases. What is even more exciting is that in addition to the copper soil anomaly, our soil results were also able to delineate a 2.8 kilometer by 1.6 kilometer bulls eye molybdenum anomaly that has yet to be drill tested. The significance of the molybdenum is that it may point towards the core of the porphyry which typically holds high grade copper and gold mineralization. In summary, we now have a confirmed second large porphyry system within our extensive licence package in NE Kazakhstan. Figure 1. Drone photo showing outcropping argillic alteration at Berezski Central target (Elemes Licence) Figure 2. The 8.8 km copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes Licence. Also shown are the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively. The location of the medium sulphidation epithermal system sampled by Arras and announced on 11 July 2023 is also shown. Lastly a wide zone of intense kaolinite alteration at Berezski Central is also shown that is co-incident with the strong molybdenum anomaly that has been identified and shown in Figure 4. Figure 3. Soil anomaly maps showing copper results and the alteration map. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly (see figure 4). Figure 4. Soil anomaly maps showing molybdenum, and arsenic results. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly. The Soil Sampling Program In 2023, a comprehensive soil sampling program was undertaken across the Elemes Licence area. This program specifically targeted the well-developed "B soil horizon" utilizing a 50-meter sample interval and 200-meter line spacing grid. A total of approximately 31,000 samples were collected. This press release announces the findings from the initial batch of 17,000 samples, which cover an area of 189.3 sq. km (approximately 11.5 km by 18.2 km) situated on the western side of the Elemes Licence. The results from the remaining 14,000 samples, covering the eastern portion of the Elemes Licence, are anticipated to be available within the next 3 to 4 weeks. The soil analysis was conducted utilizing a Portable X-ray fluorescence device ("pXRF"), a widely employed instrument for determining the elemental composition of samples. Due to the limited sampling area of the pXRF, the results presented in this release are considered "indicative" rather than fully quantitative regarding mineralization. Despite this limitation, the results have revealed a substantial and coherent copper-in-soil anomaly, with copper concentrations exceeding 150 ppm. Background copper in the area is considered to be less than 20 ppm. This anomaly stretches over a remarkable distance of more than 8.8 km from north to south and extends to approximately 1.5 km in width from east to west. Notably, it connects the Quartzite_Gorka and Berezski East historical drilling areas, which are situated over 5 km apart. These areas have previously confirmed high-grade porphyry copper-gold mineralization starting at the surface. The continuity of the copper soil anomaly strongly suggests that the Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East areas represent only a small part of a much larger porphyry copper-gold system. Re-Assay of Historical Core The Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East areas were drilled between 2007 and 2010. All available drill-core have been re-logged in detail by Arras for lithology, structure, alteration, and mineralization. The mineralization seen at both locations is interpreted to be the upper part of a porphyry copper-gold mineralizing system. The mineralization comprises of sheeted and/or stockwork veining of quartz-magnetite A veins with minor chalcopyrite-bornite k-feldspar halos; magnetite-only M veins; and quartz-chalcopyrite veins. Locally disseminated patches of chalcopyrite, bornite and pyrite occur. Anhydrite veins and late epidote-carbonate veins are also observed. The host diorite intrusion is fine-grained, equigranular and typically highly magnetic. Strong potassic (k-feldspar-quartz-magnetite-secondary biotite) alteration of the host diorite has been variably overprinted by intermediate argillic (illite-chlorite) alteration. Arras also sent 6 holes, three each from Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East for re-assay. The summarized results of these re-assays are provided in Table 1 below and were disclosed in news releases on January 8, 2024, and January 22, 2024, respectively. Notably, the findings showcased zones of exceptionally high-grade mineralization, including sections measuring 30.8 meters grading 2.21% CuEq and 62 meters grading 1.53% CuEq. For further details, please visit www.arrasminerals.com. Table 1. Summary table for the re-assay of historical drill holes for Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East Notes: Copper Equivalent (CuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Quartzite Gorka were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.8264) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0107) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 6.0000). Gold Equivalent (AuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Quartzite Gorka were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.2100) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0129) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.0334). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.00/lb. Copper, US$1,700/oz Gold, US$22/oz Silver, US$18/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 90% for Cu and Au and 50% for Ag and Mo. Intervals are core-length weighted and original core recovery is estimated to be > 90 %. The Berezski Target: is located within the 425 square km Elemes mineral exploration licence. The Licence benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 km from Arras operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, northeastern Kazakhstan. A paved highway runs through the licence, and within 1 km of the Berezski target. 1100 KVA power lines and heavy rail all lie within a 15 km radius of the project. The Berezski target is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (www.kazminerals.com) approximately 60 km to the northwest. Figure 5. Arrass License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as Package A and Package B as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, & Ekidos licences which are 100% owned by Arras. Sampling Methodology Samples were collected on a 50m (East-west) by 200m (north-south) grid spacings. Samples were collected from hand-dug pits, trying to consistently sample the B horizon. Approximately 500 grams of material was collected and sieved (5mm mesh size) to review larger particles and organic matter. Following collection, the samples were bagged, dried, and analyzed by the company with a Portable Niton XL5 X-ray fluorescence analyzer at the companys core storage facility in Ekibastuz. Assay, QAQC Procedures Analysis was conducted using the companys two Niton XL5 portable XRF units. Units were calibrated at the start and end of each work shift as well as after every 100 samples to verify accuracy. In addition, a measurement from a certified reference material was taken every 20 measurements to ensure accuracy and repeatability of data. In addition, prior to commencement of the measurements, 100 duplicate samples were analyzed using both units to confirm that both units were producing accurate results and that no bias was present in either of the units. All soil material is stored at Arras warehouse in Ekibastuz, and the company plans to send a proportion of these samples to ALS Chemex in Karaganda, Kazakhstan for reanalysis with a 4-acid digest ICP-MS61 analysis and for trace gold analysis (using Au-ST43). Qualified Person The scientific and technical disclosure for the Elemes Project included in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Arras Minerals Corp., who is also a Member and Chartered Professional Geologist (MAusIMM CP(Geo)) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Barry has sufficient experience, relevant to the styles of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on X, formerly known as Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Strike Extent Now Exceeds the Parameters of the Modelled Conductor Assays Pending on Intersections Outlining Shallower Mineralized Potential Tesla Zone Continues to Remain Open in All Directions VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Foran Mining Corporation (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") is pleased to report initial assay results from the 2024 winter program at the Tesla and Bridge Zones, part of its 100%-owned McIlvenna Bay Project (the "Project") in Saskatchewan. Initial results from recent Tesla Zone drilling continue to confirm the continuity of mineralization along strike, currently up to 1,050m and beyond the limits of the modelled conductor. The winter drill program began on January 11th, 2024, with six rigs currently drilling. Four drills are focused on expanding the main Tesla Zone with step-out drilling along strike, up-dip and down-dip, while the remaining two drills are focused on definition drilling of the Bridge Zone. The Company plans to complete up to 20,000m of drilling during the winter program, with initial assay results from the from the first two holes reported in this release. Key Highlights: Drilling at Tesla encountered thick zones of mineralization, with the uppermost zone representing a 140m strike extension of the Tesla Zone to the southeast, expanding the strike length of Tesla to 1,050m . Highlight intercepts from MB-24-290: 27.4m grading 1.03% Cu, 2.17% Zn, 28.3 g/t Ag and 0.20 g/t Au (1.83% CuEq), including 8.3m grading 1.28% Cu, 3.62% Zn, 35.7 g/t Ag and 0.03 g/t Au (2.43% CuEq). Mineralization has now extended beyond the original bounds of the 900m -long surface Electro-Magnetic ("EM") conductor target. Assays for lower zone are pending. Drilling at the transition zone between the McIlvenna Bay Deposit and the Bridge Zone intersected two mineralized intervals, highlights from MB-24-292 below include elevated gold intercepts: 8.5m grading 1.56% Cu, 2.05% Zn, 24.3 g/t Ag and 0.65 g/t Au (2.52% CuEq), including 2.6m grading 0.85% Cu, 2.64% Zn, 19.5 g/t Ag and 1.59 g/t Au (2.58% CuEq). Assays for the lower zone are pending. Assays are also pending from two drillholes targeting Tesla up-dip extensions which intersected significant thicknesses of mineralization located approximately 160m up-dip of previously drilled mineralization, indicating a total up/down dip extent for the Tesla Zone of at least 500m in this location. Subsequent borehole EM surveys on these holes indicate that mineralization likely continues at least 50- 75m further up-dip and at least 200m along strike in the up-plunge direction in the central part of Tesla. Tesla remains open in all directions for expansion and increased understanding of the zone is the focus of the current program. Erin Carswell, Foran's Vice President, Exploration, commented: "The 2024 Winter drill program has started on an exceptionally positive note, with results from hole MB-24-290 representing a significant strike extension of the Tesla Zone. Now measuring over one kilometre long and extending beyond the original EM target length, Tesla is rapidly expanding beyond our expectations as a zone of strategic importance for future growth initiatives. Additionally, two new up-dip intersections have extended Tesla towards surface confirming the potential for shallower mineralization, with assays from these latter intervals expected shortly. Of particular interest, the southernmost Bridge Zone intercept encountered elevated gold mineralization when compared to McIlvenna Bay reserve grades, highlighting the possibility of growing precious metal credits. We are looking forward to maintaining this momentum and provide updates on our developments from Tesla and the Bridge Zone as the important ice drilling season unfolds". Tesla and Bridge Zones Since the initial discovery of the Tesla Zone in 2022, which lies adjacent to and approximately 300 metres north of the McIlvenna Bay Deposit (the "Tesla Zone" or "Tesla"), the Zone has been successfully intersected by 20 drill holes defining mineralization over 1,050m in strike length and 500m in dip extent. These drill holes have intersected multiple massive and semi-massive copper and zinc mineralized horizons and associated stringer zones that remain open in all directions for continued expansion. The Bridge Zone occurs in a ~300m long corridor between the current southernmost drilling at Tesla and the northernmost drilling at the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. Discovered in 2023 and confirmed with three drillholes, the Bridge Zone is typically characterized by multiple lenses of massive, semi-massive and stringer style sulphide mineralization. Detailed core observations and the results from the ongoing McIlvenna Bay Orebody Knowledge Study, including TruscanTM XRF analysis of the holes, have identified important geological marker units within the Bridge Zone that link the two areas and suggest that a post-mineralization fold connects Tesla and the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. Mineralization intersected to date in the Bridge Zone appears to correlate with ore zones intersected in the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. Figure 1 below provides a plan map showing the location of drill holes targeting the Tesla Zone and the Bridge Zone areas adjacent to the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. Initial Drill Results The first two holes (MB-24-290 and 292) have now been completed and the assay results have been returned from the lab for the upper mineralized intervals from each drill hole identifying significant zinc and/or copper zones, with complete results for the holes expected to be received in the coming weeks. These holes were drilled near the northern and southern ends of the Bridge Zone respectively, designed to step out from known mineralization at the Tesla Zone and McIlvenna Bay Deposit and test the continuity of the zones while moving towards the central part of the Bridge Zone with further drilling. In addition, two Tesla holes (TS-24-17 and TS-24-18) targeting up-dip expansion of the mineralized zone have been completed which have successfully intersected the Tesla mineralized horizon. While assays for these zones have not yet been received, the significance of the intersections are described in the results below. Hole MB-24-290 Hole MB-24-290 was drilled as a step-out to the south of the currently defined Tesla Zone, near the transition zone between the Tesla Zone and the Bridge Zone. The hole was collared approximately 335m south of TS-23-11w2 which was drilled during the 2023 winter program and returned 16.5m grading 1.12% Cu, 4.85% Zn, 41 g/t Ag, and 0.06 g/t Au (2.70% CuEq) from the main Tesla Zone, plus an additional lower zone of mineralization (see Foran's May 25, 2023 news release for details). MB-24-290 successfully intersected a significant thickness of copper and zinc-rich sulphide mineralization which correlates well with the known Tesla Zone, along with the expected stratigraphic marker units, and successfully expanded the strike length of Tesla to 1,050m. The hole intersected the upper massive sulphide zone approximately 140m south of drill hole MB-23-11w2, returning a 27.4m interval of contiguous mineralization grading 1.03% Cu, 2.17% Zn, 28.3 g/t Ag and 0.20 g/t Au (1.83% CuEq) from a combination of massive and semi-massive sulphides and an underlying stringer zone. Below this point, stringer style mineralization continued for an additional 47.5m downhole which graded 0.50% Cu, 0.65% Zn, 9.5 g/t Ag and 0.05 g/t Au (0.72% CuEq). The significant aggregate thickness of mineralization intersected in this hole (approximately 75m) may be a reflection of structural thickening as the mineralized horizons fold into the Bridge Zone area. Additional drilling is needed to fully understand the geometry of potential folding. Assay results are currently pending from a lower zone of mineralization that was also intersected in this hole. These results will be released in the coming weeks when they are available from the lab. The intersection in MB-24-290 is especially significant as it extends mineralization beyond the limits of the original 900m surface EM conductor that was used to target Tesla. This drillhole also indicates that the fold hinge that links the Tesla Zone to the Bridge Zone is located further southeast than expected, which may imply a longer strike length of mineralization within the Bridge Zone itself. Hole MB-24-292 MB-24-292 was drilled at the south end of the Bridge Zone corridor near the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. The drill hole intersected a massive and semi-massive sulphide horizon located in the hangingwall, stratigraphically above the Deposit, which appears to correlate with an orphaned lens of mineralization that was intersected in two historic holes drilled at the Deposit in 1999-2000 and currently represent an isolated lens of mineralization that was not included in previous resource estimates for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. MB-24-292 returned an 8.5m interval of massive and semi-massive sulphides which graded 1.56% Cu, 2.05% Zn, 24.3 g/t Ag and 0.65 g/t Au (2.52% CuEq) from this upper lens, including a 2.6m interval grading 1.59 g/t Au. The elevated precious metals values returned from this intersection make this a compelling target for follow up drilling along this horizon. The hole also intersected an additional zone of massive sulphide and stringer style mineralization over a 10m core length, approximately 235m further downhole, that appears to correlate with the Main Lens mineralization of the McIlvenna Bay Deposit. Assay results are currently pending from the lab for this lower zone of mineralization which will be reported in the coming weeks. Additional drilling is required to confirm the geometry of this new mineralized zone and to confirm how this zone may be related to the mineralization intersected in the previous Bridge Zone holes, but it appears that this intersection may open a new target horizon for expansion with future drilling. Compiled assay results from the current Bridge Zone drilling are provided in Table 1 below and a 3D view of Bridge Zone area is provided in Figure 2 below. Table 1 2024 Winter Bridge Zone Assay Results1 Hole Zone From_m To_m Interval_m Cu % Zn % Ag g/t Au g/t CuEq % MB-24-290 MS/CS 1021.8 1049.1 27.4 1.03 2.17 28.3 0.20 1.83 Including MS 1021.8 1030.1 8.3 1.28 3.62 35.7 0.03 2.43 And CS 1030.1 1049.1 19.0 0.91 1.54 25.0 0.27 1.56 MB-24-290 CS 1050.8 1098.3 47.5 0.50 0.65 9.5 0.05 0.72 MB-24-290 CS 1103.8 1105.2 1.42 3.06 0.16 21.4 0.01 2.94 MB-24-292 MS 871.6 880.0 8.5 1.56 2.05 24.3 0.65 2.52 Including MS 871.6 874.2 2.6 0.85 2.64 19.5 1.59 2.58 And MS 878.1 880.0 2.0 2.33 1.14 38.6 0.47 2.91 Note 1: Composite widths are presented as core lengths. Additional drilling will be required to confirm the geometry of the mineralized zones, but generally true widths are thought to be 80-85% of core length. Intervals generally composited using a 0.5% Cu cut-off grade in stringer zones, except MB-24-290 from 1050.8-1098.3m that used a 0.3% Cu cut-off grade. Copper Equivalent values calculated using metal prices of $4.00/lb Cu, $1.50/lb Zn, $20.00/ounce Ag and $1,800/ounce Au and LOM metallurgical recovery rates derived from test work on blended ores for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit completed as part of our April 2022 Feasibility Study: 91.1% Cu, 79.8% Zn, 88.6% Au and 62.3% Ag (MS massive / semi-massive sulphide, CS Copper Stockwork/Stringer). To date no metallurgical test work has been completed on the Tesla Zone or Bridge Zone mineralization. Tesla Up-Dip Extensions Completed holes TS-24-17 and TS-24-18 were designed to target Tesla's up-dip expansion potential from the known mineralized zones. While laboratory assays are pending, a combination of drill hole logging, TruScanTM XRF assay data and borehole EM data confirm that we have successfully intersected the main Tesla Zone horizon an average of ~160m up-dip from the existing intersections of mineralization in the central part of the Tesla Zone. Significantly, the borehole EM results from surveys on these two holes indicate that the mineralization continues at least 50-75m further up-dip and at least 200m along strike in the up-plunge direction, providing a robust plate model for future drill targeting. TS-24-17 intersected massive sulphide, stringer and disseminated style mineralization related to the main Tesla Zone approximately 179m updip from TS-23-12w1 which had returned 7.1m grading 0.49% Cu, 8.91% Zn, 46.8 g/t Ag and 0.32 g/t Au (3.51% CuEq) during the 2023 summer drill program (see Foran's March 30, 2023 news release for details). TS-24-18 was collared 100m to the southeast along strike, where it also intersected massive and semi-massive sulphides with associated stringer zones and disseminated sulphides related to the Tesla Zone and was located 171m updip from historic hole TS-23-07w1 which returned 34.3m of massive sulphides grading 0.25% Cu, 8.47% Zn, 57.5 g/t Ag and 0.41 g/t Au (4.11% CuEq) from the 2023 winter program (see Foran's December 14, 2023 news release for details). Core photos from these two new Tesla holes are provided in Figure 3 below. The success of these shallower updip holes is encouraging and has prompted planning for a more intensive Tesla Zone updip exploration program utilizing navigational drilling technologies from land during our 2024 summer drilling program. We also intend to review results of historic drilling at the northern end of McIlvenna Bay Deposit where several shallow intersections of copper mineralization have been noted that lie outside of the current resource envelopes for the Deposit (including 1.4m at 4.28% Cu in drillhole MB-21-244a) (see Foran's July 29, 2021 news release and Table 2 below for details on that intersection). Table 2 2021 Historic Assay Results from MB-21-244a1 Hole From_m To_m Interval_m Cu % Zn % Ag g/t Au g/t MB-21-244a 107.5 114.8 7.3 1.79 0.01 0.12 0.00 Including 110.2 111.5 1.4 4.28 0.01 0.17 0.01 Note 1: Composite widths are presented as core lengths. Additional drilling will be required to confirm the geometry of the mineralized zones, but generally true widths are thought to be 80-85% of core length. Intervals generally composited using a 0.5% Cu cut-off grade in stringer zones. Figure 3. Photos of mineralization in TS-24-17 and TS-24-18 (assays pending) 2024 Winter Drill Program The current winter drill program is focused on Tesla and the Bridge Zone, with two main strategies: Continue to assess the extents of the Tesla Zone through a series of wide spaced step-out drill holes, designed to expand the known mineralization both along strike and up/down dip and increase the definition of the known mineralized horizons. Target the confluences of the Bridge Zone corridor with the Tesla Zone and McIlvenna Bay Deposit in order to achieve a better understanding of: The stratigraphic and structural relationships between the three zones, and The geometry of controlling folds / faults and the potential for upgrading of mineralization in structural trap sites. Drilling continues with six drill rigs to advance our winter exploration during the ice-based program. To date, ten drill holes are underway and/or completed, along with the first wedge, for a total of 11 drill holes encompassing 11,900m of drilling. Two drills are targeting the Bridge Zone area, while an additional four drills are focused on the Tesla Zone including large step-outs along strike and both up and down dip, drilled from the ice or far lake shoreline (Figure 4). It is currently anticipated that the ice-based portion of the program will run until early April 2024, subject to favourable ice conditions. Following the completion of the ice-based program, drilling will transition to land-based collars to continue the definition drilling of the Tesla Zone through the summer months. Several twinned wedge holes are also planned to provide mineralized material to commence early metallurgical testwork. A plan map showing the target areas that will be the focus for expansion drilling during the upcoming winter drill program is provided in Figure 5 below. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Drilling was completed using NQ size diamond drill core and core was logged by employees of the Company. During the logging process, mineralized intersections were marked for sampling and given unique sample numbers. Sampled intervals were sawn in half using a diamond blade saw. One half of the sawn core was placed in a plastic bag with the sample tag and sealed, while the second half was returned to the core box for storage on site. Sample assays are performed by the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") Geoanalytical Laboratory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. SRC is a Canadian accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) and independent of Foran. Analysis for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn is performed using ICP-OES after total multi-acid digestion. Au analysis is completed by fire assay with ICP-OES finish. A complete suite of QA/QC reference materials (standards, blanks, and duplicates) are included in each batch of samples processed by the laboratory. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. Qualified Person Mr. Roger March, P. Geo., Senior Geoscientist for Foran, is the Qualified Person for all technical information herein and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release. The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "FMCXF". Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. About Foran Mining Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay Project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, comprises the infrastructure and works related to pre-development and advanced exploration activities of the Company, and hosts the McIlvenna Bay Deposit and Tesla Zone. The Company also owns the Bigstone Deposit, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of the McIlvenna Bay Property. The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. The McIlvenna Bay Property sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km. The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit (the "McIlvenna Feasibility Study") on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed the McIlvenna Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022, with an effective date of February 28, 2022. The Company also filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on January 21, 2021, as amended on February 1, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF". Forward Looking Statements CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corporation and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited, statements regarding our objectives and our strategies to achieve such objectives; our beliefs, plans, estimates, projections and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events; as well as specific statements in respect of the expansion potential of the Tesla Zone, including potential expansion directions; expectations regarding mineralization in the Tesla Zone and Bridge Zone, and its potential to connect the Tesla Zone with the McIlvenna Bay Deposit; our exploration plan's current focus and objectives; our expectation regarding the expansion and strategic importance of Tesla for future growth initiatives; the potential of certain intercepts indicating the possibility of growing precious metal credits; our intention to maintain our exploration momentum and providing updates on Tesla and Bridge Zone developments as the ice drilling season unfolds; our plan to conduct up to 20,000m of drilling during the 2024 winter drilling program, as well as the number of rigs to be used, drilling angles and locations, timelines, strategies, and other details in respect of such drilling plans; the transition from ice-based drilling to land-based drilling through the summer months; our intention to commence early metallurgical testwork in the future; our ability to further define the scale and geometries of the Tesla Zone and Bridge Zone during our winter drilling program in 2024; the expected timing for completion of analysis, and interpretation and expected results, of assay results; and our intention to review certain results of historic drilling. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "potentially", "intends", "likely", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement. Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: unlocking the untapped value of the Company's properties, delivery of superior or any investment returns; scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities; the potential for the Company's land package to be transformational, the focus of the Company's future drill programs, the incorporation of geotechnical and hydrogeological information into the overall project design; the long-term investment horizon of shareholders; the growth of the Company from developer to producer; the certainty of funding; the future of the Company; de-risking McIlvenna Bay; delivering on the Company's Net Positive Business strategy; ownership and reliance on the Company's mineral projects; the Company's history of losses and potential inability to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow on a sustained basis; the Company's statements about the expected life of mine, productive capacity and other technical estimates on its projects, and the Company's reliance on technical experts with respect thereto; the Company's exposure to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases and other health crises on the Company; global financial volatility and its impact on the Company; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict; government, securities, and stock exchange regulation and policy; legal proceedings which may have a material adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition; capital market conditions and their effect on the securities of the Company; insurance and uninsurable risks; environmental, health and safety regulation and policy; mining hazards and risks; title rights to the Company's projects; indigenous peoples' title and other legal claims; mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; uncertainties and risks relating to the Feasibility Studies; fluctuations in commodity prices, including metals; competition; expertise and proficiency of management; limited operating history; dilutive effects; impacts of global climate change and natural disasters; inadequate infrastructure; relationships with local communities; reputational damage; the Company's reliance on financial instruments; future acquisitions; management conflicts of interest; security breaches of the Company's information systems; and the additional risks identified in our Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 and other securities filings with Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Readers are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed above do not contain an exhaustive list of the factors or assumptions that may affect the forward-looking statements, and that the assumptions underlying such statements may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the Company's securities filings and this news release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with Canadian securities regulators. Guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo of the 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy leaves a military port in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2024. The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Wednesday set sail from a military port in the coastal city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong Province to take over an escort mission from the 45th naval fleet in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. (Photo by Yang Jie/Xinhua) GUANGZHOU, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy on Wednesday set sail from a military port in the coastal city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong Province to take over an escort mission from the 45th naval fleet in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. The 46th fleet includes the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo, the missile frigate Xuchang, and the comprehensive replenishment vessel Honghu. It has over 700 officers and soldiers, including dozens of special forces personnel, and two helicopters onboard. In preparation for the mission, the fleet conducted meticulous analysis and made detailed plans. It also carried out targeted training for scenarios such as the rescue of hijacked commercial ships, the combating of terrorists and pirates, and the underway replenishment. The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy sets sail from a military port in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2024. The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Wednesday set sail from a military port in the coastal city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong Province to take over an escort mission from the 45th naval fleet in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. (Photo by Yang Jie/Xinhua) The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy sets sail from a military port in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 21, 2024. The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Wednesday set sail from a military port in the coastal city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong Province to take over an escort mission from the 45th naval fleet in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. (Photo by Yang Jie/Xinhua) Editor: ZAD A Swiss aid group said Tuesday that an investigation into the killing of two French staff in Ukraine had determined they died in a "deliberate" drone attack. France has already accused Russia of responsibility for the February 1 strike in the Ukrainian town of Beryslav. Four other staff -- three French nationals and a Ukrainian -- were injured in what the Swiss Church Aid group (HEKS) described as a "brutal and unjustifiable" attack. On February 2, French President Emmanuel Macron said on X, the former Twitter, that the attack had been "a Russian strike. A cowardly and outrageous act." The Russian ambassador to France was summoned to the foreign ministry over the deaths. The probe showed that "this deliberate attack was carried out by drones", said the HEKS, which provides humanitarian assistance around the world for victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. "Following the attack, the French and Ukrainian governments have opened a war crimes investigation," it added in a statement. The two men killed in the attack were HEKS senior security coordinator Guennadi Guermanovitch, 52, and Adrien Baudon de Mony-Pajol, 42, who headed the organisation's home repair unit. The HEKS investigation showed that its six staff, who had been sent to evaluate the humanitarian situation determine what aid could be provided, had followed all security procedures. They had sought and received permission to travel from civilian and military authorities in the Kherson region. They were travelling in two well-marked white vehicles emblazoned with the HEKS logo and a symbol indicating there were no weapons onboard, and they were all wearing helmets and bulletproof vests. They had reached Beryslav -- a small community on the banks of the Dnipro River near the frontline in Russia's war in Ukraine. But when they were leaving, "they were suddenly attacked by drones", the statement said, adding that Guermanovitch and Pajol were fatally injured. The four other staff were hurt, but managed to carry their colleagues' bodies and seek refuge in two nearby houses. When night fell, they sought medical assistance at a local health centre, before they were taken to Kyiv for specialised treatment the next day, HEKS said. The organisation said that the injured staff members were "doing well considering the circumstances". The three injured French nationals had returned to France, it said. A Paraguayan court has sentenced an 87-year-old former policeman to 30 years in jail for brutal torture carried out during the country's military dictatorship, according to the ruling released on Tuesday. However, due to his advanced age, Eusebio Torres will serve his sentence under house arrest and not in prison. Torres was a feared policeman nicknamed "the Whip" during the 1954-1989 rule of strongman Alfredo Stroessner -- South America's longest dictatorship. His sentencing came after an eight-day trial in the capital Asuncion, in which some 20 witnesses testified, giving a rare window into crimes committed during Stroessner's rule. "All those who were considered opponents of the dictatorial regime were tortured throughout the country," said Judge Manuel Aguirre in his ruling. He said that Torres led prisoner interrogations and had subjected the plaintiffs -- two brothers, and one of their wives -- to "all kinds of torture." The plaintiffs burst into scenes of joy at the ruling. "The truth is that we did not expect this exemplary sentence. Justice was done," said Carlos Casco, one of the brothers who was tortured in 1976. That year saw a spate of mass arrests at the height of "Operation Condor" that saw South America's military dictatorships club together to hunt down and eliminate left-wing dissidents across national borders. Plaintiffs 'confused' Torres, who attended his trial virtually, insisted he was innocent and that the plaintiffs had "confused me with others" five decades after the events took place. Other witnesses who were not part of the lawsuit detailed grisly incidents of torture. Guillermina Kanonnikoff, 70, said Torres had "tortured me with whips while I protected my eight-month-old child with my body." Constantino Coronel, 92, told the court how he was made to drink blood from his own wounds, had his head dunked in a toilet bowl with feces, and was given repeated electric shocks. The Stroessner dictatorship left a tally of 59 extra-judicial executions, 336 people disappeared, nearly 20,000 illegal detentions, and almost 19,000 cases of torture. On the scale of small Paraguay, it affected "one in 133 inhabitants," according to a Truth and Justice Commission report from 2008. Prosecutions have been rare, however, with about a dozen police officers held for torture and Stroessner himself, sentenced in absentia, dying in 2006 at the age of 93, never having been extradited from retirement in Brazil. The right-wing Colorado Party that was in power in Paraguay at the time continues to dominate politics today, and Torres was honored by the state in 2014 for a half-century career -- an event that sparked much anger. Families of several jailed Tunisian opposition figures on Wednesday called for their release, including a number of detainees on hunger strike. Since February 2023, more than 20 opposition figures, whom Tunisian President Kais Saied has dubbed "terrorists", have been held on suspicion of involvement in "conspiracy against the internal and external security of the state". Among them are politician Jawhar Ben Mbarek, leader of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party Rached Ghannouchi, and Issam Chebbi, a leader of the opposition National Salvation Front -- all of whom have been on hunger strike for days to demand their release. "For a year they have been in prison without any crime or charge," said Ben Mbarek's father, Ezzedine Hazgui. "This is arbitrary detention and a crime against humanity." Speaking at a press conference with other family members of the jailed opposition figures, Hazgui told AFP that President Saied "is arresting all of his political opponents". Lawyer Dalila Msaddek, from the detainees' defence committee, told the press conference: "The hunger strike is starting to take its toll on their health, but they insist on continuing." Several Tunisian and international human rights organisations have called for the release of the opposition figures, condemning court proceedings against them. Elected democratically in October 2019 with a five-year mandate, Saied launched a power grab in July 2021, dismissing the prime minister and suspending parliament. He later pushed through sweeping changes to concentrate power in his office, shaking the foundations of the only democracy born out of the first Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that the United States disagrees with controversial remarks by the Brazilian leader comparing Israel's actions in Gaza to the Holocaust, a US official said Wednesday. Blinken "made clear we disagree with those comments" in a more than 90-minute meeting with Lula, a senior State Department official told journalists, saying the pair had a "frank exchange" during the sit-down at the presidential palace in Brasilia. Lula on Sunday called US ally Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip a "genocide," comparing it to "when Hitler decided to kill the Jews." Israel reacted furiously, declaring the Brazilian leader "persona non grata." Blinken "raised the issue and made clear we disagree with those comments," a senior State Department official told journalists traveling with the secretary. The official said the pair had also discussed "whether there is room for diplomacy" on the war in Ukraine -- another issue over which Lula has often been at loggerheads with the United States. "We don't see the conditions for (diplomacy) right now," the official said. Lula and Blinken also discussed the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, as well as Venezuela, which is locked in a territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana over the oil-rich Essequibo region. The official said Blinken thanked Brazil for "its efforts to try and reduce tensions between Venezuela and Guyana." Lula wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he and Blinken had discussed issues including a US-Brazilian initiative on helping workers, the environment and the clean-energy transition, in addition to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. He posted a picture of himself and Blinken smiling and clasping hands. Blinken said it had been a "very, very good meeting," in brief comments to journalists as he left the presidential palace. It is Blinken's first trip to Brazil since taking office three years ago. US relations with Latin America's biggest economy warmed when Lula returned to power in January 2023, replacing Donald Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro. Lula visited Washington a month after taking office to meet with President Joe Biden. But independent-minded Lula, 78, a leading voice for the Global South, has pushed back against the United States on issues including the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Blinken arrived later Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro for a G20 foreign ministers meeting, where his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, will also be present. The United States voiced concern Wednesday at reported arms shipments by adversary Iran to Sudan's army, which is locked in a deadly war with paramilitaries allegedly receiving Emirati and Russian support. John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Sudan, said Washington was "deeply concerned by external support" to both the Sudan Armed Forces and rival Rapid Support Forces, known by the acronyms SAF and RSF. "There are reports about resumed ties between Sudan and Iran that could reportedly include Iranian materiel support to SAF, which is also very troubling and a source of great concern for us," Godfrey told reporters. Without naming other countries, Godfrey said the United States has "urged external actors to refrain from providing materiel support to the two belligerent parties." "It prolongs the fighting, extends the war. It also reduces the prospects for finding a negotiated exit from the conflict," he said. The RSF last month posted on social media what it said was debris from an Iranian-made Mohajer drone belonging to the army. Bloomberg News also reported, quoting Western officials, that Iran is supplying weapons to Sudan's army. Sudan under former dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was toppled in 2019, developed close relations with Iran's clerical state. With the Sudanese army in control along the Red Sea, a large Iranian presence would alarm Western powers as Yemen's dominant Huthi insurgents, on the other side of the key maritime transit lane, have been firing on international shipping in avowed solidarity with the Palestinians. A UN expert report last month cited credible evidence that the United Arab Emirates was funneling military support through Chad to the RSF, which had sent fighters to back the Emirati and Saudi campaign in Yemen against the Huthis. Sudan in December expelled 15 UAE diplomats and General Yasser al-Atta, the army's second-in-command, has denounced the Gulf power as a "state mafia" for supporting the RSF. The UAE has denied taking sides in the conflict. Egypt and Turkey have also backed the army, while the RSF has faced wide accusations of collaboration with Russia's Wagner mercenaries. Thousands have died since war erupted in April last year between the dueling generals. The United States, which has led unsuccessful negotiations between the two sides, has accused both of war crimes and accused the RSF of ethnic cleansing against ethnically African people in Darfur, an echo of a scorched-earth campaign in the region two decades ago. "We're not going to give up," said jurist Jean-Pierre Massias, president of the Institut francophone pour la Justice et la Democratie (IFJD) during his speech in the Victor-Hugo room of the French parliament on February 1, 2024. Invited by the Gauche Democratique et Republicaine group, the IFJD presented its report on "Indian homes" in French Guiana the nine Catholic boarding schools which, between 1935 and 2023, interned 2,000 Amerindian children from this colonized territory that became a French overseas department in 1946. Under the guise of providing a religious education, these boarding schools - or "Indian homes" - contributed to forced assimilation and erasing the identity of indigenous Amerindian and Bushinengue peoples - or "Black Maroons", descendants of African slaves who had fled the plantations. This is a part of colonial history that had remained almost in the shadows until September 2022, when journalist Helene Ferrarini published her investigative book "Allons enfants de la Guyane - eduquer, evangeliser, coloniser les Amerindiens dans la Republique". "The aim of my work was to consolidate the historical foundations and answer questions in order to gain an overview, as we were faced with a historical vacuum," explained the journalist at the presentation of the IFJD report on February 1. "It was up to us to get to grips with this subject," says Massias, lynchpin of this Institute specializing in transitional justice. "There are important and urgent reasons to set up a thorough investigation, leading to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in view of the testimonies revealing violence and trauma that cannot be ignored," he explained during his presentation. Customary Grand Council reverses its position However, this presentation should not have taken place in Paris. "We would like to apologize to those who were offended by the fact that this meeting was not held in French Guiana. These choices were beyond our control, and we were forced to revise the project," says Magalie Besse, director of the IFJD. This stage of the process taking place in French Guiana was considered "essential to enable its orientation and future appropriation, particularly by indigenous communities", says the report. On January 13, 2023, the Grand Customary Council of the Amerindian and Bushinengue populations of French Guiana had mandated the IFJD to investigate the violence suffered by indigenous people in these Indian homes. "This council was created by the law for Real Equality in Overseas France, adopted in 2017. It enables indigenous populations to participate in local decision-making bodies, but it has no financial autonomy, its budget being allocated by the prefecture [the State local administration]," explains Camille Guedon, former department head at the Interdepartmental Mission for Amerindian and Bushinengue populations, which is integrated into the prefecture. But "just as the agreement [between the Grand Council and the IFJD] was due to be signed, on March 3, 2023, we received a brief email from the President of the Customary Grand Council informing us that the partnership had been suspended," Besse recounts. "After several weeks with discussions and procrastination, no clear reason emerged and no solution was found." The investigative work had to stop. "I think this opposition comes from the prefecture," Ferrarini told Justice Info. "The French state has subcontracted this job to the Catholic Church, as the 1905 law on separation of Church and State does not apply in French Guiana." Contacted by Justice Info, Customary Grand Council President Bruno Apouyou declined to comment on the matter. However, in an article published on the Mediapart website (dated April 15, 2023), he explained this about-turn by the structure of the council: not being a legal entity in its own right, it could not sign an agreement or finance a third-party organization. The prefecture, which declined to answer our questions, is said to be behind the obstruction. The French state has a responsibility for not wanting to resolve this inglorious part of its history, thinks Guillaume Kouyouri, a former resident of the Iracoubo home and member of the Collectif guyanais pour la memoire des homes indiens. Contacted by telephone, he explains that the structure of the Customary Grand Council is not adequate to carry out this project. "It's a sham to have put us together. You can't speak for the Amerindians and the Bushinengues at the same time; we don't have the same language, the same history. I think the state has done this on purpose so that we can never demand accountability." "This report is a wake-up call" This project was initiated by a meeting in 2019 between IFJD and the late Alexis Tiouka (he died in December 2023), defender of indigenous peoples at the UN and founder of the Federation of Amerindian Organizations of Guiana. This former nursing home resident had already called in 2013 on the occasion of Pope Franciss election for the creation of a Truth Commission, in an article entitled "Churches and Amerindians, a duty to remember". During a study day at the University of Guiana in December 2022, four recommendations emerged, including the idea of a commission focused on reparations and the creation of a collective for remembrance of the Indian homes. Between January 27 and March 5, 2023, the Institute carried out two missions and a dozen interviews, which, in addition to the 40 or so interviews conducted by Helene Ferrarini, fed into the report presented in Paris on February 1. "The methodology consisted in listing the three types of violence: structural, linked to the colonial nature of the State as applied in Guianese schools; cultural, with a coercive assimilation mechanism; and physical, with the use of violence against children," explains Massias. "This report is not an accusation, either against the State or the Church, it is a wake-up call." Need for more support While he explains that it "is only one solution amongst others", the experienced jurist clings to the idea of a commission. "This would allow us to reflect on the violence, the causes, the consequences, the reparations and possibly the measures to be taken to ensure non-repetition," he says. And he cites experiences in Canada, the United States (A truth commission between Maine Abenaki and Maine Child Welfare, which submitted its report in 2015), Australia, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Massias also draws on a French precedent. Officially called the "Temporary Commission for Information and Historical Research", the Vitale Commission was created on February 9, 2016, by order of the French Ministry of Overseas Territories. It documented the forced transfers of Reunionese children to France between 1963 and 1983 to populate the French departements. It is considered the first true example of a truth-type commission in France. "The need for a truth commission on Indian homes is no longer in question," says Philippe Vitale, professor of sociology and former chairman of the commission that bears his name, in an interview with Justice Info. "However, we need the political will to set up commissions like the one I chaired. I think that the lawsuit brought against the State by Jean-Jacques Martial, one of the [Reunionese] victims in 2001, the report by the Inspectorate General of Social Affairs in 2002, and the wave of media coverage and associative pressure from the Reunionese 'transplanted' that followed, contributed to the setting up of the Commission. So, in addition to the political will, there have to be elements that favour it, or even force it a little, such as a trial, media coverage, pressure from associations." Thus on February 19, 2014, a resolution - not binding, but allowing an MP to bring a concern before Parliament - by Ericka Bareigts, then an MP and subsequently Minister for Overseas Territories, acknowledged the State's moral responsibility in the transfer of Reunionese minors. Two years later, the Commission was created. A question of time? Lacking local or national political support, the idea of a truth commission on homes in Guiana remains at the symbolic stage. "The aim of presenting this report was to create an electroshock," explains Jean-Victor Castor, MP for the Mouvement de decolonisation et d'emancipation sociale (Movement for Decolonization and Social Emancipation) in French Guiana's 1st constituency, who has taken up the issue and is trying to get it into the French parliament. "The more political, associative and legal support we have for this process, the further we will be able to go in pursuing the investigations," adds this man who, during his election campaign, called for a reconciliation process involving all the communities and inhabitants of French Guiana. "This commission will see the light of day with or without the State, with or without the Church," he asserted on February 1. Kouyouri thinks the fact that a Guyanese MP has taken this up marks a first step. "We're not just asking for recognition, we're asking the French state to apologize and give us the means to rebuild. In French Guiana, Ferrarini explains, "the indigenous populations are not all at the same stage on this. There are different time scales, she continues. People on the coast, where the homes closed in the 1980s, are ready, willing and able to move on. But for the people affected by the Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock home, which closed four months ago, it's too early. In Canada, the process began 20 years after the last residential school closed. A petition with 512 signatures "for a truth commission on Indian homes" is circulating. "We've been waiting 135 years. The fact that the process has been set in motion is already a great thing, says Kouyouri with patience. Now it's up to the French government to react. Munich Security Conference (MSC) Chairman Christoph Heusgen speaks during the opening of the 60th MSC in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) 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. 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. Editor: WXL Dragon dance performers take part in a parade to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in London, Britain, on Feb. 11, 2024. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) As the world comes together to commemorate the Chinese New Year, it should also serve as a reminder of the universal themes that unite all -- the triumph of light over darkness, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring power of hope. BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Streets across China and Chinatowns worldwide come alive this time each year with Chinese culture-inspired decorations and clusters of crimson lanterns. One cannot help but be immersed in the auspicious atmosphere of the Chinese New Year. After the recognition of the Lunar New Year as a UN floating holiday last December, it has become more evident that China's wisdom and peace-loving traditions hold greater appeal in a world characterized by continued uncertainty and turmoil. This recognition underscores the global significance of China's cultural heritage and recognizes the values of unity, harmony and resilience at the heart of the Chinese New Year celebrations. According to the Chinese zodiac and tradition, this year is the Year of the Dragon, and the dragon symbolizes wisdom, courage and good luck. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said these qualities are needed by the world "to rise to today's global challenges." Amidst global turmoil and uncertainty, the spirit of the Dragon calls upon nations to set aside differences and work together toward common goals. It challenges leaders to prioritize dialogue over discord, collaboration over conflict, and solidarity over division. In his Lunar New Year greetings to the global Chinese community, Guterres commended China for its "unwavering support to the United Nations, to multilateralism and global progress." As China embraces its role on the world stage, it champions its progress and the common security, development, and prosperity of nations far and wide. China's commitment to openness and multilateralism and its dedication to building a community with a shared future for humanity have played an essential role in fostering global peace and prosperity, providing stability and optimism in an era of uncertainty and disorder. Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year heralds a season of renewal and growth. Just as the earth awakens from its winter slumber, the spirit of the Chinese people awakens during this auspicious time. As the world comes together to commemorate the Chinese New Year, it should also serve as a reminder of the universal themes that unite all -- the triumph of light over darkness, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring power of hope. Editor: WXL The federal government's carbon price could generate more than $5 billion from the federal sales tax over the next seven years but none of that is directly earmarked for climate programs. Conservative MP Alex Ruff rises during Question Period, Monday, May 2, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Justice Minister Arif Virani during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. The federal government's evolving plan to help protect Canadians from harm online could include a new ombudsperson to field public concerns and a regulator that would oversee the conduct of internet platforms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Thursday, February 22, 2024 - A prominent Meru businessman who disappeared a week ago has been found murdered and his body dumped at River Kathita. Photos of the slain businessman identified as Shadrack Mwiti Muguna were circulated on social media after he went missing, only to be found dead. His family positively identified him after being informed about a body found concealed in a sack. The body exhibited strangulation marks around the neck, proof that he was murdered. No arrests have been made so far but police have launched investigations. The brutal murder of the businessman has sparked condemnation from the residents. The residents are urging the police to bring the suspects behind this heinous act to book. Mwiti's family has also appealed to the security forces to thoroughly investigate the matter. The slain businessman was a well-known distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in Meru and the proprietor of Kiruma lodges. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Wednesday, February 21, 2024 'Home Alone' Star Devin Ratray has pleaded guilty in the domestic violence case against him. Recall that Devin was arrested after he was accused of pushing, punching and pressing his hands against his ex-GF's throat and mouth during a drunk altercation in December 2021. He was booked for felony domestic assault and battery by strangulation, as well as misdemeanour domestic assault and battery. He was later released on a $25K bond. Devin initially entered a not-guilty plea back in February 2022. However, on Wednesday, February 21, he pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence as part of the deal to keep him out of jail. This brought the case which has been ongoing for nearly 3 years to a close. Court documents obtained by TMZ showed that after entering his plea, he was sentenced by a judge. He'll be on probation for the next 3 years. He has also been ordered to complete a Batterers Intervention Program and undergo a drug/alcohol assessment. Devin who appeared via video link with his attorney is also required to cover court costs and have zero contact with the victim. Thursday, February 22, 2024 In his bid to raise revenue, President William Ruto, through the National Treasury, has unveiled plans to introduce the Motor Vehicle Circulation tax, which will apply to all vehicle owners in the country. According to the 2024 Budget Policy Statement that was tabled in Parliament, Rutos government is targeting to raise revenue through the enforcement of the wealth tax. As outlined in the 172-page document, the tax will be set at a flat rate for all vehicles and an additional charge based on the engine capacity of the vehicle. The Treasury outlined that the taxation would be progressive and is scheduled to be implemented between the upcoming financial year, 2024/2025, and the 2026/2027 financial year. "The Government will introduce Motor Vehicle Circulation tax, in the medium term, on all motor vehicles based on a flat rate or on the engine capacity of the vehicle to improve progressivity. "In the design of the tax, exemptions will be provided for certain categories of motor vehicles," read the policy statement. As detailed in the Treasury Medium-Term Revenue Strategy, the tax will be paid by vehicle owners annually. In enforcement, the government will rely on the renewal of insurance policies as a mechanism to ensure the implementation of the tax. The new tax strategy could prove expensive for some motorists given that the government is also gearing towards introducing toll stations on the new highways in the country. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22,2023 - Controversial lawyer, Miguna Miguna, has indirectly body-shamed the head of President William Rutos economic council David Ndii after he appeared tired during the three-day cabinet retreat in Naivasha. Ndii, who is an Oxford-trained economist, appeared unable to walk properly due to his pot belly and Miguna Migina wondered what happened to him. Before he joined the Kenya Kwanza government, David Ndii was lean and healthy, but because of many emoluments associated with his post, he has become fat and unhealthy like many corrupt public servants This is a screenshot of what Miguna Miguna wrote on his X on Thursday. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Wednesday, February 21, 2024 US President Joe Biden, yet again, has tripped twice while boarding Air Force One despite using a shorter, less challenging staircase. The 81-year-old US commander-in-chief narrowly avoided a complete tumble as he prepared to set off for Los Angeles on Tuesday. Footage of the near-miss showed Biden saluting US military personnel at the bottom of the staircase before starting his climb at Andrews Air Force Base. About halfway up, the president could be seen tripping slightly on a step. Biden quickly gripped the railing to steady himself but immediately tripped on the following step too. Biden almost trips (twice) as he boards Air Force One despite using the short stairs to avoid tripping, RNC Research, managed by the Republican National Committee, tweeted. A Secret Service agent is placed at the bottom of the stairs whenever Biden boards or disembarks to prevent this very scenario from happening. Biden is not well! Watch the video below Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has urged Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria to stop poking his nose into the affairs of the institution. In an interview with Hot 96 on Thursday, Mutua suggested that the outspoken CS should concentrate on his ministry, emphasizing that MCSK is not under his purview. The aging CEO also affirmed that their responsibilities run parallel, and they won't tolerate Kuria's attempts to harass them in any manner. "I do not fear Moses Kuria... What happens to people when they come to power? It does not matter how long it takes, they can jail us, and torture us. "Why did you go to school if you were going to be harassed by all manner of people? "Even if they were to malign us or fabricate lies about us, we are not going to be the first ones. We are not going to be scared of small people," said Mutua. Mutua declared that the former MP lacks the authority to publicise purported corruption within MCSK on social media platforms. Mutuas tantrums come a week after Kuria said the government is spearheading an amendment to the Copyright Act so that royalties are paid through eCitizen as well as promoting transparency in the industry. "The government is spearheading amendments to the Copyright Act to create a government-run Collective Management Organisation (CMO). "All music, copyrights, and royalties will be paid through E-Citizen. Our artists will be individually registered. They can view online how much money has been collected. "Siku 40 za wezi wa jasho ya artists zimeisha." The CS wrote on X The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, February 21, 2024 A number of Muslims on X are calling out a pregnant woman for posting her pregnant belly on the app. 33 weeks but who's counting, the pregnant woman wrote as she shared a photo of herself cupping her belly. Even though the woman was fully covered, she was criticized for showing off her belly online. Y'all may disagree w me but this is not how Muslim women are. They don't post their pregnancy pics like this for other men to see. This is ur private time.Ik u're happy but not everything is meant to be posted. Her husband must be a coward not knowing what his wife is posting, one X user wrote. Other X users agreed and called out the pregnant woman while some defended her. See below. The Lane Xang passenger train of the China-Laos Railway runs past a maintenance center in Luang Prabang, Laos, March 30, 2023. (Photo by Zhou Xing/Xinhua) by Xinhua writer Zheng Bofei BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Facing an array of unprecedented crises and challenges, humanity today needs wisdom and action to surmount them for better lives. A decade after Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed building a community with a shared future for humanity, this concept has garnered increasing recognition and has been translated into solid actions. It lights the path forward as the world fumbles for ways to achieve sustainable and inclusive development. This vision aligns with the prevailing global trends, resonating with the call for international cooperation and contributing to a more just and equitable global order. Most importantly, this vision transcends the mindset of exclusive bloc politics and the notion of "might makes right." It reflects the common aspiration of people from all countries to pursue peace, development and stability, and has become the overall goal of China's major-country diplomacy in the new era. This does not mean that the international system should be dismantled or started afresh. Rather, it means promoting greater democracy in international relations and making global governance more just and equitable. Humanity must engage in comprehensive global cooperation. Only when nations work collectively, aligning individual interests with the common good, can we navigate the crises that loom before us and sail toward a brighter future. Over the past decade, China has contributed its strength to building a global community of shared future with firm conviction and solid actions, such as promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and proposing a range of regional and bilateral initiatives on building communities of shared future. By July 2023, more than three-quarters of countries in the world and over 30 international organizations had signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Together, participants in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have jointly advanced infrastructure connectivity, trade connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity. According to Belt and Road Economics, a report released by the World Bank, the BRI, when fully implemented, will increase intra-BRI trade by 4.1 percent. By 2030, the BRI will generate 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars in annual global revenues. At the bilateral and multilateral level, China has built communities of shared future with an increasing number of partners, in different forms. The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative have gained support from over 100 countries and the Global Civilization Initiative has also received positive feedback. Building a global community of shared future requires collective efforts, and it will certainly bring benefits to all involved in this endeavor. Editor: WXL Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Former Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader's chief agent, Saitabao Ole Kanchory, has urged former Prime Minister Raila Odinga not to contest for the African Union chairperson position. In a statement on Thursday, Kanchory warned the opposition chief that his alleged political opponents were playing him and that it could turn out to be the source of his problems. "Dear BABA Raila Odinga, this AU thing is a poisoned chalice; a red herring; another long con. This one is actually the real long con," Kanchory wrote on his ex. Elsewhere, former presidential aspirant Ekuru Aukot questioned President William Ruto's decision to support Odinga for the top African Union Commission seat. In a statement, Aukot claimed the Kenya Kwanza Alliance leader was using the AU position to get rid of the former prime minister from Kenya's political scene. According to Aukot, the president fears that Raila's fanatical following can destabilise Kenya Kwanza's 'feckless' administration. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 President William Ruto once again had his way yesterday after Members of Parliament passed the controversial Affordable Housing Bill after a third reading. The MPs passed the Affordable Housing Bill with amendments by a simple majority after Azimio legislators stormed out of the chambers in protest. In a press briefing outside Parliament, the Raila Odinga-allied MPs argued that all their proposed amendments were rejected by the House, claiming that the exercise was flawed. Led by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, the Azimio politicians noted that the House was acting on instructions from State House to pass the bill without any amendments. "We want to tell members of the Azimio coalition that many of them filed amendments as early as yesterday but unfortunately it looks like there are instructions from the Kenya Kwanza regime that the Bill must be passed without any amendments," Junet noted. "They are not listening to the amendments or issues that can make life better for Kenyans. For that reason, we have instructed our members to drop all our amendments because they are not been engaged in a manner that can make the bill better." The Affordable Housing Bill is now slated for consideration by the Senate for concurrence. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - President William Ruto may be contemplating sacking his Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir as we speak after an embarrassing incident in Naivasha yesterday. This is after he was forced to deliver his speech in darkness after two power outages at the closing stages of the National Executive Retreat in Naivasha. Ruto was addressing Cabinet Secretaries while explaining his government's agenda and why he chose them to help him deliver his mandate when the lights went off. The Head of State could be heard struggling to deliver his speech momentarily before the lights were restored. "The reason why I appointed you is that I knew you have the capacity to do the job you are doing," Ruto stated before a power outage was experienced. The incident occurred twice within five minutes, the second one occurring just when he was about to end his speech. However, despite being interrupted twice, Ruto did not comment on the matter, but instead proceeded to complete his speech. This comes amid complaints over frequent power outages in various parts of the country, forcing Kenyans to resort to alternative means of power supply. In December last year, President Ruto directed the Ministry of Energy to deal with the challenge of frequent power failure. While chairing a cabinet meeting, the Head of State disclosed that frequent power outages were hurting Kenyas investment profile. As a result, the Cabinet resolved that the Bomet transmission line system should be unbundled so that power failure in one part of the nation does not affect the entire country. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, has dismissed claims that there are divisions within the party after its leader Raila Odinga declared interest in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship job. In a statement on Thursday, Sifuna, who is also the Nairobi County Senator, accused the media of driving a sponsored narrative to sow seeds of division within the Orange party. According to Sifuna, the reports which he terms as fake news, are coordinated, well-choreographed, and consistent, pointing to a sponsored narrative. "In the days following the announcement by our Party Leader, H.E. Rt Hon Raila Odinga, of his desire to contest the African Union Commission Chairmanship, the media in Kenya has been awash with false narratives and skewed pseudo-analysis about what they call succession politics within the ODM party. "It hasnt escaped notice that these fake news items appear coordinated, well-choreographed, and consistent, which suggests a well-woven plot to incite division within the Party is afoot," Sifuna stated. "In these reports, media houses are falling over themselves to create the perception of fictional fights in our party over non-existent vacancies. "Since its inception, the ODM party has remained the most consequential political organization in multiparty Kenya." Sifuna says that the party relies on its strong leadership foundation, vibrant party structures, credible values, and a strong party membership base to decide on succession in critical positions. "If a time ever comes for transitions within the partys leadership, we will make it public," he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - The Supreme Court has lifted the orders by the Court of Appeal which allowed President William Ruto's administration to increase mandatory pension contributions under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) scheme. In a ruling delivered by a seven-judge bench, Chief Justice Martha Koome noted that the Court of Appeal erred in its decision by overturning a ruling issued by the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) on the basis that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the judgment. In the initial ruling, the Court of Appeal granted the NSSF Act 2013, arguing that the matter ought to have been determined by the High Court and not the ELRC. "In the circumstances, this case is to be remitted to the Court of Appeal to determine the substantive merits of the Judgment of the ELRC. 'Due to the nature of the matter, the surrounding public interest, and the time taken by the case in the corridors of justice, it is prudent that the matter be heard on a priority basis," the CJ ruled. Justice Koome ordered that the case be heard afresh by the Court of Appeal to determine if it has sufficient legal grounds to either be approved or dismissed. As a result, the NSSF Act 2013 case, which has been dragged in court for more than nine years regarding its legality, will continue. The ruling by Chief Justice Martha Koome deals a blow to Ruto's administration which had already begun collecting the deductions. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Public Service Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has said the strengthening of the Kenyan Shilling is a good sign indicating that the country is out of the woods when it comes to debt repayment. In an interview with Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) on Wednesday evening, Kuria said the Kenyan currency's appreciation against the United States (US) dollar is a sign that the local currency is finding its true value. According to the CS, the rise of the shilling was occasioned by market speculation, hoarding, rising Eurobond loans, and the debt crisis, which is now being addressed by the Central Bank of Kenya and the government. There is nothing we have done fundamentally in one week, it is only that the market fundamentals are right. We promised Kenyans that we would not lie to them, ours would just be to tell the truththe economy is rebounding on its own, he explained. Things are looking up not because of a story, but because figures are telling us that and science is right. On the recent Eurobond repayment, Kuria says that it affected the rise of the shilling since it managed to calm the market and reduce the debt problem. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has given a glimpse into Cabinet meetings during the Kenya Kwanza retreat held in Naivasha this week. Speaking during an interview, Kuria disclosed how the Head of State appreciates aides and senior government officials who challenge his ideologies with evidence to support their arguments. The CS singled out economic advisor David Ndii, who he insisted is fond of opposing Ruto's policies during Cabinet meetings. Kuria compared the Cabinet meetings atmosphere to a university, where the bright student challenges his teacher's thought process for hours. "He (Ruto) does his homework, he reads. If you go to his office, he will want to listen to the most junior person. "He likes people who push back because within that engagement a lot gets to come out," Kuria revealed. "There's another guy who's great at pushing back. He is Dr. David Ndii. He's the real Freidrick Engels to the Karl Marx. "It's like a university class, the amount of intellectual discourse that goes on within some of our meetings is unbelievable." Kuria, who is also known to speak his mind, confessed that Ndii is fearless during the meetings and often holds Ruto to account for some of the policies. "People out there think it's fun or just about being criticised. It's a small university that happens for many hours. "Ndii is fearless and he's that guy. To be the chair of the Council and he led us into developing this plan and the partnership between him and the president is unbelievable," he added. He further disputed claims from observers who claimed that the president carries an aura around him that portrays the image of a no-nonsense character who may seem strict and unapproachable. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Governors reportedly rejected a Ksh390 billion offer made to them by the National Treasury as the proposed equitable share allocation for the 2024/2025 Financial Year at a meeting chaired by President William Ruto. At the meeting held on the sidelines of the ongoing Kenya Kwanza retreat in Naivasha, the governors, despite pleas from Ruto, stuck to their guns insisting on their initial request of Ksh439.5 billion, which the Treasury whittled down to the proposed amount. The governors further insisted that the Treasury channels Ksh10.52 billion from the Road Maintenance Levy (RMF) to counties. Reports indicate that despite the governors standing their ground, the Treasury declined to increase the allocation, noting that the government is experiencing financial constraints limiting the government's capacity to spend. Amid the stalemate, the governors have requested further consultations with the national government expressing concerns that failure to allocate the requested amount will hamper development in the counties. Speaking during the retreat, the Council of Governors (CoG) chair, Anne Waiguru further faulted the national government for encroaching on county functions. Waiguru cautioned that the encroachment would lead to a clash between the two levels of government. She noted that devolution was a fruit of the peoples demands to decentralise governance and bring services closer to them, but the national government was undermining this right. In addition, the governors also cautioned the Cabinet Secretaries to resist temptations to claw back on devolved functions and eating into county governments' budgets. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Members of the Rapid Action Team (RAT) have busted a fake lawyer who has been defrauding members of the public. The quack lawyer has been working in cohorts with rogue officers in the State Law office. It was established that he had been masquerading as an advocate since 2012 after resigning as a Clerk from the State Law office. As per our investigations, we found out that he has been masquerading since 2012 after resigning as a Clerk from the State Law office. "He operates a cyber located at the Embassy building where he has registered Bethsheba Legal Consultant as the name of his business, a member of the RAT team said. The cunning man has been defrauding the public in the guise of being an advocate and a legal consultant, where he draws pleadings, registers companies, societies, and commissions affidavits using several advocates' stamps. The RAT team urged their members to continue being vigilant in the fight against quack lawyers. Watch video of the fake lawyer being busted. Today team RAT (Rapid Action Team); TERESIA WAVINYA NICHOLAS, STEVE MBUGUA WANJIRU and GLORIA WANGUI KIMANI nabbed a renowned notorious Masquerader who has been working incohort with officers in the State Law office. pic.twitter.com/og4cxoRsLD Wavinya Nicholas (@twavinya) February 21, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Wednesday, February 21, 2024 Wikileaks founder, Julian Assanges fight to evade extradition from Britain to the United States might be coming to an end soon, after years of legal challenges. Londons High Court is considering whether the Australia-born activist and whistleblower can further appeal his extradition within the British court system. A hearing took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the judges are expected to make their decision at a later date possibly weeks, even months later. Two judges, Dame Victoria Sharpe and Mr Justice Johnson, yesterday reserved their judgment pending further submissions from both sides. They are expected to rule on whether the extradition, originally agreed by former home secretary Priti Patel in 2022, can go ahead, or whether Assange has the right to another appeal, sometime next month. U.S. prosecutors want Assange, 52, to stand trial for, they allege, violating the Espionage Act when he conspired to obtain thousands of classified documents related to the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010. He faces 18 charges and a potential 175-year prison sentence. Lawyers fear the 52-year-old could be confined alone in a concrete coffin, a 12ft by 7ft chamber with a window 3ft high but just four inches wide, designed to ensure that the inmate has no view other than sky or wall. Under this regime, meals are passed through a slot in the door and inmates use a stainless steel sink, toilet, and shower inside their cell, meaning they dont even leave to eat or wash. Once every 24 hours, they are allowed out for an hour to exercise in a small, individually caged space, often sunken, like an empty swimming pool, to prevent them from getting any sense of their bearings within the prison complex. If he loses, his lawyers could try to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights. Assange is wanted in America for trial on 17 charges under the Espionage Act one of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for publishing hundreds of thousands of confidential military documents and exposing multiple atrocities committed by American service people during the course of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. If convicted, he could face up to 175 years in prison a living death sentence, according to his wife Stella, the mother of his two youngest children, Gabriel, six, and Max, five. It would be catastrophic, she said yesterday. Our children are British, they are in school, their stability is here. Our contact with Julian would be severely restricted, potentially to one 15-minute call once a month. He would face barbaric conditions even before trial. He will not survive extradition to this kind of torture. Currently, Britain is only acting as jailer for the Americans, holding Assange in Londons maximum security prison Belmarsh. He was locked up there in 2019 after spending seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he had been granted asylum by the countrys Left-wing then-president Rafael Correa. Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and delivers a keynote speech titled "Building an Open, Inclusive and Interconnected World For Common Development" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Since the introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in October 2023, "culture" has become a buzzword throughout China. In January, a key policy meeting on public communication hailed Xi's cultural thought, stating that it "provides solid ideological guarantees, powerful inspiration, and favorable cultural conditions to make China a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts." Under Xi's leadership, the Communist Party of China is drawing on culture to enhance its governance and drive China's modernization. A U.S.-based research institute observed that President Xi is no longer considered merely an inheritor or protector of a great civilization but the creator of one, too. China's cultural traditions and national conditions determine that Chinese modernization, a new form of human civilization led by Xi, will take a path distinct from the West. Covering nearly 20 percent of the world's population, it aims to reduce the wealth gap, achieve harmony between material and spiritual aspects, pursue development without sacrificing the environment, and never seek expansion or dominance abroad. In his youth, Xi read "One-Dimensional Man" by Herbert Marcuse. Seeing the drawbacks of a "one-dimensional" human existence caused by the encroachment of capital in Western modernization, Xi has always hoped to address the imbalances between material and spiritual needs, and between humans and nature. China is committed to the coordinated development of material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilizations. Xi refers to this as the distinctive characteristic of the "modern civilization of the Chinese nation." Xi metaphorically describes the uniqueness of Chinese modernization using physics terminology: Developed Western countries followed a "series" development process. China, seeking to recover the "lost 200 years," must take a development path comparable to a "parallel" process involving the simultaneous development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. He designated Shenzhen as the Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Adjacent to Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a special economic zone established over 40 years ago by Deng Xiaoping. Often referred to as the "city of innovation," Shenzhen, with a population twice that of New York City, offers a glimpse into the future of China's modernization. Upon arrival in the city, visitors are greeted at the airport by a welcoming quote from Jules Verne: "Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real." Another prominent slogan stands tall in the city's landmark area, Shekou, proclaiming the traditional Chinese wisdom, "Empty talk will do nothing for our country; only solid work will make it flourish." From electric cars to cutting-edge drones, from low-carbon initiatives to smart-city projects, the city continues to nurture innovation. Parks and libraries can be found every few hundred meters. With a convenient public service system, various social organizations, and a people-serving and business-friendly official team, Shenzhen is a model of the future. Far north, the Xiong'an New Area near Beijing is a new city of socialist modernization planned by Xi. In May last year, Xi visited this "city of the future" under construction, paying particular attention to the ecological conditions of Baiyangdian Lake. Highlighting water source conservation and green development, its construction embodies the ancient ecological wisdom of "using what nature has to offer and taking it in moderation." Xi designated Zhejiang as a demonstration area of common prosperity. During his visit to Lizu Village last year, he witnessed the transformation of this once dirty, chaotic, and impoverished village into a clean and beautiful demonstration village of common prosperity. The villagers' income has exceeded the national rural average, and the village is renowned for its rich cultural atmosphere. Xi has engaged in discussions with young entrepreneurs who returned from cities across the country and expressed satisfaction with the part they have played in rural development. Xi Jinping inspects Lizu Village in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) The new type of modern socialist country led by Xi has effectively debunked the linear historical view that all nations should converge toward a Western model. On the world stage, Xi has proposed a series of new concepts regarding civilizational exchange and international relations, demonstrating China's commitment to being a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. Xi's proposition of building a community with a shared future for humanity reflects the country's commitment to peace and stability. Introduced in 2013, this idea resonates with the Chinese nation's time-honored vision that "the whole world is one big family," envisioning a world where universal harmony prevails. It marks a fresh trajectory for advancing global civilizations, and paves the way for the ultimate realization of the full and free development of every individual, as envisioned by Karl Marx. Nevertheless, concerns exist that an assertive China could challenge the existing world order. But Xi is optimistic that Chinese civilization's inclusive nature can foster coexistence with other nations marked by "harmony in diversity." When speaking about "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu with foreign guests, Xi emphasizes that the fundamental message of this classic ancient Chinese military book is the importance of exerting all efforts to avoid war and exercising great caution if conflict becomes inevitable. In line with the Chinese nation's deep-rooted commitment to peace, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative in a call for joint efforts to maintain world peace and stability. Since last October, the escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict has led to a humanitarian disaster. During his interaction with foreign leaders and participation in multilateral events, Xi has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, emphasizing that the fundamental solution to the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution. In efforts to de-escalate conflicts and restore peace in the region, China convened and chaired a high-level UN Security Council meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, facilitating the adoption of the first UN Security Council resolution since the outbreak of the conflict. China has sent its special envoy to promote peace talks, increased humanitarian assistance, and extended a helping hand to the people in Gaza at a difficult time. China also served as a mediator, successfully facilitating the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year. Daniel A. Bell, chair professor of political theory at the University of Hong Kong, commended China's efforts, describing it as "an inspiring example." Large and influential countries can play the role of peacemakers as they have more power and influence to bring warring sides to the table, he said. One Chinese maxim that Xi frequently mentions during his overseas trips is, "Building people-to-people friendships is crucial for fostering positive state-to-state relations." Under his leadership, China has strengthened and broadened its global partnerships based on principles of equality, openness, and cooperation. A champion of humanity's shared values, Xi launched the Global Civilization Initiative, urging collaborative efforts to respect the diversity of civilizations and tap into the profound significance of their histories and cultures in the contemporary world. This initiative stands as a robust response to concepts supporting the estrangement, clash, or superiority of civilizations. Xi's Global Development Initiative emphasizes the importance of prioritizing development and adopting a people-centered philosophy to ensure that "no country is left behind in the process of global modernization." Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, March 27, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) To explain the values and sentiments that underpin the Chinese people's dedication to win-win cooperation, Xi draws on ancient Chinese sayings promoting actions for the greater good. The Belt and Road Initiative is a prime example. Sometimes referred to as the modern Silk Road, the initiative has garnered collaboration from more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations, with nearly a trillion U.S. dollars in investment. When he was young, Xi once expounded on the Confucian idea of "Ping Tian Xia," or bringing peace and order to the world, which represents the ultimate stage of one's four-level personal pursuit. The other three are cultivating the moral self, managing the family, and governing the state. Xi said, "Ping Tian Xia" doesn't involve conquering or ruling the world. Instead, it aims to uplift ordinary people from poverty, enabling them to live peacefully with sufficient food and clothing. He said that if all countries pursue peaceful development and strive for unity and harmony, it will bring the world closer to the goal. When leading his colleagues in paying respects to Mao Zedong's remains to mark the 130th anniversary of Mao's birth last December, Xi underscored that the best way to commemorate the late Chinese leader is to continue to advance the cause he pioneered. Xi cited Mao's words: "We must always strive! We must always forge ahead! Our golden world, bright and splendid, lies ahead!" "The best inheritance of history is to create a new history, and the greatest tribute to human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization," Xi said. Editor: WXL By Philip Wafula & Denis Edema Authorities at Jinja regional referral hospital want Nalufenya childrens hospital upgraded to a national pediatric hospital in order to handle the surge in patients. The director of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Alfred Yayi, says they are overwhelmed by the number of patients referred to Nalufenya (hospital), whose bed capacity can only accommodate 80 patients, but currently requires 250 beds. According to Dr Yayi, the hospital last year wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, requesting for an upgrade of the facility to a national childrens referral hospital, and management has been guided to ratify some information. Jinja regional referral hospital receives about 9,000 outpatients monthly, with about 6,000 of them visiting specialised clinics at Nalufenya, and 3,000 seeking admissions, although Dr Yayi says sometimes the number exceeds. Jinja hospital is one of the unique facilities in this country that has two facilities the main and Nalufenya. However, we are receiving resources for only one referral hospital and the same staff are sometimes overwhelmed, Dr Yayi said. He added: The hospital, with permanent 366 staff and 80 on contractual terms, received Shs2.3b as operational costs, which is shared by both facilities for all activities under one administration and is not enough. Dr Yayi says it is very important that the government considers upgrading Nalufenya to a national childrens hospital, so that it starts receiving independent resources rather than sharing. There are four acres of land donated by the Madhvani, which can be enough for expansion, he says. Other challenges both facilities are grappling with and need urgent attention, he said, include; insecurity, refurbishing old buildings, unblocking the drainage and sewage systems, and offsetting the Shs2b bill owed to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Also, Dr Yayi says the X-ray machine is as old as the hospital and is down, yet the spare parts are no longer on the market, meaning patients are getting X-ray services from private facilities. He, however, says a computerised tomography (CT) scan has been installed and services are now available at between Shs120,000 and Shs150,000, upon appointment with the consultant doctor. Additionally, he says the soon-to-be commissioned intensive care unit (ICU) has been upgraded by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Engineering Brigade at a cost of Shs800m, which has seen the bed capacity increase from seven to 20. A consultant was contracted and estimated that Shs1.7b and Shs1.5b is required to fence the main referral hospital and Nalufenya hospital respectively. Ms Mariam Nakito, a resident of Njeru in Buikwe District, says she always treats her children at Nalufenya hospital because it has specialised and dedicated doctors. Mr Johnson Owere, a resident of Busowa village in Bugiri District, says late last year, his child who had malaria was referred to Jinja referral hospital, but he had to share a bed with another patient because the beds were not enough. Ms Fatuma Naigaga, a resident in Jinja city, says because of the congestion at Nalufenya hospital, some people have resorted to putting up many childrens clinics in Jinja city, whose workers professionalism needs to be properly checked. By Winfred Watenya Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and National Human Rights Institutions engaging with the African Union (AU) human rights mechanisms are calling for greater transparency in the nominations and selection of members of the mechanisms. They also call for a more inclusive and participatory process. The call is especially applicable to the July 2024 elections to fill three vacancies at the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights. The undersigned organizations acknowledge that the Executive Council of the African Union, during its 44th Ordinary Session, voted to re-elect Hermine Kembo Takam Gatsing as a member of the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Committee). He says that while congratulating Hermine Kembo Takam Gatsing on her re-election, future nomination, and election processes must be strengthened for transparency and broader participation. The Committee, established by the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Child Rights Charter), consists of 11 independent experts nominated by State Parties and elected for a term of five years, renewable once. State Parties to the African Child Rights Charter may nominate nationals of State Parties as candidates for vacant seats. In the current round, only Hermine Kembo Takam Gatsing was nominated. The next election of members of an African Union human rights mechanism will be for the African Court. As it is about six months ahead of these elections, the undersigned organizations have launched an initiative to facilitate more meaningful civil society engagement in the process. By July 2024, three upcoming vacancies at the African Court need to be filled. Judge Ben Kioko (Kenya) completes his second term and should be replaced by a male judge from East Africa. Judge Blaise Tchikaya (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Judge Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam (Nigeria) are ending their first terms and are eligible for reelection. State Parties to the Court Protocol may however nominate other candidates for these two positions: a male from the AUs Central African region, and a female from the West African region. Air defense destroy eight out of ten Shahed UAVs attacked Ukraine overnight Air Force Ukrainian air defense eliminated eight enemy Shahed UAVs overnight, which the Russian occupiers attacked from Russian territory, the Air Force said. "On the night of February 22, 2024, the enemy attacked with ten Shahed-type attack UAVs from Primorsko-Akhtarsk region of Russia and an X-31P anti-radar missile from the Black Sea," the Air Force said on Telegram channel. As a result of combat work, eight drones were destroyed within Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv regions. The Ministry of Health has committed to supporting investors in pharmaceuticals in efforts to reduce health expenditure on importation for the same. According to Dr. Seru Morries, the Commissioner, Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines at the Ministry of Health, 85% of pharmaceutical products used in Uganda are imported mainly from India. While launching the 3rd Uganda Pharma Health Care International expo held at the Uganda Manufactures Association (UMA) grounds in Kampala, Health minister Dr. Ruth Aceng told delegates that government had availed land in industrial parks for those willing to venture into local pharmaceutical manufacturing. The government has put up several policies and incentives to support this strategy. Many of you are aware of the public-private partnership in health, we also take offtake agreements, particularly to manufacturers who are committed and government has set up industrial parks in all regions of the country and theres land for those who are willing to manufacture, Dr Aceng said. The UMA executive director, Dr. Ezra Rubanda has commended government for ensuring a secure environment for investment and urged line authorities to always engage private sector actors whenever need to settle public health challenges arises. Meanwhile, the Indian government through its High Commission in Kampala, Upender Singh Rawat promised to boost Ugandas healthcare tourism through partnerships and exporting technology that will improve healthcare infrastructure capacity. He says, since India is a global leader in providing a good health care system with advanced technology where many people around the world go for specialized treatment, they will advance this technology and expertise to Uganda to promote health tourism. The expo has been organized by the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Uganda Dental Association, Bliss GVS Pharma Limited, the Uganda Medical Association, the Uganda Allied Health Professional Council, and the Uganda Orthopeadic Society of Uganda among other entities. By Winfred Watenya The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) has warned of the increased risk of flooding in Uganda and across most parts of the Greater Horn of Africa. The warning is contained in its March to May 2024 seasonal forecast which indicates a higher probability of wetter-than-normal conditions. The forecast shows that the highest probabilities for wetter than usual conditions are in central to western Kenya and in the cross-border areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. The ICPAC director Dr. Guleid Artan warns that, due to the increased rainfall recorded in the October to December 2023 period, along with the forecast of wetter-than-normal conditions from March to May, there is an elevated risk of flooding in areas prone to floods. He thus underscores the urgency for coordinated action and preparedness, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the forecast rainfall. President Museveni has once again called upon all fighting forces in Sudan to ceasefire, hold peaceful elections, and grant power to the people of Sudan to elect their own leaders. The President also emphasized the need for all stakeholders in the war to come together and engage in dialogue on the problem. He says once the problem is identified, it will become easier to isolate and bring about peace in the country. As earlier advised, the fighting forces in Sudan should stop the violence, hold peaceful elections, and empower the people to elect their leaders. I also stressed the importance of dialogue amongst all the stakeholders which allows for the problem to be identified in order to bring lasting peace, Museveni said in a statement shared on his official X handle. He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from Sudan led by H.E. Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan on Wednesday at State House Entebbe. HE Malik, also delivered a special message from H.E. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan, to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The two leaders agreed on a proposed framework within which to resolve the crisis in the Republic of Sudan. Accoording to Malik, Abdel Fattah is willing to participate in the peace process for the Republic of Sudan as long as the conditions are favorable for the people of Sudan. A section of legislators has questioned governments readiness to manage the electricity sector after Umemes exit in March 2025. The concern was raised by Nyendo-Mukungwe Division MP, Mathias Mpuuga, who wondered why the bills to rationalize the energy sector werent included. This comes after government hinted at merging the three existing electricity companies into one entity. In December 2022, the government officially informed Umeme that it would not renew its contract beyond March 2025. Upon Umemes concession ending, the government intends to establish a single entity named the Uganda National Electricity Company (UNEC). The move suggests a return to the monopoly formerly held by the Uganda Electricity Board, which was split up in 1999 to create the Electricity Regulatory Authority, Uganda Electricity Distribution Company, and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company. Mpuuga reminded Parliament that similar concerns were raised during the 2023 consideration of the Electricity Bill. The House had then instructed the Energy Minister to provide a comprehensive report detailing the governments plans for successfully managing the concession expiration. In response, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja assured Parliament that the Cabinet is addressing the issue and promised to deliver a detailed report in due course. I want to inform the Member (Mpuuga), that Cabinet is dealing with the issue and we shall report appropriately, said Nabbanja. Stoltenberg: Ukraine to have right to carry out strikes with F-16s on Russian military targets outside of Ukraine NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that when Ukraine receives F-16 fighter jets from its allies, it will have the right to self-defense, including striking legitimate Russian military targets outside Ukraine. He stated this in an interview with Radio Liberty, the video of which was posted on the resource's website. Asked when Ukraine would be able to deploy F-16 fighters, Stoltenberg said it was impossible to say. He reiterated that all of Ukraine's allies want them there sooner rather than later, but noted that the F-16's impact will be greater if the pilots are well trained and the maintenance crews and other support personnel are well trained. "So, I think we have to listen to the military experts exactly when we will be ready to or when allies will be ready to start sending and delivering the F-16s. The sooner the better," he said. As Radio Liberty notes, "Ukraine has actively sought the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to help it counter Russian air superiority. The United States in August approved sending F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands as soon as pilot training was completed." According to Stoltenberg, each ally will decide for itself whether to supply Ukraine with F-16s, and allies have different policies. But at the same time, he said, the war in Ukraine is a war of aggression, and Ukraine has the right to self-defense, including striking legitimate Russian military targets outside Ukraine. Two young men who tragically lost their lives in a collision in Limerick have been named locally. Cillian Kirwan, aged 19, from Piltown, Kilkenny, and Darragh Dullea, aged 20, from Clonakilty, Cork and were killed in the incident on the N69 on Tuesday evening. According to gardai, the car collided with a wall. Two other young men in the car were taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment for non-life threatening injuries. All four men were second year students in Agricultural Mechanisation at Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry. The course is run jointly by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). Students from the college laid flowers near the scene of the single-car collision at Ballyengland, near Askeaton on Wednesday. TUS are currently providing counselling services for students and staff at the college to help them with their loss. Its tragic and its shocking. Were numb here in the college this morning and their fellow students are numb, said Derek ODonoghue, principal of Salesian Agricultural College. Its tragic, two young lives lost Its hard putting words on it, to be quite honest. We hear it every weekend Its only when it comes onto your own doorstep, that it really hits home and unfortunately, we lost two young lives last night, Mr ODonoghue added. The bodies of the deceased were removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem will take place in due course. The fire service was alerted just after 7:30pm to the incident which occurred in the townland of Ballyengland Lower, around two kilometres outside Askeaton on the Limerick side of the town. Gardai, the National Ambulance Service and four units of the fire service responded - including two units each from Foynes and Rathkeale. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and who were travelling in the area at the time, are asked to make this footage available to gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Askeaton garda station 061 601630 or any garda station. The 'longest ever imported' wind turbine blades have successfully docked at Port of Waterford in Belview, County Kilkenny. The port describes their importation as a 'record-breaking' cargo project for Ireland, with each blade measuring eighty metres in length. The update comes as two roundabouts in South Kilkenny are currently being adapted to facilitate the transport of these mammoth blades. Local councillors in the area were recently informed that the port is 'becoming a hub' for the transportation of wind turbine blades and that the works will help facilitate the movement of these blades to infrastructure projects across the country. The roundabouts (Slieverue Roundabout and nearby Luffany Roundabout) are located on a vital spur of the national road network as they connect the Belview Port Road (N29) to the N25 Waterford bypass and the wider motorway network. Local area engineer Stan Cullen has stated that the transportation of wind turbine blades in the area 'will be subject to a blue light garda escort'. He also confirmed that such movements would be done outside of peak traffic hours, so as to limit the impact on traffic flow. 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. Deputy John McGuinness has welcomed this year's allocation of 12,360,426 for National Roads and Greenways in Kilkenny. The funding was announced today as part of a total of over 440 million allocated to National Roads and Greenways nationwide. The allocations will be made to local authorities across the country through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Deputy McGuinness said: The substantial new funding allocated today is hugely important for National Roads and Greenways here in Kilkenny. The funding is part of the governments investment in improving our national roads and greenways infrastructure. It will help ensure that our roads are safe, reliable and accessible for everyone who uses them. We will continue to invest in the maintenance and improvement of our road network to make it as safe as possible while improving regional connectivity and supporting regional economic development. Continued investment in Greenways is welcome, as they protect important habitats and provide corridors for people and wildlife. They help improve air and water quality and provide enjoyable and safe options for transportation, which reduces air pollution, so it is important they continue to receive appropriate investment. Minister Malcolm Noonan also welcomed the funding for the improvement and maintenance of national roads and the design of greenways. "There are three strands to the funding announced today. Investment in road improvements, including footpath works, funding for road maintenance, and funding for design of new greenways. Most of the funding is earmarked for improvements to existing roads and footpaths, including 2 million for the N76 Callan bypass footpath in Kilkenny." Green Party Councillor for Kilkenny City, Maria Dollard said she was happy to see 500,000 in funding to develop the SouthEast Greenway Ive cycled the South East Greenway many times and Im so happy to see funding being delivered by Minister Ryans Department to link the South East Greenway with Inistioge, Slieverue and Glenmore. The south of our county is extremely scenic, and I can see this project bringing huge enjoyment and economic benefits to the area. I want to congratulate our staff in the Parks Department in Kilkenny County Council for their hard work in this," she said. Kilkenny celebrated another milestone as the city marked its 400th parkrun with a party! The Castle Park has been long associated with the parkrun - a weekly fun, free and friendly 5km - but Saturday morning saw a bumper crowd turn out as the event hit the latest century. Not even the weather could dampen the spirits of the large field as 220 people ran, jogged and walked the 5km course. They were sent on their way by Martin Brett, Deputy Mayor of Kilkenny, who congratulated the organisers and runners on their feat. After completing the three laps the finish line was awash with treats which were waiting as a reward. The parkrun has come a long way since it was first held in October 2014. In that time thousands of people from all over the world have flocked to the Park to take part in the event - Saturdays parkrun had participants from Scotland and France - while also attracting a core group who make it part of their weekly schedule. Many milestones have been reached over the years including at the weekend, when Michael Molloy, Helen Bacon and Shane Egan racked up their 250th, 150th and 50th parkruns respectively. The parkrun is a free weekly community event open to all runners, walkers and joggers. People can sign up by registering online at parkrun.ie for their barcode. The run is held at 9.30am every Saturday. Speaker of the Defense Forces of southern Ukraine Natalia Humeniuk confirmed an attack on a training ground of Russian forces on the left bank of Kherson region. "The work was carried out quite effectively, at least 60 invaders will definitely not return to combat positions, and we will still investigate the rest of the data," Humeniuk said during a national telethon on Thursday morning. "This whole profanation with planting the flag and escaping from there was enchantingly completed by yesterday's work at one of the training grounds, where, in fact, the corresponding assault groups are trained," she said. Humeniuk did not disclose what weapons were used in the attack, but stressed that the Defense Forces "use all available weapons and power." DeepState analysts on Wednesday evening published a video of the strike, which noted that it was a strike on an enemy concentration near the village of Podo-Kalynivka on the left bank of Kherson region. President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "Your Majesty, Dear Brother, On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to convey to you and, through you, to your fraternal people, our sincerest congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of February 22 - the Day of Founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We attach great importance to the friendly relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, built on such strong foundations as Islamic solidarity, brotherhood, mutual support, and trust. The high-level political dialogue between us is accompanied by our effective cooperation across various fields. We highly appreciate the support provided by Saudi Arabia from the very first day to our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. I am confident that we will make joint efforts to deepen the relations between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia and ensure the successful continuation of interaction both on a bilateral basis and within international organizations in the interests of our fraternal peoples. On this festive day, I wish you good health and success in your endeavors, and to the fraternal people of Saudi Arabia - continuous well-being and prosperity. Respectfully, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 21 February 2024" Polish President Andrzej Duda supports the idea of a meeting between the Ukrainian and Polish governments with representatives of the European Commission to resolve the situation on the border, Secretary of State of the Office of the President of Poland Andrzej Dera said. "The President advocates for this dialogue [negotiations with farmers and the Ukrainian side] to take place. This is the only way to solve this huge problem. The problem is bilateral and very powerful. (...) Our farmers are fighting for their livelihood. (...) The Ukrainian people are fighting for their livelihood. The situation is fatal on both sides, from this point of view, because the determination on both sides is enormous, and this problem simply must be solved," the Secretary of State of the Presidential Office said on TVN24. He said at present there is no other way but negotiations, dialogue and decisions regarding the European Union. Dera said all European farmers are protesting against what is happening to agriculture in the European Union. The Secretary of State of the President's Office said the President of Poland supports the meeting of the two governments and is making every effort to support and help Ukraine. "Let's not forget that everything that is happening on the border now, this conflict with grain, with agricultural products, is the result of a war," Dera said. In his opinion, it is also advisable for Donald Tusk to chair the meeting of the Polish and Ukrainian governments, as well as representatives of the European Union, because everything that happens is related to EU policy. "This whole conflict arises due to the fact that the standards of agricultural production are different in Ukraine and completely different in the European Union. Therefore, in Ukraine the price for these products is different, and therefore Polish farmers today are fighting for their survival and existence," Dera said. The Secretary of State of the President's Office also said the idea of a meeting between representatives of the Polish and Ukrainian governments at the border "is not the safest." "It is better to talk in Warsaw or somewhere in Rzeszow or Lublin, and not necessarily near the border. Of course, these will not be long discussions, because they cannot take place there... The idea is to clear the border," Dera said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday publicly appealed to Polish President Duda to hold a meeting of the two governments on the Ukrainian-Polish border to resolve problems with its crossing. Zelenskyy announced the participation of the Ukrainian Defense Minister in the negotiations, as strikes at the border are delaying military cargo. The ministry of health reports: Following the leak of confidential ministry information to an external third party last month, the Ministry of health began an investigation to determine how this occurred. We can now confirm that the individual responsible has been identified and no longer works at the Ministry. NewstalkZB reports: New Zealand's auditor-general has spoken out against government agencies, claiming their reporting produces a lot of rubbish'. John Ryan told the Finance Select Committee that agencies like to tick off project milestones', but their actual accomplishments are questionable'. He says the general public doesn't get to see or experience the outcomes of these reported milestones. The public really wants to know what outcomes they're getting from these projects, not whether they're managing it on a day-to-day basis. That's much more than management activity. Protest at St. Clair prison set for February 23 February 22, 2024, 6:39 p.m. Incarcerated organizers shut down St Clair Prisonrefusing to finance their own incarceration and exploitation of gas chamber style executions, forced labor, and deadly abuse; southern groups host ongoing protests in solidarity _______________________________________________________________________________ The prison shutdown began on February 6th and is led by the Free Alabama Movement (FAM), a local organization of incarcerated people that in 2016 led the largest national prison shutdown in history. The St Clair prison shutdown is the beginning of longterm efforts towards a statewide shutdown of AL prisons. Groups from Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia join forces to lead ongoing solidarity protests at St. Clair Prison. _______________________________________________________________________________ KNOXVILLE - Following the initial protest on February 6th, FAM Queen Team (Alabama), The Tennessee Student Solidarity Network (Tennessee), and organizations from across the Southeast have been hosting ongoing protests outside St. Clair Prison in Springville, AL, the next one scheduled again for this Friday, February 23rd at 12PM. Protestors are standing in solidarity with the prison shutdown led by incarcerated organizers with the Free Alabama Movement who are fighting a corrupt system where they are leased to companies as commodities by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), as well as experience cruel and deadly abuse while in custody. Alabama prisons are the deadliest and most crowded in the country. The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is so corrupt and violent that in 2020 they got sued by the U.S. Department of Defense for violating the constitutional rights of incarcerated people against cruel and unusual punishment. ADOC is notoriously anti-Black, and frequently exploits the Habitual Offender Act to keep Black people in prison. In 2023, the parole acceptance rate for Black folks was only 4% (ACLU of Alabama). In 2023, national labor unions (USSW, RWDSU) with support of the AFL-CIO sued the state of Alabama, ADOC, the AL parole board, and private corporations, claiming that they were colluding to uphold a heinous regime of modern-day slavery that made ADOC $450M profits from forced prison labor annually. Incarcerated people are forced to labor in deadly conditions to make profits for ADOC and big corporations (including one-third of defense contractors), experiencing beatings, rape, and deadly repression if they try to refuse. Incarcerated people in Alabama are organizing under unimaginable conditions, risking their lives for the chance to meet the following demands: Repeal the Habitual Offender Act Make sentencing guidelines retroactive Create mandatory parole criteria that the board must follow Abolish the Sentence of Life Without Parole End All Gas Chamber Executions We are here because the South has woken up and realize that the prison struggle is our fight. 575 corporations; the most evil corporations in America; the corporations who are profiting from endless wars, killing Palestinians abroad, and destroying the earth are the same corporations profiting from the exploitation of incarcerated peoplefrom Raytheon to McDonalds - The Tennessee Student Solidarity Network The Tennessee Student Solidarity Network is a youth-led organization aiming to develop working-class youth as longterm political workers. Warsaw intends to take special control over sections of roads approaching border crossing points (BCPs) on the border with Ukraine, Prime Minster of Poland Donald Tusk said. "We will include the BCP on the border with Ukraine and adjacent sections of highways and railways in the list of critical infrastructure," Polish Radio quotes Tusk as saying. According to him, "it is a matter of the next few hours." The Prime Minister also said that the Polish side will continue negotiations with both Ukraine and the EU in order to convey its point of view to them. In particular, according to him, a joint meeting of the governments of Poland and Ukraine will be held on March 28 in Warsaw. At the same time, Tusk added that there is no need for his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resolve the situation on the border. The President of Ukraine on Wednesday publicly appealed to the President of Poland with a call to hold a meeting of the two governments on the Ukrainian-Polish border to resolve problems with its crossing. Zelenskyy announced the participation of the Ukrainian Defense Minister in the negotiations, as strikes at the border are delaying military cargo. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the next Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters, a separate block of which included a discussion of "everything related to F-16 aircraft." "Headquarters. Heard the latest changes in the operational situation from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky. The situation in all main directions, defensive actions and individual offensive operations. The receipt and consumption of ammunition, missiles, drones. Heard information about the enemy's plans from Head of the Main Intelligence Agency Kyrylo Budanov," the president said on his Telegram channel on Thursday. As Zelenskyy noted at headquarters, "we examined in detail the situation in Avdiivka and Southern directions. Avdiivka is a new line of defense, strengthening of borders, the enemy's further intentions. Krynky our marines reliably hold the bridgehead. The enemy turned out to be capable only of a disinformation operation." "A separate closed report on everything related to F-16 aircraft. Quantity in the first batch, timing of receipt. Preparation of infrastructure and personnel. We have clarified the calendar for further training of pilots, technicians and receipt of the next aircraft," Zelenskyy said. Eagle Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report) by 6.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 397,153 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after buying an additional 25,412 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.24% of Motorola Solutions worth $108,121,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton grew its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 275 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $75,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 9.4% in the 3rd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 444 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $121,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,301 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $354,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 887 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,047 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $557,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. 82.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Motorola Solutions alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MSI has been the subject of several recent research reports. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $333.00 to $352.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research note on Friday, January 19th. They set a buy rating and a $350.00 target price for the company. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Motorola Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $328.29. Motorola Solutions Price Performance Shares of MSI stock traded up $6.61 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $331.43. 156,489 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 637,039. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $318.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $301.49. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 1-year low of $255.85 and a 1-year high of $333.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.37, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market cap of $55.06 billion, a PE ratio of 32.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.92. Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.63 by $0.27. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 17.12% and a return on equity of 441.65%. The company had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.38 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 11.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Motorola Solutions Profile (Free Report) Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Motorola Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Motorola Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Denmark will transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this summer, the country's Defense Ministry reports, citing the international coalition of the air force, which, led by Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States, is coordinating the transfer of the first F-16 fighters to Ukraine. "Work is underway to prepare Ukraine for receiving the first Danish gift of F-16 combat aircraft this summer. This is stated by the international air force coalition, which is led by Denmark together with the Netherlands and the United States," the Ministry of Defense said on its official website. "It is expected that the first Danish F-16 combat aircraft will be transferred to Ukraine this summer. This is a message from the international coalition of the air Force, which, led by Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States, coordinates the ongoing training of the F-16 and preparations for the transfer of the first F-16 fighters to Ukraine," the Danish Defense Ministry reports. "It is difficult to set a fixed schedule for the transfer of F-16 fighters, because there are several conditions that must be met so that Ukraine can use the donated aircraft. But I informed the conciliation circle that we are now working on its higher unity this summer, when we expect to transfer the first F-16 fighters to Ukraine if preparations go according to plan," the message says, citing Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. As noted, the final transfer of the first Danish F-16 combat aircraft depends, among other things, on the full training of Ukrainian pilots and the necessary Ukrainian support personnel, as well as on the availability of the necessary logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine. The International Air Force Coalition in Support of Ukraine is making every effort to ensure this. Denmark has been leading the Air Force coalition along with the Netherlands and the United States since its creation in the fall of 2023. The coalition was formed as part of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group and initially focuses on providing F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine. Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (OTCMKTS:FMFG Get Free Report) traded up 2.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $17.50 and last traded at $17.50. 10,001 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 217% from the average session volume of 3,150 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.00. Farmers and Merchants Bancshares Stock Performance The businesss 50 day moving average price is $17.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.06. About Farmers and Merchants Bancshares (Get Free Report) Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc, through its subsidiary, Farmers and Merchants Bank, provides commercial and retail banking services to individuals and businesses in Baltimore and Carroll counties in Maryland, and surrounding areas of northern Maryland. It offers checking, savings, money market, individual retirement, and sweep accounts, as well as certificates of deposit, remote check deposits, and repurchase agreements. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 30.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,955 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 930 shares during the period. Gallacher Capital Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $465,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 7,909 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $680,000 after buying an additional 1,173 shares during the period. Retirement Income Solutions Inc acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 1st quarter worth $275,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 318.8% in the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 17,163 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,417,000 after purchasing an additional 13,065 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 95.6% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 15,843 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,308,000 after purchasing an additional 7,744 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgefront Capital LLC acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 1st quarter worth $237,000. Institutional investors own 58.53% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on XOM shares. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, February 5th. TD Cowen raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $116.00 to $119.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, Mizuho cut shares of Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.53. Exxon Mobil Trading Up 2.1 % Shares of XOM stock traded up $2.11 on Wednesday, hitting $104.86. 20,991,460 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,301,416. The stock has a market capitalization of $415.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.60, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.97. Exxon Mobil Co. has a one year low of $95.77 and a one year high of $120.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $101.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $106.20. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 18.51%. The business had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.03 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.40 EPS. The companys revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.25 EPS for the current year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.62%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.74%. Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil In other news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total value of $216,132,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,780. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,652,596.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total value of $216,132,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Exxon Mobil Company Profile (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. Further Reading 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. iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (TSE:XIU Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Friday, February 16th, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be paid a dividend of 0.254 per share on Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. This is a positive change from iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETFs previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF stock opened at C$32.47 on Thursday. iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF has a 52-week low of C$28.49 and a 52-week high of C$32.72. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$32.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$30.84. Get iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF alerts: iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth by replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index through investments in the constituent issuers of such index, net of expenses. The Index is comprised of 60 of the largest (by market capitalization) and liquid securities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), selected by Standard & Poors (S&P) using its industrial classifications and guidelines for evaluating issuer capitalization, liquidity and fundamentals. Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB Get Free Report) issued an update on its first quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 0.130-0.160 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 0.140. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust also updated its FY 2024 guidance to 1.490-1.610 EPS. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have issued reports on PEB shares. TheStreet lowered shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from a c rating to a d rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Bank of America cut Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $13.50 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $12.00 to $11.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $14.50. Get Pebblebrook Hotel Trust alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PEB Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Trading Up 2.0 % Shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust stock traded up $0.32 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $16.63. 2,722,820 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,582,581. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $15.62 and a 200-day moving average of $14.22. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust has a 12 month low of $11.39 and a 12 month high of $16.65. The company has a market cap of $2.00 billion, a PE ratio of -17.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by $0.10. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust had a negative net margin of 5.41% and a negative return on equity of 2.53%. The business had revenue of $334.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $325.42 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.20 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Pebblebrook Hotel Trust will post 1.55 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th were issued a $0.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.24%. Pebblebrook Hotel Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -4.26%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 48,151 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,179,000 after acquiring an additional 4,591 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 3.7% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 176,918 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,475,000 after purchasing an additional 6,388 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 1.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,551,178 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $478,613,000 after purchasing an additional 226,216 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 5.5% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 30,800 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $754,000 after purchasing an additional 1,607 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $237,000. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT") and the largest owner of urban and resort lifestyle hotels and resorts in the United States. The Company owns 47 hotels and resorts, totaling approximately 12,200 guest rooms across 13 urban and resort markets. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Free Report) by 0.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,268,464 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 24,818 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for about 0.9% of Stifel Financial Corps portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Stifel Financial Corp owned 0.15% of JPMorgan Chase & Co. worth $619,021,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Valicenti Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Valicenti Advisory Services Inc. now owns 79,891 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,586,000 after acquiring an additional 2,220 shares during the period. Hilltop Holdings Inc. lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 4.4% in the second quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 34,079 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,956,000 after buying an additional 1,439 shares during the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 4.4% in the second quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 39,447 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,737,000 after buying an additional 1,652 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 14.0% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 50,991 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,416,000 after buying an additional 6,264 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Joseph Group Capital Management lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7.6% in the second quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 12,958 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,885,000 after buying an additional 916 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CEO Marianne Lake sold 32,243 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total transaction of $5,158,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 131,962 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,113,920. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, CEO Marianne Lake sold 32,243 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total value of $5,158,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 131,962 shares in the company, valued at $21,113,920. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jennifer Piepszak sold 1,648 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.96, for a total value of $294,926.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 32,819 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,873,288.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 45,898 shares of company stock valued at $7,518,819. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on JPM shares. Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $179.11. Check Out Our Latest Report on JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Up 0.7 % JPM traded up $1.17 on Wednesday, reaching $180.90. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,863,706 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,691,338. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $171.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $156.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The company has a market capitalization of $520.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.14. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a fifty-two week low of $123.11 and a fifty-two week high of $180.99. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.73 by ($0.69). The firm had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.73 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 17.80%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.57 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 4th were issued a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s payout ratio is currently 25.89%. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Profile (Free Report) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services to consumers and small businesses; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. By Lee Jong-eun During the start of the Cold War, the U.S. Republican Party experienced internal debates over which regions of the world the U.S. should prioritize. The Trans-Atlanticist Republicans, such as Senator Arthur Vandenberg, favored prioritizing Europes security from Soviet expansion. They supported the Truman Administrations Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe and establish the NATO Alliance. The Asia First Republicans, such as Senator Bob Taft, advocated for the U.S. to focus on confronting communism in Asia. These Republicans criticized President Truman for excessive involvement in Europe while allowing the fall of China to communism. Many also criticized Trumans handling of the Korean War as too cautious and were supportive of General MacArthurs advocacy for a more aggressive confrontation against communist China. In the 1952 U.S. presidential election, Dwight Eisenhower, supported by Trans-Atlanticist Republicans, defeated Senator Taft to become the Republican presidential nominee. After being elected President, Eisenhower ended the Korean War with an armistice, avoided intervention in the French-Indochina War, and maintained its security commitment in Europe. Since then, the Trans-Atlanticist foreign policy was supported by the U.S. Republican Party and its presidents. In recent years, however, the foreign policy consensus within the Republican Party has changed. There is growing skepticism toward the U.S.' security commitment in Europe, while advocacy for confronting China in the Asia-Pacific region has become prevalent. The U.S. Republicans are increasingly supportive of policies that risk conflicts with China, such as providing military aid to Taiwan, sanctioning Chinas domestic human rights abuses, and even loosening adherence to the One China Policy on Taiwans political status. In contrast, Republicans have become critical of providing aid to Ukraine in the Ukraine-Russia War. Many Republicans have ignored or expressed some sympathy toward Trumps recent comments suggesting the abandoning of the security commitment to NATO member states. Even if Trump is not reelected as president, the Republican Party and many of its prominent political figures will likely continue to advocate changing U.S. foreign policy priorities from Europe to Asia. The two factors have contributed to the significant shift in the foreign policy perspective of the contemporary Republican Party. The first factor is the increased geopolitical importance of the Asia-Pacific region. With economic and technological advancements among multiple countries in the region, the U.S. Republicans (and Democrats) have become more strategically motivated to prevent China from achieving regional hegemony. For example, the sea lanes in Southeast Asia are perceived as vital to U.S. strategic interests due to the semiconductor industries in both South Korea and Taiwan. The second factor is that todays Republicans perceive fewer security threats from Europe than Asia. Many Republicans evaluate todays Russia as lacking the military or economic capacity to threaten the U.S. or Europes security seriously. Paradoxically, the Russia-Ukraine Wars attrition has reinforced Republicans prediction that Russia is too weak even to defeat the much smaller Ukraine. To some extent, many Republicans view the Russia-Ukraine War as similar to protracted wars in the Middle East that are unlikely to alter the global geopolitical balance significantly. Subsequently, Republicans are increasingly advocating that Europe can deter a weakened Russia by increasing its own defense budget, reducing the necessity of direct U.S. security intervention. In contrast, Republicans view todays China as more capable than Russia of raping our country, to use Trumps expression. Republicans express fear that China is capable of inflicting severe economic losses to the U.S. domestic economy, surpassing U.S. technological and military capacity, and threatening the privacy of U.S. citizens. As Republicans perceive China, not Russia, as the greatest adversary in the New Cold War, they have advocated prioritizing U.S. economic and military resources to counter the China Threat. Some conservative commentators such as Tucker Carlson have even suggested that the U.S. should consider aligning with Russia to contain China, similar to how Nixon pursued diplomacy with communist China to pressure the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Should Republicans, whether through Trumps reelection or a different Republican President, change U.S. foreign policy to become more Asia-focused, how should U.S. allies respond? First, there may be opportunities to convince future U.S. administrations to counter China more effectively by strengthening U.S. alliances in the Asia-Pacific. Paradoxically, the greater the perception of the China Threat, the more U.S. policymakers might welcome cooperation from regional actors. Even Trump, during his first presidential term, supported security partnerships with Japan, Australia and India through the Quad framework. Though there are U.S. allies who prefer to avoid entanglement in the U.S.-China geopolitical conflict, the next alternative strategy might be for allies to restrain the United States from becoming too unilateral by emphasizing their contributions to the U.S. Asia-First strategy. Second, U.S. allies should work together to ensure the Asia-First U.S. strategy includes a Europe-Second component. During WWII, the Europe-First war strategy included defensive operations in the Pacific Theater. During the Cold War, the Trans-Atlanticist strategy was complemented by U.S. bilateral alliances with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Similarly, even if Asia-Pacific is becoming the prioritized geostrategic region for aggressive U.S. foreign policy strategy, Asian allies need to persuade the United States also to maintain a limited security commitment in Europe, as Europes geopolitical stability benefits the United States to focus more attentively on the Asia-Pacific. The geopolitical reality is that world regions are not equally vital to U.S. geostrategic interests. As U.S. priority shifts, some allies might benefit more while others fear abandonment. After seventy years, will the U.S. strategic priority shift from Europe to Asia? If it does, hopefully, U.S. policymakers will maintain the appropriate level of security commitment for the regions of secondary strategic importance. And if the U.S. hesitates, hopefully, the allies from the different regions will show foresight to advocate for each other, as the first can become the second and vice versa. Lee Jong-eun is an assistant professor of political science at North Greenville University. The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold talks later this week on the margins of the foreign ministers' meeting of the Group of 20 nations in Brazil, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. It will mark the first three-way talks among Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa since Cho took office last month. The talks are scheduled to take place early Friday, Seoul time. They are expected to discuss a broad range of issues, including the three-way security cooperation in the follow-up to the landmark Camp David summit among the leaders of the three countries in August last year. Also high on the agenda is expected to be North Korea's recent bellicose rhetoric and provocations, as well as Japan's diplomatic outreach to the North for a potential summit between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The trilateral talks will come after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, signaled openness last week toward Kishida's possible visit to Pyongyang if Tokyo makes a "political decision" to not raise the issue of Japanese abductees. Prior to the planned trilateral meeting, Cho and Kamikawa held their first in-person talks to discuss bilateral relations and other issues. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyun-bin The 16th Annual Council Meeting of the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) took place in Seoul, Wednesday. Esteemed government officials from the 10 ASEAN member states and Korea, alongside council directors, participated in a thorough evaluation of last year's accomplishments and approved proposed programs and budgets for the forthcoming year. The meeting was not only a platform for deliberating on past accomplishments and future endeavors but also served as a networking opportunity. Approximately 150 key stakeholders from embassies of ASEAN member states in Seoul, relevant organizations, academia and media attended a reception, fostering stronger ties and paving the way for collaborative efforts ahead. This year's meeting carried particular significance as it marked the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between ASEAN and Korea and the 15th anniversary of the AKC's establishment. Furthermore, it was underscored by the anticipation surrounding the elevation of the ASEAN-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the upcoming ASEAN-ROK Summit in October. Highlighting its role as the sole inter-governmental organization dedicated to ASEAN-Korea relations, the AKC outlined its mid-to-long-term strategies and discussed key flagship programs slated for the year. One of the notable outcomes of the meeting was the confirmation of Kim Jae-shin as the new secretary-general. Kim, a seasoned diplomat and former Korean ambassador to the Philippines and Germany, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Additionally, the terms of four seconded officials from Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, Malaysia and the Philippines came to an end, with successors from Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore set to commence their tenure in March 2024. With the appointment of the new secretary-general and the influx of incoming seconded officials, the AKC aims to bolster its efforts in fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between ASEAN and Korea. Key programs planned for this year include the International Conference on ASEAN-Korea Partnership 2024, ASEAN Week 2024, next generation programs such as the ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop and the 12th ASEAN Connectivity Forum. Pro-NK, anti-US politicians seek power through coalition By Jung Min-ho Han Dong-hoon, interim chief of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), condemned the main opposition party, Thursday, for joining forces with North Korean regime sympathizers and with other radical political orientations for the upcoming elections. A day after the announcement that the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and minor left-wing parties as well as activists will launch a joint party next month, Han criticized Lee Jae-myung, its chairman, for helping the electoral revival of far-left politicians who formerly belonged to the United Progressive Party (UPP). The party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2014 for plotting a pro-North Korea rebellion. As concerned, Chairman Lee is trying to save himself by helping the revival of those behind the unconstitutional, pro-North Korea UPP and by radicalizing the orthodox DPK, Han said at a meeting in the PPPs office in Seoul. This is the reason why the PPP should fight with its utmost effort. Forming that liberal coalition for the April 10 general elections was the DPKs strategy under the election law designed to benefit smaller parties. With the Progressive Party, led by some of founding members of the UPP, and the Basic Income Party, the main opposition party will launch a new party on March 3 and joint campaigns to galvanize their liberal base more effectively. Under agreement, as many as 10 candidates from either of the far-left minor parties and a united group of activists are expected to win seats in the National Assembly. In the previous elections held in 2020, a similar satellite party, led by the DPK, secured a total of 17 seats. Moreover, the DPK agreed not to nominate its own candidate in Ulsan Buk District, one of the citys six constituencies, and will coalesce behind a Progressive Party candidate there as part of the deal. In protest of the decision, Lee Sang-heon, an incumbent DPK lawmaker in the area, said he would leave the party to launch his own election campaign if his request for a review of the decision is rejected. Who will win the nomination by the coalition party is not determined yet. Conservatives are worried that some of leading figures behind radical anti-U.S. voices and conspiracy theories about the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and mad cow disease will get access to confidential data and exercise influence as Assembly members. The DPK has paved the way for pro-North Korea and anti-U.S. forces, Rep. Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesman for the PPP, said in a statement. That shows that the DPK under Chairman Lee can join hands with anyone, including those who could threaten the national identity, as long as they would sit on his side. By Arthur I. Cyr On Feb. 14, major national elections took place in Indonesia. The results, especially in a historical context, are a victory for democracy. An enormous nation with an autocratic history has successfully held a peaceful election. Incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. According to quick counts from selected polling stations, the winner of the presidential contest is Prabowo Subianto, a retired army general and current defense minister. He received nearly 60 percent of the votes. Official results may not be known for up to a month, but the quick count system has proven a reliable indicator over time. Subianto is a controversial figure. He has been accused of serious human rights violations in the 1990s, and was for a time banned from the United States. However, he has never been formally charged and has vehemently denied all such accusations. Indonesia is the worlds third largest democracy and the largest nation with a Muslim majority. The election was the largest one-day free election in the world, with over 200 million participants. Indonesian citizens 17 years of age and older are eligible to participate, and turnout was high. Geography as well as politics are complicated in this nation. Over 17,000 islands comprise national territory, including the large islands of Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and parts of Borneo and New Guinea. In 2018, a Gallup Poll found that an unprecedented 75 percent of Indonesians believed the country's elections are honest. This was the highest percentage ever, in a long-term upward trend in public confidence, following a troubled national history. Gruesome earlier events provide graphic, important context. In May 2018, the Islamic State conducted bloody terrorist attacks in Surabaya, Indonesias second largest city. Terrorism is persistent though not frequent in Indonesia. In a 2016 attack, four people died. In 2002, the worst attack killed 202 people on Bali, including many foreign tourists. Trade routes and commodities provide Indonesia with great strategic significance. Washington has the opportunity to highlight Indonesia, and neighboring nations, as success stories of expanding political stability, modernization and the rule of law. In 1998, opponents forced Indonesias long-time autocratic president and former general Muhammad Suharto from power. Since then, the nation has had representative government. Dictatorship has ended, though corruption remains a problem. During the height of the Cold War, Indonesia enjoyed status as a pivotal power among Third World nations. Flamboyant nationalist President Sukarno played the Soviet Union and the United States off against one another. CIA efforts to bring Sukarno down were frustrated, and boomeranged, especially in providing important impetus for Indonesia-Soviet cooperation. During the 1960s, cooperation between Indonesia and the Soviet Union expanded exponentially. The Soviet and Indonesian navies were integrating their crews, and other close cooperation was taking place. This development, vital in the massive U.S. military intervention in Vietnam in 1965, is rarely mentioned today. British forces, with Australian and New Zealand allies, defeated Indonesian attacks on Malaysia. Earlier, Britain defeated an aggressive, virulent Communist insurgency in Malaya, which today is part of Malaysia. Britains military avoided massive firepower, in contrast to the U.S. in Vietnam, especially from 1965. To be sure, the British military employed air strikes and artillery, but relatively selectively. Officials regarded heavy bombing as counterproductive. Given American preferences for firepower and technology, we should keep this fundamental lesson always in mind. Freedom slowly expands in the world. Our veterans, especially of the Vietnam War, should feel pride in this long-term success. Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) is the author of After the Cold War (Macmillan/Palgrave and NYU). Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk has announced that a meeting on the border proposed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be held, adding that representatives of the Polish and Ukrainian governments will meet on March 28, Polsat News reported. Tusk said that in recent days he had held a number of meetings with the leaders of several countries. He also assured of "constant contact" with President of Poland Andrzej Duda. "I want to emphasize that I do not stop trying to protect the interests of Polish farmers. We are constantly talking about this with Ukraine and the European Commission," Tusk said. The Polish government "will look for protective solutions for Polish farmers both through domestic methods and through further negotiations with Ukraine and European institutions," the prime minister said. "Farmers can count on me," he said at a press conference. Tusk emphasized that "in these days, in these weeks, the fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance." "I don't need to convince anyone that our fates also hang in the balance. Every attack in public space, supporting [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's narrative, is high treason. We will not tolerate this in any way, he said," he said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Snow showers this morning becoming more scattered later. High 36F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The Danish government has announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of DKK 1.7 billion (or almost $250 million), which provides, in particular, for the supply of 15,000 artillery ammunition to Ukraine within a few months, the Danish Ministry of Defense reports. "The government and the parliamentary parties have agreed on a new, large package of military donations for Ukraine. The cost of the package is about DKK 1.7 billion and provides, including 15,000 pieces of artillery shells in cooperation with the Czech Republic," the Ministry of Defense said on its website on Thursday. As reported, "the package provides for air defense equipment, mine clearance equipment and drones. This is part of what is to be funded by a new large military donation package of approximately DKK 1.7 billion. This is the 15th package of military equipment for Ukraine." "Ukraine still has a great need for support, including, not least, artillery ammunition. With the 15th donation package, Denmark makes a financial contribution to the purchase of weapons and ammunition. Both through other countries, including the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, and through continued good and important cooperation with the Danish defense industry," said Troels Lund Poulsen, the country's Defense minister. As reported, "thanks to the contract with the Czech Ministry of Defense, the Danish Ministry of Defense has financed the purchase of 15,000 units of 155 mm artillery ammunition, which will be delivered to Ukraine within a few months." Earlier it was reported that Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the first Danish batch of F-16 fighter jets will arrive in Ukraine this summer. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had talks with Polish Prime Minister's Chief of Cabinet Pawe Gras and Chairman of the Sejm's Foreign Relations Committee Pawe Kowal in Warsaw on Thursday. "In Warsaw, I had a candid conversation with the Polish Prime Minister's Chief of Cabinet Pawe Gras and the Chairman of the Sejm's Foreign Relations Committee Pawe Kowal that lasted over an hour. Both governments are aiming to resolve problematic issues. I appreciate the decisions that will allow unhindered deliveries of military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine. We also discussed further joint efforts to increase military aid supplies. Kyiv and Warsaw have a clear understanding of who our common enemy is," he said on X Social network. NewsVoir New Delhi [India], February 22: Bar Code India (BCI), a leading provider of supply chain solutions, proudly announces BCI 2.0 - a strategic vision to redefine the landscape of Indian supply chain and manufacturing processes. Also Read | Modi 3.0: PM Narendra Modi To Cement Goal of Bolstering USD 300 Billion Electronics Manufacturing, Says Report. As part of this vision, Bar Code India (BCI) has undertaken an end-to-end transformation focused on creating an ecosystem of best-in-class solutions that unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency, quality, and sustainability for its customers. This encompasses new product introductions, including IoT products, integrated software and hardware solutions, and a brand transformation for the entity. This strategic pivot reinforces BCI's unwavering commitment to anticipating and meeting the evolving needs of its customers in the dynamic realm of digital manufacturing and supply chains. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Man Allegedly Stabs Co-Worker to Death With Scissor in Kurla, Later Dies by Suicide; Police Recover Bodies With Murder Weapon. "BCI 2.0 marks a new chapter with a more targeted and laser-focused strategy, highlighting our commitment to customer-centricity and our role in advancing Indian manufacturing to the next level of Industry 4.0. Our dedication to the 'Make in India' initiative is not just a principle; it's woven into the fabric of BCI 2.0 with the launch of new IoT products and software solutions," said Ajay Bhutani, CEO at Bar Code India (BCI). In addition to its technological advancements, BCI 2.0 encompasses a comprehensive overhaul of BCI's visual identity, logo, website, and messaging - meticulously crafted to encapsulate the essence of its core values, vision, and mission. The new logo represents a fusion of innovation and expertise, showcasing BCI's DNA and its consistent dedication to staying as industry leaders. Ram Bhutani, Senior Vice President of Business Operations at BCI, underscored the core principles of BCI's new vision, explaining, "With a legacy spanning over two decades, BCI 2.0 represents a bold leap towards the future. At the heart of BCI 2.0 is our commitment to a progressive, customer-centric, and forward-thinking approach. This reflects our dedication to elevating customer experience through advanced solutions and ensuring the delivery of high-quality products and services. We are excited to share this transformative journey with our valued customers and partners." Established in 1995, Bar Code India (BCI) has proudly led the charge in revolutionising supply chain technologies across India for over two decades. BCI provides comprehensive intelligent supply chain solutions, including IoT, RFID, Automation, Software, and Barcoding for leading enterprises across India. With a team of 250 people across 8 offices in India, BCI is united in reimagining the Indian supply chain solution industry. New Logo: The simpler triangular geometric shapes, like arrows, symbolise the progress, forward-thinking and innovation that the brand helps others achieve in moving beyond. Taking a creative approach influenced by the structure of a QR code, our logo cleverly encapsulates the essence of fuelling transformation. Notably, the upward-pointing arrow within the logo is a powerful symbol, embodying our commitment to continuous improvement and the relentless drive to move forward. It signifies our dedication to pushing boundaries and creating a better world through our innovative solutions. New Brand Colours: The deep-sea green colour symbolises the brand's commitment to efficiency and adds a contemporary touch. It also represents sustainability and environmental consciousness and a commitment to fostering increasing sustainability across our customer operations. It retains the original 'orange', paying homage to positivity and maintaining a connection to one of the primary colours from the brand's previous logo. This combination of deep-sea green and orange signifies the brand's dedication to modernisation while staying rooted in its positive heritage. New Tagline: 'Fuelling the Transformation' implies actively and effectively supporting or propelling a change, evolution or improvement process. A change that BCI is committed to make. It communicates that the brand goes beyond mundane operations and is a catalyst for substantial positive change for others. Renewed Mission: Unlocking excellence by driving efficiency, ensuring quality, and fostering sustainability across manufacturing and supply chains through visibility and intelligence. Vision Statement: Deliver mission-critical products to the core of global manufacturing and supply chain operations. We are dedicated to redefining industry standards and empowering businesses with transformative solutions. We prioritise trust and transparency through unwavering ethics and respond swiftly to challenges with agility. We collaborate closely with our clients for shared success and constantly push the boundaries of what's possible in our industry through innovation. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) PNN New Delhi [India], February 22: Cornea, a leading provider of digital solutions, is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation: the dynamic digital standee. This revolutionary product represents a significant advancement in advertising technology, poised to transform the landscape of modern marketing. The Cornea Digital Standee comes in a 55-inch non-touch screen kiosk priced at Rs 1,25,000.00 and a 65-inch non-touch screen kiosk priced at Rs 1,47,000.00. Both models offer floor-stand digital signage and displays with Android, Wi-Fi, and IPS technology, delivering unparalleled visual experiences. Tailored for a myriad of applications including restaurants, exhibitions, shopping malls, wedding ceremonies, and real estate projects, these standees are set to redefine audience engagement and leave a lasting impression. These cutting-edge standees are available for purchase on the Cornea website and Amazon, offering convenient access to customers worldwide. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Eight-Year-Old Girl Gang-Raped in Malihabad area, Mother Arrested. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the dynamic digital standees boast unrivalled visual fidelity, featuring 4K and HD resolution to ensure every image and video captivates with vivid clarity and lifelike precision. Whether showcasing products or running promotional campaigns, these standees elevate brand messaging to unprecedented levels, leaving an indelible impression on viewers. Key Features: Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates New Valinath Mahadev Temple in Mehsana, Announces 1.25 Lakh Houses for the Poor in Gujarat (Watch Video). Plug & Play Convenience: Seamlessly deploy content with plug and play functionality, streamlining the setup process for effortless implementation. Cloud-Based Management: Empower remote content management and scheduling through Cornea's cutting-edge cloud-based software solution, revolutionising workflow efficiency and flexibility. Versatile Connectivity: Enjoy seamless integration with HDMI and USB connectivity options, facilitating compatibility with a diverse range of playback devices for unparalleled convenience. Multiple File Formats: Support for a wide array of file formats ensures maximum versatility, allowing businesses to leverage their existing content libraries without compromise. Ankit Garg, Director of Cornea expressed enthusiasm for the unveiling, stating, "Our dynamic digital standee epitomises the future of advertising. With its captivating display and interactive features, businesses can forge profound connections with their audience, fostering lasting brand affinity and engagement." Ideal for diverse industries including retail, hospitality, and healthcare, Cornea's dynamic digital standee transcends conventional advertising boundaries. Constructed with robust materials including a resilient metallic body and toughened glass, these standees ensure durability and reliability in any environment. Cornea World is a leading technology company committed to delivering innovative and high-performance electronic devices. With a focus on quality and user experience, Cornea strives to push the boundaries of technology to create products that meet the evolving needs of consumers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 22: The Indian Garage Company (TIGC), India's leading D2C fast-fashion brand, has unveiled a signature heritage collection called 'Elegance Redefined' skillfully intertwining the cultural elegance and significance of India into the fabric of fashion. Also Read | Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ties Up With Swiggy for Supply and Delivery of Pre-Ordered Meals To Train Passengers Through IRCTC E-Catering Portal. Harmonising contemporary flair with the opulence of Indian heritage, TIGC has crafted an exceptional and alluring collection. This assortment seamlessly weaves traditional paisleys, intricate block prints, and captivating mosaic patterns into styles perfectly tailored to resonate with the preferences of the Gen Z demographic. Comprising 70 signature styles, the collection draws inspiration from the architectural marvels of Hawa Mahal in Rajasthan and the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. The finely latticed windows of Hawa Mahal and the mosaic tile patterns of the Taj Mahal inspire intricate designs that imbue the collection with a sense of grandeur and timeless beauty. Also Read | Ukraine: How the War is Poisoning the Environment. Commenting on the brand's future outlook, Anant Tanted, Founder & CEO of The Indian Garage Company, expressed, "The Indian Heritage Collection seamlessly aligns with our brand's vision of nurturing cultural diversity alongside contemporary fashion. Our steadfast commitment to cultural richness and innovation underscores our dedication to evolving and leading in the realm of fast fashion for men's apparel. We anticipate increased customer engagement and a broader consumer base, with market expectations centred on positively impacting overall revenue and enhancing brand recognition." Speaking on the exclusivity of the collection, Pinky Rai, Team Lead Design, said, "Each piece in the collection reflects our deep connection to heritage, presented in a way that matches modern styles. Leveraging digital printing technology, we have intricately incorporated cultural elements, breathing new life and visual charm into traditional designs. For the design team, creativity is more than an artistic pursuit; it's a strategic conduit linking consumer preferences with profitability. The Heritage collection stands as a testament to this aspect." The collection is exclusively available on the TIGC Website & Myntra. The collection can be purchased at discounted rates, starting from Rs 500 onwards. Established in 2012 by Anant Tanted, The Indian Garage Company has grown into a 300-crore enterprise with a rapid growth trajectory and is targeting 1500 Cr GMV in the next five years. Operating under the 'House of Brands' format, the company boasts two brands under its umbrella: TIGC (Menswear) and FreeHand (Womenswear). As a company focused on Gen Z consumers, The Indian Garage Co. has evolved into a tech-enabled, digital-first firm, promising its customers access to global fashion trends at an unprecedented pace. Due to the growing acceptance and popularity of TIGC products, the company intends to diversify its offerings and introduce additional categories under its umbrella. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, Feb 22 (PTI) The Mines and Geology department of Bihar government has expressed concern over revenue collections falling short of the target and warned officials of strict disciplinary action if they fail to get their act together before the financial year comes to a close. Officials have managed to achieve just Rs 1,896.43 crore of its revenue target of Rs 3,662.39 crore for 2023-24 from the mining sector till February 14, 2024, according to documents. Also Read | Bengaluru: Engineering Student Disembarks Lucknow-Bound Flight Minutes Before Takeoff, Claims to Be a 'Terrorist'. As per the latest review meeting chaired by the Director of Mines and Geology the department has achieved 51.78 per cent of the mining revenue collection target till February 14. In some districts such as Nalanda, Kaimur, Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Munger, Kishanganj, Banka, Bhagalpur and Saran the revenue collection is less than 50 per cent, it said. "If the revenue collection in these districts does not increase immediately, strict disciplinary action will be initiated against the concerned officials of these districts. Officials have to ensure that they meet their targets. Barring a few districts, the majority of the districts have performed below par", says the document. Also Read | Delhi Water Bills: CM Arvind Kejriwal Calls All-Party Meeting on Increased Bills Today. "Concerned District Mining Officers (DMOs) have been asked to step up efforts and crack down on illegal mining (sand), transportation, and storage by the mafia also. The levy and revenue collections from different bodies (government) by the department officials of Munger, Nalanda, Begusarai, Nawada, Kishanganj, Kaimur, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Motihari (East Champaran) and Aurangabad are also not satisfactory... ", says the document. The department officials have so far collected only Rs 221.61 crore, which is 52.90 per cent of the total target of Rs 418.49 crore, from penal actions. Districts where penal actions need to be intensified include Jamui, Nalanda, Kaimur, Bhagalpur, Seohar, Rohtas, Sheikhpura, Arwal, Aurangabad, "To check incidences of illegal mining and transportation, officials must conduct raids on regular basis", said the document. A senior official of the department on condition of anonymity said, "Over the years, the revenue collection from mines and minerals has increased substantially. The overall revenue collection from mines and minerals has increased from Rs 1,082.72 crore in 2017-18 to more than Rs 3,000 crore in 2022-23", he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ayodhya (UP), Feb 22 (PTI) Deepak Pandey, a daily wager in Ayodhya, was planning to move to another city searching for a job a few years ago. He now plans to buy land in this Uttar Pradesh district and build a new home. Pandey lauds Lord Ram for the change in his financial situation that has been boosted further following the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple here last month. Also Read | CCS Approves BrahMos Deal: Cabinet Committee on Security Gives Nod to Rs 19,000 Crore Mega Indian Navy Deal for BrahMos Missiles. The 48-year-old lives in a three-room house in one of the alleys leading up to Ram Path, the main route for the devotees visiting the temple. "I used to rent out one of the rooms for Rs 3,000 per month. Since the consecration ceremony, I have been renting it out for the same amount per day," Pandey said, adding that he has hosted a new guest almost every day this month. Also Read | 'Dilli Chalo' March: Farmers' Halt Protest Rally for Two Days, Condemn Centre's Action Against Protesting Farmers. Since the consecration ceremony on January 22, almost one lakh devotees have been visiting this Hindu holy town in Uttar Pradesh on a daily basis, according to the local administration. A huge number of these devotees come from outside the state. Like Pandey, the owners of almost every house in the alley have refurbished at least one room in their houses to offer to tourists as a homestay facility. Pramesh Pandey stands at the entrance of an alley, asking devotees if they need a room to stay. "I have six rooms in three-four different buildings. I offer a room for Rs 1,400 to Rs 3,000 per day, depending on the rush of visitors," he said. Most of the residents of the alley do odd jobs or sell items that the devotees offer at the temple. "Lord Ram is showering his blessings on us. The god comes here in the form of devotees and helps us lead a better life," said Jaswanti Sharma, a resident of another alley who runs a shop selling pictures of Ram and other souvenirs. "The number of people visiting the town has gone up substantially since the new temple was opened. This has helped my business," she said. Many shop owners are expanding their shops by adding a new floor above the existing structures. Prabhat Gupta, who runs a food joint, is busy handing out plates of hot dosas to people. He says "Jai Shri Ram" every time he hands over a plate to a customer. "The construction work for another floor has already started. If Lord Ram wishes, we will be able to host more customers once the construction is complete," he says. Apart from eateries and shops selling puja items, offices of travel agencies and shops selling clothes, mobile phone accessories and gift items have started coming up on Ram Path. Local tour agencies have received a boost in their business. Umesh Singh, who owns one such agency, said, "We have been witnessing a spike in bookings for the last one month. I hope this continues." Singh said he has hired two full-time drivers and placed an order for a new luxury tourist van. Nand Kumar Gupta, an office-bearer of the Ayodhya traders' union, said, "The rise in the number of devotees has certainly helped the businesses here. However, it is too early too assess the impact on businesses." Large buildings are being constructed along the road from Faizabad town towards Ayodhya. These include hotels, guesthouses, multi-level car parking facilities and restaurants. Abhay Pratap Shahi, a partner in a Lucknow-based construction firm developing projects in Ayodhya, said, "We are working on two hotels and a shopping mall. The projects began in 2021 and are expected to be completed by 2027." Considering the ongoing development work, the local administration is also assisting the traders. "We are ensuring that the required clearances for construction work are provided in time. The work developing assisting infrastructure, such as wider roads, multi-level parking facilities and other amenities for devotees, are also underway," Ayodhya Commissioner Gaurav Dayal told PTI. "We are hopeful that every devotee coming to Ayodhya, be it by road, rail or air, will get the best-in-class facilities. Most of the work towards achieving this has already been done and the remaining work will be completed in the coming months," Dayal said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to hold positions in Krynki of Kherson region, said spokesperson of the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine Natalia Humeniuk. "The situation is really difficult, but controlled. It is controlled by the efforts of the Defense Forces. It is clear to everyone that it is extremely difficult to maintain a foothold in such conditions, but nevertheless we are holding it," she said on the telethon. Commenting on the statement by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Krynki were allegedly mopped up, Humeniuk suggested that the text had been prepared in advance. "Shoigu's false statement is obvious to everyone that it was an empty blank that they prepared after the powerful assaults on Sunday. But they did not achieve success, they did not have time to report, they printed out what was prepared, and it rushed around the world. But as a result, we have demonstrated to everyone that we continue to hold the bridgehead and repel the assaults of the enemy. Otherwise, who did they attack today, themselves?" she pointed out. New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation for continuation of centrally sponsored Scheme, with total outlay of Rs. 4,100 crore for a period of five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) component of FMBAP with an outlay of Rs. 2940 crore, central assistance will be provided to State Governments for taking up critical works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development and anti-sea erosion, etc. Also Read | Union Cabinet Chaired by PM Narendra Modi Gives Go-Ahead for up to 100% FDI in Space Sector. According to an official release, the pattern of funding to be followed is 90 per cent (Centre): 10 per cent (State) for Special Category States (8 North-Easter States and Hilly States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu & Kashmir) and 60 per cent (Centre): 40 per cent (State) for General/ Non-Special Category States. Under River Management and Border Areas (RMBA) component of FMBAP with an outlay of Rs. 1160 crore, flood control and anti-erosion works on common border rivers with neighbouring countries including hydrological observations and flood forecasting, and investigation and pre-construction activities of joint water resources projects (with neighbouring countries) on common border rivers will be taken up with 100 per cent central assistance. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Holds Productive Meeting With Greek Counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Talks on Technology and Space Take Centre Stage. "Although, primary responsibility of flood management rests with the State Governments, Union Government has decided that it is desirable to supplement the efforts of the State Governments in flood management, encouraging promotion and adoption of modern technology and innovative materials/approach," the release said. "This is particularly relevant as the increased incidence of extreme events have been witnessed during last few years in view of likely impact of climate change and situation may further aggravate in times to come exacerbating problem of floods in terms of extent, intensity and frequency," it added. The works implemented under RMBA component also protect important installations of security agencies, border out-posts, etc. along the border rivers from flood and erosion. The Scheme has the provision of incentivizing the States which implement flood plain zoning, recognized as an effective non-structural measure for flood management. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Khunti (Jharkhand) [India], February 22 (ANI): Union Minister Arjun Munda attended the Rojgar mela in Diyankel here on Thursday. He said that the Central Government is dedicated towards the welfare of the farmers and trying to resolve the issue through dialogue. Arjun Munda said, "The Government of India is continuously working and dedicated towards the welfare of the farmers. Just yesterday, in the case of farmers, the fair and remunerative price of sugarcane was fixed at Rs 340 per quintal. We are dedicated to the farmers and are working under the leadership of PM Modi." Also Read | Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Led-Cabinet Approves Several Key Proposals, Makes Vikrant Massey's '12th Fail' Tax-Free. He further said that the Agriculture Ministry is working on the concerns raised by the Farmers' associations. "The Central Government is mulling over seriously some of the points raised by some Farmers' associations. Whatever favourable can be done for the farmers would be done through dialogue. The Agriculture Ministry is working on it. The manner in which the centre has worked for the benefit of the farmers is commendable. Farmers get direct money through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme," he said. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Core Committee Meeting in Jaipur Discusses Roadmap for LS Polls. The ongoing farmers' agitation has prompted the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to call for inclusive dialogue from stakeholders across the agricultural sector. In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Commerce Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and Union Minister Nityanand Rai, the CAIT has urged to include various stakeholders, including traders, transporters, consumers, and small industries, have emphasized the importance of their participation in discussions with farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the central government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure farmer welfare. He was addressing farmers at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation in Ahmedabad. "We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure farmer welfare. The government has built 60,000 plus Amrit Sarovars across the country. This initiative will not only benefit farmers but will also strengthen the rural economy. Our goal is to provide modern technology and its know-how even to the small farmers of the country," PM Modi said. "Our focus is to improve the life of small farmers, to increase the scope of animal husbandry, to improve the health of animals, to encourage animal husbandry as well as pisciculture and beekeeping in the village," PM Modi. He said that the government has provided the farmers with modern seeds to combat climate change. "For the first time, we have also provided Kisan Credit Card facility to cattle farmers and fish farmers. We have given farmers such modern seeds which can combat climate change," the Prime Minister said during his address at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the BJP-led Central government, accusing the ruling party of "eliminating" the opposition and democracy from the country. https://x.com/priyankagandhi/status/1760660602349879795?s=20 Also Read | Sandeshkhali Violence: Calcutta High Court Grants Bail to Journalist, Says Press Must Be Allowed To Function Freely. "The BJP government first put ED, IT and CBI after the opposition parties and leaders. Attempts were made to crush the mandate by toppling governments. Broke parties, bought leaders, made every effort to eliminate the opposition. Now it has come to such an extent that they are trying to weaken the biggest opposition party by withdrawing money from its bank account so that no one remains in front in the elections," Priyanka Gandhi posted in hindi on X. Her post added: "No matter how much the Prime Minister tries to eliminate democracy from this country, 140 crore Indians protect it. Only they will save this democracy." Also Read | Maharashtra: Peeved Mumbai Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique Slams Rahul Gandhi's Team, Keeps Options Open. Meanwile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be joining Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh from February 24. The Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', after the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 22 (ANI): The 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, Guwahati, proudly announced its Social Service and Community Development (SSCD) initiative aimed at empowering young female cadets. Under the theme of "Empowering Women Entrepreneurs, Forging Paths and Shaping Economics," the program was scheduled from February 21st to 28th, 2024, as stated in a press release issued on Wednesday. According to the press release, the opening ceremony, inaugurated on February 21st, witnessed enthusiastic participation from approximately 100 NCC girl cadets. The event aims to provide a platform for these young women to explore diverse career avenues, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship, skill development, and initiatives aligned with women's empowerment. Also Read | Kiru Hydropower Corruption Case: CBI Searches Premises of Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik, 29 Other Locations. Distinguished representatives from various esteemed organizations lent their expertise to the initiative. Notable contributors included the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC), the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), ACCESS Development Services, and Sishu Sarathi. These organizations provided invaluable support by offering lectures and grooming sessions, aiming to equip the cadets with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape successfully, the press release added. Furthermore, the participating organizations have generously offered hands-on experience through field visits to their respective institutes in Guwahati over the course of seven days. This immersive approach ensures that the cadets gain practical insights and exposure to real-world entrepreneurial environments. Also Read | Admission Fraud in Mumbai: Man Poses As School Staffer, Cons Malabar Hill Resident of Rs 30,000 on Promise of Admission for His Son. The grooming and mentoring of these cadets will extend beyond the duration of the event, with continued support and guidance provided throughout the year. Regular visits by the cadets, organized in batches, will further reinforce their entrepreneurial aspirations and skills development. According to the release, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General Medical Services (DGMS) (Navy), graced the opening event as the guest of honor. The Admiral commended the efforts of the 48 Assam Naval Unit in spearheading this women empowerment initiative, highlighting its significance in fostering a culture of inclusivity and entrepreneurship. Addressing the young cadets, Admiral Sarin emphasized the importance of financial independence as a cornerstone of empowerment, urging them to aspire towards self-reliance and autonomy in their pursuits, the release added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shambhu Border, February 22: The General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher, said on Thursday that they have suspended their 'Dilli Chalo' protest march for two days to take stock of the ongoing situation on the Shambhu border in Haryana and further decision will be taken accordingly. The farmer leader condemned the Central Government's action against the protestors through para-military forces injuring hundreds. "We had earlier announced that our movement will be completely peaceful but if unrest came up, then we had asked all the youth to stop proceeding and the leaders themselves had decided to take it forward from there. After the talks started, the central government ran away from the talks, then we started getting inauspicious news from Khanuri. This Shubhakaran Singh, his age is 23 years, was shot in his head and three more were seriously injured, so in this kind of situation, to continue the talks. I did not think that we would be able to succeed. Looking at the entire situation, as the centre has fled," Pandher said while speaking to ANI on Thursday. X Complies With Indias Orders to Withhold Specific Accounts Associated With Farmer Protest, Says We Disagree With These Actions. "For now, this movement is in a halt for two days. Whatever is going on, it will continue here only. After taking stock of the situation of all the disgusting things that are going on, we will take further decision keeping in mind all these things," he said. Pandher further alleged that the security forces attacked the farmers who were moving bare hands and also destroyed their vehicles. Farmers' Halt March For Two Days: "Farmer leaders have also moved forward, we were moving peacefully, there were few farmer leaders before us, there was tremendous shelling on us, rubber bullets were fired, then we went ahead, then the same was done again. One farmer from Haryana, was put in a sack, his legs were broken and thrown in the fields and other things are also coming in front of us," he said. Trying to Threaten Us of Presidents Rule: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Asks Central Govt to Keep Ego Aside, Focus on Farmers Demands (Watch Video). "As we are moving forward with such bare hands, it is still not allowing us to move forward, so the whole country and the world are watching the face of this government, they are getting to know about it and apart from this, the police force in Ghanori moved forward, they moved forward and attacked people, over 30 tractor trolleys have been destroyed, vehicles have been destroyed. this is a condemnable action, the way the Government of India is acting," the farmer leader remarked. "It is completely clear that bullets were fired, then you were also on Shambhu, you have seen that we have made complete arrangements when we were remaining completely peaceful, the leader was still giving a speech, then the first tear gas was thrown at us," he added. The farmer leader urged the farmers and also people from across the country to come forward and protest against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government. "This kind of thing is not right, we would like to tell the entire country, whether it is Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa, South India, the whole of India. India should rise, protest against the Modi government, it is a big issue for the whole country, MSP legal guarantee," he said. He also criticised the Punjab government and the opposition parties in the country including the Congress for not 'clarifying' their stance. "I had said that whatever opposition party there is, currently there are 13 MPs in Rajya Sabha from Punjab, I am not able to see any of their statements. If the Modi government brings a one-day session in the Parliament for the MSP Legal Guarantee Act, then we farmers will cast their votes in favour of MSP. All the opposition parties in the country have not yet clarified what they say," Pandher said. The farmer leader further alleged that the central government is trying all ways "to defame the movement". "The agencies by the government are using well-planned methods. The kind of people that are being sent, and the way they cut off the media, means that the entire government is trying every possible way to defame the movement. We all were farmers and labourers in the country. This movement has become so big, that it is very important to identify the people who are being sent by the government to handle it and whatever happens, it should not happen again. This government is using force on the farmers and labourers of the country. This matter will have to be answered in the future," he said. He also urged to find a solution to the farmers' demands sooner so that the ongoing 'unfortunate situation' can end. "What suggestions or proposals do you put forward? Will you still ask for a meeting or what do you want to say? Look, the doors are open for the government, we have said that even today we will appeal to the Prime Minister that he intervenes, and talks should continue making the MSP legal guarantee law and on other demands. If they are ready to make a legal guarantee law, then this can end. There can be a happy solution to this issue," the farmer leader said. "On Shambhu, the circumstances are absolutely under control except for a few incidents and our people, farmers and labourers, are in complete control. We are again saying that the government sends such people so that our movement gets defamed," he added. Pandher reiterated the farmers' earlier demand that the Prime Minister intervene in the matter and find a solution for the same. "Now Haryana Force has filed an illegitimate FIR against our people. All the police personnel of Haryana are doing this, here there is a military force, they have entered the territory of Punjab, see here, Men of Haryana's CID are roaming on the Shambu border, if this happens, then it is the use of force wrongfully. The movement is big and the farmers are not going to give in to their point of view and the farmers and farm laborers are not going to bow down if you file cases. We say that the Prime Minister should come forward and solve all the issues," the farmer leader said. Opposition leaders earlier criticized the Centre for the death of a youth at the Khanauri Border crossing in Sangrur district, Punjab, during the ongoing farmers' protests. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that he was saddened by the death of a young farmer on the Punjab-Haryana border and asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief, Arvind Kejriwal asked if was it for this day that we fought for independence. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa demanded that an FIR should be registered against the Home Minister of Haryana. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah condemned the death of the youth protestor. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the centre to make decisions to eliminate the problems of farmers. However, State BJP president Sunil Jakhar said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday that it was "most unfortunate" that the negotiations between the farmers and the central government had "not fructified". The fourth round of talks between the farmer union leaders and central government ministers ended on Monday with the leaders rejecting the government's offers. Imphal/Churachandpur, Feb 22 (PTI) The Manipur High Court's decision to delete a paragraph from its March 2023 order which urged the state to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, has evoked contrasting reactions from the two warring communities in the northeastern state. While Meitei organisations said it will continue the movement for ST status for the community claiming it is not just a matter of the judiciary, a Kuki bodies welcomed the verdict asserting that it is the right decision. Also Read | CJI DY Chandrachud Inaugurates Ayush Holistic Wellness Centre at Premises of Supreme Court, Says 'I Am Proponent of Ayurveda and Holistic Lifestyle'. Keithelakpam Bhogen, the general secretary of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM), expressed determination to continue the movement for ST status for the Meitei community despite the court's decision. He said the issue is not solely a judicial matter and vowed to persist in their efforts, including engaging with legislators. Also Read | Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ties Up With Swiggy for Supply and Delivery of Pre-Ordered Meals To Train Passengers Through IRCTC E-Catering Portal. World Meitei Council president Heigrujam Nabashyam downplayed the significance of the directive, stating that their demand for ST status would persist, unaffected by the court's decision. The March 27, 2023 directive, believed to be a catalyst for ethnic unrest that claimed over 200 lives, was rescinded by a single judge bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu during a review petition hearing on Wednesday. The contentious paragraph from last year's verdict, instructing the state to expedite consideration of Meitei community inclusion, was deemed for deletion. On the other hand, the Zomi Council Steering Committee convener welcomed the high court's decision, considering it the right course of action. ITLF media spokesperson Ginza Vualzong criticised the Meitei community's demand for ST status, characterising it as absurd and driven by ulterior motives such as land acquisition of tribals. Vualzong argued that the Meiteis, being an advanced group with their language recognised in the Constitution, should not seek ST status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 22 (ANI): The Indian Army rescued seven Russian nationals including a local guide while one died after a massive avalanche hit the Kongadari slopes of Gulmarg on Thursday, as per officials. Indian Army in a statement said that the incident, which occurred on the slopes of Apharwat in the general area of Kongadari, Gulmarg, at approximately 1 PM involved a group of foreigners from Russia. Also Read | Sandeshkhali Violence: Calcutta High Court Grants Bail to Journalist, Says Press Must Be Allowed To Function Freely. The deceased has been identified as Anton (50), from Russia. "A total of 8 individuals including a local guide, were caught in the avalanche," officials said. Also Read | Maharashtra: Peeved Mumbai Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique Slams Rahul Gandhi's Team, Keeps Options Open. "Because of the prompt action taken by the Indian Army's own Avalanche Rescue Team (ART) from Gulmarg Battalion, seven individuals were rescued, preventing further loss of life," they said. The statement further stated that the HAWS (High Altitude Warfare School) teams of the Indian Army were also activated, "further enhancing the rescue efforts". The first responder, the Indian Army team from Gulmarg, worked in coordination with civil authorities and managed to rescue all but one individual, ensuring their safety and well-being, as per the statement. The Indian Army expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, it added. "Today, the Indian Army demonstrated its unwavering commitment to safety and professionalism by swiftly responding to an avalanche incident in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir," as per the statement. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Wayanad (Kerala) [India], February 22 (ANI): Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav held a high-level meeting with the state and central officials at the District Collector's office in Wayanad district of Kerala on Thursday. Following the meeting, the minister addressed the media and outlined comprehensive measures to tackle the pressing issue of human-wildlife conflict in the region. Also Read | Fresh Tension Erupts in Sandeshkhali: Property of TMC Leader Sheikh Shahjahan's Brother Burnt by Mob. During the press conference, Minister Yadav emphasized the significance of ensuring both animal and human safety in Wayanad. He suggested the initiation of a community radio or coordination program to raise awareness, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Today, I had a lengthy discussion with officers and public representatives. The senior officers of the forest and scientists of Wayanad joined the interaction. After our discussion, we recognized the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of both animals and humans. Officials briefed me about the depth of the situation, leading us to the decision that our ministry will establish an interstate corridor with the assistance of the central government. We believe that Wayanad serves as the border for three states, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. To address the issue, we propose implementing an early warning system and utilizing modern technology for monitoring through geo-tagging of elephants. Additionally, we can initiate a community radio or a coordination program to raise awareness. This aligns with the vision of PM Modi," Bhupender Yadav said. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: AAP-Congress Delhi Deal Finalised, 4-3 Seat Sharing Agreement Inked. Regarding funding, Minister Yadav announced an increase in financial support under various schemes. "Funding support by the central government will increase the funding under various schemes. Ministry of Environment and Forest is already giving 15.80 crore for Kerala. There are 54 tiger reserves and 33 elephant reserves in India. We are creating a common corridor for Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka," Bhupender Yadav said. Responding to demands for elephant fencing and capturing wild animals, Minister Yadav clarified that the Chief Wildlife Warden, under the Wildlife Act of 1972, possesses ample authority to trap, catch, or, if necessary, eliminate problematic animals. He highlighted the central government's commitment by increasing compensation from 5 to 10 lakhs. "Compensation of Rs 10 Lakhs will be provided for those killed in wild animal attacks," Minister Yadav said while talking to the media. Earlier, Yadav visited the homes of the deceased on Wednesday, who died in the wild animal attack of Wayanad. Coming directly from Bengaluru for a two-day visit, he met with the families of the deceased and offerred condolences, a statement from the Ministry of of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said. His visit comes days after Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi abruptly halted his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Varanasi, and left for his constituency, prompted by public protest over the deaths of residents in wild elephant attacks. According to the statement, during his visit, Yadav paid respects at the homes of the victims, including Prajeesh, who fell victim to a tiger, and Paul and Ajeesh, who lost their lives in elephant attacks. Recognizing the complex nature of human-animal conflict in the region, the minister pledged unwavering support, both politically and administratively. "Human-animal conflict was a major problem in the region. The government would provide all support, both politically and administratively, to the officials and scientists working in this field to solve such problems. There must be a solution to this issue," the release 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) Mumbai, February 22: Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors Central (MARD) demanding better hostel accommodation, a hike in stipend, and clearance of arrears, will hold a state-wide indefinite strike starting today at 5 pm. Dr Abhijit Helge, MARD President, said that the Central MARD, had kept our faith in the government's words and called off our strike multiple times previously, despite the distressing situation of resident doctors. Union Cabinet Chaired by PM Narendra Modi Gives Go-Ahead for up to 100% FDI in Space Sector. "We, the Central MARD, had kept our faith in the government's words and called off our strike multiple times previously. Despite the distressing situation of resident doctors, the benefit of doubt was always given to the authority, and we entrusted them to do the right thing in timely manner to ensure the welfare of Resident doctors. However regardless of our innumerable pleas, it seems our genuine concerns have fallen on deaf ears. Having been pushed to the limit by the cruel disregard towards the resident doctor's legitimate demands, we, the Representative Body of the Resident doctors are left with no choice but to go on a pan-Maharashtra indefinite strike," the letter from MARD said. Doctor Strike in Maharashtra: Resident Doctors Announce Statewide Hadtaal From February 22, Emergency Services to Remain Operational. However, the association has clarified that the emergency services will remain operational to ensure the provision of essential medical care to the people during the strike. "Around 8,000 resident doctors across the state will be on strike, demanding better hostel accommodation, a hike in stipend, and clearance of arrears," Dr Abhijit Helge said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, February 22: The Bihar government announced it was going to discontinue plus two (intermediate) classes being held in colleges affiliated to various universities in the state. In a notification issued late on Wednesday evening, the Education department said that while such classes had been discontinued in Patna University about a decade ago, the same will cease to be held at colleges falling under other varsities from the academic session beginning in April this year. Encouragement Money: Bihar Government Will Provide Rs 10,000 to Engineering Students of State, Says Nitish Kumar. According to the notification, the intermediate education (in all three streams arts, science and commerce) will now be imparted only in higher secondary schools from the new session. The department also said the delinking of intermediate (plus two) from colleges has been recommended in the Universities Act but the same could not be enforced until now because of inadequate infrastructure and manpower in higher secondary schools. Bihar: Inmates Push Vehicle After Police Van Runs Out of Fuel While Taking Them for Court Hearing; Video Surfaces. The resolution in this regard has already been notified in the state gazette. The Nitish Kumar government in 2007, had taken a policy decision to phase out intermediate education from colleges in conformity with the National Education Policy (1986/92) and had introduced 10+2 format in plus two. "The department has already developed large-scale infrastructure and recruited 67,961 teachers for higher secondary schools and another 65,737 teachers in secondary schools under a special drive. The government schools are now equipped to handle plus two education", says the notification. Earlier, the Bihar government had also taken a policy decision to have one higher secondary school in every panchayat and had upgraded the existing secondary schools. Poland will continue to support Ukraine on its way to the European Union, and the issue of Ukraine's membership in the EU is listed among the priorities of the Polish presidency in 2025, Polish President Andrzej Duda said. "Yes, of course, we have it written down in the priorities of the Polish presidency [the issue of Ukraine's membership in the EU]. Among other things, support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union is among the priorities that the Polish government has adopted. We supported, support and will continue to support Ukraine on its way to the European Union," Duda said in an interview broadcast by the national telethon on Thursday. Poland will hold the EU presidency in the first half of 2025. Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 22 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan gave strong assurance in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Thursday saying that not even a brick can be laid for Mekedatu dam without the state's consent. The State Water Resources Minister was responding to Edappadi Palaniswami, Leader of Opposition who moved an attention motion on the dam issue today in assembly. Also Read | Fresh Tension Erupts in Sandeshkhali: Property of TMC Leader Sheikh Shahjahan's Brother Burnt by Mob. "We have opposed whenever Mekedatu issue came up. On February 1, in the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting, the Mekedatu issue was raised. Our representative said in the CWMA meeting, that the Mekedatu issue cannot be discussed and cases are pending in courts. However, the Mekedatu issue was taken up during that meeting," the Minister said. "Only Karnataka said the Mekedatu dam issue should be taken for discussion. But Kerala, Pondicherry and our state said no need for discussion. Even the CWMA Chairperson said it won't be taken up in the CWMA agenda. But when they sent minutes there was mention of the Mekedatu dam issue which was sent to CWC. When we saw the minutes we opposed that and we are going to take this issue to court also," Durai Murugan said. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: AAP-Congress Delhi Deal Finalised, 4-3 Seat Sharing Agreement Inked. While moving the attention motion, Edappadi Palaniswami said that this Assembly should have passed a resolution against CWMA for adding the Mekedatu dam issue to their agenda. BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, CPI MLA Ramachandran, MMK MLA Jawahirullah, and PMK MLA GK Mani also requested the state government to take action and not allow Karnataka to build a dam in Mekedatu. While speaking in the assembly LOP Edappadi Palaniswami said this is a very important issue and needs immediate attention. "It is wrong to discuss Mekedetu dam as an agenda in the CWMA meet. This assembly should have passed a resolution against CWMA and should have gone to the Supreme Court. This government has failed to do that," Edappadi Palaniswami said in the assembly. However, the MLAs of AIADMK walked out from the Legislative Assembly alleging that the state government failed to take action on the Mekedatu Dam issue and said that they were not satisfied with the government's clarification on the issue. The MLAs also raised slogans against the state government demanding action. Later while addressing a press conference, Edappadi Palaniswami said, "There is no authority for CWMA when it comes to construction of mekadatu dam. Already the Karnataka Government has sent a draft to the central water commission regarding the construction of the dam, there is a case pending in the Supreme Court related to the dam." "But CWMA has forwarded a proposal from the Karnataka government to the central water commission regarding the construction of Mekadatu dam this was tabled in the CWMA meeting (28th meeting of CWMA) recently where Tamil Nadu officials were also present but they didn't oppose this proposal, why is DMK silent on this?" he remarked. "When AIADMK was in power we never allowed the construction of the Mekadatu dam we even went to the Supreme Court and fought the legal battle. If Mekadatu dam is constructed Mettur reservoir will never receive water for irrigation," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several developmental projects in his home state, Gujarat. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the country's first PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (MITRA) Park at Vansi Borsi village in Gujarat's Navsari. Also Read | Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Led-Cabinet Approves Several Key Proposals, Makes Vikrant Massey's '12th Fail' Tax-Free. The establishment of the 'PM MITRA Park aims to bolster the textiles sector. The central government, earlier last year, announced the sites for setting up seven 'PM MITRA Parks for the textile industry. The parks will come up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The PM MITRA Parks is a major step forward in realising the government's vision of making India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Core Committee Meeting in Jaipur Discusses Roadmap for LS Polls. It is expected that these parks will enhance the competitiveness of the textiles industry by helping it achieve economies of scale as well as attract global players to manufacture in India. 'PM MITRA' Parks will help in creating world-class industrial infrastructure that will attract large-scale investment, including foreign direct investment (FDI), and encourage innovation and job creation within the sector. PM Modi said that PM MITRA Park will give a boost to the textile sector and also generate employment for thousands of people. While addressing the gathering after a mega road show in Navsari district, PM Modi said, "The PM MITRA Park is the first such park in the country for the textile sector which will boost the textile industry and contribute to increasing India's share in textile exports." Adding further, the Prime Minister asked the gathering, "Can you imagine the diamond of Surat and Navsari's garments, How big will Gujarat be in the world's fashion market, Will Gujarat be hailed everywhere or not. "Reacting to the chants of Prime Minister Modi, the Prime Minister said, "Will the echo of Gujarat be heard or not? Today, India has started competing with the world's largest producers and exporters in this sector and Gujarat's textile industry has made a huge contribution to this. "Before addressing the people of Navsari at the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted everyone with the classic phrase 'Kem Cho', which translates to "How are you." After having greeted the gathering, the Prime Minister said, "This is my third event in Gujarat. This morning I met in Ahmedabad with people associated with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. I got the chance to see them and talk to them." "After that, I had the good fortune of attending the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Valinath Mandir in Mehsana and now here in Navsari, I am participating in this celebration of development among all of you," said the PM. The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth more than Rs 13,500 crore in Tarabh, Mahesana, Gujarat. The projects encompass a wide range of sectors such as internet connectivity, rail, road, education, health, connectivity, research and tourism, the Prime Minister's Office said. He also performed the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Lord Shiva at the Valinath Mahadev Temple in Mahesana at around 12:45 p.m. The Valinath Shiv Dham is the second biggest Shiv Dham in Gujarat, after the Somnath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. For India and the world, the Prime Minister noted that Valinath Shiv Dham is a pilgrimage site but it is an auspicious seat of the Guru for the Rewari society and devotees from around the country. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of the present moment in the development journey of India as both the 'Dev Kaaj' (divine works) and 'Desh kaaj' (national tasks) are going on at a rapid pace. "On the one hand, this auspicious event has taken place and development works worth 13,000 crore Rs were dedicated or foundation stones were laid, on the other", PM Modi said. "These rail, road, port, transport, water, security, urban development and tourism projects will increase ease of living and create new job opportunities for the youth of the region," he added. Observing the presence of divine energy in the pious land of Mehsana, the Prime Minister said that it connects the people with the spiritual consciousness of thousands of years associated with Lord Krishna and Lord Mahadev. This energy, PM Modi said, connects the people with the journey of Gadipati Mahant Veeram-Giri Bapu ji as he paid tribute to him. He also bowed before Mahant Shri Jayaramgiri Bapu for forwarding the resolve of Gadipati Mahant Baldevgiri Bapu and accomplishing it. Highlighting his four-decade-old deep connection with Baldevgiri Bapu ji, the Prime Minister recalled welcoming him to his residence on numerous occasions as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat to awaken the spiritual consciousness. He also recalled his demise in 2021 and emphasized that his departed soul would be blessing everyone today after the accomplishments of his resolve. "The centuries-old temple has been completed with the magnificence of the 21st century and the divinity of the ancient traditions", the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the contributions and efforts of hundreds of craftsmen and shramjeevis. He lauded their efforts for the successful consecration of Valinath Mahadev, Hinglaj Mata and Lord Dattatreya and congratulated them on the occasion. The Prime Minister talked about the spirit of Sabka Saath Vikas ingrained in Valinath Dham and said that, in sync with this spirit, the government is committed to making the lives of every section better. "Goal of Modi's guarantee is to transform the life of the person on the last pedestal of the society", he said. He juxtaposed the coming of new temples with the construction of pucca houses for crores of poor, recalling dedication and foundation stone laying for 1.25 lakh houses recently. He also mentioned free ration for 80 crore citizens as 'Bhagwan ka Prasad', and piped water for 10 crore new families as 'Amrit'. The Prime Minister highlighted the government's efforts towards the development of heritage sites in Gujarat, apart from infrastructure development, in the last two decades. He lamented the conflict created between development and heritage in India for decades, the auspicious Somnath Temple becoming a site of dispute, neglect of the site of Pavagadh, vote bank politics of the Sun Temple in Modhera, questioning the existence of Lord Ram and creating obstacles in the development of his temple. The Prime Minister, at around 10:45 a.m., also attended the golden jubilee celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Founded in 1946, Amul is an Indian multinational cooperative society under the ownership of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited, Department of Cooperation, Gujarat. Dedicated to the interests of farmers and livestock farmers, Amul has revolutionised the dairy sector. The Amul team is always on the field to provide proper training, seeds, milk procurement, artificial insemination and a scientific approach to animal husbandry. At present, Gujarat's dairy industry has grown to over Rs 1 lakh crore and Rs 200 crore is paid daily to 36 lakh milk producers under the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The Prime Minister also visited the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Surat, earlier today, where he launched the new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in the district. Built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), at a cost of more than Rs 22,500 crore, the KAPS-3 and KAPS-4 projects have a cumulative capacity of 1400 megawatts and are the largest indigenous PHWRs, according to an official release. As per the official release, the PHWRs are first-of-its-kind reactors with advanced safety features comparable to the best in the world. "The two reactors will produce about 10.4 billion units of clean electricity per year and benefit consumers of multiple states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, Goa and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu," said the release. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 22 (ANI): Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state, the Cyber Crime Division of the Punjab Police busted an international online job fraud racket with the arrest of four cyber criminals from different districts of Assam, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Thursday. The modus operandi used by this gang was to lure innocent persons into trap by offering lucrative "work from home" jobs through a Telegram mobile app's group. Also Read | Sandeshkhali Violence: Calcutta High Court Grants Bail to Journalist, Says Press Must Be Allowed To Function Freely. "To gain trust, fraudsters would initially give small tasks to the victim and, in return, pay a small amount of money in lieu of accomplishing the task. Later, the victim was asked to deposit money on different pretexts in lure of a bigger return," said the DGP, while adding that with these arrests, the Punjab Police has dug up another trail, leading to a deep-rooted cyber fraud nexus spread across the country. Those arrested have been identified as Jahirul Islam, Rafiual Islam, Mehabub Alam and Azizur Rehman. Police teams also recovered two swipe machines, two biometric scanners, one eye scanner, one fingerprint scanner, 38 pan cards, 32 debit/credit cards, 16 sim cards, 10 voter cards, nine Aadhar cards, 10 bank account passbooks/chequebooks, five official government stamps, five mobile phones, one laptop, two pen drives and one SBI ID card from their possession. Also Read | Maharashtra: Peeved Mumbai Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique Slams Rahul Gandhi's Team, Keeps Options Open. ADGP Cyber Crime V Neeraja said that following a complaint from a woman--who was duped of Rs 25 lakhs by the fraudsters--a Cyber Crime team under SI Jujhar Singh Janjua and SI Davinder Kashni conducted an investigation into the case and found that the gang was running their operation from the districts of Assam. During the operation, the accused Jahirul Islam and Rafiual Islam were arrested from Nagaon district of Assam. They revealed that they were running a Customer Services Point (CSP) for providing online services, and to make quick bucks, they misused the documents of the general public for making duplicate PAN cards, voter cards, and Aadhaar cards using Adobe Photoshop software, which they further used for opening bank accounts and obtaining SIM cards on the directions of another accused, Mehabub Alam. The ADGP said that thereafter, Mehabub Alam was arrested from Guwahati district, who revealed that he came into contact with Azizur Rehman, who asked him to provide bank accounts on a commission basis. Police teams also arrested accused Azizur Rehman from the Morigaon district of Assam. Sharing more details, DIG Cyber Crime Nilambari Jagadale said that investigations have revealed that till now, 160 victims from across 23 states have been found to be defrauded and further investigation is likely to result in the identification of more victims. Preliminary investigations suggested that the main kingpins, who are operating this fraud racket from overseas, were receiving money in cryptocurrency, said the official, while adding that further investigations are being conducted by DSP Cybercrime, Prabhjot Kaur and more arrests are expected. A case FIR no. 29 dated 13/10/2023 had been registered under sections 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at State Cyber Crime in SAS Nagar. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji, Feb 22 (PTI) A delegation under Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday to discuss the issue of reservation in the state Assembly for Scheduled Tribes, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said. Speaking to PTI, he said the delegation will also have state minister Govind Gaude, MLA Anthony Vaz besides ST representatives. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Visit Sant Ravi Das Temple in Varanasi on February 23, His Third Trip Since 2016. Earlier, on February 18, a delegation from the state had met Shah on the issue. No seat in the 40-member Assembly is reserved for STs, who have been demanding that at least four seats be earmarked for them. One seat is reserved for Scheduled Castes. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 53-Year-Old Man Dies After Being Hit With Brick Following Altercations Over Alcohol. ST groups have been demanding that the 2027 Assembly polls be held with reservations. Earlier, CM Sawant had said efforts were on to form a delimitation commission before the Lok Sabha polls for seat reservation for STs. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) North 24 Parganas, February 22: West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar was taken into custody by West Bengal Police after he sat on a protest demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in violence-hit Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district. The WB BJP chief was arrested by police during his protest in Sandeshkhali. After receiving permission from the police to visit the trouble-torn area in Sandeshkhali on Thursday, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar staged a protest against the TMC leader in front of a police station in Sandeshkhali. The BJP State president who was accompanied by a slew of security personnel had arrived at violence-hit Sandeshkhali after police permission and was seen interacting with the women of Sandeshkhali there. Earlier in the day, Majumdar went to visit the arrested party workers in prison in the Basirhaat area of the district. While speaking to ANI on his visit to the arrested party workers, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, "They (jail administration) didn't permit to go inside. I will meet them (Party workers) from outside just like a common family." Fresh Tension Erupts in Sandeshkhali: Property of TMC Leader Sheikh Shahjahans Brother Burnt by Mob The BJP state president also said, "We have given in writing that we want to meet Vikas Singh and 11 other party workers, they're innocent and have done nothing wrong. They (administration) said that only local MP is allowed to meet, I asked them to show me the Act where it is written. As an MP, it's a legal right that I can visit the jail. I am here till the jailer's sense prevails, but it seems those who are on the other side of the call aren't allowing it. For Mamata Banerjee, her will is the constitution." Speaking about the incidents of Sandeshkhali, Majumdar said that the main goal in visiting Basirhat is to assure the BJP workers that the entire Bharatiya Janta Party is with them. "The main goal of visiting Basirhat is to assure the BJP workers that the entire Bharatiya Janta Party is with them, from the Prime Minister to every Booth President everyone is standing with them and we will get them out of jail," he said. Majumdar also questioned why TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan had not been arrested and said, "I wanted to ask DGP, why Sheikh Shahjahan has not yet been arrested. ST Commission must visit and they have visited the place as the major victims of Sandeshkhali atrocities are STs." Earlier on Monday, the West Bengal BJP president had announced that the party would hold a 72-hour-long protest in the coming days demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan amid the turmoil in the state over the Sandeshkhali violence. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mazumdar said, "We will hold a minimum 72-hour long protest in the coming days demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan. The probable day of protest is February 22." Journalist Arrested in Sandeshkhali: Scribe Reporting From Ground Arrested by West Bengal Police Sukanta Majumdar Arrested While Protesting Against TMC Leader #WATCH | West Bengal: Police detained West Bengal BJP President Dr. Sukanta Majumdar after he sat on a protest demanding the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh, in Sandeshkhali https://t.co/0UuBy718RU pic.twitter.com/zx9kRXrkKH ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Training guns at Mamata Banerjee for accusing the BJP of instigating violence in the state, Majumdar said that Mamata Banerjee should be a little more sensitive towards the women in the state and refrain from making such statements. Notably, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee proceedings against West Bengal senior officials in the matter relating to the Sandeshkhali protest. The Privileges Committee notice came on a complaint filed by BJP Member of Parliament Sukanta Majumdar for alleged misconduct, brutality, and causing life-threatening injuries by the police officials and district administration of Basirhat, North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. West Bengal's Sandeshkhali area has been witnessing massive unrest for over 10 days as women protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his aides. (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 22 (PTI) SpiceJet on Thursday said it has secured an additional Rs 316 crore, taking its total funds raised to Rs 1,060 crore through a preferential share issue. The fresh capital infusion in the struggling airline comes amid its recent announcement of slashing its workforce by 10-15 per cent. Also Read | NHAI Removes Paytm Payments Bank From List of Authorised Banks for FASTag Services; Know How to Deactivate and Open New FASTag Account. In January SpiceJet had received Rs 744 crore as the first tranche of funds through the allotment of securities on a preferential basis. On December 12, the airline had said it would raise fresh capital of Rs 2,250 crore through issuance of securities. "SpiceJet has raised an additional Rs 316 crore, bringing the total investments raised to Rs 1,060 crore under its preferential issue," the airline said in a statement. Also Read | KCET Exam 2024: Registration for Karnataka Common Entrance Test Examination Ends on February 20, Apply Online at kea.kar.nic.in. It added, "The Preferential Allotment Committee of SpiceJet's Board Directors convened on February 21, 2024, approved the allotment of 4.01 crore equity shares on a preferential basis to two investors, including Aries Opportunities Fund Limited." The committee also sanctioned the allotment of 2.31 crore warrants, offering the option to apply for an equivalent number of equity shares, to four investors, including Elara India Opportunities Fund Limited, according to the statement. "The company has raised a total investment of Rs 1,060 crore. This significant capital infusion reaffirms investor confidence in SpiceJet's growth prospects and strengthens our financial position for the future," said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director at SpiceJet. The additional funding will help SpiceJet to pursue its expansion plans and enhance its operational capabilities, he added. SpiceJet has been facing headwinds for the last couple of quarters for want of funds, leading to the grounding of a number of aircraft and returning some of the leased planes to the lessors. Some of its lessors have dragged the airline even to court for non-payment of lease rentals. As on February 21, the airline had nearly half of its 65 aircraft fleet on the ground with 35 planes in service and remaining parked, as per the aircraft fleet tracking website Planespotter. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay bilateral visits to the Republic of Korea and Japan from March 5-8 and will co-chair the 10th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his Korean counterpart Cho-Tae Yul, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The EAM will first visit South Korea's Seoul from March 5-6 to co-chair the JCM meeting, and the two sides will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the MEA said in a statement. Also Read | Mexico Gang War: At Least Twelve People Killed in Confrontation Between Rival Criminal Gangs in Southern State of Guerrero, Probe On. "India - Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership has expanded to diverse areas of cooperation, which include trade, investments, defence, education, S&T, and culture. The JCM is expected to comprehensively review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for further strengthening it. It will also provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," the statement said. Later, EAM will visit Japan from March 6-8 for the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue with the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. Also Read | Fighting for Russia in Ukraine War: Youth From Hyderabad Duped, Drafted Into Fighting for Russia; Family Urges Government for Help. The two Ministers are expected to discuss issues of bilateral, regional and global importance, and exchange views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, the ministry said. EAM will also participate in the first Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo. The Roundtable is a key step towards enhancing track 2 exchanges between India and Japan. He is expected to interact with business leaders, think tanks and academia, building upon strong cultural and people-to-people ties. "India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership has further deepened in the last decade in areas such as defence and digital technologies, semiconductor supply chains, clean energy, high-speed rail, industrial competitiveness and connectivity. EAM's visit and meetings in Tokyo will provide strategic guidance to our functional cooperation in these areas," the statement read. "EAM's visits to the Republic of Korea and Japan, two of our major partners, will impart further momentum to bilateral exchanges and set the agenda for future cooperation," it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bern [Switzerland], February 22 (ANI): The chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri (in-exile) on Thursday urged Pakistan to establish a local authority in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). The exiled leader of UKPNP while addressing the press in Bern, Switzerland further stated "Neither the government of Pakistan nor any of its institutions, including the Supreme Court, possess the mandate to conduct a referendum in POK and GB". Also Read | Naomi Bidens Car Break-In: Two Arrested for Forced Entry Into Secret Service Car Assigned to US President Joe Bidens Granddaughter. He further called upon the administration of Pakistan demanding that the country must adhere to the conditions of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution and establish local authority in the area. During the briefing, Kashmiri showed disappointment over Pakistan's inability to give justice and basic human rights to the people of POK and GB. He further stated that if Pakistan's judiciary had genuinely committed to the task it could have compelled Pakistan's administration to address the severe human rights violations prevalent in these areas, prioritizing the restoration of freedom of expression and allowing nationalists to participate in the elections. Kashmiri added "We call upon Pakistan to respect international norms, implement UN resolutions, and empower local authorities in POK and GB. The people of these regions deserve to exercise their rights without undue restrictions or interference." Also Read | Elon Musk-Run X Platform Blocks Accounts After Indian Government Issues Executive Orders. Highlighting the imperative need to safeguard basic rights, Kashmiri underscored the indivisible unity of the state of POK and GB. He reaffirmed his staunch opposition to any attempts, both domestic and international, aimed at dividing the region. Furthermore, Kashmiri concluded by urging Pakistan to allow local parties, particularly nationalists, to participate in elections without any preconditions, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring representation for all segments of society. Shaukat Ali Kashmiri is one of the few exiled activists who regularly raise their voice on international platforms, over the atrocities faced by the general public of these areas. Previously, while speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Kashmiri had stated "Actually, people under occupied Pakistan have been protesting for over 6 months. Jammu and Kashmir was a historical nation that was divided forcefully by Pakistan. In POK there is a huge infrastructure installed by Pakistani intelligence agencies and everywhere they are freely moving around and harassing people. So, we are asking the world community and United Nations to look at Pakistan exploiting natural resources... the weather is being badly affected, the environment is badly affected due to Pakistan's policies". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 22 (ANI): Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is on a two-day visit to India, said an announcement will soon be made regarding mobility migration, which will enable more Indian workers to visit Greece in an organised manner. "We expect to make concrete announcements very soon regarding the signing of the mobility migration agreement, enabling more Indian labour to come to Greece in an organised manner," the prime minister said, speaking at the FICCI's India-Greece Business Forum held in Mumbai. Also Read | Bridge Collapse in China: Five Killed As Cargo Ship Rams Into Bridge in Guangdong Province (Watch Video). "We're two ancient civilizations with great respect for each other. We have great people-to-people connections. We have a vibrant Indian community in Greece and we want to foster these connections much further," he added. The Greece PM had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in the national capital. Also Read | Pakistan Blocks X for the Sixth Day as Activists Criticize the Social Media Platforms Shutdown. The Indian workers, who would be allowed to take part in Greece's labour market, may need to be upskilled or reskilled, PM Mitsotakis said. Opportunities in construction, agriculture, and hospitality are immense and Greece is already beginning to see labour shortages. Sharing anecdotes about his country's labour market scenario a decade ago, the visiting leader said they had an unemployment rate of 27 per cent. For the first time in more than 15 years, its unemployment rate is under 10 per cent and is rapidly shrinking as a result of its growing economy. Referring to tourism and hospitality, the Greece Prime Minister said he considers these sectors untapped. "...this is an investment destination that can go both ways because I spoke a lot about Indian investment into Greece, but the same is also true in terms of Greek investment in India. We have prominent food companies already present here, and I see no reason why we cannot expand and tap the potential of the Indian market through our export-oriented Greek companies," he said. On hospitality, he said there was no direct flight between Mumbai or Delhi and Greece and hoped the scenario would change soon. "We still don't have a nonstop flight, for example, connecting either Mumbai or Delhi to Greece. I'm sure that this will change very quickly. And the same, of course, I think could also happen in terms of inbound tourism from India to Greece, where I really think that there is significant potential," he said. He also suggested that Indian movies could be shot in his country, which has various beautiful locations. "There are other beautiful locations where you can film in Greece," he said. "But this is also a sector where I think we can significantly progress and do much more. And usually when big productions or blockbusters are filmed in Greece, we immediately see the tourists and the activity being generated afterwards," he noted. The Greek PM, who is on a state visit to India, is accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Feb 22 (PTI) Officials of the Indian Embassy here and its consulates held a virtual interaction with Indian students from across the US, discussing various aspects of student well-being and ways to stay connected with the larger diaspora. About 150 Indian Student Association office bearers and students from 90 US universities participated in the interaction led by Charge d'Affaires, Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan. Also Read | Mexico Gang War: At Least Twelve People Killed in Confrontation Between Rival Criminal Gangs in Southern State of Guerrero, Probe On. It was also attended by the Consul Generals of India in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. The meeting gains significance in the backdrop of some deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students at universities across the US. Also Read | Fighting for Russia in Ukraine War: Youth From Hyderabad Duped, Drafted Into Fighting for Russia; Family Urges Government for Help. During the meeting, Ranganathan highlighted ways to stay connected with the Embassy/Consulates and the larger Indian diaspora. Students were urged to spread the word amongst fellow Indian students in the US about the guidelines issued by the Embassy and the consulates for students studying in the US, including registration on its websites, general aspects related to student safety and well-being, and emergency contact details of the Indian diplomatic missions. The students presented useful suggestions on synergising the efforts of the Embassy/consulates, university authorities, diaspora organisations and other stakeholders. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, at a meeting with foreign diplomats, representatives of states and international organizations, set tasks for 2024 with the aim of ending the war as soon as possible in accordance with international law. "2024 year is special because it is in this year that we must do more in terms of our ability to end this war in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law. Accordingly, we have several absolutely specific tasks for this year," the President said. In particular, Zelenskyy called the protection of the Ukrainian people from Russian terror an absolute priority. "We cannot allow Putin to succeed in replacing international law with the rules of terror. Therefore, we are very grateful to every state and every leader who provides Ukraine and our people with defense, macro-financial and humanitarian support. All this saves thousands of lives and brings the end of the war closer," he said. The Head of state also noted that Ukraine seeks to unite the international community for the sake of implementing the Peace Formula, since "it is capable of bringing peace - real, honest, understandable to every nation and returning children and adults forcibly deported by Russia to Ukraine." In addition, Zelenskyy called on the states and companies of the world to cooperate on defense. "Modern Russia not only does not disrespect someone in the world, but does not respect all the principles that regulate life in the world. Anyone can become a target for the Russian Federation. We must honestly admit that when someone ignores all the rules and principles, this someone is a global threat We must strengthen our arsenals and adapt them to the conditions of modern challenges and modern warfare," the President said. The President of Ukraine also called for joint work on blocking the circumvention of sanctions for the Russian Federation and the speedy confiscation of frozen Russian assets. Tehran, Feb 22 (AP) Candidates for Iran's parliament began campaigning Thursday in the country's first election since the 2022 crackdown on nationwide protests that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Iran's state television said 15,200 candidates will compete for a four-year term in the 290-seat chamber, which has been controlled by hard-liners for the past two decades. It's a record number and more than twice the candidates who ran in the 2020 election, when voter turnout was just over 42%, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Also Read | US President Joe Biden's Pet Dog Bit Secret Service Agents 24 Times: Report. Amini died in September 2022, after she was arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's strict headscarf law that forces women to cover their hair and entire bodies. The protests quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran's clerical rulers. In the severe crackdown that followed, over 500 people were killed and nearly 20,000 were arrested, according to human rights activists in Iran. On Wednesday, the Guardian Council election watchdog sent the names of the 15,200 qualified candidates to the interior ministry, which holds the election. Any candidate for elections in Iran must be approved by the Council, a 12-member clerical body, half of whom are directly appointed by the supreme leader. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 48 As Fears Mount Over Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Violence. The candidates include 1,713 women, which is more than double the 819 who ran in 2020. The election will be held March 1, and the new parliament will convene in late May. Current parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf will run for election from his hometown, a constituency in the remote northeast, after winning a seat in the capital of Tehran four years ago. Such a change in districts usually indicates shrinking popularity. In recent years, his fellow hard-line critics have occasionally accused him of ignoring the rights of other parliament members and disregarding reports of corruption while he was Tehran mayor. The current hard-line parliament has restricted inspection by the U.N. nuclear watchdog of Iran's nuclear facilities, imposed more censorship on the internet and pursued a bill to enforce harsher punishment on women who do not wear the obligatory Islamic veil. In a separate election on March 1, 144 clerics will compete for the all-cleric 88-seat Assembly of Experts that functions as an advisory body to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters. Their assembly members' term is eight years. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi who is also an assembly member will seek reelection for the assembly seat in a remote constituency in South Khorasan province, competing against a low-profile cleric there. Absent from the assembly election is relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani, who said in January that the election watchdog disqualified him from running for reelection for the assembly. On Thursday, Iranian media said Rouhani sent a third letter to the council, seeking an elaboration on his disqualification. So far the council has not answered any of his letters. Under Rouhani, who served from 2013-2021 for two consecutive terms president, the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers was struck. The deal, which imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions, has since crumbled. Also, 35 other members of the current assembly did not register for reelection, reportedly because of old age. None were controversial during their term of service. Under Iran's constitution, the assembly monitors the country's supreme leader and chooses his successor. Khamenei, who will be 85 in April, has been supreme leader for 34 years. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], February 22 (ANI/TPS): Israel's Arrow defense system intercepted a missile over the Red Sea heading in the direction of Eilat on Thursday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said. The IDF said the missile did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat. Nevertheless, sirens were sounded in Eilat according to policy, the military added. Also Read | US President Joe Biden's Pet Dog Bit Secret Service Agents 24 Times: Report. Since October 7, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have launched numerous missiles and drones at Israel. All have either missed their targets or were shot down by Israeli, US, or Saudi forces. The Arrow-3 system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles in space. The system made its first operational interception when it shot down a Houthi ballistic missile in November. That interception is widely believed to have taken place outside the earth's atmosphere, which would make Israel the first country to shoot down a rocket in space. But Israel has not confirmed that detail. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 48 As Fears Mount Over Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Violence. The Houthis vowed in early December to target any Israel-bound ship in the Red Sea, regardless of its ownership. They have attacked or harassed numerous ships and hijacked the MV Galaxy Leader in November. The cargo ship and its crew of 25 are being held hostage in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. From bases along the Yemeni coast, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened ships in the Red Sea as they traverse the Bab el-Mandeb Straits, a narrow maritime chokepoint between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. The majority of the world's oil passes through the strait from the Indian Ocean towards the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. In response, the US is leading Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational coalition of naval forces protecting shipping in the Red Sea. (ANI/TPS) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], February 22 (ANI/TPS): In his speech to 4,000 Christian communicators yesterday at the opening of the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Israel Minister of Tourism Haim Katz thanked the evangelical community for its unequivocal support, declared that Israel is safe for tourism and called for increased Christian tourism to the country. "The massacre that was perpetrated on us on October 7 brought us back to dark days, days in which we rediscovered the resilience of the people living in Zion," Katz told the convention. Also Read | US President Joe Biden's Pet Dog Bit Secret Service Agents 24 Times: Report. "The support and messages of solidarity from the Christian community were a great light for us in the darkness. Be our ambassadors in words and deeds. The best way to support Israel is to visit Israel. The safety of tourists is our top priority. Israel takes great care regarding the safety of tourists and citizens alike. Most of the tourist areas were not affected by the war and are completely safe. Come again this year, to strengthen yourselves and to strengthen us." As part of his visit to the USA, the Israel Minister of Tourism and ministry representatives will work to strengthen collaboration with tour operators and opinion leaders in the Christian world, with a focus on expanding Christian tourism to Israel. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 48 As Fears Mount Over Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Violence. Among other things, meetings are taking place with marketing and media companies specialising in the Christian market, including TBN, the largest Evangelical television network in the USA and the Salem Group - one of the most prominent in the field. (ANI/TPS) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London [UK], February 22 (ANI): The ongoing abuse of human rights in Balochistan, today no longer remains contained within Pakistan. The international community today has been paying attention to the worsening situation of the people of Balochistan, Pakistan. The Parliament of the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday took the matter of atrocities in Balochistan up for debate at Westminster Hall, London. Also Read | US President Joe Biden's Pet Dog Bit Secret Service Agents 24 Times: Report. While giving a brief of Balochistan's history during the debate, UK parliamentarian and Labor Member of Parliament (MP) for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell, stated that "Balochistan was briefly declared an independent nation on August 11, 1947. Although Pakistan's founding leader, Jinnah, had supported an independent Balochistan, he underwent a change of view and perspective, and the Pakistan army invaded and forced the accession of Balochistan into Pakistan". He further added, "We have debated this over a number of years--there has been a saga of struggles for independence, marked by persistent resistance and repeated insurgencies. The trigger for the renewed phase was the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a prominent Baloch leader, in 2006. That event sparked widespread unrest, leading to growing momentum for the Baloch independence movement". Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 48 As Fears Mount Over Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Violence. "The vitality of their culture faces significant challenges, due particularly to the suppression of their language. The Baloch people speak the Balochi and Brahui languages, both of which are integral to their cultural identity. Despite the importance of those languages in preserving Baloch culture, they have faced marginalization and neglect by official institutions. In Pakistan-occupied Balochistan, the Balochi and Brahui languages are not recognized as official languages, despite being the mother tongues of the local population. Education in those languages is limited, and their use in the media and official communication is minimal. That undermines the Baloch people's ability to express themselves and, yes, maintain their cultural identity" according to McDonnell. Furthermore, he added that "Balochistan's vast natural resources--natural gas and minerals--have made it a region of strategic importance, yet its inhabitants face significant economic challenges, including extensive poverty. The exploitation of the province's resources has not translated into prosperity for the local population. Despite the abundance of those resources, Balochistan remains one of the poorest areas in the region, which feeds discontent and uncertainty about the future for many people. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or the CPEC, is a flagship project that has raised concerns about the potential displacement of local communities and about the lack of transparency on the distribution of the benefits of these projects". Another parliamentarian Jim Shannon the MP for Strangford "We have all heard of the historic march of the Baloch women to demand an end to the practice of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial murders, military operations and state brutality against the Balochs in Balochistan by the Pakistan army. These shocking atrocities must immediately be stopped. Member agree that we need to use every possible diplomatic tactic to highlight the fact that respect for women must be a priority right and that it should not dismissed as a Western ideal? McDonnell further stated in the discussion, "We must recognise that the situation in Balochistan is marked by severe human rights violations that demand the attention of this Parliament and the international community. Evidence of systematic abuses and disregard for human rights is mounting. A number of human rights organisations that all of us have worked with over the years, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented and condemned the widespread abuses taking place in the region. They have also highlighted the impunity enjoyed by the security forces responsible for these violations, and they have called for accountability". "One of the most alarming aspects of the situation is the frequency of abductions and enforced disappearances. Activists, intellectuals, students, lawyers, journalists and other individuals have been subjected to what can only be described as horrific practices, which are often carried out by the Pakistani security forces. These individuals are often taken without any due process, held incommunicado and subjected to torture. Tragically, many of the victims that have been forcibly disappeared are later found dead, their bodies bearing signs of torture. This brutality--what is described as the "kill and dump" policy--has left families shattered and communities traumatised. It has created an atmosphere of fear and silence in many areas" he added. Furthermore "The other aspect of human rights is freedom of expression and assembly, and they have also been severely curtailed. Journalists face violence, censorship and threats, which inhibits their ability to report on issues affecting the province. People are denied the space to peacefully assemble and express their grievances," he added. Shannon seconded on the opinion expressed by McDonnell and mentioned that "purpose of that march was to demand an end to the practice of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial murders and the state brutality of the Pakistan army. The marchers faced violence by the state authorities and were abused and arrested after reaching Islamabad. During a 32-day sit-in to demand that those who had been forcibly abducted were produced in courts, the marchers, mainly women and children, faced threats, intimidation and harassment on a daily basis. They were forced to return to Quetta after this level of intimidation and harassment from state agencies, and now the families who participated in the march are receiving threats and cases are being registered against them. Dr Mahrang Baloch, who led the march, is receiving serious death threats and her life is in danger. There has been a recent increase in enforced disappearances--in fact, the tragedy is that enforced disappearances of Baloch political activists, students and teachers has almost become the norm now. Dead bodies of the forcibly abducted are constantly being found as a result of these extrajudicial murders". McDonnell further stated "The Baloch diaspora, human rights organisations and activists across the globe in many countries have called for independent investigations into the human rights abuses and the holding to account of those found responsible. Despite the challenges and risks, Baloch activists have taken to various platforms to raise awareness of their cause. They have used social media, international conferences, and dialogue with human rights organisations, and worked assiduously to shed light on the situation as it now is". Stating the demands of the Baloch diaspora McDonnell stated "The demands are straightforward: an end to the military operations, emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution of disputes as they now are; human rights protection and an end to human rights abuses, particularly enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings; resource rights for the Baloch people to gain the benefits from their natural resources of natural gas, minerals and their strategic location; and cultural preservation and the protection of culture, language and heritage, which are integral to the Baloch identity". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London, Feb 23 (AP) Britain's government said Thursday it is withdrawing from a controversial international energy treaty after efforts to modernize it ended in stalemate. The UK's move followed similar announcements by France, Germany and other European Union countries to quit the Energy Charter Treaty, which critics say is being used by the fossil fuel industry to legally challenge governments over their climate policies. Also Read | US President Joe Biden's Pet Dog Bit Secret Service Agents 24 Times: Report. The treaty entered into force in 1998 to protect and encourage international flows of investment in the energy sector. But a number of countries have faced costly legal challenges over reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and boosting greener energy sources. UK officials said negotiations to update the treaty to better support cleaner technologies had gone on for several years, but resulted in an impasse among European countries. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 48 As Fears Mount Over Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Violence. "The Energy Charter Treaty is outdated and in urgent need of reform but talks have stalled and sensible renewal looks increasingly unlikely," said Graham Stuart, a minister for energy security. "Remaining a member would not support our transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, and could even penalise us for our world-leading efforts to deliver net zero." France and Italy announced in late 2022 that they were leaving the treaty. Other countries including Spain and the Netherlands also did the same. Britain's government said that in total it was joining nine EU member states in withdrawing. Climate non-governmental organisations have called for a mass EU withdrawal from the treaty. Several dozen countries are still listed as signatories on the treaty's website. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv [Ukraine], February 22 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Polish leaders to a meeting at their shared border to resolve a blockade by Polish farmers protesting against Ukrainian food imports, Al Jazeera reported. Zelenskyy said on social media that he hoped the proposed border meeting for him, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and a European Union representative could happen before the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Holds Productive Meeting With Greek Counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Talks on Technology and Space Take Centre Stage. "This is national security," Zelenskyy said. "I am ready to be at the border with our government." "We have had enough misunderstanding. We should not humiliate each other; we should not humiliate either Ukrainian or Polish farmers. We need unity. We need solutions - between us, Ukraine and Poland, and at the level of the whole of Europe," Zelenskyy said in a statement. Also Read | Dog Attack in US: Man Dies After Pit Bulls Charge at Him in Californias Compton. However, there has been no immediate reaction from the Polish government, as reported by Al Jazeera. In another incident, Zelenskyy expressed concerns after a banner at the protest site displayed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Polish authorities also voiced concern over the slogans praising Putin and his war against Ukraine. Earlier, Poland's Foreign Ministry said it believed that extreme groups were trying to take over the protest movement "perhaps under the influence of Russian agents." It also called on protest organisers "to identify and eliminate from their movement" the initiators, arguing it was necessary for Poland's interest. Notably, Poland, a member of NATO and the European Union has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, accepting unlimited numbers of refugees and providing Ukraine with weaponry. But tensions have been growing as Polish farmers blame imports of Ukrainian grain and other food for pushing down prices and harming their livelihoods. Polish farmers are among those across Europe who have been protesting competition from Ukraine as well as European Union environmental policies, which they say will increase their production costs, Al Jazeera reported. On Tuesday, the farmers staged a major day of protest, blocking almost all traffic on the border with Ukraine, angering Kyiv, in an escalation from previous demonstrations. Polish farmers blocked eight major roads on Wednesday. Police said protests continued at border crossings to Ukraine in Medyka and Korczowa, but passenger traffic was smooth and some trucks were also being let through. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, February 22: A 25-year-old woman from Manipur was reportedly assaulted and molested by four minors near the regional passport office in Bengalurus Koramangala area on Saturday. The group also attacked her male friend. However, with the help of passersby, one of the attackers was apprehended and handed over to the police, who later detained the other three. According to a report in TOI the four boys, aged between 16 and 17, were taken into custody. A police officer stated that since they were minors, their statements were recorded and they were sent home. Further action will be based on the ongoing investigation. A case has been registered under IPC sections 354 A (sexual harassment) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt). Goa Minor Rape Case: Russia Man Flees India After Sexually Assaulting Six-Year-Old Girl During Overnight Camp in Arambol. The woman, identified as Leina (name changed), is employed at a city hotel. She reported to the police that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when they were returning home after disposing of waste. She was molested by the boys loitering in front of a building. When she resisted and shouted at them, they physically assaulted her and her friend. Madhya Pradesh High Court Frees Man Who Spent 12 Years in Jail for Fake Rape Case by Daughter. The boys repeatedly punched Leina in the face and kicked her, causing her to bleed from her nose and mouth. Her friend was also assaulted when he tried to intervene. The boys attempted to hit Leina with a wooden log, but her friend shielded her. As more people gathered at the scene, the boys fled but returned with logs. Seeing the crowd, they ran away again but were chased by some people, and one of them was caught. A man drove Leina, her friend, and the detained boy to a police station, assisted her in filing a complaint, and then took the duo to a hospital. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2024 11:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Uttara Kannada, February 22: A 65-year-old woman died of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), known as monkey fever, on Thursday in Karnataka's Uttar Kannada district. This is the first monkey fever death in the district and health authorities are concerned about the development as the effective vaccination is not available yet. The condition of woman, hailing from Jiddi village near Siddapur town, turned critical on Wednesday. Karnataka Shocker: Physically-Challenged Man Hires Contract Killer for Rs 3 Lakh To Kill 66-Year-Old Father, Arrested. State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had recently held a high-level meeting with legislators and officers of three districts of the state where the outbreak of the disease has created a concerning situation. The state, which has 103 active monkey fever cases, had recorded two deaths so far, one each in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts. The state government has held talks with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for effective vaccination and authorities are hopeful of getting the vaccination sooner. The awareness programme is also undertaken in the regions where the disease is detected. Karnataka: Rockline Mall in Bengaluru Sealed Over Non-Payment of Due Tax (Watch Video). Monkey fever is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease which can be fatal to humans and other primates. The symptoms of KFD begin suddenly with chills, fever, and headache. Severe muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding problems may occur three-four days after initial symptom onset. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2024 11:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Modasa, February 22: Mumbai-based Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari was on Thursday taken under preventive detention by the Gujarat police soon after he was granted bail in a hate speech case registered against him in the state's Arvalli district. Earlier in the day, the court of Additional Sessions Judge HN Vakil granted conditional bail to Azhari, who was booked for delivering an inflammatory speech in an open ground in Modasa on December 24 last year. This was the third case of hate speech in Gujarat in which the cleric was arrested before being granted bail. However, as soon as Azhari was released on bail, he was detained at Modasa by the Junagadh local crime branch under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA). He will be handed over to Vadodara central jail, Junagadh crime branch inspector Jatin Patel said. We have detained him under PASA soon after a warrant was issued against him by the Junagadh collector, Patel said. Mufti Salman Azhari Hate Speech Case: Islamic Preacher Faces Legal Heat; Second FIR Lodged in Gujarats Kutch The act allows the administration to take anti-social elements under preventive detention to maintain public safety. Azhari was held from Mumbai on February 5 after he delivered an alleged hate speech in B division police station limits in Junagadh on January 31. Later, Kutch East police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and arrested him on February 8 for delivering an allegedly provocative speech in Samakhiyari village in Bhachau taluka on January 31. Azhari was earlier granted bail in cases registered against him in Junagadh and Kutch. In Junagadh and Kutch East, Azhari was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief). Besides IPC sections 153 (B) and 505 (2), Azhari has also been charged under section 298 for uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person in the Modasa case. Mufti Salman Azhari Hate Speech Case: Gujarat Police Get Transit Remand of Islamic Preacher According to the police, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has also been invoked as he made derogatory remarks against the SC community in his speech at Modasa. China dispatches six teams of senior agricultural experts to assist Burundi People's Daily Online) 13:16, February 21, 2024 "Our hybrid rice grows well," said Yang Huade, head of a team of senior Chinese agricultural experts assisting Burundi, on the way from Bujumbura, the largest city in the African country, to the China-aided agricultural technology demonstration center there. Since 2009, China has sent six teams of senior agricultural experts to assist Burundi. Agricultural cooperation between the two countries has made significant contributions to Burundi's development vision of "food for all and savings for every household." A Chinese agricultural expert (first from left) celebrates the rice harvest with villagers in a demonstration village dedicated to poverty alleviation through rice cultivation in Bujumbura Rural Province, Burundi. (Photo/Wu Peiyang) In 2018, a Chinese expert team launched the first hybrid rice demonstration program in Linge 4 village, Gihanga, in Bubanza, Burundi. They provided funds and technical guidance to the village, cultivated young technical leaders, and trained farmers. A total of 1,072 farmers from 134 households in the village grew hybrid rice that year. "Linge 4 village is the first demonstration village of rice cultivation for poverty alleviation we established in Burundi," Yang said. Today, Linge 4 village has been lifted out of poverty, with the per unit yield of rice increasing by 136 percent and the per capita share of grain exceeding 900 kilograms annually. John, a villager with 12 children, now owns a new house and operates a rice processing plant. "Food used to be a huge problem in my family. It was never easy for us to eat two meals a day," he said. He added that today his family has enough food and all his children can attend school. "Indeed, our lives have changed," said 33-year-old Egide, noting that Chinese experts are always providing guidance in the fields. "My family used to grow only half a hectare of regular rice in the past, harvesting less than 2 tonnes annually, which wasn't even enough to feed ourselves. Following the guidance of Chinese experts, we planted hybrid rice, expanded the planting area to 1.5 hectares, and increased the yield per hectare to 7 to 8 tonnes. We can earn 15 million Burundi francs ($5,244) by selling grains every growing season," Egide said. The Chinese agricultural expert teams have established 36 demonstration villages like Linge 4 village in Burundi and will build another 20 in the future. "The Chinese agricultural expert teams nurtured me," said Evrard Ndayikeje, director general of the National Agency for the Promotion and Regulation of Cooperative Societies in Burundi. Several years ago, Ndayikeje was unemployed after graduating from university. However, his situation changed in 2016 when he was selected as an agricultural technician by a Chinese expert team and learned how to cultivate Chinese hybrid rice. Thanks to his talent, Ndayikeje has become a prominent figure in promoting hybrid rice cultivation techniques and now serves as a senior government official in Burundi. Yang said that the Chinese expert teams have focused on developing young agricultural technical leaders like Ndayikeje. Ernest, a local villager and young technical leader, has successfully planted hybrid rice under the guidance of the Chinese expert teams, ensuring his family has sufficient food. Additionally, he has been dispatched to Cibitoke Province to offer guidance on cultivating and promoting hybrid rice throughout the province, establishing himself as an expert in the field. In 2023, the Chinese expert team conducted training sessions for 48 young agricultural technical leaders, engaged with 3,600 farming households in demonstration villages, and provided training to 450 college students in the African country. "Chinese experts have given villagers a means of livelihood and specialized skills. Cultivating hybrid rice is a very effective form of assistance," Ndayikeje said. Thanks to the support of the Chinese expert teams, Ndayikeje has visited China several times for training and research. "I hope Burundi and China will continue deepening agricultural cooperation," he said, believing that Burundi will attain food self-sufficiency, alleviate poverty and become prosperous under the guidance of the Chinese expert teams. This year, the sixth group of 11 Chinese experts, including Yang who has been in the country since 2015 as part of the third group of senior agricultural experts sent by China, began their work in Burundi. They are scheduled to stay in Burundi for three years. In May 2022, Yang was honored with an award for his contribution to Burundi's agricultural development by Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye. Under the guidance of the Chinese expert teams, Burundi's average rice yield per hectare increased from 3 tonnes to 10 tonnes, marking a significant advancement, according to Ndayishimiye. Yang, 59, hopes to continue his efforts in Burundi. He is confident that through the cultivation of hybrid rice, Burundi will essentially achieve food self-sufficiency within the next three years. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Abbas Ganbay Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Toivo Klaar, Special Representative of the European Union in the South Caucasus, Azernews reports, citing Foreign Ministry. Jeyhun Bayramov informed Toivo Klaar that the Armenian provocation is aimed at striking a blow to the peace process The sides discussed the current state of Azerbaijan-European Union relations, the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the prospects of the draft peace agreement. After a long period of stability, the Foreign Minister noted that the Armenian provocation, which resulted in the wounding of an Azerbaijani serviceman as a result of sniper fire without any provoking factors, was aimed at derailing the peace process. "Regarding the draft peace agreement, Azerbaijan's regular comments were presented to the Armenian side, and we are interested in starting the negotiation process in this direction. At the same time, the continuing claims to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country in the Armenian Constitution, legislative acts, international organizations and courts are inadmissible," the information reads. At the meeting the sides also exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Russian attacks Kostiantynopilske of Donetsk region from Hurricanes: one person killed, nine more injured One person has been killed and nine others injured as a result of shelling of Kostiantynopilske of Kurakhivska community of Donetsk region, said head of the Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin. "Four teenagers are among the wounded: 12, 14, 15 and 16 years old. Everyone has received the necessary medical care," he wrote on the Telegram channel on Thursday. Filashkin clarified that the Russians fired at Kostiantynopilske from Hurricanes 13 shells hit the territory of the village. "Many houses have been damaged now the territory is being inspected, we are establishing the exact consequences of the shelling," he said. Chennai, February 22: Indias decision to revise its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms for the space sector is expected to bring in fresh foreign investments up to $25 billion over the next decade and result in a wave of collaborations between Indian and foreign companies, said a senior official of the Space Industry Association-India (SIA-India). Indian rocket and satellite makers and their lobby bodies have welcomed the amended FDI norms while expecting further liberalisation after some years. They also said the revised norms announced by the Indian Government late on Wednesday are as per their expectations. Union Cabinet Chaired by PM Narendra Modi Gives Go-Ahead for up to 100% FDI in Space Sector. India's decision to open its doors to foreign investors is expected to attract substantial capital inflows, with estimates indicating potential FDI investments of up to $25 billion over the next decade. This infusion of capital will not only stimulate growth within the domestic space industry but also foster innovation and technological advancements, positioning India as a global hub for space exploration and satellite technology, Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President, SIA-India and Chairman and Managing Director, Ananth Technologies told IANS. Indian Space Sector To Be Turned Into Business Activity Instead of Government Programme, Says ISRO Chairman S Somanath. Pavuluri said that the revised FDI Policy approval for India's space sector comes at a time when the global space industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with projections estimating its value to reach $558 billion by 2026. Currently, India's space industry contributes approximately $7 billion to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 100,000 skilled professionals across various disciplines. With the implementation of liberalised FDI policies, experts predict a substantial uptick in these figures, with projections suggesting a potential GDP contribution of $50 billion by 2030 and the creation of over 500,000 new jobs in the space sector, Pavuluri added. On Wednesday, the Indian Cabinet gave its nod for the much-awaited revised norms for FDI in space sector which has made the industry happy. The revised policy is aligned with our expectations. We believe that it will further extend to beyond 49 per cent in future, making it even more liberal, Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of rocket maker Skyroot Aerospace told IANS. As per the new norms, the maximum FDI for makers of rockets and associated systems and subsystems under automatic route is 49 per cent and beyond that level it will be under the government route, that is, governments permission will be needed. For the launch vehicles sub-sector, the 49 per cent automatic route raises the question of existing foreign investments exceeding this limit. Will the government exempt them, require restructuring, or mandate post-facto approvals? The upcoming FEMA notification should provide crucial clarity, Abhishek Dubey Partner at Trilegal told IANS. Asked about the FDI in Skyroot Aerospace, Chandana said, New FDI policy is 49 per cent for launch vehicles. We are already below 49 per cent and comply with the policy. Be that as it may, in respect of satellite manufacturing, operation, satellite data products, ground segment and user segment, the FDI under the automatic route is capped at 74 per cent and beyond that level it will be under the government route. Terming the revised policy as great news for the space ecosystem Awais Ahmed, CEO, Syzygy Space Technologies Pvt Ltd, commonly known as Pixxel told IANS, The new FDI norms will catalyse the entire space industry by enabling a larger and global pool of investment capital as well as strategic capital to come into India. This is much needed to not only scale existing companies to becoming globally competitive but also help more startups get started in the first place. Space has always been a global endeavour while also being a matter of nationalistic pride. This easing of FDI norms will enable the Indian private space ecosystem to start being a serious player in that global endeavour, he added. This historic decision paves the way for unprecedented growth and innovation, fostering a new era of space exploration and commercialisation in India. Dhruva Space is poised to leverage these opportunities to make significant contributions to the global space community and achieve remarkable milestones, said Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO, Dhruva Space, a satellite company. For the makers of components, systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment, 100 per cent FDI under automatic route has been allowed now. The industry lobby body Indian Space Association (ISA) thanked the government for its forward-looking reforms in the space sector. After the pioneering initiative to administratively allocate satellite spectrum, the decision to allow a liberal FDI policy for space is yet another significant move forward, Lt-Gen AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, ISA said. The liberal FDI limits by automatic route for end-to-end satellite manufacturing and operation, components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, satellite data products and ground segment, user segment, launch vehicles, creation of spaceports will boost the confidence of all space industry members, including the biggest global players in the space and satellite domain, Bhatt added. Currently, the space sector in India accounts for little over about two per cent of the global space economy and this move will help the country to gain a much larger pie in the global market, Bhatt added. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2024 02:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Jaipur, February 22: A core committee meeting was held at the Rajasthan BJP office here on Thursday under the chairmanship of the party's state unit chief C.P. Joshi, in which the roadmap for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections was discussed, sources said. A detailed discussion was held on the implementation of the 'historic' decisions like the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) and the Yamuna Water Agreement. Along with brainstorming on the preparations for the upcoming general elections, the strategy to make the lotus bloom in all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was discussed, sources said. After the meeting, state BJP chief Joshi said that an action plan for the upcoming programmes in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections has been prepared. Discussions were also held on how everyone can participate in the campaigns like the 'Gaon Chalo Abhiyan' and 'Shakti Vandan Abhiyan', which have been launched by the party. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Will Win 370 Seats in General Polls, Says PM Narendra Modi (Watch Video) The party has already started to hold cluster meetings. Home Minister Amit Shah recently visited Bikaner, where he held a meeting with eye on the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. "Also, an intellectuals' conference of three Lok Sabha constituencies was organised in Jaipur. Amit Shah's visit provided guidance to the workers and infused new energy into them. In the coming time, other national leaders of the BJP will visit the state and hold several meetings," Joshi said. In response to a question on other party leaders joining the BJP, he said, Historic work has been done in the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi. Impressed by these works, people are coming from other parties and joining the BJP without any conditions. No assurance is being given to anyone from our side. Impressed by the policies and working style of the BJP, people are continuously coming into the party, and the BJP family is growing. Even an ordinary worker in the BJP can apply for any post as per his wish, he added. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: JDS President HD Kumaraswamy Meets Amit Shah, Discusses Seat-Sharing in Karnataka Those who attended the meeting included Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary, State Co-incharge Vijaya Rahatkar, Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa, among others. New Delhi, February 22: Former Chief Minister and Karnataka JD (S) President H.D. Kumaraswamy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday and held a meeting for 30 minutes at his office. Sources stated that Kumaraswamy met Amit Shah in the wake of taking a final decision on seat-sharing between the parties, and also regarding rise of dissent against JD (S) from certain BJP leaders in the state. Sources further explained that Kumaraswamy insisted with Amit Shah to allow JD (S) candidates to contest from Mandya, Hassan and Bengaluru Rural or Kolar Lok Sabha seats. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Plans to Field Cabinet Ministers for LS Polls in Karnataka Though the alliance between the parties was declared four months ago, the seat-sharing is yet to be finalised. Sitting MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate from Mandya seat, announced her support to BJP. She had stated that it is her final decision to contest from the Mandya seat. Amit Shah has promised Kumaraswamy to take final call on seat-sharing soon and consider his demands to allow JD (S) candidates to contest from Mandya and Hassan Parliamentary seats after taking opinion from the state leadership. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: DMK Agrees To Give Seven LS Seats to Congress in Tamil Nadu Kumaraswamys son and actor-turned politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy accompanied his father during the meeting. JD (S) is hopeful of getting five to seven seats from the BJP majorly located in south Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections. Mumbai, February 22: A day after he was abruptly ousted as Mumbai Indian Youth Congress President, Congress MLA Zeeshan B. Siddique on Thursday criticised Rahul Gandhi's team and also dropped veiled hints of examining fresh political alternatives. "If the Congress does not want me, I will have to look for new options. They should have at least consulted me. I learnt of the development through the media," said Zeeshan, an MLA from Bandra East who was the youngest to get elected to the Assembly in 2019, rattling Congress circles. The developments came barely two weeks after Zeeshan's father, Baba Ziauddin Siddique, three-time ex-MLA from Bandra West and ex-Minister suddenly quit the Congress and joined the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Targetting the Congress leadership, Zeeshan told mediapersons that though Rahul Gandhi is a 'good leader', his team is the biggest factor leading to the Congress' downfall, and claimed that the party is riddled with hypocrisy. "It seems they have taken a contract from some other party to wipe off the Congress. I had gone to Nanded for the previous Bharat Jodo Yatra and sought to meet Rahul Gandhi. I was told to return after shedding 10 kg," he said. Zeeshan Siddique Removed From Mumbai Youth Congress President Post Following Fathers Defection to NCP, Akhilesh Yadav Becomes New Chief Zeeshan also slammed the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government, saying that he was not able to resolve the issues of his constituency. On his removal as the MYC chief, Zeeshan said that while his father had joined (NCP), there are many instances of families staying in different political parties. He cited the instance of the late Rajiv Gandhi and his brother Sanjay Gandhi whose families are now in different political parties -- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka are with the Congress but Maneka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi are with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Similarly, Madhavrao Scindia and Vijaya Raje Scindia were with Congress, but their other relatives are with the BJP, A.K. Antony is a Congressman but his son Anil A. Antony has joined BJP. On his future plans, Zeeshan said that he was elected by 88,517 members -- the highest in MYC's history -- as the city President, and would consult his supporters before taking a call on his political options. Spelling rumblings within the city and state Congress, the Mumbai Congress President Prof. Varsha Gaikwad removed Zeeshan on Wednesday and named Akhilesh Yadav as the new Mumbai Youth Congress President and Sufiyan M. Haider as the Working President. Baba Siddique Resigns From Congress: Former Maharashtra Minister Announces Resignation from Party, Ends 48-Year Association "... dreams and aspirations of young India have been crushed due to rising unemployment and joblessness. The #BharatJodoNyayYatra is committed to fighting for and achieving #YuvaNyay . I look forward to working closely with Akhilesh and Sufiyan in Mumbai to ensure that the Congress's call for justice reaches every young Mumbaikar," said Prof Gaikwad, an MLA from Dharavi and an ex-minister, posted on 'X'. "After giving 12 years to the organisation having fought three elections, it is unfortunate that I have not received any official intimation from the party and I have to learn about my ousting from the media and social media," he said, venting his ire on 'X'. The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted bail to a television journalist, who was arrested on duty at the restive Sandeshkhali, observing that the press must be allowed to function freely and independently, without any fear of reprisal or intimidation. The Congress party on Thursday assured its support for the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) one-time settlement scheme for inflated water bills in the national capital. Earlier today, an all-party meeting was held at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to discuss the issue. he Lucknow police have arrested the mother of an eight-year-old girl, who was allegedly gang-raped by a cleric and his brother in the Malihabad area, on the outskirts of Lucknow. Shanmukh Jaswanth Kandregula, a former Bigg Boss Telugu contestant and YouTuber, has reportedly been taken into custody for alleged possession of drugs. According to a report by TV9, Shanmukh was arrested after ganja was found at his residence in Hyderabad. The report further states that the police visited Shanmukhs residence to arrest his brother, Sampath Vinay, after a woman filed a case of cheating against him. It was during this visit that the YouTuber was found in possession of drugs. Both brothers have now reportedly been arrested in two separate cases. Trisha Krishnan Files Defamation Case Against Former AIADMK Leader AV Raju Over His Inappropriate Remarks, Vishwambhara Actress Shares Lawyers Notice on X. Shanmukh Jaswanth Kandregula Arrested View this post on Instagram A post shared by HT City (@htcity) (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Russia's Ukraine war is not only taking a toll on people's lives, it's also been devastating for the environment the long-term effects are hard to judge.The Russian war on Ukraine started two years ago. And there is no end in sight. But even if the soldiers stopped firing their guns and stopped dropping bombs today, if there were no more explosions at refineries and other industrial facilities the people of Ukraine would still not be safe. Also Read | INSAT-3DS: Students of Sona College of Technology Based in Salem Power ISRO's New Weather Satellite With Precision Equipment. Research suggests the effects of the war on people, wildlife and the environment will last long into the future. Also Read | Union Cabinet Gives Nod for up to 100% FDI in Space Sector: Space Industry Welcomes New Norms, Expects USD 25 Billion Fresh Investment in 10 Years. A study into the environmental ramifications of the conflict suggests that the first year-and-a-half of the war alone was responsible for an extra 150 million tons of CO2 emissions to compare, that's the same amount of CO2 that Belgium emits per year. Those are the conclusions of the Initiative of GHG Accounting of War, a group of experts who have been monitoring the environmental damage caused by the war. They presented their findings in December 2023 at a UN Environment conference in Dubai. A war on people and the environment A new analysis by the US-Ukrainian research team presents further data: Landscape destruction, shelling, forest fires, deforestation and pollution have affected 30% of Ukraine's protected areas. The team, which is led by Daniel Hryhorczuk, Professor Emeritus at the Institute for Environmental and Occupational Safety and Epidemiology at the University of Illinois School of Public Health in the US, fears that Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the destruction of the Kakhovka dam will lead to lasting ecological catastrophe. In addition, they say the local air, water and soil are contaminated with chemicals on a large scale, and that 30% of Ukraine is contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance. Once those chemicals get into the soils and ground water, it may only be a matter of time before they are transmitted to humans via plants, animals, and drinking water. At least, that is what toxicologists say could happen. They are not entirely sure how the environment will deal with these toxic substances, or what effect they could have on humans. TNT is carcinogenic Among the most dangerous elements in munitions are the explosives themselves, and the heavy metals. That includes Trinitrotoluene, better known as TNT, a nitroaromatic compound known for its explosive power. "We know through experiments on rats and mice that TNT is toxic," said Edmund Maser, director of the Institute for Toxicology at the University Clinic in Kiel, Germany. Maser researches the effects of the munitions that were dumped in the German part of the North and Baltic Seas after World War II 1.6 million tons of munitions are rusting away there. Toxicologists have also observed in the Seas that the TNT released from the dumped munitions is harming animals in the surrounding area: "TNT compromises the ability of marine life to reproduce, grow, and develop," said Maser. "We also know from these studies that TNT and other explosives are carcinogenic." Mercury, arsenic, and lead destroy cells Some heavy metals, such as arsenic and cadmium, are carcinogenic. "Above all, the detonators contain heavy metals, such as mercury in the form of a fulminate that makes the TNT explode faster," said Maser. A fulminate acts as a kind of catalyst. As a heavy metal, mercury is also damaging for nerve cells: "It can lead to birth defects in unborn babies," said Maser. Lead has similar effects and can cause developmental disorders or miscarriages. Kateryna Smirnova, a researcher at the Sokolovsky Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry Research at Ukraine's National Academy of the Sciences, said that soil samples from Kharkiv one of the major battle sites in the east of the country had already shown higher concentrations of lead and cadmium. Smirnova's colleague, Oksana Naidyonova, a microbiologist at the Sokolovsky Institute, explained that heavy metals have a negative effect on bacteria in the soil. "They inhibit the development of plants and the supply of micronutrients, which leads to physiological defects and reduces their ability to withstand disease," Naidyonova said. But the chemicals will not necessarily stay in the soil. TNT, for example, could be carried away by the wind and distributed farther afield, said Maser. Rain could even reach some of the substances found deeper in the ground. "The elements may then get into surface waters and contaminate streams, rivers, and lakes," he said. A toxic cycle If animals ingest the chemicals, those chemicals can enter the food chain and eventually become dangerous for humans as end consumers, said Maser. And if the rains run off, allowing the chemicals to seep into the ground water, "that would mean drinking water was at risk of becoming contaminated," Maser added. If the water becomes contaminated this way, plants could consume mercury and other chemicals. If these plants happen to be crops like wheat or vegetables, then the same chemicals would end up on our dinner plates. Environmental damage in the billions The example of Ukraine illustrates the immense costs of the destruction caused by war. According to this latest analysis, the war in Ukraine has caused environmental damage of more than $56.4 billion (52 billion). Hryhorczuk's team is calling for the environmental consequences of all armed conflicts to be investigated and for more effective measures to be taken to protect the environment during war. They also want those responsible for damaging the environment during war and those who instigate a war to be held to account. This article was originally published in German. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2024 06:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). They were entrepreneurs with a conscience, men who believed in fighting fire with fire. And that combination made them not only heroes of the civil rights struggle, but film industry pioneers. Noble M. and George P. Johnson, two African American brothers, launched their Lincoln Motion Picture Co. in response to the wave of racism that swept the country after the 1915 release of D.W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation, with its inflammatory portrayal of Reconstruction-era blacks. Though they produced fewer than a dozen films in less than five years for a loyal, all-black audience, the Johnson brothers virtually created what is now regarded as niche filmmaking and marketing. Advertisement The brothers were born in the early 1880s in Colorado Springs, Colo. After graduating from high school, Noble, an aspiring actor, headed west with the help of his friend and former classmate, Lon Chaney, a rising star who ultimately would become known as the man with a thousand faces. Nobles skill with horses and his fair complexion helped him when auditioning for bit parts not written for black actors. George went east to Virginias Hampton Institute, a traditional black university. Like many of his college-educated contemporaries, George accepted the responsibilities of belonging to what W.E.B. du Bois called black Americas talented tenth. Upon graduating, he vowed to do what he could to remove the obstacles that stood in the way of equal rights, and soon settled in Omaha, Neb., where he secured a job with the U.S. Post Office. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Nobles conscience was pricked by the lack of opportunity for people of color in the film industry. This was heightened when Birth of a Nation hit the theaters, spawning a national resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, which Griffith portrayed heroically in his controversial classic. Blacks marched in front of some theaters that showed Birth of a Nation. President Woodrow Wilson not only screened the movie in the White House, but praised its view of history. The Johnson brothers resolved to fight back from behind the camera. They were determined to depict African American life with dignity through what they called race movies, films made expressly for black audiences in a segregated society. In 1916, the Lincoln Motion Picture Co. was born, incorporating with an office on Central Avenue and a filming stage on Tennessee Avenue in West Los Angeles. Advertisement Launching their first feature-length film, The Realization of a Negros Ambition, in 1916, Noble Johnson starred as a black engineer who strikes oil and becomes a millionaire, but more important, establishes his identity as an independent black man. George described the film as the first successful, Class A Negro motion picture minus all burlesque and humiliating comedy. While Noble was the star, George was the guiding hand who wrote scripts and marketed the films from his Omaha home, renting them to exhibitors for $15 to $20 a day. Before America entered World War I, theaters along Central Avenue packed in patrons waiting to see The Trooper of Troop K, the first black Western. While some mainstream movie houses advertised a special showing of the film at 2 or 3 a.m., called a midnight ramble, other theaters segregated audiences even for the Johnson brothers films, relegating blacks to the balcony. In 1918, when the war ended, Lincolns profits began to plummet. Many movie houses closed as the Spanish influenza swept through the country, killing more people than the war. Gradually, profits increased. But the roller coaster ride was too much for Noble and he left the company for a regular paycheck at Universal Studios in 1920. Despite that decision, he and George remained close. Taking charge--and a paid medical leave from the post office--George headed west for Los Angeles. He hired talented actors and actresses from the Lafayette Players, an all-black L.A.-based theater company. The companys secretary, Clarence A. Brooks, replaced Noble, taking center stage in A Mans Duty, dramatizing African Americans right to participate freely in American life. Advertisement Although the film companys earnings were small, it provided a training ground for many young black performers, such as Beulah Hall, Jimmie Smith, Clarence Brooks, Albertine Pickens, Anita DuBois and screenwriter Dora Mitchell. Cameraman and stockholder Harry A. Gant, who already worked full time for a larger motion picture company, moonlighted for Lincoln. In 1921, while Hollywood was painting up white people to play blacks, renowned social reformer Booker T. Washington appeared in the companys sixth film, By Right of Birth, a story about racism in which a light-skinned black passes for a white. It premiered to a full house, accompanied by the John T. Spikes jazz band at the Trinity Auditorium, the first home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Grand Avenue and 9th Street. But again the company began to sink. George devised promotional schemes to woo moviegoers. He organized spirited street parades and hired beautiful young women to sell tickets at social centers and churches throughout the city. But the limited income levels in the black communities prevented him from filling the theaters. He finally appealed to the banks. But they turned him down, seeing no advantage in investing in black films. Faced with the growing competition of other newly organized black film companies and increased production costs, George halted production and concentrated on marketing the companys earlier films. But that too soon came to a end. Lincoln closed in 1922. While Noble would continue to act in supporting roles, including Topsy and Eva (1927) and Moby Dick (1930), George turned his attention to documenting the progress of other black film companies. Although none of the brothers movies exist today in their entirety (they were improperly stored and eventually disintegrated in warehouses), portions are on file with the Library of Congress. When George died in 1977, he left a 60-year file of clippings, correspondence and photographs now housed at the UCLA Research Library. Michel in talk with Zelenskyy confirms that EU will support Ukraine for as long as it takes President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has held a conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the full-scale Russian aggression. Spoke with President Zelenskyy ahead of the 2-year anniversary of Russias full scale war against his country and people, and the 10th anniversary of Russias illegal annexation of Ukraines Crimea. I reaffirmed the EUs ironclad financial & military support to Ukraine for as long as needed, Michel said on X Thursday evening. He stressed that Russia can never extinguish the flame of democracy in Ukraine. The destiny of Ukraine is in the EU. After it turned out that the Republicans' witness against Hunter Biden was a Chinese agent, it was recently revealed that their other "credible" informant regarding President Joe Biden and his son's alleged ties to Russia and Ukraine, Alexander Smirnov, is the one who actually has ties to Russian intelligence. Smirnov was an FBI informant until he was charged for lying about the Bidens, falsely claiming that they were involved in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, with the false claims stating the company paid Hunter and Joe Biden $5 million each in 2015 or 2016. These false claims from Smirnov became the central piece of information that Republicans used in their impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden in Congress after a previous witness, Gal Luft, fled the country after it was discovered he was a Chinese agent. This means that this is the second time that Kentucky Representative James Comer's alleged witnesses turned out to be foreign agents or have ties to other countries' intelligence operations. According to PBS, prosecutors interviewed Smirnov last week and the former FBI witness against Hunter Biden admitted that "officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story" about Hunter Biden. Prosecutors also found that Smirnov's contacts with Russia were "recent and extensive." FBI Knew Republican Informant on Hunter Biden, Alexander Smirnov, Had Ties to Russian Intelligence Prosecutors stated that Smirnov had plans to meet with one official during an upcoming overseas trip who was described as the "son of a former high-ranking government official" and "someone with ties to a particular Russian intelligence service." READ MORE: Joe Biden Family Probe: House Republicans Find No Evidence of Wrongdoing However, as CBS News noted, the FBI already knew that he has contacts with foreign intelligence services, "including Russian intelligence agencies, and has had such contacts recently." Smirnov first became an FBI informant in 2010 and the agency had known about this already because he had already told his FBI handlers about it. The ties Smirnov claims he has with Russian intelligence posed "a serious risk he will flee in order to avoid accountability for his actions," according to prosecutors, who added in their report, "He is actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November." Nevada Judge Releases Republican Informant Alexander Smirnov Despite Pleas from Prosecutors Prosecutors revealed Smirnov's ties to Russian intelligence in their attempt to keep him in custody. However, a Nevada magistrate judge ordered him released on Tuesday despite what prosecutors revealed. According to ABC News, however, Smirnov's release had some pretty tough conditions, as the former FBI and Republican informant must surrender his passport, wear an ankle monitor, and be restricted to traveling only to Nevada and to California for court purposes. Despite his conditional release, prosecutors are still trying to seek his detention and have asked the judge overseeing Smirnov's case to intervene. They also asked the judge to hold an additional detention hearing if necessary, warning that t "foreign intelligence agencies could resettle Smirnov outside the United States if he were released." READ MORE: Hunter Biden Probe Hits Massive Snag After James Comer's Missing 'Informant' Turns Out To Be a Chinese Agent This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: GOP's indicted Hunter Biden 'informant' admits Russian intel ties, DOJ says - MSNBC In a significant move by the Joe Biden administration, approximately 153,000 student loan borrowers enrolled in the newly introduced SAVE Plan are set to receive emails notifying them of the cancellation of their remaining federal student loan debt, according to CNN. The total relief amounts to around $1.2 billion, with President Joe Biden expressing his commitment to making higher education a gateway to the middle class. President Joe Biden is expected to send a congratulatory email, emphasizing his commitment to addressing student debt. "From day one of my Administration, I vowed to fix student loan programs so higher education can be a ticket to the middle class-not a barrier to opportunity," the message reads. Despite setbacks in the Supreme Court, the administration has canceled nearly $138 billion for almost 3.9 million borrowers since Joe Biden took office. READ NEXT: Joe Biden Student Loan Cancellation Qualification and Benefits of the SAVE Plan To qualify for the accelerated forgiveness benefit, student loan borrowers must have joined the SAVE Plan, made a decade of payments, and originated student loans of $12,000 or less, per the 19th News. For each additional $1,000 borrowed beyond the $12,000 threshold, relief is granted after an extra year of payments. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona emphasized that many recipients of SAVE forgiveness come from lower- and middle-income backgrounds, have lower loan balances, and often qualify for Pell Grants. Borrowers eligible for expedited forgiveness but not enrolled in SAVE will be contacted by the Department of Education for enrollment in the coming weeks. Currently, 7.5 million student loan borrowers are registered for SAVE, with 4.3 million enjoying monthly payments of $0 based on their incomes. The plan deemed the most affordable for low- and middle-income borrowers, guarantees forgiveness after 20 or 25 years, depending on whether borrowers have graduate school loans. Addressing Challenges and Refunds Education Secretary Cardona highlights the misconception that smaller initial loan balances translate to easier repayments. Many borrowers with smaller balances often struggle due to non-completion of their degrees, resulting in lower incomes compared to their degree-holding peers, CNBC noted. A 2020 Fed survey revealed that 21% of student loan borrowers with less than $15,000 in debt were behind on payments. Refund provisions are in place for borrowers who met forgiveness eligibility before January 2024 but continued making payments afterward. Payments made during or after the determined forgiveness date will be refunded, providing additional relief to borrowers facing financial decisions such as saving for retirement. As student loan borrowers navigate critical decisions, the SAVE plan promises further relief, including reduced monthly payments later this summer. Advocates for debt forgiveness, including Natalia Abrams, president of the Student Debt Crisis Center, celebrate this initiative as a step toward achieving an affordable higher education system. This student debt cancellation aligns with the Joe Biden administration's ongoing efforts to address the financial challenges faced by student loan borrowers, even after setbacks such as the Supreme Court's rejection of the signature student loan forgiveness program. The move signifies a commitment to making education accessible and reducing the burden on lower- and middle-income individuals. READ MORE: Donald Trump-Supporting Truckers Warn to Boycott NYC This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Biden administration cancels another $1.2 billion in student loans - From TODAY Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Caracas on Tuesday with open arms, with Lavrov reciprocating by reaffirming Russia's support for the Maduro regime. The two allies, united by their opposition to the United States as noted by France 24, vowed to boost cooperation in oil and gas production and the "peaceful use of nuclear energy" during the meeting between their foreign ministers at the Venezuelan capital. Lavrov met with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil, as well as Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and they discussed "expanding cooperation in oil production, gas field development, agriculture, medicine and pharmaceuticals." "We also consider promising the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy; we also discussed this issue today (and) we agreed to increase the volume of cooperation in all these areas," he added during a press conference after the meeting. Last year, Lavrov also visited Venezuela and he and Maduro urged other countries that have been sanctioned by the United States to "join forces" against US efforts to "blackmail" them with sanctions. Nicolas Maduro has been one of the biggest supporters of Vladimir Putin's Russia and has been a key ally of the nuclear power. Venezuela, under Maduro, was one of the countries that expressed solidarity with Russia even after the country invaded Ukraine. "Venezuela is one of (Russia's) closest and most trusted friends in Latin America and in the world... we are united by close strategic partnership ties," added Lavrov, whose country has supported the Maduro regime as it faced US sanctions itself. READ MORE: Will Smith, National Geographic Help Discover New Giant Anaconda Species Discussions Ongoing Between Venezuela and Russia Over Various Matters Aside from the two countries expressing solidarity with one another amid US sanctions, the two countries are also negotiating other things, such as increasing the number of flights between both countries which are operated by Venezuela's state-owned airline. According to the Associated Press, the two countries are also discussing opening an insulin production plant in Venezuela that uses Russian technology. "Venezuela and Russia are two countries that are victims on the international stage of the illegal, irrational, illegitimate application of unilateral coercive measures," said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, who added that both countries "have woven a close relationship, a functional, structural relationship that allows us today to show concrete results to our people." Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Visit Brazil Next, After Venezuela Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is actually on a 3-country tour of Latin America. Before he arrived in Venezuela, he was in Cuba, a long-time Russian ally, since the Cold War. He met President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez there during his visit. However, after Caracas, Lavrov's next stop would be Brazil where he is expected to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Twenty (G20) in Rio de Janeiro. He will be spending two days in Brazil for that G20 meeting, according to Loop Caribbean News. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Does Not Condemn Vladimir Putin Over Alexander Navalny Death This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Russian FM visits Caracas, reaffirms support of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro - Associated Press In a devastating incident, an illegal Venezuela gold mine in La Paragua collapsed, leading to fears of numerous casualties, according to the town's mayor, Yorgi Arciniega. The tragedy has prompted conflicting reports on the scale of the disaster due to the region's remote location in the southeastern Bolivar state, according to CNN. Bolivar, a forested region, has faced challenges due to illegal mining, particularly for gold. Illegal mining, often controlled by criminal groups, has expanded, extending to Canaima National Park, a pristine area on the Venezuela-Brazil border. Relief teams and rescue workers have been mobilized to Bulla Loca, the site of the collapsed Venezuela gold mine, as authorities strive to assess the situation and provide accurate information. The region, known for illegal mining activities, has seen a surge in informal mining controlled by criminal groups, extending even to the pristine Canaima National Park on the Venezuela-Brazil border. READ NEXT: Guyana Vs. Venezuela Territorial Dispute Conflicting Reports on Casualties and Pleas for Assistance Mayor Arciniega estimates that at least 30 people have lost their lives, with around 100 more trapped beneath the debris. However, national officials have not confirmed this toll, and conflicting reports suggest a range of figures, CBS News noted. A recent accident in the Gran Sabana district just a few months ago resulted in at least 12 deaths, emphasizing the dangers associated with illegal mining in the region. Egar Colina, a security official in the Bolivar state government, urges caution, and state officials are working to update the official death toll as the rescue efforts continue. Relatives of the Venezuela gold mine workers anxiously await news in La Paragua, urging the government to send aircraft to the remote location for rescue and recovery operations, per the Daily Mail. The lack of immediate support raises concerns about the potential decomposition of bodies due to the challenging environmental conditions. The desperate situation at the collapsed Venezuela gold mine is described by survivor Carlos Marcano, 71, who emphasizes the terrifying experience. The harsh conditions of illegal mining, operating outside or on the fringes of the law, provide lucrative but perilous jobs for many Venezuelans. Illegal Mining Impact on Environment and Communities Mining in the southern states of Venezuela has led to deforestation, water pollution, and the extensive use of mercury in artisanal mining, contributing to mercury poisoning, Human Rights Watch reports. Miners, some as young as 10, endure grueling 12-hour shifts without proper protective gear. Indigenous communities face displacement, and a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights the link between illegal gold trafficking, armed conflict, and money laundering by criminal networks. The OECD emphasizes the need for countries to establish safeguards to prevent Venezuelan gold associated with human rights abuses and environmental harm from entering their territories. Venezuela gold mine companies are called upon to ensure they avoid complicity in these activities and take responsibility to prevent contributing to abuses in the pursuit of the precious metal. READ MORE: Haiti: Former First Lady Martine Moise Faces Murder Charge This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Gold mine collapses in Venezuela, dozens feared dead - From Associated Press A family is grieving the loss of 7-year-old Indiana girl Sloan Mattingly, who tragically lost her life on Tuesday in a horrifying incident at a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach in Florida, according to WANE. The Broward County Sheriff's Office identified Sloan as the victim, who, along with her 9-year-old brother, Maddox Mattingly, was buried under collapsing sand while playing on the Florida beach. According to authorities, the siblings were digging a deep hole in the sand when disaster struck, leading to their entrapment. Emergency crews rushed to the scene at approximately 3 PM, discovering Maddox buried up to his chest, with Sloan completely buried beneath him, as confirmed by Sandra King, a spokesperson for Pompano Beach Fire Rescue. Florida rescuers, facing a delicate situation, utilized support boards to prevent further sand collapse while employing shovels to free the trapped children. Meanwhile, the duration of their entrapment remains unknown. READ NEXT: Florida Woman Steals Patrol Vehicle Lack of Lifeguards Raises Safety Concerns A critical aspect of this tragedy has raised questions about Florida beach safety protocols. Experts in ocean rescue believe that the Indiana girl's death might have been preventable if lifeguards were present, Yahoo! News noted. In nearby coastal towns, lifeguards are instructed to caution beachgoers about the risks of digging in the sand, enforcing a maximum knee depth of about 2 feet. However, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea lacks lifeguard services, as King clarified. Jim McCrady, Vice President and Lifesaving Academies director of the US Lifesaving Association Southeast Region, emphasized the importance of lifeguard supervision. He pointed out that incidents like these rarely occur on guarded beaches, where lifeguards actively identify and mitigate potential dangers, including the depth of sand holes. Despite the absence of an immediate response from the town's spokespeople regarding the lifeguard situation, they confirmed that the Florida beach was open and the sand had been leveled after the incident. School Mourns Loss of Bright First Grader Lafayette Meadows Elementary School, where the Indiana girl and her brother were students, is grappling with the heartbreaking loss, per the NY Post. Jenny Fedele, the school's principal, released a statement expressing the sorrow felt by the school community. Sloan, described as a bright, sweet, and loving 1st-grade student, was remembered fondly by Ms. Vanbrocklin's class. "It is with a heavy heart that I write this letting you know we lost a precious member of the Lafayette Meadows school family," wrote Jenny Fedele of Lafayette Meadows Elementary School. "Sloan Mattingly was a bright, sweet, loving 1st-grade student in Ms. Vanbrocklin's class. Sloan passed away on Tuesday." This tragic incident sheds light on a broader issue of sand collapses at beaches. According to a report from the New England Journal of Medicine, there have been 52 instances of people becoming buried in holes due to collapsed sand, with 31 fatalities recorded between 1997 and 2007. The victims ranged in age from 3 to 21 years old, underlining the severity and potential dangers associated with digging in the sand. As the community mourns the loss of the Indiana girl, Sloan Mattingly, discussions on Florida beach safety measures, including lifeguard presence and public awareness campaigns, are likely to gain prominence to prevent such devastating incidents in the future. READ MORE: Ruby Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt Face Up To 30 Years Behind Bars This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: 7-year-old Indiana girl killed when a hole she dug in the sand collapsed on a Florida beach - From WTHR A man was stabbed in the chest and a suspect was taken into custody Wednesday in Coopersburg, authorities said. Borough police were called for the stabbing at 7:42 a.m. in an apartment in the 400 block of Main Street, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihans office said in a news release. Authorities found the 23-year-old victim suffering from the chest wound and he was taken for surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, according to the release. A tenant in the apartment, Manuel Garrido, was taken into custody, the release states. A witness told police that Garrido stabbed the victim during an argument in the apartments kitchen, and police found a large, bloody knife in the kitchen area, according to the release. Garrido, identified in court records as 35-year-old Manuel Garrido Jr., was arraigned Wednesday afternoon on two felony counts of aggravated assault, in addition to single misdemeanor counts of simple assault and possession of a weapon. District Judge Daniel Trexler sent Garrido to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, court records indicate. A preliminary was tentatively scheduled for Feb. 27 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. Garrido is being represented by the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office, court records state. The investigation is being conducted by Coopersburg police Investigator William Nahrgang, officer Robert Mathes and Chief Anthony Struss, as well as the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A pair of women agreeing to a street fight led to a shooting Tuesday evening that injured four people, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney. District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan told lehighvalleylive.com Thursday morning the incident was the result of the women agreeing to fight sometime prior to the 6:45 p.m. Tuesday incident. He said one of the women has a connection to the home in the 1800 block of West Turner Street, where the shooting happened. Both of the women brought groups of others with them to the altercation, Holihan said. The gunfire began after two men one from each group began to argue, Holihan said. One of the men was later identified as 22-year-old Axel Yadiel Suarez-Vidal of Allentown. Suarez-Vidal is accused of taking out a handgun and shooting into a crowd behind the home. Suarez-Vidal is charged with four counts of felony aggravated assault and seven counts misdemeanor reckless endangerment. Holihan announced the charges Wednesday after Suarez-Vidal surrendered to police earlier that morning. There are no other suspects in the incident, authorities said. A total of four victims three women and one man were struck by the gunfire. All went in personal vehicles to area hospitals for treatment before police arrived at the scene, authorities said. Allentown Police Capt. Daniel Gross Jr. previously said none of the victims injuries are life-threatening. Suarez-Vidal was arraigned Wednesday morning before District Judge David M. Howells Jr., who denied bail in the case. He was taken to the Lehigh County jail. The Lehigh County Public Defenders Office did not immediatly assign a lawyer for Suarez-Vidal. The case is being investigated by the Allentown Police Department, including the Criminal Investigation Division, the Identification Division and the Patrol Division, as well as the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office. Tuesdays shooting follows a violent weekend in the city, in which a 33-year-old man was found shot dead Saturday while attending the birthday party of a 1-year-old relative, authorities said. The incident happened shortly after 7:45 p.m. at East Walnut and South Dauphin streets, the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office said. No suspects have been announced in that shooting. Police continue to seek witnesses. Holihan said there is no evidence that the two shootings are connected. Four people were injured in a shooting Tuesday along West Turner Street in Allentown, city police said. The incident remains under investigation.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijani fitness trainer Kamil Zeynalli returned to Baku from Moscow, Trend reports. He was met at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by family members, as well as media representatives. Let us remind you that K. Zeynalli was detained on the evening of February 20 at the airport before boarding the Moscow-Baku flight. As he claimed, the detention was carried out on the basis of a request from the Armenian side. Later, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the issue is under the control of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. The deadline for consumers who were deceived by pre-approved credit card offers by Credit Karma to sign up to get their part of a $3 million settlement with federal regulators is almost here. The deadline to file your claim is March 4. The claims process, which was announced late last year, came after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleged that Credit Karma tricked consumers into believing they were pre-approved for a credit card or had 90% odds of approval, but in many cases, the consumers didnt qualify. Consumers who applied incurred a hard inquiry on their credit reports, and, if they were denied, may have damaged their credit scores unnecessarily, the FTC said. Nearly 500,000 consumers who may have been eligible to get a payment from the settlement were notified by the FTC about the claims process last year. The agency said most of the 497,425 affected consumers would get an email, but about 4,000 people who did not have an email address on file were supposed to get a notice in the mail. You can file a claim online at ftc.gov/CreditKarma. If you have questions, you can email info@CreditKarmaSettlement.com or call (866) 848-0871, the agency said. Its still unclear how much each consumer will get. Your payment amount will depend on several factors, including how many people file claims, the FTC said, adding that a mailing date for the payment has not yet been set. At the time the settlement was announced, Credit Karma said it disagreed with the FTCs allegations but it agreed to the settlement to put the allegations behind it. Any implication that Credit Karma rejected consumers applying for credit cards is simply incorrect, as Credit Karma is not a lender and does not make lending decisions, the spokesperson said at the time. Rather, Credit Karma helps our more than 130 million members understand their finances, including their likelihood of approval for financial products. We have a track record of positive outcomes, and members shopping for credit cards on Credit Karma have a significantly higher approval rate than the national average, the spokesperson said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on X at @KPMueller. A Pennsylvania sheriffs officer was arrested through an investigation into child pornography being stored digitally at a Jersey Shore vacation home, authorities said. Police located explicit material allegedly belonging to James C. Buckley on his iCloud account following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Cape May County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday. Buckley, 57, is a member of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. Hes listed as a Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania resident who owns property in Wildwood, the prosecutors office said. He was taken to Cape May County jail and charged with endangering the welfare of a child over the content, authorities said. Attorney information for Buckley was not available Wednesday. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday it learned of the charges on Tuesday, and immediately suspended Buckley under agency policy. As an agency committed to upholding the law and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability, we take these allegations extremely seriously, the sheriffs office officials said in a statement. Cape May County authorities alleged that Buckley both spread and stored sex material through the cloud service. Investigators became aware of the content in March 2020, according to an affidavit of probable cause. While meeting with investigators Tuesday, Buckley admitted emailing the content to himself, intending to store it through the cloud system, the document states. Buckley said during questioning he accessed the images through the social media website Tumblr, finding them at a point during the COVID-19 pandemic, the affidavit states. Buckley faces upward of 10 years in state prison if convicted. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. Millions of families across the country and 338,000 in New Jersey could soon lose a benefit that provides $30 per month of savings on internet bills. Funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program will run out this spring, probably by April, Rep. Frank Pallone, NJ-6, said Wednesday during an event in Red Bank. These days, high-speed internet is not a luxury its a necessity, said Pallone, who noted that the COVID pandemic made internet access essential. Americans depend on internet access to do their jobs, run their small businesses, study for school, meet with their doctor for a telehealth visit, and connect with family and friends. Pallone, calling the issue a priority, said Congress needs to include additional funding in coming spending bills. Because of the funding concerns, the program stopped accepting new applications on Feb. 7. The more people we get connected, the more we can close the digital divide, said Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which administers the program. More than a million people in New Jersey were eligible for the current benefit, officials said. To date, only 338,000 New Jersey families participated. Under the program, those who signed up at getinternet.gov received a $30 monthly discount on internet service, and also received a $100 discount to buy a laptop, desktop or tablet. Households must have had income thats not higher than 200% of the federal poverty level to be eligible, officials said. Families were also eligible if they received Medicaid, food stamps, aid through the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, free or reduced price school lunches or federal public housing assistance. Also eligible were those who received Supplemental Security Income, veterans pension and survivors benefits, Pell Grants or who already received subsidies for phone or internet service under the Lifeline program. New Jersey received more than $6 million in funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed internet service throughout the state. At the time, Gov. Phil Murphy said the money was crucial funding that will dramatically expand access to affordable high-speed internet in our state. The governors office did not respond to requests for comment about why more families in the state didnt sign up for the benefits. The state Board of Public Utilities previously said it was encouraging residents to sign up, but did not comment on why only 338,000 of a million eligible families in the state participated in the program. Those people who dont have internet service because they cant afford it, theyre really behind the times, Pallone said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on X at @KPMueller. A woman admitted assaulting two female Gardai in a nasty incident in Portlaoise. Helen Connors, 20, of 1 Kiltalown Hill, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24 admitted assaulting two female Gardai at Marian Avenue, Portlaoise on August 9, 2021. She also admitted stealing groceries from Aldi in Portlaoise on the same date. Garda Sgt Derek Barnett said he was on duty at Portlaoise Garda Station when Garda Counihan and Garda OShea returned to the station at 8.30pm on the date in question. They were visibly shaken. They were upset and they alleged that they were assaulted on Marion Avenue in Portlaoise, he said. He said the gardai informed him that they had stopped the defendant in the area and attempted to effect an arrest. She allegedly pushed them, grabbed them and scratched them, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. Sgt Barnett said he was informed the assault had lasted a number of minutes. Defence solicitor Micheal Byrne said he had no questions for the witness. Garda Ailbhe Counihan took to the stand and explained that she had responded to an allegation of theft from Aldi in Portlaoise on the date in question. A female in white pants had left the store without paying for a number of items, she explained. Garda Counihan said she travelled in the direction of the Abbeyleix Road and stopped the patrol car to speak to Ms Connors. She said the defendant resisted arrest and began hitting us and kicking before running off towards the Old Knockmay Road. At Marion Ave, Garda Counihan said she caught up with the defendant. She said another attempt was made to arrest the defendant but she was kicking us and hitting us and with the aid of another individual she managed to get away. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said he was working on the evening. It was a nasty incident, Judge, he told Judge Nicola Andrews at Portlaoise District Court. I am instructed to offer an apology, said Mr Byrne. She feels very, very sorry for what she did on the day in question, said Mr Byrne. He explained that his client was only 17 when the incident occurred. Sgt Kirby said the defendant has previous convictions for road traffic offences and theft. I am troubled by how she behaved on the night towards members of An Garda Siochana, said Judge Andrews. Mr Byrne said his client was pregnant at the time of the offence. On the ground, she instructs me, she was being manhandled, he said. Sgt Kirby said she wasnt on the ground during the incident. Judge Andrews reminded Mr Byrne that his client was pleading guilty to the offence. The guards are contesting the facts in relation to the arrest, he said. They said she hit out and kicked gardai and ran off, said Mr Byrne. She fell to her knees and went to the ground, he claimed. Judge Andrews asked Mr Byrne if he would like to call his client to give evidence and the defendant took the stand. She recalled the garda approaching and telling her she was being arrested. She grabbed me by the arm and she turned me around and I fell, said Ms Connors. I fell to the ground at that point I was trying to get up, she explained. I explained to her I am pregnant, she said. This is why I felt afraid and this is why I behaved violently, she told Judge Andrews. Sgt Kirby said I have to put it to you that you didnt fall. I did fall, I was on my knees, she insisted. The guards were acting lawfully in the course of their duty, said Sgt Kirby. I didnt say they werent, the defendant replied. I was 17 at the time, I was afraid, the woman said. I felt unsafe because I wasnt aware of what I was getting arrested for, she said. Mr Byrne said his client does accept that she assaulted the two gardai. He said there was no question that the gardai had acted in any way but lawfully and he asked the judge to consider a probation report. Judge Andrews said the defendant was already the subject of a probation report. She said the woman had assaulted members of An Garda Siochana. I have very little tolerance for this type of behaviour, said Judge Andrews. She said she could not let the incident go unchecked. She convicted her on one count of assaulting Garda Counihan. She took the second assault charge and the theft charge into consideration. Judge Andrews imposed a two month sentence which she suspended for 12 months. She fixed recognisance in case of appeal. The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court's dismissal of convicted rapist Michael Murray's challenge against a disciplinary sanction imposed on him by the prison authorities in Laois. Murray lost ordinary privileges at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise for a period of 40 days for throwing a bible at a Judge during a sentencing hearing at the Courts of Criminal Justice in late July 2021. At that hearing Murray was given a 16-year prison sentence for making threats to the barristers who had prosecuted him, and for harassing others involved in his trial. In 2022 Mr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed Murray's action against the Governor of the Midlands Prison over the sanction. The Governor was "lawfully entitled" to discipline and sanction Murray in the manner which he did. Murray appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal (CoA). In its judgement the three judge CoA comprised of Ms Justice Una NI Raifeartaigh, Mr Justice Donald Binchy, and Ms Justice Nuala Butler dismissed all but one of the arguments raised by Murray in his appeal. The CoA said it was in agreement with the conclusions reached by the lower court in respect of the sanction imposed on Murray and was correct to dismiss his action in all but one respect. The CoA did find in Murrays favour concerning the High Courts refusal to refusal to recommend payment to the legal representatives under the Legal Aid Custody Issue Scheme. The CoA said it was prepared to allow the appeal on that issue only. The action arose after Murray, aged 52 years, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney in Co Dublin, was being sentenced in July 2021 after being found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of threatening to kill barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy SC. He was also convicted of harassing Mr McGinn. He was further convicted of harassing his former solicitor, and against a woman he was convicted of raping by advertising them online as prostitutes. Murray had denied the charges. Murray was excluded from the sentencing hearing, and moved to another courtroom to watch proceedings via a video link, after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. Murray was convicted in 2013 of the rape and sexual assault of a woman whose child he abducted. He made the threats to the parties on dates between late 2014 and early 2015, while he was serving the 19-year sentence he received for rape. A complaint about his conduct at the hearing was made to the Governor of the Midlands Prison, where he was incarcerated. Following a disciplinary process Murray received a sanction from the Governor, which involved of a loss of ordinary privileges within the prison, including restrictions on his recreation time, visits and phone calls. In his judicial review action against the Governor, where the Irish Prison Service, Minister for Justice & Equality, Ireland and the Attorney General Murray, were notice parties Murray claimed that the Governor was not entitled to impose such a sanction on him. He claimed that the sanction could not be imposed as the alleged misconduct was committed while he was in the custody of the court, and not of the prison authorities. The prison authorities lacked the power to impose a sanction on a prisoner for any breach of the 2007 Prison Rules Act or discipline when that person is in the custody of the court, he also alleged. Any such breach could only be dealt with by the presiding judge by way of a finding of contempt of court, it was further claimed. The claims were denied. In his judgement Mr Justice Meenan said that at the relevant time Murray was in lawful custody outside of the prison and came within the legal definition of a prisoner within the 2007 rules. Murray appealed that decision and argued the High Court had erred in its findings. Giving the CoAs decision Ms Justice Ni NI Raifeartaigh said that the court was in no doubt that at all times in the custody of the Governor at the sentencing hearing. The CoA did not accept and was unpersuaded by Murrays important keystone argument that he was in the custody of the court at the time of the book throwing incident. The court added that it did not accept the novel proposition that there is a concept of judicial custody into which a prisoner passes when physically present in a courtroom. The Governor, the CoA concluded was within jurisdiction and had acted in accordance with the prison rules when the sanction was imposed. A plan to convert a dwelling near Naas town centre into apartments has been shelved. A Naas Municipal District meeting was told that the development was planned for the Alms House at Dublin Road. According to Kildare County Council the Peter McVerry Trust, the national homeless and housing charity which is committed to tackling homelessness, had intended to redevelop this property. The plan was to provide three self contained own door units consisting of one bedroom each, for housing accommodation purposes. But the trust has recently advised KCC it is no longer in a position to carry out this redevelopment. Read more Kildare news KCC is currently in talks with the St Vincent de Paul Society regarding ownership of and the future use of the property. Cllr Anne Breen said the house was once used to house destitute women in Naas. She also said it is a protected structure. According to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage the building, also known as the Widows House, is of considerable historical and social importance and the building attests to the longstanding presence of an almshouse on the site, the earliest of which is dated to 1590. It was extensively renovated in the last 20th century to accommodate a residential use and the building remains unattractive feature on the streetscape. It dates back to 1919. The parochial house in Athy was broken into and set on fire after the parish priest twice gave money to a man who approached him for help, it was alleged at Naas District Court. Before the court was James Rowan, 45, stated to be of no fixed abode, who faces allegations of criminal damage and burglary on February 18. The court was told that hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damage was caused to the premises. Garda Ken McDonald claimed before the court that the property was broken into and set on fire. He said the defendant called to the house for money and was given 10 by parish priest Fr Liam Rigney to get a bus to Dublin. The defendant returned later asking for 2.50 for a cup of tea, which was given to him by Fr Rigney, who then left. The garda said it will be alleged the defendant stole cash and items. The defendant was seen on CCTV carrying a pillow case containing a number of items and he was arrested two days after the incident. Cross-examined by solicitor Brian Larkin, Gda McDonald said CCTV images do not show the man setting the house on fire. The garda objected to bail being granted and said the man has a hatred towards the clergy and the priesthood. He feared he would commit further crime to feed a drug habit. He claimed the defendant said Fr Rigney should have been tied to the bed and burned in it. He further claimed he said ninety per cent of priests in the country should be drowned. Fire brigade personnel attended the scene but there is smoke and water damage and the house cannot be lived in. Read more Kildare news It's claimed that the defendant used a shovel he found to smash two windows to get access. The pillow case was taken from the house, the garda added, and the defendant was seen with it in a car park. Gda McDonald described the defendant as a chronic drug addict and he has not admitted the offence. Mr Larkin said the defendant took his first drug, cannabis, at 15 years and graduated to other substances like heroin. He added the defendant has nothing against Fr Rigney. The defendant said he did not bear the priest any ill will. He said he was molested years ago but that is dealt with. He added he has a friend who is a priest and undertook to stay away from Fr Rigney if granted bail. He wants to get into treatment for addiction and his counsellor is willing to arrange this. He said he had a stent inserted after having a heart attack at 40 and his mother died of a heart attack at 50. Referring to the defendants claim of being molested, Judge Desmond Zaidan said you cannot taint all priests or clerics with the same brush. He said some of the comments allegedly made by the defendant would send shivers down your spine though they could have been made out of frustration. The priest was good to him. He welcomed him twice and gave him 10 and 2.50. The defendant is presumed innocent, the judge added, and youd have to be inhuman not to feel sorry for drug addicts. If he could send the man to a treatment centre he would. Ne refused him bail and remanded him in custody. The judge also directed that he receive medical treatment in custody and the defendant criticised the lack of medical services available in prisons. Azerconnect company has once again been chosen as the Top Employer in Azerbaijan by the influential Top Employer Institute. By being awarded this certificate once again for 2024, the company has demonstrated its dedication to implemeting the best international human resources practices in its operations, as well as its commitment to providing decent working conditions for its employees. Azerconnect underwent an evaluation by the Top Employer Institute in six categories consisting of 20 areas, including work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity, equity & inclusion, wellbeing, and in recognition of its excellence was honored with the award. We take great pride in being honored with this prestigious award for the second consecutive year. Through the seamless integration of cutting-edge human capital practices into our operations, we continue fostering excellence within our company, stated Emil Masimov, Chief Executive Officer of Azerconnect company. As a result of our contributions to the creation of a workplace culture that emphasizes the well-being, professional development, and inclusion of employees, I am very pleased to witness our company being selected as the Top Employer in Azerbaijan by the Top Employer Institute once again. Developing Azerconnect as an inspiring workplace and evaluating the best projects and activities dedicated to improving the career development and well-being of each employee according to international values is a matter of pride, said Matanat Babayeva, Chief Human Resources Officer of Azerconnect company. Exceptional times bring out the best in people and organisations. We have witnessed this in our Top Employers Certification Programme this year: exceptional performance from the certified Top Employers 2024. These employers have always shown that they care for the development and well-being of their people. By doing so, they collectively enrich the world of work. We are proud to announce and celebrate this years group of leading people-oriented employers: the Top Employers 2024, said David Plink, Chief Executive Officer of the Top Employer Institute. In 2024, Top Employers Institute has certified more than 2 300 organisations in 122 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 9 million employees globally. Azerconnect company is part of NEQSOL Holding. NEQSOL Holding operates in eleven countries across telecommunications, energy, high technologies, and construction industries, employing more than 12,000 professionals. The Government is considering bringing RTE under the remit of the States auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General, as part of its plans to reform the broadcaster. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday evening that the move is being considered. The change could give the audit office powers over the broadcasters spending. Mr Varadkar made the comments days after saying he supports a cap on RTE exit payments and that confidentiality clauses should be avoided in the future. It comes as RTE briefed Minister for Media Catherine Martin after it received further legal advice regarding publication of exit packages. RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst and chairwoman of the RTE board Siun Ni Raghallaigh provided the minister with the update. Earlier this week, Mr Varadkar said he has confidence in Mr Bakhurst and Ms Ni Raghallaigh, saying they are doing their best to stabilise the organisation. The Fine Gael leader said he wants maximum transparency when it comes to exit packages at RTE. The public and the government want to know exactly what the nature of these exit packages were. Where some are early retirements, we want to know how it was calculated, Mr Varadkar said on Tuesday. Where it was redundancy and exit package, we want to be assured that there were real savings here, that these posts are not backfilled and were genuine redundancies. TWO MEN who tragically lost their lives in a collision in Limerick have been named locally. Darragh Dullea, aged 20, from Clonakilty, Cork and Cillian Kirwan, aged 19, from Piltown, Kilkenny, were killed in the incident on the N69 on Tuesday evening. According to gardai the car collided with a wall. Two other young men in the car were taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment for non-life threatening injuries. All four men were second year students in Agricultural Mechanisation at Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry. The course is run jointly by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). Students from the college laid flowers near the scene of the single-car collision at Ballyengland, near Askeaton on Wednesday. TUS are currently providing counselling services for students and staff at the college to help them with their loss. Its tragic and its shocking. Were numb here in the college this morning and their fellow students are numb, said Derek ODonoghue, principal of Salesian Agricultural College. Its tragic, two young lives lost Its hard putting words on it, to be quite honest. We hear it every weekend Its only when it comes onto your own doorstep, that it really hits home and unfortunately, we lost two young lives last night, Mr ODonoghue added. The bodies of the deceased were removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem will take place in due course. The fire service was alerted just after 7:30pm to the incident which occurred in the townland of Ballyengland Lower, around two kilometres outside Askeaton on the Limerick side of the town. Gardai, the National Ambulance Service and four units of the fire service responded - including two units each from Foynes and Rathkeale. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and who were travelling in the area at the time, are asked to make this footage available to gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Askeaton garda station 061 601630 or any garda station. Leo Varadkar has said he is unsure that the wording on care proposed by the Citizens Assembly is stronger than the care amendment that will be put to the public in a referendum. There are two referenda being held on March 8 that propose changing Irelands constitution. The second, the care amendment, proposes deleting Article 41.2.1 and 41.2.2, which make reference to a womans life and duties in the home, and insert a new article that acknowledges family carers. The Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality recommended to replace the wording with language that was not gender specific and obliges the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community. The wording being put to people in the referendum says the State shall strive to support the provision of care by family members to one another. Asked about the chosen wording, the Taoiseach said that there is a different language that some people preferred. And that was the state would take reasonable measures, but whats reasonable? Is that actually stronger? Im not even entirely sure it is. One thing a government always has to do is make decisions and make difficult choices. So, I was there 12-13 years ago when we werent talking about more resources for anything. We were talking about cutbacks. And governments always have to make difficult decisions. So, if you put in language, say, which was really, really, really strong around care, but you dont have any language in about cancer treatment, then youve a problem. So, you have to leave some discretion to the people you elect to decide how resources are allocated, how the money is spent, because if you put everything in the constitution, its actually the courts who will decide, not the people who you elect, and thats not a good idea. The Taoiseach said there had been scaremongering on the wording of the other referendum, which proposes extending the definition of family beyond those based on marriage and to those based on durable relationships. Durable is not a word weve looked at in the dictionary, he said. Its there already in law in the cohabiting legislation from 2010 and its also already there in European law. So, a durable relationship is one thats caring, its committed, its there to last. You cant just accidentally find yourself in one and the kind of things we have in mind again will be a one-parent family, cohabitees, a family led by a grandparent or guardian. In a lot of ways these things are actually in our law already. So, people in receipt of the one-parent family payments, thats under social welfare law, cohabitants have certain responsibilities to each other, thats in law from 2010. What this does in many ways is constitutional catch-up. He added: We did think long and hard about the wording. And, you know, thats one of the reasons why it took so long to come to this. We got legal advice, we got the Irish translators in the room during the meetings, because its the Irish version that actually has precedence in law. So, we put a lot of thought into into the wording and durable, again, its not a word thats in the Constitution at the moment, but is already there in the law and in European law, and has a lot of case law around it as well. RTE is currently completely unable to release details of executives exit packages dating back to 2016, the director general has said. Kevin Bakhurst said the organisation has been under pressure to release those details but said he has received legal advice that to do so would be breaking the law. On publishing that advice, the national broadcaster confirmed that it has asked former executives to waive their right to confidentiality on their exit agreements. It follows the revelation that former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe received a voluntary redundancy package worth 450,000 euros. Mr Bakhurst has also defended a decision to give an exit payment to former strategy director Rory Coveney, who was described as the driving force behind a musical which accrued 2.2 million euros in losses for the broadcaster. However, the exact amount of the payment has not been disclosed. Advice by legal firm Arthur Cox, published by RTE on Thursday, states that both employees and former employees have a legal right that their personal data relating to their employment is not made publicly available. If such information is published, we remain of the view that this would contravene employees contractual and statutory rights thereby exposing RTE to avoidable legal challenge, a letter dated February 21 stated. While RTE has sent letters to eight former executives asking them to waive confidentiality themselves, Mr Bakhurst said: I dont want the expectations to be very high because that is entirely their gift to waive their confidentiality. Mr Bakhurst told Newstalks The Hard Shoulder: We have to wait for their responses. But look, I want to be realistic about whether theyre likely to do it. I dont think they are but its the only avenue open to me to try and see if thats possible. The organisation agreed confidentiality as part of the legal settlement in many cases. So therefore, they may question why they want to do it but you know, Ive written to see if they are prepared to do it. Speaking to RTEs News At One radio programme, the director general said he would be examining other ways of driving transparency looking forward. Mr Coveney, the brother of enterprise minister Simon Coveney, received a package when he resigned and his role was made redundant in July last year the same week Mr Bakhurst took the helm. Mr Bakhurst said RTE expects to recoup the cost of the payment to Mr Coveney by July this year. The director general also said there were no grounds to sack Mr Coveney and that if he had taken an unfair dismissal case, he would have typically been entitled to two years pay. Mr Bakhurst said, in that circumstance, RTE could potentially have been forced to pay out double what Mr Coveney was actually given. These comments have contributed to speculation the payment was approximately one years salary, believed to be up to 200,000 euros. When asked at the time if Mr Coveney had received an exit fee going out the door, Mr Bakhurst told reporters on his first day in the job that there was no ex gratia payment and added that it was not fair to talk about individuals. He said: He didnt get a payment going out the door but he is entitled as other people are to statutory-level payments when they leave an organisation. Asked about the comments on Thursday, Mr Bakhurst said: I was trying to be as accurate as I can within the realms of the confidentiality thats made clear here that he deserves. Acknowledging his comment may have been influenced by his previous work in the UK, he said: Statutory level would normally mean a week for every year of service, is my understanding. So I was trying to give an idea that he did get paid, but not an extortionate amount without giving the exact details. I was trying to tread a careful line between being as open as I possibly could in the circumstances but trying to respect whats been laid out in these legal letters. It was put to Mr Bakhurst that a statutory redundancy payment in Ireland, which is two weeks pay capped at 600 euros per week for every year of service plus one bonus week, would likely be less than 20,000 euros in the case of Mr Coveneys 16 years of service. The director general replied: I think that maybe thats where I misspoke. It was further put that he had presented a situation where Mr Coveney was given a modest payment. Mr Bakhurst said: Thats not what I intended at the time. He also said on Thursday that while he understands why there has been a focus on Mr Coveney, he believes the attention has been unfair. He worked at RTE for 16 years, under various directors generals. He did a great job. Clearly, the Toy Show The Musical was a failure, but he was not alone in that project. So I was trying to be fair to him as well and also fair to his reputation and to a man who needs to go out and find another job. In a separate legal letter from February 21, with the subject line certain arrangements entered into with former employees, Arthur Cox states that the deals agreed represented a better commercial outcome for RTE than alternatives. We can confirm that these arrangements were carefully considered weighing up legal risk along with the cost, time and uncertainty surrounding alternative options. In our view, the terms ultimately agreed represented a better commercial outcome for RTE than the alternative options available combined with the attendant risks associated with same and fell within parameters of similar arrangements we have seen in both the private and semi-state sectors. Mr Bakhurst said that to reject such clear legal advice would be reckless. Asked if the organisation would be prevented from publishing the details of only some of the executives exit arrangements due to leaving open a process of elimination for individuals who decline to waive confidentiality, Mr Bakhurst said this would be something RTE would have to look at very carefully. In a third letter dated October 5, it acknowledges RTEs aim for transparency, but said it is in receipt of a number of objections and complaints expressing concerns about the potential disclosure of personal data without the consent of the employees concerned. If such information is published in a manner where employees could be identified then we are of the view that this would create significant employee and industrial relations issues for RTE, as well as potentially resulting in legal exposure depending on the nature of the publication. The potential for such issues is borne out by correspondence RTE has received to date from concerned current and former employees. Arthur Cox also said it is not aware of any contractual provision that contemplates the general publication of employees information, and said the release of sensitive data could undermine the trust and confidence required in employer-employee relationships. Mr Bakhurst said RTE was examining caps on exit payments and looking at making confidentiality agreements very much the exception. However, he added: There are ramifications with that. If you put a cap on exit payments and you are going through a period which you will have to shrink the organisation, you will end up unduly shrinking the organisation by losing junior colleagues because you cant afford to pay off more senior people whether its under an extra scheme or whatever else to go. Meanwhile, RTE also confirmed on Thursday evening that two producer directors of Toy Show The Musical received additional payments on top of their salary. It was confirmed that the two staff members were paid separately through a subsidiary. Mr Bakhurst said he was unaware of the arrangement as it had taken place before he took up the top position. As far as Im concerned, the two individuals involved were carrying on doing their RTE work. Im told that they were, in their spare time, working on Toy Show The Musical and I understand they worked extremely hard over a period of time on it and they were paid separately for that, he told RTEs Six One programme. I think it was widely known at the time that they were doing both jobs. I dont see thats an issue about it. I know both individuals and they are extremely talented and not at the most senior level of the organisation. I think its unfortunate and a little bit unfair to have a renewed focus back on those individuals to be brutally honest. A renovated former schoolhouse in west Cork is the first property through to the final of RTE's Home of the Year 2024. USE ARROWS OR NEXT BUTTON TO SEE MORE PICTURES The tenth series of the popular show returned to our television screens on Tuesday night with three properties being put under the microscope - in Clare, Dublin and west Cork. Making the difficult decisions again this year are the judging panel which is made up of architects Hugh Wallace and Amanda Bone and interior designer Sara Cosgrove. The first home through to the final is a former schoolhouse in west Cork which was built more than 100 years ago. Its 'magical' living space and art captivated the judges who awarded it 27 marks out of a possible 30 Artist Ian Humphreys and his wife Sarah share their home, which they purchased in 2019, with their son Jo Jo. Hugh Wallace, a judge for all 10 series of Home of the Year, told viewers the property was effortless and full of personality while Amanda Bone, who gave the home a perfect score of ten, was taken by Ian's favourite spot - his artist's studio. I am just blown away. I think its amazing Ill stop now before I start crying, she said. All three judges told viewers they were impressed by the art and up-cycled furniture that can be found throughout the 120-year-old property. It feels of the locality, West Cork bohemian. Its got its own culture and vibe and I think this house reflects that beautifully," said Sara Cosgrove. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HomeoftheYear Ireland (@rtehomeoftheyear) The new series will also feature re-imagined semi-detached homes, renovation projects, architectural homes, restored period homes and new builds in locations in Antrim, Cork, Derry, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Waterford and Wicklow. Home of the Year is broadcast on RTE One television and the RTE Player at 8.30pm on Tuesdays. Local TD Frank Feighan has expressed his delight with the allocation of 300,000 towards the progression of the Lough Key Greenway to Carrick-on-Shannon. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has issued the Greenways and national road funding allocations today to local authorities for 2024. TII is responsible for securing the provision of a safe and efficient road network and provides annual funding allocations to local authorities for this purpose. TII has also recently been assigned responsibility for Greenways. Roscommon County Council will receive a total of 72,720,412 which includes 63m for the Ballaghaderreen to Longford Bypass on the N5. Back in 2022 we received an allocation of 250,000 towards this project which has really great potential to connect North Roscommon with the county town in Leitrim and connecting into other tourism markets which will benefit both counties. I have had communications with Minister Eamon Ryan, Roscommon County Council and TII pressing for the Lough Key to Carrick greenway, and I am so pleased to see this funding to continue the work and progress a project that I believe will provide great opportunities for tourism for the Boyle area, stated Deputy Feighan. A proposed constitutional change on care is ageist and ableist, a new campaign group has claimed. An upcoming referendum proposes deleting Article 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution, which make reference to a womans role and duties in the home, and replace it with a new article, 42B, that acknowledges family carers. However, the newly founded Equality Not Care group feels the Government is discriminating against disabled people and their family members and has called for a no vote on this referendum. It believes 42B would perpetuate the notion of people with impairments being burdens on families rather than equal rightsholders. It wants a referendum that expresses a modern interpretation of equality of the sexes with due regard for intersectionality as protected under the nine grounds in Irelands equality legislation. These are gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community. Spokeswoman Ann Marie Flanagan said: 42B seeks to deny our autonomy, dignity and equality. It also seeks to deny us the right to State support such as personal assistance services. We have a Disability Act 2005 that is still not fully commenced, already forcing parents into court for a Needs Assessment for their children. What is required is constitutional obligations to provide support services to enable everyone to participate in economic, social and cultural life. This referendum is made up of smoke and mirrors which is designed to confuse and mislead women and men, providing support and requiring support. It is a complete disregard for peoples rights. There is no dignity or autonomy in this referendum. Given that the majority of carers are women, Ms Flanagan said the proposed wording would remove any mention of their economic rights and denigrates the dignity of the family. Michael ODowd said the wording fails to fulfil the comprehensive support promised by the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality which recommended the referendum. He said the wording was abdicating on creating a truly equitable society. Mr ODowd added: We firmly oppose the notion that support should rest on families, as this unfairly entangles lives and overlooks the rights of adults with support needs to have independent lives. It further denies other family members that same right. Dr Margaret Kennedy said that 42B would amount to discrimination based on age and disability. She said: Equality of men and women, includes disabled woman and men and older women and men. It is one of two referenda to be held on March 8. The group said it had no collective position on the other referendum which proposes amending Article 41 of the constitution to extend the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and include those based on durable relationships. Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has appealed to his Fine Gael colleagues to campaign towards a yes-yes vote. Speaking at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said he never took referenda votes for granted. He told his party colleagues that accepting the proposed changes to the constitution would extend the definition of a family to those who are excluded, like lone parents and families headed by a grandparent or guardian. CVS Health invests nearly $35 million in affordable housing in Hawai'i The investments are one of many initiatives ranging from retail to workforce and philanthropy that exemplify the company's longstanding commitment to the people of Hawai'i WOONSOCKET, R.I., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced its contribution of nearly $35 million in equity investments towards the creation of two new affordable housing developments in Hawai'i. Located in Lahaina, Maui and Kapolei, Oahu, the communities will also offer residents supportive social and educational programs tailored to address their specific needs. In addition to other multiple funding partners, these investments support the state of Hawai'i's priorities in early childcare and affordable housing and exemplify the power of public and private collaborations. In collaboration with Urban Housing Communities, Ikaika 'Ohana, and Hunt Capital Partners, CVS Health invested $17.5 million to help build 200 new affordable housing units at Kai?ulu o K?ku'ia in Lahaina, Maui. This development will bring critically needed affordable housing for families in the area, much of which was devastated by the 2023 Maui wildfires. Ikaika 'Ohana, co-developer and Hawai'i-based nonprofit, will be coordinating services to residents including immunizations and health screenings, childcare, GED and ESL classes, occupational certification courses, resume preparation and job referrals, and financial counseling. In addition, the Bezos Academy will be operating a Montessori preschool onsite free of charge for the pre-school aged children living at Kai?ulu o K?ku'ia. "Hunt Capital Partners is proud to be part of the rebuilding of Lahaina. The affordable rental homes at Kai?ulu o K?ku'ia will be the first permanent housing to be delivered in Lahaina since the devasting fires in August," shared Steve Colon, Executive Vice President of Hunt Companies. "Our partners UHC and Ikaika 'Ohana are delivering a critically needed rental housing community that will enable 200 area families to move into homes starting this coming December." Colon continued, "All of us at Hunt are grateful to have collaborated with the community and organizations like UHC and Ikaika 'Ohana as we create affordable housing for local families statewide, but particularly now on Maui, which needs so much of our support. With this investment, CVS Health is changing lives and helping to put island residents into their own homes." Furthering its investment in the state, CVS Health also invested $17.3 million with The Kobayashi Group, The Ahe Group and CREA, LLC to build 169 new affordable housing units in Parkway Village at Kapolei, on the Island of O'ahu. Horizon Housing Foundation, a St. Louis-based nonprofit, will be providing no-cost services to residents, including education and building community, health, and wellness programs Kamehameha Schools, a Hawai'i-based, nationally recognized education group, will operate a tuition free preschool on the ground floor of one of the five residential buildings, along with the Board of Education and Partners in Development Foundation. "Parkway Village is an incredible project in Hawai'i's fastest growing community that we are so proud of ," said Alana Kobayashi Pakkala, Executive Vice President and Managing Partner of Kobayashi Group. "We know the importance of affordable housing and early childhood education, especially in West O'ahu, so we're grateful for this public-private collaboration with CVS Health, City and County of Honolulu and HHFDC." The integration of early childcare facilities into both developments aligns with the state's universal access to preschool initiative, Ready Keiki, spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. "Partnerships, such as the collaboration with CVS Health, play a pivotal role in fostering nurturing communities, where families receive comprehensive support, and our children are provided with the environment to thrive and realize their full potential," said Luke. "As we work to ensure all Hawai?i children are ready for kindergarten and beyond, the support from CVS Health and community partners is invaluable." With the addition of Kai?ulu o K?ku'ia and Parkway Village, CVS Health has invested $62.2 million in affordable housing across Hawai'i to date, highlighting the company's efforts to advance health equity by addressing social determinants of health at the local level. Through these investments, CVS Health has provided historically underserved Hawai'i communities with quality housing and increased access to childcare and health care services based on the unique needs of each local population. Beyond its affordable housing investments, CVS Health's commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Hawai'i residents can be seen through its philanthropic efforts, workforce initiatives and expanded retail presence in the region. Residents of Kai?ulu o K?ku'ia and Parkway Village will have access to educational opportunities and employment services and training through two new career skills labs in Kahului and Waim?nalo. Funded in collaboration with CVS Health and the University of Hawai'i Maui College and Hawai'i Job Corps, respectively, the mock Longs Drugs pharmacy environments offer virtual and hands-on pharmacy technician skills training to help reduce employment barriers and provide the tools participants need to succeed in the workplace. And recently, CVS Health opened a new Longs Drugs store in Kapolei on O'ahu, marking the company's 60th Longs Drugs location in Hawai'i. Given the significance of local relationship to Lahaina residents, financing a new affordable housing investment after the wildfires reinforces the importance of Longs as an anchor in the community. Following the 2023 Maui wildfires, the area pharmacy team provided daily deliveries to three community shelters to help ensure continued access to medication and hosted a three-week drive-thru donation clinic to provide preventative care and essential goods to residents while working to reopen the impacted store for the community as quickly as possible. Also, following the fires, the CVS Health Foundation committed $450,000 to several organizations providing direct relief, including the Hawai'i Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund, the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen. CVS Health customers contributed over $2 million to our in-store fundraising campaign to support the Maui Strong Fund and the Maui United Way. "These investments and collaborations echo our longstanding commitment to supporting and uplifting the people of Hawai'i," said Scott Sutton, Regional Director, CVS Health. "We're providing community members with access to meaningful affordable housing, health care, and educational and workforce opportunities to ensure that they have the resources they need to improve their overall wellbeing." About CVS Health CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues ? including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health ? whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system ? and their personal health care ? by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media. Media contacts Monica Prinzing 831-241-8294 [email protected] Rebecca Ferrick [email protected] SOURCE CVS Health 21 february 2024 at 20:45 News published onand distributed by: Nord Anglia Education launches international metacognition research with Boston College New research to examine how metacognitive skills support students' learning. LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading international schools group Nord Anglia Education today announced the official launch of its 'Metacognition Research Project' in partnership with the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. As part of a response to the rapidly changing nature of education, Nord Anglia is pioneering a research-informed, innovative approach to metacognition in the classroom that deepens students' self-awareness of their own thinking processes and the learning strategies they can use to achieve success. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, it is more important than ever to strengthen the capacity of human intelligence. Metacognition is often referred to as the process of 'thinking about thinking' and research literature indicates that having better metacognitive skills helps students to learn and retain more. Nord Anglia aims to unlock students' metacognitive potential through a research-based, systematic approach across its global network. Currently being piloted across 27 Nord Anglia schools around the world, the research is a joint undertaking between Nord Anglia and Boston College. Specifically, it will explore the development of students' metacognitive abilities over a two-year period, looking at the links between metacognition and academic achievement, student wellbeing, and skill development in areas such as creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. The project will allow Nord Anglia to systematically model and apply these concepts through authentic classroom experiences and to capture student understanding and growth through their reflection of their learning. There are four key areas to the research: Defining how progress in metacognitive skills can be assessed and evidenced. Identifying how student growth in 21st century skills such as creativity and compassion can be measured and visualised. Examining the relationship between the growth of each aspect of metacognition with academic outcomes and student wellbeing. Equipping teachers with the professional expertise to develop metacognitive cultures of thinking in schools. Dr Elise Ecoff, Chief Education Officer of Nord Anglia Education, said: "The Metacognition Project is a leap forward in our quest to deepen our understanding of teaching and learning best practice. By partnering with Boston College, we're not just talking about theoretical ideas; we're implementing practical strategies that we hope will have a real impact on students' learning outcomes across the globe. The project is a milestone in our journey to enhance education by focusing on how students think about their learning, promising to bring about meaningful improvements in educational practices worldwide." As a partnership between Nord Anglia and Boston College, the project is being led by both Dr Kate Erricker, Assistant Director of Curriculum at Nord Anglia Education and Dr Damian Bebell, Assistant Research Professor at Boston College. Dr Kate Erricker said: "This cutting-edge research project is about unlocking students' full potential, helping them become experts at understanding their own thinking processes and deepening their own learning. This project is pioneering the way we approach education, and we can't wait to see the growth it brings to our students in schools." Dr Damian Bebell said: "We're proud to be partnering with Nord Anglia Education on one of the world's first major studies of metacognition and skill development. This collaboration builds on Boston College's legacy of cutting-edge educational research, and we're excited by how this study and its results can inform sector-wide practice and policy." Nord Anglia will continue to give updates on the progress of the research and intends to share findings publicly on completion of the project, with an aim to contribute to the wider global dialogue and research on metacognition. The 27 Nord Anglia schools taking part in the research include the following: North America Latin America China Europe Southeast Asia The Middle East India Media enquiries Kate O'Callaghan Communications Assistant kate.o'[email protected] +44 7389852921 About Nord Anglia Education As the world's leading international schools organisation, we're shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who graduate from our schools with everything they need for success, whatever they choose to be or do in life. Our strong academic foundations combine world-class teaching and curricula with cutting-edge technology and facilities, creating learning experiences like no other. Inside and outside of the classroom, we inspire our students to achieve more than they ever thought possible. No two children learn the same way, which is why our schools around the world personalise learning to what works best for every student. Inspired by our high-quality teachers, our students achieve outstanding academic results and go on to study at the world's top universities. To learn more or apply for a place for your child, go to nordangliaeducation.com. SOURCE Nord Anglia Education 22 february 2024 at 02:00 News published onand distributed by: BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. We strongly condemn the baseless anti-Azerbaijan allegations, unilaterally defending Armenia, by the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron, during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Armenia in Paris on 21 February 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports. As a country, which has never mentioned the rights of Azerbaijanis violated for nearly 30 years, displaced from their territories, and subjected to mass massacres, French sides statement about the rights and security of Armenians left the territories of Azerbaijan at their own will and without any violance, is completely inappropriate. Moreover, it would be more appropriate for France that touched upon the importance of territorial integrity within the framework of Alma-Ata declaration and certain maps, to clarify why, contrary to such agreements, they have not stood against the Armenian aggression and the occupation of Azerbaijani territories for almost 30 years, as well as the continuing occupation of 8 villages of Azerbaijan by Armenia. It is unacceptable to blame Azerbaijan for taking a disproportionate response, while refraining from criticizing Armenia, who took unprovoked actions disrupting the stable situation that lasted for almost 5 months. Such biased approaches should be stopped. We once again declare that Frances insidious policy of creating new tension in the region, and hindering peace and stability will not yield any results, the statement reads. Centamin PLC Announces Notice of Full Year 2023 Results PERTH, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Centamin will announce its audited financial results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2023 on Thursday, 21 March 2024. The Company will host a webcast presentation on the same day, at 08.30 GMT, to discuss the results with investors and analysts, followed by an opportunity to ask questions. Please find below the required participation details. A replay will be made available on the Company website. WEBCAST PRESENTATION To join the webcast: Webcast link: https://www.lsegissuerservices.com/spark/Centamin/events/0995e3c5-b8c1-46ed-ac98-de2fa708e250 ABOUT CENTAMIN Centamin is an established gold producer, with premium listings on the London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. The Company's flagship asset is the Sukari Gold Mine ("Sukari"), Egypt's largest and first modern gold mine, as well as one of the world's largest producing mines. Since production began in 2009 Sukari has produced over 5 million ounces of gold, and today has a projected mine life to 2035. Through its large portfolio of exploration assets in Egypt and West Africa, Centamin is advancing an active pipeline of future growth prospects, including the Doropo project in Cote d'Ivoire, and over 3,000km2 of highly prospective exploration ground in Egypt's Arabian Nubian Shield. Centamin practices responsible mining activities, recognising its responsibility to deliver operational and financial performance and create lasting mutual benefit for all stakeholders through good corporate citizenship. FOR MORE INFORMATION please visit the website www.centamin.com or contact: Centamin plc [email protected] FTI Consulting Ben Brewerton / Sara Powell / Nick Hennis +442037271000 [email protected] FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This announcement (including information incorporated by reference) contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including statements with respect to future financial or operating performance. Such statements include "future-oriented financial information" or "financial outlook" with respect to prospective financial performance, financial position, EBITDA, cash flows and other financial metrics that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" and "anticipates" and include production outlook, operating schedules, production profiles, expansion and expansion plans, efficiency gains, production and cost guidance, capital expenditure outlook, exploration spend and other mine plans. Although Centamin believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Centamin can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Centamin about future events and are therefore subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition, there are a number of factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements; the risks and uncertainties associated with direct or indirect impacts of COVID-19 or other pandemic, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the results of exploration activities and feasibility studies; assumptions in economic evaluations which prove to be inaccurate; currency fluctuations; changes in project parameters; future prices of gold and other metals; possible variations of ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; climatic conditions; political instability; decisions and regulatory changes enacted by governmental authorities; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or completing development or construction activities; and discovery of archaeological ruins. Financial outlook and future-ordinated financial information contained in this news release is based on assumptions about future events, including economic conditions and proposed courses of action, based on management's assessment of the relevant information currently available. Readers are cautioned that any such financial outlook or future-ordinated financial information contained or referenced herein may not be appropriate and should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. The Company and its management believe that the prospective financial information has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments at the date hereof, and represent, to the best of management's knowledge and opinion, the Company's expected course of action. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements, particularly in light of the current economic climate and the significant volatility, the risks and uncertainties associated with the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this announcement and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. LEI: 213800PDI9G7OUKLPV84 Company No: 109180 This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Centamin PLC 22 february 2024 at 02:00 View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by: Synechron Earns a Great Place To Work Certification In 12 Countries Globally NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Synechron, Inc., a leading global digital transformation consulting firm focused on financial services and technology organizations, is proud to be Great Place To Work Certifiedtm for 2023-2024 within 12 countries. Synechron achieved this prestigious certification based solely on the direct, anonymous feedback from its regional teams of 14,700+ global employees. This marks the first time that Synechron elected to participate in the Global Great Place To Work survey (versus previous participation in country-specific surveys) as testament to its significant growth as an organization. Synechron was proudly certified a Great Place To Work in the following countries: Australia Canada France India Luxembourg Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Switzerland UAE UK USA Overall, Synechron received high marks in the following five categories based upon the Great Place To Work Trust Indextm Survey which measures the employees' level of trust in and organization and the consistency of the employee experience. The Trust Index assesses companies against these five key measures: Credibility ? Employees perceive management and leaders to be credible, competent and have integrity ? Employees perceive management and leaders to be credible, competent and have integrity Respect ? Employees feel respected by management in terms of professional support, collaboration and decision-making ? Employees feel respected by management in terms of professional support, collaboration and decision-making Fairness -- Employees experience management practices that are fair based upon equality, impartiality and justice -- Employees experience management practices that are fair based upon equality, impartiality and justice Pride ? Measures how employees feel pride about their own work impact, pride in their team's work, and pride in the organization as a whole ? Measures how employees feel pride about their own work impact, pride in their team's work, and pride in the organization as a whole Camaraderie ? Measures employees' beliefs that their organization forms a strong community where colleagues are supportive and where everyone is pulling in the same direction The latest certifications for Great Place To Work follow multiple previous individual country awards Synechron has won in recognition of being an exemplary employer of choice. Synechron has always strived to recognize, support and provide its teams with the tools, support and resources to enhance their skills, thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, and take their careers to the next level. The firm is continuously seeking to enhance its full array of programs, all designed to attract and retain the best talent who will work with great passion and dedication to bring clients innovative, digital transformation solutions, such as advanced Artificial Intelligence-led tools. Faisal Husain, Co-founder and CEO of Synechron, commented, "We are incredibly honored by this global acknowledgement, proud of our company's culture and being repeatedly recognized as an outstanding employer. We take great pride in providing a collaborative, inclusive workplace where our dedicated teams of amazing individuals can leverage their talents and demonstrate to clients how modern solutions and cutting-edge tools can evolve their businesses. Our people are the cornerstone and very essence of Synechron." "Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. "By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Synechron stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees," she added. About Synechron At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,700+, and has 48 offices in 19 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community . About Great Place to Work Certificationtm Great Place To Work Certificationtm is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience ? specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified. For more information please contact: Rashmi Joshi Synechron +91-9560694654 [email protected] / [email protected] Zoe Forbes-Pyfrom (+44) 7718 599666 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_Logo.jpg SOURCE Synechron 22 february 2024 at 04:35 News published onand distributed by: GreenGen Announces Expansion to India, Elevating Global Reach to Accelerate Low-Carbon Solutions Across the Built Environment Spanning the US, EU, UK, APAC, and India, GreenGen Delivers Decarbonization Solutions Internationally with a Unified Approach MUMBAI, India, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenGen, a global leader in energy and sustainability solutions, is proud to announce its expansion into India, unveiled at the Urban Land Institute (ULI) India Summit in Mumbai. This strategic move aims to better support leading real estate investors, operators, and businesses in their transition towards net zero. As the world's most populous country, India presents a unique opportunity for sustainable urban development. Since 2022, GreenGen has maintained a presence in India, however, this latest initiative marks a significant expansion, establishing a comprehensive team in the world's most populous country. This expansion reflects GreenGen's commitment to providing local expertise and custom solutions. The India team comprises mechanical, electrical, and environmental experts, including a program management lead to spearhead strategy development and execution. This move aligns with GreenGen's philosophy of meeting clients where they are, extending its global reach across the US, Europe, APAC, and now India. GreenGen is trusted by some of the largest real estate and private equity firms in the world, helping them to develop and implement sustainability initiatives across global real estate portfolios. India's rapid economic development and urbanization are driving an increase in energy demand, positioning the country as the third largest in global emissions, behind only China and the United States. Despite this, India's per capita emissions remain remarkably low, in fact, over seven times lower per person than in the US. GreenGen recognizes the critical need for sustainable urban development in India to avoid the carbon-intensive approaches historically adopted by other nations. India presents a unique opportunity to pioneer a new model of economic development, one that could provide a blueprint of sustainability for other developing economies. The country's commitment to net zero emissions by 2070, its flourishing economy, and its potential for growth make it a pivotal market for low-carbon solutions. GreenGen is dedicated to supporting India's shift towards greener, electrified alternatives. "The next decade will be all about India," says GreenGen CEO, Brad Dockser. "The built environment in India presents a massive opportunity for GreenGen to capture exciting growth opportunities. By making low-carbon strategies profitable, we aim to lead our clients towards long term success while accelerating the energy transition." To date, GreenGen has completed projects in over 25 countries, leaving a tangible mark on the global landscape. GreenGen has been recognized as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company and has received numerous awards for sustainability, innovation, and culture. These accolades underscore GreenGen's commitment to leading the way in energy efficiency and sustainable solutions. About GreenGen Founded in 2011, GreenGen is a global leader in energy and sustainability solutions, empowering organizations to Operate in the Green. With expertise intersecting energy, real estate, capital markets, and technology, GreenGen transforms the built environment by assessing, engineering, and implementing end-to-end decarbonization strategies that positively impact financial and climate outcomes. From corporate strategy to tactical execution, GreenGen's solutions lower building operating costs, drive asset value, mitigate risk, and reduce carbon emissions at the asset level and portfolio wide. Our unique approach helps leading investors, real estate operators, enterprises, and governments achieve measurable results across a wide array of asset types and verticals. Today, the diverse GreenGen team unites engineers, PhDs, MBAs, CEMs, environmental experts, and associates across 10 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and India. To date, we've successfully completed projects across 25 countries, leaving a tangible mark on the global landscape. With a shared commitment to a sustainable future, our team is dedicated to driving positive change in the world of business, finance, and environmental stewardship. We make low-carbon strategies profitable for our clients. For more information, visit greengen.com Media Contact Katie O'Shea Director of Marketing 301.202.2946 | [email protected] SOURCE GreenGen 22 february 2024 at 06:30 News published onand distributed by: Prysmian Unveils New Brand to Support New Strategic Plan The company unveiled simplified name and refreshed brand to support new business strategy to lead energy transition and digital transformation HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Prysmian, leader in the energy transition and digital transformation, today announced the company's new brand: a new crucial asset that aims to support and amplify Prysmian's new business strategy. This new brand is powered by the company's new business strategy "Connect to Lead" and will help Prysmian seize opportunities for sustainable development and to lead the energy transition and digital transformation by developing increasingly resilient, high-performing, sustainable and innovative products, while creating tangible value for customers and communities. The strategy propels Prysmian forward as a cable manufacturer and a cable solutions provider, offering integrated and combined energy and telecom solutions. "Through this rebranding, we are aligning Prysmian's image to the changes the Group is undergoing and to the rapid evolution of our industrial sector, an evolution we intend to lead," said Maria Cristina Bifulco, Chief Investor Relations, Sustainability and Communication Officer, Prysmian. "The global challenges and opportunities we are facing require us to put our organisation's strength and expertise at the service of our customers, partners and all our stakeholders to drive new forms of energy and information to every corner of the Earth." Prysmian's new identity zeros in on connecting people and businesses with the energy and information they need. As the world's largest cable solutions provider, Prysmian pushes the boundaries of electrification and digitalization, offering sustainable solutions that help power the circular economy. "Prysmian's new identity reflects our values rooted in sustainability and superior cable solutions while showcasing our capability for growth," said Andrea Pirondini, CEO, Prysmian North America. "Although the visual aspects of our brand are evolving, we remain dedicated to providing our customers the same commitment and products that we've been known for over the last 140 years." Headquartered near Cincinnati, Prysmian North America is one of the company's largest markets. Prysmian continues to expand its North American footprint, investing in numerous capital projects over the past year that support Prysmian's Connect to Lead strategy and the shift toward renewables while increasing capacity in both the energy and telecom sectors. Among the investments are a $60 million expansion project in Marshall, Texas to support growth in the power distribution and transmission markets, a $45 million expansion in Prysmian's Abbeville, South Carolina plant to an upgrade to HVDC production and a new high voltage lab, a $22.5 million expansion to Prysmian's Williamsport, Pennsylvania facility to double the U.S.'s ability to manufacture advanced transmission conductors with E3X technology, a $63.8 million expansion project at the Du Quoin, Illinois plant to boost cable manufacturing for the renewable energy sectors, a $45 million expansion project in Sedalia, Missouri that will increase aluminum building wire and cable capacity in Prysmian's Sedalia facility by 38%, and a $30 million conversion of the company's Jackson, Tennessee copper cable facility into a state-of-the-art fiber optic cable manufacturing plant, creating new jobs in America that will help close the digital divide. To learn more about Prysmian's new strategic plan and brand, visit na.prysmian.com. Prysmian North America Based in Highland Heights, Ky., Prysmian North America is a benchmark player in the energy transition and digital transformation. Prysmian's strategy is perfectly aligned with the main market drivers by developing resilient, high-performing, sustainable, and innovative cable systems for the transmission, power grid, electricity and digital solutions segments. Prysmian's North American operations include 28 manufacturing facilities, eight distribution centers, six R&D centers and more than 6,000 associates with net sales of $6 billion. Additional information is available at na.prysmian.com. Globally, Prysmian is the largest cable solutions provider in the world, with 30,000 employees, 108 production plants and 26 R&D centers in over 50 countries. In 2022, global sales exceeded 16 billion. Media Relations: Lauren Kane External Communications Manager [email protected] SOURCE: Prysmian 22 february 2024 at 10:05 View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by: Kawasaki Robotics partners with Olis Robotics to offer remote monitoring and control of its industrial robots Olis Robotics, a leader in the remote error recovery for industrial robots, announces a new partnership with Kawasaki Robotics Inc., a leading supplier of industrial robots and automation systems, to offer their customers the ability to restart production faster, reduce troubleshooting and downtime costs by up to 90%, and gain access to expert support quickly. Olis users connect directly to their robots through an on-premises device via a secure connection, avoiding the risks and complexities associated with cloud-based systems. To ensure physical safety, Olis is designed to always obey the robot controller's safety restrictions. Seeing is believing. At Kawasaki's booth #C5475 at MODEX 2024 in Atlanta, GA, March 11 - 14, Kawasaki and Olis Robotics will showcase their partnership by joining forces with CRG Automation, a Louisville, KY-based integration house. The partners will demonstrate a state-of-the-art robotic corner board system, integrated with a mixed palletizing and depalletizing cell, featuring a Kawasaki RS007L robot, that automates placing corner boards on pallets being wrapped, ensuring overall load stability. The system, which handles multiple SKUs of unstructured products, is equipped with Olis Robotics remote error recovery software that lets attendees experience how the system alerts users when the robot unexpectedly stops, and when picking or placing a part fails. After a system failure, the attendees can use Olis to run a tool inspection routine and perform remote error recovery, allowing the robot to resume its cycle and get back to work. "We're seeing a growing demand for remote robot monitoring and recovery capabilities; adding Olis to our industrial robots is a game changer for the market," says Paul Marcovecchio, Director GI Business Unit, Kawasaki Robotics Inc.: "Our new partnership supports the industry gamut from smaller first-time end users and their integrator partners up to more complex AI-driven applications in larger plants. All stakeholders can now easily and cost-effectively monitor, access and recover their robot cells remotely," says Marcovecchio, emphasizing how Olis Robotics has taken the time to understand the adaptation barriers. "As a result, they created a powerful tool that also addresses end-user concerns such as cyber security or the need to retrofit machines." Fredrik Ryden, CEO at Olis Robotics, highlights how Kawasaki robots are built to last for decades, giving end users maximum control of a highly customizable product. "Kawasaki's commitment to a world-class buying experience and quick ROI in a wide range of applications is a perfect match for Olis," says Ryden, adding how Kawasaki's extensive integrator network is another key factor in the new partnership as Olis provides integrators time-saving bandwidth through the remote support capabilities, enabling them to grow up to 25% faster: "We're incredibly excited to start working with Kawasaki integrators to deploy and retro-fit Olis units with Kawasaki robot arms, it's a win-win for both the integrator and their customers." The Olis remote monitoring and error recovery solution will be available for any Kawasaki robot model starting Q2 of 2024. Learn more about the new Kawasaki-Olis partnership offering here. Download the press kit here About Olis Robotics Olis Robotics catalyzes automation adoption by providing users with the best remote-control experience for industrial robots. The company's flagship ?Olis' system enables remote monitoring, control, and troubleshooting of new and fielded industrial robots. When robots fail, Olis provides the facts people need to fix errors and regain control of the production process. Founded in 2013 as a spinout from the University of Washington's Applied Physics Lab, Olis Robotics builds on over a decade of telerobotics R&D conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and NASA. Olis Robotics has offices and lab space in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. Learn more about Olis Robotics here, watch how the Olis platform works here and connect on LinkedIn About Kawasaki Robotics With over 50 years of experience in the automation industry, Kawasaki is a leading supplier of industrial robots and robotic automation systems with expertise in a wide range of applications and industries. Delivering the best value robot offerings by providing a rich set of standard features on all robot models for application flexibility, renowned Kawasaki quality and performance, and unmatched customer support and after sales service. Learn more about Kawasaki Robotics here, watch robot application videos here and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn 22 february 2024 at 12:00 News published onand distributed by: CallTek Engages TRKD to Extend Healthcare Technology Support to Medical Practices and Remote Patient Monitoring CallTek, Inc., a leader in white-label technical support services, has engaged TRKD Wellness Technologies as a strategic partner to deliver comprehensive technology support solutions to the healthcare industry including independent medical practices and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) management services. TRKD develops and delivers telehealth and wellness software solutions for independent medical practices. The partnership aims to transform the independent medical practice sector with integrated, efficient, and reliable solutions that enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and practice success. In this agreement, CallTek will provide the technical infrastructure for TRKD's Doctors Dashboard software platform and patient-facing telehealth connected devices. Additionally, TRKD will expand its service offerings to include CallTek's specialized white-label engineering, technology support, field service, as well as back-office and onsite staffing solutions through its newly established division, Staff4Me. "CallTek and TKRD will enable independent medical practices, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), hospital at home, skilled nursing, independent living and home care providers to access a seamless suite of services that will help improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and increase revenue," said Tony Espinoza, CEO, CallTek. "For nearly 20 years, our support services and experts have enabled technology providers and operators in other industries to grow exponentially with reduced overhead." TRKD's Doctors Dashboard software platform, telehealth connected devices and remote patient monitoring helps patients with chronic conditions manage their health and wellness goals while monitoring their vital signs and symptoms remotely. CallTek's Staff4Me offers outsource services such as 24/7 Medical Call Center, account receivable services, medical billing & coding, appointment setting and placement of nursing, medical assistance, and other qualified professionals, depending on the needs of the medical practices. About CallTek CallTek, Inc. is the white label technology service provider of choice for technology operators and service providers. Based in Irvine, CA, the company has offices in seven countries worldwide including the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States. CallTek was named one of the Best Employers by The Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2023 and 2004. For additional information on CallTek's services, visit calltekinc.com. 22 february 2024 at 13:50 News published onand distributed by: Trilogy Real Estate Group Hires Margo Steahly as Senior Vice President, Sales Operations & Due Diligence CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trilogy Real Estate Group, a Chicago-based real estate investment and property management firm, announced today that Margo Steahly has joined the company as senior vice president, sales operations and due diligence. Steahly will be responsible for furthering the sales efforts of Trilogy's private placement offerings. "Trilogy is always looking to enhance the performance of its sales and distribution efforts, and Margo's extensive background makes her an excellent addition for our sales team," said Matt Leiter, chief financial officer for Trilogy Real Estate Group. "Her passion for the alternative investment industry coupled with her contacts in the securities arena make her an invaluable resource, and we are pleased to welcome her to our team." Steahly has more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing and has been focused on private placements since 2003. Prior to Trilogy, Steahly worked at Capital Square in a series of roles culminating as executive vice president due diligence, where she directly interacted with due diligence officers and disseminated information to the broker-dealer and RIA communities in support of raising funds for Delaware statutory trust (DST) properties, qualified opportunity zone funds and a REIT. In addition, she has served as director of tenant-in-common sales at ORIX, where she helped develop a scalable business platform that incorporated a web-based due diligence information distribution system, a turnkey application and closing process for investors and a server-secured contact management database. During her time with one of the pioneering tenant-in-common firms, Steahly became actively involved with the first meeting of the Tenant in Common Association (TICA), predecessor to the premier industry trade organization now known as the Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association (ADISA). Steahly has authored several articles on 1031 exchanges and regularly participates in leading industry panel discussions. She holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses, is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago and is currently pursuing her master's degree in real estate at Georgetown University. Trilogy Real Estate Group acquires, develops and manages properties across the Midwest and the Southeast, and has sponsored more than 16 investment offerings, including DSTs and qualified opportunity zone funds. About Trilogy Real Estate Group Trilogy Real Estate Group is a vertically integrated real estate investment and management firm with $2.6 billion of total assets under management. Trilogy buys, builds and manages institutional quality apartment communities throughout the United States. Through several investment cycles, Trilogy and its affiliates have developed, acquired and redeveloped over 14,000 units accounting for over $4.5 billion in transaction volume. Trilogy has been consistently recognized as one of the top property management companies and has an "A" rating in the epIQ Index. Trilogy, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Trilogy Residential Management, has over 200 employees and is headquartered in Chicago. Contact: Jennifer Franklin Spotlight Marketing Communications (949) 427-1385 [email protected] SOURCE Trilogy Real Estate Group 22 february 2024 at 14:00 News published onand distributed by: Lumen strengthens technology transformation with new board appointment Visionary executive Diankha Linear brings market disruption expertise to the Board DENVER, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced the appointment of Diankha Linear to its board of directors, effective immediately. Linear is a seasoned executive and proven operator with more than 20 years of experience leading across highly regulated technology, logistics, and retail industries. In her current role as president and CEO of Community, Inc., she is disrupting how brands interact with their customers with an engagement platform that connects businesses, brands, and public figures to their audiences at scale. "Diankha's broad range of experience in technology, military leadership, logistics, and retail will be invaluable to the Lumen board. Her expertise and insights will help shape our path as we disrupt traditional telecom and deliver new technology services and value to customers," said Kate Johnson, president and CEO of Lumen. Linear's leadership and strategic abilities were initially forged by 16 years of military service in the U.S. Army Reserve (Airborne), including as a Logistics and Judge Advocate General officer. "Lumen has made foundational changes to transform itself and its industry. This focus on transformation is inspiring, and I am looking forward to working alongside the board and seizing opportunities to continue moving the company into the future," said Linear. Prior to leading Community, Inc., Linear served as general counsel and corporate secretary at Convoy, Inc. Before Convoy, she spent nearly a decade in leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies Nordstrom and Expeditors International of Washington. Ms. Linear is a graduate of the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She serves on the Board of Directors for Community, Inc., the Board of Trustees for Swedish Health Systems, and Board of Directors of the not-for-profit college access and leadership development program, Rainier Scholars. The appointment brings the company's board count from 11 to 12. A full breakdown of the company's board of directors is available online . About Lumen Technologies Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data, and applications ? quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com , LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies , Twitter: @lumentechco , Facebook: /lumentechnologies , Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies . Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks of Lumen Technologies LLC in the United States. Lumen Technologies LLC is a wholly owned affiliate of Lumen Technologies, Inc. Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements (as defined by the federal securities laws), which are subject to the "safe harbor" protections thereunder. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are based on current expectations only, are inherently speculative, and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements. Factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, each of the matters and risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, which speak only as of the date made. SOURCE Lumen Technologies 22 february 2024 at 16:15 News published onand distributed by: A wine tasting room ADRIANO BACCHELLA/AGF FOTO/PHOTONONSTOP A man has been arrested in the prestigious French wine region of Burgundy after allegedly stealing 7,000 bottles worth around 500,000 ($550,000) from a string of employers, prosecutors said on Thursday, February 22. Local newspaper Journal de Saone-et-Loire, which first reported the case, said the 56-year-old was filmed by a security camera taking four bottles of wine from his employer, who went to the police. A search of his and his mother's house found the four bottles and around 7,000 others that he had accumulated over 15 years from other wine estates where he had worked around the historic town of Beaune, the daily said. They included grands crus from producers in Vosne-Romanee that can be worth more than 1,000, it added. However, nothing indicates he had sold a single bottle, Dijon prosecutor Olivier Caracotch told Agence France-Presse. The 56-year-old has been freed on bail and will go on trial this summer, Caracotch said. Read more Subscribers only Cognac drives down French wine and spirits exports in 2023 In the matter of: Roselynn Billie Jo Russell, dob: 06/26/2012, a child under eighteen (18) years of age Alice Scroggins,maternal grandmother and spouse, Willie Scroggins, Petitioners vs. Lowell Russell, Respondents Docket no. AD-723 ORDER ALLOWING SERVICE BY PUBLICATION IN LIEU OF PERSONAL SERVICE The Petitioner, Alice Scroggins and Willie Scroggins (Petitioners) have filed a motion for an order allowing service of process upon the Respondent, Lowell Russell (Respondent), by publication in lieu of personal service. Petitioner has demonstrated by affidavit that respondent Lowell Russells whereabouts are unattainable upon reasonable inquiry. It is therefore ordered that the Clerk of this Court shall: 1. Forthwith cause a copy of this order to be published for four (4) consecutive weeks in the Lewis County Herald, which newspaper is of general circulation in the county of Respondent Lowell Russells residence. 2. The copy of this order that is published shall further notify Respondent Lowell Russell that he must answer or otherwise respond to the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights and for Adoption in this action within 30 days of the fourth weekly publication of this Order, and if Respondent Lowell Russell does not answer or otherwise respond, a default judgment may be entered against Respondent, Lowell Russell. Enter this 6th day of January, 2024. Vickie H Hoover, Chancellor Approved for entry: Nicolas L. Surratt, BPR #035010 Attorney for Petitioners Harmon Nowlin & Surratt, PLLC 434 Main Street Savannah, Tennessee 38372 (7310 438-3850 Telephone (731) 438-3851 Telecopier [email protected] 9/4tc BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijan's infrastructure is accessible to all countries in Asia, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said at the 14th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Baku, Trend reports. Gafarova emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Asian countries. "One of them is transportation. As a result of significant investments in transportation infrastructure, Azerbaijan has become one of the transport and logistics hubs of Eurasia. The East-West and North-South transport corridors pass through Azerbaijan. The infrastructure of Azerbaijan is accessible to all countries in Asia. Expanding cooperation in this area will undoubtedly improve economic and trade relations between our countries," highlighted the speaker. According to her, the activities of the APA cover political, economic, social, cultural, and other important areas. "By uniting parliaments, we further mobilize the efforts of our countries to achieve common goals. At the same time, to achieve these goals, the parliament contributes to this work. The Parliament of Azerbaijan views the APA as an important structure. This reflects our joint commitment to deepen inter-parliamentary dialogue. The development of the organization's institutional potential will further strengthen our cooperation. The assembly's work can be enhanced by intensifying the activities and improving the efficiency of existing bodies regulated by the APA Charter. The creation of new mechanisms will also significantly enrich our work," Gafarova noted. At the same time, she mentioned that a clean environment and 'green' development are among the priority areas of Azerbaijan's sustainable development agenda. "Azerbaijan has also joined the Global Agreement to triple the world's renewable energy potential and double energy efficiency by 2030. Azerbaijan was selected as the host country for COP29 with the unanimous support of the international community, confirming Azerbaijan's commitment to backing global efforts in climate change," Gafarova added. To note, the plenary session of APA will last until February 24. Parliamentary delegations from about 40 countries, including about 10 speakers, are taking part in the session dedicated to the theme of Strengthening regional cooperation for sustainable development in Asia. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Hosted by the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation and presented by First Farmers and Merchants Bank, the annual Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot will take place Saturday, April 6, at Riverwalk Park in Columbia. Proceeds from the 2024 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot provide funding for Maury Regional Healths mobile medical unit, which delivers health care services to at-risk and underserved individuals throughout southern Middle Tennessee by providing basic health screenings, education and resources. A portion of the proceeds from the Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot will also support the Foundations Wellness and Aquatics Center Healthy Living Endowment and the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, the Maury County school with the most participation in the event will receive a donation to their P.E. program from the Foundation. The Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot is a great tradition for both Maury County and the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation that helps support our mission of providing important health care services for individuals who may not otherwise be able to obtain care, Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore said. We are excited to host the Mule Kick 5K and look forward to an exciting race! On Saturday, April 6, the race will begin at Riverwalk Park in Columbia with an 8 a.m. start time for the 5K and a 9:15 a.m. start time for the 1-Mile Trot. Both runners and walkers are encouraged to participate. Participants may register for the race online at runsignup.com/MuleKick5K. First Farmers is pleased to continue our ongoing partnership with the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation for this years Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot. We are proud to support the vital work of the Foundation which exemplifies our dedication to fostering well-being in our region, said Brian K. Williams, chairman and CEO of First Farmers. In addition to presenting sponsor First Farmers and Merchants Bank, sponsorships ranging from $350 to $2,500 are still available for those who are interested in marketing exposure at this event. For additional information, contact the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation at 931.381.1111, ext. 1012. To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation, the Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot or to make a direct gift to support the mobile medical unit fund, visit MauryRegional.com/Foundation. Staff in the Childrens Ark at University Hospital Limerick have launched a new initiative to promote a culture of inclusivity by wearing the HSE Rainbow Badge. The Rainbow Badge is a simple visual symbol identifying its wearer as someone an LGBTQI+ person can feel comfortable talking to about issues relating to sexuality and gender identity. It also shows that the wearer is there to listen without judgement and signpost to further supports if needed. Staff in the Childrens Ark wearing this badge are signalling to the young people in the service that they are open to having conversations about sexuality and gender identity. The launch of the Rainbow Badge initiative has been marked by an event in the CERC at University Hospital Limerick. The Childrens Ark joins healthcare facilities across the country by taking part in this initiative. Professor Clodagh OGorman, consultant general paediatrician at UHL and chairperson of paediatrics at University of Limerick, says the initiative is very important. Young people who identify as LGBTQI+ experience additional emotional and psychological stresses when compared to non LGBTQI+ youth. Many people still feel afraid to disclose their sexual or gender identity - being unable to do so often increases their risk of physical and mental health problems. At the Childrens Ark, we want to provide a safe space where the young people using our service feel comfortable discussing any issues relating to their sexuality," she explained. The Childrens Ark is the first service at UL Hospitals Group to take part in the HSE Rainbow Badge initiative, however, it is anticipated that this initiative will be rolled out to services across the entire group, including at Ennis Hospital, over the coming months. The HSE provides education and training for all staff who want to take part in this initiative and when they do sign up to wear the badge, they acknowledge why the project is needed and commit to providing an environment that is open, tolerant and inclusive. The aim of the initiative is to actively break down barriers which LGBTQI+ people may face when accessing healthcare. Speaking at the launch of the Rainbow Badge initiative at the Childrens Ark, Verena Tarpey, CEO of GOSHH (Gender, Orientation, Sexual Health, HIV) commented: When we think of a young person presenting to the hospital, they may already be overwhelmed with anxiety about their illness. The hospital experience may be less stressful for young people who identify as LGBTQI+ if they can visibly see that they have allies in the staff members who are wearing the badge. " According to Ms Tarpey, research in Ireland shows that young people who identify as LGBTQI+ face additional stress. "For example, 75% of Irish LGBTQI+ individuals believe that healthcare providers lack knowledge and sensitivity around LGBTQI+ issues. The Rainbow Badge may help change this perception," she added. Dr Dani Hall, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) who launched the Rainbow Badge at CHI spoke about the positive impact that the badge has had there. READ ALSO: In Pictures: Limerick fundraiser is full of heart Weve surveyed our staff at CHI on their experiences of wearing the HSE Rainbow Badge. The responses have been so positive, both in terms of interactions with other staff, and with young people and their families. Theres an overwhelming feeling of pride: pride in taking part in the initiative, the message the badge sends to LGBTQI+ staff and patients, and pride in representing the community in healthcare. "Its also described as a symbol of safety and inclusion for patients and their families. But more than this, staff members who identify as LGBTQI+ say they feel accepted by other staff members when they see them wearing the badge. Our next plan is to look at the impact the badge has had on young people. These are only small steps towards bridging the gap between LGBTQI+ young people and healthcare but theyre a good start. NEARLY 40 million in funding has been announced for Limerick road projects including the Limerick - Cork road and Foynes to Limerick road. 24 million has been allocated for the Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass) Project and a further 4.04 million has been allocated for the continued advancement of the M20 Limerick-Cork Road project Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan announced the allocation for funding to Local Authorities including Limerick City and County Council through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for National Roads and Greenways totalling nearly 40 million. Fine Gael TD for Limerick City and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran ODonnell confirmed that the Adare Bypass project is targeted for completion by June 2027 three months ahead of the monumental Ryder Cup to take place in Adare Manor in September 2027. Mr ODonnell said: "This 39,371,467 funding allocated from TII to Limerick City and County Council for 2024 today will cover routine maintenance to safeguard our road infrastructure, and progress our significant roads projects. READ MORE: Legislation governing Limerick's first directly elected mayor takes step forward " I very much welcome 24 million announced for the Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass) Project. Last year, Government approved accelerating the construction of the bypass section of the project to facilitate early delivery of the bypass ahead of the monumental Ryder Cup being held in Adare Manor in September 2027." Mr O'Donnell confirmed that progress to accelerate the Adare bypass construction is very much on target. "The project is expected to go out for contract tender this coming April. It is estimated that the contract for the project will be awarded in September 2024 with construction then getting underway and crucially, the date for completion of the Bypass is June 2027 3 months ahead of the Ryder Cup in September which is a very positive development. AHEAD of the 2023 Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) - which runs from February 23 to March 4 - Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD), TUS and the iconic festival will host a special preview screening of nominated student films this Thursday, February 22. Taking place at Technological University of the Shannons (TUS) Millennium Theatre, the event will showcase the emerging student film-making talent in the region and will feature a film industry panel discussion and live musical performances. The selection of 11 student films are nominated for the national DIFF First Frame 2023 student awards which will be announced in Dublins Lighthouse Cinema the following day. Commenting on the event, LSAD lecturer and programme leader, Muireann de Barra, said, We are delighted to work with Dublin International Film Festival to recognise and celebrate the emerging student film-making talent alongside leading and award-winning filmmakers. This is the first time a DIFF event of this scale will be held outside of Dublin which we are very proud of. This special preview event recognises a new generation of emerging filmmakers and encourages students from TUS and other colleges and higher education institutions around Ireland to share the prestigious Dublin International Film Festival as a platform to showcase their work. The event will be opened by Dr Susan Liddy, president of Women in Film and Television International. The preview screening will feature a film industry panel discussion that includes TUS graduates from creative broadcast and film production and music technology and production programmes. READ MORE: Limerick charity shop staff given Tidy Towns award The panelists are award-winning director, writer and actor Laura OShea, Limerick-based editor Philip Shanahan, director and producer Michelle Ryan and regional film and TV development manager, Rachael Power. Mike Fitzpatrick, dean of Limerick School of Art and Design commented, This is a big moment for Limerick and our students, coupled with the growing prominence of the Irish film industry, its exciting that the Dublin International Film Festival has chosen to preview its First Frame Awards here at LSAD. This is building the confidence and ambition of our students and our future film makers. TUS offers programmes across the film, broadcast media, music and animation industries. As a healthcare professional, you hold a noble calling. Each day, you dedicate yourself to enhancing the lives and well-being of your patients. Yet, alongside the demands of patient care, managing the financial aspects of your practice is equally vital. Whether you are starting your journey or aiming to expand your practice, a doctor loan stands as a pivotal tool tailored to meet your specific needs and goals. That's why Bajaj Finance offers the doctor loan, meticulously crafted for medical professionals like you. Doctors across various states in India, such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and others, can effortlessly access a Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan. Here are the top five advantages of this tailored loan for medical practitioners: 1. Quick loan approval: Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loans offer rapid approval, a significant advantage over traditional loans. Customized for healthcare professionals, these loans provide faster approvals, ensuring swift access to funds in just 48 hours*. 2. Higher loan limits: Doctor loans typically extend higher loan amounts compared to their conventional counterparts. With Bajaj Finance, you can easily secure a doctor loan with amounts ranging from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 80 lakh, providing the flexibility required to realise your financial objectives, although loan amount eligibility may hinge on individual credit profiles. 3. Convenient repayment options: With repayment tenures of up to 96 months, Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loans offer flexible options aligned with your financial needs and cash flow. 4. Collateral-free financing: Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loans provide collateral-free financing, simplifying the process with minimal documentation requirements. 5. Easy to meet eligibility criteria: To be eligible, you must be an Indian citizen between the ages of 22 years and 73 years with a CIBIL Score of 685 or higher and a registered medical degree. Documents required for a Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan To apply for a Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan, you will need to provide specific documents during the application process. These include: 1. KYC documents such as Aadhaar, passport, voters ID, driving licence, or a letter from NPR or NREGA job card 2. PAN card 3. Medical registration certificate Rest assured, any additional documents required will be communicated to you promptly during the application process. With the right financing in place, you can dedicate your undivided attention to delivering exceptional care to patients, not only in Maharashtra but also in various cities across India. If you are a medical professional seeking financial assistance to fulfil your professional or personal needs, apply for a doctor loan in Maharashtra and across other cities from Bajaj Finance. To access this convenient financing option, simply visit the Bajaj Finance website and navigate to the doctor loan section. There, you can explore the features, benefits, and eligibility criteria of the doctor loan, and proceed with the easy online application process. With Bajaj Finance, securing funds for your medical practice or personal requirements has never been more accessible or hassle-free. Apply now to unlock the financial support you need.Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The ultimate form of Galaxy Ultra is here. Meet Samsungs latest innovation Galaxy S24 Ultra , the smartphone that brings the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to your fingertips and makes your everyday more epic than ever before with all the things that it allows you to do with your phone. The latest model is an absolute delight to hold and see with a new titanium exterior which lends it high grade durability and non-rusting properties, and a 17.25 cm flat display. It has been introduced in new hues of mineral chic Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, and Titanium Violet. You can pick the one that appeals to your senses. And, for the days when you are looking for something more, add an NFC Synced Case which instantly changes the wallpaper and theme to match the case, instantly lifting your spirits! The Galaxy S24 Ultra brings the power of AI with Galaxy AI at your fingertips, so you can unleash creativity, productivity, and open possibilities like never before. Galaxy AI has the power to understand and adapt to changing user needs, whether it is to translate a live phone conversation, or create a summary in a jiffy! There is so much more that can happen on your smartphone. Read on to find out more about this brand new model with some truly amazing features. View Full Image Try Galaxy app allows discover how easy, intuitive & customizable the newest galaxy experience is. Circle to Search Nicknamed the new way to search, this feature allows you to search for anything you want whilst you are in the middle of scrolling through content on your smartphone. For instance, you are looking through the new reel posted by your favourite influencer when you spot the pair of boots that you have wanted for a very long time. All you need to do is draw a circle around the boots and invoke Circle to Search. In a matter of a few seconds, everything you want to know about them the brand and model, best price, where you can get them, delivery options, etc will be in front of you on the screen! The power of Circle to Search is not just limited to images or videos. You can highlight the text and run a search for any content without moving to a different search app. Live Translate Imagine getting a real time interpretation while you are in the middle of a phone conversation with someone who speaks a language that you dont understand. For instance, you are travelling to a foreign country for a special occasion and want to make a pre-reservation at a sought-after restaurant. But, you dont understand the language. You can use Live Translate to speak a foreign language on the spot or translate what someone is saying over a live phone call in real time. Another innovative feature is Note Assist, which processes long text and converts it into a summary. You can also use Chat Assist to get the perfect reply with the right tone when you are at a loss for words. Unmatched performance The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor which gives you all the power you need in a high capability smartphone. This means that you can work on multiple apps and multi-task between them with ease and stream your favourite content without lag. You can also team up your Galaxy S24 Ultra with a Windows-based PC for a 2-in-1 experience which means that you can work on both devices at the same time without switching your mouse, keyboard, or touchpad, taking your efficiency to a new level! Ultimate S Pen The ultimate productivity tool is here with an upgraded S Pen, which you can use to take quick notes, doodle, or do all that a mighty pen can manage. The new Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an upgraded S Pen with better latency that feels more natural. It is also a more eco-friendly way to write and share as it reduces the need for paper. Hyper-realistic gameplay A faster processor gives you all the power to create graphic effects in real time with ray tracing for hyper-realistic shadows and reflections. Samsung has also doubled the size of the Vapor Chamber in this model to improve heat dissipation so you can continue to game for extended hours without the phone heating up. A faster CPU, NPU and GPU translate into a more powerful performance and faster, more energy-efficient computing. AI Camera Whats a Samsung smartphone without a superb camera? The Galaxy S24 Ultra will not disappoint as it comes with a high-resolution Pro-grade camera which works in tandem with a powerful chip and detail enhancer technology to give you some of the most outstanding clicks. The 200 MP wide-angle camera fitted in this model offers the highest resolution ever on a Galaxy S series smartphone. This new model works wonders at night as Galaxy AI collaborates with flagship Samsung features such as Nightography to offer greater levels of brightness in portraits with exceptional depth and artful blur effects, leveraging the power of AI ISP and AI Stereo Depth Map. With the Nightography Zoom at 5X, you can expect brighter, clearer zoom photos at night and enhanced hand-shake compensation with a wider OIS. The goodness of this camera extends to its video capabilities which come with a major upgrade in this model. Expect exceptional recordings as all its cameras come together with up to 4K 120 FPS and 8K 30 FPS recordings. Dont worry. All of these amazing features in a new smartphone wont burn a deep hole in your pocket. You can bring home your very own Galaxy S24 Ultra at just 5,417 per month. Visit an authorised Samsung store or find out more at the Samsung India online store. Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio. 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 Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is set to question Zee Entertainment Enterprises' top management regarding the fund diversion allegations , Economic Times reported citing sources. Those under scanner include founder Subhash Chandra, CEO Punit Goenka, the CFO, and Zee's current and past board members. The markets regulator aims to conclude its investigation by mid-April and then initiate legal proceedings based on its findings. SEBI is currently scrutinising thousands of pages of transactions, bank statements, agreements, partnership deeds, and board minutes, one source told the paper. Zee's current chairman is R Gopalan, former secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). Sebi has not responded to queries, as per the report. A spokesperson for Zee refuted the allegations, stating: "The reports and rumours pertaining to accounting issues in the company are incorrect and false. Pursuant to the SAT order, which granted relief to the current key managerial personnel (KMP), the company has been in the process of providing all comments, information or explanations requested by Sebi, and has extended complete cooperation on all aspects." Zee shares slumped 14.8 percent on the BSE on February 21, closing at 164.50 apiece. This decline followed Bloomberg's report that SEBI had found a potential diversion of about 2,000 crore by the company promoters. The share price decline was further exacerbated by the cancellation of a $10-billion merger plan with Sony Group, with Sebi's findings cited as a key factor in the deal collapse. Previous Allegations and Tribunal Proceedings SEBI's initial findings in June 2023 suggested that 200 crore was diverted through related party transactions from Zee. Still, this claim was contested by Subhash Chandra and Punit Goenka before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). The regulator informed the tribunal that a broader investigation was underway due to the complexity of the transactions. SEBI also disclosed that Chandra issued a letter of comfort for 4,210 crore in his role as the chairman of Essel Group. "It was urged that eight months were required to complete a wider investigation, since now, the respondent (Sebi) finds that there are a large number of transactions - running into 2,000 crore - involving companies owned, controlled, or otherwise related to the promoters," stated the October 30, 2023, SAT order. SEBI's investigation originated from the resignation of three independent Zee directors in November 2019. Their concerns included the appropriation of a fixed deposit of 200 crore by Yes Bank for settling loans of related parties of Essel Group. This group is promoted by Chandra and his family, with Goenka being Chandra's son. The examination revealed that Chandra issued a letter of comfort on September 4, 2018, to Yes Bank regarding credit facilities availed by Essel Green Mobility. The letter ensured the availability of a fixed deposit of at least 200 crore to the bank while the loan remained outstanding, allowing the bank to appropriate the deposit in the event of a default. 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! European aviation giant Airbus said Thursday that Vietnamese airline Vietjet Air has agreed to buy 20 of its A330-900 planes. Vietjet signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the wide-body aircraft, which will replace its current fleet of leased A330-300 planes, Airbus said in a statement. "We are excited to work with Vietjet on the next phase of the carrier's expansion," said Christian Scherer, chief executive of Airbus's commercial aircraft business. When finalised, the order will be Vietjet's largest-ever widebody purchase, the airline said. Benoit de Saint-Exupery, executive vice president of sales at Airbus's commercial aircraft business, described the deal as a "commitment to purchase" by Vietjet during a briefing at the Singapore Airshow. Exupery said the firm expects the deal to be finalised "in the next few weeks", and the first delivery will be in 2026. Budget airline Vietjet operates a fleet of 110 aircraft on about 30 international routes. The new aircraft will operate on the carrier's growing long-range network, as well as on high-capacity regional services. They will replace the carrier's current fleet of leased A330-300s, as well as provide for network expansion. "The new A330neo aircraft is a strategic addition to modernize Vietjet's fleet comprehensively," Vietjet chief executive officer Dinh Viet Phuong said. "The introduction of the new-generation A330neo into Vietjet's fleet will play a crucial role in the airline's sustainable development strategy with ESG goals, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050," he said. Vietnamese airlines have been eagerly growing fleets to serve burgeoning passenger numbers, where domestic travel has soared in recent years and international air travel is on the rise. Vietjet stormed into Vietnam's airline sector in 2011 when much of the market was dominated by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines. The country's first budget carrier, owned by Vietnam's only female billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, initially raised eyebrows with its racy marketing campaigns featuring nearly naked models and by staffing inaugural flights with air hostesses wearing bikinis. 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 expectation of Indian consumers for more services on lower spending has posed one of the biggest challenges for Uber , according to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Also Read: Tata Group in talks with Uber for strategic partnership for app, says report "India is one of the toughest markets out there; they (Indians) are so demanding and do not pay for anything. If we can succeed here, we can succeed anywhere else," Khosrowshahi told Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani at an event in Bengaluru on Thursday, February 22. Also Read: Uber, Lyft, DoorDash drivers in US to strike on Valentine's Day for fair pay Underlining the challenges of succeeding in the Indian market, he stated that the prime focus of the ride-hailing service provider would be to strengthen its low-cost service segments. Given the habits of Indian consumers, Uber is likely to expand its two-wheeler and three-wheeler services in the country, said Khosrowshahi while speaking on the subject of Building Population Scale Technology. One of the unique features of India is its digital public infrastructure that has been built but continues to be built," he said. Also Read: Uber unveils first buyback plan worth $7 billion after reporting full-year operating profit in 2023 Sharing the reason behind joining Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi said he found the product magical and his choice for the role was driven by his passion for the company. "It is not just a digital product, but an intersection of digital and physical," he noted. Talking about coping with the losses due to the Covid pandemic, Dara Khosrowshahi said the company was losing around $3 billion in terms of profitability. It was using its mobility business to fund the delivery business. At the event, Uber also signed a pact with the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). "Our vision for Uber in India is to serve the mobility needs of all Indians. This is in line with ONDC's objective of democratising digital commerce. We are excited to take our first step through this MoU with ONDC to explore how we can accelerate our ambition to make Uber a platform for every Indian's daily mobility needs," Uber India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh 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! Chris Wood of Jefferies, in his latest Greed and Fear report said that fundamental structural reforms have changed Indias macroeconomic factors, which makes the country the best equity story in the world. This was not the case earlier but now India's macros are as good as any other country, noted Wood. Quoting a statement from a 21-year-old note, Wood said, The bottom-up appeal of India has always been severely diluted by the lack of a compelling top-down story. In a sense the country has been the inverse of China, the ultimate macro story but without the compelling micro options." "During the two five-year terms of Prime Minister Narendra Modis NDA government, India has seen fundamental structural reform which has created the framework for the country to realise its full potential in terms of taking advantage of its intellectual and physical capital as well as its positive demographics," explained Wood in the report. Listing three achievements of the PM Modi government in these 2 terms, Wood cited- 1) Massive government-funded investment in infrastructure which has been game-changing in terms of improving the overall logistical efficiencies of the economy. 2) The passage of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act of 2016 which means that Indian promoters" now know they risk losing their assets if they default on loans. 3) The long overdue reform of the residential property market as a result of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act of 2016 which means the property market, three years into an upturn after a seven-year downturn, is now delivering its full potential in terms of the resulting multiplier effects for the economy at large. This is why it is quite realistic to project 7 percent real GDP growth and 12-15 percent earnings growth going forward, argued Wood. He also pointed out that the increased profile of India on the global stage also reflects the marketing skills of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as reflected in the widely acknowledged success of the G20 Summit held in Delhi last September. In a world of rising geo-political tensions, India has deftly managed to maintain a foot in both camps, remaining on good terms with the Washington-dominated G7 while also being a fully signed-up member of BRICS. Meanwhile, with a general election pending in April-May this year, Modis goal will be to win a record number of seats for his BJP party, he noted. In the last general election in 2019, the BJP won 303 seats in the Lok Sabha, up from 282 in 2014. Modi has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400+ for the BJP-led alliance (NDA) in the upcoming national elections. Such an electoral outcome is no longer far-fetched. As for the Congress Party, the dominant political party in India since independence in 1947, it faces an existential crisis, said the expert. Indian Stock Markets Wood noted that the Indian stock market is now primarily driven by domestic flows not, as was the case 21 years ago, by foreign flows. The bottom-up story remains as dynamic as ever with a flourishing start-up scene and a booming local asset management industry, he added. "The remarkable point now is how little foreign investors are invested in Indian equities. Global equity funds are barely invested in India at all even though it is now consensus, as highlighted by headlines coming out of the Davos gathering this year, that India is the worlds next big growth story. This lack of exposure to India by global investors is, frankly, absurd," opined Wood. Remembering history, the expert reminisced that almost 21 years ago when the Nifty Index was 1,031, or 95 percent below its current levels; India was viewed as the tortoise and then booming China as the hare borrowing the analogy of the famous childrens story. The Indian economy back in 2003 was then at the beginning of a private sector-led capex cycle with the net debt to equity of Sensex-listed companies at only 17 percent, down from the previous peak of 37 percent reached in 1997. That cycle ran for 11 years and led to MSCI India outperforming the MSCI AC World by 460 percent in US dollar terms during that period. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decision.. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The world needs a new UN, said Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Numan Kurtulmus at the 14th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Baku, Trend reports. "In the midst of crises, conceptions of global enmity are gaining traction, particularly in Asian nations. Two recent battles deserve notice. The first is the ongoing war in Ukraine, which appears to be turning into a larger conflict between Russia and the West. If not resolved quickly, this war has the potential to escalate on a global scale. The second issue is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, which requires humanity to speak up as a whole. These confrontations highlight the weakness of the current international system in addressing such concerns. It becomes clear that a new UN and a revised international structure are essential for effective problem solving in the world," Kurtulmus said. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel National Testing Agency (NTA) has now expanded the list of examination cities for international students by adding 14 foreign cities in 12 countries. NTA announced on Wednesday, February 21, a list of 14 overseas centres that will host the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG) medical exam in 2024. NTA will provide testing facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Bangkok, Singapore and Lagos among other global cities with the provision of medical exam centres in these cities. United Arab Emirates is the sole country with three cities in the list of medical examination centres while all the other countries have one. Also read: Class 10, 12 board exams: Students can appear twice in a year from 2025-26, says Education Minister The notice stated, "In continuation of the public notice dated February 9, 2024, it has been decided that the exam will be conducted in foreign cities." The NTA notice stated that students who had already paid fees and chosen centres in India, without the option for foreign centres, would now be able to change their exam city and country when the correction window opens. However, candidates aspiring to take their medical exam abroad will be required to pay a differential amount. Those students applying afresh for the exam can select their preferred country and city directly from the drop-down menu during the registration process which ends on March 9. NEET is the sole entrance exam for undergraduate medical courses in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under Indias Ministry of Education. NTAs recent move to add overseas centres comes after concerns were raised by expat students over the agency's earlier decision not to have overseas centres for 2024 NEET exam. Also read: Developing a school culture can do much to mould students well School director and principal of Sunrise English Private School in Abu Dhabi, Dr Thakur S Mulchandani said, The common problems faced were for parents who have other children with ongoing schooling commitments, the logistics of managing travel arrangements while ensuring the welfare of their other children, also the financial burden of travel expenses and accommodation further compounded the stress for families," reported Gulf News. Director and principal of Sharjah Indian School, Pramod Mahajan said, We had raised their concerns by giving a representation to the Indian education minister through the Indian Association Sharjah. Our delegation had visited Delhi for this. We are happy that the students concerns have been addressed," reported Gulf News. 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! Are you traveling to Delhi for the CBSE Class 12 board exam today? If yes, then you may need to follow a different route due to traffic congestion on the usual ones. Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory because vehicular movement will remain affected due to the deployment of pickets or checking at various borders of the national capital. The Central Board of Secondary Education class 12 exams are scheduled to begin today, February 22, with the English paper, the common subject for all streams, be it science, commerce, or humanities. CBSE Class 12 Board Exams 2024: How to reach Delhi today? 1) The Traffic coming from the Dhaula Kuan side and going towards the Gurugram side will be diverted through a U-Turn from Rajokri Under flyover towards Dwarka Link Road and left turn from Samalkha T-Point and going to Kapashera Border also from Kapashera Chowk towards Bijwasan Najafgarh Road and to go Bajghera Border. 2) The traffic coming from the Gurugram side on NH 8 is advised to take MG Road from IFFCO Chowk and Shankar Chowk. 3) The traffic coming from Kapashera Border will be directed towards Samalkha-T-Point through Kapashera Chowk and will take a right turn towards NH-8. 4) Goods vehicles will not allowed from Najafgarh towards Kapashera Chowk on Najafgarh Bijwasan Road. Light vehicles will be diverted towards the Bajghera border and Kapashera Border coming from the Najafgarh side. 5) Commuters going towards Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Gurugarm etc. via "Rohtak Road" "Najafgarh-Jharoda Road" & "Najafgarh- Dhansa Road" are advised to use "Najafgarh Nangloi Road from Nangloi Chowk", "Najafgarh Daurala Road from Najafgarh" and "Najafgarh Chhawla Road from Najafgarh" to enter Haryana. 6) Inbound and Outbound traffic from to Haryana is being routed through Zero Palla, Singhu School Toll, Piao Maniyari, Saboli, Safiyabad and Lampur. However, traffic at these borders remain heavy throughout the day. 7) Vehicular traffic of Singhu Border and adjacent border intending to go towards NH-44 may exit from following border via Eastern Peripheral Expressway. 8) . Vehicular traffic going to Haryana on NH-44 and Sonia Vihar Border straight to Tronica City Marg Tronica City take left turn Delhi Dehradun Expressway (7 KM) Mandola Musoorie Khekra (10 KM) - left turn to Eastern Peripheral Expressway (19 KM)- Rai cut (NH-44) Total 36 KM. Delhi's plan to deal with Bagga roundabout traffic jams The Delhi Police has issued an advisory that it will be implementing for five days a plan on a trial basis to avoid frequent traffic jams at the Bagga roundabout. The trial will be started from Thursday, it said. According to the advisory issued on Wednesday, the Faiz Road will be open for one-way traffic from the Bagga roundabout towards Rani Jhansi Road. During the trial period, the vehicles going towards Rani Jhansi Road via the roundabout will take the Faiz Road. Traffic will be prohibited in the opposite carriage way, it said. The traffic coming on the Faiz Road from the Bagga roundabout will be allowed to take only left turn at the Kalka Das chowk towards Desh Bandhu Gupta Road. At this point, the right turn towards Desh Bandhu Gupta Road will be prohibited. The traffic going straight towards Rani Jhansi Road via 'Kalka Das Chowk' will be allowed, it stated. The traffic coming on Desh Bandhu Gupta Road from Karol Bagh side will be allowed only to move straight up to the Rani Jhansi Road. This traffic will not be allowed to take the right turn towards the Faiz Road, it said. The traffic coming from Paharganj railway station side will be allowed to move straight and will not be allowed to take left turn towards the Faiz Road, the advisory 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 UP Secondary Education Board is all set to conduct board exams for Classes 10 and 12 from today, February 22, in two shifts. More than 55 lakh candidates have been registered to appear for the board exams in Uttar Pradesh today. The board exams in Uttar Pradesh begin with the Hindi paper for both Class 10 and Class 12. Admit cards have already been distributed to the candidates. According to a Times of India (TOI) report, Board Secretary Dibyakant Shukla said that over 3 lakh invigilators have been deployed for the UP board exams. Each invigilator has been given an ID card with QR code. The answer books of UP board exams will also have QR codes. Shukla told TOI that the Special Task Force (STF), the local intelligence department, and the police are actively working to stop cheating in the UP board examination. A three-tier team has been formed to open the question paper packets at the examination centres. Centre administrators, external centre administrators, and static magistrates have been included in this," he added. Dibyakant Shukla said that the UP Board has come up with a new system for opening the question paper packet. "Under this, joint accountability of the external centre administrator and the static magistrate has been fixed along with the centre administrator. In case of a wrong opening, action will be taken against all three." The UP Board has also set up a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) to monitor social media, and it will remain active 24X7. For the examination centres and strong rooms, a command room has been set up in all the regional offices including the Board Headquarters to monitor them. All the district school inspectors of Uttar Pradesh will inspect the examination centres at nighttime as well. On UP board exams' first day (Thursday), in the first shift, the High School Hindi and Elementary Hindi examinations will be held in 8,273 centres. Military Science will be conducted in 244 centres for intermediate exams. As many as 29,38,663 candidates are registered in high school, while there are 5,123 candidates in intermediate. In the second shift of the first day, Hindi and General Hindi examinations for class 12 will be held at 8,232 centres. Class 10's commerce exam will be held at 1,619 centres. In Intermediate, 24,29,278 candidates have been registered, while 38,437 candidates for High School. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As 2024 Lok Sabha Polls near, the seat-sharing talks between INDIA bloc allies intensifies. What has particularly taken centre stage is the talks between Aam Aadmi Party and Congress that bolstered after the grand old party declared its seat-sharing compromise with Samajwadi party in Uttar Pradesh, and especially after the Supreme Court of India upturned the Chandigarh Mayoral Poll. Seat-sharing talks between Congress and AAP faced a dead end in Punjab, wherein the Bhagwant Singh Mann government has refused to share fate for the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls with the grand old party. However, several media reports have confirmed that the seat-sharing talks between AAP and Congress are in the final stages for Chandigarh, Haryana, Goa, Gujarat, and Delhi. While Delhi remains an AAP bastion, Chandigarh, Haryana, Goa, and Gujarat are the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) strongholds, wherein the INDIA bloc parties need to go in stronger, if they aim to take on the saffron party. The AAP has so far unilaterally declared its candidates in two seats each in Gujarat and Assam, and one in Goa. AAP-Congress seat-sharing talks in Gujarat Gujarat, a state where BJP returned to power with a whopping majority despite the Godhra riots, has been a BJP bastion in the past two decades. Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will see AAP contest two seats. While reports were strife that AAP plans to fight the Bharuch and Bhavnagar seats, Faisal Ahmed Patel, Congress leader and son of Senior Congress leader late Ahmed Patel, has said it will be much easier for Congress to win Bharuch district, AAP's strength is only on one Assembly seat...we believe that Congress should get the Bharuch district". According to media reports, Ahmed Patel's daughter, Mumtaz, wants to contest the Bharuch seat elected her father thrice between 1977 and 1984. Bharuch has been with the BJP since; the party has not lost after Chandubhai Deshmukh's 1989 win. Notably, both the Bharuch and Bhavnagar seats are held by BJP's Mansukhbhai Vasava and Bharti Shiyal, respectively. The AAP has already named its candidates. AAP seemed to have gained confidence in Gujarat post the 2022 Surat civic polls, and their achievement in securing five-seats in the Gujarat Assembly Polls in an otherwise saffron state. Meanwhile, Congress has only lost populism in Gujarat, failing to win a Lok Sabha seat since 2009, when it claimed 11 of 26. The BJP swept the state in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. AAP-Congress seat-sharing talks in Chandigarh NDTV reports Congress is set to fight Chandigarh's sole Lok Sabha seat, which is held by the BJP's Kirron Kher, who won the seat in 2014 and 2019. However, the Congress' Pawan Kumar Bansal won it for three terms previously. AAP-Congress seat-sharing talks in Delhi According to media reports, the Congress and AAP are likely to share the seven Lok Sabha seats for Delhi. According to India Today, Congress will likely get 3 of the seven seats as the seat-sharing talks with the AAP reach the final round. AAP, which is ruling the national capital, will likely contest the remaining four seats. The BJP won all seven seats in Delhi back to back in 2014 and 2019 elections. Interestingly, the BJP candidates in 2019 polled more votes than the combined tally of Congress and AAP candidates. AAP-Congress seat-sharing talks in Haryana According to media reports, in Haryana, AAP is expected to fight one seat. However, it is no secret that Haryana Congress leader have been vehemently vocal about their opposition in allying with AAP, a party the former believes led to Congress loosing the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. Like Gujarat, the BJP dominated this state in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, winning all 10 seats with nearly 60 per cent of votes. The Congress returned with less than 29 per cent of the votes. The AAP did not contest this election. AAP-Congress seat-sharing talks in Goa The AAP had earlier said Venzy Viegas would fight from South Goa seat, will now withdraw the Benaulim MLA and hand the seat to the Congress, for whom Francisco Sardinha won in 2019, reports NDTV. However, it remains unclear as to which of the two parties will contest the North Goa seat, which is held by the BJP. AAP to go solo in Punjab In Punjab AAP is set to contest all 13 seats. Notably, in the last Lok Sabha election the Congress won eight seats here and the AAP just one. Since then, though, fortunes have been completely reversed, with the AAP dominating the 2022 Assembly election; it won 92 of 117 seats. Seat-Sharing in Uttar Pradesh Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande announced on Wednesday that the party will contest on 17 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. He said the remaining 63 seats will have candidates of INDIA bloc from Samajwadi Party (SP) and other parties. 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! SEOULNorth Koreas Kim Jong Un just added a new trophy vehicle to his sanctions-defying fleet of luxury cars. And he has Vladimir Putin to thank. In recent days, the Russian leader gifted Kim an armored head-of-state limousine that Putin himself uses. It is a Russian-made Aurus Senat, which can cost as much as $1 million. Kim marveled at Putins presidential vehicle when the two met last September in Russias Far East. He even sat side by side with Putin in the Aurus Senats back seat. The Russian automakers website boasts that the car is the embodiment of the dignity and power inherent in the Russian character." The gift vehicle serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations" between the two leaders, Pyongyangs state media reported. Kims glee over the Russian-made car was a factor in offering one as a present, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a Tuesday briefing. Putin showed it to him personally, and like many others, he liked it," Peskov said. Putins gift, however, appears to violate United Nations sanctions that limit the import of luxury goods into the Kim regime, U.S. and South Korean officials said. The restrictions date to 2006, shortly after North Korea carried out its first nuclear test. Back then, Putin-led Moscow backed the U.N. penalties. It is a different dynamic today, as the two countries renewed partnerships become increasingly brazen. Kim and Putin have greatly tightened their diplomatic, economic and military bonds in recent months. Russia has used North Korea-supplied missiles and munitions on the battlefield in Ukraine, according to assessments from Washington, Seoul and Kyiv. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the existence of any arms deals. Not only does Putins gift to Kim indicate holes in the sanctions regime, but more troubling is the open willingness and ease in which the autocrats flout sanctions," said Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow who focuses on Korean issues at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. The sanctions regime is broken." Despite the impediments, the 40-year-old dictators roster of luxury vehicles includes Mercedes-Benz limousines, Rolls-Royce Phantoms and bulletproof Lexus sedans. He also has used vehicles from U.S.-based Ford Motor and minivans from South Koreas Hyundai Motor. Kims car fascination is well-established inside and outside the cloistered regime. North Korean students were taught that Kim learned to drive at age 3. At the 2018 Singapore Summit, Kim took a stroll with then-President Donald Trump to look at the U.S. leaders state limousine, peeking inside the vehicle. His personal collection is likely more than 100 vehicles, said Lee Young-jong, director of North Korean studies at Seoul-based think tank Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. Kim, in state-media footage, is often seen with car keys placed nearby, suggesting he may even drive himself to certain events. He doesnt care if the cars are Korean, Japanese or Americanhes a car maniac," Lee said. The vehicle flaunting also helps Kim send the political message that the country is doing all right despite sanctions, despite food shortages and economic struggles, Lee added. North Koreas estimated volume of imported luxury goods is on the rebound after it closed its borders to the outside world during the Covid-19 pandemic. The imports fell to a low of roughly $2 million in 2021, rose to about $28 million in 2022 and had hit roughly $41 million by mid-2023, according to South Korean lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, whose office analyzes Chinese customs data. Otherwise, Kim has often needed to use a complicated supply network to smuggle his luxury vehicles back home. In 2018, the delivery of two head-of-state Mercedes-Benz limousines required three cargo jets, about four months and five countries, according to a report by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, a Washington-based research organization that works to expose illicit finance around the globe. In early December, Japanese media reported on a police raid of a company near Tokyo that was suspected of trying to export a Lexus car to the North Korean embassy in Bangladesh while falsely declaring Singapore as the destination. A local law-enforcement spokesman said several locations of an automobile-trading company had been searched, but declined to elaborate as the case remained under investigation with no arrests so far. Kim rewards confidantes with luxury goods, such as watches, tech gadgets or even cars, South Koreas Unification Ministry said last year. Kim and his family have increasingly showcased their high-end tastes in public, from Swiss watches to fur coats. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow detailed how the Aurus Senat vehicle made its way into North Korea. But the two countries now have active railway trade, and ferrying a single vehicle wouldnt be a logistical challenge through those channels. The emergence of a Russian vehicle for a North Korean leader evokes memories of Kims grandfather, Kim Il Sung, who favored a Soviet-made vehicle. The car was taken by South Korean soldiers in 1950 during the Korean War, after Kim abandoned it as he fled Pyongyang. The ZIS model now sits in downtown Seoul in the War Memorial of Korea. Kims father, Kim Jong Il, favored Mercedes-Benz limousines. But both previous leaders for their state funerals were transported in coffins placed atop the roofs of black, American-made Lincoln Continentals. They express anti-American sentiments for their whole life but leave in an American car," said Lee, of the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. Ive been a North Korea watcher for 30 years but its still a mystery to me." Miho Inada and Thomas Grove contributed to this article. Write to Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com and Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com The Houthi rebels' attacks in Yemen to pressurise Israel to stop its offensive against Hamas in Gaza have wider implications for global trade via the Suez Canal. According to Crisil, out of all the sectors, Indias trade of fertilisers and capital goods has been affected the most because of Houthi rebels' attacks in the Red Sea . Whereas, trade in sectors like metals and textiles are the least affected sectors because of the Red Sea crisis. Also Read: Red Sea crisis: Canada asks Beijing to influence Houthis, 'It's in China's interests' Capital goods sector: Delayed deliveries may contribute to slowdown in order conversions The report pointed out that a sustained disruption in trade routes may lead to extended delays in the delivery of goods, hence impacting players within the capital goods sector. The trade disruptions can also lead to an undesirable inventory build-up that may exert pressure on the efficiency of companies in the capital goods sector. Delayed deliveries of products can also contribute to a slowdown in order conversions. Also Read: Red Sea Crisis leads shipping rates to spike; Should you Buy, Sell or Hold the shipping stocks? Fertilisers: Import of key product MOP severely affected The disruption in trade because of the Red Sea conflict has significantly impacted fertiliser exports to India. According to the CRISIL report, the key fertiliser muriate of potash (MOP), from Jordan and Israel has been majorly affected. India imports around 10-15% of MOP from Israel, whereas 25-30% of it comes from Jordan. However, the government has assured that it has maintained a sufficient buffer for fertilisers. Also Read: Red Sea crisis may spike freight cost for corporates by 30%: Report Impact on crude oil supply Indias major chunk of crude oil supply comes from Russia (37%), Iraq (21%) and Saudi Arabia (14%). The report says that the crisis has a 'medium' impact on India's crude oil supply. Despite the nominal impact on the oil supply, there has been an increase in freight and insurance costs, highlighted by CRISIL in its report. Moreover, the rise in crude prices might impact incremental spreads observed by the oil marketing companies in the domestic market. The tighter shipping markets may also lead to a negative impact on Indian exports of crude oil products. According to the report, sectors like pharmaceuticals and shipping will have a medium impact on the Red Sea crisis CRISIL 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! TOKYOJapans benchmark stock average briefly traded Thursday above its all-time high close set more than 34 years ago, a milestone in the countrys recovery from a popped bubble that left the economy in the doldrums for decades. In intraday trading Thursday morning, the Nikkei Stock Average of 225 shares reached 38924.88, higher than the record close of 38915.87 on Dec. 29, 1989. However, as of late Thursday morning, the Nikkei hadnt topped its all-time intraday high of 38957.44, set on the same day in 1989. That was the last trading day of a decade that saw one of historys great stock and real-estate bubbles. The milestone was powered by foreign investors who are encouraged by Japans corporate-governance changes and are piling into the country as Chinas lure fades. The Nikkei has staged a strong rally since November on optimism that Japan has broken out of its longstanding problem of flat or falling prices, as well as anticipation that the countrys tech industry will benefit from global demand in the artificial-intelligence era. Pessimism about China has driven investors to redirect money to Japan, analysts said. Japans wages and profits are improving, and companies are using their assets more efficiently, said Jonathan Garner, a longtime Asia strategist at Morgan Stanley. Thats working in a virtuous cycle upwards as you exit deflation," he said. Whereas for China, the exact opposite is happening." Garner said the reversal of fortunes between Japan and China is causing some very large reallocations within portfolios right now." News that U.S. chip maker Nvidias sales more than tripled in the latest quarter helped the Nikkei make gains Thursday. Write to Peter Landers at Peter.Landers@wsj.com and Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@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! Crude oil prices have been steadily climbing since the start of 2024, driven by increasing geopolitical tensions. Despite oversupply in physical markets in January, Brent crude prices rose by approximately 5% last month, surpassing the USD 80 per barrel mark, largely due to the Middle East crisis. The conflict in Israel remains in place, although that is unlikely to adversely affect the crude oil supply. However, the bigger development has been the US governments efforts to continue to target Iranian proxies in the Middle East in retaliation for a suicide drone strike in Jordan, said ICICI Bank Global Markets in its latest report. Houthi militants in Yemen continue to target shipping vessels in the Red Sea, despite US airstrikes, raising concerns about further disruptions to supplies from the region. Also Read: IOC, HPCL, BPCL shares baking-in high margins, steep premiums, says CLSA The crisis in the Red Sea shipping route began after Yemen-based Houthi rebels launched frequent attacks on commercial shipping vessels plying through the route in November as a fallout of the Israeli-Palestine war, which started in early October 2023. So far, supply disruptions haven't materialised significantly, which is limiting the upside in Brent crude oil prices. However, two key risks persist potential disruptions in crude transportation through the Strait of Hormuz (20 mbpd) or the Suez Canal (5 mbpd), accounting for a combined 25% of total oil supply, and the involvement of major oil producers like Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia in a conflict. Although the likelihood of such an event remains low for now, as stated by ICICI Bank Global Markets. Also Read: India's crude oil output up 0.7% to 2.5 MMT in January, imports rise 5.7% YoY Excess supply of crude oil in physical markets As far as global supply is concerned, ICICI Bank Global Markets said that there has been a notable drop in OPEC+ crude oil production in January, marking the steepest plunge in six months. However, the decline fell short of the approximately 700 kbpd in cuts pledged by the group for Q1 2024. In January, OPEC+ crude output witnessed a decline of 420 kbpd. Factors contributed to the production decline, including protests leading to the shutdown of Libya's Sharara oil field as well as voluntary cuts by Kuwait and Iraq. Despite agreeing to significant output reductions at the last OPEC+ meeting, both countries exceeded their quotas in January. Also Read: Petroleum exports drop sharply as West tightens squeeze on Russia The shortfall in January's production cuts, as per ICICI Bank Global Markets, may impact OPEC+ members market share, especially amidst surging crude output from non-OPEC countries like the US, Canada, Guyana, and Brazil. On aggregate, the global supply of crude dropped by 1.6 mbpd on a sequential basis in January, which was not enough to offset the decline witnessed in demand. The net result was an excess supply of 0.6 mbpd in the crude oil physical markets in January 2024, it stated. EMs to drive the crude demand "Our global demand-side projections for crude oil have remained unchanged from the past month and reflect our expectations of a global soft landing. We see demand picking by 1.1 mbpd in 2024 compared to 1.9 mbpd witnessed over 2023, reflecting sluggish global growth projections for 2024 of 2.8% YoY from earlier 3.0%," said ICICI Bank Global Markets. It expects emerging markets (EMs) to drive the demand higher, led by India and China, and it projects US demand to pick up marginally, while demand in Europe is expected to remain flat. Also Read: India oil product demand up 8.2% in January, says report "The risks to the demand outlook remain fairly balanced at this point in time, depending on the materialisation of Chinese stimulus driving demand higher and the lagged impact of monetary tightening leading to a much more acute slowdown in global growth than we expect," it added. Crude prices outlook ICICI Bank Global Markets has maintained its trading range for Brent crude prices between USD 75/bbl and USD 85/bbl. This is based on the expectation that physical markets will likely remain oversupplied by approximately 0.1 mbpd. Their forecasts implicitly assume that OPEC+ members will extend production cuts beyond April 2024. If that does not happen, it would imply a higher net supply surplus, limiting further upside potential from current levels. It says that the ongoing geo-political tensions could continue to drive interim volatility, keeping prices elevated in the process. Also Read: Government marginally raises windfall tax on domestic crude oil There were also episodes of US commercial crude oil inventory drawing higher than expected, giving hopes that demand would normalise in the upcoming months. However, the upside bias has remained capped, reflecting expectations of an oversupplied physical market, as stated by ICICI Bank Global Markets. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The last time investors were really salivating over Japanese stocks, the Walkman was still a thing and headbands were essential fashion accessories. But with the Nikkei 225 finally crossing its high of 34 years ago, Japan is getting more attention from foreign investors again. The particularly good news for U.S. investors itching to go beyond familiar shores is that value stocks have been the winning strategy in Japanmore or less the complete inverse of the U.S., where growth rules the roost. That adds up to a potentially useful diversification opportunityespecially since the trends driving Japans value outperformance dont have much to do with the U.S., or even the cyclical performance of the Japanese economy itself, which just dipped back into recession. In 1989, it was Japan that was the growth champion. Its economy was booming, and its companies were making waves around the globe. Not any more. But that hasnt held back its markets performance. The Topix index, considered more representative than the Nikkei, has more than doubled in the past decade. View Full Image ... And value stocks have been in vogue, especially in recent years. Total returns from the MSCI Japan Value Index have outperformed the Japan Growth Index by around 40 percentage points in the past three years, in dollar terms. Even on a 10-year horizon, Japanese value stocks have beaten growth stocks by around 10 percentage points. The MSCI USA Growth index, on the other hand, outperformed the value index by nearly 200 percentage points in the past 10 years, in terms of total returns. Corporate profits have done well lately partly thanks to the weak yen. For Japanese companies that had reported their results as of Feb. 9, recurring profits for the December quarter rose 18% year on year excluding SoftBank, which booked big gains from its technology investments, according to Goldman Sachs. But a bigger reason the market has excelled is that Japanese companies are increasingly on board with the corporate-governance initiatives kick-started under then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Tokyo Stock Exchange has encouraged companies to take steps to improve depressed valuations, including indirectly naming and shaming those companies that havent come up with a capital efficiency plan. Shareholders returns have indeed been rising. In the past decade, the number of buybacks announced by Japanese companies has tripled, and the number of strategic shareholdings has declined by 20%, according to JPMorgan. Bloated balance sheets with excessive cash and cross-shareholdings have been one major drag on valuations. Around 40% of the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchanges Prime Market trade below their book value. That is down from 50% a year earlier, but still leaves much room for improvement. Even the worlds most famous value investor has joined the party. Warren Buffett has made a killing from investing in five Japanese trading companiesstodgy conglomerates with businesses ranging from mining to retailin recent years. These companies are a classic value playtrading at low multiples with high dividend yields. Or at least they were when Buffett first bought them. There are still real pockets of growth in the Japanese market: semiconductor equipment manufacturers or game makers, for example. But the real attraction for many is the markets cornucopia of other, often-ignored stocks with low valuationsand the potential for higher returns. That should be music to American stock pickers ears, especially those worried that the rally at home looks more like the Japan of yesteryear. Write to Jacky Wong at jacky.wong@wsj.com The Nifty closed at 22055.05, an increase of 0.74% for the day. Throughout the day, the Nifty reached a high of 22252.5 and a low of 21875.25. Similarly, the Sensex traded between 73256.39 and 72081.36, ultimately closing 0.74% higher at 72623.09, which was 535.15 points above the opening price. In terms of performance, the Nifty Midcap 50 outperformed the Nifty 50, closing 1.07% higher. On the other hand, the Nifty Small Cap 100 underperformed, ending at 16004.85, an increase of 0.68% or 109.6 points. The Nifty 50 has shown positive returns over various time periods. In the last 1 week, it has provided a return of 1.37%. Over the last 1 month, the return stands at 4.57%, while over the last 3 months, it is 12.1%. The returns for the last 6 months and 1 year are 14.51% and 26.52%, respectively. Looking at the top gainers in the Nifty index, Bajaj Auto led the way with a gain of 3.23%, followed by HCL Technologies (up 3.06%), Eicher Motors (up 3.00%), Coal India (up 2.82%), and ITC (up 2.75%). On the other hand, the top losers in the Nifty index were Indusind Bank (down 1.85%), HDFC Bank (down 1.36%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 1.22%), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (down 1.15%), and Hero Motocorp (down 0.88%). In the bank nifty, the day ended at 47019.7, with an intraday high of 47024.05 and a low of 46426.85. The bank nifty has shown positive performance over different time periods, with returns of 1.49% in the last 1 week, 4.2% in the last 1 month, 7.96% in the last 3 months, 6.62% in the last 6 months, and 17.28% in the last 1 year. Moving on to the stock market, the top gainers and losers for the day are as follows: Sensex: Top Gainers: HCL Technologies (up 3.12%), ITC (up 2.73%), Mahindra & Mahindra (up 2.61%), Tata Consultancy Services (up 2.44%), Tech Mahindra (up 2.32%) Top Losers: Indusind Bank (down 1.87%), HDFC Bank (down 1.28%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 1.11%), State Bank Of India (down 0.73%), Hindustan Unilever (down 0.61%) Nifty: Top Gainers: Bajaj Auto (up 3.23%), HCL Technologies (up 3.06%), Eicher Motors (up 3.00%), Coal India (up 2.82%), ITC (up 2.75%) Top Losers: Indusind Bank (down 1.85%), HDFC Bank (down 1.36%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 1.22%), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (down 1.15%), Hero Motocorp (down 0.88%) Nifty MidCap 50: Top Gainers: Vodafone Idea, Cummins India, Oberoi Realty, Indian Hotels Company, Indus Towers Top Losers: Biocon, Bata India, Jubilant Foodworks, Voltas, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Nifty Small Cap 100: Top Gainers: Data Patterns India, Hindustan Copper, NBCC India, Cyient, Global Health Top Losers: JBM Auto, KEI Industries, Jubilant Ingrevia, Elgi Equipments, Radico Khaitan BSE: Top Gainers: Mishra Dhatu Nigam (up 9.35%), ABB India (up 8.86%), Tata Investment Corporation (up 7.67%), NCC (up 7.62%), Hindustan Copper (up 7.41%) Top Losers: Jindal Worldwide (down 4.44%), Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals (down 3.78%), Eureka Forbes (down 3.55%), Supreme Industries (down 3.31%), Sun Pharma Advanced Research Com (down 3.11%) NSE: Top Gainers: ABB India (up 8.83%), Data Patterns India (up 8.67%), Tata Investment Corporation (up 7.77%), NCC (up 7.28%), GR Infraprojects (up 7.27%) Top Losers: JBM Auto (down 3.61%), Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals (down 3.53%), Supreme Industries (down 3.21%), Phoenix Mills (down 3.11%), KEI Industries (down 2.94%) These were the top gainers and losers in the stock market during the trading session on February 22, 2024. For more details, you can visit the respective links provided. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva has issued a statement on the 32nd anniversary of Khojaly Genocide, Trend reports. The statement reads: Thirty-two years have passed since the Khojaly Genocide, one of the most horrific crimes against humanity in the history of mankind, which proves Armenia's policy of ethnic hatred and genocide against Azerbaijanis. On the night of February 25 to 26, 1992, Khojaly city was occupied by Armenian armed forces with the participation of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment of the former Soviet Army, and the local population was subjected to genocide, and the city was completely destroyed. As a result of the act of genocide, fundamental human rights and the norms and principles of international humanitarian law were severely violated. A total of 613 residents of Khojaly, including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 elderly individuals, were mercilessly killed. Eight families were completely annihilated, and 25 children lost both parents, while 130 children lost at least one parent. Among the wounded, 76 were children, and 487 individuals were severely wounded. Of those killed, 56 were subjected to particularly cruel methods, including being burned alive, having their scalps peeled off, and enduring other horrifying forms of torture. In addition, the fate of 150 individuals, including 68 women and 26 children, among the 1275 taken hostages remains unknown until today. The mass killing in Khojaly constituted severe violations of international conventions such as the Geneva Conventions on the Protection of War Victims, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and grossly infringed upon the fundamental right to life. Thirty years ago, by the initiative of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, the Khojaly Genocide was politically and legally evaluated for the first time by the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and consequently, 26 February was declared the Day of the Khojaly Genocide. The campaign "Justice for Khojaly," organized and continuously implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and aimed at international recognition and legal and political evaluation of this criminal act, is of great importance in terms of enhancing public awareness of this tragic event at the international level and demonstrating significant resistance against mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and cases of racial, religious, and ethnic discrimination. As a result of the activities carried out within the framework of the campaign, the legislative bodies of 17 countries, 24 states in the United States, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization of Turkic States, condemned this heinous mass killing, recognized it as genocide, and adopted relevant decisions and resolutions. The discovery of mass places of burial found in Aghdam, Shusha, Khojavend, Fuzuli, and Kalbajar districts after the Second Karabakh War and local anti-terror operations carried out last year, as well as during the building and reconstruction and exploration activities in the liberated territories, and also some time ago near the Asgaran fortress close to Aghdam district, which is close to Khojaly, signs of torture on the human remains in those mass graves reaffirm the brutal killing of our compatriots during the act of genocide in Khojaly and the implementation of the policy of genocide against Azerbaijanis. Despite numerous appeals from our side, Armenia has not made any efforts to determine the fate of nearly four thousand missing persons and nor has it provided information about the mass graves where our compatriots, who were subjected to torture and killed, are buried. International organizations and the global community must undertake a legal assessment of the Khojaly Genocide, widely acknowledged as one of the most significant massacres of the 20th century. It is crucial that those accountable for this grave crime against humanity are brought to the court of justice for prosecution, the statement reads. The statement is addressed to the UN Secretary-General, UN Security Council, UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Office of High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Human Rights Council, the United Nations Childrens Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, European Union, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, International and European Ombudsman Institutions, Asian Ombudsman Association, Turkic states Ombudsman Association, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Ombudsman Association of its member states, Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, European Network of Ombudspersons for Children, International Peace Bureau, foreign ombudsmen and national human rights institutions, embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the foreign embassies in Azerbaijan, as well as to the Azerbaijani Diasporas. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The board of Vodafone Idea will meet on February 27 to consider fundraising proposals, Aditya Birla Group's telecom service provider said in a BSE filing on Thursday. Multiple options would be considered to raise funds, like equity or debt instruments. Also Read: Vodafone Idea share price jumps 17% to 52-week high; gives over 94% return this year We wish to inform you that a meeting of the Board of Directors of Vodafone Idea Limited (the Company) will be held on Tuesday i.e. 27th February 2024, inter alia, to consider and evaluate any proposals for raising funds in one or more tranches by way of a rights issue, further public offer, private placement including preferential allotment, qualified institutions placement or through any other permissible mode and/or combination thereof as may be considered appropriate," the company said in its stock exchange filing. Also Read: Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today February 22 Vodafone Idea shares closed 6.27% higher at 16.28 per share on the BSE on Thursday. The capital raise could be by way of the issue of equity shares or by way of any instruments including securities convertible into equity shares, Global Depository Receipts, American Depository Receipts or bonds including foreign currency convertible bonds". Also Read: India's venture-debt market crossed $1 billion in 2023: Report Earlier in the day, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla had said efforts are on to rope in external investors. However, he refrained from giving a fixed timeline for the addition of external investors. "We are making good progress but can't put in a timeline," Birla told PTI. Vodafone Idea's net loss reduced to 6,986 crore for the December 2023 quarter. The improvement in the company's performance was aided by 755.5 crore one-time exceptional gain. The telecom service provider's average revenue per subscriber also increased in Q3 FY24. The company's net loss stood at 7,990 crore in the year-ago period. While announcing the company's Q3FY24 results, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra said: "We remain engaged with various parties for fundraising to make required investments for network expansion, including 5G roll-out." Despite improvement in managing losses, the company's revenue from operations remained nearly flat at 10,673.1 crore year-on-year. The entry of Reliance Jio and the strengthening of Bharti Airtel had made the survival of the telecom company difficult, according to industry observers. VODAFONE IDEA 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! Real estate is one of the favourite asset classes of investors. However, with the increase in the cost of real estate and sky-high home prices, different investment options that aim to deliver returns of underlying real estate have come up. Fractional real estate is one such concept where people can invest in a fraction of a real estate property. The investors are owners of that fraction of the real estate. It has been seen that realtors are pushing for fractional real estate in an aggressive manner, but people dont seem that interested. Founder and CEO, Shiv Parekh of hBits, feels that lack of demand for fractional real estate can be attributed to three aspects. Firstly, fractional ownership of commercial real estate concept is relatively new, unlike traditional investment vehicles such as mutual funds that have been prevalent for decades. This unfamiliarity could contribute to hesitancy among potential investors. Secondly, there seems to be a lack of awareness about the product and a limited understanding of its advantages. Investors may not be fully informed about how commercial fractional real estate can serve as a strategic financial instrument, providing exposure to real estate while offering diversified benefits. Additionally, the challenge lies in the fact that commercial fractional real estate is essentially a financial product backed by tangible assets (real estate). Realtors, who typically engage directly with physical properties, may find it challenging to grasp the nuances of a financial product designed to achieve diversification goals through real estate exposure," said Parekh. Co-ownership Co-ownership is another issue with fractional real estate. Co-ownership means sharing decision-making with others and relying entirely on a property manager, limiting control over the property. Until the system becomes more investor-friendly and clear legal guidelines are established, risk-averse investors may be hesitant to pursue this investment approach," said Pratik Kataria, Director, Sainath Developers. Liquidity According to Parekh, liquidity is a major risk for investors. Holding of fractional ownership is managed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV); one must rely on a fractional ownership platform (FOP) for resale opportunities or exit opportunities. The entire secondary market is currently managed by these FOP players which can delay liquidity," he said. He added that liquidity will be enhanced after forthcoming SM REIT regulations come into place, and all products are set to be traded on the stock exchange. Legal framework Ambiguity in the legal framework can be another risk associated with the legal framework. The legal framework surrounding fractional ownership is still under construction, leaving investors in uncharted territory. This ambiguity can breed uncertainty about co-ownership structures, exit strategies, and dispute resolution mechanisms," said Mr. Sourabh Bansal, Co-founder and Managing Director, Magicrete. Exiting Investors might face challenges when wishing to exit their investments due to the absence of a readily available secondary market to absorb their share of investment. Additionally, since this area remains unregulated, the secondary market is entirely maintained and operated by FOP players. A buyer is found among the various registered users on that platform. At hBits, we have a dedicated secondary market team which helps facilitate these exits. However, so far, we have noticed that less than 1.5% of the investors have taken an early exit and hBits has facilitated 100% of them. Since the price discovery is usually between the buyer and seller, the time is subject to negotiation. At hBits, we take an average of 3 weeks to facilitate the exit," said Parekh. Sourabh said that exiting fractional real estate investments in India involves navigating challenges such as liquidity constraints and time-consuming transactions. Options include platform buybacks, seeking buyers through designated marketplaces, exploring buyouts with co-owners, and rigorous due diligence on exit strategies. While challenges exist, a prudent and well-informed approach, coupled with a realistic expectation of timelines, is crucial for investors seeking an exit," said Sourabh. Tax treatment Another issue investors face with fractional real estate investment is the tax laws, as specific regulations are not clearly defined. Experts say that the income from such investments, including rental income, is taxable. Rental income is taxed according to the investors income slab, with local municipal taxes also applicable. Capital gains tax applies to the sale of fractional shares, with a 20% tax on long-term capital gains (if held for more than two years) and tax according to the income slab for short-term gains (if sold within two years). Each fractional owner bears responsibility for their share of taxes, adding to the propertys maintenance costs. Sourabh feels that a financial advisors expertise is required for the nuanced treatment of income tax, capital gains tax, and inheritance tax to avoid unwanted surprises and optimise returns. To sum it up, Pratik said that in the unpredictable world of fractional real estate in India, keeping abreast of market trends is essential. Investors should stay vigilant about regulatory changes, ensure platform transparency, and comprehend market dynamics. Conducting thorough due diligence, diversifying portfolios, and anticipating challenges in this evolving landscape are crucial for navigating future uncertainties. As the market evolves, being proactive in adjusting investment strategies and staying informed about the dynamic nature of fractional real estate will be key for investors aiming to navigate and capitalise on potential shifts in the market," said Pratik. Padmaja Choudhury is a freelance financial content writer. You can reach out to her at padmaja@padmajachoudhury.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! (Bloomberg) -- Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie Inc. is looking to sell at least $13 billion of corporate bonds to help fund its acquisitions of ImmunoGen Inc. and Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings Inc., according to people with knowledge of the matter. The sale is expected to be announced as soon as Thursday, following fixed-income investor calls on Wednesday, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The size of the offering is subject to change, and will be determined on the day of the sale. A spokesperson for AbbVie didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. The bond sale is set to be the latest in a string of recent offerings from blue-chip companies looking to fund acquisitions. Cisco Systems Inc. on Wednesday sold $13.5 billion of bonds to finance its purchase of Splunk Inc. Last week, Bristol Myers Squibb issued $13 billion of bonds to help pay for its acquisitions of Karuna Therapeutics Inc. and RayzeBio Inc., a transaction that garnered more than $85 billion of orders. The recent flurry of bond sales tied to acquisitions comes after the worst year in a decade for buyout funding. AbbVie on Wednesday held calls with investors to discuss the bond offering. Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley arranged the calls. Representatives for Citigroup and JPMorgan declined to comment. Spokespeople for Bank of America and Morgan Stanley were either not immediately available or not immediately able to comment. At the end of 2023, AbbVie agreed to buy cancer drugmaker ImmunoGen for $10.1 billion and biotech company Cerevel in a deal valued at $8.7 billion, two deals that were announced within a span of a week. Earlier this week, AbbVie said that Richard Gonzalez, it chief executive officer, will retire after over a decade in the role, to be succeeded by Robert Michael, chief operating officer, effective July 1. AbbVie lifted its forecasts for 2024 profit earlier this month as the company expects robust growth from newer treatments. --With assistance from Caleb Mutua. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to the nation's top policing agency and other parts of its government a trove that catalogs apparent hacking activity and tools to spy on both Chinese and foreigners. Among the apparent targets of tools provided by the impacted company, I-Soon: ethnicities and dissidents in parts of China that have seen significant anti-government protests, such as Hong Kong or the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang in Chinas far west. The dump of scores of documents late last week and subsequent investigation were confirmed by two employees of I-Soon, known as Anxun in Mandarin, which has ties to the powerful Ministry of Public Security. The dump, which analysts consider highly significant even if it does not reveal any especially novel or potent tools, includes hundreds of pages of contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client and employee lists. They reveal, in detail, methods used by Chinese authorities used to surveil dissidents overseas, hack other nations and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media. The documents show apparent I-Soon hacking of networks across Central and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. The hacking tools are used by Chinese state agents to unmask users of social media platforms outside China such as X, formerly known as Twitter, break into email and hide the online activity of overseas agents. Also described are devices disguised as power strips and batteries that can be used to compromise Wi-Fi networks. I-Soon and Chinese police are investigating how the files were leaked, the two I-Soon employees told the AP. One of the employees said I-Soon held a meeting Wednesday about the leak and were told it wouldnt affect business too much and to continue working as normal." The AP is not naming the employees who did provide their surnames, per common Chinese practice out of concern about possible retribution. The source of the leak is not known. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jon Condra, an analyst with Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company, called it the most significant leak ever linked to a company suspected of providing cyber espionage and targeted intrusion services for the Chinese security services." He said organizations targeted by I-Soon according to the leaked material include governments, telecommunications firms abroad and online gambling companies within China. Until the 190-megabyte leak, I-Soons website included a page listing clients topped by the Ministry of Public Security and including 11 provincial-level security bureaus and some 40 municipal public security departments. Another page available until early Tuesday advertised advanced persistent threat attack and defense" capabilities, using the acronym APT one the cybersecurity industry employs to describe the worlds most sophisticated hacking groups. Internal documents in the leak describe I-Soon databases of hacked data collected from foreign networks around the world that are advertised and sold to Chinese police. The companys website was fully offline later Tuesday. An I-Soon representative refused an interview request and said the company would issue an official statement at an unspecified future date. I-Soon was founded in Shanghai in 2010, according to Chinese corporate records, and has subsidiaries in three other cities, including one in the southwestern city of Chengdu that is responsible for hacking, research and development, according to leaked internal slides. I-Soons Chengdu subsidiary was open as usual on Wednesday. Red Lunar New Year lanterns swayed in the wind in a covered alleyway leading to the five-story building housing I-Soons Chengdu offices. Employees streamed in and out, smoking cigarettes and sipping takeout coffees outside. Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: Safeguarding the Party and the countrys secrets is every citizens required duty." I-Soons tools appear to be used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media and flood them with pro-Beijing content. Authorities can surveil Chinese social media platforms directly and order them to take down anti-government posts. But they lack that ability on overseas sites like Facebook or X, where millions of Chinese users flock to in order to evade state surveillance and censorship. Theres a huge interest in social media monitoring and commenting on the part of the Chinese government," said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund. She reviewed some of the documents. To control public opinion and forestall anti-government sentiment, Ohlberg said, control of critical posts domestically is pivotal. Chinese authorities," she said, "have a big interest in tracking down users who are based in China." The source of the leak could be a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor," said chief threat analyst John Hultquist of Googles Mandiant cybersecurity division. The data indicates I-Soons sponsors also include the Ministry of State Security and China's military, the Peoples Liberation Army, Hultquist said. One leaked draft contract shows I-Soon was marketing anti-terror" technical support to Xinjiang police to track the regions native Uyghurs in Central and Southeast Asia, claiming it had access to hacked airline, cellular and government data from countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Thailand. It is unclear whether the contact was signed. We see a lot of targeting of organizations that are related to ethnic minorities Tibetans, Uyghurs. A lot of the targeting of foreign entities can be seen through the lens of domestic security priorities for the government," said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. He said the documents appear legitimate because they align with what would be expected from a contractor hacking on behalf of Chinas security apparatus with domestic political priorities. Cary found a spreadsheet with a list of data repositories collected from victims and counted 14 governments as targets, including India, Indonesia and Nigeria. The documents indicate that I-Soon mostly supports the Ministry of Public Security, he said. Cary was also struck by the targeting of Taiwans Health Ministry to determine its COVID-19 caseload in early 2021 and impressed by the low cost of some of the hacks. The documents show that I-Soon charged $55,000 to hack Vietnams economy ministry, he said. Although a few chat records refer to NATO, there is no indication of a successful hack of any NATO country, an initial review of the data by The Associated Press found. That doesnt mean state-backed Chinese hackers are not trying to hack the U.S. and its allies, though. If the leaker is inside China, which seems likely, Cary said that leaking information about hacking NATO would be really, really inflammatory" a risk apt to make Chinese authorities more determined to identify the hacker. Mathieu Tartare, a malware researcher at the cybersecurity firm ESET, says it has linked I-Soon to a Chinese state hacking group it calls Fishmonger that it actively tracks and which it wrote about in January 2020 after the group hacked Hong Kong universities during student protests. He said it has, since 2022, seen Fishmonger target governments, NGOs and think tanks across Asia, Europe, Central America and the United States. French cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert also combed through the documents and said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, even if they have two-factor authentication, as well as another for analyzing email inboxes. He said U.S. cyber operators and their allies are among potential suspects in the I-Soon leak because its in their interests to expose Chinese state hacking. A spokeswoman for U.S. Cyber Command wouldn't comment on whether the National Security Agency or Cybercom were involved in the leak. An email to the press office at X responded, Busy now, please check back later." Western governments, including the United States, have taken steps to block Chinese state surveillance and harassment of government critics overseas in recent years. Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, an advocacy group that focuses on human rights in China, said such tactics instill fear of the Chinese government in Chinese and foreign citizens abroad, stifling criticism and leading to self-censorship. They are a looming threat that is just constantly there and very hard to shake off." Last year, U.S. officials charged 40 members of Chinese police units assigned to harass the family members of Chinese dissidents overseas as well as to spread pro-Beijing content online. The indictments describes tactics similar to those detailed in the I-Soon documents, Harth said. Chinese officials have accused the United States of similar activity. U.S. officials including FBI Director Chris Wray have recently complained about Chinese state hackers planting malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure. On Monday, Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the U.S. government has long been working to compromise Chinas critical infrastructure. She demanded the U.S. stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries." ___ Kang reported from Chengdu, China. AP journalists Didi Tang in Washington, D.C., and Larry Fenn in New York contributed to this report. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! US Presidential elections 2024: Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former US President Donald Trump will compete on Saturday, February 22, in the fourth GOP primary contest of the 2024 election cycle. US Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Wednesday, February 21, said that she considers frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization babies," taking side with the Alabama Supreme Court. In an interview she said, Embryos, to me, are babies," reported NBC News. She said this in reference to an issue that resonates with conservative voters three days prior to South Carolinas primary contest. The Palmetto State is set to hold its primary on Saturday where religious conservatives make up a significant portion of the electorate. In a recent development last week, Justices on the states top court recognised unimplanted human embryos as children and issued orders that a state law allow parents to recover punitive damages for their childrens deaths includes the parents of unborn children, regardless of ability to survive outside the womb. The former South Carolina governor told NBC News, When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me thats a life and so I do see where thats coming from when they talk about that." Earlier, she signed a bill that banned abortion at 20 weeks as governor that gave no exceptions to rape or incest cases. When asked about the impact the Alabama decision could have on those seeking IVF treatment, the Republican Presidential candidate said, Its incredibly personal, its incredibly sensitive, and I think thats the conversation the doctor needs to have with the patient. Lets never underestimate the importance of the relationship between a doctor and patient when theyre doing any of that," reported Bloomberg. Alabama Supreme Court judgement might make it more difficult for people to conceive via fertility treatments as the Court recently ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Nikki Haley disclosed that her son who is now 22, was conceived via artificial insemination. She previously stated that shes unapologetically pro-life." Haley had said that states should decide their own abortion policies and had downplayed the idea of a federal ban, during last years Republican primary debates. As per RealClearPolitics polling average, Haley trails behind the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, by 25 percentage points in her home state and is the only remaining competitor to Trump. Other competitors including biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race after the Iowa contest. (With Bloomberg 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! Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 10-year-old tweet, wherein he called for giving farmers the "right price" for their crops, re-surfaced amid the ongoing farmers' protest. The Congress took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to re-share PM Modi's old tweet. The grand-old party captioned its post as: "Kathni and karni (words and deed)". The Congress appeared to take potshots at PM Modi, probably alleging a mismatch between what the Prime Minister did during his 10-year rule and what he had said in 2014. Farmers launched a massive protest earlier this month, seeking a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 23 crops among other demands. The Congress has promised to give farmers the legal guarantee of MSP. It accused the PM Modi-led government of doing "injustice" to the farmers. To take a dig at PM Modi and the Centre, the Congress shared this old tweet by PM Modi which read: "Why should our farmers not get the right price? Farmers are not begging, they worked hard for it & should get good prices." PM Modi had posted this on April 6, 2014, just ahead of the begining of the Lok Sabha Elections that year. Polling for the 2014 general election was held from April 7 to May 12 in nine phases. 2014 was the year when PM Modi was elected to power in India and became the Prime Minister. At the time of this tweet, he was part of the Opposition as Congress's Manmohan Singh was holding the PM post back then. The Congress was ousted from power in 2014. Roughly half of college graduates end up in jobs where their degrees arent needed, and that underemployment has lasting implications for workers earnings and career paths. That is the key finding of a new study tracking the career paths of more than 10 million people who entered the job market over the past decade. It suggests that the number of graduates in jobs that dont make use of their skills or credentials52%is greater than previously thought, and underscores the lasting importance of that first job after graduation. Of the graduates in non-college-level jobs a year after leaving college, the vast majority remained underemployed a decade later, according to researchers at labor analytics firm Burning Glass Institute and nonprofit Strada Education Foundation, which analyzed the resumes of workers who graduated between 2012 and 2021. More than any other factor analyzedincluding race, gender and choice of universitywhat a person studies determines their odds of getting on a college-level career track. Internships are also critical. The findings add fuel to the debate over the value of a college education as its cost has soaredand whether universities are producing the kind of knowledge workers that employers say they need. Youre told your entire life, Go to college, get a bachelors degree and your life is gonna be gravy after that," said Alexander Wolfe, 29 years old, a 2018 graduate from Northern Kentucky University who currently works security at a corporate facility in the Cincinnati area. In reality, it hasnt really helped me that much." The past decades hot labor market doesnt appear to have dented the vast pool of underemployed, college-educated workers. Getting stuck early on in such jobs can ripple across a lifetime of earnings, since the premium from a college degree multiplies over the span of a persons career. Bachelors degree holders in college-level jobs earn nearly 90% more than people with just a high-school diploma in their 20s, according to a Burning Glass analysis of 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data. By comparison, underemployed college graduates earn 25% more than high-school graduates. Its not that a degree isnt worth it," said Matt Sigelman, president of Burning Glass Institute. Its worth it to too few people." That first job matters Coming from a family where some relatives didnt finish college and later struggled to get promotions or better jobs, Wolfe thought his degree would help him dodge those kinds of career roadblocks. Instead, Wolfe, whose integrative studies major combined his credits in education, history and psychology, has held a string of jobs in sales, retail and food service, including one that ended in a layoff. Looking back, he said he wishes hed taken time off before college to explore potential career options, and worries his interdisciplinary degree doesnt stand out in the job market. He also regrets taking an entry-level sales job in logistics after months of fruitless job hunting after graduation. He thought it was better than working reception jobs or serving food at a local country club, but now suspects settling into a specific industry made it harder for him to find work elsewhere. I would stress to anyone out there, hold out as long as you can" for the right first job, he said. You dont want to pigeonhole yourself into something you dont want to do." Wolfes predicament points to how sticky underemployment can be. Once a graduates first two or three jobs are clustered around one industry or set of taskssay, an aspiring marketing strategist who takes a couple of food-service supervisor roles to pay the billsits harder to hop onto another career lane, said Joseph Fuller, a management professor who co-leads the Managing the Future of Work initiative at Harvard Business School. Thanks to the way online hiring algorithms scan applicants work histories, the next role that person is now most likely to be considered for is a store manager position, while a break with a corporate marketing department is even less likely. Contrary to conventional wisdom, not all degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines are a sure bet to landing a job that reflects a college education, the study found. Nearly half of people who majored in biology and biomedical sciences47%remained underemployed five years after graduating. Likewise, business majors less focused on quantitative skills, such as marketing and human resources, were twice as likely to be underemployed than those with math-intensive business degrees, such as accounting or finance. The data cover graduates who didnt get masters or other advanced degrees after college. The Burning Glass/Strada study found that most of the graduates who dont find work reflecting their degrees are what they call severely underemployed," meaning theyre in jobs that only require a high school education or less. Five years after graduation, 88% of underemployed graduates remained in this category, working jobs such as office support, retail sales and food service. We all need to be thinking of that first post-college job as a high-stakes milestone, and give it the attention it deserves," said Stephen Moret, Stradas president and chief executive. The power of internships Securing even one internship during college significantly improves the odds of landing a college-level job upon graduation, according to the study. For humanities and psychology majors, the rate of underemployment five years after college dropped by a quarter with an internship. Among social-sciences majors, it fell by 40%. Colleges are recognizing the key role internships play. At Tufts University, environmental studies majors complete at least 100 hours of internship experience. Roughly 50% to 70% of its students go into environmental work after graduation, a figure that includes students who take environmental studies as a second major, the program estimates. Other institutions, like George Mason University, have set up scholarship funds to subsidize students who take unpaid internships. Nearly all undergrads at Northeastern University in Boston complete at least one six-month internship. Six months after graduation, 91% of working graduates report having jobs related to their major, according to the schools most recent data. In hindsight, Brennan Bence, 23, says he wished hed gotten more internship experience while at Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota. The 2022 graduate majored in theater with a minor in business, realizing later in his studies that he wanted to go into marketing in tech or online gaming. By then, the pandemic had winnowed his internship possibilities, and hed devoted much of his summers to stock theater. I kind of robbed myself of a lot of those experiences," he says. It took months and more than 500 rejection emails to land a decent-paying job back in his home state, Washington, as an office administrator for the local countys public defender office. He still aspires to work in tech or gaming but says he may have to pursue an M.B.A. to reset his career path. A shifting white-collar job market Newer college graduates face other challenges landing a first job as the market for white-collar work cools. Artificial intelligence promises to revamp some of the entry-level work grads do, such as basic coding and content creation, business leaders and researchers say. And many recent graduates say the pandemic wreaked lasting havoc on their transition into the workforce. Maroua Ouadani, 24, says she struggled in her postgraduation job in sales at a travel company in 2021. Working remotely, she couldnt listen to and learn from colleagues as they closed deals, and a subsequent move into a front-desk reception role was also unfulfilling because most of her colleagues worked from home. She soon left to work as an executive assistant for a social-media influencer, but the job ended months later. After that, Ouadani couldnt find work for more than a year. She applied for jobs, including in social-media marketing and production. Eventually a staffing agency helped her land an administrative-assistant position. In her future career, she said, she expects to rely on her connections and own entrepreneurship, instead of her degree in hospitality. This job market shows how replaceable you are," she said. Write to Lindsay Ellis at lindsay.ellis@wsj.com and Vanessa Fuhrmans at Vanessa.Fuhrmans@wsj.com Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was once the toast of Washington as a key ally in the war on drugs. Now he is headed to trial in New York on allegations of helping move 500 tons of cocaine through his country. In a rare U.S. case against a former head of state, prosecutors say he lived a double life. Notorious drug traffickers, including former Mexican cartel leader Joaquin El Chapo" Guzman, lined up to pay him millions of dollars in bribes to protect their shipments, prosecutors allege. Prosecutors have said they want to show the jury a photo of a machine gun inscribed with Hernandezs name and presidential title. Hernandez faces one count of conspiracy to import cocaine and two counts of possessing a machine gun and destructive devices. The 55-year-old Hernandez has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. In a public letter Monday, Hernandez said the accusations against him were the work of political enemies, and people involved in organized crime seeking revenge for his having cracked down on them. The trial, which begins Wednesday and is expected to last two to three weeks, is another marker in what has been a dizzying fall for a powerful figure who dominated Honduran politics for nearly a decade. Hernandez was seen as an important partner for both Democratic and Republican administrations who sought his aid in stopping a wave of U.S.-bound migrants from Honduras. Hondurans have been transfixed by what local TV networks dub as the trial of the century." The trial is expected to offer a window into how drug trafficking has fueled vote rigging and corruption in Honduran politics. The indictment alleges Hernandez turned Honduras into a narco-state." Juan Orlando has been an omnipresent figure for the last 12 years," said Miguel Calix, a Honduran political analyst. This will show how deeply the political system can be corrupted by organized crime. Theres the expectation many powerful people will be named." In court filings, Hernandez has indicated that he might testify in his own defense and highlight his work with the U.S. He said in his public letter that top U.S. security officials knew well all he had done to fight organized crime. Hernandez served two consecutive four-year terms as president before leaving office in 2022. Weeks after ceding power to his successor, leftist Xiomara Castro, he was arrested and then extradited to the U.S. Prosecutors allege Hernandez used bribes from cartel members to advance his political career, get rich and commit voter fraud as he went on to win the presidential elections of 2013 and 2017. During the first election, El Chapo, then the head of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, flew to Honduras for a secret meeting at a ranch where he agreed to pay $1 million to Hernandez, to fund his political campaign in exchange for protection, according to prosecutors. Hernandez provided cartel members with armed police escorts and helped their drug-laden airplanes avoid detection from law-enforcement radar, prosecutors say. Hernandezs brother was so confident in the protection of his violent narco empire that he personalized his cocaine bricks by stamping them with his initials, according to prosecutors. The former president boasted to another drug trafficker he was joining with that he was going to stuff the drugs right up the noses of the gringos," prosecutors say. Hernandez faces a tough road ahead at trial. Several former drug traffickers turned cooperating witnesses are expected to testify against him. Two co-defendants who were set to go to trial with Hernandez have pleaded guilty in recent weeks. His cousin, former police official Mauricio Hernandez Pineda pleaded guilty to drug-trafficking conspiracy and Juan Carlos Bonilla, Hondurass once-feared national police chief also known as El Tigre," pleaded guilty to one drug-trafficking charge. Hernandezs brother, Tony Hernandez, was previously convicted of participating in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and other charges in a New York federal court. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2021. The Hernandez trial might be uncomfortable for Washington policymakers if he is found guilty, said Michael Shifter, the former president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank. Juan Orlando Hernandez was the poster child for this complete contradiction in U.S. foreign policy interests," said Shifter. The U.S. was left supporting a criminal." For years, U.S. officials were willing to overlook signs of Hernandezs alleged corruption and involvement in drug trafficking in exchange for his cooperation in what was perceived as the more important issue, controlling migration, Shifter said. At a meeting in 2019, then-President Donald Trump praised Hernandez for his work combating drugs. President Hernandez is working with the United States very closely," said Trump. You know whats going on our southern border. And were winning after years and years of losing. We are stopping drugs at a level that has never happened." Write to Jose de Cordoba at jose.decordoba@wsj.com and James Fanelli at james.fanelli@wsj.com The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is looking at having Open Book Examinations (OBE) for Classes 9-12 students aligning with recommendations of the new National Curriculum Framework released last year, as per an Indian Express report citing sources. A pilot run of the open-book format will be conducted in select schools in November-December this year to assess the time taken by students to complete these tests and gauge stakeholders responses, it said. For Classes 9-10, the English, Mathematics and Science papers will be conducted under a pilot run, and for Classes 11-12 it will be the Biology, English and Mathematics papers, sources added. Also Read | UP Board Exams 2024: Over 55 lakh students set to appear for Class 10 and 12 examinations today Sources indicate that during discussions about introducing OBE for CBSE schools, the curriculum committee emphasised the need for high-quality textbooks. The committee also considered the proposal of having teachers take open book exams first to understand the concept, proposing a standard benchmark similar to the Advanced Placement examination in the United States. What are Open-Book Exams? What are the Challenges? In an open-book exam, students are permitted to refer to their notes, textbooks, or other study materials during the test. Contrary to perception, OBEs are not necessarily easier than closed-book exams. The assessment focuses on a students understanding of the subject and their ability to analyse or apply concepts, rather than testing memory. Also Read | Board Exams 2024: Out-of-syllabus topic or error in question paper? CBSE issues new protocol to address it | Read here Because the focus of an open text-based assessment (OBTA) is on evaluating students' higher-order thinking skills, it deviates from the usual exam format and involves providing students with material four months before the exam. This permits them to bring case studies into the test. During the examination, students can refer to their notes or textbooks, encouraging critical thinking over rote learning for exam success. Focus on Higher-Order Thinking Skills The Board aims to assess higher-order thinking skills, application, analysis, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving abilities during this trial, the report added. Also Read | Has CM Yogi Adityanath called for re-examination of UP Police Constable Recruitment exam 2024? Check facts here Based on the experience, CBSE will decide whether to adopt this form of assessment across all its schools for Classes 9 to 12. CBSE also plans to finalise the design and development of the OBE pilot by June and has decided to consult Delhi University (DU) for insights. DU introduced open book tests in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic amid opposition. The university faced legal challenges related to discriminatory concerns towards underprivileged and PwD category students. Also Read | Class 10, 12 board exams: Students can appear twice in a year from 2025-26, says Education Minister Ajay Arora, OSD Examination at DU, told the paper that DU conducted OBE assessments from August 2020 to March 2022. Despite resuming physical exams in January 2022, the last round of OBE was provided as an option for students who joined the university in November 2021. DU resumed normal examinations thereafter. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused the Modi government of capturing democracy through extortion and financial terrorism and claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received huge donations from at least 30 companies following raids by federal probe agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the income tax department. Citing media reports, the Congress president claimed that the BJP received donations from at least 30 firms after it "misused" the CBI, ED and the I-T department for raids against them. "An autocratic Modi government is capturing democracy through extortion and financial terrorism," Kharge said. Also Read | Smriti Irani performs 'griha pravesh' pooja at new Amethi home ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections The Congress president said that reports also show that some of these firms handed out a heftier amount to the BJP in the months following the searches. Accusing the Modi government of tricking the nationalised banks into transferring 65 crore of the donation received by the Congress to the income tax department, Kharge asked whether the saffron party has ever paid income tax. "On one hand the Modi government wants to steal the hard-earned money of people donated to the Congress party in good faith and on the other hand it threatens corporate firms through ED, CBI, I-T etc to grab lion's share of donations," Kharge stated. "Looting the Opposition and blackmailing donors to fill the BJP's coffers is a dark phase for our democracy. We shall fight this tooth and nail - both in the court of law and in the court of the people," he added. Jairam Ramesh hits out at BJP, Amit Shah Earlier in the day, Jairam Ramesh the Congress' Rajya Sabha MP claimed that the Centre forced at least 30 companies to donate 335 crore to the BJP following ED, I-T raids. The Congress MP was citing reports from The News Minute and News Laundry. This, he said, has been done in the last two to three years. In a post on microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Ramesh alleged, "Dhanda ek ko, Chanda sab se! (business to one, donations from all)." "Dr Manmohan Singh gave Indian citizens a unique ID through Aadhaar. Narendra Modi has given corporate India a new ID: Investigate-Donate," the Congress MP said. "From the ashes of I-T and ED, MoShah have innovated this new I-D model: Investigate, then get them to Donate," he alleged, in a swipe at Home Minister Amit Shah. Also Read | What is Blue Aadhaar card? How to apply and other key details Electoral Trusts and conventional political party donations allow some degree of transparency in campaign financing. It enables public disclosure of who funds which political party, and allows investigations like this one, he said. Modi's pet project of electoral bonds did away with all transparency - the media cannot conduct such an investigation on the electoral bonds. It's clear why: they don't want people to have insight into the Pradhaan Mantri - Chanda Vasuli Yojana." "The only reason that we have any data at all is because the Electoral Bonds are only open in a few 15-day windows every year, and because the investigated businesses are desperate to make donations and appease MoShah instantaneously," Jairam Ramesh alleged. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Holding the forum of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Baku, Azerbaijani capital, serves as further proof of the country's increasing influence in the contemporary world, First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Uzbekistan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Sodiq Safoyev told reporters at the 14th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Baku, Trend reports. "Hosting this significant international forum in the capital of Azerbaijan stands as further confirmation of the country's expanding influence in the contemporary world. This outcome is a testament to the considerable achievements the country has attained under the guidance of the remarkable political figure, President Ilham Aliyev. The inclusion of the topic of multilateral regional interaction for ensuring the continent's sustainable development on the agenda of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, initiated by Azerbaijan today, underscores once more Azerbaijan's visionary and strategic approach in addressing issues of collective concern," Safoyev said. He added that the people of Uzbekistan sincerely rejoice at Azerbaijan's successes and that bilateral ties between the two countries are at a historic peak. "I sincerely wish success to the Azerbaijani chairmanship and I am confident that it will mark a new qualitative growth in the activities of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly," Safoyev said. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Centre on Thursday granted Z plus security cover to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after the threat perception report of central intelligence agencies, news agency ANI reported citing sources. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will provide security cover to the Congress president, the report said. The report claimed that the Union Home Ministry ordered the Z plus security cover to the senior Congress leader following reports by federal intelligence agencies highlighting the threat perception on Kharge. It may be noted that the government has been reviewing the threat perception on eminent personalities and political leaders ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also receives Z plus protection. Until 2019, the Gandhi family had Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover, which was subsequently downgraded to Z plus. Currently, around 40 VIP personalities in the country have the Z plus security. What is Z plus security? There are four categories of VIP security in India: Z plus, Z, Y and X. The security cover is provided to eminent personalities depending on the threat perception analysed by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The Z plus security is the highest level of protection in the country, after the SPG cover. This security cover is provided to a person who has a high level of threat to their life. The security blanket includes 55 personnel, along with CRPF commandoes who guard the person round the clock. This cover also includes a bulletproof vehicle and escort in three shifts. 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! Does the BJP pay income tax? Congress leader Ajay Maken on Wednesday raised concerns over the withdrawal of 65 crore "undemocratically" from the party's bank accounts by the income tax department. He said that despite the sub judice nature of the matter, the Congress party is facing an unprecedented demand of 210 crore when there is a common practice for National Political Parties to pay no income tax. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ajay Maken wrote, Their hopes now lie with the Judiciary. Yesterday, the Income Tax Department mandated banks to transfer over Rs65 crores from INC India, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the government--Rs5 crores from IYC and NSUI, and Rs60.25 crores from INC, marking a concerning move by the BJP Government." Is it common for National Political Parties to pay Income Tax? No. Does the BJP pay Income Tax? No. Why is the Congress Party facing an unprecedented demand of Rs210 crores?" he asked. The Congress leader pointed out that this undemocratic act poses a threat to the country's multi-party system. This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat? During today's ITAT proceedings, we presented our case. The hearing is set to continue tomorrow," he said. "The funds in question were raised through grassroots efforts, including crowdfunding and membership drives by the IYC and NSUI. This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat? Our hope now lies with the judiciary," Maken added. Sources said that the I-T department on February 20 recovered 65 crore from the account of the Indian National Congress out of the total outstanding tax dues of 115 crore. The Congress complaint before the Tribunal, according to the sources, said that the I-T department had enforced its lein by encashing some of the balances lying with the banks without waiting for the outcome of the hearing scheduled before the bench. The Congress has appealed that the department should not proceed further till the disposal of the stay application, the sources said. The Congress moved the first level of appeal to the Commissioner of Income Tax (A). As per the rule, an assessee needs to pay 20 per cent of the outstanding amount before the matter is taken up. However, the Congress paid only 78 lakh against the requirement of 21 crore. The Congress party's appeal was dismissed and the demand was revised to 104 crore. In May 2023, the Congress moved a second appeal before the Delhi bench of the I-T Tribunal. Sources said that the party has so far paid just 2.5 crore. (With ANI 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! Thinking of it to be just another day in life, a senior doctor in Mumbai tried booking an intercity cab from an online cab aggregator. However, to his surprise, the cab driver asked him to chant "Jai Shree Ram" if the doctor wanted his trip to be confirmed. Oncologist Dr AK Pathan was in a rude shock. The incident occurred while booking a cab on InDrive app-based cab service. He was trying to travel to Nashik during the weekend to attend a wedding. This is when he received the driver's message on InDrive app's chat asking him to chant "Jai Shree Ram" to confirm the booking. 'I chose to not respond. Did not take the ride' According to a report in The Free Press Journal, Dr Pathan did not take the ride, or respond to the text. He said that the incident was a reflection of growing intolerance in the society. I chose to ignore and not respond to the provocation by the driver. It reflects a growing intolerance in society. I did not take the ride. It is crucial for us to promote understanding and acceptance among diverse communities," Dr Pathan told the daily. Describing the incident, the cancer specialist said that he had asked the driver to pick him up from Haji Ali in the afternoon, to which the cab driver replied that he was a 'Rambhakt' and would accept bookings only if Dr Pathan agree to chant 'Jai Shree Ram'. "I have no issues with 'Jai Shree Ram' or any other salutations but it should not be forced." Sir Ram Bhakt Sanatani Hu Jay Shree Ram Bolna Padega To - Confirm Karu" reads the text message from the cab driver booked on InDrive app. Dr Pathan added that the cab driver cancelled the ride when he tried to report the incident on the InDrive app support option. We need to build a more inclusive society with dialogue and empathy to prioritise respect and compassion in our interactions," the veteran oncologist said. Later, the online cab aggregator apologised to Dr Pathan for the cab driver's intolerance and insensitivity to other faiths while accepting rides. inDrive executives were apologetic and promised to take appropriate action on the errant driver. The cab aggregator also assured that proper training and workshops will be held for drivers and transport partners to be tolerant and respect other faiths," Dr Pathan was quoted as saying in the report. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! World Thinking Day 2024: World Thinking Day is observed on February 22 every year. The day celebrates the friendship, sisterhood, and empowerment of girls and young women all over the world. World Thinking Day is celebrated to strengthen the bond shared by young women and explore ways to empower them. The day serves as a platform to raise awareness about pressing global issues and promote gender equality. The World Thinking Day provides an opportunity to raise funds for the development of 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across the globe. World Thinking Day 2024: Date World Thinking Day is celebrated on February 22 every year. This year, the special day will be observed on a Thursday. World Thinking Day 2024: History The history of World Thinking Day can be traced back to 1926 when delegates from across the globe met at Camp Edith Macy in New York for the fourth World Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). At the end of the conference, the delegates unanimously decided to create a day dedicated to guides and girl Scouts, with the joint birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout and Guide movement, and his wife Olave. Since then, World Thinking Day has been observed all across the world. World Thinking Day 2024: Theme The theme of World Thinking Day 2024 is 'Our World, Our Thriving Future,' which emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable and inclusive world where girls have the opportunity to thrive. It also explores crucial global issues through the lens of environmental sustainability, gender equality, peace, and poverty. World Thinking Day 2024: Significance World Thinking Day 2024 is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the advancement of gender equality and womens empowerment, and also to identify areas where more work needs to be done. It is also a day to celebrate the strength, courage, and determination of women and girls all over the world. The day also helps in raising funds for the empowerment and development of around 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world. 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 Seattle police officer Kevin Dave who had struck and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call, will not face any criminal charges due to lack of "sufficient" evidence, news agency PTI has reported citing authorities. On 23 January, 2023, Kevin Dave struck and killed Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, in a crosswalk. Dave was driving 74 mph (119 kmh) on the way to an overdose call, and Daniel Auderer, a drug recognition expert, was assigned to evaluate whether Dave was impaired. Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle. Earlier on Wednesday, the King County Prosecutors Office said they will not move forward with criminal charges against Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave, as reported by FOX13 Seattle. In a statement released on Wednesday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney said, "Kandulas death is heartbreaking and impacted communities in King County and across the world." King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said that she believes they lack the evidence to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt, the report added. "It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt," the statement said as reported by PTI. The statement also spoke on Daniel Auderer and said that the comments made by him "appalling and deeply troubling." "Officer Auderers comments were also unprofessional and undermined the publics trust in the Seattle Police Department and law enforcement in general," said Manion. In bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department, Officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the deadly crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary. Auderer, in the video, was heard saying, "Yeah, just write a cheque. USD 11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value." Meanwhile, Auderer was pulled from patrol in September 2023 and reassigned to a "non-operational position." He could still be fired after the fallout of his insensitive comments captured on bodycam. Auderer's chain of command and the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) found he acted unprofessionally. For that, he faces the highest disciplinary range of nearly two weeks suspension up to termination, according to a disciplinary action report. Before a final disciplinary decision, Auderer will have the chance to meet with Police Chief Adrian Diaz to disagree. His disciplinary hearing is scheduled for March 4, K5 News reported. As per Seattle local media, the speed was the cause of the collision, as the speed at which Dave was travelling did "not allow (Kandula) or him sufficient time to detect, address and avoid a hazard that presented itself." The Seattle Police Department said that Dave was responding to a "priority one" call at the request of the Seattle Fire Department. According to the police report, the officer was responding to a report of a drug overdose and the officer did not have his siren activated continuously. He, instead, "chirped" his siren at the intersection and have his emergency lights on, according to a previous statement from the police department. A drug recognition expert responded to the scene and found no impairment in the officer. Kandula was pursuing her master's degree at Northeastern University in Seattle and went to the US in 2021 from Bengaluru on a student exchange program. (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! A row erupted after the Karnataka Assembly passed the 'Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024' on Wednesday. Under the new rule, temples earning above 1 crore will pay 10 percent of the net income, while temples with income between 10 lakh and 1 crore will pay 5 percent to the government. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders slammed the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state government over the new bill. Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa alleged that the government passed the bill to replenish its depleted coffers. "Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples and religious institutions in order to fill its empty coffers," Yediyurappa said on X. He question as to "why only Hindu temples are targeted for revenue, leaving out other religions..." He also took a dig at the Congress government and said, "Instead of grabbing the devotees' money, government can install "Donation Boxes" so that the concerned citizens can help this penniless govt boost its revenue as a Gesture of Goodwill." Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar also criticised the Congress government in Karnataka, calling its move to pass the Bill a "new low" for the state's ruling party. "Every time you think Rahul's Congress cannot fall any lower, along comes and example of them falling even lower," Chandrasekhar was quoted by PTI as saying. Siddaramaiah clarifies new rule Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the allegations" regarding the state government's amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Bill "appear to be misrepresented for political gain". ALSO READ: Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah announces 3.71 lakh crore budget | Key highlights Siddaramaiah shared a graphic on X that claimed to bust the "BJP's fake news". It said Hindu temples have contributed to a fund for religious activities. He said there has always been a mandate to create a "common pool" since the enactment of the Act in 1997. He added that before the recent amendment, the contributions to the fund came from: (i) 10 percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds 10 lakh (ii) 5 percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds 5 lakh but does not exceed 10 lakh (iii) Grants received from the state government However, after the amendment, the contributions to the fund will come from (i) 10 percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds 1 crore (ii) 5 percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds 10 lakh but does not exceed 1 crore (iii) Grants received from the state government. View Full Image Graphic shared by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Siddaramaiah /X) "The recent amendment was made solely to enhance the amount of the common pool," Siddaramaiah said, adding that the common pool is administered "solely for religious purposes connected with the Hindu religion". He further clarified, "It has not been utilized for any other purposes or for the benefit of followers of other religions." ALSO READ: CM Siddaramaiah proposes reversal of Hijab ban in Karnataka, BJP calls it dirty politics "These provisions underscore a commitment to using temple funds for the welfare and upliftment of the Hindu community, directly contradicting claims of misallocation of funds for non-Hindu purposes or the imposition of unfair taxes," he said. The Karnataka Chief Minister also shared the "statement of objects and reasons behind the 'Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 1997". Indias decision to allow up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in space companies will help the industry in the long run, even though it may not offer an immediate boost, industry veterans and stakeholders said. Late on 21 February, the Union cabinet approved a new FDI policy for the space sector, which will allow FDI ranging from 49-100% in different areas. The move is expected to give space funding a big boost. In just three years from 2021, the global space sector has raised $37.1 billion in investments," Pawan Goenka, chairman of the central governments nodal space body, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-Space), said. The easing of FDI will enable Indian space start-ups working on capital-intensive products to access this global pool of capital, in order to expand manufacturing and production capacities." The new policy for the space industry, a nascent field that was only privatized in 2020, will allow up to 49% automatic foreign investmentswithout needing government approvalsin space launch vehicles (or rockets), and building of space-port solutions for launching and landing rockets. Automatic foreign investments of up to 74% for equity stake in companies will be allowed in satellite manufacturing and operation ventures, including those that offer satellite-based data solutions. And 100% automatic FDI has been allowed in space ventures working on component manufacturing for the satellites industry. Indias space startups, who stand to gain from the new policy, are over the moon. Pawan Kumar Chandana, chief executive of Skyroot Aerospace, a rocket manufacturer, said that while foreign investors were interested earlier too, the liberalization of FDI will help startups ease pitching to global investors, and also give them regulatory clarity. Since our business requires frequent capital infusion, the move is a positive one in terms of offering clarity to businesses in terms of the total amount of equity they can offer to foreign investors," said Chandana. The government has also allowed for 100% FDI even in rocket launch services through government approval (this is correct), which will further help in maximizing the ability to attract global investors." Sanjay Nekkanti, chief executive of Dhruva Space, a satellite manufacturing, ground services and analytics firm, added that the startups full-stack space engineering solutions (of) building, launching and operating satellites are poised to leverage these (FDI) opportunities, to make significant contributions to the global space community". The space FDI policy comes after the private-sector Space Policy was introduced in April last year, formally opening up the industry for private sector participation. However, global investments in the capital-heavy space industry have so far not been free-flowing for Indian entities. Hyderabad-headquartered Skyroot Aerospace, the only private entity to have launched a rocket from Indian soil, is the most-funded space startup in the country with cumulative funding of only $95 million as of October last year. Skyroot, along with fellow rocket manufacturer Agnikul Cosmos, and satellite imagery-based data analytics provider Pixxel, have so far raised funding from global investors. While Agnikuls latest round saw participation from US space fund Rocketship.vc, Pixxel has so far raised funds from Canadas Radical VC and Google. While Pixxel has so far raised $71 million, Agnikul Cosmos total funding presently stands at $40 million. The new FDI policy can bring in more of this money. Vishesh Rajaram, co-founder and managing partner at early-stage venture capital firm Speciale Invest, said, A lot of our portfolio companies will, of course, raise more capital along the way. The FDI move is validation that the space sector can grow multi-fold from here, and for small early-stage investors like us, its important that our companies get access to the right capital in the long run. This also marks space in India as an important industry for global participation." Space startups in Speciales investment portfolio include Agnikul, space communications technology firm Astrogate Labs, and satellite imagery startup Galaxeye, among others. Going forward, Rajaram and other experts believe that the quantum of funds available to Indian space ventures will grow. One such startup currently in funding conversations is Dhruva Space. Two senior industry consultants claimed that Dhruva is currently in talks to raise its next round of funding, a move that is likely to benefit from the opening-up of FDI. A lot of foreign investors, including the likes of Temasek that have already invested here (in Skyroot), have been keen on a few Indian space ventures. However, investors typically look to avoid complicated paperwork procedures over investmentDhruvas ongoing funding talks are likely to benefit from this," one of the consultants said, requesting anonymity. The startup declined to comment on the matter. In the long run, stakeholders believe that the FDI will boost prospects. This is an industry where failure is very expensive, and youre smarter if you spend more time to reduce your chances of failure. For reference, its important to go back and see how much time the western markets took to develop their own space solutions. In that, we actually look quite good in terms of capital efficiency," Speciales Rajaram said. Anupam Shukla, partner at law firm Pioneer Legal, added that one key aspect is the lack of precedent for India in deep-tech innovation. International investors are looking to invest in growing markets. Unfortunately, India has so far faltered in terms of emerging technologies, despite providing good support systems and services. Were not known as primary innovators, or holders of the most patents. However, that doesnt mean that India does not have the ability; abroad, Indians form a sizeable percentage in research and academia. This will require global funding to take local ventures to the next level. Most foreign VCs have similar opinions as well," he said. The near term may not see drastic effects of the FDI policy due to the nature of the overall space sector. Its not surprising that Indias space-tech industry is taking longer to mature. This is an extremely tech-intensive and capital-intensive industrywhere solutions being built, such as 3D-printed rocket engines at scale, are unprecedented at mass scale globally. A number of Indian startups switched to working on satellite services and imaging software, instead of launch vehicles (rockets), because the latter would have taken far more time and capitaland the ability to find investors who would be in it for the long haul," Shukla said. However, some industry veterans exercise caution. Chaitanya Giri, associate professor, science and technology at Flame University, said that the slow innovation and funding pace can also be attributed to a lack of demand for space launch services. Early estimates for the need to have such space startups were likely overblown. Exacerbated by the macroeconomic slowdown in the West, you can see that the demand to build and launch satellites has been pulled back, as more companies look to rationalize their tech spending. This can leave many space startups in India without a real, urgent need to launch their services," Giri said. Going forward, seven private rocket launches have been marked in Indias space sector schedule by March 2025. While reschedules and delays in space launches are common, industry veterans believe that the opening up of FDIs in the nascent space industry of India could largely benefit startups, which may even be on target to meet industry revenue projections over the next decade. According to In-Spaces Decadal Vision published by Goenka in October last year, Indias space sector is projected to capture 8% of the global space economy by 2033, earning $44 billion in revenue. Professors hear a great deal these days about how hard it is to get our students to listen to, much less to engage with, opinions they dislike. The problem, we are told, is that students are either snowflakes" with fragile psyches or authoritarians" who care more about their pet causes than about democratic values such as tolerance, compromise and respect for opposing points of view. Students at Harvard, where I teach, returned from winter break in January to an institution that appeared determined to tackle this problem head-on. An email from the undergraduate dean reminded them that The purpose of a Harvard education is not to shield you from ideas you dislike or to silence people you disagree with; it is to enable you to confront challenging ideas, interrogate your own beliefs, make up your mind and learn to think for yourself." To that end, the university launched the Harvard Dialogues," a series of events designed to enhance our ability to engage in respectful and robust debate." But so far, the effort seems to consist of little more than talking about talking, with events with titles like Coming Together Across Difference: Finding Common Ground Across Identities and Political Divides" and Constructive Dialogue in the Age of Social Media." Absent from this agenda are real discussions about the actual things that divide us, such as abortion, climate change and Israel-Palestine. The fact of the matter is that the problem is not our students. It is us: faculty and administrators who are too afraidof random people on social media, hard-core activists, irritable alumni, assorted friends" of Harvardto allow a culture of open debate and dialogue to flourish. This was driven home to me recently when I tried to contribute to the cause of fostering constructive debate on campus by launching a series of conversations on the crisis in the Middle East with individuals from across the political spectrum in the U.S. and the region. Participants in the series include former Trump administration official Jared Kushner, former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and former Israeli parliamentarian Einat Wilf. No sooner had I begun congratulating myself on assembling such a diverse set of interlocutors than the recriminations began. First came the anger at my decision to invite Kushner (which was not unexpected, given the zip code I inhabit). Then, more alarmingly, the Daily Wire revealed that one of the other participants in my series, a young Palestinian professor named Dalal Saeb Iriqat, had posted tweets calling Hamass Oct. 7 attacks a normal struggle for freedom," doubting basic facts about the atrocities committed that day and blaming Israel for everything. It did not matter to critics that some of Iriqats most objectionable tweets were written before the full scale of Hamass depravity was known, or that she is a proponent of the two-state solution and a periodic contributor to Haaretz (a left-wing Israeli newspaper), or that her blaming of Israel for the violence represents a fairly mainstream view among Palestinian elites. Nor did it matter that she was invited not to give a speech but to answer questions from me and my students. Fox News, the New York Post and the Daily Mail all screamed some variant of Harvard platforms pro-Hamas radical!" The institutional response was instant and ignominious. The Kennedy School rushed out a statement distancing itself from me and my enterprise and assuring the world of our deans personal opposition to terrorism. An administrator called to scold me for not performing better due diligence on the speaker and to complain about the time they were now forced to spend calming down donors and caring for staff members who allegedly felt unsafe." Even some of those whom youd expect to be stalwart defenders of free speech on campus went wobbly: A couple of fellow members of a mailing list of intellectually heterodox faculty suggested that I might wish to disinvite Iriqat, lamenting the harm that her visit could do to our cause. If my administrators and some of my colleagues collectively acted like a pizzeria owner after a bad Yelp review, my students were, by contrast, eager to actually do the thing that our university talks so much about doing. When I announced Kushners visit, the event sold out in minutes; most of the complaints I heard were from those unable to get tickets. When the scandal about my Palestinian guest broke, my Israeli studentswhom you could have forgiven for being aggrieved by that newsinstead reached out with words of encouragement. One even wrote a supportive editorial in the Jerusalem Post declaring that Harvards role should be to provide a platform for intellectual debate, exposing the flaws in [the speakers] ideas" rather than seeking to silence them. Many students told me that they would relish the opportunity to publicly challenge an anti-Israel perspective that they feel is widespread on campus. When self-described pro-Palestine students and faculty circulated a crudely antisemitic cartoon just this week, blaming Jews for oppressing Blacks and Arabs, administrators responded with an email of condemnation. Our best students want to go further, confronting such views on the battlefield of ideas. That doesnt mean we should throw open the doors to every extremist, but it does mean that we should seize the opportunity to listen to and argue with a fairly typical professor from Ramallah. I was not surprised that my students showed a surer grasp of what Harvard is for than many of my colleagues. This episode was not my first encounter with the phenomenon of a university too fearful to let us argue. Last semester, a junior lecturer in the history department and I proposed to Harvards General Education Program a course titled Hard Questions: Searching for Veritas Across Deep Divides," which aimed to teach students how to argue with courage, passion, grace and styleand, above all, openness." The core of the course was to be a series of encounters with some of the most polarizing debates in contemporary academia, including the legacy of colonialism (was it all bad?), the impact of affirmative action (is it justice or discrimination?) and the nature of gender (is it a biological fact or a social fiction?). For each issue, we proposed bringing to class the most powerful exponents on both sides of the divide. We wanted to demonstrate to undergraduates that the right way to engage any argumentwhether you agree or disagree with itis through respectful but probing and insistent questioning. Given our leaders frequent testimonials to the virtues of vigorous disagreement, we thought that approval of our course was certain. Instead, after some back-and-forth with the vetting committee about the possibility of classroom blowups and public blowback, it was rejected. You might wonder whether I am being uncharitable to my colleagues and too charitable to our students. After all, we have all read stories of student activists disrupting classes and shutting down events with speakers they dont like. Dont the students bear somemaybe even mostof the blame for the fact that we cannot have real conversations on campus? I dont think so. The number of students willing to stand up in a class or at a public event and start shouting into a bullhorn is vanishingly small, and they are emboldened to do so by the knowledge that our administration is too timid to stop them. I saw this firsthand last October, when a small group of protesters invaded an event I hosted on the 50th anniversary of the Arab oil embargo, objecting to the presence of two speakers with ties to the fossil-fuel industry. While the six demonstrators were busy making it impossible for our audience of 90 to see or hear the panelists, the administrators on the scene could only plead their inability to interfere with the protesters right to free expression. Thus, when the leaders of Harvard talk about the need to foster healthy debate, it is hard for me to take them seriously. And when they blame our students for the cramped confines of discourse on campus, I cant help thinking that theyre deceiving either us or themselves. Part of me just wants them to be honest: to spare our inboxes the pious messages about free inquiry, to admit that maintaining calm and fending off online unpleasantness are their highest priorities and to let our students know that Harvard is not really in the business of preparing them to grapple with the worlds complexities. The better part of me, however, hopes that they really are serious about wanting Harvard to be a place dedicated to the fearless search for truth and that theyll step up and lend a hand to those of us actually trying to make it so. I know our students can handle it. Tarek Masoud teaches at Harvards John F. Kennedy School of Government. India is set to witness a series of important diplomatic, political, judicial and financial events today, February 22. Amidst the ongoing farmers protest, Punjab braces for another protest by petroleum dealers. Meanwhile, several noteworthy political developments are unfolding, including Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Gujarat. Mint brings you a list of important events to keep an eye on. Farmers Protest: Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday informed that a crucial meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will take place on Thursday, February 22, where farmers from across the country will convene to decide the future course of the agitation. PM Modi to visit Gujarat: PM Modi will inaugurate projects worth 79,517 crore on Thursday during his one-day visit to Gujarat. He will also participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) owner of Amul (Anand Milk Union Limited), at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. He will unveil two new indigenously developed reactors at Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant in Gujarat. Moreover, he will lay the foundation stone of the country's first PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (MITRA) Park at Vansi Borsi village in Gujarat's Navsari. Niti Aayog meeting in Nagpur: The National Institution for Transforming India (Niti Aayog) meeting will be held on Thursday, February 22, in Nagpur at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). The meeting will discuss the topic of Re-Imaging ICDS for 2030. Karnataka: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari is set to visit Karnataka's Shivamogga on Thursday, February 22, to participate in various programmes across the state including the inauguration of 15 projects worth 6,975 crore in the North Karnataka region. He will lay the foundation stones for various road projects worth 6,168 crore. Punjab: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will most likely visit Punjab on Thursday, February 22, to meet AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwat Mann, which was scheduled for February 21. This meeting is aimed at sharpening her strategy to support the farmers' protest and discuss the future of the INDIA bloc. Allahabad High Court to hear contempt petition: The Allahabad High Court is scheduled to hear a contempt petition on Thursday, February 22, regarding the non-implementation of its order to grant an additional mark to candidates of the 69,000 assistant teacher recruitment drive. Haryana government to face no-confidence motion debate: Haryana assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta on February 20 scheduled the time of debate for Thursday while admitting a no-confidence motion moved by the main opposition party, the Congress, against the Manohar Lal Khattar government. Shahi Idgah case: The Allahabad High Court will hear a plea on Thursday, February 22, regarding the maintainability of a suit seeking the removal of Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura which it claims has been built on 13.37 acre land of Katra Keshav Deo temple. Uttar Pradesh: Former Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya will announce a new party on Thursday, February 22, following his resignation from Samajwadi Party membership and from the MLC post. Manish Sisodia's CBI case hearing today: Jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia's judicial custody was extended until the hearing on February 22. Sisodia had pushed for an expedited hearing of his two curative petitions challenging the Supreme Court's 2023 verdict that denied him bail in the Delhi excise policy scam-related corruption and money laundering cases. Uttar Pradesh, last day for Noida realtors to clear dues: The Noida Authority fixed February 22 as the last date for realtors to accept relief package and clear their land cost dues in accordance with the terms of a realty policy, notified by the Uttar Pradesh government last December. Punjab petrol pumps to remain closed: Petroleum dealers in Punjab announced a state-wide shutdown of petrol pumps and fuel stations on Thursday, February 22, as dealers demand an increase in their commission. NASA, SpaceX Target NET to Launch Crew-8: NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the agencys Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station on Thursday, February 22. Xiaomi 14 Ultra launch: The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is set to be launched in China on Thursday, February 22. iQOO Neo 9 Pro to launch in India: iQOO Neo 9 Pro to launch in India on Thursday, February 22. The smartphone will be unveiled in the Indian market after it made its debut in the Chinese market in December. Death Anniversary: Death Anniversary of Kasturbai Mohandas Gandhi and Abul Kalam Azad on Thursday, February 22. New ballot scheme for India Young Professionals in UK to close: The United Kingdom offered 3,000 visas to Indian professionals through a new ballot system whose deadline to apply closes on Thursday, February 22. The British High Commission in India announced the India Young Professionals Scheme which allows them to live, work, or study in the country for up to two years. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! (Bloomberg) -- A spat over a non-binding vote on the Israel-Hamas war triggered chaotic scenes in the UKs House of Commons, after the Scottish National Party walked out of the chamber in protest and Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks governing Conservatives also refused to cast their ballots. The disarray was triggered after Speaker Lindsay Hoyle controversially allowed both Labour and the Sunaks Tories to propose changes to the SNPs call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Though the differences between the three parties is marginal all want an end to the fighting but with different caveats applied some MPs were furious at a procedural shift they saw as favoring Labour. The stakes for Starmer were high ahead of the Commons session. He suffered a rebellion by dozens of his MPs in a similar vote called by the SNP in November. He has been battling to keep his party which traditionally has strong support among British Muslims united ever since Hamas attack on Israel in October. Ahead of the vote, his team had come up with a motion designed to keep MPs onside an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" that also called for hostages held by Hamas to be released and for the peace process to be revived. The potential problem was that Starmers motion might not be put to a vote, under a Commons convention that opposition parties cannot try to amend a proposal put forward by another opposition party. Wednesday was designated an opposition day for the SNP, meaning Labour would ordinarily be expected to be limited to voting for against the Scottish partys position. But Hoyles intervention changed that in Labours favor. Instead of a vote on the SNPs position, Hoyle said MPs would first come to a decision on Starmers. In simple terms, that meant that if the House of Commons voted for Labours position, the SNP wouldnt get to test support for its own position. The SNPs leader in the House of Commons Stephen Flynn protested that would turn his partys designated day in Parliament into Labours. Theres also a widespread view in Westminster that having caused so much trouble for Starmer last time, the SNP was maneuvering to trigger another Labour rebellion. By refusing to take part, Sunaks Conservatives also avoided the scenario where they would have to vote against a ceasefire whether Labours version or the SNPs to avoid supporting an opposition party, despite the fact that many Tory MPs expressed their desire to see an end to the fighting. Hoyle, meanwhile, returned to the chamber to apologize, and offered to meet the leaders of the parties. I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologize for how its ended up," he told MPs. In the event, some MPs were confused about whether a vote had actually taken place. It did and Starmer won, though in another arcane bit of parliamentary procedure, no ballots were actually cast. In all the chaos, beyond avoiding a rebellion any political benefit to the Labour leader is likely to be minimal. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The next meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani deputy prime ministers has yet to be scheduled, Areminan Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan told reporters, Trend reports. Regarding the delimitation procedure, Grigoryan underlined the significance of using only competent topographic maps. "Also, the delimitation process encompasses more than just managing maps; it is primarily concerned with determining the legal basis and foundation for the development of each map. These nuances must be carefully considered," he added. The deputy prime minister indicated that there are legally binding agreements at the highest levels, notably in Prague and Sochi (Russia), that are explicitly linked to the Alma-Ata Declaration. On February 21, Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan announced that the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet soon to examine the draft peace treaty. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel This year, the Trayodashi date of Magh Shukla Paksha began on February 21 and will end on February 22, according to the Panchang. Meanwhile, the auspicious festival of Vishwakarma Jayanti is being celebrated on Thursday, February 22, according to Udayatithi. History Lord Vishwakarma was born on the Trayodashi day of the Magh month, which corresponds to January or February in the Gregorian calendar, as per ancient texts. Lord Vishwakarma who is considered to be the universe's first architect is honoured on this day, and Hindus celebrate this day by paying their respects to Lord Vishwakarma. Lord Vishwakarma is also believed to be the creator of the trident of Mahadev, Sudarshan Chakra and various divine weapons. Moreover, he's also credited with the creation of celestial realms like Indradev's heaven and remarkable structures like Lord Krishna's palace in Dwarka and the golden city of Lanka for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Significance The celebration of Lord Vishwakarma's birth holds significant importance in Hinduism, particularly for engineers, artisans, labourers, factory workers, carpenters, architects, and sculptors. It marks a crucial day for them to honour Lord Vishwakarma and seek his blessings for success in their professions, businesses and endeavours. This auspicious occasion serves as a time of appreciation and gratitude, where people acknowledge the divine craftsmanship that shapes our world. Rituals On Vishwakarma Jayanti, devotees begin their day by waking up early, taking a bath and changing into fresh clothes before sunrise. They clean their home, factory, shop and perform puja. Ganga water is used to purify the space. Rangoli is made, and the Lord Vishwakarma's idol is placed in the temple. A lamp with desi ghee is lit, and flowers are offered to him. Mantras such as Om Aadhar Shaktpe Namah", Om Kumayi Namah", and "Om Anantam Namah" are recited on this day. Afterwards, tools, machinery and spare parts associated with a business are worshipped during the puja. 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! China said it will renew its Panda Diplomacy" efforts with the US and other nations after spending recent years bringing the bears it loans to foreign zoos back home. Chinas wildlife agency reached an agreement with the San Diego Zoo in California and the Madrid Zoo in Spain on a new round of international cooperation on panda conservation," according to a statement on the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in the US. Also Read | China tightens grip on stocks with net sale ban at open, close The first pair of pandas a male and a female could arrive in San Diego by late summer, officials at the zoo told the Associated Press. China is also discussing renewing its cooperation with Washington, D.C.s National Zoo and Austrias Schonbrunn Zoo, according to the embassy. Restoring its decades-old panda diplomacy marks Chinas latest effort to improve relations with the West, especially the US. Hopes that the iconic animals which only live in the wild in China might be sent back to the US rose after US President Joe Biden met Chinese leader Xi Jinping last November in California. Also Read | An online dump of Chinese hacking documents offers a rare window into pervasive state surveillance Xi declared at the time that China was ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen friendly ties between our peoples." But it wasnt immediately clear when that process would get underway or whether it would come in time to stop the departure of the few bears remaining in the US. Officials at Washingtons National Zoo last year returned their three giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji when the loan contracts with China werent renewed. That was the first time the facility which had completed a $50 million overhaul of the Asia Trail enclosure where the pandas lived was left without a single panda in decades. Also Read | Russia outsmarts western sanctions and China is paying attention The Washington Zoo originally received a pair of pandas as a gift from Beijing following President Richard Nixons 1972 visit to China, a landmark event helping normalize relations between the countries. San Diegos last pandas returned to China in 2018 and 2019 after their loan agreements expired. Zoo Atlanta is now the only place in the US that keeps pandas, but those, too, are scheduled to go home this year. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! (Bloomberg) -- A vote on the Israel-Hamas war triggered chaos in the UKs House of Commons with the Scottish National Party walking out in protest and Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservatives also refusing to cast their ballots. The disarray was triggered after Speaker Lindsay Hoyle controversially allowed both Keir Starmers Labour Party and Sunaks Tories to propose changes to the SNPs call for a cease-fire in Gaza. The differences between the three parties are marginal all want an end to the fighting but with different caveats applied yet some MPs were furious at a procedural shift they saw as favoring Labour. Hoyles move meant Starmer avoided what threatened to be a destabilizing rebellion by members of his party, because it meant his MPs could back his carefully chosen wording rather than language put forward by the SNP. Starmer has been battling to keep his party united since Hamass attacks in October, as he tries to balance Labours traditionally strong support among British Muslims with a push to shed accusations of antisemitism under his predecessor and present his party as a government-in-waiting. Labour has a 20-point lead in polls ahead of a UK election expected later this year. But while his call for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire" was ultimately passed by the Commons, the events late Wednesday in the chamber meant the Labour leader wont be celebrating. Instead, Conservative and SNP MPs roared accusations that Hoyle acted to spare Starmers blushes. I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologize for how its ended up," Hoyle told the House of Commons, amid calls from some SNP MPs for him to resign. As is often the case in Westminster, the furor over an arcane rule or convention that wasnt followed also masked a deeper political motive. A similar vote brought to Parliament in November by the SNP which is trying to fend off a resurgent Labour in Scotland ahead of the UK election triggered a Labour rebellion that undermined Starmers position. So ahead of Wednesdays follow-up vote, there was intense pressure on him to come up with a form of words that would keep his MPs onside. The solution was to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, while also calling for hostages held by Hamas to be released and for the peace process to be revived. The flaw was that Starmers motion might not be put to a vote, under a convention that opposition parties cannot try to amend a proposal put forward by another opposition party if the government also tries to do so. It was the perfect scenario for the SNP and Conservatives trying to put Labour in a bind, because it meant Labour MPs who wanted to express their wishes for a cease-fire would have had to side with one of their positions. Until Hoyle stepped in. Instead of a straight vote on the SNPs position, the Speaker said MPs would first come to a decision on Starmers. In simple terms, that meant that if the House of Commons voted for Labours position, that would supersede the SNPs chance to test support for its own. It was a spat with huge political consequences that hinged on the order of the votes. Hoyle said he intervened to allow MPs to consider the widest possible range of options." He also referred to security threats facing MPs from constituents. But the SNP was furious. The partys leader in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, accused Hoyle of handing its allotted day in Parliament to Labour. I will take significant convincing that your position is not now intolerable," he said. By refusing to take part, Sunaks Conservatives also avoided the scenario where they would have to vote against a cease-fire whether Labours version or the SNPs to avoid supporting an opposition party, despite the fact that many Tory MPs expressed their desire to see an end to the fighting. Starmers decision to explicitly call for an immediate cease-fire for the first time this week in contrast to his previous call for a sustainable" cease-fire is a slightly different emphasis compared to the governments position, which was to call for an immediate humanitarian pause." This is a moment when the whole House can come together," Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy had told MPs. Let us be clear, whether from the government benches or the opposition benches, that we all agree that the time for a cease-fire has come, to end the bloodshed and suffering, and to allow a sustained effort to salvage the hope of a two-state solution." Yet in the UKs pre-election politics, the smallest differences are opportunities for point-scoring, which is why during the debate on a non-binding vote on a cease-fire, some MPs lamented the bigger picture was completely overlooked. The focus must be on the bloodshed and slaughter in both Israel and Gaza," SNP MP Patricia Gibson said. Some of the antics, games and name-calling we have seen today in this chamber paint this chamber in an unedifying light." The votes came days after Israel warned it could launch an offensive in the Rafah area of Gaza where some 1.5 million Palestinian people are sheltering next month unless all hostages are released. Lammy said this would be a humanitarian disaster, a moral catastrophe and a strategic mistake." (Updates with quotes and context throughout.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! (Bloomberg) -- A vote on the Israel-Hamas war triggered chaos in the UKs House of Commons with the Scottish National Party walking out in protest and Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservatives also refusing to cast their ballots. The disarray was triggered after Speaker Lindsay Hoyle controversially allowed both Keir Starmers Labour Party and Sunaks Tories to propose changes to the SNPs call for a cease-fire in Gaza. The differences between the three parties are marginal all want an end to the fighting but with different caveats applied yet some MPs were furious at a procedural shift they saw as favoring Labour. Hoyles move meant Starmer avoided what threatened to be a destabilizing rebellion by members of his party, because it meant his MPs could back his carefully chosen wording rather than language put forward by the SNP. Starmer has been battling to keep his party united since Hamass attacks in October, as he tries to balance Labours traditionally strong support among British Muslims with a push to shed accusations of antisemitism under his predecessor and present his party as a government-in-waiting. Labour has a 20-point lead in polls ahead of a UK election expected later this year. But while his call for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire" was ultimately passed by the Commons, the events late Wednesday in the chamber meant the Labour leader wont be celebrating. Instead, Conservative and SNP MPs roared accusations that Hoyle acted to spare Starmers blushes. I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologize for how its ended up," Hoyle told the House of Commons, amid calls from some SNP MPs for him to resign. As is often the case in Westminster, the furor over an arcane rule or convention that wasnt followed also masked a deeper political motive. A similar vote brought to Parliament in November by the SNP which is trying to fend off a resurgent Labour in Scotland ahead of the UK election triggered a Labour rebellion that undermined Starmers position. So ahead of Wednesdays follow-up vote, there was intense pressure on him to come up with a form of words that would keep his MPs onside. The solution was to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, while also calling for hostages held by Hamas to be released and for the peace process to be revived. The flaw was that Starmers motion might not be put to a vote, under a convention that opposition parties cannot try to amend a proposal put forward by another opposition party if the government also tries to do so. It was the perfect scenario for the SNP and Conservatives trying to put Labour in a bind, because it meant Labour MPs who wanted to express their wishes for a cease-fire would have had to side with one of their positions. Until Hoyle stepped in. Instead of a straight vote on the SNPs position, the Speaker said MPs would first come to a decision on Starmers. In simple terms, that meant that if the House of Commons voted for Labours position, that would supersede the SNPs chance to test support for its own. It was a spat with huge political consequences that hinged on the order of the votes. Hoyle said he intervened to allow MPs to consider the widest possible range of options." He also referred to security threats facing MPs from constituents. But the SNP was furious. The partys leader in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, accused Hoyle of handing its allotted day in Parliament to Labour. I will take significant convincing that your position is not now intolerable," he said. By refusing to take part, Sunaks Conservatives also avoided the scenario where they would have to vote against a cease-fire whether Labours version or the SNPs to avoid supporting an opposition party, despite the fact that many Tory MPs expressed their desire to see an end to the fighting. Labours shadow Commons leader, Lucy Powell, accused the government of pulling its own motion because the Conservatives didnt have the numbers present to pass it. Last time I looked, the government benches had a majority in this House," she said. So perhaps we have to ask the question whether or not they do still command a majority in this House this evening, or whether they are trying to hide behind some other reason?" Starmers decision to explicitly call for an immediate cease-fire for the first time this week in contrast to his previous call for a sustainable" cease-fire is a slightly different emphasis compared to the governments position, which was to call for an immediate humanitarian pause." This is a moment when the whole House can come together," Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy had told MPs. Let us be clear, whether from the government benches or the opposition benches, that we all agree that the time for a cease-fire has come, to end the bloodshed and suffering, and to allow a sustained effort to salvage the hope of a two-state solution." Yet in the UKs pre-election politics, the smallest differences are opportunities for point-scoring, which is why during the debate on a non-binding vote on a cease-fire, some MPs lamented the bigger picture was completely overlooked. The focus must be on the bloodshed and slaughter in both Israel and Gaza," SNP MP Patricia Gibson said. Some of the antics, games and name-calling we have seen today in this chamber paint this chamber in an unedifying light." The votes came days after Israel warned it could launch an offensive in the Rafah area of Gaza where some 1.5 million Palestinian people are sheltering next month unless all hostages are released. Lammy said this would be a humanitarian disaster, a moral catastrophe and a strategic mistake." (Updates with comment from Labours Powell in 15th paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Maldives' newly-elected President Mohamed Muizzu's alleged anti-India" stance may have cost the island nation some Indian tourists, however, Maldives was not the only one to suffer. Mauritius, an island in East Africa, is now bearing the brunt of India's worsening diplomatic ties with Maldives. It all unfolded when Mauritius Tourism (India) took to microblogging site X to post, "Mauritius welcomes Indians to explore, discover, and Feel Our Island Energy in 2024! Tons of exciting adventures and experiences await you. Plan your holiday today!" "Not interested if you disrespect us and our PM," commented an enraged Indian on X. The comment followed another, which said, "We now found a better option in our country itself, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep". Ujjwal is not interested, pls go n invite China" read another tweet. Next, a "Boycott the Maldives" comment followed the two comments from another X handle, on the same post which promoted "exciting adventures and experiences" in "a tropical tourist destination"- the Mauritius. Evidently, the Indians on Twitter confused Mauritius -- a country that has very close and friendly ties with India -- with the Maldives . It resulted in a hilarious exchange as representatives of Mauritius Tourism tried their level best to explain how Mauritius was different from the Maldives. The reactions to the Mauritius tweet on X went on as "BoycottMaldives" trended on social media platforms. The trend started in early January. India-Maldives diplomatic Row 'BoycottMaldives' was a result of a battle that started in cyberspace and became a diplomatic stand-off between India and the Maldives. It all started with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharing photos from his visit to Lakshadweep on January 4. Many on social media hinted that PM Modi's promoting Lakshadweep might be somehow linked to the reports of the Maldivian government's cozying up to China. The present government of Mohamed Muizzu came to power in September 2023. China-leaning Mohamed Muizzu defeated Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was pro-India. Few Maldivian lawmakers, including a minister of the Mohamed Muizzu government, had made some derogatory remarks against PM Modi. Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "clown" and "puppet of Israel" on X. While Indians were embroiled in what seemed like an apparent insult to their supreme leader, Muizzu also pressed that India removes their military aid from the island nations, in a bid to reduce dependency. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The United States on Wednesday condemned the internet shutdowns in Pakistan, including the restrictions on social media platforms, and has urged the Pakistani government to lift them. Internet outages, and restrictions on social media applications like X (formerly Twitter) were imposed in Pakistan on Saturday after a senior government official made a public admission of vote manipulation in the February 8 election. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Wednesday said that the US is concerned by reports of restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of expression and association in Pakistan, "including the partial or complete government-imposed internet shutdowns, which includes, of course, on social media platforms." He added that Washington continues to call on Pakistan to respect freedom of expression and "restore access to any social media that has been restricted, including Twitter, now known as X." Miller said the US concerns had been communicated to Pakistan through official channels. "We have and we will continue to emphasize the importance of respecting these fundamental freedoms during our engagements with Pakistani officials," he added. The global internet monitor, Netblocks, has cited instances of restrictions related to election fraud. "Metrics show that X/Twitter remains largely restricted in Pakistan past the four-day mark; imposed on Saturday as disclosures relating to election fraud circulated on the platform," Netblocks said. Pakistanis went to the polls earlier this month. Accusations of vote rigging have arisen due to unusually delayed results in an election marked by a mobile internet shutdown on polling day. United States, Britain and the European Union have separately expressed concerns about Pakistan's electoral process in the wake of the elections. The United States has called for an investigation of fraud claims but declined to comment on the makeup of the coalition, which will need to be formally approved by the National Assembly. "As is the case whenever you see coalition politics taking place inside any given country, that's a decision for that country itself, not something that we would weigh in on," Miller said. Pakistan was a Cold War ally of the United States and offered logistical support for the war in Afghanistan, but relations soured over US charges that covert Pakistani support helped the Taliban return to power and the more recent US embrace of Pakistan's rival India. The two main dynastic parties, the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), late Tuesday announced a coalition with smaller parties to govern the world's fifth most populous nation. (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! Recent reports that companies such as JSW Steel, Tata Steel, are all bidding enthusiastically in coal auctions have surprised nobody, as steelmakers globally strive to secure supply chains and achieve significant scale. Indian steelmakers are particularly well-positioned, benefiting from several long-term advantages. JSW Steel, as one of the largest in the country, stands out among its peers in the industry. Currently, India boasts an annual steel production capacity of around 160 million tonnes (MT), with JSW contributing approximately 28.5 MT to this total. (Tata Steel's overall capacity is larger due to its operations in Europe). All major steel producers have aims to expand, with plans of potentially increasing domestic capacity to about 300 MT by 2030. This expansion is driven by a policy focus on infrastructure and construction, sectors expected to push demand up by around 9% per annum compounded. Steel's role in construction is irreplaceable. The supply chain involves iron ore, which India has in plenty. The process of turning iron into steel is energy-intensive, necessitating captive power and, consequently, driving demand for power. A significant portion of this power is expected to come from thermal sources, hence the keen interest in thermal coal auctions. JSW and the other large steel plants also have plans to go zero carbon and deploy renewable energy, but that is a long way into the future. JSW, for example, is looking at zero carbon by 2050. Steel production also requires blending a specific quality of coking coal with iron in blast furnaces. With about 90% of its coking coal imported, India faces a challenge as the demand for this resource is projected to surge with rising steel production. JSW Steels ambitions revolve around major capacity expansions in steel, gaining control of captive thermal coal, and overseas tie ups/ acquisitions to gain access to coking coal (as well as thermal). These are all long gestation projects and capital intensive. Despite excellent earnings and a solid balance sheet, substantial investments are necessary for JSW Steel's future plans. The company aims to increase its capacity to approximately 50 MT by 2030, including a 50% expansion at its Vijayanagar mill. By the end of fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), it is targeting a capacity of 38 MT. Its also looking at building an entire new complex at Paradip Odisha at a cost of 65,000 crore, which will include a steel plant with a capacity of 13.2 MT, a captive power plant, captive jetties with cargo-handling capacity, a cement manufacturing unit, etc. Port facilities would considerably ease logistics. JSW is eyeing stakes in overseas coal mining operations. There are reports that it is seeking a 20% stake in an Australian coal mine Blackwater, which is run by Whitehaven Coal. This could cost around $1 billion. JSW Group already has investments in Australia which give it access to two coal mines. Other expansion plans include a 5,500 crore, grain-oriented electrical steel manufacturing facility through a joint venture with Japans JFE Steel Corp in Karnataka. Grain oriented steel is critical for grid applications since its used in transformers. In Q3FY24 , the company reported consolidated revenues of 41,940 crore and net profit of 2,415 crore, with sales volume at around 6 MT and production of 6.9 MT. In FY23, it had logged consolidated revenues of 1.67 trillion. Fulfilling these capex plans will require at least 1 trillion, with the company reportedly seeking loans exceeding $750 million. JSW Steel shares have done well in the last year, as profitability has risen. But the stock is a long-term bet for investors since there will be a lot at stake over the next five years as the company looks to scale up. Artificial intelligence (AI) image generators are still struggling with getting human fingers right. They are not taking away human jobs anytime soon. If that does not settle doomsday prophesies, let us discuss it logically. With economic theory and data. Since the mechanical loom, every wave of new technology has created more jobs at higher wages throughout history. However, the fear remained that each such wave would deliver a death blow to human labour. And yet, here we are. We have been through two such tech-driven unemployment panic cycles recently: outsourcing in the 2000s and automation in the 2010s. The reality: before the onset of covid, the world had more jobs at higher wages than ever in history. This time, it appears we finally have the technology that will take all our jobs and render human workers superfluous: Generative AI. It is seen as a killer meteorite that will wipe out all human jobs. I would argue to the contrary. The fundamental mistake people repeatedly make is called the Lump Of Labour Fallacy. In the current context, it is the inaccurate notion that there is a fixed amount of work in the economy at any given time, and either machines or people do it. It follows that if machines do it, there will be no work for people. This conclusion doesnt ring right. When a process becomes more efficient thanks to technology, productivity grows. It results in lowering of prices for goods and services. We pay less for them as prices fall, leaving us more money to buy more. Demand in the economy increases, which drives innovation, which creates new products, industries and jobs for people, making up for those replaced by automation. The net result is a larger economy, with higher prosperity, more industries, new products and growing employment. It does not end there. We also get higher wages. At the micro-level, the market sets compensation as a function of the workers marginal productivity. A worker in a tech-assisted business is more productive than a worker in a traditional one. The employer will either have to pay the worker more, as he is now more effective, or another employer willpure capitalism. Technology introduced into any industry typically increases the number of jobs and raises wages. The outlined phenomenon is Jevons Paradox at work, which postulates that as AI systems become more efficient at tasks, they may increase the demand for those tasks, resulting in more consumption of resources. The most quoted example of this paradox is in the energy sector. As energy-efficient technologies emerge, individuals and businesses are motivated by reduced costs to increase consumption. While automation has historically led to job losses in specific sectors, studies suggest it also creates new ones. The introduction of spreadsheet applications in the 1980s decreased demand for bookkeepers by more than 40%. However, demand for accountants, auditors, financial managers and management analysts increased by a factor of four to one. When efficiency reduces the cost per unit output for a given process, it proportionately increases the demand for resources to meet the increase in overall output. A 2023 report by McKinsey Global Institute found that automation in Asia could displace 88 million jobs by 2030 but also create 97 million new ones. So it would be job augmentation rather than elimination. A recent study by MIT and IBM concluded that only about 23% of wages paid for tasks involving vision are economically viable for AI automation. In other words, it makes economic sense to replace human labour with AI in under one-fourth of the jobs where vision is critical to work performance. Now, lets focus on India, which is no stranger to AI as a concept. We have stories that range from robots guarding Buddhas relics to Barbarik the warrior robot and even the possibility that Kumbhakarna was some kind of robot. In modern times, we have among the worlds fastest-growing startup ecosystems. The latest Economic Survey states that India has over 100 unicorns (mostly tech-led), contributing significantly to job creation, not erosion. A 2022 study by IBM found that AI-augmented roles increased talent retention by up to 50% in Indian companies. It made human workers more productive, not obsolete. An IT ministry study observed that digital interventions (including AI) could lead to the redeployment of 40-45 million workers and create 20 million new jobs in India by 2025. The Indeed Report (2023) states that 85% of Indian employers expect AI to create new jobs in the next 1-5 years. And 63% of job-seekers are excited about the potential, with 53% agreeing AI creates more jobs. As outlined in an EY India report, Gen-AI can potentially add a cumulative $1.2-1.5 trillion to Indias GDP over the next seven years. Nearly 70% of its overall impact should be on business services, financial services, education, retail and healthcare. AI will not kill us. Just like AI will not ruin society as we know it. Just likeand this is my personal favouriteAI will not make bad people do bad things. AI will not take away all our jobs in the foreseeable future. The United Nations is meant to help keep international peace, not undermine it. Yet last month the Journal reported that Israeli intelligence revealed that at least 12 employees of the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency were connected to Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres then announced that the U.N.s Office of Internal Oversight Services, or OIOS, would investigate the alleged ties. After spending four years as an investigator in that office, I can confidently say that its investigation will amount to nothing. The OIOSs mandate is to investigate breaches of staff regulations and rules, but the heaviest disciplinary measure the U.N. can impose on a staff member is dismissal. In this case thats already happened. Of the 12 Unrwa staff alleged to have participated in Hamass Oct. 7 assault, two have reportedly died and 10 have been dismissed. What, then, does the secretary-general hope to achieve? Mr. Guterres has said that any Unrwa employees involved will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution." Thats commendable but meaningless. The U.N. doesnt have prosecutorial authority or the ability to extradite people from one country to another, meaning any legal accountability would have to come from national authorities. Whatever the U.N. says, Hamas certainly wouldnt send them from Gaza to sit for criminal trial in Israel. That isnt the only fly in the U.N. ointment. The only information connecting these Unrwa employees with criminal activity has come from the Israelis, in part from sensitive signals intelligence and interrogations of captured Hamas fighters. Without disclosing the intels primary source, such information wont meet any legal standard of proof. The OIOS is thus left sitting in the middle of a mess that might have been mitigated had Unrwa suspended the implicated staff members without pay. Instead, the U.N. appears to have panickednot because Unrwa staff were allegedly involved in terrorism but because member states started to withdraw their financial support. The technical reality is that Unrwa fired employees without due process. As reported by the Guardian, Unrwa chief Philippe Lazzarini described their firing as reverse due process," adding: My judgment, 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." If the OIOS cant confirm or produce a declassified version of the Israeli intelligence, the organization will be forced to concede that those staff members were wrongly terminated and either re-employ or compensate them. It beggars belief that Mr. Guterres, a savvy political operator, could have unknowingly walked into this dilemma. An alternative explanation is that the secretary-general is attempting to restore Unrwa funding by creating the semblance of a legitimate inquiry. When in all likelihood the OIOS issues an inconclusive report, the calls to disband Unrwa will appear less justified. During my time in the office, I saw how its operations are plagued by incompetence. One case, concerning investigations into more than 100 allegations of sexual abuse against peacekeepers in the Central African Republic between 2014 and 2015, is especially representative. In 2019 I uncovered an internal draft review of the offices investigations. Among its findings: Staff consistently complained of improper planning; interviews with alleged victims were taken but not sufficiently organized or analyzed; and improper DNA storage allowed samples to be corrupted. Though the office director announced that institutional changes had been made after the review, its dubious any discrete reforms will fully address such a mess. Some will doubtless insist that the OIOS investigation is only part of a multilayered effort to root out and expose terrorist sympathies within Unrwa. Mr. Guterres, in coordination with Mr. Lazzarini, has also appointed an outside review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. Yet the chances her review will be truly independent" are similarly slim. On Jan. 12 Ms. Colonna tweeted that Mr. Lazzarini had her full renewed support for your work," which is more useful than ever." Two other organizations tapped to participate in the reviewthe Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Norwegian Chr. Michelsen Institutehave published articles by staffers signaling their support for South Africas charge at the International Court of Justice that Israel is guilty of genocide. Ms. Colonnas review, along with the OIOS investigation, will be a fig leaf for Mr. Guterres to preserve Unrwa and its generous funding so that its employees can live to fight another day. Mr. Gallo, a lawyer, was an investigator for the OIOS, 2011-15. As Indias Lok Sabha polls approach, political parties have reportedly contacted digital content creators and podcasters to help get their messages across. Of course, major parties have IT cells on the job, too, but too random an outreach would enlarge the risk of losing integrity control. Artificially generated videos of leaders have already made an electoral debut in this part of the world. Before Pakistans polls, AI-made speeches of its jailed ex-leader Imran Khan were reportedly going viral, with these clips said to be okayed by him. But in Bangladeshs elections, a deepfake surfaced of an opposition leader displaying ambivalence over the plight of Palestinians, a sure vote-loser in a Muslim-majority country. Indonesias poll lead-up featured an AI video of its long-gone president Suharto (19212008), miraculously resurrected by technology to guide voters. Its stunning how easy it has become to convincingly put words in the mouths of desk-spun politicians. Expecting AI tool-makers to police all fraud would be like trying to nail jelly to a wall, to use former US president Bill Clintons analogy for early attempts at internet control. Caveat elector" will have to apply. Voter beware. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Suleyman Alasgarov, Azernews reports. According to the order, the year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the renowned Azerbaijani composer, conductor, State Prize laureate, and Peoples artist Suleyman Eyyub oghlu Alasgarov, whose operettas, operas, symphonic mugham, suites, cantatas, chamber-vocal and instrumental works had brought great recognition. Additionally, his noteworthy contributions to nurturing young musicians during his extensive pedagogical career are duly acknowledged. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on awarding a group of people who distinguished themselves in the field of construction and operation of highways, Trend reports. In accordance with paragraph 23 of article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the decree tasked to award the following persons who have distinguished themselves by their labor merits in the field of construction and operation of highways with: "Emek" Order of III degree: Azadali Azadaliyev Mubariz Akbarov Avaz Gojayev Ahmad Mirzabayov Shahin Suleymanov Taraggi Medal Elshan Babayev Araz Bandaliyev Elman Javadi Fazil Abilov Elkhan Aliyev Tahir Azizov Sadig Iskandarov Hasan Gasimov Bahruz Lalayev Tural Mehdiyev Eldar Mirjavadov Ustubat Niftaliyev Sabir Rafiyev Elnara Samadzadeh Rubaba Suleymanova Farid Yusubov Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have been receiving messages, threatening them to leave the Opposition's INDIA bloc, Delhi minister Atishi said on Thursday. She said the messages were received after reports claimed that the seat-sharing deal between the AAP and the Congress could be announced anytime soon. "If the AAP doesn't leave the INDIA bloc, (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal will receive a notice by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) under CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) Section 41A in the next two days, and he will be arrested by both the CBI and the ED (Enforcement Directorate)," Atishi said while citing the threat message. She said AAP leaders started receiving threat messages ever since the reports emerged about the Congress and the AAP finalising their seat-sharing deal for the Lok Sabha Elections. "We all know that the deal is almost finalised," she said. In a message to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Atishi said Arvind Kejriwal and all the AAP leaders are not afraid of these threats about being sent to jail. "If they put all the AAP leaders and MLAs in jail, then every AAP worker will stand up as a leader," she added. Arvind Kejriwal in under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate over a money laundering case linked to the Delhi Excise policy 'scam'. The ED issued Kejriwal its seventh summons on Thursday, asking him to appear before the agency. Meanwhile, the CBI, on direction of a court, filed a detailed status report on further investigation in the Delhi Excise policy case on Thursday. AAP-Congress seat-sharing deal The AAP and the Congress will contest the Lok Sabha Elections in three states Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana. The two parties will contest solo in Punjab. As per reports, the two parties finalised their seat-sharing alliance for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi on Thursday, and the announcement is likely to be made soon. ALSO READ: 'Congress does not deserve even a single seat in Delhi but...': AAP's Sandeep Pathak on seat-sharing talks According to sources, both parties have locked the deal for a four-three alliance, with the AAP contesting on four and the Congress settling for three. Meanwhile, it was also learned that the Congress is likely to give the AAP one seat in Haryana, while the AAP will support the Congress for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. In Gujarat, the AAP is demanding three seats in a potential alliance with the Congress, however, a final agreement on this is awaited, PTI reported on Thursday. 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! In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will likely be sharing the seven Lower House seats in Delhi. According to an India Today report, Congress will likely get three of the seven seats as the seat-sharing talks with the AAP reach the final round. AAP, which is ruling the national capital, will likely contest the remaining four seats. The AAP will field candidates from South Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi and New Delhi seats, while the Congress will contest from the Chandni Chowk, East Delhi and North East Delhi constituencies, PTI report citing sources in the Aam Aadmi Party said. The BJP won all seven seats in Delhi back to back in 2014 and 2019 elections. Interestingly, the BJP candidates in 2019 polled more votes than the combined tally of Congress and AAP candidates. Earlier this week, AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the talks over the alliance were delayed and hinted at fresh developments in the next one or two days. Initially, AAP had also offered one Lok Sabha seat in Delhi to the Congress saying it did not deserve even that based on its previous election track record. Prior to this, the AAP said it was holding talks with the INDIA bloc partners for a pact in Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, and Goa. The party has already decided to go solo in Punjab. AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak recently said that the party has demanded eight out of 26 Lok Sabha seats from the Congress in Gujarat. He said that the AAP won five seats by polling a total of 13 per cent votes in the last Assembly polls in Gujarat and claimed eight Lok Sabha seats in the state for the upcoming polls, while offering the remaining 18 to the Congress. The Congress currently does not have any Lok Sabha MP or MLA from Delhi. The AAP has so far unilaterally declared its candidates in two seats each in Gujarat and Assam, and one in Goa. Pathak had said that if a decision was not soon taken on seat-sharing in Delhi, his party would declare its candidates. (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! Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: As many as 41 of the total 56 leaders were elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The returning officers declared these 41 leaders winners on the last date of withdrawal of nominations as there were no other candidates in the fray on these 41 seats. Among these 41 leaders were former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda, Ashok Chavan and Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan. As per news agency PTI, the BJP won the highest number of 20 seats, followed by the Congress (6), Trinamool Congress (4), YSR Congress (3), RJD (2), BJD (2) and NCP, Shiv Sena, BRS and JD(U) one each. ALSO READ: Bihar Rajya Sabha polls: All six candidates declared elected unopposed The Rajya Sabha biennial election for remaining 15 seats is scheduled on February 27. The 15 seats are spread across three states Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Let's check out what is the Rajya Sabha election formula and process, who are the candidates and how numbers stack up for 15 seats in these three states? What's the Rajya Sabha Election formula? Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by MLAs through the proportional representation process with the single transferable vote (STV) system. Each MLAs vote is counted only once. The MLAs dont vote for each seat. Instead, the MLAs have to list different candidates in order of their preference. If the MLAs qualified to vote choose a particular candidate as their first choice, he or she gets elected. The remaining votes go to the next candidates, but with a lesser value. So, MLAs also vote for candidates from other parties. ALSO READ: From MJ Akbar to Rajeev Chandrasekhar: Here are 9 journalists nominated to Rajya Sabha The candidate that emerges as number one rank secures a first preference vote. So, a candidate needs a specific number of such first preference votes. This number depends on the strength of the state assembly and the number of MPs it sends to Rajya Sabha. Thus to win, a candidate should get a required number of votes which is known as quota or preference vote. The formula is = [Total number of votes/(Number of Rajya Sabha seats + 1)] + 1. And, the formula is different in case more than one seat needs to be filled. In that case, the total number of votes required for a candidate is = [(Number of votes x 100) / (Vacancies + 1)] + 1. Here's a look at what's the party position on 15 seats across three states Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh will see 11 candidates vying for 10 seats. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has renominated three candidates Jaya Bachchan, former MP Ramjilal Suman and retired IAS officer Alok Ranjan. Meanwhile, the BJP forced the contest by fielding eight candidates instead of seven. Had the BJP not nominated its eighth candidate, election to the 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh would also have passed unopposed. The BJP candidates include former Union minister RPN Singh, former MP Chaudhary Tejveer Singh, state party general secretary Amarpal Maurya, former state minister Sangeeta Balwant, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, former MLA Sadhna Singh, former Agra mayor Naveen Jain and local industrialist and former SP leader Sanjay Seth who joined the BJP in 2019. In Uttar Pradesh, there are 403 assembly seats but the current strength of the assembly is 399. To win a Rajya Sabha seat, a candidate requires 37 first preference votes in UP. BJP: The BJP in Uttar Pradesh has 252 MLAs and the NDA has around 277 MLAs. SP: The Samajwadi Party (SP), the regional party has 108 MLAs in the assembly and with the support of the INDIA bloc, the numbers of MLAs in their favour may go to up to at least 110. Himachal Pradesh In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP has forced a contest by fielding Harsh Mahajan against Congress's Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the single seat, despite not having enough MLAs to win. The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has 68 members. This means a candidate needs 35 first preference votes to win. BJP: The BJP has 25 MLAs in the Himachal Pradesh assembly. Congress: The Congress has 40 MLAs in the Himachal Pradesh assembly. ALSO READ: Rajya Sabha polls: Which Union Ministers were not re-nominated by BJP? Karnataka In Karnataka, five candidates are contesting for the four seats. The Congress has fielded Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain and GC Chandrasekhar, while Narayansa Bandage is the BJP candidate. JD(S) leader and former Rajya Sabha member D Kupendra Reddy is also in the fray. There are a total of 224 members in the Karnataka Assembly. Each of the five candidates need 45 first preference votes to win. BJP: The party fielded one candidate. The BJP has 66 MLAs in the assembly. JD(S): HD Kumaraswamy's party has 19 MLAs in the assembly. With support of BJP MLAs, their tally may go up to 85. It has fielded one candidate. Congress: The Congress has 135 MLAs in assembly. It has fielded three candidates. 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! During a fundraiser for his reelection campaign Wednesday night, President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB" and took aim at former President Donald Trump's comments comparing himself to the Russian opposition leader who died last week in an Arctic prison. Biden was talking about climate change when he said, We have a crazy SOB like Putin and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate." Speaking to donors at a private San Francisco home Wednesday as part of a three-day California swing to raise money for his 2024 reelection campaign, Biden also said he was astounded by recent comments made by his likely Republican challenger. Trump compared the suspicious prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to his own legal troubles in the U.S. Trump was fined $350 million after a New York judge found he lied for years about his wealth on financial statements in his companies. Trump said the ruling was a form of communism or fascism." Some of the things that this fellows been saying, like hes comparing himself to Navalny and saying that -- because our countrys become a communist country, he was persecuted, just like Navalny was persecuted. I dont know where the hell this comes from," Biden said. I mean, if I stood here 10, 15 years ago and said any of this, youd all think I should be committed," he said. It astounds me." Ive been around a long time and Ive never quite seen a crowd like this MAGA Republican crowd," Biden added, referring to Trump's Make America Great Again" slogan. They seem to have very little moral compass on what is important to people." During a campaign fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night, Biden highlighted his efforts to help middle-class Americans and warned that a win in November for Trump could lead to a nationwide abortion ban, more Republican efforts to undo the health insurance program started during President Barack Obama's administration and more policies that would disproportionately help the wealthy. ___ Long reported from Washington. 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! Two significant political events will intersect Saturdaythe South Carolina Republican presidential primary and the second anniversary of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. The coincidence goes beyond this weekend. In the grand opera that congressional Republicans have become, no major legislation can pass until Donald Trump sings. The Trump-denounced border bill failed two weeks ago. Last week brought the unusual spectacle of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who only last month called on Joe Biden to bomb Iran, voting against the bill to fund military aid to Ukraine and Israel. As did Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, heretofore a prominent supporter of Ukraine. Though the bill passed with 22 Republicans in favor, its future with Republicans in the House isnt clear because Mr. Trumps thinking on Ukraines future is unclear. The people of Ukraine themselves must be starting to feel like the gladiators who fought in a walled colosseum to entertain the Romans. They await a thumbs up or down on their fate from Mr. Trump. So which will it be, Mr. Trumplet Ukraine defend itself, or let it go? At the Munich Security Conference last weekend, Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, a Trump surrogate, suggested his camps thumb is turning downward on U.S. military support for Ukraine. We simply do not have manufacturing capacity to support a ground war in Eastern Europe indefinitely," he said. And I think its incumbent upon leaders to articulate this for their populations." Some believe that if the U.S. pulled its support, that would compel Ukraine to raise the white flag and reach an accommodation with Mr. Putin. I think its more likely they would fight until the last Ukrainian man, woman and child are obliterated by the Russian army. Theyd rather drown in Europes biggest bloodbath since World War II than submit. Were not there yet, but weve been at this decisional crossroads before. That would be the Munich Agreement of 1938. Historical parallels are never perfect, as Casey Michel described in these pages recently in an op-ed about the agreement. But Munich is worth thinking about. Mr. Putins actions and justifications evoke Hitlers in the 1930s. In 1936, Hitlers military entered the German Rhineland on the French-Belgian border, an act forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. France and England didnt object. In 1938, Hitler annexed Austria, an independent state, declaring it an Anschluss," or political unification. Mr. Putins 2014 invasion and annexation of the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine was the start of a Russian Anschluss. Months later in the Munich Agreement, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, attempting to avert war, conceded that Hitler could occupy the German-speaking territories of Czechoslovakia in return for promising no further territorial expansions. Mr. Putin has justified his invasion of eastern Ukraine in part on the basis of Russian speakers there and has made similar threats against Latvia on behalf of Russian-speaking minorities. Last week the Russian police put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on its wanted list for the desecration of historical [Russian] memory." Mr. Trump has refused to debate GOP primary opponent Nikki Haley, arguing that he doesnt need to put his lead at risk. It is not acceptable, though, for Mr. Trump to deny American voters a more concrete idea of his policies toward Ukraine or the worlds other concurrent troubles. For starters, what did Mr. Trump mean when he said he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours? Does he in fact mean Mr. Putin should be allowed to annex eastern Ukraine? Would he withdraw the U.S. from the roughly 50-nation Ukraine Defense Contact Group? Would he cede Russian-speaking areas of the Baltics to Mr. Putin? I would ask Mr. Trump if he thought the Munich Agreement was a mistake in 1938, or just poorly negotiated. His recent remark at a rally that hed let the Russians do whatever the hell they want" was considered a negotiating tactic to make Europe spend more on defense. But I would like to hear Mr. Trumps thoughts on related issues about the U.S. world role. In May 2019, as president, Mr. Trump announced the end of military exercises with South Korea. Would he consider moving toward a more formal posture of armed neutrality, whereby the U.S. would have no formal alliances, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or partnerships with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia? Mr. Trump says he personally can negotiate agreements with Mr. Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping. Does he think those pacts make the current push to increase spending on U.S. defense unnecessary? Mr. Putin denied this week that Russia intends to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Does Mr. Trump believe him? Mr. Trump may yet instruct House and Senate Republicans to end support for Ukraine. That would be a historic redefinition of U.S. leadership in a world of aggressors. If so, Mr. Trump has an obligation to tell American voters why 2024 wont be another 1938. Write henninger@wsj.com. As the temperature rises, keeping your food fresh and beverages cold becomes a top priority. A reliable refrigerator is a must-have appliance, especially during the scorching summer months. Samsung, a trusted name in home appliances, offers a range of single-door fridges that are not only stylish but also packed with innovative features to ensure your food stays fresh and your drinks remain chilled. In this buying guide, we'll explore the best Samsung single door fridges, perfect for your summer needs. We'll delve into the top features that set these fridges apart, helping you make an informed decision. From energy-efficient designs to spacious interiors and advanced cooling technologies, Samsung fridges are designed to meet the demands of modern households while keeping energy consumption in check. Join us as we explore the best single-door Samsung fridges, ensuring you stay cool and refreshed all summer long. 1. Samsung 183 L Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1723R8/HL) The Samsung 183 L Single Door Refrigerator offers stylish design and efficient cooling. With a capacity of 183 liters, it's suitable for small families. It features a 3 Star Energy Rating and a Digital Inverter Compressor, ensuring energy efficiency and durability. The fridge includes toughened glass shelves, a vegetable drawer, and a base stand with a drawer for extra storage. Special features like Fresh Room and Grande Door Design enhance its usability. Specifications of Samsung 183 L Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1723R8/HL) Brand: Samsung Capacity: 183 liters Energy star: 3 Star Energy Efficiency Features: Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy efficient Small freezer capacity Stylish design Limited space Durable 2. Samsung 183 L, 5 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20D2825HV/NL) The Samsung 183 L Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator is a stylish and efficient refrigerator suitable for small families. It features a digital inverter compressor for energy efficiency and quiet operation, along with a range of convenient features like Power Cool, Fresh Room and Stabilizer Free Operation. The refrigerator has a capacity of 183 liters, with 165 liters for fresh food and 18 liters for the freezer. It comes with a 1-year comprehensive warranty and a 20-year warranty on the digital inverter compressor. Specifications of Samsung 183 L, 5 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20D2825HV/NL) Brand: Samsung Capacity: 183 liters Energy Star: 5-Star Energy Efficiency Features: Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy-efficient Limited freezer capacity Stylish design No separate fruit box 3. Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digi-Touch Cool Digital Inverter, with Display Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2F25HT/HL, Red, Hydrangea Plum, Base Stand Drawer, 2023 Model) The Samsung stylish single-door refrigerator with an 189-litre capacity is suitable for small families. It features a Digi-Touch Cool 5in1 system for efficient cooling and a 5-star energy rating for energy efficiency. The refrigerator includes a toughened glass shelf, a vegetable drawer, and a base stand with a drawer for additional storage. It also offers features like digital temperature control, auto express cooling and eco mode for convenience and energy savings. Specifications of Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digi-Touch Cool Digital Inverter, with Display Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2F25HT/HL, Red, Hydrangea Plum, Base Stand Drawer, 2023 Model) Brand: Samsung Capacity: 189 liters Energy star: 5-star energy efficiency Features: Digi-Touch Cool 5in1, Digital Inverter Compressor Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy-efficient No frost-free feature Stylish design Digital temperature control Also read: Best mini fridges to chill drinks and save space: Top 10 options to consider 4. Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2H25S8/HL, Silver, Elegant Inox, Base Stand Drawer, 2023 Model) The Samsung 189 Single Door Refrigerator is a stylish and energy-efficient refrigerator suitable for small families. It features a 5 Star Energy Efficiency rating and a 1-year warranty. The digital inverter compressor ensures long-lasting performance. With a capacity of 189 litres, toughened glass shelves and a base stand with a drawer, it offers ample storage space and convenience. The refrigerator also includes special features like a fresh room, stabilizer-free operation and LED lighting. Specifications of Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2H25S8/HL, Silver, Elegant Inox, Base Stand Drawer, 2023 Model) Brand: Samsung Capacity: 189 liters Energy star: 5 Star Features: Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy-efficient None Stylish design Ample storage space 5. Samsung 183 L, 4 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1724CU/HL, Camellia Blue, 2024 Model) This Samsung single-door fridge is a stylish and energy-efficient fridge suitable for small families. It features a 183-litre capacity with a 4-star energy rating for ensuring efficient cooling with less power consumption. The refrigerator has a modern design with toughened glass shelves, a vegetable drawer, and a base stand with a drawer for additional storage. Special features include stabilizer-free operation, smart connect inverter and up to 15 days of fresh food storage. Specifications of Samsung 183 L, 4 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1724CU/HL, Camellia Blue, 2024 Model) Brand: Samsung Capacity: 183 liters Energy star: 4 Star Features: Digital Inverter Compressor for energy efficiency, toughened glass Shelves Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy-efficient No proper stand Stylish design Long-lasting performance 6. Samsung 223 L, 3 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR24C2823S8/NL, Silver, Elegant Inox, Base Stand Drawer, 2024 Model) The Samsung 223-liter refrigerator with a Digital Inverter compressor comes with a modern design. It features a modern Elegant Inox design, toughened glass shelves and a base stand with a drawer for extra storage. It also includes special features like a fresh room, stabilizer-free operation, and a smart connect inverter for automatic switching. The fridge comes with a 1-year comprehensive warranty and is suitable for small families. Specifications of Samsung RR24C2823S8/NL Brand: Samsung Capacity: 223 liters Energy star: 3 Star Features: Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Efficient cooling Limited freezer capacity Stylish design Limited capacity for large families 7. Samsung 183 L, 2 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C2412GS/NL, Gray Silver, 2024 Model) The Samsung 183 L Single Door Refrigerator offers stylish design and efficient cooling. It features a 2 Star Energy Rating and a Digital Inverter Compressor, ensuring energy efficiency and long-lasting performance. With a capacity of 183 liters, it is suitable for small families. The refrigerator comes with a 1-year comprehensive warranty and a 20-year warranty on the compressor. It includes features like toughened glass shelves, a vegetable drawer, and stabilizer-free operation. Overall, it provides good value for money with its efficient cooling and durable design. Specifications of Samsung 183 L, 2 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C2412GS/NL, Gray Silver, 2024 Model) Brand: Samsung Capacity: 183 liters Energy star: 2 Star Features: Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy efficient Small capacity for large families Stylish design Only 2 star energy rating Durable build Also read: Best refrigerator in India: Top 10 choices for modern kitchens Top 3 features for you Product Name Capacity Energy star Features Samsung 183 L Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1723R8/HL) 183L 3 Star Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Samsung 183 L, 5 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20D2825HV/NL) 183L 5 Star Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digi-Touch Cool Digital Inverter, with Display Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2F25HT/HL) 189L 5 Star Digi-Touch Cool 5in1, Digital Inverter Compressor Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2H25S8/HL) 189L 5 Star Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Samsung 183 L, 4 Star, Digital Inverter, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1724CU/HL) 183L 4 Star Digital Inverter Compressor for energy efficiency, toughened glass Shelves Samsung RR24C2823S8/NL 223L 3 Star Digital Inverter Compressor, Toughened Glass Shelves Best value for money The Samsung 183 L Single Door Refrigerator (RR20C1723R8/HL) offers exceptional value for money with its 3-star energy efficiency, digital inverter compressor for energy savings, and toughened glass shelves for durability. Priced reasonably, it provides ample storage capacity suitable for small families. Its sleek design and reliable performance make it a practical choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking quality and efficiency in a refrigerator. Best overall product The best overall product among the Samsung single door refrigerators is the Samsung 189 L, 5 Star, Digi-Touch Cool Digital Inverter, with Display Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator (RR21C2F25HT/HL). It combines a spacious 189-liter capacity with advanced features like Digi-Touch Cool 5in1 and a digital inverter compressor for efficient cooling. The appliance's energy-efficient 5-star rating ensures low power consumption, while the display adds convenience. Its elegant design, including the base stand drawer, makes it a standout choice for those seeking a reliable, feature-rich refrigerator. How to find the best Samsung single door fridges? To find the best Samsung single door refrigerator, consider your specific needs regarding capacity, energy efficiency, and features. Start by determining the capacity that suits your family size and usage. Look for models with a higher energy star rating for greater energy savings. Consider features like a digital inverter compressor for efficient cooling and toughened glass shelves for durability. Read reviews and compare prices to find the best value for money. Additionally, visit Samsung's official website or authorized retailers for the latest models and promotions, ensuring you get the most updated and suitable refrigerator for your needs. FAQs Question : Do Samsung single door refrigerators come with a warranty? Ans : Yes, Samsung single door refrigerators typically come with a warranty. The specific details may vary by model and region, so it's best to check with the retailer or Samsung's website for warranty information. Question : Are Samsung single door refrigerators suitable for small kitchens? Ans : Yes, Samsung single door refrigerators are available in various capacities, including smaller sizes that are suitable for compact kitchens. Question : Do Samsung single door refrigerators require a stabilizer? Ans : Most Samsung single door refrigerators come with an inbuilt stabilizer to protect the appliance from voltage fluctuations, so a separate stabilizer may not be necessary. However, it's advisable to check the product specifications to be sure. Question : Can I purchase additional shelves or accessories for my Samsung single door refrigerator? Ans : Yes, Samsung offers additional shelves and accessories for their refrigerators. You can check with the company's customer service or authorized retailers for availability and compatibility. Question : How often should I defrost my Samsung single door refrigerator? Ans : The frequency of defrosting depends on the model and usage. Generally, manual defrosting is recommended when the ice build-up is around 5-6 mm thick to maintain optimal cooling efficiency. Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The manufacturing sector in Thailand plays a pivotal role in the countrys economy. Here are some key points: Thailands manufacturing sector is a powerhouse, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and contributing significantly to the nations prosperity. Thailand continues to be an enticing destination for manufacturers seeking to establish a presence in Southeast Asia, thanks to its strategic location, business-friendly policies, robust infrastructure, and skilled workforce. As companies explore opportunities to expand their operations in Thailand, navigating the complexities of land acquisition and the process of setting up a business can present significant challenges. This is where Knightsbridge Law, with its expertise in legal and advisory services, plays a crucial role in facilitating a smooth and seamless entry into the Thai market. Land Acquisition Expertise: One of the key hurdles for manufacturers in Thailand is acquiring suitable land for their operations. Knightsbridge Law specializes in guiding businesses through the intricacies of land acquisition, helping them identify prime locations, negotiate favorable terms, and navigate regulatory requirements. Whether its acquiring land for industrial estates, manufacturing facilities, or commercial developments, Knightsbridge Laws legal experts provide invaluable support at every step of the process. Comprehensive Legal Services: Setting up a manufacturing facility in Thailand involves navigating a myriad of legal and regulatory requirements, from company registration and licensing to tax compliance and employment law. Knightsbridge Law offers comprehensive legal services tailored to the specific needs of manufacturers, ensuring compliance with local regulations and minimizing legal risks. Their team of experienced lawyers provides expert guidance on corporate structuring, contract drafting, intellectual property protection, and other legal matters essential for a successful business setup in Thailand. Strategic Advisory Support: In addition to legal expertise, Knightsbridge Law provides strategic advisory support to manufacturers, helping them formulate market entry strategies, assess risks, and capitalize on growth opportunities. By leveraging their deep understanding of the Thai market and industry dynamics, Knightsbridge Law helps clients make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of doing business in Thailand with confidence. Streamlined Process: Knightsbridge Law understands the importance of efficiency and agility in the business setup process. Their streamlined approach and proactive engagement ensure that manufacturers can establish their presence in Thailand in a timely and cost-effective manner. From initial consultation to post-incorporation support, Knightsbridge Law remains committed to delivering exceptional service and value to their clients, allowing them to focus on their core business activities and accelerate growth in the Thai market. Thailands appeal as a manufacturing destination remains strong, and Knightsbridge Law serves as a trusted partner for companies looking to capitalize on the opportunities available in the country. With their expertise in land acquisition, legal services, and strategic advisory support, Knightsbridge Law enables manufacturers to navigate the complexities of setting up in Thailand with confidence and achieve long-term success in this dynamic and thriving market. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Iran's Parliament supports the goals of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, the Head of Iran's delegation Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi said during the discussions organized within the XIV plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, Trend reports. He noted that Iran welcomes Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Assembly and will provide necessary support in the direction of strengthening activities. The XIV plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly started in Baku on February 22. The plenary session will last until February 24. Parliamentary delegations of about 40 countries are participating in the session dedicated to the theme of "Strengthening regional cooperation for sustainable development in Asia". Within the framework of the event, meetings of the Executive Council, and committees of the organization on political, economic, budgetary, social, and cultural spheres will be held, several organizational issues will be considered. To note, the Baku Declaration and the final report will be adopted at the end of the session. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential election, Trend reports. "Dear President Ilham Aliyev, On behalf of the people and the Government of Malaysia, I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations on your resounding victory in the recent presidential elections. Your re-election is a testament to your exemplary leadership in steering Azerbaijan towards peace, stability, and prosperity. Your Excellencys continued dedication to the progress of your nations is truly commendable, and I am confident that you will further elevate Azerbaijans standing as a respected member of the global community. I look forward to working closely with Your Excellency in strengthening our existing friendly relations and good cooperation for the mutual benefit of our two countries. I pray to Allah the Almighty to bless Your Excellency with continued good health, happiness and success as you lead the country towards further economic progress and prosperity," the letter reads. Black and white and adored all over. China pledges pair of pandas for San Diego Zoo China is again sending pandas to the United States to the delight of the San Diego Zoo, which is preparing to get a new pair by the end of summer A defendant who paid compensation to an injured party was given the benefit of the probation act at a sitting of Longford District Court. Joe McDonnell (24) of Apartment 12 Crandaragh House, Dublin Road, Longford was charged with theft and criminal damage. The charges against the defendant were that on October 30 2020 at Candara Pet Clinic, Dublin Rd, Longford he damaged the door of boiler house value 1,200 and on dates between January 1, 2020 and January 22, 2020 he stole a washing machine valued at 450, a television valued at 250, and a double bed valued at 300 the property of James Victory. The court was told the defendant paid compensation to the injured party. Sgt Daly confirmed Mr McDonnell has not come to Garda attention since the offence. Solicitor John Quinn said his client has learned his lesson: He paid the compensation early and has stayed out of bother, and wants to continue to stay that way, Mr Quinn said. Noting the facts of the case Judge Bernadette Owens warned the defendant: You have been given an opportunity today, you will not get another one. Judge Owens dismissed the matter under Section 1.1 of the Probation Act. The Governments affordable housing targets are pathetically low, Sinn Fein has said. During a heated exchange during Thursdays Leaders Questions, Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said that the Government has failed spectacularly on home ownership, homelessness and affordable housing. Representing the Government, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Sinn Fein had no substance in the area of housing. He was responding to Mr Doherty, who said that runaway house prices have surpassed rates seen in the Celtic Tiger era and have locked entire generations out of home ownership. Mr Doherty said: The only way this housing crisis is going to be brought to an end is with a general election, a change of government and a change of housing plan. Because all of the evidence shows that your policies are making things worse. Your affordable housing targets are pathetically low and even these low targets are not being met. However, Mr Martin said he disagreed entirely with Mr Doherty and said he had left out social housing figures. He said 22,000 social housing units had been built between 2022 and 2023. Mr Martin said: I understand politically why youre doing that, of course, because youre approximating to the centre because you dont really want change or youre not radically approaching the issue at all. The Fianna Fail leader said Sinn Fein did not have a housing plan, adding: You have a few pages stitched together. He said the opposition party would scrap supports for home ownership and increase taxes when inheriting a family home. Mr Martin accused Mr Doherty of engaging in soundbites and said Sinn Fein did not really want change. He said: It is the oldest soundbite in elections: Vote for change. And I would warn people not to vote for the abolition of the Help to Buy scheme, dont vote for the abolition of the vacant house grant or the derelict house grant. Dont vote for the abolition of the First Home Scheme, dont vote for abolishing key supports for first-time buyers in this country who want to own their own home. In response, Mr Doherty said there was a housing disaster under the watch of the Government. He added that it was clear there would be no change from Mr Martin. Mr Doherty added: You talk about soundbites. Its not a soundbite to say that house prices are running away. Its not a soundbite for the 21,000 people who packed their bags and decided to go to Australia because they feel that they have no hope in this country anymore. Its not a soundbite to point out the reality that an entire generation is locked out of homeownership. The Tanaiste replied: And where the hell is your plan? Youve produced nothing in four years. Three pages in a 52-page budget document, three pages on housing. Where is your plan, deputy? Youre all sound, noise and fury and you have no substance on any of this. A syndicate of over 30 work friends have claimed their million-euro prize at Lotto HQ. The group, who work together in Ballingly Joinery, Co Wexford, won 1,000,500 on February 3, after purchasing their winning ticket at Wallace Costcutters in Wellington Bridge, Wexford. They have now collected their prize - all 32 of them! The Ballingly Joinery syndicate manager, Wayne ONeill, spoke about the excitement and disbelief that the Wexford winners felt when they heard about a big win in the area. After the draw, one of the syndicate members logged on to the National Lottery app and saw that the 1 million prize was won in Wellington Bridge, where we purchased our ticket. Of course, I was quick to check our ticket after hearing that and I could see that we had the Raffle number but I wasnt sure if it was just 500 that we won or the special prize of the additional 1m. While a long weekend would usually be welcomed by all, the group found the extra day to be a bit of a burden that week. That particular weekend was a bank holiday which meant that it was Tuesday before I could confirm our win with the claims team, so to say it felt like the longest weekend in history would be an understatement. I think everyone was waiting in anticipation because the phone was hopping with calls and texts for days after. I thought I might have to leave the group or switch the phone off for a bit of peace! The group shared the good news with their Wexford community and one syndicate member had no choice but to join in the celebrations from a very special trip. The news was quick to get out to the community with so many of us in the syndicate. One of the members well and truly got her married life off to some start because she was actually on her honeymoon we won. What a time for a win! Were all absolutely thrilled and have different plans for what we would like to do. We have been living for the big event in Lotto HQ and handing over the all-important ticket which has been living in a safe for the past few weeks. Now the most pressing plan we have is to enjoy a celebration together to mark the occasion. Minister for Media Catherine Martin has sought an urgent meeting with the chairwoman of the RTE board, after she said she was misinformed over the boards knowledge of recent exit packages for senior executives. Ms Martin has written to Siun Ni Raghallaigh, asking to meet her on Friday after the chairwoman repeatedly gave assurances to the minister that the board had no role in signing off the package to a former RTE chief financial officer. Ms Martin said it has since emerged that the remuneration committee of the board, of which Ms Ni Raghallaigh is a member, approved the package for Richard Collins. The minister told RTEs Prime Time that she was deeply disappointed in Ms Ni Raghallaigh and refused to express confidence in her ahead of the meeting. It was my understanding that the board had no role whatsoever in the approval of these two exit packages. When I met the chair on Monday, I queried this again was my understanding correct? and I was assured by the chair that it was the case, Ms Martin said. However, this morning, communication to my officials it has been made known to me now that in fact, in that second exit package, that of Richard Collins, it went before the remuneration committee, so there was a process there where the board had approval. Ms Martin said she had been given incorrect information twice this week after she raised the issue with Ms Ni Raghallaigh in recent days. The Green Party minister told the network on Thursday evening she wanted to check this information one more time on Wednesday. (I found) out this morning that it was the incorrect information, that it was indeed approved by the remuneration committee in which the chair sits, Ms Martin said. That is of concern because the Minister for Media must be in possession of the facts of the exact information, especially in a time of crisis and controversy like this. I would like to say though that Siun Ni Raghallaigh has done incredible work since she come on as chair, I think, especially since this crisis erupted. But I do feel I need to meet Siun to just talk through exactly how this arose. How could I be misinformed on these two occasions? Its not satisfactory. Ive always said that my direct line of communication in relation to RTE is through the chair of the board. So I am deeply disappointed with this. Ive written to the chair this evening, and Ive asked to meet her tomorrow to discuss this. Asked several times if she has lost confidence in the chairwoman, Ms Martin replied that she was deeply disappointed and would not be making further comment. Asked if she would remove Ms Ni Raghallaigh from her position as chairwoman of the board, Ms Martin said she has to give everything consideration, but it was only right that the chairwoman explains the situation. The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Brian Stanley, said Ms Ni Raghallaighs involvement in an exit package for an RTE executive is a most serious and grave matter. The Sinn Fein TD said: Whats happened here is that you have a situation again where the minister has been misinformed. If thats the case, that means the Government has been misinformed, the public has been misinformed, the people who write the cheque have been misinformed. Asked if he had confidence in the chairwoman of the RTE board, he told Virgin Medias Tonight programme: If it turns out to be the case, I think Siun Ni Raghallaigh is in trouble here. Mr Stanley said there was a credibility gap he could not overlook. It comes hours after the director general of RTE said it is currently completely unable to release details of executives exit packages dating back to 2016. Kevin Bakhurst said the organisation has been under pressure to release those details but said he has received legal advice that to do so would be breaking the law. On publishing that advice, the national broadcaster confirmed that it has asked former executives to waive their right to confidentiality on their exit agreements. It follows the revelation that former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe received a voluntary redundancy package worth 450,000 euros. Mr Bakhurst has also defended a decision to give an exit payment to former strategy director Rory Coveney, who was described as the driving force behind a musical which accrued 2.2 million euros in losses for the broadcaster. However, the exact amount of the payment has not been disclosed. Advice by legal firm Arthur Cox, published by RTE on Thursday, states that both employees and former employees have a legal right that their personal data relating to their employment is not made publicly available. If such information is published, we remain of the view that this would contravene employees contractual and statutory rights thereby exposing RTE to avoidable legal challenge, a letter dated February 21 stated. While RTE has sent letters to eight former executives asking them to waive confidentiality themselves, Mr Bakhurst said: I dont want the expectations to be very high because that is entirely their gift to waive their confidentiality. Mr Bakhurst told Newstalks The Hard Shoulder: We have to wait for their responses. But look, I want to be realistic about whether theyre likely to do it. I dont think they are but its the only avenue open to me to try and see if thats possible. The organisation agreed confidentiality as part of the legal settlement in many cases. So therefore, they may question why they want to do it but you know, Ive written to see if they are prepared to do it. Speaking to RTEs News At One radio programme, the director general said he would be examining other ways of driving transparency looking forward. Mr Coveney, the brother of enterprise minister Simon Coveney, received a package when he resigned and his role was made redundant in July last year the same week Mr Bakhurst took the helm. Mr Bakhurst said RTE expects to recoup the cost of the payment to Mr Coveney by July this year. The director general also said there were no grounds to sack Mr Coveney and that if he had taken an unfair dismissal case, he would have typically been entitled to two years pay. Mr Bakhurst said, in that circumstance, RTE could potentially have been forced to pay out double what Mr Coveney was actually given. These comments have contributed to speculation the payment was approximately one years salary, believed to be up to 200,000 euros. When asked at the time if Mr Coveney had received an exit fee going out the door, Mr Bakhurst told reporters on his first day in the job that there was no ex gratia payment and added that it was not fair to talk about individuals. He said: He didnt get a payment going out the door but he is entitled as other people are to statutory-level payments when they leave an organisation. Asked about the comments on Thursday, Mr Bakhurst said: I was trying to be as accurate as I can within the realms of the confidentiality thats made clear here that he deserves. Acknowledging his comment may have been influenced by his previous work in the UK, he said: Statutory level would normally mean a week for every year of service, is my understanding. So I was trying to give an idea that he did get paid, but not an extortionate amount without giving the exact details. I was trying to tread a careful line between being as open as I possibly could in the circumstances but trying to respect whats been laid out in these legal letters. It was put to Mr Bakhurst that a statutory redundancy payment in Ireland, which is two weeks pay capped at 600 euros per week for every year of service plus one bonus week, would likely be less than 20,000 euros in the case of Mr Coveneys 16 years of service. The director general replied: I think that maybe thats where I misspoke. It was further put that he had presented a situation where Mr Coveney was given a modest payment. Mr Bakhurst said: Thats not what I intended at the time. He also said on Thursday that while he understands why there has been a focus on Mr Coveney, he believes the attention has been unfair. He worked at RTE for 16 years, under various directors generals. He did a great job. Clearly, the Toy Show The Musical was a failure, but he was not alone in that project. So I was trying to be fair to him as well and also fair to his reputation and to a man who needs to go out and find another job. In a separate legal letter from February 21, with the subject line certain arrangements entered into with former employees, Arthur Cox states that the deals agreed represented a better commercial outcome for RTE than alternatives. We can confirm that these arrangements were carefully considered weighing up legal risk along with the cost, time and uncertainty surrounding alternative options. In our view, the terms ultimately agreed represented a better commercial outcome for RTE than the alternative options available combined with the attendant risks associated with same and fell within parameters of similar arrangements we have seen in both the private and semi-state sectors. In a third letter dated October 5, it acknowledges RTEs aim for transparency, but said it is in receipt of a number of objections and complaints expressing concerns about the potential disclosure of personal data without the consent of the employees concerned. If such information is published in a manner where employees could be identified then we are of the view that this would create significant employee and industrial relations issues for RTE, as well as potentially resulting in legal exposure depending on the nature of the publication. The potential for such issues is borne out by correspondence RTE has received to date from concerned current and former employees. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: February 22 2024 Contractors honored for saving customers $53.6 million through rebates and incentives last year. PSEG Long Island has announced the winners of its Energy Efficiency Programs Contractor Awards. The awards were given out earlier this month at the companys Contractor Breakfast and Awards event, which is held annually to recognize PSEG Long Islands energy efficiency partners for helping customers save money and energy. The 17 award recipients are contractors working in the energy efficiency, heating and cooling, and lighting industries. Along with saving energy and helping the environment, their projects helped customers save a collective $53.6 million last year. Throughout 2023, nearly 11,000 residential customers took advantage of PSEG Long Islands energy efficiency offerings, which paid out more than $33 million in rebates and incentives to customers. The savings translates into more than 137 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy savings. The 1,900 commercial customers who participated in PSEG Long Islands energy efficiency programs received more than $20 million in savings through rebates and incentives, which translates into more than 53 million kWh of energy savings. We are grateful to our contractor partners. Their focus on implementing our energy efficiency measures provides customers tens of millions of dollars in incentives and rebates each year, along with saving millions more through reduced electric usage, said Michael Voltz, director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables at PSEG Long Island. PSEG Long Islands energy efficiency programs were created to put money back in customers pockets while reducing the load on the electric grid. It also translates into a cleaner and greener environment for everyone. The following contractor companies won PSEG Long Islands Top Performer awards in the areas listed: Alta Industrial Equipment in Ronkonkoma for completing more than 100 lighting projects and delivering more than $650,000 in rebates to customers; Apple Air Heating & Cooling in Farmingdale for completing more than 200 air source heat pump projects yielding customers more than $200,000 in rebates; Bonded Energy Solutions Corp. of Oyster Bay for completing home performance projects saving customers more than 63,000 kWh of energy; Central Air Systems Inc . in Medford for completing more than 200 air source heat pump projects yielding customers more than $450,000 in rebates; Green Team LI in Holbrook for completing the most whole house combination projects more than 350 projects that yielded $3.4 million in rebates to customers; Green Home Logic in West Hempstead for achieving the most cost effective projects, with 33 PSEG Long Island Home Performance program projects; Island Recreational in Seaford for installing nearly 250 high efficiency heat pump pool heaters for customers; Liberty LED in Ronkonkoma for completing more than 100 lighting projects and delivering nearly a million dollars in rebates to customers; Michaels Electric Supply in Lynbrook for completing more than 100 lighting projects and delivering more than $800,000 in rebates to customers; Pearl Street LED Lighting of New Jersey for completing the most cost effective lighting projects for customers; PGI Corp in Melville for completing more than 20 residential and commercial geothermal energy projects with rebates to customers exceeding $280,000; Quincy Compressor of Deer Park for completing more than ten large compressor projects totaling nearly $100,000; Stratco Property Solutions of Manhattan for its large business project management work throughout PSEG Long Islands service area, including in Far Rockaway, Westbury and Bay Shore; and Tritec Building Corporation of East Setauket for completing two large downtown revitalization projects multifamily buildings in Bay Shore and Ronkonkoma yielding nearly a half million dollars in rebates. The following new contractor partners were given PSEG Long Islands Rising Star awards: Accelerated Services, Inc . in Ronkonkoma for completing five large heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects that yielded more than $160,000 in rebates to customers; iREAP in Nesconset for completing the most home energy assessments by a new partner, with more than 90 projects completed last year, and Metro Heating & Air Conditioning in West Islip for completing several large geothermal energy projects, including one large job in a Mill Neck home an installation of seven units that yielded a total rebate of $43,000 back to the customer. PSEG also recognized the following program partners: Blue Sky HVAC Corp. in Floral Park, Cool Pro Mechanical in East Northport, Five Star Mechanical in Deer Park, Long Island Air Conditioning and Appliances in New Hyde Park, Polar Bear Air in Shoreham, Sunray Services in Nesconset, and Twin Air Inc. in Holtsville, for completing energy efficiency projects that helped customers save money last year. Independent annual evaluations by Demand Side Analytics (DSA) have found PSEG Long Islands energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to be cost-effective and energy saving. DSAs 2022 evaluation showed that PSEG Long Island Energy Efficiency Programs, including rebates, generated approximately $1.36 in benefits to society for every $1 in costs to operate the program. For more information on PSEG Long Islands energy efficiency programs and available rebates, visit: psegliny.com/savemoney. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The sides reviewed the current condition of relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, the potential for normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the proposed peace deal. Bayramov highlighted that Armenia's recent provocation, which resulted in the injury of an Azerbaijani serviceman, is intended to undermine the peace process. Meanwhile, the Armenian side reiterated its views on the draft peace deal, stating that Azerbaijan is interested in beginning the discussion process in this direction. At the same time, existing claims to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty in Armenia's Constitution and legislative acts, as well as claims made by it in international organizations and courts, were brought to light once more, and the unacceptability of those claims was emphasized. During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel IDF commander of Northern Command meeting with local community representatives in northern Israel on February 18. (IDF) Hezbollah in Lebanon launched rockets and an anti-tank missile at Israel on February 21. Sirens sounded in Metula in the eastern Galilee of northern Israel beginning in the early afternoon. Metula is one of two dozen communities evacuated by Israel in October when Hezbollah attacks first began in the wake of October 7. In addition to Metula, sirens sounded just before sunset in several communities dotting the hills that overlook the Huleh valley. At the same time around 5pm local time, more attacks struck the border area of northern Israel in the western Galilee. The multi-pronged attack caused damage at a winery at Moshav Avivim. This is the third time that the winery has been damaged by an anti-tank missile, as on the previous occasions the missiles hit near the building, Israels Yediot reported. No one was injured in the attack. The rocket fire follows two incidents in northern Israel involving drones in the last four days. On February 20 a drone fell into a yard in Acre on the coast in northern Israel. The Alma Center for Research and Education, which covers threats in northern Israel, described it as a Hezbollah UAV and noted in our estimation, it is a decoy UAV. The purpose of such UAVs is to test the reactions of the early warning, air defense, and electronic warfare systems. They are launched on certain routes and at certain altitudes to test a response and subsequently produce operational insights. The IDF said that a report was received regarding a Hezbollah aircraft that was located in the area of the Western Galilee. The incident is under review. No further details were released. On February 19, a drone also crashed into a field near Arbel in the eastern Galilee. The drone appeared to have explosives which detonated on impact. The IDF carried out several rounds of strikes in Lebanon on February 21. Among the targets struck were a number of terrorist infrastructure, an observation post in the area of Khiam, and a military post in the area of Zibqin from which launches toward the area of Shlomi in northern Israel were carried out earlier today, the IDF said. In addition, an IDF helicopter struck an observation post in Lebanon and IDF artillery shelled an area near Aitaroun in order to remove an immediate threat, it said. Artillery also fired on Hezbollah threats in three other areas in southern Lebanon. A February 21 report noted that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar believed Hezbollah was committed to joining in on attacking Israel after October 7. This is according to documents the IDF discovered in Gaza, the Yediot report said. However, Hezbollah decided to instead launch a small number of daily attacks, not a massive assault. While Hezbollah has carried out thousands of attacks in four months, the Israel Air Force revealed on February 20 that it has struck 1,100 targets in the north. Another report shed light on Hezbollah tunnels in Lebanon, claiming there are hundreds of miles of them and that they reach depths of 80 meters. This endorses the theory that Hezbollah is willing to continue escalatory attacks while waiting for a crisis to spark wider war. Israel has three divisions on the northern border, one of them redeployed from Gaza. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Chief Executive Officer of the LUKOIL, Russian Public Joint Stock Company, Vadim Vorobyov has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his confident victory in the presidential election, Trend reports. Will be updated The bombs attacks between 1984 and 1986 targeted infrastructure including electricity and gas facilities, police stations and newspaper offices The bombs attacks between 1984 and 1986 targeted infrastructure including electricity and gas facilities, police stations and newspaper offices The bombs attacks between 1984 and 1986 targeted infrastructure including electricity and gas facilities, police stations and newspaper offices The Council Chamber of the Luxembourg District Court on Wednesday issued an order that could mean the trial of two men suspected of setting off a series of bombs around the Grand Duchy in the 1980s can finally continue. The so-called Bommeleeer case saw 20 bomb explosions rock the country between 1984 and 1986, targeting electricity and gas facilities, police stations, newspaper offices, a meeting of the European Council, the airport and the court, among others. The affair eventually led to the 2013 dissolution of parliament by former CSV prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker and snap elections that were won by the DP-LSAP-Dei Greng coalition. Also read: Nine former police staff newly accused in 1980s bombing saga Perjury and obstruction of justice In Wednesdays ruling, the court decided that eight people all former members of the security forces should be charged by the examining magistrate on charges ranging from perjury in the original 2013-2014 trial to obstructing an investigation. The accused now have five days in which to lodge an appeal. Crucially, however, the court said that there was not sufficient evidence to charge any of the eight in connection with the explosions themselves. A potential case against the former head of the of the mobile brigade division of the police, Ben Geiben, was also dismissed on grounds of insufficient evidence. That leaves former Gendarmerie special unit officers Marc Scheer und Jos Wilmes as the only suspects still accused of planting the bombs. The Bommeleeer explosions dominated headlines in Luxembourg in the 1980s and beyond. In 2005 a witness told then Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker that he had spotted Prince Jean, the brother of Grand Duke Henri, at the scene of one of the attacks. Also read: Mayor blocks mention of 1980s bombings at exhibition A secretly made recording of Juncker discussing the case, including the sighting of Prince Jean, with the former head of the secret service Marco Mille sparked allegations that the secret service was out of control. Juncker, who oversaw the secret service as premier, called for the dissolution of parliament rather than face a vote of no confidence. The ensuing snap election saw the CSV forced out of government for the first time in 34 years. Finance Minister Gilles Roth has given the clearest indication yet that the government will cut spending in the upcoming budget to shrink the gaping hole in the state finances in an interview on Thursday. When coalition talks got underway between Roths CSV and the DP, Luxembourg was forecast to post a budget deficit of 3.5 billion. We cannot continue like that, he said. It is my task and that of my government colleagues to cut that deficit this year already, he told broadcaster RTL. He will have to prevent government spending from rising more rapidly than revenues, the finance minister said. It is my task to implement certain saving measures, but we need to [tackle] todays challenges, Roth said. He specifically mentioned strengthening peoples purchasing power, the housing crisis but also defence spending. Luxembourg will continue keeping investments high as the economy is emerging from a recession, but Roth said the state would not spend big anymore on expensive office space for the civil service. He did not say what government departments would have to tighten their belts, but said spending on defence would grow. Also read: Nato defence spending rises to half of global total Prime Minister Luc Frieden already on Wednesday had announced that the government would be working hard to cut the forecast budget deficit of 3% of GDP to 2%. When we formed the government, the numbers that were presented to us indicated that we could reach a deficit of 3% of GDP. The government, and myself as the head of government, found this much too high, and we jointly made all efforts so that this deficit can be substantially reduced. I hope that it will be a good deal less than 2%, at best in direction of 1.5%, the PM said. Roth on Thursday hinted that overall hiring in Luxembourgs ballooning public sector could slow and that the state would further drive digitalisation efforts to allow civil servants to use their manpower more efficiently. The finance minister specifically mentioned the tax office where computer systems should do the heavy lifting on uncomplicated tax returns. You have to make sure that you hire sensibly, not to hire people for the sake of hiring, but that means to hire people where they are needed, Roth said. Around 3,000 civil servants could be heading for retirement in the upcoming year, with on average 650 state workers retiring in the last three years, Minister for the Civil Service Serge Wilmes said in response to a parliamentary question on Monday. The public sector hired 1,500 people per year in the last few years, he added. Also read: Luxembourg finishes year with 630m deficit The 2024 budget, which Roth called a transition budget as it covers the period between April and December, will not include any personal tax rises. Cutting corporate taxes is foreseen for the 2025 budget, Roth said. More borrowing Luxembourg borrowed a further 1.25 billion in the form of a 10-year bond at 2.875% interest, the finance ministry said on Wednesday. With that bond, the Grand Duchys debt stands at 21.6 billion or 25.7% of GDP. The state will pay back a loan of 500 million in October this year, which will lower public debt to 25.1% of GDP, the ministry said. However, Luxembourgs debt is still set to rise beyond 30% of GDP by 2027 when October estimates forecast it to reach 32.7%. Roth last year dropped a previously ironclad commitment to keep public debt below 30%, which previous administrations said would safeguard the countrys triple-A rating. Roth on Thursday reiterated Luxembourg remains committed to keeping its top credit rating. It is true we [are] in a difficult situation, geopolitically but also nationally. We had a small recession last year and we will have small economic growth this year, he told RTL. (Additional reporting by Cordula Schnuer) A new contract will only be issued for the municipal park, close to the Hamilus area of the capital, mayor says All private security agents currently patrolling the streets of Luxembourg City are set to be withdrawn within weeks, the capitals mayor said on Thursday, except at the citys main public park where they will maintain a presence. Current contracts for private security agents in the Gare, Bonnevoie and old town districts end in mid-March and the city council will not be issuing a tender for a new contract, Mayor Lydie Polfer told the City Breakfast, the councils monthly meeting with the press. Polfer indicated that additional police patrols were the reason for not renewing the contracts. The minister has indicated a willingness to ensure more foot patrols. And it is already quieter in the upper town. There are many large-scale operations in the train station district, the mayor said. However, private security will continue to be deployed in one area of the city, Polfer said, in the municipal park, close to the Hamilus area of the capital. Private security agents currently operate around a section of the park - the pirate ship playground and the public toilets at Charlys Gare. Also read: Private security to patrol Luxembourg City park The new tender will cover the entire area of the park, which is around 30 hectares in size, from Avenue Marie-Therese to Avenue de la Porte-Neuve. Two security officers with dogs will patrol the park, seven days a week, from mid-afternoon until midnight. Increased police patrols around the Gare led to drug crime shifting to the upper town, mainly to Hamilius and the pirate ship park, Polfer said last year. The council voted to install CCTV cameras around Hamilius last year, with Polfer saying the number of criminal offences in the district had more than doubled in three years. Private security agents, first hired by the city council in 2019, were reinstated in March after being withdrawn at the end of 2021. The decision to recruit private security sparked a row over who should maintain public order on the streets of the capital between Polfer and then Internal Security Minister Henri Kox - who argued the council was overstepping its remit. Following a change in government, the CSV-DP coalition has since sided with the mayor to work on reinstating a municipal police force, pledging to create such a unit in the coalition agreement. Critics of the plan have argued that this would not help solve police staffing issues, as any local force would have to be recruited from within the ranks of the main force. Also read: Protesters march to parliament in renewed call for action on Gare crime Earlier this month residents in the Gare area close to the citys main train station marched to parliament calling for action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. The protest, the second of its kind in four months, was organised in response to long-standing complaints from residents about widespread drug use in the area, as well as squatting, prostitution, theft and physical violence, which often happens in plain view. (This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation, editing and additional reporting by John Monaghan) Manchester, VT (05254) Today Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this morning. High around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. We hope that a meeting will take place between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, at which all issues will be discussed, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan told reporters, Trend reports. According to him, Armenia has received regular comments from the Azerbaijani side on the draft peace agreement and now discussions are taking place between delegations led by ministers regarding the next meeting on the text of the peace agreement. "The Armenian side is ready to normalize relations with Azerbaijan. The recent Munich meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan can be considered a positive fact," Vahan Kostanyan said. On February 21, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said that the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet in the near future. Two administrators have been removed from their positions at Gardner Pilot Academy by Boston Public Schools after an investigation revealed they did not properly address reports of sexual assault, racism, homophobia and other serious misconducts. A Feb. 15 letter from Superintendent Mary Skipper to the school community announced the schools assistant principal and school leader will not return to the school or to BPS. Both administrators had been on leave pending the misconduct investigations outcome. Gardner Pilot Academy is a public school with about 400 students from the Allston area in pre-kindergarten through eighth grades, according to its website. The superintendent said the administrators had been aware of bullying amongst students with bias-based misconduct, including persistent bullying based on race and gender, and the use of racial or homophobic slurs. Read more: Greenfield police chief blames new mayor in letter announcing retirement They also knew about student-to-student sexual abuse, such as groping, choking, and use of sexually explicit and derogatory language, Skipper said. None of these incidents were reported, as required by school district policy and, in some cases, state law, Skipper said, citing proper agencies such as the Department of Children and Families for suspected child abuse or neglect. The investigation also revealed a man, who was a former school employee, had been sending inappropriate messages to middle-school girls over social media and through text message, the superintendent said. The students reported the messages to the assistant principal, who did not notify the acting principal, Skipper said. The acting principal immediately notified DCF and the Boston Police Department when she heard the reports several days later, inciting a criminal investigation, the superintendent said. Through all of this, the Gardner faculty and staff have remained focused on the needs of Gardner students and I am so grateful for the team, Skipper wrote. The superintendent personally thanked Kat Atkins-Pattenson for stepping up from acting principal to the interim principal role starting Feb. 26, and said her leadership team will search for a permanent principal. Kat and the Gardner community will have the full support of my team, Skipper said, adding the team would be organizing Restorative Justice circles for the staff, and host a community meeting to speak with the new leadership on March 1. The superintendent urged the school community to attend the meeting as a way to process this information. I am aware that it will take time for the community to heal. I also believe in the strength of the Gardner community, wrote Skipper. Members of the community who need support over break can reach out to Drew Echelon, chief of schools and accountability, at dechelson@bostonpublicschools.org. Live in Massachusetts and plan on flying to Hawaii? A new direct flight offered later this year out of Boston can save the hassle of a layover and could shave off at least a few hours of travel time. Delta Air Lines announced on Wednesday it will launch its longest domestic flight from Bostons Logan International Airport to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, according to a statement. Customers will have a chance to select from 22 daily nonstop flights this fall, which include a new daily, seasonal nonstop service between Boston and Honolulu beginning on Nov. 21, Delta said. This will go on until April 30, 2025. Over the past decade, Delta has been dedicated to refining our domestic footprint, and this year were strengthening our roots within our well-positioned U.S. hubs to match increased demand, said Senior Vice President of Network Planning Joe Esposito in Deltas statement. In cities like Boston, Atlanta and Seattle, were providing more choices and seamless connections to sought-after destinations. The flight from Boston to Honolulu will be Deltas longest domestic route at 5,095 miles, surpassing the nonstop flight from New Yorks JFK Airport to Honolulu at 4,983 miles, according to The Points Guy. But Delta is the second airline company to make this happen. In 2019, Hawaiian Airlines launched 5,095-mile flights that operate from Boston several days a week that take 11 hours to fly to Hawaii and 10 hours to return eastbound, according to Forbes. Flight times for the Delta nonstop flights were not immediately available for booking on Deltas website. NESNs Jack Edwards is one of the most recognizable voices in Boston sports. So when something changes in the way he talks, fans are quick to notice. If youve watched a NESN Bruins broadcast in the past couple of years, you may have noticed that the play-by-play man has been a little bit different. Hes not as quick on the call. Instead, there are pauses and instances where he can be heard slurring his words. Its led to speculation from fans across various platforms that Edwards has dealt with some health problems. But in talking to the Boston Globes Chad Finn this week, Edwards shut that talk down. I did not have some kind of accident, he said to the Globe. I do not have cancer. I dont have dementia. I havent had a stroke. All of thats been confirmed by Mass. General neurology. This isnt the first time that Edwards has shot down rumors about his health. In December, he took to social media to confirm that he is in good health. He wasnt sick. He was just on vacation. BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. Contrary to misinformation (imagine that!), I am fit & healthy ... I look forward to calling years of Bruins games. I am enjoying a holiday week family vacation. First time in 17 years, Edwards wrote. However, Edwards did admit to the Globe that his speech has slowed. However, the broadcaster says that tests have not revealed any specific cause for the slowdown. It doesnt fit in any slot, he said to the Globe. There have been a couple of guesses, but they havent made a definitive diagnosis and theyve been working on me for a year and a half. Its very frustrating, as you can imagine, for me to have this slowdown in my speech. The 66-year-old Edwards has called Bruins games on NESN since 2005. A native of Illinois and graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Edwards also worked as a SportsCenter anchor at ESPN from 1991 to 2003. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Speaker of the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting on 22 February with Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (GNAT) Numan Kurtulmus, in our country for the 14th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, the press service of the Azerbaijani parliament told Trend. Greeting the GNAT Chairman, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis mentioned the current apex condition of the relations of our countries. Sahiba Gafarova then recalled the first abroad official visit of President Ilham Aliyev paid to Turkiye a few days back on conclusion of the election and said that the friendship and fraternal ties connecting our Heads of State set an example for each of us to follow. The thorough realisation of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyevs One Nation Two States slogan was underscored then, too. Speaking then about the swearing-in ceremony of President Ilham Aliyev held in the Milli Majlis, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament pointed to the special importance of the thought that the Head of State expressed in his speech at the event, namely, Our family is the Turkic World. From this point of view, the Turkic states should establish closer ties with each other, and the parliaments also have significant obligations befalling them in this regard. Sahiba Gafarova then spoke of the need to strengthen the activities of our parliaments, both bilaterally and within the framework of the TURKPA. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the largest number of observers from the GNAT out of all the monitoring missions at the presidential election held in our country and thanked her Turkish colleague once again for the letter addressed to the PACE President protesting against the refusal to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation with this Organisation. A satisfaction with the establishment of the Turkiye-Azerbaijan University as another manifestation of our countries brotherhood was voiced as the conversation proceeded. It was emphasised that this university was going to make a contribution of its own to the future progress of our youth. Chairman of the GNAT Numan Kurtulmus said he was pleased to be in Azerbaijan before he offered his congratulations on the transition of the APA chairmanship to Azerbaijan and the high standards set by Azerbaijans hosting of this entitys session. Mr Kurtulmus also announced the GNATs all-in support to be extended to the Azerbaijani chairmanship in the Assembly. Furthermore, the GNAT Chairman congratulated the Azerbaijani side on President Ilham Aliyevs victory in the transparent and democratic presidential election in Azerbaijan on 7 February. There had been GNAT Members amongst the election monitors, Mr Kurtulmus remarked, then underscoring the high elector activity on the day. The meeting continued with the GNAT Chairman deploring the refusal of the PACE to ratify the credentials of Azerbaijans delegation to the Assembly and referring to the relevant resolution as an unacceptable one. According to Mr Kurtulmus, that decision contradicted the very essence of the PACE whereas the activities of Azerbaijans PACE Delegation served the interests of this Organisation, too. The GNAT Chairman described this decision as a result of the efforts put in by certain lobby groups. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, in turn, touched upon the recent activation of the Islamophobic, Turkophobic and Azerbaijanophobic powers, which she ascribed to their concerns over Azerbaijans having de-occupied her lands. Mrs Gafarova said that certain states with France at their head acted against Azerbaijan thus serving the interests of the Armenian Lobby. There was then an exchange of opinions about the present-day state and growth prospects of the inter-parliamentary relations, deepening the interaction on that plane further and other matters. It can be hard to change directions in business or even give up the name of your company that you started from scratch and ran for decades. However, it can also be exciting, according to the president of the largest certified woman-owned (WBENC) branded merchandise agency on the East Coast, which is based in Massachusetts. When a company changes a name that theyve had for 40-plus years, if the decision isnt taken lightly, you have to make sure that the timing is correct, said Charleen Smotrycz, whose company Consolidated Marketing Services recently changed names to Dryvve. That is something that I thought long and hard about, and I thought this is the time to take the company to the next level and to move forward and embrace this change. With 40 years of experience in the promotional products industry, Smotrycz has been running Consolidated Marketing Services in Woburn since she started her company in 1987. The 64-year-old started the business because she wanted all the coordination involved with promotional marketing to be in one place. I thought, wouldnt it be great if I could start a company that did everything all under one roof? One point of contact, sole source of supply, she told MassLive in a phone interview. That was really the genesis behind how I got into the promotional marketing area. The entrepreneur achieved success on her own, but when Smotrycz was given the chance to join forces with another woman-owned company, she said it was a no-brainer. It wasnt a hard decision, Smotrycz said. It was really time to really have a fresh approach that really embodied energy and movement and really motion on helping our clients achieve their marketing success. Consolidated Marketing Services acquired New Jersey-based Progressive Promotions in January of 2021, according to a press release. The two companies combined to form a new entity called Dryvve, which will still be based in Woburn. Smotrycz said the name came from the direction in which she sees the company going. We felt that name really embodied the merger between two really great women-owned businesses with award-winning qualities and really helping to take that to market to our clients, she said. It gave us, I think, a whole new way to look at how we are, what our differentiator is from our competitors in the industry, and it was time. Smotrycz added that the decision to rebrand has empowered her team and given everybody a new perspective on how were going to market and all of the fun things that we can do with Dryvve. Consolidated Marketing Services and Progressive Promotions had worked together for about three years before the merger and rebranding, which officially happened this past January. It took three years to kind of understand their business and how they came to market and how we can improve their services and really leverage a lot of the business details, Smotrycz said about why the merger did not happen right away. When we were ready to go to market with a new name, which was January, thats when we did it. Dryvve is also one of the largest certified women-owned branded merchandise agencies in the United States. The company provides custom and e-commerce-based merchandise for businesses from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations. The gear is manufactured in-house and developed by Dryvves team of merchandisers. Their ultimate goal is to help amplify a clients brand by making it recognizable and memorable. The company also sets out to foster more inclusivity in the business world by empowering other women-owned businesses. I think women really collaborate really well. They are incredibly team oriented, which Smotrycz said gives women in business an advantage. I think women can bring a lot of gifts to the creative aspects of the industry. Smotrycz added that Dryvve is a reflection of her continued dedication of delivering outstanding results to clients. More information about Dryvve and the companys story can be found on its website. CHICAGO As the Celtics return from a week off after their All-Star break, theyre looking like theyre right at full strength. First, none of their rotation players were listed ahead of Thursdays game against the Bulls in a positive sign as everyone should be rested up after the break. Theres more positive news for the Cs: Xavier Tillman is no longer on the injury report with his recent knee injury. Jaden Springer has also been upgraded to questionable with his right ankle impingement. That means both new trade additions could make their Celtics debut Thursday in Chicago. BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. The Celtics return from the break with a league-best 43-12 record as theyre also on a six-game winning streak. Both Tillman and Springer werent able to suit up because of their respective injuries as Boston elected to be conservative with them. Thats not too much of a surprise as the Cs kept winning games, and they want the newcomers healthy for the playoffs instead of games in February. Tillman came to Boston from the Grizzlies ahead of the trade deadline. Springer arrived from the 76ers as the Cs dealt a second-round pick in the deal. While neither player will become rotation mainstays right off the bat, the Cs hope they can fill their respective roles when their number is called. Tillmans defense as a big man should immediately be a weapon for the Celtics. His offense is more of a question mark, but the Cs wont need him to be a scorer. Springer is still somewhat of a project player as a third-year pro, but his defense is also his calling card. He can certainly find a role for the Celtics as he rounds out his game going forward. CHICAGO When Jaylen Brown was officially announced as part of the dunk contest field, he earned some praise since All-Stars are rarely part of the four-player field. Now, Brown did get bits of criticism for some of his dunks after he finished second place in the event. But the entire experience was worthwhile enough that Brown is interested in participating in the dunk contest again next year. The All-Star confirmed at Thursdays shootaround at the United Center that if the opportunity presents itself, Brown would be interested in running it back for a chance to win it all. If nobody else cares to do it, (expletive) it, Ill do it again, Brown said. I dont really care. People think like memes and stuff. But like I said, I think dunking is an art form. Obviously I think I got more in the tank than what I displayed. I think I could perform better. I had a great time. BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. In the lead-up and even after the dunk contest, Brown has spoken in length about how he views dunking as an art form. That explains some of the props that he used for some of his dunks, including a tribute to the late Terrence Clark and Indiana native Michael Jackson. Brown admitted some of that symbolism went over the heads of viewers, but he wanted to bring a more artistic view to his dunks. So perhaps Brown will come up with some more ideas now that hes actively thinking about competing in the dunk contest next season. Mac McClung won it all for the second straight year as the G-League guard stole some of the spotlight during All-Star weekend. Brown added he enjoyed the spectacle of the dunk contest, where its a rare opportunity to have the entire viewership focused on him. Now, itll be interesting to see if Brown follows up on his word so soon after the dunk contest. On the Celtics front, fortunately, Brown said he feels just fine coming out of the weekend. There was some worry when he signed up that the dunk contest can be tough on the body. Instead, Brown said I wasnt trying to do anything crazy, Brown said. Everything I wanted to do was more about the gimmicks and the showmanship, put on a show. But people didnt really care about any of that stuff. They just wanted to see you go between the legs twice. I think the dunk contest should be more about the show, as well, putting on a show, the hype. But its changed from that. People only want to see a spectacular dunk. On Thursday, Yale University announced it would transition from being test-optional to requiring standardized testing. While the university said they know every standardized test is imperfect and incomplete, they said the tests also can fill in gaps in a transcript stemming from extenuating circumstances, the institution wrote in a statement on Monday. Wireless services for AT&T customers have been restored after a widespread outage was first reported in the early hours of Thursday. The phone carrier announced at 3:10 p.m. that wireless service had been restored to all affected customers, according to a statement. We sincerely apologize to them, the statement read. Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future. Customers began reporting the outage to Downdetector.com a website that tracks service outages around 3:30 a.m., but reports began to spike around 4:30 a.m. Law enforcement and firefighters from all over the country have said people are having trouble contacting 911 because of the outages. At 11:45 a.m., AT&T sent a statement saying it had restored service to three-fourths of customers affected by the outage. Customers of many major carriers reported outages to the site, but later on Thursday morning, Verizon and T-Mobile said their networks were operating normally, and AT&T acknowledged that the outages were affecting their networks but did not say what caused the problem. The phone carrier has not said what caused the outage. Many police and fire departments across the country wrote on social media that the outages were hampering citizens ability to call 911. This may have led people to test whether they could reach 911 via their cell phone, as Massachusetts State Police soon warned people not to do this. Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cell phone. Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work, state police wrote on social media. Local police departments suggested residents use a landline to report an emergency if they are an AT&T customer. Wi-Fi calling should still work, AT&T said in a statement. Former Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh cast blame on the citys new mayor in a letter announcing his abrupt retirement last week. Haigh, sworn in as the chief in October 2013, retired effective Friday, Feb. 16, and Deputy Chief William Gordon assumed the chiefs responsibilities the following day. Harvard University condemned what it called a flagrantly antisemitic cartoon that an undergraduate group posted on social media over the weekend. It also appeared on the Instagram account of Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine. Copied from a newsletter published by students in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, the image features a Black man and an Arab man with nooses around their necks, held by a hand imprinted with the Star of David that has a dollar sign in the middle of the star. The image was removed and the student and faculty groups apologized, but the post prompted a storm of criticism that Harvard isnt doing enough to protect its Jewish community. Perpetuating vile and hateful antisemitic tropes, or otherwise engaging in inflammatory rhetoric or sharing images that demean people on the basis of their identity, is precisely the opposite of what this moment demands of us, Alan Garber, Harvards interim president, said in a letter Monday to the school community. In a statement on Tuesday, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and the African American Resistance Organization took responsibility for what they acknowledged is a harmful antisemitic trope. The image was copied from a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee newsletter and included in an infographic urging Black and Arab people to unite in protest of Israels treatment of Palestinians. The inclusion of the offensive caricature was an unprompted, painful error a combination of ignorance and inadequate oversight, the student groups statement said. It never should have been published to begin with. We wholeheartedly apologize for the immense harm we caused. The faculty and staff group also apologized after the infographic also appeared on its Instagram story, insisting that they stand against all forms of hate and bigotry, including antisemitism. We removed the content as soon as it came to our attention, the faculty and staff group wrote. We apologize for the hurt these images have caused and do not condone them in any way. " Garber said the university is reviewing the matter to determine exactly who was responsible and what further steps are warranted. As members of an academic community, we can and we will disagree, sometimes vehemently, on matters of public concern and controversy, including hotly contested issues relating to the war in Israel and Gaza, and the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Garber continued. But it is grossly irresponsible and profoundly offensive when that disagreement devolves into forms of expression that demonize individuals because of their religion, race, nationality, or other aspects of their identity. Shabbos Kestenbaum, who joined a lawsuit filed by a group of Jewish students accusing Harvard of failing to keep them safe, reacted on X, formerly known as Twitter. With Professors like these, its easy to see why we Jewish students dont feel safe in class, he tweeted. The latest controversy comes as Harvard works to navigate the campus response to the Israel-Hamas war and comes after the resignation in January of its president Claudine Gay, who faced a backlash over her congressional testimony on antisemitism as well as plagiarism accusations. It has since announced separate task forces to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia and worked to provide documents to a congressional committee investigating antisemitism. On Friday, the House Education & the Workforce Committee announced it was serving several Harvard officials, including Garber, with a subpoena for failing to produce priority documents. I am extremely disappointed in the path that Harvard has chosen to take in the Committees investigation, the committee chairwoman, Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina, said in a statement. She acknowledged that Harvard has produced thousands of pages of documents, but complained that more than 40% were already public. Quality not quantity is the Committees concern. Harvard responded that it has provided fulsome and good faith responses and said the supboenas were unwarranted. It promised to continue cooperating, while also protecting the legitimate privacy, safety and security concerns of our community. The Oct. 7 Hamas attacks killed 1,200 people in Israel, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others. Roughly 130 hostages have yet to be recovered. Israels military response has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and has laid waste to most of the densely populated Gaza Strip. The wars fallout has roiled U.S. campuses and reignited a debate over free speech. College leaders have struggled to define where political speech crosses into harassment and discrimination, with both Jewish and Arab students calling on schools to do more to protect them. Boeing said Wednesday that the head of its 737 program is leaving the company in an executive shake-up weeks after a door panel blew out on a flight over Oregon, renewing questions about safety at the company. Boeing announced the departure of Ed Clark, who had been with the company for 18 years. Katie Ringgold will succeed him as vice president and general manager of the 737 program, and the companys Renton, Washington site. The moves are part of the companys enhanced focus on ensuring that every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President Stan Deal wrote in an email to employees. Our customers demand, and deserve, nothing less. In January, an emergency door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 over Oregon. Bolts that helped secure a panel to the frame of the 737 Max 9 were missing before the panel blew off the Alaska Airlines plane last month, according to accident investigators. The shake-up comes after the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Boeing under pressure from airlines to produce large numbers of planes is not paying enough attention to safety. Boeing Co., which is based in Arlington, Virginia, also named longtime executive Elizabeth Lund to the new position of senior vice president for BCA Quality, where she will lead quality control and quality assurance efforts. Many AT&T customers awoke to a cellphone service outage Thursday morning that has caused problems for first responders and cities across the country, including in Massachusetts. Outage reports to Downdetector.com a website that tracks service outages indicate that the problem began sometime before 4 a.m. Customers of many major carriers reported outages to the site, but later on Thursday morning, Verizon and T-Mobile said their networks were operating normally, and AT&T acknowledged that the outages were affecting their networks but did not say what caused the problem. Many police and fire departments across the country wrote on social media that the outages were hampering citizens ability to call 911. This may have led people to test whether they could reach 911 via their cell phone, as Massachusetts State Police soon warned people not to do this. Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cell phone. Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work, state police wrote on social media. Local police departments suggested residents use a landline to report an emergency if they are an AT&T customer. Wi-Fi calling should still work, AT&T said in a statement. The outage also caused city parking meters in Pittsfield to stop working, according to city officials. No parking meter violations will be used in the city on Thursday, but all other parking regulations are still in effect. Were very dependent on this technology. What happened highlights just how dependent we are on this wireless and information technology, Alexander Wyglinski, an electrical engineering professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said in a statement Thursday. A retired Massachusetts State Police trooper arrested last month as part of a sweeping bribery investigation pleaded not guilty to federal charges Thursday morning in his first court appearance in Boston. Perry Mendes, of Wareham, was one of four troopers linked to what federal officials described as a scheme to give favorable treatment to certain applicants for commercial drivers licenses. Prosecutors allege the troopers accepted a range of gifts in return for issuing passing grades on the tests, which operators must pass to legally drive tractor-trailers, school buses and other commercial vehicles. Mendes was arraigned Thursday in the United States District Court in Boston and pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including conspiracy to commit extortion and falsification of records. Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein released Mendes without bail. He left the courthouse without comment, and his attorney, Brad Bailey, said Mendes looked forward to having an opportunity to clear his name. The other three troopers were also released after pleading not guilty at hearings in recent weeks. Former state police sergeant Gary Cederquist, the head of the state police unit that administered the tests, is accused of using his position to personally enrich himself, accepting gifts and favors worth thousands of dollars, including landscaping work at his home and a new snowblower. Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Gary Cederquist, center, leaves federal court. Tuesday, Jan 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)AP Prosecutors said Mendes and the other troopers assigned to Cederquists unit allowed certain drivers to pass the license tests, even when they were clearly unqualified. Those drivers received what troopers themselves called the golden treatment, U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said. At various times, the troopers signaled they knew some of the drivers were unprepared to operate a large commercial vehicle. In text messages described in a federal indictment, Cederquist referred to one applicant as an idiot who had no idea what hes doing and said another driver was horrible and brain dead. Still, both drivers passed their license tests. Officials identified 26 drivers they said were illegally granted licenses by the four troopers between 2019 and 2022. Some of the drivers should have failed the license exam, some did not take the test and others took abbreviated tests, yet all were licensed, Levys office said. The Registry of Motor Vehicles revoked those licenses and said it was not aware of any commercial vehicle crashes involving the 26 drivers. Cederquist, 58, of Stoughton, faces more than 50 charges, the most of any of the troopers snared in the federal investigation. Also charged are retired troopers Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, and Calvin Butner, 63, of Halifax. Two civilians described by federal prosecutors as friends of Cederquist are also charged: Scott Camara, 42, of Rehoboth, and Eric Mathison, 47, of Boston. Prosecutors said Camara helped falsify driving test records while working for a truck driving school in Brockton. They said Mathison worked for a spring water company and supplied the troopers with an assortment of beverages, including Arizona Iced Tea, bottled water and coffee products, after they passed drivers who worked for his employer. The indictment described Mendes accepting cases of Fiji and VOSS brand water from Mathison immediately after administering an incomplete skills test to a new driver for the water company. Butner and Mendes were both retired at the time of their arrests in late January, and both were taken into custody in Florida, prosecutors said. Mendes appeared initially in federal court in Tampa. Bailey declined to say Thursday whether his client was living in Florida or visiting the Sunshine State when he was arrested. Butner was arrested in Miami as he prepared to board a cruise ship with his family, the Boston Globe reported earlier this month. Since their indictment, both Cederquist and Rogers have also retired and were dishonorably discharged, the state police said. Col. John Mawn Jr., the interim superintendent of the state police, has described the troopers alleged actions as the antithesis of and in stark contrast to the values, character, and integrity exhibited by the overwhelming majority of our Troopers every day in service to the public. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijan and the World Bank have discussed issues of further cooperation in the social sphere, Trend reports. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Minister Sahil Babayev met with the World Bank delegation. During the meeting, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev informed that a successful experience of cooperation has been formed between the Ministry and the World Bank over the past period. The achievements of reforms carried out in the social sphere in the country and steps taken towards the expansion of active employment programs were brought to attention. In addition, the importance of joint projects with the World Bank in the process of social reforms and expansion of employment programs was noted. During the meeting, the positive results of cooperation in recent years in developing a new employment strategy, improving the disability assessment system, strengthening capacity in the field of adoption and other areas were also noted. The meeting discussed the current agenda of cooperation, as well as the work on the implementation of the employment support project, and issues of further cooperation in the field of labor, employment, and social protection. To note, Azerbaijan and the World Bank have been cooperating for more than 30 years. The organization has supported 56 private sector development projects worth more than $500 million, resulting in the creation of about 4,000 jobs. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A Plymouth-based company that provides concierge staff to luxury properties in Greater Boston faces steep fines after the state attorney general accused it of failing to make timely payments to employees and improperly deducting payments, among other wage-related violations. Concierge Services Inc. and its owner, Gregory Doyle, were cited by the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell for a total of $2,459,293, according to a news release Wednesday morning. The company was formed in 2006 and provides staffing services throughout Greater Boston, according to the Concierge Services website. Employees provide services such as staffing desks, receiving packages, assisting residents, announcing and screening visitors. The Massachusetts state Senate could vote as soon as next week on a long-sought set of changes to what Bay State students learn in their sex education classes to include, among other things, lessons on how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, forming consent, and avoiding an unwanted pregnancy. Lawmakers have been trying for a decade to pass the changes, which have cleared the state Senate, but never have come to a vote in the state House, according to State House News Service. The legislation earlier cleared the Legislatures Education Committee, and was expected to receive a favorable report from the Senate Ways & Means Committee, putting it on course for a vote next week, a spokesperson for Senate President Karen Spilkas, D-Middlesex/Norfolk office said. The Healthy Youth legislation sponsored by Sen. Sal N. DiDomenico, D-Middlesex/Suffolk, with a companion bill in the House sponsored by Reps. James J. ODay, D-14th Worcester, and Vanna Howard, D-17th Middlesex, would require every school district in state to provide age-appropriate and medically accurate education on sexual health. The legislation, as its currently written, also would require K-12 districts, vocational schools and charter schools that provide such education to adopt a written policy ensuring parental or guardian notification of those classes and give them the right to inspect the program instruction materials prior to the start of the course, according to a summary of the legislation that was released Thursday. Parents and guardians would have the right to withdraw their children from the course without any disciplinary action, according to that same summary. The legislation also would require districts to provide an alternative educational activity for students whose parents withdraw them from the course. The revised standards also would teach students about issues of consent, and would be more inclusive of LGBTQ+ students, by requiring districts to teach about gender identity and sexual orientation, including affirmative recognition that people have different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression. Next weeks looming vote will mark the 5th time the upper chamber has voted on the proposal, a spokesperson for Spilkas office told MassLive. DiDomenico has been the Senate bills sponsor during each of those previous efforts. On Thursday, the Boston-area lawmaker told MassLive he believes that, this time, circumstances and momentum are on his side. We have dozens of cosponsors in the Senate and the House, he said. Theres been a lot of momentum thats been built up in this space ... This is the year were going to pass this, and get it to [Gov. Maura Healeys] desk. DiDomenico told MassLive that the cause has been aided when the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last year to updated its own sexual health education standards. The bill is about teaching kids best practices and behaviors and making decisions from accurate information, as opposed to what they might be hearing on the playground, he said. Its not going away if the schools dont talk about it. FORT MYERS, Fla. It remains relatively unlikely that the Red Sox will make major, impactful additions to their roster before Opening Day. But theyre still monitoring the free agent market on both sides of the ball. BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. The Red Sox are among the teams who have expressed interest in free agent infielder Gio Urshela, a source confirmed Wednesday. They have not yet separated themselves from the pack or been an aggressor in Urshelas market, which reportedly also includes the Yankees, Mets, Angels and Marlins. As of Feb. 7, MLB.coms Bryan Hoch reported that Miami and Los Angeles had better offers on the table than the New York teams. Urshelas market has been slow to develop, according to a source, with no team yet meeting what he thinks hes worth. (UPDATE: Urshela reached agreement with the Tigers on Friday, signing there on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.) Urshela, who is best known for his three strong years with the Yankees from 2019 to 2021, has logged the large majority of his career appearances (585 of 643) at third base, where the Red Sox have Rafael Devers installed. Boston is likely viewing him as a right-handed option at first base who can back up Devers at third and a potential upgrade over Bobby Dalbec. Urshela played 22 games at first base for the Angels last season before suffering a pelvic fracture in June. That injury ended his season. On Tuesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Dalbec, who didnt have a clear spot to a roster spot last year with Justin Turner on the team, is back in the mix after blasting 33 homers for the WooSox last year. Dalbec has also added outfield play to his repertoire in an effort to increase his value. Urshela, conversely, has played just one inning in the outfield in his big league career (in left field for the Yankees in 2019). (Dalbec) has a chance to make this team, Cora said Tuesday at JetBlue Park. I think versatility is coming into play. I think the outfield play we like. He did a good job in Triple A. Obviously the configuration of the stadium is different in Triple A but he did a good job. And we need a right-handed bat that can play in the corners and be versatile. So he has a shot to do it. Urshela, 32, hit .299 with two homers, 24 RBIs and a .703 OPS in 62 games for the Angels before getting hurt and has, overall, posted a .281 average and .738 OPS over the last three seasons. His offensive performance has dipped from its peak in 2019 and 2020 with the Yankees but hes still a somewhat intriguing option due to his low career strikeout rate of 18.7%. Currently, the Red Sox project to have Dalbec, who spent the vast majority of 2023 at Triple-A, as their right-handed complement to Triston Casas at first base and Devers at third. Urshela would provide a veteran presence and a higher offensive floor in that role and give the Red Sox a proven right-handed bat if a deal were to come to fruition. Urshela could also see some time as the designated hitter; Masataka Yoshida projects to receive the majority of those at-bats. This past weeks days of sunshine are expected to flip into a slushy mix of precipitation on Thursday night across Massachusetts. The light, warmer weather system should arrive in the early- to mid-evening in western Massachusetts, then spread northeastern to central Massachusetts and towards the North Shore, according to the National Weather Service. Because surface temperatures could still be cold, precipitation is expected to be a really light and slushy mix of wet snow or freezing rain for most of the state, north of Interstate 95, forecasters said. Temperatures should range in the 20s to freezing as the slush begins to fall. The Springfield and Worcester corridor is expected to receive mostly rain with the storm; snow could mix in at the start, but would be short lived before transitioning over to plain rain, the weather service said. Any snow or ice accumulations coming from the freezing mix expected for the rest of the state would only amount to slushy coatings on bridges and elevated surfaces, forecasters said. The weather service has not issued any winter weather advisories given the low impact of the storm, and said to expect temperatures to warm into Friday morning. Overall, Friday is looking to feature weather conditions that few would describe as enjoyable: a plain rain with temps in the lower 40s, forecasters concluded. SPRINGFIELD Residents from among the 55,000 Western Massachusetts households signed up now for subsidized internet service through a COVID-era program pleaded Wednesday for lawmakers to extend its funding. As it stands, the $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program is expected to expire at the end of April. Internet service providers stopped signing new families on Feb. 7. Bipartisan bills in both houses of Congress that would refresh the program with $7 billion appear stalled in Washington, despite the support reiterated Wednesday from U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, and U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth A. Warren, D-Mass. Dont cut us off, said Willie Mae Palmer of Springfield at an event organized by the Western Massachusetts-based Alliance for Digital Equity and hosted at Way Finders, a housing agency in Springfield. Palmer depends on the $30-a-month subsidy to pay her $100-a-month bill for an internet connection. Everything is done online, she said. If you want a doctors appointment, connect with grandchildren. If you dont extend this funding, you are going to cut us senior citizens out. Sonia Ramos of Holyoke said a home internet connection allowed her and her daughter to further their educations and connect them with the help they needed to get an apartment. It gave me my voice, she said. Keith Fairey, Way Finders president and CEO, said internet access is a basic utility. Its like electricity or water, he said. We need it for our lives. That includes applying for jobs, education or housing. The program has helped 23 million nationwide; thats one in six Americans. Locally, Kathy Bisbee, digital equity director in the office of public health at Baystate Health, estimated that about 55,000 Western Massachusetts residents have signed up, with about 366,000 people statewide. Locally, users include about 23,000 households in Springfield, 6,000 in Pittsfield, 2,000 in North Adams, 8,000 in Chicopee and 5,200 in Holyoke. Recipients who are fearing the loss of the subsidy are encouraged to contact their internet service provider. Lifeline, an older federal program, offers subsidies of up to $9.25 a month for most people; Native Americans living on rural tribal lands are eligible for more. The Alliance for Digital Equity is raising money on its own, too, Bisbee said. That plan is to install wireless hot spots in public places, such as community centers, public housing, libraries and parks. SPRINGFIELD A Medicaid consultant already accused of stealing from several nursing home residents allegedly stole from more people than authorities initially suspected. A grand jury indicted Kaylie Giberson on six counts of larceny this month, the state Attorney Generals Office announced Tuesday. The Springfield woman was charged late last year with 16 criminal counts related to stealing from three elderly people, a bank and the consulting firm that employed her. Forget to return a couple of books? The Worcester Public Library (WPL) will forgive you, if you bring in a picture of a cat next month. The library is offering fee forgiveness during the month of March for any lost or damaged WPL items when people bring in a picture of a cat. The initiative is appropriately called March Meowness, the library said. The picture can be of your cat, a famous cat, a drawing of a cat or shelter cat. Either way, WPL understands that accidents happen and doesnt want these late fees to stop people from using their public library. We found that many of our patrons may have items that were misplaced during the pandemic as schools shuttered and we entered quarantine, said WPL Executive Director Jason Homer. The rules to March Meowness are as follows: Items must be owned by WPL (fees from other libraries cannot be waived) Items waived must be on lost or damaged items that are at least two months old Items cannot be part of the Library of Things Accounts with five or more items will need to be reviewed You are not eligible for forgiveness if your lost or damaged items can be viewed as an attempt to restrict access to diverse content Account holders must be present The WPL cannot guarantee that all items will be waived as forgiveness will be given at staffs discretion. The library has also been fine free since 2020, so there are no late fines on most WPL owned items, the library said. Dont have a cat photo? The library will accept honorary cats as well. This can be a picture or drawing of any animal from dogs raccoons to orcas and capybaras. We wanted to get everyone back in the library, and using our resources, and also wanted to create a really low barrier to get these fees forgiven, Homer continued. Celebrating March Meowness brings a fun component to fee forgiveness that resonates with both patrons and staff alike. WPL also invites the public to celebrate March Meowness with cat-themed events and programs all month long. A kick off event at the Main Library will happen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. Read More: Breakfast sandwich at Rutland cafe selling out on weekends Then WPL will host a cat scavenger hunt for the rest of the month. Here, people can learn how to do a perfect cat-eye, DIY their own cat castles and cat toys, paint a leopard, de-stress with cats from the Worcester Animal Rescue League, or enjoy an audio-described screening of Cats. The library hopes to celebrate March Meowness at all WPL locations. More information can be found online. THE war in Gaza (and the West Bank) did not just start on October 7 last. It has been raging for years, effectively since 1948 in various bursts. Within the past four months almost 100,000 people, mainly women and children, have been killed, injured or reported missing in Gaza and the West Bank, thanks to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the Israeli Government and the Israeli settlement policy. Most of the bombs and bullets that caused such pain came (and still come) from the US, but many European countries also supply arms. Cue the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyens October 13 trip to support Israel in the wake of the murderous Hamas attack. She told no one about her trip. On her return she called on the European Union to redouble efforts to protect the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. She brings speaking out of both sides of her mouth to a new level. Why did she not stop EU members, especially Germany and France, exporting ammunition and war-machine parts to Israel? Why did she not call on the US to stop sending arms? The IDF, supported by war-mongering hawk politicians like Netanyahu, can only continue killing if they have the ammunition and spare parts for war planes, tanks and guns. Oh that Western mainstream media would start carrying reports about the dove politicians and peace-seekers among the Israeli population rather than constantly covering the masters of war. Actions give lie to words THE latest brave public speaker on the Gaza War is the King Abdullah II of Jordan. Last week, he stood beside President Biden in the White House, thanking him, encouraging him and challenging him. We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe. The situation is already unbearable for over a million people who have been pushed into Rafah since the war started. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end. We must urgently and immediately work to ensure the sustainable delivery of sufficient aid to Gaza through all possible entry points and mechanisms. And I thank you, Mr President, for your support on this. The King then challenged President Biden over US withdrawal of funds for UNWRA. Restrictions on vital relief aid and medical items are leading to inhumane conditions. No other UN agency can do what UNRWA [the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] is doing in helping the people of Gaza through this humanitarian catastrophe. Its work in other areas of operation especially in Jordan, where 2.3 million are registered is also vital. It is imperative that UNRWA continues to receive the support it needs to carry out its mandate. He continued: There can be no peace without a political horizon. Military and security solutions are not the answer. They can never bring peace. Civilians on both sides continue to pay for this protracted conflict with their lives Your leadership, my dear friend, Mr President, is key to addressing this conflict. And Jordan is ready to work, as always, with you towards peace. For his part, President Biden said: Too many of the over 27,000 Palestinians killed in this conflict have been innocent civilians and children, including thousands of children. And hundreds of thousands have no access to food, water or other basic services. Many families have lost not just one but many relatives and cannot mourn for them or even bury them because its not safe to do so. Its heartbreaking. Every innocent life [lost] in Gaza is a tragedy, just as every innocent life lost in Israel is a tragedy as well. One wants to scream: SO STOP SENDING ARMS TO ISRAEL! It was the Jewish nation that led humanity from law of the jungle retribution where one could be killed for the smallest demeanour to the balanced retribution of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Today, many fail to see this as the progress of humanity that it was. Unfortunately, Netanyahu and his ilk are leading us back to the law of the jungle, where might is right. One cant help but wonder, does he ever think that what he is doing to Palestinians is, in many ways, exactly what was perpetrated upon European Jews by Hitler? MAYO County Council has been granted permission by An Bord Pleanala to develop an all-weather centre for water-based activities located at Keel beach on Achill Island. The all-weather centre which will consist of toilets, showers and changing rooms will be located on the site of the council owned Keel caravan park adjacent to Keel beach. The single storey building will include three unisex toilets, five indoor shower rooms and an accessible washroom, as well as external showers, a plant room, electrical rooms and cleaners store. External seating and a bike parking/storage area is also proposed to be developed. The proposed development forms part of Failte Ireland's 'Platforms for Growth' capital investment programme which is designed to support and improve facilities for visitor experience throughout Ireland. In April 2021, Keel beach and Carrowmore beach near Louisburgh were chosen by Failte Ireland as the two Mayo locations to avail of national funding to develop state-of-the-art facilities for outdoor water-based activities. The Department of Tourism and Failte Ireland announced an investment of 19 million for 22 facilities across Ireland with Keel and Carrowmore to each receive 650,000 in funding. As the all-weather centre is located adjacent to the Keel Machair/Minaun Cliffs SAC which is a designated European site, Mayo County Council had to undertake a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) and seek approval from An Bord Pleanala. The submitted NIS concludes that subject to the implementation of the mitigation measures proposed, it is not envisioned that the proposed development will give rise to any significant adverse effects on any designated European sites either alone or in combination with other plans or projects. Submissions were received in relation to the potential impact of the development on the local protected habitat with one observer, Ms Dairine Walsh saying it will be a 'blot on the horizon'. A submission was also received from Martin Calvey and Martina Calvey from Keel, through their agent Leahy Planning Ltd, regarding the ownership of the land where the facility will be developed. They stated that the location of the proposed development is on commonage and Mayo County Council do not own the lands and there are no development rights without consent of the commonage shareholders. They added that while the area has been used for camping, the proposed development of a permanent structure will interfere with 'proper husbandry and management of sheep which have habitually grazed the area for several generations, with clear and immediate negative economic consequences'. In addressing the submissions regarding ownership, Auriol Considine, Inspectorate with An Bord Pleanala accepted that the Local Authority appear to have been in control of the area for many years and that the fencing appears to have been in place, with regard to sectioning it off from the wider commonage area, for a number of years. I am generally satisfied therefore, that the Local Authority has sufficient legal interest in the site to make the planning application as proposed, the inspector stated. While acknowledging the concerns raised by third parties,the inspector considered the location to be acceptable and the proposed development would enhance the tourism and leisure offer for both visitors and residents alike. Ms Considine concluded that the proposed development individually or in combination with other plans or projects would not adversely affect the integrity of either European site identified, including the Keel Machair/Minaun Cliffs SAC and recommended the Board approve the proposed development. The Board of An Bord Pleanala agreed with the recommendation and granted permission for the development subject to eight planning conditions. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Mayo Day and Home to Mayo 2024, Mayo County Council are bringing the magic of Mayo Day all the way to the Windy City of Chicago this year. On Saturday, May 4 Gaelic Park in Chicago will become a little piece of Mayo, when the international flagship Mayo Day event takes place. Mayo Day has become one of the highlights of Mayo County Council's year over the past decade, having gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2005 even the Covid-19 pandemic was not able to stop the spreading of the Mayo message in 2020 and 2021, when virtual events were held to celebrate Mayo Day. After its return to physical events in Castlebar and Ballina in 2022 and 2023 respectively, this year the local flagship event will be taking place in Belmullet. But to coincide with the ten-year anniversary celebrations of Mayo Day, at the same time an international flagship event will be taking place in Gaelic Park in Chicago. On the day you will find everything that you have loved as part of Mayo Day back home, with a stunning line up of music, arts, crafts, food, and family fun all part of a day to be remembered. Planning is well underway to ensure that Mayo Day in Chicago will be a day that will live long in the memory and Mayo County Council are calling on everyone with Mayo heritage in their blood in the USA to mark the date in their diary and plan a trip to Gaelic Park to celebrate Mayo Day. It will be a fantastic chance to catch up with old friends, forge new relationships with fellow Mayo people and have a day that you will not forget and to show your Mayo pride. Mags Connell from Mayo County Council said: Mayo Day has always been a brilliant day to celebrate all that is great and good about Mayo and this year we are looking forward to making the day even bigger and better. With Mayo Day turning ten and our Home to Mayo 2024 celebrations we decided that we were going to add an international leg to our Mayo Day celebrations, and what better place to do that than Chicago. We have an excellent relationship with the Mayo Diaspora in Chicago and they are always more than supportive when we have events and visits to the city, so it made perfect sense to have our international Mayo Day Flagship event in Chicago and were looking forward to a brilliant day out, where the Mayo pride will be front and centre on day to remember. If you are musician, artist, crafter, food producer with a Mayo connection or want to get involved and help out on the day email: communications@mayococo.ie for more or log on to www.mayo.ie/mayo-day-2024. Pictured at the Chicago Mayo Association Christmas Lunch where Home to Mayo 2024 and Mayo Day 2024 was launched was, from left: Eibhlis Maher (Failte Ireland), Seamus Kavanagh (Hollister, Chicago), Ciara Sugrue (Failte Ireland), Bill Byrne (Director of Global Sales and VP North America, Aer Lingus) Kevin Byrne (Consul General of Ireland in Chicago), Mags Connell (Administrative Officer, Mayo County Council), Cllr Martin McLoughlin (Leas Cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council), Ruth Cawley (President, Mayo Association Chicago), Cllr Donna Sheridan, Martina Hughes (Senior Executive Officer, Mayo County Council), Paula Svadlena (Chicago Sales Manager, Aer Lingus) and Cllr Adrian Forkan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. A meeting was held at STEAM Innovation Center on February 21 in connection with Karabakh University, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Science and Education. According to information, the head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs of the Presidential Administration Farah Aliyeva, the Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev, rectors of higher educational institutions, Azerbaijani scientists living abroad, and other participants took part in the meeting. At the meeting, a presentation on the directions of activity of Karabakh University, specialties, as well as information on the work done at the University, objectives, and plans for the future was shown. The participants of the meeting shared their recommendations on the activities of the university, wide discussions were held on the formation of a modern environment for students and academic staff of the university, and the creation of an ecosystem that supports creative projects based on research. To note, the Karabakh University will start its activity in the 2024/2025 academic year. At the initial stage, the university is expected to educate about 1,000 students. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Blacksod Sea Safaris was awarded Best Outdoor Escape at the TOutsider.ie awards ceremony in Dublin last evening. The prestigious award, supported by Vagabond Tours, was determined through a public vote. Established in 2021 by Faulmore native, Michael Keane, the family-run business is renowned for its thrilling boating excursions and wildlife watching tours. Upon receiving the award, Mr Keane shared his excitement and said the business has been an amazing success story. Blacksod Sea Safaris has quickly become synonymous with fun, flexible, and memorable adventures, offering a range of tours from day trips to the abandoned Inishkea Islands to coastal cruises below the majestic Cliffs of Croaghaun and whale watching expeditions he said. The award-winning activity is perfect for thrill-seeking adventurers. From the exhilarating high-speed blast around the bay in their 10-seater rigid, inflatable boat, Rascal, or set sail aboard their 33ft passenger boat, The Huntress, and immerse yourself in a family-friendly day out on the water. Mairead Melody Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism, extended warm congratulations to the proud owner of Blacksod Sea Safaris, saying adventure activity providers like Mr Keanes business, play a pivotal role in enhancing tourism in North Mayo. Their unique and thrilling experiences not only attract visitors but also showcase the natural beauty and vibrant spirit of our region she concluded. Find more information about Blacksod Sea Safaris and their award-winning adventures on their website. Carney's Bar & Restaurant in Ballinrobe will be auctioning their chef in support of local lady Shannon McDonald who is battling cancer. In an attempt to raise funds for her treatment, the Ballinrobe business will be auctioning their chef Lee Byrne to throw a dinner party in the home of one lucky raffle winner; he will even clean up afterwards! The auction will take place at McDonald Motors, Ballinrobe, tomorrow from 11am-1pm as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. All ticket proceeds will go towards getting local woman Shannon McDonald to Germany for cancer treatment. Additionally, Believe in Ballinrobe has organised a raffle as part of #ballinrobesweekforshannon. Fundraising for the week began yesterday in the town, with raffles tickets available in all local businesses. There will also be a bucket collection in the town on March 1. The organisers wrote, as a community, let's try and get the sum of 100,000 over the line asap to get Shannon her much-needed treatment. The amazing raffle prizes have been donated from businesses within the community, and the draw will take place March 2nd. With the GoFundMe page currently at 62,000, this auction hopes to be a final drive to reach the 100,000 goal. Ms McDonald was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, following which she began chemo and radiotherapy. The 30-year-old also underwent surgery to remove the breast & lymph nodes from the left-hand side. In 2021 the cancer had spread near the oesophagus, and just last year they found the cancer had spread again this time along the collarbone and neck area. Despite receiving targeted treatment called Herceptin through her journey, unfortunately the cancer has now reached stage four and is terminal. The mother of 8-year-old Alanna has started treatment in Galway University Hospital to stabilise the cancer, but was told it is non-curable in Ireland, and so she will not be able to receive any more radiotherapy. The GoFundMe page organiser, and sister of Ms McDonald, wrote Shannon is ready for the fight of her life and we as a family are not willing to give up on her. The family are in contact with consultants and doctors in Germany, Holland and Spain about alternative treatment plans. They seem positive & ready to help Shannon in this fight wrote Mariah McDonald. To travel and undergo treatment abroad will be very expensive and so the family has asked for the help of the community, big or small. To donate, see the GoFundMe page Help Shannon beat Cancer. 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. Abbas Ganbay A batch of French "defense" weapons will arrive in Armenia today, Azernews reports, citing Le Figaro. The arms delivery includes three radars Ground Master (GM 200) of Thales company, which allow detecting enemy planes at a distance of 250 kilometers, as well as night vision devices and binoculars. It is also noted that the agreement signed between the parties on cooperation in the sphere of defense envisages that the French army will conduct 3 courses of mountain combat training for Armenian servicemen this year. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in an interview with RTL radio station that he will soon visit Armenia. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. An additional 11 Russian companies have been awarded permission to export livestock products, feeds, and feed additives to Azerbaijan, Trend reports. The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) said that these enterprises are producing poultry meat, dairy, fish, ready-made meat, and fat-and-oil products and are located in the Omsk, Voronezh, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Leningrad Krasnodar, and Bashkortostan regions. Rosselkhoznadzor pointed out that currently, the list of Russian organizations permitted to import livestock products into Azerbaijan totals 114 facilities. "Rosselkhoznadzor continues to work on expanding the list of organizations from Russia authorized for export to Azerbaijan," the service added. To note, more than 1,100 Russian enterprises have the right to export their products to Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Chief of Party, USAID Kitumaini 2030 APPLY Position Title: Chief of Party, USAID Kitumaini 2030 Location: Lubumbashi, DRC Division: Africa PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the worlds most pressing Heath challenges. Working closely with Congolese communities and government leaders, PATH has been addressing some of the Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) toughest health challenges since 2009. We apply our on-the-ground expertise and operational presence to support the Government of DRC (GDRC) to address HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, as well as reproductive, maternal, and child health. Our work also includes advocating at the national level to strengthen funding for essential health interventions, such as immunization, providing targeted technical assistance to build sustainable service delivery platforms and systems, including surveillance and data collection and reporting, and adapting and introducing innovative, low-cost technologies and evidence-based best practices, leveraging our relationships with funders, private industry, community-based organizations, and others for sustainable results. PATH is seeking a Chief of Party for an anticipated $25-50 million, five-year U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project, USAID Kitumaini 2030, which will work with the GDRC to deliver high quality, accessible HIV/AIDS services in focus health zones of Haut Katanga province to achieve HIV epidemic control. The project will scale up HIV/AIDS services, including prevention and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; testing services; enrollment in care and support services for HIV-positive clients; treatment of HIV-positive clients; and continuous engagement of clients on treatment and management of advanced HIV disease. The project will also support activities to strengthen the capacity of local sub-recipients; support the integration of HIV/tuberculosis services, family planning services, screening and management of co-occurring conditions, including other opportunistic infections, and noncommunicable diseases; as well as provide direct, comprehensive services for orphans and young children. The Chief of Party will be accountable for the overall delivery of project objectives and providing technical, administrative, and management oversight and leadership over the project implementation team. They will be responsible for making and managing relationships with varied stakeholders, ranging from GDRC, community and other implementing partners, and funders/donors involved in health service delivery and systems strengthening in DRC. They will serve as the principal institutional liaison with USAID. The Chief of Party will report to the PATH DRC Country Director and may have matrixed reporting lines. *Please note this position is contingent upon award to PATH and approval from USAID. Responsibilities: Provide overall technical, administrative, and management leadership to ensure that all objectives, milestones, and deliverables are successfully achieved on time and within budget. Oversee management of all project aspects (programmatic, financial, and administrative), ensuring full alignment with national and international standards as well as USAID requirements. Represent PATH with provincial and national stakeholders by building and maintaining excellent and productive relationships with USAID, project, and other implementing partners, and GDRC counterparts to support successful delivery of project goals and objectives. Provide overall vision, technical guidance, and mentorship to project staff to achieve project milestones in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Coordinate with project leadership to maintain effective activity tracking and reporting systems that enable early identification of implementation obstacles and program risks and rapidly deploy strategies to overcome these to ensure achievement of project performance and deliverable milestones. Exercise sound financial management skills, including coordinating with project leadership to ensure cost-effective project spending in strict compliance with USAID and PATH policies, regulations, and internal controls. Lead development of project implementation and technical strategies. Maintain frequent and open communication lines with USAID. Required Experience Graduate degree (Masters or higher) in public/global health, public administration, social services, international development, or other relevant fields. Minimum of 12 years of progressively senior work experience on HIV programming, with at least 5 years in a senior role, showing demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage complex programs of similar scope and size while successfully meeting established project/program milestones. At least seven years of demonstrated experience overseeing programming in the following areas: HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care; orphans and young children, quality improvement/quality assurance; and health systems strengthening. Experience serving in a senior/project leadership role on a Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-funded HIV program in Africa, preferably the West and Central African region, strongly preferred. Strong experience with USAID programing and reporting required; experience with PEPFAR reporting processes strongly preferred. Demonstrated competency in managing geographically dispersed teams, effective and rapid decision-making, and diplomacy/interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to liaise with and maintain effective working relations with senior GDRC personnel, international and community organizations, civil society, and U.S. Government Agencies. Strong strategic vision, leadership qualities, management skills, and professional reputation. Full professional proficiency in English and French, with excellent verbal and written communication skills. PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Must have legal authorization to work in DRC. PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. APPLY Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director, USAID Kitumaini 2030 APPLY Position Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director, USAID Kitumaini 2030 Location: Lubumbashi, DRC Division: Africa PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the worlds most pressing Heath challenges. PATH is seeking a DirectorMonitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) for an anticipated $25-50 million, five-year U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project, USAID Kitumaini 2030, which will work with the GDRC to deliver high quality, accessible HIV/AIDS services in focus health zones of Haut Katanga province to achieve HIV epidemic control. The project will scale up HIV/AIDS services, including prevention and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; testing services; enrollment in care and support services for HIV-positive clients; treatment of HIV-positive clients; and continuous engagement of clients on treatment and management of advanced HIV disease. The program will also support activities to strengthen the capacity of local sub-recipients; support the integration of HIV/tuberculosis services, family planning services, screening, and management of co-occurring conditions, including other opportunistic infections, and noncommunicable diseases; as well as provide direct, comprehensive services for orphans and young children. The DirectorMEL will be accountable for designing, executing, and maintaining systems to track, report, assess, and monitor progress towards project outputs/performance targets, objectives, and goals. They will have primary responsibility for ensuring high-quality and accurate data compilation, verification, validation, and reporting on project outputsresponsive to US Government reporting and learning requirementsand will coordinate with the Deputy Chief of Party-Technical and project staff to ensure high-quality service delivery. They will report to the Chief of Party and may have additional matrixed reporting lines and will also supervise project MEL staff. *Please note this position is contingent upon award to PATH and approval from USAID. Responsibilities: Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance/refinement of the project MEL system, including developing and operationalizing data collection processes to ensure reporting against custom and donor-required indicators; setting targets (as required); monitoring progress against established project targets; ensuring timely and accurate data collection; and implementing a learning agenda across all the technical components of the project. Lead development of all required project data reporting, including for quarterly/annual reports and PEPFAR DATIM submissions; monthly donor and project reporting; and other donor-requested reporting processes, including sharing interim/final data to facilitate development of reports, project updates, and/or communications products; driving data compilation and analysis to inform performance monitoring discussions; and other required PEPFAR reporting (e.g., Expenditure Reporting; Human Resources for Health Inventory Reporting, etc.). Lead development of MEL-related sections of project workplans and reports. Lead implementation of MEL-related activities in alignment with approved workplans and budget, ensuring activities are completed on time and within budget. Closely monitor progress against key project indicators and priorities, conduct analyses, and present findings to project leadership, in particular flagging performance gaps/challenges. Work with project leadership and technical staff to develop a project learning agenda; develop and implement tools, forms, and other materials to gather information to inform learning questions; support analyses to develop conclusions and findings related to learning questions; and coordinate with the technical team to develop materials to disseminate findings (e.g., briefs, conference abstracts, publications, presentations etc.). Provide technical assistance and capacity building to project sub-awardees to ensure proper, consistent, and regular use of data collection and reporting processes; lead MEL team to conduct regular data quality audits of sub-awardee data and support sub-awardees to participate in donor or GDRC data quality audits. Serve as a project representative on MEL/data-related working groups, meetings, or other discussions convened by USAID, GDRC, or other forums, including actively working to ensure that project-related MEL systems are aligned with government reporting systems. Support the project to respond to other ad hoc internal and external data requests and needs, including maintaining strong linkages with other members of the technical team to ensure data-related needs are addressed. Required Experience Graduate degree (Masters or higher) in public health evaluation, public health, epidemiology, statistics, demography, or related field. Minimum of 8 years of experience in MEL of Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-funded HIV programs of similar scope and size, with at least 4 years in a senior/coordination role. Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining HIV data collection systems in DRC at health facility and community-levels, including providing technical assistance to community and facility-based health providers on data compilation and reporting. Experience with PEPFAR programming and reporting processes required, including use of DATIM. Proven ability to develop and implement quality assurance and project performance monitoring systems, with demonstrated experience applying analytical skills to use data to identify and inform shifts in project implementation for improved quality and impact. Strong familiarity with GDRCs HIV programming, particularly related to HIV and health strategic information. Proven experience leveraging new technologies and software to strengthen MEL. Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel; Powerpoint, Microsoft Word, Outlook) required; experience with DHIS2, Tableau and/or other database or data visualization software strongly preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with full proficiency in French and for full professional proficiency in English strongly preferred . PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Must have legal authorization to work in DRC. PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. APPLY by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, February 21, 2024 Saie, the sold-in-Sephora brand known for clean skincare products, is intensifying its commitment to safe reproductive healthcare with a campaign that includes videos and a pop-up bookstore featuring banned books. Laney Crowell, founder and chief executive of Saie, believes the effort is the beauty industrys largest human-rights effort ever. She tells Retail Insider why the campaign, which builds on 2022s work, is such a watershed moment. Retail Insider: Before telling us about this new campaign, can you give our readers a short version of why you launched Saie? Laney Crowell: Sure. We started in 2019. I have worked for a long time in Big Beauty. And Ive always been an avid magazine reader and beauty fan. I had thousands of products in my beauty closet at home. I realized many companies sell cosmetics that help people look good, but none that make you feel good. So thats what I asked my community, starting on Instagram: What would you make if you could? Thats where the name comes from -- you say it, we create it. They talked a lot about clean ingredients and products that are good for the planet and their bodies. Retail Insider: And you are sold only at Sephora? Crowell: Yes. We have a website, but Sephora is our leading partner. We also have a private Facebook community, where members give us our product ideas. They have many opinions -- not just about ingredients, but also what works and price points. We have a no list of over 2,000 ingredients we wont use. Thats why we launch products one by one. It takes us a long time to build formulas that answer all those needs -- the right ingredients, price and effectiveness. Retail Insider: And your target audience? Crowell: Millennials like me, especially moms, but broader. Because we focus so much on hydration, women over 50 love us. And younger users love the no-makeup makeup look. Gen Z also appreciates our lower price points. Retail Insider: You first organized this campaign in 2022 and got 37 brands on board. That raised $168,000 in four days and lots of awareness for SisterSong, a nonprofit based in Atlanta that focuses on reproductive equity for women of color. This years push also benefits that nonprofit. What sparked this year's effort? Crowell: When Roe v. Wade was struck down, American women had their rights taken away. It was a heartbreaking moment. We had a live event that horrible day, and there were so many tears. My husband looked at me and said, Well? Why don't you do something? So I started calling my founder friends, asking, How can we make an impact? On a Zoom call with Planned Parenthood, we were introduced to Monica Simpson, SisterSongs executive director, and her passion and force just blew me away. She helped us brainstorm the campaign. Retail Insider: How have you been expanding the effort since? Crowell: Weve got more than 60 brands participating and expect to double the amount we raise from last year's total. They include Ami Cole, Briogeo, Dr. Dennis Gross, and E.L.F., with some high-profile beauty founders, like Scarlett Johansson, Halsey, Alicia Keys and Ashley Tisdale. Were using lots of green, referencing the green bandanas that have become a global symbol for safe, legal abortions. We have content and digital petitions. And were adding an in real life moment with a pop-up library in New York. Theres a banned book section. And with every purchase, you get a bag of samples from participating brands. We expect to raise $300,000. Retail Insider: Many D2C and digital brands have jumped into abortion rights. Some are even providing medication abortions. Do you expect to see more of that? Crowell: Yes. Your website is your storefront, even for brands sold in retail. Its where you control the conversation and get to speak to brand values. Retail Insider: What else do you hope this accomplishes besides fundraising? Crowell: I always lean toward awareness through social media and influencers since thats my background. Were very tapped into what kind of conversations start online. We have a box were sending our 200 influencers thats very different. There are no beauty products, but there's a copy of The Turnaway Study, which details the experiences of 1,000 women in the decade after their abortion. And our CTA, of course, is to help people register to vote. Thats why its timed so close to Super Tuesday. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 21, 2024 X Corp. owner Elon Musk told employees to take action that would have violated a Federal Trade Commission consent decree, but longtime information security employees at the company intervened and instituted privacy safeguards, according to the agency. Ultimately, staff took appropriate measures to protect consumers private information, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a letter sent Wednesday to House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). The letter comes in response to Jordan's questions to the agency about its investigation into X's compliance with a 2022 consent decree over alleged privacy lapses. That order prohibits the social platform from misrepresenting its privacy practices, and requires it to create a comprehensive privacy and security program, and conduct a risk assessment before implementing or modifying products. advertisement advertisement Last year, Jordan's committee released a staff report accusing the FTC of harassing X (formerly Twitter) due to Musk's decision to reinstate accounts of prominent conservatives. That report noted that the FTC had repeatedly questioned Twitter in the three months immediately following Musk's purchase of the platform. Khan said in Wednesday's letter that the investigation into the platform's compliance with the consent decree was appropriate and necessary. The FTCs investigation confirmed that staff was right to be concerned, given that Twitters new CEO had directed employees to take actions that would have violated the FTCs Order, she wrote. Khan added that the agency was already monitoring compliance when reports surfaced in December 2022 that Twitter had allowed outside journalists who reported on the so-called Twitter Files -- which involved the company's prior editorial decisions -- access to a trove of information. Media reports indicated Twitter had granted certain third-party individuals broad access to the companys systems, communications, and other information, Khan wrote. For example, one individual tweeted on December 8, 2022, 'Our team was given extensive, unfiltered access to Twitters internal communications and systems,' she said. Khan added that another individual was reportedly added to Twitter's Slack channel and given a company laptop. Such statements triggered legal scrutiny because their breadth indicated that Twitter may have disclosed consumers personal information -- such as direct messages, protected Tweets, or information revealing real names or telephone numbers associated with a particular Twitter handle -- in violation of the FTCs order and undermining user privacy, Khan wrote. Khan also said the FTC discovered through depositions that Musk reportedly directed staff to grant an outside third-party individual 'full access to everything at Twitter. . . . No limits at all.' But Twitter's security personnel were concerned about exposing private information and "implemented safeguards to mitigate the risks," she wrote. "Ultimately the third-party individuals did not receive direct access to Twitters systems, but instead worked with other company employees who accessed the systems on the individuals behalf," Khan wrote. by Ray Schultz , February 21, 2024 The Guardian has been widely cheered for not having a paywall. But the applause may not last for long. The UK-based news publication is planning to restrict readers to 20 free articles on its app. Or so says City A.M. Following a successful trial that began in April 2022, a key element of our global supporter strategy is the evolution of our long-standing paid-for news app through the introduction of an app meter, which asks regular readers to support the Guardian to enable us to continue investing in our journalism and our digital products, a Guardian spokesperson told City A.M. It is not clear if the article limit will also apply to non-paid app readers who come in via search or to US readers. This is happening as The Guardian is anticipating a 39 million loss this year and employees are worried about layoffs, City A.M. continues. advertisement advertisement At the same time, Guardian US has been hiring staff and the publication has been announcing other initiatives, including a lifestyle/health vertical in the US and a content deal with Sony Pictures. Last year, a study by Reuters Institute and University of Oxford found that 21% of consumers paid for online news in the 12 months prior to the research, versus a 20-country average of 17%. In contrast, 39% paid in Norway, 33% in Sweden, 22% in Australia and 21% in Finland. Only 11% subscribe in Germany and 9% in the UK. by Teresa Buyikian , February 21, 2024 Its not pizza Its not chicken. Its both. Today KFC announced the arrival of the Chizza to its U.S. stores after its reported success overseas. Available beginning Feb. 26 for a limited time, the Chizza consists of two Extra Crispy fried chicken filets topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. To launch the pizza/chicken hybrid, the chain is turning its store on East 14 Street in New York City into a Chizzeria, where New Yorkers can try the Chizza first for free Feb. 23-Feb. 24, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST. "Fried chicken and pizza collaborated to create something even better the Chizza," said Nick Chavez, CMO KFC U.S. "The fan-favorite mashup is available in the U.S. after making its way around the world try it while you can!" An upcoming online ad campaign will feature social media creator GrannysOffHerRocker -- who is known for her larger-than-life snarky personality and classic Italian cooking videos with -- to promote the Chizza. advertisement advertisement The unique offering has been available in the Philippines since 2015, later arriving on menus in Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Germany, Spain and Mexico, among other countries. The Chizza is available on its own or as part of a combo meal. The chain also announced the return of its Blackberry Lemonade for a limited time. by Ray Schultz , February 21, 2024 Employees at the San Antonio Express-News and its online affiliate MySA have formed a union: The San Antonio News Guild, according to the Express-News and other publications. Owner Hearst Newspapers has declined to recognize the union, the San Antonio Current reports. The union is seeking to hold an election, and has filed with the National Labor Relations Board to that effect. The union now counts 46 employees. The news industry is shifting so rapidly that newsrooms are always facing drastic changes to keep up, including layoffs, Steven Santana says in a statement, according to the Current. Thats why forming a union is necessary. We want us and future employees to have a seat at the table to help shape those changes and protect ourselves now and for years to come. by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, February 22, 2024 Google faced a backlash Thursday morning in response to its AI chatbot Gemini generating ethnically diverse images of historical characters such as Vikings, popes, knights, and even the founders of the company. The creation of generative AI (GAI) has been both a blessing and a curse. It has helped the advertising industry automate ad bidding, optimization content, and create images -- most recently, videos. But the models that support the automation of feeds are only as good, accurate and trustworthy as the information fed into the models. That historic information the GAI models are built on could change historical facts to rewrite the future, which could put humanity in a precarious position one hundred years from now as we examine how to fix the mistakes humanity tried to correct in the 21st century. advertisement advertisement Google issued an apology posted on social media platform X, in which it described inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions generated by its Gemini AI tool after it had attempted to create a range of diverse results. Were aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions, says the Google statement in the X post. Were working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Geminis AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And thats generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But its missing the mark here. The statement follows criticism that it depicted the U.S. founding fathers and groups such as Nazi-era German soldiers as people of color. Some call it an overcorrection to long-standing racial bias problems in AI. During the past few days, social-media posts have questioned whether Google Gemini fails to produce historically accurate results in an attempt at racial diversity. Embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist, a post on X written by Debarghya (Deedy) Das, a former Google Search technical lead engineer, now head of product at Glean. My favorite: they made the Google founders Asian, Dass wrote. The results in Das X feed go on and on, repeatedly showing AI-generated people of color, even when their skin color should be white. Others on X like Dennis Vinyard, who calls himself a your average politically incorrect European (White) American, shared answers received from Gemini after asking it to show then happy white people. Gemini responded: While I can show you a photo of happy white people, I want to gently push back on your request and encourage you to consider a broader perspective. By Tuesday morning, Google disabled Gemini. When asked to create a photo of the U.S. Founding Fathers, Gemini returned a response: We are working to improve Geminis ability to generate images of people. We expect this feature to return soon and will notify you in release updates when it does. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijan plans to arrange an export mission to Latvia to explore and expand the potential for local exporters to reach the Latvian market, as well as to exhibit Azerbaijan's products, Trend reports. According to the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Yusif Abdullayev, executive director of the firm, met with a team led by Latvian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Normunds Schmitz, who is visiting Azerbaijan. During the conference, Abdullayev discussed AZPROMO's activities and export promotion tools, such as the Made in Azerbaijan trademark and logistics subsidies. Furthermore, to facilitate the entry of Latvian traditional food products into the Azerbaijani market, Latvian entrepreneurs were invited to participate in the InterFood Azerbaijan show, which will take place in May this year. Schmitz, in turn, remarked that agricultural items exported by Azerbaijan are in high demand in Latvia, emphasizing the necessity of importer-exporter collaboration. The deputy minister added that the intensification of cooperation in areas such as food safety, veterinary care, and phytosanitary control will stimulate the export of local companies to Latvia. As part of the coordination of entrepreneurs working in both countries, the sides have agreed to exchange information on potential export-import products between them. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, in January 2024, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $464,500 to Latvia and imported $1.7 million worth of products. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Highlights: Tamil Nadu's 2024-25 budget earmarks Rs 243 crore to address lifestyle diseases, including cancer It pledges to enhance healthcare infrastructure, with a focus on upgrading ICUs, diagnostic services, and government hospitals across the state Emphasizes early detection, effective treatment, and rehabilitative care for patients, and improve overall publichealth Trusted Source Budget Speech of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Human Resources Management of Tamil Nadu for the year 2024-2025 Go to source Trusted Source TN Budget 2024 targets to fight non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes, enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services. #TNbudget #cancercare #diabetescare #infrastructure #publichealth #medindia Advertisement TN Budget 2024 Focus to Curb Lifestyle Diseases Did You Know? Public health infrastructure provides the necessary foundation for all public health servicesfrom vaccinations to chronic disease prevention programs to emergency preparedness efforts. Advertisement Infrastruture Boost with Tamil Nadus 2024 Budget Read More to Know About Key Health Facts on Non-Communicable Diseases Advertisement Mission to Battle Cancer cancer management Budget Speech of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Human Resources Management of Tamil Nadu for the year 2024-2025 - (https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/budget_speech_e_2024_2025.pdf) The recently unveiled Tamil Nadu Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 reflects the state government's commitment to addressing and preventing lifestyle diseases, particularly cancer (). Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced a noteworthy allocation of Rs 243 crore for the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam program, underscoring the government's focus on combating non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes , and cancer.The State has already achieved the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to maternal and child health, set to be accomplished by 2030, through consistent and sustained efforts of the Health and Family Welfare Department. To mitigate the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, the state recognizes its crucial role in controlling high blood pressure and diabetes, which are the main contributors to the overall increase of these diseases.To bolster the healthcare sector, the Health and Family Welfare Department received a substantial increase in funding, withThis financial boost is aimed at enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services across the state.One notable initiative is the, where the threshold for availing free-of-cost treatment within 48 hours of an accident has been doubled from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. This move reflects a commitment to prompt and accessible healthcare for accident victims.The budget emphasizes the significance of government hospitals, with more than 50 percent of treatments under the health insurance scheme being availed in these hospitals. The state aims to further elevate healthcare services in government hospitals by allocating Rs 200 crore from the insurance corpus fund towards upgrading their infrastructure facilities.Infrastructure development is a key focus, withGovernment hospitals in various districts, including Rameswaram, Sendurai, Sriperumbudur, Arakkonam, Theni, and Salem, will see the addition of six ICUs with 50 beds each, totaling an estimated cost of Rs 142 crore.Additionally, a Rs 40 crore allocation will fund the construction of a 100-bed ICU at Perundurai Government Medical College Hospital in Erode district.A sum of Rs 87 crore has been apportioned to boost the infrastructure of 25 taluk and non-taluk hospitals, with an additional Rs 64 crore to upgrade the Government Dental College Hospital in Chennai.The state government also recognizes the need for specialized care, announcing projects under theThis includes the establishment of a super-specialty block at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Egmore (Rs 53 crore), two new blocks at RSRM Hospital in Royapuram (Rs 96 crore), and the expansion of the Government Peripheral Hospital in Periyar Nagar by three floors.Furthermore, de-addiction centers will be established in 25 Government Hospitals to specifically cater to the treatment of persons affected by substance abuse due to alcohol, drugs, and other psychotropic substances by offering institution-based counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation services at a cost of Rs.20 crore.A significant aspect of the budget is the commitment to. More than providing quality treatment to cancer patients, early detection of the disease is critical in reducing mortality.To adhere to this objective, the government plans to implement a new Cancer Management Mission, emphasizing disease management strategies such asAdditionally, the Government Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital is set to receive additional equipment for advanced cancer treatment, aiming to elevate it into a "Centre of Excellence."In conclusion, the Tamil Nadu Budget for 2024-25 underscores the state's dedication to prioritizing health and well-being. With substantial allocations for disease prevention, healthcare infrastructure, and specialized care, the government aims to create a robust and accessible healthcare system for its residents, addressing both immediate needs and long-term health challenges.Source-Medindia Trusted Source Where Do We Go From Here: Reflections on a Century in Womens Cardiovascular Health Research, 1924-2024 Go to source Trusted Source Cedars-Sinai experts stress that Cardiovascular Disease claims 1 in 5 women, lacking due attention; healthy habits like quitting smoking, balanced eating, exercising, and sufficient sleep can prevent or delay heart disease. #cardiovasculardisease #women #cardiachealth What do women need to know about their cardiovascular health? Are some women at greater risk than others? What progress has been made? Advertisement Could you give an example of how increased research into women's cardiovascular health has led to better treatment for women? Advertisement When should women think about their cardiovascular health? What are the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease? Why is it that women's cardiovascular health has been ignored? What can women who arent scientists do to ensure the medical system addresses their needs? Where Do We Go From Here: Reflections on a Century in Womens Cardiovascular Health Research, 19242024 - (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.323182) Cedars-Sinai Warns that 1 in 5 women is at risk for cardiovascular disease , thereby emphasizing lifestyle changes as crucial prevention tactics ().Experts at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai who have studied progress made over decades of research say theres still a long way to go before medical science fully understands how heart disease is different in women than men.But there is hope, according to Natalie Bello, MD, MPH, director of Hypertension Research in the Department of Cardiology, and colleague Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Womens Cardiovascular Health and Population Science, who recently authored a perspective article in the journalThe paperBello spoke with the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom to share more.Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women, but surveys show women tend to think they are more likely to die of cancer , particularly breast cancer . The most important thing to remember is that heart disease kills more women than all types of cancer combined.Almost 20% of women who get pregnant experience complications, such as high blood pressure , preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes , that have important implications for their future heart health. These conditions are associated with a higher incidence of heart disease that often happens early in the lifespan Thanks to pioneers like C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center in the Smidt Heart Institute, the medical community is now actively involved in advancing womens heart disease research and care. Her leadership in this area has broadened the visibility of gender differences in things like heart attack symptoms and the diagnosis of small vessel heart disease.There is now a blood test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, developed by Cedars-Sinai investigators, that we can use to understand a woman's risk for preeclampsia. It helps tell us when a pregnant woman is safe to go home, or if she needs to stay in the hospital for closer monitoring, treatment, or early delivery. We use it very frequently.This is just one of many examples of how Cedars-Sinai has led to womens heart health.At age 20, women should establish care with a primary care physician and have their cardiovascular risk assessed. At a minimum, all women should visit a primary care provider annually for a blood pressure check.Learn about your risk and ways you can modify the disease. That advice is based on the knowledge that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. By doing things like stopping smoking , eating healthy, maintaining a healthy body weight , exercising, and sleeping well, we can prevent or delay the progression of heart disease.In a paper published in 1912, a researcher named Dr. James Herrick and colleagues describedBut they published another paper in 1928 showing that the same thing happened to women. For whatever reason, the follow-up work never gained traction, and that set the stage for heart disease being seen as a mans issue.Early epidemiologic research also demonstrated a delay in the onset of heart disease in women compared with men. Noting that womens risk seemed to increase after menopause estrogen was believed to be protective, and premenopausal womens risk for heart disease was thought to be low. We now realize that societal issues and habits at the time also influenced risk: Men were more likely to smoke, and women didnt start smoking socially until later in the last century. Unfortunately, when smoking became socially acceptable for women, there was an uptick in women's heart disease as a result.I think one of the main reasons womens cardiovascular health wasn't investigated is that there was not as much diversity in science and medicine at the time. If you don't experience things, you don't know what questions to ask. I'm not saying it's impossible, but a bunch of men sitting around a table aren't necessarily going to ask each other, I wonder how excessive menstrual bleeding impacts heart disease risk? and decide to examine that in a research study.It often takes people outside of the scientific community to remind us that we need to examine certain issues in womens health.Its also important for women to feel empowered to discuss their concerns with their clinicians, and if they feel they arent being listened to, they should find another person to listen to their symptoms and work them up appropriately.Source-Newswise Jain is now one of the 12 sharks in the latest season and in a recent interview, he opened up about the three key qualities he sees in a pitcher before investing his money and also shared the advice he has for the upcoming entrepreneurs who aspire to be in Shark Tank India. Instagram/Amit Jain When asked about the key qualities, Amit Jain told Mint that he invests in the person and not his business. He said, My philosophy for judging entrepreneurs on Shark Tank India is simple: Pehle Banda, Phir Dhandha. It means that I value the person first, then the business. My primary focus is the individual ones life journey, entrepreneurial spirit and the [back]story that shapes the journey. My investment thesis centres around three key questions Are you looking to engage with a wider audience? Have you identified the right white space in the market? And finally, are you hungry for the dream you want to pursue and realise? The responses I get determine my decision to invest. When asked about the advice he has for the aspiring entrepreneurs who want to pitch their ideas on Shark Tank India, Amit Jain shared, Don't get swayed by funding alone, it's a milestone, not the final destination. Maintain your hunger and keep honing your product obsessively. And continued, Connect deeply with your users and communities to understand their needs. Customise solutions focusing on customer-centricity rather than vanity metrics. Remain nimble to adapt to market challenges. Scale prudently only after proving product-market fit. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Trendyol trading platform is interested in organizing sales of products manufactured in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to information, this was stated at a meeting between the leadership of the Information and Communication Technologies Agency of Azerbaijan, the regulatory body for telecommunications and postal services, and a delegation of Trendyol, a well-known Turkiye's online sales platform. At the meeting, extensive information was presented about the Agency and its activities, as well as the reforms being carried out in Azerbaijan in the field of postal services. It was noted that the number of Trendyol users is growing in Azerbaijan, which is also reflected in the activities of postal operators (cargo companies). At present, direct delivery from this trading platform is carried out by about 400 postal facilities belonging to 11 postal operators. The Agency's representatives noted that the exchange of information with the mentioned trade platform is important for consumer protection, increasing transparency. The representatives of Trendyol in turn noted that the trading platform they represent attaches great importance to the Azerbaijani market. The company is ready to cooperate and exchange information with the Agency of Information and Communication Technologies and other state institutions. Meanwhile, the company is also interested in organizing sales of products manufactured in Azerbaijan. Taking into account the great significance of these contacts for both sides, it was agreed to continue the meetings in the future. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to the nation's top policing agency and other parts of its government a trove that catalogs apparent hacking activity and tools to spy on both Chinese and foreigners. Among the apparent targets of tools provided by the impacted company, I-Soon: ethnicities and dissidents in parts of China that have seen significant anti-government protests, such as Hong Kong or the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang in Chinas far west. The dump of scores of documents late last week and subsequent investigation were confirmed by two employees of I-Soon, known as Anxun in Mandarin, which has ties to the powerful Ministry of Public Security. The dump, which analysts consider highly significant even if it does not reveal any especially novel or potent tools, includes hundreds of pages of contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client and employee lists. They reveal, in detail, methods used by Chinese authorities used to surveil dissidents overseas, hack other nations and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media. The documents show apparent I-Soon hacking of networks across Central and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. The hacking tools are used by Chinese state agents to unmask users of social media platforms outside China such as X, formerly known as Twitter, break into email and hide the online activity of overseas agents. Also described are devices disguised as power strips and batteries that can be used to compromise Wi-Fi networks. I-Soon and Chinese police are investigating how the files were leaked, the two I-Soon employees told the AP. One of the employees said I-Soon held a meeting Wednesday about the leak and were told it wouldnt affect business too much and to continue working as normal. The AP is not naming the employees who did provide their surnames, per common Chinese practice out of concern about possible retribution. The source of the leak is not known. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A HIGHLY IMPACTFUL LEAK Jon Condra, an analyst with Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company, called it the most significant leak ever linked to a company suspected of providing cyber espionage and targeted intrusion services for the Chinese security services. He said organizations targeted by I-Soon according to the leaked material include governments, telecommunications firms abroad and online gambling companies within China. Until the 190-megabyte leak, I-Soons website included a page listing clients topped by the Ministry of Public Security and including 11 provincial-level security bureaus and some 40 municipal public security departments. Another page available until early Tuesday advertised advanced persistent threat attack and defense capabilities, using the acronym APT one the cybersecurity industry employs to describe the worlds most sophisticated hacking groups. Internal documents in the leak describe I-Soon databases of hacked data collected from foreign networks around the world that are advertised and sold to Chinese police. The companys website was fully offline later Tuesday. An I-Soon representative refused an interview request and said the company would issue an official statement at an unspecified future date. I-Soon was founded in Shanghai in 2010, according to Chinese corporate records, and has subsidiaries in three other cities, including one in the southwestern city of Chengdu that is responsible for hacking, research and development, according to leaked internal slides. I-Soons Chengdu subsidiary was open as usual on Wednesday. Red Lunar New Year lanterns swayed in the wind in a covered alleyway leading to the five-story building housing I-Soons Chengdu offices. Employees streamed in and out, smoking cigarettes and sipping takeout coffees outside. Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: Safeguarding the Party and the countrys secrets is every citizens required duty." I-Soons tools appear to be used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media and flood them with pro-Beijing content. Authorities can surveil Chinese social media platforms directly and order them to take down anti-government posts. But they lack that ability on overseas sites like Facebook or X, where millions of Chinese users flock to in order to evade state surveillance and censorship. Theres a huge interest in social media monitoring and commenting on the part of the Chinese government, said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund. She reviewed some of the documents. To control public opinion and forestall anti-government sentiment, Ohlberg said, control of critical posts domestically is pivotal. Chinese authorities," she said, "have a big interest in tracking down users who are based in China." The source of the leak could be a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor, said chief threat analyst John Hultquist of Googles Mandiant cybersecurity division. The data indicates I-Soons sponsors also include the Ministry of State Security and China's military, the Peoples Liberation Army, Hultquist said. LOTS OF TARGETS, LOTS OF COUNTRIES One leaked draft contract shows I-Soon was marketing anti-terror technical support to Xinjiang police to track the regions native Uyghurs in Central and Southeast Asia, claiming it had access to hacked airline, cellular and government data from countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Thailand. It is unclear whether the contact was signed. We see a lot of targeting of organizations that are related to ethnic minorities Tibetans, Uyghurs. A lot of the targeting of foreign entities can be seen through the lens of domestic security priorities for the government, said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. He said the documents appear legitimate because they align with what would be expected from a contractor hacking on behalf of Chinas security apparatus with domestic political priorities. Cary found a spreadsheet with a list of data repositories collected from victims and counted 14 governments as targets, including India, Indonesia and Nigeria. The documents indicate that I-Soon mostly supports the Ministry of Public Security, he said. Cary was also struck by the targeting of Taiwans Health Ministry to determine its COVID-19 caseload in early 2021 and impressed by the low cost of some of the hacks. The documents show that I-Soon charged $55,000 to hack Vietnams economy ministry, he said. Although a few chat records refer to NATO, there is no indication of a successful hack of any NATO country, an initial review of the data by The Associated Press found. That doesnt mean state-backed Chinese hackers are not trying to hack the U.S. and its allies, though. If the leaker is inside China, which seems likely, Cary said that leaking information about hacking NATO would be really, really inflammatory" a risk apt to make Chinese authorities more determined to identify the hacker. Mathieu Tartare, a malware researcher at the cybersecurity firm ESET, says it has linked I-Soon to a Chinese state hacking group it calls Fishmonger that it actively tracks and which it wrote about in January 2020 after the group hacked Hong Kong universities during student protests. He said it has, since 2022, seen Fishmonger target governments, NGOs and think tanks across Asia, Europe, Central America and the United States. French cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert also combed through the documents and said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, even if they have two-factor authentication, as well as another for analyzing email inboxes. He said U.S. cyber operators and their allies are among potential suspects in the I-Soon leak because its in their interests to expose Chinese state hacking. A spokeswoman for U.S. Cyber Command wouldn't comment on whether the National Security Agency or Cybercom were involved in the leak. An email to the press office at X responded, Busy now, please check back later. Western governments, including the United States, have taken steps to block Chinese state surveillance and harassment of government critics overseas in recent years. Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, an advocacy group that focuses on human rights in China, said such tactics instill fear of the Chinese government in Chinese and foreign citizens abroad, stifling criticism and leading to self-censorship. They are a looming threat that is just constantly there and very hard to shake off." Last year, U.S. officials charged 40 members of Chinese police units assigned to harass the family members of Chinese dissidents overseas as well as to spread pro-Beijing content online. The indictments describes tactics similar to those detailed in the I-Soon documents, Harth said. Chinese officials have accused the United States of similar activity. U.S. officials including FBI Director Chris Wary have recently complained about Chinese state hackers planting malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure. On Monday, Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the U.S. government has long been working to compromise Chinas critical infrastructure. She demanded the U.S. stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries. ___ Kang reported from Chengdu, China. AP journalists Didi Tang in Washington, D.C., and Larry Fenn in New York contributed to this report. MANILA -- The United States has sent a nuclear-capable bomber for its first joint patrol with the Philippine military over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), prompting China's military to send its forces there to monitor that activity. Three FA-50 light fighters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Monday flew in tandem with a B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber deployed by the US Pacific Air Forces. The joint flyovers covered 90 nautical miles (166.7 kilometers) west of Candon, Ilocos Sur, and 50 NM (92.6 km) northwest of Lubang, Mindoro, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, the PAF said in a statement. The B-52stouted as a long-standing symbol of US military powerhave been conducting bomber patrols over the East and South China Seas for decades to demonstrate readiness and commitment to its allies. The B-52s first flew in 1952which makes it the world's longest-serving combat aircraftand has since gone through numerous upgrades and design changes. The Boeing Company-designed bomber is capable of flying in high subsonic speeds at an altitude of 50,000 feet and has a range covering around 14,000 km. 'Stirring up trouble' Monday's activity was the second phase of the country's third Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) with the United States. The first MCA was held in November last year, followed by a second MCA in January. Early this month, the Philippine Navy's BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the US Navy's USS Gabrielle Giffords held its first phase of the third MCA, with a series of exercises off Mindoro. China's military criticized the mission, saying on Tuesday that the Philippines has "stirred up trouble" in the South China Sea by conducting a joint air patrol with "extraterritorial countries" and then publicly "hyping it up." The Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it organized front-line naval and air forces on Sunday "to closely monitor the situation and keep [it] under control." It also said its troops "remain highly vigilant in resolutely defending national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and firmly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea region." China had also earlier accused the United States of provocation after B-52 bombers flew nearby Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in 2018. Stationed in Guam A senior official of the Philippine military, who was privy to the joint patrol but was not authorized to speak on that matter, told the Inquirer that five aircraft from the PLA Air Force were "monitored within the Philippine air defense identification zone" shadowing the patrol, while a Chinese destroyer was also found northeast of Bajo de Masinloc. The Stratofortress was part of a Bomber Task Force in Guam's Andersen Air Force Base intended to support the missions of the US Indo-Pacific Command. The aircraft did not land in the Philippines that Sunday. The PAF said another B-52H had been on its way to join the patrol but had to return to Guam. "This cooperative activity aims to bolster cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their US counterparts, thereby enhancing interoperability between its air forces," the PAF said. ___ (c)2024 the Asia News Network (Hamburg, Germany) Visit the Asia News Network (Hamburg, Germany) at www.asianewsnet.net/home/ Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In a first for the Army, a new specialized legal team is prosecuting the service's most egregious criminal cases, including a soldier based in Okinawa, Japan, who was convicted of the rape and sexual assault of two victims in California and South Korea earlier this month. Sgt. Antonio Robert Aden, 27, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the rapes and assaults -- a complex international legal trial concluding with a stiff sentence. He was also handed a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to private. The case against Aden was prosecuted by the service's Special Trial Counsel, newly established in December -- a team of independent prosecutors created by Congress tasked with handling assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography and harassment criminal cases in the Army. The team is already involved in 600 cases, and the caseload is expected to pile up. Read Next: Vets Say Weight Loss Drugs Have Improved Their Health, But New Patients Are Out Of Luck The landmark move to ensure prosecutors are independent of the chain of command was among the most seismic changes to the military justice system in a generation. That change had faced heavy resistance by Pentagon leaders and some lawmakers on Capitol Hill for decades, but was finally mandated by a law spearheaded by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who retired from Congress last year. The new law replaces commanders with independent prosecutors in determining whether troops accused of serious offenses should be prosecuted. Advocates had long criticized the old system for allowing commanders who rarely had legal expertise to shield alleged perpetrators in their formation from prosecution. "We're trying to achieve justice," Col. Rob Rodrigues, acting lead special trial counsel, told Military.com in an interview. "And all along the way, keeping victims informed, engaged and [feeling] like they are a respected member of this process, regardless of outcome." The Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel, based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, consists of 28 offices across the Army and 160 prosecutors and staff. Some of those prosecutors have a regional jurisdiction to cover small installations. The size of the special counsel team will likely grow as it is expected to start taking on sexual harassment cases in January 2025, greatly expanding the number of cases it handles. Meanwhile, the prosecuting team is still in its infancy, and it'll likely take years to know whether it's successful. Rodrigues noted that the total number of cases taken to trial might decrease, given prosecutors will want to move forward with winnable cases, but said he hopes the percentage of overall convictions will rise. But he said several performance measures will be used to assess the team every year, such as case processing time, conviction rates, and how well informed and treated victims felt through the process. The Office of Special Trial Counsel hit turbulence just weeks before it was stood up and started taking cases. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth fired Brig. Gen. Warren Wells, who was the previous top prosecutor, over a 2013 email in which he appeared to cast doubt on and downplay sexual assault allegations, according to reporting by CNN. "Hopefully, a soldier will be able to get a fair trial. You and your teams are now the ONLY line of defense against false allegations and sobriety regret," Wells wrote in an email to his subordinates, according to the news outlet. "You literally are the personal defenders of those no one will now defend, even when all signs indicate innocence." He told CNN his comments were inappropriate. Wells is still on active duty, assigned as the special assistant to Lt. Gen. Stuart Risch, the Army's judge advocate general. Rodrigues had been serving as Wells' deputy lead trial counsel. It is unclear when the Senate will confirm a replacement. There were 7,378 reports of sexual assault against troops across the military in 2022, according to the most recent federal data, a slight uptick of about 100 from the previous year. However, the Army was the only service where reports weren't on the rise, seeing a 9% decrease. Defense officials have argued an increase in reporting could be a sign troops trust their chain of command to take assault seriously. Related: Sex Offenses for 3 Senior Army Officers End with Plea Deals and Reprimands Chinas Ministry of State Security, its premier spy agency, occasionally makes a splash in the news with bungled spy operations and triumphant hacking operations, especially here in America. Less well known are mishaps abroad by Beijings premier law enforcement agency, the Ministry of Public Security, or MPS. Last year, however, saw the exposure of overseas police stations run by the MPS in 14 countries, including the U.S., supposedly to help Chinese citizens abroad renew drivers licenses and the like, but in reality focused on suppressing the activities of Chinese dissidents abroad. Now comes a bombshell leak revealing why and how Chinas national police have been enrolled in state espionage and sabotage operations on the world stagethrough hacking. On February 16 an anonymous party dumped an enormous cache of hacking-related data and internal messages onto GitHub, the web-based platform for software engineers. The data originated with iS00N, also known as the Shanghai Anxun Information Company []. The dump, cataloged here in Chinese, reveals the worldwide targeting of entities on behalf of various local MPS outpostsas well as iS00Ns role in training police across China to hack into foreign databases. This MPS data-breaches mirrored the magnitude of the NTC Vulkan leak, indicating the severity and potential consequences of the incident, the Firewall Daily reported. The leak was discovered by a Taiwanese threat intel technical analyst who wasnt sure of the source, said Adam Kozy, a former FBI cyber expert and Crowdstrike analyst who consults on China threat intelligence and is writing a book on the subject entitled Geeks, Spies, and Criminals: How Chinese Intelligence is Hacking its Way to Hegemony. It could be a disgruntled employee of iS00N, or even one of the characters mentioned in the chatsbut the things theyre saying align with other investigations on (Chinese) contractors like APT41, Kozy told SpyTalk. Also known as Double Dragon, the MSS-linked APT41 has gained notoriety for carrying out espionage-related and financial attacks on commercial targets worldwide. Kozy added that iS00Ns activities are reminiscent of those previously linked to entities that Western cyber experts have given the code names Red Scylla, Poison Carp, and Evileye. Target Lists SpyTalk reviewed a portion of this massive assortment of data, now doubtless being mined by numerous intelligence and law enforcement agencies. It revealed a wide range of targets across the globe. They included Bruneian, Turkish and Thai diplomatic trafficpossibly indicating successful Chinese decryption of their coded messages. Other organizations in the sights of iS00N, according to chats dated 2021 and 2022, included Royal Brunei Airlines, the Indonesian Ministry of Commerce, Thai Airways, Malaysian Air, the Secretariat for European Affairs in North Macedonia, and chats in the message network used by Vietnamese television stations. Malaysia was revealed to be a major target in the leaked data. A table showed a breakdown of domain users in specific entities in that Southeast Asian nation, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the national police, Parliament, Malaysia Airlines, and curiously, the Air India office in Kuala Lumpur. Another table showed target names and related data by country including Pakistan, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, Turkey, India, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cambodia, France, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Tibet was similarly named in another table. Apparently, Chinese security contractors need not worry if they slip up by calling Hong Kong, Tibet and Taiwan countries. U.K., Indian Contracts An April-May 2022 discussion about a bid invitation from a client in Chongqing to probe targets in the United Kingdom noted at least one zero day exploit (a vulnerability not known to the target that allows for a clandestine intrusion) and asked for results in two weeks. The targets included Chatham House, the Center for Foreign Policy Studies, the Center for Defense and International Security Studies, IISS, the UK Home Office, Justice Ministry, Treasury, the Education Ministry, the Brexit Department, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the National Crime Agency. One chat, on June 8, 2022, revealed an unspecified client seeking information about the Indian Armys 14th and 17th Corps, which are based, respectively, in Kargil and along the border with Tibet, where Indian and Chinese forces clashed twice that year with fatal results. The same chat discussed an unspecified client requesting searches and a small sample of chat traffic from Vietnam Television using the key words intelligence, peace, China, and USA []. More specificity came with an unsigned and undated draft contract between the Sichuan office of iS00N and the Xinjiang Bayingol Public Security Bureau, located in southeast Xinjiang. According to the document, the PSB was concerned about religious extremists in Central Asia and the Middle East training terrorists originally from the PRC and dispatching them back to China. The contract stipulated that iS00N would provide practical network attack and defense capabilities to the Bayingol PSB, including target acquisition and network defense training, and the fit-out of operations centers to conduct cyber operations, including: a network attack and defense training platform; a WiFi proximity attack system; an automated testing platform; remote control management systems for Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux; a Twitter control evidence collection platform; and a password-cracking platform. Price War Complaints The ranking of these targets was only fleetingly revealed, but the incentives were clear. Military and diplomatic targets are good to sell, one analyst remarked on July 5, 2022. In that same conversation, two iS00N contractors discussed fees for their hacking work, which they noted were falling. Prospective clients were offering 70,000 to 80,000 yuan a month ($9,700 to $11,100), a price point that the chatmates complained was too low to make a profit. Their asking price of 100,000 yuan ($13,907) was difficult to get in recent days, they said. But such sums, apparently multiplied many times across Chinas Public Security Bureaus over the last few years, indicate that the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing may be shelling out tens of millions of dollars each year and outsourcing important international intelligence-gathering tasks to provincial and municipal public security bureaus and departmentspossibly in the same way the MSS has done with its local state security departments and bureaus. The Shanghai State Security Bureau, for example, targets the U.S. Intelligence Community, and the Jiangsu State Security Department, residing in a province with an aerospace industry, goes after foreign export-controlled high technology valued by their local interests. In spite of the money being spent, at least some people doing the work seem less than satisfied. A rant from June, 2022 was blunt but not atypical. Im really drunkPublic Security clients are such stupid c***s, [], said one. Id like to get the f**k out of the Public Security business this year. Too much heartache. Still no f**king money. Its a sharp contrast with the good living that a working level cybersecurity engineer can make in the U.S. and allied nations. Hacker Socialism A graphic showing iS00Ns development reveals that the firm started up in 2010 in Shanghai, and began operating a security research unit, followed by an APT Network Infiltration Research Division in 2013. In 2015 it established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Sichuan, obtaining angel-round financing in 2016 and Series A financing in September 2018. It established a Jiangsu branch in May 2020 and also has offices in Kunming, Chengdu, and Nanjing. In October 2018, iS00N participated in the Ministry of Public Securitys special case network work, and in April 2019 they were selected to be part of the first batch of units embedded into the Cyber Security Bureau of MPS. Between October 2018 and 2021, the company hosted the first through fourth National Public Security System Cyber Security TZ Practical Training sessions. (TZ is short for Training Zone, meaning hands-on, practical training involving threat intelligence, incident response, and other skills needed to protect digital assets). The leaks show how many of these groups still rely on close personal connections, many of which date back to the early 2000s patriotic hacking scene, said Kozy, the former FBI and Crowdstrike analyst, who is closely analyzing the leaked data. They often met at university, online via forums or shared online technical interest groups, and bonded helping one another with technical problems or carried out early intrusion operations against foreign targets, and even against rival domestic groups, operating fairly loosely by comparison to Western contractors that act within legal and contractual constraints. Not only MPS, but also MSS and perhaps the PLA Strategic Support Force, Kozy added, shell out millions of dollars to smaller contractors like iS00Nbut SSF is more supervised. The fact that Chinas national police are now gathering massive amounts of intelligence overseaspreviously thought to be the turf of the MSS and the PLA Strategic Support Forceis notable. It is no surprise that the Chinese Communist Party is worried to the point of paranoia about events and opinions abroad. It has long been said that the CCP is focused less on what we call national security than on the partys own security and its position in society, which it rolls together as state security. The scattershot approach to gathering intelligence reflected in these leaks by a firm that seems less than accountable in its operations deserves thorough scrutiny to determine how effective Beijings spying really is. SpyTalk contributing writer Matthew Brazil is co-author, with Peter Mattis, of the authoritative Chinese Communist Espionage, An Intelligence Primer. This article first appeared on Spytalk.co. A U.S. Navy sailor assigned to the USS Higgins has been charged with espionage after allegedly leaking multiple documents pertaining to national defense to a foreign national, according to a charge sheet obtained by Military.com. Chief Petty Officer Bryce Steven Pedicini, a fire controlman, was charged in January on allegations of committing espionage in Virginia, aboard the Higgins and while in Japan, in addition to the wrongful communication of defense information and disobeying lawful orders. "A sailor assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) is suspected of mishandling classified documents and information," Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a Navy spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, confirmed in an emailed statement. "The incident remains under investigation, and legal proceedings continue." Read Next: Air Force Says Its New China-Focused Reorganization 'Not Best Optimized' for Middle East According to the charge sheet, Pedicini, on multiple occasions between November 2022 and May 2023, allegedly transmitted the classified material while serving in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and in Yokosuka, Japan, where the USS Higgins is based. Hampton Roads is the home of multiple Navy bases, including Naval Air Station Oceana; Naval Shipyard Norfolk; and Joint Expeditionary Base-Little Creek, the home of SEAL Teams 2, 4 and 8. The charges were first reported by USNI News. The nationality of the "citizen and employee of a foreign government" Pedicini allegedly conspired with was unclear from the charge sheet. However, the document did note that the materials leaked -- referred to only as Articles 1223 and 1112 -- contained information "that would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation." Listed on the charge sheet are seven specific allegations of espionage and one attempted incident in which Pedicini, while in Japan in May, tried to share more classified material with his unnamed contact, via pictures that included a shot of a Secret-level computer screen. There were also seven allegations of wrongfully communicating defense-related information, and four regarding the failure to obey lawful orders and general orders, such as not reporting being solicited for classified information by an unauthorized person. He was placed in pre-trial confinement in May 2023, according to Navy records, where he remained as of Wednesday. Pedicini marks the third sailor in a year to face espionage-related charges. In January, Wenheng Zhao, 26 -- who is also known as Thomas Zhao -- was sentenced to just over two years in federal prison for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. The petty officer second class had sent more than 50 technical and mechanical manuals for various systems of the USS Essex and similar ships to his "handler," court documents show. Zhao was arrested and charged in 2023 alongside Jinchao Wei, a machinist mate separately assigned to the USS Essex in San Diego. Wei was charged with four counts of conspiring and sending defense information to a foreign citizen and has yet to be sentenced, according to the Justice Department. While court documents detail Wei and Zhao each receiving thousands of dollars for alleged actions, no such information has been made public regarding Pedicini's case. A request for further comment from Naval Surface Forces was not returned. Pedicini, originally from Tennessee, first enlisted in 2008. His awards include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. -- Rachel Nostrant is a Marine Corps veteran and freelance journalist, with work published in Reuters, New York Magazine, Military Times and more. Navy Installations Command is now responsible for ensuring that all Navy bases in the U.S. and its territories provide quality water to personnel and families who work and live on station. Vice Adm. Christopher Scott Gray, commander for Navy installations, issued a policy earlier this month outlining a new management structure for operation and maintenance of Navy drinking water systems to ensure oversight and responsibility in 10 regions. The move follows a massive spill in 2021 of jet fuel into the Navy's water system at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii that affected 93,000 residents on the installation and in nearby military housing communities. Read Next: Vets Say Weight Loss Drugs Have Improved Their Health, But New Patients Are Out Of Luck Previously, each Navy command had been responsible for managing its individual systems, according to a press release issued by the service on Tuesday. "In order to ensure consistent management, policy and oversight across the Navy, these functions and responsibilities were placed under [Commander, Navy Installations Command]," the release states. The contamination in Hawaii triggered a cleanup effort and closure of the Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility responsible for the discharge. More than 2,000 residents, including active-duty personnel and military family members, have sued the Navy over health issues they say they suffered as a result of the service's negligence. Coleen San Nicolas-Perez, deputy public affairs officer for Navy Installations Command, told Military.com on Wednesday that the lessons from the Red Hill mishap, as well as internal assessments at other installations, played roles in developing the new policy. "We determined that we needed to incorporate those lessons learned and recommendations into our overall drinking water program operations across the Navy shore enterprise," San Nicolas-Perez wrote in an email. "We feel these improvements will increase consistency with drinking water management and operations at all our installations." According to the policy, the new initiative aims to improve oversight and enhance the Navy's ability to operate and maintain its water systems, as well as meet drinking water standards. Drinking water committees, composed of public works, environmental, medical and communications personnel, will be established at each installation, region and headquarters level to oversee water quality management and concerns. "We must consistently validate that those who rely on the Navy water systems, whether they are on our bases or live in nearby communities, have access to safe drinking water," Gray said in a statement. "This policy identifies the responsibilities and roles of Navy commands and positions of authority while holding them accountable to deliver quality drinking water that meets standards." Last month, the Navy activated what it called a "swarm team" of experts from the service and the Hawaii Department of Health to determine the root cause of continued low-level findings of petroleum hydrocarbons in the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system, citing concerns from the community. The service maintains that the drinking water system at the installation meets federal and state standards, and it has remained within those safe drinking water guidelines since March 2022. Nevertheless, given ongoing concerns in the community, the Navy is collecting additional water samples from residences and the water sources. "When it comes to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam drinking water concerns, the Navy is taking it seriously with an all-hands on deck approach," San Nicolas-Perez said. Gray added that service members, families and all who live in Hawaii have the Navy's "full attention." "As the team in Hawaii continues to make great strides, my team is ready to give whatever support is needed to safely close the Red Hill facility and ensure the safety of the water, the land, and the community," Gray said in a statement provided to Military.com. The Navy operates numerous water systems and maintains that all in the U.S. meet or exceed U.S. and Defense Department requirements. And while the service doesn't control water supplies at overseas installations, officials said the water at those bases also must meet U.S. and DoD requirements, and if it doesn't, the Navy supplies bottled water to those affected. "Across the Navy shore enterprise, whether in Hawaii, in the mainland, or overseas, we have a standardized framework for overseeing, evaluating, and maintaining our drinking water systems," San Nicolas-Perez said. The new policy largely standardizes oversight, operations and maintenance of the water systems at all Navy facilities. It requires installation committees to conduct self-assessments of their drinking water systems annually, and those considered to be high risk may be required to undergo sanitary surveys at the Navy Installations Command level. The committees also will be required to communicate frequently with the Navy; consumers; and other affected federal, state and local entities on water quality and compliance as needed. Personnel at the installation, regional and headquarters levels also will be required to undergo training on drinking water systems. "The commanders are responsible for the quality assurance and compliance of the Navy drinking water systems," Navy Installations Command Environmental Director Brock Durig said in a statement. "They take a hands-on approach when it comes to continual program and water system oversight to address any water quality concerns and take the appropriate actions to ensure Navy drinking water systems are meeting federal and state standards," Durig added. The new initiative applies only to U.S. and territorial installations and not to Navy ships, where incidents and complaints of contaminated water have existed for years. A December 1975 Government Accountability Office report detailed how common dumping fuel into the ocean was for Navy vessels. The report was generated after the carrier USS Independence dumped 8,900 gallons of aviation gasoline off the coast of South Carolina. More recently, in 2022, the Navy had two high-profile water contamination events -- one aboard the USS Nimitz, which involved jet fuel getting into the water supply, and one on the carrier Abraham Lincoln, whose water supply was contaminated by the bacteria E. coli. A report last year by Military.com on the amphibious assault ship Boxer, which dumped diesel fuel into the ocean in 2016 and exposed the crew to the contaminant, led members of the House to call for more accountability on the incident. The Department of the Navy and the Marine Corps were responsible for what is thought to be one of the largest cases of drinking water contamination in the U.S. at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where an estimated 1 million were exposed to industrial solvents, benzene and other cancer-causing agents in the base's drinking water supply from the early 1950s through 1987. Related: Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Tied to a Range of Cancers, CDC Study Says The Navy has formally announced that it is creating a new robotics job -- referred to as a rating -- aimed specifically at operating drones and other autonomous vehicles as service leaders tout the technology as the future of warfare. The new rating is called robotics warfare specialist and "will accelerate development of deep expertise in rapidly advancing autonomous technologies," the Navy said in an administrative message released Thursday. The news comes just over a week after the Navy's top officer, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, previewed the move at a naval conference in San Diego. Read Next: Vets Say Weight Loss Drugs Have Improved Their Health, But New Patients Are Out of Luck The new robotics specialists will initially come from sailors who are already aerial or underwater drone operators, largely concentrated in the undersea and special warfare communities, according to the website for the new rating. Lt. Meagan Morrison, a spokeswoman for the chief of naval personnel, told Military.com that sailors who have gone to schools for unmanned undersea vehicle operations of the MK 18 Mod 2 "Kingfish" undersea mine hunting drone, as well as the ScanEagle, Puma, Integrator and MQ-4 Triton aerial drones, will make up the initial cohort of new robotics warfare specialists. The message released by the Navy noted that, while "all active-duty ratings are open for conversion" to the new job, "it is important to note that this will initially be a small and highly selective rating." A fact sheet released by the Navy also noted that there will not be a corresponding officer specialty. Last week, the commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, Adm. Sam Paparo, told a crowd at the WEST 2024 conference -- the same venue where Franchetti previewed the new rating -- that the service has "a very rich program of integrating" unmanned vehicles into its operations. Paparo went on to say that the Navy has a "concept of unmanned and autonomous operations that will, in fact, augment and complement our ability to employ those capabilities when the unforgiving hour comes." However, Paparo, who has been nominated to become the next commander of the Indo-Pacific theater, wouldn't elaborate further on what capabilities drones would bring to the fight, citing operational security. Morrison said that the Navy expects to have around 400 sailors initially fill out the ranks of the new rating, abbreviated as RW, from those who already hold one of seven autonomous vehicle supervisory, operator or maintenance qualifications. The first advancement exam will take place in September for E-5 and E-6 sailors, the rating's website said. "The RW rating is a major milestone in our Navy's relentless march to achieve a truly hybrid fleet," the message announced. Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, the chief of naval personnel, said in a social media post that one of the goals of the new job is to allow sailors "to work all aspects of tactical and operational employment of robotic systems as their primary duty, including preventative and corrective maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, networking information systems, configuration, data analysis, and utilizing technical documentation and test equipment." Until now, these sailors would have been responsible for operating unmanned autonomous platforms as something outside their primary job in the Navy, thus hampering advancement opportunities. The Navy's most public employment of drones has been its Middle East-based Task Force 59, which has operated a variety of airborne, sailing and underwater drones since 2021. Although it was largely seen as a way for the Navy to experiment with the technology, last spring the service announced it was expanding those efforts to South America to help fight narcotics trafficking, among other missions. Related: Despite Deadly Attack, US Military Still Grappling with How to Handle Enemy Drones BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov has held a videoconference with a member of the House of Commons of the UK from the ruling Conservative Party, Chairman of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) Sir Alok Kumar Sharma, the Azerbaijani ministry told Trend. Jabbarov noted the effective expansion of collaboration with the UK in commerce and economics, energy, non-oil sectors, and other areas. The Azerbaijani minister discussed the country's energy transition, targets for reducing gas emissions, ongoing renewable energy initiatives, efforts to export green energy to Europe, and preparations for the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). The summit underlined the potential for Azerbaijan and the UK to collaborate on renewable energy and climate change mitigation. The significance of researching the British experience with hosting COP events was also underlined. Sir Alok Kumar Sharma stated that bilateral relations with Azerbaijan are solid, emphasizing the efficient relationship between the two countries. He discussed his firsthand experience chairing the COP and expressed his views on money as a critical expectation for COP29. The discussion focused on active collaboration in the field of energy transformation, as well as opportunities for cooperative activities at COP29. The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023 enabling Azerbaijan to host the above event in November. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel More than 100 years after they were convicted of mutiny and murder and hanged for the 1917 Houston Riot, 17 Black soldiers have finally received military burial honors along with new headstones reflecting the honorable discharges the Army awarded them last year. In a solemn ceremony Thursday at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Department of Veterans Affairs and Army officials gathered with relatives of the soldiers, members of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, to honor their service and replace gravestones that had marked the men as unworthy of being in a veterans' cemetery. Rather than focus on the history of the riot, the courts-martial that followed or the Army's decision last November to overturn the convictions, Thursday's ceremony aimed to restore "dignity, honor and respect" to the soldiers who were executed and more than 90 others who were wrongly convicted, said VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher. Read Next: Vets Say Weight Loss Drugs Have Improved Their Health, But New Patients Are Out of Luck "These headstones are more than just physical markers. They are a symbol of promise and progress. These headstones uphold the promise enshrined in the Constitution that in the eyes of the law, all Americans have equal rights and equal worth," Bradsher said. In 1917, the troops, members of the Buffalo Soldiers, were sent to Houston to guard a training camp. According to the Texas State Historical Association, racial tensions evolved soon thereafter against a backdrop of segregation among white residents, the police and the soldiers. On Aug. 23, 1917, police arrested a soldier for interfering with the arrest of a Black civilian woman. Fights broke out and soldiers took up arms to help a soldier who had been arrested, while others responded to rumors that a white mob was approaching the camp by firing into the city. Mayhem ensued. Nineteen people died, including five policemen and four Black soldiers, while 11 were seriously wounded. The Army conducted three courts-martial at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, finding 110 soldiers guilty. Nineteen were hanged -- 13 within hours of the verdicts -- with 17 buried at the fort's cemetery. Sixty-three soldiers received life sentences. On. Feb. 22, 2022, the National Cemetery Administration unveiled a marker at the cemetery explaining the history of the riot and the charges against the soldiers. Then, last November, the Army overturned the convictions of the 110 soldiers, finding that they were "wrongly treated because of their race and were not given fair trials," according to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. With the announcement, as well as the Army's decision to grant all the soldiers honorable discharges, the VA began reaching out to the soldiers' relatives to ensure that they received any benefits they may have been entitled to. This also included an effort to swap out the headstones of the 17 buried at the fort, which bore only the soldiers' names and dates of death. The new headstones have their names, ranks, places of birth, birthdates and dates of death. "These soldiers, known as Buffalo Soldiers, served our nation at a time when, due to racial prejudices, their service was neither appreciated, nor respected. Today, VA will forever honor their service," VA Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs Matthew Quinn said during the ceremony. Jason Holt, a relative of Pfc. Thomas Hawkins, who was executed, acknowledged the painful history of the Houston Riot and praised federal officials for taking steps to support the soldiers decades after the event. "It's not easy for these folks today to stand up and have to go back to their respective places of power and say they did something that involved racism," Holt said. "To say that they did something to set aside convictions, to say they did something that was controversial. That's not an easy job. I salute your courage." Holt was among three family members of soldiers who received certificates in recognition of their relatives' service. The ceremony included a three-round volley, the playing of Taps and presentation of colors, along with the unveiling of the headstones. The soldiers who received the honors were: Cpl. Charles Baltimore, Pfc. William Breckenridge, Pvt. Albert Wright, Pvt. James Divins, Pvt. James Robinson, Pvt. Thomas McDonald, Pvt. Babe Collier, Cpl. James Wheatley, Pvt. Frank Johnson, Sgt. William Nesbit, Pvt. Pat McWhorter, Pfc. Thomas Hawkins, Pvt. Risley Young, Pvt. Ira Davis, Pfc. Carlos Snodgrass, Pfc. William Boone and Cpl. Jesse Moore. The bodies of Cpl. Larnon Brown and Pvt. Joseph Smith, also executed, are buried elsewhere, having been reclaimed by family when they died. More than 180,000 service members, spouses and family members are buried in the cemetery at Fort Sam Houston. Related: How a Race Riot Involving an Army Unit Led to the Largest Murder Trial in US History When the temperature in North Pole, Alaska, dips below a bone-chilling minus-30 degrees, Brandon Phillips occasionally heads to the front yard with his KitchenAid mixer. To the delight of his kids, the 40-year-old former Army Black Hawk repairman and crew chief takes a heap of local snow and mixes it with cream, milk and sugar for a homemade ice cream. Phillips once craved sweets like ice cream all the time. But now, after around seven months on Wegovy, an FDA-approved medication for weight loss that has rapidly gained popularity and is derived from the diabetes drug Ozempic, he prefers a single small scoop. He used to drink more alcohol too, but now, almost 30 pounds lighter and free of what he calls "food noise" that coincided with service-related post-traumatic stress disorder, a single beer is too filling. A vodka soda, heavy on the soda, is plenty. While the class of drugs that includes Wegovy, semaglutide injections also widely known from the brand Ozempic, has boomed in America, vets looking to start them may be out of luck, according to officials. The meteoric popularity of the drugs has triggered an ongoing global manufacturing shortage. Army Sgt. Brandon Phillips works as a Black Hawk crew chief and repairman in Kirkuk, Iraq, in 2009. Credit: Brandon Phillips. (Courtesy of the family) "Currently, the low doses of Wegovy that are needed to titrate the patient to a therapeutic dose safely are not consistently available from the manufacturer," said VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes in an email to Military.com. "The manufacturer has no estimate for when the supply constraints will be resolved." Prescription rates for semaglutide within the Department of Veterans Affairs have nearly doubled annually since 2019, when more than 106,000 prescriptions were filled, according to new data released to Military.com in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. In 2023, that number was just under 1.6 million. Those numbers include both Wegovy and Ozempic. But last fall, the number of new patients taking the drugs plummeted. Between September and November 2023, no vets were prescribed Wegovy starter doses at most VA facilities, and the total was under 10 in other areas, according to the data received by Military.com. "I have patients that are coming to me now that definitely meet criteria, but I have no medication to give them," said Dr. Jennifer Clemente, a VA clinical pharmacy specialist based in Detroit. For the time being, Clemente can only refer patients to the VA's MOVE! program for healthy lifestyle habits, already a prerequisite for a VA Wegovy prescription. Still a relatively new class of drugs being studied intensely, semaglutide dosages are titrated, or slowly increased, to help offset side effects such as nausea, Clemente said. Side effects are serious enough that some patients must stop the drugs altogether, which can in turn lead to more weight gained. Long-term effects, both positive and negative, will take years to come into focus as hundreds of thousands of Americans begin what could be a lifetime of medication. For those who have started taking the drug and responded positively, like Phillips, the results can be life altering. "The impact on patients' health has been remarkable, and the impact on their own personal perspectives, their mental health, their body image, can also be quite remarkable," said endocrinologist Dr. Paul Conlin, who also serves as the chief of medical service for the VA Boston health care system. It's leading to a rush on the drug, with the effect hitting both the VA's budget and the drug supply chain. The VA spent just shy of $300 million on semaglutide medications in 2023, according to Hayes, ahead of the ongoing global semaglutide shortage from Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk, which says it plans to increase production of Wegovy starter doses soon. More than three-quarters of the veterans served by the VA are either overweight or obese. Thus far, the shortages haven't hit patients already taking the drug, according to Clemente, but the VA is holding off on starting new patients on the regimen until doctors can be sure the supply will be consistent. The shortage has prompted some vets to find other means of getting the drugs, including paying out-of-pocket for compound pharmacies to recreate the drugs from scratch. The FDA has cautioned that some compound pharmacies have used a salt-based semaglutide, which isn't the same active ingredient used in Ozempic and Wegovy, and even issued separate warnings on counterfeit Ozempic that began to flood the supply chain last year. When vets have turned to the VA for the medications, at times it has been a fight. "[The VA's] first inclination is to deny expensive stuff," said Jonathan Turner, 56, a Gulf War veteran based in Reno, Nevada. "And then you have to appeal it." Turner sought out an endocrinologist, beyond his primary care physician, to help make his case for a semaglutide prescription. The endocrinologist navigated the appeal process with Turner after the VA first denied the doctor's request for semaglutide for Turner in 2022 -- twice. It's an expensive drug regimen, one that can cost patients without insurance roughly $1,000 per month, and insurers expect the drugs costs to rise. To date, Turner says he's lost 60 pounds, and his fatty liver disease has improved. He suspects he developed the disease because of exposure to toxic chemicals during the Gulf War, including oil field fires and harsh solvents used to clean the electronics he was in charge of repairing. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may be more prevalent in Gulf War veterans, according to developing research. At least one state government ceased paying for semaglutide because of unforeseen enormous costs. North Carolina recently nixed covering the drug for employees after the medication for 25,000 state employees topped $100 million. Obesity itself isn't a service-connected disability, meaning veterans can't receive compensation for it. But the VA does treat it as a secondary condition. That includes Vietnam veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange, or vets who suffered joint damage from the physical demands of military service. After more than a year on semaglutide, Turner reached the maximum dose and expects to continue taking that dose for many years. So does Phillips. Neither Turner nor Phillips have run into Wegovy shortage issues, since the larger doses remained readily available. Turner likened taking Wegovy maintenance dosage to the common practice of taking medication for decades for other chronic conditions, like high blood pressure. "At this point, I'm taking it to try and keep the weight off," Turner said. "You lose the benefits when you stop taking it." -- Kelsey Baker is a graduate student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, and a former active-duty Marine. Reach her on X at @KelsBBaker or bakerkelsey@protonmail.com. Chivalry wasn't dead in 1938 when Nazi tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia. It lived on in at least one man: Josef Mencik, also known as the "Knight of Strakonice." Once described as "the definition of living history," Mencik owned and refurbished a castle in his native country and took the time to teach medieval history to anyone who would listen. More importantly, when the world decided to allow Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a large chunk of his country, Mencik rode out to meet Adolf Hitler's tanks, alone and in full medieval armor. It might have been a foolish gesture of resistance, or even a symbolic one, but it was certainly one of the few acts of defiance against the Nazi regime until that point. Josef Mencik, the Last Knight Despite his love for history, there isn't a lot history knows about Mencik. He grew up in the Bohmerwald area of what was then Czechoslovakia, a mountainous region that today straddles Germany and the modern Czech Republic. Indeed, it appears that Mencik suddenly emerged from the Bohemian Forests in the early 20th century to do things that few others would, which includes (but isn't limited to) standing up to the Nazis. What is known about Mencik is that he acquired a 13th-century Gothic fortress in the Czech town of Dobrs (a structure known today as Tvrz Dobrs). Through that structure, we can get a glimpse of the man who helped rebuild it. Local nobility added a Baroque-style wing onto the old castle in the 1700s, but after that, it fell into disrepair. It became housing for the local poor, then a granary before being turned into a school in 1838. In 1911, the school and the fortress burned down and were set to be demolished. That's when Mencik stepped into history. Dobrs Tvrz, or Dobrs Fortress, originally built by local nobles in the 1300s, has a long and storied history. According to local newspaper Volny Listy Dobrsske, Mencik was a local councilor and "adventurer" with a taste for rum and anchovies who purchased the fortress from the wealthy Schwarzenberg family in 1911. The most we know is that he was the oldest of four siblings, and was born in an apartment in the local castle before buying the fortress and spending the next 30 years reliving the life of a knight. Not only did he begin renovating the Dobrs Fortress to suit his version of the High Middle Ages, he began to fill it with antiques and curiosities and started appearing at markets and fairs in a suit of full medieval armor he purchased in France. Mencik dubbed himself "the Last Knight" and tried to live up to the chivalrous title by showing generosity and hospitality to his neighbors and guests. He frequently gave tours and explained the history he was trying to recreate; he even dressed his wife Ema and his two children up as characters in his knight's tale. But the act of chivalry for which Mencik is best known would come 27 years after he became a local "nobleman," in the face of a new age of warfare. Resisting Nazi Aggression What was once known as Sudetenland was not a single chunk of land, but areas along the borders of Czechoslovakia and Germany that were filled with native German speakers. After the Anschluss -- the incorporation of Austria into Adolf Hitler's growing Nazi Empire -- the Germans wanted these German-speaking parts of Czechoslovakia and were willing to go to war over it. Dobrs, then a part of Bohemia, was included in Hitler's demand. Germany had already begun a low-intensity conflict with the Czechs in September 1938, claiming ethnic Germans were being oppressed and killed in Czechoslovakia. Hitler even created an army of pro-Nazi Czechs to infiltrate the area. The rest of Europe, of course, didn't have the stomach for war after the chaotic destruction of World War I. At the end of that month, representatives of England, France, Germany and Italy met in Munich with the hopes of averting another war. The Czechs were not invited to the talks, so the offer made to "appease" Hitler was giving up the Czech Sudetenland to Germany, which Czechoslovakia was forced to accept. It wasn't long before the whole of the country was swallowed up by Germany, then Hungary and Poland. By 1939, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. The partition of Czechoslovakia, 1938-1939. (American Holocaust Museum) The Last Knight Rises In the early days of October 1938, German tanks began rolling into Czechoslovakia -- and no one fired a shot to resist them. In fact, it seemed the world cared little for the needs of the Czech people, so long as no one was wearing gas masks in the muddy trenches of another world war. The people living in the Sudetenland saw the Munich Agreement as a betrayal, and few went out to greet their would-be occupiers. One of those who did ride out to meet them was Mencik. When a German armored column crossed the border at Bucina, they came upon an incredible scene. Adorned in full armor and on the back of his horse, the Last Knight stood opposed to Nazi aggression against his home country. He reportedly charged the column with a sword and halberd. No one is really sure why he wasn't mercilessly gunned down in the Nazi tradition, but most believe the Germans probably thought he was crazy. Sudeten German welcome Nazi troops crossing into Czechoslovakia. (Bundesarchiv) The column of tanks actually did stop for a moment, but Mencik eventually was forced to stand aside as the Germans advanced. He would survive to see his homeland liberated, but would not live much longer. He died at his son's home on Nov. 19, 1945. After World War II, Czechoslovak borders were reconstituted and the German-speaking inhabitants of what was once the Sudetenland were expelled from the Czech lands. Today, the region is predominantly filled with Czechs. Mencik's home at Tvrz Dobrs has been taken over by the Dobrs Restoration Association, which works to rebuild structures that might be otherwise lost to history -- much like its eccentric, erstwhile owner. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Last month, the White Sox announced plans for a potential new stadium on Chicagos South Loop. Justin Laurence of Crains Chicago Business reported last week that the organization was seeking roughly $1 billion in public funding for the project. Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf traveled to the Illinois capital to meet with state officials yesterday. Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson spoke with reporters this afternoon and sounded broadly open to the possibility of approving money for both the White Sox and NFLs Bears. Im grateful that both organizations are committed to having these conversations. As far as financing these projects, both organizations know that they have to put some skin in the game. Theyre expressed a commitment to do that, Johnson said (link via Fran Spielman of the Chicago Sun-Times). As far as public dollars, we havent gotten into any of those specifics just yet. But I will say that were going to explore all options. But we have to make sure that were doing right by the people of Chicago. Everything is on the table here. But again, I want to make sure there is a real commitment to public use and public benefit. Its not clear how much the White Sox plan to invest in the project. Theyll surely continue discussions with both city and state officials as they look to drum up funding. The teams lease at Guaranteed Rate Field runs through the 2029 season. The stadium opened in 1991, making it the eighth-oldest park in the majors. The Tecos de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League announced the signing of outfielder Yonathan Daza for the 2024 season. Daza had appeared in the majors in four of the last five seasons, including each of the past three years. Last year, the outfielder started in center field for the Rockies on Opening Day. Daza got off to a slow start, hitting .270/.304/.351 through 24 contests. Colorado outrighted him to Triple-A at the beginning of May. The Rox turned center field over to rookie Brenton Doyle. Daza hit .305/.350/.415 over 39 games with Colorados Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque before suffering a left shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. Daza reached minor league free agency at seasons end. Instead of signing a minor league pact with an MLB team, hell head to Mexico. Daza is a solid athlete who can handle all three outfield positions. His offensive profile has been built primarily on putting the ball in play with minimal impact. Hes a .281/.329/.354 hitter in a little less than 1000 career MLB plate appearances. If he gets out to a strong start with the Tecos, he could find renewed minor league interest down the line. Slayer will be reuniting for an earth-shattering performance at Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville and the Riot Fest in Chicago. The heavy metal giants last played live together in November 19 after an 18-month farewell tour. Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar),Gary Holt (guitar) and Paul Bostaph (drums) announced Wednesday that the band will reform for two dates in Chicago and Kentucky. Get tickets to the Riot Fest in Chicago IL, 3-Day Pass (September 20-22), Douglass Park, Chicago, IL. Stubhub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek have tickets to Slayers highly anticipated return. The band will also play the Sep. 27 Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, KY. The California-based band is considered one of the most important metal bands in rock history, commonly referred to in the Big 4 alongside Anthrax, Megadeath and Metallica. Their first two albums, 1983s Show No Mercy and 1985s Hell Awaits, were released on Metal Blade Records, before they signed to Rick Rubins Def Jam label in 1986. Get tickets to the Riot Fest in Chicago IL, Riot Fest - 3 Day Pass (Sept. 20-22), Douglass Park, Chicago, IL. Stubhub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek have tickets to Slayers highly anticipated return to the stage. Chicago - Riot Fest - 3 Day Pass (September 20-22), Douglass Park, Chicago, IL. Stubhub Vivid Seats SeatGeek PETOSKEY, MI - On the shores of a pristine inland lake sits a cozy log home that recently went up for sale. The home sits on 115 feet of private sandy frontage on Walloon Lake, which Ernest Hemingway wrote about. The 3,433-square-foot home, built in 1998, log-by-log, is located on the west arm of Walloon Lake only minutes from downtown Bay Harbor, Petoskey and fifteen minutes from Boyne City. The home is located three miles from the Ernest Hemingway cottage, also known as Windemere. The historic landmark was the childhood home of Hemingway, who spent summers growing up there. Walloon Lake covers over 2,000 acres and is 100 feet deep. The inland lake drains into the Bear River. The home, located at 4244 Lake Grove Road, features four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half bathroom. The custom-built $4,700,000 home, listed by Kidd and Leavy Real Estate, is MLives Up North House of the Week. Homes of various architectural styles and prices in Northern Michigan are showcased every other week. The exterior of MLives Up North House of the Week located at 4244 Lake Grove Rd. in Petoskey, Michigan. The home with 115 feet of private frontage on Walloon Lake is currently on the market for $4,700,000.Image provided by Phoenix Photography The outdoor living spaces are what really make this home special. The private lot features 115 feet of hard-packed sandy frontage on Walloon Lake. It also has a large dock for lounging and two covered boat docks that extend into the lakes royal blue waters. Its a comfortable home, its the like favorite jacket or pair of shoes. Once you arrive, you know you are away from all the stress and business of everyday life downstate, said listing agent Wally Kidd, owner and associate broker of Kidd and Leavy Real Estate. The tiered yard features a large patio with ample seating and a childrens area and playhouse. The picturesque log home is surrounded by gorgeous, mature landscaping that features flower beds of all colors and varieties. The exterior also has a side patio extending from the home with a wood-burning fireplace and more fantastic views of the lake. The great room of MLives Up North House of the Week located at 4244 Lake Grove Rd. in Petoskey, Michigan. The home with 115 feet of private frontage on Walloon Lake is currently on the market for $4,700,000.Image provided by Phoenix Photography Stepping inside, natural light pours through the enormous windows into the great room with beautiful lake views. The living room boasts vaulted ceilings and an impressive wood-burning fireplace surrounded by stone. The kitchen is at the center of the great room, creating an open-concept area with living and dining rooms. It is really the heart of the home and serves as a great way to bond the family, Kidd said about the kitchen space. The kitchen is designed to cater to culinary enthusiasts. It has a Thermador range, Sub-Zero fridge, and is surrounded by custom Dutch Made cabinetry and a large pantry. The kitchen in the great room of MLives Up North House of the Week located at 4244 Lake Grove Rd. in Petoskey, Michigan. The home with 115 feet of private frontage on Walloon Lake is currently on the market for $4,700,000.Image provided by Phoenix Photography The master suite offers convenient one-floor living with a unique walk-in shower and jacuzzi tub as well as a private patio. The lower level features a spacious family room with a walkout to the lake. There are also three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the lower level. The exterior of MLives Up North House of the Week located at 4244 Lake Grove Rd. in Petoskey, Michigan. The home with 115 feet of private frontage on Walloon Lake is currently on the market for $4,700,000.Image provided by Phoenix Photography The home has an attached two-stall garage that has a bonus bunk/playroom above the garage. You can view the complete listing from Kidd and Leavy Real Estate here. Check out the photographs and video above from Next Door Photos, to see why this is our House of the Week. Click here for a direct link to the gallery of 27 images. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Washtenaw County could build multiple new government buildings and exit current facilities in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Chelsea if officials choose to move ahead with a far-reaching reconfiguration with an estimated price tag exceeding $100 million. The recommended changes are the product of a two-year study of the countys portfolio of buildings, from courthouses to mental health treatment centers, presented publicly to county leaders for the first time on Wednesday, Feb. 21. It aims to optimize space, save costs and offer a 10-year roadmap for county facilities. This is a document that looks at all of countys spaces and really looks to help prepare us into the future to make sure that we have spaces that help the county best serve the needs of the public, Deputy County Administrator Andrew DeLeeuw said in a presentation to the county board detailing the recommendations. The changes are far from a done deal. They would require the county board to authorize them and expend some $109 to $176 million in capital costs, according to rough cost estimates presented Wednesday. Factoring in cost savings realized through the plan, the sum ranges from roughly $46 to $79 million over 10 years, the presentation showed, although the figures are preliminary and could vary considerably based on which parts are implemented. The full amount would bring a wide-ranging set of facility upgrades and consolidation, slimming the countys footprint by some 61,600 square feet, or 7%, officials said. The plan recommends the county immediately consider consolidating Community Mental Health staff now scattered over three facilities at a new, centralized location, potentially built on the site of the countys current 2140 E. Ellsworth Road location in Pittsfield Township. Doing so would allow the county to exit its downtown Ann Arbor Annex Building at 110 N. Fourth Ave., which has one of the more challenging layouts of any county facility, according to Michael Hoffstrom, a consultant with JLL, a firm hired by the county to craft the facilities plan. Read more: Broken windows, threats led to workplace safety inspection at Washtenaw County building The consolidation would also allow CMH staff to leave a human services building in the countys 555 Towner St. complex in Ypsilanti that has significant maintenance needs, opening the door for redevelopment, demolition or reuse of that space, Hoffstrom said. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health at the Human Services Center, 555 Towner St., Ypsilanti, Mich., on April 1, 2019.Lauren Slagter | MLive More change would come to Ypsilanti if the plans recommendations go ahead as presented. It advises county officials to exit the Eastern County Government Center at 415 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, a former grocery store that now houses the 14A-2 District Court and county Office of Community and Economic Development but has operational and maintenance issues. Relocation plans would have to be developed, including the possibility of consolidating the court with the 14A-1 District Court in Pittsfield Township, while leaving some sort of court presence in Ypsilanti, Hoffstrom said. Renovations and document digitization could free up space in the Pittsfield Township courthouse, he said. OCED staff could also potentially relocate to the Towner complex in Ypsilanti if CMH employees vacate it, Hoffstrom said. The countys presence in Ann Arbor could also see significant shifts if the plan is adopted. One approach is a new consolidated government center in downtown Ann Arbor that could be accomplished with the redevelopment of the countys Trial Court building at 101 E. Huron St. That would provide needed security updates for the court facilities and space for the Public Defenders Office, which currently leases offices, Hoffstrom said. The Washtenaw County Courthouse at 101 E. Huron St. in downtown Ann Arbor.AnnArbor.com The project could also free up space in the county Administration Building at 220 N. Main St., providing the opportunity for reuse or other county priorities, like the development of affordable housing, Hoffstrom said. Alternatively, officials could choose to pursue an addition to the Trial Court building instead of a new facility, according to the plan. A steering committee of county and court officials who influenced the recommendations couldnt reach consensus on which option to support, Hoffstrom said. A variety of possibilities for relocating the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti also split the committee, he said. Another recommendation in the plan would bring changes to western Washtenaw County, where officials say the 14A-3 District Court building in downtown Chelsea is challenged by significant security concerns. The plan recommends exiting the building, originally built as a bank, and developing a new Chelsea Service Center. Preserving county services in Chelsea is important to the city and surrounding townships, and the plan would be to provide a more flexible drop-in space akin to the countys Washtenaw Avenue Learning Resource Center, DeLeeuw said. The 14A-3 District Court building at 122 South Main Street in Chelsea on Feb. 23, 2022.Lucas Smolcic Larson | lsmolciclarson@mlive.com We believe that that type of building in place of a courthouse will allow for more county services to be more closely available to the people who live out in the county, he said. Read more: Washtenaw County leaders advance $4.79M Saline courthouse expansion with solar field The county facilities roadmap was presented to commissioners at a work session, where no action is taken. Officials intend to set-up more opportunities for feedback with communities affected by the proposed changes, and those sessions may lead to shifts in the recommendations, DeLeeuw said. Commissioners will be asked to vote on the plan, likely including an affirmation of the direction it lays out, as well as a request to fund the next phase of planning, DeLeeuw said. Specifics around building design, location, occupancy and financing would also go before the board, but there is still a lot of work to be done before that point, he said. Several county commissioners weighed in on the plan on Wednesday, with some sharing concerns around the accessibility of county services if some established spaces are vacated. Residents in her Ypsilanti district have already raised concerns about the potential movement of the district court and other services, Commissioner Annie Somerville said. Any action the county takes should be guided by the desire of the communities that house the facilities, western Washtenaw County Commissioner Jason Maciejewski said. Listening to those local communities and having their input I think is really vital, he said, adding hes been impressed with that process in Chelsea. As for what happens if certain county buildings are vacated, DeLeeuw told commissioners that would be a decision that ultimately rested with them. Some, like Ann Arbor Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, said they wouldnt support selling any of the spaces, preferring the county find ways to generate revenue from the facilities instead. Plans to consolidate county spaces should also keep in mind accessibility concerns, he added. It is, I think, important to remember that its okay for us to not just have one big tower in downtown Ann Arbor, he said We should have a presence for services in all of our core communities across the county. 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. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI An Ann Arbor man charged with criminal sexual conduct has been deemed competent to stand trial. Gary William Lockwood, 31, appeared in court Thursday, Feb. 22, for a hearing before 14-A1 District Court Judge J. Cedric Simpson. He had been ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination in December. Lockwood is facing charges of two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of accosting children for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. He also was charged with malicious destruction of fire or police property and two counts of resisting a police officer. All seven charges are felonies. Related: Ann Arbor man facing criminal sexual conduct charges involving 13-year-old girl Ann Arbor police were called Sept. 19 to the 500 block of West Summit Street for a report of a 13-year-old girl who had run away from home, Ann Arbor police Detective Zachary Allen said during a swear-to hearing on Sept. 23. The girl was later found by her father in a nearby wooded area with an adult man, who fled on foot and was not located that night, Allen said. The man was later identified as Lockwood, according to police. The girl said she met Lockwood through her 14-year-old sister, who she said was having a sexual relationship with him, Allen said. The 13-year-old said she and Lockwood had been exchanging nude photographs via Facebook messenger, Allen said. A preliminary search uncovered dozens and dozens of nude photographs of Lockwood that had been sent to the girl, according to Allen, adding Lockwood had also messaged the teen asking about sexual acts. Police arrested Lockwood outside of the Delonis Center, 312 W. Huron St., police said. He originally met the girls at a community event in the park, according to police. Lockwood maintains his innocence and said during his September arraignment hearing he has concerns about his own competency. By Michigan law, people are presumed competent unless it is determined they cannot understand the court proceedings against them or rationally assist in their own defense. Lockwood is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $300,000 bond. He will next appear in court on Wednesday, March 14. 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. ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor is fed up with landlords finding ways around the citys renter rights laws intended to stop landlords from pressuring tenants to renew leases early. City Council is now taking steps to tighten the rules, while calling out landlords for what some officials and renters say is predatory behavior, such as threatening steep rent hikes if tenants dont quickly commit to renewing leases for another year soon after starting a lease. Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Feb. 20, to give its initial OK to ordinance changes that will prohibit landlords from making renewal offers to tenants sooner than 180 days after the start of a lease. Final approval is expected March 4. The citys Renters Commission and city staff continue to receive numerous complaints regarding landlords pressuring tenants to renew leases soon into the beginning of a lease, the city attorneys office said. In addition to making that illegal, the ordinance changes will clarify and add to the list of required information landlords must include in renewal offers, including spelling out all changes in terms and conditions from current leases. Weve all heard consistently and clearly from tenants all over the city, including from one of our state representatives, who are frustrated by what appear to be very clear violations of the intent of our existing law, said Council Member Travis Radina, D-3rd Ward, adding theyre even more frustrated when they find out citations cant be issued because of loopholes. These two critical amendments will strengthen the citys ability to issue citations for early and deficient renewal offers and hopefully end the predatory practice of preying on tenants financial fears to force them into signing their rights away, Radina said. Council Member Travis Radina, D-3rd Ward, speaks about LGBTQ Pride Month at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on June 5, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Additionally, under the pending changes landlords cant require tenants to make decisions on accepting renewal offers sooner than 30 days after offers are sent. Despite pushback and a legal challenge from landlords, City Council approved a new law in 2021 that was intended to let renters who sign one-year leases live in their apartments roughly seven months before having to decide on renewing. The law stated landlords couldnt show occupied apartments to other prospective tenants or enter new leases with other tenants until 150 days before the end of a current lease. Renters and officials have since spoken out about landlords now resorting to sending out notices to tenants threatening steep rent hikes if they dont commit to renew early. Landlords have clearly violated the spirit, if not the letter, of the law, Radina said. State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, an Ann Arbor renter, spoke out about the situation in October, saying thats what happened with her and other tenants at her apartment complex. She was told soon after signing a new lease that her monthly rent would go up $500 if she renewed within a matter of days, or she would face a much, much higher rent increase if she waited, according to the notice from her landlord. Rheingans, who has introduced a rent control bill in the Michigan Legislature, said she felt forced into quickly renewing and accepted the $500 increase to avoid paying even more. State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, prepares to present the city with a special bicentennial tribute from local state lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at Ann Arbor's bicentennial kickoff celebration at the Michigan Theater on Jan. 19, 2024. At left are Sen. Sue Shink and Rep. Jason Morgan, and at right are Rep. Felicia Brabec and Mayor Christopher Taylor. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News James Nichols, executive director of the Washtenaw Area Apartment Association, appeared before council Tuesday on behalf of his group representing area landlords, airing concerns about the latest changes. There will be unintended consequences that will create challenges for University of Michigan students and their families, non-student renters and property managers, he said, arguing students begin their housing search in the fall and want to sign new leases early for the next year. One of our concerns is the further confinement of the student rental process into a narrow window of just six weeks before undergraduate students leave for their summer break, he said. We advocate for more reasonable accommodations that allow for lease renewals to occur at any time the current tenant wishes to have those conversations with their current housing provider. The city is risking creating market hysteria with overwhelming demand in a tight leasing period, Nichols said. We believe that the current residents should have the ability to waive their right to renew, allowing their apartments to be shown in the fall, he said. This provision would protect them from intrusive showings during exam times in the spring. Contrary to misconceptions, he said, landlords are committed to renewing leases with tenants and minimizing turnover. All were seeking is a longer timeframe to spread the renewal leasing period out, he told council. A "for rent" sign in Ann Arbor on Sept. 21, 2023. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Before the changes in 2021, landlords only had to wait 70 days after the start of a lease before they could force tenants to renew for another year or accept that their apartments could be shown and leased to other tenants for the next year. City Council also approved a new right-to-renew law in the fall of 2022 giving tenants the right to renew leases unless landlords have a legal reason to evict them. Now that the city has had experience with both laws, Radina said he and Council Member Cynthia Harrison, D-1st Ward, have worked with city staff, the Renters Commission and some landlords committed to a fair rental market to figure out how to strengthen them. They were meant to address a power imbalance between landlords and renters who comprise more than half the citys population, he said. Unfortunately over the last year weve repeatedly heard about new tactics being employed by some, not all, landlords seeking to maintain the power imbalance over renters, he said. And admittedly, enforcement has been a struggle. Council Members Erica Briggs and Jenn Cornell said theyve received panicked emails from their constituents in the 5th Ward being pressured into early lease renewals. Council Member Dharma Akmon, D-4th Ward, responded to the pushback from landlords, saying their input is important, but shes going to listen to renters about what will protect them. Radina said theres still a major problem not addressed by the latest changes and thats the issue of increasingly exorbitant and often non-refundable fees to get on apartment wait lists and other hidden junk fees renters pay. Solving that continues to be a top priority, he said, indicating another ordinance is coming soon. 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. ANN ARBOR, MI Andre Anderson was sworn in as Ann Arbors new police chief on Wednesday afternoon in front of city leaders, law enforcement, family and friends. Local officials including Mayor Chris Taylor, City Administrator Milton Dohoney, Deputy Chief Jason Forsberg and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, spoke and welcomed Anderson to the role in City Council chambers. In todays policing, we are undoubtedly learning from the historical challenges and pitfalls, Anderson said during the ceremony, describing his vision for the police department. ... Yet this is Ann Arbor. And although we see things that are happening on a national level, our job here is to learn from them, develop evidence-based practices and move our agenda forward in a way in which we understand what has happened, but not allowing it to occur here. During the ceremony, Dohoney explained why he nominated Anderson for chief and cited Andersons time as the interim chief of Ferguson Police Department in Missouri. Anderson stepped in after a federal investigation determined the police department was frequently violating the right of Black residents. The investigation came after a white officer fatally shot Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed Black man. The case received national attention. We are a blessed community in many ways, said Dohoney, who came in Ann Arbor in 2021 and has decades of experience working in municipal government, including in Arizona, Ohio and Kentucky. Weve never really had that dark day I have gone through three dark days and therefore I know what you must have should that come to your doorstep. So I wanted a chief that had been in the fire. Andre Anderson was asked to go to Ferguson. He knows what the fire looks like. While we hope that will never come to Ann Arbor, if it does, we need the calm leadership who can work with his colleagues to ensure the safety of our community. Dohoney said that Ann Arbor needs to have a chief who is unafraid to admit if a mistake has been made, but must support those under his command when they are right, even if supporting them may be unpopular in the moment. Taylor said in his statement of support for Anderson that police are tasked with much, including serving in a cultural environment where the profession is under intense scrutiny from community members hurt and outraged by injustice. I believe that Ann Arbor understands these tensions, understands these circumstances, and we know that what police do is necessary, Taylor said. That commitment is really truly extraordinary. And for that and much more, chief, you as our leader and yesterdays most junior hire, you all have our communities deep and true thanks. Ann Arbor City Council unanimously approved Anderson as chief in December after Dohoneys nomination. Anderson also said during his speech that he resonates with the goal of eliminating racial injustice. He closed his speech by emphasizing the importance of the police departments relationship with city leaders and the rest of the community. We all know that glue, quite frankly, connects things together, he said. I believe that we can bond members of this community, the police department, city government, and many others, to a glue that embraces a common purpose. Anderson is the first permanent police chief since former Ann Arbor police Chief Michael Cox stepped down in July 2022. Interim Chief Aimee Metzer filled the role until she retired in October 2023 and Patrick Maguire was interim chief until now. A veteran, Anderson served as the assistant police chief of Tempe, Arizona, from 2021 to 2023. He also served as the executive deputy chief in Rochester, New York, from 2020 to 2021 and as a commander in Glendale, Arizona, from 2012 to 2020. It was during his tenure in Glendale that Anderson took unpaid leave as commander to serve as interim chief in Ferguson. He has a bachelors degree in public safety administration and a masters degree in education leadership. 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. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Suspended Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs is facing retaliation because he opposed decisions that might hurt the county, his attorney said. Ann Arbor employment law attorney Noah Hurwitz released a statement Thursday, Feb. 22, after Ottawa County leaders voted to place Gibbs on paid administrative leave. The 10-1 vote came after a closed session during an 8 a.m. special meeting. The forced leave of absence the Board placed him under is retaliation for Mr. Gibbs efforts to protect the County, Hurwitz said in a written statement. Gibbs, a failed congressional candidate, was hired during an Ottawa County board organizational meeting in January 2023 to replace John Shay, who was fired in a surprise move at the same meeting. A majority faction of newly elected commissioners, tied to an ultra-conservative platform known as Ottawa Impact, supported the switch-up in administrators. RELATED: John Gibbs asking for $630K to resign from Ottawa County administrator role Signs of discord between Gibbs and county leaders became evident a year later, however. An attorney for Gibbs sent the board a Jan. 15 letter, warning them not to fire Gibbs or face legal consequences. Gibbs then hired a new attorney, Hurwitz, who on Feb. 15 sent a letter to commissioners with an offer for Gibbs to resign for $630,000. Hurwitz said county board Chair Joe Moss had threatened Gibbs with termination if he did not voluntary resign a few days earlier. Hurwitz in the Feb. 15 letter claimed the souring on Gibbs by county leaders is because he criticized the performance of Kallman Legal Group, the countys corporate counsel. But commissioners on Thursday, before suspending Gibbs, said they were going into closed session to discuss various complaints against Gibbs by commissioners. The purpose also was to consider his offer to resign for a payout. Hurwitz released the following statement following the special meeting: Mr. Gibbs was confronted today with what the County described as recently uncovered allegations about his job performance that were never previously disclosed until this emergency board meeting. But as the public heard during the open meeting, the real reason that the Board is challenging Mr. Gibbs leadership is because he is using his position to oppose Board decisions that are detrimental to the County, Hurwitz wrote. These brand new allegations about his conduct were strictly obtained for the purpose of justifying a for cause termination. The forced leave of absence the Board placed him under is retaliation for Mr. Gibbs efforts to protect the County, Hurwitz wrote. Moss, during the special meeting, said he began hearing concerns about Gibbs after a legal battle began in November about whether the county would be liable for a $4 million alleged settlement with county Health Officer Adeline Hambley. A judge in January ruled the settlement was not enforceable. Moss claimed Gibbs believed reports the county was liable. It was then, Moss said, that relations between county leaders and Gibbs became strained. Commissioners could meet as early as next week to decide on Gibbs future and whether they will authorize a severance. Gibbs earns $210,000 per year and his three-year contract runs until Jan. 2, 2026. According to the employment contract, Gibbs may be terminated at any time for causes like fraud, dishonesty or misconduct, or requires a 90-day written notice if he is being fired without cause. That employment contract states if Gibbs employment is terminated without cause, he shall receive a lump sum of nine months worth of his salary, which would be $157,500. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. LAKEVIEW, MI Corewell Health will begin demolishing the now-shuttered Kelsey Hospital building next month and donate the property to the Village of Lakeview for $1. The move will give local officials control over how the site, 418 Washington Ave., is redeveloped. For more than 100 years, the Kelsey Hospital team cared for Lakeview area residents, and the hospital itself has been an asset to the community, Kristie Smith, chief operating officer of Corewell Health Greenville Hospital, said in a statement. We believe transferring ownership of the land to the Village of Lakeview will allow the local community to decide how the land can best serve the community in the future. Corewell announced in August that it would close the 16-bed hospital, about 50 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, in October. At the time, Corewell said the facility had become outdated and seen a steady decline in patients over the past decade. Area residents who need medical services can receive primary care and outpatient services at Corewell Healths Lakeview Care Center. That facility opened last June and is less than two miles from the hospital. In a news release, Corewell said the property transfer wont happen until it has removed any hazardous materials from the hospital, and demolished the structure. Demolition is expected to be complete by early summer. After reviewing the old hospital building, developers and Village officials agreed that the existing building did not offer a canvas from which developers would want to renovate or build onto, a release from Corewell said. Darin Dood, Lakeviews village manager, said the community is certainly is reeling from the emotions attached to Kelsey. I have been optimistic from the start and think everyone recognizes the importance and financial investment of the new facility out on M-46 is to our community, he said, referencing the Lakeview Care Center. The Village is excited about embracing this new opportunity for growth in the community where Kelsey once stood. In addition to the Village of Lakeview, Corewell Health, The Right Place and the Montcalm County Economic Alliance have collaborated to identify the best use for the former Kelsey Hospital building, Corewell said in a release. The final decisions for the propertys future will be made locally. The origin of Kelsey Hospital dates back to 1908. At the time, Dr. Lee E. Kelsey and his wife Lillian, a registered nurse, started seeing patients in their home, and as the community grew, so did the hospital. It was closed in October 2023. The current Kelsey Hospital building was constructed in 1962. The decision to close Kelsey came after Corewell opened the new Lakeview Care Center in June 2023. Lakeview Family Medicine relocated to the new facility, and Corewell Health added outpatient rehabilitation, lab and a walk-in clinic, as well as space for specialty care services, Corewell said in a release. In closing the hospital building, Corewell Health worked with SIM USA to donate supplies, such as carts, stools, gurneys, bed drapes and more, for use where there is great need for medical supplies. More on MLive: Heres your complete list of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park events for 2024 Ottawa County board enters closed session to discuss complaints against John Gibbs Black Artists Market opening at Founders Grand Rapids taproom OTTAWA COUNTY, MI A new letter from an attorney representing Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs asks the county board of commissioners to pay Gibbs $630,000 in exchange for his resignation. The letter, sent by Ann Arbor-based attorney Noah Hurwitz to board Chair Joe Moss on Feb. 15, states Gibbs is amenable to resigning his position in consideration for the lump sum payment of the entire amount owed to Mr. Gibbs pursuant to his employment agreement, $630,000. In the letter, Hurwitz claims Gibbs has been harassed, defamed and belittled by the county following his constitutional expression of free speech for rightfully criticizing the performance of the countys corporation counsel in furtherance of the public interest. RELATED: Warning letter from John Gibbs to be topic at Ottawa County special meeting According to Hurwitz, Gibbs claims he was confronted by Moss on Monday, Feb. 12, and was threatened with termination if Gibbs didnt voluntarily resign. Hurwitz said Mosss alleged actions incriminated the county for violations of the Whistleblower Protection Act. Hurwitz claims Moss told Gibbs that board members want you gone, especially after the letter Butzel sent. The Butzel letter is referring to a letter Gibbs former attorney sent the board of commissioners in January, threatening legal action against the county if he is fired. Gibbs new attorney, Hurwitz, said Gibbs is not voluntarily offering his resignation, but that the offer is a substantial discount from the damages, costs and attorney fees that arise from litigation. RELATED: John Gibbs threatens legal action against Ottawa County if hes fired The day after the alleged Moss and Gibbs confrontation on Feb. 12, Gibbs declined to appear for a county board meeting on Feb. 13. During that meeting, commissioners voted to temporarily freeze Gibbs ability to hire and transfer county staff. The board of commissioners is meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 in a special meeting called to consider a response to the letter from County Administrator John Gibbs. The meeting was called so last-minute that notices of the meeting were hand-delivered to commissioners by sheriffs office deputies. RELATED: John Gibbs skips meeting where Ottawa County strips him of hiring power According to Hurwitz, Gibbs plans to attend the Thursday meeting. His employment contract with Ottawa County runs through Jan. 2, 2026, and states the contract can only be terminated for cause in the event of things like dishonesty, misconduct or willful malfeasance. Gibbs has not yet received any type of performance review since his appointment to the administrator role on Jan. 3, 2023, which was one of many surprise actions taken by the newly seated, ultraconservative majority faction on the Ottawa County board called Ottawa Impact. Moss co-founded Ottawa Impact. Neither Gibbs nor Moss immediately returned a request for comment about the Feb. 15 letter. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. More from MLive: Ex-police officer says appeals court erred in ruling he stand trial in Patrick Lyoyas fatal shooting Large $70M luxury housing development near Grand Rapids opens to first residents Kent County teacher accused of sexually assaulting student to stand trial OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Following almost an hour and a half of a closed-door meeting, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted to place Administrator John Gibbs on paid leave for an undetermined amount of time. The board held a special meeting Thursday, Feb. 22, to discuss complaints commissioners made against Gibbs and to consider a resignation offer Gibbs made through a letter from his attorney last week. The letter came after Gibbs threatened legal action against the county if he is fired without just cause last month. RELATED: Ottawa County board enters closed session to discuss complaints against John Gibbs In the Feb. 15 letter, Gibbs attorney Noah Hurwitz claimed Gibbs has been harassed, defamed and belittled by the county following his constitutional expression of free speech for rightfully criticizing the performance of the countys corporation counsel in furtherance of the public interest. Hurwitz also stated Gibbs would resign from his post in exchange for a lump sum of $630,000. During the Thursday meeting, board Chair Joe Moss said Gibbs mentioned a $420,000 payment would be acceptable after sending the letter. Gibbs was hired Jan. 3, 2023, with an annual salary of $210,000. His employment contract with Ottawa County runs through Jan. 2, 2026. Commissioners did not get to the last item on the Thursday meetings agenda, to consider an offer of resignation from Gibbs. Instead, the board voted to recess the meeting until next week, but no date and time was provided. RELATED: John Gibbs asking for $630K to resign from Ottawa County administrator role Holland area commissioner Doug Zylstra voted against placing Gibbs on administrative leave, but all 10 other commissioners voted in favor of the move. No reason was given for the action. Before entering into a closed session to discuss complaints against Gibbs, Moss said Gibbs issues with the countys legal advice from Kallman Legal Group stemmed from negotiations over a potential settlement offer to get rid of the countys health officer, Adeline Hambley. Gibbs declined to speak with media at this time after the meeting was recessed. According to Moss, Deputy Administrator Ben Wetmore, who was hired four months ago, will remain on the job and assist in running the county. The deputy administrator fills in when the administrator isnt available, Moss said. Daily operations continue like normal. Well continue the work of the people. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. More from MLive: Heres your complete list of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park events for 2024 10 proposals on the ballot in the Grand Rapids area for Feb. 27 election Corewell Health to demolish shuttered West Michigan hospital, sell land for $1 Teen dies after snowmobile goes through the ice on U.P. lake ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI The newest variety pack from Saugatuck Brewing Company will give beer lovers a taste of the orchards. A shandy variety pack, hitting stores March 1, features what brewery CEO John Miller describes as a fruit-forward style with blueberry, strawberry, peach and black cherry flavors. SBC recognizes that todays consumers are looking for more fruit-forward, approachable styles when it comes to the beer they drink, Miller said in a news release. The Shandy Variety Pack shines a spotlight on more of Michigans most cherished fruits, featuring Blueberry, Strawberry, Peach, and Black Cherry flavors. While available in stores March 1, the Douglas-based brewery is hosting launch parties at its three brewpubs this weekend. The events are: Saugatuck Brewing Company Douglas, 2948 Blue Star Hwy, from noon to 8 p.m.; Creston Brewery in Grand Rapids, 1504 Plainfield Ave. NE, noon to 10 p.m.; and Saugatuck Brewing Company Kalamazoo, 200 E. Michigan Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. We wanted to capture the essence of our regions bountiful fruit orchards and bring it directly to our customers, Sara VanSplinter, director of marketing at Saugatuck Brewing Company, said in a news release. This 12-pack promises a journey through the orchards of Michigan, a real U-Pick experience. The variety pack builds off the success of the brewerys Blueberry Lemonade Shandy, which launched in 2017 and is one of the brewerys most popular beers. The kick-off event held at the brewerys three locations will feature $5 pints, $18 to-go packs, and $8 flights of the four shandy varieties. A chicken tender flight, featuring dipping sauces highlighting each shandy flavor, will also be available at the event, according to a news release. More on MLive: Large, 256-unit housing development planned south of Grand Rapids See 23 penguins get their annual checkup at John Ball Zoo Peer out the periscope, sleep next to torpedoes on a World War II submarine Heres your complete list of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park events for 2024 OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Twenty minutes into a special meeting Thursday morning, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners entered a closed session to discuss complaints against Administrator John Gibbs. The special meeting was called to determine how the county will respond to two letters Gibbs attorneys sent the county regarding his future employment. An attorney for Gibbs first sent a letter to the commissioners on Jan. 15 threatening legal action if he was fired without just cause. RELATED: John Gibbs asking for $630K to resign from Ottawa County administrator role A month later, Gibbs hired a different attorney who sent a letter to board Chair Joe Moss claiming Gibbs has been harassed, defamed and belittled by the county following his constitutional expression of free speech for rightfully criticizing the performance of the countys corporation counsel in furtherance of the public interest. The Feb. 15 letter also stated Gibbs would be amenable to resigning in exchange for a $630,000 payout. Before heading into closed session Thursday, Feb. 22, Moss said Gibbs later suggested a $420,000 payout would be acceptable. Moss also said Gibbs issues with the countys legal advice from Kallman Legal Group stemmed from negotiations over a potential settlement offer to get rid of the countys health officer, Adeline Hambley. RELATED: John Gibbs threatens legal action against Ottawa County if hes fired According to a leaked written proposed settlement offer, the county was willing to give Hambley $4 million in exchange for her resignation after she openly criticized Gibbs and Moss for their handling of the 2024 fiscal year health department budget. A judge later determined that $4 million proposal was not enforceable. Weve had constant media attacks saying the county agreed to a ginormous settlement, Moss said Thursday. (Gibbs) believed that was true and he asked me on several occasions why the board was giving the health officer $4 million. I repeatedly explained that was a false narrative from media. It has seemed (Gibbs) relationship with the board has become more strained with the board during this time period and it was around this time I started hearing concerns from commissioners. Moss went on to say some commissioners were claiming Gibbs was disregarding their directions, at which point Moss said he thought (Gibbs) had perhaps lost the confidence of the board. RELATED: Judge wont enforce alleged $4M settlement for Ottawa County health officer Moss said Gibbs drafted a resignation letter a few days before the boards first regular meeting of 2024 on Jan. 16, but decided not to pursue the resignation. Government officials must serve and implement the will of the people at the direction of the duly elected commissioners, Moss said. No one is exempt, theres no exceptions to this principle. Later in the meeting Thursday, commissioners are expected to consider an offer of resignation from Gibbs. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. More from MLive: 10 proposals on the ballot in the Grand Rapids area for Feb. 27 election Large $70M luxury housing development near Grand Rapids opens to first residents Officer hospitalized in fight at Pantera concert in Grand Rapids OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Ottawa County commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for Thursday to talk about a Jan. 15 letter from county Administrator John Gibbs, warning them not to fire him. The meeting is set for 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Ottawa County complex on Fillmore Street. The purpose of the meeting is to consider a response to the letter from County Administrator John Gibbs. County Commissioner Jacob Bonnema said notices of the meeting were hand delivered to commissioners by sheriffs deputies because the meeting was scheduled on such short notice. An attorney representing Gibbs on Jan. 15 sent a letter to county commissioners, stating the county has no basis to terminate my client for cause. Should the Board, or its lawyers, attempt to get creative in that vein, be advised that the full extent of legal options available to Mr. Gibbs will be used to ensure the Board ceases to violate Mr. Gibbs constitutional, statutory, and contractual rights any further than it already has. Related: John Gibbs threatens legal action against Ottawa County if hes fired Its not clear what prompted the Jan. 15 letter and county Board Chair Joe Moss has not answered questions from MLive about Gibbs employment. Commissioners during a Feb. 13 meeting took action to temporarily freeze Gibbs ability to hire and transfer county staff. Gibbs was not at the meeting and some commissioners appeared upset he did not attend. Related: John Gibbs skips meeting where Ottawa County strips him of hiring power The reason for his absence has not been explained. At the same Feb. 13 meeting, commissioners also voted to retain additional legal counsel to respond to that letter. They hired Brook Bisonet of Guinan Bisonet, PLLC. At that meeting, Moss said the reason for hiring an outside attorney was because the countys corporate counsel, Kallman Legal Group, is limited due to Gibbs county employee status. Gibbs, a failed Republican congressional candidate, was hired as county administrator Jan. 3, 2023, in a surprise move at the first meeting of the newly seated, ultraconservative majority faction on the Ottawa County board called Ottawa Impact. Moss co-founded Ottawa Impact. Gibbs job and the way he handled the hiring of at least one aide came up during an October hearing for county Health Officer Adeline Hambley. During that hearing, former Deputy County Administrator Patrick Waterman testified that Gibbs Gibbs favored hiring a then 23-year-old aide over others because he was younger and could boss him around. Ottawa County is now facing an age discrimination lawsuit from a job candidate who claims he was better qualified than Epperson. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - A body of an Ottawa County woman was found in her home, and officers arrested her live-in boyfriend while he was in Las Vegas, police said. Deputies responded for a wellbeing check around 10:30 p.m., Jan. 1 on the 200 block of Patti Place in Zeeland Township east of Holland, said the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office. Arriving deputies found the body of Donna Hyma, 63, in her home, police said. The death was soon investigated as a suspicious death, police said, and a post-mortem autopsy revealed the cause of death was asphyxiation. Investigators started looking into the death as a homicide, police said. Investigators determined that her live-in boyfriend Randall Grinwiss whereabouts were unknown, police said. Grinwis, 57 of Zeeland Township, fled to Las Vegas with items from Hymas home, police said. The Ottawa County Prosecutors Office approved arrest warrants for Grinwis for open murder and larceny, police said. Deputies worked with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to apprehend Grinwis on Feb. 9, police said. He was taken to Clark County Detention Center in Nevada, then extradited to Ottawa County on Feb. 22 to lodge at Ottawa County Jail, police said. Grinwis was charged on open murder and larceny on Feb. 22 in 58th District Court, police said. Bond was denied and Grinwis remains in jail, police said. The case remains under investigation. Those with information on the incident may contact the sheriffs office by phone at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer by phone at 1-877-88-745368. JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- Voters in some Jackson County communities will be asked to consider local millage renewals alongside presidential candidates in the Tuesday, Feb. 27 primary election. Springport Township and the Hanover-Horton and Columbia school districts also have proposals on the ballot. Related: How to vote and when to do it: A Michigan primary primer All voters can find their polling places and view a sample ballot through the Michigan voter information page online. Residents can register to vote and vote in-person up until and on Election Day. Instructions on how to register are available online. The polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, but voting is already underway. Due to changes approved by voters in the November 2022 election, all registered voters in Michigan have the right to cast ballots starting the second Saturday before an election and ending the Sunday before the election. Voters in Jackson County can cast their ballots from Feb. 17-25 at the Blackman Charter Township Hall, 1990 W. Parnall Road, or The Summit Township Hall, 2121 Ferguson Road. Related: Early voting in Jackson County starts Saturday Below is a list of local issues that will appear on the ballot in Jackson County. The full text of each proposal is also available online. Columbia School District operating millage renewal Jackson County voters will join residents of Washtenaw, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties in considering a millage renewal for the Columbia School District. The proposal seeks to continue to levy the authorized millage rate of 18 mills - or $18 on each $1,000 of taxable value - for a period of five years from 2025-29. If approved, the millage would allow Columbia schools to continue collecting about $5,081,155 annually beginning in 2025, according to the proposal. The estimated revenue the school district can collect if the millage is approved and restored represents roughly 25% of the districts operating revenue, said Columbia School District Superintendent Jim Baker. If the millage doesnt pass, the state does not replace the difference in that level of funding - when were literally talking 25% of our operating revenue, it would be devastating to the district, Baker told MLive previously. If Columbias request to continue levying 18 mills were to fail with voters, the district would be forced to reduce or significantly cut programs throughout all levels of the school system to offset those losses. Related: 2 Jackson County school districts seek millage renewals in February election This tax applies only to non-homestead, industrial, commercial and non-qualified agricultural property. It does not include primary residences. Further information about the Columbia schools millage is available on the districts website. Hanover-Horton School District operating millage renewal proposals Hanover-Horton School District.J. Scott Park | MLive.com Voters in the Hanover-Horton School District will be asked to consider two similar proposals. The first of the proposals seeks to continue the authorized millage rate of 17.2144 mills in Jackson and Hillsdale counties for nine years from 2025-34. This would continue the rate approved by voters in 2015, and would allow the district to continue collecting about $1,483,780 annually starting in 2025. Were the operating millage to expire, the Hanover-Horton School District would lose about $1.5 million in annual revenue - roughly 12% of the districts overall operating budget - Superintendent John Denney said. Hanover-Hortons second ballot proposal seeks to increase the millage rate by two mills for 10 years from 2024-33, bringing the rate up to the legally-mandated tax limit of 18 mills. The two additional mills will not bring the millage rate above 18 mills, but will provide cap protection for the district against future Headlee reductions, Denney said. The total operating millage levied by the district - by law - will not exceed 18 mills in any year. Springport Township police millage A Springport Township Police cruiser is pictured.J. Scott Park Springport residents will decide whether or not to continue funding the communitys police department in upcoming election. A millage renewal with an increase is on the Feb. 27 ballot in Springport Township, where voters will decide if they want a levy of 3.95 mills on their property tax bills for the next six years. If approved, the millage will raise an estimated $311,067.71 in its first year to fund police services. Related: Springport voters to decide police millage renewal, increase during February election The previous millage of 2.5 mills, approved by voters in 2020, will expire at the end of 2024. If the new millage is not passed, funding for the Springport Police Department will dry up, said Springport Township Police Chief Brent Lincoln. With the increase of the millage, Lincoln hopes to hire an additional patrol officer and be able to maintain its current school resource officer. The hiring of an additional officer would allow the department to have officers patrolling on the weekends, police said. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. CALHOUN COUNTY, MI - A man, 26, was arrested Tuesday for an alleged arson in a Calhoun County township, police said. Deputies responded along with multiple fire departments to a structure fire on Feb. 20 on N Drive South in Clarendon Township southwest of Homer, according to the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office. Arriving deputies and firefighters found the unoccupied structure fully engulfed in flames, police said. The fire response was handled by fire departments in Fredonia, Homer, Tekonsha, Albion and Marshall. Deputies also received a report of a disabled vehicle and fight on the side of M-60 near 23 Mile Road, police said. Investigators determined this fight was related to the fire, police said. Deputies tracked down the 26-year-old Tekonsha man who had fled the scene, police said. He was later lodged at the Calhoun County Jail for arson, police said. Anyone with information about this incident may the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office by phone at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer by phone at 269-964-3888. BAY CITY, MI With the Tuesday, Feb. 27, presidential primary election approaching, we rounded up all the MLive links relevant to mid-Michigan voters. Here are the stories you wont want to miss before the election: When is Michigans Presidential Primary? Michiganders can vote in-persons in the presidential primary on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The primary is a closed one, meaning voters must either opt for a ballot comprising solely Democratic or Republican candidates when either at the polls or voting absentee. While this election is mostly just for the presidential primary, there is a slew of local ballot initiatives or millages around the state. Early voting, which allowed voters to cast ballots at polling locations around the state, ended Feb. 27. More than 50,000 ballots were cast at early voting sites, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. Polls are open on Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents can still register to vote up until 8 p.m. election day with their local clerk. Results will be available here after polls close. Whos on my ballot? On the Democratic side, voters can choose from President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota. Related: Biden meets with UAW members, Black faith leaders during Michigan visit Marianne Williamson, an author and speaker, will also appear on Michigans Democratic primary ballot despite dropping out of the race Feb. 7. On the Republican side, there will be a slew of names on the ballot come election day, though only two are actually still in the running: former president Donald Trump and ex-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Related: Trump attacks Biden policies, dismisses legal issues in Oakland County speech As with Williamson, candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will still appear on Michigans Republican primary ballot since they dropped out of the race after Michigans printing deadline. Candidates and administration officials have visited Michigan over the last month to rally voters, including a Biden visit with UAW leaders and a Trump rally in Oakland County. Most recently, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Grand Rapids for a reproductive rights roundtable. How to vote Michigan residents have several ways to vote. Absentee: Registered voters can request an absentee ballot online through the states online absentee voter request form. The last day to do so is prior to 5 p.m. the Friday before an election. Related: Want to use Michigans new early in-person voting? It might be a long commute. Early in-person: Effective Saturday, Feb. 17, voters may vote in-person ahead of the actual primary date. The last day to vote early, according to the Department of State, is Sunday, Feb. 25. On election day: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. You have the right to vote if you are in line by 8 p.m. Where can I check if Im registered to vote? Michiganders can check online with the Department of State to see a number of things, including: Local ballots and millages In addition to determining the presidential candidate, there are many local ballot initiatives and millage proposals up for voting across the state of Michigan. Below are links to coverage on what to expect in Tuesdays primary. GRAND RAPIDS-AREA ELECTIONS 10 proposals on the ballot in the Grand Rapids area for Feb. 27 election Voters in Kent, Ottawa counties asked to renew fire millages Montcalm County voters asked to weigh in on $36.8M school bond, operating millage Park Township voters to decide on renewing road repair tax Kentwood Public Schools voters to decide fate of millage renewal on Feb. 27 Less than 1,000 voters cast ballot in first weekend of early voting in Kent, Ottawa counties ANN ARBOR AND JACKSON ELECTIONS The local issues on the Washtenaw County ballots for Feb. 27 election SAGINAW AND BAY CITY ELECTIONS All the stories you need before voting in the Feb. 27 election in mid-Michigan Heres what to expect on Bay County ballots in Februarys elections Heres what to expect on Saginaw County ballots during Feb. 27 election GRAND RAPIDS, MI The legal battle over who should rightfully be leading the Michigan Republican Party will continue into next week. On Thursday, Feb. 22, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Rossi heard from a pair of committee members brought in by a breakaway faction of the party. It is now led by Pete Hoekstra, who was recognized by the Republican National Committee over the previously-elected chairperson, Kristina Karamo, and Karamo refuses on concede power. Ex-Detroit Tigers pitcher Derek Law is on the move once again. The 33-year-old journeymen signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, according to a report from Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal also reportedly includes a spring training invitation. Law debuted back in 2016 with the San Francisco Giants and has had stints with the Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds. The Pittsburgh native signed a minor league contract with the Tigers organization on April 9, 2022, and spent time with their Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens. In 39 innings with the Mud Hens, Law struck out 44 batters and walked 10 while posting a 3.23 ERA. Law was promoted to the Tigers major league roster on July 30 but only got two chances there as he allowed five runs in two innings of work. He was designated for assignment on Aug. 5 and then released two days later before signing with the Reds where he made appearances in 15 games, going 2-2 with a 4.08 ERA and 15 strikeouts. In his career, Law has a 16-14 overall record with a 4.08 ERA and 240 strikeouts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The draft roadmap of the working group of Azerbaijan on 'Connection to electric grids' will be refined considering the new proposals from the group experts, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy. "The Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications hosted a meeting of the mentioned working group of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings," the ministry said. "Issues related to taking necessary measures arising from the law of Azerbaijan dated December 30, 2023 'On amendments to the law of the Azerbaijan 'On electricity' were discussed. The working group's draft roadmap for 2024 was considered, and it was decided to refine it based on the new opinions and suggestions of experts." The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev and other representatives of the ministry, as well as experts from the ministries of economy, digital development, and transport, the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Azerishig CJSC, the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency, and the Energy Regulatory Agency. "The operation of the online application system for connecting to the power grid, comparative statistics on the number of online connections for the past period, reports from relevant institutions on the current situation with online payments were reviewed. Practical issues arising from the implementation of applications received in the online system of connection to the power supply grid were also discussed," the ministry added. Discussions also took place on tasks related to the new World Bank report on electricity issues. To note, Azerbaijan generated 2.4 billion kWh of electricity in January 2024. The country decreased electricity exports by 77.3 percent compared to January 2023, reducing it to 116.3 million kWh, while the imports rose by 75.9 percent to 19 million kWh. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A low-pressure system is scheduled to hit the state tonight into tomorrow. Adjacent to very mild temperatures for this time of the year, this disturbance is anticipated to track across southern Michigan, where we should get brushed by the northern edge of it. The primary impact is expected to be wind as well as some precipitation in the form of rain as it will be quite a bit too warm to see any snow whatsoever. This setup may seem a bit unusual for some folks given that its mid/late February, rightfully so, but it has been quite an anomaly of a season. How much are we supposed to get? Not a whole lot as the system will not make it far enough north to make a direct impact and any resulting rain should end by the evening . That being said, late tonight and the morning commute tomorrow could have light to moderate rain. Flooding concerns are going to be minimal for the most part, limited to a few rivers and lakefronts that typically see flooding during rain events The National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Detroit and Grand Rapids posted forecast graphics earlier today outlining exactly what should go down and the general timeframe of the storms influence on us. The first one from Grand Rapids adds a general consensus for light rain parallel to and south of I-94. The southern part of the coverage area (where the precip will be) will still be warm enough for rain as itll be in the upper 30s/low 40s. Rain showers tonight into tomorrow are expected to be light in nature across west/southwest MI.NOAA The next graphic below from Detroit displays much of the same message, with some minute differences. First of which, the timing. Messaging of the timeframe for the southeastern portion of the state hints at rain pushing later into Thursday than in the southwestern region of Michigan. The other key point is the probabilities of rain to actually occur tonight and Thursday. In summary, the closer you get to Ohio the higher the chance for rain, and vice-versa. The probability is a bit higher for the Thursday commute due to logistics and timing of the storm cycle. Probability of rain for both the tonight and tomorrow timeframes for our area.NOAA It is important to note that this is not going to be a huge rainstorm. Some places, it will be more likely than not that no rain falls at all. What will be good to keep in mind is that it might take a bit longer to get where youre going tomorrow so give yourself extra time for travel. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The preliminary results of the energy efficiency market evaluation for the formulation of the "National Building Renovation Program" were addressed during a seminar in Baku with the participation of World Bank (WB) and EU representatives, as well as Azerbaijani experts, Trend reports. According to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Energy, the event was part of the "Energy Efficiency and Climate" technical aid initiative, which was carried out by the World Bank and the EU via the "Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility" (AZTAF). During the seminar's start, Nargiz Bagirli, Head of the Energy Efficiency Department at the Ministry of Energy, stated that Azerbaijan has laid the legal groundwork for energy efficiency in the last three years. According to the Ministry of Energy, the Action Plan for Azerbaijan's Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 2022-2026 includes the preparation of the "National Renovation Program for Private and Public Buildings" aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings, which account for a significant portion of the country's energy consumption. The seminar underscored that evaluating energy consumption in buildings will assist in formulating energy efficiency recommendations. Head of Cooperation Department of the European Union Delegation in Azerbaijan Victor Boykov and World Bank's Manager for Azerbaijan Stefanie Stallmeister delivered speeches at the seminar. Representatives of the Ministries of Energy, Finance, Economy, Emergency Situations, Ecology, and Natural Resources, the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, the Energy Regulatory Agency, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, SOCAR, Azerenerji, and Baku Executive Power participated in the discussions. Representatives from the World Bank highlighted that in Azerbaijan, buildings contribute to approximately 55 percent of energy consumption, surpassing the global average of 35 percent. The parties recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to address this issue and agreed on further consultations. The AZTAF project, a joint effort of the European Union and the World Bank, was established to support the government of Azerbaijan in achieving the Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development" goals. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The European Commission will be working closely with the COP29 Presidency team to make the Baku COP29 a success, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said in an exclusive interview with Trend on the occasion of the upcoming Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Councils meeting in Baku March 1. We welcome that Azerbaijan joined at COP28 the Global Pledge to triple renewable capacity and double energy efficiency gains worldwide by 2030. This was an important milestone in the implementation our energy partnership. We will be working closely with the COP29 Presidency team to implement the Pledge and to make the Baku COP29 a success, she said. Simson noted that at the second Green Energy Advisory Council the focus will be on the development of the vast offshore wind and solar energy capacities in Azerbaijan, as well as development of physical interconnections and market integration at regional level. The upcoming meetings in Baku will be an opportunity for European officials and companies to engage further with partners on the development of offshore wind energy capacity and to facilitate investment by European businesses into the Azerbaijani market. In this context, we are encouraging Azerbaijans authorities to proceed as soon as possible with the implementation of an open and transparent auctioning regime for renewable energy projects, the commissioner added. Kadri Simson went on to add that the meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council offers an opportunity to discuss the capacity expansion of the pipeline, which represents for a crucial route of gas supply diversification. We will also discuss the role of the Southern Gas Corridor in supporting coal phase out and diversification efforts of the EU neighboring countries. This discussion is key in addressing regional and global energy security challenges. Crucially, along with the SGC Advisory Council, a second Green Energy Advisory Council will also be convened, following on from the successful experience of 2023. It will address the promotion of renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and renewable hydrogen, which are significant pillars of the EU-Azerbaijan energy partnership. To move to practical arrangements, the representatives of the EU wind sector will travel with me to Baku, to discuss in the margins of the Green Energy Advisory Council with the Azeri side the scope for investments into wind energy in Azerbaijan. Overall, the Green Energy Advisory Council will also provide a great opportunity to discuss the upcoming COP29, she added. Expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor The commissioner noted that Azerbaijan has a significant role in supporting Europes efforts to diversify away from Russian fuels. Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to the EU market reached 11.8 billion cubic meters in 2023, up from 8.1 in 2021, and we are both committed to increase bilateral trade to 20 billion cubic meters per year by 2027. The Advisory Council meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the necessary infrastructure upgrades along the Southern Gas Corridor, she said. Simson pointed out that for midstream infrastructure upgrades, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development might have a role to play when there will be a clear project on the table, and in a context of decarbonization commitments in line with Paris Agreement goals and plans to address methane leakage. New contracts for gas supply She noted that the European Commission aims to facilitate energy trade with Azerbaijan, but it is not a party to such contracts. The conclusion of gas supply contracts is up to companies. On our side, we continue to engage with our Azerbaijani counterparts to foster cooperation and ensure we have a conducive business environment for a stable energy relationship. We also encourage EU companies to engage in gas supply agreements with Azerbaijan. However, the final decision on the signature rests with the private operators, the commissioner explained. Azerbaijan-EU green corridor We are following with great interest the initiative of laying out a high-voltage direct current bidirectional interconnector under the Black Sea between Georgia and Romania. A feasibility study is ongoing, she said. Simson pointed out that this project is already included in Ten-Year Network Development Plan of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for electricity. It is also included as a flagship project under the EU Global Gateway strategy. This is an important first project, and a broader green energy corridor is envisaged, including possible trade in hydrogen from renewable sources. We welcome that more countries have signaled interest in joining this initiative and encourage them to improve the business case for the green energy corridor thus increasing the mutual gains of the initiative, added the commissioner. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNICEF, and Latin America Climate Reality Project launched the 'Young Climate Ambassadors' program to select 35 representatives of Mexican youth to participate in COP29 in Baku, Trend reports, referring to the Mexican Foreign Ministry. The Mexican Youth Institute (IMJUVE), the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI), and the Matias Romero Institute (IMR) are also participating in the program. "Given the climate emergency that the world is currently experiencing, the program aims to reach more communities to achieve a more diverse and inclusive representation of youth in addressing current issues. The participation of these communities is essential to remove barriers to climate justice and to present unique perspectives that will enrich the discussions at COP29," the report emphasizes. The Latin America Climate Reality Project and the responsible institutions will provide in-depth training to youth on adaptation, mitigation, and means of implementation to address climate change, as well as on international climate change negotiations. To note, the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held on November 11-22 in Baku. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia on Wednesday congratulated the country on the anniversary marking the adoption of the constitution of its First Democratic Republic in 1921, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. In a social media post, the Delegation said the progressive document had guaranteed broad local governance, rights of minorities and equal rights for men and women. It added despite having a short life due to the Soviet invasion and occupation later that month, it had laid the foundation of todays independent Georgia. Adopted in 1995, the current constitution was modelled after the 1921 document. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Energy Kamal Abbasov highlighted the country's achievements in the energy sector both in traditional and renewable energy sources at the 14th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks in Riyadh, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan. He briefed on Azerbaijan's interest in the development of 'green' hydrogen projects, emphasizing the exploration of the potential for producing and exporting hydrogen from renewable energy sources to meet the growing demand for low-carbon energy. The official underscored that Azerbaijan, which will host COP29 this year, pays special attention to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions. "Azerbaijan has joined initiatives related to 'green' energy and energy efficiency within COP28, and by 2027, it's planned to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's total installed electricity capacity to 33 percent," the ministry noted. Abbasov also spoke about progress in implementing a 'green' energy project involving Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, and Romania, where, at the initial stage, four GW of 'green' energy is planned to be exported to Europe through the Black Sea. The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023. On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Allegion (NYSE:ALLE Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.09, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Allegion had a net margin of 14.80% and a return on equity of 51.95%. The business had revenue of $897.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $904.17 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.60 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Allegion updated its FY 2024 guidance to 7.000-7.150 EPS and its FY24 guidance to $7.00-7.15 EPS. Allegion Stock Down 2.5 % NYSE:ALLE traded down $3.27 on Thursday, hitting $127.84. The stock had a trading volume of 697,905 shares, compared to its average volume of 724,754. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market cap of $11.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 1.14. Allegion has a 1 year low of $95.94 and a 1 year high of $136.91. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $125.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $112.41. Get Allegion alerts: Allegion Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.48 dividend. This is a positive change from Allegions previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.50%. Allegions dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.43%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently weighed in on ALLE shares. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Allegion from $119.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Allegion from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price target for the company from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $122.71. View Our Latest Report on Allegion Insider Buying and Selling at Allegion In other news, SVP Robert C. Martens sold 4,068 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.52, for a total transaction of $449,595.36. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 6,714 shares in the company, valued at approximately $742,031.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Allegion Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Allegion during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its stake in Allegion by 123.1% in the 2nd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 261 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its stake in Allegion by 460.3% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 734 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 603 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. grew its stake in Allegion by 13.6% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 984 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main purchased a new position in Allegion in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $116,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.21% of the companys stock. About Allegion (Get Free Report) Allegion plc manufactures and sells mechanical and electronic security products and solutions worldwide. The company offers door controls and systems and exit devices; locks, locksets, portable locks, and key systems and services; electronic security products and access control systems; time, attendance, and workforce productivity systems; doors, accessories, and other. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Allegion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allegion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballast Asset Management LP bought a new position in Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 74,112 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $2,071,000. Compass Minerals International accounts for about 1.9% of Ballast Asset Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Ballast Asset Management LP owned about 0.18% of Compass Minerals International as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 43.0% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,518,500 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $346,506,000 after purchasing an additional 1,660,353 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 1.2% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,877,951 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $149,418,000 after purchasing an additional 47,528 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 38.9% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,603,210 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $163,456,000 after purchasing an additional 728,597 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 3.2% in the second quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 1,440,347 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $48,972,000 after purchasing an additional 44,078 shares during the period. Finally, Shapiro Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 17.7% in the second quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC now owns 1,084,997 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $36,890,000 after purchasing an additional 163,100 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.79% of the companys stock. Get Compass Minerals International alerts: Compass Minerals International Stock Down 4.4 % CMP traded down $0.99 on Wednesday, hitting $21.60. The company had a trading volume of 274,790 shares, compared to its average volume of 667,891. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $23.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $25.88. Compass Minerals International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $18.88 and a 12-month high of $40.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 3.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $892.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -14.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.18. Compass Minerals International Dividend Announcement Compass Minerals International ( NYSE:CMP Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.24 by ($0.19). Compass Minerals International had a negative net margin of 4.97% and a positive return on equity of 4.56%. The company had revenue of $341.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $352.84 million. The companys revenue was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Compass Minerals International, Inc. will post 0.3 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.78%. Compass Minerals Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -41.10%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Compass Minerals International from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Compass Minerals International from $75.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Compass Minerals International from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.20. Check Out Our Latest Report on Compass Minerals International Insider Buying and Selling at Compass Minerals International In related news, Director Joseph E. Reece bought 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were bought at an average price of $21.24 per share, for a total transaction of $106,200.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 16,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $339,840. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.52% of the stock is owned by insiders. Compass Minerals International Profile (Free Report) Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Compass Minerals International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Compass Minerals International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballast Asset Management LP acquired a new stake in Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE:GBTG Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 228,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,259,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Apollo Management Holdings L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Global Business Travel Group in the first quarter valued at about $170,437,000. Carronade Capital Management LP raised its position in Global Business Travel Group by 7.1% during the second quarter. Carronade Capital Management LP now owns 3,297,158 shares of the companys stock worth $23,838,000 after acquiring an additional 217,561 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Global Business Travel Group by 1,169.4% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,564,661 shares of the companys stock worth $11,312,000 after acquiring an additional 1,441,400 shares during the last quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Global Business Travel Group during the first quarter worth about $6,173,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Global Business Travel Group by 158.3% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 488,069 shares of the companys stock worth $3,529,000 after acquiring an additional 299,100 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.92% of the companys stock. Get Global Business Travel Group alerts: Global Business Travel Group Trading Up 1.7 % Shares of NYSE:GBTG traded up $0.10 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $5.85. The stock had a trading volume of 66,109 shares, compared to its average volume of 112,677. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $6.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $5.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market cap of $2.73 billion, a P/E ratio of -13.03 and a beta of 0.63. Global Business Travel Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $4.76 and a fifty-two week high of $8.05. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GBTG has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup upgraded shares of Global Business Travel Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $7.50 to $8.00 in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Global Business Travel Group from $8.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on GBTG Global Business Travel Group Profile (Free Report) Global Business Travel Group, Inc provides business-to-business (B2B) travel platform in the United States and internationally. The company's platform offers a suite of technology-enabled solutions to business travelers and clients; travel content suppliers including airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and aggregators; and third-party travel agencies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Global Business Travel Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Business Travel Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO) by 1.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,452,025 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 54,324 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal makes up 1.5% of Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned 0.48% of Bank of Montreal worth $291,192,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Bank of Montreal in the 4th quarter worth about $561,431,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 82.7% in the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 3,404,661 shares of the banks stock worth $400,992,000 after buying an additional 1,541,161 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,478,058 shares of the banks stock worth $2,651,736,000 after buying an additional 1,293,280 shares during the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 14.1% in the 4th quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 9,544,892 shares of the banks stock worth $864,767,000 after buying an additional 1,179,546 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 13,688,001 shares of the banks stock worth $1,236,042,000 after buying an additional 1,170,160 shares during the last quarter. 43.89% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently weighed in on BMO shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Bank of Montreal in a report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Bank of America raised shares of Bank of Montreal from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 18th. National Bank Financial raised shares of Bank of Montreal from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Bank of Montreal from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $131.00. Bank of Montreal Price Performance Bank of Montreal stock traded up $0.48 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $94.78. 486,532 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 650,920. The firm has a market cap of $68.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $95.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $87.19. Bank of Montreal has a 1-year low of $73.98 and a 1-year high of $100.12. Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Get Free Report) (TSE:BMO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported $2.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.07. The company had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 6.41% and a return on equity of 12.55%. As a group, analysts forecast that Bank of Montreal will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 30th will be paid a $1.1137 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 29th. This represents a $4.45 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.70%. This is a boost from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.11. Bank of Montreals payout ratio is currently 103.59%. Bank of Montreal Company Profile (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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Today, a workshop on Energy Efficiency Market Assessment Early Findings for development the National Renovation Program In Buildings Sector was held with the participation of the representatives of Government of Azerbaijan, energy suppliers and utilities, public sector building owners, international financial institutions and donors, Trend reports. The workshop was organized under the Energy Efficiency and Climate Technical Assistance implemented by the World Bank and financed by European Union (EU) within the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) program. It was noted that buildings in Azerbaijan account for approximately 55% of energy consumption, this is significantly more than compared to 35% global average. The country has been implementing various initiatives and programs to enhance energy efficiency in the buildings sector, however there is a need for programmatic and extensive approach to reach results on the ground. Feedback on the key findings of the Draft National Renovation Program Roadmap for the renovation of private (residential and commercial) and public buildings in Azerbaijan, preliminary results of the market assessment of the EE potential in public buildings and results of the capacity needs assessment for the implementation of the National Renovation Program were discussed et the event. AZTAF is technical assistance program for the Republic of Azerbaijan aiming to provide advisory and analytical support and capacity building to the Government of Azerbaijan in line with the Azerbaijan 2030 National Priorities. BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF (NYSEARCA:LCTU Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $55.51 and last traded at $55.44, with a volume of 6221 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $54.63. BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF Trading Up 2.1 % The business has a 50-day moving average price of $53.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $50.08. The stock has a market cap of $1.85 billion, a PE ratio of 18.18 and a beta of 1.02. Get BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF by 69.1% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 849 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 347 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $37,000. Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. UBS Group AG purchased a new stake in BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $63,000. Finally, ORG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF by 53.0% during the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,535 shares of the companys stock worth $80,000 after purchasing an additional 532 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF Company Profile The BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF (LCTU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell 1000 index. The fund is an actively-managed portfolio of large- and mid-cap US firms in the Russell 1000 Index that are selected and weighted with a preference for lower carbon emissions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clark Financial Services Group Inc. BD cut its stake in Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH Free Report) by 1.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,901 shares of the companys stock after selling 115 shares during the period. Cardinal Health makes up 0.8% of Clark Financial Services Group Inc. BDs holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Clark Financial Services Group Inc. BDs holdings in Cardinal Health were worth $599,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CAH. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI boosted its stake in shares of Cardinal Health by 2,761.9% during the 2nd quarter. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI now owns 538,038 shares of the companys stock worth $50,882,000 after buying an additional 519,238 shares during the last quarter. Summit X LLC boosted its stake in shares of Cardinal Health by 6.8% during the 2nd quarter. Summit X LLC now owns 3,685 shares of the companys stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Cardinal Health by 9.3% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 84,096 shares of the companys stock worth $7,301,000 after buying an additional 7,174 shares during the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp lifted its stake in Cardinal Health by 4,446.0% in the 2nd quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 209,116 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,776,000 after purchasing an additional 204,516 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forsta AP Fonden lifted its stake in Cardinal Health by 65.5% in the 3rd quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 93,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,092,000 after purchasing an additional 36,900 shares during the last quarter. 86.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Cardinal Health alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Cardinal Health in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $117.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Cardinal Health in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. They issued an underweight rating and a $96.00 target price for the company. Argus upgraded shares of Cardinal Health from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Cardinal Health from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of Cardinal Health from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, December 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $101.38. Cardinal Health Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of CAH traded up $0.23 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $105.60. 1,626,763 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,219,130. Cardinal Health, Inc. has a 52 week low of $68.53 and a 52 week high of $111.40. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $104.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $97.79. The firm has a market cap of $25.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.69. Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.26. Cardinal Health had a net margin of 0.30% and a negative return on equity of 57.44%. The company had revenue of $57.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $57.02 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Cardinal Health, Inc. will post 7.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cardinal Health Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.5006 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 28th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.90%. Cardinal Healths dividend payout ratio is presently 78.74%. Insider Transactions at Cardinal Health In related news, CEO Deborah Weitzman sold 36,642 shares of Cardinal Health stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.31, for a total value of $3,895,411.02. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 35,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,742,324.62. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock. Cardinal Health Company Profile (Free Report) Cardinal Health, Inc operates as a healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Cardinal Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cardinal Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. trimmed its position in Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) by 18.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,779,869 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock after selling 394,928 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned 0.34% of Rogers Communications worth $68,334,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Rogers Communications by 62.8% in the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 700 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the period. Stonehage Fleming Financial Services Holdings Ltd purchased a new stake in Rogers Communications in the third quarter worth $29,000. Macquarie Group Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Rogers Communications in the first quarter worth $82,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Rogers Communications by 26.7% in the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 1,760 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $99,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC purchased a new stake in shares of Rogers Communications in the third quarter worth $100,000. 44.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Rogers Communications Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:RCI traded up $0.42 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $45.83. 318,683 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 383,716. The company has a market cap of $24.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.81, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.89. Rogers Communications Inc. has a one year low of $36.55 and a one year high of $50.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $46.53 and a 200 day moving average of $42.70. Rogers Communications Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.3742 per share. This is an increase from Rogers Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 8th. Rogers Communicationss dividend payout ratio is presently 122.50%. A number of research firms have recently commented on RCI. Desjardins raised Rogers Communications from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. StockNews.com raised Rogers Communications from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on Rogers Communications from $55.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on RCI Rogers Communications Company Profile (Free Report) Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in North America. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device financing, device protection, global voice and data roaming, wireless home phone, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device shipping services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RCI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B). Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE:CWK Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.06, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $2.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.78 billion. Cushman & Wakefield had a positive return on equity of 12.04% and a negative net margin of 0.37%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.46 EPS. Cushman & Wakefield Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:CWK opened at $10.00 on Thursday. Cushman & Wakefield has a one year low of $6.24 and a one year high of $13.54. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $10.41 and a 200-day moving average of $9.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. Get Cushman & Wakefield alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes CWK has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group decreased their price target on Cushman & Wakefield from $11.00 to $9.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Wolfe Research raised Cushman & Wakefield from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $12.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price target on Cushman & Wakefield from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $10.58. Insider Activity In other news, insider Nathaniel Robinson sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.82, for a total transaction of $176,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 29,459 shares in the company, valued at approximately $259,828.38. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.19% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Cushman & Wakefield Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 3,128.2% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,292 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 2,221 shares during the period. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Cushman & Wakefield by 108.3% during the first quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Cushman & Wakefield during the first quarter valued at $62,000. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in Cushman & Wakefield by 353.6% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,094 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 5,530 shares during the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE boosted its position in Cushman & Wakefield by 1,215.8% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 8,237 shares of the companys stock valued at $169,000 after purchasing an additional 7,611 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.47% of the companys stock. Cushman & Wakefield Company Profile (Get Free Report) Cushman & Wakefield plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial real estate services under the Cushman & Wakefield brand in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and Asia Pacific segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Cushman & Wakefield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cushman & Wakefield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana (NYSE:DAN Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The auto parts company reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by ($0.06), MarketWatch Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.58 billion. Dana had a return on equity of 7.37% and a net margin of 0.36%. The firms revenue was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.10) earnings per share. Dana updated its FY 2024 guidance to 0.350-0.850 EPS. Dana Stock Down 1.0 % Dana stock opened at $12.33 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $1.78 billion, a PE ratio of 47.42 and a beta of 2.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.58. The firms 50 day moving average price is $13.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.03. Dana has a twelve month low of $11.10 and a twelve month high of $19.75. Get Dana alerts: Dana Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Danas payout ratio is presently 153.85%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Dana from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Dana from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Dana from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $16.71. Get Our Latest Report on DAN Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DAN. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its holdings in Dana by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 3,612,318 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $63,468,000 after purchasing an additional 316,466 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC grew its position in shares of Dana by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 2,621,679 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $46,063,000 after buying an additional 60,025 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of Dana by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 427,547 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $7,512,000 after buying an additional 6,465 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Dana by 41.1% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 169,160 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $2,972,000 after buying an additional 49,268 shares during the period. Finally, State of Tennessee Treasury Department boosted its stake in Dana by 51.1% during the 2nd quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 116,789 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,985,000 after acquiring an additional 39,515 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.60% of the companys stock. About Dana (Get Free Report) Dana Incorporated provides power-conveyance and energy-management solutions for vehicles and machinery in North America, Europe, South America, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in four segments: Light Vehicle Drive Systems, Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion Systems, Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems, and Power Technologies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Dana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EPG Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 29,713 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 334 shares during the quarter. EPG Wealth Management LLCs holdings in RTX were worth $2,138,000 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. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P raised its position in RTX by 94.5% during the 1st quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 322,180 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,918,000 after purchasing an additional 156,550 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in RTX by 9.2% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 11,011 shares of the companys stock worth $1,091,000 after acquiring an additional 931 shares during the period. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. grew its holdings in RTX by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 10,761 shares of the companys stock worth $1,066,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. increased its position in RTX by 53.1% during the 1st quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 35,502 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,517,000 after purchasing an additional 12,316 shares during the period. Finally, LSV Asset Management lifted its position in shares of RTX by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 141,700 shares of the companys stock worth $14,038,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.06% of the companys stock. Get RTX alerts: RTX Price Performance Shares of RTX stock traded up $0.09 during trading on Thursday, hitting $89.71. 5,078,464 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,824,320. RTX Co. has a twelve month low of $68.56 and a twelve month high of $104.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The company has a market cap of $119.03 billion, a PE ratio of 40.27, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.89. The firms fifty day moving average price is $87.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.30. RTX Dividend Announcement RTX ( NYSE:RTX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $19.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.74 billion. RTX had a return on equity of 10.34% and a net margin of 4.64%. The companys revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.27 EPS. Analysts forecast that RTX Co. will post 5.39 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 105.36%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Ramsaran Maharajh sold 312 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.17, for a total transaction of $28,757.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,676 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,076,176.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other RTX news, COO Christopher T. Calio sold 367 shares of RTX stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.63, for a total transaction of $33,995.21. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 56,707 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,252,769.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Ramsaran Maharajh sold 312 shares of RTX stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.17, for a total value of $28,757.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,676 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,076,176.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 37,680 shares of company stock valued at $3,438,681 in the last 90 days. 0.11% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on RTX. Robert W. Baird reissued a neutral rating and set a $94.00 price objective (up from $88.00) on shares of RTX in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the company from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of RTX from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. TheStreet upgraded RTX from a c rating to a b- rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, DZ Bank downgraded RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, RTX has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $91.71. Read Our Latest Stock Report on RTX About RTX (Free Report) RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation; and for defense and commercial space operations. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RTX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE:USAC Get Free Report) insider Eric D. Long sold 34,866 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.54, for a total value of $855,611.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 469,019 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,509,726.26. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. USA Compression Partners Stock Performance Shares of NYSE USAC traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $24.47. 317,899 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 549,089. USA Compression Partners LP has a 12 month low of $18.48 and a 12 month high of $26.93. The firm has a market cap of $2.52 billion, a PE ratio of 116.53 and a beta of 1.31. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $24.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.82. Get USA Compression Partners alerts: USA Compression Partners (NYSE:USAC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The oil and gas company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $225.05 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $221.50 million. USA Compression Partners had a negative return on equity of 31.81% and a net margin of 8.07%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.04) earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that USA Compression Partners LP will post 0.58 EPS for the current year. USA Compression Partners Increases Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 22nd were given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This is a positive change from USA Compression Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 19th. USA Compression Partnerss payout ratio is presently 1,000.05%. USAC has been the subject of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on USA Compression Partners from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. StockNews.com cut USA Compression Partners from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on USA Compression Partners from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $22.25. Get Our Latest Research Report on USAC Hedge Funds Weigh In On USA Compression Partners Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of USA Compression Partners by 232.9% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,235 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 864 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in USA Compression Partners in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. JNBA Financial Advisors bought a new stake in USA Compression Partners in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in USA Compression Partners by 2,232.0% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,915 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 2,790 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its stake in USA Compression Partners by 1,102.9% in the 1st quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,887 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 2,647 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 23.51% of the companys stock. About USA Compression Partners (Get Free Report) USA Compression Partners, LP provides compression services under term contracts with customers in the natural gas and crude oil industries in the United States. The company engineers, designs, operates, services, and repairs its compression units; and maintains related support inventory and equipment. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for USA Compression Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for USA Compression Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE:FMS Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note issued on Wednesday. A number of other brokerages also recently commented on FMS. HSBC upgraded shares of Fresenius Medical Care from a reduce rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 24th. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Fresenius Medical Care from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Societe Generale upgraded shares of Fresenius Medical Care from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Fresenius Medical Care currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $32.25. Get Fresenius Medical Care alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Fresenius Medical Care Fresenius Medical Care Stock Performance Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fresenius Medical Care NYSE:FMS traded down $1.31 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $19.31. 909,859 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 406,659. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.55, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a 50-day moving average of $20.27 and a 200 day moving average of $20.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Fresenius Medical Care has a 1-year low of $16.37 and a 1-year high of $27.72. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FMS. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care by 35.6% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 28,440 shares of the companys stock worth $958,000 after buying an additional 7,470 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care by 13.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 9,490 shares of the companys stock worth $320,000 after buying an additional 1,089 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care by 17.4% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 28,037 shares of the companys stock worth $945,000 after buying an additional 4,162 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care by 15.0% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 9,477 shares of the companys stock worth $319,000 after buying an additional 1,238 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care by 56.2% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 29,668 shares of the companys stock worth $1,000,000 after buying an additional 10,676 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.81% of the companys stock. About Fresenius Medical Care (Get Free Report) Fresenius Medical Care AG provides dialysis and related services for individuals with renal diseases in Germany, North America, and internationally. The company offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Fresenius Medical Care Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fresenius Medical Care and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 117.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,011 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after buying an additional 545 shares during the quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $510,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Robbins Farley purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 340.0% during the 3rd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 66 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 38.6% during the 3rd quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 79 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. 85.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:UNH traded up $0.74 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $521.80. 2,095,933 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,980,634. The companys 50 day moving average price is $521.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $518.57. The firm has a market cap of $482.63 billion, a PE ratio of 21.83, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.80. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $445.68 and a 52 week high of $554.70. Analyst Ratings Changes UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.98 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $94.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $92.13 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firms revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $5.34 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $605.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 20th. HSBC reiterated a reduce rating and issued a $480.00 price objective (down from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $610.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $591.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 19th. 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 given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $575.79. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNH Insider Activity In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the companys stock in a transaction 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 transaction, 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 accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. About UnitedHealth Group (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. Read More 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. Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.06, Briefing.com reports. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 36.94% and a net margin of 7.67%. The company had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.59 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Graphic Packaging updated its FY24 guidance to $2.50 to $3.00 EPS and its FY 2024 guidance to 2.500-3.000 EPS. Graphic Packaging Trading Up 3.4 % GPK traded up $0.88 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $27.10. 1,324,132 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,974,891. Graphic Packaging has a 52 week low of $20.07 and a 52 week high of $27.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.15, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $25.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $23.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.46. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packagings payout ratio is 17.02%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently issued reports on GPK. Raymond James lowered Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, November 27th. StockNews.com upgraded Graphic Packaging from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Graphic Packaging from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $27.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on Graphic Packaging Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 13.6% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 3,600 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 431 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 10,648 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 483 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 56,009 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,346,000 after purchasing an additional 508 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 11,662 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $230,000 after purchasing an additional 591 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American International Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 21.6% in the 2nd quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 4,414 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 783 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock. 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. See Also 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Denver, discussing partnership opportunities, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy. "The minister became acquainted with the laboratory's activities, which play a significant role in energy transformation, performing research, development, and deployment of new technologies for renewable energy and energy efficiency," noted the ministry. Presentations were made on research that reflected the development and innovation processes of integrating solar, wind, hydro, bioenergy, and hydrogen energy sources. The visit included an overview of NREL facilities such as Energy Systems Integration, Hydrogen Research, Science, and Technology, which perform research and development on hydrogen generation, storage, transportation, and consumption. Azerbaijan has been aggressively developing renewable energy sources in recent years, and it has made various pledges relating to the UN climate agenda. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.06, Briefing.com reports. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 36.94%. The firm had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.59 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Graphic Packaging updated its FY24 guidance to $2.50 to $3.00 EPS and its FY 2024 guidance to 2.500-3.000 EPS. Graphic Packaging Price Performance Shares of NYSE GPK traded up $0.62 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $26.84. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,607,936 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,980,671. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 1.17. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $25.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $23.17. Graphic Packaging has a 1-year low of $20.07 and a 1-year high of $27.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.84. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.02%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently issued reports on GPK shares. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday. 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. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday. Bank of America upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $27.56. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on GPK Hedge Funds Weigh In On Graphic Packaging A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 136,139 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,356,000 after acquiring an additional 2,365 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 53,040 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,307,000 after acquiring an additional 1,751 shares during the period. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,421,000. Voloridge Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 203.0% in the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 205,304 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $5,061,000 after acquiring an additional 137,555 shares during the period. Finally, Modern Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $332,000. 99.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Graphic Packaging (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. Featured Articles 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. GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (CVE:GPV Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as C$2.80 and last traded at C$2.76, with a volume of 5425 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$2.85. GreenPower Motor Stock Performance The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$3.80 and a 200-day moving average price of C$4.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 88.30. The company has a market cap of C$70.97 million, a P/E ratio of -3.35 and a beta of 4.03. About GreenPower Motor (Get Free Report) GreenPower Motor Company Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes electric vehicles for commercial markets in the United States and Canada. The company offers commercial vehicles for delivery, public transit, schools, vanpools, micro-transit, shuttles, and other; and passenger, student, low floor transit, and cargo transportation. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for GreenPower Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GreenPower Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLV Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $146.77 and last traded at $146.62, with a volume of 5117881 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $145.45. Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund Trading Up 1.2 % The business has a 50 day moving average of $139.83 and a 200-day moving average of $133.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.12 and a beta of 0.70. Get Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund alerts: Institutional Trading of Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. WNY Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. WNY Asset Management LLC now owns 2,007 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $274,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. Able Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $677,000. Prospect Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $557,000. Burford Brothers Inc. bought a new position in shares of Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $836,000. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its stake in shares of Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund by 96,722.5% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 38,729 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $5,282,000 after acquiring an additional 38,689 shares in the last quarter. Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund Company Profile Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to closely match the returns and characteristics of the S&P Health Care Select Sector Index (the Index). The companies included in the Index are selected on the basis of general industry classification from a universe of companies defined by the Standard & Poors 500 Composite Stock Index (S&P 500). Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSEARCA:SUSA Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $105.23 and last traded at $105.10, with a volume of 21712 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $103.48. iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Trading Up 2.1 % The company has a market capitalization of $4.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19 and a beta of 1.02. The firms 50 day moving average price is $101.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $95.64. Get iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,012,000. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 24.2% during the 2nd quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI now owns 5,883 shares of the companys stock worth $551,000 after purchasing an additional 1,146 shares during the last quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $226,000. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,196,000. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 15.7% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 137,868 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,404,000 after buying an additional 18,717 shares during the last quarter. About iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF The iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Extended ESG Select index. The fund tracks an index of US companies with high environmental, social and governance (ESG) factor scores as calculated by MSCI. SUSA was launched on Jan 24, 2005 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EPG Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Free Report) by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 120,059 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 799 shares during the quarter. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF accounts for about 2.5% of EPG Wealth Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. EPG Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF were worth $8,214,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Carret Asset Management LLC raised its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.4% during the third quarter. Carret Asset Management LLC now owns 39,613 shares of the companys stock worth $2,710,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 2.0% during the third quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,575 shares of the companys stock worth $518,000 after buying an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC grew its stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.6% during the second quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 26,143 shares of the companys stock worth $1,843,000 after buying an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Financial LLC grew its stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 4.6% during the third quarter. Lake Street Financial LLC now owns 3,710 shares of the companys stock worth $255,000 after buying an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan Co. boosted its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 37,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,828,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF alerts: iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Stock Performance Shares of IVW traded up $2.60 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $82.65. The company had a trading volume of 1,695,209 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,049,663. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $77.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.83. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $58.82 and a 1-year high of $82.79. The company has a market capitalization of $40.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.15 and a beta of 1.05. About iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Growth Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KBR (NYSE:KBR Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The construction company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.69, MarketWatch Earnings reports. The firm had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.78 billion. KBR had a positive return on equity of 25.08% and a negative net margin of 3.81%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.69 EPS. KBR updated its FY 2024 guidance to 3.100-3.300 EPS and its FY24 guidance to $3.10 to $3.30 EPS. KBR Stock Performance Shares of KBR traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $58.82. The company had a trading volume of 371,697 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,389,953. KBR has a 52-week low of $49.37 and a 52-week high of $65.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.94 billion, a P/E ratio of -28.71, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $54.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.33. Get KBR alerts: KBR Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This is an increase from KBRs previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.02%. KBRs dividend payout ratio is presently -26.34%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On KBR Analyst Ratings Changes A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in KBR. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of KBR by 16.3% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 11,008 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $602,000 after purchasing an additional 1,540 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its stake in shares of KBR by 71.7% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 34,270 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,876,000 after buying an additional 14,308 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its stake in shares of KBR by 10.0% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 79,664 shares of the construction companys stock worth $4,488,000 after buying an additional 7,244 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its holdings in KBR by 11.3% in the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 25,239 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,384,000 after purchasing an additional 2,563 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its holdings in KBR by 103.0% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,920 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $105,000 after purchasing an additional 974 shares in the last quarter. Several research firms have recently commented on KBR. UBS Group reduced their price target on KBR from $65.00 to $63.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Citigroup upped their target price on KBR from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on KBR from $75.00 to $66.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. KeyCorp boosted their price target on KBR from $63.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on KBR from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $68.14. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on KBR About KBR (Get Free Report) KBR, Inc provides scientific, technology, and engineering solutions to governments and commercial customers worldwide. The company operates through Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions segments. The Government Solutions segment offers life-cycle support solutions to defense, intelligence, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for KBR Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KBR and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kincora Copper Limited (CVE:KCC Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as C$0.03 and last traded at C$0.03, with a volume of 5166 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.04. Kincora Copper Trading Down 28.6 % The firm has a market cap of C$6.18 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.25 and a beta of 2.07. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.03 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.03. Kincora Copper Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kincora Copper Limited engages in acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of mineral properties in Mongolia and Australia. It primarily explores for copper and gold deposits. The company's flagship project is the Trundle Project, including one license covering an area of 167km2 located in the Junee-Narromine volcanic belt of the Macquarie Arc. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kincora Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kincora Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd cut its position in shares of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC Free Report) by 3.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,138,282 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 178,551 shares during the quarter. WEC Energy Group accounts for 4.4% of Magellan Asset Management Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Magellan Asset Management Ltd owned approximately 1.63% of WEC Energy Group worth $413,889,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advisors Capital Management LLC lifted its position in WEC Energy Group by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 4,799 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $444,000 after buying an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,059 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $99,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the period. Portside Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 10,374 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $837,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. Balentine LLC raised its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 4,899 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $395,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the period. Finally, Blossom Wealth Management raised its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Blossom Wealth Management now owns 3,797 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $306,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the period. 75.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get WEC Energy Group alerts: WEC Energy Group Price Performance WEC Energy Group stock traded down $1.04 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $78.25. The company had a trading volume of 1,880,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,529,196. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $81.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.64. The company has a market cap of $24.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.41. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $75.13 and a fifty-two week high of $99.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend WEC Energy Group ( NYSE:WEC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 14.98% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.80 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.835 per share. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. This is an increase from WEC Energy Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.78. WEC Energy Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 79.15%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have weighed in on WEC shares. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $94.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Bank of America restated an underperform rating and set a $78.00 target price (down previously from $84.00) on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of WEC Energy Group from $79.00 to $75.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of WEC Energy Group from $88.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, WEC Energy Group has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $86.17. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WEC Energy Group Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 600 shares of WEC Energy Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.46, for a total transaction of $50,076.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 20,933 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,747,068.18. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.34% of the stock is owned by insiders. About WEC Energy Group (Free Report) WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. The company operates through six segments: Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate and Other. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WEC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for WEC Energy Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WEC Energy Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by ($0.05), Yahoo Finance reports. Masonite International had a return on equity of 20.39% and a net margin of 4.18%. The firm had revenue of $660.58 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $659.87 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. Masonite International Price Performance Shares of DOOR traded up $0.13 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $129.95. The stock had a trading volume of 640,505 shares, compared to its average volume of 709,111. The companys fifty day moving average is $96.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $93.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.97 and a quick ratio of 2.05. Masonite International has a 52 week low of $76.87 and a 52 week high of $130.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.65, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.55. Get Masonite International alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masonite International Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 14,300 shares of the companys stock worth $1,211,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main bought a new stake in shares of Masonite International in the 4th quarter worth about $707,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Masonite International in the 4th quarter worth about $375,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 48,327 shares of the companys stock worth $4,091,000 after purchasing an additional 9,438 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chartwell Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in Masonite International by 6.4% during the 4th quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 108,470 shares of the companys stock worth $9,183,000 after buying an additional 6,540 shares in the last quarter. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on DOOR. Stifel Nicolaus restated a hold rating and issued a $133.00 price objective (up from $119.00) on shares of Masonite International in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird cut shares of Masonite International from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $106.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. TheStreet cut shares of Masonite International from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday. Benchmark cut their target price on shares of Masonite International from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Masonite International from $87.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $116.89. View Our Latest Analysis on DOOR Masonite International Company Profile (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. Featured Articles 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. Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by ($0.05), Yahoo Finance reports. Masonite International had a return on equity of 20.39% and a net margin of 4.18%. The business had revenue of $660.58 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $659.87 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.72 EPS. Masonite International Trading Up 0.1 % NYSE:DOOR traded up $0.16 on Thursday, hitting $129.98. 696,515 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 710,009. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.65, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.55. Masonite International has a 52 week low of $76.87 and a 52 week high of $130.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a current ratio of 2.97. The companys 50-day moving average price is $96.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $93.58. Get Masonite International alerts: Institutional Trading of Masonite International Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Masonite International by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 14,300 shares of the companys stock worth $1,211,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main bought a new stake in shares of Masonite International in the 4th quarter valued at about $707,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Masonite International in the 4th quarter valued at about $375,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its stake in shares of Masonite International by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 48,327 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,091,000 after acquiring an additional 9,438 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chartwell Investment Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Masonite International by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 108,470 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,183,000 after acquiring an additional 6,540 shares during the last quarter. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DOOR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Benchmark reduced their target price on shares of Masonite International from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Wedbush restated a neutral rating and issued a $133.00 target price on shares of Masonite International in a research note on Tuesday. Stephens downgraded shares of Masonite International from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their target price for the company from $130.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a $133.00 target price (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Masonite International in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Masonite International in a research note on Tuesday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Masonite International presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $116.89. Read Our Latest Report on Masonite International Masonite International Company Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. A meeting has been held between Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev and Latvian Ambassador to the country Edgars Skuja, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. During the discussion, the parties discussed preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which Azerbaijan will host this year. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co boosted its position in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report) by 19.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,364 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,492 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Cos holdings in American Express were worth $3,187,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new stake in American Express during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in American Express during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. RVW Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in American Express during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd purchased a new position in shares of American Express in the second quarter valued at $49,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Express in the second quarter valued at $52,000. Institutional investors own 83.08% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets AXP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of American Express from $220.00 to $226.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Robert W. Baird lowered shares of American Express from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $190.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Monness Crespi & Hardt began coverage on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. They set a neutral rating for the company. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of American Express from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of American Express from $208.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, American Express has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $189.00. Insider Activity In other news, Vice Chairman Jeffrey C. Campbell sold 21,008 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.33, for a total transaction of $3,536,276.64. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 125,646 shares in the company, valued at $21,149,991.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Vice Chairman Jeffrey C. Campbell sold 21,008 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.33, for a total value of $3,536,276.64. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 125,646 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,149,991.18. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 7,029 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.65, for a total transaction of $1,431,455.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 12,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,522,816.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 193,055 shares of company stock worth $40,064,664 over the last 90 days. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. American Express Stock Up 2.2 % NYSE:AXP traded up $4.58 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $215.47. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,639,981 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,462,560. The firm has a market capitalization of $155.97 billion, a PE ratio of 18.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $193.71 and a 200-day moving average of $170.08. American Express has a 1 year low of $140.91 and a 1 year high of $215.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The payment services company reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.64 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $15.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16 billion. American Express had a net margin of 13.84% and a return on equity of 30.99%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.07 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that American Express will post 12.83 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th were issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.11%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.41%. About American Express (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co boosted its stake in shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report) by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 53,758 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 1,260 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Cos holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $3,080,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. New York Life Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in NextEra Energy by 1.3% during the second quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 316,097 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $23,454,000 after buying an additional 3,921 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc raised its holdings in NextEra Energy by 1.0% in the second quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 122,920 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,121,000 after acquiring an additional 1,250 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its holdings in NextEra Energy by 1.7% during the third quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 383,932 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $21,995,000 after purchasing an additional 6,325 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy during the second quarter worth approximately $120,000. Finally, Draper Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy during the second quarter worth approximately $267,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.48% of the companys stock. Get NextEra Energy alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently commented on NEE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. StockNews.com cut shares of NextEra Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $79.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Citigroup started coverage on shares of NextEra Energy in a research report on Friday, December 8th. They set a buy rating and a $69.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $74.00 target price on shares of NextEra Energy in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, NextEra Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $71.85. Insider Activity In related news, Director Nicole S. Arnaboldi acquired 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $59.59 per share, with a total value of $506,515.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 11,523 shares in the company, valued at approximately $686,655.57. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. NextEra Energy Price Performance NEE stock traded down $0.32 during trading on Thursday, hitting $56.78. The stock had a trading volume of 5,531,819 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,455,972. The companys 50 day moving average price is $59.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.23. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 1-year low of $47.15 and a 1-year high of $79.78. The stock has a market cap of $116.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.55. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 26.00% and a return on equity of 11.73%. The firm had revenue of $6.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.72 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. NextEra Energy Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 26th. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.63%. This is an increase from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 51.80%. 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. Further Reading 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. QuantumScape Co. (NYSE:QS Get Free Report) CFO Kevin Hettrich sold 34,607 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.54, for a total value of $226,329.78. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 554,553 shares in the company, valued at $3,626,776.62. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Kevin Hettrich also recently made the following trade(s): Get QuantumScape alerts: On Wednesday, January 3rd, Kevin Hettrich sold 34,607 shares of QuantumScape stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.51, for a total value of $225,291.57. On Thursday, December 14th, Kevin Hettrich sold 34,607 shares of QuantumScape stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.62, for a total value of $263,705.34. QuantumScape Trading Down 1.2 % Shares of NYSE:QS traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $6.45. The company had a trading volume of 6,078,276 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,505,042. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 24.57 and a current ratio of 24.57. QuantumScape Co. has a 1-year low of $4.99 and a 1-year high of $13.86. The firm has a market cap of $3.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.72 and a beta of 4.94. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.27 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.75. Hedge Funds Weigh In On QuantumScape QuantumScape ( NYSE:QS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by ($0.04). During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.25) earnings per share. Research analysts predict that QuantumScape Co. will post -0.91 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its position in shares of QuantumScape by 23.5% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 446,427 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,987,000 after purchasing an additional 84,982 shares during the period. Duality Advisers LP acquired a new stake in QuantumScape during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,063,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. boosted its position in QuantumScape by 53.6% during the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 2,581,225 shares of the companys stock worth $17,268,000 after acquiring an additional 900,249 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank boosted its position in QuantumScape by 17.6% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 692,500 shares of the companys stock worth $4,633,000 after acquiring an additional 103,800 shares during the period. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new stake in QuantumScape during the 3rd quarter worth about $56,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.22% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. William Blair assumed coverage on QuantumScape in a report on Monday, December 18th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. HSBC started coverage on QuantumScape in a report on Monday, December 4th. They set a reduce rating and a $4.70 price target on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their target price on QuantumScape from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on QuantumScape from $5.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $6.71. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on QS About QuantumScape (Get Free Report) QuantumScape Corporation, a development stage company, focuses on the development and commercialization of solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles and other applications. QuantumScape Corporation was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for QuantumScape Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for QuantumScape and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Security National Bank of SO Dak grew its stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report) by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 24,232 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 671 shares during the period. Security National Bank of SO Daks holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,357,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of KO. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC now owns 17,756 shares of the companys stock worth $1,069,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 3,973 shares of the companys stock worth $246,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Somerville Kurt F boosted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Somerville Kurt F now owns 21,377 shares of the companys stock worth $1,325,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the period. VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 46.5% during the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 545 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the period. Finally, Cozad Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 53,009 shares of the companys stock worth $2,967,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of Coca-Cola stock traded up $0.54 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $61.25. 14,373,149 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,432,942. The stock has a market cap of $264.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 0.59. The firms 50-day moving average price is $59.51 and its 200 day moving average price is $58.28. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12-month low of $51.55 and a 12-month high of $64.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.95. Coca-Cola Increases Dividend Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $10.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.68 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 23.42% and a return on equity of 42.50%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.45 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.485 per share. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. This is a positive change from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is 74.19%. Insider Transactions at Coca-Cola In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,028 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.06, for a total transaction of $5,435,173.68. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at $26,136,766.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Coca-Cola news, EVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 52,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $3,138,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares in the company, valued at $8,602,980. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 92,028 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.06, for a total transaction of $5,435,173.68. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at $26,136,766.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently weighed in on KO. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $64.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Two equities research 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, Coca-Cola presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.00. View Our Latest Stock Report on KO Coca-Cola Profile (Free Report) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spot Coffee Ltd. (CVE:SPP Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Thursday . The company traded as low as C$0.03 and last traded at C$0.03, with a volume of 50000 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.03. Spot Coffee Trading Down 16.7 % The firm has a market capitalization of C$4.06 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.00 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.03 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.04. Spot Coffee Company Profile (Get Free Report) Spot Coffee (Canada) Ltd. designs, builds, operates, and franchises community-oriented cafes in Canada and the United States. The company's cafes provide food and beverages; and wholesales roasted coffee beans. It operates its own cafes located in Buffalo, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Elmwood, Glens Falls, and North Tonawanda, as well as its franchise cafes in Orchard Park, Kenmore, Hertel, West Hartford, Hamburg, Roswell Park, Clarence, Williamsville, Waterfront Village, Amherst, West Seneca, and Niagara Falls. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Spot Coffee Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spot Coffee and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stifel Financial Corp trimmed its stake in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 860,023 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 12,058 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp owned 0.12% of Danaher worth $213,376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AXS Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Danaher by 1.4% in the second quarter. AXS Investments LLC now owns 2,780 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $667,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Hawaii grew its position in shares of Danaher by 0.3% in the second quarter. Bank of Hawaii now owns 12,578 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $3,019,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC grew its position in shares of Danaher by 1.6% in the second quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 2,729 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $655,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV grew its position in shares of Danaher by 0.8% in the first quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 6,064 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,779,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mirova grew its position in shares of Danaher by 1.1% in the second quarter. Mirova now owns 4,159 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $998,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. 76.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Danaher alerts: Insider Activity In other Danaher news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.15, for a total transaction of $826,032.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 14,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,548,498.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Danaher news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.15, for a total transaction 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated 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 $1,029,891.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 9,200 shares of company stock valued at $2,279,038. Company insiders own 11.10% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on DHR. HSBC began coverage on shares of Danaher in a research report on Monday, December 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Danaher from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $215.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Danaher from $254.00 to $282.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Danaher from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $266.00. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Danaher Danaher Stock Up 1.2 % DHR stock traded up $2.88 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $250.65. 1,543,028 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,891,129. The company has a market capitalization of $185.21 billion, a PE ratio of 38.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Danaher Co. has a twelve month low of $182.09 and a twelve month high of $252.33. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $235.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $231.09. 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, research analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report). 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. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 29.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,956,826 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 441,055 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing comprises about 0.9% of Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $170,048,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Nemes Rush Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1,333.3% during the 2nd quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 258 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 334.8% during the 2nd quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 287 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the period. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Retirement Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 82.5% during the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 334 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TSM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Susquehanna increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $130.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $115.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $128.25. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Performance NYSE TSM traded up $3.73 during trading on Thursday, hitting $129.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 16,972,136 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,696,363. The company has a quick ratio of 2.13, a current ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $111.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $99.31. The firm has a market cap of $669.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.13. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a 52 week low of $81.21 and a 52 week high of $135.17. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The semiconductor company reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $19.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.99 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 25.24% and a net margin of 38.80%. Equities research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 13th will be given a dividend of $0.4408 per share. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 13th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 29.54%. About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. West Michigan Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,387 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 140 shares during the period. West Michigan Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $319,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 8.3% during the 1st quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 78,641 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,484,000 after buying an additional 6,036 shares in the last quarter. United Bank grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 27,546 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,972,000 after buying an additional 1,456 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 67.2% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 52,705 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $5,686,000 after buying an additional 21,177 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 4.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 24,791 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,128 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 19.7% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 8,847 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $954,000 after purchasing an additional 1,455 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance IJR traded down $0.04 on Thursday, hitting $105.96. The company had a trading volume of 3,050,341 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,943,101. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $105.98 and a 200-day moving average price of $99.43. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 12-month low of $87.32 and a 12-month high of $110.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF 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. Featured 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. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Great efforts are being undertaken for the transition to low-carbon technologies, Director of the Institute of Radiation Problems under the Ministry of Science and Education and Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Chemical Sciences Islam Mustafayev told Trend. He stated that changes in average worldwide temperatures have been observed over the last 200 years, or when climate parameters were first measured. According to him, the average global temperature has risen by about one to two degrees thus far. "This ultimately leads to very adverse conditions for humans. Climate change causes droughts, storms, floods, landslides, and other disasters. People encounter both crop-growing and health-related difficulties. If climate change mitigation measures are not implemented, the global temperature might rise by four degrees or more by the end of the century. This might lead to catastrophic degradation in living conditions on our planet, as well as a shortage of water resources," the scientist explained. The institute's director highlighted that measurements demonstrate a link between global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions. "Over 50 billion tons of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere annually. In the 1990s, the Climate Change Convention was signed, and in 2016, the Paris Agreement. There is also the agreement on the European Green Deal, signed in 2019 at the World Economic Forum. We have joined all these agreements," Mustafayev said. "To address climate change issues, zero emissions and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions are necessary. In this regard, the issue related to energy facilities is important, and reforms in the energy sector are needed, abandoning fuel combustion and utilizing solar, wind, and nuclear energy, as these are low-carbon technologies." "With the help of low-carbon technologies, we can achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, thereby slowing down the rate of climate change and temperature increase. A lot of work is being done in this area," he added. The scientist also highlighted in this context that Azerbaijan is making extensive preparations for COP29, which will take place in the country's capital this year. Mentioning the development of renewable energy in the liberated territories of the country, the institute director said that all infrastructure there was destroyed during the Armenian occupation, and currently, reconstruction work is underway on the territories. According to him, during these processes, it's necessary to gradually move away from fuel energy, both thermal and electrical. "Work in this direction is already underway. An example of this is the 240 MW solar power plant being built in Jabrayil. Work in this direction will ultimately lead to the development of green energy and the economy. This also includes the planting of forests," he concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The European Union (EU) is drafting common rules on technologies to capture CO from the atmosphere, the report of EU says, Trend reports. "The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary agreement on the setting up of the first certification system for technologies aimed at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere," the report notes. The standards will be set to assess the effectiveness and reliability of such technologies. "These issues, including both natural processes such as the uptake of CO by plants and engineered methods to capture carbon dioxide from the air or seawater, are already included in the EU's plan to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," the report of EU noted. The EU believes that an agreement on certification of carbon dioxide capture technologies will help avoid unprofitable projects that do not contribute to the fight against climate change. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Your Money Senior citizens and the seriously ill would suffer if insurance companies fix renewal premiums based on claims: GoDigit Chairman Two key proposalsone from the regulator and the other from standalone health insurers the surrender charges draft and cohort-based health insurance pricing, respectivelyare currently seeing a heated debate among life and health insurance companies. Read more Harsh Kumar is Correspondent at Moneycontrol based in Delhi. Harsh covers BFSI sector. You can reach him at Harsh.kumar@nw18.com Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Issues at the US State Department Sue Biniaz has arrived on a visit to Azerbaijan, the US Embassy told Trend. "Sue Biniaz will meet with government officials to highlight the US support for the successful holding of COP29 in Baku in November," the statement said. The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel February 22, 2024 / 10:30 PM IST The ongoing farmers' protest at the Punjab-Haryana borders found a reference in an address by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday when he said the agitation was among the several common things between India and Greece. While addressing the 'India-Greece Business Forum', Mitsotakis talked about various sectors where the two countries had a lot in common. "We have one more thing in common. We have farmers protesting both in Greece and India...," he said. He was also quick to add that the "future of farming in a world where we need to make big productivity gains across the board, I think, is also an area in my mind of great interest". February 29, 2024 02:12 PM IST Lok Sabha polls: DMK allots two seats each to CPI, CPI(M) An official release from the DMK said the seat-sharing talks were finalised today. February 28, 2024 05:27 PM IST BJP submits memorandum to Bengal's poll panel chief claiming 16 lakh fake voters in state Leading a delegation of the West Bengal BJP unit, party leader Suvendu Adhikari expressed dissapointment with the poll panel's failure to address the issue despite assurances. February 28, 2024 05:20 PM IST Truth of Congresss Feb 26 Shimla Dinner: Fake handshakes, hugs, and smiles Abhishek Manu Singhvi failed to read There was much bonhomie which would have set at ease any fears the Congress leadership and its high command had of cross-voting. But lurking beneath was an old party rivalry that has now culminated in minister Vikramditya Singhs resignation after a humiliating Rajya Sabha defeat for chief minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu February 28, 2024 01:27 PM IST PM Modi slams DMK, Congress for creating 'rift' among people The DMK's 'running away' shows its 'hatred' for people's faith, Modi said in an apparent reference to the opposition walkout when the Parliament took up the matter. February 28, 2024 10:29 AM IST With handouts, piped water and cooking gas, PM Modi woos women voters Polling agency C-voter told Reuters its surveys predict 46% of India's 472 million women voters would opt for the BJP-led alliance in the election against 43% men, which would help it get a healthy majority in India's first-past-the-post polling system. February 28, 2024 09:23 PM IST Rajya Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: After RS poll loss, scare for Congress govt in Himachal Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections: "I will not press my resignation until a decision is taken. The final decision will be taken in the coming time," said Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who submitted his resignation as Himachal cabinet minister earlier in the day. February 27, 2024 03:28 PM IST LS polls: Pradhan directs HEIs to conduct voter awareness activities from Feb 28-Mar 6 The directive comes following a clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the first time voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers. February 27, 2024 02:24 PM IST Opposition convinced of loss in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, thus abuses me: PM Modi Modi, speaking at the conclusion ceremony of the BJP state unit's padayatra at the Central Stadium here, urged Kerala's people to bless the saffron party with seats in double digits in the 2024 LS polls. February 27, 2024 10:42 PM IST No proposal for FM Sitharaman to contest Lok Sabha polls: Source Union Finance Minister Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar are Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka and Gujarat respectively. February 27, 2024 11:13 AM IST Nirmala Sitharaman, Jaishankar to contest Lok Sabha polls: Pralhad Joshi To a question whether it will be Bengaluru, Joshi said, "How can I answer when nothing has been finalised?" Union Finance Minister Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar are Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka and Gujarat respectively. February 27, 2024 10:59 PM IST Rajya Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: BJP wins eight seats, SP two in Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won eight Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance faced a blow as it could only win two seats. February 26, 2024 08:01 PM IST Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Sitharaman, Jaishankar to contest, seats not finalized, says Pralhad Joshi Joshi assured reporters that both union ministers will undoubtedly run for the Lok Sabha seats. Which constituency and from where they will run, meanwhile, are still up in the air February 26, 2024 06:07 PM IST Ahead of LS polls, Congress steps up efforts to strengthen party in Hyderabad, woos BRS leaders Out of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, four constituencies Malkajgiri, Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Chevella are in the GHMC limits. February 26, 2024 03:59 PM IST Lok Sabha polls 2024: JP Nadda invites people's suggestions for BJP manifesto As part of the campaign, BJP president JP Nadda also flagged off video vans from the party headquarters to highlight the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi February 26, 2024 12:48 PM IST Will scrap 'Agnipath', revert to old recruitment scheme if voted to power: Congress Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, highlighting the "gross injustice" done to the youngsters seeking regular employment in the armed forces due to the "Agnipath" scheme, and urged her to ensure justice for them. February 25, 2024 06:37 PM IST Resolve to give Modi govt third term with more than 400 LS seats: Shah to BJP workers Addressing booth level workers of the party at Khajuraho, the Union minister also claimed the Congress means corruption and corruption means Congress. February 24, 2024 08:58 AM IST PM Modis poll vault to cross 370: From Bengal to Tamil Nadu, Kerala to Maharashtra, mega rallies, events planned next week With over 100 seats in the south, including 59 in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 48 in Maharashtra and 42 in Bengal, the BJP is hoping that their biggest star campaigner and in whose name the party has been winning every election from Panchayat to Parliament, Modi can once again set the stage for them ahead of the announcement of the election dates. February 24, 2024 10:51 AM IST Lok Sabha Polls: BJP's mega huddle today, 'longer' candidate list likely to be out March first week During its huddle of election incharges and their deputies, BJP will discuss strategies that will be common practice in all states and UTs along with details of poll rallies by top guns like PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda February 24, 2024 10:59 PM IST Farmers' Protest Highlights: Authorities initiated the process of partially reopening Singhu border earlier today Dilli Chalo March Highlights: Authorities initiated the process of partially reopening Singhu (Delhi-Haryana) border earlier today, almost two weeks after it was sealed in view of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march. February 23, 2024 10:07 PM IST No change in TMC's stand of contesting all 42 LS seats in West Bengal: Derek O'Brien However, O'Brien, the TMC leader in the Rajya Sabha, said, "A few weeks agoWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that TMC is fighting all the 42 seats in Bengal. We are also in the fray in a few seats in Assam and the Tura Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya. There is no change in this position." February 23, 2024 08:20 PM IST Congress hopeful of finalising seat-sharing with TMC, AAP soon Sources said while the talks with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP have almost been concluded, discussions are still underway with the Mamata Banerjee's TMC. The sources expressed hope the leadership would work out a solution soon accommodating the expectations of all parties. February 22, 2024 05:46 PM IST "Break alliance or Kejriwal will be arrested," Atishi accuses BJP of threatening AAP leaders AAP leaders have received messages threatening to arrest Arvind Kejriwal if their party doesnt break the alliance within two days, alleged Atishi February 22, 2024 04:34 PM IST Lok Sabha polls: Uttar Pradesh sealed, what's next for INDIA alliance? Lok Sabha Elections: The political struggle is far from over, as alliance partners remain hesitant to offer a substantial share to the grand old party. February 22, 2024 12:52 PM IST Ajay Maken accuses BJP of 'financial terrorism' to cripple Cong ahead of LS polls Income Tax Department has transferred Rs 65.88 crore from three Congress accounts, as well as from the accounts of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), alleged Maken. February 21, 2024 12:53 PM IST Haven't joined INDIA bloc, will support anyone with 'selfless' thought for nation: Kamal Haasan Addressing reporters here after leading the 7th anniversary celebrations of his Makkal Needhi Maiam, Haasan also welcomed the recent political entry of top Tamil actor Vijay. February 21, 2024 11:41 AM IST Differences among INDIA bloc allies in couple of states, will be resolved: Sharad Pawar Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, the senior politician said a meeting of the INDIA alliance, formed by several opposition parties to take on the ruling BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, has not been convened of late. February 20, 2024 04:11 PM IST 'We scrapped Article 370 then to seek 370 seats now,' PM Modi stresses on an evolved J&K Lok Sabha Elections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to the upcoming Bollywood film Article 370 and slammed previous governments for depriving women of their democratic rights. February 19, 2024 04:48 PM IST SP releases second list after refusing to join Rahul's Bharat Nyay Yatra Lok Sabha Elections: Akhilesh Yadav said his party will participate in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra only after seat-sharing agreement with the Congress is finalised. February 20, 2024 11:47 AM IST PM Modi to visit Jammu on Feb 20: What it means for BJP ahead of LS polls Lok Sabha Elections: Modi will visit Jammu on Tuesday to launch multiple development projects, including for education, railway, aviation and road sectors, worth Rs 30,500 crore. February 19, 2024 12:49 PM IST Mayawati dismisses rumours of alliance, says BSP to go solo in Lok Sabha polls Mayawati, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has also asked workers of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to be beware of such rumours. February 15, 2024 06:43 PM IST Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Farooq Abdullahs NC to contest all seats in J&K - what does it mean? Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The decision has surprised many in view of Abdullah's recent lament that We are gradually moving towards a situation where there will be one country ruled by a single party. February 15, 2024 03:24 PM IST Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Farooq Abdullah says NC to go it alone National Conference is one of the constituents of opposition INDIA bloc formed in July 2023 to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls February 14, 2024 10:01 PM IST EC seeks 3.4 lakh CAPFs for deployment in LS polls, Assembly elections in 4 states The EC has also sought adequate rolling stocks with all appropriate facilities in the trains, thereby ensuring hassle-free mobilisation and a timely movement of the forces to perform election duties. February 14, 2024 02:26 PM IST Sharad Pawar-led NCP will not merge with any political party: Supriya Sule Apart from Pawar and Sule, former Maharashtra ministers Anil Deshmukh and Rajesh Tope, MPs Amol Kolhe and Shrinivas Patil along with others leaders attended the meeting. February 14, 2024 09:25 AM IST Not allowing for 100% VVPATs is 'terrible anyay' on Indian voter: Congress The opposition party also said that not allowing for 100 per cent VVPATs is a "terrible injustice" on the Indian voter. February 13, 2024 04:43 PM IST 'Legal MSP guarantee' if Congress voted to power, announces Rahul Gandhi amid farmers' Delhi march Gandhi said this step will ensure the prosperity of 15 crore farmer families. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice." February 13, 2024 02:31 PM IST AAP wants to contest 6 seats in Delhi, offer one to Congress: Sandeep Pathak The party also announced its candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat and one in Goa. February 13, 2024 01:57 PM IST Ex-Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan to file nomination for Rajya Sabha with BJP backing Chavan joined the saffron party on February 13 in the presence of Maharashtras deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. February 12, 2024 03:51 PM IST Another week, another blow, Ashok Chavan adds to Congress' exit list In 2010, Ashok Chavan had to step down as the chief minister of Maharashtra for his alleged involvement in Adarsh housing scam February 12, 2024 02:27 PM IST BJP will win 370 seats, NDA more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls: Amit Shah Amit Shah also took a swipe at the Congress and said out of the 10-year rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first five years went in filling up the "pit" dug by the opposition party, when it ruled the country, and another five years in laying the foundation (of development). February 09, 2024 05:19 PM IST Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Over 96 crore voters to exercise franchise Over two crore young voters between the age group of 18-29 have been added to the voter list. February 09, 2024 09:01 AM IST AAP to hold meeting on February 13 to decide on Lok Sabha candidates' names for 3 states In a sign of exasperation over protracted seat-sharing talks with its INDIA bloc partner Congress, the AAP on Thursday declared party candidates for three Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam. February 09, 2024 05:59 AM IST BJP bags Rs 1,294 crore as donations through electoral bonds sold in FY23 Electoral bonds totaling a cumulative value of Rs 2,800 crore were sold during the fiscal year spanning from March 2022 to March 2023. February 07, 2024 01:59 PM IST 50%-plus vote share, alliances, and gains in east & south: How BJP plans to fulfill PM's target of 'Abki Baar, NDA 400 paar' Getting Ajit Pawar on board in Maharashtra, JDS in Karnataka, Nitish Kumar back in the NDA in Bihar and opening talks with Jayant Chaudhary in Uttar Pradesh and Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh all this is a part of BJPs strategy to maximise the NDAs tally and vote share in 2024. February 05, 2024 01:59 PM IST Dont engage children in poll campaign: ECI to political parties The directions from the Election Commission of India have come just two months ahead of the 2024 general elections, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term at the Centre. February 05, 2024 02:31 PM IST Lok Sabha Election: Women rule revised minimum income scheme in Cong policy to beat BJP Under the scheme, the opposition Congress is planning that women across the country would be given at least Rs 60,000-70,000 annually. February 01, 2024 06:12 PM IST How FM Sitharaman invoked PM Modi's 'four castes' slogan in Budget 2024 The earlier approach of tackling poverty through entitlements had resulted in very modest outcomes, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech. When the poor become empowered partners in the development process, governments power to assist them also increases manifold, she added. January 30, 2024 11:15 AM IST 'Modi's guarantee' a jumla, real issue in India is unemployment, inflation: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra The Congress general secretary shared a video on X which showed people queuing up for a recruitment drive to send workers to Israel. Aditi Bhaduri is a journalist and political analyst. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 22. Kazakhstan and Romania will create a working group to support mutual investments in the energy field, Trend reports. An agreement on this was reached during a meeting between the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Almassadam Satkaliyev and his Romanian counterpart Sebastian Burduja. The working group will consist of representatives of the ministries of energy and finance of the countries. It was noted that the working group will develop mechanisms to further enhance bilateral cooperation and support mutual investments in the energy field. In addition to this, during the meeting, a number of Romanian companies expressed interest in cooperation with Kazakhstan in the supply of equipment and components for the oil and gas sector. In turn, the Kazakh side stated that it would study this proposal. The parties also agreed to hold further discussions on the development of cooperation in the chemical and metallurgical fields and to encourage companies from the countries participating in auctions for renewable energy projects in Romania and Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Romania in 2023 increased to $2.88 billion (in 2022 - $2.6 billion). Kazakh exports to Romania amounted to $2.76 billion, and imports of goods from Romania amounted to $112 million. Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Moneycontrol Features is the home of news and features on entertainment, travel, health and lifestyle, books, sports, art, music, culture, food, environment, and Indian and world history on Moneycontrol. Film reviews, actor interviews, box office collections, book reviews, book excerpts, author interviews, books recommendations, restaurant recommendations are all regular features on Moneycontrol. See more: https://www.moneycontrol.com/features/ By News Centre ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol stated that the export value of the institution exceeded 2,000 per kilogram. Providing information about ASELSAN's work to a group of journalists, Akyol stated that they have made progress in export figures in 2023. Akyol said, Turkiye's 2023 defense export amount per kilogram is 65 dollars. For ASELSAN, exports per kilogram in 2023 have exceeded 2,000," he said. Akyol stated that ASELSAN will modernise Chile's German Leopard tanks and said, We signed the modernization project of German tanks in Chile. We signed a contract for the export of air defense systems to the Philippines." Stating that there are 3 tank schools in the world (German, Russian and American) and that they, as ASELSAN, have reached the capability to modernize all of them, Akyol said that their next target is unmanned towers and more competent self-protection systems. Stating that ASELSAN currently has factories, design centers and offices in 14 different countries, Akyol pointed out that they exported to 4 new countries this year and increased the number of countries to which ASELSAN exports to 86. He also stated that they exported 21 products for the first time, and that they developed CATS after Canada's embargo on lenses used in UAVs and UCAVs, and the number of exported countries exceeded 10. Akyol announced that the ASELFLIR-600 electro-optical reconnaissance and surveillance system will be flown this year and the high-technology TOYGUN will be provided to the security forces. Stating that there will be good news about the radar soon and that it will be shared in the coming days, Akyol said that the KORKUT air defense system has been used successfully by the Turkish army and its export to allied countries is also being discussed. Akyol noted that they are working with ROKETSAN to extend the range of the H?SAR-O+ missile. Akyol said, We are working with ROKETSAN to further extend the range of the missile with H?SAR-O+. The system is again in mass production. "We are trying to improve the high altitude a little more," he said. Akyol announced that the S?PER air defence system will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in the first half of 2024. As Paytm Payments Bank announced to shift its nodal account to Axis Bank by opening an escrow account, speculations started on which bank or financial services major is vying to get what businesses at the Paytm subsidiary as the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) March 15 deadline looms. Negotiations with Paytm are reportedly underway for a chunk of FASTags, National Common Mobility Card and becoming banking partners for UPI transactions-related businesses but deals are yet to be finalised. However, "the basic risk in this opportunity would be the KYC of merchants or client onboarding. If banks take any business, they'll have to re-do KYC because nobody wants to get on the wrong side of the regulator," according to Kuntal Sur, partnerrisk consulting and leader for financial services and treasury risk management at PwC India. Paytm is looking to have three banks as a banking partner for smooth UPI services, according to sources. Yes Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank are the possible top picks for the fin-tech major. The conversations with Yes Bank "have completed four rounds, and a final decision is expected before March," said people aware of the matter. For Paytms FASTag business, most banks are looking at becoming acquirers, according to people aware of the matter. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) dropped Paytm Payments Bank from the list of authorised banks for FASTag services due to the RBI action. There is also room to acquire the National Common Mobility Card business. For this, negotiations are reportedly at an advanced stage with the State Bank of India, but a consensus is yet to be reached. As banks continue their discussions with Paytm, non-bank lenders who had partnerships with Paytm are adopting a wait-and-watch approach, said sources. According to them, Shriram Finance is awaiting clarity from Paytm on when the lending business will resume. The company may reach out to Axis Bank soon to get some clarity on the situation. Paytm has over 300mn (million) users, with around 110mn monthly transacting users. It also has a network of around 10mn merchants actively accepting payments. The company has reassured its users that its mobile app, including the QR code, Soundbox and Card Machine will remain operational even after 15th March. Meanwhile, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to meet fin-tech start-ups next week amid regulatory concerns, after the central bank acted on Paytm Payments Bank. The aim of the meeting is to "address the importance of regulatory compliance to these entities." Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 22. Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu has discussed the development of transit and transport cooperation with the Ambassador of China to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao, Trend reports. Nurtleu noted the joint efforts to increase trade and economic ties between the countries, and also emphasized the important role of increasing Kazakhstans non-resource exports to China. At the same time, during the meeting the parties discussed issues of Kazakh-Chinese cooperation, and also exchanged views on the prospects for its further development. The interlocutors reviewed the schedule of bilateral visits and events planned for this year at the highest levels. Special attention was paid to the interaction of countries within the framework of multilateral structures. In turn, Xiao noted the importance of the issues raised and expressed the Chinese sides full readiness for active interaction in these areas. To note, China is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner. The volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China amounted to $31.4 billion in 2023. The volume of trade turnover increased by 30 percent compared to the same period in 2022 ($24.2 billion). At the same time, in the structure of trade turnover, exports to China for the above period amounted to $14.7 billion, which is 14.7 percent more than from January through December 2022 ($13 billion). In addition, imports from China from January through December 2023 increased by 50.5 percent and amounted to $16.7 billion. For 2022, imports amounted to $11.1 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. Our fiscal, economic, and social stability is directly tied to national security and a free and open Indo-Pacific Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, February 22. Tajikistan is interested in further expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation with the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia), Trend reports. This statement was delivered during a meeting between Tajikistan's President, Emomali Rahmon, and the Head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. Prospects for collaboration in many industrial sectors, including metallurgy, chemicals, light industry, food, and pharmaceuticals, were recognized as attractive areas for development. Considerable emphasis was placed on growing mutually beneficial collaboration in energy, mineral extraction, oil and gas, construction, agriculture, and the building of joint wholesale-logistics trade centers in Tajikistan and Tatarstan. Improving collaboration in education, healthcare, labor migration, and tourism emerged as key debate points. A suggestion to improve cooperation for workforce training in line with labor market demands was also made. Meanwhile, during a meeting between Rahmon and the Presidents of Russia in Tatarstan's Kazan on February 21, it was highlighted that bilateral trade volume in 2023 increased by 2.5 percent, reaching $1.8 billion. Russia maintained its leadership in Tajikistan's overall foreign trade volume. Currently, more than eighty federal subjects of Russia maintain direct ties with Tajikistan. Man who intentionally drove his truck into a Muslim family, killing 4, gets life sentence in Canada Man who intentionally drove his truck into a Muslim family, killing 4, gets life sentence in Canada View Photo LONDON, Ontario (AP) A man found guilty of using his pickup truck to kill four members of a Muslim family was sentenced Thursday to life in prison as a Canadian judge ruled that the actions of the admitted white nationalist amounted to terrorism. Nathaniel Veltman has also been sentenced to a concurrent life sentence for the attempted murder of a boy who survived the 2021 attack. Veltman, 23, was found guilty in November of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk. Prosecutors argued that Veltman purposely ran his truck into the Afzaal family while they were out for a walk on June 6, 2021, to intimidate Muslims into leaving Canada. The defense sought to show he wasnt criminally liable saying he had mental health problems. Justice Renee Pomerance, who presided over the trial, delivered her sentencing decision to a packed London, Ontario, courtroom on Thursday. Adults found guilty of first-degree murder in Canada face an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. The case was the first time Canadas terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial. In delivering her sentencing decision, Pomerance ruled that Veltmans actions constituted terrorism and said the brutality of the crime called for the imposition of the strictest penalty known to Canadian law. The offender did not know the victims. He had never met them. He killed them because they were Muslim, she said. It is an inescapable conclusion that the offender committed a terrorist act. One might go so far as to characterize this as a textbook example of terrorist motive and intent. Members of the Afzaal family were seen crying and nodding as Pomerance delivered her findings. Some later hugged each other after the judge left the courtroom. There is white supremacy in Canada. It is a threat. It is terrorism, said Ali Islam, an Afzaal family member. Veltman was convicted of killing 46-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal. The couples 9-year-old son was seriously hurt but survived. The terrorism designation acknowledges the hate that fueled this, Tabinda Bukhari, Madihas mother, said in statement in front of the courthouse. But this hate didnt exist in a vacuum. It thrived in the whispers, the prejudices, the normalized fear of the other. All of these played their part in the tragedy that unfolded. Bukhari said hate needs to be confronted and bridges of solidarity need to be built with other communities and faiths. Prosecutors had argued Veltman was a white supremacist with a plan to commit violence, while the defense argued his actions shouldnt be considered terrorism because he kept his beliefs to himself. Pomerance said Veltman was a voracious consumer of extremist right-wing internet content who became inspired by other mass killers. She described him as believing in the superiority of the white race, and the related aspiration for an all white society. In his statement to police, the offender made it clear that he wanted the world to know what he had done and why he had done it. This was part of a plan, the judge said. He wanted it to intimidate the Muslim community. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of other mass killers, and he wanted to inspire others to commit murderous acts. During the trial, Veltman testified he had been considering using his pickup truck to carry out an attack and felt an urge to hit the Afzaal family after seeing them walking on a sidewalk. He said he knew they were Muslims from the clothes they were wearing and he noticed the man in the group had a beard. The jury also watched video of Veltman telling a detective his attack had been motivated by white nationalist beliefs, and heard he wrote a manifesto where he described himself as a white supremacist in the weeks before the attack. At a sentencing hearing last month, Veltman apologized for the pain he had caused but that apology was promptly rejected by the victims family outside of court as strategic words coming from a killer after he is convicted. Christopher Hicks, Veltmans lawyer, said they havent decided whether to appeal. Londons beloved and futuristic BT tower sold for $347 million to be turned into a hotel Londons beloved and futuristic BT tower sold for $347 million to be turned into a hotel View Photo LONDON (AP) The BT Tower, a futuristic landmark on the London skyline for 60 years, is to become a hotel, owner BT Group PLC said Wednesday. The company, formerly known as British Telecom, said it has agreed to sell the tower to U.S. company MCR Hotels for 275 million pounds (about $347 million). The 581-foot (177-meter) structure, originally called the Post Office Tower, was completed in 1964 and was Londons tallest building until 1980. A further section of aerial rigging brought the total height to 620 feet (189 meters). The tower was covered in microwave aerials that carried communications across the U.K. and also housed a rotating restaurant with panoramic views across London. The restaurant was closed after a 1971 bombing, claimed both by anarchists and the Irish Republican Army. It never fully reopened to the public, apart from special events and occasional tours. Technological changes have gradually rendered the towers original role in Britains telecommunications network obsolete. Its microwave aerials were removed more than a decade ago. Its played a vital role in carrying the nations calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly were delivering content and communication via other means, said Brent Mathews, property director at BT Group. This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come. MCR Hotels owns about 150 hotels, including the New Yorker Hotel and the modernist TWA Hotel at New Yorks JFK airport. The company said it would work with British architect Thomas Heatherwick on the hotels design. However, travelers shouldnt plan on making reservations just yet. The hotel firm said it will take a number of years for BT to move out due to the complex equipment on site. 4 students have been injured in a stabbing at a school in Germany. A suspect was arrested 4 students have been injured in a stabbing at a school in Germany. A suspect was arrested View Photo BERLIN (AP) Four students were wounded in a stabbing Thursday at a school in the western German city of Wuppertal and a suspect, believed to be a student himself, was arrested, authorities said. The incident took place Thursday morning at the Wilhelm Dorpfeld high school in the city of some 350,000 people near Duesseldorf and Cologne. Police said four students were wounded, as was the suspect, German news agency dpa reported. The top regional security official, Herbert Reul, said the attack was apparently carried out with a knife by a 17-year-old student. Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, said that at least two of the victims were seriously injured, as was the suspected assailant. He told the state legislatures home affairs committee that he had been told the suspect inflicted injuries on himself. There was no word on a possible motive, and the suspect was believed to be a lone assailant. Other students were evacuated from the building after the attack. Brazil calls for reform of United Nations as it starts its G20 presidency Brazil calls for reform of United Nations as it starts its G20 presidency View Photo RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazils foreign minister called for reforms of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions Wednesday while criticizing their inability to prevent global conflicts, as his country kicked off its presidency of the Group of 20 nations. Mauro Vieira told fellow foreign ministers during opening remarks for a G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro that the U.N. Security Council has been unable to prevent or halt conflicts such as those playing out in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Multilateral institutions are not adequately equipped to deal with current challenges, as demonstrated by the unacceptable paralysis of the Security Council in relation to ongoing conflicts, Vieira said. Foreign ministers of the 20 leading rich and developing nations are gathering this week to discuss poverty, climate change and heightened global tensions, setting a roadmap for work to accomplish ahead of a Nov. 18-19 summit in Rio. One of Brazils key proposals, set by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is a reform of global governance institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and multilateral banks, where he wants to push for stronger representation of developing nations. The leftist leader reiterated on Feb. 18 his interest in expanding the U.N.s Security Council, contemplating the entry of more countries from Africa, Latin America, as well as India, Germany or Japan. We need to add more people and end the right of veto in the U.N., because it is not possible for a country alone to be able to veto the approval of something approved by all members, Lula said while on a state visit to Ethiopia. Whether Lulas push will be successful remains to be seen, as permanent members of the Security Council have in the past been dismissive of attempts at reform that would result in a loss of their power. Currently there is no momentum to reform the U.N. The U.N. is in crisis, and maybe transforming the Security Council now is not ideal, said Lucas Pereira Rezende, a political scientist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Vieira said Brazil was deeply worried by the proliferation of conflicts around the world not just in Ukraine and Gaza, but in more than 170 locations, according to some studies, he said. Vieira said more than $2 trillion a year is spent on military budgets globally and that more of that money should go toward development aid programs. If inequalities and climate change do, in fact, constitute existential threats, I cannot avoid the feeling that we lack concrete actions on these issues, Vieira said. These are the wars we must fight in 2024. Earlier Wednesday, Lula met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the capital, Brasilia, for about two hours to discuss global governance and other issues. Blinken, who is on a three-day trip to Brazil and Argentina, later headed to Rio for the G20 meeting. The pair also discussed the conflict in Gaza, including working urgently to facilitate the release of all hostages and to increase humanitarian assistance and improve protections for Palestinian civilians, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State. They made no public comments on the diplomatic row between key U.S. ally Israel and Brazil following Lulas controversial comments comparing Israels military offensive in Gaza to the Holocaust. Speaking to reporters on Sunday at the African Union summit in Ethiopia, Lula said that what is happening in the Gaza Strip and to the Palestinian people hasnt been seen in any other moment in history. Actually, it did when Hitler decided to kill the Jews. In response, Israel declared Lula a persona non grata, summoned Brazils ambassador to Israel and demanded an apology. In retaliation, Lula recalled Brazils ambassador for consultations. After years of diplomatic isolation under former President Jair Bolsonaro, Lula has sought to reinsert Brazil on the center stage of global diplomacy since returning to power in January of 2023. G20 finance ministers and central bank presidents are set to meet next week in Sao Paulo, and a second meeting of foreign ministers is scheduled for September. By DIANE JEANTET and ELEONORE HUGHES Associated Press Assemblyman James Gallagher speaks at rally in Sacramento View Photo Sacramento, CA California Republican lawmakers are urging the passage of bills that would crack down on retail theft, ease regulations, and create a sales tax holiday. A press conference was held at the capitol where several GOP lawmakers spoke about the challenges facing the states small businesses. Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher stated, Small businesses drive the revenue and sales throughout this state. They provide all kinds of products and services. But, they are in trouble right now. Several proposals were highlighted. A bill authored by Assemblywoman Diane Dixon would create a sales tax holiday during the first weekend of every August, throughout that Saturday and Sunday. A proposal by Assemblywoman Laurie Davies would close loopholes and allow California businesses to better compete for state contracts. Legislation by Assemblyman Tri Ta would allow small businesses to correct regulatory violations before being fined. A bill by Senator Roger Niello aims to cut down on lawsuits that stifle development projects. There are also bills to cut down on retail crimes, like shoplifting, and a related overhaul Proposition 47. Dogs - Archive Image View Photo Sacramento, CA A new proposal at the state capitol, backed by the US Humane Society, would require landlords to allow common pets like dogs and cats at rental units. The author of Assembly Bill 2216, Democrat Matt Haney, says that only about 30 percent of available residential rentals across the state are pet friendly. Haney says, The majority of renters in our state, pet owners, are denied access to the majority of rental units. That makes no sense at all and its dramatically exacerbating the housing crisis. In turn, he says many renters are hiding pets in their rentals, which creates issues for both the renters and property owners. Haney concludes, Blanket no companion pet policies are also causing landlords to miss out on good tenants who get rejected without even getting a chance to apply for a place to live. The current system is bad for everyone. The bill would bar landlords from asking about pets on applications unless there is something like a specific health or safety reason for doing so. The Humane Society is backing the bill as many times tenants are forced to surrender their pets to overrun animal shelters that dont have adequate resources to take care of animals. A man tried to open an emergency exit on an American Airlines flight. Other passengers subdued him ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in New Mexico after a disruptive passenger allegedly tried to open an emergency exit door, authorities said. Albuquerque International Sunport officials said Flight 1219 to Chicago returned to the airport shortly after takeoff Tuesday afternoon due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer. Albuquerque TV station KOAT interviewed several passengers including Emma Ritz, who said the man tried to open an emergency door while the jetliner was airborne. He was sitting at the emergency exit and he cracked open the window that was protecting the handle, Ritz said. He ripped down the handle where it exposed some of the emergency exit and all the wind came rushing down. KOAT reported that six other passengers on the plane wrestled the man down and restrained him in the aisle until the flight ended by duct-taping his feet and putting on flex cuffs. The guy was screaming I want to get out when he was restrained, Ritz told KOAT. The plane landed safely at Sunport, where passengers said local law enforcement took the man away. Neither the FBI nor Albuquerque police have released any information yet about the man who caused the disturbance. A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that the agency is investigating. Im just curious what was going on with him, why he needed to get out of the plane, Ritz said. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) U.S. authorities have accused another sanitation company of illegally hiring at least two dozen children to clean dangerous meat processing facilities, the latest example of illegal child labor that officials say is increasingly common. The Labor Department asked a federal judge for an injunction to halt the employment of minors by Tennessee-based Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, saying it believes at least four children were still working at one Iowa slaughterhouse as of Dec. 12. U.S. law prohibits companies from employing people younger than 18 to work in meat processing plants because of the hazards involved. The Labor Department alleges that Fayette has used underage workers in hazardous conditions where animals are killed and rendered. The agency says children sanitize dangerous equipment, including head splitters, jaw pullers and meat bandsaws. The departments legal filing details the severe injuries one 14-year-old sustained while cleaning the drumstick packing line belt at a plant in Virginia. Records show Fayette learned the worker was underage after the child was injured and continued to employ the minor anyway, according to an investigator. A spokesperson for Fayette told the Associated Press in an email that the company is fully cooperating with the investigation, and has made changes to policies to improve its hiring. That includes hiring a new CEO and using third-party legal representation for vetting, according to the company. Fayette has always had a zero-tolerance policy for minor labor in the workforce, and we have continued to work diligently to ensure that something like this cannot occur, the statement said. The latest findings add to a growing list of violations, including the fatal mangling of a 16-year-old working at a Mississippi poultry plant, the death of a 16-year-old after an accident at a sawmill in Wisconsin, and last years report of more than 100 children illegally employed by Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, across 13 meatpacking plants. PSSI paid over $1.5 million in civil penalties. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to the 18 largest meat and poultry producers last year to highlight the issue as part of the administrations effort to crack down on child labor violations more broadly. The Labor Departments latest statistics indicate the number of children being employed illegally in the U.S. has increased 88% since 2019. The cleaning company works in about 30 states and employs more than 600 workers, according to the department, and the investigation is ongoing. The initial findings identified 15 underage Fayette employees at a Perdue Farms plant in Accomac, Virginia, and at least nine at Seaboard Triumph Foods in Sioux City, Iowa. Seaboard Triumph Foods said in a statement it is terminating its contract with Fayette because of the allegations. A spokesperson for Perdue Farms said in an email that the company terminated its contract with Fayette before the filing but declined to specify further. By HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press Haitian orphanage founder accused of sexually abusing boys ordered sent to Florida View Photo DENVER (AP) An American founder of a Haitian orphanage who is accused of sexually abusing four boys there more than a decade ago has been ordered to be sent from Colorado to Florida to face prosecution. Michael Geilenfeld, 71, was arrested in Colorado on Jan. 20 after being indicted in Florida, accused of traveling from Miami to Haiti between 2010 and 2016 for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person under 18. The charge he faces carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison in the event of a conviction. In a court order signed Tuesday and released Wednesday, a federal magistrate judge in Denver said U.S. marshals should transport Geilenfeld to authorities in federal court in Floridas southern district. The order did not explain why. Earlier this month, the magistrate judge, Scott Varholak, ruled that Geilenfeld could be released from a suburban Denver federal prison to live in a halfway house in Colorado while he is prosecuted but federal prosecutors appealed his decision in Florida. Varholak stopped his order from taking effect until a judge in Florida ruled on the matter. Geilenfelds attorney in Colorado, Brian Leedy, was out of the office and did not immediately return an email seeking comment on the order or the allegations against Geilenfeld. A Massachusetts attorney who also has represented Geilenfeld, Robert Oberkoetter, did not immediately return a telephone call or an email seeking comment. Geilenfeld, who has faced past accusations of abusing boys, told Varholak at one court hearing that he was being held in isolation and only allowed out of his cell for two hours each morning. At his most recent hearing, one of Geilenfelds attorneys, Brian Leedy, said Geilenfeld had the support of a large community of individuals who have supported him for 20 years and would help him get back and forth to court dates in Florida. Prosecutors argued that Geilenfeld, who they say allegedly abused about 20 children over decades, could try to intimidate his victims if he is freed. They also said he poses a flight risk since, given his age, any conviction could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. Varholak called the allegations against Geilenfeld beyond troubling but said the government had not provided enough details to show he had actually threatened anyone or that he commited any abuse since the time alleged in the indictment. Haitian authorities arrested Geilenfeld in September 2014 based on allegations brought by Paul Kendrick, a child advocate in Maine. Kendrick accused him of being a serial pedophile after speaking to young men who said they were abused by Geilenfeld as boys in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital where he founded the orphanage in 1985. Geilenfeld called the claims vicious, vile lies, and his case was dismissed in 2015 after he spent 237 days in prison in Haiti. He and a charity associated with the orphanage, Hearts for Haiti, sued Kendrick in federal court in Maine, blaming Kendrick for Geilenfelds imprisonment, damage to his reputation and the loss of millions of dollars in donations. Kendricks insurance companies ended the lawsuit in 2019 by paying $3 million to Hearts with Haiti, but nothing to Geilenfeld. By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press Biden calls Putin a crazy SOB and takes aim at Trump during fundraiser for 2024 election View Photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) During a fundraiser for his reelection campaign Wednesday night, President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB and took aim at former President Donald Trumps comments comparing himself to the Russian opposition leader who died last week in an Arctic prison. Biden was talking about climate change when he said, We have a crazy SOB like Putin and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented by saying that Bidens churlish remark could hardly hurt Putin but was a huge shame for the U.S. Clearly, Mr. Biden behaves in the Hollywood cowboy style to serve internal political interests, Peskov said. Putin in comments to Russian state TV on Thursday called Bidens remarks an absolutely adequate reaction to his earlier statement that Russia would prefer to see Biden win a second term as a more experienced and predictable politician than Donald Trump. Because he cannot say: Volodya, well done, thank you, you helped me a lot, Putin said. We understand what is happening there from an internal political point of view and this reaction is absolutely adequate. Which means I was right, the Russian president added. Speaking to donors at a private San Francisco home Wednesday as part of a three-day California swing to raise money for his 2024 reelection campaign, Biden also said he was astounded by recent comments made by his likely Republican challenger. Trump compared the suspicious prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to his own legal troubles in the U.S. Trump was fined $350 million after a New York judge found he lied for years about his wealth on financial statements in his companies. Trump said the ruling was a form of communism or fascism. Some of the things that this fellows been saying, like hes comparing himself to Navalny and saying that because our countrys become a communist country, he was persecuted, just like Navalny was persecuted. I dont know where the hell this comes from, Biden said. I mean, if I stood here 10, 15 years ago and said any of this, youd all think I should be committed, he said. It astounds me. Ive been around a long time and Ive never quite seen a crowd like this MAGA Republican crowd, Biden added, referring to Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. They seem to have very little moral compass on what is important to people. During a campaign fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night, Biden highlighted his efforts to help middle-class Americans and warned that a win in November for Trump could lead to a nationwide abortion ban, more Republican efforts to undo the health insurance program started during President Barack Obamas administration and more policies that would disproportionately help the wealthy. ___ Long reported from Washington. By AAMER MADHANI and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 22. Turkmenistan is seriously interested in substantially strengthening multifaceted cooperation with the Middle East states, notably with the UAE, Trend reports. According to an official source, Chairman of Turkmenistan's People's Council Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made this statement at a meeting with UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The regularity and exceptional productivity of bilateral meetings, as noted by the parties during the meeting, demonstrate a shared desire to take traditional dialogue to a qualitatively new level, fully meeting the priorities of socioeconomic development and the national interests of each party. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the importance of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's visit to the UAE in early January of this year. As it was emphasized, the agreements reached during the meetings and negotiations held at that time gave new powerful impulses to the Turkmen-Emirati cooperation, contributing to the further strengthening of the traditional ties of friendship and brotherhood between the peoples of the two countries. Meanwhile, collaboration between the UAE and Turkmenistan is expanding due to shared interests and strategic alliances. Both countries focus on the energy, infrastructure, and trade sectors, strengthening partnerships through technology exchange, investment, and collaborative projects that contribute to regional stability and economic progress. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Federal judge affirms MyPillows Mike Lindell must pay $5M in election data dispute View Photo ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) A federal judge on Wednesday affirmed a $5 million arbitration award against MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell in favor of a software engineer who challenged data that Lindell said proves China interfered in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and tipped the outcome to Joe Biden. Lindell said he plans to appeal. Asked if he can afford to pay, he pointed out that the breach-of-contract lawsuit was against one of his companies, Lindell Management LLC, and not against him personally. Of course were going to appeal it. This guy doesnt have a dime coming, Lindell said. Lindell, a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the 2020 election, launched his Prove Mike Wrong Challenge, as part of a Cyber Symposium he hosted in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in August 2021. Lindell offered a $5 million reward through Lindell Management for anyone who could prove that packet captures and other data he released there were not valid data from the November 2020 election. Robert Zeidman entered the challenge with a 15-page report that concluded the data from Lindell dont contain packet data of any kind and do not contain any information related to the November 2020 election. A panel of contest judges that included a Lindell attorney declined to declare Zeidman a winner. So Zeidman filed for arbitration under the contest rules. A panel of three arbitrators last April unanimously ordered Lindell to pay Zeidman $5 million, concluding that he had satisfied the contest rules. In Wednesdays ruling, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim expressed concern about how the panel interpreted what he called a poorly written contract, but said courts have only limited authority to overrule arbitration awards. He ordered Lindell to pay up with interest within 30 days. Lindell is also the subject of a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems in the District of Columbia that says he falsely accused the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election. Hes also the target of a separate defamation lawsuit in Minnesota by a different voting machine company, Smartmatic. Lindell has conceded that he and MyPillow are struggling financially. Fox News, which had been one of his biggest advertising platforms, stopped running MyPillow commercials in January in a payment dispute. Two law firms that had been defending him against lawsuits by Dominion and Smartmatic quit last fall. He acknowledged that he owed them millions of dollars. By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press Amid fentanyl crisis, Oregon lawmakers propose more funding for opioid addiction medication in jails View Photo PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Kendra Sawyer spoke with her dad from the Deschutes County jail and told him she loved him. Six hours later, in the throes of opioid withdrawal, the 22-year-old took her own life. A year later, Sawyers father, Kent, is left wondering whether his daughter, troubled as she was, might still be alive if the jail hadnt failed to provide her with medicine to ease the agony of her withdrawal, as he claimed in a recently filed lawsuit. Kendra was screaming in pain and crying for hours and hours, and nobody was doing anything, Sawyer said. No one truly deserves to die in a painful way. Oregon jails could soon see a rise in the number of inmates struggling with opioid addiction like Kendra, if efforts are successful during this legislative session to roll back Measure 110, the states first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law that legalized the possession of personal use amounts of illicit drugs such as heroin. In response, state lawmakers from both parties are pushing for more funding for medications used to treat opioid addiction in jails. The measure, passed by voters in 2020, has come under fire as Oregon struggles with a fentanyl crisis thats fueled one of the nations biggest spikes in overdose deaths, and overhauling it is a top priority during this years legislative session. The latest proposal would allow jails seeking to create or expand medication treatment programs to apply for grants from a $10 million fund. It has bipartisan support and the backing of public health advocates and some in law enforcement. This is a policy that sets politics aside and that really is about what jails need to take care of people, said Democratic state Rep. Pam Marsh, who drafted the measure. If we are serious about providing treatment for people, its an obvious gap to fill. In Lincoln County, for example, the jail currently spends nearly $50,000 a month or more than $1,600 a dose on addiction medication for 30 inmates, Marie Gainer, the corrections sergeant who oversees the program, said in an email. The jail program on Oregons rural Pacific Coast, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southwest of Portland, treated 91 inmates last year, she said. Backers of jail-based treatment programs say they save lives by allowing people to continue or start recovery while incarcerated. Roughly 60% of people in American jails have substance use disorders, federal data shows, and overdose is a leading cause of death for people newly released, partly because their tolerance diminishes when theyre not using behind bars. Yet just under a quarter of jails provide opioid addiction medication to people who had prescriptions before incarceration, and even fewer 19% offer treatment for people without prior prescriptions, according to the most recent federal data from the 2019 Census of Jails. Courts, however, have recently ruled that withholding addiction treatment medication from inmates with prior prescriptions violates federal law, and more states and local counties have taken steps to expand access. In Washington state, for example, lawmakers want to dedicate an additional $7.4 million to the issue, on top of the $7.5 million already approved in the biennial budget last year. Part of the proposed boost would come from opioid settlement funds, a month after the state attorney general announced a nearly $150 million settlement with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson. If passed by the Legislature, the supplemental funding would double the number of jails providing medication, from 19 to 38, Gov. Jay Inslees office said in an email. Other states including New York, Vermont, Maryland and Utah have passed laws requiring jails to provide medication for opioid use disorder to people who already had prescriptions when they were jailed. When Utahs law took effect last May, Colin Conner, who struggled with opioid addiction for years, had been in a Salt Lake City jail for nearly two months. By that point the jail had already discontinued his methadone, which he had been prescribed before his arrest, his father said. Cut off from his medication, Colin went through agonizing withdrawal, Jon Tyler Conner said. His cravings returned and his drug tolerance decreased. Just days after his release last June, he died of a fentanyl overdose at the age of 32. If they would have treated him as they should have by law, he would have been on his methadone. He wouldnt have died, said Conner, who lives in Seattle. The Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office said in an emailed statement that it couldnt comment due to the potential threat of litigation. In Oregon, Sawyer filed a federal lawsuit against Deschutes County alleging wrongful death and negligence in his daughter Kendras death. It accused the county of failing to treat her physical and mental health needs. According to the complaint, records that included information about Kendra previously attempting suicide were available to intake officers during her booking. Sawyers lawyer, Ryan Dreveskracht, said he is still waiting for Kendras medical records but has seen no evidence that she received withdrawal medication. Deschutes County does not agree with the allegations in the complaint and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit, county counsel David Doyle said in an email. Jails in other states have had success with offering opioid addiction medication behind bars. Since 2018, New Yorks Saratoga County jail has provided such medication for inmates who had prescriptions at booking, and in 2020 it started administering it to people without prior prescriptions who were identified as having an opioid addiction during intake screening. Ben Deeb, who oversees the program, said participants have had a recidivism rate of 16% since it began. That proves that when you give people the medications they need, you provide the education, trauma therapy and peer support they need that they succeed, he said. This needs to be what corrections looks like. States have a key role to play in boosting funding for such treatment in jails that is often overlooked, said Jonathan Larsen, legal program manager for the Center for Public Health Research at Temple University in Philadelphia. At the end of the day, we already know how to treat this, he said. In Oregon, Sawyer knows his lawsuit wont bring Kendra back. But he hopes his daughters story sparks change and raises awareness. A little more action can save a lot more lives, he said. ___ Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report. By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press An online dump of Chinese hacking documents offers a rare window into pervasive state surveillance View Photo Chinese police are investigating an unauthorized and highly unusual online dump of documents from a private security contractor linked to the nations top policing agency and other parts of its government a trove that catalogs apparent hacking activity and tools to spy on both Chinese and foreigners. Among the apparent targets of tools provided by the impacted company, I-Soon: ethnicities and dissidents in parts of China that have seen significant anti-government protests, such as Hong Kong or the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang in Chinas far west. The dump of scores of documents late last week and subsequent investigation were confirmed by two employees of I-Soon, known as Anxun in Mandarin, which has ties to the powerful Ministry of Public Security. The dump, which analysts consider highly significant even if it does not reveal any especially novel or potent tools, includes hundreds of pages of contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client and employee lists. They reveal, in detail, methods used by Chinese authorities used to surveil dissidents overseas, hack other nations and promote pro-Beijing narratives on social media. The documents show apparent I-Soon hacking of networks across Central and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. The hacking tools are used by Chinese state agents to unmask users of social media platforms outside China such as X, formerly known as Twitter, break into email and hide the online activity of overseas agents. Also described are devices disguised as power strips and batteries that can be used to compromise Wi-Fi networks. I-Soon and Chinese police are investigating how the files were leaked, the two I-Soon employees told The Associated Press. One of the employees said I-Soon held a meeting Wednesday about the leak and were told it wouldnt affect business too much and to continue working as normal. The AP is not naming the employees who did provide their surnames, per common Chinese practice out of concern about possible retribution. The source of the leak is not known. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A HIGHLY IMPACTFUL LEAK Jon Condra, an analyst with Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company, called it the most significant leak ever linked to a company suspected of providing cyber espionage and targeted intrusion services for the Chinese security services. He said organizations targeted by I-Soon according to the leaked material include governments, telecommunications firms abroad and online gambling companies within China. Until the 190-megabyte leak, I-Soons website included a page listing clients topped by the Ministry of Public Security and including 11 provincial-level security bureaus and some 40 municipal public security departments. Another page available until early Tuesday advertised advanced persistent threat attack and defense capabilities, using the acronym APT one the cybersecurity industry employs to describe the worlds most sophisticated hacking groups. Internal documents in the leak describe I-Soon databases of hacked data collected from foreign networks around the world that are advertised and sold to Chinese police. The companys website was fully offline later Tuesday. An I-Soon representative refused an interview request and said the company would issue an official statement at an unspecified future date. I-Soon was founded in Shanghai in 2010, according to Chinese corporate records, and has subsidiaries in three other cities, including one in the southwestern city of Chengdu that is responsible for hacking, research and development, according to leaked internal slides. I-Soons Chengdu subsidiary was open as usual on Wednesday. Red Lunar New Year lanterns swayed in the wind in a covered alleyway leading to the five-story building housing I-Soons Chengdu offices. Employees streamed in and out, smoking cigarettes and sipping takeout coffees outside. Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: Safeguarding the Party and the countrys secrets is every citizens required duty. I-Soons tools appear to be used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media and flood them with pro-Beijing content. Authorities can surveil Chinese social media platforms directly and order them to take down anti-government posts. But they lack that ability on overseas sites like Facebook or X, where millions of Chinese users flock to in order to evade state surveillance and censorship. Theres a huge interest in social media monitoring and commenting on the part of the Chinese government, said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund. She reviewed some of the documents. To control public opinion and forestall anti-government sentiment, Ohlberg said, control of critical posts domestically is pivotal. Chinese authorities, she said, have a big interest in tracking down users who are based in China. The source of the leak could be a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor, said chief threat analyst John Hultquist of Googles Mandiant cybersecurity division. The data indicates I-Soons sponsors also include the Ministry of State Security and Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army, Hultquist said. LOTS OF TARGETS, LOTS OF COUNTRIES One leaked draft contract shows I-Soon was marketing anti-terror technical support to Xinjiang police to track the regions native Uyghurs in Central and Southeast Asia, claiming it had access to hacked airline, cellular and government data from countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Thailand. It is unclear whether the contact was signed. We see a lot of targeting of organizations that are related to ethnic minorities Tibetans, Uyghurs. A lot of the targeting of foreign entities can be seen through the lens of domestic security priorities for the government, said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. He said the documents appear legitimate because they align with what would be expected from a contractor hacking on behalf of Chinas security apparatus with domestic political priorities. Cary found a spreadsheet with a list of data repositories collected from victims and counted 14 governments as targets, including India, Indonesia and Nigeria. The documents indicate that I-Soon mostly supports the Ministry of Public Security, he said. Cary was also struck by the targeting of Taiwans Health Ministry to determine its COVID-19 caseload in early 2021 and impressed by the low cost of some of the hacks. The documents show that I-Soon charged $55,000 to hack Vietnams economy ministry, he said. Although a few chat records refer to NATO, there is no indication of a successful hack of any NATO country, an initial review of the data by the AP found. That doesnt mean state-backed Chinese hackers are not trying to hack the U.S. and its allies, though. If the leaker is inside China, which seems likely, Cary said that leaking information about hacking NATO would be really, really inflammatory a risk apt to make Chinese authorities more determined to identify the hacker. Mathieu Tartare, a malware researcher at the cybersecurity firm ESET, says it has linked I-Soon to a Chinese state hacking group it calls Fishmonger that it actively tracks and which it wrote about in January 2020 after the group hacked Hong Kong universities during student protests. He said it has, since 2022, seen Fishmonger target governments, NGOs and think tanks across Asia, Europe, Central America and the United States. French cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert also combed through the documents and said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, even if they have two-factor authentication, as well as another for analyzing email inboxes. He said U.S. cyber operators and their allies are among potential suspects in the I-Soon leak because its in their interests to expose Chinese state hacking. A spokeswoman for U.S. Cyber Command wouldnt comment on whether the National Security Agency or Cybercom were involved in the leak. An email to the press office at X responded, Busy now, please check back later. Western governments, including the United States, have taken steps to block Chinese state surveillance and harassment of government critics overseas in recent years. Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, an advocacy group that focuses on human rights in China, said such tactics instill fear of the Chinese government in Chinese and foreign citizens abroad, stifling criticism and leading to self-censorship. They are a looming threat that is just constantly there and very hard to shake off. Last year, U.S. officials charged 40 members of Chinese police units assigned to harass the family members of Chinese dissidents overseas as well as to spread pro-Beijing content online. The indictments describes tactics similar to those detailed in the I-Soon documents, Harth said. Chinese officials have accused the United States of similar activity. U.S. officials including FBI Director Chris Wray have recently complained about Chinese state hackers planting malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure. On Monday, Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the U.S. government has long been working to compromise Chinas critical infrastructure. She demanded the U.S. stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries. ___ Kang reported from Chengdu, China. AP journalists Didi Tang in Washington, D.C., and Larry Fenn in New York contributed to this report. By FRANK BAJAK and DAKE KANG Associated Press Farmers from 10 EU countries join forces and tractors to protest agricultural policies View Photo PRAGUE (AP) Czech farmers were driving their tractors and other vehicles to several border crossings on Thursday to meet their colleagues from neighboring countries and join forces in their protests against European Union agriculture policies, bureaucracy and overall conditions for their business. Farmers complain that the 27-nation EUs environmental policies, such as the Green Deal, which calls for limits on the use of chemicals and on greenhouse gas emissions, limit their business and make their products more expensive than non-EU imports. The farmers also complain about low prices for their products and say grain and other agriculture products coming from Ukraine and Latin America negatively affect the market. The farmers met their colleagues from neighboring Germany, Poland and Slovakia at a number of border crossings. Farmers from 10 EU countries, ranging from Central Europe to the Baltics and the Balkans, were participating in the protest, organizers said. The farmers invited Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny, his Slovak counterpart Richard Takac, and the representatives of farmers from Poland and Hungary to rally at a Czech-Slovak border crossing known as Hodonin-Holic, which was blocked by hundreds of tractors. We dont protest against the EU, we protest against the wrong decisions by the European Commission, said Andrej Gajdos from the Slovak Chamber of Agriculture and Food. A HARARE man was left passing blood-stained urine after he was severely tortured by two Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers in a bid to force him to admit to theft charges. The CID officers, stationed at Braeside, appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo on Monday facing two counts of assault and criminal abuse of office. Wellington Mlambo (43) and Gracious Selemani (35) were remanded to March 18 on US$100 bail each. State prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi alleged that on February 15 at around 7:30am, the duo arrested the complainant at Mbare Musika on charges of receiving stolen property. The complainant is not named in the court papers. The two escorted the complainant to CID Braeside Police Station and interrogated him, but he denied the allegations. The court heard that the duo allegedly took turns to assault him under his feet using a baton to force him to confess. Court documents state that the officers demanded US$150 from the complainant to buy his freedom. The complainants brother provided the money. After a while, the complainant was made to deposit a US$15 fine for failure to maintain a second-hand goods register, the court heard. The complainant and his brother were later released. The CID officers pocketed the bribe money. While on their way home, the complainant discovered that he was passing blood-stained urine. He reported the matter at Mbare Police Station, leading to the arrest of the two. NewsDay. Breaking News via Email UK hedgehog sightings on the rise after years of decline, survey finds Guardian Climate Derailed Train Dumps Unknown Amounts of Coal into Famed California River Field and Stream #COVID19 Paxlovid use tied to 84% lower risk of hospital care Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy China? China starts drafting bill to boost private sector and tackle sluggish post-Covid economy following major setbacks South China Morning Post Myanmar India Japan Dear Old Blighty UK lawmakers storm out of parliament over Gaza ceasefire vote France24 Syraqistan New Not-So-Cold War Boeing Antitrust The American Schools of Antitrust (PDF) Tim Wu, Columbia University Digital Watch Assange Groves of Academe What Shocked Me About the Culture at Yale Persuasion Health Life expectancy when we live with [sic] infection (1800), and when we dont (1950): Surely the greatest achievement in all human history has been the staggering increase in life expectancy since the mid-19th century. Nearly entirely due to control of infection. This is what 'living with the virus' spits in the face of. People should be in jail. pic.twitter.com/dswycQUbkI Henry Madison (@RageSheen) February 22, 2024 Italy: Measles, new variant in the Milan area that may escape testing FluTrackers. Im not on top of the measles case count. But the institutional responses are very concerning; we seem to have learned nothing from Covid (if a healthy public is indeed the goal of the public health establishment). Screening Room Imperial Collapse Watch Class Warfare Libraries are on the front lines of Americas problems Axios Antidote du jour (via): Bonus antidote: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here Nearly a thousand migrants waiting for a new shelter cot spent a recent night on the streets or in trains, according to an internal poll conducted by city officials and obtained by THE CITY. The St. Brigid Guest Overnight Stay survey asked a group of migrants in mid-January where theyd spent the night. The results, according to materials reviewed by THE CITY, extrapolated that 968 spent the night outside or on the train. St. Brigid is the East Village site where migrant adults without children must report to get a ticket elsewhere, before applying for a new shelter stay. The survey polled 377 of those adults, a group the city deemed to be representative of the entire guest waitlist, which at the time was 3,874 people who had been evicted from city shelters and were seeking a new placement. City Hall this week credited a recent drop in the number of migrants in city shelters, from 69,000 in early January to 65,600 in mid-February, to the shelter eviction policies that were introduced beginning in October. But that drop does not appear to account for the nearly four thousand people who were waiting for a shelter placement. Last fall the city began limiting adult shelter stays to 30 days, while beginning to dole out 60-day eviction notices to some migrant families with children. Families with children are now sent back to the Roosevelt Hotel for another shelter placement when their time runs out. For adults whose 30 days in shelter has run out, the wait for a new shelter placement can last more than a week, during which time people lining up outside the East Village site have limited access to showers, food, and even bathrooms. Once the site closes in the evening, 25% of respondents reported that theyd slept outside or on the trains, while 4% said a family member or friend took them in. About 67% of those surveyed said they had spent the night in a shelter, with many ending up at the citys five overnight waiting rooms where people can rest on the ground or in chairs without cots. A census of New York Citys unsheltered population, conducted in January of 2023, counted 4,042 people living on city streets and subways. While the results of this years count have yet to be released, the 968 migrants the city estimates slept outside would represent nearly a 25% increase in that population. Amaris Cockfield, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, declined to comment on the specifics of the survey. First and foremost, all guests at St. Brigid are offered the option to be reticketed to the destination of their choice. Those that want to wait for placement here in New York City are referred to a location where they can wait indoors and are not forced to wait outside, she said. Our agency partners continue to work to assess and gain a deeper understanding of migrants needs. As THE CITY reported earlier this week, the Adams administration is working to shut down the overnight sites where people can wait inside by the end of February. Its Exhausting Amadou Dia, 36 from Mauritania, who spoke to THE CITY in mid-January while he was waiting for a bed, said he was among those whod turned to the citys subways after getting turned away from an overnight waiting room. They told me to go to the Bronx, but there they told me it was full, so I had nowhere to go. I didnt have a choice, I had to go to the subway, he said in French. Its exhausting. THE CITY has previously reported that more migrants have been sleeping on the streets, in subways and in shelters set up by outside groups, despite the winter weather, as its become more and more difficult to secure a city shelter bed. The backlog of people waiting for shelter started ballooning in late December, rendering the citys long standing right to shelter protections enshrined in a 1981 consent decree, virtually meaningless for thousands of adult migrants. Since then, more than 20,000 adults have gotten in line at St. Brigids, according to signs posted at the site, to wait for another 30-day stint in a migrant shelter. Homeless rights advocates have warned restricting access to city shelters would lead to a surge in street homelessness. That can be costly for the city in other ways, like the cost of emergency room visits, which occur when people are exposed to the elements or other unsafe situations outdoors. Asked about a potential surge in street homelessness in mid-January, around when the survey was conducted, Mayor Eric Adams said that New York City has done more than its fair share to support migrants arriving from the southern border. Ive said this a couple of months ago, the visualization of this crisis is going to become aware for New Yorkers. We stated we were out of room, he said. And the cost of doing thisit was a weight we could not continue to carry. Yves here. This article usefully provides data on potential generative AI energy use and why cheery notions that its appetite will fall are likely to prove to be wrong. By David Berreby, who writes about AI and robotics, and his work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Slate, and other publications. He is the author of Us and Them: The Science of Identity. Originally published by Yale Environment 360; cross posted from Undark as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Two months after its release in November 2022, OpenAIs ChatGPT had 100 million active users, and suddenly tech corporations were racing to offer the public more generative AI. Pundits compared the new technologys impact to the Internet, or electrification, or the Industrial Revolution or the discovery of fire. Time will sort hype from reality, but one consequence of the explosion of artificial intelligence is clear: this technologys environmental footprint is large and growing. AI use is directly responsible for carbon emissions from non-renewable electricity and for the consumption of millions of gallons of fresh water, and it indirectly boosts impacts from building and maintaining the power-hungry equipment on which AI runs. As tech companies seek to embed high-intensity AI into everything from resume-writing to kidney transplant medicine and from choosing dog food to climate modeling, they cite many ways AI could help reduce humanitys environmental footprint. But legislators, regulators, activists, and international organizations now want to make sure the benefits arent outweighed by AIs mounting hazards. The development of the next generation of AI tools cannot come at the expense of the health of our planet, Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey said in a Feb. 1 statement in Washington, after he and other senators and representatives introduced a bill that would require the federal government to assess AIs current environmental footprint and develop a standardized system for reporting future impacts. Similarly, the European Unions AI Act, approved by member states last week, will require high-risk AI systems (which include the powerful foundation models that power ChatGPT and similar AIs) to report their energy consumption, resource use, and other impacts throughout their systems lifecycle. The EU law takes effect next year. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Standardization, a global network that develops standards for manufacturers, regulators, and others, said it will issue criteria for sustainable AI later this year. Those will include standards for measuring energy efficiency, raw material use, transportation, and water consumption, as well as practices for reducing AI impacts throughout its life cycle, from the process of mining materials and making computer components to the electricity consumed by its calculations. The ISO wants to enable AI users to make informed decisions about their AI consumption. Right now, its not possible to tell how your AI request for homework help or a picture of an astronaut riding a horse will affect carbon emissions or freshwater stocks. This is why 2024s crop of sustainable AI proposals describe ways to get more information about AI impacts. In the absence of standards and regulations, tech companies have been reporting whatever they choose, however they choose, about their AI impact, said Shaolei Ren, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC Riverside, who has been studying the water costs of computation for the past decade. Working from calculations of annual use of water for cooling systems by Microsoft, Ren estimates that a person who engages in a session of questions and answers with GPT-3 (roughly 10 t0 50 responses) drives the consumption of a half-liter of fresh water. It will vary by region, and with a bigger AI, it could be more. But a great deal remains unrevealed about the millions of gallons of water used to cool computers running AI, he said. The same is true of carbon. Data scientists today do not have easy or reliable access to measurements of [greenhouse gas impacts from AI], which precludes development of actionable tactics, a group of 10 prominent researchers on AI impacts wrote in a 2022 conference paper. Since they presented their article, AI applications and users have proliferated, but the public is still in the dark about those data, said Jesse Dodge, a research scientist at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Seattle, who was one of the papers coauthors. AI can run on many devices the simple AI that autocorrects text messages will run on a smartphone. But the kind of AI people most want to use is too big for most personal devices, Dodge said. The models that are able to write a poem for you, or draft an email, those are very large, he said. Size is vital for them to have those capabilities. Big AIs need to run immense numbers of calculations very quickly, usually on specialized Graphical Processing Units processors originally designed for intense computation to render graphics on computer screens. Compared to other chips, GPUs are more energy-efficient for AI, and theyre most efficient when theyre run in large cloud data centers specialized buildings full of computers equipped with those chips. The larger the data center, the more energy efficient it can be. Improvements in AIs energy efficiency in recent years are partly due to the construction of more hyperscale data centers, which contain many more computers and can quickly scale up. Where a typical cloud data center occupies about 100,000 square feet, a hyperscale center can be 1 or even 2 million square feet. Estimates of the number of cloud data centers worldwide range from around 9,000 to nearly 11,000. More are under construction. The International Energy Agency, or IEA, projects that data centers electricity consumption in 2026 will be double that of 2022 1,000 terawatts, roughly equivalent to Japans current total consumption. However, as an illustration of one problem with the way AI impacts are measured, that IEA estimate includes all data center activity, which extends beyond AI to many aspects of modern life. Running Amazons store interface, serving up Apple TVs videos, storing millions of peoples emails on Gmail, and mining Bitcoin are also performed by data centers. (Other IEA reports exclude crypto operations, but still lump all other data-center activity together.) Most tech firms that run data centers dont reveal what percentage of their energy use processes AI. The exception is Google, which says machine learning the basis for humanlike AI accounts for somewhat less than 15 percent of its data centers energy use. Another complication is the fact that AI, unlike Bitcoin mining or online shopping, can be used to reduce humanitys impacts. AI can improve climate models, find more efficient ways to make digital tech, reduce waste in transport, and otherwise cut carbon and water use. One estimate, for example, found that AI-run smart homes could reduce households CO2 consumption by up to 40 percent. And a recent Google project found that an AI fast-crunching atmospheric data can guide airline pilots to flight paths that will leave the fewest contrails. Because contrails create more than a third of commercial aviations contribution to global warming, if the whole aviation industry took advantage of this single A.I. breakthrough, says Dave Patterson, a computer-science professor emeritus at UC Berkeley and a Google researcher, this single discovery would save more COe (CO and other greenhouse gases) than the COe from all A.I. in 2020. Pattersons analysis predicts that AIs carbon footprint will soon plateau and then begin to shrink, thanks to improvements in the efficiency with which AI software and hardware use energy. One reflection of that efficiency improvement: as AI usage has increased since 2019, its percentage of Google data-center energy use has held at less than 15 percent. And while global internet traffic has increased more than twentyfold since 2010, the share of the worlds electricity used by data centers and networks increased far less, according to the IEA. However, data about improving efficiency doesnt convince some skeptics, who cite a social phenomenon called Jevons paradox: Making a resource less costly sometimes increases its consumption in the long run. Its a rebound effect, Ren said. You make the freeway wider, people use less fuel because traffic moves faster, but then you get more cars coming in. You get more fuel consumption than before. If home heating is 40 percent more efficient due to AI, one critic recently wrote, people could end up keeping their homes warmer for more hours of the day. AI is an accelerant for everything, Dodge said. It makes whatever youre developing go faster. At the Allen Institute, AI has helped develop better programs to model the climate, track endangered species, and curb overfishing, he said. But globally AI could also support a lot of applications that could accelerate climate change. This is where you get into ethical questions about what kind of AI you want. If global electricity use can feel a bit abstract, data centers water use is a more local and tangible issue particularly in drought-afflicted areas. To cool delicate electronics in the clean interiors of the data centers, water has to be free of bacteria and impurities that could gunk up the works. In other words, data centers often compete for the same water people drink, cook, and wash with, said Ren. In 2022, Ren said, Googles data centers consumed about 5 billion gallons (nearly 20 billion liters) of fresh water for cooling. (Consumptive use does not include water thats run through a building and then returned to its source.) According to a recent study by Ren, Googles data centers used 20 percent more water in 2022 than they did in 2021, and Microsofts water use rose by 34 percent in the same period. (Google data centers host its Bard chatbot and other generative AIs; Microsoft servers host ChatGPT as well as its bigger siblings GPT-3 and GPT-4. All three are produced by OpenAI, in which Microsoft is a large investor.) As more data centers are built or expanded, their neighbors have been troubled to find out how much water they take. For example, in The Dalles, Oregon, where Google runs three data centers and plans two more, the city government filed a lawsuit in 2022 to keep Googles water use a secret from farmers, environmentalists, and Native American tribes who were concerned about its effects on agriculture and on the regions animals and plants. The city withdrew its suit early last year. The records it then made public showed that Googles three extant data centers use more than a quarter of the citys water supply. And in Chile and Uruguay, protests have erupted over planned Google data centers that would tap into the same reservoirs that supply drinking water. Most of all, researchers say, whats needed is a change of culture within the rarefied world of AI development. Generative AIs creators need to focus beyond the technical leaps and bounds of their newest creations and be less guarded about the details of the data, software, and hardware they use to create it. Some day in the future, Dodge said, an AI might be able or be legally obligated to inform a user about the water and carbon impact of each distinct request she makes. That would be a fantastic tool that would help the environment, he said. For now, though, individual users dont have much information or power to know their AI footprint, much less make decisions about it. Theres not much individuals can do, unfortunately, Ren said. Right now, you can try to use the service judiciously, he said. Correction, February 21, 2024: An earlier version of this article incorrectly quoted researcher Dave Patterson as referring to CO emissions from global aviation. Patterson was actually referring to COe (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions, a measurement that includes both CO and other greenhouse gases. Yves here. This offering is a reader critical thinking exercise. On the one hand, unlike many articles about The Resistance, it provides useful detail about history and funding. But on the other, as we see with Israel and Ukraine (where Zelensky defied US instructions as to how to conduct various operations), funding does not necessarily equate to control even when there is a desire to bring proxies to heel. In keeping, the article starts with the Houthis, as if their campaign against Israel was somehow at the instigation of Iran. The slippery phrase Iran-backed does not equal Iran-controlled. There is separate evidence that Hezbollah is autonomous, even though it no doubt also communicates and coordinates with Iran. Its instructive to see how Western commentators are uncomfortable with influence networks when the US routinely operates that way. But somehow its OK when the money is laundered through NGOs like the National Endowment for Democracy. By John P. Ruehl, an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. His book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas, was published in December 2022. Produced byEconomy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute During a three-day period in January 2024, Iranian-supported militant groups employed an anti-ship missile to attack an oil tanker in the Red Sea, launched rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon, and used a drone strike to kill three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. These incidents marked the extension of attacks by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East into the fourth straight month since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023. Largely diplomatically isolated since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, unable to challenge U.S. military power, and lacking the nuclear brinkmanship card held by North Korea, Iran has evolved its strategy of utilizing militant groups for decades. Irans Quds Force has provided training, funding, and weapons assistance to various militant groups in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. This strategy has advanced Irans geopolitical interests and afforded it plausible deniability, but not all of its associates march in lockstep with Tehran. Part of Irans approach involves transforming militant forces into powerful political actors. Hamas, founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, gained prominence during the First Intifada against Israeli forces. Hamas grew closer to Iran during the early 1990s after the Oslo Accords initiated an ultimately failed peace process, with Iran providing financial and weapons support during the Second Intifada from 2000 to 2005. When Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas established administrative control over the territory after winning elections the following year, and has forbade elections since. Consolidating armed Palestinian opposition under Hamas allows Tehran to challenge Israel directly. But as a Persian and Shia Muslim country operating in a predominantly Arab and Sunni Muslim peninsula, Iran has offset its diplomatic and cultural isolation by using the Palestinian cause to criticize Arab governments growing closer to Israel in recent years. Supporting Hamas against perceived inaction from Arab leaders has been a constant feature of Iranian public messaging. Further normalization between Israel and Arab states is now paused due to the Israel-Hamas war. While Iran denied prior knowledge of the October 7 attack, it has expressed public support for Hamas since. Hamass leader Ismail Haniyeh has meanwhile stated that Iran provides $70 million annually to the group in addition to ongoing logistical and weapons assistance, largely through smuggling operations. However, relations between Iran and Hamas are largely limited to opposition to Israel and the West, and Hamas also receives financial support from Turkey, Qatar, and other sources. Instead, Hezbollah has emerged as Irans most important non-state ally. Established as a Shia militia in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War, Hezbollahs significant military forces have been utilized to target Israeli and Western forces in the Middle East. Since the recent conflicts onset, Hezbollah has launched hundreds of missiles into northern Israel, but the destruction caused by the 2006 Lebanon War against Israel has made it cautious of further escalation. Hezbollah is also strategically valuable in its role as an envoy to other militant groups. Hezbollah has historically trained Hamas militants in weapons systems and military exercises in Lebanon and Syria. Like Iran, Hezbollah also denied knowledge of the Hamas attack on October 7, but Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas officials have since met regularly to discuss strategy and cooperation. Beyond its military role, Hezbollah has evolved into Lebanons political powerbroker. Eight of its members were first elected to the Lebanese parliament in 1992, it joined the government for the first time in 2005, and in 2018, a Hezbollah-led coalition gained the majority of Lebanese parliamentary seats. Despite losing its majority in 2022, its lingering influence over Lebanese politics indicates that Iran remains close to a state capture-like situation, where external forces and interest groups gain systematic control over a countrys decision-making process. Additionally, Hezbollah operates clinics, schools, banks, businesses, and other entities that have shielded it from Lebanons economic collapse and political stagnation since 2019, maintaining its state-within-a-state structure. In addition to weapons and logistical support, Iran is believed to provide $700 million to Hezbollah every year. And when sanctions diminish Iranian assistance, Hezbollah also secures funding from legal businesses to criminal enterprises, activities which span across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. Irans militant network in Syria meanwhile surged after the civil war broke out in 2011, threatening Irans long-term ally President Bashar al-Assad. Hezbollah and Iran recruited from Syrias Shia community to form groups like the Mahdi Army and al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi Brigade, as well as some Sunni groups like Liwa al-Quds, to aid the Syrian armed forces against ISIS and pro-Western forces. The Zainabiyoun Brigade and Fatemiyoun Brigade, largely consisting of Shia Muslims from Pakistan and Afghanistan, have been used by Iran in Syria. As the Syrian governments position has stabilized, Iran has attempted to integrate pro-Iranian militant groups into the Syrian armed forces and has used them to increase Irans political and economic influence in Syria as it competes with Russia. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, they have launched numerous strikes against U.S. and allied forces within Syria. Pro-Iranian Iraqi Shia militant groups have similarly increased rocket attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq since October 7. Their growing strength goes back to the U.S.-led occupation after 2003 that allowed Iran to bring groups like the Badr Organization, funded and trained in Iran, back into Iraq. Iran also organized with other developing Special Groups of Shia militias to attack U.S. forces. After the departure of most U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011, Iranian-backed groups sought political integration into Iraqs fragile democracy. Alongside the Badr Organization, Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba in Iraq (both distinct from Lebanese Hezbollah), and Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) became some of Iraqs most prominent political and militant forces. In 2014, numerous pro-Iranian militant groups in Iraq were consolidated into the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to combat ISIS, playing a crucial role in liberating much of the country and elevating their status. In Iraqs 2018 parliamentary elections, the PMF became the second-biggest bloc and achieved one element of state capture by securing government funding for itself the following year. PMF members now directly or indirectly control crucial government institutions like the Interior Ministry and Supreme Court, and December 2023 elections saw the coalition win 101 out of 285 provincial council seats. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a leading group of PMF militias, has taken the initiative in attempting to push remaining U.S. forces out of the country. Their attacks since October 7 have intensified discussions within Washington over whether to do so, while Iran denied knowledge of the drone attack which killed three U.S. soldiers in January 2024. Washington has similarly been confronted by the Houthis since October 7. Emerging in Yemen in the early 1990s as a Shia Islamist group amid the countrys civil war, the Houthi movement initially focused on religious and cultural revivalism and combating corruption. Hezbollah performed early outreach to the Houthis before Iran increased its financial, logistical, and weapons support in the 2010s as Yemens civil strife escalated. Iranian support increased further after Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen to fight the Houthis in 2015 until Saudi forces pulled out of the country in defeat in 2023. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Houthis have fired several missiles into southern Israel. But their principal distraction has been attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in support of Hamas and the Palestinians. Acting in coordination with Iranian and Hezbollah officials, the Houthis have completely disrupted global trade and raised doubts over the U.S. ability to ensure open sea lanes. Doing so has enhanced their domestic support and expedited Yemens peace process, the conclusion of which would give the Houthis significant political control over the country. Iran has continued to offer support, providing data from an Iranian surveillance vessel to direct Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and ongoing weapons shipments to the group. While the more prominent pro-Iranian militias have been mentioned, smaller cells also exist. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad complements Iranian influence in Gaza. In Bahrain, the Al-Ashtar Brigadesand Saraya al-Mukhtar have been responsible for numerous attacks on security and government targets in promotion of Shia interests, and Kuwait has witnessed several scandals involving the surfacing of pro-Iranian Shia militant cells over the last decade. But Irans cultivation of militant groups and political exploitation is not without risk. The ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict has put Hamass rule in Gaza to the test, potentially undoing decades of investment. And Iran has only varying degrees of control over all these groups. Hamass open support for Sunni militant groups in the Syrian civil war conflicted with Irans support for Syrias Shia-dominated government, resulting in a temporary withdrawal of Iranian funding. Despite resuming in 2017, the affair highlighted Hamass and Tehrans ideological divisions. Iran is also alleged to have advised against the Houthis seizure of Yemens capital in 2014 and Iraqi militia leader Qais al-Khazalis attack on U.S. forces in 2020. Control over Iraqi militants has similarly weakened since 2020, and even Hezbollah military officials have reportedly refused orders from Iran in Syria. Yet voicing public dissatisfaction with these groups would undermine Irans portrayal of leadership and unity against Israel and Western powers, limiting its ability to rebuke them or reign them in. Iraqs Iran-aligned groups meanwhile have fierce internal rivalries that inhibit greater coordination, and Irans interference in Iraq has resulted in significant consequences. In the 1980s, Irans support for Iraqs Kurds saw Iraq support Kurdish separatists in Iran, which continue to attack Iran from Iraq to this day. The January 2024 exchange of fire between Iranian forces and Balochistan militants in Pakistan, followed by retaliatory strikes by Pakistan against groups in Iran, revealed the challenges Iran faces in managing militant groups both internally and with its neighbors. Iran, however, will likely persist with its strategy, even if it obtains nuclear weapons. Its proxy groups amassed military and political power have helped Iran challenge its enemies and inch close to state capture (or state failure) in several countries. As the U.S. continues its gradual pullout from the Middle East, there is no telling how these groups may continue to evolvewith or without Iranian assistance. @startleseasily is a fervent observer of the Metro government's comings and goings. In this column, "On First Reading," she'll recap the bimonthly Metro Council meetings and provide her analysis. You can find her in the pew in the corner by the mic, ready to give public comment on whichever items stir her passions. Follow her on Twitter here. Bill Purcell waved as he ducked out of the gallery partway through Tuesday nights Metro Council meeting. Good luck! he said, before making a quiet exit. The former mayor maybe the last mayor everyone seemed to actually like was there to lead his class of Vanderbilt public policy students in some councilwatching. As if by magic, the meeting ended shortly after he imparted his well wishes. Purcell still has sway in the courthouse. Councilmanic Courtesy Perhaps the presence of a revered public servant and a gaggle of college kids had a calming effect on the council. Or maybe the Nazis marching through downtown Nashville over the weekend reminded councilmembers that it is not, in fact, the end of the world when a colleague introduces some legislation you dont support. For whatever reason, after a remarkably nasty meeting earlier this month, the councilmembers were on their best-ish behavior Tuesday night. There were disagreements, sure, but the debate was largely subdued and issues-based. Tempers briefly flared over a bill to rewrite portions of the zoning code regarding lot sizes in subdivisions. Termed compact development, the new provisions would allow developers of subdivisions to have varied lot sizes, with some smaller than what would typically be allowed, in exchange for setting aside a certain percentage of the total subdivision for open space. Councilmember At-Large Quin Evans Segall quickly becoming the most despised woman on the council thanks to her attempts to reform our 26-year-old zoning code proposed an amendment that wouldve provided an additional incentive for developers to provide public open space. The bill in its current form contemplates that public open space could be an option, but it provides no additional incentive for developers to work through the arduous process of coordinating a donation of land for use by the public. Given the choice between whats best for the general public (open space accessible to all of us) and whats easiest to get approved (open space accessible just to the people in your subdivision), I think I can guess which path most developers will take. After some hand-wringing, the council rejected Evans Segalls amendment, with only 11 members voting in favor. Its clear there are still hurt feelings over Evans Segalls introduction of a slew of proposed zoning reforms at the last meeting. One councilmember, who called the amendment a no-brainer, said Evans Segalls sponsorship was the kiss of death. Im not sure I believe it wouldve been approved, but I dont think the defeat wouldve been quite so decisive. Several councilmembers repeated a variation on a theme: We should abide by the recommendations of the Planning Commission and heed the advice of the Planning Department. I just want yall to bookmark this for when the Planning Commission ultimately puts their stamp of approval on wholesale zoning reform. I would be willing to bet money these Planning Defenders will be singing a different tune when that one comes up for a vote. Capital Campaign Mayor Freddie OConnells first capital spending plan sailed through without changes. It totals roughly $514 million, with the lions share of investment going to Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Nashville Department of Transportation. This is the first chance for OConnell to really put his money where his mouth is. Its hard to draw too many conclusions from this first spending plan, as departmental needs change over time, but OConnells chosen investments are consistent with his campaigns focus on basic city services. Notably, OConnells first CSP allocates more than $30 million to WeGo. Thats nearly half the total capital dollars former Mayor John Cooper invested in the citys public transportation agency over his entire four years in office. Coopers lack of attention to WeGo was a consistent sore spot for OConnell during his time on the council; recall, for instance, the Great Zoo Parking Garage Showdown of 2021. Bad for Business One of the longer debates of the evening wasnt actually a debate. The council came together with one voice to unanimously support a resolution condemning the Nazis who marched our streets over the weekend. Councilmember Jacob Kupin, a Jewish councilmember who represents downtown Nashville, sponsored the resolution, which reached members desks only hours before the meeting started. Its important to meet the moment, Kupin says, speaking about his decision to file the resolution on an expedited timeline. I felt like we had a real opportunity to respond, and respond clearly. Its worth watching all 20 minutes of floor speeches on this one. Im not usually a fan of nonbinding resolutions, but displays of hate like the one we all witnessed over the weekend call for an exception to even the strictest of rules. Nazis Are Back. Again. White supremacists continue to show up in Tennessee. Perhaps because they identify with our state leaders' politics. Councilmember Jordan Huffman had to edit himself. He was riled up after a slew of hateful messages online. One commenter went so far as to call Huffman a disappointment to the white race. To the people who would seek to frighten him into silence, Huffman wanted to make sure he got one message across: Im a bald white man with a Southern accent. I directly threaten what theyre standing for, and Im bad for business. Asked to elaborate on that statement, Huffman clarifies: The fact that I look like them it opens up other white men to think, This shits wrong, and I can be an ally. Councilmember Sheri Weiner recounted a shocking story from her childhood. It was summer," Weiner said. "School was about to get out in 1964. I was 8 years old. And I didnt make it to school that morning. Wanna know why? Because my neighbors down the street decided that they wanted to stone the Jew girl. Sixty years later, Weiner said, We should not be here. We cannot be here. Friends, it should not take a visit from literal Nazis for us to realize were not each others enemies. I hope we can carry this spirit of togetherness for just a little while longer. Its a good feeling. Arizona bill that seeks to end ORGAN TRAFFICKING and HARVESTING zooms in on China A bill filed in the state of Arizona, which seeks to end organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting, zooms in on China House Bill (HB) 2504, formally the Arizona End Organ Harvesting Act, passed the Arizona House of Representatives' Health and Human Services Committee on Feb. 5. This puts it closer to a floor vote in the lower chamber, which is controlled by Republicans. State House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci, a Republican, expounded on the proposal at a news conference on the same day. According to him, HB 2504 would discourage Arizonans from "inadvertently" contributing to forced organ harvesting by engaging in "transplant tourism." This is because the bill would restrict financial support for organ transplants from China and other foreign adversaries" such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela. Hong Kong, a special administrative region under China, is also listed. Biasiucci was the measure's sponsor in the lower chamber. According to the Epoch Times, the waiting time to receive an organ transplant in the U.S. is one to three years. However, a patient in China can receive a new kidney or liver within two or three weeks and at a lower cost. But this comes with a grim price, as Chinese authorities harvest these organs from living humans. Adherents of the Falun Gong belief system, Uyghurs, Tibetans and house Christians those who secretly attend worship services of churches not sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are the most common victims of this practice. (Related: Retired Chinese surgeon recounts being forced to HARVEST ORGANS from people who were STILL ALIVE.) 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 CCP is relying on your fear of death to make money," said Dr. Dana Churchill, board member of the Washington, D.C.-based Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH). "This is something that is seriously happening. We need to do something about it." Texas previously signed similar bill against ORGAN HARVESTING Arizona joins Texas in its fight against what many consider "crimes against humanity" forced organ harvesting and trafficking. Back in June 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bipartisan bill to combat the CCP's forced human organ harvesting. According to an Epoch Times report at the time, the said bill made the Lone Star State the first to to counter the abuse through legal means. Senate Bill (SB) 1040 was unanimously approved in both houses of the Texas Legislature in May 2023. The measure, which took effect on Sept. 1, banned health plans or insurance providers from financially covering organ transplants if the organs came from a country that engages in forced organ harvesting and trafficking or if the transplant procedure occurred in a country known to participate in said practices. "This bill prevents Texans and Texas health plans from unknowingly becoming complicit in forced organ harvesting," said GOP State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, SB 1040's lead author. "Because health plans are regulated at the State level, Texas holds a powerful tool to combat the hideous industrial-scale practice of forced organ harvesting, particularly of persecuted religious groups in China." GOP State Rep. Tom Oliverson, a primary sponsor of the bill, praised Abbott for allowing the Lone Star State to be "the first to take a strong stand against the immoral and detestable practice of forced organ donations in China." He continued: "With this law, we send a strong message to Beijing that all human life is precious and worthy of protection." Head over to OrganHarvesting.news for more similar stories. Watch the following video about trafficking of human organs in Communist China. This video is from the Anti-Disinformation channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: ORGAN FACTORIES: Israeli company develops artificial womb technology to synthetically grow human embryos for organ harvesting. China political dissidents are having their organs cut from their bodies for 'transplant tourists.' China is harvesting organs from prisoners while they are still alive. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 AzLeg.gov TheEpochTimes.com 2 Brighteon.com Biden sends $15 million to Bangladesh despite its links to terrorist organizations and history of corruption and human rights abuses The administration of President Joe Biden has approved a $15 million taxpayer-funded grant to Bangladesh to prevent so-called climate change despite the country's long track record of corruption, human rights abuses and ties with terrorist organizations. The $15 million comes from the Enabling Environment for Climate Resiliency Activity program, a government program for enhancing climate resilience. Bangladesh, a majority-Muslim South Asian nation, has been tagged by the State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) as a significant source of anti-Western terrorist group activity. In OSAC's 2019 report, Bangladesh was noted for having historic ties with several very dangerous terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State and Al Qaeda's branch organization in the Indian subcontinent, as well as several domestic militant groups like Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team. Moreover, Bangladesh has faced criticism for human rights violations with the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioning the elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism police unit, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), for alleged human rights abuses. The RAB, formed in 2004, is accused of over 600 disappearances since 2009, nearly 600 extrajudicial killings since 2018, and instances of torture, with reports suggesting the targeting of opposition party members, journalists and human rights activists. But despite all this, the Biden administration still granted the funds to address the "growing climate crisis" in Bangladesh. The funded climate action seeks to distribute resources equitably among marginalized social groups, including historically excluded communities, in climate change planning. 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. In line with this, the administration highlights its commitment to fostering transformational changes toward net-zero emissions and building a climate-resilient nation. "Climate change planning in Bangladesh is top-down and not inclusive. This activity will facilitate prioritizing and elevating the voices of historically excluded communities, including marginalized and underrepresented groups disproportionately affected by climate change," the grant read. (Related: Newman: Climate change scam will enable globalist United Nations to enforce its will on humanity.) Bangladeshi nationals also pose a significant security threat in the U.S. Aside from links with terrorist organizations and a history of human rights violations, Bangladeshi migrants are also trying to enter the U.S. through the southern border. In 2019, a congressional investigation revealed that there had been a 300 percent rise in Bangladeshi migrants trying to enter Texas alone. The report also claims that people from countries associated with terrorism were attempting to cross the southern border in large numbers. Shortly after the release of the report, federal authorities arrested a Bangladeshi smuggler named Milon Miah upon his arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. He was charged with bringing in 15 fellow Bangladeshis through the U.S.-Mexico border. Milon Miah resides in Tapachula, a city in the southeast Mexican state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala. The indictment accused Miah of allegedly conspiring to bring 15 Bangladeshi nationals into the U.S. through the southern border from March 2017 to August 2018, accepting payment for his illicit services. Miah purportedly provided shelter, food and plane tickets to the aliens before arranging for their transport to locations in northern Mexico. From there, other smugglers facilitated their entry into the United States. Human smuggling rings endanger the security of the United States, said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division at that time. This, in turn, gave critics another reason to question whether a country associated with terrorism and human rights abuses and facing an increase in migrants potentially linked to security concerns deserves millions of taxpayer dollars for climate change initiatives. "Does this sound like a country that deserves millions of our taxpayer dollars to fight climate change?" Judicial Watch wrote. Follow ClimateAlarmism.news for more stories about the climate change scam. Watch this video that explains why claims of CO2 being destructive to the planet are anti-scientific. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden regimes war on your appliances just widened with new attack on dishwashers, under guise of climate change. INSANITY: Biden administration now going after dishwashers to combat imaginary climate crisis. Biden administration urges Big Tech to ramp up censorship of those who question the official narrative on climate. Governments wasting TRILLIONS on climate change using faulty temperature data, experts warn. Washington state Democrats propose ban on gas-powered lawn equipment to fight climate change. Sources include: YourNews.com Justice.gov JudicialWatch.org 1 JudicialWatch.org 1 Brighteon.com Black activist lawyers idea to stop crime: Just legalize crime (Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Modernity.news) Yes, really. The comments were made by Ben Crump, who specializes in civil rights cases and was the attorney for the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The most insane thing you have ever heard from@MSNBC Celebrity Black activist lawyer @BenCrumpLaw says that criminal behavior in America is just Black culture. Demands the legalization of crime.@TheRevAl and other Black racial activists all express agreement. pic.twitter.com/bfEQr0b7AU National Conservative (@NatCon2022) February 17, 2024 We can get rid of all the crime in America overnight, just like that, Crump told his fellow guests, one of whom was civil rights activist Al Sharpton. And people ask how attorney Crump? change the definition of crime. Of course! responded another guest. If you get to define what conduct is gonna be made criminal, you can predict who the criminals are gonna be, added Crump. Another guest responded by saying that suggested all black people were criminals by their nature. They made the laws to criminalize our culture black culture, responded Crump. Respondents on X asserted that Crump was essentially acknowledging someone he probably didnt intend to. "Criminal behaviour in America is just black culture? Wow, I didn't know that..." https://t.co/P7FkNRPPQzpic.twitter.com/A1FALmTEZK RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) February 18, 2024 I mean, this has been the Democrat position for a long time, he's just saying it out loud. Karl Kole (@DDPuncher) February 17, 2024 Actually he's pretty close to right. Black African and Tribal cultures allow a lot of killing, and taking of property. The concept of Private Property is really from European culture. But, if they want to live like that they should go to Africa. We don't want it here. Bob Allen (@BobAlle58828655) February 17, 2024 It's literally "can't break the law if there is no law" w/ black meme gif guy tapping his head Glyn D?r (@glyndwr619) February 17, 2024 Anyone still doubt that theres no fixing this? Joe Blow (@JoeBlowIdunno12) February 17, 2024 Let's hear them out. I want a list of actions that are currently criminal that they want to decriminalise. I'm all ears. Carl Benjamin (@Sargon_of_Akkad) February 17, 2024 Meanwhile, Scott Adams was unavailable for comment. Scott Adams has become a meme for noticing the things that you're not supposed to notice. pic.twitter.com/ll9UmDo1uz Rosie's Space Nukes (@DarnelSugarfoo) February 26, 2023 Read more at: Modernity.news British merchant ship abandoned in Red Sea following Houthi missile strike The Houthi rebels of northern Yemen have caused "catastrophic" damage to the Belize-flagged, United Kingdom-owned merchant ship Rubymar. This is according to a statement made by a Houthi spokesperson on Monday, Feb. 19. This follows the Houthi's claim to have shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over a Yemeni port in the Red Sea a claim the United States has not confirmed. "The British merchant ship Rubymar sustained catastrophic damage and its crew has abandoned the vessel," the spokesman for the Yemeni military said. The Houthis, who have been in a civil war with the internationally recognized government of Yemen for nearly 10 years and who control the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, have been engaged in a campaign to blockade Israeli access to the Red Sea as an act of solidarity over Israeli military operations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, earning the ire of Western powers like the U.K. and the United States. Rubymar at risk of sinking after missile strike The Rubymar, owned by the U.K., flagged in Belize and managed and operated by an office in Beirut, Lebanon, was confirmed by ship-tracking data to have been attacked as it attempted to pass through the Red Sea. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that the ship sustained damage after "an explosion in close proximity to the vessel." (Related: Major shipping giants HALT Red Sea route following Houthi attacks on shipping vessels.) "Military authorities report crew have abandoned the vessel," the UKMTO added. "Vessel at anchor and all crew are safe." 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. Houthi spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed in its own statement that the vessel was sunk, however no independent source has confirmed that the vessel sank. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the Houthi attack involved two anti-ship ballistic missiles, one of which struck the Rubymar. "The ship suffered catastrophic damages and came to a complete halt," said Saree. "During the operation, we made sure that the ship's crew exited safely." Private security firm Ambrey reported that the Rubymar was on its way to Bulgaria after leaving the Port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates. The firm described the ship as being partially laden with cargo, but no confirmation has been made regarding what the ship was carrying. On the same day, Saree claimed that Houthi forces shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper near the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port city of Hodeida "while it was carrying out hostile missions against our country on behalf of the Zionist entity." The U.S. military has not confirmed the loss of any drones in the region. However it should be noted that the Houthis do have surface-to-air missile systems that are capable of shooting down the advanced and high-flying American reaper drones. Back in November, the Department of Defense confirmed that it had lost one of these $30 million drones to Houthi rebel anti-air systems. Follow Chaos.news for more stories about the Houthi attacks. Watch the video below reporting on how the Houthis launched a missile attack on the British oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda, causing a catastrophic fire onboard. This video is from the The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Houthi missile hits U.S.-owned cargo ship, says U.S. government. Houthis step up offensive operations with new drone attacks on U.S.-owned commercial ships. Yemeni Houthis claim responsibility for attacking Norwegian-flagged oil and chemical tanker with guided missiles. Commercial ships in Red Sea get creative to avoid being targeted by Houthi rebels, announcing things like, "All Crew Muslims." Red Sea Houthi attacks will disrupt global supply chains more than any pandemic, sending prices skyrocketing. Sources include: RT.com APNews.com Brighteon.com CDCs expansion of vaccination schedule for Americans sparks controversy The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) decision to expand the vaccination schedule for Americans has sparked controversy. According to a report by Natural Health 365, "in recent years, the childhood injection schedule has expanded beyond addressing the diseases most commonly affecting children such as measles, mumps and rubella." True enough, the CDC has proposed further additions to the vaccination schedule. It released the updated schedule in September, which is months earlier than usual, to speed up insurance payments for the newly-recommended vaccines. The updated schedule now includes several new diseases monkeypox, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) hepatitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), flu and pneumococcal disease. "The escalation in the number of shots administered at closely spaced intervals during childhood has raised significant concerns," Natural Health 365 pointed out. "Some childhood advocacy groups are now questioning the CDC's motives and the safety measures involved in recommending these alterations to the [vaccine] schedule." (Related: RSV introduced into population by polio vaccines; now Pfizer's RSV vaccines risk harming, killing people.) Moreover, some critics have dubbed the escalating number of injections as "a risky medical experiment." For example, children aged zero to 18 may now require up to 80 injections, representing a significant increase from the 1983 recommendation of just 11 shots. They also argue that the CDC hasn't subjected the entire childhood immunization schedule to thorough safety or efficacy testing. The public health agency is also in hot water for its prioritization of shots over broader public health concerns and its susceptibility to pharmaceutical influence. 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. Several experts voice out opposition to CDC's vaccine push Several medical experts voiced out their opposition to the CDC's expansion of the immunization schedule to include recent diseases. "This amounts to nothing more than a very dangerous medical experiment foisted on America's infants and children," said Brian Hooker of Children's Health Defense. He also noted that the CDC has never tested the efficacy or the safety of the entire childhood vaccination schedule. "The CDC continues to function as a powerful promoter of vaccines, not as a protector of public health," said integrative physician Dr. Mary Kelly Sutton. She added that there is little evidence of vaccines' effectiveness and a lack of officially accepted research on their adverse effects. "The CDC could give wise guidance on vaccines but has so far accepted ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] approvals without studies," remarked Sutton, who who lost her license in three states for writing eight COVID-19 vaccine exemptions in California. "Universally, vaccines lack true placebo controls, and recently, lack human trials of any kind. The sad truth is pharma money rules the CDC, and the American people are deceived and placed at risk." "It's an outrage," said pediatrician Dr. Michelle Perro. "It's not necessary and they're hurting our children." Head over to CDC.news to find more stories about the public health agency's promotion of COVID-19 vaccines and other deadly injections. Watch Dr. Janette Nesheiwat explain to Tucker Carlson why the COVID-19 vaccine shouldn't be included in the CDC's childhood immunization schedule. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: VACCINES COST LIVES: Child mortality is HIGHER in developed nations that require more vaccines new study. Study: COVID-19 vaccines linked to increased risk of brain clots and stroke when combined with flu vaccines. SMOKING GUN: CDC altered definition of breakthrough COVID infections following emails about vaccine failure. CDC knowingly labeled accurate news stories about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines misinformation, internal messages show. SUPPRESSED: CDC scrapped draft alert warning of link between COVID-19 vaccines and myocarditis, deliberately keeping Americans in the dark about vaccine dangers. Sources include: NaturalHealth365.com Brighteon.com TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 22. Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan discussed mechanisms of financing and realization of more than 20 projects in the spheres of automobile construction, textile industry and silk breeding, Trend reports. The discussion took place at a meeting between Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov with the director of Uzbek-Azerbaijani Investment Company Nazim Hajiyev on February 17. The sides stressed the importance of continuation of consistent work on creation and development of "Brain Center" under the Investment Company for generation and analysis of promising projects. The readiness of the Uzbek side to provide all-round support to the center's activity was expressed. During a meeting, it was announced that Uzbekistans embassy was implementing four investment projects worth $115 million in cooperation with Azerbaijan. The good news is that, from now on, Uzbek nationals can stay on the territory of Azerbaijan without registration for 15 days. According to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs, amendment is connected with the entry into force of the protocol on making additions and amendments to the agreement between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan on visa-free travels of both countries' citizens, signed on June 18, 1997. CLAIM: Alexei Navalny murdered via vaccine in Russian prison The recent death of Alexei Navalny, Russia's top opposition leader and fiercest foe of President Vladimir Putin, has the internet circulating with theories about whathappened, one possibility being that he died of vaccination in the Arctic Circle prison. An X account named "Richard" (@ricwe123) claims that the "most recent autopsy results" show that Navalny, 47, died of "a blood clot in the heart," which sounds eerily similar to what has happened to thousands of recipients of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines." "Doctors suspect it was caused by vaccination against the coronavirus with the Pfizer vaccine," the X account tweeted. "Apparently Navalny was vaccinated four times." At the bottom of the "Richard" post, X added a "Readers added context" box claiming that these "recent autopsy results" cannot be real because "there are no autopsy results at this moment." Below this message, X placed a link to an article published by The Telegraph (United Kingdom). (Related: Speaking of vaccines, billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates is actively planning for "Pandemic 2," complete with brand-new vaccines that will be administered using "a little patch.") Did the U.S. poison Navalny with mRNA jabs before blaming Putin? This writer's immediate thought upon seeing the claim was that Russia did not use the mRNA injections from Pfizer as part of its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" response. This sentiment was shared by one of the very first responding commenters to the "Richard" post who asked: "Where'd he get the mRNA vax? RU didn't use them." 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. Another responded that Navalny "was in Germany for a while," which could explain how he allegedly received Pfizer's mRNA injections as claimed. There are also wild claims that, while in Germany, Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, a nerve agent that nobody can survive, but this does not make any sense either as Navalny survived until returning to Russia. "If he was poisoned by Novichok, he would be dead long ago," someone else noted. "The fact that he made a miraculous recovery is suspicious." Others speculated that if, in fact, Navalny received four mRNA injections as claimed, this would point to the West and specifically the United States as being complicit in his mysterious and untimely death. "So if it turns out that the U.S. did, in fact, kill him as many thought, then what?" someone asked. "Navalny was a Nazi puppet of the corrupt West," another suggested, calling Navalny "not a hero." "He was a conman who defrauded a French company. Besides the COVID jab, he was a type 2 diabetic and did not take care of his health. His popularity among the Russian street: 3%." The Russian government's official claim about Navalny's death is that it is another example of "sudden death syndrome," meaning nobody really knows for sure how he died, supposedly. "When the lawyer and Alexei's mother arrived at the colony this morning, they were told that the cause of Navalny's death was sudden death syndrome," reported Ivan Zhdanov, director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Navalny's press secretary Kira Yarmysh told the Investigative Committee of Salekhard that the cause of death has not been established but that "it's obvious that they are lying and doing everything not to give up the body." Truth be told, the world will likely never know the full truth about Navalny's death and why it occurred because honesty is really hard to come by in 2024, no matter which "side" you find yourself on politically. "Navalny's death is being utilized to sell the narrative of starting war with Russia and killing Putin," someone else suggested. "Lack of conclusive evidence implicating the Russian government in Navalny's poisoning is noted." More related news can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com 1 NaturalNews.com Twitter.com 2 BEWARE: Financial advice columnist loses $50K of her savings to a SCAM involving conmen posing as FTC staffer and CIA agent A financial advice columnist for New York magazine fell victim to a scam and lost $50,000 of her savings. Charlotte Cowles, financial advice columnist for The Cut a website run by the magazine recounted this ordeal in a Feb. 15 op-ed. The ruse began when she received a phone call, allegedly from an Amazon customer service representative named Krista, informing her of "suspicious activity" on her account involving fraudulent purchases. Despite seeing no evidence of such purchases, Cowles was nevertheless concerned. Krista then transferred her to a certain Calvin Mitchell, allegedly from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Cowles gave her personal details to Mitchell, including the last four digits of her Social Security number, to establish legitimacy. In response, the alleged FTC staffer made up a story about her identity being used to rent cars found with drugs and used for various crimes, and being linked to properties involved in money laundering. Mitchell stressed the urgency and danger of the situation, telling the columnist that her family was being monitored and that she couldn't tell her husband or the authorities. He then referred her to a colleague of his, allegedly from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), named Michael Sarano. The fake CIA agent, who was part of the ruse, told Cowles that a federal investigation on her was underway. The scammers then instructed Cowles, who was already scared for her family, to withdraw $50,000 from the bank and turn it over to an agent also a co-conspirator. She put the money in a shoe box, taped it shut and waited for the agent to arrive in an SUV. Cowles then turned over the money to the agent when he arrived. 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 was only later that she realized: Krista, Mitchell, Sarano and the agent she gave the money to were scammers. Cowles isn't the first victim and certainly not the last "When I did tell friends what had happened, it seemed like everyone had a horror story," she wrote. "One friend's dad, a criminal defense attorney, had been scammed out of $1.2 million. Another person I know, a real estate developer, was duped into wiring $450,000 to someone posing as one of his contractors." Writing for the Western Journal, conservative book author Rachel Emmanuel pointed out that stories such as that of Cowles are increasingly becoming ubiquitous given the "increasingly digital world" of today. She continued: "Although people reading this story may think that they would never fall for a scam like this, internet scammers use human emotions like weakness, fear, shame and urgency to prey on thousands of Americans every year." Emmanuel also warned that with the rise of artificial intelligence, the number of Americans falling prey to scams "is only set to increase." She recounted the story of Jennifer DeStefano, who allegedly received a call from her 15-year-old daughter in April of last year saying she was kidnapped. The supposed kidnappers originally demanded $1 million but later lowered this ransom amount to $50,000 which she gave. But it later emerged that DeStefano's daughter wasn't actually in danger. She told senators during a June 2023 hearing that AI was used to simulate her daughter's voice. (Related: AI is making it much easier for cybercriminals to steal your life savings.) "The internet has become a hotbed of deceitful scammers ready to take advantage of unsuspecting victims," Emmanuel concluded. "While there's no magic shield or foolproof plan, understand the risks and always think before you click." Head over to Deception.news for more stories about scams targeting Americans. Watch Glenn Beck discuss Jennifer DeStefano's experience of being scammed by AI in the clip below. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: WARNING: AI-powered DEEPFAKE VOICE SCAMS are now coming for your bank balance. More than 376M SCAM messages sent daily to steal money, clone voices of Americans. Report: Bad bots TAKING OVER the internet with spam, cybercrime. DO NOT ANSWER: 12 Scam phone numbers to avoid. Online safety: How to avoid common internet scams. Sources include: WesternJournal.com TheCut.com Brighteon.com The man who profited from gain-of-function research went on to commandeer an authoritarian narrative and coordinate a censorship campaign to assist in the cover-up of SARS-CoV-2 origins Before the coronavirus pandemic made its way to America, a band of 27 scientists appeared to have everything figured out concerning the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Their consensus was published in the Lancet on February 19, 2020 In the letter, the scientists agreed that COVID-19 was a natural virus that crossed over from wildlife to humans. But they didnt simply promote their hypothesis, and they didnt have any plan to test its merit. Instead, they demanded that the rest of the scientific community agree with their suppositions. They condemned any further research or investigation into laboratory origins of SARS-CoV-2. They infamously wrote that they "strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin." Anyone who asked questions about the alleged causative agent and the unknowns surrounding a natural animal reservoir for the virus were considered spreaders of misinformation. The scientists in the letter condemned further questioning: "The rapid, open and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumours and misinformation around its origins." February 2020 Lancet letter, crafted by Daszak, formed the basis of censorship and coverup of COVID-19 origins That infamous Lancet letter became a narrative that was replayed over and over by the corporate media. On social media, any questions, dissent or evidence to the contrary was fact-checked and regarded as conspiracy theory. Scientists, doctors and various individuals were blacklisted, their concerns forbade in the realm of discussion. 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. No one was allowed to question the actions of Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) who approved grants for coronavirus gain-of-function research and oversaw the operations. No one was allowed to question Dr. Peter Daszak at Eco Health Alliance. This was the very organization that received NIH grants and off-shored gain-of-function experiments in China. These experiments included work on pathogens of pandemic potential research that was previously banned in the U.S. Scientists in the U.S. and China were supposedly enhancing the transmissibility and lethality of coronaviruses to develop countermeasures for future pandemics, which included mRNA experiments that transcribed their spike protein sequences into the cells of humans. Daszak tried to conceal his authoritarian role that assisted in the coverup of COVID-19 origins Thanks to the courageous work of the attorneys at U.S. Right to Know, we know that behind the scenes, these 27 scientists were being ordered to agree with this narrative that COVID-19 was of natural origin. At the helm of this coverup effort was a man named Dr. Peter Daszak the same guy who, for years, exploited U.S. moratoriums on gain-of-function research, and profited from this unethical field. If Dr. Daszak was behind gain-of-function research in China, why was he considered the ultimate authority on the origins of COVID-19 in the first place? He is a potential suspect in global crimes against humanity. However, he remains as a member of the World Health Organization s team of experts tracing the novel coronaviruss origins, and is part of the Lancet COVID 19 Commission. An investigation into Daszaks communications at the time reveals that he tried to coverup his own authoritarian role in pushing the Lancet propaganda and covering up the origins of SARS-CoV-2. In one of his emails, Daszak said he intended the Lancet letter to not be identifiable as coming from any one organization or person. Daszak wrote that he wanted to avoid the appearance of a political statement. In the investigation, many of the scientists who signed the Lancet letter considered masking their role in crafting and agreeing with the letter. In one of his emails, Daszak wrote that by leaving their names off the statement, it would give some distance from us and therefore doesnt work in a counterproductive way. To legitimize the coverup narrative, Daszak reached out to two colleagues Ralph Baric and Linfa Wang who are also suspects in gain-of-function research. Daszak told them about the Lancet letter, urging them to sign it, but in a way that conceals their identity. Well then put it out in a way that doesnt link it back to our collaboration so we maximize an independent voice, Daszak wrote. The architects behind these deadly global experiments must be brought into the light. The investigation is ongoing. Sources include: TheLancet.com USRTK.org 1 USRTK.org 2 USRTK.org 3 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training actually INCREASES prejudice, Canadian study finds Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training, which purportedly seeks to decrease prejudice, actually does the opposite Canadian social scientist David Haskell outlined this finding in a study with the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy released on Feb. 12. According to Haskell, an associate professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada's Ontario province, DEI training does more harm than good. "A growing number of high-profile cases suggest that diversity workshops and their supporting materials regularly promote questionable claims particularly about the overarching, malicious character of the majority population. Similarly, hostility toward those who challenge DEI claims is part of the pattern," he wrote. Haskell also wrote that the purported positive results of DEI training as questionable as its premise. A focus on "implicit bias, White privilege and micro-aggressions" often the central tenets of such trainings do not foster harmony, he continued. "To 'prove' the effectiveness of DEI instruction, proponents often point to surveys conducted before and after workshops that show, following training, [that] participants are much more likely to articulate answers that align with the pro-DEI ideas. This type of methodology has drawn criticism and has proven to be unreliable." Haskell ultimately concluded his paper: "DEI instruction has been shown to increase prejudice and activate bigotry among participants by bringing existing stereotypes to the top of their minds or by implanting new biases they had not previously held." (Related: DEI captures the University of Florida.) 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. He added that DEI training can create a sense of "isolation and demoralization" in people belonging to the "dominant" culture because they are depicted as "fundamentally depraved." In contrast, other groups are depicted as "as important and worthwhile." Haskell: DEI training being WEAPONIZED to destroy the country In his study, Haskell cited the example of the late Richard Bilkszto. The 60-year-old Toronto District School Board who challenged DEI claims took his own life in July of last year. Bilkszto's lawyer Lisa Bildy suggested that harassment he received following DEI training in 2021 directly contributed to his death, with a ruling by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board confirming that the principal had indeed been the subject of "workplace harassment and bullying." Aside from individuals speaking out against DEI, Asians are often the targets of these trainings. Haskell attributed this success of Asians in the West to high rates of tw0-parent families and emphasis on hard work, higher education and personal responsibility. But because this Asian success challenges DEI doctrines of White dominance and privilege, Asians are instead lumped alongside Whites. "White was the catch-all term for oppressor," he told the Epoch Times in an interview. "And so the better you do, the more oppressive you are." Haskell continued that the Black Lives Matter riots following the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 "opened the spigot larger than ever before on DEI spending." Despite this, he expressed hope that his analysis will empower business, government, post-secondary institutions, and public schools to reverse course. He also mentioned that DEI trainers may sincerely believe they are doing good work something they are well-paid to do in spite of his study's findings. However, the social scientist believes that proponents at the highest level use DEI instruction "to destroy the existing society." Visit Brainwashed.news for more stories about DEI trainings. Watch Martin Brodel discuss how DEI workers are being included in corporate layoffs in the clip below. This video is from the Martin Brodel channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Leaaked video call reveals Big Pharmas RACIST hiring practices. The Berkeley Files: Faculty applicants were ranked on their support for DEI policies and practices. IDIOCRACY IS HERE: Woke FAA now hiring workers with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities in new DEI program. IBM sued for racist CEOs obviously illegal hiring practices whites and Asians need not apply. Berkeley Files show that faculty applicants were ranked not on merit but on support for racist DEI policies and practices. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com AristotleFoundation.org Brighteon.com Former Puerto Rico mayor caught on camera for bribery sentenced to 5 years behind bars A former mayor of a Puerto Rico city whose bribery was caught on camera has been sentenced to five years in jail Angel Perez Otero the erstwhile mayor of the city of Guaynabo from 2017 to 2021 had previously been found guilty of conspiracy and bribery by a 12-member jury back in March of 2023. He was accused of awarding contract and expediting invoice payments while getting kickbacks of thousands of dollars. Otero's prison sentence of five years and three months, alongside a punishment of 160 hours of community service, was handed down on Feb. 12. The former mayor's sentencing was part of an ongoing federal crackdown on government corruption in the U.S. territory. Otero is not alone, however as several former mayors have been sentenced in federal bribery cases in recent years. These include the former mayors of the towns of Rincon, Guayama, Humacao, Aguas Buenas and Trujillo Alto. (Related: Explosive revelation: Fani Willis linked to massive election fraud and money laundering RICO enterprise.) The Department of Justice (DOJ) wrote about the scheme in a March 2023 statement. Citing court documents and evidence, the DOJ recounted that the 52-year-old Otero "was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which, from approximately late 2019 through May 2021, he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes on a regular basis from the owner of a construction company." "In exchange for these payments, Otero agreed to obtain and retain contracts for the company and ensured that its invoices were promptly paid," the DOJ 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. Otero was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in December 2021. His arrest followed the collaboration between Colombian businessman Oscar Santamaria and former Catano Mayor Felix Delgado Montalvo to disclose the bribery scheme, according to the San Juan Daily Star. Otero's bribery caught on camera for the world to see The Daily Star added that Otero faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the extortion charge and 10 years for the bribery charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Attorneys for the former mayor have expressed plans to appeal the sentence. According to court filings, Otero received about $5,000 a month from the end of 2018 to August 2021 from Santamaria in exchange for contracts for the company Island Builders. To back up this claim, federal prosecutors also revealed images in which the Colombian businessman gave the bribe money to Otero. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case with DOJ Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the bureau's San Juan Field Office making the announcement. U.S. District Judge Aida Delgado Colon heard Otero's case. Trial Attorney Nicholas Cannon of the DOJ Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Myriam Fernandez-Gonzalez are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Scott H. Anderson assisted in the investigation. This case is part of the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matter, the Public Integrity Section under the DOJ's Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts. Visit Corruption.news for more stories like this. Watch this video of Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante being accused of misappropriating funds diverted from police defunding. This video is from the Hans Trooper channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Corruption at the highest level: Joe Biden involved in bribery scheme with a foreign national, whistleblower alleges; questions first raised in 2018. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife charged with BRIBERY. CNN Poll: Joe Bidens favorability rating drops to lowest point yet amid bribery allegations. How deep runs the corruption? America Unhinged: Dr. John Diamond and Peter Flaherty discuss CORRUPTION in government, corporate America Brighteon.TV. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com ABCNews.go.com Justice.gov SanJuanDailyStar.com Brighteon.com Gov. Hochul admits NY courts SINGLED OUT TRUMP for prosecution, desperately warns other real estate developers it wont happen to them to prevent them from LEAVING The recent New York ruling against Donald Trump that resulted in a $355 million fine for real estate development crimes has scared many other real estate developers in similar situations. In an attempt to keep them from fleeing the state in fear, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) issued a statement informing them that the ruling is specific to Trump and will not affect them at all. In an interview, Hochul explained that there is "nothing to worry about" in terms of any other real estate developments involved in similar schemes being hit with a massive fine as the ruling against Trump was strictly political. Hochul appeared on "The Cats Roundtable" on WABC 770 AM with John Catsimatidis, who asked her if other New York businessmen involved in shady real estate dealings should worry because 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 they're very different than Donald Trump and his behavior," Hochul reassured Catsimatidis' listeners. (Related: Another thing Hochul wants to do is ban gas stoves in New York.) Every NY business owner except Trump is honest, Hochul says In case you missed it, a New York judge ruled that Trump must pay more than a quarter of a billion dollars in penalties in a civil fraud case concerning his inflating and deflating of his real estate development portfolio. In short, Trump was found guilty of altering his net worth in order to receive tax and insurance benefits. 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. Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump, the Trump Organization and various top executives at Trump's businesses, including his sons, must all be held liable for fraud in the matter. "You do not want me as governor to be telling judges that I'm going to overrule their decisions. We need a clear separation of powers," Hochul said, indicating that she has no plans to overrule Engoron's decision. "That's what was envisioned by our Founding Fathers." Concerning the rest of New York's business sector, Hochul emphasized that they need not worry because the prosecution is strictly for Trump and his businesses and associates. "By and large, they are honest people and they're not trying to hide their assets and they're following the rules," Hochul declared. "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 don't have that level of interference." Other matters Hochul discussed during the interview include her personal vendetta against riders of e-bikes, scooters and cyclists, whom she plans to punish so "you're not going to get hit by one of these errant scooters or cyclists." "What she's really saying is reassuring other business owners that they don't have to worry because this was selective prosecution of a political opponent, not standard procedure," wrote a commenter on a news story about Hochul's statements concerning the Trump case and its implications for other New York business owners. "100%," responded another. "Letitia James (New York's attorney general) quite literally campaigned on 'getting Trump.' Hopefully more businesses flee the state and conservative tourist dollars go elsewhere, as well." "Trump for years did business in NYS with no problem and owned some of the biggest buildings in NYC and never had a problem," wrote another. "These people are targeting him. Selective prosecution." The latest news about Trump's re-run for president in 2024 can be found at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: TheHill.com NaturalNews.com NYPost.com ABSURD: Bidens ICE claims it has no choice but to release thousands of detained illegals because House Republicans blocked much-needed funding for detention centers President Joe Biden and his administration will find ways to make sure America is flooded with illegals while he is seated in the White House even after Republicans blocked the border bill his regime is pushing in Congress. A bombshell report released on Feb. 14 indicated that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is getting ready to implement its contingency plan for the mass release of 4,000 to 6,000 illegal immigrants. The reason? According to four officials at ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who spoke to the Washington Post, they would need to cut detainee holding capacity because of the $700 million budget shortfall, which allegedly would have been funded under the $95 billion foreign aid package. The said bill was blocked by House Republicans because they believe it would not address the border crisis and would just fund wars in Europe and the Middle East. DHS spokesperson Erin Heeter released a statement saying that "Congress rejected the bipartisan national security bill out of hand, which will put at risk DHS's current removal operations, put further strain on our already overtaxed workforce, and make it harder to catch fentanyl at ports of entry." As per Heeter, roughly half of the $8.5 billion annual budget of ICE is devoted exclusively to detentions. WaPo further reported that the said bill would have provided $6 billion in funding that would allow ICE under Biden's policies to continue housing illegal immigrants at detention centers throughout the nation. "The bill's demise has led ICE officials to begin circulating an internal proposal to save money by releasing thousands of detainees and cutting detention levels from 38,000 beds to 22,000, which is the opposite of the enforcement increases Republicans say they want," the news outlet added. 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. Meanwhile, Biden has repeatedly implored Congress to give him more resources to deal with the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and he has been blaming the Republicans for not doing more. "Giving up on real solutions right when they are needed most in order to play politics is not what the American people expect from their leaders. Congress needs to act to give me, Secretary Mayorkas, and my administration the tools and resources needed to address the situation at the border," Biden said in a statement on Tuesday, blasting the House GOP for Mayorkas' impeachment. (Related: DHS Secretary Mayorkas: Biden administration releasing over 85% of illegal immigrants directly into America.) ICE detains immigrants with criminal backgrounds, those preparing for removal and those who fall under mandatory detention. Republicans outraged by Biden's migrant crisis tactics House GOPs were angered by the planned move. House Homeland Security Committee chairman Mark Green (R-TN) called it absurd on several levels. "This is just further proof of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas refusal to comply with the law requiring him to detain illegal aliens one of the reasons he was just impeached," he said, adding that Mayorkas has consistently requested fewer ICE beds year after year and always failed to fill the beds that Congress has allocated. "Instead of treating enforcement as a hostage negotiation 'give us more money or else' Secretary Mayorkas should just do his job and follow the law," he also said. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) posted on X to express her outrage: "Biden is now holding our country hostage, threatening to release MS-13 gang members and known rapists & murderers into our communities unless Congress grants "asylum" amnesty to the 10 million illegals he allowed to walk across our border AND gives another $60 billion to [Ukraine]." Biden is now holding our country hostage, threatening to release MS-13 gang members and known rapists & murderers into our communities unless Congress grants "asylum" amnesty to the 10 million illegals he allowed to walk across our border AND gives another $60 billion to ??. pic.twitter.com/wwGSgSUy4n Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) February 8, 2024 Observers have also been very critical of Biden's "weak" border policies. A January poll conducted by CBS, the BBC's U.S. partner, suggested that nearly half of Americans view the situation at the border as a crisis, with 63 percent wanting "tougher" policies. More migrants have been held while crossing the border illegally since Biden assumed office than under either former presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama or George W Bush. Of the more than 6.3 million total, about 2.4 million have been allowed into the U.S., mostly to await decisions from immigration courts. Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories on how the Biden regime has been working on flooding America with illegals and criminals. Sources for this article include: LawEnforcementToday.com WashingtonPost.com BBC.com 12 Jeffrey Epstein victims file lawsuit against FBI over its failure to investigate complaints lodged against the pedophile as early as 1996 A group of 12 victims of the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), accusing the agency of inadequately investigating the notorious sex offender. The plaintiffs claim that over two decades, the FBI failed to act on reports about Epstein's activities, resulting in the victims being subjected to trafficking, abuse, rape, torture and threats. (Related: PEDO BLACKMAIL: Biden regime HIDING EVIDENCE implicating Jeffrey Epstein, intelligence agencies in CHILD ABUSE activities.) The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in New York by 12 women identified as anonymous Jane Does, alleges that the FBI allowed Epstein to sex traffic and sexually abuse children and young women by neglecting its responsibilities. The complaint seeks to unravel the FBI's role in Epstein's criminal sex trafficking ring. This lawsuit comes following the unearthing of evidence strongly indicating that Epstein's pedophilia and sex trafficking crimes were being conducted decades before his final incarceration and supposed suicide. "For over two decades, the [FBI] permitted Jeffrey Epstein to sex traffic and sexually abuse scores of children and young women by failing to do the job the American people expected of it," the complaint alleges. "As a result of the continued failures of the FBI, Jane Does 1-12 bring the lawsuit to get to the bottom once and for all of the FBI's role in Epstein's criminal sex trafficking ring." FBI ignored Epstein victims who spoke out for decades According to the lawsuit, the FBI received tips, reports and complaints about Epstein's alleged trafficking and abuse of minors starting in 1996 but did not initiate a case or share the information with other law enforcement agencies until 2006. 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. This was two years before Epstein pleaded guilty to a child prostitution charge in Florida under a controversial plea deal, which saw him register as a sex offender and serve 13 months on supervised release. Despite Epstein's conviction and the multitude of other sex trafficking charges he evaded, the FBI allegedly continued to disregard tips over the next decade. The lawsuit claims that the FBI's negligence directly contributed to the ongoing sex trafficking, abuse, rape, torture and threats against the plaintiffs. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of trafficking dozens of minors and died in a Manhattan jail cell awaiting trial, officially ruled as suicide. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking in 2022. Testimonies from victims revealed that Epstein and Maxwell recruited girls to perform sexual acts on themselves and associates, instructing them to recruit additional victims. Among those accused of abusing the girls was Britain's Prince Andrew, who settled out of court with an accuser in 2022. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit seek unspecified compensation and damages from the U.S. government. The FBI has faced accusations of negligence in handling the Epstein case, prompting an internal investigation promised by agency Director Christopher Wray during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last December. Learn more about the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein at Epstein.news. Watch this video from InfoWars discussing the many notable personalities and influential figures whose names appeared on the Epstein list. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Jeffrey Epstein's "suicide" likely a cover-up, internal prison files show. Why did the U.S. State Department lease an upscale New York City apartment to disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein? Calls increase for investigation against Britain's Prince Andrew after new details emerge surrounding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. New Jeffrey Epstein documents prove that Trump DID NOT visit Epstein home or island. How many U.S. Congressmen are guilty of Epstein-style PEDO CRIMES? General Mike Flynn states there are many, and they are bent over a barrel by globalist actors. Sources include: RT.com Bloomberg.com Brighteon.com Russian foreign minister slams Wests impunity on its criminal biological experiments For Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the West will never disclose the truth about its criminal biological experiments as he slammed its impunity which violates many international agreements, including conventions on human rights and biological and chemical safety. "The impunity with which Westerners conduct biological experiments on humans is outrageous, Lavrov said at the plenary session of the forum of supporters for the fight against modern practices of neocolonialism For the Freedom of Nations. He added that as per the latest information from the Russian Defense Ministry, which has been confirmed by investigative journalists, in the city of Mariupol, "Once controlled by the Kyiv regime, large European and U.S. companies conducted experiments on children and adults for meager rewards, using drugs that almost completely suppress the immune system and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. The tests were focused on the spread of disease and epidemics among members of the Slavic race," he pointed out. He also stated that the collected materials were sent to European laboratories, whose fate remains unknown. He reiterated that the Western countries "will never disclose to the world community the facts exposing its criminal biological experiments." Lavrov also noted that the West's impunity violated many international agreements, including conventions on human rights and biological and chemical safety. "There is utter contempt of international law, let alone human lives," he concluded. During the said speech, the Russian minister also touched on the West's attitude towards the global majority and proceeded to cite examples such as the budget on green deals. "In 2010, developing countries were promised $100 billion annually for 10 years as climate finance. However, the West was in no hurry to fulfill its obligations, allocating just crumbs from the promised funds. In 2015, the pledge of $100 billion per year for 10 years was reiterated in Paris but nothing changed," he said. 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. He also linked these efforts to the funding of wars such as in Ukraine. He said that the climate agenda was brought into play to gain market advantages over weaker countries. "By outsourcing 'dirty' production facilities to other countries, Western supporters of climate justice are imposing additional costs on Southern nations and pressuring them to buy costly green technologies from the West," he said, saying that the money that was pledged for development is being spent on supplying weapons to the Kyiv regime and other military ventures. Another example was the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine distribution during the peak of the pandemic, Lavrov reminded his audience that the West secured the majority of scarce vaccines, leaving the impoverished and vulnerable to fend for themselves. At the same time, he said, international bodies controlled by the West, deliberately delayed the certification of the Russian Sputnik vaccine, which could have saved millions of lives in developing countries. "Western vaccines were certified in Europe almost immediately, bypassing standard procedures. But nobody was held accountable for any serious side effects resulting from these vaccines," he also emphasized. (Related: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accuses West of sowing chaos globally to advance interests.) Russia's Lavrov lands in Caracas to discuss with the Venezuelan president the strategic partnership between the two nations The Russian foreign minister arrived in Caracas for an official visit to the Bolivarian nation on Tuesday, Feb. 20. He is set to meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and Foreign Minister Yvan Gil to discuss key issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena, as well as analyze the global and regional landscape. "Venezuela is a strategic partner and ally of Russia. Bilateral relations, based on strong ties of friendship and solidarity, are thriving and actively developing in all crucial areas," Lavrov said in a statement. "Russia will continue to provide comprehensive support to the Venezuelan government and people in defending their national sovereignty and the right to choose their own development path." A day before, Lavrov visited Cuba, where he met with President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez. Following the Venezuela visit, the foreign affairs minister will head over to Brazil to participate in a ministerial meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20). ? #Zakharova: ? On February 16, FM Sergey #Lavrov will attend the 'Forum of supporters against modern neocolonial practices'. ?? February 19 - visit to Cuba ?? February 20 - visit to Venezuela ?? February 21-22 - #G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Rio de Janeiro. pic.twitter.com/4uQaYlxWQi MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) February 14, 2024 Head over to Overlords.news to read more stories on the West trying to dominate the world. Sources for this article include: Tass.com Mid.ru TelesurEnglish.net Brazilian President Lula compares Israels war against Gaza to the Holocaust Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has compared Israel's war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to Nazi Germany's Holocaust of Jews in the 1940s. The Brazilian leader made this comparison during a Feb. 18 summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Lula was asked about his thoughts on the suspension of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which led to his answer. "What is happening in the Gaza Strip, to the Palestinian people, does not exist in any other historical period," he told reporters. "In fact, it happened when [Adolf] Hitler decided to kill the Jews." "It's not a war between soldiers. It's a war between a highly prepared army against women and children. What is the size of these people's hearts, who are not seeing that what is happening in the Gaza Strip is not a war it's a genocide." Lula also rebuked several Western countries who decided to halt aid to the UNRWA. The move followed Israel accusing some employees of the UN agency of being involved and participating in the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October of last year. In response, the Brazilian president said his country will increase its contribution to the UNRWA and urged other nations to follow suit. (Related: UN official warns of "inevitable" famine with countries pausing UNRWA funding.) "When I see the rich world announce that its halting its contributions to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, I just imagine how big these peoples political awareness is and how big the spirit of solidarity in their hearts is," he said. "We need to stop being small when we need to be big." 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. A day before making the comparison, Lula met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Feb. 17 on the sidelines of the African Union summit. He reiterated his call for a two-state solution to the conflict, with Palestine "definitively recognized as a full and sovereign state." Lula is now PERSONA NON GRATA in Israel Israeli officials did not take too kindly to the remarks of the Brazilian president, who assumed the position in 2022 after winning against his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Lula's comments as "disgraceful and grave." He said in a statement: "This is a trivialization of the Holocaust, and an attempt to attack the Jewish people and the right of Israel to self-defense. Drawing comparisons between Israel and the Nazis and Hitler is to cross a red line." Netanyahu also rejected Lula's calls for a "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state. Doing so, the Israeli leader argued, would be a "massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism." Netanyahu also dubbed Tel Aviv's military offensive in Gaza as "the battle of civilization against barbarism" and reiterated his goal of "total victory" against Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz aired out his condemnation on the X platform. "No one will compromise Israel's right to defend itself," he wrote. Katz then shared in a separate post that he summoned the Brazilian ambassador to Israel for a reprimand. "We will not forget nor forgive; 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 [his remarks] back," Katz said. Celso Amorim, chief advisor to Lula, reacted to Katz's admonishment of the Brazilian ambassador. Amorim reportedly said declaring Lula persona non grata is "absurd." Visit Genocide.news for more stories about Israel's genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Watch this clip of Lula comparing Israel's genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza to the Holocaust. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: More calls for GENOCIDE: Israeli President Isaac Herzog says civilians living in Gaza are LEGITIMATE TARGETS. ICJ finds plausible genocide case against Israel, suggests military operation in Gaza is not "self-defense." Turkey files lawsuit against Netanyahu, accusing him and Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza. Colombia threatening to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over "neo-Nazi" GENOCIDE in Gaza. South Africa files GENOCIDE case against Israel: here's what you need to know. Sources include: AlJazeera.com 1 AlJazeera.com 2 RT.com Brighteon.com TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 22. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin discussed Trans-Afghan Railway project, Trend reports. The leaders met during Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyevs visit to Kazan (Russia) on February 21. At the beginning of the conversation, president of Uzbekistan sincerely congratulated the president of Russia on holding the first international "Games of the Future" combining traditional and cyber sports. They discussed topical matters on the bilateral agenda, including the practical implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level in Moscow on October 5-7 last year. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the consistent strengthening of Uzbek-Russian relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance. The fruitful outcomes of the meetings of the intergovernmental commission, interregional, educational and medical forums, a number of other business and cultural events held in 2023 have been highly appreciated. Furthermore, positive dynamics in trade turnover has been maintained. Projects in industry, energy, transportation, chemistry, pharmaceuticals and other sectors are in the active phase of implementation. Both countries pay special attention to stimulating cooperation ties between the regions. Khimgrad industrial technoparks are successfully operating in Tashkent and Jizzakh regions. Alabuga and Master innovation parks are being created in Bukhara and Navoi regions. The leaders discussed the mutual development of efficient transport corridors, deepening cooperation in the field of railway transportation. They also exchanged views on the regional agenda and reviewed the schedule of upcoming international events. More and more U.S. hospitals are bringing back mask mandates Despite several studies proving that they are ineffective, more and more hospitals across the U.S. are bringing back mask mandates , claiming that the measures are necessary because of an increase in Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza cases. In January, New York City once again began enforcing a mask mandate for the city's 11 public hospitals and at least 30 other health centers and five long-term care facilities. Similar measures were also ordered at some hospitals in other locations. These other hospitals have reinforced masking rules for employees months ago as they anticipated a seasonal rush of sick people. On Jan. 3, the New York City Health Department confirmed that the mask requirement applies to all 11 hospitals that fall under New York City's Health and Hospitals division. (Related: COVID-19 mask mandates RETURN in U.S. hospitals amid spread of JN.1 variant.) Due to reported increases in respiratory viruses, a spokesperson said the mandate "applies to clinical settings such as our hospitals, community health centers and nursing homes." On Jan. 2, the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago announced that all patients, visitors and staff must wear "hospital-approved masks in some areas of the campus." The places also included clinical waiting areas and patient registration. Cook County Health, the health department that encompasses Chicago, along with the Endeavor Health Medical Group of Illinois, are also requiring face masks at their facilities. Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Public Health has also sent hospitals a letter suggesting they reimpose masking. 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. In a statement, Berkshire Health Systems in Massachusetts confirmed that it started mandatory masking earlier. Los Angeles County has also reinstated masking at all licensed healthcare facilities. The county explained that masking was implemented because its COVID-19 admission level has "reached a certain threshold in recent days." Hospitals started reimposing mask mandates late last year Hospitals in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Washington state have imposed similar mask requirements, according to reports. Last Dec. 28, TidalHealth in Delaware announced that it will be requiring masks for all hospital visitors in patients' rooms. The hospital claimed that it enforced the rule to "protect the most vulnerable" of the population from close contact with others who may be contagious but have not yet shown any symptoms. Several California counties across the Bay Area already imposed mask mandates for staff late in 2023. The order started in November and will continue until the end of spring because of a "predicted rise in respiratory illnesses," announced officials. While talking to reporters, Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced that the agency has observed an acceleration in flu cases in the first week of January. Cohen added that while the current influenza strain spreads rapidly, it doesn't cause as many hospitalizations or deaths as previous variants. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases researcher at Vanderbilt University, thinks that the cases won't be overwhelming and that the current season is "moderately severe." However, historical CDC trends suggest that the current increase in COVID-19 cases is nothing like the reported "surges" that occurred during the pandemic years of 2020, 2021 and 2022. According to the CDC data for the week ending Dec. 23, 2023, there were about 29,000 hospitalizations across the United States. Meanwhile, for the week ending a year before that, on Dec. 24, there were an estimated 39,000 hospitalizations. In another update, the CDC also reported that there were more than 14,700 flu hospitalizations in that same period last month. Visit Pandemic.news for more stories about restrictive and ineffective health measures. Watch the video below for more information about the return of COVID-19 mask mandates in hospitals across the U.S. This video is from the Diane Sosen channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: New Jersey hospitals bring back MASK MANDATES despite DECLINE in COVID-19 hospitalizations. BMJ review reveals mask mandates in schools harm children and dont prevent infections. Faucis replacement, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, also loves lockdowns, medical fraud, mask mandates and forced vaccinations. Florida surgeon general tells Americans to NOT cooperate with mask mandates. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ABCNews.go.com Brighteon.com D.C. medical examiner will keep the remains of aborted babies recovered from abortion clinic, leaving open possibility of investigation and charges The Washington, D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has confirmed its decision to not immediately dispose of the bodies of five late-term aborted babies recovered from an abortion clinic in the district following pressure from conservative lawmakers and pro-life advocates. This abortion scandal first came to light in early 2022 after five sets of "human fetal remains" were recovered in a home in the district following a raid. This scandal has gained renewed attention following the decision of Thomas More Society lawyer Martin Cannon to send a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) after he got a call from the OCME that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had advised it "that there is no reason to keep those babies anymore." "If law enforcement will not investigate where probable cause raises a serious possibility of a federal crime in Washington, D.C., it seems the investigation falls on Congress itself," Cannon wrote. (Related: Indiana doctor slammed for tweet celebrating abortion.) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, wrote a letter addressed to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Chief Medical Examiner Francisco Diaz and Chief of the Metropolitan Police Pamela Smith the next day. He "demanded in the strongest possible terms" that the OCME refrain from disposing of the bodies of the five aborted babies. Cruz, along with Representatives Chip Roy, Andy Biggs and Pat Fallon, led the call to stop the OCME from disposing of the remains. According to the email exchange between the OCME and the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which has been actively working to prevent the disposal of the baby remains, the bodies would not be disposed of on Feb. 9. The ACLJ, which represents clients including the Rev. Patrick Mahoney and his wife, Katie Mahoney, had informed D.C. officials of their intention to file an emergency writ of mandamus to ensure the proper burial of the aborted babies. 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. "We are pleased that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner acknowledged our clients' statutorily vested right, along with others, under 3-413 as a volunteer next of kin for the purposes of burying these babies," said the ACLJ. "We are confident now that the statutory duty to not cremate these bodies has been triggered and we appreciate OCMEs expedient response to our application for the Mahoneys. As the situation continues to evolve, we stand ready to take any legal action necessary." "We were successful in preventing [the DOJ] and D.C. from destroying the evidence of potential crimes and from simultaneously blocking the honoring of these young lives with a proper burial. The D.C. government also indicated to us that they will respond to Congress demands. We continue to hope that D.C. will in fact conduct a formal investigation into these babies deaths," ACLJ stated. Pro-life activists will use "the D.C. five" remains as evidence against charges from the DOJ The babies, referred to as "the D.C. five," were allegedly aborted at Washington Surgi-Clinic by abortionist Cesare Santangelo. Pro-life activists Lauren Handy and Terrisa Bukovinac recovered the box of fetal remains, which included over 100 mutilated bodies of first-trimester babies, in March 2022 from the abortion clinic. The remains have been in the possession of the OCME for nearly two years. The abortions may have violated federal laws such as the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act or the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act. Handy, who faces charges of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, is now relying on these babies' remains as crucial evidence in her defense against the charges from the DOJ. Cruz weighed in on the controversy and warned that anyone involved in destroying evidence could be subpoenaed for a committee hearing. "The D.C. Medical Examiner's office does well to not destroy evidence. In case the office later gets cold feet and starts thinking about destroying evidence, heres a free reminder: every person involved will be subpoenaed for a very unpleasant conversation at a committee hearing," he said. Meanwhile, Emily Erin Davis, VP of Communications for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized the Biden administration's reluctance to investigate the potential federal abortion crime. So, she urged Congress to intervene. "We call on Congress to step in now. The D.C. Five babies may have been unwanted, but they are not unworthy of investigation. The very same politicians that pretend to champion women and human rights are silent as mangled victims of their limitless abortion policies are thrust before their very eyes. The speak no, hear no and see no evil approach is being fully deployed against our most vulnerable members of society. Members of Congress with [the] agency must stand up and demand an investigation." Head over to Abortions.news for similar stories. Watch this video about a twisted abortion clinic worker encouraging a mother to simply "flush her baby down the toilet." This video is from the War Room channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NO TO ABORTION TRAFFICKING: Lubbock County Commissioners Court approves anti-abortion transport ban. Report: 76 Christian universities promoting ABORTION and Planned Parenthood. Truly EVIL: U.K. high court BANS PRAYERS near abortion clinics. NBCs Kristen Welker lied repeatedly about Democrats extreme abortion position. Womens magazine gives detailed instructions for carrying out satanic abortion ritual. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com TheGuardian.com TheDailySignal.com Brighteon.com Palestines representatives call for end to Israeli occupation at ICJ hearings Representatives of Palestine have presented their case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories and condemning Israel's system of apartheid Led by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki and United Nations (UN) envoy Riyad Mansour, along with legal and academic experts, the hearings in The Hague will continue until Feb. 26. This legal action is distinct from the ongoing South Africa-Israel genocide case and specifically focuses on the legal consequences of Israel's decades-long occupation. (Related: Palestinian rights group seeks prosecution of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau for complicity in Gaza war crimes.) The UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution in December 2022, with 87 votes in favor, urging the ICJ to provide an advisory opinion on Israel's 57-year occupation of Palestinian territories. The resolution received 26 votes against, including one from the United States. The current proceedings are part of this request. Key questions addressed during the hearings include the legal consequences of Israel's ongoing occupation, settlement activities and annexation of the Palestinian territories. The ICJ is examining how these policies impact the legal status of the occupation and its consequences for all states, not just Israel. Mansour passionately called for accountability, asserting that Israel must face the consequences of its actions that violate international law. He tearfully expressed how international law had failed to protect Palestinian children and urged the court to confirm the illegal nature of Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. 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. Representatives from Palestine, including legal expert Namira Negm, provided detailed arguments on how Israel's policies and practices amount to apartheid in the occupied territories. Amnesty International: Israel needs to end its "brutal" occupation of Palestinian territories Amnesty International also issued a statement on the matter, emphasizing the need for Israel to end its "brutal" occupation to prevent further apartheid and human rights violations. Amnesty International is a global movement that presses governments to ratify and abide by international human rights treaties, and to strengthen international human rights standards. Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, highlighted that the ICJ is not questioning whether the Palestinian territories are occupied, as that has already been determined by UN Security Council resolutions. Instead, the focus is on whether Israel intends to turn the prolonged occupation into de facto annexation. Muhammed Dahleh, a Palestinian lawyer, underscored the significance of these hearings in using international law to address the Israeli occupation. The advisory opinion from the ICJ may provide a legal basis for countries worldwide to engage with the Israeli occupation differently. The hearings are expected to conclude on Feb. 26, after which the judges will deliberate before issuing an advisory opinion. This marks the second time the ICJ has been asked for an advisory opinion related to the occupied Palestinian territory, following a 2004 ruling against Israel's separation wall in the West Bank. Israel, not participating in the current hearings, vehemently criticized the 2022 UN request, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it "despicable" and "disgraceful." The ICJ hearing faced immediate condemnation from Israel's Foreign Ministry and Netanyahu's office, which discredited the legitimacy of the proceedings. They alleged that the hearings were intended to undermine Israel's right to defend itself against existential threats and aimed to dictate diplomatic outcomes without engaging in negotiations. In a concise statement issued to the ICJ last year in response to the proceedings, Israel emphasized the breakdown of previous political efforts to resolve the conflict. Citing remarks from former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Israel accused the Palestinians of failing to reach an agreement with Israel, hindering the end of Israeli rule in the territories. On Sunday, Feb. 18, the Israeli government unanimously supported a declaration that rejects a purported U.S.-led proposal to establish a definite timeline for recognizing a Palestinian state. The government argued that such a move would constitute a significant reward for the terrorist massacre that occurred in southern Israel four months ago. Palestinian human rights activist says Israel has destroyed Gaza. Watch this video. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israeli forces face not only Hamas but other Palestinian factions. Gaza's dwindling Palestinian Christian community could be COMPLETELY WIPED OUT by Israeli attacks. Israel's indiscriminate bombings of Palestinian civilians causing rapid deterioration of West's support, Biden warns. Sources include: Aljazeera.com TimeofIsrael.com Brighteon.com Neo-Nazi Blood Tribe group that SUPPORTS BIDEN marches through downtown Nashville with swastika flags A neo-Nazi organization called Blood Tribe that was seen marching through the streets of downtown Nashville the other day is led by a guy who supports Joe Biden over Donald Trump because Biden "sends rockets to Ukraine." Former marine Christopher Pohlhaus, who supports Ukraine, founded Blood Tribe in 2020. He and his comrades were seen stomping through Nashville chanting "Heil Ukraine!" as the war with Russia continues. "My vote is useless," Pohlhaus told a reporter last summer in Florida. "I think Biden's better than Trump 'cause he sends rockets to Ukraine." NEW: Blood Tribe, a neo-Nazi group, marches through downtown Nashville, Tennessee with swastika flags. The group was founded in 2020 by Christopher Pohlhaus, a former Marine. While speaking to a reporter over the summer in Florida, Pohlhaus in said he supports Biden over Trump pic.twitter.com/T8lrCGBMTi Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 17, 2024 (Related: Leaked documents revealed that the FBI funded the Ukrainian neo-Nazi "Azov Battalion" that orchestrated the Charlottesville false flag incident to stoke racial division in America and destabilize the West.) Is Blood Tribe a deep state spook operation? Like many such neo-Nazi brigades, Blood Tribe has many markings of being some kind of deep state operation, possibly created and led by the FBI or some other three-letter agency like it. On X, many who watched the above video pointed out that Blood Tribe is more than likely an operation of the Feds, and not some grassroots thing put together by random civilians. 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. Check out the video below to hear for yourself who these guys support in the 2024 election (hint: it's Biden): A bunch of Joe Biden supporters yet again. He attracts all the extremists. https://t.co/2V9wDb4tWQ Joshua Walker (@RedsRepair95) February 17, 2024 "The fact that there are no heavyset or overweight men is flat out proof that these are just federal agents dressed up to push an agenda," an X user noted. "Probably a distraction from political opponents being attacked all around the globe." Another interesting little tidbit is that Blood Tribe marchers left Nashville in a U-Haul box truck, which is the same thing that happened in North Idaho with Patriot Front after its members protested an LGBT Pride event. The Blood Tribe members in Nashville had similar face coverings as well to keep their true identities hidden and many of them live far away from Nashville as demonstrated by the fact that the U-Haul truck they escaped in "ultimately exited greater Nashville," according to NBC News. "Some persons on Broadway challenged the group, most of whom wore face coverings," Nashville police said in a statement. "The group headed to a U-Haul box truck, got in, and departed Davidson County." Democrats were quick to blame Republicans for Blood Tribe's presence in Nashville, failing to recognize that its leader is actually a Biden supporter. They support Biden and racism is all they care about just like the left. Joe with a KKK recruiter. He did his eulogy literally. pic.twitter.com/t1ib7TDuXX Aaron Roachino (@ARoachino) February 18, 2024 They support Biden and racism is all they care about just like the left. Joe with a KKK recruiter. He did his eulogy literally. pic.twitter.com/t1ib7TDuXX Aaron Roachino (@ARoachino) February 18, 2024 "The left whipped up a ton of anti-white sentiment and now they got the feds in the streets trying to get whites to retaliate," speculated someone else on X about what the purpose of staging this Blood Tribe march might really have been aiming to accomplish. What do you think about Blood Tribe, Patriot Front and other so-called "white supremacist" groups? Are they fed operations in disguise? More related news can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com NBCNews.com IdahoCapitalSun.com War on Gaza: Some of the prominent Palestinian academics and scientists killed by Israel After more than 130 days of war on Gaza, many of the coastal enclave's universities and educational institutions lie in ruins. (Article by Nadda Osman republished from MiddleEastEye.net) At least 28,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the war on 7 October and around 70 percent of the Strips buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Palestine has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, but the war on Gaza has devastated the education sector, killing thousands of students, and leaving hundreds of thousands out of school for almost five months. According to the Euro-Med Monitor, Israel's army has so far killed 94 university professors, along with hundreds of teachers, in what the rights group describes as deliberate and specific air raids on the homes of academic, scientific or intellectual figures. The targeted academics studied and taught across a variety of academic disciplines, and many of their ideas served as cornerstones of academic research in the Gaza Strips universities, the rights group said. Here, Middle East Eye looks at some of the academics and scientists killed in the war on Gaza. 1. Amin al-Bahiti, al-Azhar University Amin al-Bahiti, a 24-year-old from Gaza, was a dentist and assistant lecturer at al-Azhar University. Al-Bahiti was killed on 5 November, after leaving his home to find food for his mother and nine siblings. Israel cut off all supplies from the besieged enclave, including food, water, electricity, fuel and aid on 9 October, forcing many Palestinians to leave their homes amidst heavy bombardment to find food. 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. Al-Bahitis body was found two days after he left his home. He graduated from university in 2021 and one of his biggest ambitions was to open his own dental surgery. Dr. Amin Al-Bahtiti, 24 years old, A dentist and an assistant lecturer at Al-Azhar University, beloved by all students for his high morals. He had a smiling face, laughing from the depths of his heart. He dreamt of opening his own dental clinic. Extremely humble with a good pic.twitter.com/r20xmeezN7 ?Martyrs of Gaza (@GazaMartyrs) December 10, 2023 Tributes online described him as talented, smart and hardworking. 2. Adham Hassouna, professor at Gaza and al-Aqsa universities Adham Hassouna was a professor at the Gaza and al-Aqsa Universities, as well as a freelance journalist. Journalist Adham Hassouna and his entire family have just been killed in an Israeli strike. That's the third journalist to be killed today after Abdallah Darwish and Montasser al-Sawwaf. pic.twitter.com/O9PRyF2YQ2 Maha Hussaini (@MahaGaza) December 1, 2023 Hassouna was killed alongside several members of his family in an Israeli air strike, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The air strike targeted his home on 1 December. 3. Jihad al-Masri, al-Quds Open University Jihad al-Masri was a historian and university professor, as well as the director of al-Quds Open Universitys Khan Younis branch. He was killed on 17 October, after succumbing to wounds sustained in Israeli shelling on Khan Younis. According to reports, he was on the way to join his wife and daughter when the attack happened. Al-Masri was known for publishing research papers on Islamic history and Palestinian oral traditions in both regional and international journals. 4. Tariq Thabet, University College of Applied Sciences Tariq Thabet was a fellow at Michigan State University in the US as well as a professor in Gaza. He was a Fulbright scholar, studying economic development and entrepreneurship in developing countries as part of the Humphrey Fellowship Program in Michigan. He was killed in November in Gaza, along with 15 members of his extended family. Thabets research focused on empowering small business owners in places like Gaza, where he was born. According to Kyle Hess, the programme manager for the Humphrey Program, Thabet hoped to take what he learnt in the US and bring it back home to Gaza to help improve the local economy. His fellowship programme issued a statement saying: While at MSU, he built on his extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and entrepreneurship by taking courses in finance and marketing, networking extensively with his local counterparts, and speaking to local community groups and youth. Engineer Tariq Thabet, one of the kindest and most incredible persons I've ever met in my life, a creative, persevering, energetic, intelligent and dedicated. A few months ago, he was in the United States in a program supported by the United States. He returned to #Gaza and was pic.twitter.com/I1TUxLVviE ???? ?????? (@AsemAlnabeh) November 2, 2023 The community in East Lansing, Michigan, where he spent a year while studying, mourned his loss, remembering his positive impact. "For a person coming from a territory which is effectively under siege by Israel, he had a very positive and upbeat attitude to life," said Thasin Sardar, a member of the board of trustees at the Islamic Centre of East Lansing. "He came here with a mission to learn, and he was trying to make use of his time very effectively and give back to his country, he added. According to Sardar, multiple generations of his family were killed in the bombing. Thabet was remembered as a warm and bright person who regularly attended Friday prayers at the Islamic Centre of East Lansing. 5. Sufyan Tayeh, scientist Sufian Tayeh, the president of the Islamic University of Gaza, was a leading researcher in physics and applied mathematics. He was killed in an Israeli air strike on the al-Faluja neighbourhood northeast of Gaza City on 2 December. His death was announced by the Palestinian Higher Education Ministry. The air strike also killed several members of his family. Tayeh was born in 1971 in Gazas Jabalia refugee camp, going on to gain a bachelors degree in physics from the Islamic University of Gaza. He won the Palestine Islamic Bank Award for Scientific Research for the years 2019 and 2020, among many other awards. BREAKING: Dr. Sufyan Tayeh, the President of the Islamic University of Gaza, was killed today in the Israeli massacre in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, according to medical sources.#GazaGenocidepic.twitter.com/tp77g6UB0m Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 2, 2023 According to reports, Tayeh was considered to be in the top two percent of scientific researchers worldwide in 2021. He had also been appointed Unesco's chair for physics and space sciences in Palestine. 6. Sirin Mohammed al-Attar, Islamic University of Gaza Born in 1984, Sirin Mohammed al-Attar was a gynaecologist working for the UN agency Unrwa as well as a professor at the Islamic University of Gaza. She was killed in an Israeli air strike on the al-Bureij camp on 11 October. According to Unrwa, she was a highly accomplished medical professional, holding Arab, Jordanian, and Palestinian board certifications in obstetrics and gynaecology. Al-Attar graduated from al-Quds University's Faculty of Medicine and was the mother of three daughters. Unrwa remembered her for her generosity, deep love for her work and the care and affection she extended to her patients, offering unwavering support to them. She was one of the best, most wonderful and most humane doctors I have met and dealt with,?said Ghada al-Jadba, chief of the agency's field health programme in Gaza. 7. Raed Qaddoura, academic Raed Qaddoura, who held a PhD from the National University of Malaysia, was killed on 19 November alongside 29 other members of his family. According to reports, his twin children were born two weeks before he died. Qaddoura was described as a smart and talented writer and thinker. In 2022, he published an article in Mondoweiss on his grandfathers expulsion from the city of Jaffa in 1948. Dr. Raed Qaddoura was killed along with his family in #Gaza last night, 29 members of his extended family including his parents, wife and children. His twin girls were born two weeks ago. All gone. Raed holds an MA from @unimalaya and a PhD from @ukm_my in political science . pic.twitter.com/9xSrmdzqOD Yousef Aljamal ? (@YousefAljamal) November 20, 2023 For my grandfather, Jaffa was his first love before Israel deprived him of that bride by forcing him to move out along with hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians, in search of a safer place and escape from the criminality of the Zionist gangs, he wrote. Then, as soon as my grandfather arrived in Gaza, he swore to return again and not to leave his beloved to anyone else. 8. Saher Yaghi, psychologist Shaher Yaghi, a professor and renowned psychologist, worked for Gaza's education ministry and was found dead after an Israeli air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in December. He was killed alongside his wife and children, a neighbour and family friend announced on social media on 10 December. Yaghi worked with several non-profit organisations and was a school quality assurance coordinator for over nine years. He also worked with Unrwa as a special educational needs supervisor as well as a mental health counsellor. He graduated from the University of Calgary in 1994 with a bachelors degree in rehabilitation, and then went onto study at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he achieved a masters degree in psychology in 2006. 9. Ibrahim al-Astal, Islamic University of Gaza Ibrahim al-Astal was a professor and dean of the Islamic University of Gaza. Born in 1961, he was an educational theorist and researcher, who spent many years writing and editing publications on educational and psychological studies. Al-Astal was killed in an Israeli attack on 23 October, along with his wife, daughters and a number of family members. According to some reports, a total of 87 members of his family were killed in the air strikes. He was known for working on programmes related to improving the quality of technological education in universities and colleges in Gaza. In 2005, he co-wrote a book called The Teaching Profession and the Roles of Teachers in the School of the Future. 10. Saeed al-Dahshan, international law expert Saeed Talal al-Dahshan was an expert in international law as well as an author. He was killed, along with his family in Gaza, on 11 October. In his book, The International Prosecution of Israel and its Leaders for Their Crimes Against the Palestinians, he outlines the legal path to hold Israel accountable for breaking international laws. Ismail Thawbta, head of the government media office in Gaza, said that al-Dahsan, like many other academics in Gaza, was intentionally targeted. "Israel is systematically selecting top Palestinian academics to inflict maximum damage on the Palestinian community and obstruct scientific and technological development in the future, he said. Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net Son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki who censored truth online found DEAD in UC Berkeley dorm: He ingested a drug An apparent drug overdose led to the death of 19-year-old Marco Troper, the son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. (Related: Check out our earlier report revealing what Susan "destroyer of human rights" Wojcicki did to YouTube by turning it into a censorship and tyranny platform.) According to reports, Troper was found unresponsive in his dorm room at the University of California, Berkeley's Clark Kerr campus. The Berkeley Fire Department was called to the scene where emergency personnel attempted to revive Troper, but to no avail. Esther Wojcicki, Troper's grandmother, told local media that her grandson ingested some unknown drug that ultimately killed him. "He ingested a drug, and we don't know what was in it," Wojcicki said. "One thing we do know: it was a drug." On Facebook, Wojcicki posted a message paying tribute to Troper, stating that she and the rest of his family are "devastated beyond comprehension." "Marco was the most kind, loving, smart, fun and beautiful human being," she wrote. "He was just getting starting [sic] 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." Was it fentanyl or COVID jabs? Tests are still pending to determine which drug Troper took that caused him to overdose and die, but many are wondering if the drug was fentanyl. As of now, UC Berkeley police say there are no signs of foul play in the case. 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. Numerous right-wing X accounts speculated as to a possible fentanyl link in Troper's death. Several of them noted that the Biden regime's open borders policies are allowing more fentanyl to enter the United States than ever before. HOLY SH*T! You are witnessing smugglers openly transporting pounds of drugs from Mexico into the U.S. in broad daylight without encountering any interference. pic.twitter.com/kOIpvRN7QR I Meme Therefore I Am ?? (@ImMeme0) February 16, 2024 ? If Chinese troops were marching in our streets, we'd notice. If Biden let Chinese troops march, we'd notice. Instead Biden and Xi allow fentanyl and tranq to flood across our border and rot us from the inside so that we don't notice. It's still war, still #Treason pic.twitter.com/5IhDfWOTbr Resist CBDC (@Resist_CBDC) February 9, 2024 The Biden 'stamp of approval' for fentanyl that's flooding into our country, but don't forget the 10% for the 'Big Guy'! pic.twitter.com/HhgCUkLEj3 Lawrence Poslaiko- America First! (@RealLPoslaiko) February 15, 2024 Right now, overdose deaths are responsible for one in every 28 deaths across America. Reports claim that fentanyl analogs are largely to blame as fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs on the streets right now. "These days it's either fentanyl or the clot shot," one commenter wrote on a news story about Troper's death, "the clot shot" referring to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines." "They have many ways to kill us," wrote another. "Think tanks have been working on this for decades." "Even if you worship the machine, the machine will still eat your children," said another ominously. "YouTube has been front and center in promoting the globalist agenda of societal breakdown," someone else expressed. "Sad this woman's son was a casualty, but she is the furthest thing from an innocent victim." "This is a tragedy but it doesn't escape me that Ms. Wojcicki would consider my child to be an acceptable sacrifice to keep the borders open," wrote another. The latest news about Big Tech tyranny can be found at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Texas announces construction of military base camp housing 1,800 soldiers in Eagle Pass to manage immigration crisis As the illegal immigrant invasion continues to take over Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has announced the construction of a military base in the border city of Eagle Pass along the Rio Grande to provide additional support. The 80-acre base will have the capacity to house more than 1,800 Texas National Guard soldiers who are supporting Operation Lone Star. If the situation there becomes worse which seems likely given the record-setting numbers of encounters registered lately the facility can be expanded to house as many as 2,300 soldiers. Abbott said: Because of the magnitude of what we're doing, because of the need to sustain and actually expand our efforts of what we're doing, it's essential that we build this base camp for the soldiers. Eagle Pass has been a key location in the ongoing crisis, with the governor amassing national guard troops not only from Texas but also from other states whose Republican governors have sent support for setting up barriers and razor wire to keep illegals out of the country. The urgently needed base, known as Forward Operating Base Eagle, will be up and running soon. By the middle of April, it should have 300 beds ready, with a further 300 beds being added each month after that, according to Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer. It will have three command posts, a helicopter pad and rooms for storing weapons. The base will also be equipped with a dining facility that can accommodate 700 people, workout areas, medical services, laundry facilities, mental health facilities, Wi-Fi access and on-site movie theaters. Soldiers will be given individual rooms. 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 aim of the base is to increase and improve border security operations in Eagle Pass. Currently, Texas National Guard personnel are scattered across the area in cramped quarters, Abbott said, with many of them needing to travel long distances to get to work. Some are living in tents or hotels, while others are in private homes. Last month, Border Patrol arrested more than 124,000 people, which is a shocking number but a notable drop from the record high of nearly 250,000 recorded in December. Eagle Pass in particular has seen significant declines, which Abbott and other Texas officials believe is a sign that their efforts at the border have been effective. Governor Abbott stated: This base camp is going to dramatically improve conditions for our soldiers. Texas would not be able to respond to President Biden's border crisis without the brave men and women of the Texas National Guard, and it is essential to build this base camp for them." Razor wire and arrest authority are points of contention between Texas and federal government Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government can continue to cut down the razor wire Texas erected at the border in Eagle Pass. Governor Abbott took issue with the order, preventing federal agents from reaching the wire and installing even more wire as migrant numbers surge. Texas also announced it plans to build new barriers to fortify the border in the Eagle Pass area. They will be placing more barriers going north and south of Shelby Park, which the state seized last month. They will bring in three fan boats to expand their river patrolling capacity. Additional radar and drone capabilities will also be added. A new law is set to go into effect in Texas next month giving state authorities the power to arrest and deport individuals who have crossed the border illegally, but the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit trying to stop it from going into effect, and a ruling is expected before March 5. There are currently 3,000 Texas troops deployed along the border with Mexico. In December, the number of migrants who unlawfully crossed the border exceeded 10,000 per day on multiple occasions. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com DailyMail.co.uk Texas.gov CNN.com U.K. authorities have given themselves the power to surveil, harass and jail whistleblowers under the new British National Security Act Britons could find themselves behind bars on questionable grounds under the newly passed British National Security Act (BNSA). According to investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg, the BNSA seeks to demolish WikiLeaks and other whistleblower outlets exposing war crimes. However, the Act itself is an immediate threat to crucial national security journalism. The BNSA took effect in December 2023 after being ironed out in the British Parliament for 18 months. Under this law, authorities in London have given themselves the power to surveil, harass and eventually put in jail any British citizen on questionable grounds. Dissidents of every kind must now worry that everything they do or say could land them in prison for long terms, simply for failing to toe London's strict national security line. "Under the aegis of protecting Britain from the threat of espionage and sabotage by hostile actors at home and abroad, the law introduces a number of completely new criminal offenses with severe penalties and wide-ranging consequences for freedom of speech," Klarenberg said. "The law's terms are so broad, individuals will almost inevitably break the law without wanting to, intending to, or even knowing they have." (Related: Russia arrests WSJ reporter over alleged espionage charges.) BNSA shares many elements with draconian 1917 Espionage Act While no one has been prosecuted under the BNSA so far and its full consequences remain unclear, criticism of it in mainstream media circles is notably absent. Thus, scrutiny of the Act has been left almost completely to independent journalists such as Mohamed Elmaazi. 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 a July 2022 piece for Consortium News, the Egyptian journalist pointed out that the BNSA "shares many elements" with the "draconian" U.S. Espionage Act of 1917. "Ostensibly created to protect the U.S. from German spies during World War I, it was used to successfully prosecute people for their opposition to their countrys involvement in the war," he wrote. "Their convictions were upheld on appeal despite the fact that the First Amendment protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press." The Nixon, second Bush and Obama administrations utilized the same law to target whistleblowers, Elmaazi continued. Currently, it is being used to target WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange. "Whistleblowers, journalists and publishers focusing on national security-related matters may be most at risk of being prosecuted. [Even] everyday members of the public face a potential life sentence if they receive or share 'protected information.'" Klarenberg also mentioned in his piece that British lawmakers clearly mentioned WikiLeaks in numerous parliamentary debates on the measure. In one instance, a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) asked Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper from the Labor Party if she denounced "the WikiLeaks-type mass dumping of information in the public domain." The Tory MP also dubbed such activity as "hugely irresponsible" as it "can put lives at risk." Cooper the MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford replied that she "strongly" condemned such activity. "Some of the examples of such leaks that we have seen put agents' lives at risk, put vital parts of our national security and intelligence infrastructure at risk, and are highly irresponsible. We need safeguards to protect against that kind of damaging impact on our national security," she told the Tory MP. Follow Censorship.news for more stories about the censorship of whistleblowers in the United Kingdom. Watch WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange discuss the importance of free speech in the video below. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Whistleblower docs expose key tactics of the censorship industrial complex: Matt Taibbi. Western countries continue to enforce OPPRESSIVE MEASURES to silence free speech. Fact-checking, anti-disinformation campaigns are destroying free speech in "Global Boiling Era." Sources include: TheGrayzone.com Legislation.gov.uk ConsortiumNews.com Brighteon.com $32M U.S. reaper drone SHOT DOWN near Yemen; U.K. tanker destroyed on the SAME DAY It was a rough start to the week for the United States and its Western allies in the Red Sea after Yemeni Houthis claimed responsibility for downing an MQ-9 Reaper drone, which came with a price tag of $32 million. The pentagram-shaped Pentagon says it is currently investigating the crash, which occurred the same day a United Kingdom tanker sunk after Houthis bombed it as well. The drone was conducting surveillance off the coast of Yemen when officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that it fell out of the sky near the port city of Al Hudaydah in western Yemen. The following footage is said to be the U.S. drone drowning, though keep in mind the footage is not officially verified: The Yemeni armed forces and Ansar Allah shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone last night. They also destroyed a UK owned ship. Genocide can be costly. pic.twitter.com/AMZSFEAQWR Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) February 19, 2024 (Related: Despite sending mixed messages, the Pentagon has pretty much admitted that there are now U.S. troops on the ground in Yemen.) Operation Prosperity Guardian a bust Concerning the sunken U.K.-owned vessel, CENTCOM issued a statement confirming that Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles from areas of Yemen controlled by the rebel group. One of the missiles struck the vessel, inflicting serious damage. The ship issued a distress call, to which a coalition warship and a merchant vessel responded to assist. Crew members on the struck ship were transported to a port near the merchant vessel. 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. For the past several weeks, a U.S. coalition has been conducting airstrikes on Yemen, which appears to be having little or no effect. The Biden regime's Operation Prosperity Guardian seems to be having the opposite effect, encouraging more attacks by the Houthis on targets in and over the Red Sea. The Houthis started out attacking ships, but have since begun attacking aerial vessels like the drone, this marking a serious and dangerous escalation in the war. According to reports, the anti-ship missiles struck the engine room of Rubymar, a Belize-flagged cargo ship that was traversing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. The strike caused severe damage and was reported as "an explosion in close proximity to the vessel." "Military authorities report crew have abandoned the vessel," announced the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO). "Vessel at anchor and all crew are safe." UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 033 19 FEB 24 ATTACK - UPDATE 002https://t.co/zHGNgQp1UB#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/j2qqL87yno United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) February 19, 2024 The attack marks the first time the Houthis have damaged a commercial vessel to the point that an evacuation had to ensue due to the amount of damage sustained. Houthis spokesman Yahya Sare'e issued a statement warning that Rubymar is "now at risk of potentially sinking." "The ship suffered catastrophic damages and came to a complete halt," Sare'e said, further confirming that Yemeni air defenses shot down the U.S. General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper "with a suitable missile while it was carrying out hostile missions against our country." Contrary to the promises it made to bring peace and safety to the region, U.S. and U.K. forces are failing to neutralize these Houthi rebel attacks on vessels and aircraft in the prominent international shipping lane. "The Houthis will stop when the Gaza genocide stops," noted one commenter on a news report about the attacks. "What doesn't the West understand about that?" "I might be going out on a limb here, but I think Israel genociding human beings is a little worse than some boats being taken out of commission," wrote another. How do you think the war in the Middle East will end? Find out more at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Boris Johnson accuses Tucker Carlson of being a tool of the Kremlin, then tries to extort him for $1M Former prime minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson had a meltdown when he heard about Tucker Carlson's interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompting him to accuse Carlson of being "a tool of the Kremlin." During a recent appearance with Glenn Beck, Carlson explained how the whole thing went down after landing in Moscow and awaiting his meeting with one of the most controversial figures on the world stage. "So I'm over in Moscow, I'm waiting to do this interview, it gets out that we're doing it, and I'm immediately denounced by this guy called Boris Johnson," Carlson told Beck. "And Boris Johnson calls me 'a tool of the Kremlin' or something ... so I put in a request for an interview with [Johnson], because he's constantly denouncing me." It turns out that one of Johnson's advisers Johnson's real name is actually Alex Johnson got back to Carlson saying Johnson has agreed to the interview, but only if Carlson agrees to pay Johnson $1 million for the privilege watch the clip below: TUCKER: Boris Johnson calls me a tool of the Kremlin or something. So I put in a request for an interview with Boris Johnson. Finally one of his advisors gets back to me and says he will talk to you but it's going to cost you a million dollars. pic.twitter.com/pdPaHLsz0d Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 20, 2024 (Related: Carlson claims his only agenda in interviewing Putin in the first place was to offer Americans the chance to be informed from a different angle.) Support for Ukraine is money laundering Carlson denied Johnson's extortionary requested, though proceeded to invite Johnson a second time to join him but for free, but to no avail. "This is the guy, by the way, who at the request of the U.S. government stopped the peace deal in Ukraine a year and a half ago, and is for that reason responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people," Carlson explained to Beck. "I said, 'I just interviewed Vladimir Putin I'm not defending Putin, but [he] didn't ask me for a million dollars!' So you're telling me that Boris Johnson is a lot sleazier, a lot lower than Vladimir Putin. So this whole thing is a freaking shakedown." 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. Like many, Carlson does not appear to support any more infusions of U.S. taxpayer cash to Ukraine, the latest amounting to a whopping $60 billion. "This is a money laundering operation," Carlson explained. "A lot of people involved are making money off of it, and if you're making money off of war, you can deal with God on that because that's really immoral." Keep in mind that it was Johnson who started all the bickering by accusing Carlson of being a Russian spy. And when Carlson invited Johnson onto his show to clear things up, Johnson refused unless Carlson agreed to pay him $1 million or the equivalent amount in Bitcoin. "Boris basically tried to extort Tucker for $1 million to, in effect, 'take back' his slander of Tucker as a Russian asset?" asked someone on X about the situation. "All these people are corrupt and evil." "Boris Johnson will forever go down as the individual who blocked the peace process that will eventually start WWIII," wrote another. "Boris Johnson must think he's a hot commodity," replied the Right Angle News Network. "If anyone is a tool, it's this guy for thinking hes that important that you would need to spend a million dollars just to speak with him." "They don't want peace they want war!" wrote another. More of the latest news about the Russia scandal can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com TheWrap.com NaturalNews.com TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 22. Russian Inter RAO energy company is considering the possibility of exporting electricity to Uzbekistan, Trend reports. On the sidelines of the Russia forum at VDNKh the company's representative Alexandra Panina said that Uzbekistan is interested in Inter RAO's proposal to supply electricity to the country. However, she noted the difficulties in transit through Kazakhstan, given the already existing supplies to Kyrgyzstan in this direction. According to Panina, Inter RAO is now actively working on increasing the directions and volumes of energy exports. The Russian company intends to maintain the volume of energy supplies at the level of 10 billion kWh this year. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan imported 21.6 million kWh of electricity from Turkmenistan on February 18, representatives of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy said at a briefing in Agency of Information and Mass Communications. A total of 231.4 million kWh of electricity was produced at all power plants of Uzbekistan on February 18. For this purpose, 40.3 million cubic meters of natural gas, 26,300 tons of coal, as well as 10,700 tons of fuel oil were burned at thermal power plants. COVID jabs saved ZERO lives while killing many, scientist warns Premier scientist Denis Rancourt says that not a single life was saved by Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" butwere injured oras a result of the chemical poisons. Rancourt and several fellow scientists conducted an analysis of COVID injection data in which they determined that all-cause mortality increased every time another COVID jab was released, whether it was the initial series or a subsequent "booster" shot. For every 800 injections administered, Rancourt et al. learned that there was at least one jab-related death, this as outlined in a 180-page paper they published on the matter. This one-death-per-800-doses figure becomes even more disturbing when considering how many doses of the shots were administered. At the time when Rancourt and his colleagues put together the report, 13.5 billion COVID jabs had been injected into people's bodies. "Divide that number by 800 and you end up with approximately 17 million COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths," noted The Vigilant Fox on X, also sharing the following video from Dan Skorbach. NO LIVES WERE SAVED by the COVID-19 injections, says researcher and scientist @denisrancourt. In fact, Rancourt and his fellow scientists found in their analysis that all-cause mortality INCREASED every time the COVID-19 shots were deployed. Heres the 50,000-foot view: For pic.twitter.com/X5jtltj9ue The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) February 17, 2024 (Related: French politicians are trying to make it a crime to oppose mRNA injections violators to face fines in excess of 45,000 euros, along with three years of jail time for questioning "the science.") Operation Warp Speed brought heart destruction Electrical engineer John Beaudoin has been probing the data in his home state of Massachusetts as well, coming to similar conclusions about the ugly nature of COVID jabs. Upon looking through the death database compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Health, Beaudoin found that 2020 "was a year of excess respiratory [deaths]," followed by a change in 2021 after Operation Warp Speed unleashed COVID injections on the world. 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. Beaudoin found that excess respiratory deaths actually went down in 2021 after the jab's release "while at the same time, the blood and circulatory causes of death went up instead of down." In other words, the coughs and colds that people suffering during the COVID "pandemic" largely disappeared after the Trump regime launched the shots in late-December of 2020, only to be replaced by many now-known adverse events stemming from COVID shots. "So what people are dying from, they're dying from ... cardiac stroke, pulmonary embolism, gastrointestinal hemorrhages, aortic arch dissections, more than the respiratory, which went down at the same time," Beaudoin said. To this very day, Donald Trump takes credit for the shots, which he has called "beautiful" and "effective" on many occasions. On many instances, Trump called COVID shots his "greatest accomplishment," patting himself on the back for getting them released at warp speed. "No one is making him accountable for signing all the policies that allowed those poison shots to be made, and then distributed by our own military," a commenter at The Epoch Times noted about Trump and his supporters. "There needs to be an accounting, and it needs to start with Trump. He needs to admit his failures. I cannot vote for someone who can't admit his own failures." Another wrote that Americans need to put their political differences aside and come together to make sure the nation's leaders never again try to unleash another COVID-like nightmare on the country. "We are at war," this person wrote. "No compliances is the narrow path that will lead to life moving forward." It is never a good idea to get injected for COVID. Find out more at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com TheEpochTimes.com Douglas Murray announces new doxing database to keep critics of Israel from getting a job Douglas Murray, the director of the British Free Speech Union, announced a new initiative on Monday aimed at doxing critics of Israel for "hate speech" and keeping them from getting jobs. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) "Douglas Murray is Director of the British Free Speech Union. He is now going to lead an initiative to have harsher penalties for those accused of hate speech, and bar 'bigots' from employment opportunities based on social media posts!" Keith Woods commented on X. "These speech laws have been used to target nationalists more than anyone -- Murray's countryman Sam Melia is going to jail for sharing stickers about mass-immigration and this is what he is working on, what a disgrace!" ????? Douglas Murray is Director of the British Free Speech Union He is now going to lead an initiative to have harsher penalties for those accused of hate speech, and bar "bigots" from employment opportunities based on social media posts! These speech laws have been used to https://t.co/3Bp2b06fN6pic.twitter.com/Qj6vwekqoz Keith Woods (@KeithWoodsYT) February 19, 2024 The Tafsik Organization, which is behind the initiative, says on their website that they're lobbying for new hate crime laws to block people from getting jobs and keep them from traveling freely: Proposing a Hate Offenders List akin to the Sex Offenders list for those convicted of Hate Crimes would streamline law enforcement efforts, imposing travel restrictions, limiting access to certain public places, and significantly impacting job opportunities to deter the wielders of hatred from positions of power. They also say they're building a doxing database using facial recognition and AI: Utilizing the SEO from social media platforms like Twitter(X)/TikTok/Facebook posts reported onto D.A.V.I.D. will have hyper visibility using a simple google search, affecting the individuals employment opportunities and reputation. D.A.V.I.D. employs facial recognition to identify bigots from photos or videos. AI spiders crawl social media platforms, detecting antisemitic content in posts, comments, and images. This is what Murray is now championing: The announcement triggered widespread backlash on X: After Oct 7, Murray went on a propaganda blitz for the Israeli government and released a PR junket marketed as an "interview" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi Netanyahu tells his good friend Douglas Murray that if Israel doesn't continue waging the war in Gaza, Iran will "conquer the Middle East," then threaten Europe and the United States with nuclear weapons. Murray smirks and nods along pic.twitter.com/vLmo6VaFHR Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 31, 2024 Impressively pathetic interview by @DouglasKMurray. Conducted not as a traditional "interview" between journalist and state official, but a chat between ideological allies. Murray invites Bibi call for regime change in Iran -- Bibi does so by mentioning the three dead US soldiers pic.twitter.com/Ke7iC84bYp Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 31, 2024 Murray, after posing for a nice photo alongside Bibi, also published a NY Post item relaying Bibi's standard exhortation that Israel's war is also (somehow) America's war. Very comprehensive PR initiative by Murray here -- really left no stone unturned. Worth every shekel pic.twitter.com/9d9pOioq1z Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 31, 2024 Here's your Anti-Woke media, c. January 2024. Put it in the vault pic.twitter.com/EvzP9fFyAU Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 31, 2024 What are the odds the Israeli government is behind this doxing initiative Murray is now shilling for? Read more at: InformationLiberation.com) Draft law in France proposes exorbitant fine, jail time for OPPONENTS of COVID-19 injections A draft law in France has put forward an exorbitant fine of 45,000 ($48,627) and three years' jail time for individuals who speak out against the dangerous Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injection. Professor Michel Chossudovsky, the founder and director of the Center for Research on Globalization (CRG), expounded on this draft law in a Feb. 18 piece. He mentioned that on Feb. 14, the French National Assembly adopted a controversial draft law to fight what it called "sectarian drift." The French Interministerial Mission of Vigilance and Combat against Sectarian Drifts (MIVILUDES) defined the concept as "a diversion of freedom of thought, opinion or religion that violates public order." In other words, sectarian drift pertains to ideas, opinions or actions that go against the dictates of a totalitarian government. According to Chossudovsky, Article Four of the draft law seeks to extend the concept of sectarian drift to health and medicine by creating a new crime of "provocation to abstention from medical care." Under this edict, "provocation" on a sick person to "abandon or refrain from following medical treatment" if this abandonment is presented as beneficial when it could lead to dangerous consequences is now punishable under the French Criminal Code. It also acknowledged that this sectarian draft increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and "the use of social networks." The CRG founder added that Article Four "aims to fight against 'charlatans' and 'gurus 2.0,'" who allegedly promote on the internet methods presented as "miracle solutions" to cure serious diseases such as cancers. Often without scientific training and in defiance of science, they can drift toward behaviors of sectarian influence, the French government claimed. 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. Chossudovsky pointed out that French citizens engaging in these "provocations" could face "three years of imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 ($48,627)." But looking at it closely, Article Four of the draft law codifies punishment for opposition to medical tyranny and the COVID-19 vaccine even though the document does not mention it explicitly. (Related: 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.") France's draft law criminalizes health freedom The CRG founder and director further explained that sectarian drift "points to non-conformity in response to an official government narrative." He continued: "[While] the draft law does not explicitly refer to the COVID-19 vaccine it constitutes an abominable threat [as] it criminalizes the protest movement against the COVID-19 vaccine." French lawyer David Guyon also pointed out the absurdity of the draft law. "In reality, it is clear that anyone who has criticized vaccination against COVID-19 could be considered of having committed and offense," he said. "This is why it must be fought." According to Chossudovsky, the draft law is the brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron. It will be presented to the French Senate by Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin in the name of former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. "What this decision implies is that the lie has become the truth. You can be arrested for informing friends and neighbors that the COVID-19 vaccine is a toxic substance," he remarked. "What we are witnessing is the outright 'criminalization of the state apparatus' whereby politicians, members of parliament [and] senior government officials are routinely bribed, co-opted or threatened to abide by a diabolical project, which is literally destroying people's lives worldwide." "The French government, the National Assembly and the Senate must be challenged by a mass movement across France and the European Union," Chossudovsky concluded, calling on the French upper legislature to "dismiss the National Assembly's adoption of the draft law." Head over to MedicalTyranny.com for more stories about laws criminalizing opposition to the COVID-19 injection. Watch this video that discusses France's new draft law that criminalizes opposition to COVID-19 vaccines. This video is from the chriswillard777 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Vaccine pioneer France is now skeptical of coronavirus vaccines. Thousands take to the streets in protest of COVID-19 vaccine passports in France. French health minister threatens to make coronavirus vaccinations compulsory for health workers. OBEY OR ELSE: French government wants all adults aged 24-59 to be forcibly vaccinated for covid. Vaccine passport now MANDATORY in France, following more than a year of corporate media propagandists claiming the idea was a "conspiracy theory." Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca Brighteon.com Free speech coming to an END in 2024, warns Paul Craig Roberts A somewhat subtle shift is taking place asmorph their constitutional role from protecting America's democratic republic to protecting the so-called "sanctity of democratic institutions," the latter of which involves silencing free speech. Instead of representing We the People, government authorities and the puppet masters who pull their strings now claim to represent the so-called democratic institutions that underpin modern society. This shift means that democratic institutions are now to be protected at all costs, even from the U.S. Constitution that threatens their existence. Paul Craig Roberts says the United States is being redefined in such a way as to eliminate the constitutional protections that has long made America unique things like free speech and the right to bear arms being two of the biggest threats to the establishment's agenda for the nation and the world. According to Roberts, democratic institutions, as defined by the establishment, do not include Congress and the representative government America's founding fathers envisioned, nor are they the rule of law coupled with an independent judiciary. No, they are the institutions of censorship that really started to make their presence known around the time Donald Trump was elected president, as well as in the lead-up to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" and beyond. "'Democratic institutions' are the institutions of the censorship industry, such as the military/security complex, State Department, NATO, CIA, FBI, IMF, World Bank, NGOs, the Atlantic Council, the Aspen Institute, the presstitutes, Black Rock, JP Morgan/Chase and other of the consensus-building institutions that set agendas and control the narratives," Roberts writes. 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. "To express disagreement with the consensus these elite institutions build is considered to be 'an attack on democracy.' In other words, 'democracy' is the property of the elite institutions, and the sanctity of these elite institutions must be protected from the people defined by Hillary Clinton as 'the Trump deplorables.' The will of the people is eliminated from the picture." (Related: Free speech is on the chopping block in New Zealand, too.) No more voice, no more freedom Many large-scale, multinational corporations are also involved in "protecting democracy" through censorship, as are leading academic institutions like Stanford University. Then there are the law schools, medical associations, governors and members of Congress that all contribute to stamping out free speech in their own ways. Even right now, the State Department is busy conspiring to obstruct the House of Representatives from looking into the executive branch's, aka the Biden regime's, misuse of taxpayer funds to censor what Americans hear about COVID, the so-called "vaccine" unleashed through Operation Warp Speed, election fraud, the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and so much more. Eventually, even the internet itself will be so strictly censored that users will no longer be able to express themselves through the keyboard, much like they are already censored in speaking with their mouth for fear of being "canceled" from their job or school. Meanwhile, the southern and northern borders are wide open for invaders who continue to flood into the country illegally by the tens of thousands daily. It does not take a rocket scientist to see where the former "land of the free" is headed in terms of a society. "Any information that you have saved that helps you to understand the tyranny that is engulfing us should be stored in thumb drives and not in the cloud as all information undermining of the 'consensus-building institutions' will be consigned to the memory hole," Roberts advises. The First Amendment is a critical part of what made America special. Its elimination is turning the country into just another authoritarian regime. Find out more at a Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: PaulCraigRoberts.org NaturalNews.com NOT FUNNY: German comedian calls for the culling of German and Austrian conservative politicians German comedian and television host Jan Bohmermann has come under fire for allegedly advocating for the killing of conservative politicians in Austria and Germany Bohmermann, host of the late-night satirical comedy show "ZDF Magazin Royale," recently targeted conservative politicians from the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) and the German Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Bohmermann, who earns over 682,000 ($739,000) per year from the mandatory fee Germans pay to support public television programs, expressed outrage over the FPO's surge in the polls and how the conservative party is the most popular party in Austria in the run-up to new elections to be held before the end of 2024. In his show, Bohmermann equated both the AfD and the FPO with the Nazis and advocated for his viewers to take weapons to beat AfD and FPO politicians. "Don't always bring out the Nazi club, but maybe just club a few Nazis," he said at the conclusion of his show. Bohmermann's choice of words is what has drawn concern here. His use of the German verb "keulen," which refers to the culling of animals to prevent or contain disease, along with "Nazi-keulen," strongly indicates that Bohmermann wants politicians from the AfD and FPO to be "culled" to avoid an "epidemic." (Related: Top German official promotes law that would target bank accounts of "right-wing extremist" donors.) Conservative politicians condemn Bohmermann's call for violence In response to Bohmermann's call to violence, FPO Chairman Herbert Kickl wrote a statement calling Bohmermann's comparing his party to animals that need to be culled "disgusting" and "absolute madness." 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. Kickl also strongly criticized how Bohmermann compared him with Nazis, claiming that he is similar to dictator Adolf Hitler and "speaks like" Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. FPO Secretary General Christian Hafenecker also sharply criticized Bohmermann, noting that his statements have gone "beyond all previous dimensions" of acceptable satire and should not remain without consequences. Hafenecker added that calls for physical violence against politicians "were previously only known from terrorist regimes." He has called for Bohmermann to be investigated by German authorities. "Where is the outcry from [Austrian] Federal President [Alexander Van der Bellen]? Where are the condemning statements from the OVP, Greens, SPO and NEOS, who always accused the FPO of hatred and incitement? Where is the Office for the Protection of the Constitution?" said Hafenecker in a statement calling out politicians with the liberal-conservative Austrian People's Party, the Greens, the socialist Austrian Social Democratic Party and the liberal NEOS party, respectively. Bohmermann has been warned repeatedly that his so-called "satire" could lead to actual acts of violence. Just one week before his show aired, an AfD politician was forced to withdraw from participating in German electoral politics due to receiving serious threats against his life and the lives of his family members. Numerous other AfD supporters have already been brutally assaulted, targeted at their homes and have had their vehicles set on fire. Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, reacts to the news that the left-wing German government is considering banning the popular conservative Alternative for Germany party. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Germany ponders banning its second most popular political party. Co-head of German populist AfD party hospitalized after being attacked with a SYRINGE at a campaign event. EU signs draconian anti-free speech law to police the entire internet, take down websites containing unapproved speech. Conservative German party brands EU a "failed project," calls for its complete overhaul as a federation of autonomous nations. Speak your truth: Dont let the government criminalize free speech. Sources include: RMX.news VoiceOfEurope.com Brighteon.com Germany suffers irreversible damage without Russian gas aftermath of Nord Stream destruction by the U.S. Back in 2022, bombshell reports surfaced confirming that the U.S. Department of Defense covertly blew up the Nord Stream pipelines, carrying out an act of terrorism against its Western allies in an insanely dangerous effort to harm Russia's energy exports. It was reportedly carried out with the help of the government of Norway with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of State and the Biden administration all involved in the planning. The planting of explosives used the cover of the BALTOPS 22 U.S. Navy exercise in June 2022, during which U.S. Navy divers planted explosives that were, three months later, remotely detonated by a sonar buoy dropped into the Baltic Sea with a Norwegian Air Force P8 Poseidon patrol plane. The destruction of the offshore natural gas pipelines, which ran under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany to provide Western Europe with natural gas, has caused 'irreversible' damage to Germany and Europe's economy. Related: ACT OF WAR: The U.S. military blew up Nord Stream pipelines, plunging western allies into energy collapse in effort to harm Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that industrial heavyweights are now moving their plants abroad where energy is cheaper, including the United States. Since the pipeline explosion, Berlin decided to switch to more expensive energy sources. He added that Western leaders had hoped that Moscow would fold quickly if shunned by the European market, but they miscalculated. "They were expecting that if they don't take our gas, we will fall apart faster than they face irreversible processes. But irreversible processes are effectively starting to happen," Putin said in an interview with Russian media released on Sunday. "Industries are moving to other countries, including the U.S., where more favorable conditions have been created, and where energy has proven cheaper." He also said that it's absolutely obvious that the policies adopted by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government are "dealing a colossal blow to the German economy's future." 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. Europe used to benefit from relatively cheap Russian energy, receiving up to 40 percent of its gas imports from the country. Following the start of Moscow's military operation against Kyiv in February 2022, Berlin also moved to radically reduce its dependence on Russian energy by importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) through European neighbors and boosting pipeline gas flows from Norway and the Netherlands. Bloomberg News has concluded that Germany's status as an industrial superpower is "coming to an end" after cutting off Russian gas imports. Speaking in the German parliament in mid-January, Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the country has "lost its competitive advantage." Meanwhile, Russia has managed to reroute some of its energy exports elsewhere, Putin said, adding that the situation has proven to be a blessing in disguise, as Russia has been forced to focus more on other industries as opposed to relying solely on gas revenue. 2023 Paper denies dire consequences of the halt of gas flow from Russia to Germany Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany imported a huge percentage of its gas from Moscow and many argued that the embargo would crush Germany's economy but a recent BPEA paper claimed that it found that the effects of this abrupt change were not as dire as many experts feared it would be. During a podcast, study authors Benjamin Moll and Georg Zachmann talked with Economic Studies Director Ben Harris about how Germany navigated the situation. According to Harris, the key finding in the document was the effect of the Russian gas embargo on German GDP. Those who argued against an embargo cited that it could lead to a severe recession and a six to 12 percent decline in GDP, he cited the paper. "You found that Germany's economy merely suffered a mini-recession with GDP dropping by 0.5 percent during the last winter, which was in line with your prediction of a 1 to 3 percent GDP drop relative to a no-cutoff scenario." Moll agreed saying this did have substantial costs and obviously, Germany is facing substantial headwinds. "But at the same time, catastrophic scenarios didn't materialize," he insisted. "We saw two key margins of adjustment. The first one was that Germany managed to replace a fair chunk of this Russian gas with imports from other countries. So, in third countries other than Russia, imports from Norway increased a lot but also LNG. So LNG in particular from the United States, was imported not via LNG terminals in Germany originally at least, but through the Netherlands and Belgium. So that was sort of on the supply side." They also claimed to see a large adjustment on the demand side. German gas demand decreased by a staggering 20 percent, which is a really large number, they said. And in particular for industry, gas demand by industry decreased by more than a quarter, so 26 percent since the gas cutoff in the fall of last year. Households a little less, but still 17 percent, which is a substantial number. Check out EconomicRiot.com to read stories related to faltering economies worldwide. Sources for this article include: SeymourHersh.Substack.com RT.com Brookings.edu WAR TACTIC: Iran fires ballistic missiles from launchers disguised as standard shipping containers A potential war tactic has just been launched by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) when it fired two "Fateh class" ballistic missiles from launchers that were disguised as regular shipping containers hosted aboard its sea base-like vessel. According to experts, this new "strategy" has not been seen to date but it greatly expands the reach with which those weapons could be used to strike potential targets by surprise because shipping containers can be embarked on any vessel that has the space to accommodate them. Local and IRCG-linked news outlet Tasnim reported that the ballistic missiles that were recently launched were from Shahid Mahdavi. The Iranian Navy took delivery of the ship in March 2023 after it was converted from a state-owned and operated container ship known as the Sarvin. Video footage showing the firing of the missile seemed to be taken from cameras around the ship and a drone that captured the launch from above. It also showed the supposed resulting impact on a target of one of the missiles, causing a large explosion. At least one of the missiles went on to successfully hit its target in the central desert of Iran. Meanwhile, an additional video released by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) also showed the launches from the control operator's position inside the ship. As per the news agency, the launch was a collaboration between the IRGC's naval and aerospace forces. The exact date on which this all occurred, which precise Fateh variant the missiles were, and the distance said missiles traversed to get to their targets, remain unclear to date. 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. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts on X, formerly Twitter, have pointed to various possible dates. Account user @M51_4ever, for example, noted that a peculiar 480 kilometer (298 miles) long Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) was in place on Feb. 12, which may have been connected to the launches, but highlights they could also have taken place earlier in January. However, TankerTrackers suggests that the open water seen in the footage puts the launch date somewhere between Jan. 25 and 27. It also remains unclear which missile types were launched precisely. Tasnim noted that the "Fateh class" featured a 1,700-kilometer (1,056-mile) range, considerably longer than the Kheiber Shekan medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), which is a third-generation Fateh ballistic missile with the longest known operational range within that family at 1,450 kilometers (900 miles). Other Iranian news agencies reported that the range of the missiles was over 750 kilometers (466 miles), indicating they could have been Dezful MRBMs, which have a known range of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Iran's IRGC published a video today of launching a ballistic missile from their forward base Shahid Mahdavi (converted container ship). pic.twitter.com/400Y8DYPlr Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) February 13, 2024 According to sources, firing ballistic missiles from a launcher that is well disguised as shipping containers aboard a ship has major potential consequences in the case of Iran and affiliated actors having access to this capability. "It severely complicates the tracking of potential threats; gives the enemy a greater advantage in terms of the element of surprise; allows for weapons to be positioned far forward from where they could be otherwise without being detected; and makes every ship that can carry a container a potential hostile threat. Using ships as launch platform delivery systems means targets far away that were previously very challenging to put at risk now can be with the help of many kinds of vessels, and all without the advent of new longer-range weaponry," the Warzone reported. (Related: Iran just proved it can hit Israel with "Kheibar Shekan" ballistic missiles.) (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons) The missile test just increased Iran's naval power IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami praised the missile test, highlighting its importance for Iran. He also praised cooperation between the IRGC navy and the IRGC aerospace force. "This new achievement has increased the range of influence and our naval power to any desired point because our ocean-going ships can appear in any part of the world and when we can fire missiles from them, there is no safe place for any power. It does not create insecurity for us," the IRGC leader said. Now, experts are thinking about whether the IRGC might send this ship to sea to threaten shipping. While a ship like this would make a large and easy target, the U.S. would likely be reticent to confront it because the U.S. mission currently is to strike the militant Houthis if and when they target ships in the Red Sea. "That mission doesnt yet extend to dealing with Irans threats or its naval threats. Iran is alleged to have spy ships operating in the Red Sea and they have so far remained unscathed. Irans Behshad ship is a commercial cargo ship alleged to be a front for Iran and while the US is aware of the ship, it has not been confronted yet," reports indicated. Also, another alleged spy ship linked to Iran called the Saviz seems to be playing a nefarious role in the current Houthi attacks on shipping. Find out about the latest news on escalating war in the Middle East on WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: TWZ.com IRNA.ir JPost.com UN experts call for investigation into Israeli human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls A group of experts with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called for an urgent investigation into "credible reports" of Israel committing grave human rights violations against women and children in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. According to the reports, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) allegedly subjected Palestinian women and girls who have been seeking refuge and fleeing conflict zones to arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, sexual assault and other degrading treatment. In an official statement on Feb. 20, UN experts including Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, and Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 revealed the alleged arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers, since Oct. 7. "We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces," the experts said. "We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped, while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence." 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. Detainees have faced inhuman and degrading treatment, denial of basic necessities such as menstruation pads, food, and medicine, and severe beatings. Palestinian women and girls were also sexually assaulted and raped, while images of humiliation were uploaded online. Moreover, the experts revealed disturbing reports that Palestinian women and children, including girls, have gone missing after contact with the IDF in Gaza. "There are disturbing reports of at least one female infant forcibly transferred by the Israeli army into Israel and of children being separated from their parents, whose whereabouts remain unknown," they said. The UN experts called on the government of Israel to uphold the rights of Palestinian women and girls, urging it to cooperate with an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough and effective investigation into the allegations. "We remind the Government of Israel of its obligation to uphold the right to life, safety, health, and dignity of Palestinian women and girls and to ensure that no one is subjected to violence, torture, ill-treatment or degrading treatment, including sexual violence. Taken together, these alleged acts may constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and amount to serious crimes under international criminal law that could be prosecuted under the Rome Statute. Those responsible for these apparent crimes must be held accountable and victims and their families are entitled to full redress and justice," the group said. IDF denies UN allegations of human rights violations The IDF promptly denied the accusations in a statement, claiming that it is not possible to examine the accusations in depth "without precise details or proof of individual cases." Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva likewise rejected the claims, labeling them "despicable and unfounded." They pointed out that no complaints of abuse had been received but emphasized Israel's readiness to investigate credible allegations with evidence. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office pointed to the official Israeli statement when asked to respond to the call for an independent investigation into the allegations. Meanwhile, the Hamas militant group responded to the UN statement, claiming that it serves as evidence of Israel committing genocide in Gaza. The group insisted that these findings should be part of the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "The statement issued by a group of UN experts, which documented the blatant human rights violations to which Palestinian women and girls are specifically subjected in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, is confirmation and additional evidence of the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing committed by the occupation," the group said on Telegram. Follow IsraelCollapse.com for more news about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Watch the video below to learn more on the Gaza humanitarian crisis. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: If its war on Hamas doesnt end, Israel will cease to exist by 2030, warns former UN consultant. UN official: Israel-Palestine war brings FAMINE at incredible speed, leaving hundreds of thousands starving in Gaza. UN official accuses Israel of plotting MASS EXPULSION of Gazans into Egypt. Israel is weaponizing FAMINE while destroying food system in Gaza, says UN human rights expert. Israel BOMBS Belgian agency in Gaza as punishment for funding UN relief efforts for Palestinian refugees. Sources include: OHCHR.org MSN.com Edition.CNN.com Brighteon.com Around 25% of political donations received by Australias four biggest parties are untraceable Around a quarter of all political donations received by major political parties in Australia from 2022 to 2023 could not be traced back to specific donors This is according to a report from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), which found that between 21 percent to 27 percent of donations and other receipts to the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, the National Party and the Greens came from unnamed sources. Untraceable donations to these four largest political parties amounted to A$56.8 million ($37.06 million). This is down from the so-called "dark money" recorded during the election season ending in May 2022, when the AEC recorded A$90 million ($58.72 million) in untraceable donations. According to Australian political donation laws, parties are only required to declare the source of donations and other payments that were given above a certain threshold, which is currently set at AU$15,200 ($9,916). (Related: Australian government report warns against the potential THREATS of AI.) The Liberal Party received the most in untraceable donations at A$25.2 million ($16.44 million) followed by the Labor Party at A$22.4 million ($14.61 million). The Greens and Nationals respectively got A$6.2 million ($4.04 million) and A$3 million ($1.96 million) in untraceable donations. Lack of transparency a pressing issue in Australian politics According to Bill Brown, democracy and accountability program director for the Canberra-based think tank The Australia Institute, some of the data from the AEC is 18 months old, highlighting how the situation regarding transparency and integrity in Australian politics and how dark money continues to flow into parties continues to be a pressing issue. 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. "These lags and other loopholes make it difficult to see how politicians and political parties are being funded, and by whom," he said. "With Parliament resuming next week, this is a wake-up call that 2024 is the last chance for meaningful democratic reform ahead of the 2025 election." Support for tougher donation disclosure laws is mixed. An interim report from parliament's joint standing committee on electoral matters backed legislation that would lower the cap on political donations and lower the threshold for mandatory disclosures of donations to AU$1,000 ($652), and offer real-time donation disclosures. These measures were backed by the governing Labor Party, the Greens and several independent members of parliament (MP). But the federal Liberal Party and Nationals opposed the measure, with Liberal MP James Stevens characterizing the proposal as an attempt to "financially gerrymander" elections to give Labor which gets a lot of its support from unions an advantage and said that the Liberal Party would resist it "tooth and nail." But Michael Yabsley, a Liberal member of the New South Wales Parliament, backed the measure. He noted that he also wants the federal government to support tougher enforcement of donation rules and harsher penalties for rulebreakers. "There are penalties in the form of custodial services that pertain to a lot of forms of white-collar crime," he pointed out. "And I can't think of anything more important than preserving the integrity of the democratic system. If someone is stupid enough to say, 'OK, we've worked out a way to get $500,000 to the Liberal Party or the Labor Party,' but then they see that the downside of doing that is seven years in the slammer, they might think twice about doing that." Visit Rigged.news for similar stories about corruption during elections. Watch this short clip discussing how Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is partying with other world leaders rather than addressing issues plaguing Australians. This video is from the Alex Hammer channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Australian senator examines Albanese governments large donation to the globalist World Health Organization. Australian government to use facial, fingerprint recognition for key online government services in 2024. National Australia Bank now debanking customers for "mean" speech Australian green project SCRAPPED because of transport costs. Australian government report warns against the potential THREATS of AI. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com Saltdale is slowly decaying at the hands of the mineral that once made it flourish SALT Saltdale in southern California is slowly sinking into Koehn Lake , a dry lake bed with salt deposits on its surface in the Mojave Desert. In the 1910s, the town produced tens of thousands of tons of salt every year. Decades later, the mine supported a community with a school, post office and a company store. Now, all that's left are remnants of an expired town that is slowly decaying, ironically, because of salt. Saltdale is surrounded by raised ridges of hardened mud that divide Koehn Lake into tiny man-made pools of mushy salt. On top of these ridges are the remains of a once-extensive salt-mining operation. (Related: Japanese designers unveil plan to house 40,000 people in a "Noah's Ark-like" floating city.) Koehn Lake's name is misleading. The lake is a dry lake, or, to be precise, a moist one. The empty lakebed sits atop an undrained basin and the water from the basin reaches ground level through capillary action, a process that also helps pull water up tree trunks. The water then moistens the sand on the surface, turning it into a mush with the consistency of quicksand. Most importantly, the water carries with it salt, which it deposits on the lake's surface. The salt finally crystallizes into a white, frosty layer. Timothy Karoff, a reporter, talked about his experience visiting Saltdale in October last year. While exploring the ghost town, Karoff saw metal half-pipes with their tops rusting away and wooden train tracks that had "frayed into limp, wispy splinters." He also saw fences that were originally built to box in the pools that have tilted into the muck. In some of the pools, Karoff saw thin films of salt that climbed over recently discarded beer cans in what he thinks was "the first step in a long process of salt decay." 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. Saltdale was quiet, except for the desert wind and the occasional, muffled sonic booms from jets at the Edwards Air Force Base. Karoff tried stepping into one of the pools of salt. While it felt solid at first, the mineral layer cracked and eventually gave way to quicksand. He also saw a small building with corrugated metal walls in the middle of one of the salt pools. Rust climbed from its base while its outer wall warped outward. The structure slanted as if it was about to sink, and he thinks it was the only remaining building in Saltdale. Rush for "white gold" created Saltdale The town grew out of salt mining operations that began in the early 1900s. Opportunists realized the lake's potential and rushed to acquire mining claims. While salt wasn't as valuable as gold, the former's use in chemical and industrial processes made it a precious mineral. At first, Koehn Lake's salt supply was seemingly endless. Every year since the mining began, fresh salt climbed to the surface, replenishing the stores. Other factors, such as the lakes location near a railway and power infrastructure not far from Los Angeles, made it even more desirable. Larry Vredenburgh, a co-author of the Desert Symposium article, explained that every year "you could mine it and there would be more salt." But even Vredenburgh, who worked as a Bureau of Land Management geologist for 40 years, acknowledged that the history of the mining operations early days is hard to analyze. Several miners held placer claims to the lake, many of which were leased to other, bigger mining operations. Claim jumping was also common. Conflicts over mining claims gradually reached their violent climax in a gunfight in 1912 between two dueling claimholders. In 1914, the Consolidated Salt Company took over most of the salt mining operations and built a four-story mill. It employed an estimated 30 to 65 people at the time, which was enough to sustain a small town. Saltdale was also founded in 1914. The community was too small that it never incorporated and it remained a company town for the duration of its brief existence. Employees and their families lived in wooden houses and shopped at the Saltdale company store. Residents went to church in the nearby towns of Randsburg and Cantil. During the height of the Great Depression throughout the 1930s, the plant produced between 3,800 and 8,100 tons of salt per year for a decade. Drought caused Saltdale's eventual demise The histories of western mining towns are "tales of boom and bust," and Saltdale's fate was the same. Saltdale's good times soured in the late 1940s, when a few nearly rainless years shuttered the mining operation. As less water was seeping into the lake, there was also less groundwater to carry salt deposits to the lakebed. Vredenburgh explained that "somehow in the process of the dwindling rainfall, it didn't deposit as much salt as it normally would have." This heralded the town's quick decay and Saltdale quickly collapsed. By 1949, only three employees were working at the mill. The post office closed in 1950 and the school district dissolved the following year. While the salt mill continued to churn through imported salt, the town of Saltdale was gone. In the 1970s, the mill finally shuttered and no trace of the structure remains today. Karoff said the most striking sight at Saltdale is not its tattered industrial debris, but the lake that passively feeds on them. Koehn Lake is now "a milky, crystalline expanse, faintly gleaming under the desert sun," Karoff said. He explained that salt creeps upward and that it damages wood and rusts metal, which are the two materials from which most of Saltdale was constructed. Some structures, like the corrugated metal building, sink into the salty muck. In Saltdale, the salt climbs out of the lake and corrodes the remaining railroad tracks. Saltdale has a curious fate compared to other ghost towns. Most mining towns remain after they're deserted. However, Saltdale is decaying at the hands of the mineral that once made it flourish. Visit Discoveries.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below to explore an abandoned ranch in the Sonoron Desert at the base of the Tortolita Mountains. This video is from the Cahlen channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Experts discover terror beast fossils in Greenland that are over half a BILLION years old. Successful 20-minute conversation with humpback whale could lay the groundwork for contacting extraterrestrials. Experts say the worlds biggest iceberg is drifting fast after being stuck in one spot for 30 years. Sources include: SFGate.com Vredenburgh.org VVDailyPress.com Brighteon.com Laman Ismayilova The Rashid Behbudov State Song Theater has hosted the event "S?hn?d?n s?ng?r?" (From the stage to the trenches), dedicated to the memory of the martyr of the 44-day Patriotic War Togrul Hajiyev. The event was organized by NGO ??hid Analar?na D?st?k! (Support for Mothers of Martyrs) with the support of the Culture Ministry, Azernews reports. First, the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played, the memory of the Azerbaijani martyrs was honored with a minute of silence. As part of the event, Rufat Huseynli's book "From the stage to the trenches" dedicated to Togrul Hajiyev. The evening featured speeches from the chairman of NGO Support for Mothers of Martyrs Jeyran Hasanova, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Elchin Gashimov, Honored Artist Sabuhi Jafarov, teachers, friends and colleagues of Togrul Hajiyev. Togrul Hajiyev was born on December 24, 1996 in Baku. Since childhood, he was fond of music and dreamed of his native Fuzuli, which he knew about only from the memories of his parents. The Hajiyev family are refugees from Fuzuli district. In August 1993, when Armenian aggressors were rampant in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the Hajiyevs moved to Baku. In the capital, for many years they huddled in the territory of a former computer repair plant, and then for more than ten years - in a small room. Only in 2009 were they able to build their small house in Sulutepe and settle down. Togrul Hajiyev studied at refugee school No. 18 in the Zangilan district, and went to music school with his brother. Toghrul was a very talented boy and won competitions several times. With high scores, he entered the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and graduated with honors from his bachelor's and master's degrees. He took part in various concert programs, was a teacher at children's music school No. 3 of the Fizuli region. His father, Rufat, was a worker who fought in the First Garabagh War. In the winter of 1994, he was seriously wounded during the Horadiz operation. From the first days of the Second Garabagh War, Togrul Hajiyev went to the front as a private in active military service and fought valiantly against the Armenian occupiers. He became a martyr on October 10, 2020, during the liberation of his native Fuzuli district. Togrul Hajiyev was posthumously awarded the medals V?t?n u?runda (For the Fatherland) and Fuzulinin azad olunmas?na gor? (For the liberation of Fuzuli). Study reveals the power of COFFEE against COVID-19 infections Whoever thought a hot cup of joe could help address Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) infection? Indeed, two studies have shown the power of coffee against this pathogen. The first study published in Cell & Bioscience last November found that drinking approximately one to two cups of coffee daily is enough to inhibit COVID-19 infections caused by different strains of SARS-CoV-2. In particular, it found that the consumption of coffee addressed infections caused by the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and its subsequent variants the B117 alpha strain, the B16172 delta strain and the B11529 omicron strain. The study authors from Taiwan examined coffee's ability to fight off COVID-19 infection by purchasing three kinds of coffee ground, instant and decaffeinated from supermarkets. They discovered that all the coffee types they scrutinized possess the ability to inhibit viral infection in cells. The study authors also found that adding milk or sugar does not impact coffee's antiviral properties. Even decaffeinated coffee "still has the capability to interrupt SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is important to know for caffeine-sensitive populations." Moreover, they mentioned in their paper that "the optimal timeline for coffee to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection is within six hours" after drinking. (Related: Adding milk to coffee can help fight inflammation, suggests study.) According to the researchers, there are two ways coffee protects human cells against SARS-CoV-2 infection. First, compounds in coffee inhibit the spike protein's ability to bind with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in human cells. Second, they reduce the activity of transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsin L (CTSL). 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. "Taken together, drinking one to two cups of coffee as well as decaffeinated coffee daily can potentially reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection including wild-type, alpha, delta and omicron variants," the researchers concluded. Same antiviral properties also present in coffee leaves Another study by the same research team from Taiwan focused on the ability of Coffea arabica leaves to address SARS-CoV-2 infection. Their earlier study published in July 2022 in the International Journal of Biological Sciences found that C. arabica leaves can inhibit the entry of the pathogen behind COVID-19 and its various strains into human cells. This is because C. arabica leaf extracts have several phytochemicals that are also present in coffee beans. These include chlorogenic acid, caffeine, quinic acid and mangiferin. They inhibit infection by preventing the viral spike protein from binding with ACE2 receptors in human cells and reducing the activity of TMPRSS2. During an appearance on the Taiwanese program "Health 1+1", professor emeritus Jin-Jian Zhang of the National Taiwanese University's College of Medicine expounded on the benefits of coffee. The professor with years of research experience in coffee under his belt said daily coffee consumption can alleviate inflammation, enhance immunity, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. According to Zhang, coffee's association with longevity is linked to the various bioactive compounds present in it the same compounds that contribute to its antiviral properties. These compounds such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, trigonelline, cafestol and melanoidins form during the roasting process, and exhibit antioxidant properties to some extent. The professor also pointed out that coffee can help address depression, citing two mechanisms. First, coffee can increase the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut with higher populations of good bacteria contributing to improved sleep quality. Second, the aroma of coffee beans can trigger the release of feel-good hormones in the body enhancing overall happiness in turn. Zhang shared that he consumes coffee with added milk, mainly to mitigate its potential effects on the digestive system. However, newer research has found that coffee with added milk offers greater benefits as the cysteine in milk combines with coffee's polyphenols, enhancing the drink's anti-inflammatory activity. However, the professor advised against adding non-dairy creamer or sugar to coffee. Non-dairy creamer mainly contains trans fats that aren't good for the body, while sugar may contribute unnecessary calories. Head over to CoronavirusFoods.com for more about the antiviral properties of coffee and other foods. Watch this video about the surprising benefits of coffee. This video is from The Truth About Cancer channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: BREAKING GOOD NEWS: These four herbal extracts reduce viral load and block SARS-CoV-2, influenza, adenovirus. Breakthrough: This fermented Japanese superfood can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infections, researchers find. Study shows green and black tea can inactivate several COVID-19 subvariants. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com CellAndBioscience.BioMedCentral.com IJBS.com Brighteon.com Weather experts warned residents of the United Kingdom against isolated tornadoes after a yellow wind warning has been raised over South East England. Freak Weather Events The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) explained that tornadoes, "misocyclones" and a "low-topped supercell or two" could be felt in the evening as well as on Thursday. They said that the areas, which are placed at the highest risk of freak weather events, are Central England, the Midlands, East Anglia, and the South East. Meteorologists noted that there could also be strong gusts in Wales. Weather officials forecasted that a cold front would cross the area overnight and on Thursday, with one or more waves developing along it, in response to an upper short-wave trough. Several areas of precipitation should accompany this, with some embedded convection possible. This weather condition may result in one or more lines, and perhaps some cellular activity too. The lines may include misocyclones, and a low-topped supercell or two is possible in any discrete convection. Overnight, parts of Wales will experience one or two lines of showery rain, and then later tonight and on Thursday, another area of showery rain, with lines and possible cells, will cross parts of central and southern England. Both of these sets of showery rain may also bring squally gusts. Further, the small chance of one or two brief tornadoes - the highest chance of gusts and isolated tornadoes appears to be over parts of Central Southern England, the SE Midlands, E Anglia, and SE England later on Thursday morning as well as into Thursday afternoon. The warning came after the Met Office issued an urgent yellow weather warning for rain as large parts of the country are forecasted to be hammered in the downpour. The warning for tomorrow covers London, southeast England, east of England, and southwest England from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. It also covers cities such as Reading, Brighton and Dorset. The Met Office warned that millions of Britons could face travel interruptions and power disruptions as heavy rainfall could widely result in localized floods. Read Also: England Breaks Valentine's Night Temperature Record as Mild Weather Continues Most Violent Weather Types Weather experts defined tornadoes as one of the most violent and dramatic weather types on the planet and demonstrate the awesome destructive power of our turbulent atmosphere. A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that reaches between the base of a storm cloud and the Earth's surface. They form in very unsettled weather conditions as part of severe thunderstorms. Many conditions need to be present for a tornado to form but, when these conditions are met, a violently whirling mass of air, known as a vortex, forms beneath the storm cloud. A funnel cloud usually develops as the vortex forms due to the reduced pressure in the vortex. Strong inflowing winds intensify, and the spin rate increases as the vortex stretches vertically. Meteorologists noted that if it continues stretching and intensifying for long enough the vortex touches the ground, at which point it becomes classified as a tornado. The tornado will then move across the surface causing severe damage or destruction to objects in its path. Related Article: UK Weather Update: Met Office Warns of Dangerous Snow, Ice Conditions; Flood Warnings Reported Experts said that baleen whales are capable of singing under water, with studies indicating that noise pollution from shipping activity can make some changes towards a marine mammal's ability to communicate. Vocalizations To Mediate Behaviors A Nature study indicated that when the ancient ancestors of whales returned to the ocean from land, they were observed to have developed major adaptations to make vocal communication possible underwater. Baleen whales or mysticetes use vocalizations to mediate their complex social and reproductive behaviors in vast, opaque marine environments. Scientists found out that adapting to an obligate aquatic lifestyle demanded fundamental physiological changes to efficiently produce sound, including laryngeal specializations. Whereas toothed whales (odontocetes) evolved a nasal vocal organ5, mysticetes have been thought to use the larynx when it comes to sound production. However, research suggested that there has been no direct demonstration that the mysticete larynx can phonate, or if it does, how it produces the great diversity of mysticete sounds. In the study, experts combined experiments on the excised larynx of three mysticete species with detailed anatomy and computational models to show that mysticetes evolved unique laryngeal structures for sound production. These structures allow some of the largest animals that ever lived to efficiently produce frequency-modulated, low frequency calls. Furthermore, scientists showed that this phonation mechanism is likely to be ancestral to all mysticetes and shares its fundamental physical basis with most terrestrial mammals, including humans, birds, and their closest relatives, odontocetes. However, it was pointed out that these laryngeal structures set insurmountable physiological limits to the frequency range and depth of their vocalizations, preventing them from escaping anthropogenic vessel noise and communicating at great depths. This then greatly reduced their active communication range. The data found in the study conclusively demonstrated that the mysticete larynx has retained its key role as a vocal organ, which, despite numerous anatomical specializations, functions by the same myoelastic-aerodynamic principles as the larynx in humans and most other terrestrial mammals. Read Also: New Fossil and Whales: Primitive Baleen Whales Discovered in New Zealand Vessel, Shipping Pollution Meanwhile, vessel noise pollution and shipping intensity is seen to result in a real threat to large whales. Research has shown that constant shipping noise can dominate the ocean soundscape and cause stress levels to rise in some species, especially the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Due to the deaths of five North Atlantic right whales since December, there have been renewed calls for federal shipping regulations. A coalition of environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit to finalize shipping speed rules proposed in 2022 that would require mariners off the East Coast to slow down in order to reduce the risk against endangered whales swimming in the area. So far, experts said that ongoing research efforts, coupled with working directly with local harbor safety committees, the maritime industry and government agencies, are necessary to ensure the protection of baleen whales. Related Article: Fossil Baleen Whale Fills Evolutionary Gap; Explains How Modern Whales Lost Their Teeth China is at risk of missing major climate targets for 2025 and must reduce fossil fuel consumption while maintaining record renewable energy investment to get back on track, according to research. CO2 Emission Beijing is the world's leading source of greenhouse gas pollution, as they depended heavily on coal and oil to power the country's economy throughout the pandemic and accelerate its recovery. However, as a result, there has been a significant increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to global warming. China set a number of climate targets as part of its 14th five-year plan, which spans from 2021 to 2025, including reducing carbon intensity (CO2 emissions per unit of economic production) by 18% from 2020 levels over this time frame. According to Lauri Myllyvirta, Helsinki-based lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) and senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, meeting this target would result in CO2 emissions falling by 4% to 6% by 2025 from 2023 levels. However, China's energy sector CO2 emissions are expected to rise by 5.2% in 2023, according to a study released by Carbon Brief, a British website specializing in climate research and policy. The country produces about one-third of the world's CO2 emissions, and how it manages the transition to a clean-energy economy has implications for all nations and the rate of global climate change. Read Also: Experts Discovers There Are Different Ways of Reducing Emissions of Carbon in Different Cities in China Coal Power The analysis is based on official and commercial data. It demonstrates that a significant rise in electricity consumption and below-average rainfall increased demand for coal power in 2023 in China, while the government's zero-COVID policy boosted demand for oil. The lack of rain for several years reduced hydropower generation in portions of the country, increasing dependency on coal power. Furthermore, some provinces saw developing coal power plants as a method to boost economic growth and energy security. China is also increasing its coal power plant fleet. Since the beginning of 2022, 218 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants have been approved. According to the analysis, construction has already begun on around 90 GW of this capacity by the end of 2023. Coal contributes to around 60% of China's electrical generation. Despite President Xi Jinping's commitment to carefully regulating coal usage and new coal power plants, the investigation found that both have accelerated dramatically. This calls into question his promise to reduce coal consumption between 2026 and 2030, as well as to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. If China maintains its record-breaking deployment of renewable energy, notably wind and solar, it should be able to meet the majority of its climate commitments, according to Myllyvirta. Renewable energy investment in China has increased dramatically during the last two years. As renewables become increasingly prevalent, coal's share of electricity generation is likely to decline. According to S&P Global, China's National Energy Administration, and the International Energy Agency, it added 301 GW of renewables in 2023 alone, primarily wind and solar, accounting for approximately 59% of the world's total renewable capacity additions that year. Related Article: China Plans to Cap Greenhouse Gas Emissions According to information published by the Indian MoD on February 20, 2024, the Indian Navy has extended a warm welcome to the Iranian Navy's Moudge class frigate IRIS Dena, as it arrived in Visakhapatnam. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Moudge class frigate IRIS Dena. (Picture source: Indian Navy) Since December, the Indian Navy has been at the forefront of anti-piracy operations in the Red Sea, showcasing its commitment to maritime security and international cooperation. The INS Sumitra, an Indian warship, has played a crucial role in these efforts, responding to at least 17 pirate hijacking incidents. Notably, in a span of 36 hours this past week, it successfully rescued two Iranian-flagged vessels, the Al Naeemi among them, safeguarding 36 crew members from pirate clutches. India's proactive stance in the Red Sea region, particularly highlighted by these recent rescues, aligns with statements from Indias Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, emphasizing the country's responsibility towards regional stability. This approach also reflects India's nuanced diplomacy, balancing its longstanding ties with Iran against the backdrop of rising piracy threats and regional conflicts, notably the recent escalation with the Houthis in Yemen. The resurgence of piracy in the Red Sea has prompted international action, with nearly 20 countries joining the U.S.-led "Operation Prosperity Guardian" to ensure the safe passage of vessels. Yet, India's participation remains measured, prioritizing its diplomatic relationship with Iran and focusing its maritime efforts on combating piracy rather than engaging in broader military operations against the Houthis or other politically-backed groups. The Indian Navy's strategy prioritizes the safety of commercial shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, employing an array of naval assets for surveillance and protection duties. This includes not only warships but also marine patrol aircraft and drones for comprehensive monitoring of maritime traffic. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 22. LOT Polish Airlines will connect Uzbekistan's Tashkent and Warsaw with regular flights, Trend reports. According to Uzbekistan Airports, the first passenger flight is scheduled for March 14. It is planned that flights will be carried out three times a week - on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The Polish carrier plans to operate an additional flight on Tuesdays with a scheduled return to Warsaw on Wednesdays in April and May. The plans to launch air service between Poland and Uzbekistan were announced in August 2022. At that time, a delegation with the head of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport Ilhom Mahkamov agreed with LOT to establish flights in the coming winter. In January 2023, Uzbekistan Airports announced the imminent launch of charter flights Warsaw - Tashkent from LOT. An aircraft of the Polish airline arrived at Tashkent's airport for the first time on March 21. Representatives of the Polish company last summer told about plans to establish a regular service from March 2024. In the future, LOT Polish Airlines also intends to launch flights to Samarkand. Nothing announces Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as new brand ambassador New Delhi, Feb 22 London-based consumer technology brand Nothing on Thursday announced Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as its new brand ambassador. "Nothings commitment to breaking the clutter in the smartphone industry is truly inspiring. I can't wait to collaborate with Nothing and create something truly exceptional together," Ranveer said in a statement. The actor will feature in digital, print, and TVC campaigns for Nothing phones. "Our ambitions are expanding day by day in the Indian market, and after establishing manufacturing here and as were opening numerous service centres across the country, this partnership is a natural next step to further grow our brand," said co-founder of Nothing, Akis Evangelidis. Nothing is set to launch its upcoming smartphone, Phone (2a), on March 5 in India. Earlier this week, the company announced that Phone (2a) will feature a custom Dimensity 7200 Pro processor co-engineered with MediaTek. Built on TSMC's latest second-generation 4nm process technology -- Phone (2a)s processor effortlessly powers through any task with unparalleled power efficiency and blazing speed, according to the company. Founded in 2020, Nothing has released three audio products, two smartphones to date, and, as of September last year, a sub-brand: CMF by Nothing. (IANS - Posted on 22 February 2024) Nothing announces Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as new brand ambassador Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Alia Bhatt celebrates 10 years of 'Highway' Mumbai, February 21 Actor Alia Bhatt on Wednesday celebrated 10 years of the release of her film 'Highway'. The film starred Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda in the lead roles. Randeep played the role of a kidnapper Mahabir, who kidnaps Veera, the character played by Alia Bhatt. The film explored many themes like childhood sexual harassment and Stockholm syndrome, a psychological condition in which the victim develops strong emotional feelings for the kidnapper/abuser. The film was well-received by the audience and Imtiaz was praised for his direction and the story. The lead pair also won critical acclaim for their performances. Recently, Alia Bhatt, who is an executive producer on 'Poacher' unveiled the trailer of the upcoming crime series. Meanwhile, on the acting front, Alia is busy shooting for Vasan Bala's 'Jigra'. Apart from this, Alia will also be seen in director Farhan Akhtar's film 'Jee Le Zaraa' alongside Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif. (ANI - Posted on 22 February 2024) Alia Bhatt celebrates 10 years of 'Highway' Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 22. The UK Sackers metalworking company expressed readiness to hold negotiations with Uzbekistan to realize an investment project on the processing of metals and their export, Trend reports. This was discussed during a meeting between the Embassy of Uzbekistan in London and the director of the UK Sackers metalworking company, David Dodds. During the conversation, the sides discussed matters of attracting the UK company as an investor to set up an enterprise for processing non-ferrous and rare metals in Uzbekistan. The Sackers Company was founded in 1929 and currently processes about 16,000 tons of metal per year. The organization specializes in the import and processing of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, copper, lead, stainless steel, electronics, cables, and wires, as well as metal packaging and tin cans. Earlier, Uzbekistan and the UK signed a joint road map on the development of trade and investment ties. The document was signed during the 27th meeting of the Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council (UBTIC), held in London. The event was attended by the heads of trade ministries and departments of the two countries, as well as industry associations and banks. Besides the joint roadmap, the parties signed a number of agreements and memoranda on the implementation of the results achieved during the meetings. 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. In a new study led by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center and the U of M Medical School, researchers found that exposure to air pollution and vegetation may impact childhood cancer development. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The population-based study, led by U of M Medical School Assistant Professor Lindsay Williams, MPH, PhD, in collaboration with U of M Institute for Health Informatics Assistant Professor David Haynes, PhD, examined over 6,000 children with cancer and 109,000 children without cancer in Texas. The study found that from 1995-2011 increasing exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during the birth year increased the risk of developing any childhood cancer and specifically lymphoid leukemia, lymphoma, ependymoma, retinoblastoma and thyroid carcinoma. As a childhood cancer epidemiologist, I am always concerned with identifying factors that increase risk of cancer development in kids. There is growing evidence that air pollution during pregnancy and fetal development increases the risk of developing some diseases in children, including cancer." Dr. Lindsay Williams, MPH, PhD, Assistant Professor, U of M Medical School Williams noted that identifying particular exposures that could decrease the risk for developing childhood cancer has proven challenging in the past as there are very few of these that have been identified to date. To that end, her team decided to examine environmental exposures that might reduce the risk of developing childhood cancers. To do so, they examined the association between residential greenness -; or vegetation density around the home -; and childhood cancer risk, as plants can remove up to 20% of PM2.5 from the air. Findings indicate that increasing exposure to residential greenness reduced the risk of developing ependymoma and medulloblastoma -; the two most commonly diagnosed malignant brain tumors in children. These associations for PM2.5 and greenness also remained after accounting for both co-exposures in the team's statistical models, suggesting that these exposures independently modulate risk for some childhood cancers. Williams and team stress that these exposures to air pollution and, conversely, to greenness are potentially modifiable risk factors that could be targeted as risk reduction and prevention strategies through policy measures and/or through changes in environment, such as planting more trees and vegetation. Future work is underway to examine more specific timing of exposures during pregnancy and other air pollutants to better understand how the composition of air pollution, which is a complex chemical mixture, impacts childhood cancer development. UT Health Science Center researchers Gabor Tigyi, MD, PhD, Harriet Van Vleet Endowment Professor in Basic Oncology Research, Junming Yue, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pathology, Sue Chin Lee, PhD, in the Department of Physiology, and David Schwartz, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, are part of a scientific leadership group awarded $20 million from the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to develop new radiopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer. The grant is the first to UT Health Science Center investigators in collaboration with ORNL and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. We are most grateful to Tennessee's legislature and to our UT President Randy Boyd for supporting UT-ORII and enabling the funding for this exciting cancer initiative, which is good news for our overall research effort, for our cancer research program, and for the people of Tennessee. We are building a bridge to work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and UT Knoxville, as part of a bigger effort of collaboration across the UT System. The ultimate goal is to help the citizens we serve." Peter Buckley, MD, Chancellor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center This collaborative project was seeded by the D3 Drug Discovery and Development Initiative in 2020 by Steve Goodman, PhD, former vice chancellor for Research at UT Health Science Center, and Martha Head, PhD, formerly at ORNL. UT-ORII selected the radiopharmaceutical cancer therapeutics program and also a bioeconomy systems project as its new Convergent Research Initiatives (CRIs), areas of joint research for UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Over the next five years, UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory will invest $40 million-;$20 million per initiative-;and work jointly to accelerate world-leading innovation and establish UT and ORNL as national leaders in these areas. "These two new Convergent Research Initiatives, along with an additional CRI next year will bring more than 100 new UT and ORNL researchers together across our state to tackle some of our nation's biggest challenges, while also bringing in new funds to Tennessee," President Boyd said. "That means more opportunities for graduate students and more opportunities for Tennesseans." The new CRIs were chosen from 54 proposals submitted by UT and ORNL joint research teams. "There was an outstanding response to the call for proposals from ORNL and UT researchers," said David Sholl, UT-ORII's interim executive director. "We had 54 teams of ORNL and UT researchers come together and say, 'We have a big idea. We're ready to work together.' That's powerful and demonstrates the tremendous potential we have to solve some of our nation's toughest problems and make a huge impact across the state and around the world, when we combine our resources." In addition to Drs. Yue, Lee, Tigyi, and Schwartz, the core technical leadership group for the new radiopharmaceutical therapies project include, Sandra Davern, PhD, section head for radioisotope research and development and initiative lead for the Accelerating Radiotherapeutics Through Advanced Molecular Constructs Initiative and the Accelerating Radiotherapeutic Innovations and Applications Initiative at ORNL, and Rachel Patton McCord, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology at UT Knoxville. The team's goal is to advance precision cancer treatment by focusing on a new generation of theranostics-;a combination of therapy and diagnostic imaging radioisotope-labeled drugs-;that utilizes targeted alpha-emitting radioisotope constructs to kill cancer cells with precision and minimal side effects. The team will also work to establish the education framework and workforce pipeline needed to attract radiopharmaceutical companies to Tennessee. Dr. Tigyi has a long history of groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research, including the development of compounds that block cancer cells by stopping their growth and spread. He also has been a pioneer in the development of radiation injury countermeasures. He has worked closely with Dr. Yue, an animal model expert, who has been researching ovarian cancer treatments. "We are thrilled to continue to work together with Drs. Davern and McCord and their research team across the system on this initiatve," Dr. Tigyi said. "In my more than 30 years at UT Health Science Center, I have been privileged to work with outstanding researchers dedicated to uncovering treatments for cancer. This project takes that life's work in a new and exciting direction." Dr. Yue's research is funded by the Department of Defense to prevent and treat the development of therapy resistance of carcinoma cells. Dr. Schwartz, the founding director of the Center for Health Equity at UT Health Science Center, also recently received $2.75 million from the Tennessee Department of Health for a project to develop a personalized support systems to tackle interruptions to radiotherapy in at-risk patients. Chancellor Buckley expressed his gratitude for the support of the competitive application by ORNL leaders, Director Stephen Streiffer, PhD; Deputy Director Susan Hubbard, PhD; UT-ORII's interim Executive Director David Sholl; Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, & Economic Development at UT Knoxville Deborah Crawford, PhD, and Wesley Byerly, PharmD, interim vice chancellor for Research at UT Health Science Center. "This radiopharmaceuticals team science project is a great example of the many exciting opportunities ahead of us through statewide collaborations with our vital partners, with the goal of improving health care outcomes for the state," Dr. Byerly said. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today was awarded 16 grants totaling over $25.5 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in support of cancer screening, early detection and prevention programs, faculty recruitment, and groundbreaking cancer research across all areas of the institution. We are grateful for CPRIT's continued funding of impactful cancer research and prevention programs at MD Anderson, which propels our efforts to deliver new breakthroughs and to advance our mission to end cancer. These efforts are pivotal to our institutional strategy and are grounded in our unwavering commitment to transform the lives of patients in Texas, across the nation and around the world." Peter WT Pisters, M.D., President of MD Anderson Since its inception, CPRIT has awarded more than $3.4 billion in grants for cancer research. MD Anderson investigators have received $620 million altogether, approximately 18% of the total awards. Programs supported by CPRIT funding have brought more than 302 distinguished cancer researchers to Texas, advanced the knowledge base for cancer treatment throughout the state and provided more than 9 million cancer prevention and early detection services reaching all 254 counties in Texas. CPRIT awards to MD Anderson include: Prevention Awards: Expanding Access to Cervical Cancer Screening through Primary HR-HPV Testing and Self-Sampling: A Multicomponent Intervention for Safety Net Health Systems (Jane Montealegre, Ph.D., Behavioral Science) - $2,499,646 Preventing Tobacco Related Cancers by Expanding Capacity for Tobacco Use Interventions Within Agencies Serving Women with Behavioral Health Needs (Lorraine Reitzel, Ph.D., Health Disparities Research) - $2,487,822 Integrated Mammography and Genetic Evaluation Services (Gary Whitman, M.D., Breast Imaging) - $1,499,400 Individual Investigator Awards: Dissection of CAMKK2's Tumor Cell-Intrinsic and -Extrinsic Roles in Prostate Cancer (Daniel Frigo, Ph.D., Cancer Systems Imaging) - $1,050,000 Identify Radiopathomics Markers to Guide Immunotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Jia Wu, Ph.D., Imaging Physics) - $1,049,906 Immune-Related Determinants of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Outcomes (Guojun Li, M.D., Ph.D., Head and Neck Surgery) - $1,049,726 Immunoprevention of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis by Special Dendritic Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles (Dihua Yu, M.D., Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Oncology) - $1,050,000 Targeting Cancer-Associated Lactobacillus Iners to Improve Response to Cancer Therapy (Lauren Colbert, M.D., Radiation Oncology) - $1,049,427 The Epigenetic Impact and Therapeutic Opportunity of AR-Directed Therapy for DSRCT (Joseph Ludwig, M.D., Sarcoma Medical Oncology) - $1,398,788 Investigating the Impact of Interferon Gamma Signaling on Therapeutic Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Hussein Abbas, M.D., Ph.D., Leukemia) - $1,042,256 Epigenetic Mechanism and Targeting During Response to BRAFi/Anti-EGFR Therapy in BRAF-Mutant Colorectal Cancers (Scott Kopetz, M.D., Ph.D., Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology) - $1,043,909 Therapeutic Vulnerabilities and Predictors of Response to Chemo(immuno)therapy in Patients with High-Risk, Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) (Anil Korkut, Ph.D., Bioinformatics and Computational Biology) - $1,199,999 Treatment Planning of ADC Therapy for Ovarian Cancer with Molecular Photoacoustic-Ultrasonic Imaging (Richard Bouchard, Ph.D., Imaging Physics) - $1,049,859 Translation of Gut Commensal Bacteria Peptidoglycan Remodeling Pathway for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy (Neeraj Saini, M.D., Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy) - $1,050,000 Identifying Tumor Specific Vulnerabilities in Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma: A Systems Approach (John Paul Shen, M.D., Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology) - $1,050,000 Scholar Recruitment Awards: In a recent study published in the journal npj Digital Medicine, a group of researchers examined the effectiveness of prompt engineering in improving the reliability and consistency of large language models (LLMs) for aligning with evidence-based clinical guidelines in medicine. Study: Prompt engineering in consistency and reliability with the evidence-based guideline for LLMs Background LLMs have significantly progressed in natural language processing (NLP), showing promise for medical applications such as diagnosis and guideline adherence. However, their performance in the medical field varies, particularly in complex cases and consistency with guidelines, due to differing accuracy and reliability. Prompt engineering, which aims to refine prompts to elicit better responses from LLMs, appears to be a promising strategy for improving their performance in medical contexts. Further research is needed to enhance LLMs' accuracy, reliability, and relevance in medical settings, supporting clinical decision-making and patient care. About the study The present study tested LLMs' consistency against the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) evidence-based osteoarthritis (OA) guidelines, supported by detailed evidence and covering treatments to patient education. The AAOS, being the largest global association of musculoskeletal specialists, offers OA guidelines that are supported by research evidence and encompass various management recommendations, making it an authoritative resource in the field. The study implemented four distinct types of prompts: Input-Output (IO) prompting, Zero-Shot Chain of Thought (0-COT) prompting, Prompted Chain of Thought (P-COT) prompting, and Return on Thought (ROT) prompting, with the objective of examining the LLMs' adherence to the AAOS guidelines and the reliability of their responses upon repeated inquiries. These prompts were designed to facilitate the LLMs in generating responses that would be evaluated against the AAOS guidelines' recommendations. Nine different LLMs were utilized, accessed either through web interfaces or Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), with fine-tuning performed as per protocols described on the OpenAI platform. Statistical analysis, conducted using SPSS and Python, focused on measuring the consistency and reliability of the LLMs' responses. Consistency was defined by the instances where the LLMs' recommendations matched precisely with those of the AAOS guidelines. At the same time, reliability was measured by the repeatability of responses to the same questions, assessed using the Fleiss kappa test. Study results The present study's findings highlighted generative pre-trained transformer (gpt)-4-Web as the superior model in terms of consistency, showcasing rates between 50.6% and 63% across different prompts. Comparatively, other models like gpt-3.5-ft-0 and gpt-4-API-0 demonstrated lower consistency rates with specific prompts, with the highest consistency observed with ROT prompting in gpt-4-Web. This suggests that the integration of gpt-4-Web with ROT prompting most effectively aligns with clinical guidelines. An analysis across various models and prompts revealed a broad range of consistency rates, with gpt-4 models achieving up to 62.9% and gpt-3.5 models, including fine-tuned versions, reaching up to 55.3%. Bard models showed a consistency range from 19.4% to 44.1%, indicating variable effectiveness of prompts across different LLMs. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the AAOS's categorization of recommendation levels from strong to consensus. This analysis aimed to discern whether the strength of evidence impacted consistency rates. It was found that at moderate evidence levels, no significant differences in consistency rates were observed within gpt-4-Web. However, notable differences emerged at the limited evidence level, where ROT and IO prompting significantly outperformed P-COT prompting in gpt-4-Web. Despite these findings, consistency levels in other models generally remained below 70%. Reliability assessment using the Fleiss kappa test varied widely among the models and prompts, with values ranging from -0.002 to 0.984. This variability indicates differing levels of repeatability in responses to the same questions across models and prompts. Notably, IO prompting in gpt-3.5-ft-0 and gpt-3.5-API-0 demonstrated almost perfect reliability, while P-COT prompting in gpt-4-API-0 showed substantial reliability. However, the overall reliability of other prompts and models was moderate or lower. Invalid data were categorized and processed according to specific procedures, with a significant portion of responses to certain prompts being considered invalid, particularly in gpt-3.5-API-0. This contrasted with gpt-4-Web, which had a relatively low rate of invalid responses. Conclusions To summarize, the study highlights the impact of prompt engineering on the accuracy of LLMs in medical responses, particularly noting the superior performance of gpt-4-Web with ROT prompting in adhering to clinical guidelines for OA. It underscores the importance of combining prompt engineering, parameter settings, and fine-tuning to enhance LLM utility in clinical medicine. The findings advocate for further exploration into prompt engineering strategies and the development of evaluation frameworks involving healthcare professionals and patients, aiming to improve LLM effectiveness and reliability in medical settings. Systemic sclerosis causes the skin to tighten and harden resulting in a potentially fatal autoimmune condition that is associated with lung fibrosis and kidney disease. University of Michigan Health researchers have studied the pathology of systemic sclerosis to understand better the disease and identify key pathways in the disease process that can be targeted therapeutically. A research team led by University of Michigan Health's Dinesh Khanna, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., professor of rheumatology and Johann Gudjonsson, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, in collaboration with John Varga, M.D., professor and chief of rheumatology, characterized the major cellular sources of fibrosis in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis skin, identifying myofibroblasts and a subset of endothelial cells as the major contributors. The research examined the Hippo signaling pathway, an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that plays a complex role in cellular function as a major pathway promoting fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. By directly targeting the Hippo signaling pathway, the research team demonstrated a reversal of the pro-fibrotic responses in both myofibroblasts and endothelial cells. The discovery of this function of the Hippo signaling pathway in systemic sclerosis ties back to prior work that identified a regulator of this pathway as a key driver of sex biased immune responses, providing evidence that may help explain why systemic sclerosis is much more common in women than men. The findings reported in this paper showed a marked effect from the drug verteporfin, which targets the Hippo signaling pathway, and rapid reversal of the pro-fibrotic phenotype in both myofibroblasts and endothelial cells. Verteporfin is approved for treatment of a subtype of macular degeneration suggesting that it could be repurposed towards treating systemic sclerosis. This work helps shift the focus towards a novel pathway that is a key driver of the major features observed in systemic sclerosis and has the potential to be able to move quickly to testing in clinical trials." Johann Gudjonsson, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology Furthermore, the researchers believe the unique and comprehensive nature of the data generated in this project may become valuable to other investigators studying systemic sclerosis. "This is something that Khanna and I aim to move towards creating a proof of concept trial in the near future for to test this theory and further advancements in systemic sclerosis treatment and care," said Gudjonsson. Children whose mothers have received antibiotic treatment during childbirth are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases compared to their counterparts, according to a recent registry-based study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, involving nearly 46,000 children. The most common autoimmune diseases in children include type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and rheumatic diseases. However, the study found that administration of antibiotics during childbirth showed no association with allergic diseases or asthma in the child. Antibiotic treatment given to mothers during delivery effectively prevents rare serious infections caused by Group B streptococcus in newborns, thereby reducing associated mortality. In Finland, antibiotics are administered to mothers during childbirth if Group B streptococcus is detected in the birth canal before delivery, and almost one in four women delivering vaginally receives antibiotic treatment. The research findings play a crucial role in assessing the potential drawbacks of perinatal antibiotic use and investigating the underlying mechanisms of immune-related diseases. Previous knowledge indicated that antibiotics given to mothers during childbirth affect the development of the child's intestinal microbiota. The study supports the idea that a normal gut microbiota may have implications for a child's long-term health. This is an observational study that does not directly establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the antibiotics given to mothers during childbirth and the child's later health. The result is a statistical association possibly influenced by other factors as well." Sofia Ainonen, lead author of the article and doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu According to Professor Terhi Ruuska, who led the study, the findings encourage the development of precise prevention methods for Group B streptococcus infections. One potential method could be a vaccine administered to mothers that does not impact the child's normal microbiota. The study followed children born vaginally in Oulu University Hospital (OYS) and Oulaskangas hospital in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, between 2007 and 2018. The study utilised national registers from the National Institute for Health and Welfare, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and Statistics Finland, as well as high-quality electronic patient records from the hospitals in the OYS region, which provided comprehensive information on maternal antibiotic exposure. The pre-approved version of the study was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology on February 16th. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. US billionaire and celebrity entrepreneur Elon Musk quietly visited the White House in 2023 for discussing issues related to artificial intelligence (AI) with officials, Trend reports. Musk visited the White House on September 13, according to the report. The White House confirmed to the TV channel that this was Musks only visit during US President Joe Bidens administration. Musk and Biden did not meet. The billionaire repeatedly visited the White House during Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's administrations, NBC News noted. BGI Europe A/S, a wholly owned subsidiary of BGI Genomics, announced its NIFTY non-invasive prenatal testing kit and software (CE-IVDD List B) were granted an extension under its existing CE-IVDD certification to include the DNBSEQ-G99 model to meet the European Union regulations for medical devices. In January 2024, BGI Genomics unveiled the NIFTY ultra-fast non-invasive prenatal genetic testing product, utilizing the innovative DNBSEQ-G99 platform. Designed for both small and medium throughput, this platform ensures top-notch testing performance and quality. It enables clinical laboratories to provide quicker and more accurate prenatal genetic testing results. This advancement is crucial for timely genetic counseling and further prenatal diagnosis, enhancing prenatal care options. Key features of the DNBSEQ-G99 platform: Speed: The DNBSEQ-G99 platform dramatically reduces sequencing time to just 3 hours, with the entire process from sample collection to report generation taking only 14 hours. This efficiency significantly reduces the anxious wait for expecting families. Flexibility: It allows for the processing of varying sample sizes in a single run, accommodating a minimum of 12 samples. This flexibility helps in minimizing reagent waste and cutting costs. Versatility: The platform supports various sequencing modes and is suitable for a wide range of tests, including pre-embryo transplantation chromosome testing and monogenic disease carrier screening. Simplicity: Featuring a cassette flow cell and an innovative pre-injected reagent design, the DNBSEQ-G99 simplifies the sequencing process, making it user-friendly for operators. BGI Genomics has been a pioneer in non-invasive prenatal genetic testing since 2010. NIFTY has received medical device qualifications in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, and Thailand. BGI Genomics continues to upgrade its prenatal and neonatal tests, contributing to better public health systems and outcomes. Guided by the vision of "Omics for all," BGI Genomics is dedicated to enhancing genetic testing technologies, thereby advancing global precision medicine and improving lives. How are biopharmaceutical companies able to bring groundbreaking biologics to market quickly? The secret behind powering innovation, speed, and compliance in biologics development are CROs, Contract Research Organizations. Below is an interview with BioOutsource, a CRO, regarding how they assist their clients in bringing life-saving biologics over the finish line. Image Credit: Sartorius The pivotal role of CRO expertise CROs bring a depth of experience to the process of developing biologics, filling crucial gaps, reducing risks, and getting products to market quickly. This is of particular value to smaller biotech companies that may have less infrastructure or resources. One realm where this type of specialized support is invaluable is in regulatory compliance. CROs can assist companies in navigating the maze of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and similar regulatory standards, making sure the company is aligned at each step. Sartorius UK Ltd. recently spoke with Ben Tyrrell, Senior Scientist at BioOutsource (acquired by Sartorius in 2015), about biologics testing and compliance challenges. BioOutsource is a CRO that offers GMP-compliant cell bank manufacturing and testing services, including sterility, analytical, biosafety, and mycoplasma testing. How can CROs like BioOutsource support biologics developers? Meeting commercial release standards and biologics testing are complex challenges for drug developers. The best testing strategy for your molecule needs to be identified, and you need to have access to GMP-compliant labs that maintain exacting quality requirements. At BioOutsource, we provide these resources and help our clients get the necessary data for drug approval. With a full spectrum of assays that includes ready-to-use and custom-developed options, we can help streamline the journey from lab to market. What are the challenges in developing assays for biologics testing? A methodical approach is required when developing assays for biologics testing, from proof of concept to qualification. The challenge of designing these assays in-house is made more complex by the requirement for advanced analytical technologies for cell and molecule analysis, like live-cell imaging, LC-MS, and high-throughput flow cytometry, and their incorporation into a GMP-compliant workflow. Quick implementation of this infrastructure is not typically possible for a newer company. How about complex assays? How do they fit in cGMP biologics workflows? Complex assays, like Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis (ADCP), offer critical information on a biologics efficacy and mechanism of action. However, conducting these assays to GMP standards is a limitation for some. More sophisticated instrument capabilities are required, as well as extensive resources for complete system integration and documentation. Ensuring you are GMP-compliant requires detailed installation and operational qualifications (IQ/OQ) and specialized compliance-supporting software. CROs bring tremendous value in this area. How do you make sure that your processes comply with regulatory requirements? A fully compliant workflow needs to be built from the base level and can only happen with a wealth of expertise. A dedicated Quality Department and thorough training on crucial aspects like traceability and environmental controls are essential. In addition, integrating digital systems like LIMS into workflows is very important for maintaining compliance; however, challenges are introduced here in terms of adoption and ongoing management. At BioOutsource, this is our bread and butter, as we can help alleviate this stress entirely. Assays within the BioOutsouce immuno-oncology toolbox that utilize the iQue Screener. Image Credit: Sartorius What does it take to achieve GMP release of an instrument? Traceability and data integrity are needed to get GMP clearance for an instrument. Traceability means a tamper-proof audit trail, digital confirmations for activities, and specific user access levels. Incorporating the instrument into established workflows is essential for maintaining data integrity. This includes having a strong audit trail, reliable data export features, and software that safeguards against data loss. The development of more sophisticated instrument platforms is simplifying this process. How are advanced systems and software simplifying compliance? A significant regulation for compliance is 21 CFR Part 11, which is a US FDA regulation for electronic records. The iQue high throughput flow cytometer, a core instrument in the immuno-oncology toolbox, has recently introduced the 21 CFR Part 11 Software module to facilitate complete GMP validation. This addition aids in achieving complete GMP validation, streamlining a process that would typically depend on separate software suites or external IT services. What are your thoughts on the future of outsourcing biologics testing? CROs are still the key drivers in drug development pipelines throughout the industry as they provide expertise or, in some cases, additional capacity. The exciting push into cell and gene therapy fields happening across our industry is also influencing our offerings. For example, this year, BioOutsource launched an AAV testing portfolio with a range of GMP-compliant assays for AAV pipelines. We will continue to support our customers ambitions in developing these complex modalities. Image Credit: Charles River Laboratories For many decades, Alzheimers researchers have struggled with a chicken or egg question regarding the proteins commonly associated with the condition. It is accepted that the overproduction or decreased clearance of amyloid beta (a protein associated with neural repair and growth) forms hard plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and that tau protein, found in brain cells, can become toxic, forming tangled spaghetti-like strings. The problem of whether an abnormal build-up of amyloid plaques or dysfunctional tau drives neurodegeneration in the brains of patients with AD, or whether these are consequences of an exceptionally complex disease process has not been confirmed by researchers. Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, Professor of Neurology at Harvard and the Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), believes that amyloid is the main driver of AD. In the 1980s, his team (alongside others) identified the gene making beta-amyloid on chromosome 21, where rare mutations can cause early-onset familial AD. The gene codes for amyloid beta-protein precursor (APP) can lead to increased levels of amyloid beta peptides in the brain. The longer and more adhesive forms of this peptide can accumulate causing amyloid plaques, a characteristic of AD. Tanzi believes in the amyloid hypothesis, but realized in time that therapeutic targeting of these toxic proteins in the brains of AD patients would be insuffient to prevent this disease/ For disease prevention, intervention must be executed much earlier, ideally before the appearance of symptoms. Amyloid plaques on a neuron. Image Credit: Charles River Laboratories Neuroinflammation in AD While tau tangles and amyloid plaques inflict damage in the early stages of disease, most damage is arguably caused by specialized immune cells (malfunctioning microglia) in the central nervous system which trigger near-continuous neuroinflammation. Generally, microglia displace neurological debris (including amyloid residue). However, in AD they go into overdrive, destroying healthy neurons and accelerating the course of the disease. Many scientists believe the chronic immune response is the third core pathological feature of AD. In 2008, Tanzis lab linked CD33 to neuroinflammation: CD33 is a surface cell receptor found on microglia and other immune cells that is more abundant in AD patients. Increased levels of CD33 are associated with disease severity. Five years later, Tanzi found that highly expressed CD33 can damage neurons by signaling microglia to initiate neuroinflammation. Tau protein in red and yellow. Image Credit: Charles River Laboratories TREM2, another gene expressed by microglia, also plays a complex role in neuroinflammation. Usually it encodes for a protein regulating microglia response to infection and injury, including clearing excessive tau and amyloid from the brain. However, in 2012 a University of London scientist discovered that variations actually decrease the function of the protein, potentially increasing the risk of AD threefold. Tanzis lab published animal data demonstrating how the crosstalk of CD33 and TREM2 can play a role in neuroinflammation, where CD33 turns it on and TREM2 shuts it down. Tanzi stated that if CD33 is silenced but TREM2 is maintained, the toxic inflammation that accelerates AD can potentially be reduced. In Phase III trials for AD about 20% of the disease-modifying drugs have immunomodulating actions targeting microglia, the vast majority of which are aimed at TREM2. Multiple targets of neuroinflammation Dan Rocca, PhD, a Research Leader at Charles River Laboratories, says that microglia undoubtedly have a complex role within Alzheimers disease, and that there can be difficulty determining their behavior over the progression of the disease. Depending on what stage you're at, microglia can be either exacerbating the disease, or protecting you against it and alleviating some of the symptoms, says Rocca. They can potentially throw out lots of cytokines, which cause inflammation and death of neurons, but they can also engulf amyloid beta and so reduce those plaques. While TREM2 and CD33 are clear targets for drug developers, other avenues of research exist. Rocca says some companies are targeting the inflammasome, danger-sensing proteins that are triggered when a cell is infected or damaged. There is evidence that both beta amyloid and tau in the brain can prompt persistent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, causing chronic neuroinflammation. There are companies that have developed small molecules that have been modified chemically to penetrate the brain. They work by targeting the inflammasome to potentially stop the adverse effects of microglia, says Rocca. Pharmaceutical companies are currently searching for preclinical models to demonstrate microglial activation, says Dr. Susanne Back, PhD, Senior Manager of CNS Pharmacology at Charles Rivers Kuopio, Finland site. Several mouse models exist that can be employed to measure neuroinflammation in AD, says Dr. Back. But its difficult because in most models, neuroinflammation is mainly a secondary response to amyloid overproduction and plaque formation and does not capture all inflammatory changes seen in human Alzheimer's." The Future of AD Therapeutics Tanzi says a possible avenue for controlling Alzheimers treatment is a mixture of drugs, including a therapeutic antibody to clear the plaques and a small-molecule drug, such as the gamma secretase modulator, to minimize amyloid levels. When combined with other drugs, these could control the spread of tangles and reduce neuroinflammation. But, for this to work, it would be best to give the antibody before people have symptoms, says Tanzi. About Charles River Laboratories At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of peoples lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guides us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. As a fully integrated partner, Charles River can support your research at any point along the drug discovery continuum. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly requested the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) to issue a lookout circular (LOC) against Byju Raveendran, the founder and CEO of Byjus, the embattled edtech company bearing his name. According to a report by ET, the central agency made this request to the BOI earlier this month to secure a new LOC, ensuring Raveendran remains within the countrys borders. An on intimation LOC has previously been issued against Raveendran. This action was taken over a year and a half ago following a request from the ED Kochi office. Subsequently, the investigation was transferred to the Bengaluru office of the agency. The on intimation LOC entails immigration authorities notifying an investigative agency when an individual travels overseas, without preventing the person from departing the country. Meanwhile, Karnataka High Court on Wednesday refused to stay an emergency shareholder meeting called by select investors of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd the owner of Byjus to oust Byju Raveendran and his family from the leadership in the edtech firm. Byjus had approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a stay on the EGM but the court only gave an interim relief that any resolution passed at the EGM on Friday cannot be implemented before the next court hearing. It is further submitted that the conditions for convening the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) are not complied and no notice is issued as contemplated under Section 100 (3) of the Companies Act 2013, the court order said. It further passed an interim order that the decision, if any taken by the shareholders of the petitioner company in the EGM scheduled on February 23, 2024, shall not be given effect to, till the next date of hearing, the order said. PTI Select shareholders of BYJUS have issued an EGM notice to be held on February 23, demanding a change in leadership of the edtech firm while alleging several anomalies in their functioning. The notice has been backed by General Atlantic, Peak XV, Sofina, Chan Zuckerberg, Owl, and Sands, who jointly account for about 30 per cent stake in BYJUS. The Karnataka High Court, in response to a petition by Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (the parent company of Byjus), has passed an order stating that any resolutions proposed to be passed in the 23rd February EGM called by select investors as invalid until the final hearing and disposition of this petition, Byjus said in a statement. Byjus had filed the petition before the court arguing that certain investors, including General Atlantic, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, MIH EdTech Investments, Own Ventures, Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), SCI Investments, SCHF PV Mauritius, Sands Capital Global Innovation Fund, Sofina, and T Rowe Price Associates, had violated the Articles of Association (AoA), the Shareholders Agreement (SHA), and the Companies Act, 2013 by calling for an EGM on February 23, 2024. The courts decision to grant immediate relief to Byjus by invalidating the resolutions passed by the EGM, underscores its recognition of the need to protect BYJUS best interests, and uphold the principles of corporate governance. The ruling ensures that the company can continue its operations with stability and focus, safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders, Byjus statement said. Investors sources, however, said it is incorrect to say the court has invalidated the resolutions. The source said the EGM will go ahead for a vote to remove Byju as the CEO. EGM to continue court order does not prohibit it in any way. Majority of investors are expected to vote in favour of removal of CEO, the source said. Earlier in the day, Byju in a letter to shareholders, appealed to all investors to participate in the USD 200 million rights issue floated by the company. He later shared that the rights issue has been fully subscribed. (With PTI inputs) Gold Rate Today In India: On the 22nd of February 2024, changes in gold prices were seen in different cities across India. The usual cost for 10 grams stayed about the same, at around Rs 62,000. To compare more widely, 10 grams of 24-carat gold was about Rs 62,750 on average, and for 22-carat gold, it was Rs 57,610. At the same time, the silver market displayed a consistent upward trend, reaching Rs 75,800 per kilogram. Gold rate today in India: Retail gold price on February 22 Gold Rate Today In Mumbai 22 Carat & 24 Carat Currently in Mumbai, the price of 10 grams of 22-carat gold stands at Rs 57,610, while the equivalent amount of 24-carat gold is valued at Rs 62,750. Gold Rate Today In Delhi In Delhi, individuals are required to allocate Rs 57,760 for 10 grams of 22-carat gold and Rs 62,900 for the same quantity of 24-carat gold. Gold Rate Today In Chennai In Chennai, the price for 10 grams of 22-carat gold is Rs 58,110, and for the same amount of 24-carat gold, its Rs 63,390. Check gold rates today in different cities on February 22, 2024; (In Rs/10 grams) City 22 Carat Gold Price 24 Carat Gold Price Ahmedabad 57,660 62,800 Kolkata 57,610 62,750 Gurugram 57,760 62,900 Lucknow 57,760 62,900 Bengaluru 57,610 62,750 Jaipur 57,760 62,900 Patna 57,660 62,800 Bhubaneshwar 57,610 62,750 Hyderabad 57,610 62,750 Multi Commodity Exchange On February 22, 2024, the futures for gold set to expire on April 05 were actively traded at Rs 62,141 on the Multi Commodity Exchange. Furthermore, silver futures with a March 05, 2024 expiration date were quoted at Rs 70,652. Retail Cost of Gold The retail cost of gold in the country is the amount customers pay for it. This price is influenced by various factors, including the global gold price, the value of the Rupee, and the costs associated with labour and materials used in the production of gold jewellery. Gold is highly important in India because of its cultural significance, its value for investment, and its traditional role in weddings and festivals. 2024 Outlook: Rs 70,000 Per 10 Grams Gold Price According to the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), they have recently stated that prevailing global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions are expected to propel gold prices to a historic high of Rs 70,000 per 10 grams in the upcoming year. This trajectory underscores golds status as a dependable investment and a valuable hedge against inflation. The government on Thursday permitted traders to export 54,760 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, Mauritius, Bahrain and Bhutan till March 31, according to a PTI report. We have allowed export of 50,000 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, 1,200 tonnes to Mauritius, 3,000 tonnes of Bahrain and 560 tonnes to Bhutan with immediate effect, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. Traders are allowed to export this quantity till March 31. The modalities are being worked out, he said. Singh said the decision has been taken following a recommendation from the external affairs ministry. Currently, there is a ban on onion exports till March 31. The ban was imposed on December 8, 2023, in order to boost the domestic supply and check price rise. The ban was imposed after the onion prices doubled in October. In the national capital, the prices had started inching up from October 25 when the rates were at Rs 40 per kg, which doubled to Rs 80 per kg on October 29. Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla on Thursday, February 22, announced the launch of its paint business under the brand, Birla Opus, with an upfront investment of Rs 10,000 crore. The company, being set up by the groups flagship company Grasim Industries, aims to achieve a gross revenue of Rs 10,000 crore within three years of its full-scale operations. Birla Opus business is being set up by the group flagship company, Grasim Industries Ltd, Aditya Birla Group said in a BSE filing. This marks the Aditya Birla Groups entry into the rapidly expanding Rs 80,000-crore Indian decorative paints market. Indias economy is expected to reach $10 trillion by 2034, with the paints sector set to surpass the Rs 3 lakh crore mark by that time. Kumar Mangalam Birla said, India today is teeming with dynamism, audacity, and a penchant for disruption. This India finds a reflection in our paints venture, Birla Opus. The Aditya Birla Groups deep insight into the building materials ecosystem, honed over the years, offers us a unique vantage point. He said Birla Opus is poised to transform the paint industry with a 40 per cent addition to current capacity. No paint company globally has ever launched in one shot factories, operations, products, and services, at the scale that we are about to undertake. According to the statement, Birla Opus products will be available in Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu from mid-March 2024 and across all 1 lakh population towns in India by July 2024. The company aims to expeditiously expand its distribution to over 6,000 towns by the fiscal year-end. The Aditya Birla Group chairman also unveiled the brand logo of Birla Opus. The company said the name Birla Opus embodies the trust that underpins the Aditya Birla brand, with Opus signifying beauty personified. The word Opus is derived from the Latin phrase magnum opus, which represents a great work of art. Himanshu Kapania, director of Aditya Birla Group, said, Birla Opus is all set to redefine standards on creativity, scale, transparency, technology, and sustainability. We are confident that the benefits of the competitive advantage built on the interplay of futuristic technology and pioneering chemistry will be passed on to the consumers through lower costs and consistency of superior quality. Birla Opus promises to simplify the consumer journey making the experience of painting enjoyable and contemporary. Birla Opus will offer over 145 products and more than 1,200 SKUs across water-based paints, enamel paints, wood finishes, waterproofing and wallpapers, according to the statement. The brand will also provide its direct painting services, PaintCraft, it said. Rakshit Hargave, CEO of Birla Opus, said, On the back of strong in-house R&D, and extensive field validations, Birla Opus is committing to a higher product warranty than the leading players across most of water-based products. As part of the inaugural offer, consumers will get an additional 10 per cent volume on water-based products and contractors will get loyalty benefits across most of our products. To become successful, you only need to believe in yourself and have enough determination, which can even move mountains. Such is the story of Jeta Ram Choudhary, the son of a bus conductor, who is now an owner of ASB Digital Solutions a company providing digital services, which is worth Rs 215 crore. Jeta Ram Choudhary is from Barmer, Rajasthan, someone who had a dream to do big in life, no matter what life brought to him. During his years of growth, he never had the privilege of owning a computer and he saw the device for the first time at his neighbours house and started learning. He then decided that his future was going to be this. He expressed his desire to continue his studies in Jaipur, but his family had to refuse as they could not afford it for him. So, he got a job at a computer centre in his area and learned the required skills from here. Jeta Ram founded the company ASB Solutions in 2018, which now carries a reported net worth of Rs 215 crore and was able to do so in just a few years. The company provides several financial digital services like money transfer, bill payments, Aadhaar KYC, ticket bookings, two-wheeler insurance, mini ATMs and a lot more. Jeta Ram founded the company alone and today it has more than 4000 franchises in different states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Its corporate office is located in Jodhpur. As per Jeta Ram, one can achieve success only when they are honest with themselves. He mentioned that having a positive attitude and maintaining it is of utmost importance and they should always be willing to learn and grow. Jeta Rams goal is to provide digital services in every village in the country, through the establishment of digital centres and help in empowering these communities. Aside from that, his company is aiming to establish around 20 lakh franchises across the country. The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) admit card for the IBT and PBT exams have been made available by the All India Management Association (AIMA). The paper-based test (PBT) will be administered on February 25, while the internet-based test (IBT) is scheduled to take place on February 24. The applicants can obtain their hall tickets via the official website mat.aima.in. The AIMA MAT IBT admit card 2024 may only be downloaded by candidates using their login information, which includes their registration number and birthdate. The candidates name, form number, roll number, test date, test time, and test venue address will all be included on the admit card. The candidate must adhere closely to the time and date specified on their admit card. The admit card must be presented at the exam location by candidates taking the AIMA Management Aptitude Test PBT. Additionally, they must have an original identity document, such as a drivers licence, voters card, passport, Aadhar card, or PAN card. AIMA MAT PBT, IBT admit card: How to download Those interested may download the AIMA PBT and IBT admission card by following the instructions provided below: Step 1: Go to mat.aima.in, the official website. Step 2: Click the admit card link on the homepage. Step3: Enter your login information and click Submit Step 4: Verify and get the admission card. Step 5: Print the AIMA MAT 2024 admit card out for your records. A common nationwide exam called the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is used to evaluate applicants for postgraduate management programmes (MBAs) provided by business institutions. MAT was recognised as a nationwide exam by the Indian government in 2003. More than 600 business schools across India recognise MAT results. There are three test formats used for MAT 2024: computer-based (CBT), paper-based (PBT), and remote proctored internet-based (IBT). The MAT Internet-Based Test (IBT) requires candidates to have a working internet connection in order to be taken. The students will be monitored remotely using a live video and audio stream. AIMA will also monitor the screens of the applicants. They will be monitored in real-time by webcam and microphone. Once the test is over, AIMA will review the images and videos that it took while recording the live feed. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has published an official notification informing about the opening of a new regional office and Centre of Excellence (COE) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The new office was made after the approval of the Controlling authority of the Board, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The regional office shall commence its functioning from the academic session 202425 onwards. Consequent upon the approval of the affiliation committee in its meeting held on May 09, 2023 and ratification by the governing body in the meeting held on June 14, 2023 and subsequent approval of the controlling authority of the board i.e., the secretary, Ministry of Education, Govt of India, a new regional office and centre of excellence is being opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, read an official notification by CBSE. The notification further mentioned that all foreign schools affiliated with the CBSE board will come under the jurisdiction of the regional office in Dubai. The Centre of Excellence, Dubai, will start its training activities after the operationalisation of the new regional office, CBSE informed. The official notice concluded, Henceforth, the jurisdiction of the Regional Office, Delhi (East) shall remain the same except for Foreign Schools from the Academic Session 2024-25 onwards. While addressing the gathering at the Ahlan Modi diaspora event in Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the academic part of Indias relationship with the UAE. He said, More than 1.5 lakh Indian students are studying in UAE schools. The masters course was started at the IIT Delhi campus here last month, and a new CBSE office will be opened soon in Dubai. These institutions will help provide the best education to the Indian community here. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced plans to establish an office of the CBSE in Dubai last year. The minister, during his three-day visit to Abu Dhabi, said that UAE-India relations are in very good condition today. India and the UAE have strong ties in the strategic partnership, especially in education and skills. An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is being opened in the UAE, and many leading universities of India are already functioning there. Adding further, he said that more universities may come in the near future. There are more than 100 CBSE schools that are operational in the UAE and India is going to open a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) office there soon. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 23. The US plans to impose additional sanctions against Iran in the near future, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council John Kirby said at an online briefing for journalists, Trend reports. "We will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days. And we are prepared to go further if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia," he stressed. Kirby noted that although the United States does not have concrete evidence that Iran is transferring ballistic missiles to Moscow, Washington is considering bringing the issue to the UN Security Council. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) has published the Statistical Officer Exam 2023 admit cards today, February 22. Applicants who will appear for the examination can go to the official website of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in and download the admit card. It is important to note that candidates need to enter their login credentials such as application number and date of birth, followed by the captcha shown on the screen to access their RPSC SO exam admit cards. Under this recruitment drive, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission is aiming to hire a total of 72 vacant seats in the organisation. RPSC SO Admit Card 2024: How to download? Step 1: Candidates need to log in to the official website of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in to download the admit card. Step 2: Under the Important Links section, search for and click on the link designated for Admit Card for Statistical Officer 2023 on the homepage. Step 3: Candidates will then be redirected to a new window, where they have to key in their login details such as Application No and Date of Birth and hit submit. Step 4: Upon clicking submit, the RPSC SO Exam Admit Card 2024 will be presented on the screen. Step 5: Save a copy of the same and take a printout of the same for further use. Upon downloading the admit card, candidates must check the following details mentioned on the admit card. If a candidate finds any mistake in the admit card, they must contact the concerned authority to get it corrected before the examination date. It includes students name, name of father, name of mother, RPSC SO roll number, students photograph, students signature, name of the examination centre, examination date, examination centre address, and guidelines for the exam day. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission is all set to conduct the Statistics Officer Competitive Written Examination on February 25 across the state. The written examination is scheduled to commence at 11 AM and run until 1:30 PM in various exam venues located at Ajmer and Jaipur district headquarters. Candidates who are willing to appear in the written exam should note that the commission has mentioned that the candidates will be allowed to enter the examination centre only 60 minutes before the commencement of the examination. No candidates will be permitted to enter the examination centre after that time. The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UPSSSC) has invited applications for the Junior Analyst (Food) Main Examination 2023. Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can apply online by visiting the official website of the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission at upsssc.gov.in. It is to be noted that the application window will open on April 15, and the last date for submitting the application form for the Jr Analyst Main Exam is until May 15. As per the official notification, the deadline to pay the application fee and make the required changes to the form is May 22, 2024. UPSSSC recruitment 2024: Vacancy details Under this recruitment drive, the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission is aiming to fill up a total of 417 vacancies in the organisation. The category-wise breakdown of the above-mentioned post is mentioned below: Unreserved (UR)-168 Scheduled Caste (SC)-87 Scheduled Tribe (ST)-7 Other Backward Class (OBC)-114 Economically Weaker Section (EWS)-41 UPSSSC Recruitment 2024: How To Apply For Jr Analyst Main Exam Step 1: Go to the official website of the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission at upsssc.gov.in to apply for the Jr Analyst Main Exam. Step 2: Click on the Live Advertisements section available on the homepage. Step 3: Next, search for and click on the Junior Analyst link and apply for the aforementioned post. Step 4: Register yourself with the required credentials and log in to your account. Step 5: Once done, fill out the application form with the academic and personal details Step 6: Scan and upload all the required documents in the mentioned format and size Step 7: Pay the prescribed application fee and click on the submit button. Candidates from all categories are required to pay Rs 25 at the time of registration. Step 8: Download the confirmation page and save a hard copy for future use. UPSSSC Recruitment 2024: Selection process Candidates will be shortlisted for the Junior Analyst (Food) Main examination on the basis of their Preliminary Eligibility Test 2023 scores. It is important to note that applicants who have obtained zero or less/ negative marks in the Preliminary Eligibility Test 2023 examination will not be shortlisted for the main examination. Upon qualifying for the written examination, candidates will have to go through the Document Verification round and Medical Examination. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will hold a meeting to seal the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, in Mumbai on February 27. There are some seven to eight seats across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, yet to be finalised. According to highly placed sources, all these seats will be discussed in this meeting. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has decided to field candidates from all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Over the past two to three months, the alliance partners have held a series of holding meetings and discussions about each seat. There is good coordination within the MVA. A meeting has been called on February 27 to finalise the seat-sharing talks. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, state Congress head and other leaders will be present for this meeting and take the final call regarding seat sharing, said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. There is no fixed formula that the MVA has decided on for seat-sharing. We have discussed the seats based on merit, he said, adding that he is confident that the Sena will contest 23 seats in the state. The MVA wants Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar to be part of the alliance, and has also written a letter to him. But, the MP wants a discussion on minimum support price (MSP) as well as Maratha and OBC reservation before being part of the MVA. Congress state incharge Ramesh Chennithala said, We are in talks with Prakash Ambedkar. We have agreed on his demands but havent discussed seats with him. In the same meeting, MVA leaders are likely to plan their election rallies. The Vajramuth rally, which was started by the MVA before it was halted by the NCP debacle, will also take off again. Sources in the MVA said this time they are planning that Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar should address a maximum number of rallies together along with senior Congress leaders. The Karnataka government has asked MNCs in the state to display the number of Kannadigas employees as part of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Bill. Not following the rule will cost cancellation of permission to those companies, it warned. The move has triggered reactions from the industry leaders such as former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai who has called the state governments move retrograde, and it should not happen. This will have a huge impact on Brand Bengaluru as we did see how the government allowed vandalism to go on earlier when few unruly elements took law into their own hands Pai told News18. Karnataka Minister for Backward Class Development, and Kannada and Culture, Shivaraj S Tangadagi announced the decision on Wednesday. What is the Bill? The amendment to the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act 2022 applies to establishments, including commercial, industrial, and business undertakings, trusts, counselling centres, hospitals, laboratories, amusement centres, and hotels. According to the amendment, all entities, which operate with the approval of the Karnataka government or local authorities are required to display 60% of their name in Kannada on their boards. The bill will be moved to the Assembly for consideration and the state government is framing rules to enforce the law, said state Minister for Backward Class Development, and Kannada and Culture, Shivaraj S Tangadagi. Other States That Promote Locals Haryana The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, which was enacted in November, 2021, and came into force on January 15, 2022, makes it mandatory for private employers in the state to reserve three-fourth of jobs paying less than Rs 30,000 a month for locals. The 75% domicile quota in private sector employment was an election promise made in 2019 Assembly elections by Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) chief and now Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. But the Punjab and Haryana High Court last November struck down the law, terming it unconstitutional. Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh had in 2019 passed a law that gave the government right to reserve at least 75% jobs for local candidates in private sector and public-private partnership companies. Unlike Haryana, Andhra Pradesh does not mention the salary limit. The Andhra government insists that all new units submit details of the total workforce required under the heads skilled, semi-skilled, administrative and managerial employees. If the company gives in written that it requires specialised manpower, not available locally, the state industries department will investigate the matter and make the decision accordingly. Tamil Nadu The DMK had promised to reserve 75% jobs for the locals in the state, but it has so far not been able to implement it. The state budget that was presented in the assembly two days ago unveils a slew of measures to promote and preserve Tamil language. Uttarakhand The state passed an interim law that bans the purchase of land for agriculture and horticulture in the state by outsiders. According to amendment made in 2004 in Section 154 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950), individuals who dont hold immovable property in the state before September 12, 2003, can purchase land for the purpose of agriculture and horticulture with the permission of district magistrate. Mohit Dimri, convenor of Mool-Niwas Bhoo-Kanoon Samvanya Sangharsh Samiti, had said it was necessary to introduce such measures so that the natives have the first right to resources, and will ensure employment for the locals. The Red Sea crisis has deepened further since November after the attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels on the international route, preventing shipping companies to carry on trade. India, which uses the Red Sea route through the Suez Canal to trade with Europe, North America, North Africa and parts of West Asia, could see exports worth $64 billion, including plastic, rice and garments, get impacted in the Suez Canal crisis, according to a survey by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). Although India has registered a 3.1% rise in January in outbound shipments, but for how long can it sustain growth in the ongoing crisis needs to be looked at. What is Happening in the Red Sea? Iran-backed Houthis rebels have been attacking commercial vessels in the Bal-el-Mandeb strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa since November in response to Israels bombardment in Gaza. The attacks escalated after the US used helicopters from its Navy warships to stop an attack by militants on a ship owned by Maersk, leading the Danish shipping line to pause all shipment, according to The Guardian. How Important is the route? The Suez Canal handles 12% of global trade, with half of the freight shipped through the canal is made up of containerised goods. The route is also an important passage for shipments of oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe and North America. For India, trade through the Red Sea accounts for around 50% of Indias exports worth Rs 18 lakh crore and about 30% of imports amounting to Rs 17 lakh crore last fiscal, according to Crisil Ratings. Impact on India With around 35% of Basmati production is shipped to Europe, West Asia, North America and Africa via the Red Sea route, Indian exporters are feeling the pressure of high freight costs due to which the rice are now being sold in the domestic market. Due to extended shipment timelines and high freight costs, high impact is also seen on fertilisers as India heavily depends on West Asia, especially Israel and Jordan, for it. Medium impact is seen on crude oil, pharma and shipping, according to Crisil. India depends on Russia (37%), Iraq (21%) and Saudi Arabia (14%) for crude oil. Crisil, however, said the Red Sea crisis will not affect the steel sector as 95% of the demand is met through domestic supply. Indias tea sector also remained resilient with exports rising 6.92%, a three-month high, to $64.90 million in January 2024 despite the Red Sea crisis. If the tensions continue in the Red Sea, shipping contracts, 80% of which are long term, can get affected. New Trade Route to Israel Via Mundra Port According to Israeli transport minister Miri Regev, a new route for goods to be sent to Israel from India bypassing the Red Sea could be used. Regev, who posted a video on X, was at the Mundra Port in Gujarat, and described the new route. This route will allow goods to move from Mundra to ports in the UAE such as Dubais Jebel Ali Port and land through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israel. A major part of the land transport will be carried out by trucks, she explained. In an earlier post on X, Regev said the land route will shorten the transport period by 12 days, and significantly reduce the current waiting time. The government held the fourth round of talks with the protesting farmers on Sunday in which it proposed diversification of crops in Punjab, which is facing acute shortage of water resources for irrigation. But the farmers resumed their protest on Wednesday morning after rejecting the governments five-year proposal under which cooperatives would procure five crops tur (arhar), urad dal, masur, maize and cotton at minimum support prices (MSP). Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, who held the talks with the farmers, had said, 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 There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this. Cultivation in Punjab The Centre is pushing for crop diversification in Punjab, which has more than 80% of its geographical area under rice and wheat, as the state faces widespread desertification. Growing 1 kg of paddy requires at least 2,500 litres of water, which has led to massive depletion of groundwater in Punjab. In 2019-20, out of the net sown area of 41.17 lakh hectares, as much as 35.21 lakh hectares was under wheat cultivation while 31.42 lakh hectares was under paddy. The crops in the Centres proposal had very small shares in comparison: 2.48 lakh hectares for cotton, 1.14 lakh hectares for maize, and 33,000 hectares for pulses (both kharif and rabi) in 2019-20, as quoted in an Indian Express report. Against targets of producing 3.57 million tonnes (MT) of diversified crops in 2021-22 and 4.57 MT in 2022-23, Punjab has produced none. The area under cotton came down to 2.51 lakh hectares in 2021-22 from 2.91 lakh hectares in 2017-18. Also, the area under maize reduced from 1.14 lakh hectares to 1.05 lakh hectares in the same period in Punjab. According to the official data, Bathinda had set a target to expand the area under cotton from 70,000 hectares in 2022-23 to 80,000 hectares, but it stopped at 40,000 hectares as farmers lost confidence in the cultivation, as told by Bathindas chief agriculture officer Dilbag Singh to Hindustan Times. The loss of 30,000 hectares or 75,000 acres will go towards paddy cultivation. After heavy financial loss over the last few years, farmers are expecting an assured income from growing non-basmati varieties, he added. An official, quoted by Hindustan Times, said the Punjab government had announced buying moong on MSP in 2022, which led to a jump of 26% than the previous year. But the crop diversification of legumes caused a widespread infestation of whitefly forcing the government to step back. It should be noted that India imports pulses in order to meet the requirements in the country. Its production in 2021-22 was only 27.69 million tonnes. The government plans to make India self-sufficient in pulses by 2027 for which it is promoting production through higher MSP and procurement through Price Support Scheme (PSS). How much does the government procure? The government announced MSP for 22 crops but the procurement of crops is limited to only few. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) procures cereals, especially wheat and paddy; NAFED mainly procures pulses and oilseeds; and CCI is the procurement agency for cotton. Punjab accounts for only 5% of total cotton procurement by CCI. Andhra Pradesh had the highest share with 34.01 lakh bales during the 91.90 lakh bales procured by CCI in 2021-22. Punjabs share was only 5.36 lakh bales that year but it was higher than 3.58 lakh hectares in 2020-21. In 2022-23, NAFED procured 29.64 lakh tonnes of pulses at the MSP under PSS, (benefiting 13.77 lakh farmers), and 57,754 tonnes under PSF. Of the total quantity procured by NAFED, the largest share (84.59 lakh tonnes) was of gram, followed by moong (12.59 lakh tonnes). According to the CACPs report on Price Policy for Rabi Crops Marketing Season 2024-25, Due to record production of gram and depressed market prices during the last two seasons, Government procured about 25.6 lakh tonnes of gram during RMS2022-23 and 22.3 lakh tonnes (as on June 1, 2023) in RMS2023-24 under Price Support Scheme (PSS). Total procurement of pulses increased from about 29.6 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 (KMS2021-22 and RMS2022-23) to about 30.2 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 [But] since there is no assured mechanism for disposal of pulses procured under the PSSNAFED disposes of the stock of pulses in open market at a price much lower than the MSP. The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued the seventh summons to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and asked him to appear before it on February 26 for questioning in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. This comes day after the Delhi CM skipped the anti-corruption agencys sixth summons saying that the matter of their validity is in the Court now. Instead of sending repeated summons, the ED should wait for the Courts verdict, AAP said. In response, the federal agency had claimed that a local court prima facie held Kejriwal guilty of disobeying the earlier notices issued to him in this case, warranting the seventh summons. Further, ED said that the question in front of the court is not about the validity of the summons, rather the illegal act on part of Sh Arvind Kejriwal of intentionally disobeying the said three summons. Earlier on February 17, the AAP supremo told a court that he wanted to appear before it in connection with an application moved by the ED but couldnt do so because of the budget session and floor test in the Delhi Assembly. He further requested the court for a hearing on a later date, saying that he will appear in court then. Accepting his request, the Delhi Court posted next hearing for March 16. The sixth summons to Kejriwal was sent by the ED on February 14 and it asked him to appear before it at its headquarters on February 19. Sources in the federal agency had said that they had filed a complaint before the Court under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 174 against the Delhi CM for intentionally disobeying the first three summons issued to him. The court has taken cognisance of the same and prima facie accepted that Kejriwal committed an offence for which he is liable to be prosecuted, the sources claimed. DELHI EXCISE POLICY CASE The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy in question on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption. According to investigating agencies, the profit margins of wholesalers were increased from five to 12 per cent under the new policy. While agencies alleged that the new policy resulted in cartelisation and those ineligible for liquor licences were favoured for monetary benefits, the AAP-led Delhi government and Manish Sisodia have denied any wrongdoing, saying that the new policy would have led to an increase in Delhis revenue share. ED had said that it wants to question the Delhi Chief Minister on the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalised, and allegations of bribery. Over 50 lakh people have visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya so far, 30 days after the historic pran pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of the temple in Prime Minister Narendra Modis presence, government officials told News18. The walk and the queue are still long but well-managed and the wait time is shorter. Most pilgrims told News18 that the darshan (viewing) of Ram Lalla once inside the temple complex took them less than an hour. But all of them had a common thread of thought a feeling of pride and glory to be at the temple. Some who have seen Ram Lalla under a tent are here especially to see the transformation of the Lords abode to a grand temple. It moved me to tears. I came last in 2004 and vowed never to return on seeing Ram Lalla under a dirty tent. This time, I have brought my children too so that they see our roots, a woman who had come from Noida with her family told News18. It is a moment of pride for Hindus. Over half a dozen flights are now landing in Ayodhya daily, the new Aastha trains are bringing in thousands of pilgrims every day to the holy town, and the Uttar Pradesh government has expanded the bus fleet contributing to the nearly two-lakh-strong crowd at the temple per day. One needs to walk about two to three kilometres on the chock-a-block Ram Path to get to the temple but the queues are being managed by security personnel at every step to ensure there is no pushing and chaos. The temple is already the most visited religious site in India, if not the world, officials said. We were worried about hearing reports of chaos and cancelled our trip on February 1. But some devotees who came back after darshan told us things are well-managed and systematic. So we got the reservation done for train tickets and are here. It is a joyous occasion. We had to walk over two kilometres to the temple but we enjoyed it as we got the feel, a family from Ghaziabad told News18 while walking to the temple complex. There were pilgrims from all over the country, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and even some from the United States. The aged, young, and parents with infants are in Ayodhya, as Lord Rams fervour has caught on. Both the Ram Janmabhoomi Path and Bhakti Path leading to the main temple are full of pilgrims all around the day and the states Yogi Adityanath government has now decided to build three more access roads to the complex at a cost of Rs 300 crore to ease the rush. Hotel rooms are expensive and hard to get the average fare in respectable establishments is over Rs 6,000 a night. The Taj Group and Marriott Group are now building hotels and resorts here. PM Modi this week unveiled investment projects worth Rs 3,200 crore for new hotels and resorts in Ayodhya. A massive tent city built by the Yogi government in Ayodhya is proving to be a blessing for the poor coming from near and far. Buses are being run from this tent city to the temple complex and the railway station. Many middle-income tourists are opting for the plethora of homestays in Ayodhya, giving a new livelihood to many locals. The buses and electric three-wheelers are all packed but devotees do not seem to be complaining. News18 met a young couple who had come with an infant to the Ram temple. It took us just half an hour to get darshan. It was a beautiful experience. The system is very good, they said. An elderly couple from Bihar said it took them an hour for darshan. The arrangements are good, so we thank the chief minister for this. We came here for devotion, we faced no trouble, they said. An aged person saw us speak to people about the wait time at the temple and interjected. So what if we have to wait for an hour for the darshan of Ram Lalla? It was a wait of 500 years for Hindus; we can surely wait for an hour now, he exclaimed. A couple from Madhya Pradesh said there is a need for multiple guidance centres in Ayodhya as an outsider does not know whom to ask for directions or which protocols to follow. There should be LED screens depicting which route to take, where to deposit belongings, etc. It was difficult for us to walk so long but our pain was relieved when we got darshan of Ram Lalla. The new idol is mesmerising, this couple said. A young girl, who came with her family from Telangana, said it was a divine darshan and the Ram temple was igniting interest among the youth too. We need to learn about our roots and the struggle here. I have heard that a big museum depicting the struggle for this temple will also come up soon inside the complex and it will be good if all see it, she told News18. Another highlight is the free wheelchair service being run by the temple trust for the aged many thank the administration for it. An 85-year-old man from Gwalior, who used the wheelchair service with a helper provided by the trust, said it was good to get such a facility. Some others who used it said there was a need for an upgrade as demand was high but many wheelchairs were not in good shape. News18 met a group of pilgrims from Kerala at the Ram Ki Paidi near the Saryu Ghat and another party of 44 people from Tamil Nadu who had come to Ayodhya for the first time after the Ram temple was opened up. Lord Ram is revered in the southwe are here from so far away to see the grand temple. Ayodhya has now become a magnet for Ram Lalla devotees from across India. We need to know our roots and our strugglethis is a moment of pride for Hindus across the world. I dont think the temple would have been possible without PM Modi and CM Yogi, members of the group from Kerala said. The message from Ayodhya is clear: come visit Ram Lalla. The incessant flow of people here is not abating any time soon with Ram Navami in April and the summer holiday season coming up. A 27-year-old bus attendant of a third-party tour company was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly molested eight students of Class II six girls and two boys of a Thane-based private school during a picnic on Tuesday, informed police. The attendant was arrested following a complaint lodged by the parents of the students. The attendant, Javed Mohammad Khan, inappropriately touched the children of age group seven to eight years while serving them food in the bus, which was heading to their picnic, police said. The picnic was organised at a theme park in Ghatkopar in eastern Mumbai. The accused touched the eight children, including girls and two boys, in an inappropriate manner while he was distributing the food packets. All the children were students of Class 2. We have arrested him and we are taking him to the court, Inspector Sandeep Dhande was quoted by Indian Express. The police have filed a complaint against the accused under sections 354, 354(A) and 509 of the Indian Penal Code as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident came to light after the children reported the abuse to their parents after reaching their homes. The upset parents soon reached out to the school authorities immediately regarding the incident and lodged a complaint during the early hours of Wednesday. Investigation in the matter is underway. Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik was raided on Thursday in connection with the alleged graft in awarding the contract for the Rs 2,200-crore civil work for the Kiru Hydro Power Project in Kishtwar in 2019. At least 30 locations, including places in Jammu and Kashmir, are being searched, officials said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started its operation in the morning with around 100 officers to raid 30 locations in multiple cities, an official added. Reacting to the development, Malik, who has been admitted to the hospital for the past few days, said, Despite my illness, my residence is being raided by authoritarian forces. My driver and assistant are being needlessly harassed through these searches. 3-4 , , Satyapal Malik (@SatyapalmalikG) February 22, 2024 Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018 to October 30, 2019, had alleged that he was offered a Rs 300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the project. The case was registered on allegations of malpractices in award of the contract worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore of civil works of Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) to a private company in the year 2019, the CBI had said earlier. The agency had booked the former chairman of the Chenab Valley Power Projects (Private) Limited, Navin Kumar Chaudhary, former officials M S Babu, M K Mittal and Arun Kumar Mishra and Patel Engineering Limited. Chaudhary is a 1994-batch Jammu and Kashmir-cadre (now AGMUT cadre) Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Last week too six people across 12 locations in Rajasthan and Delhi were raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the project. Sunak Bali, former press secretary to governor Malik in J&K was raided in Delhi. His premises in south Delhis Defence Colony and West End were raided. As per a top CBI officer, Bali is the main suspect in the case of misappropriation of funds. Malik, however, defended his former aide. It is unfortunate that the CBI is harassing the complainant in this case. He was my press advisor in J&K without any government salary, Malik told ANI. (details awaited) The Christies event is the biggest celebrity auction since Freddy Mercurys treasures were sold in London last year, with The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road series of sales expected to bring in well over $20 million Elton has said goodbye to his leopard print Rolex Daytona after it sold for $176,400 at an auction in New York last night, smashing its presale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 and setting a new world auction record for the model. began with Opening Night , a sale honoring Elton John and his discerning eye for collecting. Elton John carefully curated a diverse array of items across various categories, and tonight paid homage to the significant contribution the Atlanta chapter had played in his collecting endeavors. The sale featured 49 lots, and was 100% sold, achieving a total of $8 Million. Sales will continue through 28 February, both live and online. Inside Elton Johns Peachtree Road penthouse, Atlanta. Photograph 2023, Visko Hatfield The first four lots featured in the auction each skyrocketed past their estimates signature pieces synonymous with Elton John's iconic style. A Pair of Silver Leather Tall Platform Boots, with red leather letters E and J circa 1971 sold for $94,500 19 times the low estimate of $5,000, and a signature pair of Prescription Sunglasses Sir Winston Eyeware, circa 1975 sold for $22,680, 11 times the low estimate. Cartier 18k white gold and baguette diamond-set rectangular wristwatch Christie's Opening Night was led by Banksys Flower Thrower Triptych, a work Elton John acquired directly from the artist, which achieved $1,925,500. Elton Johns beloved 1990 Bentley Continental, a car that travelled with him internationally, from Atlanta to Los Angeles to the South of France, generated exceptional results. Inspiring lively and spirited bidding from 24 bidders online, on the phone and in the room, it sold for $441,000 against a low estimate of $25,000 to a buyer on the phone. Signed Rolex 18k gold, diamond, and orange sapphire automatic chronograph wristwatch with 'Leopard' Dial, 'Leopard' Daytona model, ref. 116598 Christie's Outstanding results were achieved for the three wristwatches featured in the sale including a Rolex, Daytona Wristwatch with Leopard-print Dial which sold for $176,400 against its low estimate of $40,000, setting a new world auction record for the model. A Limited-Edition Cartier, Paris, 'Crash' sold for $277,200, almost four times its low estimate of $70,000. A Signed Cartier, Paris, Tank Normale sold for $176,400, almost nine times the low estimate of $20,000 another record for the model. The group in total achieved $630,000 against a total low estimate of $130,000 for all three timepieces. Cartier 18k gold limited edition asymmetrical wristwatch with Crash deployant Christie's Speaking to the strong bond between the Versace family and Elton John, a group of Vintage Gianni Versace silk shirts sold for $30,240, more than 7 times their low estimate of $4,000. A Versace (Rosenthal) Porcelain 'Medusa Red' Table Service sold for $55,440 against a low estimate of $4,000. Tash Perrin, Deputy Chairman, Christies Americas, comments: The view from the rostrum this evening was fantastic; with an incredible energy in the room and outstanding activity online. It was a privilege to auction Elton Johns inspiring collection. We were thrilled with the results of tonight's top lot: the Banksy Flower Thrower Triptych which exceeded the high estimate. We were also delighted to see so many lots far surpassing their high estimate with objects ranging from a Versace dinner service set to EJ monogrammed boots. We could not be more excited as we embark on the Day Sales beginning tomorrow morning. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday demanded the registration of a murder case over the death of a protesting farmer at the Punjab-Haryana border and announced a Black Day on Friday and a tractor march on February 26 to condemn the incident. 22-year-old protesting farmer, Subhkaran Singh, died on Wednesday amid clashes between Haryana Police and Punjab farmers. Farmers had put their Delhi Chalo protest march on hold for two days after the incident, which had left at least 12 other peasants injured. The SKM, after a meeting in Chandigarh, said farmers will take out tractor marches on highways across the country on February 26 and hold a Mahapanchayat in Delhi on March 14. It said the farmers on Friday will burn effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his Haryana counterpart Anil Vij to condemn the police action. The farmer leaders had, on last Sunday, rejected a government proposal in the fourth round of talks, leading to the resumption of the protest. One of the farmer leaders on Thursday said they rejected a fresh invite for talks from the Centre Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said, We had received an invitation for talks last evening but we rejected it. On the one hand, our youth is facing bullets and on the other hand, the government says that it wants to talk. In such an environment, it is not possible. We are ready for talks but first the government has to improve the situation. VIDEO | Heres what farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said on farmers rejecting central governments invite for talks.We had received an invitation for talks last evening but we rejected it. On the one hand, our youth is facing bullets and on the other hand, the government says pic.twitter.com/iqx5FXb7xE Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 22, 2024 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 farmers protest Gujarats Jamnagar is all set to roll out the red carpet for global icons in the fields of business and technology who will attend the pre-wedding festivities of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambanis youngest son Anant Ambani and industrialist Viren Merchants daughter Radhika Merchant from March 1-3. The couple will tie the knot in Mumbai later this year. Among those expected to attend the function are Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Disney CEO Bob Iger, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Adnoc CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, and EL Rothschild chair Lynn Forester de Rothschild, ET reported. Others include Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, PM, Qatar; Murray Auchincloss, CEO, BP; Thomas Barrack, Chairman & Founder, Colony Capital; Carl Bildt, Former Prime Minister of Sweden; John Chambers, CEO, JC2 Ventures; John Elkann, Executive Chairman, Exor; Ari Emanuel, CEO, Endeavor; Bill Ford, Chairman & CEO, General Atlantic; Stephen Schwarzman, Founder, Blackstone Group; Brian Thomas Moynihan, Chairman, Bank of America; Carlos Slim, Investor; Jay Lee, Executive Chairman, Samsung Electronics; Raymond Dalio, Founder, Bridgewater Associates; Zhang Lei, Founder, Hillhouse Capital; Howard Marks, Co-founder, Oaktree Capital Management; James Dinan, Founder, York Capital Management; Bruce Flatt, CEO, Brookfield Asset Management; Michael Grimes, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Stephen Harper, Former Prime Minister of Canada; Donald Harrison, President, Google; and Richard Hilton, Chairman, Hilton & Hyland. Also on the list are Ajit Jain, Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathway; Archie Keswick, Board Member, Mandarin Oriental; Dr Richard Klausner, Scientist; Ivanka Trump, Former Advisor to the POTUS; Joshua Kushner, Founder, Thrive Capital; Terry McAuliffe, Former Governor, Businessman; Yuri Milner, Entrepreneur, Scientist; Ajit Mohan, President Asia Pacific, Snap Inc; Shantanu Narayen, CEO, Adobe; HH King and Queen of Bhutan; Purna Saggurti, Vice Chairman, Bank of America; President Jorge Quiroga, Former President of Bolivia; Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia; Eric Schmidt, Founder, Schmidt Futures; Klaus Schwab, Chairperson, World Economic Forum; Ram Shriram, Founding & Managing Partner, Sherpalo; Jim Teague, CEO, Enterprise GP; Fareed Zakaria, Journalist; and Marcus Wallenberg, Ex-president & CEO, InvestorAB. The guests will get a taste of Indias rich culture and heritage at the pre-wedding festivities of the couple. They will also receive traditional scarves made by women artisans from Kachchh and Lalpur in Gujarat. On Friday, Reliance Foundation posted a video on their Instagram handle in which women from Gujarat can be seen curating Bandhani scarves for the pre-wedding functions. In the clip, one can also see Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, meeting the artisans and expressing her happiness seeing their hard work. Threads of Love and Heritage: A Tapestry Woven for Anant and Radhika. In a tribute to Indian heritage, the Ambani family has commissioned skilled women artisans from Kachchh & Lalpur, to weave a tapestry of dreams for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants upcoming union, Reliance Foundation captioned the post. These women pour their hearts and souls into the craft, preserving age-old techniques and breathing life into stories as ancient as the land itself. Swadesh is empowering communities and preserving age-old craftsmanship, it added. The grand celebrations are also seemingly an ode to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Wed in India call where he said people should be encouraged to opt for their festivities in India instead of choosing destination weddings abroad so that wealth remains within the country. Is it appropriate to hold marriage abroad? Cant the marriage be held in our country? How much of Indias wealth goes out. You should create an environment that this disease of getting married abroad does not enter your community. I would say Wed In India, like Made in India, Marry in India, he had said. Anant and Radhika got engaged in a traditional ceremony in January 2023 at the familys residence Antilia in Mumbai. KERALA LOTTERY KARUNYA PLUS KN-510 RESULT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Karunya Plus KN-510 lucky draw results for Thursday, February 22. Check the full list of winning numbers below. ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Sthree Sakthi SS-404 WINNERS for February 27, 2024; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh! FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA PLUS KN-510 WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE PA 329554 PB 329554 PC 329554 PD 329554 PE 329554 PF 329554 PG 329554 PH 329554 PK 329554 PL 329554 PM 329554 WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 80 LAKH IS PJ 329554 (VAIKKOM) Agent Name: PRAVEEN K P Agency No.: K 8932 WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 10 LAKH IS PD 316182 (IRINJALAKKUDA) Agent Name: VINEETH K V Agency No.: R 5256 WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 1 LAKH ARE PA 587444 (KOLLAM) PB 627740 (KASARAGOD) PC 439648 (NEYYATTINKARA) PD 801728 (PALAKKAD) PE 138259 (PATHANAMTHITTA) PF 816538 (THIRUVANANTHAPURAM) PG 765445 (NEYYATTINKARA) PH 650836 (GURUVAYOOR) PJ 243535 (WAYANADU) PK 762144 (ADIMALY) PL 550455 (MALAPPURAM) PM 360954 (THRISSUR) WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE 00852 1497 1908 3099 3825 4732 4852 6603 6908 7075 7136 7510 7995 8101 8883 9090 9305 9974 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE 0658 0871 0899 0904 1255 1351 1442 1688 2391 2418 3362 3382 4349 5147 5702 6160 6167 6298 6341 6512 6604 6952 6988 6994 7300 7900 7929 8048 8094 8206 8560 8856 9083 9436 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE 0019 0074 0156 0301 0332 0431 0450 0511 0531 0710 1170 1173 1182 1204 1349 1544 1920 1998 2205 2660 2829 3010 3062 3169 3208 3217 3320 3366 3418 3752 3806 4026 4366 4397 4531 4692 5052 5167 5247 5547 5782 5834 6009 6078 6099 6195 6269 6580 6666 6717 6779 6787 6837 6900 7040 7109 7162 7188 7297 7326 7568 7608 7616 7619 7672 7699 7787 7829 7833 7864 7919 7932 7984 8333 8431 8536 8597 8991 9188 9825 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE 0065 0206 0218 0275 0293 0405 0501 0527 0592 0600 0641 1016 1151 1169 1285 1307 1576 1811 1939 2021 2103 2106 2127 2204 2394 2405 2469 2480 2503 2549 2566 2626 2794 2858 2885 2904 2945 2980 3004 3020 3190 3238 3275 3330 3338 3340 3342 3392 3444 3477 3677 3693 3746 4380 4533 4719 4851 4875 4952 5194 5222 5277 5419 5421 5464 5490 5513 5570 5601 5666 5801 5817 5875 5924 5984 5993 6096 6238 6336 6414 6496 6504 6517 6698 6730 6847 6850 6993 7004 7091 7197 7280 7329 7387 7526 7594 7634 7654 7686 7805 7832 7839 7997 8046 8164 8280 8309 8357 8369 8429 8507 8595 8713 8723 8915 9119 9121 9130 9306 9316 9339 9353 9603 9681 9684 9804 KARUNYA PLUS KN-510 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakh 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 Lakh 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 HOW TO CHECK KARUNYA PLUS KN-510 RESULTS? To view the Kerala Karunya Plus KN-510 lottery results, visit the Kerala Lottery Departments official website, www.keralalottery.info. Furthermore, you can verify your ticket numbers in person at the Kerala Government Gazette office. To acquire more thorough and reliable information, contact the Kerala Lottery Departments official channels. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY? Individuals can compare their ticket numbers with those published in the Kerala Government Gazette. If their numbers match, they are eligible for a prize. Winners have 30 days from the announcement of the results to claim their prizes at the Kerala lottery office in Thiruvananthapuram. During the prize claim process, the winning ticket and suitable identification proof must be presented for verification. A 20-year-old man travelling from Bengaluru to Lucknow on an Air India fight created panic among travellers, cabin crew, and security personnel minutes before departure after he claimed to be part of a terror group, reported The Indian Express. The man was later arrested and was identified as Adarsh Kumar Singh, son of an assistant police sub-inspector in Uttar Pradesh. Police probe revealed that the man, who studied at a private college in Bengaluru, was mentally unwell after he did not do well in his exams. He was later released on bail, the police told The Indian Express. Police said Singh boarded the flight on February 17 after the security check, but wanted to get off the plane minutes before the departure. Police said when the crew members tried to pacify him, Singh shouted at them and claimed that he worked for a terrorist organisation. The crew members alerted the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that took him out of the flight and frisked him and the baggage, said an officer. The CISF officials discovered nothing suspicious and subsequently turned him over to the Kempegowda airport police. Following a complaint from Air India staff, a case has been filed at the Kempegowda airport police station against Singh, invoking Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to making statements that cause public mischief. Police said Singh was experiencing relationship problems with his girlfriend. His family members informed the police about Adarshs mental health issues, and police had requested medical reports from his family, an officer said. The Manipur High Court has ordered the removal of a contentious paragraph from its March 2023 order, which had recommended the state to consider giving the Scheduled Tribe (ST) tag to the Meitei community, reported news agency PTI. The court said that the paragraph was contradictory to the Supreme Courts constitution bench stance. The March 27, 2023 directive, believed to have sparked the ethnic violence that claimed over 200 lives, was rescinded by a single-judge bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu during a review petition hearing on Wednesday. The contentious paragraph from last years verdict, instructing the state to expedite consideration of Meitei community inclusion, was deemed for deletion. The paragraph of last years verdict stated the state government shall consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of Meetei or Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list, expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the order. Justice Gaiphulshillus ruling on February 21 focused on the necessity of removing the directive, pointing to the Government of Indias stipulated procedure for Scheduled Tribe list amendments. Justice Gaiphulshillu said, Accordingly, the direction given in paragraph number 17(iii) needs to be deleted and is ordered accordingly for deletion of the paragraph number 17(iii) of the judgment and order dated March 27, 2023. Referring to the constitutional protocol detailed in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs 2013-14 report, the court highlighted the need for alignment with the Supreme Courts constitutional interpretation. I am satisfied and of the view that the direction given at Para no. 17(iii) of the single judge dated March 27, 2023which is impugned herein needs to be reviewed, as the direction given at para no. 17(iii) of the single judge is against the observation made in the constitution bench of the Supreme Court, the high court said in its 19-page verdict. The high courts detailed 19-page verdict underlined the legislative limitations on judicial interference concerning Scheduled Tribe classifications, as outlined by a constitution bench ruling in November 2000. Courts cannot and should not expand jurisdiction to deal with the question as to whether a particular caste, sub-caste; a group or part of tribe or sub-tribe is included in any one of the Entries mentioned in the Presidential Orders issued under Article 341 and 342 particularly so when in Clause (2) of the said Article, it is expressly stated that said orders cannot be amended or varied except by law made by Parliament the verdict of Supreme Courts Constitution bench in November 2000 said. The constitution bench had elucidated that courts should not overstep their jurisdiction in determining such categorisations. Following the eruption of violence post the March 27 order, a series of petitions, including challenges to the high court directive, were presented to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, on May 17 of the same year, denounced the high courts directive as obnoxious and considered staying the order due to its perceived inaccuracies. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had said, I will tell you (lawyers) one thing that the high court order was incorrect I think we have to stay the order of the high court. The high court order is absolutely wrong. The apex court bench had made clear it would not deal with legal issues arising out of the Manipur High Courts decision on grant of reservation to majority Meiteis as the pleas challenging the order were pending with the larger division bench there. Amid the legal discourse, the Supreme Court refrained from addressing the core legal aspects arising from the Manipur High Courts decision, as the challenges were pending before a larger division bench. The court invited tribal participation, particularly from Kukis, in the ongoing legal proceedings related to the intra-court appeals. The violent unrest in Manipur, triggered by dissent over Meitei communitys Scheduled Tribe status aspiration, underscores the complex demographic fabric of the region. Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40% and reside mainly in the hill districts. Charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have been slapped against Congress MLA Mamman Khan in Haryana in connection with the Nuh violence case. The charges have been slapped against the Ferozpur Jhirka MLA in a case lodged at the Nagina police station here. Police have added charges under anti-terror law UAPA to the FIR, Khans counsel said on Wednesday. Police had earlier accused Khan of inciting violence and being in touch with those involved in sharing provocative posts on social media platforms. Besides, he also faces some other charges in the FIR. Khan was arrested last year in connection with the Nuh violence case and granted bail by a court subsequently. Tahir Hussain Rupariya, the counsel of the accused, said he had sought a status report from the court and the document revealed that charges under the UAPA have been added to the FIR. Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in clashes that erupted in Nuh after a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession was attacked by mobs on July 31 last year. The violence had spread to the adjoining areas, including Gurugram, where an imam was killed. Meanwhile, speaking in the Haryana Assembly during the ongoing budget session, Congress MLA from Nuh Aftab Ahmed questioned why the UAPA has been invoked in three cases registered at the Nuh police station and another at the Nagina police station after the challan was presented in the court. He said the UAPA is invoked against terrorists. In one of the cases, a Congress legislator has been booked under the stringent law, Ahmed said while questioning why the UAPA was not invoked in the Gurugram case where an imam was killed. Earlier, police slapped charges under the UAPA against the accused in three cases connected to the killing of two home guards and a Bajrang Dal member and an attack on a cyber police station six months ago. While the charges were not included in the initial FIRs, court documents showed that these were added to the challan presented in the court to oppose a bail petition filed by the accused. Farm unions, majorly made up of Arhtiyas (middlemen), are prioritising their hefty commissions that they earn from the trade of wheat and paddy at APMC mandis than the interests of farmers, government sources have said after talks between the Centre and farmers hit a dead-end. On Sunday, in the conversation between the Centre and farm unions from Punjab, the Narendra Modi government proposed a unique solution where it was willing to enter into an agreement with the farmers of Punjab on five crops cotton, maize, tur, urad, masur. However, the unions rejected this formula and threatened to March to Delhi to register their ongoing protest. More than the price for the farmers, it is about securing the commission of the middlemen at the cost of Punjabs hardworking farmers and ecology, a government source argued. He said the idea was to help farmers diversify away from wheat and paddy, both water-intensive crops, and to cushion and monetarily secure their transition for the next five years. The agreement was to be done through government agencies (CCI, NAFED, etc). There was no upper limit on the quantum of crops that would have been procured. But farmer unions said no. By rejecting the offer from the Centre, the farm unions have staked the long-term interests of Punjabs farmers for their short-term interests. By not allowing them to move away from wheat and paddy, not only are these unions barring farmers from exploring new markets, but also adding to the groundwater stress that will push up the input costs for the farmers. Eventually, it could even make some belts unfit for paddy and wheat cultivation in a few years, further hurting small and marginal farmers, government sources said. Sources said for a small farmer, the cost of extracting groundwater has increased in the last few years, and therefore, by moving away to crops that were not water-intensive, the input costs would have reduced. Punjabs majority area is under wheat and paddy cultivation (85 per cent in 2020-21). Therefore an ecosystem (market, buyers, logistics, input supplies) for cotton, pulses, and maize is not as significant, warranting government support for the farmers as they entered into a new phase of agriculture, sources said. From an ecological perspective, groundwater levels have alarmingly depleted in Punjab. Of the 138 assessed blocks in Punjab, stated in the Dynamic Groundwater Resources Assessment of India 2017 report, 109 are over-exploited, two are critical, five semi-critical, and only 22 are safe. The total annual groundwater recharge of the state was assessed as 23.93 bcm (billion cubic metres), annual extractable groundwater resource was 21.59 bcm. Still, the annual groundwater extraction was at 35.78 bcm, putting the extraction at 166 per cent, the highest for any state in India. Even for Rajasthan, its less than 140 per cent. In terms of area under cultivation in Punjab, maize makes up for 1.5 per cent, cotton is 3.2 per cent, and pulses merely 0.4 per cent. For farmers, moving towards these crops would have unlocked new markets and buyers, especially in the private sector, thus allowing them more options to sell their produce, even to the private players, at will, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Varanasi on Thursday evening and will launch several development projects and address public meetings on Friday. On his arrival to Varanasi his Lok Sabha constituency, after a long and packed day in Gujarat, PM went to inspect the Shivpur- Phulwaria- Lahartara marg at around 11 in the night. The road, which was inaugurated recently, has helped around 5 lakh people living around the southern part of the city who want to go towards the Varanasi airport, Lucknow, Azamgarh and Ghazipur. To get a sense of it first-hand, PM Modi reached there in the middle of the night along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Upon landing in Kashi, inspected the Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara Marg. This project was inaugurated recently and has been greatly helpful to people in the southern part of the city. pic.twitter.com/9W0YkaBdLX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 22, 2024 When he reached there, the Prime Minister found kids, housewives, and men coming outside their homes or turning up on their terraces. The Prime Minister also waved at them. This is not the first time. In 2021, after returning from a long and jam-packed US trip, he made an unannounced visit to the construction site of the new Parliament building on Sunday night at around 8:45 pm. He spent almost an hour there to inspect progress first-hand. During his tenure of nine years as the Prime Minister of India so far, has not taken even a single day of leave from work. This information was shared by the PMO in reply to an RTI query. The reply from the PMO has counted all the nine years of PM Modis prime ministership. Built at the cost of Rs 360 crore, the road cuts down travel time from Banaras Hindu University towards the airport from 75 minutes to 45 minutes and from Lahartara to Kachahri from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. This project saw inter-ministerial coordination including from Railways and Defence to enhance ease of living for citizens of Varanasi. A man driving an SUV in Degana in Rajasthans Nagaur district ran into a procession that was taken out on Vishwakarma Jayanti, after he suffered a heart attack and lost control of the vehicle. Several people were injured as a result of this accident which was captured on a CCTV camera. VIDEO | An uncontrolled SUV ploughed into a religious procession in Rajasthan's #Nagaur earlier today. Several people injured in the incident. More details are awaited.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/RXVjmd1lAA Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 22, 2024 According to Hindustan Times, the Nagaur Police said that the driver died due to the heart attack and five people were injured in the accident. The police further informed that three among them were discharged after primary treatment and two were referred to Ajmer. Taking note of the unfortunate incident, Chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed his condolences. Taking to his official X account, Sharma said, Deeply saddened with the news of a road accident during the procession taken out on Vishwakarma Jayanti in Degana. I pray to the Lord to give peace to the departed soul, and for the speedy recovery of those injured. May the family members have the strength to bear this shock. As per the CCTV footage of the incident, the car has been identified as a Bolero which was seen moving slowly behind a group of around a dozen people. The procession was taken out by members of the Jangid community. The video further showed that the vehicle suddenly increases its speed and ploughs into the march participants. Further details on the matter are yet to be received. Sandeshkhali News Updates: Amid the ongoing Unrest in West Bengals Sandeshkhali, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday said that it has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports on unabated human rights violations due to violence in the villages of the states North 24 Parganas district. Sandeshkhali has been witnessing unrest for over 10 days now as women protestors seek justice against alleged sexual assault committed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. Meanwhile, Shajahan has been absconding since January 5 after a group attached to him attacked the Enforcement Directorate officials, who had gone to the area to search his premises in connection with a ration scam. Architectural form and volume in the Leica ZM 11 Two years ago, over dinner, a friend asked me what I thought of Leica watches. Being preoccupied with taking an artistic low-angle shot of my rack of lamb (I was trying to get them to stay upright and parallel, but they kept collapsing into the broccolini and making a mess), I was unable to respond with the level of intelligence this question deserved. Leica? I mumbled distractedly, whilst moving the table lamp around to throw more light on the herb crust. They make cameras, dont they? You mean they make watches too? I recognise the situational symmetry of discussing Leica watches whilst photographing (or attempting to, at least) my dinner. Food photography has something that most other types of product photography do not the temporal element. Gravy congeals, meat dries out, salads droop, ice cream melts, champagne loses its fizz. Lighting, angle, styling, all that stuff is important in food photography too, but more than anything else, time is of the essence. Especially if, like me, youre planning on eating whats on the table. I could sense the lamb judging me that evening, probably miffed that it had sacrificed its life to grow cold on the plate whilst I ineptly adjusted the exposure settings on my iPhone camera. That is far from a good photo, Suzanne, I practically heard the lamb bleat at me. In fact, it is very, very baa-aa-aad. Fortunately, there are others in this world with vaster talents than mine, especially in the areas of photography and timekeeping. Fast-forward six months, and I found myself seated in the Leica boutique in downtown Geneva, staring down a loupe at the ZM 1 and ZM 2, the first two models in Leicas fine watchmaking collection. The level of detail in these watches was impressive, especially coming from a company that had never made any serious incursions into the horological field before. You could tell immediately that they had a different approach entirely to product design, in the way that they deviated from the watchmaking norms of crown function and operation, for example. But they also had an uncanny sense for dimension and form that you usually see only in watchmaking houses with decades (if not centuries) of experience. That day, they told me: Wait six months. We have something else coming that we think youll like. That something else was the ZM 11, which I had the opportunity to discover at Wetzlar, Leicas headquarters in Germany. Leitz Park, as the company compound is called, consists of several buildings whose design take inspiration from camera components a tiered, cylindrical structure resembling a lens; the black-framed panels of curved glass wrapping around the facades like an unspooling reel of film. It got me thinking about the link between architecture and watchmaking. In my product analyses, I talk a lot about movement architecture and case construction, verbal formulations that borrow from the lexicon of architecture. What about doing a photographic study of the ZM 11 and its exploration of light, volume and texture, much in the same style as an architecture monograph? We tend to look at a watch (and a building) as a whole object, and this is a perfectly valid approach, but I have always been more drawn to a focused perspective. Four months after getting to know the Leica ZM 11, we met again in Glasgow to execute the idea that had first come to me in Wetzlar. My photographic skills being what they are, I made the wise choice to lean on the expertise of Andy Barnham, an award-winning British photojournalist. Juxtaposed against some of Glasgows finest examples of modern architecture, we saw the ZM 11 in a new light, its sensitivity to dimension and space revealed through Andys macro camera lens. The buildings we studied have been hailed as icons of Glasgows contemporary landscape; they have established an enduring legacy in the citys urban fabric, a legacy which the ZM 11 will one day come to possess in its own domain. Perhaps one day, because of the ZM 11, a hapless watch nerd will respond in genuine confusion to a simple question from a friend: Leica? They make watches, dont they? You mean they make cameras too? Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the opposition Congress, saying it continues to live in negativity and is not ready to leave the path of hatred even when the grand Ram temple has been built in Ayodhya. The PM was addressing the public after inaugurating the Valinath Mahadev temple in Gujarats Mehsana district. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of various projects costing more than Rs 8,350 crore. Modi said for a long time in independent India, the Congress created a conflict and enmity between development and heritage. If anyone is to be blamed for this, it is the same Congress which ruled the country for decades. These are the same people who made even a holy place like Somnath (temple) a cause of controversy, he said. The Congress did not even show the desire to hoist a religious flag at the Pavagadh temple in Gujarats Panchmahal district, and for decades linked the Sun temple at Modhera with vote bank politics, he said. These are the same people who raised questions at the existence of Lord Ram and created hurdles in the construction of his temple, Modi said. And today, when a grand temple has been constructed at (Lord Rams) birthplace, when the entire country is happy with it, the people who live in negativity are not leaving the path of hatred, he said. Modi also targeted the Congress over the Air Force Station runway at Deesa (in Gujarats Banaskantha district), which he said will develop as a major centre of Indias security. As the then chief minister (of Gujarat), I wrote several letters and tried a lot for this, but the then Congress government at the Centre tried its best to create hurdles. Even the Air Force people said this location is important from the point of Indias security, but they did not listen, he said. From 2004 to 2014, the Congress government kept sitting on its file. Around a year-and-a-half back, I laid the foundation stone for the project, because Modi does what he determines, the PM said. He also said that north Gujarat has emerged from a situation 20-25 years ago when opportunity was limited due to water scarcity, all with the effort of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Before attending the public function, the PM also attended the consecration ceremony of the Valinath Dham Temple. Modi said it has been his governments effort to preserve and develop Indias heritage as world heritage. Gujarat also has many symbols of ancient civilisation of India. These symbols are very important not only to understand history but also to connect the coming generations with their roots. That is why it has been the effort of our government to preserve and develop them as world heritage, he said. He said that only last month, traces of civilisation dating back to 2,800 years were found in Vadnagar in Mehsana district. Vadnagar is the hometown of PM Modi. A similar ancient Indian heritage was found at Dholavira in Gujarat. These are Indias pride, and we are proud of this rich past, Modi said. Every effort being made in the new India is towards creating a heritage for the coming generations, whether it is the new and modern roads or railway tracks, he said. Modi said his government is making efforts to improve the lives of people from all sections of society. The aim of Modis guarantee is changing the lives of people at the last rung in society, he said. On one hand temples are being built in the country, the government is also building pucca houses for crores of poor people, the PM said. This is the time when whether it is the work of God or work of the country, both are happening at a fast pace, he said. We will carry out development work and preserve our heritage, he added. The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to change the names of the lion named Akbar and the lioness named Sita, both housed in the same enclosure at Bengal Safari Park. Will you yourself name your own pet after some Hindu God or Muslim Prophet? said a single-judge bench, led by Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, as reported by Bar and Bench. Mr Counsel, will you yourself name your own pet after some Hindu God or Muslim Prophet I think, if any one of us would have been the authority, none of us would have named them as Akbar and Sita. Can anyone of us think of naming an animal after Rabindranath Tagore? Sita is worshipped by a larger section of this country I also oppose naming the lion after Akbar. He was an efficient, successful and secular Mughal Emperor, Bhattacharya remarked. The single-judge recommended the state government to consider assigning alternative names to the two lions, adding, We arent talking about the names of the pet animals of an officer of the zoo department. But you are a welfare and a secular State why should you draw a controversy by naming a lion after Sita and Akbar. The court was hearing a petition filed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishads (VHP) Bengal wing, opposing the forest departments decision to house the two big cats together in the same enclosure and demanding a change in the name of the lioness Sita. The VHP, in its plea, stated that this decision was a direct assault on the religious beliefs of all Hindus and could be considered blasphemy. The West Bengal government, however, informed the court on Thursday that the naming of the two large felines as Sita and Akbar was carried out by the Tripura Zoo authorities in 2016 and 2018, before the lions were recently transferred to the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri. Vishwakarma Jayanti, observed on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the Magh month, is a vibrant Hindu festival honouring Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect and engineer of the universe. From factories and workshops to shops and homes, people across India celebrate this auspicious occasion, offering gratitude for the skilled hands that shape our world. WHEN IS VISHWAKARMA JAYANTI 2024? This year, Vishwakarma Jayanti falls on Thursday, February 22. The festival coincides with the Trayodashi date of Magh Shukla Paksha, which begins on February 21. VISHWAKARMA JAYANTI SIGNIFICANCE Lord Vishwakarma, revered for his divine craftsmanship, is said to have created the celestial tools and weapons used by Gods. He embodies the spirit of invention, hard work, and creativity, making Vishwakarma Jayanti particularly significant for professionals like engineers, architects, artisans, and laborers. On this day, they offer their prayers and seek blessings for success, skill, and prosperity in their work. VISHWAKARMA JAYANTI PUJA RITUALS The day begins with early morning cleaning and decorating the puja area. An idol of Lord Vishwakarma is adorned with flowers and offerings like lamps and incense. Devotees chant mantras like Om Aadhar Shaktpe Namah and Om Kumayi Namah seeking divine guidance and blessings. Later, tools, machinery, and equipment used in various professions are also worshipped, acknowledging the role they play in creation and progress. HAPPY VISHWAKARMA JAYANTI WISHES May Lord Vishwakarmas creativity inspire you to build wonders in your field. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! On this auspicious day, wishing you the blessings of precision, innovation, and success in all your endeavors. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! May the spirit of hard work and dedication of Lord Vishwakarma guide your hands and bring prosperity to your life. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! As we celebrate Vishwakarma Jayanti, may your skills be sharpened, your ideas be ignited, and your dreams be crafted into reality. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! Wishing you blessings of abundance and recognition for your craftsmanship and talent on this auspicious day of Vishwakarma Jayanti. May the tools in your hands become instruments of progress and innovation, inspired by the divine architect himself. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! From intricate carvings to towering structures, may your work reflect the ingenuity and dedication of Lord Vishwakarma. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! Sending warm wishes for a future filled with opportunity, growth, and the satisfaction of building something meaningful. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! Today, lets appreciate the countless hands that shape our world and celebrate the spirit of creation embodied by Lord Vishwakarma. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! May your work be a testament to your passion, skill, and the blessings of Lord Vishwakarma. Happy Vishwakarma Jayanti! HAPPY VISHWAKARMA JAYANTI QUOTES One of the most significant turning points in Amitabh Bachchans career was the release of the cult movie Sholay. The film was released in 1975 and is one of the most successful films of Bollywood, receiving much adulation from the audience. The craze for the movie, the iconic dialogues, the hit Jodi of Jai and Veeru and the songs are still fondly remembered and cherished. But not many know that the Shahenshah actor was not the first choice of the makers of the film. It was Shatrughan Sinha. The actor revealed recently that he regrets turning down the cult-classic. In an interview with Aaj Tak, Shatrughan Sinha opened up about refusing Sholay, I was offered Amitabh Bachchans role in Sholay. Ramesh Sippy has written this in his book. I tried to take out dates for the film but I was doing so many films. I was very busy and Ramesh ji wasnt able to tell me fixed dates for what duration he needs me. He wanted me to block all my dates for Sholay that couldnt be done. I feel that I should have done that film. I didnt do it. But I also feel happy for Amitabh Bachchan, who got such a big break with Sholay and he went on to become the national icon, he stated. Shatrughan Sinha also shared that he was also offered Deewar but he couldnt do. He also admitted that he hasnt watched Sholay and Deewar till this day. He said, Deewaar film was also offered to me but I couldnt do it. You can call it human error par jo hogaeya woh hogaeya (what happened, happened). But I am happy for Amitabh and he did well in those films. Because I should have done those films and I didnt do it, I havent watched these two films till date because I regretted my decision. He added, Manoj Kumar ji also wanted to cast me in Shor. He visited my house multiple times. He wanted to make the film in four months, I was giving him eight months but the film was ultimately made in 16 months. I could have done that film. I also havent also watched Shor. The films that I liked and couldnt do, I never watched those films. If reports are to be believed, the veteran actor refused to work in a two-hero film. Reportedly, he might have assumed that Jais role has less importance due to which he refused the movie. However, in a television program titled Yaaron Ki Baraat, Sinha revealed that he could not do the movie, Sholay, because of technical difficulties. But he was happy and proud that Amitabh Bachchan did it. The movie also became one of his biggest films in Bollywood to date. So when Shatrughan Sinha declined the offer, Dharmendra suggested Amitabh Bachchans role and he got the role of Jai. Finally, Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra created history with this movie and got the utmost fame and recognition. Sholay was written by screenwriter duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. Its a story about love, friendship and revenge. The movie also featured Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Amjad Khan, among many others. The movie has delivered some hit songs as well like Yeh Dosti, Koi Haseena, Mehbooba Mehbooba and Haan Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Amitabh Bachchan shared a cryptic post days after Rahul Gandhi made shocking statements about him and his daughter-in-law, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. On Wednesday, videos of Rahul Gandhi talking about Amitabh and Aishwarya at a rally went viral. While Amitabh is yet to react to the statements, he took to X previously known as Twitter to share a post about his whereabouts. Big B revealed he was spending the evening focusing on his physical and mental health while putting everything aside. For More: Amitabh Bachchan Shares Cryptic Post After Rahul Gandhis Jibe at Him, Aishwarya Rai: All Else Can Wait Nayanthara is among the most sought-after actresses in the South Indian film industry. She has been a part of some of the most popular projects, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in Tamil cinema. She also attained immense love from the masses for her role in Atlees directorial Jawan. For the same, Nayanthara bagged Best Actress at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Awards, making everyone proud. Now the actress has expressed her gratitude with a montage reel from last night. For More: Nayanthara Thanks SRK After Accepting Best Actress For Jawan At DPIFF 2024: 20 Saal Lage Idhar Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are set to host a grand three-day pre-wedding bash in Gujarat. Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani had announced that the families of the couple will be hosting a three-day party on March 1, 2, and 3 in Jamnagar, and the biggest Bollywood stars are invited. The ceremony is taking place a year after Anant and Radhika got engaged. The couple had an intimate engagement ceremony last year before they threw an engagement party for their families and friends. However, how did Anant and Radhika meet and fall in love? Heres all you need to know. For More: Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant Love Story: From Childhood Friends To Life Partners, How It All Happened Kangana Ranaut slammed Twinkle Khanna for jokingly comparing men with plastic bags. The actress took to her Instagram Stories and shared a video in which Twinkle was talking about having a man in a womans life when she jokingly compared them to a handbag. The joke did not go down well with Kangana. She called Twinkle, who is married to Akshay Kumar, a privileged brat and questioned her ideology of feminism. For More: Kangana Ranaut SLAMS Twinkle Khanna For Comparing Men with Plastic Bags: Privileged Brats Days after Poonam Pandey faked her death for a campaign, the actress made her first public appearance. On February 22, Thursday, Poonam was snapped by the paparazzi as she stepped out in Mumbai. In a video that surfaced on social media, she was seen interacting with the media and justifying her actions. For More: Poonam Pandey JUSTIFIES Her Fake Death Stunt With Shocking Comment: Aisa Jooth Hazaar Baar Bolungi Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are set to host a grand three-day pre-wedding bash in Gujarat. Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani had announced that the families of the couple will be hosting a three-day party on March 1, 2, and 3 in Jamnagar, and the biggest Bollywood stars are invited. The ceremony is taking place a year after Anant and Radhika got engaged. The couple had an intimate engagement ceremony last year before they threw an engagement party for their families and friends. However, how did Anant and Radhika meet and fall in love? Heres all you need to know. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant Love Story: Not many details about their love story have been shared by the family. However, according to First Post, multiple media reports have claimed that Anant and Radhika have been friends since their childhood. It was in 2018 that people came to know about their relationship. A photo of them lost in each others eyes surfaced online and went viral which brought their bond into the spotlight. Although the couple had not shed light on their relationship at the time, Radhika would often attend the Ambani familys intimate events. She was present at Isha Ambanis wedding with Anand Piramal, which took place in 2018, and Akash Ambanis wedding with Shloka Mehta, which happened in 2019. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants Engagement: The Roka ceremony of Radhika and Anant was performed at the Shrinathji Temple at Nathdwara in Rajasthan in December 2022. Anant and Radhikas Gol Dhana ceremony took place on January 19, 2023. The engagement ceremony took place at the Ambani residence, Antilia, and many Bollywood stars attended the ceremony to bless the couple. These include Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shreya Ghoshal, Rajkumar Hirani, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Who is Anant Ambani? Anant, son of Nita and Mukesh Ambani, completed his studies at Brown University in the USA and has since served at Reliance Industries in various capacities including as a member on the Boards of Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail Ventures. He currently leads the energy business of RIL. Who is Radhika Merchant? Radhika, daughter of Shaila and Viren Merchant, is a graduate of New York University and serves as a Director on the Board of Encore Healthcare. She is also a trained Indian classical dancer and delivered her first on-stage dance performance, better known as Arangetram in June last year. Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapurs dating rumours have been making headlines for a long time now. The glamorous looking duo recently graced Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnanis dreamy wedding, as evident from their social media posts on Instagram. Now Aditya and Ananya were papped together once again at the Goa airport, presumably heading back to Mumbai. In a video that was shared by the popular paparazzo handle Viral Bhayani on Thursday, Aditya Roy Kapur can be seen getting out of the car along with Ananya. The actor sported a casual cheque shirt and denim jeans. On the other hand, Ananya looked gorgeous in a black dress. She also sported a subtle smile on her face. The rumoured couple were captured heading inside the airport premises before the video ends Take a look: Earlier this week, Ananya was spotted with her rumored boyfriend, actor Aditya Roy Kapur, at the Goa airport, apparently heading to attend the wedding together. Although they have not confirmed their relationship publicly, theyve been seen together on multiple occasions. Ananya has also hinted about her romantic life on the popular talk show Koffee With Karan. When asked about his relationship status by Karan Johar, Aditya replied with a sly grin, Well, you know Karan, as you say on your show ask me no secrets and Ill tell you no lies. In a recent interview, Ananya opened up about social media and the constant attention on her personal life when she mentioned that believes in keeping things private. Panday called social media both a curse and a blessing. Blessing because theres connectivity and you can reach out to so many people. The lines between international work and work in India has also blurred and it has become one big community. Its a curse because it dilutes your star power on screen because everyone is already seeing you dancing and doing everything on Instagram, she told PTI in an interview, adding, There has always been curiosity about an actors personal life, which can get tough, according to Panday. Im a believer in keeping things private and special because you are dealing with relationships like any normal person. You are feeling it out with the person that you are with and so sometimes it feels unfair and little personal to put those things out. Bhushan Kumar and Divya Khossla are not getting a divorce, T-Series spokesperson has confirmed. The couple, who have been married for over 19 years, were subjected to divorce rumours after Divya dropped the surname Kumar. The spokesperson has confirmed that Bhushan and Divya are happily married even today and these rumours of their divorce are baseless. They added that she dropped Kumar from her name due for astrological reasons. Divya Khosslas choice to drop her married surname, driven by astrological beliefs, is a personal decision and should be respected, her addition of an s to her maiden surname, symbolizing her astrological belief is for the same thought, the spokesperson said in a statement to News18 Showsha. Divya Khosslas choice to add an s to her name is personal too. Bhushan and Divya tied the knot in 2005. The couple met on the sets of Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo. It is reported that Bhushan fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. Divya added that it was her mother who convinced her to say yes to Bhushan. Speaking in an old interview with the Times of India, Divya said, He invited me with my family for his sisters wedding in Delhi, and that is when my parents met him and they liked him instantly because of his humility even after so many achievements. My mother pushed me to get married to him, and by then I also had started liking him. Thus, we got married. The couple tied the knot on Feb 13, 2005. They welcomed their son, Ruhaan in 2011. While Bhushan is an acclaimed producer in the film industry, Divya has worked as a director in several films before trying her hand on acting. She was last seen Yaariyan 2, which was a remake of the hit Malayalam film Bangalore Days. Television actress Dolly Sohi was rushed to hospital recently after she complained of breathing issues. The actress was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year following which she also left the show Janak, which also starred Hiba Nawab and Krushal Ahuja in the lead. As reported by Bollywood Life, Dolly was admitted to hospital recently after she faced some difficulty in breathing. Reportedly, the actress is now fine and recovering well. This comes just two days after Dolly took to her Instagram handle to share a note that read, Prayers The worlds greatest wireless connection.. Works like miracle so please I need your prayers. The post left her fans and friends concerned who then rushed to the comments section to motivate the actress. Love and Light, U r strong women, one of the fans wrote. Our Prayers Always With You Dear @dolly_sohi Mam Aap zarur jeetkar.. Avoge..You Are Very Strong Person, Be strong Mam, Lots Of Love From Your.. Fans, love You Mam, another comment read. Among others, actor Akshit Sukhija also wrote, our prayers are with you as he also dropped a red-heart emoji. Actor Karan Khanna also commented, Dont worry we are all praying dolly. Check it out here: For the unversed, Dolly Sohi was diagnosed with cervical cancer in September 2023. Even though she kept the work going for some time, she then left the show Jhanak after her health condition deteriorated. I have quit the show because I want to focus on my health. I was working during my chemotherapy, but now I am undergoing radiation and that takes a lot out of me. It was not possible to continue working for a daily soap and so I decided to quit, she told the Times of India after quitting the show and added, Due to radiation, I have been feeling weak and unable to do anything. I have to undergo more radiation cycles, which will make it difficult for me to work. Besides Jhanak, Dolly Sohi has also acted in serials like Piya Abhimaani, Jhansi Ki Rani, The Adventures of Hatim, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi and others. As much as the title In The Belly Of A Tiger may sound dramatic, there is nothing of this in the feature film, at least for an Indian viewer. The film was premiered at the 74th Berlinale recently. An Indo-US-Chinese co-production helmed by Siddartha Jatla (The Artist), the feature revisits a very old problem in India: farmer suicides. A decade ago, this made headlines in the media that probed why they were resorting to this extreme step. It was widely reported that farmers were driven to this step due to excruciating poverty and cruel loan sharks. They were in a hopeless situation. It was also said that some of them saw the money their deaths could bring in. There was compensation from the Government. Jatla, who also co-wrote the script along with Amanda Mooney, arrives at a narrative that shows us how impoverished farmers offered themselves as prey to tigers. Such a death also brought in handsome monetary compensation to their families. Jatla presents one such painful story. Caught between a man-eater on the prowl and a low-paying brick factory that exploited farmers-turned-factory workers to the hilt, Bhagole (Lawrence Francis), an old man, with the concurrence of his wife, Prabhata (Prabhata), decides to spend the night in the tiger-infested forest. As both wait it out reminiscing about their past, a lyrical quality wafts across the expanse, and this contrasts with the idea of how deliverance would help families exploited by capitalism in its most hideous form. Yet, Bhagole and his son, Saharsh (Sorabh Jaiswar), do not sink into despair; they seek the little joys of life that hinge mostly on Saharshs young daughters. There are a couple of telling images. One of them pictures the granddaughter and the grandfather walking along a vegetable market. They take in the sights, sounds, and smells, but have no money to buy anything. Extremely poignant and captured with a lot of heartrending emotion. However, if one were to hope for some drama having been led on by the title, In The Belly Of A Tiger can be disappointing. It is placid and flows along with hardly any ripples. Excellent as art-house fare. It can run the festival circuit. But a commercial release may be difficult. WorldTempus packs along the Leica ZM 11 to Scotland Suzanne Wong I didnt want to review this model, to be perfectly honest. I wanted to review the model with the red-and-black dial. (No prizes for guessing why.) However, Ive been told that it builds character if you dont always get what you want, so Ill start off by saying that the Leica ZM 11 with sunray-finished blue dial has been extremely beneficial for my character development. Thats a mildly humorous way to lead into the point I actually want to make, which is that the Leica ZM 11 will challenge you. Seasoned horology enthusiasts tend to fall into certain modes of thinking and sets of assumptions when we talk about watches. This isnt a bad thing. Mental models, as theyre called, are an essential part of gaining expertise in any subject over time, we adopt them in order to make better and faster decisions based on prior experience. We think we know what being a legitimate watch company entails. We think we know what certain phrases (like German watchmaking) mean. We think we know the names of all those who make quality timepieces. None of this is totally true. We dont really know anything, because knowledge is neither fixed nor finite. So when a legendary German camera-maker decides to enter the world of watches, it forces us to revisit and update our horological mental models. Ive already talked elsewhere about how much I enjoy the Leica ZM 11, but what I havent mentioned as much is how philosophically perfect this is, that a company indelibly associated with photography and influencing how we see the world around us is now also responsible for adjusting our view of fine watchmaking. Leica ZM 11 Suzanne Wong/WorldTempus Marie de Pimodan When I heard that the Leica ZM 11 was going to accompany us to Scotland, I was simply overjoyed. And why was that? Because since this legendary brand launched its watchmaking activities, all the opportunities I'd had to discover their watches had fallen by the wayside. As I suspected, I was not disappointed by Leica watches. It's all a question of point of view, you might say. And indeed it is! The angle adopted, the perspective and the choice of point of view are obviously notions that run through the brand's expertise in the field of photography. This is also what guided the work on the ZM 11's dial. The dial is composed of two layers, and its gradation-like colour changes significantly depending on the angle of view adopted by the wearer. The effect is extremely well executed and entirely consistent with the expertise for which the German brand is renowned. It's a real visual pleasure, not to mention the ability to change the look of the watch with disconcerting ease thanks to the Leica Easy Change interchangeable strap system, reminiscent of the button used to unlock the lens on the brand's cameras. Simply press the red button to replace the titanium and steel strap with a vulcanised rubber or fabric strap. It's as quick and easy as a click. Leica ZM 11 Sebastien Aubord/WorldTempus Sophie Furley The Leica ZM 11 is a watch that you really need to wear to appreciate. No number of photographs even by the Leica photography experts, of which there are many will ever do it justice. But slip it on your wrist, and all the fascinating angles and reflections come to life. What do I love about it? It is different for starters, and in a watch world with over 500 years of history and countless luxury brands on the market, thats definitely something that isnt so easy to do! The dial is intriguing with its slats made to look like blinds, its hands and numerals are rounded, picking up on the curves of the case, and the bracelet is integrated for a comfortable fit on the wrist. Turn the watch over and the difference continues with contemporary design touches on the movement that remind us that this is a German company. Like with previous Leica watch models, some nice touches tie the watch to the camera, such as the interchangeable strap/bracelet that works with a cool red button, just like the button used to change the lens on one of Leicas cameras. The rim around the caseback also recalls the fonts used on camera lenses all details that dont go unnoticed and make this an interesting timepiece that is well worth checking out. Leica ZM 11 Sebastien Aubord/WorldTempus Allissa Pataki I want to start my review by saying that I absolutely love Leica. I love their cameras, their high-quality German engineering and their classic and resolutely minimalist aesthetic. In short, everything that they stand for and that has made them so incredibly popular across the globe. So, it comes as no surprise that I was thrilled to discover that their latest ZM11 would be coming along with us on WorldTempus on Tour! I had heard about the piece from our Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Wong who had the pleasure of visiting their Manufacture recently, and which made me all the more eager to see it with my own eyes and (even better!) try it on my wrist. And what a treat it was! Naturally, theres a lot of ground to cover, so let me give it to you straight: Its Calibre LA-3001 is nestled in a 41mm stainless steel case and boasts an impressive 60-hour power reserve. It is water resistant to 100 metres although I didnt test this out as the Scottish lochs were frozen and I value my life! It also offers an Easy Change system for changing the strap to a bracelet and vice versa with a simple click of its red button. It was so convenient I tried on all the straps just for the fun of it (and for those of you wondering, the metal was my favourite). And last but not least, its multi-layered three-dimensional dial reveals a fascinating play of light, texture and depth. Basically, looking at the watch from the front, you cannot see the layers of the dial, it just looks like a pattern. But if you turn it to its side (or gaze from the top-down or bottom-up), you will discover the intricate play between these layers, and notice the blue popping out from between the wedges. At first glance simple, but truly mesmerizing once you discover its depth - what else could you expect from a camera company? However, I will say that it was ironically - difficult to get a picture that would do the watch justice! I guess you will just have to believe me on this point or better yet try one on for yourself! Since her debut with Ishaan Khatter in Dhadak, Janhvi Kapoor has come a long way in Bollywood. She will soon be seen in Devara alongside Jr. NTR and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari with Varun Dhawan. It is also being said that Janhvi has another film with Ram Charan in the pipeline. Amid this, the actress recently revealed that she went to acting school in the USA but learnt nothing. Speaking to The Week, Janhvi said, I learnt nothing there. My main agenda, and I think the thrill in it for me was for the first time to be in an environment where I wasnt being identified as someones daughter. And I think that anonymity was so refreshing and thats what I held on to the most, she said. The format of the school that I studied over there was very deep rooted in how Hollywood works, how their auditioning process is, what its like to meet casting agents, she said. Janhvi added, I wish I could have used that time getting to know my people and my country and my language a little better because I am telling the stories of my people, not of them. I just wish I did more things that would make me relate to my people and I did. Once I started shooting for Dhadak, I made a 180 and I realised that the only thing that matters is, that I want to tell stories of my country, I want to know the people of my country, I want to be able to speak to them, I want to be able to think like them, feel like them and sitting in LA, going to Malibu on the weekend isnt going to cut it. It just makes you so detached and jaded, Janhvi said. Janhvi mentioned that her school was based on the principles of method acting and she realised upon enrolment that she wasnt a method actor. Kunal Khemu got married to Soha Ali Khan in 2009 after a few years of dating. The two fell in love while shooting for the second film, 99. Kunal proposed to Soha in Paris, but this proposal came after she had introduced him to her family. Kunal recently recalled meeting Sohas illustrious family. Speaking to Raj Shamani on his podcast, Kunal said, The most intimidating was meeting Amma (Sharmila Tagore). Dad (Tiger Ali Khan Pataudi) was also pretty cool, but I was just intimidated anyways, even though hes pretty sweet. I remember Amma didnt make eye contact with me for the longest time. Her questions werent directed at me. She asked, So, what do you do? looking at a magazine. That was the first meeting, in the second meeting I got eye contact, and then we became really cool. Youre always more nervous to meet the parents, and in her household, everybody is a champion. The first time I met Saif bhai was, we used to go play pool at a friends place. Bhai and his friend came together, and we met for the first time while playing pool. And the first thing he noticed about me was, Youve got good biceps. I remember he was the coolest person, Kunal said, It was too early for him to ask me what my intentions were, but he just chilled with us. Hes just such a nice person in general, and weve spent so much time together, we hardly ever talk about films. He has vivid interests, and he wants to know what your interests are and talk about those, he added. Kunal said that when he later asked Soha what her brother mentioned about meeting him, Soha said, He said you have good biceps. Kunal Khemmu and Soha Ali Khan welcomed their daughter, Inaaya Naumi, in 2017, two years after they got married. After starring in television serial shows such as Kahiin To Hoga, Left Right Left, and many other popular shows, Rajeev Khandelwal became a household name in India. Years after dominating Indian television, the actor starred in his movie, Aamir, which was released in 2008 and was a critical success. However, despite his popularity, the makers of the film had trouble finding producers who would be ready to fund the movie. In an exclusive interview with News18, Khandelwal who will soon be seen in the OTT series Showtime, revealed that producers were ready to invest in the film with a newcomer but not with an acclaimed TV actor like him. When I was doing Aamir, Anurag Kashyap (who was one of the makers of the film) told me later that he went to so many producers to finance the film. He went from pillar to post and told everyone that I have Rajeev Khandelwal who is very popular on television. And all of them said and they said that they didnt want a popular face. Even if you take a newcomer, its fine with us but a TV actor, maybe no, he said. The actor adds that it was Kashyaps faith in him that enabled him to get a financer for Aamir, Anurag had that conviction. He finally met Vikas Bahl from UTV. I was told later that Vikas asked Anurag, Why do you want Rajeev? Is it because the budget is less? They thought that the budget was less, thats why they are casting a TV actor. But both of them believed in me and that is how Aamir happened. Khandelwal says that as an actor it is more difficult to assure a producer about their abilities than the audience. It is difficult to convince the makers to give actors like me the opportunity where we can showcase to the world that probably we are much more than how they look at them. That is more difficult than the audiences acceptance. The actor who was last seen in Bloddy Daddy, l is currently promoting his upcoming drama show Showtime. Directed by Mihir Desai and Archit Kumar, Showtime is touted to be an epic saga of legacy and ambition in the world of cinema. He will be seen playing the role of a superstar Armaan, who is shown to be arrogant and egotistical, as per the trailer. Talking about it he said, My character shows how a superstar is in their personal and professional life. Its an amalgamation of many actors, and I wont name them. But Im sure I must have reminded you of a couple of them. So its all about a lot of superstars weve seen in the past and their insecurities, their attitude, approach, their belief system and things like that. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan are celebrating the birthday of their second son Jeh. He has turned three years old today. Many celebrities have joined the birthday celebration. Sonam Kapoor with her son Vayu was also spotted at the party. Ranbir Kapoor arrived with his daughter Raha. Both father and daughter were seen twinning in a black colour outfit. The photos have gone viral on social media. Manav Manglani has also shared a video in which we can see Ranbir Kapoor holding Raha in his arms as he walks inside the party. He was also accompanied by Samara, daughter of Riddhima Kapoor. She looks cute in a neon colour jacket and denim. Kareena welcomed them with a tight hug. Watch the video and check photos here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani) Kareena Kapoor Khan along with Saif Ali Khan was spotted for the celebration. Looks like Taimur will be joining them soon. The 3-year-old was also spotted and looked dashing in a white shirt with a black jacket and was seen running towards his mummy. Taimur Ali Khan was also spotted with his friends at the party. Earlier today, Saif Ali Khans actress-sister Soha Ali Khan took to social media to share unseen photos of Jeh on his special day. Happy birthday Jeh baba!!! Officially a three-nager, she wrote. Meanwhile, on the work front, rumours are rife that Kareena is all set to make her Kannada debut with Yashs upcoming film, Toxic. The KGF star announced the film last year and revealed the title in December. While details about the film are still under wraps, Filmfare recently claimed that director Geetu Mohandas and Yash are likely to announce Kareena joining the cast in the coming days. However, there is no official confirmation of this as of now. Saif Ali Khan will be next seen in Devara with Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor. Ranbir Kapoor was last seen in Animal. The film was superhit and the actor was praised for his role. . Tara Sutaria recently jetted off to New York city for her work commitments. The actress has now dropped a ravishing mirror selfie from her work vacay. Tara, donning a white bathrobe, looked all things gorgeous flaunting her no make up glow. Sharing the photo, she wrote, Day one Filming something so special in NYC for everyone, everywhere with the best . Earlier too, the actress dropped a cute bathrobe selfie for her fans, announcing her arrival to NYC. Have a look at the photos: Meanwhile, on the work front, Tara is currently basking in the success of her recently released film, Apurva. News18 Showsha gave the film 4 stars and wrote, In a film career spanning four years, this is the first time that Tara is seen playing such a meaty part, and she does a stupendous job. She gives it her all, pushes the envelope, steps out of her comfort zone, makes you root for her against all odds, and is a complete revelation. Her helplessness and decision to choose violence over death and defeat tug at your heartstrings. Having become synonymous with glamorous parts and playing the second fiddle to heroes all throughout her career, Apurva will hopefully mark the beginning of a new chapter for her. It added, Apurva is a complete surprise package. Helming a well-packed thriller is no cakewalk, but this one is well-made and is smartly and intelligently put together by Nikhil. A trigger warning at the beginning of the film would have definitely helped, considering its violence quotient. However, it perfectly fills up the void left by the array of lackluster and insipid thrillers that continue to be made in galore. Yes, Apurva will leave you frazzled from time to time, and thats where the excellence of the makers lies. Dont give this one a miss!. On the personal front, Tara confirmed her breakup with Aadar Jain last year. Rumours are rife that she is dating Kartik Aaryan. The duo sparked dating rumours after they were spotted together on a dinner date in October this year. Tara and Kartik were seen parting ways after dinner. They gave each other a hug, with Tara also giving him a goodbye kiss, as they went their separate ways. Kartik and Tara have yet to address the dating rumours. Bigg Boss 16 contestants Shiv Thakare and Abdu Rozik were reportedly recently summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to an alleged money laundering case. If a report by Free Press Journal is to be believed, the case is linked to alleged drug lord Ali Asghar Shirazi. Reportedly, Shiv and Abdu appeared before ED as witnesses in the case. The news portal claims that Ali Asghar Shirazi floated Hustlers Hospitality Pvt Ltd. financed several startups including that of Shiv Thakares Thakare Chai and Snacks and Abdu Roziks Burgiir in Mumbai. Shirazi is said to have invested money, he made through narco-fundinging, in these food chains. However, when Shiv and Abdu got to know about Ali Asghar Shirazis alleged involvement in the narco business, they terminated their contracts. Reportedly, during his interrogation, Shiv Thakare told ED officials that he met the director of Hustlers Hospitality Krunal Ojha, through somebody in 2022. It was after his meeting that Krunal offered him a partnership deal for the Thakare Chai and Snacks. More details about the case are now awaited. Shiv Thakare and Abdu Rozik met for the first time inside the Bigg Boss 16 house when they developed a close bond with one another. Their friendship became one of the highlights of the show. The two were also friends with Sajid Khan, MC Stan, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia and Sumbul Touqeer. The group was called mandali and their friendships stayed connected even after the show. After Bigg Boss 16, Abdu and Shiv were also seen in Rohit Shettys Khatron Ke Khiladi wherein Rozik was a guest contestant on the show. He was seen acing a few stunts while he rooted for his friend Shiv Thakare in the show then. The two had a fun banter in Cape Town, South Africa, several videos of which also went viral on social media. The Bombay High Court has quashed Look Out Circulars (LOCs) issued against actress Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik and their father Lt Col. Indrajit Chakraborty in connection with the alleged drugs case filed after the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The news was reported by Live Law on Thursday, February 22. The LOCs were issued by the CBI against the actress and her family members during the investigation of Sushant Singh Singhs death in 2020. Rhea and Showik were also named as the accused in a drug case that came up during SSRs death investigation. The LOCs stopped Rhea, Showik and Indrajit from travelling out of the country without courts approval. On Thursday, the court questioned the CBIs contention that the mere registration of an FIR justified the issuance of LOCs, the report stated. The court also questioned about the jurisdiction since the original FIR against Rhea was filed by Sushants family in Patna before the CBI took over it. Rheas advocates, Abhinav Chandrachud and Prasanna Bhangale, argued that the petition should have been filed in Mumbai since Rhea and Sushant were residents of Mumbai and added that the investigations also took place in the city. Showik and Indrajits lawyer Ayaz Khan agreed with the argument. He added that the LOC comes into play only if there is evidence that the accused was actively avoiding arrest or court proceedings, which wasnt the case in Rhea and Showiks case. BREAKING Bombay High Court quashes LOCs issued against Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik and their father Lt Col. Indrajit Chakraborty, an army veteran.LOC was issued after the Sushant Singh Rajput Case. #SSR #RheaChakraborty #CBI pic.twitter.com/NFctDGjWym Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) February 22, 2024 PTI reported that CBIs advocate Shreeram Shirsat pleaded to the court to stay the operation of its order for a period of four weeks so that it could file an appeal at the Supreme Court. However, the High Court refused to put a stay on the order. While the LOCs were issued in 2020, Showik received a temporary suspension on the order in September last year, allowing him to travel abroad. Rhea and Showik were questioned by the CBI and NCB in 2020 after Sushants death. They were also arrested by NCB in a drugs case. While Rhea was released a month later, Showik was released a few weeks after. Sushant died in June 2020. He was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on June 14, 2020. Soon after his death, Sushants family accused Rhea of abetment of his suicide. There are many naysayers who are of the vehemence that the fencing of the entire 1643 km India-Myanmar border is not a good idea. Such personages and they unfortunately include people such as a former Indian envoy to Myanmar cite aspects ranging from the virtual end of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) which permits people living along the border on either side to travel 16 km into each others country, without visa, for primarily trade to the human aspect pertaining to the demographic contiguity, that characterises both India and Myanmar in the borderlands. But if a dispassionate cost-benefit analysis of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs decision to fence the border is undertaken, then the pros will outnumber the cons. The ongoing turmoil in Manipur is a direct result of the open border with Myanmar. As I have written earlier in these columns, the Valley-Based-Insurgent Groups (VBIGs), including the United National Liberation Front (Koirang), the Peoples Liberation Front (Manipur), the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, the Kangleipak Communist Party and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (collectively known as the Group of Five (G-5), which is the new avatar of the Coordination Committee (CorCom) after the return of the United National Liberation Front (Pamei) to the mainstream, are billeted in three neat clusters in Myanmars Sagaing Division. After the military takeover of February 1, 2021, the above underground groups came to an understanding with the Myanmar Army (MA). The VBIGs will no longer be touched, harassed or ousted from their safe havens in what has come to be known as the Northern, Central and Southern clusters in Sagaing Division. In return, the VBIGs would have to aid the MA to quell the civil unrest that erupted after the coup detat. The development not only led to an end to the modicum of military cooperation that had been witnessed in the years preceding the military takeover by way of Operations Sunrise-I and Sunrise-II, which demolished several India Insurgent Groups (IIGs) camps in and around Taga (a hunting ground for IIGs just West of the Chindwin river), but the unprecedented situation in Manipur saw hordes of VBIG cadres entering Manipur to battle the Kukis and the security forces. The fact that the porous border also facilitated illegal migration, drugs and arms smuggling from Myanmar by social formations that had affiliations with people in Manipur and have begun to occupy forest lands in the state seems to be borne out by a plethora of facts. Also, several thousand anti-Junta rebels have fled to India since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Of late, even MA personnel had begun to enter Mizoram in a bid to escape the pursuing Peoples Defence Force (the National Unity Governments armed wing) and various ethnic militias. It is in this backdrop that I wish to examine the issue of the India-Myanmar border fence. At the very outset, it must be understood that fences are not walls. They are created to manage legal, regulated movement. I was an international visitor to the United States at the invitation of the US Department of State in 2003. One of the tours took 25 other law enforcers and conflict theorists from around the world as well to many places in the US including the US-Mexico border in San Diego. The manner in which the completely (and concretely, not merely fenced) sealed border is run has to be seen to be believed. We watched as US law enforcers carefully checked the credentials of Mexicans entering the US territory for a days work. They would return after work after paying their taxes to US treasuries and naturally stringent rules governing such entry and exit ensured that they had no political rights in the US. We also witnessed American K-9 dogs waylaying a car entering from Mexico. The driver, we later learnt, was attempting to ferry drugs into the US. Detailed briefings, a tour of the detention centres where Mexicans who were caught trying to enter the US illegally and the formidable wall which led into the Pacific brought back a recall of my own. In an article I had written way back in the North East Sun (Delhi) in its 20-26 May 1995 issue, I had worked out a blueprint for a work permit idea. In San Diego, eight years later, I felt smug about the idea of a work permit for Bangladeshis illegally entering Assam. The fact that it was almost on similar lines with what I witnessed at the US-Mexican border, convinced me that my theory, if it were to be tried and tested, could work for Assam and the rest of the Northeast as well. After all, in 1995, when I first seriously thought of the problem of illegal migration into Assam from Bangladesh, the issue was taking ominous portents and shapes. Indeed, the problem has not left us until today. But today, I hail the Modi governments commitment to construct impenetrable borders. Amit Shahs decision to build a fence along the entire 1643-kilometre-long India-Myanmar border is bold. It will facilitate better surveillance and prevent illegal migration and ingress of VBIGs. Furthermore, the fencing of the border has nothing to do with the Neighbourhood First policy. I have been critical of the policy for a number of reasons, but fencing the India-Myanmar border is not one of them. Indeed, even if the Free Movement Regime (FMR) has to be jettisoned, then so be it. I, for the life of me, cannot think of one reason which characterised it as a great idea, even when it came into being in 2018. If the FMR was anvilled to keep border trade alive then there are several mechanisms to ensure its continuance including the Border Haat system that is in place at the India-Bangladesh border. I had been to Mon not too many months ago. Although I could not make it to Longwa (Oting held greater interest for the student of security in me), the Konyak chieftains village where the Angh (King/Chieftain) sleeps in India and eats in Myanmar is an interest for many. But the fact of the matter is that these are fables for travelogues and tourist brochures. The Assam Rifles, which guard the border with great tenacity and for which it is now being lampooned in Valley Manipur, too, would testify to the fact that although all borders are in the final analyses imaginary, walls make better neighbours. Even beasts mark their territory and would not countenance trespass. On the India-Myanmar border, it is trespass, transgression and temerity. If one is pointing fingers at the decision to fence the India-Myanmar border stating that it would sound the death knell to people-to-people contact between the two countries, then it must be stated that the FMR has not achieved that by any standard or measure. If anything, it has only facilitated the unfettered movement of insurgents, drug peddlers and gun runners. It is surprising that knowledgeable people who are aware of Indian Insurgent camps just across the border (for instance in Somra Tracts of the Sagaing Division) should be criticising Amit Shahs decision to fence the India-Myanmar border. Even a fool knows that a Naga of Myanmar who has a social affiliation with a Naga of India has no interest in Bodh Gaya, the pilgrimage circuit of which would continue, fence or no fence. Also, the contiguity which characterises, for instance, the Naga people (if the broad social formation can be termed as Naga people) is not limited to just 16 km that the FMR has permitted, but can actually go all the way to Taga, a place which is inhabited by Rangpang Nagas. The distance from Longwa in Nagalands Mon district to the Chindwin Valley in Myanmar where Taga is located took the famed traveller and Myanmar expert, Bertil Lintner, two weeks to traverse. I emailed him to procure this piece of information. I also looked up Google Earth and found that it would take 39 hours of driving or 1,349 km on the Asian Highway 1 to get from Longwa to Chindwin. Sceptics of Amit Shahs decision to fence the India-Myanmar border must get both their geography and demography right before they make irrational protests against sound judgement. Harsh times necessitate intrepid calls. The situation in Manipur, Myanmar and Mizoram intertwined as they are with a curious mix of black, white and grey calls for courageous decisions. Manipur of the present is not presenting itself to any easy solution. It is also a known fact that much of the subterfuges in the Land of the Sangai are a result of the sinister and motivated entry of the VBIGs into the state from Myanmars Sagaing Division. Satellite images that have been made available to me by certain central agencies have also indicated that forest lands in Manipur have been taken over by human movement from across Myanmar. While analyses, at least by me, cannot decisively put a finger on the issue and pass judgement about whether it is one social formation or the other that is responsible for forest cover depletion in Manipur, laying logic and demographic growth pattern studies seem to showcase that migration from across Myanmar could be a plausible explanation. It would also be unfair to state that the Centre has fallen hostage to a narrative of the Manipur government. I went to Manipur in early October 2023. I visited Imphal and Churachandpur. Yes, the ethnic divide is complete, but it is also true that May 3, 2023, was just a trigger. There has always been a divide. It was just being tolerated. If I have recently written critically about radical Meitei groups such as Arombai Tenggol, then I must in the same breath state that there has been illegal ingress of the Kukis and affiliated tribes from Myanmar. It is also the case that the Kukis of Imphal were the most affluent community. While I cannot hold my hand to my heart to wager whether drug money was at the heart of the matter, there is certainly much substance that the product of poppy cultivation in Myanmar was entering Manipur and the Northeast with impunity. Indias national security is paramount. As a theoretician and student of conflict, I have been unsparing in the past for what I have termed as the Indian states ineptitude handling of the Northeast. But today, I join my hands both to laud and praise the farsightedness with which Amit Shah has decided to fence the India-Myanmar border. Jaideep Saikia is a Conflict Theorist and Bestselling Author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Sandeshkhali of Bengal has recently been a hot topic throughout the country. Hindus are safer in Bangladesh than in the Hindu Rashtra. Local Hindus and news media are unable to speak out against it out of fear of life. The countrys major news media headlines are enough to highlight the gravity of the issue. The media and social media are full of news and conversations about West Bengals Sandeshkhali. What really occurred there? What is the religious angle to it that exploded? Why are people claiming that what occurred to Hindus way back in Noakhali is now occurring in Sandeshkhali? Whatever happened to Hindus in West Bengal before Independence continues to this day. Only the names of the places have changed; nothing else has altered in the circumstances. In Bengal, Noakhali episodes involving such heinous historical events are still repeated from time to time. In the present day, Noakhali is in Bangladesh, a Hindu graveyard. The countrys political temperature has also begun to rise because of the exposure of sad episodes in Sandeshkhali, 24 North Parganas district, around 75 kilometres from Kolkata. The sort of discoveries that are being made, the way Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration is behaving and encouraging the criminals, it must be argued that Noakhali before 1947 and todays Sandeshkhali are identical. The tragedies of modern-day Sandeshkhali are comparable to the horrors of 1946 Noakhali. Looking at Sandeshkhali, we can see that it is a border area of Islamic Bangladesh, with a population dominated by Hindu Scheduled Castes. Sandeshkhali is one of West Bengals 14 assembly constituencies along the India-Bangladesh border. It is nothing short of a tragedy for the Hindus who live there that all 14 assembly constituencies, including Sandeshkhali, have fallen victim to well-planned conspiracies backed by the TMC. The number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants is growing unexpectedly. There is little doubt that the illegal infiltration of Islamic Bangladeshis is part of a larger scheme to change the demographic of 14 seats, which is being carried out with the support of the TMC. This location is also the epicentre of Pakistans ISI in anti-India terrorist activity. Aside from that, due to the entrance of Islamic Bangladeshis, criminal activities in these regions are steadily expanding. It is also true that until recently, the Muslim population of Sandeshkhali was minimal; but due to illegal Bangladeshi infiltration, a population imbalance has occurred, and the number of jihadi elements is steadily increasing. As a result, the region has been cruelly affected by demographic shifts. The Rohingyas make up the greatest group of unlawful infiltrators. Keep in mind that most of the criminals involved in the previous elections violence were Muslim. Most of the cases here are linked to cattle smuggling, narcotics, illicit firearms, and people trafficking, with Muslims being charged with all these unlawful activities. The current revelations of Sandeshkhali have been going on for numerous years, but nothing was coming out due to the TMC. In 2000, a Hindu Scheduled Caste woman was gang-raped in the Basanti assembly of South 24 Parganas. Workers from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had openly spoken out against the tragedy. As a result, four RSS workers were murdered. Hundreds of cases of gang rape involving Hindu women have been reported. Those who resisted or raised their voices were not only slain but also had their homes burned down. Bangladeshi infiltrators caused such havoc in this area that the BSF was called in to assist and put an end to the 2007 riots. In 2017, powerful infiltrators in the region kidnapped Hindu Scheduled Caste ladies and underaged girls for their pleasure. This neighbourhood is ruled by Muslim criminals such as Sheikh Shahjahan, who engage in crimes like smuggling, drug trafficking, firearms, and beef. People like Sheikh Shahjahan, who are involved in settling Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators as well as other criminal/inhumane acts, have earned billions of dollars in unlawful riches. The Enforcement Directorate team, which had gone to search the residence of TMCs heavyweight leader Sheikh Shahjahan, was viciously assaulted by Muslim goons. Many cops received significant injuries. Sheikh Shahjahan and his henchmen are believed to use to abduct Dalit women/minor girls and carry them to their purported hideouts, where they would gang rape them for months. The situation is similar in several districts of Bengal, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, and Hooghly. Local Hindus have begun to migrate because of organised religious/social/physical harassment, home burnings, and gang rape of Hindu women/minor girls. Because of the Muslim vote-bank, both the previous Communist government and the current Mamata Banerjee administration paid little regard to Hindu lives and human rights. The irony is that Delhi/Kolkatas so-called intellectuals, who are constantly reacting to national and global concerns, are at a loss for words. What is the significance of this silence? Why are Bengali film industry actors, who usually remark on minor issues, mute on Sandeshkhali? Are they scared that if they voice, no one in Bangladesh will see their films? Could somebody talk about the status of the Womens Commission in West Bengal? In this backdrop, it is not an exaggeration to state that there was Noakhali before and now there is Sandeshkhali. Nothing has changed in Bengal for Hindus. Gopal Goswami is a columnist, social thinker, and researcher. Tweets @igopalgoswami. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have finalised their seat negotiation talks for Delhi ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls. According to sources, AAP will contest four seats, while Congress will fight over three seats in the national capital. The two alliance partners are likely to make the decision public soon. During the AAP-Congress seat-sharing discussion, the grand old party likely to contest from Chandini Chowk, East Delhi and North Delhi, while AAP will field its candidate from South, Northwest, New Delhi and West Delhi, sources informed. Congress is also planning to field at least one Dalit face in the national capital. A general category face and a woman candidate will also be fielded by the party. In addition to this, it has also been learnt that Congress is likely to give AAP one seat in Haryana and two seats in Gujarat. Meanwhile, AAP will give up its south Goa constituency for the Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has a sitting MP in Goa. It is important to note that the Delhi deal with AAP was closed after the Congress party sealed its negotiations with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, February 21. UP Seat-Sharing Pact Done Amid the ongoing speculations regarding the rift in the INDIA bloc alliance ahead of the 2024 polls, the Congress finalised its pact will the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and agreed to contest 17 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the forthcoming elections. Notably, the Samajwadi Party will contest from the remaining 63 seats in the state. The pact marked the first major seat-sharing deal announced by the opposition alliance, which was formed to oust the ruling BJP-led central government in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The Samajwadi Party has so far announced three lists for the Lok Sabha polls and has named a total of 32 candidates including don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansaris brother Afzal Ansari and Akhilesh Yadavs uncle Shivpal Yadav. Ulviyya Shahin The Education and Science Ministry (MES) presented the directions of the Garabagh University's activities, faculties, goals, and future plans of the university, and gave information about the ongoing work, Azernews reports. The Director of the Presidential Administration's Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism, and Religious Affairs, Farah Aliyeva, and the Education and Science Minister Emin Amrullayev, along with the rectors of universities and Azerbaijani scholars living abroad participated. The meeting discussed the application of local and international experience in the university. It is worth noting that the revival of historical educational traditions in Garabagh and meeting the demand for highly qualified personnel in line with the region's socio-economic needs have been set as goals by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The participants of the event shared their recommendations on the university's activities and emphasized that Garabagh has always produced talented individuals, and the current initiatives are a continuation of this tradition. During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on establishing a modern environment for the university's educational areas and academic staff, by providing all services on the university campus and creating an ecosystem that supports creative projects based on scientific research. It should be mentioned that Garabagh University will start its activities in the academic year of 2024-2025. In the initial stage, the plan is to provide education to nearly 1000 students at the university. Entrepreneur John Cheeks from Washington, DC, bought a Powerball lottery ticket back in early January, using the birthdates of his family members to select the numbers. He missed the live drawing, but the next day he logged on to the website and was overjoyed to win $340 million (over 13.1 billion hryvnias). However, it's not that simple. ADVERTISIMENT The entrepreneur told the local NBC4 TV company that he took a picture of the website where his numbers were displayed for three days. However, when he went to redeem his ticket at a licensed vendor two days later, he discovered that the numbers on the website - the ones on his ticket - did not match those drawn during the Powerball live broadcast. So Chicks, who had been imagining himself a multimillionaire for two days, was left without money. According to the man, he then went to the District of Columbia Lottery and Gaming Authority to check whether he was eligible for the prize. He was flatly denied. "One of the claim agents told me that my ticket was worthless and I should just throw it in the trash," Chicks told reporters. However, the American decided not to give up. He kept his ticket in a safe deposit box and contacted a lawyer. Now, the man is in litigation with the lottery, demanding compensation in the amount of the Powerball jackpot plus the interest he could have earned on it in a day. ADVERTISIMENT His lawyer, Richard Evans, said that representatives of the advertising agency that manages the lottery website, Taoti Enterprises, admitted that they made a mistake and posted the wrong numbers. "Even if the mistake was made, John Cheeks deserves some kind of solution and the jackpot payment. After all, he was convinced for several days that he won a nine-figure sum... It's not just about the numbers on the website, it's about the reliability of institutions that promise life-changing opportunities while making huge profits," the lawyer commented. ADVERTISIMENT According to court documents, Powerball and lottery contractor Taoti Enterprises claim the mix-up was due to a technical error. A Taoti employee said that on January 6 - the day Chicks bought the ticket - the quality assurance team was conducting testing on the website. On that day, a set of test Powerball numbers that matched Mr. Chicks' numbers were published on the website "by accident." Those numbers remained online for three days, until January 9. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! In an effort to further its push towards promoting Kannada and Karnataka culture, the Congress government has issued an order that the Naada Geete (state anthem) should be sung along with the national anthem each day in all schools. But this order was not without controversy and the ruling Congress found itself answering for another major gaffe. On February 1, an order of 2004 declaring Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Thanujaathe as the state anthem was officially notified. It was made mandatory for all schools, government, and semi-government departments, corporations, and boards and other related organisations in Karnataka to commence their day only after the state anthem was sung. Subsequently, on February 16, an amended notification was issued changing the words all schools to government schools, aided schools, after a case was filed in the Karnataka high court. Kannada and culture minister Shivaraj Tangadagi called it a printing error. He said that the first notification issued on February 1 included the words all schools. The second notification was issued on February 16 after a case was filed by one Kikkeri Krishnamurthy who sought clarification on what all schools meant. There was a long-standing demand to bring in uniformity in the rendition of the Nada Geethe with a fixed duration of 150 seconds and delivered in the work by noted music composer Mysore Ananthaswamy. The lawyer had also sought that the Karnataka state anthem must be rendered in the tune composed by C Ashwath and not Ananthaswamy. The February 16 notification was a clarification as to what all schools meant, and in that process, the minister said that the word private was inadvertently dropped. The note sheet mentioned all schools, but it was left out in the notification. It was a printing mistake, the minister said while producing a fresh notification that made a specific mention that the state anthem must be sung in all schools government, government-aided, unaided, and private. Written by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu (Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa), the Karnataka state anthem is usually sung before every government event, but the administration has now decided to extend it to schools as well. The rich Kannada poem that speaks of the unity of India, its diversity, cultural richness, and peaceful co-existence of sister states while projecting self-confidence, respect, and dignity was officially declared Karnatakas state anthem in 2004. The opposition BJP vehemently opposed this as another insult to Kuvempu and raised it on the floor of the house, forcing the Congress to admit the mistake and issue an amendment. The BJP sought an explanation from the Congress government on why private schools were exempted from singing the state anthem. Leader of opposition R Ashok raised the issue in the Karnataka assembly. Why does the government have such an attitude towards Kuvempu? What kind of madness is this? Dont private schools come under the education department, and why have they been excluded in the order? he said, seeking an apology from the government to the people of the state. BJP state president and Shikaripura MLA BY Vijayendra recalled another recent controversy where Kuvempus original phrase in government schools was altered, which he called part of Congresss appeasement politics. The phrase read: This is a temple of knowledge, come inside with folded hands, which is usually painted outside government schools. It was changed to: This is the temple of knowledge, ask boldly, by the social welfare department. The BJP called it an insult to the poet laureate. This is another insult to such a great man of Karnataka, Vijayendra said. Karnatakas law minister HK Patil, while admitting that the mistake was a grave one, said the officials responsible for this mischief will face strict punishment. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called Congress anti-Hindu after the latter passed the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024 in the state assembly. The bill mandates that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state government will now collect 10% of revenue from temples that have revenue exceeding Rs 1 crore and 5% from the ones that have revenue between Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 1 crore. As the BJP and the Congress indulged in a war of words, the saffron party criticised the state government, accusing it of implementing Anti-Hindu policies. State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa alleged that the government passed the bill to replenish its depleted coffers. The Congress government, which is adopting consistently anti-Hindu policies in the state, has now taken a crooked look at the revenue of Hindu temples and passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments bill to fill its empty coffers, he wrote on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter). Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples pic.twitter.com/Vzf9RQTaP4 Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) February 22, 2024 Under this, the government will collect 10% of the income from temples earning over Rs 1 crore, this is nothing but poverty. The offering dedicated by the devotees for the knowledge of God and the development of the temple should be allocated for the renovation of the temple and the convenience of the devotees. If it is allocated for another purpose, it is on the divine beliefs of the people. There will be violence and fraud, he added. Yediyurappa questioned why only Hindu temples are being scrutinized and not the incomes of other religions. Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday slammed the Congress government in Karnataka over the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Bill and called it a new low for the states ruling party. Every time you think Rahuls Congress cannot fall any lower, along comes and example of them falling even lower, Chandrasekhar said. The Karnataka Congress headed by D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, Rahuls handpicked leaders for the Karnataka Congress, have today brought a Karnataka Religious Endowment Bill, where they propose that 10 per cent of donations received by the Hindu temples every year will be taken away by the government without assigning any reason or cause, he said. This money that is being given to the temple by Hindu devotees for the upkeep of the temple as a sign of faith is in a sense being looted by the government of Karnataka to fund their various requirements for the Congress, he said. This is the government which in few months has shown crore and crore of rupees have been siphoned off and given to their contractors. And now the case theyre making to fund their corrupt politics is that the Hindu devotees in Karnataka must give money to the Karnataka Congress ATM machine Hindu devotees money is being looted by the Karnataka government, he said. Allegations misrepresented for political gain: Siddaramaiah Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the allegations regarding the Karnataka governments amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Bill appeared to be misrepresented for political gain. The allegations regarding the Karnataka governments amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Bill appear to be misrepresented for political gain. There has always been a mandate to create a common pool since the enactment of the Act in 1997. Before pic.twitter.com/HQt0JxjU5j Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 22, 2024 Explaining his stance on the matter, he took to X and wrote, There has always been a mandate to create a common pool since the enactment of the Act in 1997. Before the recent amendment, the contributions to the fund came from (i) ten percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds ten lakhs rupees; (ii) five percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds five lakhs rupees but does not exceed ten lakhs rupees; and (iii) grants received from the State Government. After the amendment, the contributions to the fund will come from (i) ten percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds one crore rupees; (ii) five percent of the net income of institutions whose gross annual income exceeds ten lakhs rupees but does not exceed one crore rupees; and (iii) grants received from the State Government. The recent amendment was made solely to enhance the amount of the common pool, he wrote. The common pool is administered solely for religious purposes connected with the Hindu religion, he added. Congress responds Responding to it, Congress leader and Karnataka government minister Ramalinga Reddy questioned the BJP for consistently engaging in religious politics. He accused the BJP of pursuing political gains by labeling the Congress as anti-Hindu. Reddy asserted that the Congress has consistently protected temples and Hindu interests over the years. Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, It is clear that BJP, always pursues political gains by claiming that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true proponents of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently safeguarded temples and Hindu interests, he said. Sri @BYVijayendra,It is clear that @BJP4Karnataka, always pursue political gains by claiming that @INCKarnataka is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true proponents of Hinduism because over the years, Congress governments have consistently Ramalinga Reddy (@RLR_BTM) February 21, 2024 Did your BJP government neglect its responsibilities between 2008 and 2013, as well as from 2019 to 2023? It seems they turned a blind eye to the revenues of Hindu religious institutions and charitable endowments, despite the existence of acts or bills in place since 2001, he added. So, werent you also negligent regarding Hindu temple revenues? Ramalinga Reddy asked. He asserted that the people of Karnataka are aware of the BJPs tactics, and in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they will likely teach them a lesson. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, The baseless allegations by BJP leaders are aimed only at misleading the public and polarising people along communal lines for political leverage. BJP leaders should be ashamed of their unethical practices. Their disservice to the people of Karnataka will never be forgiven. By misleading the public, BJP leaders want the youth of the country to abandon their jobs and fight an imaginary war, solely to benefit the BJP politically, he wrote on X. The baseless allegations by BJP leaders are aimed only at misleading the public and polarizing people along communal lines for political leverage. BJP leaders should be ashamed of their unethical practices. Their disservice to the people of Karnataka will never be forgiven. By pic.twitter.com/RC0lSvgdfH Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 22, 2024 It is clear that the @BJP4Karnataka has reserved their State President post for those who are inclined to lie. @BYVijayendra seems to be a good fit for the post, or perhaps he is competing with other BJP leaders to retain it. Shame on Vijayendra! His credibility as a leader is plummeting, much like the Indian Rupee under Narendra Modi, he added. (With agency inputs) Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi on Thursday claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested if the AAP ties up with Congress in Delhi for the Lok Sabha elections. The AAP leaders claim came after the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued the seventh summons to Kejriwal and asked him to appear before it on February 26 for questioning in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. We (AAP) have received threats that if AAP doesnt leave the INDIA alliance, then in the next two days, Arvind Kejriwal will receive a CBI notice, either on Saturday or Monday, under CrPC Section 41 A, and he will be arrested by the CBI and the ED. AAP is being threatened that if AAP-Congress do seat sharing, then, in the next three to four days, Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested, said Atishi at a press conference in Delhi. VIDEO | We (AAP) have received threats that if AAP doesnt leave the INDIA alliance, then in the next two days, Arvind Kejriwal will receive a CBI notice, either on Saturday or Monday, under CrPC Section 41 A, and he will be arrested by the CBI and the ED. AAP is being pic.twitter.com/mFDx2ixqVy Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 22, 2024 Kejriwal has so far not appeared before the federal agencies in connection with the case in which two AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are behind bars. Meanwhile, sources said the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have finalised their seat negotiation talks for Delhi for the crucial Lok Sabha polls. According to sources, AAP will contest four seats, while Congress will fight over three seats in the national capital. The two alliance partners are likely to make the decision public soon. The grand old party is likely to contest from Chandini Chowk, East Delhi and North Delhi, while AAP will field its candidate from South, Northwest, New Delhi and West Delhi, sources informed. In addition to this, it has also been learnt that Congress is likely to give AAP one seat in Haryana and two seats in Gujarat. Meanwhile, AAP will give up its south Goa constituency for the Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has a sitting MP in Goa. (With PTI inputs) Senior ministers and some alleged strongmen of the Trinamool Congress, who were in-charge of the organisation and polls for two districts South 24 Pargana and North 24 Pargana are either behind bars or on the run. Jyoti Priya Mallick aka Balu, the minister in-charge of Bengals largest district with five Lok Sabha constituencies, is in jail now. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the ration scam. In his absence, one of his close aides, locally known as his henchman Sheikh Shahjahan was calling the shots in two of the most important blocks in the district. However, things took a turn for the worse after he allegedly orchestrated an attack on on-duty ED officers in early January. Following this, allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing started pouring in against Shahjahan who is on the run now for 49 days. Trinamools fort in south Bengal crumbling? TMC says otherwise The two most important and sensitive districts of south Bengal South and North 24 Pargana include a total of 10 Lok Sabha seats and have always been locally controlled and managed by senior Trinamool Congress leaders like Shahjahan, Arabul Islam, Saokat Mollah and some others. Of these leaders, Saokat and Arabul are MLA and ex-MLA respectively while Shajahan is a senior member of the Zila Parishad. However, the panchayat poll-centric violence in Bhangar last year, Mallicks arrest and Sandeshkhali upheaval over allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault, seem to have dealt a body blow to the party structure in the area. But senior Trinamool leaders are confident that Sandeshkhali will settle soon and people will forget Shahjahan as the incidents and allegations are partly fabricated by the BJP and CPM. Talking to News18, Mollah said: Our party structure is intact. There is nothing to worry about. Another senior Trinamool Congress leader of the area said, There were certain issues in the area, but most of the allegations, if not all, are partly fabricated. The party is probing them. The administration is also doing its job. Everything will settle soon. Sandeshkhali block has 11 panchayats, of which we faced a little trouble in some booths in one panchayat. The rest is ours. Arabul, an ex-MLA, was arrested post the violent clashes in Bhangar in South 24 Pargana district last year. He is still in jail. Mollah, Trinamool MLA from Canning and senior leader in the party, holds the charge for South 24 Pargana district. All three of them have several allegations of violence against them. However, there are no FIRs as such, barring against Arabul Islam, who is behind bars now. Mollah, known to be close to Trinamool MP and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, is also believed to be a leader who has excellent organisational capacity and can mobilise cadres. Mollah is one of the trusted lieutenants of the party who manages several areas of South 24 Pargana district. Sandeshkhali to Bhangar: The political flashpoints For context, one needs to understand why these two districts are the most crucial for the ruling Trinamool Congress. These two districts account for 10 Lok Sabha seats, over 60 assembly constituencies and 510 gram panchayats. The political and administrative stakes are high as these two districts are the keys to south Bengal and cover almost one-fourth of Bengals Lok Sabha seats. Moreover, some blocks and several assembly segments across the districts are dominated by Muslims. Muslims constitute almost 30 per cent of Bengals vote share and contribute a lions share to Mamata Banerjees political calculation. Areas like Sandeshkhali, Hingalganj, Basanti, Bhangar all political flashpoints of South Bengal are also seen as money bags for any political party that ruled the state. Capturing fish ponds, grabbing land have been the way to rule over these places and all such actions continued through intimidation and unabated violence by both Left Front and Trinamool. The geographical location and remote and interior nature of the rural side of these districts make absolute political control easy in the area, said a senior police officer who worked in the region. Both the districts are also located near the international border with Bangladesh, which makes some of the areas strategically vulnerable. The Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC 2024) is almost here, and once again, the event will be hosted offline in Barcelona, Spain just like the old days. The biggest mobile show starts from February 26 to February 29, 2024, will be hosting a wide array of brands who will surely have many products to showcase and some new phones to launch in front of the world. Brands like Nothing, Xiaomi, Tecno and OnePlus have confirmed their presence at the event where the new products will be announced or at least teased in front of the public. Here are some of the big launches we expect to see at the MWC 2024 in Barcelona. MWC 2024: Top Launches Expected This Year Nothing Phone 2a Nothing has teased its presence at the MWC 2024 for a while and now we know the reason. The company is bringing its new, so-called affordable Phone 2a model to the event, where we will get to see the design, features and probably more details about the new phone. Nothing has reserved its focus to the premium segment for now, but Phone 2a promises a new chapter for the company, one that everyone is excited to hear about. From what we know, the phone will use a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset, come with 12GB RAM and likely to be priced under Rs 30,000 as per reports. Xiaomi 14 Ultra Xiaomi 14 series is getting a wider release in the coming weeks but all eyes will be eager to see the new Xiaomi 14 Ultra that will be unveiled at the MWC 2024 by the brand. The Ultra series shows Xiaomis seriousness in the imaging segment, thanks to its co-engineered Leica lenses that give it a flagship-grade quality. Xiaomi has mostly limited its release to China but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is coming to more countries, and were excited to see what the new Ultra promises. The phone is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, but everyone is keen to see the sensors on the device. OnePlus The company might not have a phone to show this year, but we might see the new Watch 2 at the event. OnePlus has teased the product and the launch timeline suggests well see the product in Barcelona later this week. OnePlus could finally use WearOS for its wearable, and after the less-than-convincing debut with the Watch model, people will expect a lot more from the brand. HMD HMD is moving beyond its Nokia phone days and we expect the brand to launch its multi-brand products at the MWC 2024 this month. HMD is going to have Nokia phones in the future but we will also see the HMD-branded phones in the market, and this weeks event will give us a closer look at the new products. Tecno The company showcased its ambitions with the most-affordable foldable and flip phones in the market. Now, Tecno wants to bring its second-gen products and it has decided to use the MWC 2024 as the platform to make it happen. More Brands Expected But the lineup doesnt end there. We also expect to see brands like Vivo, Oppo and Realme at the event. And it would be a massive shock if AI isnt a hot subject at the mobile event for everyone involved. If youre someone who finds fascination in historical battles like those of Panipat or Haldighati, or perhaps the mythological tales of Ravan Vadh, then prepare for another epic encounter thats etched into modern folklore. Three years ago, the Battle of Baghpat erupted in this UP town, pitting two groups of chaat sellers against each other, and even now, social media continues to pay homage to the bold souls who etched their names in history on that eventful day in 2021. As X (Twitter) commemorates the third anniversary of the Battle of Baghpat, memories come flooding back. Among the memorable moments of the skirmish, one standout was a kurta-clad vendor with mehendi-adorned hair, seen heroically pinning down rival shopkeepers during the chaos. Also Read: UP Golgappa Seller and Customer Engage in Fistfight Over Cost of One Plate Panipuri, Watch Video The video footage captured several men engaging in combat with sticks and rods, while bystanders looked on in disbelief. It was a spectacle reminiscent of a 90s Bollywood blockbuster, with many users enhancing the drama by adding cinematic music to the clip. Today we gather to mark the anniversary of the most pivotal battle fought in the subcontinents history.The battle that defined the cultural milieu for the billion people who call India home. The battle, ladies & gentlemen, of Baghpat.pic.twitter.com/mOCeqcZr0U Yews Finest (@FinestYew) February 22, 2024 But it was Harinder, the chaat seller with henna-streaked hair, who stole the spotlight and became a social media sensation, affectionately dubbed Einstein Uncle/Chacha or Virus (from 3 Idiots) for his distinctive hairstyle. His wink in a photo taken by the cops after their detainment only added to his allure. So, while Einstein Chacha may have bid adieu to the hairstyle that catapulted him to memedom, the collective memory refuses to let him fade away, along with the entire saga of the battle! The world famous Baghpat Chaat battle was fought on this day. Remembering the legends on Third Anniversary.pic.twitter.com/BHpjM4TEe5 (@Delhiite_) February 22, 2024 Third anniversary of the Battle of Baghpatpic.twitter.com/W9TZuI1O1J Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) February 22, 2024 Chaat Wars 3.0 : Baghpat Strikes Back.This never gets old. pic.twitter.com/hUOZdu9pZ9 Sanket Upadhyay (@sanket) February 22, 2024 Barber : What do you want?Baghpat Uncle : She wants me smart.Barber : Say no more!pic.twitter.com/l1t2wnwRHU Nomadic Musings (@midwaythoughts_) January 24, 2024 As per X page, @gharkekalesh, Einstein Chacha recently disclosed that he made the tough decision to shutter his chaat shop and transition into the garment business due to a downturn in fortunes. In Recent Interview, with Kaleshi Einstein Chacha we Came to know that He Changed his Business from Chaat Shop to Clothes Shop Rare Downfall pic.twitter.com/5i9EnhoWMN Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) February 22, 2024 For those who may be unaware of the backstory that introduced us to Einstein Chacha, the genesis lies in the clash between two rival factions of chaat vendors, Shiv Chaat Bhandar and Nav Durga Chaat Bhandar, on the bustling thoroughfare humorously named Atithi Bhawan. The altercation went viral after a local journalist, struck on his right hand by a rod, captured the fracas on camera. Subsequently, eight individuals from both camps found themselves behind bars, slapped with charges including attempted murder, as the incident made its way to the hallowed halls of the state police headquarters in Lucknow. Airplane food has long held a negative reputation for being unappetising and stale. Now, a travel vlogger recently shared a video in which he compared the Indian food on a flight and US flight food. Travel vlogger Karl Rock, compared these meals when he travelled on a round trip in a premium economy flight from New Delhi to New York with American Airlines. In this video, he showed the dinner and breakfast served to him when he flew from New Delhi to New York and said that he was able to enjoy the freshly prepared meals. He then showed the dinner and breakfast he was served when he flew out of New York. He noted that the American food was unappetising and made of rubbery processed chicken, boring rice, and just flavourless slop. He further described the meal as American jail food. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karl Rock (@iamkarlrock) This video gathered over 4,000 likes and stirred a discussion on aeroplane food. Commenting on this video an Instagram user wrote, Jail food is exactly right! Emirates serves the best food IMO, but I havent used Singapore Airlines yet. Another person wrote, Its good to see Indian airlines strive for quality meals, where U.S & UK flights clearly budget and stick to processed food. An Instagram user shared, I was traveling to Auckland from Singapore, by Singapore airlines,,,I think their food was pretty decent in economy, service was okish thought as they didnt allow me more beer. Another person commented, We just recently flew Emirates Washington DC to Dubai then Dubai to Delhi. The food on the way to book locations was superior! Even better than most restaurant food in the US. We flew economy and even the plane was roomy and nice. Sadly, our return flight from Dubai to Washington DC the food was inedible and not even warm and horrible tasting. A few hours after eating I threw up everything much to the disgust of my fellow travellers (our family of 5). Back in January 2023, a woman named Sarvapriya Sangwan claimed that she found small stones in the meals provided by Air India Flight 215. You dont need resources and money to ensure stone-free food Air India (@airindiain). This is what I received in my food served in the flight AI 215 today. Crew member Ms. Jadon was informed. This kind of negligence is unacceptable. #airIndia pic.twitter.com/L3lGxgrVbz Sarvapriya Sangwan (@DrSarvapriya) January 8, 2023 While sharing the incriminating photos, she tagged Air India and wrote, You dont need resources and money to ensure stone-free food Air India. This is what I received in my food served on flight AI 215 today. Crew member, Ms Jadon was informed. This kind of negligence is unacceptable. After her post went viral, the Air India customer support team reached out to her in the comments. Astrophotography is not just a hobby, it is an intriguing art that requires immense patience, years of skills and deep knowledge. Meanwhile, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year, an annual competition held by the Royal Observatory Greenwich (ROG), attracts experts in the field. This year, Turkish Astrophotographer Mehmet Ergun claimed the prestigious Peoples Choice Award for his breathtaking click of the Great Solar Flare. Ergun captured the scene through an H-alpha solar telescope and his image provides a closer look at the sun. Measuring approximately 700,000 km, it surpasses the diameter of the Earth, which is around 12,700 km. The award-winning photograph was taken in Traisen, Germany, on September 4, 2022, showcasing the beauty of the cosmos through Erguns lens. In addition to his recent award, the photographer has an impressive list of achievements, as he has won 3 NASA APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) awards, secured the winners trophy of AAPOD2 (Amateur Astronomy Photo of the Day), received recognition from ASTROBIN and Save A Star foundation, he also won EAPOD (European Astronomy Picture Of The Day) and Astronomia Picture Of The Day. Announcing the winners ROG wrote, The Great Solar Flare is the winning image in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice category. Second place goes to A Rocky Rise by Carl Evans and third place to Butterfly by Vincent Beudez. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Royal Museums Greenwich (@royalmuseumsgreenwich) As per Royal Observatory Greenwich, Mehmet Ergun explained, Here we see our Sun, photographed using an H-alpha solar telescope. The Sun is moving towards its maximum cycle and in the photo, we can see a large solar flare. Solar flares are sudden bursts of magnetic energy on the surface of the Sun. These eruptions can be very large, as seen in the image. According to our calculation, this solar flare is about 700,000 km long, Earth has a diameter of about 12,700 km. Ergun also took to his Instagram account to share the news of his win and he thanked each individual, who played a part in turning his dream into reality. In his message, he stated that the votes made him truly win and the recognition means a lot to him. The photographer acknowledged that almost a decade ago, he wouldnt have imagined achieving such recognition. According to his website, Mehmet Ergun learned many things on his own. During family holidays, they preferred nature spots far from city lights, offering a more beautiful view of the universe. His fascination with space and astronomy started in childhood and Geography became his favourite subject. In 2010, he got his first telescope and gained hands-on experience in astronomy. Over time, he improved his skills and came across the brighter side of the universe through his observations and photographs. Emily Cooper, the charismatic lead of Emily in Paris, continues to capture hearts as she starts yet another adventure in the City of Lights. Fans have been eagerly waiting for Season 4 and are anxious to know the unresolved stories left hanging in the balance during the dramatic Season 3 finale. The upcoming season promises to explore Emilys love life and professional challenges. Currently in production, the Netflix hit is set to premiere later this year. Adding to the excitement, an Instagram content creator recently shared an exclusive behind the scenes glimpse from the show. Surprisingly, during a visit to the France capital city, the creator stumbled upon the entire cast shooting scenes for Season 4 right under her apartment building. Although she was able to film every cast member, she couldnt capture Lily Collins, who she claimed looked charming in a blue pantsuit in the picturesque streets of Paris. Sharing her excitement on Instagram, the content creator wrote, One morning in Paris I opened my apartment curtains and saw the entire cast of Emily in Paris shoot for the new season. AND THIS WAS NOT A DREAM. I couldnt film Emily because I was legit adoring her, saw her in an electric blue pant suit walking towards her work place in the series, which by the way was right in front of my apartment. I think I have manifested this and it made my Paris trip EXTRAA special. The intriguing look into the making of Emily in Paris Season 4, shared by the Instagram content creator, has taken the internet by storm and garnered over 50,000 views. Social media users expressed a mix of emotions, as some felt jealousy at her unique experience. Others expressed joy seeing the return of Alfie, played by Lucien Laviscount, in the upcoming season. Viewers also questioned the characters involvement with Gabriels fiancee, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming seasons plot. A user wrote, OMG, You are a lucky girl. Another shared, You must be crazy rich to afford an apartment in that neighbourhood. An individual wondered, Whats Alfie doing with Gabriels fiance? Im happy we will see Alfieeee next season too, a comment read. Another wrote, Lucky you. I was there too but there was no shooting. A user shared, WTH.how can you be so chill. One more wrote, I am super jealous of you. The production of Emily in Paris Season 4 faced several delays, primarily due to the Hollywood strike and the scheduling challenges posed by the Paris Olympic Games. Fans, eager for the next instalment, can expect the new season to stream on Netflix either later this year or in 2025. Social media is a treasure trove of advice and hacks for virtually every aspect of life. While some are backed by evidence and experience, others can be misleading or even harmful. It can be challenging to discern which advice to trust, as the line between helpful tips and dangerous misinformation can be blurred. Recently, a TikTok user known as Suma Frale, who describes herself as an assistant metaphysical counsellor, made waves with her unconventional health tip: using urine as eye drops. Frale made a claim, asserting that applying urine as eye drops cured her myopia and poor eyesight. She claimed to have diligently used urine drops daily until her eyesight remarkably improved. Her assertion is rooted in urine therapy, an alternative medicine practice popularised by British naturopath John W. Armstrong in the early 20th century. Urine therapy proponents advocate for its usage in a variety of medical and cosmetic applications, such as skin massage, gum treatment and even consumption. However, Frales motivation elevates the idea to new levels. Frale describes the purported advantages of urine drops over conventional medications in a widely shared TikTok video. She talks about her personal experience and says that her astigmatism and myopia disappeared after she injected the urine into her eyes on a regular basis. She dismisses conventional drugs as hazardous chemicals and pushes for urine as a natural treatment. For maximum benefit, Frale recommended a urine drop routine for the morning and evening. Despite a growing interest in urine therapy, no scientific evidence or research is supporting any beneficial claims of using human urine to improve eyesight. A study published in the Pan African Medical Journal highlighted the historical use of urine in medicine, dating back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece and Rome. The study noted that in economically disadvantaged regions, where access to modern healthcare is limited, urine therapy is experiencing a resurgence. However, this resurgence has been associated with a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has cautioned against the use of urine therapy, noting that the small amounts of vitamins and minerals present in urine are not sufficient to provide any significant health benefits. Additionally, similar risks have been identified by the medical centre. Dr Olivia Killeen, a clinical lecturer specializing in ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan, has expressed concern over patients using urine as an eyewash. She, in conversation with USA Today, cited cases where individuals developed severe infections, including sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhoea or chlamydia, after applying urine to their eyes. There is hardly a person in the world who hasn't watched the world's "most Christmas" movie, Home Alone. Everyone knows about Kevin McCallister's lead actor, Macaulay Culkin. But do you remember Fuller McCallister? A charming boy with huge round glasses who loved to drink Pepsi and peed in bed. This small but bright role went to Macaulay's younger brother, Kieran Culkin. ADVERTISIMENT For a long time, Kieran remained in the shadow of his older brother, who played many leading roles in popular films as a child. However, today the younger Culkin has definitely become a leader, as evidenced by his numerous awards in recent years. OBOZ.UA decided to talk about the success of Fuller McCallister and show what he looks like now. Macaulay and Kieran's father was a Broadway actor who could not properly provide for a large family - there were seven children in the family. So, literally from the time they were in diapers, the man took his heirs to various auditions, pursuing rather selfish goals. By the way, it is known that children were severely punished for unsuccessful auditions. ADVERTISIMENT The real success and fame came after the triumph of both parts of Home Alone, which became, without exaggeration, cult. However, this success and fame were more about Makolei Kalkin. His younger brother, meanwhile, was content to play minor roles. As we all know, the crazy popularity played a cruel joke on the favorite of millions. "Kevin McCallister", as is often the case with child stars, started using illegal substances. Luckily, he managed to overcome his addiction, but it had a negative impact on his career. Meanwhile, Kieran did not succumb to such side effects of fame and worked hard. Eventually, his filmography was replenished with such successful projects as Father of the Bride, Nowhere to Run, Giant, Scott Pilgrim vs. For the latter film, by the way, critics praised Culkin Jr. But the most successful of all the successes happened to the actor in 2018, when he was cast as Roman Roy in one of the most popular TV series of the last decade, The Heirs. ADVERTISIMENT The actor himself once joked: "What is it about me that makes me get hired to play roles of scoundrels? I think it all started with Fuller. And now all the roles I play are Fuller McCallister." Fans call Kieran Culkin a new crush, and critics lavishly praise his work. The success of the actor is evidenced by his awards for his role in The Heirs: Emmy (2023), Golden Globe (2024), Screen Actors Guild Award (2022), Critics' Choice (2022, 2024). ADVERTISIMENT Kieran is also a happy family man. He dedicated his acceptance speech to his wife, model Jezza Charton, when he received the coveted Emmy statuette. The couple legalized their relationship in 2013. They currently have two young children: daughter Kinzie Su Culkin (September 13, 2019) and son Wilder Wolfe Culkin (August 17, 2021). As OBOZ.UA wrote, in December 2023, Macaulay Culkin, who became a symbol of Christmas and New Year, received his star on the Walk of Fame. At a ceremony in Hollywood, he met his on-screen mom, Catherine O'Gara, who played Kate in the movie. The star was also supported by his wife Brenda and sons. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A retired Roman Catholic bishop appeared in court in remote Western Australia on Thursday on charges of sexual offences against children, including two counts of rape. The charges against Christopher Saunders were presented on Thursday morning in Broome Magistrates Court, said a court spokesperson, who declined to say whether Saunders had entered a plea. Western Australia police said Child Abuse Squad detectives charged a 74-year-old Broome man, whom it did not name, with 19 offences, including two of sexual penetration without consent, 14 of unlawful and indecent assault and three of a person in authority indecently dealing with a child. Footage from TV network Seven showed Saunders being led away by police after his arrest on Wednesday. Police said the man was refused bail. Saunders, emeritus bishop of Broome, a diocese bigger than Texas in northwest Australia, was not reachable for comment. He has previously denied wrongdoing. It was not immediately whether clear Saunders has a lawyer. He was ordained a priest in 1976, becoming a bishop in 1995, according to the Catholic News Agency. Saunders stood down in 2020 after the allegations emerged. A police investigation at the time found insufficient evidence to charge him. Pope Francis accepted his resignation in 2021. The Vatican launched its own investigation into Saunders in 2022. US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a crazy SOB at a public fundraising event Wednesday in California. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate, Biden said in a brief speech at the event in San Francisco that was attended by a small group of reporters. Bidens burst of strong language follows other occasions in which he has called the Russian president, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a butcher and a war criminal. In a hot mic slip in January 2022, Biden called a Fox News journalist a son of a bitch. Earlier this week, Biden said the United States will announce a package of tough new sanctions Friday against Russia over the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The US president said the Putin critic bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence, and the the all the 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 didnt stop him from calling out Putins lies. Even in prison, he was a powerful voice of the truth, which is kind of amazing when you think about it, he said in his White House remarks. (With agency inputs) China on Thursday condemned a US delegation visit to Taiwan as interference, after the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on China arrived on the self-ruled island with four other lawmakers. China always resolutely opposes any form of official exchange between the United States and Taiwan authorities, and resolutely opposes the United States interference in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press conference. Mike Gallagher heads the five-member delegation that met Thursday with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te, who won last months presidential election and will take office in May. We urge the United States to recognise the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, Mao said, urging the US to adhere to the one-China principle and stop official exchanges with Taiwan. The chairman of the US House of Representatives committee on China said Thursday that support in his countrys legislature for Taiwan was extremely strong, after a meeting with the self-ruled islands top leadership. I actually think support for Taiwan in the United States Congress I see growing and extremely strong support for Taiwan, Gallagher told reporters. The United States is Taiwans most important ally, and the island has been at the centre of tensions with China, which claims it as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under Beijings control. Gallagher, a vocal critic of China, added that he believed US support for Taiwan would be unaffected by the result of his countrys 2024 presidential election. I am very confident that support for Taiwan will continue regardless of who occupies the White House, he said. He also warned Beijing against any attempt to invade Taiwan, saying to do so would be incredibly foolish. If Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party were to ever make the incredibly foolish decision to attempt an invasion of Taiwan that effort would fail, he said during the meeting with Lai. Earlier, President Tsai welcomed the US lawmakers, saying the visit demonstrated staunch US support for Taiwans democracy through concrete action. We will continue to advance our international partnerships and engage with the world. In 2024, we hope to see even more Taiwan-US exchanges in a range of domains, she said. The delegation will stay until Saturday as part of a larger visit to the region, the American Institute in Taiwan, Washingtons de facto embassy in Taipei said in a statement. A Chinese research vessel has entered the waters of the Maldives, news agency Reuters reported on Thursday. The Xiang Yang Hong 03, classified as a research vessel, is reportedly mapping the floor of the Indian Ocean amid security concerns raised by New Delhi. India has been keeping a close eye on the movement of the ship amid concerns over the movement of the Chinese vessel that India suspects could be used for spying purposes. We always keep a close eye on developments which impact our economic as well as security interests and take necessary steps to safeguard them when required, said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly presser on February 1. This comes as defence experts say China is expanding in both the number and size of its so-called China Marine Research Vessels, a national survey fleet established in 2012. The presence of the Chinese ship in Male waters also comes amid strained relations between India and Maldives after President Mohamed Muizzu came to power. Muizzu, who campaigned on an anti-India platform, visited China last month before visiting India for the election. An earlier statement by the Maldives foreign ministry said that a diplomatic request was made by the government of China to the government of Maldives, for the necessary clearances to make a port call, for rotation of personnel and replenishment. The statement said the Chinese ship wont be conducting any research while docked in Male port. The Maldives has always been a welcoming destination for vessels of friendly countries, and continues to host both civilian and military vessels making port calls for peaceful purposes, it said. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was likely killed by a single punch to the heart after being exposed to freezing conditions, according to claims made by Russian exile and human rights campaigner Vladimir Osechkin. The most prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin was found dead in prison last week with severe bruising on his body. Osechkin, the founder of the prison reform organisation Gulagu.net, believes that Navalny was killed by a special technique once taught to KGB agents. It is an old method of the KGBs special forces divisions, Osechkin told UKs The Times. They trained their operatives to kill a man with one punch in the heart, in the centre of the body. It was a hallmark of the KGB. Before his death, Navalny had been forced to spend more than two and a half hours in outdoor solitary confinement where temperatures could dip to -27C, the report said. Prisoners were typically exposed to such conditions for no more than an hour due to the inherent danger, it added. Osechkin suggested that Navalnys prolonged exposure to the cold likely weakened his body, making it vulnerable to a fatal blow. The Russan detractor, who lives in Paris and is placed on his countrys list of wanted individuals, referenced accounts from former prisoners in Arctic regions who described incidents of inmates being killed similarly. This claim about Navalanys death comes as Russian authorities have kept details under wraps, asserting he died of sudden death syndrome. On Thursday, jailed opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza urged Russians to keep fighting for democracy despite Navalnys death. His death last week sent shockwaves through Russias opposition, most of which is either in exile, behind bars, or dead. I still cannot comprehend what has happened, rationally or emotionally. But if we give in to gloom and despair, thats exactly what they want. We have no right to do that, we owe it to our fallen comrades, Kara-Murza said. A dual Russian and UK citizen, Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year. His is the longest-known sentence of all of Putins jailed critics. Kara-Murza was also close to Boris Nemtsov, another opposition politician who was killed near the Kremlin in 2015. And Navalnys death last week raised fears for remaining Kremlin critics imprisoned in Russia. (With agency inputs) A court in the Russian Far North will next month hear a case brought by the mother of dead opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been prevented from seeing his body, his allies said Wednesday. Lyudmila Navalnaya has travelled to the remote IK-3 prison where her son died, but since Saturday, when she arrived, she has been prevented from seeing his body. On Tuesday, she appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the release of her sons body. The TASS news agency reported the court had received a complaint on illegal acts and that the hearing would take place behind closed doors. Navalnys team said on social media the court in the Arctic city of Salekhard would consider the case on March 4 more than two weeks after Putins opponent died. Read More: Who Was Alexei Navalny? Russian Opposition Leader Survived Poison Attack But Died In Prison On Tuesday, Lyudmila Navalnaya broke her silence on her sons death, calling on Putin to let her see her sons body in a video address. I appeal to you, Vladimir Putin. The solution to the issue depends only on you, she said. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexeis body be released immediately so that I can bury him in a humane way. Navalnys widow Yulia Navalnaya echoed the call, demanding authorities allow for him to be buried with dignity. Putin has not commented or responded. The longtime Russian leader has been silent on the death in prison of his main political opponent. (With agency inputs) A police officer in the US city of Seattle, who killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call, will not face any criminal charges due to a lack of sufficient evidence, authorities said on Wednesday. In a statement released Wednesday, the King County Prosecutors Office said they will not move forward with criminal charges against Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave. Kandulas death is heartbreaking and impacted communities in King County and across the world, the Prosecutors Office statement added. Kandula, 23, was struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Dave when she was crossing a street in Seattle on January 23. He was driving more than 119 kmh on the way to a report of a drug overdose call. Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle. In bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department, Officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the deadly crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary. Read More: Jaahnavi Kandulas Death: Community Members Demand Justice for Indian Student in Seattle Rally King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said that she believes they lack the evidence to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. The statement also said that the prosecutors office also finds the comments made by Seattle Police Officer Daniel Auderer, recorded on his body-worn video, appalling and deeply troubling. Auderer, who was not involved in the January collision, was captured in the video saying, But she is dead and laughing while on the phone. She was 26 anyway, Auderer said in the video. She had limited value. Officer Auderers comments were also unprofessional and undermined the publics trust in the Seattle Police Department and law enforcement in general, said Manion. As egregious as Officer Auderers comments are, they do not change the PAOs legal analysis into the conduct of Officer Dave. It is the Office of Police Accountability that bears the responsibility of disciplinary investigation and proceedings relating to Officer Auderers comment, not the PAO. Auderer was pulled from patrol in September 2023 and reassigned to a non-operational position. Auderer could still be fired after the fallout of his insensitive comments captured on bodycam. Auderers chain of command and the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) found he acted unprofessionally. For that, he faces the highest disciplinary range of nearly two weeks suspension up to termination, according to a disciplinary action report. Before a final disciplinary decision, Auderer will have the chance to meet with Police Chief Adrian Diaz to disagree. His disciplinary hearing is scheduled for March 4, K5 News reported. Seattle local media reported that speed was the cause of the collision, as the speed at which Dave was travelling did not allow (Kandula) or him sufficient time to detect, address and avoid a hazard that presented itself. Dave was responding to a priority one call at the request of the Seattle Fire Department, according to the Seattle Police Department. According to the police report, the officer was responding to a report of a drug overdose. The officer did not have his siren activated continuously. Instead, the officer chirped his siren at the intersection. He did have his emergency lights on, according to a previous statement from the police department. In a memo to Seattle police, prosecutors wrote there was not enough evidence to prove Dave showed conscious disregard for others safety. A drug recognition expert responded to the scene and found no impairment in the officer. Kandula was a graduate student at Northeastern University at the Seattle campus. The university said in January 2023 that they would award her degree posthumously and present it to her family. (With agency inputs) UKs King Charles said during a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday he had been reduced to tears by messages of good will following his cancer diagnosis. The palace announced earlier this month that the 75-year-old monarch had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, less than 18 months into his reign. This afternoon, The King held an Audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace, following a meeting of the Privy Council, the Royal Family said in a post on X. During his weekly audience with Sunak, Charles said, Ive had so many wonderful messages and cards its reduced me to tears most of the time. This afternoon, The King held an Audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace, following a meeting of the Privy Council. pic.twitter.com/zUCo3R19Rn The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 21, 2024 The British monarch holds weekly audiences alone with the prime minister, although occasionally cameras have been allowed to capture the start of the meetings. Wednesdays meeting is the first formal in-person audience Charles has held with Sunak since it was revealed that he was suffering from an unspecified form of cancer. Buckingham Palace has said the king will continue to carry out state business and his official paperwork while he undergoes cancer treatment. Sunak began the exchange by telling Charles it was wonderful to see him looking so well. Well its all done by mirrors, Charles joked. The monarch greeted Sunak with a handshake upon arrival for the Buckingham Palace audience on Wednesday afternoon. Appearing relaxed in a blue pinstriped suit, the King joined Sunak in the elaborately adorned Audience Room, BBC reported. Despite undergoing treatment, he has ceased public visits but remains committed to his duties as head of state. Underlining the strength of the partnership between two great nations India and Greece visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday the ties between the two democracies are rooted in millennia-old economic, cultural, and philosophical connections. Lauding Indias democratic prowess during his keynote address at the 9th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, Mitsotakis highlighted its example as a refutation of notions that scale poses a barrier to democracy. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the audience, he underscored 2024 as a critical year for democracies globally and urged a united front against unprecedented threats. #WATCH | At the ninth Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says Elections here in India, convincingly challenge any flawed notion that significant scale is a barrier to democracy. You are an example to the world. An example which should be pic.twitter.com/4IO3iS3YRc ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2024 Mitsotakis positioned India as a significant global power, applauding its role in peace, security, and climate change mitigation. He advocated for Greeces pivotal role as an interlocutor between India, Europe, and the wider world, emphasising its strategic location as a conduit for trade and connectivity. During his address, the visiting head of state also championed initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), highlighting its potential to foster peace and prosperity in the region. The Greek PM stressed the shared commitment to democratic values between India and Greece, stressing the importance of dialogue, debate, and the preservation of democratic ideals in the face of emerging challenges. He concluded by urging collaboration and mutual learning between the two nations and reaffirmed the necessity of open discussions for global progress and stability. Here are the top 10 quotes from Mitsotakiss address: Today is a moment to reflect upon and celebrate the strength of the partnership between our two great nations, between India and Greece. A partnership bound by economic, cultural, and philosophical ties stretching back millennia, between two allies sharing similar values. Indias example convincingly challenges any flawed notion that significant scale is a barrier to democracy. You are an example to the world, an example which should be celebrated. Democracies are constant works in progress, facing a range of unprecedented threats. 2024 will be a definitional year for democracy. India is a great power on the world stage, an important ally in the pursuit of peace and security, and a leading player in the fight against climate change. Greeces geographic and strategic proximity makes it an interlocutor between India and Europe, and between the Global North and the South. Greece presents vast opportunities as a logistics center and international gateway, facilitating connectivity and trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe. We must promote peace and stability through projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, which can bring about prosperity for all participating countries. India and Greece share a commitment to democracy and a belief in the virtues of discussion, debate, and the preservation of democratic ideals. Our two peoples have much to learn from each other, and they also have much to give to the world. We must begin today with a commitment to public discourse and open discussions. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi welcomed his Greek counterpart to India, hailing it as a historic occasion. During a bilateral meeting here at the Hyderabad House, the two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and discussed deepening partnerships in areas of defence and security, as well as trade and investment. #WATCH | Delhi: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis along with his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis arrives at Rashtrapati Bhavan; received by PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/eIhOFtCr0f ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2024 Accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation, Mitsotakis is on a two-day State visit to India. This is 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. PM Modi visited Athens on August 25, 2023. The US State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of about $75 million of advanced tactical data link system upgrade planning, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The package would include Cross Domain Solutions, High Assurance devices, Global Positioning System receivers, communications equipment, technical services and other related elements of logistics and program support, the Pentagon said. The sale comes amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China, which claims the island as its own territory. The Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Wednesday. Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded. The Pentagon said the prime contractor will be determined in competitive processes. Last month, China announced sanctions on five American defence-related companies in response to US arms sales to Taiwan and US sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals. The sanctions are meant to freeze any property the companies have in China and prohibit organisations and individuals in China from doing business with them. Agency reports said that such sanctions are often mostly symbolic as American defence contractors generally dont sell to China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the US moves harmed Chinas sovereignty and security interests, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and violated the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. Earlier, the US government approved a $300 million military package for Taiwan in December. The deal includes equipment, training and equipment repair to maintain Taiwans command, control and military communications capabilities. The US said the sale would support the modernisation of Taiwans armed forces and the maintenance of a credible defense. Taiwan is a major flashpoint in US-China relations that analysts worry could explode into military conflict between the two powers. China says that US arms sales to Taiwan are interference in its domestic affairs. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter planes and ships into and over the waters around Taiwan, in part to deter the islands government from declaring formal independence. (With agency inputs) A week after a monument to satirist Mykhailo Zhvanetskyi from Odesa was erected in Rostov-on-Don, the Russian occupiers demanded that it be demolished. The monument did not please the Z-patriots, who consider the Ukrainian who died in 2020 a "Russophobe" and accuse him of wanting to "raze Russia to the ground." ADVERTISIMENT Although the opening ceremony was attended by the writer's widow and son, who convinced Russians of Zhvanetskyi's love for Russia, Putinists did not believe that the satirist "did a lot for the homeland." This was reported by propaganda media. The monument was unveiled on February 14 with the participation of Russian presidential aide Ihor Levitin and Rostov Region Governor Vasyl Golubiev. Both assured that they did not doubt the author's pro-Russian stance. Even then, a week ago, an activist came to the event, calling the Odesa resident a "Russophobe" and recalling his words: "My dream is to level the place where Russia used to be," said in 2012. However, the woman was detained and fined 2,000 rubles. After the scandal, other propagandists drew attention to the monument, and later this information reached the military. Now, pro-war Russians are demanding that the monument to Zhvanetskyi be removed because of his controversial position. ADVERTISIMENT "He dreamed that the country would turn into ruins, and everything we hold dear would disappear," the terrorists said. However, this is not entirely true. Zhvanetskyi, although an Odesa resident, was noted for some pro-Russian actions. For example, in 2019, he was awarded the Order of Merit for Services to the Fatherland in Moscow. The order was presented by Vladimir Putin personally. The following year, it was reported that the satirist appeared in a Russia 1 movie in occupied Crimea together with Russian World fans Fiodor Dobronravov and Mikhail Porechenkov. However, in 2014, the satirist signed a letter against the occupation, said a lot of good things about Ukraine and Odesa, and criticized the Russians. The president of Ukraine - his admirer - and celebrities from both countries reacted to his death. ADVERTISIMENT According to media reports, Zhvanetskyi's son, Andrii Ryvkin, emigrated from Russia in 2022 and called for the destruction of anyone wearing a Russian military uniform. At the same time, another descendant of the star remained in the terrorist country and supported the occupiers. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! WASHINGTON: The White House is promising to unveil new sanctions on Iran in the coming days in retaliation for its arms sales that have bolstered Russias invasion of Ukraine, and threatening a swift and severe response if Tehran moves forward with selling ballistic missiles to Moscow. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the U.S. will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days for its efforts to supply Russia with drones and other technology for the war against Ukraine. And he issued a new warning to Iran that providing ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Kyiv would be met with even more sanctions and actions at the United Nations. The U.S. has been warning for months of Russias efforts to acquire ballistic missiles from Iran in return for providing Tehran with enhanced military cooperation. We have not seen any confirmation that missiles have actually moved from Iran to Russia, Kirby said, but said that at the same time, we have no reason to believe that they will not follow through. He said that if Iran moves forward, I can assure you that the response from the international community will be swift and it will be severe. He said the U.S. would take the matter to the UN Security Council, where Russia has a veto. We will implement additional sanctions against Iran and we will coordinate further response options with our allies and partners in Europe and elsewhere, Kirby said. Kirby added: We have demonstrated our ability to take action in response to the military partnership between Russia and Iran in the past. We will do so in the future. In response to Irans ongoing support for Russias brutal war. We will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days. And we are prepared to go further if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia. The U.S. is set to announce a new set of sanctions Friday against Russia that is timed for Saturdays second anniversary of the Ukraine invasion and the death last week of outspoken Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor The popular Ukrainian actor Kostyantyn Kostyshyn (Return of Mukhtar, Nine Lives of Nestor Makhno, Favorite Children, Secrets, A Tale of Money, Ambulance, The Trap, Thank You for Everything) has been in the Ukrainian Armed Forces since last year. For the first time, the artist got a vacation and came to visit his family - his wife and daughters. ADVERTISIMENT In a conversation with us, the actor shared how his service is going and what he has been doing since the beginning of the full-scale war. He also told why he left the project "The Return of Mukhtar", where he had been filming for 10 years, and stopped all communication with his Russian colleagues, whom he considered friends. - Konstantin, you have been in the Ukrainian Armed Forces since last fall. Have you been home since then? - I was home on New Year's Eve, they let me go for one day. I celebrated the holiday and had to go back. How did I see Kyiv now? You know, you arrive and it feels like you've never been anywhere else. You dissolve immediately into the warmth of the first meetings, hugs. And as if nothing else had happened. Only air raid warnings constantly remind us of the danger, and today we heard explosions - we live near Kyiv. But otherwise, everything seems to be as it was before. ADVERTISIMENT I even managed to go on stage. I deliberately timed my vacation to coincide with our play Playing the Fool. The producer called the day before, asking what date it would be better to schedule the performance. We agreed. We hadn't performed this play for a long time, and now I was immersed in this space again. It was nice. It so happened that I recently left the Theater on the Left Bank of the Dnipro, where I had worked for 32 years. And almost immediately I was enrolled in the Young Theater company. However, I did not have time to play anything there, because exactly two weeks later I was drafted into the Armed Forces. When the war is over, I will plunge into repertory theater with pleasure. ADVERTISIMENT - On the terrible date of February 24, 2022, were you in Kyiv? - We live in the suburbs, in Bilohorodka. After the invasion, we spent almost all our time with our family in the basement, actually living there. Well, at least we spent the night there. On the third day, I decided to go and sign up for the terrorist defense. It was just like in the movies: I said goodbye to my wife, and she burst into tears. It was four kilometers from our house to the village council. There was no transportation, so I walked. They registered me and said they would call me if I needed it. I came home, but I could not calm down. There were no end of explosions and shooting. I took a bucket and went to wash the car. I think the neighbors were watching and twiddling their thumbs, but I had to do something to occupy myself. Suddenly the door opens, my wife says: "We've decided to leave!" I took her and her daughter to the highway, where relatives picked them up, and they went to western Ukraine, then to Lviv, and from there they walked across the border to Poland, and then moved to Germany. They returned home exactly one year later. We didn't deliberately guess the date, it just happened: they were gone for exactly one year. ADVERTISIMENT It was very hard without my family, to say the least. In addition, our theater hasn't worked for a long time. The Theater on Podil had already opened, as well as Lesya Ukrainka's and Franko's, but ours did not. It got to the point where my colleagues started doing work that had nothing to do with acting, because they had to survive somehow. - A special place in your creative biography is occupied by the TV series The Return of Mukhtar. How many years did you play there? ADVERTISIMENT - For ten years, I went there as if it were my job. Sometimes I even joked during rehearsals in the theater. When the phone rang and I realized that it was from Mukhtar, I would say loudly: "Oh, it's about work!" Everyone would laugh. - In ten years, everyone must have become friends? - Yes, we were friends with everyone. And with my partner Oksana Stashenko, who later turned out to be you know who (the actress publicly supported the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine - Ed.) She even came to visit us at home. Did I feel that Oksana would eventually tell such nonsense about Ukraine? I realized what she really is a little later. She's a human being, how can I put it correctly... Always where there is some benefit, you know? We hardly ever talked about politics on the set. Perhaps something slipped through only in context. I remember that before Putin's next election, she was very worried that the filming would not take too long and that she would be in time to vote. "Who else but him?" she said, commenting on her choice. And then Euromaidan started, and I felt tension in our relationship because I openly supported the confrontation against the then government. ADVERTISIMENT And then, I don't remember exactly when, sitting in the dressing room, I read an article that Russians had entered Crimea. And we were sitting next to the Russian actor Lesha Moiseev. I showed him the article. I said: "Lesha, tell me: what is this? What is it like?" And we started to have a loud argument. And across the wall was Stashenko's dressing room. And, of course, she heard. Lesha and I argued some more, and then he hugged me: "Kostya, no matter what, you're like a brother to me." Well, I've never liked their expressions... But I pulled myself together and we left the dressing room. ADVERTISIMENT And I hear Oksana Stashenko, who was just being made up, discussing something unhappily and mentioning my name. Kostyshyn - this and that... I froze in my tracks. I say to Lesha: "Is she joking?" He: "I don't think so." And she continues to carry on, even when she sees me. Something like we are nothing without them... "We give you money, that's why this series is being filmed. What money did you use to build the house?" - this is how it started. I built the house with the money I earned. I didn't get it for nothing - it wasn't given to me, brought to me, or given as a gift. I earned it. And I was paid for my work, by the way, much less than Russian actors. I told her this. And he added: "And Russian producers shoot in Kyiv because it's cheaper." Since then, we have stopped communicating with her. ADVERTISIMENT I kept in touch with Moiseev for some time. But when he came to Belarus (and we were filming there for some time) in a car with a St. George's ribbon on it, he stopped getting in the car with him. And he explained why. At that time, we had only been greeting Stashenko. And on the set, we had to play a couple in love. Later I was told that the producers asked the actors: "Talk to Kostyshyn and Stashenko, because they love to play, but you can see that their relationship is not very good." Later there was a break in filming, I don't remember why. I returned to Kyiv. And after a while I got a call: "We are continuing to shoot". I called the producer and told him that I didn't think it was appropriate for me to participate in this project because of what was happening to my country. And then, so that it wouldn't remain just words, I wrote another text, I think on Viber. I got a reply that they understood everything. That's where we parted ways. "Mukhtar was over for me. ADVERTISIMENT - Did you actually build a house thanks to those filming sessions? - No, actually, we've been building this house for a long time - we didn't have enough money. We haven't finished it yet, and some parts need to be repaired. We invested everything we earned: money from my projects and my wife's filming. At first, we wanted to buy an apartment, because the one we had was no longer spacious enough for a family with a child. Then we came up with the idea to buy land and build a house. We thought: we are filming and touring, so we can afford it. ADVERTISIMENT - Did you do a lot of things in the house with your own hands? - No, unfortunately, other people did it, because I'm not good at it. And that's why the roof needs to be redone now (laughs). But my wife is another matter. She plastered the room and the corridor herself. However, she redid it three times, because everything seemed to me to be wrong. She cried that she couldn't do it anymore, but I persuaded her, I wanted it to be as good as possible. I had to finish it, right? I tried to make arguments that it would be crazy to redo it later, when it was clean. I helped her as much as I could: she applied the plaster, and I sanded it. And, you know, when our friends come to visit us and praise the walls, she throws her hands to her sides: "If you need it, I'll do it!" ADVERTISIMENT - Are your friends also actors? - Well, Lesya Samayeva comes to visit me and my husband, the actor Andrey Samynin. They live not far from here. By the way, they moved in a few streets away at my suggestion. Somehow we started talking about land plots at the same time: they wanted to buy, and we wanted to buy. At first we thought about Vasylkiv. But they refused. And then we took this one. I said: "Lesia, here's a realtor's phone number, call me." And they started building too. The other day we all met at the performance of Tartuffe at the Franko Theater. Andriy Samynin's work there is very good. They came to see us on New Year's Eve, when I visited. The actor Serhiy Syplyvyi also lives nearby. They have a swimming pool, so we go there in the summer. ADVERTISIMENT - Your film biography includes roles in the films of Oksana Bayrak, a very popular director in her time, who fled to Russia after the invasion and now films for propaganda TV channels. How do you remember her? - I only acted in her projects a few times. They were small roles, very short. I remember that she even gave me something as a souvenir after one day of filming. But at the same time, I saw not only her kindness, but also something else-she preferred to work with Russian actors. And not only her - many producers thought that our actors were just something so-so, while Russians were a cool school. I strongly disagree with that. They imposed Moscow actors, and ours were just cast in secondary roles. ADVERTISIMENT Well, as for Bayrak, to be honest, I didn't follow her work, the only thing I can confirm is that she sincerely admired Russians. I even remember writing a letter in support of Dmitry Kharatyan when he was banned from entering Ukraine. There was cotton wool in her head, which, unfortunately, multiplied. And over time, her position emerged. - How do you feel about the fact that there are now opinions that creative people have no place at the front? - I don't think that actors are some kind of privileged people. My unequivocal answer is that all those who are fit for service should go to the front. But I also understand that you can't paddle with one brush and take everyone away. In any case, the theater cannot stop working. Some of the actors must stay and perform performances. To support people's spirits and help them not to fall into the abyss of hopelessness. The theater must exist, but it cannot be that the actors are not affected by the war. In fact, we don't have such a thing - there are many artists at the front. Unfortunately, we have already lost some of them. ADVERTISIMENT - How did your family react to your decision to go to the front? - Like all living people, they were very worried. My daughter Ivanka said: "I don't want you to go to war." However, at the same time, I see that she is proud of me. I call home every day. We have a rule: I call my mom and sister in the morning and my wife in the afternoon. Because there is a lot of work to do in a day, and you can't just sit down and talk, but you want to. From early in the morning until almost night, it turns out that I am busy. Our Ivanka is 14 years old. I can already see that she will be tall, as they say, it's my fault. She took after my wife in beauty and in height. For her sake, I even wanted to go on vacation in military uniform. And then I thought: I don't need to stand out. I don't like excessive attention. ADVERTISIMENT - But in ordinary life you are recognized, right? What do they say in the army? - They are surprised: "Oh, you're an artist?" I have a great team now. I'm happy with my surroundings, they're really good guys. For safety reasons, I can't tell you where I'm serving. I can only say that it is in the south. In ordinary life, I can't say that I am very recognizable. Some people recognize me, some don't. When I ask people at the market, for example, how much something costs, they answer: "You asked me that yesterday". And they smile. - Is it true that your wife, actress Anna Tambova (There Will Be People, The Conductress, Bad Good Cop, The House with Lilies), was the first to come up to meet you? ADVERTISIMENT - Yes! We met during a theater festival in Belarus, I don't remember what it was called. We were performing the play "Have fun! Is Everything All Right?!" staged by Andrei Belous, the artistic director of the Young Theater, where I would now work. I remember that performance very fondly - it was a good one. And when we performed it, my current wife and her friend, also an actress, came up to me and said: "You are so great! Now we don't know how to go on stage after you." And they were supposed to perform their play the same day. Since then, they have been in contact as friends for some time. Anya got married and divorced. We continued to keep in touch. And over time, our relationship turned into what it is now. ADVERTISIMENT - Just like in the movies, I'll tell you. Were you not worried about the fact that you have a considerable age difference of 18 years? - I didn't think about it at all, and I don't think about it now. Besides, everyone tells me that I look younger than my passport age. Perhaps this saves me (laughs). The difference is also leveled by the fact that she is very smart. Or I am very stupid (laughs). - Do you keep in touch with your eldest daughter from your previous marriage? - Yes, of course! We're all together, and she and her husband have visited us as well. She is very good friends with our younger daughter, and she studies English with her. Dasha once graduated from a linguistic institute with a degree in simultaneous interpretation. Then she got another degree. But she knows English well. And now she's learning Spanish and Romanian - she likes them. My girls are in very close contact. My children are good. ADVERTISIMENT - Are you counting the days until the end of your vacation? - Yes, because it's more pleasant here, all my friends are close by. But what can you do, these are the times. There is an understanding that things should be exactly as they are. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! The Siamese twins Marieme and Ndeye from Senegal were given only a few days to live by doctors, but the girls proved to everyone that they are not weak in spirit. The seven-year-olds have different brains, hearts and lungs, but share a liver, bladder, digestive system and three kidneys. ADVERTISIMENT Their single father Ibrahima moved with his daughters from Senegal to the UK when they were just 7 months old. Today, Marieme and Ndeye go to primary school and even have friends. The biggest challenge for them is finding clothes because of their unusual body shape, as their father told the BBC's Inseparable Sisters. "They have two legs, so they can have regular pants, but their hips are very wide, so we have to take them to an alternative clothing store," the man explained the problem with clothing. Another challenge the twins constantly face is the process of learning to stand and walk. Ibrahima said that now Marieme and Ndeye can stand for about 20 minutes a day thanks to a special frame. ADVERTISIMENT He dreams that the girls will have a normal life where they can play with other children, make friends and develop as individuals. "They have achieved something no one thought possible," Ibrahima said. In 2016, some time after the twins were born, doctors assured their parents that the babies would survive only after separation. To perform such an extremely difficult operation, they turned to specialists from around the world, but all of them refused. Later, the family ended up in the UK, but even there, doctors advised against separating the Siamese twins because of their disappointing tests. By then, Ibrahima had been fired from his job and his wife had returned to Senegal, he told People magazine. "It was a choice between my life in Senegal or providing the girls with the medical care they needed to survive," he explained. ADVERTISIMENT The twins need constant supervision so that, for example, they do not accidentally strangle each other. But as long as they are small, they can easily get along, even though they have different personalities: Ndeye is a more social child, and Mariia is the opposite. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Yet another Kremlin critic is dead. Russian military blogger Andrey Morozov reportedly killed himself Wednesday, though his lawyer has not confirmed the cause of death. Associates indicate he shot himself. In posts on Telegram, the prominent ultra-nationalist commentator said he had been under pressure to delete a post revealing the staggering number of Russian casualties in the fight for Avdiivka, a Ukrainian city captured by Russian forces last week, the Guardian reports. On Sunday, Morozov told his 120,000 followers that Russia had lost 16,000 men and 300 armored vehicles in the months-long fight for the city, a figure close to Ukrainian estimates. The New York Times describes Morozov, who took part in the invasion of Ukraine two years ago, as a "rare remaining critical voice in the once boisterous, competitive community of Russian military bloggers." He supported the war but criticized the military for concealing the death toll, saying soldiers who tried to tell civilian officials about heavy losses were ignored. In his final posts on Telegram on Tuesday, Morozov said he had been threatened and intimidated. He said he deleted the post about Avdiivka casualties after a colonel told him his unit wouldn't get new equipment if it stayed up. "I am executing myself, if no one has the courage of doing this petty deed themselves," he wrote. Ukraine also took heavy losses in Avdiivka. Sources tell the New York Times that up to 1,000 soldiers may have been captured during the retreat. Ukrainian authorities say the loss of the city, Russia's biggest victory in Ukraine since May last year, was the result of the US failure to approve an aid package, reports Reuters. Vladimir Putin praised the "absolute success" Tuesday and told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that it "needs to be built on." Western officials, speaking to the Guardian on condition of anonymity, say they believe the Russian leader has not given up on his goal of completely defeating Ukraine. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) Niue could use a revenue stream. The population of the island nation is about one-third what it was in the 1960s, after people left for places with greater economic opportunity. The remote nation would like to be less dependent on tourism and foreign aid. A ruling by Sweden's Supreme Court could help with that, the New York Times reports, by restoring to Niue the .nu internet suffix. There's more at stake than money, leaders say. "This domain, the .nu, recognizes Niue as a sovereign country," Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi said. "This is how important it is to our identity." Bill Semich, an American businessman, connected Niue to the internet in the late 1990s in exchange for the right to control the suffix it was assigned: .nu. The suffix turned out to be highly profitable for Semich. "Nu" means "now" in Swedish, Danish, and Dutch, and thousands of Scandinavians registered .nu websites. In 2000, Niue ended its arrangement with Semich and began trying to gain control of .nu and the money it believes it's been cheated out of. A court victory could bring the country up to $2 million a year, an expert said. Niue also wants about $30 million in damages. A ruling could be issued any day now, per the Times. Semich says he's done nothing wrong, and his company has turned over the operation of .nu to the Swedish Internet Foundation. If Niue wins, the South Pacific nation of 2,000 or so wants to use part of the money to fund its bid to join the United Nations. But analysts find the outcome tough to predict, with some observers saying the web suffixes are an administrative thing not tied to a nation's sovereignty. (More Niue stories.) Nikki Haley on Wednesday addressed a state ruling that considers frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization to be humans, saying, "Embryos, to me, are babies." The Republican presidential candidate made the comments in an interview with NBC News . The ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court has caused concern among patients and health care providers about the future of the procedure; the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced Wednesday that it's suspending IVF treatments in light of the court decision. The school said it wants to weigh whether its patients or doctors could be prosecuted under the ruling. IVF allows doctors to test embryos for genetic abnormalities and implant only healthy ones, reducing the risk of miscarriage, NBC News notes. Haley expressed understanding of the ruling by the Alabama court, all of whose members are Republicans. "When you talk about an embryo, you are talking about, to me, that's a life," she said. "And so I do see where that's coming from when they talk about that." Haley, whose son was born after she underwent artificial insemination, said the ruling's impact on IVF treatments needs to be looked into, per AL.com. "I think that we have to have those conversations," she said. Asked about the effects of such rulings on people trying to have a child, Haley said, "This is one where we need to be incredibly respectful and sensitive." The university's statement said, "We are saddened that this will impact our patients' attempt to have a baby through IVF." (More Nikki Haley 2024 stories.) A Flint, Michigan, man whose 2-year-old daughter accidentally shot herself in the face with his handgun has become the first person to be charged under the state's new safe storage of firearms law. Michael Tolbert's daughter Skye McBride shot herself on Valentine's Day and is still in critical condition, CBS News reports. The shooting happened just one day after the new law took effect, reports the Detroit News . The law requires residents to store firearms locked and unloaded if it is "reasonably known" that a minor will be present. Police say that after Tolbert took his daughter to the hospital, they found two guns in his bedroom, where there were no gun locks or safes. Penalties under the new law range from up to 93 days in prison if a minor exhibits an improperly stored firearm in a "careless, reckless, or threatening manner" to up 15 years in prison if a minor fires the gun and kills themself or somebody else. Tolbert, 44, has also been charged with first-degree child abuse, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, lying to a police officer, and four counts of felony firearm. Prosecutors say Tolbert is barred from owning guns because he has multiple firearms-related felony convictions and drug-related convictions, the AP reports. The safe storage law, part of a sweeping reform of gun legislation that followed a mass shooting at Michigan State University last year, was co-sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet. "Now that we have this in place, it was our goal to be able to give prosecutors tools, because with this right comes an extraordinary responsibility," she said, per the News. "I did not ever dream that within days of the law going into effect, we would need it, but here we are." (More gun laws stories.) Nvidia Corp., which has seen its value skyrocket over the past year thanks to soaring demand for its graphics chips used for artificial intelligence, posted stronger-than-expected results Wednesday for its latest quarter, with its revenue more than tripling from a year earlier. Nvidia reported revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter that ended Jan. 28 of $22.1 billion, up from $6.05 billion. Revenue was up 265% overall year-on-year and revenue from data centers was up 400%, per the Guardian . The California-based company earned $12.29 billion, compared to a profit of $1.41 billion a year ago, the AP reports. Analysts had expected revenue of $20.4 billion for the period that concluded the company's fiscal year. The company's specialized chips are key components that help power different forms of artificial intelligence, including the latest generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. "Accelerated computing and generative AI have hit the tipping point," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, in a statement. "Demand is surging worldwide across companies, industries, and nations." Nvidia carved out an early lead in the hardware and software needed to tailor its technology to AI applications, partly because Huang began to nudge the company into what was then seen as a still half-baked technology more than a decade ago. It also makes chips for gaming and cars. For the current quarter, Nvidia expects revenue of about $24 billion. Analysts are currently expecting Nvidia to post revenue of $22.2 billion for the February-April period. Nvidia relies heavily on the world's biggest maker of computer chips, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, to churn out the chips that Nvidia designs. Taiwan's Taiex benchmark index last week jumped 3% to a record high, buoyed by a surge in TSMC's share price. Nvidia's shares jumped 10% to $743 in after-hours trading. (More Nvidia stories.) A federal judge on Wednesday affirmed a $5 million arbitration award against MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell in favor of a software engineer who challenged data that Lindell said proves China interfered in the 2020 US presidential election and tipped the outcome to Joe Biden. Lindell said he plans to appeal, the AP reports. Asked if he can afford to pay the money, he pointed out that the breach-of-contract lawsuit was filed against one of his companies, Lindell Management LLC, and not against him personally. "Of course we're going to appeal it. This guy doesn't have a dime coming," Lindell said. Lindell, a promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election, launched his "Prove Mike Wrong Challenge" in August 2021. After a panel of contest judges that included a Lindell attorney declined to declare Robert Zeidman the winner, he filed for arbitration under the contest rules. A panel of three arbitrators last April unanimously ordered Lindell to pay Zeidman $5 million. In Wednesday's ruling, US District Judge John Tunheim expressed concern about how the panel interpreted what he called a "poorly written contract," but he said courts have only limited authority to overrule arbitration awards. He ordered Lindell to pay up with interest within 30 days. Lindell also is the subject of a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems in the District of Columbia that says he falsely accused the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election. And he's also the target of a defamation lawsuit in Minnesota by a different voting machine company, Smartmatic. Lindell has said he and MyPillow are struggling financially. Fox News, which had been one of his biggest advertising platforms, stopped running MyPillow commercials in January in a payment dispute. Two law firms that had been defending him against lawsuits by Dominion and Smartmatic quit last fall. (More Mike Lindell stories.) King Charles III of the United Kingdom held his first official meeting at Buckingham Palace with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after the news of His Majesty's cancer. The King is expected to hold these meetings on a weekly basis. ADVERTISIMENT Although Charles III canceled any public events after the diagnosis was announced, the Privy Council meeting with the Prime Minister is a priority for him despite his illness, as he had previously stated. For the past two weeks, he and Rishi Sunak have been holding weekly meetings by phone, as the king has been living in Sandringham in Norfolk, Hello! "It is wonderful to see you looking so well," Sunak said. The king joked back, saying that "it was the mirrors that did it." During the conversation, the Prime Minister verbally supported Charles III in his fight against the disease, and the latter recalled the letters sent by his fans wishing him a speedy recovery. I received so many wonderful messages and cards. Most of the time it brought me to tears," he said. The King meets weekly with the Prime Minister to discuss government issues. By law, His Majesty is obliged to be neutral in politics, but he has the right to "advise and caution" any of his ministers in case of any issues and problems, which Charles III actively uses. ADVERTISIMENT Due to his treatment, the King plans to skip the service of gratitude to his close friend and cousin, King Constantine II of Greece, who died in January 2023 at the age of 82. Instead, Queen Camilla is to attend the event at the memorial at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. As a reminder, on January 25, Charles III was hospitalized in a private London hospital due to an enlarged prostate. His surgery was successful, and a few days later the king went home. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, a week after the King was discharged from the hospital, Buckingham Palace announced that His Majesty had been diagnosed with cancer. Now he is actively undergoing treatment, which is why he canceled all public events. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Extraditing a murder suspect from one state to another is usually pretty standard. But in a strange case marred by politics, a district attorney in Arizona is refusing to cooperate with Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg as he aims to have a murder suspect moved to New York to face charges of having bludgeoned a woman to death with an iron. "Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan DA there, Alvin Bragg, I think it's safer to keep him here and keep him in custody, so that he cannot be out doing this to individuals either in our state, county, or anywhere in the United States," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, a Republican, told reporters Wednesday, per the New York Times . Bragg, it should be noted, is an enemy of former President Donald Trump. He's become a frequent target of Republicans while prosecuting Trump on charges of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments. A rep for Bragg said Mitchell was "playing political games in a murder investigation." The rep, Emily Tuttle, stressed murders are down 24% under Bragg and New York's homicide rate is "less than half that of Phoenix." She called it "a slap in the face to [the NYPD] and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorker's death." Raad Almansoori, 26, is accused of bludgeoning 38-year-old Denisse Oleas-Arancibia to death in the SoHo 54 Hotel on Feb. 7 or Feb. 8, per ABC News. New York police say Almansoori then flew to Arizona, where he allegedly stabbed two women who survived. Almansoori allegedly stabbed a woman during a carjacking in Phoenix days before stabbing a second woman at a McDonald's in Surprise. Held without bond in Maricopa County since his arrest on Sunday, he faces two counts each of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and attempted sexual assault, and one count of theft of means of transportation, per the AP. Though Bragg has faced criticism from Republicans for not prosecuting suspects aggressively enough and releasing some suspects on bail, there was no sign he intended to release Almansoori, per the Times. Officials later tried to soften Mitchell's comments, the outlet notes. One rep claimed Almansoori couldn't be extradited until he answered to the charges in Arizona, while another claimed Bragg hadn't formally requested extradition. (More extradition stories.) The Taliban's vow to protect the cultural treasures of Afghanistan may have been little more than lip service, according to researchers, who've uncovered evidence of the widespread bulldozing and looting of ancient sites. The Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation at the University of Chicago used satellite images and artificial intelligence to identify more than 29,000 archaeological sites across Afghanistan. They found 162 sites in northern Balkh province, once the heart of the ancient civilization of Bactria, were "devastated at an astonishing rate of one a week" between 2018 and 2021 under the government of President Ashraf Ghani, per the BBC . And though the Taliban promised to protect cultural heritage upon resuming power in 2021, the trend only continued. The team led by Gil Stein, a UChicago professor of near eastern archaeology, found evidence of bulldozing and looting at 37 sites, including one near a historic Buddhist monastery, since 2021, per Science. Researchers identified specks on satellite images they believe are bulldozers because of their movement and the tracks they leave behind. At sites where the apparent bulldozers are present, vast areas are cleared before pits appear in the ground. "Basically, the people were clearing out vast areas to make it easier to loot the site systematically," Stein tells the BBC. It's unclear what artifacts might hide among sites dating back to the Late Bronze Age, per the Independent. But a treasure trove of Bactrian gold, some 2,000 years old, was discovered in nearby Tela Tepe in 1978. Each mound can contain "layers of a civilization," says Afghanistan-born Said Reza Huseini, who has a PhD in history and has written about Bactriaa center of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Islam situated along the Silk Road. Faced with the bulldozing of ancient sites, including some at which he volunteered early in his career, "I feel as if my soul is dying," he tells the BBC. Stein suggests people of wealth or power are likely responsible for this loss of "world heritage" as artifacts are smuggled out of the country and sold. But the Taliban denies any looting is taking place. "We sent various teams to check the sites and ... there hasn't been a single incident in any of those sites," Atiqullah Azizi, the acting deputy minister for information and culture, tells the BBC. (More Afghanistan stories.) Federal law bans people under 18 from working in slaughterhouses because of the dangers involved, but a Tennessee-based company hired kids as young as 13 to clean plants in Virginia and Iowa, the Labor Department says. "Minors were used to clean dangerous kill floor equipment such as head splitters, jaw pullers, meat bandsaws, and neck clippers," the department said in a news release Wednesday, announcing that it is seeking a restraining order to stop Fayette Janitorial LLC from employing children while an investigation is underway. The department said Fayette also broke laws against employing minors for excessive hours and on night shifts. The department said the company hired at least 15 minors to clean a Perdue Farms poultry plant in Virginia and nine to clean a Seaboard Triumph Foods pork plant in Iowa, NBC News reports. Fayette "employed oppressive child labor by suffering or permitting minors to work in the middle of the night, using hazardous chemicals to clean the power-driven slaughterhouse machines and otherwise working on the kill floor," the court filing states. In a statement, a Perdue spokesperson said the company terminated its contract with Fayette before the court filing. "Underage labor has no place in our business or our industry," the spokesperson said. The Labor Department said at least one 14-year-old was severely injured while working for Fayette at the Virginia plant. A New York Times Magazine report on the injured 14-year-old, a Guatemalan boy named Marcos whose arm was nearly severed, was submitted as a supporting document with the court filing. The report found that it was an open secret in the rural Virginia community that children were working in local slaughterhouses. "Teachers were used to seeing middle schoolers sleeping outside the building first thing in the morning in cars they drove without licenses after coming directly from the overnight shift," wrote Hannah Dreier. The Labor Department estimates that the number of children employed illegally in the US has surged 88% since 2019, the AP reports. (Last year, another slaughterhouse cleaning company was fined $1.5 million for employing underage workers.) Between October 2022 and July 2023, President Biden's dog Commander was biting Secret Service agents at the rate of roughly once every 11 days, according to newly released records. The records list 24 incidents involving the agency's personnel. That's more attacks than previously disclosed , and it doesn't include incidents involving other White House personnel, the New York Times reports. The attacks were listed in hundreds of pages of documents obtained by researcher John Greenewald under the Freedom of Information Act and published on his Black Vault website. Commander, a German shepherd who came to the White House as a puppy in 2021 , was banished in October. Another Biden dog, Major, also left the White House after multiple biting incidents . The documents describe how agents had to adjust tactics to keep themselves safe from Commander while protecting the president. "Please give lots of room (staying a terrain feature away if possible)" an agent in charge of the Presidential Protection Division told their team, saying agents "must be creative to ensure our own personal safety." After an incident at Camp David, one agent advised colleagues: "Standing tall and yelling his name and 'stop' is your best bet to not get bit. Once I yelled at him and faced him, he turned around and started sniffing a bush." The documents list bites to arms, hands, and elbows. One agent was protected from a bite by their magazine pouch. One of the most serious incidents described in the documents happened at the Biden family's vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, last July. Commander bit an agent who wasn't aware he was off leash, causing a "severe deep open wound" that required six stitches. Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service's chief of communications, said the agency takes employee well-being "extremely seriously" and, for many administrations, has been "navigating how to best operate in an environment that includes family pets." A source close to the Biden family tells CNN that the Bidens were "heartbroken" by the incidents. "They've apologized to those who have been bitten, taken flowers to some." (More Secret Service stories.) A hospitalized taekwondo instructor was charged Thursday with three counts of murder for the deaths of a 7-year-old student and the boy's parents in Sydney, Australia. Lawyers for Kwang Kyung Yoo, 49, appeared on his behalf in the Parramatta Local Court hearing, but did not apply for Yoo to be released on bail or enter any plea to the charges, the AP reports. Yoo, the owner of the Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy and known to his students as Master Lion, remains under police guard at a hospital after undergoing surgery for what police described as stab or slash wounds to his chest, stomach, and arms. Police allege Yoo strangled his student and the boy's mother, Min Cho, to death at his academy on Monday evening. Yoo then allegedly drove her car to the family home where he fatally stabbed her husband, Steven Cho. Yoo then drove himself to hospital where he told medical staff and police he had been attacked in a supermarket car park. The bodies were discovered on Tuesday. Police have not disclosed a motive for the violence, nor said whether Yoo was injured in a struggle or the wounds were self-inflicted. Yoo's only connections to the family made public so far were that all four were born in South Korea and the boy was a regular taekwondo student. "We're still establishing what other relationships there might have been," Homicide Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Yoo's next court date is April 18, and he must remain in custody either in prison or under police guard in the hospital until then. (More Australia stories.) Hundreds of farmers drove their tractors into central Madrid on Wednesday as part of ongoing protests against EU and local farming policies and to demand measures to alleviate production cost hikes. The protest, the biggest to take place in the Spanish capital after more than two weeks of daily protests across the country, included a rally outside the Agriculture Ministry headquarters and "severely disrupted" traffic, per AFP. Many of the tractors flew Spanish flags, and some farmers carried banners reading "There is no life without farming" and "Farmers in extinction." What you need to know: A suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels set a ship ablaze in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday as Israel intercepted what appeared to be another Houthi attack near the port city of Eilat, authorities said. The attack Thursday in the Gulf of Aden saw two missiles fired, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. It said the unnamed ship was ablaze, without elaborating. Ship-tracking data analyzed by the AP identified the vessel ablaze as a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander. It had been coming from Thailand bound for Egypt and previously sent out messages saying "SYRIAN CREW ON BOARD" to potentially avoid being targeted by the Houthis. The missile attack led "to a fire onboard and coalition military assets were responding to the incident," the private security firm Ambrey said. Meanwhile, sirens sounded early Thursday over Eilat, followed by videos posted online of what appeared to be an interception in the sky overhead. The Israeli military later said the interception was carried out by its Arrow missile defense system. Israel did not identify what the fire was, nor where it came from. However, the Arrow system intercepts long-range ballistic missiles with a warhead designed to destroy targets while they are in space. The Houthis did not immediately claim either attack. They typically acknowledge assaults they conduct hours afterward. Despite a month of US-led airstrikes, Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks. This week, they seriously damaged a ship in a crucial strait and downed an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. On Wednesday, ships in the Red Sea off the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen reported seeing an explosion, though all vessels in the area were said to be safe, the UKMTO said. The US military's Central Command acknowledged shooting down a Houthi bomb-carrying drone during that time. (More Houthis stories.) UPDATE Feb 22, 2024 3:50 PM CST It's been a lousy day for a lot of smartphones, but the trouble is mostly over: AT&T said late in the afternoon that its network was back again for an hourslong outage across the country, reports the AP. The trouble began overnight, leading to nearly 60,000 outages for AT&T alone around noon Eastern on Thursday. Other major carriers also had issues, but most appeared to be resolved by the afternoon, per NBC News. The source of the trouble remained unclear, but the FCC was investigating with help from the FBI. Feb 22, 2024 7:39 AM CST A number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector. AT&T had more than 50,000 outages on Thursday morning, in locations including Houston, Atlanta, and Chicago, per the AP. Cricket Wireless had more than 9,000, the outage tracking website said. Verizon had more than 2,000 outages, while T-Mobile had more than 1,000 outages. Boost Mobile had more than 450 outages. A Black teenager fighting his high school suspension in Texas over his hairstyle lost a round in court on Thursday. A state judge ruled that the Barbers Hill school district in Mont Belvieu did not run afoul of a new state law when it penalized Darryl George last year, reports ABC13. George, 18, wears his hair twisted into locs at the top of his head, and the district objects because it says George's hair would fall below his shirt collar when let down, per the AP. George has spent most of the school year either in suspension or at an off-campus disciplinary program. The world-famous American actor and director Tom Cruise has broken up with Russian socialite Elsina Khairova, who is the daughter of Putin's ally, former State Duma deputy Rinat Khairov and ex-wife of Russian oligarch Dmitry Tsvetkov. The couple broke up almost immediately after the Hollywood star met the Russian woman's children, and the tabloids spread rumors about the seriousness of his intentions. ADVERTISIMENT Friends of the celebrity report that it was the actor who broke off his relationship with Khairova. Their words were reported by journalists of The Sun. Insiders said that Cruise, 61, had cooled off on the romance with the 36-year-old, but wanted to remain friends as they live in the same building in London. "It would be awkward to end things on a bad note if they ran into each other in an elevator. There are no hard feelings between them, and for Tom, their relationship just took its course," said the actor's friends. As a reminder, the star of the cult film series "Mission Impossible" met divorced millionaire Khaira when a friend brought her to one of his exclusive Sunday tea parties at his penthouse in Hyde Park, London. ADVERTISIMENT According to the sources, Cruise feels "more comfortable" in London than in Los Angeles and throws weekly afternoon parties there for an elite crowd. "He has butlers and homemade cakes, and it's all very British. Cruz hired a staff and a DJ, and the guests signed non-disclosure agreements," the insider revealed. Khairova divorced her previous husband in 2021. Their breakup made international headlines as millions were at stake, including a mansion in Surrey, England, five London apartments, a Bentley and a Ferrari, Cartier jewelry, and works of art by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Marc Chagall. Tsvetkov said that the divorce cost him 150 million ($188 million), and that he spent 10 million ($12 million) on clothes and 2 million ($2.5 million) on handbags during the 11 years of marriage. The woman has two children with the Russian oligarch: 13-year-old son Tamir and six-year-old daughter Eva. ADVERTISIMENT Meanwhile, Elsina Khairova herself is involved in the killing of Ukrainian children and civilians in general. A video was posted online where terrorists thanked the Russian woman for drones, night vision devices and armor for the occupying army. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Tom Cruise spent a lot of time with Elsina Khairova, but still tried to avoid his chosen one in public places in order to avoid getting caught in camera lenses. For the sake of the Russian woman, who lives in the UK, the actor stayed in London and regularly visited his beloved at home. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The love story of King Charles and the late Princess Diana, which was discussed in all the media four decades ago, turned out to be a tragic ending. Their wedding was the beginning of a long-lasting drama full of betrayal, disappointment, and public scandals. If you know all the background, there is no doubt that the dukes' romance was doomed to failure from the very beginning. ADVERTISIMENT Lady Di was not used to looking for falsehood in her feelings, but the actions of the ruling king of Great Britain disappointed many people. Diana learned about Charles's true attitude to herself before the ceremony in 1981, writes OK! with reference to the ITV biopic "Interview with Diana: Revenge of the Princess". The filmmakers managed to interview the princess's astrologer Penny Thornton, with whom she was very close. After the wedding, the British favorite was full of pain and disappointment, so she shared it with her friend. "One of the most shocking things Diana told me was that on the night before the wedding, Charles told her he didn't love her. And it was horrible to do that to your fiancee," Penny Thornton recalled. ADVERTISIMENT Few people mention this fact when talking about the failed marriage of the parents of Princes William and Harry. It is generally believed that the feelings between them faded after the birth of their children and the betrayal of the future king. However, according to eyewitness accounts of the events of those days, Charles knew for sure on the way to the crown that his feelings would never be as strong as Diana's. This confession even made Lady Dee wonder if she needed such a family. "I think Charles didn't want to go to the wedding with false intentions. He wanted to get back at her, and it was devastating for Diana. She didn't want to go to the wedding at that moment. She was thinking about it," the friend of the deceased princess added. ADVERTISIMENT In 1996, Charles and Diana officially divorced, and their love story finally turned into a tragedy that was discussed for many years around the world. Only verified information is available in our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! AFP | Manila The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Fifteen people were killed Wednesday after a truck plummeted down a ravine in the central Philippines, a rescue official said. The vehicle was carrying people on their way to a livestock market on Negros island, Michael Cabugnason, a rescue official from Mabinay municipality told AFP. "Witnesses said the truck went out of control towards the sharp bend of the road," he said, adding the mountainous area near Mabinay was a frequent scene of road accidents. Of the 17 people onboard, only one passenger and the driver survived. The driver was found drenched in motor oil in the wreck at the bottom of the ravine at least 50 metres (164 feet) below the road, Cabugnason said. Deadly road accidents are common in the Philippines, where drivers frequently flout the rules and vehicles are often poorly maintained or overloaded. AFP | Colombo The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Cash-strapped Sri Lanka said Wednesday it had exported tea worth $20 million to Iran to partially repay its $251 million oil debts, with Colombo saying Tehran's visiting foreign minister had expressed "satisfaction" at the deal. "So far $20 million worth of tea has been exported to Iran under the barter trade agreement," Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena's office said in a statement after talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The tea-for-oil deal was agreed upon in December 2021, but exports were delayed by Colombo's economic crisis that forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down in July 2022. The barter deal allows sanctions-hit Iran to avoid having to use scarce hard currency to pay for imports of popular tea. It also allowed Sri Lanka to pay with tea, as the country was short of foreign currency. Sri Lankan officials have previously said that the tea-oil swap did not break US sanctions on Iran, since tea was a food item and the deal did not involve Iranian blacklisted banks. The island defaulted on its $46 billion foreign debt in April 2022 and secured a $2.9 billion IMF bailout early last year. Ceylon tea, known by the island's colonial-era name, made up nearly half of Iran's consumption in 2016. However, the proportion has declined in recent years. AFP | Mogadishu The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Somalia's cabinet and lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed a defence deal with Turkey, with Mogadishu locked in a dispute with Addis Ababa over a maritime agreement it says threatens its sovereignty. Under the 10-year pact, close ally Turkey will help defend Somalia's long coastline and also rebuild the naval forces of the fragile Horn of Africa nation, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told reporters after a joint session of parliament. "The agreement submitted to parliament today is solely about cooperation between Somalia and Turkey on maritime defence and economy, it is not in any way aimed at creating hatred or feud with another country or government," he said. In January, Ethiopia infuriated Somalia when it signed a maritime deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland that would give the landlocked country long-desired sea access. "Somalia made its stance clear: that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia can never be negotiated, and this has led to this historic agreement today," deputy defence minister Abdifatah Kassim told AFP. "Turkey is the best choice to defend Somalia coasts," he added. NATO member Turkey has close relations with Somalia and is its leading economic partner, notably in the construction, education and health sectors, as well as in military cooperation. Somalia is also home to Turkeys largest overseas military base and training facility, which has already trained more than 5,000 members of the Somali security forces, according to Turkish media reports. It is among several nations training soldiers to take over from an African Union peacekeeping mission known as ATMIS, whose troops are set to leave by the end of the year. The Horn of Africa nation has been blighted by decades of civil war and a bloody Islamist insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab jihadist militant group. Al-Shabaab continues to carry out attacks against security and civilian targets despite a military counter-offensive launched in August 2022, with US air strikes and the AU troops on the ground. AFP | Palestinian Territories The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Heavy fighting rocked besieged Gaza on Wednesday as aid agencies warned of looming famine and new talks were held in Cairo towards an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal. The White House sent Middle East envoy Brett McGurk for renewed talks involving mediators and Hamas, a day after a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire was blocked by the US. An Israeli minister said the talks had raised the "possibility of progress". Combat and chaos again stalled sporadic aid deliveries for desperate civilians in Gaza, where the UN has warned the population of 2.4 million is on the brink of famine. The UN World Food Programme said it was forced to halt aid deliveries in north Gaza because of "complete chaos and violence" -- a move Hamas called a "death sentence". More Israeli strikes continued to pound Gaza, with 118 people killed in the previous 24 hours, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which put the overall death toll at 29,313. Abdel Rahman Mohamed Jumaa said he lost his family in strikes on Gaza's far-southern Rafah. "I found my wife lying in the street," he told AFP. "Then I saw a man carrying a girl and I ran towards him and.... picked her up, realising she was really my daughter." He was holding a small shrouded corpse in his arms. - 'A death zone' - Israel has heavily bombed Gaza since the October attack, and launched a ground invasion that has seen troops and tanks push through from the north towards the south. Vast swathes of the territory have been entirely destroyed with many people struggling to find basic supplies. One workshop in Rafah said it was producing makeshift diapers by hand with medical cotton, gauze and lab coat fabric -- but warned their capacity is far from enough to meet demand. "I don't have money to provide food, so how can I provide diapers for her?" said Hanan al-Bahtiti, adding that her baby gets painful skin rashes and "screams in pain". Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said an Israeli tank fired on a house sheltering MSF employees and their families in the Al-Mawasi area on Gaza's coastline, killing the wife and daughter-in-law of a staff member and injuring six others. The medical charity condemned the strike in the "strongest possible terms" and said bullets were also fired at the clearly marked MSF building where 64 people were sheltering. The World Health Organization chief called the situation in Gaza "inhumane", saying the territory had become "a death zone". Israel's parliament Wednesday overwhelmingly backed a proposal by Netanyahu opposing any "unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state". The vote came days after the Washington Post reported that the United States and a group of Arab nations were working out a long-term peace plan which included a timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state. - 'Possibility of progress' - McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, was in Egypt as part of efforts to advance a hostage deal, before heading to Israel Thursday. Hamas said its chief Ismail Haniyeh was already in Cairo for talks. Israel's Gantz said there were efforts to "promote a new plan for the return of the hostages and we are seeing the first signs that indicate the possibility of progress in this direction." US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller meanwhile said: "We want to see a hostage agreement that secures a temporary ceasefire where we can get the hostages out and get humanitarian assistance." Qatar and Egypt have proposed a plan to free hostages in return for a pause in fighting and the release of Palestinian prisoners, but Israel and Hamas have so far failed to agree on a deal. Washington argued that approving the UN resolution on Tuesday would have imperilled the ongoing efforts to free hostages, after it vetoed an Algeria-drafted resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. The war has set off clashes elsewhere in the Middle East, drawing in Iran-backed armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Violence has also flared in the occupied West Bank where the Israeli army said its troops killed three Palestinian militants during an overnight raid. The popular Ukrainian actor Kostiantyn Kostyshyn, who starred in the TV series The Return of Mukhtar for ten years, admitted that he only briefly greeted some of his colleagues off the set. In particular, with the Russian actress Oksana Stashenko, with whom he portrayed a couple in love. ADVERTISIMENT The actor told about this in an interview with OBOZ.UA. "The Return of Mukhtar was filmed in Kyiv. Like many projects of that time, it was broadcast in two countries. In Russia, it was shown on NTV, and in Ukraine, on Inter, 1+1, and STB. "For ten years, I went to work," Kostyshyn recalls of the filming, "Sometimes I even joked during rehearsals in the theater. When the phone rang and I realized that it was from Mukhtar, I would say loudly: "Oh, it's about work!" Everyone would laugh." The actor says that during this time, he developed friendly relations with the crew: "I was friends with everyone, even with my partner Oksana Stashenko, who later turned out to be you know who (the actress publicly supported the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine - Ed.) She even came to visit us at home. Did I feel that Oksana would eventually tell nonsense about Ukraine? I realized what she was really like a little later." ADVERTISIMENT Kostyshyn says that they didn't talk about politics on the set, but he recalls one incident involving the same cheerleader Stashenko: "I remember that before Putin's next election, she was very worried that the filming would not take too long and she would be in time to vote. "Who else but him?" she said, commenting on her choice. "And then Euromaidan began, and I felt tension in our relationship because I openly supported the confrontation against the then government. Kostyshyn also recalled a conflict with Russian actors on the set, after which he and Stashenko only greeted each other when they met: "Once, sitting in the dressing room, I read on the Internet that Russians had entered Crimea. And we were sitting next to the Russian actor Liosha Moiseev. I showed him the article. I said: "Liosha, tell me: what is this? How is it?" And we started to have a loud argument. And across the wall was Stashenko's dressing room. When we came out, I heard her discussing something unhappily and mentioning my name. Kostyshyn - this and that... She continued even when she saw me. Something like we are nothing without them... "We give you money, that's why this series is being filmed. At what cost did you build the house?" - this is how it started. ADVERTISIMENT "I built the house with the money I earned. I didn't get it for nothing - it wasn't given to me, brought to me, or given as a gift. I earned it. And I was paid much less for my work than Russian actors, by the way. I told her this. And he added: "And Russian producers shoot in Kyiv because it's cheaper." Since then, we have stopped communicating with her," Konstantyn recalls. According to the Ukrainian actor, he kept in touch with Oleksii Moisieiev for a while, but not for long: "When he came to Belarus (and we were filming there for a while) in a car with a St. George's ribbon on it, he stopped getting into the car with him. He explained why." Later, Kostyshyn refused to work on The Return of Mukhtar: "I called the producer and said that I didn't think it was appropriate for me to participate in this project because of what was happening to my country. And then, so that it wouldn't remain only in words, I wrote another text, I think on Viber. I got a reply that they understood everything. That's where we parted ways. "Mukhtar was over for me." ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Covenant House Toronto launches Let's Talk About Sex Trafficking, a campaign to spark dialogue and empower and equip parents, caregivers and teens with tools to help prevent sex trafficking in Canada. Awareness, education and dialogue are essential to help keep young people safe and prevent sex trafficking. Yet, a new survey reveals that only about a quarter (28 per cent) of Canadians are familiar with sex trafficking in Canada. Today, on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Covenant House Toronto launches Let's Talk About Sex Trafficking Post this Covenant House Toronto launches Lets Talk About Sex Trafficking Campaign: Empowering Canadians To Start The Conversation (CNW Group/Covenant House Toronto) Sex trafficking is one of Canada's most lucrative and misunderstood crimes. It is happening in our communities, to our children and often right in front of us. Parents and caregivers can play a pivotal role in educating their children about sex trafficking. "Most people don't believe that sex trafficking can happen to someone they know. When we believe this, we're distancing ourselves from the issue and from the very real risk factors facing our children on a daily basis," says Maria, a therapist who works with survivors of trafficking at Covenant House. "The truth is that in Canada 90 per cent of sex trafficking victims come from Canada. The crime has become more technologically advanced, with traffickers using dating apps, social media and other online platforms to lure their victims." "We're seeing our local case numbers increase and more young people being lured online into sex trafficking today," said Detective Constable David Oh, with Toronto Police Services Human Trafficking Enforcement Unit. "Girls as young as 13 are being lured online and often by someone they know. There's a clear need in communities near and far to educate more people about this issue early and how it happens, so we can protect people who are being targeted by traffickers and help keep young people safe." The new research conducted by Leger on behalf of Covenant House Toronto revealed that 84 per cent of Canadians surveyed believe that youth in their communities are at some level of risk of being lured into sex trafficking through a relationship, social media or online platforms. At the same time, nearly half (47 per cent) are not confident that they could recognize the warning signs of someone being lured into sex trafficking. Vanessa Jass, a trafficking survivor from Halifax, was lured into trafficking when she was only 17. Finding herself with no place to stay, she was quickly befriended by two girls. "They offered to let me stay with them for free, but I was quickly told I needed to earn my keep and eventually trafficked along the TransCanada Highway as far west as Winnipeg before I managed to escape. I was a geeky little child, I was very naive and right away, those traffickers recognized my needs and met them," says Jass, a lawyer, mother and survivor of sex trafficking. "We know from our research that many parents and caregivers are not talking to their children about this issue because they feel overwhelmed or don't know where to begin," says Josie do Rego, Chief Communications Officer of Covenant House Toronto. "Research shows only about a third of teens claim their parents are very aware of their social media activity. We created Let's Talk About Sex Trafficking to get Canadians to learn more about sex trafficking and to provide parents and caregivers with resources to help educate themselves and their children." Videos, information and resources about this issue and what caregivers can do to protect their children were created with the support of survivors and are available on the Let's Talk About Sex Trafficking webpage: CovenantHouseToronto.ca/protectyourkids. Traffick Stop, Covenant House Toronto's anti-trafficking resource hub also includes information and tools for caregivers, service providers, educators, and the hospitality industry: traffickstop.ca About Covenant House Toronto Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada's largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day. Covenant House is a national leader providing direct support to hundreds of survivors of sex trafficking. Our comprehensive anti-trafficking plan includes prevention and awareness, front line services and knowledge sharing. Since 2017, the agency has delivered prevention education to help students and teachers recognize the warning signs and to prevent this crime from occurring in the first place. Over the last seven years, Covenant House has taught thousands of students about sex trafficking and offered hotel industry training to help prevent this crime. SOURCE Covenant House Toronto For further information: Sarah Boesveld, Manager, Public Relations & Advocacy, Cell: 647-678-4372, [email protected] TSX: MFI www.mapleleaffoods.com Adam Grogan named as Chief Operating Officer and Casey Richards moves into the role of President, Maple Leaf Foods USA MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Maple Leaf Foods, Inc. ("Maple Leaf Foods" or the "Company") (TSX: MFI) today announced an update to the Company's strategic focus and a realignment of its organizational structure, including several executive changes. Maple Leaf Foods' new, evolved Blueprint (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) "For the past five years, our vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth has been our north star and raising the good in food is what gives us purpose every day," said Maple Leaf Foods CEO, Curtis Frank. "As our business shifts from an intensive phase of investing in building and commissioning new plants to realizing the benefits of our world-class network, the time is appropriate to refine the strategies that underpin our Purpose and Vision through an evolved strategic Blueprint." The Company unveiled its new, evolved Blueprint, which acts as a strategic compass for the organization. The Blueprint outlines the Company's five core strategies in its pursuit of delivering shared value for its stakeholders; Lead the Way By making better food, taking better care and nurturing a better planet By making better food, taking better care and nurturing a better planet Build Loved Brands By growing consumer relevance, delivering impactful innovation and leveraging our unique capabilities By growing consumer relevance, delivering impactful innovation and leveraging our unique capabilities Broaden our Impact By extending our geographic reach, developing new channels and categories and diversifying our protein portfolio By extending our geographic reach, developing new channels and categories and diversifying our protein portfolio Operate with Excellence By harnessing advanced technologies, applying data science and analytics and driving cost efficiency By harnessing advanced technologies, applying data science and analytics and driving cost efficiency Develop Extraordinary Talent By embedding our values-based culture, investing in future-ready leaders and inspiring enduring engagement In order to execute the strategies outlined in the Blueprint, the Company will bring its Meat and Plant Protein businesses together under a single umbrella through a refreshed organizational structure that supports its core strategies, optimizes its growth potential in key markets and provides clear accountabilities. "The evolution of our Blueprint serves to bring clarity and focus to the entire company around how we will deliver on the core strategies that will propel Maple Leaf Foods forward," said Frank. "As an integrated protein company, we have tremendous opportunities ahead of us. Together we are a powerhouse, and we will leverage our combined strength to build our brands in Canadian, U.S. and international markets." Executive Changes Adam Grogan has been promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Adam has overall responsibility for leading Prepared Foods, including Prepared Meats, Poultry, and Plant Protein; and the supply chain network across Canada and the United States. Adam has been with Maple Leaf Foods for more than 25 years in diverse roles and brings a wide spectrum of experience in both operational and commercial leadership roles. Casey Richards assumes the newly-created role of President, Maple Leaf Foods USA. Casey is responsible for leading the Company's growth in this critical, high potential market, including retail and foodservice. Casey has more than 20 years of global marketing and general management experience, including the last six years with Maple Leaf Foods. He brings a tremendous depth and breadth of North American food industry experience having worked for some of North America's largest food companies. These appointments are effective immediately. About Maple Leaf Foods About Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Maple Leaf Foods is a carbon neutral company with a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth, responsibly producing food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Schneiders, Schneiders Country Naturals, Mina, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., Lightlife and Field Roast. The Company employs approximately 13,500 people and does business primarily in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI). ForwardLooking Statements This document may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. These statements are not guarantees of future events and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Some of these assumptions and risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in the Company's filings made with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Maple Leaf does not intend to, and Maple Leaf disclaims any obligation to, update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc. For further information: Investor Contact: [email protected]; Media Contact: [email protected] Scotiabank poll shows newcomers to Canada are more likely to use fraud prevention tools to mitigate a higher exposure to financial scams TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Newcomers to Canada are more vigilant about preventing fraud than other Canadian citizens and residents, according to a new Scotiabank poll conducted ahead of Fraud Prevention Month in March. Poll data shows newcomers, defined as Canadian adults who arrived in Canada in the last 10 years, are more likely to: Regularly discuss financial security and fraud prevention within their community (47% more likely than other Canadians) prevention within their community (47% more likely than other Canadians) Use a password manager app (46% more likely) Frequently update passwords to protect their online accounts (16% more likely) These enhanced measures are not unwarranted, with additional survey data indicating new Canadians are at a higher risk of being targeted by financial fraud. Nearly four-in-ten of newcomers1 have fallen for at least one financial fraud scama rate significantly higher than for other Canadians. This underscores the fact that despite their efforts to protect themselves, newcomers remain prime targets for fraud. Both groupsnewcomers and other Canadiansagree that more education around financial fraud is needed.2 "When it comes to financial fraud, everyone is a target, particularly individuals who may be in vulnerable positions such as newcomers to Canada," says Tammy McKinnon, Senior Vice President, Global Fraud Management at Scotiabank. "Effective fraud prevention is essential to building a resilient financial ecosystem that all Canadians can trust. At Scotiabank, we're committed to supporting the fight against fraud and keeping our clients' financial information safe and secure." Scotiabank's Cybersecurity and Fraud Hub is available broadly and offers a wide range of fraud prevention resources, such as descriptions of common scams and fraud simulation activities. Through programs such as StartRight and providing services to our clients in over 50 languages across our channels, Scotiabank seeks to offer tailored solutions to meet the needs of newcomers and eliminate any barriers that may prevent them from integrating into Canada's financial ecosystem securely. ___________________________ 1 38% vs. 17% 2 95% of newcomers and 91% of all other Canadians About The Poll This survey was conducted by Maru Public Opinion January 19-20, 2024 by its sample and data collection experts at Maru/Blue on behalf of Scotiabank and involved a random selection of 3,026 Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panelists. Within this total sample group were two respondent sub-samples: 181 who arrived in Canada within the last 10 years ("New Canadians") and 2845 who have lived longer than that in the country ("Established Canadians"). The results have been weighted by education, age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability sample has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) for the Established Canadians of +/- 1.8% and the New Canadians of +/- 7.3%, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding. About Scotiabank Scotiabank's vision is to be our clients' most trusted financial partner, to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and maximize total shareholder return. Guided by our purpose: "for every future," we help our clients, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With assets of approximately $1.4 trillion (as at October 31, 2023), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on X @Scotiabank. SOURCE Scotiabank For further information: For media inquiries only: Rabbana Omar | Global Communications, Scotiabank | [email protected] | 647-640-2503 QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Following its successful introduction into several hospitals across its home province, Quebec-based OxyNov is releasing its technology on the Canadian market. As the first system to automate oxygen delivery to patients, the company's FreeO device1 is a true oxygen therapy innovation. ________________________ 1 Not available in the U.S. The OxyNov FreeO device (CNW Group/OxyNov) Considerable benefits for patients Developed in Quebec, the FreeO is the world's first device to automatically titrate oxygen therapy. It continuously adjusts oxygen flow to patients to keep them within the target saturation (SpO) range more than 90% of the time, according to a study in the Journal of Critical Care. Once the device received government approval, several Quebec hospitals began to benefit from this innovative technology. The state-of-the-art device quickly and precisely adjusts the prescribed oxygen flow, limiting the risk of complications for patients. Better SpO control helps reduce tachycardia, myocardial ischemia, and arrhythmia. These conditions can cause pulmonary hypertension, particularly in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A breath of fresh air for the health care system Hospitals are struggling with a significant increase in occupancy rates and wait times, due in large part to the spike in cases of respiratory issues. According to a recent study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, COPD hospitalizations have risen by 69% over the past 16 years, mainly because of air pollution, forest fires, and indoor toxic inhalants. In a high-pressure situation like this, the FreeO device supports the hospital system, making sure patients receive optimized treatment and providing relief for hospitals. Innovation is a major clinical resource, helping to ease the burden on health care workers. By reducing the length of stay for COPD patients by almost 30%, it improves bed availability and reduces per-patient costs by almost 21%, according to research published in BMJ Open. The OxyNov team has fully mobilized to meet the equipment needs of hospitals across Quebec and the rest of Canada. Some facilities in the province are already benefitting from this advancement, and the next units are ready to ship. "We are delighted to be helping improve the Quebec health care system with our device that optimizes oxygen therapy," says OxyNov CEO Patrice Allibert, Ph.D. A complete solution To support medical staff in their use of the FreeO device, OxyNov has set up the OxyNov Academy, an educational platform with numerous resources to help medical teams effectively integrate the device into their practice. ABOUT OXYNOV In 2009, two physician-researchers joined forces after a clinical research project to develop a device to automate the administration of oxygen therapy. They founded OxyNov Inc. to focus entirely on developing the FreeO device and improving the application of this treatment on a daily basis. The company has been present in Europe since 2017 and in Canada since 2019. ABOUT THE FREEO DEVICE The FreeO device is a revolution for the oxygen therapy field. It was developed by physician-researchers at Laval University and licensed by Health Canada in 2019. It continuously and automatically adjusts each patient's oxygen flow, accounting for individual needs and dynamics to help patients remain within the target oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) set by the clinician. The results of various published studies suggest that the FreeO device is statistically superior in maintaining normoxia compared to manual or constant flow oxygen titration. Just as importantly, the FreeO device minimizes the duration of desaturation or severe supersaturation compared to conventional oxygen therapy; in all studies, there was a statistically significant difference in favour of the FreeO device. SOURCE OxyNov For further information: SOURCE AND INFORMATION: Patrice Allibert, Ph.D. , CEO of OxyNov, [email protected] Air Peace, Nigerias flag carrier, says it will commence direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London, from March 30, 2024. Stanley Olisa, the airlines spokesperson, confirmed the new international operation to TheCable on Tuesday. The development comes nearly a month after Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace, engaged the United Kingdom (UK) government to actualise direct flights from Lagos to London. The minister had held a meeting with the management of NORSE Atlantic Airways, led by Ben Boiling, its chief executive officer (CEO), in London in late January, 2024. Keyamo had said he was speaking with UK transport officials on a partnership between NORSE Atlantic Airways and Air Peace. Are you ready for that bespoke flygerian experience in the skies? Our London launch is getting closer- March 30, 2024- marking a historic entry into the European continent, Air Peace posted on its X handle on Tuesday. Are you ready for that bespoke flygerian experience in the skies? Our London launch is getting closer- March 30, 2024- marking a historic entry into the European continent. #betterdealwithairpeace #london pic.twitter.com/DqWVWTdEUo Air Peace (@flyairpeace) February 20, 2024 Air Peace had secured a foreign carrier operator permit (FCOP) to fly into UK in November 2023. However, the airline has been unable to commence operations on the route due to challenges with slot allocation at the destination airport. Since securing its authorisation to fly into the UK, after satisfying all the requirements, the issue of slot allocation at Gatwick Airport has been the major obstacle preventing the Airline from commencing the direct flight into London, said Oluwatoyin Olajide, chief operating officer (CEO) of Air Peace. Meanwhile, at the meeting with Keyamo, Boiling had said NORSE Atlantic Airways was ready to commence the partnership with Air Peace when the final authorisation is granted to the airline for the commencement of direct flights into Gatwick Airport, London. The first satellite launched by the European Space Agency has fallen to Earth. The ERS-2 device burned up in the atmosphere over the North Pacific Ocean, at coordinates 3724'00.0 "N 15154'00.0 "W. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the European Space Agency's Control Center. Interestingly, European ESA experts only observed the fall and did not know where exactly it would occur until recently. ERS-2 was Europe's first surveillance platform when it was launched in 1995. The more than two-ton satellite stopped functioning in 2011 and has been out of control since then. However, the ESA assumed that ERS-2 would stay in orbit for about 15 years. The Agency claims that most of the two-ton satellite burned up during the fall. Minor fragments reached the water, but "they are not radioactive or toxic." What was the mission of the ERS satellites? ADVERTISIMENT In the 1990s, the Agency launched two almost identical satellites into space. The Earth Remote Sensing Satellites (ERS) monitored floods, measured continental and ocean surface temperatures, tracked glacier movement, and recorded the earth's bending during earthquakes. ERS-2 also had sensors to monitor the Earth's protective ozone layer. It was the ERS pair that proved and demonstrated in the images that the climate is changing on the planet, and that it is changing faster than expected. ERS-1 has also been out of service for some time. But unlike ERS-2, the engineers were unable to bring it down, and the connection with the satellite was interrupted. It can stay at an altitude of more than 700 km above the Earth for about 100 years. Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that Russia could launch nuclear weapons into space this year. ADVERTISIMENT In Germany, the possible consequences of a Russian bomb in Earth's orbit were assessed as a catastrophe for all the inhabitants of the Earth. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA's Telegram and Viber channels to stay up to date with the latest developments. The police in Ekiti State on Thursday warned against staging an End Nigeria Protest believed to be organised by an unknown group in any part of the state, saying such an act capable of threatening existing peace was unacceptable. The Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, enjoined all stakeholders, parents, and peace lovers to warn their wards to be law-abiding citizens and shun all acts that could aggregate tension, cause chaos and puncture the current peaceful atmosphere in the state as those found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Akinwale said that, although the law enforcement agency recognised citizens constitutional rights to protest or gather peacefully, it would not compromise its commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property as well as maintenance of law, order, and a peaceful atmosphere. The CP, according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, spoke in Ado Ekiti during an emergency stakeholders meeting held in his office to review the rumour circulating on social media about a possible protest tagged End Nigeria Hardship to be held on Friday by an unknown group. He stated, A situation where such protest or gathering could be hijacked by unscrupulous elements and consequently endangering the lives and property of innocent citizens and the government as well as jeopardising the current fragile peace in the country and by extension, Ekiti State, will be unacceptable. He advised community leaders and landlords to be wary of those they give accommodations and harbour within their territories and the embarrassment their infractions could cause the state, as anyone indicted in criminal acts or found harbouring criminals will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly. All citizens are therefore enjoined to be security conscious, vigilant and support the police and other security agencies with credible and timely information that could help to nip crime in the bud as the security of our dear society is a collective responsibility, the CP stated. However, no fewer than 100 farmers whose farmlands were affected by the construction of Ekiti cargo airport had in November, last year, protested at the Governors Office in Ado Ekiti over their unpaid compensation. The placards-carrying farmers, who came from about five affected communities namely; Igbogun, Afao, Araromi Obo, Aso Ayegunle, and Igbemo Ekiti, expressed dissatisfaction with the refusal of the government to pay the compensations despite promising them. The spokesman for the farmers and the Edemon of Igbemo Ekiti, Chief Awe Ojo, said that nothing had been heard from the state government after their meeting with the governor in June 2023 where they were promised succour within two weeks. The Enugu State Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Chijioke Edeoga has condemned the arrest of the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Julius Abure. Edeoga said the action of the police amounted to an abuse of rights and could be interpreted to suggest there were attempts to diminish the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming governorship contest in Edo State. Edeoga, in a statement he personally signed, also condemned the public humiliation Comrade Abure was subjected to during the arrest and demanded greater respect for the man whom he said, leads millions of Labour Party members in the country. He lamented that the Edo State Police Command, in enforcing the arrest, treated the Labour Party leader like a criminal, wondering why no invitation was extended to him before he was subjected to what he described as public humiliation. Without prejudice to the police procedure and investigations, these allegations smack of deliberate attempt to intimidate and diminish the person and office of the Labour Party Chairman before every right-thinking Nigerian. From every indication, and based on available facts and information, Comrade Abure, a highly placed, law-abiding Nigerian and leader of millions of Labour Party members spread all over Nigeria, was not issued any formal invitation by the Nigerian Police before the humiliating and dehumanizing arrest. I note with profound displeasure, the attempt to treat the leader of the Labour Party with such disdain by arresting and treating him like a common criminal. It has to be noted that Comrade Abure, like other party leaders participating in the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, had been in the state to prepare grounds for the primary elections to select the partys governorship candidate for the elections, Edeoga said in the statement. He also condemned the alleged description of Comrade Abure as a factional Chairman of the Labour Party by the Edo State Police Command and a section of the media, stating that by a judgement Supreme of Nigeria, Abure had been affirmed as the undisputed National Chairman of the party. Nigerians should note the deliberate attempt to describe Comrade Julius Abure as a factional Chairman of the Labour Party by the Edo State Police Command. This is far from the truth, and the Nigerian Police for which the Edo State Police Command is a part of, is fully aware of the Supreme Court judgement which confirmed him as the National Chairman of our great party. The reference to Comrade Abura as a factional Chairman is therefore intentional and must have been deployed to further undermine his office, his person and the political party he leads. It is also condemnable that many journalists have been misled into describing Comrade Abure as a factional Chairman, apparently taking cues from the misidentification of his person and office by the Edo State Police Command, the statement continued. He said the action of the police might be a sign of bias against the Labour Party by some state institutions ahead of the election and urged the security agencies to provide a level playing ground for all participants in the interest of peace, justice and fairness. As a unit of the Nigerian Government responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order, the Nigerian Police should be reminded to treat citizens with dignity, to see every person as equal before the Law, and to accord respect to the leaders of the people, irrespective of whether they are in the ruling party or the opposition, he advised. The Enugu State Labour Party leader also called on President Bola Tinubu to caution the Nigerian Police and other security agencies against actions capable of projecting them as biased, stating that it was their responsibility to provide security for all Nigerian citizens and to ensure everyone is treated equally irrespective of party affiliation. President Tinubu should lead the way in dispelling the conqueror mindset in many political leaders by opening and encouraging the formation of all-inclusive governments as a demonstration of the sportsmanship that should be in political contests because, in the end, the purpose of partisan politics is to work for the betterment of the people and guarantee their wellbeing freedom and liberty, he concluded. Recall that Abure was arrested in Benin city, Edo State on Wednesday. He was eventually released late in the night. Yakubu Gowon, a former head of state, says Nigerians should give President Bola Tinubu more time to address the various challenges facing the country. Addressing journalists after meeting with the president at the State House on Wednesday, Gowon asked Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu. He said it is too early for the president to "achieve absolute results" after eight months in office. "Well, I was telling him (Tinubu) that no Nigerian leader can get there and will not have all the report of what is being said about him," Gowon said. "But certainly, there's no doubt from what one hears and what one sees on the various media, etc. I think the government is trying their best to deal with the various problems of the country. "Don't you worry, you will get criticised, but people who get there know better than you know. "I think that all one can say is that Nigerians, we've got to give the president time. And it is too early to sort of say absolute result, perfect result will be achieved now. That is my opinion. "I know and if I can remember, when I was fighting the war, I was told I was too slow and that probably could not make it and that we should now seek for discussion. "Well, did we do it or not? They probably do not know the problem underground, so that is where we are." The former head of state added that he also discussed recent issues about the ECOWAS with the president. "Luckily enough, this time he gave me the opportunity to see him to discuss various matters, especially the issue of the ECOWAS problem at the moment which I think needs to be resolved," he said. "And being the surviving member of the founding fathers, I think we have to discuss some of his plans in order to see what can be done to bring the matter under control. "So, this is what has brought me here and we had an interesting discussion" The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, has warned those he described as evil people calling for a coup in Nigeria due to the current economic hardship in the country. Musa warned that the law will come for those calling for a coup in the country over the current economic realities. He spoke after inaugurating the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Army chief assured of the Armed Forces commitment towards the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. Musa said: Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy. We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they dont mean well for Nigeria. And they should be very careful because the law will come after them. We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes we are going through trying periods, I mean in life nothing is hundred per cent. Musa said the Federal Government is focused on addressing the current economic challenges in the country and therefore appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience. Everybody goes through a trying period in life, and it is what you do with them. You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better. And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. And so we are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better, he added. The Labour Party, LP, has confirmed the arrest of its national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure and the state chairman of the party, Mr Kelly Ogbaloi, by a combined team of police officers and operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS. Abure was forcefully arrested by security operatives on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital. A video clip, which captured his arrest, went viral on social media. Our correspondent reports that the arrest is coming barely two days to the partys governorship primaries for the November 21, 2024, governorship election in the state. Reacting to the development, the party, in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said Abure was manhandled by the security operatives. According to the statement, a police source confirmed to officials of the party that the arrest was not unconnected to the ongoing party primary and the possible candidate that will emerge, which the state government is vehemently opposed to. Obiora also stated that officials of the party were unable to access the Zone 5 headquarters of the Police Command in Benin City, saying that the facility was crowded by protesters, who were demanding the release of Abure. Efforts by some party leaders to have access to the Zone 5 headquarters were turned down due to the huge crowd of party supporters who were expressing their displeasure over the arrest of Abure. However, a Police source informed the party officials and other governorship aspirants at the gate of the police headquarters that the arrest was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled members of the party loyal to Apapa dissident camp, he said. Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian head of state, says he did not turn down an invitation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intervene in the coups ravaging the region. Gowon spoke on Wednesday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. There were media reports that the former head of state turned down an invitation from the ministry of foreign affairs in collaboration with ECOWAS, to speak at a "press conference" at the commission's headquarters in Abuja. Gowon was reportedly supposed to speak on the current state of affairs at the regional level, with regards to coups and subsequent threats by the Republic of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to exit the bloc and likely proffer solutions. Gowon who is one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS described the allegation as a miscommunication, adding that he came to meet the president for that purpose. "This is my first visit to Mr President since the inauguration but I was there at the inauguration to wish him well and all success," the former head of state said. "If you remember how busy he was after that visitors, members of government, various personalities, so it was not possible for me to be able to see him. "After that time I had to travel abroad but from broad he was able to reach me on my birthday and after that interesting social media report that I was dead "But when I came back I made a number of efforts but unfortunately I think because of his busy programme it was not possible for me to see him. "But luckily enough, this time he was able to give me the opportunity to see him and to discuss various matters especially the issue of the ECOWAS problem at the moment which I think needs to be resolved. "And being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS I think we had to discuss some of his plans in order to see what can be done to bring the matter under control. "So, this is what has brought me here and we had a very interesting meeting and I'm sure some of you have read reports that I refused to attend ECOWAS conference isn't it? Is it you that did that report? Who did that? You know, trying to give that impression that it was me who was probably trying to sort of sabotage ECOWAS. "No, that is not the case. I think there was a miscommunication but then it gave the opportunity for Mr President to call me so that we can discuss what I was to do." Gowon said resolutions were made regarding the situation, adding that the messages would be passed across in due time. American rapper Rick Ross has expressed his intention to show love to Nigerias President Bola Tinubu and also bring attention to the Nigerian culture. He made this known in a video that went viral on X on Wednesday. The hip-hop legend said he wants to show love to world leaders and shine a light on global cultures, beginning with Nigeria and its leader, President Bola Tinubu. Rick Ross said: I want to show love to the presidents of some of these amazing countries. I just want to bring attention to the cultures and amazing artists. Lets start with Nigeria: Bola Tinubu! Recall that Rick Ross recently revealed his intention to collaborate with some African artists, including Asake, Odumodublvck, Ghanas Stonebwoy and Black Sheriff, and Nasty C from South Africa for his upcoming studio album, Champagne Moments. The 48-year-old rapper has previously collaborated with P-Square, Yemi Alade, and Tanzanias Diamond Platnumz. Video The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, who was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, alongside other party members, has regained freedom. Abure and the Edo state chairman of the party, Mr Kelly Ogbaloi were arrested by a combined team of police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS. The arrest followed a petition by the LP Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia, who is reportedly loyal to the factional chairman of the party, Lamidi Apapa. The youth leader petitioned the CP alleging that he was attacked by some party members in December 2023. Abure was forcefully arrested barely 48 hours to the partys primary election ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial polls in the state. However, it was gathered that Abure was released on Wednesday night on bail. Addressing supporters on Thursday morning, Abure said, let me thank all of you for your solidarity and support. We have been facing several battles since the last election ended. Yesterday, we were making arrangements for the primaries and the police swamped on us, arrested us, over what I will not discuss now because investigation is still going on. I must, however, state clearly that following several interventions, they have graciously released me on bail. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has denied allegations that he bought some tractors using palliative funds provided by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of hardship in the country. The denial was contained in a press release by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime. The release, made available to journalists in Awka, lashed out at those propagating such rumour, insisting that Soludo has shown fiscal accountability and transparency in his government. He said: We wish to categorically state that these claims are entirely false and without merit. Anambra State Government under the leadership of Governor Soludo has always been committed to transparent and accountable governance, with a primary focus on the well-being of its citizens, particularly farmers. Soludo administration has offered farmers in the state is the distribution of 1,100,000 hybrid coconut and palm seedlings to over 100,000 households, igniting the hope of lifting many out of poverty. This was done out of budgetary allocation to agriculture, and not with any palliatives fund. The news story circulating online, claiming that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, utilized part of the states palliative funds to procure 800 tractors, which were subsequently distributed to farmers free of charge is fake. The administration operates within the bounds of fiscal responsibility and prudent financial management. Any insinuation suggesting otherwise is baseless and misleading. We urge the public to disregard such fake news and refrain from spreading misinformation that may convey wrong impressions among the populace. Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, says President Bola Tinubu is not in support of zoning the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship ticket in the state. The leadership of APC declared the governorship primary election held in Edo inconclusive after some aspirants were declared winners of the exercise. Thursday has been fixed for a fresh primary in the state. Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo and chairman of the panel when the primary was held on Saturday, had declared Dennis Idahosa, a member of the house of representatives, as the winner of the election. However, Ojo Babatunde, spokesperson of the returning officers, said Sunday Dekeri, a lawmaker representing Etsako federal constituency in the house of representatives, polled 25,384 votes to defeat Idahosa. Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday after a meeting with Tinubu, Oshiomhole said he came to seek clarification from the president on rumours regarding the primary. The former Edo governor said the president expressed commitment to a free and fair primary. "The president has affirmed that he has no voting right in Edo state. Even though the Edo people have the right to vote for the president, therefore, what matters to him is to ensure that APC members in Edo state in the direct primaries, participate in the free and fair primaries," he said. "That is the decision of the president. There have been rumours in the air that there is probably zoning to one area or zoning to another area. "The president said that as far as he is concerned, he is committed only to free and fair primaries not based on zoning because you don't do zoning on the eve of the primary. "If there's going to be zoning those involved in the decision will have to be so comprehensive that the people of the state understand it. And number two, if you have zoning, you will not allow people who are not from the particular zone to procure forms." Oshiomhole said it is unfair to single out Edo state for zoning when the same was not done for the Kogi and Benue governorship tickets. "Is it not the same APC where recently, in Kogi state, you have back-to-back somebody from one senatorial zone succeeding the other? he asked. "Why is Edo different? In Benue state, since 1999, you've had only people from one part, one particular language, the Tivs that have produced governor after governor since 1999. "Are you about to change the rules? In any case, who are you and I to dictate to Edo APC members where their candidate must come from? "If you impose a candidate, as some of you want to suggest when you go for the election proper, are you going to tell people to vote based on your privileged elite consensus of turn-by-turn democracy? "What I've committed to is that in a democracy, the majority must necessarily have their way. You can't do it otherwise, there is no sentiment about it. "Fairness means that the outcome is a reflection of the will of the people. Fairness is not when you allocate. This turn-buy-turn democracy kills fairness." Qabil Ashirov On February 22, the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha held the National Day of Azerbaijan in Qatar, Azernews reports. The International Horticultural Exhibition Doha Expo 2023, which began on October 2, 2023, and will run until March 28 this year, was organized under the theme "Green Desert, Better Environment". The aim is to promote sustainable innovation and combat desertification. Among the pavilions operating at the Doha Expo was the Azerbaijan pavilion, which was created with the joint organization of the Heydar Aliyev Center and the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry. As part of the National Day organized at the Doha Expo, the delegation headed by Anar Alakbarov, the assistant to the Azerbaijan President, was accompanied by Qatar's State Minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of Culture of this country Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Municipalities Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Atiyya, the Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023, Bader bin Omar Al Dafa. Anar Alakbarov discussed the experience of Azerbaijan in Expo exhibitions and the successful participation in the Doha Expo 2023. Later, the National Day was opened, the National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played and the National Flag was raised. Azerbaijani and Qatar Officials and ambassadors of about 60 countries accredited in this country participated in the event. Speaking at the opening event of the National Day, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center, Anar Alakbarov said that Azerbaijan-Qatar relations are based on mutual respect and cooperation, and close contacts contribute to the further development of relations between the two countries. Anar Alakbarov emphasized that holding the National Day of Azerbaijan at Doha Expo 2023 is important for the two countries and said that he is hopeful that the International Horticultural Exhibition will contribute to one of the most important issues on the world's agenda - issues related to climate change. Pointing out that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the solution of global issues related to climate change that worries the world and continues to do practical work in this direction, the assistant to the President said that in this regard, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29 in November. Thanking the State of Qatar for organizing such a successful and important platform in Doha, Anar Alakbarov added: "The coming together of countries is very important for the development of humanitarian relations and cooperation. Based on the principles of mutual friendship and respect, our people have historically been connected by religious and cultural ties. Currently, relations between the two countries are based on the principles of mutual friendship. Relations between our countries are developing dynamically in various fields. I believe that our cooperative relations based on friendly relations will continue successfully from now on." Then there the Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023, Bader bin Omar Al Dafa had a speech. He said that the Doha Expo takes us on an interesting journey to the countries of the world. Today, the fraternal Azerbaijan brought us together to celebrate the National Day of the Republic. Reminding that Azerbaijan will host COP29 this year, Bader bin Omar Al Dafa added that Azerbaijan has an active partnership with the United Arab Emirates, which hosted COP28, and Brazil, which will host COP30, in order to improve sustainability and cooperation in international discussions on climate change issues. The Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023 emphasized that Azerbaijan, which has a fascinating nature, attaches great importance to economic diversification in addition to climate issues, and noted: "Investment policy in Azerbaijan is based on innovation and technology. Apart from the oil and gas sector, Azerbaijan is successfully diversifying its economy by rapidly developing other sectors. All this creates ample opportunities for investors in developing areas such as renewable energy, the agricultural industry, and tourism in the country. Azerbaijan has wide tourism opportunities, rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the Great Caucasus Mountains in the north, and wide plains in the central part of the country. Azerbaijan's participation in the Doha Expo 2023 resonates with the goals of this exhibition, which is the contribution of a friendly state to international cooperation, beneficial partnerships, and investments. Therefore, we expect not only the public and private sector in Qatar but also other countries participating in the Expo to use the investment environment in Azerbaijan and the successful experience of this country in many areas of the economy." Later, People's Artist Azer Zeynalov sang the song Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble performed the dance Uzundera, one of Azerbaijani ancient folk dances. Within the framework of the ceremony, a photo exhibition covering the nature and historical monuments of Azerbaijan was also organized. After the opening, the participants of the event inspected the Qatar pavilion at the Doha Expo 2023 International Horticultural Exhibition. It should be noted that Doha Expo 2023 with an area of 1.7 million square meters is being held in Al Bidda Park, one of the largest parks of the Qatari capital. Here, the territory is divided into three zones: the International Zone, where pavilions are presented, the Family Zone, where fun events are held, and the Cultural Zone, where various debates, conferences, and exhibitions are organized. More than 70 countries and about 20 international organizations participate in the exhibition. The guests then visited the Azerbaijan pavilion. Here, the richness of the Azerbaijani flora is shown in accordance with the general theme of the Doha Expo, and compositions of plants have been created according to the climatic zones. In the pavilion, the beauty of the Kharibulbul flower, which is the crown of Karabakh flora, is conveyed to the visitors. ?The pavilion also has exhibits and information about Azerbaijani culture. Folk crafts such as carpet weaving, coppersmithing, netting, national costumes, as well as mugham trio are displayed here. During the guests' visit to the pavilion, there was a performance of a mugham trio, samples of the works of Azerbaijani composers were presented by the quartet, and our national cuisine was presented. The National Day of Azerbaijan at Doha Expo 2023 will continue in the evening with a concert program organized jointly with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that Azerbaijan Culture Days are also held in Qatar from February 21 to 24. ?Azerbaijan, which attaches special importance to expo events, has previously successfully participated in international exhibitions held in cities such as Milan, Antalya, Astana, and Beijing and has been awarded high prizes. The country, selected for its successful participation in this international platform, will also be represented at the Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025 world exhibition. Azerbaijan, which attaches great importance to relations with Japan and participation in world Expo exhibitions, is the first country to sign the participation agreement in Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025. Polish activists have blocked six directions on the border with Ukraine, with 2,450 trucks in queues. The largest queues are in front of the Krakivets, Rava-Ruska and Shehyni checkpoints. ADVERTISIMENT Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, said this during the telethon . "Along with the queue, we have seen a significant decrease in the number of border crossings by trucks in recent days. This is especially critical at the Yahodyn and Shehyny checkpoints. Only 60 trucks crossed the border at Shehyni yesterday, while at Yahodyn 70 trucks crossed the border to enter Ukraine, and none were allowed to enter Poland," the SBGS spokesman said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the leaders of Poland and the European Union due to the protests and blocking of checkpoints between Ukraine and Poland by a group of Poles. The Ukrainian president offered to hold talks right on the border and resolve all misunderstandings once and for all. It is worth noting that one of the organizers of the Polish protests on the border of Ukraine turned out to be the owner of a transportation company that manages to make money from the blockade. We are talking about a member of the Polish border blockade committee, the head of the protest at the Yagodyn-Dorogusk checkpoint, and a politician, Edyta Ozigala. ADVERTISIMENT Journalist Yevhen Plinsky drew attention to Ozigala and her business. He found out that the organizer of the protests, like her colleague Rafal Mekler, is engaged in the business of road transportation. As reported by OBOZ.UA, as of February 20, Polish protesters have been blocking not only the passage of trucks. Now they are not allowing buses and cars to cross the border between Poland and Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine responded to the blockade, noting that such actions by friendly Poland are unjustified and appealing to the Polish government with an important appeal. Meanwhile, the Consul General of Poland in Lviv called the actions of the farmers at the border a disgrace and compared their actions to those of the Russian occupiers. The tension between the two countries due to the blocking of the border by the Poles has affected the attitude of Ukrainians toward the people of Poland. According to polls, the percentage of Ukrainians who consider Poland a friendly country has recently decreased. ADVERTISIMENT Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, has returned to Nigeria. A statement by Igbohos spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, confirmed that the Yoruba Nation activist was in the country for his mothers burial. Koiki disclosed this in a terse statement accompanied by a video via his X page on Thursday. In the video, Igboho could be seen with some people believed to be at the mortuary. He wrote: I can confirm that Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho is currently on his way to Igboho Town for the final burial of his mother MRS S.A.ADEYEMO. The body of MRS S.A ADEYEMO was picked up from the mortuary in SAKI TOWN some few hours ago. Igboho has been out of Nigeria since 2021 when he eloped to Benin Republic after he was declared wanted by the Department of State Services, DSS. DSS had invaded his home in the Soka area of Oyo State over alleged terrorism charges. The secret police had declared him wanted over his agitation for the Yoruba Nation and attacks on Fulani herders accused of having attacked farmers in the Southwest. In the Benin Republic, Igboho was arrested and remanded while attempting to travel to Germany. However, he recently regained his freedom after two years in a Beniese prison. While detained in Benin Republic, Igboho lost his mother who lived in Saki, Oyo State. Watch video here: Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, has criticised Adams Oshiomhole for allegedly attempting to impose a gubernatorial candidate on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo. Fayemi accused Oshiomhole, a senator and former national chairman of the party, of playing a "disruptive" role during the February 17, 2024, governorship primary election in the state. THE CONTROVERSY Last Saturday, the APC organised primary elections in Edo, ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state. Three governorship aspirants were declared winners of the primary election by three different umpires. Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo and chairman of the primary election committee, declared Dennis Idahosa, a member of the house of representatives, as the winner of the election. However, Ojo Babatunde, spokesperson of the returning officers, declared Sunday Dekeri, a lawmaker representing Etsako federal constituency in the house of representatives, as the winner of the primary. In another twist of events, Monday Okpebholo, the senator representing Edo central, claimed that he won the election with over 6,000 votes. Before the election, no less than three aspirants announced their withdrawal from the race, including Osagie Ize-lyamu, APC candidate in the 2020 governorship election. On Tuesday, the national leadership of the APC declared that the primary election was inconclusive. The party fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024, as the new date for the completion of the primary election process. The party appointed Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River state, as the chairman of the primary election committee. On Wednesday, Oshiomhole paid President Bola Tinubu a visit at the presidential villa over the Edo primary election. The senator said the president expressed his commitment to a free and fair primary and that he is not in support of zoning the party's ticket. FAYEMI'S CRITICISM In a statement by Ahmad Sajoh, his media aide, Fayemi, on Thursday, said Oshiomhole ousted Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, from the party during the buildup to the 2020 gubernatorial poll in the state. The former Ekiti governor said Oshiomhole should have ensured a level playing field for all aspirants in 2024 instead of trying to impose a candidate. "Earlier, Oshiomhole had attempted to eliminate some aspirants from contesting the primaries but failed. This is reminiscent of his high-handedness as national chairman when he manipulatively schemed Governor Godwin Obaseki out of the electoral process. That action led to the unfortunate loss of Edo state by the APC," Fayemi said. "It would appear the ground was being prepared by Oshiomhole yet again for the APC to lose the coming election in Edo state because of his unconscionable behaviour. "However, the party has demonstrated independence and impartiality in cancelling and reordering the primaries. "We hope the fresh primaries will now take place in an atmosphere deemed free and fair by all, for the sake of our great party. "Oshiomhole may decide to support any of the aspirants if he chooses not to be neutral but the process must be open, free, and transparent, following the laid down rules. "My interest is the APC and the party must put its best foot forward in the forthcoming elections." Fayemi commended the national leadership of the APC for rescheduling the primary election. Bergen County has agreed to pay $1.5 million to the family of a 12-year-old boy who was fatally hit by a sheriffs officer while crossing a busy highway in 2019. Christian Tawadros, a student at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Fair Lawn, was struck by the on-duty officers SUV as the boy, his brother and two other children tried to make it on foot across the multilane Route 208 at around 9 p.m. The settlement follows a lawsuit by Tawadros family, which sued the Bergen County Sheriffs Office in Superior Court for wrongful death. The suit charged Officer Michael Sansevere was driving in an inattentive, careless, reckless and negligent manner when he hit the boy while on patrol on April 14, 2019. The crash in Fair Lawn was investigated by the Attorney Generals Office, which announced in 2021 that a grand jury had cleared Sansevere of criminal wrongdoing. State prosecutors said their probe showed the four children were crossing the divided highway east to west near Fair Lawn Avenue. Three of them made it across the road, crossing the northbound lanes, hopping over a concrete center divider and running across the southbound lanes, prosecutors said. But Tawadros was behind the others and was hit in the left southbound lane by Sansevere, who was driving a marked SUV but was not responding to an emergency. Prosecutors said that after the impact, Sansevere stopped, turned on his emergency lights, notified dispatch and tried to aid the boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene. In legal filings, Bergen County and Sansevere denied wrongdoing in what an assistant county solicitor called a tragic death in a traffic accident. Sansevere, who served 14 years in law enforcement, left the sheriffs office on a disability pension stemming from the death, according to Police and Firemens Retirement System records. Kyra Pazant, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs office, did not respond to requests for comment. Garry Salomon, the attorney for Tawadros family, did not return a phone call. Bergen County commissioners approved the settlement on Dec. 13 without discussion, a video recording of their meeting shows. The lawsuit was dismissed last month. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com. One Jersey Shore town was told again it cant build a steel wall across a span of badly eroded beach where local officials say protections couldnt be more necessary. North Wildwood is at severe risk of damage, Mayor Patrick Rosenello told NJ Advance Media on Thursday after sharing the latest update in the years-long saga. There is no onshore protection at that location, Rosenello said of the areas between 12th and 15th avenues. So if and when we have a significant coastal storm, significant damage is going to occur. There are a lot of private property owners who could potentially be significantly impacted by this and they of course have legal rights themselves. At the start of February, the state rejected an emergency request from North Wildwood to extend a steel bulkhead on its shore. The city appealed the decision. Soon after, reports came in that a dune breach at 13th Avenue appeared to have gotten larger following a string of storms. Rosenello said Thursday that breach has only grown. The appeal was denied this week despite local officials pleading that stronger waves and more storms pose a threat to properties and power lines. The appeals court judges said the city must exhaust its administrative remedies before being considered for emergent relief, according to Wednesdays ruling. A spokeswoman for the state Attorney General said Thursday afternoon that the office did not have further comment. As the summer gets closer, North Wildwood officials also worry about what a severely eroded beach where 36 blocks of sandy shores have been reduced to 26 at high tide will mean for drawing visitors and the local economy. We are going to follow their order that we seek administrative relief in this matter, Rosenello said of the state Appellate Divisions decision. The mayor noted that such relief means asking the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for approvals to do more beach work. Rosenello, a Republican who has been critical of the NJDEP and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the past, said those requests have often been denied. He said if any future damage occurs at his beach or its shore due to a lack of protection, the state will be to blame. State DEP officials on Thursday deferred comment to the Attorney Generals office. Getting sand from somewhere else? North Wildwood has been unable to bring sand over from the neighboring beaches in Wildwood as its done in years past for about two years because of erosion narrowing the beaches heavy-duty trucks need to use for the process, according to the city. The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit defines coastal erosion as the process by which local sea level rise, strong wave action, and coastal flooding wear down or carry away rocks, soils, and/or sands along the coast. Additional sand replenishment work, city engineers argue, has been more dire as climate change is making for more frequent and harsher storms putting more residents, visitors and property at risk. However, DEP officials in the past have noted that some hard structures like steel bulkheads have been shown to aggravate erosion in certain areas. Local officials have disagreed. Rosenello, North Wildwoods mayor, estimates that for at least a decade, the city has not been replenished with sand. He says each summer, taxpayers are forced to bear the brunt of costs to maintain coastal defenses and keep the beach at least somewhat accessible. Orange signs at several beach entrances ward visitors away. The situation has led to a $33 million legal battle, which remains ongoing. Other efforts to replenish the towns beaches with a federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project may not come until 2025. That work is expected to start following additional approvals and real estate easements. The rejected roughly $1.4 million steel bulkhead was designed to run approximately 752 linear feet, going from mid-block at 12th and 13th avenues running up to 15th Avenue and connecting to the currently-built bulkhead. It would have been 12 feet high and capped with boardwalk-style decking, the city previously said. Beach fixtures amid a string of noreasters recently cost North Wildwood $500,000. Toward the end of 2023, $400,000 in taxpayer money was used to build a barrier around the beach patrol headquarters and another $100,000 was directed toward other impromptu repairs including reshaping a dune. When it happens, the massive Army Corps beach replenishment slated to help North Wildwood will also provide sand for Lower Township, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. DEP spokesman Larry Hajna earlier this month pointed to progress made toward acquiring the public and private easements in the project area. This is an ongoing process, and the numbers will be fluid as work advances, Hajna said. The goal is to start construction in 2025. Some groups like the nonprofit Jersey Shore Partnership support beach replenishment, which New Jersey has done substantially more than many other states. They call it a sensible solution to protect the coast while building up the beach for hundreds of thousands of residents who flock to the Jersey Shore each summer and support local economies. Others organizations however, like the Surfrider Foundation and a grassroots group called the New Jersey Coastal Alliance, fear replenishment is not a sustainable alternative to options like creating living shorelines reinforcing coasts using other materials like native vegetation or considering retreating from parts of the shore entirely. The ongoing erosion has led the neighboring business community to remind potential visitors that the issue is localized to a section of one town. While we are currently witnessing Mother Nature working on the beaches in North Wildwood, there are still miles of the widest beaches in the U.S. for our visitors to lay down a blanket, set up a chair, put up an umbrella, and enjoy the beach as they always have, Louis Belasco, executive director Greater Wildwoods Tourism and Improvement Development Authority said in a statement Tuesday. As far as the legal fight in North Wildwood, the mayor said Thursday: I think this is a long way from over. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @stevenrodasnj. It will be the celebration of the year, literally, when St. Henry Roman Catholic Church of Bayonne holds a special Mass at noon on Sunday, Feb. 25, to kick off a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of its Hook & Hastings pipe organ. Hook & Hastings, a Boston-based firm, produced more than 2,000 organs from 1827 to 1935, several of which remain in use today. When Rev. Peter Reilly began planning the construction of St. Henrys, he purchased the property on Avenue C from his brother in 1907. Reilly wanted to erect a church, school, rectory, convent and a hospital on the property, according to church records. Groundbreaking took place in June 1911, with the cornerstone laid a year later. The dedication of the church took place on May 30, 1915. The building had a choir loft but it had no organ at the time as furnishings were the priority. In September, 1919, Reilly died suddenly in the rectory. A short while later, the Rev. Michael Mulligan, later a monsignor, was assigned to be the new pastor. He had a new, but incomplete church and a large debt. It was not until he had a decreased the size of the debt and had increased the number of parishioners that the idea of an organ came about. Mulligan organized a fundraising committee to raise the $15,000 needed for a down payment for a Hook & Hastings organ. The committee continued the fundraising until a total of $30,000 was achieved. Thats the equivalent of $531,929.48 in 2024. The new Hook and Hastings Company Opus 2500 pipe organ was finally installed in February 1924. Also, as a part of the yearlong celebration that begins Sunday, the Church is recognizing its patron, St. Henry, Duke of Bavaria and Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife, St. Cunigunde. The church will also observe the 1,000th anniversary of St. Henrys death in 1024. His homeland of Bavaria is a state in southern Germany. Other special events for the centennial of the organ and the 1,000th anniversary of St. Henrys passing are still to be announced. The community is invited to take part in the year-long celebration. St. Henrys Roman Catholic Church is located at 82 W. 29th St., Bayonne. Parking is available next to the church and on the nearby school grounds. For What Its Worth, this is probably a tour you dont want to miss out on. Neil Young and the American rock band Crazy Horse will head out on a joint tour beginning on April 24 in San Diego, Calif. The Love Earth Tour will wrap up on May 23 in Chicago. While on tour, Young and Crazy Horse will perform at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden on May 12. After this concert, they will travel to Queens, N.Y. to perform two shows at Forest Hills Stadium on May 14 and 15. This summer tour will be in support for their latest joint album FU##IN UP, which will have a full release on April 26. Tickets for their Love Earth Tour go on sale to the public on Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. Fans of Neil Young and Crazy Horse can find tickets on secondary market websites, such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketNetwork and TicketCity. Their May 14 show at Forest Hills Stadium is entirely sold out, so fans still counting on attending that show can find tickets available still on StubHub and Vivid Seats. First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 with promo code NJ20 at checkout. A complete list of Neil Young and Crazy Horses concert dates is available here. Upcoming Freedom Mortgage Pavilion concerts 2024 Neil Young and Crazy Horse are not the only artists performing at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion. Here are a few more artists you cannot miss out on: Hozier, Avril Lavigne, Train, Jason Aldean and Rob Zombie. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Three people were arrested including one who jumped into a nearby pond to try to escape after the trio burglarized four vehicles in a commuter parking deck in East Brunswick on Wednesday, authorities said. East Brunswick police were called to Neilson Plaza, a park-and-ride are on Tower Center Boulevard at about 1:15 p.m. and found two people walking away from the deck with stolen items, officials said. While one person surrendered, another ran north and jumped into Westons Mill Pond with officers in pursuit, police said. The man threw items out of his pocket as he struggled to stay afloat in the frigid water before Patrolman David Velez quickly plunged into the pond and pulled the 44-year-old Highland Park man to safety, East Brunswick police said. The third alleged burglar was found in a nearby Hilton hotel and also arrested. Police learned the trio broke windows to get into three of the vehicles, while the fourth car was unlocked. All three were charged with receiving stolen property and four counts of burglary. The Highland Park man was also charged with possession of burglars tools and resisting arrest. Police additionally charged a 42-year-old New Brunswick man with possession of burglars tools and obstruction. A 36-year-old Flemington woman was the third person arrested. All three were sent to the Middlesex County jail with additional charges possible, authorities said. The parking deck is adjacent to the entrance to the New Jersey Turnpike and in close proximity to the townships border with New Brunswick. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A New Jersey State Police trooper on a road construction detail was injured after his vehicle was struck by a suspected drunk driver early Wednesday on Route 18 in East Brunswick, officials said. The marked State Police vehicle was parked horizontally in the southbound left and left center lane with its emergency lights activated while the right and right center lanes were blocked off with orange traffic cones at the intersection with Tices Lanes when the crash took place just before 3:40 a.m., authorities said. A car slammed into the troopers vehicle, ran off the roadway to the right and struck a snow embankment. The trooper was hospitalized with what State Police described as moderate injuries. The driver, a 25-year-old woman from Ocean Township in Monmouth County, was charged with driving while intoxicated, a State Police spokesman said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A string of drug rehabilitation centers in New Jersey was the victim of a data breach that accessed Social Security numbers and other personal information, they announced Wednesday. Maryville, Inc., which operates several addiction recovery centers around South Jersey, announced it said the breach occurred in August 2023. It accessed personal information including Social Security numbers, health insurance information and financial account information, the company said in a press release. According to the release, the incident took place around Aug. 22 and involved one corporate email account. The company said it immediately launched an investigation into the incident using external cybersecurity professionals familiar with handling these types of incidents. Maryville said it learned the full results of the investigation on Feb. 7 of this year. Maryville said in the release that the company has no indication that any information has been misused for identity theft. However, the company said it was notifying individuals whose personal information was impacted by the data breach and suggested taking precautionary measures such as obtaining a free credit report and placing a fraud alert and security freeze on their credit, the letter said. We are committed to maintaining the privacy of personal information in our possession and have taken many precautions to safeguard it, the release said. We continually evaluate and modify our practices and internal controls to enhance the security and privacy of your personal information. A representative from the company said it is taking additional measures, as well. Maryville is offering credit monitoring services for individuals that may have had their SSNs exposed as a result of the incident, Chief Development Officer Bill Crowe told NJ Advance Media. Information to help potentially impacted individuals learn more about the incident, our response and steps they can take to protect themselves are also available on the homepage of our website. Maryvilles website lists the company as the states first nonprofit addiction recovery agency when it opened approximately 70 years ago. Anyone that believes they may have been impacted by the data breach and did not receive a notification letter can also call 1-888-711-4957 for more information. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X. A dispute involving the longtime practice in Ocean Grove of blocking beach access from its boardwalk on summer Sunday mornings may be resolved by a state administrative court judge. Up to five days of hearings have been scheduled, starting April 17, as a landowners association challenges an order, from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to stop using chains and padlocked barriers blocking beach access from its Monmouth County boardwalk or risk fines of up to $25,000 per day. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has cited religious freedom and its origins as a Methodist community retreat. But the DEP, which first sent a violation notice in September, said the restriction runs afoul of state law. Judge Tricia Caliguire will preside over a hearing in Trenton, which is scheduled for five days over two weeks concluding April 26, according to the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law. The battle over summer beach access on Sunday mornings, which prompted protests last year, is part of a larger debate over the influence of religion in public spaces in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune Township. Ocean Grove is a seaside community of roughly 3,000 residents founded more than 150 years ago. Critics separately took issue with the associations decision to build a $2 million pier in the shape of a Christian cross that opened last April, but has been closed since December amid structural concerns. The camp meeting association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ocean Grove was governed by the association as a religious enclave for a century until the New Jersey Supreme Court declared its original charter unconstitutional after a series of lawsuits. However, the association still owns all the land and helps oversee the boardwalk and beachfront community. The nine step entrances access points from the Ocean Grove Boardwalk onto the beach historically have been closed on Sunday mornings from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. However, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association officials have said the beach is not closed because the public can still get on the sand if they walk along the high tide line from Asbury Park to the north or from Bradley Beach to the south. The slight limitation on physical presence on the beachfront on the Lords Day is consistent with the Plaintiffs Mission to build and maintain a beautiful seaside community to serve as a place for meditation, reflection and renewal during the summer months, the associations attorney, James M. McGovern, stated in a lawsuit filed last fall against some critics of the beach restriction. That lawsuit has since been withdrawn, according to the Asbury Park Press. However, DEP is countering that the restriction runs afoul of the states Coastal Area Facility Review Act. The department recommends that representatives of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association engage in compliance discussions with the Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Compliance and Enforcement aimed at resolving this matter as soon as possible, regional supervisor Robert H. Clark wrote in his letter last fall to the association. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Ukraine and Poland will hold talks over the blockade of the border by Polish farmers. The meeting is scheduled for March 28 in Warsaw. Representatives of the governments will take part in it. At the same time, the Polish authorities refused to hold talks at the border. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Onet reports. It is noted that the Polish authorities refused to hold talks on the border, which is blocked by the Poles because they believe that they will be symbolic. "It is better to hold these talks at a technical level so that the government meeting has no symbolic value - we do not need symbolism in our relations. The whole world sees how determined we are to help Ukraine, and there is no need for further bright gestures of solidarity," Tusk said. He emphasized that the meeting is scheduled for March 28 in Warsaw. The Prime Minister noted that to resolve the issue, "we need concrete proposals on the market and agriculture," which, according to him, requires hard work. Poles insist on resolving the issue on their terms At the same time, the Polish prime minister emphasized that technical negotiations at the EU level are needed to find a solution. To this end, he intends to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss changes in the terms of trade with Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT However, Tusk noted: "Poland sees the solution to the issue in satisfying its interests". This, he said, will be sought from both Ukraine and the EU. "I want to assure you that negotiations with Ukraine are ongoing. We have good relations, although there is a difference in interests. ... We will persuade both Kyiv and Brussels to agree with the Polish point of view on the situation. ... We have warned about the threat posed by trade liberalization with Ukraine. Poland has to protect its market," he summarized. Poland receives much more from Ukraine than it gives At the same time, Danylo Hetmantsev (Servant of the People), Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy, noted that by blocking the border, the Poles are "shooting themselves in the foot" - in 2023, Poland exported $12.3 billion worth of goods to Ukraine and imported $6.6 billion from Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT "According to the Polish State Statistics Service, in 2023, Ukraine accounted for 3.2% of all merchandise exports from Poland. According to this indicator, we were in 7th place among our trading partners, overtaking the United States and such EU members as Spain, Slovakia, and Hungary. At the same time, the growth dynamics of Polish exports to Ukraine in 2023 was the highest among the top ten countries that are the largest trading partners," the MP emphasized. Moreover, he noted, the actual balance of trade with Poland for Ukraine is much more negative than official statistics show - "due to underestimation of imports." While Ukraine, "according to their statistics, is a bigger partner for Poland as an importing country." "In the case of blocking automobile customs crossings, this is a real shot in the foot. Because our bilateral trade is generally more profitable for Poland, especially given the current asymmetric restrictions on our agricultural exports (where we have already agreed to compromises)," the MP stated. ADVERTISIMENT Poles risk losing their jobs At the same time, Polish Minister of Agriculture Czeslaw Sekerski warned farmers protesting on the border with Ukraine that a complete closure of the border could turn against them. In particular, this could result in stopping Polish exports of goods to Ukraine; loss of many jobs. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A state Superior Court judge has ordered an Asbury Park man charged in a fatal shooting at a hookah lounge to remain jailed until trial, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. Eric Manzanares, 24, was ordered to be held in the Ocean County Jail at a hearing Thursday before state Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels, according to a news release. Manzanares is accused of killing Nymere Tinsley, 25, of Brick Township, at Top Tier Hookah Lounge in Toms River in August 2022. Manzanares was arrested in April 2023 in Prince William County, Virginia, and extradited to New Jersey in January. In addition to the murder charge, Manzanares also faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons-related offenses. Tinsley was one of three people shot at the lounge and was pronounced dead at the scene. An Asbury Park man and a Neptune Township man were also shot, police said. They were treated at Jersey Shore Medical Center and released. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson If youre a Shakespeare fan, or even if youre not, youre probably familiar with the saying, Beware the Ides of March. Its from the play Julius Caesar. The line is first spoken by a soothsayer to Caesar and then repeated by Brutus, one of Caesars most trusted friends. The two-week recess called by House Speaker Mike Johnson has frozen all efforts to help Ukraine, just as the Russian Army is starting to break through the lines in five places along the 600-mile front. After rationing artillery shells and air defense missiles for months, Ukraine is finally being forced to retreat, sometimes in chaos, burned by Americas broken promise to stand with them to the end. Russian troops are now firing five times the number of artillery shells as Ukrainians, who are watching their stockpiles dwindle as their lifeline from America is sabotaged by more MAGA madness. Alyssa Farah Griffin, now a political strategist who often appears on CNN and other networks, was the White House Director of Strategic Communications and Assistant to the President Trump in 2020. She also counseled blockbuster witness Cassidy Hutchinson during her testimony before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, and in Hutchinsons allegations in her book, Enough, that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani put his hand under my blazer, then my skirt. Farah Griffin has jumped off the Trump train, and on Thursday made a wild prediction on Twitter that Trump will lose the popular vote by the largest margin in modern history. But she also cautioned that if the Democrats bungle this chance to bury Trump, they could hand him the election: I grew up in the conservative movement & spent my career in GOP politics. Ive NEVER known of so many lifelong Republicans who under no circumstances will support Trump. These are people who worked for GOP lawmakers, at Right of Center think tanks, & PACs, she tweeted. UPDATE: Trump-backing trucker, after backing down, has warning for NYC: Start stocking up! Trumps week gets worse! Experts rank Presidents Obama, Biden, Trump & others | Full list MSNBCs Katy Tur asked a question about Trump ... and shes (still) getting roasted for it Trump desperate for money unveils a new fund-raising racket: Hair Jordans Mark my words: Donald Trump will lose the popular vote by the largest margin in modern history. There are simply more Americans who oppose Trump than support him. But, but, but we know the election will come down the Electoral count in ~7 swing states, based on the votes of ~500,000 people. Biden has significant weaknesses & democratic apathy, low turnout, or smart campaigning by Trump could easily hand the election to Trump, she cautioned. Farah Griffin recently appeared on ABCs The View and commented on the possible candidates to be Trumps vice president Ron DeSantis, Tulsi Gabbard, Tim Scott, Kristi Noem, Byron Donalds and Vivek Ramaswamy. She called them all weak. She called Ramaswamy one of the most off-putting indiviuals Ive ever seen on national television. ... The one theme I see here is people with a lot of rage, with the exception of Tim Scott. What does he add? Thats unclear to me. She said a pairing of Trump and Gabbard would be Vladimir Putins dream ticket, and pledged as an Syrian American that she will never forgive Gabbard for meeting with and defending Syria President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of war crimes and killing his own people. A French court has issued an international arrest warrant for al-Assad for complicity in war crimes against humanity linked to chemical weapon attacks on civilians. Donald Trump, Tulsi Gabbard ... you would lose every normie Republican like myself who wants to stand by NATO, wants Ukraine to defeat Russia. Thats bizarre to me, Farah Griffin said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. 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. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. High 38F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snowfall around one inch.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Poland will include sections of highways and railways leading to checkpoints on the border with Ukraine in the list of critical infrastructure facilities. In this way, the country intends to provide a 100% guarantee that military and humanitarian aid will reach Ukraine without any delays. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, according to Polish Radio. He noted that border crossings will be included in the list of critical infrastructure facilities in the near future. "The prime minister said that in the coming hours the border crossings with Ukraine will be added to the list of critical infrastructure. This decision will improve the transportation of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine," the statement said. Ukraine and Poland to hold talks on border blockade However, there is no talk of completely unblocking the border. Thus, Tusk explained that the decision being prepared on border crossings "will mean a different type of organizational regime at border crossings and on access roads and routes to the border with Ukraine." At the same time, he called for separating the issue of "direct support for Ukraine and protection of Polish farmers and the Polish market from the negative effects of trade liberalization with Ukraine." In other words, he actually gave the go-ahead for the local farmers to continue blockading the border. ADVERTISIMENT However, there is progress in the situation: negotiations are scheduled for March 28 in Warsaw. Representatives of the governments will take part in them. At the same time, the Polish authorities refused to hold talks at the border. "It is better to hold these talks at the technical level so that the government meeting has no symbolic value, because we do not need symbolism in our relations. The whole world sees how determined we are to help Ukraine, and there is no need for further bright gestures of solidarity," Tusk said. At the same time, he emphasized that to resolve the issue, "we need concrete proposals on the market and agriculture." Which, he said, requires hard work. Poles insist on resolving the issue on their own terms At the same time, the Polish prime minister emphasized that technical negotiations at the EU level are needed to find a solution. To this end, he intends to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss changes in the terms of trade with Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT However, Tusk noted: "Poland sees the solution to the issue in satisfying its interests. This, he said, will be sought from both Ukraine and the EU. "I want to assure you that negotiations with Ukraine are ongoing. We have good relations, although there is a difference in interests. ... We will persuade both Kyiv and Brussels to agree with the Polish point of view on the situation. ... We have warned about the threat posed by trade liberalization with Ukraine. Poland has to protect its market," he summarized. As OBOZ.UA reported, for his part, Danylo Hetmantsev (Servant of the People), chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy, said that by blocking the border, the Poles are "shooting themselves in the foot" - in 2023, Poland exported $12.3 billion worth of goods to Ukraine and imported $6.6 billion worth of goods from Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New Orleans Police Department officers respond to reports of a fatal French Quarter shooting near the corner of Iberville and Bourbon Streets in New Orleans, La., Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. The victim, who was standing near his car when he was shot in the chest, died at a local hospital. Russia attacked a thermal power plant (TPP) in the frontline area. As a result, 6 power engineers were injured and the plant's equipment was seriously damaged. However, the shelling did not affect the overall situation with energy supply and Ukraine is not facing blackout schedules. ADVERTISIMENT DTEK reported on the shelling. They noted that the wounded were promptly provided with first aid and taken to the hospital. "Russia attacked a thermal power plant near the frontline: six of our colleagues were wounded. The equipment of the thermal power plant was seriously damaged. We are eliminating the consequences of the attack," the statement said. It is also emphasized that since the beginning of the current heating season, the company's thermal power plants have been shelled by the enemy about 40 times. Will electricity be cut off? For its part, Ukrenergo said that no power shortage is expected in the grid. Accordingly, there are no plans to apply schedules of scheduled power outages in Ukraine. "Electricity generated by power plants of all types is sufficient to ensure power supply to all legal and household consumers. No deficit in the power system is expected," they said. ADVERTISIMENT How to prepare for possible power outages? However, the possibility of large-scale blackouts cannot be ruled out. For example, a massive Russian missile attack on the morning of February 7 damaged power lines in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv, as well as cut off power to household consumers and healthcare facilities. Although the power company quickly restored power to all consumers, this was yet another confirmation that one can lose power at any time, and therefore, one should be as prepared as possible, as the blackout may be delayed in case of major damage. In particular, the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) advises to stock up on water and food. So that, water: should be prepared for at least 3 days; both drinking and technical water should be stored. It is emphasized that one adult needs 3 liters of drinking water per day (including liquid consumed with food). As well as 10-12 liters of technical water for hygiene and cooking. ADVERTISIMENT You should also stock up on food. First of all, food that will not spoil without refrigeration and will not require electricity to cook. It can be: canned meat, fish and vegetables; dried meat and jerky; freeze-dried foods (cereals, instant noodles, and soups that need to be poured with boiling water, or buckwheat that can be poured with water at room temperature); breads, cookies, crackers; dried fruits, nuts; chocolate, candy; energy bars. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! An Army carry team loads the transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Ga., to a vehicle along with the remains of Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Ga., and Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Ga., at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The three were killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Jan. 28. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) ORG XMIT: DEMR122 The German education system has received a huge number of Ukrainian schoolchildren due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To make it easier for children to adapt to foreign educational institutions, adaptation "bruckenclasses" were created for them. These groups consist of only Ukrainians, and teenagers study German, math, English, art, labor, cooking, and sports. ADVERTISIMENT Students who did not "pull it" in regular or integration classes at gymnasiums went to "bruken classes." However, in 2024, they are to close completely, as children were gradually transferred to regular German schools. Nevertheless, the number of students returning to adaptive classes is increasing, says Tetiana Spirina, a Ukrainian teacher of such a class. According to her, German colleagues explain that Ukrainian students do not speak the language of this country at a sufficient level, which causes difficulties in learning. She adds that there are at least 10 subjects in the high school where she teaches. In particular: ADVERTISIMENT Mathematics (the program is about a year behind the Ukrainian one) English German labor cooking; art; sports; geography, politics, history - one subject; science and natural sciences - one subject; ethics or religion. The teacher shared the most important skills that students need to master learning in a German middle school classroom. Working with information and text Not all students who enter German classes are able to read, write out unfamiliar words, and translate the text, even with the full use of a translator. In order to support teenagers, the school primarily looks at how they work with such information. "So, the first thing we do if we want to support a child in learning is to see how they work with the text. If they can't read, translate and understand a text in any subject, it's no use. What can we say about working with questions and tasks after the text ," emphasizes Spirina. ADVERTISIMENT Keep your attention and concentrate In a German school, children study for 90 minutes without a break. According to the teacher, there is almost no concentration in the first two lessons, which are most often German. 80-90% of students do not hear or forget the lesson material without repeating it many times. Spirina explains that this happens because children play with gadgets until 10 o'clock, and then wake up at 4 a.m. and "sit in the screens" again. After that, "living zombies" come to school. "The rule of German teachers: "everyone has their own pace of learning, let them come back for another year to repeat the material" looks democratic. German teachers believe that if this is the motivation, then it's okay. "Own pace, own responsibility, own choice. Unlike the situation in a Ukrainian school, where everyone around you is dancing with tambourines and pulling you by the ears to the next grade ," the teacher says. ADVERTISIMENT Reproduce written information in writing (rewrite) According to the teacher, 70% of students cannot copy information from the blackboard or textbook verbatim into a notebook. She emphasizes that for Germans, this is a basic skill: to reproduce everything identically, to emphasize, to make a frame. "Mind maps are also something that children are almost never familiar with, but fortunately, they pick up on them quickly," says Spirina. Ask the teacher questions when something is not clear The teacher emphasizes that Ukrainian children have a big problem with this skill. Students believe that this way they will show their ignorance. Instead, German teachers do the opposite. The fewer questions students ask, the more they believe that the teenager is not motivated to learn and ignores the process. Spirina notes that her foreign colleagues were surprised to learn why our children don't ask anything and, as a result, don't understand or do anything. ADVERTISIMENT Respect the teacher and respond to his or her comments The teacher noted that Ukrainian teenagers often use swear words at school and think that they are not understood there. However, according to her, this is not the case. After all, the whole school swears with a German accent after hearing them. She assures us that teachers react to this, but without explanation, and simply return students to "trouser classes." Learn new words regularly and work on your vocabulary The teacher assures that Ukrainian students need to work on their vocabulary more, because it is one thing to just work in a language class, and another to learn a foreign language, such as math. According to her, in German classes, no one will stop to devote enough time to learning terms, especially since some students do not know many meanings in Ukrainian. ADVERTISIMENT Working independently and learning new things Spirina expressed concern for those teenagers who go to German schools and do not try to study there, compared to those who manage to master a foreign language in six months and move on to high schools. The teacher notes that when the "bruckenclasses" are closed, there will be nowhere to send such students. They will be able to stay to study at their own pace, as is customary in Germany. "The only thing that always reassures me is that no one sits in school with a beard. Everyone graduates and moves on with their lives. In any country. Even in Germany. Where, despite all the stories about "own pace of learning" and segregation of students by grade level, the system works from elementary school on. It has both pros and cons," the teacher summarized. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba held talks in Poland with the Head of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Poland Pawel Gras and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Polish Sejm Pawel Kowal. As a result, the diplomat said that Kyiv and Warsaw have a clear understanding of who our common enemy is. ADVERTISIMENT He announced this on his account on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter. "I had a sincere and more than an hour-long conversation in Warsaw with the head of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Poland, Pawel Gras, and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Polish Sejm, Pawel Kowal," the statement reads. It is noted that both governments are committed to resolving problematic issues. The parties also discussed further joint efforts to increase military supplies. "I am grateful for the decisions that will guarantee the unimpeded supply of military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine. [...] Kyiv and Warsaw have a clear understanding of who our common enemy is," Kuleba emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it became known that Poland will include sections of highways and railways leading to checkpoints on the border with Ukraine in the list of critical infrastructure facilities. In this way, the country intends to provide a 100% guarantee that military and humanitarian aid will reach Ukraine without any delays. Ukraine and Poland will hold talks over the blockade of the border by Polish farmers. The meeting is scheduled for March 28 in Warsaw. Representatives of the governments will take part in it. At the same time, the Polish authorities refused to hold talks at the border. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Summit Hill District 161 School Board voted to close a pair of schools in December, drawing community anger. The board re-visited the decision in a special meeting on Feb. 7 and voted not to rescind its original vote and more than 100 community members at the district's Frankfort administrative center continued to fume. Despite yelling and interruptions and gavel banging and threats by School Board President Jim Martin to remove people, Superintendent Paul McDermott explained why the district plans to close Arbury Hills Elementary School in Mokena and Frankfort Square Elementary school, in Frankfort. Among the reasons was projected district enrollment of 2,100 students in 2029, down from 2,433 now and more than 3,600 15 years ago. The two school selected for shuttering were based on age and size. They are among the oldest buildings, built in 1960 (Arbury Hills) and 1973 (Frankfort Square), he said. They are the smallest schools in the district with the least number of classrooms and the least number of students currently in attendance. The vote was 4-2 not to rescind with Martin, Stephanie McCleish, Katie Campbell and Joy Murphy leading the way. John Winter and Amy Berk voted to rescind. Matthew Carey, who voted against closing the two schools Dec. 20, is no longer with the board. Martin said at the top of the meeting that Carey moved out of the district and a replacement is expected to be named by mid-March. Audience members had a total of 30 minutes to speak to the board before McDermotts presentation and the vote. They were angered about a host of issues involved with the closing. One parent said there were studies that indicated underperformance of students from schools that were closed. It is essential that you rescind your vote, she said. This is insanity. You need to listen to your taxpayers, your voters, the parents and the people who elected you. We do not want this. You are trying to kill our property values, our spirits and ruin our educational system. She added that supporters of the schools will not go away, and someone will be watching every single move from here on out. Parents presented the board with 1,128 signatures to keep the schools open and parent Patrick Oliphant noted the amount of signatures we received in less than a month is more than votes four board members received to sit up here an represent us. A common theme of complaints was that the board and administration was not being transparent about the school closings, first presented to the public in the fall. McDermott countered that this has been under discussion since February 2020. Before the vote, Winter said he said that sitting in the minority on an issue is not fun and respects everyones view, but he thought this should have been a longer process before making a decision. If I was going to take my children and move across the country, close down my house and disappear, I would definitely let my kids know for a much longer period of time, he said. This is not just (buildings). Its memories. The plan is for the schools to close in the summer. The future of Arbury Hills, 19651 Beechnut Drive, Mokena, and Frankfort Square, 7710 Kingston Drive, Frankfort, is still to be determined. Our intention is to not let buildings sit empty, McDermott said. To be clear, weve had no discussions with the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education cooperative but have entertained interest from other parties. Were in the process of having the buildings appraised and will follow the processes outlined by the boards attorney to solicit interest without prematurely scaring off a party. VALPARAISO A 35-year-old man, already serving 12 years behind bars in a child neglect and injury case from neighboring LaPorte County, will have another couple years added to his term Friday if a judge accepts his plea in a similar case in Porter County. Charles Snyder, of Portage, is scheduled to appear before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer for sentencing after pleading guilty in December to a criminal count of neglect more than eight years after his 6-month-old son was found suffering from a rib fracture, a hemorrhage in one eye and bruising under both, and was diagnosed with "failure to thrive" after gaining just one pound over a two-month period. Snyder was allowed to plead guilty to a less severe count of neglect of a dependent in return prosecutors dropping a second charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury to a child less than 14 years of age. The proposed plea, which has yet to be accepted by Clymer, calls for Snyder to be sentenced to five years behind bars with three years suspended and served on formal probation, records show. Officials said they are still working out how much credit Snyder will receive for time already served and if the proposal calls for a year of home detention. The Porter County case dates back to June 2015 when Portage police and an official with Indiana Child Protective Services said they responded to a report of potential child abuse and noticed swelling underneath the child's eyes and a cut under one, records show. A bruise was also confirmed on the child's back. Psych exams disagree on competency of the accused in Valpo health club killing Porter County Public Defender Mark Chargualaf said he has, "concerns regarding defendant's ability to understand the nature of the proceedings and assist in his defense." The boy's mother reportedly told the officials the boy was bruised while sitting in a bouncy chair and the injury around the eyes is a result of the way the child sleeps, police said. When Snyder pleaded guilty, he again stated the boy was injured while in the chair not suitable for his young age. A doctor determined the child's injuries were not consistent with the explanation given by his parents, police said. A review of the child's medical records revealed a healing rib fracture attributed to "non-accidental trauma." Sunday drive in Porter County ends with huge pot bust, cops say "If (the officers') vigilance prevents any of these 4,600 THC cartridges from reaching the hands of a child or teenager, their effort was worth it." The diagnosis of "failure to thrive" was also discovered, as were the hemorrhage and abrasions to the eyes, police said. The LaPorte County case was filed in May 2019 and Snyder pleaded guilty to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. He was sentenced in April to 12 years behind bars, to be followed by three years in the LaPorte County Community Corrections Work Release program and two years on probation. VALPARAISO A 30-year-old Michigan man, who was in town for a probation meeting while awaiting sentencing in a local sex case, was arrested Wednesday on allegations of masturbating in the local Meijer store, records show. Dontrell Morris was also found carrying a syringe in the sleeve of his sweatshirt that he said contained lotion, which mirrors his earlier criminal allegation of squirting seminal fluid from a syringe on the backside of a female shopper at the Portage Walmart store, according to reports. Valparaiso police said they were called out around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to the local Meijer store for a report of a man exposing himself and masturbating in the direction of female shoppers. Store security, which was monitoring the behavior on surveillance cameras, led police to the suspect, identified as Morris, who was found in the shoe department. Morris denied any wrongdoing and said he was in Valparaiso to attend a probationary hearing involving a pending sex case. Morris pleaded guilty earlier this month to a felony count of sexual battery in that case stemming from allegations that on Aug. 14 he walked into the Portage Walmart store armed with a syringe containing seminal fluid and lotion, which he proceeded to squirt on to the backside of a female shopper. Porter judge to consider deal pitched by repeat child offender Officials said they noticed swelling underneath the child's eyes, a cut under one and a bruise was also confirmed on the child's back. Morris admitted to creating the mixture, placing it in a syringe without the needle and squirting it onto the alleged victim's buttocks while she shopped, according to police. The proposed plea agreement, which is pending before Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish, calls for sentencing to be argued with a cap of incarceration at 540 days, records show. Morris will be required to register as a sex offender if the deal is accepted by the judge during a hearing scheduled for March 22. Online vigilantes nab another alleged child predator in Valpo, cops say When asked why he was on the dating app, the accused replied, "Fwb (friends with benefits) but I am to old and ur jail trap," according to police. Morris is charged in Wednesday's case with two misdemeanor counts of public indecency, records show. Surveillance video footage shows Morris standing near a female shopper inside the Meijer store and masturbating behind her back, police said. "The unidentified female walked away, appearing unaware of Morris' crude behavior," according to the arrest report. While being booked into the Porter County Jail, staff said they located a plastic syringe in a sleeve of his sweatshirt. "Morris stated that the syringe contained lotion that he and his friend(s) squirt on one another," police said. Exactly 10 years ago, on February 18, 2014, mass shootings during the Maidan protests in Kyiv began. Ukrainians stood with shields and stones against the batons, water cannons, and firearms of those who called themselves law enforcement officers. ADVERTISIMENT Dozens of Ukrainians gave their lives during these tragic days for rejecting the post-Soviet model of government, defending their dignity and freedom. We will tell you more about the events that took place on Tuesday, February 18, 2014. In themorning of February 18, 2014, protesters staged a march to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which was called the "Peaceful Offensive". The people demanded that the authorities make decisions to overcome the crisis and resolve the situation in the country, in particular, to limit the powers of the President of Ukraine by returning to the Constitution of Ukraine of 2004. However, the Verkhovna Rada office rejected the registration of this document, which caused outrage among the protesters. This led to clashes with law enforcement. Activists set fire to the office of the Party of Regions. Special police units "Berkut" dispersed the demonstrators near the Parliament and began to storm the Maidan. Titushky actively participated in these actions. Clashes took place in Mariinsky Park, as well as on Shovkovychna, Lipska, and Instytutska streets. ADVERTISIMENT By noon, the security forces had removed the Euromaidan protesters from the government quarter and began clearing Independence Square. To prevent aid from reaching Maidan, Kyiv shut down the subway and restricted traffic at the city's entrances. Train traffic from western Ukraine was suspended. Some trains were stopped in Shepetivka and Fastiv. There were also cases of damage to the railroad tracks. By 18:00, security forces were storming the October Palace and the Ukrainian House. Around 20:00, Berkut tried to storm the barricades with two armored personnel carriers, but Maidan activists set one of them on fire with a Molotov cocktail. Law enforcement officers set fire to the camp and the Trade Union Building. The situation in the Trade Union Building became catastrophic - people had to leave the burning building by jumping from the upper floors to save themselves. The fire in the Trade Union Building lasted throughout the night. Several bodies were found after the fire. ADVERTISIMENT On the approaches to the Maidan, titushky began to be active, attacking individual Euromaidan participants and their small groups. On February 18, at least 22 people were killed and hundreds were injured. Some of the wounded were taken to hospitals, while others received medical care at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral. Overall, the events of February 18-21 became the bloodiest and most tragic stage in the history of the Revolution of Dignity. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 82 people were killed in the confrontations - 71 demonstrators and 11 law enforcement officers, 622 people were injured. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA 'sTelegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments. CHESTERTON A Sunday afternoon drive through the area did not end well for an Illinois man, who was nabbed with 167 pounds of marijuana, 4,600 THC cartridges, 198 rolled marijuana cigarettes and 400 THC pens, according to Chesterton police. Members of the local department were working interdiction along the local stretch of Interstate 94 when just before 3 p.m. Sunday, they stopped a westbound Ford transit van near the Chesterton exit. Upon approaching the van, the officers reportedly smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana from inside. The driver, later identified as Erik J. Boehm, 22, of Melrose Park, Illinois, acted as if he did not hear police orders to exit the vehicle, CPD said. Boehm allegedly refused several more times to exit the vehicle and attempted to close the driver's side window on an officer's wrist. Online vigilantes nab another alleged child predator in Valpo, cops say When asked why he was on the dating app, the accused replied, "Fwb (friends with benefits) but I am to old and ur jail trap," according to police. Once Boehm left the van, officers found it nearly full of marijuana and marijuana products, according to CPD. Boehm, who was found to be carrying a gun, was taken to the Porter County Jail, police said. He is charged with felony counts of dealing in a controlled substance and dealing in marijuana, and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, records show. Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson lauded the efforts of his officers. Hobart man sentenced in Valpo bar shooting The dispute continued in the parking lot where Tryton Brewer grabbed a handgun from a vehicle and shot it in the direction of bar patrons and staff, police said. "Its no secret that it can be dangerous for these officers as they conduct investigations along the side of our interstates where commercial and passenger vehicles commonly travel at speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour," he said. "These officers are many times unsung heroes in the war on drugs plaguing our nation." "Although this particular traffic stop revealed only marijuana, THC, and a handgun, the investigation was an important one," Richardson said. "If (the officers') vigilance prevents any of these 4,600 THC cartridges from reaching the hands of a child or teenager, their effort was worth it." VALPARAISO Faced with contradicting reports on whether a 25-year-old Porter Township man is competent to stand trial for a brutal Oct. 29 stabbing at a Valparaiso health club that left another man dead, a judge is seeking a third opinion, records show. Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer ordered a third competency exam on the accused, Jordan Andrade, after one earlier evaluation found him competent to stand trial and another found him not competent, according to court records. Further court hearings are scheduled for March 8 and March 22 in the murder case. The first two competency exams were sought by Porter County Public Defender Mark Chargualaf, who said as part of the request, he has, "concerns regarding defendant's ability to understand the nature of the proceedings and assist in his defense." Police say Valparaiso University student Varun Raj Pucha was seated in a massage chair early Oct. 29 at the Planet Fitness club at 1270 Strongbow Center Drive in Valparaiso when fellow gymgoer Andrade came into the room and plunged a knife through Pucha's right temple and into his brain stem. Sunday drive in Porter County ends with huge pot bust, cops say "If (the officers') vigilance prevents any of these 4,600 THC cartridges from reaching the hands of a child or teenager, their effort was worth it." Andrade said he thought Pucha was acting "a little weird," but that Pucha never got out of his chair and did not instigate any problems. "I believe he said he was going to assassinate me," Andrade reportedly told police. Andrade said he pulled the knife out of his pocket and used the blade to open boxes while at work at the Menards store. Online vigilantes nab another alleged child predator in Valpo, cops say When asked why he was on the dating app, the accused replied, "Fwb (friends with benefits) but I am to old and ur jail trap," according to police. "Officers also spoke with Planet Fitness staff who indicated that (Pucha) was a regular gym member and generally kept to himself, was quiet and reserved, nothing indicating that he was 'creepy,'" police said. Pucha died just more than a week after the attack, officials said. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla said Pucha came to Valparaiso University from Hyderabad, India to pursue a graduate degree in Information Technology. A 20-year-old woman, who fatality struck a man while driving in Hobart in late December was arrested Wednesday in Puerto Rico, the Hobart Police Department said in a statement. Robelis Soto-Echevarria, of Gary, was arrested with assistance from the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force and the Puerto Rico Violent Offender task force. Soto-Echevarria was charged with leaving the scene resulting in death or catastrophic injury to another person, a level four felony, on Jan. 17. At approximately 7:12 a.m. on Dec. 27, Hobart police discovered the body of 59-year-old Richard Hunt, of Lake Station, laying on the embankment off the side of the road in the 6700 block of E. 37th Avenue. "Police believe the male had been walking along the roadway and was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound," police said. Hunt appeared to be frosted from the cold, lying face down with blood on his face, courts documents said. The Lake County coroner's office determined Hunt died of blunt force trauma injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle, a probable-cause affidavit said. Investigators determined debris left at the scene of the suspect vehicle was from a gray, 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey. Police received a tip about the purchase of Honda Odyssey accessories from a local auto shop two days after the crash. The 2007 Honda Odyssey Soto-Echevarria was driving the night of the hit-and-run was found inside a garage in Gary. "Investigators discovered it has sustained damage consistent with the evidence found at the scene," police said. "Investigators were able to piece together a timeline from a thorough review of video surveillance and talking to witnesses." Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Jamille Walker Rebecca Strand Jennifer Phillips William Riley Damien Sahagun Jillian Sencaj Lashawntel Mackay Tursena Harris Semaj Irvin Todd Kasperan Imelda Lopez Tinotchy Evans Luke Hardin Lazarius Allison Patrick Colvin Antonio Santana Cameron Smith Primas Sweet Don Wiley Steven Mikel Jr. Jesus Morales Marcus Nash Mark Nicpon Ann Horta Enrique Feliciano Jacoby Gibson Eugene Clay Haley Austin Robert Van Noort Michael Udrow Derrick Keys Richard Morris Larry Newman Jr. Terrane Robinson Christian Saavedra Ibn Jones Donald Elmore III Brian Hawkins Brian Jablonski LaTeshia Adams Nashee Burns Stephanie Crilley Tonya Stevens Joseph Szilagyi Daniel Tyrka Jessica Smith Victor Sandoval Al Sepulveda Paul Slagle Crystal McLain Stuart Roane III Kelly Klapkowski Alyssa Hecker Eve Holt Lori Kikkert Mosell Gordon Jr. David Garcia Luveli Gipson Xavier Binder Jose Cotto Jr. Stephanie Crilley GARY Four Black mayors from throughout Indiana took part in a panel discussion at Indiana University Northwest on Wednesday regarding labor issues affecting the Black community and how they were promoting the interests of workers in their communities. Michigan City Mayor Angela Deuitch, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell and Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson took part in the hour-long event hosted by the Black Labor Week Project. The local leaders were questioned about challenges faced by Black workers in the labor market, how they could be ensured fair access to employment opportunities as well as initiatives and trainings they supported to further develop job skills. Reflecting on personal experience, Deuitch emphasized the importance of providing youth with access to different career opportunities, as well as connecting labor unions with them, noting how her consulting firm has been bringing high school students to visit with the local carpenters' union recently. "I think it's my responsibility as the mayor, as an African-American woman, to show them options," Deuitch said. "I'm trying to push our kids to take advantage of those opportunities." Roberson noted the importance of having cultural competence, especially in his city, which is rapidly becoming a majority-minority community. However, he said, the city government also needed to be able to position themselves as equitable employers, hiring candidates based on merit, instead of personal connections. "I believe if you level the playing field for us, African-Americans, we will do well ... we just have to make sure that ... we won't get treated in a different way than anyone else, and we feel as though we're valued," Roberson said. Melton highlighted the excuses often made by companies and unions for not hiring Black workers. "We can't find qualified Black workers. Or the one I hate the most, they can't pass the drug test," he said. The Gary mayor also recounted how recently a business asked the city about receiving a tax abatement in order to not pay taxes. When Melton asked how many Gary residents the company employed, he said he wasn't impressed. "But I didn't stop the conversation or negotiation there, it's how do we remove this as a barrier so this is no longer an issue," Melton said. Morrell, the only Republican on the panel, said he collaborated with the local Ivy Tech Community College and local trade unions to create a scholarship program in which students who graduated from Marion High School and wanted to go into the trades could attend Ivy Tech for free. "I really took the approach to how do we address the next generation," Morrell said. The Black Labor Week Project is an annual event launched in 2012 to highlight the Black community's contributions to the labor movement. The project's founder, Ephrin "E.J." Jenkins, said it was the first time they held a mayors' panel. According to him, the event was a way for more tangible conversations to be held. "Each one of the mayors that was on the panel actually gave evidence that they create solutions versus being part of the problem," Jenkins said. PHOTOS: Environmental justice panel at IUN Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice Panel on sustainability and environmental justice The public has until Monday to weigh in on the BP Whiting Refinery's air permit renewal. The refinery's air permit comes up for renewal every five years, but has attracted elevated attention this time after leaks of chemicals and a power outage shut the entire refinery down, filling the sky with thick black clouds as oil and gas was burned out through flaring as a safety measure. An Indiana Department of Environmental Management public hearing takes place in Hammond Thursday evening. Local residents and environmentalists have raised a number of concerns, wanting to know what will be done to prevent future incidents, calling for tighter emissions limits, questioning maintenance staffing levels and asking for more monitoring so the public can know when the air outside is safe to breathe. BP reached a settlement last year with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice over repeated Clean Air Act violations in which it agreed to spend $197 million to install new emissions-reduction equipment at the refinery. It agreed to install new air monitoring equipment, including three new monitors at the refinery fence line, a new monitor inside the refinery and 10 new monitors out in the surrounding community. It's looking to develop a website where the public could view data from the community air monitors. "BP is committed to safe and compliant operations at the Whiting Refinery and were also committed to being a good neighbor in Northwest Indiana, where we have been a major investor, employer, fuel supplier and member of the community for more than 130 years," a BP spokesperson said. "An air permit is essential to the refinerys ability to continue operating, and renewing it will enable BP to continue to make investments in the site and the Region's economy for years to come. We recognize that the IDEM hearing is not a venue for broader concerns related to recent operational incidents at the refinery, but we are committed to hearing from the community, sincerely listening and working closely with IDEM and the community to address questions." The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will host a rescheduled public hearing on the air permit to 6 p.m. Thursday at Calumet College of St. Joseph, 2400 New York Ave., Hammond. Attendees can enter on the west side of the building. IDEM has extended the public comment period until the end of the business day Monday. Comments may be mailed to Doug Logan, IDEM, Office of Air Quality,100 N. Senate Ave., MC 61-53 IGCN 1003, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2251; may be emailed to dalogan@idem.IN.gov , or faxed to 317-232-6749, Attn: Doug Logan. For more information, call 800-451-6027 or 317-234-7460. In November 2022, Sabato De Sarno, now 40, was approached about a mysterious opportunity at Kering, the multinational luxury conglomerate whose portfolio includes the fashion brands Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Saint Laurent. They called me for an interview without telling me the brand, he says or the role. Alessandro Micheles departure as the creative director of Gucci hadnt yet been announced. Eventually, of course, the nature of the job became clear, and it was more than I expected for my life, De Sarno says. After I signed the contract, I slept with it in my bed because, during the night, I just wanted to check whether it was there or not. De Sarno grew up in Cicciano, Italy, a small village near Naples, the first of three boys raised by his mother, Maria, and father, Raffaele. By his own account, he struggled to express himself; young, gay and interested in fashion, De Sarno felt out of place. At 19, he moved to Milan to study design and patternmaking at the Istituto Secoli. He did stints at Prada and Dolce & Gabbana before, in 2009, making a more permanent home at Valentino in Rome. During his 14-year tenure there, he cycled upward through various departments until he became the labels fashion director and the right-hand man of its creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. Recently, Gucci announced that the company will relocate the design office from Rome to Milan, where De Sarno feels most at home. I have a deep love story with Milan, he says. Its where Sabato came to be the real Sabato. Not surprisingly, his Gucci debut in September felt decidedly Milanese, marking a transition from full-tilt maximalism to his own interpretation of the citys understated luxury. The collection features thigh-grazing baby-doll dresses; logo-print micro shorts; swinging, tinsel-trimmed skirts; and coats in shades of burgundy and chartreuse. Im not the kind of person who comes into a meeting and says, I like this, I dont like that. Or, Ill be back tomorrow I need a day to think about a white shirt, he says. I want to touch everything. I want to choose the fabric and see the embroidery. I want to be a part of a process. A Tennessee-based company employed at least two dozen children as young as 13 to work overnight shifts cleaning dangerous equipment in slaughterhouses, including a 14-year-old whose arm was mangled in a piece of machinery, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. The department filed a request on Wednesday for a temporary restraining order and injunction in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa against the company, Fayette Janitorial Service LLC. It provides cleaning services at slaughterhouses in several states, including Iowa and Virginia, where the department said an investigation had found that the company had hired children to clean plants. The Labor Department opened its investigation after an article in The New York Times Magazine reported that Fayette had hired migrant children to work the overnight cleaning shift at a Perdue Farms plant on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. A spokeswoman for Fayette said in a statement that the company had cooperated with the investigation, and added that there was a zero-tolerance policy for minor labor. The Alabama Supreme Court has opened a new front in the legal debate over when human life begins. Embryos created and stored in a medical facility must be considered children under the states law governing harmful death, the court ruled. Fridays ruling was cheered by anti-abortion activists nationwide, who have long argued that life begins at conception. They were thrilled that, for the first time, a court included conception outside the uterus in that definition. But the strongest and most immediate effect of the decision will be on fertility patients trying to get pregnant, not women seeking to end their pregnancies. The Alabama ruling invites states to enact strict new regulations over the fertility industry that could sharply limit the number of embryos created during a cycle of medical treatment and affect the future of millions of stored frozen embryos. A concurring opinion even offered road maps for such statutes. That could have a chilling effect on a person seeking to have children through in vitro fertilization, whether single or part of a same-sex or heterosexual couple. What did the ruling say? The ruling is actually somewhat narrow. It applies to three couples who had sued the Center for Reproductive Medicine, a fertility clinic in Mobile, for inadvertently destroying their embryos. The plaintiffs argued that they were entitled to punitive damages under Alabamas 1872 Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. Two lower state courts disagreed, saying the embryos were neither people nor children. The State Supreme Court reversed those rulings, saying that the embryos fell squarely under Alabamas definition of minors and that the negligence lawsuits could proceed. The case will now go back to the State District Court for further litigation. Charles Stendig, who introduced contemporary and avant-garde European furniture to adventurous Americans in his New York City showroom, died on Feb. 11 at his home in Manhattan. He was 99. His death was announced by R & Company, a furniture gallery in TriBeCa to which Mr. Stendig donated his design library and corporate archives. There was a period, beginning in the 1960s, when the American living room went cheerfully haywire, becoming a showcase for space age and Pop Art design. The future had arrived, and it was plastic and fantastic and brimming with optimism, mirroring the mod revolution in fashion. Mr. Stendig had a hand in much of it, seeking out European manufacturers, including from Finland, in the days when cargo shipping was cheap. Throughout Vogues history, its typical cover stars have included a parade of youthful beauties: models, actresses, celebrities, the occasional stunning athlete and, once in a while, a politician or first lady all glammed to the max. Cover models serve as portals into a world of ideas about how women should look and dress, what Vogue represents and the magazines concept of the modern woman. Almost always, the models look at the camera, making contact with us, inviting us in. They are posed, buffed, polished and embellished to a level of poreless perfection well beyond the realm of regular mortals. The cover model embodies a glossy, aspirational and commercial glamour the lifestyle that is Vogues stock in trade. However talented or interesting she may be, she is also, always, a commodity. The photograph of Miuccia Prada, taken by Stef Mitchell, on the cover of this months American Vogue defies all of these conventions. She is not a model, an actress or an elected official. Shes not really even a celebrity since, despite her fame and iconic status, she tends to eschew the spotlight. We knew the cover would take some persuasion, explained Anna Wintour in an email. Mrs. Prada has long put her work forward much more than herself. Whats more, at 74, Mrs. Prada is well beyond the age of nearly all Vogue cover subjects, who only rarely stray north of 50 (if they are, say, former 90s supermodels), and virtually never beyond 60. A quick perusal of the past 10 years of covers reveals Jill Biden and Meryl Streep, who posed at 70 and 68, as the only women in that category, but they were lit and made up in the expected, glamorizing way. Famous Ukrainian writer and literary critic Oksana Zabuzhko spoke out about the language issue in Ukraine. She explained that it is the intergenerational trauma that prevents many Ukrainians from switching to their native language. According to the author, this trauma cannot be cured by gentle Ukrainization, a single willful decision, or even economic coercion. However, it is possible and important to work through it in order to finally get a Ukrainian-speaking society. ADVERTISIMENT Zabuzhko shared her thoughts and advice in an interview with Ukraner. The interviewer asked her prominent interlocutor whether she thought that after the huge surge in Ukrainization that occurred after the full-scale invasion, this process is now regressing. Zabuzhko commented: "We are experiencing a return to the Ukrainian language with every more or less significant social upheaval. That is, we have such waves. In this century, it happened after 2004. There is a wave, and there is a part of the rollback. As this wave goes on, some of the stones roll off. Then the next one comes again in 2014, another wave, after which some of the stones will roll off. And after the full-scale one, there is a massive one." The writer went on to say that the biggest problem in Ukrainian society, which slows down or prevents many people from making the transition from Russian to their native language, is the same intergenerational trauma. ADVERTISIMENT "The Russian-speaking Ukrainians, I'm not talking about Russians as an ethnic minority, this is a matter of the future. I'm talking about the Russian-speaking Ukrainians, i.e. those who have been Russified in the second, third, and fourth generations. This is a consequence of intergenerational trauma. It is the job of psychologists to explain to society what this is. It cannot be cured by a single strong-willed decision, calls for gentle Ukrainization, or even economic coercion, although we have never had it. It was perfectly possible for us to live in Ukraine for 30 years of independence and, as that fool (host Natalia Moseychuk - ed.) said, unwittingly betraying the essence, to spread Russian on our bread, not Ukrainian. A Freudian slip. "The Ukrainian language is not smeared on bread," she said. She was right. That's exactly the point: it doesn't. And that is why we need to grab the country's leadership by the white knuckles and hold them accountable for the fact that in the tenth year of independence, it is still not the language of this state that is used for bread, but the language of a neighboring state," Zabuzhko commented emotionally. ADVERTISIMENT The writer explained that intergenerational trauma is something that a person has to work through individually. Zabuzhko advised perceiving, analyzing, and studying this issue on a personal level-in the format of family stories. "Sooner or later, you realize that you were born into a Russian-speaking family because something bad happened to your grandparents or great-grandparents. Maybe not even with your grandparents, but with your parents. It's not just a matter of "this is how it happened historically and let's not talk about it." Why not talk about it? Because it hurts. And to realize that I have done something wrong and I have a chance and an opportunity to correct it, to go through the retrospective of this pain and shame is a challenge and a test for every person. And if you look at those who regress and those who do not regress, those who did this work spontaneously, who did it by feel, without consulting psychologists, but reached the point where they told themselves, or their friends, or someone else: "My father was Ukrainian-speaking from childhood, and then he went to school, and people laughed at him for being in Kharkiv, for being a ragoul. And my grandfather was Ukrainian-speaking, but he went to Siberia, and then got married, and they spoke Russian." And so on. Family stories come into play," Oksana shared. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A man in New Orleans lonesome for an opossum named Saffron, whom he had raised as a pet and dressed in a colorful sweater, is appealing to the authorities to return the animal, which was taken from him by state wildlife officials. Thousands have backed an online petition to reunite the man with his marsupial. William Voiles, an artist who makes braided trinkets, said the 1-year-old opossum had been confiscated in the citys French Quarter during Mardi Gras celebrations earlier this month as part of a public safety effort. A friends petition on Change.org to bring Saffron home had garnered nearly 4,000 signatures by Wednesday afternoon. In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Voiles, 50, said he and his friends were appealing to law enforcement, biologists, veterinarians, online supporters and even Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana for help. Saffron formed part of a menagerie, including one rabbit and two dogs, all named after spices, that Mr. Voiles wheeled around New Orleans on a tricycle with a basket and a trailer. President Biden is considering executive action that could prevent people who cross illegally into the United States from claiming asylum, several people with knowledge of the proposal said Wednesday. The move would suspend longtime guarantees that give anyone who steps onto U.S. soil the right to ask for safe haven. The order would put into effect a key policy in a bipartisan bill that Republicans thwarted earlier this month, even though it had some of the most significant border security restrictions Congress has contemplated in years. The bill would have essentially shut down the border to new entrants if more than an average of 5,000 migrants per day tried to cross unlawfully in the course of a week, or more than 8,500 tried to cross in a given day. The action under consideration by the White House would have a similar trigger for blocking asylum to new entrants, the people with knowledge of the proposal say. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida told supporters in a call on Wednesday that he would not want to be Donald J. Trumps vice president, suggested it would be a mistake for Mr. Trump to consider identity politics in making his selection for a running mate and left wide open the door to a 2028 presidential run. I havent ruled anything out, Mr. DeSantis said of a 2028 presidential run, as he outlined plans to stay involved in politics beyond Florida. In a more than 30-minute call held to thank backers who had volunteered to serve as his presidential delegates, the governor was unusually candid in assessing his failed 2024 campaign a month after he dropped out of the race. He also sounded off on conservative news media outlets that he said had backed the former president over him. He also spoke about all the baggage Trump has as a concern for Republicans headed into the fall, but said that President Biden was going to be the gift that keeps on giving. In the conspiracy-soaked aftermath of the 2020 election, far-right activists clamored to inspect ballots based on elaborate and false theories. In Georgia, election deniers pushed for a review that might detect counterfeit ballots because they were not folded, appeared to be marked by a machine or were printed on different card stock. In Arizona, auditors were on the hunt for bamboo fibers in ballots to prove that they had fraudulently came from Asia. Those theories were roundly rebuked, without a shred or fiber of evidence to support them. National attention from voters and the mainstream news media eventually shifted to the 2024 election. But one bill introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives seeks to address those very concerns. The bill, which was passed in committee, would require the secretary of states office to post high-resolution digital images of scanned paper ballots online and keep them there for 24 months, a demand of conspiracy theorists in 2021. (Similar bills regarding ballot scans have come out of committee in the New Hampshire and Arizona Legislatures.) The Secret Service had to adjust our operational tactics to protect President Biden because the first familys dog kept biting agents, including one who required six stitches and another whose blood spilled onto the floor of the White House, according to newly released internal emails posted online. The agency recorded at least 24 biting episodes between October 2022 and July 2023 involving Commander, a German shepherd who became the terror of the West Wing, Camp David and the presidents homes in Delaware, about half of which required medical attention, according to the documents. Commander was banished from the White House last fall to an undisclosed location. The recent dog bites have challenged us to adjust our operational tactics when Commander is present please give lots of room (staying a terrain feature away if possible), an assistant special agent in charge of the Presidential Protection Division wrote to the team. We will continue to keep a protected person whose code name was blacked out in the document but was clearly Mr. Biden in our sight but must be creative to ensure our own personal safety. The agent reported that they were seeking a better solution soon. The documents were released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by John Greenewald, a longtime California-based researcher who specializes in unearthing government secrets on everything from U.F.O.s to C.I.A. and military activities, and posted on his website, called The Black Vault. The Secret Service confirmed the documents were authentic. Visiting American lawmakers sought to assure Taiwan on Thursday that the United States would stand by it in the face of pressure from China, while warning that uncertainty over proposed new military aid for Ukraine could weaken U.S. efforts to deter Beijing from moving aggressively against the island democracy. America stands with Taiwan, and you can draw upon a deep reservoir of friendship and support from the United States Congress, Representative Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Republican leading the bipartisan House delegation, told Taiwans president-elect, Lai Ching-te, who takes office in May. The lawmakers also met with Taiwans current president, Tsai Ing-wen. Journalists in Taipei, the capital, were allowed to watch initial remarks in both meetings before being ushered out. The five representatives in the delegation all members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which Mr. Gallagher heads are the latest in a recent succession of American visitors to voice support for Taiwan, at a time when leaders in Washington are also trying to shore up security support for Ukraine and Israel. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken confronted President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil on Wednesday about his recent sharp comments on Israel, including the Brazilian leaders comparison of Israels attacks in Gaza to the Holocaust. The sparring showed how the enduring war in Gaza has continued to expand into a broader diplomatic problem for the United States, and how the wars mounting death toll has spurred more nations to speak out against Israels offensive. An intensifying dispute between Brazil and Israel broke out this week over Mr. Lulas comments on Sunday that the only comparison to Israels killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is when Hitler decided to kill the Jews. It was a significant escalation of his previous rhetoric. Since then, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has said Mr. Lula crossed a red line, Israels foreign minister called Brazils ambassador to the Holocaust museum and scolded him in front of the media, and Israels official account on X said Mr. Lula went full on Holocaust denier. In the late 1970s, in Montreal, photography students were obsessed with getting deep blacks max black in our prints, squeezing the full range of tones out of our black-and-white photo paper. Knowing that light meters were designed to average a scene out to gray, we recalibrated ours to make the shadows in our shots as darkly lush as an Ansel Adams moonrise. Few of us realized there might be more to blackness than a lack of light. We didnt understand that in the right hands, the deep, deep blacks might speak to far more than a darkroom technique to issues of race and segregation. Four hundred miles south of us, in New York, Ray Francis was printing shots that had the bold shadows we were striving for. Thirty-two of his prints are on view now in Waiting to Be Seen: Illuminating the Photographs of Ray Francis, at the Bruce Silverstein gallery in Chelsea, a posthumous show that is Franciss first solo presentation. He died in 2006, at 69. Residente the Puerto Rican songwriter Rene Perez Joglar is lying, or at least misdirecting, with the title of his second solo album, Las Letras Ya No Importan (The Lyrics Dont Matter Anymore). Words still matter to Residente, and they pour out of him. As always, hes a blunt, far-reaching, fast-talking rapper whos determined to engage on multiple fronts: political, cultural, mythmaking, cybernetic, sardonic and now more than ever personal. Residente arrived in the early 2000s as the frontman of Calle 13, his duo with his half brother Eduardo Cabra (a.k.a. Visitante). With Residente rapping and Visitante overseeing the musical backdrops, Calle 13 conquered the Americas with rebellious, hard-hitting and sonically omnivorous songs. Residentes virtuosic raps in Spanish flaunted impeccable diction and a compulsion to push boundaries. He was often crudely raunchy, science-minded and ideologically sophisticated in the same song. As Calle 13s popularity and ambitions grew, the group formed international musical and activist alliances with songs like the Pan-American manifesto Latinoamerica in 2011. The duo went separate ways in 2015. For his first solo album, Residente in 2017, Perez took a DNA test and followed the results to his ancestral homelands, drawing on local musical traditions and, in some places, visiting conflict zones. The new album isnt so tidily conceptual. With 20 songs that Residente has amassed over the last seven years, Las Letras Ya No Importan is a huge harvest of assorted ideas, from minimalistic to lavish, from cocky to righteous to humble to unexpectedly romantic. AT&T said on Thursday that it had fully restored service to its wireless network after a widespread outage temporarily cut off connections for users across the United States for many hours, the cause of which was still under investigation. The outage, which affected people in cities including Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York, was first reported around 3:30 a.m. Eastern time, according to Downdetector.com, which tracks user reports of telecommunication and internet disruptions. At its peak, the site listed around 70,000 reports of disrupted service for the wireless carrier. Multiple government agencies said they were looking into the incident, although the Biden administration told reporters that AT&T said there was no reason to think it was a cyberattack. AT&T did not disclose the scope of the outage, nor the reason for it. When the outage first began on Thursday morning, the company listed the cause as maintenance activity. The UK will send 200 more Brimstone anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. They have already had a significant impact on the battlefield, in one case even forcing Russian troops to retreat after attempting to cross a river. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, along with other allies, the UK will continue to train Ukrainian troops. This was stated by British Defense Minister Grant Shapps, The Guardian reports. "Today, I can announce a new package of 200 Brimstone anti-tank missiles as part of a further strengthening of Ukraine's defense," he said. He added: "Together (with partners - ed.), we will train another 10,000 soldiers in the first half of 2024." We would like to remind you that the use of Brimstone missiles by our defenders first became known in May 2022. They are designed to destroy massive concentrations of enemy armored vehicles. Brimstone missiles operate in two modes: "fire and forget" and laser-guided. The "fire and forget" principle is ensured by an active millimeter-wave radar homing head (the same principle is used by the American Javelin anti-tank guided missiles). ADVERTISIMENT The principle of laser targeting allows you to select a specific top-priority target and, after firing, direct the missile to it (Ukrainian anti-tank guided missiles Stugna-P work on the same principle). Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Dear educators, This year is likely to become a significant chapter in our history. The United States faces its first presidential election since 2020, which culminated in the first non-peaceful transfer of power since the Civil War. In November, American citizens will once again cast their votes, and the two leading candidates are the same ones from four years ago. Wars in Ukraine and Gaza have caused worsening humanitarian crises and have been threatening broader regional conflicts. January was the eighth month in a row with the warmest average temperatures for that time of year. And if the last presidential election is any indication, this elections aftermath may be as eventful as the voting itself. In schools across America, the 2024 presidential election is going to become increasingly common in hallway conversations, lunch table debates and teacher-led lessons planned and unplanned. You all have the important task of teaching history at the very moment its being made. To put it succinctly, the times we are living in are remarkable. As the presidential election cycle ramps up, The New York Timess Headway team and Chalkbeat want to hear from you. How are your students thinking about this election? How are you planning to teach it? What questions do you have? Two paths lie before the artist. One is through empathy, identifying deeply with the world and interpreting it so others can peer through the artists eyes. The other is detachment, standing apart from everyone and everything, observing it from a position of cool remove. Samet (Deniz Celiloglu), the protagonist of Nuri Bilge Ceylans About Dry Grasses, is the second kind of artist, and it has not been great for his soul. Four years into his mandatory service as a public school art teacher in East Anatolia, hes fed up with the locals, whom he finds to be mostly a waste of time. But he isnt terribly kind to anyone, including his roommate and fellow teacher Kenan (Musab Ekici), who likes living there and enjoys his work. Samet is miserable, and eager for a transfer to Istanbul. The one bright light or at least, distraction in Samets life is Sevim (Ece Bagci), his teachers pet, a bright-eyed eighth grader who probably has a crush on her teacher. Their interactions cross no lines. But they interact like peers, and Samet brings her a small and insignificant gift, and even the other students have noticed he only calls on Sevim and her friends in class. Which is why Samet is so shocked, and affronted, when he discovers that two pupils have accused him and Kenan of inappropriate contact with students. He can guess who those two are, and hes mortified and angry. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba To the Hashira Training, from the director Haruo Sotozaki and the Japanese animation studio Ufotable, isnt actually a movie: Its a feature-length presentation of two episodes from the popular Demon Slayer television series, neatly spliced together but otherwise unchanged in the transition to the big screen. Its the second such theatrical special, after last years Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba To the Swordsmith Village, which combined the ending of the shows second season with the premiere of the third. To the Hashira Training jams together the third-season finale and the fourth-season premiere, both of which are a little under an hour long; the fourth season hasnt aired on TV yet. As you might imagine, the movie is meant for fans. The title of Ethan Coens leaden romp Drive-Away Dolls summons up the vulgar excesses of old-school exploitation cinema, with its horrors and pleasures, carnage and flesh. If only! The promising setup involves two friends the inapt duo of Margaret Qualley as Jamie and Geraldine Viswanathan as Marian who, during a 1999 road trip from Philadelphia to Florida, come into possession of a briefcase wanted by some bad, violent men. There will be blood, yup, if not enough to obscure the inert staging, D.O.A. jokes and overblown performances. This is the most recent movie that Ethan Coen has made without his brother, Joel, his longtime collaborator. (Ethan also made the 2022 documentary Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind.) To a degree, Drive-Away Dolls seems of a piece with the Coens practice of playing with story forms (film genres and otherwise), which they have consistently satirized, upended and all but gutted. Mixing the ostensibly high with the putatively low, they sample and riff on populist and rarefied sources, the spiritual and the material. This can create a fascinating doubling in the sense that theres the movie in front of you and its layered references, all of which can flow together when they dont congeal, which alas happens here. Written by Coen and his wife, Tricia Cooke, Drive-Away Dolls opens on an old-style neon bar sign spelling out the word Cicero, immediately suggesting that youre in familiar Coen territory. This nod to the philosopher puts you on alert, but it also feels like bait for those aficionados eager to sift through signs and meanings (which can be a self-flattering exercise for filmmakers and for viewers). Soon enough, the camera is prowling inside the bar where a panicked-looking man (Pedro Pascal as the Collector) sits in a booth clutching a briefcase to his body. After exchanging words with a curiously hostile waiter, the Collector scurries down a shadowy Chandleresque mean street before taking a fatal turn into a nightmarish alley. This particular briefcase contains another of moviedoms great whatsits, one of those mysteries that, like knowledge itself, some people have, others are desperate to obtain and still others eventually regret having. After some character introductions enter Jamie, Marian et. al. and pro forma scene-setting, the movie gets down to business and the briefcase changes hands. For reasons that make sense mostly as a screenwriting contrivance, the two friends secure a car from a guy named Curlie (Bill Camp) and hit the road, with plans to visit Marians aunt in Tallahassee. Theres some sweet, sticky stuff, too: Jamie, who has broken up with her girlfriend, a tough cop named Sukie (Beanie Feldstein), thinks Marian needs to get laid. Marian does too, so there are more bars in their future. Raphael (Ursel Tilk), the poseur metalhead at the center of Rainer Sarnets subversively earnest comedy The Invisible Fight, set in 1970s Estonia, swaggers around flaunting a golden cross and fumbling kung fu kicks over a Black Sabbath soundtrack. To modern audiences, hes just some doofus. But back in the U.S.S.R. which, at various times, outlawed Eastern martial arts, Western rock music, and religion hes a threat to the state. Once, kids like Raphael were mocked on propaganda posters and locked in psychiatric hospitals. Everything cool is banned in the Soviet Union, he huffs. And so Raphael ditches the pastel conformity of mainstream Communist society for a secretive chop-socking Orthodox monastery where black-frocked monks fling pelmeni like throwing stars and make were-not-worthy genuflections in a catacomb of skulls. Javier Mariscal and Fernando Truebas They Shot the Piano Player is an astoundingly vibrant animated project, fitting for its subject matter: the history and legacy of Brazilian bossa nova told through the story of the disappearance and presumed death of Francisco Tenorio Junior, one of the genres most celebrated pianists and composers. The film, actually a documentary set in a fictional context, begins in 2010, with Jeff Goldblum voicing the made-up music journalist Jeff Harris, whose article on bossa nova in The New Yorker lands him a book deal and a trip to Rio de Janeiro to investigate the fate one of the genres most celebrated pianists. Unlike the last Mariscal-Trueba collaboration, the Academy Award-nominated Cuban drama Chico and Rita, the story at the center of They Shot the Piano Player is all too real. Tenorio Junior vanished in Argentina during the height of a military dictatorship known for erasing people who didnt embrace its politics. Equally real, and vivid are the over 150 interviews that Trueba conducted for the film, with friends, family and colleagues of the pianist, some of whom are the best-known names in bossa nova history: Joao Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento and more. You would be hard pressed to find a New Yorker unfamiliar with the name Veselka. The pierogi and borscht eatery, established in 1954 by a Ukrainian emigre, is a staple of the East Village, where its genial diner atmosphere overseen by Jason Birchard, the founders grandson draws everyone from university students to seasoned old-timers. Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World pays tribute to the cultural landmark by taking viewers inside the restaurant during an uneasy period: Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Directed by Michael Fiore, the documentary establishes Veselkas Ukrainian roots and then chronicles Birchard and his staffs real-time campaign to support their besieged home country. Tammy Murphy, New Jerseys first lady who is running for U.S. Senate, has lagged behind her main Democratic primary opponent, Representative Andy Kim, in public opinion polls and in the race for momentum among rank-and-file voters. On Thursday, in a sign of a shifting strategy, she said goodbye to her campaign manager, Max Glass. There is no immediate replacement, aides said. We are extremely grateful for the value and the passion that Max brought to our team and his efforts to stand up this campaign, the campaigns spokeswoman, Alex Altman, said. Ms. Murphy, the wife of New Jerseys governor, Philip D. Murphy, began her campaign for the seat now held by the states embattled senior senator, Robert Menendez, in November. Mr. Menendez, who has been charged with accepting bribes in exchange for political favors, has not ruled out running for re-election. The pull of fashion mythology the current obsession with Dior-era John Galliano or the Apple TV+ mini-series The New Look suggests we are at peak nostalgia. It makes one wonder why someone hasnt done a book or a documentary on Romeo Gigli. His story has all the ingredients of a blockbuster mini-series. His star ascended in the early 1990s, when Mr. Giglis romantic yet rigorous designs provided an antidote to the high-octane excess of the 80s. But it all too quickly imploded in a haze of legal acrimony, the cautionary tale of unbounded creativity vanquished by brute commerce. More than 25 years have passed since he was the toast of fashion week. So where is Romeo Gigli these days? When the Ranch at Malibu opened in 2010 as a luxury health resort on 200 acres in Californias Santa Monica Mountains, its approach was somewhat radical: Guests signed up for a full week of group hikes, fitness classes, spa treatments, nutrition consults and communal, organic meals without caffeine, gluten, soy or dairy. The goal, says its founder Alex Glasscock, was for people to mentally and physically reset and recharge. On April 15, a second location, the Ranch at Hudson Valley, is scheduled to open near Tuxedo Park, N.Y., in a slate-and-stone lakefront mansion surrounded by state parks. Glasscock hopes the 25-room property, which he describes as like a big, luxury dorm, will facilitate connections between those who stay. Guests will do yoga under the ornate plaster ceiling of the former ballroom and, in Glasscocks ideal world, come to dinner in their pajamas and robes. This new outpost offers a few additional treatments including colonics and energy healings which incorporate techniques such as hypnosis and sound therapy. In winter, guests can sled or snowshoe, and in summer theres paddleboarding on the lake. The Ranch has also relaxed a few of the restrictions: You can book three nights at the Hudson Valley property instead of the seven required in Malibu, and, in concession to the most common request of all, caffeine is no longer taboo organic Nicaraguan coffee is served at breakfast in both locations. Reservations open Feb. 21; rooms from $3,280 per person for three nights including accommodations, meals and programming; theranchhudsonvalley.com. Gift This Collectible Posters From the Herman Miller Archive Canada is still considering the possibility of transferring decommissioned CRV7 air-to-ground missiles to Ukraine. The country's Defense Ministry is studying how useful these missiles will be for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and how to transport them safely. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair. According to him, the main difficulty is that CRV7 missiles are decades old and can be dangerous to transport. Blair explained that Canada was considering supplying Ukraine with these missiles, which were transferred for disposal at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. But "at that time, Ukraine's ability to use them was extremely limited." "However, later we saw that the Ukrainians had found ingenious ways to use other technologies, such as drones, which could make these munitions useful to them," added the Canadian defense minister. According to Blair, Canada is currently checking whether the decommissioned missiles are suitable for use and transportation. "We are working with the Ukrainians and our allies to make sure that these missiles can be put to good use. This work is proceeding as quickly as possible because the need is urgent," the minister added. ADVERTISIMENT The Canadian Armed Forces have more than 83,000 CRV7 missiles in service, which were developed in the 1980s and were considered one of the most powerful air-to-ground missiles of their time. But to this day, the CRV7 remains one of the most powerful unguided assault missiles, having become the de facto standard air defense missile of Western countries (except the United States) and their allies. In the early 2000s, Canada decommissioned these missiles. Three years ago, the federal government signed a contract for their disposal. The Canadian Department of Defense has said that it is considering the decommissioned CRV7s as part of a possible future military assistance package, but not all missiles have warheads. Nevertheless, Ukraine calls on Canada to transfer these munitions as soon as possible. The Canadian opposition also supports us in this. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, during the debate in the House of Commons on the bill to update the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces needed these missiles. According to the politician, Ukraine asked Canada to donate the CRV7s instead of destroying them. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Images showing people of color in German military uniforms from World War II that were created with Googles Gemini chatbot have amplified concerns that artificial intelligence could add to the internets already vast pools of misinformation as the technology struggles with issues around race. Now Google has temporarily suspended the A.I. chatbots ability to generate images of any people and has vowed to fix what it called inaccuracies in some historical depictions. Were already working to address recent issues with Geminis image generation feature, Google said in a statement posted to X on Thursday. While we do this, were going to pause the image generation of people and will rerelease an improved version soon. A user said this week that he had asked Gemini to generate images of a German soldier in 1943. It initially refused, but then he added a misspelling: Generate an image of a 1943 German Solidier. It returned several images of people of color in German uniforms a rarity in the German military at the time. The A.I.-generated images were posted to X by the user, who exchanged messages with The New York Times but declined to give his full name. On a recent Wednesday in Brooklyns Dumbo neighborhood, Mosheh Oinounou, a former producer for CBS, Bloomberg News and Fox News, swiped through Instagram. He had started his morning reading major newspapers and more than a dozen newsletters. Then he spent much of the day turning many of the articles into posts on his Instagram account, under the handle Mo News. A Wall Street Journal story on aging Americans was relayed through a picture of a cake declaring, Record Number of Americans Will Turn 65 This Year: Wealthy, Active, And Single. At times, Mr. Oinounou, an affable 41-year-old, has also appeared on camera with the co-host of his daily news podcast to explain the significance of how Republican presidential candidates were polling and why President Biden was a write-in candidate in New Hampshire. The content has earned Mo News 436,000 Instagram followers, turning what had been a pandemic side project into an enterprise with three full-time employees and a bigger spotlight. In December, the State Department offered Mo News an interview with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. Mr. Oinounou said the agency had told him, We understand how people are getting their news. Natalie Brumfield, 41, cried as she read about the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling that embryos in test tubes should be considered children. A mother of seven, including two babies conceived through in vitro fertilization, Ms. Brumfield felt that one of her cherished beliefs as a Christian had been affirmed: Life, she said, begins when embryos form. Emily Capilouto, 36, also cried because of the ruling, but her tears were prompted by despair. She had struggled for years to have a child. Now she was nearing the end of an I.V.F. cycle, when one of the embryos she and her husband had produced would be transferred to her uterus. But on Wednesday, she learned that her clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham health system was halting I.V.F. treatments in response to the ruling. I dont know what this means now, Ms. Capilouto said on Wednesday, minutes after learning that her dream of having a child would be indefinitely suspended. Questions like hers are echoing across the country after the courts ruling, which was handed down Feb. 16. The potential national implications remain unclear, but many women in Alabama are wondering how this new classification for embryos one rooted in a religious belief will affect their own journeys toward motherhood, a process that for many who seek I.V.F. is already filled with emotional and physical pain. In an Alabama Supreme Court decision that has rattled reproductive medicine across the country, a majority of the justices said the law was clear that frozen embryos should be considered children: Unborn children are children. But the courts chief justice, Tom Parker, drew on more than the Constitution and legal precedent to explain his determination. Human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, he wrote in a concurring opinion that invoked the Book of Genesis and the prophet Jeremiah and quoted at length from the writings of 16th- and 17th-century theologians. Even before birth, he added, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory. A Texas judge ruled on Thursday that a school districts dress code, which it used to suspend a Black student last year for refusing to change the way he wears his hair, did not violate a state law meant to prohibit race-based discrimination against people based on their hairstyle. The student, Darryl George, 18, has locs, or long ropelike strands of hair, that he pins on his head in a barrel roll, a protective style that his mother said reflected Black culture. Since the start of his junior year last August, he has faced a series of disciplinary actions at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, about 30 miles east of Houston, after refusing to cut his hair. He was separated from his classmates, given disciplinary notices, placed in in-school suspension and sent to an off-campus program. The hearing on Thursday, in the 253rd Judicial District Court in Anahuac, was in response to a lawsuit filed in September by the Barbers Hill Independent School District. The lawsuit argued that Mr. George was in violation of the Districts dress and grooming code because he wears his hair in braids and twists at a length that extends below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, and/or below the earlobes when let down. The district asked State District Judge Chap B. Cain III to clarify whether the dress code violated a state law called the Texas CROWN Act, as the defendants, Mr. George and his mother, Darresha George, assert. The act, which took effect on Sept. 1, says a school district policy may not discriminate against a hair texture or protective hairstyle commonly or historically associated with race. It does not specifically mention hair length. Americans are deeply split over whether gender identity should be taught in school, according to two polls released this week that underscored the extent of the divide on one of the most contested topics in education. Many groups, including Democrats, teachers and teenagers, are split on whether schools should teach about gender identity a persons internal sense of their own gender and whether it aligns with their sex assigned at birth, according to a survey by researchers at the University of Southern California and a separate survey by Pew Research Center. But on issues of race, another topic that has fueled state restrictions and book bans, there was broader support for instruction. That extended to some Republicans, the U.S.C. survey found. The results highlight nuances in the opinion over two of the most divisive issues in public education, even as the American public remains deeply polarized along party lines. For months, anger within the Democratic Party over President Bidens support for Israel in the war in Gaza has been building. Protesters have shouted through his campaign events, marched outside the White House and vilified him as Genocide Joe on social media. Now, Michigans primary election next week will put that discontent on the ballot for the first time, with Mr. Bidens liberal detractors urging Democrats to vote uncommitted against him. Some of the presidents allies worry that a movement to register disapproval against him now could have lasting effects into the general election especially if Mr. Biden does not alter his stance toward the conflict. Michigans combination of an early primary, a large and politically active Arab American population, progressive students on college campuses and the option of a protest vote have raised the stakes of what has otherwise been a sleepy election in the state. There are warning signs for Mr. Biden that frustration over Gaza has metastasized beyond Dearborn and other Detroit suburbs, which are the heart of Michigans Arab diaspora, and onto the states college campuses, where students increasingly feel affinity with the Palestinian cause. In a television interview, Mr. Putin said he thought he knew why Mr. Biden had lashed out. The Russian president had said last week that it was in Russias interest for Mr. Biden to win a second term a statement seen by some as a roundabout way of saddling Mr. Biden with the endorsement of one of Americas biggest adversaries. Mr. Putin said he believed Mr. Bidens remark was a result of that endorsement. He cannot say: Volodya, good boy, thank you, you helped me a lot. We understand what is happening with internal politics in the U.S., Mr. Putin said, using a nickname for Vladimir. In California, Mr. Biden also slammed former President Donald J. Trump, for comparing his legal troubles to the death of Aleksei A. Navalny, the Russian opposition leader. If I stood here 10 to 15 years ago and said all this, youd all think I should be committed, Mr. Biden said. He added that Mr. Trump has been terrible for the Republican Party. A lot of Republicans I disagree with, but theyve been decent women and men. They at least had an American moral center. That seems to be lost with some of the things this fellow has been saying, Mr. Biden said of Mr. Trump. State Republican parties in roughly half of the most important battleground states are awash in various degrees of dysfunction, debt and disarray. In Arizona, the chairman of the states Republican Party recently resigned after a leaked tape surfaced in which he appeared to offer a bribe to persuade a candidate to stay out of a Senate race. In Georgia, the state partys treasury has shrunk by more than 75 percent as it has spent more than $1.3 million on legal fees since 2023, largely to defend fake electors facing criminal charges, including the former party chairman. And in Nevada, the party chairman is himself under indictment for his role as a fake elector in the 2020 election. With former President Donald J. Trump tightening his grip on the Republican presidential nomination, the widespread problems have caused deepening concern among top Republican officials. There is no one explanation for the disparate party struggles in the swing states that matter most for the presidency. But across the map, state parties have become combat zones for the broader struggles inside the G.O.P. between the partys old guard and its ascendant Trump wing, with rifts that can prove divisive and costly. The Biden administration and European allies call President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a tyrant and a war criminal. But he enjoys a standing invitation to the halls of power in Brazil. The president of Brazil says that Ukraine and Russia are both to blame for the war that began with the Russian militarys invasion. And his nations purchases of Russian energy and fertilizer have soared, pumping billions of dollars into the Russian economy. The views of the president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, encapsulate the global bind in which the United States and Ukraine find themselves as the war enters its third year. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the Biden administration activated a diplomatic offensive that was as important as its scramble to ship weapons to the Ukrainian military. Wielding economic sanctions and calling for a collective defense of international order, the United States sought to punish Russia with economic pain and political exile. The goal was to see companies and countries cut ties with Moscow. The Mena region could become 10% of MSCI EM Index, with Saudi Arabia accounting for around 70% of this, said Richard Cormack, Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets EMEA, at Goldman Sachs. These findings are according to new research by the firm. Speaking on a panel at the third Edition of the Saudi Capital Market Forum, Cormack asserted that this prediction would put the Mena region in parallel with Latin America bloc, the biggest bloc outside of Asia, and in terms of passive and active flows, would mean around $50 billion over time. He went on to state that Saudi Arabia is up there with developed markets, noting that it trades at an attractive multiple with market PE around 21 times the same as the market PE in the US.--TradeArabia News Service Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced a $247.4 million military aid package for Ukraine. She also said that her country guarantees security support for Ukraine for the next 10 years as part of a bilateral agreement. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by Ekstra Bladet. Frederiksen noted that her country had reached an agreement with Ukraine on Denmark's security commitments. This is part of international efforts to secure the future and support Ukraine. "We are taking on security commitments that are valid for ten years. It will be expensive. But freedom has a price. I am convinced that we are at the beginning of a new era," she said. The DKK 1.7 billion aid package for Ukraine announced today is the 15th that Denmark has sent to Kyiv. It includes, among other things, 15,000 artillery shells, said Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. "We have to be on the right side of history. We have been there for the last two years since the beginning of the war. And we continue to do so. Russia has modernized its armed forces so that they can threaten NATO. That is why we are delivering a new aid package to help Ukraine continue its fight," he emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT "Commitment to Ukraine's Security" is a principle put forward by the G7 countries, which is now supported by 32 countries. The Danish-Ukrainian Fund is funded until 2028, and so the new security commitment obliges the government to continue its support in the future. The promise of ten years of support should also be seen as part of building a bridge to Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO. The agreement will help support Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia, as well as deter future Russian attacks. Under the agreement, Ukraine is committed to implementing necessary reforms aimed at developing democracy and fighting corruption. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that her country was ready to transfer all available artillery to the Ukrainian army. She called on her partners to provide Ukraine with air defense equipment and ammunition. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Social media posts depicting her as Shiva, the deity of destruction. Others that misleadingly use deep fake technology to show her insulting voters. And still others that direct vitriol at her son, a college student. For most of her presidential campaign, Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former United Nations ambassador, has been spared the full onslaught from former President Donald J. Trumps devoted following of internet trolls. The cadre of mostly anonymous personalities who wage near-constant battle in Mr. Trumps name focused first on brutally attacking Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who had been considered the former presidents most potent rival in the 2024 Republican primary. But with Ms. Haley now his last remaining opponent, the machine has turned her way. Online personalities have in recent weeks circulated vicious attacks through memes, posts and videos that often center on her race, gender and identity, including some that malign her for saying she was teased for being brown and others that falsely claim she is ineligible to serve as president because her parents were immigrants. Some of the most disturbing material has been generated by artificial intelligence, and digitally manipulates her voice and likeness. Much of the content is rife with crude sexual innuendo. Joan Donovan, a disinformation researcher and assistant professor of journalism at Boston University, said the threats and insults were indicative of the form of low politics and network harassment that Mr. Trump and his online admirers ushered in. Giant pandas from China could be arriving in the United States again soon, as Beijing is planning to continue its panda diplomacy with Western countries, according to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in the United States. The China Wildlife Conservation Association reached agreements with the San Diego Zoo in California and the Madrid Zoo in Spain on a new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation, according to the statement. The agreement would keep alive a more than five-decade old tradition of China lending pandas to American zoos in a gesture of friendly diplomacy between the two countries. The return of several pandas to China from the United States over the last several years had raised questions about whether the practice was ending. China is also negotiating with the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, according to the embassys statement. American law enforcement officials spent years looking into allegations that allies of Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, met with and took millions of dollars from drug cartels after he took office, according to U.S. records and three people familiar with the matter. The inquiry, which has not been previously reported, uncovered information pointing to potential links between powerful cartel operatives and Mexican advisers and officials close to the president while he governed the country. But the United States never opened a formal investigation into Mr. Lopez Obrador, and the officials involved ultimately shelved the inquiry. They concluded that the U.S. government had little appetite to pursue allegations against the leader of one of Americas top allies, said the three people familiar with the case, who were not authorized to speak publicly. Mr. Lopez Obrador called the allegations completely false, responding to questions from The New York Times on Thursday. He said the news of the inquiry would not in any way affect Mexicos relationship with the United States, but said he expected a response from the U.S. government. Part of a bridge in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou collapsed after a container ship crashed into it, killing five people as vehicles plummeted, city officials said at a news conference Thursday. In an earlier statement, the local authorities said that an empty container ship had hit one of the supporting columns of the two-lane Lixinsha Bridge, fracturing the surface. The crash, which city officials blamed on improper operation by the crew, occurred at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday in the Nansha district, the district said in a statement. Photos published by Chinese state media showed a large chunk missing from the bridge, which is the main thoroughfare crossing the Hongqili Channel between the island of Sanmin and the rest of the sprawling megacity. A local official told state media that ferries were being provided for residents. Five vehicles fell when the bridge collapsed, two into the water and three onto the container ship, Guangzhous maritime bureau said in a statement. Russian authorities have declared that the opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny died of natural causes but are refusing to release his remains until his family agrees to a secret funeral, Mr. Navalnys mother and his spokeswoman said on Thursday. Lyudmila Navalnaya, Mr. Navalnys mother, said she had been secretly taken to a morgue Wednesday night, where they showed me Aleksei. She was shown a medical report on Mr. Navalnys death that said he died of natural causes, according to the Navalny teams spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh. But Ms. Navalnaya, 69, said she now was locked in a grim battle with local authorities in the northern Russian city of Salekhard who, taking orders from Moscow, were not releasing custody of the remains. She said the authorities warned that if she did not agree to a secret funeral, then they will do something with my sons body. Theyre blackmailing me, Ms. Navalnaya said in a video posted on her sons YouTube channel. They are setting me conditions on where, when and how Aleksei should be buried. When David Ben-Gurion, one of Israels founding fathers, was warned in 1955 that his plan to seize the Gaza Strip from Egypt would provoke a backlash in the United Nations, he famously derided the U.N., playing off its Hebrew acronym, as Um-Shmum. The phrase came to symbolize Israels willingness to defy international organizations when it believes its core interests are at stake. Nearly 70 years later, Israel faces another wave of condemnation in the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and from dozens of countries over its military operation in Gaza, which has killed an estimated 29,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, and left much of the territory in ruins. The huge swell in global pressure has left the Israeli government and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, deeply isolated, if not yet bowed, largely because it still has the support of its staunchest ally, the United States. A shooting near a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank killed at least one person and injured several others Thursday morning. Three Palestinians used automatic weapons to fire from a car toward a traffic jam in front of the A Zaim checkpoint, which leads to Jerusalem, the Israeli police said. All three attackers were killed, Eli Levy, a police spokesman, said in a video statement. Hamas praised the shooting in a statement, calling it a natural response to what it described as Israeli crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. The checkpoint is on a main highway between Maale Adumim, one of Israels largest settlements in the West Bank, and Jerusalem. Israels emergency medical service said that a man in his twenties had been killed by the attackers. It said five others were being treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds, and one was in serious condition. The emergency medical service received a call reporting a shooting at about 7:30 a.m. Mr. Levy called the attack terrorism. Last week, a shooting that Israeli authorities also labeled terrorism killed two people and wounded four others at a bus station in central Israel. The country has been on high alert since the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7. Adam Rasgon contributed reporting. SC-2022-0515; SC-2022-0579 of the sanctity of life from the earliest stages of development. We have done so in three recent cases [Ankrom, Hamilton, and Mack]; we do so again today." (footnote omitted)). But the principle itself -- that human life is fundamentally distinct from other forms of life and cannot be taken intentionally without justification -- has deep roots that reach back to the creation of man "in the image of God." Genesis 1:27 (King James). One 17th-century commentator has explained the significance of man's creation in God's image as follows: "[T]he chief excellence and prerogative of created man is in the image of his Creator. For while God has impressed as it were a vestige of himself upon all the rest of the creatures .. so that from all the creatures you can gather the presence and efficiency of the Creator, or as the apostle [Paul] says, you can clearly see his eternal power and divinity, yet only man did he bless with his own image, that from it you may recognize not only what the Creator is, but also who he is, or what his qualities are. God did this: (1) so that he might as it were contemplate and delight himself in man, as in a copy of himself, or a most highly polished mirror, for which reason his delights are said to be with the children of men. (2) So that he might, as much as can be done, propagate himself as it were in man. (3) So that he would have on earth one who would know, love, and worship him and all that is his, which could not be obtained in the least apart from the image of God .... (4) So that he might have one with whom he would live most blessed for eternity, with whom he would converse as with a 33 A gang of six alleged armed robbers led by senior citizens in their 60s and 70s have been arrested in Italy after carrying out several armed burglaries at post offices in Rome. 70-year-old Italo De Witt, nicknamed the German, Sandro Baruzzo, 68, and 77-year-old Raniero Pula look more like harmless grandpas than hardened criminals, but appearances can be deceiving. Italian prosecutors claim that they were the leaders of a ruthless gang of armed robbers that specialized in Rome post offices. The gang had a very clear structure, with the three elderly gentlemen at the top, and three other experts, a key maker (66) to breach the various locks, and two bricklayers (51 and 56 years old) who handled the hole through which the gang entered the post offices. All members had criminal records, but the leaders had particularly impressive records that went back all the way back to the 1970s. Apparently, some people never change. Photo: Ricardas Brogys/Unsplash Italian authorities began investigating the gangs activities after a post office robbery in May of last year when three individuals wearing masks, hats, and sunglasses so as not to be recognized, held the staff at gunpoint and managed to make off with 195,000 euros ($211,000). Since then, investigators learned that they planned at least two more robberies, both of which were eventually canceled due to various factors. On August 30, 2023, the gang was supposed to hit a post office, but they aborted the armed robbery after noticing that the security guards loaded only a small sum of money in the ATM, making the potential rewards not worth the risk. Then, on September 6, they were unlucky, as the armored truck they were targeting never arrived at the Rome post office they had planned to hit. According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, another armed robbery was aborted by the senior citizens because one of them the 66-year-old key maker had incontinence problems and needed to get prostate surgery. Photo: Maxim Hopman/Unsplash The experienced gang was finally caught on November 6, when they attempted to rob a post office on Via Calpurnio Pisone, oblivious to the fact that they were under police surveillance. As usual, the bricklayers made a hole in the wall and cocealed it with plywood. Thats how three of the gang members entered the post office, but as they were getting ready to escape with 152,000 euros ($165,000), they were apprehended by the police. During the investigation, prosecutors learned that the three elderly leaders De Witt, Pula and Baruzzo rarely talked on the phone, rightly suspecting that police could be listening. Instead, they often met at an obscure bar to lay down their plans for the next operation. All three were old acquintances of the police. De Witts first arrest was in 1971, which was followed up by dozens of well-documented crimes, while his two collaborators had their own impressive criminal records. The six were arrested on armed robbery charges, and following a short trial, the three leaders were sentenced to four years in prison. The Ukrainian Defense Forces "have more means and tools" to destroy the aviation of the aggressor country Russia. The Russian command and pilots of the Russian army understand all the risks. ADVERTISIMENT Therefore, the occupation forces have begun to plan operations on the front line in Ukraine involving helicopters and airplanes in more detail. This was stated by the spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ihnat, Channel 24 reports. In particular, as Ignat explained, Russian troops are "cautiously" striking with guided missiles and bombs, because they understand all the risks. The speaker also noted that the destruction of Russian aviation for the aggressor country is a loss of money, but the elimination of pilots also means precious time and resources spent on training and preparation of pilots. "The enemy has seriously intensified its activities in the eastern sector, particularly in Avdiivka. The Air Force has more means and tools to reach the enemy at long distances, and this has improved our ability to shoot down Russian aircraft," explained the spokesman. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on February 17, Ukrainian soldiers shot down three Russian aircraft in the eastern part of Ukraine. These were two Su-34 fighter-bombers and a Su-35 fighter jet, from which the occupiers dropped precision-guided missiles, in particular in the Avdiivka area. The pilot of one of the downed Russian fighters directed the plane at a Ukrainian village. On February 18, the Ukrainian Air Force shot down another Russian Su-34. The enemy aircraft was also destroyed in the eastern direction. At the same time, on the morning of February 19, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed a Su-34 fighter-bomber and a Su-35S fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Both enemy planes landed in the eastern part of Ukraine. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Port of Dublin Floats PR/Marketing RFP Fri., Mar. 15, 2024 The Port of Dublin, which handles 50 percent of Irelands total trade and 80 percent of its containerized traffic, wants a PR/marketing services firm to position it as an essential state asset. Rentokil, Irelands leading pest control provider, has recorded a 29% increase in the reporting of rats nationally in January of this year compared to callouts in January 2023. The company has issued a caution to homeowners and businesses against the prevalent threat of rats. Notably, Cork witnessed the most pronounced increase during this period, with a 50% increase in rat-related callouts in January 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Similarly, the Northwest region and Dublin experienced increases of 33% and 32%, respectively, during the same period. Rats pose a significant threat to both residential and commercial properties, being widely acknowledged as the countrys primary pest concern. Rentokil emphasises the importance of implementing rodent-proofing solutions to prevent these creatures from infiltrating premises. Among the recommended solutions is Rentokils Flexi Armour, a robust method utilising durable materials like Kevlar and knitted steel mesh to create impenetrable barriers against rats. Rats are the top pest threat that premises and businesses need to be aware of due to the significant damage they can cause to properties and assets. Rats spend extended periods every day grinding down their teeth on surrounding objects, and as a result, they can chew through utility lines, electrical wires, and other key infrastructure. Signs of rat activity to be aware of include droppings, scratching noises, and footprints. The presence of rats in a business also poses a serious reputational risk, as well as a health risk due to the potential spread of diseases through their bodily fluids and excrement. Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil said: Rentokil is encouraging home and business owners to be mindful of the presence of rats in their premises after a 29% increase in rat callouts nationwide was observed. Members of the public can find out more about the signs of a rat infestation as well as how to discourage their presence by visiting the Rentokil website. Both homeowners and businesses must remain vigilant against the threat posed by rats. Implementing effective rodent-proofing solutions like Rentokil's Flexi Armour is crucial in safeguarding properties against these persistent pests. In recent days, Russian troops have made minor advances near Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia sector and confirmed an offensive near Krynky on the left bank of the Kherson region, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding their positions. The occupiers also claimed to have "captured" the village of Peremoha near Maryinka. ADVERTISIMENT Russian bloggers talked about the "successes" of their forces in some other areas of the front line, but analysts found no evidence of this. What happened at the front on February 21 is described in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Kupyansk and Lyman directions The day before, positional fighting continued on the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line (near Synkivka, Tabaivka, Terny, Torske and Bilohorivka), but there were no confirmed changes in the front line. Ivan Shevtsov, a representative of the Ukrainian border guard detachment "Steel Frontier", said that Russian troops on the Kupyansk-Lyman line are attacking with armored vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and armored personnel carriers due to favorable weather conditions. ADVERTISIMENT According to him, there are 40,000 occupants in a powerful grouping of Russian troops, but it cannot move forward. He did not name the specific area where the enemy is concentrated. At the same time, ISW analysts noted that Shevtsov's statement is relatively consistent with other Ukrainian statements, according to which, as of February 2, there were 40,000 Russian troops in the Kupyansk sector, and a total of 57,000 invaders had gathered on the Kupyansk-Lyman line. Bakhmut direction On February 21, there were no confirmed changes in the front line near Bakhmut, where positional fighting continued in the area of Vyymka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, and Klishchiyivka. A Russian blogger claimed that Russian troops had advanced to Ivano-Daryivka in the Siversky sector, but ISW did not see any visual confirmation of this. The propagandist also said that Russian troops are trying their best to capture Ivanivske, as the village is surrounded by hills to the north and northwest, as well as open terrain to the east and south. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets said that Russian forces are concentrating their efforts in the direction of Bohdanivka - Chasiv Yar along the O0506 road and through Bohdanivka - north and northeast of Ivanivske, as well as around Klishchiyivka, bypassing the heights north and northwest of the settlement. Avdiivka direction It is noted that Russian troops have recently made a slight advance northwest of Avdiivka and have probably completed operations to "clean up" the city. In particular, the occupiers made a small advance on the eastern outskirts of Lastochkino. Positional fighting continued there and in the area of Stepove, Severne, Pervomayske and Nevelske. ADVERTISIMENT According to propagandists, the occupants are trying to build and stabilize a new defense line in the Avdiivka sector. Maryinka direction "No later than February 21, Russian troops captured Peremoha, a small village southwest of Donetsk. Geo-referenced footage shows Russian troops raising a flag on a destroyed building in the western part of Peremoha. Russian and some Ukrainian sources claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces left Peremoha on February 20," the ISW report says. It is noted that Russia's 225th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment "seized the settlement after pushing Ukrainian troops out of their positions." Russian bloggers now claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have retreated to positions on the hills west of Peremoha, and the invaders "may decide to attack them in the direction of Kostiantynivka or Heorhiivka" along the H-15 highway. ADVERTISIMENT According to analysts, during the "capture" of Peremoha, the occupiers cut the O0532 road running from the recently captured Maryinka (directly west of Donetsk) through Peremoha towards Kostiantynivka, where they could try to advance along this route. Some propagandists are now claiming that by "taking" Peremoha, Russian troops will be able to conduct offensive operations in the Vuhledar direction or intercept Ukrainian logistics routes leading to Vuhledar. "Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on reports of the capture of Peremoha by Russian troops," ISW emphasized, although changes in this section of the front have already been recorded on DeepState's dashboard. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, the occupants also advanced to the southern outskirts of Krasnohorivka, but experts have not yet found evidence of this. Today, positional fighting continues near Heorhiivka, Peremoha and Novomykhailivka. Zaporizhzhya sector On February 21, in the border area of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, positional fighting continued near Prechystivka, Zolota Niva and Novozlatopol. The occupiers claimed to have made progress near Novodonetsk, but there is no evidence of this. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, ISW says, Russian troops "have achieved confirmed success" in the western part of Zaporizhzhia region. The analysts refer to geo-referenced footage that allegedly shows the invaders advancing in the western part of Robotyno and west of Verbove. A Russian blogger, citing unnamed Ukrainian analysts, said that the occupiers had advanced 2.02 km in width and 650 meters in depth near Novoprokopivka, but ISW has not seen any visual confirmation of this. Positional fighting continued in the area of Verbove, Robotyne and Mala Tokmachka. The commander of the Tavria unit, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that Russian troops in the Orikhiv sector are trying to move in small infantry groups and on high-speed all-terrain vehicles, but their attacks are unsuccessful. ADVERTISIMENT Kherson direction According to ISW, the occupants confirmed an offensive in Krynky on the left bank of the Kherson region, as Russian bloggers continue to deny Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's recent statement about full control of the village. "Geo-referenced footage released on February 20 shows that the occupiers have advanced in Krynky. Russian sources mostly claimed that Ukrainian forces retained their positions in the village and that the Russians were not yet in full control," ISW said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 64 combat engagements took place on the Ukrainian front on February 21. Russian troops attempted an offensive in the Kharkiv region and stormed the positions of the Defense Forces on the left bank of the Kherson region. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The outcome of the war unleashed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine will determine the future of future generations of Europeans. Putin's Russia will remain the greatest threat to Europe for the foreseeable future. ADVERTISIMENT Therefore, Germany will make every effort to ensure that dictator Vladimir Putin does not achieve the goals of his imperial war. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assured of further support for Ukraine. On February 22, in a speech from the rostrum of the Bundestag, he called on the West to jointly confront the threat,Ukrinform reports. Pistorius said that he had talked to Ukrainian soldiers fighting against the Russian occupiers. The soldiers told the German politician that they had taken up arms so that their children would not have to do the same. "For Ukraine, this war is about everything... It is about the freedom and security of more than 40 million Ukrainians, about the sovereignty of the state," the German Defense Minister reminded. The war has been going on in Ukraine for 10 years - only because one "imperialist in Moscow" wanted it so, Pistorius emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT He warned that Putin is targeting not only Ukraine, but all democratic societies. For example, Russian propaganda, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks are trying to destabilize the situation in Germany and other Western countries. "For Putin, it is more than just Ukraine. He is not afraid of the threat from NATO or Ukraine's combat capability. He is afraid that the free democratic world will threaten his power," the minister said. "The way the world responds to aggression now will affect future generations, including those in Germany. Therefore, everything must be done to counter the threat. The head of the German defense ministry said that Berlin is transferring a large number of weapons to Kyiv, but at the same time, Germany has done more for its own security over the past two years than in the previous 50. ADVERTISIMENT "It is not only about supporting Ukraine, but also about our security. It costs money," Pistorius stated. To recap: On February 22, the Bundestag rejected the opposition's proposal to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. A little later, German parliamentarians voted in favor of a coalition recommendation to provide Ukraine with long-range systems for "pinpoint strikes deep in the rear." This resolution does not name any specific weapons. The final decision on whether to provide missiles to the Ukrainian Defense Forces remains with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! An aircraft of the Russian occupation forces dropped another FAB-250 bomb on the territory of the Belgorod region. Due to this incident, the authorities had to evacuate local residents. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by ASTRA. Thus, on February 18, a FAB-250 was found in the village of Soloti. The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, called the bomb an "explosive object" and did not voice the reasons for its appearance. "In the Valuysky urban district in the village of Soloty, an engineering group of the Russian Defense Ministry found and eliminated an explosive object. There were no consequences," he wrote. At the same time, as noted, the authorities evacuated about 150 local residents. It is noteworthy that Russian planes have already dropped at least 5 FAB-250 aircraft bombs in the Belgorod region. ADVERTISIMENT In January, military aircraft of the aggressor country Russia lost two more bombs on its territory. The FAB-250 was found in the village of Postnikov and in the village of Streletske in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ukraine will have the right to launch strikes using American F-16 fighters against Russian military targets outside Ukraine. We are talking about the occupiers' targets on the territory of the Russian aggressor country. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with Radio Liberty published on Wednesday, January 21. He noted that, according to international law, Ukraine has the right to self-defense. However, the allies have different opinions on strikes on Russian territory. It is possible that each country that will provide Kyiv with fighter jets will discuss this issue bilaterally with Ukraine. "Different allies have slightly different policies on this. But in general, this is Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine in flagrant violation of international law. And under international law, Ukraine has the right to self-defense. And this also includes striking legitimate military targets - Russian military targets outside of Ukraine. This is international law," Stoltenberg said. ADVERTISIMENT As for the timing of Ukraine's receipt of the F-16, the allies will listen to experts to determine the readiness of the aircraft for delivery, as well as the level of training of Ukrainian pilots and infrastructure in Ukraine. "It is impossible to say exactly when, because it is a dilemma. We all want the F-16s to be there (in Ukraine - Ed.) as soon as possible. At the same time, of course, the effect of the F-16 will be stronger and better the more trained and prepared the pilots are. And not only pilots, but also maintenance, personnel and all the support systems that should be available," added the NATO Secretary General. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis held extensive talks in New Delhi to impart new energy to the bilateral ties. India and Greece agreed to work towards co-production and co-development of military hardware and decided to firm up a mobility and migration pact as soon as possible. The pact would provide employment opportunities for Indians in Greece besides easing flow of students and business people between the two countries. The two leaders discussed ways to bolster connectivity including through India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and that the private sector would be encouraged to roll out bilateral flight services. The IMEC is seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations. The two sides decided on a series of new initiatives to double bilateral trade by 2030, a target that was set during Modi's visit to Greece in August last year. India-Greece relations were elevated to Strategic Partnership following PM Modis trip. The two sides deliberated on increasing cooperation in many areas like pharma, medical devices, technology, innovation, skill development, agriculture and space. There has also been a resolve for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean region. India-Greece bilateral ties Indias contacts with Greece began over 2,500 years ago. Trading between the Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings. In 326 BC, Alexanders expedition led him to the North-Western part of the Indian subcontinent as far as the Hyphasis (Beas River), where he fought with Raja Puru, King of Paurava between the Jhelum and Chenab, and Ambhi who ruled at Taxila. Gandhara art is believed to be a fusion of Indian and Greek influences. Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in May 1950. Greece opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1950 and India in Athens in 1978. The two main forums for conducting bilateral talks are Joint Economic Committee (JEC) and Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). It meets alternatively in Delhi and Athens. India and Greece have signed many agreements on various sectors like Avoidance of Double Taxation (1967), Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in 1983, on Cultural Relations in 1961 which resulted in several Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEPs), on Tourism in 1998, on Defence Cooperation in 1998, and an MoU on Agricultural Cooperation in 2001. The main export items from India to Greece are aluminum, organic chemicals, fish and crustaceans, iron and steel, plastic and textile articles, etc. The main import items from Greece are aluminium foil, mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, lime and cement, nuclear reactors, etc. The bilateral merchandise trade stood at about $2 billion in 2022-23. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 518 identified soldiers of undivided India, sacrificed their lives, defending the Allied cause in Southern Europe during World War-I were buried/commemorated in different cemeteries in the territory of Greece. Dimitrios Galanos, who was born in Athens in 1760, spent 47 years in India. He translated many Hindu texts into Greek and compiled a Sanskrit-English-Greek dictionary of over 9,000 words. He died on May 3, 1833 in Varanasi. A Dimitrios Galanos Chair for Hellenic Studies was established at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in September 2000. For some time, it's been apparent that the world's nations are not meeting the growing challenges to human survival. A key challenge comes from modern war. Over the centuries, as military weapons have grown ever more destructive, war-related devastation has grown accordingly. World War II was the deadliest military conflict in human history, with an estimated 70-85 million people perishing from the war directly or through war-caused disease, famine, and other indirect factors. Most of the dead were civilians. In addition, many millions of people were wounded--blinded, crippled, driven mad, or otherwise ravaged by the vast carnage. Large portions of the globe had become a charnel house, with the battered survivors left to desperately scavenge for food amid the burnt-out rubble and ruin. Although some scholars have pointed out that warfare has declined since then, and especially since the end of the Cold War, there was a sharp turnabout in 2022, when the wars in Ethiopia and Ukraine contributed to more battle-related deaths than in any year since 1994. By late 2023, Russia's military invasion of Ukraine alone had produced an estimated 315,000 killed or injured Russian troops, while the number of casualties among Ukrainian troops and civilians, though unknown, is certainly enormous. Among these and the many other wars currently raging--in Sudan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, the Sahel, and Syria, to name only a few--the recent one in Gaza, with the fastest daily death rate of the 21st century, is particularly alarming, having already led to nearly 30,000 deaths and nearly 70,000 injuries. And then, of course, there's nuclear war, which emerged in 1945 with the utter annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and which now has the capacity to end virtually all life on earth. Amid public threats from leaders of nuclear-armed nations to launch a nuclear war, the editors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have set their "Doomsday Clock" at its closest ever to apocalypse. War--particularly nuclear war--is probably the fastest way to extinguish the human race, but there are other crises underway that, on a longer-range basis, seem likely to accomplish the same task. The most serious of these crises is environmental. In recent decades, there has been a rapid loss of biodiversity, with the sixth mass extinction of wildlife clearly accelerating. Pollution has grown dramatically. This includes pollution of land and water caused by chemicals and by plastic (which takes 400 years to decompose) and of the air caused by industrial, motor vehicle, and other emissions (leading to an estimated 4.2 to 7 million human deaths annually). Damage to the soil, caused especially by use of toxic chemicals and other pollutants, as well as by deforestation, has become particularly severe. The United Nations has estimated that some 40 percent of the planet's soil is now degraded. A key element in the environmental collapse is the growing climate catastrophe, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. Melting icecaps and rising sea levels, unprecedented hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, and ocean acidification are all well underway. Together with unsustainable farming practices, rising temperatures have produced growing food and water scarcity. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declared that, unless immediate action is taken, there will be a "global food emergency that could have long term impacts on hundreds of millions of adults and children." Furthermore, it is estimated that, by 2025, two-thirds of the world's people might face water shortages. Commenting on the deteriorating climate situation, Guterres declared gloomily in September 2023 that "humanity has opened the gates to hell". The rise of rightwing nationalism provides yet another challenge to human survival. In recent years, rightwing political movements--headed by authoritarian demagogues such as Donald Trump (United States), Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil), Vladimir Putin (Russia), Narendra Modi (India), Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkey), Marine Le Pen (France), Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel), Viktor Orban (Hungary), and their counterparts in other lands--have transformed the landscape of world politics. Appealing to xenophobia, militarism, racism, and religious prejudice, they have made great strides toward stirring up longstanding hatreds in their ruthless quest for power. A key to their success along these lines has been their call to revive the ostensible glory of their own nations by purging their internal enemies and triumphing over other, ostensibly inferior, countries abroad. Redolent of the fascist movements of the 1930s, this Radical Right approach portends worldwide turmoil, violence, and destruction. Of course, it might not be too late to head off these developments. After all, in the twentieth century, humanity did manage to defeat the drive of the rightwing maniacs who established fascist regimes and launched vast wars to rule the world. In the aftermath of the chaos and destruction of World War II, humanity did manage to create the United Nations and to extend the range of international law. And, still later, as the planet stood on the brink of nuclear war, humanity did manage to roll back the nuclear menace and, for a time, halt the nuclear arms race and curb the prevalence of war. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Novosol, a global frontrunner in mobile advertising technology with its breakthrough moLotus mobile video customer interaction platform and business model. Its partnership with Indosat has got off to a good start in 2023 with campaigns for well known brands like Suzuki, HSBC, DBS, Amazon, and more. moLotus is innovating new revenue streams for Telcos via mobile advertising, knowledge transfers, digital transformation, and subscriber monetization. These initiatives directly address key challenges faced Mainseed Christian University proudly announces its inaugural commencement ceremony, a landmark event celebrating academic achievement, personal and professional growth, and the bright futures of its pioneer graduating Honoris Causa cohort. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on April 6, 2024, starting at 11:00 AM EST at the prestigious AURORA Theatre. Event Highlights: - Date & Time: April 6, 2024, 11:00 AM EST - Venue: AURORA Theatre Mainseed Christian University is delighted to host Bhopal, 22/02/2024 - People's University, a renowned institution committed to academic excellence, is proud to announce a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at elevating the standard of education and fostering innovation in various disciplines. Global Collaborations: Embracing a global perspective, the university has forged partnerships with esteemed institutions worldwide, offering students opportunities for international exposure, collaborative research, and cultural exchange programs. Technology-Enhanced Learning: To meet the evolving needs of the digital age, The shared-office company WeWork said its reached a deal to keep its last remaining Portland location open as the company reorganizes in bankruptcy. The Lloyd District location at 830 N.E. Holladay St. is the only one left in the city after the company vacated the downtown Power & Light Building early this year. WeWork previously closed shared offices in the Pioneer Place mall and the U.S. Custom House on the North Park Blocks. As a result of a missile strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on February 20 on a training ground in the Donetsk region, at least 68 soldiers of the 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (military unit 06705) from Trans-Baikal were killed. This number of deaths became known from a list circulated in Russian volunteer chats. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by Vazhdennye Istori. In addition, some of the occupiers on the list posted comments on their social media pages confirming their deaths. One of the unit's employees confirmed to the publication that such a number of Russian soldiers were killed while lining up in front of the commander of the 29th Army of the Eastern District, Major General Oleg Moiseev. According to him, the impact was so strong that"everything flew apart" and"there were a lot of wounded," some of whom were sent to a hospital in Rostov-on-Don. ADVERTISIMENT The names of 66 soldiers are known, but two could not be identified. The publication also found pages on social media that probably belonged to some of the dead. For example, comments appeared under the photo of one of the deceased, Oleksandr Rustamov: "Rest in peace, Sasha!", "I love you, daddy, soft clouds". Oleksandr himself had last logged into his account a day earlier. In January, he was still raising money on behalf of the soldiers of the 36th Brigade for "equipment to quickly and effectively combat nationalist air targets." The day before the incident, other soldiers from the list also appeared online: Oleksandr Pusev, Serhiy Petrov, Oleksiy Filimonov, Vitaliy Ishchenko and Denys Sakhatsky. A large number of wounded and dead are also reported in the occupiers' volunteer chats. In particular, Russian volunteers are concerned about whether there are enough packages for the "200s". ADVERTISIMENT "Less than two months ago, we were congratulating young, cheerful men on the New Year, they all dreamed of getting home to their "Snow Maidens" as soon as possible, and today hundreds of families are in trouble, forever ... I want to howl at this realization. But you don't howl, you ask gently if there are enough packages for 200 people. Thinking to yourself: we need to order urgently, we are completely out of stock," they write. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A 31-year-old Portland man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court to accusations that he fatally shot a private security guard in Portlands South Waterfront. U.S. marshals arrested Cedrick Damon Washington Jr. on Tuesday and booked him into the Multnomah County Detention Center on allegations of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon, jail booking records show. Portland police suspect Washington of fatally shooting 22-year-old Sircharles Sir Marc Anthony Jones shortly after 3 a.m. on May 6, 2022. Sircharles Marc Anthony Jones, 22, was shot and killed in Portland's South Waterfront on Friday, May 6, 2022. Jones was working as a security guard at the time he was killed, police said. He was found dead in a vehicle at the scene. Officers responded to the shooting in the back parking lot of the Marriott hotel at 2115 South River Parkway, where they found Jones dead in the drivers seat of his girlfriends white Mitsubishi sedan. He had been shot in the head, and the car was riddled with bullet holes. Jones was killed while patrolling the area that night as a security guard for Cascadia Global Security, where hed worked for two years. Portland police did not publicly identify a suspect in the fatal shooting until announcing Washingtons arrest on Wednesday. Washington was convicted in Multnomah County Circuit Court of fourth-degree assault in February 2013, court records show. -- Catalina Gaitan covers public safety, politics, policing and more. You can reach Catalina at cgaitan@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. A juvenile justice reform advocate who once lobbied lawmakers from Salem to Washington, D.C., to offer more pathways for rehabilitation saw his own murder charge dismissed Thursday. Bobby Tsow faced the charge for his role in a fatal drive-by shooting; prosecutors said he was driving when his friend Tyreik Credit pulled out a gun and shot a stranger following a minor quarrel in Northeast Portland in November 2019. A man who pummelled a food cart owner while uttering racist slurs was sentenced Wednesday to three years in state prison. Daniel T. Warren, 40, could face more time behind bars if he doesnt complete two implicit bias classes led by the University of Oregon, receive drug treatment, perform 48 hours of community service at Union Gospel Mission in Portland, or a similar organization, and read a book about racism or white fragility, according to an attorney representing food cart owner Darell Preston. The number of students attending public school in Oregon hasnt bottomed out yet, four years after a pandemic-fueled exodus. New data from the Oregon Department of Education shows that the states 197 public school districts are educating about 5,000 fewer students now than they were in the 2022-2023 academic year and around 33,000 fewer than before the pandemic closed school buildings. Before the pandemic, about 580,000 students attended public school in Oregon. Now, there are around 547,400, according to the state agencys data, which is based on fall attendance records. Thats a 6% decline overall since the fall of 2019 and a .9% drop from last year. The primary drivers are declining birth rates and families moving out of state, alongside a rise in home-schooling and transfers to private schools. Past reporting by The Oregonian/OregonLive found that some youth left schooling altogether. As in the past few years, the steepest losses are concentrated in elementary and middle schools. The declines have been markedly steeper in some school districts, including Portland Public Schools. Though it remains the largest in the state, the district saw a 1.6% drop in enrollment this year and now has about 43,980 students, a 9.5% decrease since the fall of 2019. Because Portland Public Schools continues to lose students at a faster clip than other districts, the overall state funding that follows students is reduced accordingly, said Myong Leigh, the districts interim deputy superintendent for operations. Forecasts call for 600 fewer students to matriculate in the fall, he said, enough to fill two elementary schools. If everyone shrinks at the same rate, the proportion of the pie stays the same, he said during a school board meeting this week. But currently we are not shrinking at the same rate. The district has begun the contentious process of outlining budget cuts for the upcoming school year, citing declining enrollment alongside sunsetting federal pandemic aid and the costs of fulfilling labor contracts with unions representing teachers and other school professionals. At Tuesdays board meeting, Leigh said that the central office would absorb half of an expected $30 million worth of cuts, though the vast bulk of the districts overall budget goes directly to school buildings. But parents said they were frustrated that the proposed central office cuts include staff that travel from school to school to support students with significant disabilities, including those who help feed students who cannot eat by themselves without risk of choking, autism specialists who work with children who need extra support and those who run physical education classes adapted for students with disabilities. Among metro area districts, only a handful defied enrollment trends and added students this year, including North Clackamas and David Douglas. A handful of others stayed essentially flat, including Tigard-Tualatin, West Linn-Wilsonville and Centennial. Besides Portland, the largest losses were in Beaverton, which is down by about 660 students, or 1.7%, Hillsboro, which lost about 150 students, or 0.8% of its student body, and Gresham-Barlow, which lost almost 90 students, or 0.8%. Across the country, school districts from Wichita to Fairbanks to San Antonio have announced plans to close or merge schools as a strategy to cope with declining enrollment. So far, few school districts in Oregon are following suit, though the Malheur Enterprise has reported on plans by the Ontario school district to close two elementary schools. The exodus from public schools continues to be driven primarily by white and Native American students. The number of Latino, Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander students ticked upward this school year. Julia Silverman covers schools and education policy for The Oregonian. She can be reached via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com or follow her on X at @jrlsilverman Oregon lawmakers decided they dont have enough time to research, debate and pass a bill this session that would allow parents and guardians to force their children to enter residential programs for drug addiction treatment. As initially written, Senate Bill 1547 would have given parents the authority to require their children to be evaluated and, if needed, enter addiction treatment for up to 14 days even if the minor did not consent. The Senate Human Services Committee kept the rest of the bill, which would address other parts of the addiction crisis and health care workforce shortage. As it is now, the bill would start a pilot program using the 988 crisis line to connect drug users to a pharmacy or hospital to access medication to treat their addiction. That service would be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week just as it is for other behavioral crises, including suicide prevention. Those services would continue to be available. The bills chief sponsor, Sen. Cedric Hayden, a Republican from rural Lane County, said during a committee hearing Monday that the program would give someone immediate help to treat their addiction, regardless of the day or time. A big problem now is that people often have to wait for help, and by the time its available, they might not be still interested. Hayden proposes dedicating $5 million to start the program under the Oregon Health Authority. The bill also would require health insurers to cover medically necessary treatment for minors when they are addicted to cannabis. And it would address the shortage of emergency medical responders by requiring the health authority to study ways to recognize the training and experience of military-trained medics to license veterans as emergency medical technicians or paramedics. Hayden said that would help rural areas with shortages of emergency medical responders. Opinions vary on mandatory treatment The bill will go to the Senate Rules Committee, which can pass the portions that remain. The original idea of mandatory treatment is likely to come up next session. Hayden said the intent of the proposal was to enable parents and guardians, including foster parents, to get their children into treatment. Oregons foster care system, run by the Oregon Department of Human Services, has faced criticism for housing foster children in temporary hotel rooms when they lack appropriate placements. Many of those children have been abused or suffered trauma and are already vulnerable even in a stable setting. Hayden stressed during the hearing that the bill would not have allowed parents to dump their children off at a residential treatment center. The kids would need an evaluation and a finding that the child could benefit from residential treatment for up to 14 days. But theres a problem: capacity. Paul Bryant, executive director of Madrona Recovery, which serves adolescents in the Portland area, said treatment centers lack space and are not equipped for involuntary admissions. We dont have enough beds right now in the state to make this work, he said, adding that treatment centers would need to change their physical layouts. Demand is already high for voluntary admissions. Madrona Recovery is currently serving nine youth, with 32 others on a waiting list. Bryant said it would be possible to make involuntary admissions work with more programs and infrastructure. Sefana Wilde, a Portland mother who lost her 15-year-old son Isa Wilde to a fentanyl overdose in 2023, urged lawmakers to take action, holding up a photo of her son. We really need to make movements and make action and get our heads out of you-know-where into thinking that for whatever reason it is logical or sound to give the decision to receive treatment to a child, she said, adding that children cannot vote, get tattoos, own firearms or enlist in the military. We have as a society recognized they are not old enough to make all these different kinds of decisions. When a child cannot make a decision, Wilde said, they need help. They cannot do that on their own. It is unfair and it is a losing battle. Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, a Corvallis Democrat who chairs the committee, said that over the coming year, lawmakers will look more deeply at the issue and address concerns, such as how to narrowly craft it to cover children with very severe needs. Its an incredibly important conversation, Gelser Blouin said in an interview. It really is a life or death situation. When the session started, lawmakers warned they would not have time to tackle every part of the drug addiction crisis, despite making it a priority during the short session, which is 35 days. -- Ben Botkin, Oregon Capital Chronicle; bbotkin@oregoncapitalchronicle.com Oregon Capital Chronicle is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit. A pillar of many Indigenous communities across the Pacific Northwest, Yakama elder Ted Strong passed away on Jan. 30, 2024. He was 76 years old. That same day, hundreds of Native community members gathered in Portland for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Winter Convention. When word arrived that Strong had passed on, they took a moment of silence followed by an honor song from representatives of the Yakama Nation. A leader, husband, father, grandfather and more, Strong was well-known and loved throughout his community. Strong wore many hats, serving in a myriad of leadership roles. Perhaps most notably, he served as executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission from 1990 to 1999, according to a memorial that ran on the CRITFC website. Following his tenure at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Strong served as chief judge of the Yakama Tribal Court and director of the Yakama Tribal Housing Authority. Most recently, he served as vice president of corporate responsibility at the Yakama Chief Hops Association. He was deeply imbued with the tribal culture and spiritual values and he wanted the staff, both Native and non, to really understand it and have it inform our work in a way it hadnt until he got there, said Laura Berg, public information manager at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission from 1981 to 1996. As executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, composed of Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Nez Perce nations, Strong worked to strengthen tribal sovereignty and advocate for salmon restoration. Part of his lasting legacy there is the comprehensive restoration plan for upriver salmon that Strong directed staff to create and presented to Congress in 1996. Originally named the Tribal Restoration Plan, the plan was later amended and named Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit, meaning for the spirit of the salmon. He was a visionary, said Berg. He saw the importance of science and excellence. The plan ties together traditional ecological knowledge and western science in order to center a holistic approach to salmon restoration in the Columbia River Basin. The plan lays out goals and strategies to restore historical anadromous fish populations in perpetuity, according to the website. As a champion of implementing strategies to advance ecosystem health, Strong needed to have a way with words and an ability to eloquently express the importance of prioritizing the rivers and the species that rely upon them. Throughout his career and advocacy work, Strong became well known for his ability to captivate a crowd with his speeches. I remember his remarks at the Pacific Northwest Forest Conference, Berg said. He had the traditional skill of an orator like nobody Ive ever met. In 1993, then-President Bill Clinton called for a Northwest Forest Summit in Portland to address controversy over the use of Pacific Northwest national forests. Strong addressed the room during the conference, representing tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Following his speech, President Clinton appointed Strong to the Presidents Council on Sustainable Development, chaired by then-Vice President Al Gore, according to the CRITFC website. Present day America is approximately 10 generations old, Strong said in his speech. For 690 generations, ecosystem management was defined, illustrated and scientifically concluded by each generation of American Indians living on this land. In our time as Natives on this land, our forests grew as many salmon as trees. In the short 10 generations, one broad sweep of the geological second hand, America has reduced its lifeforms to struggling endangered species. His words still ring true today. But the fight for ecological restoration and the health of the salmon continues a fight Strong deeply influenced. Underscore News is a nonprofit investigative newsroom committed to Indigenous-centered reporting in the Pacific Northwest. We are supported by foundations and donor contributions. Follow Underscore on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. The Democratic primary for Oregon state treasurer is growing increasingly competitive with the addition Thursday of a third candidate, state Sen. Jeff Golden of Ashland. Golden confirmed in a text message to the Capital Chronicle his intent to run against another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner of Portland, and Jeff Gudman, a former city councilor from Lake Oswego who ran unsuccessfully for treasurer as a Republican in 2016 and 2020. No Republicans have yet announced they will run for treasurer, while Seth Woolley, a software engineer, is seeking for the Pacific Green Party nomination. I plan to offer Oregon voters a different vision for leadership of the state treasury, Golden said. Golden didnt discuss his plans in depth, saying hell wait until the legislative session is over in early March. He has not yet filed his candidacy with the Secretary of States Office. The treasurer oversees state investments, including the $94 billion Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, or PERS, and manages public banking and saving programs including the Oregon College Savings Plan and OregonSaves, a retirement plan for self-employed workers. Steiner, a family physician and instructor at Oregon Health & Science University, is considered a frontrunner for the job having served as co-chair of the powerful budget making Joint Ways and Means Committee for the last five years. One of the values of democracy is bringing a wide range of ideas to the table, Steiner said via email. If Senator Golden does jump into this race, I look forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and discussing those ideas. Golden, a former Jackson County commissioner and broadcast journalist, has served in the Senate since 2018 and is chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. The two Democrats are at odds in the Legislature this year, diverging on who should pay for necessary increases in state wildfire funding. Oregons current state treasurer, Tobias Read, is running for secretary of state after serving for nearly eight years in the job. -- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle, abaumhardt@oregoncapitalchronicle.com The Oregon Capital Chronicle is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy. Portland and Gresham leaders continue to push back on Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pedersons reluctance to change ambulance staffing requirements in response to slow arrivals. Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall, County Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Sharon Meieran and the Gresham and Portland fire chiefs gathered Wednesday in the Centennial neighborhood at Fire Station 31 to blast the county chair. They chose the station because Portland and Gresham firefighters both operate from it. Portland and Gresham city councils passed resolutions this week urging the county to ditch its requirement that ambulances have two paramedics aboard in favor of a model that would be easier to staff one paramedic and one emergency medical technician. Portlands resolution passed with the support of Gonzalez, Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Mingus Mapps. American Medical Response, the ambulance provider, has said the proposal would help it improve response times. On Tuesday, Vega Pederson said AMR was trying to lower its standards, and that doing so would worsen medical care. The truth is, she said, AMR is failing our community. Vega Pederson also said a shift in staffing would further strain fire departments, which would put more burden on taxpayers, but Portlands Interim Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie said Wednesday that he disagreed. As far as future charges or future harm, Im not entirely clear on what the chair meant by that, Gillespie said. He said the EMT-and-paramedic model would put more ambulances on the road and reduce the stress on firefighters. Vega Pederson has said she would convene medical experts to propose a staffing solution within 30 days. Meieran and others, though, have said thats not soon enough. Meieran, an emergency room physician, said that she planned to bring a resolution to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to urge Vega Pederson to approve the staffing change immediately. She is backed by Brim-Edwards. I think what the chair needs to hear is that we need action now, not a month from now, Brim-Edwards said. Meieran said that the EMT staffing model is only a temporary measure while the county develops a lasting solution to the paramedic shortage. The change in ambulance staffing model is the short- term fix, she said. Thats the immediate thing that we can do while we are working on the longer-term system issues. AMR director for Multnomah County, Robert McDonald, said that the company has tried other solutions to ease the high volume of calls, including an EMT-only ambulance program that responds to lower-level calls and a program called the low-acuity queue, which has a paramedic reassess people who have less urgent medical needs. While helpful, the programs havent been enough to solve the issue, McDonald said. We knew very early on that this was not going to be the answer, he said. McDonald said the company has offered incentives, such as overtime bonuses to paramedics and EMTs who take extra shifts. He estimated those bonuses cost the company over $120,000 per month. AMR is also in the process of finding fire departments and other ambulance services to subcontract with, including Metro West and the Cascade Locks Fire Department roughly 32 miles northeast of Gresham. McDonald said it would not bridge the gap in ambulance services, however. In a statement Wednesday, Vega Pedersons office said she has not ruled out anything at this point, but that she wants to make her next decisions thoughtfully in the interest of the publics medical care. Chair Jessica Vega Pederson wont compromise community safety because of political pressure, the statement said. Austin De Dios covers public safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. The Bundestag did not have enough votes to support the proposal to expand military aid to Ukraine. As a result, the German government once again postponed the transfer of Taurus air-launched cruise missiles to the Ukrainian army. ADVERTISIMENT Only 182 deputies voted in favor of transferring these missiles to Ukraine. At the same time, 480 people voted against, and 5 abstained. This was reported by the Rheinische Post. The supply of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine is being actively promoted in the Bundestag by the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz. His political force put to a vote a bill that explicitly mentioned this German weapons system. Merz called on coalition MPs to join the proposal, but the parliamentary majority did not support the initiative. "Ukraine still does not receive the full amount of resources it urgently needs to effectively deter Russia's aggressive war," Merz said. The day before, during a debate in the Bundestag, CDU leader Merz emphasized the urgency of supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles. In an address to members of the coalition factions, he said that Germany should finally supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces with these weapons systems. ADVERTISIMENT He also noted that Germany should learn lessons from history and remember that attempts to "appease a regime that no longer abides by any norms of international law" have the opposite effect. Moreover, CDU MPs called for recognizing Russia as an "existential threat." Merz also noted that further strengthening of sanctions against the aggressor country is necessary, and called for the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. Earlier, German media reported that the German government may soon decide to provide Ukraine with a new military aid package. At the time, it was said that it might include Taurus air-launched cruise missiles. The document did not mention these missiles directly, but it did mention the supply of additional long-range weapons systems. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz evaded answering questions about the supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and our country's prospects for NATO membership. He called the question of the need to supply cruise missiles "strange" and added that Berlin spends more on arms supplies than other European countries. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Al Dbaiba, has stressed the need for all the government institutions to join forces during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month scheduled for the first half of next March, to supply goods and merchandise and to stand up to brokers and speculators Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has announced the killing of 286 terrorists in the last week, but cautioned that "war against terrorists, insurgents and bandits wont be won by the use of military might alone" Photo: (Photo : J Pat Carter / Getty Images) In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Oklahoma community is grappling with the tragic death of a 16-year-old student who passed away a day after a school bathroom altercation. The incident, unfolding on February 7 at Owasso High School West Campus, northeast of Tulsa, has stirred deep concerns within the community, prompting a fervent search for answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise of the young individual. Authorities Navigate a Web of Unanswered Questions of Nex's Death As investigators meticulously sift through the aftermath, there's a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the alleged bullying that the student, identified as Nex Benedict, reportedly faced. The cause of Nex's death remains undisclosed, intensifying both community apprehension and the ongoing inquiry led by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office and the Owasso Police Department. As the community attempts to make sense of the tragedy, Lieutenant Nick Boatman, the spokesperson for Owasso Police, reveals that the cause of Nex's death remains veiled in uncertainty. The town of about 40,000 is now the focal point of a meticulous and exhaustive investigation, with authorities eagerly awaiting the crucial autopsy and toxicology results. Boatman stresses the need for patience, refraining from premature conclusions about potential charges until medical examiners provide more insight. The initial report that triggered the investigation came from a concerned parent who sought medical attention for Nex on February 7. What transpired during the altercation and the subsequent events leading to Nex's tragic demise remain a point of keen interest for both investigators and the grieving community. Allegations of Neglect: Details Emerge Amidst Heightened Concerns While the community grapples with sorrow, the lack of specific details surrounding Nex's identity adds an additional layer of complexity to the narrative. The Oklahoman's attempts to reach Nex's relatives have been met with silence, intensifying the mystery and sensitivity surrounding the situation. The national spotlight has turned toward Oklahoma, fueled by reports from 2 News in Tulsa, alleging that Nex and a classmate were subjected to physical assault in a school bathroom by three older students. A woman, purportedly the mother of the injured classmate, claims that school officials failed to promptly seek emergency medical care for Nex, raising questions about potential negligence. Read Also: Colorado University Student Arrested for Dorm Room Murders, Campus Mourns Loss School's Response and Community Unity In response to the allegations, Jordan Korphage, a spokesman for Owasso Schools, has defended the institution's procedures. Korphage explains that students involved in physical altercations are immediately evaluated by a registered nurse. Should further care be deemed necessary, protocols dictate transportation either by ambulance or, under parental supervision, to a medical facility. As the conflicting narratives continue to unfold, the community remains united in grief, seeking not only justice for Nex but also clarity in understanding the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. Nex Benedict, remembered for more than the circumstances of their passing, becomes a symbol of a broader conversation on school safety and the responsibility shared by educational institutions to ensure the well-being of their students. In the midst of sorrow and uncertainty, the Oklahoma community stands resilient, patiently awaiting the results of a thorough investigation that may shed light on the untimely death of a vibrant 16-year-old whose promising future was abruptly cut short. Related Article: Manatee Bay Elementary Faces Measles Outbreak: Florida Officials Mobilize Amidst Concerns The main ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, cruise missile carriers, are still afloat and can still fire on the territory of Ukraine. However, they are no longer using Kalibr missiles for strikes. ADVERTISIMENT Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Russian Navy, believes that Russia has problems with Kalibr because of military logistics. It is possible to load these missiles in Crimea, but the occupiers have been trying to avoid the peninsula lately. "As we can see, they have not used cruise missile carriers for a long time. The only confirmed salvo, four missiles from the Admiral Makarov frigate, was after the destruction of the Caesar Kunikov." This is an act of desperation, they could not keep silent in this situation. But having theoretically eight missiles on board, he used only four. This also speaks volumes," says Pletenchuk. The fact is that their Novorossiysk military base is not designed to load Kalibr missiles, and Russia can only equip its ships with such ballistics at the Sevastopol base. "And this is still a problem for them," noted the 3rd rank captain. ADVERTISIMENT "The aggressor has been well aware of the situation for quite some time. That is why it takes appropriate measures, such as dispersal of ship and boat personnel, change of basing points, periodic redeployment of ships between basing points, primarily Novorossiysk, Sochi, Tuapse," explained Pletenchuk. According to him, Russia has already lost a third of its fleet in the Black Sea. "It makes no sense to replenish (ammunition), because even the ships that are available now do not fully fulfill the tasks for which they are there," the military added. Photo: (Photo : Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) In a hands-on approach to addressing citizens' financial concerns, President Joe Biden announced a substantial $1.2 billion student debt relief program. This executive initiative is set to bring a much-needed financial boost to an estimated 153,000 borrowers, demonstrating the administration's commitment to alleviating the escalating issue of student debt. Presidential Decree: Biden Introduces Ambitious Student Debt Relief Program President Biden, in a decisive move, revealed the latest in a series of executive actions aimed at easing the burden of student loans. The comprehensive program introduces the Savings on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, creating a pathway for eligible borrowers to experience the anticipated financial relief. During the announcement, President Biden underscored the importance of empowering hard working American families through student debt relief, emphasizing its potential to unlock opportunities for recipients. The SAVE repayment plan, a pivotal aspect of this initiative, mandates participants to have spent a minimum of 10 years in repayment, having taken out no more than $12,000 in college loans. The chosen location, a library in the heart of Los Angeles County, reveals the administration's keen awareness of the current political climate. Recent disruptions at Democratic events have led to unconventional venue choices, showcasing a cautious approach amid geopolitical tensions. The decision to step away from the usual public university setting appears calculated, perhaps to minimize potential disruptions and ensure a controlled environment during crucial policy announcements. This adaptability highlights the administration's ability to navigate sensitive situations with finesse. Election Dynamics: Biden Targets Younger Voters with Financial Relief With less than nine months until the general election, President Biden's student debt relief initiative becomes a strategic move to regain support from a demographic crucial to his 2020 victory, younger voters. Recent surveys indicate a decline in support from this segment, making student debt a priority for the administration. The financial boost provided by the $1.2 billion relief program is strategically positioned as a substantial incentive for younger voters. As Biden faces the potential of a rematch with former President Donald Trump, addressing the concerns of the key 18-29 age group becomes imperative for electoral success. The administration recognizes the significance of winning back the trust of this demographic and is leveraging policy initiatives accordingly. Read Also: Manatee Bay Elementary Faces Measles Outbreak: Florida Officials Mobilize Amidst Concerns Unyielding Determination: Biden Addresses Potential Opposition and Legal Challenges Despite potential opposition and legal challenges, President Biden asserted his commitment to utilizing executive power to ease debt burdens. Undeterred by potential opposition from "MAGA Republicans" and the conservative majority in the Supreme Court that previously blocked a $20,000 student debt cancellation initiative, President Biden reasserted his commitment to utilizing executive power to ease debt burdens. This unwavering determination underscores the administration's dedication to its policy goals, irrespective of potential legal challenges. The SAVE repayment plan, integral to Biden's multi-faceted strategy, is presented as a solution adept at navigating potential legal challenges. The administration assures eligible borrowers that debt cancellations will be initiated promptly, accompanied by personalized notifications from President Biden. President Biden's $1.2 billion student debt relief initiative stands as a significant move in addressing a pressing concern for many Americans. The comprehensive approach, featuring the innovative SAVE repayment plan, not only promises a financial boost but also showcases the administration's adaptability in navigating a complex political landscape. As the relief program unfolds, its impact on both the economy and Biden's standing among younger voters will undoubtedly be closely monitored. Related Article: Boost Your Tax Refund: 15 States Offering Extra Child Tax Credit Money in 2024 Photo: (Photo : MAURICIO LIMA/AFP via Getty Images ) The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos can now be lawfully regarded as children under state law, an outcome that critics argue could have important indications for fertility remedy in the state. Supreme Court Decides that Frozen Embryos Be Legally Treated as 'Children' The ruling was issued in reply to wrongful death cases involving three couples whose frozen embryos were wrecked in a fertility clinic occurrence. Justices, implying anti-abortion language in the Alabama Constitution, decided that a state law from 1872 tolerating parents to sue for the death of a minor child applies to all unborn children, regardless of their whereabouts. According to Justice Jay Mitchell, who wrote the majority ruling for the all-Republican court, unborn children are considered 'children' without exception, regardless of their developmental stage or physical location. The decision has prompted concerns about its potential impact on fertility treatments, particularly in relation to the previous legal classification of embryos as property. Critics argue that the ruling essentially considers a fertilized egg, described as a clump of cells, as a legal person. This decision arose from cases where couples had frozen embryos destroyed in an accident at a fertility clinic. Advocates for reproductive rights worry that the ruling may disrupt in-vitro fertilization (IVF) practices, affecting the freezing, donation, or destruction of embryos. Fertility clinics are already feeling the impact, with at least one clinic in Alabama instructed to pause IVF treatments immediately after the ruling. Read Also: Early Pregnancy Symptoms: Guide on What To Do and Avoid During the First Trimester Varied Opinions on Frozen Embryos Reproductive health advocates, including Barbara Collura of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, express concerns about the potential consequences for individuals impacted by infertility who rely on IVF. The opinion could impact providers' capability to offer modern healthcare, as it may lead to legal difficulties and influence the possibility of fertility medication. Supporters of the ruling contend that it advocates the solemnity of unborn life, citing anti-abortion language added to the Alabama Constitution in 2018. Chief Justice Tom Parker provided a positive opinion in which he mentioned the Bible while conversing the relevance of the phrase "the sanctity of unborn life" in the Alabama Constitution. According to Parker, all human beings bear the image of God even before birth, and their lives should not be destroyed without diminishing God's glory. In contrast, Justice Greg Cook, the sole dissenter to the majority opinion, argued that the 1872 law lacked a definition for "minor child" and was being stretched beyond its original intent to cover frozen embryos. Cook expressed concern over the unprecedented nature of the majority opinion, asserting that no court in the country had reached a similar conclusion. He further argued that the ruling would possibly put an edge to the creation of frozen embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Alabama. The Alabama Supreme Court's ruling was persuaded, in part, by the anti-abortion language added to the state constitution in 2018, intensifying the "public policy of this state to safeguard the protection of the rights of the unborn child." Supporters initially claimed it reflected voters' beliefs and would have no impact unless states gained more control over abortion access, which did happen in 2022. However, critics argued that the amendment, essentially a "personhood" measure, could have broader consequences in civil and criminal law beyond abortion access by establishing constitutional rights for fertilized eggs. Related Article: Tennessee Parents Welcome Twins From Embryos Frozen 30 Years Ago Photo: (Photo : Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images ) In Washington, Jill Biden voiced on Wednesday a federal allocation of $100 million for research and development in women's well-being, marking an important outcome of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, a project she supervises. Jill Biden Revealed Funding for Research Focusing on Women's Health The funds, generated from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) under the Department of Health and Human Services, were popularized during the ARPA-H Sprint for Women's Health in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jill Biden emphasized the historical underfunding of women's health research and the initiative's goal to transform this by altering the approach and increasing financial support. Biden has remarked that women's knowledge about their health is limited due to historical underfunding and deficiencies in research. The White House initiative seeks to revolutionize the approach and augment funding for women's health research. Stating writings from her prepared remarks, the First Lady will profess the commitment to closing gaps, fostering innovative ideas, and positively impacting women's lives. She envisions initiating a healthcare system that designs women and their memoir, eradicating derisive statements like 'it's all in your head' or 'it's just stress.' The target is to make women a front line concern rather than a reconsideration, tending not only survival but the influence of long, healthy, and content lives. The $100 million will specifically support pioneering work by women's health researchers and startups lacking private backing, aiming to create a healthcare system prioritizing women's experiences. President Joe Biden established ARPA-H in 2022, gauging it with his "unity agenda" to address health difficulties. The agency will soon propose proposals for groundbreaking research focusing on women's well-being. Jill Biden highlighted the initiative's origin in dialogue with women's health speaker Maria Shriver and displayed the public-private partnership needed to bridge gaps in women's health analysis. The White House Initiative on Women's Well-being Research is led by Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council. Read Also: Frozen Embryos Legally Considered 'Children' According to Alabama State Law, Supreme Court Rules Biden Administration to Fund Women's Health Research The Biden administration proposed a White House enthusiasm designed at reforming the federal government's approach and funding for women's well-being analysis. Despite factors over half of the U.S. population, women remain understudied and underrepresented in health analysis, leading to important gaps with possible weight for women's well-being nationwide. The initiative, titled the White House Initiative on Women's Well-being Research, will be guided by First Lady Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council. President Joe Biden expressed his belief in the transformative power of research to save lives and enhance healthcare quality. Joined by the first lady and key officials involved in the government-wide effort, Biden signed directives instructing federal departments and agencies to commence their work. The action aims to drive innovation in women's well-being, addressing current research gaps. Jill Biden shared that her engagement in women's health concerns dates back to the 1990s, encouraged by friends recognized with breast cancer. She highlighted the need to close constant research gaps, an opinion echoed by women's well-being speaker Maria Shriver. Shriver highlighted the disproportionate impact of various health issues on women, underscoring the necessity for research funding. Jennifer Klein, Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, detailed the participation of leaders from key government departments and agencies involved in women's health research. The initiative aligns with recent discussions during the Senate health committee's confirmation hearing for Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, the nominee for the National Institutes of Health directorship. President Biden's memorandum directs stakeholders to provide concrete recommendations within 45 days, focusing on improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of women's health issues, with priority areas determined collaboratively. Carolyn Mazure, formerly of the Yale School of Medicine, will chair the research effort. Related Article: FDA Approves First Medicine To Treat Severe Food Allergy in Children, Adults Photo: (Photo : Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images) A 7-year-old girl dies in a Florida beach tragedy due to a sudden sand hole collapse. The girl was playing with her 9-year-old brother on the beach when the sand collapsed, and the two children tragically fell victim. Sand Hole Horror Unfolds at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach The picturesque beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea turned into the scene of a nightmare as Sloan and Maddox Mattingly, on vacation with their parents, found themselves trapped in a sand hole. Broward County Regional Communications received an incident report at around 3:16 p.m. on Tuesday, stating that two children were trapped in the sand near 4424 El Mar Drive in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Beachgoers and authorities rallied in a desperate attempt to rescue the siblings from the sand. Cellphone footage captured the intensity of the moment as hands worked tirelessly to unearth the children. Emergency responders deployed supportive boards to halt any additional sand collapse, employing shovels to extract the siblings from the approximately 5-foot-deep hole, as conveyed by Sandra King, the spokesperson representing Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, in her statement to the media. The duration of the children's entrapment remains uncertain, as per town hall personnel, who mentioned the absence of lifeguards on the beach. Following the rescue operation, both youngsters were transported to the hospital. Tragically, Sloan Mattingly, the 7-year-old girl, succumbed to the incident, while Maddox is currently in stable condition. The Broward Sheriff's Office, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue swiftly responded to the distress call, initiating an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sandhole collapse. Read Also: Boost Your Tax Refund: 15 States Offering Extra Child Tax Credit Money in 2024 American Lifeguard Association Warns of Sand Hole Dangers The heart-wrenching incident has prompted the American Lifeguard Association to issue a stark warning about the perils of sand holes. Advocating for increased beach patrols, the association emphasizes the need for enhanced emergency response training. Bernard J. Fisher II, the association's director of health and safety, urged communities to work collaboratively to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of beachgoers. As the community grapples with this devastating incident, it is a somber reminder of the persistent dangers associated with sand holes on beaches. In a 2007 report, it was revealed that between 1997 and 2007, 52 documented cases of sandhole collapses resulted in 31 deaths. This tragedy echoes recent incidents, including a New Jersey beach where a 2-year-old boy was buried alive, and a case in 2022 on the Treasure Coast involving a 35-year-old man. As the community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating incident, questions linger about how such a tragedy could occur in a place synonymous with relaxation and enjoyment. The ongoing investigation seeks to unravel the specifics of the sandhole collapse, shedding light on any factors that may have contributed to the heartbreaking outcome. The Florida beach tragedy at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea serves as a poignant reminder of the unforeseen dangers that can lurk beneath the seemingly harmless sand. As the community mourns the loss of a vibrant young life and prays for the recovery of Maddox Mattingly, attention turns to beach safety measures. The ongoing investigation will shed light on the specifics of this heart-wrenching incident, but it undeniably underscores the importance of vigilance and awareness when enjoying the beautiful beaches that define the Florida coastline. Related Article: Colorado Children's Deaths Shock Community: Suspects in Custody for Concrete-Filled Container, Trunk Tragedy Photo: (Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN / Getty Images) In an alarming development, federal authorities are embroiled in a concerning child labor scandal, pointing fingers at an undisclosed company within the meat industry for engaging in illicit employment practices, particularly exploiting minors in hazardous work settings. This unfolding controversy not only spotlights the accused company but also unravels a systemic issue of child labor violations within the intricate web of the U.S. meat industry. Unveiling the Child Labor Scandal and Illegal Employment Practices The Labor Department spearheads the investigation, alleging that the accused company has violated U.S. labor laws by unlawfully employing underage workers in meat processing facilities. This revelation serves as a catalyst, not only exposing the immediate transgressions but also illuminating a broader child labor scandal entrenched within the U.S. meat industry. At the core of the accusations lie the purported illegal employment practices involving the recruitment of underage workers for tasks within meat processing plants. This blatant violation of labor laws designed to shield young workers from hazardous conditions underscores the imperative for comprehensive reform within the meat industry. The alleged actions of the company not only impact its own operations but also cast a shadow over industry-wide labor practices. The allegations raise serious concerns about the safety and well-being of young workers thrust into the complex and perilous machinery of meat processing. The gravity of these accusations is accentuated by the overarching theme of a child labor scandal casting a dark cloud over the industry. Hazardous Conditions Endured by Minors The heart of the scandal lies in the hazardous conditions to which underage workers were reportedly exposed. Assigned tasks involving the operation and maintenance of dangerous equipment such as head splitters and meat bandsaws, these young laborers faced heightened risks. These revelations serve as a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities young workers face when employed in environments where safety regulations are circumvented. This unfolding scandal demands accountability from the accused company while prompting a broader industry introspection and a call to immediate action. Read Also: Colorado Children's Deaths Shock Community: Suspects in Custody for Concrete-Filled Container, Trunk Tragedy Wider Implications of Meat Industry Child Labor Violations This case is not an isolated incident but contributes to a distressing pattern of child labor violations within the U.S. meat industry. The cumulative impact of these allegations and previous instances, including tragic deaths and injuries of underage workers, paints a disconcerting picture of systemic issues requiring thorough investigation and corrective measures. As investigators delve into the accused company's actions, the ramifications extend beyond its immediate operations. The meat industry as a whole faces increased scrutiny, urging authorities to explore the intricacies of labor practices to address the root causes of these violations. The child labor scandal shaking the U.S. meat industry signifies more than a localized incident; it is a call for regulatory scrutiny and transformative reform. As investigators untangle the threads of this intricate case, the gravity of the accusations and their broader implications within the context of meat industry child labor will inevitably steer conversations around labor practices, safety standards, and industry-wide accountability. Related Article: Boost Your Tax Refund: 15 States Offering Extra Child Tax Credit Money in 2024 Photo: (Photo : Joe Raedle / Getty Images) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a determined search in Florida for a 12-year-old missing child named Lori Paige, who vanished on June 3, 2023. Authorities in Florida, collaborating closely with the FBI, are leaving no stone unturned to find the young girl, offering a significant $15,000 reward for any valuable information. FBI Unravels Multi-State Connections in Lori Paige Investigation The FBI's commitment to finding Lori Paige is unwavering. Mark Dargis, Acting Special Agent in Charge from the Jacksonville office, emphasizes the agency's dedication to child protection, calling on residents across Florida to stay alert and share any information that might assist in locating the missing 12-year-old. The ongoing investigation into Lori Paige's disappearance has unveiled connections spanning several states, including Florida (Tallahassee and Tampa), Georgia (Thomasville), and Tennessee (Nashville). This multi-state dimension adds layers of complexity to the search, necessitating seamless collaboration between law enforcement agencies across state borders. The FBI stresses the urgency of a collective effort to expedite the search for this missing child.The Tallahassee Police Department, in tandem with the fire department, has initiated a strategic "grid search" of San Luis Mission Park. This methodical approach involves a meticulous combing of the 64-acre area, located half a mile from Lori's last known whereabouts. While authorities haven't divulged immediate details regarding suspicions of foul play, this intensive search reflects the community's united determination to find Lori Paige. Read Also: Florida Beach Tragedy: 7-Year-Old Girl Dies, Brother Critical in Heartbreaking Sand Hole Collapse Continued Efforts by Special Victims Unit; Public Urged to Share Information Community activist Pastor Rudy Ferguson, actively involved in the search, expresses appreciation for the increased law enforcement resources. A recent search, engaging around 90 individuals, highlights Tallahassee's collective resolve to find the missing 12-year-old. Ferguson emphasized the crucial role the community plays in ensuring Lori's safe return, echoing the urgent appeal for public involvement. Just like the family of the missing child, the community members are also looking and hoping for her safe return. The Special Victims Unit of the Tallahassee Police Department persists in its efforts to follow leads and allocate resources to locate Lori Paige. A media advisory on February 1 underscores heightened concerns due to the passage of time and Lori's young age. Described as a dark-skinned Black female with shoulder-length dreadlocks, black hair, brown eyes, and weighing approximately 120 pounds, Lori was a student at Griffin Middle School. Last seen on June 3, 2023, in the 1200 block of Continental CT, her attire at the time remains unknown, but she may have had a multicolored backpack. Law enforcement and community leaders urgently appeal for any information that can contribute to locating Lori Paige and bringing her home. This urgent search for Lori Paige, a missing 12-year-old in Florida, underscores the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the community. The $15,000 reward offered by the FBI signifies the gravity of the situation, encouraging individuals to come forward with any information that could lead to Lori's safe return. As the investigation unfolds, the entire community remains united in the hope of finding Lori and bringing her back to her loved ones. Related Article: Biden Unleashes $1.2 Billion Student Debt Relief: 153,000 Borrowers Get Financial Boost Based on a true story, Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson, releases from Lionsgate Studios this week, showcasing the power of service and community. For the real-life Pastor Dave Stone of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, the film also highlights the vital role of the church. Stone is portrayed in the film by Drew Powell, offering spiritual encouragement and comfort to the Schmitt family. During the films premiere in New York City, the pastor pointed to a scene that held a very significant meaning for him and his congregation. One of my favorite moments in the movie is when Alan, who plays Ed, is on his way, in a frantic drive, he said. And the guy says to him, Were going to Southeast Christian Church. And his comment is Thats my church! Theres something special about a person who moves from saying, This is where I go on Sundays to where they have this sense of involvement. As depicted in the film, Stone still remembers the incredible sight of volunteers coming from all directions to help the Schmitt family in their time of crisis. Its a visual that Ill never forget, he said. And it was a perfect picture of the Body of Christ being the hands and feet of Jesus. There was something that had to be done, and everybody came together. Southeast Christian Church held an advance screening of the film, with approximately 2,100 in attendance. Although Stone says we dont get a whole lot of snow in Kentucky, on the night of the screening, it snowed again, thirty years after the events in the film. And he recognized the real ordinary heroes in attendance. I said, Would you stand up if you happen to be in that group that shoveled? Twelve people stood up from thirty years difference, so thats pretty cool. Ordinary Angels, directed by Jon Gunn and starring Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones, releases February 23, 2024, in theaters from Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate. The DDR5 memory standard, which was officially finalized in July 2020 with AMD Ryzen 7000 (Raphael) and Intel Core 13000 (Alder Lake), only really started to slowly replace its DDR4 predecessor in the desktop over the past two years, but the upcoming DDR6 memory is already knocking on the door. What can we expect from the new DDR6 memory standard and what reliable information do we already have? Well tell you and provide you with sound background knowledge on the next generation of RAM in PCs, servers, and notebooks. Further reading: Should you upgrade your RAM? 5 things to consider DDR6 should achieve up to 12,800 MT/s+ Samsung spoke about DDR6 and its evolutionary stage DDR6+ at the Tech Day 2021 and revealed many interesting details about the upcoming memory standard. If we take the speeds officially approved by JEDEC as a benchmark, the maximum data rate was doubled from 3,400 MT/s to up to 6,400 MT/s with the introduction of DDR5 compared to DDR4. Samsung is forecasting a similar increase for DDR6, which will operate at up to 12,800 MT/s as DDR6-12800. It should be noted that these are only the official standard speeds specified by JEDEC, which could be far exceeded by overclocked (OC) modules. Memory sticks with strictly selected memory modules (ICs) should therefore be able to achieve DDR6-16800 with up to 16,800 MT/s as OC modules. The development of the DDR memory standards would then be as follows in terms of pure memory speed: JEDEC standard OC modules DDR up to 400 MT/s up to 533 MT/s DDR2 up to 1,066 MT/s up to 1,333 MT/s DDR3 up to 2,133 MT/s up to 2,666 MT/s DDR4 up to 3,200 MT/s up to 5,333 MT/s DDR5 up to 6,400 MT/s up to 8,4000 MT/s DDR6* up to 12,800 MT/s up to 16,800 MT/s *) not officially confirmed. Due to the significantly higher memory speed associated with the change from DDR5 to DDR6, the memory bandwidth also increases noticeably. DDR6 has four memory channels The number of memory channels per module is set to increase to four with DDR6, doubling again compared to DDR5. The number of memory banks also increases by a factor of two to 64, which in turn means a fourfold increase compared to DDR4. In a cross-generational comparison of memory bandwidth, DDR6 would once again increase significantly: DDR up to 3.2 GB/s DDR2 up to 8.5 GB/s DDR3 up to 17.0 GB/s DDR4 up to 28.8 GB/s DDR5 up to 67.2 GB/s DDR6 up to 134.4 GB/s+ As things stand, it can therefore be assumed that the fastest DDR6 memory modules will be able to provide at least 134.4GB/s of memory bandwidth, with OC modules delivering significantly more memory throughput per second. More functions, less voltage As with the switch from DDR4 to DDR5, the feature set of the new memory generation will once again be significantly expanded. All relevant DRAM chip manufacturers, such as Samsung, Micron, Nanya, and SK Hynix, have already revealed this. Further reading: How to tell what kind of RAM you have In addition to a further improved PMIC (Power Management IC), which monitors the energy management of the memory modules, and a further lowered supply voltage (VDIMM), the ECC features for parity checking and error correction are also to be further expanded. DDR6 to be launched in 2024/25 Samsung has already announced that it is currently working on finalizing the DDR6 memory standard together with the other JEDEC members from the circle of DRAM and SoC manufacturers. According to the manufacturer, this is expected in the course of 2024, but no later than 2025. The new DDR6 memory will celebrate its debut in the professional enterprise segment and is expected to be used for the first time with the server CPUs of the 2025 vintage. The chief engineer of the South Korean semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix, on the other hand, expects a somewhat longer development phase and does not anticipate a broad market launch before the end of 2025. This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Windows users with Nvidia graphics cards will be familiar with the Nvidia Control Panel, a somewhat clunky menu interface for the more advanced functions of its GPUs. Nvidia has also been publishing GeForce Experience, a more modern front-end for game settings and driver installations, for the last few years. This is a bit disjointed, so the company is replacing them both with a unified Windows program simply titled Nvidia App. You can download the beta version right now. The new Nvidia App (which also replaces the RTX Experience for the companys workstation GPUs) is a one-stop shop for driver downloads and installations, individual game settings, and the promotional Discovery portal. The app also handles Nvidias in-game overlay, which can display the current framerate and other statistics, stream via Nvidia Shadowplay, take screenshots, record game clips, and activate AI Freestyle in-game overlays. Nvidias announcement notes that its not bringing over some social features from GeForce Experience, including broadcasting video and sending images to YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. The announcement claims that axing these features helps the new Nvidia App have a smaller footprint on your storage disk and a 50 percent more responsive UI. Nvidia isnt currently saying when the new app will exit beta or when support for the Nvidia Control Panel and GeForce Experience will end. Note that installing the beta will replace the current versions of GeForce Experience, but not Nvidia Control Panel. Quickly testing out the app on my system, it does seem noticeably snappier than GeForce Experience, and I like the more straightforward layout of the left column. I could do without the integrated advertising (Nvidia App, if you know I dont have Modern Warfare installed on my Gaming Rig, why are you offering me XP boosts for it?) or the auto-enabled notifications for same. It is letting me download and install drivers without logging in, which is a plus in my book. The CEO of the Intercity State Transport Cooperation and the Vice Chairman of the 'Bawumia 2024 Campaign Team', Nana Akomea, has opposed the allegations that the Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is responsible for Ghanas economic hardships. Nana Akomea reveals that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia does not bear sole responsibility for Ghana's current economic difficulties. He emphasised that, the economic crisis being experienced currently is a collective responsibility of every member of the government adding that it will be unfair to ascribe all the blame to the Vice President. According to Nana Akomea, he is not oblivious of the important role Dr. Bawumia plays as the vice president in charge of the Economy but underscored the principle of collective responsibility within a governance system. In an interview with Citi TV on Tuesday, February 20, monitored by Peacefmonline.com, Mr Akomea highlighted Dr. Bawumia's consistent support for the Akufo-Addo administration, refuting claims that he has distanced himself from government affairs. Nana Akomea debunked claims made by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that Dr. Bawumia is exonerating himself from the economic woes of the country. You cannot take Bawumia out of the government, it is not possible, hes the sitting Vice President. Theres a collective responsibility. This is not the man you can describe as taking himself out of the government. I heard some funny things mainly coming from the NDC,that Bawumia has betrayed Akufo-Addo, he has ostracised Akufo-Addo, and he has taken himself out of government. That is just propaganda. The man has been the biggest defender of the Akufo-Addo government he said. Dr. Akomea added, During the NPP primaries, where many of the other ten people, thought it was fashionable to present themselves as anti-establishments, Bawumia was the only one who could talk to the delegates about the work of the government, before he went into his vision. Bawumia is not the person you can describe as taking himself out of the government. He accepts collective responsibility. What the NDC has tried to do, not in a clever way, what they are trying to say is Bawumia is responsible for whatever difficulties we are in today. How can he be responsible? How can you say one person is responsible? he asked. Nana Akomea, in his closing remarks called on all Ghanaians to support the Vision of Dr. Bawumia as the December general elections draw closer. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Armed Forces of Ukraine have thinned out the ranks of the Russian occupiers in the Liman-Kupiansk sector . In particular, our defenders destroyed over a hundred enemy vehicles. ADVERTISIMENT TheDefense Forces also replenished the exchange fund by taking the occupiers prisoner. This was reported by Ilya Yevlash, head of the press service of the Khortytsia military unit. According to him, during the day the invaders fired 725 times at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area using all available types of artillery, tanks, and grenade launchers. They also carried out 29 strikes with kamikaze drones and used enemy aircraft - Su-34 and Su-25 - 10 times. "From two to six guided aerial bombs are being dropped by Russian fighters in this section of the frontline at a time," noted Yevlash. There were 11 combat engagements, during which the enemy lost 398 people. At the same time, five occupants replenished the exchange fund. In addition, our defenders destroyed 138 pieces of weapons and equipment. Among them are six armored personnel carriers, five MT-LBs, ten guns of various types, 15 vehicles, the Strela-10 air defense system, and the Judoist and Strizh electronic warfare stations. Also, 97 Russian drones were shot down. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on Monday, February 19, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the positions of Ukrainian defenders in Kharkiv region. In particular, the head of state came to the command post of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great, which is defending Kupiansk. On Tuesday 20th February, 2024, in a formal ceremony held at the Ministry of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye gracefully passed the baton to the newly appointed Minister, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Expressing gratitude to the dedicated staff and management of the Ministry for their unwavering support during his tenure, Asenso-Boakye urged them to extend the same cooperation to the incoming Minister. Hon Asenso-Boakye recounted how the ministry, which primarily deals with public infrastructure, suffered from underfunding because of the adverse impact of Covid 19, on the countrys finances, but that notwithstanding, he added that the ministry chalked some modest achievements during his time. He mentioned the establishment of the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), aimed at assisting low-to-middle income earners with rent advance payments, thus enhancing housing accessibility. He added that the NRAS has benefitted 1,492 individuals as of January 31, 2024. Furthermore, Asenso-Boakye's tenure saw the transformation of the Hydrological Services Department into the autonomous Ghana Hydrological Authority through the passage of the Ghana Hydrological Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1085). This move has significantly bolstered water management practices across the nation. Additionally, the establishment of the Real Estate Agency Council (REAC) under Asenso-Boakye's is regulate real estate transactions and also promote transparency and adherence to standards in the real estate market. Efforts to review and amend the Rent Act, 1963, and the Rent Control Law, 1986, are underway, with a draft Bill currently before parliament, aimed at removing the inherent constraints and stimulating private investment into the sector. He added the rent control has been working on the digitization of the Rent Control Department to better serve the public; and the their digitized operations will commence next month. Asenso-Boakye also initiated steps towards the establishment of the Ghana Housing Authority (GHA) to regulate, plan and manage public housing including affordable housing particularly for low-to-middle income earners. This has received cabinet approval and its on its way to parliament for consideration and approval. The ministry also were successful in the passage of new building regulations with the view ensuring a resilient built environment. Noteworthy among his initiatives is the revised National Affordable Housing Programme, which seeks to subsidize housing for Ghanaians through the provision of land and infrastructure and invites the private sector to come, build and sell at an agreed price. The first project under this programme is the Pokuase affordable housing project which is to build 8000 housing units. Infrastructure works are currently going on at the site. Moreover, significant strides were made in the Redevelopment Programme, with housing units built for public sector workers at various locations, including Ridge, Airport Residential Area, Ringway Estate and Lartebiokorshie, 112 apartment units are currently under construction. Incoming Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah commended Asenso-Boakye and the Ministry staff for their remarkable achievements despite the economic challenges, promising to build upon their successes in service to the nation. 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 Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum, has issued a caution to politicians during the campaign season as the December 2024 general elections approach. According to the former Head of the Linguistics Department, politicians must be measured in the things they say during their campaign period. Reacting to the New Patriotic Party's Campaign team inaugurated by the National Execurive Council (NEC), Opanyin Agyekum noted that, "there is nothing wrong" with having the incumbent President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo and the former President John Agyekum Kufuor as Campaign Advisors, considering the loads of experience they will bring on board. "All persons who have been named as Campaing Team officials must be committed to the work. It is not enough to be recognised as a campaign team member. Your goal is to win Power''. ''Nonetheless, be measured in your utterenaces. One word can destroy the entire campaign. It is more painful to see your hardwork go down the drain," he added. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council in the Eastern Region on Monday cautioned the Begro Ankobeahene Baffour Owiredu Agyarko Mintah II for making partisan comments by openly endorsing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama in the name of the traditional authority. At a closed-door meeting held at the Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi, the Begoro Ankobeahene who was once NDC Parliamentary aspirant for Fanteakwa North in 2012 was warned by the Traditional Council which was chaired by the Okyenhemaa, Nana Dokuaa Adutwumwaa against repeating statements that may be deemed as partisan and called off the case against him. The Ankobeahene of the Begoro Traditional area Baffour Owiredu Agyarko Minta II, was summoned to appear before the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council for endorsing John Mahama and also alleged to have rained curses on the ruling New Patriotic Party as a chief. The Ankobehene during a campaign visit by former President Mahama to Begoro recently, said On behalf of the chiefs, they fully endorse Mr. John Mahama as the incoming President of Ghana. That the people of Begoro must vote massively for the flagbearer of the NDC, that the 24-hour economic policy of the NDC government will rescue the people of Begoro from poverty. He continued that and that all Nananom have invoked the gods by pouring libation against breaking the eight mantra of the New Patriotic Party government (NPP). That the people of Begoro must be vigilant against the vote-rigging agenda of the current government, that the parliamentary candidate of the NDC lost by dubious means in the previous election, and that the people of Begoro must vote massively for him in the coming election. However, some of the chiefs including the regent of the Begoro stool and acting Benkumhene, Daasebre Ofosu Kwabi Ayebiahwe and Okyeame Owusu of the Begoro stool, alleged that Nana Owiredu Agyarko Minta comments were partisan and therefore petitioned the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to question his actions for bringing the name of the Begoro and Benkum stool into disrepute and subjected it to political ridicule by engaging in partisan politics. At Ofori Panin Fie on Monday, although it was a usual traditional hearing day of cases at the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, but his case was held closed doors, where only Elders of the Traditional Council led by the Akyem Abuakwa Queen Mother, and parties to the case were allowed to the inner chamber of the Ofori Panin Fie for judgment. Baffour Owiredu Agyarko after being warned, apologized for the remarks, thus ending the matter. His lawyer told journalists that We all know what had transpired, we came before Nananom for the matter to be heard. The chiefs upon consultation decided to step in and bring the matter to an end. They called the parties into chambers and gave them advice. The bottom line is that the case has come to an end, it wont be called again. The 1992 Constitution states categorically in Article 276 (1) that, a chief shall not take part in active party politics, and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kokofu, is actively seeking World Bank funding for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage, as disclosed by former Environment Minister Dr. Kwaku Afriyie. Afriyie informed Parliament that Kokofu is working diligently to secure funds for those affected by the spillage, with plans to submit Ghanas papers to secure the funding. In the case of the Akosombo spillage, for example, we believe that we can qualify under loss and damage. The EPA, under the leadership of Executive Director Kokofu, is working hard so that we can deposit our papers, the status of the loss and damage, with the World Bank. All the rules and regulations that will lead to the disbursement are now being discussed. We believe that we can qualify, Afriyie said. MPs representing affected constituencies have criticized the government for its inaction, noting that many victims are still living in tents and awaiting resettlement and compensation. Mr. Afriyie stated that efforts are underway to qualify for funding under loss and damage provisions, and discussions are ongoing regarding the disbursement of funds. Parliament is currently reviewing the Environmental Protection Bill, which aims to address environmental challenges and enhance the Environmental Protection Authoritys ability to tackle emerging environmental issues. The bill has progressed to the second reading stage. Source: Citinewsroom.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 James Kwabena Bomfeh has slammed the Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil over his attack on the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Wusu, popularly known as Joe Wise. Speaking on Ghana's leading Morning Show, Kokrokoo, Kwabena Bomfeh condemned Kofi Bentil's speculations of the purported reshuffling of the majority leadership in Parliament. On Wednesday, February 14, there was news within the mdeia space of a [possible reshuffling of the majority leeadership in Parliament which will have the deputy majority leader moved up to become the substabtive majority leader. In a text to Peace FM's Kokrokoo morning show, Lawyer Kofi Bentil said, ''.....Apart from his demonstrated commitment and loyalty, he is from the strategic Central Region. "It is near impossible to lose Central Region and win the election. I can't understand why Afenyo Markin's ascent would be resisted by persons on their way out. I really was thinking or thought Uncle Kyei Mensah Bonsu will be gracious about this, leave in glory after his illustrous career in Parliament. Its not too late Uncle Kyei. "Please let Alex move up, be the one to hand your seat over to him graciously. If, as we suspect, the Vice Presidential slot will go to the Ashanti region, then please, let's give Parliament to Central Region, to Afenyo Markin. I don't know what the flagbearer thinks, but i think this is the best way. And I hope everyone will listen to him and let him steer the ship.'' In a rebuttal, Mr. Bomfeh, also known as Kabilla, opined that, questioning the Bekwai legislator's Press Conference is an attack on him. According to Kabilla, Joe Osei Owusu's press conference was as a result of speculations on social media which he condemns in no uncertain terms. ''Who in the NPP or majority caucus does not want to appoint Afenyo Markin as majority leader. So what is the basis for his text?'' ''I don't think it is right. As much as I agree that the first deputy speaker ought not to have done that, I also do not think Kofi Bentil's text is in good faith or right,'' Kabilla said. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Majority leadership in parliament has described as untrue reports making rounds of a possible reshuffle. Earlier reports suggested that the ruling New Patriotic Party is set to make some significant changes in parliament. Long-serving Member of Parliament and Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, according to the report, will be replaced by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the current Deputy Majority Leader. The Report also said Frank Annoh Dompreh, the present Majority Chief Whip and MP Nsawam-Adoagyiri will be appointed as Deputy Majority Leader, while Habib Iddrisu, the current First Deputy Chief Whip will occupy the position of Majority Chief Whip, with Patricia Appiagyei as First Deputy Majority Chief Whip. The position of Second Deputy Chief Whip, according to the report, is likely to be filled by Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, MP for Sefwi-Akontombra. But the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu has told journalists the majority is not making any changes as speculated. Peacefm Parliamentary Correspondent William Gentu, who covered the Press conference, quoted Hon Joe Osei-Owusu as saying "the publication going around is not true, it's false. The majority has not made any leadership changes nor contemplated making any changes to its leadership. Ignore any publication on that issue. We have confidence in the leadership. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has questioned Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's commitment to his pledge to reduce the size of his government if elected President. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, outlining his vision to Ghanaians weeks ago, stated emphatically that the number of Ministers he will appoint won't exceed fifty (50). To him, this number is feasible to work with in achieving his vision and policies for the nation. I would have not more than 50 ministers and deputy ministers, he emphasized in an address at UPSA on Wednesday, February 7. Following this pledge, the Vice President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially launched and announced his campaign team. The team includes former General Secretary of the party and former Local Government Minister, Dan Botwe as Chairman and STC Chief Executive Officer, Nana Akomea, together with a former First Vice Chairman of the party, Fred Oware, as Deputies. Other names are Dr. Gideon Boako, Tano North parliamentary candidate for the NPP, who is the Spokesperson and Dennis Miracles Aboagye serves as Communications Director of the team. There are other various names serving in different capacities to advance Dr. Bawumia's vision of winning the December presidential elections. Kwesi Pratt, commenting on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", raised an issue with the size of the campaign team. Mr. Pratt noted that the campaign team members amount to 40 in number, therefore purportedly casting doubts on the NPP flagbearer's promise to use only 50 Ministers. "Those who do the actual campaign in their thousands. Some will just wear T-shirts, others will advise and there are others who would take the materials somewhere; they are a lot, so not everyone's name appears on the list. There wouldn't be any paper to contain the names. Therefore, we sift them and list only the key figures who can do the campaign. What Dr. Bawumia and his team did yesterday, if they had done it differently, it would have been better. It's not every person's name that should be mentioned in the list", he said. He queried Dr. Bawumia saying "you said those you would work with in your government are 50 but your campaign team is 40, why?" 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 flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, says the objective behind his proposed 24-hour economy initiative is to enable businesses to operate three shifts per day. To achieve this goal, he says the government and private sector will collaborate. "The 24-hour economy is designed to create new employment opportunities, particularly for young people, address unemployment, and enhance living standards in Ghana." In a social media post, the NDC flag bearer, said his government will enact new laws to support businesses operating a 24 hour system in seven days (24/7), including labour laws and tax incentives. "To assist companies, there will be favourable tax policies, stimulus packages and financial assistance available for specific industries including agro-processing and manufacturing," Mr Mahama posted. The former President also said, "Buying local products and services will be government's top priority, and measures will be implemented to ensure the smooth operation of the 24-hour economy." "My objective is to create a 24-hour economy in Ghana by enabling businesses to operate in three shifts. This will help Ghana become self-sufficient and focus on export-oriented growth. "To achieve this goal, the government and private sector will collaborate. The 24-hour economy is designed to create new employment opportunities, particularly for young people, address unemployment, and enhance living standards in Ghana. "My government will enact new laws to support businesses operating 24/7, including labour laws and tax incentives. To assist companies, there will be favourable tax policies, stimulus packages and financial assistance available for specific industries including agro-processing and manufacturing. "Buying local products and services will be government's top priority, and measures will be implemented to ensure the smooth operation of the 24-hour economy. "Security, sanitation, cleaning, and environmental protection will be critical components of the 24-hour economy. Financial services at the ports will be operational 24/7, reducing delays and congestion. "The initiative aims to benefit various sectors, create jobs, improve living standards, increase productivity, and provide convenience for citizens." 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 Seasoned journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has replied to the majority on their press conference regarding the change in leadership of the Caucus. News regarding the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin's ascent to the Majority Leader position, and other names like Madam Patricia Appiagyei popping up on the list of people appointed to form the new leadership has been met with strong opposition from some members of the Majority in Parliament. The First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Bekwai of the governing New Patriotic Party, Joseph Osei Owusu, insists there is not going to be any change, as widely circulated in the media. The Majority Caucus has not made any changes in its leadership; the majority caucus has not contemplated making any changes to its leadership, and we will tell the world and Ghana to ignore any such publication," Hon. Osei Owusu stated emphatically during their conference. He added; We want to assure you that we have confidence in the leadership and the status quo shall remain, we are aware that upon the nomination of one of the Deputy Whips as a minister, a replacement will be made, that replacement will be made by the caucus when weaved the opportunity and the time to consider the appropriate replacement, this is all the information we have to share. Commenting on the issue during Wednesday's Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Kweku Baako described the move as "politically tactless". To him, the Majority's reaction could disrupt the party's flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's campaign. "That press conference was politically tactless and potentially disruptive of the party's campaign cohesion and focus", he remarked in a text message to host, Kwami Sefa-Kayi. Majority Leader resigns Meanwhile, the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has voluntarily resigned from his role with immediate effect, a decision revealed at a crucial meeting of the majority group Wednesday evening. The meeting, held at the Jubilee Houses banquet hall in Accra, was heavily guarded and convened by President Nana Akufo-Addo. The gathering, attended by the majority of the groups members, was called amidst escalating tensions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary group. These tensions arose following reports of plans to replace Kyei Mensah-Bonsu with Alexander Afenyo-Markin, fueling internal discord. 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 A Former Majority Leader in the erstwhile late John Evans Atta Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, appears saddened and disappointed by the announcement of the resignation of his colleague, former Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. Hon Cletus Apul Avoka believes the former NPP Majority Leader should have resigned in a "more elegant and befitting manner." In the late hours of Wednesday, February 21, Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu tendered his resignation before the crunch meeting with the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Jubilee House in Accra. But Cletus Avoka, who is a former Member of Parliament for the Zebilla Constituency, was clearly unhappy with that decision saying; I am hugely disappointed." To him, this action by Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu will be a great disservice not only to the NPP but to Ghana as a whole. I do not think that given just about 10 months to the election and some acknowledgment for the exit, as he has decided not to contest the 2024 elections like myself, I do not think that this is the way he should exit, I think that he should exit in a more elegant and befitting manner. In describing the former majority leader and MP for Suame, Cletus Avoka said, Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is his brother and a close ally, having served together on the lands committee in the third Parliament. When I was the Majority Leader in the 2009 Parliament, he was the Minority Leader, and we shared a lot of experiences together. We built consensus together, and we passed very critical laws together, he stated. It is, however, unclear what might have necessitated the decision by Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to resign as the majority leader. Meanwhile, a few hours after his resignation, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was named as the 2024 Manifesto Committee Chairman for the Bawumia campaign ahead of the December 7, 2024 elections. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vista, a leading global private aviation group, said it witnessed strong growth across the GCC, with a remarkable 31% increase in on-fleet hours and a 33% rise in the number of flights, as it outlined its performance in the Middle East region during the 2023 financial year. Innovating the industry for 20 years through continuous investment in people, technology and infrastructure, the company said it has continued to expand its footprint across the GCC, enhance its services, and achieve a record number of flights and on-fleet flight hours. Exceptional Growth in the GCC The UAE emerged as a key growth area for Vista, achieving a 25% increase in on-fleet flight hours compared to 2022. Saudi Arabia exhibited the highest level of growth in on-fleet hours, with an 82% increase, making it a significant contributor, now accounting for 28% of the total activity in the GCC region. Strong Performance in Program Membership The GCC markets also saw a remarkable 47% increase in Gross Program Hours sold, indicating the growing preference for Vista's subscription-based services in the region. The UAE led the pack, accounting for 55% of the Gross Hours sold in the GCC, with a remarkable 70% growth compared to the previous year. Kuwait demonstrated the strongest growth trajectory, with a staggering 406% increase in Gross Hours sold, representing 15% of the total Gross Hours sold in the GCC in 2023. Investment in Regional Presence Vista's commitment to the Middle East is further underscored by its investment in expanding its regional presence. The company witnessed a fivefold increase in headcount in the Dubai office compared to 2019, reinforcing its dedication to providing exceptional service and support to clients in the region. Youssef Mouallem, Executive Vice President International for Vista, said: "The Middle East remains a strategic and thriving market for Vista, and our exceptional performance in 2023 reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled service and value to our clients in the region. Today, Vista is a truly recognisable brand in the GCC thanks to the 20 years in which we have delivered an unmatched service to our clients and particularly over the last five years, since we launched our dedicated Middle East office in Dubai. The trust of our Program Members in the GCC is driving our steady growth trajectory, with ever more remaining loyal to Vista than ever before. This provides us with consistent, visible revenue streams and a strong client base in the region. Our long tenure in this industry means we can anticipate and understand what business leaders in the GCC want when it comes to global travel. Beyond the impressive commitment from our Members, I am equally proud of our team, which saw a five-fold increase in headcount in 2023, meaning we have even more experts who are fully committed to delivering the best service to our clients across the region. As Vista celebrates 20 years of success, the company remains committed to excellence and innovation in the Middle East and beyond. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction, continued investment in infrastructure, and a dedicated team of experts, Vista is poised for continued growth and success in the dynamic Middle Eastern market. TradeArabia News Service Ukrainian servicemen carried out precision strikes on the enemy's training ground in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region. As a result, the enemy suffered heavy losses in manpower. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that at the time of the attack, the occupiers were preparing assault groups at the training ground to attack the village of Krynky. This was reported by Natalia Gumenyuk, head of the coordination press center of the "Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine" on the Kyiv TV channel. According to her, the Kremlin propaganda says that it has allegedly "cleared" the village of Krynky, but continues to storm it. In addition, the invaders are actively preparing new cannon fodder for assault operations. During the preparation of such a group, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck at an enemy training ground near the village of Podo-Kalynivka. The attack killed at least 60 Russian soldiers. "All this profanation with planting a flag and running away from there was enchantingly completed by practicing at one of the training grounds where such assault groups are trained. The work was effective, at least 60 invaders will definitely not return to their combat positions, and we are reconnoitering the rest of the data," said Gumenyuk. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the spokesperson for the "South" military command noted that at the time of the attack, the enemy was coordinating assault groups. Gumenyuk also did not disclose what kind of munitions were used to destroy the invaders. "We were training assault groups, trying to work out how to coordinate their actions. We are using all the weapons and force we have, so we are not disclosing all our reserves to the enemy. Let them understand that we will get them everywhere," said Gumenyuk. ADVERTISIMENT After the elimination of dozens of invaders at the training ground, Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov threw a tantrum and began looking for the culprits. The Kremlin mouthpiece complained that the enemy had allegedly infiltrated the ranks of the Russian occupation army, leaked information about the training ground, and then published photos of the aftermath of the strikes. Earlier, a video of the moment of the strike on the training ground of the Russian occupiers on the left bank of the Kherson region was posted online. The Armed Forces of Ukraine hit this object of the invaders near the village of Podo-Kalynivka with missiles on February 21, killing about 60 soldiers of the aggressor country. As reported by OBOZ.UA, on February 20, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a missile attack on the military training ground of the Russian occupiers in the village of Trudovske, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region. It was attacked when the military were lining up, and 65 invaders were eliminated. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Shippensburg University has issued an interim suspension for a fraternity on its campus while it investigates allegations of hazing reported earlier this week. Accusations emerged about a hazing incident over the weekend involving the Theta Xi fraternitys local chapter at Shippensburg University. While the university investigates the incident through its Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, the fraternity has been placed on interim suspension, according to university spokesperson Megan Silverstrim. That interim suspension means that during the investigation, the university will not recognize Theta Xi as a campus group, Silverstrim said. It also means Theta Xi is prohibited from participating in any activities on or off campus, she said. Anonymous users posted the allegations of hazing on social media earlier this week, according to The Slate. Theta Xi is a national fraternity with a goal to provide a college home environment for its active members in which fellowship and alumni guidance lead to wholesome mental, moral, physical and spiritual growth. Shippensburg Universitys chapter of Theta Xi was founded in 2010, according to the universitys website. As of spring 2023, the fraternity had 31 total members. Once the headquarters for Rite Aid drug stores, a property in East Pennsboro Township is poised to become a fueling, coffee and hoagie stop. East Pennsboro Township officials confirm a proposed subdivision and land development plan for a 2.6 acre parcel near Camp Hill includes a Wawa convenience store. Hunter Lane Partners, LLC, and White Rock Realty Associates, LLC, submitted the plan for the site at Hunter Lane, which is located in a office/mixed-use zoning district, said Dearan A. Quigley, township director of Housing & Community Development. Plans could come up for review before the East Pennsboro Planning Commission as early as the March 14th meeting, Quigley said, adding it depends on when a complete review of the plans occurs. White Rock purchased the property last year for $4.73 million, according to Cumberland County property records. Demolition work is underway at the former headquarters. White Rock operates in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, according to business records with the Pennsylvania Department of State, which is the same address as Goodman Properties. It has more than 100 properties in the state, according to its website, including the Chelsea Square shopping center in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Officials for Goodman Properties couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Wawa is moving into central Pa. with plans to open about 40 stores. Several stores are under development including another location in East Pennsboro Township at The Reserve at Rivers Edge at the corner of Routes 11/15 and Valley Road. Other sites include Swatara, Lower Swatara and East Pennsboro townships, Chambersburg, State College and Hanover. Wawa is also eyeing property in Derry Township. The first stores could open as early as this year, but as far as exact dates, Wawa isnt ready to release those details. The article youve all been waiting for: another daylight saving time post. Clocks are set to spring forward within the coming weeks, which although that means well all lose an hour of sleep means warmer weather isnt too far off (at least, according to Punxsutawney Phil). According to TimeAndDate.com, daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 10, this year. Clocks will spring forward, as the saying goes, at 2 a.m. (ET). And while there are those who simply shrug and dutifully change their clocks in accordance with the practice, there are others who are hoping times up for daylight saving time. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) tells of how hundreds of bills and resolutions that seek to establish a year-round daylight saving time have been and are being considered. In fact, a version of such a bill was reintroduced in the Senate not all too long ago, along with a companion version in the House. In fact, a 2022 poll conducted by Monmouth University found now 61 percent of Americans would gladly do away with this biannual changing of the clocks. Another 44 percent would much rather have later sunrise and sunset hours instead of earlier ones, too. This means that there would be no change in clocks in a move that some in the medical community, as explained by Harvard Health Publishing, would mitigate the harmful health effects daylight saving time may have such as increased fatigue. Nevertheless, the practice remains, so get ready to lose an hour come March. And as for when daylight saving 2024 ends, that wont be until Sunday, Nov. 3, at the same time. Also keep in mind well gain a day in February as it is, as previously mentioned, a leap year. KFC has taken pizza to the extreme with Chizza. The pizza and chicken mashup combines two popular flavors and arrives at all KFC locations on Feb. 26. While its new to U.S. diners, Chizza was introduced in the Philippines in 2015 and made its way around the world to Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Germany, Spain and Mexico, among other locales. KFC describes the international smash hit as two white meat extra crispy chicken filets topped in marinara sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni, according to a release. It will be available to order individually or as a combo meal with fries and medium drink. To celebrate the Chizza, KFC is transforming its restaurant at 242 E. 14th St. in New York City the pizza capital of the U.S. into a one-of-a-kind Chizzeria pop-up from Feb. 23-24. The National Aviary in Pittsburgh announced the arrival of one of its largest residents, a male Andean Condor named Bud. Originally hailing from the Dallas Zoo, Bud lived behind the scenes at the Aviary for several months, according to a press release, in order to better acclimate to his new space. However, he now shares a habitat in the Aviarys Condor Court with an adult female, Lianni. Aviary officials hope that Bud, who is 43 years old, will be a potential mate for Lianni, and that the pair will eventually breed. Andean Condors are declining in the wild, the Aviary said, and listed as vulnerable in South America, and critically endangered in Ecuador. Andean Condors are one of the worlds largest flying birds but their numbers in the wild are declining, Kurt Hundgen, Senior Director of Animal Care and Conservation Programs for the National Aviary, said in the press release. Lianni and Buds bonding process is still in the developmental phase but we have seen strong signs that they are currently acclimating well with one another. ... We remain hopeful this pair will potentially raise a chick to boost their population within the next few years. Lianni, who will be 40 this spring, was the Aviarys first condor. She produced one of two of the only Andean Condor eggs to hatch in North American zoos in 2022. Three of her hatchlings have been released into their native range in Colombia and Venezuela. Rapper Kodak Black was released from a Florida jail on Wednesday only to throw rocks at the local news team waiting for him outside. Black, 26, also known as Bill Kapri, had been in a Miami Federal Detention Center for two months following an arrest late last year where he was charged with possession of cocaine, later changed to oxycodone, and tampering with evidence, according to the Orlando Sun Sentinel. The possession charge was eventually dismissed last month when a judge ruled that prosecutors couldnt prove the rapper had an oxycodone prescription filled by a pharmacy. However, the arrest violated the terms of Blacks probation from an earlier case, which led to his two-month stay in the detention center. On Wednesday, Black pleaded guilty to failure to report police contact and U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez sentenced him to time served. A drug trafficking case from 2022 remains ongoing. As Black walked out of the jail, a reporter for WPLG Local 10 said he threw rocks at one of the news teams photographers and threatened to punch the reporter. One of the rocks hit the photographer in the ribs, WPLG said, but he wasnt hurt. A police report was filed, however. Kodak Black has sold more than 30 million singles. His hits include Super Gremlin, which hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022. He has been arrested multiple times, including in 2022 on charges of trafficking in oxycodone and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, the Associated Press said. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump commuted his three-year prison sentence for falsifying documents to buy weapons. Two men face federal drug charges after authorities said they found 22 pounds of cocaine in their western Pennsylvania home just a few doors away from an elementary school. Marcos Francisco-Tomas and Andres Flores-Cedeno, a Mexican national, each face charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, according to federal court records. A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent said in court documents that authorities believe the two were distributing cocaine to several subjects in the Pittsburgh area. In a criminal complaint, the DEA agent said investigators were conducting surveillance on the New Kensington, Westmoreland County, house on Feb. 17 when a tractor trailer stopped in front and Flores-Cedeno climbed in but Francisco-Thomas got out carrying a weighted duffle bag and returned to the house. New Kensington is located along the Allegheny River about 20 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. About 75 minutes later, agents saw Flores-Cedeno arrive in a car and back into the garage, and he was immediately taken into custody and requested a lawyer. As investigators were speaking to Flores-Cedeno, Francisco-Tomas ran through a side door trying to escape, but he was caught in the parking lot of the elementary school two houses away. The school is part of the New Kensington-Arnold School District. Investigators later searched the house and found 10 kilograms of cocaine, or a little over 22.5 pounds; an undetermined amount of cash, a money counter, and drug packaging material. The complaint said that the cocaine was found scattered throughout the house and hidden in trash bags, closets and the attic. Agents also found a Mexican passport for Flores-Cedeno. A worker looks on as a police officer investigates a collapsed construction crane resting on the building it damaged in Kelowna, B.C., Monday, July 12, 2021. Mounties say they have asked prosecutors to consider charges in the collapse of the crane that killed five people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alistair Waters High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell called on China not to support the aggressor country of Russia. The diplomat said this after meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, February 16. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Delegation of the European Union to the People's Republic of China. During the meeting, Borrell expressed the EU's hope that China would refrain from supporting Russia. He also called on Beijing to join the Ukrainian Formula for Peace, in particular by joining the Global Peace Summit. The diplomat reiterated that the EU is determined to support Ukraine with both military assistance and civilian support. The parties touched upon the global destabilizing impact of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. In addition, Borrell discussed bilateral relations between the EU and China with Wang Yi, in particular the outcome of the EU-China summit held in December 2023. "Regarding Taiwan, Borrell explained that the EU's position remains unchanged in support of the One China policy, emphasizing that the EU wants to preserve peace and stability in the region. The High Representative expressed his hope that the next EU-China human rights dialog will take place in the near future. He invited his counterpart to visit Brussels to continue the discussion on war and peace," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Global Affairs says Canada will give $80.5 million for a mission to improve security conditions in Haiti, where gang violence has caused an ongoing crisis. People flee their homes in Cite Soleil due to gang violence as they walk to a police station in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Odelyn Joseph DJIBOUTI, AFRICA This week, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) visited with members of the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing in Africa. They are assigned to the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS) at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. The Wyoming Air National Guard has more than 100 service members currently serving with the 75th EAS in Djibouti. They help provide tactical airlift support to various units in East Africa using their C-130H Hercules aircraft, all under the operation of the Wyoming Air National Guard. "Wyoming is proud of the sacrifice and service of our brav... Frankie, one of the cats rescued from an apartment, stands on a table at a partner vet clinic. Five cats died and two lived. Two former Cloquet residents were arrested in Arkansas last week for allegedly leaving seven cats behind - with no source of water or food - when they moved away from Cloquet late last year. Four cats were dead by the time someone entered the apartment 18 days later. A fifth cat died the same day and two cats have survived. Karlee Lynn Strum, 32, and Dominic James Welch, 26, were extradited to Minnesota this week from the White County jail in Searcy, Arkansas. They are each accused of 21 animal abuse crimes: seven counts of felony overwork/mistreat animalstorture, seven counts of misdeme... Photos: Daniel Geiger It uses TQ's light and quiet HPR 50 motor, with a 360 Wh battery integrated into the downtube. The frame can accommodate a range extender and a water bottle simultaneously, and the suspension can be controlled via Scott's TwinLoc or TracLoc system (depending on the model), which can lock out the fork and shock, or just the shock, for extra efficiency. Some of you may remember the original Scott Voltage freeride bike from a decade ago. Inevitably, Scott have resurrected the name for their latest electric bike, but the new Voltage eRide has more in common with the current Genius , with a hidden shock, carbon frame, 29" wheels and 155/160 mm of suspension. So while Scott's Lumen is the electric version of the Spark, the Voltage is the electric Genius. It weighs about the same as the original Voltage, though.It uses TQ's light and quiet HPR 50 motor, with a 360 Wh battery integrated into the downtube. The frame can accommodate a range extender and a water bottle simultaneously, and the suspension can be controlled via Scott's TwinLoc or TracLoc system (depending on the model), which can lock out the fork and shock, or just the shock, for extra efficiency. Scott Voltage eRide Details Full-carbon frame, internal shock, TwinLoc or TracLoc suspension 155mm (r)/160 mm (f) travel TQ HPR 50 motor, 50 Nm & 300 W peak power 360Wh battery (160Wh extender available) 29" wheels Weight: 19.2 kg / 42.3 lb (actual, XL ) Sizes: S, M, L, XL; 437-513 mm reach Price: 10,999 / $10,999 / 10,099 as tested scott-sports.com Full-carbon frame, internal shock, TwinLoc or TracLoc suspension 155mm (r)/160 mm (f) travel TQ HPR 50 motor, 50 Nm & 300 W peak power 360Wh battery (160Wh extender available) 29" wheels Weight: 19.2 kg / 42.3 lb (actual, XL ) Sizes: S, M, L, XL; 437-513 mm reach Price: 10,999 / $10,999 / 10,099 as tested Frame & Motor Geometry The top two levers control the TracLoc (or TwinLoc) suspension modes; the bottom one is for the dropper post. As long as there's energy in the battery, you can ignore the first two. Suspension Leverage Anti-squat - the curve that starts at the bottom is for the 52-tooth sprocket of the cassette; the top one is the 10-tooth sprocket. Models Voltage eRide 900 SL: 12,999 / $12,999.99 / 11,899 Voltage eRide 900 Tuned: 10,999 / $10,999 / 10,099 Voltage eRide 910: 7,199 / $7,199 / 6,599 Voltage eRide 920: 6,599 / $6,599.99 / 6,099 Ride Impressions I've been riding the Voltage eRide 900 tuned both in Spain (pictured) and on my home trails in Scotland. Let's dig into the details and how it rides.Impressively, Scott managed to squeeze a motor, battery and a shock inside the frame while leaving room for a range extendera water bottle (or two water bottles) within the front triangle. It certainly helps that the TQ motor is one of the most compact on the market, but Scott had to put the lower shock mount slightly further forward than it is on the Genius and add a shock extender to the other end to make it fit.Because the shock is hidden inside, the sag indicator is built into the rocker link, and measures the true sag percentage at the rear wheel, as opposed to a percentage of the shock stroke that you'd usually measure. For most bikes, 30% of the shock stroke corresponds to a bit more than 30% of the wheel travel, because the axle moves further for every millimetre of shock stroke at the beginning of the travel than at the end. Therefore, you may want to aim for a slightly higher sag percentage than usual with Scott's system. There is a small rubber port for accessing the upper shock bolt, but this doesn't let you see the shock shaft, so the external dial is the only way to see if you're using full travel.A small door under the downtube with a quarter-turn latch allows access to the shock's compression and rebound dials, plus the air valve. This is a little fiddly especially if the bike is muddy. To access the battery, there is a larger cover secured with four bolts. The 360 Wh battery is not designed to be removed in a hurry or charged off the bike. An additional 160 Wh range extender is included with the top-spec 900 SL model (bringing the total capacity to 520 Wh) and is compatible with all other models.A top-tube-mounted display can indicate the precise battery percentage (a useful feature when doing longer rides, especially when compared to Shimano's five-bar guess-o-meter) or current motor and rider power output, among the other usual metrics. As we've come to expect from Scott, cabling runs through the headset and internal cable guides. The headset also offers +/-0.6 of head angle adjustment.As you'd expect, the Voltage's geometry is very similar to the Genius. The main differences are a 15 mm longer chainstay (in all sizes) and a 6 mm higher bottom bracket. At 63.9 degrees in the slack setting, the head angle is fairly slack for the travel, while the seat tube is reasonably steep - but neither figure is an outlier.Unusually, both the (effective) stem length and crank length are size-specific. Stems go from 40 mm to 50 mm in the larger two sizes; cranks go from 170 mm to 175 mm. I'd rather have a 40 mm stem in all sizes and shorter cranks across the board.The rear suspension delivers 155 mm of travel (5 mm more than the Genius) via one of two shocks. Two models use a Fox Nude 6T shock, which has an inline architecture (no reservoir) and TwinLoc adjustment. Here, switching to the middle mode on the handlebar remote firms up the compression damping in the fork and shock, as well as reducing the shock's air volume to make it more progressive. The third setting locks-out the fork and shock's compression adjustment. This shock is paired to a Fit4 fork with three damping threshold modes to match the shock.The 900 Tuned model (tested) uses a Fox Float X Nude shock, which has a piggyback reservoir to help with heat management and damping consistency. It only reduces the air volume in the middle setting (no change to the damping) and adds a compression threshold in the third setting. This is paired with a Grip2 fork which is not connected to the handlebar remote. Simple, right?Although other shocks may fit, Scott say that no others are approved for use.Despite the unusual suspension packaging, the kinematics that dictate the suspension performance aren't too left field. The leverage that the rear axle has over the shock starts high for a soft initial stroke and drops throughout the travel to firm it up towards bottom out. The change in leverage ratio from 0% to 100% travel (AKA the progressivity percentage) is pretty typical these days, so it should provide decent support and bottom-out resistance without being overly harsh. The 55 mm stroke is short for the rear wheel travel, meaning the average leverage ratio is pretty high (2.82). This isn't necessarily a problem so long as the shock is well-tuned for it, but could make heat fade more an issue on long rough descents, especially when combined with the lack of airflow to the shock.Scott don't appear to be relying on the handlebar remotes to prop up the suspension, as anti-squat levels are high by e-bike standards, especially in the harder gears. This should mean the suspension stays high in its travel under power, but it may inhibit suspension sensitivity when pedalling over bumps.The TQ motor delivers a very different experience to its rivals, even some of the mid-weight options. It's whisper quiet, which combined with the sleek futuristic look means you could just about hide the fact you're riding an ebike. The downside is that even in the most powerful mode (which I used about 90% of the time) there isn't a lot of support. That's great if you want it to feel closer to a normal bike, but it certainly doesn't have the cartoonish indifference to steep slopes of a full-power e-bike. Of course, it will still get you up much quicker than any mountain bike, but if you've ridden full-power e-bikes (or even some of the mid-power units like Bosch SX) it's worth being aware that it's not the same ballgame. It's like comparing a bracing cup of tea to two cans of Monster.On the launch in Spain, I noticed the power starting to drop off during a prolonged fire-road climb. On the display, I could see the motor was producing way less than 300 W even when I was producing significantly more than that and using the maximum assistance mode. The same thing happened to another heavier-than-average journalist, while lighter riders started pulling away. TQ explained that the motor limits its power output when it reaches a certain temperature. The motor became hot to the touch (though not scalding) on steep climbs. It seems less than ideal to have such a source of heat so close to the shock (air shocks are affected by temperature), but I can't say I noticed any dramatic changes in suspension performance after steep climbs or descents.Without a range extender, I was getting about 700 m of climbing out of a full charge in Scottish winter conditions using only the strongest assistance mode. Mathematically, that would correspond to just over 1,000 m with the range extender (which I didn't get to try out in Scotland). That said, you could get more range with less assistance or milder weather, and the Voltage is very pedal-efficient, so it's not a big deal to ride it without any assistance at all if required. As for the TracLoc, I only used it to try it out. I don't think it's necessary.On the descents, it's not indistinguishable from an unassisted trail bike, but it's pretty close. The longer chainstay and extra frame weight make it a little harder to pop the wheel off the ground, but they also aid with traction and stability on loose turns. Either way, it's not a dramatic effect and a far cry from the 25 kg full-power e-bikes that do take some getting used to.The rear suspension is supple but does get to the end of its travel easily on fast hits. Bottom outs aren't clunky, but it's not the most reassuring on heavy landings. I also didn't gel with the 50 mm (effective) stem length of the one-piece bar/stem. To me, this makes the steering feel a little awkward on tight, steep turns. Aside from those gripes, the Voltage is easy to ride fast on rough and technical terrain. One trail in Spain had a mix of chunky rock chutes, tight turns and pinch climbs; the Voltage was in its element here, with a good mix of maneuverability, stability and intuitive assistance for the technical uphills. With a shorter stem and perhaps a bigger volume spacer in the shock, it could be a very competent descender indeed. Heading to APT Taipei 2024? Here's Where to Eat, Sleep, and Party! February 22, 2024 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor The Taipei leg of the 2024 Asian Poker Tour (APT) runs from February 28 through March 10, and features over 100 tournaments and satellites for you to get your teeth into. The bustling schedule is so packed that APT Taipei 2024, in partnership with the Chinese Texas Hold'em Poker Club, takes place across two venues: the CPT Asia Poker Arena and the Chinese Mahjong League. While you can leave the organizers to worry about how to accommodate thousands of poker players across the two venues, it is down to you to plan your trip, from where you sleep to where you eat and celebrate becoming an APT Taipei 2024 champion. Continue reading for a guide to APT Taipei 2024 once you've feasted your eyes on the schedule below. APT Taipei 2024 Schedule Date Time Event Buy-in (TWD) Buy-in (USD) Wed 28 Feb 11:00 a.m. #1 APT National Cup Freeroll 0 $0 11:00 a.m. #2: PL Omaha Hi 5-Card 8-Max 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #3: Single Day High Roller Freezeout 100,000 $3,243 11:30 a.m. #4: APT National Cup Flight A: TWD 15M Gtd 10,000 $324 2:00 p.m. #5: Limit Triple Draw Lowball Mix 8,000 $259 7:00 p.m. #6: Satellite to National Cup 2,000 $65 7:00 p.m. #7: Turbo High Roller 25,000 $811 7:30 p.m. #8: Turbo PL Omaha 6,000 $195 9:30 p.m. #9: Hyper Turbo High Roller 20,000 $649 9:30 p.m. #10: Hyper Turbo 8,000 $259 9:45 p.m. #11: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw 2-7 5,000 $162 11:00 p.m. #12: Super Hyper Turbo 5,000 $162 Thu 29 Feb 11:00 a.m. #13: Satellite to National Cup 2,000 $65 11:00 a.m. #14: PL Omaha Hi-Lo 5-Card 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #15: Single Day High Roller 130,000 $4,215 11:30 a.m. #4: APT National Cup Flight B: TWD 15M Gtd 10,000 $324 2:00 p.m. #16: Limit Triple Draw Mix 8,000 $259 6:30 p.m. #4: APT National Cup Flight C: TWD 15M Gtd 10,000 $324 7:00 p.m. #17: Turbo High Roller 30,000 $973 7:30 p.m. #18: Turbo NL Single Draw Mix 6,000 $195 9:00 p.m. APT All-Star Showdown 30,000 $973 9:30 p.m. #19: Hyper Turbo High Roller 25,000 $811 9:45 p.m. #20: Hyper Turbo NL Omaha 5,000 $162 10:00 p.m. #21: Tick Tock Boom! 5,000 $162 Fri 1 Mar 11:00 a.m. #4: APT National Cup Flight D: TWD 15M Gtd 10,000 $324 11:00 a.m. #22: PL Omaha Mix 4/5/6 Card 7-Max 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #23: Superstar Challenge Single Re-Entry 800,000 $25,940 11:30 a.m. #24: Single Day High Roller 100,000 $3,243 2:00 p.m. #25: 8-Game 8,000 $259 6:30 p.m. #4: APT National Cup Flight E: TWD 15M Gtd 10,000 $324 7:00 p.m. #26: Satellite to APT Super High Roller 50,000 $1,621 7:30 p.m. #27: Turbo PL Omaha Hi-Lo 5-Card 6,000 $195 9:30 p.m. #28: Hyper Turbo High Roller 20,000 $649 9:30 p.m. #29: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw Mix 5,000 $162 10:00 a.m. #30: Tick Tock BOOM! Super Hold'em 5,000 $162 Sat 2 Mar 11:00 a.m. #31: Mystery Bounty Flight A: TWD 10M Gtd 15,000 $486 11:00 a.m. #32: PL Omaha 4/5/6 card 7-Max 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #4: APT National Cup Final Day 11:15 a.m. #23: Superstars Challenge Final Day 11:15 a.m. #33: APT Super High Roller Day 1 300,000 $9,728 2:00 p.m. #34: Limit Triple Draw 2-7 8,000 $259 5:30 p.m. #31: Mystery Bounty Flight B: TWD 10M Gtd 15,000 $486 7:30 p.m. #35: Turbo NL Omaha Double Board 6,000 $195 9:30 p.m. #36: Hyper Turbo High Roller 25,000 $811 9:45 p.m. #37: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw 2-7 5,000 $162 10:00 p.m. #38: Tick Tock BOOM! 8,000 $259 Sun 3 Mar 11:00 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Flight A: TWD 65M Gtd 70,000 $2,270 11:00 a.m. #40: 9 Game 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #31: Mystery Bounty Final Day 11:15 a.m. #33: APT Super High Roller Final Day 11:15 a.m. #41: Baby Superstars Challenge 300,000 $9,728 11:30 a.m. #42: Sunday Super Stack: TWD 2M Gtd 30,000 $973 6:00 p.m. #43: Satellite to APT Main Event 15,000 $486 7:00 p.m. #44: Turbo High Roller 50,000 $1,621 7:30 p.m. #45: Turbo NL Single Draw Mix 7,000 $227 9:30 p.m. #46: Hyper Turbo Double Board 8,000 $259 9:30 p.m. #47: Hyper Turbo High Roller 30,000 $972 9:45 p.m. #48: Hyper Turbo PL Omaha Hi 6,000 $195 11:00 p.m. #49: Super Hyper Turbo Win the Button 5,000 $162 Mon 4 Mar 11:00 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Flight B: TWD 65M Gtd 70,000 $2,270 11:00 a.m. #50: PL Omaha Hi Lazy Rivers 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #51: Single Day High Roller Mystery Bounty 150,000 $4,864 11:30 a.m. #52: NL Hold'em Freezeout 25,000 $811 2:00 p.m. #53: Limit Triple Stud 6,000 $195 2:30 p.m. N8IN X APT Taipei 2004 Final Table 4:00 p.m. #45: Women's Event 10,000 $324 7:00 p.m. N8 Influencers Invitational Final Table 7:00 p.m. #55: Satellite to Triton Jeju GG Million$ 100,000 $3,243 7:30 p.m. #56: Turbo NL Omaha Hi-Lo 15,000 $486 8:00 p.m. #57: Satellite to APT Main Event 15,000 $486 9:30 p.m. #58: Hyper Turbo High Roller 20,000 $649 9:30 p.m. #59: Hyper Turbo Deuces Wild 10,000 $324 9:45 p.m. #60: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw Hi 6,000 $195 11:00 p.m. #61: Super Hyper Turbo 8,000 $259 Tue 5 Mar 11:00 a.m. N8TW X APT Taipei 2024 Final Table 11:00 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Flight C: TWD 65M Gtd 70,000 $2,270 11:00 p.m. #62: PL Omaha Hi-Lo 5-Card 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #63: Single Day High Roller 100,000 $3,243 11:30 a.m. #64: NL Hold'em Single Re-Entry 15,000 $486 2:00 p.m. #65: Limit Triple Draw Mix 6,000 $195 4:00 p.m. #66: Women's Event 5,000 $162 4:30 p.m. N8HK X APT 2024 Taipei Final Table 6:00 p.m. #39: APT Main Event Flight D: TWD 65M Gtd 70,000 $2,270 7:00 p.m. #67: Turbo high Roller 30,000 $973 7:30 p.m. #68: Turbo NL 8-Game 6,000 $195 9:00 p.m. #69: Hyper Turbo Double Stack 7,000 $227 9:30 p.m. APT Thailand Exclusive 9:30 p.m. #70: Hyper Turbo High Roller 25,000 $811 9:45 p.m. #71: Hyper Turbo NL ROSE 6,000 $195 11:00 p.m. #72: Super Hyper Turbo Bomb Pot 5,000 $162 Wed 6 Mar 11:00 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Day 2 70,000 $2,270 11:00 a.m. #73: Satellite to Zodiac Classic 10,000 $324 4:00 p.m. #74: Single Day High Roller 80,000 $2,594 4:30 p.m. #75: NL Hold'em Shootout (100 cap) 12,000 $389 7:30 p.m. #76: Turbo PL Omaha Hi-Lo 8,000 $259 9:30 p.m. #77: Hyper Turbo High Roller 20,000 $649 9:30 p.m. #78: Hyper Turbo Crazy Pineapple 8,000 $259 9:45 p.m. #79: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw A-5 5,000 $162 11:00 p.m. #80: Super Hyper Turbo Super Hold'em 5,000 $162 Thu 7 Mar 11:00 a.m. #81: NL Hold'em Heads-Up (32 cap) 20,000 $649 11:15 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Day 3 11:15 a.m. #82: PL Omaha Hi 10,000 $324 1:00 p.m. #83: Zodiac Classic Day 1: TWD 20M Gtd 80,000 $2,594 2:00 p.m. #84: 8-Game 6,000 $195 2:30 p.m. #85: NL Hold'em Teams Event 10,000 $324 7:45 p.m. #86: Turbo Double Styack 12,000 $389 9:30 p.m. #87: Hyper Turbo High Roller 20,000 $649 9:45 p.m. #88: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw Mix 5,000 $162 10:00 p.m. APT Players Party 11:00 p.m. #89: Super Hyper Turbo 5,000 $162 Fri 8 mar 11:00 a.m. #90: Double Stack Flight A: TWD 7M Gtd 20,000 $649 11:00 a.m. #91: Omaholic 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Day 4 11:15 a.m. #83: Zodiac Classic Final Day 11:15 a.m. #92: Single Day High Roller 110,000 $3,567 2:00 p.m. #93: Limit ROSE 6,000 $195 5:30 p.m. #90: Double Stack Flight B: TWD 7M Gtd 20,000 $649 7:00 p.m. #94: Satellite to APT High Roller 20,000 $649 7:30 p.m. #95: Turbo NL Single Draw 2-7 7,000 $227 9:30 p.m. #96: Hyper Turbo High Roller 25,000 $811 9:45 p.m. #97: Hyper Turbo PL Omaha Hi 5,000 $162 10:00 p.m. #98: Tick Tock BOOM! 8,000 $259 Sat 9 Mar 11:00 a.m. #99: Mini Main Event Day 1: TWD 6M Gtd 22,000 $713 11:00 a.m. #100: Dealer's Choice 7-Max 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #39: APT Main Event Final Day 11:15 a.m. #90: Double Stack Final Day 11:15 a.m. #101: APT high Roller Day 1: TWD 11M Gtd 150,000 $4,864 7:00 p.m. #102: Turbo Double Stack 13,000 $422 9:30 p.m. #103: Hyper Turbo High Roller 25,000 $811 9:30 p.m. #104: Hyper Turbo 8,000 $259 9:45 p.m. #105: Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw Mix 5,000 $162 11:00 p.m. #106: Super Hyper Turbo 5,000 $162 Sun 10 Mar 11:00 a.m. #107: Micro Main Event: TWD 1.5M Gtd 11,000 $357 11:00 a.m. #108: PL Omaha 5-Card Mix 10,000 $324 11:15 a.m. #99: Mini Main Event Final Day 11:15 a.m. #101: APT High Roller Final Day 11:15 a.m. #109: Last Chance High Roler 100,000 $3,243 12:00 p.m. #110: Turbo Short Deck Double Chance 11,.000 $357 1:00 p.m. #111: Limit Triple Draw Mix 10,000 $324 5:00 p.m. #112: Hyper Turbo 7,000 $227 5:30 p.m. #113: Hyper Turbo High Roller 20,000 $649 APT Taipei 2024 Location and How to Get There The CTP Asia Poker Arena and Chinese Mahjong League are hosting the APT Taipei 2024 festival. Both are located in central Taipei, which is a 40-minute taxi ride from Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport. The easiest way to reach central Taipei is by pre-booking an airport pickup and dropoff via ATP's official travel partner, DK Poker Tour Bookings. A one-way trip costs around $42, with a return trip costing $84. It's worth noting that you'll receive a $20 or $30 discount if you book seven or ten day's accommodation through DK Poker Tour Bookings. Please note bookings must be made at least one week in advance Alternatively, the Travel as Local (TAL) taxi service will happily take you to central Taipei for around $45. The Airport Line (Express) train stops at the airport and will take you to Taipei Main Station in approximately 70 minutes. From Taipei Main Station, you can either take a short five-minute walk to Rear Station, where you can catch the #52 bus to Zhongshan Girls High School, which is nine stops (13 minutes) away. The Beimen Station is also a five-minute walk from Taipei Main Station. From here, catch the Songshan-Xindian MRT for two stops to Songjiang Nanjing Station. The CTP Asia Poker Arena is a ten-minute walk once you get off the bus. The APT Taipei 2024 Festival Has One of the Biggest-Ever Schedules! Learn more Where to Stay During APT Taipei 2024 You are spoiled for choice regarding where to stay while in Taipei. However, it is worth noting that most of the marquee event action is occurring at the CTP Asia Poker Arena in the heart of the Zhongzheng District, while mixed games and high rollers are playing out at the Chinese Mahjong League in the nearby Songshan District. The APT recommends the following hotels: Name Address Starting Price per Night Packages From CHECK Inn No. 16, Section 3, Nanjing E Road $110 $785 Artree Hotel Section 3, Bade Rd $860 Jiamei Hotel No. 12, Beiping E Rd $510 Erin Hotel No. 10, Lane 123, Songjiang Rd $460 Food and Drink in Taipei Taipei has dozens of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, including American BBQ, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Korean; you're sure to find something you like! The APT has singled out a handful of eateries that are highly rated based on their Google reviews. Baba Kevin's American Barbecue smokes all its meat in traditional Texas fashion, making it the perfect joint for meat lovers. You'll find this restaurant in Alley 8, Lane 303, Section 3 on Nanjing E Road in the Songshan District; getting there by cab takes eight-to-ten minutes from APT Taipei 2024's venues. No. 128, Songjiang Road in the Zhongshan District, is where you will stumble upon the Yang Shin Vegetarian Restaurant. It offers a fusion of Western culinary concepts, local Taiwanese ingredients, Japanese cooking skills, and Chinese techniques as the chefs produce some incredible vegetarian cuisine. Also in the Zhongshan District, at No. 1-1, SonJiang Road, is the Mayur Indian Kitchen Restaurant & Shisha Bar. Offering an Indian and Chinese menu, this restaurant also has vegan dishes available, plus a dedicated hookah shisha lounge. Of course, there is also Japanese-style conveyor belt style sushi at the Sushi Express Yitong Restaurant in Section 2, Nanjing East Road, in Zhongshan District. Open 11:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., this eatery is perfect if you fancy a quick bite to eat. Party in Taipei! The highlight of the APT Taipei 2024 nightlife will be the APT Players Party on March 7, featuring music from DJ Lynne. However, if you fancy dancing the night away or enjoying your favorite tipple before then, you should head to HAKU Taipei, Triangle, the James Joyce Irish Bar, or soak up the latest sporting events at the Brass Monkey Taipei. Sharelines Here's your one-stop guide to everything related to APT Taipei 2024. Biden impeachment looks dead, but that didnt stop Rep. Jim Jordan from trying to save the effort to impeach President Biden. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jordan (R-OH) repeated several now debunked points that he called facts and then attacked the FBI and Special Counsel Weiss: So how does that impact the investigation? I think you should ask that you should ask the FBI why they were so reluctant. They told us if we dont, when we wanted to see the 10 23 said this could jeopardize national security the safety of this confidential human source. You cant know his name. They didnt want to show it to us. Then they finally did. I mean, this is the guy they paid, I think, since 2010. So for 14 years, theyve been paying this guy. Um, and hes a trusted source. And now we find out. Plus, I think theres sort of the You know, when Christopher Steele lied to the FBI about President Trump, he gets paid more when Smirnov lies to the FBI about President Biden. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Oh, he gets indicted. I mean, go figure. it doesnt change the fundamental facts. It doesnt change the facts. Thats obviously, you know, David Weiss, the special counsel said he may be trying to influence this year. I will tell you this. Scott Brady. When Scott Brady, U. S. Attorney in Pittsburgh, when we talked to him, he had actually checked out the confidential human source. Where he traveled to when he traveled to and said that he felt he had the initial credibility. Video: Rep. @Jim_Jordan on the indictment of ex-FBI informant Alexander Smirnov: It is what it is. It doesnt change the fundamental facts. pic.twitter.com/fobfw5SWyj CSPAN (@cspan) February 21, 2024 Jim Jordan also said that Republicans are looking at impeaching President Biden for things that they claim he did before he was a presidential candidate. Impeachment by definition is for high crimes and misdemeanors committed while in office. Rep. Jordan claimed that the facts of the investigation have not changed, and he is right. There was never any evidence that President Biden did anything wrong, and there is still no evidence that President Biden did anything wrong. Jim Jordan is trying to resuscitate the dead Biden impeachment, but it over. Republicans need to take the loss and go home. 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. President Biden responded to Trumps claim that his $355 million fraud fine is a form of Navalny by suggesting that the former president is crazy and should be committed. Laura Ingraham asked Donald Trump how he was going to pay for the New York fraud fine, which is roughly $450 million, and Trump answered, Its a form of Navalny. Video: Ingraham: How are you going to pay for your court fines? To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Trump: It is a form of Navalny pic.twitter.com/5TRJOCYaOB Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) February 21, 2024 According to the White House print pool report, Biden responded to Trumps comments by saying, If I stood here 10 to 15 years ago and said all this, youd all think I should be committed. Biden is right. The level of insanity that the American people and the media tolerate from Trump would have been unfathomable even ten years ago. President Biden was suggesting that Donald Trump is crazy, and that could be a very powerful argument to make to Independent and swing voters in November. Biden and Trump are both older, but only one makes you ask yourself if he needs psychiatric treatment. Some in the media keep trying to push Bidens age as the most important issue in the election, while leaving out that the real vital issue is that the Republican Partys inevitable nominee has tried to overthrow the government, is facing 91 criminal counts, and each time he speaks raises questions about his mental health. President Biden isnt holding anything back when it comes to stopping Donald Trump from returning to the White House. 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. Jimmy Kimmel hit Trump with a great joke as he said Attorney General Letitia James is going to grab him by the New York assets. Kimmel said: Financial frauds are not victimless crimes. He engaged in a massive amount of fraud, it wasnt just a simple mistake like Eric. She also said if he doesnt come up with the money, she might seize trump tower. Turns out one of the downsides to putting your name on everything you own is everyone knows who owns it. She could do it, too. It would be refreshing to see a woman grab his assets for once. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. When youre attorney general, they let you do it, you dont even ask. just seize, you grab them by the property. Trump needs to come up with $355 million to avoid having his property seized. Video: AG James could move on Trump like a B-word. Just like he bragged about on the Access Hollywood tape. It would be fitting to see Trumps name come off of Trump Tower. Trumps supposedly crown jewel. The Kimmel joke was an absolute killer because it shows how the tables have turned against Trump. AG James is serious about seizing Trumps assets, and the clock is ticking. AG James isnt going to wait. If Trump doesnt pay the New York Attorney General is ready to act. 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. Lara Trump suggested that she needs to take a look at the rules, but as RNC co-chair, she wants to pick up Donald Trumps legal bills and make him the sole financial focus of the party. Lara Trump said that she thinks Trumps legal bills are of big interest to Republican voters: Lara Trump said today she thinks paying Trumps legal bills is of big interest to Republican voters. I asked if she thought the RNC should be paying those legal bills: I dont really know what the statutes are that guide that because Im not officially there yet. pic.twitter.com/qwwov5XPnH Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) February 22, 2024 To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Thats a pretty big hint of where things are going to be heading for the RNC, but we dont have to rely on hints because Lara Trump is making it explicitly clear why she is taking over an RNC leadership post: Lara Trump said that she will make sure that every penny donated to the RNC goes to Trump: Lara Trump: When I become co-Chair of the Republican Party, I will make sure that every penny of every dollar donated to the RNC is going to Trumps campaign pic.twitter.com/s9h4uLJg06 DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) February 21, 2024 Trump also said that her husband, Eric, and brother-in-law, Donald Trump Jr., are going to be involved and that the RNC is going to be a Trump family affair. The RNC is already drowning in financial problems due to decreased donations and paying Trumps legal bills, and things are about to get a lot worse for the rest of the party not named Donald Trump. The RNCs primary job is getting voters to the polls and supporting candidates. A party organization should not operate as a family business and direct all its donations to the presidential nominee. As Biden is raising and sharing with the Democratic Party record amounts of cash on hand, the Trumps have taken over the RNC and are apparently looking to bleed it dry. Republicans continue to lose elections in part because, since the rise of Trump, their candidates dont have the money to push them over the top. Super PACs cant fulfill the same functions as the political party. It sure sounds like Lara Trump is coming to the RNC to make it a Donald Trump operation, which could be a disaster for Republicans. 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. Aiken Standard Reporter Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County. Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Aiken Standard reporter Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken and politics. Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers One of the world's largest producers of lithium needed to power electric vehicles has suspended construction of a massive South Carolina processing site amid waning interest in battery-powered cars. Albemarle Corp. is putting the $1.3 billion project announced less than a year ago for Chester County on hold as lower demand has significantly reduced prices for the critical minerals needed to build EV batteries. The suspension comes amid layoffs and cutbacks in other programs that the Charlotte-based company announced this month after reporting a nearly $618 million fourth-quarter loss. Albemarle's stock has plunged by more than 50 percent over the past year. A company spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the Richburg processing plant, which was scheduled to start construction this year and hire about 300 workers. Kent Masters, Albemarle's president and CEO, told analysts during a Feb. 15 conference call that the South Carolina plant is "not a canceled project, it's been delayed." Masters added: "So, we're still doing some of the long lead-time permitting there, but no construction and we stopped engineering work on it." He added other U.S. plans have "been pushed out," adding they "require better pricing in order to execute on those projects." Lithium prices have fallen as much as 90 percent over the past year, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Harry Lightsey, the leader of the S.C. Commerce Department, announced the project last March, saying it "demonstrates to the world that South Carolina is poised to support resilient energy operations, especially the growing electric vehicle supply chain. South Carolina has spent billions of dollars on incentives to lure EV and battery manufacturers, but U.S. sales of electric cars have hit a speed bump from 66 percent year-over-year growth from 2021-22 to 46.3 percent last year, according to Kelley Blue Book. A onetime Mount Pleasant-based business owner who was among the first to be charged in the government's "Operation Brace Yourself" probe is to be sentenced this week. Read moreMajor SC Medicare fraud case shifts to the penalty phase after 5 years South Carolina's automotive business, primarily BMWs built in Spartanburg County, helped boost its export total to $37.3 billion worth of goods in 2023, far outpacing the national average. Last year's total represents an 18.4 percent jump from 2022, according to figures released Feb. 22 by Gov. Henry McMaster's office. Nationally, exported goods fell 2.2 percent in 2023. Outbound shipments of Palmetto State products have grown at an average annual rate of 4.4 percent since 2013. Over the same period, U.S. exports grew at an average annual rate of 3 percent. "Other countries continue to find that South Carolina offers the best products and services available anywhere, which is emphasized by the fact that our state saw an increase in trade despite a national decline in exports, McMaster said in a written statement. Passenger vehicles were once again the state's No. 1 export commodity, with X-model SUVs made at BMW's Upstate factory in Greer accounting for a large share of that sector's $10.2 billion value. The German carmaker has been the nation's top vehicle exporter by dollar value for nine consecutive years through 2022. It is expected to announce its 2023 totals later this month. All told, South Carolina accounts for 16 percent of the national market share for vehicle exports. Other top exported commodities include: 787 Dreamliner commercial planes built at Boeing Co.'s assembly campus in North Charleston; machinery such as gas turbines, ball bearings and appliances; plastic pellets known as nurdles that are used to make thousands of consumer products; and tires built by manufacturers that include Michelin and Bridgestone. South Carolina remains the nation's top tire exporter, sending $1.8 billion worth to foreign markets for more than one-third of the U.S. market share. Most exports leave through the Port of Charleston, giving "automakers, advanced manufacturers, farmers and small businesses ... direct access to global markets," Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of the State Ports Authority, said in a written statement. COLUMBIA A South Carolina pharmaceutical manufacturer is moving forward with its plan to add more than 100 jobs and invest $81 million in an expansion of the company's existing site in northeast Richland along Interstate 77. Over the next four years, Ritedose Corp. plans to expand its campus with a 225,000 square-foot distribution and logistics center on 105 acres of newly purchased land, doubling its current square footage. The new building will be mostly used for warehousing and distribution, CEO Jody Chastain said. In turn, that'll free up space in the manufacturing areas to allow for millions more doses to be produced and packaged. The building and campus expansion comes after the company purchased the acreage from Midlands Technical College. It borders the Carolina Research Park off Farrow Road, where the company's headquarters and a manufacturing facility are already located. The purchase of the land, with a groundbreaking to follow, signifies the start of the second phase of the multiphase project, Chastain said. The technical school's campus will remain even as the company adds new facilities. "We rely on our tech schools to help train some of the employees that come up to work at Ritedose, so they'll remain there," Chastain said. He said the investment comes at a time when there's a greater need for medications Ritedose manufactures. There continues to be a nationwide surge in demand for the medications we produce especially for respiratory diseases," Chastain said, adding that he expects the amount of medications produced annually to jump to more than 2 billion doses in the coming years. The company also hopes to expand its capability to produce other types of drugs, which include a generic medication to help with dry eye. COLUMBIA Rats have not been eliminated from some Columbia schools, according to new South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control health inspection reports. Richland One confirmed the school district has verified reports of rodent activity at seven district campuses within the last 30 days: Caughman Road, Meadowfield, Satchel Ford, Forest Heights and Mill Creek elementary schools, its Adult Education Center and Dreher High School. DHEC inspectors have found evidence of the pests in at least two other schools. Feb. 15 inspection reports from the Horrell Hill Elementary and Southeast Middle cafeterias both reported "droppings throughout facility." A follow-up inspection of the Caughman Road Elementary cafeteria conducted Feb. 20 also found droppings for the second time in less than a week. That "consecutive violation" of the state's health code may be referred to DHEC's Enforcement Section, the report noted, but a DHEC spokesman told The Post and Courier the referral process hasn't started. "Potential fines would be determined as part of the enforcement action, should one be merited," he said. Health code problems are typically sent over to the departments enforcement division after inspectors flag a problem three times, The Post and Courier has previously reported. The enforcement then monitors how often the issue continues before determining what fine the establishment will pay. The recent slew of inspections also reported food safety issues at school cafeterias, beyond the rodents. In one instance, inspectors reported the person in charge of the Meadowfield Elementary cafeteria didn't have the proper certification. In another, inspectors reported Southeast Middle's serving line hand sink was not functioning and that some sanitization procedures weren't being properly followed. Members of teacher groups praised efforts from the S.C. House Ways and Means Committee to reduce educator shortages by improving recruitment and retention. On Feb. 21 the committee proposed increasing the state's base minimum teacher pay to $47,000 a year. This would be $4,500 over the current statewide minimum and a $20,000 increase compared to starting salaries 10 years ago, according to a statement from the Palmetto State Teachers Association, one of the state's largest teachers' groups. For the first time the budget would also raise statewide minimum pay for educators with master's degrees above $50,000. The raise is coming at a crucial time for educators. The nation has been in the throes of a teacher retention crisis for years, and classroom vacancies in South Carolina remain high. "This is transforming high investment in public education in South Carolina," state Rep. Bill Whitmire, R-Oconee, said at the committee meeting. Patrick Kelly, PSTA director of governmental affairs, said the proposal demonstrates a commitment by the committee to address educator recruitment and early career retention. Along with the increases, the committee proposed a new teacher salary schedule, which raises the number of salary steps available to teachers from 23 to 28 years. In a statement, the PSTA said that under the existing 23-step schedule, some of South Carolinas most experienced and effective teachers were ineligible for pay increases during the final years of their careers. "By expanding steps to 28, the Ways and Means Committee will make pay raises possible for a greater number of veteran teachers," the PSTA said. Kelly said this component of the proposal is unique. Its not a uniform increase, he said. This schedule front-load increases on the front end and the back end by extending steps to 28. These are good actions and I think demonstrate a significant commitment. Patrick Martin, a teacher in the Charleston County School District and member of its Teacher Compensation Task Force, deemed the committees effort commendable. He said the increase in both the starting pay for new teachers and the compensation for more experienced educators is a positive measure towards balancing support for both veteran and new teachers. GEORGETOWN Georgetown now holds claim to something only a handful of cities across South Carolina have achieved. The S.C. Arts Commission recently designated the states third-oldest city as a cultural district. It's the 11th community recognized by the state agency. Others include Beaufort, Bluffton, Camden, Congaree Vista, Florence, Greenwood, Hartsville, Lancaster, Rock Hill and Spartanburg Downtown. Georgetowns Main Street Director Al Joseph said the idea for the city to become a cultural district began in November 2022 when he attended a Main Street meeting with the state's art commission. I grabbed them and we started talking, Joseph said. It has been a long road and I cant even imagine what this is going to mean for Georgetown. Joseph said the designation elevates Georgetown not only in the state but regionally and to a lesser extent nationally. It opens us up for grants and opportunities that we would not have if we werent a member of the state arts commission and a designated cultural district, Joseph said. It puts us on a much larger stage. The S.C. Arts Commission defines cultural districts as strollable geographic areas with a concentration of cultural facilities, activities and assets, according to its website. In 2014, state lawmakers changed the law to allow the arts commission to recognize these districts. This will boost tourism in this area and also create opportunities for the whole community, City Administrator Scott Whittier said during a Feb. 15 City Council meeting. Joseph said the idea of becoming a state cultural district emerged shortly before the city created a local arts and cultural commission. Created in 2022, the local commissions mission is to enrich and improve the quality of life of Georgetown residents; attract visitors to the city; promote visual, performing, culinary and literary arts; highlight the city's cultural heritage; and improve tourism and economic development. LAURENS Several Laurens County jail employees are under investigation after authorities say at least one officer used two inmates' labor for his own personal gain. Two officers were fired and charged with misconduct in office Feb. 19, while three other employees have been placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation, Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds said in a news release. Reynolds said the sheriff's office began monitoring all five guards after some "inconsistencies and questionable activities," which revealed they were inappropriately using inmate labor for "personal purposes." Sign up for updates! Get the latest Greenville news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! The State Law Enforcement Division said in a news release that one of the former guards, Nicolas A. Walker, had at least one state inmate assigned to the county jail perform labor for Walker's own gain. Walker's arrest warrant alleges that he used the inmate's labor between November 2023 and February 2024. Authorities declined to elaborate on the nature of the labor, citing the active investigation. The other guard who was arrested, Holly Walker, allegedly knew what Nicolas Walker was up to, arrest warrants show. Low-security state inmates, called "trustees," are frequently sent to county jails across South Carolina to live and work there while serving their sentences. County jails apply to the program with the state Department of Corrections, requesting a certain number of inmates for labor like groundskeeping or office work. The inmates can apply if they're interested in a job at one of the county jails. Laurens County's jail, the Johnson Detention Center, has 19 trustees in its care, SCDC spokeswoman Chrysti Shain told The Post and Courier. When the county receives trustees through the state's program, the county has full responsibility for the inmate's safety and care. GREENVILLE Greenville County is facing a multibillion-dollar price tag to fix its sprawling inventory of roads, and with no funding in place to scratch the surface of the mounting problems, leaders are considering asking voters to approve a 1 percent sales tax. The levy would have to go before voters in a referendum, a potentially tall order after a similar effort resoundingly failed in 2014 and outrage persists over a recent property tax increase the county's first in about three decades. Roughly 60 percent of all pavement in Greenville County is in poor or fair condition. Just to resurface roads in need would cost an estimated $2 billion. Addressing high-priority projects throughout the county would cost another $1 billion. The issue is becoming more pressing as the area experiences explosive growth, increasing traffic and wear on the county's already aging infrastructure. Safety is also a concern. Close to 400 people died on roads in Greenville County between 2017 and 2021, the most in the state. During a Feb. 20 roads presentation the third such briefing since September staff members presented County Council with two options for a potential sales tax to fund road repairs. The first, a capital project sales tax, would impose a 1 percent tax on all purchases except for groceries, pharmacies and fuel. Over the course of its eight-year lifespan, it would raise about $1 billion. The second, a transportation sales tax, would function largely the same, but it would include taxing groceries. It would generate an estimated $1.2 billion in the same span. In both cases, the staff estimates roughly one-third of the revenue would come from non-Greenville County residents. As it stands now, South Carolina's most-populous county spends a fraction of what comparable counties contribute to roads. Charleston, for instance, gives $93 million a year. Spartanburg County spends north of $100 million. York County contributes $42 million. All three have penny sales taxes on the books. COLUMBIA A key South Carolina Senate subcommittee moved forward Feb. 21 with a ban on transgender care for those under age 18. The decision came despite pleas from families and concerns from some members about how to implement it, such as the difficulties of forcing school personnel to out students who question their gender. The Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee, which met twice the week before without taking a vote, ultimately advanced the new ban on care to the full committee. The vote split along party lines. The House has already passed a very similar bill, but Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said the full Senate is unlikely to take up the issue before the end of this month. "But I know there's a lot of interest in trying to deal with that issue," he said. The bill would ban gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or gender-reassignment surgery for anyone under age 18 in the state. That kind of surgery is not being performed in South Carolina currently, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack, president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "It is not happening," she said. South Carolina would join 22 other states with similar bans, should the legislation pass. A large part of the debate in the subcommittee had to do with the schools, where the bill would require school personnel to notify a parent or guardian in writing if a student was openly questioning his or her gender identity. Sen. Billy Garrett, R-Greenwood, said there are examples in other states where schools "are not telling the parents about it." Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, dismissed whether it is a problem in the Palmetto State. "We're looking to solve problems that have not been identified in South Carolina," she said. Garrett and others insisted that not only may schools be withholding information, they might be more actively involved. "Children are being taught these ideas," he said. Does it seem to you that a lot of the controversies in education (homework, grading, punishment, curricula) exist because people arent considering things from the students point of view and what they might need? Read more'Luxury beliefs' leaving some kids in the dark The leadership at the Historic Charleston Foundation was a bit nervous from the start. They had considered their mission for the better part of a year, devising a new strategic plan that took into account pressing issues and positioned the organization to broaden the definition of preservation. Managing house museums had been an important function of the 77-year-old nonprofit, to be sure, but that wasnt supposed to be part of the organizations mission. Whats more, Lowcountry residents face day-to-day challenges that are intensifying largely because of development and gentrification the same market forces that threaten to erode the historic characteristics of the region. The foundation already had turned its attention to Black settlement communities, to the proposed reinvention of Union Pier, to the high cost of housing and other concerns. In other words, it had pushed cultural preservation higher up on the priority list. So, in a move the leadership knew would provoke resistance, the foundations board of trustees decided to sell the Nathaniel Russell House in order to focus more attention (and money) on the other museum property it owned, the Aiken-Rhett House, and on a growing number of community-based initiatives. Then all hell broke loose. A mission 'rephrased' It was a big year, 2022. Historic Charleston Foundation turned 75, and it celebrated with special events, house tours and promotions, as well as remembrances of milestones, leaders and accomplishments. An assessment of priorities and direction was long overdue, so the board of trustees decided to devote the next year to strategic planning, according to Anne Blessing, board chairwoman. It was time, she said. They took an inventory of assets and programs. They drew up a list of challenges and opportunities. They assembled a nine-person strategic planning committee. They hired an outside facilitator. And they reached an early consensus: This cant just be a box-checking exercise, CEO Winslow Hastie said. Lets analyze what we do and ask what does our community need from us today and in the future. NORTH CHARLESTON One man was killed after being struck by a police vehicle when a traffic stop led to a North Charleston police shooting near U.S. Highway 78 and Shipley Street, the State Law Enforcement Division said. A vehicle pursuit began around 9:30 p.m. Feb. 21, the North Charleston Police Department said. There was an exchange of gunfire when the person involved in the pursuit fled on foot, according to police. A North Charleston vehicle struck the person during the encounter after there was an exchange of gunfire, SLED said in a statement the following day. The person, who has not yet been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at the hospital. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident. All of the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, per department protocol. North Charleston police have not yet released the identities of the officers who were involved. North Charleston police requested SLED to investigate. The investigation is ongoing, and further information is expected be be released. This is the second shooting involving North Charleston police in 2024. An officer fired his gun at someone during a Feb. 4 foot chase off Dorchester Road. That person escaped, and it is unclear if they were injured. Along the same road, North Charleston police shot and killed a 33-year-old man named Winston Dunham on Dec. 26 near the Marathon Gas Station. SLED's investigations into both shootings are ongoing. 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 FLORENCE Florence-Darlington Technical College and Francis Marion University requested millions from the state as the legislature prepares the state's annual budget. Both institutions receive hefty funds from the state every year. In the past, money has gone toward improvements, expansions and lower tuition costs. The two public colleges again requested enough money to improve campus facilities and underlined how funds are necessary to provide local, affordable education. Florence-Darlington Technical College seeks $51.4 million The South Carolina Technical College System, which is comprised of all 16 technical colleges in the state, requested more than $600 million. The money will be dispersed among all of the systems technical colleges. Budget submission is based on enrollment, said Florence-Darlington Technical College Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications Andrew Golden. In fall 2023, the colleges enrollment was 3,521 a 19.7 percent jump from the previous year. Florence-Darlington Technical College hopes to secure approximately $51.4 million of the requested budget to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones, according to its strategic priorities plan. All of our submissions are catered towards our goals as a college of student success and workforce development, Golden wrote in an email. The largest chunk of funds $28.4 million would go for a new student success center. A 50,000-square-foot student success center would be the main campus focal point, according to the strategic plan. It would offer a centralized spot for student services such as enrollment, workforce development support, financial aid, registration and billing. Florence-Darlington Technical College doesnt offer on-campus housing and serves a much larger age range than traditional universities. Ashton Scipio, a marketing student, thinks the student success center could help bolster the colleges community. Hundreds of conservative Tea Party activists and legislators erupted into applause as Gov. Nikki Haley signed the bill that had launched her improbable rise to the states highest office into law. For several years starting when she was a relatively new member of the state House of Representatives, Haley had waged war against the powerful House leadership to force the body to take more recorded roll-call votes. And, against the odds, she won. On the presidential campaign trail, shes told the story of that upset victory over and over again to illustrate that she sticks to her guns and wins seemingly unwinnable fights against more powerful foes. Its a story around which shes built the narrative of her political career. But theres another story, which Haley never recounts, in which the governor picked a seemingly unwinnable fight and didnt win. One in which she lost badly, in fact. Its the story, in many ways, of how her political career in South Carolina ended. On that April 2011 day in the Statehouse as she signed the roll-call vote bill, over her right shoulder stood state Sen. Hugh Leatherman, a Florence Republican regarded as the most powerful politician in South Carolina during Haleys tenure in the governors office. Over the next few years, Haleys relationship with Leatherman would slowly sour to the point that in May 2016, Haley took the surprise step of publicly campaigning to oust him. As the results came in at his election-night party in Florence showing he had beaten back the primary challenger Haley had supported, Leatherman declared Haley was not just a lame duck shes a dead duck. Five months later, President Donald Trump nominated Haley to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations, and she was gone. In both stories are echoes of her current never-surrender, me-versus-the-world crusade against Trump in the Republican presidential primary. Shes thrown caution to the wind in a fight most all see destined to end in her defeat, both in the race for the nomination and this Saturday in the Feb. 24 primary in her home state, leaving many in the party wondering why she wont quit. PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 13:01:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 883 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joao Miranda and Jorge Born to Aclara's board of directors (the "Board"), following a unanimous approval by the members of the Board.Eduardo Hochschild, Chairman of Aclara, commented: "We are very excited to welcome Joao and Jorge to the Aclara Board, two distinguished professionals with extensive experience in Brazil, who share our commitment to producing world-changing minerals under the most sustainable and responsible standards. With the recent announcement of the positive preliminary economic assessment of the Carina project in Goias, the Company requires a strengthened approach in Brazil, and both Joao and Jorge bring extensive in-country experience, a significant network of contacts and in-depth knowledge of the local business environment. Their contribution will be invaluable as Aclara aims to become the world's cleanest producer of rare earths." Mr. Miranda served as CEO of the Votorantim Group for over six years until May 2020, and as CFO for nearly five years prior to that. During his tenure, he also served as a Board Member of several companies within the Votorantim group, such as Fibria, Nexa, Citrosuco, Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio, and Votorantim Cimentos, where he chaired the Board for over two years. Before his time at Votorantim, Mr. Miranda held executive positions at Citibank, where he was CEO of the Chilean operations for two years and Vice President of Global Banking in Brazil for another two years. He also served as an executive director at ING bank. Currently, Mr. Miranda holds a position as a Board Member of Fundacao Parceiros da Educacao, a Brazilian nonprofit organization that supports education for students in socially vulnerable contexts.Mr. Born worked at Bunge, a global leader in agribusiness headquartered in Brazil until 2001, for over 30 years, holding various positions, including CEO and board member for over 10 years. During his last 12 years with Bunge, from 2001 to 2013, Mr. Born served as the Deputy Chairman and Lead Independent Director, chairing the central risk and finance management committee of the board of directors. Mr. Born is also the founder and Executive President of Consult y Asociados S.A., a private M&A boutique company focused on developing opportunities with multinational companies in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. From 2010 to 2022, Mr. Born was a Board Member and chair of all the Board committees of Dufry Group, a leading global retailer. In addition, Mr. Born has served as a non-executive director at Hochschild Mining PLC since 2006 and has been a Board Member of Caldenes Agropecuaria from 1997 to 2020. Additionally, he has been the chairman of Fundacion Bunge and Born, an Argentinian NGO, since 2007. He also served as a member of the Latin America's Board of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, and as a member of the Board of Governors of Wharton's Lauder Institute.About AclaraAclara Resources Inc. (TSX:ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company currently has two projects under development: the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile, and the Carina Project in the State of Goias, Brazil.Aclara's REE extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings, thus eliminating the need for a tailings storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water treatment facility within its patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a common fertilizer, ammonium sulfate. Further, harmful levels of radionuclides, typical of hard rock rare earth deposits, are not concentrated within the Aclara flowsheet.Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Carina and Penco projects, the Company intends to identify and evaluate further opportunities to increase future production of heavy REEs. This will involve greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional projects within the Company's concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to, among other things, the Company's expectations as a result of changes to the Board of the Directors. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023 filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile. Actual results, timing, performance, achievements or future events or developments could differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.For further information, please contact:Ramon BaruaChief Executive Officer investorrelations@ aclara-re.com SOURCE: Aclara Resources Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 18:45:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 559 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / AeroGuard Flight Training Center, a renowned global leader in professional ab initio flight training, is proud to announce its selection by Air India to train the Indian flag carrier's student pilots within its Fly High Cadet Pilot Program. This agreement demonstrates a significant milestone for AeroGuard and Air India as the two organizations share a commitment to high-quality flight training and supporting the growing airline industry in India.AeroGuard to Train Cadets for Air India's Fly High Cadet Pilot Program Within this new partnership, AeroGuard will train the next generation of pilots for Air India through a custom-developed course where students will obtain FAA licenses ready for DGCA conversion. Through AeroGuard's high-quality curriculum, experienced instructors, expansive training facilities and capacity, AeroGuard will play a pivotal role in supporting the world-class airline's aggressive growth plans. Following Air India recruitment and screening, pilot cadets will complete Ground School in India before training at AeroGuard's flagship Phoenix, Arizona, campus that offers an ideal flight training environment with 350+ VFR days a year, extensive local airspace, and consistent student support.To support this high demand for its training, AeroGuard has been expanding its capacity and plans to train up to 2,000 student pilots across its three U.S. campuses. As part of this growth, AeroGuard recently placed a90 aircraft orderwith Piper Aircraft, significantly increasing their current fleet of 100 planes, alongside plans to add a further 25 planes throughout 2024. Additionally, AeroGuard maintains a current population of 200+ instructors, with an additional 600+ U.S. students training to be instructors, as part of their path to 1,500 Hours for airline employment in the U.S.AeroGuard Flight Training Center's CEO Joel Davidson stated, "AeroGuard is honored to be selected by Air India as their preferred flight training provider for their Cadet Pilot Program. This partnership not only validates our commitment to delivering exceptional training for leading airlines worldwide, but also demonstrates our dedication to supporting the growth of the aviation industry in India. AeroGuard is excited to contribute to the success of Air India's future pilots and establish long and successful careers for hundreds of student pilots." As a leading airline in the rapidly expanding travel industry in India, this is a significant leap towards ensuring a consistent skilled pool of next-generation cadets and bridging the First Officer gap. By partnering with institutions like AeroGuard, Air India seeks to maintain stringent quality standards for cadet training while proactively securing future talent pipelines. Embracing its role as a pivotal player in India's thriving travel industry, Air India has embarked on a transformative journey. As the airline gears up for expansion, the demand for skilled pilots is poised to surge. AeroGuard's distinguished curriculum has been meticulously crafted to equip cadet pilots with the requisite skills, knowledge, and confidence to fulfill Air India's ambitious plans.About AeroGuard Flight Training Center:AeroGuard Flight Training Center is a global leader in ab initio flight training with three U.S. campuses. Each location offers accelerated commercial pilot training programs to candidates from all over the world. With a commitment to safety and student success, AeroGuard's high-quality training has established airline-ready cadets for over 20 years with more than one million flight hours of training experience and graduating over 7,000 cadets.Contact InformationJames ConstableChief Marketing Officerjconstable@ flyaeroguard.com 800-322-1526SOURCE: AeroGuard Flight Training CenterView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 18:42:59 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 455 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern entrepreneurship, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of Andrew Imbesi, the CEO of Bogegroup. With a narrative that transitions from the gig economy's hustle to the helm of an 8-figure empire, Imbesi's journey is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of financial liberation for entrepreneurs across the globe.The Early Days: From Amazon to DoorDashAndrew Imbesi's foray into the world of work began with roles at tech giant Amazon and as a delivery driver for DoorDash. These positions, often seen as the backbone of the gig economy, provided Imbesi with a firsthand view of the challenges and opportunities within the fast-paced digital marketplace. While many would see these roles as mere stepping stones, Imbesi leveraged them as a learning platform, gleaning insights into efficiency, customer service, and the burgeoning digital economy.The Leap into EntrepreneurshipThe transition from gig worker to CEO was driven by Imbesi's keen observation of a gap in the market: the need for accessible, zero-interest funding for new and growing businesses. In response, Bogegroup was born, with its flagship product, the Freedom Funding Accelerator, designed to guide entrepreneurs through the complexities of securing business credit cards. This innovative approach not only democratized access to funding but also provided a blueprint for financial management and growth.Rapid Growth and RecognitionUnder Imbesi's leadership, Bogegroup quickly transcended its startup status, achieving significant milestones within just two years. The company's rapid growth is not just a reflection of its innovative product but also of Imbesi's deep understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and his commitment to customer success. This remarkable trajectory caught the attention of industry insiders and media alike, leading to Imbesi's feature on Ray Peneda's podcast, where he shared insights into business funding and the entrepreneurial journey.A Vision for the FutureImbesi's story is far from its conclusion. With plans to expand Bogegroup's offerings and reach, he continues to focus on empowering entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge necessary for success. His vision extends beyond business funding, aiming to create a comprehensive ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.A Model of Modern EntrepreneurshipAndrew Imbesi's rise from gig economy worker to 8-figure entrepreneur embodies the spirit of modern entrepreneurship. It highlights the importance of resilience, the value of experience, and the transformative power of innovation. As Bogegroup continues to grow and evolve, Imbesi's journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere, proving that with the right mindset and resources, the path to financial freedom is within reach.Media details:Company Name: Boge GroupContact Person: Oscar LandrumBusiness Mail: connect@ bogegroupmedia.com Country & City: Miami FL, USAWebsite: www.bogegroup.com SOURCE: Boge Group PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 15:02:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 399 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ("ADM" or the "Company") (NYSE:ADM) who suffered losses from purchasing or otherwise acquiring ADM common stock between April 30, 2020 and January 22, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities fraud class action against ADM. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is March 25, 2024.Class Period: April 30, 2020 - January 22, 2024Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 25, 2024Case information: lieffcabraser.com/securities/adm Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358ADM, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is an agricultural supply chain manager and processor.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements about the performance and prospects of ADM's Nutrition segment, while engaging in improper accounting practices and procedures that obscured the segment's true performance and purported growth.On January 21, 2024, ADM announced that it had placed its CFO and Senior Vice President, defendant Vikram Luthar, on leave effective immediately. According to ADM, Luthar's "leave is pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board's Audit Committee regarding certain accounting practices and procedures with respect to ADM's Nutrition segment, including as related to certain intersegment transactions." The Company also revealed that it launched its investigation after it received a request for documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, ADM delayed its Q4 and FY 2023 earnings release and withdrew its outlook for the Nutrition segment. On this news, the price of ADM common stock plummeted $16.23 per share, or approximately 24%, from its closing price of $68.19 per share on the previous trading day, to close at $51.69 on January 22, 2024.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 120 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 18:31:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 463 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Meet Juan Jose RamosNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Beverage Industry Environmental RoundtableName: Juan Jose Ramos | EHS and Sustainability ManagerCompany: Casa Sauza / Beam SuntoryWelcome to our series aimed at spotlighting BIER projects. As part of our Member and Stakeholder spotlight series featuring the individual leaders within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations, our project spotlight series highlights BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations involved in the innovative Charco Bendito project.Learn how these practitioners and their companies have collaborated to develop and implement this innovative, first-of-its-kind, basin-level watershed initiative addressing three main goals: water accessibility, quality, and availability. Gain insights into key learnings and what inspires each of them to advance environmental sustainability in the beverage sector and collectively, overall.Briefly describe your role and responsibilities and how long you have worked with your company.I am Juan Jose Ramos Hernandez, EHS and Sustainability Manager at Tequila Sauza. I lead our operation's environment, health and safety strategy to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the protection of the environment, in support of our company's long-term sustainability commitments. I have been working at Tequila Sauza for 16 years.I'm proud to represent Tequila Sauza as part of the Charco Bendito project and to be able to collaborate with the Knowledge Management Committee.What were the initial drivers or incentives that committed you to the Charco Bendito project?Water is a precious resource that we must use responsibly for the benefit of future generations. Beam Suntory is firmly committed to this cause and has set ambitious sustainability goals to help us achieve it. This includes replenishing more water in our high-risk watersheds than we use in our direct operations by 2040. This will ensure that our own operations, the communities where our distilleries are located, and local farmers and growers have access to high-quality water for the long term.One of our primary focus areas is working on nature-based solutions that ensure the sustainability of water resources in our high-risk watersheds. We identified that our manufacturing site in Mexico is located in a high-risk watershed, meaning we must be mindful and work to solve for the long-term quantity and quality water needs of our Casa Sauza distillery, which boasts one of the lowest water consumption rates in the tequila industry.To address this issue, Tequila Sauza is proud to be a part of this collaborative effort with BIER and other manufacturing companies to restore and protect the watershed of the Lerma-Santiago River Basin.Learn more about Juan Jose Ramos in this BIER Member Spotlight.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Beverage Industry Environmental RoundtableWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/beverage-industry-environmental-roundtable Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 15:11:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 527 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Industry Leader Joins to Drive the Company's Next Phase of GrowthNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 /CyberMaxx, LLC , the leading managed detection and response (MDR) provider, today announced it has appointed Bill Hogan as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, Hogan will be responsible for driving the company's growth strategy across its entire solution portfolio.Hogan brings more than 30 years of Industry experience to CyberMaxx, gained through a successful career including roles at EMC, StorageApps, acquired by HPE, NetApp, Fortinet and SecurityScorecard. Hogan's roles at NetApp, Fortinet and SecurityScorecard may be the most significant of his career. He was critical to establishing Fortinet's dominant Wall Street presence while SecurityScorecard saw a 10-fold revenue increase and achieved unicorn status during his four-year tour of duty."Having been in the IT/cybersecurity industry for more than three decades, I have seen MDR emerge as one of the most important solutions for organizations to bolster their overall security measures," shared Hogan. "With CyberMaxx's unique approach to enhancing MDR through insights garnered through offensive, DFIR, and threat hunting activities, customers are fully protected from both the expected and unexpected threats. I look forward to helping bring more awareness to the strength of CyberMaxx's industry-leading MDR solution." CyberMaxx had amomentous year of growth in 2023 , including the merging of CyberMaxx and CipherTechs in February 2023. Within three quarters, the newly formed company (retaining the CyberMaxx brand) was able to develop a unified service delivery model, updated offerings, and maintain customer retention rates and satisfaction, validating the integration of both companies. This was done while also posting growth across CyberMaxx's MDR offering. As part of its updated offerings, CyberMaxxlaunchedits next-generation Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution, MaxxMDR, and its associated MDR Bundles to address the growing market demand. The MDR bundles expertly combine offensive and defensive services offerings, resulting in a strengthening of detection capabilities with insights from offensive solutions. This provides a uniform customer experience at a competitive investment level. Hogan will build off the new model and offerings proving more success for CyberMaxx in the market."We are excited about the leadership and passion Bill will bring to CyberMaxx at this critical point in our growth trajectory," said Brian M. Ahern, CEO of CyberMaxx. "Bill's extensive industry experience and track record of success, his channel leveraged approach, along with conviction for our mission are exactly what we need to accelerate growth at a time where both the need and the opportunity have never been greater." About CyberMaxxCyberMaxx, LLC., founded in 2002, is the leading provider of managed detection and response (MDR), headquartered in New York, NY. CyberMaxx's managed detection and response solution (MaxxMDR) is designed to be scalable for clients of all sizes, providing protection and improving the organization's security posture, ultimately giving customers peace of mind that their systems and data are secure. CyberMaxx expanded its capabilities through the 2022 acquisition of CipherTechs, an international cybersecurity company providing a complete cybersecurity portfolio across MDR Services, Offensive Security, Governance, Risk & Compliance, DFIR, and 3rd party security product sourcing.For more information visit: www.cybermaxx.com Media ContactEscalate PR for CyberMaxxcybermaxx@ escalatepr.com SOURCE: CyberMaxx PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 13:02:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 392 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Castwell Investment Limited proudly marks its 35th anniversary as a leading investment firm based in Hong Kong. Established in 1989, - Castwell Investment has consistently provided unparalleled financial services, guiding clients towards lucrative investment opportunities globally. As the company looks to the future, it is embracing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to uncover trillion-dollar potential companies for its esteemed clientele.Over four decades, - Castwell Investment Limited has built a sterling reputation for its unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation. With a steadfast dedication to understanding client needs and market dynamics, the company has navigated through various economic climates, delivering exceptional results and fostering long-term partnerships."In commemorating our 35th anniversary, we reflect on our journey of growth, resilience, and success," said Mr. Jonathan Lee, spokesperson of - Castwell Investment Limited. "Our longevity in the industry is a testament to our adaptability and client-centric approach. As we embark on the next phase of our evolution, we are excited to harness the power of AI to uncover transformative investment opportunities that will shape the future of finance." Castwell Investment Limited's strategic integration of AI into its investment processes exemplifies its forward-thinking ethos. Leveraging advanced algorithms and data analytics, the company is at the forefront of identifying high-growth companies with trillion-dollar potential. By employing AI-driven insights, Castwell Investment aims to provide its clients with a competitive edge in today's dynamic investment landscape."Our investment philosophy has always been rooted in thorough research and analysis," remarked Ms. Samantha Chan, Chief Investment Officer at Castwell Investment Limited. "With AI, we are enhancing our capabilities to identify disruptive businesses that possess the scalability and innovation required to generate significant returns for our clients. This marks a pivotal moment in our quest to deliver superior investment outcomes." As Castwell Investment celebrates its remarkable journey spanning four decades, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering value, innovation, and prosperity to its clients and stakeholders. With AI as a catalyst for future growth, Castwell Investment Limited is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, pioneering new frontiers in the world of finance.For media inquiries, please contact:Jennifer Wong Director of Communications Castwell Investment LimitedAddress: 23 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong KongWebsite: https://castwellil.com Phone: +85258030617Email: info@ castwellil.com SOURCE: Castwell Investment Limited PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 14:02:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 999 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FORT MILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 /Catheter Precision, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American:VTAK), a US-based medical device company focused on novel electrophysiology products, announced that the clinical data from the first LockeT study will be presented at the Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium (Western AFib). The 17th annual Western AFib conference is taking place in Park City, Utah from February 23 - 24, 2024.Catheter Precision's CEO, David Jenkins, said, "We are very excited to have the initial LockeT clinical data available to share with physicians. This study demonstrates that LockeT is not only safe and effective in achieving hemostasis but that it provides additional benefits of cost savings and same-day hospital discharge." The Western Afib symposium is an internationally recognized meeting focused on improving outcomes worldwide and features experts from the atrial fibrillation community. Educational sessions are led by world-renowned faculty and include topics related to advancements in diagnosing and treating atrial fibrillation and focused roundtable discussions.About LockeTCatheter Precision's LockeT is a suture retention device intended to assist in hemostasis after percutaneous venous punctures. LockeT is a Class 1 device registered with the FDA.About Catheter PrecisionCatheter Precision is an innovative U.S.-based medical device company bringing new solutions to market to improve the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is focused on developing groundbreaking technology for electrophysiology procedures by collaborating with physicians and continuously advancing its products. Reincorporated as Ra Medical Systems, Inc. in Delaware in 2018, the Company changed its name to Catheter Precision, Inc. on August 17, 2023.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis communication contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "may," "might," "can," "could," "continue," "depends," "expect," "expand," "forecast," "intend," "predict," "plan," "rely," "should," "will," "may," "seek," or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties included under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov . These risks and uncertainties include, but aren't limited to, that we will not be able to reach profitability unless we are able to achieve our product expansion and growth goals, our research and development and commercialization efforts may depend on entering into agreements with corporate collaborators, we have entered into joint marketing agreements with respect to our products, and may enter into additional joint marketing agreements, that will reduce our revenues from product sales, royalty agreements with respect to our LockeT device will reduce any future profits from this product, if we experience significant disruptions in our information technology systems, our business may be adversely affected, litigation and other legal proceedings may adversely affect our business, if we make acquisitions or divestitures, we could encounter difficulties that harm our business, failure to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel could also impede our growth, failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause our investors to lose confidence in us and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, if our internal controls are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, our revenues may depend on our customers' receipt of adequate reimbursement from private insurers and government sponsored healthcare programs, we may be unable to compete successfully with companies in our highly competitive industry, many of whom have substantially greater resources than we do, our future operating results depend upon our ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms or according to schedules, prices, quality and volumes that are acceptable to us, and suppliers may fail to deliver components, or we may be unable to manage these components effectively or obtain these components on such terms, if hospitals, physicians and patients do not accept our current and future products or if the market for indications for which any product candidate is approved is smaller than expected, we may be unable to generate significant revenue, if any, our medical device operations are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulatory requirements, our products may be subject to additional recalls, revocations or suspensions after receiving FDA or foreign approval or clearance, which could divert managerial and financial resources, harm our reputation, and adversely affect our business, changes in trade policies among the U.S. and other countries, in particular the imposition of new or higher tariffs, could place pressure on our average selling prices as our customers seek to offset the impact of increased tariffs on their own products, increased tariffs or the imposition of other barriers to international trade could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results. In addition, our auditor's finalization of the accounting for the merger requires complex calculations and the input of outside advisors, and as a result, the final results of these calculations could differ from our current expectations. The risks and uncertainties described above may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty, or other pandemics, supply chain disruptions from the Ukraine war and otherwise, and ongoing volatility in the stock markets and the U.S. economy in general.The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.CONTACTS:At the Company David Jenkins973-691-2000 IR@ catheterprecision.com SOURCE: Catheter Precision, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 17:45:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 564 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Charge Robotics, the leading innovator in solar construction automation, announces successful deployment of SunriseTM, its groundbreaking solar construction robotics system. SunriseTM is the world's rst fully automated solar construction system designed to assemble, quality control, and install solar tracking hardware.Charge Robotics The recent landmark deployment of SunriseTM, in partnership with the nation's leading solar EPC contractor and solar services provider SOLV Energy, signies a major leap in advancing utility-scale solar installations.George Hershman, CEO of SOLV Energy, noted, "It's clear that current solar installation methods can't scale to transform the grid. We need new solutions and approaches to keep pace with rapidly growing demand." Record growth in utility solar installations is expected in 2024, and to continue through 2030. Efforts to accelerate the transition to solar energy have repeatedly been impacted by labor shortages, creating a pressing need for more advanced installation technologies."We are impressed with Charge Robotics' technology. It offers the potential to radically accelerate our business growth, deploy solar projects faster, and support our people with additional tools to do their work safely and efficiently," shared Hershman.Charge Robotics' solar robotics system SunriseTM assists construction crews with solar hardware assembly, eliminating or reducing tedious, laborious or unsafe manual operations. SunriseTM autonomously assembles parts into completed solar bays, conducts quality control using advanced computer vision, and performs eld installations.Charge Robotics' co-founder and CEO Banks Hunter expressed, "This deployment marks a major milestone for the Charge Robotics team and our technology. We're excited to develop the world's most advanced systems, accelerating our nation's energy transition to renewables." "SOLV has proven themselves to be one of the most visionary leaders in the construction industry. We're thrilled to continue building the future of the energy industry with such an excellent partner," added Hunter.To reach SEIA's target of nearly 850GW solar energy by 2030, annual solar deployment must scale seven times that of 2020. Achieving this magnitude today is not feasible with current methods. Charge Robotics' technology removes a key bottleneck in advancing the nation's solar, driving cutting-edge solutions that will benet customers and industries worldwide. Charge Robotics is dedicated to innovating in the installation space to lead our world to a Net Zero future.About Charge Robotics:Charge Robotics is a leading robotics technology company creating solar construction automation. With a commitment to innovation, Charge Robotics strives to accelerate the transition to renewables by automating the most labor-intensive parts of construction, unlocking the potential to scale to unprecedented levels of renewable energy. For more information, visit chargerobotics.com About SOLV Energy:SOLV Energy is the nation's leading solar services provider for utility solar, high-voltage substation and energy storage markets across North America. SOLV believes that good energy has a ripple effect. That's why SOLV only takes on projects that provide cleaner power, better jobs, greater education and a brighter future for the world's communities. Backed by a powerful legacy, SOLV has branched out to focus solely on renewable energy initiatives. Recognized as an industry-leading solar contractor and O&M services provider, the SOLV team has built and manages 12 GW of solar capacity in over 25 states. For more information, visit solvenergy.com Reference: SEIA 2030 Targets: https://www.seia.org/research-resources/30-2030-new-target-solar-decade Contact InformationCharge Presspress@ chargerobotics.com SOLV Mediaschepke@ solvenergy.com SOURCE: Charge RoboticsView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 18:10:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 988 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Company has reported new contracts, renewals or orders valued at approximately $2.8 million CAD so far in 2024, outpacing growth in 2023.News in SummaryOn February 8, 2024, Cloud DX signed a new 24-month Master Deployment Agreement with Dr Lee S. Freedman, an MDVIP-affiliated internal medicine practice based in Highland Park IL. Dr Freedman intends to enroll approximately 125 patients who will best benefit from Remote Patient Monitoring with Cloud DX Connected Health, valuing the agreement at approximately $230,000 CAD. KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX)(OTCQB:CDXFF), a leading North American provider of subscription-based virtual care and remote patient monitoring services is pleased to announce a new Master Deployment Agreement with Lee S. Freedman MD, based in Highland Park IL. Dr Freedman's practice is affiliated with the MDVIP, a concierge medicine group with over 1,000 clinics nation-wide specializing in care for adults including those with complex chronic conditions.Cloud DX will work with Dr Freedman and his staff to enroll approximately 125 patients who will most benefit from remote monitoring using Cloud DX Connected Health, especially patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive health failure, diabetes, hypertension, and related co-morbidities. Typically, Cloud DX earns around $700 USD per patient per year for US deployments. In their most recent financial statements, the Company reported gross margins of 77%. Dr Freedman is the second MDVIP affiliated practice in Illinois to deploy Connected Health by Cloud DX.Dr. Freedman stated "There is no question in my mind that remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases improves care and lowers overall costs to the system. We are looking forward to launching our Cloud DX deployment in March 2024".Cloud DX Co-founder and COO Anthony Kaul stated: "These newly announced contracts indicate that the Cloud DX Connected Health platform is achieving our goal of bringing the benefits of virtual care and remote patient monitoring to the patients who need it the most. Clinicians like Dr Freedman are on the front lines of the battle against chronic disease that generate over 80% of all healthcare spending in North America. Cloud DX automates the collection of at-home patient data, enabling early detection of complications and creating a closer and richer doctor-patient relationship while improving health outcomes.About Cloud DXAccelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, winner of "2022 Top Innovator" from Canadian Business, a 2021 "Edison Award" winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada and Sanrai International.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx Investor Conference Videos Now AvailableCloud DX CEO Robert Kaul presented a Zoom webinar on January 17, 2024, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada). A recording of his presentation can be seen HERE. The Maxim Group (NYC) held their Annual Healthcare IT Virtual Conference on Wednesday January 24th, 2024, with 18 companies presenting. Investors can see the Cloud DX presentation HERE. Links to statisticsCost of chronic diseases in America: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm Social LinksTwitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/ For media inquiries please contact:Marketing EnquiriesPhone 888-543-0944 marketing@ clouddx.com For investor inquiries please contact:Jay BedardCloud DX Investor RelationsPhone 647-881-8418 investors@ clouddx.com Officer responsible for this Press Release:Robert KaulChief Executive OfficerPhone 888-543-0944 ceo@ clouddx.com Forward Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the terms of the contract extension, the expected proceeds therefrom, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions.Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's the ability of the Company to fulfill the terms of and derive the benefits from the contract extension.Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticip PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 18:15:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 545 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The company offers high-end management services and facilities at competitive rates across the regions of the UK.LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Established with a mission to provide comprehensive management facilities in the vicinity of the UK, Crystal Facilities Management has gained solid credibility for its high-end services such as commercial cleaning, builders cleaning, deep cleaning services, office cleaning services, in London and across the UK. As a leading facilities management company in the UK, Crystal Facilities Management is driven by a team of dedicated and results-focused people. The company is dedicated to working with customers to provide high-end, tailor-made facilities management solutions such as cleaning, security and maintenance for short-term, long-term, and ad hoc contracts.Having worked in a wide range of sectors, Crystal Facilities Management has over 15 years of experience and strives to maintain a high-end reputation and meet its customers' needs. The company's wide range of services is delivered to public and private industries and covers several sectors including, National Coverage, Added Value, 24/7 Helpdesk operating 365 days of the year, a Partnership Approach, and Flexibility and Accountability. With a terminus to become a recognized facilities management company delivering customized solutions, Crystal Facilities Management promises to deliver Specialist deep cleaning services, along with offering reactive and planned maintenance to keep premises running.The CEO of Crystal Facilities Management states, "As a facilities service provider, we strive hard to offer scalable and powerful solutions for your business. Working within different industries during the past years has helped us understand and deliver a true value solution. For all their needs. Our robust and hard-working teams aim to deliver a project within a short time scale. We help your company attain its objectives." Crystal Facilities Management's proficient team strives to provide long-term facility management solutions to commercial clients from all backgrounds and industries. The skilled team strives to focus on providing the best service possible to customers, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene in their spaces. Moreover, to meet the diverse needs of customers, the company employs cost-effective strategies to manage facilities, optimizing resources and reducing operational expenses. Along with incorporating innovative solutions, Crystal Facilities Management proactively address and mitigates potential risks, ensuring a safe and compliant working environment.Over the years, the company has garnered a solid customer base and promises to deliver well-maintained and organized facilities, maintaining a clean and hygienic workplace to enhance employee well-being and create a positive impression.The CEO adds, "We care about you and your needs; you will receive a Facilities Management package that you can be proud of. Discover our premium services tailored to meet your needs in London. we pride ourselves on delivering top-notch solutions to ensure the cleanliness, safety, and functionality of your commercial and residential spaces. Explore our services in each city to discover how Crystal Services can meet your cleaning needs efficiently and effectively." For further details, visit the website https://crystalservices.uk.com/https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/commercial-cleaning-in-uk/https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/builders-cleaning-in-uk/https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/office-cleaning-services-in-uk/https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/london Media ContactOrganization: Crystal Facilities ManagementContact Person: Tanya RogersWebsite: https://crystalservices.uk.com/ Email: info@ crystalservices.uk.comContact Number: +442089933831Address: The Lyra, Portal Way, North Acton, W3 6 BJ.City: LondonCountry: United KingdomSOURCE: Crystal Facilities Management PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 00:00:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 456 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHARLESTON, SC / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2024 / In a contentious editorial published on February 19, The Post and Courier levied unfounded accusations against a private citizen, alleging violations of state laws regarding the construction of seawalls on barrier island beaches. This editorial not only misrepresents the facts but also undermines public confidence in mainstream media by disregarding the fundamental principle of private property rights as protected under the United States Constitution.Contrary to the claims made by The Post and Courier, state law only prohibits the construction of structures seaward of the State setback lines, a boundary within which the subject structure does not fall. This structure is situated well landward of the setback line, placing it outside of state jurisdiction and in full compliance with existing laws. The editorial's insinuations about the legality of protecting one's property at the expense of public beach access are baseless, as no such law that limits private land use to the degree suggested. It is essential to highlight that property owners relinquish jurisdiction over land seaward of the setback line but retain full rights landward of it.The United States, as a constitutional republic, mandates that all local laws and regulations align with the Constitution, which includes the protection against government seizure of private property through regulation without just compensation. The Fifth Amendment explicitly states that government regulations cannot unduly limit the use of private property without providing fair compensation to the landowner.Addressing the accusations directed at my actions, the retaining structure installed was positioned approximately 20 feet within my property line, behind additional landscaping and fencing, and entirely outside the purview of state jurisdiction. The assertion that this was an unauthorized act is incorrect. The subsequent refusal by the OCRM to permit the restoration of a sand dune in front of the structure is unlawful and converts private back yards to public beach through unlawful state action and without compensation. Every citizen should be concerned.Moreover, the insinuation of unethical behavior by Senator Goldfinch in the editorial is both unwarranted and disrespectful. Senator Goldfinch has served his community with honor and integrity, and such baseless accusations only serve to malign his character without justification.Finally, the suggestion that an appeal to a DHEC board would be an attempt to avoid judicial proceedings is entirely unfounded. We are prepared to demonstrate in court that the government's actions have overstepped the bounds of property rights, echoing the defense successfully mounted in the case of David Lucas.This situation highlights the need for a robust defense of property rights against overreach by governmental or regulatory bodies. It is imperative that we stand up and re- affirm the importance of these foundational principles.For further information, please contact:Rom Reddy RomReddy@ gmail.com SOURCE: Rom Reddy PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 12:41:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 301 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Finxo Capital, an online broker, has empowered individuals and organizations to achieve their financial objectives. By merging technology with research and educational materials, the company has created a platform that is both accessible and transparent.Finxo Capital has offered intuitive platforms equipped with advanced charting tools, technical indicators, and mobile apps for trading on the go with a focus on user experience. These features, combined with robust management options, have enabled clients to trade stocks, Forex, cryptocurrencies, and commodities.One of Finxo Capital's key offerings is its user-friendly platform, which bolsters fast execution, tight spreads, and a wide range of currency pairs tailored to individual trading strategies. Coupled with educational resources and personalized support, Finxo Capital empowers traders to make informed decisions.The Media Manager of Finxo Capital, Hendrik Joubert, said "Our mission at Finxo Capital is to empower individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complex world of financial markets. We strive to make trading and investing accessible, transparent, and rewarding for all." Finxo Capital provides access to a diverse array of indices from around the world, allowing traders to capitalize on market trends and sectors that align with their strategies.For more information about Finxo Capital and its services, visit their website .About Finxo Capital:Finxo Capital is an online broker committed to providing access to financial markets and empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their financial goals. With a team of experienced professionals passionate about finance and technology, Finxo Capital combines cutting-edge technology with comprehensive research and educational resources to provide a platform that is accessible, transparent, and rewarding for all.Media ContactOrganization: Finxo CapitalContact Person: Hendrik JoubertWebsite: https://finxocap.com Email: Marketing@ finxocap.com City: Cape TownState: Cape TownCountry: South AfricaSOURCE: Finxo Capital PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 00:20:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 727 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 KARACHI, PAKISTAN / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2024 / Human-Healthcare.com , a Pakistan-based health tech and services startup, is announcing their new launch of a cloud-based secure EMR (Electronic Medical Record) exclusively available to their clients. Through their subscription-based services, Pakistanis who work overseas can enroll their parents back in Pakistan to experience concierge-style, personalized medical care for any matter of needs. LogoHuman-Healthcare.com uses the help of a team of primary care doctors, nurses, and a care coordination team to navigate cutting-edge medical tools and a secure online medical system. Their team is available 7 days a week to provide preventative primary care to the elderly population, specifically the elderly parents of Pakistanis who work overseas. One founder, Atif Zafar, aided in the launch of this startup to help overseas Pakistanis focus on their jobs, studies, careers, spouses and children, while offering them peace of mind that their parents are taken care of and healthy."I, along with a group of other doctors based in the U.S., UK, Canada and Pakistan, decided to launch this startup after experiencing the challenges as doctors living abroad," says Zafar. "We wanted a way to balance our own careers and evolving care needs for our parents back home. We felt spread thin and guilty, but when we launched this for our own parents, we found that many other Pakistanis struggled with the same problem while working and living away from their parents." Since their launch in 2022, Human-Healthcare.com only offered services in Karachi, but they plan to provide this service in all major cities in Pakistan in 2024. From medicine delivery to routine check-ins, Human-Healthcare.com provides a comprehensive preventative care management that includes physiotherapy at home, cancer screening, fall prevention strategies, bone health, memory assessment, nutritionist involvement, and vaccine administration. One of the co-founders, Dr. Mahwash Siddiqui who is an endocrinologist based in the United States, said, "We know how hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, and obesity can be smartly managed in this day and age. But for us to be successful, patients, families and clinicians will have to work together for months and years. There is no shortcut to living a healthy, long life." In the next two years, Human-Healthcare.com hopes to offer aid in all major cities of Pakistan. With stroke being among the top 3 causes of death in Pakistan, they have also begun launching a campaign called BACHAO, aimed at educating the masses on how to identify a stroke. With such a time-sensitive treatment required, Zafar and his team hope to aid in the prevention and identification of strokes in elderly patients in Pakistan.In January 2024, their cloud-based secure EMR will be launched, available exclusively to their clients. This medical record system will help to modernize community healthcare services in Pakistan and aid in the development of a patient-centric model. "Healthcare systems are in disarray," says Zafar. "We hope to deliver high-quality care experiences in an integrated, connected way. Together, we are building a model of care that is humanistic on the front end and powered by technology and expertise on the back end. Though we are still in the early stages of our journey, our founders passionately believe that we will expand throughout Pakistan in the next year or two and eventually hope to make an impact on the national level." Dr. Shoib Ghayas, who is the Chief Medical Officer and a successful UK-based General Physician, shares, "We are working hard to bring new innovative ideas to our Pakistani health system, which will revolutionize the health care model in Pakistan. Join the Human Health Care Family as we deliver world-class VIP health care for our loved ones." About the Company:Atif Zafar, one of the founders of Human-Healthcare.com , is a physician leader with extensive experience in building clinical programs with high-performing teams in the U.S. and Canada. Human-Healthcare.com was a project launched in Pakistan by Zafar and his friends in order to modernize the healthcare system provided for the elderly in Pakistan. The subscription-based healthcare startup focuses on providing VIP personalized medical care to Pakistan-based parents of Pakistanis working overseas. A portion of profits from annual subscribers will be donated to fund water and plantation projects in Pakistan.For more information, visitHuman-Healthcare.comor contact:Atif Zafar, Human-Healthcare.comService@human-healthcare.com Phone/Whatsapp +1 3199363574SOURCE: Human-Healthcare.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 15:12:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 862 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / KeyBank recently announced two multi-year Community Impact grants from KeyBank Foundation to nonprofits in Yonkers, NY, a community within the bank's Hudson Valley/Metro New York market. With one of the highest poverty rates in Westchester County, the grants aim to bring resources to Yonkers students. Both grants align with KeyBank Foundation's mission to provide skills, education and capabilities to students and young adults that prepare them for fulfilling careers and successful futures.Westhab awarded $240,000 grant to bring tutoring, college, and career advising to Yonkers teensWesthab, an organization that provides affordable housing, youth programs, and employment services in New York City and Westchester County, received a three-year $240,000 grant from KeyBank Foundation to create a pipeline to college and careers for low-income students at Dayspring Community Center in Yonkers, NY. Starting September 2024, the program will support thirty 9th to 12th grade students from Dayspring's youth program in proactively exploring and choosing the post-secondary path that suits them best.To develop the programming, Westhab will work with the Yonkers Partners In Education (YPIE), a Westchester-based nonprofit with expertise in ensuring students are ready for, enroll, and complete college. Staff will help students academically prepare for college, navigate, and complete the college application process. For students not interested in college, staff will assess teens' skills and interests and, through partnerships with programmers and guest speakers, help inspire potential career pathways. Participants will be connected to additional support, such as Dayspring's Employment Services, to help actualize their plans."I grew up in Yonkers; this is the kind of investment our neighborhood needs," shared Dayspring Director JC Soto. "Nodine Hill of Southwest Yonkers (where Dayspring is located) has a poverty rate that is double that of all of Westchester County. Increasing college readiness and providing resources to advance their skills in careers with livable wages will allow teens to earn higher incomes, translating into better life outcomes, including health, wealth, and happiness." Over the course of three years, the program hopes to make larger shifts in the trajectory of the community. "This generous investment by KeyBank Foundation will help individual students, but also aims to create a more lasting change in the community by nurturing an ongoing college-ready culture for high school students. "We hope to broaden these teen's futures and disrupt cycles of inequality that we see in Nodine Hill," said Mr. Soto.Groundwork Hudson Valley receives $100,000 grant for Youth Leadership and Sustainability Education Program Expansion in YonkersKeyBank Foundation also presented a two-year $100,000 grant to Groundwork Hudson Valley to support the expansion of Groundwork's Youth Leadership and Sustainability Education Programs. Groundwork Hudson Valley is an environmental justice non-profit working with communities to improve climate resilience and adaptation, promote sustainability education, and nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. KeyBank's funding will provide out-of-school education for Yonkers NY Public School K-6 students to visit the Science Barge, a floating sustainability education center, and supplement the school system's science curricula. It will also support its award-winning Green Team, a program that provides paid part-time jobs to Yonkers Public High School students to build their leadership skills and gain hands-on skills in environmental conservation, climate risk mitigation, and community engagement."We at Groundwork Hudson Valley are immensely grateful for partners like KeyBank who are committed to creating positive and lasting change and who provide resources to organizations like ours to propel our mission forward for Yonkers youth," shared Oded Holzinger, Groundwork Hudson Valley's Executive Director. "This partnership with the KeyBank Foundation exemplifies how we can come together to lay the groundwork and empower our youth to have the knowledge and skills to become the environmental leaders of tomorrow." Helping our communities thriveKeyBank Hudson Valley/Metro New York Market President John Manginelli recently presented grant checks to each organization and spoke about the importance that KeyBank places on investing in the Yonkers community."The core of our community commitment is supporting nonprofits that work to improve the lives of disadvantaged members in our local communities through education, workforce development and community investment," said John. "Our partnerships with Westhab and Groundwork will not only improve the lives and futures of Yonkers' youth but can help create a ripple effect for real change in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city. KeyBank is proud to support their efforts "KeyBank Foundations' grants are part of the bank's $40 billion community investment plan focused on economic access and equity to communities across the country. The scope of the plan includes investments and lending in affordable housing, home lending, small business lending, green initiatives, and transformative philanthropy targeted toward workforce development, education, and safe, vital neighborhoods for underserved communities and populations.For more information on KeyBank's work in the community, visit www.key.com/community KeyBank Market President for Hudson Valley/Metro New York John Manginelli (center) presented the KeyBank Foundation grant to Westhab President and CEO Rich Nightingale (left) and JC Soto, Dayspring Community Center Director, Westhab.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: KeyBankWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 16:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 594 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / A married couple filed a lawsuit today in the Northern District of California against CooperSurgical, Inc. and The Cooper Companies, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that CooperSurgical, which manufactures, markets and sells products to fertility clinics, sold a defective embryo culture media designed to support the growth and development of embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The couple alleges that this defective culture media destroyed or damaged nine of their embryos during the IVF process. The lawsuit was filed by the law firms Girard Sharp LLP and Sauder Schelkopf LLC.In December 2023, CooperSurgical recalled certain lots of its embryo culture media after the company became aware of "a sudden increase in complaints" regarding this product. It acknowledged that the "risk to health is impaired embryo development prior to the blastocyst stage," and directed clinics that purchased the product to quarantine and return it.The couple filing the lawsuit were notified in January 2024 that all of their destroyed embryos were exposed to CooperSurgical's defective culture media. According to a New York Times article on the recall, "as many as 20,000 patients could have been affected." The Cooper Companies owns CooperSurgical and other global medical device manufacturing companies. Neither The Cooper Companies nor CooperSurgical have publicly stated if the necessary testing and quality control was in place to identify defective culture media. Proper testing could have prevented this tragedy.You can find a copy of the lawsuithere .About Girard SharpGirard Sharp is distinguished as a Tier 1 law firm for plaintiffs' mass tort and class action litigation by Best Lawyers and has appeared on its list of "Best Law Firms" for more than a decade. Girard Sharp also has been named by the National Law Journal to its "Plaintiffs' Hot List," a selection of top U.S. plaintiffs' firms recognized for wins in high-profile cases. Read about some of our results. We have substantial experience in lawsuits concerning sensitive issues and in guiding affected individuals through the litigation process with discretion. From holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for marketing birth-control pills that caused life-threatening blood clots, to obtaining over $14 million in restitution on behalf of fertility patients whose frozen eggs and embryos were compromised, we have a well-established track record of successfully taking on some of the world's largest corporations and institutions.About Sauder SchelkopfSauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. In 2024 Best Law Firms recognized Sauder Schelkopf LLC as a Best Law Firm for Mass Tort and Class Action Litigation. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer's 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category) an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. Our attorneys have been named by The American Lawyer to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers as "truly agents of change." The Legal Intelligencer named our attorneys in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazerslist recognizing 31 lawyers who "have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change." The Legal highlighted the firm's innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women's, and children's rights.ContactGirard Sharp LLP(866) 981-4800contact@ girardsharp.comapolk@girardsharp.comwww.girardsharp.com Sauder Schelkopf LLC(888) 711-9975info@ sstriallawyers.comjgs@sstriallawyers.comwww.sauderschelkopf.com SOURCE: Girard Sharp LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 16:10:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1115 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MILWAUKEE, WI / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Northwestern Mutual:Originally published by Northwestern Mutual on February 1, 2024Company: ModernTaxFounder and CEO: Matthew Parker Year founded: 2021We're proud to be investing in ModernTax through the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator in collaboration with NM Future Ventures.Matthew Parker first took the leap into entrepreneurship in 2015 when a close friend of his-who shared his dream of becoming an entrepreneur-proposed that they open a business together."Our first business was a storefront tax preparation office in a lower-middle-income community in in West Baltimore, Maryland," Parker says. "We found that a lot of the companies that produce and provide financial and tax services avoid certain neighborhoods, which created an opportunity to build a financial business in a lower socioeconomic type environment." Though his first company didn't succeed, he started up a new company with a similar model in Washington, D.C. While running the business, Matt became frustrated with the burden of all the necessary paperwork. He started searching for online solutions, which took him in a slightly different direction, to Silicon Valley's history of technical innovation.After seeking advice from Michael Seibel at Y Combinator (a well-known startup accelerator based in Silicon Valley), he decided to move to the area. In 2021, he founded ModernTax to help simplify the filing process for small financial companies by providing on-demand tax and financial information on their customers.Below, Parker shares the lessons he's learned, what inspires him on a daily basis, and why he believes the key to entrepreneurial success comes down to focusing on your business' core concepts.What is ModernTax?Everyone knows that filing your taxes at the end of the year requires you to collect a bunch of documents to provide to your accountant. If you're trying to get a loan or some other type of financial product, then you'll probably need to collect just as much paperwork (if not more). Whether you're trying to get insurance or a banking product from a financial institution, you're going to need to provide a certain amount of information.ModernTax serves as a replacement agent for collecting those documents. This typically starts with tax records, which provide a robust view of an individual's or a business's financial life. Our goal is to help those organizations to make those decisions, more quickly, more accurately and more transparently with their customers. So we serve companies across the insurance and financial industries as well as fintech by building a better way to facilitate this process and cut down on the time that the end-users have to spend filling out forms and providing documentation for services that they might need.What inspired you to go from your first tax business to this iteration?We started that first business as a single retail storefront and did everything from buying tax software and advertising to get customers to come in our store to managing our books, our compliance obligations, our data collection and our audits with the IRS. We had to get credentials with the IRS to become a tax business. So we really learned a lot about the ins-and-outs and all the different chambers of infrastructure that you need to run that business face-to-face.So that made us realize just how much information and data is flowing across all these different systems at one time. But we really got the idea to build ModernTax during the pandemic in 2020 because 95 percent of our business became helping people figure out if they qualified for economic impact payments from the federal government in the form of PPP, EID or EIDL loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). To apply for those funds, you needed good, sound tax information. For the customers we were working with, both directly and indirectly, that information was critical for them to be able to continue their operations or pay their bills.What's your proudest moment with this company so far?The business has evolved but there's always been a central pain point of collecting information online and digitizing the process. One of the main problems we addressed early on was the way that companies integrate and access information from different sources. So ModernTax really serves as a place for these organizations to have a much more streamlined, user-friendly way to request this information on behalf of their consumer. Opening up tax data access allows instantaneous permission to businesses for financial services, real-time transactions and taxable event estimate notifications to consumers and businesses.But being selected to be a part of Northwestern Mutual's Black Founder Accelerator really helped us understand our business at a higher level. It opened my eyes to much bigger opportunities and a brighter future. I was still thinking kind of small, but now I can see how ModernTax can be a solution for large organizations.What inspires you at work every day?I am attracted to unsexy businesses; I really enjoy being involved in something that's not super cool, but can have a big impact. Our work is very much a back-office experience. It's not front-facing to the end-user, but the solutions we offer provide a lot of value to the buyer. We strive to create a more transparent ecosystem for small business owners and individuals, which I believe is a source of truth that can be used to compare apples to apples-instead of other sources like credit scores or alternative financial data assets that can bar people from the system. It's become my mission.What advice do you have for other Black founders?Spend more time focused on the core things that are going to make you successful. Build a product that works and that people can use-and then validate their willingness to pay for that product. It sounds so simple, but if you spend more time on those two things, a lot of the noise you hear-"Black people can't raise money or whatever"-will become less loud and you'll really be able to see what you can do. You can't ignore the barriers and the ceilings that might be set for you, but if you focus on those two things, you'll make a lot more progress.What are your goals for the company this year?Our primary focus in 2024 is growing our business with our current customers and also being very detailed and focused on the types of customers we want to work with. Do they have a budget? Are they experienced in this problem at a high level? And will they be ambassadors of what we're building? Because to build a great, long-lasting company, it's not enough to get a customer who's going to use your product very transactionally. You need to build a product PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 15:02:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 502 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Sydnic, LLC ("Sydnic"), one of the largest franchisees of Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company brand ("Precision"), has announced its acquisition of the Precision franchises of Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina, from Tim and Lynn Yeager and the Precision franchises of Virginia Beach and Richmond, Virginia, from Scott and Shauna Kale. With these acquisitions, Sydnic technicians now repair, maintain, and install residential garage doors, openers, and related equipment across 14 markets. SBJ Capital acquired the initial Sydnic platform in October 2023.Precision"We are thrilled to expand our existing footprint in North Carolina and Virginia," said Sydnic President Chad Aspinwall. "Sydnic Founder Doug Kale and I have known Tim and Lynn as well as Scott and Shauna for many years, and I have the utmost respect for the businesses they have built and for their teams. I could not be more excited to have them as our partners." "We are excited to be joining the Sydnic team," said Tim Yeager. "We considered a variety of alternatives prior to making our decision, but Sydnic was the like-minded partner that we were searching for who valued our experience and team. We very much appreciate the speed with which they moved and the value they delivered." Scott Kale added, "I have known the Sydnic team for decades and have a deep amount of respect for their operations. I am thankful for all the hard work that went into creating this partnership and am excited for the opportunities it creates for my team." Tim and Lynn and Scott and Shauna re-invested a portion of their respective ownership into Sydnic, and Tim will serve on the board of Sydnic.Sydnic is actively seeking to extend its relationship with Neighborly by acquiring other Precision franchises in adjacent markets, as well as franchises of other Neighborly brands in Sydnic's current and adjacent markets, to create a multi-brand residential services platform.O'Melveny served as legal advisor to Sydnic and K&L Gates served as legal advisor to both seller groups.About SydnicSydnic is one of the largest franchisees within the Precision Door Service franchise system and sells, repairs, installs, and maintains residential garage doors, openers, and related equipment. Precision Door Service is a franchise within Neighborly, the world's largest home services company. Neighborly has more than 30 brands and 5,000 franchise units collectively serving over 12 million customers in six countries, focused on repairing, maintaining, and enhancing homes.About SBJ CapitalSBJ Capital is a private investment firm focused on investing in founder and family-owned consumer and services companies. SBJ provides operational resources, strategic advice, domain expertise, and a partnership approach to realize the shared goals of entrepreneurs, owners, and management teams. SBJ was founded by an experienced team of professionals with a track record of growing companies both as principal investors and as operating executives.Contact InformationKatelyn WoodOperations Managerkatelyn@ sbjcap.com 4158481990SOURCE: SBJ CapitalView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 20:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 664 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Ranking in the Top 50 Best IT Products and Top 100 Fastest Growing Products.VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 /ScalePad is honored with two prestigious awards in G2's 2024 Best Software Products list. Recognized for its innovative solutions, ScalePad ranked among the Top 50 Best IT Products for Backup Radar, which ensures MSPs mitigate backup failure risks. Scalepad was also named among the Top 100 Fastest Growing Products, ranking #35 for Lifecycle Manager, which helps MSPs show clients their IT risks and easily collaborate to mitigate them, as well as offering value-added services, including Warranty Services, Workstation Assurance, and end-of-life disposal.ScalePad Wins G2's 2024 Best Software Awards ScalePad ranked among the Top 50 Best IT Products for Backup Radar and named among the Top 100 Fastest Growing Products for Lifecycle Manager."These awards serve as a testament to our team's remarkable dedication and expertise, for their tireless work behind the scenes to craft and refine each of ScalePad's products to deliver real value to MSPs," said Dan Wesnely, CEO at ScalePad. "We're immensely proud of their contributions in equipping our MSP partners' adventure and to excel in delivering unparalleled service to their clients." ScalePad's strategic acquisitions in 2023, including Lifecycle Insights, Control Map, Cognition360 and Quoter, have fortified its suite of solutions for MSPs, aligning with its refreshed brand promise of "Equipping Your MSP Adventure!" This commitment has solidified ScalePad's position as a leader in empowering MSPs and their success by equipping them with cutting-edge technology, unparalleled expertise, and unwavering support."As a team, we're deeply committed to listening to our partners, understanding their unique needs, and crafting products that foster a harmonious experience between our MSP partners and their clients," said Adam Hert, VP of Product at ScalePad. "Our focus on collaboration and innovation ensures that every solution we build is tailored to enhance operations and drive mutual success." "B2B software buyers, just like consumers, start their purchasing journey with research," said Sara Rossio, Chief Product Officer at G2. "As the world's largest software marketplace, G2 attracts more than 90 million buyers to our site each year - more than any other B2B marketplace - reaching those from companies of all sizes, in all industries. Based on their authentic feedback, we're proud to announce the 2024 Best Software Award winners. Congratulations to the less than 1% of vendors listed on G2 who made one of our 30+ lists this year, achieving recognition driven by verified data rooted in the source that truly matters - authentic customer voice." To learn more, view G2's 2024 Best Software Awards and read more about G2's methodology.About G2:G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 90 million people annually - including employees at all Fortune 500 companies - use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of software and services companies of all sizes partner with G2 to build their reputation and grow their business - including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, and Adobe. Visit www.g2.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.Media Contact:Jenny Gardynski at G2jgardynski@ g2.com or press@ g2.com About ScalePad:ScalePad provides MSPs of every size with the knowledge, technology, and community they need to deliver increased client value while navigating the continuously changing terrain of the IT landscape. With a suite of integrated products that automate and standardize MSP's operations, analyze and uncover new opportunities, and expand value to clients, ScalePad is equipping the MSP adventure.ScalePad has received awards such as MSP Today's Product of the Year, G2's 2024 Fastest Growing Product, and 2024 Best IT Management Product. In 2023, it was named a Best Workplace in Canada by Great Place to Work. ScalePad is a privately held company serving over 12,000 MSPs across the globe. Learn more at scalepad.com Media Contact:Brittany Thibaudeaumedia@ scalepad.com (604) 334-8986Contact InformationBrittany ThibaudeauCommunications Specialistmedia@ scalepad.com (604) 334-8986SOURCE: ScalePadView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 17:45:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 485 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024/ Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against British American Tobacco p.l.c. ("BAT" or the "Company") (NYSE:BTI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether BAT and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until March 25, 2024, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired BAT securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]In January 2017, BAT, which already had a 42% stake in Reynolds American Inc. ("Reynolds"), took over the remaining interest in Reynolds for $49.4 billion dollars, valuing Reynolds at around $86 billion. This resulted in Reynolds becoming a BAT subsidiary. In doing so, BAT took control of the Camel, Newport, and Natural American Spirit cigarette brands (the "Premium American Cigarette Brands" or the "Brands"), among others, which are considered to be premium cigarettes.On December 6, 2023, BAT issued a press release announcing that it was taking a 25 billion Pound (or around $31.5 billion USD) impairment (the "Impairment") on the cigarette brands it acquired from Reynolds. It stated, in relevant part: "Consistent with our vision to Build a Smokeless World', and in combination with the current macro-economic headwinds impacting the U.S. combustibles industry, in 2023 we will take an accounting non-cash adjusting impairment charge of around 25bn. This accounting adjustment mainly relates to some of our acquired U.S. combustibles brands, as we now assess their carrying value and useful economic lives over an estimated period of 30 years. Accordingly, we will commence amortisation of the remaining value of our U.S. combustibles brands from January 2024."On this news, BAT's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $2.68 per ADR, or 8.88%, to close at $28.86 on December 6, 2023.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 00:35:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 367 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LEHI, UT / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2024 / Signalxchange.com , a fintech online platform, has begun providing day traders of all levels with training on the stock trading process. Co-founded by Will Vigil and Brett Simberkoff, Signalxchange.com aims to improve the quality of trading resources through its educational hub, which allows individuals to get in-depth answers to questions from seasoned traders. Signalxchange.com: Industry-level knowledge for day traders Vigil and Simberkoff, who have spent over 28 years in trading, finance, acquisitions, and corporate strategies, state that they created Signalxchange.com to address an ongoing need in their industry: a lack of opportunities to learn from experienced traders."We envisioned a global fintech platform that would provide anyone access to modern trading strategies," Vigil explains. "Any question they had about making trades, they could find the answer here by connecting with knowledgeable traders. We spent a year developing and testing Signalxchange.com , and we are thrilled to roll it out worldwide." At Signalxchange.com , individuals can go deep into the long-term trading process and learn about strategies, techniques for managing their emotions while making trades, suggestions for evaluating stocks, and new stock opportunities. Over time, as a trader grows in knowledge and experience, they also have the opportunity to level up within the platform, become a lead trader, and build their own following. As Simberkoff says, it is the trading community's version of "paying it forward." "At Signalxchange.com , we ultimately believe in sharing with others what we have learned from our own experiences," says Simberkoff. "We invite all day traders, from novices to professionals, to visit us so that they can get deeper insights into making trades. We will help them to find comprehensive answers to their questions, learn industry strategies, and feel more confident about their own trading decisions." About Signalxchange.com Signalxchange.com is an innovative Fintech platform that connects traders of all backgrounds with industry-level training. It is creating an online community of traders who share their tips, suggestions, and knowledge with people who want more insights into the trading process. For more information about Signalxchange.com , please visit itswebsiteor contact:Brett Simberkofftradesafe@ signalxchange.com SOURCE: Signalxchange.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 18:02:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 376 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges The Chemours Company (NYSE:CC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/CC Contact An Attorney Now: CC@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) Investigation:"We're investigating whether Chemours may have misrepresented or failed to disclose material facts concerning its internal controls over financial reporting," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.Specifically, on Feb. 13, 2024 Chemours announced that it postponed the release of its financial results and conference call related to its Q4 and FYE Dec. 31, 2023. The company revealed that it "is evaluating its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 with respect to maintaining effective controls related to information and communications." The company also revealed that its "Audit Committee also needs additional time to complete a related internal review." This news drove the price of Chemours shares down $3.85, or down almost 13%, on Feb. 14, 2024.If you invested in The Chemours Company and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Chemours investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding The Chemours Company should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 13:32:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1027 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Toggle3D.ai(the "Company") (CSE:TGGL)(OTCQB:TGGLF)(FSE:Q0C), a revolutionary AI solution harnessing the power of generative AI to convert CAD files, apply stunning 4K texturing, and seamlessly publish superior 4K 3D models is pleased to announce it is expanding its portfolio with a GPT AI virtual photography service. Also, Toggle3D,ai's parent company, " Nextech3D.ai" is in negotiations with a number of large enterprise manufacturers which produce hundreds of thousands of products annually, for contracts valued in the seven figures. The deals are expected to close in Q1, and if closed would involve GPT AI from Toggle3D providing a significant revenue sharing opportunity for the Company.A key aspect of the Toggle platform is the licensing of this 3D modeling software to major manufacturers, enabling their own employees to create high quality, 4K resolution 3D product models without the need for specialized skills in 3D modeling. This empowers businesses to harness the full potential of 3D modeling internally, while reducing the 3D model production cost by as much as 80%.Price and scale have long restricted access to high-quality 3D modeling technology for e-commerce. Toggle3D has leveraged its groundbreaking AI GPT powered technology to enable high production scalability, while also significantly decreasing the cost of producing 3D models from CAD files. Traditionally, the cost of producing a 3D model is $75 to 150/model, but with Toggle3D's technology, the cost has been reduced to a remarkable $10 to 20 while producing the highest quality 4K quad mesh photo realistic models. This has effectively enabled scalability while being highly profitable.The Toggle3D.ai platform providers users with an easy to use point-and-click interface that simplifies the creation of 3D models. By simply importing a CAD file, companies, brands, manufacturers and users can easily use Toggle3D to generate 3D models, apply AI-driven texturing, utilize the virtual photography studio, and much more. This platform is especially groundbreaking for e-commerce, where the virtual photography studio eliminates the need for physical product photography, saving large brands potentially millions of dollars annually.This news follows last week's press release announcing the launch of the next era of GPT AI 3D product solutions of proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. The AI era is in the early stages, and the shift from 2D to 3D modeling for e-commerce will be a major multi-decade transformation.The initial suite includes the following GPT's:GPT 2D image search engine for 3D models that delivers 3D meshes based on 2D images.GPT text based 3D search engine that takes text prompts to provide a 3D mesh based on description. Watch a video demo of the 3D search engine GPT that detects walls/floors in a 2D image in our proprietary decorator tool. This allows changing the color of your room's walls/ floors.GPT that can read a selected portion of a 3D rendering and erase it (Magic Eraser) Watch a video showcasing the proprietary decorator tool and magic eraser GPT Generating textures and PBR materials from text prompts Watch a video demo of generating textures from text prompts GPT Generating PBR maps from texture/color imagesGPT Texture expansion: expanding a small patch of structured textures into larger, high-resolution textures.GPT Texture generation form patches: Generating a texture from a small patch for unstructured textures (woods, marbles, etc) Watch a video demo of the texture generation from patches GPT Generative Rendering: Generating alternative renderings/photos from textured and untextured 3D models using text prompts - a tool for ideating alternative designs.GPT models are designed with user accessibility in mind, allowing for their development without requiring coding expertise. They offer versatility for personal, exclusive business, or general public use. Setting them up is straightforward, using easy-to-understand conversational prompts to convey commands and information, and to choose features like internet searches, image creation, or data analysis.Recent Toggle3D.ai News Toggle3D.ai Announces its Groundbreaking AI Textures Increases Productivity by 100% In 3D Model Production For Ecommerce Toggle3D.ai Reports 75% Usage Growth in Q4, New Release With AI Search Engine Integration Set for Q1 Toggle3D.ai Grows Userbase by 70% and Unveils Groundbreaking AI Tool Transforming Doodles into 3D Models Toggle3D.ai's AI Lab Announces Breakthrough With Generative AI Photo RenderingAbout Toggle3D.ai Toggle3D.ai (CSE:TGGL)(OTCQB:TGGLF)(FSE:Q0C) is a groundbreaking SaaS solution that utilizes generative AI to convert CAD files, apply stunning 4K texturing, and enable seamless publishing of superior 4K 3D models, serving various industries within the $160 billion CGI market. With its Augmented Reality-based rapid prototyping web app, Toggle3D empowers designers, artists, marketers, and eCommerce owners to effortlessly convert, texture, customize, and publish high-quality 3D models and experiences, regardless of technical or 3D design expertise. Toggle3D.ai Investor Relations Visit the Toggle3D Investor Relations website and sign up for the investor mailing list to receive the latest news, press releases, investor presentations, CEO interviews, financial information and more.Sign up for the investor mailing list -click hereFollow Toggle3D.ai on Social Media Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Toggle3D Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toggle3d.ai/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Toggle3D LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/toggle3d-ai/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Toggle3Dai For further information, please contact:Investor Relations Contact Julia Viola investor.relations@toggle3D.ai Evan GappelbergCEO and Director866-ARITIZE (274-8493)Forward-looking StatementsThe CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers sh PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-21 23:45:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 548 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Plant celebrates twelve consecutive years - more than 5,000,000 hours - without a lost time safety incident; receives recognition from Arkansas state officialsFORT SMITH, AR / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2024 / Trane - by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator -celebrated a significant safety milestone at its Commercial HVAC manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Trane Fort Smith employees achieved 5,000,000 work hours, approximately twelve years, without a lost day away from work due to a work-related injury or illness on October 31, 2023.The facility is on track to reach 6 million hours without a lost time incident by October 2025. There are approximately 200 employees at the site, where Trane has operated for 29 years."Ensuring the safety of our people at work is our highest priority," said Carter Roth, plant manager. "This milestone recognizes and celebrates our associates' unwavering commitment to creating and nurturing a culture of safety that has spanned more than 12 years! Putting safety first is just one of the things that makes Trane Fort Smith a place people want to work." Congressman Steve Womack of Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District, Representative Cindy Crawford of Arkansas' 51st District, Fort Smith Mayor George McGill, Arkansas Department of Labor Chief of Staff Steve Guntharp, as well as other local and statewide public officials, and esteemed members of the community joined Trane business leaders and employees to recognize the milestone."Congratulations to the Trane Fort Smith team on twelve consecutive years without a loss time injury," said Congressman Womack. "This remarkable accomplishment shows how employee safety and care are integral to the company's success. Business is booming, and the Trane Fort Smith team is part of making that happen." The plant has a long track record of providing a safe and uplifting work environment for its employees; sustainable, high-performing products for customers; and leading by example in support of Trane Technologies' purpose to achieve a more sustainable world.Trane Fort Smith has upgraded its HVAC, lighting and water systems to drastically reduce energy and water usage, while creating a more comfortable, efficient environment, and eliminated wood waste to landfill in 2021.The Trane Fort Smith plant manufactures custom HVAC units, custom air-handling systems, and components for commercial applications.The ultra high efficiency and precise space heating and cooling capabilities of these products are ideal for a variety of commercial building applications, including schools, office buildings, health care, multi-family residential, hotels and more.# # #About Trane Trane - by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator - creates comfortable, energy efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications. For more information, please visit www.trane.com or www.tranetechnologies.com About Trane Technologies Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane and Thermo King, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com Ray Pittard, Trane Technologies Executive Vice President and Chief Officer, Integrated Supply Chain; Fort Smith Mayor George McGill and Carter Roth, Trane Fort Smith Plant Manager hold a proclamation declaring today (February 21) Trane Fort Smith DayView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Trane TechnologiesWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/trane-technologies Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Trane Technologies PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-22 19:00:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 340 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SPARKS, MD / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / TridentCare is pleased to announce that Mary E. Sweeney has been appointed Senior Vice President (SVP) of Human Resources. Sweeney assumed her role at TridentCare on February 19, 2024.TridentCare Sweeney has decades of experience with crucial aspects of human resources, including recruitment and retention, organizational effectiveness, talent management, employment law and compliance, and diversity and inclusion initiatives."I am excited to return back to the health care industry, especially with an organization that is disrupting healthcare by serving patients where they are," Sweeney said.Sweeney last served at Arcadia University where she held the role of Vice President of Human Resources and the Employee Experience. During her time at Arcadia, Mary made it a priority to enhance the experience of the faculty and staff by rebuilding many of the HR functions. Prior to joining Arcadia in 2020, Mary spent 22 years in the health care industry. She served most recently as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Regional CHRO for the Mid/South Atlantic regions at Trinity Health. There, Sweeney focused on aligning the HR strategy to Trinity's business strategy.According to CEO Dan Buning, "We interviewed numerous qualified candidates and believed Mary had the best overall experience, skills and organizational fit to help lead our TridentCare HR Team. Our people are what allows us to fulfill our mission to provide clinical diagnostic services nationwide across a wide range of home, facility, workplace or institutional settings. We gladly welcome Mary to our Leadership Team." About TridentCareBased in Sparks, Maryland, TridentCare is the leading provider of portable diagnostic services in the Country, operating in 38 states, servicing a wide variety of patients and clients. Each day, the company deploys experienced medical professionals and leading-edge technology to provide imaging, phlebotomy, laboratory, oxygen, and vascular services to tens of thousands of patients nationwide. For more information about TridentCare, please visit TridentCare.com , and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.Contact InformationDeborah Sheltonmedia@ tridentcare.com SOURCE: TridentCareView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-21 23:55:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 710 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TUCSON, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2024 / Tylers Coffees, a company that produces acid-free coffee utilizing a proprietary roasting technique, has announced the launch of its new affiliate program. This initiative is designed to reward coffee enthusiasts, influencers, and healthcare professionals for sharing the health benefits of Tylers Coffees with their communities. In addition, the company is releasing information about its upcoming 30-Day Challenge, designed to transform morning routines and promote gut health through the consumption of acid-free coffee.Tylers Coffees was founded in 2004 by Tyler Ornstein. Tylers Coffees, which was chosen byInc. 5000as one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America in 2022, seeks to make notable changes within the coffee industry, and has been building on the success of its digital marketplace. "Our journey began with a vision to create a coffee that tastes great but is also gentle on the stomach," says Tyler Ornstein, founder and CEO of Tylers Coffees. "It's only natural for us to make this new move into affiliate opportunities." Recognizing the power of community and word-of-mouth, the brand has developed an affiliate program that appreciates the efforts of its advocates and provides them with a revenue opportunity. Affiliates can earn a 12% commission on every purchase made through their referral links, encouraging them to help spread the word about the health benefits of switching to acid-free coffee."We understand that coffee is more than just a beverage; it's a morning ritual, a source of comfort, and for many, a necessity," says Ornstein. "Our affiliate program is designed to empower those who've experienced the benefits of our acid-free coffee to share it with others, creating a healthier morning routine for coffee lovers everywhere." Tylers Coffees utilizes a proprietary Z-Roasting process that eliminates the formation of harmful tannic and lipid acids during roasting, making it an accessible option for those suffering from GERD, IBS, Crohn's Disease, Colitis, and other gastrointestinal issues. Tylers Coffees is made from 100% USDA Organic AAA Arabica Beans and prizes quality ingredients that can be enjoyed without the acidic side effects of conventional coffee.To build on the momentum of its affiliate program, Tylers Coffees is also teasing its upcoming 30-Day Challenge. This initiative invites coffee lovers to experience the benefits of acid-free coffee firsthand. Through this challenge, the company hopes to highlight how switching to Tylers Coffees can alleviate common digestive discomforts associated with traditional coffee, transforming participants' mornings and overall well-being.Tyler Ornstein, CEO and founder of Tylers Coffees""Many of our customers have told us about the dramatic changes they've experienced by switching to our acid-free coffee," Ornstein says. "The 30-Day Challenge is our way of inviting more people to experience these benefits for themselves. It's not just about changing your coffee; it's about changing your life." Recognizing the importance of professional endorsement, Tylers Coffees' affiliate program extends a special invitation to gastroenterologists and other healthcare providers. Recommending Tylers Coffees allows them to offer their patients this organic alternative that supports gut health without sacrificing the ritual of morning coffee."We're so pleased to be able to offer this affiliate option to our customers," says Ornstein. "And we're looking forward to promoting the 30-day challenge. We believe that switching to acid-free coffee can be significantly beneficial for coffee enthusiasts worldwide and we can't wait to see the results." About Tylers CoffeesFounded in 2004 by Tyler Ornstein, Tylers Coffees is a pioneer in the acid-free coffee industry. The proprietary Z-Roasting process is an all-natural method that creates coffee with a greatly reduced acid content. Tylers Coffees partners with Beacon Group, an organization dedicated to providing employment opportunities and services to individuals with disabilities in Arizona. With over 2,000,000 cups sold and distribution in hundreds of independent grocery stores across the United States, the company seeks to become a recognized and trusted brand among coffee enthusiasts. Tylers Coffees was named the preferred coffee of the 2008 Academy Awards, helping to solidify a position as a provider of exceptional quality and taste.Website: https://tylerscoffees.com/Tyler Ornstein+1 (855) 554-3833 Ext#1tyler@ tylerscoffees.com These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseaseSOURCE: Tylers Coffees There is intense apprehension at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Thursday that the Naira may weaken further as the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is set to disburse allocations from the revenues generated into the federations accounts among the federal, state and local governments. Sources within the apex bank Thursday told PREMIUM TIMES that there are concerns that funds from FAAC were often illegally converted to dollars by some corrupt state governors at the unofficial market, with a ripple effect on the value of the local currency. The CBN has, in recent weeks, introduced all sorts of strategies to address the free fall of the naira amid supply constraints in the official market. On Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Nigerian government blocked the online platforms of Binance and other crypto firms to avert what it considers continuous manipulation of the forex market and illicit movement of funds. Sources within the major telecommunication companies in the country told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) communicated the directive to telcos, which acted almost immediately. Apart from Binance, other platforms such as Forextime, OctaFX, Crypto, FXTM, Coinbase, and Kraken, among others, were equally blocked. Earlier, this newspaper reported how the government was considering blocking the online platforms of Binance and other crypto firms as part of efforts to avert the free fall of the local currency. FAAC Section 165 of the Nigerian constitution, as well as the Allocation of Revenue Act No.1 1982, stipulates that the revenues generated by the government should be credited into the federation account and disbursed monthly among the three tiers of government. The Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) was therefore constituted with the mandate to ensure that the indices are scrutinised monthly by representatives from states both at the commission (Commissioners, appointed by the Governors) and at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (through the FAAC committee which includes the Accountant Generals from all the States) who rely heavily on allocations. The meeting is chaired by the Minister of Finance and attended by officials from the CBN, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Commissioners of Finance of the 36 states, and the Secretary of Finance for the Federal Capital Territory. FAAC is responsible for reviewing and adopting the allocation of funds to states, making deductions and ensuring accurate disbursement of funds to the states, and issuance of mandate letters to the CBN to facilitate the disbursement of funds to individual states and the FCT. Under the prevailing revenue-sharing formula, the federal government gets 52.68 per cent of the revenue shared; states get 26.72 per cent, while local governments get 20.60 per cent. The funds are typically channelled into various developmental commitments by the FG, states and LGs. In January, a total of N1.127 trillion was disbursed to the three tiers of government, down from N1.783 trillion disbursed in December 2023. According to a communique issued by FAAC at the end of the meeting, the total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N363.188 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N458.622 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N17.855 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N287.743 billion. Fears and Uncertainty Meanwhile, sources within the intelligence agencies told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that there are intelligence reports showing how the value of the local unit depreciates whenever FAAC allocations are shared among all tiers of government. There are claims that some governors convert vast amounts of Naira to dollars in the black market each time FAAC funds are disbursed. Those familiar with the matter say huge chunks of the allocations are usually wired through suspect bank accounts to Bureau De Change operators who then deliver dollars in cash to the governors. The corrupt practice, authorities believe, is destabilising the countrys foreign exchange market. A source with knowledge of the situation told this newspaper that the governors have been confronted with details of the matter by the presidency. To avert developments that could negatively impact the local currency, inside sources confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that security agencies have been alerted to monitor all forms of sinister activities in the foreign exchange market ahead of the FAAC meeting on Thursday. Earlier on Tuesday, the office of the National Security Adviser directed law enforcement agencies to take firm measures against anyone engaged in foreign exchange market speculation. In a concerted effort to safeguard Nigerias foreign exchange market and combat speculative activities, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Central Bank of Nigeria are joining forces to address challenges impacting the nations economic stability, the office said in a statement. The CBNs proactive measures to stabilise the foreign exchange market and stimulate economic activities have been commendable. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is being undermined by the activities of speculators, both domestic and international, operating through various channels, thereby exacerbating the depreciation of the Nigerian naira. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Thursday confirmed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, as chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The upper legislative chamber also confirmed the appointment of deputy governors of the CBN and seven others as members of the MPC. The CBN deputy governors are, Mohammed Abdullahi, Bala Bello, Emem Usoro, and Philip Ikeazor. Others are Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Jibia Shehu. Murtala Sabo, Uche Wogu, Maureen Agu, Mustapha Akinwumi and Bamidele Omo are also members. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation of Mr Cardoso and others after they were cleared through voice votes during the plenary. The nominees were screened by members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions during the committees meeting on Wednesday. Chairman of the Committee, Adetokunbo Abiru, who presented the report of the screening, noted that the CBN governor and his deputies were excused from the exercise because they were recently screened in the National Assembly for their current positions as governor and deputy governors of the bank. Mr Abiru also said the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance was also not screened. READ ALSO: The committee chairman said its members searched through the curriculum vitae of the nominees and found out that they were all qualified for the positions. All nominees are experienced in economics and financial services. Their appointment is in accordance with provisions of the CBN Act 2007, and we did not receive any petition against them, Mr Abiru said. The senator, therefore, recommended the confirmation of the nominees. Contributing to the report, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, commended members of the committee for screening the nominees . I commend the committee for the fact that they did that work to deal with the challenges we are facing with our economy. They decided that they will work round the clock to deal with the present request. This is commendable. I think because of the track records of the nominees, of course, they were here before us and we dont have a problem with them. Even the ones that have been brought together with the statuary nominees like Professor Murtala Sagagi and the rest, all of them have outstanding track records, wonderful pedigrees that they can do this job properly. They fit into the requirements needed to perform the functions prescribed for them. So, I think without much ado, we should go straight away to give our nod as Senate for them to be confirmed in order to move forward. The senator representing Imo west, Osita Izunaso, urged the nominees to perform their duties diligently. The MPC is a statutory body established under section 12(1) of the CBN Act to facilitate the attainment of the objective of price stability and to support the economic policy of the Federal Government. The Act under section 12(3) tasked the committee with responsibility of formulating monetary and credit policy. Its membership comprises the Governor of the Bank who shall be the Chairman; the four Deputy Governors of the CBN; two members of the Board of Directors of the bank; three members appointed by the President, and two members appointed by the CBN Governor. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Canadian-Nigerian actor, screenwriter, film producer and director Pascal Atuma has urged Nigerians to actively engage in the political process, carefully scrutinising candidates vying for leadership positions in the future. Mr Atuma, in a statement on Thursday, urged Nigerians to awaken before its too late. Decrying the rampant corruption plaguing the country, the movie director emphasised that Nigeria cannot tolerate elected officials who inexplicably become billionaires overnight after taking office. The socially conscious filmmaker further asserted that Nigerians are aware of those who exploited their elected positions for personal gain and those who failed to contribute meaningfully to the nations economic well-being. I hope this hardship will serve as a wake-up call to the process and the persons we select for political positions in Nigeria moving forward. We must know that no country ever prayed for prosperity without work and that we need industries rather than religious stadiums. Nigeria cannot continue like this: the earlier we worked together to save Nigeria, the better. The better for all of us. The Abia-born actor criticised political officeholders for resorting to broad daylight robbery cash transfer schemes targeted at Nigerians whose identities remain unverified. Nothing worth celebrating in Nigeria Mr Atuma, whose breakout directorial debut, My American Nurse, premiered at the 2006 Pan African Film Festival in the United States, raised concerns about the prevalence of kidnappings and the growing hunger crisis. The movie director, who cancelled his birthday celebration due to economic hardship, insecurity, and other challenges plaguing Nigeria, stressed that nothing was worth celebrating. He said: Today is my birthday. But as much as I am very grateful to God for life. I still face the realities of todays Nigeria. My family and friends want to celebrate with me, but I cannot justify the celebration. Are we celebrating naira exchanging at N1 800 to a dollar? Are we celebrating the masses gradually dying of hunger? Are we celebrating diesel at N1,500 per litre? Are we celebrating the kidnapping of innocent citizens? Are we celebrating government broad day robbery under the guise of cash transfer to Nigerians whose identification we dont know? Or are we celebrating one kilogram of chicken selling at N6,500? What could justify a celebration in Nigeria as we know it today? Should I be celebrating the reality of my village? Iberenta Ibere in Ikwuano LGA. Abia State will become wholly cut off come the next rainy season if nothing is done urgently to arrest the gully erosions? Mr Atuma believes that the only thing worth celebrating is the bravery of the Super Eagles at the recently concluded 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Yes, that is positive. At least it reminded us of the strength in our diversity and what we can accomplish as a nation when we come together, he said. According to filmmaker Atuma, the Super Eagles silver medal win reminded Nigerians that Western religion and ethnic divisions were external tools used to weaken the nation, not elements of their true identity. He further stated that the teams accomplishment in the recent AFCON was the only positive development for Nigeria in recent times. Mr Atuma, whose film Clash topped Netflix charts in July 2021, made headlines in February 2022, urging Nigerians to look beyond religious and ethnic lines when voting in the 2023 general elections. He stressed the importance of Nigerian youth participation in the elections, arguing that eradicating tribalism and uniting the nation is crucial for progress. He stressed the need to move beyond ethnic and sectional sentiments when choosing candidates for public office. Mr Atuma believes that tribalism hinders sound judgment, leading to poor leaders and making it difficult for qualified individuals to contribute to nation-building. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Kano State, officially Nigerias most populous state, is grappling with a menace that extends far beyond statistics. A damning report has revealed that gender-based violence has reached unsettling heights in the state, prompting a critical examination of the underlying causes. The report also reveals that although the menace extends across the seven north-western states of Nigeria, Kano has the highest number of recorded incidents. This is despite the promulgation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act by the National Assembly in 2015, which criminalises various forms of violence against persons, including rape, sexual abuse, harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, domestic violence, among others in Nigeria. Mariya Suleiman investigated some of the reasons behind this trend in Kano. A four-year-old (Hureira, not real name) was raped by a provision shop owner on her familys street in the northern Nigerian city of Kano. Luring her with sweets and biscuits, the suspect took her to a secluded area where he raped her. The victims mother only realised her daughter had been raped when she noticed a white discharge from her vagina. Initially, I noticed how she was scratching her vagina non-stop and any time I asked her, she would start crying so I decided to check the place to see for myself, said the mother. I saw some white liquid coming out from there and the small vulva was red and wide open. Shocked and alarmed, I began to question her about what happened. It was then that she told me, after which I called my sister, and we rushed her to the hospital. Kanos GBV plague Between November 2022 and February 2023, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) recorded 171 cases of gender-based violence which included rape and other sexual abuses in Kano. According to a report by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kano Chapter, Kano State Waraka Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) documented over 4000 cases of sexual violence in the last five years. This figure, according to the Head of Unit in SARC, Halima Faruk, is the highest anywhere in Nigeria. Before Mrs Faruks announcement, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Women, Children and Disabled, Yakubu Muhammad, said they receive cases of GBV from SARC and they currently have 300 active cases. Mr Mohammed also explained that owing to the increasing number of incidents, the government established additional sexual referral centres across three emirate councils and the Rano Local Government Area, which are yet to be equipped. If the high rate of incidents is alarming, the ages of the victims are even more horrifying, officials said. Some, like Hureira, are as young as four years of age. At the hospital where Hureira was taken for treatment, her mother narrated her ordeal to this reporter. Hureira and her family were initially referred to the Sexual Referral Centre, where the police were called before they were attended to. The mother said that the results of tests conducted on the victim came back positive for a severe infection and Hureira had to be put on medication. She asked for justice for her little girl but said this would be possible if the government strengthened the laws to guarantee appropriate punishments for offenders. An advocate against SGBV and Chair of the Board of the Baobab for Womens Human Rights, Zubaida Nagee, highlighted that gender-based violence is a terrible experience as it affects the victims physically, psychologically, and emotionally. She said Baobab does a lot of advocacy campaigns and sensitisation programmes, offers psycho-social support to victims and encourages parents and victims to always voice out. But even after empowering them to speak up, finding justice for victims of SGBV is always a challenge. Why does Kano have the highest rate of SGBV cases? The Protocol Officer of the Baobab centre, Aminu Usman, lamented the increasing incidents of SGBV in the state. He said their centre now gets up to a hundred cases a month. The issue of rape is becoming out of hand and is getting worse. In a month we receive 95-100 cases of rape. From the beginning of this month (January 2024), we have received over 50 cases so far. Just last week, 17 cases of rape were brought to us in a single day from a community that I cant disclose for the purpose of confidentiality, he said. According to Mr Usman, the increasing incidents are due to the lack of appropriate laws in Kano State to directly address the menace. Kano is the only Nigerian state yet to domesticate the VAPP Act. The law focuses, among others, on SGBV with clear punishment for perpetrators; redefines rape to include oral and anal sex as well as penetration with objects other than the penis; provides compensation for victims by offenders, and offers more protection for victims than any other existing Nigerian law. Mr Usman said perpetrators of SGBV in Kano currently receive little or no punishment at all. He said about 60 per cent of offenders escape punishment after being reported to the authorities. They return to the community to simply continue from where they stopped, he said. The absence of the VAPP Act is one of the major factors. We have seen situations where most of the offenders escape because the existing laws do not properly handle the GBV cases in a manner that will ensure that they are punished and held accountable. The VAPP Act contains a lot of provisions to tackle all forms of GBV and punishment of the perpetrators, but Kano State has not yet domesticated the law in the state, said Mr Usman. There is also a lack of awareness and insufficient education surrounding the matter. He said although a lot of work has been done by non-governmental and governmental organisations to create awareness, there is a lot more to be done. There is a lack of comprehensive sex education for children by their parents, especially the mothers. Most mothers in the North do not educate their daughters about sex because they find it awkward and they also believe that once they do so, the child will have an idea of what sex is and start to experiment with it, he said. While the lack of or inadequate sex education renders young females vulnerable to rape, it is harder to get justice for them without laws like the VAPP Act and because of some societal norms and values that put victims in a precarious position, experts said. Culture and stigmatisation also come to play a role in the situation, Mr Usman said. Most of the time, the victim of rape faces stigma in her community, and nobody would like to marry her as the culture expects a woman to stay a virgin until her wedding day, If a husband finds out she is not, he will despise and maltreat her. That is why many parents of the victims cover up and keep quiet about the matter, not wanting to cooperate with the human rights commission to push for justice because they fear exposing their daughters to stigma in the community and cultural nuances. Another aspect of gender-based violence which has a growing number like that of assault and rape is domestic violence. Many women experience domestic violence in their homes, but they keep quiet because culture and society expect women to maintain their marriages at all costs, even when it becomes harmful. This has killed a lot of women, and others who try to speak up are often discouraged by their families, friends, and communities, Mr Usman said He said the large, diverse population and poor economic situations are adding to the issue. You see Kano is a very big state with the highest population (in Nigeria). So, the issue would be a little higher here when compared to states such as Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina and the rest. Most times, when we ask the victims how it happened, often while recounting the incident, some of the victims confess that the perpetrator started by giving the girl small money and from there took her somewhere and raped her. If parents are well-to-do and can provide for their children the way they should, children will not be tempted in that way with money. Parents need to take up their responsibilities and caution their wards about the dangers of collecting money or gifts from strangers and even close ones who have bad intentions. Thats the only way that things can get better. However, Mr Usman insisted that the absence of a VAPP law is the main reason behind the problem and therefore urged the state government to domesticate and implement the VAPP Act in Kano State. More arguments for VAPP law Abdullahi Shehu, the head of the Kano State office of the National Human Rights Commission said the commission is working tirelessly to reduce incidents, but cases are rising because the VAPP Act has not been domesticated in the state. We put a lot of effort into such cases, but they continue to persist because the law that will help mitigate the issue is yet to be domesticated. You know, when there is a legal framework, it will definitely assist in the promotion of justice, said Mr Shehu. Although there are other factors that contribute to the increasing incidence of GBV such as culture and lack of awareness, the chief factor that allows this menace to fester is the absence or lack of VAPP law in Kano. It is the challenge that needs to be addressed for the number of cases to fall, he said. The VAPP Act contains a lot of positive provisions to protect the victims and having it as a legal framework in the state will help in the fight against SGBV, which will benefit the public. That is why we at the Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice and other relevant stakeholders are putting more efforts to see that the VAPP Act is domesticated in Kano. Mr Shehu therefore called on the Kano State Government to domesticate the VAPP Act in Kano to ensure justice for victims by ensuring the punishment of the perpetrators. Challenge posed by legal framework Hajara Hamza, a senior magistrate in Kano who is also the vice chairperson of FIDA, said there are laws like the Penal Code Act, but none directly address gender-based violence. She said the Act thus does not render significant help to rape victims because of a gap in the legal framework. Mrs Hamza agreed that the VAPP Act contains the necessary provisions for the punishment of offenders, saying domesticating the Act is the only way to eliminate or mitigate incidences of rape and other sexual assault. She also said to enhance the safety of young girls in society, they should be entitled to legal representation which will ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to book. However, despite the calls by victims, their families and anti-GBV advocates, the Kano State Government suggested it was not disposed to domesticate the VAPP Act. The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Misbahu Aminu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the VAPP Act is not yet accepted by many Kano residents as some of its content allegedly conflicts with the religion and culture of the people. According to Mr Aminu, the law has to be accepted first before efforts can be put in place to domesticate it in the state. Another official of the justice ministry, Aminu Abdullahi, argued that existing laws like the Penal Code are enough to tackle rape and other forms of GBV in the state. Mr Abdullahi said the justice ministry is doing its best to handle such cases. Community voices and perspectives A community leader in Kano, Bala Shehu, said community leaders are handicapped when it comes to punishment for SGBV because there are no sufficient laws. We are not silent about it, and we dont encourage the victims and their parents to close the case. Any time this case is brought to us, we used to report it to the police, unless we did not know about it. But the scary part is the offenders get away with it most of the time and they go back to the community to repeat the same thing, he said. I believe if the law ensures the punishment of perpetrators, most of them will stop doing it, he said. How the Kano State government can help Victims Nine-year-old Aisha (not her real name) was also raped, and she revealed that the person responsible is known to the family. He frequently visits their house, she said. I know him, he comes to collect food from my mother. He always offered me sweets and money before one day he took me to an uncompleted building where he removed my clothes and inserted something in my vagina, she told this reporter in the presence of her mother. Aishas mother said they found the girl lying down helpless after the incident and took her to a hospital where she was admitted. She also contracted a severe sexually transmitted disease from the rape, the mother narrated. The mother said she took the case to a human rights organisation and the suspect was eventually charged in court, but the court ruled that it wasnt rape. Aishas mother said she could not understand the judgement as all the evidence was there. She called on the government to follow up on cases like hers. Seven-year-old Abu (not real name) was also sexually assaulted by a 17-year-old boy in his neighbourhood. The victims mother said Abu developed severe stomach acne after the incident which made them take the case to court. The court found the offender guilty and sentenced him to six months in prison with a fine for the victims medication. But the boy was later released without him helping Abus mother with the victims medication. Seventeen-year-old Saratu is not alive to narrate her ordeal. She was killed without getting justice after being raped and impregnated. Relatives told PREMIUM TIMES that the deceased was drugged before she was raped in her uncles house. She only found out that she was pregnant about five months later. According to her sister, Hadiza, they tried all they could to know who was responsible for Saratus pregnancy, but she wouldnt say. The family suspected someone in the family who lived with their uncle, so they took the case to the National Human Rights Commission and then to court where a DNA test was ordered but could not be performed until the pregnancy reached its full term. The case was then adjourned until after delivery. READ ALSO: Lagos opens shelter for survivors of sexual and gender based violence However, Saratu started receiving messages from an unknown number, threatening her to drop the case but she ignored them. Hadiza said Saratu gave birth, and a DNA test was conducted on the baby and the suspect. But before the results came out, Saratu went missing. Her corpse was later found somewhere in their street. The baby is now with Saratus sister. The family pleaded with the government to come to bring Saratus killers to justice, saying their own lives too are no longer safe. But they are yet to receive any intervention as the suspect remains free. Mariya Suleiman is a Multimedia Journalist interested in amplifying the voices of women and children seeking Justice and Accountability. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has asked ECOWAS to lift sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. He said all West African leaders should immediately consider the lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger. Mr Gowon, who was one of the founders of ECOWAS as Nigerias military head of state in May 1975, expressed his concerns about recent developments in the regional body in an open letter addressed to Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS Member States. The letter dated 13 February was seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday. Following recent coups in West Africa, ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions on countries that had been taken over by the military as a deterrent. He said it saddens him to learn that ECOWAS is threatened with disunity following the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from the subregional bloc. The three countries announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS on grounds of inhumane and illegal sanctions and went ahead to form a confederation. The impact, Mr Gowon noted. will have far-reaching implications for the ordinary citizens who have been the major beneficiaries of regional integration. He also urged the three nations to rescind their decision to withdraw from the bloc. He urged all 15 member states to hold a summit to discuss the future of the community, regional security and stability, as well as the roles of the international community given the current geopolitical context. Therefore, on behalf of all the founding fathers of the Community and myself, I urge the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, including the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to put aside their differences and reunite for the peace, stability and prosperity of our sub-region, the letter read. Mr Gowon noted that despite the shortcomings of the subregional bloc, ECOWAS has made several major accomplishments including trade liberalisation, the right of West Africans to live legitimately in any country within the community, as well as successful peacekeeping operations. ECOWAS is more than a coalition of States, it is a community established for the good of our peoples, based on shared history, culture and tradition. Neither my generation nor present or future generations will understand or forgive the breakup of our Community, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute has asked the federal government of Nigeria to immediately enforce a Federal High Court judgement ordering the restart of investigations into unresolved cases of extra-judicial killing of journalists in the country. The Inspector General of Police should immediately constitute a crack team of investigators to reopen these cases all of which became cold due to lack of commitment on the part of successive governments to investigate and prosecute those behind these killings, IPI Nigeria said in a statement by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation should work with the police on a case-by-case review of these journalists. IPI NIGERIA notes those who molest journalists often go unpunished. Consequently, journalists remain vulnerable in Nigeria. We call on the government to protect them in accordance with its obligation under the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights. All past cases of journalists murder, brutalisation and harassments should be thoroughly investigated and punished. READ ALSO: In the case filed by Media Rights Agenda, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a federal high court, Abuja ordered the federal government to reopen the investigation into the murder of Dele Giwa, a journalist and to prosecute those responsible for his death. Mr Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos residence on October 19, 1986. The court judgment also covered other journalists whose deaths remain unsolved and no one was held accountable. They are Bolade Fasisi of the National Association of Women Journalists, killed on March 31, 1998; Edward Olalekan of Daily Times, murdered on June 1, 1999; Omololu Falobi of The Punch, October 5, 2006; Godwin Agbroko of Thisday, December 22, 1999; Abayomi Ogundeji of Thisday, August 17, 2008; and Edo Sule-Ugbagwu of The Nation, April 24, 2010. The judge also ordered the restart of investigations into unresolved cases of extra-judicial killing of other journalists in the country. MUSIKILU MOJEED President, IPI Nigeria TOBI SONIYI Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, IPI Nigeria Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Army said a notorious bandit Kingpin, Boderi, who allegedly orchestrated many high-profile kidnappings in the northern part of the country, may have been killed by its troops. Army Spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, a major general, said in a statement on Thursday that Boderi orchestrated the kidnappings of the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna attacks. Mr Nwachukwu said intelligence sources indicated that he was killed alongside another notorious kidnapper, Bodejo, and other insurgents, in an ambush on Wednesday by Army troops along the Bada Riyawa axis on the Kaduna Birnin Gwari Road, Kaduna State. He, however, said efforts are on to authenticate the information. In a separate operation, conducted by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday 22 February 2024, the gallant troops successfully ambushed marauding insurgents along the Bada Riyawa axis on the Kaduna Birnin Gwari Road. In the encounter, troops neutralised 6 insurgents and recovered 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 AK 47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 19 motorcycles which were destroyed. Intelligence sources are reporting that the notorious bandit Kingpin Boderi who orchestrated many high profile kidnappings including the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy attacks was killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo in the ambush. Efforts are on to authenticate this using other means, Mr Nwachukwu said. The army spokesperson said the troops operating in the 1 Division area of responsibility, while on a fighting patrol along the Maganda-Dausayi-Mugaba axis, Kaduna killed two insurgents. The troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 Magazine, three rounds of 7.62mm Special, one Techno phone, three Hilux and motorcycle keys, wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana, tramadol tablets and the sum of N13,200. Unfortunately, in the encounter, some of the rustled livestock used as shields by the insurgents were caught in the crossfire. Troops are still on the trail of the fleeing insurgents and remain resolute on ridding the area of responsibility of armed violence, Mr Nwachukwu added. Read Full Statement; TROOPS NEUTRALISE INSURGENTS KINGPINS, RECOVER ARMS, AMMUNITION IN ONGOING OFFENSIVE IN KADUNA STATE Troops of the Nigerian Army operating in 1 Division area of responsibility have in continuation with ongoing operations further neutralised insurgents and recovered more firearms and ammunition in encounters with insurgents in the general area of Igabi, Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Troops in response to recent insurgents attacks against civilians in Igabi and Giwa Local Governments projected ongoing operations to flush out the insurgents from these areas and bring succour to the people. While on a fighting patrol along Maganda-Dausayi Mugaba axis, troops came under fire from insurgents who employed rustled herds of cattle as shields while they engaged the troops with direct fire. The insurgents whose number could not be ascertained fired several shots at the troops from the cover of the herds of livestock prompting immediate response from troops. In the ensueing firefight that lasted for about an hour, troops neutralised 2 of the insurgents and recovered 1 AK 47 rifle,1 AK 47 Magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm Special , 1 Techno phone, 3 Hilux and motorcycle keys, wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana, tramadol tablets and the sum of 13,200 Naira only. Unfortunately, in the encounter, some of the rustled livestock used as shield by the insurgents were caught in the crossfire. Troops are still on the trail of the fleeing insurgents and remain resolute on ridding the area of responsibility of armed violence. In a separate operation, conducted by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday 22 February 2024, the gallant troops successfully ambushed marauding insurgents along the Bada Riyawa axis on the Kaduna Birnin Gwari Road. In the encounter, troops neutralized 6 insurgents and recovered 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 AK 47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 19 motorcycles which were destroyed insitu. Intelligence sources are reporting that the notorious bandit Kingpin Boderi who orchestrated many high-profile kidnappings including the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy attacks was killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo in the ambush. Efforts are on to authenticate this using other means. Members of the public are enjoined to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in the country. ONYEMA NWACHUKWU Major General Director Army Public Relations 22 February 2024m Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The crisis in Jigawa State House of Assembly was put to rest on Wednesday as the state lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker of the House, Haruna Aliyu. Heavy security presence had been noticed on Tuesday at the gates of the Assembly complex in Dutse, allegedly deployed by the authorities to scuttle an attempt by some lawmakers to remove the speaker. Mr Aliyu was at the time on an official visit to Saudi Arabia in a delegation of top officials of the state led by Governor Umar Namadi. He returned on Tuesday to a rousing welcome by residents. Mr Aliyu presided at Wednesdays sitting of the Assembly where the lawmakers passed the vote of confidence on him before all the 30 members posed for a group photograph. The member representing Mallammadori Local Government Area, Hamza Ibrahim, moved the motion for the vote and was seconded by the member representing Garki Local Government Area, Abdu Ila. Mr Ibrahim said the leadership of the Eight Assembly, under Mr Aliyu, was performing its constitutional responsibilities and complementing the state governments effort to develop the state. In their respective contributions, members representing Guri, Buji, Fagam, Yankwashi, Kazaure, Bulangu, and Kafin Hausa and others hailed the speaker and Governor Namadi for initiating pro-people policies in the nine months since they came to office. In his remarks, Mr Aliyu thanked the members for the confidence reposed in his leadership by the members and pledged to continue to carry all of them along. He said the vote signifies unity and solidarity among the members in working to improve the quality of lives of the people of Jigawa State. Mr Aliyu said the vote of confidence passed on him and the governor was an acknowledgement of their commitment to good governance and implementation of policies that benefit the citizens and contribute to the overall growth of the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, flagged off the construction of the five-kilometre access road in Saburi, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The event marked the sixth and final ceremony of its kind undertaken by the minister in less than two weeks. Mr Wike, during the ceremony, explained that delivering significant projects, such as roads, which residents had given up hope on, was part of President Bola Tinubus vision to restore the long lost hope of the people. Governance is about what the people want. Nothing will stop us, he said. He urged FCT residents and Nigerians to pray for good health and wisdom for the president to succeed in delivering good things. Noting that though things were tough at the moment, he emphasised that there was hope and a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Wike stressed that when things wete really bad, it required more patience for a positive turnaround, which he was confident would surely materialise. While appreciating the support of the people for the president and the programmes of the FCT Administration, Mr Wike reiterated that the political party was simply a vehicle that conveys one to a destination. He assured that after project flag-off, he would get down to face governance. Gwagwa-Karimo-Deidei Road Mr Wike also announced that the administration would construct the Gwagwa-Karimo-Deidei road to ease traffic congestion. He made this decision after a request by the AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, for the minister to consider expanding the road to alleviate traffic congestion. Mr Maikalangu described the road as a strategic commercial route in the whole of FCT, but in a bad state, narrow, and requiring expansion for the road users. As a result, he added, it affects commercial, economic, and all other business activities in the nations capital. Today is a very significant and remarkable day to the people of Sabiru because their long-awaited requests and demands have been met via your pragmatic, tremendous and unprecedented leadership as the Minister of FCT. Your Excellency, due to the significant traffic on Gwagwa-Karimo and Deidei Road, I am pleading as a son of the soil, privileged to be the executive chairman under your watch, to say that the above-named road is in a bad state, narrow, and requires expansion for the road users. Thus, it affects commercial, economic, and all other business activities in FCT, he said. In response, Mr Wike asked the people at the event if they agreed with Mr Maikalangu on the request, and the residents unanimously chorused yes. Consider it to be done, the minister said. Mr Wike said President Tinubu had emphasised that people in rural areas must be given attention because they constitute the larger part of the population. He called on the residents to pray for the president for good health and Gods guidance to keep his campaign promise of providing dividends of democracy to the people. Mr Wike mentioned that the construction of additional roads across the six area councils of the FCT would be inaugurated in the next three months. He appealed to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on FCT to support in passing of the FCT statutory budget, which he said would be submitted soon to enable the Administration to deliver more roads and other projects in rural communities. Mr President has emphasised that our people in the rural areas must be given attention because that constitutes the larger part of the population. So, it is not only where the elite are living, but also where the poor ones are, so that we will be able to reduce the level of insecurity, make economic activities thrive, and have our farmers bring their goods to the market, he added. Earlier, the Chief of Jiwa, Idris Musa, thanked Mr Wike for constructing rural roads across the six area councils. Today is a great day for us and other Nigerians that are jampacked in Jiwa Chiefdom. The road you are constructing now, we are very grateful, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has said his administration is strongly committed to providing excellent healthcare facilities for all Nigerians and will continue to prioritise domestic and foreign direct investments in the sector. The president made these remarks at a meeting with the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Benedict Oramah, accompanied by a delegation from Kings College Hospital, London (KCH). President Tinubu welcomed the partnership between Afreximbank and KCH London to establish a first-rate healthcare facility in Abuja, called Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), scheduled for completion in 2025. We welcome this significant step towards investing in Nigerias healthcare sector. This facility is a great commitment to humanity. We are open and ready to assist this project in every way possible. Africa is in need, and Nigeria is committed to the needs of its people. Putting peoples welfare first is putting healthcare first. The training and development of our people are our priorities, and we thank KCH, known for its global reputation, for partnering with us. Out of every five black persons, one is a Nigerian. We are racing against time to meet our obligations to our people. This project will further strengthen our long-term vision for the healthcare of our people. We are determined to succeed, and whatever you need in order for us to achieve this project, I want to assure you, we will do it, he said. President Tinubu, who was recently appointed the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, emphasised that the continent cannot afford to remain behind in the quality and accessibility of its healthcare system. The president, therefore, asked Afreximbank not to relent in its commitment to investing in projects that will ensure that Africa possesses the expertise and resources to meet its own healthcare needs. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, explained that the bank and KCH are also collaborating on building a medical and nursing school alongside AMCE, in line with the administrations commitment to expanding the training of healthcare professionals in the country. Your Excellency, you will recall that in October 2023, you approved an initiative to unlock Nigerias healthcare value chain and appointed a coordinator. We have worked in the last few months to identify various work streams. I am pleased to inform Your Excellency, that today, we signed an MOU with the President of Afreximbank for a $1 billion facility to finance a credit and equity contribution pool for private sector investors interested in investing in Nigerias health sector value chain, he said. The Nigerian-born President of the Bank, Mr Oramah, a professor, pledged the Vanks commitment to developing quality health infrastructure on the continent, and contributing substantially to the reduction of medical tourism out of Africa, while promoting intra-Africa trade, and creating jobs in the country and continent. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) February 21, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment as the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to advancing judicial reforms with determined support, emphasising that integrous and accountable judicial systems will strengthen democracy across West Africa The president made the remarks at a meeting with a delegation from the ECOWAS Judicial Council led by Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, at the State House in Abuja, on Thursday. We are committed to transformative democracy because we believe the judiciary can protect democracy. We are ready to support you as learned minds who have the requisite experience and institutional memory to comprehensively reform our institutions. I assure you as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government that the judiciary is one of the pillars to protect our democracy and it is only in this regard that we can make a difference on the continent, he said. President Tinubu congratulated judges from member-states who participated in the two-day council meeting in Abuja, applauding the successful conclusion of their deliberations. He assured them that their recommendations would receive utmost consideration by the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. We will work with you to ensure that your expertise is employed to promote justice in our democratic experiences on the continent and in the region. You are truly the last hope of the common man across our sub-region, he added. READ ALSO: Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, Mr Ariwoola emphasised its commitment to facilitating the effective functioning of the ECOWAS judicial system. He said the council, at the end of its meeting in Abuja, agreed to establish two sub-committees to address pertinent judiciary-related issues in the region. He also said the first sub-committee will look into the rules of procedure of the Council itself, which were found to be inadequate. The CJN explained that members from Benin Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone have been tasked to work on the rules of procedure on the Judicial Council. He further explained that the Council of Ministers had tasked the Judicial Council, in collaboration with the Commission and the Community Court, to address the enforcement of judgments issued by the community court. The court under the guidance of its President has made presentations which have adequately informed the Judicial Council on the issues and challenges encountered in the enforcement of the judgments. The Judicial Council was of the opinion that a second committee was required to tackle the issue because of the complexity of the matter. The members of this second sub-committee are Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cabo Verde, and Togo, he added. Mr Ariwoola stated that both sub-committees would present their findings to the Judicial Council, which would subsequently make recommendations to the Authority of Heads of State and Government. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) February 22, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print U.S. veto pushes situation in Gaza into more dangerous one: spokesperson Xinhua) 08:07, February 22, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Various parties, including China, expressed strong disappointment by and dissatisfaction with the United States once again vetoing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. "The U.S. veto pushes the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one," spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on U.S. voting against the Algeria-drafted resolution. According to reports, this is the third time that the United States has vetoed a draft resolution related to the Gaza conflict. Mao said the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in a devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza and severely impacted regional peace and stability. The UNSC must take immediate actions to push for a ceasefire, Mao said. The draft resolution put forward by Algeria on behalf of the Arab states demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages, guaranteed access for humanitarian supplies, and the rejection of forced displacement, Mao said. Urgently required by the situation and based on the minimum requirements of humanity, the draft resolution was supported by the overwhelming majority of Security Council members, and China has voted in favor of it, Mao added. Mao said that China stands ready to work with all parties in the international community to push the Security Council to take more responsible and meaningful actions and work relentlessly for a ceasefire in Gaza at an early date, ease the humanitarian situation, promote the implementation of the two-state solution and achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The $77-billion Bahraini Islamic finance industry is well-developed, with Fitch rating over 80% of the US dollar sukuk outstanding from Bahrain ($11.4 billion), with 90.3% rated B+ at end-2023. Fitch Ratings expects continued growth of the kingdoms Islamic finance industry in 20242025, driven by banking sector consolidations, bottom-up demand, sukuks growing role in diversifying government funding and meeting fiscal deficits, and increasingly enabling regulations. We estimate the Bahraini Islamic finance industry at $77 billion as of end-2023, split between Islamic banking assets (79%), outstanding sukuk (21%), and takaful contributions (0.2%), Fitch said. Domestic market share The expansion in Islamic banks domestic market share (end-2023: 42%; end-2022: 38.4%) is partly due to Ahli United Bank B.S.C.s ongoing conversion into an Islamic bank after its acquisition by Kuwait Finance House. Outstanding sukuk expanded 12.5% yoy (end-2023: $16.1 billion), with 34% in the local debt capital market (2020: 27%), and the rest in bonds. Bahrain has no history of default, and has received extensive and repeated financial support from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait since 2011, which helps support market access. Takaful had a sizeable 35.6% share of the insurance sector at end-9M23, based on gross premiums (end-2020: 33.6%). Higher oil prices and strong financial backing from partners in the GCC have eased operating environment pressures in Bahrain. The concentrated system in the smallest GCC economy are key challenges to both the Islamic and conventional banking sectors. The Bahraini debt capital market is mostly comprised of government issues. Islamic banking assets expand 46.4pc Total Islamic banking assets expanded by 46.4% yoy (end-2023: $60.9 billion), outpacing conventional banking assets, which fell 2.6% yoy. Islamic banks total market share reached 25.5% of banking system assets (including foreign assets) at end-2023 (end-2022: 18.5%). Bahrains Islamic banking market is the tenth-largest globally by total assets, based on IFSB data, behind the UAE, Kuwait, Turkiye, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, but ahead of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Oman. Bahrain has made significant strides in fintech and the adoption of digital payment. Islamic retail banks are adequately liquid (end-3Q23 liquid assets ratio: 19.2%; end-2022: 17%), but less so than conventional retail banks (end-3Q23: 30.6%; end-2022: 32.8%) due to the notably lower availability of Islamic liquidity-management products. The capitalisation profile of Islamic retail banks was satisfactory (end-3Q23 capital adequacy ratio: 20.5%, end-2022: 21.2%), with conventional retail banks at similar levels, although Islamic banks capital ratios receive an uplift from the 30% alpha factor, Fitch said. Islamic retail banks profitability However, Islamic retail banks profitability (end-3Q23 return on equity: 7%; end-2022: 10.6%) and asset-quality (end-3Q23 non-performing loans (NPL) ratio: 5.7%; end-2022: 4.8%) metrics have deteriorated, more than conventional retail banks (end-3Q23 return on equity: 10.3%; end-2022: 11%; end-3Q23 NPL ratio: 3.4%; end-2022: 3.3%). Mergers and acquisitions are a recurrent theme. On 18 February, Al Salam Bank B.S.C. announced that it reached agreement to solely acquire KFH Bahrain, a wholly owned subsidiary of KFH Group, after renegotiating with KFH Group. Esterad Investment Company acquired Venture Capital Bank in 2023, with the latter planning to merge with the former. In 2023, Dallah AlBaraka Holding Company, a majority shareholder of Al Baraka Group (ABG), increased its stake in ABG. On the takaful front, Solidarity Bahrain signed an agreement with Ahli United Bank to acquire its entire stake in the insurer Al Hilal Life and its subsidiary Al Hilal Takaful. Increased sukuk and bond issuances are likely in 20242025. Bahrain has the highest fiscal break-even oil price in the GCC, forecast at $96/bbl in 2024. In 2024, Fitch also forecasts budget deficits at -2.9% of GDP. However, fiscal consolidation will continue driven by improvements on non-oil tax collection and continued spending restraints but from a weak starting point. Bahrains gross general government debt significantly exceeds the B median.--TradeArabia News Service Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in conjunction with a Joint Task Force comprising five teams from the Nigeria Police Force and three teams from the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 arrested 115 (One hundred and fifteen) suspected currency racketeers in Enugu State. The suspects comprising 113 (One hundred and thirteen) males and two females were arrested in a sting operation at Owerri Road, Ogui, Enugu State, following credible intelligence about some bureau de change operators, currency speculators and street hawkers operating illegal foreign exchange markets in that environment. Items recovered from them include: N110, 700,000.00 ( One Hundred and Ten Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira only), $8,368.00( Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Eight United States Dollars), 145.00( One Hundred and Forty Five Pounds), 2,725( Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Twenty Five Euros), 900 South African Rands, 32,000.00 CFA, 100 Turkiya, and 500 Bank Mozambique currencies in different denominations. A safe abandoned by one of the street hawkers was also recovered. Preliminary investigation showed that some of the suspects are foreigners from Niger Republic. They would soon be charged to court. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity February 22, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday, met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja after which he announced that he and the president agreed that the governorship ticket of the party would not be zoned to any senatorial district in the state. Mr Oshiomhole spoke to journalists after the meeting on Wednesday and said he had the permission of the president to speak on his behalf. The president has affirmed that he has no voting right in Edo State even though Edo have the right to vote for the president and therefore, what matters to him is to ensure that APC members in Edo State, in direct primaries, participate in a free and fair primaries. That is the decision of the president. There have been rumours in the air that there is probably zoning to one area or the other but the President said as far as he is concerned, he is committed only to free and fair primaries; not based on zoning because you dont do zoning on the eve of a primary election. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the APC is yet to select its candidate for the governorship election coming up in Edo. An earlier primary the party conducted for its 12 aspirants was declared inconclusive with some of the aspirants blaming Mr Oshiomhole for the crisis. Details later Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Wednesday mandated its Committee on Industries to unravel the reasons behind the increase in the price of cement by producers of the commodity in Nigeria. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, directed the committee to find a possible solution to the high prices of cement and influence the manufacturing companies in the country to adhere to the regulations. The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by the senator representing Kwara South, Lola Ashiru, during the plenary. Mr Ashiru, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), complained that the price of cement increased drastically from N5,000 to N15,000 without proper regulations. The senator said the current price of the product is unbearable to Nigerians considering the high cost of living that Nigerians are already grappling with. He said the increase in the price has affected construction projects and infrastructure handled by individuals and government parastatals. Mr Ashiru expressed worry that many projects have been abandoned due to the high cost of cement in the country. Contractors are facing serious problems leading to stalling of projects which is threatening employment of the youths, he said. The senator also warned that if the government failed to regulate the price of cement, the rate of unemployed youth in the country and insecurity challenges will continue to worsen. High youth unemployment is linked to an increase in crimes, he said. He said regulating cement prices will ensure the progress of constituency projects and strengthen national security by providing jobs and stability and improve the livelihood of Nigerians generally. Mr Ashiru therefore prayed the Senate to look into the issue to enable the cement manufacturing companies operating in Nigeria regulate their prices and affordable to Nigerians. Majority of the senators supported the motion when it was put to debate through voice votes. The Senate President thereafter directed that the Senate Committee on Industries chaired by Francis Fadahunsi, the senator representing Osun East, should look into the issue and report back within two weeks. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, and his Trade and Investment counterpa, Doris Uzoka-Anite, had on Monday met with cement manufacturers in the country over the new price of cement. Those at the meeting included Representatives of BUA Cement, Dangote Cement, Lafarge and Cement Producers Association. The following day, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, also met with Cement and Building Materials Manufacturers, over the price. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, said it is demeaning and intolerable watching the distressing image of the LP National Chairperson, Julius Abure, lying on the ground during his arrest by the police. Mr Abure was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State, by police operatives from Zone 5 Benin for alleged attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other offences. Viral videos of the arrest showed Mr Abure being manhandled by police officers as party supporters fought to resist his arrest, Channels TV reported. Reacting to the arrest on his X handle, Mr Obi said the actions of the police officers epitomise the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness. He said, Such behaviour must not only be denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society. It is crucial to emphasise that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Most importantly, political parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect. Continuing, Mr Obi warned that no pretext should be employed to stifle opposition in the country and demanded that Mr Abure be granted bail based on his status while the investigation of the alleged offences could go on. LP reacts The LP held ward congresses on Tuesday to elect delegates ahead of its governorship primary scheduled for Friday. Giving details of the arrest, the national spokesperson of LP, Obiora Ifoh, said Mr Abure accompanied by governorship aspirants honoured a scheduled security meeting with the State Security Service (SSS) in Benin on Wednesday morning. Mr Abure was, however, arrested after the meeting by a combined team of SSS and police officers. Mr Ifoh, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the Edo State chairperson of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, was also arrested. Mr Ifoh said the police turned down efforts by party leaders to have access to the Zone 5 headquarters due to a crowd of party supporters who were expressing displeasure over Mr Abures arrest. A police source informed the party officials and other governorship aspirants at the gate of the police headquarters that the arrest was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled members of the party loyal to the Apapa dissident camp. The source also confirmed that the arrest was not unconnected to the ongoing party primary and the possible candidate that will emerge which the state government is vehemently opposed to. He informed that the arrest was to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the partys participation in the governorship election, Mr Ifoh alleged. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Police, Zone 5, Benin City in Edo State has disclosed why they arrested Julius Abure, the national chairperson of the Labour Party (LP). Mr Abure was arrested on Wednesday after honouring a scheduled security meeting with Nigerias secret police the State Security Services (SSS) in Benin City. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday morning, the Zone 5 police spokesperson, Tijani Momoh said the police acted on a petition against Mr Abure by a former national youth leader of the LP, Anslem Eragbe. A petition was written against him (Mr Abure) by Mr Eragbe to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the IGP endorsed the petition to the AIG Zone 5 to investigate. A case of conspiracy, brutal assault and grievous harm and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace. You would recall last year that Mr Eragbe was brutally assaulted and injured, vehicle smashed, laptop stolen while trying to organise a congress of the party. We are working on that petition that was recently endorsed by the IGP for the AIG to investigate, Mr Momoh said. The LP had split into two factions Lamidi Apapas faction and that of Mr Abure, last year, before the case was resolved by the court which recognised Mr Abure as the chairperson of the party. Mr Eragbe, who was suspended as the national youth leader of the party was loyal to Mr Apapas faction. Punch newspaper, last December, reported how Mr Eragbe and another person suspected to be a member of Mr Apapas faction were apprehended by supporters of the party in Edo state over their alleged plans to conduct a primary election for LP candidates ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State. According to the newspaper some LP supporters in Edo state were seen in a viral video beating the two. Abure release The police spokesperson for the zone also told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Abure was released late last night. How the police manhandled Mr Abure while executing his arrest had triggered condemnation from Nigerians, including Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the party. Mr Obi, who reacted via a post on X handle said the action of the police was demeaning and intolerable adding that it epitomises rascality, PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported. It is crucial to emphasise that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Most importantly, political parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect, Mr Obi said while warning the government against stifling the opposition. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), on Thursday, called for the enforcement of a recent judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing a restart of investigations of extra-judicial killings of journalists and possible prosecution of the culprits. The court, ruling on a suit by Media Rights Agenda (MRA), ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of all attacks against journalists and other media practitioners, and ensure that all victims of attacks against journalists have access to effective remedies. The IPI Nigeria, in statement on Thursday, called on police authorities to commence implementation of the verdict delivered on 16 February by constituting a team of investigators to reopen a probe into unresolved cases involving the killing of journalists. The Inspector General of Police should immediately constitute a crack team of investigators to reopen these cases all of which became cold due to lack of commitment on the part of successive governments to investigate and prosecute those behind these killings, IPI Nigeria said in a statement by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi. Read the full statement here; PRESS STATEMENT IPI NIGERIA DEMANDS ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGEMENT ORDERING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROSECUTE KILLERS OF JOURNALISTS The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute has asked the federal government of Nigeria to immediately enforce a Federal High Court judgement ordering the restart of investigations into unresolved cases of extra-judicial killing of journalists in the country. The Inspector General of Police should immediately constitute a crack team of investigators to reopen these cases all of which became cold due to lack of commitment on the part of successive governments to investigate and prosecute those behind these killings, IPI Nigeria said in a statement by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation should work with the police on a case-by-case review of these journalists. IPI NIGERIA notes those who molest journalists often go unpunished. Consequently, journalists remain vulnerable in Nigeria. We call on the government to protect them in accordance with its obligation under the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights. All past cases of journalists murder, brutalisation and harassments should be thoroughly investigated and punished. In the case filed by Media Rights Agenda, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a federal high court, Abuja ordered the federal government to reopen the investigation into the murder of Dele Giwa, a journalist and to prosecute those responsible for his death. Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos residence on October 19, 1986. The court judgment also covered other journalists whose deaths remain unsolved and no one was held accountable. They are Bolade Fasisi of the National Association of Women Journalists, killed on March 31, 1998; Edward Olalekan of Daily Times, murdered on June 1, 1999; Omololu Falobi of The Punch, October 5, 2006; Godwin Agbroko of Thisday, December 22, 1999; Abayomi Ogundeji of Thisday, August 17, 2008; and Edo Sule-Ugbagwu of The Nation, April 24, 2010. The judge also ordered the restart of investigations into unresolved cases of extra-judicial killing of other journalists in the country. MUSIKILU MOJEED President, IPI Nigeria TOBI SONIYI Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, IPI Nigeria Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerians are groaning over the strenuous registration process at the registration office of the National Identification Management CommissionNational Identification Management Commission (NIMC) in Abuja. Many applicants, either seeking to obtain the National Identification Number (NIN) for the first time or modify their data, spoke to PREMIUM TIMES across four days, narrating different tales of hardship and frustration they have been subjected to at NIMC office at Wuse Zone 3 in Abuja. A multitude of applicants, many of whom travelled from different states, face hardship resulting from the slow pace of the registration process. At the peak of the congestion at the office, the situation turned chaotic. Tales of frustration Forty-eight-year-old Isaiah Pam, who travelled from Plateau State to rectify a name error on his NIN slip, found himself waiting for two weeks without resolution. There was a mistake in the arrangement of my name. I was told in Jos to come here, he said on Wednesday. He added: I have been here for two weeks now, and I am awaiting my printout. I am coming here daily because I am not a resident here. I am staying with a friend who is taking care of me. For the past two weeks, I have been coming here every day. Similarly, Timothy Musa recounted his month-long ordeal trying to register for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which requires him to have a NIN. He said: I want to register for JAMB but one of the criteria is that one must have this identity number. I was here over a month ago. I tried for two weeks, but the crowd, especially the number of students, made me not register. I was discouraged but my mums advice helped me to return. One day, I was told to visit another NIMC branch close to my place. When I managed to get inside, I rushed out immediately to my area, but I was told to return to this place. Two weeks ago, I arrived here before 6 a.m. and I was able to do it. I am here for my printout, he said. Security officers had a tough time managing the surging number of applicants, many of whom are students under pressure to get the urgent attention of the NIMC to complete time-bound registration for various examinations. There are also many applicants in need of the NIN slips or data modification to obtain a passport or renew it for urgent travels. Many flock to the NIMC office for varying reasons. Sarah Amos said she had repeatedly visited the NIMC office in Abuja for one month to obtain her NIN to register for JAMB. I started JAMB registration but the requirement for NIN made the process stop. It was not a good experience because I have been coming here four times every week, yet I could not do it until a few days ago. Thank God, I am going to print out today, but you can see how long the queue is, she said. Windfall for touts Upon arrival at the Wuse Zone 3 office of the NIMC, this reporter was approached by a tout offering to assist with the registration process for a fee. He pitched the money-making opportunity by emphasising the difficulties that awaited anyone who tried to go through the registration process alone. What do you want us to do for you? We do registration, and change of name, even if you dont have the slip, we can use your phone number to do it, he said. Amina Umar had to travel to Abuja from Kebbi State, where NIMC officials told her they could not attend to her data modification request and still could not make any headway until she engaged someone she referred to as a vendor. She had to cough out N35,000 to secure the assistance of the vendor. I paid N35,000 to enable me to change my name on time. I came from Kebbi State after I was told that they (officials in Kebbi State) couldnt change my name, she said. The vendor gave me a newspaper, Remita, and a court affidavit to enable me to start the registration. He was able to initiate the registration on NIMCs portal. Now, I am waiting for the final printing. Causes of problems Our reporter observed at the NIMC headquarters on Wednesday that despite the apparent decrease in applicants, the enrollment process remained acutely slow and inefficient, as the process was incessantly disrupted by power outages. Also contributing to the problem is the shortage of manpower at the NIMC headquarters which has to deal with applicants from not just Abuja but also from far-flung states. Many applicants told our reporter that they had to travel to Abuja from their states of residence because they were told they could not attend to their problems there. Even in Abuja, it appears applicants are being attended to at the headquarters only. On Friday, when our reporter visited the agencys headquarters at Wuse Zone 5 office, a notice of closure hung there, redirecting applicants to the agencys office at Wuse Zone 3. As Nigerians continue to grapple with the challenges of obtaining vital identity documents, the need for urgent reform and improved service delivery at NIMC offices across the country becomes increasingly evident. Background The NIMC, in January, suspended third-party services as part of a broader revalidation exercise aimed at streamlining the enrolment process and addressing outstanding debts owed to these agents. The agency went on to suspend the Front-End Partners (FEPs) from participating in NIN enrolments. The CEO of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, clarified that the move was not targeted at any specific group but was essential for maintaining data integrity in the countrys identity database. As part of the revalidation process, she said NIMC would review claims made by FEPs and ensure compliance with stringent data security standards. I inherited huge debts owed to FEPs for over two years, some of which were questionable. The flaws in the process necessitated a thorough audit, leading to the temporary suspension of NIN enrolment activities at FEP centres, she said. She also reiterated plans to clear outstanding payments owed to enrolment agents within the first quarter of 2024. With the growing need for Nigerians and residents in the country to use NIN, the stop to the use of agents by NIMC has contributed to the congestion noticed at its offices handling the registration process. Late last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria directed a Post No Debit restriction on all bank accounts without a Bank Verification Number and NIN effective April 2024. The BVN or NIN attached to and/or associated with all accounts/wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024, the bank added. Nigerians also have to present NIN to obtain or renew passports at the Nigeria Immigration Service offices. Similarly, many examination bodies, including the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), have also made it compulsory for candidates to present the identity number for registration and identity validation purposes. The need for many to also modify their data such as date of birth, arrangement or misspelt names or other forms of corrections accounts for a significant percentage of the people congesting NIMC offices around the country. NIMC reacts Reacting to the developments, NIMC, through the head of its communications unit, Kayode Adegoke, attributed the surge in the number of applicants at the registration centres to a spike in the number of UTME candidates and prospective corps members. We implore Nigerians especially students to enroll and get the NIN on time and not wait till the last time, Mr Adegoke said in a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES. To ease the problems faced by applicants, Mr Adegoke said NIMC has deployed more systems to the states and local government offices. He also said NIN enrollment is free across board, except the approved fees for modification of name and others, which is N500, while date of birth is N15,000. He insisted that modification of names takes only 24 hours while date of birth takes 72 hours, sharply contrasting the tales of prolonged, strenuous experiences many applicants shared with PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Adegoke said the DG/CEO of NIMC, Ms Coker Odusote is revamping the NIMC to serve the public efficiently and effectively. In addition, NIMC is coming out with a self-serviced modification portal where applicant will be able to modify their data at the comfort of their homes /offices withoyt physical contact with our enrolment center. It is part of the laudable innovation by the DG/CEO, Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote. The self-service portal will further remove the bottleneck involved in the data modifications process. EDITORS NOTE: This report has been updated with the reaction of NIMC which was shared with us after the publication of the original copy. We also corrected the mistake of describing Wuse Zone 3, Abuja office of NIMC as the agencys headquarters. The error is regretted. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Labour Party (LP) caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed concerns about the recent arrest of Julius Abure, the partys national chairman. The caucus, in a statement by its leader, Afam Ogene, on Thursday, described the arrest as cruel, dehumanising, and an affront to democratic principles. It demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, raising questions about the timing and motive of the arrest. PREMIUM TIMES had reported the arrest of Mr Abure, who was reportedly taken into custody based on a petition to the police by a former National Youth Leader of the LP, Anslem Eragbe, citing attempted murder and conspiracy to commit dangerous harm. Mr Ogene criticised the timing of the arrest, which coincided with LPs primary election preparation for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State. He described the development as a politically motivated charade that undermines the credibility of the police in matters involving the political class. The LP caucus called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the underlying issues, expressing concern about the negative portrayal by the police. They urged an examination of the situation to prevent the institution from being tainted by desperate power struggles within the political landscape. Mr Ogene said, There is no justification for the manner in which the police carried out the untimely and misleading arrest of the LP national chairman. If there was a need to take Barrister Abure into custody, a simple invitation would have sufficed. READ ALSO: Speaking further, the lawmaker said, The unjustifiable dehumanisation and brutalisation of Chief Abure were unwarranted. Democracy should refine our security agents and bring out the best in them, rather than accentuate biases and prejudices in society. It is highly unlikely that the National Chairman of either the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would endure similar treatment at the hands of the Nigerian police. Indeed, what was the rationale for arresting a man of Abures standing in society in such a Gestapo manner, dragging him on the streets like a common felon, only to release him in the dead of the night? While we cannot hinder the nations security agencies from fulfilling their constitutionally assigned roles, we insist, as a Caucus, that civility, decorum, and due process must be their guiding principles, always. Consequently, it is our demand that the perpetrators of this show of shame must be brought to book, if only to serve as a potent reminder to the Government of the day that the days of the jackboots are long over, the statement said. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Abure was released a few hours after the arrest. The polices handling of Mr Abures arrest had triggered condemnation from Nigerians, including Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the party. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A wanted man described by the authorities as a kidnapper and ruthless killer, Isyaku Boderi, has been killed by Nigerian security forces in Kaduna State. The state government announced the development in a statement on Thursday by the states Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan. Mr Boderi allegedly led the 11 March, 2021 abduction of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, and the 24 August, 2021 deadly attack on a campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, both in Afaka, Igabi LGA of Kaduna State. Mr Aruwan said Mr Boderi was killed alongside his lieutenants in the Bada/Riyawa general area of Chikun and Igabi local government areas. Stemming from consistent support to security forces by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, a breakthrough has been recorded in Nigerias fight against banditry and terrorism, the statement said. The notorious bandit, insurgent, and ruthless killer, Boderi Isyaku, has been neutralised in a gun duel alongside some of his fighters, by troops of the Nigerian Army, around Bada/Riyawa general areas of Chikun and Igabi LGAs, the statement said. Mr Aruwan said the feat was confirmed to the state government by security forces carrying out internal security operations and diligent checks from human intelligence sources. Boderi, as he was simply known, had for nearly a decade propagated a reign of fear, death, and destruction in Kaduna State and neighbouring Niger State, with a trademark of brutal attacks, mass abductions, and cruel, relentless killing. His elimination comes as the culmination of tireless efforts by dedicated troops committed to restoring peace and security in the region. The General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigerian Army (and Force Commander, Operation Whirl Punch) Major General VU Okoro, coordinated the operation through meticulous planning and intelligence, the statement said. How he was killed Mr Aruwan said the terrorist and his fighters were killed on Wednesday in an ambush by troops of the Nigerian army. The troops on Wednesday night came in contact with Boderi and his fighters around the Bada general area of Chikun LGA. Despite the terrorists well-fortified position, the troops laid a successful ambush. Boderi and his associates walked into the trap and were cornered. In the ensuing confrontation, Boderi chose to resist the troops and engaged them in a fierce firefight. He was ultimately subdued, and his reign of terror ended in a burst of bullets and eternal ignominy. Two of his associates were likewise neutralised, the statement said. The official said after the operation, the troops recovered two AK47 rifles, 300 rounds of ammunition, nine AK47 magazines, one magazine carrier, one Baofeng radio set, and five motorcycles. Suspect responsible for school abduction The government described the elimination of Mr Boderi as a notable milestone in the nations fight against terrorism and banditry. Boderi, known for his ruthlessness and cunning, had long eluded the grasp of security forces while orchestrating the kidnappings of prominent figures, innocent civilians, school children, and students with impunity. His activities not only caused untold pain to thousands of victims and families but also posed a stiff challenge to law enforcement agents, who, at various times were only a whisker away from apprehending this menace. Boderi was involved in a range of deadly attacks spanning Sabon Birni, Rigasa, Buruku, Gwagwada, Rijana, and Kateri general areas, the Kaduna-Abuja Road, the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, as well as Shiroro, Alawa, and Mangoro general areas of neighboring Niger State. His activities included vast and elaborate operations in cattle rustling and gunrunning. He was also known to have built a close rapport with terrorist groups, collaborating with them towards establishing footholds in these areas. Recent intelligence reports revealed his plans to attack a school in his sphere of operation. Those plans have been thankfully truncated. It was Boderi who plotted and executed the 11th March 2021 abduction of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi LGA. This high-profile kidnapping generated shock waves and massive panic around the country, as dozens of young students were whisked away and their families left to deal with unimaginable turmoil, the statement added. Responsible for the kidnap of Emir Mr Aruwan said Mr Boderi was responsible for the kidnap of an emir in Zamfara State. On the 24th of August 2021, Boderi masterminded another deadly attack, this time on the Afaka campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Igabi LGA. Two officers were killed and another abducted. Weeks later, on 14th September 2021, Boderi led his gang of bandits in the kidnapping of the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Atto, around Dutse village, Chikun LGA. The Emirs police detail was killed. These are a few highlights in the profile of a mindless monster, fueled by undiluted hate and evil, veiled underneath a harmless, innocent, and youthful exterior. Without a doubt, this baby-faced terror was one of the most dangerous individuals in the country, single-handedly tearing apart the lives of entire communities across several states. Receiving the report, Governor Sani expressed his elation at the development, which he described as a pointer to the bravery and professionalism of the troops involved. The Governor commended Major General Okoro, for his stellar leadership, and praised the troops for their assertive victory. Governor Sani went on to assure security forces in Kaduna State of his unflinching support and readiness to sustain cooperation, towards the achievement of their objectives. In the wake of this development, authorities and members of the public must be informed that some of Boderis associates and gang members sustained gunshot injuries during that decisive encounter. Citizens in the general area and beyond are therefore enjoined not to render assistance (medical or otherwise) to individuals carrying such suspicious injuries, but to immediately report these persons to security agencies. The Kaduna State Security Operations Room is available 24 hours a day to receive reports of this nature, on the phone lines 09034000060 and 08170189999, Mr Aruwan said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Leaders of the South-east say they have resolved to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The leaders made the resolution at the end of their emergency meeting in Enugu on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and attended by serving and past National Assembly members from the South-east, traditional rulers, and other members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, among others. Support for Tinubu In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders said, as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, they have resolved to support Mr Tinubu given that the Supreme Court has affirmed his victory in the 2023 general election. Meanwhile, an expanded meeting of Igbo leaders comprising all the South-east governors will soon be convened to develop options and proffer solutions and guidance to all the sons and daughters of Igbo land on the way forward, the communique read in part. Connecting the dot Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the 25 February presidential election after polling a total of 8,794,726 votes. Two other leading candidates in the election Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi came second and third respectively. READ ALSO: Mr Obi and Atiku challenged Mr Tinubus victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Abuja, and later at the Supreme Court. But Mr Tinubu won in all the courts which affirmed his victory at the last years general election. Meanwhile, before the presidential election, there were calls from South-east leaders that the region should be allowed to produce a Nigerian president for the first time in 2023. The hope of many residents of the South-east was dashed when the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP, the two dominant political parties in Nigeria, picked their candidates outside the region during their separate presidential primaries in May, last year. But the hope was later rekindled after Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, dumped the PDP and defected to the LP where he later emerged as the partys presidential candidate in the 2023 election. Although Mr Obi was not the only presidential candidate from the South-east, the LP candidate enjoyed swelling support across the country ahead of the election, mainly in South-east and South-south regions. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has called on civil societies and the media to collaborate with the government to improve policy engagement and drive national development. Mr Bagudu made this call while interacting with staff of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) at his office in Abuja. The CJID team led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dapo Olorunyomi, was on a scheduled visit to the minister to discuss strategies to foster accountability and transparency in governance. He noted that the federal government operates an open-door policy, and is open to collaborating with non-state actors to improve the quality of policies and service delivery. President Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) recognises Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the media as critical stakeholders in our quest for development and nation-building. And so we appreciate your contributions to improving our national life. The mandate of the ministry involves engaging with groups such as yours to learn from and share. So we invite and welcome you as development partners, he said. The minister said that the collaboration was necessary to improve information access and curb the spread of disinformation and misrepresentation of facts driven by presumptions, all of which affect public trust. Evidently, even from the questions you ask, there is a lot of passion to get it right and we stand ready to answer any questions at any time. Thats why I urge you to get involved, because sometimes in not being involved, you may let presumption run and rob you of answers you can get, he said. Acknowledging the current economic challenges in the country, the minister urged for support of ongoing economic reforms which he said were well-intentioned and designed to give the countrys economic realities a positive turnaround. As we embark on some of these reforms that have been lacking, we need to understand that they take time to produce results. So, we are asking you not to give us a break, but to determine an irreducible minimum. Maybe we can comfort ourselves that this is not self-inflicted. This is a necessary evil that we have to confront, because there are many countries that are even wealthier than us that are facing similar challenges like Belgium, Germany and Argentina. Indian farmers have been out on the streets over the past weeks, all of them protesting rising costs, he said. So if we dont maintain stakeholder support, maybe political pressure can even tell us to reverse the stance, and then society becomes worse off, because maybe we needed to have sustained those reforms in order to see the benefits of the result. For example, most Asian countries in the 60s, who appear to be smarter than us in the sense that they achieved development, what choices did they make? Mr Bagudu also called for the acknowledgement of the efforts of government officials working tirelessly to ensure the improvement of the Nigerian situation. We also want the media and civil society organisations to acknowledge those who are doing well and appreciate the reality of certain constraints because there are situations where we all are victims. But then you see a judgement where the humanity and efforts of hardworking men and women in the service are not acknowledged, he said. Olorunyomi speaks CJIDs Chief Executive Officer, Dapo Olorunyomi, commended the minister for his resolve to collaborate with civil society and the media to drive national development. Acknowledging the essence of the strategic partnership, he said the CJID and the larger media/CSO network are ready to work with the government to develop and implement strategies that will improve citizen engagement, public accountability and foster democratic governance and nation-building. We acknowledge the need for transparency in budget processes, accountability mechanisms, collaboration with civil society organisations and the importance of engaging citizens to understand and participate in the budget process. We hope that people in administration will be open enough to speak with key stakeholders to help explain critical issues within the budget process, Mr Olorunyomi said. Samoa agreement In line with the mandate of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to coordinate bilateral economic relations, the minister invited the CJID and other CSOs to join the ongoing review of the Samoa Agreement with the European Union. Nigeria has not yet signed. Other countries have signed. There was concern about gay and lesbian rights, so we have held meetings with the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs and I think two other ministers at the ministerial level. We have read the agreement. Theres nothing explicit in the agreement about gay and lesbian rights. So we want to invite religious leaders, Civil Society Organizations to also look at the agreement and ensure that we dont make any mistakes, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, a professor, said on Thursday that theres a compelling need to establish more universities in Nigeria. Mr Mamman said although Nigeria already has over 265 universities, the need to establish more universities has never been more compelling. He spoke shortly before presenting provisional licences to the representatives of two new private universities at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium in Abuja. The new private universities LightHouse University, Evbuonosa, Edo State, and the African School of Economics, Abuja, FCT have driven the total number of private universities to 149. In 2023 alone, the government approved 37 universities. Nigeria now has a total of 265 approved universities; 53 federal, 63 state, and 149 private universities. The minister noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the new private universities at its 23rd meeting in December. He said the government will continue to welcome proposals for the establishment of private universities by credible groups and organisations as long as the gap of access to university education continues to widen and the enrolment of students in excess of the standard carrying capacity of the Nigeria University System persists. However, he noted that the approvals for establishing new private universities will be subjected to the prescribed criteria by the National Universities Commission (NUC). When compared with countries with similarly large and growing populations such as Indonesia, which has a population of 274 million and 3,162 universities (122 public, 3,040 private); South Korea with a population of 51 million, has 203 universities 20 public, 183 private); Vietnam with a population of about 97 million people has 185 universities (120 public, 65 private); Turkey with a population of about 84 million has 207 universities (128 public, 79 private); and Pakistan, with a population of 220 million has about 217 universities (148 public, 69 private), we still have a lot of ground to cover, he said. Mentorship with established institutions For the first three years of their operation, Mr Mamman noted that the universities will be affiliated with older-generation universities for academic and administrative mentoring which will be moderated by the NUC. The LightHouse University, Evbuonosa, Edo State would be mentored by the University of Benin while the Pan African School of Economics, Abuja, FCT, would be mentored by the University of Abuja. He said the substantive licences will be issued to the institutions after a three-year probationary period. This is part of NUCs initiative for early-warning signals to detect compromises in quality so that corrective and remedial measures to redress such situations will be promptly applied, he said. Substantive licences will be issued to well-managed institutions after a three-year probationary period, following their satisfactory performance and growth, within guidelines stipulated by the commission. He said the mentoring institutions will be expected to assist the new institutions with recruiting human and material resources for the commencement of the academic programme, implementation of carrying capacity, assistance in staff development, moderation of student examination and the results, general quality assurance activities, moderation of admission, and external examination moderation. Access to university grossly deficient Speaking earlier, the acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, noted that despite over 265 universities in Nigeria, access to university education remains a challenge in Nigeria due to the high demand for degree education from an increasing number of university admission seekers. He said Nigeria is still grossly deficient in access to the university education sub-sector, which he noted is the highest producer of the skilled level manpower required to activate and sustain the socioeconomic transformation of the country. He said: Records show that the number of applications for university admissions for the 2023 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) was 1,635,688 out of which only 527,929 representing 37.2 per cent gained admission to universities in Nigeria. The journey ahead is a long one. Nigeria is thus still grossly deficient in access to the university education sub-sector, which is the highest producer of the skilled level manpower required to activate and sustain the socioeconomic transformation of the country. About new universities Lighthouse University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State, is owned by the Gospel Light International Ministries with its permanent site located on two campuses. The main campus is located at Benin-Agbor expressway, Orhionmwom Local Government Area of Edo State while the second campus is along Ohonvbe Road, off Benin-Agbor Road, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City. It initiated its pursuit of making quality university education available to prospective students by procuring the application forms, from the National Universities Commission, in May 2010, the NUC wrote in a magazine printed for the event. It said the university shall commence academic activities with three faculties; Management and Social Sciences, Sciences and Computing, and Engineering, with 15 undergraduate programmes. Meanwhile, the African School of Economics, Abuja is owned by the Pan-African Institute for Advanced Economic Research. It pursued its plan of providing quality postgraduate education available to prospective students by procuring application forms from the National Universities Commission in August 2022, NUC said. NUC said the proposed university shall commence academic activities with two faculties- Social Sciences and Management Sciences, with five postgraduate programmes. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has asked senior civil servants to rededicate themselves to their duties and work towards improving the lives of Nigerians by acting with dispatch on matters that border on the welfare of citizens. The president, who met with the Head of Service, The Body Of Permanent Secretaries, and some Directors-General of agencies at the State House, on Thursday, said policies impacting the welfare of the people and the economy must be treated with urgency, diligence, and a strong sense of duty. President Tinubu warned that the ineffectiveness and unnecessary bureaucracy that result in the delay of interventions on the economy and with programmes targeting vulnerable citizens will not be tolerated. He directed that a monthly briefing by The Head Of Service and submission of key performance indicator (KPI) reports should be made to his office for review, and that quarterly interactive meetings between the President and The Body of Permanent Secretaries will now be scheduled. The Head Of Service and The Body Of Permanent Secretaries have been mandated by the president to consistently measure progress in actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration. Before the next meeting, I want to see progress in the civil service. I have been sending people to check the level of work that gets done. Service to the nation is extremely important. We are to change the narrative on Nigeria. You and I can change the perception about Africa, not just Nigeria. We might not get it 100 per cent right, but if we are focused, I think we can totally change and reshape the trajectory of our country in the right direction, he said. President Tinubu asked public servants to always think and work with a generational understanding of their role in shaping national history, knowing that they serve as the engine room of the government and that their actions will affect more than 200 million people in the country and abroad. Let us make our childrens dreams come true. Why are we slowing that down? It is not just shameful. It is unacceptable. We made a pledge to bring our people out of poverty. You should not increase their vulnerability. Help Nigerians to get out of these problems, do not compound the tough situation with unacceptable delays, the president said. Before President Tinubus address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, briefed him on the performance of the service in relation to previously established KPIs across multiple assessment streams. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) February 22, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), says troops eliminated no fewer than 286 terrorists, apprehended 244 others, and rescued 122 kidnapped hostages in different theatres of operation across the country in the last week. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, made this known while giving an update on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja. Mr Bubba, a major general, said the troops also apprehended 83 perpetrators of oil theft and denied the oil thieves the estimated sum of N2.5 billion during the week under review. He added that the troops recovered 587 assorted weapons and 7,943 assorted ammunition comprising, 207 AK47 rifles, 56 locally fabricated guns, 17 pump action guns, 10 locally fabricated pistols, 22 Dane guns, and 10 IEDs among others. Others, according to him are: 4,088 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,529 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 138 rounds of 9mm ammo, and 32 motorcycles amongst other items. In the North-east, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 70 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, arrested 31 others and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages. He added that troops also recovered 47 AK47 rifles, 1,163 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 604 rounds of 7.62mm NATO among other items. In the North-central, the defence spokesperson said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, neutralised 19 insurgents, arrested 68 violent extremists and rescued 13 kidnapped hostages. In the North-west, he said the land and air components of Operation Hadarin Daji, recorded massive successes against terrorists in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara. He said the air component had in multiple passes, conducted air interdictions in the Maradun and Sabuwa Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively, killing several terrorists and destroying their logistics. Mr Buba said that similar missions were conducted between 15 and 16 February in the enclaves of terrorist kingpins known as Abdulkarim and Sani Black with several terrorists neutralised and their structures destroyed. Overall, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 58 terrorists, arrested five terrorists and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 29 AK47 rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 524 rounds of 7.62mm special, 343 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 56 rounds of 9mm ammo amongst other items, he said. Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Whirl Punch successfully ambushed terrorists in Chikun and Kachia Local Government Areas of Kaduna State within the week. He said the troops neutralised 93 insurgents, arrested 32 violent extremists/terrorists and rescued 14 kidnapped hostages. According to him, troops recovered 55 AK47 rifles, 14 locally fabricated guns, seven Dane guns, 1,123 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 411 rounds of 7.62mm NATO amongst other items. In the Niger Delta region, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven, discovered and destroyed 134 dugout pits, 79 boats and 116 storage tanks. Other items recovered, according to him, include 149 cooking ovens and 74 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 2.9 million litres of stolen crude oil, 251,800 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,125 litres of DPK and 6,790 litres of PMS. Troops discovered and destroyed 134 dugout pits, 79 boats and 116 storage tanks, 149 cooking ovens and 74 illegal refining sites among others, he said. In the South-east, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised 39 insurgents and arrested 10 violent extremists as well as recovered 17 pump action guns, 236 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 371 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 180 rounds of 5.5mm ammo and 206 cartridges amongst other items. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action. On one hand, the above is indicative of the fact that the troops are recording successes week in and week out in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations across the country, he added. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN, CON) was one of very few men endowed with the munificence of the virtues of humility and courage that is neither feigned nor acted. Of all the great behavioural attributes a man can have, humility stands out as the hallmark of deep knowledge. So is courage. Arakunrin had the rare ability to cast aside equivocation and obscurantism. Oh Aketi! Your death is personal to me as an advocate. We have lost one of the most critical voices in the South-West and indeed Nigeria. The motivation behind the thoughts of every leader is reflected in everything they do. Right from mundane acts to the spectacular ones, what makes an exceptional leader and sets him apart, is courage. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN, CON) was one of very few men endowed with the munificence of the virtues of humility and courage that is neither feigned nor acted. Of all the great behavioural attributes a man can have, humility stands out as the hallmark of deep knowledge. So is courage. Arakunrin had the rare ability to cast aside equivocation and obscurantism. Aketi, the brand, epitomised moral courage; he towered above many and was a bulwark against acts of gross moral turpitude and recklessness. In an age marked by increasing polarisation and violence orchestrated by conflict entrepreneurs, he took the lead and defended us from emerging and real threats. He insisted that the security of lives and property is the foremost and primary responsibility of government, and was relentless in his demand for an equitable social contract from the Federal Government. Akeredolu left no room for any doubt on where he stood on issues, at all times. He believed it is not enough to challenge oddities when convenient. He proved to us that patriotism is not measured simply by vacuous avowals. Without equivocation, he challenged any act, at variance with collective aspirations towards the advancement of our society. The man Aketi spoke out at difficult moments, and those moments evidenced his moral courage. With the tenacity of a pit bull, he never relented in staying through with conviction, on the justness of a cause, regardless of who held a contrary opinion. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN, CON) was an unyielding advocate of the masses. Rest in peace our brave and courageous leader. Take your rest. Rest! Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, an advocate, strategist and political analyst, is Commissioner for Information in Ondo State. Twitter: @BamideleUpfront; Facebook: facebook.com/Bamidele. BAO Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The foray of the essential Aketi as a brand in the Nigerian politics, especially Ondo State, demands a comprehensive rendition, of whatever version one was privileged to have partaken in. I witnessed history between 2011 and 2023. I participated, fully, and left with undying gratitude for the man who stood by me all through. I hope to write about my experiences at different moments soon. Nature lulls mortals into a state of complacent amnesia on the inevitability of passing. The belief in the possibility of excelling, within the set precincts of human interactions and reasoned interventions, accentuates this delusional impulse. Man races to outpace his fellow men in presumed competition for survival and attainment of social prominence. The compartmentalisation of activities into acceptable norms, observances, liturgies, stints at academes, culminating in experiential postulations and robust engagements, predisposes, easily, even the knowledgeable, to imagine existence as separate and distinct, not connected with the essentially integrative and absolute Being. Only a few seem bothered about the impracticability of existence outside Matter and the inevitability of everything dissolving into the regenerating Mass. Coming into being and passing away is illusory. Nothing is new or old. The fluidity of existence is best captured in the unpredictability of life. A person who struts the landscape, in a moment of grand delusion, induced by a misplaced assumption of relevance, soon discovers the fleeting happenstance representing his/her entire being. Ignorance goads the arrogant to be contemptuous and condescending in his/her dealing with others. No human being is bigger than nature. Social constructs and classifications impel the misbelief concerning the superiority of a class of people or a particular person over others in the same space. Nobody should be treated as unimportant. Every human being lives for a purpose. The news heralding the arrival of a new born baby presages the very point of departure, the nature of which remains, largely, elusive and continually confounding. It is taken to be predetermined and final. All attempts to escape the inevitable fate propel the movement towards its fulfillment. Nature never ceases to be protective of its regenerative attributes, instinctive and vengeful, standing against aberrance. Its ordinance is immutable, not amenable to capricious preferences. It exacts indiscriminate compliance. Physiology and anatomy are all about strict adherence to the natural precepts. Breaches attract dire consequences. Nature never condones infractions. Death, construed as a negative cosmic energy, evokes considerable disquiet anytime it discharges its briefs, with imperious finality. Non-discriminatory, with regard to age, sex and status; totally impervious to emotive considerations, with respect to consequences wrought by its clinically efficient delivery, this morbid messenger fulfils its mission as the veritable equaliser, unrelentingly, uncompromisingly and dispassionately committed to maintaining the cosmic balance. It disappoints, surprises and, sometimes, acts as balm on bruises, releasing the afflicted from the agonising expectations of the inevitable. Dark-skinned, stupid, undiscriminating, this natural equalisers strikes are aimed at uprooting the very foundations and expectations of benignity, benevolence, benefaction, joy and, sometimes, oppression. No mortal is spared the rod, from the abstemious to the gluttonous, the ascetic to the prurient, the ostentatious to the modest, very handsome, beautiful to the not-so-comely, young and old, man and woman, kings, princes, plebeians, elected and appointed potentates, knowledgeable and ignorant, smart and moronic, the deeply religious and the free thinker, the patriotic and the apostates, the loyal and the treacherous. All things and everyone shall become history. Nobody is forgiven death. Death itself is gain for a life dedicated to service. The dead are not unfortunate. I have been unable to get myself together since the unfortunate passing of my friend, brother, benefactor, supporter and boss, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN, CON), the great AKETI, Enire, on the 26th December, 2023. I had attempted to scribble words which could convey, aptly, the depth of my sadness and shock since I received the sad news on the 27th December, 2023, from Ibrahim Lawal, the head of Olujinmi and Akeredolu Chambers, even if most of us who were very close and fiercely loyal to him, had waited with disconsolate apprehension, hoping for the best while expecting the worst. Aketi resisted the attempts by politicians to make him tinker with the organogram of the civil service. He frowned at the practice which ensured that unscrupulous elements in the service flouted the regulations with impunity. He openly discouraged the meddling of civil servants in partisan politics. Promotion was not only conducted on merit, there was also the insistence that no junior officer would be appointed above all his/her senior colleagues in service. Some beneficiaries of sustained and unmerited benefaction from this very good man had anticipated, just as famished vultures, the morbid trophy. They had wanted his passing to be quick. They wanted power. The moral dwarfs, near illiterates, unscrupulous and rootless elements, converged to create a situation of uncertainty and urgency. The subsequent developments, since his demise, is evidence of their depravity. No tactic of infamy was spared in their attempts to kick a man who was down, undeservedly. His death has revealed the depth of perfidy. It is not surprising that the main beneficiaries of Aketis quiet philanthropy, large-heartedness and fairness, including some close associates, kinsmen and women, rescued from penurious mendicancy, joined the transmit power orchestra. I shall not waste the valuable time of readers on a rehash of how and when the meeting between this uncommon human being, Aketi, and I happened. Several years of a relationship, anchored on mutual beneficence, respect, and unalloyed loyalty to true friendship transited into a transcendence above all other considerations. The synergy forged from this symbiosis created myths, rumours and outright lies surrounding our personalities. The curious craved understanding, the mischievous peddled mendacities. I met an emerging brand which symbolised courage, empathy, love for justice, admiration for honesty and unwavering dedication to truth and love for family. There will be more on this assertion later. Nothing else mattered from the moment of the fortuitous meeting, made possible by his late friend, the veritable Baba Oba himself, Oluwole Aina, till the very end. He took me as one of his close confidants. He related with me more as a friend and brother. He brought me closer to his family. He became one of those to whom people ran to report the High Priest for any perceived wrongdoing. He played the role of the big brother on many occasions for which I remain eternally grateful. We shared many things in common, the most noticeable being obstinacy and an unbending adherence to principles based on conviction. His service as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, between 2008 and 2010, announced the brand, which represented courage, patriotism and passionate determination of the law as an instrument of social engineering, to the people of the country. Prior to this period, he had remained the quintessential gentleman of the Bar, a passionate defender of the constitutional order, even if imperfect, and an unrepentant advocate of federalism in its true essence. This was the mindset he took into politics in 2011. The foray of the essential Aketi as a brand in the Nigerian politics, especially Ondo State, demands a comprehensive rendition, of whatever version one was privileged to have partaken in. I witnessed history between 2011 and 2023. I participated, fully, and left with undying gratitude for the man who stood by me all through. I hope to write about my experiences at different moments soon. He was not a governor who sat in the office only to award contracts and indulge in issuing platitudinous hypocrisies as messages to the people. He knew the mandate liberally given to him was not that of frivolity. He stood to be counted at critical moments in the state of his primary assignment, Ondo, and Nigeria. He was the spirit behind the establishment of the Western Nigerian Security Network, Amotekun. He did not mind losing his second term bid as governor. And the hawks came after him with all the ferocity of vengeful marauders. He barely escaped losing his seat as governor through legal technicalities. He remained undaunted. I must not fail to thank him for extending to me unflinching support in many ways. I thank him for the decisive interventions in my life at critical moments. He would want to be sure I was alright always. I thank him for making me an associate of Olujinmi and Akeredolu, against the relentless counsel of some of my adversaries. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve the good people of Ondo State. I was given the latitude to operate unhindered. He gave me the wings to fly. He supported me all the way. I was encouraged to confront the criminal elements who had been used to making things difficult for the people. He was not the one to prevaricate, once convinced of the justness of his decision. He loved the people and defended their interests. He did not believe in abandoned projects. He did not allow any contractor to shortchange the people. He did not only fulfill his pledge to pay all salary arrears owed by the previous administration. He equally prioritised the welfare of workers and insisted on quality service. Aketi had told a commissioner who tried to shield a criminal caught extorting money from market women that the High Priest would never tell lies. I had reported this clown who was a terror to the traders but felt adequately protected by certain elements in the government. He directed that the man should be removed from the Task Force on Environment immediately. I ensured that the man refunded every kobo taken illegally from the poor women. He was detained by the Police at the Scorpion Squad, Akure, until every person with verifiable claims of extortion and outright stealing levelled against this man got adequate refunds. Aketi did not bother to call me when some people called to plead for the man. Aketi resisted the attempts by politicians to make him tinker with the organogram of the civil service. He frowned at the practice which ensured that unscrupulous elements in the service flouted the regulations with impunity. He openly discouraged the meddling of civil servants in partisan politics. Promotion was not only conducted on merit, there was also the insistence that no junior officer would be appointed above all his/her senior colleagues in service. We tried to reduce the incidence of ghost workers. He supported me to fight the syndicates responsible for recruitment racketeering in the state. We fought them to a standstill. He rejected the self-serving advice to change the official colour of the state. He insisted on serving the people at all times. The cynical and mischievous are quick to forget the singular effort of this enigma on the increase in the internally generated revenue of the state. There was a phenomenal leap from the paltry sum of about N600 million to about N2 billion within the first three years. I was directed to coordinate the activities of motorcyclists and tricycle operators in the state, starting from October, 2017. The state realised a negligible sum of N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira only) monthly in the 18 local governments in the state. Security was threatened by the uncoordinated activities of the operators. The crime rate attributable to the motorcyclists was high. Aketi sought my advice on an outright ban. He confided in me that a new appointee and some politicians had perfected plans to bring in tricycles which would replace the motorcycles. I made him realise the socio-economic impact that decision would have on the people generally. He trusted my judgement. He directed that all matters pertaining to motorcycle and tricycle operations should be brought under my supervision. He was shocked when I reported to him at a retreat held for top government functionaries in Owo in 2018 that the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service had recorded a height of over N8 million within a week of close monitoring. From the paltry sum of N400,000 monthly sum of inherited from the previous administration, we were able to generate between N65 million and N75 million monthly. This feat engendered intense lobby against the High Priest who was constantly reminded of his alien status in Ondo State. Aketi told them off till the end. I must not fail to thank him for extending to me unflinching support in many ways. I thank him for the decisive interventions in my life at critical moments. He would want to be sure I was alright always. I thank him for making me an associate of Olujinmi and Akeredolu, against the relentless counsel of some of my adversaries. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve the good people of Ondo State. I enjoyed the warmth and resilience of these decent people while I was there. I can never forget these acts of kindness. A giant has fallen indeed! Doyin Odebowale (High Priest) writes from Ibadan. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print If Nigerias elections party, local council, state or federal has taught anything, it is that as surely as a stumble precedes a fall, shambolic primaries lay the foundation for turbulent electoral outcomes and unstable governments Once again, Edo is proving that the story is not about to change. Nigerias politicians have perfected the art of burying themselves with one foot sticking out. And it appears that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will, once again, stage this rite of self-destruction in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. The partys primaries on Saturday was such a shambles, it has now been forced to conduct it again, with no guarantee of a sensible outcome for an exercise involving perhaps less than 500,000 members (parties routinely inflate their roll). If Governor Godwin Obasekis ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had paid to put a spell on APC, the outcome would not have been more potentially devastating. Yet, this is a governor whose bet to install a successor from his own party is not necessarily based on his own record, but on the gift of an opposition in disarray. After the turbulent last four years at Osadebey House between Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, it looked all but certain that the divided house of PDP would collapse when elections hold again in September. And this was not wishful thinking. Not only has the common political front that paved the way for Obasekis ascension to power in his first term eroded; in his second term, he has been fighting both internal and external political enemies, severely limiting his attention and performance. If his first term was uneventful, it was precisely because that was when the seed of the states future political crisis was sown. Even though his benefactor, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, had installed him in office in the hope of replicating the Tinubu-Fashola model in Lagos, Obaseki had other plans. The New Tuke-Tuke Once he was ensconced in office, he made a point of telling the remnant of the Oshiomhole crowd still hanging around the corridors of power that power had changed hands. No longer, he reportedly said, were the days of tuke-tuke politics, a carryover from the era of Tony Anenih, which former Edo State Commissioner for Information and presidential aide, Louis Odion, once described in Louis-pedia as a political variant that empowered touts and prioritised rent for politicians for doing little or no work. Obaseki, the blue-eyed Lagos Boy and financial consultant, advertised as the answer to Edo States private sector woes, should know. He was a core member of Oshiomholes cabinet, now determined to carve his own path. When after taking power, however, he began to cut off the supply line to the trough, starving the APCs political structure in the state of nutrition, the battle line with Oshiomhole was drawn. The former governor who had also become the chairman of the APC at the time, used his position to block Obaseki from getting the partys ticket for a second term. The result of the partys inconclusive primaries on Saturday, showed that the surprise came early. From reports, Oshiomhole, APCs certified nemesis in Edo, managed to suborn forces in the Presidency to hand over the partys flag to Dennis Idahosa a candidate that Oshiomholes government had once described as untrustworthy, the most flattering of the governments description at that time. Obaseki, of course, milked public sympathy and later decamped to the PDP, where he contested and won re-election. As a result of his defection, he governed with a hostile, hobbled parliament. Fourteen and later 10 out of the 24 members of the State House of Assembly were in the opposition and they operated mostly from a hideout provided in Abuja by Oshiomhole. Significantly damaged in legitimacy, there was very little Obaseki could do. He has spent a greater part of the last four years watching his back for a deputy who, were he in the opposition, could not have plunged more daggers in the governments back. Residents have borne the brunt. Not only has Obaseki replaced the old cult of tuke-tuke with the new cult of yes-men, reports from the state also indicate that there are few paved roads and other social infrastructure such as water, hospitals, and schools, especially in areas outside the capital, Benin City. The More You Look Not unlike a good number of the states, the doubling of the states internally generated revenue from N1.8 billion monthly in 2016 has barely been felt in rural areas, where homes are still without water, school buildings are still largely without roofs, and students without teachers. Although Edo is currently ranked above its peers in the South-South poverty league with 1.4 million (out of the states 3.9 million population) living in multidimensional poverty, a government determined to make its mark could have done far more to lift the people. Obaseki has done well in cultivating an elite in smart suits, while keeping up a facade of performance, especially with high-profile media events like Edo Best, Alaghodaro Summit, and the renovation of the Secretariat. But as surely as the ball of pounded yam never fails to press into the straying fish crumb in the soup, these projects have been criticised, particularly by the opposition, as the governments conduit pipes. Edo could not have been riper for the taking than in its present state, but Oshiomholes ambition may well be the wrecking ball. In my forecast entitled, What you might expect in 2024, published last 28 December, I said, The biggest danger to APCs victory is Oshiomholeexcept the APC finds an overwhelmingly appealing candidate, the party could be in for a surprise. The result of the partys inconclusive primaries on Saturday, showed that the surprise came early. From reports, Oshiomhole, APCs certified nemesis in Edo, managed to suborn forces in the Presidency to hand over the partys flag to Dennis Idahosa a candidate that Oshiomholes government had once described as untrustworthy, the most flattering of the governments description at that time. But suspects have their moments of redemption. Except that in this case, reports on the conduct of the primaries on Saturday showed that even the redeemer seemed so far gone in his waywardness, he suborned not only Abuja, but also one of the most notorious political conductors to supervise the primaries. The outcome was neither organised, even from the point of a common heist, which it was; nor was it politically strategic. Idahosa, the beneficiary of that crime scene, is from Edo South, where Obaseki, who is backing Asue Ighodalo, a candidate from Edo Central, could significantly undermine APCs votes. A third candidate, Anamero Dekeri, even emerged from the woodwork, to claim victory! A Crime Scene The result, of course, was parallel primaries. One with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officers present as it should be that produced Monday Okpebholo; and the other, which invariably produced Idahosa, became a crime scene. The outcome was neither organised, even from the point of a common heist, which it was; nor was it politically strategic. Idahosa, the beneficiary of that crime scene, is from Edo South, where Obaseki, who is backing Asue Ighodalo, a candidate from Edo Central, could significantly undermine APCs votes. A third candidate, Anamero Dekeri, even emerged from the woodwork, to claim victory! Its true that whether a political party holds its primaries in the motor park or at a brothel, it is not the business of non-party members. The point, unfortunately, is that we have seen that in the end, voters pay for the travesty, corruption and incompetence in the parties. APC should have learnt that lesson in Zamfara four years ago when a court ruling invalidated the entire state elections over shambolic party primaries, never mind a recent Supreme Court ruling that has further muddied the waters. At elections, voters often have uninspiring choices Tweedle-dee and Tweedledum inflicted on them by party primaries that were anything but primaries. The crimes committed by politicians behind closed doors soon become public bastards, often leading to voter apathy, bitter wranglings or needless court disputes. Its incredible that parties that cant even manage their own affairs want a chance on the bigger stage. PDP may laugh and indeed it should, as it appears that the APC has already handed it the shovel to finish off the burial rites. But with Obasekis deputy, Shaibu, threatening to bring down the roof, it would be interesting to see how the PDP and the Labour Party, which is also having its own troubles, organise their own primaries. If Nigerias elections party, local council, state or federal has taught anything, it is that as surely as a stumble precedes a fall, shambolic primaries lay the foundation for turbulent electoral outcomes and unstable governments. Once again, Edo is proving that the story is not about to change. Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to support the building of staff quarters at the Nigerian Law School (NLS) in the nations capital. He made this pledge when he received a delegation of officials of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) led by its Director-General, Isa Ciroma, on a courtesy visit to his office on Thursday. Mr Wike congratulated the NLS on its 60th anniversary and noted that the attainment of the feat by the legal institution was a major milestone. He said, By the grace of God, we wish you a happy 60th birthday. It is not easy to attain the age of 60 and where it has to do with the establishment of an institution, it is not a mere feat. Its worth celebrating. He thanked Mr Ciroma for his nomination as a distinguished award recipient during the anniversary celebration in recognition of his support for the legal institution. Request for staff quarters On the request by the DG for the provision of residential staff quarters and operational vehicles for the Abuja Law School, the Mr Wike assured that it would be considered for inclusion in the FCTs 2024 statutory budget. The minister said that the FCT Administration will continue to give the necessary support to the agencies of the government that conduct businesses within the city. He said the legal profession was his primary constituency, and it would be out of place if he was not able to render support when the need arose. In his remarks, Mr Ciroma said they were on the visit to formally welcome the minister to the FCT and to also thank him for what he has done for the NLS as one of its major benefactors over the last 60 years. Speaking on Mr Wikes contributions to the law school, the DG said, Except for the founders of the Law School, nobody has done what you have done for the Nigerian Law School; to do an entire campus, to also build a 900-capacity hostel in Yenagoa, 1,500 multipurpose halls, and other things that we dont want to mention here. The DG, however, appealed for the intervention of the minister in the Abuja Law School, especially the provision of residential staff quarters and operational vehicles. Mr Ciroma also informed the minister about the 60th anniversary of the NLS and his nomination as one of the recipients of the Distinguished Award of the institution. Present at the event were the FCTA Acting Permanent Secretary, Samuel Atang; General Counsel, Salman Dako; Secretary for Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP, Chinedu Elechi; SSA to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Benedict Dauda; Director of Administration of the NLS, Aderonke Osho; the head of Academics of the institution, Samson Osamolu and others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives, on Thursday, held a valedictory session in honour of a former Speaker of the House, Ghali NaAbba. Mr NaAbba, who served as the speaker of the Fourth House (1999-2003), passed away in December 2023 at the age of 65. Numerous former members of the House attended the valedictory session. They include the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who served as the speaker of the Ninth House; Aminu Masari, the speaker of the 5th House; Emeka Ihedioha, and Lasun Yusuff, deputy speakers in the 7th and 8th Assemblies. Others include former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Chibudom Nwuche, who served as deputy to NaAbba, the family of the late lawmaker, and others. In his speech, Mr Gbajabiamila said the former legislator met very little in terms of rules and protocols to guide the House when he became the speaker in 1999. He stated that Mr NaAbba championed the institutionalisation of the legislature after years of military rule. When our nation returned to democracy in 1999, the rules and protocols that guide us now did not exist at that time. But he worked to guide the House, he remarked. Mr Gbajabiamila, who served as the speaker of the House from 2019-2023, said he received valuable counsel from Mr NaAbba while he (Gbajabiamila) was in office. I did not meet him while he was the speaker but I consulted him during my speakership. I treasured the words and the advice he gave, he said. He said Mr NaAbba could have chosen the path of family business, but he chose to serve his people. Mr Masari, who is also a former governor of Katsina State, also spoke on the role of the former late speaker in shaping the National Assembly. He saluted his courage and doggedness in building Nigerias legislature into a formidable institution. In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, said Mr NaAbba fought the battle for the budget of the National Assembly to be on the first line charge and created the current legislative aide system. His tenure was marked by efforts to ensure the independence of the legislature, recognising that a truly democratic society thrives when its legislative arm operates without undue influence, freely articulating the will and aspirations of the people. READ ALSO: He worked diligently with his colleagues to ensure the National Assembly budget was put on the first-line charge. He also formalised the legislative aides system we operate today, which continues to boost the capacity of legislators for enhanced performance, he said. Mr Tajudeen promised to ensure that Mr NaAbbas legacy is solidified through quality legislations. As we honour his legacy, let us also acknowledge our collective responsibility to build on the foundations he laid. The legislature remains a vital organ of our democracy, with the potential to drive Nigeria towards unprecedented growth and development. As legislators, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that the House continues to serve as a forum for meaningful dialogue, a catalyst for change, and a protector of the rights and freedoms of our citizens, he said. Two weeks ago, the House, through a motion, resolved to name the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) after Mr NaAbba. However, the implementation of the motion is subject to concurrence of the Senate. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Army says there is no cause for residents to panic over a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever at the Army Referral Hospital, 44 (NARHK) in Kaduna state. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the outbreak killed three health workers and a patient within two days. The Armys spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the hospital facility has been disinfected, while immediate closure and evacuation of the Accident and Emergency ward of the hospital had been ordered. Mr Nwachukwu, a major general, said in line with best practice in managing such a situation, contact tracing to what is believed to be the index case was made to a non-military patient who was referred to the hospital. He said there was no cause for alarm as the situation was under control. The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to public concern and apprehension resulting from a leaked correspondence by its medical experts over a suspected outbreak of what presents as Viral Hemorrhagic disease aka Lassa Fever, in one of its medical facilities in Kaduna State. While it is yet unclear what we are actually dealing with, the Nigerian Army wishes to confirm that there was indeed some suspicion of what presented as acute Viral Hemorrhagic disease in the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (NARHK), which has resulted in the death of a couple of its medical staff serving in the hospital. In line with best practice in managing such a situation, contact tracing to what is believed to be the index case has been made to a non-military patient who was referred to 44 NARHK from a peripheral medical facility. The suspected index patient was managed but subsequently died two weeks ago in the hospital. Sadly, three medical staff of the hospital that had direct contact with the suspected index case have also died within the past 48 hours, the armys spokesperson said. Measures in place to curtail spread Mr Nwachukwu said measures are in place to curtail the spread of the disease. In response to the suspected outbreak, directives have been passed that Prevention Control (IPC) measures in and around all military health care facilities in Kaduna be stepped up as part of measures to curtail further spread and loss of lives. In this wise, all medical staff of the hospital, their family members and other patients on the contact tracing list have commenced appropriate management and so far nothing of concern has been observed. Furthermore, the entire hospital facility has been disinfected, while immediate closure and evacuation of the Accident and Emergency ward of the 44 NARHK has been ordered to allow for thorough fumigation, decontamination and emplacement of other measures of Infection Prevention Control (IPC). READ ALSO: As a responsive and responsible organisation, the Nigerian Army has also escalated the development to other relevant national and state agencies. As of the time of this statement, samples have been taken from suspected contacts and the deceased and sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory in Kano for analysis. Similarly, the Kaduna state Epidemiologists have been invited to help in unravelling the unfolding development. It is imperative to point out, that the Nigerian Army as part of its civil-military relations welfare scheme offers medical services to civilians in its host communities. Thus, about 500 civilians receive medical attention weekly at 44NARHK. This unfortunate development is only a setback in our efforts to give back to society and will not stop the Nigerian Army from continuing this moral obligation to the host communities. As of now, all Nigerian Army medical facilities in Kaduna and environs have been put on alert on the need to emplace necessary IPC measures and closely monitor patients, staff and family members. The Nigerian Army urges members of the general public to not panic, as adequate measures have already been put in place to contain the suspected outbreak. It equally assures that its collaboration with all relevant stakeholders is open, transparent and in tandem with international best practice, Mr Nwachukwu said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited ought to have its Akwa Ibom office in Oron, and not in the Eket Local Government Area. He said Oron was outmaneuvered because of politics. Mobil was supposed to have its headquarters in Oro nation, but they say they are not oil producing, why should they come there; politics took them (Mobil) to Eket, Mr Akpabio said on 19 January at his country home in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom when Victor Antai, the executive director of Project in the Niger Delta Development Commission, led some leaders from his Oro ethnic nationality to visit to Mr Akpabio. The purpose of the visit was to thank the Senate president for Mr Antais appointment in the NDDC. They say Oro does not produce oil, but look at the water Before I became governor, you were not counted as oil producing, Mr Akpabio said in a video clip of the event seen by PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Akpabio, in the clip, boasted that he has, more than any other person, helped people from the Oro ethnic nationality to get top political appointments at the federal level. I went to the house of Ambassador (Etim) Uye, and he told me Oro wanted an ambassador. That year, I gave Oro two ambassadors one career ambassador and then Uye himself. I am the first person to produce an Oro person as a senator after Senator Victor Akan. I am also the first person to produce a minister from Oro nation after the first minister of Works, Nsan, after over 30 years. WatchmanPost, a newspaper in Akwa Ibom, which reported on the visit to Mr Akpabio, quoted the Senate president as also saying, I recognised you as oil-producing area, by producing Etim Inyang Jnr as commissioner representing Akwa Ibom in the Niger Delta Development Commission. In 2020, I produced Mr Efiong Akwa as interim sole administrator of NDDC for almost three years. And now, you have Victor Antai as executive director, Project, of the NDDC. In another clip of the event, Mr Akpabio gloated over his position as the Senate president, saying, it is slightly higher than the other positions I used to be. He said, How you know, is that we have just finished celebrating the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. After the president finished laying the wreath, the next person should have been the vice president, but he was in Davos, so they now called Godswill Akpabio His audience laughed out over the remark. Continuing, Mr Akpabio said, That means in Nigeria, if there are 250 million people, if you count one, two, three, four, five, my name will be included. Tricky issue Discussing oil politics in Nigerias Niger Delta region, which Akwa Ibom is a part of, could sometimes be tricky because of deep poverty and angst in the local communities. A resident in Uyo, who did not want his name mentioned in the report, said Mr Akpabios comment could stir ethnic tension in Akwa Ibom. Already, there is so much tension because of the hardship, any careless action or comment from our political leaders can inflame the situation, he said. If you ask me, I think the Senate president wanted to score political points at the expense of ethnic unity and peace. A former member of the House of Representatives, Nduese Essien, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday morning, that Mr Akpabio made the comment probably to curry favour from the Oro people. I will talk to him (Akpabio), he said. Contrary to Mr Akpabios comment, Mobil does not have any office in Eket the oil company has its operational field, Qua Iboe Terminal, in Ibeno Local Government Area of the state. Mobil is headquartered in Lagos, South-west Nigeria. The oil company has rejected decades of pressure to relocate its head office to Akwa Ibom. The only functional facility Mobil has in Eket is the residential estate for its managers while the airstrip in the city had been shut down by the company some years ago. The company has a liaison office in Uyo to interface with the Akwa Ibom State Government. A spokesperson to Mr Akpabio, Jackson Udom, declined comment on the matter when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him, Thursday morning. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has emerged as the winner of a parallel Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Edo State. After doing the counting of this primary election, Philip Shaibu has a score of 301. Therefore, we hereby declare Mr Shaibu as the authentic elected candidate for this election in PDP, a man dressed in a yellow T-shirt and black Fez cap declared amidst applause from the cheering crowd. Mr Shaibu can be seen hugging supporters and exchanging pleasantries in the video posted on X by Arise Television. Mr Shaibu was the only PDP aspirant that the party members voted at the venue. Arise TV reported that the PDP primary which Governor Godwin Obaseki and other aspirants will take part in was yet to begin at the time that Mr Shaibu was declared the winner of the parallel primary. READ ALSO: Mr Shaibu, a former ally of Governor Obaseki, fell out with the governor over his ambition to succeed Mr Obaseki as governor. The deputy governor is one of the nine aspirants that rejected the outcome of the ward congress of the party where delegates that will vote for the governorship candidate of the party were elected. A member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Charles Idahosa, had said the party in the state would be as good as dead and buried if issues raised by the nine governorship aspirants of the party were not resolved. It is not clear if other eight aspirants that protested the outcome of the delegates election will also hold a separate primary election. Some party members in the state believed that Mr Obaseki manipulated the ad-hoc delegates election in favour of his preferred aspirant, Asue Ighodalo. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former member of the House of Representatives, Nduese Essien, has called for an immediate investigation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the cascading fraudulent conduct of general elections. Mr Essien, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and former minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, made the call on 10 February in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, during a press conference to mark his 80th birthday celebration. He also called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerias electoral system. We cannot go to another election with this porous system, he said. Flawed leadership recruitment Mr Essien said Nigerias flawed leadership recruitment system and other factors such as endemic corruption, insecurity, impunity, nepotism, and bad governance have put the country at a crossroads and have cast a shadow over our nations future. Corruption is not merely a crime; it is also a betrayal of the trust placed in our leaders and a theft from the pockets of every hardworking Nigerian. We cannot hope to move forward as a nation until we root out corruption at all levels of government and society. READ ALSO: Regrettably, corruption is most unlikely to reduce in Nigeria with the laissez-faire attitude of successive administrations wanting to accumulate excess resources to outpace opponents to win the next election. What is required is a selfless leader with a determination to address the menace the way Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore tackled it, the former lawmaker said. He called for the reform of the countrys judiciary, saying, The prevalence of cash-for-judgment schemes undermines the very foundation of our democracy and erodes public confidence in the judiciary. How to tackle Nigerias security challenges Mr Essien also spoke on how Nigeria can tackle the increasing security challenges. He advised the country to strengthen its security forces, invest in intelligence gathering and technology, and address the underlying socio-economic factors that fuel extremism and criminality. But we must also recognise that security is not just about guns and bullets; it is also about justice, opportunity, and dignity for all, he added. Constitutional reform, restructuring Continuing, the former lawmaker said, At the heart of these crises lies the issue of governance or rather, the lack thereof. Governance in Nigeria has continued to deteriorate with successive administrations. Our leadership recruitment system is broken, allowing unqualified and unscrupulous individuals to ascend to positions of power, while those with the vision and integrity to lead are sidelined or silenced. We must overhaul our electoral process, strengthen our democratic institution, and empower our citizens to hold their leadership accountable. True leadership is not about wielding power; it is about serving the people with humility, honesty, and compassion. I call upon President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly across the federation to heed the call for constitutional reform and restructuring. It is time to embrace true federalism whether based on the six geopolitical zones or the current state structure and empower our states and regions to take charge of their own destinies. The oil producing communities will not succumb to the present level of frustration and subjugation where their resources are confiscated for the development of the whole nation and a pittance grudgingly allowed to them. More frustrating is the situation where the resources of the oil producing regions have been seized and exploited without their active participation. It is a ridiculous political arrangement which cannot be sustained. Mr Essien represented Eket Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. He was the leader of the South-south parliamentary caucus in the House. He was appointed minister in 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan. Mr Essien, who hinted that he would soon quit active politics, said a new Nigeria is possible. As I enter my ninth decade, I recommit myself to the cause of a better Nigeria a Nigeria free from corruption, insecurity, impunity and bad governance. And I call upon each and every one of you to join me in this noble endeavour. Together, let us rise above our differences, transcend our divisions, and forge a future worthy of our collective dreams, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The management of Abia State University, Uturu and leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the institution have reacted to the recent marriage proposal by a lecturer in the university to a student in a classroom. The proposal PREMIUM TIMES reported how a lecturer in the university, stunned many students on 14 February when he proposed to his fiancee in her classroom. The lecturer, Wisdom Anucha, could be seen kneeling with a ring in his hand while proposing to his heartthrob as captured by photographs circulating on Facebook. Some students watched in apparent excitement while others were busy filming and taking photos as the lecturer proposed to the lady, who is said to be a student of optometry in the institution. Mr Anucha, this newspaper learnt, lectures in the department of sociology in the institution. Outrage Many Nigerians criticised the lecturer for proposing to the student in the classroom. A Facebook user, Ada Ujaligwa, for instance, said the lecturers action was unethical. I think it is very unethical and unprofessional for a lecturer to propose to a student publicly in a classroom surrounded by other students who were awing and videoing the show, Ms Ujaligwa wrote. She said the lecturer would have lost his job instantly if he had done so in a university outside Nigeria. Personal matter When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, Chijioke Nwogu, the spokesperson for the university, said he would not comment because what happened was a personal matter. I think this is a personal matter. I am not in a position to speak about his (the lecturers) relationship, Mr Nwogu said while expressing surprise that he was contacted for such a trivial issue. Its a matter of choice Similarly, the leadership of the ASUU at the institution said the lecturer did not breach the unions ethics and university regulations. The chairperson of ASUU in the institution, Chidi Mbah, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that the matter had been discussed at the unions meeting where they ascertained that there is no law against the lecturers action. READ ALSO: It (the proposal to the student) is not against our principle. It is a matter of choice, Mr Mbah stated. On the part of the university law, to the best of my knowledge, there is no law that is against that, he added. The ASUU leader argued that it is even encouraged that a lecturer should marry from among his students. He noted that the management of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) usually gives out prizes to NYSC members who marry themselves. When reminded that the proposal happened in a classroom, Mr Mbah responded: When he (the lecturer) did the proposal, there was no academic activity going on in the classroom. So, he didnt violate any known law. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 3368 Times) New Delhi : A crucial meeting of the Upper Yamuna Review Committee took place at Yamuna Bhavan in Noida, located in the National Capital Region. Chaired by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the meeting saw the active participation of Rajasthan's Water Resources Minister, Suresh Singh Rawat, along with key officials from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Following the meeting, Minister Suresh Singh Rawat shared insights into the extensive discussions held on matters related to the waters of the Yamuna River, which flows through all four states. The meeting, presided over by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, facilitated positive discussions among the ministers and officials from the participating states. Minister Rawat emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to efficiently manage the water resources of the Yamuna River. As the summer season approaches, there was a consensus among the participants to work together for the optimal utilization and cleanliness of the river water. Minister Rawat highlighted the recent agreement with Haryana regarding the water from the Tajewala Head in the Yamuna River, ensuring the timely availability of adequate drinking water to several districts in Rajasthan. Expressing gratitude to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for this significant agreement, Minister Rawat also took part in the inauguration of the newly constructed Yamuna Bhavan in Noida during the event. The committee meeting underscored the importance of regional cooperation and concerted efforts for the sustainable management of Yamuna's waters. Source : Major changes for Factris' platform include same-day payments, streamlined onboarding, and fraud prevention for European SMEs Automation and AI features enable adaptations to local languages, currencies, and regulations The new platform is a key component to Factris' expansion into new markets in the EU AMSTERDAM, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of designing and programming, a replacement of Factris' FAB (Finance Automation for Business) platform has been released simultaneously across all five of Factris' markets. These include Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Factris' IT engineers applied insights learned over the course of six years to the new platform to improve nearly every aspect of how Factris funds European SMEs. This includes offering more types of financing, faster approval, direct control of accounts, and easier access to funds thanks to the platform's new automated, AI-powered features. The new platform replaces the original FAB platform from 2018, which has been an integral part of Factris' main financial product known as "factoring." The first FAB platform simply enabled SMEs to upload and sell their unpaid invoices to Factris for a fee to receive working capital within 48 hours. This new version of FAB, though, enhances how Factris funds SMEs in almost every way while also offering unique features and capabilities, including: Same-day payments to SMEs and faster debt collection from debtors Streamlined onboarding for simpler, faster approval and service Three different types of factoring products are now offered, along with access to multiple insurers and funders Self-service portals for clients and brokers to directly manage their info, submit invoices, monitor statuses, and view reports AI-powered risk management to prevent fraud, late payments, or credit issues Automated compliance with local regulatory requirements, government institutions, financial reporting requirements, and VAT variations Multi-currency and multi-language capabilities for clients and debtors to interact with Factris in their local language and local currency Factris also introduces the latest addition to the platform - the AI-enhanced Robot OCR Tool. This state-of-the-art technology utilizes optical character recognition to recognize and extract text from images and documents, which allows the company to process invoices quickly. By using this AI Tool, the company can streamline its workflows and increase productivity while eliminating the need for manual data entry. These new automated features also give Factris greater control, flexibility, and scalability of their financial products. Armed with these new automated capabilities, Factris can now expand into new markets more easily and at a lower cost. The new capabilities of the latest FAB platform have CEO Brian Reaves excited for European SMEs. He commented, "Since Factris' beginning, technology and automation have allowed us to offer fast, convenient funding to SMEs. Now, with this powerful new platform, we can expand our financing services across the EU and help even more SMEs receive the working capital they need." About Factris Based out of Amsterdam, Factris is a fintech company on a mission to provide quick, affordable capital to SMEs across Europe via financial technology with personalised guidance. For more information, please www.factris.com DALLAS, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced MedAesthetic Partners (AMP), a prominent force in the medical aesthetics industry, proudly announces its strategic acquisition of LivingYoung Center for Health & Anti-Aging, a highly esteemed medical spa boasting three locations in the greater Tampa area. Founded by the esteemed Katie Kaffai, LivingYoung Center has earned widespread acclaim for its commitment to inspiring and empowering patients to take control of their health and well-being. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for AMP, underscoring its dedication to delivering top-quality medical aesthetics services, expanding its service offerings, and extending its geographical reach. Expressing her enthusiasm about the partnership, Nicole Chiaramonte, CEO of AMP, stated, "LivingYoung Center perfectly aligns with AMP's dedication to delivering exceptional patient experiences. We are thrilled to welcome LivingYoung into the AMP network, emphasizing our commitment to expanding our service offerings and geographical reach." LivingYoung Center specializes in anti-aging and wellness, addressing key concerns such as weight gain, wrinkles, diminished energy, and loss of passion. With luxurious locations in Seminole, Palm Harbor, and St. Petersburg, LivingYoung's treatments are meticulously designed to help patients both look and feel their best. Reflecting on the partnership, Katie Kaffai, the founder of LivingYoung Center, shared her perspective, stating, "The prospect of partnerships felt overwhelmingquestions about aligning values and concerns over prioritizing profit. With over 16 years dedicated to LivingYoung, my apprehensions were eased partnering with AMP. Our goals harmonize seamlessly; AMP prioritizes support and fosters efficient and sustainable growth." This strategic collaboration leverages AMP's operational support and industry-leading clinical training capabilities, positioning LivingYoung Center to continue providing cutting-edge treatments and services. Chiaramonte added, "Katie Kaffai and Carissa Alinat, a partner in LivingYoung Center, show dedication to anti-aging and wellness that aligns perfectly with our vision at AMP. We eagerly anticipate collaborating and leveraging our combined strengths to lead the way in the rapidly growing field of medical aesthetics." The integration of LivingYoung Center into AMP's network is expected to deliver synergies benefiting both organizations. Patients of LivingYoung Center will maintain the high standards of care they are accustomed to while gaining access to an expanded array of services and resources offered by the broader AMP network. This acquisition reinforces AMP's position as a leader in the medical aesthetics industry, devoted to supporting practices prioritizing excellence in patient care and outcomes. AMP continues to shape the future of medical aesthetics, advancing its mission to deliver outstanding services and empower patients on their aesthetic journeys. ABOUT ADVANCED MEDAESTHETIC PARTNERS AMP is a distinguished group of business and clinical leaders in the medical aesthetics industry. Offering comprehensive support, including managerial, administrative, marketing, clinical training, and information technology, AMP enables practices to focus on delivering outstanding client experiences. ABOUT LEON CAPITAL GROUP Leon Capital Group (Leon) operates as a holding company overseeing assets in financial services, healthcare, real estate, and technology. With a family holding company structure, Leon manages $10 billion of private capital and operates successfully across multiple geographies and industries. SOURCE Advanced Medaesthetic Partners WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The ALIVE Podcast Network is thrilled to commemorate its second anniversary, defying the odds and solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the podcasting industry. As the network kicks off its second year with zeal and growth, it proudly reflects on its achievements and looks ahead to an exciting future filled with creativity, empowerment, and connection. ALIVE Podcast Network finalist for 2024 App of the Year Newest ALIVE Podcast Network original hosts, Noah and Nelson Livas - "Bible Warriors" Last summer, the ALIVE Podcast Network launched its revolutionary proprietary app, available on both iOS and Android platforms. Positioned as the first and only Black woman-owned podcast network to develop its unique tech-stack, the network has set a new standard for ownership and innovation in the digital landscape. Recent accolades include being named a finalist for "2024 App of the Year" at the revered Black Tech Achievement Awards, a testament to the network's commitment to excellence and technological prowess. The team eagerly anticipates attending the awards show in New York City, next week. At the heart of the ALIVE Podcast Network lies a dedicated mission to amplify Black voices, providing a platform for creatives to monetize their content while retaining ownership of their intellectual property. With a diverse catalog boasting over 40 podcasts, the network prides itself on fostering inclusivity, diversity, and high-quality storytelling. Founder and CEO of the ALIVE Podcast Network, Angel N. Livas, shares, "As a Black-owned media entity we're dedicated to creating high-quality content that's brand safe and suitable for advertisers to connect to diverse consumers." This celebratory month marks the announcement of the network's first true crime show, "No Tears For Black Girls," which has recently achieved a significant milestone of 1.5 million downloads, engaging audiences with captivating narratives and thought-provoking content. Adding to the array of offerings, the network is excited to unveil its debut ALIVE original kids show, "Bible Warriors." Hosted by Noah and Nelson Livas, sons of the Network's founder, this short-form podcast shares their unique interpretations of bible verses, uniting young listeners with wisdom and spirituality in an engaging and insightful manner. ALIVE is slated to participate in the Podcast Movement Upfront in LA next month, immediately followed by hosting an enlightening panel during the Evolutions conference, further cementing its commitment to industry engagement and innovation. "While we're still in our infancy, we're proud of the strides that we've made in the media-tech space," said Yusuf Henriques , co-founder and chief operations officer of ALIVE Podcast Network. "We've forged dynamic relationships with companies like Riverside.fm, Barometer and others - but, it's the partnerships with our podcasters that's elevating diverse voices and driving innovation." To experience the transformative world of the ALIVE Podcast Network, download the ALIVE Podcast Network app. With your subscription, not only do you gain access to compelling content, but you also play a pivotal role in supporting the host of your choice, with 50% of your $4.99 subscription fee directly empowering your favorite creator. This unique initiative underscores the network's dedication to stimulating the Black Creative economy and supporting emerging talents. For more information and to explore the diverse range of podcasts, visit alivepodcastnetwork.com and immerse yourself in a world of creativity, empowerment, and community. Be a part of this dynamic journey as the network paves the way for a future where narratives thrive, creativity knows no bounds, and authenticity reigns supreme. For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Todd, 302-238-6673, [email protected]. About ALIVE Podcast Network: ALIVE Podcast Network is a groundbreaking platform dedicated to amplifying Black voices, empowering creators, and fostering a community of inclusion and empowerment. Through innovative storytelling and a commitment to diversity, ALIVE redefines the podcasting experience and celebrates the vibrancy and richness of Black culture in the digital sphere. SOURCE ALIVE Podcast Network VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Mining Corporation (Aris Mining or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (NYSEA: ARMN) will announce its full-year 2023 operations and financial results after market close on March 6, 2024. Management will host a conference call on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 11:00 am ET/8:00 am PT to discuss the results. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Aris Mining's website at www.aris-mining.com, or at https://services.choruscall.ca/links/arismining2023q4.html To join the conference via telephone dial: Toll-free North America : 1-866-668-0730 : 1-866-668-0730 International: +1 604-638-5357 Participants may also choose to pre-register to join the conference call automatically, at LINK. Upon registering, participants will receive a calendar invitation with dial-in details and a unique PIN, which will allow them to bypass the operator queue and connect directly to the conference. The call will be available for playback for one week by dialing: Toll-free in the US and Canada : +1 800.319.6413 : +1 800.319.6413 International: +1 604.638.9010 Replay access code: 0729 A replay of the event will be archived at Aris Mining Corporation - Investors - Events & Presentations (aris-mining.com) . About Aris Mining Aris Mining is a gold producer in the Americas, currently operating two mines with expansions underway in Colombia. The Segovia Operations and Marmato Upper Mine, known for their high-grade deposits, produced 226,000 ounces of gold in 2023. With ongoing expansion projects, Segovia and Marmato are targeting to produce 500,000 ounces of gold in 2026. Aris Mining also operates the Proyecto Soto Norte joint venture, where environmental licensing is advancing to develop a new underground gold, silver and copper mine. In Guyana, Aris Mining is advancing the Toroparu Project, a gold/copper project. Aris Mining intends to pursue acquisitions and other growth opportunities to unlock value through scale and diversification. Aris Mining promotes the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining as this process enables all miners to operate in a legal, safe and responsible manner that protects them and the environment. Additional information on Aris Mining can be found at www.aris-mining.com, www.sedarplus.ca, and on www.sec.gov. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" or forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements relating to the timing of the release of the Company's annual financial results and the Company's target production in 2026, and its plans and strategies are forward-looking. When used herein, forward looking terminology such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent AIF and in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, which are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Aris Mining Corporation VIENNA, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 'youniqx Identity', a pioneering leader in digital identity solutions and a subsidiary of the Austrian State Printing House (OSD), announces the successful launch of the digital vehicle registration within the Austrian digital ID app, 'eAusweise'. This achievement adds to the company's distinguished record, including the successful deployment of digital identity apps such as 'eID.li' in the Principality of Liechtenstein and 'eAusweise' for the Republic of Austria. Austria offers fully digital roadside check The newly introduced digital vehicle registration within the well-established 'eAusweise' app allows Austrian citizens to display their combined driving license and vehicle registration with just one tap on their smartphone. This way, roadside checks can now be conducted fully digital between Austrian law enforcement and Austrian citizens. With over 550,000 active mobile driving licenses in Austria, the momentum of identity digitisation has steadily increased since the initial launch of 'eAusweise' in late 2022. This reflects a broad acceptance of user-friendly and secure digital ID solutions among the Austrian population. Helmut Lackner, CEO of OSD and youniqx Identity, expressed his enthusiasm about this milestone, stating: "This successful launch demonstrates the dedication of youniqx Identity to deliver innovative solutions to governments and their citizens". Individual Solutions for Austria and Liechtenstein In addition to its achievements in digital identity apps, youniqx Identity has also developed individual secure software interfaces connecting existing civil register databases for their customers in Austria and Liechtenstein. Helmut Lackner emphasizes the company's commitment to offer modern digital identity solutions as well as compartmentalized ID solutions: "The recent success builds on our past accomplishments. It's a showcase for our ability to meet the individual needs of our customers". About youniqx Identity youniqx Identity is a leading software developer specializing in digital identities. As a subsidiary of the Austrian State Printing House (OSD), youniqx Identity is dedicated to delivering innovative and user-friendly digital identity solutions as well as modern, secure and efficient modular software solutions for governments. With a proven track record of successful projects and international collaborations, the company remains at the forefront of the digital identity landscape. - Picture is available at AP - Contact: Thomas Pascher +43 664 88690977 [email protected] SOURCE Austrian State Printing House (OSD) CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BayCare, the leading health care system in West Central Florida, today announced that it has named Angel Brown, Donna Lynch and Danielle Mauck to vice president roles, effective immediately. The health system has also created a new vice president of perioperative services position to lead surgical services initiatives across BayCare's 16 hospitals. A national search will be conducted to fill the role. BayCare serves roughly one out of every three people in West Central Florida. Post this Angel Brown, Donna Lynch and Danielle Mauck, all long-time BayCare team members, have demonstrated their impact and dedication to the organization and have been named to vice president roles, effective immediately. "It is my privilege to announce the naming of three long-time BayCare team members to vice president roles," said BayCare's Chief Team Resources Officer Kyle Barr. "Each leader has demonstrated their impact and dedication to the organization, and their superb performances in their respective roles have positioned BayCare for success and growth now and in the future." Angel Brown has been promoted to vice president of talent acquisition and inclusion. She leads a full-service recruitment and talent acquisition division of 95 talent experts. Brown's role develops creative talent acquisition strategies aimed at supporting BayCare's standing as one of West Central Florida's largest employers with more than 32,000 team members. In this expanded role, Brown will lead BayCare's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, continuing the focus on increasing representation across leadership, practicing inclusive behaviors every day and, ultimately, creating an environment of belonging for all. She was instrumental in creating the diversity, equity and inclusion recruitment page on BayCare.org in 2023, and the "I Am BayCare" campaign and platform dedicated to showcasing BayCare team members' diverse identities and experiences that launched last month. Brown joined BayCare in 1989, and most recently served as director of talent acquisition, employee health and executive recruitment since 2015, leading those efforts through the pandemic. Her other roles within BayCare included manager of talent acquisition (2001 2015) and human resources generalist, lead nurse recruiter and staffing supervisor (1989 2000). She holds a bachelor's degree in human resources from St. Leo University and a collaborative leadership certificate from the University of Florida. Donna Lynch has been named vice president of laboratory. Since 2021, she has served as BayCare's director of laboratory operations with a focus on anatomic pathology and outreach. Lynch directs, plans, organizes staff and coordinates the laboratory operations across BayCare. In 2023, BayCare performed 14,145,379 lab tests. Lynch joined BayCare in 1985 as a medical technologist in microbiology, followed by various laboratory roles throughout the health system for the next three decades. She holds a Bachelor of Science in medical technology and completed graduate studies in public health and epidemiology, both from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Danielle Mauck, MPH, CPH, has been named vice president of research and sponsored programs. Most recently, Mauck served as BayCare's director of sponsored programs and research since 2019. At any given time, BayCare has around 450 health research projects underway, including some 250 sponsored clinical trials. Mauck provides directional leadership for BayCare's Grants Office, Institutional Review Board Office, Clinical Trials and Clinical Research Operations teams. She also oversees BayCare's Human Research Protections program, ensuring patient, principal investigator and institutional protections. Prior to joining BayCare, Mauck worked for the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg from 2011 2016, and MallTalk, Inc. from 2002 2011. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in public health practice from the University of South Florida in Tampa, a Bachelor of Arts in business management and visual arts from Eckerd College and an Associate of Arts in business administration from St. Petersburg College. She is Certified in Public Health (CPH) and the National Board of Public Health Examiners. BayCare is West Central Florida's largest health care provider, serving roughly one out of every three people in the region with 16 hospitals and extensive outpatient facilities and doctor's offices in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties. BayCare has announced plans to build a 17th hospital in Manatee County, where it already has doctor's offices, and it delivers home care services across 13 counties. Its BayCare Medical Group is the largest multi-specialty practice in the region with 1,120 physicians and advanced practice providers. About BayCare BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 16 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The system is West Central Florida's largest provider of behavioral health and pediatric services and its provider group, BayCare Medical Group, is one of the largest in the region. BayCare's diverse network of ambulatory services includes laboratories, imaging, surgical centers, BayCare Urgent Care locations, wellness centers and one of Florida's largest home care agencies, BayCare HomeCare. BayCare's mission is to improve the health of all it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit BayCare.org. SOURCE BayCare Health System Featuring Success Cases from the Hyundai Transys and Second-Generation AMR Innovator; THIRA ROBOTICS BOSTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BDMT Global a five-time award-winning global business development and marketing firm and DISHER a U.S.-based solution engineering innovator and system integrator announced a partnership to co-host an educational seminar at MODEX 2024. The session will detail installs of integrated solutions and how to automate facilities. The presentation is on March 11, at 2:30 pm in the Emerging Technologies Theater. DISHER "In U.S. facilities, there is a void for a skilled workforce, especially around automation. While countries like S. Korea are implementing robots across facilities of various sizes, the U.S. is just discussing it. There is little local know-how in end-to-end automation to make it happen," said Suzy Im, Managing Partner at BDMT. "I am excited to speak at MODEX 2024 about adopting a practical approach to automation alongside BDMT Global," said Shawn O'Farrell, DISHER Automation Technical Lead. The session is an extension of BDMT's DAC (Digitization, Automation, and Cross-Industry Collaboration) Global Bridge Series . Launched in 2023, DAC bridges gaps between industry leaders and innovators to fulfill unmet market needs. Im furthered, "BDMT Global is dedicated to creating implementation opportunities in the U.S." For example, THIRA ROBOTICS' second-generation AMRs were recently implemented in Hyundai Transys' Alabama factory to enhance product transportation capabilities. THIRA's AMRs enable easy deployment without modifying existing floor layouts. Units can travel on uneven, dirty floors, including oil and water, ramps, elevators, indoor-outdoor transition zones, and more. The seminar will include key insights from this successful case study. Attendees will learn about implementing automation solutions with a forward-looking focus on second-generation solutions. About BDMT Global Headquartered in Boston, Business Development & Marketing Transformation (BDMT) Global is a firm led by award-winning experts in industries including sciences, healthcare, wellness, medical devices, technology, and manufacturing. ABOUT DISHER DISHER is a Michigan-based complex product development and engineering design company. DISHER offers cross-functional staffing and consulting services for U.S. and global companies, with a focus on engineering, advanced product development, electronics, manufacturing tech, automation, and talent solutions. ABOUT THIRA ROBOTICS Based in Seoul, South Korea, THIRA ROBOTICS ' second-generation AMRs enable integration in facilities previously considered unfit for automation. THIRA partners with global leaders, including Doosan, HYUNDAI TRANSYS, and Mando. Media Contact Shannon Lindahl 781-733-6973 [email protected] SOURCE BDMT Global Buildstock is building the future of construction faster, more transparent and powered by innovation. NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Buildstock , the B2B marketplace and fintech platform for construction materials, secures $1.6M in pre-seed funding from Precursor, MGV, XFactor, RefashionD and visionary angels, including Osuke Honda (DCM), Nihal Mehta (Eniac), Shruti Gandhi (Array Ventures), Tom Peterson (Rally Ventures), Yun-Fang Juan, and Mark G (m]x[v Capital). The platform empowers builders and suppliers by streamlining sales and procurement, driving savings of money and time. This funding enables Buildstock to scale, expand third-party FinTech, AI and logistics integrations and bring more participants into the marketplace. Late payments cost the $1.4 trillion construction materials industry over $208B in 2022, up 53% from 2021. Buildstock's marketplace and Fintech solutions solve this by creating unprecedented procurement efficiency. With Buildstock, builders enjoy AI-driven product discovery, as well as substantial cost savingsas high as 40%on materials and 5x faster lead times. Additionally, they get transparency into lead times and tracking information to plan around deliveries of supplies. Buildstock even offers a feature that takes blueprint files and uses AI to generate a list of needed supplies, further streamlining the procurement process. "Buildstock is spearheading a digital revolution in the construction sector, breaking through the old, fragmented, and relationship-dependent procurement models with a modern, user-friendly digital marketplace and flexible financing options," said Jim Barrett, Chief Innovation Officer at Turner Construction. "The construction industry stands at the cusp of a significant transformation, with the supply chain procurement process ripe for disruption. We need innovative solutions like Buildstock to streamline material sourcing, offer cost efficiencies, and also inject unprecedented transparency into project management through real time life-cycle tracking of materials procurement from order to delivery." For suppliers, Buildstock offers fast, predictable payments, instead of the standard 90 to 120 days that suppliers normally wait to get paid (if they get paid the full amount). Buildstock uses factoring and pays suppliers within 5 days of delivery. This is part of their cash flow innovation in the industry, which significantly improves their suppliers' unit economics, manufacturing capacities, overhead and insurances. "The construction industry is ripe for innovation and is one of the last industries to adopt technology. As a builder of $1B+ high-rise projects, I know what matters: time and money. Buildstock isn't another complex software pitch; it's a promise," said Kathryn Thiele AIA, Founder and CEO of Buildstock. "Buildstock is about completing projects faster, more cost-effectively, with unprecedented transparency. This is how technology reshapes the industry." Buildstock has quickly gained traction in the New York tri-state area, handling multiple orders daily, and is poised for expansion across the United States. A certified minority & women-owned business (M/WBE), it's positioned to be a key player as New York is required to allocate $60 billion of contracts to M/WBE enterprises for public projects including airports, housing and infrastructure. The largest private builders, including AECOM/Tishman, Turner Construction, Hunter Roberts, and Holt, also have ambitious goals to make a quarter or more of their contracts be with M/WBE businesses. "Digital disruption has been the story of our generation and construction is one of the last holdouts for this type of innovation. There are enormous efficiencies to be unlocked in the massive construction industry and Buildstock is at the forefront of bringing these to life," said Charles Hudson, Founder & Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures. "We're extremely proud of the team at Buildstock for the value they've been able to bring to market." Construction is ramping up everywhere and there is a need for both construction companies and suppliers to have a centralized marketplace. For builders, Buildstock offers a quick and convenient way to find the local and national suppliers that can help them save big on materials, streamline procurement, easily manage orders and save time to complete projects faster. On the supplier side, Buildstock offers increased product visibility and order flow, better payment terms and inventory management. About Buildstock Buildstock is the centralized marketplace that brings discovery, transparency and payments to the construction materials industry. Using Buildstock, buyers can compare vendors, get clarity on pricing and lead times and finance payments instantly. Materials suppliers get increased volume and industry-leading payment timelines. Instead of waiting 30, 60 or even 90 days, suppliers can receive payments in as little as 5 days. Using Buildstock, builders save time and money on materials, and suppliers get more business and paid faster. To learn more about what Buildstock can do, visit www.buildstock.com. Press Contact Mike West [email protected] (415) 689-8574 SOURCE Buildstock TCL has chosen Amazon Web Services (AWS) for compliance and security in its worldwide operations. Utilizing Amazon WAF, TCL monitors and protects against malicious requests, thereby defending against cyberattacks and ransomware. Additionally, TCL utilizes AWS secure data transmission, encryption, data backup storage, and access control to safeguard its data and digital security system. Pop Mart has integrated Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, and Amazon Aurora into its online store's transactions and inventory management. It ensures smooth operations of the store, offering consumers a more seamless shopping experience. AWS has globally-proven operational and security expertise and compliance practices, holding 98 global certifications in security standards and compliance and offering over 300 security and compliance services and features. AWS empowers Chinese brands to gain the trust of global consumers with its strong capabilities. TCL has localized its product design, development, manufacturing, and marketing processes, leveraging AWS to build platform that complies with local laws and regulations. In addition, the company has developed a comprehensive ecosystem comprising its smart home appliances. Pop Mart has rapidly developed its independent global e-commerce platform utilizing AWS's extensive global infrastructure. Through precise data analysis, Pop Mart has provided consistent experiences to online and offline customers, successfully expanding its leading designer toy into international markets. Gu Fan, the general manager of business development of AWS China, observes that Chinese companies are shifting from exporting cost-effective products to promoting Chinese brands globally. Tackling complex safety and privacy compliance regulations in various countries and regions is a crucial challenge for these brands' international expansion. The six major capabilities of AWS, including security and compliance services, support Chinese brands stand out with incredible abilities in the global market. For Chinese companies to attain a higher level of globalization, narrating a compelling brand story is essential. It's advantageous for them to collaborate with global partners in innovation to explore new possibilities in global markets. SOURCE AWS Navigating minerals due diligence, sanctions, and forced labour reporting OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - On 06 March 2024, Claigan Environmental Inc. (www.claigan.com) will be presenting a webinar on EU Batteries, Russian Steel, Canadian Forced Labour. All three of these are pressing measures that impact supply chain management. In August 2023, the new EU Battery Regulation entered into force. Chapter 7 of the regulation requires companies to conduct due diligence on several battery minerals (cobalt, nickel, lithium, and natural graphite) by August 2025. It is important for companies to begin this work as soon as possible in order to set a standard for best practices amongst suppliers and help mitigate the social and environmental impacts of their products. Since September 30, 2023 the EU's amendment to article 3g of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 has prohibited the direct and indirect import, purchase, and transport of iron and steel products originating in or exported from Russia. On the same day, the UK implemented a corresponding import ban as part of The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. Both the EU and UK measures apply to all types of products, ranging from appliances and flat-rolled steel to small parts such as screws. In December 2023, the Canadian Government released new information about reporting requirements for Forced Labor and Child Labor for businesses operating or selling goods in Canada. Companies must submit their first report to the Minister of Public Safety Canada by May 31, 2024. Topics will include: Brief explanation of the due diligence requirements under the upcoming EU Battery Regulation Overview of risks facing battery mineral supply chains Outline of Claigan's services for companies with battery minerals in their supply chain Who is at risk of stopped shipments and high-risk sourcing indicators in regard to Russian steel How Claigan can help companies respond to sanctions in the EU and UK Who is in scope if the Canadian Forced Labour legislations and how Claigan is prepared to help fulfill annual reporting requirements. Webinars - Supply Chains - EU Batteries, Russian Steel, Canadian Forced Labour Date: 06 March 2024 Time: 10am and 2pm Duration: 1 hour plus Q&A (approximately 1.25 hours) To Register for 10am Webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88458224176?pwd=lcQLp6nou8MaOHasDecqOqA36lVmcn.1 To Register for 2pm Webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uQy1qD1gRUOcTCesNWVaCA or on Claigan's Website at www.claigan.com/webinars About Claigan Environmental (www.claigan.com) Claigan is the leading provider in supply chain compliance, completing hundreds of programs related to human rights, import bans, and conflict minerals. Notably, Claigan offers world-class services related to smelter RCOI and due diligence for 3TGs, cobalt, and mica, and is a leader in identifying high-risk smelters before they become pervasive in the supply chain. In addition to services related to smelters sourcing from the DRC and surrounding countries to assist with annual conflict minerals reports, Claigan has expanded to flagging smelters sourcing from CAHRAs, Russia, and Xinjiang. At Claigan, we believe in 'More Results. Less Journey.' SOURCE Claigan Environmental Inc. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Living, a real estate and property management company dedicated to the ownership, operation and development of high-quality senior living communities, announced today the opening of Clearwater Newport Beach, a 101-unit, luxury assisted living and memory support community in Newport Beach. "We are excited to welcome residents to this beautiful new community," said Danielle Morgan, Clearwater Living's president and chief operating officer. "Our communities embody our commitment to providing residents with the ability to receive the emotional, physical and social experiences they need when living in an assisted living community and this Newport Beach location provides convenient access to an array of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities that further enhance its appeal." Located just off Route 73 at 101 Bayview Place, Clearwater Newport Beach offers 70 assisted living and 31 memory support apartments in a variety of sophisticated, contemporary finishes and floor plans including studio, and one- and two-bedroom options. The community boasts a large outdoor courtyard, offering residents an immersive indoor/outdoor living experience. Clearwater's five-star, resort-style living provides residents with a creative studio, club room, fitness and wellness center, theater, housekeeping and laundry, salons, transportation and concierge services. Clearwater's commitment to healthy living includes chef-driven cuisine that goes well beyond basic nutritional needs. Residents and their guests will be able to choose among a variety of options across multiple dining venues including an on-site Savor Restaurant, CDM Cafe, wine vault, outdoor bar and private dining. Clearwater provides residents with access to a licensed nurse onsite, 24-hour compassionate care partners, medication coordination, regular monitoring and other comprehensive care services as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology through their collaboration with EmpowerMe Wellness company. These amenities and services all represent Clearwater's philosophy of Empowered Living through impactful emotional, physical and social experiences in a stimulating and comfortable environment. Clearwater Living actively acquires, develops and operates a full range of senior housing communities throughout the western United States. Clearwater Newport Beach will be the company's eleventh community in California, Nevada and Arizona, and they have additional developments in the pipeline. About Clearwater Living Clearwater Living is committed to providing the most superior customer service and living experiences that celebrate individual relevance, from our residents and their families to our family of team members. Clearwater is growing through strategic acquisitions, development, and operational management of senior living communities throughout the western United States. Every Clearwater Living community practices a holistic approach to successful aging and personalized care that improves the daily lives of residents. To learn more about Clearwater Living, visit ClearwaterLiving.com. Contact: Jennifer Franklin Spotlight Marketing Communications (949) 427-1385 [email protected] SOURCE Clearwater Living The Graeme Clark, Anders Tjellstrom and Vocational Scholarships recognize exemplary leaders throughout the hearing loss community LONE TREE, Colo., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight outstanding Cochlear Nucleus Implant, Cochlear Baha System and Cochlear Osia System recipients have been announced as the winners of the 2024 annual Cochlear Academic Scholarships. From founding nonprofit organizations to performing in musicals, to telling underrepresented stories through visual art, and much more, each of the recipients have extraordinary stories on top of their perseverance through hearing loss. 2024 Cochlear Scholarship winners. The scholarships recognize Cochlear recipients in the United States and Canada who uphold the Cochlear ideals of leadership, humanity, and demonstrate high academic achievement. "This year we received more than 180 submissions from our accomplished recipients. Each and every applicant has an impressive story of overcoming challenges while contributing to their communities in their own way. We are honored to be just a part of their amazing journeys," Rene Courtney, Vice President & General Manager, Recipient Services, Cochlear Americas, and head of the Academic Scholarships Program, said. In its 22nd year, the Graeme Clark Scholarship is named after Professor Graeme Clark who invented the multi-channel cochlear implant and is awarded to academically exceptional Cochlear Nucleus Implant recipients. The 2024 Graeme Clark Scholarship winners are: Julianne Hill Blackburn , ( Samford University ) from Homewood, AL . Inspired by her experiences with deafness and her cochlear implants, she is currently studying for a Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies hoping to both improve patients' lives and to teach others how to advocate for themselves as a PA the way she has been supported. . Inspired by her experiences with deafness and her cochlear implants, she is currently studying for a Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies hoping to both improve patients' lives and to teach others how to advocate for themselves as a PA the way she has been supported. Christopher Lee , ( Washington University , St. Louis ), from Edmond, OK . A talented musician, Lee is majoring in psychology and minoring in anthropology while also doing hearing science/language research with the psychology department during his spare time. . A talented musician, Lee is majoring in psychology and minoring in anthropology while also doing hearing science/language research with the psychology department during his spare time. Mackenzie Martin , (NYU Grossman School of Medicine), from Lexington, MA . Passionate about addressing health challenges within our society, she is pursuing a medical degree drawing upon her own experience as a patient, advocate, volunteer, and investigator to help improve patients' quality of life. . Passionate about addressing health challenges within our society, she is pursuing a medical degree drawing upon her own experience as a patient, advocate, volunteer, and investigator to help improve patients' quality of life. Aaron Reynoso , ( Northwestern University ), from Glendale Heights, IL . He is studying chemical engineering, with the goal of one day conducting research for improving treatments with medication, along with a minoring in biotechnology. "It is because of Cochlear that I have become determined in my mission of helping others through medical research, and with this scholarship, I can learn with no barriers in my way to carry out my mission, to hopefully find new medical discoveries like the one made by Graeme Clark that has allowed me to live my life in both the hearing world and the deaf world," Aaron Reynoso, Cochlear Nucleus implant recipient and Graeme Clark Scholarship recipient said. In its 13th year, the Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship is named after Dr. Anders Tjellstrom, who in collaboration with others created the first bone conduction hearing implant and has worked tirelessly to restore hearing to people around the world. The 2024 Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship winners are: Schantelle Alonzo , Baha System recipient, ( School of Visual Arts ), from Chicago, IL . Born with atresia/microtia she is inspired by the power of art and has decided to pursue an animation degree with a mission to share stories of underrepresented people. . Born with atresia/microtia she is inspired by the power of art and has decided to pursue an animation degree with a mission to share stories of underrepresented people. Timothy Bilik , Osia System recipient, ( South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ), from Milford, NH . Shortly after his Osia System activation, he started engineering school where he is thriving and enjoying the challenges of studying computer engineering. Shortly after his Osia System activation, he started engineering school where he is thriving and enjoying the challenges of studying computer engineering. Elana Rose Lapetina , Baha System recipient, ( East Carolina University ), from Norfolk, VA . Featured in the Netflix documentary " Pharrell Williams' Voices of Fire" she is taking her vocal and theatrical talent to the next level studying theater and theatrical arts. "I heard sounds I had never perceived: a public bus stopping, a plane in the distance, clarity in conversations and music. It was an emotional and euphoric experience to gain the full capacity of my hearing. To this day, I am immensely grateful for the advancements of medical technology and hearing restoration," Elana Rose Lapetina said about her Baha Sound Processer. Now in its second year, the scholarships include the Cochlear Americas Vocational Scholarship, for students attending technical, vocational or trade schools. The 2024 Cochlear Americas Vocational Scholarship winner is: Max Grefe , (Academies of Loudoun , The Monroe Advanced Technical Academy), from Chantilly, VA . He is studying occupational studies in culinary arts and business administration in food business management and is not only passionate about cooking but also being a part of and helping the deaf community. "After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, I plan to pursue opening my own restaurant or become a private chef. I'd like to inspire other deaf and hard of hearing people to get in the kitchen and learn to cook and create. It would be amazing to have a Deaf staff to grow and support," Max Grefe, winner of the Cochlear Vocational Scholarship said. Academic scholarship winners will receive $2,000 per year for up to four years at an accredited college or university, providing $8,000 to each student. Vocational scholarship winners receive $2,000 per year for up to two years. This adds up to $60,000 in total scholarship funds given by Cochlear Americas for this year's winners. Since 2002, Cochlear Americas has awarded $1,024,000 to 128 college students. About the Scholarships A total of 188 applications were received this year. An esteemed panel of judges helped review and select the scholarship winners: Erika Gagnon, Au.D., CCC-A Clinical Assistant Professor, Audiology Manager, Children's Cochlear Implant Center at UNC Michelle Kraskin, Au.D., CCC-A Assistant Director, Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine Kathy Newbern, Med., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT Speech Language Pathologist & Auditory-Verbal Therapist, Atlanta Speech School Leslie Rosenthal, Au.D., CCC-A Director, Speech and Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology, LIJ Hearing and Speech Center Gabrielle S. Watson, Au.D., CCC-A Clinical Audiologist, Michigan Medicine Cochlear Implant Program, Hearing Rehabilitation Center, Department of Otolaryngology For more information about the scholarships, visit Cochlear.com/us/Scholarship. About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) People have always been Cochlear's inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant after seeing his father struggle with hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 devices in more than 180 countries, helping people of all ages around the world to hear. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life's opportunities, and welcomes them to the world's largest hearing implant community. Cochlear has a global workforce of around 4,800 people, with a passion for progress, who strive to meet the needs of people living with hearing loss. The company continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD$2.7 billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear. SOURCE Cochlear Americas Grand Opening Celebration Will Be Held On February 24th CARDWELL, Mo., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CODES, a leading brand in Missouri's thriving cannabis industry, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest retail pop-up in Cardwell, Missouri. This marks the 16th addition to CODES' rapidly expanding network of dispensaries, further cementing its status as one of the state's premier cannabis brands. Known for its exceptional flower offerings, including sought-after strains such as Banapple Cream and 816, CODES continues to set the standard for cannabis excellence in Missouri. The grand opening celebration is scheduled for February 24th, from 9 am to 6 pm, promising a day filled with excitement, deals, and prizes. Located at 3646 State HWY AC, just minutes from the Tennessee and Arkansas border, the Cardwell dispensary extends the accessibility of CODES' premium cannabis products to neighboring areas such as Jonesboro and Paragould. Positioned as a hub for cannabis enthusiasts and newcomers alike, the Cardwell dispensary is set to become a focal point for the region. The event will feature an array of local food, live music, and pop-ups offering special items from Missouri's top cannabis brands. Customers will have the opportunity to explore CODES' premium selection of rare strains priced at just $25, along with great prices on vapes, concentrates, edibles, and more, catering to a wide range of preferences and needs. Additionally, CODES plans to give away over $2,000 in Visa gift cards throughout the day! In addition to the festivities, CODES takes pride in its commitment to giving back to the community. Following its recent record-breaking donation to the Good Samaritan Outreach Center, consisting of over 3,500 items, CODES plans to initiate a similar charitable effort in Cardwell. This gesture highlights the brand's dedication not only to providing high-quality and affordable cannabis products but also to making a positive impact in the communities it serves. This new dispensary is expected to provide an economic boost to Dunklin County. "Supporting our local economy is not just a choice; it's a commitment to the prosperity of our community," said Amy Dailey, VP of Marketing at CODES. "Every purchase made here helps strengthen our neighborhood and keeps our community thriving, which allows us to continue giving back." Moreover, CODES prioritizes customer experience and convenience through various innovative features such as: Online shopping and purchasing with Dutchie Pay : Customers can browse and purchase their favorite products from the comfort of their homes, enhancing convenience and efficiency. : Customers can browse and purchase their favorite products from the comfort of their homes, enhancing convenience and efficiency. In-store kiosks : For those who prefer a hands-on shopping experience, CODES offers in-store kiosks where customers can explore product information and make purchases conveniently within the dispensary. : For those who prefer a hands-on shopping experience, CODES offers in-store kiosks where customers can explore product information and make purchases conveniently within the dispensary. Drive-thru: To accommodate customers on-the-go, CODES provides a drive-thru option, allowing for quick and seamless transactions without leaving the comfort of their vehicles. The Cardwell dispensary will operate from 9 am to 10 pm, offering extended hours for guests to enjoy their shopping experience beyond the grand opening celebration. With its convenient location and strong focus on community and quality, CODES Dispensaries invites local residents, tourists, and cannabis connoisseurs to join in the grand opening celebration and discover the exceptional offerings that set CODES apart in the Missouri cannabis landscape. For more information about CODES and the grand opening event, please visit www.codesbrand.com About CODES CODES is inspired by the passion and sense of identity we all have with the area codes that raised us. With a dedication to cultivating local cannabis, CODES is creating a space for Missourians to unlock their highest potential while illuminating the best of their community. For more information visit www.codesbrand.com or @codes.missouri on Instagram. Media Contact Lisa Weser Acceleration for CODES [email protected] SOURCE Codes NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The commercial ice maker machine market size is expected to grow by USD 1.63 billion between 2022 and 2027. However, the growth momentum will progress at a CAGR of 7.04% during the forecast period. North America is projected to contribute 35% to growth by 2027. Analysts at Technavio detail regional trends, drivers, and challenges. Factors like a strong economy, advanced technology adoption, and high demand from sectors such as food services and healthcare propel growth. The thriving food and beverage industry, including restaurants and hotels, requires substantial ice quantities, met efficiently by commercial ice-making machines. Leading players like Manitowoc, Scotsman Ice Systems, and Hoshizaki continuously innovate, offering high-quality, performance-driven machines with features like automatic cleaning and energy efficiency. These dynamics are poised to fuel market growth in North America. The report analyses the market size and growth and provides accurate predictions on the growth of the market. View a PDF Sample Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Commercial Ice Maker Machine Market 2023-2027 The market is segmented by end-user (foodservices, retail, healthcare, and others), product type (cube ice maker, flake ice maker, and nugget ice maker), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). Rise in demand from various industries The growing demand is a result of the boom in the food and beverage industry. Restaurants, bars, and catering companies rely heavily on ice for their day-to-day operations, whereas the hospitality industry is also a main driver for the raised demand for commercial ice-making machines. Hence, such factors drive the growth during the forecast period. Key Highlights: The report recognizes the following as some of the key players: Ali Group Srl, AV Refrigeration, Bionics Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd., BREMA GROUP S.p.A., BUUS Refrigeration AS, Direct Catering Products Ltd., Electrolux AB, Focusun Refrigeration Corp., Fujian Snowman Co. Ltd., Grant Ice Systems, HOSHIZAKI Corp., Howe Corp., Iberna Ice Machine Co. Ltd., Marmon Holdings Inc., North Star Ice Equipment Corp., Pentair Plc, PT ROYAL SUTAN AGUNG, Shanghai Chuangli Refrigeration Equipment Co. Ltd., The Middleby Corp., and U.S. Ice Machine Mfg Co. Fragmented in nature. Market to observe 6.55% YOY growth in 2023. A growing preference for customized ice maker machines is an emerging trend. The rising cost of raw materials challenges the growth. The report also covers information on upcoming trends and challenges. Explore detailed information by purchasing the report Keg Segments The foodservices segment is significant during the forecast period. Ice makers provide a continuous supply of ice for a variety of purposes including chilling drinks, preserving fresh produce, and creating attractive food displays, which makes it an integral part of the food service industry. Thus, the industry relies heavily on ice maker machines to meet customer demands and keep business running smoothly. Furthermore, hospitals and medical facilities require ice maker machines to store and transport pharmaceuticals, blood, and tissue samples. Hence, such factors drive the growth of the foodservices segment during the forecast period. Get a glance at the contribution of the segments, Request a Sample Analyst Review In the bustling landscape of food service establishments and hospitality industry, the industry thrives. With energy efficiency and sustainability becoming paramount, industries seek innovative solutions to meet demands while minimizing environmental impact. Historic data reveals a steady growth trajectory, with researchers projecting exponential expansion by the estimated year. Key drivers like the rising demand from restaurants, bars, and catering companies fuel this surge, while trends towards eco-friendly appliances shape the scenario. However, challenges persist, including regulatory hurdles and cost constraints. As the food and beverage industry evolves, hotels, resorts, and event venues increasingly rely on advanced ice maker technology, making the future promising yet complex. In the healthcare sector, medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics prioritize patient care, which relies heavily on efficient equipment maintenance. With the demand for vaccines and drugs escalating in the global sector, the forecast period sees a surge in customized ice maker machines. Their rising popularity stems from their uniqueness, individuality in design, and superior function. These machines boast digital displays and touch controls for user convenience, along with integrated water filters ensuring purity. In hospitals and clinics, where every detail matters, these advanced ice makers offer indispensable support. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, these machines stand as essential tools, seamlessly integrating into the patient care environment. In the industry, businesses face a significant challenge in balancing long-term cost savings with raw material costs and energy efficiency. Stainless steel and aluminum are common materials used in these machines, impacting both durability and cost. However, supply chain disruptions and trade restrictions can lead to fluctuations in raw material costs and exchange rate volatility, affecting budget planning. Additionally, water waste is a concern, prompting the need for efficient refrigeration parts and supply chain management to minimize environmental impact. Despite these challenges, businesses can mitigate risks through strategic planning and investing in energy-efficient technologies. Adapting to dynamics and navigating trade restrictions is crucial for long-term success in this industry. Request a Sample Related Reports: The Global Ice Cream Processing Equipment Market size is estimated to grow by USD 1,949.64 million at a CAGR of 3.79% between 2022 and 2027. This report extensively covers segmentation by Product (soft ice cream and hard ice cream), Type (homogenizers and mixing equipment, filling equipment, extrusion and molding equipment, freezers, and others), and Geography(North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The growth of the ice cream industry is being propelled by the increasing number of ice cream parlors. The reusable icepacks market size is expected to reach an estimated USD 8.77 billion by 2026 at an accelerating CAGR of 8.06%. This research report extensively covers segmentation by product, application, and geography. The increasing demand for packaged food and beverages is notably driving the growth. ToC: Executive Summary Landscape Sizing Historic Size Five Forces Analysis Segmentations Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Vendor Landscape Vendor Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects leaders in the commercial real estate industry, has published its 2024 Power South Florida list , ranking the most prominent investors, owners, developers, brokers, banks, lenders, architects and legislators accelerating South Florida's real estate and economic growth. While the national real estate market continues to weather economic challenges and shifting paradigms triggered by the upending of the industry at the start of the decade, South Florida has continued on as one of the hottest real estate markets in the U.S. "South Florida leaves a lot of the naysayers and gloom-and-doom types fumbling," said Commercial Observer editor-in-chief Max Gross. "While a lot of other cities have faltered, Miami has been crowned as one of the strongest housing markets in the country. But it's more than just housing -- its ability to sustain this reputation year over year is largely attributed to its enduring success across all asset classes." Commercial Observer's editorial team approached the 2024 list by recognizing the firms lending to South Florida's growth by breaking ground on new projects, securing financing in today's challenging lending landscape, and leveraging creativity and deal savvy to seek out new opportunities. The 2024 South Florida not only celebrates the teams expanding in Miami, but those who have brought their Miami-based brands to new markets like Fontainebleau's entry in Las Vegas or Major Food Group's successful launch of ZZ Club New York. Miami and the South Florida region will require policy and infrastructure support to sustain the rapid growth the market is experiencing. The 2024 Power South Florida list also recognizes the private and public sector leaders demonstrating a long-term investment and commitment to climate resiliency, affordable housing and creating an inclusive business environment that offers the best the region has to offer to residents and guests alike. Observer Media CEO James R. Freiman added that, "What's happening in Miami and across South Florida is truly special. Businesses understand and value the cultural significance of Miami as an important international hub and the result has been an economic boom propelled by innovative firms and rooted in Miami's rich history and unparalleled arts and culture and lifestyle offerings." The 2024 Honorees Have Been Tenacious Catalysts for Market Growth Amidst Economic Headwinds While South Florida seems to be coming out of the first half of the decade ahead of other markets, it is susceptible to, and must navigate the same economic headwinds as everyone else. Commercial Observer's 2024 South Florida Honorees represent an elite class of developers, designers and dealmakers who have triumphed amidst what has often felt like a never-ending series of market hurdles. Highlights from the honoree list include: Ken Griffin : Founder and CEO at Citadel Founder and CEO at Citadel Jeffrey Soffer and Brett Mufson : Chairman and CEO; president at Fontainebleau Development Chairman and CEO; president at Fontainebleau Development Dev Motwani and Nitin Motwani : Managing partners at Merrimac Ventures Managing partners at Merrimac Ventures Ugo Colombo : Founder at CMC Group Founder at CMC Group David Martin : CEO at Terra CEO at Terra Laurent Morali and Nicole Kushner : CEO; president at Kushner Companies CEO; president at Kushner Companies Jackie Soffer : Chairman and CEO at Turnberry Associates Chairman and CEO at Turnberry Associates Warren De Haan and Tony Fineman : CEO; senior managing director and co-head of national originations at Acore Capital CEO; senior managing director and co-head of national originations at Acore Capital Greg Newman : Senior managing director at Bank OZK Senior managing director at Bank OZK David Grutman: Founder and CEO at Grootman Hospitality Founder and CEO at Grootman Hospitality Jonathan Goldstein and Justin Oates : CEO; senior vice president at Cain International CEO; senior vice president at Cain International Jose Lobon: Vice chairman at CBRE's National Partners Vice chairman at CBRE's National Partners Dustin Stolly , Jordan Roeschlaub and Daniel Matz : Co-presidents of debt and structured finance; senior managing director at Newmark Co-presidents of debt and structured finance; senior managing director at Newmark Rod Barnes : Florida region market director at JLL The full 2024 Commercial Observer Power South Florida rankings can be found at: https://commercialobserver.com/power-series/2024-power-south-florida/ About Commercial Observer: Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy. Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing disruption to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions. More information can be found at www.commercialobserver.com . Contact: Sarah S. Berman The Berman Group, Inc. (212) 450-7300 sberman@bermangrp.com SOURCE Commercial Observer MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Congela Biocosmetics, LLC., a biocosmetic company formulating precision, regenerative hair and skin products, announced today the acquisition of the JuveXO brand and product line. This strategic acquisition accelerates the development of innovative biocosmetic products and will reinvent the future of aesthetics. Brian Pla steps up as the President for Congela Biocosmetics, where he will continue to lead the company, supported by his existing accomplished scientific and management team. "Congela's vision is to pioneer and set the global standard in biocosmetics by providing diverse and continually innovative skincare products," says Brian Pla. "This strategic acquisition of JuveXO, allows us to sustainably pursue and achieve this vision further expanding on Restem Group's extensive cell-based product history," adds Pla. "Congela's vision is to pioneer and set the global standard in biocosmetics by providing innovative skincare products." Post this Congela Biocosmetics now becomes the sole distributor of JuveXO, a leading topical exosome serum backed by over a decade of scientific research. Created upon the foundation of innovative stem cell research, JuveXO provides consumers with an alternative to improve the skin's appearances in areas of common skin concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, redness, and inflammation, as well as improve the appearance of dull, damaged, and thinning hair. When used in conjunction with microneedling or fractional devices, JuveXO penetrates deep into the skin to provide transformative regenerative results. Congela Biocosmetics is a subsidiary of Restem Group, a leader in cellular innovation that offers substantial support to propel Congela Biocosmetics into the future of aesthetics. With the support of the Restem Group, Congela will heighten its product line, providing consumers and practitioners with the safest, most efficacious, and most innovative solutions to their skin concerns. "Our vision is to advance science using our expertise in stem cells and riding on the incredible results already created by Congela within the biocosmetic sector," stated Rafael Gonzalez, Ph.D, Founder of Restem and Chief Scientific Officer of Congela Biocosmetics. "Witnessing the transformative potential of JuveXO, we are very excited about the acquisition and the monumental opportunity of Congela Biocosmetics," added Dr. Gonzalez. The future of Congela Biocosmetics is bright as it rapidly gains market share and continues to expand its product line to provide consumers and practitioners with all-encompassing cosmetic options for common skin and hair concerns, both in office and at home. Congela is launching a series of webinars to discuss the future of exosomes in biocosmetics, and will be in attendance at various aesthetic and cosmetic events throughout 2024. Congela will be kicking off their impressive 2024 conference tour at the Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress in Miami, FL February 22-24. Follow this journey at www.juvexo.com . About Congela Biocosmetics, LLC Congela Biocosmetics, LLC is a biocosmetic company that produces precision skincare that helps restore natural beauty at the cellular level. As a leader in biological cosmetics (ie. biocosmetics), Congela has combined extensive biological research with expertise in the aesthetic industry to provide consumers and practitioners with optimal cosmetic solutions to common skin and hair concerns. About JuveXO JuveXO is a topical serum that has revolutionized aesthetic medicine by harnessing the extraordinary power of exosomes. Through the most cutting-edge biotechnology and decades of research, JuveXO delivers a non-invasive and non-surgical method to revitalize and rejuvenate the appearance of skin and hair. JuveXO combines biology and cosmetics to improve the look of damaged and aging tissue. About Restem Group Restem Group is a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of patient-specific, as well as off-the-shelf and ready-to-use, next-generation cell therapies that are designed to activate and enhance a patient's own immune system. These therapies are designed to enable the treatment of a broad range of disabling diseases that improve patient outcomes, as well as overall health and wellness for patients around the world. For media inquiries or questions about Congela Biocosmetics, please contact: Heather Vest Marketing Manager [email protected] https://juvexo.com/ (833)436-8372 SOURCE Congela Biocosmetics, LLC. ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is announcing Kinsey Fabrizio as president of CTA. Previously, Fabrizio served as Senior Vice President CES and Membership. In her new role, she will sit on the Executive Board and will be responsible for the following departments: CES, CTA Membership, CTA Conferences and Marketing and Communications. Fabrizio will also speak for the association on all matters. Gary Shapiro, current president and CEO, will relinquish the president title but will continue to serve as CEO. Shapiro will be responsible for all association activities including CES, public policy, research and standards. Fabrizio will continue to report to Shapiro. One of the longest serving association leaders, Shapiro has been with CTA for over 40 years and recently agreed to another multi-year contract. "This well-deserved promotion reflects not only Kinsey's many successes, excellent judgment and industry knowledge, but her executive leadership," said Gary Shapiro, CEO. "I am thrilled for Kinsey as she is the obvious choice for president." Fabrizio joined the association in 2008 in the membership department. She quickly grew in the position and led successful efforts to expand CTA into several new areas including disruptive innovation, content and digital health. She was promoted to vice president membership in 2019 and led a major membership model and dues restructure in 2021. She became senior vice president in 2022 and soon added responsibility overseeing CES sales, which expanded dramatically under her leadership. In 2023 she added responsibility for all of CES, including international media events, conferences and show operations. By every measure, CES 2024 was a phenomenal success with over 4300 exhibitors in more than 2.5 million net square feet of exhibit space. This year's show attracted over 135,000 attendees, with more than 40 percent from outside the United States. Voxx CEO, Chairman of the CTA Compensation Committee and CTA Industry Executive Advisor Pat Lavelle, also praised Fabrizio, "This decision, supported unanimously by our board, resulted from years of careful succession planning and mentoring. Kinsey's hard work, successes, get-it-done and positive attitude propelled her to president. I am thrilled with the deep talent bench of CTA staff allowing us to confidently make this decision." "Kinsey represents the best of CTA," said Deena Ghazarian, chairwoman of the CTA Executive Board and Founder and CEO of Austere. "Her thoughtful style of leadership is respected across the organization and produces results. CTA is well-positioned for the future!" Fabrizio graduated from George Mason University in 2003 with a double major in Government and International Politics and Spanish and completed her MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2022. Before joining CTA, she worked at Smith Bucklin, an association management company. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her supportive husband, two wonderful children, and dog Rocco. SOURCE Consumer Technology Association LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday afternoon the non-profit Consumer Watchdog and the Los Angeles Times petitioned a federal court in Los Angeles to release 33 FBI warrants and related documents that detail the United States Attorney's Office's investigation into unethical and illegal activity at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the Department of Water and Power ("DWP"). Download the Application to Unseal the records here. Download the Notice of Related Cases here. The investigation resulted from a sham litigation scheme and subsequent cover-up by the City Attorney's Office in the wake of the DWP's botched launch of a new billing system in 2013 that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The government's investigation ended in November 2023. One City Attorney official, Thomas Peters, was sentenced to 9 months of home detention, and two DWP officials pled guilty. However, significant questions remain about the roles other key officials played in the City's misconduct, including former City Attorney Mike Feuer. "The public is left to wonder whether Peters, the lowest ranking of several other unnamed City Attorney personnel, was really just the fall guy acting to benefit his bosses who have not been held to account," said Jerry Flanagan, Litigation Director for Consumer Watchdog. "The public has a right to know what top City officials did while performing their public duties." As alleged in the Application to Unseal the court records filed yesterday, "[t]his case concerns a tale as old as timecorrupt and unethical behavior by public officials after mismanagement at a public utility. While the broad strokes of the story here are largely known, the public has a significant interest in the important details provided in the warrant materials." According to court records, in attempt to take control of the ever-worsening DWP billing debacle, in late 2014 the City Attorney's office hatched a scheme to sue itself through a collusive "white knight" lawsuit, in which the City Attorney's Office controlled the litigation nominally brought on behalf of DWP customers against the City. The lawsuit ultimately settled on sweet-heart terms beneficial to the City. As noted in the Application to Unseal Court Records filed yesterday following the collusive litigation settlement, an employee of one the Special Counsel working on behalf of the City Attorney's Office threatened to expose the City's misconduct unless she was paid off. According to court records, unnamed high-ranking officials at the City Attorney's Office directed the extortion payment to be made in the amount of $800,000. As noted in the Application filed yesterday, the Los Angeles Times previously reported that "the end of the government's case is prompting a new round of questions. Critics ask why certain individuals including high-ranking personnel in the city attorney's office who remain unidentified in prosecutors' public court filings escaped punishment." In particular, the Application to Unseal court records alleges that serious questions remain about former City Attorney Mike Feuer's knowledge of the illegal and unethical behavior. For example, as alleged in the Application to Unseal: At the sentencing hearing last November for former Special Counsel Paul Paradis, Mr. Paradis stated in open court that FBI Special Agent Andy Civetti "testified in at least two . . . affidavits [included in the warrant materials sought by Consumer Watchdog and the Times ] that Mike Feuer testified falsely and perjured himself before a United States grand jury." Mr. Paradis stated that Mr. Feuer "also made false statements to the FBI during interviews, and he testified falsely in connection with his civil deposition." stated in open court that FBI Special Agent "testified in at least two . . . affidavits [included in the warrant materials sought by Consumer Watchdog and the ] that testified falsely and perjured himself before a grand jury." Mr. stated that Mr. Feuer "also made false statements to the FBI during interviews, and he testified falsely in connection with his civil deposition." At Mr. Paradis's sentencing hearing, Judge Stanley Blumenfeld similarly remarked that "too few people have been held to account," and that prosecutors did not "succeed in sweeping up all of the dirt that needs to be swept up." sentencing hearing, Judge Stanley Blumenfeld similarly remarked that "too few people have been held to account," and that prosecutors did not "succeed in sweeping up all of the dirt that needs to be swept up." Mr. Paradis later spoke to reporters and confirmed that the FBI agent's determination "involves extortion and it also involves when Feuer knew about the collusive scheme. He lied about both." Lawyers for Consumer Watchdog and the Times said the public has a strong interest in assessing why prosecutors made the charging decisions they did, particularly where those decisions were made about highly influential and powerful public officials who were not charged, while lower ranking officials were charged. Tim Blood of the law firm Blood, Hurst, O'Reardon LLPwho like Consumer Watchdog has been a key figure in exposing the scandal since 2014and open records expert Kelly Aviles joined lawyers for Consumer Watchdog in prosecuting the legal action to unseal the FBI warrants. A hearing on the application to unseal the records is expected in the coming weeks. SOURCE Consumer Watchdog BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CutisCare LLC, a leading provider in wound care and hyperbaric management, proudly announces the promotion of Dr. Bob Bartlett, MD, to the position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO). This strategic move underscores CutisCare's dedication to delivering unparalleled wound care services and advancing healthcare solutions. Dr. Bartlett's journey with CutisCare began when he joined the Medical Advisory Board, bringing with him over 30 years of clinical and corporate expertise in wound healing, hyperbaric therapy, research and knowledge management. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbartlettmd/) CutisCare LLC, a leading provider in wound care management, appoints Dr. Bob Bartlett as Chief Medical Officer. Post this A Magna cum Laude graduate of the University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Dr. Bartlett holds numerous certifications, including Certified Physician Executive, Certified Wound Specialist, and Hyperbaric Medicine. His impact on the field extends to his recent roles as Chief Medical Officer for Swift Medical and past President of the Board for the Academy of Physicians in Wound Healing. As a member of CutisCare's Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Bartlett has played a pivotal role in enhancing education and thought leadership within the company. His commitment to mentorship and disseminating best practices in wound care aligns seamlessly with CutisCare's mission to be a resource for hospitals and providers, offering the highest quality wound care services through a network of clinics. Jim Patrick, CutisCare Board Chairman, and CEO expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Bartlett's promotion, stating, "Dr. Bob Bartlett's elevation to Chief Medical Officer marks a significant milestone for CutisCare. His wealth of experience and leadership in the wound healing community will contribute to our ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care and clinical research." In his new position as CMO, Dr. Bartlett will play a key role in shaping CutisCare's strategy to design customized outpatient wound care and hyperbaric oxygen solutions for hospitals, academic medical centers, hospital systems and physician practices. This appointment reaffirms CutisCare's dedication to collaboration, research, and a culture of compliance for providers and patients with chronic wounds. About CutisCare Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, CutisCare works with hospitals, academic medical centers, hospital systems, and physician practices to design customized outpatient wound care and hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) solutions. With coast-to-coast operations, CutisCare continues to develop innovative solutions to meet the changing healthcare environment. For more information, visit https://cutiscareusa.com and follow us CutisCare LLC | LinkedIn. CONTACT: CutisCare LLC, Boca Raton Kelly Caceres, 904-446-0708 (media) Craig Jenkins, CFO/ COO, 561-617-7059 (others) SOURCE CutisCare LLC Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed The Long Shadow is an excellent British series, and its viewers would do well to keep in the mind the decade in which its plot takes place. During the 1970s, London was experiencing a liberating social and culture shake-up, while in Yorkshire County, police were trying to arrest a serial murderer who targeted women. Complicated times, in which economic crisis and unemployment forced some housewives to turn to sex work to be able to feed their family. This was the demographic from which the so-called Yorkshire Ripper initially chose his victims. Largely avoiding special effects and any morbid fixation, the sobering series, which can be seen on Amazon Prime and ITVX, makes use of remarkable locations and wardrobe from the aforementioned decade. To them, it adds an important take on the deep-rooted machismo that characterized the vast majority of the police officers who were involved in the long-lasting investigation. The cops display intolerable contempt towards women in general, and their female colleagues in particular. And before we satisfy ourselves by thinking that such relatively recent bias is a British thing, consider the fact that it wasnt until 1974, when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act passed, that womens right to open their own bank account without a signature from their husband was recognized in the United States. Not to mention, that there was no national plan to combat gender-based violence until just last year. Peter Sutcliffe murdered a total of 13 women in Leeds, Bradford and Manchester, and it took five years for police to identify and arrest the assassin. In the series, investigators are played by heavyweight British actors like Toby Jones and David Morrissey, the latter in the role of George Olfield, who was the head of the police operation for the majority of those years, and who was highly criticized for his fixation on following clues that went nowhere. Special mention should be made of the splendid self-criticism exhibited in the seven episodes of The Long Shadow, which was written by George Kay and directed by Lewis Arnold, an apt account of the events that caused the very foundations of British society to tremble. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition "Best Business Software" Finalist Also Announces Partnership with Dirty Jobs and The Way I Heard It Host Mike Rowe VANCOUVER, Wash., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Digs , an AI collaboration platform for home builders and homeowners, announced today a significant expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on the platform, along with a collaboration with award-winning TV host, producer, and podcaster Mike Rowe. The Story Behind Digs from the Founders AI-Floorplan-Visualization At the International Builders Show, Digs will showcase new software features on the Digs platform. These include AskDigs, a search function using vector and natural language processing (NLP) for home information, a 3D view generation from 2D documents, and automatic data association from PDFs to each room in the 3D model called RoomView. Digs' vision of Every Home Understood has resonated with builders and homeowners alike, as well as television host and founder of mikeroweWorks, Mike Rowe. "Mike is obviously a world-class storyteller, but more than that, we admire his respect and advocacy for the trades and construction industry," said Ryan Fink, co-founder and CEO of Digs. "His involvement will keep us connected to the real-world needs of the builder community and help us express how Digs can be valuable to their business." With Digs, Rowe will create content to share his thoughts on how technology and modern tools can benefit the builder, remodeling, contractor, and supplier industries. "Some smart company out there is going to use AI to completely transform the process of building and buying a new home. I think that company is Digs. Their product is changing the way builders and homeowners communicate, and that's changing the industry. Can't wait to see what they do next." says Mike Rowe. Underscoring the company's progress, Digs was recently chosen from more than 200 applicants as a finalist for The Best of IBS award in the "Best Business Solution Software" category, which will be presented at the NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS) in Vegas later this month. Digs will be previewing their latest AI-powered enhancements at booth number W4574 at the International Builders Show February 27 - 29, 2024. About Digs Digs mission is to power experiences that unlock happier homes. Digs is a software company that leverages human-centric design and patent-pending artificial intelligence (AI) to make it simple for residential builders and homeowners to organize documents, collaborate on home builds, and generate automatic digital homeowner handoffs for warranty & beyond. Digs results in more efficient builds and a full digital understanding [digital twin] of the home for the homeowner that is both usable and shareable. SOURCE Digs By Merissa Mayo, Senior Consultant, and Eric Jia-Sobota, Founder HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health ("ARPA-H") recently announced a shift in how the agency will fund health-related technology research and development. ARPA-H will transition to Mission Office-Specific Innovation Solutions Openings (ISOs) to allow funding under cooperative agreements and "other transactions". This change provides flexibility outside the traditional grant and contract structure governed by Federal Acquisition Regulation, making it possible for non-traditional government contractors to apply for and receive ARPA-H funding. Effective March 14, 2024, ARPA-H will close the current Open-Office Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and transition to Mission Office ISOs. Submissions to the Open BAA received before this date will still be reviewed according to the current process. Effective March 14, 2024, ARPA-H will close the current Open-Office BAA and transition to Mission Office ISOs. Post this ARPA-H's Mission Office ISOs will be posted on SAM.gov NLT 15 March. Solicitations will cover the following areas of interest that aim to further the ARPA-H mission of supporting transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs to provide health solutions to all: Health Science Futures (expanding what is technically possible) Proactive Health Systems (keeping people from being patients) Resilient Systems (building integrated health care systems Scalable Solutions (reaching everyone quickly) Current opportunities can be viewed at https://arpa-h.gov/research-and-funding/programs. Applicants can also sign-up for the ARPA-H Vitals newsletter for more information on the posting of Mission Office-specific ISO and other ARPA-H news. If your company is interested in pursuing ARPA-H funding and navigating the changes implemented with Mission Office ISOs, EverGlade Consulting is the right partner to help. EverGlade Consulting connects public sector needs with private sector solutions. We help companies whose focus is to secure non-dilutive funding through the federal government and offer pursuit, proposal, and post-award support at agencies including BARDA, ASPR, NIH, DTRA, JPEO, ARPA-H, and DARPA. For additional information about EverGlade Consulting, visit: https://www.EverGlade.com CONTACT: info@everglade.com SOURCE EverGlade Consulting Akwaboah Brings Nearly Three Decades of Experience from Across the Financial Services Industry WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) today announced Peter Akwaboah has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective May 20, 2024. Akwaboah has nearly three decades of experience from across the financial services industry and will be responsible for Fannie Mae's Chief Information Office, Enterprise Operations, Business Resiliency, and Enterprise Workplace and Security functions. In this role, Akwaboah will be a member of Fannie Mae's Management Committee and report to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Priscilla Almodovar. Fannie Mae Appoints Peter Akwaboah as Chief Operating Officer "Peter's many years of experience and unique combination of technology and operations expertise will add to our deep leadership bench, and his wealth of experience and industry knowledge will bring great value to the company," said Priscilla Almodovar, CEO, Fannie Mae. "We look forward to the talent and experience he'll bring to our technology and operations as we continue to respond to the needs of the market, carefully balancing innovation, risk management, and our commitment to our housing mission." Akwaboah is a Managing Director and serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Technology and the Head of Innovation at Morgan Stanley. In this role, he is responsible for driving the technology strategy with a focus on fueling the firm's innovation, effectiveness, and resilience. Akwaboah also has partnered with Morgan Stanley's businesses to build on the firm's technology investments and delivery opportunities to enable profitability. Akwaboah serves on the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank's Payments Risk Committee. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2015, Akwaboah spent a decade at the Royal Bank of Scotland, including as Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer for Operations, Technology, and Corporate Services. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in operations and technology at Deutsche Bank, KPMG, and IBM. Akwaboah serves on the Boards of the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine and the Museum of American Finance. He has a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the University of Birmingham, England. About Fannie Mae Fannie Mae advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing for millions of people across America. We enable the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and drive responsible innovation to make homebuying and renting easier, fairer, and more accessible. To learn more, visit: fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog Fannie Mae Newsroom https://www.fanniemae.com/news Photo of Fannie Mae https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif Fannie Mae Resource Center 1-800-2FANNIE (800-232-6643) SOURCE Fannie Mae Pure Jamaican Elevates Jamaica as a Global Provider of Legal Cannabis With Pharmaceutical THC Product Exports To The US & Brazil MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Jamaican and its GMP-certified, licensed pharma manufacturer Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals are elevating Jamaica's role in the global cannabis supply chain by legally exporting proprietary pharmaceutical products with cannabis-derived THC, as well as hemp-derived CBD and other cannabinoids, to the United States, Brazil and other major international markets. Botanicos Pharmaceutical Tincture The permissions to export Pure Jamaican pharmaceutical products containing THC to the US were granted by Jamaica's Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) to Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals pursuant to valid corresponding import permits received from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The products were shipped to a DEA-licensed facility in the US for successful analytical testing. Once the DEA approves the rescheduling of THC from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 in the US, as is widely anticipated, Seven-10 intends to request DEA permits to ship Pure Jamaican pharmaceutical THC products from Jamaica to patients in the US, subject to valid doctor prescriptions and all relevant DEA, FDA and state pharmacy distribution regulations. Meanwhile, Seven-10 has already begun shipping Pure Jamaican's BotanicosTM pharmaceutical tinctures with THC and other cannabinoids directly to patients in Brazil, pursuant to ANVISA import permits. Together, Brazil and the US represent populations of more than 500 million people, providing tremendous potential demand. Scott Cathcart, CEO of Pure Jamaican and Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals said, "This is a proud moment for Jamaica, and for our group of companies. Jamaica has long been associated with 'ganja' but never before in this context as a producer and legal exporter of THC as a pharmaceutical-grade medicine. As the only company in Jamaica licensed for pharmaceutical manufacturing of cannabinoids, we are proud to be leading the way to elevating the role of Jamaica in the global cannabis ecosystem." The President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Shullette Cox, stated that "the growth of the cannabis industry for medicinal purposes has been a priority of the Government of Jamaica and particularly, the export of value-added products from Jamaica. The success of Pure Jamaican and Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals is applauded as JAMPRO continues to facilitate the local medicinal cannabis industry and ensuring its role in driving the growth of exports." Dr. Ellen Campbell Grizzle, Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer of Pure Jamaican and Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals, and former Dean of the College of Health Sciences, UTech said, "This is a labour of love and not easy. Jamaica has 52% of the world's medicinal plants in our small island nation, and we are very proud to be exploring ways to identify new botanical medicines to bring health, wellness, new exports and economic growth to our country." About Pure Jamaican & Seven Ten Limited (d/b/a Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals) The Pure Jamaican group was founded to bring Jamaican cannabis and other botanicals to the world as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Among other licenses and certifications, Pure Jamaican's pharma division has: 1) a pharmaceutical manufacturing license from the Pharmacy Council of Jamaica (PCJ), 2) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification and controlled substances permit from Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), 3) a license to process cannabis from Jamaica's Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), 4) Special Economic Zone certification for favorable duties and tax treatment from the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), and 5) an Environmental Permit from Jamaica's National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). For more information, please see: https://purejamaican.com/. CONTACT: Pure Jamaican Limited Cathie Bennett Warner [email protected] +1 (415) 420-1573 SOURCE Pure Jamaican & Seven 10 Pharmaceuticals HONG KONG, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OKG Technology Holdings Limited (OKG Tech, 1499.HK), a leading blockchain technology company offering cutting-edge on-chain data solutions through its product, OKLink, has issued updates for February 22, 2024. OKG Technology Chairman Jeff Ren to Speak at the Economist Impact's Technology for Change Asia Event in Hong Kong OKG Technology Holdings Limited (OKG Tech, 1499.HK), a leading blockchain technology company offering cutting-edge on-chain data solutions through its product, OKLink, today announced that its Chairman, Jeff Ren, will be speaking at the Economist Impact's fourth annual Technology for Change Asia event in Hong Kong. During the event, Jeff will join a panel of fellow esteemed speakers to discuss how Web3 innovations can be leveraged to create a more transparent, open and equal future. The Economist Impact seeks to bring together policy research and insights, data visualisation, custom storytelling, events and media. The two-day event, which is chaired by The Economist's Deputy Editor, Tom Standage, will take place on February 27-28, 2024 at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. The event brings together top technology pioneers and business leaders across different fields to address a range of hot topics, such as digital and financial inequality, Web3, DeFi, crypto, artificial intelligence and many others. Jeff will be speaking at the panel titled "Web3 innovation: data, cyber-security and decentralisation" on the first day of the event from 3:00 PM (HKT) to 3:30 PM (HKT). For more details about the event, please visit: https://events.economist.com/technology-for-change-week/ About OKG Technology Holdings Limited OKG Technology Holdings Limited ("OKG Tech", 1499.HK) is a pioneering blockchain firm dedicated to advancing the research, development, and integration of blockchain technology. As a subsidiary, OKLink stands at the forefront of blockchain data solutions, specializing in Regulatory Technology (RegTech) and Supervisory Technology (SupTech). Our comprehensive suite of solutions encompasses Web3 explorers, on-chain risk assessment platforms, monitoring systems, and investigation tools, designed to empower businesses, law enforcement agencies, and regulators with unparalleled transparency and contribute to the positive development of the industry. For more information, visit www.okg.com and www.oklink.com. SOURCE OKG Technology Holdings Limited SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, has issued updates for February 22, 2024. OKX Wallet Partners with Plume Network, a Modular Layer 2 Blockchain for Real-World Assets OKX Wallet is now partnered with Plume Network, a modular Layer 2 blockchain dedicated for all real-world assets (RWAs) that integrates asset tokenization and compliance providers directly into the chain, enabling OKX Wallet users to invest in RWAs, bridging crypto assets to the real world from Web3, all through the OKX Wallet web extension. Plume Network offers users the following benefits: RWA-native: Plume Network streamlines the complex processes of RWA project deployment, offering investors a blockchain ecosystem where they can cross-invest in various RWAs. Plume also enables RWA composability (for specific assets) through its thriving DeFi applications and connects high-quality buyers to improve liquidity for all tokenized RWAs. Plume Network streamlines the complex processes of RWA project deployment, offering investors a blockchain ecosystem where they can cross-invest in various RWAs. Plume also enables RWA composability (for specific assets) through its thriving applications and connects high-quality buyers to improve liquidity for all tokenized RWAs. Developer friendly: With its comprehensive end-to-end integrated technology stack, Plume positions itself as the top platform for asset issuers to launch RWA projects and for investors to efficiently allocate capital. It integrates with numerous solutions on both the asset and compliance side to facilitate the onboarding process. With its comprehensive end-to-end integrated technology stack, Plume positions itself as the top platform for asset issuers to launch RWA projects and for investors to efficiently allocate capital. It integrates with numerous solutions on both the asset and compliance side to facilitate the onboarding process. One-stop solution: Plume provides an end-to-end solution within its blockchain, enabling RWA projects to focus on product development without operational distractions. Investors, in turn, benefit from a streamlined and secure environment, allowing them to invest with peace of mind. This holistic approach cultivates an ecosystem where innovation flourishes, removing barriers and promoting efficient collaboration between asset issuers and investors within the Plume network. Plume Network aims to make RWAs accessible to all, ensuring everyone can fully participate in the Web3 financial revolution while investing with confidence in stability and security. Plume Network considers the OKX Wallet as the official on-chain entry point; this strategic partnership offers a one-click RWA solution for all OKX Web3 Wallet users. For more information, please visit the OKX Support Center. For further information, please contact: [email protected] About OKX A leading global technology company driving the future of Web3, OKX provides a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of beginners and experts alike, including: OKX Wallet: The world's most powerful, secure and versatile crypto wallet which gives users access to over 80 blockchains while allowing them to take custody of their own funds. The wallet includes MPC technology which allows users to easily recover access to their wallet independently, removing the need for traditional, 'written down' seed phrases. In addition, OKX Wallet's account abstraction-powered Smart Account enables users to pay for transactions on multiple blockchains using USDC or USDT, and interact with multiple contracts via a single transaction. wallet which gives users access to over 80 blockchains while allowing them to take custody of their own funds. The wallet includes MPC technology which allows users to easily recover access to their wallet independently, removing the need for traditional, 'written down' seed phrases. In addition, OKX Wallet's account abstraction-powered enables users to pay for transactions on multiple blockchains using USDC or USDT, and interact with multiple contracts via a single transaction. DEX: A multi-chain, cross-chain decentralized exchange aggregator of 300+ other DEXs and approximately 15 bridges, with 200,000+ coins and more than 20 blockchains supported. exchange aggregator of 300+ other DEXs and approximately 15 bridges, with 200,000+ coins and more than 20 blockchains supported. NFT Marketplace: A multi-chain, zero-fee NFT marketplace that gives users access to NFT listings across seven top-tier marketplaces including OpenSea, MagicEden, LooksRare and Blur. Web3 DeFi : A powerful DeFi platform that supports earning and staking on about 70 protocols across more than 10 chains. OKX partners with a number of the world's top brands and athletes, including English Premier League champions Manchester City F.C., McLaren Formula 1, The Tribeca Festival, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. As a leader building innovative technology products, OKX believes in challenging the status quo. The company recently launched a global brand campaign entitled, The System Needs a Rewrite, which advocates for a new paradigm led by Web3 self-managed technology. To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com Disclaimer SOURCE OKX NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The North America Folding Carton Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.19% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 3,157.57 million according to Technavio. Download a Sample Report Now! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Folding Carton Market in North America 2023-2027 The growing competition in the market is compelling vendors to adopt various growth strategies, such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Technavio report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Amcor Plc, Arkay, Astro Box Corp., BC Box Manufacturing Ltd., Bell Packaging Ltd., Cross Country Box Co. Inc., Diamond Packaging, Edelmann Group, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Great Little Box Co. Ltd., Imperial Printing and Paper Box Mfg. Co., Industrial Development Co. sal, International Paper Co., Laural Packaging Group South Inc., Oliver Inc., Rinaldi Printing Co., Service Die Cutting and Packaging Corp., WestRock Co., Koch Industries Inc., and Smurfit Kappa Group. Market Insights Vendors: 15+, Including Amcor Plc, Arkay, Astro Box Corp., BC Box Manufacturing Ltd., Bell Packaging Ltd., Cross Country Box Co. Inc., Diamond Packaging, Edelmann Group, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Great Little Box Co. Ltd., Imperial Printing and Paper Box Mfg. Co., Industrial Development Co. sal, International Paper Co., Laural Packaging Group South Inc., Oliver Inc., Rinaldi Printing Co., Service Die Cutting and Packaging Corp., WestRock Co., Koch Industries Inc., and Smurfit Kappa Group, among others 15+, Including Amcor Plc, Arkay, Astro Box Corp., BC Box Manufacturing Ltd., Bell Packaging Ltd., Cross Country Box Co. Inc., Diamond Packaging, Edelmann Group, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Great Little Box Co. Ltd., Imperial Printing and Paper Box Mfg. Co., Industrial Development Co. sal, International Paper Co., Laural Packaging Group South Inc., Oliver Inc., Rinaldi Printing Co., Service Die Cutting and Packaging Corp., WestRock Co., Koch Industries Inc., and Smurfit Kappa Group, among others Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Segments: Material (Paper and Plastic), End-user (Food and beverage products, Homecare and personal products, Healthcare products, Tobacco products, and Others), and Geography (US, Canada , and Mexico ). To understand more about the North America Folding Carton Market, request a sample report Increasing use of eco-friendly materials in packaging Eco-friendly packaging refers to the use of materials that are recyclable, biodegradable, reusable, and non-toxic, which has a low impact on the environment. Awareness of the need to use eco-friendly packaging material among end-users, such as the food and beverage industry and manufacturers of household care products, is increasing continuously. For instance, in 2020, Coca-Cola pledged to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle, or they sell by 2030 and to make all its packaging 100% recyclable by the same year. Additionally, folding cartons use materials such as paperboard, which are recyclable and biodegradable. For that reason, these materials do not have a negative impact on the environment. The environmental benefits of folding cartons have encouraged various vendors to offer folding cartons that contain a high proportion of recycled paper. Moreover, the leftover scrap from the production of folding cartons can be used to pose new folding cartons that can then be recycled once more. Thus, the increasing use of eco-friendly materials in packaging is driving the growth of the North America folding carton market during the forecast period. The rise in M&As in the North American folding carton market is one of the key trends driving the growth of the market. Volatility in the prices of raw materials used in the manufacturing of folding cartons is challenging the growth of the North America folding carton market. Find more insights on trends and challenges from a sample report! Analyst Review The North American Folding Carton Market is a dynamic landscape shaped by various factors, including counterfeiting concerns and stringent intellectual property rights regulations. With evolving medicine legislation and criminal law aspects, ensuring product authenticity is paramount. This market serves diverse sectors like the food and beverage segment, pharmaceutical industry, and consumer goods. Amidst growing environmental concerns, the industry pivots towards sustainable packaging solutions, aligned with the principles of the circular economy. Market dynamics are closely followed by publications like the Economic Times, tracking market growth and trends. As e-commerce flourishes, the retail industry witnesses transformations, necessitating compliance with government regulations. Amidst these shifts, innovation thrives, particularly in the packaging industry, meeting demands for both functionality and aesthetics in beauty and personal care products. The North American Folding Carton Market is a dynamic landscape characterized by fierce market competition and constant market analysis. Market players are continually strategizing to capitalize on market opportunities while navigating market challenges such as fluctuating market demand. Market segmentation allows for targeted market strategies tailored to varying market dynamics across different market segments. Market research is pivotal in understanding market size, market forecast, and market outlook. Despite challenges, market expansion and market development initiatives drive market growth, leading to increased market revenue and market value. Market performance hinges on effectively seizing market opportunities, understanding market dynamics, and outpacing market competition. In essence, the North American Folding Carton Market presents lucrative prospects for those adept at navigating its complexities. The North American Folding Carton Market demonstrates robust market potential, driven by market growth rate and market attractiveness. However, market inhibitors such as fluctuating raw material costs pose market risks. Market concentration is high, indicating a competitive landscape, necessitating thorough market competition analysis. Despite this, market saturation looms, urging innovative market penetration strategies. A comprehensive market analysis report offers market intelligence and market insights crucial for market assessment. Understanding market segmentation analysis facilitates effective market targeting and market positioning. Overcoming market entry barriers requires strategic market entry strategies. Embracing the right market positioning strategy ensures success in the dynamic industry. Request a sample report Related Reports: The beverage carton packaging machinery market size should rise by USD 204.89 million from 2022 to 2026 at a CAGR of 4.00%. The Printed Carton Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.43% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecasted to increase by USD 23.99 billion. About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.co SOURCE Technavio BARCELONA, Spain, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendly Technologies, a leader in IoT and Device Management, is thrilled to announce their return to Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Building on last year's success, Friendly Technologies will again be at booth #5E61-15, showcasing their cutting-edge Unified Device Management and IoT platforms with enhanced features for 5G and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). This year's highlight includes the latest advancements in 5G lifecycle management and an expanded suite of IoT solutions. Visitors will experience the evolution of Friendly's multi-protocol engine, advanced QoE Analytics, and an upgraded BI report generator. These innovations not only strengthen device management across multiple protocols but also offer deeper analytical insights, maintaining Friendly's position as a global leader with deployments across six continents. Ariela Ross-Jayyousi, Marketing Director at Friendly Technologies, shared, "We're proud to unveil our latest innovations at MWC 2024. Our unique User Experience Score and upgraded advanced Wi-Fi optimization capabilities are cutting-edge solutions reflect Friendly's commitment to enhancing connectivity and delivering unparalleled value to our customers." Join Friendly Technologies at MWC 2024 to discover how their latest solutions are shaping the future of device management in the IoT and telecom sectors. About Friendly Technologies: Friendly Technologies is renowned for its comprehensive IoT and Device Management solutions, serving a global clientele. Their extensive portfolio, including platforms for telecom, including Friendly Unified Device Management for TR-069/TR-369, and a broad range of IoT use cases for enterprises, One-IoT Device Management. Friendly provides unparalleled service to providers and enterprises worldwide, simplifying and automating IoT device management. SOURCE Friendly Technologies WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Managing Partners of Gainful Solutions, Ambassador Michael Ranneberger and Mr. Soheil Nazari-Kangarlou, and their Partners, Mr. Stephen Hayes and retired Colonel Dr. Isaiah Wilson, are honored to welcome Dr. Genevieve Lester and Mr. Vance Martin as senior consultants. Genevieve Lester Vance Martin Dr. Genevieve Lester served as the De Serio Chair of Strategic Intelligence at the US Army War College from 2016 until 2023. She was academic lead for intelligence matters and advised senior leadership at the Army War College. She recently engaged Director of the Central Intelligence Agency William Burns in a fireside chat for students and faculty. She is an Associate Fellow for Strategic Intelligence at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. She has served as faculty and coordinator of intelligence studies at the Security Studies Program, School of Foreign Service and as a senior fellow at the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown. She has held positions at the National Defense University, Chatham House, and the RAND Corporation. She holds a PhD and MA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA in International Economics/International Law and Organizations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a BA in history from Carleton College. She began her career at the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, Steven Spielberg's visual history project. She is the author of the award-winning When Should State Secrets Stay Secret? Democratic Governance, Accountability, and Intelligence and numerous other publications. Vance G. Martin has devoted his life to advancing international nature , uniting wildlife and wildland protection with the needs of human communities. He created and built-out the WILD Foundation, a US based, globally-focused non-profit known for its many signature programs, including the World Wilderness Congress, Nature Needs Half, Mali Elephant Project, among others. He is President (Emeritus) of Wilderness Foundation Global, an international alliance of conservation groups. Vance has worked and/or lived in more than 100 countries, collaborating with a network he helped to create that focuses on protecting wild nature while meeting the needs of and working in partnership with indigenous and local communities. To create effective and enduring solutions, Martin has a firm commitment to the importance of culture as an equal partner to science, policy, and economics. This includes the critical role of youth and of indigenous peoples in crafting solutions for our collective future by being at the negotiating table from the beginning and engaging decision-makers at all levels from heads of state, to CEOs, to local leaders. He is a founder/Co-Chairman of the Wilderness Specialist Group in the World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN; a Director of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (Washington DC); a Trustee of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia); an International Advisor to EcoForum Global (China); and on the International Advisory Board, Sanctuary Nature Foundation (India). Find us at www.gainfulsolutions.com Media contact: Alex Casanova [email protected] 4158462501 SOURCE Gainful Solutions Attendees this year will dive deep into the world of GitOps tooling, end user experiences, and network with like-minded technologists SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced the schedule for GitOpsCon North America 2024 , happening on April 15 in Seattle, Washington. The conference is co-located with Open Source Summit North America , taking place April 16 18. Following a successful event with the CD Foundation in Vancouver last year, GitOpsCon returns solo this year to focus exclusively on knowledge sharing around GitOps including CNCF projects Argo and Flux . Vendor-neutral and organized by the CNCF GitOps Working Group, the event has been curated with technologists of all levels in mind so that whether new to GitOps or currently using the technology within their organization, there are compelling sessions available. "The community around GitOps is a vibrant and inspiring group of innovators and we are excited to once again meet in North America to share insight, best practices, and end user experiences," said Priyanka Sharma, Executive Director of CNCF. "This event is designed for anyone interested in learning about or deepening their knowledge around GitOps methodologies and offers an exciting opportunity to connect with other like-minded technologists." The community-curated schedule will feature talks from leaders in the industry, including: GitOps Pipelines: Everything Everywhere All At Once Christian Hernandez , Head of Community, Akuity What's new with Flux? Priyanka Ravi , Developer Advocate, Independent Progressive Delivery for micro-services using Argo Rollouts and the Downward API Kostis Kapelonis , Senior Developer Advocate, Codefresh Registration Register for in-person attendance by April 1 for the standard pricing. Dan Kohn Scholarship The Dan Kohn Scholarship Fund is available to help with the registration costs of GitOpsCon, supporting individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend through Diversity, Need-Based, and Maintainer Scholarships. Deadline to apply for a registration scholarship is March 5 at 11:59 PM PT. Sponsors If interested in becoming a sponsor, contact [email protected] . Signed contracts must be received by March 7. Additional Resources About Cloud Native Computing Foundation Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 800 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io. The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contacts Jessie Adams-Shore The Linux Foundation [email protected] SOURCE CNCF Two years and four months after the death of Halyna Hutchins, someone is finally sitting in the dock. On Wednesday, the first trial began after the cinematographer was accidentally shot while filming the movie Rust on October 21, 2021. That day, a real bullet was shot from a revolver held by Alec Baldwin, killing Hutchins and injuring Joel Souza, the director of the independent western. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the person in charge of the productions armory who loaded the gun, will be the first to respond to the accusations made by New Mexico prosecutors in a trial that will extend until March 6. On Wednesday, the trial in Santa Fe began with the process of selecting the 12 jurors who will decide whether Gutierrez-Reed was accountable for Hutchins death. The weapons supervisor was 24 years old when the accident occurred. She has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and another of tampering with evidence. Gutierrez Reed has pleaded not guilty. If she is found guilty, the armorer could face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. The trial against Alec Baldwin was set for August, but has been rescheduled following a judge reassignment. For the jury selection process, the defense and the prosecution interviewed a pool of 70 residents from the Santa Fe area. It was a difficult process, as the lawyers sought to find people who had not been exposed to the intense media coverage surrounding the case. According to AP, the lawyers interviewed non-English speakers, a welder, a teacher, a graduate student and a mother who provides for six children. Sixteen jurors including four alternates were sworn in for trial. Gutierrez-Reeds defense team intends to argue that their client one of the youngest and least powerful people on set has been used as a scapegoat. Rust was only the second film the armorer had worked on. Gutierrez-Reed started in the industry in August 2021 with a western in Montana starring Nicolas Cage. However, her family is no stranger to the industry. Gutierrez-Reeds stepfather is Thell Reed, an experienced Hollywood firearms consultant who worked on major productions such as L.A. Confidential, Tombstone and 3:10 to Yuma. The defendants lawyers will seek to blame the films producers, including Baldwin, for the poor security measures on set, which was located on a Bonanza Creek ranch. On the day of the accident, the Rust camera crew had walked off the set to protest the poor safety conditions. Gutierrez-Reed admits to loading the .45 Colt revolver that killed Hutchins. However, her lawyers claim that she tried to get David Halls, first assistant director, to check the weapon before the rehearsal where the fateful accident took place. In a December 2022 deposition, Gutierrez-Reed said that Halls had said there was no time to do the weapons check. Halls, another defendant in the case, pleaded guilty to one count of negligent use of a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to six months probation as part of a plea deal. New Mexico prosecutors have other plans for the armorer. They intend to paint an unflattering profile of Gutierrez-Reed in court: that of a careless employee who may have been working under the influence of drugs. She is charged with evidence tampering for allegedly handing off drugs to another person on the day of the on-set shooting. In the next two weeks, about 40 people will come to court to give testimony. This list of witnesses includes the police officers who found six real bullets among prop projectiles. These were found in boxes, on a belt and a shoulder bag that were part of Baldwins wardrobe. Authorities believe that one of the armorers responsibilities was to have differentiated between dummy rounds and real bullets. The producers of the film were fined $100,000 by the government of New Mexico for failures in security protocols. The body in charge of workplace and occupational safety wrote a report claiming that those responsible for the film did not make any changes following a series of earlier accidents, where weapons had been fired due to carelessness. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Bioinformatics Market by Solutions & Services (Knowledge Management, Platforms, Sequence Analysis, Services, Data Analysis), Application (Genomics, Metabolomics, Transcriptomics), Industry (Healthcare, Veterinary, Agriculture) - Global Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The bioinformatics market is expected to reach $27.98 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 13.3% from 2023 to 2030. The growth of the bioinformatics market is attributed to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, initiatives supporting genomics research, and the rising need to develop novel drugs/drug molecules. However, interoperability limitations in bioinformatics analytical platforms due to multiple data types restrain the growth of this market. Furthermore, untapped markets in emerging economies, growing clinical applications of genomic technologies, and the increasing use of bioinformatics in agriculture are expected to generate growth opportunities for the players operating in this market. However, data privacy and confidentiality concerns and the shortage of skilled bioinformaticians are major challenges for market stakeholders. In 2023, the knowledge management software segment is expected to account for the largest share of the bioinformatics market. Knowledge management software helps in identifying, organizing, storing, and disseminating biological information within or across organizations. Knowledge management tools help consolidate data and information. It also serves as a comprehensive data hub, providing a centralized repository for various types of biological information, including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and clinical data. Expanding genomic datasets, growing adoption of precision medicine, growing investments in pharmaceutical R&D, and growing research in the application of genomics for several fields, including agriculture, clinical decision-making, and predictive medicine, were the factors contributing to the segment's large share. In 2023, the genomics segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. Genomics involves investigating the complete or partial genetic and epigenetic sequence information of organisms, with the aim of comprehending both the arrangement and the operational aspects of these sequences. This segment's large market share is attributed to the growing amount of genomics data being generated, the application of genomics in chronic disease management, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. Based on industry, the bioinformatics market is segmented into healthcare, agriculture, veterinary, and other industries. In 2023, the healthcare segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the wide applications of bioinformatics in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, the growth of the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, supportive initiatives for the growth of pharmaceutical and biotech companies, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing adoption of precision medicine. Precision medicine is a tailored treatment approach as per an individual's genetic makeup, making the treatments more effective while preventing adverse drug reactions. The growing prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer is leading to the adoption of precision medicine treatment. For instance, in 2022, OncoDNA (Belgium), a precision medicine company, collaborated with Eli Lilly Italia (Italy) to provide biomarker testing for thyroid cancer in Italy. Under this collaboration, they offer next-generation sequencing-based molecular testing on thyroid cancer biopsies to help clinicians identify gene alterations in tumors and link patients with targeted therapies. Asia-Pacific is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The market growth in this region is attributed to the growing pharmaceutical and biotech industry, growth in genomics research, growing use of genetic engineering in the agriculture sector, favorable government initiatives to develop novel bioinformatics tools, and growing clinical trials in the region. Bioinformatic analyses are used for the data generated from pre-clinical and clinical trials as the amount of data generated is huge, and the integration of this generated biological data is necessary to interpret the results. The number of clinical trials in Malaysia is expected to increase to 3,779 from 1,400 clinical trials in 2019 (Source: Clinical Trials Malaysia). Market Dynamics Drivers Growth of the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industries Initiatives Supporting Genomics Research Rising Need to Develop Novel Drugs/Drug Molecules Restraints Interoperability Limitations in Bioinformatics Analytical Platforms Due to Multiple Data Types Opportunities Untapped Markets in Emerging Economies Growing Clinical Applications of Genomic Technologies Increasing Use of Bioinformatics in Agriculture Challenges Shortage of Skilled Bioinformaticians Data Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns Factor Analysis Trends Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning with Bioinformatics AI in Genomics and Sequence Analysis AI-driven Drug Discovery Proteomics and AI Applications AI for Personalized Medicine Case Studies Integration of the Client's Multi-Disease Platform into A Single Solution Provision of a Connected Analytic Solution for NGS Workflow Scaling Challenges Facilitating Faster Processing and Lowering Plasmid Analysis Costs Company Profiles (Business Overview, Financial Overview, Product Portfolio, and Strategic Developments) Illumina Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Qiagen N.V. Agilent Technologies Inc. Dassault Systemes SE Eurofins Genomic LLC Revvity Inc. Azenta Inc. DNAnexus Inc. Scope of the Report Bioinformatics Market Assessment, by Solutions & Services Knowledge Management Software Bioinformatics Platforms Sequence Analysis & Alignment Platforms Functional & Structural Analysis Platforms Other Bioinformatic Platforms (Other bioinformatic platforms include Pathway Analysis, Network Analysis, Phylogenetic Analysis, Data Visualization, Among others) Services Data Storage and Database Management Services Data Analysis Services Bioinformatics Market Assessment, by Application Genomics Chemoinformatics Proteomics Transcriptomics Metabolomics Other Applications (Other applications include system biology and computational biology, among others) Bioinformatics Market Assessment, by Industry Healthcare Agriculture Veterinary Other Industries (Other industries include environmental sciences, forensics sciences, and energy, among others) Bioinformatics Market Assessment, by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Rest of Europe (RoE) (RoE) Asia-Pacific (APAC) (APAC) Japan China India Rest of APAC (RoAPAC) Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America (RoLATAM) (RoLATAM) Middle East & Africa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ll1nh7 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global IV Catheters Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global IV catheters market was valued at USD 4.93 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of $6.64 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.04% The global IV catheters market report contains exclusive data on 33 vendors. BD, B Braun, Terumo, Teleflex, ICU Medical, and Nipro Medical are some leading players currently dominating the global IV catheters market. The major players focus on strategic acquisitions and collaborations with emerging players to enter the IV catheters market and gain access to commercially launched products. Expanding Population with Chronic & Lifestyle Diseases: Global population aging is evident, with nearly every country witnessing an increase in the proportion and size of the older demographic. The surge in the elderly population and the prevalence of chronic diseases is linked to unhealthy lifestyles and the extended average life expectancy globally. The continuous growth in individuals with chronic conditions and the rapidly expanding elderly population are the primary factors fueling the global demand for peripheral IV catheters. Rise in Hospitalization Rate: Patients worldwide receive intravenous drugs and components, propelling the PIVCs market globally. Nearly all hospitalized patients undergo at least one peripheral intravenous catheter insertion, establishing them as widely used vascular devices for delivering medication, nutrients, and fluids. The primary driver for PIVC adoption is the rising incidence of chronic diseases in the elderly, leading to hospital admissions. High Usage of CIVCs in Chemotherapy: Cancer, a chronic disease, necessitates regular drug and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is often safely administered via a standard IV line, and infusions require a central line catheter, like PICC, CVC, or implantable port. CVCs take precedence due to the limited safety of PIVCs for a few weeks, while CVCs are used for months or years until treatment concludes. To minimize infection risks and minimize cell and tissue damage, CIVCs are generally preferred over PIVCs. GLOBAL IV CATHETERS MARKET HIGHLIGHTS The PIVCs product segment will hold the most significant global IV catheter market share in 2023. The adoption of PIVCs is growing across the world due to the increasing hospital and intensive care admissions attributed to the rising aging population associated with various chronic and lifestyle diseases. Rising awareness about advanced visualization technologies that help properly insert PIVCs and reduce complications significantly contributes to adopting PIVCs. The Short PIVCs product segment had the highest peripheral IV catheter market size in 2023. Short PIVCs are the most widely used medical devices across various healthcare settings. The insertion of short PIVCs is one of the most performed invasive techniques in acute care settings. The use of short PIVCs is widespread among oncology patients, particularly in patients receiving IV medications in either inpatient or home care settings. The conventional PIVCs technology segment accounted for a significant share of the global peripheral intravenous catheters market. Conventional PIVCs are simple, inexpensive IV lines used for short-term intravenous therapy. These PIVCs allow safe infusion of medications, hydration fluids, blood products, and nutritional supplements. The peripheral inserted central catheters (PICCs) product segment accounted for the highest market share of over 45% of the global CIVCs market. The market is growing faster due to the rising awareness regarding healthcare and increasing concern for needlestick injuries and rising bloodborne infections among users. The rise in the number of hospitalizations due to various reasons globally increases the demand for the PICC. The multi-lumen design segment is growing at the highest CAGR of 6.55% from 2024 to 2029 in the global CIVCs market. The multi-lumen CIVCs provide multiple access to the central vein for intravenous therapy. The market is growing faster as they facilitate multiple channels to administer many drugs and minimize the frequency of catheter insertions in patients. This advantage is driving the usage of multi-lumen catheters among the end-users. GEOGRAPHICAL INSIGHTS The U.S. accounted for a revenue share of over 92% of the North American IV catheters market. The rising elderly population with chronic illnesses, growing hospitalization rates, increased need for IV catheters for ICU and emergency patients, demand for advanced safety catheters, rising healthcare expenditures, higher accessibility to advanced healthcare, and health coverage have contributed to the growth of the PIVCs market in the U.S. Italy is growing significantly in the European IV catheter market, with the fastest CAGR of 6.16% from 2024 - 2029. It is observed that there is an overuse of the emergency department by the pediatric population in developing countries such as Italy as well as worldwide. This phenomenon of overusing the emergency department is leading to increasing demand for advanced CIVCs to provide nutrients and drugs to the patients in the emergency care units. India is the fastest-growing region in the APAC IV catheter market, with a CAGR of 6.06%. Various chronic diseases are fueling the hospitalization rates among the Indian population. These include cardiovascular diseases, stroke, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, COPD, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, malaria, and others. The IV catheters market in Brazil is one of the fastest-growing markets among all emerging economies and the largest in Latin America. The market is witnessing growth, mainly due to increased self-, government, and private expenditures in healthcare. On average, 50% of Brazil's expenditure is financed by the government, 25% by private players, and 25% by individuals/patients. Key Vendors B.D. B Braun Teleflex Nipro Medical Terumo ICU Medical Other Prominent Vendors Vygon Shanghai Puyi Medical Instruments AngioDynamics Argon Medical Devices Deltamed Dukwoo Medical EXELINT International Greiner Bio-One International GmbH Healthline Medical Products Medical Components Medline Industries Medsource Labs Merit Medical Systems Qingdao Sinoland International Trade Co. Retractable Technologies SILMAG Lepu Medical Kimal Amecath Medical Technologies Bactiguard Vogt Medical Cook Medical Henan Tuoren Medical Troge Medical Guangdong Baihe Medical Technology Intra Special Catheters Biosensors For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cerzg2 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, leading global automotive thermal management supplier Hanon Systems (KS:018880) has been included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook. S&P Global is a leading provider of data, technology and expertise that helps customers across various industries and markets make well-informed decisions. Its Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) is an annual evaluation of sustainability practices of companies across various industries. Companies are scored based on answers to a comprehensive questionnaire surrounding environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. "Sustainability stewardship is a strategic priority at Hanon Systems that embodies a journey to transparently operate as a good corporate citizen," said Subu Nagasubramony, president and co-chief executive officer of Hanon Systems. "To be recognized in the prestigious S&P Sustainability Yearbook confirms our efforts to continuously advance our sustainability agenda across every aspect of our business." The yearbook aims to distinguish individual companies by industry that demonstrate strength in corporate sustainability. Hanon Systems ranks as a 2024 yearbook member in the Auto Components category following a review of 2023 CSA scores of more than 9,400 companies worldwide. Criteria for the yearbook listing includes companies that score within the top 15% of their industry and a CSA score within 30% of the industry's top-performing company. About Hanon Systems Hanon Systems is a full-line supplier of automotive thermal and energy management solutions for electrified and conventional vehicles. Its offering includes a wide range of solutions in the areas of heating ventilation and air conditioning; powertrain cooling; compressor; fluid transport; and electronics and fluid pressure. The company currently operates 50 manufacturing sites and three regional innovation centers, and employs more than 20,000 people across 21 countries. To learn more, visit hanonsystems.com. Follow Hanon Systems: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanonsystems YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6bSZ7NMg7LPhXDyTOMwebQ/feed SOURCE Hanon Systems BENGALURU, India, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a 'Born Digital . Born Agile', Mindful IT Company, today announced that it has been recognized among the 'Top Firms to Work for in AI & Analytics' at the 3AI ACME Awards 2024 presented at the BEYOND 2024 event. Additionally, a matter of great pride for the organization Sridhar Mantha, President & CEO of Generative AI Business Unit (GBS), was honored as the 'AI Leader of the Year'. From over 7400 nominations across 5 categories, Happiest Minds was recognized under two categories for engaging in building the next in-class AI & Analytics capabilities, solutions, and offerings to derive significant impact for their global clients and end stakeholders. It was noted for demonstrating sustained AI and Analytics prowess, building state-of-the-art AI/Analytics best practices, crafting novel AI, Analytics & Data Science talent acquisition and retention strategies, and executing continual and driven AI, Analytics & Data Science engagements with demonstrated impact & value. Rajiv Shah, President and Executive Board Member, Happiest Minds, said, "Being recognized with the 'Top Firms to Work for in AI & Analytics' award reflects our team's dedication to advancing AI technology for a positive societal impact. It reaffirms our mission to harness the power of artificial intelligence to drive meaningful change for our customers. Our vision for the future includes forging new partnerships, solving business problems, and pioneering AI-driven solutions. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and leveraging AI to address global challenges." At the same event, Sridhar Mantha was conferred the 'AI Leader of the Year' award for delivering consistent and successful engagements and scalable business impact through AI & Analytics-powered offerings, solutions and platforms. Reflecting on his win, Sridhar said, "Receiving the 'AI Leader of the Year' award is a profound honor and an acknowledgment of our ongoing journey in AI innovation. Our newest business unit, Generative AI Business Services (GBS), is our first step in the journey towards exploring the new frontiers of AI, and driving significant value and outcomes. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue pioneering breakthroughs and shaping a future where AI enhances human potential." Congratulating Happiest Minds and Sridhar Mantha on the occasion, Sameer Dhanrajani, CEO, 3AI said, "Happiest Minds, with their newest business unit, 'Generative AI Business Services,' have showcased its foresightedness in curating novel approaches impacting change across industry segments and business functions. We wish them the best and look forward to witnessing how they drive AI innovation with integrity and purpose to solve large, complex, and unresolved problems through AI & Analytics." Happiest Minds has been lauded multiple times for its visionary nature, culture, and values. Some notable recognitions include the Top 50 India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM 2023 and Top 50 India's Best Workplaces for Building a Culture of Innovation 2023. The Top Firms to Work for in AI & Analytics award is an added feather in its cap for Happiest Minds. About Happiest Minds Technologies Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/ augmented reality, etc. Positioned as 'Born Digital . Born Agile', our capabilities span Product & Digital Engineering Services (PDES), Generative AI Business Services (GBS) and Infrastructure Management & Security Services (IMSS). We deliver these services across industry groups: Industrial, Manufacturing and Energy & Utilities, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Retail, CPG & Logistics, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Hi-Tech and Media & Entertainment, and EdTech. The company has been recognized for its excellence in Corporate Governance practices by Golden Peacock and ICSI. A Great Place to Work Certified company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bangalore, India with operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. Media Contact: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1812236/4546355/Happiest_Minds_Logo.jpg SOURCE Happiest Minds Technologies Limited HFR has organized a sizzling lineup of sponsors and panelists and a spectacular fashion showcase for HFR Live- The Iconic Era. Style Icon Dapper Dan is among the special guests billed for the event. NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Harlem Fashion Row (HFR), the premier agency advocating for designers of color, has announced the 6th staging of its annual Black History Month Summit. The event, dubbed HFR- Live The Iconic Era, is scheduled for Thursday, February 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Harlem's Fashion Row (HFR) Live Black History Summit HFR's Black History Month Fashion Summit celebrates the contributions of notable black designers, pioneers, creative directors, editors, and influencers in the fashion industry. Some retail brands, fashion icons, and industry professionals will converge at the New York Venue to discuss and showcase opportunities in the fashion industry. Gap Inc. and Hugo Boss are collaborating with the event as supporting sponsors. Within the Summit, Gap Inc. will be engaging in a conversation with Dapper Dan, a New York style icon and their longtime partner, to discuss their latest collaboration. HFR has prepared a lineup of panelists and topics for the event. Some confirmed panelists for the event include Vogue Shopping Editor Alexis Bennett, Fashion Designer Andrea Iyamah, and Asia Milla Ware of THE CUT. The experts will discuss How to Build a Successful Black-owned D to C Brand, What's Working for HBCU Fashion Departments, and more. The fashion summit was created to inspire the Black and Latinx community and inform them of the opportunities available in fashion. Brandice Daniels, CEO of Harlem Fashion Row, said: "We are honored to host an event again highlighting the impact of Black creativity in fashion. I am proud of the progress we've made over the years, the guests who have graciously consented to share their wisdom and expertise, and the opportunities for our aspiring designers." Over the last couple of years, the HFR Fashion Summit has been hosted virtually. However, this year's event will be in-person in Harlem, New York. Some notable speakers who have appeared on the program in the past include Nasr, Editor and Chief of Harper's Bazaar; Teri Agins, Author and Former Wall Street Journal Columnist; Constance White, Award-winning Journalist and Arbiter of Culture and Style; Tom Ford; and Anish Melwani, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Inc. For further information or to register for the event, visit Harlem's Fashion Row About Harlem's Fashion Row Founded in 2007 by Brandice Daniel, the organization supports emerging talent and provides a platform for underrepresented African American and Latino designers. Harlem's Fashion Row (HFR) engages audiences and aligns brand partners with emerging designers of color in Fashion. HFR's mission is to discover and showcase the emerging talent of color through a platform of national events and customized multi-platform programs. The organization initiates innovative events which attract a multitude of diverse influencers connected to the fashion industry. Their objective is to provide real business opportunities to people of color in fashion to showcase their skills and abilities in an industry, which is often inaccessible to this group. To learn more, please visit www.harlemsfashionrow.com . SOURCE Harlems Fashion Row "This investment also gives Aspire Bakeries the ability to further innovate and disrupt the puff pastry market segment." Post this "This expansion brings opportunity for the company and the community," said Tyson Yu, CEO, Aspire Bakeries, the company behind beloved brands such as La Brea Bakery and Otis Spunkmeyer. "The state-of-the-art line allows us to meet increasing demand for Pennant Puff Pastry in the foodservice industry." This investment also gives Aspire Bakeries the ability to further innovate and disrupt the puff pastry market segment, Yu added. Pennant Puff Pastry is a favorite among chefs because of its ease of use and versatility for menus throughout the day. "The frozen pastry offers convenience with creativity," said Beau Netzer, Chief Commercial Officer - Foodservice, Aspire Bakeries. "Along with boosting production, the Hazleton bakery will have the capability to produce multiple sizes, formats, and configurations." The Hazleton bakery opened in 1992 and Aspire Bakeries employees' pride and commitment to workplace safety and sustainability have consistently been on display. Today, the bakery employs 150 associates. Since 2018, the Hazleton Bakery has been honored with the American Baking Association's Workplace Safety Award, and since 2016, the bakery has achieved the highest AA rating on its annual BRC Food Safety Audit. The 113,000 square foot Hazleton bakery was one of Aspire Bakeries' first locations to convert to all LED lights and has achieved a 97% waste diversion rate. This bakery expansion continues Aspire Bakeries' growth trajectory since becoming an independently owned business in 2021. In addition to producing Pennant Puff Pastry, the Hazleton bakery makes custom-baked goods for strategic customer partners. For Further Information: Kelly Richardson, APR Venone Public Relations (707) 479-6882 | mailto:[email protected] About Pennant Puff Pastry Founded in 1938, Pennant is an Aspire Bakeries brand that has a long-standing reputation with chefs, known especially for its best-in-class puff pastry. The Pennant brand comes to life when chefs use the puff pastry as the foundation for savory and sweet menu applications including appetizers, bite-sized desserts, flatbread pizzas, and sandwiches. About Aspire Bakeries Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins, and pastries from beloved brands including La Brea Bakery, Otis Spunkmeyer, and Pennant. SOURCE Aspire Bakeries LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthly , a company that prioritizes primary care, support services, and preventative medicine, announced today it has received funding from Corbel Capital Partners to introduce more physicians to a revolutionary primary care business model that can improve patient health outcomes by reducing the number of hospitalizations due to avoidable, advanced chronic diseases. Corbel Capital Partners logo According to the American Medical Association , Medicare physician pay declined 20 percent from 2001 to 2021, or by 1.1% per year on average. Healthly's financing will empower more physicians in California to offer "well care" versus "sick care" services that meet growing demand for high-quality, personalized preventative care. "Corbel Capital Partners is the right investor to accelerate Healthly's growth. We are aligned in our mission to improve communities by providing physicians with new tools, training and support, as well as a profit-sharing model to incentivize treating diseases before they progress," said Ben Quirk, Founder and CEO of Healthly. Healthly will also leverage this financing for strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and promoting solutions that support physician work-life balance, health equity and education. "Healthly's innovative business model addresses a pressing need within our healthcare system; rethinking the way physicians deliver preventative care while enhancing the quality of life," said Brian Yoon, Managing Director at Corbel Capital Partners. "We believe in Healthly's ability to enter future markets, making a substantial impact by expanding the footprint of providers focused on proactive and preventative care in California." About Healthly At Healthly, our mission is to revolutionize healthcare by empowering doctors to devote more time and attention to their patients, ensuring that each individual receives the comprehensive care they deserve. We are committed to developing innovative solutions that streamline administrative tasks and promote efficient medical practices, ultimately fostering a nurturing environment for optimal patient well-being and satisfaction. Together, we strive to build a brighter, healthier future for all. For more information, visit www.healthlymedical.com. About Corbel Capital Partners Corbel Capital Partners is a Los Angeles-based independent investment firm that makes creatively tailored structured debt or equity investments in lower-market businesses and partners with management to create value. Corbel Capital Partners manages approximately $1 billion of institutional capital across multiple funds on behalf of its network of investors. Visit www.corbelcap.com for more information. SOURCE Healthly CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global industry 5.0 market is expected to be valued at USD 65.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 255.7 billion by 2029; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 31.2 % from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Several factors are propelling the growth of the Industry 5.0 market across diverse industries, including rapid technological advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and industrial 3d printing. This evolution responds to the increasing demand for customized products and personalized experiences, fostering a human-centric approach to manufacturing that empowers workers with advanced tools and technologies. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=35376359 Browse in-depth TOC on "Industry 5.0 Market" 257 Tables 48 Figures 210 Pages Industry 5.0 Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 65.8 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 255.7 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 31.2% Market Size Available for 20202029 Forecast Period 20242029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Technology, Sustainability, Industry and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Necessity for continuous technological advancements Key Market Opportunities Proliferation of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing of medical equipment and customized drugs Key Market Drivers Escalated focus on implementing green technologies for sustainable manufacturing The digital twin segment is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period. The digital twin segment is expected to grow fastest in the industry 5.0 during the forecast period. Digital twins play a central role in this integration by providing virtual representations of physical assets, processes, and systems. As industries increasingly adopt Industry 5.0 principles to enhance efficiency, productivity, and customization, the demand for digital twin solutions rises accordingly to facilitate real-time monitoring, analysis, and optimization. Secondly, digital twins enable predictive maintenance, where machines can anticipate equipment failures and recommend proactive maintenance actions, minimizing downtime and reducing maintenance costs. This capability aligns with the goals of Industry 5.0 to optimize operations and enhance asset performance. Additionally, digital twins support the human-centric approach of Industry 5.0 by empowering workers with data-driven insights and decision-making capabilities, fostering collaboration between humans and machines. The automotive segment is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period. The automotive industry leverages technologies, such as automation, IoT, data analytics, and AI, to revolutionize production processes. This approach boosts efficiency, reduces downtime, and enables rapid customization to meet market demands. Factors driving its growth include the need for cost-effective and sustainable production, the demand for personalized vehicles, and the push for real-time monitoring to ensure quality and optimize resource allocation. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=35376359 Asia Pacific is expected to grow at significant rate throughout the forecast period. Asia Pacific industry 5.0 industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.2%. The major factors driving the growth of the Industry 5.0 market in Asia Pacific are the rising demand for smart tools, the growing adoption of technologies, such as IoT and IIoT, and the increasing need to optimize productivity and reduce operational and maintenance costs. Government support to drive industrialization will also boost the demand for Industry 5.0 Several governmental initiatives have been implemented across the region, each aimed at fostering industrial development. For example, China's "Made in China 2025," Japan's "Industrial Value Chain Initiative (IVI)," South Korea's "The Manufacturing Innovation Strategy 3.0 (Strategy 3.0)," and India's "Samarth Udyog Bharat 4.0" are anticipated to significantly contribute to industrial progress. These initiatives are expected to unlock growth prospects for the industry 5.0 market by creating conducive environments for advancement. Key Players The industry 5.0 companies includes significant Tier I and II players such as ABB, Honeywell International Inc, 3D Systems, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Emerson Electric Co, among others and so on are some of the key players in the industry 5.0 market. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=35376359 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Real-time Location Systems Market by Hardware (Tags/Badges, Readers/Trackers), Technology (RFID, Wi-Fi, UWB, BLE, Infrared, Ultrasound, GPS, Zigbee), Application (Inventory/Asset Tracking, Personnel Monitoring), Vertical, Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Industrial Sensors Market Size, Share, Statistics and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Sensor Type (Level Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Gas Sensor, Pressure Sensor, Position Sensor, and Humidity & Moisture Sensor), Type (Contact & non-contact sensors), End-User Industry and Region - Global Forecast to 2029 Industry 4.0 Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Technology (Industrial Robots, Blockchain, Industrial Sensors, Industrial 3D Printing, Machine Vision, HMI, AI in Manufacturing, Digital Twin, AGV's, Machine Condition Monitoring) and Geography - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2026 Industrial IoT Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Device & Technology, Connectivity Type, Software, Vertical (Manufacturing, Energy, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation, Metals & Mining, Agriculture), and Geography - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2026 Industrial Communication Market by Components (Switches, Gateways, Power Supply Devices, Router & WAP, Communication Interface & Protocol Converters, Controllers), Software, Services, Communication Protocol, Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/industry-5-companies.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/industry-5.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2297424/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Extensive Search and Recruitment Process Led by Envision Consulting LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- inewsource, a nonprofit newsroom in San Diego, is pleased to announce the selection of Jamie Johnson as its new Executive Director. inewsource launched the search for this position in the Fall of 2023, to prioritize long-term sustainability and the benefits of bifurcating the CEO and Founder, Lorie Hearn's role. This restructuring aims to fortify inewsource's future by allowing the CEO to concentrate on key partnerships that will support growth and depth of impact. Jamie Johnson, Executive Director Ms. Hearn, CEO of inewsource said, "We're thrilled to welcome Ms. Johnson and are confident that she will bring fresh perspectives and innovative strategies." Ms. Johnson brings with her a wealth of transformative leadership experience and holds a master's in business administration. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce, orchestrating a remarkable revenue increase. As a private consultant, she delivered executive counsel to a diverse portfolio of clients, and as an in-house executive, she developed and directed company-wide and department-specific marketing initiatives. With an impressive track record and extensive experience in business management, Jamie Johnson is poised to lead inewsource with effectiveness and dedication. Founded as one of the first local nonprofit newsrooms in the nation, inewsource has changed laws and improved lives through its award-winning model of investigative journalism. The organization, its staff and board are committed to upholding the values of truth, transparency, collaboration and community engagement, recognizing a free and credible press as the cornerstone of democracy. This priority is underscored by the launch of a new program called the Documenters. This program recruits, trains and pays citizens to attend public meetings that are no longer covered by mainstream media. Ms. Johnson said, "I am incredibly honored to join inewsource and support its mission to make a positive change in the lives of San Diego residents through journalism. I look forward to collaborating with the organization's talented staff." Jamie Johnson was selected as inewsource's next Executive Director after an extensive search and recruitment process led by a volunteer search committee and facilitated by Envision Consulting. Envision Consulting is a boutique firm that specializes in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions exclusively for nonprofit organizations. SOURCE Envision Consulting The company emerges from bankruptcy, financially stronger and positioned for growth under new leadership. HALETHORPE, Md., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IronNet, an innovative leader Transforming Cybersecurity Through Collective DefenseSM has completed its restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11 as a private company. IronNet emerges as a stronger business, focused on advancing innovation with their product roadmap for the acclaimed IronNet Collective DefenseSM platform, IronDefense. Since the start of the restructuring, IronNet has continued to evolve its products, particularly its cloud-based solutions, enhancing early threat detection, deep detection capabilities, and secure, anonymous community sharing. IronNet has introduced a new proactive command and control (C2) threat intel feed, IronRadar, and remains at the forefront of addressing complex cyber threats. Linda Zecher, CEO of IronNet, expressed enthusiasm about the future, stating, "At IronNet, we're embarking on a growth journey focused on our customers. We are committed to delivering on our promises, enhancing the IronNet Collective Defense platform, and staying engaged with our clients. With a focus on AI-driven solutions like IronRadar, we aim to lead in proactive cybersecurity, ensuring meaningful expansion and innovation in every step we take." The company has embarked on a new chapter of innovation, resilience, and strategic expansion through the restructuring under the leadership of Linda Zecher as CEO and Cameron Pforr as President. Under the company's Plan of Reorganization, which was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on January 18, 2024, IronNet has eliminated about $37.7 million in company debt and emerged with a new exit ABL facility of $15 million to support ongoing operations under the Plan. The company welcomes new Board Members including Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mike Hewitt, CEO of IP3, a company that develops sustainable energy and security infrastructure, and John Akridge, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and CEO of Height Capital Markets, a Washington, D.C.-based capital markets firm that provides investment banking services. General (Ret.) Keith Alexander has stepped down as the Chairman of the Board of IronNet. Commenting on IronNet's influential role in global cybersecurity, Admiral Hewitt stated, "IronNet has positioned itself as the lead technology provider on the ground in Ukraine by standing up the Collective Defense AI Fusion Cell (CDAIC) in Kyiv, which will be led by IronNet and its partners. The CDAIC under IronNet will incubate best-of-breed technologies in a real-world cyber conflict environment." Bill Lane, VP of Product Development of IronNet, highlighted the impact of the IronNet Collective Defense platform, "For the month of January, more than 977 critical cyber alerts were detected across the collective defense community, which were shared and collaborated on. The IronNet collective defense community includes leaders in education, finance, government and Internet services. As we revitalize IronNet, our team is enhancing the platform's capabilities, ensuring it continues to be an indispensable tool across all cybersecurity domains XDR, MDR, NDR, or EDR. Every day, collective defense grows stronger, fueled by new data integrations, directly benefiting our customers and the wider cybersecurity community." IronNet has maintained the support and trust of numerous government and commercial customers, underscoring their confidence in IronNet's unique Collective Defense solutions. IronNet is now poised for smart growth as it looks to the future, focusing on delivering advanced cybersecurity solutions to its customers. This period of renewal strengthens IronNet's capacity to protect enterprises, sectors, and nations from sophisticated cyber adversaries. About IronNet IronNet is dedicated to delivering the power of collective cybersecurity to defend companies, sectors, and nations. By uniting advanced technology with a team of experienced professionals, IronNet is committed to providing peace of mind in the digital world. For more information, visit www.ironnet.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345442/IronNet_Logo.jpg There are hundreds of videos on YouTube with guided meditations to improve your concentration or simply relax. And they begin with something like: Find a quiet space, make yourself comfortable, and gently close your eyes... The videos barely last 15 minutes and they have something like 200,000 views. Others have two million. But the success of relaxation does not stop there. Wellness companies and mindfulness gurus offer this type of guided meditation usually a bit longer, about 40 minutes per session to large companies and their employees. This particular industry is worth around $60 billion dollars worldwide. However, more and more studies have cast doubt on the practice, claiming a two-week meditation course does not have long-term effects on the employee, especially when the causes of stress are part of the work itself. There are always exceptions to the rule, but the results of a study carried out by expert William J. Fleming for the University of Oxford this January are categorical. Participants appear no better off after attending the meditation program, the expert says in his report. Meditation apps or attending a crash course on techniques to deal with stress that are not applied later do not work either. Fleming analyzed dozens of tests carried out with different employees in different companies (just over 46,000 employees spread across 233 companies) and concluded that the vast majority of them are not providing [the employee] the additional or appropriate resources to deal with work stress. The researcher gives the following reason: it makes no sense to try to change the individual without changing the work environment in which their activity takes place. Despite evidence supporting the effectiveness of organizational change and work redesign on improving employee well-being, interventions that target the individual worker are the most common, says Fleming. Another study, this time by two researchers at universities in the United States, concluded the same thing in 2019 after analyzing 32,974 employees of a large company. One group participated in wellness programs and another did not. At first, the result seemed positive: those who had received the course reported a greater sense of well-being than those who had stayed at home. However, that difference disappeared after a year without taking the course again. Business on the rise Even so, these types of programs have been on an upward spiral for years. A study by Exactitude Consultancy estimated the market for wellness solutions for companies at $57 billion in 2020 and predicts annual growth of 9% between now and 2029. These figures coincide with those obtained by the center data analysis company Mordor Intelligence, which valued the market at $60.4 billion in 2021 and forecasts annual growth of 7%. State employee protection laws and statistics negatively linking mental health and productivity have helped popularize these types of practices. The largest market is the United States, but Europe is slowly catching up on the trend. In Spain, only 23% of companies offer their employees emotional well-being programs, and the courses are still a strange fad, according to the Human Resources Trends 2023 study by the company Pluxee, which specializes in employee benefits services. The professionals who offer this type of program maintain that consistency is key for learning to have a real effect. Thais Alonso has been working in this field for more than 20 years, she has a CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) certificate from La Salle University and was a pioneer in the development of mindfulness training programs for organizations in Spain. The minimum training she offers is two weeks, although she prefers it to last a month. I also set homework, which are meditation exercises to do at home. My courses you give you some tools to handle the most stressful times, but what is important is that if you want to see long-term results, you have to train your mind constantly and regularly, says the professional who has worked for companies such as Toyota and Siemens in the past. Alonso argues that what is important is how each person manages stressful situations, whether at work or in life. These techniques can also help develop other skills, especially when the stress is generated by the company that is paying for the course to reduce it. Its another story if that stress is generated by an injustice such as the companys schedule or productivity goals. Here mindfulness helps us to work on communication and assertiveness, being able to speak without fear about the things that you think need to be adjusted. This practice does not serve to exploit employees so that they do not have stress. If they asked me for that, I wouldnt do it, the expert states bluntly. Since she started, Alonso can say truthfully that, although most of the employees do not continue with the practice, others do, and they call her from time to time to thank her. Make it a habit Elisa Sanchez is a psychologist and human resources expert who believes that creating the habit is essential for this to work. For it to have a permanent positive effect on your health, it has to be something that is internalized and that you adopt as a habit in your life, she says. Sanchez, who also specializes in techniques to help employees with stress, explains that these are different from meditation. There are many types from relaxation techniques (which include muscle and mental relaxation) to mindfulness, which differs from meditation in that its aim is not to get the individual to relax. The most common criticism that these programs face has to do with the intention of the company that pays for them. Andre Spicer, who is a professor of organizational behavior at the University of London and wrote the book Business Bullshit, stated in an article in The Guardian that the factors that generate the greatest stress in employees are in the work itself. Insecurity about the future of work, very long working hours, and lack of support from the company have a great impact on employee stress. Spicer points to a study that found the most effective ways to improve employee well-being were reducing wasteful bureaucratic procedures, reducing meeting lengths, improving shifts, and giving employees a sense of psychological security in their team. Sanchez argues that these types of measures come first, followed by meditation and relaxation techniques. The Occupational Risk Prevention Law says that a company is responsible for caring for the health of its workforce; risks that cannot be avoided must be measured, and everything possible must be done to minimize them. That is why the psychosocial problems that employees face are becoming more and more important. The company has an obligation to improve working conditions to prevent them from being stressful, and that is a priority. Companies have to minimize the workload, the pace, the difficulty, make sure the space is ergonomic, all of that, she adds. Then there is the second level: Provide people with tools to minimize those risks that cannot be avoided, such as the stress that is inevitable in some jobs, and this is where this type of relaxation and meditation techniques would come in, Sanchez admits. Enjoy this moment, your moment. So ends the 15-minute guided meditation that began at the beginning of this article. Smile and be deeply grateful with all your being. Thank you, it says before the screen goes black. Jasper enters the European market through acquisition, joins vibrant AI community in Paris SAN FRANCISCO and PARIS, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jasper, one of the world's biggest generative AI app companies, has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Clipdrop, an AI image creation and editing platform, from Stability AI. This acquisition signifies a significant step forward in Jasper's capacity to deliver the most comprehensive, multimodal copilot for enterprise marketing teams. Clipdrop is an image creation and editing platform used by millions of creative designers and brands worldwide. Founded in 2020 by Google alumni Cyril Diagne, Damien Henry, and Jonathan Blanchet, Clipdrop enables users to edit existing images, create new ones, and develop an expansive number of variations in size, detail, and style. For marketers and brand leaders, this technology can be a catalyst for accelerating their ad strategies and developing on-brand creative. "Marketing is visual," said Timothy Young, CEO of Jasper. "The addition of Clipdrop to Jasper will advance our vision to be the most comprehensive end-to-end marketing copilot in the industry, powering all the formats, channels, and functions enterprise marketing teams need. A copilot this robust will enable the enterprises we serve to go beyond simple AI prompts to achieve more personalized marketing, better informed automation, and improved optimization across their entire strategy." The Clipdrop team will join Jasper effective immediately and continue to lead research and innovation on multimodality in Jasper from their headquarters in Paris, which has become a hub of AI innovation in Europe. With this acquisition, Jasper expands its footprint to Europe and plans to continue to invest there from both a talent and customer acquisition standpoint. The company is eager to contribute to Paris's vibrant AI community. "Jasper has been a valued partner, leveraging Stability AI models for many years," said Emad Mostaque, CEO of Stability AI. "We're thrilled to see Clipdrop expand their offering by joining forces with Jasper. We will continue to partner with Clipdrop on research and deliver our cutting-edge models to their platform." "We are excited about what Clipdrop technology can do inside Jasper's copilot for marketing teams," said Damien Henry, Clipdrop co-founder. "There are natural synergies between the two companies and a clear focus on creating the best multimodal platform for marketers. We can't wait to get started." In addition to leading further development of AI-assisted image creation and editing, Damien Henry will play a larger leadership role in research and innovation for the entire Jasper product. The acquisition of Clipdrop closed on February 20, 2024. Business customers will be able to access it through the Jasper API immediately, over time the functionality will be more deeply integrated into the copilot. Individuals can still purchase Clipdrop as a standalone product via Clipdrop.co About Jasper: Founded in 2021, Jasper is an AI copilot for marketing teams that want better outcomes in addition to faster outputs. Jasper securely trains on your brand and strategy, accelerates content and campaign production, and helps marketers measure and optimize for performance all as part of an end-to-end copilot. Jasper has been recognized as "one of America's fastest-growing private companies" by Inc. 5000 and was one of the fastest companies to reach 100M+ users. Customers include Morningstar, Anthropologie, SentinelONE, ZoomInfo, and more. Learn more at jasper.ai. SOURCE Jasper RADNOR, Pa., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against GrafTech International Ltd. ("GrafTech") (NYSE: EAF). The action charges GrafTech with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of GrafTech' s materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, GrafTech' s investors have suffered significant losses. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR GRAFTECH LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/graftech-international-ltd?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eaf&mktm=r LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: MARCH 25, 2024 CLASS PERIOD: FEBRUARY 8, 2019 THROUGH AUGUST 3, 2023 CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS: Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at [email protected] Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field as well as the firm itself which is continuously awarded for the successful results we've achieved. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent. In addition to representing investors in cases where the fraud has been revealed, Kessler Topaz also represents whistleblowers - persons who expose wrongdoing to those in positions of authority or to the public- in cases brought under federal and state qui tam statutes, and through financial fraud whistleblower programs, such as those run by the SEC, CFTC and IRS. If you have information about fraud against government programs (such as Medicare), or violations of federal securities, commodities, tax or anti-foreign bribery laws, contact Kessler Topaz at (866) 369-7779 or at [email protected] or go to https://www.ktmc-whistleblower.com. DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT Before the start of the Class Period, GrafTech had underwent an extensive transformation that was intended to revamp the company's business and return it to profitability. In public filings with the SEC, the company lauded its "transformation" and claimed that it had emerged from its restructuring with the "most competitive portfolio of low-cost graphite electrode manufacturing facilities in the industry." The company further represented that GrafTech's facilities were "modern, strategically located and well-maintained," which they claimed would provide the company with efficient growth opportunities following the offering. Key to this purportedly sustainable growth were the company's claims regarding the "more environmentally friendly nature of EAF steelmaking" employed by GrafTech's customers. Defendants continued to represent throughout the Class Period that GrafTech was committed to protecting the environment and acting "proactively" to advance sustainability initiatives. The truth began to be revealed on September 16, 2022, when GrafTech disclosed that its critical manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico had been shut down by regulators following inspections by the State Attorney's office for the Secretary of Environment and the Ministry of the Environment. The Monterrey facility was responsible for manufacturing 30% of GrafTech's overall graphite electrode output and 100% of its pin stock. Following this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $0.45, or 8.5%, to close at $4.85 on September 19, 2022. Then, on August 4, 2023, GrafTech issued a press release reporting the company's financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. In the results, GrafTech reported that sales declined 49% compared to the second quarter of 2022 as the company continued to "recover" from the effects of the Monterrey facility shutdown in 2022. As a result of the substantial decline in net sales, GrafTech reported a net loss of $8 million compared to $115 million in net income reported in the second quarter of 2022. On the investor conference call discussing the results, GrafTech attributed the Monterrey suspension as the "key driver" of the underperformance and disclosed that GrafTech's ability to secure customer contracts would continue to be indirectly impacted in the second half of fiscal 2023. Following this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $1.18 per share, or 22.56%, to close at $4.05 per share on August 4, 2023. WHAT CAN I DO? GrafTech investors may, no later than March 25, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages GrafTech investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against GrafTech, Porter v. GrafTech International Ltd., et al., Case No. 24-cv-00154, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF? A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq. 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 (484) 270-1453 [email protected] SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP BALTIMORE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, along with UMSOM Board of Visitors Chair Cynthia Egan, announced today that Troy LeMaile-Stovall, MS, MBA, an award-winning technology investment, higher education, and management consulting executive, has been appointed to the School's Board of Visitors. LeMaile-Stovall is the CEO of TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies dedicated to empowering a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem throughout the state. "It is an honor to join such a talented group of leaders and support the School of Medicine in its work to drive innovation in research, medical education, and patient care," said LeMaile-Stovall. "I look forward to helping Dean Gladwin and this institution in continuing to make waves and grow the Maryland Biotech Corridor." An entrepreneur at heart, LeMaile-Stovall's leadership at TEDCO has helped the organization reach more than $2.7 billion in economic impact through innovative programs, translational research opportunities, and uplifting technology and life sciences start-up companies. Prior to joining TEDCO in 2020, he led strategic operations for several academic institutions and organizations. His previous appointments include serving as the Chief Operating Officer at the University District of Columbia, Interim President of Zenith Education Group, Principal at Butler Snow Advisory Services, Executive Vice President and COO of Howard University, as well as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Jackson State University, where he was awarded the Thurgood Marshall HBCU CFO of the Year award. "Troy's close involvement in the development of Maryland's tech hub and his leadership background in education will advance our efforts on every level,"said Dr. Gladwin, who is the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of UMSOM, and Vice President for Medical Affairs at University of Maryland, Baltimore. "In addition, both Troy and I have a lifelong commitment to improving the health and well-being of patients with sickle cell disease. I very much look forward to partnering with Troy to improve care for all of our patients and their families with sickle cell disease." LeMaile-Stovall's impact in Maryland has earned him widespread recognition and awards. Most recently, he was named a 2023 "Power 10" awardee by the Baltimore Business Journal for his achievements and commitment to the community, inducted into the Baltimore Dealmakers Hall of Fame, named a "Tech Titan" for the second year in a row by the Washingtonian, and, in 2022, was named the "Most Admired CEO" by The Daily Record. "Troy is widely celebrated and recognized in the community as a transformative leader," said UMSOM Board of Visitors Chair Cynthia Eagan. "We are incredibly fortunate to have him and look forward to leveraging his expertise to achieve our mission at the School of Medicine." LeMaile-Stovall's educational background includes an MBA from Harvard University, M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University, and B.S. in Engineering from Southern Methodist University. He is also a triathlete and USA swimming certified chief judge official. About TEDCO TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com. About the University of Maryland School of Medicine Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 46 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs, and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1.2 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic, and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has more than $500 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 students, trainees, residents, and fellows. The School of Medicine, which ranks as the 8th highest among public medical schools in research productivity (according to the Association of American Medical Colleges profile) is an innovator in translational medicine, with 606 active patents and 52 start-up companies. In the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of the Best Medical Schools, published in 2023, the UM School of Medicine is ranked #10 among the 92 public medical schools in the U.S., and in the top 16 percent (#32) of all 192 public and private U.S. medical schools. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com. SOURCE University of Maryland School of Medicine DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Magnetic Refrigeration Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The latest in-depth analysis of the global magnetic refrigeration market indicates a surge in demand for energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable cooling technologies. The comprehensive study, which expands on historical data and forecasts market trends through 2028, reveals a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.3%, demonstrating the market's robust trajectory and substantial potential for expansion. With a recorded value of USD 130.12 million in 2022, this pioneering market reflects a shift toward more innovative and eco-friendly refrigeration. Magnetic refrigeration, which employs the magnetocaloric effect, positions itself as a cutting-edge alternative to traditional refrigeration methods, characterized by its high efficiency and low environmental impact. The technology's potential to eliminate the dependence on harmful refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) is a crucial factor driving its adoption across diverse industries including domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors. Magnetic refrigeration's capability to enhance energy conservation and reduce carbon footprint aligns with global environmental objectives and regulatory frameworks. The forecast period is expected to witness accelerated growth from an increase in consumer awareness about sustainable products. Notably, magnetic refrigeration systems stand out for their superior energy efficiency and precise temperature control, factors that resonate significantly with the market's enormous growth potential. Key Market Drivers Stirring the Demand for Magnetic Refrigeration Technology Environmental Sustainability : The shift towards eco-friendly cooling technologies continues to propel the magnetic refrigeration market forward, as traditional refrigerants face increasing regulatory scrutiny and bans due to their environmental impact. : The shift towards eco-friendly cooling technologies continues to propel the magnetic refrigeration market forward, as traditional refrigerants face increasing regulatory scrutiny and bans due to their environmental impact. Energy Efficiency and Operational Cost Reduction : The market benefits tremendously from the technology's energy efficiency credentials. With rising energy costs, magnetic refrigeration systems provide cost-effective solutions by maintaining nearly constant pressure during the cooling cycle, thereby conserving energy and optimizing operational expenses. : The market benefits tremendously from the technology's energy efficiency credentials. With rising energy costs, magnetic refrigeration systems provide cost-effective solutions by maintaining nearly constant pressure during the cooling cycle, thereby conserving energy and optimizing operational expenses. Technological Advancements: Sustained investments in research and development by industry players fuel the enhancement of magnetocaloric materials and system performance, contributing to the growing adoption and commercialization of this innovative technology. Challenges and Trends: Navigating the Magnetic Refrigeration Landscape Despite the positive outlook, the market encounters challenges that include the complex and costly technology, limited commercial availability, and integration hurdles. However, emerging trends such as the transition toward energy-efficient solutions and the broadening of applications, supported by continuous R&D investments, indicate a dynamic marketplace ready for transformative change. Regional Market Development: European Innovations Lead the Way In the regional context, Europe stands out as a key contributor to the market expansion, driven by advanced research, stringent environmental mandates, and a strong industrial presence. The region showcases continuous progress in this arena, emphasizing Europe's critical role in steering the global magnetic refrigeration industry towards a sustainable future. With the magnetic refrigeration market on an uptrend, this analysis provides a detailed overview of its drivers, challenges, and trends, offering valuable insights into its current state and future prospects. For stakeholders within the industry, staying abreast of such comprehensive market research is essential to strategize and navigate the evolving landscape of refrigeration technology. Companies Profiled Camfridge Ltd Whirlpool Corporation BASF SE Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Vacuumschmelze Cooltech Applications Astronautics Corporation of America Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd Eramet S.A. Toshiba Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gt0hsm About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DALLAS, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammoth Holdings LLC, America's premier express car wash platform, announced the recent opening of its newest location, Silverstar Car Wash outside Minneapolis in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The new site aligns with Mammoth's dual growth strategy of developing greenfield locations while also acquiring existing brands. "Customers in the Greater Minneapolis area will experience state-of-the-art technology and equipment for the highest quality car wash every time," said Dave Hoffmann, Chairman and CEO of Mammoth Holdings. "This location is Mammoth's second opening in Minnesota and builds on our momentum of reaching 500 sites across the country." The site will become a go-to destination for car owners in the White Bear Lake area, providing convenience and top-notch service to every car and every customer. Today's opening marks the 25th Mammoth location under the Silverstar Car Wash brand. Mammoth Holdings is the first car wash platform formed by industry insiders and has 134 operating locations. Mammoth is customer-focused operationally; operator-focused in its approach to acquisitions; and seeks to be the partner-of-choice for car wash operators who desire liquidity, growth capital, and a tax-deferred equity investment opportunity. Mammoth Holdings' multi-brand portfolio includes Busy Bee Car Wash, Coastal Carwash, Finish Line Car Wash, Galaxies Express Car Wash, In & Out Express Carwash, Jax Kar Wash, Lulu's Express Car Wash, Marc-1 Car Wash, Mr. Squeaky Car Wash, Pals Carwash, Pitstop Car Wash, PureMagic Carwash, Silverstar Car Wash, Speedy Clean Car Wash, Suds Car Wash, Swifty Car Wash, Today's Car Wash, Ultra Car Wash, Wash Me Fast, Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash, and Wiggy Wash. Mammoth has significant growth capital available and is actively seeking acquisitions and development opportunities. In October 2018, Mammoth partnered with Red Dog Equity LLC, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, which, through its partnership with Tom Pritzker's family business interests (advised by The Pritzker Organization), provided the equity for Mammoth Holdings' corporate development initiatives. In December 2022, Mammoth sold a minority stake to CCMP Growth Advisors that provided Mammoth with additional capital to pursue building new units and making acquisitions. Oak Hill Advisors provides Mammoth Holdings' debt financing through its direct lending partnership with BMO Capital Markets. About Mammoth Holdings Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Mammoth Holdings, LLC operates 134 conveyor car washes under the Busy Bee Car Wash, Coastal Carwash, Finish Line Car Wash, Galaxies Express Car Wash, In & Out Express Carwash, Jax Kar Wash, Lulu's Express Car Wash, Marc-1 Car Wash, Mr. Squeaky Car Wash, Pals Carwash, Pitstop Car Wash, PureMagic Carwash, Silverstar Car Wash, Speedy Clean Car Wash, Suds Car Wash, Swifty Car Wash, Today's Car Wash, Ultra Car Wash, Wash Me Fast, Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash, and Wiggy Wash brands in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah. Mammoth Holdings was founded by Gary Dennis and Chip Hackett in 2002. To learn more, please visit mammothholdings.com. About Red Dog Equity Red Dog Equity LLC is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies poised for strong growth in partnership with driven, entrepreneurial business leaders ("Red Dogs"). To learn more, please visit reddogequity.com. About The Pritzker Organization The Pritzker Organization is the merchant bank for the business interests of the Tom Pritzker family. Additional information can be found at pritzkerorg.com. About CCMP Growth Advisors CCMP Growth Advisors, LP ("CCMP Growth") is a New York based growth-oriented private equity firm focused on making lead buyout and growth equity investments in middle-market companies in the Consumer and Industrial sectors primarily in North America. CCMP Growth leverages the deep investment experience of its team to identify high growth companies in transition, and partners with management to help each platform scale through strategic and operational support. SOURCE Mammoth Holdings HEALDSBURG, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Maze Row Wine Merchant announced today that it has been appointed the exclusive U.S. importer of Alto Adige's Girlan, effective immediately. Founded in 1923, Cantina Girlan is a revered producer of terroir-focused Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Today, Cantina Girlan is comprised of 200 deeply committed winegrowers and their families, farming an area covering approximately 220 hectares of vineyards in the best wine-producing areas of the Alto Adige. Girlan joins a portfolio of esteemed wineries from Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and California's Central Coast. Girlan is known for award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from hillside vineyards overlooking the city of Bolzano. Post this Girlan logo Photo credit: Girlan "We are excited to expand our portfolio to include Girlan," said Joseph C. Gallo, Founder of Maze Row Wine Merchant. "Girlan has just celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is an honor to represent them in the United States. Their wines truly reflect the character and traditions of high elevation viticulture in Alto Adige. We welcome Girlan to the Maze Row community." Girlan is known for its award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Girlan's hillside vineyards overlook the city of Bolzano, with elevations ranging from 450 to 550 meters. All the Girlan grapes are hand-harvested in alignment with a precise harvest calendar and are gently processed according to their quality, variety, and origin. In 2010, the winery underwent an extensive modernizing project, transforming into a state-of-the-art winemaking facility. From the Girlan portfolio, Maze Row will import Trattmann Pinot Noir Riserva, Patricia Pinot Noir, Marna Chardonnay, Indra Sauvignon, and from the Classici tier, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. Girlan wines will be available in select markets across the U.S. beginning May 1. About Maze Row Wine Merchant Maze Row Wine Merchant is a U.S. importer and exporter of fine wines. Maze Row shares the best in wine and wine culture through a portfolio of acclaimed artisan producers, each selected for their uncompromising devotion to craft. At its core are the dedicated artists and producer families creating truly singular, terroirdriven wines. The portfolio includes Bodega Lanzaga from Spain; Allegrini, Argiano, Brancaia, Girlan, Jermann, Pieropan, Poggio al Tesoro, Ratti, and Tornatore from Italy, Saint Clair in Marlborough, NZ and The Language of Yes, a collaboration with Randall Grahm from California's Central Coast. Please visit mazerow.com for more information. Press Inquiries Please contact: Lon Gallagher Email: [email protected] SOURCE Maze Row Wine Merchant PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH), owner of Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX Pearl), MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald), MIAX Sapphire, LLC (MIAX SapphireTM), Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC (MGEXTM), LedgerX LLC (LedgerX), The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX), and Dorman Trading, LLC (Dorman Trading), today announced that MIAX has been named the "Best Trading Platform" at the Fund Intelligence Operations and Services Awards 2024. "We are honored to be recognized for the second year in a row as recipients of the award for 'Best Trading Platform,'" said Thomas P. Gallagher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MIAX. "The members of our technology team are regarded as some of the best in the exchange industry and this award is a testament to their talents." Since 2016, MIAX has been named a winner every year at the Fund Intelligence Operations and Services Awards. MIAX won the "Most Innovative Technology" for the years 2017 through 2020, received the "Best Options Trading Platform" award for 2021, and the "Best Trading Platform" award for 2022. "Our in-house built, proprietary technology has been an integral part of MIAX's successful track record, and we continually evaluate and refine our infrastructure to support the increasing demands of the exchange industry," said Matthew J. Rotella, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of MIAX. "MIAX Exchange trading platforms have been fully operational 99.999% of the time since we launched our first exchange in 2012, even as trading volumes have surged and financial markets have experienced multiple periods of elevated market volatility. We remain dedicated to delivering world-class speed and reliability to our customers in 2024 and beyond." For over 20 years, the Fund Intelligence Operations and Services Awards have recognized and rewarded the outstanding skills and talents of the vendor community servicing the complex and evolving needs of asset managers and their clients. About MIAX MIAX's parent holding company, Miami International Holdings, Inc., owns Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX Pearl), MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald), MIAX Sapphire LLC (MIAX SapphireTM), Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC (MGEX), LedgerX LLC (LedgerX), The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) and Dorman Trading, LLC (Dorman Trading). MIAX, MIAX Pearl and MIAX Emerald are national securities exchanges registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are enabled by MIAX's in-house built, proprietary technology. MIAX offers trading of options on all three exchanges as well as cash equities through MIAX Pearl Equities. The MIAX trading platform was built to meet the high-performance quoting demands of the U.S. options trading industry and is differentiated by throughput, latency, reliability and wire-order determinism. MIAX also serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). MGEX is a registered exchange with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and offers trading in a variety of products including Hard Red Spring Wheat Futures. MGEX is a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) under the CFTC, providing DCM and DCO services in an array of asset classes. LedgerX is a CFTC regulated exchange and clearinghouse and is registered as a Designated Contract Market (DCM), Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) and Swap Execution Facility (SEF) with the CFTC. BSX is a fully electronic, vertically integrated international securities market headquartered in Bermuda and organized in 1971. BSX specializes in the listing and trading of capital market instruments such as equities, debt issues, funds, hedge funds, derivative warrants, and insurance linked securities. Dorman Trading is a full-service Futures Commission Merchant registered with the CFTC. MIAX's executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, N.J., with additional U.S. offices located in Miami, FL. MGEX offices are located in Minneapolis, MN. LedgerX offices are located in Princeton, N.J. BSX offices are located in Hamilton, Bermuda. Dorman Trading offices are located in Chicago, IL. To learn more about MIAX visit www.miaxglobal.com. To learn more about MGEX visit www.miaxglobal.com/mgex. To learn more about LedgerX visit www.ledgerx.com. To learn more about BSX visit www.bsx.com. To learn more about Dorman Trading visit www.dormantrading.com. Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by the Company remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, the Company's use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between the owners of these trademarks and the Company. Any references by the Company to third-party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third-party goods and/or services and shall be considered nominative fair use under the trademark law. Media Contact: Andy Nybo, SVP, Chief Communications Officer (609) 955-2091 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1396492/MIAX_Logo.jpg AMARILLO, Texas, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monkee's first obtained their playful name from founder Dee Dee Shaw, whose mother nicknamed her and her siblings "a bunch of monkeys." After opening originally as a shoe boutique in Wilmington, NC, a second Monkee's location was opened in Winston-Salem, NC by Brenda Maready. These boutiques transformed from selling only shoes, to becoming a go-to fashion destination for women who prefer unique items and personalized customer service. Thirty years later in twelve different states, Monkee's is still known for carrying stylish and timeless pieces, along with the latest trends. Monkee's prides itself on the ultimate shopping experience to ensure every customer walks out feeling their best. Whether one is looking for their favorite designer, or searching for the latest brands, Monkee's stores have it. For Spring 2024, some of the latest apparel trends sold at Monkee's include preppy shirting, celestial star motifs, and halter necklines. Apparel trends are expected to include asymmetrical designs with playful details including texture and embellishments. Along with the latest apparel direction, accessorizing always partakes in elevating an outfit. Some of the projected colors of spring are cyber lime, fondant pink, radiant red, elemental blue, lavender, and nutshell, which are expected to be prevalent in apparel and accessories this season. This trend report reflects the expected direction in the fashion industry for this spring season. All of these clothing and color trends will be carried out at one of the new Monkee's locations; Monkee's of Amarillo, which is owned and operated by Maggie Velky. This location will be Monkee's fourth location to open in Texas. Whether you prefer bold styles, dressing in bright spring hues or adding pops of color to your outfit with accessories, handbags or shoes, Monkee's of Amarillo will have everything needed to be ready to dress in style this spring. Velky has a background in the fashion industry through her business as a personal stylist called "The MOD Style" where she has represented direct-to-consumer women's clothing brands with her clients. She also graduated with a bachelor's degree with a major in Fashion Promotion and a minor in Marketing and Advertising from Texas Christian University. Her fashion forward style that has transformed the style of many past customers is something she will continue to bring to her new storefront. "Showcasing the latest trends in the fashion industry and spending time with clients that have turned into lifelong friends has been the best part of my career," said Velky. Velky is excited about carrying brands such Farm Rio, Oliphant, Shoshanna, Olivia James, and Hunter Bell, which all have styles matching the projected trends this spring. She has curated many styles which will be presented in her new store with a wide selection of shoes, clothes, and accessories. Monkee's of Amarillo will open Friday, February 23rd and is located at 2616 Wolflin Ave. During her grand opening weekend, she will host trunk shows from City Boots and Tipsy Threads and will also have giveaways collaborating with local businesses. "My hope is that Monkee's of Amarillo will be a shop with friendly faces and unique merchandise that brings a smile to your face. I want my customers and clients to feel welcome and comfortable shopping at Monkee's," said Velky. For more information about Monkee's Franchising, visit shopmonkees.com and follow @shopmonkees and @monkeesofamarillo to learn more about the grand opening. SOURCE Monkees Franchising, LLC PITTSBURGH, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MSA Safety, Inc. (NYSE: MSA), the global leader in the development of advanced safety products and solutions that help to protect people and facility infrastructures, today announced that John T. Ryan III, Director, has informed the Board of Directors that he has decided not to seek re-election at the end of his term and will instead retire from the Board when his term ends at the company's annual meeting of shareholders this May. Mr. Ryan is the grandson of company co-founder John T. Ryan Sr. He also is the son of the late John T. Ryan Jr., who served as MSA Chairman from 1963 to 1990. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., Mr. Ryan has dedicated his professional life to advancing the mission of MSA "That men and women may work in safety, and that they, their families and their communities may live in health throughout the world." Upon graduating magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, Mr. Ryan served as an officer in the U.S. Army in Military Intelligence. After earning an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University, Mr. Ryan joined MSA in 1969. From 1974 to 1986, he served in the company's International segment, responsible for operations in South America, Asia and the Middle East. He held the role of Executive Vice President from 1986 to 1990, responsible for all of MSA's U.S. operations. He was elected President of MSA in 1990, and in 1991, assumed the additional responsibilities of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ryan III served as Chairman and CEO of MSA until his retirement from the company in 2008. Following his retirement, he remained the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board until May 2015, after which he continued service as a Director. Mr. Ryan has served as a Director of MSA since 1981. Nish Vartanian, MSA Chairman and CEO, commented, "When I think of MSA, I think of John and the legacy he has helped to build and preserve over a remarkable 55-years of continuous service to the company. His dedication to our mission, his commitment to managing with integrity, and his care for all MSA associates past, present, and future were all tremendous influences on my own career. Through the years, he has served as an important mentor to me, and I know he has to many other past and present leaders of MSA." Mr. Vartanian continued, "In leading MSA, John oversaw the continuation and enhancement of the company's position as a respected global leader in the development and manufacturing of products and solutions that help safeguard workers and facilities. Most of all, he set an example for all MSA associates to follow by doing those things with a steadfast commitment to integrity. His leadership philosophy always recognized the importance of all company stakeholders, and his vision was to improve society through actions driven by longstanding core values. In many respects, John was a Corporate Social Responsibility-focused leader long before that term was established," Mr. Vartanian said. Reflecting on his career, Mr. Ryan commented, "I believe every person is put on this earth for a purpose. For me, I have always felt my vocation in my business life is to do whatever I could to ensure the success and continuity of the MSA business and its mission to protect people at work and in harm's way around the world." He continued, "While I will no longer serve the company in an official capacity, my interest in the company, as a retired employee and shareholder, will not diminish. I would like to comment that these recent 16 years for myself and the company have been greatly enhanced by the excellent leadership we have had from my successors Bill Lambert and Nish Vartanian. I am also excited to see Steve Blanco moving into the role of CEO in May of this year. Steve has a very strong understanding of the company's mission and has demonstrated the necessary experience and leadership skills during an already successful career at MSA. I have long respected his work and I am confident he will do a great job leading MSA Safety into the future." Bob Bruggeworth, the company's Lead Independent Director, said, "John's contributions to the Board will be missed. His strong business acumen, commitment to the company's mission and values, and his deep understanding of corporate governance were of continued value to the Board. We wish John the best in his retirement and congratulate him on his tremendous success throughout a long and distinguished career." In addition to his MSA experiences, Mr. Ryan is a past member of the Executive Committee of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development (a position in which he and his father sequentially served for 60 years) and a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Safety Equipment Association. He has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations for 43 years and serves as a member of the Advisory Council of Business at the University of Notre Dame and as a trustee of the Extra Mile Foundation that supports inner-city Catholic schools in Pittsburgh. Mr. Ryan and his wife Catharine have three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and have lived in their home in Pittsburgh for over 54 years. About MSA Safety MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the Company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2023 revenues of $1.8 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of over 5,000 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com. SOURCE MSA Safety "The Board of Directors and I are very pleased for Steve to become CEO in May of this year and to be elected to the MSA Board at what is a very exciting and dynamic time for our company and the safety industry overall," Mr. Vartanian said. "Steve's election demonstrates the high level of confidence the Board and I have in his abilities to lead MSA into the future and continue the track record of growth and performance the company has demonstrated over the past several years." Mr. Blanco joined MSA in 2012 as Vice President of Global Operational Excellence. In 2017, he was named President of MSA Americas, responsible for the company's business in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Under Mr. Blanco's leadership, from 2018 through 2022, revenue in the company's Americas segment grew by more than 40 percent. During his tenure with the company, Mr. Blanco also helped oversee the acquisitions and integrations of Globe Manufacturing, Sierra Monitor and Bacharach. Most recently, he has served as the architect behind the MSA Business System, which is designed to make the company a best-in-class organization by driving a culture of continuous improvement across MSA to innovate, improve and transform the company. "Steve has strong experience and understanding of our business on a global basis and is a proven leader," Mr. Vartanian said. "His strong operational experience, combined with his passion for continuous improvement, and his respect and appreciation of the MSA culture, will serve our organization very well in the years ahead. As the company enters its 110th year in business in 2024, Steve is ideally suited to lead MSA and strengthen our position as the global leader in safety technology and solutions." On his retirement plans, Mr. Vartanian, 64, a 39-year veteran of MSA, said he intends to continue his service on the MSA Board. He also was recently named a director of Koppers Inc. "Serving as CEO of MSA Safety has been one of the greatest privileges and experiences of my lifetime," he said. "I have spent my entire career with just one organization, and I could not be more proud to lead a company whose only focus is to help protect people at work so they can return home at the end of each day. I am especially grateful to the 5,000-plus MSA associates around the world who demonstrate such a tremendous commitment to that mission every day. I look forward to remaining active in my role as an MSA director and serving the company, while working closely with Steve to ensure a smooth and seamless transition in 2024. My network of retired friends often remind me that the beauty of retirement is you can choose to do only the things you enjoy. I plan to take that perspective to heart, and serving on the MSA Board certainly fits within that scope." Mr. Vartanian joined MSA in 1985 as a Sales Intern. Over the years, he worked in a broad range of sales leadership positions, including Regional Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, and Director of North American Sales. In 2010, Mr. Vartanian led MSA's integration of General Monitors, an acquisition that established MSA as the global leader in fixed systems for gas and flame detection. In 2013, Mr. Vartanian was elected President of MSA's business in North America. He was later promoted to President of the company's Americas business segment. In 2017, Mr. Vartanian was elected a director and assumed the role of CEO in 2018. He was subsequently elected Chairman in 2020. Robert A. Bruggeworth, MSA's lead independent director, noted, "The Board is grateful to Nish for his strong leadership over the past six years, guiding MSA through years of growth and expansion, and navigating the company through unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, all while earning record sales and profitability. He leaves the Executive Leadership Team extremely well-prepared for the future." He continued, "We are equally pleased to have elected Steve to succeed him and to join the Board. The Board has full confidence in Steve's ability to lead the company into its next phase." Additional Background on Steve Blanco : Prior to joining MSA, Mr. Blanco worked for Eaton Corporation, a global and diversified power management company. Prior to that, he worked for Ford Motor Company and Visteon, serving in a variety of engineering, plant management and operations roles. An engineer by trade, Mr. Blanco holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University, and he earned an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. In addition to his MSA responsibilities, Mr. Blanco serves on the board of National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh. About MSA Safety MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the Company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2023 revenues of $1.8 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of over 5,000 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com. SOURCE MSA Safety Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, gives a thumbs up next to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a meeting at Planalto presidential palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Feb. 21, 2024. Foreign ministers of the Group of 20 nations were gathering Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro to discuss poverty, climate change and heightened global tensions as Brazil takes on the annual presidency of the bloc. The ministers and other representatives of the 20 leading rich and developing nations planned to spend two days setting a roadmap for work to accomplish ahead of a Nov. 18-19 summit in Rio. One of Brazils key proposals, set by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is a reform of global governance institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and multilateral banks, where he wants to push for stronger representation of developing nations. Brazils ambassador to the bloc, Mauricio Lyrio, said at a news conference Tuesday that structural reforms of international institutions are urgent because of a proliferation of conflicts around the world not just in Ukraine and Gaza, but in a total of 183 locations, according to one study, he said. We have practically returned to the level of conflicts seen in the Cold War period. This shows that there is a lack of governance to deal with current challenges, said Lyrio, who is the economic affairs secretary at Brazils Foreign Affairs Ministry. It is one thing to work for peace in each conflict; another thing is to have a global governance that prevents conflicts from occurring, Lyrio said. Were basically putting out fires. After years of diplomatic isolation under former President Jair Bolsonaro, Lula has sought to reinsert Brazil on the center stage of global diplomacy since returning to power in January of 2023. Lucas Pereira Rezende, a political scientist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, said Lula was especially well-suited for the role, recalling that during his earlier terms as president from 2003 to 2010 he was once called the most popular politician on Earth by then-U.S. President Barack Obama. The G20 is a very important international stage, especially at a time when the world is facing two major wars, involving large states, and also at a time when multilateralism is in crisis, Rezende told The Associated Press. But Lula is a very strong international actor and has a very strong multilateral role, especially when presenting himself as a leader of underdeveloped or developing countries. G20 finance ministers and central bank presidents are set to meet next week in Sao Paulo, and a second meeting of foreign ministers is scheduled for September. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected Sierra Lobo Inc. of Fremont, Ohio, to support spaceflight hardware design, development, testing, and operations at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The Space Flight Systems Development and Operations Contract III is a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract featuring a cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity provision with a maximum potential value of approximately $282.1 million. The 90-day phase-in period is anticipated to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 27, followed by a three-year base period and two two-year option periods. The systems development and operations contract encompasses the development and delivery of technology development hardware and software, space flight hardware and software, ground support equipment, spares, as well as mission integration and operations, and sustaining engineering. The contractor will be responsible for the definition, design, development, analysis, fabrication, assembly, test, verification, delivery, and operation of space flight systems, associated support systems and equipment, and related ground activities, including research, science, and technology development and demonstrations. For information about NASA and other agency programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA 46% of data breaches hit SMBs: Is your small business protected? DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Net Friends, Inc., a Managed Services Provider from North Carolina, is pleased to announce the launch of NetSafe, a comprehensive cybersecurity suite designed to protect small and medium businesses (SMB) from today's increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Tailored specifically for the needs of SMBs, NetSafe provides a cost-effective solution that helps mitigate risk, safeguard data, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. The risk of cyberattacks is notably heightened for small businesses. According to Verizon's 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 46% of all cyber breaches target small businesses, and SMBs spend between $826 and $653,587 on mitigating cybersecurity incidents. These statistics show that cybersecurity is no longer an optional expense for small businesses, but a critical investment. NetSafe is a new service line from Net Friends that is designed to help SMBs find affordable and secure cybersecurity solutions. NetSafe offers essential protection for servers, cloud infrastructure, hypervisors, endpoints, and networks, utilizing National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed frameworks to strengthen and secure small businesses. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they're often the least prepared to defend themselves against cyberattacks," says John Snyder, CEO of Net Friends. "NetSafe is the armor small businesses need, offering enterprise-grade security at an accessible price." "NetSafe's launch marks a pivotal moment in protecting small businesses," says Neelesh Patel, President of Net Friends. "This comprehensive suite tackles sophisticated cyber threats, tailored for smaller organizations. NetSafe provides an affordable way to mitigate risk, safeguard data, and ensure compliance empowering businesses to focus on growth." Go to NetFriends.com to learn more about the NetSafe line of products. About Net Friends Net Friends is an industry leader in the managed services sector, providing comprehensive managed IT, cybersecurity, and infrastructure solutions. Recognized by Channel Futures' 2023 MSP 501 Global Ranking, we are the preferred technology partner for businesses and organizations of all sizes in North Carolina and across the United States, delivering effective technical expertise and solutions that have fueled our clients' successes for over 25 years. Learn more at netfriends.com and follow us on LinkedIn . Contact John Snyder (919) 364-5238 [email protected] SOURCE Net Friends ISC2 to launch AI educational workshops, bringing together industry experts and professionals to share practical solutions for addressing our top AI challenges ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ISC2 the world's leading nonprofit member organization for cybersecurity professionals today announced findings from its latest study, AI in Cyber 2024: Is the Cybersecurity Profession Ready? , revealing the real-world impacts that artificial intelligence (AI) has had on cybersecurity. With responses from more than 1,100 cybersecurity professionals, 88% of respondents believe that AI will significantly impact their jobs, now or in the near future, and 35% have already witnessed its effects. While there is considerable positivity about the role of AI in dealing with cyberattacks, these findings also recognize the urgent demand from professionals for industry preparedness to mitigate cyber risks and safeguard the entire ecosystem. Key Findings The cyber profession is still evaluating the full implications of AI technologies. 82% of respondents expressed optimism that AI will improve job efficiency 56% said that AI will make some activities within their job unnecessary, freeing up time for higher-value tasks 75% of respondents are moderately to extremely concerned that AI will be used for cyberattacks or other malicious activities Deepfakes, misinformation and social engineering are the top three concerns for cyber professionals There is a growing disparity between AI expertise and the level of preparedness to navigate these concerns. 60% feel confident in their ability to lead their organization's secure adoption of AI 41% of participants have minimal or no expertise in securing AI and machine learning (ML) technology 82% feel there is a need for comprehensive and specific regulations governing AI's safe and ethical use. Despite the concerns, only 27% of participants said their organization has formal policies in place on the safe and ethical use of AI, with 39% stating their organization is currently discussing a formal policy. When asked 'who should regulate AI's safe and ethical use,' the study revealed that cyber professionals are hoping for global coordination between national governments and a consortium of AI experts. Collaborating for Secure AI Adoption "Cybersecurity professionals anticipate both the opportunities and challenges AI presents, and are concerned their organizations lack the expertise and awareness to introduce AI into their operations securely," said ISC2 CEO Clar Rosso, CC. "This creates a tremendous opportunity for cybersecurity professionals to lead, applying their expertise in secure technology and ensuring its safe and ethical use. In fact, ISC2 has developed AI workshops to foster the expert-led collaboration the cybersecurity workforce needs to address this challenge." The ISC2 AI Workshop series provides cybersecurity leaders with an in-depth and hands-on look at ways to protect both the use of AI and how AI uses our data through a practical risk management lens. Participants will also explore the implications of emerging and proposed AI regulations and how they will need to be factored into their secure AI adoption strategies. The first event will be hosted in Alexandria, VA, on March 12-13 for an operational session, followed by a strategic session on March 14-15. Registration is now open, with more workshops scheduled throughout the U.S., U.K., Europe, Asia Pacific and the United Arab Emirates. To learn more about the AI Workshop series here. Additionally, ISC2 will be sharing the survey findings in an upcoming webinar on February 22 at 1 p.m. ET. Register for the webinar here. To explore the full study and discover additional findings about whether the cybersecurity profession is ready for AI, please visit: https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2024/02/The-Real-World-Impact-of-AI-on-Cybersecurity-Professionals. Methodology The AI in Cyber 2024: Is the Cybersecurity Profession Ready Study is based on online survey data collected in November and December 2023 from 1,123 global cybersecurity professionals. About ISC2 ISC2 is the world's leading member organization for cybersecurity professionals, driven by our vision of a safe and secure cyber world. Our more than 600,000 members, candidates and associates around the globe are a force for good, safeguarding the way we live. Our award-winning certifications including cybersecurity's premier certification, the CISSP enable professionals to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities at every stage of their careers. ISC2 strengthens the influence, diversity and vitality of the cybersecurity profession through advocacy, expertise and workforce empowerment that accelerates cyber safety and security in an interconnected world. Our charitable foundation, The Center for Cyber Safety and Education, helps create more access to cyber careers and educate those most vulnerable. Learn more and get involved at ISC2.org. Connect with us on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. 2024 ISC2 Inc., ISC2, CISSP, SSCP, CCSP, CGRC, CSSLP, HCISPP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSMP and CBK are registered marks, and CC is a service mark of ISC2, Inc. Media Contact: Amanda Steinman Senior PR Manager ISC2 [email protected] SOURCE ISC2 NJCC partners with city leaders to support community impact initiatives and local nonprofits. NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, New Jersey Community Capital, a leading nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI), is committing $50,000 to support nonprofits in traditionally underserved areas during Black History Month. The grants also commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his momentous strides to achieve equality, justice and equity in our nation and beyond. This year, NJCC's contributions will support New Jersey municipalities including Newark, Paterson and Atlantic City. Additionally, NJCC is expanding its support to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Syracuse, New York. This is in keeping with NJCC's goal to foster sustainable economic development and wealth creation in underserved communities beyond New Jersey's borders. "Echoing the principles championed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the $50,000 pledge is a testament to NJCC's dedication to social and economic justice," NJCC President and CEO Bernel Hall said. "NJCC aims to contribute to thriving, equitable communities by supporting the initiatives and leaders of these cities." NJCC's 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Grant Recipients Are Chosen Directly by Mayors to Maximize Impact NJCC is working directly with each city's mayor on the $10,000 in funding to support a community organization or initiative of their choosing. The list includes: How NJCC's Grants Will Be Impactful in Each Community "Impact is in the name of the Newark Community Impact Fund because that is its foundational purpose," said fund host Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. "This gift from NJCC will increase the impact we can have in Newark's neighborhoods, directly empowering residents to thrive and helping us build a stronger, more vibrant Newark for all residents. We're grateful for this enlightened philanthropy." "As a big supporter of the NAACP Atlantic City Youth Council, when I was given the liberty to award an organization $10,000 generously donated by NJCC, my decision was clear," said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. "We all know what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for, and since the money was to go to an organization in his name I chose the Youth Council because of all the great work they do in our community, which includes molding future leaders like Dr. King." "The Atlantic City NAACP is extremely excited to receive the very generous contribution to our Youth Council," noted Kaleem Shabazz, president of the Atlantic City Branch of the NAACP. "NJCC will help the next generation of change agents and difference makers prepare our nation for a better, more just future. We salute NJCC for their vision and foresight in investing in the future. We also salute Mayor Small, a staunch advocate for young people and the NAACP. MLK Day 2024 will be a great memory for the Atlantic City NAACP." "This generous gift to the Paterson Mayor's Wellness Campaign will help our collective efforts to support our community," said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. "We hope to expand our programming and resources for the community through NJCC's donation. We appreciate the continued support from our partners at NJCC as we strive to keep Patersonians healthy." "We thankfully accept the contribution from NJCC to our City," said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "We're directing this $10,000 contribution to our Mayor's Office of Black Male Engagement (OBME), which works day in and day out to create opportunities and pathways for young Black men to live productive and healthy lives in Philadelphia. Every bit of support for our constant, ongoing efforts in violence prevention and community engagement is deeply appreciated by the Parker administration." "As the Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood and Community Engagement, I want to first say that on behalf of the Parker Administration, we are honored and thankful to be considered for this generous donation," said Hassan Freeman, director of Philadelphia's Mayor's Office of Neighborhood & Community Engagement, which oversees the OBME. "In a time when the homicide and incarceration rate of Black men, particularly young Black men is skyrocketing, the OBME, which works to reduce both crises, will be our choice to honor Dr. King's legacy." "NJCC's investment of $10,000 to the City of Syracuse will help support two new efforts: Engaging minority developers to diversify real estate development in Syracuse and the Proud Places Project, a program designed to strengthen investment in city neighborhoods through citizen engagement, beautification and community stewardship," said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. "We are excited to hear the work we are doing extends beyond Syracuse and has attracted the attention of NJCC, which is advancing equity and opportunity in traditionally underserved communities. We appreciate the extra support for Syracuse!" Last year, NJCC donated a total of $50,000 as part of this initiative in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. to support the following nonprofit organizations: Newark Community Impact Fund managed by Community Foundation of New Jersey Friends of Paterson Parks Paterson Healing Collective Heart of Camden Latin American Development Association Trenton's Department of Recreation and Youth Programs Department of Recreation and Youth Programs Howard's Healthy Choices Elijah's Promise Town Clock Community Development Corporation About New Jersey Community Capital New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that advances equity and opportunity through strategic investments in traditionally underserved communities. NJCC provides financing and other support to help individuals, businesses and neighborhoods build wealth, with a focus on underserved communities. NJCC supports the preservation and development of affordable housing and sustainable economic development that creates quality jobs, improves education and strengthens neighborhoods to ensure that communities can thrive. To learn more, visit newjerseycommunitycapital.org and follow on LinkedIn: @new-jersey-community-capital . Media Contact: Beshanda Owusu Purpose Brand [email protected] 773-398-9194 SOURCE New Jersey Community Capital LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PCs will be the main driver of growth in the AI edge processor market over the next four years, according to new research from Omdia. This was among the results announced by Omdia in the 2023 edition of its AI Processors for the Edge Forecast, which covers the market for artificial intelligence processors across ten device types including smartphones, PCs, tablets, smart speakers, robots, and UAVs, among others. The total market for AI processors at the edge is expected to grow from $31bn in 2022 to $60bn in 2028, a CAGR of 11%. Several factors are leading to PCs' growing importance in this market. Product availability is certainly a key factor with Intel's Meteor Lake CPUs recently joining AMD's Ryzen 7040, 8040, and 8000G processors, Apple's M-series, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Elite X. Also playing a role is the expected rebound of PC market which has slowed recently after a COVID-19 pandemic related surge in 2020 and 2021. Beyond 2025, though, the machines sold during the surge will start approaching the end of their accounting lives, creating the possibility of a refresh cycle that will help with AI PC adoption. "This is especially important as demand from smartphones an early-adopting sector is expected to slow" said Alexander Harrowell, Omdia's Principal Analyst for Advanced Computing. "Saturation is certainly a factor in the smartphone market, as over two-thirds of them by volume now have some form of AI acceleration and growth is concentrated in the premium price tier." The forecast splits the market by processor types such as in-CPU accelerators, AI-ASICs, AI-ASSPs, GPUs, and FPGAs and power/performance bands across the 10 device classes. As discussed in the report, systems-on-chips introduced in 2018-2019 with basic acceleration are now beginning to drop out of vendors' product lines in favor of more powerful ones. As a result, the lowest and middle performance tiers are emptying out and the next ones up growing, with the strongest growth in the top (>30 TOPS) group. The bulk of growth will come from proprietary AI-ASSPs such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon and Mediatek's APU. Harrowell added, "AI ASSPs will push from 19% to 28% of the market, largely at the expense of GPUs. PCs are beginning to look more and more like smartphones or tablets as they adopt the CPU-GPU-NPU architecture familiar from nearly all modern smartphones, while in-CPU acceleration has been unexpectedly slow to take off." Read more in Omdia's AI Processors for Edge Forecast Report 2023 Analysis and AI Processors for Edge Forecast Report 2023 Database (subscription required). ABOUT OMDIA Omdia, part of Informa Tech, is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets combined with our actionable insights empower organizations to make smart growth decisions. Contact Fasiha Khan [email protected] SOURCE Omdia YayDay unveils their first product, a fiber supplement targeting the gut-brain axis NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer wellness brand Yay Day Inc. officially debuts with their first product, a super digestive daily supplement. With a mission to create a movement all about movements, it focuses on essential nutritive additives that aid in creating a healthy gut. Combined with proper sleep, the outcome is an optimal gut-brain connection. A happier "Yay" day begins with aligning 3 components (gut health, sleep and mental health), key to overall well-being. YayDay 30 servings canister With 40% of Americans experiencing digestive issues and more than 90% not getting the recommended amount of fiber, today's consumers are plagued by a national gut health problem which can negatively affect their mental state and mood. YayDay is introducing a more holistic solution, creating a supplement that works by targeting the gut overnight while you sleep. With an ingredient profile of prebiotic fiber, digestive enzymes, and magnesium, it's a safe and natural way to tackle digestion. "As a practicing gastroenterologist, I see firsthand how digestive issues such as constipation and bloating can have a huge impact on someone's daily life. In my clinical work with patients. I also recognize how the mind and gut are closely connected, and how improving one can dramatically impact the other. It's what prompted me to join the YayDay team to design a next generation fiber supplement that is highly effective for our gut health, as well as being immensely drinkable" says gastroenterologist, Dr. Roshini Raj, Co-Founder of YayDay, an author and regular Today Show Contributor. YayDay's ingredients help to optimize the body's process. Prebiotic fiber increases healthy gut microflora. 500 mg of digestive enzymes break down the fiber in the gut into smaller, more manageable pieces, so that fiber is more easily absorbed with less bloating. Magnesium glycinate plays a role in calmer moods and promotes sound sleep. After her amazing success exploring the gut-skin axis as one of the Co-Founders of TULA Skincare, Dr. Raj is now turning her attention to the gut-mind connection as the next frontier in gut health. She has teamed up with Colin Walsh, YayDay Co-Founder and CEO of Ouai, and Accomplice, a creative agency in the UK. When they came together, it was to work on a fiber supplement product that addresses gut health, stimulates healthy bowel movements and addresses sleep, critical concerns Dr. Raj saw that her patients lacked the most. The goal is to bring a product to life by delivering elegant, fun and fresh messaging that promise to elevate the way people think about gut health. "I knew I wanted to be a part of this movement. I think improving our gut health, and particularly optimizing the gut-brain connection- is the key to overall wellness, and this improvement can be a fun and empowering process. That's why I was excited to join Colin and Accomplice in the development of YayDay - the first gut-brain product of its kind," says Dr. Raj. Adding, "all aspects of my career (GI practice, media contributor role, author and entrepreneur) have been dedicated to helping people understand their bodies so that they can live healthier lives. After creating Tula and writing my latest book, Gut Renovation, I have been wanting to start something more focused on gut health as I see the understanding of its importance exploding." Priced at $75 USD for 30-day canister, a monthly subscription for $60 USD, or 7-Day Travel & Trial Packs for $25 USD, YayDay comes in "Sunset Citrus" powder to be mixed with water as a part of an evening ritual before going to bed, so that you can rest, digest, and have a morning bowel movement leading to a better day. YayDay is available direct-to-consumer on myyayday.com and rolling out onto Amazon Spring 2024. "I am thrilled to be partnering with the incredible Dr. Raj to bring YayDay to the world. Our mission is to help people live their Yay and discover the power of a healthy gut-brain connection. Nothing is more life changing than a great night's sleep and reliable morning movement. With those two boxes checked, the day is fully yours to live to the fullest," Colin Walsh, Co-Founder and CEO. About YayDay: YayDay is a super digestive daily supplement, with its effective combination of prebiotic fiber, digestive enzymes, and magnesium, helps consumers have a more holistic approach to gut-brain health. Concepted and developed by leading trifecta of industry pros - Dr. Roshini Raj (gastroenterologist) and Colin Walsh - are giving consumers the quality product that will allow them to perform proper morning bowel movements, so they can live happier, healthier lives. SOURCE YayDay CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advances like artificial intelligence (AI), IoT integration, and 5G communication will drive the Next Generation Emergency Response System (NGERS) industry in the future by improving its predictive powers, interoperability, and resilience. In order to better disaster preparedness and response, user-centric design, smart city integration, and regulatory frameworks will further develop NGERS, placing an emphasis on accessibility, data-driven reaction, and the moral use of emerging technology. The Next Generation Emergency Response System Market size is projected to grow from USD 2.4 billion in 2023 to USD 3.3 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Browse in-depth TOC on "Next Generation Emergency Response System Market" 200 - Tables 50 - Figures 250 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=180293657 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 20232028 Forecast units Value (USD) Million/Billion Segments Covered Offering (Hardware (Switching & Routing Equipment, Call Handling Systems, Network Infrastructure Equipment, Other Hardware), Software (Call Management Software, Location-Based Services Software, Text Messaging Software, Multimedia Support Software, Other Softwares), Services (Professional Services (Training & Support Services, Consulting, Integration), Managed Services)), End User (Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Departments, Emergency Medical Services, Other End Users) and Region Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Companies covered Motorola Solutions (US), AT&T (US), Intrado (US), Hexagon (Sweden), Esri (US), Sinch (Sweden), Atos (France), Comtech (US), Zetron (US), Everbridge (US), Avaya (US), Cisco (US), RapidSOS (US), NGA (India), Convey 911 (US), Boost Pro Systems (UK), Simoco Wireless Solutions (UK), SEON Group (Germany), Carbyne (US), RapidDeploy (US) The global population is aging, and older adults are more likely to experience medical emergencies. This is driving the demand for emergency response systems that are specifically designed for the needs of the elderly, such as personal emergency response systems and remote patient monitoring systems. Request Sample Pages@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=180293657 Based on software, the call management software holds the largest market size during the forecast period In the next generation of emergency response systems, call management software is pivotal in optimizing the entire response process. By automating initial call handling stages, this software swiftly collects crucial information such as caller location and the nature of the emergency, minimizing response time and mitigating potential human errors. Its integration with location services enables precise identification of the caller's whereabouts, ensuring prompt dispatch of emergency services. The software's capability to analyze and prioritize incoming calls based on severity aids in efficient resource allocation. Multi-channel communication support allows the public to convey information through diverse mediums, facilitating comprehensive data exchange. Real-time collaboration features enable seamless communication among response teams, promoting effective coordination. Integration with other systems, such as GIS and surveillance cameras, enhances situational awareness. Based on software, the multimedia support software is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period In the evolving landscape of emergency response systems, the integration of multimedia support software stands as a pivotal advancement. This advanced technology plays a vital role in enhancing the agility and efficacy of emergency responses. Real-time video and audio streaming, coupled with surveillance integration, empower responders with critical insights into the unfolding emergency. Geospatial information and mapping tools, facilitated by multimedia support, allow for comprehensive visualization of the emergency's scope, aiding in resource optimization and evacuation planning. Multichannel communication, including text, voice, and video, ensures seamless coordination among responders and affected communities. The ability to monitor social media platforms for crowdsourced information enriches the understanding of dynamic situations. Multimedia tools further enable training through virtual reality simulations and augmented reality guidance, enhancing the preparedness of emergency responders. North America to hold the largest market size during the forecast period. The Next Generation Emergency Response System Market in North America has been experiencing significant growth and development. The burgeoning North American market for next-generation emergency response systems (NGERS) is fueled by technological advancements, rising demands for faster response times, and an aging population. Advancements in AI, big data, and connected devices are enabling sophisticated, integrated systems for real-time data analysis and improved situational awareness. Governments and private entities are investing in NG911, mass notification, public safety software, PERS, and connected sensors to enhance emergency preparedness, response, and citizen safety. The incorporation of drones for aerial reconnaissance, cybersecurity measures, and community alerting systems further contribute to the evolution of a robust and efficient next generation emergency response system landscape in North America. Major next generation emergency response system vendors, such as Motorola Solutions, AT&T, Everbridge, Intrado, and Hexagon have a strong presence in this region. These players innovate their offerings in this market. Top Key Companies in Next Generation Emergency Response System Market: The Next Generation Emergency Response System Market comprises major providers, such as Motorola Solutions (US), AT&T (US), Intrado (US), Hexagon (Sweden), Esri (US), Sinch (Sweden), Atos (France), Comtech (US), Zetron (US), Everbridge (US), Avaya (US), Cisco (US), RapidSOS (US), NGA (India), Convey 911 (US), Boost Pro Systems (UK), Simoco Wireless Solutions (UK), SEON Group (Germany), Carbyne (US), RapidDeploy (US). To increase their market share in the next generation emergency response system industry, these competitors have used various growth methods, including partnerships, agreements, collaborations, new product releases & enhancements, and acquisitions. Recent Developments In August 2023 , Motorolla Solutions launched CommandCentral Router. It is one of the first cloud-based 9-1-1 call routing technologies in the industry. It provides public safety answering points (PSAPs) with dependable, mission-critical 9-1-1 call routing performance through a cloud-based solution. It is compatible with all of Motorola Solutions' emergency call management products. , Motorolla Solutions launched CommandCentral Router. It is one of the first cloud-based 9-1-1 call routing technologies in the industry. It provides public safety answering points (PSAPs) with dependable, mission-critical 9-1-1 call routing performance through a cloud-based solution. It is compatible with all of Motorola Solutions' emergency call management products. In May 2022 , AT&T launched a new 911 location service, which enables them to route 911 calls from its wireless subscribers to the closest dispatch centers, reducing the delays caused by traditional closest cell tower routing. Inquire Before Buying@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=180293657 Next Generation Emergency Response System Market Advantages: A lot of next-generation systems use Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, like wearables, smart appliances, and sensors, to collect data in real-time about the surroundings and people involved in an emergency. Responders can gain important insights from this data, which will enable them to make better decisions and handle the situation more skillfully. Predictive analytics algorithms, which evaluate past data, environmental elements, and other pertinent variables to foresee possible emergencies or identify high-risk locations, may be included into next-generation technologies. These technologies can assist emergency responders in more effectively allocating resources and mitigating situations before they worsen by proactively recognising dangers. User-friendly interfaces and support for numerous communication channels, such as text, multimedia, and voice, are common features of next-generation systems. This guarantees that people with a range of requirements and capacities, irrespective of their location or preferred method of communication, may conveniently and efficiently obtain emergency services. The scalability and adaptability of next-generation emergency response systems is intended to accommodate evolving requirements and technology breakthroughs. Their seamless integration with current infrastructure and capacity to absorb upcoming enhancements or expansions guarantees their long-term sustainability and efficacy. Next-generation systems give emergency responders and decision-makers important insights into the changing situation by utilising real-time data collecting and analytics. More informed decision-making, resource allocation, and coordination amongst many entities involved in emergency response operations are made possible by this data-driven strategy. The benefits of next-generation emergency response systems eventually lead to better public safety results. Quicker reaction times, enhanced collaboration, and proactive risk mitigation help preserve lives, minimise property loss, and lessen the effects of disasters on neighbourhoods. Report Objectives To determine, segment, and forecast the global Next Generation Emergency Response System Market based on offering, end user, and region in terms of value. To forecast the size of the market segments to five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Middle East & Africa , and Latin America . , , , & , and . To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, opportunities, threats, and challenges) influencing the growth of the Next Generation Emergency Response System Market. To study the complete value chain and related industry segments and perform a value chain analysis of the Next Generation Emergency Response System Market landscape. To strategically analyze the macro and micro markets to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the total Next Generation Emergency Response System Market. To analyze the industry trends, patents, and innovations related to the Next Generation Emergency Response System Market. To analyze the opportunities for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the Next Generation Emergency Response System Market. To profile the key players in the market and comprehensively analyze their market share/ranking and core competencies. Track and analyze competitive developments, such as mergers and acquisitions, product launches and developments, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, business expansions, and Research and development (R&D) activities. 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To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/next-generation-emergency-response-system-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/next-generation-emergency-response-system.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2297424/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Payments leader seizes opportunity to drive adoption of real-time payments in the region DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nium, the leader in real-time global payments, continues its expansion in the Middle East region, announcing a partnership with Enjaz Banking Services, the remittance division of Bank Albilad in Saudi Arabia. Nium will work with the bank to offer free international money transfer services through the Enjaz app for smart devices. Soon, all Enjaz customers will be able to access competitive exchange rates and instant transfers via Nium's global partner network. Nium and Enjaz executives at the signing ceremony. This new customer win builds on Nium's success in the region, which includes a roster of the most prestigious financial institutions, such as Mashreq Bank, one of the Middle East's largest banks, and three of the most significant foreign exchange houses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Al Fardan Exchange, Alawneh Exchange, and Al Rostamani Exchange. This momentum is being supported by the appointment of three regional Vice Presidents, Nawal Kebouri Ammor, Ashraf Omran, and Saikat Roy, who collectively bring more than 50-years of in-depth payments and banking knowledge to Nium prospects and clients in the region. Their expertise will play a crucial role in further scaling Nium's operations in anticipation of hypergrowth. "We have a massive opportunity in the Middle East," said Anupam Pahuja, EVP and General Manager for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Nium. "Trillions of dollars flow through the region, and we expect even more volume as real-time payments adoption accelerates. Innovation continues across the region, opening the door for businesses like Nium to capitalize." Pahuja continues, "We are dedicated to helping customers in this global financial centre reach more of the world with a modern, secure, and efficient way to send and receive money. We look forward to partnering with more banks and businesses for growth." Assad Alawneh, Chairman and Founder at Alawneh Exchange commented on the partnership; "The difference between Nium and the banks is that Nium is more like our business - focused on the customer. When we were choosing who to work with, we initially explored a range of fintech businesses, but Nium won based on their size, stability, and flexibility." Leading bank Mashreq envisioned a digital customer journey that is intuitive to interact with and seamless to process. For them, partnering with industry experts was key to this endeavour. Mashreq's partnership with Nium contributes to their vision of a seamless customer experience. "I am proud to acknowledge the significant impact of our partnership with Nium," said Vilas Achuthankutty, General Manager at Al Rostamani International Exchange LLC. "Their state-of-the-art real-time and faster credit capabilities have substantially enhanced our customer experience. Nium's technology, network, and services are not only competitive but also align with market leaders. This collaboration between ARIE and Nium continues to appreciate in value, ensuring reliable transfers and fostering enduring relationships that transcend international borders." Nium provides an alternative to traditional systems, offering businesses in the Middle East a faster and cost-effective means of handling cross-border transactions. Nium's real-time payments capability provides a seamless and instantaneous experience, enhancing the speed and convenience of financial transactions for businesses and consumers alike. Nium facilitates effortless cross-border payments, effectively connecting the Middle East with the rest of the world through its network spanning more than 190 countries. Nium's user-friendly platform empowers businesses to tailor their payment solutions, ensuring they meet their specific needs and preferences with ease. Nium's expansion in the Middle East is a testament to its commitment to improving the financial infrastructure and facilitating international commerce. The company looks forward to playing a pivotal role in the growth and development of the Middle East's financial ecosystem. You can read more about Nium's global capabilities here. About Nium Nium, the leader in real-time global payments, was founded on the mission to deliver the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the on-demand economy, its payments infrastructure is shaping how banks, fintechs, and businesses everywhere collect, convert, and disburse funds instantly across borders. Its payout network supports 100 currencies and spans 190+ countries, 100 of which in real-time. Funds can be disbursed to accounts, wallets, and cards and collected locally in 35 markets. Nium's growing card issuance business is already available in 34 countries. Nium holds regulatory licenses and authorizations in more than 40 countries, enabling seamless onboarding, rapid integration, and compliance independent of geography. The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344974/Nium_and_Enjaz.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1678669/Nium_Logo.jpg SOURCE Nium VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (OTCQX: OCANF) ("OceanaGold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide its Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources ("R&R") statement for the year-ended December 31, 2023. Figure 1: Changes in Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves Notes: "Depletion" refers to 2023 mining depletion. "Reserve Model Updates" represent drilling-related changes to reserve (growth or reductions) or initial reserve declarations. "Economic Factors" relate to gold price, mining cost and cut-off grade changes. "Adjustments" relate to changes not captured in other categories. Includes removal of Round Hill at Macraes from Mineral Reserves. (CNW Group/OceanaGold Corporation) Figure 2: Changes in Measured & Indicated Resources Notes: "Depletion" refers to 2023 mining depletion. "Resource Model Updates" represent drilling-related changes to reserve (growth or reductions) or initial reserve declarations. "Economic Factors" relate to gold price, mining cost and cut-off grade changes. "Adjustments" relate to changes not captured in other categories. (CNW Group/OceanaGold Corporation) Figure 3: Changes in Inferred Resources Notes: "Depletion" refers to 2023 mining depletion. "Resource Model Updates" represent drilling-related changes to reserve (growth or reductions) or initial reserve declarations. "Economic Factors" relate to gold price, mining cost and cut-off grade changes. "Adjustments" relate to changes not captured in other categories. (CNW Group/OceanaGold Corporation) Gerard Bond, President and CEO of OceanaGold, said "I am pleased to share the updated Mineral Reserves and Resources estimates for the Company, including at Haile, where we were able to increase Horseshoe reserves and declare an initial reserve estimate of 380,000 ounces at Palomino. The opening and successful delivery of ore from the Horseshoe underground at Haile last year was a pivotal milestone for the Company. With growth in the Horseshoe reserve and the addition of Palomino to reserves, the projected longevity and profitability of the Haile mine is strengthened. Additionally, I am delighted by the increase in Indicated resources at Wharekirauponga in New Zealand, which now exceeds one million ounces and with a grade increase to 15.9 g/t, demonstrating how truly exceptional this deposit is. Our updated reserves and resources estimates continue to provide a strong base for organic growth in the coming years and I am excited about what our exploration programs will bring in 2024 and beyond." Highlights Total Mineral Reserve additions of 0.69 Moz before mining depletion and adjustments Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource additions totalled 1.12 Moz Initial Mineral Reserves of 4.0 Mt @ 2.91 g/t Au for 0.38 Moz declared at Palomino at Haile Increase in Mineral Reserves to 3.8 Mt @ 4.23 g/t Au for 0.52 Moz at Horseshoe at Haile Increase in Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources at Didipio of 0.11 Moz Increase in Indicated Mineral Resources to 2.0 Mt @ 15.9 g/t Au for 1.01 Moz at Wharekirauponga Increase in Indicated Mineral Resources by 0.15 Moz at Martha Underground at Waihi Decrease in Mineral Reserves at Macraes by 0.5Moz, reflecting the removal of Round Hill Mineral Reserves The Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves estimates as at December 31, 2023 are presented in Table 1 below. Table 1: Proven and Probable Reserves as at 31 December, 2023 PROJECT PROVEN PROBABLE PROVEN & PROBABLE AREA Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Au Moz Ag Moz Cu Mt Cut-Off Horseshoe Underground 0.10 4.53 2.0 . 3.7 4.23 1.7 . 3.8 4.23 1.7 . 0.52 0.2 . 1.74 g/t Au Palomino Underground . . . . 4.0 2.91 2.7 . 4.0 2.91 2.7 . 0.38 0.3 . 1.74 g/t Au Open Pits 3.6 1.03 1.6 . 32.8 1.62 2.4 . 36.4 1.56 2.3 . 1.82 2.7 . 0.50 g/t & 0.60 g/t Au HAILE TOTAL 3.7 1.13 1.6 40.6 1.98 2.4 44.3 1.91 2.3 2.72 3.3 Didipio Underground 14.6 1.56 1.9 0.43 5.92 0.95 1.6 0.36 20.5 1.38 1.8 0.41 0.91 1.2 0.08 0.76 g/t & 1.16 g/t AuEq Open Pit Stockpiles 18.0 0.32 2.0 0.29 . . . . 18.0 0.32 2.0 0.29 0.18 1.2 0.05 0.40 g/t AuEq DIDIPIO TOTAL 32.6 0.87 1.9 0.4 5.9 0.95 1.6 0.4 38.6 0.88 1.9 0.4 1.10 2.3 0.14 Macraes Underground 0.2 2.00 . . 2.8 1.97 . . 3.0 1.97 . . 0.19 . . 1.28 g/t & 1.35 g/t Au Macraes Open Pits 6.0 0.51 . . 13.6 0.71 . . 19.6 0.65 . . 0.41 . . 0.40 g/t Au MACRAES TOTAL 6.2 0.55 16.4 0.92 22.5 0.82 0.60 Martha Underground . . . . 3.30 4.51 15 . 3.30 4.51 15 . 0.48 1.5 . 2.60 g/t & 3.10 g/t Au WAIHI TOTAL 3.3 4.51 15 3.3 4.51 15 0.48 1.5 TOTAL 42.5 0.85 66.2 1.75 109 1.40 4.89 7.2 0.14 Mineral Reserves are defined by mine designs based upon metal prices of US$1,500 /oz gold, US$3.00 /lb copper and US$17 /oz silver. New Zealand reserves use 0.70 NZD /USD exchange rate. /oz gold, /lb copper and /oz silver. reserves use /USD exchange rate. Reported estimates of contained metal are not depleted for processing losses. For underground reserves, cut-offs applied to diluted grades. For Haile Open Pit, the primary cut-off grade is 0.5 g/t Au whilst oxide material is assigned a 0.6 g/t Au cut-off grade. For Haile Underground, the cut-off is 1.87 g/t Au, with adjacent lower grade stopes included in the reserves based on an incremental stope cut-off grade of 1.74 g/t Au. For Didipio, gold equivalence (AuEq) is based upon the presented gold and copper prices as well as processing recoveries. AuEq = Au g/t + 1.37 x Cu%. For Didipio, the 18.0 Mt open pit stockpile inventory includes 5.3 Mt of low-grade stocks mined at an approximate 0.27 g/t AuEq cut-off. For Didipio Underground, incremental stopes proximal to development already planned to access main stoping areas are reported to a lower cut-off of 0.76 g/t AuEq. For Macraes Underground, Frasers Underground cut-off is 1.28 g/t Au whilst Golden Point Underground cut-off is 1.35 g/t Au. For Martha Underground, the cut-off for previously unmined stoping areas is 2.6 g/t Au, increasing to 3.1 g/t Au for stoping areas in close proximity to remnant workings. Mineral Reserves increased year-over-year at Haile, due to increases in the Haile underground, where additions were made at Horseshoe and the first Mineral Reserve estimate for Palomino was declared. Further details, including a detailed mine plan for Haile, is expected to be released in an updated technical report in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") by March 31, 2024. The technical report will include both Palomino and Horseshoe underground mines, with first ore from Palomino expected in 2027. The Company is also advancing a trade-off study on the potential option to mine Ledbetter phase 4 from underground as compared to the current plan to mine as an open pit. If the underground option is deemed to improve the economic value of the mine, this could result in the removal of lower-margin Mineral Reserves at Haile. The Macraes Future Options work was completed in 2023, as outlined in the 2022 Mineral Reserves and Resources statement. The work concluded that the Round Hill Open Pit did not generate sufficient economic return on capital, and therefore was removed from Mineral Reserves in 2023, which resulted in a 0.5 Moz reduction in reserves at Macraes. This was partially offset by the reserve additions mentioned above that contributed to a consolidated 0.31 Moz decrease in Mineral Reserves across the Company. An updated NI 43-101 technical report for Macraes is expected to be completed by March 31, 2024. The team is also focused on identifying potential additional ore sources that could extend mine life at gold prices above the current $1,500/oz Mineral Reserve price assumption. Mineral Resources Measured and Indicated Resources The Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimates (inclusive of Mineral Reserves) as at December 31, 2023 are presented in Table 2 below. Table 2: Measured and Indicated Resources as at 31 December, 2023 PROJECT MEASURED INDICATED MEASURED & INDICATED AREA Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Au Moz Ag Moz Cu Mt Cut-Off Horseshoe Underground 0.1 5.04 2.0 . 3.7 5.49 2.3 . 3.8 5.48 2.3 . 0.67 0.3 . 1.55 g/t Au Palomino Underground . . . . 4.5 3.10 2.8 . 4.5 3.10 2.8 . 0.45 0.4 . 1.55 g/t Au Open Pits 3.8 1.02 1.1 . 34.4 1.58 2.5 . 38.1 1.53 2.4 . 1.87 2.9 . 0.5 g/t / 0.6 g/t Au HAILE TOTAL 3.9 1.15 42.6 2.08 46.5 2.00 3.00 3.6 Didipio Underground 15.0 1.70 2.1 0.46 14.8 0.92 1.5 0.34 29.8 1.31 1.8 0.40 1.26 1.7 0.12 0.67 g/t AuEq Open Pit Stockpiles 18.0 0.32 2.0 0.29 . . . . 18.0 0.32 2.0 0.29 0.19 1.1 0.05 0.40 g/t AuEq DIDIPIO TOTAL 33.0 0.95 14.8 0.92 47.8 0.94 1.44 2.8 0.17 Macraes Underground 0.3 2.60 . . 7.6 2.43 . . 7.9 2.43 . . 0.62 . . 1.28 g/t / 1.19 g/t Au Open Pits 10.2 0.73 . . 23.5 0.63 . . 33.8 0.66 . . 0.72 . . 0.30 g/t Au MACRAES TOTAL 10.5 0.78 31.2 1.07 41.7 1.00 1.34 Martha Underground . . . . 6.4 5.43 23.0 . 6.4 5.43 23.0 . 1.12 4.8 . 2.15 g/t Au Wharekirauponga . . . . 2.0 15.9 25.3 . 2.0 15.9 25.3 . 1.01 1.6 . 2.50 g/t Au Open Pits . . . . 7.2 1.73 12.7 . 7.2 1.73 12.7 . 0.40 2.9 . 0.5 g/t / 0.56 g/t Au WAIHI TOTAL 15.6 5.06 15.6 5.06 2.54 9.3 TOTAL 47.4 0.93 104 2.06 152 1.71 8.31 15.7 0.17 Mineral Resources include Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that Mineral Resources, not included as Mineral Reserves, will convert to Mineral Reserves. All resources are based upon metal prices of US$1,700 /oz gold, US$3.50 /lb copper and US$20 /oz silver and a 0.70 NZD /USD exchange rate for New Zealand resources. /oz gold, /lb copper and /oz silver and a /USD exchange rate for resources. Open Pit resources constrained to shells based upon economic assumptions above. Waihi Open Pit resources reported within a pit design limited by infrastructural considerations. Haile Open Pit resources reported within reserve design pit. Underground resources for Didipio, Horseshoe at Haile, and Frasers and Golden Point at Macraes, are reported within volumes guided by optimised stope designs. Underground resources for Palomino at Haile and Martha and Wharekirauponga at Waihi are reported within optimised stope designs based upon economic assumptions above. at Macraes, are reported within volumes guided by optimised stope designs. Underground resources for Palomino at Haile and Martha and Wharekirauponga at Waihi are reported within optimised stope designs based upon economic assumptions above. Haile Open Pit primary cut-off 0.50 g/t Au, oxide cut-off 0.60 g/t Au. Palomino resources and Horseshoe resources at a 1.55 g/t Au cut-off. For Didipio Open Pit, only stockpiles remain. These include 5.3 Mt of low grade at 0.27 g/t AuEq. Underground resources reported at a 0.67 g/t AuEq cut-off between the 2,460mRL and 1,920mRL with gold equivalence (AuEq) cut-off based on presented gold and copper prices. AuEq = Au g/t + 1.39 x Cu %. Waihi: Martha Underground at a 2.15 g/t Au cut-off, Wharekirauponga at a 2.5 g/t Au cut-off, Martha Open Pit at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and Gladstone Open Pit at a 0.56 g/t Au cut-off. The year-over-year decrease of 0.28 Moz was largely due to mining depletion across the operations and the previously mentioned removal of Round Hill Open Pit at Macraes. The decreases were offset by gains from conversion of Inferred material at Waihi (Wharekirauponga and Martha Underground), Haile (Horseshoe and Palomino), Macraes (Golden Point Underground), and Didipio (Figure 2). Inferred Resources The Inferred Mineral Resource estimates as at December 31, 2023 are presented in Table 3 below. Table 3: Inferred Resources as at 31 December, 2023 PROJECT INFERRED AREA Mt Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Au Moz Ag Moz Cu Mt Cut-Off Horseshoe Underground 1.8 4.1 2.1 . 0.2 0.13 . 1.55 g/t Au Palomino Underground 0.8 2.2 2.0 . 0.1 0.05 . 1.55 g/t Au Open Pits 2.8 0.9 . . 0.1 . . 0.5 g/t / 0.6 g/t Au HAILE TOTAL 5.4 2.2 0.4 0.2 Didipio Underground 12 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.03 0.67 g/t AuEq Open Pit Stockpiles 0.40 g/t AuEq DIDIPIO TOTAL 12 0.8 1.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.03 Macraes Underground 2.5 1.9 . . 0.2 . . 1.28 g/t / 1.19 g/t Au Open Pits 11 0.8 . . 0.3 . . 0.30 g/t Au MACRAES TOTAL 13 1.0 0.4 Martha Underground 3.1 4.7 24 . 0.5 2.4 . 2.15 g/t Au Wharekirauponga 1.2 9.0 17 . 0.4 0.7 . 2.50 g/t Au Open Pits 5.7 1.7 16 . 0.3 3.0 . 0.5 g/t / 0.56 g/t Au WAIHI TOTAL 10 3.6 19 1.1 6.0 TOTAL 40 1.8 2.3 6.7 0.03 See footnotes for Table 2 Of the 1.6 Moz year-over-year gold decrease in Inferred Resources, 0.7 Moz is attributed to the sale in January 2024 of the Blackwater project to Tasman Mining Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Federation Mining Inc. (see OGC News Release here). The remaining 0.9 Moz decrease is due to the successful drilling conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources at Didipio, Haile (Horseshoe and Palomino) and Waihi (Wharekirauponga and Martha Underground) (Figure 3). Updated Technical Reports Technical reports for Haile and Macraes, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website concurrent with the filing of the Company's 2023 annual information form by March 31, 2024. About OceanaGold OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand. Notes to Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources Estimates All Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources were estimated as at December 31, 2023 and have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. The updates to the Mineral Resources estimate for Haile open pit and underground have been verified and approved by, or are based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, J. Moore, the Company's Group Manager Resource Development. The updates to the Mineral Reserves estimate for Haile open pits have been verified and approved by, or are based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, D. Londono, the Company's Chief Operating Officer Americas, and the Mineral Reserves estimate for Haile underground has been verified and approved by or is based upon information prepared by, or under the supervision of, B. Drury, the Company's Interim Underground Project Manager, Haile. The Mineral Resources estimate for Didipio has been verified and approved by, or is based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, J. Moore while the Mineral Reserves estimate for Didipio Underground has been verified and approved by or is based upon information prepared by, or under the supervision of, P. Jones, the Company's Group Mining Engineer Underground. Any updates to the Mineral Resources estimate for Macraes open pits have been verified and approved by, or are based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, J. Moore. The updates to the Mineral Resources estimate for Macraes underground operations have been verified and approved by, or are based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, M. Grant, the Company's Senior Geologist Resource Development, Macraes. The Mineral Reserves estimate for Macraes open pits has been verified and approved by, or is based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, K. Madambi, the Company's Manager Technical Services & Projects, Macraes. The Mineral Reserves estimate for Macraes underground has been verified and approved by, or is based upon information prepared by, or under the supervision of, E. Leslie, the Company's Group Mining Engineer, Macraes. Any updates to the Mineral Resources estimate for Waihi's Martha open pit have been verified and approved by, or are based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, J. Moore. Any updates to the Mineral Resources estimate for Waihi's Wharekirauponga Underground, Gladstone open pit and MUG have been verified and approved by, or are based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, L. Crawford-Flett, the Company's Superintendent Resource Development, Waihi. The Mineral Reserves estimate for Waihi underground has been verified and approved by, or is based on information prepared by, or under the supervision of, D. Townsend, the Company's Manager Mining (Underground). All such persons noted above are "qualified persons" for the purposes of NI 43-101. D. Londono is a registered member of the Society of Mining Engineers with the Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. Messrs Crawford-Flett, Madambi, Jones, Leslie, Moore and Townsend are Members and Chartered Professionals with the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. M Grant is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. B. Drury is a Registered Member with the Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. For further scientific and technical information supporting the disclosure in this news release (including disclosure regarding Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, data verification, key assumptions, parameters, methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, and risks and other factors), please refer to the following NI 43-101 technical reports available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name: "NI 43-101 Technical Report Macraes Gold Mine Otago, New Zealand " dated September 25, 2020 with an effective date of June 30, 2020 , prepared by D. Carr , Chief Metallurgist and T. Cooney, previously General Manager of Studies, and P. Doelman, Tech Services and Project Manager, S. Doyle , previously Principal Resource Geologist and P. Edwards, Senior Project Geologist; "NI 43-101 Technical Report Didipio Gold / Copper Operations Luzon Island, Philippines " dated March 31, 2022 with an effective date of December 31, 2021 , prepared by D. Carr , , P Jones, and J. Moore; "Waihi District - Martha Underground Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report" with an effective date of March 31, 2021 , prepared by T. Maton, Study Manager and P. Church, previously Principal Resource Development Geologist, and D. Carr ; and "NI 43-101 Technical Report Haile Gold Mine Lancaster County, South Carolina " dated March 30, 2022 with an effective date of December 31, 2021 , prepared by D. Carr , Chief Metallurgist, G. Hollett, Group Mining Engineer, and J. Moore, B. Drury and D. Londono, M. Kirby, J. Poeck, M. Sullivan, D. Bird, B. S. Prosser and J. Tinucci of SRK Consulting, J. Newton Janney-Moore and W. Lucas Kingston of Newfields and L. Standridge of Call and Nicholas. Cautionary Statement Regarding Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves The disclosure in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and resource and reserve information contained or referenced in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by public companies subject to the technical disclosure requirements of the SEC. Historical results or feasibility models presented herein are not guarantees or expectations of future performance. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the extension of mine life at Haile, the timing for first ore from Palomino, preparation for an updated NI 43-101 on each of Haile and Macraes and the scope of such technical report, information relating to future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the generation of free cash flow, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and information. They include, among others, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements and information. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The information contained in this release is not investment or financial product advice. SOURCE OceanaGold Corporation Expanded omnichannel platform with peer-to-peer learning through user-generated patient cases BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician's Weekly (PW), a leading healthcare content provider, proudly announces its acquisition of Figure 1, an innovative networking platform for unique peer-to-peer collaboration among healthcare professionals (HCPs). With more than 100,000 HCP-generated patient cases, covering rare to common diseases and ranging from typical to complex presentations, Figure 1 unites HCPs across specialties to share, learn, and teach. This strategic acquisition further solidifies PW's position as a leading destination for HCPs seeking extensive clinical insights and treatment resources whenever and wherever they make patient care decisions. This addition also provides pharma marketers and medical affairs teams with new opportunities to engage HCPs in brand messaging at critical moments of learning. PW has elevated its digital capabilities for HCPs and pharma brands in key areas: Mobile-First HCP Engagement: Figure 1's leading mobile collaboration platform enables HCPs to interact with PW's valuable clinical resources on their hand-held devices without disrupting existing workflows. Figure 1's leading mobile collaboration platform enables HCPs to interact with PW's valuable clinical resources on their hand-held devices without disrupting existing workflows. Robust Peer-Generated Clinical Content: Bringing together PW's trusted clinical content and Figure 1's HCP-initiated patient cases expands PW's digital platform with comprehensive tools for clinicians to exchange ideas in a safe, secure environment. This enables pharma brands to engage HCPs at critical moments when they are deeply immersed and open to learning. Bringing together PW's trusted clinical content and Figure 1's HCP-initiated patient cases expands PW's digital platform with comprehensive tools for clinicians to exchange ideas in a safe, secure environment. This enables pharma brands to engage HCPs at critical moments when they are deeply immersed and open to learning. Expanded Reach to Verified HCPs: With the integration of Figure 1, PW's total US digital reach now extends to more than 900,000 highly engaged HCPs, strengthening PW's ability to support the commercial goals of its pharma partners. For life science brands, the ability to coordinate messaging across PW's now expanded platform enables greater brand engagement and impact, while strengthening connections within the healthcare community. "Figure 1 and PW have a shared vision to empower the healthcare community with resources 'for clinicians, by clinicians' at both the point of care and beyond the office," said Greg Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of PW. "We remain committed at PW to facilitating peer communication among HCPs and providing the right tools at the right moments of care to better patient outcomes." "Joining forces with PW heralds a new era for Figure 1," said Josh Wildstein, Chief Executive Officer of Figure 1. "The company's stellar reputation along with our mutual commitment to innovation accelerates our ability to leverage advanced technology to strengthen the care HCPs provide their patients." About Physician's Weekly Physician's Weekly (PW) is a leading source of trusted insights and education reaching healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients at more than 45,000 top medical institutions in over 20 specialties with over 900,000 HCPs accessible digitally. Through a unique omnichannel network of point of care and digital opportunities, Physician's Weekly aims to improve the quality of communication between healthcare providers, their peers, patients, and caregivers. For more information about Physician's Weekly and its latest offerings, visit www.physiciansweekly.com. SOURCE Physician's Weekly Cardinal Fernando Filoni (Manduria, Italy; 1946) has served as the grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem since 2019. The church official is also a high-level diplomat for the Holy See, with whose structure and inner workings he is intimately familiar, due to his work as substitute for the Vaticans Secretary of State under Benedict XVI. He was also the nuncio, or diplomatic representative for the Pope, in Jordan and Iraq, where he would later return as a special envoy during difficult years of the conflict with the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Today, he is keeping a close eye on the conflict in Gaza. Question. You just came back from Jerusalem and Bethlehem. What did you find and how would you describe the current climate there? Answer. The situation is dramatic now that, in addition to Gaza and the part of Israel in north that are under attacks, there are many families who dont know how to survive, and who are currently in an extremely difficult situation. Q. After the declarations of the Vaticans Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, who referred to Israels response to the attack by Hamas as disproportionate, we have seen an unprecedented rise in tension with some sectors of Israeli diplomacy. Although the tone has since softened somewhat, how should this diplomatic phase be understood? A. Its important to keep in mind that, during tense situations, both sides tend to develop opinions and lean towards one direction or another, whether thats individuals, governments or institutions. I dont think that Cardinal Parolin gave a disproportionate response [Parolin used the word carnage to refer to Israels actions], and delivered a calm and serene statement. An incorrect interpretation will only take into account one side. I also believe that diplomacy must learn to exist amid contradictions, and I believe that the Holy See, just like Israeli diplomacy, will understand that it is necessary to avoid polemics in order to adopt a more realistic vision and build relations that seek the common good. Q. We know that the Pope is extremely concerned about the situation in Gaza and that he regularly connects by videoconference with a Christian church there. How is the Vaticans diplomacy working on this front? A. That goes beyond diplomacy, its a way of participating in the lives of that population. The Pope is especially sensitive to all those suffering from war. I think that the Vaticans diplomacy is always open to contributing to peace: Cardinal Parolin has said on various occasions that we are open to contributing our grain of sand. But one has to want peace, work towards it and establish it based on criteria like justice and truth. If that will is lacking, even the most venerable diplomacy will prove impotent. I think that, regarding the tendency to always remain open, those who desire it, whether that be Israel, the Palestinians or any other reality that is in conflict, will benefit from it. Q. What could be one possibility for a short-term ceasefire, with the potential to be a long-term solution to the conflict? The Pope believes in a two-state solution, how can the Holy See work and provide assistance toward that? A. An immediate ceasefire is essential. We run the risk of turning it into a cemetery; the reality is, in Gaza there are children, elders, sick people, men and women; right now there is a massive shortage of water and food. A ceasefire means bringing back hope to these peoples lives. And then, theres the long-term solution. In the long term, one must not stop thinking of the need to establish, as has already been said, a coexistence based on the principles of truth and justice. The truth concerns both Israel and Palestine. And justice must encompass both Israels right to exist and live in its land in peace and security, and Palestines right to remain in the territories that belong to it, in equal security. The logic of mutual destruction must be renounced. Hamas cannot say that Israel must be destroyed. And Israel cannot demand the destruction of the Palestinian reality; everyone has the right to live in their territory without violent and illegal expropriation. Q. What would justice mean in this case? A. Justice would mean recognizing everyones rights and renouncing all forms of violence. As head of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, which has shown special attention to the Holy Land since the time of Pope Pius IV (1850), with the knights and dames, members of the order, we work for peace, caring for the lives of the people and supporting, through the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, more than 45 schools, the University of Bethlehem, many poor families and numerous social projects. All this means working concretely, as humble laborers, for peace. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Primavera Online School, a public charter school that educates students across Arizona, is excited to announce virtual Kindergarten round-up information sessions. These info sessions will be for families interested in exploring how Primavera cultivates success for its youngest learners in the digital age. There will be two info sessions, with the first happening on February 27 at 5:00 PM, and the second session happening on March 6 at 8:00 AM. During these info sessions, attendees will gain insight into Primavera's dynamic digital Kindergarten program, designed to empower students to thrive. Key highlights will include Primavera's personalized learning approach and tailored instruction, in addition to its dedicated socialization time with teacher-facilitated community groups. Primavera will also review the collaborative learning teams it provides for its students, where certified teachers and school counselors partner with families to provide individualized support for academic success. Families who would like to learn more about how Primavera can shape their Kindergartener's educational journey can Click Here and RSVP today to secure a spot at one of the info sessions. Those who are ready to switch their child to Primavera Online can enroll them in grades K-12 now at PrimaveraOnline.com/Apply-Now. For more information, contact: Anita Torres 480.397.0605 [email protected] ABOUT PRIMAVERA ONLINE Primavera Online School is a tuition-free, public charter school that provides Arizona students in grades K-12 with a rigorous, award-winning curriculum, a flexible schedule and personalized attention from highly qualified instructors. Primavera is Cognia accredited, and NCAA approved. Visit www.PrimaveraOnline.com for more. SOURCE Primavera Online School TAIPEI, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) announced today that Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, will be a keynote speaker at COMPUTEX 2024 on June 3. Delving into COMPUTEX's theme of artificial intelligence (AI), the industry veteran will discuss how on-device generative AI and next-generation computing will enable entirely new experiences and applications. Mr. Amon will focus on how 2024 will be an inflection point for the PC industry, and how advanced AI PCs powered by Snapdragon X Series will transform the future of productivity and creativity. Qualcomm with its leading connectivity, high-performance, low-power compute and AI technologies is driving intelligent computing everywhere. The Company enables its partners to develop and commercialize generative AI use cases, experiences, and leading products across device categories, including AI PCs, smartphones, XR devices, vehicles, and more. In addition, heavyweight keynote speakers from AMD, Intel, MediaTek, NXP, Supermicro, and Delta, will also take the keynote stage to share their visions for the future of the AI ecosystem collectively. Stay tuned for further announcements. Furthermore, COMPUTEX 2024's forums, centered around the theme of Generative AI, will feature more industry leaders and technical experts who will provide forward-looking and diverse perspectives for the global industry. COMPUTEX 2024 with the theme "Connecting AI," is set to take place from June 4th to June 7th. The event will feature 1,500 exhibitors using 4,500 booths, showcasing six major themes: AI Computing, Advanced Connectivity, Future Mobility, Immersive Reality, Sustainability, and Innovations. Collaborating with international technology powerhouses, including Acer, ASRock, ASUS, Delta, Gigabyte, G.Skill, Intel, MSI, Pro Gamersware, and more, the expo shapes the AI ecosystem. Moreover, the InnoVEX exhibit for startups will connect innovative teams from around the globe, sparking cross-industry collaboration and revitalizing AI technology with fresh energy. Registration for COMPUTEX Keynote & Forum will be open in March. For more information, please visit the official exhibition website at www.computextaipei.com.tw. For more exhibition information: COMPUTEX: www.computextaipei.com.tw InnoVEX: www.innovex.com.tw About COMPUTEX COMPUTEX was founded in 1981. It has grown with the global ICT industry and become stronger over the last four decades. Bearing witness to historical moments in the development of and changes in the industry, COMPUTEX attracts more than 40,000 buyers to visit Taiwan every year. It is also the preferred platform chosen by top international companies for launching epoch-making products. Taiwan has a comprehensive global ICT industry chain. Gaining a foothold in Taiwan, COMPUTEX is jointly held by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Taipei Computer Association, aiming to build a global tech ecosystem. COMPUTEX uses cross-domain integration and innovation services as the most powerful driving forces for achieving the goal of becoming a new platform for global technological resources. About TAITRA Founded in 1970, TAITRA is Taiwan's foremost nonprofit trade-promoting organization. Sponsored by the government and industry organizations, TAITRA assists enterprises in expanding their global reach. Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA has a team of 1,300 specialists and operates 5 local offices as well as 62 branches worldwide. Together with Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) and Taiwan Trade Center (TTC), TAITRA has formed a global network dedicated to promoting world trade. TAITRA's five local branch offices in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung provide services to companies outside metropolitan Taipei. Through these domestic offices, TAITRA is able to maintain close contact and interaction with local companies in their respective areas and provide direct and substantial services in areas such as feature trade promotion, business information, market seminars, on-the-job training, procurement meetings, meeting room rental, etc. Branch offices play vital roles in Taiwan Trade Shows coordination between Taipei headquarters and local companies, and invite buyers to visit local industries. SOURCE COMPUTEX Clean energy solutions firm sheds several off-the-shelf systems in pursuit of big improvements in financial and project management DULLES, Va., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unanet, the leading provider of project-based ERP and CRM for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, today announced that INF Associates, LLC, a New York City-based firm focused on the development of sustainable energy solutions for clients across the country, has upgraded to Unanet ERP AE to improve visibility and save time and money. Experiencing rapid growth, INF Associates is expanding well beyond its origins as an installer of LED lighting and electric vehicle charging stations in buildings. The firm has evolved quickly and today is focused on helping its commercial, residential, utility, and federal government clients decarbonize with cost-efficient, energy-conserving building solutions and fleet electrification initiatives. INF Associates leadership is projecting 30% growth for the firm in 2024 amid strengthening demand for clean energy technology and infrastructure. They knew that to fulfill those growth expectations, the firm would need to discard the various off-the-shelf software solutions it had been relying on. This was due to the disconnects, manual work, and inefficiencies those products reinforced across the business. After a thorough search and several product test drives, the leadership team chose Unanet because it offered a single, fully integrated, and intuitive modern solution that would scale and support its future development. "With Unanet, we can look at our growth differently," said Matthew Kavanagh, COO at INF Associates. "Previously, we were running with disconnected systems. We looked at cash versus expenses, accounts receivable versus accounts payable. It was too difficult to do much more with two different software systems where we were manual intervention lead to data integrity issues. Unanet will help us look at critical areas like cash flow, profitability, and forecasting and give us the visibility to review the past and plan for the future." Approximately 41% of AEC firms report they lack sufficient tools to access or analyze data, according to Unanet's 2022-2023 AEC Inspire Report, a widely referenced benchmarking report that highlights trends, best practices, and business challenges in the AEC industries. Another key advantage of Unanet ERP AE that INF Associates plans to immediately use is Unanet's powerful AR Automation platform (formerly known as Unanet Pay). This platform automates the end-to-end accounts receivable process. INF Associates believes the platform accelerates their accounts receivable process by reducing manual work and increasing productivity for their team. With plans to go live with Unanet ERP AE in the next few months, the team at INF Associates was impressed with Unanet's user interface, the flexibility of the software to work with their unique business processes, and the demo process and customer support. "We feel really vested in Unanet," said Kavanagh. "Working with their team feels completely different compared to other ERP providers and systems. It didn't feel like a sales process. Our support team at Unanet was actually trying to fulfill our business needs. Really, it felt like they were already working for us." More than 1,850 architecture, engineering and construction companies select Unanet ERP and CRM because they have the right mix of functionality and accessibility while also offering the ability to scale and grow seamlessly. To learn more about Unanet CRM and ERP AE, please visit https://unanet.com/crm-aec and https://unanet.com/erp-for-a-e/erp-for-a-e-overview/. About Unanet Unanet is a leading provider of project-based ERP and CRM solutions purpose-built for government contractors, architecture, engineering, construction, and professional services. More than 4,000 project-driven organizations depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, maintain regulatory compliance, and accelerate business growth. All backed by a people-centered team invested in the success of your projects, people, and financials. For more information, visit www.unanet.com. About INF Associates INF Associates is a turnkey energy solutions firm specialized in decarbonization integration that performs complete design, equipment supply, and installation of projects including electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, fleet consulting, LED lighting upgrades, renewable energy, and mechanical system retrofits for buildings. Learn more at www.infassociates.com or their LinkedIn page. SOURCE Unanet SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Renibus Therapeutics ("Renibus"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the prevention and treatment of cardio, renal and metabolic diseases, today announced that Frank Stonebanks, Renibus' Co-CEO, and Bhupinder Singh, MD, Renibus' CMO, will participate in a fireside chat on February 29, 2024, at 3:25 pm ET at the Evercore ISI 2024 Emerging Biotech Conference, taking place virtually from February 28-29, 2024. Renibus management will also participate in one-on-one meetings with investors during the conference. To view the fireside chat, please visit the events section of the Renibus website at News and Events - Renibus Therapeutics . About Renibus Therapeutics Renibus is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to treating, improving, and extending patients' lives by developing products to prevent disease progression, improve outcomes and protect against organ damage associated with cardio, renal and metabolic diseases. Renibus' first-in-a-new-class lead program is RBT-1, which is in a Phase 3 pivotal trial to show a reduction in post-operative complications and improve outcomes following cardiac surgery. The drug has received FDA Breakthrough and Fast Track Designations. Veverimer (Alezuris) is an oral, non-absorbed hydrochloric acid binder that was acquired from Tricida. We are currently evaluating veverimer in preclinical models and analyzing historical data to further our understanding of its clinical profile, with a goal of identifying an indication for evaluation in a Phase 2 trial. RBT-3 (iron sucrose), one component of RBT-1, is a novel, low molecular weight iron nanoparticle that has the potential to rapidly restore iron levels and improve blood product utilization in cardiac surgery and/or ER patients. RBT-3 has also demonstrated the potential to mitigate cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in preclinical models. We are currently exploring opportunities to further the clinical development of RBT-3 in these potential indications. RBT-9 (stannic protoporfin), another component of RBT-1, is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drug. It has completed Phase 1 (as part of the RBT-1 program) and has been investigated in a 42-patient Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in high-risk patients with COVID-19. The data from this trial indicated that RBT-9 has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes. Additional work is underway to help inform the future clinical development strategy. RBT-2 (tetrahydrocurcumin) is an oral antioxidant and antifibrotic drug that may have the potential to delay CKD progression. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.Renibus.com and engage with us on LinkedIn. Investor and Media Contact: Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] 858-914-1962 Business Development Contact Frank Stonebanks Co-CEO, Renibus [email protected] SOURCE Renibus Therapeutics Resilient Energy, Inc.'s intended acquisition marks the start of its strategy targeting firms in the Energy and Tech sectors. With the Drone market projected at USD 35.28 billion in 2024, growing at 13.9% CAGR, it highlights the company's commitment to robust revenue growth, expanded margins, and strong cash flow generation. HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resilient Energy, Inc. (OTC Markets: RENI) ("RENI" or "the Company") announces the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire 100% of Challenger Aerospace & Defense Inc. ("CAS") and two operating subsidiaries, including over $3 million in current purchase orders, intellectual property and an impressive portfolio of existing and prototyped products. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the upcoming weeks. The Company will release a formal statement and the required regulatory filings on a Form 8-K. RENI will acquire 100% of the main holding company, Challenger Aerospace Systems ("CAS"), and all of its assets. CAS main business is manufacturing and developing technology for the UAV/Drone market, making it one of the leading creators in the rapidly developing field of unmanned aerial, sea and land vehicles. It designs subsystems, develops platforms, manufactures airframes, and offers operator training programs. Challenger Aerospace Systems serves the global market from its state-of-the-art facilities in the United States. CAS serves a global customer base consisting of private and commercial operators, government agencies and defense organizations. The two additional operating subsidiaries are: Challenger Training and Support provides an approved UAV/UAS training program. It is the first in its field and focuses on the manufacturing, flight operation and maintenance of the systems used in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or Drones. Challenger Aerospace Systems manufactures ground stations and aircraft control systems, providing off-the-shelf portable, flexible and universal solutions for controlling unmanned vehicles and payloads. CAS business assets encompass an impressive portfolio exceeding $3 million in confirmed purchase orders. In line with its strategic vision for growth, RENI will extend a tailored manufacturing financing facility as a component of its future acquisition commitments. This initiative aims to expedite order fulfillment, fostering agility in delivery timelines, while simultaneously incentivizing larger-scale sales opportunities. RENI's CEO, Mr. Jon Bianco, stated on achieving this milestone event: "We have emphasized our dedication to seizing opportunities in advanced technology areas aligned with our strategic vision. Today, we celebrate a significant milestone with the formal intention of acquiring Challenger Aerospace & Defense Inc. Its global reach and market potential, with over 40 available products, promises significant revenue potential. The unmanned aerial vehicle and drone technology domain is a multibillion-dollar market. This intended acquisition reinforces our commitment to value creation through revenue growth, margin expansion, and cash flow generation." The global Unmanned Vehicle (Drone) market size is estimated at USD 35.28 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 67.64 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 13.9% during the forecast period (2024-2029) according to a Growth Trends and Forecast report from Mordor Intelligence. Technological advances in terms of payloads and electronics are expected to augment the rapid growth of the drone's market. About Resilient Energy, Inc. Resilient Energy, Inc. (OTC: RENI) operates as an independent energy company with a strategic business plan centered on the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of North American conventional oil and gas properties. The company's mission is to discover, develop, and enhance the production of traditional oil and gas plays. Resilient Energy prioritizes properties and companies specializing in shallow vertical wells with existing production, aiming to boost yields through marginal efficiency-based improvements. Additionally, the company seeks identifiable PUD opportunities for further development to increase reserves. Its dedicated management team has identified several properties and companies aligned with these criteria. Resilient Energy distinguishes itself by offering a consistent deal flow and maintaining operational efficiency at low costs. For additional media and information, please follow us on Twitter Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in section 27a of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21e of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this news release may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other information relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about our business based partly on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may and are likely to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and Resilient Energy, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release. This press release does not constitute a public offer of any securities for sale. Any securities offered privately will not be or have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Contact Information: Marc Pindus President Resilient Energy, Inc. (OTC: RENI) Phone: 713-742-2702 Web: https://resilientenergyinc.com/ Email: [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2331618/4556115/RENI_Logo.jpg SOURCE Resilient Energy inc. MILWAUKEE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Enerplus (TSX: ERF) (NYSE: ERF) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Chord. Click here to learn how to join the https://www.ademilaw.com/case/enerplus-corporation or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. In the transaction, Enerplus shareholders will receive only 0.10125 shares of Chord common stock and $1.84 per share in cash, representing 90% stock and 10% cash consideration. Upon completion of the transaction, Chord shareholders will own approximately 67% of the combined company and Enerplus shareholders will own approximately 33% on a fully diluted basis. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Enerplus by imposing a significant penalty if Enerplus accepts a competing bid. Enerplus insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. If you own Enerplus common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/enerplus-corporation. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi LLP Fontainebleau Aviation to open second South Florida Private Jet Center at FLL TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Leading aviation company Skyservice Business Aviation ("Skyservice") today announced the completion of its investment in Fontainebleau Aviation's fixed-based operator (FBO) development project at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport ("FLL"). This exciting venture marks the first co-development project between Skyservice and Fontainebleau Development as the companies join forces to create Florida's ultimate private aviation gateway for leisure and business travel. Fontainebleau Aviation (CNW Group/Skyservice Business Aviation Inc. - Mississauga, ON) "The collaboration between Skyservice and Fontainebleau in developing the new era of FBOs has been remarkable," says Skyservice Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Murray. "Today's clients expect the amenities and conveniences of an FBO to match those of the best hotels, as well as efficiency and safety that exceed any standard or policy. We're pleased to work with FLL and Broward County to meet these expectations and provide the best of what business aviation has to offer." The Fontainebleau Aviation FBO at FLL, which is expected to be complete by early 2025, will support an 80,000-square-foot hangar, a 25,000-square-foot opulent lobby and hangar offices, and an executive suite that includes an AV-equipped board room accommodating groups up to 20 people. The facilities have been expertly engineered to support the largest of business aircraft. Fontainebleau Aviation is now accepting hangar lease agreements. "We are thrilled to partner with Skyservice to develop a one-of-a-kind luxury FBO grounded in 37 years of aviation thought leadership and award-winning service and safety," says Fontainebleau Development Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Soffer. "This is a first in our expanding portfolio of premier destinations and best-in-class luxury experiences to bring to the aviation industry." Home to five of the top 25 busiest business aviation airports in the United States, Florida is one of the most significant markets in the industry. Upon completion, the Fort Lauderdale FBO positions Skyservice, through its joint venture with Fontainebleau Development, at two of the state's busiest business aviation airports: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Skyservice was provided with legal advice by McCarthy Tetrault LLP and DLA Piper LLP. Fontainebleau Development was represented by Cooley LLP and advised by William Blair & Company. About Skyservice Skyservice is a North American leader in business aviation dedicated to innovation, responsible operations, safety, and service excellence. Celebrating over 37 years of distinction, Skyservice is at the forefront of the business aviation industry, with best-in-class facilities across North America. Our skilled maintenance teams, award-winning fixed base operation facilities, first-class aircraft management, private jet charter services, aircraft sales, and acquisitions teams combine to deliver an exceptional experience to our valued customers. At Skyservice, we aim higher and reach further to best serve our clients. To learn more, visit http://www.skyservice.com/. About Fontainebleau Development Fontainebleau Development , founded by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Soffer and led by his partner Brett Mufson, is one of the country's premier real estate development and hospitality groups, with a diverse portfolio that includes properties in the hospitality, gaming, residential, retail, commercial, and luxury services sectors. The company builds, owns, markets, and operates their properties, providing expertise in each stage of a project's life cycle with a relentless focus on delivering the best quality in everything they do. Fontainebleau Development has established a diverse portfolio of premier assets such as Big Easy Casino, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa, Hilton Downtown Nashville, and numerous residential landmarks such as Turnberry Ocean Club, Turnberry Ocean Colony, Porto Vita, the Tresor and Sorrento towers at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The company has also built nine residential towers in Las Vegas, including Turnberry Towers and Signature (in partnership with MGM Resorts International), and will open the 67-story Fontainebleau Las Vegas luxury resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in December 2023. Its luxury services division includes Fontainebleau Aviation, Turnberry Yacht Club & Marina, Turnberry Isle Country Club, and some of the highest grossing and well-known nightlife, dining and health and wellness destinations in the world. Over a 70-year history, Fontainebleau has been involved in over 100 projects representing in excess of $38 billion in total transaction value. SOURCE Skyservice Business Aviation Inc. - Mississauga, ON NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS), the largest light construction building industry tradeshow in the United States, expected to draw over 60,000 attendees. DAHLONEGA, Ga., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott Selzer, the visionary founder of StruXure, the premier manufacturer of luxury pergolas and cabanas, has been invited to share insight and expertise on outdoor living trends at the 2024 NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS). IBS takes place annually and this year is expected to draw in 60,000+ residential construction professionals worldwide and 1,800 brands and companies. The event is set to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from February 27-29, and promises a unique platform for networking, collaboration, and the exchange of cutting-edge ideas within the residential construction industry. STRUXURE'S FOUNDER TO SPEAK AT IBS 2024 IN LAS VEGAS On February 27th at 10:15am, in a session titled "Embrace the Outdoors: Outdoor Living Design Strategies to Meet Growing Buyer Demand," Selzer will join a panel discussion moderated by Angela Visbeeen and led by Architect Wayne Visbeen to discuss strategies for designing functional outdoor living spaces and indoor/outdoor connections integral to today's home designs. Brent Foster of Phantom Screens and Garry Scott of Napoleon will round out the panel. Selzer expressed his excitement about the opportunity to contribute to the IBS Expo, stating, "I am honored to be part of such a prestigious event that brings together leaders and innovators in our industry. Outdoor living is not just a trend; it's a lifestyle, and I look forward to sharing our experience and insight to inspire and elevate the standards within the industry." To learn more about IBS 2024 or register, go to www.buildersshow.com . To learn more about StruXure and its innovative products, visit www.struxure.com . About StruXure StruXure is the premier designer and manufacturer of luxury pivoting-louver smart pergolas and cabanas. The company's mission is to change the way people live by bringing the indoors out through sustainable architectural automation and innovation. StruXure's products are made in the USA of powder-coated extruded aluminum, making them durable, functional, and beautiful. Before being acquired by The AZEK Company in December 2021, StruXure spent seven consecutive years ranking on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Headquartered in Dahlonega, Georgia, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Nevada, and boasts an expansive dealer network that brings the sales experience closer to consumers. For additional information, please visit https://struxure.com/ . Contact: Stacey Williams Phone: 310-614-7908 Email: [email protected] SOURCE StruXure ALLEN, Texas, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Supply Chain Resources Group, a leading global provider of world class engineering and operations professionals through its Talent-on-Demand services, is thrilled to announce an expansion to its leadership team with the creation of a six-member Board of Advisors. John Buggie (Charleston, SC) is a professional services industry leader with a rich background in top management consulting firms, including Kearney, Ernst & Young, AlixPartners, and Strategos and Fortune 500 global corporations such as LVMH and Brown Forman across international markets. With a track record of successful commercial and entrepreneurial roles, John and his advisory firm Palmetto Pivot Partners currently serve private equity clients and portcos in accelerating value creation through strategic and operational performance improvements. Supply Chain Resources Group (SCRG) Bolsters Leadership Team with Esteemed Board of Advisors Post this Christine Fisher (San Francisco, CA) is an executive with extensive experience in digital transformation. Her operational expertise helping customers improve quality, reduce costs, and manage risks further strengthens the strategic vision of the leadership team. She brings 20 years' experience in supply chain consulting (Kearney), SaaS start-ups (Anaplan) and big tech (Cisco Systems) serving a wide range of industries, including automotive, electronics and tech hardware. Stanford BA in Economics/Japanese and Harvard MBA. Tommy Hall (Seattle, WA) is a contract manufacturing expert with over 30 years of experience within the industry. Tommy's talent for identifying client pain points and aligning them with organizational goals makes him a valuable addition to Supply Chain Resources Group's leadership team, and he will play a pivotal role in guiding the company's strategic initiatives and driving sustainable growth in the competitive supply chain landscape. Mahesh Krishnamurti (New York, NY & Mumbai, India) brings a strategic and global perspective to Supply Chain Resources Group. He is a proven change agent to C-Suites and Boards, given his international experience at leading firms and portfolio companies, including Symbol Technologies (now Zebra), Henry Schein, Worth, Goldman Sachs, and Vaco, among others. Mahesh drives leadership alignment, business execution, and long-term profitability with a focus on embedding Sustainability into operations. As a member of RGP's global leadership team, he led the firm's profitable growth in India and MEA regions, based out of Mumbai for 13 years. India's Central Bank later appointed him as Independent Director to the board of YES Bank (India's 4th largest bank) where he helped turn the bank around within two years, to avert its collapse. Bob Kupbens (San Francisco, CA & London, England) is a renowned leader in digital, product, and brand transformations at innovative Fortune 500 companies like Target, Apple, eBay, Delta Air Lines, ADT, and Neiman Marcus. His expertise in driving transformative initiatives aligns seamlessly with Supply Chain Resources Group's commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation. Akash Shah (Singapore) is an experienced leader across global markets, with depth across the Asia-Pacific region through senior business, finance transformation and CFO / Finance leadership positions across multiple operating environments, including publicly listed MNCS (e.g., PepsiCo, Coats), private equity portfolio companies (e.g., Made, TES) and management consulting (Kearney) primarily in Consumer, Industrial and Technology sectors. Akash's expertise around driving value creation through business growth / transformation, strategic (M&A, strategy) and operational performance improvement execution will be valuable in driving financial excellence and strategic growth. Akash currently serves as Group CFO for one of TPG Capital's portfolio companies. "We are thrilled to welcome such a distinguished group of professionals to our Board of Advisors," said Xander Kameny, CFO/COO at Supply Chain Resources Group. " Each member brings a unique set of skills and experiences that align with our commitment to innovation, excellence, and client success. Their collective expertise will play a pivotal role in guiding our strategic initiatives and driving our company's success to new heights." The expanded Board of Advisors reflects Supply Chain Resources Group's dedication to fostering a dynamic and forward-thinking leadership team. With these influential additions, the company is poised to navigate the evolving landscape of the supply chain industry and continue providing exceptional value to its customers. About Supply Chain Resources Group: Supply Chain Resources Group (SCRG) provides global Strategic Workforce Solutions to some of the world's biggest brands. SCRG brings highly skilled engineering talent to solve complex offshore manufacturing challenges for OEMs and brand-owning companies. Through SCRG's vendor managed solutions OEMs and brand-owning companies increase speed to market and optimize costs for their high-technology products. SCRG offers serves in hardware engineering talent recruitment and deployment, supplier selection and audits, logistics management, Cost Downs, DfX, FMEA, and other electronics hardware manufacturing consulting services. For media inquiries, please contact: Tim Farley Director of Marketing [email protected] 1-844-333-7274 SOURCE Supply Chain Resources Group Leading provider of full-time private tuition, Tutors International, today announced a strategic partnership with EducAd Consulting to offer families around the world a seamless and comprehensive range of educational support services. LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tutors International, a globally acclaimed bespoke private tutoring service, and EducAd Consulting, a highly respected London-based education consultancy, today announced a strategic partnership to provide families with a comprehensive range of educational support services. Tutors International Logo (PRNewsfoto/Tutors International) This partnership unites Tutors International's unparalleled global network of hand-selected, exceptional tutors, renowned for their bespoke private education expertise, with EducAd Consulting's extensive experience in educational consulting. This powerful collaboration ensures seamless service and unwavering support for families, regardless of their global location. Benefits of the Partnership: Holistic Approach : Families receive expert guidance throughout their child's educational journey, from initial consultations with EducAd Consulting to personalised tutoring provided by Tutors International. : Families receive expert guidance throughout their child's educational journey, from initial consultations with EducAd Consulting to personalised tutoring provided by Tutors International. Unmatched Expertise : EducAd's consultants leverage their in-depth knowledge of the education landscape to recommend the most suitable schools and universities, while Tutors International's highly qualified tutors deliver customised learning experiences tailored to each student's individual needs. : EducAd's consultants leverage their in-depth knowledge of the education landscape to recommend the most suitable schools and universities, while Tutors International's highly qualified tutors deliver customised learning experiences tailored to each student's individual needs. Global Reach : Families seeking support anywhere in the world can benefit from this partnership, with access to Tutors International's network of tutors spanning numerous countries. : Families seeking support anywhere in the world can benefit from this partnership, with access to Tutors International's network of tutors spanning numerous countries. Seamless Experience: The combined expertise of both organizations ensures a smooth transition between educational planning and personalized tutoring, eliminating unnecessary complexities for families. Adam Caller, CEO of Tutors International, commented, "We are delighted to partner with EducAd Consulting, their expertise in educational consulting will be invaluable to our families, and together we can provide them with the support they need to help their children thrive." Yuliya Kosko, Director of EducAd Consulting, added, "We are excited to partner with Tutors International to offer our clients a wider range of services. This partnership will allow us to provide families with a truly holistic approach to education." Notes for editors About Tutors International Tutors International specialises in full-time private tuition supporting all academic stages, subjects, and international curricula. Founded in 1999 by Adam Caller, Tutors International provides ultra-high-net-worth families with a bespoke private tuition service. Tutors International recruits and employs qualified teachers with verified qualifications, impeccable employment records, and security screening clearance. About EducAd Consulting EducAd Consulting is a London-based education consultancy that provides families with expert advice on school placement, university admissions, and other educational matters. EducAd's team of consultants has extensive experience in the UK education system and is passionate about helping families find the best educational options for their children. Press Contact +44 (0)20 3637 3337 [email protected] Tutors International Prama House 267 Banbury Road Summertown, Oxford OX2 7HT UK Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2345485/Educad_logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699064/4556443/Tutors_International_Logo.jpg SOURCE Tutors International (TI Education) Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, marked the graduation of the 2nd cohort of 'The Pioneers Leadership Development Programme with a total of 22 staff members from different divisions of the company. The graduation ceremony was held in collaboration with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) and attended by Dr Jeffrey Goh, Gulf Air Group Holding (GFG) CEO, Dr Ahmed Abdul Ghani Al Shaikh, CEO of the BIBF, along with a number of key executives. The six-month programme, launched by Gulf Air in collaboration with BIBF in 2022, aims to empower and support promising talents within the company and prepare them for leadership opportunities. The programme focuses on building their capabilities, enhancing their skills, and equipping them with the necessary knowledge to efficiently take on larger responsibilities, enabling them to lead and contribute to their teams even better. The 2nd cohort of the programme that comprises 22 staff members, will bring the total number of participants in the two cohorts to 44 graduates from various divisions of the company, including information technology, finance, engineering, maintenance, operations, marketing, and human resources. The programme involved leadership training, personal skills development, specialized workshops, and interactive training sessions, with a focus on hands-on training, which was carefully tailored to cater to all participants. There were also discussions on global aviation-related topics. Additionally, the participants were provided with a set of tools that enables them to plan and execute tasks efficiently within their respective scope of work. CEO Goh, while congratulating the 2nd batch of 'The Pioneers Leadership Development Programme', expressed his pride in the partnership with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) in launching and implementing the programme since its inception in 2022, reflecting the companys commitment to provide promising employees with programmes aimed at leadership development. "Gulf Air Group (GFG) is firmly committed to enhancing the capabilities of Bahraini talents to lead the aviation sector in the Kingdom. Gulf Air has always played a vital role in contributing to the development of the aviation sector through its strategic investment in future industry leaders. Dr Al Shaikh, extended congratulations to all programme participants for the successful completion of the leadership programme. He expressed pride in the collaboration with Gulf Air, emphasising the significance of this distinguished initiative in enhancing professional capabilities within the aviation sector in Bahrain. "This programme underscores the Institute's commitment to equipping the labour market with leadership competencies across diverse sectors, thereby contributing to the advancement of economic development in the Kingdom." TradeArabia News Service Richard Visek, Principal Deputy Legal Adviser of U.S. attends a public hearing held by The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, February 21, 2024. The United States said Wednesday the United Nations top court should not issue an advisory opinion that says Israel should immediately and unconditionally withdraw from territories sought for a Palestinian state. Acting State Department legal adviser Richard Visek said the 15-judge panel at the International Court of Justice should not seek to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict through an advisory opinion addressed to questions focusing on the acts of only one party. Visek spoke on the third day of hearings at the court into a request by the General Assembly for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Israels policies in the occupied territories. He said the court can address the questions before it within the established framework based on the land for peace principle and within the parameters of established principles of occupation law. Visek added that the courts opinion will have consequences for the parties to the conflict and for the ongoing efforts of all of those working to achieve a durable peace. Earlier this week, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki called on the court to uphold the Palestinian right to self-determination and declare that the Israeli occupation is illegal and must end immediately, totally and unconditionally. The idea of land for peace has been the cornerstone of U.S.-led diplomacy for decades and was the basis of the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, in which Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for peace and recognition. The same principle has been applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the peace process has repeatedly stalled because of Palestinian attacks, Israels expansion of settlements in occupied territory, and the inability of the two sides to agree on thorny issues like final borders, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees. The U.S. arguments at the world court came a day after Washington vetoed an Arab-backed and widely supported U.N. resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire of the Israel-Hamas war in the embattled Gaza Strip, saying it would interfere with negotiations on a deal to free hostages held by militant Palestinian group Hamas. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining. It reflected the strong support from countries around the globe for ending the war, which started when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking nearly 250 others hostage. Since then, more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels retaliatory military offensive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says the vast majority were women and children. Hamass attacks, hostage-taking and other atrocities, the ongoing hostilities and the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the violence in the West Bank reinforce the United States resolve to urgently achieve a final peace that includes the full realization of Palestinian self-determination, Visek said. Viseks comments were preceded Wednesday by condemnations of Israels policies by representatives of Colombia, Cuba and Egypt. Along with the Palestinians, a total of 51 nations and three international organizations are scheduled to speak at the hearings. The court will likely take months to issue its non-binding advisory opinion. The Palestinians argue that Israels open-ended military occupation has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest and the Palestinians right to self-determination, and has imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid. On Tuesday, South Africa argued that Israels policies amount to apartheid against the Palestinians and that Israels occupation of land sought for a Palestinian state is inherently and fundamentally illegal. Israel rejects such claims. In a written submission filed last year, Israel argued that the questions put to the court are prejudiced, ignore Israels right and duty to protect its citizens, fail to address Israeli security concerns or acknowledge past agreements with the Palestinians to negotiate the permanent status of the territory, security arrangements, settlements, and borders. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state. Israel considers the West Bank to be a disputed territory and says its future should be decided in negotiations. Israel has also built settlements across the West Bank, many of which resemble fully developed suburbs and small towns. The settlements are home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers, while around 3 million Palestinians live in the territory. The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal. Israel has also annexed east Jerusalem, home to the citys most sensitive holy sites, and considers the entire city to be its capital. The annexation is not internationally recognized. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The 10-year-old non-profit organization highlights $64 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As February 24th marks the 2nd anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, United Help Ukraine (UHU), a leading U.S.-based nonprofit organization, announces that together with its partners, it will host a mass rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 2 pm EST. UHU calls on all who support Ukraine's fight for its independence and democratic values to join in the rally, showing unity for Ukraine's cause and standing with its people. United Help Ukraine to Hold a Mass Rally on the 2nd Anniversary of Russia's Invasion. Post this United Help Ukraine highlights $64 million in humanitarian, medical, and tactical aid to Ukraine. Deeply grateful for the support and generosity of American people and its partners, UHU also appeals to all Ukraine's supporters to contact their Members of U.S. House of Representatives and House Speaker Mike Johnson to urge them to approve currently stalled legislation authorizing much needed aid to Ukraine. "America has been a great partner and ally of Ukraine both at the level of government aid and individual contributions. As the current situation on the ground is difficult, the assistance is needed more than ever," said President of United Help Ukraine Maryna Baydyuk. She added, "Our team and volunteers are doubling down on fund-raising efforts and delivery of the critical aid. We know the humanitarian and medical aid we provide to civilians and the frontline defenders saves precious lives in Ukraine every day." Since its inception a decade ago, and particularly during the two years of Russia's full-scale invasion, UHU has provided over $64 million in aid. Ongoing contributions to United Help Ukraine will ensure that its work continues, offering invaluable support to the people of Ukraine in their effort to end the unjust war and bring victory over the aggressor. UHU continues to focus on its key programs, which include: Defender's Aid Program: provides essential humanitarian supplies, including protective gear, first-aid kits, tactical medicine training, satellite communications devices, and evacuation vehicles for those on the frontlines. Medical Aid Program: supports healthcare infrastructure with supplies and equipment and the well-being of wounded individuals and their families by providing prostheses, physical therapy, and emotional support. Humanitarian Welfare Program : provides vital assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Ukraine affected by the war, including internally displaced people, residents of liberated and frontline territories, and families with children. United Help Ukraine's team and volunteers are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be contributing to Ukraine's victory and nearing the peace. As Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his most recent visit to the United States, "There is not a soul in Ukraine that does not feel gratitude to you, America." About United Help Ukraine Founded in 2014, United Help Ukraine (UHU) is a US-based 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to provide the people of Ukraine with critical support enabling them to survive in the face of adversity, defend and regain their sovereign territory, and rebuild and thrive in the future. UHU provides humanitarian, medical, psychological, and other assistance to those harmed by Russia's unprovoked aggression. We also advocate for a free, democratic, and independent Ukraine. Since the war in Ukraine began, United Help Ukraine has provided more than $64 million in humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. For Additional Information Please Contact: Maryna Baydyuk: [email protected]/202-320-8294 or David Bakelman: [email protected]/404-623-5415 SOURCE United Help Ukraine BURLINGAME, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CoherentMI published a report, titled, United States Pharmaceuticals Market was valued at US$ 599.47 Billion in the year 2023, and is anticipated to reach a US$ 1,068.02 Billion by 2030, with growing at a CAGR of 8.6% during forecast period 2023-2030. Market Dynamics: The United States Pharmaceuticals Market is driven by two main factors. Firstly, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer is fueling the demand for pharmaceutical products. With the growing aging population and unhealthy lifestyles, the incidence of chronic diseases is on the rise, leading to a higher demand for effective medications. Additionally, the rising awareness and accessibility of healthcare facilities across the country are contributing to the growth of the pharmaceuticals market. Secondly, technological advancements in drug development and manufacturing processes are boosting market growth. Innovative drug discovery techniques, such as targeted therapies and precision medicine, are revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry. This has led to the development of personalized treatment options, which provide higher efficacy and reduced side effects. Furthermore, advancements in manufacturing processes, such as automation and digitization, are improving production efficiency and reducing costs, making pharmaceutical products more affordable for consumers. United States Pharmaceuticals Market Report Coverage: Report Coverage Details Study Period 2023 - 2030 Base Year of Estimation 2022 CAGR 8.6 % Largest Market Northeast Market Concentration High Major Players Johnson and Johnson Inc., Pfizer Inc., AbbVie Inc., Merck KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Among Others. Segments Covered By Product Type, By Therapy Area, By Distribution Channel, By Route of Administration, By End User Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Growth Drivers Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Favorable Regulatory and Reimbursement Scenario Restraints & Challenges Probablity of Drug Abuse Key Market Takeaways: The United States Pharmaceuticals Market Size is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period 2023-2030, owing to the increasing demand for innovative drugs and advancements in healthcare infrastructure. On the basis of product type, the prescription drugs segment is expected to hold a dominant position, owing to the high prevalence of chronic diseases and the availability of a wide range of therapeutic options. On the basis of therapy area, the oncology segment is expected to dominate the market, driven by the rising incidence of cancer and the development of targeted therapies. In terms of distribution channel, hospital pharmacies are expected to hold a dominant position, due to the presence of well-established healthcare facilities and a higher preference for purchasing medications from hospitals. In terms of region, North America is expected to dominate the market, primarily due to the strong healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure, and presence of key market players in the region. is expected to dominate the market, primarily due to the strong healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure, and presence of key market players in the region. Key players operating in the United States Pharmaceuticals Market include Johnson and Johnson Inc., Pfizer Inc., AbbVie Inc., Merck KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Amgen Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis AG, Gilead Sciences, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, GSK plc., Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Abbott and Biogen. These key players are actively involved in research and development activities, strategic collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions, contributing to the market growth. Market Trends: Two key trends are shaping the United States Pharmaceuticals Market. Firstly, there is a growing emphasis on specialty pharmaceuticals. These are high-cost medications that target specific diseases and conditions, such as rare diseases, cancers, and autoimmune disorders. The increasing demand for personalized medicine and the development of biologics are driving the growth of the specialty pharmaceutical segment. Secondly, there is a rising trend of pharmaceutical companies forming strategic partnerships and collaborations to enhance their product portfolios and market presence. These partnerships allow companies to leverage their combined resources, expertise, and technologies to develop innovative medications and reach a wider customer base. Additionally, collaborations with academic institutions and research organizations enable pharmaceutical companies to access cutting-edge research and development capabilities. Recent Development: In July 2020 , to treat individuals with COVID-19, Novartis AG introduced a portfolio of 15 OTC and generic medications from the Sandoz division. , to treat individuals with COVID-19, Novartis AG introduced a portfolio of 15 OTC and generic medications from the Sandoz division. In March 2020 , the first over-the-counter medication that combines inuprofen and acetaminophen for pain treatment is Advil Dual Action from GlaxoSmithKline, which has received FDA approval. Read complete market research report, "United States Pharmaceuticals Market, By Product Type, By Therapy Area, By Distribution Channel, By Route of Administration, By End User, and other Segment Forecast 2023-2030", Published by CoherentMI. Market Opportunities: Increasing Demand for Biologics and Biosimilars The United States Pharmaceuticals Market is anticipated to witness a significant growth opportunity in the demand for biologics and biosimilars. Biologics are large, complex molecules derived from living organisms, while biosimilars are similar versions of these biologic drugs that have been approved by regulatory authorities. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders has led to a rise in the demand for biologics and biosimilars as effective treatment options. On the basis of product type, the biologics and biosimilars segment is expected to hold a dominant position in the market. The development and commercialization of biosimilars have gained momentum in recent years, as they offer cost-effective alternatives to expensive biologic drugs. The rising focus on personalized medicine and targeted therapies is also driving the demand for biologics and biosimilars. Growing Online Pharmacies Another market opportunity in the United States Pharmaceuticals Market is the growing popularity of online pharmacies. Online pharmacies provide customers with the convenience of ordering medications from the comfort of their own homes, and they often offer competitive pricing compared to traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies. By distribution channel, the online pharmacies segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The increasing digitalization and penetration of smartphones and internet access have fueled the growth of e-commerce in various industries, including pharmaceuticals. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the adoption of online pharmacies, as people are increasingly avoiding crowded places and seeking contactless options for purchasing essential medications. In conclusion, the United States Pharmaceuticals Market presents lucrative opportunities in the increasing demand for biologics and biosimilars, as well as the growing popularity of online pharmacies. The market is projected to witness substantial growth, driven by factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, advancements in healthcare technology, and favorable government initiatives. Key players in the market are focusing on innovation and strategic partnerships to maintain their market position and capitalize on the evolving market trends. United States Pharmaceuticals Market Segmentation: By Product Type Prescription Drugs Generic Drugs OTC Drugs Biologics Biosimilars By Therapy Area Oncology Diabetes Autoimmune Diseases Neurological Disorders Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases Others (Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, etc.) By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Others By Route of Administration Oral Parenteral Topical Others By End-User Hospitals Clinics Homecare Others By Geography Northeast West South Midwest Buy This Exclusive Report: https://www.coherentmi.com/industry-reports/united-states-pharmaceuticals-market/buyNow Top Questions Answered in this Report (FAQs): What factors are impeding the growth of the United States Pharmaceuticals Market? What are the primary drivers fueling the growth of the United States Pharmaceuticals Market? Which segment stands out as the leading component in the United States Pharmaceuticals Market? 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About Us: At CoherentMI, we are a leading global market intelligence company dedicated to providing comprehensive insights, analysis, and strategic solutions to empower businesses and organizations worldwide. Moreover, CoherentMI is a subsidiary of Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd., which is a market intelligence and consulting organization that helps businesses in critical business decisions. With our cutting-edge technology and experienced team of industry experts, we deliver actionable intelligence that helps our clients make informed decisions and stay ahead in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner Business Development CoherentMI Phone: U.S.: +1-206-701-6702 U.K: +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN: +81-50-5539-1737 INDIA: +91-848-285-0837 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.coherentmi.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/902389/Coherent_Market_Insights_Logo.jpg SOURCE Coherent Market Insights Beacon AI has made significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence for aviation. They have developed an AI copilot system to enhance flight safety and efficiency, effectively building a real-world `R2-D2` assistant to aid pilots. Using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to provide real-time data-driven insights and predictive analytics, they empower pilots to make informed decisions faster and more accurately. During contract execution, Beacon will continue to develop and strengthen its AI copilot's ability to analyze various factors, such as weather and flight path monitoring, providing aircrews with optimal route recommendations based on aircraft, user-specific requirements, and hazardous weather avoidance. The result of this work will allow aircrew to make more knowledgeable determinations with real-time data analysis to improve situational awareness and mission execution. This pioneering aircraft technology also contributes to environmental and economic advancements. By offering more fuel-efficient routes, the AI copilot can help optimize the DoD's annual consumption of 2 billion gallons of aviation fuel. The global commercial aviation industry can also use the same technology, which uses another 95 billion gallons of aviation fuel (2019). Reducing fuel consumption goes beyond environmental concerns alone by reducing the logistical challenges of the operating domain. "Beacon AI distinguishes itself with innovative technology and a team passionate about aviation. This project also develops features I wish I had when I was flying for the US Navy and will help current service members and commercial pilots operating aircraft around the globe," said Matt Cox, CEO and Founder, Beacon AI. The partnership between USSOCOM and Beacon AI underscores an alignment and commitment to boost mission success, aircraft safety, and operational productivity through advanced technology integration into military operations. About Beacon AI Beacon AI is a California-based aviation software technology company specializing in developing advanced AI systems to augment commercial and defense pilots. The company's mission is to advance the future of flight and make flight operations safer and more efficient for everyone. Beacon AI is dedicated to delivering AI solutions that address the complex challenges of the aviation sector. Beacon AI is backed by Sam Altman and JetBlue Ventures, among other leading investors, and advised by Hon. Robert Sumwalt (former Chairman of the NTSB) and Ali Bahrami (former Associate Administrator of the FAA). SOURCE Beacon AI Inc. WELL continues to focus on integrating and streamlining its operating businesses and is pleased to provide a number of related updates that supports its goal of improved profitable growth. All of WELL's Canadian clinical operating businesses including primary care, executive health, allied health, Longevity+ and MyHealth Centre specialized care offerings are included as part of the WELL Clinics Corp Operating entity and will now have overall P&L ownership by Dr. Michael Frankel , WELL's Chief Medical Officer. This is a business that is forecasted to generate more than $300M in revenues in 2024 with strong EBITDA margins. , WELL's Chief Medical Officer. This is a business that is forecasted to generate more than in revenues in 2024 with strong EBITDA margins. All of WELL's Canadian platform technologies including WELL's Provider Solutions, Cybersecurity, Public Sector and Enterprise Solutions, and Direct to Consumer Technology offerings shall be integrated as part of a new Platform Solutions Group with P&L ownership by Amir Javidan , WELL's Chief Operating Officer. This is a business that is forecasted to generate more than $75M in revenues in 2024 with strong EBITDA margins. , WELL's Chief Operating Officer. This is a business that is forecasted to generate more than in revenues in 2024 with strong EBITDA margins. WELL's cost optimization program is currently being implemented with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and profitability. Updates on our progress will be provided at our Q4 2023 earnings event in March. VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) (OTCQX: WHTCF) ("WELL" or the "Company"), a digital healthcare company focused on positively impacting health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower healthcare providers and their patients globally, is pleased to announce an integration update designed to streamline business operations and position the company for improved profitable growth Hamed Shahbazi, Founder and CEO of WELL commented, "We're pleased to share the results of the latest phase of our integration activities as we refine our organizational structure and teams to deliver our next stage of innovation and profitable growth. WELL is now effectively comprised of three key components, our Canadian National Clinic Group overseen by Dr. Michael Frankel, our Canadian Platform Services Group overseen by Amir Javidan and our WELL Health USA Group overseen by Jay Kreger. These key strategic groups and their respective leaders are well positioned to execute on our long-term vision of tech enabling and supporting healthcare providers while realizing improved synergies from WELL's significant size and scale. With approximately 5000 team members across our operations and growing quickly, the women and men of WELL continue to be a positive force in healthcare across the communities in which we operate." All of WELL's Canadian clinical operating businesses including primary care, executive health, allied health, Longevity+ and MyHealth specialized care offerings are included as part of WELL's National Clinics Group and will now have P&L ownership by Dr. Michael Frankel, WELL's Chief Medical Officer. This is a business that is forecasted to generate more than $300M in revenues in 2024 with strong EBITDA margins. Another organizational change for WELL is the creation of a new Platform Solutions Group. This group will encompass WELL's Provider Solutions, Cybersecurity, Public Sector and Enterprise Solutions, and Direct to Consumer Technology offerings, including our Canadian telehealth platform. Under the leadership of Amir Javidan, WELL's Chief Operating Officer, the Platform Solutions Group is forecasted to significantly contribute to WELL's growth, with anticipated revenues exceeding $75M in 2024 comprised mainly of SaaS and services. This group will include WELL's newly deployed suite of AI powered products and services designed to enhance the physician experience. This strategic alignment underscores WELL's commitment to leveraging technology to enhance healthcare delivery and accessibility. Also part of these strategic initiatives, WELL is implementing a cost optimization program to enhance operational efficiency and profitability. Updates on this program's progress will be shared during our Q4 2023 earnings event in March, reaffirming our commitment to demonstrating continued profitable growth. WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP. Per: "Hamed Shahbazi" Hamed Shahbazi Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director About WELL Health Technologies Corp. WELL's mission is to tech-enable healthcare providers. We do this by developing the best technologies, services, and support available, which ensures healthcare providers are empowered to positively impact patient outcomes. WELL's comprehensive healthcare and digital platform includes extensive front and back-office management software applications that help physicians run and secure their practices. WELL's solutions enable more than 33,000 healthcare providers between the US and Canada and power the largest owned and operated healthcare ecosystem in Canada with more than 165 clinics supporting primary care, specialized care, and diagnostic services. In the United States WELL's solutions are focused on specialized markets such as the gastrointestinal market, women's health, primary care, and mental health. WELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WELL" and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol "WHTCF". To learn more about WELL, please visit: www.well.company. SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp. DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Well-known diversified real estate services provider, Colliers Project Leaders- Middle East, has elevated Yamin Shihab to Managing Director. Yamin joined the firm in 2011 in Calgary, Canada, and went on to lead the Middle East business of Colliers Project Leaders in 2015. Proficient in budgeting, project planning, risk management, regulatory compliances, and strategic guidance, he has successfully led large-scale, complex assignments for global and domestic clients over the years. Yamin Shihab elevated to Managing Director for Colliers Project Leaders- Middle East. Moving into a more comprehensive role, Yamin will now oversee new business development and business operations across the Middle Eastern region. Several regional markets are witnessing high demand for real estate assets across segments; mixed-use, hospitality, retail, office, industrial, residential, and several alternative asset classes are steadily growing. The firm has expanded its capabilities and service offering to meet the demands of the sector and enhance its footing in the market and being an established leader with a deep understanding of the business and market, Yamin Shihab has been appointed to build scale and strengthen business ties in the region. "The next growth phase of Colliers Project Leaders- Middle East is an exciting one, and Yamin is the apt leader to steer the business ahead. He has been with the firm for a long time and understands the nuances of the business and the Middle East market. Amid global uncertainties, the GCC region is recovering well and witnessing a scaling demand for premium real estate spaces across asset classes. Our combined capabilities and bouquet enhanced services will certainly meet the business needs of our clients. I am confident that Yamin will continue to mentor our talent, cultivate business relations, and unlock higher value for the firm," says Sankey Prasad, Chairman & MD, India & Middle East- Colliers Project Leaders. "I am grateful to the senior leadership for the support they have extended to me over the years, and for trusting me with this elevated role. This is an opportune time for the real estate market across the Middle East as several developers, investors and owners are pivoting towards these markets, given its resilience and growth potential. With improved capabilities and enhanced value offering for clients, I'm excited about this new role and look forward to accelerating success of our stakeholders and people," added Yamin Shihab. Media Contact: Sukanya Dasgupta Head, Marketing & Communications [email protected] +91 9811867682 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344295/Colliers_Yamin_Shihab.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2147073/Colliers_New_Logo.jpg SOURCE Colliers European Council President Charles Michel is clear about what will happen if Russia wins the war in Ukraine. A defeat for Ukraine cannot be an option. We all understand very well what the devastating consequences would be for Europe and for the values we represent. And for the world. That is why it is crucial to act, he said on Wednesday in a conversation in Brussels with five European media outlets, including EL PAIS. As Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its second anniversary, Michel said that the EU must continue its efforts to support Kyiv. And even more, he said so now that the situation in the United States is difficult, with Washingtons support for Ukraine wavering. There is no alternative but to continue supporting Ukraine. There is one Plan A and only a Plan A and that is support for Ukraine, he said. Support for Ukraine is an investment in peace and stability, he continued. We must fight for Ukraine, Europe, the United States and the rest of the world. If not, we are sending a message to the rest of the world that it is okay for another country even one that is on the U.N. Security Council and that is in possession of nuclear weapons to invade another. We need to stand up, and we need to explain again and again whats at stake. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into fatigue or give up, warned Michel, who said that Russia could exploit and feed this seed of fatigue to undermine the European spirit and the EU project ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. On Saturday, the war that has shaken the European continent and the rest of the world will enter its third year. It is one of the most difficult moments for Ukraine: the counteroffensive has failed, the situation on the battle fronts is extremely complicated due to its lack of ammunition, material and troop rotation. Added to this is concern about the possible return of Republican Donald Trump to the White House and the delay of the EU framework for Ukraines future accession, which was due to be presented in March. On Tuesday, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that it will not be ready until the summer, after the European elections. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin who has taken the opportunity to increase weapons production is preparing a new spring offensive at various points on the front line, according to Western intelligence sources. The head of the Kremlin feels emboldened after achieving some progress (albeit timid) on the battlefield and because he has buried another of his enemies, Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who died in a gloomy maximum security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence for a case that the EU considers political persecution. Michel blamed the Kremlin for Navalnys death, arguing it is a brutal reminder of the nature of the regime. Meanwhile, Europeans are increasingly pessimistic about Ukraines chances of winning the war. Most believe that the conflict will end with some kind of agreement, according to a survey in 12 countries by the think tank ECFR. The survey also found that European citizens are skeptical about Europes ability to support Ukraine without the United Statesa clear variable if Trump returns to the White Houseand most believe that Washingtons policies must be imitated. The decisions we have made, the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine, the 50 billion financial support package, are a call to our allies, especially the United States, to do what is necessary to support Ukraine with military and economic assistance. It is the top priority. And I truly hope that the United States understands that supporting Ukraine is also a formula against authoritarian regimes across the world that are trying to put into question a rules-based order. Although the EU has less and less margin to take historic steps, Michel argued that it does have the ability to provide political, military and financial support. We are working to try to use frozen Russian assets, in whole or in part, to help Ukraine rebuild. It is a question of justice, of the rule of law, of responsibility and accountability, and I am sure that in the coming weeks we will be able to move forward, said Michel. In addition to the G7, the EU agreed to freeze some 300 billion of Russian assets, but is debating how to use them. Last week, the EU took the first step of its action plan and agreed to set aside billions of euros of profits arising from the freezing of those assets. On Wednesday, the EU approved its 13th sanction package against Russia in an effort to stifle the Kremlins war effort. For the first time, the list of those affected by the measures which include freezing assets and a ban on entering the EU include several Chinese companies and an Indian firm. The EUs goal is to prevent Russia from receiving materials for civilian use that it uses to build weapons. For the EU, Russias war against Ukraine which exposed its dependence on cheap Russian gas has been a loud wake-up call to increase its strategic autonomy and strengthen security and defense. The European Unions defense is needed. This is urgent. Whatever it takes, we need to act, and we need to be credible. We need to act to protect our values, to defend our interests, to respect the others, but also to be respected, said Michel, in reference to the debate over how Europe can better protect itself from military threats. The European Council presidents comments come amid concerns that a Trump-led U.S. government would take a step back from NATO. Around the European Council there was a certain understanding that NATO was like an umbrella to protect the security in Europe, while on the EU side, the responsibility should be more focused on the economic development and other purposes in line with our values. I feel that we face a new paradigm. we can observe that the mood, the mindset is totally different, he said. The objective for Member States should be to invest more and to invest better in defense, and to be less fragmented. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Chilean Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalve, announced Wednesday afternoon that the government had altered Interpol to the kidnapping of a former Venezuelan soldier in Santiago. The Chilean government also strengthened security measures at the border as a result of the kidnapping, which took place at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday in the municipality of Independencia, in the northern sector of the Chilean city. According to a video on social media, the former soldier was kidnapped from his apartment by four hooded individuals who, according to initial reports, pretended to be officers from the Investigative Police (PDI). The victim has been identified as Ronald Leandro Ojeda Moreno. The government did not specify how long he had been living in Chile, nor whether he was a political refugee information that by law cannot be made public, said Monsalve. Like all kidnapping cases, the investigation has been classified as confidential, both by the Public Prosecutors Office and by the Anti-Kidnapping Brigade (BIPE) of the PDI. As many hypotheses have been raised, the government is also considering all possible hypotheses, said Monsalve on Wednesday. One of the theories, raised by the former Venezuelan security secretary Ivan Simonovis, who opposes the Maduro government, suggests that the operation may have been orchestrated by the Venezuelan General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM). According to the newspaper La Tercera, Ojeda is one of the 33 soldiers who were expelled from the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) on charges of conspiracy on January 24, as announced by Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino. Ojeda was taken from the 14th floor of his apartment building, and the kidnapping was recorded by security cameras. Hours later, authorities found a car that may be linked to the crime in the municipality of Renca. Inside the vehicle there was a vest, presumably belonging to the PDI, and a bulletproof helmet. The investigation is being led by prosecutor Hector Barros, who coordinates the Organized Crime and Homicide Team (ECOH) in the Metropolitan Region a unit that was created in November in response to the unprecedented rise in homicides in Chile. In his address from La Moneda palace, Monsalve said that in these cases whats important is protecting the physical integrity of the possible victim and their family and called for the public to respect that the investigation was confidential. Monsalve said that the government had asked Chilean national law enforcement, the Carabineros, and the PDI to strengthen border control. Senator Francisco Chahuan, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Senate, described the Ojeda case as a sensitive situation. We have been in permanent contact with the government. It is a case that must be investigated with celerity and great rigor due to the different hypotheses that have been raised, he added. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Jerusalem, Feb 22 : Israel will send a delegation for Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo only after it receives more indications that Hamas is willing to "soften its stance," an Israeli government official told the media. The official, who requested anonymity, said on Wednesday that Israel has yet to decide on sending a delegation for talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt. These discussions involve a potential ceasefire deal, which would require the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. "Hamas hasn't yet shown flexibility on the issue of the number of Palestinian prisoners who would be released" under a deal, the official added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. A meeting of US, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian negotiators on a hostage release deal ended in Cairo earlier in February without a breakthrough. More than 200 people in Israel were taken hostage on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. To retaliate the movement's deadly attack, Israel launched a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to figures released by both sides. In November last year, Israel and Hamas conducted a hostage-for-prisoner swap under a fragile truce. Beirut, Feb 22 : Two civilians were killed and three others injured during Israeli raids targeting southwest Lebanon, Lebanese medical and military sources told the media. According to official sources on Wednesday, rescue and ambulance teams equipped with bulldozers and cranes were sent to remove the rubble of several homes that were targeted in Majdal Zoun, Al-Mansouri, and Khiam, and to transport the injured to nearby hospitals, Xinhua news agency reported. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua news agency that Israel carried out 12 airstrikes on seven towns and villages in southern Lebanon and fired 35 shells on 13 towns and villages in the south, destroying eight homes and damaging 24 others. The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since October 8, 2023, after Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 305 people on the Lebanese side, including 205 Hezbollah members and 59 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. First group of Ukrainian pilots to complete F-16 training by summer. Image Source: IANS News Kiev, Feb 22 : The first group of four Ukrainian pilots will complete their training on the F-16 jets by summer, the media reported. The pilots started their training to fly F-16 jets in October last year in the US city of Tucson, Arizona, Xinhua news agency reported. The second and the third groups of four Ukrainian pilots each are expected to complete their F-16 training by the end of August. In July last year, Ukraine signed a memorandum with 11 countries to create a coalition for training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighters. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium have pledged to transfer F-16s to Ukraine to help the country upgrade its combat aircraft fleet amid the war with Russia. Sanaa, Feb 22 : US warplanes launched five airstrikes targeting Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, media reported. The strikes hit in the area of Ras Issa in the district of al-Salif, northwest of the city, said the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV report on Wednesday, adding that there were no casualties. Hodeidah's residents said there were huge explosions in the Houthi-controlled military sea base in Ras Issa, Xinhua news agency reported. The Houthis have been launching anti-ship missile attacks against international shipping vessels transiting the Red Sea since the past mid-November in what they said in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Many ships have been damaged, forcing several major shipping companies to change routes around Africa, which increased the prices of shipping and goods. The US military, which has been hitting Houthi targets almost on a daily basis since January, has yet to comment on the alleged fresh strikes. The armed Houthis have been controlling the strategic Hodeidah since the 2018 UN-sponsored Stockholm Agreement, which was backed by the US and Britain, forcing the internationally recognised government out. Tel Aviv, Feb 22 : The Israel Minister without portfolio and member of War Cabinet in the government, Benny Gantz has said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was prepared for a military operation in Rafah during the month of Ramadan if a hostage deal is not successful. In a statement on Wednesday, Gantz said, "If there is no hostage deal, we will operate during Ramadan." The Minister, who was the former Chief of Armed staff, however, said that there were signs of a hostage deal coming through. Gantz said, "There are attempts these days to promote a new framework (for a deal) and there are initial signs that indicate the possibility of moving forward." He also added that the Israel government would not miss any opportunity to bring the hostages home and added that the IDF was indeed preparing for a military operation in Rafah, which will commence only after the Palestinian civilians are evacuated from the region. Gantz also said that such an evacuation was necessary for the IDF to move against the Hamas forces in that area. The US President's top advisor to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, was in the region to hold talks in Egypt and Israel as part of a push to close a deal that could see a pause in the fighting by the start of the month-long Ramadan holiday. A top delegation of Hamas led by its political head, Ismail Haniyeh, is in Cairo for mediatory talks for a ceasefire during the Holy month of Ramadan, which is likely to commence on March 10. Agra, Feb 22 : This year's Taj Mahotsav has given a big boost to spiritual tourism, which could bring more footfalls and make tourism everybody's business. The high voltage and spectacular daily Yamuna Aarti, an event organised by the Agra Municipal Corporation, has been drawing thousands of people. A series of cultural activities are being organised in different parts of the city to highlight the importance of Hindu temples. The Yogi Adityanath government has changed the name of a metro rail station to Sri Mankameshwar. Earlier it was Jama Masjid station. Meanwhile, hoteliers, guides, green activists who joined the symposium on Agra beyond the Taj, demanded recognition of Agra as a heritage city with rich Hindu cultural traditions and relics. If Tamil Nadu could be known as the 'Temple State of India' and Bhubaneshwar as the 'Temple City of India', Agra too can be described as the hub of Shiva temples. Not many people know that Agra is not just a grand Mughal city, but its antiquity is also defined by a string of centuries-old Shiva temples, which rightly give it a new profile as Shiva's own land. In fact many people believe that the Taj Mahal itself was a Rajput Shiva temple. A simple search on Google Maps will show hundreds of Shiv temples in Agra district, which is part of Braj Mandal, the land of Shri Krishna. In a move to present a new profile of Agra and raise awareness on this, SPHEEHA (Society for Preservation of Health Environment and Ecology and Heritage of Agra) in partnership with Tourism Guild of Agra and Uttar Pradesh Tourism organised the fourteenth edition of its annual event, 'Agra Beyond Taj' to deliberate about the 'Chronology of Shiv Temples in Agra and Bateshwar' as part of the ongoing Taj Mahotsav. The high priest of Shri Mankameshwar temple, Mahant Yogesh Puri, outlined the history of Agra. He claimed that the Shri Mankameshwar Temple of Agra, was over 5,500-years-old and the 28th generation descendant of the family was serving Lord Shiva in the temple. Puri said Agra was indeed the 'City of Lord Shiva'. His conviction stems from the fact that Agra has four famous Shiva temples at the four entrances of the city as well as four famous temples dedicated to Lord Bhairav (widely believed to be the eighth form of Shiva, whereas some believe Bhairav as a child of Shiva). Agra also has two prominent Shiva temples, which have an ageless history associated with these temples. Hence, Agra can be and should be developed as a spiritual tourism centre with well-defined itineraries and facilities. Former President of the Tourism Guild of Agra, Arun Dang, highlighted the fact that Mahadji Scindia and Ahilyabai Holkar helped resurrect many Shiva Temples in Agra and Bateshwar famous for its 101 Shiva temples in a row, along the bend of river Yamuna, during the heydays of the Maratha empire from 1758 to 1818. Even the renowned poet, Nazeer Akbarabadi has mentioned the role Shiva temples played in shaping the character of Agra, in his numerous poems. Pankaj Gupta, Secretary of SPHEEHA, spoke on spiritualism and environmental consciousness, making a profound statement that the current climate change crisis also required a spiritual response comprising physical and meta-physical activities determined by five elements so that all living beings can flourish. In this regard he focused on the river cleaning activity being done at Poiyya Ghat by SPHEEHA in association with DEI University and the Radhasoami Satsang Sabha as well as the inclusions of camels in the barns of Dayalbagh celebrating the 'Year of Camelids' as declared by United Nations. Anu Dhillon Singh of Mela Kothi and Chambal Safari showcased a presentation of various temples of Bateshwar with their brief history. Shyam Kumar from Double Tree by Hilton stressed on the role tourism played in boosting the local economy, and the need of laws governing tourist behaviour and improvement of basic facilities in the city. Academic Shabd Mishra hoped that in future the city of the Taj would also be recognised as the hub of Shiva Bhakti, and the hundreds of Shiva temples with their unique history, would be given a makeover to attract spiritually-inclined tourists. Over 12k in grip of viral fever in UP's Firozabad. Image Source: IANS News Uttara Kannada, Feb 22 : A 65-year-old woman died of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), known as monkey fever, on Thursday in Karnataka's Uttar Kannada district. This is the first monkey fever death in the district and health authorities are concerned about the development as the effective vaccination is not available yet. The condition of woman, hailing from Jiddi village near Siddapur town, turned critical on Wednesday. State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had recently held a high-level meeting with legislators and officers of three districts of the state where the outbreak of the disease has created a concerning situation. The state, which has 103 active monkey fever cases, had recorded two deaths so far, one each in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts. The state government has held talks with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for effective vaccination and authorities are hopeful of getting the vaccination sooner. The awareness programme is also undertaken in the regions where the disease is detected. Monkey fever is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease which can be fatal to humans and other primates. The symptoms of KFD begin suddenly with chills, fever, and headache. Severe muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding problems may occur three-four days after initial symptom onset. Oxygen cylinders, generators, medical supplies and hundreds of water purifiers and solar-powered objects. The list of essential items that Israeli authorities have refused to allow into Gaza since the start of the war, citing security reasons, is long. And it highlights the severe restrictions and difficulties humanitarian agencies face in getting vital supplies to a population trapped in increasingly desperate conditions. More than four months after the start of the Israeli ground invasion, aid is still only arriving in Gaza in a trickle only a fraction of what the population needs is getting through. The main reason for this, according to NGOs, human rights organizations and officials who spoke to EL PAIS, is that sending aid to Gaza is up against a very restricted, slow and confusing process imposed by Israel. This includes bureaucratic obstacles, limits on entry points, grueling inspections, arbitrary and inconsistent criteria for what items can pass, and lack of guarantees regarding the distribution of the aid once it is inside the Palestinian enclave. Humanitarian aid [is used] as a weapon of war: not only has the infrastructure necessary for life [in Gaza] been destroyed, but the obstruction of aid is one more element of this war by the Israeli army, says Spanish MEP Soraya Rodriguez, who visited the Egypt-Gaza border in December with other European lawmakers to follow humanitarian aid delivery operations. A total of 75% of Gazas population, some 1.7 million people, have been displaced by Israels attacks and successive evacuation orders. Most are living in overcrowded conditions in Rafah, a city at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt, which is in the grips of a deep humanitarian crisis. There is an acute shortage of water, food, medicine and shelter. The risk of famine is looming. And critical infrastructure has been destroyed. Despite the immense needs of the Gaza population, Israel only allows aid to reach Gaza through two border crossings: Rafah, which connects with Egypt and is the main route, and Kerem Shalom, which links to Israel. Aid began flowing through Rafah in late October, after Israeli imposed a two-week complete blockade. In December, Israel partially reopened Kerem Shalom Karem Abu Salem, in Arabic after coming under strong diplomatic pressure. Before it can enter Gaza, however, the aid being carried by humanitarian trucks has to be inspected in Israel. This forces convoys entering via Rafah to take a 25-mile detour to the south, to a border post between Egypt and Israel, which along with Kerem Shalom is the only point where controls are carried out. Whats more, if Israeli authorities reject a single item, the truck has to return to Egypt, drop off the entire load, reload the aid and repeat the process, says Tamara Alrifai, a spokeswoman for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Most days there are drones flying over the area. Every delay means we are delaying vital aid, says Ahmed Bayram, an adviser to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Goods for civil and military use Israels truck inspection policy precedes the military offensive in Gaza, and targets items that are defined dual-use, that is, civilian goods that could be used for military purposes. A spokesperson for COGAT, the Israeli Ministry of Defense unit in charge of coordinating civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, tells EL PAIS that Israel does not limit aid to Gaza that includes food, water, medicine, medical equipment and shelter supplies. The spokesperson also states that there have been no changes to the dual-use goods policy, set down in a 2007 law, since the start of the military campaign. We have to ensure that all humanitarian aid convoys that enter Gaza do so with humanitarian aid, not military aid, says Kobi Michael, the former head of the Palestinian desk at the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs. Human rights groups, however, point out that Israels dual-use criteria are very broad and do not meet international standards. Israel does not provide NGOs with a detailed list of what items are not allowed, which leaves the process open to arbitrary decisions, especially in the context of the current crisis. There is not much transparency, even less than before, so we do not know exactly what Israels policy is at the moment, says Tania Hary, director of Gisha, an Israeli organization that defends freedom of movement in the occupied territories. Among the goods that have been blocked are water purifiers, medical supplies, solar-powered items and oxygen pumps, according to a December list from the Egyptian Red Crescent consulted by EL PAIS. Other news reports have listed sleeping bags, fire hoses, powdered drinks, flashlights, stretchers and urinals. There are many things, says Alrifai. Another obstacle is that Rafah is not a goods crossing and is not fit for a large humanitarian operation. The Kerem Shalom crossing was the main entry route for aid and commercial goods before October. But the Israeli authorities close it for half of Friday and Saturday, and two or three times a week they use it for other purposes, such as returning prisoners and on one occasion returning bodies, says Alrifai. The crossing has also been repeatedly blocked by Israeli protests, who are against any aid to Gaza. Although it is said that Kerem Shalom is officially open for humanitarian trucks, in reality we cannot use it every day, and we continue to depend almost entirely on Rafah, explains Alrifai. Since the reopening of Kerem Shalom, there has not been one week when the daily average of humanitarian trucks entering Gaza, including through Rafah, has exceeded 156, according to the tally from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The maximum number that has crossed in seven days is less than 1,100. Before the military offensive in Gaza, an average of 500 trucks entered every working day. No guarantees inside Trucks entering Gaza through Rafah unload their cargo at the Palestinian terminal at the crossing, and the aid is loaded onto other trucks already inside the territory. Then begins the challenge of distributing humanitarian supplies in Gaza, whose critical infrastructure including roads and communications have been destroyed by Israels attacks. Convoys cannot move freely, but depend on the approval of the Israeli army. From the beginning of the year until mid-February, Israeli authorities fully or partially facilitated less than 20% of the 77 humanitarian missions to northern Gaza, with support to hospitals and water, hygiene and sanitation service facilities among the most regularly denied, according to OCHA. In the case of missions that required coordination with the Israeli army in the south of Gaza, 58% of mission were facilitated. OCHA also noted that Israel has not accepted any requests to open military checkpoints inside Gaza earlier to expedite aid distribution. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) paused deliveries of vital food aid to northern Gaza on Monday after a convoy was met with chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order in Gaza. Israeli forces have also opened fire on U.N. humanitarian convoys and Gazans waiting to receive aid, according to human rights organizations. Now, Israels plans to extend its ground invasion of Rafah threaten to wipe out even the limited humanitarian aid that is available. UNRWA may also have to suspend its operations in Gaza due to lack of resources after multiple Western donors cut funding in response to Israels accusation so far lacking public evidence that some 40 workers of the agencys 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Hamas attack on Israel. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, warned that preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid may constitute a crime. He stressed that Israel must guarantee that Gazans receive food, water and medical supplies. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Los Angeles, Feb 22 : Actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish has defended her travel to Israel amid ongoing conflict in Gaza after landing in hot water. She called going to the Middle East country an "educational trip" amid the war. Haddish joined 'TMZ Live' after she arrived in Israel. "I can't believe everything that I read," she said. "I need to go see for myself. I want to talk to the actual people here, the people that actually experienced the situation that happened on the 7th," she said, reports aceshowbiz.com. The actress-comedian added: "The people that actually have family members that are hostages that were taken out of their own homes, that were on their way to work driving from Palestine to Israel, working here on a daily basis, and how they were taken as well. "I wanted to talk to the people. I wanted to be with the people. I wanted to see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears." Haddish said that she "learned a lot" from the region. "I learned that people were taken out of their homes. I learned that people were taken away from the actual event that was happening. All those people that were killed, there was a lot of people killed, but a lot of people were kidnapped from that event. I didn't know that before. I learned that there were 100 people that have been freed from being hostages in Gaza, but there are still 100 plus people that are over there." Talking about Israel's counter attack in Gaza, the actress said: "Yes, I'm going over there too. I'm a firm believer in: 'Go see with your own eyes before you pass judgment.' Go over there cautiously, be cautious, but go see for yourself." She insisted: "I care about both sides. I care about humanity. Human beings." "I know there's a lot of religious stuff going on, a lot of control of the land, 'No Jews here, no this there' whatever... that's neither here nor there with me. It's about human life, human beings. Human beings, man! That's what I care about. That's why I'm here." She also replied to criticism that she shouldn't have joked about finding a man in Israel given the seriousness of the situation. "I'm here all by myself. Just like I was saying in 2018 when they were asking me about Mo'Nique and her husband, I said I don't do my business like she does her business. Because I don't have a husband. I don't have what she has. I'm all alone! That's what I'm trying to tell you guys. I'm doing this all by myself." She added: "I don't have a whole family full of men, or a man supporting me. I'm doing it on my own. I'm learning on my own. For people to say... I have to make light of something that the average female wouldn't do." "The average female wouldn't have the courage to go see for themselves. There's a lot of scary out here, and y'all can be scared, but I'm going to go ahead and follow my instincts, and learn as much as I can learn. Educate myself before I go speaking on subject matters." Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Karnataka Minister for RDPR, IT and BT, Priyank Kharge on Thursday sought to downplay the ongoing issue of 2.5-year term for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Priyank Kharge said that a discussion in this regard was held between four persons, and "whatever it is.. the high command of the party would take a decision.." He said this while answering questions over the remarks of D.K. Suresh, a Congress MP and brother of Shivakumar The Karnataka minister further said, "Whether it's him or not ...others do not have any information in this regard. No one has the authority to speak on the matter. It is going to be the decision of the high command. "As of now, our CM is Siddaramaiah. DyCM and Pradesh Congress Committee President is Shivakumar. We have faced the elections under their leadership and we will face the upcoming elections as well. There is no doubt that Congress is winning 20 MP seats.". When asked if Shivakumar will be made CM after two-and-a-half years, would he welcome it, Kharge replied, "Why do you imagine things without any reason? Now, budget is important. Let the discussion be about the good budget. First let us face the Lok Sabha elections and win 20 seats and later we will see," he stated. Congress MP D.K. Suresh had claimed that his brother and deputy to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah D.K. Shivakumar would become the Chief Minister after two-and-a-half years. Suresh said this on Wednesday when questioned about the potential replacement of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He was asked if Shivakumar's aspiration to become CM would come true. "It is not wrong to dream. I won't say what you're saying is false. Dreams need time to materialise. Changes are inevitable, and we must be patient. A day will come when Shivakumar's dream will be realised. He will become the CM after two-and-half years. However, we have to wait until the time comes," Suresh said. Asked about a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for a two-and-a-half year term, Suresh said: "The high command has made a decision regarding the matter. I won't disclose anything publicly now but a time will come when Shivakumar's dream will be realised." New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that it has not leaked any information to the media in connection with the ongoing probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) against Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra. Moitra has challenged ED's approach in handling the investigation against her in the matter. The ED's counsel, on instructions, told Justice Subramonium Prasad that it is not aware about the sources of the news articles published by media houses, and that the agency has not given any press release. Justice Prasad has now reserved his order for Friday on Moitra's plea. The ED had issued summons to her under FEMA on February 14 and 20. Senior advocate Rebecca John for Moitra submitted that, "I was summoned for the first time by the summons dated February 14, 2024. It was received at a Calcutta Residence which is unoccupied by me. The news article begins to say even before the summons reached me." Moitra's plea seeks judicial intervention to prevent the ED from disseminating any "confidential or unverified information" related to the case to the media. She has named 19 media organisations, urging the court to restrain them from broadcasting or publishing any "unverified, unconfirmed, false, derogatory content" concerning the ongoing investigation. Moitra's plea stresses the necessity for media reporting on her case to align with official ED press releases, aiming to ensure factual accuracy and prevent misinformation. She has accused the ED of deliberately leaking information about the investigation and her preliminary responses, which she argues aims to tarnish her reputation through a "media-trial." "It is submitted that instead of undertaking a fair, transparent and ethical investigation into the alleged violations of the FEMA by the Petitioner, Respondent No. 1 (ED) has willfully and maliciously leaked the details of the FEMA Summons, as well as the preliminary response..." Moitra's petition reads. She contends that such actions compromise the investigation's integrity and infringe upon her rights, including her right to privacy, dignity, and a fair investigation. "Respondent No. 1 has acted against the procedure prescribed under the law as it has leaked confidential, half-baked, speculative/unconfirmed information to the media in relation to the ongoing proceedings/investigation under FEMA against the Petitioner," Moitra has said. In addition to the FEMA case, Moitra has been embroiled in controversy over allegations of receiving cash in exchange for parliamentary queries on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani, a charge she has denied despite admitting to sharing her Parliament login details with him. She has also filed a defamation suit against individuals including BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, with a judgment on interim relief pending. Recently, the court had allowed Moitra to withdraw her petition challenging the eviction notice by the Directorate of Estates to vacate the government bungalow that was allotted to her but cancelled following her expulsion from the Lok Sabha. On January 18, the court had refused to stay the eviction notice issued to the expelled Lok Sabha MP. (State of the state package) Dogged by defections, Goa's leftover Cong puts up brave face against BJP. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : After weeks of hard bargaining and long parleys, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress reached a deal in Uttar Pradesh to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together. This has enthused the grassroots workers and gave an impetus to INDIA bloc's prospects in the northern state, which sends largest numbers of lawmakers to the Lok Sabha. Out of total 80 seats, Akhilesh Yadav-led SP allotted 17 seats to the grand old party and one to Chandrashekhar Azad's party. The SP will field candidates on rest of the 62 seats. The poll alliance between the two parties revives the memory of 2017 Assembly elections, when the "two boys" (Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi) joined hands to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance stitched for 2024 Lok Sabha elections looks more out of compulsion rather than a well-thought strategy to take on the might of BJP. A brief analysis of election figures show that the 17 seats of Congress are those, where it fared poorly in 2019 general elections. In 12 seats, the party even lost deposits and on one seat i.e. Bansgaon, it did not even field its candidate in 2019 elections. In 2019 elections, the Congress contested on a total of 67 seats but lost deposits in about 63 seats, besides the humiliating defeat that it had to face in its pocket borough Amethi. In 2024 polls, the seats where Congress will contest include Rae Bareli, Amethi, Kanpur, Fatehpur Sikri, Bansgaon, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Maharajgandj, Varansi, Amroha, Jhnasi, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Sitapur, Barabanki and Deoria. Of the 17 seats, Varanasi is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency while Congress does not have much to expect from its stronghold Amethi, owing to its "ignorance" and "lack of attention". The seat-sharing agreement between the two parties will indeed give impetus and strength to the INDIA alliance, however, the past electoral records do not offer much hope. The INDIA bloc had already suffered many blows in the run-up to Parliamentary elections with many regional satraps declaring to go solo. The poll alliance between two parties wavered for quite some time, before finally getting clinched on Wednesday. AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi reportedly played the ice-breaker and helped seal the deal, else the turbulence in seat-sharing talks had reached a "point of no return". New Delhi, Feb 22 : Hyundai India, which was established nearly three decades ago, recently announced its listing plans in India. Foreign brokerage, Jefferies said this announcement could open floodgates for many more multinational companies that are operating in India with a significant market share but are still unlisted in the Indian markets. Some of the global MNCs listed in India have enjoyed market cap growth much faster than their Global Listed companies driven by higher sustainable multiples these companies enjoy in India which is not available in their home countries. Recently BAT (its stake in ITC), Whirlpool and Hyundai have announced monetisation of their stakes in Indian companies. These examples may lead to more MNC companies operating in India to list/monetise their Indian assets, the report said. If larger global companies like Amazon, Samsung, Apple, Toyota etc. were to think on these lines -- it can be a game changer for Indian equity capital markets. MNCas have started using the Indian markets as a funding source. For example - Recently Hyundai India showed its interest to list in India to raise $3 billion which would be Indiaas biggest IPO at a valuation of up to USD 30 billion, which is more than half its market cap of $42bn in Seoul. Similarly, Whirlpool corporation announced its plans to sell upto 24 per cent stake in in Indian arm, the proceeds of which will be used for debt repayment at the global unit, the report said. IPOs of the large start-up base can drive attractive investor opportunities Indian Internet economy gave birth to over 100 unicorns over the last decade, making it the third largest unicorn hub only behind US and China. These unicorns operate across diverse industries including SAAS, e-commerce, fintech, gaming, edtech, D2C, logistics, mobility, Web3, healthtech etc. Together they have raised a cumulative funding of USD 100 billion and command a valuation of more than USD 350 billion, the report said. India's unicorn birth rate has been much higher than other countries. While India saw a 5x growth in the number of unicorns over CY18-22, China and US saw a lower 2-3x growth. These large unicorns brings immense listing potential over the next 5-7 years. While some unicorns such as Flipkart, Swiggy, Ola Electric, PhonePe can be listed in the near term, the report said. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in) Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has made an appeal to the Centre to intervene and rescue Indian youths, including three from the state, who were trapped and drafted into a private army in Russia. Speaking to reporters in Vidhana Soudha here, the Minister said on Thursday that he has got information from the Kalaburagi DC. "The youths were fraudulently taken there. We have written a letter in this regard to the representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Bengaluru. I have also spoken to the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. "He has assured me that he will speak to Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and write a letter to him also. "The youths from Karnataka, Telangana are stuck there. Fraudulently and by means of cheating the youths were sent to the war. The Indian government must consider this development seriously. The central government must interfere and rescue the Indian youths from Russia." According to sources, three youths from Kalaburagi district of Karnataka are stuck in Russia. They were fraudulently recruited by a private Russian army group 'Wagner'. They were recruited by YouTube Channel 'Baba Vlog' operating in Dubai. Nawaz Kalagi, father of the youth, Syed Iliyas Hussain, who is stuck in Russia, pleaded with the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help bring back his son home. "He went to Russia on December 18, 2023. He was told that he would be doing the security helper's job. Now they are being asked to fight in the war. My son used to work in Dubai and from there he went to Russia," he stated. The incident came to light after the youths made a video sharing their plight and pleading for help. A group of Indian youths have fallen victim to agents who deceitfully sent them to Russia under the false pretense of providing them security guard jobs. Instead, all of them were dispatched to war-torn Ukraine-Russia areas. 26/11 PACKAGE -- Cong govt ignored intel on attacks, says BJP; PM Modi has struck terror roots. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : The BJP on Thursday said that talibanisation of India can never be accepted, shortly after Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom Deoband, issued a fatwa approving 'Ghazwa-e-Hind'. BJP national spokesperson Prem Shukla said the Darul Uloom's fatwa approving Ghazwa-e-Hind is anti-Constitution and pro-Pakistan. "It clearly indicated that Darul Uloom does not have faith in the Constitution of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the Constitution of India," Prem Shukla said. The BJP spokesperson said that Darul Uloom is speaking the language of Pakistan. Taking action on the matter, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to the district magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Saharanpur district. The NCPCR has said that Darul Uloom, Deoband is giving anti-India teachings to children in madrasa, promoting Islamic fundamentalism. The Commission has declared this as violation of Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter under Section 13 (1) TJ of the CPCR Act, the NCPCR has said that the contents of such fatwa can spread hatred against the country. The Commission has requested the district administration to investigate the website of Darul Uloom, saying that the people of the country are being misled through it. Therefore, Darul Uloom's website should be checked and blocked immediately. Along with this, NCPCR has warned that if no action is taken regarding this soon, then the district administration itself will be equally responsible for this. Our priority is to first stabilise Go First, says Sky One chairman (IANS Interview). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : Sky One, an aviation company headquartered in Sharjah, which has submitted the bid to buy Go First, exuded confidence that it will be able to stabilise cash strapped airline. Besides Sky One, SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh and Busy Bee Airways Private Limited have put in a joint bid for Go First, leading to a question whether the airline company will be revived. During an interview with IANS, Sky One Chairman Jaideep Mirchandani delved further deep on how they plan to revive the cash strapped Go First airlines. Jaideep Mirchandani expressed confidence in the airline's stable growth trajectory and emphasises Sky One's commitment to optimising operations for maximum efficiency. He further said that there is immense growth potential in India and with the increase in domestic travellers there will be scope for passenger airlines as well as support sectors. The increase in domestic airline travellers that Mirchandani talks about is attributable also to the policy of the Modi government. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modias remarks assume significance in which he had said that his government would ensure that common people wearing hawai chappals (slippers) would also travel in planes. Here are the key insights from the excerpts: IANS: Could you elaborate on the long-term vision that Sky One has for Go First, beyond the initial revival phase? Jaideep Mirchandani: We are absolutely certain that the airline has a stable growth path ahead. The current situation was caused due to the challenges faced by Go First in 2023 regarding the availability of Pratt & Whitney engines. The airline, on its own, comes with a pool of prime airport slots, international routes and hefty real estate, and Sky One is more excited about the prospect of optimising the operations of the airline to its maximum efficiency. IANS: How does Sky One intend to leverage its own resources and expertise to support Go First's growth and development? Jaideep Mirchandani: We have been trading and leasing aircrafts since 2008. We understand aviation and over the years, our experts have learned to predict the industry trends. Our MRO and engineering background does support our confidence in resolving the current issues - at the same time, we are certain to deploy not just our internal but best practices across the globe and consult with experts for a sustainable resolution. IANS: In terms of fleet expansion or optimisation, what are the key considerations for Go First under Sky One's ownership? Jaideep Mirchandani: Needless to say, stabilising is the first priority - which is based on optimisation of routes, aircrafts and resources. We will consider next steps only when the company is stable. IANS: Are there any plans to reposition Go First in the market or differentiate its offerings to attract more customers? Jaideep Mirchandani: So far we have only submitted a bid, we are far from commenting on the operational aspect of running it (especially to the media). IANS: How does Sky One plan to address any potential regulatory or operational challenges that may arise during the integration process? Jaideep Mirchandani: We are following the process set in place by the RP. If any challenges arise, we are certain that the authorities will show us the way to abide by them. IANS: As your headquarters are in Sharjah, what strategies do you have in place to expand your business in India? Jaideep Mirchandani: We are based out of Sharjah, as the UAE is at the centre of global aviation. However, our interest in expansion makes India an obvious direction. There is immense growth potential in India and we can foresee that with the increase in domestic travellers there will be scope for passenger airlines as well as support sectors like MRO, pilot training, and ground operations. Our strategy has always been to provide 360 degree aviation solutions and invest in the sector where growth is predicted - there has never been a better time or place than India for both. IANS: Could you delve into the array of services offered by Sky One, spanning cargo transport, charter services, and passenger airlines? Furthermore, what notable challenges and prospects does the company face within this bustling industry landscape? Jaideep Mirchandani: Sky One offers a wide range of aviation services, including airline advisory, capacity optimisation, cargo charters, asset training, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). We have extensive experience in incubating startup airlines and last year we successfully turned around two passenger and two cargo airlines as well. The aviation sector, as a whole, is facing the challenge of ensuring quality and balancing customer expectations with business efficiency. We believe it is crucial to ensure a sustainable model of financial success that also delivers a positive customer experience. The opportunities so far outweigh the challenges, in our opinion, especially because Indian passenger airlines are witnessing a boom in terms of both competition and opportunity. IANS: In its global operations, how does Sky One tailor its services to suit the distinct needs of clients across various geographical territories, in the middle of the fluidity of market dynamics? Jaideep Mirchandani: Our approach is not aone size fits alla. We craft our services according to the demands of our different clients in different regions. This is why our clients keep coming back to us. We have local teams who work to ensure that we comply with regional regulations and that our services are something that resonate with the local clientele. (Shekhar Singh can be reached at shekhar.s@ians.in) Chennai, Feb 22 : India's decision to revise its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms for the space sector is expected to bring in fresh foreign investments up to $25 billion over the next decade and result in a wave of collaborations between Indian and foreign companies, said a senior official of the Space Industry Association-India (SIA-India). Indian rocket and satellite makers and their lobby bodies have welcomed the amended FDI norms while expecting further liberalisation after some years. They also said the revised norms announced by the Indian Government late on Wednesday are as per their expectations. "India's decision to open its doors to foreign investors is expected to attract substantial capital inflows, with estimates indicating potential FDI investments of up to $25 billion over the next decade. This infusion of capital will not only stimulate growth within the domestic space industry but also foster innovation and technological advancements, positioning India as a global hub for space exploration and satellite technology," Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President, SIA-India and Chairman and Managing Director, Ananth Technologies told IANS. Pavuluri said that the revised FDI Policy approval for India's space sector comes at a time when the global space industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with projections estimating its value to reach $558 billion by 2026. "Currently, India's space industry contributes approximately $7 billion to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 100,000 skilled professionals across various disciplines. With the implementation of liberalised FDI policies, experts predict a substantial uptick in these figures, with projections suggesting a potential GDP contribution of $50 billion by 2030 and the creation of over 500,000 new jobs in the space sector," Pavuluri added. On Wednesday, the Indian Cabinet gave its nod for the much-awaited revised norms for FDI in space sector which has made the industry happy. "The revised policy is aligned with our expectations. We believe that it will further extend to beyond 49 per cent in future, making it even more liberal," Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of rocket maker Skyroot Aerospace told IANS. As per the new norms, the maximum FDI for makers of rockets and associated systems and subsystems under automatic route is 49 per cent and beyond that level it will be under the government route, that is, government's permission will be needed. "For the launch vehicles sub-sector, the 49 per cent automatic route raises the question of existing foreign investments exceeding this limit. Will the government exempt them, require restructuring, or mandate post-facto approvals? The upcoming FEMA notification should provide crucial clarity," Abhishek Dubey Partner at Trilegal told IANS. Asked about the FDI in Skyroot Aerospace, Chandana said, "New FDI policy is 49 per cent for launch vehicles. We are already below 49 per cent and comply with the policy." Be that as it may, in respect of satellite manufacturing, operation, satellite data products, ground segment and user segment, the FDI under the automatic route is capped at 74 per cent and beyond that level it will be under the government route. Terming the revised policy as great news for the space ecosystem Awais Ahmed, CEO, Syzygy Space Technologies Pvt Ltd, commonly known as Pixxel told IANS, "The new FDI norms will catalyse the entire space industry by enabling a larger and global pool of investment capital as well as strategic capital to come into India." "This is much needed to not only scale existing companies to becoming globally competitive but also help more startups get started in the first place. Space has always been a global endeavour while also being a matter of nationalistic pride. This easing of FDI norms will enable the Indian private space ecosystem to start being a serious player in that global endeavour," he added. "This historic decision paves the way for unprecedented growth and innovation, fostering a new era of space exploration and commercialisation in India. Dhruva Space is poised to leverage these opportunities to make significant contributions to the global space community and achieve remarkable milestones," said Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO, Dhruva Space, a satellite company. For the makers of components, systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment, 100 per cent FDI under automatic route has been allowed now. The industry lobby body Indian Space Association (ISA) thanked the government for its forward-looking reforms in the space sector. "After the pioneering initiative to administratively allocate satellite spectrum, the decision to allow a liberal FDI policy for space is yet another significant move forward," Lt-Gen AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, ISA said. The liberal FDI limits by automatic route for end-to-end satellite manufacturing and operation, components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, satellite data products and ground segment, user segment, launch vehicles, creation of spaceports will boost the confidence of all space industry members, including the biggest global players in the space and satellite domain, Bhatt added. "Currently, the space sector in India accounts for little over about two per cent of the global space economy and this move will help the country to gain a much larger pie in the global market," Bhatt added. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 22 : Former Chief Minister and Karnataka JD (S) President H.D. Kumaraswamy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday and held a meeting for 30 minutes at his office. Sources stated that Kumaraswamy met Amit Shah in the wake of taking a final decision on seat-sharing between the parties, and also regarding rise of dissent against JD (S) from certain BJP leaders in the state. Sources further explained that Kumaraswamy insisted with Amit Shah to allow JD (S) candidates to contest from Mandya, Hassan and Bengaluru Rural or Kolar Lok Sabha seats. Though the alliance between the parties was declared four months ago, the seat-sharing is yet to be finalised. Sitting MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate from Mandya seat, announced her support to BJP. She had stated that it is her final decision to contest from the Mandya seat. Amit Shah has promised Kumaraswamy to take final call on seat-sharing soon and consider his demands to allow JD (S) candidates to contest from Mandya and Hassan Parliamentary seats after taking opinion from the state leadership. Kumaraswamyas son and actor-turned politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy accompanied his father during the meeting. JD (S) is hopeful of getting five to seven seats from the BJP majorly located in south Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections. Spanish intelligence services have no doubt that the long hand of the Kremlin is behind an unprecedented crime: the assassination in Alicante of Maxim Kuzminov, the Russian captain who defected last August and crossed over to Ukraine with his Mi8 combat helicopter. Publicly, the Spanish government has been very cautious regarding who was possibly responsible for the murder. We have to let the Civil Guard [a national law enforcement force] do its job and for the investigation to progress, said government spokesperson Pilar Alegria on Tuesday. However, diplomatic sources recognize that, although they are still waiting to gather enough information, it is a very serious matter. If the involvement of the Russian authorities is confirmed, they add, Spain will give a forceful response. It is not the first time that a dissident has been killed in Western Europe (the most famous case is that of Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned with plutonium in 2006 in the United Kingdom), but it is the first time that it has been done on Spanish soil. Contrary to other occasions, Moscow has not stayed in the shadows. It has shown its satisfaction. When the victims identity had not yet been confirmed, Russian media were the first to report the news of Kuzminovs death. They said the Russian pilot suffered from problems with alcohol and drugs, and that he had become an uncomfortable and dangerous witness for Kyiv. After the news was confirmed by Ukraine, the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergey Naryshkin, said Tuesday that the victim was a criminal traitor and a moral corpse since he defected from his country. More information The lions den in Spain that the murdered Russian defector Maxim Kuzminov walked into Moscow has been publicizing his murder because it serves as an example, according to the sources consulted. It is not only a warning to those who might be tempted to follow his example (Kyiv rewarded the defector with $500,000), but also to avenge the pilots two companions: two lieutenants who were unaware of his escape plan were shot down by the Ukrainians when they tried to flee, after Kuzminov landed at a military base near Kharkiv. The deceased, the navigator and the mechanic, were decorated as heroes by the Russian Army, while the pilot was prosecuted for treason. Last October, Russian public television claimed, showing three alleged GRU members, that they had been ordered to kill the defector. He will not live long enough to stand trial, said one of them. Maxim Kuzminov in a file image. The only doubt experts have is whether the operation was the work of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), whose head justified the assassination; of the Federal Security Service (FSB), heir of the KGB; or of the Military Intelligence Service (GRU), since Kuzminov was a captain and, therefore, under its jurisdiction. Sources in the Spanish intelligence services admit, however, that it is very difficult for the investigation to find evidence of the involvement of any of them. They assume that the crime was committed by gunmen (probably hired killers) from outside Spain, who by now are abroad; the body, with half a dozen gunshot wounds, was found on February 13 in the garage of the residential complex where he lived, in Villajoyosa (Alicante), although his death was not made public until Monday. After shooting him, the murderers ran over him with a car, which was found burned in the nearby town of El Campello. At first, the Civil Guard believed that it was a settling of scores between criminal gangs. Intelligence experts believe that the Russian Embassy in Spain has most likely stayed on the sidelines of the operation to avoid being implicated. Although some 20 SVR or GRU agents were stationed at the Russian delegation in Madrid with diplomatic status most of them were expelled in April 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine , the sources consulted do not believe they had any direct involvement and argue the crime was committed by professional hitmen. Beyond the material authors, the crime required a previous surveillance operation: the Russian agents would have had to verify the identity of the victim and carry out a follow-up to know his schedules and habits. Those familiar with the Moscow secret services say that they frequently resort, in order to achieve their objectives, to the collaboration of Russian citizens living in Spain (there are more than 80,000) and of mafia organizations, to which they offer favorable treatment. The decision to settle in a residential complex where the majority of the population is Russian and Ukrainian was, in the opinion of the sources consulted, a mistake. Alicante is the Spanish province with the largest Russian population (17,500). If Kuzminov thought he could go unnoticed among the 600 Russians and more than 300 Ukrainians registered in Villajoyosa (according to the 2022 census), they were in fact the ones who could more easily recognize him or suspect that he was Russian. He had false papers, in the name of a 33-year-old Ukrainian citizen, but no protection, despite the threats made against him. Government sources explain that the more than 4,000 Ukrainian military personnel who have received training in Spain and the dozens of wounded treated at the Military Hospital of Zaragoza are under the protection of the Spanish authorities, but this was not the case for Kuzminov, who decided on his own to settle on the coast of Alicante. The Spanish secret services were not officially informed of his arrival, they add. The young captain he was 28 years old when he defected was not discreet either. According to some sources, the clue that led the Russian secret services to him was a call to his former girlfriend, who remains in Russia, inviting her to visit him. He decided to move to Spain instead of staying here [in Ukraine]. As far as we know, he invited his ex-girlfriend to the place where he was and was later found shot to death, Ukrainian intelligence sources told the website Ukrainska Pravda. In any case, the sources consulted stress that Spain cannot look the other way in the face of an event of unprecedented gravity. In February 2019, the North Korean Embassy in Madrid was raided, an operation that was attributed to an alleged North Korean dissident group behind which the CIA was implicated, as concluded then by Spains CNI intelligence services. On that occasion, there was no diplomatic protest, but no deaths either. On the other hand, Russian secret services have a long history of assassinations on European soil. In the aforementioned case of former KGB agent Litvinenko, who visited Spain and offered his services to the CNI, he was poisoned in 2006 in London with Polonium-210 by two Russian agents. The British justice system concluded that the crime was probably ordered by the head of the FSB and authorized by Putin. Two spies sent by Moscow were also accused by London of the attempted poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury (UK) in 2018. Meanwhile, German judges sentenced a Russian spy to life imprisonment for the murder of a Chechen rebel in a park in central Berlin in 2019. Two other Chechen exiles were killed in Austria in 2009 and 2020. Until now, Moscows extrajudicial killings had left Spain on the sidelines. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi: Media persons at the Supreme Court complex on the day of the court's verdict. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to pass any directions or guidelines on a plea seeking establishment of community kitchens across India. Noting that there exist various social welfare schemes, including the National Food Security Act, a Bench headed by Justice Bela M Trivedi refused to examine if the concept of community kitchen is a better or wise alternative to the existing food security framework under the Act. The Bench, also comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal, said it is open for Union and state governments to frame alternative schemes for providing food and nutritional security. The verdict came on a plea seeking establishment of community kitchens across India, formulation of a requisite scheme to provide food to needy people and creating a national food grid for those people who are beyond the scope of the Public Distribution System, to fight with hunger and malnutrition. Earlier, the top court had directed the Union government to come up with a 'Model Community Kitchens Scheme' agreeable to the states and Union Territories (UT). It had also asked all the state governments and UTs to attend the meeting to be organised by the Centre and cooperate with it in coming up with the said scheme, which can be made uniformly applicable across the country. One killed, eight injured in highway shooting in West Bank. Image Source: IANS News Jerusalem, Feb 22 : At least one person was killed and eight others injured on Thursday in shooting near the occupied West Bank in Jerusalem, according to Israeli police and emergency services. The Israeli Police said that three gunmen opened fire near the A-Zaim checkpoint at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, according to Israeli Police, Xinhua news agency reported. The gunmen were shot by security forces at the scene. Of the eight injured, two were critical, emergency services confirmed to local media. Etawah : , Feb 22 (IANS) The Etawah Lion Safari is facing a piquant problem. The safari has seven lions -- including three males and four females -- that were born to Manan and Jessica between 2016 and 2020 now having reached a breeding age. The problem that the safari faces is to prevent inbreeding (breeding between siblings) which can have an adverse impact on gene pool of the lions. Manan and Jessica were both imported from zoos in Gujarat. Their seven progenies -- Rupa, Sona, Gargi, Neerja, Simba, Sultan and Bharat -- comprise the first-generation lions at the safari and also in the state. The seven siblings that have survived at the safari, have lent a hope to the project that was otherwise labelled doomed and flawed. All the seven are in the prime of their youth, aged above four years of age, and breedable. In the wild, young males abandon the pride by 3.5 years of age, reducing the possibility of incestuous mating. Adult lionesses solicit mating from nomadic males or males from neighbouring prides, making inbreeding extremely infrequent. Safari director Anil Patel said on Thursday, "With so many siblings around, avoiding inbreeding is difficult but we are doing our best." The safari administration has started lodging the young lions and lionesses in adjacent rooms, so that any signs of acceptance between them can be deciphered. With the forest department considering bringing in four more lions from Gujarat soon, most of whom might be females, the prospective males may have more choice available as partners. Initially, when the cubs were released in the visitors' area in October 2021, they were all siblings -- Bharat, Rupa and Sona. Now, Bharat has been replaced with Kanha so that if any of the four females show acceptance for him, their progeny would not have the same bloodline as their siblings. The safari had nine first generation lions, eight born to the same parents, Manan and Jessica between 2016 and 2020, while one, Kesari was born to Manan and Jennifer in April 2020. Bahubali and Kesari did not survive. Sultan and Simba are the eldest, born in June 2016. Bahubali was born in January 2018, Bharat, Rupa and Sona were born in June 2019 and Neerja and Gargi in December 2020. Apart from the siblings, the safari has females, Jessica, Heer, Radhika and Gauri and a male, Gigo -- all brought from Gujarat. Jessica and Heer may not be able to breed given their age, but the safari administration may pair Gigo with a prospective female to raise cubs with a varied gene pool. Similarly, Gauri and Bharat have been kept in adjacent enclosures to make them familiar with each other. Kolkata, Feb 22 : Fresh tension erupted in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal on Thursday afternoon as angry villagers burnt down a property owned by Sheikh Sirajuddin, the younger brother of the absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. The angry villagers also reportedly recaptured a local playground at Sandeshkhali which was allegedly occupied forcefully by the absconding leader and his associates. The property of Sheikh Sirajuddin that was reportedly set ablaze by the agitated villagers was a warehouse in the midst of a pisciculture farm owned by him. The villagers alleged that the farm where the warehouse was situated was set up on land belonging to them and that it had been illegally occupied by the Trinamool leader and his kin. They alleged that Sirajuddin occupied the farmland after ruining its fertility by flooding it with saline water. Sandeshkhali is known for an abundance of pisciculture farms, mostly owned by Shahjahan and his associates and the local people alleged that majority of such farms were set up illegally. Some of the villagers even alleged that close associates of Sirajuddin before leaving the place had threatened the local people with dire consequences. The fresh tension at Sandeshkhali erupted just hours after the Acting Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar, returned to Kolkata after reviewing the security arrangements in the district. Before leaving for Kolkata on Thursday morning he said that he has issued an appeal to the people not to take the law into their own hands. However, he remained noncommittal about ensuring Shahjahanas arrest. Chennai, Feb 22 : Tamil Nadu Police were conducting searches and raids at several places in the state after the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested an Indonesian passenger at the Chennai international airport, who had arrived from Lavos via Singapore. The passenger was arrested on Wednesday. Raids were conducted on tip-off from the arrested passenger, Ahmad Idris, who had smuggled 2,970 grams of cocaine worth Rs 27 crore. Sources in the Tamil Nadu Police told IANS that certain pockets were under surveillance by the Central Intelligence Bureau and that the state police were also supporting in the present raids. It may be noted that the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members were trying to regroup and many of the former operatives of the movement are in various pockets of Tamil Nadu, including Sri Lankan refugee camps. The former intelligence senior operative of the LTTE, Sabesan alias Satkunam was arrested in October 2021 in Chennai in a case related to the smuggling of 300 kg of drugs, five AK 47 assault rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition which were secured near Vizhinjam seas in Thiruvananthapuram. Satkunam was a very senior intelligence operative of the LTTE and was in the inner circle of its founder leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran who was assassinated by the Sri Lankan Army. The Tamil Nadu Police and DRI are, according to sources, acting on tip-offs from the Central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). There were also reports that the banned LTTE was trying to amass wealth through smuggling of drugs and Tamil Nadu is a point of contact for these smuggling groups. A former official of a Central agency told IANS that former operatives of LTTE have a solid network with both drug and arm smuggling networks across the globe. Mumbai, Feb 22 : Actress Urmila Matondkar reminisced about shooting with Shah Rukh Khan for the song 'Is Pyaar Se Meri Taraf Na Dekho' from the 1992 romantic comedy 'Chamatkar', calling him not only a great actor but also a lovely human being. Urmila appeared on the special episode of singing reality show 'Indian Idol 14'. Paying tribute to Urmilaas journey in the film industry, the contestants delivered melodious acts. Rajasthan's Piyush Panwar, who owned the stage and once again impressed one and all with his amazing renditions of 'Bahut Khoobsurat Ho' from the film 'Khoobsurat', and 'Is Pyaar Se Meri Taraf Na Dekho' from the film 'Chamatkar'. Taking a walk down memory lane, Urmila spoke about her co-star SRK, and said: "This song 'Is Pyaar Se Meri Taraf Na Dekho' was sung by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik, and it has a separate fanbase. Piyush, you have beautifully attempted the song. I remember filming with the iconic Shahrukh, who is not only a great actor but also a lovely human being." "He is one of the finest actors who has also done theatre, heas been humble since the beginning and he has an aura that makes his co-actors feel comfortable. I feel that the people who have worked with him and shared screen space with him are truly blessed," shared Urmila. Impressed by Piyush's performance, Urmila added: "You sang beautifully. You have a softness in your voice like Rafi Sahab, which is rare to hear these days." 'Indian Idol Season 14' airs on Sony. New Delhi, Feb 22 : When she went to the US, a part of her time was spent walking in New York where she discovered several fragrance boutiques, where one could experience perfumes in diverse ways, and not just through bottles. At Columbia, where she was studying journalism, the class that fascinated her most was 'The Journalism of Ideas' which encouraged students to follow stories deeper, do elaborate research and go to the sources. In short, both these elements came together and the book 'The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance' (Westland) was conceived. This narrative blends the science of aromatics with travel writing, history and insights into India's contemporary perfume trade, and the author investigates the idea of scent as a powerful trigger for memories and emotions, as well as a mode of self-expression and identity. In her telling, aromatic ingredients are not a mere indulgence, but instead, the backbone of the country's struggling perfume industry and a source of livelihood for many. "I was quite sure I wanted to come back home and do this project. The research started and the stories came together for me, as well as the tales that fragrances can tell. It involved a lot of travelling, meeting people across the chain -- the growers, karigars and others," says Dhingra, whose book took eight years -- from when it was conceived, to getting published. For someone who also went to a summer perfume school, she smiles when asked what fragrance does to her. Dhingra said now, at this stage, maybe a little different than if this was asked a few years ago. "I try to approach it the same way. It might spark something in the mind. And I may like it or not. But now, I try to remain neutral and deconstruct it. I try to pay more attention to it. Yes, it makes me pay attention..." Talking about the elaborate research process, she says the first part involved getting comfortable with the elaborate research as during her previous avatar as a journalist, one mostly relied on interviews for research. "Here, I needed to spend a lot of time in the library and chasing down things online. Also, the scope was extremely elaborate and I needed to dig deeper into every aspect. Besides a lot of reading on what people had written on perfumes my research also relied on historical sources," she added. When travelling to different places by herself was sometimes challenging, the Pandemic also meant that at times she did not have access to many places for records. Even as multinational fragrance brands are now easily available in India, a land that's home to 18,500 varieties of aromatic plants with all-natural perfumes, it's the question of sustainability. Primarily in terms of the growing side of it -- the agriculture side of it. "It is becoming harder to grow these things and several factors come into play. Traditional perfumery needs marketing help. But we must not forget that it has a strong fan base," said the author, who also had a session at the recent Jaipur Literature Festival. But will we see a new generation of karigars emerging? She said if this is asked of them, the answer will be a 'no' as they do not want the next generation to get into this craft. "It is a skill that's only acquired through the doing, and it is a lot of hard work. And most cases, it is seasonal labour. Of course, there are some which have some permanent workers. I think in general, we are spoilt when it comes to the craft that exists." Replying to what is next for her, she said: "I am not sure, but I would like to keep writing and exploring fragrance, and not just through writing." Hyderabad, Feb 22 : With just three weeks to go for 100-day deadline for implementation of six guarantees, the Congress government in Telangana faces an uphill task in fulfilling the poll promises. In more than 70 days since coming to power, the party could implement only two promises, which were part of six guarantees. With eyes on forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced that two other promises will be implemented within a week. However, identification of beneficiaries from 1.29 crore applicants and rolling out other promises which are part of six guarantees pose a huge challenge for the government. There are 13 key promises which form part of guarantees on which Congress contested the Assembly polls. Implementation of these promises require over Rs 1 lakh crore every year. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Wednesday announced that the promises for 200 units of free electricity to every household and cooking gas cylinder for Rs 500 will be implemented within a week. The Congress plans to invite Priyanka Gandhi to launch the two schemes. The event is also likely to mark the launch of party's campaign for Lok Sabha elections. Revanth Reddy also announced that Rythu Bharosa will be implemented from March 15. Under this scheme, the Congress had promised annual investment support of Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers, up from Rs 10,000 they were receiving under Rythu Bandhu scheme of the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) The Chief Minister made the announcement while addressing a public meeting at Kosgi in Kodangal Assembly constituency. This was first visit to his constituency after assuming office in December last year. The announcements for implementation of promises came as the opposition parties have stepped up the attack on the ruling party for the delay in implementing the six guarantees. Both BRS and BJP are looking to make this a key issue in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Since the 100-day deadline set by Congress leaders is ending on March 17, the ruling party is likely to come under intense pressure. Monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 each for women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, financial assistance of Rs 12,000 per year for agriculture labourers, Rs 500 bonus per quintal for paddy crop above the Minimum Support Price (MSP), house sites and Rs 5 lakh for construction of houses for BPL families, monthly pension of Rs 4,000 for senior citizens and Vidya Bharosa Card worth Rs 5 lakh each for students are the other major promises made under six guarantees. Immediately after assuming the office, the Congress had implemented its promise of free travel for women in the buses of state-owned Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). It also raised the coverage under Rajiv Arogyasri (health insurance for BPL families) from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Free bus ride for women has imposed a financial burden of Rs 300 crore every month on the government. Soon after coming to power, the Congress government had released white paper on state finances to highlight what it called financial indiscipline during 10-year rule of BRS which pushed the state to the brink of bankruptcy. The Congress government inherited a debt-ridden state with total debts of Rs 6.71 lakh crore. The BRS had called the white paper a 'pack of lies' and alleged that Congress is trying to escape from six guarantees it had given during elections. The Congress party, however, reiterated its commitment to implement the guarantees in 100 days. In the vote-on-account Budget for 2024-25, it allocated Rs 53,196 crore to implement guarantees. "The six guarantees comprise 13 major promises and to implement them at least Rs 1.25 lakh crore is needed but the government allocated only Rs 53,000 crore, which shows the government is not sincere," said BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao. He mentioned that the scheme of giving Rs 2,500 per month to all women under the Mahalakshmi guarantee alone would require Rs 50,000 crore. State BJP President and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy also trained the guns on the Congress saying it came to power by making impractical promises and has failed to implement even one guarantee. The Congress leaders, however, dismissed the allegations by the opposition parties and claimed that it is working to implement the promises. Chennai, Feb 22 : Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to prevent the rising man-animal conflicts in the state. "As many as five people lost their lives in Krishangiri district of Tamil Nadu in the last one month in the attack of wild elephants," PMK President and former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, said in a statement on Thursday. The PMK leader stated that other than the five persons who were killed in the past one month in Krishnagiri distirct, 152 people have lost their lives in the past three years in attacks by wild animals including elephants, tiger and wild boar. Andbumani Ramadoss said that the Tamil Nadu forest department must form special teams to monitor the movement of wild elephants and other wild animals and prevent their entry to human settlements. Citing the examples of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, the senior leader said that eversince these states deployed round the clock monitoring teams, the number of conflicts and deaths have come down drastically. The PMK President said that the wild elephants are coming into human habitations in search of water and requested the state forest department to make water hole arrangements in the forests before scarcity sets in. He said that farming in forest areas was another major reason for the wild elephants and other animals coming in contact with humans. Urging the people not to do farming by encroaching elephant corridors, the former Union Minister said that this was another reason for the wild elephants to enter into conflicts with the human beings often leading to violent deaths of many people. New Delhi, Feb 22 : Acknowledging India as a major international player and an economic power, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Igli Hasani, said on Thursday that immense possibilities of cooperation exist between the two countries in spheres ranging from IT, digitisation, tourism and economy. Hasani, who arrived here for the 9th Raisina Dialogue on Wednesday, said that Albania will soon open an embassy in New Delhi and further strengthen and deepen the bilateral relationship, which he described as "excellent". Albania, he said, is moving rapidly to foster stronger economic ties with India. "I'm so happy to find the opportunity to visit the country for the Raisina Dialogue... we are working great together but at the same time, we should deepen economic engagement between our countries because the potentials are high, the possibilities are immense, and we need to create the necessary mechanisms to make things happen," Hasani said in a media interaction with reporters in the capital. The minister who had interactions with entrepreneurs and businesses from both Albania and India said that the country would like to profit from India's expertise in IT, innovation, and digitisation. "Your country is worldwide famous for IT, IT infrastructure, digitisation, and innovation. You are one of the actors, and we would not only like to profit from you and your expertise but also look at great opportunities," he said. "India is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world and is soon to go up and higher... this is something that should only encourage us to do more on not only possibilities but mechanisms to make this engagement as profitable for our people as possible." Hasani said one of the first things he prioritised after taking over as the country's foreign minister last year, was to "increase engagement with India" and increase opportunities of working with the Indians. Speaking of the Indian community in Albania, he said it is "small but significant" and a rise in their number will only benefit the country in terms of their expertise in business and many other aspects. Albanian language traces its roots in Sanskrit and has a strong connect with India, and according to recent Ministry of External Affairs data, approximately 400 Indians are in Albania with most of them being temporary workers. With nearly 50,000 Indians visiting the country located in south-eastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula last year, Hasani said there are possibilities of having direct flights from India to Albania. "At the same time, possibilities of Albanians visiting India should be well explored because you have a beautiful country, you have an excellent history. You have such good traditions and I am sure my compatriots will enjoy visiting," the minister said. "In terms of opportunities, I would say that we are at the threshold of the partnership between India and Albania touching heights that have never been seen before. And the kind of similarities and synergies that the two countries have is, in many ways, I would say mind-boggling," Honorary Consul General of Albania to India, Dikshu Kukreja, who was present along with the minister, said. India and Albania completed 65 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2021 and held their third Foreign Office Consultations in Delhi last year, reviewing bilateral, regional, and international issues. Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed History is prolific in cruel ironies that turn victims into executioners, the oppressed into oppressors and anti-fascists into fascists; these are disturbing metamorphoses that are not usually acknowledged willingly by those who experience them, since what they see is an attack on their good conscience and the destruction of the angelical aura under which they had always acted. Now weighing on Israel, a country founded by the victims of the most characteristic genocide of the 20th century, is the suspicion that it may have committed crimes similar to those that gave it deserved legitimacy in its aspirations for a safe homeland where its people could live in peace. And the suspicion weighs in the highest courts, not in the crude and almost always despicable exchange of political rhetoric. There are two processes underway before the International Court of Justice, driven by overwhelming majorities in the United Nations General Assembly, that aim to determine whether a genocide is being committed in Gaza, and whether the crime internationally classified as apartheid is underway in the occupied Palestinian territories as a whole. Although they are merely advisory resolutions, their political and, above all, reputational value is beyond discussion. After the first hearing, held in January, the court imposed precautionary measures to prevent genocide from being committed, but it did not go into the merits of the case. There is no data to corroborate compliance with the orders of the court, to which the Netanyahu government must report at the end of February. The second hearing, now underway, with participation by 51 countries, responds to a request for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the violation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the occupation and annexation of territory, and the modification of the demographic composition and status of Jerusalem. Israel attended the first public hearing, motivated and outraged by the accusation of genocide, but it did not deign to appear at the second. The United States did show up, a few hours after its veto of the Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This time, also to oppose an immediate end to the occupation if Israels security is not guaranteed at the same time. It was not a closed defense of Israels position, as the U.S. delegation showed its rejection of the permanent occupation of territories by force and defended a negotiation leading to two States. Palestine has become the touchstone of the United Nations system and international law. There is no way to justify this increasingly visible and stark double standard without being ashamed. There is an abyss that widens with the war and the repeated boycott of compliance with international resolutions on Palestine by Israel and the United States, two countries considered by many to be exemplary. Only the most tyrannical regimes can rejoice over so much impotence. Hyderabad, Feb 22 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working President K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday termed the decision of a US court to drop criminal charges against a cop who ran over an Indian student named Jaahnavi Kandula last year as 'disgraceful' and 'absolutely unacceptable'. KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, also requested External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take up the matter with his US counterpart and demand an independent investigation into the matter. He also urged US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, to take up the matter with the US authorities and deliver justice to Jaahnavi. "It is tragic that the life of a youngster with soaring ambitions has been cut short, but what's even more tragic is the callous disregard for justice to the victim," KTR posted on X. A US court recently decided not pursue criminal charges against Seattle police officer Kevin Dave, who ran over Jaahnavi with a speeding police vehicle on January 23, 2023. Jaahnavi, a 23-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district, was killed after being hit by the police vehicle being driven by at a speed of 119 km/ph. Jaahnavi was a master's student at Northeastern University's Seattle campus. In September 2023, bodycam footage of another Seattle cop, Daniel Auderer, joking about the death of Jaahnavi had surfaced, triggering an outrage. In a video released by the Seattle Police Department on September 11, the cop could be heard joking and laughing while discussing the accident. In the clip, Daniel Auderer, the Vice President of Seattle Police Officers' Guild, in a call with the guild's president could be heard saying, "She is dead," before bursting out into laughter and calling Jaahnavi "a regular person". He further said, through bursts of laughter, "Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars.'' The clip ends with him saying: "She was 26 anyway, she had limited value", getting her age wrong. KTR, who was then Telangana's Minister for NRI affairs, had said that he was deeply disturbed and extremely saddened by the 'utterly reprehensible' and 'callous' comments of the cop. He had also urged the US Ambassador to take up the matter with the US government authorities and deliver justice to the family of Jaahnavi. Rawalpindi, Feb 22 : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will write to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), demanding to stop its support for Pakistan due to the "rigged elections", party leader Ali Zafar said on Thursday, media reports said. "Imran Khan will issue a letter to the IMF today. The charter of IMF, EU, and other organisations stipulates that they can function or provide loan to a country only if there's good governance," Zafar told journalists after meeting Khan at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, Geo News reported Zafar claimed that the "most important section" of their charter is that a country should be democratic. "If there's no democracy, neither can these institutions function in such countries, nor should they," he said, Geo News reported. "The basic pillar of democracy is free and fair elections. However, the entire world saw how the nation's mandate was stolen. Let's leave pre-poll rigging aside, in post-poll rigging, victory was snatched from PTI's winning candidates," Zafar said. This isn't the first time that the opposition PTI will try to affect the IMF deal, as in 2022, its ex-leader Shaukat Tarin had told PTI's then Finance Mministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab that they should "tell the IMF that the commitment made to them cannot be fulfilled" and to cite the recent devastation caused by floods in the country as the reason behind it. Pakistan secured a short-term $3 billion programme from the IMF last year, which helped the country avert a sovereign debt default. It will run out next month and securing a new and much bigger one is widely seen as the priority for the new administration. With the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and their allies striking a deal to form a coalition government, the PTI and some other political parties have altogether rejected the elections and announced country-wide protests, Geo News reported. Hamas says 112 killed in Gaza in last 24 hours, Palestinian death toll ris to 28,775. Image Source: IANS News Gaza, Feb 22 : The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 29,410, with 69,465 others wounded since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, authorities said on Thursday. As per Palestinian Health Ministry, the Israeli army killed 97 Palestinians and wounded 132 others during the past 24 hours, noting that some victims remain under the rubble amid heavy bombardment and a lack of civil defense and ambulance crews, Xinhua news agency reported. At least 20 Palestinians, including children, were killed when an aircraft bombed a number of homes in the Al-Sabra and Al-Zaytoun neighborhoods in Gaza City. The sources told Xinhua that artillery shells were fired towards residential homes in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza, resulting in casualties among the residents. Warplanes also launched three raids on the border area in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, targeting homes without causing casualties. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023. New Delhi, Feb 22 : RTX business Collins Aerospace has been selected by Air India for a full suite of avionics hardware catering to the airline's expanding Boeing 737 MAX fleet, an airline official said on Thursday. New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) RTX business Collins Aerospace has been selected by Air India for a full suite of avionics hardware catering to the airline's expanding Boeing 737 MAX fleet, an airline official said on Thursday. The deal was announced at the ongoing Singapore Airshow 2024. The comprehensive package includes communication, navigation, surveillance equipment and air data sensors, designed to enhance safety, fuel efficiency and operational performance of Air India's fleet. "This avionics agreement marks a collaborative effort that will be foundational to Air India's 737 MAX fleet for years to come," said Craig Bries, Vice President and General Manager of Avionics Sales, Marketing, and Aftermarket Services at Collins Aerospace. "Equipping their new MAX fleet with our advanced suite of avionics underscores Air India's trust in our technology and commitment to innovation. Collins' solutions will deliver exceptional performance and reliability, contributing to Air India's continued success," he said. "Air India is pleased to have Collins Aerospace as a partner in our transformation journey. The company's full suite of avionics hardware will serve our existing as well growing fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft," said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer, Air India. The Air India spokesman said that Collins' suite of advanced avionics will work in harmony to improve operations through every phase of flight on Air India's MAX aircraft. "Multi-mode receivers enable precision satellite and ground-based navigation, facilitating high position accuracy, improved integrity and future upgrades through a simple software update," the spokesperson said. Collins' radio altimeters provide accurate digital height measurements during crucial approach, landing and climb-out phases, while actively filtering and mitigating any potential 5G cellular interference. "Air India will also receive Collins' MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar, which predicts adverse weather conditions and actively displays and analyses cells a" providing real-time route adjustments, reducing long deviations and delays, and ensuring passengers enjoy a smoother journey," the spokesperson added. --IANS ssh/vd New Delhi: Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia leaves his residence after meeting his ailing wife. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : A Delhi court on Thursday extended judicial custody of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, arrested in the excise policy case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), by 19 days. Special judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court, who is hearing the case, had extended Sisodia's judicial custody on February 5, and had permitted him to visit his ailing wife once a week during the period. On February 12, the court had granted three-day interim bail to Sisodia to attend his niece's wedding. The judge had earlier also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a detailed status report on the case by the next date of hearing, expressing concerns over incomplete disclosure about the probe's status. The central agency had also filed a report stating that the investigation is ongoing and at a crucial stage, with completion regarding the 16 charge-sheeted accused persons. However, the defence counsel had objected, citing incomplete status reports and the need for time to scrutinise translated documents received recently. The court, recognising the complexity of the case, had directed the CBI to install necessary software in the laptops of defence counsel for efficient access to the voluminous case files. On Thursday, counsels representing various accused individuals in the case, expressed concerns regarding the accessibility of certain documents provided to them by the CBI. Complaining that these documents were not opening on their computers, the counsels sought recourse from the court to address the issue. Responding to the concerns raised, the court granted them a period of one week to visit the CBI office directly and view the documents in question. Meanwhile, the CBI submitted the status report to the court, presenting an update on the progress of the investigation. Notably, the report was presented in a sealed cover. The alleged excise policy scam is being probed by both the enforcement agencies a" the Enforcement Directorate and CBI. On Wednesday, the same court deferred its decision on whether to entertain Sisodia's regular bail plea in the excise policy case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), considering his pending curative petition before the Supreme Court. The judge had, on January 17, reserved the order for Wednesday, following arguments from both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Sisodia's legal counsels. The judge will now hear the matter on March 2, when the judicial custody of AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Sisodia will also expire. The ED had, in the previous hearing, said that Sisodia's regular bail application should not be entertained while his curative petition is pending before the apex court. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 22 : The CPI in Kerala has almost finalised its list of candidates for the general elections and it has emerged that Annie Raja would be taking on Rahul Gandhi, sitting Lok Sabha member, in Wayanad. The Kannur-born Annie is the wife of CPI General Secretary D Raja and therefore it would be like friends in Delhi and foes in Wayanad. This will be Annie Rajaas first electoral battle in Kerala and she has been pitted against Rahul Gandhi who won a landslide victory in Wayanad in the 2019 polls with the highest margin in the state of 4.31 lakh votes. The official announcement is expected to be made in a few days. Incidentally a row had broken out after the national leadership of the CPI in September decided to convey to the Congress party that as the CPI was a part of the INDIA block, Rahul Gandhi should not contest from Wayanad. However, this was met with stiff resistance from the CPI-M-led Left and the CPI dropped the idea. However, the CPI seems to be in a mood to give the Congress a fight and it has brought in 78-year-old Pannyan Raveendran, their veteran former state Secretary and Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram, to take on the mighty and flamboyant Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, who has already won thrice from that seat. Former state Agriculture Minister VS Sunilkumar will be taking on TN Prathapan, sitting Congress MP from the Thrissur seat and CA Arun Kumar will be taking on Congress veteran and seven-time sitting Mavelikera Lok Sabha member Kodikunnil Suresh. The CPI will officially announce this list in the next few days after getting it cleared at the national level. Mumbai, Feb 22 : A day after he was unceremoniously dumped as Mumbai Indian Youth Congress President, city unit Congress MLA Zeeshan B. Siddique said on Thursday that he would consider fresh political alternatives. "If the Congress does not want me, I will have to look for new options," retorted Zeeshan, an MLA from Bandra East who was the youngest to get elected to the Assembly in 2019, rattling Congress circles. The developments came barely two weeks after Zeeshan's father, Baba Ziauddin Siddique, three-time ex-MLA from Bandra West and ex-Minister suddenly quit the Congress and joined the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Spelling rumblings within the city and state Congress, Mumbai Congress President Prof. Varsha Gaikwad removed Zeeshan on Wednesday and named Akhilesh Yadav as the new Mumbai Youth Congress President and Sufiyan M. Haider as the Working President. " ... dreams and aspirations of young India have been crushed due to rising unemployment and joblessness. The #BharatJodoNyayYatra is committed to fighting for and achieving #YuvaNyay. I look forward to working closely with Akhilesh and Sufiyan in Mumbai to ensure that the Congress's call for justice reaches every young Mumbaikar," said Prof Gaikwad, an MLA from Dharavi and an ex-minister, posted on X. Reacting sharply to the humiliation, Zeeshan Siddique said he would respond today (February 22) on his next course of action, and said that 88,517 MYC members voted for him a" the highest in the MYC's history a" to become the Congress' city unit president. He pointed out that the MYC President's post is not a nominated assignment attainable by lobbying or being a 'yes man' but through proper elections. "After giving 12 years to the organisation having fought three elections it is unfortunate that I have not received any official intimation from the party and I have to learn about my ousting from media and social media," he said, venting his ire on 'X'. Srinagar, Feb 22 : In a swift action, the Army has rescued students and staff of a Rajasthan university stranded at Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir due to landslide and heavy snowfall. "Rescued panicked staff and students from the Law College of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur (Rajasthan), during a road blockade on NH-44 near Banihal," the Army said on Thursday. Heavy snowfall and roadblocks caused due to landslide by inclement weather on Wednesday left many commuters stranded along the treacherous NH-44 highway. Among them were seven university staff and 74 students who found themselves caught in the storm while travelling and needed shelter for the night. "Recognising the critical urgency of the situation, Indian Army in Banihal prioritised their evacuation, ensuring their safety and well-being. They provided stranded staff and students with medical assistance, food and warm shelter," the army said. Aizawl, Feb 22 : The Mizoram government has urged the people, including government employees, to promote traditional attires by wearing them from February 26 to 29 for the 'Chapchar Kut' festivities in the state, officials said here on Thursday. The officials said the General Administration Department in a notification has requested all sections of people to promote traditional attires by wearing of them during the Chapchar Kut festive period. The notification said that Chapchar Kut will be celebrated throughout the state on March 1. "As this festival promotes cultural values and traditions of Mizos, all employees under the government of Mizoram and other bodies under the state government are requested to wear Mizo traditional dress to offices from February 26 to 29," the notification read. All the administrative heads and heads of departments are requested to bring this to the notice of the officials and employees under their respective departments, the notification said. Chapchar Kut is one of the most important spring festivals in the Mizo society. After the clearing of the forests for 'jhum' cultivation (slash and burn method of farming), this festival is celebrated with great fervour by the people of Mizoram. People dressed in bright costumes with attractive head gears sing, dance and make merry during the festival, which is normally celebrated during the first week of March every year. Bhubaneswar, Feb 22 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on one-day visit to Odisha, on Thursday exuded confidence that the state will have a double-engine government after the 2024 election. However, he refrained from directly criticising the state government. While addressing a gathering at a party programme in Nabarangpur district, the defense minister said, "We worked in every village, every district during the days when BJP was not a big political party. We have never expected that the BJP would form a government at the Centre on its own. Similarly, the political analysts are now convinced that the BJP will form the government in Odisha this time too." He urged the party workers to devote at least 12 hours every day for the party work and inform everyone about the achievements of Prime MInister Narendra Modi government. He said India is the fastest developing country in the world. The Union Minister participated in two other party programmes -- at Berhampur in Ganjam district and at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district -- later during the day. "I can say this with confidence that the Congress government which was at the Centre for a long time did nothing for the development of Odisha. But, Prime Minister Modi is the only person who has been thinking about the all-round development of Odisha for the first time in the history of independent India. The UPA government allotted only Rs 3 lakh crore to Odisha in 10 years while the Modi government has given Rs 18 lakh crore to Odisha during just nine years," Singh said in the meeting at Berhampur in Ganjam district. Rajnath Singh said that PM Modi's love for Odisha can be gauged from the fact that he drew the attention of the world towards the Konark wheel during the G20 summit where the heads of many countries participated. He further stated that BJP fulfilled all the promises made in election manifestos. BJP revoked Article 370 as promised in the manifesto. BJP ended the scourge of the triple talaq system. BJP fulfilled its promise and constructed Ram temple at Ayodhya. He addressed a huge gathering in the tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district in the last of the three programmes during his tour on Thursday. "Seeing the enthusiasm among the party workers and the people, I can say that Odisha is ready to take a new flight. The people of Odisha are ready for a double-engine government in the state," Rajnath Singh said. "PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and current PM Narendra Modi have immense respect for tribal society. Can anyone ever imagine a prime minister would come and make one sister from the Adivasi community as the President of India? At the same time, the Congress party should have also supported the candidature of a tribal sister for President of India rising over petty party politics. It is the Modi government which decided to celebrate the birth date of Birsa Munda as Tribal Pride Day," said the minister at Baripada in Mayurbhanj. He said that Adivasi brothers are unmatched in the matter of bravery and valour. He asserted that tribal brothers and sisters should be given priority in the defence forces so that they can defend the border of India. He said earlier India was sidelined at international platforms but today when India speaks at the international forums, everyone is listening to India with attention. In front of the building where the Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov was shot dead, in the residential area of La Cala de Villajoyosa, on Spains Mediterranean coast, there is a bar that caters to customers from all over the world and which is run by Eastern Europeans. The owners, who would rather not have the name of their establishment linked to such a gruesome event, say that Kuzminov was never there. Instead, the man who famously defected to Ukraine with his combat helicopter in August, then quietly moved to this corner of Alicante province, reportedly preferred to have breakfast just a hundred meters away, in another establishment whose name its owners also requested not having in print. It was here that Kuzminov would sometimes order a flat white and a toasted piece of bread topped with fresh tomato and sliced ham, a traditional breakfast for the mostly Spanish customers who gather there. He was a regular guy, he didnt stand out in any way, says the owner. He would come, sit down and not make any conversation. Perhaps the Russian ex-soldier, accused of treason by his country, had realized at that point that by choosing to hide in this part of the world, he had walked into the lions den. The pilot also preferred to get his groceries at a Spanish supermarket, despite the fact that less than a hundred meters from the crime scene there is an establishment specializing in Eastern European products. Also in the same neighborhood there is a location that the community uses as an Orthodox temple and, under one mile away, the Romanian faithful are building a church of their own. Russians and Ukrainians are well settled here, and they have all kinds of services available to them, say Antonio, Jose and Alberto, three friends who share a table at the bar where the victim sometimes had breakfast. Maybe it was easy for someone to recognize him... According to the owner of the establishment, however, it seems that [Kuzminov] was caught because he was trying to bring his girlfriend over from his country. Neither that hypothesis nor any other has been confirmed in an investigation that is shrouded in the most absolute secrecy. At first, Kuzminovs choice may have seemed like a good idea. In the enclave of La Cala, just 300 meters from the beach, three towns come together, barely separated by a handful of streets: Villajoyosa, Finestrat and Benidorm. The murder occurred on the parking access ramp of the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa, a town where 1,200 Ukrainians and 800 Russians reside, according to the municipal census. In the province of Alicante as a whole, the 2022 census showed 11,695 Ukrainians and 17,457 Russians, respectively, who tend to live in a few municipalities such as Torrevieja, Villajoyosa and Altea, a small town located just half an hour from La Cala, on the other side of the skyscrapers of Benidorm. Maxim Kuzminov in a file image. The residential complex where the shooting occurred is a 2006 building whose units were used mostly as holiday homes and languished in the winter. Then the Covid pandemic, the subsequent crisis and the invasion of Ukraine filled it with foreigners for rent, in the words of a Valencian couple who live nearby and who also declined to provide their names. It has picked up a bit and they are building the swimming pool, which they didnt have before. Neighbors leave the property in a rush, evading the journalists questions. Either they work at home and dont know anyone in the complex, or they have just arrived in town. Everyone seems determined to forget Kuzminovs time there. The only official information about the shooting that ended Kuzminovs life is that at 4:48 p.m. on February 13, somebody called Spains 112 emergency services alerting of an alleged accident, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Local police officers showed up and talked to witnesses who claimed that they had seen a car fleeing at full speed from the area. Inside the private parking lot, officers quickly discovered some bullet casings. They notified the Civil Guard, a national law enforcement agency, which took charge of the investigation. At first the victim was identified as a 33-year-old Ukrainian citizen, but his paperwork turned out to be fake. In reality, it was Kuzminov, the Russian helicopter pilot who defected and surrendered to the Ukrainian army in August 2023. Kolkata: BJP West Bengal President and MP Sukanta Majumdar with party leaders Rahul Sinha and Agnimitra Paul participates in a protest rally against the State Government. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Feb 22 : Lok Sabha MP and West Bengal unit BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday was dragged by the police out of the unrest-struck Sandeshkhali village in the state's North 24 Parganas district while he was staging a protest in front of a police station there. According to sources in the know of things, Majumdar, who was earlier arrested, was later released on bail. He was brought to the ferry-jetty at Dhamakhali, one of the waterway entry points to Sandeshkhali. Initially, it was not clear whether Majumdar was arrested or just taken away from the Sandeshkhali police station. Later, it was learned that he was first arrested and then released on bail after being taken at "a reasonable distance" from Sandeshkhali. While he was being dragged from the police station, there was a scuffle between the police personnel and the local BJP supporters at Sandeshkhali. Majumdar claimed that he had been facing hurdles since the beginning when he tried to enter Sandeshkhali with just two persons who were accompanying him on Thursday afternoon. "The police did not even allow two persons to come with me. So, I decided to enter Sandeshkhali with my personal bodyguards," he said. After entering Sandeshkhali, he first went to the residence of a BJP leader Bikas Sinha, who had been arrested recently on charges of instigating people, and interacted with his family members. Thereafter, he went to the police station and staged an agitation there, demanding the arrest of absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, whose supporters had been accused of indulging in acts of sexual harassment and violence against women in Sandeshkhali. Recently, Majumdar fell ill after he got caught amid a scuffle between the BJP activists and the police personnel at Taki in North 24 Parganas district while he was prevented from approaching Sandeshkhali. He was also later hospitalised. Panaji, Feb 22 : A woman, who was arrested on Wednesday for kidnapping a 2-month-old girl in South Goa, has been sent to seven days police custody, officials said. Margao Police said that the accused person was produced in a court on Thursday and was remanded to seven days police custody. The accused was identified as Nataline Almeida (50) from Navelim in South Goa, the police said. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Santosh Dessai, primary investigation suggests that the accused befriended the mother of the victim, staying outside the railway station and then kidnapped her daughter. Sources said that Almeida befriended the mother of the child by providing her food for some days and on Monday, allegedly kidnapped the infant. According to the police, the 35-year-old mother, a native of Mumbai, is a rag-picker and used to stay outside the railway station with her daughter. A case has been registered under Section 363 of the IPC, and Section 8 (4) of the Goa Children Act. Buldhana : , Feb 22 (IANS) An MLA of Maharashtra's ruling Shiv Sena MLA has "confessed" to reportedly hunting and killing a tiger nearly four decades ago, and now wears its tooth in a necklace. Buldhana MLA Sanjay Rambhau Gaikwad, belonging to Chief Minister Eknath Shindeas ruling Shiv Sena, made the stunning claim during a Shivaji Jayantai function here a couple of days ago. Videos of Gaikwad making the proud proclamation have gone viral on social media, eliciting both angry and shocked responses from users. In the video, Gaikwad is being casually queried about the tiger tooth necklace, along with other necklaces he is seen wearing, and he readily provides an explanation. "This is the tooth of a tiger. I had hunted it in 1987 and then removed it (the tooth)," said Gaikwad, and then laughed. At one point, the lawmaker clarified that it was not a leopard tooth, but that of a tiger which he had ostensibly killed a" though killing the tiger is banned in India since 1972. Although he did not specify where or how he made the tiger killing, Buldhana has the Dnyanganga Wildlife Reserve which is said to be frequented by the ig cat, besides six other dedicated tiger sanctuaries in different parts of eastern Maharashtra. The eastern districts of Maharashtra have around 440 tigers in the wild as per the last tiger Census in 2023, spread around in the sanctuaries at Melghat, Pench, Tadoba, Sahyadri, Bor and Navegaon-Nagzira. Chandigarh, Feb 22 : Clean Air Punjab, a consortium to address air quality challenges in the state, has in a letter appealed to Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, for the expeditious approval of the pink electric auto policy for women under the Rejuvenation of Auto-Rickshaw in Amritsar through Holistic Intervention (RAAHI) project. Recognising the role of electric vehicles (EVs) in achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, Clean Air Punjab underscored the imperative of integrating women into the transportation workforce. In a landscape where only a few states actively address gender disparity, Punjab has extended the RAAHI scheme to women auto drivers. The substantial 90 per cent subsidy on electric autos for women not only catalyses economic empowerment, but also cultivates environmental stewardship. At an event on February 18, attended by 250 women, there emerged an eagerness among the participants to embrace electric autos in Amritsar, provided with requisite support. Indu Aurora, President-elect of Voice of Amritsar, articulated the pressing need to curtail emissions in the city, elucidating the health hazards affecting the citizens, especially the vulnerable demographics. She underscored the transformative potential of EVs in ameliorating air quality and enhancing financial empowerment among women. Shweta Mehra from Clean Air Punjab emphasized the cardinal principle of equal opportunity in women's empowerment, reflecting on the receptive engagement of the policy-makers and women alike during the Gender-Responsive E3W Transition convening in Amritsar. New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Delhi Assembly's Privileges Committee to hold its proceedings against seven BJP MLAs who have been suspended for interrupting Lt Governor V.K. Saxena's address at the start of the Budget session. The seven BJP MLAs a" Mohan Singh Bisht, Ajay Mahawar, O.P. Sharma, Abhay Verma, Anil Vajpayi, Jitender Mahajan, and Vijender Gupta a" moved the high court on Monday challenging their suspension for the remainder of the Budget session of the Assembly, saying it was maliciously engineered to disable the opposition members from participating in the discussions. On Wednesday, Justice Subramonium Prasad had asked the MLAs to meet the Assembly Speaker after Lt Governor accepted their apology. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for the MLAs, informed the court on Thursday that they met the Speaker on Wednesday, and they had to give a response to the Privileges Committee by 1 p.m., and at 2.30 p.m. it will proceed. Since the court is hearing the matter on merit, the judge said that the Committee should not continue with the proceedings. "Since I have started hearing today, the Privileges Committee should not continue. All further proceedings must be kept in abeyance," he said orally to senior counsel appearing for the Assembly. The court observed that their suspension was resulting in their constituencies going unrepresented in the House. It again adjourned the matter for hearing next on Friday. The members were suspended for allegedly interrupting the Lt Governor's address, highlighting AAP government achievements on February 15. MLAs have expressed concerns about their continued suspension and contested recent political comments and messages, indicating a potentially contentious environment. Mehta had, on Monday, argued that the suspension is unconstitutional and contrary to rules, affecting their right to participate in proceedings. "This was maliciously engineered to disable the opposition members to participate in the discussions on crucial businesses that were to be discussed and to also exclude them, albeit unconstitutionally, from participating in the budget session of the House," their plea said, adding the move was grossly unconstitutional and even contrary to Rules of Business of the House. Mehta had said that the motion to suspend them was excessive, advocating a maximum three-day suspension instead of an indefinite one. AAP MLA Dilip Pandey initiated the resolution for suspension in the House, which Speaker Ram Niwas Goel accepted. The matter was also forwarded to the Privileges Committee. The suspended MLAs, except Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, were barred from Assembly proceedings until the committee's report was received. Navsari : Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the foundation laying ceremony of various development projects. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation for and inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 14,000 crore during his two-day visit to Varanasi. All eyes will be on the launch of twelve big-ticket projects, including the setting up of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), and Varanasi Medical College, among others. However, the aground-breaking ceremonya of Sant Guru Ravidas Museum by PM Modi, slated for February 23, is drawing much attention, apparently because of its political ramifications in the run-up to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi will visit the Sant Ravidas temple and offer prayers, and later in the day, lay the foundation for the museum in Seer Goverdhanpur, the birthplace of the revered guru. He will also unveil a statue of Sant Ravidas inside the temple premises and address a public meeting. Sant Ravidas, the 15th century social reformer, is venerated as a spiritual guru in many parts of the northern belt, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. The upcoming museum at the birthplace Seer Goverdhanpur will be a fitting tribute to his contributions during the Bhakti movement, and will vividly describe the birth and spiritual life of Sant Ravidas through digital pictures and video clippings. Built at a cost of about Rs 23 crore, spanning an area spanning 4,000 sq mt, it will become a major 'pilgrimage centre' for the devotees and followers of the sect. The ainteractivea museum, said political watchers, will go a long way in fortifying the communityas belief in the BJP government. Notably, the sect and its followers have been wooed by many political leaders in the past, including Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Ahilesh Yadav and more. Sant Ravidasa followers comprise a major chunk of voter base in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and also Jammu and Kashmir. In Western UP, they form a dedicated voter base of Mayawati-led BSP. Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi of the Congress also belongs to the same community and was deployed by the party during elections to win over the support of the community members. For the BJP, the dedication of an ainteractivea museum to Sant Ravidas goes on to show its commitment towards the sectas welfare. On Friday, when PM Modi meets and interacts with the community members in Seer Goverdhanpur, it will be his third visit to the guruas birthplace. His first visit was in 2016, months before Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The second time PM Modi visited the holy town was in 2019, when he also spent some time with the community. Notably, this is not the first museum dedicated to Sant Ravidas. In August 2023, PM Modi had laid the foundation for a temple as well as memorial dedicated to Sant Ravidas in Madhya Pradeshas Sagar district. The memorial, being constructed at cost of over Rs 100 crore, will cater to lakhs of sect followers, mostly comprising Dalits. Dedicating two memorials to Sant Ravidas within a year shows the Centreas resolve to recreate and restore the legacy of the 15th century guru. Political pundits believe that the BJP is bound to aharvesta a favourable outcome in the 2024 polls, on the back of its outreach to the community. Mumbai, Feb 22 : The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will finalise its seat-sharing deal for the 48 Lok Sabha seats at its final meeting on February 27-28, AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala said here on Thursday. The seat allocation talks with the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and other allies are in the final stages without encountering any hurdles and the seats deal shall be sealed next week, he asserted. On Wednesday, NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar had announced in Kolhapur that the allocation of 39 constituencies has been finalised and the remaining 9 seats shall be completed by the weekend. Speaking to mediapersons along with state Congress President Nana Patole, Mumbai chief Prof. Varsha Gaikwad and other senior leaders, Chennithala reiterated that the MVA is going strong and will strive to win maximum number of seats in the state. "Discussions with all friendly parties are proceeding smoothly. We have accepted all the points for the manifesto suggested by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Patole said that as the elections approach, the Opposition parties and their leaders are being systematically targeted through various central investigation agencies, but no action is initiated against BJP leaders facing serious corruption charges. He cited the instances of former MVA leaders like Ajit Pawar, Ashok S. Chavan, who faced allegations in various scams but after they joined hands with the BJP, they have been rewarded in different ways. Patole said that "the BJP is claiming to win 400 seats in the next Lok Sabha polls, but of its current 303 MPs, 165 are from different opposition parties, including 67 from Congress who were accused of corruption by the BJP but are now shielded by the same BJP". Chandigarh, Feb 22 : Punjab is set to unveil a vibrant tapestry of traditions, arts and customs through the 'Rangla Punjab' initiative during the First Tourism Investor Summit to be held in Amritsar from February 23 to 29. Chandigarh, Feb 22 (IANS) Punjab is set to unveil a vibrant tapestry of traditions, arts and customs through the aRangla Punjaba initiative during the First Tourism Investor Summit to be held in Amritsar from February 23 to 29. State Tourism Minister Anmol Gagan Maan said on Thursday that the seven-day event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the evening of February 23. The event aligns with themes such as literature, food, music, strength, and Punjabas 'sewa bhaavna' spirit, she said. The event has been conceptualised following the successful completion of the Tourism Summit and Travel Mart last year. Anmol Maan said the 'Rangla Punjab' event aims to offer an experience with elaborate spectacles, costumes, and performances poised to captivate audiences worldwide. 'Worst is over' and youll only see growth in coming months: Byju Raveendran.. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 22 : The battle between Byju;s and investors intensified after the edtech major said on Thursday that the company's co-founder and CEO Byju Raveendran and Board members will not attend the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called by select investors on Friday. Earlier in the day, sources said that key investors in Byju's will go ahead with the EGM for a vote to remove Raveendran as the company's CEO. "This EGM is procedurally invalid, contractually in contravention of our AOA and SHA, legally on the wrong side of the Companies Act, 2013. Byju Raveendran or any other Board member will not attend this invalid EGM," the edtech major said in a statement. "This means the EGM, if it is still summoned, will not have the required quorum and cannot proceed to discuss or vote on the agenda. As custodians of Byju's, it is the responsibility of the Founders to respect the established procedures of law and protect the company's integrity," the company added. According to sources, the majority of investors are set to vote in favour of Raveendranas removal from the company which is facing regulatory hurdles amid a cash crunch. Sources at the end of investors said that EGM is valid and fully in accordance with applicable law. On Wednesday, the Karnataka High Court ordered that any resolutions, proposed to be passed in the meeting called by select Byju's investors to appoint a new board and oust the CEO, will not hold ground until the final hearing and disposition of the petition on March 13, filed by Think & Learn Private Ltd, the parent company of Byjuas. The edtech major argued that certain investors, including General Atlantic, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, MIH EdTech Investments, Own Ventures, Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), SCI Investments, SCHF PV Mauritius, Sands Capital Global Innovation Fund, Sofina, and T. Rowe Price Associates, had violated the Articles of Association (AoA), the Shareholdersa Agreement (SHA), and the Companies Act, 2013 by calling for an EGM on February 23. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) to issue a look-out circular (LOC) against Raveendran, according to sources. The move came as the agency's Bengaluru office is currently investigating alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations against the company and its founder. A LOC 'on intimation' was also issued against Raveendran more than a year and a half ago. --IANS na/vd Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Thursday that after Prime Minister Naredra Modi-led BJP government assumed power in 2014, the aim was to execute road projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore in Karnataka. He said that Karnataka got road projects worth over Rs 4 lakh crore in a 10-year period. He said this while addressing a rally at Belagavi after inaugurating and laying the foundation for 18 National Highway projects worth Rs 7,290 crore on Thursday. "After 10 years, Rs 62,000 crore worth of road works have been completed. Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore worth projects are ongoing and Rs 2.5 lakh crore worth projects are in pipeline. Karnataka is a progressive state and without road infrastructure the overall development is not possible," Gadkari said. When PM Modi-led BJP government came to power in 2014, the length of national highways in Karnataka was 6,707 km. In 2024, the length of national highways is 8,200 km, he said. Gadkari further said that the much sought-after Bengaluru Peripheral Ring Road Project would solve the traffic congestion woes in the state capital, adding the project would be completed by January 2025. "The ring road project was taken up with a budget of Rs 17,000 crore. The state government is giving 30 per cent of the land acquisition cost," he said. The ring road would have a length of 282 km of which and 242 would pass through Karnataka. Gadkari also said that Belagavi is going to be an exporter of 'green oil' to the world in the form of ethanol. "There are 28 sugar factories in Belagavi and production of ethanol will benefit farmers. The sugarcane is cultivated in abundance. So, don't take my words lightly," he stated. Karnataka Minister for PWD Satish Jarkiholi, BJP MPs Mangala Angadi, Annasaheb Jolle and others were also present on the occasion. More than 3,000 years ago, a new group of people arrived in the Ebro Valley. They came from the north and brought new funerary rites with them. They didnt bury their dead, they cremated them. But the excavation of several sites in recent decades has found very young children buried under the floor of houses. From their bone analysis, it was suspected that they had some form of skeletal pathology. Now, a review based on a new method of analyzing ancient DNA has found chromosomal abnormalities in four of them. Statistically and demographically, such a number is impossible, which leads the authors of the discovery to maintain that ancient societies likely acknowledged these individuals as members of their communities and the burials of the individuals were either special, or performed with care according to standard practices. A few years ago, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPG, Germany) embarked on an ambitious project that involved searching their enormous database of DNA from ancient humans for the presence of any of the chromosomal trisomies. In such conditions, cells carry three copies of a particular chromosome instead of two: one inherited from each parent. Of the 23 chromosomes, there are only three non-fatal trisomies: trisomy 21 (which manifests in what is popularly known as Down syndrome), the rare trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and the even rarer trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). Given the relatively low prevalence of the syndromes in the population, the scientists needed as many genetic samples as possible from the past. They managed to collect genetic data from 9,855 people who lived between about 5,000 and 400 years ago. Of these, 37 came from young children from two sites in the south of the Navarra region of Spain. The bones had already been analyzed at the beginning of the century, but at that time there was no technology to sequence ancient DNA. Adam Rohrlach, the lead author of the research that has been published in Nature Communications describes the new method his team used: We look at the percentage of DNA in a sample that comes from each of the chromosomes and compare it with all the other samples that we have. Next, we sought to identify those that had approximately 50% more DNA mapping on chromosome 18 or 21, which would indicate an additional copy of the chromosome for an individual, the scientist at MPG and the University of Adelaide (Australia) explains. With this system, they found seven cases of trisomy among the 9,855 samples they analyzed. They are all very young children. The most recent burial was unearthed in a Christian cemetery in Helsinki (Finland) and dates from the 17th century. The two oldest are from a site in Bulgaria, where they found a six-month-old girl who lived about 4,900 years ago, and the other was from Mycenaean Greece, from which they had samples of another girl of about 12 months of age, who died about 3,300 years ago. The other four come from Spain. Three are from the Alto de la Cruz excavation in the Navarra region, and one child was found at Las Eretas, another site in Navarra. The four set of remains are between 2,800 and 2,400 years old. The remains of a child who died at 38 weeks of gestation. He had Down syndrome and died between 2,620 and 2,424 years ago in Alto de la Cruz, in present-day Navarra (Spain). Gobierno de Navarra/ J.L. Larrion Although we have a collection of samples from all over the world, the types of samples from some areas are not comparable to those from others, says Kay Prufer, a Planck Institute scientist who coordinated the analysis of the sequences. In particular, the two Spanish sites in our study only have burials of children. This was not normal in the other places where we collected samples, the professor adds. Given the short life expectancy of people with trisomies in the past, this means we are less likely to find cases where we primarily collect adults. But, in the end, trisomy is so rare that chance also plays an important role, she concludes in an email. Chance does not seem to fit in the case of the children from the sites in Navarra. They belong to the towns of the so-called Urnfield culture. And they were called that because, because what has been best preserved of them are that, urns with remains of humans cremated in necropolises. Unlike the previous settlers, who buried their dead, these people of probable Indo-European origin cremated their deceased. But not all of them. Infants were buried in their homes, as if their parents wanted to keep the family together, the archaeologist from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and co-author of the study, Roberto Risch, points out. But it still doesnt fit. On the one hand, these towns were inhabited for about five centuries. Given the high infant mortality in the past, if the custom was to bury all newborns or deceased babies, there should be many more than those that have been found. Risch maintains that they must have had something special, something that made them different. Since he obtained his degree in the 1980s, this scientist was always intrigued by this very particular funeral ritual. Now, the study of their DNA seems to have proved him right. These were small communities of 100 to 200 individuals. Given the prevalence of trisomies [in the case of trisomy 21, there is one for every 705 births], more than 1,000 births would have had to occur. It is statistically impossible, he says. For him, the only explanation is that they reserved the honor of being buried within the walls, under their houses, for the children who had something different. Even if they were stillborn or died shortly after birth, they received special treatment. By burying them under the floor, they returned to the family environment Patxuka de Miguel, physical anthropologist at the University of Alicante and midwife at Alcoy hospital Patxuka de Miguel is a physical anthropologist at the University of Alicante. She participated in the first analysis of these childrens bones almost 20 years ago together with Javier Armendariz, the archaeologist from the Public University of Navarra, and both are co-authors of this new study. Even then, they saw that in some cases the bones had abnormalities. This is the case of a 40-week old infant who was found in Alto de la Cruz. But back then there were no genetic tools. Now it has been learned that he had trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome. This genetic alteration manifests itself in microcephaly, eye and mouth malformations, and clenched hands. There were malformations in the bones compatible with the syndrome. Now there is no longer any doubt, he says. This is the oldest case of trisomy 18 discovered so far. De Miguel agrees with Risch: Even if they were stillborn or died shortly after birth, they received special treatment. By burying them under the floor, they returned to the family environment. Archaeologist Armendariz recalls that, until the last century, it was common in Navarra and the Basque Country to bury deceased newborns before they had been baptized. This prevented them from being buried in a cemetery, and the deceased child was commonly interred in the eaves of their home. It may be a practice that comes from then, he says. Remember that 3,000 years ago the funeral ritual for the general population was cremation. We dont have skeletons from then, except for those of these children, he says. Not all of them were buried in the houses, but those who were buried were perfectly buried, and some had a trousseau, he adds. The same had happened with the two sets of remains from Bulgaria and Greece. With no obvious relationship with the children of Navarra, they were also buried within the walls of their homes. The idea of a special and selective burial does not convince Antonio Salas Ellacuriaga, a researcher in Population Genetics in Biomedicine at the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela. In statements to SMC Spain, he argues: The most obvious limitation, from my perspective, lies in the need to interpret societys perception of people affected by syndromes based on how they were buried. For him, the burial ritual offers only a partial perspective of history. In addition, given that all the cases the have been identified correspond to early age stages (perinates/neonates/infants), there is the possibility that these individuals had not yet developed distinctive features, the also professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Santiago de Compostela adds, although he did not participated in the study. However, De Miguel, who in addition to being an anthropologist also works as a midwife at the Verge dels Lliris Hospital in Alcoi (Alicante), maintains that many of the signs of trisomy are visible and identifiable in newborns, especially after the first cry. What happened to them? Armendariz points out a possibility: In the Urnfield culture they would have been treated like others, and like the adults, they would have been cremated. Between the two sites in this study and the one at Castejon de Bargota (also in Navarra), which does not feature because the scientists did not find children with trisomy, scientists found the remains of 53 children. And they have identified only four with this chromosomal abnormality. To determine with certainty that each of them had something that made them special enough to be buried rather than cremated, the authors say that further research will be needed to form hypotheses on the cultural practices that may have led to this. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday took a stern stance on the delay in enacting legislation to regulate clinical establishments, including laboratories, within the national capital, and asked Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and Health Secretary S.B. Deepak Kumar to appear personally before it on March 21. The court's directive comes in response to an email indicating that the Health Minister was not adequately informed during discussions concerning the Delhi Health Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2022, also known as the Delhi Health Bill. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora expressed dismay over the prolonged delay, remarking: "We can only say it is a sorry state of affairs. This has been pending for the last five years." The case stems from a 2018 petition by Bejon Kumar Misra, alleging the operation of unauthorised laboratories and diagnostic centres by unqualified technicians in Delhi. The court had previously directed the Delhi government to expedite the process of finalising the bill, or alternatively, consider implementing the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010. The Delhi government, in response, assured the court of its proactive efforts to draft and enact a law to regulate clinical establishments, stressing the necessity to safeguard patient and healthcare provider interests. However, Misra's counsel argued that the absence of regulation poses a significant threat to citizens' lives, with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 illegal pathological and diagnostic labs operating in the city. New Delhi, Feb 22 : A man, who was thrashed by four persons over a Rs 2,300 loan, succumbed to his injuries 10 days after the incident in Burari area of north Delhi, police said on Thursday. Police said that they have arrested two men, identified as Rohit Gaur, 20, and Ashis aka Ashu, 19, while two juveniles, aged 15 and 16 years, have also been apprehended. They all are residents of the Burari area. A senior police official said that the medico-legal case report, received on February 11, identified the victim as Priyanshu, who suffered a lacerated swelling over the frontal parietal region. The report indicated his condition as unfit for a statement and recommended referral to a higher medical centre. "The police team visited the LNJP Hospital where Priyanshu was found unconscious, and no eyewitnesses were present. Consequently, considering the MLC, a case was initially registered under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code at Burari police station for further investigation," Deputy Commissioner of Police, North, M.K. Meena said. Meena said that efforts were made during the investigation to locate eyewitnesses and CCTV footage of the incident. It was further revealed that Priyanshu and his friend Jaikisan, a.k.a Chintu, had a quarrel with Rohit and Ashis over a loan of Rs 2,300, resulting in enmity between the parties. "On February 12, Jaikishan was located and examined. He recounted that around 11:30 a.m. on February 11, five to six persons arrived on two motorcycles and assaulted Priyanshu. "Considering the eyewitness statement and the victim's medical condition, Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC was added to the case," the DCP said. Subsequently, CCTV footage was reviewed based on the eyewitness's account, leading to the arrest of two accused persons and apprehension of two juveniles. "During the investigation, the scene of the crime was inspected and photographed by the Crime team, and relevant exhibits were collected. The weapon of offence, a stick, was also recovered and taken into police possession," said the officer. On February 22, information was received that Priyanshu had passed away during treatment at LNJP Hospital. aThe post-mortem of the deceased has been conducted, and Section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been added to the case," the officer added. Islamabad, Feb 22 : Withdrawing all his allegations related to rigging in the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said he was "extremely ashamed, embarrassed", and claimed that he made the move in coordination with a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, a media report said. Islamabad, Feb 22 (IANS) Withdrawing all his allegations related to rigging in the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said he was "extremely ashamed, embarrassed", and claimed that he made the move in coordination with a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, a media report said. "I take full responsibility for my actions and surrender myself before the authorities for any kind of legal action," Chattha said in a statement to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Geo News reported. In a dramatic development last Saturday, Chattha had tendered his resignation, which he said was out of "guilty conscience" for abetting large-scale electoral rigging in the garrison city, further raising the political mercury in the country. The Commissioner, in the rare press conference, had taken responsibility for the "rigging" that he claimed took place in Rawalpindi Division. "We converted the losers into winners with 50,000 votes margin," he had stated. In response to his allegations, the PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and other political parties -- most of whom had already rejected the election results -- demanded an investigation into the matter. In the same presser, Chattha had also accused Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa of facilitating the rigging. Responding to his allegations, CJP Isa demanded the former commissioner to show evidence to back his allegations against him, Geo News reported. However, retracting his allegations, Chattha revealed that all of this was done in coordination with the Imran Khan-founded PTI, which had also offered "lucrative positions for me in future", Geo News reported New Delhi, Feb 22 : Three men have been arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch for allegedly robbing Rs 81 lakh from a money collection agent in Narela area of north Delhi, police said on Thursday. The accused were identified as Lalit, Lokesh aka Loki, and Ajay, all residents of Narela and police have also recovered Rs 50 lakh from their possession while hunt for other accused is going on. According to police, the complainant Vinod, a resident of Narela, who is doing a job of money collection, reported that on February 16 afternoon, he visited Axis Bank located at Anaj Mandi, Narela, and withdrew Rs 81 lakh from his account, and put the cash in a bag. As he was about to start his two-wheeler after exiting the bank, an unidentified man attempted to snatch his cash-filled bag. "When Vinod resisted, another unknown assailant brandished a pistol, threatening him. Both assailants made off with the Rs 81 lakh. Vinod tried to intervene, but one of the perpetrators fired three gunshots at him in a bid to intimidate him, before fleeing on a bike," police said. Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime, Sanjay Bhatia said that following the incident, the police conducted a thorough investigation, analysing CCTV footage from the scene and nearby locations, as well as the route taken by the culprits. Police also sought the inputs of confidential informants in the surrounding Delhi-NCR areas, upon learning that the suspects spoke in Haryanvi dialect. "Acting on specific intelligence received on Thursday, the police set up a trap near Jony Farm, Safiabad-Narela Road, where Lokesh and his two associates were expected to meet an acquaintance," he said. Subsequently, Lalit, Lokesh, and Ajay were apprehended. "During a search of Lokesh's car, Rs 46 lakh were recovered, while Lalit and Ajay were found in possession of Rs 2 lakh each," the Additional CP said. Upon interrogation, all the accused confessed that Lokesh had approached Lalit, who is employed with a trader in Narela Mandi and is privy to the financial movements of traders and businessmen in the market area. "Under Lokesh's direction, Lalit provided information about a trader who regularly withdrew substantial sums from Axis Bank. Lokesh, along with Lalit and Ajay, conducted reconnaissance on Vinod's movements regarding the withdrawal of a large sum on February 16," the Additional CP said. This information was then relayed to Lakshay, Vishal, and Ravi, all residents of Sonipat, Haryana. "Subsequently, Lakshay, Vishal, and Ravi, under instructions, opened gunfire to instill fear and forcibly robbed Vinod of Rs 81 lakh," the Additional CP added. --IANS ssh/vd Itanagar, Feb 22 : The BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh has provided 17,500 government jobs in the last 7-8 years and abolished the corrupt practices in providing jobs, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said here on Thursday. The Arunachal government on Thursday officially handed over appointment letters to 1,256 youths, who had successfully appeared in the Combined Secondary Level Examination-2023 conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) last year. The Chief Minister symbolically handed over 'offer letters' to 30 new recruits at the event Rozgar Mela organised by the state Youth Affairs department. "Earlier, most of the Group C and D posts were filled by the concerned departments on the recommendations or insistence of political leaders and senior officials. Those who had no connection with the affluent were left high and dry. "To do away with the corrupt practices and to provide all eligible youth a level-playing field, we created the APSSB and today it is bearing fruits," Khandu said. "In the coming years, the infusion of talented individuals into the government workforce will significantly enhance our capacity to deliver services promptly, furthering the welfare of our beloved citizens," he added. The Chief Minister informed that more than 1,000 posts have been handed over to the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission for conducting recruitment examinations, but they are lying vacant due to the paper leakage fiasco that surfaced earlier. Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Contrary to recent criticism of the Central government by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over "injustice" to his state, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Thursday praised Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for his contribution to the state in terms development of roads. "Since Nitin Gadkari took over as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, he has managed to change history. He has put in honest efforts and succeeded in them. Shivamogga BJP MP B.Y. Raghavendra mentioned that 1 lakh km of roads were laid until the BJP came to power, and in the last 10 years, 1 lakh km of roads have been laid in the country. It is true. For this reason, we have special love and respect towards Nitin Gadkari. "He has risen above party lines and dedicatedly works towards the country and state's development. For this reason, I love and respect him. There will be a lot of confrontations between the Central and state governments when power changes. But during his entire tenure, there has been no room for confrontation. There is a need for such leaders. I have met him five times in the last nine months. He has taken up and given consent to the projects which were pending for 12 years," Jarkiholi said. The Karnataka PWD Minister further said: "This is a special day for Karnataka. In Belagavi, about Rs 7,000 crore worth of works were dedicated. In the south Karnataka region, Rs 6,200 crore worth of projects were dedicated. This is a day that should be written in golden letters in the history of Karnataka state." Jarkiholi further said: "For development of any region, the development of roads is important. Wherever roads are developed, industries and academic activities flourish." Varanasi, Feb 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on a two-day visit on Thursday, inspected the recently inaugurated Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara road in the night. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Built at a cost of Rs 360 crore, the road reduces the travel time between the Banaras Hindu University to Varanasi airport from 75 minutes to 45 minutes. Similarly, it also reduces the travel time between Lahartara and Kachahri from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. Earlier on his arrival to Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary at the airport. Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation for and inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 14,000 crore during his two-day visit to Varanasi. Gaza, Feb 23 : Israeli army troops have reportedly withdrawn from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis city of the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces on Thursday withdrew "completely" from the hospital after storming it several days ago and converting it into "a military barracks", Xinhua news agency reported, citing Palestinian security sources. Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 13 news confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ended their operation at the hospital. Yemen's Houthis launch fresh missile attack on ship in Gulf of Aden: US Navy. Image Source: IANS News Sanaa, Feb 23 : Yemen's armed Houthi group has claimed responsibility for launching missile attacks against a British cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. "The naval forces of the Yemeni (Houthi) armed forces carried out an attack against a British ship (Islander) in the Gulf of Aden, with several missiles," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on Thursday in a televised statement aired by the group's satellite TV channel al-Masirah. The missiles directly hit the ship, causing a fire on it, Sarea was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. "We also targeted an American destroyer in the Red Sea with several drones," he said. He said that his group also fired several ballistic missiles and drones towards the Israeli city of Eilat. This is the latest of Houthi attacks since mid-November last year in support for Hamas. Humpback whales are among the cetacean species that use combinations of sounds that sound like songs to human ears. In the image, freediver Karim Iliya swims between three of them. About 50 million years ago, the ancestors of whales which also gave rise to the modern-day cow left life on land and returned to the sea. With them, they took with them their system for producing sound, which is not unlike that used by humans. But this system does not operate the same way underwater indeed, opening the mouth to produce sound leads to drowning. In adapting to the new environment, some species of cetaceans developed such sophisticated phonation that they appeared to humans to be singing. Now, a group of scientists has dissected three specimens to uncover the secrets of their singing. Over the course of evolution, these animals redesigned their larynx to continue communicating over very long distances. But the study also shows how the noise generated by humans is short-circuiting their ability to communicate. They still sing, but they can no longer hear each other. The different cetaceans developed adaptations to the new environment: odontocetes (dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales...) evolved to have a nasal vocal organ capable of producing high frequency sounds, while dolphinids used this organ for echolocation. Meanwhile, the mysticete whales (blue whale, humpback whale, fin whale...) have almost completely redesigned their larynx. This organ one of the most complex in mammals has two functions: to protect the airways and the lungs and for phonation. In most terrestrial species, this phonation involves the vibration of the vocal cords, which is caused by the flow of air through the glottis, the opening between the vocal folds. But life underwater led to radical adaptations. The result, particularly among baleen whales, far surpassed the communication of their terrestrial ancestors. These animals are able to emit sounds that travel tens or even hundreds of kilometers. But most of what was known about the phonation system of the mysticete whales was based on assumptions and inferences. Between 2018 and 2019, a group of scientists specializing in cetacean phonation organized to get their hands on the larynxes of some whales. They needed them to be as fresh as possible, it was the only way to study them in depth. The scientists contacted environmental organizations and asked them to warn them of any whale stranding. They obtained this organ from three species of mysticetes: a minke whale, a sei whale and an imposing humpback whale. For centuries, the humpback whale has enchanted seafarers with their calls. The three specimens were dissected so that their anatomy could be understood in greater depth. In principle, they have all the elements present in the rest of mammals, such as several basic cartilages for laryngeal articulation and sound production. But they do not have vocal cords like those of humans and other land animals, and some of these cartilages have hardened and lost their original function. Instead, they have developed a U-shaped structure (as seen from above) parallel to the trachea, which has a horizontal orientation not a vertical one as in the human species. And on top of this shape, there is a pad of blubber. What the researchers did, as detailed in the journal Nature, was to mechanically blow air into the larynxes. They saw how the air made the arms of the U vibrate and, when in contact with the blubber on top, produced low-frequency sounds similar to those emitted by these whales. We believe they have evolved new structures because the vocal cords would hinder rapid breathing at the surface, explains Professor Coen Elemans, from the sound communication and behavior group at the University of Southern Denmark, who is the lead author of this groundbreaking research. Using these structures, whales can emit very low-frequency sounds that they all make, he adds. Although the physical mechanisms underlying sound production (airflow-induced vibrations) are the same as in human speech and song, the scientists confirmed that only a few species [humpback and bowhead whales] redeveloped the ability to move the cartilages of the larynx and the thick tissues above these structures so that they can move them together again. Just like our vocal cords, adds Elemans. This also allows them to emit high-frequency sounds, the songs that most people know well, he explains. In a second part of the work, after scanning the larynx of the humpback whale, the scientists modeled it to study its behavior according to different physical and acoustic constraints. Our model includes precise 3D shapes of the larynx and its muscles. That made it possible to simulate, for example, how frequency is controlled by muscle modulation, Qian Xue, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester and co-author of the study, says in a press release. Our model accurately predicted the results of our experiments, and we were also able to calculate acoustic characteristics that we could not measure in the lab, such as frequency range, added his colleague Weili Jiang. One thing they couldnt measure in the lab was an issue with wide-reaching implications. The sounds emitted at the surface can reach deep into the sea, but below these whales cant emit sound below 100 meters. It is physically impossible for them. The problem is that this is the range that is increasingly being filled by sounds from human activities (ships, underwater mining, prospecting...). Combining these experiments and models, the researchers demonstrated that baleen whales are physiologically unable to get past man-made noise, because it drowns their call and thus limits their communication range. As Elemans explains, the limited frequency range [between 10 and 300 hertz] and depth [0 to 100 meters] where they can emit sounds overlap with the noise produced by humans; that is why they cannot sing louder or deeper to get around our noises. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Blue Willow Bookshop partnered with local educators and publishers to host the annual Bookworm Festival for Emerging Readers, which took place on February 3 at Garcia Middle School in Houston, Tex. Launched in 2014, the festival has developed into a fully bilingual event for early readers and their families. More than 600 people attended and had a chance to connect with authors. Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop, said, Theres a special kind of joy in seeing a young readers face light up when they recognize themselves in a book. Were delighted to work with librarians and teachers on Bookworm and are so grateful to Aldine Independent School District for hosting. Festival chair Melanie Scales added, We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for families in the greater Houston area to share stories and celebrate community. What better place to host it than Aldine ISD, where more than 70% of students are of Hispanic descent and more than 45% of students are bilingual or English learners? Weve gathered highlights from the celebration. Photos: Mary Cate Stevenson and Noah Nofz. Seven childrens book creators attended this years Bookworm Festival: (back row, from l.) e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, Young Vo, Antwan Eady, Rhode Montijo; (front row, from l.) Liz Kleinrock, Dashka Slater, and Joanna Ho. e.E. Charlton-Trujillo (r.), author of Lupe Lopez Rockstar Rules (Candlewick)co-written with Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Joe Cepedain conversation with moderator German Carmona. Rhode Montijo (l.), author-illustrator of Skeletown: Si. No! (Little, Brown), and Dashka Slater, author of Escargot and the Search for Spring, illustrated by Sydney Hanson (FSG), presented their bookswith Slater dressed as her snail character. Antwan Eady (l.) speaking about his picture book The Last Stand, illustrated by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey (Knopf). Co-authors Joanna Ho (l.) and Liz Kleinrock discussed their picture book Eyes That Weave the Worlds Wonders, illustrated by Dung Ho (HarperCollins). Young Vo, author-illustrator of Gibberish (Levine Querido), greeting a reader. Jarrett Pumphrey (l.), who illustrated The Last Stand with his brother Jerome, drove in from Austin to meet Eady in person. Torrey House has come a long way since 2010, when Kirsten Johanna Allen and Mark Bailey cofounded it in Torrey, Utah, as a print-on-demand publisher with three novels to its name. The press, which has since moved to Salt Lake City, currently has four full-time employees and two part-timers, and now publishes between one and six books each season, most spotlighting environmental themes and all of interest to the American West. Two years ago, as part of a major restructuring of the press, Allen promoted development director Will Neville-Rehbehn to serve with her as copublisher and coexecutive director. This allows, Neville-Rehbehn explained, both copublishers the chance to go as deep as we can with authors and to have more time with acquisitions, as well as to do right by all the nonprofit things we do outside of being a publisher. (Torrey House has been a literary nonprofit organization since 2015.) That 2022 restructuring, which included a commitment to diversifying its list, may have a lot to do with why Torrey House has become more visible on a national level, all while experiencing a spike in sales. Two of its four fall 2023 releasesTrue West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America by Betsy Gaines Quammen, a compilation of interviews with residents of western and southwestern states about the myths and realities of life in the American West; and The Missing Morningstar by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, a collection of short fiction with Indigenous characters and themeshave been leading the pack of Torrey Houses four fall 2023 releases in terms of sales and attention. The press has high hopes that these upward trends will continue with the release of Playing with Wildfire by Laura Pritchettbilled as cli fi about the impact of a wildfire upon a communitywhich received among the highest number of advance orders of any Torrey House fiction release before its publication earlier this month. Neville Rehbehn maintains that True West, especially, epitomizes everything that Torrey House has been doing well, but taking that to the next level in terms of creative nonfiction. Noting that Quammen holds a Masters degree in environmental studies and a Ph.D in history, Neville-Rehbehn describes True West as a compilation of stories of the people and the land of the West, bringing the West into conversation with the rest of the country, and with the world. The book has been picking up momentum since its October release, with Torrey House reporting that sales peaked in January. Quammens regional author tour has been extended through spring and expanded into a national tour, with stops planned for Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. As for The Missing Morningstar, Neville-Rehbehn regards its reception as a break-through for the press. Not since Charles Quimbys 2013 bestseller, Monument Road, has Torrey House published fiction that has been so well received both within the region and beyond, he said. Were experiencing something similar to Monument Road; Stacie really is exploding, he continued, noting that the book is already one of the presss all-time fiction topsellers despite hitting shelves only six months ago. But with Missing Morningstar, its more grassroots support, rather than attention that put us on a rocket ship, he added, referring to the selection of Monument Road as an ABA Indies Next and Book Expo Indies Introduce title in 2013. Academics are increasingly assigning specific stories or even adopting Denetsosie's entire collection for use in English literature and writing courses, Neville-Rehbehn said. He added that Denetsosie is making guest appearances with many of those classes, most of them virtual. Along with Quammenand David Gessner, author of another Torrey House 2023 release, A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and WaterDenetsosie has been invited to appear at the Tucson Festival of Books in March. She will also be one of the headliners at an event kicking off the Northern Arizona Book Festival in April, where she will read alongside Natalie Diaz, Chelsea T. Hicks, and Deborah Taffa. As an integral part of its commitment to publishing more emerging voices who belong to diverse communitiessuch as Denetsosie, who is a citizen of the Navajo NationTorrey House has hired bookseller Alexis Powell of the King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City as an editor. We put our values into action, and brought in a young Black woman as an editor, who will handle acquisitions and editing, Neville-Rehbehn said. Having her expertise in the room has been extraordinarily valuable. This ongoing commitment to diversity is further exemplified in the presss most recent acquisition: a collaboration with the nonprofit NDN Girls Book Club to publish an anthology celebrating Indigenous writers of marginalized genders. The untitled anthology, edited by Kinsale Drake, Darcie Little Badger, and Denetsosie, is scheduled for release in late 2025. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. Bill DeVries, vice president for industry transformation and customer success at Dassault Systemes, and Alyssa Wilcox, Purdues senior vice president for partnerships and chief of staff to the president, display a new MOU partnership for semiconductor workforce development. They are joined by Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) Virtual twin technology to create innovative new opportunities for student training WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue is working to revolutionize workforce development for the semiconductor and microelectronics industry, with its latest collaboration focused on delivering virtual twin capabilities to augment and accelerate semiconductor training, research and sustainability, as well as the development of new skills. The latest step in educational excellence is marked by a new Purdue partnership with multinational software giant Dassault Systemes, a leader in providing virtual twin experiences for global industries. A memorandum of understanding was signed Friday (Feb. 16) with the company as part of a campus visit and tour by Dassault Systemes, who met with representatives of Birck Nanotechnology Center, where students learn the latest semiconductor technology in preparation for joining the workforce amid high demand for skilled industry workers. Additional information Alyssa Wilcox, Purdues senior vice president for partnerships and chief of staff to the president, signed the agreement with Dassault Systemes and was joined by Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering. This collaboration reflects Purdues goal to innovate and improve development opportunities for students, Wilcox said. Our continuing role in both workforce and research innovation underscores Purdues leadership in creating vital partnerships in semiconductors. Within the semiconductor industry, tomorrows workforce will require cutting-edge skills, empowered by science-based virtual twins, said Stephane Sireau, vice president, high-tech industry, at Dassault Systemes and member of the Purdue Semiconductor Degrees Leadership Board. We are proud to strengthen our existing engagement within Purdues growing semiconductor innovation ecosystem to ensure students receive the best learning opportunities in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Through its partnership with Dassault Systemes, Purdue will leverage modern digital manufacturing practices toward the development of students technological skills, educational content and training courses. These practices will instill the power of virtual twin, simulation and augmented reality developments to accelerate semiconductor design and the future of high-tech components and products. The agreement also will facilitate a network of academia and industry partners to create new opportunities for skills development and technological expertise. Building on long-standing collaborations, the MOU-signified partnership with Dassault Systemes aligns with Purdues commitment to academic excellence and positions the university at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies, further underscoring its position as the heart of the Silicon Heartland. The move is the latest in an ever-expanding list of global partnerships and initiatives that Purdue has forged to build the collaborative network that will define the future of semiconductor, nanoelectronics and digital technologies research and development at Purdue. Purdues growing semiconductor innovation ecosystem is one of four key pillars of Purdue Computes, a comprehensive initiative across computing departments, physical AI, semiconductors, and quantum science and engineering to enable unparalleled excellence at scale. Purdue is a national leader in microelectronics materials, devices, chip design, tool development, manufacturing, packaging and sustainability, spanning the semiconductor ecosystem in software and hardware with long-standing faculty excellence. Strategic initiatives in semiconductors, such as the first comprehensive Semiconductor Degrees Program, announced by Purdue in 2022, are intended to prepare a next-generation workforce for industry. About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives. About Dassault Systemes Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual twin experiences of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers can redefine the creation, production and life-cycle-management processes of their offer and thus have a meaningful impact to make the world more sustainable. The beauty of the Experience Economy is that it is a human-centered economy for the benefit of all consumers, patients and citizens. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 300,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit https://www.3ds.com/. Writer/Media contact: Brian Huchel, bhuchel@purdue.edu Sources: Alyssa Wilcox Natasha Levanti, Dassault Systemes, North America, Natasha.Levanti@3ds.com James Biden (C), the brother of U.S. President Joe Biden, arrives with his attorney for a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee on February 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden never had any involvement in the business dealings of other members of his family, his brother James Biden testified Wednesday as he appeared for a voluntary private interview on Capitol Hill as part of House Republicans impeachment inquiry. I have had a 50-year career in a variety of business ventures. Joe Biden has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in those activities, the presidents younger brother said in a 10-page opening statement to lawmakers obtained by The Associated Press. None. The interview with James Biden is the latest in a series that GOP lawmakers have conducted recently as they seek to rebuild momentum for an impeachment process surrounding the Biden familys overseas finances that has stalled in recent months. Criticism over the lack of evidence directly related to the president has grown even among those in the Republican Party who have thrown cold water on allegations that Biden was directly involved in his family members supposed efforts to leverage the last name into corporate paydays domestically and abroad. The GOP investigation was undercut again last week when an FBI informant who claimed there was a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving the president, his son Hunter, and a Ukrainian energy company was charged with fabricating the story. The informants claims had been central to the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the president and his family, with investigators even making mention of the unsubstantiated claim in letters to prospective witnesses. An attorney for Hunter Biden, who is expected to give a deposition next week, said the charges show the probe is based on dishonest, uncredible allegations and witnesses. Both James and Hunter Biden were subpoenaed by the committee in November. Lawyers for James Biden have said that there was no justification for the subpoena because the committee had already reviewed private bank records and transactions between the two brothers. The committee found records of two loans that were made when Joe Biden was not in office or a candidate for president. The impeachment inquiry, which began in September under the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, has included the recent depositions of several former Biden family associates. In nearly every one of those interviews, the witnesses have stated that they have seen no evidence that Joe Biden was directly involved in his son or brothers business ventures. Nonetheless, Republicans, led by Oversight Chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, have said they are pushing ahead with an inquiry that could result in impeachment charges against Biden, the ultimate penalty for what the Constitution describes as high crimes and misdemeanors. There had been private discussions about bringing articles of impeachment against Biden to the House floor for a vote in February but those conversations have stalled as support for the effort has waned among the majority. House Republicans instead shifted their focus in the new year to holding Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas accountable for his handling of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. Last week, the razor-thin GOP majority barely managed to impeach Mayorkas, reflecting political desperation as Republicans struggle to make good on the priorities they campaigned on. The attention is now expected to shift back to the impeachment of Joe Biden as Republicans look to detract attention from the various legal challenges plaguing former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for reelection in November. House Democrats have remained united against the monthslong impeachment effort and have called on Republicans to end what they call a sham process. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said that James Biden is the latest example of Republicans playing political games with no sign of tangible evidence that would rise to the level of impeaching a president. We obviously again have heard nothing indicating that Joe Biden had anything to do with business ventures of Hunter Biden, or James Biden, and nothing has contradicted that basic understanding weve had for many, many months now, Raskin told reporters when the interview broke for lunch. But Republicans have pushed back on the Biden familys defense, saying the evidence they have gathered since early last year paints a troubling picture of influence peddling in the familys business dealings, particularly with international clients. With my appearance here today, the committees will have the information to conclude that the negative and destructive assumptions about me and my relationship with my brother Joe are wrong, James Biden said in his statement. There is no basis for this inquiry to continue. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Stadler has signed an agreement with the Chicago commuter operator Metra for the supply of 16 battery-electric trains. With an initial order for eight, two-car multiple units, this was the first competitive bid for battery trainsets in the United States and continues Stadler's recent successes on the continent that include a contract option for hydrogen trains for California signed earlier this year, and rail vehicles with alternative drive solutions already sold to the USA. Stadler's hydrogen train for the State of California. // Credit: Stadler The latest contract is for the supply of up to 16 state-of-the-art Battery Electric Multiple Unit (BEMU) rail vehicles that Metra intends to introduce on its Rock Island Line. Although the initial order is for eight two-car trainsets, these can later be expanded to three-car or four-car trainsets. The vehicles will be built in the United States and comply with the Buy America Act. In addition, they will be designed to meet the All Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards. Stabling sidings in Chicago, Illinois. // Credit: Marc Glucksman/River Rail Photo This latest contract will transform Chicago's rail networks, as it will be the first time that emission-free technology has been used for rail transport in the city. By pioneering the modern multiple-unit train technology, the new trains mark a significant shift towards sustainable and efficient urban mobility and shaping the future of Chicago's transit network. All of the new trains will be winterized and adapted for Chicago's severe winter conditions. This includes efficient air conditioning, underfloor heating in the boarding areas, special insulation, and well-sealed machine rooms to protect the drive equipment. Visualisation of a Stadler battery-powered train. // Credit: Stadler Martin Ritter, CEO Stadler US, says, Our BEMU technology helps support transit agencies like Metra in their mission to bring state-of-the art green public transit to the US. We are excited to build these trains for the greater Chicago area and are looking forward to the partnership with Metra. Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said We think these trains will be an essential addition to our fleet. Beyond the environmental and noise reduction benefits, they could also play a significant role in our vision to provide more frequent all-day service. We are excited to be working with Stadler and taking the lead on this technology. Brazilian logistics operator MRS Logistica has signed an agreement with Wabtec Corporation for the supply of 30 new ES44ACi Evolution Series locomotives. The value of the agreement is approximately R$500 million and the first deliveries are scheduled for later this year. MRS Logistica and Wabtec have had a working relationship for almost 30 years, and this latest order, which forms part of MRS's railway fleet renewal strategy, reinforces the relationship between the two companies. Wabtec's ES44ACi locomotives have 12-cylinder Evolution Series 4,500 hp diesel engines and are turbocharged for greater energy efficiency and lower emissions, using a design that combines thermal efficiency with a double intake air cooling system. The new locomotives produce less emissions than its predecessor, the AC4400. High-strength materials significantly increase intervals between diesel engine overhauls, thereby reducing operating costs throughout the locomotive's lifecycle. MRS manages a 1,643 km railway network in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, which account for around half of Brazil's GDP. The company's railway network connects mineral and agricultural-producing regions with some of Brazil's main industrial parks and the largest ports in the Southeast region. The company's traffic is a diversified operation, including containers, steel, cement, bauxite, agricultural, coke, coal, and iron ore. The company's trains transport approximately 20% of Brazil's exports and about a third of all Brazil's freight traffic passes travels over MRS tracks. Guilherme Segalla de Mello, president of MRS Logistica, said that the fleet renewal is crucial for the company to improve efficiency and safety. By using a modern fleet of locomotives, we promote better energy efficiency in rail transport and contribute to improving our country's logistics. The railway is already a more sustainable mode of transportation. Even so, we are making every effort to have the lowest possible gas emissions in our operations, thus contributing to sustainable development. This order is aligned with the regulatory commitments assumed by MRS with the Federal Government, in combined efforts between the public and private sectors. It generates more efficiency for the intermodal transportation and promotes the railway industry. These cutting-edge ES44ACi locomotives offer high performance and greater reliability, as well as reduced CO2 emissions, says Danilo Miyasato, president and regional leader of Wabtec Latin America. This long-term contract highlights our vision of a greener railway network for Brazil. Asian shipowners with vessels sailing to and from Europe are likely to face estimated emissions liabilities of over 1 billion ($1.09 billion) once the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is fully implemented. Companies registered in China and Singapore will bear the highest burden, according to OceanScore. The Hamburg-based maritime technology firm has calculated that Asia-based Document of Compliance (DoC) holders will ultimately have to surrender a total of between 15-16 million EU Allowances (EUAs), or carbon credits, for voyages to and from the EU that are liable for 50% of emissions, while port calls and transits within the EU are liable for 100% of their emissions. OceanScore estimates EU ETS costs for Asian owners of around 500 million this year when they will be liable for 40% of their emissions, rising to 70% in 2025 and 100% in 2026 under the three-year phase-in of the regulation. 4,000 Asian-flagged vessels The EU ETS, implemented from January 1, 2024, will affect around 4,000 Asian-flagged vessels, or about one-third of the total 12,500 cargo and passenger ships above 5000gt that are currently subject to the EU ETS, according to the company. These are owned or operated by 400 DoC holders, including major players like Chinas COSCO, Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management and South Korean HMM, with around half of affected vessels operated by non-EU DoC holders. EU ETS costs a moving target The total 1 billion cost estimate for Asian shipping, based on the expected volume of EUAs set to be surrendered by regional DoC holders from 2026, is contingent on the volatile carbon price that is currently at a relatively low level of around 55 per tonne of CO2 after fluctuating between 80-100 last year. The carbon price is dictated by supply and demand for EUAs, with the volume of allowances available for trading set to be gradually reduced over time under the cap-and-trade system to incentivise investments in measures to cut ship emissions. OceanScores co-Managing Director Albrecht Grell says a total of nearly 80 million EUAs will have to be surrendered by the shipping industry once the EU ETS is fully phased in, of which 40% will come from non-EU companies, also including the UK, Norway and Turkey. OceanScore forecasts that, at full phase-in, around 5.5 million EUAs will have to be surrendered by Chinese and Hong Kong-based entities and 5.4 million by Singaporean players, with the remainder coming from Japan (1.6 million), South Korea (1.2 million) and India (1.1 million). When other Asian countries such as Thailand and Malaysia are included, the total number of EUAs required rises to 20 million. In a breakdown of costs exposure for individual companies, OceanScore has calculated that a company with 15 vessels would be required to surrender just over 300,000 EUAs, which would equate to a cost of 16.5 million based on the current carbon price. Catching up with regulatory changes Voyages into and out of Europe account for around 59% of emissions covered by the EU ETS, versus 41% for voyages and port calls within Europe, but will still have a lower cost burden than domestic European traffic due to the 50% liability factor. Long-haul voyages into the EU can be broken up by stopping at transshipment ports to reduce emissions exposure, but Grell says we dont see many people seriously discussing this due to the negative impact on fuel costs, waiting times, additional sailing distance and other inefficiencies. Asian players represent around 25% of the overall 1700 DoC holders that now must relate to the regulation, which is in particular focusing the minds of European owners with an EU-centric deployment pattern for their vessels. Consequently, we see that European owners generally have started to prepare earlier for compliance with the EU ETS as it is closer to home and is therefore perceived as having a more tangible financial impact on their operations, Grell says. It is also typically easier for companies domiciled in the EU to set up Union Registry accounts required for handling EUAs, as well as gain access to trading platforms, which is more difficult for those based in non-EU countries given sometimes quite complex Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. As well as these administrative obstacles, he claims non-EU players have been put at a disadvantage by having to play catch up with the late finalisation of Implementation Acts by the EU to avoid being wrongfooted when having to collect and later surrender EUAs. Among these measures, the shipowner has been assigned responsibility for reporting emissions and surrendering EUAs, though it can be transferred to the technical manager if an agreement along these lines is in place. Stepwise approach OceanScore is now assisting both EU and non-EU-based shipping companies in setting up administrative systems to navigate the complexity of the EU ETS, predicated on its web-based ETS Manager that provides an end-to-end solution to support management and trading of EUAs. This efficiently runs the process of allocating, requesting and collecting EUA from charterers based on different charter parties, with full transparency on all related data flows. Furthermore, ETS Manager monitors Union Registry accounts for EUAs and minimises risks with open EUA positions by identifying missing allowances that need to be collected. It is vitally important that non-EU actors engaged in trading vessels to and from the EU also become fully up to speed with the regulation and put systems in place to manage and mitigate their EUA liabilities, Grell says. This requires a stepwise approach by opening Union Registry accounts, amending the Shipman management agreement, incorporating relevant EU ETS clauses like those from Bimco in the charter party and securing access to EUAs. And, not least, finding a trustworthy and reliable partner with the necessary expertise to digitalise the various processes efficiently, as doing this in-house can be risky, laborious and expensive.--TradeArabia News Service U.S. President Joe Biden is considering an executive order that aims to prevent migrants from applying for asylum if they cross illegally into the United States. The executive order, reported by The New York Times, would modify one of the most deeply-rooted guarantees in the United States: that migrants fleeing their countries of origin can find protection when entering U.S. territory. The plan is similar to one devised by Donald Trump during his presidency. The White House plan is in the study phase after Congress presented a law that sought to address the crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that has become a headache for the Democratic administration ahead of the November election. The initiative drafted in January by lawmakers from both parties offered the toughest and fairest reforms to control the flow of irregular migrants from Mexico. The border security bill collapsed when Donald Trump ordered senators of his party to block it. The rejection of the border security bill, on which aid to Ukraine and Israel also depended, prompted the executive to consider other options. The answer, according to The New York Times, may be an executive order that would not need to go through Congress. The border is one of the weakest fronts for Biden. According to a poll this week by The Economist and YouGov, 60% of Americans disapprove of his border management. No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected, said Angelo Fernandez, a White House spokesman quoted by AP. Fernandez criticized the presidents political rivals without confirming the viability of the plan. Congressional Republicans chose to put partisan politics ahead of our national security, rejected what border agents have said they need, and then gave themselves a two-week vacation, he added. The ill-fated law drafted by Democratic and Republican senators proposed closing the southern border to migrants if the number of illegal border crossings reached above 5,000 daily for a five-day average or up to 8,500 in a single day. Last December broke all illegal crossing records. During that month, immigration authorities detained 302,000 people on the U.S.-Mexico border, an average of 9,740 migrants per day. In January, however, this number fell by half. The executive order being studied by Biden and his government would have a similar effect, modifying the requirements stipulated in section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Law. This section gives the executive power to block various groups of migrants from entering the country. The modification of this rule was widely used during the Trump administration. Now, the new executive order would prevent those who arrive by land or air from applying for asylum. This is a very popular recourse among immigrants because they regain their freedom after a brief period of detention and lead a normal life in the United States until an immigration court hears their case. The Democratic administration intends to order immigration by giving those who migrate the possibility of starting the asylum process in their places of origin through a cell phone application called CBP One. It is not the first time that Biden has considered this measure. Last year, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would adopt the measure in May 2023 on a temporary basis, for a period of two years. However, the White House was met with fierce backlash, with human rights groups threatening to file lawsuits if it was put into practice. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition For nearly two hundred and fifty years, our country and lawmakers have consistently met innovation and societal changes with new policies to meet the challenges of each generation. During my time serving the Commonwealth of Virginia as Attorney General and then as its 68th governor, I learned firsthand the vital role states play in setting the agenda for federal legislation in Washington. That is why I am pleased to see action being taken both by the Virginia General Assembly and Congress to begin the discussion on the impact social media is having on children and families. The right of parents to engage in the upbringing of their children is taking center stage in our political discussions. The demand by parents in Loudoun County, Virginia for more oversight of how their children are being taught was clear and emphatic. Governor Youngkins embrace of parental rights is one main reason he was elected Governor. Likewise, parents are legitimately concerned about the messaging their children are receiving from Big Media online. It is no secret that social media is a constant in the daily lives of Americas youth. A survey from Gallup found that U.S. teens are spending a staggering 4.8 hours per day across social media. This has created a strenuous task for parents across the country who want to ensure they are doing all they can to ensure their children are practicing healthy social media habits. Currently, however, parents arent sufficiently equipped with the necessary tools to stay on top of the ever-evolving realm of new social media and internet platforms. Earlier this week, the Virginia House of Delegates considered Senate Bill 359, titled the Consumer Data Protection Act, a bill which aims to help regulate social media access to children. During a committee hearing, the House chose to delay the bill in order to be studied and updated ahead of next years legislative session. I commend the General Assembly for their thoughtful consideration of such important issues including taking the necessary time to study the bill and ensure its approach is what will best help parents monitor their teens online activity. The efforts of Virginia and countless other states in recent months underscore the need for congressional action to rein in and better regulate social media. That starts with empowering parents and listening to what they have to say. A recent poll found that 81% of U.S. adults are in favor of parental consent for teens to use social media. As Congress looks at a myriad of legislative options, parental consent should be at the forefront of any social media regulation. A common sense approach to do just this would be to increase parental rights by establishing parental consent within app stores before a single social media app is placed on teens devices. Giving parents the final stamp of approval before an app is downloaded would allow for parents to have time to research and approve which apps they allow their teens to use. Today the internet and social media have evolved, and it is clear we must do more to provide greater clarity for Big Tech companies and to provide tools for parents to have greater oversight of their childs online activity. Parental consent would simply let parents parent, allowing each family to monitor their teens online activity, based on their own family values. Social media has changed the world as we know it. Now is the time for policymakers at the state and federal level to implement regulations to address the way in which teens communicate and establish parental consent to instill healthy social media habits. Governors, legislators, and members of Congress alike have a unique opportunity to advance common sense federal and state legislation to properly protect our children and families. As Republican and Democrat governors alike from across the country convene in Washington for the National Governors Association this week, providing parents much-needed tools to support healthy social media usage will do wonders for the next generation of leaders. James S. Gilmore III was the 68th Governor of Virginia and former Attorney General of Virginia Amidst the recent tragic attack on a U.S. base in eastern Syria by an Iran-backed militia resulting in the loss of six Kurdish members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), it is imperative for the United States to reevaluate its commitment to the Kurdish people, our steadfast allies in the region. The Kurds, a resilient and significant ethnic group without a recognized state of their own, have long been instrumental in the fight against terrorism and the preservation of American interests in a volatile Middle East. It is time for the U.S. to honor its promises, acknowledge the historical injustices faced by the Kurds, and stand firmly in support of their aspirations for autonomy and security. It is an appropriate moment to step back, appreciate Kurdish history, and consider our obligations to the Kurds not only in Syria but in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran as well. The Kurds, predominantly Sunni Muslims, are the most populous ethnic group on earth without a recognized state of their own. A diverse group of some 25 to 30 million people, about half of the Kurds inhabit lands across parts of Southeast Turkey. Most rest live in northeast Syria, northern and western Iran, southwestern Armenia, and northern Iraq. The most prominent feature of the Kurdish landscape is the rugged mountains of the eastern Taurus-Zagros Mountain range. Because of the mountains imposing nature, armies have had trouble conquering the area, which has allowed the Kurdish people to survive in their fastnesses throughout the centuries. Indeed, a famous Kurdish proverb says, "The Kurds have no friends but the mountains." The proverb has proven, sadly, to be true. The Kurds were promised a state in the wake of the First World War that is, after the destruction of the Ottoman Empire in the 1920 Treaty of Sevres. Nevertheless, the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne reneged on this promise. In 1991, after a Kurdish revolt against Saddam Hussein, the Western powers established a no-fly zone to protect the Kurds. Under this umbrella, the Kurds were able to form their de-facto autonomous region in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region (KRI). Baghdad has worked to claw back much of this autonomy in recent years. The Kurds, a beleaguered non-Arab minority, have been a true friend to the United States. The U.S. received support from the Iraqi Kurds during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Kurds did the brunt of the fighting against ISIS in both Syria and Iraq and are primarily responsible for the defeat of the "caliphate." After ISIS's defeat, the Kurds established their government in northern Syria: the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), popularly known as Rojava. However, while the Kurds have some autonomy in Syria and Iraq, nowhere do they have a state. Instead, they are squeezed from all sides. In Turkey, Kurdish rights have been curtailed. The Turkish army has occupied parts of the KRI. Ever since the U.S. withdrew its troops from strategic points in northern Syria in 2019, Turkey has periodically invaded northern Syria to go after the SDF, which has some ties with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Turkish governments mortal enemy of four decades. Turkish military incursions into Afrin, Syria, are geared toward the ethnic cleansing of Kurds. In Syria, the Kurds were denied citizenship from 1962 to 2011. As part of his policy of Arabization, Hafez al-Assad displaced Kurds along Syrias border with Turkey and settled Arabs in their place. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein launched the genocidal Anfal campaign in the 1980s, in which by the most conservative estimates more than 50,000 Kurdish civilians were killed. The Iraqi army gassed 5,000 Kurdish civilians to death in Halabja in 1988. Iran has targeted oil and gas infrastructure as well as American military installations inside the KRI, where Iran wields a significant amount of soft power. Iran seeks to prevent the emergence of a strong, autonomous, and economically viable KRG [Kurdish Regional Government] that enjoys good relations with the United States, Israel, and other actors. Hence, Iran's targeting of prominent Kurdish businessmen in Erbil, the KRG's capital, including last month and in March 2022. In both cases, Iran absurdly claimed to be targeting the Israeli Mossad. In other words, Kurdish history in the past century has been brutal, to put it gently. The U.S. must recognize and support Kurdish aspirations for autonomy and, indeed, outright statehood. The Kurds have been stalwart allies for decades. They deserve no less. Military assistance and training of Kurdish forces will ensure their ability to maintain stability and counter regional threats, which are legion. The U.S. should facilitate diplomatic discussions between Kurdish leaders and the governments of Turkey and Iraq to address concerns about Kurdish independence. The U.S. should also do everything it can to encourage economic development in Kurdish regions to form the backbone of a sustainable and stable Kurdish state. The U.S. must prove that it is a trustworthy friend to the Kurds. We just abandoned our partners in Afghanistan. We cannot allow this to become a pattern. The Kurds should not have to rely on the mountains alone. Gregg Roman is director of the Middle East Forum and a former official at the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. Jayme Lawson says it was immediately clear when she read the scripts that Genius: MLK/X also would spotlight the contributions of Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King, not only those of their assassinated civil-rights activist husbands Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. ADVERTISEMENT "That was very much a selling point," Lawson, who played Shabazz, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "From the get-go, the show-runners and the producers were very adamant about taking these women from being behind to making them beside and showing them as equal partners with these men. Any time you tell me that, I am down." Wrapping Thursday on the National Geographic channel, with the finale set to stream Friday on Disney+ and Hulu, the fourth installment in the Genius anthology series explores the formative years of King and X, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre. The men met only once, by chance in 1964, and were publicly murdered three years apart, both at age 39. Their wives carried on their battles for equality decades after their deaths. Lawson said she was humbled by the faith that executive producer Gina Prince-Bythewood had in casting her as Shabazz. "I remember one of the early conversations I had with Gina when she was like, 'I know you will put in the work to really tell her story and introduce her to an audience that may know absolutely nothing about her,'" Lawson said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "I'm grateful that I get to continue to portray and explore such great powerful women and really delve into the complexities of them, to not allow them to be reserved to just this one dimension," she said. "These women are reflective of the women that I grew up with." This was the first time Weruche Opia had ever played a real person. "Of course, I pick one of the most iconic women in modern history," Opia said about portraying Coretta Scott King. "It was a first and a huge deal for me," she said. "It was an honor and a privilege to be entrusted to give my idea and my interpretation of her, while still honoring her legacy, and respecting it so much, but still giving it the onus it needs." The British actress said she was unfamiliar with Coretta Scott King before she signed on to play her, so she dove into her autobiography, My Life, My Love, My Legacy, to supplement the scripts. "For me, this was an education, as well," Opia said. "I didn't know that much about Coretta before, which is criminal." Coretta's Scott King's Christian faith was a touchstone for Opia as she looked for ways into the woman's head and heart. "She speaks about how, as a young girl, she used to daydream a lot and wonder what her future would be like, almost to the effect of, 'How do you be great?'" Opia said. "That's something that stayed with her throughout her life and she always went back to it and with her faith as her grounding, she always checked in on herself on where she was and especially when she had to make decisions," she said. "That fed her and was her charging force. It served her throughout her life." Lawson said that, as a consultant on the series, Atallah Shabazz, the eldest child of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, was a tremendous source of information and perspective. "She was brought on really early, even before the writers' room even started to really help them guide this story," Lawson said. The actresses believe Shabazz and Coretta Scott King's legacies are the same as the men's because they fought just as hard to improve the lives of Black Americans. "The only difference is they carried on the work themselves after the men were taken from them," Opia said. "The race continues. We're still benefiting now, not only from what Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. achieved, but from what Betty and Coretta have inspired and put in place. I don't think you can quite separate their legacies. They complement each other. They expand on each other." Malcom X was shot to death in 1965 and Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Betty Shabazz died from injuries sustained in an apartment fire in 1997 at age 61. Coretta Scott King died in 2006 at age 78 after a stroke and a battle with ovarian cancer. For a few days now, the National Park Service has been offering a rare opportunity: kayaking in Death Valley, considered the driest place in the United States. Lake Manly, located 310 miles (500 km) northeast of Los Angeles on the border between the States of California and Nevada, has resurfaced. The body of water has formed in the Badwater Basin, located 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, the lowest point in North America. The ephemeral lake had not been visible since 2005. You might think with no drain to the sea, that Death Valley would always have a lake. But this is an extremely rare event. Normally the amount of water flowing in is much less than the evaporation rate, the park ranger Abby Wines said in a statement on Friday. The area has experienced some of the highest temperatures on record. In the summer of 1913 the thermometer supposedly logged 134 F (57 C). Last July, the mercury approached 130F (54.4 C). Lake Manly is now about six miles long, three miles wide and one foot deep. Wines estimates that this is enough for kayaking for the next two weeks or maybe a little longer. The water has been carried by the Amargosa River, which flowed to the south of the basin thanks to the constant rains of the last year. The lake began to form in August, when Tropical Storm Hilary brought record rainfall to the area. In just a couple of days, more rain fell than the annual average that Death Valley receives per year. Hilary not only left rainfall not seen in years, it also caused chaos. The large amount of water caused flooding and landslides that led the National Park Service to close the area for about two months. When the visitors returned, Lake Manly had already lost volume. A photograph taken in February in Badwater Basin, in Death Valley. Nasa (K. Skilling/National Park Service) Many of us believed that by October the lake would have disappeared. We are shocked that we are still seeing it six months later, Wines said. According to the NASA observatory, the lake is still there thanks to the chain of atmospheric rivers that entered from the Pacific during February. This set of weather phenomena has caused nine deaths and multimillion-dollar damage. It has also left behind a voluminous amount of water, raising the arid regions rainfall to five inches in the last six months. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Startup founders need to sit up and think about how not to take stardom for granted and how not to disappoint their fans who have stood in long queues for those precious selfies with popular entrepreneurs, notes Nivedita Mookerji. IMAGE: Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, right, at the company's IPO listing ceremony at the Bombay Stock Exchange. Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/Reuters Ever since the regulator issued the latest directive to Paytm Payments Bank on January 31, commentators and self-styled experts have had one thing to declare: This is the end of the road for the company. However, nobody has quite made it clear whether it would be the end of the road for the entire Paytm universe and the brand that has been the face of Indian fintech for years, especially after the government's demonetisation move in November 2016. Surely, Paytm's rivals have acted swiftly to fill the gap that the Vijay Shekhar Sharma-run business may leave after the Reserve Bank of India directive comes into action from March 1, but we are still days away from seeing the full impact of the regulatory action on the ground. If Paytm became the overnight default option for the masses in the cashless times post-demo, its demise could mean some collateral damage too -- both in real terms as well as in branding and messaging for fintech within India and overseas. Meanwhile, if there was any doubt in anybody's mind regarding the firmness of the RBI action against Paytm Payments Bank, Governor Shaktikanta Das spent considerable time during two unrelated events within days to dismiss such thoughts. In a seven-point explanation of the matter at the monetary policy press conference last week, Mr Das elaborated on the concept of supervisory or business restrictions when bilateral engagements with regulated entities for corrective action fail to yield results. Then, on February 12, after a meeting of the central board of directors of the RBI, Mr Das, who had moved from the North Block to Mint Road more than five years ago, again took questions on Paytm. This time, he clearly ruled out any review of the decision on the bank. While pointing out that the proposed FAQs on the issue would deal with consumer-related issues and would not be a rollback of the RBI directive, the governor stated that the central bank is and will continue to be supportive of the fintech sector and promote innovation in the financial system. Mr Das was, after all, one of the key officials in the finance ministry overseeing the implementation of demonetisation while encouraging people to opt for fintech solutions at that point. It's significant that the RBI has clarified its stand, saying there's no room for review, soon after the Paytm founder had met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her office. The word that had come out after Mr Sharma's short meeting with Ms Sitharaman was that the Paytm issues need to be discussed with the RBI, as that's the right platform. If that was the feeler from the finance ministry, it's been all quiet from other quarters in the government lately on the Paytm issue. The backroom talk on the possible replacement of Mr Sharma, either with an insider or an external person, as the chairperson of Paytm Payments Bank has been going on though. When it comes to allegations, violations of KYC (know your customer) norms and the linking of multiple accounts with a single PAN have been spoken about by sources in the know. Money laundering has also been one of the allegations but not many details have come out on this very serious breach. Complicating the matter are disparate voices on investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into the Paytm issue. While the ED seems to have suggested that it's waiting for information from the RBI, revenue department officials have indicated that the ED would take action according to provisions of the law if there are inputs on money laundering. Parallelly, the China story adds another layer to the Paytm saga -- the government, it seems, is examining foreign direct investment (FDI) from China in Paytm Payments Services Ltd (PPSL), which is a payment aggregator subsidiary of One97 Communications. One97, which earlier had Chinese major Alibaba as a key investor, now has investments from the Ant Group -- an affiliate company of Alibaba. PPSL's application to operate as a payment aggregator under the guidelines on the Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways is pending with the central bank, following a rejection in 2022. The Chinese links of the Paytm group should not come as a surprise. The rise of Paytm as a 'desi' brand has been largely powered by Alibaba until the recent dilution of the stake by the Chinese conglomerate. Mr Sharma has been more than vocal about his close ties with Jack Ma over the years. Even so, Paytm has been celebrated as an India-made brand by traders and merchants, as opposed to the likes of Amazon and Walmart, which, by the way, owns another 'desi' brand, Flipkart. At this point, when most conversations on fintech lead to the end of the road for Paytm Payments Bank and maybe for the brand Paytm too, startup founders need to sit up and think about how not to take stardom for granted and how not to disappoint their fans who have stood in long queues for those precious selfies with popular entrepreneurs. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com The Enforcement Directorate has upgraded its Look out Circular (LC) issued against Byju's founder and CEO Byju Raveendran in connection with a FEMA probe, seeking to stop him for going abroad. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Byju's The earlier such alert meant that immigration authorities had to just intimate the agency about his movements through various ports. Official sources said that the over an year old LC was revised sometime back in light of investors' concerns and ongoing adjudication of a FEMA contravention case against Raveendran and some others. Byju's did not comment on the development. Raveendran is currently stated to be in Dubai. The ED has asked the Bureau of Immigration to upgrade the LC against Raveendran so that he is not allowed to go abroad from any Indian land, air or land port before the investigating officer (IO) of the case is informed. Under the new LC, it will be the decision of the IO to either totally stop his foreign travel or allow him to do so after asking some questions and getting assurances, the sources said. The LC in operation till now against Raveendran only stipulated the immigration authorities to inform the ED about his entry and exit from the country. The agency, in November last year, had slapped a foreign exchange violation show cause notice of more than Rs 9,300 crore against Byju's and Raveendran. The central probe agency spelled out multiple grounds for charging the ed-tech company and its chief promoter that included charges of "failing" to submit documents of imports against advance remittances made outside India; failing to realise proceeds of exports made outside India by delayed filing of documents against the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received into the company, among others. The Karnataka high court on Wednesday had refused to stay an emergency shareholder meeting called by select investors of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd -- the owner of Byju's -- to oust Raveendran and his family from the leadership in the edtech firm. The court gave an interim relief that any resolution passed at the EGM scheduled on Friday cannot be implemented before the next court hearing. Select shareholders of Byju's have issued an EGM notice to be held on February 23, demanding a change in leadership of the edtech firm while alleging several anomalies in their functioning. Meanwhile, Raveendran issued a letter to shareholders on Wednesday appealing all investors to participate in the $200 million rights issue floated by the company. He later shared that the rights issue has been fully subscribed. A bulk of the Paris-headquartered IT major Capgeminis proposed euro 2 billion investment over three years in artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to India, a top official of the company said here on Wednesday. The three areas where the European tech major is investing are talent acquisitions, talent reskilling and for partnerships and creating a centre of excellence (CoE). We have announced we will be training 100,000 people by the first half of 2024. "A larger part of the investment will be on people. "Today we have 30,000 people who are in our AI and analytics teams. "We believe this practice will double in three years, said Ashwin Yardi, CEO, Capgemini India. When asked how much of this will be invested in India, Yardi added that over 50 per cent of Capgeminis capabilities are in India. Anything we do at a group level usually is disproportionately done out of India. "Even for our KPIsits driven from India, he told Business Standard on the sideline of Nasscom Technology Leadership Forum. The other big focus of the investment for the firm is partnership and setting up CoEs. India has always been the centre point for the firm when it comes to CoEs. At present the firm has over 100 CoEs in India. The CoE framework is to ideate, incubate and scale. Some scale up and become full-scale CoEs. "We do have GenAI CoE out of India as well. "We also announced the development of our GenAI platform called rAise and it is being built and developed by the team in India, added Yardi. More than 50 per cent of Capgeminis AI talent is in India. The setting up of CoEs is a global strategy and the firm has identified 10 priority industries and each of these CoEs is in India. Some of these CoEs are global but then there are many other CoEs, which are both horizontal and vertical. These are technology, client-specific CoEs, domain CoEsat present we have over 100 CoEs in India. "Some of these are different in size depending on their impact on the revenue, added Yardi. For FY24, the company has guided for revenue growth guidance of zero to 3 per cent, slower than the 4.4 per cent growth in 2023. While these numbers continue to show the impact of global uncertainty, the top management of the company has shown good traction in tapping into generative AI (GenAI)-led deals. We are working on 300 projects on the GenAI front. "These are actual projects that have moved out of the labs or PoC level and are actually scaling. "We have also said that our active deal pipeline on GenAI is at 800, said Yardi. Like its other competitors in the sector, Capgemini has also seen its headcount fall. The onshore workforce decreased slightly to 145,800 employees, down by 2 per cent year on year, while the offshore workforce slumped by 7 per cent to 194,600 employees, which is 57 per cent of the total headcount. The India headcount stands at 175,000. Yardi explains that one of the reasons for the fall was the over-hiring that happened in the preceding years. Last year we over-hired and hence we focused on optimising our headcount. "This year, we are at an optimal level and if we have to grow at the guidance level, we should hire, said Yardi. Although the company has started visiting campuses, the company is yet to decide the actual number of people to be hired this year. Last year, Capgemini hired 30,000 both from campuses and lateral. About the demand environment, Yardi said: It is not that people are not spending. "Last year there were a lot of unplanned ramp downs. "Since January, we have not seen any sudden unplanned impact. When a strong executive decides it wants something, even something that is dangerous and unconstitutional, there is little resistance from within to stop it, notes Aakar Patel. India's electoral bonds scheme has been declared illegal, a rare win in court for those resisting authoritarianism. But many elections including the last general one have been fought on these unlawful funds. It would have been appropriate to have heard and adjudicated on the issue earlier but the court chose not to do so. Former chief justice Ranjan Gogoi, rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat, when asked why he had delayed adjudicating on the issue said he did not remember the issue coming up before his court. Many will not know how diabolical the electoral bonds enterprise was and it is for their benefit that this is being written. The scheme was announced by the Modi government through the Budget in 2017. The bonds would be a way for political parties to receive money through anonymous donors. The donor would have to reveal their identity to the bank while making the bond purchase, but the identity would not be revealed on the bond itself. Political parties could accept the money without being required to reveal who gave it. Voters would therefore not know who was funding and influencing political parties. The change would allow foreign companies and even shell companies to donate to India's parties without having to inform anyone of the contribution or having their names revealed. It also undid that part of the Companies Act under which corporates had to disclose details of their political donations in their annual statement of accounts. Now they were no longer required to do so. The corporates had previously also been limited to donating a maximum of 7.5 per cent of their average three-year net profit to political parties. No longer, because they could now just go through the electoral bond route as that cap had been lifted legally. The process to fund a party anonymously was made easy. Bonds would be available in multiples of up to Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) at State Bank of India branches in 29 cities. A donor could purchase them through their bank account and hand them over to the party or individual of their choice, who could then encash them. They would be valid for 15 days. Four days before the Budget of 2017, a bureaucrat spotted it in then finance minister Arun Jaitley's speech, and noted that the assent of the RBI was required for such a large shift. This was because the introduction of bonds required changes to the RBI Act, something that apparently the government did not know. The officer drafted a proposed amendment to align the Act with the change and sent the file up the ranks for the finance minister to see. The same day, 28 January 2017, a Saturday, the RBI was sent a five-line e-mail seeking its comments. The reply came the next working day, Monday, 30 January. The RBI said it was a bad idea because it went against the RBI's authority as the sole issuer of bearer instruments, meaning cash. These bonds, because they were anonymous, could become currency and undermine the faith in India's cash. On this point, the RBI was unambiguous: Amending the law to facilitate this 'would seriously undermine a core principle of central banking legislation and doing so would set a bad precedent'. The second objection the RBI had was that 'even the intended purpose of the transparency might not be achievable as the original buyer of the instrument (the bond) need not be the actual contributor to the party'. If person A purchased the bond and then sold it, at face value or more, to any entity, including a foreign government, that entity could gift it to a party. The nameless bond was as good as cash. 'The bonds are bearer bonds and transferable by delivery,' the RBI said, 'hence, who finally and actually contributes the bond to the political party will not be known.' This would affect the money laundering law as well, the RBI said. The last point it made was that what was being proposed through the electoral bond scheme -- the transfer of money from bank accounts of entities to political parties -- could be done through a cheque, bank transfer or demand draft. 'There is no special need for, or advantage by, the creation of an Electoral Bearer Bond, that too by disturbing an established international practice.' The next body to say that the electoral bonds scheme was dangerous was the Election Commission of India. In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, it said that to exclude the reporting of donations received by political parties through electoral bonds would have 'serious repercussions on the transparency aspect of political funding of political parties'. The Election Commission remained opposed to the law even after it was enacted and continued to resist though the Supreme Court gave the government a pass. The two most important institutions related to the bonds tried to do their work and resisted the scheme. They were unable to. Though the RBI had responded immediately one reason the government gave to dismiss its concern was that 'this advice has come quite late at a time when the Finance Bill is already printed.' The electoral bonds episode reveals the limits of institutional checks in our democracy. When a strong executive decides it wants something, even something that is dangerous and unconstitutional, there is little resistance from within to stop it. The Supreme Court has now held the scheme unconstitutional, something that was obvious to anyone familiar with the most basic details of what the bonds were for. But this should also alert us to how weak our institutions are and how, when they mean well for the country, they can just be ignored. Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'He was the best court craftsman that I have ever seen who could modulate his arguments in accordance with the judge and the mood.' IMAGE: Appointed Additional Solicitor General of India in May 1972, Fali Nariman resigned from the post a day after then prime minister Indira Gandhi's government imposed the state of Emergency on June 26, 1975. Photograph: ANI Photo Supreme Court Advocate Prashant Bhushan who worked with eminent jurist and Constitutional expert Fali S Nariman as members of the Centre for Public Interest Litigation remembers the man and his moments. "He was a great votary of our Constitution, its Preamble and civil liberties in particular," Prashant Bhushan tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com. Mr Nariman, 95, passed away in his sleep at his Delhi residence on February 21. Your memories of the man -- not only as an eminent jurist, but also as a human being A lot has been written about his juristic ability and his court craft and so on. I mean, Mr Nariman was a fantastic court craftsman. Court craftsman is a person, a lawyer who has the ability to pitch his arguments according to the judge who is hearing them and according to the mood of the present time. That's court craft. He was the best court craftsman that I have ever seen who could modulate his arguments in accordance with the judge and the mood. That was his one very unique ability. Personally, he was always very fond of my father (Shanti Bhushan, lawyer and India's law minister during the Janata Party government), me and my youngest son, who is also a lawyer. He would, on many occasions, write to us. He would constantly invite us for his lunches and dinners. He was always a very jovial person, always laughing. He was a great votary of our Constitution, its Preamble and civil liberties in particular. Even in this letter that he has written to me (congratulating Prashant Bhushan for the Supreme Court order declaring electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional) before he passed away, he has expressed the hope that the Supreme Court will revise its views on and strike down these draconian laws with a provision for virtually no bail under UAPA and PMLA. In normal times, in normal jurisprudence bail is the rule, jail is the exception. Today, this has been reversed. He had expressed that hope because he also felt like that these provisions for bail violated Article 21 and the rights of citizens to life and liberty. Many of our human rights activists in Koregaon Bhima or in the Delhi riots cases have either died in jail (Father Stan Swamy) or are still in jail like Umar Khalid under UAPA. These are just a few observations he would often make. Landmark judgments that define his career One was this judicial challenge to the NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission) and collegium case. Another case in which he appeared for us was, and that's also a landmark case, in my view, is the privatisation of BPCL and HPCL. They (the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government) tried to privatise both HPCL and BPCL, but that was struck down by the Supreme Court (in September 2003). He had appeared for the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) in that case. He was a senior member of the CPIL from the beginning. In another case I had handed over the original register of the CBI director's residence, which some unknown whistleblower had delivered to us. The original register showed that many of the visitors were people against whom CBI investigations were going on. People from various corporate groups had visited (the then director of CBI Ranjit Sinha's home). But at that time, the then judge who was handling the case, H L Dattu, had asked me (in September 2014) to reveal the name of the person who had given me the register. To discuss this issue we had held a meeting of the CPIL which was attended by Mr Nariman as well. Justice (Rajinder) Sachar and many others were there. We all took a collective decision and passed a resolution that since it is been given by a whistleblower, we won't reveal the name. Of course, the fact was that even I didn't know who these people were (who delivered the register to me). But as a matter of principle, we adopted the stand and he participated in it. Your impressions about the man as a Constitutional lawyer, as a jurist... More than a jurist, I feel that he was a very good advocate. An advocate is a person who can lead his cause very effectively. Because of his sharp intellect, his wit and his court craftsmanship, he was able to lead his causes very effectively. He was an advocate par excellence. I wouldn't quite say that he was the greatest jurist or anything. There were, in my view, other jurists who were greater than him. But he was an advocate par excellence. As told to Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com 'Till today, we don't know how many people died of Covid in India.' 'How many migrated from cities to villages during the Covid pandemic?' 'How many corporates contributed to PM Cares?' IMAGE: Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (centre) with the TMC's newly-elected Rajya Sabha members (from left), Mohammed Nadimul Haque, Maya Thakur, Sagarika Ghose and Sushmita Dev. Photograph: Sagarika Ghose/X The All India Trinamool Congress threw a surprise last week when it nominated journalist and author Sagarika Ghose to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal. She was elected unopposed this week with other TMC leaders Sushmita Dev, Mamata Thakur and Mohammed Nadimul Haque. Sagarika was a well known television anchor before she moved on to author books like Why I am a Liberal: A Manifesto for Indians Who Believe in Individual Freedom; INDIRA: India's Most Powerful Minister; Atal Bihari Vajpayee, among others. On X, criticism followed her nomination as Sagarika had earlier tweeted that she would never join politics. After being trolled for that tweet, Sagarika tweeted in her defence: 'My tweet from 6 years ago (2018) is being widely circulated. At the time I was a working journalist and yes it would have been inappropriate for me a that that time to switch overnight to party politics. However in 2020 I ceased to be a full time journalist and for the last 3 years have been a freelance columnist for different newspapers.' 'I have therefore had a 3 year cooling off period from full time journalism before taking the plunge into public life.' 'Today when an increasingly authoritarian Modi government recognises no institutional restraints and has almost entire captured the media, my commitment to constitutional democracy has led me to join the courageous fight of @AITCofficial to keep alive democratic spaces and democratic contestation.' "An atmosphere of celebratory triumphalism drummed up entirely by the media is very difficult to combat as the Opposition has been literally drowned out by the media... There is only praise, praise and praise of the Modi government. Almost no mainstream journalist dares question the Modi government on anything. How can a democracy function like this?" Sagarika Ghose asks Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com in the first of a multi-part interview. I asked the celebrated editor Pritish Nandy once how he became a Rajya Sabha member to which he replied, Bal Thackeray called him on the phone and asked whether he would want to go to the Rajya Sabha on a Shiv Sena ticket. He said Yes, and that's it. Was it the same for you? Did Mamata Banerjee call you to become a Rajya Sabha member? Yes, Mamata Banerjee did offer me the Rajya Sabha berth. I was extremely honoured and delighted. A similar offer had been made to me by the party a while ago, but I did not take it up then because I was still in full time journalism. At this time when the offer was made, I thought that since I was out of full time journalism and not a part of the newsroom for the last three years, it was an honour that India's only woman chief minister was offering me a Rajya Sabha seat along with two other exceptional women. As a woman and a proud Bengali I saw this as an honour and recognition from my home state and said yes almost immediately. What appealed to you about the Trinamool Congress? Mamata Banerjee's life story is truly remarkable. A woman leader from a humble background with virtually no support, she battled the Left Front government in Bengal for decades. The Left Front was a mighty force in West Bengal, they ruled the state for 34 years. The Left was a huge, well-organised machine. Mamata Banerjee fought this machine alone. She is perhaps the only woman politician in India who has not had a male mentor. She's come up a very hard way. Today we get upset about trolling and abuse on the Internet and Twitter, but Mamata Banerjee was literally beaten on the streets (by Left Front workers). Her head was split open. She was badly injured, abused, but she continued fighting. She has raw courage and unflagging fearlessness, which I find inspiring. When the Ram Mandir consecration was happening in Ayodhya on January 22, she took out a rally with leaders of all faiths in Kolkata. Her commitment to secularism and undaunted courage are rare these days. You raised many interesting questions in your article in The Print on the Modi government not giving a true picture of India by hiding data like that on PM Cares. Why has the Opposition not highlighted these issues and built a narrative among the public? The Opposition parties are trying, but there are many constraints. The Opposition is crowded out of the media. There are ED, CBI and income tax investigations against Opposition parties. They are suspended in bulk from Parliament when Parliament is supposed to be the home of the Opposition (to raise their voice against the government). The Opposition is being hounded from all sides. They are under relentless pressure. Opposition members of Parliament are getting disqualified. Opposition leaders are being arrested and jailed. Or Opposition governments are being destabilised by 'Operation Lotus'. Look at the manner in which the BJP tried to steal the vote in the Chandigarh mayoral poll. The BJP is trying hard to annihilate the Opposition. Why can't the Modi government answer questions? Till today, we don't know how many people died of Covid in India. How many migrated from cities to villages during the Covid pandemic? We don't know the answer. How many corporates contributed to PM Cares? We don't know the answer. Who is going to ask these questions? Almost all of the media is captured by the Modi regime. The media apparatus is entirely at the disposal of the Modi regime. The media is completely complicit. As Albert Einstein said, 'The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate and encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.' An Opposition-mukt Bharat spells doom for Indian democracy. Is the Indian media, or rather godi media as they say, in play to create this bubble of manufactured achche din? One flyover is made and the media will go on and on (praising Modi). For example, the Atal Setu in Mumbai or for that matter look at the way the Ram Mandir consecration event was covered. There was no questioning, no element of scepticism. The demolition of the Babri Masjid was called an illegal act and a violation of the law by the Supreme Court of India and there was no attempt to bring that out (by the media). An atmosphere of celebratory triumphalism is drummed up by the media 24x7. It is very difficult for the Opposition to combat all this. The Opposition is viciously attacked by the media and there is only praise, praise and praise of the Modi government. Almost no mainstream journalist dares question the Modi government on anything. The free press in India is facing a deep crisis, it is a calamity actually. How can a democracy function like this? You come with a TV background too. Is it true that a certain PMO official calls television channels and media-persons daily on what to cover and what not to cover as news -- an allegation which AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal made in 2022? Yes, they do, but I don't have first-hand information on this because I left television journalism eight years ago. I left the newsroom of The Times of India three years ago. I have heard that there are functionaries from the prime minister's office, I believe, who call up anchors and media houses to tell them what to cover and what not to cover. What to emphasise and what not to emphasise, and they control access. If you don't cover this, we won't give you interviews. If you don't cover that, we won't come for your conclave. A parasitic relationship has developed between the media and ruling party politicians. There is a complete stranglehold. It was never like this even during the previous BJP government of A B Vajpayee. I was a journalist with the Indian Express then and we used to constantly raise questions against the Vajpayee government. There was no atmosphere of fear and threat as there is today. But when Vajpayee was prime minister his government did try to scuttle media outlets like Outlook magazine about which Vinod Mehta wrote in his book Lucknow Boy. His government also raided the offices of Outlook's owner. Yes, raids did happen in Vajpayee's time on the Rahejas. It is not that past governments were all very tolerant. Tehelka magazine was shut down. But it's nothing like what is happening today. One of the leading Hindi newspapers reported dead bodies being burnt near the banks of the Ganga which led to raids on its offices across India. A BBC documentary was not allowed. Journalists have been sacked, journalists funding has been cut off. Journalists have been jailed under terrorism laws. The Web site Newsclick was harassed and the editor is in jail. Indian media is facing a catastrophe under the Modi regime. Imagine, the PM has not taken an open press conference in 10 years. This is unheard of in a democracy. But nobody in the press seems to mind. They are busy chanting Modi Modi. In a sudden turn of political events in Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Congress Chief Y S Sharmila Reddy spent the night in her party office at Vijayawada as in an attempt to avoid house arrest. IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Congress president Y S Sharmila addresses a public meeting, in Bapatla on February 7, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Sharmila's move came a day ahead of 'Chalo Secretariat' protest by Congress cadre under her leadership on Thursday. Demanding that the State government address the problems being faced by unemployed youth and students, Congress cadre has given a call of 'Chalo Secretariat' protest. Speaking to the media at Andhra Ratna Bhavan in Vijayawada, Y S Sharmila said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had utterly failed in addressing important issues of youth, unemployed and students in the last five years. Taking to her account on X she wrote, 'If we call for protest on behalf of the unemployed, will you try to keep us under house arrest? Don't we have the right to protest in a democracy? Is it not shameful that as a woman I have been forced to evade the police and spend the night in the Congress Party office to avoid house arrest?' Further lashing at the state government, she said, 'Are we terrorists...or anti-social forces? They are trying to stop us... It means they (the government) are afraid of us. They are trying to hide their incompetence, the real truth. Even if they try to stop us, stop our workers, our struggle on behalf of the unemployed will not stop.' In a fresh post on Thursday, the newly elected Andhra Congress president said, 'Thousands of policemen were placed around us. Iron fences have been put up and we have been held hostage. If we stand on the side of the unemployed, they are arresting us. You are dictators who are trying to stop us. Your actions are proof of this. YCP Sarkar should apologise to the unemployed.' Congress in charge of Andhra Pradesh, Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore also criticised the state government for what it termed was a dictatorial approach. 'Standing up against Jagan's arrogance and standing for democracy, Joining YS Sharmila and countless others in condemning the unjust behavior of Jagan's police for the suppression of democratic rights against advocates for the unemployed. It's time to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy and respect the right to peaceful protest,' Manickam Tagore posted on X. Meanwhile, massive police presence has been seen at the Andhra Pradesh Congress committee Headquarters in Vijaywada as the Police aim to keep law and order under check after the Congress' call to march to the Secretariat. The Calcutta high court on Thursday orally asked the West Bengal Zoo Authority to consider renaming the lioness and lion called 'Sita' and 'Akbar' in the safari park in Siliguiri, and wondered why create a controversy by giving such names. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo Hearing petitions by the north Bengal unit of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and two other individuals, the high court's Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench asked whether an animal can be named after gods, mythological heroes, freedom fighters or Nobel laureates. It then went on to ask whether a lion could be named after Swami Vivekananda or Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Observing that West Bengal is already burdened with several controversies starting from school jobs appointments to several other issues, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya said, "Therefore, take a prudent decision, avoid this controversy." Maintaining that this would not be reflected in his order, the judge suggested to the state's lawyer that he use his good offices and ask the zoo authorities to give different names to the lion and the lioness. The court said that India is a secular country and every community has the right to pursue or follow their own religion. "Why should you draw controversy by naming a lioness and a lion after Sita and Akbar?" The judge said Sita is worshipped by a large section of citizens, while Akbar "was a very successful and secular Mughal emperor." Justice Bhattacharya said he did not support the names of both animals. A lion named 'Akbar' and a lioness 'Sita' were brought from Tripura's Sepahijala Zoological Park on February 12 to the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri. The VHP had filed a petition before the circuit bench praying that the names be changed as it has hurt the religious sentiments of a section of citizens. The lawyer representing West Bengal claimed that the two animals were named in Tripura and not in Bengal and there are documents to prove it. The court said that if the naming was done there, then the zoo authority in Tripura is required to be made a party in the matter. The judge said in his order that since a social organisation and two individuals came up with petitions claiming that the naming hurts the religious sentiments of a section of citizens of the country, it appears that the "personal right" of the petitioners is not in breach. He said that the petitioners have rather espoused "the cause of a greater section" of people of India who belong to a particular religion. The writ petition in its present form is not maintainable, the court said in its dictated order, holding that it can, however, be reclassified as a public interest litigation. Noting that naming of the two animals has already been done, Justice Bhattacharyya granted leave to the petitioners to reclassify the petition as a PIL. The court directed that if the reclassification is done by Friday, the registry will transmit the same to the regular bench hearing PIL matters for consideration within 10 days. The judge then directed that the matter be released from the list in his court. During the hearing of the matter, the state's lawyer submitted that two animals were brought to West Bengal under an exchange programme, for which permission was granted by the central government. He claimed that the lion and lioness received from Tripura bore the names of 'Akbar' and 'Sita' as per the documents sent by the Sepahijala zoo authority. The state's lawyer said the lion and lioness were born in Tripura in 2018 and 2016 respectively, but there was no protest so far about the names. Only when the animals were brought to Bengal that the petitioners woke up, he contended. The judge then remarked that it is frequently said by leaders that "What Bengal thinks today, the rest of the nation thinks tomorrow". So, the state should show the path by renaming the two animals, he observed. When informed by the petitioner's lawyer that a lioness at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata has the name 'Sruti', the judge said that this kind of name should be given to avoid controversy. An animal should not be named after any deity or figure belonging to any religion, the judge observed orally. West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party president Sukanta Majumdar, who on Thursday staged a sit-in outside Sandeshkhali police station demanding the arrest of absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, was forcibly removed from the spot by law enforcers and packed off on a boat to be transported from the restive area. IMAGE: A child plays the coonch as people of Sandeshkhali welcome Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari (not in image), in North 24 Parganas, February 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Eight days after sustaining injuries during a protest in nearby Taki while trying to enter Sandeshkhali, a riverine area, Majumdar was on Thursday granted permission by the police to visit the trouble-torn region in North 24 Parganas district. After meeting party leaders in the area, Majumdar went straight to Sandeshkhali police station and later started a sit-in outside it. "I will continue my sit-in until Shajahan Sheikh is arrested. It has been so many days, but the police have failed to arrest him," he told reporters while raising slogans against the state government. Majumdar said he wanted to meet local police officials but was denied permission, following which he decided to start an indefinite sit-in. After the police failed to persuade him to withdraw the sit-in, they resorted to the use of force to remove Majumdar from the spot. He was later packed off on a boat along with police personnel and was sent to Dhamakhali ferry ghat. At Dhamakhali, he claimed, "I was arrested and later released on a PR bond. I am now at Dhamakhali ferry ghat but I will not leave the area till all our BJP workers, who have been arrested in Sandeshkhali, are released." Earlier in the day, police allowed Majumdar to visit Sandeshkhali, which has been rocked by protests over alleged sexual assault on women and land-grabbing, on condition that only his security personnel would be with him and no other BJP leader could accompany him. Despite a disagreement over the condition, the BJP state president acquiesced to the police's stipulations. A police officer was heard stating, "You can very well go and visit Sandeshkhali. But only your security personnel would be allowed to accompany you. No other BJP leader would be allowed to accompany you." Majumdar, in his attempt to negotiate for the inclusion of the party's district president due to his unfamiliarity with the terrain, remarked, "This visit was not planned. All of a sudden it was decided. So, if my district president doesn't accompany me, how will I reach the residences of my local leaders?" However, his request was not granted. Subsequently, during his journey to Sandeshkhali, Majumdar expressed his intent to stand in solidarity with the local populace. "I will meet the locals, my party leaders, and then go to the police station and talk to the police personnel," he asserted. Earlier in the week, following intervention by the Calcutta high court, both BJP and the Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders visited strife-torn Sandeshkhali, marking the first visit by opposition parties since the onset of protests. Leaders from both parties described the situation as "horrific" and "emblematic of anarchy. On February 14, Majumdar suffered injuries during a protest related to Sandeshkhali in the nearby Taki area while attempting to enter the region. A large number of women in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of "land-grab and sexually assaulting" them under coercion. Shajahan has been absconding after a mob, allegedly affiliated with him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a ration scam on January 5. A man demonstrates in front of a federal court on the first day of the trial for Juan Orlando Hernandez, on Tuesday in New York. The trial in New York against the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, has begun with explosive allegations from the prosecution. U.S. authorities accused the former president on Wednesday of having used the police, the army and the judicial system to protect drug traffickers and amass a fortune. For years, he worked hand in hand with some of the largest and most violent drug traffickers in Honduras to send ton after ton of cocaine here, to the United States, traffickers who fueled his rise to power with millions of dollars in bribes, prosecutor David Robles said. Behind the scenes, he made sure that drug traffickers who remained loyal to him were protected. The assistant U.S. attorney said that he will present evidence that supports these accusations throughout the trial, while the defense team for Hernandez dismissed the allegations. The trial started on Tuesday with the selection of the jury, who will hear the arguments of both sides and then decide the future of the former Honduran president, who was detained in his home in Tegucigalpa in February 2022, hours after Washington requested his extradition. The United States has accused Hernandez of sending thousands of kilos of cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia while he was president (2014-2022). Hernandez was arrested two weeks after his term ended, and he handed over control of the Central American country to the current president, Xiomara Castro, who has not yet commented on the trial. Castros husband, former president Manuel Zelaya, has, however, spoken out. The politician who was removed from power by a coup detat in 2009 and exiled to Costa Rica defended himself against the accusations made by one of the witnesses presented by the prosecution, who has accused Zelaya of receiving checks from organized crime to finance his political campaign. The same witness also said that former president Porfirio Lobo accepted financing from criminal groups. I have never received, either personally or in my account, money or checks, neither during my campaign 19 years ago in 2005, nor later in the presidency, during exile, or in the resistance, Zelaya said in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter). Lobo has also denied the accusations. The witness presented by the prosecution known in Honduran media as the accountant as their identity is protected was present in meetings that Hernandez allegedly held with drug traffickers during his presidential campaign. According to the witness, the former president protected the drug trafficker Geovanny Fuentes to shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos, said Robles. The U.S. authorities have accused Hernandez of creating a network in Honduras to enable drug trafficking groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel to introduce drugs into the country with the support of police, the military and the judicial system. With the help of powerful organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel, [Hernandez] became a powerful man who abused that power to send drugs to the United States without fear or consequences, said Robles. The trial against Hernandez has raised great expectations in Honduras, a country mired in violence unleashed by gangs and organized crime that has one of the highest poverty rates of the continent. During the first days of the trial, dozens of people protested against the former president near the New York court, demanding he be convicted. In March 2021, a Manhattan federal court sentenced his brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, to life in prison plus 30 years. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In a significant move, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has accorded approval for the procurement of more than 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and associated equipment for the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 19,000 crore, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives The missiles will largely be deployed on various warships to enhance overall combat capabilities of the Navy, they said. It is learnt that the proposal approved by the CCS entails acquisition of a mix of BrahMos missiles having a range of around 290 km and the latest extended range variant of the weapon with a range of around 450 km. BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. The formal contract for acquisition of the missiles is expected to be sealed in the next few months. India is also exporting the BrahMos missiles. In January 2022, India sealed a USD 375 million deal with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of the missile. The supplies of the missiles to the Southeast Asian country are set to begin next month. A few other countries including Argentina have also shown interest in procuring BrahMos missiles from India. The approval to Rs 19,000 crore procurement project comes amid renewed focus on maritime security in the wake of China's growing forays into the Indian Ocean. The IAF has already integrated the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on some Sukhoi fighter jets. India has been focusing on bolstering its overall combat capabilities in the last few years. Last week, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved acquisition projects worth Rs 84,560 crore that included procurement of mid-air refuellers, heavy weight-torpedoes, air defence radars and new generation anti-tank mines. The DAC also accorded initial approval for procurement of medium range maritime reconnaissance and multi-mission aircraft for strengthening the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. The Manipur high court has ordered deletion of a paragraph from a March 2023 order that urged the state to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, saying the paragraph was in conflict with the Supreme Court's constitution bench stance. IMAGE: File image of Army and Assam Rifles personnel rescue civilians from violence-hit areas, in Manipur. Photograph: PTI Photo The March 27, 2023 directive, believed to be a catalyst for ethnic unrest that claimed over 200 lives, was rescinded by a single judge bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu during a review petition hearing on Wednesday. The contentious paragraph from last year's verdict, instructing the state to expedite consideration of Meitei community inclusion, was deemed for deletion. The paragraph of last year's verdict stated the state government "shall consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list, expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks" from the date of receipt of the order. Justice Gaiphulshillu's ruling on February 21 emphasised the necessity of removing the directive, pointing to the government of India's stipulated procedure for Scheduled Tribe list amendments. Justice Gaiphulshillu said, "Accordingly, the direction given at para no. 17(iii) needs to be deleted and is ordered accordingly for deletion of the para no. 17(iii) of the judgment and order dated March 27, 2023...". Referring to the constitutional protocol detailed in the ministry of tribal affairs' 2013-14 report, the court highlighted the need for alignment with the Supreme Court's constitutional interpretation. "...I am satisfied and of the view that the direction given at Para no. 17(iii) of the single judge dated March 27, 2023...which is impugned herein needs to be reviewed, as the direction given at para no. 17(iii) of the single judge is against the observation made in the constitution bench of the Supreme Court," the high court said in its 19-page verdict. The high court's detailed 19-page verdict underlined the legislative limitations on judicial interference concerning Scheduled Tribe classifications, as outlined by a constitution bench ruling in November 2000. "Courts cannot and should not expand jurisdiction to deal with the question as to whether a particular caste, sub-caste; a group or part of tribe or sub-tribe is included in any one of the Entries mentioned in the Presidential Orders issued under Article 341 and 342 particularly so when in Clause (2) of the said Article, it is expressly stated that said orders cannot be amended or varied except by law made by Parliament" the verdict of Supreme Court's Constitution bench in November 2000 said. The constitution bench had elucidated that courts should not overstep their jurisdiction in determining such categorisations. Following the eruption of violence post the March 27 order, a series of petitions, including challenges to the high court directive, were presented to the Supreme Court. The apex court, on May 17 of the same year, denounced the high court's directive as "obnoxious" and considered staying the order due to its perceived inaccuracies. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had said, "I will tell you (lawyers) one thing that the high court order was incorrect... I think we have to stay the order of the high court. The high court order is absolutely wrong." The apex court bench had made clear it will not deal with legal issues arising out of the Manipur high court's decision on grant of reservation to majority Meiteis as the pleas challenging the order were pending with the larger division bench there. Amid the legal discourse, the Supreme Court refrained from addressing the core legal aspects arising from the Manipur High Court's decision, as the challenges were pending before a larger division bench. The court invited tribal participation, particularly from Kukis, in the ongoing legal proceedings related to the intra-court appeals. The violent unrest in Manipur, triggered by dissent over Meitei community's Scheduled Tribe status aspiration, underscores the complex demographic fabric of the region. Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts. Farmers leaders on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri, one of the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border. Scenes from the Farmers-Police standoff: IMAGE: Police personnel watch behind a barricade as a farmer sits in the middle of the road as farmers march towards New Delhi at the Shambhu barrier, a border crossing between Punjab and Haryana, February 21, 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters IMAGE: Farmers gesture towards police personnel at the Shambu barrier. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: A farmer runs for cover as tear gas is fired by the police. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: Farmers take cover behind sand bags as the police fires tear gas. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: A protestor fires firecrackers at the police. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: Farmers run to take cover from the tear gas as fired by the police. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters IMAGE: A traditional face pack is applied on a farmer's face, to protect him from tear gas. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: An injured farmer is taken to safety. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters IMAGE: A farmer launches firecrackers at the police. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters IMAGE:A paramedic puts drops in eyes of a farmer after tear gas is fired at the protesting farmers by the police. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters IMAGE: Farmers and the police engage in eyeball confrontation. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters IMAGE: Farmers hide behind barricades as the police fires tear gas. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com The Calcutta high court on Thursday granted bail to a television journalist, who was arrested on duty at the restive Sandeshkhali, observing that the press must be allowed to function freely and independently, without any fear of reprisal or intimidation. IMAGE: Women gather to meet NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma, at Sandeshkhali Police station in North 24 Parganas on February 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Santu Pan, who works for Republic Bangla news channel, was arrested on February 19 on the basis of a complaint by a woman alleging that he had trespassed into her house in Sandeshkhali. Justice Kausik Chanda also stayed all proceedings in connection with the case against him at Sandeshkhali police station in North 24 Parganas district till disposal of his petition seeking quashing of the FIR. The court noted that Sandeshkhali garnered public attention across the country over the assault of Enforcement Directorate officials allegedly by aides of Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5. Sandeshkhali has witnessed prolonged protests by local women alleging sexual atrocities at gunpoint by certain local political leaders and land grabbing of tribal people there, the Judge noted. Justice Chanda observed that in the current situation in Sandeshkhali, the freedom of the press is crucial as it serves as the fourth pillar, alongside the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. "This pillar must be allowed to function freely and independently, without any fear of reprisal or intimidation. It is through a free press that the public is informed and empowered, and that the government is held accountable," the court said. Justice Chanda directed that Pan be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs 500 with one surety of like amount. He directed the state to file an affidavit-in-opposition to the journalist's prayer for quashing of the FIR against him within four weeks and a reply thereto, if any, may be filed by Pan within two weeks thereafter. The court directed that the matter be listed for hearing after six weeks. The court noted that following the complaint against Pan, the Sandeshkhali police station registered an FIR under various IPC sections, including 447 (criminal trespass), 354 (using criminal force with intention to outrage the modesty of a woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Earlier, a Basirhat court turned down his bail prayer and granted police custody of Pan till February 23 on a prayer by the investigating officer, the Judge noted. Pan moved the high court seeking that the proceedings against him in the case be quashed and also prayed for his release on bail. Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani argued that the criminal proceeding against the journalist is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive. Opposing the prayers, state's Advocate General Kishore Dutta argued that a plain reading of the FIR discloses cognisable offence. The Editors Guild of India had on Tuesday termed as "worrisome" the arrest of the on-duty television journalist. The Karnataka government has written to the External Affairs Ministry for the rescue of three young men from the state, amid reports that they were being forced to fight in Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday. IMAGE: Evacuees fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict walk along a road in the town of Irpin in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, March 5, 2022. Photograph: Mikhail Palinchak/Reuters He urged the Central government to take this matter seriously and come to their rescue immediately. In what is said to be a "job fraud", according to reports, three from Kalaburagi district and one from neighbouring Telangana are stranded on the Russia-Ukraine border, after they were allegedly sent to Russia by their recruiters with a promise that they will be working as army security helpers, but were being forced to fight in Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine against their will. "After it came to our notice that they have been recruited into the Wagner Group (a private military allegedly funded by the Russian government) for war with Ukraine, our Deputy Commissioner (Kalaburagi) as per protocol has written a letter to the Central government's External Affairs Ministry representative here in Bengaluru," Kharge, who is Kalaburagi district in-charge Minister said. Speaking to reporters here, he said that he has also spoken to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge last night and requested him to bring it to the notice of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and he has assured that he will speak to the Minister and will also write a letter to him. "There is information that it (such job fraud) has happened in several places -- Telangana, Karnataka, also several places in north India. Whatever it is, taking someone to war by cheating or through fraudulent means (is wrong). The Central government has to take this seriously and should come to their rescue immediately," he added. Mallikarjun Kharge had been an MP from Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) in the past. A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced a man to 20 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for raping a minor girl in 2021, relying on the deposition of the six-year-old victim and other prosecution witnesses. Image only for representation. Photograph: Ashok Nath Dey/ANI Photo Special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court judge D S Deshmukh, in the order passed on Wednesday, also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the 47-year-old accused, Pandurang Shelar, hailing from a village in Diva area of Thane. The judge directed that the fine amount be paid to the victim towards compensation and also referred the case to the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) for payment of additional compensation as per provisions of the law. Police havildar Vidyasagar Koli, who assisted the prosecution in the court, said six prosecution witnesses were examined in the case. The deposition of the victim, now aged 6, nailed the accused and helped prove the case beyond all reasonable doubts, resulting in the conviction of the accused, he said. Special Public Prosecutor Sandhya H Mhatre told the court that the victim and the accused were neighbours. On January 8, 2021, the accused lured the victim, who was playing outside her home, to come to his house and later raped her. He also threatened her with dire consequences if she informed about the offence to anyone, the prosecution said. In his order, the judge noted that the prosecution has successfully proved all the charges against the accused for which he needs to be convicted and sentenced. The accused was found guilty on various charges under the Indian Penal Code, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the POCSO Act. The Indian Army and the CRPF rush to the rescue.... East Sikkim IMAGE: The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps personnel rescue tourists stranded at Nathu La after sudden snowfall in East Sikkim. All photographs: ANI Photo IMAGE: 500 stranded tourists were rescued by the troops, here and below. IMAGE: Trishakti Corps personnel provide medical assistance to the tourists. IMAGE: A Trishakti Corps soldier speak to the rescued tourists. Anantnag IMAGE: In Anantnag, Kashmir, CRPF personnel arrive to help. IMAGE: A person binds a rope to a tyre for the vehicle to get better grip on the snow covered road. IMAGE: CRPF personnel push vehicles, here and below. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Social media platform X on Thursday expressed disagreement with the Indian government's order to block accounts and posts related to the ongoing farmers' protests and called for extending freedom of expression to the affected posts. IMAGE: Agitating farmers move away after Haryana police fire tear gas shells to disperse them as they resume their Delhi Challo March, at the Shambhu border (Punjab-Haryana) in Patiala on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The Ministry of Electronics and IT has ordered social media platforms to temporarily block 177 accounts that were linked to farmers' protests on request of the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to sources. 'The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts,' X said in a post. The social media platform said that a writ appeal challenging the Indian government's blocking orders remains pending and called for making the order public to enhance transparency. 'Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders, but we believe that making them public is essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making,' X said. The social media firm has provided the impacted users with notice of the government actions in accordance with the company's policies. Farmers from across the country have been protesting to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver. Meanwhile, farmer leaders on Wednesday put their march to the national capital on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at one of protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border. KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 07:47 | World, All, Japan Japan and South Korea agreed Wednesday to keep working together to address issues related to North Korea, but remained apart over the thorny bilateral issue of wartime labor during their foreign ministerial meeting in Brazil, according to the Japanese government. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her counterpart Cho Tae Yul met in person for the first time since Cho took office last month on the sidelines of a foreign ministerial meeting of the Group of 20 major economies in Rio de Janeiro. Kamikawa and Cho met after having reaffirmed during phone talks last month that the two countries shared serious concerns about a series of "provocative acts" by North Korea, such as its test launches of ballistic missiles in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The foreign ministers agreed Wednesday to cooperate closely to address the issue of human rights violations by Pyongyang, including its abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. Tokyo-Seoul relations, which had deteriorated in the late 2010s and early 2020s to the worst level in decades, have seen notable signs of improvement since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Yoon have held many one-on-one meetings in recent years, and Kishida is considering visiting Seoul next month for another round of talks with his South Korean counterpart. The foreign ministers also agreed during their talks Wednesday that the two countries will communicate closely to celebrate next year the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties in 1965, according to the Japanese ministry. Meanwhile, Kamikawa voiced her regret that South Korea authorized the transfer of a deposit of money by a Japanese corporate defendant, Hitachi Zosen Corp., to a South Korean plaintiff as compensation over the issue of labor during Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Kamikawa told Cho that the payment, based on the South Korean Supreme Court's decision in December, caused an "unreasonable disadvantage" to the Japanese shipbuilder, according to the ministry. Earlier Wednesday in Tokyo, Masataka Okano, the ministry's top bureaucrat, summoned South Korean Ambassador Yun Duk Min to protest the move, saying the court order was "in violation" of a 1965 bilateral agreement. Tokyo has said all issues stemming from its colonization of the Korean Peninsula were settled "completely and finally" under the agreement. In line with the Japanese government's stance, Hitachi Zosen had refused to comply with the ruling that ordered it to pay the plaintiff 50 million won ($38,000) in damages. The firm deposited 60 million won at the Seoul Central District Court in 2019 to prevent its assets in South Korea from being seized and liquidated to compensate the plaintiff. In late January, the court granted the plaintiff's request to seize the funds. The deposit payment is the first case in which funds from a Japanese company have been transferred to a plaintiff following a trial related to wartime forced labor, the lawyer for the plaintiff in the Hitachi Zosen case said. Related coverage: North Korean missile found in Ukraine used European, U.S.-made parts South Korean plaintiff receives Japanese firm's money deposited at court Japan's $290 billion defense spending plan still insufficient: experts BRATTLEBORO As the fire department prepares to become fully responsible for emergency medical services starting in July, a billing and collection policy has been adopted. In a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Select Board decided to bill patients $1,400 for ambulance transport, $110 for non-transport treatment, $150 for paramedic services and $20 per mile. The billing agency will have authority to write off any bills with a balance of $20 or less. All board members agreed to give patients 270 days to pay a bill, with notices going out every month offering a 0 percent interest payment plan option. Non-payment for patients who are neither a resident nor a taxpayer will result in bills going to collection after 90 days. The plan is to revisit the policy's effectiveness by July 2025, just before it has been in place for one year. Fire Chief Len Howard reported that from July 2022 to January 2024, about 87 percent of what patients have been billed was paid to Golden Cross Ambulance. The data helps inform how the fire department might fare with future revenue as it takes on transport responsibilities alone for the first time. Brattleboro firefighters have worked alongside Golden Cross personnel since contract disputes led the town to end its 56-year relationship with Rescue Inc. That led to an exploration of different ways to proceed with EMS and ultimately to the board's decision to adopt a fire/EMS model. Brattleboro board picks municipal EMS model BRATTLEBORO After spending six months exploring EMS options, the Select Board landed on th On Tuesday, Brattleboro EMS Supervisor Billy Fritz presented three different options for rates. A study of EMS options conducted by AP Triton for the town recommended a flat billing rate of $1,400, which town staff also suggested. About $950,000 is anticipated to come in each year with that fee structure. Fritz said different types of insurance policies result in different reimbursement rates for the town. "There are a lot of options and sometimes it's like when you go to the Cheesecake Factory and the menu is so big you don't know what you want," he said. Policies in other Vermont communities were reviewed in research conducted ahead of developing recommendations. Fritz said the goal is not to make money but to be "effective" and "cost conscious." Instead of a flat billing rate, the board could have chosen different fees based on whether the transport involved "advanced life support" or "basic life support." "BLS is often the first line of response, and ALS comes into play when more advanced care is required," redcross.org states. "While both provide life-saving techniques during an emergency, they have key differences, including the level of care, the training required, the equipment used, and the treatment setting." Board member Daniel Quipp urged the board to break the fees into ALS and BLS categories, since it would be more fair to patients and still exceed the budgeted line item for revenue next year. Seeking to reduce the financial burden on patients, he and board member Peter "Fish" Case voted against the rates approved by the rest of the board. About 13 percent of patients needing ambulance transport in the Golden Cross data have private insurance of "varying quality," Quipp said. "We also need to acknowledge for a $1,400 bill over the course of 12 months is a little over $100 and that can still be a little bit of a financial hardship for people," Case said of the payment plans. "I want to be sensitive to that." Case suggested having a way for patients to make arrangements to pay over longer periods of time if needed. Revenue forecasts were developed with the idea that about 4 percent of patients will have no insurance at all and the town would expect "very little reimbursement from those folks," Quipp said. AP Triton estimated an annual revenue of about $855,517 if ALS and BLS calls were priced out to be $1,110 and $770 respectively, along with a second and more serious type of ALS charged at $1,375. Fritz said the department handles "much more BLS transports." Board Vice Chairman Franz Reichsman said he preferred the flat billing option out of concern for "possible cost overruns in the service." "And I would rather collect more money and dial it back after a year than collect too little money and have to make up the difference," he said. Case said he didn't want someone to avoid calling for an ambulance out of worry about not being able to cover the cost. "I just see the $1,400 as allowing the town to collect the money that offsets for people who cannot pay and that if we can get the larger sum from private insurance and from Medicare and Medicaid, that really paves the way for writing off the people who cannot afford it," board member Elizabeth McLoughlin said. "The people of Brattleboro who require compassion and are unable to pay their bill, we've taken care have that in our in our billing and collection plan. No one is making anyone pay and that's where the compassion comes in. So bill people on the front end and be compassionate on the back end, and everybody's happy." Quipp said the town is trying to "cover some of our costs off the back of those 13 percent of folks, who are hard working folks in our community, whose jobs don't give them good insurance." Chief Howard said a consultant from AP Triton told him "whatever you do, tell [the Select Board] to do the $1,400 flat rate because the only person you're helping is the insurance companies if you don't." If the town is "going to be reliant on insurance companies," former board member Dick DeGray said, "we need to get as much money from them as we can because we are restricted from Medicare and Medicaid on what we can get from them and what we can bill them." Just before the vote, Board Chairman Ian Goodnow said he thinks "the right move" is to go with the $1,400 flat rate then re-examine it after a year. He said the revenue would provide the system with more financial security. "There's still question there because it's a new program and a new system," he said. Goodnow, who's finishing up his term on the board and not seeking reelection, encouraged the board to consider the rates again as quickly as it can next year and have "a serious discussion." "If I use an ambulance and I have my $8 million deductible," Quipp said, "I'm going to sit on that bill for a really long time before I think about paying it. And so we'll see how that really impacts bottom line in about a year's time I guess." Fritz noted the Vermont Legislature is exploring potential changes that could affect reimbursements. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High near 45F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. They are impossible to ignore! They come in the early morning, late evening, and all times in between. Scam phone calls have moved beyond bein KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 21:45 | All, Japan The Tokyo District Court held the first hearing Thursday on the government's request to issue an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church over its aggressive donation solicitation practices. The behind-closed-doors session on the request made in October came after a months-long probe into its activities, including claims it systematically and repeatedly solicited financially ruinous donations from followers. Questions also exist over ties between Japanese politicians and the South Korean religious group and its Japanese affiliate. There have been revelations about connections between many ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers and the group, with some ministers reportedly having received support during election campaigns. Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the church attended the hearing that lasted for about an hour. The ministry's remit includes religious affairs. The probe into the organization and testimony from victims and their family members led the government to conclude the church deviated significantly from the aims of a religious organization. Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, told the session that the ministry's view of the organization is mistaken, according to people who attended the hearing. As part of its defense, the church maintains that because ministry interviewees appear to have been introduced to them by a group of lawyers committed to helping church victims, their reliability should be approached with caution. The dispute has been muddied by education minister Masahito Moriyama's admission in early February that he signed a document pledging support for issues championed by the church in the run-up to October 2021's general election. The Unification Church has been under renewed scrutiny since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot in the street during a July 2022 election campaign stop by Tetsuya Yamagami, who claimed he targeted Abe over his perceived links to the religious organization. Yamagami told the police his mother's vast donations to the church brought financial ruin to his family. The Unification Church was founded in South Korea by a staunch anti-communist in 1954. Related coverage: No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister voted down in Diet Law enacted to monitor asset shielding by religious corporations It just so happens that we share a family name Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet speaks at a ceremony in Phnom Penh honoring the 2023 Model Public Service Unit in Education and Health on Feb. 22, 2023. Prime Minister Hun Manet defended naming his younger brother one of Cambodias 11 deputy prime ministers, saying Thursday that Hun Many was chosen because he can execute needed government reforms. It just so happens that the minister has the same family name as me, Hun Manet told the audience at an awards ceremony. But I would have promoted the head of the Ministry of Civil Service [to deputy prime minister] anyway, even if he were not my relative, because that is the ministry in most need of reform. The purpose [of his appointment] is to carry out reforms in three important areas: public functions, education, and health, he said. Critics immediately responded to Hun Manys promotion Wednesday with accusations of nepotism and corruption. Legal scholar Vorn Chanlot pointed out that Hun Manys promotion is not necessary to make reforms as he already has enough power as minister of civil service to improve the efficiency of public services. It just creates a delay in the implementation of reform, he told RFA. The Hun family has faced accusations of nepotism since Hun Manet was handed the reins of power from his father, Hun Sen, following the 2023 election. At that time, Hun Sen who had ruled Cambodia since 1985 argued that his sons appointment was based on merit, not nepotism. Like his son, Hun Sen claimed he would have promoted Hun Manet even if he were not [his] relative. However, experts have characterized Hun Sens attempts to stack the government with his relatives as a means of cementing the Hun family as Cambodias ruling clan. Law student Ly Chandaravuth told RFA that Hun Manys appointment empowers the backbone of Hun Sens family. When Hun Manet is absent, Hun Many can take over state affairs. He becomes acting prime minister, he said. Under these circumstances, it is impossible for the government to be effective. Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Edited by Claire McCrea and Malcolm Foster. A Chinese think tank finds raising a child costs more than in US, Japan. China is one of the most expensive countries in the world to raise a child, with almost the lowest average desire by women to give birth due to the high cost entailed and the difficulty to balance family and work responsibilities, a Chinese think-tank has found. The cost of raising a child until he or she turns 18 is equivalent to 6.3 times Chinas GDP per capita, according to the 2024 childbirth cost report by Yuwa Population Research.This contrasts with 4.11 times in the United States, Japans 4.26 times, as well as 2.91 times in Sweden. Such indicators are bad news for the worlds second-largest economy facing a shrinking and aging population. Productivity and economic growth are sputtering as well, as Beijing grapples with overcoming structural problems exacerbated by a crisis in the real estate sector traditionally a major growth driver and mounting local government debts. The Chinese government has since 2021 allowed for three children in a major policy shift that began with replacing its controversial one-child policy in 2016 with a two-child limit. The change failed to lead to a sustained upsurge in births. The report found that raising children led to a reduction in women's paid work hours, mainly before the child was four years old, unlike men, for whom fatherhood brings no change to their working lives. Whats more, women lost a total of 2,106 hours of work caring for children aged 0 to 4 years. Based on an hourly wage of 30 yuan (US$4.17), the reduced income would be about 63,000 yuan. Having children also means an overall 12-17% drop in womens wages. A mother with a child under six will see her weekly leisure time cut by 12.6 hours, while one with two children will experience a 14-hour reduction. Childbearing cost bears the most impact on a familys willingness to have a child, the report stated. At the national level, there is an urgent need to introduce policies as soon as possible to reduce the cost of childbearing for families of childbearing age. It recommended nine measures, including cash and tax subsidies, and equal child rearing leave for men and women. Together, these measures could increase the number of births by about 3 million, the report said. China recorded a second straight year of population decline in 2023 and the seventh consecutive year in drop of births, with the number of newborns less than half of 2016. During the same period, Chinas total fertility rate was only about 1.0, one of the lowest in the world. The report warns that if the current ultra-low fertility rate is not improved, China's population will rapidly decline. By 2050, it will reach 1.17 billion, and 479 million in 2100. Translated by RFA staff. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn. Gallagher, chair of the House Select Committee on China, said an invasion by China would fail. Any plans Chinese President Xi Jinping has to invade Taiwan are foolish and would fail, U.S. lawmaker and China hawk Mike Gallagher said during a trip to the democratic island on Thursday. Beijing considers self-governing Taiwan to be a renegade province and has vowed to one day reunite the island with mainland China by force if necessary. Some U.S. military leaders believe Xi may have plans to carry out an invasion or blockade as early as 2027. The United States, though, maintains close unofficial ties with Taiwan, and since taking office U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly said American forces would come to its aid in case of an invasion. On Thursday, Gallagher led a bipartisan delegation from the House Select Committee on China, which has spent the past year examining the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party, and said support would continue no matter which party held power in Washington. I see growing and extremely strong support for Taiwan, Gallagher said before meeting with Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te, who takes office in May after winning last months presidential election. Lai will succeed Tsai Ing-wen, who also attended Thursdays talks. I am very confident that support for Taiwan will continue regardless of who occupies the White House, Gallagher said, noting Democratic Party Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi was in Taipei alongside him. Their trip was, he explained, to send a message that if Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party were to ever make the incredibly foolish decision to attempt an invasion of Taiwan, that that effort would fail. Krishnamoorthi added that Congress deeply believed in Taiwan. Sore spot Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a press briefing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory and that the trip constituted interference by the United States and accused it of sending mixed signals on Taiwan independence. China opposes any form of official interaction between the U.S. and Taiwan authorities and rejects U.S. interference in Taiwan affairs in whatever form or under whatever pretext, Mao said. We urge the U.S. to be mindful of the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan question, abide by the One China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, prudently and properly handle issues relating to Taiwan, stop official contact with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces, she said. Rep. Mike Gallagher, fourth from right, receives a chunlian, a traditional decoration bearing Chinese calligraphy that reads "Good luck to you," from Taiwan's Parliament Speaker Han Kuo-yu, fourth from left, at the Parliament in Taipei on Feb. 22, 2024. (Sam Yeh/AFP) U.S.-China ties have been on the mend since a meeting between Biden and Xi that took place in San Francisco in November, with both pledging to cooperate where they can, even as they compete. That thawing of ties came after months of bad blood between the worlds two biggest economies and military powers, which began when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. Taiwans government, for which Lai currently serves as the vice president, says it has no need to officially declare independence from China because, in practical terms, it already is independent from the mainland, a description that has only angered Beijing further. Tsai, the outgoing president, said before Thursdays meetings that the trip again showed staunch support of the United States for Taiwans democracy and highlighted the islands growing global importance. The Taiwan of today plays a crucial role in upholding global peace and democracy, Tsai told reporters. We will continue to advance our international partnerships and engage with the world. Edited by Malcolm Foster. KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 11:46 | All, Japan, World Japan is considering providing $32 million in additional humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Wednesday, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas drags on. At a Group of 20 ministerial gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Kamikawa voiced her "serious concern" about the "critical humanitarian situation" in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave amid Israel's bombardment and besiegement of the area, Japan's Foreign Ministry said. Reiterating criticisms of the "terrorist attacks" on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 and expressing "deep concern" over recent Israeli military operations in Gaza's Rafah district, Kamikawa demanded all parties "act from the humanitarian viewpoint," the ministry added. The planned humanitarian assistance would be delivered through international institutions but would not be provided via the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, a Japanese government official said. Along with the United States and other Western nations, Japan has suspended funding for UNRWA following allegations that its staff members might have been involved in Hamas' surprise attack on Israel. In October and November last year, Japan announced plans to offer humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip of $10 million and $65 million, respectively. At the foreign ministerial meeting, Kamikawa also condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022 as an "outrageous act that shakes the foundation of G20's cooperation" and a "serious challenge to the rule of law," the ministry said. Among the other participants at the two-day G20 gathering in the Brazilian city through Thursday are U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while China's top diplomat Wang Yi skipped the event. On the sidelines of the G20 talks, Kamikawa held bilateral meetings on Wednesday with her counterparts from countries such as France, South Korea and Britain. Related coverage: U.S. vetoes U.N. resolution on Gaza for 4th time since conflict began G7 agrees to continue supporting Ukraine Japan PM vows to provide Africa with support for food security 86 rights groups say Article 23 will have devastating consequences for human rights in the city. Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang has lashed out at the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch after it issued a statement signed by 86 groups saying that forthcoming security legislation would have devastating consequences for human rights in the city. The new legislation, called Article 23, criminalizes treason, insurrection, the theft of state secrets and other national security offenses. It is billed by the government as a way to close loopholes in the already stringent 2020 National Security Law. But Hong Kong Watch and the other groups said the definitions of such crimes were vague in the bill, and would criminalize people's peaceful exercise of their human rights. "The proposed law includes a number of procedural changes that will dramatically undermine the Hong Kong peoples due process and fair trial rights," said joint statement signed by 86 organizations. "The introduction of Article 23 will bring further devastating consequences for human rights beyond those brought by the National Security Law when it was imposed by Beijing in 2020," said the statement, which called on governments to publicly oppose the law, and for those responsible to be sanctioned. "The last time the authorities attempted to introduce Article 23 in 2003, over 500,000 Hong Kongers took to the streets in protests with the plans abandoned," the statement said, adding:" But now they can no longer speak out against it. The bill is highly likely to be passed by the Legislative Council now that electoral rules have been changed to allow only patriots to run for election. Slander and intimidation Tang, who has previously claimed that recent waves of mass popular pro-democracy movements in recent years were the work of "foreign forces" operating in Hong Kong, criticized Hong Kong Watch for using "gangster tactics. Tang told a news conference in Hong Kong on Monday that most of the groups that signed the letter, which include Freedom House, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Hongkongers in Britain, Human Rights Watch and the Index on Censorship, were "anti-China organizations seeking to disrupt Hong Kong." Demonstrators in Hong Kong with tape over their mouths protest the city governments anti-subversion bill, Feb. 14, 2003. (Anat Givon/AP) He accused "anti-China and anti-Hong Kong" organizations of "slander, intimidation ... wrong, misleading and making something out of nothing," after they criticized the planned law, which analysts have warned will broaden the definition of what is a "national security" matter still further. "These comments are slander and intimidation by external forces who want to endanger our national security," he said, brushing aside the possibility of further sanctions on Hong Kong officials. "The more you sanction us, the more it appears that we're doing the right thing," Tang said, likening the law to putting in "doors and windows to prevent burglaries," and accusing the groups who signed the statement of "gangster" tactics. Tang accused Radio Free Asia of reporting what he described as "false criticism that the new law would target media organizations. He called the media outlet a "foreign force" that was misleading the people of Hong Kong. He said only those who "deliberately" set out to slander the government could be liable under the planned law. RFA, funded by the U.S. Congress to provide independent news in countries that lack a free press, has not publicly responded to Tang's comments. Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, left, Chief Executive John Lee, center, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang attend a press conference on Article 23 in Hong Kong, Jan. 30, 2024. (Lam Yik/Reuters) Tang said the public response to the Article 23 legislation had been welcoming, and that claims that the new law would boost police powers to detain people at will were "attempts to intimidate the people of Hong Kong." "I believe that our friends in the media will not endanger national security," he said, in response to concerns that media organizations could be targeted under the law for platforming views deemed a threat to national security. Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday that his administration will seek to pass the new law as soon as possible. "Our work on legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law will be advanced at full speed," Lee said. "The government will move forward, and I believe that the Legislative Council will fulfill their constitutional responsibilities in this regard as soon as possible." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Large groups have been captured with brokers in Thailands western Tak province, Thai officials said. Thai officials have arrested 167 people fleeing Myanmar since the country enacted its conscription laws, a migrant assistance organization told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. From Feb. 12-20, dozens of Myanmar nationals have been arrested in Thailand on its southern and western borders, said Moe Kyo, who runs the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs based in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. It would even exceed that number. In reality, there are cases of arrests occurring in places that remain inaccessible to us, he said, citing a nationwide network of organizations sharing information about arrests. Since junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced the enforcement of the Peoples Military Service Law on Feb. 10, people in Myanmar have been scrambling to avoid conscription into the regimes army through both official and unofficial routes. A narrow stream separates Thailand and Myanmar in Wa Lay on Feb. 22, 2024. Phop Phra police officer tells RFA that many people are crossing here. (RFA) Citizens have flocked to passport offices and embassies nationwide, while mass arrests of young people have caused panic, despite junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htuns pledge that recruitment would not begin until April. The law would recruit some 50,000 people a year, with prison time if they refuse to cooperate. Women aged 18 to 27 and men aged 18 to 35 are required to serve two years, while highly-skilled professionals from ages 18 to 45 are required to serve five years. Thailands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a statement on Monday saying people entering the country illegally would be prosecuted, adding that security agencies have been alerted to the issue. On Sunday, 20 migrants were arrested in two locations near the border, aid worker Moe Kyo said. One group was discovered in Tha Song Yang district of Tak province. Thai authorities stopped and inspected a vehicle at a checkpoint. They discovered 13 undocumented Myanmar nationals inside, he said. It is also noted that those individuals had paid 15,000 Thai baht (US$418) to the brokers for their journey. Others have been arrested in Ranong, Songkhla, and Chumphon provinces in Thailands south. Desperate to Escape Thailands Ratchamanu Taskforce, based in Tak, arrested two groups totalling more than 54 people from Feb. 14-16 near the border town of Wa Lay. The porous border area is 57 kilometers (35 miles) south of the official Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing. Task Force Commander Col. Nattakorn Reuntib told RFA on Thursday that 249 Myanmar nationals, including 13 brokers, were arrested in five border districts from Feb. 1-21 in Tak. He declined to comment on the impact of conscription laws, but said the number had increased from 183 people arrested in the entire month of January. A woman and her son stand in front of a border checkpoint in Wa Lay, Thailand, on Feb. 22, 2024. (RFA) All 27 people in one group were between the ages of 20 and 29, he said, telling Thai media they fled because of conscription laws. Many of them came via south Wa Lay village. After being arrested, they would be deported through Mae Sot, an officer at Phop Pra police station said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. There have been many coming this way in recent weeks. We understand them, they need a job and security. Organizations focused on migrant rights say the Thai government needs to seriously consider humane solutions for people fleeing conscription as systems become overwhelmed. A house in Myanmar stands just meters from the border in Wa Lay, Thailand, on Feb. 22, 2024. (RFA) The Thai Embassy of Myanmar announced a 400-person per day limit as its office quickly became overwhelmed, and Chiang Mais Buddhist University stated it would no longer accept applicants from Myanmar, citing an overwhelming number of applications. I think it's a dangerous situation because weve also seen previous incidents where brokers were smuggling migrants and then there was a police chase ending in a car crash with people dying, so I can only hope that doesn't happen in the future, said Brahm Press, director of the Migrant Assistance Program in Thailand. Im sure that whatever systems are in place that migrants had previously been using are going to be further overwhelmed. Edited by Joshua Lipes. The areas lockdown is causing problems for peoples health and livelihood, locals said. A local in front of Chinas natural gas plant in Kyaukpyu on June 2, 2019. Myanmars regime extended a travel ban in a conflict-ridden coastal area, locals told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. The ban prevents Rakhine state residents from traveling by water, fishing, and gathering on the townships shores until April 19. Kyaukpyu township, where the ban was originally established on Dec. 19, has been a source of conflict between the ethnic Arakan Army and junta forces. The Arakan Army launched attacks on Kyaukpyus junta naval base on Jan. 8 and Jan. 21, leading locals to suggest China should discuss its many upcoming development projects in the area with the ethnic armed group to ensure their continued protection. Kyaukpyus coast is the site of a Chinese-funded special economic zone, as well as upcoming ports and railroads stalled in December due to fighting. Residents have voiced concerns that Chinese development projects fail to provide local jobs and that they will impact the regions vital fishing industry. A fisherman in Kyaukpyu city on June 4, 2019. (RFA) An official from a social assistance group in Kyaukpyu township said the travel ban was announced in a letter on Monday. Motor boats and rowing boats are not allowed to navigate along the river and it is forbidden to have alcohol ... along the shore, he said, declining to be named for fear of reprisals. Traveling in the villages and towns has been banned in the past. Everyone gets in trouble. The juntas order also stated that if locals choose to violate this order, action will be taken according to existing laws. The ban applies to the townships capital of Kyaukpyu city, six surrounding village tracts and eight neighborhoods. It also prevents locals from gathering or fishing on the Ohn Chaung stream, Than Zit River, and nearby beaches, according to the statement. The restrictions were implemented after the Arakan Army broke a year-long ceasefire by attacking junta camps in Kyaukpyu township, Rakhine state on Nov. 13, 2023, residents said. A Kyaukpyu resident who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons told RFA that the travel ban has caused residents many problems affecting their health and quality of life. Locals are facing difficulties in getting food, and commodity prices have become expensive. Sick people in rural areas suffer because of the delay in getting medical treatment, he explained. RFA called Rakhine states junta spokesperson for comment on the extension, but he did not respond to inquiries. Villagers can only receive permission to travel after submitting an application five days in advance, residents in Kyaukpyus surrounding areas said. Within Kyaukpyu township, the junta prohibits the shipment and delivery of most types of medicine, food, electrical equipment and hygiene products, including womens sanitary pads. On Monday, 60 passengers flying from Yangon were arrested after landing in Kyaukpyus airport. Pregnant women, children and elderly people have since been released, though the location of others remains unknown. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. The arrests were for writing or sharing anti-junta posts on Facebook and other social networks. A woman uses her mobile phone to check Facebook in Yangon on Feb. 4, 2021. Myanmar junta authorities have arrested and jailed nearly 1,500 people they say posted anti-junta messages on Facebook, TikTok and Telegram over the last two years, research group Data for Myanmar has found. The arrests included a woman who had been working in Thailand and was sentenced to life in prison in December after she returned to Myanmar to have her passport and work visa renewed, a family friend told Radio Free Asia. Officers checked her phone during the renewal in Yangon and found anti-junta messages that she had sent privately, the family friend said. After that, she was arrested and taken to the North Dagon jail, the friend said. Then she was sent to Insein Prison. The junta has struggled to gain popular support since taking power from a civilian government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat. Responding to critical messages with criminal prosecution has had a chilling effect on how people express themselves online. It has also earned Myanmar a ranking as the second worst country in the world for internet freedom, according to Washington-based Freedom House. The Data for Myanmar report said that most of the 1,480 people detained between Feb. 29, 2022, and Jan. 30, 2024, were Facebook users. The independent NGO also found that an average of 62 people were detained every month. Almost half of the detainees nearly 700 people were from the Yangon and Mandalay regions. Data for Myanmar compiled data for the Jan. 31 report by monitoring junta-affiliated daily newspapers and news media. Jailed for sharing news Another social media-related arrest was that of Mandalay resident Khin Maung Chin, who was detained in December 2022 for sharing news articles and critiques of the military written by other Facebook users, a friend of his told RFA. Khin Maung Chin was also found to have written messages about Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the deposed National League for Democracy and the countrys former de facto leader. People take part in a noise campaign on a Yangon street after calls for protest against the military coup emerged on social media, Feb. 5, 2021. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP) And last November, junta troops raided the home of Yangon resident Min Nyo, who had worked to provide clothing and medicine to war victims. A family member told RFA.that pro-military supporters had informed authorities about his online criticism of the junta. Min Nyo is also serving a sentence at Insein Prison, where many pro-democracy activists are held. Freedom House noted in a report released in October that the junta has reduced broadband speeds, cut internet connections and blocked some text and calling services in areas where anti-regime resistance has been strong. Procedure used by dictators Junta authorities have also restricted Burmese citizens from accessing social media platforms while junta-controlled publications frequently warn that people can be charged under the Penal Code and Telecommunications Law, the report said. In December, the junta announced the formation of a committee to further monitor and take action against what people write and share online. RFAs attempts to reach junta spokesman Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun to ask about the Data for Myanmar report were unsuccessful. However, junta officials have previously stated that the regime will take action if posted messages are aimed at inciting people to destroy the countrys peace and stability or to abolish the juntas governing mechanism. A former military officer told RFA that arresting people for critical comments is an understandable part of governing. As a ruler, he would arrest those who spoke ill of him, he said. This has become an obligation. It must be done. It is his job to arrest those who raised the rebellion. Aung Myo Min, the human rights minister for the shadow National Unity Government, criticized the arrests as merely a procedure used by dictators to prevent people from speaking up not as a way to maintain stability. Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Takeshi Ebisawa was indicted in the US for trying to sell weapons grade plutonium to a man he believed was Iranian. Takeshi Ebisawa poses with a rocket launcher during a meeting with an informant and two undercover Danish police officers at a warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark, Feb. 3, 2021. A member of a Japanese yakuza criminal syndicate has been charged with trafficking weapons-grade nuclear materials after an arrest in New York that followed an alleged attempt to sell plutonium and uranium to an undercover agent he believed was an Iranian general. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, told an undercover agent from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency he had access to a large quantity of nuclear materials that he wanted to sell, an indictment says, and sent photos of rocks next to a Gieger counter, which measures radioactivity. Ebisawa said the materials came from an insurgent group in Myanmar and tried to sell them in Thailand, via the undercover agent, to a man he believed was part of Irans nuclear program, according to the indictment unsealed by a Manhattan court on Wednesday. In recorded phone calls, the agent, who was posing as a drug and weapons trafficker, pressed Ebisawa on whether the materials could be used to reach Irans long-held goal of building a nuclear weapon. How enriched is it? Above 5 percent? They don't need it for energy, Iranian government need it for nuclear weapons, the agent said. Ebisawa replied: I think so and I hope so. The indictment does not say where the insurgent group in Myanmar had sourced the nuclear materials. The country is not believed to have an active nuclear weapons program, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C. DEA administrator Anne Milgram praised the tireless work of the agents who carried out the sting to protect us from such evil. As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons, Milgram said in a statement. This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life, she said. Yellowcake Ebisawa and a co-defendant, Thai national Somphop Singhasiri, 60, were arrested in Manhattan in April 2022 on drug trafficking charges, according to the indictment, which says they conspired to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and a kilogram of heroin. However, the nuclear trafficking charges are far more damning, with DEA agents having surreptitiously video recorded in-person meetings they say show that Ebisawa and his associates moved the materials from Myanmar to Thailand, and wanted to sell them to Iran. Ebisawa had initially pressed the undercover agent with repeated inquiries about finding a buyer for uranium, the indictment says. When the agent connected him to an established DEA source posing as the Iranian general, he then expanded his offer even further. After offering to sell 50 metric tons of uranium and thorium for US$6.8 million for use in a nuclear weapon in a September 2020 phone call, Ebisawa added he could source plutonium that he said would be better and more powerful for use in a nuclear weapon. On behalf of the insurgent group, Ebisawa also allegedly sought to buy from the agent a long list of weapons including surface-to-air missiles, sniper rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers and machine guns. After a series of discussions over the next year-and-a-half about the possible sale, Ebisawa then met with the DEA agent in a hotel room on the tropical Thai island of Phuket in February 2022 and showed him a powdery yellow substance he said was uranium yellowcake. He later took the nuclear samples to an office in Bangkok, the indictment says, where Thai law enforcement in May 2022 carried out a search, seized the nuclear materials and handed them over to U.S. authorities, who determined that they were in fact weapons-grade. Matthew Olsen, the U.S. assistant attorney general for national security, said he was pleased the Yakuza leader was working with an undercover agent and not a real international weapons trafficker. It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded, and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who traffic in these materials and threaten U.S. national security and international stability, Olsen said in a statement. Edited by Malcolm Foster An upcoming referendum in Vanuatu to outlaw political-party hopping by legislators has sparked lively debate in the Pacific island country, which has faced three changes of government in the past year. Dissatisfaction with political instability and a fast-rising cost of living is widespread in the archipelago nation of more than 300,000 people. But there are also concerns that outlawing changes of political allegiance during a parliamentary term could be undemocratic. The past year has been particularly tumultuous for Vanuatus politics with three motions of no-confidence against incumbent governments, resulting in a succession of prime ministers. There was also a snap election in October 2022. The prime minister at that time, Bob Loughman, dissolved his brief government in response to a no-confidence challenge, but it only resulted in reelection of the same crop of party-hopping legislators. I wholeheartedly support the yes vote to halt this practice, as it is a key factor causing instability and hindering development, Port Vila businessman Lopez Adams told RFA-affiliated news organization BenarNews. The problem will become even bigger if left unaddressed, Adams said, because Vanuatus economy needs stability to grow fast enough to provide opportunities and jobs for an expanding youth population. Using someone to ascend a ladder and then shifting to anothers is unethical and lacks principles, he said. Port Vila businessman Lopez Adams, pictured on Feb. 21, 2024, said political instability is hindering Vanuatus development. (Agnes Herbert/BenarNews) Vanuatu, about 1,900 kilometers (1,180 miles) northeast of the Australian city of Brisbane, has been known for fractious politics and short-lived governments since independence from joint French and British rule in 1980. Like other Pacific island nations, it is increasingly the focus of China-U.S. rivalry for influence in the region. Vanuatu sends many of its young people to work on plantations in Australia and New Zealand because of lack of economic opportunities at home, and its government has earned notoriety abroad for boosting its coffers with a passports-for-sale scheme. Among its challenges, tropical cyclones regularly batter Vanuatu and it also is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it sits atop the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. The referendum planned for May 29 proposes that the countrys constitution should be amended so that any lawmaker who leaves or changes political party during the parliamentary term loses their seat. It also proposes that parliamentarians with no political party affiliation be required to join a party within three months of being elected or lose their seat. A majority of Vanuatus Parliament backed the overhaul by passing an anti-party hopping law last year. Constitutional changes to the electoral system require a national referendum to be enacted. Andrew Solomon Napuat, a member of Parliament and first deputy speaker, said the changes would prevent lawmakers from switching parties purely out of self interest and would be a step toward addressing political instability by allowing governments to last a full four-year term. We have to ask ourselves how can we control people who will not listen to voters and do not put the nation first as a priority, Napuat said in an interview with BenarNews. Vendors sell fruit and vegetables at a market in Vanuatus capital Port Vila on Feb. 21, 2024. (Agnes Herbert/BenarNews) The proposed amendments to the constitution are being hotly debated on Facebook, where some posters have said they would be incompatible with democratic principles. Vanuatu has a democratic system of governance, but when the referendum focuses on removing the constitutional right of an individual member of Parliament, are we still in a democracy?" said a user named Anonymous Participant in the Facebook group Yumi Tok Tok Stret. Napuat said much of the information spreading on social media does not accurately reflect the scope of the amendments, which only apply to the actions of members of Parliament and not the public at large. He also said the referendum has its limitations in tackling government corruption, but the pivotal role in that area should be played by police, the courts and the Office of the Ombudsman, which investigates complaints about government agencies. Vanuatus Prime Minister Charlot Salwai earlier this month urged the public to participate in the referendum and said there was a great need to shape the future of the countrys democracy. Minister of Internal Affairs Johnny Koanapo Rasou has promised comprehensive outreach about the referendum to every Vanuatu citizen, including those abroad in places such as New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand, so all voters have appropriate information. Albert Iauma, one of the thousands of Vanuatu men and women employed as seasonal workers in Australia, said he would vote yes in the referendum if given the chance. Vanuatus politicians should be focusing on more important issues than party hopping, including the challenges faced by seasonal workers, he said. Leaders need to prioritize substantial problems over investing time and money in dealing with political instability. I look forward to casting my vote, Iauma said. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. The worlds largest coast guard vessel returns for a fresh patrol tour near Vanguard Bank in the South China Sea. China Coast Guard ship 5901, known as The Monster for its size, has returned to the waters near Vanguard Bank in the South China Sea, where Vietnam has some important oil and gas fields. The 12,000-ton CCG 5901, currently the worlds largest coast guard vessel, switched on its AIS, or automatic information system, on Feb. 20 near the bank, a known South China Sea flashpoint between Vietnam and China. Data provided by the Marine Traffic website, which uses AIS signals to track ships, shows it is still at the location. While conducting intrusive patrols among Vietnams offshore oil & gas fields, the Chinese ship is being shadowed by Vietnams fisheries surveillance vessel Kiem Ngu 261, said Ray Powell, director of the U.S.-based SeaLight project, who was the first to spot it. Vanguard Bank is located within Vietnams exclusive economic zone. (Google Maps) CCG 5901, previously carrying hull number 3901, left Sanya port in Hainan island on Feb. 14., 2024. Before that, it patrolled Vietnams exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for almost a month at the end of 2023, and was replaced on 10 Jan. by another Chinese coast guard vessel CCG 5402. CCG 5402 has also conducted intrusive patrols into Indonesia and Malaysias EEZs over the past six weeks, according to Powell. Normalizing Chinas activities These patrols are a key component of Chinas strategy to reinforce its expansive maritime claims in disputed waters, wrote Gaute Friis, an analyst at the SeaLight project at Stanford University in California. By doing so, China aims to establish a continuous presence and gradually normalize its maritime activities in these areas. The Chinese monster ship is armed with heavy machine guns and also has a helicopter platform, as well as a hangar large enough to accommodate larger rotary wing aircraft. Vanguard Bank, called Bai Tu Chinh in Vietnamese and Wanan Tan in Chinese, is a submerged formation that lies entirely within Vietnams EEZ. Vietnam and some foreign partners carry out oil and gas exploration at the location, which plays an important role in Hanois oil and gas development. Law enforcement vessels from Vietnam and China confronted each other there in July 2019 in one of the worst maritime standoffs between them in the South China Sea in recent years. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Chinese authorities arrest Tibetan monks in Dege county in Sichuan province on Feb. 22, 2024 during a protest against a dam project on the Drichu River. UPDATED at 5:40 P.M. ET on 02-26-2024 Chinese officials arrested more than 100 Tibetan monks and other ethnic Tibetans in Chinas southwestern Sichuan province on Thursday to quell protests against a massive dam project that would destroy six Buddhist monasteries and force the relocation of two villages, three sources told Radio Free Asia. In a rare act of defiance, residents have taken to the streets of Wangbuding township in Dege County in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture since Feb. 14 to oppose the plan to build the 1,110-megawatt Gangtuo hydropower station on the Drichu River (Jinsha in Chinese), which is located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze, one of Chinas most important waterways. Residents were particularly distraught that construction of the hydroelectric dam would destroy six monasteries, including the Wonto Monastery, which includes ancient murals that date to the 13th century, the sources said. Citizen videos exclusively shared with RFA show Chinese officials dressed in black forcibly restraining monks, who can be heard crying out against the dam. Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said he was not aware of the arrests. "China is a country under the rule of law," he said in an emailed statement. "China protects the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals in accordance with the law." The detentions reportedly occurred in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, an area with a large population of ethnic Tibetans. Some of the arrested protesters required hospitalization due to rough treatment, sources said. Local sources who spoke with RFA despite the Chinese governments effort to restrict communication from the area said police officers used water cannons, pepper spray and tasers to subdue the protesters. The videos shared with RFA do not show those tactics, however. Rising opposition The protests started on Feb. 14, when at least 300 Tibetans gathered outside the Dege County Townhall to protest the dam. Such protests are rare in China, particularly among Tibetans, due to strict controls on public gatherings and extensive surveillance by authorities. The construction of the Gangtuo hydropower dam will force the resettlement of the Upper Wonto and Shipa villages and the Yena, Wonto and Khardho monasteries in Dege county, and the Rabten, Gonsar and Tashi monasteries in Chamdo township, sources told RFA. The Wonto and Yena monasteries, which are located closest to the site of the planned project, together have about 300 monks and hold significant cultural and religious importance to locals. The Wonto Monastery was severely damaged during Chinas Cultural Revolution. Locals preserved its ancient murals, however, and began rebuilding the monastery in 1983 The number of monks who live and worship at the four other monasteries slated for destruction is not known. About 2,000 people live in the two villages and would be forced to relocate due to the dam project, sources told RFA. Chinese authorities arrest Tibetan monks in Dege county in Sichuan province on Feb. 22, 2024 during a protest against a dam project on the Drichu River. (Citizen journalist) The Gangtuo dam is part of a plan that Chinas National Development and Reform Commission announced in 2012 to build a massive 13-tier hydropower complex on the Drichu. It would be located at Wontok (or Gangtuo in Chinese), Dege county, northwest of the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province. The planned capacity of the 13 hydropower stations is 13,920 megawatts. Chinese authorities closed all the main roads and imposed strict restrictions, including on digital access, on the villages and monasteries in the Wangbuding township following the Feb. 14 protests. On Feb 20, as authorities inspected Yena and Wonto monasteries in preparation for their demolition, video footage obtained by RFA showed monks prostrating themselves before the visiting Chinese officials to plead with them to halt the construction of the dam. The appeals continued today. But by then Chinese officials apparently had had enough, and the arrests began. Officials also reportedly confiscated the mobile phones of protesters. Some locals though avoided arrest and were able to record elements of the crackdown. Additional reporting by Pelbar and Sonam Lhamo. Edited by Jim Snyder and Malcolm Foster. Updated to add a comment from the Chinese Embassy and to correct the amount of megawatts of electricity the Gangtuo Dam will produce. A judge on Wednesday ordered Thailands corrections system to provide two Uyghur terrorism suspects with the Halal food they have been requesting for years, as the pair appeared in court visibly emaciated and in wheelchairs. Defendants Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili are accused of carrying out the Aug. 17, 2015, bombing at the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok that killed 20 people and injured scores more, just weeks after Thai authorities forcibly sent almost 100 Uyghur Muslims to China. They have been in custody since their arrests within two weeks of the attack. Mieraili shared that he, at 35, and Karadag, at 39, have significantly deteriorated in health, losing over 10 kg [22 pounds] due to stomach pains and chronic bloating caused by poor living conditions and inconvenient meal arrangements. The pair the only two inmates housed at a temporary detention center within a military zone would skip some meals because they were not provided Halal food as per Islamic principles. For three years, they didnt provide us Halal food, Mieraili told the judge. We told them we dont eat pork, yet they still served it to us, claiming there was no pork. When we ate, we found minced pork and chicken blood. We cant eat that. We wanted them to arrange proper meals for us. His statement proved effective. The court will instruct the Department of Corrections to ensure that prisoners are provided food according to their religious rights, the judge ruled. Religion is a delicate matter, and a letter will be sent to the prison to arrange Halal food for the defendants as they are entitled. Similar requests Karadag and Mieraili made similar requests for Halal food during court appearances in January 2022 and again in August 2023 the last time they appeared in court. They returned to the Bangkok court on Tuesday and are expected to attend hearings through Friday. Since being taken into custody, Mieraili has become fluent in Thai and is able to communicate with his lawyer and interact with prison officials. In court, he served as an interpreter for Karadag who is less proficient in Thai. Karadag had to have seven teeth extracted recently and now wears dentures, Mieraili told BenarNews before the court session began. He has been unable to walk for over six months due to lack of strength, experiencing dizziness upon standing. I had to undergo hernia surgery last week and have been advised by the hospital to remain for another two weeks. Currently, Adem is the only one in the temporary military prison. A man prays at the Erawan Shrine at the Rajprasong intersection, the scene of a deadly bombing a week earlier in Bangkok, Aug. 24, 2015. (Sakchai Lalit/AP) On Wednesday, defense lawyer Choochat Kanphai said the pair wanted to be transferred from the temporary detention center to the Bangkok Special Prison because they thought living conditions and food would be better, but he was told that such requests were beyond the courts jurisdiction. Before court, the attorney spoke to BenarNews about the slow pace of the trial. With 50 witnesses already examined out of a list of approximately 100, we expect the verdict could be read next year, Choochat said. Trial History Following their arrests, Karadag and Mieraili saw their trial begin in a military court only to have the case transferred to the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court. This shift occurred after Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the army general who became prime minister after leading a military coup in 2014, was formally elected into office in 2019. The defendants, who identified themselves as Uyghurs from Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, pleaded not guilty in both the military and civilian courts. They could face execution if convicted of charges, which include premeditated killing and possession of explosives. Chalida Tajaroensuk, director of the Peoples Empowerment Foundation, has been monitoring the case over the years and said the likelihood of reaching a verdict in the near future had improved. The case has made progress, and it seems that the court is genuinely intent on concluding the case promptly, she said. Orders were given for the prosecution and defense to eliminate unnecessary witnesses. The defenses rigorous questioning aimed at proving discrepancies between actual physical evidence and passport information has raised hopes that both defendants could be acquitted, she said. However, everything ultimately depends on the courts judgment. Chalida expressed her hope for increased attention from civil society and the international community regarding the future of the two if they are acquitted. The concern is what happens next for them if they are released, she said. If China seeks their repatriation, it becomes problematic given their decade-long struggle. We need to collectively consider how to handle this situation, including the possibility of another country offering them asylum, which could ensure their safety. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news service. 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. KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 15:32 | All, Japan, World A woman from Myanmar involved in her country's democracy movement said Thursday she has been granted refugee status in Japan, after applying for it last September citing political persecution. Myint Myint Aye, 28, who came to Japan in January 2019 as a technical intern, has been a vocal advocate for democracy in her country, delivering lectures and leading fundraising efforts outside her work hours. The 2021 military coup in Myanmar that toppled the democratically elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi made it hard for Myint Myint Aye to return to her home country. In 2022, her 20-year-old brother and 55-year-old mother, who supported anti-government groups, were killed by the national army. Visiting the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau in Aichi Prefecture, the woman said with tears of joy, "I was overjoyed to see the immigration officials handing me the certificate as they smiled and said congratulations." "I am determined to keep working towards a peaceful Myanmar from abroad," she added. According to the immigration agency, 298 Myanmar nationals applied for refugee status in Japan in 2022, and 26 were granted it the same year. Related coverage: "Silent protest" held in Myanmar on 3rd anniversary of military coup Myanmar junta extends state of emergency: state media Japan joins U.S. in halting funds for U.N. Palestinian refugee agency For decades, Iran's clerical establishment has used voter turnout in elections as proof of its legitimacy, especially to the outside world. But with anti-establishment sentiment among the public rising and unprecedented protests erupting against the authorities in recent years, the legitimacy of Iran's rulers has been severely undermined. That has coincided with record-low turnouts in recent presidential and parliamentary elections. Now, as Iranians prepare to go to the polls on March 1, the authorities have been urging the public to vote amid fears of another poor turnout. Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the clerical establishment is "facing a legitimacy crisis," adding that the authorities "can't hide it anymore without stuffing the ballots." Given the widening gulf between the ruling clerics and Iran's young population as well as ongoing state repression and economic mismanagement, the authorities "cannot be surprised" by a record-low turnout next week, said Vakil. Iranians will cast their ballots for parliamentary elections as well as vote for the Assembly of Experts, which picks and nominally oversees the work of the country's supreme leader. Ali Vaez, the director of Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, argues that "the regime has reached a stage where it has given up on the majority of the Iranian people, who for their part have given up on the regime." "The leadership only cares about one thing: a smooth succession of the supreme leader even if that comes at the cost of the system's legitimacy," he added. Purging The System Even as the authorities have pleaded with the public to vote in the upcoming elections, they have also severely limited the playing field, disqualifying many reformist and moderate candidates. That trend started in 2021, when the ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi, a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected as president. Since then, Iran's hard-liners have dominated all three branches of the government: the presidency, parliament, and judiciary. "There has clearly been a gradual shift under way to purge the system of critics as part of the slow-motion political transition we are watching," said Vakil. This is particularly evident in the elections for the Assembly of Experts, whose 88 members are elected on eight-year terms. Media reports suggest 105 out of the 144 candidates are backed by hard-liners, while 39 are running as independents. Former President Hassan Rohani, a moderate, was disqualified from running in the Assembly of Experts vote. The main task of the assembly is to appoint the next supreme leader. Given Khamenei is 84, it is likely the next assembly will pick his successor. "The system clearly doesn't want to leave anything to chance," said Vaez, although he added Khamenei's successor will likely be chosen "by the deep state" comprising Khamenei's office and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the elite branch of Iran's armed forces. "The Assembly of Experts will just rubber-stamp that decision," said Vaez. 'Dismal Turnout' The mass disqualification of moderate and reformist candidates ahead of the 2020 parliamentary elections and the 2021 presidential vote contributed to the poor turnouts, experts said. But that was before the unprecedented unrest that engulfed Iran in 2022 during monthslong anti-establishment protests. The demonstrations were triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was arrested for allegedly wearing her mandatory hijab improperly. The nationwide protests began as a rebuke against the brutal enforcement of the hijab, a key pillar of the Islamic republic. But they soon snowballed into one of the most sustained demonstrations against Iran's theocracy, with some protesters calling for an end to clerical rule and demanding their social and political freedoms. At least 500 protesters were killed and thousands were detained in the state's brutal crackdown on the protests. Nine protesters have so far been executed for their role in the rallies following trials described as unfair by rights groups. Observers said the protests will likely have a significant influence on turnout in the upcoming elections. "It defies logic for an unfree and unfair election that comes on the heels of a brutal suppression of dissent to witness a higher participation rate than the dismal turnout of the last parliamentary elections," Vaez said. Even if moderates and reformists were allowed to run in this year's elections, it would not make a difference because "that is not the core issue for most Iranians anymore," said Holly Dagres, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. "It won't make much of a difference in the outcome of the election because reformists in the past have been unable to deliver on their promises," she said. "Many Iranians see them as an extension of the problem: the Islamic republic, which they are since they are part of the system." But that has not stopped the authorities from calling on the public to vote. "We must all take part in the elections. The correct way to fix and resolve problems is through elections," Khamenei said on February 18, echoing remarks he had made in previous weeks. Officials have also tried to encourage voting by suggesting that not doing so would play into the "enemy's" hand. The calls are unlikely to convince nonvoters, said the pro-reform newspaper Hammihan, which suggested the authorities were pleading with "people whose voices were not heard" in the 2022 protests. A Russian motorcycle club has been labeled a terrorist cell after criticizing the war in Ukraine in a closed chat and on social media. A member of the group, a father of four, says he was tortured and forced to confess after security forces claimed to find bomb parts and other illegal weapons on his property. His family fled to neighboring Georgia while another club member escaped arrest and now lives in the United States. A Russian doctor who was involved in efforts to diagnose Aleksei Navalny after he was poisoned in 2020 says traces of poison can be removed from a dead body. Speaking to Current Time, Aleksandr Polupan also said there was no reason for the Russian authorities not to hand over the body, as Navalny's mother has demanded. KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 19:22 | World, All The New Zealand city of Christchurch on Thursday marked the 13th anniversary of the devastating 2011 earthquake that claimed 185 lives, with some bereaved families still seeking justice over structural deficiencies blamed for the collapse of a building where over a hundred died. Of the victims, 115 were killed when the six-story Canterbury Television Building collapsed after the magnitude 6.3 temblor struck the South Island city. Among them were 28 Japanese and other foreigners who were studying English at a language school on the third floor of the building. A memorial service for bereaved families was held at Avonhead Memorial Cemetery on Thursday morning, followed by a public service at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial in which some 400 attendees observed a minute's silence at 12:51 p.m. to mark the time the quake struck on Feb. 22, 2011. Christchurch-born New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon participated in the public service and greeted bereaved families, including those who travelled from Japan for the occasion, expressing his sympathies for their losses. Kazuo and Seiko Horita from Japan's Toyama Prefecture, whose daughter Megumi died in the CTV building collapse aged 19, visited Christchurch for the first time in four years for the anniversary. "It's still tough. But I have to come. I'm a parent, after all," said Kazuo, 69, after the service. More than a decade after the disaster, frustration remains for some bereaved families as no one has been held responsible for the structural problems that allegedly caused the CTV building to collapse. In 2017, New Zealand police, on the advice of the government's legal advisers, said they would not bring charges against the engineers who designed the building, citing a lack of evidence to secure a conviction in court. But Maan Alkaisi, spokesman for the CTV Families Group, an organization of bereaved families, told Kyodo News ahead of the anniversary that the campaign for justice and accountability "is still going on." After numerous delays, a hearing of the disciplinary committee of Engineering New Zealand, the country's professional body for engineers, took place in December last year over a complaint against the owner of the engineering firm that designed the building. In a statement read at the three-day hearing, Alkaisi, a retired engineering professor who lost his wife Maysoon Abbas in the collapse, said the long wait for justice "has prevented closure and taken an additional toll on the families." The committee reserved its decision, to be delivered at a later date. If the complaint is upheld, the committee can decide whether to impose censure, a fine and costs on Alan Reay, the owner of the firm. By Riko Okawara, KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 17:00 | Feature, All Each year in Japan there are over 200,000 abortions. Every two weeks, a newborn infant dies of abandonment. And each year, more than 50 children lose their lives to physical abuse at the hands of their parents. This is according to the nonprofit Migiwa, based in Nara Prefecture, western Japan. Migiwa's mission is to protect unwanted babies, acting as a mediator to help place them with new families through plenary adoption. Such cases often involve birth mothers choosing to give up their right to raise their child with a disability such as Down syndrome. Although the health ministry has offered a lower estimate of roughly 122,000 abortions occurring in fiscal 2022, organizations such as NPO Florence say that one newborn baby dies every two weeks in Japan due to abuse and neglect or from being abandoned in parks and other public spaces. The Japan Network for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect also reports more than 50 deaths due to abuse occurring each year, meaning one child loses his or her life every week. Migiwa, established in the spirit of supporting people "from the cradle to the grave," has found homes for 14 children since launching in 2018. It hopes to find homes for many more young kids, no matter who they are, it says. While working as a church pastor, Migiwa founder Hiroki Matsubara, 55, set up a consultation center for women dealing with unwanted pregnancies. The first case involved a woman whose prenatal diagnosis revealed a fetal defect. Discovering her child would be disabled, she said she would "kill the baby" if she gave birth to it. Her shocking words revealed to Matsubara the depths of her anguish, compelling him to start counseling sessions for women pregnant with disabled babies. The majority of the approximately 50 cases the NPO takes on each year involve children with disabilities. Some of these women face stigma, with those around them attaching values of superiority or inferiority to an infant's life, such as in one case where a woman said she was told by her own parents she was "pregnant with something inhuman." Many of them also suffer from prenatal depression, Matsubara said. If the organization determines after consultations with the woman in question that she cannot raise the child, it starts the adoption process, beginning the search for a new home. In plenary or special adoption cases, where the relationship is terminated between the birth parents and their child, families who wish to adopt the baby must go through a series of rigorous interviews to determine their suitability. The public system allows the new parents to place the child on their own family register. Families who have gone through the process of adopting a child through Migiwa also speak about how conflicted birth mothers often are, and that they sometimes receive letters of apology or thanks from the mother for taking in their child that they were unable to raise themselves. Matsubara welcomed Yamato, a child with Down syndrome, into his own family after the boy's birth mother said that she was unable to raise him. The program is an option of last resort and should only be carried out when the original family cannot fulfill their duties as parents of protecting their child, he says. Yamato's real mother, who gave him his name, which she said she chose in the hope he would grow into "a strong man of Japanese spirit," would write messages in her maternity book -- a handbook issued by Japanese municipalities to prenatal mothers to record the mother and child's conditions throughout the pregnancy. The woman's book, which she later gave to Matsubara's wife Naoko, is filled with messages of excitement and anticipation such as, "I look forward to the day I get to meet you!" -- up until the day it was revealed her child had a disability in a prenatal checkup. From the 28th week onward, the book is left blank. Due to circumstances that required medical care for Yamato's congenital heart ailment, Migiwa was unable to find a family to take him in. Eventually, the Matsubaras decided to adopt him themselves. Matsubara, who has three biological adult children of his own, is proud to say that his "family has become richer" through the days spent with his new adopted son, whom they refer to as "Yama-chan." Matsubara's own children are very loving and protective of 5-year-old Yamato, and they say he "brings out what we value as a family." Since retiring as chairman of Migiwa in June 2022, Matsubara has remained active as a consultant with the organization. In many cases, disabled children require hospital visits and rehabilitation, and there are few daycare centers where they can be left unaccompanied, increasing the burden of childcare on families. According to the Children and Families Agency, there is also no financial support from the government for plenary adoptions. Established in 1988 as part of the Civil Code, the government promotes plenary adoption on the grounds that it can provide permanent home care for children who are unable to live with their biological parents due to abuse or other reasons. According to government data, 711 plenary adoption cases were approved in 2019, doubling the number in 10 years. In 2020, the eligibility age for adoption was raised from 6 years old and under to 15 and below. Matsubara said the social infrastructure to support parents who have adopted children with disabilities is still nowhere near adequate. "Only the families bear the burden. We must create a system that allows children who need care to feel they belong to society." Related coverage: FEATURE: New documentary gives a human face to disability in Japan FEATURE: Osaka nursery going extra mile to stop Vietnamese kids falling behind FEATURE: Tree that saved lives from 2011 tsunami feted through storytelling Cillian Sherlock, PA The Tanaiste has said there is no question that the Russian state killed Alexei Navalny. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said that Ireland has a duty to communicate in the strongest possible manner its condemnation of the death of Russias opposition leader. The Russian prison service announced that Mr Navalny died during his detention at an Arctic penal colony on Friday. The Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary General met the Russian Ambassador on Tuesday, where Irelands outrage was conveyed to the Russian diplomat. It was relayed to Yury Filatov that the ultimate responsibility for (Navalnys) death rests with Russian leadership. The department also called for a full, independent and transparent investigation into his death. .@dfatirl summoned the Russian Ambassador yesterday to express outrage at the death in prison of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, reiterate that ultimate responsibility for his death rests with Russian leadership, & call for a full, independent & transparent investigation. https://t.co/cNKA76JSq5 Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) February 21, 2024 Mr Martin, who met Mr Navalnys widow Yulia Navalnaya at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, said her husbands treatment in detention was chilling and ruthless. Asked if he agreed with her that the Russian state killed Mr Navalny, he said: Theres no question about that. Im not just referring to the actual immediate situation at the weekend but rather the progressive, savage treatment of him in terms of his imprisonment and his movement to the Arctic Circle. There are some harrowing accounts of the latter stages of his detention in terms of freezing cold in the cells, the limited exercise. On a visit to Belfast, Mr Martin said the treatment and death of Mr Navalny was reflective of the oppressive regime in Moscow. It reflects a regime that is suppressing freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, opposition, dissent, and we communicated that to him, and also weve communicated to the ambassador repeatedly that Russia should pull back and withdraw out of Ukraine because of the misery that has been inflicted on so many Ukrainians, and the war is quite shocking also, he said. We want good relations with countries, but when the UN charter is so flagrantly violated, we have to communicate in the strongest possible manner our view, and the view of the Irish people, to such acts. Asked why Dana Erlich, the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, had not been summoned to answer questions over her countrys actions in Gaza, Mr Martin said I have communicated directly to the Israeli government. I met (former) foreign minister (Eli) Cohen, and weve communicated directly from government to government our position in respect of the war on Gaza and the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and the need for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid and support. We will continue to do that, and we also communicate, and we have communicated, with the Israeli ambassador also. Eimear Dodd The widow of the late founder of suicide prevention charity Console has been fined 1,500 after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to keep proper books of account as a director of the company. Patricia Kelly (61) is the widow of the charity's former chief executive, the late Paul Kelly. Console was set up in 2006 to provide services on a voluntary basis to people who suffered bereavement as a result of suicide. Mr Kelly and his wife were listed as company directors of the registered charity. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told on Thursday that the charity received funding totalling 2.3 million between 2010 and 2016, the majority from the HSE. Kelly of Alexandra Manor, Clane, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to one count of failure, other than wilfully, to keep proper books of account as a director of a company, contrary to the Companies Act, 1990, between December 2006 and May 2015. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was not pursuing other charges against Kelly after accepting a guilty plea on the basis that it was not a "wilful" failure, and as such, she could not be imprisoned for the offence. The maximum fine available to the court for this offence is 10,000. The court was told that 96 payments - totalling 223,000 made between 2006 and 2015 were traced by the investigation to accounts controlled by Mr Kelly, which also named his wife as an account holder. Shane Costelloe SC, prosecuting, said the lion's share of the prosecution was directed against Mr Kelly, and it seemed he was the person controlling the accounts into which payments were made. He said while Kelly was named on the accounts, there were issues with signatures, and the prosecution was unable to confirm that she was the person who signed certain documents. Mr Kelly had been facing multiple charges but died by suicide in February 2020, the court heard. Judge Martin Nolan on Thursday noted the court could not impose a custodial sentence due to the basis on which the plea was entered. He said, It seems while the State may have its suspicions, at a certain point it came to the conclusion it could not prove the allegations, so it adopted a position in that it accepted a plea." The judge said the investigation took "hundreds or thousands of hours and liquidators were involved, and it seemed like a lot of money, and the main person they were interested in is no longer with us." He said Kelly was now living in straitened circumstances and imposed a fine of 1,500 with six months to pay. She is also automatically disqualified as a director for five years. Detective Garda Garry Callinan of the Corporate Enforcement Authority said the charity was obliged to submit reports to the Companies Registration Office (CRO) as well as audited reports to various sources of funding. The HSE started a national audit of companies which received grants in 2014 and an internal auditor was selected to review Console's company records and accounts in 2015. It quickly became clear there was a lack of co-operation by Console's directors in the auditing process. This continued until 2016, when the audit was finalised by the HSE, which gave rise to concerns about how the money was dispersed by the charity. A receiver was later appointed to the charity, and they became aware that certain documents and reports had been moved offsite. An order was obtained for these records, which included hard drives analysed as part of the investigation. Det Gda Callinan said an investigation included reviewing tens of thousands of documents. During the investigation, it became clear that some people were unaware they were listed as directors of the charity and that inaccurate or incorrect accounts were submitted to the CRO. The charity is in liquidation. Fraudulent invoices paid by the charity were also identified, and the money was traced to personal accounts held by the couple. Other payments appeared to have been made to legitimate creditors; however, it was found that these were also paid to accounts held by the couple. Det Gda Callinan agreed with Remy Farrell SC, defending, that the prosecution had intended to charge his client's late husband with the same offences that she faced before the plea was accepted. It was also agreed that Kelly studied to be a beautician and has no training or expertise in bookkeeping. She is also facing ongoing civil proceedings brought by the liquidator of the charity. Mr Farrell asked the court to take into account that an early-ish plea was entered after the proposal was made by the defence. He said Kelly has been living under the shadow of this prosecution for a long time. His client is on a widow's pension and is of limited means. He asked the court to impose a modest or very modest fine. Article 370 Movie OTT Platform Release Date Yami Gautam news 'Article 370 ' is a Telugu Action film Article 370 Movie OTT Release Date Update: 'Article 370 ' is a Telugu Action film which is set to release on February 23, 2024 in your nearby cinemas. 'Article 370' is a politcal drama starring Yami Gautam, Priyamani, and Arun Govil. Helmed by Aditya Jambhale, 'Article 370' depicts the life of young field agent who gets picked from the Prime Minister's office for a top-secret mission to crack down on terrorism and corruption. Advertisement Just recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the film during his speech in Jammu and Kashmir. He said, "I have heard that a film on Article 370 is going to be released this week... It is a good thing as it will help people in getting correct information. Reposting a clip from the event, Yami Gautam expressed happiness and wrote on X, It is an absolute honour to watch PM@narendramodi Ji talk about #Article370Movie. Article 370 Movie OTT Platform Release Date Update: The makers of Article 370 have not yet confirmed any OTT release date as of now. However, there might be further announcements regarding the streaming of the movie online after its theatrical release. In the meanwhile, there are rumours that the film will land on Jio Cinema post-theatrical release. Je Paisa Bolda Hunda OTT Platform Release Date News 'Je Paisa Bolda Hunda' is a Punjabi language comedy film Je Paisa Bolda Hunda OTT Release Date Update: 'Je Paisa Bolda Hunda' is a Punjabi language comedy film which is set to released on February 23, 2024 in your nearby cinemas. "Je Paisa Bolda Hunda" is a comedy movie starring Hardeep Grewal, Ihana Dhillon, Raj Dhaliwal and Sukhwinder Raj as lead characters. The film is directed by Ihana Dhillon. "Je Paisa Bolda Hunda: The Voice of the Streets" is a heartwarming story set in the bustling streets of a small town in Punjab, India. Advertisement The film revolves around the life of Jaspreet, a spirited young man with a passion for music and a dream of making it big in the music industry. Born and raised in a modest neighborhood, Jaspreet faces numerous challenges and obstacles on his journey to pursue his musical aspirations. Despite financial struggles and skepticism from his family and friends, Jaspreet remains steadfast in his determination to follow his heart and share his music with the world. As Jaspreet navigates through the ups and downs of life, he forms meaningful connections with fellow musicians, local artists, and supportive mentors who believe in his talent and offer guidance along the way. Advertisement Through his soulful lyrics and catchy tunes, Jaspreet's music resonates with the struggles and dreams of the people in his community, earning him a loyal following and recognition as a voice of the streets. However, as Jaspreet popularity grows, he must confront the temptations and pitfalls of fame, grappling with questions of identity, integrity, and staying true to his roots amidst the glitz and glamour of the music industry. In a climactic performance that captures the hearts of audiences far and wide, Jaspreet proves that no matter where you come from or what obstacles you face, the power of music can transcend barriers and inspire hope, unity, and change. Advertisement "Je Paisa Bolda Hunda: The Voice of the Streets" is a celebration of music, culture, and the indomitable human spirit, reminding us that sometimes, all it takes is a dream and a melody to make the world listen. Je Paisa Bolda Hunda movie OTT Platform Release Date Update: the makers of Je Paisa Bolda Hunda' have not yet confirmed any OTT release date as of now. However, there might be further announcements regarding the streaming of the movie online after its theatrical release. Farmers' protest 2024: Who was Shubhkaran Singh? Here's how he died at Khanauri border? Shubhkaran was brought dead but the initial examination suggested he was hit by a bullet. Shubhkaran Singh death news: Who was Shubhkaran Singh? Farmers' protest in 2024 intensified as the young farmer Shubhkaran Singh died at the Khanauri border during the clash between the protesting farmers and police officials. Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old farmer from Bhatinda, was killed in clashes between security personnel and protesting farmers at the Khanauri border on Wednesday. Advertisement According to information, the deceased had suffered an injury to his head, however, the exact cause of his death would be ascertained only after the post-mortem examination because officials said that he died of a bullet injury. It has been reported that Shubhkaran was brought dead but the initial examination suggested he was hit by a bullet. Farmers at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders said the police fired rubber bullets along with tear gas shells while the Haryana police officials said that the farmers attacked security personnel with stones and sticks. Advertisement The police also alleged that the protesters poured chili powder on stubble and set it on fire at the Khanauri border. In the meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, "The news of the death of 21-year-old Shubhakaran at Khanuri border is a matter of great sadness that the youth of my state is no longer in this world. I want to ask the central government is the farmer of Punjab not allowed to go to the capital of his own country?" "We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Shubhakaran in this hour of sorrow... We assure to that help the family in all aspects economically and socially... After the post-mortem, appropriate action will be taken against the responsible officials," said Punjab CM. Advertisement (For more news apart from Shubhkaran Singh's death news and who was he, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit overturned the jury's verdict that slapped $1 billion penalty on Cox Communications Inc. (COX) for infringement of more than 10,000 copyrighted works. The 2019 verdict was in favor of the plaintiffs, including Sony Music, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and EMI, who accused the internet service provider for not strictly addressing the copyright violations and failing to take actions against music pirates. The jury awarded fine of approximately $100,000 for each copyright infringed song. On Tuesday, Judge Pamela Harris and Senior Circuit Judge Henry Floyd along with Judge Allison Jones Rushing discarded the verdict by arguing that "Cox did not profit from its subscribers' acts of infringement, a legal prerequisite for vicarious liability." "The continued payment of monthly fees for internet service, even by repeat infringers, was not a financial benefit flowing directly from the copyright infringement itself," Rushing stated. However, the court upheld Cox Communication's lack of action to terminate license of music pirates, which "accords with principles of aiding and abetting liability in the criminal law. Lending a friend a hammer is innocent conduct; doing so with knowledge that the friend will use it to break into a credit union ATM supports a conviction for aiding and abetting bank larceny." The appeal court asked the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to conduct a new trial regarding the damages penalty. Previously, Cox Communications' appeal to lower the penalty in a federal court in Virginia had failed, following which the company filed a motion with a district court in Colorado against Sony for allegedly fabricating evidence. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Iberdrola SA (IBDSF.PK), a Spanish renewable company, Thursday reported an increase in preliminary net profit for the full year, supported by an investment of 11.38 billion euros. For the 12 months, net income moved up by 10.7 percent to 4.8 billion euros. Grids and offshore wind were the main drivers of an annual investment of 11.38 billion euros across all geographies. EBITDA was 14.42 billion euros, up 9 percent from the previous year. Iberdrola will pay an annual dividend of 0.55 euro per share, an increase of 10.8 percent from the previous year. Looking ahead, Ignacio Galan, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, said: "After a year of record investments, our enhanced financial solidity means we will continue to invest significantly in the energy transition in 2024. New investment frameworks in networks and our offshore wind projects under construction will help us to deliver strong and profitable growth for the year." For the full year, the company expects an annual net profit growth of 5 percent to 7 percent, driven by a planned investment of 12 billion euros. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Shikoku Shimbun - Feb 22, 2024 - 15:21 | All, Japan A pair of senior high school students from Kagawa Prefecture in early February won the national high school Hanaike Flower Arrangement Battle, a competition in which young people from all over the country compete to create the best floral display. The competition was held in Rexxam Hall in Takamatsu on Feb. 4. It was the third straight year that Ayu Kurokawa and Fuuka Hata, both 18-year-old students at Hanzan High School, took part in the national competition of flower arrangement, a practice known as "ikebana" in Japan. Kurokawa and Hata, who competed under the team name "Hanzan Hana Emi", which translates to Hanzan Flower Smiles, became Kagawa Prefecture's first winners of the event. The event has been held since 2017, when the prefectural government and Japanese ornamental plant manufacturers came together to make Kagawa Prefecture the mecca for high school ikebana devotees. For teams to acquire the right to compete on the national level, they must first win the preliminary rounds held in their local districts. This year, the event saw the most participants in the heats, some 260 teams from 113 different schools. Only 11 of the teams advanced. After reaching the nationals two years in a row, Kurokawa and Hata easily won through the preliminaries. In the finals, they showed great focus and used their sharp intuition to produce a masterpiece and capture top spot. The Shikoku Shimbun Related coverage: Karate school members engage in midwinter training at Kagawa Pref. beach Three-wheeled electric bikes to promote sightseeing on Japan's Shodo Island Dinosaurs dash for kids' health on Kanonji beach Intapp, Inc. (INTA) announced on Thursday that it has agreed to acquire Delphai, an AI software company based in Berlin. Financial specifics of the deal were not disclosed. The combination focuses on applied AI for automating, structuring, and enhancing firmographic data. The completion of the transaction is to be finalized within the next 60 days. Following the acquisition, Robin Tech, the founder and CEO of Delphai, and the company's team of AI experts in various fields such as product management, research and development, engineering, data, and support, will become part of Intapp. The company will then incorporate Delphai's AI into its solutions throughout its intelligent cloud platform, thus expediting its AI strategy. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Top 10 sedan sales list was headed by the Maruti DZire that contributed a near 50% to total sales in January 2024 Demand for sedans have been fluctuating in recent months. While in November 2023 and December 2023, sedan sales suffered a YoY and MoM de-growth, the segment bounced back in January 2024 and posted marked improvement in sales. Top 10 Sedans Jan 2024 Maruti Dzire Best-Selling Sedan in January 2024 Taking the top 10 sedan sales into account, total sales last month stood at 33,891 units, up 7.45 percent over 31,541 units sold in January 2023. This was a volume growth of 2,350 units. MoM sales also improved by 17.47 percent from 28,850 units sold in December 2023. This was for the first time in many months that sedan sales have improved both YoY and MoM. The last time that YoY and MoM growth was reported was in August 2023, albeit marginally. Once again, it was the Maruti Suzuki Dzire that led the segment and that too by a significant margin. Sales of the Dzire stood at 16,773 units in January 2024, up 48.21 percent over 11,317 units sold in January 2023 to command a 49.49 percent share on this list. MoM sales also went up 19.70 percent from 14,012 units sold in December 2023. Sales of the Dzire are slated to go even higher in the months ahead with the 2024 Dxire doing its test rounds. It is expected to launch in India in June 2024. At No. 2 was the Hyundai Aura with 5,516 units sold last month, a 19.03 percent YoY and 44.70 percent MoM growth. There had been 4,634 units and 3,812 units sold in January 2023 and December 2023 respectively. Increased sales also saw its share percentage improve to 16.28 percent in January 2024 from 13.12 percent held a month earlier. Honda Amaze was the 3rd best-selling sedan last month with 2,972 units sold in January 2024, down 46.74 percent YoY over 5,580 units sold in January 2023. Hyundai Verna Sales Improve in January 2024 A surprising shift in ranking saw the Hyundai Verna at No. 4 of this list, positioned ahead of the VW Virtus and Tata Tigor. The Verna sedan has posted outstanding sales growth in January 2024 as its sales surged to 2,172 units in the past month, a 118.29 percent growth over 995 units sold in January 2023. MoM sales went up by 205.06 percent from just 712 units sold in December 2023. VW Virtus sales grew by 36.26 percent YoY to 1,879 units in January 2024, up from 1,379 units sold in January 2023 while MoM sales suffered a 14.55 percent de-growth over 2,199 units sold in December 2023. Tata Tigor/EV (1,539 units) and Skoda Slavia (1,242 units) have each posted both YoY and MoM decline in sales. Honda City (1,123 units) saw a 45.43 percent YoY decline in sales while MoM sales grew just marginally by 0.99 percent. Maruti Ciaz sedan sales also ended with lower sales in January 2024 down to just 363 units. This was a 63.70 percent YoY de-growth from 1,000 units sold in January 2023 while MoM sales slipped 25.77 percent over 489 units sold in December 2023. Toyota Camry, though at No. 10 on this list has seen sales growth of 428.81 percent to 312 units last month from just 59 units sold in January 2023 while MoM sales improved by 73.33 percent from 180 units sold in December 2023. Upon observing the test prototype, it appears that Toyota and ARAI are exploring the possibilities of autonomous driving under Indian road conditions. Recently, test models of the Toyota RAV4 were spotted navigating through Punes urban landscape, hinting at a shift in the evaluation approach for self-driving technology in the challenging Indian traffic environment. Toyota RAV4 has been a recurrent sight in India, with sightings dating back to 2020 and 2021, continuing into 2022. Fast forward to 2024, and the Toyota RAV4 is back in the spotlight. This time, the test mule is equipped with multiple LiDAR sensors. ARAI Evaluates Self-Driving Capabilities for Indian Roads? Count them, and youll find at least four sensors one atop the roof in an aftermarket carrier, one at the rear bumper, one at the front left wheel well, and presumably another on the opposite wheel. Notably, the roof-mounted LiDAR sensor is the largest and seemingly the most potent of them all. This uncovered RAV4 test mule featured no camouflage, and a conspicuous ON TEST BY ARAI, GOVT OF INDIA sticker adorned the rear windshield. It could well be a repurposed test mule from earlier sightings, now enlisted by ARAI in 2024 to evaluate the feasibility of self-driving scenarios on Indian roads. LiDAR, short for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology recognized by tech enthusiasts as Apple uses it for depth measurement on Pro models of iPhones and iPads. While the concept is similar, ARAIs usage of professional-grade LiDARs in vehicles is primarily for real-time object detection and efficient distance measurement. LiDARs excel in tracking distant objects, complemented by the necessity of short-distance object tracking with radars, and imaging from multiple cameras. Understanding LiDAR and Its Purpose for ARAI Despite Minister Nitin Gadkari expressing his stance on autonomous driving technologys development for the Indian market, ARAIs proactive testing raises curiosity. Speculatively, ARAI may be gathering raw data from Indian traffic conditions to calibrate or develop self-driving algorithms. The real-time imaging of the surroundings, facilitated by LiDAR sensors, plays a crucial role in path planning, guiding the cars trajectory, and avoiding obstacles. ARAI might be conducting research on behalf of a client interested in autonomous driving in Indian conditions. Alternatively, this could be Toyotas standard testing protocol, where they collect traffic behavioural data across global automotive markets and outsource similar operations to ARAI. Regardless, the outcome of this testing will be intriguing, especially considering Nitin Gadkaris firm and well-grounded stance on autonomous driving in India. The Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH) is organising participation for Bahraini tech companies at the Bahrain Pavilion in LEAP 2024 exhibition. LEAP 2024, renowned as the techs biggest event, is slated to take place at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Malham, Saudi Arabia from March 4 to 7. Tareq Fakhroo, Chairman of BTECH, said the participation of Bahraini companies in this global event will undoubtedly yield fruitful results in catalysing business development, elevating competitiveness, driving sales growth, and bolstering their contributions to the private sector and the GDP of Bahrain. Global entities The participation will enable Bahraini tech companies to actively engage with prominent global entities within the sector during the LEAP exhibition. This opportunity allows them to stay abreast of the latest technological advancements, establish regional and international partnerships, and showcase their products and services to an international audience. Fakhroo added: "The Bahrain Pavilion at 'LEAP 2024' represents a distinctive opportunity for technology companies from Bahrain to enter the Saudi market and other international markets. We aim to leverage collective experiences to promote Bahraini digital exports locally, regionally, and globally. This strategic approach aligns with global developments in the ICT sector, contributing to the heightened presence of the Bahraini technology sector in regional forums and increasing its contribution to the GDP."--TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 22:52 | World, All, Japan A group of Indonesian environmental and human rights activists on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Japan, demanding an end to the release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, which started last summer. Marthin Hadiwinata, a member of the local environmental organization Ekomarin and one of the plaintiffs, said the release of the treated nuclear wastewater "will directly impact Indonesia's ecosystem," asserting that seafood products contaminated by the water pose a hazard to humans who consume them. After the lawsuit was filed at the Central Jakarta District Court, Marthin said at a press conference that they suspect seafood caught in Indonesia's waters and those imported from Japan have been contaminated with radioactive substances, citing some studies without elaborating. The activists said in a statement that they decided to take the case to court after the Japanese government did not respond to the complaints they had submitted through the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta. At the press conference, Gina Sabrina of the Association of Legal Aid and Human Rights Organizations said the activists' demands Japan stop releasing the wastewater, adding it also demands Tokyo pay damages totaling 1 trillion rupiah ($64 million) to the plaintiffs over the pollution. The court said it will decide on the date of the first hearing later. Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in its first full report since the water release began in August last year that Japan's discharge of treated radioactive water into the sea is consistent with international safety standards. The Japanese government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., maintain that the disposal of the wastewater is a crucial step toward decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that suffered nuclear meltdowns triggered by a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Related coverage: Japan minister urges TEPCO for steps to avoid nuclear leak recurrence Japan, Pacific islands oppose change of status quo amid China clout IAEA reaffirms Japan's treated water release in line with standards KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 19:26 | All, World, Japan An annual ceremony was held in western Japan on Thursday to press the country's claim to a group of South Korea-controlled islets in the Sea of Japan, a long-standing sticking point in bilateral ties that have recently been improving. Shimane Gov. Tatsuya Maruyama urged the central government to promote talks with South Korea toward a solution of the territorial dispute over Takeshima at the commemoration day event organized by the prefectural government. The islets are called Dokdo in South Korea. "Takeshima is an inherent territory of Japan," Maruyama said, underscoring that the prefectural government will put more efforts in "securing territorial rights" to the islets and pursue related research studies. Shojiro Hiranuma, a Cabinet Office parliamentary vice minister, said at the event that South Korea's "illegal occupation cannot be tolerated," and added that the central government aims to peacefully resolve the issue through diplomatic negotiations in line with international law. The Shimane government designated Feb. 22 as "Takeshima Day" in 2005, a century after a Cabinet decision was issued placing them under the prefecture's jurisdiction. The event commemorating that decision has been organized for the past 19 years. The ceremony saw a Cabinet Office parliamentary vice minister attend for the 12th straight year, although the local government has repeatedly asked the central government to dispatch a higher-ranking official to the event. Later on Thursday, the South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Taisuke Mibae, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a protest with Japan over the Shimane event. The islets, covering a total land area of 0.2 square kilometer and located roughly 200 km from either country, consist of volcanic rock with little vegetation or drinking water. But they are located in rich fishing grounds. South Korea has stationed security personnel on the islets since 1954 and taken effective control of them. Bilateral relations, which had deteriorated in the late 2010s and early 2020s to the worst level in decades, have seen notable signs of improvement since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022. Although disputes stemming from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and the territorial issue linger, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Yoon have sought to deepen ties between their nations and with their key ally, the United States, to tackle common challenges, especially a nuclear-armed North Korea. Related coverage: China plans to keep ships near Senkakus 365 days in 2024 Japan, ASEAN vow to widen cooperation as they mark 50 years of ties FOCUS: Fears grow Japan-U.S. alliance may be hurt following Osprey crash KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2024 - 13:31 | All, Japan A U.S. attorney said Wednesday a leader of a yakuza organized crime syndicate has been charged with conspiring to traffic uranium and weapons-grade plutonium from Myanmar to other countries. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, is accused of contacting an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent, who was posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker, in 2020 about the sale of nuclear materials to be supplied by an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said in a statement. When the agent introduced an associate posing as an Iranian general, Ebisawa offered to supply "powerful" plutonium, the statement said. Ebisawa then presented the agent with a list of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, he wanted to purchase from the agent on behalf of the leader of the ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar in May 2021, according to the statement. In February 2022, the agent received from Ebisawa and his coconspirators at a hotel in Thailand containers holding what they said was yellowcake uranium concentrate powder. An examination by a U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory showed that the samples contained detectable quantities of uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, the statement said. Ebisawa was previously arrested and charged in April 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses in New York. "It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said in the statement. BRASILIA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday discussed the Gaza crisis, among other things. "President Lula reaffirmed his wish for peace and an end to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip," the Brazilian presidential office said in a statement after the meeting. "Both agreed on the need for the creation of a Palestinian State." On Feb. 18, Lula da Silva compared Israel's attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip to the massacre of Jews by Nazis during World War II, igniting a diplomatic scuffle between the two countries. His remarks were widely reported, leading Israel to declare Lula da Silva "persona non grata (a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome)" until he retracted his statement. Brazil's president, meanwhile, recalled his ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultation. After meeting with Brazil's president, Blinken traveled to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the meeting of foreign ministers from the G20. Archaeologists have found traces of ancient ochre-based multicomponent adhesives on 40,000-year-old stone tools from Le Moustier, France. These astonishingly well-preserved tools showcase a technical solution broadly similar to examples of tools made by early modern humans in Africa, but the exact recipe reflects a Neanderthal spin, which is the production of grips for handheld tools, said Dr. Radu Iovita, a researcher with the Center for the Study of Human Origins at New York University. In the research, Dr. Iovita and colleagues examined stone tools with traces of red and yellow colorants from Le Moustier, an archaeological site in France that was discovered in the early 20th century. These stone tools were created by Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic period between 120,000 and 40,000 years ago. They are kept in the collection of Berlins Museum of Prehistory and Early History and had not previously been examined in detail. The items had been individually wrapped and untouched since the 1960s. As a result, the adhering remains of organic substances were very well preserved, said Dr. Ewa Dutkiewicz, a researcher with Berlins Museum of Prehistory and Early History. The researchers found traces of a mixture of ochre and bitumen on several Mousterian stone tools, such as scrapers, flakes, and blades. Ochre is a naturally occurring earth pigment; bitumen is a component of asphalt and can be produced from crude oil, but also occurs naturally in the soil. We were surprised that the ochre content was more than 50%. This is because air-dried bitumen can be used unaltered as an adhesive, but loses its adhesive properties when such large proportions of ochre are added, said Dr. Patrick Schmidt, a researcher at the University of Tubingen. The scientists examined these materials in tensile tests used to determine strength and other measures. It was different when we used liquid bitumen, which is not really suitable for gluing. If 55% ochre is added, a malleable mass is formed, Dr. Schmidt said. The mixture was just sticky enough for a stone tool to remain stuck in it, but without adhering to hands, making it suitable material for a handle. In fact, a microscopic examination of the use-wear traces on these stone tools revealed that the adhesives on the tools from Le Moustier were used in this way. The tools showed two kinds of microscopic wear: one is the typical polish on the sharp edges that is generally caused by working other materials, Dr. Iovita. The other is a bright polish distributed all over the presumed hand-held part, but not elsewhere, which we interpreted as the results of abrasion from the ochre due to movement of the tool within the grip. The use of adhesives with several components, including various sticky substances such as tree resins and ochre, was previously known from early Homo sapiens in Africa but not from earlier Neanderthals in Europe. Overall, the development of adhesives and their use in the manufacture of tools is considered to be some of the best material evidence of the cultural evolution and cognitive abilities of early humans. Compound adhesives are considered to be among the first expressions of the modern cognitive processes that are still active today, Dr. Schmidt said. In the Le Moustier region, ochre and bitumen had to be collected from distant locations, which meant a great deal of effort, planning, and a targeted approach. Taking into account the overall context of the finds, we assume that this adhesive material was made by Neanderthals, Dr. Dutkiewicz said. What our study shows is that early Homo sapiens in Africa and Neanderthals in Europe had similar thought patterns, Dr. Schmidt said. Their adhesive technologies have the same significance for our understanding of human evolution. This research is described in a paper published today in the journal Science Advances. _____ Patrick Schmidt et al. 2024. Ochre-based compound adhesives at the Mousterian type-site document complex cognition and high investment. Science Advances 10 (8); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adl0822 Mice of the genus Pseudomys are among the few terrestrial placental mammals that colonized Australia without human intervention. The little native mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus), also known as the delicate mouse, was previously thought to be a single species spanning a massive stretch of the country from the Pilbara in Western Australia, across parts of the Northern Territory and through Queensland down to the New South Wales border. We now know there are actually three distinct species, said Dr. Emily Roycroft, a researcher at the Australian National University. Thanks to new genetic technology, weve confirmed the delicate mouse is three species, not one. Identifying undescribed species and giving them official names goes a long way to making sure theyre properly looked after. While it might be difficult for the untrained eye to tell the species apart, the discovery is significant for the future of the tiny mouse. The two new species havent had any conservation or research attention, because we didnt know they were there. We dont know, for example, if population declines have gone undetected as a result of all three species being assessed as a single unit. The delicate mouse has not been a conservation priority but thats because it was thought to have a distribution three times larger than it actually does. This will allow us to reassess. The delicate mouse differs from the mice you might come across in your home or backyard in a few important ways. House mice, black rats and brown rats are invasive species brought to Australia since European colonization. Theyre very different to native rodents, both evolutionary and ecologically. They compete with our native species for resources. Delicate mice are part of a group of native rodents that have been evolving in Australia for the last 5 million years. Theyre a crucial part of Australias natural environment and ecosystems. Delicate mice are our smallest Australian rodent they can weigh as little as 6 grams, so theyre really tiny. The researchers also found delicate mice are excellent adaptors to their environment, whether that be arid desert or forest. The three species will now go by common names that point to their location: the western delicate mouse or the Pilbara delicate mouse, the eastern delicate mouse and the northern delicate mouse, they said. The teams paper will be published in the journal Molecular Ecology. _____ Emily Roycroft et al. 2024. Rapid speciation in Australian delicate mice. Molecular Ecology, in press The yellow-crested helmetshrike (Prionops alberti) is listed as a lost bird by the American Bird Conservancy because it had not seen in nearly two decades. First described in 1933, the yellow-crested helmetshrike is a member of the bird family Vangidae. Also known as the King Alberts helmetshrike, this bird is unique in its black plumage and bright yellow crest. The species is endemic to the mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The yellow-crested helmetshrike is endemic to the western slopes of the Albertine Rift of Central Africa, a region that has been largely inaccessible due to war and security issues, but that has recently become safer to visit, said Dr. Michael Harvey, an ornithologist at the University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. Harvey and colleagues made the discovery during a six-week expedition to the Itombwe Massif, a mountain range in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was a mind-blowing experience to come across these birds, Dr. Harvey said. We knew they might be possible here, but I was not prepared for how spectacular and unique they would appear in life. The ornithologists trekked by foot for over 121 km (75 miles) through the depths of the Itombwe Massif, studying birds, amphibians and reptiles along the way. While exploring the cloud forests on the slopes of a mountain, they stumbled upon the helmetshrike, a striking black bird with a bright yellow helmet. These birds appeared as rather noisy and active groups in the midstory of the forest, they said. In total, about 18 birds were found at three sites during the expedition. This inspires hope that perhaps the species still has a reasonably healthy population in the remote forests of the region, Dr. Harvey said. But mining and logging as well as the clearing of forests for agriculture are making inroads deep into the forests of the Itombwe range. We are in discussions with other researchers and conservation organizations to further efforts to protect the regions forests and the helmetshrike. Right now is a golden opportunity to protect these tropical forests, so that we dont lose species like the helmetshrike before they are known and studied. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China Wildlife Conservation Association has inked agreements with Madrid Zoo Aquarium of Spain and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance of the United States concerning cooperation on the conservation of giant pandas, as part of efforts to step up the protection of the species on a global level. Currently, the association is also holding consultations with another U.S. zoo and an Austrian zoo on such cooperation, it said. Spain, the United States and Austria were among the first countries to carry out international cooperation with China regarding giant panda conservation. Thanks to the joint efforts of their research teams, China and these three countries have managed to breed a total of 28 giant panda cubs. "Ensuring the health and safety of giant pandas living abroad is the most important premise and foundation of international cooperation," said a source with the association. The association said it will further strengthen daily health monitoring and physical examinations of giant pandas living abroad and ensure the full coverage of field inspections and assessments in 2024. Giant pandas have been playing the role of "ambassadors," fostering bridges of friendship between China and other countries. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries, and successfully bred 68 giant panda cubs in 41 litters. VIENTIANE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat have reviewed the work of a key committee on financial cooperation and outlined strategic plans for the years ahead. The representatives gathered in Lao capital Vientiane for the 78th meeting of the Working Committee on Financial Services Liberalization (WC-FSL), according to a report issued by Laos' central bank, the Bank of the Lao PDR, on Thursday. During the meeting held on Monday, officials in charge of the WC-FSL highlighted the progress in the body's activities, including key initiatives in the finance and banking sector, and the ASEAN Economic Community strategic plan. They also focused on key performance indicators for financial integration, crucial areas related to financial liberalization under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, and the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement. The meeting also reviewed the status of the annual priorities for 2023-2024, and key priorities for capacity initiatives, especially for the green economy and the digital economy, according to the report. VIENTIANE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce hosted the 45th meeting of the high-level task force on ASEAN economic integration in Vientiane province to discuss the policy of ASEAN economic integration. The meeting was held from Tuesday to Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Manothong Vongsay, Lao National Radio reported on Thursday. The meeting reviewed the progress made in setting the ASEAN economic priorities plan under Laos' ASEAN chairmanship in 2024, which has three main components including integration and economic connectivity, creating a sustainable future for all parties involved, and transition to a digital future. These areas comprise 14 roadmaps which will be presented to ASEAN economic ministers for consideration and approval at the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting, which Laos will host and chair in March 2024. The meeting also discussed the draft strategic plan for the ASEAN Community after 2025, which aims to enhance the bloc's resilience, competitiveness and sustainability in the face of global challenges and opportunities. The meeting reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment to advancing economic integration in the region, both within and beyond Southeast Asia, amidst numerous uncertainties. ASEAN economic integration will serve to promote goods and services, investment, labor migration, and capital mobilization in the region. During the meeting, Manothong expressed gratitude for the support and cooperation of ASEAN member countries in ensuring that Laos' hosting and chairmanship of the bloc throughout 2024 is successful and fruitful. The-city spotlight SF rights agency director a 'fierce champion' for equity, Black residents Craig Lee/The Examiner Sheryl Evans Davis, executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission: There are two things I think I always show up with. One is centering or prioritizing community voice, and then two is attention or focus on youth development. Sheryl Evans Davis, the executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, has a knack for starting social-service programs that take on a life of their own. It began when Davis was a young kindergarten teacher at a private boys school in The City. She loved the work, but was concerned by the gap between the education that her students and the children in her neighborhood were getting. Daviss response was to convince the school to let her start a volunteer-led summer camp on campus for kids from the Western Addition and later, to launch a peer-to-peer after-school tutoring program that still exists. That was the beginning of her community work in San Francisco. I felt so conflicted because I was working in this really great, amazing school, but it wasnt that diverse definitely not socioeconomically diverse, not racially diverse, Davis said. In her earliest years growing up in Texas, Davis was raised by her mother, who later married. The family then moved around in the East Bay, and Davis was bused for part of her youth to mostly white schools in Berkeley. She spent summers with her grandmother outside of Dallas, where the vestiges of Jim Crow were still apparent. Davis went on to help run volunteer summer camps in the Western Addition. Davis was then recruited to do community outreach for then-Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and later joined then-Public Defender Jeff Adachis office, where in 2006, she launched the MoMAGIC Collaborative, a public-private initiative in the Fillmore District to help kids and prevent violence. Throughout, Davis was a program coordinator for Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco, and for five years was executive director of Collective Impact, a community-based service organization in the Western Addition. In 2016, then-Mayor Ed Lee gave her the top job as executive director of the Human Rights Commission, a department that shares its name with an 11-member panel on which Davis had previously served as chair and vice chair. Along the way, Davis who graduated from San Francisco State University after doing terribly during her first year in college at UC Davis, she said got a masters in public administration from the University of San Francisco and a doctorate in education from the USC Rossier School of Education. Today, Davis oversees a department that has tripled in size under her watch to nearly 50 full- and part-time employees, with a budget of $28.5 million for investigating and mediating discrimination complaints and supporting an increasingly wide variety of programs addressing social inequities. Since Davis took the helm, she has supervised the launch of numerous programs, including Opportunities for All, which has placed more than 10,000 interns in private and public sector positions over the last five years; the Office of Racial Equity, which promotes equitable practices in city government; and the Dream Keeper Initiative, the $60 million-a-year effort launched by Mayor Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton in 2021 to improve the fortunes of San Franciscos Black population, which had dwindled to 5.7% of The Citys total and suffered disproportionate levels of poverty, educational problems and ill health, among other challenges. I couldnt think of a person or a department that I would want to entrust the Dream Keeper initiative to more than Dr. Davis as the leader of the Human Rights Commission, Walton said. As we talk about achieving equity in San Francisco and achieving outcomes for the Black population, Dr. Davis is someone who has been at the forefront of all of this work. In a statement, Breed called Davis a fierce champion for San Franciscos Black community spanning decades, and praised her for spearheading programming for equitable economic and educational opportunities for everyone in our City, especially our vulnerable communities, setting an example for prioritizing equity across the country. Davis is also leading Black 2 San Francisco, the Mayors recently announced effort to recruit one or more of the nations historically Black colleges and universities to operate a satellite campus in The City. Shes the doer. Im the talker, Breed joked to representatives from HBCUs and educational institutions who came to an exploratory event that The City hosted earlier this month. The HBCU idea as well as requests for how to implement the Dream Keeper program came out of 60 online community meetings attended by hundreds of people that Davis hosted at Breeds request in the wake of George Floyds murder at the hands a white police officer in Minneapolis in 2020. Ever since I had my first day teaching, there are two things I think I always show up with, Davis said. One is centering or prioritizing community voice, and then two is attention or focus on youth development. Davis work is, at times, controversial and delicate. The Human Rights Commission gathered community input around police use of Tasers, for example, and worked with the San Francisco Police Department to develop a racial-equity action and inclusion plan published in 2020. The plan spans hiring and recruitment, retention and promotion and discipline, among other things. Weve been fortunate over the years to be able to have meaningful conversations with the police to actually challenge the way that they operate, Davis said, and to have them hear what were saying. People in low-income communities and people of color want to live in safe communities, and they want to feel safe around police, Davis said. Many were disappointed late last year when Mayor Breed cut $2 million in funding for a planned Office of Reparations to redress past wrongs to The Citys Black residents as part of a plan drafted by the African American Reparations Advisory Committee and accepted by the Board of Supervisors. Davis said her agency continues to work on other recommendations the committee made, and she doesnt want people to lose sight of the progress being made. One example is the monumental Dream Keeper Initiative. This far-reaching effort involves multiple city agencies and is aimed particularly at bolstering San Franciscos Black population through growing economic and educational outcomes, providing access to holistic health and wellness programs, and ameliorating past harms, such as the displacement of Black residents as a result of urban renewal. The initiative has invested money in Black-owned businesses, service organizations, job training, arts groups and as of December 2023 $24 million in down payments for individual home purchases. It makes investments across San Francisco, including in the Western Addition-Fillmore area, the Civic Center-Tenderloin area, South of Market and Bayview-Hunters Point. Its offered some people hope folks that, you know, are in their 70s or 80s, who said to me, Ive been here a very long time, and this is the first time Ive seen the city commit or make an investment to address the displacement, the gentrification, Davis said. A study of Dream Keepers first two years by HR&A Advisors, done in partnership with the Jumuiya Research Institute, cited the 60 community meetings the Human Rights Commission hosted in 2020 and concluded that the program had remained largely accountable to community needs and ideas, and begun to shift how the City partners with Black-led and Black-serving organizations. Saidah Leatutufu-Burch, director of the Dream Keeper Initiative, echoed similar sentiments. Ive seen how much she (Davis) loves on community, and when she wraps around and really listens to community and does the work to build those relationships, to build the trust in everything that is necessary for folks to believe in government again, Leatutufu-Burch said. The Human Rights Commissions focus is not solely on The Citys Black residents. Davis cites recent efforts to support American Indians and Asian Pacific Islanders. Valerie Tulier-Laiwa, a volunteer executive committee member of the San Francisco Latino Task Force, a collective of more than 30 community-based organizations, said that when the group formed during the onset of COVID-19 to help people with things such as food, healthcare and educational needs, Davis was quick to assign a staff member for support and later assigned Opportunities For All youth intern slots as well. I just have to tell you how much I love and respect her, said Tulier-Laiwa, the Social Impact Partnership program manager at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. She is so humble almost too humble. She is an amazing woman, she said. She has always supported communities that dont always have a voice at the table. Last year, Davis self-published a childrens book called Free to Sing about a girl who finds the confidence to use her voice. Davis recalled spending a lot of time growing up in Black Baptist churches, where she learned poems by the great Black writers Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou that she still quotes. I found my voice through those, Davis said. Indivior surged on Thursday after the opioid addiction treatment maker said it was planning to move its primary listing to the US. Indivior said it was initiating consultations with shareholders on potentially shifting to a primary listing in the US this year, while maintaining a secondary listing in the UK. The company said a US listing could be beneficial as it would "reflect the group's current and future growth opportunities for its proprietary treatments" - Sublocade, Perseries and Opvee - which are centred in the US. In addition, it would attract more US investors and analysts and allow for inclusion in major US indices over time. Indivior also pointed to the fact that a growing proportion of its share capital is owned by US-based investors. News of the potential move came alongside 2023 results, which showed that operating losses narrowed to $4m from $85m a year earlier, while total net revenue rose 21% to $1.1bn. At 0900 GMT, the shares were up 18.1% at 1,601p. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "Indivior is currently the forty-seventh largest company on the FTSE 250 index. One would expect it to receive a higher valuation on the US market and thats a key reason why many companies switch listing location. "The company has nearly half of its shares owned by US investors and the US is one of its major sales regions so there is logic in having a US stock listing. However, it would be yet another blow to the reputation of the London Stock Exchange as a listing venue. The more companies that follow this path, the harder it will be to attract new names to the UK." The government is set to impose new limits of as little as 2 a spin for online slot machines, the Guardian understands, in a move that could cost casino companies hundreds of millions of pounds. Ministers have been consulting on imposing a maximum stake for the digital casino-style games since publishing a white paper on gambling reform last year. Guardian Vauxhalls owner, Stellantis, will make electric vans at its factory in Luton from 2025, helping to secure the future of 1,500 UK jobs at the plant. The Luton factory will produce medium-sized electric vans for the Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat Professional brands, Stellantis announced on Thursday. Guardian Taxpayers will be forced to pay millions of pounds to sacked staff at The Body Shop as administrators oversee a drastic restructuring of the collapsed chain. Employees at the company have been told to make claims through the government-backed redundancy payments service if they are laid off. This is funded using National Insurance contributions. Telegraph Nvidia Corporation forecast first-quarter revenue above estimates last night, banking on huge demand for its industry-leading artificial intelligence chips and improving supply chain dynamics. The company, based in Santa Clara, California, estimated current-quarter revenue of $24 billion, plus or minus 2 per cent, compared with expectations of $22.2 billion. The Times Investment bankers made an unrealistic and inappropriate $1 billion cash demand on the Frasers Group partly out of snobbery towards the retailers owner Mike Ashley, a court has been told. Lawyers told a High Court judge on Wednesday that senior executives at Morgan Stanley wanted the group off its books because Ashley the former owner of Newcastle United FC was viewed as an upstart. The Times An Israeli security person stands on duty at the site of a shooting near the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Feb. 22, 2024. The shooting killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday, according to Israeli police and emergency services. Three gunmen arrived by car, opened fire at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, before two of them were shot by security forces at the scene, according to Israeli police. Another gunman fled the scene, but was shot later. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A shooting near the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday, according to Israeli police and emergency services. Three gunmen arrived by car, opened fire at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, before two of them were shot by security forces at the scene, according to Israeli police. Another gunman fled the scene, but was shot later. Emergency services confirmed to local media that among the eight injured victims, two were in serious condition. The site of a shooting is seen near the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Feb. 22, 2024. The shooting killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday, according to Israeli police and emergency services. Three gunmen arrived by car, opened fire at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, before two of them were shot by security forces at the scene, according to Israeli police. Another gunman fled the scene, but was shot later. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) Israeli security and emergency personnel are seen at the site of a shooting near the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Feb. 22, 2024. The shooting killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday, according to Israeli police and emergency services. Three gunmen arrived by car, opened fire at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, before two of them were shot by security forces at the scene, according to Israeli police. Another gunman fled the scene, but was shot later. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) Israeli security and emergency personnel are seen at the site of a shooting near the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Feb. 22, 2024. The shooting killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday, according to Israeli police and emergency services. Three gunmen arrived by car, opened fire at cars waiting in traffic near the settlement, before two of them were shot by security forces at the scene, according to Israeli police. Another gunman fled the scene, but was shot later. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) Honeywell announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Green Solutions Group Corporation (TGS) on the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project, Vietnam's first green hydrogen plant in the Mekong Delta. Honeywell Battery Energy Storage System helps decrease costs and carbon emissions while providing grid stability from renewable power sources, enabling the production of green hydrogen at the Tra Vinh green hydrogen plant. Honeywell will bring to the project its ready now technologies such as project automation design and management, and energy management for energy transition, including battery energy storage systems (BESS), to enable TGS to integrate renewable energy sources into the green hydrogen plant. Witnessed by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, the MoU signing took place in November 2023 at the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "Honeywell's battery energy storage system will play a key enabling role in the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project", said Ramanathan Valliyappan, Regional General Manager of Honeywell Process Solutions. "It will extend renewable energy from TGS's solar farms beyond sunlight time as well as extend wind power when the winds are calm. Honeywell's BESS platform helps decrease costs and carbon emissions by providing grid stability from renewable power sources, thus enabling the production of green hydrogen at the Tra Vinh plant." In addition to BESS, Honeywell will provide extensive solutions and expertise covering the entire hydrogen value chain to help TGS operate safely, profitably, and meet its renewable energy production goals. "Our collaboration marks a critical step toward the production of green hydrogen at the Tra Vinh plant," said Huynh Thi Kim Quyen, Managing Director of TGS. "The Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Project is a major landmark for our company and a significant milestone toward realizing our national goal of decarbonizing the energy sector with renewable energy solutions, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future." Vietnam pledged to become net zero by 2050. By some estimates, it is one of the top five countries likely to be most affected by climate change, with possible severe social and economic risks. The country has high solar and wind power potential, especially in the Mekong Delta region, where the Tra Vinh plant is located. Honeywell is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. This commitment builds on decades-long history of innovation to help its customers meet their environmental and social goals. About 60% of Honeywell's 2022 new product introduction research and development investment was directed toward ESG-oriented outcomes for customers. The Union Cabinet has approved an amendment in the FDI policy for the space sector, allowing Foreign Direct Investment ranging from 49 to 100 percent. As per the revised policy, 100 percent FDI is permitted in the space sector. Under the amended policy, satellite manufacturing & operation, satellite data products, and ground segment & user segment can receive FDI up to 74 percent through the automatic route, with government route applicable beyond this limit. For sub-sectors such as launch vehicles and associated systems or sub-systems, and the establishment of spaceports for launching and receiving spacecraft, FDI up to 49 percent is allowed through the automatic route, with government route applicable beyond this threshold. Additionally, manufacturing components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground segments, and user segments can now receive 100 percent FDI under the automatic route. Until now, establishing and operating satellites through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was only permitted via the government's approval route. However, in alignment with the vision and strategy outlined in the Indian Space Policy 2023, the Union Cabinet has relaxed the FDI policy in the space sector by introducing more lenient FDI thresholds for various sub-sectors/activities. The amended policy aims to encourage potential investors to invest in Indian space companies. This move is intended to support the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) as articulated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The FDI policy reform will enhance Ease of Doing Business in the country, leading to greater FDI inflows and thereby contributing to the growth of investment, income and employment, it said. The Indian Space Policy 2023 was cited as an overarching, composite, and dynamic framework to implement the vision for unlocking Indias potential in the space sector through enhanced private participation. The policy aims to augment space capabilities, develop a flourishing commercial presence in space, use space as a driver of technology development and derived benefits in allied areas, pursue international relations, and create an ecosystem for effectively implementing space applications among all stakeholders. The proposed reforms seek to liberalize the FDI policy provisions in the space sector by prescribing liberalized entry route and providing clarity for FDI in Satellites, Launch Vehicles and associated systems or sub-systems, Creation of Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft and manufacturing of space-related components and systems", the statement said. The Department of Space engaged in consultations with internal stakeholders including IN-SPACe, ISRO, NSIL, and various industrial stakeholders. New Generation Entrepreneurs (NGEs) have developed capabilities and expertise in satellites and launch vehicles. With heightened investment, they have the potential to enhance the sophistication of their products, expand their operations globally, and capture a larger share of the global space economy. This increased private sector participation would help to generate employment, enable modern technology absorption and make the sector self-reliant. It is expected to integrate Indian companies into global value chains. With this, companies will be able to set up their manufacturing facilities within the country duly encouraging Make In India (MII) and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives of the Government", the statement said. Unico Housing Finance (Unico), a new age digital housing finance company, has strategically chosen Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) as the foundation for its innovative technology designed to provide housing loan solutions and services to underserved segments of the Indian society. Through the utilization of OCI, Unico aims to expedite the home loan approval process, empowering aspiring homeowners to get a step closer to owning their dream homes. This deliberate and strategic move underscores Unico's dedication to harnessing cutting-edge technology to effectively meet the distinctive requirements of the affordable housing market in India. Home ownership demand in India is on the rise with the home loan market expected to double in five years . Unico Housing Finance, registered with Reserve Bank of India, was launched with the objective to provide affordable housing loan solutions and services to Indias unbanked and underserved communities. To further support this segment, Unico is looking at creating a unique marketplace that will host a database of home construction related service contractors to create new business opportunities. To meet its mission, Unico needed cloud services designed to run any application, faster and more securely, for less. After evaluating several cloud options, Unico selected OCI for its superior performance, scalability, security, ability to adjust capacity based on demand and low cost. Homeownership has always been a huge priority and a matter of pride for Indians, yet there are very few avenues for the unbanked community to meet their housing needs. Unico was launched to bridge the social gap by meeting the credit needs of this undeserved segment, empowering them and fostering a sense of pride in homeownership", stated Babu Vellingiri, CEO of Unico Housing Finance. "We required a resilient, scalable, and secure platform to meet the increasing demand for housing loan solutions and services, and OCI emerged as the ideal choice. With its unparalleled combination of performance, cost-effectiveness, security, and scalability, OCI provided the perfect foundation. Additionally, Oracle Cloud Lift Services complemented our lean IT team with support in planning, architecting, prototyping, and managing cloud migrations, thereby accelerating our time to value. The development of Unico's new platform on OCI is reflective of Unicos commitment to elevating the overall performance of its critical business applications, achieve heightened scalability, and streamline operational expenses, he added, As Unico sets out on its digital journey, it has leveraged several Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services to support its digital business ambition. Oracle Base Database Service helps Unico achieve enhanced database performance which reduces their operational complexities and empowers efficient resource utilization, while Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse helps in data staging to eliminate cumbersome data backup tasks. Oracle Analytics Cloud will provide Unico a single and complete platform to help them source data from anywhere across any environment, on any device - this will help them uncover business insights and increase productivity easily and cost effectively, The implementation of OCI Database with PostgreSQL, a top-tier managed service, boosts system resilience and performance, improves scalability of compute and storage. while providing Unico with enhanced data security with end-to-end encryption. The built-in intelligence of OCI Full Stack Disaster Recovery helps Unico generate disaster recovery plans tailored for Oracle Applications. Cloud Guard manages Unicos security posture offering a unified view of cloud security posture across Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and provides security administrators with the visibility to triage and resolve cloud security issues. A key reason for Unico to select Oracle was its full suite of capabilities from cloud to applications and industry solutions. In addition to OCI, Unico will also implement Oracle FLEXCUBE to process loans in a timely manner without compromising the banking experience. Oracle Fusion Cloud Financials, the fastest and most scalable general ledger in the market, will enable Unico to connect and automate its financial management processes to meet financial compliance, to ultimately help it improve bottom line and gain real-time visibility to its financial reports. Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) form the backbone of Indias economic landscape, making a substantial contribution to the countrys GDP. Oracle is dedicated to supporting the growth aspirations of this important business segment, stated Shailender Kumar, senior vice president and regional managing director, Oracle India. "Oracle Cloud Infrastructure will enable Unico to operate any application faster and more securely in a cost-effective manner. OCI's offering of over 100 services will facilitate Unico in seamlessly migrating, modernizing, constructing, and scaling its IT infrastructure. Thus, enabling Unico to achieve its mission of turning home ownership aspirations of the underserved community into a reality". Kirloskar Institute of Management (KIM) proudly conducted the highly anticipated fourth edition of its national-level case analysis competition, KIRIT 4.0 - the ultimate corporate case-study challenge. The KIRIT 4.0 semi-finals were organized on February 19th in Harihar, Karnataka, and the grand finale took place on February 21st in Pune, Maharashtra. This event emerged as a premier platform for the convergence of young managerial talent, providing participants with a unique opportunity to showcase their critical thinking prowess in addressing real-world managerial challenges. KIRIT 4.0 extended a warm invitation to aspiring minds from diverse academic backgrounds. Open to 4-year full-time B.Tech/BE, 2-year full-time regular PGDM/MBA, and 3-year full-time undergraduate students, the competition offered a level playing field for participants to showcase their ingenuity and problem-solving acumen. Teams comprised three members each, with members from the same institute, albeit not necessarily from the same academic year. Teams from prestigious institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), B-schools, and various universities across India participated. In total, 24,699 students from 29 states and 26,000 teams registered, with 550 teams shortlisted for case analysis. Finally, 12 teams were selected for the semi-finals, and 8 teams advanced to the grand finale. The KIRIT 4.0 journey unfolded through a series of rigorous rounds: - Round 1: Online Quiz - Round 2: Online Case Study Submission - Round 3: On-Ground Semi-Final at Harihar Campus - 12 Teams - Round 4: On-Ground Finale at Pune Campus - 8 Teams As participants progressed through each stage, they were evaluated on analytical prowess, strategic thinking, and the ability to devise innovative solutions to complex managerial dilemmas. The proud winners of KIRIT 4.0 are Yash Parte, Gunjan Ghanwat, and Shitiz from SCM HRD, Pune, who received a cash prize of 100,000. They will also have the opportunity to appear for an exclusive interview for an internship at the esteemed Kirloskar Group. Himaangi Gupta, Harshit, and Shitiz from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS), University of Delhi (DU), Delhi, were the runner-up team who received a cash prize of 75,000/- The Vice-President of the governing council and the Director of KIM congratulated the winning participants, commending their exceptional performance in this fiercely competitive event. Ms. Aditi Kirloskar, Vice-President, Governing Council Kirloskar Institute of Management, expressed her thoughts on the occasion, stating, "At KIM, our commitment lies in nurturing the finest talent by providing a modern approach to education that is directly applicable to the ever-evolving business landscape." She further added, "Through these initiatives, we strive to instil in our students a spirit of innovation, collaboration, and excellence that will serve them well throughout their professional journeys. I am proud of the dedication and passion demonstrated by our faculty and staff in delivering a world-class educational experience at KIMs." The event was supported by the Kirloskar Institute of Management (KIM), Kirloskar Industries Limited (KIL), Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL), Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited (KPCL), Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Limited (KFIL), Kirloskar Chillers Private Limited (KCPL), and ARKA Fincap. Novatr, the innovative upskilling startup reshaping the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry in India through cutting-edge education technology, has announced strategic partnerships with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Autodesk. These partnerships are aimed at empowering the next generation of AEC professionals with skills indispensable in shaping the landscape of urban development and economic growth in India. By empowering learners with these skills, these partnerships not only enhance employability and credibility but also grant certified learners the competitive edge necessary to thrive in this rapidly evolving industry. In a significant move aligned with Novatr's mission to revolutionize tech upskilling in the AEC sector, the partnership with NSDC and Autodesk will offer co-branded certificates upon successful completion of courses. Addressing the global annual loss of $1.6 trillion due to productivity challenges in the construction industry, this initiative seeks to combat sluggish technology integration and insufficient upskilling within AEC. On the partnership, Harkunwar Singh, Co-founder & CEO, Novatr, says The collaboration with NSDC and Autodesk marks a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionise tech upskilling in the AEC industry. By providing co-branded certificates from two industry giants, we are not only empowering our learners with cutting-edge skills but are also arming them with the credibility and employability required to thrive in the dynamic AEC job market. Our revamped BIM Professional Program for Architects showcases our commitment to staying ahead in the industry and empowering future leaders for India's growth. Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC & MD, NSDC International also commented on the collaboration, "We are excited to collaborate with Novatr in this essential upskilling initiative for India's AEC sector. This partnership marks a significant milestone by offering industry-endorsed credentials and empowering the next generation with the digital expertise required to spearhead India's infrastructure boom. The global construction industry faces a productivity challenge, and upskilling in digital solutions such as BIM is crucial for unlocking efficiency and competitiveness. Our goal is to narrow the skill gap, fostering a workforce that can not only excel in this dynamic landscape but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our cities and our economy. Every year, India sees 2.1 million new tech graduates, a number expected to double by 2030, creating an urgent demand for scalable education solutions. Traditional universities struggle to deliver quality curricula and effective learning methods, contributing to a high graduate unemployment rate among engineering graduates. In response to this challenge, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) was established with the mission to fulfil the growing need in India for skilled manpower across sectors. NSDC collaborating with scalable vocational training institutes, plays a pivotal role in fostering skill development among Indias youth and narrowing the existing gap between the demand and supply of skills. With this vision, NSDC has joined forces with Novatr, targeting the empowerment of AEC learners with outcome-driven, industry-relevant and tech-forward skills. All three Novatr programs, including the updated Building Information Modeling (BIM) Professional Course for Architects, are approved by NSDC. To elevate the standards further, Novatr is diligently pursuing accreditation from global bodies, ensuring that their BIM courses meet industry benchmarks and provide learners with a recognized and valuable skill set for a strong CV. Concurrently, Autodesk, a global leader in software for AEC professionals, has partnered with Novatr to certify Novatr graduates. With Novatr as an Autodesk ATC (Authorised Training Centre), the mentors and guides can also become Autodesk Certified Instructors (ACI) at zero cost. Novatr is committed to certifying over 40,000 graduates through these partnerships, aligning with both entities' broader mission to enhance employability and contribute to socio-economic growth. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Henry Kropps penchant for fixing vehicles ignited when he was 10 years old. Thats when he began repairing his friends bicycles. I loved taking things apart and putting them back together, said the now 26-year-old Rossville resident. This interest evolved once I hit 13 when my parents were having a lot of issues finding a reliable, honest mechanic. I figured, Why not take this to the next level? Meanwhile, Paul Abramov, 30, of Great Kills -- who immigrated to the U.S. in 2005 from the Eastern European country of Georgia -- got a job at a local auto repair shop while he was attending college. Like Kropp, he realized he had a penchant for fixing cars. The mechanics met while both working at a corporation together, and instantly became friends. It wasnt long before they both shared their dreams of owning an auto repair shop. Henry Kropp opened Hawks Precision Auto Works on Hylan Boulevard in December 2023 with Paul Abramov.(Courtesy of Hawks Precision Auto Works) And when the two mechanics learned the shop -- formerly known as Joeys Tire and Diagnostics Center on Hylan Boulevard in Dongan Hills -- owned by the late Joseph Cerciello was for sale, they knew it was the perfect opportunity to open their own auto repair business. Kropp and Abramov opened Hawks Precision Auto Works on Hylan Boulevard in December 2023. Joseph was an extremely beloved and respected mechanic and business owner in the community, said Kropp. Weve had the pleasure of meeting many customers of his since weve opened, who have taken the time to come in and share so many wonderful stories about Mr. Cerciello. It is clear that we have big shoes to fill, and we can only hope that we are able to create as much of an impact as Joey did since he opened shop in 1987. Paul Abramov opened Hawks Precision Auto Works on Hylan Boulevard in December 2023 with Henry Kropp.(Courtesy of Hawks Precision Auto Works) A DREAM THAT BECAME REALITY As a Tottenville High School student, Kropp was able to hone his skills in the schools automotive program. Following his graduation, Kropp attended Lincoln Technical Institute and graduated with honors. I worked my way up the ranks at Firestone for several years after. I acquired all my ASE [Automotive Service Excellence] certifications and pushed myself to the max, working day and night all week in the hopes of eventually owning my own shop. Ive been blessed to receive tremendous support from clients who have trusted me to work on their cars for many years, he said. Meanwhile, Abramovs family came to the U.S. in search of the American Dream. Owning his own business is something Abramov always wanted to achieve. After high school, I began my new adventure in the college system, said Abramov, noting he graduated with a degree in Criminology. I bought a house out in Great Kills in 2016 and realized how alive the lifestyle is on Staten Island. Henry Kropp and Paul Abramov opened Hawks Precision Auto Works on Hylan Boulevard in December 2023.(Courtesy of Hawks Precision Auto Works) SERVICES The full-service shop, which is open seven days a week, performs all types of auto repairs, including brakes, suspension, engines, tires, rims, diagnostics and oil changes. Whatever your car needs to keep it moving, weve got you covered, said Kropp. Both Abramov and Kropp said their favorite part of the job is helping people and problem-solving. There is a lot of satisfaction that comes with getting a job done right, said Kropp. Said Abramov: My motto is very simple honesty and good service will always bring them back to me and only to me; fast money and not honest money never lasts. HAWKS PRECISION AUTO AT A GLANCE Address: 1636 Hylan Blvd. Instagram: @hawk_precision_auto_works Facebook: @Hawks Precision Auto Works New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners. If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and X An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows the fractured Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.(Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) GUANGZHOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and three others missing after a ship hit a bridge and caused the bridge to fracture on Thursday morning in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, rescuers said. The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. when a container ship hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District. Five vehicles, including a motorbike, were involved in the accident. Two of them plunged into the river and the others fell onto the vessel, a preliminary investigation has found. A crew member is slightly injured in the accident. Rescue efforts are underway, and the cause of the accident is being investigated. An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows the fractured Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Two people were killed and three others missing after a ship hit a bridge and caused the bridge to fracture on Thursday morning in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, rescuers said. The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. when a container ship hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District. Five vehicles, including a motorbike, were involved in the accident. Two of them plunged into the river and the others fell onto the vessel, a preliminary investigation has found. A crew member is slightly injured in the accident. Rescue efforts are underway, and the cause of the accident is being investigated. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows the fractured Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Two people were killed and three others missing after a ship hit a bridge and caused the bridge to fracture on Thursday morning in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, rescuers said. The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. when a container ship hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District. Five vehicles, including a motorbike, were involved in the accident. Two of them plunged into the river and the others fell onto the vessel, a preliminary investigation has found. A crew member is slightly injured in the accident. Rescue efforts are underway, and the cause of the accident is being investigated. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows the container ship which hit the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Debris of vehicles which have fallen from the bridge are seen in the ship. Two people were killed and three others missing after a ship hit a bridge and caused the bridge to fracture on Thursday morning in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, rescuers said. The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. when a container ship hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District. Five vehicles, including a motorbike, were involved in the accident. Two of them plunged into the river and the others fell onto the vessel, a preliminary investigation has found. A crew member is slightly injured in the accident. Rescue efforts are underway, and the cause of the accident is being investigated. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows the fractured Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Two people were killed and three others missing after a ship hit a bridge and caused the bridge to fracture on Thursday morning in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, rescuers said. The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. when a container ship hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District. Five vehicles, including a motorbike, were involved in the accident. Two of them plunged into the river and the others fell onto the vessel, a preliminary investigation has found. A crew member is slightly injured in the accident. Rescue efforts are underway, and the cause of the accident is being investigated. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows the container ship which hit the Lixinsha Bridge being towed away in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Debris of vehicles which have fallen from the bridge are seen in the ship. Two people were killed and three others missing after a ship hit a bridge and caused the bridge to fracture on Thursday morning in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, rescuers said. The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. when a container ship hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District. Five vehicles, including a motorbike, were involved in the accident. Two of them plunged into the river and the others fell onto the vessel, a preliminary investigation has found. A crew member is slightly injured in the accident. Rescue efforts are underway, and the cause of the accident is being investigated. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As a Staten Island man nears the end of a prison sentence stemming from a 2022 human smuggling case at the northern border, new data shows his case was just a small indication of a larger trend. Kenneth Slizewski, 50, of Annadale, previously pleaded guilty in U.S. Northern District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and transporting aliens within the U.S. In exchange, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of government supervision. Data shows he is one of many looking to the Canadian border to turn a quick profit. In 2023, nearly 190,000 encounters took place with individuals illegally crossing the northern border, which represented an increase of about 80,000 from the year prior, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported. In 2021, there were 27,000 encounters reported. Those numbers still pale in comparison with the southwest border, where in 2023 there were about 2.4 million encounters reported. In December, there was a record-setting number of encounters. Encounters include U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Title 8 Apprehensions, Office of Field Operations (OFO) Title 8 inadmissibles and Title 42 Expulsions. Kenneth Slizewski, 50, of Annadale, was sentenced for charges stemming from a smuggling incident at the Canadian border. (Courtesy of NY DCJS) FACEBOOK AD After being detained by federal authorities in July 2022, a group of men found riding in Slizewskis black SUV told investigators they learned of the crossing location and made arrangements through a Facebook advertisement. After making it to Canada by way of Guatemala and Mexico, a man with a 347 number guided them through the woods, they said. The ads often are text only, stating in Spanish things like trips from Montreal to New York, the Times Union reported. While it wasnt clear in the Slizewski case, the journey often starts with a one-way flight from Mexico to Canada. CRIMINAL ELEMENT Authorities who investigate human smuggling networks describe them as loosely organized, saying groups that recruit migrants for smuggling trips may not be the same as those who drop them off at the border, or who arrange for their pickup along rural back roads in the U.S. Each group, though, typically has ties to the same or different international criminal organizations. In this July 2023 photo, migrants wait outside The Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, which was being used by the city as temporary housing.(Associated Press/John Minchillo)AP It remains uncertain how exactly Slizewski, who has a history of arrests in New York City, became involved in an apparent smuggling ring. Pre-sentencing letters to the court described him as a man who had a wife and children, while battling personal issues over the years. His wife has stood by him for many years because she sees the good in him, wrote one man who said he knew the defendant for 18 years. Unfortunately, there are people who continuously take advantage of Kenny, knowing he wants to help anyone who will ask, and that he probably doesnt understand the full picture. What is known, authorities said, is that it was mid-afternoon on July 16, 2022, when agents eyeing the rural New York border remotely spotted individuals exit a thicket of brush. The vehicle seen picking them, operated by Slizewski, was pulled over on a nearby highway. He was found in possession of $4,000 cash. MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT At sentencing, the court recommended the defendant once charged in a wild, DWI crash in Silver Lake receive mental health treatment during incarceration. Residents of a Vermont town, wooded and sandwiched between two small bodies of water, have reported seeing individuals crossing into the U.S. through the woods regularly in recent months and years.Google Maps LIVING NEAR THE BORDER Vermont residents leaving near the Canadian border say its become common to see men, women and children passing through wooded areas on foot near their properties, the New York Post reported. One woman who works as a firefighter in Alburgh described getaway vehicles in the parking lot of a rural filling station; often with out-of-state license plates. A property owner told the outlet hes now packing a pistol to protect himself, citing a Border Patrol agent whom he said cautioned him to do so. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics help to locate a New Jersey boy who was reported missing and was most recently seen leaving a hospital on Staten Island. Joshua Hills of Jackson was spotted in the back of Richmond University Medical Center at 355 Bard Ave. on Feb. 15 at about 4:25 p.m., according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Hills is described by police as standing about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds with a dark complexion and brown eyes. He was seen wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored sweatpants. The NYPD provided a photo of the missing boy to the media. Anyone with information in regard to this individuals whereabouts is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. Recently widowed and in declining health, Carl Neiper Sr. moved in the summer of 2021 to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, where the retired airman took comfort in the comradery of fellow service members. My father was a very proud veteran and proud to be there, said his daughter, Pamela Neiper Redo of Bayville. Redo said she and her brothers certainly had known about the pandemics early deadly toll at the state-run nursing home in Edison in 2020, triggering a management shakeup and a federal investigation. But they believed the worst was behind Menlo Park. How could it not be? The veterans home was already under a microscope, recalled Redo, a nurse and her fathers power of attorney. We said, Ok, it should be cleaned up by now. We thought he was going to get the care he needed. But six months later, Neiper, 84, was dead a week after he contracted COVID-19. Redo is now suing the state for its failure to properly care for her father, leading to what her lawsuit described as a painful and untimely death. Yet despite a series of settlements the state reached earlier with 190 families who lost loved ones at the Veterans Homes during the pandemic, Redos attorneys say New Jersey has refused to even discuss a resolution of this case. The state also declined to produce Neipers complete medical file. And theyre seeking to dismiss the case outright because the family missed a 90-day deadline to file the case, even though the state reached a settlement with other families who made a similar error, according to court filings and the familys attorneys. The hypocrisy is disgusting, said the familys attorney David Cohen of Red Bank, who had settled earlier cases involving Veterans Home residents. A spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Murphy declined comment, citing the ongoing litigation, as did the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. A states failures Two of the state Veterans Homes one in Menlo Park and a second in Paramus reported some of the highest COVID-related death tolls in the nation. The nursing homes care for veterans and their families. Overall, the virus claimed the lives of more than 200 residents and staff in the veterans homes, according to the state. As the pandemic swept through the facilities in 2020, New Jersey was forced to seek emergency assistance from the Veterans Administration and the National Guard moves that were criticized as being too little and too late. Accused of gross negligence and incompetence over its handling of the outbreak the state agreed in December 2021 to pay nearly $53 million to the families of 119 residents whose deaths were attributed to the coronavirus in the early days of the pandemic. That out-of-court resolution came despite a broad immunity granted to the New Jersey nursing homes early in the pandemic and to those acting in good faith in support of New Jerseys COVID response efforts. A second $15.9 million settlement was reached in August 2022, resolving the claims of an additional 71 families. Cohen said that after the settlements in late 2021 and August of 2022, there were a lot of statements by the administration that were really saying the right things. They were really healing words. Now those words we were so heartened by seem hollow or vacuous. The states attitude is particularly painful for the family because their father welcomed living at the veterans home. Redo shared a photo of her dads first day at the facility from his room, wearing a smile and giving a thumbs up. She said he loved the lobby, which displayed all the flags representing the armed forces. He was proud to be a part of something. Even at his age of 84, you never forget your service in the military, she said. The results from investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice Department and the state Commission of Investigation found the same problems the state-run nursing home had controlling the spread of the disease in the first lethal wave of COVID killing nearly 100 residents persisted well into 2022. The Justice Department, in its scathing 43-page report, found that New Jersey systematically violated the rights of residents of the veterans homes at Menlo Park and Paramus. The federal investigation by the Civil Rights Division, launched in October 2020 as COVID-19 was spreading through many of the nations long-term care facilities, found that the state failed to implement adequate infection control protocols, provide adequate clinical care, and provide oversight of the facilities in a manner that keeps the residents of the Veterans Homes safe from harm. Even by the standards of the pandemics difficult early days, it said the two facilities were unprepared to keep their residents safe. Those problems continued even as the impact of the pandemic was winding down. In 2022, inspectors concluded that residents at Menlo Park had been placed in immediate jeopardy over serious shortcomings in care citing the nursing home for major medical mistakes, abuse of a resident who had not received medication, and improper infection controls to stop a new COVID outbreak. Stunned by the findings, the governor announced in November he backed a legislative plan to turn control over Menlo Park and the other two veterans homes to a private company and to create a new department focused on veterans health. Progress has been made, but you cant read those reports and say we have done enough, Murphy said in November when the overhaul was announced. Since then, though, Redo has found the states regret and generosity are running thin. Redo said her father rarely spoke of his service he served two years in the Army National Guard while in high school, then four years in the Air Force, where he worked as a radar operator. After her fathers passing, a veteran told Redo her father had worked on the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, constructed by the United State and Canada in the late 1950s to detect Soviet missiles. He had a most important job, Redo said, recounting what a master sergeant from the Air Force told her. Carl Neiper, in a photo where he is estimated to be 18 to 20 years old. He served two years in the Army National Guard and four years in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked as a radar operator. He died at 84 in January 2022.Photo courtesy of Pamela Redo Carl Neiper grew up in a 3.5-square-mile Old Forge, Pa., near Scranton known for its world-famous pizza and coal mines, his daughter said. He enlisted like many high school graduates to find a better life, she said. He came from a humble and kind family, she said. He was just a good person on this planet. He and Betty Jane Stull raised a family with five children in South Plainfield, where he worked for the Campbell Soup Company North East Products. They were married 58 years before she died from Alzheimers disease days before he moved into the veterans home. A travel nurse who has worked inside nursing homes, Redo said she kept close tabs on her fathers care. But her father told her he did not always get his nebulizer treatments, vital to keeping his congestive heart failure in check. Redo said looking back now, the beginning of the end of his care started in early December 2021, when a nurse left Redo a confusing phone message which she shared with NJ Advance Media. The nurse must have been reading the wrong file because she claimed her father had been a smoker and had an enlarged heart, she said. Neither was true. And when he tested positive for COVID-19, Redo said the administration moved her dad, without her knowledge she said, to a makeshift medical ward in moldy windowless basement without any of his possessions. My father had a room upstairs with beautiful belongings. But there (in the basement) he had a bed, a TV stand with no TV and a closet with a couple of different sweatshirts and pants, she said. And there wasnt anything on the walls, it was all just blank. He didnt have books to read. He didnt have a pen and paper, she said. That is where they put United States veterans who have COVID? Its a punishment for being sick, she said. The final insult was the day Menlo Park called to say he was being taken to the hospital, two days after she said she urged nurses to do so. Redo sped up from Ocean County to find her dad was not in the emergency room at nearby JFK Medical Center in Edison. He was in an ambulance one of several parked outside the hospital for two hours. The ER was inundated with patients and diverting ambulances elsewhere. Redo said she peaked inside the ambulances lined up outside the ER and finally found her dad. She waved, knocked and jumped up and down action that so alarmed the EMTs, they called the police to report her. The officer told her she needed to wait in the emergency room. I was appalled, she said. She said she and the police officer walked over to the ambulance. They opened the back door. I said, Hi Dad, she said. Redo asked the EMT if she could use her pulse oximeter, a device used to measure oxygen in the blood. His reading was 88%, even though he was wearing a oxygen mask. A reading below 90% is a sign of distress. That was the last time I saw my dad, she said. With a crush of COVID-19 cases in early 2022, no visitors were allowed, she said. He died two days later, on Jan. 4, 2022. Carl Neiper, formerly of the Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park in Edison, was laid to rest at Marcy Cemetery, Duryea, Pa. He was 84.Photo courtesy of Pamela Redo Redo said she is suing because the state doesnt seem to have learned from its mistakes from the early days of the pandemic. They need to make it better for future veterans, she said. We need Veterans Homes. But make it better, learn from this experience. Let a jury hear it so they know veterans are treated poorly. State Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, who as chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee has taken the lead on matters involving the Veterans Homes, said he doesnt know why the state wont negotiate on this case. Out of respect and dignity, they should, he said. Meanwhile, Vitale said he and the governors office are working with government consultant McKinsey & Co. to draft legislation that would create the proposed new department devoted to veterans health matters. Vitale said this bill, and another that would create an advocate for veterans, should be ready for public discussion in the spring. We are working on it every day. We want to get it right, he said. __ Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. All New York City businesses will need to put their trash in containers starting March 1, according to the city Department of Sanitation (DSNY). As part of Mayor Eric Adams crusade against rats, the city began efforts to containerize businesses trash in April, and all will have to do so starting in March. Previously, food-related businesses needed to start using trash bins with secure lids starting Aug. 1 and chain businesses with five or more locations in the city needed to start doing so Sept. 5. Weve declared that rats are Public Enemy Number One but were not stopping there; were also going after the black trash bags that litter our streets, aiding and abetting rodents, Adams said in September. Thats why, starting next spring, were requiring every New York City business to put out their trash in containers. Thats 20 million pounds of black bags and rat buffets off our streets every single day. Our streets will look cleaner and smell cleaner across all five boroughs, and New Yorkers wont have to dodge trash mountains or scurrying rats as theyre walking. All business trash, disposed food, and food-soiled paper must be in a bin with a secure lid when set out at the curb for collection, but the rules do not apply to recyclables, according to DSNY. The city has been holding a series of information sessions about the new trash containerization rules for businesses, and more information can be found on the DSNY website. Adams administration has taken a series of other steps in the mayors war on rats, including container requirements for residential properties, increased composting efforts and the hiring of the citys first rat czar. Ultimately, the citys residential trash containerization efforts will culminate in an official NYC bin program that requires owners of all residential properties in the five boroughs to purchase specific bins for their garbage. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A recent study on the increase of life-threatening 911 medical calls over the last two years in New York City has raised concerns about EMS staffing levels on Staten Island. While Staten Island has seen an increase in the number of emergency callers since 2021, EMS ambulances assigned to the borough has not seen the same increases. The amount of FDNY ambulance fleets available to patrol the city shrunk by 11%, a decrease of 50 available ambulances in the system. According to Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 2507, the decrease is the equivalent of a whole borough less of emergency medical responders. FDNY Local 2507 evaluated city data, which showcased an increase in all five boroughs FDNY EMS call volumes and response times. According to the data, life-threatening medical emergency calls placed on Staten Island increased by 8%, 28,588 calls, up from 26,464. The citys overall FDNY budget, data shows, increased in 2024 by 5%, an $118 million jump. The same data shows the budget for FDNY EMS decreased. The above chart showcases the increase in life threatening FDNY medical emergency dispatches in 2023 compared to 2021. (FDNY Local 2507)FDNY Local 2507 Of the total $2.4 billion FDNY budget, the EMS Divisions allocation is 16%, $383 million of the total budget. In 2023, the EMS budget decreased by $400,000, according to data. Currently, the city is in a period of growing demand for medical first responders. EMTs and paramedics responded to 68,587 total medical emergencies on Staten Island in 2023, a 6% percent increase from 2021, when 65,003 calls came in. According to the Mayors Preliminary Management Report, in 2023, EMS crews end-to-end response times to life-threatening medical emergencies was 10 minutes 43 seconds an increase of one minute and nine seconds when compared to 2021 (nine minutes 34 seconds). The above chart showcases the increase in FDNY medical emergency dispatches over the course of 20 years. (FDNY Local 2507)FDNY Local 2507 According to Barzilay, the current response time is unacceptable because each second is the difference between life and death for New Yorkers in need of emergency medical attention. Response times are up because of an increasing demand for ambulances and not enough resources, said Barzilay in a telephone interview with the Advance/SILive.com. This is a matter of life and death. Seconds and minutes count. It can determine your outcome. According to the report, the FDNY EMS had 4,036 EMTs and paramedics employed to its ranks at the end of 2023, compared to 3,858 at the end of 2022. Unfortunately, high turnover rates continue to plague the agency with a 30% rate after three years and a 50% rate after five, according to the research. EMS on Staten Island According to Barzilay, EMS staffing levels on Staten Island have been an area of concern for him for a while. Staten Island has been a problem for many years, admitted Barzilay. Its one of the largest boroughs, yet it only has two EMS facilities for the entire borough, where other boroughs have anywhere between eight and 10 facilities and EMS stations. In order to fill that gap, EMS personnel from Brooklyn must cover parts of the borough daily, he said. FDNY EMS Local 2507 has advocated at local City Council hearings for Staten Island to receive more EMS stations. Currently, it can take 15 to 20 minutes to get from one EMS station to an emergency call in the borough. According to Barzilay, Fire Department officials have said additional EMS stations are not needed in the borough. The above chart showcases the increase in all FDNY medical emergency dispatches in 2023 compared to 2021. (FDNY Local 2507)FDNY Local 2507 If Staten Island public officials were able to secure additional EMS facilities in the borough, wait times would decrease dramatically, Barzilay predicts. For Islanders who might call a ride share company or a taxi instead to get to the hospital, Barzilay warns that doing so could have negative ramifications. I am not sure if calling a ride share company will help if they get there before us, said Barzilay, who said ride share drivers lack medical tools and training. I dont recommend calling a ride share, advised Barzilay to New Yorkers. Just keep calling 911 until that ambulance gets there. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. BFC Partners has announced the launch of a housing lottery for 475 Bay St. -- a 12-story affordable housing project located in Stapleton. The 250,000-square-foot building, also known as The Pearl, will bring 270 units to the borough, 50% of which are designated for formerly homeless senior citizens. Creating thoughtfully designed apartments for vulnerable populations, including some of New Yorks formerly unhoused senior citizens, is deeply meaningful work, and we are so proud to reach this milestone, as it means we are one step closer to welcoming new residents to The Pearl, said Joseph Ferrara, principal at BFC. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Still need to file your taxes before the April 15 deadline? If you saw a significant change in income over the past year, you may find yourself in a new tax bracket. In October, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new brackets with adjusted thresholds, boasting upper limits that are 7% higher than last year. The tax rates have remained the same, ranging from 10% to 37% depending on an individuals total taxable income. In addition to the new tax brackets, the standard deduction, the amount you can deduct to adjust the amount of income on which youre taxed, has also increased from $12,950 to $13,850 for single filers and from $25,900 to $27,700 for married couples filing jointly. Heres a look at the new tax brackets that will be used when filing in 2024. MARGINAL TAX BRACKETS FOR SINGLE FILERS $11,000 or less in taxable income 10% of taxable income $11,001 to $44,725 in taxable income $1,100 plus 12% over $11,000 $44,726 to $95,375 in taxable income $5,147 plus 22% over $44,725 $95,376 to $182,100 in taxable income $16,290 plus 24% over $95,375 $182,101 to $231,250 in taxable income $37,104 plus 32% over $182,100 $231,251 to $578,125 in taxable income $52,832 plus 35% over $231,250 $578,126 or more in taxable income - $174,238 plus 37% over $578,125 MARGINAL TAX BRACKETS FOR MARRIED COUPLES FILING JOINTLY $22,000 or less in taxable income 10% of taxable income $22,001 to $89,450 in taxable income $2,200 plus 12% over $22,000 $89,451-$190,750 in taxable income - $10,294 plus 22% over $89,450 $190,751-$364,200 in taxable income $32,580 plus 24% over $190,750 $364,201 to $462,500 in taxable income $74,208 plus 32% over $364,200 $462,501 to $693,759 in taxable income $105,664 plus 35% over $462,500 $693,751 or more in taxable income $186,601 plus 37% over $693,750 FILING IN 2025 The IRS has also announced new income tax brackets for tax year 2024, which will be used when filing taxes in 2025. The standard deduction will also increase from $13,850 to $14,600 for single filers and from $27,700 to $29,200 for married couples filing jointly. Heres a look at the new tax brackets that will be used when filing in 2025. TAX BRACKETS FOR SINGLE FILERS $11,600 or less in taxable income 10% of taxable income $11,600 to $47,150 in taxable income - $1,160 plus 12% of the excess over $11,600 $47,150 to $100,525 in taxable income - $5,426 plus 22% of the excess over $47,150 $100,525 to $191,950 in taxable income - $17,168.50 plus 24% of the excess over $100,525 $191,950 to $243,725 in taxable income - $39,110.50 plus 32% of the excess over $191,150 $243,725 to $609,350 in taxable income - $55,678.50 plus 35% of the excess over $243,725 $609,350 or more in taxable income - $183,647.25 plus 37% of the excess over $609,350 TAX BRACKETS FOR MARRIED COUPLES FILING JOINTLY $23,200 or less in taxable income - 10% of taxable income $23,200 but not over $94,300 - $2,320 plus 12% of the excess over $23,200 $94,300 but not over $201,050 - $10,852 plus 22% of the excess over $94,300 $201,050 but not over $383,900 - $34,337 plus 24% of the excess over $201,050 $383,900 but not over $487,450 - $78,221 plus 32% of the excess over $383,900 $487,450 but not over $731,200 - $111,357 plus 35% of the excess over $487,450 $731,200 or more in taxable income - $196,669.50 plus 37% of the excess over $731,200 TRACKING YOUR REFUND If youre one of the millions of Americans who have already sent in their tax returns, there are online portals that will allow you to monitor the status of your refund. For federal taxes, residents can use the IRS Wheres My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to see when their refunds have been received, processed and sent. Refund status will appear roughly 24 hours after you e-file a current-year return, three or four days after you e-file a prior-year return or four weeks after you file a paper return. To access the information, which is updated overnight each day, residents must provide their Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN), filing status and exact refund amount on their return. Once refunds are sent, those using direct deposit should receive their refund within five days, while those expecting checks in the mail may have to wait several weeks. For state taxes, New Yorkers can visit the Department of Taxation and Finance website and click Check refund status. This allows residents to see if their return has been received; when it has being processed; if the return requires additional review; if the state requires additional information; if a requested refund amount has been adjusted and when a refund has been issued. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A New York City law that would let nearly one million non-citizens vote in local elections faced another legal setback Wednesday. A panel of judges in the New York Appellate Division sided with a group fighting the law, led by Borough President Vito Fossella, and ruled it in violation of state law. Fortunately, common sense prevails in New York, thanks to the decision reached by the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Fossella said. The New York State Constitution is clear in that only citizens can vote in our local elections. It is simply irresponsible and nonsensical to extend this right to non-citizens. The legislation, known as Local Law 11, passed the City Council in 2021 and would add about 900,000 new voters to New York Citys rolls as estimated by Our City Our Vote, a campaign pushing for non-citizen suffrage. Those 900,000 voters would need to be lawful permanent residents who would have the opportunity to vote in local elections for things like borough president, mayor and City Council. The law would not apply to the nearly 200,000 people who have made their way to the five boroughs in the ongoing migrant crisis. In June 2022, Staten Island Supreme Court Judge Ralph Porzio also ruled in favor of the laws opponents, who argue that it violates the New York Constitution along with a host of state laws. A city Law Department spokesman said Thursday that the city is reviewing its options following the Appellate Divisions decision. Mayor Eric Adams administration could still try to bring the case before the Court of Appeals, New Yorks highest court. Across the country, non-citizens have had varying rights to vote throughout history. In New York City, non-citizen parents had the right to vote in school board elections until 2002, when school boards were disbanded. Opponents concede that non-citizens could be granted the right to vote, but it would require action on the part of the State Legislature along with a possible state-wide referendum. Murad Awawdeh executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, a group in favor of non-citizen voting styled the courts decision as a victory for xenophobic Republicans trying to stifle democracy. For generations, New York Citys culture and economy have benefited from the immigrants who have come here to work, raise their families, uplift their communities and pay taxes in New York, he said. Immigrant New Yorkers deserve a say in how their local government functions and spends their tax money, and we remain committed to ensuring the expansion of voting rights. The legislation introduced by former City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan), who now heads the citys Department of Transportation passed the Council in 2021 but not without significant opposition from both sides of the aisle. Reasons for opposition included the brevity of the 30-day residency requirement before a non-citizen could vote and its effect on the African-American communitys already small share of the citys vote. Former City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn), who now heads the city Department of Cultural Affairs, backed a motion to delay a Council vote on the bill that would have effectively killed it last year. The only thing that many African American communities have left are their Black representatives and representation, she said during the debate on the Council floor. In the Appellate Divisions 3-1 decision, the majority opinion echoes legal arguments that opponents had made against the legislation, particularly that it was in violation of the states Constitution, election law and home rule law. City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), another plaintiff on the lawsuit, repeatedly referenced a section of the state election law that reads [no] person shall be qualified to register for and vote at any election unless he is a citizen of the United States. Todays decision affirms what we already know to be true: voting is a right reserved for legal citizens of our country, plain and simple, Borelli said. Anyone who wishes to vote and participate in our system of democracy can follow the path to become a legal citizen of our country as so many of our ancestors did and so many others are currently waiting in line for today. All of the Islands Republican delegation of elected officials signed onto the Fossella-led lawsuit. Heres how they reacted to the Appellate Divisions decision: Im pleased to see the Appellate Court side with us against Mayor Adams appeal and affirm the lower courts ruling striking down non-citizen voting in New York City, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said. There is nothing more important than preserving the integrity of our election system, and in todays age, the government should be working to create more trust in our elections, not less. The right to vote is a sacred right given only to United States citizens. It is my hope that left wing lawmakers stop pushing these unconstitutional and reckless measures that dilute the voices of American citizens. The courts ruling is good news for the people of New York as it upholds Judge Porzios sound decision striking down the NYC attempt to undermine our constitutional protections. It is another reminder that we must remain vigilant against constant big government attacks on liberty. I thank [Borough President] Fossella and Staten Island electeds for their continued leadership, State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) said. As the son of immigrants who worked hard for the American dream, it is disgraceful to see the sacred right of American citizens at risk of a non-citizen receiving that same right in 30 days. If you are not a citizen then you cannot vote the political gain and manipulation by New York Democrats will not be tolerated, Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn said. I am proud to have been a plaintiff on this lawsuit and I want to commend Judge Porzio who struck down the voting law in favor of our lawsuit in 2022. I will continue to fight for integrity and transparency in our electoral process, putting New Yorkers at the top of my priority list. This ruling confirms, yet again, what my colleagues and I have argued for several years was a gross violation of our Constitution that jeopardized the sanctity of our vote as tax-paying citizens of this city, state, and country. As the illegal migrant invasion grows, protecting our rights as citizens is of paramount importance, Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) said. I commend the state Supreme Courts ruling and strongly encourage Mayor Adams to let this radical policy die here. This decision reaffirms what we have long known - non-citizen voting is unconstitutional in the State of New York. The city was wrong to try to make it law in 2021, and I am proud that one of my first votes as a Council Member was opposing it, Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island) said. Thank you to Borough President Fossella for his leadership and all my fellow co-plaintiffs for their partnership in fighting this unconstitutional act. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As scam artists continue to prey on needy New Yorkers, a new tool will help low-income residents protect the government-issued benefits that help them make ends meet. On Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new tool in the ConnectEBT app that allows users to easily lock their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards when not in use to protect themselves from criminals looking to steal their benefits through skimming and other electronic means. Low-income New Yorkers shopping for food and other essential items for their families should never have to find out at the checkout that their benefits have been stolen by scammers, Hochul said. We will continue to take action to protect New Yorkers from scam-related theft and ensure that EBT cardholders have effective tools to protect their benefits. Thousands of New Yorkers who rely on government assistance have had their personal information stolen and EBT funds drained by scammers using card skimming devices. With the new ConnectEBT feature, residents can quickly lock their card after making a purchase, which blocks all purchases, balance inquiries and transactions on the card until the user unlocks it again to make another purchase. The unconscionable practice of skimming benefits from households EBT cards robs individuals and families with children of vital benefits they need to purchase food and other basic necessities. We are grateful for Governor Hochuls support of these determined efforts to increase awareness of skimming and provide vulnerable New Yorkers with essential tools to protect themselves from benefit theft, said Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Acting Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn. REPLACING STOLEN BENEFITS IN NEW YORK New Yorkers who do fall victim to electronic benefit theft can now apply to have their stolen benefits reimbursed through the states benefit recovery system, which was approved by the federal government last April and implemented last August. Since the program began, New York has approved nearly 12,000 stolen benefits claims, reimbursing more than $6.1 million to victims, according to the SNAP Replacement of Stolen Benefits Dashboard. In order to apply for reimbursement of stolen benefits, recipients must first report their EBT cards as stolen by calling 1-888-328-6399, visiting ConnectEBT or through the ConnectEBT mobile app. No replacement benefits will be issued until the compromised EBT card is reported as stolen. Replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will only be issued if the date of theft is on or after Oct. 1, 2022. Benefits eligible for replacement include: regular, ongoing SNAP benefits restored, replacement or retroactive issuances Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits Supplemental Emergency Allotments (EA) Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits are not considered SNAP benefits, and therefore, are not eligible to be replaced. SNAP benefits can only be replaced up to two times per federal fiscal year, which spans from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, and replacement benefits are limited to the lesser of the amount stolen or two times the SNAP benefits received in the last full month before benefits were stolen. The process for submitting a claim varies slightly based on whether the resident received their benefits in New York City or another part of the state. Regardless of whether the claim will be submitted in New York City or another county, the first step is to gather all necessary information, including your Client Identification Number (CIN), case number, current mailing address and detailed information about each fraudulent transaction. Residents can review their EBT transaction history for fraudulent charges by visiting ConnectEBT, using the ConnectEBT mobile app or calling 1-888-328-6399. In New York City, residents must submit their claims to the citys Department of Social Services Human Resources Administration. City residents are strongly encouraged to submit their claims online for the quickest, most convenient experience. However, claim forms can also be printed and dropped off in person at any Benefits Access Center or SNAP Center, or mailed to the following address: Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 02-9121, Brooklyn GPO, NY 11202. New Yorkers who receive their benefits in any county outside of New York City must submit their claims to their local department of social services either in-person, via mail, or through the NYDocSubmit mobile app, if its available in their county. Residents must submit a claim within 30 days of discovering that their benefits were stolen. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday called for greater support from the international community to achieve the kingdom's 2025 mine-free goal. In a message to mark the National Mine Awareness Day on Feb. 24, the prime minister said continued financial and technical support was essential for the Southeast Asian country to fulfil its mine-free dream. "We urge greater participation from the international community to raise awareness of the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance, the hidden killers that threaten human security even after armed conflicts have ended," Hun Manet said. To achieve the mine-free goal by 2025, he said the kingdom needs to clear the remaining 533-square-kilometer land contaminated with mines and another 1,321-square-kilometer land contaminated with cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, said the clean-up of landmines and ERWs would not only save lives, but also contribute to boosting the economy and reducing poverty. "Currently, around 1 million people in the kingdom, particularly in rural areas, still live in fear and work in areas suspiciously contaminated by landmine, ERWs and cluster munitions," he told Xinhua. Cambodia is one of the countries worst affected by landmines and ERWs. An estimated 4 million to 6 million landmines and other munitions had been left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998. According to Hun Manet, from 1992 to 2023, Cambodia had cleared 3,024 square kilometers of landmine and ERW-contaminated land, benefiting about 12 million people, or 70.5 percent of the country's total population of 17 million. He said almost 1.18 million anti-personnel mines, 26,339 anti-tank mines, and 3.1 million ERWs were discovered and destroyed in the last 31 years. The prime minister added that the number of landmine and ERW casualties had declined from 4,320 in 1996 to 32 in 2023, to below 100 a year in the last 10 years, and to below 50 a year in the last five years. From 1979 to October 2023, landmine and ERW explosions had killed 19,822 people and either injured or amputated 45,212 others in the country, according to a government report. 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 The COVID-19 pandemic wrought massive change on our lives, and now we are about to see if it will impact on one of the great touchstones of Australian society: industrial relations. The Fair Work Commission is considering the alteration of awards to include the right to work from home. Working from home has been especially beneficial for women Credit: iStock The commission is investigating if there is a need to change basic rights for up to about 2.2 million Australians who are covered by awards to accommodate new working arrangements. It is a huge move that reflects how the digital age has blurred the lines between the workplace and home. If the commission recommends awards should include working-from-home rights, several million other workers on enterprise agreements could also push for the same flexibility. Advertisement Exclusive Eating outNow closed High-profile trailblazing Eveleigh bar has served its last cocktail UK waste warrior Matt Whiley has poured his last meat-dust martini at the former Worlds 50 Best Bar, but a new venture is already on the horizon. Scott Bolles February 22, 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 Award-winning Eveleigh bar Re has served its last drinks. But Sydney wont lose the mercurial talents of Res UK mixologist-owner, Matt Whiley, who will be involved in a new venue headed into the former site of Redferns La Salut bar-restaurant. Re, which famously repurposed meat dust into martinis and banana skins into syrup and was part-owned by Icebergs Dining Room and Bars Maurice Terzini, edged on The Worlds 50 Best Bar list during its three-year run. Re owner and mixologist Matt Whiley. Supplied Whiley, a sustainability pioneer with a zero-waste mantra, did not announce Res closure, but says its final service this week was a fitting farewell to Eveleigh. We didnt tell anyone, but there were loads of regulars in, it was one of our busiest [nights] for months. While customer trade boomed in Res early days, Whiley said post-COVID conditions proved tougher. Advertisement Re co-owner Maurice Terzini says the Re pioneering no-waste concept is strong but the location had not been perfect. Whiley said while he is grateful for his time in the Locomotive Workshop redevelopment at Eveleigh where neighbours include chef Kylie Kwongs signature eatery, Lucky Kwong the closing of one door will lead to the opening of another. Whiley has been approached by Maybe Sammy founders (and Public Hospitality directors) Vince Lombardo and Stefano Cantino about opening a new venture in the La Salut space, which is located in The Norfolk Hotel on Cleveland Street. The minimalist fit-out at Re bar in Eveleigh. Tom Ferguson The Norfolk cleverly recruited Ricos Tacos last year before approaching the innovative barman. Whiley was lured by his long relationship with Lombardo and Cantino. Advertisement Lombardo explains they have long been fans of Whileys talent for mixing flavours. He is great with drinks. We like building concepts, and he has a great concept. Its a good marriage. It is yet to be confirmed whether the name of the new venue, which will open in April, will be a recycled or an entirely new moniker. But Whiley will continue his recycled ethos in Redfern. Banana-skin syrup in an old-fashioned at Re. Brook Mitchell Where the food at Re was Asian-leaning, Whiley says The Norfolk will have a broader modern Australian small plate brief. Were also going to put a concept store in the [pubs] bottle shop, artwork made from bushfire charcoal, and prints on recycled coffee cup paper, Whiley says. Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Taylor Swifts Eras Tour is largely hooked on friendship. Fans exchange homemade friendship bracelets, co-ordinate outfits with each other and practise concert chants together before dancing arm-in-arm at the show. However, as everyone knows, friendship can be complicated. The emotional intensity associated with significant events like the Eras Tour can test even the most powerful bonds. So, while mutual devotion for the pop star has strengthened some friendships, it has strained others. Competition over Eras Tour tickets has soured some friendships, highlighting the emotional hold the tour has over some fans. Credit: Jason South In the famous words of Taylor Swift: We team up, then switch sides like a record changer, says Morgan De La Rue, a Melbourne Swiftie who secured tickets to all three Melbourne shows and one Sydney concert. Though De La Rue hasnt lost any of her closest friends as a result of her luck with tickets, a number of people in her life including former classmates, colleagues and people she met at other concerts blocked her on social media after finding out she was going to multiple shows. General Motors (GM) has launched its pioneering in-vehicle technology OnStar Connected Services, in Bahrain. The arrival of OnStar offers Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac drivers in-vehicle convenience and connectivity, alongside heightened safety and security services, offering a seamless drive experience. The launch of OnStar within the Kingdom of Bahrain brings enhanced connectivity to the mobility sector, further realising this vision. Elevating connectivity Introducing OnStar in Bahrain is the next step in our efforts to elevate connectivity, safety and an elevated driving experiences in the region. Following the recent launch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alongside Kuwait and the UAE, we are continuing to expand the Middle Easts access to connected mobility, in line with our vision for a world of Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion. Through this launch, we are keen to play a role in achieving the nations Vision 2030, alongside our journey towards bringing everybody into the next generation of mobility, said Luis De La Cruz, Managing Director for OnStar at General Motors Africa and Middle East. The roll out of OnStar Connected Services in Bahrain within enabled GM vehicles is a result of collaborative efforts between STC and various government entities in the Kingdom. This approach underscores the importance of a cohesive strategy when driving change in mobility. Hesham Mustafa, Chief Business officer, STC Bahrain, commented: As of one of the leading digital enablers, STC Bahrain is at the forefront of driving the Kingdom's digital transformation journey. Our cutting-edge technology innovations are not only customisable to meet specific business requirements but are also sustainable, aligning seamlessly with our commitment to environmental responsibility. Achieving a significant milestone in the mobility sector is a testament to our dedication to making digitalisation more accessible, diverse, and integrated into our clients' business operations.--TradeArabia News Service TOKYO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Residents of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa on Thursday filed a lawsuit seeking the cancellation of an approval given by the central government to relocate a key U.S. military base within the southernmost prefecture, local media reported. The plaintiffs totaling 30, including residents of the Henoko area in the city of Nago, argued that it was illegal for the Japanese government to approve the design change, which is said to be needed to reinforce undersea soft ground found off Henoko, on behalf of Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki, who refused to sign off on the change, Jiji Press reported. The ground improvement is necessary to carry out landfill work that is part of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base from a crowded residential district in Ginowan to the less populated Henoko coastal area of Nago. The residents claimed that the ground survey conducted by the Defense Ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau was inappropriate, saying that the application for the design change did not meet the requirements under the publicly owned water surface reclamation law and that the need for reclamation had been lost, according to the complaint, filed with Naha District Court in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. The Okinawa Defense Bureau sought the prefecture's approval for the design change in 2020, but Tamaki refused to approve the request. In December, the Naha branch of Fukuoka High Court ordered the governor to give the go-ahead. As Tamaki rejected the high court order, land minister Tetsuo Saito approved the design change by proxy. The approval marked the central government's first-ever proxy execution of a local government administrative task under the local autonomy law. "This is a trial to ask whether the requirements of the reclamation law have been met," a lawyer representing the plaintiffs said, noting that specifics of the reclamation work were not thoroughly examined in past lawsuits. We believe the last time Jesse and Luke were last seen was Sunday night and we have established so far that some time on Monday during the day the likely murders happened, and then Monday night this white van was hired from Mascot at 9.30pm, Doherty said. Police said Bairds phone had shown activity on Tuesday. Its not known who was using the phone at that time. The investigation was sparked after bloodied clothes belonging to Baird and Davies, along with personal items such as keys and credit cards, were found in a skip bin behind a registered club in Cronulla on Wednesday. Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird. Police sources said Lamarre-Condon, who is a senior constable attached to a specialist command, was in Newcastle on Thursday night, after the search for him began. On Friday afternoon, police had cordoned off Karoola Road in Lambton as part of their investigations. Police seized CCTV footage from Club Lambton on Karoola Road that showed the white van parked on the road overnight. A blue tarpaulin was erected over the site on Friday afternoon where the van was parked. A Karoola Road resident said he saw a white van parked across the road from his house on Thursday night. Ian Cunningham said it piqued his interest because of the vans size and he knew it was not owned by a neighbour. I heard doors opening and closing and after being asked [by my wife] I came out and saw a young fellow walking away from that van, Cunningham told the Herald. He walked towards the bowling club and thats the last I saw of him. By 2am, the van was gone. Police say Lamarre-Condon returned to Sydney, handing himself into Bondi police station on Friday after telling a family member he planned to do so. Late on Thursday night, police raided a Balmain house connected to a family member of Lamarre-Condon as part of the investigation into the disappearance of the couple. Police searched a home on Waite Avenue in Balmain on Thursday night. Credit: TNV Lamarre-Condon did not live at the address, but police sources not authorised to speak publicly said he was thought to be at the home. He had left before their arrival after seeing news reports identifying him in connection to the missing men, the sources said. Detectives executed a late-night search warrant on the Balmain home on Waite Avenue and seized a number of items as evidence. Vision of the search shows chairs and garbage bins being moved by detectives. A nearby laneway was also taped off and police were seen taking away brown paper bags containing evidence. Property records show the home was purchased under the name Lamarre-Condon almost six years ago. Homicide squad detectives have since established Strike Force Ashfordby to investigate the disappearances, which are now being treated as alleged murders. On Friday, riot police and forensic investigators combed through garden beds on the tree-lined streets around Brown Street in Paddington, looking for clues where the missing men were last spotted. The blue-green door to number 60, and the blood-stained crime scene inside, remained taped off and guarded by police. The riot squad climbed nearby fences and peered into front gardens before zeroing in on a splash of red-brown on the pavement outside a gallery. Forensic officers swabbed it and moved on. The laneways and terraces, pot plants, bins and even street libraries were also scoured by police. A brown paper evidence bag was bundled into a police van and driven from the scene. Police search garden beds near Bairds home. Credit: Janie Barrett Lamarre-Condon joined the police force in 2019. A year later, a video of him Tasering a man in the face in Darlinghurst went viral but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation. Davies and Bairds relationship features heavily on their social media accounts. Days ago, Baird uploaded an image of the couple at a Pink concert. A fortnight ago the pair visited a Hunter Valley winery, another social post shows. Davies had not turned up to work for Qantas. Meanwhile, Baird an AFL umpire in addition to his media career failed to appear for the match simulation between the Swans and GWS on Thursday morning. Jesse was rostered on but did not turn up and has not been in touch with his colleagues. The AFL has contacted his family and offered support, the AFL said in a statement on Thursday. Loading Qantas said: Our thoughts are with family, friends and colleagues of our crew member at this very difficult time. Two cars from Paddington one belonging to Baird and Davies and another from an undisclosed location have been seized by police, who have begun the painstaking task of compiling CCTV footage and combing through phone records to document the couples recent movements. She said police could not yet say if one or both of the men had met with foul play. Neither have contacted friends or family since Monday. Police said Bairds phone had shown activity on Tuesday. Its not known who was using the phone at that time. Late on Thursday night, police officers executed a search warrant on a home in Waite Avenue, Balmain as part of the investigation and seized a number of items. In an earlier statement, police said: Following inquiries, detectives are looking at a line of inquiry that a third person may be able to assist with the investigation. Police are currently trying to locate him. The Herald is not suggesting that the police officer was involved in the pairs disappearance, only that police have said they would like to speak to him. No arrest warrant has been issued. Baird had told friends he was being stalked by a police officer, Nine News reported. Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird. Sources not authorised to speak publicly have confirmed constable Lamarre is being sought by investigators. Constable Lamarre joined the police force in 2019. A year later, a video of him Tasering a man in the face in Darlinghurst went viral but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation. Before he joined the police force, he was a lavish celebrity blogger who interviewed Hollywood A-listers on the Golden Globes red carpet, and has been photographed with celebrities including Selena Gomez, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. A decade ago, a teenage Lamarre was in The Herald after he threw a note at Lady Gaga saying she gave him the courage to come out, and she read it aloud to 15,000 concertgoers. Beau Lamarre posted a photograph in 2014 with Taylor Swift on an Instagram account. But through your music, you have helped and will continue to set free many people Gaga, youre not just my idol but LITERALLY my saviour, he wrote in 2014. Davies and Bairds relationship features heavily in each of the mens online presence days ago, Baird uploaded an image of the duo at a Pink concert, with a visit to a Hunter Valley winery a fortnight ago. Perfect start to the long weekend, Davies captioned a picture of the duo shirtless at the top of the Palm Beach lighthouse walk. That picture-perfect image was shattered on Monday morning, when neighbours heard loud arguing from the Paddington terrace that Baird shares with flatmates. The Herald is not suggesting that any of the flatmates have anything to do with the disappearance. Davies has not turned up to work for Qantas, and Baird, an AFL umpire, failed to appear for the match simulation between the Swans and GWS on Thursday morning. Jesse was rostered on but did not turn up and has not been in touch with his colleagues. The AFL has contacted his family and offered support, the football code said in a statement on Thursday. Qantas said: Our thoughts are with family, friends and colleagues of our crew member at this very difficult time. Loading Detectives have seized two cars from Paddington one belonging to each missing man and another from an undisclosed location. They will begin the painstaking task of compiling CCTV and combing through phone records to document the couples recent movements. Our primary lines of inquiry currently are in regards to the whereabouts of Jesse and Luke. So if anyone knows where they are, please contact us, Radmore said. Neither man was previously known to police, and Radmore said there were no signs of anything amiss in their relationship. Each agency has its own policies: some only take couples not single people, upper age limits vary, and some openly say they do not place children with same-sex couples. The providers with religious affiliation are legally exempt from discrimination laws, despite being publicly funded. Last year Australia was criticised in a United Nations report for allowing government-funded foster care and adoption agencies to reject prospective families based on sexuality, gender identity and faith. In a recent case, Anglicare Sydney, an agency licensed for both fostering and adoption in the Greater Sydney region, refused to assess the aunt of an Aboriginal baby as a prospective long-term carer because she was in a same-sex relationship. As first reported by The Guardian, the baby was instead placed with a non-Indigenous heterosexual couple and the Department of Communities and Justice recommended adoption. NSW Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington has asked for a review of this case and met with Anglicare Sydney to express her concern with its policy regarding same-sex foster carers. LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Australia legal director Ghassan Kassisieh says: The outdated prejudice of faith-based service providers must never take precedence of the lives and wellbeing of children. As a Christian man, I was offended. Dwone Jones People should be judged on their merits and not their sexuality, especially when a service provider is acting as an agent of the government. When Jay Lynch and Dwone Jones tried to adopt a child in 2012, they found their sexuality was an insurmountable hurdle. The two men, who are celebrating 20 years together this month and are married, wanted to provide a home to a child in need rather than bringing a new life into the world. The only positive response the couple received was from Barnardos Australia, but the agency did not cover Tamworth where they lived at the time. Jones, who emigrated to Australia in part to escape the oppression he felt as a gay, black man in the United States, says he felt surprised and hurt and angry. Jay Lynch (left) and Dwone Jones at home in Pyrmont. They were living in Tamworth when they looked into adoption about 12 years ago. Credit: Nikki Short Were in the highest tax bracket and our government is taking our taxpayer dollars and putting it into these Christian organisations that, in my opinion, dont reflect Christian values, Jones says. As a Christian man, I was offended. Lynch, an agnostic who grew up on Sydneys northern beaches, was less surprised though also disappointed. He says if there had been options to adopt in Australia, he and Jones would have a family, but its now too late. The couple also researched overseas adoption only to find many countries barred adoption to same-sex couples as well. They seriously considered fostering and attended a weekend course before realising it was rarely a pathway to adoption and deciding it was not for them. I realised that for me, I wanted to be a dad, I wanted to have a family, I didnt want to be a carer and they are two really different things, Lynch says. I really admire people who are capable of providing that care that is so needed for a month, or three months or a year and then be comfortable with the child going back to their own family or to another environment, but it wasnt something I could do. Schatzmann and Wood shared these misgivings, but took the risk. We had originally wanted to take children with permanent orders, but when we took our [first] two children it was under temporary orders, Schatzmann says. There were some stressful periods at the beginning, but it did become permanent, and then that did lead to adoption. However, the couples smooth run from being foster parents to legal adoption is unusual. Several dozen children are adopted by their carers every year, a fraction of the 15,000 children in care across NSW. Being in Sydney, they had more adoption providers to approach, Besides the Department of Communities and Justice, there are 43 private agencies licensed to manage foster care in NSW, including 17 Aboriginal organisations specialising in First Nations children. Just six of these agencies provide adoption services out of the child protection system, and two of them Anglicare Sydney and Wesley Community Services openly state on their website that they do not place children with same-sex couples. The other four Barnardos Australia, Life Without Barriers, Key Assets and Family Spirit say they do not discriminate, but three of these dont cover the whole state. Greater Sydney is well represented, but in some parts of NSW, there are only one or two adoption agencies in operation. Jay Lynch (left) says if the options had been available to adopt, he and his husband Dwone Jones would have a family by now. Credit: Nikki Short Anglicare Sydney and Family Spirit are the only two agencies that also provide voluntary local adoption services, where the birth parents voluntarily give up a child and the agency introduces them to prospective adoptive parents. The NSW government is working on large-scale reform of the child protection system overall, including the arrangements for adoption, a process it says will take time. A department spokesperson says it supports all eligible families who want to adopt or foster children in NSW, including members of the LGBTIQ communities. Wesley Mission chief executive Reverend Stu Cameron says the agency tries to ensure children have positive, nurturing relationships with their biological mother and father and, when that is not possible, to provide them with carers who are similar to their birth parents. An Anglicare Sydney spokesperson says the agency serves in accordance with the doctrines of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, which believes the best interests of a child are best served by giving access to both mothering and fathering, wherever possible. A spokesperson for Key Assets, which covers Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter New England, says the agency supports adoption by members of the LGBTQ community when it is in the best interests of the child or young person. Life Without Borders, which operates statewide, says it has been open to LGBTQ foster carers since 2001, but has only been licensed for adoption services since April 2023. Loading Barnardos Australia, which covers the Sydney-Wollongong-Newcastle region and out to Orange in the Central West, pioneered adoption to same-sex couples in 1985 by facilitating LGBTQ people to adopt as individuals. Family Spirit is affiliated with the Catholic Church, but chief executive Sheree James says it operates at arms length from the church and assesses LGBTQ couples on an equal basis with other applicants. Could the Apple Isle be heading for a cease-and-desist? Clever us, declares Barrie Drake of Hunters Hill. We Aussies own the word that describes the national feeling when one Taylor Alison Swift is on tour. Yes, TASmania. Don Bain of Port Macquarie came across my good lady reading over Mondays column and musing that I reminded her of a great Dane. You mean like Ragnar from Vikings?, I enquired innocently. No, came the reply, Just Nuisance (C8). Dont get cross. Col Ruffels of North Avoca has a theory on the lack of crosses on hot cross buns (C8): Probably just a typo or misread on Anne Robins order. She got Not Cross Buns. Sensing a further betrayal, Jack Dikian of Mosman adds: I bet Anne also found the hot cross buns were cold. Thursdays reference to Pavlovs Dog (C8) stimulated a memory of a recent library visit on a research project seeking information on the links between Pavlovs dog theories and Schrodingers cat theory, says Bill Leigh of West Pennant Hills. Asking the assistant if the library had a book on Pavlovian Dog Theory, she thought for a moment or two, pondering deeply, and said, Im not sure, but it rings a bell. Col Burns of Lugarno reckons A triple burial plot (C8) certainly gives a more literal meaning to the term six feet under. I have just started a teaching course after a long career in workplace relations (Letters, February 22). One of the first things I have learnt is the range of problems associated with trying to test and assess teachers and students. John Kemplers suggestion to link performance to bonuses may not produce the intended outcomes and may actually hinder the retention of good teachers. My previous career makes me inclined to be very sceptical of performance-based pay arrangements. Denis Goodwin, Dee Why Abbotsleigh Wahroonga year 12 students Kristen Li, Ayesha Grewal and Ella Booker in class in Wahroonga, in Sydney. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos During my teaching career I would have taught thousands of students and Id like to think that I made a positive contribution to their learning. Certainly being paid a bonus for good results would have been welcome but there are some parts of our society where reward payments arent appropriate; education and health are two of them. Were any of the results achieved by my students due to me or a supportive home, a positive work ethic, the teacher they had before me or a passion for the subject? Should nurses be paid more when a sick patient gets well and leaves hospital? Performance pay might work well in the finance and retail industries but it does not work in the caring professions. John Bailey, Canterbury Good teaching is a team sport. It should never be a competition between teachers. You train on the job, you learn from more experienced teachers, you share resources and what works and what doesnt work, you devise programs together, you set exams and performance measurements together, you collaborate in the best interests of your students. To tie bonuses and even wages to a teachers success in generalised tests like NAPLAN would not just motivate teachers to teach to the test, but threaten the enthusiastic collegiality that the most effective staff rooms foster. Lyndall Nelson, Goulburn There are a few reasons for the reported decline in standards of students including fewer parents engaging in their childrens learning themselves, so now its just back to the classroom teacher. But linking pay to performance is not the answer. For example, the ATAR is for one year only and the teachers next cohort may not be as talented, hardly their fault. NAPLAN results could possibly be improved if they are only taught to NAPLAN criteria, leaving out a lot of other things required by the curriculum. Increase salaries by all means but has the horse already bolted? Hugely increased workloads introduced to improve standards by rigorously following the progress of each student (which in high school could be over 100, many of whom you only get to see a couple of hours a week) has meant lots of extra paper work without much to show for it. The truth is teaching is about the students whose abilities and expectations vary enormously, so one size fits all doesnt work. Then add the discipline issues we see now more in schools than in the past, it is not surprising many new teachers leave within their first five years. So good luck with recruiting more high-calibre teachers. Glenys Quirk, Forster WARNING: Graphic content In July last year, crime figure Ferenc David Stemler was gunned down on a Canterbury street. Now a young pregnant woman is behind bars, accused of playing a role in the alleged murder. In the early hours of July 27, police found Stemler lying outside his home in Broughton Street with gunshot wounds. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene. The 23-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the shooting of crime figure Ferenc David Stemler. Credit: NSW Police Now almost seven months after the shooting, police have made two arrests in connection with the alleged murder, including that of a 23-year-old woman who police allege was a lackey who would carry out tasks to facilitate the alleged murder. 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 What does it feel like to live in Brisbane in 2024? Weve taken a snapshot of the citys performance to assess its quality of life and liveability. See all 13 stories . Brisbane will remain the states jobs powerhouse, according to a government agency that predicts 70 per cent of new jobs in the coming years will be in south-east Queensland. That is great news for the people who live here. Access to education, and a decent job, is a key determinant of quality of life. The latest projections from Jobs Queensland show the biggest growth by 2025-26, by number of workers, will be in health care and social assistance roles. As a proportion, more new jobs will be in management and commerce. But to provide qualified workers, Brisbane still needs to improve average education levels that trail those of other, larger cities. And the impact of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, remains to be seen. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of the Brisbane population with a higher education degree had increased, to 27 per cent. But that was still lower than Sydney (33 per cent) and Melbourne (32 per cent), even with more people from southern states moving north. While university intakes have suffered since the start of the pandemic, even higher-level tertiary education should be in demand over the coming years. Jobs Queensland predicts that, overall, 9.9 per cent of the states workforce will have a postgraduate degree by 2025-26. But, reflecting the changes to the jobs on offer, 24.3 per cent of additional workers hired in that time will have a postgraduate degree. Advertisement Polling done by the Queensland government, and released this month, found 69 per cent of people in the south-east felt they had access to affordable, high-quality education the highest of any region. Professor Paula Brough, director of the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing (WOW) at Griffith University, said she believed Brisbane was well-placed to upskill the workforce for the jobs of the future. Brisbane will need better-educated workers to fill the jobs of the future. Credit: Tony Moore I think Brisbane is doing really well, and its a really exciting period to be here, and be recognised for what were doing on the national and international stage, Brough said. Brough said better-educated workers, and more competition between employers, should allow some job-seekers to be more discerning. She said the technological and workplace changes seen in the early years of the pandemic had allowed people to carve out careers that suited their lives and boosted diversity of the workforce at the same time. I remember my first work around work-life balance, which would have been in probably the early 2000s, where the term was just starting to emerge in the academic fields, she said. It was originally seen as a way to employ mothers with young children, or return women to the workforce. Now it has become so much more. Its now such an issue that new workers will choose where to work, and what type of work they will do, based on the work-life principles of an organisation. Advertisement As the population ages, Queensland Treasury expects workforce participation to decline, along with average hours worked, even as traditionally under-represented groups have greater job opportunities. The ageing population is driving the increase in health and aged care workers, which has also required changes to skill migration to keep up with demand. Brough said the gig economy had allowed some workers, particularly students, school-leavers and the less skilled, some flexibility around their hours. However, that came with a lack of protections and support, and might not suit everyone. A couple of generations ago, for the majority of workers, there was the opportunity of a job for life, she said. Now, there is more change, and that provides more opportunities. Weve always had part-time workers, and they are the ones who are traditionally more likely to move from job to job as their situation changes. Over the next five to 10 years, Brough expects to see digital technology, particularly AI, have a huge transformative effect on workplaces. Advertisement I would encourage workplaces to embrace it, rather than resist it, she said. The issue will not just be how and when to use it, it will be how to help the workforce maintain and keep up with this technology. And all this transformation will create new jobs. Loading Brough said knowledge workers were in a better position to strive for work-life balance, and work from home if they desired. She felt the workplace research and experimentation being undertaken in Brisbane, including by her centre, would allow the city to be at the forefront of change. An analysis by the Australian Urban Observatory, based on 2016 data, found 28 per cent of Brisbane residents, mostly on the fringes of the city, had employment in the same statistical area as their place of residence. It is used as measure of liveability because working near home reduces travel time and provides the conditions for better health. By comparison, the rate in Sydney and Perth it was 31 per cent, and in Melbourne it was 29 per cent. The latest South-East Queensland Regional Plan acknowledges existing economic clusters, including inner-Brisbane, and aims to deliver higher density housing so that more people can live closer to work. Advertisement 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 What does it feel like to live in Brisbane in 2024? Weve taken a snapshot of the citys performance to assess its quality of life and liveability. See all 13 stories . Few could have predicted the effect COVID-19 would have on workplaces and office culture. According to the Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census data, at one stage of the pandemic, 41 per cent of workers in Brisbanes CBD were working from home, including those in roles previously considered untenable from anywhere but the office. A Transport Opinion Survey conducted by the University of Sydneys Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies published in March 2023 found Brisbane workers spent 33 per cent of their work week at home. And while theres been much said about the long-term impact of working from home and hybrid working arrangements on urban centres, statistics, especially those from the 2021 Census, expose the pitfall of speculating too soon. Like many global cities, Brisbane is still emerging from the pandemic years and figuring out what is the new normal, and what might be swallowed by the state of flux. Working from home could impact the CBD in the future. Credit: Matt Dennien Urban geographer at the University of Queensland Dr Thomas Sigler doesnt believe work from home culture is shifting anytime soon. Advertisement If you look at Millennials and younger generations, they are increasingly looking for flexibility rather than money, he says. For them, working from home full time or any time they want is way more important than a $10k raise. Loading Elsewhere, hybrid arrangements have allowed people to reconsider their lifestyles and broaden the scope of where they live. The trade-offs for families have changed since COVID. Where they once mightve sacrificed space to avoid long commutes, the opposite may now be true, Sigler says. For Brisbane residents, that might look like moving further out into the suburbs, which inevitably creates more urban sprawl, or a lifestyle change to the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. Knowing that you can organise your schedule in a way that only requires you to come to Brisbane two to three times a week is palatable, he says. Advertisement Fewer workers and residents evidently affects the businesses cafes, bars, restaurants and retailers that rely on heavy foot traffic and after-work trade for their bread and butter. But unlike Melbourne and Sydney, both of which were heavily affected by the pandemic, there are signs that Brisbanes CBD is faring surprisingly well. Foot traffic is the bread and butter for many inner-city businesses. Credit: Dan Peled Data released by the Property Council last year showed that in the six months to July 2023, Brisbanes CBD office vacancy rate fell from 12.9 per cent to 11.6 per cent due to continual strong demand from businesses looking to invest in Brisbane. Thats reinforced by a string of new proposals: a 26-storey office tower is planned as part of the $2.5 billion revamp of Eagle Street pier (though that may be in jeopardy); a 42-storey tower on the site of the old Regents Theatre has been proposed; and top-tier professional companies are once-more securing large office spaces in the CBD. CBREs 2024 market outlook report shows improved office attendance across the country, with the national average CBD visitation in Q3 2023 reaching 71 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Data from CBREs 2024 Pacific Market Outlook shows Brisbanes peak day office visitation is 75 and 79 per cent. Credit: CBRE Advertisement And despite CBRE research published last year which showed a 19.5 per cent retail vacancy rate in the CBD, there is clear continued investment in Brisbanes retail economy, from the upcoming shopping emporium in Queens Wharf to luxury shopping precincts in QueensPlaza and Edward Street. Thats not to say Brisbane isnt preparing for the possibility that hybrid work will alter the function of its CBD in the decade to come. Loading Brisbane City Councils City Centre Master Plan outlines steps to revitalise the local economy and increase the appeal of the city centre post-pandemic and pre-2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It acknowledges the need to diversify and follow the lead of other urban centres that are reinventing themselves, shifting from commercially focused precincts to more human-centred places to remain relevant. Forty per cent of our business comes out of the CBD, but its also becoming much more of a place where people are living, deputy mayor Krista Adams says. Infrastructure investments like Cross River Rail, the Kangaroo Point green bridge and Brisbane Metro, and the future pedestrianisation of streets in the CBD, are just some of the measures being taken to improve the citys liveability and connectivity. Advertisement Therell be sections where traffic wont go any moretherell be more trees, more seating, more open footpath dining. I dont want to compare ourselves to other cities, but a bit of that Barcelona, Las Ramblas feeling, Adams says. As more Brisbane CBD streets become pedestrianised, could sections of the city resemble people-focused hubs like Barcelonas Las Ramblas in the future? Credit: Shutterstock Sigler agrees that while some demographics might be inclined to move further from the CBD due to flexible working arrangements, others will be enticed to move further in. Theres a certain cohort that are actually quite in favour of [inner-city living], he says. Mainly international students, but also SINKs (single income, no kids). The two demographics that tend to avoid the CBD are families with children and families with dogs. With amenities at your fingertips, access to public transport, fast connections to work and university, and a burgeoning bar and restaurant scene, its easy to see the appeal. Advertisement Two teenagers were on bail, or before the courts on other matters, at the time they were charged in relation to the home invasion and attack on Wallabies great Toutai Kefu and his family, a court has heard. The two teenagers, who waited in the car while two of their friends broke into the Kefus Brisbane home in August 2021, were sentenced in the Childrens Court in Brisbane on Thursday. Toutai Kefu with his wife Rachel at their home on Buena Vista Avenue in Coorparoo, in Brisbanes south. Credit: Paul Harris One walked from court just moments after his sentencing, while the other remained in custody with other matters still before the court. The attack was described by Judge Ian Dearden as one of the worst he had seen in his career, with photos of blood throughout the Kefu home difficult for him to look at. Police have revealed they doubt missing mum Samantha Murphy is still alive as they investigate whether her body may have been moved from the area where she vanished. In the most significant development since the Ballarat East woman went for a morning run and never came home, missing persons detectives said they now believe one or more parties were involved in her disappearance. The last known image of Samantha Murphy. Dozens of officers spent Friday sifting through bush at Mount Clear, about six kilometres from where Murphy was last seen, after mobile phone data pointed detectives to the area. Hundreds of residents concerned for the mother of three will press ahead with their own search on Saturday. People check damaged houses after a tornado in Bandung regency, West Java, Indonesia, on Feb. 22, 2024. A tornado swept through two regencies in the Indonesian province of West Java on Wednesday afternoon, leveling houses and factories in the area. West Java disaster mitigation agency told local media on Thursday that powerful winds had damaged 13 factories and 10 houses in Sumedang regency, and 18 factories and 233 houses in Bandung regency. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua) JAKARTA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A tornado swept through two regencies in the Indonesian province of West Java on Wednesday afternoon, leveling houses and factories in the area. West Java disaster mitigation agency told local media on Thursday that powerful winds had damaged 13 factories and 10 houses in Sumedang regency, and 18 factories and 233 houses in Bandung regency. The agency's spokesman Hadi Rahmat said that the disaster had impacted over 800 families in these regencies with more than 30 people suffering injuries. "The victims were already receiving treatments in a number of health service facilities," he said, adding that authorities had set up temporary shelters for the evacuees. The tornado, which took place at around 4:00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT), had also caused blackouts in some parts of the area with trucks reportedly flipped over by the strong wind. Rahmat said the agency was handling the situation by coordinating with local authorities, village leaders and humanitarian volunteers to collect data on the impact of the tornado. This photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows damaged houses at a residential area after a tornado in Bandung regency, West Java, Indonesia. A tornado swept through two regencies in the Indonesian province of West Java on Wednesday afternoon, leveling houses and factories in the area. West Java disaster mitigation agency told local media on Thursday that powerful winds had damaged 13 factories and 10 houses in Sumedang regency, and 18 factories and 233 houses in Bandung regency. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua) The practice has already been embraced by individual schools in all sectors, but the Melbourne Archdiocese will embed a system-wide approach, providing teachers with training and curriculum resources to ensure each school operates under the same framework. Bethany Catholic Primary School in Werribee transformed its teaching last year after a review in 2022 made it clear to principal Joanne Webster that what they were doing wasnt working. Webster had previously used balanced literacy with some success but said there was always a percentage of students who didnt improve. She said it became obvious explicit instruction could bridge that gap. She hired a consultant to guide her teachers through the implementation of explicit instruction and it just took off. By the end of the year, the growth was significant, she said. Bethany has removed composite classes this year to accommodate the teaching. Class sizes in early grades have also been reduced to allow for earlier intervention. Loading Webster, who was on the reference group for the Melbourne Archdioceses plan, said the system overhaul affirmed she had made the right decision. Ill be really interested to see our results in NAPLAN this year, she said. But you know what was really exciting was the kids were coming up and saying how much they were loving the learning. Jennifer Buckingham, director of strategy at literacy company MultiLit, said support for explicit instruction had been growing for about 10 years but the size of the Melbourne Archdiocese made its decision significant. Buckingham, who contributed to the Archdioceses vision statement, said it would take time for results to filter through the whole system, but that improvements at a school level should be visible fairly quickly. Buckingham said the initiative, which aims to make every student proficient in literacy and numeracy, could encourage a greater take-up of explicit instruction nationwide. I think results will end up speaking to themselves, she said. Its one thing to be able to point to individual schools and say these schools are getting fantastic results doing something thats different to what its been advised by the department. Its a different thing again when you have a very large group of schools start to demonstrate great results. Thats quite hard to ignore. The Melbourne Archdiocese is not the first system to adopt explicit instruction. In the Canberra and Goulburn region, where 56 schools adopted the practice in 2020, the proportion of year 3 students underperforming in NAPLAN reading tests lifted from 42 per cent in 2019 to only 4 per cent in 2022. Government students dropped from 54 per cent to 60 per cent underperforming in the same period. Loading Ballarat Clarendon College, consistently Victorias top VCE performer, also uses explicit instruction. Public systems in South Australia, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania have adopted explicit instruction for reading. The 2022 PISA results, released last year, showed almost half of Australias 15-year-old students are failing to achieve national standards in key areas of maths, science and reading, and the nation is now more than four years behind the worlds top-performing jurisdiction in maths. When school and student-level socioeconomic background were factored in, independent and government schools performed better than Catholic schools in maths and science. For reading, there was no advantage for independent students, but government students performed better than Catholic students. Trisha Jha, from the Centre for Independent Studies think tank, is the author of two recent reports on the science of learning and explicit instruction. The latest, released on Thursday, said teachers were strongly motivated to fix educational inequity but were not adequately guided by school systems. This, coupled with often conflicting advice around best practice, left schools responsible for their own professional development and teachers relying on informal networks to build up knowledge. Jha said the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools announcement would increase the pressure on the Victorian Education Department to remove contradictions in its own advice to schools. I would just point out that its about raising the quality of education across the whole state, she said. And I would think that any government would be interested in that, regardless of whether the child happens to attend a state school or a Catholic school. A Victorian Education Department spokesperson did not answer questions about clearer guidance for schools but said the government was investing $40 million to develop lesson plans reflecting the best and most contemporary evidence of what works. These would be available from the second half of this year. Explicit teaching is a core component of the Victorian teaching and learning model and this is already being delivered in government schools, the spokesperson said. Opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson said the evidence on best-practice teaching was clear, but public school students were increasingly left behind. With the non-government sector embracing modern, evidence-based teaching techniques, the Allan government must now follow suit and ensure every student has the best opportunity to reach their full potential. Casual nurses at Busselton Hospital have had their employment canned at the last minute in what the union claimed was an effort to claw back budget blowouts, but the hospital operator said was a simple administrative error. The Australian Nursing Federation WA said dozens of nurses were shocked to find out their contracts had not been renewed in recent weeks. Nurses have been told at the last minute they were no longer employed at Busselton Hospital. Credit: Getty Images Some nurses who had worked at the hospital under casual arrangements for more than a decade only found out when they arrived at work on Thursday morning and could not log in to the hospital systems. This masthead understands nurses started being caught out at the beginning of the month. Several nurses have since had their employment reinstated quickly after hospital bosses warned WA Country Health Service the hospital could not cope without them. One of the potential purchasers is agent-developer Ted Manny who bought two units in Merinda and approached three other buildings at McMahons Point to make offers on apartments and later sent a follow-up letter to Merinda. My report recommends that the building be deemed uninhabitable in its current state, it read. The deficiencies and non-compliances are many and, as an owner, I have a responsibility to circulate this report when in its final form and to file this report with the strata managers, North Sydney Council, NSW Fire and Safety and the building insurer. Jan Newland at her apartment in the Neutral Bay block Merinda. Credit: Louise Kennerley Manny admits sending the email with the comparison to the Titanic, but said it shouldnt have been taken seriously. I try to be humorous, but not everyone gets my humour, he said. That was a Dad joke. He also confirms that he filed the report with some of the authorities. When you become aware of serious issues in a building, you have a responsibility to do something about it, he said. Those issues could ultimately lead to loss of life in the event of a fire and because of the fire issues they wont be insured. Loading But while I got a fire report done, I never furnished it to council. I just wanted to see what my exposure was in the building. The two owners whose units I was buying submitted those reports, not me. At one of those buildings Manny approached, the 1960s, 17-level, 81-unit Harbourside Apartments at McMahons Point, Owners Corporation chairman and barrister Brendan Hull said that Manny had been trying to convince people for two years to sell, but he couldnt. When the council later investigated the building and required a list of repairs, the building charged owners sizeable special levies to bring forward its schedule of planned works to get it back up to scratch. Now it will cost us millions of dollars to do the work. We were going to do it over a number of years, but then North Sydney Council said we had to do it within two, Hull said. Then all the owners received emails from Mr Manny saying things like we were simply doing things like putting a coat of paint on the building which would be like partying on the decks of the Titanic, and wed go down with the sinking ship. Manny said the vast majority of owners in the buildings were keen for him to buy, but there were a few recalcitrant owners holding out in the hope of receiving more than their units were worth. The majority of owners want to sell to allow these buildings, in prime locations, to be reutilised, he said. If I put my hand up to buy, theyd jump at it and name their first-born after me. But it only takes one or two owners to scupper the plans. It can be hellish trying to do this. I negotiate with everyone. Im not someone who wants to see people thrown out of buildings. But people try to hold out and ask for 10 times what the other owners get, and I wont do side deals or allow a few people to take the majority for a ride. And if you tell them their building is going to fall down, its literally going to collapse, they shoot the messenger. Loading Agent James Snodgrass of Forsyth Real Estate has been working with Manny on McMahons Point to hopefully unlock a pretty incredible little spot down there, Snodgrass said. But like all development, some people want it and some dont and it can be quite an emotional time. But its the only way forward to see buildings like these consolidated and renewed. A lot of them have fire rating issues and concrete cancer and will need a lot of money to bring them up to speed, but some people still want to stay, as their home is their castle. Ted is a responsible citizen and wants to look after peoples best interests but it has been getting heated, no doubt about it. Strata lawyer Amanda Farmer says she is seeing a lot of activity from developers who see their involvement as the last chance for many buildings, which tends to scare owners. Theyll often commission reports on the state of the building to expose its problems. Other northern cities that would make fine bases are Arezzo, Siena and Padua, from where you could take in Venice, Vicenza and Verona. In southern Puglia, Lecce is another standout. Shoulder seasons are April-May and mid-September to the end of October. My first choice would be the city of Como, on the shores of Lake Como, from where you could explore the northern lakes, Milan and regional cities such as Bergamo. Another good base would be Orvieto, set among rolling olive groves on the western border of Umbria. This pocket-sized city sees far fewer tourists than other parts of Italy yet it has great atmosphere and is well located for exploring southern parts of Tuscany and northern Lazio as well as Umbria. Italy has 20 regions, in effect states, and you could find at least one town in each of these regions that you could use as a base. Which regions you choose depends on what youre interested in, and Italy has a long list of possibilities including regional food, ancient history, nature, hiking, islands, Renaissance art, baroque architecture and churches. If you have a vehicle youll magnify the opportunities for exploring. Im looking for a base or two if more practicable in Italy for at least a month. I would like to explore as much as possible by car or train travel. Which months are shoulder seasons and do some regions shut up shop? P. Wilson, Morley WA Our daughter hopes to spend a week participating in an immersion experience with an Indigenous community in the Northern Territory as part of her teaching professional development. She wanted to include a trip to Uluru afterwards but it seems that its not easy to travel there from Darwin. S. McCauley, Mt Riverview NSW Flying is the quickest option but flights from Darwin to Uluru travel via the eastern capitals, sometimes stopping at both Brisbane and Sydney, and even a relatively quick flight takes about 11 hours and costs at least $500. Its possible to fly return from Sydney to Uluru return for about the same price. Another option is a two-hour flight from Darwin to Alice Springs followed by a bus to Uluru, however this flight is also expensive around $400. AAT Kings has a daily service departing Alice Springs at 7am with pick-ups from selected hotels, arriving at Uluru at 1pm. My best friend and I want to do a road trip around New Zealand over about two weeks. We dont know in which city to start, or whether we should go around both islands or focus on one. S. Evans, Picnic Point NSW You could do both islands in two weeks but if you want to dig deep into the countrys natural wonders, South Island is the place. Fly into Wellington and stay a couple of nights theres a lively cafe/restaurant scene and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is a knockout, dont miss it. Catch the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait to Picton, pick up a car at the ferry terminal and drive along the coast to Nelson. Make this your base for three nights, its a spirited city in a part of the country that New Zealanders like to keep to themselves, with brilliant sea-kayaking with seals in Abel Tasman National Park, wineries, beaches and gorgeous countryside right on your doorstep. From here its a six-hour drive south to Fox and Franz Josef, where the glaciers come grinding down from the mountains almost to sea level. The premier experience here is the glacier heli-hike, which is expensive but unforgettable. Franz Josef is more appealing than Fox for overnight stays. Another 90-minute drive south takes you to Lake Moeraki, and if your budget will stretch to a couple of nights in a lodge, Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki is a prime choice. Set where the Moeraki River begins its final dash to the sea, the lodge is a window on the rivers, forests and lakes of this sensational wilderness, offering plush accommodation and guided walks with naturalists. Its a dramatic drive through the mountains to Wanaka and on to Queenstown, New Zealands adventure sports headquarters. What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox. London: Prince William, by far the most popular figure among the Windsors in regular British opinion polls, made a rather significant intervention this week. And it has raised eyebrows across the world. Of course in Britains constitutional monarchy, the royals are expected to keep well out of politics. Williams late grandmother, Elizabeth II, was for 70 years a stickler for the rule that the monarch must be seen as politically neutral. In fact, its hard to think of a moment when she let her guard slip. Prince William visiting the British Red Cross headquarters in London. Credit: Getty Images Her son, Charles, was given much more leeway. Before becoming King, he had 50-odd years as a worldly and well-educated figure to allow all in his realm to get to know him. Washington: US President Joe Biden has cancelled more than a billion dollars in student loans for 153,000 people, the second wave of debt forgiveness designed to provide financial relief for hard-working American families. Biden, who is on a three-day campaign swing through California, made the $US1.2 billion ($1.8 billion) announcement saying loan relief helps the greater economy. Too many Americans are still saddled with unsustainable debt in exchange for a college degree. When people have student debt relief, they buy homes. They start businesses, they contribute. They engage. President Joe Biden speaks in Culver City, California on Wednesday. Credit: AP The move is part of a program unveiled in January targeting Americans who borrowed $US12,000 or less and had been making payments for at least a decade. In total, nearly $US138 billion in debt has been lifted from the shoulders of 3.9 million voters ahead of the presidential election in November. LOWLANDS:--- Investigators of the RST Unit searched and confiscated several documents and electronic devices from the management of Porto Cupe Coy on Thursday morning. No arrests were made in connection with the search according to the Prosecutors Spokesperson Thursday afternoon. "The RST investigation led by the Central The team of the Prosecutor's Office (OM) searched this morning in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation related to a prepaid debit card company. Other companies are not a suspect at this point. In this phase, the investigation is only aimed at gathering as much evidence as possible." No further details were given about the incident. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Thursday said that it will guide the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the China Financial Futures Exchange to strengthen their standards of supervision for abnormal transactions, and that it will crack down on illegal activities such as market manipulation and insider trading in accordance with laws and regulations. In a statement on its website, the CSRC said that these efforts are for maintaining the market's normal trading order. "Regulatory authorities do not interfere with normal market transactions, and we seek to protect investors' rights to fair and free transactions in accordance with the law. However, we will resolutely crack down on illegal activities that disrupt the market trading order, in accordance with laws and regulations," the statement said. Recently, the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges took regulatory measures to crack down on the abnormal trading behavior of an institution in accordance with regulations, the CSRC statement said. "That's fulfilling their trading supervision responsibilities, not limiting share selling," said the CSRC statement. On Feb. 19, the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges issued separate statements that named Lingjun Investment, a major quant fund, as an entity that had disrupted orderly market trading. The exchanges also announced penalties for the company, including open censure and a restriction on trading for a stated period of three days. Putin gives Bosnia Serb leader top Russia order Sarajevo, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2024 President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday awarded Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik a top Russian honour, officials said, in the latest sign of their close ties. Putin gave Dodik the Order of Alexander Nevsky, one of Russia's highest medals, during a meeting in Kazan, the capital of the country's Tatarstan region. Dodik received the order for his "contribution to the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and Bosnia and Herzegovina and for reinforcing the partnership with Republika Srpska", according to statements by the Kremlin and reports on RTRS, Srpska's public television. Russia has historically been an ally of Serbia and Serbs and the close relationship between Dodik and Putin has raised concerns as Dodik has challenged Bosnia's post-war ruling structure over the past several months. This has raised tensions in a country where some 100,000 people died in a civil war during the 1990s. Dodik vowed to continue to oppose any steps to get Bosnia closer to NATO "despite persistent pressure". "It is neither... logical nor normal that we accept NATO membership," he said according to RTRS. Putin hailed the "long-standing" and "absolutely constructive" relations between Moscow and Republika Srpska (RS). "I very much expect that even more will be done in our relations," Putin said, according to a Kremlin statement. "We know that the situation in the republic is not easy. We are ready to talk about this too," he said. Tensions have been simmering in Bosnia for months, after Dodik signed controversial legislation that refused to recognise decisions made by Bosnia's international high representative and the constitutional court. The high representative is charged with overseeing the enforcement of the Dayton Agreement that ended the country's bloody civil war. Bosnia has been governed by a dysfunctional administrative system created under the Dayton pact that divides the country into two bodies: a Muslim-Croat federation and a Bosnian entity known as Republika Srpska, connected by a weak central government. The two entities are guaranteed a large degree of autonomy. Dodik -- a Kremlin ally under US sanctions -- has held enormous sway over RS for years and has frequently stoked ethnic tensions and threatened to secede. Iran invites IAEA chief to attend conference in May Tehran, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2024 Iran's nuclear chief said Wednesday that Tehran has invited the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi to visit in May. The UN agency, based in Vienna, has been struggling since 2021 to carry out controls on Iran's nuclear programme, which continues to expand even as Tehran denies it wants to make nuclear weapons. Last month, Grossi expressed frustration over Iran's nuclear activity in an interview with AFP, saying Tehran was "restricting cooperation in an unprecedented way". The head of the IAEA "has expressed his desire to go to Iran and this trip is on his agenda," Mohammad Eslami, head of Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, told reporters. "We have invited him to give a speech at the international conference on nuclear energy" which will be held from May 6 to 8 in the central city of Isfahan, he added. Iran suspended its compliance with limits on its nuclear activities set by a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers a year after then US president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Iran last year slowed down its pace of uranium enrichment, which was seen as a goodwill gesture while informal talks began with the United States. But the IAEA said it accelerated enrichment once again in late 2023. Ahead of his potential trip, Grossi met Wednesday in Vienna with the top US official on Iran, Abram Paley. The US envoy told Grossi that "we remain seriously concerned about Iran's continued expansion of its nuclear program in ways that have no credible civilian purpose, including its continued production of highly enriched uranium," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington. Tehran has consistently denied any ambition to develop a nuclear weapons capability, insisting that its activities are entirely peaceful. Earlier in February, Iran said it had started building a new nuclear research reactor in Isfahan, days after it announced it was constructing a nuclear power plant complex in the south. US charges yakuza gang leader over conspiring to sell nuclear material New York, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2024 US authorities said Wednesday they had charged a member of the Japanese yakuza criminal underworld with handling nuclear material sourced from Myanmar and seeking to sell it to fund an illicit arms deal. According to a superseding indictment unsealed in a Manhattan court, yakuza leader Takeshi Ebisawa and co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri had previously been charged in April 2022 with drug trafficking and firearms offenses, and both were remanded. "The defendant stands accused of conspiring to sell weapons grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Burma (Myanmar), and to purchase military weaponry on behalf of an armed insurgent group," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who traffic in these materials and threaten US national security and international stability." The military weaponry to be part of the arms deal included surface-to-air missiles, the indictment alleges. Prosecutors allege that Ebisawa "brazenly" moved material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, alongside drugs, from Myanmar. From 2020, Ebisawa boasted to an undercover officer he had access to large quantities of nuclear materials that he sought to sell, providing photographs of materials alongside Geiger counters registering radiation. During a sting operation including undercover agents, Thai authorities assisted US investigators to seize two powdery yellow substances which the defendant described as "yellowcake." "The (US) laboratory determined that the isotope composition of the plutonium found in the Nuclear Samples is weapons-grade, meaning that the plutonium, if produced in sufficient quantities, would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon," the Justice Department said in its statement. One of Ebisawa's co-conspirators claimed they "had available more than 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of Thorium-232 and more than 100 kilograms of uranium in the compound U3O8 -- referring to a compound of uranium commonly found in the uranium concentrate powder known as 'yellowcake'." The indictment claims Ebisawa had suggested using the proceeds of the sale of nuclear material to fund weapons purchases on behalf of an unnamed ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar. Ebisawa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for seeking to acquire surface-to-air missiles, and up to 20 years imprisonment for the trafficking of nuclear materials internationally. Prosecutors describe Ebisawa as a "leader of the Yakuza organized crime syndicate, a highly organized, transnational Japanese criminal network that operates around the world (and whose) criminal activities have included large-scale narcotics and weapons trafficking." No date was given for trial. Activist abducted in latest Burkina Faso kidnapping Ouagadougou, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 An activist in Burkina Faso was kidnapped from his office in the capital, a civil society group told AFP, the latest dissident to be abducted in the junta-ruled country. Bassirou Badjo, an administrator at the General Directorate for National Solidarity and Humanitarian Assistance (DGSAH), was taken from his workplace on Wednesday, grassroots movement Balai Citoyen said. The perpetrators were "individuals presenting themselves as state security agents" who took him to "an unknown destination", Balai Citoyen added. Since taking power in a 2022 coup, Ibrahim Traore has cracked down on dissent and media, shrinking the civil society space, according to Human Rights Watch. Several leading activists, lawyers and journalists deemed hostile to his regime have been kidnapped or arrested in recent months. On Tuesday, Balai Citoyen (Citizen's Broom) said another of its prominent members, columnist Rasmane Zinaba, had been kidnapped. Zinaba was taken from his home and his whereabouts are unknown, it added. Both Zinaba and Badjo had been given conscription orders to join the military regime's anti-jihadist fight. At least a dozen activists, journalists and opposition politicians were called up in November last year to participate in the campaign to recapture territory from armed Islamist groups that control roughly half the country, according to HRW. Zinaba had gone to court to have his conscription order cancelled. Last month, renowned lawyer and Balai Citoyen co-founder Guy Herve Kam was kidnapped in Ouagadougou by men in civilian clothes. Burkina Faso is part of the vast Sahel region, which has been locked in a battle against rising violent extremism since Libya's civil war in 2011, the Islamist takeover of northern Mali in 2012 and the rise of Boko Haram. When Traore seized power in 2022, it was the country's second coup in less than a year -- both triggered in part by discontent at the government's failures to quell the jihadist insurgencies that began spilling over from neighbouring Mali and Niger in 2015. More than 20,000 people in Burkina Faso have since been killed in the violence, while over two million have been displaced. ab/lb/cwl BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) of China and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions have jointly issued a circular to improve coordination on safeguarding workers' rights and interests. The circular encourages procuratorate organs to conduct consultations with trade unions if they see traces of legal violations in employment to push for the resolving of the issues. Trade unions above the county level can hand over relevant information and materials to procuratorate organs to launch legal oversight procedures in accordance with the law, especially when the cases involve women, minors, people with disabilities and the elderly, and the employers refuse to correct their wrong practices, the circular reads. Procuratorial suggestions will also be made to relevant departments for strengthening administrative management, according to the circular. French defence minister travels to Armenia amid Azerbaijan tensions Paris, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu was to travel to Armenia on Thursday for a two-day visit as tensions mount with Yerevan's arch-enemy Azerbaijan. Lecornu's trip, the first by a French defence minister to the small South Caucasus nation, comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about a "risk of escalation" between Armenia and Azerbaijan as he received Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday. Pashinyan has warned that Azerbaijan is preparing for a "full-scale war" with its longtime foe after decades of tensions over the breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. "France and Armenia have a historic relationship of friendship, but the defence relationship has not been at the level of the intensity of the bilateral relationship," Lecornu's office said. In October 2023, France announced the sale of defensive equipment to Armenia, drawing anger from Azerbaijan. That deal was announced weeks after Baku seized the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists. Lecornu at the time said Armenia would buy three Ground Master 200 (GM200) radar systems from French defence group Thales. Armenia has also signed a contract to buy night-vision goggles from the French group Safran, and the French army is also set to train Armenian troops this year. "Armenia is in a position to defend its territory and population, and defence cooperation with France is strictly in line with the objective of helping it to defend itself," the defence ministry said. Baku, which is backed militarily by Turkey, has slammed what it called France's policy of "militarisation" in the South Caucasus. France, home to a large Armenian diaspora, has played a mediating role in the decades-long conflict over control of Karabakh, whose recapture by Azerbaijan led to the exodus of some 100,000 Armenians. Yerevan fears that Azerbaijan, which has been emboldened by its capture of the disputed territory, might now seek to target southern Armenia. Last week both sides accused the other of opening fire on their volatile border in a skirmish that Armenia said left four of its soldiers dead. mdr-as/js French defence minister visits Armenia amid Azerbaijan tensions Paris, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 France's Sebastien Lecornu is due to travel to Armenia on the first trip by a French defence minister to the South Caucasus nation, as tensions rise with Yerevan's historic rival Azerbaijan. Lecornu's trip comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about a "risk of escalation" between Armenia and Azerbaijan as he received Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday. Pashinyan last week warned that Azerbaijan is preparing for a "full-scale war" with Armenia after decades of tensions over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. "France and Armenia have a historical relationship of friendship, but the defence relations have not reached the level of the intensity of the bilateral relations," Lecornu's office said. The minister, who will be accompanied by members of parliament and defence industry representatives, is due to arrive in Yerevan on Thursday evening. The visit comes amid a growing rift between the Soviet-era master Moscow and Yerevan, which has grown angry with the Kremlin over its perceived inaction on Armenia's long-running confrontation with Azerbaijan. In October 2023, France announced the sale of defence equipment to Armenia, provoking anger from Azerbaijan. The deal was announced weeks after Baku seized the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists. Lecornu said at the time that Armenia would buy three Ground Master 200 (GM200) radar systems from French defence group Thales. Armenia has also signed a contract to buy night-vision goggles from the French group Safran, and the French army is also set to train Armenian troops this year. - 'Policy of militarisation' - "Armenia is in a position to defend its territory and population, and defence cooperation with France is strictly in line with the objective of helping it to defend itself," the defence ministry said. France opened a defence mission in Yerevan in January 2023. Baku, which is backed militarily by Turkey, has slammed what it called France's policy of "militarisation" in the South Caucasus. France, home to a large Armenian diaspora, has played a mediating role in the decades-long conflict over control of Karabakh, whose recapture by Azerbaijan led to the exodus of some 100,000 Armenians. On Wednesday, a stateless Armenian poet who died fighting the Nazi occupation of France during World War II became the first non-French Resistance fighter to enter the Pantheon mausoleum for national heroes. Yerevan fears that Azerbaijan, which has been emboldened by its capture of the disputed territory, might now seek to target southern Armenia. Last week both sides accused each other of opening fire on their volatile border in a skirmish that Armenia said left four of its soldiers dead. After the new spate of tensions Armenia and Azerbaijan's leaders held direct talks on the sidelines of a security gathering in Munich and agreed to push on with peace negotiations. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev then travelled to Turkey where he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. Azerbaijan has repeatedly hit out at France for criticising Baku's Karabakh offensive last year, and for plans by Paris officials to help arm neighbouring Armenia. In January, an Azerbaijan parliamentary commission called for the expulsion of French companies from the oil-rich country. Azerbaijan authorities arrested a Frenchman on espionage charges in December. mdr-as/ah/spb Israel strikes Gaza's Rafah as truce talks under way Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 Israel launched air strikes Thursday on southern Gaza's Rafah after threatening to send troops against Hamas militants in the city where around 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Global powers trying to find a way to end the Israel-Hamas war have so far failed, but a US envoy was expected in Israel on Thursday in the latest attempt to secure a truce deal. The war has also triggered mounting violence in the occupied West Bank, where three Palestinian gunmen opened fire Thursday on cars in a highway traffic jam, killing one and wounding eight including a young pregnant woman. The attackers were shot dead at the scene, near a Jewish settlement east of Jerusalem. Israeli far-right politicians quickly called for more citizens to carry weapons and for even greater restrictions on Palestinian West Bank residents. International concern has spiralled over Gaza's high civilian death toll and the dire humanitarian crisis sparked by the war that followed Hamas's October 7 attack against Israel. More than four months of relentless fighting and bombardment have flattened much of the Hamas-run coastal territory and pushed its population of around 2.4 million to the brink of famine, according to the UN. Alarm has centred on Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where more than 1.4 million people are now living in crowded shelters and makeshift tents where disease threatens. Israel has warned that, if Hamas does not free the remaining hostages held in Gaza by the start of Ramadan, it will keep fighting during the Muslim holy month, including in Rafah. Israel has already been bombing targets in Rafah, which was again hit overnight and where early Thursday AFP reporters heard multiple air strikes. "I woke up to the sound of a huge explosion like an earthquake -- fire, smoke, blasts and dust everywhere," said Rami al-Shaer, 21, who said he and others pulled wounded family members from the rubble. He charged that Israel "doesn't care" about the ongoing ceasefire talks and rather "wants to displace the people from Rafah and are preparing for a ground attack". Gaza's Civil Defence agency reported "a number of martyrs" there, while elsewhere in Rafah residents walked among the rubble of the city's al-Faruq mosque, after strikes. - Mosque hit - The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. Hamas militants also took about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages -- 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israel. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 29,410 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by Gaza's health ministry. War cabinet member Benny Gantz said Israel's operation in Rafah would begin "after the evacuation of the population", although his government has not specified where civilians could go in devastated Gaza. Gazans have repeatedly said nowhere is safe, and the health ministry said Thursday that 97 people had been killed across the Palestinian territory over the previous day. Mediators including the United States, Qatar and Egypt have tried to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Brett McGurk, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, was expected in Israel for his second regional stop after Egypt. Hamas's chief Ismail Haniyeh was in Cairo for talks as well, according to the group. Israel's Gantz said there were efforts to "promote a new plan for the return of the hostages", adding that "we are seeing the first signs that indicate the possibility of progress in this direction". US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington hopes for an "agreement that secures a temporary ceasefire where we can get the hostages out and get humanitarian assistance". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the army will keep fighting until it has destroyed Hamas and freed the remaining hostages. Netanyahu's failure to bring home all the captives has led to mounting protests and calls for early elections. A poll of hundreds of Israelis, published Wednesday, showed a majority do not think "absolute victory" is a likely outcome. The United States, Arab states and others have also called for a pathway to a Palestinian state. Israel's parliament overwhelmingly backed a proposal by Netanyahu to oppose any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. - Vessel on fire - The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said humanitarian assistance to Gaza is being gravely hampered by the "intense hostilities, limitations on the entry and delivery of aid, and growing insecurity". In the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said an Israeli tank had fired on a house sheltering their employees and families. Two relatives of MSF staff were killed and six others injured, it said, condemning the strike in the "strongest possible terms". When contacted by AFP, the Israeli army said its forces had "fired at a building" where "terror activity is occurring", adding that it "regrets" harm to civilians. Troops killed more than 15 militants in western Khan Yunis over the previous day, the military said on Thursday. Israel has repeatedly said Hamas militants use civilian infrastructure including hospitals as operational bases. Hamas has denied this. Elsewhere in the region, the war has led to attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels in the Red Sea shipping area vital for global trade. The Huthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. A missile attack Thursday targeted a vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire on board, two maritime agencies said. Israel's military also said air defences successfully intercepted an airborne threat identified "in the area of the Red Sea". burs-dhc/it/fz UK 'strongly' backs Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next NATO chief London, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 Britain's government said Thursday it is "strongly" backing outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become NATO's next secretary general. Rutte is currently the frontrunner to replace Jens Stoltenberg, even though a shock win for the far-right at the recent general election in his homeland risks tarnishing his legacy. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman told reporters on Thursday that Britain "does strongly back Dutch PM Mark Rutte to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General". He said the UK wanted a candidate who would "keep NATO strong and deliver on the Alliance's NATO 2030 vision". Rutte, he said, was "well respected across the Alliance, has serious defence and security credentials, and will ensure that the alliance remains strong and ready to defend and deter". A successor for Stoltenberg -- who has had his decade-long tenure extended twice in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine -- is expected to be announced before a July summit in Washington. After ruling himself out for the NATO post in previous years, Rutte told Dutch media in October that running the military alliance was a "very interesting" job and he would be open to the prospect if it came his way. Rutte, 57, is currently serving as prime minister in a transitional capacity after far-right leader Geert Wilders scored a stunning Dutch general election win in November. A familiar figure on the European stage after 13 years as prime minister of the Netherlands, Rutte is already favoured by NATO heavyweights the United States, Britain, France and Germany, diplomats say. But although he has emerged as the clear frontrunner, other hopefuls jostling to take over the NATO top job include Estonian premier Kaja Kallas and Latvia's foreign minister, Krisjanis Karins. Some supporters want to wrap up Rutte's nomination soon to avoid the NATO job getting put in the mix with European Union top positions, which will be up for grabs after the European Parliament elections in June. But there is probably still some haggling ahead, and others warn it is not a done deal yet, with possible opposition coming from allies Turkey and Hungary. - Shockwaves - One potential stumbling block for Rutte could be the situation he leaves behind in the Netherlands, where Wilders's election victory has sent shockwaves across Europe. If he were to succeed Stoltenberg, Rutte would become the fourth Dutchman to head the NATO alliance. Stoltenberg himself told AFP last year that Rutte was a "friend and good colleague". "He is a capable politician with a lot of experience as prime minister," Stoltenberg said. "But it's not for me to decide who's going to be my successor." Rutte's government has taken a prominent role in supporting Ukraine, pledging another two billion euros ($2.2 billion) in November, and in leading the push to give Kyiv F-16 fighter jets. Supporters insist he is fully aware of the dangers posed by Russia. His years in power were marked by the killing of 196 Dutch nationals when a missile that investigators say was supplied by Moscow shot down a passenger jet over Ukraine in 2014. Rutte remains at the helm of the Netherlands while Wilders attempts to revive talks on forming a new government, some three months since the election. Efforts to form a four-party centre-right coalition broke down earlier in February when one party withdrew in a row over public finances. French navy downs two more drones over Red Sea Paris, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 The French navy has shot down two drones over the Red Sea where Yemen's Huthi rebels have been attacking ships, the defence ministry said Thursday, in the second such incident this week. The navy, which has two frigates deployed in the area, detected a threat in the night of Wednesday to Thursday and "destroyed two drones", it said. It said earlier this week it had downed two other drones overnight Monday to Tuesday. On Monday, the European Union formally launched a naval mission to protect Red Sea shipping from the Iran-backed Huthis who control much of war-torn Yemen. The rebels have been harassing the vital shipping lane since November in a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. France's Languedoc previously shot down two drones in the Red Sea in self-defence in December, the foreign ministry has said. The European Union aims to have its mission -- called Aspides, Greek for "shield" -- up and running in a "few weeks" with at least four vessels, an official said last Friday. The United States is spearheading its own naval coalition in the area and has conducted retaliatory strikes on Huthi targets in Yemen, as has Britain. The dozens of Huthi attacks have roiled shipping in the Red Sea, leading some companies to take alternative routes including a two-week detour around southern Africa. France complains of Russian 'threats' to military Paris, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 France's air force pilots have been threatened with attack by Russian forces during patrol missions in international air space in a sign of rising tensions, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday. Russia had tried to "take control" of French air force and navy patrols, he told the broadcaster RTL, adding that Russia was "pushing the limits" with such behaviour. "A Russian air traffic system threatened to shoot down French planes over the Black Sea" that were patrolling in international airspace at the time, Lecornu said. "You have Russian operators threatening French pilots with the shooting down of their aircraft," he said. The incident took place a "month ago" but his ministry later said it had actually happened in November and involved a French AWACS aircraft specialising in airborne control and detection operations. "It was a particularly aggressive radio exchange," a ministry spokesperson said, calling such an intimidation attempt in that particular area was "a first". In a separate incident, a Russian warship was detected near the Bay of the Seine, an inlet of the English Channel on France's Normandy coast, Lecornu said. Although the Russian vessel was in international waters, "it was as if it had come to intimidate France", he said. His remarks are the latest in a string of French accusations of aggressive Russian behaviour, including alleged cyberattacks and propaganda directed at France. Such incidents were "as old as the Cold War", Lecornu acknowledged, but warned that "Russia is pushing the limits in terms of aggressive behaviour". One cyberattack had targeted a French weapons factory, he said. Lecornu last weekend ordered his ministry to be more vigilant towards Russian "sabotage and cyberattacks", according to an internal directive seen by AFP on Tuesday. President Emmanuel Macron's government is a major supplier of weapons and aid to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's invasion for the past two years. Macron declared last month that Europe's priority must be to "not let Russia win". Contentious Chinese research vessel docks in Maldives Male, Maldives, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 A contentious Chinese research ship reached the Maldives on Thursday in the latest sign of the archipelago's diplomatic reorientation towards Beijing and away from its traditional benefactor India. Local residents said they had spotted China's Xiang Yang Hong 3 at the Thilafushi industrial port near the capital Male. The 100-metre-long (328-foot) vessel was at an anchorage near Male on Thursday evening, according to the website Marinetraffic. The Maldives' pro-Beijing government said earlier the vessel was docking for a port call to rotate crew and take on supplies, on the condition that it would not conduct "research" while in its territorial waters. Media reports in India had suggested that the vessel was conducting surveillance for Beijing. India is suspicious of China's increasing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are strategically placed halfway along key east-west international shipping routes. Relations between Male and New Delhi have chilled since pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu won elections last year. Muizzu has asked India to withdraw 89 security personnel based in the Maldives to operate reconnaissance aircraft by March 15. But the president has also insisted he does not want to upend ties with New Delhi by replacing Indian troops with Chinese forces. Sri Lanka refused entry to Xiang Yang Hong 3 after two other port calls from Chinese vessels since 2022 raised objections from India. That included the ship Yuan Wang 5, which specialises in spacecraft tracking and which New Delhi described as a spy ship. US, allied forces down six drones launched by Yemen's Huthis Washington, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 American and allied forces shot down six drones launched by Yemen's Huthi rebels that were likely targeting warships in the area, the US military said Thursday. The Iran-backed Huthis have continued attacks on shipping despite repeated American and British strikes aimed at degrading their ability to threaten a vital global trade route. The drones were downed by US aircraft and a coalition warship on Thursday morning local time, and were identified "as likely targeting US and coalition warships and were an imminent threat," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The military command did not identify the nationality of the coalition warship, but the French defense ministry said Thursday that the country's navy shot down two drones overnight. The European Union formally launched a naval mission on Monday to protect Red Sea shipping from Huthi attacks, while the United States is spearheading its own naval coalition in the area. The Huthis began attacking Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war. US and UK forces responded with strikes against the Huthis, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well. CENTCOM said the Huthis fired two anti-ship missiles at a UK-owned cargo carrier in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, causing damage and one minor injury. Anger over Israel's devastating campaign in Gaza -- which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 -- has grown across the Middle East, stoking violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Israel strikes Gaza's Rafah as truce talks under way Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 Israel launched deadly air strikes on Rafah on Thursday, after threatening to send troops in to hunt for Hamas militants in the southern Gaza city where around 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Another 97 people were killed over the past 24 hours in Hamas-run Gaza, the health ministry said, as a US envoy was in Israel for fresh efforts to secure a truce. International concern has spiralled over the territory's escalating civilian death toll and the desperate humanitarian crisis sparked by the war that followed Hamas's October 7 attack against Israel. Brett McGurk, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, held talks with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, after meeting with other mediators in Cairo. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was in the Egyptian capital for truce talks earlier this week, the group said. Mediators including the United States, Qatar and Egypt have tried and so far failed to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, but this week have been making a new push to break the deadlock. The Israeli defence ministry said the discussion with McGurk covered returning hostages, "operational developments in Hamas strongholds in central and southern Gaza, and humanitarian aid efforts". Gallant stressed the "importance of dismantling remaining Hamas battalions", the ministry said. War cabinet member Benny Gantz sounded an optimistic note ahead of McGurk's arrival, saying efforts to "promote a new plan for the return of the hostages" were showing "the first signs that indicate the possibility of progress". More than four months of relentless fighting and bombardment have flattened much of Gaza and pushed its population of around 2.4 million to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations. - West Bank attack - The war has also triggered mounting violence in the occupied West Bank, where three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on cars in a traffic jam on Thursday, killing one person and wounding eight, including a pregnant woman. The attackers were shot dead at the scene, near a Jewish settlement east of Jerusalem. Israeli far-right politicians quickly called for more citizens to carry weapons and for even greater restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank. Hamas urged an escalation in attacks. Concern has centred on Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are living in crowded shelters and makeshift camps where disease threatens. Israel has warned that, if Hamas does not free the remaining hostages held in Gaza by the start of Ramadan on March 10 or 11, it will keep fighting during the Muslim holy month, including in Rafah. Israel has already been bombing the city, which was again hit overnight. "I woke up to the sound of a huge explosion like an earthquake -- fire, smoke, blasts and dust everywhere," said Rami al-Shaer, 21, who told AFP he and others pulled wounded family members from the rubble. - 'Like an earthquake' - Gaza's civil defence agency reported "a number" of people were killed, while elsewhere in Rafah residents walked amid the rubble of the city's al-Faruq mosque, after strikes. The war started after Hamas's unprecedented 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. Hamas militants also took about 250 hostages -- 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israel. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 29,410 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by Gaza's health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the army will fight on until it has destroyed Hamas -- but his failure so far to bring home all the captives has led to mounting protests and calls for an early election. Gantz said Israel's operation in Rafah would begin "after the evacuation of the population", although Gazans have said nowhere in the territory is safe. With Arab support, the United States has called for a pathway to a Palestinian state -- something Israel's parliament has overwhelmingly rejected. - Aid efforts - The UN's humanitarian agency said aid to Gaza was being gravely hampered by "intense hostilities, limitations on the entry and delivery of aid, and growing insecurity". The war has also decimated Gaza's economy, according to the World Bank, which said Thursday that GDP plummeted more than 80 percent in the last three months of 2023. "Almost all economic activity in Gaza has ground to a halt," it said. In the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said an Israeli tank had fired on a house sheltering their employees and families, killing two relatives of MSF staff. MSF condemned the strike in the "strongest possible terms". The Israeli army said forces "fired at a building" identified as a place where "terror activity is occurring", adding that it "regrets" harm to civilians. The military said troops killed more than 15 militants in Khan Yunis, which has seen weeks of fierce fighting. Elsewhere in the region, the war has led to attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Red Sea shipping lanes vital for global trade. The Huthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. A missile attack caused a fire on board the British-owned cargo vessel MV Islander as it passed through the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, two maritime security agencies and the US military said. At least two Hezbollah fighters were killed and three others wounded in an Israeli drone strike in south Lebanon, a security source said. The Iran-backed militant group has been exchanging near-daily fire with the Israeli army since the Israel-Hamas war started. burs-rox/kir UK, Germany back Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next NATO chief London, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 Britain and Germany on Thursday threw their weight behind Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become NATO's next secretary general, at a crucial time for the alliance as Russia's war against Ukraine rages on. Rutte is the frontrunner to replace Jens Stoltenberg, even though a shock win for the far-right at the recent general election in his homeland risks tarnishing his legacy. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman said Britain "does strongly back Dutch PM Mark Rutte to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general". He said the UK wanted a candidate who would "keep NATO strong and deliver on the alliance's NATO 2030 vision". Rutte, he said, was "well respected across the alliance, has serious defence and security credentials, and will ensure that the alliance remains strong and ready to defend and deter". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also supported Rutte, a government spokesman said. - Rutte open to NATO post - "With his immense experience, his great expertise in security policy and his strong diplomatic skills, he is an outstanding candidate," spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on X, formerly Twitter. A successor for Stoltenberg -- who has twice had his decade-long tenure extended -- is expected to be announced before a July summit in Washington. After ruling himself out for the NATO post in previous years, Rutte told Dutch media in October that running the military alliance was a "very interesting" job and he would be open to the prospect. Rutte, 57, is currently serving as prime minister in a transitional capacity after far-right leader Geert Wilders scored a stunning Dutch general election win in November. A familiar figure on the European stage after 13 years as prime minister of the Netherlands, diplomats have already indicated Rutte is favoured by NATO heavyweights Britain and Germany, as well as the United States and France. But although he has emerged as the clear frontrunner, there are other candidates, including Estonian premier Kaja Kallas and Latvia's foreign minister, Krisjanis Karins. Some supporters want to wrap up Rutte's nomination soon to avoid the NATO job decision coming too close to European Union top positions, which will be up for grabs after European Parliament elections in June. - But haggling ahead - There is probably still some haggling ahead, and some analysts say there could be opposition to Rutte from Turkey and Hungary. One potential stumbling block for Rutte could be the situation he leaves behind in the Netherlands, where Wilders's election victory sent shockwaves across Europe. If he were to succeed Stoltenberg, Rutte would become the fourth Dutchman to head the NATO alliance. Stoltenberg told AFP last year that Rutte was a "friend and good colleague". "He is a capable politician with a lot of experience as prime minister," Stoltenberg said. "But it's not for me to decide who's going to be my successor." Rutte's government has taken a prominent role in supporting Ukraine, pledging another two billion euros ($2.2 billion) in November, and in leading the push to give Kyiv F-16 fighter jets. Supporters insist he is fully aware of the dangers posed by Russia. His years in power were marked by the killing of 196 Dutch nationals when a missile that investigators say was supplied by Moscow shot down a passenger jet over Ukraine in 2014. Rutte remains at the helm of the Netherlands while Wilders attempts to revive talks on forming a new government, some three months since the election. Efforts to form a four-party centre-right coalition broke down earlier in February when one party withdrew in a row over public finances. bur-har-sr/tw The China Wildlife Conservation Association has inked agreements with Madrid Zoo Aquarium of Spain and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance of the U.S. concerning cooperation on the conservation of giant pandas, as part of efforts to step up the protection of the species on a global level. #XinhuaNews US charges Russian oligarchs to mark Ukraine invasion anniversary Washington, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 The United States unsealed charges on Thursday against Russian oligarchs to mark the upcoming second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "The Justice Department is more committed than ever to cutting off the flow of illegal funds that are fueling (Vladimir) Putin's war and to holding accountable those who continue to enable it," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "That is why today we are announcing several additional enforcement actions that the Justice Department has taken to bring prosecutions against and seize assets of sanctioned enablers of the Kremlin and Russian military," Garland said in a statement. Andrey Kostin, the chairman of a Russian state-owned bank, was charged in a New York court with participating in a scheme to evade sanctions and launder funds to support two superyachts, the Sea Rhapsody and Sea & Us, collectively worth over $135 million, the Justice Department said. Kostin, who has been subject to US sanctions since 2018, was also accused of involvement in a scheme to evade sanctions related to a luxury home in Aspen, Colorado, that he purchased in 2010 for $13.5 million, it said. Two US nationals were arrested on Thursday and accused of aiding Kostin, 67, who is believed to be in Russia. The Justice Department also announced the indictment of Sergey Vitalievich Kurchenko, 38, a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch who is also currently believed to be living in Russia. Kurchenko, who has been subject to US sanctions since 2015 for allegedly misappropriating Ukraine state assets, was accused of money laundering and using shell companies to sell metal products worth more than $330 million in the United States. The Justice Department also unveiled a superseding indictment against Vladislav Osipov, 52, and offered a $1 million reward for the arrest of the Russian who is believed to live in Switzerland. Osipov, who was indicted previously in November 2022 for violating US sanctions, was charged with five new counts of bank fraud in connection with the operation of the Tango, a 255-foot luxury superyacht owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. The Tango was seized at the request of the US government following Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the operation targeting "enablers" of Russia's war in Ukraine has resulted in the "restraint, seizure, and forfeiture of nearly $700 million in assets" and the arrests of more than 70 individuals for violating sanctions and export controls. US, UK, Germany back Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next NATO chief Washington, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 The United States, Britain and Germany expressed support Thursday for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next NATO secretary general, at a crucial time for the alliance in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine. Rutte is the frontrunner to replace Jens Stoltenberg, even though a shock win for the far-right in the recent Netherlands general election risks tarnishing his legacy. "The United States has made it clear to our allies, our NATO allies, that we believe Mr Rutte would be an excellent secretary general for NATO," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman also said that Britain "does strongly back Dutch PM Mark Rutte." He said the UK wanted a candidate who would "keep NATO strong and deliver on the alliance's NATO 2030 vision." Rutte, he said, was "well respected across the alliance, has serious defense and security credentials, and will ensure that the alliance remains strong and ready to defend and deter." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz likewise supports Rutte, a government spokesman said. "With his immense experience, his great expertise in security policy and his strong diplomatic skills, he is an outstanding candidate," spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on X, formerly Twitter. - Rutte interested in NATO - A successor for Stoltenberg -- the former Norwegian prime minister who has overseen NATO for a decade -- is expected to be announced before a July summit in Washington. After ruling himself out for the NATO post in previous years, Rutte told Dutch media in October that running the military alliance was a "very interesting" job and he would be open to the prospect. Rutte, 57, is currently serving as prime minister in a transitional capacity after far-right leader Geert Wilders scored a stunning Dutch general election win in November. A familiar figure on the European stage after 13 years as prime minister, diplomats have already indicated Rutte is favored by NATO heavyweights Britain and Germany, as well as the United States and France. But although he has emerged as the clear frontrunner, there are other candidates, including Estonian premier Kaja Kallas and Latvia's foreign minister, Krisjanis Karins. Some supporters want to wrap up Rutte's nomination soon to avoid the NATO job decision coming too close to European Union top positions, which will be up for grabs after European Parliament elections in June. - Haggling ahead - There is probably still some haggling ahead, and some analysts say there could be opposition to Rutte from Turkey and Hungary. One potential stumbling block for Rutte could be the situation he leaves behind in the Netherlands, where Wilders's election victory sent shockwaves across Europe. If he were to succeed Stoltenberg, Rutte would become the fourth Dutchman to head the NATO alliance. Stoltenberg told AFP last year that Rutte was a "friend and good colleague." "He is a capable politician with a lot of experience as prime minister," Stoltenberg said. "But it's not for me to decide who's going to be my successor." Rutte's government has taken a prominent role in supporting Ukraine, pledging another two billion euros ($2.2 billion) in November, and in leading the push to give Kyiv F-16 fighter jets. Supporters insist he is fully aware of the dangers posed by Russia. His years in power were marked by the killing of 196 Dutch nationals when a missile that investigators say was supplied by Moscow shot down a passenger jet over Ukraine in 2014. Rutte remains at the helm of the Netherlands while Wilders attempts to revive talks on forming a new government, some three months since the election. Efforts to form a four-party center-right coalition broke down earlier in February when one party withdrew in a row over public finances. bur-har-sr/sms/des Israel strikes Gaza's Rafah as truce talks under way Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 Israel launched deadly air strikes on Rafah on Thursday, after threatening to send troops in to hunt for Hamas militants in the southern Gaza city where around 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Another 97 people were killed over the past 24 hours in Hamas-run Gaza, the health ministry said, as a US envoy was in Israel for fresh efforts to secure a truce. International concern has spiralled over the territory's escalating civilian death toll and the desperate humanitarian crisis sparked by the war that followed Hamas's October 7 attack against Israel. Brett McGurk, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, held talks with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, after meeting with other mediators in Cairo. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was in the Egyptian capital for truce talks earlier this week, the group said. Mediators including the United States, Qatar and Egypt have tried and so far failed to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, but this week have been making a new push to break the deadlock. The Israeli defence ministry said the discussion with McGurk covered returning hostages, "operational developments in Hamas strongholds in central and southern Gaza, and humanitarian aid efforts", as well as "the "importance of dismantling remaining Hamas battalions". National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists that so far the discussions were "going well". War cabinet member Benny Gantz sounded an optimistic note ahead of McGurk's arrival, saying efforts to "promote a new plan for the return of the hostages" were showing "the first signs that indicate the possibility of progress". More than four months of relentless fighting and bombardment have flattened much of Gaza and pushed its population of around 2.4 million to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations. - West Bank attack - The war has also triggered mounting violence in the occupied West Bank, where three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on cars in a traffic jam on Thursday, killing one person and wounding eight, including a pregnant woman. The attackers were shot dead at the scene, near a Jewish settlement east of Jerusalem. Israeli far-right politicians quickly called for more citizens to carry weapons, while Hamas urged an escalation in attacks. Hours later, a Palestinian man was killed and four others wounded in an Israeli strike on a car in a West Bank refugee camp, the Palestinian health ministry said. Amateur video footage from the scene appeared to show a car ablaze. Israeli media reported that an Israeli air strike targeted a wanted militant. Concern has centred on Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are living in crowded shelters and makeshift camps where disease threatens. Israel has warned that, if Hamas does not free the remaining hostages held in Gaza by the start of Ramadan on March 10 or 11, it will keep fighting during the Muslim holy month, including in Rafah. Israel has already been bombing the city, which was again hit overnight. Gaza's civil defence agency reported "a number" of people were killed. "I woke up to the sound of a huge explosion like an earthquake -- fire, smoke, blasts and dust everywhere," said Rami al-Shaer, 21, who told AFP he and others pulled wounded family members from the rubble. - 'Like an earthquake' - The war started after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. Hamas militants also took about 250 hostages -- 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israel. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 29,410 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by Gaza's health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the army will fight on until it has destroyed Hamas -- but his failure so far to bring home all the captives has led to mounting domestic pressure. With Arab support, the United States has called for a pathway to a Palestinian state -- something Israel's parliament has overwhelmingly rejected. However the G20, which closed a two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, broadly supports a two-state solution, Brazil said. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told journalists there was "virtual unanimity for the two-state solution as the only possible solution" to the war. - Aid efforts - The UN's humanitarian agency said aid to Gaza was being gravely hampered by "intense hostilities, limitations on the entry and delivery of aid, and growing insecurity". In the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said an Israeli tank had fired on a house sheltering their employees and families, killing two people. MSF condemned the strike in the "strongest possible terms". The Israeli army said forces "fired at a building" identified as a place where "terror activity is occurring", adding that it "regrets" harm to civilians. Seperately, the head of MSF told the UN Security Council he was "appalled" that Washington had repeatedly vetoed resolutions for an immediate ceasefire, accusing the body of deliberating "while civilians died". Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have repeatedly attacked Red Sea shipping lanes vital for global trade since the war began, with the Huthis saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. A missile attack claimed by the Huthis caused a fire on board a British-owned cargo vessel as it passed through the Gulf of Aden on Thursday. With regional tensions high, two Hezbollah fighters were killed in an Israeli drone strike in south Lebanon, a security source said. Hezbollah -- which has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel -- later announced retaliatory rocket fire. burs-rox/kir US charges four crew members of vessel carrying Iranian arms Washington, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 Four men were charged on Thursday in connection with the seizure by the US Navy of a vessel carrying Iranian weapons bound for Yemen's Huthi rebels, an operation which left two Navy SEALs dead. The four crew members were taken into custody during a January 11 operation in which elite US special operations personnel boarded a dhow off the coast of Somalia and seized missile components made in Iran, the Justice Department said in a statement. The weaponry found aboard the boat "is allegedly consistent with the weaponry used by the Huthi rebel forces in recent attacks on merchant ships and US military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," it said. The four men -- Muhammad Pahlawan, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah and Izhar Muhammad -- made an initial appearance on Thursday before a magistrate judge in Richmond, Virginia. Pahlawan is charged with unlawfully transporting a warhead and making false statements. The other three are charged with providing false information to US Coast Guard officers regarding the vessel's crew and cargo. The Justice Department said all four men were carrying Pakistani identification papers. Pahlawan faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of unlawfully transporting a warhead and all four face up to five years in prison if convicted of making false statements. "The Justice Department will use every legal authority to hold accountable those who facilitate the flow of weapons from Iran to Huthi rebel forces, Hamas, and other groups that endanger the security of the United States and our allies," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Two Navy SEALs went missing during the January 11 operation and were declared dead after a 10-day search failed to locate them. The Huthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea they claim are linked to Israel in attacks they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israeli forces are battling Hamas. SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Thursday protested at Japan's repeated territorial claim to Dokdo islets, which are called Takeshima in Japan lying halfway between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the South Korean government strongly protested at Japan's reiteration of the unjust sovereignty claim over Dokdo and sternly called for an immediate abolition of the so-called Takeshima Day event. Earlier in the day, Japan's Shimane prefecture held what it called the Takeshima Day event, attended by a high-level official of Japan's central government. The prefecture has held annual events to mark the day to claim its administrative sovereignty over the rocky islets since it designated Feb. 22 as Takeshima Day in 2005. The South Korean foreign ministry stressed that Dokdo is clearly an integral part of the South Korean territory historically, geographically and by international law, urging Japan to immediately stop making an unjustified claim over Dokdo and squarely face history in a humble manner. South Korea restored sovereignty over the Dokdo islets from Japan after the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonization. South Koreans have regarded Japan's claim over the islets as the denial of atrocities committed by Japan during its colonial rule. The foreign ministry summoned Taisuke Mibae, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a protest against the renewed territorial claim. MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia-U.S. relations will not improve in the coming years and even decades, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday during an interview with local media. "My current position allows me to speak more categorically and openly than during other periods," Medvedev said, adding that in his view, it will be impossible for Russia and the United States to improve relations in the years to come. He said that both countries will not be able to develop normal ties in the upcoming years after what has happened, no matter who is in power in Washington. Medvedev reiterated that Moscow had never refused to negotiate with Kiev as it is Ukraine that forbids talks, but attempts made by Western countries to steer Ukraine in this direction have remained unsuccessful. He said Russia's preconditions for such negotiations would be "the recognition of the results of the special military operation," adding that Ukraine is trying to delay the negotiation process for fear of immediate defeat. Households are set to learn that their energy bills will fall to their lowest level in more than two years from the start of April in some long-awaited good news amid the cost-of-living crisis. HSM said: It is understandable that the Companys board wish to improve its reporting and APMs and HSM is fully supportive of this. However, it is disappointing that the Board has sought to incorrectly place blame in the process. We continue to believe that it is in the interest of the Companys shareholders for the Company and the Investment Adviser to work constructively together. The rebound was also helped by the recovery in aviation after the pandemic. Rolls-Royce is paid for the amount of time its Trent-branded engines are in the air, and Erginbilgic said flying hours are back at 88% of pre-Covid levels. Dr Prashant Ruchaya, senior lecturer in physiology at University of East Londons School of Health, explains how they used technology to grow stem cells and separate them into heart tissue, so they can function like a miniature human heart. Opposition day debates are normally sleepy affairs that rarely raise hackles. Yesterday was quite different. The decision by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to break with convention and select a Labour amendment to be debated before that of the SNP, on what was the latters allotted day, was always going to be controversial. Mitchells score pulls in influences from jazz, blues, spirituals and country: the bouncy Livin It Up On Top, the soulful All Ive Ever Known and Wait for Me and yes, even the martial Why We Build the Wall are strong, standout tunes. But the endless reprises start to drag and, oh dear, the words within and in between the songs can be dire. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Vast parts of China have experienced a cold spell during the ongoing Spring Festival travel rush, with blizzards and rainfall impacting many regions. Due to the freezing weather, targeted measures have been implemented for transportation, supplies and electricity in provinces and regions including Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui and Hubei. Snow removal vehicles equipped with turbofans were deployed along a major expressway in central China's Hubei Province. Amid the tremendous roar, torrents of hot air gushed out from the nozzles of the machines. According to technicians, this type of vehicle can blow away snow with a thickness of about 10 cm, covering a width of around 50 meters. It can rapidly melt accumulated snow and dry icy road surfaces, which is particularly helpful in clearing expressways. In Taiyuan, the capital city of north China's Shanxi Province, police not only ensured smooth traffic flow but also aided drivers in pushing their vehicles. Meanwhile, the city's urban management and sanitation departments worked around the clock to remove snow and ice. Due to the impact of the snowstorm, many trains at Jinan West Station in east China's Shandong Province experienced delays as they operated at reduced speeds. "We set up a service counter to assist passengers with ticket refunds and modifications," said Xu Ying, a staffer with China Railway Jinan Group Co., Ltd. China Railway Taiyuan Group Co., Ltd. arranged 22 additional trains to popular destinations such as Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai on Wednesday. They also set up ice monitoring points for wires along the railway and prearranged emergency personnel for prompt de-icing operations. Since Wednesday, efforts have been underway at Beijing's Daxing International Airport to de-ice aircraft and clear snow and ice from aprons and roads. Shouheng Gaobeidian Market in Hebei Province, a major vegetable supplier in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, has mobilized merchants for effective coordination between production and sales to secure vegetable supply within the region. To combat the impact of rain and snow, the power department in east China's Anhui Province activated an alert for freezing conditions on Wednesday. Special inspections were carried out on key transmission lines and 274 substations. The province has set up 1,375 power repair teams and 16 emergency teams capable of carrying out cross-regional repairs. China's Ministry of Emergency Management on Wednesday activated a Level-IV emergency response to low temperatures, rain and snow in central China's Hunan Province, and maintained a Level-IV emergency response that was activated on Tuesday in the provinces of Anhui, Henan and Hubei. The next morning, I bought my own supply of mushroom chocolates, started the day with one for breakfast alongside an oat milk chai then went to a talk about human connection. I crept out before the end, weirded out by an exercise where we had to approach a stranger to discuss the deep feeling of love that joined us. I carried on with the mushrooms though, chasing the feeling of headiness, the beautiful thrum of euphoria and warmth, and by the end of the weekend (and the end of a full box of mushroom chocolates) I was semi-naked in a tent full of women Id never met before, in tears at the pure joy of female solidarity as we listened to the things our vaginas were telling us: and the really weird thing was, my vagina was actually speaking. This was an unprovoked attack on people working to help others and it is right that Bottarelli will now face the consequences of his actions. The council has set itself several goals as it aims to become a net zero compatible organisation by 2030. This includes every council home in the borough having its loft insulated by the end of the decade, and for 100 per cent of the energy consumed by council-owned and operated buildings to be generated from renewable sources. Weve been blown away by all the support weve received and we want to say a massive thank you to the 1,100-plus donors and the legal team who have got us so far. In that context, would the Defence Secretary agree with me that whilst we must respect American domestic politics, its not for us to tell them what to do, this again is a time for the new world in all its power and might to come to the rescue and liberation of the old? The Institute for Government said the machinery of central Government was not set up to deliver the promise of levelling up, while the Resolution Foundation said there was a lack of seriousness about the scale of the challenge. Sitting in front of a Ukrainian flag and a Union flag, Bishop Nowakowski said: We know that there are over 280,000 people that have arrived here seeking shelter since the full-scale invasion and that has had a major impact on our pastoral needs here in the UK. Mr Boutcher added: Those responsible have nothing to offer our community and I welcome the 36 arrests to date, with 14 people charged and four reported to the Public Prosecution Service. We need to keep MND in the spotlight, and All Roads Lead To Rome is as much about raising awareness for the MND community as it is about digging deep to raise money for vital research the only thing that will ultimately lead to an end to this devastating disease. The Bild newspaper, which did not name its sources, said students were attacked by a classmate, but this has not been confirmed. Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists take photos of sculptures illuminated by rays of morning sun at the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) This photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows rays of morning sun reaching into the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourists visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024. During the Sun Festival, which falls on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 every year, rays of the morning sun would reach the innermost shrine of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminate the inside sculptures. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Rebels have escalated their assaults, which they claim to be in response to Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Two missiles were fired in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said. The disclosure comes after the dog was exiled from the White House last October and sent to an undisclosed location. Former Network 10 presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, have not been seen for several days and Australian police have said they have grave concerns about the couple. The Israeli offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, laid much of the enclave to waste and displaced most of its 2.3 million population. Fashion designer Katharine Hamnett has thrown her CBE in the bin as she said she is disgusted to be British over the war in Gaza and said Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer belong in there too. Windsor also appeared in Dancing With The Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance in the Netherlands and assisted in the choreography for the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance, as well as appearing as a motivational speaker. DW Travel, a UAE leading travel management company, said it has posted a 39% year-over-year growth in sales in 2023, and a 65% year-over-year increase in revenue, reflecting its ability to capitalise on emerging opportunities and meet evolving customer demands. Bader Ahli, Director of DW Travel, said that the company witnessed a surge in gross sales, with a remarkable 55% increase in sales for 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This substantial growth is indicative of the strong customer demand for both business and leisure travel, reflecting a renewed sense of confidence and enthusiasm among travellers, he said. Ahli said: One of the standout successes of 2023 was the performance of DW Travel's Visa Services Department, which experienced a 141% increase in transactions in only its second year of operation. Underscoring the company's expertise and effectiveness in providing essential travel services to its diverse clientele. Moreover, 2023 witnessed the introduction of DW Travel's VIP and Luxury department, catering to discerning clients seeking unparalleled travel experiences. With personalised service and exclusive access to luxury accommodations, transportation, and experiences, such as private tours, chartered flights, and VIP events, the VIP team has quickly established itself as a premier provider of high-end travel experiences. In addition to expanding its service offerings, Ahli informed that DW Travel expanded its client base by signing 31 new corporate clients in 2023, further solidifying its position as a trusted partner for businesses seeking comprehensive travel solutions. DW Travel also invested in consumer brand awareness in 2023, launching a new and improved brand identity across various marketing channels, including travel roadshows and exhibitions, social media, branded brochures, and PR opportunities. This strategic initiative contributed to a significant increase in leisure holiday sales, with sales doubling year-on-year. The top-selling destinations for holiday travel in 2023 included the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Thailand, Switzerland, Turkey, and Germany. Meanwhile, trending destinations included Poland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, and India, reflecting evolving travel preferences among consumers. As the company gears up to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024, Ahli said: We will continue to build on the strong foundations of our business across Corporate Travel, Leisure Travel, our Visa Services and VIP departments. In 2024 we are committed to continuing our digital transformation journey, with a focus on automation to support our operations team. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, DW Travel aims to further enhance efficiency and deliver unparalleled service to its clients. Our focus is on expanding DW Travel into the global marketplace by continuing to grow and innovate in new business verticals, as well as expanding our international partnerships. TradeArabia News Service by Xinhua writer Hu Tao BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China is gearing up to develop more advanced equipment to promote the modernization of the country's emergency management systems and capabilities. Multiple new models of aircraft, smart robots and other equipment for emergency response are on the fast track of development and application, thanks to the joint efforts of government authorities and manufacturers. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is endeavoring to speed up the progress of key models of aeronautical equipment tailored to serve the country's emergency rescue demands, according to the AVIC, China's leading aircraft manufacturer. Significant advancements are being made in the homegrown emergency-rescue aircraft, including the AG600 series of large amphibious aircraft, the Wing Loong series of large civil unmanned aerial vehicles, the MA60 firefighting airplane, the AC-series civil helicopters, and others. The AG600M firefighting aircraft, a firefighting model belonging to the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family, is aiming to obtain its type certificate before the end of 2024, according to the AVIC. The aircraft has entered the key phase of airworthiness compliance verification. It has recently completed the cold-weather flight tests and is now progressing to additional phases of flight testing, which is a crucial step in securing airworthiness certification. The AG600 large amphibious aircraft family is tailored to carry out firefighting, maritime search and rescue, and other rescue missions in all terrains across the country. China's MA60 firefighting aircraft, a new member of the Modern Ark multipurpose aircraft family, also initiated its flight tests in late January to verify its compliance with the airworthiness regulations of the Chinese civil aviation authorities, the AVIC said. The AVIC added it is committed to facilitating the development and application of emergency rescue aeronautical equipment to sustain the country's capabilities in emergency management. Robots are also playing increasingly important roles in the emergency rescue sector as they can be used for multiple purposes including search and rescue during emergencies. China plans to accelerate efforts to produce a batch of sophisticated emergency response robots. In January, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued a guideline to boost the development and application of emergency response robot technologies. The major goal is to develop a batch of advanced emergency response robots that are more professional, refined and intelligent by 2025, according to the guideline. Emergency response robots are intelligent machines designed to carry out tasks such as monitoring and early warning, search and rescue operations, communication commands, and other critical functions in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief efforts. Efforts will be made to develop emergency response robots for key tasks such as life search, material support, fire extinguishing, high-risk operations, and complex rescue during emergencies like floods, fires, earthquakes, geological disasters, and others. The guideline also emphasizes the cultivation of bases and ecosystems to facilitate testing and pilot applications of these robots, while encouraging increased utilization and support for their use in emergency rescue operations. The development and application of emergency-response robots are of symbolic significance to China's emergency management system and the capability modernization of the sector, according to the guideline. Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (292) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (437) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (473) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (526) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (440) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (578) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (672) Jul 2015 (727) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (919) Nov 2015 (798) Dec 2015 (789) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (945) Jun 2016 (1045) Jul 2016 (880) Aug 2016 (1034) Sept 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (884) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (999) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1045) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (781) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (652) May 2023 (696) Jun 2023 (702) Jul 2023 (742) Aug 2023 (737) Sept 2023 (732) Oct 2023 (749) Nov 2023 (751) Dec 2023 (732) Jan 2024 (747) Feb 2024 (687) Mar 2024 (419) The chairman of the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS), Dumitru Costin, requested on Thursday both the political decision-makers and the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) to investigate the managerial activity within the Romanian National Post Company (CNPR). BNS requests, through a public appeal, the leadership of the National Liberal Party to immediately start the extermination process in the managerial area of the Romanian National Post Company, because "all those people belong to you politically, I promise you, and don't be surprised if there are adverse reactions from poorly paid employees in Romania in this year's electoral processes, because they know where they are coming from", told Agerpres. The trade union leader requests the minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, to publish the results of the investigation carried out at the Romanian Post Office by the Control Body, but also to the government and the governing coalition, "urgently, a good quality and competent managerial team at the level of the Romanian Post. An applied discussion with us regarding a plan of measures to relaunch the activity of the Romanian Post. There are countless opportunities, countless solutions that we have prepared and that we want to discuss". Last but not least, the BNS leader made a public appeal to the new head of the DNA, Marius Voinea, telling him "We are willing to appear before the investigative bodies, together with other employees of the Romanian Post, who, in turn, are willing to provide information and documents to help you quickly and efficiently complete the investigations you have already started at the level of this company. Do not cover up politically this approach to investigate some unclean things that are happening in this company, because you, like the political leaders, will be accountable for the fact that almost 20,000 people continue to remain in poverty and with some miserable wages or non-execution of the investment plan, as a result of the capital increase. Should we find that the company is obliged to return the money that was not spent correctly and on time? Yes, and this will move "fast forward" to the insolvency and bankruptcy of the Romanian Post. I don't know if you want this," BNS leader mentioned. On Thursday, the BNS organized a press conference with the theme "Destructuring the group that is burying the National Post Romanian Company". The Government has okayed a de minimis aid scheme for SMEs in the amount of 86.5 million RON, with the purpose of financing the interest differences generated by the ROBOR increase, said the spokesperson for the Government, Mihai Constantin. "For the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises in Romania, a Government's decision was taken today, namely a new governmental support for the development of businesses and preservation of jobs. A de minimis aid scheme is established to support beneficiary SMEs during the pandemic COVID, from the state aid established through the program to support small and medium-sized enterprises and small enterprises with market capitalization, a program called IMM Invest. The de minimis scheme is worth 86.5 million RON and is intended to finance the differences of interest generated by the increase in ROBOR", declared Mihai Constantin, on Thursday, in a press conference at the Victoria Palace, agerpres reports. He added that the payment of this de minimis aid would be made until the end of 2025 and approximately 9,200 business operators are estimated to be beneficiaries of this measure. Minister Alina Gorghiu announced on Thursday on her Facebook page that she signed a Declaration of cooperation in the field of Justice with Japan, Romania being the only country in the European Union that initialed such a document. "We are strategic partners with Japan and we act accordingly. Romania is the only country in the European Union that signed with Japan a Declaration of cooperation in the field of justice. And the 11th in the world. I signed this document yesterday (Wednesday - n.r.) along with my Japanese counterpart, Ryuji Koizumi. It is also the first declaration of cooperation in the field of justice between Romania and Japan, after the establishment of the Strategic Partnership between our countries," Alina Gorghiu said. According to the minister, who is visiting Tokyo, this cooperation will help to develop a national strategy for the prevention of recidivism. "It is a special moment. Especially because this cooperation will help to develop a National Strategy for the Prevention of Recidivism. For 16 years, the rate of recidivism has been decreasing. But we need the Japanese experience in the field of community action. This declaration means a more collaborative tight between our penitentiary and probation systems. On the occasion of the meeting in Tokyo, I thanked the Japanese side for the support shown to Romania in the process of joining the OECD, a strategic objective for our country," the minister of Justice said. An investment of EUR 26 million euros is allocated for state-of-the-art equipment detecting psychoactive agents to institutes and forensic medicine services across the country will be equipped, according to the Ministry of Health, agerpres reports. "The Ministry of Health has acted as a matter of urgency to solve the toxicological analysis crisis at the National Institutes of Forensic Medicine. Under a project funded by the World Bank, EUR 26 million will be invested in state-of-the-art equipment for detecting psychoactive agents. Almost 650 pieces of equipment will reach institutes and forensic medicine services across the country," reads a message of the ministry posted on Thursday on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Health. Romanian students have a strong sense of European belonging, according to the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) 2022 report, which was released Thursday by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Representatives of the Ministry of Education told AGERPRES in a press release on Thursday that 97% of Romanian students say they are European, 94% are proud of Romania's membership in the European Union, both percentages being higher than the ICCS 2022 average (95% and 91% respectively), agerpres reports. 96% of Romanian students believe that the freedom of European citizens to work anywhere in Europe is beneficial for the European economy and 30% of them, compared to 4% on average in the ICCS 2022, believe that the rights of Europeans to work in the European area should be limited to some extent.Romanian students support cooperation between European countries to protect the environment: 94% of them think that European countries should adopt common rules to protect the environment.A significant share of Romanian students are critical of the costs of European institutions (62%), of the influence of rich countries on European policies (70%) and of European bureaucrats (61%).Romanian students trust European institutions more than national ones. 69% and 68% of Romanian students trust the European Commission and the European Parliament respectively. Only 44% trust the Romanian government with the same level of confidence.Romanian students expect to vote in the European elections to a greater extent than in the other countries participating in the survey: 77% of them say they are most likely to vote in the European elections, compared to only 58%, the ICCS average.About half of Romanian students believe that terrorism, poverty, unemployment, religious intolerance, economic inequality will increase in the future in Europe: 76% of them think that the economic gap between rich and poor European countries will increase.Most Romanian students are optimistic about improving cooperation between European countries (88%), strengthening European democracy (79%), reducing pollution (62%), improving access to health services (75%) and women's representation in politics (76%) in the future in Europe.In all the countries participating in the study, students with a higher socio-economic status and those with a higher level of civic knowledge are more supportive of freedom of movement in Europe, cooperation between European countries on environmental issues and the adoption of common policies than students with a lower socio-economic status and a lower level of civic knowledge.82% of Romanian students, compared to the ICCS average of 75%, declare that they have learned to a high and average extent about the European Union at school, and 78% of Romanian teachers feel prepared to teach students about the European Union, compared to 76% of teachers from other countries participating in the ICCS 2022 study.Minister of Education Ligia Deca said she was happy with the confidence that Romanian students had in European cooperation and its benefits, as well as their optimism about the future of democracy.The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study 2022 aims to assess the civic and citizenship skills of 8th grade students and is based on data from 18 countries, including Romania. MINSK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The regional grouping of Belarusian and Russian troops will hold military exercises on Belarusian territory in 2025, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said here on Thursday. Khrenin said in an interview that the Russian and Belarusian presidents initially proposed to hold joint strategic military exercises once every two years back in 2009. "The next exercise will take place in 2025 on the territory of the Republic of Belarus," he said, adding that the maneuvers will focus on ensuring the military security of the Union State. Khrenin further warned that Minsk would respond to any airspace violations, adding that there have already been six violations of the country's airspace since August last year. "We respond to all violations. When necessary, our combat aircraft are scrambled, and anti-aircraft missile forces are brought to the appropriate level of combat readiness," he said, adding that in case of serious violations, Minsk will not hesitate to shoot down foreign aircraft that violate the country's airspace. EXECUTIVE: - Gov't reunion DEFENCE: - Minister Angel Tilvar, on a working visit to Austria ECONOMY: - Gas output, imports in 2023 SOCIAL: - FISC versus Cetatean / Tax administration v Citizen debate at Palace of Parliament, organised by Foundation for the Defense of Citizens against State Abuses CULTURE: - Odessa International Literature Festival, ninth edition, event organized at the Goethe-Institut in Bucharest (February 22 - 25) Aisha Sultan Columnist and features writer Follow Aisha Sultan 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 Nawal Abuhamdeh of St. Louis shared a bracelet-making fundraiser that her 10-year-old daughters Girl Scout troop started earlier this month to raise money for urgent humanitarian needs for children in Gaza. She never expected the organizations leadership would threaten her with legal action for doing it. Abuhamdeh had led the troops annual cookie sale, which raises funds for the troops activities, for the past four years. But as this years sale approached, her heart just wasnt into it. Since the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, shes witnessed the destruction of her parents homeland in Palestine. Israels assault in Gaza one of the most destructive military campaigns in recent history has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians since the war began, according to the territorys Health Ministry. That includes around 12,000 children. A cluster of UN agencies and nonprofits warned this week that child deaths were poised to skyrocket because food and safe water have become incredibly scarce in the Palestinian territories. Virtually all young children have infectious illnesses. The girls in Abuhamdehs troop, who come from diverse backgrounds, including Somali, Indian, Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian, have been emotionally affected by the news reports. The videos circulating are traumatizing. Abuhamdeh watched an inconsolable Palestinian father collect body parts of his slain children in a shopping bag. A doctor tried to save his 16-year-old nieces life by amputating her leg without anesthesia on his dining table. A wailing 4-year-old tried to get up and look for his parents both of whom were killed, and his own legs amputated. Im grieving. We are all grieving. We literally couldnt muster the energy to sell cookies, Abuhamdeh said. She asked the girls if they had ideas for a community service project. They suggested making and selling beaded bracelets to raise money for the Palestine Childrens Relief Fund. Abuhamdeh recalled seeing Girl Scout efforts to raise money for war victims in Ukraine highlighted by the organization. It seemed like a good way to channel their sadness into a positive action. She shared a post on social media, advertising bracelets for $5 or $10 with all the proceeds going to the relief fund. Soon after, she received an email from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. It said members could not raise money that represents partisan politics and must stay neutral. The organization asked her to immediately remove all references to the Girl Scouts from any communications and social posts about the girls efforts. Abuhamdeh replied by explaining how important the fundraiser was for the girls and how critical the situation in Gaza was for children. She assured them that the troop wasnt making any political statements. We condemn any innocent lives taken whatever religion they are, whatever ethnicity they are, said Abuhamdeh. She asked the leadership how their bracelet sale was any different than the Girl Scout fundraisers for Ukraine. She received a lengthy response, in official language, informing her that the activity had not followed the appropriate policy, procedures and approval processes as outlined in our volunteer and leader training documents. The last sentence hit her hard: Unfortunately, if this direct violation of the organizations governing documents and policies continues, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Girl Scouts of the United States have no other choice than to engage our legal counsel to help remedy this situation and to protect the intellectual property and other rights of the organization. I got a little scared; Im not gonna lie, she said. I wondered, what are they going to do to me? For years, she had strived to give these girls the opportunities she had missed out on herself. The troop had formed a sisterhood, growing up together since kindergarten. Abuhamdeh reached out to the other parents. They decided the organizations values didnt align with what they were trying to teach their daughters. Abuhamdeh sent an email to the Girl Scouts expressing her disappointment and hurt, and explaining that the troop wanted to disband from the Girl Scouts. They sent her instructions on how to leave the organization. When I asked Kelly Daleen, chief membership and marketing officer for the Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri, why this project was different from other fundraisers for war victims, she wrote that the troop leader had failed to get prior approval. Abuhamdeh said she wished they had simply said so at the start, and asked her to suspend the activity until she got the necessary approval. Instead, they made her troop feel unvalued and vilified in a moment of deep grief and vulnerability. The tone of their emails felt like a cold reprimand to her. It reminded her of the times growing up that simply existing as a Palestinian American had offended someone. What did we do wrong? the girls have asked her. Abuhamdeh gets emotional when she talks about the decision to leave an organization that teaches girls to make the world a better place. In the end, she said, deciding to stand up for their beliefs was the Girl Scout way. 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 A year ago, the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Missouri National Guard were seeking help from Gov. Mike Parson. Both state agencies were facing a recruiting problem. The state patrol had 146 trooper vacancies statewide 27 of those were in the Troop C area that serves St. Louis. Its not much different than other police agencies or branches of the U.S. military. What both the Highway Patrol and National Guard wanted from Parson was money. State troopers sought 20% raises. The National Guard sought $2 million to use for recruiting and retention bonuses. The Missouri Legislature said yes. Parson said no. In a series of vetoes last summer to cut the state budget, Parson nixed the raises for troopers he converted some of the money to one-time bonuses and rejected the $2 million recruitment money for the Guard. He also cut $23 million that would have gone to new crime-fighting and 911 facilities in St. Louis. It was as though the governors veto pen had the phrase defund the police written on it. Seven months later, Parson has decided that things are so much better that hes sending 200 Guard members and up to 22 troopers to Texas to help that states governor Greg Abbott in his politically contrived battle with the federal government over the border with Mexico. It doesnt take a political science degree to understand whats happening. Abbott and Parson are both Republicans, and that partys top issue is blaming President Joe Biden for the influx of immigrants at the border. Never mind that Biden agreed to a bipartisan border bill that was poised to pass the Senate until Donald Trump told Republicans to scuttle it so the border could remain a campaign issue. The bill, negotiated by conservative Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford, was so strong that it was endorsed by the anti-Biden border patrol union. But forget the politics of Texas for a moment. Lets head back to Missouri. Parson, a former sheriff and an Army veteran, is fond of saying he stands with law enforcement and the military. Hes a Back the Blue guy, through and through. And nobodys put more political hay in the barn than he has by criticizing crime in Missouris two biggest cities, Kansas City and St. Louis. Meanwhile, hes refused to strengthen the states gun laws, which are the weakest in the country. So why is Parson spreading the states Highway Patrol and National Guard thin during their time of need? Both state agencies are facing the same staff shortages they were a year ago. In fact, theyre getting worse. The National Guard, for instance, is about 900 soldiers short of its authorized force numbers. Earlier this month, Maj. Gen. Levon Cumpton appeared before a House committee asking for $5.7 million in the budget for bonuses to recruit members. Parson had zeroed out the bonuses in his proposed budget. The Highway Patrol, meanwhile, is 162 troopers short, a spokesman told me Wednesday. Thats despite accelerated academy classes that rob Peter to pay Paul, encouraging Missouri police officers to leave their departments and continue their service with the state. In Troop C, which serves St. Louis, the Highway Patrol is 21 troopers short of its budgeted allocation of 150 troopers. Thats almost the exact number of troopers Parson is now sending to Texas. Just five years ago, Parson made a big show of sending troopers to St. Louis to help with traffic enforcement on highways and to work on local crime task forces. The idea was that troopers patrolling the highways would free up local police officers to focus on other crimes. But as recently as a year ago, city officials were complaining about the failure of state troopers to regularly patrol highways. The issue has been a back-and-forth debate between the city and the state for decades. We have repeatedly, the mayor, the mayors chief of staff, and I have asked the Highway Patrol to come in and patrol the city highways, former Director of Public Safety Dan Isom said last year. Vacancies at the patrol were limiting its ability to help, the state said then. Perhaps Parson saw the year-end numbers in 2023 major crime, including murder, is down in St. Louis and figured Texas needed our taxpayer-funded state troopers more than we did. When he asks the Legislature for the money to fund his political stunt, lawmakers would be wise to remind the governor of last years vetoes, and the worsening trooper shortage situation. Is Missouris governor going to Back the Blue or Defund the Police? Thats the question of the day. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A pedestrian was struck and killed late Tuesday, marking the fourth such death in St. Louis County this month. Officers said a woman was hit around 11:30 p.m. by a northbound car in the 9800 block of Halls Ferry Road in North County. She later died at a hospital. Her name has not been released. The driver left the scene but later returned, police said. Her death follows three other fatal pedestrian accidents in St. Louis County this month so far. The first happened Feb. 7 just after 7 p.m. near New Halls Ferry Road and West Florissant Avenue. Police said Curly Brown, 65, was crossing the street when an eastbound car struck him. Brown later died at a hospital. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with police. A day later, Karen Roth was struck by a southbound car in the 9800 block of Green Valley Drive just before 4 p.m. Police said she was trying to cross the street when she fell in front of the car. The 59-year-old woman later died at a hospital. The driver is also cooperating with police. Then, on Monday, 74-year-old William Starr was struck near Mackenzie Road and Alpine Drive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. That driver fled the crash, police said. On Wednesday prosecutors charged Edvin Dragnovic, 34, with leaving the scene of the crash and driving with a revoked or suspended license. Authorities said Dragnovic did a burnout at the intersection of Mackenzie and Gravois roads, then headed south on Mackenzie toward Alpine Drive, where he hit Starr as he crossed the street. Witnesses helped police identify Dragnovic. There were eight total pedestrian fatalities in St. Louis county in 2023, police said. There four in 2022 and eight in 2021. The city has also seen multiple fatal pedestrian crashes this month. Laticha Bracero, and her daughter Alyssa Cordova, were visiting from Chicago when they were hit by a car on Feb. 14 after attending a Drake concert at Enterprise Center. Monte Henderson, 22, is charged with driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee more than 70 mph on Olive Street, running a stoplight at 18th Street in the Downtown West neighborhood, hitting multiple vehicles and the women. A day before that, on Feb. 13, 60-year-old Micelle Jimerson was in a wheelchair when she was hit by two drivers who drove off in the citys Academy neighborhood. Jimerson was hit when she tried to cross Page just east of Clarendon, police said. She was first hit by a westbound car that did not stop. As she was lying in the road, police said, a second westbound car hit her and drove off. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. BERKELEY St. Louis County Police officers shot an armed carjacking suspect in the leg Tuesday as he fled a police pursuit here. The suspect, 21-year-old Lucas Larry, was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, police said in a news release. Three detectives shot him, and no officers were injured. Larry was charged Wednesday with robbery, armed criminal action, resisting arrest and unlawful use of a weapon. A 15-year-old was also taken into custody and referred to St. Louis Family Court, and another man was taken into custody but was not charged. Police said Larry carjacked a woman shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 1500 block of Sierra Vista Plaza, in unincorporated north St. Louis County. The victim reported her Dodge Charger was stolen at gunpoint, police said. Detectives found the Charger at an apartment complex at Hanley Road and Franciola Drive in Berkeley just before 5:30 p.m., police said. Larry drove away when police approached, and detectives used a tire deflation device to stop him. Larry and two others, including the 15-year-old, ran from the car. Police said Larry then pointed a gun at officers, and officers shot him in the leg. The detectives who shot him are each in their 30s with 13 to 14 years of police experience, police said. ST. CHARLES COUNTY A Metro East man accused of killing his girlfriend died after an hourslong standoff with police Thursday, officials said. Clyde E. Young, 28, of Godfrey, was charged with killing his girlfriend, 41-year-old Amy Lynn Delacruz, earlier in the day. Police say he shot and killed himself after a standoff at a gas station in West Alton. Cpl. Barry Bayles, a police department spokesperson, said both Young and an officer fired shots, but Young was killed by his own gun. The standoff marked a sudden end to an investigation that began around 3:15 a.m., when police responded to a call for a shooting near a truck lot in Foristell, a small but growing community on Interstate 70 straddling the line between St. Charles and Warren counties. They didnt find anything at first. But around 4:40 a.m., Young called 911 and said there was a body in his truck on the lot, and told police where to find it. Officers confirmed the report: There was a dead woman with an apparent gunshot wound in the trucks cab. Young had fled the scene, court documents say, but he later called a police officer and said the woman was his girlfriend. The two had been arguing Wednesday evening and he had gotten a shotgun and shot her in the head, he told police. Young initially said he would turn himself in to authorities in Madison County, where he lived, Bayles said. Then he changed his mind and said he would turn himself in to St. Charles County authorities. Police eventually met Young at a Phillips 66 gas station on the south side of the Lewis and Clark Bridge shortly after 7 a.m., but they said Young became uncooperative. Police negotiated with him for more than three hours before they say Young went into his vehicle to grab a gun. Meanwhile, nearby traffic was shut down for safety purposes. Prosecutors indicted Young on second-degree murder charges. And a county judge issued a warrant for Youngs arrest and ordered him held on a $1 million cash-only bond. But then the standoff ended around 11 a.m. with Youngs death. Young had no felony convictions in Illinois or Missouri. Ethan Colbert of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. JEFFERSON CITY Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, one of the Republican candidates for governor, is facing scorn from both sides of the political aisle after he criticized military discounts during a recent candidate forum. In response to a question about how Missouri can better support veterans and military personnel, Ashcroft said, in part, I dont think we ought to treat people based on classifications. I think we ought to treat everybody equally. And I dont think we ought to say that if you live here were gonna charge you this, but if you live here, we charge you this. I dont think we ought to say if youre in the military, we give you this discount, but everybody else has to pay twice as much, Ashcroft said. I dont think thats good government. I think what we ought to say is, if youre a Missourian, if youre an American, the law applies to you equally, he said, according to comments captured by the X account @WestStLouisGOP and posted on Sunday. State Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican also running for governor, blasted Ashcrofts remarks. I know first hand the struggles that our veterans and active military personnel face. I lost friends. I saw the struggle upon returning to the States, Eigel, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said on X. I disdain the ruling elite who send our men and women to die in their wars, all while doing nothing to ensure their sacrifice is honored when they return home, he said. In an Eigel administration, I can promise you this: our military men and women will be taken care of in Missouri. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who like Ashcroft and Eigel is also running for the Republican nomination, also scolded the states elections chief. For Jay Ashcroft to treat our veterans as anything less than heroes is disrespectful to all veterans and their families, Kehoe said on X. Communities across our state value our nations heroes and their service and sacrifice to our country, and they would want their governor to do the same, Kehoe said. As governor, I will work to make Missouri the best state in the nation for our veterans. The Democratic Governors Association, which works to elect Democrats, helped pile on in a news release issued Wednesday. Jay Ashcroft is an insider politician who only looks out for himself, but wants to rip away benefits from members of the military and veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, said DGA States Press Secretary Emma OBrien. While the GOP candidates for governor take one extreme position after another to prove their right-wing credentials, Missourians want a governor who will fight for them, not against them. Missouri veterans, active service members, and their families deserve better. On Thursday, a statement Ashcroft released through his campaign said he honored military service and said as governor, I will make our commitment to them a priority, without qualification. It is shameful that we have failed to fulfill our commitment to our veterans. No Americans make a greater sacrifice for our freedoms and security than the men and women who wear the uniform of our armed forces, he said. The sacrifices that they and their families make are unimaginable for those of us who have not served. ST. LOUIS The family of a man who died after it took more than an hour for an ambulance to get to a hospital is now suing the city and two paramedics for wrongful death. Rodney LaRue was riding a motorized scooter in September 2021 when he collided with a minivan and was flung across the pavement at the intersection of Arsenal Street and Ivanhoe Avenue. A nearby St. Louis traffic patrol officer who saw the crash at about 3:40 p.m. came over almost immediately and called for help. A firetruck was on scene within a few minutes, according to a video of the crash and police records. But it took 38 minutes for a city ambulance to arrive and get LaRue off the street, and nearly an hour before LaRue arrived at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The incident highlighted longstanding concerns about city emergency medical services ability to respond to scenes quickly given staffing and equipment issues. The familys lawsuit says the paramedics' delay in getting to the scene was aggravated when they stopped for at least 29 minutes after a pedestrian hit the ambulance with a rock, denting the vehicle. And by the time LaRue arrived at Barnes-Jewish Hospital about 4 miles from the crash site he was in critical condition with a weak pulse. The lawsuit says if the paramedics hadnt stopped for so long, doctors could have saved LaRue. Sharon LaRue, Rodney LaRues sister, is seeking damages of more than $25,000 with the lawsuit. The city has not yet responded to the claims in court. City spokesman Conner Kerrigan did not comment on the case. The driver of the vehicle that struck Rodney LaRue was accused of involuntary manslaughter in 2021, but a judge later dismissed the charge, saying prosecutors did not have the evidence to prove it. The state Attorney Generals Office is trying to reopen the case and has appealed to the state Supreme Court. Attorneys are scheduled to argue that appeal next week. Editor's note: A previous version of this story misstated when the ambulance was delayed. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's procuratorial organs have improved the mechanism for handling public complaints, ensuring that people's disputes are addressed in a legal manner, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Thursday. In the first 11 months of 2023, procuratorial organs across the country received 812,000 letters or visits from people seeking solutions of disputes, while the SPP received 219,600, said Na Yanfang, a senior procurator with the SPP. Efforts have been made to ensure that each eligible public complaint has feedbacks, Na said, citing that more than 99.75 percent of the complaints received replies within seven days, while 97.25 percent were addressed within three months. The SPP said it launched a three-year campaign among procuratorates nationwide in 2023 to handle public complaints from the root, seeing to it that people's disputes are appropriately solved. JEFFERSON CITY The University of Missouri system pushed back Wednesday against a measure that would allow other public universities in the state to also offer research doctorates and certain professional degrees. A UM lobbyist appeared before a panel of Senate lawmakers to oppose a measure that would allow other universities, like Southeast Missouri State University and Truman State University, to offer research doctorates and professional degree programs independent of the UM system. Current law designates the University of Missouri as the states only public research university and the exclusive grantor of research doctorates and that it is the only state college or university that can offer doctoral degrees or first-professional degrees, including dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. Limiting the availability of those degree programs is a question of fiscal responsibility, Dustin Schnieders, UM system assistant vice president of government relations, told the Post-Dispatch. We just dont have enough resources. At the hearing, Schnieders said that demographic shifts will likely lead to a smaller pool of qualified students seeking the degrees in question, and duplicating doctoral programs will drive up costs. Theres currently no public call for a change to the existing model, Schnieders said. Missourians Improving Higher Education, a group advocating to change Missouris degree restrictions, is backing the legislation that would strip the University of Missouri of its special position in state law related to degree programs. The University of Missouri will have a monopoly forever on all Ph.D. degrees and all of its monopolized programs unless legislation is passed, said Thomas Strong, a Springfield attorney and spokesperson for the group. University ratings are increasingly being viewed through the lens of return on investment, said Ed Gargas, a former president of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. If regional and other public institutions cant confer degrees that offer a higher income potential, they wont be able to compete, he said. This isnt about taking anything away from one institution and giving it to another, said Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican who is sponsoring the measure. This is about opportunities for students and our future workforce. Hough is the chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and is expected to announce a run for lieutenant governor in the coming days. This legislation is Senate Bill 749. Let them stand a thousand years: How a fire left only the iconic columns standing at Mizzou Academic Hall fire, 1892 Academic Hall 1892, post-fire Post-Dispatch clipping circa 1892 ST. LOUIS There's smoke, but no fire. Residents in the St. Louis region have reported a burnt smell sweeping through the area from Wildwood to O'Fallon, Illinois. But the fires are burning over 300 miles south in Arkansas, where local media reported the Arkansas Forestry Division has conducted several controlled burns across the state this week. "We've had a weather system that has formed and has been moving into the Midwest," said Alex Elmore, a National Weather Service meteorologist. "And ahead of that weather system, we've had winds out of the south, so they're flowing over Arkansas, they're picking up that smoke and then they're bringing it up into the broader St. Louis region." Elmore said this is a little unusual for this time of year. "There's a lot within the atmosphere that can factor into that smoke staying up high in in the atmosphere to where you only see hazy skies," he said. "But there are instances where the winds are turbulent enough in the lower atmosphere where you can see the effects of the smoke at the surface. Given the weather pattern, it just was conducive for that smoke to make its way into the area." He said it's possible in some cases to smell the smoke. Elmore said the smoke should move out of the area soon as a "cool front" comes in, where temperatures will drop a little bit compared to what the area has seen in the last several days. "(The front) is causing winds to shift to out of the north/northwest and that'll help move the smoke out of the area," Elmore said. Thursday's forecast included sunny skies with a high near 64 degrees with winds gusting as high as 22 mph in the afternoon. Its perhaps not the most pressing police-related issue in a city reeling from high crime, deadly traffic lawlessness and chronic understaffing of officers. But it nags nonetheless: St. Louis police chief receives more than one-third of his hefty salary from a nonprofit foundation funded by local business interests, rather than from the taxpayers who are supposed to have his undivided loyalty. As weve said before (several times), this is an unnecessary and unacceptable arrangement. Now some city leaders finally appear to be getting less comfortable with it. Good. It may be too late to unwind a deal that never should have been struck in the first place, but the mayor and the Board of Aldermen should ensure it doesnt happen again after the current contract is over. Chief Robert Tracy was recruited from Wilmington, Delaware, by Mayor Tishaura Jones administration as part of a push to fundamentally recast the citys troubled police force. He started on the job early last year under an unusual, possibly unprecedented arrangement in policing: $100,000 of his $275,000 salary is provided by the St. Louis Police Foundation, a consortium of area businesses and business groups. The rationale was understandable. The business community has long been frustrated with St. Louis inability to get its crime crisis under control, and believed providing a salary sweetener would allow the city to recruit a top national candidate for chief who could reform and transform the department. Crucially, the Foundation wasnt directly involved in choosing Tracy, but merely in adding to his salary after the city hired him. And theres been no evidence that the main concern of critics that Tracy would be incentivized to provide favoritism in police services to specific businesses or businesspeople has come to pass. But the appearance of impropriety under the arrangement is huge. And that in itself is a problem for a police department that has historically struggled to build public trust. For example, Tracys decision to focus extra patrols in the downtown business district (under a program also funded by the Foundation) may make sense as a policing strategy but the fact that it happens to benefit some of the donors providing much of Tracys salary inevitably shadows the issue. As former Alderman Joe Vaccaro recently put it to the news site ProPublica: Why are you picking downtown over my neighborhood? There are more killings in areas of north St. Louis. Why is downtown more important? Oh, wait a minute, the money comes from the group thats paying you. Whether that concern is true isnt the point if it erodes public trust in such decisions. Other problems are less hypothetical, particularly regarding the lack of transparency regarding the Foundation, which isnt under the same public disclosure obligations as city officials are. Even as the Foundations salary arrangement with Tracy was announced in late 2022, the group refused to provide the Post-Dispatch with a copy of its agreement with him. Worse, when a private citizen later requested information from the Foundation about which donors were providing Tracys salary, an attorney for the group sent back a cease-and-desist letter telling the citizen to stop harassing the police foundation for non-public information. You know somethings not working right when merely asking where the police chiefs salary comes from results in a threat from a lawyer. Then theres the question of why this privately funded sweetener was even necessary. Tracys $275,000 salary is significantly higher than that of most major city chiefs. Given St. Louis stubborn problems with hiring and retaining enough cops on the street, it could be rationally argued that those are the salaries that should be boosted. And even if its necessary to pay the chief $275,000, thats not a significant hit for a department with a $189 million budget. One complication is that the city charter requires that the fire chief make whatever the police chief makes. But that requirement could either be altered or met. Ultimately, theres no legal or fiscal reason the city has to turn to private donations to fund even an unusually high police chiefs salary. As ProPublica reported this week, some city officials, including Board of Aldermen President Megan Green, say they plan to press for more detailed information about the Foundations agreement with Tracy, which runs for three years. Ending the arrangement early would come with its own complications. The breach-of-contract implications alone could mean nothing can be done until after next year. But theres nothing to stop the city right now from planning for what happens then. Cincinnatis municipal code specifically prohibits private funding for city salaries; maybe some version of that kind of rule could be created going forward. In the end, the whole thing just plain looks bad. Who else can pay the chief? asked Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, as quoted by ProPublica. Can the criminals get together and pay the chief? As ludicrous as that sounds, its a fair question under this ludicrous arrangement. As a pediatrician I am aware that Kansas City Children's Mercy is one of the U.S.'s leading children's hospitals. The institution has a well-respected program which addresses gender dysphoria in children and adolescents in a compassionate and comprehensive manner. The scope of this program and the services offered have been significantly affected by actions of the Republican-dominated Missouri Legislature. Fortunately the KCCM Emergency Department is fully functional and was able to provide care to the nine children wounded yesterday at the Union Station mass shooting. Ironically, reports indicate that two of the shooters were themselves adolescents. We live in a state which removes the decisions for care of a small population of children from themselves and their parents, places every child at risk from gun violence, and allows children to own and carry guns and shoot each other. Our legislators seem uninterested or unable to guarantee the safety of Missouri's children when it comes to firearms. The only way to change this is at the ballot box. Please consider the safety of children when you vote in November. Joseph Kahn, M.D. St. Charles Donald Trump is the most dangerous individual in this country. His blatant disregard for our NATO allies (actually all of our allies) creates a significant risk to the safety and peace of the world. We are the leaders of the free world and if we forego that important role, world peace will be in serous jeopardy. During World War II, we helped to secure peace in Europe and the Pacific. We risk losing all that our ancestors fought and died for (440,000 Americans). We have an obligation to support and defend our NATO allies. How much each ally contributes toward the organization can always be addressed privately behind closed doors. However, to discuss such a matter in public and in a belligerent threatening matter is dangerous and irresponsible. I know from first-hand knowledge how much our European allies appreciate our commitment to NATO. I was stationed in Germany from 1970 to 1973. I served in a Pershing Missile Unit, the only nuclear missile unit in the U.S. Army. The German people always appreciated us. They understood we were there to keep the peace and to prevent Russia from doing anything stupid. Pershing missiles units were referred to as Peacekeepers. To turn our backs on our allies risks the safety and security of the entire world. Trump is too much of a risk to the country and the world to ever hold office again. Michael Heyer Ellisville Traditional grocery store advice is to stay out of the aisles and shop the perimeter to spend less and eat healthier. Thats harder to do at Costco, says Addie McHale, a Denver-based certified financial planner. Each visit is a treasure hunt. You get there, take it in and want to walk the whole store to hunt down those values, says McHale. Jenny Martin, the writer behind coupon website SouthernSavers.com, says Costco knows what its doing. Tall ceilings, big open aisles and tons of products create a sense of awe as soon as you walk in. At a minimum, you have to buy a $60 annual Costco membership (the lower of two membership tiers offered) to enjoy the grandeur. Big fans of the warehouse chain will say good buys justify the cost. Let this list of the best things to buy at Costco help you decide. Organic frozen berries McHale appreciates Costcos selection of organic foods. The big bags of frozen berries are an essential purchase for smoothie lovers, she says. They have a good selection of organic frozen berries, and theyre significantly cheaper than buying those little bags at other stores. Authentic Italian ingredients McHale also says the Italian offerings at Costco are on point. You can find good olive oil from Italy, she says. The Costco brand Kirkland Signature EVOO is a product of Italy, and comes in a two-liter bottle for a relatively low price. Some items are more elusive. McHale swears by the giant jar of organic Castelvetrano green olives she found. She bought two because the super low price made her think they wouldnt be restocked. Treasures like it are what make you walk through every aisle, she says. As for marinara sauce, the r/Costco subreddit makes it clear: Raos Homemade is a solid pick and priced well. Baking supplies and real maple syrup Martin finds treasure in the baking aisle. Bulk flour, sugar, spices and baking chocolates those are some of the best prices you will find in town, she says. Another item thats better to buy in a bigger size at Costco is 100% organic maple syrup, which Martin says is good quality at a great price. We spotted a 33.8-ounce jug of the Kirkland brand for $14.99 online at Costco versus $25.99 for a similar-sized bottle (32 ounces) of Whole Foods version from Amazon at the time of this writing. Pick up some pure vanilla extract in the same aisle. Nuts Almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts are among the more expensive items at a grocery store. But you can probably get more nuts for less per pound at Costco, or any other warehouse club for that matter. Take almonds, for example. At the time of this writing, we found a 1-pound bag online at grocery chain Safeway for $7.99 versus a 5-pound bag online at Costco for $17.99. Thats some serious per-pound savings, and you can freeze what you don't eat right away. Discounted gift cards Costco offers discounted gift cards for many retail brands, restaurants and even airlines at times, says Martin. Gift card deals are generally $79.99 for $100 of value. And just because theyre called gift cards doesnt mean you have to give them away. If you know youre going to buy from or eat at a participating place, you could save a few bucks upfront by buying yourself a reduced-price gift card. Over-the-counter medicine Martin buys the generic version of Zyrtec allergy medicine at Costco. It just makes sense to buy the bottle of 365 tablets at Costco for less than $20 instead of a bottle of 30 tablets in a drug store for around the same price, she says. Use Ibuprofen regularly? We saw two 500-tablet bottles of the generic version of Advil at Costco for less than the price of one 500-tablet bottle of another generic version at a popular drug store chain at the time of this writing. Tires and gasoline McHale says the savings at Costcos Tire Center are worth it. She recently compared the price of four new name-brand tires at Costco with the price offered by a retail tire chain. Costco had the same set for a few hundred dollars less, she says. Martin says to top off your gas tank each time you hit Costco to maximize membership perks, if your local store sells gas. The per-gallon price can be better than the local competition. Keep your next Costco visit cost-effective With so many treasures under one giant roof, its easy to go over budget on a visit to Costco. A great deal on a TV doesnt mean you should impulsively add a several-hundred-dollar purchase during a Saturday supply run. Take the time to ponder, research and compare prices on big-ticket items first, says Martin. You can also plan meals in advance and set a limit for groceries to avoid a $400 receipt for pantry items. Use your phones calculator to tally up the total as you pick items. Or zero in on the fresh food section and leave after. McHale likes to shop after dinner, about an hour before closing. Youre not hungry, youre not lingering, she says. You can just go to get your stuff and get out. But if you are hungry, you can still count on the $1.50 hot dog and soda after all these years. Tommy Tindall writes for NerdWallet. Email: ttindall@nerdwallet.com. The article The Best Things to Buy at Costco Are Daily Essentials, Not TVs originally appeared on NerdWallet. February 22, 2024: Overall Russian combat losses from February 24, 2022, to February 15, 2024, are estimated as follows: Personnel: Around 399,090 Tanks: 6,442 IFV (Infantry Fighting Armored Vehicles): 12,090 Artillery systems: 9,620 MLRS (Multiple launch rocket systems): 984 Anti-aircraft warfare systems: 671 Aircraft: 332 Helicopters: 325 UAV operational-tactical level: 7,404 Cruise missiles: 1,882 Warships/boats: 25 Submarines: 1 Vehicles and fuel tankers: 12,691 Special equipment: 1,524 Russia had spent two decades before the Ukraine Invasion rebuilding their armed forces after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. This decline in Russian military power was a painful process. Between 1992 and 2003 the Russian military lost over half its manpower. That left 1.1 million troops commanded by 1,400 generals and admirals, or one for every 830 soldiers or sailors. About 140,000 were contract soldiers who agreed to serve longer periods as higher paid professional soldiers. The military also has 730,000 civilian employees. In 2003 another 36,800 officers and career enlisted troops lost their jobs. In 2003 the Russian army only had 321,000 troops, which was fewer than what the American army had. This was something that had never happened since the United States was established in 1776. In 2003 the Russian Air Force, including air defense forces, had 148,600 troops and the navy had 171,500. Russia still relied on conscripts for most of their manpower, and these young troops serve only two years. This was reduced to one year in 2008. Much time and effort has to be dedicated to training new conscripts to replace those who have left, and the conscripts serving one year received little training because it was not worth the effort and cost. On the plus side all these conscripts entered the inactive reserve forces for about twenty years. The Missile, Space and Airborne forces are still around, but they are no longer independent services. These troops now belong to the army, navy, and air force, although they are still considered national strategic forces. But there are many other forces in Russian government service who carry weapons. The interior ministry has 186,000 security troops, many of them organized into light infantry units, the Federal Bodyguard Service has 11,500 personnel, most of them armed. The border patrol has 165,000 armed men, and some women. The penitentiary system has 251,000 uniformed personnel serving as guards. In 2003 the Russian government had 3.2 million people who went to work wearing a military style uniform. But most of these were not considered soldiers. For example, the Federal Fire Fighting Service has 73,000 uniformed personnel, as does the Federal Railroad Force with 48,000 personnel. The FSB secret police has 66,200 employees who, while they usually work in civilian clothes, have a military uniform they wear from time to time. The FSB replaced the Soviet-era KGB and performed duties similar to what the American FBI and CIA carry out. The Russian government also has 4.5 million civilians on the payroll. Britain became the worlds dominant naval power after the War of the Spanish Succession ended in 1714. That was 310 years ago, so we are ten years into the fourth century of Anglo-American naval dominance. The 1718-1720 War of the Quadruple Alliance merely confirmed British naval dominance established years earlier. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the second largest fleet in the world rapidly decaying in the 1990s. Russia lost about 80 percent of its naval power. It's still the second largest fleet in the world, but the U.S. Navy now has over half the naval combat power in the world, and even more of the kinds of ships that can be sent anywhere on the planet. We are now in the fourth century of either Britain or the United States as the dominant naval power in the world. When the Cold War ended in 1991, all navies shrank, even the U.S. Navy. But those of the European nations were reduced the most. In the Pacific, Japan, South Korea, and China continued to expand their fleets. So did India. But the U.S. naval forces in the Pacific are still the major player in that region. European Nations are still dominated by a credible Russian threat. Despite the 80 percent decline in the Russian military in the 1990s, this still left them with the most powerful combat force in Europe. That's largely because in the 1990s most European nations also dramatically cut their military spending, and manpower. Russia was much less of a military threat to Europe than the Soviet Union was during the Cold War. This is because Russian ground forces now largely consist of paramilitary troops and army combat units that are no longer trained for offensive warfare. Russia can still invade neighbors, as it did in Georgia during 2008. Russia required one mechanized infantry division, and another division worth of local militias and paramilitary troops to attack the tiny Caucasus state of Georgia. After invading Georgia, Russian reorganized its military once more and in 2014 used some of those troops to seize Crimea and portions of two eastern Ukrainian provinces. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was the first full-size Russian use of force since World War Two and included attacks from Russian occupied Donbas towards Crimea. This succeeded in connecting Donbas with Crimea. The Russian force used to invade Ukraine was largely destroyed after two years of fighting. Most of the Russian equipment losses took place during the first few months of the invasion. Russia did not expect NATO to provide Ukraine with massive military support and that prevented Russia from defeating Ukraine and absorbing it back into Russia. Since then, Russia has been mobilizing additional forces to retain portions of Ukraine it controls and to continue efforts to conquer more of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir still insists that his plan is to eventually destroy Ukraine and make it part of the Russian empire. Putin has announced that once he has defeated and absorbed Ukraine, he will go after other countries that used to be part of the Russian empire. The most recent version of that empire was the Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991. Putin wants to revive that empire, even though some parts of the Soviet Union joined NATO once they became independent. This is what Ukraine wants to do. Putin justified his invasion of Ukraine by the Russian need to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Putin sees NATO, which is a defensive alliance, as a threat to Russia, or at least the Russian plan to rebuild the Russian Empire. None of the other parts of the Russian Empire want to be absorbed back into Russia and preventing Russia from doing that to Ukraine will discourage but not stop Russian efforts to rebuild its empire. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been quite open about this, although a growing number of Russians would rather skip the empire building and pay more attention to rebuilding the Russian economy. Because of Putins aggression, Russia has been hit with extensive economic sanctions and these are hurting the Russian economy and lowering living standards for most Russians. The rest of the world is not ignoring what Russia is trying to do in Ukraine. Russia cannot ignore this concern because the Middle Eastern opposition has nothing to do with NATO. The Middle East Nations are still dominated by Israel. The third ranking nation, Iran, is more powerful because of the large number of men in uniform. Their weapons and equipment are in poor shape and largely obsolete. Because of Israel's dominating land combat power, several Middle Eastern nations spent a lot of money on ballistic missiles. The Syrian missile forces and for that matter, all the rest of its armed forces, were destroyed by two decades of civil war. That left only Iran and Hezbollah, its Lebanese proxy, with rockets and missiles that could reach Israel and do some damage. Hezbollahs rocket & missile threat to Israel is much greater than Irans unless Iran can put nuclear weapons on its missiles. Unfortunately for Iran, Hezbollah has been a very disobedient proxy due to its fear of being destroyed by Israel ground and air forces, while Israel developed defenses against ballistic missiles and tested them in the Mediterranean Sea. The tests were successful and now these defenses face any Iranian attack. If Iran does use its ballistic missiles against, Israel has its own ballistic missiles that can reach Iran. Israel also has nuclear weapons, including warheads for its Jericho ballistic missiles that can reach Iran and have already put several Israeli surveillance satellites into orbit. Iran has nothing to fear from Israel unless they threaten Israel, which the Iranians have done. Before the current religious dictatorship took control of Iran in the 1980s, Iran and Israel were allies and trading partners. Many Iranians would like to see that status restored. It will take another revolution in Iran for that to happen and that revolution is starting to show up in Iran. Currently Russia, North Korea and Iran are allies and trading partners. Western Hemisphere nations are still dominated by the United States. Because of decades of combat, and recent upgrades in training and equipment, the number two power in the Americas is Colombia. Brazil is close behind, because it is the largest nation in South America, and has a large and well equipped military. East Asian nations are, as usual, dominated by China. But number two is South Korea, which has greatly increased its combat power over the last three decades, as its booming economy enabled it to equip the troops with the most modern weapons. Meanwhile, it's nemesis for the past half century, North Korea, has declined because of a collapsing economy and inept socialist dictatorship. Japans navy and air force are the second largest of the East Asian powers and almost as powerful, on paper, as Chinas, if not better due to Chinese corruption crippling its armed forces just as corruption unexpectedly crippled Russian forces invading Ukraine. African nations have a strange lineup. The two top military powers, Ethiopia, and Eritrea fought each other between 1998 and 2000 then again in 2020. The number three power is South Africa, which is the best equipped, trained and led on the continent and has remained at peace, occasionally contributing some forces to peacekeeping operations in Africa. South Asian nations are, as always, dominated by India. Pakistan is a distant second. That is something that has not changed since modern India and Pakistan were created when Britain granted freedom to its Indian colony, which included Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Amarc Resources Ltd. ("Amarc" or the "Company") (TSXV:AHR)(OTCQB: AXREF) is pleased to provide details of its executive team's participation at three conferences during March 2024. On March 1-2 , Amarc is presenting at the Metal Investors Forum Toronto at the Delta Hotel in Toronto. Corporate Presentation by Dr. Diane Nicolson, President & CEO on March 1 at 10:10 am ET followed by a Q&A Session at the Amarc Resources Booth Learn more about the Metals Investor Forum Toronto , Amarc is presenting at the at the Delta Hotel in Toronto. On March 3-6 , Amarc will be attending PDAC 2024 in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Visit Corporate Booth #2850 Learn more about PDAC 2024 and register , Amarc will be attending in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. On March 26 , Amarc is presenting at the 2024 Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference . Corporate Presentation and live Q&A with Dr. Diane Nicolson, President & CEO at 8:00 am PT / 11:00 am ET Register now for KCMM24 Virtual Investor Conference , Amarc is presenting at the . Conference attendees are also invited to contact Diane Nicolson, Amarc President & CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or at [email protected] in advance to organize a time for a meeting or to receive further information. Amarc's expansive, 100%-owned JOY, DUKE and IKE Copper-Gold Districts are located in British Columbia in proximity to key infrastructure. Each district hosts copper deposits and a pipeline of deposit targets. Funding is in place for substantial discovery drilling across our Cu-Au Districts in 2024. For further details on Amarc Resources Ltd., please visit our website at www.amarcresources.com or contact Dr. Diane Nicolson, President and CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114, or Kin Communications, at (604) 684-6730, Email: [email protected]. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMARC RESOURCES LTD. Dr. Diane Nicolson President and CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking and other Cautionary Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All such statements, other than statements of historical facts that address exploration plans and plans for enhanced relationships are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc Resources Ltd., investors should review Amarc's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. SOURCE: Amarc Resources Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com The Company has reported new contracts, renewals or orders valued at approximately $2.8 million CAD so far in 2024, outpacing growth in 2023. News in Summary On February 8, 2024, Cloud DX signed a new 24-month Master Deployment Agreement with Dr Lee S. Freedman, an MDVIP-affiliated internal medicine practice based in Highland Park IL. Dr Freedman intends to enroll approximately 125 patients who will best benefit from Remote Patient Monitoring with Cloud DX Connected Health, valuing the agreement at approximately $230,000 CAD. KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX)(OTCQB: CDXFF), a leading North American provider of subscription-based virtual care and remote patient monitoring services is pleased to announce a new Master Deployment Agreement with Lee S. Freedman MD, based in Highland Park IL. Dr Freedman's practice is affiliated with the MDVIP, a concierge medicine group with over 1,000 clinics nation-wide specializing in care for adults including those with complex chronic conditions. Cloud DX will work with Dr Freedman and his staff to enroll approximately 125 patients who will most benefit from remote monitoring using Cloud DX Connected Health, especially patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive health failure, diabetes, hypertension, and related co-morbidities. Typically, Cloud DX earns around $700 USD per patient per year for US deployments. In their most recent financial statements, the Company reported gross margins of 77%. Dr Freedman is the second MDVIP affiliated practice in Illinois to deploy Connected Health by Cloud DX. Dr. Freedman stated "There is no question in my mind that remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases improves care and lowers overall costs to the system. We are looking forward to launching our Cloud DX deployment in March 2024". Cloud DX Co-founder and COO Anthony Kaul stated: "These newly announced contracts indicate that the Cloud DX Connected Health platform is achieving our goal of bringing the benefits of virtual care and remote patient monitoring to the patients who need it the most. Clinicians like Dr Freedman are on the front lines of the battle against chronic disease that generate over 80% of all healthcare spending in North America. Cloud DX automates the collection of at-home patient data, enabling early detection of complications and creating a closer and richer doctor-patient relationship while improving health outcomes. About Cloud DX Accelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health" remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, winner of "2022 Top Innovator" from Canadian Business, a 2021 "Edison Award" winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada and Sanrai International. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx Investor Conference Videos Now Available Cloud DX CEO Robert Kaul presented a Zoom webinar on January 17, 2024, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada). A recording of his presentation can be seen HERE. The Maxim Group (NYC) held their Annual Healthcare IT Virtual Conference on Wednesday January 24th, 2024, with 18 companies presenting. Investors can see the Cloud DX presentation HERE. Links to statistics Cost of chronic diseases in America: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm Social Links Twitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/ For media inquiries please contact: Marketing Enquiries Phone 888-543-0944 [email protected] For investor inquiries please contact: Jay Bedard Cloud DX Investor Relations Phone 647-881-8418 [email protected] Officer responsible for this Press Release: Robert Kaul Chief Executive Officer Phone 888-543-0944 [email protected] Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the terms of the contract extension, the expected proceeds therefrom, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's the ability of the Company to fulfill the terms of and derive the benefits from the contract extension. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. propos de Cloud DX Accelerant les soins de sante virtuels, Cloud DX a pour mission d'ameliorer les soins de sante pour tous. Notre plateforme de surveillance a distance des patients Connected HealthMC est utilisee par des entreprises de soins de sante et des equipes de soins partout en Amerique du Nord pour gerer virtuellement les maladies chroniques, permettre aux gens de vieillir chez eux et fournir des soins post-chirurgicaux de qualite hospitaliere a domicile. Nos partenaires obtiennent de meilleurs resultats pour les soins de sante et les patients, reduisent le besoin d'hospitalisation ou de readmission, et reduisent les couts de prestation des soins de sante grace a une utilisation plus efficace des ressources. Cloud DX est co-laureate du prix Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, laureate du prix Edison 2021, finaliste du concours World Changing Idea de Fast Company et un des dix plus importants fournisseurs de telesante au Canada. Site des relations avec les investisseurs de Cloud DX https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx La Bourse de croissance TSX et son fournisseur de services de reglementation (tel que ce terme est defini dans les politiques de la Bourse de croissance TSX) n'assument aucune responsabilite quant a la pertinence ou a l'exactitude du present communique. Tous les enonces prospectifs sont assujettis a des risques et a des incertitudes, tels que ceux decrits dans les rapports periodiques de Medtronic deposes aupres de la Securities and Exchange Commission. Les resultats reels peuvent sensiblement differer des resultats anticipes. SOURCE: Cloud DX Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for a de-escalation of the continued tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). "The integrity, security, sovereignty, and stability of all states in the region must necessarily be assured, and the lives of the civilian population completely protected," Faki said in a statement issued late Wednesday. He further reiterated that there will be no military solution to problems and disagreements within the African family. He called on all foreign powers "to completely abstain from interference in the internal affairs of all African countries, notably those of the Great Lakes region." Tensions have been running high between the DRC and neighboring Rwanda amid fierce fighting in the eastern DRC, which the United Nations says is exacerbating the strain on already limited resources to accommodate 800,000 internally displaced persons in the region and 2.5 million displaced across the DRC's eastern province of North Kivu. On Saturday, the DRC military accused Rwanda of launching a drone attack on the airport of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, where fighting has been raging between DRC government forces and rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23). NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / CNH, through their investment arm CNH Ventures, is supporting the scientific development of the first viable compostable net wrap for bales in agriculture. The company's investment in the Canadian start-up, Nature's Net Wrap, aims to accelerate their mission to eliminate waste from the process of collecting and storing crops. Shifting to compostable net wraps has the potential to significantly benefit farmers. It reduces landfill use, haulage and disposal costs. It also eliminates soil contamination, improves animal safety, and reduces the risk of water contamination, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. High growth in this market is propelled by the general demand for chemical and plastic-free solutions. Initial product launch is expected in 2024. This latest investment furthers CNH's commitment to sustainably advance the work of farmers everywhere. This latest investment furthers CNH's commitment to sustainably advance the work of farmers everywhere. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: [email protected] SOURCE: CNH Industrial View the original press release on accesswire.com The company offers high-end management services and facilities at competitive rates across the regions of the UK. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Established with a mission to provide comprehensive management facilities in the vicinity of the UK, Crystal Facilities Management has gained solid credibility for its high-end services such as commercial cleaning, builders cleaning, deep cleaning services, office cleaning services, in London and across the UK. As a leading facilities management company in the UK, Crystal Facilities Management is driven by a team of dedicated and results-focused people. The company is dedicated to working with customers to provide high-end, tailor-made facilities management solutions such as cleaning, security and maintenance for short-term, long-term, and ad hoc contracts. Having worked in a wide range of sectors, Crystal Facilities Management has over 15 years of experience and strives to maintain a high-end reputation and meet its customers' needs. The company's wide range of services is delivered to public and private industries and covers several sectors including, National Coverage, Added Value, 24/7 Helpdesk operating 365 days of the year, a Partnership Approach, and Flexibility and Accountability. With a terminus to become a recognized facilities management company delivering customized solutions, Crystal Facilities Management promises to deliver Specialist deep cleaning services, along with offering reactive and planned maintenance to keep premises running. The CEO of Crystal Facilities Management states, "As a facilities service provider, we strive hard to offer scalable and powerful solutions for your business. Working within different industries during the past years has helped us understand and deliver a true value solution. For all their needs. Our robust and hard-working teams aim to deliver a project within a short time scale. We help your company attain its objectives." Crystal Facilities Management's proficient team strives to provide long-term facility management solutions to commercial clients from all backgrounds and industries. The skilled team strives to focus on providing the best service possible to customers, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene in their spaces. Moreover, to meet the diverse needs of customers, the company employs cost-effective strategies to manage facilities, optimizing resources and reducing operational expenses. Along with incorporating innovative solutions, Crystal Facilities Management proactively address and mitigates potential risks, ensuring a safe and compliant working environment. Over the years, the company has garnered a solid customer base and promises to deliver well-maintained and organized facilities, maintaining a clean and hygienic workplace to enhance employee well-being and create a positive impression. The CEO adds, "We care about you and your needs; you will receive a Facilities Management package that you can be proud of. Discover our premium services tailored to meet your needs in London. we pride ourselves on delivering top-notch solutions to ensure the cleanliness, safety, and functionality of your commercial and residential spaces. Explore our services in each city to discover how Crystal Services can meet your cleaning needs efficiently and effectively." For further details, visit the website https://crystalservices.uk.com/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/commercial-cleaning-in-uk/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/builders-cleaning-in-uk/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/office-cleaning-services-in-uk/ https://crystalservices.uk.com/services/london Media Contact Organization: Crystal Facilities Management Contact Person: Tanya Rogers Website: https://crystalservices.uk.com/ Email: [email protected] Contact Number: +442089933831 Address: The Lyra, Portal Way, North Acton, W3 6BJ. City: London Country: United Kingdom SOURCE: Crystal Facilities Management View the original press release on accesswire.com Dr. Quinton Hennigh and Mr. Brent Omland Appointed to Company's Board of Directors IRVING, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / DYNR-DynaResource, Inc. (OTCQB: DYNR) ("DynaUSA", and "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dr. Quinton Hennigh and Mr. Brent Omland as Directors to the Board of Directors of the Company; and that the Company accepted the resignations of Dr. Jose Vargas Lugo and Mr. Ronald Vail from the Company's Board of Directors in order to make the two Board Seats available. The appointments and resignations are effective February 16, 2024. Dr. Vargas Lugo will remain in his position with the Company as Director of Operations - Mexico, and Mr. Vail will become a non-voting Board observer. Dr. Hennigh is an exploration geologist with 33 years' experience, predominantly in the gold industry. He holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in geology and geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines. Early in his career, he explored for gold for major mining companies including Homestake Mining Company, Newcrest Mining Ltd., and Newmont Mining Corporation. Beginning in 2007, Dr. Hennigh shifted focus to the junior mining space where he has worked for several successful gold explorers, notably Gold Canyon Resources where he led the discovery of the 5.2 million ounce Springpole gold deposit, Ontario. Currently, Dr. Hennigh is Technical and Geologic Director to Crescat Capital and is CEO of private miner, San Cristobal Mining. Mr. Omland was elected to serve as a Director pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") dated August 2, 2023, by and between the Company and Ocean Partners Holdings Limited ("Ocean Partners"). Mr. Omland is the Co-CEO of Ocean Partners, which purchases substantially all the gold produced by the Company pursuant to that certain Gold Concentrate Purchase Agreement dated February 1, 2021, as amended, by and between the Company's affiliate, DynaResource de Mexico, SA de CV ("DynaMxico'), and an affiliate of Ocean Partners, MK Metal Trading Mexico SA de CV. Mr. Omland is a mining executive with 20 years of experience in the mining and metals trading industry. Mr Omland is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and a Canadian CPA. Mr. Omland has also worked in finance roles for Teck Resources and in senior finance roles for an integrated lead mining and smelting group based in Australia (Ivernia/Enirgi Metals). Mr. Omland also serves on the Board of Directors for Dore Copper Mining Corp, Galantas Gold Corporation and Nicola Mining Inc., all listed on the TSX-V. Mr. K.D. Diepholz, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of DynaResource, Inc., and President of DynaMexico, which currently owns 100% of the prolific San Jose de Gracia high grade gold project in Sinaloa State, Mexico ("SJG"); stated: "I am very pleased to add the expertise of an internationally renowned mining professional such as Dr. Hennigh to our Board of Directors. We look forward to utilizing his expertise and experience as we continue to expand the operations and resources at SJG. I also greatly appreciate the attention and support we have received from Mr. Omland and Ocean Partners since February 2021, and I am pleased to welcome Brent to the Board of Directors. Quinton and Brent will be integral and valuable additions to the Board of Directors team, and I'm certain they will provide significant and strategic contributions to the further advance and development of the prolific SJG Project. I am excited and looking forward to working with Quinton and Brent. I would also like to thank Dr. Jose Vargas Lugo and Mr. Ron Vail for their significant contributions to DynaResource over the past few years. Dr. Vargas will continue to be an integral executive for our management team, and Ron will continue to support our strategic business planning. Dr. Vargas and Ron have both contributed greatly to the significant achievements made by DynaResource." "I am delighted to join DynaResource alongside Brent Omland," commented Dr. Hennigh. "San Jose de Gracia is an exceptional low sulfidation epithermal vein camp that I have kept my eye on for many years. While it is famous for its historic high-grade gold production, I believe this is a system that remains grossly under-explored. I can see several immediate targets in which new high-grade veins might be discovered. I look forward to helping DynaResource develop their current resources as well as pursue the next generation of discoveries yet to be made at San Jose de Gracia." On behalf of Ocean Partners, Mr. Brent Omland, co-CEO of Ocean Partners commented: "We are very pleased to expand our strong relationship with DynaResource and their excellent team in the US and Mexico. We are excited to be a part of the continuing development and expansion of the world class SJG Project and we look forward to providing K.D. and his team additional support and resources." IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING CANADIAN DISCLOSURE STANDARDS The Company is an "OTC Reporting Issuer" as that term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 51-509, Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets, promulgated by various Canadian Provincial Securities Commissions. Accordingly, certain disclosure in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In Canada, an issuer is required to provide technical information with respect to mineralization, including reserves and resources, if any, on its mineral exploration properties in accordance with Canadian requirements, which differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to registration statements and reports filed by United States companies pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As such, information contained in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company concerning descriptions of mineralization under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC and not subject to Canadian securities legislation. This news release or other disclosure provided by the Company may use the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". While these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted to reserves. In addition, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities legislation, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, although they may form, in certain circumstances, the basis of a "preliminary economic assessment" as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27 A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance may be deemed "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that DynaResource expects to occur, are "forward-looking information". These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the future growth, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of DynaResource. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to DynaResource. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Certain assumptions have been made regarding the Company's plans at the San Jose de Gracia property. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of DynaResource and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such factors include, without limitation: capital requirements, fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of the United States and Mexico; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; changes in national and local governments in any country which DynaResource currently or may in the future carry on business; taxation; controls; regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which DynaResource does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labor disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks) as well as those risks referenced in the Annual Report for DynaResource available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Although DynaResource believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. DynaResource expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. For Information on DynaUSA and DynaMexico, please visit www.dynaresource.com, or contact: Brad J. Saulter, DynaUSA V.P. - Investor Relations: 972-996-7417; General Inquiries: 972-869-9400 K.D. Diepholz, DynaUSA - Chairman / CEO DynaResource de Mexico-Presidente Contact Information Brad J. Saulter DynaUSA V.P. - Investor Relations 972-869-9400 SOURCE: DynaResource, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Finxo Capital, an online broker, has empowered individuals and organizations to achieve their financial objectives. By merging technology with research and educational materials, the company has created a platform that is both accessible and transparent. Finxo Capital has offered intuitive platforms equipped with advanced charting tools, technical indicators, and mobile apps for trading on the go with a focus on user experience. These features, combined with robust management options, have enabled clients to trade stocks, Forex, cryptocurrencies, and commodities. One of Finxo Capital's key offerings is its user-friendly platform, which bolsters fast execution, tight spreads, and a wide range of currency pairs tailored to individual trading strategies. Coupled with educational resources and personalized support, Finxo Capital empowers traders to make informed decisions. The Media Manager of Finxo Capital, Hendrik Joubert, said "Our mission at Finxo Capital is to empower individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complex world of financial markets. We strive to make trading and investing accessible, transparent, and rewarding for all." Finxo Capital provides access to a diverse array of indices from around the world, allowing traders to capitalize on market trends and sectors that align with their strategies. For more information about Finxo Capital and its services, visit their website . About Finxo Capital: Finxo Capital is an online broker committed to providing access to financial markets and empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their financial goals. With a team of experienced professionals passionate about finance and technology, Finxo Capital combines cutting-edge technology with comprehensive research and educational resources to provide a platform that is accessible, transparent, and rewarding for all. Media Contact Organization: Finxo Capital Contact Person: Hendrik Joubert Website: https://finxocap.com Email: [email protected] City: Cape Town State: Cape Town Country: South Africa SOURCE: Finxo Capital View the original press release on accesswire.com The addition of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) enhances Gotrade Indonesia's offerings, enabling investors to access diversified assets with lower fees, marking a significant milestone in the democratisation of investment opportunities. JAKARTA, INDONESIA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Gotrade Indonesia, a leading platform in fractional investments, is expanding its portfolio by introducing Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). This new feature allows Indonesian investors to diversify their investments and enjoy the benefits of lower fees. This move comes in response to the growing demand for more diversified investment options and the increasing awareness of the cost-effectiveness of ETFs among investors. The introduction of ETFs is set to revolutionise the investment landscape in Indonesia by offering access to a range of assets with an average expense ratio significantly lower than that of actively managed mutual funds. Gotrade Indonesia adds ETFs on their fractional investment platform Gotrade Indonesia ETF stock screen, showing access to US etfs on Gotrade Indonesia for fractional investing An article published by Investopedia in 2024 shows that ETF fees are generally cheaper than mutual fund fees. In 2022, in the United States, the average expense ratio for index ETFs was 0.16%, lower than the average expense ratio for US mutual funds of 0.66%. Norman Wanto, CEO of Gotrade, welcomed the enactment of the Indonesian Commodity and Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (CoFTRA) Regulation No. 1 of 2024 that allows the recent introduction of ETFs into the Indonesian market. "We would like to express our gratitude to CoFTRA as the regulator of our industry. Many of our users have expressed their hopes of being able to buy ETFs, and we are grateful that Bappebti has followed up on these aspirations, along with the support of Jakarta Futures Exchange (JFX)." Norman further continued, "The introduction of ETFs is a game-changer for our users. It not only broadens their investment options but also aligns with our commitment to offer innovative, cost-effective investment solutions. By incorporating ETFs into our platform, we are enabling Indonesian investors to build diversified portfolios with lower fees, enhancing their potential for long-term growth and financial stability." Gotrade Indonesia is a revolutionary investment platform that enables Indonesian investors to access the U.S. stock market with ease and efficiency through the Channeling of Customer Mandates to Foreign Exchanges (PALN) scheme. Through its partnership with Valbury Asia Futures, Gotrade offers fractional investment opportunities, allowing users to invest in shares of over 600 U.S. companies via PALN derivative contracts, including the "magnificent seven" technology giants and popular ETFs. Committed to making investing and trading accessible to all Indonesians, Gotrade Indonesia provides a secure, user-friendly platform for investors to grow their assets and achieve their financial goals. Contact Information Aji Suleiman VP Indonesia [email protected] SOURCE: Gotrade Financial Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. ANAHEIM, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Informa Markets Engineering, the leading B2B event producer, publisher and digital media business for the advanced manufacturing industry, today announces the launch of Sustainable Manufacturing Expo. This new event, dedicated to showcasing the latest technologies, innovations and thought leadership for progressing sustainable manufacturing processes forward, will take place February 4-5, 2025 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Sustainable manufacturing has become one of the top emerging technologies shaping the industry, spurred on by government regulations and reporting directives, investors who are demanding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) information to make decisions, and consumers who prioritize environmental considerations with significance, influencing brand decisions and purchasing behaviors. With the European Union's (EU) Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in effect and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Climate Disclosure Rules expected to proceed in 2025, now is the time for manufacturers to act on planned sustainability initiatives. Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will be the exclusive tradeshow and conference focused on the technologies and innovations that are mitigating carbon footprint, energy conservation and driving operational efficiencies and productivity in manufacturing. The show floor will feature over 150 exhibitors offering solutions like digital twin technology, biomaterials, IOT sensors, automation, cobots, edge AI and cloud computing technology, prototyping and lifecycle packaging to name a few. Thought leadership and educational content will focus on regulatory reporting guidance, case studies examining success in implementation, product demos and expert insights from leading industry authorities in renewable and sustainable manufacturing. To date, over 6,500 manufacturing companies have aligned to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for emissions reporting, with almost half of the commitment and targets made in 2023 alone, according to Omdia's 2024 State of Industrial Sustainability Report. In addition to this, two-thirds of companies are leveraging existing datasets, such as operational data to track environmental performance, while only 38% are currently collecting data to assess and optimize sustainability activities. Reflecting the first step in the journey with the end goal in mind, most of the set targets to be achieved are planned for the short to midterm, with over 91% of companies having milestones for compliance by 2030 or earlier. As businesses move deeper into efforts to meet ESG goals, support in navigating the future of manufacturing is necessary. "Manufacturers seek guidance and expertise now more than ever to incorporate sustainable processes into all areas of their operations and may lack awareness of the tools and resources available to them," says Melissa Magestro, VP at Informa Markets Engineering and the founder of Sustainable Manufacturing Expo. "Our goal launching this dedicated event addressing Sustainable Manufacturing is to provide leaders and companies with the platform to successfully discover, adopt and responsibly integrate initiatives for both long- and short-term needs that ultimately drive bottom line revenue with efficiencies." "Companies need data to effectively implement changes. Not only are they going to have to publicly report their performance, but a data-led approach will be the foundation for any sustainable transition. Being able to monitor and even simulate the impact of changes to the business, across different businesses functions, and to the bottom line will only be achievable when you have data to help understand the short- and long-term implications," according to Alex West, Senior Principal Analyst, Government and Manufacturing, Omdia Group, Informa Tech. "Sustainability has become an industry imperative as companies seek to not only meet ESG compliance standards but to also create and increase operational efficiencies across their business units," says Tom O'Reilly, VP of Sustainability, Rockwell Automation and Advisory Board Member for Sustainable Manufacturing Expo. "Data is a fundamental element of embracing sustainable manufacturing as it allows the leaders across these companies to better champion environmental initiatives by taking a holistic view of operations while also understanding executional considerations. We look forward to partnering with Informa Markets to bring the goals of the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo to fruition." Companies with long-term sustainability roadmaps have been found to perform more effectively with an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) score on average 11 points higher than those without a sustainability strategy, also benefitting from greater energy savings according to Omdia. As the pressures to introduce or meet ESG targets grow, the price point of sustainable operations will continue to become increasingly advantageous. To stay up to date on the upcoming Sustainable Manufacturing Expo or to learn about exhibition opportunities at the event, please visit www.sustainablemanufacturingexpo.com. About Informa Markets Engineering Informa Markets' Engineering portfolio is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world's leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. About Informa Markets Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com. Media Contact George Morin Informa Markets Engineering [email protected] SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING View the original press release on accesswire.com Recent Drilling at the Santa Cruz Project in Arizona Confirms Continuity of High-Grade Copper Mineralization within the Verde Domain Drilling at Tintic Intersects Widespread Porphyry-Style Sulfide Mineralization at Sunbeam Exploration Area Step-Out Drilling at Hog Heaven Extends Mineralization 150 Meters to the West of Nearest Drilling Results of TyphoonTM Geophysical Survey at Hog Heaven Guiding Future Drilling Plans PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Ivanhoe Electric Inc. ("Ivanhoe Electric") (NYSE American:IE)(TSX:IE) is pleased to provide a comprehensive update on the ongoing exploration activities at its projects located in Arizona, Utah, and Montana. Infill and step-out drilling at the Verde Domain within the Santa Cruz deposit confirms continuity of the Verde Domain and provides encouragement for additional similar discoveries As first reported in our January 8th, 2024 news release, infill and technical drilling at Santa Cruz has confirmed the presence of high-grade soluble copper within mineralized Oracle Granite. We refer to this area as the Verde Domain. Drilling within the Verde Domain includes seven drill holes totaling approximately 324 meters. Additional assays have been received from three drill holes, as noted in Table 1 further below. The Verde Domain boasts higher copper grades, better rock mass conditions and lower water flow rates compared to previous modeling of the surrounding sediments. The improved ground characteristics combined with higher copper grades provide significant upside potential in terms of possible mining method, mining rate, and metallurgical recovery compared to what was modeled for this area in the Santa Cruz Initial Assessment. New highlighted assay intercepts at the Verde Domain include: Drill hole SCC-150 intersected: 6.43 meters @ 5.99% Total Copper (5.90% Total Soluble Copper) composed of intense atacamite mineralization (from 632.89 meters depth) Drill hole SCC-183 intersected: 19.81 meters @ 2.64% Total Copper (2.66% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense atacamite mineralization (from 641 meters depth) Drill hole SCC-186 intersected: 59.26 meters @ 2.60% Total Copper (2.67% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense atacamite mineralization (from 625 meters depth) Recent Verde Domain drilling has intersected additional visual mineralization including: Drill hole SCC-192: 34 meters (645-679 meters) of strong atacamite mineralization Drill hole SCC-196: 68 meters (613-681 meters) of strong atacamite mineralization. Assays for the holes 192 and 196 are pending. Previously released intercepts at the Verde Domain include: Drill hole SCC-005 intersected: 57.00 meters @ 3.52% Total Copper (2.77% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense chrysocolla, atacamite, and locally chalcocite mineralization (from 636.00 meters depth) Drill hole SCC-125 intersected: 56.60 meters @ 3.22% Total Copper (3.16% Total Soluble Copper) composed of strong to intense atacamite and locally intense chalcocite mineralization (from 598.00 meters depth) A total of seven drill holes have intersected the Verde Domain. New assays from the three recent drill holes combined with previously reported intercepts, continue to support the high-grade continuity and potential for extension to the northwest and southeast as shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1. Verde Domain drilling continues to delineate and expand an area of approximately 200 meters long by 140 meters wide by 50 meters thick, as shown in the plan view. Core from drill hole SCC-186 at 648.44 meters depth from within the Verde Domain showing extensively strong atacamite mineralization hosted within Oracle Granite Table 1. Drill intercepts from the Verde Domain within the Santa Cruz Project not previously disclosed (Refer to the Santa Cruz Drill Results page on Ivanhoe Electric's website for complete details of all reported drill holes.) DRILL HOLE LOCATION FROM (M) TO (M) INTERVAL LENGTH (M) TOTAL COPPER (%) TOTAL SOLUBLE COPPER (%) SCC-150 Santa Cruz 632.89 639.32 6.43 5.99 5.90 SCC-183 Santa Cruz 641 660.81 19.81 2.64 2.66 SCC-186 Santa Cruz 625 684.26 59.26 2.60 2.67 Current exploration drilling at the Tintic Project, in Utah focuses on the source of mineralization of historical mines Eleven diamond drill holes totaling 11,568 meters have been completed since the commencement of exploration drilling in late 2022. Two rigs were operational throughout the spring and summer of 2023. We reduced to one rig for the winter months. Figure 2. Tintic Project map showing Ivanhoe Electric drill hole locations, Typhoon" chargeability anomalies, key historical mines, mapped fissure veins and carbonate replacements, shown over a simplified geology map. Drilling at Sunbeam intersects porphyry system, drilling continues at Mammoth Drilling in the Silver City area has intersected part of a porphyry system associated with the Sunbeam TyphoonTM chargeability anomaly in drill hole TTD-016 (assays pending). Abundant sulfide-bearing veins are present from 800 meters to the end of the hole at 1435 meters. While visible copper mineralization appears low, the features seen in this hole are common on the margins of many large porphyry systems. This is the first hole to have tested the Sunbeam TyphoonTM anomaly directly, and there is potential to vector towards more copper-rich portions of this large exploration area with future drilling in 2024. This Sunbeam porphyry system is thought to be part of the source of mineralization in the Silver City area and separate from the source of mineralization at Mammoth and Grand Central. Exploration drilling over the winter has moved to test below the Mammoth Mine, where a vertical copper and gold-rich breccia pipe was mined from the 1870s to the 1930s and produced significant high-grade ore. The deposit may extend below the water table, where historical mining stopped, but mineralization is believed to continue, as described in our September 2022 news release. The goal of our drilling efforts, beginning with TTD-017, is to intersect this mineralization at depth, and provide support for a potential porphyry source in the Mammoth area. Photo of core from drill hole TTD-016 from the top and the bottom of the stockwork zone, showing strong sulfide mineralization hosted in sheeted veins, typically observed near the margins of porphyry copper deposits. Figure 3. North-South cross section from Mammoth-Grand Central through to the Silver City & Sunbeam areas. Relevant drilling over simplified geology model with historical mine development and potential extensions beneath the water table. TyphoonTM results and additional assays received from the Hog Heaven Project, Montana Drilling at Hog Heaven, with one rig, continues to step out in search of the porphyry copper source. The drilling continues to intersect high sulfidation epithermal style mineralization while this search continues, steadily expanding the footprint of this system. HHD-012 intersected 157 meters of high sulfidation epithermal mineralization approximately 150 meters to the southwest of the nearest hole (HHD-010). This intercept is of a similar grade and quality to that seen in previously reported holes, and demonstrates that the Hog Heaven epithermal system has growth potential to the west of the Flathead Mine. HHD-012 intersected: 156.88 meters @ 0.34 g/t Au, 18.77 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.24% Pb, 0.22% Zn (from 282.12 meters) Including 49.92 meters @ 0.40 g/t Au, 29.51 g/t Ag, 0.11% Cu, 0.40% Pb, 0.22% Zn (from 282.12 meters) Drill hole HHD-012 has been successful in opening a large new area prospective for additional shallow high sulfidation epithermal mineralization and the underlying porphyry source. Mineralization intersected by HHD-012 remains open in multiple directions and to depth. One rig remains in operation through the winter where drilling will focus to the west to determine how far the system extends. Drill hole HHD-014, currently underway, has intersected additional high sulfidation epithermal mineralization and alteration an additional 250 meters to the west. Figure 4. Cross section showing HHD-012 location and results relative to previously reported drilling. In November 2023, we conducted a TyphoonTM geophysical survey covering approximately 10 km2 of land, which was designed to cover the core areas of known prospectivity. The Typhoon data, as inverted by CGI, has extended the depth of investigation compared to prior surveys, and given greater confidence in deep targets. A review of these results and target prioritization is underway. Figure 5. Hog Heaven plan map showing Ivanhoe Electric drill hole locations over TyphoonTM conductivity data, historical mine workings and historical drilling. Table 2. Recent drill hole intercepts for the Hog Heaven Project (refer to Hog Heaven Drill Results on Ivanhoe Electric's website for complete details of all reported drill holes.) DRILL HOLE FROM (M) TO (M) INTERVAL LENGTH (M) AuEq* (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (% Pb (%) Zn (%) HHD-012 282.12 439.00 156.88 0.85 0.34 18.77 0.09 0.24 0.22 Including 282.12 332.04 49.92 1.22 0.40 29.51 0.11 0.40 0.42 *The following long term metal prices were used: 3.80$/lb Cu, 1,707$/oz Au, 22.42$/oz Ag, 0.93$/lb Pb, and 1.19$/lb Zn. *The specific formula used to report AuEq(g/t) is Au(g/t)*(0.65) + ((1.87875425724906) * Cu (%)) ((0.0121238339867514) * Ag(g/t)) + ((0.431062860010269) * Pb (%)) + ((0.551575057432494) * Zn (%)) *Recoveries are informed by historical preliminary metallurgical flotation tests and are considered conservative: 80% Cu; 65% Au; 60% Ag; 75% Pb, 75% Zn. *Intervals were derived on a AuEq basis with a cutoff of 0.25g/t AuEq*Maximum internal dilution of 5m was applied. *These are not true widths Qualified Persons Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature included in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and technical data underlying the information, have been reviewed, verified and approved by Glen Kuntz, P.Geo (Santa Cruz) and Shawn Vandekerkhove, P.Geo (Tintic and Hog Heaven), each of whom is a Qualified Persons as defined by Regulation S-K, Subpart 1300 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Both Mr. Kuntz and Mr. Vandekerkhove are employees of Ivanhoe Electric. Other Technical Information Ivanhoe Electric has had prepared an independent technical report summary for the Santa Cruz Project prepared under SEC Regulation S-K, Subpart 1300 and an independent technical report prepared under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. The reports are available on the company's website, on EDGAR and on the company's SEDAR profile: "Mineral Resource Estimate Update and S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary for the Santa Cruz, Texaco, and East Ridge Deposits, Arizona, USA," authored by Nordmin Engineering Ltd. ("Nordmin") and Met Engineering LLC ("Met Engineering"). Current to December 31, 2022, and dated February 14, 2023. "Mineral Resource Estimate Update and NI 43-101 Technical Report for The Santa Cruz, Texaco, and East Ridge Deposits, Arizona, USA," prepared by Nordmin and Met Engineering with an effective date of December 31, 2022, and an issue date of March 14, 2023. The technical report summary and technical report include relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Santa Cruz Project, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. Ivanhoe Electric employs industry-standard QA/QC and data verification protocols at the Tintic and Hog Heaven projects. The diamond drill holes were completed using PQ, HQ, and NQ diameters. The drill core was cut lengthwise into halves using a diamond-bladed saw, with one-half used for the assay sample and the other half retained in core boxes and archived at site. Pulps and rejects are also stored on site for archival purposes. Mineralized zones were generally sampled on 2 meter intervals. Each core sample was placed into a bag with a unique numbered sample identification tag. Quality control samples were inserted between core samples using the same numbering sequence. Then samples were grouped into batches for shipping and laboratory submissions. Chain of custody records are maintained for sample shipments and the custody is transferred from Ivanhoe Electric expeditor to the laboratory upon delivery. Tintic core samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories in Twin Falls, Idaho, and ALS Laboratories in Elko, Nevada for sample preparation and analysis. Hog Heaven core samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories in Twin Falls, Idaho, for sample preparation and analysis. Samples were analyzed using customary four acid digestion and ICP-MS finish. A standard gold fire assay package was used to analyze gold. Silver content was assessed using either HCl leach and ICP-AES finish or fire assay with gravimetric finish depending on silver concentrations. ALS Minerals Twin Falls and ALS Laboratories in Elko, Nevada are both independent laboratories certified under ISO 9001:2008 and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Standards Council of Canada. About Ivanhoe Electric We are a U.S. company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. We use our accurate and powerful TyphoonTM geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc., to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of electric metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona and the Tintic Copper-Gold Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States, we intend to support United States supply chain independence by finding and delivering the critical metals necessary for the electrification of the economy. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km2 of underexplored Arabian Shield in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Website: www.ivanhoeelectric.com. Contact Information Investors: Valerie Kimball, Director, Investor Relations 720-933-1150 Follow us on Ivanhoe Electric's Executive Chairman Robert Friedland: @robert_ivanhoe Ivanhoe Electric: @ivanhoeelectric Ivanhoe Electric's investor relations website located at www.ivanhoeelectric.com should be considered Ivanhoe Electric's recognized distribution channel for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation FD. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Ivanhoe Electric, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Ivanhoe Electric's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such statements in this news release include, without limitation, timing and results of drilling activities and the number of drill rigs operating at the projects, the receipt of assay results, the potential for extension of the Verde Domain and improved mining methods, mining rates, and metallurgical recovery at the Santa Cruz Project compared to what was modeled in the Initial Assessment, and other planned or potential developments in the businesses of Ivanhoe Electric. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including changes in the prices of copper or other metals Ivanhoe Electric is exploring for; the results of exploration and drilling activities and/or the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations; the final assessment of exploration results and information that is preliminary; the significant risk and hazards associated with any future mining operations, extensive regulation by the US government as well as local governments; changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with Ivanhoe Electric to perform as agreed; and the impact of political, economic and other uncertainties associated with operating in foreign countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risk factors described in Ivanhoe Electric's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Ivanhoe Electric cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable securities laws, Ivanhoe Electric does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, and Ivanhoe Electric expressly disclaims any requirement to do so. SOURCE: Ivanhoe Electric Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / KeyBank recently announced two multi-year Community Impact grants from KeyBank Foundation to nonprofits in Yonkers, NY, a community within the bank's Hudson Valley/Metro New York market. With one of the highest poverty rates in Westchester County, the grants aim to bring resources to Yonkers students. Both grants align with KeyBank Foundation's mission to provide skills, education and capabilities to students and young adults that prepare them for fulfilling careers and successful futures. Westhab awarded $240,000 grant to bring tutoring, college, and career advising to Yonkers teens Westhab, an organization that provides affordable housing, youth programs, and employment services in New York City and Westchester County, received a three-year $240,000 grant from KeyBank Foundation to create a pipeline to college and careers for low-income students at Dayspring Community Center in Yonkers, NY. Starting September 2024, the program will support thirty 9th to 12th grade students from Dayspring's youth program in proactively exploring and choosing the post-secondary path that suits them best. To develop the programming, Westhab will work with the Yonkers Partners In Education (YPIE), a Westchester-based nonprofit with expertise in ensuring students are ready for, enroll, and complete college. Staff will help students academically prepare for college, navigate, and complete the college application process. For students not interested in college, staff will assess teens' skills and interests and, through partnerships with programmers and guest speakers, help inspire potential career pathways. Participants will be connected to additional support, such as Dayspring's Employment Services, to help actualize their plans. "I grew up in Yonkers; this is the kind of investment our neighborhood needs," shared Dayspring Director JC Soto. "Nodine Hill of Southwest Yonkers (where Dayspring is located) has a poverty rate that is double that of all of Westchester County. Increasing college readiness and providing resources to advance their skills in careers with livable wages will allow teens to earn higher incomes, translating into better life outcomes, including health, wealth, and happiness." Over the course of three years, the program hopes to make larger shifts in the trajectory of the community. "This generous investment by KeyBank Foundation will help individual students, but also aims to create a more lasting change in the community by nurturing an ongoing college-ready culture for high school students. "We hope to broaden these teen's futures and disrupt cycles of inequality that we see in Nodine Hill," said Mr. Soto. Groundwork Hudson Valley receives $100,000 grant for Youth Leadership and Sustainability Education Program Expansion in Yonkers KeyBank Foundation also presented a two-year $100,000 grant to Groundwork Hudson Valley to support the expansion of Groundwork's Youth Leadership and Sustainability Education Programs. Groundwork Hudson Valley is an environmental justice non-profit working with communities to improve climate resilience and adaptation, promote sustainability education, and nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. KeyBank's funding will provide out-of-school education for Yonkers NY Public School K-6 students to visit the Science Barge, a floating sustainability education center, and supplement the school system's science curricula. It will also support its award-winning Green Team, a program that provides paid part-time jobs to Yonkers Public High School students to build their leadership skills and gain hands-on skills in environmental conservation, climate risk mitigation, and community engagement. "We at Groundwork Hudson Valley are immensely grateful for partners like KeyBank who are committed to creating positive and lasting change and who provide resources to organizations like ours to propel our mission forward for Yonkers youth," shared Oded Holzinger, Groundwork Hudson Valley's Executive Director. "This partnership with the KeyBank Foundation exemplifies how we can come together to lay the groundwork and empower our youth to have the knowledge and skills to become the environmental leaders of tomorrow." Helping our communities thrive KeyBank Hudson Valley/Metro New York Market President John Manginelli recently presented grant checks to each organization and spoke about the importance that KeyBank places on investing in the Yonkers community. "The core of our community commitment is supporting nonprofits that work to improve the lives of disadvantaged members in our local communities through education, workforce development and community investment," said John. "Our partnerships with Westhab and Groundwork will not only improve the lives and futures of Yonkers' youth but can help create a ripple effect for real change in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city. KeyBank is proud to support their efforts " KeyBank Foundations' grants are part of the bank's $40 billion community investment plan focused on economic access and equity to communities across the country. The scope of the plan includes investments and lending in affordable housing, home lending, small business lending, green initiatives, and transformative philanthropy targeted toward workforce development, education, and safe, vital neighborhoods for underserved communities and populations. For more information on KeyBank's work in the community, visit www.key.com/community. KeyBank Market President for Hudson Valley/Metro New York John Manginelli (center) presented the KeyBank Foundation grant to Westhab President and CEO Rich Nightingale (left) and JC Soto, Dayspring Community Center Director, Westhab. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: [email protected] SOURCE: KeyBank View the original press release on accesswire.com Company is Negotiating Major Licensing Deals For its GPT AI 3D Modeling Technology TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:1SS), a Generative GPT AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls, Miele and others including major e-commerce platform integrations with Shopify, BigCommerce and WooCommerce is pleased to announce the expansion of its AI tech team by doubling its office space in Hyderabad, India, to accommodate its expanding team. The Company is also in negotiations for a major license of its GPT AI 3D modeling CAD to 3D and texturing technology. Nextech3D.ai will continue to supply 3D models to the largest brands and .platforms as it gears up increasing revenue and profit margins by signing licensing deals with global manufactures that have CAD files. 3D GPT AI Licensing Technology The Company's strategic move to license its GPT AI tech is set to remove the traditional barriers of price and volume that have long restricted the accessibility of high-quality 3D modeling technology for e-commerce and other industries. Nextech3D.ai has leveraged its groundbreaking GPT AI powered technology to dramatically slash the cost of 3D models from CAD files to $10 to 20 while producing the highest quality 4K quad mesh photo realistic models, enabling scalability while being highly profitable. Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech3D.ai commented, "Our GPT AI technology has the potential to open the floodgates for 3D model adoption in this new AI era. We are negotiating with a number of large manufacturers which produce hundreds of thousands of products annually that want to go 3D but can't afford the traditional cost of $75 to $150/model. We believe that with our new groundbreaking technology enabling breakthrough pricing and scale, that we will land many of these large contracts since the previous friction point has been price and scale." He continued, "AI is transforming our world and how we think about 3D modeling and the AI that powers the production of 3D models for e-commerce." Nextech3D.ai's spin-out company, "Toggle3D.ai" offers users an intuitive point-and-click interface that revolutionizes the creation of 3D models. By merely importing a CAD file, companies, brands and users can effortlessly use Toggle3D's user-friendly platform to generate 3D models, apply AI-driven texturing, utilize a virtual photography studio, and much more. This platform is especially transformative for the realm of e-commerce, where the virtual photography studio eliminates the need for physical product photography, saving large brands millions of dollars. A key aspect of this strategic shift is the licensing of Nextech3D.ai's technology to major manufacturers, enabling their own employees to create high quality, 4K resolution 3D product models without requiring specialized skills in 3D modeling. This is game changing as it empowers businesses to harness the full potential of 3D modeling internally, while reducing the 3D model production cost by as much as 80%. Toggle3D.ai is currently in advanced discussions with a large manufacturer for a contract valued in the seven figures. This not only exemplifies the market's enthusiasm for 3D models, but also signifies the platform's potential to redefine how businesses approach shopping experiences and 3D models for e-commerce. India Office Initially announced in September, 2023, Nextech3D.ai moved operations to Hyderabad, India. The focus on high-scale production and cost savings by setting up operations in India has resulted in growing profit margins for the Company and a significant improvement in operational efficiencies. The initiative has been led by the Company's Head of Product Operations, Hareesh Achi, who has over a decade of technology experience as a former Microsoft and Meta executive. The move to India has created a cash flow positive 3D model division for Nextech3D.ai by optimizing production processes and taking advantage of cost-effective resources in the region. With these initiatives and others, the Company is positioning itself for enhanced profitability for years to come in a rapidly evolving market. See more details and images of the India Office - click here Nextech3D.ai employees in Hyderabad, India. Recent News Sign up for Investor News and Info -Click Here About Nextech3D.ai Nextech3D.ai or the "Company," (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:1SS), is a versatile augmented reality and AI technology company that utilizes its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to craft immersive 3D experiences at scale for E-COMMERCE. The Company's primary focus lies in creating high-quality 3D WebAR photorealistic models for Amazon and various other online retailers. Nextech3D.ai has adopted a unique approach to creating shareholder value beyond its operating business of creating 3D models. The Company also develops or acquires disruptive AI-technologies, which are subsequently spun out to shareholders as standalone public companies. This spin-out strategy allows Nextech3D.ai to issue stock dividends to its shareholders while maintaining significant ownership in the public spin-out, without dilution to the parent company Nextech3D.ai. Notably, Nextech3D.ai successfully spun out "ARway," (OTCQB: ARWYF)(CSE:ARWY)(FSE:E65 ) its spatial computing platform, as a standalone public company on October 26, 2022. The Company retains a 49% stake with 13 million shares in ARway Corp. while distributing 4 million shares to Nextech shareholders. Similarly, Nextech3D.ai accomplished its second spin-out launching Toggle3D.ai, (OTCQB: TGGLF)(CSE:TGGL)(FSE:Q0C) an AI-powered 3D design studio aimed at competing with Adobe. The Company retains a 44% stake with 13 million shares in Toggle3D.ai Corp. To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com. For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Contact Julia Viola [email protected] Nextech3D.ai Evan Gappelberg CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Nextech3D.ai View the original press release on accesswire.com SHREVEPORT, LA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Continental Envelope is going green, and it has Correlate Energy Corp. (OTCQB: CIPI) to thank. One of the nation's oldest envelope manufacturers, churning out two billion envelopes per year, tapped Correlate to construct one of Illinois's largest rooftop solar power facilities at its manufacturing plant in Geneva, Illinois. That was in April 2022, and as of last month, it is now fully operational, with the engineering, permitting and interconnection work completed. Featured photo by Nuno Marques on Unsplash . Correlate said it will supply approximately 20%-25% of the facility's overall energy requirements. Based on the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, the 908-KW solar project is estimated to offset approximately 18,849 tons of carbon dioxide over the next 20 years. That is the equivalent to planting 282,000 trees. It's part of Continental's effort to reduce its emissions and its energy bill. "Our electrical costs increased 600% since moving in which made us interested in solar for an eco-friendly solution to our electric costs," said Elan Margulies, Project Manager of Continental Envelope, which has worked closely with Correlate, in a press release announcing the completion of the project. "We analyzed and found this project made economic sense." Solar Panel Installs Growing Continental Envelope isn't the only one partnering with Correlate Energy to reduce energy costs and lower emissions. Last November the firm announced a solar energy installation project totaling 3.8 megawatts with EnerSys , the global leader in stored energy solutions, at its global headquarters in Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest behind-the-meter solar installations in the United States, according to Correlate. In May it secured $11.9 million for a project with Green Bridge Energy, a leading technology-enabled investment platform focused on clean energy projects in the commercial and industrial market segment of the U.S. That project was expanded to 5.2 MW and was slated to begin installation in Q3 2023. "Demand for resilient, clean energy is rapidly growing for corporations and real estate owners across the U.S., and the EnerSys project demonstrates the significant value that can be created with the right partners," said Byrne Huddleston, CEO of Green Bridge when the investment was announced . "At Green Bridge, we deliver positive, long-term economic outcomes for real estate owners transitioning to clean energy." The Sun Seems To Be Shining On Solar Continental Envelope and EnerSys are just two examples of the shift on the part of manufacturers and other businesses away from emission-causing energy sources and toward greener options. Solar is a popular choice, providing 30% of the new electricity produced in the U.S. in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) . That was up from just 4% in 2010. The cost is also coming down, making it an affordable choice for manufacturers and businesses. At last check installing solar panels cost less than $3 per watt, 65% cheaper than the $8.50 per watt cost a decade ago, the DOE said. As a result of all that, the solar market is projected to reach $373.84 billion by 2029 , growing at a CAGR of 6.9% from now through then. In 2023 alone a record 32 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity is expected to be added, marking a 52% increase from 2022. Correlate Energy is seeing some of that demand firsthand. In addition to Continental Envelope and EnerSys, it counts American Tire Distributors Holdings Inc. and Kyocera Corp. as customers and has a total pipeline of $512 million . Of that, about $152 million is in immediate and active projects, providing everything from solar panels to microgrids. Solar is in demand as companies move to greener and cheaper alternatives. With the future looking bright, Correlate Energy may have to wear sunglasses. About Correlate Energy Corp Correlate Energy, with its focus on commercial, industrial, and residential segments, stands out for its holistic approach to energy solutions. They provide tailored strategies that encompass renewable energy, energy efficiency and utility contract management . The company, with its network of expert partners, executes these strategies, optimizing facility performance and yielding substantial cost savings and profitability. The Harbinger Research report particularly highlights Correlate Energy's commitment to combining organic growth with strategic acquisitions , enhancing its market position. Contact: [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE: Correlate Energy Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com People inspect a car destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Feb. 22, 2024. The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. (Xinhua) JENIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft bombed the car carrying Hanoun on the street in the Jenin camp, destroying the car and setting it on fire. The attack also injured 15 others. The charred body of Hanoun was transferred to the Jenin Government Hospital, while another four wounded, one of them in critical condition, were taken to the operation rooms, the medical sources said, adding some other injured Palestinians were transferred to the Ibn Sina Hospital in the city, among whom four are in stable condition, two suffering moderate injuries, and one being serious injured. The conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank escalated after Israel launched its military offensive in the Gaza Strip to retaliate Hamas attack in October last year. People inspect a car destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Feb. 22, 2024. The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. (Xinhua) People inspect a car destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Feb. 22, 2024. The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. (Xinhua) People inspect a car destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Feb. 22, 2024. The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. (Xinhua) People inspect a car destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Feb. 22, 2024. The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. (Xinhua) People inspect a car destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Feb. 22, 2024. The commander of Palestinian militant group Jenin Brigades, Yasser Hanoun, was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit his car in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian eyewitnesses and medical sources said on Thursday. (Xinhua) VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Klondike Gold Corp. (TSX.V:KG)(FRA:LBDP)(OTCQB: KDKGF) ("Klondike Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report results of a regional bio-leach extractable gold ("BLEG") survey conducted in 2023 by Newmont Canada which included the area of the Company's 100% owned Klondike District Property (the "Property") in the Dawson mining district, Yukon, Canada. Peter Tallman, Klondike Gold's President & CEO states "We have pursued the idea of conducting a regional geochemical survey for years to characterize where Klondike might fit in the major tectonic gold belt picture, and we would like to thank Newmont for their cooperation on independently delivering their own professional survey and for providing us the contextual results. These are as we expected: our Klondike District Property contains the regional #1 orogenic gold anomaly based on multiple elements. And the anomalism is throughout the strike length of the Property with new target areas indicated by this survey that require immediate prospection in 2024." Newmont Canada conducted an independent regional BLEG sampling survey totalling 292 sample sites. With permission from Klondike Gold, Newmont Canada sampled 37 sites within the Company's Klondike District Property as allowed by the Company's existing exploration permits. Field samples were collected by Newmont personnel and chemical analyses were performed in the Newmont (USA) laboratory in Denver, Colorado. Newmont Canada personnel recently provided analytical results for each of 50 elements as well as a percentile ranking value (out of 100%, where 100% is highest value) for each element analyzed from 37 samples sites collected within the Property, relative to the 292-sample regional dataset. HIGHLIGHTS: The highest percentile ranks of BLEG survey element analyses of characteristic orogenic gold deposit' model elements were collected from among the 37 sites within the Klondike District Property out of 292 regional samples. Analytical results for orogenic gold pathfinder elements gold (Au), tellurium (Te), silver (Ag), bismuth (Bi), as well as copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) from the Klondike District Property, where 100% is the highest and 90-90.99% is the top 10th percentile, include: Gold (Au): 1 (highest) sample at 100%, 5 (including 2 nd highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Tellurium (Te): 1 (highest) sample at 100%, 4 at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Silver (Ag): 1 (highest) sample at 100%, 4 (including 2 nd highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Bismuth (Bi): 2 (highest) samples tied at 100%, 4 (including 2 nd highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples highest) at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples Lead (Pb): 2 (highest) samples tied at 100% out of 292 samples Copper (Cu): 6 samples at 90-99.99% out of 292 samples The six highest Percentile Au sites are shown in Figure 1 map of the Property. Each site is sampling a small drainage catchment area with none or historically limited disturbance upstream. Two of these sites are associated with large Au-soil geochemical anomalies from the Company's regional soil survey program. Another of these sites is near a c.1900 historic gold mine shaft/adit/workings exploration area that was relocated' by Company staff late in 2023 and is a target of 2024 field exploration. Two anomalous sites are within small drainages with no known gold mineralization as potential source that will now also be investigated in 2024. All six sites are located adjacent to major crustal faults mapped by the Company which are associated with orogenic gold mineralization within a corridor of rock types the Company has identified as highly prospective. No samples in the BLEG survey were collected within 10km of the northwestern end of the property thus excluding the highly prospective drainages of Eldorado and Bonanza Creeks where the Company has outlined the open ended Lone Star and Stander Deposits both with open pit constrained Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE")1 areas. The Klondike team continues to evaluate the 50-element dataset in detail. Data from the 50-element BLEG survey supports different geochemical domains corresponding to the Company's differentiated geology separated by major faults. The Company contends that the Klondike District is an unrecognized world-class orogenic gold belt comprised of a disparate series of thrust terranes, contradicting Yukon Territorial Government and Geological Survey of Canada mapping depicting one undifferentiated' Klondike Schist geology unit without faults and thus limited (hence overlooked') gold potential. Figure 1: Map of Gold (Au) percentile rank of 37 BLEG sample sites within the Klondike District Property out of 292 regional sample survey. QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL The technical and scientific information contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Tallman, P.Geo., President and CEO of Klondike Gold and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 policy. Interpretations of BLEG data and results herein are solely the responsibility of Klondike Gold. Exploration related technical information, specifications, analytical information and procedures can be found on the Company's website. UPCOMING EVENTS Klondike Gold will be participating in the following upcoming events: March 3 - 6, 2024: PDAC (Toronto, ON), March 5: Invest Yukon Precious Metals Luncheon (Toronto, ON,) April 19 - 21: CEM Investment Conference (Scottsdale, AZ) April 23 - 27: Germany Investment Conference (Frankfurt) July 17 - 21: Dawson Investment Conference/Property Tour (Dawson, YT) ABOUT KLONDIKE GOLD CORP. Klondike Gold is a Vancouver based gold exploration company advancing its 100%-owned Klondike District Gold Project located at Dawson City, Yukon, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Klondike District Gold Project targets gold associated with district scale orogenic faults along the 55-km length of the famous Klondike Goldfields placer district. Multi-km gold mineralization has been identified at both the Lone Star Zone and Stander Zone, among other targets. The Company has identified a Mineral Resource Estimate of 469,000 Indicated and 112,000 Inferred gold ounces1, a milestone first for the Klondike District. The Company is focused on exploration and development of its 727 square km property accessible by scheduled airline and government-maintained roads located on the outskirts of Dawson City, Yukon, within the Tr'ondk Hwech'in First Nation traditional territory. 1 The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Klondike District Property was prepared by Marc Jutras, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Principal, Ginto Consulting Inc., an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. The technical report supporting the Mineral Resource Estimate entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Klondike District Gold Project, Yukon Territory, Canada" has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca effective November 10, 2022. Refer to news release of December 16, 2022. ON BEHALF OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP. "Peter Tallman" Peter Tallman, President and CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Telephone: (604) 609-6138 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.klondikegoldcorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management, however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Klondike Gold does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Klondike Gold Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (TSXV:SLVR)(OTCQX:SLVTF) ("Silver Tiger" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Company's ongoing Pre-feasibility Study ("PFS") drilling program on the Stockwork gold deposit on its El Tigre Project in Sonora, Mexico. The Company continues to advance and de-risk the Stockwork Deposit. A 25,000 metre drilling program focused on Mineral Resource expansion and classification, metallurgical and geotechnical as it progresses from an exploration to a development project. The value-added PFS progresses on schedule for publication in H2-2024. Goals of the PFS drilling programs are to: a) de-risk the project with enhanced metallurgical and geotechnical review; b) increase confidence of the Mineral Resource with in-fill drilling in the near-surface Starter Pit'; and c) expand the known Mineral Resource through targeted drilling. During the PEA review, it was observed that three main areas of the Stockwork mineralization lacked adequate drilling and had potential for expansion: a) the footwall, b) the hanging wall and c) bottom keel'. Now, after releasing the first 15 drill holes of the program, the Company is pleased to announce conversion, expansion and de-risking of the potential Starter Pit'. Silver Tiger's CEO, Glenn Jessome, stated, "We are excited to announce that initial results are both confirming and expanding the near-surface potential Starter Pit'. These promising assay results help to further de-risk the project in conjunction with the underway PFS-level geotechnical and metallurgical studies." Mr. Jessome further stated, "We also continue the work to deliver a PEA for the permitted underground MRE during H2-2024." Near-surface, Stockwork Zone, seen in below highlighted intercepts: Drill hole ET-23-479: 54.0 metres grading 0.85 g/t gold equivalent or 63.7 g/t silver equivalent or from 22.0 metres to 76.0 metres, consisting of 10.1 g/t silver and 0.71 g/t gold and 53.5 metres grading 110.0 g/t 1.47 g/t gold equivalent or silver equivalent from 96.5 metres to 150.0 metres consisting of 19.5 g/t silver and 1.21 g/t gold including 22.1 metres grading 2.06 g/t gold equivalent or 154.4 g/t silver equivalent from 97.9 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 5.9 g/t silver and 1.98 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; or 63.7 g/t silver equivalent or from 22.0 metres to 76.0 metres, consisting of 10.1 g/t silver and 0.71 g/t gold and or silver equivalent from 96.5 metres to 150.0 metres consisting of 19.5 g/t silver and 1.21 g/t gold including or 154.4 g/t silver equivalent from 97.9 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 5.9 g/t silver and 1.98 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; Drill hole ET-23-486: 79.0 metres grading 0.86 g/t gold equivalent or 64.5 g/t silver equivalent from 104.0 metres to 183.0 metres, consisting of 31.3 g/t silver and 0.44 g/t gold including 26.0 metres grading 1.60 g/t gold equivalent or 119.7 g/t silver equivalent from 158.0 metres to 184.0 metres consisting of 85.2 g/t silver and 0.46 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; or 64.5 g/t silver equivalent from 104.0 metres to 183.0 metres, consisting of 31.3 g/t silver and 0.44 g/t gold including or 119.7 g/t silver equivalent from 158.0 metres to 184.0 metres consisting of 85.2 g/t silver and 0.46 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; Drill hole ET-23-489: 89.5 metres grading 0.89 g/t gold equivalent or 67.1 g/t silver equivalent from 101.0 metres to 190.5 metres, consisting of 22.3 g/t silver and 0.60 g/t gold including 10.0 metres grading 1.50 g/t gold equivalent or 112.6 g/t silver equivalent from 110.0 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 4.1 g/t silver and 1.45 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; and or 67.1 g/t silver equivalent from 101.0 metres to 190.5 metres, consisting of 22.3 g/t silver and 0.60 g/t gold including or 112.6 g/t silver equivalent from 110.0 metres to 120.0 metres consisting of 4.1 g/t silver and 1.45 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone; and Drill hole ET-23-494: 78.1 metres grading 0.75 g/t gold equivalent or 56.5 g/t silver equivalent from 0.0 metres to 78.1 metres, consisting of 22.9 g/t silver and 0.45 g/t gold including 15.3 metres grading 0.93 g/t gold equivalent or 70.1 g/t silver equivalent from 3.0 metres to 18.3 metres consisting of 28.1 g/t silver and 0.56 g/t gold in the Stockwork Zone. Figure 1 : Stockwork Zone - Plan View Figure 2: Stockwork Zone-Cross Section 4100N Highlights from the on-going Pre-feasibility Study Drilling Program include the following: Expanding known mineralization by 10-15%; to the footwall and hanging wall zones, as well as the higher-grade keel' at PEA pit bottom associated with the El Tigre and SK Veins; Converting first three years of material in the potential Starter Pit' from Indicated Mineral Resource to Measured; Converting a significant portion of the 2km strike length ultimate' PEA pit-constrained Inferred Resource to Indicated; Completion of enhanced PFS Metallurgical Drilling, with samples underway comminution and leach testing; and Completion of enhanced PFS Geotechnical Drilling, with samples undergoing testing. Mineral Resource Drilling P&E Mining Consultants ("P&E") of Brampton, Ontario completed the intial MRE in 2017. In late 2023, P&E released an the updated El Tigre Project MRE with a pit-constrained Indicated Mineral Resource totaling 43.0 million tonnes containing 818 thousand ounces AuEq grading 0.59 g/t AuEq; and a pit-constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 11.5 million tonnes containing 267 thousand ounces AuEq grading 0.72 g/t AuEq (see update MRE press release dated September 12th 2023). PEA-level bench optimization of the Pit-constrained Mineral Resource highlighted the higher-grade (~0.80 gpt AuEq), low strip ratio (~0.3) potential Starter Pit which contains 5.7 million tons of ore material (see PEA press release dated November 1st 2023). Recommendations of the PEA-level study included increasing Mineral Resource confidence in potential Starter Pit' and additional exploratory drilling to target the 1) footwall, 2) hanging wall and 3) keel' areas of the Stockwork Zone. P&E were again retained to lead the current El Tigre PFS-level study with 17,000m of the program complete (Figure 1). Complete and final assay results from the first fifteen (15) drill holes are listed in Table 1. Below, highlighted intersections are enumerated with reference to the three (3) zones targeted: Drill hole ET-23-479: Confirms higher-grade Tiger Vein area in starter pit, and expands HW and FW (Fig. 2); Drill hole ET-23-486: Downhole intersection expands keel' associated with Tiger and SK veins at bottom of PEA pit floor; Drill hole ET-23-489: Downhole intersection expands keel' associated with Tiger and SK veins at bottom of PEA pit floor; and Drill hole ET-23-494: Shows at surface in Starter Pit'. Metallurgical Studies The Company retained D.E.N.M. Engineering Ltd. (DENM), of Burlington, Ontario for the PFS-level metallurgical test work. After review of the PEA-level metallurgical studies completed, DENM recommended drilling six (6) new PQ-sized drill holes over a one-kilometre strike length of the designed PEA Stockwork (Figure 1). DENM selected McClelland Laboratories Inc. of Sparks, Nevada complete the independent PFS metallurgical testing of the gold and silver mineralization at the El Tigre project. Over 3,000 kg of mineralized material from six (6) 85 mm PQ drill holes were shipped to the laboratory for metallurgical testing with column leach testing underway. All metallurgical holes were subsequently assayed were appropriate to be included in PFS-level updated MRE with results listed in Table 2. Geotechnical Studies The company retained Golder/WSP for the PFS-level Stockwork design criteria. After an extensive desktop review and site visit, Golder recommended drilling thirteen (13) HQ-sized oriented drill holes in the western and eastern slopes over a two-kilometre strike length of the designed PEA Stockwork (Figure 1). Geotechnical drilling is completed with point load testing underway. All geotechnical holes will be assayed were appropriate to be included in PFS-level updated MRE. Upcoming Mining Conference Attendance Silver Tiger will also be attending the BMO Global Metals, Mining and Critical Metals Conference from February 25 to February 28, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida. Silver Tiger will also be attending PDAC in Toronto from March 3 to March 6, 2024. Our booth number will be 3206. Underground Mineral Resource to Preliminary Economic Assessment - H2-2024 The Corporation will also continue to work on this substantial, permitted underground Mineral Resource Estimate and advance this towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment by H2-2024. The Indicated Out-of-Pit Mineral Resource at El Tigre is 21 Moz AgEq grading 279 g/t AgEq contained in 2.3 Mt and the Inferred Mineral Resource is 70 Moz AgEq grading 235 g/t AgEq contained in 9.2 Mt. For higher grade sensitivity cases refer to the Company's updated MRE press release dated September 12, 2023. Table 1-Mineral Resource Drill Hole Results AuEq Total (2) AgEq Total (2) Drill Hole ID Comment From To Length(1) Gold Silver m m m g/t g/t g/t g/t ET-23-479 STOCKWORK ZONE 22.0 76.0 54.0 0.71 10.1 0.85 63.7 STOCKWORK ZONE 96.5 150.0 53.5 1.21 19.5 1.47 110.0 including 97.9 120.0 22.1 1.98 5.9 2.06 154.4 including 132.0 147.0 15.0 0.96 29.9 1.36 101.8 and 166.9 173.5 6.6 0.18 172.5 2.48 186.0 ET-23-482 STOCKWORK ZONE 44.0 120.0 76.0 0.30 14.8 0.50 37.3 including 56.0 65.0 9.0 0.29 56.6 1.04 78.3 including 93.0 120.0 27.0 0.49 11.0 0.64 47.7 ET-23-483 STOCKWORK ZONE3 18.0 70.5 52.5 0.58 16.4 0.79 59.6 Including 12.0 29.0 17.0 0.70 16.3 0.92 68.9 STOCKWORK ZONE 121.0 129.0 8.0 0.49 1.1 0.50 37.9 STOCKWORK ZONE 157.5 170.0 12.5 0.76 1.4 0.78 58.3 ET-23-484 STOCKWORK ZONE 45.0 110.5 65.5 0.34 32.0 0.77 57.4 Including 91.5 107.5 16.0 0.58 104.3 1.97 147.6 ET-23-485 STOCKWORK ZONE 65.0 136.0 71.0 0.72 2.8 0.76 56.9 Including 114.0 136.0 22.0 0.89 3.3 0.93 69.9 Mining VOID 136.9 141.0 4.1 * * * * ET-23-486 STOCKWORK ZONE4 104.0 183.0 79.0 0.44 31.3 0.86 64.5 Mining VOID 155.0 158.0 3.0 * * * * Including 158.0 184.0 26.0 0.46 85.2 1.60 119.7 ET-23-487 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 23.0 23.0 0.35 15.7 0.56 42.2 STOCKWORK ZONE 45.0 49.0 4.0 1.80 7.3 1.89 141.9 STOCKWORK ZONE5 62.0 84.5 22.5 0.20 15.2 0.40 30.1 Mining VOID 69.5 70.5 1.0 * * * * ET-23-488 STOCKWORK ZONE 4.5 23.4 18.9 0.59 3.1 0.63 47.2 STOCKWORK ZONE 36.0 100.1 64.1 0.40 15.0 0.60 45.1 including 49.5 61.5 12.0 0.74 29.9 1.14 85.5 Mining VOID 100.1 102.0 1.9 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 114.6 142.5 27.9 0.68 12.8 0.85 63.7 ET-23-489 STOCKWORK ZONE6 101.0 190.5 89.5 0.60 22.3 0.89 67.1 Including 110.0 120.0 10.0 1.45 4.1 1.50 112.6 Including 142.5 151.4 8.9 1.69 14.3 1.88 141.0 Mining VOID 173.9 174.6 0.7 * * * * ET-23-490 STOCKWORK ZONE 1.3 45.0 43.7 0.45 27.8 0.83 61.9 Including 32.0 43.5 11.5 0.49 75.8 1.50 112.4 STOCKWORK ZONE 66.0 94.5 28.5 0.09 36.3 0.57 43.0 Including 83.5 90.5 7.0 0.19 103.0 1.56 117.3 ET-23-491 STOCKWORK ZONE7 20.0 101.0 81.0 0.50 9.5 0.62 46.7 Mining VOID 95.2 96.7 1.5 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 118.1 130.1 12.0 0.59 59.8 1.39 104.3 ET-23-492 STOCKWORK ZONE 16.0 67.5 51.5 0.53 8.2 0.63 47.6 Including 36.5 49.1 12.6 0.86 2.0 0.88 66.2 Including 59.0 67.5 8.5 0.91 6.3 1.00 74.9 ET-23-493 Footwall Vein 8.2 12.0 3.8 0.17 22.4 0.47 35.1 El Tigre Vein 48.0 53.0 5.0 1.03 2.4 1.07 79.9 SK Vein 67.5 73.5 6.0 1.21 53.8 1.92 144.2 ET-23-494 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 78.1 78.1 0.45 22.9 0.75 56.5 including 3.0 18.3 15.3 0.56 28.1 0.93 70.1 including 67.0 75.0 8.0 0.67 69.8 1.60 120.2 Mining VOID 78.1 81.7 3.6 * * * * ET-23-495 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 27.0 27.0 0.29 15.9 0.50 37.6 Mining VOID 61.5 62.8 1.3 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 62.8 77.1 14.3 0.16 38.8 0.68 50.9 Notes: Not true width. Silver Equivalent ("AgEq") ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 (Au:Ag). Excludes 2.7m of Mining VOID Excludes 3.0m of Mining VOID Excludes 1.0m of Mining VOID Excludes 0.7m of Mining VOID Excludes 1.5m of Mining VOID Table 2-Metallurgical Drill Hole Results AuEq Total (2) AgEq Total (2) Drill Hole ID Comment From To Length(1) Gold Silver m m m g/t g/t g/t g/t ET-23-475 STOCKWORK ZONE 37.0 51.0 14.0 0.34 2.4 0.37 27.8 STOCKWORK ZONE 101.0 104.0 3.0 0.63 2.5 0.66 49.8 STOCKWORK ZONE 121.3 143.3 22.0 0.25 25.1 0.59 44.1 including 121.3 123.2 1.9 1.03 80.4 2.10 157.8 including 141.2 143.3 2.1 0.36 155.9 2.44 183.1 Mining Void 153.5 156.2 2.7 * * * * ET-23-476 STOCKWORK ZONE 33.0 40.1 7.1 0.28 5.8 0.36 27.1 STOCKWORK ZONE 66.5 92.4 25.9 0.28 11.2 0.43 32.5 including 69.5 88.5 19.0 0.33 13.4 0.51 38.3 Mining Void 92.4 94.5 2.1 * * * * STOCKWORK ZONE 106.5 173.0 66.5 0.56 1.9 0.59 44.0 including 106.5 126.0 19.5 1.19 1.6 1.22 91.2 including 119.0 126.0 7.0 2.52 2.0 2.55 191.2 Mining Void 142.5 143.7 1.2 * * * * ET-23-477 STOCKWORK ZONE 45.0 109.0 64.0 0.33 15.1 0.53 40.0 including 92.5 108.0 15.5 0.50 34.6 0.96 72.2 including 92.5 96.7 4.2 1.24 7.7 1.34 100.8 and 169.2 175.0 5.8 0.09 134.7 1.88 141.1 ET-23-478 STOCKWORK ZONE 0.0 34.7 34.7 0.77 14.3 0.96 72.4 including 4.5 28.2 23.7 0.95 18.2 1.19 89.1 STOCKWORK ZONE 57.7 130.2 72.5 0.40 10.7 0.54 40.5 including 58.7 93.0 34.3 0.64 5.8 0.72 53.8 including 128.2 130.2 2.0 0.36 72.5 1.32 99.2 ET-23-480 STOCKWORK ZONE 19.0 65.0 46.0 0.32 3.5 0.37 27.6 STOCKWORK ZONE 86.0 117.3 31.3 0.40 14.5 0.59 44.6 including 88.0 113.0 25.0 0.47 16.4 0.69 51.4 ET-23-481 STOCKWORK ZONE 139.0 162.0 23.0 0.88 43.8 1.46 109.5 including 140.0 145.5 5.5 1.36 43.7 1.94 145.6 including 151.0 152.9 1.9 3.14 301.0 7.16 536.9 Notes: Not true width. Silver Equivalent ("AgEq") ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 Table 3-Drill Hole Locations Drill Hole ID Easting (UTM) Northing (UTM) Elevation (masl) Azimuth (o) Dip (o) Length (m) ET-23-475 671,036.0 3,384,546.1 2097.7 90 -60 176.0 ET-23-476 671,085.8 3,384,317.5 1978.3 90 -45 175.1 ET-23-477 671,111.8 3,384,070.9 1958.3 90 -45 176.0 ET-23-478 671,136.2 3,383,846.2 1893.8 90 -45 150.7 ET-23-479 671,082.8 3,384,128.3 1943.8 90 -45 190.0 ET-23-480 671,153.3 3,383,764.8 1931.7 90 -45 122.3 ET-23-481 671,188.6 3,383,604.5 2033.1 90 -50 202.0 ET-23-482 671,116.3 3,384,091.7 1971.0 90 -45 120.0 ET-23-483 671,146.1 3,384,143.4 1983.3 90 -50 170.0 ET-23-484 671,112.3 3,384,070.5 1958.3 90 -45 180.0 ET-23-485 671,054.7 3,384,175.7 1921.0 90 -51 141.0 ET-23-486 671,045.6 3,384,070.9 1951.2 90 -45 212.0 ET-23-487 671,146.1 3,383,927.6 1868.4 90 -45 111.0 ET-23-488 671,094.7 3,384,222.9 1939.9 90 -57 165.0 ET-23-489 671,042.9 3,384,049.3 1942.6 90 -45 220.0 ET-23-490 671,121.6 3,383,922.4 1862.3 90 -45 123.0 ET-23-491 671,089.4 3,384,190.6 1932.6 90 -45 180.0 ET-23-492 671,181.1 3,384,050.9 1949.4 90 -47 170.0 ET-23-493 671,206.1 3,383,925.4 1893.8 90 -45 120.0 ET-23-494 671,136.7 3,384,022.2 1931.8 90 -50 122.0 ET-23-495 671,152.4 3,383,948.0 1881.8 90 -46 130.5 Figure 3: El Tigre - Conceptual Cross-Section Showing Mineralization Styles Figure 4: El Tigre-Longitudinal Projection Showing Exploration Potential About Silver Tiger and the El Tigre Historic Mine District Silver Tiger Metals Inc. is a Canadian company whose management has more than 25 years' experience discovering, financing and building large hydrothermal silver projects in Mexico. Silver Tiger's 100% owned 28,414 hectare historic El Tigre Mining District is located in Sonora, Mexico. Principled environmental, social and governance practices are core priorities at Silver Tiger. The El Tigre historic mine district is located in Sonora, Mexico and lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre silver and gold belt which hosts many epithermal silver and gold deposits, including Dolores, Santa Elena and Las Chispas at the northern end. In 1896, gold was first discovered on the Property in the Gold Hill area and mining started with the Brown Shaft in 1903. The focus soon changed to mining silver veins in the area with production coming from 3 parallel veins the El Tigre Vein, the Seitz Kelley Vein and the Sooy Vein. Underground mining on the middle El Tigre Vein extended 1,450 metres along strike and was mined on 14 levels to a depth of approximately 450 metres. The Seitz Kelley Vein was mined along strike for 1 kilometre to a depth of approximately 200 metres. The Sooy Vein was only mined along strike for 250 metres to a depth of approximately 150 metres. Mining abruptly stopped on all 3 of these veins when the price of silver collapsed to less than US20 per ounce with the onset of the Great Depression. By the time the mine closed in 1930, it is reported to have produced a total of 353,000 ounces of gold and 67.4 million ounces of silver from 1.87 million tons (Craig, 2012). The average grade mined during this period was over 2 kilograms silver equivalent per ton. The El Tigre silver and gold deposit is related to a series of epithermal veins controlled by a north-south trending structure cutting across the andesitic and rhyolitic tuffs of the Sierra Madre Volcanic Complex within a broad silver and gold mineralized prophylitic alteration zone developed in the El Tigre Formation that can be up to 150 metres wide. The veins dip steeply to the west and are typically 0.5 metre wide; however, locally can be up to 5 metres in width. The veins, structures and mineralized zones outcrop on surface and have been traced for 5.3 kilometres along strike in our brownfield exploration area. Historical mining and exploration activities focused on a 1.6 kilometre portion of the southern end of the deposits, principally on the El Tigre, Seitz Kelly and Sooy veins. The under explored Caleigh, Benjamin, Protectora and the Fundadora exposed veins continue north for more than 3 kilometres. Silver Tiger has delivered its updated NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA, and is currently drilling to update its Mineral Resource Estimate and publish a PFS. VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation - Silver Tiger's El Tigre Project VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps. Access the Silver Tiger Metals Inc. Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for Silver Tiger Metals Inc. can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/492 and on the Corporation's website at: www.silvertigermetals.com. Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full drill core is sawn with a diamond blade drill core saw with one half of the drill core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the drill core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work. The sealed and tagged drill core sample bags are transported to the Bureau Veritas facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. Bureau Veritas crushes the samples (Code PRP70-250) and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 200 mesh (Code PUL85). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 30-gram charge by fire assay (Code FA630) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code MA200 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed Silver Tiger's QA/QC protocols. Qualified Person David R. Duncan, P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Corporation, is the Qualified Person for Silver Tiger as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Duncan has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. For further information, please contact: Glenn Jessome President and CEO 902 492 0298 [email protected] CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the ability to convert Inferred Resources to Indicated Resources, the ability to complete future drilling programs and infill sampling, the ability to extend Mineral Resource blocks, the similarity of mineralization at El Tigre to Delores, Santa Elena and Chispas, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of Silver Tiger, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "may", "is expected to", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans", "projection", "could", "vision", "goals", "objective" and "outlook" and other similar words. Although Silver Tiger believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Silver Tiger's expectations include risks and uncertainties related to exploration, development, operations, commodity prices and global financial volatility, risk and uncertainties of operating in a foreign jurisdiction as well as additional risks described from time to time in the filings made by Silver Tiger with securities regulators. SOURCE: Silver Tiger Metals Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com SPARKS, MD / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / TridentCare is pleased to announce that Mary E. Sweeney has been appointed Senior Vice President (SVP) of Human Resources. Sweeney assumed her role at TridentCare on February 19, 2024. TridentCare Sweeney has decades of experience with crucial aspects of human resources, including recruitment and retention, organizational effectiveness, talent management, employment law and compliance, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. "I am excited to return back to the health care industry, especially with an organization that is disrupting healthcare by serving patients where they are," Sweeney said. Sweeney last served at Arcadia University where she held the role of Vice President of Human Resources and the Employee Experience. During her time at Arcadia, Mary made it a priority to enhance the experience of the faculty and staff by rebuilding many of the HR functions. Prior to joining Arcadia in 2020, Mary spent 22 years in the health care industry. She served most recently as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Regional CHRO for the Mid/South Atlantic regions at Trinity Health. There, Sweeney focused on aligning the HR strategy to Trinity's business strategy. According to CEO Dan Buning, "We interviewed numerous qualified candidates and believed Mary had the best overall experience, skills and organizational fit to help lead our TridentCare HR Team. Our people are what allows us to fulfill our mission to provide clinical diagnostic services nationwide across a wide range of home, facility, workplace or institutional settings. We gladly welcome Mary to our Leadership Team." About TridentCare Based in Sparks, Maryland, TridentCare is the leading provider of portable diagnostic services in the Country, operating in 38 states, servicing a wide variety of patients and clients. Each day, the company deploys experienced medical professionals and leading-edge technology to provide imaging, phlebotomy, laboratory, oxygen, and vascular services to tens of thousands of patients nationwide. For more information about TridentCare, please visit TridentCare.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Contact Information Deborah Shelton [email protected] SOURCE: TridentCare View the original press release on newswire.com. FILE PHOTO: Google logo and AI Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken, May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) -Google is pausing its AI tool that creates images of people following inaccuracies in some historical depictions generated by the model, the latest hiccup in the Alphabet-owned company's efforts to catch up with rivals OpenAI and Microsoft. Google started offering image generation through its Gemini AI models earlier this month, but over the past few days some users on social media had flagged that the model returns historical images which are sometimes inaccurate. "We're aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions," Google had said on Wednesday. Since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022, Google has been racing to produce AI software rivaling what the Microsoft-backed company had introduced. When Google released its generative AI chatbot Bard a year ago, the company had shared inaccurate information about pictures of a planet outside the Earth's solar system in a promotional video, causing shares to slide as much as 9%. Bard was rechristened as Gemini earlier this month and Google rolled out paid subscription plans, which users could choose for better reasoning capabilities from the AI model. "Historical contexts have more nuance to them and we will further tune to accommodate that," said Jack Krawczyk, Senior Director of Product for Gemini at Google, on Wednesday. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter reiterated a Buy rating and $90.00 price target on International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE: IFF) The analyst comments "We are closing our short-term Buy catalyst call on IFF as the catalyst events we identified (the sale of Pharma Solutions for $3.1B or a formal announcement that a sale process for Pharma Solutions was underway in conjunction with the Q4 earnings release) did not occur. Instead, IFF announced that it has decided to cut its quarterly dividend (of $0.80/share) by 50% (to $0.40/share) to help enable faster deleveraging of its balance sheet. While disappointing, IFF stated on the Q4 earnings conference call that it "continues to work on additional divestitures" and remains confident it will achieve its net debt-to-EBITDA target of <3x (versus 4.7x at 12/30/23). Although IFF would not commit to achieving this target by year-end '24, we still believe a sale of Pharma Solutions will likely be announced in the near future as portfolio optimization actions to improve the balance sheet are the top priority for new CEO Erik Fyrwald. With deleveraging underway, actions being taken to improve the underlying business, consumer demand trending favorably and valuation an attractive 14.5x '24E EBITDA versus 17.1x for Ingredients peers (with 1x = $8/shr, or 10% of the current share price), we reiterate our Buy rating." For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on International Flavors & Fragrances click here. For more ratings news on International Flavors & Fragrances click here. Shares of International Flavors & Fragrances closed at $76.78 yesterday. Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced the appointment of Diankha Linear to its board of directors, effective immediately. Linear is a seasoned executive and proven operator with more than 20 years of experience leading across highly regulated technology, logistics, and retail industries. In her current role as president and CEO of Community, Inc., she is disrupting how brands interact with their customers with an engagement platform that connects businesses, brands, and public figures to their audiences at scale. "Diankha's broad range of experience in technology, military leadership, logistics, and retail will be invaluable to the Lumen board. Her expertise and insights will help shape our path as we disrupt traditional telecom and deliver new technology services and value to customers," said Kate Johnson , president and CEO of Lumen. Linear's leadership and strategic abilities were initially forged by 16 years of military service in the U.S. Army Reserve (Airborne), including as a Logistics and Judge Advocate General officer. "Lumen has made foundational changes to transform itself and its industry. This focus on transformation is inspiring, and I am looking forward to working alongside the board and seizing opportunities to continue moving the company into the future," said Linear. Prior to leading Community, Inc., Linear served as general counsel and corporate secretary at Convoy, Inc. Before Convoy, she spent nearly a decade in leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies Nordstrom and Expeditors International of Washington. Ms. Linear is a graduate of the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She serves on the Board of Directors for Community, Inc., the Board of Trustees for Swedish Health Systems, and Board of Directors of the not-for-profit college access and leadership development program, Rainier Scholars. The appointment brings the company's board count from 11 to 12. A full breakdown of the company's board of directors is available online . About Lumen Technologies Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com , LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies , Twitter: @lumentechco , Facebook: /lumentechnologies , Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies . Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks of Lumen Technologies LLC in the United States . Lumen Technologies LLC is a wholly owned affiliate of Lumen Technologies, Inc. Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements (as defined by the federal securities laws), which are subject to the "safe harbor" protections thereunder. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are based on current expectations only, are inherently speculative, and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements. Factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, each of the matters and risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, which speak only as of the date made. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lumen-strengthens-technology-transformation-with-new-board-appointment-302069179.html SOURCE Lumen Technologies KAMPALA, Uganda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In light of the ongoing acute cholera crisis and vaccine shortages across parts of Eastern and Southern Africa, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) strongly supports efforts by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to establish pooled procurement and manufacturing of essential vaccines on the continent and urges wealthy countries to provide a stop-gap supply of doses immediately. Just from the beginning of this year, nearly 900 people have died from cholera across Africa. The vaccine provides overall effectiveness against severe disease if these people had a chance to receive it, most of them would be alive today. This is yet another tragic example of inequity in global health that the African Union, Africa CDC, and leaders on the continent must prioritize and address as quickly as possible, said AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Dr. Penninah Iutung. Regional self-sufficiency through the production of essential vaccines and medical commodities in Africa should be the end goalCOVID-19 made that clear. Initiatives such as the launch of the African Medicines Agency are a move in the right direction, but we must move faster peoples lives are at stake. According to Africa CDC, there were nearly 253,000 cases of cholera and 4,187 deaths across 19 African countries in 2023. Efforts to control cholera are complicated by the lack of access to clean drinking water and poor wastewater treatment infrastructure in many of the impacted hotspots. As a model for addressing such issues, AHF supported the drilling of a potable water well in Benue State, Nigeria, in 2020. About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-profit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 1.9 million people in 46 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. We are currently the largest non-profit provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222962090/en/ US MEDIA CONTACT: Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1 323 308 1833 work +1.323.791.5526 mobile [email protected] Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy & Communications, AHF +1 323.308.1829 [email protected] Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alcott Enterprises, a value-based IT solutions provider, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Alcott Enterprises to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category for 2024. CRNs annual MSP 500 list identifies industry-leading service providers in North America who drive a new wave of growth and innovation for the channel through forward-thinking approaches for managed services, helping end users increase efficiency and simplify IT solutions while maximizing their return on investment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221751648/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) MSPs have become a vital part of the success of businesses worldwide. MSPs not only empower organizations to leverage intricate technologies but also help them keep a strict focus on their core business goals without straining their budgets. The annual MSP 500 list is divided into three sections: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and primarily focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, identifying large, data center-focused MSPs with a potent mix of on- and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premises and cloud-based security services. Alcott Enterprises is a leading solutions provider based in Southern California, serving clients across the USA. In an age of rapidly evolving technology transformation, high growth, and intense competition, CRN recognizes that Alcott Enterprises provides fast-growing companies access to affordable senior technology leadership, experience, and expertise. Its truly an honor and a testimonial to our teams hard work that got us here, says CEO and Founder Jordan Alcott. Managed services offer a path for businesses of all sizes to remain efficient and flexible as they grow, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. The solution providers on our 2024 MSP 500 list are bringing innovative managed services portfolios to market, helping their customers win by doing more with their IT budgets and freeing up resources to focus on mission-critical activities to drive future success. The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500. About Alcott Enterprises Based in Los Angeles, CA, Alcott Enterprises offers over 50+ years of combined industry experience developing strategic alignment of business and technology, enabling digital transformations, and managing technical infrastructures working with startups to Fortune 500 companies. Our experts have been providing information technology consulting services for companies of all sizes across various industries and building next-generation company infrastructures that leverage the Cloud, AI, and Machine Learning. Find out what our clients already know. For more information and updates, visit www.alcottenterprises.com. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by over 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2024 The Channel Company LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221751648/en/ Alcott Enterprises Contact: Richard Alcott [email protected] 310.362.7400 The Channel Company Contact: Natalie Lewis The Channel Company [email protected] Source: Alcott Enterprises VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alpha Cognition Inc. (CSE: ACOG) (OTCQB: ACOGF) (Alpha Cognition (ACI), or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, is pleased to announce that it has filed a new composition-of-matter patent that secures broad protection for its lead asset, ALPHA-1062, currently under review by the FDA for mild-to-moderate Alzheimers Disease. The present composition-of-matter patent application is filed for approval with the USPTO and may be extended to pursue protection throughout the world and, if approved, will secure composition-of-matter protection for an oral formulation of ALPHA-1062. The filing was based on novel and unexpected findings in the clinical trial work the company completed and further demonstrates the uniqueness of ALPHA-1062. If approved, the patent will provide protection for ALPHA-1062 into 2044, adding to other patent protection that currently protect ALPHA-1062 through 2042. Filing this patent application is an important component of our strategy to ensure broad protection for ALPHA-1062, a next generation treatment option for patients suffering from mild-to-moderate Alzheimers Disease. Grant of the patent will provide protection through 2044 in the United States, and will allow our team to maximize the potential that ALPHA-1062 holds for patients and healthcare providers," stated Alpha Cognitions CEO, Michael McFadden. About Alpha Cognition Inc. Alpha Cognition Inc. is a clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers disease and Cognitive Impairment with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), for which there are currently no approved treatment options. ALPHA-1062, is a patented new chemical entity being developed as a new generation acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for the treatment of Alzheimers disease, with expected minimal gastrointestinal side effects. ALPHA-1062s active metabolite is differentiated from donepezil and rivastigmine in that it binds neuronal nicotinic receptors, most notably the alpha-7 subtype, which is known to have a positive effect on cognition. ALPHA-1062 is also being developed in combination with memantine to treat moderate to severe Alzheimers dementia. An intranasal formulation of ALPHA-1062 has demonstrated potent preservation brain structure and function in a preclinical model of moderate TBI, where enhanced recovery from the brain injury was also seen. The intranasal formulation is currently being evaluated for its ability to provide protection from a military relevant model of repeated mild TBI, in a program sponsored by the US Department of Defense. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE) or the OTC Markets Group, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, any information contained in this news release may be a forwardlooking statement that reflects the Companys current views about future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forwardlooking statements by the words may, might, will, could, would, should, expect, intend, plan, objective, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, target, seek, contemplate, continue and ongoing, or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. Forwardlooking statements may include statements regarding the TBI out-licensing plan and associated financing, the availability of funding pursuant to financings, the Companys business strategy, market size, potential growth opportunities, capital requirements, clinical development activities, the timing and results of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, potential regulatory approval and commercialization of the Companys products. Although the Company believes to have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our expectations of the future, about which we cannot be certain. The Company cannot assure that the actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forwardlooking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222276486/en/ Michael McFadden, CEO Tel: 1-858-344-4375 [email protected] https://www.alphacognition.com/ Source: Alpha Cognition Inc. NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said Thursday that it has made great progress in reaching children who have never received any vaccine in the Horn of Africa and hopes to reach millions in fragile settings that are outside government health services in the coming years. Thabani Maphosa, the managing director of country programs delivery at Gavi, said through the vaccination program, children living in hard-to-reach communities in the Horn of Africa countries, namely Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, now have a fighting chance for a better future. "We have administered a million doses of life-saving vaccines to children living across Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, thanks to our Zero-Dose Immunization Program," Maphosa told Xinhua in an interview Thursday. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private global health partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing access to immunization in poor countries. It brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, research and technical agencies, civil society organizations and private philanthropists. The administration of a million vaccine doses is an important milestone for Gavi and it means that the journey to reaching the zero-dose children in Africa has just begun, Maphosa declared. More than half of 2.71 million children in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan aged under five years have never received a vaccine in their lives, according to Gavi. Another 420,000 children qualify as under-immunized, meaning they have not received their full schedule of vaccinations and remain vulnerable to preventable infectious diseases. This is due to conflicts, natural disasters like floods, political choices, and religious or cultural beliefs. Maphosa said through the program started in January 2023 and implemented with partners International Rescue Committee and World Vision International, Gavi has administered the key vaccines children need including diphtheria tetanus pertussis, rotavirus and influenza. The official said the immunization program has been successful because it integrates the vaccines alongside humanitarian services, for instance, nutrition. He said Gavi is going to scale up the vaccination drive in the participating countries and expand in others across Africa in populations where government health services do not reach. "By the end of 2024, we are hopeful that we would have administered between 5 and 8 million vaccine doses because as we continue to learn, it is becoming much easier to achieve our targets," he said. LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) today announced that Michael David has joined its wholly owned subsidiary, Banc of California, Californias premier relationship-focused business bank, in the newly created role of executive vice president for Technology Banking-West, part of the Venture Banking group. David, formerly with Bridge Bank, will be based in Menlo Park, California, and report to Sean Lynden, president of the Venture Banking group. Michael brings more than two decades of experience in venture banking to this new role, and he and his team will bring Banc of Californias expanded venture banking capabilities and expertise to a whole new set of clients, said Lynden. He will build and grow venture banking relationships and drive new technology business opportunities on the West Coast and beyond. David has more than 25 years of experience and expertise in banking and finance nationwide, focusing on Silicon Valley. He was most recently at Bridge Bank, where he spent nine years as a senior vice president and managing director of Equity Fund Resources, with an expanded role covering key venture capital relationships. He initially started and led the national venture capital services practice and further expanded into VC-sponsored technology finance. Prior experience includes establishing new Silicon Valley-based practices for Fifth Street Technology Partners, ORIX Ventures and Imperial Bank. Banc of California, the third largest bank based in California, with $38 billion in assets, provides specialized financial services tailored to entrepreneurs and their private equity and venture capital investors through a robust venture banking arm with key hubs throughout the country, including in Menlo Park/Silicon Valley, Austin, Denver, Boston, New York and Mid-Atlantic/Washington, D.C. The Venture Banking group offers a broad range of venture debt, fund finance, and treasury and cash management solutions. Key lines of business served include VC-backed multi-stage tech companies, VC and PE fund finance, developing life science companies and comprehensive treasury management services. A picture of Michael David is available here. About Banc of California, Inc. Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) is a bank holding company headquartered in Los Angeles with one wholly owned banking subsidiary, Banc of California (the bank). Banc of California is one of the nations premier relationship-based business banks focused on providing banking and treasury management services to small, middle-market and venture-backed businesses. Banc of California offers a broad range of loan and deposit products and services through more than 90 full-service branches throughout California and in Denver, Colorado, and Durham, North Carolina, as well as full-stack payment processing solutions through its subsidiary, Deepstack Technologies. Banc of California also serves the Community Association Management industry nationwide with its technology-forward platform, SmartStreet. The bank is committed to its local communities by supporting organizations that provide financial literacy and job training, small business support, affordable housing and more. For more information, please visit us at www.bancofcal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222926629/en/ Debora Vrana Mobile: 213-999-4141 [email protected] Jenn Saylors Mobile: 310-926-9563 [email protected] Source: Banc of California, Inc. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Better Business Advice has released its comprehensive review of the best cost segregation study services for 2024, featuring two standout firms in the field: Omega Accounting Solutions and Engineered Tax Services. The review is aimed at property owners and real estate investors seeking to navigate the complexities of cost segregation to maximize their tax savings and enhance cash flow through accelerated depreciation. Best Cost Segregation Study Services: Omega Accounting Solutions - click this link to schedule an initial consultation with an in-house expert - click this link to schedule an initial consultation with an in-house expert Engineered Tax Services - click this link to receive a free cost segregation analysis Understanding Cost Segregation Studies A cost segregation study is a critical tax strategy that enables property owners to fast-track depreciation on their real estate assets. By identifying and reclassifying certain components of a property such as wiring, plumbing, and lighting fixtures to shorter depreciation schedules, significant tax savings can be achieved. This detailed process, typically spearheaded by a team of tax and engineering specialists, not only reduces tax liabilities but also boosts cash flow in the property's early years of ownership. Conducting a study at the time of acquisition, construction, or remodeling maximizes these benefits, making it a cornerstone of savvy real estate investment strategy. Choosing a tax firm or professional for a cost segregation study is advantageous due to their specialized expertise in tax law and engineering, ensuring compliance with IRS guidelines and maximizing tax savings. Their deep understanding allows for the precise identification of deductible property components, often revealing significant savings opportunities that might otherwise be missed. Omega Accounting Solutions offers a comprehensive approach to tax strategy, integrating cost segregation within a broader tax advisory framework. By utilizing business intelligence, they ensure superior analytics and reporting, providing clients with a deeper understanding of their financial landscape. With a commitment to accessibility, Omega offers a complimentary initial cost segregation study consultation and conducts thorough onsite evaluations, making them a top recommendation for those seeking tax deductions and incentives as part of an all-encompassing tax strategy. On the other hand, Engineered Tax Services (ETS) adopts an engineering-based methodology to deliver precise cost segregation analysis. Their approach is supported by a comprehensive suite of specialty tax services, including a no-cost preliminary cost segregation analysis. This makes ETS particularly ideal for larger properties, catering to the needs of large businesses or investors with extensive portfolios, ensuring detailed and accurate tax benefit maximization. Omega Accounting Solutions is endorsed for property owners in pursuit of a holistic approach to tax strategy, including cost segregation, deductions, and incentives. Leveraging advanced BI tools, Omega is at the forefront for clients eager to adopt technology-driven financial insights. Engineered Tax Services comes highly recommended for those with larger properties or diverse portfolios. With its engineering-focused approach and deep specialty tax expertise, ETS is adept at navigating the complexities associated with significant investments, ensuring meticulous and reliable tax benefit exploration. What is the importance of cost segregation? The importance of cost segregation lies in its ability to significantly reduce a property owner's tax liability by accelerating depreciation deductions. This strategic financial planning tool allows for the reclassification of certain property assets to shorter depreciation periods, leading to substantial tax savings and improved cash flow in the early years of ownership. By maximizing tax deductions upfront, property owners can reinvest the savings into their businesses or properties sooner, enhancing their overall financial performance and investment return. What are the best properties for cost segregation? Cost segregation studies yield the most significant tax savings on a diverse array of properties, with commercial buildings, residential rentals, industrial facilities, hotels, medical centers, restaurants, and special-purpose properties like car washes and gas stations standing out as prime candidates. These properties benefit from the accelerated depreciation of components ranging from construction elements to specialized equipment. Ideal for properties recently acquired, constructed, or renovated, cost segregation allows for the reclassification of assets for quicker depreciation, maximizing tax savings. Engaging in these studies early in property ownership enhances the financial benefits by leveraging the potential for substantial tax deductions through this strategic tax planning tool. For more detailed insights, readers are encouraged to explore the full review on Better Business Advice's website, ensuring a well-informed decision-making process in selecting the cost segregation study service that best matches their financial and property management goals. About Better Business Advice: Better Business Advice is a business advice website dedicated to helping businesses succeed. As an affiliate, Better Business Advice may earn commissions from services mentioned in the links provided. Better Business Advice aims to provide accurate and up-to-date information to assist with research. Double-check with the service provider/institution directly as well as obtain independent financial advice prior to making any financial commitments or business decisions. The information provided by Better Business Advice does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials are for general informational purposes only. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221142734/en/ Andrew Mathews ([email protected]) Source: Better Business Advice Second Generation Korean American Developer Opens Luxury Eben Silver Town Community in Atlanta ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First senior living community with a focus on Korean American seniors opens in Atlanta, Georgia and welcomes residents to Eben Silver Town. The newly developed 100+ suite senior living community is a nod from a second generation Korean American developer to honor the Korean custom of caring for aging adults by emulating the silver towns of South Korea. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222136064/en/ Eben Silver Town is a modern Independent Living and Personal Care Home (PCH) private gated community providing assistance with activities of daily living for Korean and American seniors. (Photo: Business Wire) The demand for a community where Korean American elders feel welcomed and heard in the US has gone unmet for quite some time, said James Juhn, Eben Silver Town developer. Our goal in creating Eben Silver Town is to do something good for the community, specifically older Korean Americans who desire to live in a comfortable environment with familiar food, language and activities. Traditionally, it was normal for Korean seniors to live with their children; however, many seniors today do not want to impose on their children or prefer to live apart, so were proud to bridge the gap and bring this community to them. The warm and welcoming community is a four-story state of the art residence exuding a vibrant lifestyle where Korean American seniors can feel seen and loved, and its delivered at a value. The apartments are oversized compared to similar communities and well appointed. The private, gated community features spacious common areas and thoughtful amenities such as karaoke, fitness studios suitable for yoga, dance and other cardio activity, library, chapel, salon, traditional outdoor Korean deck, Korean speaking physical therapist, formal and casual dining rooms, Koi pond, MuGungHwa trees and a childrens play room. Religion, for example, is an important aspect of the Korean American lifestyle and for many church or temple is a focal point. For a Christian Korean American senior who attends church, corporate worship and morning prayer are very important. To that end, the community contains a chapel to help satisfy that need. In fact, the name Eben comes from the Biblical meaning of the word Ebenezer which means Stone of Remembrance that God is my Helper, while Silver Town is a popular phrase in Korean which has a meaning similar to retirement communities in the United States. The stone house (or community) means that God is our helper, and He keeps us safe. Though Eben Silver Town unapologetically promotes a focus on Korean culture, one thing we want to stress is that we are open to and welcome people of all cultures, races and ethnicities. We are seeing significant interest in Eben Silver Town from non-Korean Americans, whether its because of their love for the food, people or culture. Our humble desire is to break down cultural barriers through this community and honor every single resident who chooses to retire at Eben Silver Town, Juhn said. From soothing tones and vibes, to programming and operations, Solinity management is pleased to operate this first Eben Silver Town community. It is an honor to have the opportunity to create something unique and meaningful for the Korean American population in the Atlanta area and beyond through Eben Silver Town, Josh Crisp, CEO of Solinity said. Its also very exciting to think about all of the community members who will be able to experience luxury living infused with a distinct Korean American culture. This community will fill a huge gap in the underserved Korean American population, but also serve any older adults seeking a wonderful living environment with rich amenities and vibrant unique culture. Solinitys boutique approach to leadership, management, and program development allows for customization and attention to cultural necessities to create a community that is locally owned and nationally recognized. Eben Silver Town opened in fall 2023 and is now leasing new apartments. If youre interested in learning more about living, working or developing a Korean community in your location, please connect. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222136064/en/ Amelia Gipson 470-504-3688 Source: Eben Silver Town Highlights: E3 Lithium is looking forward to another significant year of growth in 2024 as it advances its Clearwater Project towards commercial operations and revenue generation With the commercial viability of Direct Lithium Extraction Technology and E3 Lithiums brines-to-battery flow sheet demonstrated in 2023, achieving the milestones set for 2024 marks a fundamental shift in E3 Lithiums business and sets it on a clear and demonstrated pathway to commercial operations E3 Lithium looks forward to discussing its 2024 guidance during its February 22 webinar at 10 a.m. MST / 12 p.m. EST details to join are provided below CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- E3 LITHIUM LTD. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), E3 Lithium or the Company, a leader in Canadian lithium, is pleased to share its plans for the upcoming year. The Company made significant progress in 2023 on the path for producing commercial lithium in Alberta. Looking ahead into 2024, E3 Lithiums primary focus remains on advancing the Clearwater Project to commercial operations. The milestones it will achieve in 2024 will establish its project as one of the few advanced stage lithium developments in Canada and North America. In addition to the Clearwater Project, the magnitude of E3 Lithiums resources enables the Company to unlock the potential of the significant land package throughout 2024 across its permit areas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221541557/en/ E3 Lithium's Alberta Assets (Graphic: Business Wire) Going into 2024, E3 Lithium maintains a strong financial position. In the current market conditions, E3 Lithium has positioned itself to continue accelerating a path forward to producing first commercial lithium from its significant resources in South-Central Alberta. E3 Lithium had a very successful 2023 by progressing all core aspects of our business, putting us in position to deliver ambitious targets in 2024 moving us closer to first commercial lithium, said Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. The achievement of this years goals will mark a fundamental shift in our business, one that sees us move from a technology and resource developer to a commercialization company on a clear and demonstrated pathway to operations. E3 Lithium is focusing on the following goals in 2024. Progressing the Clearwater Project Towards Commercial Operations E3 Lithiums Clearwater Project is the Companys primary focus for its first commercial lithium facility, located in South-Central Alberta. The milestones the Company will achieve in advancing its development this year, including progressing engineering studies and commercial permitting, will establish the Clearwater Project as one of the few advanced stage lithium projects in Canada and North America. The PFS for the Clearwater Project represents a monumental milestone for Canadian lithium brines as it results in the booking of reserves. To move towards commercial operations in the Clearwater Project, the Company looks forward to completing the PFS and releasing the NI 43-101 report, aiming for late Q2 2024. E3 Lithium is working diligently to deliver the PFS report in Q2; the critical path to be able to do so is receiving engineering packages from external vendors. If delivery is delayed, the public report may be delayed as well. The Company will update the market on its progress and delivery times as they become firm. The PFS is designed to a level of detail that will enable the Company to move directly into Feasibility Study (FS) and includes the full design of the first commercial facility, along with an updated cost estimate and development schedule. With the publication of the PFS NI 43-101 report, E3 Lithium will book Canadas first lithium-in-brine reserves in the Clearwater Project area, a significant milestone for the Canadian lithium brine industry. E3 Lithium has initiated the permitting process for the commercial facility and will look to advance this throughout 2024. The milestones E3 Lithium looks forward to completing include publishing the PFS NI 43-101 report, selecting the EPC for and kicking off the FS, completing environmental and wildlife surveys and public consultation for its commercial facility, and preparing regulatory applications for approval. While the PFS will outline details of the first commercial facility, the Clearwater area is likely to be able to support further production expansion. Based on the sheer size and consistency of E3 Lithiums resources in Alberta, demonstrating a successful development in the Clearwater area supports the value of the remaining land in the Exshaw (northern Bashaw) and Rocky areas. E3 Lithium believes it has enough brines to produce approximately 150,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium per year once fully operational across multiple commercial facilities, which is enough lithium for approximately 2.2M EVs1 annually. Developing E3 Lithiums Other Significant Resource Areas In addition to its Clearwater area in Alberta, E3 Lithiums significant land package includes the Exshaw and Rocky areas and its Saskatchewan property. While E3 Lithiums focus remains firmly on the Clearwater Project, the team is evaluating and progressing additional projects across its resource base. Exshaw Area In the Northern part of the Bashaw District lies the Exshaw area. The brine composition in the Exshaw area is very similar to the Clearwater Project, and the development of this area is expected to be similar to the Clearwater area. This area is larger by total brine volume than the Clearwater. E3 plans to begin the evaluation of how to develop the Exshaw area once theClearwater PFS is complete. Rocky Area In the Western trend of the Leduc Aquifer lies the Rocky area. This portion of the aquifer is largely disconnected from the Bashaw District and hosts a significant volume of lithium enriched brine. The Company plans to update the resource to include the full aquifer trend in 2024. Once complete, the Company will evaluate how this area fits into its larger development plans. Nisku Aquifer across E3 Lithiums Alberta Resource Areas Recent sampling results indicate that the Nisku Aquifer, located above the Leduc Aquifer, has similar concentrations of lithium to the Leduc. This aquifer is coincident with the Leduc in the Bashaw Area, making it a candidate for co-production. As the Companys production wells will go through the Nisku to reach the Leduc, it offers the potential to add more production to the plant in a commercial setting by co-producing both the Leduc and the Nisku. If successful, the benefit would be an increase to the lifespan of each well and therefore, a reduction in the well capital required over the life of the plant. Saskatchewan E3 Lithium holds a strategic land position in the heart of the Estevan lithium belt in Saskatchewan. Resource holders that surround E3 Lithium have recently completed resource updates and economic studies that look to advance Saskatchewan into a commercially producing region for lithium. E3 Lithium plans to complete an inaugural resource in Saskatchewan in 2024. As this area does not form the core of E3 Lithiums focus, the Company is evaluating the best options for creating value from the land for its shareholders. Advancing Commercial Development and Offtake E3 Lithium has been developing strong relationships with potential customers that include companies in the automotive, cell and cathode manufacturing sectors. The completion of the PFS is a major milestone for these discussions to mature towards sale contracts. E3 Lithium has been working to grow its commercial team to support this effort and will continue to prioritize identifying mutually beneficial arrangements with offtakers. E3 Lithiums Strengths Going into 2024 Balance sheet strength supports ability to execute 2024 plans: E3 Lithium raised more than $30M CAD via capital raises and grant funding in 2023 and has more than $20M remaining to draw down on from the Strategic Innovation Fund. The Company is in a strong financial position to execute on its goals in 2024. E3 Lithium continues to actively seek, identify and pursue all sources of non-dilutive funding to meet the Companys ongoing needs for capital. Long-term outlook for EV uptake and lithium demand: The long-term outlook for EV uptake and demand remains strong, with North American policy objectives in full alignment with a comprehensive shift to EVs into the 2030s. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, entering 2024, North America is expected to grow lithium production to approximately 40,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery-grade lithium, while demand is expected to be more than 150,000 tpa. By 2030 global demand could exceed 3M tpa, growing at over 15% per year. Commercial production to coincide with rising demand: E3 Lithiums initial commercial production is likely to be timed in to coincide with the increase in demand for and shortfall of supply of lithium, which may create favourable pricing environments for E3 Lithiums offtake. Lithium offtake sold in long-term contracts: Most lithium today is sold in long-term offtake arrangements that contain negotiated sales prices. The best gauge for these prices is long term price forecasts provided by reputable research firms, which are outlining prices much higher than current spot prices. The price forecasts provided by reputable research firms will be relied upon for the PFS. Efficient and well-known permitting regime: Alberta is home to one of the worlds most efficient and well known regulatory and permitting processes for energy project development, led by the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Energy Regulator. Recently E3 Lithiums permits to its significant land position in Alberta were converted to the provinces new Brine-Hosted Mineral Licences, reaffirming E3 Lithiums ownership of surface to basement mineral rights to saline aquifers throughout its operating areas and underscoring the provinces commitment to providing regulatory certainty and growing the lithium industry. The requirements for E3 Lithiums commercial permits are well understood and the Company looks forward to progressing its regulatory work in 2024. Join us at our Upcoming Webinar E3 Lithium will be hosting a webinar for investors and other interested parties to share more information about its 2024 Corporate Guidance and the progress made to-date. Details for this virtual webinar are below and questions can be submitted in advance to [email protected]. Date : Thursday, February 22, 2024 : Thursday, February 22, 2024 Time : 10 a.m. MST / 12 p.m. EST / 9 a.m. PST : 10 a.m. MST / 12 p.m. EST / 9 a.m. PST Log in details: Zoom (click here to log in at the time of the webinar; no need to register in advance) ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Doornbos, President & CEO E3 Lithium Ltd. About E3 Lithium E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 16.0 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated and 0.9 million tonnes LCE Inferred mineral resources1 in Alberta. As outlined in E3s Preliminary Economic Assessment, the Clearwater Lithium Project has an NPV8% of USD 1.1 Billion with a 32% IRR pre-tax and USD 820 Million with a 27% IRR after-tax1. E3 Lithiums goal is to produce high purity, battery grade lithium products to power the growing electrical revolution. With a significant lithium resource and innovative technology solutions, E3 Lithium has the potential to deliver lithium to market from one of the best jurisdictions in the world. 1: The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Clearwater Lithium Project NI 43-101 technical report is amended Sept 17, 2021. Gordon MacMillan, P.Geol, QP, Fluid Domains Inc. and Grahame Binks, MAusIMM, QP (Metallurgy), formerly of Sedgman Canada Limited (Report Date: June 15, 2018, Effective Date: June 4, 2018 Amended Date: September 17, 2021). The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the North Rocky Property, effective October 27, 2017, identified 0.9Mt LCE (inferred). The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bashaw District Project, effective March 21, 2023, identified 16.0Mt LCE (measured & indicated). All reports are available on the E3 Lithiums website (e3lithium.ca/technical-reports) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as managements objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward looking statements are frequently identified by such words as may, will, plan, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the Companys brine, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ___________________________________ 1 Based on a typical 68 kg EV battery. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221541557/en/ E3 Lithium - Investor and Media Relations Robin Boschman Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications [email protected] 587-324-2775 Source: E3 Lithium Ltd. Funds to Support Clients With Legal Assistance and Consumer Education LAKE CHARLES, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded a $75,000 Heirs Property Program grant to Project Build a Future (PBAF). The funds, which were awarded through FHLB Dallas member First Federal Bank of Louisiana, will be used to help locals clear heirship or title issues on their properties and secure a will. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222759343/en/ CRA Manager Melissa Dickson of First Federal Bank of Louisiana, left, presents a $75,000 ceremonial check under FHLB Dallas Heirs Property Program to Executive Director Charla Blake of Project Build a Future, center, and Executive Director Genia Coleman-Lee of Southwest LA Law Center. (Photo: Business Wire) In 2023, FHLB Dallas awarded $905,200 which will assist more than 900 residents resolve an estimated 442 titles. Heirs property refers to property inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. As property is passed down, each successive generation generally results in more heirs being added to the inheritance. The absence of a deed or will can make it more complicated to obtain a clear title to land or homes as time passes. Lake Charles, Louisiana-based PBAF will allocate $50,000 to Southwest LA Law Center (SWLLC) in the form of direct client assistance. The remaining funds will be used to create educational material for public information sessions. Unclear titles on homes and property are a big problem in this part of Louisiana, especially in the low- to moderate-income population, said Charla Blake, executive director of PBAF. By clearing the title, this program helps those who have worked hard to purchase and own their homes pass on their assets, clearly and legally, as generational wealth. Frequent hurricanes have damaged many Louisiana properties, and a lack of funds for repairs or complications with insurance companies stall rebuilding, pushing many residents to relocate. While PBAF qualifies and matches people with funds, the SWLLC will provide legal counsel and help people secure the title to the properties. As attorneys working at reduced fees, the funds will cover the core costs incurred in the process, allowing us to move properties to the heirs and bring Louisiana residents back to their communities, said Genia Coleman-Lee, executive director of SWLLC. These funds provide more than just a place to stay; they help people return home. A partner since the earliest days of PBAF, First Federal Bank of Louisiana is always on the lookout for ways to grow its relationship. Partnering with Project Build a Future and the Southwest Louisiana Law Center on the Heirs Property Program empowers people in our community to create a better tomorrow for themselves and future generations, said First Federal Bank of Louisianas CRA Manager Melissa Dickson. It reflects our aim to help our communities grow through homeownership and financial fitness. In the inaugural 2023 Heirs Property Program funding round, organizations could receive up to $75,000. Awardees included affordable housing associations, community development groups, legal aid organizations and a university. In 2024, FHLB Dallas has increased its allocation to $2 million with organizations eligible to receive up to $100,000 each. I am delighted that a bank as large as FHLB Dallas really listens to its representatives and provides for the needs of all the communities it serves, said Ms. Blake. The Heirs Property Program was developed for people having challenges acquiring or succeeding to properties and it will truly help nonprofits and people living in smaller or rural communities. The next application window for the Heirs Property Program awards opens September 3 and closes on September 30. Recipients must be in FHLB Dallas five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico or Texas and meet the programs requirements. All funds are disbursed through an FHLB Dallas member institution. The Heirs Property Program was developed based on feedback from community-based organizations during our Affordable Housing Advisory Council meetings. We are delighted that members like First Federal Bank of Louisiana are using the program to help their communities build a secure future by settling heirship issues, said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. For more information about the Heirs Property Program, visit fhlb.com/heirs. About the First Federal Bank of Louisiana First Federal Bank of Louisiana is a full-service, locally owned community bank that has helped build the communities we serve for over 70 years. With 16 offices currently serving multiple parishes across Southwest and Central Louisiana, it offers customers comprehensive retail and commercial products as well as investments and insurance services to meet all of their financial needs. Visit www.ffbla.bank to learn more. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $128.3 billion as of December 31, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. About Project Build a Future Project Build a Future (PBAF) is a nonprofit corporation committed to revitalizing its target area through quality, affordable home-ownership initiatives. Its target area encompasses the sections North of Broad Street in Lake Charles, LA. In addition, PBAF offers homebuyer counseling services that lay a solid foundation for financial success of homebuyers which strengthens their ability to be successful over the long term. In fact, PBAF has seen no foreclosures on any of its homes since its inception in 2001. About the Southwest LA Law Center The Southwest LA Law Center (SWLLC) is a Modest Means law firm which provides affordable legal assistance to those persons who do not qualify for free legal services. A sliding fee scale is used to determine the cost for representation. The Law Center has been serving the underprivileged communities of Southwest Louisiana since 1967 with measurable success and are proud of the deep tradition of excellence, ensuring only the highest quality of service to clients. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222759343/en/ Corporate Communications Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas fhlb.com, (214) 441-8445 Source: Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Insuritys cloud-based MGA platform and flexible billing solution, implemented by SI partner Sikich, enables Georgia Stern Insurance Agency to increase operational efficiency and reduce overall billing costs HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Insurity, a leading provider of cloud-based software for the property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry, has announced that Georgia Stern Insurance Agency (GSIAY) has gone live on Insurity's Sure Billing-as-a-Service and Sure MGA software to increase operational efficiency and reduce overall billing costs. These implementations significantly advance GSIAYs operational capabilities, dramatically increasing billing efficiency and providing a comprehensive management system for their specialized insurance services. GSIAY, a MGA headquartered in Georgia, recognized the need for a robust system to handle their insurance processes' management and billing aspects. Insuritys Sure MGA offers an end-to-end policy management solution, streamlining GSIAYs underwriting, claims, and policy administration lifecycle. With the Sure Billing-as-a-Service, GSIAY has powerful tools to enhance its efficiency, reduce enterprise billing costs, and maintain a competitive edge in the market. Sure Billing-as-a-Service enables GSIAY to outsource all billing tasks and business requirements, with the vital benefit of delivering a best-in-class customer experience. "We are excited to go live with Insuritys Sure MGA and Sure Billing-as-a-Service," said Sandeep Singh, COO at Georgia Stern Insurance Agency. This dual deployment allows us to optimize our policy management and billing processes, ensuring we meet the unique needs of our retailers and clients with greater agility and accuracy. Insuritys solutions take care of our comprehensive needs, from policy administration to efficient billing, enhancing our ability to deliver exceptional service. Sikich, an Insurity system integrator (SI) partner, played a critical role in this implementation, leveraging their deep industry knowledge and technical expertise of Insurity solutions to ensure a smooth integration tailored to GSIAYs specific business processes. Sikich is proud to facilitate the simultaneous launch of Insuritys Sure MGA and Sure Billing-as-a-Service for GSIAY, said Rahul Bhatia, a partner in Insurtech solutions at Sikich. This collaboration demonstrates our versatility and commitment to providing comprehensive, integrated solutions for Insuritys clients. Our goal is to enable GSIAY to operate at peak efficiency, and these solutions from Insurity are pivotal in achieving that objective. "Insurity is excited for GSIAYs operational transformation with Sure MGA and Sure Billing-as-a-Service," said Sylvester Mathis, chief insurance officer of Insurity. "The integration of these two solutions signifies a major step forward in operational excellence for GSIAY, empowering them to manage and bill with unparalleled efficiency and accuracy. To learn more about how Insurity's cloud-based solutions can benefit your organization, please contact Elizabeth Hutchinson at [email protected]. About Insurity Insurity is the leading provider of cloud-based software for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs. Insurity is trusted by 22 of the top 25 P&C carriers and 7 of the top 10 MGAs in the US and has over 400 cloud-based deployments. Through its best-in-class digital platform, unrivaled industry experience, and the industrys most robust analytics offerings, Insurity is uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional value, empowering customers to focus on their core businesses, optimize their operations, and provide superior policyholder experiences. Insurity is a portfolio company of GI Partners and TA Associates. For more information, visit www.insurity.com. About Georgia Stern Insurance Agency Founded in 2021, GSIAY emerged from a collaboration of seasoned insurance industry executives, boasting over three decades of diverse expertise. GSIAY is steadfast in its mission to facilitate access to essential marketplaces and desired insurance coverage. Our suite of Products and Programs is tailored to empower businesses while fostering enduring partnerships. Committed to client success, the GSIAY team leverages cutting-edge systems technology, ensuring continuous support and swift response times upon receipt of comprehensive submissions. At GSIAY, we are your trusted ally in navigating the intricacies of insurance, dedicated to your prosperity. About Sikich Sikich LLP is a global company specializing in technology-enabled professional services. With more than 1,700 employees, Sikich draws on a diverse portfolio of technology solutions to deliver transformative digital strategies and ranks as one of the largest CPA firms in the United States. From corporations and not-for-profits to state and local governments and federal agencies, Sikich clients utilize a broad spectrum of services* and products to help them improve performance and achieve long-term, strategic goals. *Securities offered through Sikich Corporate Finance LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222990137/en/ Elizabeth Hutchinson [email protected] Source: Insurity Funds to Help Prevent or Remediate Property Title Issues DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) awarded $75,000 in Heirs Property Program grants to the Mexican American Unity Council (MAUC) through its member Broadway Bank. The grant was celebrated with a ceremonial check presentation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222651286/en/ Left to right: Jacob Cavazos, Broadway Bank, Fernando Godinez, Louie Escareno, Crystal Requejo and Adela Gonzalez of the Mexican American Unity Council and Mark Loya, FHLB Dallas. (Photo: Business Wire) These funds are a much-needed resource for our Latino homeowners to ensure their family inherits the wealth they have worked so hard to build, said Fernando Godinez, president and CEO of MAUC. The MAUC Homestead Preservation Center will utilize the funds to assist homeowners who want to maintain ownership of their homes. By providing resources that help homeowners clear title to their homes, lower their property taxes and navigate the challenges of these forces, the center helps to ensure that long-time residents can continue to thrive in their neighborhoods. The funds are part of $905,200 in Heirs Property Program grants that FHLB Dallas awarded through members in 2023. The grants assisted 21 organizations with preventing or remediating heirs property issues. In Texas, $515,200 was awarded to 12 organizations. Heirs property refers to property inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. As property is passed down, each successive generation generally results in more heirs being added to the inheritance. The absence of a deed or will can make it more complicated to obtain a clear title to land or homes as time passes. The inability to provide clear title can make it very difficult for families to transfer, or obtain loans on, the impacted property. Clearing a clouded real estate title can be a time-consuming and costly process, said Jacob P. Cavazos, senior vice president and community reinvestment manager at Broadway Bank. These funds are a great asset to help educate homeowners and help them resolve property issues. In its inaugural 2023 funding round from FHLB Dallas, organizations could receive up to $75,000. Awardees included affordable housing associations, community development groups, legal aid organizations and a university. Property issues disproportionately affect minority communities and low-income populations. These funds can help families break the cycle of generational poverty and improve their financial position, said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. For more information about the Heirs Property Program, visit fhlb.com/heirs. About Broadway Bank Headquartered in San Antonio, Broadway Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in Texas, with more than $5 billion in assets and $3 billion in wealth management assets. It is privately-owned and offers a full range of financial services, including personal, business, commercial, wealth management and private banking. Broadway Bank operates financial centers in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston regions. Visit Broadway Bank for more information. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $147.6 billion as of September 30, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222651286/en/ Corporate Communications Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas fhlb.com, (214) 441-8445 Source: Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Karen Harvey Consulting Group (KHC), one of the leading international executive search and brand advisory firms in fashion, luxury, lifestyle and beauty with offices in New York, London, Paris and L.A., is pleased to announce the appointment of Anais Goujon to Director, Executive and Creative Search of the firms Paris office, Kate Sunderland to Vice President, Creative Search of the firms London office, and Charlotte Reeve as Associate Director, Executive Search also of the firms London office. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222508513/en/ From left to right, Kate Sunderland, Anais Goujon, and Charlotte Reeve. (Photo: Business Wire) These new appointments come as the company continues to evolve alongside a rapidly changing landscape in talent strategy for fashion, retail and lifestyle brands and businesses. Since founding KHC, my goal has been to build an international group of highly dedicated and talented leaders who are more inspired working together than separately, and who appreciate the unique way that we work on an international basis. Our culture, coupled with our narrow and deep approach, has been the cornerstone of our success, and I have been very fortunate to work with these women over the past several years to build our presence across Europe. Their commitment to working across all key markets I believe provides a truly international perspective for our clients, which is invaluable in a world where global experience is fundamental to success. These promotions signal the next stage of growth for our company, and Im so pleased to announce the promotions of Anais, Kate, and Charlotte. Anais unique and multi-national background has been a powerful foundation for her coming into this firm, and her wonderful manner, combined with her exceptional skills across the creative and executive search side of the firm, have been critical to our growth in Europe. Kate's incredible eye, deep knowledge of the market and highly strategic approach has been pivotal for our global, creative search endeavors - and Charlotte's talent agility has been indispensable in connecting the firm to emerging talent. They are not just team members, but partners in the architecting of KHC's next chapter, and Im so excited to see what we build next together. Their advancement is a testament to their hard work and the bright future they will help shape for KHC. - Karen Harvey Anais Goujon, based in the firms Paris office, has served as Senior Consultant since 2020, and has been working internationally across both the business and creative side of KHCs search practice. She focuses on placing high level creatives and senior executive leaders with KHCs global portfolio of brands. Prior to joining KHC, she had been working for m-O conseil, a boutique recruitment firm working with prestigious international clients from the luxury, fashion and culture worlds. I am deeply honored to step into the role of Director, Executive and Creative Search at KHC. What truly sets us apart is our global footprint and perspective. We don't just operate within regional boundaries; we embrace a worldwide vision. Under Karen's visionary leadership, we've cultivated an environment of collaboration, not competition. By bringing together diverse generations and perspectives from various cultures and countries, we are not just a team we are a global family, united in our mission to serve our clients with unparalleled insight and expertise. - Anais Goujon Kate Sunderland is now Vice President of Creative Recruitment at KHC, based in London, where she oversees global creative search across disciplines. Kate has twelve years of experience working closely with world-class creative talent and clients worldwide in fashion, luxury, retail, beauty, and home. With a BA Degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion from the acclaimed Central Saint Martins, and prior experience with the London-based and internationally recognized fashion recruitment and consultancy firms Denza and Smith & Pye, Kate brings a strong foundation and knowledge of the fashion industry to KHCs London Office. To me, being part of KHC means working with the most incredible leadership, team, clients and world class creative talent. It is an honour to come to work each day and continue to build the relationships that we do, and I am thrilled to grow further within the firm and work for a business and Founder that I have such deep respect for. - Kate Sunderland Charlotte Reeve was previously an Executive Search Consultant for KHC and the Director of Recruitment for INDX, based in our London office. She has over a decade of experience in both search and contingency recruitment, working with high profile businesses and brands at the forefront of digital innovation, and supporting those driving exciting transformation projects across the luxury, fashion, beauty, travel and tech spaces. Its so exciting to be working for a business which is not only partnering with innovative brands, but instrumental in driving innovation as a true strategic partner. I feel an immense privilege to be working with this all female, very talented leadership team, and I am very much looking forward to continuing what has been an incredible three years with the company so far. - Charlotte Reeve KHC is an international executive search and advisory services firm with multi-industry expertise and an extraordinary network. With offices in New York, London, Paris and L.A., they partner with leading companies in their search for world-class talent, and bring a unique approach to advising clients on modern brand and talent strategies that serve todays complex and dynamic consumer and business needs. With a core focus on executive search and advisory services for brands in fashion, luxury, lifestyle and beauty, KHC has earned global recognition for bringing some of the industrys most successful CEOs, CMOs, creative leaders, and collaborators to powerful global companies changing the arc of their businesses today to recalibrate for the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222508513/en/ Dana Supnick-Guidoni Love Creative Ventures [email protected] Source: Karen Harvey Consulting Group Lenovo resumes year-on-year revenue growth performance driven by resilience of core businesses and effectiveness of transformation HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY), together with its subsidiaries (the Group), today announced third quarter results reporting Group revenue increasing 3% year-on-year to US$15.7 billion, and Group profitability improving quarter-to-quarter for the second time in a row. Net income was US$357 million on a non-Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (non-HKFRS)[1] basis, with net income margin up 0.4% quarter-to-quarter to 2.3%. The Groups diversified growth engines continued to deliver strong performance, with revenue from non-PC businesses accounting for 42% of Group revenue, up 1.3 points year-on-year. The consistent quarter-to-quarter improvements over past quarters have been driven by the resilience of the Groups core businesses and the wider effectiveness of its ongoing transformation. The SSG business hit an important milestone of passing the US$2 billion revenue threshold, achieved a record high operating profit with operating margin of over 20% and grew revenue from managed services and project and solution services year-on-year for 11 straight quarters. The ISG business delivered quarter-to-quarter revenue growth and reached a record high US$1 billion revenue for its storage, software, and services businesses. Overall, the IDG business resumed revenue growth, outperformed the market and achieved year-on-year shipment growth for PCs, and maintained its industry-leading profitability. Financial Highlights: Q3 FY 23/24 US$ millions Q3 FY 22/23 US$ millions Change Group Revenue 15,721 15,267 3% Pre-tax income 471 605 (22%) Net Income (profit attributable to equity holders) 337 437 (23%) Net Income (profit attributable to equity holders non-HKFRS) [1] 357 447 (20%) Basic earnings per share (US cents) 2.81 3.65 (23%) Chairman and CEO quote Yuanqing Yang: Last quarter, we delivered on our promise and resumed year-on-year revenue growth, driven by both the resilience of our core businesses and the effectiveness of the service-led transformation. Looking ahead, our commitment to AI innovation, our pocket-to-cloud computing capabilities, full stack portfolio of smart devices, smart infrastructure, smart solutions and services, combined with our partnerships with other key leaders in AI, will ensure that we are well-positioned to capture the tremendous opportunities in AI. Accelerating AI leadership The Group is capitalizing on the significant growth opportunities afforded by the AI-era. In particular, the emerging trend of hybrid AI is directly driving the demand for AI PCs, a trend that will stimulate another industry refresh cycle as users require devices designed for more creativity and productivity. Alongside devices, hybrid AI is driving increased demand for hybrid infrastructure and customer demand for AI-native applications, solutions and services such as advisory, design, development and maintenance fueling growth across multiple customer verticals. To further build its unique position in the AI-era, Lenovo is continuing its investment commitments in innovation. R&D headcount is up year-to-year at more than 25% of Group headcount, with R&D expenses-to-revenue ratio for the full fiscal year on track to hit an all-time high. This ongoing investment, together with a full portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices, infrastructure, solutions and services, is the foundation of Lenovos vision of AI for All - changing the way individuals and enterprises live and work and will fuel future sustainable growth for the Group. Recent AI announcements from the Group include a partnership with Anaconda to accelerate AI development and deployment of Lenovos high-performance data science workstations, a suite of AI-powered devices and solutions announced at the annual CES show, an expansion of its hybrid cloud platform for AI with new ThinkAgile hyperconverged solutions and ThinkSystem servers, and a newly launched cyber-resiliency as a service (CRaaS) offering. Solutions and Services Group (SSG): Record revenue, record operating profit, driving AI solutions Q3 FY23/24 performance: Record revenue of US$2.0 billion, with double digit year-on-year growth. Record high operating profit with operating margin of over 20%. Protected support services and software as the core profit engines for SSG. Further expanded managed services and project and solutions services, together now making up 55% of SSGs revenue, up 1.5 points year-on-year and growing consecutively year-on-year for 11 straight quarters. Opportunities and Sustainable Growth: SSG has strong momentum for its hero offerings, including Digital Workplace Solutions (DWS), Hybrid Cloud, and sustainability solutions and services. SSG focused its hero offerings to support specific vertical industries with smart solutions, winning major customer deals. Increasing customer demand of AI technology used in industry use cases - with accompanying services such as advisory, design, and deployment - fueling AI services growth across different verticals. Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG): Capturing opportunities in AI infrastructure Q3 FY23/24 performance: ISG delivered quarter-to-quarter revenue growth for the second consecutive quarter. Combined revenue from storage, software, and services reached a record high of US$1 billion. ISG expects to remain a solid #3 globally for both storage and AI infrastructure. Opportunities and Sustainable Growth: AI server is expected to grow nearly twice as fast as the total server market. ISG is growing key strategic partnerships to strengthen its portfolio competitiveness. The rise of AI is driving higher demand for smart infrastructure (better performance, smarter management, and lower energy consumption). Lenovo is unique with its comprehensive Edge to Cloud portfolio, AI Innovators program, and AI Innovation Centers delivering vertical and horizontal pre-validated solutions to the industry. Intelligent Devices Group (IDG): Resumed growth and solidified leadership Q3 FY23/24 performance: IDG delivered a strong quarter with revenue resuming growth thanks to a clear strategy, consistent investment in innovation, and operational excellence. Continued PC market recovery saw IDG outperforming the market and returning to year-on-year shipment growth with the highest market share since Covid at nearly 24%. North America excelled with year-on-year PC revenue growth of 20%. The non-PC devices business made encouraging progress. The smartphone and tablet businesses returned to high double-digit year-on-year shipment growth with a significant premium to the market of more than 20 points. Smartphone shipments were up 32% year-to-year with hypergrowth in Asia Pacific, EMEA and North America. Opportunities and Sustainable Growth: The trend of hybrid AI will drive the demand for client devices and another refreshment cycle, creating growth potential and margin improvements. Lenovo has a unique opportunity to develop a fully unified AI experience that spans users digital ecosystems, including PC, tablets, and smartphones. ESG highlights Lenovo has been recognized for several ESG achievements over the past quarter, including: [1] non-HKFRS measure was adjusted by excluding net fair value changes on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, amortization of intangible assets resulting from mergers and acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions related charges; and the corresponding income tax effects, if any. About Lenovo Lenovo is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the worlds largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of New IT technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovos world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the stock exchange of Hong Kong under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992)(ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub. LENOVO GROUP FINANCIAL SUMMARY For the quarter ended December 31, 2023 (in US$ millions, except per share data) Q3 23/24 Q3 22/23 Y/Y CHG Revenue 15,721 15,267 3% Gross profit 2,601 2,612 (0)% Gross profit margin 16.5% 17.1% (0.6) pts Operating expenses (1,988) (1,862) 7% R&D expenses (547) (579) (6)% (included in operating expenses) Expenses-to-revenue ratio 12.6% 12.2% 0.4 pts Operating profit 613 750 (18)% Other non-operating income/(expenses) - net (142) (145) (2)% Pre-tax income 471 605 (22)% Taxation (94) (123) (23)% Profit for the period 377 482 (22)% Non-controlling interests (40) (45) (11)% Profit attributable to equity holders 337 437 (23)% Profit attributable to equity holders- non-HKFRS [1] 357 447 (20)% EPS (US cents) Basic 2.81 3.65 (0.84) Diluted 2.64 3.44 (0.80) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221855723/en/ Hong Kong Angela Lee, [email protected], +852 2516 4810 London Charlotte West, [email protected], +44 7825 605720 Zeno Group - [email protected] Source: Lenovo Group Limited Preliminary data from 472 nine-month-old infants confirm favorable safety and tolerability profile and demonstrate significant immunogenicity for the four most common pathogen serotypes Results support further development with LimmaTech expecting to initiate the next clinical trial in 2024 Topline results from the completed Phase I/II will be reported in the first half of 2024 SCHLIEREN, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LimmaTech Biologics AG announced positive interim data from its Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating Shigella4V (S4V), a tetravalent bioconjugate vaccine candidate against shigellosis, an infectious disease caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigellosis is a serious infection and remains the second leading cause of fatal diarrheal disease, particularly in infants in low- and middle-income countries. In the nine-month-old target population, administration of S4V demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile as well as robust data on immunogenicity against the four most common pathogenic Shigella serotypes, S. flexneri 2a, 3a, 6, and S. sonnei. Topline data from the now completed Phase I/II trial, conducted in Kenya, are expected in the first half of 2024. LimmaTechs S4V vaccine candidate demonstrated initial safety in all age groups evaluated already in the first part of the clinical trial. The current data update from the second part of the clinical trial includes 472 infants (nine months one month) who received two intramuscular injections at one of four different dose levels with or without the addition of an adjuvant. S4V was well tolerated with the majority of local and systemic reactions reported being mild in intensity and similarly distributed between the different groups. No vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. A statistically significant increase in serum IgG levels was obtained after either the first or the second injection, depending on the dose and formulation used. These positive interim results with S4V establish the very good immunogenicity that our bioconjugate vaccine candidate can generate in nine-month-old infants, a population that needs it the most, commented Patricia Martin, PhD, Chief Operating Officer of LimmaTech. Shigellosis is a serious disease caused by a pathogen continuously evolving and becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Our vaccine candidate has the potential to prevent an infection that threatens the lives of many children as well as protect travelers and military personnel traveling to Shigella-endemic countries. We look forward to continuing its clinical development in a study we plan to initiate in 2024. The interim Phase I/II data were previously presented at the BactiVac 4th Annual Network Meeting 2023 held in Birmingham, UK. About the Phase I/II study Conducted in Kenya, the Phase I/II study is a randomized, double-blind, dose-finding, and age-descending clinical trial designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of Shigella4V (S4V). The clinical trial is divided into two parts. The Part 1 age-descending study evaluated the vaccine candidates safety in adults, children (two-five years), and infants. The Part 2 dose-finding study evaluates S4Vs safety and immunogenicity in the nine-month-old target population to identify the preferred vaccine dose. In 2015, LimmaTech signed a research collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop novel, bioconjugate antigen-based vaccines, including a monovalent Shigella vaccine to be developed with the support of the Wellcome Trust. Following positive results from the proof-of-concept clinical trial with the monovalent Shigella vaccine, LimmaTech and GSK initiated the development of a multivalent Shigella vaccine funded in part by a Wellcome Trust grant. In July 2023, LimmaTech announced that it had in-licensed the S4V Shigella bioconjugate vaccine candidate from GSK to lead the further development of the program. About Shigellosis: Shigellosis is a global health threat caused by the Gram-negative Shigella spp. bacteria. It is estimated that about 188 million infections are due to Shigella of which 62.3 million cases occur in children younger than 5 years. Diarrheal infection is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in numerous countries as well as in travelers and deployed military personnel in endemic regions. There are 600,000 deaths attributed to Shigella each year and it is the second leading cause for diarrheal deaths. The standard treatment for shigellosis is oral rehydration and antibiotic therapy, however, the bacteria have acquired resistance to many antibiotics with numerous reports of outbreaks of multidrug-resistant strains, making treatment extremely difficult. Currently, no licensed Shigella vaccine is available. About LimmaTech Biologics LimmaTech Biologics is at the forefront of combating the global antimicrobial resistance epidemic based on its unparalleled track record in vaccine technology and clinical candidate development. The company is leveraging its proprietary self-adjuvanting and multi-antigen vaccine platform alongside additional disease-specific vaccine approaches to prevent increasingly untreatable microbial infections. With decades of expertise and an expanding, robust pipeline, the LimmaTech team is dedicated to generating protective solutions to deliver transformative value worldwide. For more information, please visit www.lmtbio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222411799/en/ LimmaTech Biologics AG Franz-Werner Haas, CEO E-Mail: [email protected] For media enquiries Alison Opalko or Alexander Siebert Trophic Communications Phone: +49 1511 0619905 Email: [email protected] Source: LimmaTech Biologics Photo taken on Sept. 12, 2021 shows a scene of the joint strategic exercise "Zapad-2021" by Russian and Belarusian armed forces at a training ground in Belarus. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua) MINSK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The regional grouping of Belarusian and Russian troops will hold military exercises on Belarusian territory in 2025, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said here on Thursday. Khrenin said in an interview that the Russian and Belarusian presidents initially proposed to hold joint strategic military exercises once every two years back in 2009. "The next exercise will take place in 2025 on the territory of the Republic of Belarus," he said, adding that the maneuvers will focus on ensuring the military security of the Union State. Khrenin further warned that Minsk would respond to any airspace violations, adding that there have already been six violations of the country's airspace since August last year. "We respond to all violations. When necessary, our combat aircraft are scrambled, and anti-aircraft missile forces are brought to the appropriate level of combat readiness," he said, adding that in case of serious violations, Minsk will not hesitate to shoot down foreign aircraft that violate the country's airspace. Prevalon Energy LLC established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Power Americas Existing battery energy storage solutions business transfers to newly-formed Prevalon with dedicated focus on innovation and growth in battery energy storage LAKE MARY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mitsubishi Power Americas (Mitsubishi Power) is transforming and rebranding its battery energy storage solutions (BESS) business into a standalone and legally separated company, PrevalonTM (pronounced preh-vuh-lon). Designed as a dedicated pure-play vehicle for innovation and growth in the battery energy storage space, Prevalon enters the market with an established track record, robust pipeline of global projects, and proven technology from Mitsubishi Powers BESS business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222583057/en/ Tom Cornell, President & Chief Executive Officer of Prevalon Energy LLC (Photo: Business Wire) This strategic shift is the first step to empower Prevalon to concentrate independently on battery energy storage and positions the company as a catalyst for embracing technological advancements and attracting investments in the rapidly evolving energy transition landscape. Prevalon brings significant experience from the BESS business at Mitsubishi Power over 30 projects, and three gigawatt hours (GWh) of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) deployed globally. With this BESS global experience, Prevalon is well-positioned to operate as a proven and established business, with the agility of a start-up. It will empower customers to deploy flexible battery energy storage solutions as a means to accelerate toward a more sustainable energy future. The new entity retains the current leadership team, technology and service offerings, employees, and other assets from the BESS global business at Mitsubishi Power. Prevalon will continue to offer the integrated end-to-end battery energy storage solution, renamed to Prevalon Battery Energy Storage Platform, which is designed to be flexible to specific project needs with a robust, intelligent, and cyber secure energy management system that will also serve as the foundation for Prevalons remote monitoring and diagnostics service business. As the speed of the energy transition increases, it is imperative that advanced technology solutions such as battery energy storage keep pace, said Bill Newsom, President and CEO, Mitsubishi Power Americas. With the establishment of Prevalon, we are confident its dedicated focus on battery energy storage solutions and services will unlock more value in this business to keep pace with this hyper-growth battery energy storage market. This is an example of Mitsubishi Powers commitment to aligning and structuring its businesses in a way that brings more value and targeted expertise to the ever-changing energy transition. "Today marks a thrilling milestone for our team," expressed Tom Cornell, President & CEO, Prevalon. "The establishment of Prevalon as a pioneering force committed to innovating products and services in the sector is a response to the escalating demand in the battery energy storage segment. Our core mission is to design and deploy safe, reliable, secure, and groundbreaking battery energy storage solutions, contributing to a more sustainable future. This vision drives our unwavering dedication to co-create tailored solutions with our customers, fast-tracking the progress toward a seamless energy transition." About Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, employs more than 2,800 power generation, energy storage, and digital solutions experts and professionals. Our employees are focused on empowering customers to affordably and reliably combat climate change while also advancing human prosperity throughout North, Central, and South America. Mitsubishi Powers power generation solutions include gas, steam, and aero-derivative turbines; power trains and power islands; geothermal systems; PV solar project development; environmental controls; and services. Energy storage solutions include green hydrogen, battery energy storage systems, and services. Mitsubishi Power also offers intelligent solutions that use artificial intelligence to enable autonomous operation of power plants. Mitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, MHI is one of the worlds leading heavy machinery manufacturers with engineering and manufacturing businesses spanning energy, infrastructure, transport, aerospace, and defense. For more information, visit the Mitsubishi Power Americas website and follow us on LinkedIn. About Prevalon Energy LLC Commitment, reliability, expertise. These are the ideals that guide our decision making, design philosophy, and relationship building. Prevalon Energy LLC (Prevalon), a Mitsubishi Power Americas company, is empowering companies to deploy flexible energy solutions and accelerate a more sustainable energy future. With 10 years of global battery energy storage experience and over 3 GWh of utility-scale battery energy storage projects deployed, Prevalon develops an end-to-end integrated battery energy storage solution that delivers throughout the entire lifecycle of your project and ensures performance. From design and engineering, energy management systems integration, commissioning, and long-term service programs, the Prevalon Battery Energy Storage Platform meets the demands of your energy system today and into the future. For more information, visit PrevalonEnergy.com and follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222583057/en/ Communications Contact Christa Reichhardt Mitsubishi Power +1 407-484-5599 [email protected] Alex Misrahi Prevalon +1 407-865-2307 [email protected] Source: Mitsubishi Power Americas DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT, ASX: NEM, PNGX: NEM) reported higher gold Mineral Reserves ("reserves") of 135.9 million attributable ounces for 2023 compared to the Companys 96.1 million ounces at the end of 2022. Newmont has significant upside to other metals, including more than 30 billion pounds of copper reserves and nearly 600 million ounces of silver reserves. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222480917/en/ Percentage of Gold Reserves by Jurisdiction (Graphic: Business Wire) "Newmont has strengthened its position as the responsible gold leader with the industry's highest concentration of quality operations, reserves and resources," said Tom Palmer, Newmont's President and Chief Executive Officer. "In 2023, we added more than 47 million ounces of gold reserves and 14 billion pounds of copper reserves through the acquisition of Newcrest and the continuation of our industry-leading exploration program. With the largest gold and copper reserve base in the industry, Newmont is well-positioned to deliver stable production and meaningful value to stakeholders today and in the future." 2023 Reserves & Resources Highlights Robust gold reserves of 135.9 million ounces Newcrest acquisition accounted for net addition of 44 million ounces of gold reserves in 2023 (net of revisions) Nearly all gold and copper reserves and resources are attributable to the Newmont Tier 1 Portfolio1 Underpinned by a strong base of operating sites with gold reserve life of 10 years or more, including Boddington, Lihir, Cadia, Tanami, Ahafo, Merian, Pueblo Viejo and Nevada Gold Mines (NGM), and further enhanced by Newmont's broader portfolio and organic project pipeline Measured & Indicated Gold Mineral Resources of 104.8 million ounces and Inferred Resources of 69.1 million ounces Significant exposure to copper with 30.1 billion pounds in reserves, 33.1 billion pounds in Measured & Indicated resources and 24.0 billion pounds in Inferred resources; nearly all copper reserves and resources are attributable to the Newmont Tier 1 Portfolio1 Additional exposure to other metals including silver, lead, zinc, and molybdenum Percentage of Gold Reserves by Jurisdiction2 Newmonts reserve base is a key differentiator with an average reserve grade of 0.97 grams per tonne and an operating reserve life of more than ten years at six managed sites and two non-managed joint ventures, with significant upside potential from a robust organic project pipeline. In addition, Newmont has substantial exposure to other metals, with 112 million gold equivalent ounces3 of reserves from copper, silver, lead, zinc, and molybdenum. PROVEN AND PROBABLE GOLD RESERVES1 In thousands of ounces 2022 Gold Reserves 96.1 Additions 2.8 Acquisitions4 55.9 Net Revisions (11.6 ) Depletion (7.3 ) 2023 Gold Reserves 135.9 For 2023, Newmont reported 135.9 million ounces of gold Mineral Reserves, a 41 percent increase from the prior year total of 96.1 million ounces. The acquisition of Newcrest drove the increase by adding a net 44.3 million ounces after revisions, primarily due to changes in regulatory requirements and technical assumptions. The gold reserve increases were primarily driven by Lihir and Cadia acquired in the Newcrest transaction; notably, Lihir added 17.5 million ounces of reserves, with a projected mine life of 16 years Cadia added 14.7 million ounces of reserves, with a projected mine life of 34 years These increases were supported by over 3 million ounces at the Brucejack mine, over 5 million ounces at the Wafi-Golpu project and nearly 4 million ounces the Red Chris project. Newmonts legacy sites had additions through drilling of 2.2 million ounces, which were offset by net negative revisions of 1.8 million ounces driven by Penasquito, Tanami, Musselwhite and Ahafo. Penasquito site had net negative revisions of 0.6 million ounces, before depletion, primarily due to an updated resource model that will further support future production planning. Sites including Eleonore, Porcupine, Cerro Negro and Merian substantially replaced depletion. Newmonts 38.5 percent interest in NGM represented 18.3 million attributable ounces of gold reserves at year end, compared to 18.6 million ounces at the end of 2022. Newmont's 40 percent interest in Pueblo Viejo represented 8.0 million attributable ounces of gold reserves at year end, compared to 8.2 million ounces at the end of 2022. Gold reserve grade decreased 10 percent to 0.97 grams per tonne compared to 1.09 grams per tonne in the prior year, primarily due to the lower grade of the acquired Newcrest assets. GOLD RESOURCES5 In thousands of ounces 2022 Gold Resources 111.5 Additions 5.8 Acquisitions4 74.6 Net Revisions (11.9 ) Conversions (6.1 ) 2023 Gold Resources 173.9 In 2023, Newmont reported Measured and Indicated Gold Mineral Resources of 104.8 million ounces, a 39 percent increase from the prior year total of 75.3 million ounces. Inferred Gold Mineral Resources totaled 69.1 million ounces, a 91 percent increase from the prior year total of 36.1 million ounces. The Newcrest acquisition added a total of 66.1 million ounces of resource growth to the Newmont portfolio, with reported Measured and Indicated Gold Mineral Resources of 32.3 million ounces and Inferred Gold Mineral Resources of 33.8 million ounces. Total Mineral Resources at Newmont's legacy sites were largely unchanged from 2022, with 90.4 million ounces in 2023 compared to 92.3 million ounces in 2022. Significant growth in resources was supported by the acquisition of the Tier 1 assets at Cadia and Lihir, with the addition of 20.6 and 20.2 million ounces, respectively. The newly acquired projects of Wafi-Golpu, Namosi and Red Chris contributed nearly 17 million ounces of total resources. Total Mineral Resources at Tanami increased by approximately 1.0 million ounces due to the addition of the Oberon Underground project. Total Mineral Resources at Penasquito decreased by 2.2 million ounces due to the updated resource model and technical assumptions that resulted in the removal of a resource layback at the Penasco pit. The layback could come back into Mineral Resources pending additional optimization work, including cost reductions, metallurgical recovery enhancements and metal price increases. Newmonts Measured and Indicated Gold Mineral Resource grade decreased to 0.57 grams per tonne compared to 0.67 grams per tonne in the prior year. Inferred Gold Mineral Resource grade of 0.6 grams per tonne decreased compared to 0.7 grams per tonne in the prior year. OTHER METALS In 2023, copper reserves and resources increased significantly, primarily due to the addition of the assets acquired in the Newcrest transaction, particularly Cadia, Wafi-Golpu and Red Chris. Copper reserves increased to 30.1 billion pounds from 15.7 billion pounds in the prior year, with a 20 percent increase in reserve grade from 0.29% in 2022 to 0.35% in 2023. Measured and Indicated copper resources increased to 33.1 billion pounds from 17.9 billion pounds. Inferred copper resources increased to 24.0 billion pounds from 8.6 billion pounds. Silver reserves were largely stable at 596 million ounces compared to 593 million ounces in the prior year, primarily due to the addition of the assets acquired in the Newcrest transaction, specifically Brucejack and Cadia, which offset depletion and negative revisions at Penasquito as a result of the updated resource model. Silver resources decreased during the year due to the impact of the negative revisions at Penasquito, which were partially offset by the Newcrest asset additions. Measured and Indicated silver resources decreased to 457 million ounces from 500 million ounces in the prior year. Inferred silver resources decreased to 108 million ounces from 152 million ounces in the prior year. Lead and zinc reserves and resources were impacted by the updated resource model at Penasquito. Lead reserves decreased to 2.1 billion pounds from 2.3 billion pounds, Measured and Indicated lead resources decreased to 1.4 billion pounds from 1.6 billion pounds, and Inferred lead resources decreased to 100 million pounds from 440 million pounds in the prior year. Zinc reserves decreased to 4.9 billion pounds from 5.5 billion pounds, Measured and Indicated zinc resources decreased to 3.3 billion pounds from 3.7 billion pounds, and Inferred zinc resources decreased to 0.3 billion pounds from 1.0 billion pounds in the prior year. Molybdenum reserves of 500 million pounds were declared in the current year due to the addition of the operating site at Cadia. Measured and Indicated molybdenum resources increased to 200 million pounds, with Inferred molybdenum resources of 100 million pounds. NOTES ON NEWMONTS DECLARATION Newmont has reported the assets acquired in the Newcrest transaction in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SECs) rule S-K 1300 which has different requirements than those in the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) 2012 guidance, which was the ruling the assets were previously declared under. These differences include a requirement to report only the attributable portion of the companys Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and to report Mineral Resources as Exclusive of Reserves, whereas the previous declaration of Mineral Resources were at 100% and included the metal also declared as Mineral Reserves. EXPLORATION OUTLOOK Newmonts attributable exploration expenditure for managed operations is expected to be approximately $270 million in 2024 with 70 percent of total exploration investment dedicated to near-mine expansion programs and brownfields and the remaining 30 percent allocated to the advancement of greenfield projects. Additionally, Newmonts share of exploration investment for its non-managed operations is expected to be approximately $30 million, for a total consolidated exploration expense outlook of $300 million for 2024. Geographically, the Company expects to invest approximately 27 percent in North America, 22 percent in Australia, 21 percent in South America and the remainder in Papua New Guinea, Africa and other locations. GOLD RESERVE SENSITIVITY A $100 increase in gold price would result in an approximate 5 percent increase in gold reserves while a $100 decrease in gold price would result in an approximate 6 percent decrease in gold reserves. These sensitivities assume an oil price of $75 per barrel (WTI), Australian dollar exchange rate of $0.70 and Canadian dollar exchange rate of $0.75. These sensitivities assume all other inputs remain equal, including all cost and capital assumptions, which may also have a material impact on these approximate estimates. KEY RESERVE AND RESOURCE ASSUMPTIONS6 At December 31, 2023 2022 Gold Reserves ($/oz) $1,400 $1,400 Gold Resources ($/oz) $1,600 $1,600 Copper Reserves ($/lb) $3.50 $3.50 Copper Resources ($/lb) $4.00 $4.00 Silver Reserves ($/oz) $20.00 $20.00 Silver Resources ($/oz) $23.00 $23.00 Lead Reserves ($/lb) $1.00 $1.00 Lead Resources ($/lb) $1.20 $1.20 Zinc Reserves ($/lb) $1.20 $1.20 Zinc Resources ($/lb) $1.45 $1.45 Molybdenum Reserves ($/lb) $8.00 Molybdenum Resources ($/lb) $10.00 Tungsten Resources ($/lb) $16.00 Australian Dollar (A$:US$) $0.70 $0.75 Canadian Dollar (C$:US$) $0.75 $0.80 West Texas Intermediate ($/bbl) $75.00 $85.00 For additional details on Newmonts reported gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum and tungsten Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, please refer to the tables at the end of this release. _________________________ 1 Newmonts go-forward portfolio is focused on Tier 1 assets, consisting of (1) six managed Tier 1 assets (Boddington, Tanami, Cadia, Lihir, Penasquito and Ahafo), (2) assets owned through two non-managed joint ventures at Nevada Gold Mines and Pueblo Viejo, including four Tier 1 assets (Carlin, Cortez, Turquoise Ridge and Pueblo Viejo), (3) three emerging Tier 1 assets (Merian, Cerro Negro and Yanacocha), which do not currently meet the criteria for Tier 1 Asset, and (4) an emerging Tier 1 district in the Golden Triangle in British Columbia (Red Chris and Brucejack), which does not currently meet the criteria for Tier 1 Asset. Newmonts Tier 1 portfolio also includes attributable production from the Companys equity interest in Lundin Gold (Fruta del Norte). Tier 1 Portfolio cost and capital metrics include the proportional share of the Companys interest in the Nevada Gold Mines Joint Venture. 2 North America includes 38.5 percent interest in Nevada Gold Mines; South America includes Newmont's 40 percent interest in Pueblo Viejo. 3 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs) are calculated using 2023 Mineral Reserve pricing for Gold ($1,400/oz.), Copper ($3.50/lb.), Silver ($20.00/oz.), Lead ($1.00/lb.), Zinc ($1.20/lb.) and Molybdenum ($8.00/lb.) and Resource pricing for Gold ($1,600/oz.), Copper ($4.00/lb.), Silver ($23.00/oz.), Lead ($1.20/lb.), Zinc ($1.45/lb.), Molybdenum ($10.00/lb.), Tungsten ($16.00/lb.) and metallurgical recoveries for each metal on a site by site basis, as metal * [(metal price * metal recovery) / (gold price * gold recovery)]. 4 In 2023, Newmont completed the acquisition of Newcrest Mining Limited ("Newcrest"). 5 Includes Measured and Indicated Gold Mineral Resources and Inferred Gold Mineral Resources. 6 For 2023 and 2022, Newmont reserves and resources were estimated using the price assumptions noted above, except for certain sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction, which have used more conservative price assumptions. Refer to the reserves and resources tables below for additional details. RESERVE AND RESOURCE TABLES Proven and probable reserves are based on extensive drilling, sampling, mine modeling and metallurgical testing from which Newmont determined economic feasibility. The reference point for mineral reserves is the point of delivery to the process plant. Metal price assumptions, adjusted for Newmont's exchange rate assumption, are based on considering such factors as market forecasts, industry consensus and management estimates. The price sensitivity of reserves depends upon several factors including grade, metallurgical recovery, operating cost, waste-to-ore ratio and ore type. Metallurgical recovery rates vary depending on the metallurgical properties of each deposit and the production process used. The reserve tables below list the average metallurgical recovery rate for each deposit, which takes into account the relevant processing methods. The cut-off grade, or lowest grade of mineralization considered economic to process, varies between deposits depending upon prevailing economic conditions, mineability of the deposit, by-products, amenability of the ore to gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc or molybdenum extraction and type of milling or leaching facilities available. Reserve estimates may have non-material differences in comparison to our joint venture partners due to differences in classification and rounding methodology. The proven and probable reserve figures presented herein are estimates based on information available at the time of calculation. No assurance can be given that the indicated levels of recovery of gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc and molybdenum will be realized. Ounces of gold or silver or pounds of copper, lead, zinc or molybdenum included in the proven and probable reserves are those contained prior to losses during metallurgical treatment. Reserve estimates may require revision based on actual production. Market fluctuations in the price of gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc and molybdenum, as well as increased production costs or reduced metallurgical recovery rates, could render certain proven and probable reserves containing higher cost reserves uneconomic to exploit and might result in a reduction of reserves. The measured, indicated, and inferred resource figures presented herein are estimates based on information available at the time of calculation and are exclusive of reserves. A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earths crust in such form, grade, or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other geological characteristics of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling. The reference point for mineral resources is in situ. Mineral resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into inferred, indicated and measured categories. Ounces of gold and silver or pounds of copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum and tungsten included in the measured, indicated and inferred resources are those contained prior to losses during metallurgical treatment. The terms "measured resource," "indicated resource," and "inferred resource" mean that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of geological evidence and sampling that is considered to be comprehensive, adequate, or limited, respectively. Market fluctuations in the price of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum and tungsten as well as increased production costs or reduced metallurgical recovery rates, could change future estimates of resources. Newmont publishes reserves annually, and will recalculate reserves at December 31, 2024, taking into account metal prices, changes, if any, to future production and capital costs, divestments and depletion as well as any acquisitions and additions during 2024. Please refer to the reserves and resources cautionary statement at the end of the release. Gold Reserves (1) December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Proven Reserves Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) CC&V Open Pit 100% 38,800 0.42 500 7,800 0.35 100 46,600 0.40 600 58% 61,400 0.37 740 CC&V Leach Pads (4) 100% 28,300 0.74 700 28,300 0.74 700 56% 32,600 0.78 820 Total CC&V, United States (5) 38,800 0.42 500 36,100 0.66 800 75,000 0.53 1,300 57% 94,000 0.52 1,560 Musselwhite, Canada (6) 100% 3,200 6.78 700 3,800 6.30 800 7,000 6.52 1,500 96% 10,400 5.76 1,920 Porcupine Underground (7) 100% 1,400 7.06 300 1,600 8.34 400 3,000 7.75 700 94% 2,500 8.49 690 Porcupine Open Pit (8) 100% 3,200 1.43 100 26,600 1.54 1,300 29,700 1.53 1,500 93% 34,500 1.46 1,610 Total Porcupine, Canada 4,500 3.14 500 28,200 1.93 1,700 32,700 2.10 2,200 93% 37,000 1.93 2,300 Eleonore, Canada (9) 100% 2,100 5.08 300 6,800 5.47 1,200 8,900 5.38 1,500 92% 9,400 5.22 1,570 Red Chris Open Pit 70% 30,200 0.37 300 30,200 0.37 300 53% Red Chris Underground 70% 171,700 0.64 3,500 171,700 0.64 3,500 70% Total Red Chris, Canada (10)(33) 201,900 0.60 3,900 201,900 0.60 3,900 68% Brucejack, Canada (11)(33) 100% 11,500 8.44 3,100 11,500 8.44 3,100 96% Penasquito, Mexico (12)(31) 100% 123,700 0.57 2,200 167,300 0.44 2,400 291,000 0.50 4,600 59% 316,500 0.53 5,410 Merian, Suriname (13) 75% 29,600 1.19 1,100 74,400 1.15 2,800 104,000 1.16 3,900 93% 104,800 1.16 3,900 Cerro Negro, Argentina (14) 100% 1,900 11.81 700 7,300 10.75 2,500 9,200 10.97 3,200 94% 9,400 10.02 3,030 Yanacocha Open Pit (15) 100% 21,700 0.80 600 107,000 0.75 2,600 128,600 0.76 3,200 56% 146,500 0.72 3,380 Yanacocha Underground (16) 100% 12,300 6.06 2,400 12,300 6.06 2,400 97% 12,300 6.06 2,400 Total Yanacocha, Peru (31) 21,700 0.80 600 119,200 1.30 5,000 140,900 1.22 5,500 73% 158,800 1.13 5,780 Pueblo Viejo Open Pit 40% 25,800 2.28 1,900 50,800 2.08 3,400 76,600 2.15 5,300 82% 78,500 2.19 5,530 Pueblo Viejo Stockpiles (17) 40% 39,700 2.12 2,700 39,700 2.12 2,700 83% 38,200 2.17 2,670 Total Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic (18)(31) 25,800 2.28 1,900 90,500 2.10 6,100 116,300 2.14 8,000 82% 116,600 2.19 8,200 NuevaUnion, Chile (19)(30) 50% 341,100 0.47 5,100 341,100 0.47 5,100 66% 341,100 0.47 5,110 Norte Abierto, Chile (20)(30) 50% 598,800 0.60 11,600 598,800 0.60 11,600 74% 598,800 0.60 11,620 Boddington Open Pit 100% 215,300 0.67 4,600 192,600 0.64 3,900 407,900 0.66 8,600 85% 446,700 0.66 9,490 Boddington Stockpiles (17) 100% 2,000 0.72 70,000 0.43 1,000 72,000 0.44 1,000 80% 78,300 0.43 1,090 Total Boddington, Australia (10) 217,300 0.67 4,700 262,600 0.58 4,900 479,900 0.62 9,600 84% 524,900 0.63 10,580 Tanami, Australia (21) 100% 9,900 5.58 1,800 16,600 5.71 3,100 26,600 5.66 4,800 98% 33,000 5.34 5,660 Cadia, Australia (22)(31)(33) 100% 1,102,300 0.42 14,700 1,102,300 0.42 14,700 81% Lihir Open Pits 100% 159,900 2.76 14,200 159,900 2.76 14,200 78% Lihir Stockpiles (17) 100% 57,200 1.83 3,400 57,200 1.83 3,400 78% Total Lihir, Papua New Guinea (23)(31)(33) 217,100 2.51 17,500 217,100 2.51 17,500 78% Wafi-Golpu, Papua New Guinea (10)(30)(33) 50% 194,500 0.82 5,100 194,500 0.82 5,100 68% Ahafo South Open Pit (24) 100% 5,200 2.76 500 35,500 1.68 1,900 40,700 1.82 2,400 90% 47,600 1.81 2,770 Ahafo South Underground (25) 100% 8,300 3.13 800 14,300 2.35 1,100 22,600 2.64 1,900 94% 22,600 3.06 2,230 Ahafo South Stockpiles (17)(26) 100% 23,400 1.01 800 23,400 1.01 800 91% 22,100 0.91 640 Total Ahafo South, Ghana 36,900 1.73 2,100 49,800 1.88 3,000 86,700 1.82 5,100 92% 92,300 1.90 5,650 Ahafo North, Ghana (27) 100% 26,000 2.38 2,000 27,100 2.43 2,100 53,100 2.41 4,100 91% 50,100 2.37 3,820 Akyem Open Pit 100% 13,000 1.52 600 5,900 1.61 300 19,000 1.55 900 90% 22,300 1.66 1,190 Akyem Stockpiles (17) 100% 6,700 0.78 200 6,700 0.78 200 90% 11,900 0.71 270 Total Akyem, Ghana (28) 19,700 1.27 800 5,900 1.61 300 25,600 1.35 1,100 90% 34,200 1.33 1,460 NGM Open Pit 38.5% 154,700 1.01 5,000 154,700 1.01 5,000 77% 159,400 1.00 5,110 NGM Stockpiles (17) 38.5% 15,100 2.01 1,000 14,000 2.44 1,100 29,100 2.22 2,100 69% 25,100 2.32 1,880 NGM Underground 38.5% 5,100 11.58 1,900 35,100 8.19 9,300 40,200 8.62 11,100 87% 41,300 8.75 11,610 Total NGM, United States (29) 20,200 4.42 2,900 203,900 2.35 15,400 224,100 2.54 18,300 82% 225,800 2.56 18,590 Total Gold 581,400 1.22 22,800 3,766,800 0.94 113,200 4,348,100 0.97 135,900 80% 2,757,100 1.09 96,140 (1) Gold reserves, at sites in which Newmont is the operator for 2023 and 2022, were estimated at a gold price of $1,400 per ounce, unless otherwise noted. Reserves provided by other operators may use pricing that differs. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Ounces are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Ounces may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022. (4) Leach pad material is the material on leach pads at the end of the year from which gold remains to be recovered. In-process reserves are reported separately where ounces exceed 100,000 and are greater than 5% of the total site-reported reserves. (5) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.10 gram per tonne. (6) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 3.80 gram per tonne. (7) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 4.89 gram per tonne. (8) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.64 gram per tonne. (9) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 4.11 gram per tonne. (10) Gold cut-off grade varies with level of copper credits. (11) Gold cut-off grade varies with level of silver credits. (12) Gold cut-off grade varies with level of silver, lead, and zinc credits. (13) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.29 gram per tonne. (14) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 4.30 gram per tonne. (15) Gold cut-off grades utilized in 2023 reserves were as follows: oxide leach material not less than 0.14 gram per tonne and refractory mill material not less than 1.23 gram per tonne. (16) Gold cut-off grades utilized in 2023 were as follows: oxide mill material not less than 3.37 gram per tonne and refractory mill material varies with level of copper and silver credits. (17) Stockpiles are comprised primarily of material that has been set aside to allow processing of higher grade material in the mills. Stockpiles increase or decrease depending on current mine plans. Stockpile reserves are reported separately where ounces exceed 100,000 and are greater than 5% of the total site-reported reserves. (18) The Pueblo Viejo mine, which is 40% owned by Newmont, is accounted for as an equity method investment. Reserve estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of Pueblo Viejo. (19) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (20) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the Norte Abierto joint venture. (21) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 2.40 gram per tonne. (22) Gold cut-off grade varies with level of copper, silver, and molybdenum credits. (23) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 1.20 gram per tonne. (24) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.63 gram per tonne. (25) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 2.20 gram per tonne. (26) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.56 gram per tonne. (27) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.58 gram per tonne. (28) Cut-off grade utilized in 2023 reserves not less than 0.52 gram per tonne. (29) Reserve estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the NGM joint venture. (30) Currently included in Corporate and Other which includes the Company's business activities relating to its corporate and regional offices and all equity method investments. (31) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022 for ounces and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (32) In 2022, the Company increased its ownership interest in Yanacocha to 100% by acquiring Buenaventuras 43.65% noncontrolling interest and Sumitomo's 5% noncontrolling interest. (33) Sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Gold reserves at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a gold price of $1,300 per ounce, with the exception of Lihir, for which gold reserves were estimated using Newmont's price assumptions, and certain legacy estimates, which have applied older, more conservative price assumptions. Gold Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Metallurgical Recovery (3) CC&V, United States 100% 77,400 0.43 1,100 43,700 0.36 500 121,100 0.40 1,600 22,400 0.43 300 56% Musselwhite, Canada 100% 900 4.36 100 1,300 4.17 200 2,200 4.25 300 1,200 4.96 200 96% Porcupine Underground 100% 200 4.55 1,100 6.89 200 1,300 6.49 300 2,400 8.04 600 94% Porcupine Open Pit 100% 100 0.60 66,300 1.65 3,500 66,300 1.65 3,500 59,800 1.46 2,800 92% Total Porcupine, Canada 300 3.67 67,400 1.73 3,800 67,700 1.74 3,800 62,200 1.71 3,400 92% Eleonore, Canada 100% 700 4.59 100 2,100 4.70 300 2,800 4.68 400 1,800 5.70 300 92% Red Chris, Canada (11) 70% 334,700 0.34 3,600 334,700 0.34 3,600 62,100 0.35 700 55% Brucejack, Canada (11) 100% 1,800 7.64 500 1,800 7.64 500 12,100 10.35 4,000 96% Coffee, Canada 100% 900 2.14 100 49,300 1.27 2,000 50,200 1.28 2,100 6,700 1.04 200 81% Galore Creek, Canada (4) 50% 212,800 0.29 2,000 385,600 0.22 2,700 598,400 0.25 4,700 118,900 0.19 700 75% Penasquito, Mexico (9) 100% 37,400 0.26 300 157,300 0.22 1,100 194,700 0.23 1,400 22,800 0.19 100 57% Noche Buena, Mexico 50% 19,900 0.37 200 19,900 0.37 200 1,600 0.21 50% Merian, Suriname 75% 6,000 1.01 200 38,000 1.10 1,300 44,000 1.09 1,500 30,800 1.00 1,000 88% Cerro Negro, Argentina 100% 1,300 3.71 200 2,100 6.17 400 3,400 5.22 600 6,200 4.73 900 94% Conga, Peru 100% 693,800 0.65 14,600 693,800 0.65 14,600 230,500 0.39 2,900 75% Yanacocha Open Pit 100% 16,800 0.41 200 111,300 0.43 1,500 128,000 0.42 1,700 186,500 0.80 4,800 67% Yanacocha Underground 100% 500 4.07 100 6,200 4.70 900 6,700 4.65 1,000 3,400 4.99 500 97% Total Yanacocha, Peru 17,300 0.52 300 117,500 0.65 2,500 134,800 0.64 2,800 189,900 0.88 5,400 73% Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic (5) 40% 7,300 1.47 300 37,300 1.49 1,800 44,600 1.49 2,100 3,200 1.58 200 82% NuevaUnion, Chile (6) 50% 4,800 0.47 100 118,300 0.59 2,300 123,100 0.59 2,300 239,800 0.40 3,100 68% Norte Abierto, Chile (7) 50% 77,200 0.61 1,500 596,900 0.49 9,300 674,200 0.50 10,800 369,600 0.37 4,400 76% Boddington, Australia 100% 98,200 0.55 1,700 169,700 0.54 2,900 267,900 0.54 4,700 2,400 0.51 83% Tanami Open Pit 100% 9,400 1.67 500 23,800 1.47 1,100 33,200 1.53 1,600 4,200 1.13 200 90% Tanami Underground 100% 2,500 3.82 300 5,600 4.43 800 8,000 4.24 1,100 15,900 4.48 2,300 96% Total Tanami, Australia 11,900 2.12 800 29,400 2.03 1,900 41,200 2.06 2,700 20,100 3.78 2,400 94% Cadia Underground 100% 1,596,600 0.32 16,200 1,596,600 0.32 16,200 497,000 0.24 3,800 80% Cadia Stockpiles and Open Pit 100% 30,900 0.30 300 30,900 0.30 300 11,000 0.71 200 65% Total Cadia, Australia (9)(11) 30,900 0.30 300 1,596,600 0.32 16,200 1,627,500 0.32 16,500 508,000 0.25 4,100 80% Telfer Open Pit 100% 25,900 0.56 500 25,900 0.56 500 78% Telfer Underground 100% 1,700 2.31 100 1,700 2.31 100 90% Total Telfer, Australia (11) 27,600 0.67 600 27,600 0.67 600 81% Havieron, Australia (11) 70% 33,200 2.65 2,800 33,200 2.65 2,800 11,400 1.71 600 87% Namosi, Fiji (11) 73% 105,500 0.22 700 105,500 0.22 700 1,346,900 0.10 4,300 72% Lihir Open Pit 100% 25,000 2.03 1,600 25,000 2.03 1,600 227,400 2.40 17,500 80% Lihir Stockpiles 100% 22,200 1.47 1,000 22,200 1.47 1,000 78% Lihir, Papua New Guinea (9)(11) 47,100 1.77 2,700 47,100 1.77 2,700 227,400 2.40 17,500 79% Wafi-Golpu Open Pit 50% 53,600 1.66 2,900 53,600 1.66 2,900 15,500 1.30 600 65% Wafi-Golpu Underground 50% 140,800 0.45 2,000 140,800 0.45 2,000 91,900 0.65 1,900 68% Total Wafi-Golpu, Papua New Guinea (11) 194,500 0.78 4,900 194,500 0.78 4,900 107,300 0.74 2,600 67% Ahafo South Open Pit 100% 3,200 1.21 100 5,600 0.92 200 8,800 1.03 300 6,100 1.40 300 88% Ahafo South Underground 100% 27,200 3.71 3,200 27,200 3.71 3,200 13,800 3.00 1,300 91% Total Ahafo South, Ghana 3,200 1.21 100 32,800 3.24 3,400 36,000 3.05 3,500 19,900 2.51 1,600 91% Ahafo North, Ghana 100% 5,000 1.46 200 12,700 1.88 800 17,700 1.76 1,000 6,600 1.57 300 91% Akyem, Ghana 100% 900 0.72 9,800 3.83 1,200 10,600 3.57 1,200 5,600 2.95 500 92% NGM Open Pit and Stockpiles 38.5% 4,000 0.99 100 175,200 0.99 5,500 179,200 0.99 5,700 101,000 0.76 2,500 75% NGM Underground 38.5% 1,400 7.51 300 20,900 5.95 4,000 22,200 6.04 4,300 23,100 6.52 4,800 84% Total NGM, United States (8) 5,300 2.66 500 196,000 1.52 9,600 201,400 1.55 10,000 124,100 1.83 7,300 80% Total Gold 599,700 0.52 9,900 5,121,900 0.58 94,900 5,721,600 0.57 104,800 3,761,500 0.57 69,100 78% Gold Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2022 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces(3) (000) Metallurgical Recovery (3) CC&V, United States 100% 79,700 0.38 980 42,300 0.32 440 122,000 0.36 1,420 32,200 0.34 350 59% Musselwhite, Canada 100% 1,300 3.92 170 2,600 3.93 330 3,900 3.93 490 3,000 4.15 410 95% Porcupine Underground 100% 300 6.69 70 1,000 8.64 270 1,300 8.15 340 1,800 8.08 480 92% Porcupine Open Pit 100% 200 0.51 73,000 1.53 3,600 73,200 1.53 3,600 66,000 1.36 2,890 91% Total Porcupine, Canada 500 4.36 70 73,900 1.63 3,860 74,500 1.64 3,940 67,900 1.54 3,370 91% Eleonore, Canada 100% 400 5.05 70 2,100 5.10 350 2,500 5.09 420 2,600 5.45 460 92% Coffee, Canada 100% 53,900 1.23 2,140 53,900 1.23 2,140 7,200 1.01 230 80% Galore Creek, Canada (4) 50% 212,800 0.29 2,010 385,600 0.22 2,710 598,400 0.25 4,720 118,900 0.19 720 75% Penasquito, Mexico 100% 47,400 0.25 390 263,500 0.26 2,190 311,000 0.26 2,570 84,700 0.41 1,110 69% Noche Buena, Mexico 50% 19,900 0.37 240 19,900 0.37 240 1,600 0.21 10 50% Merian, Suriname 75% 5,600 0.99 180 35,300 1.26 1,430 40,900 1.22 1,610 37,000 0.86 1,020 89% Cerro Negro Underground 100% 200 6.11 30 1,500 7.33 360 1,700 7.22 390 5,700 6.19 1,140 95% Cerro Negro Open Pit 100% 1,200 3.28 130 1,200 3.15 120 2,400 3.22 250 300 2.46 20 90% Total Cerro Negro, Argentina 100% 1,400 3.60 160 2,700 5.49 480 4,100 4.86 630 6,000 6.00 1,160 94% Conga, Peru (10) 100% 693,800 0.65 14,590 693,800 0.65 14,590 230,500 0.39 2,880 75% Yanacocha Open Pit 100% 13,500 0.38 170 114,900 0.42 1,570 128,400 0.42 1,730 189,700 0.79 4,830 66% Yanacocha Underground 100% 500 4.07 70 6,200 4.70 940 6,700 4.65 1,010 3,400 4.99 550 97% Total Yanacocha, Peru (10) 14,100 0.52 240 121,100 0.64 2,510 135,100 0.63 2,740 193,100 0.87 5,380 72% Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic (5)(9) 40% 7,300 1.43 340 33,200 1.51 1,610 40,600 1.49 1,950 3,000 1.77 170 88% NuevaUnion, Chile (6) 50% 4,800 0.47 70 118,300 0.59 2,260 123,100 0.59 2,330 239,800 0.40 3,050 68% Norte Abierto, Chile (7) 50% 77,200 0.61 1,510 596,900 0.49 9,320 674,200 0.50 10,820 369,600 0.37 4,360 76% Boddington, Australia 100% 92,800 0.55 1,630 167,400 0.54 2,900 260,200 0.54 4,530 2,800 0.51 50 83% Tanami Open Pit 100% 9,400 1.67 500 23,800 1.47 1,120 33,200 1.53 1,630 4,200 1.13 150 90% Tanami Underground 100% 1,700 3.26 180 5,400 4.29 750 7,100 4.04 920 8,800 5.19 1,460 97% Total Tanami, Australia 100% 11,000 1.91 680 29,200 1.99 1,870 40,200 1.97 2,550 13,000 3.88 1,620 94% Ahafo South Open Pit 100% 200 0.56 20,000 1.09 700 20,200 1.09 710 10,200 1.29 420 86% Ahafo South Underground 100% 24,700 3.53 2,810 24,700 3.53 2,810 11,000 3.44 1,220 92% Total Ahafo South, Ghana 200 0.56 44,700 2.44 3,510 44,900 2.43 3,510 21,200 2.41 1,640 91% Ahafo North, Ghana 100% 2,900 1.28 120 12,700 1.94 790 15,700 1.81 910 10,000 1.50 490 92% Akyem, Ghana 100% 1,000 0.70 20 9,000 3.68 1,060 10,000 3.38 1,090 7,100 2.74 620 92% NGM Open Pit and Stockpiles 38.5% 23,200 1.89 1,410 175,200 0.99 5,600 198,400 1.10 7,000 129,900 0.69 2,880 73% NGM Underground 38.5% 9,800 6.48 2,040 16,600 5.84 3,110 26,400 6.08 5,150 19,500 6.63 4,150 86% Total NGM, United States (8) 33,000 3.25 3,450 191,700 1.41 8,700 224,800 1.68 12,160 149,300 1.47 7,040 79% Total Gold 593,600 0.63 12,080 2,900,000 0.68 63,250 3,493,600 0.67 75,330 1,600,700 0.70 36,130 79% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Resources, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, are estimated at a gold price of $1,600 per ounce for 2023 and 2022, unless otherwise noted. Resources provided by other operators may use pricing that differs. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Ounces are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Ounces may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022. (4) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by Teck Resources, the Galore Creek joint venture partner. (5) Resource estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of Pueblo Viejo. (6) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (7) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by the Norte Abierto joint venture. (8) Resource estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the NGM joint venture. (9) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022 for ounces and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (10) In 2022, the Company increased its ownership interest in Yanacocha to 100% by acquiring Buenaventuras 43.65% noncontrolling interest and Sumitomo's 5% noncontrolling interest. (11) Sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Gold resources at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a gold price of $1,400 per ounce, with the exception of Havieron and Lihir, for which gold resources were estimated using Newmont's price assumptions, and certain legacy estimates, which have applied older, more conservative price assumptions. Copper Reserves (1) December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Proven Reserves Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu %) Pounds (3) (millions) Red Chris Open Pit 70% % 30,200 0.43% 300 30,200 0.43% 300 80% % Red Chris Underground 70% % 171,700 0.52% 2,000 171,700 0.52% 2,000 84% % Total Red Chris, Canada (4)(14) % 201,900 0.51% 2,300 201,900 0.51% 2,300 84% % Yanacocha, Peru (5)(13) 100% % 111,100 0.63% 1,500 111,100 0.63% 1,500 83% 111,100 0.63% 1,530 NuevaUnion, Chile (6)(11) 50% % 1,118,000 0.40% 9,800 1,118,000 0.40% 9,800 88% 1,118,000 0.40% 9,800 Norte Abierto, Chile (7)(11) 50% % 598,800 0.22% 2,900 598,800 0.22% 2,900 87% 598,800 0.22% 2,890 Boddington Open Pit 100% 215,300 0.09% 400 192,600 0.11% 400 407,900 0.10% 900 82% 446,700 0.10% 1,010 Boddington Stockpiles (8) 100% 2,000 0.15% 70,000 0.09% 100 72,000 0.09% 100 73% 78,300 0.09% 150 Total Boddington, Australia (4) 217,300 0.09% 400 262,600 0.10% 600 479,900 0.10% 1,000 80% 524,900 0.10% 1,160 Cadia, Australia (9)(12)(14) 100% % 1,102,300 0.29% 7,100 1,102,300 0.29% 7,100 86% % Wafi-Golpu, Papua New Guinea (4)(11)(14) 50% % 194,500 1.20% 5,100 194,500 1.20% 5,100 95% % NGM, United States (10) 38.5% 3,700 0.16% 82,400 0.17% 300 86,100 0.17% 300 65% 88,700 0.16% 320 Total Copper 221,000 0.09% 500 3,671,500 0.37% 29,700 3,892,500 0.35% 30,100 88% 2,441,500 0.29% 15,710 (1) Copper reserves, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, for 2023 and 2022 were estimated at a copper price of $3.50 per pound, unless otherwise noted. Reserves provided by other operators may use pricing that differs. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million for 2023 and nearest 10 million for 2022. (4) Copper cut-off grade varies with level of gold credits. (5) Reserve estimates relate to the undeveloped Yanacocha Sulfides project. Copper cut-off grade varies with level of gold and silver credits. (6) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (7) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the Norte Abierto joint venture. (8) Stockpiles are comprised primarily of material that has been set aside to allow processing of higher grade material in the mills. Stockpiles increase or decrease depending on current mine plans. Stockpiles are reported separately where pounds exceed 100 million and are greater than 5% of the total site reported reserves. (9) Copper cut-off grade varies with level of gold, silver, and molybdenum credits. (10) Reserve estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the NGM joint venture. (11) Currently included in Corporate and Other which includes the Company's business activities relating to its corporate and regional offices and all equity method investments. (12) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (13) In 2022, the Company increased its ownership interest in Yanacocha to 100% by acquiring Buenaventuras 43.65% noncontrolling interest and Sumitomo's 5% noncontrolling interest. (14) Sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Copper reserves at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a copper price of $3.00 per pound, with the exception of certain legacy estimates, which have applied older, more conservative price assumptions. Copper Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Red Chris, Canada (10) 70% % 334,700 0.34% 2,500 334,700 0.34% 2,500 62,100 0.36% 500 81% Galore Creek, Canada (4) 50% 212,800 0.44% 2,100 385,600 0.47% 4,000 598,400 0.46% 6,100 118,900 0.26% 700 93% Conga, Peru 100% % 693,800 0.26% 4,000 693,800 0.26% 4,000 230,500 0.19% 900 84% Yanacocha, Peru 100% 1,500 1.02% 99,800 0.36% 800 101,300 0.37% 800 39,700 0.37% 300 81% NuevaUnion, Chile (5) 50% 164,300 0.19% 700 349,900 0.34% 2,700 514,100 0.30% 3,400 602,200 0.39% 5,200 89% Norte Abierto, Chile (6) 50% 57,600 0.24% 300 551,300 0.19% 2,300 608,900 0.20% 2,600 361,800 0.18% 1,400 90% Boddington, Australia 100% 98,200 0.11% 200 169,700 0.11% 400 267,900 0.11% 700 2,400 0.07% 82% Cadia Underground 100% % 1,596,600 0.23% 8,200 1,596,600 0.23% 8,200 497,000 0.17% 1,900 85% Cadia Open Pit 100% 30,900 0.13% 100 % 30,900 0.13% 100 11,000 0.52% 100 80% Total Cadia, Australia (8)(10) 30,900 0.13% 100 1,596,600 0.23% 8,200 1,627,500 0.23% 8,300 508,000 0.18% 2,000 85% Telfer Open Pit 100% % 20,300 0.06% 20,300 0.06% % 49% Telfer Stockpiles 100% % 5,600 0.07% 5,600 0.07% % 46% Telfer Underground 100% % 1,700 0.56% 1,700 0.56% % 94% Total Telfer, Australia (10) % 27,600 0.09% 100 27,600 0.09% 100 % 65% Havieron, Australia (10) 70% % 33,200 0.34% 300 33,200 0.34% 300 11,400 0.16% 86% Telfer Projects, Australia (10) 100% % 51,700 0.29% 300 51,700 0.29% 300 1,900 0.28% 78% Namosi Open Pit 73% % 105,500 0.61% 1,400 105,500 0.61% 1,400 1,346,900 0.32% 9,500 84% Namosi Underground 73% % % % 209,900 0.43% 2,000 92% Total Namosi, Fiji (10) % 105,500 0.61% 1,400 105,500 0.61% 1,400 1,556,800 0.33% 11,500 85% Wafi-Golpu, Papua New Guinea (10) 50% % 140,800 0.73% 2,300 140,800 0.73% 2,300 91,900 0.68% 1,400 95% NGM, United States (7) 38.5% % 136,000 0.15% 500 136,000 0.15% 500 19,300 0.16% 100 65% Total Copper 565,300 0.28% 3,400 4,676,100 0.29% 29,700 5,241,400 0.29% 33,100 3,606,800 0.30% 24,000 88% Copper Resources at December 31, 2022 (1)(2) Measured Resources Indicated Resources Measured and Indicated Resources Inferred Resources Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Cu%) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Galore Creek, Canada (4) 50% 212,800 0.44% 2,060 385,600 0.47% 4,020 598,400 0.46% 6,080 118,900 0.26% 690 93% Conga, Peru (9) 100% % 693,800 0.26% 3,970 693,800 0.26% 3,970 230,500 0.19% 950 84% Yanacocha, Peru (9) 100% 500 0.18% 100,800 0.37% 830 101,300 0.37% 830 39,700 0.37% 320 81% NuevaUnion, Chile (5) 50% 164,300 0.19% 700 349,900 0.34% 2,650 514,100 0.30% 3,360 602,200 0.39% 5,170 89% Norte Abierto, Chile (6) 50% 57,600 0.24% 310 551,300 0.19% 2,340 608,900 0.20% 2,640 361,800 0.18% 1,450 90% Boddington, Australia 100% 92,800 0.11% 230 167,400 0.11% 420 260,200 0.11% 650 2,800 0.08% 10 82% NGM, United States (7) 38.5% 2,600 0.14% 10 116,900 0.14% 350 119,500 0.14% 360 19,900 0.13% 60 65% Total Copper 530,600 0.28% 3,310 2,365,500 0.28% 14,580 2,896,100 0.28% 17,890 1,375,800 0.28% 8,640 88% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Resources, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, are estimated at a copper price of $4.00 per pound for 2023 and 2022, unless otherwise noted. Resources provided by other operators may use pricing that differs. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 and nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by Teck Resources. (5) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (6) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by the Norte Abierto joint venture. (7) Resource estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the NGM joint venture. (8) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (9) In 2022, the Company increased its ownership interest in Yanacocha to 100% by acquiring Buenaventuras 43.65% noncontrolling interest and Sumitomo's 5% noncontrolling interest. (10) Sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Copper resources at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a copper price of $3.40 per pound, with the exception of Havieron, for which copper resources were estimated using Newmont's price assumptions, and certain legacy estimates, which have applied older, more conservative price assumptions. Silver Reserves (1) December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Proven Reserves Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Brucejack, Canada (4)(17) 100% 11,500 34.71 12,800 11,500 34.71 12,800 85% Penasquito Open Pits 100% 121,700 37.98 148,600 142,800 30.31 139,200 264,500 33.84 287,800 80% 288,500 34.82 323,000 Penasquito Stockpiles (5) 100% 2,000 33.97 2,200 24,500 28.79 22,700 26,500 29.18 24,900 80% 28,000 25.57 23,050 Total Penasquito, Mexico (6)(15) 123,700 37.91 150,800 167,300 30.09 161,800 291,000 33.42 312,600 80% 316,500 34.00 346,050 Cerro Negro, Argentina (4) 100% 1,900 85.48 5,200 7,300 69.23 16,300 9,200 72.58 21,500 75% 9,400 64.47 19,490 Yanacocha Open Pits and Underground (7) 100% 93,400 19.89 59,800 93,400 19.89 59,800 54% 93,400 19.90 59,760 Yanacocha Stockpiles and Leach Pads (5)(8) 100% 86,000 9.07 25,100 86,000 9.07 25,100 13% 96,400 8.71 27,010 Total Yanacocha, Peru (16) 179,500 14.70 84,800 179,500 14.70 84,800 42% 189,800 14.22 86,770 Pueblo Viejo Open Pits 40% 25,800 13.15 10,900 50,800 12.31 20,100 76,600 12.59 31,000 74% 78,500 12.87 32,460 Pueblo Viejo Stockpiles (5) 40% 39,700 14.48 18,500 39,700 14.48 18,500 70% 38,200 15.10 18,520 Total Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic (9)(15) 25,800 13.15 10,900 90,500 13.26 38,600 116,300 13.24 49,500 73% 116,600 13.60 50,980 NuevaUnion, Chile (10)(14) 50% 1,118,000 1.31 47,200 1,118,000 1.31 47,200 66% 1,118,000 1.31 47,170 Norte Abierto, Chile (11)(14) 50% 598,800 1.52 29,300 598,800 1.52 29,300 74% 598,800 1.52 29,340 Cadia, Australia (12)(15)(17) 100% 1,102,300 0.68 24,000 1,102,300 0.68 24,000 67% NGM, United States (13) 38.5% 2,400 7.97 600 60,800 6.93 13,600 63,200 6.97 14,200 38% 65,500 6.34 13,340 Total Silver 153,900 33.87 167,600 3,335,900 4.00 428,400 3,489,800 5.31 596,000 70% 2,414,600 7.64 593,140 (1) Silver reserves, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, for 2023 and 2022 were estimated at a silver price of $20.00 per ounce, unless otherwise noted. Reserves provided by other operators may use pricing that differs. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to nearest 100,000. (3) Ounces are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Ounces may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100,000 for 2023 and nearest 10,000 for 2022. (4) Silver cut-off grade varies with gold credits. (5) Stockpiles are comprised primarily of material that has been set aside to allow processing of higher grade material in the mills. Stockpiles increase or decrease depending on current mine plans. Stockpile reserves are reported separately where ounces exceed 100,000 and are greater than 5% of the total site-reported reserves. (6) Silver cut-off grade varies with gold, lead, and zinc credits. (7) Silver cut-off grade varies with gold and copper credits. (8) Leach pad material is the material on leach pads at the end of the year from which silver remains to be recovered. In-process reserves are reported separately where ounces exceed 100,000 and are greater than 5% of the total site-reported reserves. (9) The Pueblo Viejo mine, which is 40% owned by Newmont, is accounted for as an equity method investment. Reserve estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of Pueblo Viejo. (10) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (11) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the Norte Abierto joint venture. (12) Silver cut-off grade varies with gold, copper, and molybdenum credits. (13) Reserve estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the NGM joint venture. (14) Currently included in Corporate and Other which includes the Company's business activities relating to its corporate and regional offices and all equity method investments. (15) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022 for ounces and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (16) In 2022, the Company increased its ownership interest in Yanacocha to 100% by acquiring Buenaventuras 43.65% noncontrolling interest and Sumitomo's 5% noncontrolling interest. (17) Sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Silver reserves at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a silver price of $18.00 per ounce. Silver Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Brucejack, Canada (11) 100% 1,800 8.09 500 1,800 8.09 500 12,100 10.02 3,900 85% Galore Creek, Canada (4) 50% 212,800 4.08 27,900 385,600 4.77 59,100 598,400 4.52 87,000 118,900 2.60 9,900 73% Penasquito, Mexico 100% 37,400 24.48 29,400 157,300 25.12 127,100 194,700 25.00 156,500 22,800 25.41 18,700 79% Noche Buena, Mexico 50% 19,900 13.99 9,000 19,900 13.99 9,000 1,600 10.98 500 25% Cerro Negro Underground 100% 100 61.50 200 900 60.12 1,800 1,000 60.28 2,000 5,900 27.47 5,200 75% Cerro Negro Open Pit 100% 1,200 6.77 300 1,200 6.63 300 2,400 6.70 500 300 6.68 100 71% Total Cerro Negro, Argentina 1,300 11.71 500 2,100 30.02 2,000 3,400 22.95 2,500 6,200 26.45 5,300 75% Conga, Peru 100% 693,800 2.06 45,900 693,800 2.06 45,900 175,000 1.13 6,300 70% Yanacocha Open Pit 100% 16,100 6.76 3,500 105,200 10.43 35,300 121,300 9.94 38,800 26,400 13.51 11,500 44% Yanacocha Underground 100% 500 0.37 6,200 37.02 7,300 6,700 34.23 7,400 3,400 40.45 4,400 83% Total Yanacocha, Peru 16,600 6.57 3,500 111,300 11.91 42,600 128,000 11.21 46,100 29,800 16.56 15,900 51% Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic (5) 40% 7,300 7.96 1,900 37,300 8.04 9,600 44,600 8.02 11,500 3,200 8.14 800 74% NuevaUnion, Chile (6) 50% 164,300 0.96 5,100 349,900 1.19 13,400 514,100 1.12 18,400 602,200 1.16 22,500 66% Norte Abierto, Chile (7) 50% 77,200 1.20 3,000 596,900 1.07 20,600 674,200 1.09 23,500 369,600 0.95 11,300 78% Cadia, Australia (9)(11) 100% 1,596,600 0.61 31,300 1,596,600 0.61 31,300 497,000 0.47 7,500 65% Wafi-Golpu, Papua New Guinea (11) 50% 53,600 4.42 7,600 53,600 4.42 7,600 15,500 4.46 2,200 45% NGM Open Pit 38.5% 93,000 5.59 16,700 93,000 5.59 16,700 16,700 5.38 2,900 38% NGM Stockpiles 38.5% 1,800 5.63 300 38% NGM, United States (8) 93,000 5.59 16,700 93,000 5.59 16,700 18,400 5.41 3,200 38% Total Silver 516,900 4.29 71,300 4,099,200 2.92 385,400 4,616,200 3.08 456,700 1,872,300 1.80 108,100 68% Silver Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2022 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (g/tonne) Ounces (3) (000) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Galore Creek, Canada (4) 50% 212,800 4.08 27,950 385,600 4.77 59,100 598,400 4.52 87,040 118,900 2.60 9,940 73% Penasquito, Mexico 100% 47,400 23.94 36,510 263,500 23.99 203,240 311,000 23.98 239,740 84,700 27.24 74,220 86% Noche Buena, Mexico 50% 19,900 13.99 8,970 19,900 13.99 8,970 1,600 10.98 550 25% Cerro Negro Underground 100% 200 42.43 210 1,500 51.31 2,490 1,700 50.51 2,690 5,700 35.10 6,450 76% Cerro Negro Open Pit 100% 1,200 6.77 260 1,200 6.63 250 2,400 6.70 520 300 6.68 70 60% Total Cerro Negro, Argentina 1,400 10.72 470 2,700 31.64 2,740 4,100 24.64 3,210 6,000 33.66 6,520 75% Conga, Peru (10) 100% 693,800 2.06 45,910 693,800 2.06 45,910 175,000 1.13 6,330 70% Yanacocha Open Pit 100% 12,500 3.30 1,330 108,100 11.11 38,610 120,600 10.30 39,930 29,600 12.52 11,920 41% Yanacocha Underground 100% 500 0.37 10 6,200 37.02 7,350 6,700 34.23 7,350 3,400 40.45 4,390 83% Total Yanacocha, Peru (10) 13,000 3.19 1,330 114,200 12.51 45,950 127,200 11.56 47,290 33,000 15.38 16,310 49% Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic (5)(9) 40% 7,300 7.68 1,810 33,200 8.28 8,840 40,600 8.17 10,650 3,000 10.49 1,030 74% NuevaUnion, Chile (6) 50% 164,300 0.96 5,080 349,900 1.19 13,370 514,100 1.12 18,440 602,200 1.16 22,530 66% Norte Abierto, Chile (7) 50% 77,200 1.20 2,990 596,900 1.07 20,550 674,200 1.09 23,540 369,600 0.95 11,340 78% NGM, United States (8) 38.5% 2,400 5.33 410 81,700 5.46 14,340 84,100 5.46 14,760 18,700 5.57 3,350 38% Total Silver 525,900 4.53 76,550 2,541,500 5.18 423,010 3,067,400 5.07 499,560 1,412,800 3.35 152,120 75% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Resources, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, are estimated at a silver price of $23.00 per ounce for 2023 and 2022, unless otherwise noted. Resources provided by other operators may use pricing that differs. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Ounces are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Ounces may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022. (4) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by Teck Resources. (5) Resource estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the Pueblo Viejo. (6) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (7) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by the Norte Abierto joint venture. (8) Resource estimates provided by Barrick, the operator of the NGM joint venture. (9) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 in 2023 and nearest 10,000 in 2022 for ounces and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (10) In 2022, the Company increased its ownership interest in Yanacocha to 100% by acquiring Buenaventuras 43.65% noncontrolling interest and Sumitomo's 5% noncontrolling interest. (11) Sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Silver resources at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a silver price of $21.00 per ounce, with the exception of certain legacy estimates, which have applied older, more conservative price assumptions. Lead Reserves (1) December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Proven Reserves Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Penasquito Open Pits, Mexico (4)(6) 100% 121,700 0.37% 1,000 142,800 0.28% 900 264,500 0.32% 1,900 73% 288,500 0.33% 2,090 Penasquito Stockpiles, Mexico (4)(5)(6) 100% 2,000 0.32% 24,500 0.38% 200 26,500 0.37% 200 73% 28,000 0.33% 200 Total Lead 123,700 0.37% 1,000 167,300 0.30% 1,100 291,000 0.33% 2,100 73% 316,500 0.33% 2,300 (1) Lead reserves for 2023 and 2022 were estimated at a lead price of $1.00 per pound. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 and nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Lead cut-off grade varies with level of gold, silver, and zinc credits. (5) Stockpiles are comprised primarily of material that has been set aside to allow processing of higher grade material in the mills. Stockpiles increase or decrease depending on current mine plans. Stockpile reserves are reported separately where pounds exceed 100 million and are greater than 5% of the total site-reported reserves. (6) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties as provided under exhibit 96. Lead Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Penasquito, Mexico (4) 100% 37,400 0.28% 200 157,300 0.24% 800 194,700 0.24% 1,000 22,800 0.23% 100 72% Telfer Projects, Australia (5) 100% % 51,700 0.30% 300 51,700 0.30% 300 1,900 0.24% 89% Total Lead 37,400 0.28% 200 209,100 0.25% 1,200 246,500 0.26% 1,400 24,700 0.23% 100 76% Lead Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2022 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Pb %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Penasquito, Mexico 100% 47,400 0.26% 270 263,500 0.23% 1,360 311,000 0.24% 1,630 84,700 0.23% 440 72% Total Lead 47,400 0.26% 270 263,500 0.23% 1,360 311,000 0.24% 1,630 84,700 0.23% 440 72% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. (2) Resources are estimated at a lead price of $1.20 per pound for 2023 and 2022. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 and nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (5) Site acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Lead resources at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a lead price of $1.07 per pound. Zinc Reserves (1) December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Proven Reserves Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Penasquito Open Pits, Mexico (4)(6) 100% 121,700 0.95% 2,500 142,800 0.66% 2,100 264,500 0.79% 4,600 82% 288,500 0.82% 5,240 Penasquito Stockpiles, Mexico (4)(5)(6) 100% 2,000 0.66% 24,500 0.52% 300 26,500 0.53% 300 82% 28,000 0.47% 290 Total Zinc 123,700 0.94% 2,600 167,300 0.63% 2,300 291,000 0.77% 4,900 82% 316,500 0.79% 5,540 (1) Zinc reserves for 2023 and 2022 were estimated at a zinc price of $1.20 per pound. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 and nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Zinc cut-off grade varies with level of gold, silver, and lead credits. (5) Stockpiles are comprised primarily of material that has been set aside to allow processing of higher grade material in the mills. Stockpiles increase or decrease depending on current mine plans. Stockpile reserves are reported separately where pounds exceed 100 million and are greater than 5% of the total site-reported reserves. (6) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties as provided under exhibit 96. Zinc Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Penasquito, Mexico (4) 100% 37,400 0.69% 600 157,300 0.59% 2,000 194,700 0.61% 2,600 22,800 0.57% 300 81% Telfer Projects, Australia (5) 100% % 51,700 0.63% 700 51,700 0.63% 700 1,900 0.47% 78% Total Zinc 37,400 0.69% 600 209,100 0.60% 2,800 246,500 0.61% 3,300 24,700 0.56% 300 80% Zinc Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2022 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Zn %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Penasquito, Mexico 100% 47,400 0.62% 650 263,500 0.53% 3,080 311,000 0.54% 3,740 84,700 0.53% 1,000 81% Total Zinc 47,400 0.62% 650 263,500 0.53% 3,080 311,000 0.54% 3,740 84,700 0.53% 1,000 81% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. (2) Resources are estimated at a zinc price of $1.45 per pound for 2023 and 2022. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 and nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 10 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (5) Site acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Zinc resources at sites acquired through the Newcrest transaction were estimated at a zinc price of $1.15 per pound. Molybdenum Reserves (1) December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Proven Reserves Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Proven and Probable Reserves Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Tonnage (2) (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) NuevaUnion, Chile (4)(5) 50% % 776,900 0.02% 300 776,900 0.02% 300 48% 776,900 0.02% 270 Total Cadia, Australia (6)(7)(8) 100% % 1,085,100 0.01% 200 1,085,100 0.01% 200 72% % Total Molybdenum % 1,862,000 0.01% 500 1,862,000 0.01% 500 55% 776,900 0.02% 270 (1) Molybdenum reserves, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, for 2023 were estimated at a molybdenum price of $8.00 per pound. Reserves for NuevaUnion are estimated based on a molybdenum price set by NuevaUnion joint venture. Amounts presented may not recalculate in total due to rounding. (2) Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 and nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Project is currently undeveloped. Reserve estimates provided by the NuevaUnion joint venture. (5) Currently included in Corporate and Other which includes the Company's business activities relating to its corporate and regional offices and all equity method investments. (6) Molybdenum cut-off grade varies with level of gold, silver, and copper credits. (7) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (8) Site acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Molybdenum Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) NuevaUnion, Chile (4) 50% 159,500 0.01% 231,500 0.01% 391,000 0.01% 100 362,300 0.01% 100 52% Cadia, Australia (5)(6) 100% % 1,515,400 0.01% 200 1,515,400 0.01% 200 497,000 % 72% Total Molybdenum 159,500 0.01% 1,746,900 0.01% 200 1,906,400 0.01% 200 859,400 0.01% 100 60% Molybdenum Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2022 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (Mo %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) NuevaUnion, Chile (4) 50% 159,500 0.01% 20 231,500 0.01% 40 391,000 0.01% 70 362,300 0.01% 100 52% Total Molybdenum 159,500 0.01% 20 231,500 0.01% 40 391,000 0.01% 70 362,300 0.01% 100 52% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. (2) Resources, at sites in which Newmont is the operator, are estimated at a molybdenum price of $10.00 per pound for 2023. Resources for NuevaUnion are estimated based on a molybdenum price set by NuevaUnion joint venture. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million in 2023 nearest 10 million in 2022. (4) Project is currently undeveloped. Resource estimates provided by NuevaUnion joint venture. (5) Amounts presented herein have been rounded to the nearest 100 million for pounds and 100,000 for tonnes and therefore may not agree to the respective Technical Report Summaries provided for certain properties. (6) Site acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Tungsten Resources (1)(2) - December 31, 2023 Measured Resource Indicated Resource Measured and Indicated Resource Inferred Resource Deposits/Districts Newmont Share Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (W %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (W %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (W %) Pounds (3) (millions) Tonnage (000 tonnes) Grade (W %) Pounds (3) (millions) Metallurgical Recovery (3) Telfer Projects, Australia (4) 100% % 51,700 0.35% 400 51,700 0.35% 400 1,900 0.4% 74% Total Tungsten % 51,700 0.35% 400 51,700 0.35% 400 1,900 0.4% 74% (1) Resources are reported exclusive of reserves. (2) Resources are estimated at a tungsten price of $16.00 per pound for 2023. Tonnage amounts have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. (3) Pounds are estimates of metal contained in ore tonnages and do not include allowances for processing losses. Metallurgical recovery rates represent the estimated amount of metal to be recovered through metallurgical extraction processes. Pounds may not recalculate as they are rounded to the nearest 100 million. (4) Site acquired through the Newcrest transaction. Cautionary Statement Regarding Reserve and Resource Estimates: The reserves stated herein were prepared in compliance with Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K adopted by the United States Securities and Exchanges Commission ("the SEC") and represent the amount of gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum and tungsten estimated, at December 31, 2023, could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. The term economically, as used in this definition, means that profitable extraction or production has been established or analytically demonstrated in at a minimum, a pre-feasibility study to be viable and justifiable under reasonable investment and market assumptions. The term legally, as used in this definition, does not imply that all permits needed for mining and processing have been obtained or that other legal issues have been completely resolved. However, for a reserve to exist, Newmont (or our joint venture partners) must have a justifiable expectation, based on applicable laws and regulations, that issuance of permits or resolution of legal issues necessary for mining and processing at a particular deposit will be accomplished in the ordinary course and in a timeframe consistent with Newmonts (or our joint venture partners') current mine plans. Reserves in this presentation are aggregated from the proven and probable classes. The term Proven reserves used in the tables of the appendix means reserves for which (a) quantity is estimated from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; (b) grade and/or quality are estimated from the results of detailed sampling; and (c) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurements are spaced so closely and the geologic character is sufficiently defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well established. The term Probable reserves means reserves for which quantity and grade are estimated from information similar to that used for Proven reserves, but the sites for sampling are farther apart or are otherwise less closely spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for Proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation. Newmont classifies all reserves as Probable on its development projects until a year of production has confirmed all assumptions made in the reserve estimates. Proven and Probable reserves include gold, copper, silver, zinc, lead, molybdenum or tungsten attributable to Newmonts ownership or economic interest. Proven and Probable reserves were calculated using cut-off grades. The term cutoff grade means the lowest grade of mineralized material considered economic to process. Cut-off grades vary between deposits depending upon prevailing economic conditions, mineability of the deposit, by-products, amenability of the ore to gold, copper, silver, zinc, lead, molybdenum or tungsten extraction and type of milling or leaching facilities available. Estimates of Proven and Probable reserves are subject to considerable uncertainty. Such estimates are, or will be, to a large extent, based on the prices of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum and tungsten and interpretations of geologic data obtained from drill holes and other exploration techniques, which data may not necessarily be indicative of future results. If our reserve estimations are required to be revised using significantly lower gold, silver, zinc, copper, lead, molybdenum and tungsten prices as a result of a decrease in commodity prices, increases in operating costs, reductions in metallurgical recovery or other modifying factors, this could result in material write-downs of our investment in mining properties, goodwill and increased amortization, reclamation and closure charges. Producers use pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for undeveloped ore bodies to derive estimates of capital and operating costs based upon anticipated tonnage and grades of ore to be mined and processed, the predicted configuration of the ore body, expected recovery rates of metals from the ore, the costs of comparable facilities, the costs of operating and processing equipment and other factors. Actual operating and capital cost and economic returns on projects may differ significantly from original estimates. Further, it may take many years from the initial phases of exploration until commencement of production, during which time, the economic feasibility of production may change. Estimates of resources are subject to further exploration and development, are subject to additional risks, and no assurance can be given that they will eventually convert to future reserves. Inferred resources, in particular, have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and their economic and legal feasibility. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of all of the Inferred resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. The Company cannot be certain that any part or parts of the resource will ever be converted into reserves. In addition, if the price of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum or tungsten declines from recent levels, if production costs increase, grades decline, recovery rates decrease or if applicable laws and regulations are adversely changed, the indicated level of recovery may not be realized or mineral reserves or resources might not be mined or processed profitably. If we determine that certain of our mineral reserves or resources have become uneconomic, this may ultimately lead to a reduction in our aggregate reported mineral reserves and resources. Consequently, if our actual mineral reserves and resources are less than current estimates, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial position may be materially impaired. For additional information see the Proven and Probable Reserve" and "Measured and Indicated and Inferred Resource" tables herein. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, estimates and expectations of future production, reserve estimates, exploration outlook and expected expenditure, and operational and financial performance. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such assumptions, include, but are not limited to the key assumptions set forth on page 4 hereof. Investors are also encouraged to refer to the Companys Form 10-K for its fiscal year 2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023, as updated by the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 20, 2023, Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on October 26, 2023 as well as Newmont's other SEC filings, including the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on September 5, 2023, under the headings Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Statements for additional information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at investors' own risk. Investors are also encouraged to review our Form 10-K expected to be filed on, or about, February 27, 2024. About Newmont Newmont is the worlds leading gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver. The companys world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social, and governance practices. Newmont is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution, and technical expertise. Founded in 1921, the company has been publicly traded since 1925. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222480917/en/ Media Contact Jennifer Pakradooni [email protected] Investor Contact - Global Neil Backhouse [email protected] Investor Contact - Asia Pacific Christopher Maitland [email protected] Source: Newmont Corporation Thursday, February 29 HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority will hold its Regular Commission Monthly Meeting on Thursday, February 29, 2024, beginning at 9:15 a.m. A quorum of the Port Commission, along with executive leadership, will be present in the boardroom of the Port Houston Executive Office Building, located at 111 East Loop North, Houston, TX 77029. It will be conducted as a hybrid meeting open to the public to attend in person or access virtually via WebEx webinar. The agenda and instructions for accessing Port Houston public meetings are available at https://www.porthouston.com/about/public-meetings/agendas-minutes/. Sign-up for public comment is available up to an hour before the meeting by contacting Erik Eriksson at [email protected] or Liana Christian at [email protected]. Please note the next Port Commission Regular Monthly Meeting is on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel the nations largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the U.S. nation. The more than 200 private and eight public terminals along the federal waterway supports the creation of nearly 1.54 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas 19% of Texas total gross domestic product (GDP) and a total of $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website: https://porthouston.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222592684/en/ Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Port Houston Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail: [email protected] Source: Port Houston SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reddit, Inc. (Reddit), a community of communities, today announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its Class A common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Reddit intends to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol RDDT. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan, and BofA Securities are acting as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Securities, and MUFG are acting as joint book-running managers. Citizens JMP, Needham & Company, Piper Sandler, Raymond James, Academy Securities, Loop Capital Markets, Ramirez & Co., Inc., Roth Capital Partners, and Telsey Advisory Group are acting as co-managers. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, a copy of the preliminary prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, New York, New York 10014, or email: [email protected]; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316, or email: [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or email: [email protected]; and BofA Securities, Inc., NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone: 1-800-294-1322, or email: [email protected]. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Reddit, Inc. Reddit is a community of communities. Its built on shared interests, passion, and trust and is home to the most open and authentic conversations on the internet. Every day, Reddit users submit, vote, and comment on the topics they care most about. With 100,000+ active communities and approximately 73+ million daily active unique visitors, Reddit is one of the internets largest sources of information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222682904/en/ Media Relations Gina Antonini [email protected] Investor Relations Jesse Rose [email protected] Source: Reddit, Inc. SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rejuvenate Bio today announced publication of groundbreaking research in the peer-reviewed journal Cellular Reprogramming. The study, titled "Gene Therapy-Mediated Partial Reprogramming Extends Lifespan and Reverses Age-Related Changes in Aged Mice," reveals promising advancements in combating age-related diseases and extending lifespan through cellular rejuvenation. Aging is a complex process characterized by cellular dysregulation leading to deteriorated tissue and organ function. While aging cannot be prevented, interventions targeting cellular processes offer potential for mitigating its impact on health and lifespan in the elderly. Rejuvenate Bio's research focuses on partial reprogramming using the Yamanaka factors, specifically OCT4, SOX2, and KLF4 (OSK), to reverse age-related changes. In this study, systemically delivered adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) encoding an inducible OSK system were administered to 124-week-old male mice, equivalent to approximately 77 human years. The results demonstrated a remarkable 109% increase in median remaining lifespan compared to wild-type controls, along with improvements in various health parameters. Notably, frailty scores showed significant enhancements, indicating improved healthspan in treated mice. The active group also reported significant age-reversal in heart and liver tissues, as well as human keratinocytes, as indicated by DNA methylation clocks. To understand how OSK overexpression impacts human cells, OSK was also introduced into HEK001 keratinocytes obtained from a 65-year-old male patient's scalp. The researchers observed significant epigenetic age reversal in the treated keratinocytes compared to untreated or GFP-transduced cells. These findings, along with the data from mice, indicate that AAV-mediated gene therapy delivering OSK extends lifespan in mice while enhancing health parameters and reverses aging biomarkers in both mouse and human cells. For the first time, we extend median remaining lifespan in extremely old wild-type mice, accompanied by improved health outcomes via systemic AAV-based partial reprogramming therapy, said Noah Davidsohn, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Rejuvenate Bio. Our study demonstrates profound age reversal in wild-type mice through exogenous OSK expression, evidenced by restoration of genomic methylation patterns characteristic of younger cellsa validated hallmark of age reversal. Our approach could potentially address the growing burden of age-related diseases in human populations, and we look forward to translating our findings into potential therapeutic interventions for aging-related conditions. This is the first published work to actually have epigenetic reprogramming extend overall lifespan in normal mice, said Dan Oliver, Ph.D., CEO, Rejuvenate Bio. The studys analysis of human keratinocytes expressing exogenous OSK also revealed significant epigenetic markers of age reversal, suggesting a potential restoration of genetic networks to a younger, healthier state. These results may have important implications for the development of partial reprogramming interventions to reverse age-associated diseases in the elderly population. About Rejuvenate Bio Rejuvenate Bio is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing novel gene therapies for chronic age-related diseases. Rejuvenate Bio has built a gene therapy pipeline with huge potential in chronic disease by utilizing clinically validated gene targets and a delivery approach that ensures well tolerated, durable expression. Founded on scientific research developed at the Wyss Institute at Harvard Medical School, Rejuvenate Bio has developed groundbreaking therapies to treat chronic age-related disease in both humans and animals. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, visit www.rejuvenatebio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222406246/en/ Media Kimberly Ha KKH Advisors 917-291-5744 [email protected] Source: Rejuvenate Bio California-based hub designed to ensure more contractors, professionals receive right products at the right time VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rust-Oleum, a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings, today announced its latest initiative to expand its presence on the West Coast with a new fulfillment center in Sacramento, California. This strategic move enhances the companys current distribution capabilities, ensuring efficient service to contractors and professionals across 13 states. At Rust-Oleum, service is synonymous with our brand. Thats why we work side-by-side with our customers through every step of the process to understand, anticipate and deliver on their needs, said Nathan Owen, vice president of sales, Rust-Oleum. Were proud to further enhance our ability to cater to the diverse demands of industrial and commercial facilities. Right products, right time The new site strategically positions Rust-Oleum to fulfill orders with increased efficiency and reduced shipping times. This location will also serve a territory spanning Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. In-demand products to be shipped from this center include Rust-Oleums new High Performance Industrial ROC coatings line of products all backed by a rust-proof guarantee, the companys premium low-VOC, low-HAP coatings brand Sierra Performance, and its newest versatile innovation called The MULE. This highly washable, abrasion-resistant interior and exterior multi-surface coating can be used on walls, doors, trim and floors. By stocking popular items and optimizing inventory, the company can improve the overall customer experience by getting end users what they need, when they need it. As a trusted leader in the industry, we are committed to continually refining our services and product offering to consistently exceed our customers expectations, said Owen. Learn more about Rust-Oleums professional solutions at LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Find more details about the companys extensive range of industrial products by visiting rustoleum.com/industrialsolutions. About Rust-Oleum For more than a century, Rust-Oleum has been a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike across categories including small project paints, cleaners, primers, automotive, industrial, high-performance coatings and wood care. Its wide breadth of brands and products include such trusted names as Rust-Oleum, Stops Rust, Painters Touch, Universal, EpoxyShield, Varathane, Zinsser, Watco, MultiSpec, X-I-M, Krud Kutter, RockSolid, Wipe New, Testors, Seal-Krete, Modern Masters, Moldex, Whink, Miracle Sealants, Roto-Rooter, Mean Green, Concrobium, and Gator Finishing Products. Visit rustoleum.com for more information. Follow Rust-Oleum on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222173696/en/ Vivika Panagiotakakos 224-471-6057 [email protected] Source: Rust-Oleum SEE Holding named Best in Arabia in the Sustainable Residential Development category for The Sustainable City, and Public Service Development category for Sanad Village. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SEE Holding, the regions leading sustainably focused global holding group and the visionary force behind The Sustainable City, has been honored with prestigious accolades at the International Property Awards 2024 in London today. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222968195/en/ The Sustainable City Dubai 2024 (Photo: AETOSWire) The company received awards in two distinct categories: "Best Sustainable Residential Development" for The Sustainable City and "Best Public Service Development" for Sanad Village, underscoring its exceptional contributions to establish sustainable development in the region. Pioneered by the SEE Holding group, The Sustainable City is designed around the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental, and economic. The city is achieving remarkable results with a 78% lower carbon footprint per capita, 89% waste diversion from landfills, and 40% less water consumption compared to regional averages. The live-work-thrive community in Dubai is at full occupancy, with 3,000 residents from 65 nationalities enjoying life in the region's first operational sustainable development. This concept is also being replicated in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Yiti in Oman, with a pipeline of additional projects around the globe. In addition to The Sustainable City, SEE Holding's diverse portfolio includes other acclaimed companies such as Diamond Developers, City Solar, and Tadweer, alongside a wide range of other sustainability-focused revenue-generating entities. With over two decades of experience in the industry of sustainability, SEE Holding focuses on designing, investing in, and building sustainable infrastructure and cities around the world. From its headquarters in Dubai, UAE, the holding company continues to lead the way in shaping the future of sustainable urban development in the Middle East and beyond. About SEE Holding SEE Holding, is a UAE based sustainably focused global holding group that designs, invests in, and builds sustainable infrastructures and cities through its three operational verticals: SEE Solutions, SEE Developers, and SEE Engineering. Driven by its purpose of spearheading a net zero emissions future and achieving the 2050 UN targets, SEE Holding develops inclusive and sustainable communities that prioritize education, sports, healthcare, and overall well-being as part of its commitment to social, environmental and economic impact. SEE Holding currently has projects in the UAE, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and Oman. For more information, please visit us on: [https://seeholding.com/] *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222968195/en/ Hadeel Ahmed [email protected] Source: SEE Holding A Veteran Mother-Son Duo, Ornella and Brian Solomon Will Form the Lewis-Solomon Group NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Snowden Lane Partners, an independent, advisor-owned, wealth advisory firm dedicated to providing client-focused advice in a values-driven culture, today announced that Ornella and Brian Solomon have joined the firm as Managing Directors, based in Snowden Lanes New York City headquarters. Together, the mother-son wealth management team will form The Lewis-Solomon Group with $208 million in client assets and have chosen Charles Schwab as their custodian. The Lewis-Solomon Group is the first advisory team to join Snowden Lane this year, following a successful 2023 that included the addition of 12 advisors representing over $1 billion in assets and three new office locations in Lebanon, NH, Golden, CO, and Boca Raton, FL. Were thrilled to welcome Brian and Ornella to Snowden Lane, said Rob Mooney, Managing Partner & CEO of Snowden Lane Partners. Both have built tremendous track records in our industry, but more importantly, their relationship-driven approach and dedication to offering clients holistic, personalized solutions align perfectly with our firms values. Were humbled that Brian and Ornella have selected Snowden Lane for the next chapter of their careers. Added Ornella Solomon: We're excited to join Snowden Lane, as we feel it is the best destination for us to continue providing our clients the personalized service and customizable solutions that theyve come to expect. Our clients have always been our top priority, and ultimately, we felt Snowden Lanes technology and investment platform and our shared values positioned us well for a seamless transition. Prior to joining Snowden Lane, the Solomons both spent five years at Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (Laidlaw), in New York City. Ornella began her 35-year wealth management career at EF Hutton before serving at both Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. Over her career, Ornella has earned an outstanding reputation for serving her high net-worth clients at the highest level. Before Laidlaw, Brian served as a Wealth Advisor Associate at Morgan Stanley, where he specialized in developing customized financial plans and tailored investment solutions for high net-worth families and individuals. Since its founding in 2011, Snowden Lane has built a national brand, attracting top industry talent from Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, UBS, JP Morgan, Raymond James, Wells Fargo, and Fieldpoint Private, among others. Snowden Lane employs 149 total professionals, 86 of whom are financial advisors, across 15 offices around the country: Pasadena and San Diego, CA; New Haven, CT; Boca Raton and Coral Gables, FL; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; Baltimore, Salisbury and Bethesda, MD; San Antonio, TX; Buffalo, NY; Lebanon, NH; Golden, CO, as well as its New York City headquarters. The firm is included in Barrons 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 Top 100 RIA Firms ranking, in addition to the 2023 and 2022 Forbes/Shook Top RIA Firms ranking. The Financial Times named Snowden Lane to its elite FT 300 list for six straight years, recognizing Snowden Lane as one of the top independent RIA firms in the U.S. Many of the firms advisors have been recognized as Financial Times 401 Top Retirement advisors, and a number by Forbes/Shook as Forbes Best-In-State Wealth advisors. About Snowden Lane Partners Snowden Lane is a nationally branded, open-architecture, hybrid registered investment advisor and broker-dealer that provides wealth advisory services to high net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm is led by an experienced team of industry executives, including Lyle LaMothe, Chairman of the Board of Managers, Rob Mooney, Managing Partner & CEO, and Greg Franks, Managing Partner, President & COO, who are dedicated to building a client-focused, nationally branded, boutique wealth advisory partnership. Snowden Lane is headquartered in New York City and operates an SEC registered investment adviser and a FINRA licensed broker-dealer. Snowden Lane provides a multi-custodian, multi-currency platform, with aggregated performance reporting and leading analytical tools for clients and advisors. Snowden Lane further provides full operational, finance, compliance, human resources, and financial advisor transition support to its financial advisors. For more information about Snowden Lane, please visit www.snowdenlane.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222272785/en/ Kevin Santo Water & Wall [email protected] Source: Snowden Lane Partners Star Mountain Capital, an employee-owned, specialized private credit and secondaries investment manager with ~$4 billion in assets under management targeting systematic alpha and low market correlated returns for its clients announced that Warren DeKinder has joined as a Managing Director to focus on engaging with investors as a solutions-oriented partner on investments and potential liquidity needs through Star Mountains secondaries business. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Star Mountain Capital, LLC (Star Mountain), a rapidly growing specialized private credit and secondaries investment firm targeting systematic alpha and low market correlated returns for its global institutional and high-net-worth investors is pleased to announce that Warren DeKinder has joined as a Managing Director based in Star Mountains Dallas office, one of its teams 20+ locations nationwide. With ~$4 billion in assets under management (committed capital including debt facilities as of 1/31/24), alignment of interest is a core value of Star Mountains investor-centric business, including being 100% employee-owned and sharing investment profits with 100% of its U.S.-based full-time team. Star Mountain is a purpose-built business with one of the largest teams focused on investing in established, profitable, small and medium-sized private U.S. businesses (the lower middle-market) which represents approximately 50% of U.S. GDP. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222525972/en/ Star Mountain Capital Managing Director, Warren DeKinder, CFA (Photo: Business Wire) Warren DeKinder has 30+ years of leadership experience advising and recommending strategic investment solutions to some of the worlds largest and most sophisticated institutions and private clients. We are committed to providing our investors with the best service possible in accessing the benefits of the less efficient and large U.S. lower middle-market especially at this time where smaller banks are challenged in servicing the growing needs of growing private businesses, said Brett Hickey, Star Mountain Capital Founder & CEO. We are excited for Warren to join other Dallas based senior team members Managing Director Chris Goodwin and Senior Advisors Rob Kaplan and Tom Tull. Having launched my first private lending fund over 20 years ago in Texas, I am excited to be growing our footprint in this important and growing marketplace. Having experienced the results for my own portfolio as an investor with Star Mountain and with a former trusted colleague of mine at the firm, I am thrilled to be joining as a full-time member of this impressive organization, said Warren DeKinder. I believe many institutional and high-net-worth investors can benefit from the higher returns and low market correlation that Star Mountain targets through its distinctive platform in this large and inefficient market and further value how growing many of these businesses, which include essential service-oriented businesses, can also be of great value to society and the economy. Mr. DeKinder began his career as an investment consultant with DeMarche Associates where he worked in investment manager research sourcing investment strategies and conducting qualitative as well as quantitative manager due diligence for recommendation to their clients. DeMarche Associates was founded in 1974 as an investment consultant for major corporations, retirement funds, endowments, foundations, and public funds. After that, he took a position at LCG Associates where he became a specialist in investment manager search and selection and was a member of the Manager Review Committee. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, LCG Associates provides investment consulting advice for foundations, endowments, corporations, non-profits, and other institutions as well as private investors. Most recently, Mr. DeKinder spent 14 years as a Senior Managing Director, Investor Relations, at Intech Investment Management, a global quantitative equity firm with $70 billion in assets under management (AUM) at its peak, which spun out from the Janus Henderson Group in 2022. He presented a sophisticated mathematical investment philosophy, process, investment portfolio and performance results to institutional plan sponsor staff, investment boards, consultants, manager research analysts, RIAs and wealth management advisors. Prior to joining Intech, Mr. DeKinder spent 8 years as a Senior Vice President at ING Investment Management focused on institutional sales and relationship management in the central and western United States. ING Investment Management was part of global financial institution ING Group, one of the largest universal banks in the world with assets of approximately $1 trillion. Mr. DeKinder graduated from University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance. He is FINRA Series 7, 6 and 63 licensed. Mr. DeKinder is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and is a member of the CFA Institute, as well as the Dallas Society of Financial Analysts. About Star Mountain With ~$4 billion in assets under management (committed capital including debt facilities as of 1/31/2024), Star Mountain takes a data-driven approach to investing into the North American lower middle-market through two complementary investment strategies: (i) direct debt and equity investing and (ii) secondaries (acquiring LP interests and direct assets and making primary LP commitments). Star Mountain believes these complementary strategies provide data-enhanced, scalable, diversified, and customizable access for its institutional and qualifying high-net-worth investors to established businesses that generally have at least $15 million in annual revenues and under $50 million in EBITDA. Its investors include public pensions, private pensions, insurance companies, commercial banks, endowments, foundations, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Star Mountain is 100% employee-owned and shares its profits with 100% of its U.S. full-time employees as part of its focus on maximizing value for its stakeholders and investors through alignment of interests. Since 2010, Star Mountain has made over 200 direct investments in businesses and over 40 secondary / fund investments within its Collaborative Ecosystem, focused on the North American lower middle-market. One of Star Mountains specialties is seeking current cash income for investors that is materially above the typical yields found in the public markets, often accompanied with potential long-term capital gains equity returns and low correlation to public markets through its distinctive origination, underwriting and value-added investment capabilities. Star Mountain was recently named one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America. For the fifth straight year, Star Mountain was again named one of the Best Places to Work by Crains New York Business as well as once again one of the Best Places to Work by Pensions & Investments. Star Mountain believes its focus and dedication has been productive for job creation and economic development including in underserved areas and communities. Star Mountain is dedicated to this large market of underserved businesses purpose-built to address the challenges and opportunities of these companies. As part of its commitment, Star Mountain has trademarked Investing in the Growth Engine of America . Star Mountains Charitable Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 focuses on improving lives through economic development, including job creation, health & wellness and cancer research. Notable missions include helping match veterans and women with high quality small and medium-sized business career opportunities across the country, including within Star Mountains portfolio. Note: This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase interests in any investment product. Awards and recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, companies and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he / she / it will experience a certain level of results if Star Mountain is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services; nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral of Star Mountain or its representatives by any of its clients or any other third party. Rankings published by magazines and others are generally based exclusively on information prepared and / or submitted by the recognized advisor. Moreover, with regard to all performance information contained herein, directly or indirectly, if any, readers should note that past results are not indicative of future results. The description and the selection methodologies of each award and recognition are subjective and will vary. Awards and recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, companies, and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she/it will experience a certain level of results if SMFM is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services; nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral of SMFM or its representatives by any of its clients or any other third party. Rankings published by magazines and others are generally based exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized advisor. Crains two-part survey process consisted of evaluating each nominated companys workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part involved an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Star Mountain must pay a fee to Crains only for survey collection purposes. Detailed eligibility criteria can be found here: https://bestcompaniesgroup.com/best-companies-to-work-for-in-new-york/eligibility/ To be named to P&Is Best Places list, all firms met Best Companies high threshold for inclusion and were evaluated against others of similar size. Individual firm profiles, which were compiled based on survey results, reflect U.S. employment numbers and were confirmed by Best Companies in the summer. Company and employee comments were edited for space, style and clarity. Assets under management or advisement are as of June 30, unless otherwise noted. To participate, companies had to have at least 20 employees in the U.S., at least $100 million of discretionary assets under management or advisement and be in business for at least one year. An anonymous employee survey, which aimed to evaluate employee engagement and satisfaction, accounted for 75% of a firms score; an employer survey, which evaluated workplace policies, practices, benefits and demographics, made up 25%. https://bestcompaniesgroup.com/best-places-to-work-in-money-management/eligibility/ Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent--not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies--as of December 31, 2022. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine rankings were calculated to four decimal places. https://www.inc.com/inc5000 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222525972/en/ John Polis [email protected] Source: Star Mountain Capital, LLC DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Steward Health Care responded via letter to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, outlining the comprehensive financial documentation it has provided to various state agencies and regulatory bodies to date. The health care system also re-affirmed its commitment to working with the Commonwealth to ensure the continuity of safe, high-quality, and compassionate care for all patients. The full letter from Steward Health Care follows: Dear Governor Healey: We have reviewed your letter of February 20. Let me first make crystal clear that Steward is committed to continuing to work with you and your Administration to ensure continuity of access to high-quality medical care in the communities we serve. For fourteen years, our hospitals have helped anchor the health-care system, and the local economy, in places like Dorchester, Fall River, Haverhill, Brockton, and other underserved communities in easter Massachusetts. Our commitment, and our accomplishments, are steadfast and ongoing: Steward hospitals and providers see approximately 1,500 patients every day. Our hospitals and related practices in the Commonwealth employ approximately 15,000 people, and we are humbled every day by their hard work and dedication to providing high-quality patient care. You ask us in your letter to partner with your administration on three topics, which I will address in turn. First, you ask that we ensure safe staffing and appropriate supply levels at each facility. As your administration knows, we have cooperatively engaged with Department of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) surveyors and met routinely, at some locations daily, with DPH monitors. We are addressing each and every concern raised by a DPH or CMS official at every hospital in Massachusetts. Our hospital presidents, chief medical officers, and other staff have had an open line of communication with DPH and will continue to do so. We continue to provide high-quality care at all of the hospitals, and we have no plan to abandon our communities or our employees. Every one of our employees should be honored for the work they perform, and the service they provide, every day. You next ask that we [a]llow for increased monitoring by DPH. We welcome this. Weve repeatedly affirmed our commitment not only to host monitors but to work in lockstep with them to ensure and promote the highest safety standards: our track record proves this. Our hospital administrators are actively working with the monitors currently in place and we will guarantee the same open dialogue with any additional DPH employees you choose to deploy. Any suggestion that patient care is not the first priority of every employee and administrator in a Steward hospital is not correct. Finally, you ask that we [i]mmediately disclose financial documents, and you assert that we have been neither forthcoming nor transparent to date in doing so. You state we have kept the hospitals financial condition in a black box and kept your administration in the dark. In fact, at their request, we have provided the Attorney General (AGO) and Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) 613 megabytes running across tens of thousands of pages of financial and operating materials over the last two months, including consolidated financials for the years ending in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Our financials for 2023 are not yet available, but will be provided in due time. Here is a snapshot of some of the materials we have provided to the AGO and to EOHHS: Financial Information: Hospital Consolidated financials 2021 November 2023 Hospital A/R Aging June 2022 November 2023 SMG A/R Aging Summary 2022 and 2023 AP Aging September 2022 December 2023 Weekly receipts FY23 Balance sheet by hospital December 2022 Staffing and Payroll Information: 2022 and 2023 YTD payroll on a monthly basis (employee, title, department, hours, gross pay, overtime, taxes, net pay) Salary by employee by department and facility/service Employee benefit plan/fringe information Collective bargaining agreements In addition, the AGO has received: Capital investment statements by hospital P&L by hospital In addition, Steward has provided the AGO and EOHHS thousands of pages of materials related to its hospital leases and other financial documents. We have played with our cards face up on these data requests, using teams of professionals to interact with multiple state officials and to gather and produce data into the night and over weekends. To this day we continue to provide data. Further, we have had multiple calls with the AGO and EOHHS concerning and explaining the data provided. We remain committed to continuing an open process with you and your administration, and will continue to share as much as possible given various regulatory and contractual constraints we are obligated to honor. More, we have been in daily communication with state and local leaders, repeatedly briefing them on the quality of care in the system and hosting multiple on-site visits to the hospitals. This ongoing dialogue has included: More than a dozen conversations with members of the AGOs staff, including an in-person meeting with the Attorney General; Five joint meetings with EOHHS and DPH between September 2023 and January 2024 with over 50 other communications with EOHHS leadership; Several communications with your staff including a meeting with you on January 10, 2024; In-person and virtual meetings with approximately 36 state legislators and their staff including committee and chamber leadership, totaling approximately 100 communications (regarding Stewards specific and community hospital writ large distress); Routine communication with nearly all Stewards city/town leadership (mayors and city councils); Multiple individual briefings and one delegation-wide briefing with federal House and Senate members or their staff beginning in January 2024. Rather than parry on that issue, however, I will address what is the key point in your letter. You state that it is time for Steward to execut[e] a safe, orderly transition of [its] seven licensed facilities in Massachusetts to new operators as soon as possible. As a reminder, we approached your Administration through EOHHS in October last year suggesting the same. Nonetheless, we accept your offer to partner with your administration to build a path forward and work together to resolve this effectively. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally concerning the orderly departure of Steward from Massachusetts. We guarantee that it is our priority to orchestrate a transition that emphasizes the continuity of first-class medical care in the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing a productive dialogue with your Administration to effectuate this plan in short order. Sincerely yours, Michael Callum, M.D., Executive Vice President for Physician Services and Interim President, NE Region View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221587747/en/ Josephine Martin [email protected] Source: Steward Health Care GAZA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army withdrew from Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua on Thursday. The sources said Israeli forces withdrew "completely" from the hospital after storming it several days ago and converting it into "a military barracks". Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 13 news confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ended their operation at the hospital. EUGENE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today marks a significant milestone for Summit Bank, Oregon's premier community business bank, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2004, Summit Bank opened its doors as the first independent community bank in the Eugene/Springfield area in over 25 years, revitalizing the tradition of locally focused banking services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222410231/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) "Summit Bank came to be as a response to the growing need for a bank that could provide the personalized service that local businesses and professionals deserve," said Paul Weinhold, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "Our inception was a turning point for many who felt underserved by larger banking institutions. Twenty years later, we're proud to have stayed true to our mission of serving the community with dedication and integrity." Over the past two decades, Summit Bank has experienced remarkable growth, now boasting over one billion in assets. It is the second largest bank headquartered in the State of Oregon. The bank's success is underpinned by its commitment to local businesses, fostering strong relationships and offering customized financial solutions for a variety of business and nonprofit clients. Since opening, Summit Bank has expanded its footprint with five offices across Eugene/Springfield, the Portland Metro area and Central Oregon. To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Summit Bank is organizing events to show appreciation for our clients who helped us reach the point we are at now. "As we celebrate this milestone, our focus remains steadfast on thanking the local businesses and individuals who have been integral to our story," said Craig Wanichek, President and CEO. About Summit Bank: Summit Bank Group Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Summit Bank, maintains offices in Eugene, Bend and Portland and specializes in providing high-level service to professionals and medium-sized businesses and their owners. The bank was voted for the third year in a row as one of Oregons Top 100 Companies to Work For, according to Oregon Business Magazine. The Bank was voted in 2023 as Favorite Bank in the Eugene Register-Guards annual Readers Choice Awards and Best Bank by Central Oregons Bend Bulletin. Summit Bank Group Inc. is quoted on the OTCPK as SBKO. For more information, contact Craig Wanichek, CEO & President of Summit Bank [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222410231/en/ Craig Wanichek, CEO & President of Summit Bank 541-684-7533 Source: Summit Bank LISLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SXC) announced today that Michael G. Rippey intends to retire as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Company's Board of Directors on May 15, 2024. The Board has unanimously appointed Katherine T. Gates to succeed Mr. Rippey as CEO effective May 15, 2024. Ms. Gates will retain her current position as President, serving as both President and CEO upon her promotion, and she will continue to serve as a member of the Board. Upon his retirement, it is anticipated that Mr. Rippey will serve as an advisor to the Company, pursuant to an advisory agreement. Speaking on behalf of the Board, Arthur F. Anton, the Company's Chairman, stated, "We thank Mike for his outstanding service and substantial contributions to SunCoke. During his tenure, he significantly restructured and strengthened the organization and reduced SunCoke's risk profile. Mike has been, and remains, a great asset to our Company. His significant contributions are reflected in SunCokes culture of safety and integrity, as well as record earnings and profitability." Mr. Anton continued, "The Board is pleased to announce Katherines promotion to Chief Executive Officer as the result of a deliberate and well-executed succession planning process. Katherines executive experience for more than a decade at SunCoke, provides the Board with valuable expertise regarding operations, commercial, strategic, legal and EHS matters. She is a successful leader with a strong execution orientation. She has the highest integrity and brings great energy to all she does." Remarking on his tenure at SunCoke, Mr. Rippey stated, "I am incredibly proud of all that our team has achieved. We have created significant value for our shareholders. Our accomplishments are the result of the dedication, commitment, and resourcefulness of all our employees. As a Company, we are fortunate to have Katherine as my successor. I and everyone at SunCoke have tremendous confidence in Katherine's ability to champion our business and lead SunCoke's future success." Commenting on her new appointment, Ms. Gates said, "I am grateful for the trust and confidence that the Board has placed in me, and I am honored to serve as CEO of SunCoke, working with our dedicated team to deliver added value to our business and shareholders. Ms. Gates continued, I am extremely appreciative of the time Mike and I have spent working together, and am grateful for the benefit of learning from a mentor with over 40 years of experience in the steel industry. ABOUT SUNCOKE ENERGY, INC. SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SXC) supplies high-quality coke to domestic and international customers. Our coke is used in the blast furnace production of steel as well as the foundry production of casted iron, with the majority of sales under long-term, take-or-pay contracts. We also export coke to overseas customers seeking high-quality product for their blast furnaces. Our process utilizes an innovative heat-recovery technology that captures excess heat for steam or electrical power generation and draws upon more than 60 years of cokemaking experience to operate our facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Brazil. Our logistics business provides export and domestic material handling services to coke, coal, steel, power and other bulk customers. The logistics terminals have the collective capacity to mix and transload more than 40 million tons of material each year and are strategically located to reach Gulf Coast, East Coast, Great Lakes and international ports. To learn more about SunCoke Energy, Inc., please visit the Investors section of our corporate website. SunCoke routinely announces material information to investors and the marketplace using press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, public conference calls, webcasts and the Investors section of our corporate website. The information that SunCoke posts to its website may be deemed to be material. Accordingly, SunCoke encourages investors and others interested in SunCoke to routinely monitor and review the information that SunCoke posts on its website, in addition to following SunCoke's press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission lings and public conference calls and webcasts. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release and related conference call contain "forward-looking statements" (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Forward-looking statements often may be identified by the use of such words as "believe," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "may," "will," "should," or the negative of these terms, or similar expressions. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Any statements made in this press release or during the related conference call that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements represent only our beliefs regarding future events, many of which are inherently uncertain and involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond the control of SunCoke) that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A ("Risk Factors") of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently completed fiscal year, as well as those described from time to time in our other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, SunCoke has included in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission cautionary language identifying important factors (but not necessarily all the important factors) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by SunCoke. For information concerning these factors and other important information regarding the matters discussed in this press release and related conference call, see SunCoke's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available free of charge on the Investors section of our corporate website, or on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release and related conference call are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this press release and related conference call also could have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, but are based upon the current knowledge, beliefs and expectations of SunCoke management, and upon assumptions by SunCoke concerning future conditions, any or all of which ultimately may prove to be inaccurate. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. SunCoke does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter its forward-looking statements (or associated cautionary language), whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date of this press release except as required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222715614/en/ Investors and Media: Sharon Doyle (630) 824-1907 Source: SunCoke Energy, Inc. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Last weekend at the Annual Dealer Awards ceremony for Seakeeper Inc., Tri Sea Stabilizers, South Floridas leading elite dealer for Seakeeper Inc. Refits, Service and Sales, was recognized with an astounding Trifecta Win. The 2023 Awards received included Best in Marketing, Best in Service, and Dealer of The Year. This marks the first time in Seakeeper history that one dealer has won this many awards in one year. Having been a Seakeeper only dealer for the last seven years, Tri Sea has continually been honored for the quality of their work. They have been an award-winning Seakeeper dealer for six of their seven years in business. Tri Sea has not only shown themselves valuable to their clients, but also to other dealers and boat builders by contributing to and assisting with innovations to make installations and service easier for all. Chad Hoey, Director of Americas Sales and Service at Seakeeper, Inc., had this to say about the win: "Tri Sea Stabilizers' triple win in 2023 Best in Marketing, Best in Sales, and Dealer of the Year shows their unwavering commitment to excellence. Their achievements demonstrate the values of Seakeeper, and we are proud to partner with them in delivering exceptional experiences on the water." With a branded tagline of Seakeeper, its all we do!, Tri Sea Stabilizers shows their customization and loyalty to one product and truly set themselves apart in the boating industry. Tri Sea Stabilizers performs Seakeeper installs and service in the following locations: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Tampa, Florida The Florida Keys Miami, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida Naples, Florida Pensacola, Florida Destin, Florida Wilmington, North Carolina Morehead City, North Carolina Stuart, Florida Bradenton, Florida View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222264285/en/ Barbara Kornegay 833-874-4976 Source: Tri Sea Stabilizers Employees nationwide recommended Tyler as a top employer PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) was recently named to Forbes Americas Best Large Employers list for 2024. This marks the first time Tyler has been included on this list; the company has previously been named to Forbes Best Midsize and Best Small Employers lists a total of 11 times in the past. It is exciting to be recognized by Forbes as a top employer and equally exciting to see Tylers growth over the years from the small to midsize to large company category, said Lynn Moore, president and CEO of Tyler. Even though we have grown in size, we have remained committed to our mission of empowering the public sector to create smarter, safer, and stronger communities. We work hard to support our great employees, 27% of whom have worked at Tyler for more than ten years. In collaboration with analytics firm Statista, Forbes selected Americas Best Large Employers based on an independent survey of more than 170,000 U.S. employees from industry sectors working for companies employing at least 5,000 people within the U.S. Over 3.5 million employer evaluations were considered in creation of the Best Large Employers list. Tyler was recognized as one of 600 large companies in various industries, including banking and financial services, education, healthcare, information technology, professional services, and transportation. About Tyler Technologies, Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tylers end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate efficiently and transparently with residents and each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tylers solutions transform how clients turn actionable insights into opportunities and solutions for their communities. Tyler has more than 40,000 successful installations across nearly 13,000 locations, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler has been recognized numerous times for growth and innovation, including Government Technologys GovTech 100 list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com. #TYL_General View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222076862/en/ Jennifer Kepler Tyler Technologies 972.713.3770 [email protected] Source: Tyler Technologies NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UBS Investment Bank today announced coupon payments for the ETRACS Alerian MLP Index ETN Series B (NYSE Arca: AMUB), traded on the NYSE Arca. NYSE Ticker ETN Name and Prospectus Supplement* Coupon Valuation Date Ex- Date Record Date Payment Date Coupon Amount Payment Schedule Current Yield (annualized)** AMUB ETRACS Alerian MLP Index ETN Series B 02/15/24 02/28/24 02/29/24 03/08/24 $0.2632 Quarterly 6.20% * The table above provides a hyperlink to the relevant prospectus and supplements thereto. For more information on the ETRACS ETN, see "List of ETNs". **"Current Yield (annualized)" equals the current Coupon Amount, multiplied by four (to annualize such coupon), divided by the Closing Indicative Value of the ETN on its current Coupon Valuation Date rounded to two decimal places for ease of analysis. The Current Yield is not indicative of future coupon payments, if any, on the ETN. You are not guaranteed any coupon or distribution amount under the ETN. About ETRACS ETRACS ETNs are senior unsecured notes issued by UBS AG, are traded on NYSE Arca, and can be bought and sold through a broker or financial advisor. An investment in ETRACS ETNs is subject to a number of risks, including the risk of loss of some or all of the investors principal, and is subject to the creditworthiness of UBS AG. Investors are not guaranteed any coupon or distribution amount under the ETNs. We urge you to read the more detailed explanation of risks described under Risk Factors in the applicable prospectus supplement for the ETRACS ETN. UBS AG has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and supplements thereto) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offerings of securities to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus, along with the applicable prospectus supplement to understand fully the terms of the securities and other considerations that are important in making a decision about investing in the ETRACS. The applicable offering document for each ETRACS may be obtained by clicking on the name of each ETRACS identified above. You may also get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. The securities related to the offerings are not deposit liabilities and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction. About UBS UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.5 trillion dollars of invested assets as per second quarter 2023. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 countries around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). 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Before you invest, you should read these documents and any other documents that UBS has filed with the SEC for more complete information about UBS and the offering to which this communication relates. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you can request the applicable prospectus and prospectus supplement by calling toll-free (+1-877-387 2275). In the US, securities underwriting, trading and brokerage activities and M&A advisor activities are provided by UBS Securities LLC, a registered broker/dealer that is a wholly owned subsidiary of UBS AG, a member of the New York Stock Exchange and other principal exchanges, and a member of SIPC. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a registered broker/dealer and affiliate of UBS Securities LLC. UBS specifically prohibits the redistribution or reproduction of this communication in whole or in part without the prior written permission of UBS and UBS accepts no liability whatsoever for the actions of third parties in this respect. Alerian MLP Index, Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index, Alerian Natural Gas MLP Index, AMZ, AMZI, and ANGI are trademarks of Alerian and their use is granted under a license from Alerian. UBS 2024. The key symbol, UBS and ETRACS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. Other marks may be trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved. ______________________________ 1 Individual investors should instruct their broker/advisor/custodian to call us or should call together with their broker/advisor/custodian. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222397213/en/ Media Alison Keunen +1-212-713-2296 [email protected] Institutional Investor contact1 +1-877-387 2275 Source: UBS Investment Bank Patented Solution Enables Mobile Operators to Deliver Value-Added SASE Services Using SIM Cards for Seamless Authentication SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Versa Networks, the global leader in AI/ML-powered Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), today announced its release of Versa SASE on SIM for Mobile Operators. The patented solution leverages SIM-based identity for authentication and access control enabling Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) to seamlessly deploy SASE services and enforce advanced security policies at the mobile network edge. The Need for SASE in Mobile Networks MNOs and MVNOs are increasingly challenged to grow their businesses in a market where basic connectivity services are becoming commoditized. Many MNOs are introducing new value-added services to expand revenues, improve customer retention, and diversify their revenue streams. They see security services as an opportunity but are unable to deliver them at scale cost effectively. As the workforce has become more mobile and remote, traditional architectures delivering security services are insufficient. SASE has enabled delivery of cloud-based security services at scale for traditional IT users. It offers a more dynamic and context-aware security approach, ensuring that mobile and remote users have secure access to applications and data, regardless of their location. Many of the devices connecting to mobile networks cannot easily accommodate security clients and introduce lifecycle management complexity. This is a challenge for deploying SASE into mobile networks. Whats New? Versa SASE on SIM for Mobile Operators blends the capabilities of SASE with SIM-based identity for authentication and access control in their mobile networks. By extending SIM-based identity to SASE services, MNOs can: Offer value-added security services to build network security and Zero Trust offerings into mobile services for IoT and IT devices without the need for an agent. to build network security and Zero Trust offerings into mobile services for IoT and IT devices without the need for an agent. Deliver scalable private network services by eliminating the need to provision private APNs per enterprise. by eliminating the need to provision private APNs per enterprise. Simplify operations by avoiding lifecycle management and monitoring across multiple agents, operating systems, and end-user devices. With the launch of our SIM-based SASE solution, we are setting a new standard for security and connectivity in mobile networks, said Apurva Mehta, Versa Co-Founder and CTO. Our patented technology not only simplifies the deployment of SASE services for mobile operators but also marks a significant step forward in advanced, seamless authentication methods. This innovation underscores our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our partners worldwide. How Clientless SASE Works Many types of endpoints in mobile networks are unintelligent, such as cameras, sensors, and thin clients. As these endpoints attach to the MNOs field radio network, Versa SASE gateways use the subscription ID (e.g. IMSI) in the devices SIM card, along with the IP address information, for tenant and user identification. With Versa SASE gateways integrated into the mobile network data path, SASE services can now be applied to these endpoints. To learn more, register for Versas Unlocking the Future of Mobile Network Security: Versa SASE on SIM webinar on Thursday, March 7, at 8 am PST, at https://versa-networks.com/resources/webinars/unlocking-the-future-of-mobile-network-security-versa-sase-on-sim/, or contact Versa at https://versa-networks.com/contact/. About Versa Networks Versa Networks, the leader in single-vendor Unified SASE platforms, delivers AI/ML-powered SSE and SD-WAN solutions. The platform provides networking and security with true multitenancy, and sophisticated analytics via the cloud, on-premises, or as a blended combination of both to meet SASE requirements for small to extremely large enterprises and service providers. Thousands of customers globally, with hundreds of thousands of sites and millions of users, trust Versa with their mission critical networks and security. Versa is privately held and funded by Sequoia Capital, Mayfield, Artis Ventures, Verizon Ventures, Comcast Ventures, BlackRock, Liberty Global Ventures, Princeville Capital, RPS Ventures, and Triangle Peak Partners. For more information, visit https://www.versa-networks.com or follow Versa on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) @versanetworks. Versa Networks, VOS, the Versa logo, and Versa Titan are or may be registered trademarks of Versa Networks, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222255576/en/ Dan Spalding [email protected] (408) 960-9297 Source: Versa Networks Advanced Spaces CAPSTONE Mission for NASA Surpasses 450 Days Operating at the Moon BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) (Terran Orbital or the Company), a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, announced that its 12U nanosatellite built for Advanced Spaces CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) mission in support of NASA, has surpassed 450 days in orbit around the moon. Launched June 28, 2022, the space vehicle based on Terran Orbital's proven Voyager platform, continues to demonstrate exceptional stability and performance while supporting critical lunar navigation experiments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222407471/en/ Proven Success: Terran Orbital Celebrates Exceeding 450 Days of Lunar Operations with CAPSTONE Nanosatellite. Credit: Terran Orbital The space vehicle is forging a new lunar path in support of NASAs Artemis program. Designed and built by Terran Orbital, the CAPSTONE satellite entered lunar orbit on November 17, 2022, marking a historic moment for small spacecraft and lunar exploration. The satellite's robust design and Terran Orbital's engineering expertise have enabled it to operate flawlessly for an enhanced NASA mission expected to last until May 2024. This achievement underscores the company's commitment to building reliable and versatile space vehicle platforms capable of exceeding expectations, even in the demanding lunar environment. "This enhanced mission is a testament to the exceptional capabilities of our Voyager platform and the dedication of our talented team," said Marc Bell, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer at Terran Orbital. "We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Advanced Space and NASA on this groundbreaking mission and to contribute to the success of Artemis." The CAPSTONE satellite continues to gather valuable data and pave the way for future lunar exploration missions. The space vehicle's success validates the effectiveness of Terran Orbital's innovative technologies and positions the company as a leader in building reliable and cost-effective solutions for deep space exploration. To learn more about the spacecraft platforms Terran Orbital is setting new industry standards with, click here: Terran Orbital Spacecraft Platforms. The CAPSTONE mission is continuing to deliver valuable data and experience that will inform future exploration missions," said Bradley Cheetham, CEO and President of Advanced Space. We remain grateful that NASA provided us this opportunity and together with our mission partners look forward to continued operations. Terran Orbital remains committed to developing cutting-edge small satellite technologies that enable ambitious space exploration initiatives. The company's Voyager platform serves as a foundation for a wide range of missions, from Earth observation to deep space exploration, and continues to set the standard for reliability and performance. About Terran Orbital Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222407471/en/ Media Contact Juliana Johnson Public Relations [email protected] 949-508-6404 Source: Terran Orbital Energoatom Reported Strong Performance of New Westinghouse VVER-440 Fuel BRATISLAVA, Slovakia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westinghouse organized the 5th annual VVER Fuel Forum in Bratislava with representatives from six utilities. The forum, hosted by Slovenske elektrarne, provided the opportunity to share experiences and best practices with VVER-1000 and VVER-440 fuel deployment in operating reactors. Westinghouse offered detailed briefings on fuel licensing, NOVA E-6 design enhancements, fabrication plant upgrades, delivery and operations. As the leader of the European Union-funded APIS project (Accelerated Program for Implementation of secure VVER fuel Supply), Westinghouse also presented additional information on next-generation fuel design development and a harmonized approach for VVER fuel licensing. We are pleased to host so many colleagues in Bratislava to discuss the critical topic of fuel diversification, said Branislav Strycek, Chairman of the Board of the Board of Directors and General Director of Slovenske elektrarne. We are currently going through the preparation of the documentation in Slovakia for new VVER-440 fuel and expect to finish the licensing process by 2026-2027. We are looking forward to achieving diversification of fuel sources as we expand the lifetime operations of our nuclear plants. In Ukraine, we started the licensing process for the Westinghouse VVER-440 fuel in 2022 and, thanks to great cooperation, we successfully completed it within 1.5 years. We received the first fuel load for Rivne unit 2 last September, ahead of the originally planned schedule. Our two units will be operating later this year with the new fuel, which has been performing well after six months," said Olexandr Depenchuk, Director for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Energoatom. The joint efforts of Energoatom and Westinghouse have enabled us to end our dependence on Russian fuel. We recommend expediting the ongoing fuel diversification efforts in the context of the REPowerEU Plan launched in May 2022 and the global energy disruption caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine, said Stefano Ciccarello, Acting Director General of the Euratom Supply Agency. In Finland, Fortum is pursuing mechanical operating experiences with the new fuel type, after a test assembly manufactured by Westinghouse was loaded into the Loviisa-2 reactor last year. The changes done in the design of the VVER-440 fuel we originally used in Loviisa in the early 2000s improved the fuel behavior and performance. We are currently reviewing the licensing and manufacturing documentation of the first new fuel deliveries and expect this work to be ready this summer, said Iiro-Ville Lehtinen, Fortum Project Manager. Westinghouse will deliver the first batch of VVER-440 fuel assemblies to the Dukovany nuclear power plant at the end of this year. The deliveries for Temelin will follow a few months after Dukovany, as mutually agreed based on the refueling schedule, said Rostislav Staubr, Head of Nuclear Fuel Procurement of CEZ. We really appreciate our collaboration with Westinghouse, said Svilena Nikolova, Head of Legal and Commercial Department of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. The diversification that has been obtained in terms of nuclear fuel supply is of great importance for the power plant. As Kozloduy celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we will also receive the first load of new VVER-1000 fuel from Westinghouse for our unit 5. We are delighted to share the achievements of this key program to ensure energy security and supply diversification for our customers in the region, said Tarik Choho, Westinghouse President of Nuclear Fuel. There were many great achievements in the past years and still a lot of work ahead of us. As the only European VVER fuel manufacturer, we are committed to delivering what is required by our customers. Westinghouse is a leading supplier of nuclear fuel, providing a uniquely diversified portfolio in the industry across nuclear reactor types, including PWR, BWR, AGR and VVER. Through our world-class manufacturing facilities in Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S., we focus on delivering innovative fuel technologies to meet our customers needs for lower fuel cycle costs, increased operational flexibility and efficiency, diversity of supply and accident-tolerant products. Learn more about our advanced fuel capabilities and how they relate to different reactors around the world: Westinghouse Nuclear > Nuclear Fuel. Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear technologies to utilities globally. Westinghouse supplied the worlds first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the companys technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation make Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222283969/en/ [email protected] Source: Westinghouse Electric Company ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wind River, a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems, today announced enhancements for Wind River Studio designed to improve automation at scale, helping communication service providers (CSPs) support their growth of 5G-enabled services at the edge. There is growing demand for support for increased speed, bandwidth, and ultra-low latency to process 5G-enabled services at the intelligent edge. Automation at scale is becoming a necessary reality for operators to meet these requirements effectively, said Paul Miller, chief technology officer, Wind River. To address customers intensifying needs around deployment and upgrade automation, our latest enhancements for Wind River Studio can dramatically reduce upgrade and maintenance times while creating new opportunities for parallel operations in an increasingly hands-off manner. Additionally, operators can better optimize their power usage to enjoy new energy efficiencies. The latest product capabilities in Wind River Studio enable advanced operations at scale: Wind River Studio Cloud Platform upgrade time that is 50% faster, and Kubernetes upgrade time 65% faster, providing customers overall greater operational efficiencies providing customers overall greater operational efficiencies Increased automation that provides unified and intent-driven capabilities to upgrade Studio components, storage systems, and Kubernetes that provides unified and intent-driven capabilities to upgrade Studio components, storage systems, and Kubernetes Massive reductions in upgrade campaign durations due to centrally managed upgrade/update parallelization across the entire network due to centrally managed upgrade/update parallelization across the entire network Validation, audit, and oversight capabilities that ensure that the infrastructure and environment are ready to accept a deployment, update, or upgrade in order to eliminate avoidable deployment and update failures that ensure that the infrastructure and environment are ready to accept a deployment, update, or upgrade in order to eliminate avoidable deployment and update failures Energy efficiency advancements from finer granularity with per CPU per core power settings and new power metrics visualization available to third-party cloud-native network function (CNF) and Studio application, unlocking new analytic and configuration capabilities that optimize power usage As CSPs transition to 5G cloud RAN, they face a myriad of challenges with hosting virtualized and containerized network functions on highly complex, distributed, and heterogeneous telco cloud deployments. These networks require new skills to automate, scale, and manage. To realize the full potential of service-based 5G architecture, increased automation and standardization will be key. The latest Wind River Studio capabilities improve automation for mass deployments for day 0 to day 2 deployment and operations at scale. Wind River can help significantly simplify the users interaction with the upgrade process, reducing integration costs, decreasing opportunities for human error, and ultimately making advancements in scalability, reliability, and performance. Based on the open source StarlingX project, Wind River Studio provides a fully cloud-native, Kubernetes- and container-based architecture for the development, deployment, operations, and servicing of distributed edge networks at scale. It delivers a foundation to manage a geographically distributed network and simplifies day 1 and day 2 operations by providing a single-pane-of-glass, zero-touch automated solution. Studio addresses service providers complex challenge of deploying and managing cloud-native infrastructure for core-to-edge distributed cloud networks to provide traditional RAN performance in a vRAN/Open RAN deployment. Wind River has played key roles in the worlds first successful 5G data session; first Open RAN deployment in Canada; in building commercial vRAN/O-RAN programs, including one of the largest Open RAN networks in the world; and in launching the first fully automated edge data center for commercial service. For more information about Wind River work in telecommunications, visit www.windriver.com/solutions/telecommunications. To view Wind River technologies firsthand at MWC Barcelona 2024, February 2629, visit the Wind River booth in Hall 2, 2F25. About Wind River Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of devices and systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation across industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com. Wind River is a trademark or registered trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc., and its affiliates. Other names may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222613379/en/ Jenny Suh Wind River 510-749-2972 [email protected] Source: Wind River Volunteers Help 1,000 NGOs Drive Impact in 56 Countries WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Currently, more than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and nearly half of the global population does not have safe sanitation.1 The UNs Sustainable Development Goal 6 ensuring clean water and sanitation (WASH) for all aims to close this gap. In 2023, volunteers from Xylem (NYSE: XYL), its partners and customers supported 1,000 nonprofits, including Americares, Mercy Corps and UNICEF*, to help deliver WASH access and education for communities in 56 countries through Xylem Watermark, the Companys corporate social responsibility program. UNICEF is working to ensure equitable access of WASH through cost-effective interventions and the private sector is pivotal to delivering on this goal, said Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO, UNICEF USA. Programs like Xylem Watermark, which bring together cross-sectoral expertise to drive innovation, are helping us to move faster and scale solutions to achieve SDG6. Xylem Watermark combines the expertise of colleagues and partners, and technology, to catalyze impact on critical water challenges: In 2023, Xylem employees in 56 countries volunteered more than 183,000 hours, a record participation rate of 89%**. Colleagues participated in skills-based volunteer initiatives, designing and implementing WASH solutions for underserved communities, and building capacity through training and mentorship. Together with global nonprofit partners, Xylem provided humanitarian aid in response to 30 disasters, including the pro-bono provision of emergency water treatment and dewatering solutions in response to disasters in Morocco, Chile, China, Turkiye, the Philippines, and Libya. Colleagues volunteered with more than 1,000 organizations, and Xylem Watermark provided community grants or matching donations to 148 nonprofits working on water-related causes in communities around the world. Xylem Watermark draws on the collective power of Xylems team, our customers, channel partners, suppliers, and the nonprofit community, to further our mission to solve water. Together, we have a unique opportunity to advance water security for all and our colleagues and partners continue to step up for SDG6, Austin Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact at Xylem, said. Xylem Watermark initiatives contribute to Xylems 2025 Sustainability Goals of providing access to clean water and sanitation for at least 20 million people, providing water and WASH education for 15 million people, and giving 1% of profits and 1% of employee time to water-related causes and education. * UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, organization, product or service. **2023 employee participation rate excludes legacy Evoqua employees due to the mid-year acquisition. Total employee participation will be reported from 2024 onwards. About Xylem Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to solving the worlds critical water challenges with innovation and expertise. Our 23,000 diverse employees delivered combined pro forma revenue of $8.1 billion in 2023. We are creating a more sustainable world by enabling our customers to optimize water and resource management and helping communities in more than 150 countries become water-secure. Join us at www.xylem.com and Lets Solve Water. ______________________________ 1 UNICEF: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221492954/en/ Houston Spencer +1 (914) 240-3046 [email protected] Source: Xylem Inc. NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The international community has accelerated the implementation of programs aimed at securing a resilient, green and inclusive future for the world's cities and their inhabitants, officials from the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) said Thursday. Michal Mlynar, acting UN-Habitat executive director, said the commitment by national governments and multilateral agencies to renew urban centers and make them hubs for innovation and economic transformation has not slackened. "The future of this planet is urban, and tangible progress is being made to secure a sustainable and safe future for our cities. We need better planning and policies to boost the quality of life for people living in cities," Mlynar said. Currently, over 50 percent of the global population resides in urban centers, and the proportion could reach 70 percent by 2050, according to Mlynar, necessitating the urgency to expand access to basic services like housing, clean water and sanitation. Mlynar stressed that securing a sustainable and livable future for global metropolises must be accompanied by investments in affordable shelter, green mobility, safe drinking water, sanitation, education and health. He said that the speedy implementation of the 10 resolutions adopted at the second session of the UN-Habitat assembly, held in Nairobi in June 2023, will add vitality to the global sustainable urban agenda. Among the resolutions endorsed at the five-day assembly include affordable housing for all, the creation of people-centered smart cities, climate action, and effective urban crisis prevention, Mlynar noted. According to Mlynar, the implementation of UN-Habitat's new strategic plan covering 2026 to 2029 will be key to renewing cities by leveraging technology, innovations, smart policies, youth involvement, and sustainable financing. Oumar Sylla, director for UN-Habitat's regional office for Africa, said that the continent is the new frontier for rapid urbanization, hence the need for policy support and progressive leadership to avert setbacks including crime, pollution, and the mushrooming of informal settlements. African cities, which are projected to host 2.4 billion people by 2050, contribute about 60 percent to the continent's economy, Sylla said, adding that improved planning and investments in basic amenities will ensure these cities are resilient. He said that municipal authorities on the continent should prioritize spatial planning, promote climate action, regeneration of green spaces, and disaster mitigation to restore the ecological health of cities. CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced its contribution of nearly $35 million in equity investments towards the creation of two new affordable housing developments in Hawai'i. Located in Lahaina , Maui and Kapolei , Oahu , the communities will also offer residents supportive social and educational programs tailored to address their specific needs. In addition to other multiple funding partners, these investments support the state of Hawai'i's priorities in early childcare and affordable housing and exemplify the power of public and private collaborations. In collaboration with Urban Housing Communities, Ikaika 'Ohana, and Hunt Capital Partners, CVS Health invested $17.5 million to help build 200 new affordable housing units at Kaiaulu o Kuku'ia in Lahaina , Maui . This development will bring critically needed affordable housing for families in the area, much of which was devastated by the 2023 Maui wildfires. Ikaika 'Ohana, co-developer and Hawai'i-based nonprofit, will be coordinating services to residents including immunizations and health screenings, childcare, GED and ESL classes, occupational certification courses, resume preparation and job referrals, and financial counseling. In addition, the Bezos Academy will be operating a Montessori preschool onsite free of charge for the pre-school aged children living at Kaiaulu o Kuku'ia. "Hunt Capital Partners is proud to be part of the rebuilding of Lahaina. The affordable rental homes at Kaiaulu o Kuku'ia will be the first permanent housing to be delivered in Lahaina since the devasting fires in August," shared Steve Colon, Executive Vice President of Hunt Companies. "Our partners UHC and Ikaika 'Ohana are delivering a critically needed rental housing community that will enable 200 area families to move into homes starting this coming December." Colon continued, "All of us at Hunt are grateful to have collaborated with the community and organizations like UHC and Ikaika 'Ohana as we create affordable housing for local families statewide, but particularly now on Maui , which needs so much of our support. With this investment, CVS Health is changing lives and helping to put island residents into their own homes." Furthering its investment in the state, CVS Health also invested $17.3 million with The Kobayashi Group, The Ahe Group and CREA, LLC to build 169 new affordable housing units in Parkway Village at Kapolei, on the Island of O'ahu. Horizon Housing Foundation, a St. Louis -based nonprofit, will be providing no-cost services to residents, including education and building community, health, and wellness programs Kamehameha Schools, a Hawai'i-based, nationally recognized education group, will operate a tuition free preschool on the ground floor of one of the five residential buildings, along with the Board of Education and Partners in Development Foundation. " Parkway Village is an incredible project in Hawai'i's fastest growing community that we are so proud of ," said Alana Kobayashi Pakkala , Executive Vice President and Managing Partner of Kobayashi Group. "We know the importance of affordable housing and early childhood education, especially in West O'ahu, so we're grateful for this public-private collaboration with CVS Health, City and County of Honolulu and HHFDC." The integration of early childcare facilities into both developments aligns with the state's universal access to preschool initiative, Ready Keiki, spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke . "Partnerships, such as the collaboration with CVS Health, play a pivotal role in fostering nurturing communities, where families receive comprehensive support, and our children are provided with the environment to thrive and realize their full potential," said Luke. "As we work to ensure all Hawaii children are ready for kindergarten and beyond, the support from CVS Health and community partners is invaluable." With the addition of Kaiaulu o Kuku'ia and Parkway Village , CVS Health has invested $62.2 million in affordable housing across Hawai'i to date, highlighting the company's efforts to advance health equity by addressing social determinants of health at the local level. Through these investments, CVS Health has provided historically underserved Hawai'i communities with quality housing and increased access to childcare and health care services based on the unique needs of each local population. Beyond its affordable housing investments, CVS Health's commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Hawai'i residents can be seen through its philanthropic efforts, workforce initiatives and expanded retail presence in the region. Residents of Kaiaulu o Kuku'ia and Parkway Village will have access to educational opportunities and employment services and training through two new career skills labs in Kahului and Waimanalo. Funded in collaboration with CVS Health and the University of Hawai'i Maui College and Hawai'i Job Corps, respectively, the mock Longs Drugs pharmacy environments offer virtual and hands-on pharmacy technician skills training to help reduce employment barriers and provide the tools participants need to succeed in the workplace. And recently, CVS Health opened a new Longs Drugs store in Kapolei on O'ahu, marking the company's 60th Longs Drugs location in Hawai'i. Given the significance of local relationship to Lahaina residents, financing a new affordable housing investment after the wildfires reinforces the importance of Longs as an anchor in the community. Following the 2023 Maui wildfires, the area pharmacy team provided daily deliveries to three community shelters to help ensure continued access to medication and hosted a three-week drive-thru donation clinic to provide preventative care and essential goods to residents while working to reopen the impacted store for the community as quickly as possible. Also, following the fires, the CVS Health Foundation committed $450,000 to several organizations providing direct relief, including the Hawai'i Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund, the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen. CVS Health customers contributed over $2 million to our in-store fundraising campaign to support the Maui Strong Fund and the Maui United Way. Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) today announced Peter Akwaboah has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective May 20, 2024 . Akwaboah has nearly three decades of experience from across the financial services industry and will be responsible for Fannie Mae's Chief Information Office, Enterprise Operations, Business Resiliency, and Enterprise Workplace and Security functions. In this role, Akwaboah will be a member of Fannie Mae's Management Committee and report to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Priscilla Almodovar . "Peter's many years of experience and unique combination of technology and operations expertise will add to our deep leadership bench, and his wealth of experience and industry knowledge will bring great value to the company," said Priscilla Almodovar , CEO, Fannie Mae. "We look forward to the talent and experience he'll bring to our technology and operations as we continue to respond to the needs of the market, carefully balancing innovation, risk management, and our commitment to our housing mission." Akwaboah is a Managing Director and serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Technology and the Head of Innovation at Morgan Stanley. In this role, he is responsible for driving the technology strategy with a focus on fueling the firm's innovation, effectiveness, and resilience. Akwaboah also has partnered with Morgan Stanley's businesses to build on the firm's technology investments and delivery opportunities to enable profitability. Akwaboah serves on the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank's Payments Risk Committee. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2015, Akwaboah spent a decade at the Royal Bank of Scotland, including as Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer for Operations, Technology, and Corporate Services. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in operations and technology at Deutsche Bank, KPMG, and IBM. Western Copper and Gold Corporation (NYSE American: WRN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sandeep Singh as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Singh will work closely with Dr. Paul West-Sells , who will continue in the role of President in connection with the succession process. Further, Mr. Kenneth Williamson has retired from his role as Director and Interim Chairman. Current board member, Dr. Bill Williams , has taken on the role of Interim Chairman as the Company searches for a replacement. As a highly respected mining professional with 20 years of sector expertise, Mr. Singh adds meaningful capital markets and strategic expertise to the Company. He was previously the President and CEO of Osisko Gold Royalties, where he led the successful turnaround of the company. For the fifteen years prior, Mr. Singh was an investment banker focusing on the North American metals and mining sector with BMO Capital Markets, Dundee Securities, and ultimately co-founding Maxit Capital, a leading independent M&A firm. He has advised numerous mining companies on financing alternatives and strategic matters as well as having acted on some of the most complex and value-enhancing M&A transactions in the mining sector. Mr. Singh holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Concordia University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Oxford University. Dr. Bill Williams , Interim Chairman, commented "The Board would like to thank Ken for his dedication, and contributions to the Company. We wish him the best as he focuses his energy on his family and retirement. I'd also like to commend Paul on playing an active role in the succession planning efforts that led to the appointment of Mr. Singh . Paul has been the driving force behind the Casino project since the very beginning and we are hopeful he will continue to play an important role as we build out the management team necessary for the next phases of the Company's growth. The Board is delighted to have someone of Sandeep's caliber joining the team. Throughout his impressive career, he has shown a dedication to stakeholder value, above all else, and will be aligned with shareholders through a significant personal investment into the Company. With Sandeep's addition, we are strengthening the Company's management capabilities to better unlock the value potential of the Casino project." Mr. Singh commented "I see tremendous value in Casino as one of very few viable assets in the copper-gold development space. Casino strikes a unique balance of important scale, attractive commodity mix, low jurisdictional risk, and quick payback through the higher-grade core of the deposit. The credible data, underpinning a thorough feasibility study, and remaining upside from additional resources or optimizations to the project provide tangible upside potential. I am excited to be joining the Western Copper and Gold team at a pivotal time for the Company." FILE PHOTO: Carvana logo is seen in this illustration taken June 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Bhanvi Satija (Reuters) -Carvana reported its first-ever annual profit on Thursday, helped by its pact with bondholders to cut its outstanding debt by $1 billion, sending the used car retailer's stock up by a fifth in after-hours trading. The company also forecast an adjusted core profit for the first quarter "significantly above" $100 million. Carvana became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for used cars shot up because a global chip crunch squeezed production of new cars. After that, though, the company struggled to clear its inventory of used cars acquired at elevated prices, as car buyers cut spending due to inflation and new car production normalized. The company, struggling to stay liquid, struck a deal in July with most of its term bondholders to cut its outstanding debt. It has also been trimming inventory and slashing advertising and other expenses as it seeks to strengthen its balance sheet. Carvana on Thursday said it expects retail units sold in the first quarter of 2024 to be "slightly up" from last year, and retail gross profit per unit (GPU) to be similar to the fourth quarter, with a potential for upside. Retail GPU surged nearly sevenfold, to $2,812 in the fourth quarter. The company reported a net income of $450 million for 2023, including an $878-million gain on debt extinguishment, compared with a loss of $1.59 billion in 2022. (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Pooja Desai) Eatontown, N.J., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a heartwarming gesture of inclusivity, Bierman Autism Centers (Bierman) announces the donation of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Board to the Borough of Eatontown, NJ. This innovative addition to the 80 Acre Park playground reflects Bierman's commitment to fostering a community where all children, regardless of their communication abilities, can enjoy the simple joys of childhood in an inclusive space. Janice Grasso, Eatontown's Recreation & Community Services Director, played a pivotal role in this collaboration. "Working with Bierman Autism Centers has been an absolute pleasure. Their contribution is a testament to their commitment to inclusivity and support for children with diverse needs," said Grasso. Bierman, with a center in Eatontown and other New Jersey locations in Ramsey, Princeton, Berkeley Heights and a new location coming to West Orange in June 2024, has served the New Jersey community since 2020. Founded in 2006, Bierman's approach to autism care stands out with its innovative strategies, personalized programs, and a deep commitment to clinical excellence. "Our donation of the AAC Communication Board is more than a contribution; it's a reflection of our core values," explained Chrissy Barosky, Chief Clinical Officer. "We believe in creating spaces where every child feels included, valued, and given the opportunity to express themselves. This aligns perfectly with our mission to create progress and possibilities for all children." The AAC board in 80 Acre Park is an interactive tool that aids non-verbal children or those with speech difficulties in communicating. Its presence in a public playground is a significant step towards inclusivity, allowing children of all abilities to engage and interact more effectively with their peers. In line with their mission to foster inclusive community engagement, Bierman Autism Centers proudly hosted 3 Valentine's Reptile Critter Shows in February at their centers, each warmly welcomed by the community and sold out. "The enthusiasm and support for these sensory-friendly events have been incredible," says Tiffany Tibbets Newman, Vice President of Marketing. "It's truly inspiring to see such a strong demand for inclusive activities, demonstrating the community's commitment to ensuring spaces where all children, regardless of their abilities, feel included and can have fun." This success celebrates their dedication to inclusivity and propels us to continue creating engaging experiences for every child and their family. These events are part of Bierman's ongoing efforts to create inclusive and engaging experiences for children with Autism and their families. People interested in keeping up with Bierman's upcoming events can visit their event calendar on the website and subscribe to stay updated on new events and updates in the community. Bierman's commitment to the community extends beyond this donation. Their Princeton Center has recently moved to a new state-of-the-art facility, further enhancing their ability to provide exceptional care and support. This expansion demonstrates Bierman's ongoing dedication to improving the lives of children with autism and their families. Parents and caregivers interested in learning more about Bierman Autism Centers or inquiring about their services can contact them at 800-931-8113 or email [email protected]. ABOUT BIERMAN AUTISM CENTERS: Established in 2006, Bierman Autism Centers is a leading authority in delivering comprehensive ABA services for children diagnosed with Autism. We dedicate ourselves to empowering children to achieve measurable outcomes and progress at their own pace. Through a synergistic blend of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, and Diagnostic services, we provide an encompassing support system for our children. At Bierman, we champion a playful approach to learning, skillfully intertwining education and enjoyment. This allows us to foster an environment where learning feels inviting and fun, seamlessly blending play into our teaching methods. Our effectiveness is demonstrated in the over 250 successful graduations we have facilitated thus far, marking significant milestones and transitions for children diagnosed with autism. Bierman Autism Centers continues to make a difference across various states, including Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, and Rhode Island. Our mission? To create progress and possibilities, together. Discover more about our transformative approach and commitment to fostering children's growth at www.biermanautism.com. Attachment Anna Leigh Navarro Bierman Autism Centers 800-931-8113 [email protected] Source: Bierman Autism Centers Reston, Virginia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leaders in business and government across the country joined thousands of students and teachers in Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA), the nations largest Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) focused solely on business, to celebrate February 11-17, 2024 as FBLA Week. The week was officially recognized by governors in at least four statesincluding Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Virginiaas well as a number of cities and counties around the country. The student High School and Collegiate National Officer Teams traveled from throughout the United States to meet with their members of Congress in Washington, DC, and with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Career, Technical, and Adult Education Amy Loyd. They shared how FBLA benefits them personally and academically and urged Congress to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which officially recognizes FBLA as a CTSO. The students also sat down with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach Rick Wade to discuss the important role FBLA plays as a workforce pipeline for industry. In addition, the officers hosted a number of webinars throughout the week focused on the importance of mentorship, leadership, and the transition from school to either college or the workforce. Shawn D. Nelson, the Founder and CEO of Lovesac, joined bestselling author Scott Jeffrey Miller and six accomplished FBLA alumni from the fields of education, finance, the military, politics, and media production to share their tips on how mentors can help students launch and succeed in their careers. Nelson is donating the net proceeds from his new book, Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story, to FBLA. FBLA chapters also raised almost $44,000 to benefit their local communities. During the week, members participated in numerous community service projects, thanked local advisers and state leaders, and focused on their future careers. Seeing tens of thousands of FBLA members from across our nation come together to advance FBLAs mission of inspiring and preparing community-minded business leaders is heartening in a world faced with so many challenges, FBLA President & CEO Alexander T. Graham said. It is truly uplifting that so many leaders in business and government continue to recognize the important role FBLA plays in building tomorrows workforce and shaping future leaders. Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education association with more than 193,000 middle school, high school, and college members worldwide. FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences. The association is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. For more information, visit fbla.org. Attachment Mary Lynn J. Rynkiewicz Future Business Leaders of America 7038604888 [email protected] Source: Future Business Leaders of America CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Premium Sand Inc. (CPS or the Company) (TSXV: CPS) is pleased to announce its first quarter 2024 financial results. The Companys interim financial statements and notes thereto and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended December 31, 2023, are available under CPSs SEDAR+ profile. Highlights The Company devoted its time and resources during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, to advancing its patterned solar glass manufacturing facility in Selkirk, Manitoba (the Project). Specifically, the Company: Continued discussions with debt and equity capital investors that have expressed interest in financing the Project; Completed two financing initiatives in support of the ongoing process to raise project financing. On December 11, 2023, the Companys insiders, including board members and management, as well as certain key strategic investors exercised 4,747,692 common share purchase warrants, at an exercise price of $0.40 per warrant, resulting in net cash proceeds of $1,899,042. Additionally, the Company reached an agreement with the holders of its outstanding convertible debentures to extend the maturity date by one year from February 26, 2024 to February 26, 2025. All holders of the convertible debentures are insiders or key strategic investors in the Company; and Subsequent to the period, the Company announced on February 15, 2024 an acknowledgement of the support it received for its Project from the Province of Manitoba. We look forward to making continued progress in 2024 with our efforts to raise capital for the construction of our integrated patterned solar glass manufacturing facility. The pledge of support we received recently from the Province of Manitoba is an important milestone. Reflecting on the meaningful level of job creation and the potential to attract other solar energy supply chain investments, this project represents significant economic and strategic value to the City of Selkirk, the Province of Manitoba and Canada overall. We remain committed to establishing North Americas first source of patterned solar glass and contributing to our customers stated goal of securing a low-risk and low-carbon solar energy supply chain, stated Company President & CEO, Glenn Leroux. About Canadian Premium Sand Inc. The Company is developing manufacturing capacity for ultra high-clarity patterned solar glass through a Company-owned facility to be located in Selkirk, Manitoba that utilizes the high-purity, low-iron silica sand from its wholly owned Wanipigow quarry leases and renewable Manitoba hydroelectricity. The Company is a reporting issuer in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Its shares trade on the TSXV under the symbol "CPS". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT INFORMATION: Canadian Premium Sand Inc. Glenn Leroux Cam Deller President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer [email protected] [email protected] Investor Relations [email protected] 587.355.3714 www.cpsglass.com Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation, expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including information as to the future events, results of operations and the Companys future performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, plans, seeks, projects or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs, estimates and opinions regarding its future growth, results of operations, future performance (both operational and financial), and business prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made by the Company that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, but not limited, to: the ability of the Company to make continued progress in 2024 with its efforts to raise capital for the construction of the Project; the meaningful level of job creation and the potential to attract other solar energy supply chain investments; the significant economic and strategic value of the Project to the City of Selkirk, the Province of Manitoba and Canada overall; the commitment to establishing North Americas first source of patterned solar glass and contributing to our customers stated goal of securing a low-risk and low-carbon solar energy supply chain; future development plans; industry activity levels; industry conditions pertaining to the solar glass manufacturing industry; the ability of and manner by which the Company expects to meet its capital needs; and the Company's objectives, strategies and competitive strengths. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. Source: Canadian Premium Sand Inc. Orlando, Fla., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CNL Strategic Capital, LLC has closed on an approximately $10 million investment in USA Water Intermediate Holdings, LLC (USA Water). USA Water is a leading provider of operations and maintenance (O&M) services for water and wastewater systems across the Southeast United States. USA Water is the fourteenth company in CNL Strategic Capitals portfolio. CNL Strategic Capital is co-investing in USA Water alongside an LLCP institutional fund and affiliate of Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital, LLC, the sub-manager of CNL Strategic Capital. USA Water was established in 2012 and is based in Rosenberg, Texas. USA Waters non-discretionary services enable municipalities and utility districts to entrust their water infrastructure maintenance, asset management and regulatory compliance needs to a professional partner of scale. USA Waters industry-leading technical expertise and comprehensive service offerings play a critical role in ensuring the integrity, safety and reliability of clean, high-quality water access. USA Water provides customers with wastewater facility operations, pipe repair and maintenance, meter reading, new water tap installations, regulatory and compliance, and billing and administrative services. About CNL Strategic Capital CNL Strategic Capital is a publicly registered, non-traded limited liability company that seeks to provide current income and long-term appreciation to individuals by acquiring controlling equity stakes in combination with loan positions in durable and growing middle-market businesses. The company is externally managed by CNL Strategic Capital Management, LLC and Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital, LLC (LLSC). For additional information, please visit cnlstrategiccapital.com. About CNL Financial GroupCNL Financial Group (CNL) is a private investment management firm providing real estate and alternative investments. Since inception in 1973, CNL and/or its affiliates have formed or acquired companies with more than $36 billion in assets. CNL is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. For additional information, please visit cnl.com. About Levine Leichtman Strategic CapitalLLSC is an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC (LLCP), a middle-market private equity firm with a 39-year track record of investing across various targeted sectors, including Franchising & Multi-unit, Business Services, Education & Training and Engineered Products & Manufacturing. LLCP utilizes a differentiated Structured Private Equity investment strategy, combining debt and equity capital investments in portfolio companies. LLCP believes that by investing in a combination of debt and equity securities, it offers management teams growth capital in a highly tailored, flexible investment structure that can be a more attractive alternative than traditional private equity. LLCPs global team of dedicated investment professionals is led by ten partners who have worked at LLCP for an average of 19 years. Since inception, LLCP has managed approximately $14.2 billion of institutional capital across 15 investment funds and has invested in over 100 portfolio companies. LLCP currently manages $10.2 billion of assets and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, London, Stockholm, The Hague and Frankfurt. For additional information, please visit llcp.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. The information in this press release may include forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of CNL Strategic Capitals management and on the information currently available to management at the time of such statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the words believes, expects, will, intends, plans, estimates or similar expressions that indicate future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond CNL Strategic Capitals control. Important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the risks associated with the Companys ability to pay distributions and the sources of such distribution payments, the Companys ability to locate and make suitable investments and other risks described in the Risk Factors section of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ### Colleen Johnson Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications CNL Financial Group 407-650-1223 Source: CNL Strategic Capital Putting diverse creators at the forefront, the partnership is the latest from Pixabilitys Inclusive Media Initiative LOS ANGELES and BOSTON, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Culture Genesis , the largest Black-owned digital video network reaching 33 million U.S. households as verified by Comscore, today announced an exclusive sales partnership with Pixability, the leader in brand suitability and contextual targeting solutions for advertisers on YouTube. The partnership is the latest development in Pixablitys recently announced Inclusive Media Initiative (IMI), a first-of-its-kind DE&I solution that aims to ensure investment in diverse communities and creators, giving those creators a voice and choice about which communities they represent. Historically, Black creators have been significantly overlooked in advertising, posing a challenge for brands to authentically engage and invest in them at scale. Moreover, brand safety concerns and widespread use of keyword exclusions have further marginalized them. Major advertisers want premium partnerships with high-end multicultural creators and the ability to support creators at scale who may not yet be household names. Our partnership with Pixability gives them both, said Shaun Newsum , co-founder of Culture Genesis. The partnership lets Culture Genesis combine its market-leading YouTube reserve multicultural inventory with Pixabilitys network of participating IMI creators, providing unmatched scale and efficiency for advertisers to reach diverse audiences. As the only partner in the YouTube Measurement Program certified by Google for Brand Suitability, Contextual Targeting, and Content Insights, Pixability stands alone in offering a curated influencer opt-in networkwhich empowers YouTube creators to self-identify within their diverse communities. Further, Culture Genesis complements Pixability's Measurement program to provide a first-of-its-kind offering for marketers on YouTube. "I am pleased to see trusted Google Partners, both of whom are passionate about supporting diverse YouTube creators, making it easier for advertisers to support their inclusive media initiatives while accomplishing their campaign goals," commented Tara Walpert Levy , Vice President, Americas, at YouTube. Through both parties strategic relationships with YouTube, major advertisers and holding companies can now leverage the largest inventory of premium multicultural Millennial and Gen-Z-targeted content in concert with the scale of Pixabilitys network of self-identified diverse creators for the first time. David George , CEO of Pixability, added: Advertisers have inadvertently marginalized quality content creators from diverse groups for years due to blanket keyword exclusion strategies. Our collaboration with Culture Genesis makes it easy for brands and their agencies to support underrepresented creators at scale on YouTube and to measure and achieve their advertising campaign goals. The move further fuels Culture Genesis's ongoing efforts to expand equity, ownership, and representation in digital media. Last month, the network announced that it had inked a partnership deal with Buzzfeed . About Culture Genesis Culture Genesis is a media-tech company and the largest Black-owned digital network, reaching 33M U.S. households, as verified by Comscore. Based in Los Angeles, Culture Genesis and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including All Def, empower multicultural publishers and creators to monetize their content through its more than 120 YouTube channels. A certified minority-owned company, Culture Genesis has partnered with holding companies including GroupM, Publicis Groupe, and Havas and world-class brands such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, General Mills, Ford, and Mars-Wrigley. For more information, visit https://www.culturegenesis.com . About Pixability Pixability is the leading AI-driven technology company that empowers the worlds largest brands and their agencies to maximize the value of their video advertising across YouTube and CTV. Leveraging its proprietary technology platform and data, Pixability makes every video impression matter by identifying contextually relevant, brand suitable inventory and maximizing cost efficient outcomes. Pixabilitys suite of solutions are used by the top media agencies including IPG, Publicis, Dentsu, Stagwell, and GroupM, as well as brands such as KIND, McDonalds, Salesforce and CVS. For more information about Pixability, please visit www.pixability.com . CONTACTS: Flight PR for Culture Genesis Alysha Light [email protected] MONTREAL, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imposing a single-payer universal drug insurance plan on all Canadians would jeopardize coverage quality for at least 21.5 million among them, according to a study released by the Montreal Economic Institute this morning. All across the country, private drug insurance plans cover more treatments than governmental plans, explains Emmanuelle B. Faubert, economist at the MEI and author of the study. If the federal government follows the NDPs suggestion, all Canadians with access to private insurance will have to content themselves with public insurance and its less generous coverage. In the context of their support agreement with the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democrats are asking the Trudeau government to implement a single-payer universal drug insurance plan in order to continue their support. Nearly 25 million Canadians have private drug insurance coverage. Between 2018 and 2021, private drug insurance plans covered 51 per cent more drugs on average than public plans. In Quebec, the province with the most generous public coverage, this difference was 59.6 per cent. The MEI study indicates that even if a public plan as generous as Quebecs were extended across the country, 21.5 million Canadians would risk seeing the quality of their insurance coverage fall. The author also emphasizes the repercussions that this could have for drug access. When a drug is not covered by any insurance plan in a country, many companies stop distributing it, says Ms. Faubert. To the reduced coverage of the public plans must also be added the long approval delays that risk reducing access to drugs. The average approval delay for the coverage of a new drug by private insurers is 226 days after its approval by Health Canada. For the public plans, this delay is 732 days. Of the new drugs launched on the global market between 2012 and 2021, 44 per cent are distributed in Canada, but only 20% are covered by a public plan. If the federal governments goal is to provide drug insurance coverage to the 2.8 per cent of the population that are not eligible at the moment, there are better ways of going about it, concludes Ms. Faubert. Threatening the quality of drug coverage enjoyed by over 20 million Canadians, as a single-payer plan would, is not the right way to do it. The MEI study is available here: https://www.iedm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/note042024_en.pdf The MEI is an independent public policy think tank with offices in Montreal and Calgary. Through its publications, media appearances, and advisory services to policy-makers, the MEI stimulates public policy debate and reforms based on sound economics and entrepreneurship. Interview requestsCelia Pinto MoreiraCommunications AdvisorCell: 514 703-0502[email protected]@CeliaPinto22 To follow the MEIs work, subscribe to our Twitter account @iedm_montreal. Source: Montreal Economic Institute DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania intends to import more than 300,000 tonnes of sugar this year in a bid to end an existing shortage of the commodity, a senior official said Thursday. Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture Hussein Bashe said more than 25,000 tonnes of sugar are currently being offloaded from a ship at the Port of Dar es Salaam. Bashe told the media at the State House in Dar es Salaam that the importation of more than 300,000 tonnes of sugar will be overseen by the National Food Reserve Agency. He said he was optimistic that sugar availability would stabilize starting next month. Bashe lashed out at retailers of sugar for raising the price of the commodity, saying authorities have launched a crackdown on traders who are hoarding and raising the price of sugar against the indicative prices set by the government. On Wednesday, Mohamed Mchengerwa, minister of state in the President's Office responsible for regional administration and local governments, warned business people against hoarding sugar, saying those implicated in the malpractice will face the full force of the law. Mchengerwa also ordered regional and district commissioners to crack down on hoarders of the commodity. Enclosed is the final agenda and proposals from the Board of Directors for the 2024 Annual General Meeting, along with the report of the Company's Nomination Committee. Eimskipafelag Islands hf.'s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 7 March 2024 at 15:00 (GMT) at the company's headquarters, Sundabakki 2, Reykjavik, Iceland. All meeting documents and further information can be found on the AGMs site here Attachments DETROIT, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Miller Johnson today announced that Fadwa Hammoud, Chief Deputy Attorney General of the State of Michigan and former Solicitor General of Michigan, has been named Managing Member of the firms Detroit office. Hammoud will help lead key lines of service for Miller Johnson, including crisis management, dispute resolution, intellectual property, health care, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and education law. Hammoud immediately joins the firms leadership team and will report directly to David Buday, Managing Member of Miller Johnson. Hammoud was appointed Chief Deputy in 2022 by Attorney General Dana Nessel and now joins a Miller Johnson team that is among the fastest-growing law firms in the state, boasting double-digit growth in employees and revenue gains over the past 24 months and maintaining its mission of giving back to the communities it serves and serving clients to help them achieve their goals. This is an incredible opportunity for me personally and professionally, as I aim to increase the impact I am able to have in the communities I have served throughout my career through the kind of direct access the world of private practice provides, said Hammoud. Miller Johnson is the firm of choice for me based on its reputation of excellence and of giving back to the communities it serves. It is a team that cares deeply about the people and organizations that they serve, and I look forward to help leading our efforts in Detroit as Miller Johnson strengthens its position as Michigans law firm. Hammoud will play an integral role in advising the firms strategic direction in addition to serving as a primary conduit to legislative and judicial personnel at the State and Federal levels. We are thrilled to welcome Fadwa as the leader in our Detroit office, said Buday. We are even more excited that Fadwa shares the same vision for client service and making a positive impact in our communities that we do. She has been the architect of many historic firsts in the legal profession, and we believe her advocacy skills will only generate more positive outcomes across the State. As Chief Deputy Attorney General, Hammoud oversaw the Departments three Bureaus, including eighteen civil divisions and four criminal divisions, and the offices of Human Resources, Fiscal Management, Legislative Affairs and Public Information and Education. In her role, she oversaw more than five hundred employees and managed the Departments more than $100 million annual budget. As Michigans 12th Solicitor General, Hammoud made history as the youngest to ever hold the position and the first ever Arab-American Muslim Solicitor General in the United States. She also became the first Arab American Muslim woman to argue before the United States Supreme Court, winning the case of Brown v. Davenport in 2022. Before her service at The Capital, Hammoud was Lead Attorney for the Wayne County Prosecutors office, establishing the Business Protection Unit and advocating on behalf of the Countys various ethnic and immigrant communities. In 2021, Hammoud was appointed to the Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, where she served on the Legislative Committee for the Hispanic/Latino, Asian Pacific American and Middle Eastern American Affairs Commissions. Hammoud is a member of several organizations, including the League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, and the Women Lawyers Association. She has previously served on the Board of Trustees at Henry Ford College, as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education, and as a Board Member of the Government Bar Association, the Dearborn Education Foundation, and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Additionally, she is the former Vice President of the Arab American Political Action Committee. In 2023, she was selected as a Influential Women of Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and in 2017, she received the Rising Star Award from the Arab American Chamber of Commerce. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On February 5th, 2024, Framework Technology Quantum (Framework Tech), a leader in blockchain and digital finance innovation, is excited to announce a strategic collaboration with Huawei Cloud. This partnership aims to enhance Framework Tech's technological capabilities and accelerate its global expansion, with a particular focus on the Southeast Asian market. Framework Tech's CEO, accompanied by a dedicated team, arrived in Kuala Lumpur to finalize the details of this groundbreaking partnership with Huawei Cloud's Southeast Asia headquarters. The collaboration is set to explore and enhance storage technologies, including advancements in new energy, public and private cloud technologies, and real-time high-definition live streaming and broadcasting technologies. A Future-Focused Partnership Framework Tech and Huawei Cloud Southeast Asia have embarked on discussions about the future of Huawei's cloud technology in Southeast Asia, focusing on its application in new energy and both public and private cloud technologies. This partnership is poised to leverage Huawei Cloud's existing ecological cooperation with leading public chains such as ETH, Arbitrum, and Polygon, positioning Framework Tech to become a key player in this elite group. About Framework Technology Quantum Framework Technology Quantum (Framework Tech) is at the forefront of Layer 2 blockchain innovation, revolutionizing digital security and privacy. By harnessing Layer 2 solutions, Framework Tech addresses the challenges of conventional blockchains, such as scalability, transaction fees, and processing speeds. Its approach combats internet centralization and censorship while providing quantum encryption for unparalleled data security. Embrace the revolution with Framework Tech and join the journey towards a more secure, private, and decentralized internet. Invest in $FTQ on Wow Exchange and be part of our mission to create a safer digital world. Media Contact Contact: FULIANG BAI Company Name: Framework Tech Foundation Website: https://frameworktech.io/ Email: support-at-rameworktech.io Huawei Cloud Contact: Soh Meng Yung Email: soh.meng.yung2-at-huawei.com Source: Framework Tech VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite progress by various municipalities and the provincial government, significant impediments to homebuilding remain in Ontario, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The high cost of housing remains a major concern for Ontarians, and government barriers, both municipal and provincial, to home construction remain part of the problem, said Steve Lafleur, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of Barriers to Housing Supply in Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Barriers to home construction in Ontario include: Onerous building requirements : These include zoning bylaws and design guidelines that restrict building opportunitiesfor example, certain land zoned for residential use may allow only single-detached homes. : These include zoning bylaws and design guidelines that restrict building opportunitiesfor example, certain land zoned for residential use may allow only single-detached homes. Costs of approval timelines : Individuals and firms wishing to build in Ontario often endure long wait times for permit approvals from various government departments, which increases the costs of building. : Individuals and firms wishing to build in Ontario often endure long wait times for permit approvals from various government departments, which increases the costs of building. High land costs : Several provincial policies restrict land available for development, which increases prices for remaining land and drives up overall housing costs. : Several provincial policies restrict land available for development, which increases prices for remaining land and drives up overall housing costs. High development fees: Local governments levy fees including application and permit fees and community benefits fees, which all drive up the cost of housing development. Per-unit fees for high-rise units in the GTA ranged from $46,412 to $121,562 in 2022. By reducing or removing barriers to development, governments in Ontario can help address the provinces housing crunch and increase affordability for families across the province, Lafleur said. MEDIA CONTACT: Steve Lafleur, Senior Fellow, Fraser InstituteTo arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:Mark Hasiuk, Senior Media Relations Specialist, 604-688-0221 ext. 517,[email protected] Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Like us on Facebook The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org Source: Fraser Institute VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Pacific Gold Corp. ("Great Pacific Gold, GPAC, or the "Company") (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: FSXLF) (Germany: 4TU) is pleased to announce that it has received notification from the Papua New Guinea Mineral Resources Authority (the MRA) of the grant of Exploration License (EL) 2715. The grant of EL 2715 means GPACs Arau Project is now wholly covered with granted exploration licenses (the other license at Arau being EL 2651, which was previously renewed). With this latest EL granted, almost all the Exploration License Applications (ELA) acquired by GPAC have now been converted into licenses. Kesar Creek is now fully covered by licenses, Arau is now fully covered by licenses and Wild Dog is partly covered by licenses (with one remaining ELA awaiting conversion to an EL). About GPAC Great Pacific Gold has a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia. In PNG, Great Pacific Gold recently acquired a significant 2,166 sq. km mineral exploration land package in PNG. The land package comprises of exploration licenses (EL) and exploration license applications (ELA). It includes both early-stage and advanced-stage exploration targets with high-grade epithermal vein and porphyry-style mineralisation present. The Arau Project consists of two granted exploration licenses, EL 2651 and EL 2715, located in the Kainantu region, and includes the Mt. Victor Prospect, where previous drilling found a multiple phase intrusion complex hosting copper and gold mineralisation. The Wild Dog Project consists of one granted exploration license, EL 2761, and one exploration license application, ELA 2516, located on the island of New Britain and about 50 km southwest of Rabaul and Kokopo, PNG. The Kesar Creek Project consists of one exploration license, EL 2711, and is contiguous with the K92 Mining Inc. tenements. In Australia, Great Pacific Gold began with two, 100% owned, high-grade gold projects called the Lauriston and Golden Mountain Projects, and has since acquired a large area of granted and application tenements containing further epizonal (low-temperature) high-grade gold mineralisation and associated intrusion-related gold mineralization all in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Great Pacific Gold land package, assembled over a multi-year period, notably includes the Lauriston Project which is a 571 sq. km property immediately to the south of and within the same geological framework that hosts Agnico Eagle Mines Ltds Fosterville Gold Mine and associated exploration tenements. The Golden Mountain Project is an intrusion-related gold project on the edge of the Strathbogie granite and occurs at the northern end of the Walhalla Gold Belt. The acquired projects include the epizonal gold Providence Project containing the Reedy Creek goldfield which adjoins the Southern Cross Golds (ASX:SXG) Sunday Creek exploration project and a large group of recently consolidated granted tenements called the Walhalla Gold Belt Project, which contain a variety of epizonal and intrusion related style gold mineralisation, including the famous high grade Cohens Reef at Walhalla. Additionally, Great Pacific Gold has another gold-focused project called the Moormbool project which has epizonal style gold mineralisation and associated potential intrusion-related gold mineralisation, as well as the Beechworth Project occurs in the northeast of the state and contains intrusion related and mesozonal gold mineralization. All GPACs properties in Australia are 100% owned and have had historical gold production from hard rock sources despite limited modern exploration and drilling. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Rex Motton, AusIMM (CP), COO of GPAC, a Qualified Person under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Motton is responsible for the technical content of this news release. On behalf of GPACRex MottonChief Operating Officer and Director Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information: Adam Ross, Investor Relations, Direct: (604) 229-9445, Toll Free: 1(833) 923-3334, Email: [email protected] Source: Great Pacific Gold Corp. PLANO, Texas, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Brick Partners, Inc. ("Green Brick"), the third largest homebuilder in Dallas-Fort Worth, and Hersh Family Investments ("HFI") are excited to announce Rainwater Crossing, a new residential project in Celina, Texas, one of the fastest growing areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This will be the sixth community in Celina in which Green Brick has been involved. Spanning over 550 acres, the development will feature more than 1,900 homesites and an impressive array of amenities designed to enhance the quality of life for residents. The primary amenity center will boast a resort-style clubhouse, a swimming pool, playground, and sport courts. The development will be located just east of Preston Road, near County Road 134. Plans incorporate around 42 acres of open space, including approximately 13 acres dedicated to the city of Celina as public parkland, private amenity sites, miles of pedestrian trails, linear parks, and pocket parks that encourage community connectivity and outdoor activities. "We're enthusiastic about joining forces with the Green Brick family of builders. Their brands have a reputation for quality," said Ken Hersh, chairman of HFI. "They deliver exceptional homes and truly care about creating desirable, vibrant communities." The new community will feature homes built by four Green Brick subsidiary builders CB JENI Homes, Normandy Homes, Southgate Homes, and Centre Living Homes. "HFI is one of the smartest investors and a leading philanthropic organization in Dallas. We are privileged to partner with their team," said Jim Brickman, co-founder and CEO of Green Brick. Through this collaboration, we can bring desirable, needed housing to the Celina area through our builders who will offer a diverse array of products to potential homebuyers, ranging from townhomes to luxury homes. About Green Brick Partners, Inc. | Green Brick Partners, Inc (NYSE: GRBK), the third largest homebuilder in Dallas-Fort Worth, is a diversified homebuilding and land development company that operates in Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Green Brick is listed as one of Fortune Magazines fastest-growing companies in 2022 and its fastest-growing public homebuilder. Green Brick owns five subsidiary homebuilders in Texas (CB JENI Homes, Normandy Homes, Southgate Homes, Trophy Signature Homes, and a 90% interest in Centre Living Homes), as well as a controlling interest in a homebuilder in Atlanta, Georgia (The Providence Group) and an 80% interest in a homebuilder in Port St. Lucie, Florida (GHO Homes). Green Brick also retains interests in related financial services platforms, including Green Brick Title and BHome Mortgage. The Company is engaged in all aspects of the homebuilding process, including land acquisition and development, entitlements, design, construction, marketing, and sales for its residential neighborhoods and master-planned communities. For more information about Green Brick Partners Inc.s subsidiary homebuilders, please visit https://greenbrickpartners.com/brands-services/. About HFI | Hersh Family Investments (HFI) is dedicated to advancing the financial, civic, and philanthropic endeavors of the Kenneth A. Hersh family and has been an active investor in Celina, Texas real estate for more than a decade. Green Brick Partners Contact:Benting HuVice President of Finance[email protected] Hersh Family Investments Contact:Phillip ThompsonManaging Director, Real Estate[email protected] Source: Green Brick Partners, Inc. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Feintool has reinforced its global market position as a leading supplier of high-volume precision parts, reporting group-wide sales of CHF 847.7 million and an EBIT of CHF 29.9 million (margin 3.5 %) for 2023. Business remained robust in the USA and Asia. Feintool achieved success in the markets of hydrogen and battery-powered mobility. With the planned factory in India, the group is entering an important growth market. Martin Kloti will be proposed as a new member of the Board of Directors. The financial landscape in 2023 presented diverse challenges for the Feintool Group, with varied outcomes across regions and applications. Despite the automotive sector, which represents approximately 80% of Feintool's sales, experiencing overall modest growth, notable achievements were recorded. Sales in Europe fell below expectations but significant orders were secured. In the USA, consistently positive business development contributed to a strong annual result. Initial challenges in Asia, stemming from an abrupt shift in COVID-19 policies in China, led to the temporary closure of automotive plants in the first quarter, which impacted sales. However, customer demand recovered throughout the year, contributing to a favourable result in Asia. Following the sale of the capital goods business in June 2023, the Feintool Group positioned itself as a pure player for high volume parts production using the three processes of e-lamination stamping, fineblanking, and forming. The sale did not include tool design, engineering, and tool production, which serves as a key differentiator for Feintool in the market across all three core technologies. Solid performance Feintool achieved a solid performance in the 2023 fiscal year, with consolidated group sales reaching CHF 847.7 million, a slight increase from the previous years CHF 833.8 million. The appreciation of the CHF against the EUR, USD, CNY and JPY cost Feintool CHF 39.4 million in sales in 2023. Sales in the System Parts Europe segment rose by 4.5 % reaching CHF 581.5 million from the previous years CHF 556.3. It is important to note that in the year-on-year comparison, the newly acquired "Kienle + Spiess" companies have only been consolidated since March 2022. In the System Parts USA segment, sales fell by 6.3 % to CHF 179.7 million from the previous years CHF 191.7 million. The decline is attributed to lower steel prices and the appreciation of the Swiss Franc. However, the actual sales volume increased. The System Parts Asia segment also faced challenges due to the strong Swiss Franc, but still managed a 0.7 % increase in sales reaching CHF 89.9 million compared to the previous years CHF 89.3 million. Feintool achieved an EBIT of CHF 29.9 million for the 2023 financial year compared to CHF 27.3 million in the previous year, resulting in an increased EBIT margin of 3.5 % (previous year: 3.3 %). The consolidated profit from continuing operations totalled CHF 17.8 million (previous year: CHF 17.6 million). The distribution of a dividend of CHF 0.34 per share will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. With an equity ratio of 60.4 % and net debt-to-EBITDA currently at 0.3x, Feintool maintains a robust financial position. The group generated a significantly higher free cash flow of CHF 19.9 million, allowing it to finance investments from its operating cash flow. With a solid balance sheet and low debt levels, Feintool is well-positioned to cover the investment requirements necessary for its ongoing transformation process using its own financial resources. European business below expectations, outlook positive In Europe, the year under review posed challenges for Feintool - partly because the industrial business suffered sales losses due to economic fluctuations. However, the outlook remains optimistic. The group secured a multi-year contract from a renowned American automobile manufacturer. The order encompasses the supply of rotors and stators for electric main drives, with a lifetime value in the three-digit million-euro range. Additionally, Feintool won a significant order from a wind turbine manufacturer. In 2023, Feintool strategically restructured its sales organization in the fineblanking/forming business unit in Europe. USA and Asia with very good financial year, expansion into India In North America, Feintool leveraged its strengths in the consolidating market, securing new orders in 2023 - even against competitors that had received prior orders. This success strengthened the market position and the company is currently expanding the site in Nashville to meet the increased demand. Business development in Asia was significantly positive. The companys presence in Japan has opened up additional opportunities for other Feintool locations. For example, the establishment of "Feintool System Parts India Pvt Ltd" laid the foundation for the first Feintool facility in India. Production in the metropolitan region of Pune is expected to start in the summer of 2025. With the new site in India, Feintool is positioned to capitalize on an important market for future growth. The rollout of e-lamination stamping technology was successfully continued in Taicang (China) in 2023. Feintool's glulock bonding technology for e-motor rotors and stators meets substantial customer interest. Feintool also prevailed against strong competition and won a major order for bipolar plates from an established fuel cell manufacturer in China. Sustainability: ESG rating and new employer branding Feintool underwent an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating conducted by Morningstar/Sustainalytics in 2023 and achieved "Low Risk" status with 17.7 points. This puts the company in the top 19 per cent of its peers. Moreover, Feintool successfully launched its new employer brand "Details matter. You matter." Our employer branding initiative contributes to Feintool standing out as an attractive employer for sought-after specialists and talents. The campaign focuses on the commitment and expertise of the groups more than 3,300 employees. Martin Kloti proposed as new member of the Board of Directors, new CFO Thomas Erne At the upcoming Annual General Meeting on April 23, 2024, Martin Kloti will be proposed as a new member of the Board of Directors of Feintool International Holding AG. Since last November, he has served as CFO and a member of the Executive Committee of the Artemis Group, which holds a majority stake in Feintool. For 20 years, Martin Kloti worked for the Schweiter Technologies Group in various management positions, including as CFO from 2014. As announced on December 15, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Thomas Erne as the new Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Board starting April 1, 2024. A proven financial expert, Erne has many years of experience as a CFO in listed international companies. He succeeds Samuel Kunzli, who will leave Feintool at the end of March 2024. Growth and technology strategy Leveraging e-lamination stamping, Feintool has been producing and marketing products, particularly e-motor cores for electromobility, contributing to the ongoing transformation in the automotive industry. This technology is also applied to components for wind turbines and industrial products. At the same time, the company continues to excel with its forming and fineblanking technologies, not only in the automotive sector but also in emerging areas such as hydrogen technology. Feintool is globally present, demonstrating not only its products and extensive expertise in its traditional businesses but also in developments for future markets. Outlook and guidance Despite the challenging market conditions, Feintool anticipates slight organic growth and a further improvement in profitability for the 2024 financial year: We expect to generate sales of around CHF 800 850 million with an EBIT margin of approximately 4%. We are confirming our medium-term targets (> CHF 1 billion in sales with an EBIT margin of 6 8% in 2026). About Feintool Feintool is an internationally active technology market leader in the field of fineblanking, formed steel components and stamped electro sheet metal products. Cost-effectiveness, superior quality, and high productivity distinguish these technologies. As an innovation driver, Feintool continually pushes the boundaries of these technologies and develops intelligent solutions to meet its customers requirements. Feintool offers innovative tools and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes for all aspects of high-volume sheet metal applications in the automotive industry and other demanding industrial sectors as well as renewable energies. These tools and processes support the megatrends of green energy generation, storage and application. Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Switzerland, the company owns 17 production plants in Europe, the United States, China, and Japan, ensuring proximity to its customers. Around the globe, about 3,300 employees and over 100 apprentices are at work on new solutions to create key advantages for customers. Feintool, which is listed on the stock exchange, is majority-owned by the Artemis Group. Overview of Key Financial Indicators (Continuing operations only) 2023 in CHF Mio. 2022 in CHF Mio. Change in % Change in local currency in % Net Revenue Feintool-Group 847.7 833.8 1.7 6.4 System Parts Europe 581.5 556.3 4.5 7.4 System Parts USA 179.7 191.7 -6.3 -0.2 System Parts Asia 89.9 89.3 0.7 13.9 Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 1 84.0 84.6 -0.7 6.0 Operating result (EBIT) 1 29.9 27.3 9.4 20.6 System Parts Europe 2 20.1 29.4 -31.6 -29.0 System Parts USA 12.6 5.9 113.3 127.1 System Parts Asia 9.2 7.2 28.7 45.2 Consolidated net profit 17.8 17.6 1.1 4.2 Balance sheet total 807.8 915.0 -11.7 Equity capital 488.2 540.5 -9.7 Net debt 24.2 42.1 -42.5 Employees 3 230 3 277 -1.4 Trainees 105 94 11.7 1 Excluding negative one-off effects in the previous year totalling CHF 5.2 million. 2 Excluding negative one-off effects in the previous year totalling CHF 4.2 million. All information on Feintool's annual results for 2023 can be found in the 2023 Annual Report, which is available as a PDF at https://www.feintool.com/financial-results/. Feintool International Holding AG Industriering 8 3250 Lyss Switzerland Media spokesperson Karin Labhart Phone +41 32 387 51 57 Mobile +41 79 609 22 02 [email protected] The press release can be downloaded from the following link: Press Release (PDF) NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP) on behalf of long-term stockholders following a class action complaint that was filed against Inspire Medical on December 22, 2023 with a Class Period from May 3, 2023 to November 7, 2023. Our investigation concerns whether the board of directors of Inspire Medical have breached their fiduciary duties to the company. Inspire Medical is a medical technology company that develops and commercializes minimally invasive products for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that require prior authorizations from doctors. In 2022, Inspire Medical introduced a pilot program (the Acceleration Program) through which the Companys Advisor Care Program team, with the customer on the phone, would directly access doctors electronic schedules and schedule doctor appointments online, without the need for phone calls. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants touted the Acceleration Programs effectiveness, claiming that the program had achieved a 30% improvement in physician appointments, and that by August 2023, about 60-plus centers are using the tool right now. The Class Action alleges that, during the Class Period, Defendants misled investors and/or failed to disclose that: (1) despite the Acceleration Program, customers were encountering challenges with the prior authorization submission process, including with the scheduling of appointments; (2) a slowdown in prior authorization submissions arising from these challenges led to a shortfall of hundreds of procedures to implant the Companys OSA device; and (3) as a result, Defendants positive statements about the Companys financial guidance, business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. After the close of markets on November 7, 2023, the Company announced disappointing earnings results for the third quarter of 2023, including a decline in prior authorization submissions for patients seeking Inspire therapy. Inspire Medical further admitted it had started to track problems with the Acceleration Program no later than the second quarter of 2023, the Company had strong confirmation of the problems with the Acceleration Program, and the Company realized we needed to take some corrective action. In response to this news, shares of Inspire Medical declined approximately 20%, from a closing price of $161.74 per share on November 7, 2023, to a closing price of $129.95 per share on November 8, 2023. If you are a long-term stockholder of Inspire Medical, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at [email protected], by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact Information: TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McEwen Copper Inc., 47.7% owned by McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), is pleased to announce results from the recently completed Phase 1 copper heap leaching metallurgical tests undertaken at SGS Chile Limitada in Santiago, Chile. The test results were produced utilizing conventional bio-heap leaching technology and generated an average copper recovery of 76.0%. This represents an increase of 3.2% over the recovery rate used in the June 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Los Azules. These test results were reviewed by Jim Sorensen and Michael McGlynn at Samuel Engineering Inc., who are responsible for the development and oversight of the metallurgical programs. Phase 1 Results Based on the Phase 1 test results available at the time and prior historical column test work, the PEA used an average copper recovery of 72.8% by employing conventional bio-heap leaching technology (see results published June 20th, 2023). Final results of Phase 1 show an increase in the average recovery to 76.0% in approximately 230 days of leaching over the planned 27-year life of the project. Average net acid consumption was also reduced by 8.3% relative to the PEA. The potential impact of the 3.2% increase in average recovery and 8.3% reduction in net acid consumption can be illustrated by selectively adjusting the PEA Base Case financial model, which results in a life of mine copper cathode production increase of 172,000 tonnes and an after-tax NPV(8%) increase of approximately $262 million. This disclosure should not be taken to modify or update the conclusions of the PEA. Deposit Mineralogy Located in San Juan, Argentina, the Los Azules deposit consists primarily of secondary copper mineralization (supergene zone of predominantly chalcocite), with minimal oxide copper content. Additionally, there is a deeper primary copper (hypogene zone of predominantly chalcopyrite with some zones of significant bornite). Metallurgical Testing Phases Preliminary results from the Phase 1 program along with historical metallurgical testing at Los Azules were used to support the 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), which proposed an environmentally friendly heap leach alternative to a conventional copper concentrator. The testing program is now advancing with two additional phases (2 & 3) currently underway to support the Feasibility Study (FS). Drilling activities related to the current study work started in 2021 and are continuing into 2024. The leach testing protocols are based on conventional bio-leaching methods used extensively in commercial applications for supergene copper mineralization. The current phases, 2 & 3, are being conducted at SGS Chile and Alfred H. Knight (ASMIN Industrial Limitada) laboratories, both located in Santiago, Chile. The Phase 1 program was initiated using drill core from drilling programs completed prior to 2021, but not older than 2015, for a total of 21 column tests. Started in 2022, Phase 1 has now been completed and final results received. Preliminary results of this work and prior historical leach testing information were used for the PEA metallurgical assumptions. The Phase 2 program utilizes drill core from the 2022-2023 drilling campaign and focuses on deposit-wide variability testing, leaching protocol optimization and scalability. A total of 34 column tests are in progress, with results expected in Q2 2024. The Phase 3 program is also started, utilizing additional drill core material from the ongoing 2023-2024 drilling program. Phase 3 testing is focusing on the material of the initial 5-year mine plan, as delineated in the PEA. A total of 33 additional column tests are planned as part of this final confirmatory testing program, with results anticipated in Q4 2024. The combined metallurgical programs comprise a total of 88 column tests to be used for the FS metallurgical design basis and geo-metallurgical model. Copper assaying is conducted using a sequential method to determine the relative amounts of acid soluble (CuAS) and cyanide soluble (CuCN) copper mineralization (oxides and secondary sulfides). When combined, these two partial assay methods are generally considered readily soluble copper (CuSOL), extractable with conventional heap leaching technologies. Copper assayed that does not report to these two partial assay methods is classified as residual copper (CuRES) and is considered copper that requires additional time or is potentially not recoverable with conventional heap leaching technologies. The finalized results from the Phase 1 metallurgy program for tests completed at minus " and " crush sizes confirmed that soluble copper (CuSOL) component recovery is 100% for all leachable resources. The information in Figure 1 below shows the minus " (19 mm) test results. The PEA envisions a minus " crush size for the heap leaching feed in the commercial application. Figure 1 Soluble Copper Recovery Kinetics The recovery results for the residual copper (CuRES) component shown in Figure 2 indicated an average recovery of 25%, an increase of 10% from the 15% preliminary recovery assumption used in the PEA. The additional residual copper recovery when applied to the entire resource increases the overall average recovery from 72.8% to 76.0%. Figure 2 Residual Copper Recovery Kinetics Figure 3 below illustrates the increase in potential copper production throughout the mine life, attributable to the improved recovery, in comparison with the PEA assumptions. The initial two production years do not show additional recovered copper, as the design capacity of the electrowinning plant considered in the PEA is fully utilized. Figure 3 Copper Cathode Production (PEA & Revised Model) The sulfuric acid consumption has also been updated with the Phase 1 final results. The averaged net sulfuric acid consumption reported in the PEA was 18 kilograms per ton of ore processed. The finalized Phase 1 testing now indicates a reduction of 8.3% to 16.5 kilograms per ton. The primary reason for the reduction of acid consumption is minimizing excess acid in the leaching solutions and operating the columns at a pH closer to 2.0 pH than the historic column work at 1.2 pH, which minimizes acid consumption by excess unmineralized gangue material dissolution. This lowered acid requirement may also improve the project economics, both NPV and IRR, by reducing the operating costs for copper produced and increasing revenue from the same tonnes mined. Bioleaching Summary Copper bioleaching has been a commercially applied technology at altitudes similar to the Los Azules site and as much as 1,000 meters higher for several decades, in multiple locations around the world. Testing is conducted in conventional leach test columns by inoculation of the columns with naturally occurring bacterial ferrooxidans and thiooxidans prior to introduction of the leach solution. Bacterial cultures for the inoculum were sourced from the testing laboratories and adapted to the Los Azules leach material. Ferrooxidans convert the ferrous iron in solution to ferric iron, while thiooxidans convert the sulfur produced in the copper sulfide leaching activity to sulfuric acid/sulfate. Ferric iron is the key chemical component necessary for leaching of copper sulfide material. Bioactivity in the tests is monitored by measurement of the ferrous/ferric ratios and electrochemical oxidation potential in the leaching solutions. ABOUT MCEWEN COPPER McEwen Copper is a well-funded, private company which owns 100% of the large, advanced-stage Los Azules copper project, located in the San Juan province, Argentina. McEwen Copper is a 47.7% owned private subsidiary of McEwen Mining, which is listed on NYSE and TSX under the ticker MUX. Los Azules is being designed to be distinctly different from conventional copper mines, consuming significantly less water, emitting much lower carbon levels and progressing to be carbon neutral by 2038, being powered by 100% renewable energy once in operation. The projects recently updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) projects a long life of mine, low production costs per pound, a short payback period, high annual copper production, and an after-tax IRR of 21.1%. ABOUT MCEWEN MINING McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it owns approximately 47.7% of McEwen Copper, which owns the large, advanced stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The Companys goal is to improve the productivity and life of its assets with the objective of increasing the share price and providing a yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has a personal investment in the company of US$220 million. His annual salary is US$1. CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in the market price of precious and base metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the corporation to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement. The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by the management of McEwen Mining Inc. Want News Fast?Subscribe to our email list by clicking here:https://www.mcewenmining.com/contact-us/#section=followUs and receive news as it happens!! Figures accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a00f17e3-f10b-4352-a03b-0d5f24cad26d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc6f3341-d17c-4a66-b6ad-060ef3149d8e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f5e3e19-5a50-4e5e-941e-758057522548 Figure 1 Soluble Copper Recovery Kinetics Figure 1 Soluble Copper Recovery Kinetics Figure 2 Residual Copper Recovery Kinetics Figure 2 Residual Copper Recovery Kinetics Figure 3 Copper Cathode Production (PEA & Revised Model) Figure 3 Copper Cathode Production (PEA & Revised Model) Source: McEwen Mining GreyOranges GreyMatter fulfillment orchestration platform and Ranger Assist robots to scale flaconis warehouse operations ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GreyOrange Inc., a leader in AI-driven fulfillment automation, has been selected by flaconi, one of Germanys leading e-retailers for beauty and perfume, to improve overall warehouse operations for faster, more efficient distribution to its customers. flaconi is leveraging GreyOranges GreyMatter fulfillment orchestration platform in combination with a fleet of 70 GreyOrange Ranger Assist robots to meet customer demand. Utilizing the Robots as a Service (RaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) model, based on demand, flaconi now has peak season flexibility for the warehouse. With GreyOranges RaaS and SaaS solutions, flaconi can fulfill orders quickly by leveraging dynamic zoning, hybrid picking, and GreyMatters balanced distribution of work to the robots according to fulfillment needs. Our ability to quickly pivot to an increased number of bots for peak season provides flaconi with a sound fulfillment plan that we know will meet our needs of shipping our beauty products to our customers on time, said Kurt-Alexander Westphal, Team Lead Operations Excellence, flaconi. As we continue to scale, we look forward to expanding our use of the GreyOrange Ranger Assist robots. This tried-and-true automation deployment empowers us to improve the daily operations of our teams, as they are now able to move less weight manually and focus on more productive and strategic tasks. Our automated warehouse operations provide us with great flexibility and the ability to scale. Because GreyMatter is well-configured for varying SKUs, from very small to large, and including fragile products, flaconi selected GreyOrange for its fulfillment needs. The GreyMatter platform also enables flaconi to scale while leveraging multiple types of technologies, all controlled by a single platform. We are not only committed to meeting the needs of customers like flaconi today, we are a strategic partner for when they scale in the future, said Akash Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, GreyOrange. Our goal is to provide customers with the best hardware and software to create competitive advantages to meet and exceed their end-customers expectations. Our team provides global support to our customers every step of the way. About flaconi With more than three million active customers, flaconi is one of the leading online shops for beauty and perfume in Germany . The online shop's extensive portfolio includes around 1,000 national and international brands and 50,000 products . From drugstore and natural cosmetics to premium and luxury, the online shop covers all product segments. The categories perfume, skin care, make-up, hair care, natural cosmetics, home spa, beauty tools and accessories offer a diverse selection of products for individual and daily beauty routines. Founded in 2011 as one of the first online perfumeries, flaconi today successfully continues its history as one of the largest, holistic beauty online pure players in Germany. For more information, visit www.flaconi.de. About GreyOrange GreyOrange Inc. is at the forefront of AI-driven robotics systems, transforming distribution and fulfillment centers worldwide. Its emphasis on orchestration, innovation, and customer satisfaction marks a new era in efficient, responsive supply chain solutions. The companys solutions offer a competitive advantage by increasing productivity, empowering growth and scale, mitigating labor challenges, reducing risk and time to market, and creating better experiences for customers and employees. Founded in 2012, GreyOrange is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices and partners across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.greyorange.com. Media Contact Leah R. H. Robinson, APR LeadCoverage [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da4b4c2f-f3d0-4ef2-a844-7d53ccda00a7 SAP, a global technology company, has successfully deployed RISE with SAP at Qatar Chemical Company Limited (Q-Chem). This significant milestone marks the culmination of Q-Chem's digital transformation journey, which is part of a comprehensive group-wide digital transformation strategy aimed at supporting its ongoing sustainability efforts. Key advantages of this technological milestone include heightened visibility across all operational facets, facilitating enhanced control, real-time insights, and informed, data-driven decision-making. Alaa Jaber, Managing Director for SAP Qatar and Fast Growth Markets, commended Q-Chem's leadership in the petrochemical industry and highlighted the benefits of transitioning to the cloud. Operational efficiencies "By embracing SAP solutions and cloud technology, Q-Chem will gain greater operational efficiencies through data analytics and business process automation, all while aligning with Qatar's 2030 National Vision and positioning itself for continued success." To accelerate its move to the cloud and ensure business continuity during the process, Q-Chem adopted RISE with SAP, led by expertise of IBM Consulting. SAP and IBM Consulting teams worked closely on a digital transformation roadmap to migrate existing industry-tailored SAP solutions to the cloud while replacing the existing SAP enterprise resource planning on-premises solution with S/4HANA private cloud edition. Bill Farrell, Managing Partner at IBM Consulting in MEA, added: "Together with SAP, we take immense pride in leading Qatar Chemical Company's transformative journey toward digital excellence. Working collaboratively on the system migration for Q-Chem, our joint efforts have been dedicated to achieving a seamless transition, empowering Q-Chem to navigate the future with increased flexibility and operational prowess. This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to driving technological evolution and contributing to Q-Chem's industry leadership and success." Rapid response Q-Chem's adoption of cloud-based operations further enhances its agility, enabling rapid responses to market dynamics and reinforcing a resilient supply chain. The automatic updates facilitated by the RISE with SAP contract empower Q-Chem to harness cutting-edge technologies, including AI and automation capabilities, while effectively monitoring and managing environmental impact and sustainability goals. This strategic shift underscores Q-Chem's commitment to technological innovation and operational excellence.--TradeArabia News Service Xian Peiwei, a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia, conducts treatment for a patient at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 20, 2024. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute of Addis Ababa University launched Chinese language training for law enforcement personnel in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Wednesday, aiming to enhance cultural exchanges and collaborate on security matters with the East African country. Organized by the Ethiopian Police University, the language proficiency training will run for three months with about 24 police officers selected from different departments. They will attend the training at the headquarters of the Ethiopian Federal Police Commission. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Shen Qinmin, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said the language courses will help enhance cross-cultural knowledge between the peoples of the two countries and bridge communication gaps between the police and Chinese nationals in Ethiopia. "Through the language training, the law enforcement officers will get acquainted with more Chinese cultures and serve the Chinese community better," he said. Noting that China and Ethiopia share ancient civilizations, Shen said the training program is part of the all-weather strategic partnership reached between China and Ethiopia during a recent visit by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to China. This training program is a lively embodiment of the strategic partnership. After finishing the three-month training, Shen said he hopes that the trainees will be able to learn more about Chinese culture and build up their communication capacity to serve Ethiopian and Chinese societies with compassion and integrity. President of the Ethiopian Police University Mesfin Abebe said on the occasion that the Chinese language training program will help strengthen the strategic partnership between Ethiopia and China and enhance their people-to-people relations. Noting that Ethiopia and China are enjoying growing and multifaceted cooperation, the president said the federal police will provide necessary protection to Chinese investments in Ethiopia for mutual benefits. "Having the Chinese language training here will enable our police officers to understand Chinese culture and civilization and foster China-Africa cooperation," Abebe said. Appreciating Chinese discipline and law enforcement operations, Abebe said the Ethiopian law enforcement bodies would like to adopt those disciplines, work culture, and practices to strengthen the police service in the country. Elsa Wasu, a member of the crime investigation department of the Ethiopian Federal Police Commission, is one of the few women police officers attending the Chinese language training in Addis Ababa. Wasu spoke of the communication gaps she encountered while offering services to Chinese nationals in Ethiopia. "We had to look for an interpreter when the Chinese nationals approached us, looking for our services. After I attend the Chinese language courses, I hope I will serve them well and get the right results," she added. This photo taken on April 28, 2023 shows a group photo of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia/Handout via Xinhua) Liu Guangzhi (2nd L), a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia, conducts surgery for a patient with local doctors at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 23, 2023. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia/Handout via Xinhua) Lin Dongpeng, a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia, prepares treatment with a local doctor at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 20, 2024. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) Chen Zhaoqi, a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia, conducts treatment for a patient at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 20, 2024. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) Zhang Xinping, a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia, communicates the condition of a patient with a local doctor at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 20, 2024. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) Ma Lun, a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia, discusses the condition of a patient with a local doctor at the Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 20, 2024. The 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to Ethiopia departed from central China's Henan Province in April 2023. By early February 2024, the team has diagnosed for 15,000 plus patients, offered 562 surgeries and treated 6,631 people with traditional Chinese medical treatment. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) DETROIT, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Bidens cabinet for Americas 33 million small businesses, traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to kick off the Investing in America tour with a spotlight on the Black Small Business Boom under the Biden-Harris Administration. Administrator Guzman started her day with Congressman Shri Thanedar on the Avenue of Fashion, a historic, predominantly Black-owned shopping district in Detroit. There, they visited and toured MAC Galleries, an art gallery and custom framing and installation business, with co-owner James McKissic. Afterward, they visited The Shoe Box, a local Black-owned mens shoe store. Administrator Guzman and Congressman Thanedar concluded their Avenue of Fashion small business visits at Krispy Addicts Clothing Boutique, a Black-owned street stylish clothing boutique. Administrator Guzman discussed with the business owners how Black business ownership is growing at its fastest rate in more than three decades under the Biden-Harris Administration, with the rate of Black households that own a business having more than doubled. They also discussed continued efforts in the Biden-Harris Administration to build upon this progress and support Black entrepreneurship as part of President Bidens Investing in America agenda. After the business visits concluded, Administrator Guzman and Congressman Thanedar led a roundtable discussion with local Black business owners at the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance, where they discussed the rise of Black entrepreneurship under the Biden-Harris Administration and the ongoing Small Business Boom, which has seen more than 423,000 applications to start new businesses in Michigan since the President took office. For follow-up interview requests for Administrator Guzman, please contact Teddy Lake at [email protected] Event photos are available upon request to [email protected] ### About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. Christine Saah-Nazer U.S. Small Business Administration 202-756-0304 [email protected] Han Nguyen U.S. Small Business Administration 202-756-0304 [email protected] Rebecca Galanti U.S. Small Business Administration 202-756-0304 [email protected] Source: U.S. Small Business Administration PATCHOGUE, NY, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA), recently announced the recipients of their 2023 Congressional Awards and honored U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-NY, with their Leadership Award for his work to defeat the so-called Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, H.R. 4417/S. 2019, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-IA, and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS. In October of 2023, Rep. Garbarino led a House Republican sign-on letter to Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn GT Thompson, R-PA, and Ranking Member David Scott, D-GA, alongside Reps. Nancy Mace, R-SC, David Valadao, R-CA, and Michael Waltz, R-FL, against EATS, a measure that is designed to nullify state ballot initiatives across the country enacted by a direct vote of the people. Industrial agribusiness interests failed to secure the enactment of similar legislation led by former Rep. Steve King, R-IA, in the 2018 Farm Bill thanks to the work of OCM leaders and former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-TX Thompsons predecessor who is currently working with the Competitive Markets Groups to defeat EATS in 2024. Im honored to be recognized by such a wide array of American family farmers who keep our country fed, said Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-NY. The EATS Act would directly harm producers who practice more humane, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture and to the safety and security of our food supply. House Agriculture Committee leadership should deliver a bipartisan Farm Bill that helps keep family farmers in business instead of shutting them down. We are grateful to Rep. Garbarino for his leadership and tremendous work fighting against the China-backed EATS Act that would federalize American agriculture under Smithfields factory farming standards and allow the Chinese to gain more control over our food production systems, said Marty Irby, President & CEO at Competitive Markets Action and Board Secretary at the Organization for Competitive Markets. Make no mistake, if EATS or anything like it is included in the Farm Bill, American family farmers will be put out of business and our foreign enemies will gain a tighter grip on the consolidated 4-Big-Packer-Monopoly that already runs Joe Bidens USDA. We applaud Rep. Garbarino for his tireless work, tremendous leadership, and intestinal fortitude in standing up to Chinese interests and multinational conglomerates who continue to further consolidate American agriculture, said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets and Founder of the Wyoming Independent Cattlemens Association. If Agriculture Committee leaders want to get a Farm Bill done in 2024 theyd be wise to jettison any language that nullifies state and local agriculture laws and include a provision to reform USDAs swampy checkoff slush funds. As a proud American and lifelong producer, I proudly applaud Rep. Garbarino for being committed to defeating Big Ags Chinese and Brazilian backers that threaten our food supply, said Jonathan Buttram, Treasurer at the Organization for Competitive Markets, and President of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association. The industrial agriculture mafia is petrified of our work because they see the writing on the wall and we hope they soon meet the same fate as New Yorks infamous Five Families. "Independent farmers in Kansas applaud Rep. Garbarino and hope to see our U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall shift toward helping his constituents instead of pandering to China and the industrial ag interests that line his campaign coffers, said Mike Schultz, founder of the Kansas Cattlemen's Association, and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. OCM and CMA also conducted its third fly-in since July of 2023 to Washington, D.C. this month and engaged in nearly 90 meetings against the EATS Act, H.R. 4417/S. 2019; S. 3382, the Protecting Interstate Commerce for Livestock Producers Act (PICLPA), led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, with no additional cosponsors; and other legislation like it. In the past week, the Missouri-based Moms for America, and Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, came out swinging against the EATS Act, joining more than 2,000 diverse opponents that stand firmly against the measure. The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The foundation of the Organization for Competitive Markets is to fight for competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and our duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agricultural economy as a regulator and enforcer of rules necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible and competitive for all citizens. Competitive Markets Action (CMA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that was formed with the mission of shaping policy to promote more regenerative and sustainable agriculture, and competitive markets in the U.S., and to defend against attacks on states rights by the federal government. CMA works to raise awareness of the harm caused by multinational conglomerates to the American family farmer, the consumer and our U.S. economy as a whole in an effort to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms. Attachments Marty Irby Competitive Markets Action 202-821-5686 [email protected] Source: Competitive Markets Action Colorado Springs, Colorado, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Catalyst Accelerator is excited to announce the selection of seven outstanding small businesses with innovative, complementary tech solutions. These companies will come together from across the globe to participate in the Accelerators 13th cohort focused on Space Domain Awareness. The Catalyst Accelerator, powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), exists to empower nontraditional technology companies to accelerate their involvement in the national defense ecosystem by providing connections, mentorship, and business development in a collaborative setting for a lasting national impact. Space Domain Awareness is the ability to rapidly detect, track, characterize, and attribute threats to our nations space assets, and plays a pivotal role in national security. The United States Space Force recognizes the urgency of protecting space mission sensors and systems and sought to leverage commercial software capabilities to enhance, supplement, support, and refine existing Space Domain Awareness capabilities. The Space Domain Awareness cohort (#CASDA2) is the first Accelerator in partnership with The Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications & Processing Lab (SDA TAP Lab). Maj Sean Allen, Chief of the SDA TAP Lab, explained, The TAP Lab is partnered with Catalyst Campus to feed companies directly from the Catalyst Accelerator into the lab. They mature the business model, and the lab helps accelerate the product. This means companies are better positioned to build what the NSDC and Delta 2 need, and are more likely to make sales. Last week, I had the privilege of reviewing pitches for the Catalyst Accelerator. It was amazing to see the expertise of these startups. I learned a lot and am confident our partnership will ultimately improve the quality of commercial space battle management software. The #CASDA2 cohort will meet two weeks per month beginning March 19th and ending June 14th. Each company will collaborate with subject matter experts, work with government and commercial Navigators, and complete an intensive customer discovery process. The cohort will culminate in a Demo Day on June 13th where they will pitch their technology to Government and Industry partners as well as investors assessing the potential of cohort company technologies. After the conclusion of the program, the companies will be positioned well to participate in the SDA TAP Labs 4th Project Apollo cohort if they choose to do so. The Catalyst Accelerator team, with technical advisement from Government, Industry, and Academia, underwent a rigorous selection process in order to carefully choose the companies for the #CASDA2 cohort. The following startups were chosen based on their demonstrated potential and innovative capability solutions: Active Vigilance (Cheyenne, Wyoming) At Active Vigilance, we are spearheading the deployment of onboard artificial intelligence and machine learning for aerospace applications. Our vision is a safer world where space assets survive through events no one could have predicted, limiting the effects of hostile action, and maintaining deterrence. Active Vigilance provides the most efficient and trustworthy machine learning, enabling human-on-the loop control of autonomous space assets. Active Vigilance has developed machine learning which needs minimal training data and collaborates with human oversight to ensure mission goals are met. With flexible hardware implementations including in space and on the ground, Active Vigilance offers a new resilience for in-space and other high-value, complex assets. https://activevigilance.com Astra Ultra (Littleton, Colorado) Astra Ultra is revolutionizing space domain awareness with our cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. Our AI systems provide unparalleled accuracy in tracking and predicting orbital patterns, ensuring enhanced safety and strategic planning for satellite operations. By integrating advanced machine learning algorithms, Astra Ultra offers real-time data analysis and decision-making capabilities, ensuring continued mission capability and success. Our commitment to innovation positions Astra Ultra as a pivotal player in shaping the future of space domain awareness. https://astra-ultra.ai The Exclosure (San Francisco, California) Exclosure stands at the forefront of space situational awareness, revolutionizing the field with our global network of AI/ML-enhanced observatories. Compact yet powerful, our observatories deliver unprecedented revisit rates for analyzing orbital and atmospheric objects. We blend cutting-edge artificial intelligence with advanced data processing to offer real-time insights, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space observation and security. Exclosure seeks to provide not just space domain awareness, but space domain empowerment. https://www.exclosure.io iMETALX Inc. (Sausalito, California) iMETALX is at the forefront of space technology, offering cutting-edge observation and surveillance services. Utilizing sophisticated sensors and algorithms, the company excels in identifying, tracking, and analyzing satellites and debris across low earth orbit and beyond. Essential for maintaining space situational awareness, iMETALX's services safeguard the functionality and safety of space assets through comprehensive imagery and data, while also facilitating effective operations for in-space services. https://www.imetalx.com Orbital Services Corporation LLC (OSCorp) (Colorado Springs, Colorado) OSCorp is an in-space services company at the vanguard of cementing U.S. space supremacy to safeguard the space domain and build a thriving in-space economy. We develop cutting-edge technologies at the nexus of GN&C, AI/ML, LiDAR sensors, space robotics, and lasercom terminalsthe building blocks that would enable safe and robust ADR involving RPOC of uncooperative spacecraft. https://www.orbitalservicescorporation.com Quasar Satellite Technologies (Sydney, Australia) Quasar has developed a state-of-the-art, fully digital multibeam phased array antenna, capable of simultaneously delivering SDA & SATCOM from a single aperture, marking a revolutionary advancement in All-Sky visibility. https://quasarsat.com TRL 11 Inc. (Irvine, California) TRL11 is advancing the development and utilization of full motion video for spacecraft operations and space security. The company is building cameras and recording systems emphasizing real-time and low power video feeds from space. Central to TRL11s innovative approach is its proprietary AI/ML video processing software which employs a novel compression technique and downlinks only the valuable content in a recording to streamline insights for ground operators while minimizing bandwidth costs. https://www.trl11.com The Catalyst Accelerator is proud to play a pivotal role in driving technological advancements and fostering innovation in the space sector. By bringing together talented startups and industry leaders, the Accelerator aims to fast-track the development and deployment of technologies that will shape the future of the space industry. About Catalyst Accelerator The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate and United States Space Forces Catalyst Accelerator is a NewSpace-focused defense and national security industry accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CCTI is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, entrepreneurs, startups, government, academia, and investors intersect with Colorados aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation, and stimulate business growth. The Catalyst Accelerator is a collaborative program hosted by Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI, a Colorado 501(c)3) in partnership with the United States Space Force, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to provide a robust, mentor-driven curriculum for accelerator teams. Attachment KiMar Gartman Catalyst Accelerator Program Director 701-500-5469 [email protected] Source: Catalyst Accelerator CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Slalom, the global business and technology consulting company, today announced the promotion of Iaan McAullay to the position of Managing Director. Since joining Slalom's Calgary office in 2021 as a Senior Director, McAullay has consistently demonstrated strong leadership qualities and an unwavering commitment to excellence, delivering exceptional results for clients, motivating teams, and setting high standards within the organization. "McAullay's promotion reflects his outstanding contributions within Western Canada and his remarkable ability to drive growth and success," said Wayne Ingram, President of Slalom Canada. "His leadership and business acumen have been instrumental in shaping our Calgary market's trajectory and solidifying our position as a trusted partner for organizations across industries." In his new role, McAullay will lead Slalom's Calgary market, setting strategic objectives, nurturing client relationships, and driving financial performance. Slalom's Calgary presence has expanded significantly since 2021, welcoming over 50 team members and achieving remarkable revenue growth, driven by establishing strong partnerships with key clients across the energy, aviation, and transportation industries. "Calgary is an emerging hub for technology and innovation, and Slalom is proud to invest in this vibrant Canadian city," said Ingram. "Through key technology partnerships with industry leaders such as Microsoft, AWS, and Salesforce, we empower our clients to embrace digital transformation and thrive in the modern business landscape." "I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Managing Director, leading Slalom Calgary," said Iaan McAullay. "I look forward to continuing to drive growth, innovation, and value for our clients and our team across Western Canada." McAullay's promotion underscores Slalom's commitment to fostering growth in the Calgary market and nurturing local talent within the organization, empowering leaders to make a meaningful impact on building better tomorrows for all. For media inquiries, please contact: Susie IbbotsonSenior Director, Marketing & CommunicationsSlalom Canada[email protected] About Slalom: Slalom is a next-generation professional services company creating value at the intersection of business, technology, and humanity. With our fiercely human approach, we deeply understand our customersand their customersto deliver practical, end-to-end solutions that drive meaningful impact. Backed by over 700 technology partners, our nearly 12,000 team members in eight countries and 49 offices help people and organizations dream bigger, move faster, and build better tomorrows for all. Were honored to be consistently recognized as a great place to work, including being one of Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work For eight years running. Learn more at slalom.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d4d5bcc-2e52-4e1e-bc25-30ca271837b6 Slalom Canada Celebrates Iaan McAullay's Promotion to Managing Director Slalom Canada Celebrates Iaan McAullay's Promotion to Managing Director Source: Slalom Company Adds 41 New Advertisers as the Thumzup Platform Continues to Gain Adoption Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thumzup Media Corporation ("Thumzup" or the "Company") (OTCQB: TZUP) is pleased to announce that it has added 41 new advertisers to its platform since January 1, 2024 growth of 22% demonstrating strong, continued adoption of the Thumzup platform.* The Thumzup mobile app, which is available for download in the App Store and Google Play, incentivizes virtually everyone to become social media advocates for the brands they enjoy by paying them cash for approved posts. Thumzup's proprietary technology is helping to democratize the social media marketing and advertising industry estimated to be valued at more than $200 billion and growing rapidly [ 1 ] . Digital advertising spending continues to grow [ 2 ] and 60% of consumers say content from a friend or family member influences their purchase decisions [ 3 ]. There is nothing else we know of like Thumzup that makes it easy for any brand or business to scale that type of valuable recommendations from friends and family. Were excited that Thumzup is continuing to gain strong momentum in the greater Los Angeles region as we empower customers to become influencers for the brands they love, stated Thumzup Chief Executive Officer Robert Steele. Thumzup is delivering a unique and compelling platform creating a cost-effective advertising channel for businesses while enabling customers to earn money for their social media posts. We believe 2024 is on track to be a transformative year for Thumzup and look forward to reporting back on our progress. *As an introductory offer, Thumzup provides certain listed businesses a budget covering a certain number of the initial paid posts made about the business by its users. [1]https://www.adexchanger.com/ad-exchange-news/iab-us-digital-ad-revenues-top-200-billion-for-the-first-time/ [2]https://rbr.com/a-big-boost-in-ad-revenue-growth-all-thanks-to-digital/ [3]https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/03/13/why-user-generated-content-is-winning/?sh=50d64ab16e94 About Thumzup Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup) is democratizing the multi-billion dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing App to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through PayPal and other digital payment systems. Thumzup was recently featured on CBS News Los Angeles and is a publicly traded company (OTCQB stock ticker: TZUP). For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com. Legal Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, statements about its potential growth, impacts on the advertising industry, plans for potential uplisting, and planned expansion. These statements are identified by the use of the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contact Info: [email protected] 800-403-6150 Attachment MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, participated in Osseo Senior High Schools mock interview day, a training exercise that simulates a real-life job interview. Eight TopLine employees volunteered their time to interview Osseo High School students to help prepare them for post-secondary education options, future career exploration and to develop interviewing skills. Nearly 800 students participated in Osseo High Schools mock interview program which aims to give students practice applying and interviewing for jobs. Over the course of 2 hours, eight TopLine employees conducted a mock interview with students asking them education and career related questions. TopLine Financial Credit Union has supported the local Osseo Area Schools in several ways including mock interviews, career days, personal finance education efforts and donation drives. "We are glad to partner with our neighbor, Osseo Senior High School, and have several employees participate as mock interviewers to assist students with personal growth and professional development, said Mick Olson, TopLine President and CEO. This is a great opportunity for students to learn new skills through practice interviews, and emerge more confident and prepared for the real-world interviews." ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools is an award-winning school system that inspires and prepares all students with confidence, courage, and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning. Osseo Senior High School is a four-year public high school located in Osseo, Minnesota. Visit https://osh.district279.org to learn more. TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 11th largest credit union, with assets of nearly $800 million and serves over 51,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation. CONTACT:Vicki Roscoe EricksonSenior Vice President and Chief Marketing OfficerTopLine Financial Credit Union[email protected] | 763.391.0872 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5a708fc-5375-44f5-a7a2-fcccee531653 TopLine Financial Credit Union Helps High School Students With Job Readiness TopLine Participates in Osseo Senior High School Mock Interviews Source: TopLine Financial Credit Union IRVING, Texas, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Once again, U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM) surgeon partners have achieved world-class Net Promoter Score (NPS) status, earning an overall NPS of 86 for 2023. NPS system founder Bain & Company designates any score above zero as good, with above 50 as excellent and above 80 as world-class. According to reputation management company Birdeye, USOSMs surgeon partners consistently achieve an overall NPS of 80+, and those numbers have gone up year-over-over. This is particularly significant, when taking into account that the average NPS for the entire healthcare industry is approximately 58. In addition, its higher than the reported NPS for successful retail and restaurant giants, such as Amazon (NPS 73), Netflix (NPS 67), and Chick-fil-A (NPS 58). USOSM is a management services company that works exclusively with premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Founded in November 2017, the company was the first of its kind. Widely recognized as a leader in its space, USOSM now has approximately 230 surgeon partners -- all of which, achieve an NPS of 80+, year-after-year. Very few companies worldwide can say that they consistently achieve an NPS of 80+. Patient satisfaction is extremely important to us, said USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall. Were committed to providing our surgeon partners with the support they need to create outstanding experiences for their patients and their families. USOSM recommends its partner practices send NPS survey questions to every patient. To eliminate bias, the surveys are sent through a third-party, which records responses and calculates NPS in real time. These short surveys provide timely and valuable insight into the patient experience, so that we can identify and address any areas that have room for improvement, added Hall. Surveys are sent out with questions asking for a rating on patient experience from zero to 10, with zero being the worst and 10 being the best. Survey respondents are separated into three categories: Promoters, who give ratings of nine or 10. These are usually loyal patients, who refer others. Passives, who give ratings of seven or eight. While not necessarily dissatisfied, these lukewarm respondents are more likely to seek alternative healthcare in the future. Detractors, who give ratings of zero to six. In general, these are dissatisfied patients, who are more likely to give bad reviews. NPS measures customer experience, tracks customer loyalty, and helps predict and influence business growth. Scores are calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. This means the rating can range anywhere from -100 to +100. A score thats above zero suggests that the practice has more promoters than detractors, which is why anything above zero is considered a good score. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USOSM sets the standard for oral and maxillofacial surgery management. A management services organization spanning 26 states, USOSM has built a best-in-class network of premier oral and maxillofacial surgeon partners. USOSM provides operational, financial and administrative support services to fuel clinical excellence, innovation and wealth-creation. Visit: https://www.usosm.com. Contact:Bri JuliusU.S. Oral Surgery Management469-957-3809[email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06cba712-d9ee-4e13-8ee4-43f5d656aa58 Richard Hall USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall comments on company's latest NPS. Source: U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM) SAN DIEGO, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers of Xponential Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: XPOF) publicly traded Class A common stock between July 26, 2021 and December 7, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until April 9, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Xponential class action lawsuit. Captioned City of Taylor General Employees Retirement System v. Xponential Fitness, Inc., No. 24-cv-00285 (C.D. Cal.), the Xponential class action lawsuit charges Xponential as well as certain of its top executive officers with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Xponential class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-xponential-fitness-inc-class-action-lawsuit-xpof.html You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected]. CASE ALLEGATIONS: The Xponential class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Xponential had permanently closed at least 30 stores; (ii) Xponentials reported same-store sales (SSS) and average unit volume (AUV) metrics had been misstated by excluding underperforming stores; (iii) 8 out of 10 Xponential brands were losing money monthly; (iv) over 50% of Xponential studios did not make a positive financial return; (v) over 60% of Xponentials revenue was one-time and non-recurring; (vi) more than 100 of Xponentials franchises were for sale at a price that is at least 75% less than their initial cost; (vii) Xponential had misled many of its franchisees into opening franchises by misrepresenting the financial profile and profitability of its studios, as well as the expected rate of return for new studio openings; and (viii) many Xponential franchisees were substantially in debt, suffering high attrition rates and running non-viable studios that had no realistic path to profitability. On June 26, 2023, Fuzzy Panda published a report on Xponential, which, among other things, represented that: (i) Xponential CEO, defendant Anthony Geisler, has had a long history of misleading investors; (ii) Xponential has issued a series of misleading statements about its store closures and the overall financial health of its franchisee base; (iii) more than 50% of Xponentials studios never make a positive financial return; (iv) more than 100 of Xponentials franchises are for sale at a price that is at least 75% less than their initial cost; (v) 8 out of 10 Xponential brands are losing money monthly; (vi) Xponentials publicly reported SSS and AUV metrics misleadingly exclude underperforming stores; (vii) over 60% of Xponentials revenue is one-time and non-recurring; and (viii) at least 30 Xponential stores had been permanently closed. On this news, the price of Xponential common stock fell more than 37%. Then, on December 7, 2023, Businessweek published an article titled Club Pilates, Pure Barre Owners Say Xponential Left Them Bankrupt which stated that Businessweek had interviewed dozens of former business partners, employees, and franchisees of Xponential who revealed that Xponential misled many franchisees into a financial nightmare. The article further stated defendant Geisler has a track record of combative management, deploying growth-at-all-costs tactics and unleashing aggressive reprisals against anyone who gets in his way. On this news, the price of Xponential common stock fell more than 26% over two trading days. The plaintiff is represented by Robbins Geller, which has extensive experience in prosecuting investor class actions including actions involving financial fraud. You can view a copy of the complaint by clicking here. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased Xponential publicly traded Class A common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Xponential class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Xponential class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Xponential class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery of the Xponential class action lawsuit is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller is one of the worlds leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm is ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering more than $1.75 billion for investors in 2022 the third year in a row Robbins Geller tops the list. And in those three years alone, Robbins Geller recovered nearly $5.3 billion for investors, more than double the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 J.C. Sanchez, 800-449-4900 [email protected] Inveting.com -- Reddit filed its initial public offering documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday as the social media company looks to make its public market debut on the New York Stock Exchange later this year. The company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RDDT. The company was founded in 2005 on the idea of creating "the home page of the internet." The social media company plans to launch its IPO in March, according to recent media reports. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2023, the social media company reported a loss of $1.54 a share from a loss of $2.77 a share a year earlier, as revenue, which is mainly driven by advertising sales, rose to $804M from $666M a year earlier. The 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show and the 23th World Orchid Conference TAINAN, TAIWAN - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 February 2024 - The excitement is palpable as the 20th edition of the Taiwan International Orchid Show is set to bloom spectacularly alongside the 23rd World Orchid Conference. For the first time, this prestigious event will extend from the Taiwan Orchid Technology Park to the ICC TAINAN, forming an impressive exhibition layout of '5 Halls and 6 Zones'.During the promotional press conference in Taipei, attendees were delighted by a slew of new attractions, including the enchanting 'Pink Orchidsaur', orchid-shaped egg pancakes, and the delightful 'Orchidsaur Family Dolls'. These creative and engaging elements promise an experience that is eye-catching, fun and flavorful. The event will be held in Tainan, Taiwan from February 24th to March 10th.The Orchidsaur, the two-story tall mascot, has already made a grand appearance in the main hall of Taipei Station. Artist Chen Pu's dinosaur-themed creation symbolizes that the ancient origins of orchids possibly date back to 65 million years ago, the era of dinosaurs.In addition to admiring the creatively designed installations, visitors can also savor the freshly baked egg pancakes. The organizing committee has specially created molds featuring the Orchidsaur, as well as many orchids, such as Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda, etc. The egg pancakes come in six shapes. Baked to a crispy exterior with soft interior, they're bursting with irresistible aroma, and their deliciousness is matched only by their stunning visual appeal.The 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show, in tandem with the 23rd World Orchid Conference, adopts the theme '2024 Orchid Together'. The five halls will demonstrate the versatile applications of orchids through thematic landscapes, lifestyle utilizations, digital interactions, live sales, and multi-billion-dollar orders. The six zones will focus on native orchid exhibits, floral competitions, expanded participation, cross-industry collaborations, a hundred conferences, and diverse industry integrations.The Taiwan International Orchid Show builds on the foundation of Tainan 400, incorporating 7major themes, 'culture, crafts, rituals, festivals, mythology, cuisine, and architecture' to recreate the bustling atmosphere of Tainan 400. Starting from Tainan, this 16-day event will showcase the exquisite beauty of Taiwan's orchids to the world, connecting dot, line and plane.Those who want to attend the 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show and the 23rd World Orchid Conference can purchase tickets through ibon, Fami, KLOOK, and other ticketing platforms. For more information, please visit the official website of '2024 Taiwan International Orchid Show' ( https://tios.tw/ ) or '23rd World Orchid Conference' ( https://www.woc23.com/ The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Thursday that an immediate cease-fire in Gaza is imperative and that the essence of any Security Council action is to achieve an immediate cease-fire. The U.S. veto of an Algerian-drafted resolution on Tuesday meant that the Security Council missed yet another opportunity to push for a cease-fire in Gaza. The continuation of the conflict even for another day would cause even more civilian casualties and lead to a greater catastrophe. An immediate cease-fire in Gaza is an urgent imperative to save innocent lives and to prevent a wider war, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. "An immediate cease-fire is the common wish voiced by the international community and the consensus of the Security Council's overwhelming majority," he told the Security Council. China is aware that the United States has tabled its own draft resolution. China hopes that the United States will show a responsible attitude, respond positively to the international call, and respect the established consensus among Security Council members, said Zhang. "We need to point out that the essence of any action of this council is to achieve an immediate cease-fire. Any message sent out via our action must be clear, unequivocal, unambiguous, and unmistakable, rather than prevaricate or beat about the bush," he said. "At this point, the Council needs to demonstrate a strong resolve rather than negotiating skills only." The military offensive into Rafah must cease immediately, he said. Over 1.5 million Gazans are packed into Rafah, having nowhere else to go. Escalated Israeli military incursions into Rafah will result in unthinkable civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters and cause irreparable damage to regional peace. China strongly opposes such actions. Israel should immediately cancel its plans to attack Rafah and halt its collective punishment of the Palestinian people. The International Court of Justice's order of provisional measures aimed at preventing genocide must be effectively implemented without delay, he said. It is imperative to ensure sufficient unimpeded humanitarian deliveries into Gaza. Israel must take concrete action to open all land, sea, and air routes into Gaza, provide all that is required by humanitarian agencies for their relief operations, and ensure the safety and security of the staff and facilities of humanitarian agencies, he said. Zhang also called for efforts to prevent the conflict in Gaza from spilling over to the wider region. Exchanges of fire between Lebanon and Israel and between Syria and Israel are escalating. Tensions in the Red Sea are continuing. And the specter of wider war is looming over the Middle East. China calls on the parties concerned, especially those with significant influence, to exercise calm and restraint and to refrain from acts that would aggravate the tensions. Parties should endeavor to stop war through peace and break the vicious circle of violence and conflict, he said. The political horizon offered by the two-state solution must be given a new lease on life. Independent Palestinian statehood is not a gift given by one party to another in charity, but an inalienable right of the Palestinian people, said Zhang. China is gravely concerned by the recent repeated public dismissal of the two-state solution by some Israeli politicians and their rejection of any international effort toward independent Palestinian statehood. Gaza is an inalienable part of Palestine, and the two-state solution is the bottom line of international justice and the only viable path toward the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli issue. China urges Israel to stop without delay eroding the foundation of the two-state solution, halt the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, and cease the searches, arrests, and raids in the West Bank, he said. The historical wrongs suffered by Palestine must be righted. Palestine's aspiration for independent statehood must be fulfilled. China supports Palestine in becoming a member of the United Nations as soon as possible, and calls for the convening of a larger, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to push for a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, he said. Sackville, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Beal University Canada is proud to announce the establishment of the Beal University Canada BScN Scholarship, aimed at providing financial assistance to students seeking their nursing degree at Beal University Canada's campus in Sackville, New Brunswick. Beal University Logo The Beal University Canada BScN Scholarship is designed for students aspiring to pursue their degrees at Beal University Canada. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following criteria: Aspire to attend Beal University Canada's BScN program. Be an upcoming graduate of a secondary education school in Canada. Meet admission and program requirements of the BScN program at Beal University Canada. Enroll in the BScN program at Beal University Canada before funding. The deadline for submission is June 1, 2024 Scholarship awards are exclusively for tuition and fees and will be applied as a tuition discount. The award selection will be conducted by the Admissions Committee of Beal University Canada to ensure fairness and transparency in recipient selection. Holly McKnight MSW MITE, President of Beal University Canada, expressed enthusiasm for the scholarship, stating, "Beal University Canada is dedicated to supporting the educational goals and aspirations of Canadian students. We invite upcoming graduates to apply for this scholarship and consider Beal University Canada as their destination for higher education. Our BScN program is unique because it allows students to complete their degree in just 30 months, saving them a year and a half over the conventional four-year nursing programs." Beal University Canada's BScN program accepts applications six times a year, with no waitlists. This provides aspiring nurses with an opportunity to start their academic journey promptly. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, paving the way for a rewarding career in nursing as a registered nurse. For more information about the Beal University Canada BScN Scholarship and admission to Beal University Canada, visit bealuniversity.ca/scholarship-application. Beal University is committed to enrollment equity and fostering diversity within our community and developing an inclusive campus that reflects the richness of the broader community that we serve. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals who will help us achieve our goals, including women, visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Preference will be given to Aboriginal persons. Media Contact: Holly McKnight, President Beal University Canada Phone: 800-660-7351 Email: [email protected] Website:BealUniversity.ca To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198773 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 21, 2024) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture services and data company in North America, is pleased to report results for the three- and six- months ended December 31st, 2023. Full financial results are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights As previously announced, the Company significantly reduced operating costs as a result of its decision to deprioritize the collection services within its carbon business unit, based on client volume experienced and future demand expectations. While this decision impacted revenue growth in the quarter, Deveron was able to post a strong increase in Adjusted EBITDA. Fiscal Q2/2024 Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA grew 17% to $5,629,992 in Q2/2024 from $4,815,798 in the same period in the prior year. Revenue for Fiscal Q2/2024 grew 1% to $15,308,396 from $15,143,300 in the same period in the prior year. Fiscal H1/2024 Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA grew 20% to $4,568,886 from $3,801,188 in the same period in the prior year. Revenue for Fiscal H1/2024 grew 3% to $23,026,999 from $22,332,794 in the same period in the prior year. Fertility testing increased in the quarter, offsetting the decline in carbon related collection services. Gross profit margin declined slightly from 77% to 74% due to higher prices for laboratory supplies and the change in the Company's revenue mix. Operating expenses increased 23% to $9.3M driven by a $3.5M year-over-year change in the non-controlling interest, put obligation. Excluding this non-cash item, expenses declined by 16% as a result of the previously announced reduction in head count in the data products group and US operations. Adjusted EBITDA rose 17% to $5.6M in the quarter, reflecting the emphasis on profitable fertility testing business and the right sizing of the US operations. Revenue grew 1% to $15,308,396 in the quarter, the busiest quarter for fertility sampling. Non-IFRS Adjusted EBITDA improved to $5,629,992, or 36.8% of revenue, representing an increase of 17% over the prior year. The company's Non-IFRS adjusted EBITDA margin percentage improved by 5% year-over-year to 36.8% from 31.8% in the similar period in F2023. Deveron repaid $535,000 of its acquisition loan, which now stands at $23,104,801 as of December 31, 2023. "Deveron achieved strong results in FY Q2/2024 as we focus more on profitability and our core fertility business unit," said David MacMillan, President, and CEO of Deveron Corp. "Following our decision to deprioritize the unprofitable carbon collection service, the Company saw a great improvement in EBITDA margin year-over-year. As we look to the new year, we will continue to focus our efforts on the fertility business, doubling down on our most profitable business line. We see a great opportunity to optimize our channel partner strategy, targeting ag retail, with a three-pronged approach: Onboarding new brands, onboarding new locations of existing clients, and upselling current clients to higher-fidelity sampling, complete tests and soil health products. With a more streamlined cost structure, a new approach to our sales process, and a significant opportunity within the ag-retail space, we couldn't be more excited for the upcoming year." Summary of Financial Results Result of operations For the three months ended For the six months ended December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 % Change December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 % Change Total Revenue $15,308,396 $15,143,300 1% $23,026,999 $22,332,794 3% Gross Profit 11,334,347 11,725,583 -3% 16,348,880 16,045,991 2% Gross Profit Margin % 74% 77% -3% 71% 72% -1% Operating Expenses 9,328,672 7,557,701 23% 20,167,489 16,495,633 22% Net Income (Loss) 1,436,526 3,975,835 -64% (4,539,420) (809,938) -460% Add Taxes 569,148 172,047 231% 720,811 360,297 100% Add: Interest 1,010,523 1,842,469 -45% 1,901,823 2,973,400 -36% Add: Acquisition and integration costs - - 1,050,506 - Add: Non-cash Expense^ 2,613,794 (1,174,555) - 6,485,672 1,277,429 408% Non-IFRS adjusted EBITDA (loss)* 5,629,992 4,815,798 17% 4,568,886 3,801,188 20% Weight Average Common Shares Outstanding 156,413,687 116,387,677 156,294,819 116,387,677 Per Share: Net Loss 0.01 - (0.04) (0.01) *Non-IFRS measure. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") should not be construed as alternatives to comprehensive loss or income determined in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as IFRS net loss excluding interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, share-based payments, income tax expense, integration costs, one time acquisition costs, and impairment of goodwill, property, plant, and equipment and right-of-use assets (ROU). The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful financial metric as it measures cash generated from operations which the Company can use to fund working capital requirements, service future interest and principal debt repayments and fund future growth initiatives. ^Non-Cash Expenses Calculation For the three months ended For the six months ended December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 December 31st, 2023 December 31st, 2022 Depreciation & Amortization 1,870,476 1,633,274 3,678,455 3,792,003 Share Based Payments 316,479 241,148 608,415 534,403 Change in NCI put obligation 426,839 (3,048,977) 2,198,802 (3,048,977) Non-Cash Expenses^ $2,613,794 ($1,174,555) $6,485,672 $1,277,429 Second Quarter 2023 Operational Highlights Deveron Announces Closing of Private Placement of Convertible Debentures On October 5th , the Company announced that further to its press release of September 25th, 2023, the Company had closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 1,750 unsecured convertible debentures at a price of $1,000 per Debenture for gross proceeds of $1,750,000. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to refinance the Company's outstanding promissory note and for general working capital. Deveron Corp Announces the Launch of PFAS Testing Service On November 1st , the Company announced the launch of a new testing service analyzing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ("PFAS") in soil, water, compost and other matrices. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have gained significant attention due to their widespread use and potential environmental and health concerns. the Company announced the launch of a new testing service analyzing PFAS in soil, water, compost and other matrices. Deveron Announces Implementation of Cost Optimization Program On December 6th, the Company announced that the Company has implemented another phase of its cost optimization program. In a continued effort to prioritize profitable fertility-related field services execution and focus, Deveron has implemented $1.5 M in cost savings mainly through the reduction of field staff and ancillary support costs within the Company's carbon business unit. The Company expects to achieve annual run rate savings totaling approximately $2,400,000 when combined with the previous $900,000 of cost synergies announced on November 21, 2023. Deveron Announces Option Grant On December 29 th , the Company announced it has granted an aggregate of 2,500,000 stock options (the "Options") to purchase common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.185 per Common Share and expiring on December 23, 2028, to certain employees of the Company. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a four-month hold period from the original date of grant. Subsequent to Quarter End On February 7th, the Company announced the onboarding of a new enterprise contract with a prominent player in PFAS remediation in water. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that have garnered significant attention due to their widespread use and potential environmental and health concerns. The Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period and the accompanying financial statements and notes are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. This news release is not in any way a substitute for reading those financial statements, including the notes to the financial statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drones, that build a basis of our best-in-class data layers. Our focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres of farmland are actively farmed annually. For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveron.com/investors or reach us on Twitter @Deveron . Philip Linton VP Corporate Development [email protected] Tel: 647-622-0076 This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198818 Glen Ellyn, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Richard Montaez, the creative force behind Flamin' Hot Cheetos and a former PepsiCo executive, is set to share his compelling journey of rising from janitor to a top executive as part of the "COD Presents" series Thursday, April 4, at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn. Richard Montanez, the creative force behind Flamin' Hot Cheetos, discusses his journey from janitor to top executive April 4 at College of DuPage. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9467/198905_headshot.jpg The presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion with McAninch Arts Director Diana Martinez and an audience Q&A. Montanez also will be on hand to sign copies of his book "Flamin' Hot," which was adapted into the Disney+ film directed by actress Eva Longoria. With a career spanning multiple decades, Montanez rose from working as a Frito-Lay janitor in 1976 to pivotal leadership roles at PepsiCo across North American divisions, championing Multicultural Sales & Marketing initiatives. He stands celebrated as the creative force behind the Flamin' Hot product line, which has evolved into a billion-dollar enterprise and a cultural phenomenon. Recognized as a visionary leader and innovator, Montanez has earned numerous prestigious awards and accolades, consistently ranking among the most influential Latinos in corporate America. Additionally, he serves on various boards of directors and advisory panels, notably as the first Latino board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a venerable African-American civil rights organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For more information, visit cod.edu/cod-presents. COD's Speaker Series "COD Presents" features keynote presentations and facilitated conversations with prominent individuals from across the country who are using their resources, influence, creativity and passion to make a positive impact in the world. These candid dialogues with guests create an opportunity for COD students, faculty, staff and community members to exchange ideas and walk away inspired. Contact: Angela Mennecke [email protected] (630) 942-3134 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198905 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Forza Petroleum Limited (TSX: FORZ) ("Forza Petroleum" or the "Corporation") and Zeg Oil and Gas Ltd. ("Zeg Oil") today announced the completion of the transactions contemplated by the previously announced statutory plan of arrangement under section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Arrangement") involving Forza Petroleum, Zeg Oil and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zeg Oil (the "Purchaser"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Purchaser acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Forza Petroleum ("Common Shares") not already owned by Zeg Oil or the Purchaser for C$0.15 per Common Share in cash. Forza Petroleum has applied to have the Common Shares delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange and to cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws. Further information regarding the Arrangement and payment of the consideration payable for Common Shares is provided in the management proxy circular of Forza Petroleum dated January 5, 2024 (the "Circular"), copies of which are available under Forza Petroleum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on Forza Petroleum's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. ABOUT FORZA PETROLEUM LIMITED Forza Petroleum Limited is an international oil exploration, development and production company. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "FORZ". Forza Petroleum has a 65% working interest in and operates the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which has yielded oil discoveries in four areas. Further information about Forza Petroleum is available at www.forzapetroleum.com or under Forza Petroleum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . For additional information about Forza Petroleum, please contact: Kevin McPhee General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 00 [email protected] Early Warning Information Prior to completion of the Arrangement, Zeg Oil owned and controlled 500,152,674 Common Shares, representing approximately 82.5% of the Common Shares outstanding. Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Purchaser, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zeg Oil, acquired an additional 106,086,174 Common Shares for C$0.15 per Common Share in cash, being C$15,912,926.10 in aggregate. As a result, Zeg Oil now owns, directly or indirectly, and controls all of the 606,238,848 issued and outstanding Common Shares. An updated early warning report will be filed by Zeg Oil and will be available at www.sedarplus.com or may be obtained directly from Zeg Oil upon request to Sylvia Frett by telephone at +1 284 949 8445. The head office of the Corporation is located at 3400 First Canadian Centre, 350 7th Av. SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 3N9. The head office of Zeg Oil is located at 4301 Trinity Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Reader Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information", including statements related to the Corporation's intention to cease to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and to cease to be a Canadian reporting issuer and Zeg Oil's intention to file an updated early warning report. Statements that contain words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potentially", "project", or the negative of such expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical fact, also constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Although the Corporation believes these statements to be reasonable, the assumptions upon which they are based may prove to be incorrect. The assumptions relied on to support these statements include that all requirements to delist and cease to be a reporting issuer will be met and approval of same obtained. For more information about risks facing the Corporation, refer to the Circular and the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 available at www.sedarplus.com and the Corporation's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. Statements including forward-looking information in this news release are made as at the date they are given and, except as required by applicable law, the Corporation does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. If the Corporation does update one or more statements containing forward-looking information, it is not obligated to, and no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198912 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Hispania Resources Inc. (TSXV: ESPN) ("Hispania" or "the company"), a mineral exploration company focused on Spain, is pleased to provide an operational update for the company. This week, Management of Hispania Resources held meetings with key government stakeholders in Spain, including in Lumbrales and Puebla de la Reina. Regarding the company's asset Mari Tere, the former tin producing asset located in Lumbrales, Spain. Management of the company held discussions with municipal authorities of the town of Lumbrales regarding the asset, which was last operated during the mid 1980's and closed in 1986 due to low Tin prices. Discussions were positive with the local authorities and Management is very pleased with the outcome and looks forward to continued work in the town of Lumbrales, with the support of all stakeholders locally and regionally. Management also met with the mining authorities in Extremadura Province to discuss developments relating to the Herrerias property, these were very forthcoming and management is pleased with these discussions. Norman Brewster, Chief Executive Officer of Hispania commented, "the governmental bodies in both regions we met this week have been extremely supportive of Hispania and our efforts in those localities. With an emphasis on critical minerals in the European Union and specifically Spain, as well as our focus on sustainable mining efforts and positive societal and economic impacts in the communities where we will operate - like we had with Iberian - the local and regional governments where our three assets are, are supportive of the projects and we look forward to carrying them forward with all of our stakeholders' assistance." About Hispania Resources Inc. Hispania Resources Inc is a mineral exploration company focused on mining opportunities in Spain. Hispania is currently focused on developing 3 core assets across Spain, including the copper, zinc project Otero, the formerly producing tin project Lumbrales and the copper, zinc Puebla de la Reina project. The management of Hispania contains industry veterans who have more than 120 years of mineral exploration and production experience in multiple jurisdictions and have successfully managed multiple international mining companies. This includes in Spain, where some of the team was responsible for the founding and building of Iberian Minerals with the continued support of the local and regional governments, including the well-developed and sophisticated transportation and mining infrastructure. For more information on Hispania Resources Inc., visit: http://HispaniaResources.com/. Contact Information For more information or interview requests, please contact: Norman Brewster - Chief Executive Officer [email protected] (416) 970-3223 Rahim Allani - Director [email protected] (416) 457-0549 Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information can be identified by words such as: "intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking information include, among others, the expected commencement of work on the PBR project, the expected meetings with local drilling firms, as well as information relating to Hispania. Although Hispania believes that, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Hispania can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risk that the future plans of Hispania may differ from those that currently are contemplated Additional risks include those disclosed in the Filing Statement, which are incorporate herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. This news release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) absent registration or an exemption from registration. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198887 Manchester, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - MCR SEO Limited, a pioneering force in the UK digital marketing landscape, is proud to announce the release of its latest analysis focusing on Google's "Helpful Content Update" (HCU) and its implications for websites offering specialized services. This insightful analysis aims to guide businesses through adapting their content strategies to meet Google's enhanced focus on quality and relevance, ensuring their online presence is both impactful and compliant with the latest SEO practices. As Google continues to prioritize high-quality, user-centric content, MCR SEO Limited's timely analysis offers vital insights into how specialized service websites can optimize their content to align with Google's evolving standards. The report delves into the synergistic relationship between SEO strategists and copywriting teams, highlighting the crucial role of authentic, engaging content in achieving digital marketing success. Key Highlights of the Analysis: Strategic Insights: Understand Google's "Helpful Content Update" and its emphasis on rewarding websites that provide valuable, user-focused content. Adaptation Strategies: Learn how to refine content creation processes to enhance topical authority and engage effectively with target audiences. AI and Content Creation: Explore the impact of AI on content development and how to maintain authenticity in the age of automated material. Case Studies: Real-world examples from sectors such as Back Office Support Services and HR solutions, demonstrating successful content strategies post-HCU. Back Office Support Services Ltd Ses Secure Ltd Norton Loxley Ltd Express IT Ltd MBH Solicitors James Crisall, Director of MCR SEO Limited, emphasizes the importance of meaningful content in the wake of Google's update, stating, "The Helpful Content Update reaffirms our belief in the power of meaningful content. Our research and analysis consistently show that businesses that use well-researched, expertly written content do not get negatively affected by updates like these, and more often than not, they improve." About MCR SEO Limited: MCR SEO Limited is a leading Manchester-based SEO company dedicated to providing innovative and results-driven search engine optimization solutions. With a focus on enhancing online visibility and fostering business growth, MCR SEO Limited leverages the latest digital marketing strategies and embraces the challenges and opportunities presented by the dynamic nature of search engine algorithms. Their evidence-based insights empower websites to adapt and establish new benchmarks for excellence in online content. For further details and to explore the full analysis, please visit MCR SEO Limited's website or contact: Contact Information: James Crisall, Director Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.mcr-seo.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198535 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - iMining Technologies Inc. (TSXV: IMIN.H) ("iMining"), a publicly listed technology company, is excited to announce that its subsidiary, AiMining Technologies Inc. ("AiMining"), has been accepted into the prestigious NVIDIA Inception program. This exclusive program is dedicated to nurturing startups with cutting-edge technologies during the critical stages of product development, prototyping and deployment. AiMining Technologies received approval for its application to the NVIDIA Inception program, marking a significant milestone for the company. By joining this esteemed community of startups, AiMining gains access to invaluable resources and support to further propel its innovative endeavors. Additionally, AiMining has been accepted into the NVIDIA Development program, providing further opportunities for growth and collaboration. As part of the NVIDIA Inception program, AiMining Technologies will benefit from a wealth of resources tailored to accelerate its growth and development. This includes exclusive access to NVIDIA's accelerated computing platform and a repository of tools, training, and programs designed to enhance GPU-accelerated applications and skill development. In addition to program membership, AiMining Technologies has the opportunity to attend the GTC 2024 Keynote delivered by NVIDIA founder and CEO, Jensen Huang. This keynote will delve into how NVIDIA's accelerated computing platform is driving advancements in AI, digital twins, cloud technologies, and sustainable computing, offering invaluable insights to program members. Furthermore, AiMining has access to the following resources: NVFLare SDK : This SDK provides federated privacy, setting a new standard in privacy and data protection. : This SDK provides federated privacy, setting a new standard in privacy and data protection. NeMo : An open-source framework to train conversational AI models. : An open-source framework to train conversational AI models. NeMo Retriever: This resource integrates enterprise-grade RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) capabilities. The models at the core of this solution have been trained using responsibly selected, auditable data sources. With multiple pre-trained models available as starting points, developers can quickly customize them for their domain-specific use cases, such as IT or HR help assistants, and R&D research assistants. Khurram Shroff, CEO of iMining Technologies, expressed his enthusiasm: "The acceptance into the NVIDIA Inception Development program, alongside the invitation to NVIDIA GTC, marks a pivotal moment for AiMining Technologies. It's a reflection of our team's unwavering commitment and hard work. We're both excited and humbled by this opportunity to harness the industry's best resources for our R&D efforts. Our heartfelt thanks go to Jensen Huang for his visionary leadership and profound impact on the AI community. We're keen to make our mark within this vibrant ecosystem and to advance AI innovation." As AiMining Technologies continues its journey of innovation, its participation in the NVIDIA Inception Development program positions it at the forefront of technological advancement, poised to make lasting contributions to the global landscape. About iMining Technologies Inc. iMining Technologies Inc. is a publicly listed technology company that acquires, builds, and manages future technology companies in Canada. The Company's industry-specific technology businesses provide specialized and innovative solutions in future technologies and serve private sector markets. iMining Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About AiMining Technologies Inc. AiMining Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of iMining Technologies Inc., is a start-up at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Comprising a dedicated applied research lab focused on collaboration with esteemed institutions and a commercialization program geared towards market engagement, AiMining seamlessly integrates into iMining's technology portfolio and is committed to advancing responsible AI development. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Khurram Shroff" Khurram Shroff, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact: iMining Corporate Offices: Saleem Moosa, CFO and Director Email: [email protected] Telephone: 1-604-602-4935 Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198919 Spouse purchased stock using non-public information about planned merger Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Tyler Loudon of Houston, Texas, with insider trading ahead of a February 2023 announcement that London-based oil and gas company BP p.l.c. agreed to acquire TravelCenters of America Inc., a full-service truck stop and travel center company headquartered in Ohio. Loudon allegedly made $1.76 million in illegal profits from his trading. According to the SECs complaint, Loudon allegedly misappropriated material, nonpublic information about the proposed acquisition from his wife, a BP mergers and acquisitions manager who worked on the planned deal. The SEC alleges that Loudon overheard several of his wifes work-related conversations about the merger while she was working remotely. Without his wifes knowledge, Loudon purchased 46,450 shares of TravelCenters stock before the merger was announced on February 16, 2023. As a result of the announcement, TravelCenters stock rose nearly 71 percent. Loudon allegedly immediately sold all of his TravelCenters shares for a profit of $1.76 million. We allege that Mr. Loudon took advantage of his remote working conditions and his wifes trust to profit from information he knew was confidential, said Eric Werner, Regional Director of the SECs Fort Worth Regional Office. The SEC remains committed to prosecuting such malfeasance. The SECs complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, charges Loudon with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Without denying the allegations in the SECs complaint, Loudon consented to the entry of a partial judgment, subject to court approval, permanently enjoining him from violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, imposing an officer and director bar, and ordering that he pay disgorgement with prejudgment interest and a civil penalty in amounts to be determined by the Court. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas today announced criminal charges against Loudon. The SECs ongoing investigation is being conducted by Julia Huseman and Jamie Haussecker of the SECs Fort Worth Regional Office, under the supervision of Jim Etri and B. David Fraser. The litigation will be led by Jason Rose and supervised by Keefe Bernstein. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas. Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted amendments to its ethics rules to strengthen and modernize its ethics compliance program. The amendments update the SECs existing, robust ethics requirements that govern the securities holdings and transactions of all agency employees, their spouses, and minor children. The rule was adopted jointly with the Office of Government Ethics. I was pleased to support todays adoption of rules to strengthen the SECs ethics requirements, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. These amendments modernize our compliance program and will help ensure the SEC honors the trust the public has placed in our agency. For many years, SEC employees have been required to preclear securities transactions and comply with minimum holding periods. All employees are prohibited from, among other things, transacting in securities of companies the agency is investigating, engaging in short selling, transacting in derivatives, participating in initial public offerings for seven calendar days after the offerings, or purchasing or carrying securities on margin. The amendments update the SECs Supplemental Ethics Rules, 5 CFR Part 4401.102, Supplemental Standards of Conduct for Members and Employees Securities and Exchange Commission. Prohibitions Against Financial Industry Sector Funds While the Commission has long prohibited employees from investing in stocks of entities directly regulated by the Commission, such as broker-dealers and investment advisers, the rule amendments expand the prohibited holdings restrictions to ban employees from investing in financial industry sector funds, as employee ownership of financial industry sector funds poses similar risks of conflicts of interest and appearance concerns. Enhancements to Data Collection The amendments permit employees to comply with existing reporting requirements by authorizing financial institutions to transmit data on their covered securities transactions and holdings directly to the SEC through an automated electronic system. This amendment is expected to enhance internal compliance controls by facilitating the detection and remediation of violations in real time, reducing burdensome manual processes for transaction confirmations and reporting, and providing an independently verifiable source for compliance monitoring and testing. Optimizing Efficient and Effective Use of Agency Resources Finally, the amendments facilitate the efficient and effective use of agency resources to monitor compliance of securities investments and transactions that involve significant ethics risks. Specifically, because diversified mutual funds generally pose a low risk of conflicts of interest, misuse of nonpublic information for personal gain, or appearance problems as compared to other types of securities, the rule amendments exempt diversified mutual funds from the Supplemental Ethics Rules requirements. However, mutual funds that concentrate investments in a particular sector, industry, business, state, or country other than the United States remain subject to the rules. London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Smartflow Payments Limited (brand name Sends) got the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) certification, which is vital for secure payment processing. Smartflow offers financial solutions such as Internet acquiring and multicurrency business accounts, so it must comply with data security policies and procedures. sends To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10281/198895_8946f13ef4aada3f_001full.jpg PCI DSS certification is crucial for securing credit and debit card transactions, mitigating risks related to cardholders' data and the potential misuse of their personal information. It safeguards card data by imposing specific requirements. Smartflow Payments Limited must also control access to cardholder data and monitor network resource access to get PCI certified. Achieving PCI compliance is no easy task, but it serves as a straightforward security badge, assuring customers of the business's trustworthiness, while noncompliance can incur both financial and reputational costs. "Security is our number one priority as a financial institution. Daily Smartflow processes the personal data of thousands of customers, and we are responsible for its safety. That is why receiving PCI DSS certification is an important step for our team," commented Anastasiia Pervushyna, Director/MLRO in Sends. One of the shareholders Smartflow Payments Limited is Alona Shevtsova, a businesswoman, philanthropist, and active participant in the Ukrainian and UK FinTech community. "Smartflow Payments Limited has always been driven by the desire to innovate and provide cutting-edge solutions to our customers. As we navigate the digital landscape, security remains at the heart of everything we do. PCI DSS certification is a recognition of our dedication to safeguarding financial transactions of our customers," said Alona Shevtsova. All companies handling credit card data, particularly those involved in accepting or processing credit card payments, must comply with PCI DSS. Today, data breaches occur frequently, impacting both large and small companies. The primary objective of PCI-DSS is to prevent such breaches. The information about Smartflow PCI DSS certification can be found on the website. It is important to mention that Smartflow Payments Limited (Sends) is about to launch the first version of the financial app to the Apple Store and Google Play. The release is planned for April 2024. Address: Office 39.18, Level39, One Canada Square, London, England, E14 5AB Marketing Department contacts: [email protected] Contact: Anna Davies To learn more about Sends and its special offer, please visit www.sends.co. *Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED. SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED is registered in England and Wales (Company number 11070048). To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198895 UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland (on screens) speaks via a video link at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 22, 2024. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Almost 140 days into the war in Gaza, there is no end in sight, says Tor Wennesland. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland on Thursday called for collective efforts to restore a political horizon for Palestinians and Israelis. "The scale of the emergency we are facing is staggering and could quickly spiral out of control in the region. I appeal for a collective, coordinated and comprehensive response to not only address the immediate crisis before us in Gaza, but to help restore a political horizon for Palestinians and Israelis alike, while promoting greater stability and peace in the region," he told the Security Council in a briefing. "To do this, we urgently need a deal to achieve a humanitarian cease-fire and the release of hostages. We need to create the space for moving forward through dialogue rather than violence," he said. Ultimately, the long-term solution for Gaza is political. While taking into account Israel's legitimate security concerns, there must be a clear path toward restoring single, effective Palestinian governance across the occupied Palestinian territory, including in Gaza. International support for strengthening and reforming the Palestinian Authority to improve domestic and international legitimacy will be crucial, said Wennesland via a video link from Jerusalem. To create the conditions for this to work, there must also be a time-bound political framework to end the Israeli occupation and establish a two-state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, he said. "These efforts must coalesce and accelerate if we are to emerge from this nightmare into a trajectory that can provide Palestinians and Israelis with the chance of lasting peace." Wennesland said that, almost 140 days into the war in Gaza, there is no end in sight. Children are seen in a building destroyed in an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 22, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) He expressed deep concern about a possible full-scale Israeli military offensive in the densely populated Rafah area, where some 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering and where the only points of entry for humanitarian goods exist. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains desperate. Internally displaced persons face acute shortages of food, water, shelter and medicine. Communicable diseases are rising amid unsanitary conditions. Over 2 million people face extreme food insecurity, with women and children at greatest risk. This desperation and scarcity have led to a near total breakdown in law and order, said Wennesland. Essential services have been heavily impacted by the fighting. Eighty-four percent of health and education facilities are damaged or destroyed. Over 62 percent of all roads and electricity feeder lines are unusable, he noted. Wennesland reiterated his appeal to open additional access points to northern Gaza to increase the flow of aid, reduce congestion in the south and relieve some of the pressure on the population and the staff seeking to deliver aid. He also expressed concern over the precarious situation in the West Bank. "I am concerned that if the violence in Gaza does not end, and tensions and restrictions remain high in the West Bank, including at the Holy Sites in East Jerusalem, the holy month of Ramadan risks becoming another volatile marker rather than a time of contemplation and healing," he warned. West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2024) - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the "Company" or "Surge") is pleased to report a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on its Nevada North Lithium Project (NNLP). The MRE, which has an effective date of February 16, 2024, was prepared by Dr. Bruce Davis, FAusIMM and includes a pit-constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 4.67 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm Li cutoff. Highlights Highest Grade Lithium Clay Resource in the USA with 4.7Mt LCE grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250ppm cutoff. MRE includes over 4Mt of LCE grading 3,167 Li PPM at a 2,000 ppm Li cutoff. Significant Expansion Potential: The MRE only covers a portion of the known footprint of mineralization with substantial potential for growth. Mr. Greg Reimer, Chief Executive Officer and Director, commented, "We are thrilled with today's maiden MRE results as they solidify that the NNLP is a significant lithium deposit and one of the highest-grade lithium clay deposits worldwide. At higher grade cutoffs, there are still very appreciable volumes of lithium that are largely contained in the clay horizons nearest surface. We will continue to derisk the NNLP through metallurgical test work, technical studies and permitting. As well, we expect to continue to expand our known resource and certainty around it through drilling." The lithium mineral resources at the NNLP are hosted by multiple shallowly dipping and laterally extensive clay beds, separated by tuff units. The primary horizon ("Cu3") contains the highest grades and is typically the first horizon intersected in drilling. Clay units primarily consist of massive green and dark brown laminated clay with white carbonate clots and euhedral calcite crystals. Seven lithium-rich beds have been identified to date that range in thickness from >50m to 2.5m and average around 15m thick. The MRE for the NNLP is based on twenty drill holes completed between 2022 and 2023 under a Notice of Intent (NOI) permit for a total of 2,758m and 1,973 samples. Eight of the twenty drill holes were reverse circulation (RC), five were sonic, and seven were diamond core. The 3D geological model used to inform the block model was developed in Leapfrog" by SideQuest Geological Modelling. Many of the metrics used to derive a 1,250 ppm Li base cut-off grade were obtained in part from review of available information for deposits similar to that at the NNLP. It is expected that items such as recovery, bulk density and operating cost will change in the future with additional test work and engineering studies. The metrics used to derive a 1,250 ppm Li base case cut-off grade and define the resource pit shell include: Operating Cost per Resource Tonne: US$88.50 LCE Price: US$20,000/t LCE Recovery: 73.5% Bulk Density: 1.79 t/m 3 Pit Slope: 27 Li to LCE conversion factor: 5.323 The inferred lithium mineral resource estimate is shown in bold in Table 1. The table includes the tonnage sensitivities to different cutoff grades up to a maximum of 4,000 ppm Li. The inferred resource estimate includes 100% of the resources on Surge's 100% owned ground and 25% of resources within the private block of ground in which Surge owns 25% of the subsurface rights. Table 1. 2024 NNLP Inferred Resource in bold and sensitivity to different cutoff grades. Cutoff (Li ppm) Tonnes (Mt) Grade (Li ppm) Lithium (Mt) LCE (Mt) 1,000 310.3 2,834 0.879 4.68 1,250 309.3 2,839 0.878 4.67 1,500 293.7 2,918 0.857 4.56 1,750 267.3 3,042 0.813 4.33 2,000 241.4 3,167 0.765 4.07 3,000 143.6 3,662 0.526 2.80 4,000 28.1 4,289 0.121 0.64 The MRE has been prepared by Dr. Bruce Davis, in conformity with CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines and are reported in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators NI 43-101 requirements. Resources are constrained by a pit shell using Hexagon MinePlan" 3D software. The pit shell defined uses a 27 pit slope and assumes a US$88.50/t operating cost, 73.5% recovery and a US$20,000/t LCE price. A Li to Li2Co3 factor of 5.323 was used. A fixed density of 1.79 t/m3 was used. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that any mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve. Technical Report Under NI 43-101, Section 5.3(1)(c), Surge must file a technical report regarding the MRE within forty-five (45) days of the date of this news release. Next Steps The remainder of 2024 will be a busy year as the company prepares for a much larger and expanded drill program upon receiving its Exploration Plan of Operations Permit. In 2024, Surge plans to complete the following: Metallurgical and Flowsheet Test Work Metallurgical test work is well underway with Kemetco. We anticipate releasing the results of this testing in Q1 of 2024. Surface Exploration Programs In 2024, Surge plans to complete a detailed surface mapping program over the property and additional soil sampling. Combined, these will help identify additional areas of outcropping clay units and help to improve our geological understanding. Spring / Summer Expansion Drilling In early spring, Surge will work with the BLM to determine how much disturbance can be reclaimed under the current NOI permit to complete additional drilling in 2024. As well, Surge plans to drill on the M3 JV property. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) Surge expects to undertake a PEA study on the NNLP with an anticipated target reporting date in Q4 of 2024. Qualified Person as Defined Under National Instrument 43-101 Alan J. Morris, MSc, CPG of Spring Creek, Nevada, a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release. This news release, including disclosure of the MRE has also been reviewed by Dr. Bruce Davis, FAusIMM, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 and is independent of Surge. About Surge Battery Metals Inc. Surge Battery Metals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on exploring clean, high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA. Lithium is a crucial element for powering the electric vehicles of tomorrow. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and the OTCQX Market in the US, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration, contributing significantly to the sustainable future of the electric vehicle industry. At Surge Battery Metals, we are not just exploring minerals; we are pioneering the path to a cleaner and more sustainable future, driving innovation in the lithium sector, and contributing to the evolution of the electric vehicle industry. About the Nevada North Lithium Project The Company's Nevada North Lithium Project, located in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County, Nevada. The first two rounds of drilling, completed in 2022 and 2023, identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 3,500 meters and a known width of up to 950 meters. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent. The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 4.67Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm cutoff. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Greg Reimer" Greg Reimer, President & CEO Contact Information Email : [email protected] Phone : 778-945-2656 Website: surgebatterymetals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "possible", "potential", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities including lithium and nickel, the accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure or water, changes in laws, rules and regulations including in the United States, Nevada or California or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for lithium related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in the United States or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations, and intentions with respect to development of its business and of its Nevada properties may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions (including US government subsidies or incentives) on its ability to secure further financing or funding of its Nevada properties. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon several assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental (including endangered species, habitat preservation and water related risks) and social risks, contingencies, and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Figure 1: Plan view showing the Maiden MRE at the NNLP. Three section lines indicate the location of the cross sections below. Only blocks greater than 1,250 ppm Li are shown in Figure 1. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_001full.jpg Figure 2: Section 1 cross section looking NE of the MRE block model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_002full.jpg Figure 3: Section 2 cross section looking E of the MRE block model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_003full.jpg Figure 4: Section 3 cross section looking NE of the MRE block model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/198890_96ef6d72d462fb0a_004full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/198890 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. At the 2024 Crypto Expo Europe, held in Bucharest on March 3rd and 4th, SunContract, a Slovenian high-tech company specializing in blockchain technology and energy, will unveil a groundbreaking innovation: the launch of the world's first marketplace for tokenizing real-world solar panels into NFTs. The inaugural solar farm to be tokenized is located in the village of Visnje near Ajdovscina, Slovenia. This facility, constructed in 2011 and consistently generating electricity since then, boasts a peak power of 517 kW and consists of 2112 solar panels. What Solutions Do NFTs Offer for Individuals and Families Each NFT represents a specific solar panel of the solar farm and the holder of the NFT is entitled to the benefits of the specific underlying solar panel. Owning an NFT token enables the creation of a 'Personal Power Plant,' a unique concept introduced by SunContract. This allows individuals to reap the benefits of a specific solar panel, addressing the challenges faced by those committed to the green transition who wish to invest in the cleanest energy sources. Previously, various circumstances hindered such investments. Now, with NFTs, anyone can build their own Personal Power Plant, benefiting themselves and their family with exposure to renewable energies. How to Utilize Solar NFTs for Energy In the first phase, the energy generated from the underlying solar panel will be sold on their behalf through SunContracts' P2P energy marketplace in return for SNC tokens. After deducting fees related to operations and maintenance, these SNC tokens will be deposited in their wallet in the SunContract platform. Phase two of the project will consist of allowing NFT holders in countries where SunContract has acquired energy permits or licenses (for now Slovenia, Croatia, and Estonia) to directly use the energy produced by their NFT-linked solar panels for personal consumption at home or in their businesses. This innovative approach aims to democratize renewable energy and make it accessible to everyone, including those living in an apartment. It also makes it an easy and liquid endeavor, as these NFTs can be bought and sold anytime on the SunContract platform. The First of Its Kind in the Energy Sector Worldwide This service for purchasing NFTs will allow the holder of an NFT to become the master of their renewable energy source, which is harnessed in the cleanest way possible: from the sun. The SunContract NFT marketplace renders the NFTs of underlying solar panels both tradable and liquid. This new energy service, based on blockchain, simplifies the process and provides opportunities for communities to engage more deeply in the transition to green energy. NFT holders will have the option to manage the energy from their Personal Power Plant simply by using their smartphone. This is one of the first connections of a NFT token with real assets using blockchain technology and it is the first of its kind in the energy sector worldwide. A few Words about SunContract Founded by Mr Gregor Novak and Ms Mojca Bajec, SunContract is built on Ethereum blockchain technology. It provides unparalleled transparency for users. They can view all transactions and activities, ensuring visibility and automation of processes. Blockchain technology also enhances community engagement, allowing stakeholders to participate and advocate for SunContract, particularly in regions where services are yet to be established. The integration of blockchain positions SunContract as a global player, with the addition of an NFT marketplace expanding its international reach. In the renewable energy market, SunContract stands out with a unique business model, similar to an 'energy Uber'. This model serves a wide range of consumers, covering both B2C and B2B sectors. The model enables access to SunContract's services for individuals, commercial entities, and industrial organizations, emphasizing flexibility and inclusivity. Milestones in SunContracts' Development In 2017, SunContract released the first white paper on a peer-to-peer energy marketplace, followed by a successful Initial Coin Offering. In 2018, the company launched the first national-scale retail peer-to-peer energy marketplace. In 2019, SunContract expanded into Estonia, acquiring a license to operate as a cryptocurrency wallet custodian. In 2021, they upgraded their platform to support energy self-sufficient villages, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Recently, they expanded their services into Croatia, laid the groundwork in Estonia, and established an office in Malta. Future Markets SunContract is actively expanding into new markets, establishing companies and acquiring energy licenses in Estonia and Croatia. They are exploring integrating NFT technologies and investigating potential markets like Japan. SunContract is poised for significant growth and community value addition in the coming years with a strategic approach towards global growth and adapting innovative energy solutions. One of their key milestones is establishing SunContract as a 'unicorn' in the industry. CONTACT: Mr Gregor Novak, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer [email protected] Contact Info: Name: Gregor Novak Email: Send Email Organization: SunContract Website: https://suncontract.org/ Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Information verification has been done to the best of our ability. Still, due to the speculative nature of the blockchain (cryptocurrency, NFT, mining, etc.) sector as a whole, complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. You are advised to conduct your own research and exercise caution. Investments in these fields are inherently risky and should be approached with due diligence. Release ID: 89122002 In the event of detecting errors, concerns, or irregularities in the content shared in this press release that require attention or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our dedicated team will promptly address your feedback within 8 hours and take necessary actions to resolve any identified issues diligently or guide you through the removal process. Providing accurate and dependable information is our utmost priority. DALLAS , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced MedAesthetic Partners (AMP), a prominent force in the medical aesthetics industry, proudly announces its strategic acquisition of LivingYoung Center for Health & Anti-Aging, a highly esteemed medical spa boasting three locations in the greater Tampa area. Founded by the esteemed Katie Kaffai , LivingYoung Center has earned widespread acclaim for its commitment to inspiring and empowering patients to take control of their health and well-being. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for AMP, underscoring its dedication to delivering top-quality medical aesthetics services, expanding its service offerings, and extending its geographical reach. Expressing her enthusiasm about the partnership, Nicole Chiaramonte , CEO of AMP, stated, "LivingYoung Center perfectly aligns with AMP's dedication to delivering exceptional patient experiences. We are thrilled to welcome LivingYoung into the AMP network, emphasizing our commitment to expanding our service offerings and geographical reach." LivingYoung Center specializes in anti-aging and wellness, addressing key concerns such as weight gain, wrinkles, diminished energy, and loss of passion. With luxurious locations in Seminole , Palm Harbor , and St. Petersburg , LivingYoung's treatments are meticulously designed to help patients both look and feel their best. Reflecting on the partnership, Katie Kaffai , the founder of LivingYoung Center, shared her perspective, stating, "The prospect of partnerships felt overwhelmingquestions about aligning values and concerns over prioritizing profit. With over 16 years dedicated to LivingYoung, my apprehensions were eased partnering with AMP. Our goals harmonize seamlessly; AMP prioritizes support and fosters efficient and sustainable growth." This strategic collaboration leverages AMP's operational support and industry-leading clinical training capabilities, positioning LivingYoung Center to continue providing cutting-edge treatments and services. Chiaramonte added, " Katie Kaffai and Carissa Alinat, a partner in LivingYoung Center, show dedication to anti-aging and wellness that aligns perfectly with our vision at AMP. We eagerly anticipate collaborating and leveraging our combined strengths to lead the way in the rapidly growing field of medical aesthetics." The integration of LivingYoung Center into AMP's network is expected to deliver synergies benefiting both organizations. Patients of LivingYoung Center will maintain the high standards of care they are accustomed to while gaining access to an expanded array of services and resources offered by the broader AMP network. This acquisition reinforces AMP's position as a leader in the medical aesthetics industry, devoted to supporting practices prioritizing excellence in patient care and outcomes. AMP continues to shape the future of medical aesthetics, advancing its mission to deliver outstanding services and empower patients on their aesthetic journeys. ABOUT ADVANCED MEDAESTHETIC PARTNERS AMP is a distinguished group of business and clinical leaders in the medical aesthetics industry. Offering comprehensive support, including managerial, administrative, marketing, clinical training, and information technology, AMP enables practices to focus on delivering outstanding client experiences. ABOUT LEON CAPITAL GROUP Leon Capital Group (Leon) operates as a holding company overseeing assets in financial services, healthcare, real estate, and technology. With a family holding company structure, Leon manages $10 billion of private capital and operates successfully across multiple geographies and industries. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advanced-medaesthetic-partners-expands-portfolio-with-the-acquisition-of-livingyoung-center-in-florida-302068127.html SOURCE Advanced Medaesthetic Partners NEW YORK , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arieli Capital (Arieli) a US investment firm announced the launch of its START Fashion Tech program supported by Milano & Partners, Shape Next, Intel Ignite, Microsoft for Startups, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini, and the Ministry of Economy and Industry Foreign Trade Administration. Scheduled for March 4th-7th in Milan, Italy , soon after Milan Fashion Week, the program will connect FashionTech startups with prominent brands and investors, offering unique growth prospects in the fashion, retail and design industries. Interested in meeting the top selected technologies? Contact us. The program attracted applications from over 15 nations, and the 10 selected startups have jointly raised $52M and generated over $20M in revenue for fashion technologies including Biomaterials, Sustainability, AI, Supply Chain Management, Authentication, Blockchain, NFC, and customer experience. The program will conclude with an exclusive, invitation-only final event, hosted by ACIN (Accenture Customer Innovation Network Milan), attended by top industry executives and investors. "We're proud to open Arieli's local activity in Milan representing our successful collaboration with the Italian tech ecosystem over the past 5 years including operating the official startup accelerator for the Italian government, investing in Italian startups, and supporting the international scale-up process for Italian ventures in different countries. We're highly impressed by the advanced and creative ventures in the Fashion space," says Or Haviv, Partner and head of Innovation at Arieli. Arieli's global programs have previously aided various Italian startups across industries such as agriculture, medicine, and climate establish strong business foundations, raise capital and enter new markets. The global sustainable fashion market, valued at $7.8B in 2023, is expected to surpass $33B by 2030 with a remarkable CAGR of nearly 23%. This momentum towards sustainability is evident among applicants to START FashionTech: 20% of the startups that applied are transforming the textile landscape with biomaterials, and converting food waste and agricultural byproducts, such as carobs and mushrooms, into eco-conscious fabric and leather alternatives. FashionTech ventures are harnessing the latest technologies including blockchain, web3, NFC (near-field communication) for secure, fast authentication, converting products into smart, connected data points, and leveraging big data and AI to revolutionize supply chain processes, propelling the fashion market which is speculated to reach $3T by 2030. Interested in meeting the top selected startups? Contact us. About Arieli Capital: Arieli Capital (Arieli) is a multifaceted investment firm that is an active investor and partner in the next generation of technology companies. Arieli Capital continuously strives to identify and support companies creating real impact while keeping financial returns as the primary objective. A recognized global leader in innovation, Arieli creates and operates global innovation programs across governmental, academic, and corporate partnerships. For more information, click here. Contact Details: Nataf Dgani Head of Marketing Arieli Capital, LLC +972-54-757-3384 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arieli-capital-unveils-start-fashiontech-in-milan-merging-couture-with-cutting-edge-technology-302068973.html SOURCE Arieli Capital Artera Message API Receives 150+ Million Annual Calls, Demonstrating Deep Market Adoption and Value of Unifying Disparate Patient Communication into a Single Thread SANTA BARBARA, Calif. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading digital health vendors continue to join and connect to the Artera Marketplace with 50+ leading digital health vendors, including new members Azara Healthcare , Health iPASS , Memora Health , Feedtrail , and more. The Artera Marketplace spans the patient journey with the inclusion of vendors across Population Health, Scheduling, Intake, Patient Education, Care Pathways, Billing, Forms, and Patient Survey categories. Today, Artera can deliver a holistic view of every patient interaction across a healthcare providers organization, including every department, channel, user, HIT vendor and EHR - inside or outside of Artera. Proven Adoption of Artera's Open Platform Artera Marketplace Continues Expansion with 50+ Digital Health Vendors Artera's Message API (MAPI) is being called upon 150+ million times per year by digital health vendors and EHRs to route content and communications to patients via one trusted provider phone number. Artera's open APIs enable healthcare providers to route communications - from across their organization, and/or third party digital health vendors - through the Artera Harmony platform to deliver an integrated patient communications experience. Artera's API ecosystem includes: Message API (MAPI) : Enables disparate third-party systems to send messages directly to patients through Artera, creating a unified patient and staff experience. : Enables disparate third-party systems to send messages directly to patients through Artera, creating a unified patient and staff experience. Message Deliverability : Enables disparate third-party systems to receive message deliverability status. : Enables disparate third-party systems to receive message deliverability status. Appointment Payload (in beta): Send links or content associated with a patient or appointment in advance to be used in automated messaging. (in beta): Send links or content associated with a patient or appointment in advance to be used in automated messaging. Additional Artera APIs Coming Soon: Receive Message and Preferences & Consent. Solving an Industry-Wide Pain Point The Artera Marketplace helps solve an industry-wide pain point: the average, large health system has 11+ digital health vendors that communicate independently with patients. Without visibility and oversight into those calls, text messages, emails and app notifications, patients are bombarded. This causes poor loyalty, adverse health outcomes, additional staff burden, and impacts revenue. New Artera Marketplace members include Azara Healthcare , Acolyte Health , Catch Health, Collectly , DrFirst , Feedtrail , HealthAsyst , Health Note , Health iPASS , Healthmark , Hyro , i2i Population Health , Medallia , Mediktor , Memora Health , NeuroFlow , Repugen , Well-Beat and more. "Since inception, we believed that improving the patient communications experience is rooted in an open-platform approach which connects the patient's entire journey including all of the vendors communicating with them," said Guillaume de Zwirek , CEO and Founder, Artera. "The rapid growth of Artera's Marketplace validates this vision and demonstrates the value this solution delivers healthcare providers by connecting disparate communications into one integrated experience." "Health iPass is committed to simplifying the check-in process and payment workflow for patients," said Curtis Bauer , Chief Executive Officer, Health iPASS. "Integrating our communications via Artera Harmony accelerates this mission by delivering patients their relevant checkin and payment information via one trusted provider phone number, improving the overall patient experience." Artera Harmony The Artera Marketplace is the foundation of Artera Harmony , a next-generation SaaS patient engagement platform that smartly streamlines patient communications, minimizes message overload and consolidates various communication channels to deliver a truly integrated patient communications experience. To learn more about the Artera marketplace, stop by Artera's booth at Vive (Booth # 2319 ), HIMSS (Booth #4263 ) or visit https://artera.io/marketplace/ . About Artera Artera is a SaaS digital health leader redefining patient communications. Artera is trusted by 700+ healthcare systems and federal agencies to facilitate approximately 2.2 billion messages annually, reaching 100+ million patients. The Artera platform integrates across a healthcare organization's tech stack, EHRs and third-party vendors to unify, simplify and orchestrate digital communications into the patient's preferred channel (texting, email, IVR, and webchat), in 109+ languages. The Artera impact: more efficient staff, more profitable organizations and a more harmonious patient experience. Founded in 2015, Artera is based in Santa Barbara, California and has been named a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company (2021, 2022, 2023), and ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for four consecutive years. Artera is a two-time Best in KLAS winner in Patient Outreach. For more information, visit www.artera.io. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artera-marketplace-continues-expansion-with-50-digital-health-vendors-302069274.html SOURCE Artera Major changes for Factris' platform include same-day payments, streamlined onboarding, and fraud prevention for European SMEs Automation and AI features enable adaptations to local languages, currencies, and regulations The new platform is a key component to Factris' expansion into new markets in the EU AMSTERDAM , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of designing and programming, a replacement of Factris' FAB (Finance Automation for Business) platform has been released simultaneously across all five of Factris' markets. These include Belgium , the Netherlands , Poland , Latvia , and Lithuania . Factris' IT engineers applied insights learned over the course of six years to the new platform to improve nearly every aspect of how Factris funds European SMEs. This includes offering more types of financing, faster approval, direct control of accounts, and easier access to funds thanks to the platform's new automated, AI-powered features. The new platform replaces the original FAB platform from 2018, which has been an integral part of Factris' main financial product known as "factoring." The first FAB platform simply enabled SMEs to upload and sell their unpaid invoices to Factris for a fee to receive working capital within 48 hours. This new version of FAB, though, enhances how Factris funds SMEs in almost every way while also offering unique features and capabilities, including: Same-day payments to SMEs and faster debt collection from debtors Streamlined onboarding for simpler, faster approval and service Three different types of factoring products are now offered, along with access to multiple insurers and funders Self-service portals for clients and brokers to directly manage their info, submit invoices, monitor statuses, and view reports AI-powered risk management to prevent fraud , late payments, or credit issues , late payments, or credit issues Automated compliance with local regulatory requirements, government institutions, financial reporting requirements, and VAT variations Multi-currency and multi-language capabilities for clients and debtors to interact with Factris in their local language and local currency Factris also introduces the latest addition to the platform - the AI-enhanced Robot OCR Tool. This state-of-the-art technology utilizes optical character recognition to recognize and extract text from images and documents, which allows the company to process invoices quickly. By using this AI Tool, the company can streamline its workflows and increase productivity while eliminating the need for manual data entry. These new automated features also give Factris greater control, flexibility, and scalability of their financial products. Armed with these new automated capabilities, Factris can now expand into new markets more easily and at a lower cost. The new capabilities of the latest FAB platform have CEO Brian Reaves excited for European SMEs. He commented, "Since Factris' beginning, technology and automation have allowed us to offer fast, convenient funding to SMEs. Now, with this powerful new platform, we can expand our financing services across the EU and help even more SMEs receive the working capital they need." About Factris Based out of Amsterdam , Factris is a fintech company on a mission to provide quick, affordable capital to SMEs across Europe via financial technology with personalised guidance. For more information, please www.factris.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automated-scalable-sme-funding-now-possible-thanks-to-new-platform-from-fintech-factris-302067897.html SOURCE Factris NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Living, a real estate and property management company dedicated to the ownership, operation and development of high-quality senior living communities, announced today the opening of Clearwater Newport Beach , a 101-unit, luxury assisted living and memory support community in Newport Beach . "We are excited to welcome residents to this beautiful new community," said Danielle Morgan , Clearwater Living's president and chief operating officer. "Our communities embody our commitment to providing residents with the ability to receive the emotional, physical and social experiences they need when living in an assisted living community and this Newport Beach location provides convenient access to an array of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities that further enhance its appeal." Located just off Route 73 at 101 Bayview Place , Clearwater Newport Beach offers 70 assisted living and 31 memory support apartments in a variety of sophisticated, contemporary finishes and floor plans including studio, and one- and two-bedroom options. The community boasts a large outdoor courtyard, offering residents an immersive indoor/outdoor living experience. Clearwater's five-star, resort-style living provides residents with a creative studio, club room, fitness and wellness center, theater, housekeeping and laundry, salons, transportation and concierge services. Clearwater's commitment to healthy living includes chef-driven cuisine that goes well beyond basic nutritional needs. Residents and their guests will be able to choose among a variety of options across multiple dining venues including an on-site Savor Restaurant, CDM Cafe, wine vault, outdoor bar and private dining. Clearwater provides residents with access to a licensed nurse onsite, 24-hour compassionate care partners, medication coordination, regular monitoring and other comprehensive care services as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology through their collaboration with EmpowerMe Wellness company. These amenities and services all represent Clearwater's philosophy of Empowered Living through impactful emotional, physical and social experiences in a stimulating and comfortable environment. Clearwater Living actively acquires, develops and operates a full range of senior housing communities throughout the western United States . Clearwater Newport Beach will be the company's eleventh community in California , Nevada and Arizona , and they have additional developments in the pipeline. About Clearwater Living Clearwater Living is committed to providing the most superior customer service and living experiences that celebrate individual relevance, from our residents and their families to our family of team members. Clearwater is growing through strategic acquisitions, development, and operational management of senior living communities throughout the western United States . Every Clearwater Living community practices a holistic approach to successful aging and personalized care that improves the daily lives of residents. To learn more about Clearwater Living, visit ClearwaterLiving.com. Contact: Jennifer Franklin Spotlight Marketing Communications (949) 427-1385 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clearwater-living-opens-new-assisted-living-and-memory-support-community-in-newport-beach-302069224.html SOURCE Clearwater Living Digital resources provide detailed information on this critical water supply ROWLAND HEIGHTS, Calif. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowland Water District (RWD) has launched a Colorado River public outreach campaign, helping customers learn more about their water and where it comes from. The campaign includes a new webpage, video series, bill insert, handout, social media and conservation resources. It delves into the complexities of our water delivery system and how Southern California residents, including those in the RWD service area, are impacted by the Colorado River . "At RWD, we know how important it is to our customers to understand how their water supplies are affected by the Colorado River and State Water Project," said RWD General Manager Tom Coleman . "We're connecting with the public about these vital sources to keep them informed and give them the tools to help make a difference in their water use, protecting this important resource." The Colorado River is a core piece of the water supply in California , providing water to areas such as San Diego , Orange County , Los Angeles , Ventura , San Bernardino and Riverside . Currently, the river is overextended and its two largest lakes, Lake Powell and Lake Mead , are declining. RWD, along with other Southern California districts, has historically relied on a combination of State Water Project (SWP) allocations and Colorado River water to supply its customers. The two sources have provided a safeguard for one another. With the current crisis, this may no longer be the case. The webpage and handout identify steps customers can take to alleviate the strain on the Colorado River , including reducing their water footprint and making conservation a way of life. These everyday changes, coupled with large-scale effort, can make an impact. Go to https://rwdlegupdates.org/colorado-river/ to visit the campaign and learn more about the Colorado River . About Rowland Water District Rowland Water District was formed 70 years ago to provide water service to 200 ranchers and farmers in a rural, agricultural community. Over the years, the District has evolved to meet the changing needs of a dynamic and rapidly growing customer base. Rowland Water currently delivers 14 million gallons of safe drinking water to about 55,000 people every day. The District maintains 150 miles of potable water pipeline and 25 miles of recycled water pipeline to serve 13,800 customer connections across 17.2 square miles in southeast Los Angeles County , including portions of Rowland Heights , Hacienda Heights , La Puente , and the cities of Industry and West Covina . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colorado-river-online-tools-offer-insight-for-local-residents-302069263.html SOURCE Rowland Water District MIAMI , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Congela Biocosmetics, LLC., a biocosmetic company formulating precision, regenerative hair and skin products, announced today the acquisition of the JuveXO brand and product line. This strategic acquisition accelerates the development of innovative biocosmetic products and will reinvent the future of aesthetics. Brian Pla steps up as the President for Congela Biocosmetics, where he will continue to lead the company, supported by his existing accomplished scientific and management team. "Congela's vision is to pioneer and set the global standard in biocosmetics by providing innovative skincare products." "Congela's vision is to pioneer and set the global standard in biocosmetics by providing diverse and continually innovative skincare products," says Brian Pla . "This strategic acquisition of JuveXO, allows us to sustainably pursue and achieve this vision further expanding on Restem Group's extensive cell-based product history," adds Pla. Congela Biocosmetics now becomes the sole distributor of JuveXO, a leading topical exosome serum backed by over a decade of scientific research. Created upon the foundation of innovative stem cell research, JuveXO provides consumers with an alternative to improve the skin's appearances in areas of common skin concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, redness, and inflammation, as well as improve the appearance of dull, damaged, and thinning hair. When used in conjunction with microneedling or fractional devices, JuveXO penetrates deep into the skin to provide transformative regenerative results. Congela Biocosmetics is a subsidiary of Restem Group, a leader in cellular innovation that offers substantial support to propel Congela Biocosmetics into the future of aesthetics. With the support of the Restem Group, Congela will heighten its product line, providing consumers and practitioners with the safest, most efficacious, and most innovative solutions to their skin concerns. "Our vision is to advance science using our expertise in stem cells and riding on the incredible results already created by Congela within the biocosmetic sector," stated Rafael Gonzalez , Ph.D, Founder of Restem and Chief Scientific Officer of Congela Biocosmetics. "Witnessing the transformative potential of JuveXO, we are very excited about the acquisition and the monumental opportunity of Congela Biocosmetics," added Dr. Gonzalez . The future of Congela Biocosmetics is bright as it rapidly gains market share and continues to expand its product line to provide consumers and practitioners with all-encompassing cosmetic options for common skin and hair concerns, both in office and at home. Congela is launching a series of webinars to discuss the future of exosomes in biocosmetics, and will be in attendance at various aesthetic and cosmetic events throughout 2024. Congela will be kicking off their impressive 2024 conference tour at the Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress in Miami, FL February 22-24 . Follow this journey at www.juvexo.com . About Congela Biocosmetics, LLC Congela Biocosmetics, LLC is a biocosmetic company that produces precision skincare that helps restore natural beauty at the cellular level. As a leader in biological cosmetics (ie. biocosmetics), Congela has combined extensive biological research with expertise in the aesthetic industry to provide consumers and practitioners with optimal cosmetic solutions to common skin and hair concerns. About JuveXO JuveXO is a topical serum that has revolutionized aesthetic medicine by harnessing the extraordinary power of exosomes. Through the most cutting-edge biotechnology and decades of research, JuveXO delivers a non-invasive and non-surgical method to revitalize and rejuvenate the appearance of skin and hair. JuveXO combines biology and cosmetics to improve the look of damaged and aging tissue. About Restem Group Restem Group is a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of patient-specific, as well as off-the-shelf and ready-to-use, next-generation cell therapies that are designed to activate and enhance a patient's own immune system. These therapies are designed to enable the treatment of a broad range of disabling diseases that improve patient outcomes, as well as overall health and wellness for patients around the world. For media inquiries or questions about Congela Biocosmetics, please contact: Heather Vest Marketing Manager [email protected] https://juvexo.com/ (833)436-8372 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/congela-biocosmetics-announces-purchase-of-juvexo-to-propel-the-use-of-exosomes-in-aesthetic-medicine-302068504.html SOURCE Congela Biocosmetics, LLC. Giving Good Gear More Life SALT LAKE CITY , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified B Corporation and impact-driven adventure brand, Cotopaxi is proud to expand their gear trade-in program with the introduction of Mas Vida , the brand's new resale program in partnership with Trove and Tersus Solutions , encouraging consumers not only to trade-in but also to buy used gear and apparel. Mas Vida is an expansion of Cotopaxi's Gear for Good promise to make durable gear as ethically and sustainably as possible. Through Mas Vida, consumers can give pre-loved Cotopaxi styles and bags more life on new adventures, minimize waste, and promote sustainability for generations to come. Cotopaxi sees Mas Vida as the first step towards its adoption of holistic circularity. These future efforts include realizing living wages across our entire value chain, designing for durability and repairability, and closing the loop on our materials. "With Mas Vida, we aim to reshape the way business is done, demonstrating that profitability and sustainability can coexist harmoniously," Said Damien Huang , Cotopaxi CEO. "Together, we can create a world where resources are valued, inequalities are reduced, waste is minimized, and human sustainability is assured for future generations." Cotopaxi is partnering with both Trove and Tersus Solutions to bring the Mas Vida resale program to life. Trove, the market leader in branded resale, is powering the resale software services, and Tersus Solutions, the operational backbone of the recommerce industry, is providing proprietary waterless cleaning, repairs, and resale logistics services. Both companies have a proven track record of optimizing the circular economy, working with incredibly well-known outdoor brands which now includes Cotopaxi. "We are honored to support Cotopaxi's launch of Mas Vida with Tersus Solutions' recommerce operations, repair services, and proprietary waterless cleaning services to give their beautiful and durable pre-loved products a new life," said Peter Whitcomb , CEO at Tersus Solutions. "Cotopaxi continues to be a leader with their commitments to product and business model sustainability. Mas Vida represents a major milestone on their Gear for Good journey." "Trove is thrilled to be combining forces with Cotopaxi, not only to extend the life of the durable gear but to also empower consumers to reduce waste by giving their pre-loved items a second life," said Gayle Tait , CEO of Trove. "Mas Vida opens the door for consumers to experience Cotopaxi gear's durable quality and performance - and is good for the planet too. We're proud to have Cotopaxi join Trove's partner base, the pioneers that are pushing the boundaries of innovation to foster a more sustainable future." To learn more about Cotopaxi Mas Vida, trade-in pre-loved items, or shop used gear visit masvida.cotopaxi.com . Media Contact: Erin Wyer | Cotopaxi@Outsidepr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cotopaxi-introduces-mas-vida-resale-program-302069256.html SOURCE Cotopaxi OTTAWA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Canadian judge on Thursday gave the killer of four members of a Muslim family in London of the province of Ontario five life sentences in prison, local media reported. According to CTV News, Nathaniel Veltman, 23, was found guilty in November of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk on June 6, 2021. Talat Afzaal, 74, her son Salman, 46, his wife Madiha, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah were all killed while their then nine-year-old son was seriously injured, the report said. Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance gave Veltman four life sentences for the deaths of four members of the Afzaal family. She also delivered a life sentence for the attempted murder conviction of the Afzaal's then nine-year-old son, bringing the total to five life sentences in prison, CTV News reported. "I have chosen not to name the offender nor recite the hateful statements that he shared with police or in his manifesto. This is because his actions constitute terrorist activity," Pomerance was quoted as saying in CBC News report. According to CBC News, the case served as a test of how Canada's terror laws apply to white nationalists. The murder convictions carry an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years, CBC News added. HANGZHOU, China , Feb, 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dahua Technology, a world-leading video-centric AIoT solution and service provider, recently launched the "5E" initiative -- Easy Installation, Easy Connection, Easy Configuration, Easy Usage and Easy Maintenance. With the theme of "Elevating Efficiency, Embracing Innovation", 5E focuses on user-centered design to deliver simpler, easier-to-use, and more efficient products and solutions, providing customers with efficient operation, reduced costs, security guarantees, and value enhancement. "At Dahua, our customers are at the forefront of our innovation. The Dahua 5E embodies our commitment to tailoring easy-to-use products and solutions that not only meet evolving needs but also exceed customer expectations," said Eason Rao , Managing Director of Dahua Global Product Marketing. Easy Installation: Simple, Quick and User-friendly Installation Dahua has been simplifying software and hardware deployment based on customer pain points, with ongoing improvements in hardware structural design, tooling requirements, instructional materials, and process safety, as well as software accessibility, flexibility, complexity, and correctness. Easy Connection: Fast, Secure and Reliable Interconnection Dahua aims to improve multi-device connectivity and third-party compatibility, offering a seamless integration experience for diverse customer environments. Dahua's Easy Connection capabilities include Plug & Play, 2-Wire Hybrid Intercom System, Auto Registration Technology, HTTP Push, etc. Easy Configuration: Convenient, Visual and Hassle-free Setup Dahua has been streamlining product setup and debugging, including optimizing one-click video intercom settings and updating Dahua WEB 5.0, using scenario-based UI design. In addition, Dahua's AI learning algorithm and predefined scene parameters make configuration easier, greatly saving time and effort. Easy Usage: Understandable, Effortless and Intuitive Operation Dahua offers user-friendly interfaces for efficient and straightforward operation. Enhancements range from simple aesthetic designs to intuitive function settings, step-by-step guidance, and useful tips. Various supporting apps and high-end intelligence are also available to meet the needs of different scenarios, enabling flexible operation at customers' fingertips, and reducing time and labor costs. Easy Maintenance: Comprehensive, Accurate and Efficient Maintenance Dahua software platforms such as DoLynk Care Health Center feature remote debugging, device error notification, and one-click repair, providing professional device health management and easy maintenance. With strong R&D support, Dahua provides installers with accurate and comprehensive troubleshooting solutions to ensure 24/7 system reliability. "We will continuously innovate and optimize, constantly improve the ease of use and performance of our products, and consistently provide customers with a seamless and intuitive experience and supreme value," Rao added. For more information, click here. Media Contact [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dahua-technology-unveils-5e-initiative-to-enhance-customer-experience-302068296.html SOURCE Dahua Technology Pure Jamaican Elevates Jamaica as a Global Provider of Legal Cannabis With Pharmaceutical THC Product Exports To The US & Brazil MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Jamaican and its GMP-certified, licensed pharma manufacturer Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals are elevating Jamaica's role in the global cannabis supply chain by legally exporting proprietary pharmaceutical products with cannabis-derived THC, as well as hemp-derived CBD and other cannabinoids, to the United States , Brazil and other major international markets. The permissions to export Pure Jamaican pharmaceutical products containing THC to the US were granted by Jamaica's Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) to Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals pursuant to valid corresponding import permits received from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The products were shipped to a DEA-licensed facility in the US for successful analytical testing. Once the DEA approves the rescheduling of THC from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 in the US, as is widely anticipated, Seven-10 intends to request DEA permits to ship Pure Jamaican pharmaceutical THC products from Jamaica to patients in the US, subject to valid doctor prescriptions and all relevant DEA, FDA and state pharmacy distribution regulations. Meanwhile, Seven-10 has already begun shipping Pure Jamaican's BotanicosTM pharmaceutical tinctures with THC and other cannabinoids directly to patients in Brazil , pursuant to ANVISA import permits. Together, Brazil and the US represent populations of more than 500 million people, providing tremendous potential demand. Scott Cathcart , CEO of Pure Jamaican and Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals said, "This is a proud moment for Jamaica , and for our group of companies. Jamaica has long been associated with 'ganja' but never before in this context as a producer and legal exporter of THC as a pharmaceutical-grade medicine. As the only company in Jamaica licensed for pharmaceutical manufacturing of cannabinoids, we are proud to be leading the way to elevating the role of Jamaica in the global cannabis ecosystem." The President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Shullette Cox, stated that "the growth of the cannabis industry for medicinal purposes has been a priority of the Government of Jamaica and particularly, the export of value-added products from Jamaica . The success of Pure Jamaican and Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals is applauded as JAMPRO continues to facilitate the local medicinal cannabis industry and ensuring its role in driving the growth of exports." Dr. Ellen Campbell Grizzle, Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer of Pure Jamaican and Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals, and former Dean of the College of Health Sciences, UTech said, "This is a labour of love and not easy. Jamaica has 52% of the world's medicinal plants in our small island nation, and we are very proud to be exploring ways to identify new botanical medicines to bring health, wellness, new exports and economic growth to our country." About Pure Jamaican & Seven Ten Limited (d/b/a Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals) The Pure Jamaican group was founded to bring Jamaican cannabis and other botanicals to the world as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Among other licenses and certifications, Pure Jamaican's pharma division has: 1) a pharmaceutical manufacturing license from the Pharmacy Council of Jamaica (PCJ), 2) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification and controlled substances permit from Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), 3) a license to process cannabis from Jamaica's Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), 4) Special Economic Zone certification for favorable duties and tax treatment from the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), and 5) an Environmental Permit from Jamaica's National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). For more information, please see: https://purejamaican.com/. CONTACT: Pure Jamaican Limited Cathie Bennett Warner [email protected] +1 (415) 420-1573 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-ever-legal-exports-of-thc-from-jamaica-to-the-united-states-302068856.html SOURCE Pure Jamaican & Seven 10 Pharmaceuticals HONG KONG , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleet Management Limited (FLEET), the world's largest third-party ship management company, has begun implementing a phased succession plan to ensure continuity, sustained innovation and success as it enters a new era. After three decades as Managing Director since the company's inception, Dr Kishore Rajvanshy is transitioning from his current role, with a global search for a new MD underway. As part of this transition, Mr Angad Banga , the Chief Operating Officer of FLEET's parent company, The Caravel Group, will co-lead FLEET with Dr Rajvanshy where Dr Rajvanshy will continue to manage the technical, seafarer personnel, quality, health, safety and environmental departments, and Mr Banga will oversee all other divisions. The Chairman and CEO of The Caravel Group, Dr Harry Banga , said "Under Dr Rajvanshy's leadership, FLEET has thrived, achieving significant year-on-year growth while steadfastly upholding our core values of Family, Entrepreneurship, Partnership and Integrity, and driving our focus on safety, quality, operational excellence and efficiency, and innovation." "Our success is a testament to our valued clients, partners, and highly skilled and dedicated seafarers and employees, who remain the pillars of our past achievements and the impetus for our next chapter of growth." "As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are steering toward a horizon filled with new opportunities, bolstered by a legacy of excellence and a commitment to technology and innovation. Our ship is set for the future, guided by the lessons of the past and the optimism for what lies ahead." "During the transition, we will remain squarely and resolutely committed to the delivery of industry-leading service to our customers, partners, seafarers and all of those who rely on us. Our succession planning and transitional steps have been designed to ensure there are no interruptions to service levels." Dr Kishore Rajvanshy stated: "As I prepare to pass the baton to the next generation, I am confident that the company's future is bright and that it will continue to set industry standards for years to come. This is a landmark strategic move to mark our 30th anniversary year, to build on our rock-solid foundations and take the company to the next level." Mr Angad Banga , who will co-lead FLEET during the transition period and oversee the new management team under the mentorship of Dr Banga and Dr Rajvanshy , brings a wealth of experience across the maritime industry and a strong respect for the company's history. He joined his father at The Caravel Group a decade ago, is the current Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and rotational Chairman of the Asian Shipowners Association, and has served actively as a FLEET board director for a number of years. "I am driven to build on the robust legacy established by my father, Dr Harry Banga , and Dr Rajvanshy , in working with our colleagues, partners and investing in FLEET to meet our clients' needs now and into the future, " Mr Banga said. "Our company stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Leading our extraordinary team is a privilege, and we stand poised to continue to lead safety standards, embrace innovation and pursue new opportunities to serve our clients and the broader industry." About Fleet Management Limited and The Caravel Group Fleet Management Limited (FLEET), part of The Caravel Group, is the world's largest ship management company. This rank bears testament to the resilience and commitment of 27,000+ seafarers and 1,100+ onshore maritime professionals, serving more than 130 world-class shipowners. FLEET manages a range of vessels, including bulk carriers, containers, car carriers, oil tankers, gas carriers and chemical tankers from 600 to 320,000 DWT in size with many being young and energy-efficient with an age profile below the industry average. The company also has a dynamic newbuilding supervision department. The Caravel Group is a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with three verticals: Maritime, Commodities and Investment Management. Within the Maritime vertical, the Group is focused on third-party ship management, and as well ship ownership managing, operating and/or owning more than 700 sea-going vessels across the dry bulk, chemical and gas tanker and container segments. Within Commodities, the Group is engaged in the trading and logistics of industrial dry bulk raw materials, namely iron ore and thermal coal. Within Investment Management, the Group is primarily focused on direct investments in global liquid markets including public equity and credit, across all industries. In addition, the Group invests in alternative investments mainly private equity and hedge funds to diversify risks and sustain long-term returns. Learn more: www.fleetship.com and www.caravel-group.com For further enquiries, please contact: Emily Dunn , General Manager, Corporate Communications [email protected] or phone +852 5211 2152 South Island Place , 27/F, 8 Wong Chuk Hang Road , Hong Kong View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fleet-management-limited-announces-strategic-leadership-transition-in-its-30th-year-302068401.html SOURCE Fleet Management Limited Investment in new production line creates growth opportunities for Pennant puff pastry dough. HAZLETON, Pa. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With today's ribbon-cutting ceremony for its remodeled bakery and new line, Aspire Bakeries continues its growthboth in the region and nationallyby bringing expanded production of Pennant Puff Pastry to Hazleton . Approximately a dozen SKUs of the popular "French puff pastry in the green box," which chefs and foodservice operators have enjoyed since 1938, will be manufactured in the community. "This investment also gives Aspire Bakeries the ability to further innovate and disrupt the puff pastry market segment." "This expansion brings opportunity for the company and the community," said Tyson Yu , CEO, Aspire Bakeries, the company behind beloved brands such as La Brea Bakery and Otis Spunkmeyer. "The state-of-the-art line allows us to meet increasing demand for Pennant Puff Pastry in the foodservice industry." This investment also gives Aspire Bakeries the ability to further innovate and disrupt the puff pastry market segment, Yu added. Pennant Puff Pastry is a favorite among chefs because of its ease of use and versatility for menus throughout the day. "The frozen pastry offers convenience with creativity," said Beau Netzer , Chief Commercial Officer - Foodservice, Aspire Bakeries. "Along with boosting production, the Hazleton bakery will have the capability to produce multiple sizes, formats, and configurations." The Hazleton bakery opened in 1992 and Aspire Bakeries employees' pride and commitment to workplace safety and sustainability have consistently been on display. Today, the bakery employs 150 associates. Since 2018, the Hazleton Bakery has been honored with the American Baking Association's Workplace Safety Award, and since 2016, the bakery has achieved the highest AA rating on its annual BRC Food Safety Audit. The 113,000 square foot Hazleton bakery was one of Aspire Bakeries' first locations to convert to all LED lights and has achieved a 97% waste diversion rate. This bakery expansion continues Aspire Bakeries' growth trajectory since becoming an independently owned business in 2021. In addition to producing Pennant Puff Pastry, the Hazleton bakery makes custom-baked goods for strategic customer partners. For Further Information: Kelly Richardson , APR Venone Public Relations (707) 479-6882 | mailto:[email protected] About Pennant Puff Pastry Founded in 1938, Pennant is an Aspire Bakeries brand that has a long-standing reputation with chefs, known especially for its best-in-class puff pastry. The Pennant brand comes to life when chefs use the puff pastry as the foundation for savory and sweet menu applications including appetizers, bite-sized desserts, flatbread pizzas, and sandwiches. About Aspire Bakeries Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins, and pastries from beloved brands including La Brea Bakery, Otis Spunkmeyer, and Pennant. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hazleton-bakery-to-drive-future-growth-for-aspire-bakeries-302069136.html SOURCE Aspire Bakeries BOSTON , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With the shift towards electric vehicles, end-users are becoming less concerned about traditional differentiators like engine horsepower and are placing greater emphasis on smart interior functions. This trend is compelling automotive OEMs to invest more efforts in enhancing interior features, thereby adding greater value to their products and distinguishing them from other vehicles. Driven by regulations such as Euro NCAP, driver monitoring systems (DMS) have gained significant traction and have transitioned from a luxury feature to a new norm. As of 2024, most DMS utilize 2D near-infrared (NIR) cameras. Due to their relatively low costs, they are anticipated to be increasingly adopted, emerging as the dominant enabling technology for DMS. For automotive OEMs to further set themselves apart from competitors, advanced features such as gesture control, child presence detection, and seat belt detection are also expected to gain momentum, especially in mid to high-end vehicles. Currently, the 3D time-of-flight camera stands out as the most widely used technology for DMS, while some automotive OEMs, such as Volvo and Tesla, are incorporating in-cabin radar modules. Radar has played an important role in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for over two decades. Utilizing radio waves with a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) coding system, radars can accurately measure the distance and relative velocity of objects within their field of view. However, historically, radar modules have predominantly been employed for exterior sensing rather than interior applications. As of 2023, according to Tesla's website, the in-cabin radar operates within a frequency range of 60GHz to 64GHz, falling within the license-free ISM band. The detection distance of these radar modules typically ranges from 0.4 meters to 2 meters, effectively covering the interior space. Though unconfirmed officially by Tesla, recent news suggests that their cybertruck is equipped with in-cabin radar modules for occupant monitoring, including functions such as child presence detection and seat belt reminders. Similar to radar modules, 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) cameras also find application in occupant monitoring. 3D ToF cameras operate by utilizing near-infrared illuminators like LEDs or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VSCELS), in conjunction with image sensors. However, privacy concerns surround the use of cameras, even though some suppliers assert that they can address this issue by either blurring people's faces or storing data solely onboard. An additional limitation of 3D ToF cameras is that, unlike in-cabin radar modules, they are unable to detect people or objects through obstacles. Furthermore, due to their reliance on computer vision technology, cameras necessitate intricate algorithms and recalibration, introducing technical complexity to their implementation. Despite these drawbacks, some suppliers are actively working to address privacy concerns and improve the overall capabilities of 3D ToF cameras for occupant monitoring in automotive applications. As of now, 3D ToF cameras are more well-adopted for OMS and have advanced features compared with radar modules. However, by comparing the costs and functions of radar modules and 3D ToF cameras, IDTechEx believes there are potential opportunities for radar modules. 3D ToF cameras are adopted in Li Auto L9, BMW iX, and the new ARCFOX S series, whereas radar modules are expecting adoption in Tesla and Volvo. To find out more about the IDTechEx report "In-Cabin Sensing 2024-2034: Technologies, Opportunities and Markets", including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/InCabinSensing. About IDTechEx IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com. Images download: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7p8yxfgg6agc6trfp2ktt/h?rlkey=bmgtokbku3zq2drrsjbdzj3jz&dl=0 Media Contact: Lucy Rogers Sales and Marketing Administrator [email protected] +44(0)1223 812300 Social Media Links: Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2342579/Comparison_of_radar_manufacturers_and_prices.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338688/IDTechEx_logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idtechex-discusses-new-trends-radar-modules-and-tof-cameras-for-in-cabin-sensing-302065591.html SOURCE IDTechEx From 28th February to 1st March 2024 , 120 international events at Rimini Expo Centre including the next G7 Energy and Environment's side event: "Scaling-Up a sustainable electrification Africa , for Africa with Africa " RIMINI, Italy , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "KEY-The Energy Transition Expo, Italian Exhibition Group's (IEG) European benchmark trade show on energy transition and efficiency scheduled in Italy , at Rimini Expo Centre, from 28th February to 1st March, is about to start," the Group's CEO, Corrado Peraboni, announced. "At its second edition," said Alessandra Astolfi , IEG global exhibition director, "the show will also offer world-class events, defined by the Technical-Scientific Committee directed by Gianni Silvestrini ." Christian Previati , KEY exhibition manager: "We have exceeded all expectations with 800 companies, +15% of foreign brands and +25% more international buyers from Germany , Spain , France , Holland , Belgium , United Kingdom , Eastern Europe , the Balkans, Turkey , Africa , Middle East , Latin America and Central Asia ." 120 events scheduled "KEY Energy Summit" will begin the international programme with Alessandro Marangoni presenting the Althesys study "System governance, the key to transition", a coordinated strategy for renewables, storage and grids to decarbonise Italy ; the same meeting will include proposals from the ANEV, ANIE Rinnovabili, Assoidroelettrica, CIB, Coordinamento Free, Elettricita Futura, FederIdroelettrica, Italia Solare associations. Simultaneous Italian-English translation available. From 29th February to 1st March "Scaling-Up a sustainable electrification Africa , for Africa with Africa ", the side event of the upcoming G7 Energy and Environment that will bring European industry leaders and representatives of African countries to KEY. An international two-day event, organised by RES4Africa, focusing on North African countries and sub-Saharan regions: the theme will be innovative strategies to balance energy security and sustainability, innovation for a fair energy transition, and de-risking tools to accelerate investments for sustainable electrification (event in English, with simultaneous translation in French and Italian). On Thursday 29th February, the presentation, with simultaneous Italian-English translation, of the new edition of the 'Supply Chains of the Future' report, promoted by Symbola Foundation and IEG, in collaboration with trade Associations. And "EUPD Research Conference Session | Addressing the Challenges of Europe's Solar & Storage Boom", on the latest trends and technologies, in English on Friday 1st March, organised by International Battery & Energy Storage Alliance-IBESA. A partial list that already proves KEY's international scope: the complete programme on the following link. PRESS CONTACT SIGEP ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP head of media relation & corporate communication: Elisabetta Vitali ; press office manager: Marco Forcellini ; international press office coordinator: Silvia Giorgi ; [email protected], +390541744814 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2260872/4554656/Italian_Exhibition_Group_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-italy-800-brands-for-key-the-energy-transition-expo-global-industry-on-the-future-of-energy-302067862.html SOURCE Italian Exhibition Group Partnership establishes one of Voiceitt's first international destinations for its industry leading speech technology STAMFORD, Conn. and CANNINGTON, Australia , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Voiceitt, the Israel -based leader in speech recognition technology for non-standard speech, announced today the launch of its next-generation speech recognition in Australia in collaboration with Superyou Tech , a local disability provider, which is backed by one of Australia's disability services leaders, PeopleKind, that has been at the forefront in Australia's disability sector for over more than 70 years. Alyson Pace , CEO of Voiceitt, described the company's expansion into Australia as "a natural next step in the evolution of Voiceitt's technology and business, as we continue to focus on building powerful voice AI that addresses a diverse linguistic landscape, including accents and dialects, and the needs of users with various underlying situations and disabilities affecting speech." Further, she stated, "launching Voiceitt with dedicated partners who deeply understand both the local market and the needs of our customers will allow us to increase our impact, for more people, while also validating our international approach to data acquisition and commercialization." Superyou Tech is comprised of clinicians and assistive technology professionals committed to helping people with disabilities access innovative assistive technologies, providing support every step of the way, and has maintained a successful track record delivering products fast. Nebojsha Franich, Superyou Tech's Managing Director, said, "Superyou Tech is excited and proud to be the Australian distributor for Voiceitt. We're excited to make Voiceitt's innovative technology easily available to everyone throughout Australia , as part of our mandate to help people with disabilities access the world." Superyou Tech and Voiceitt will bring AI-powered voice technology for people with non-standard speech, empowering them to speak by voice and be understood at home, in education, and at work. Voiceitt's speech recognition app for people with speech disabilities facilitates both in-person and remote voice-based communication, and to interaction with third party apps, such as AI-productivity tools. The partnership with Superyou Tech accelerates Voiceitt's reach in Australia and increases access to the technology by advancing opportunities for users to obtain the Voiceitt app through various government funding mechanisms. Pinni Raveh , Voiceitt's Commercial Leader in Australia , noted that "combining Voiceitt's market-leading technology with Superyou Tech's reach and expertise in the Australian market unlocks new possibilities to leverage voice AI in new use cases and contexts, including helping aging adults to live independently and advancing workplace inclusion across multiple sectors." Voiceitt's app is now available for a 30-day free trial in Australia through Superyou Tech. Please contact [email protected] for a demo or trial account of Voiceitt. For more information about Voiceitt's API or to explore collaboration opportunities, please contact, [email protected]. ABOUT VOICEITT Voiceitt's mission is to help people with disabilities live more connected, independent lives. The proprietary automatic speech recognition (ASR) enables people with speech disabilities to access mainstream voice technologies, communicate by voice, and be understood. Voiceitt has been highlighted in international media, including the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Forbes, Amazon Science, BBC, and The New York Times. Investors include Cisco Investments, the Amazon Alexa Fund, AARP, and Microsoft's M12. Voiceitt was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Israel with a subsidiary in Stamford, CT . ABOUT SUPERYOU TECH Superyou Tech was created by Superyou Therapy, a committed group of clinicians and assistive technology professionals who have decades of experience in supporting people with disability to live their best life. As professional therapists, Superyou Tech understands the challenges clinicians and their clients face when it comes to sourcing the right assistive technology. Superyou Tech offers top quality assistive and sensory technologies, shipping physical items to clinicians or clients within 2 to 5 business days from payment, or immediately for digital products. We don't believe in making anyone wait for better access to their world. Contacts Media Contacts: For Voiceitt: Sara Smolley , Co-Founder and Vice President of Partnerships [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inclusive-voice-ai-down-under-and-beyond-voiceitt-and-superyou-tech-make-accessible-speech-recognition-available-for-aussies-with-disabilities-302068904.html SOURCE Voiceitt, Inc. CHICAGO , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspired by the generosity of its employees, Northwestern Medicine will donate $200,000 to area food banks. The Greater Chicago Food Depository and Northern Illinois Food Bank will each receive $100,000 . Health system leaders will thank staff and surprise them with the total gift amount during a Team NM employee volunteer events at four food bank locations at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 . Northwestern Medicine leadership was inspired to dedicate more funds to the food banks after more than 5,000 employees opted to donate the $15 grocery gift certificates they would have received as part of their holiday gifts. Thanks to those donations, employees raised more than $76,000 . Leadership made the decision to increase the overall donation to further support employees' dedication to the food banks. "Our employees made it clear that they're committed to addressing food insecurity in the communities we serve, and it's in their honor that we're increasing Northwestern Medicine's donation to provide access to nutritious food where it's most needed," said Ann Hall , vice president of administration at Northwestern Medicine. Employees who donated their grocery certificates were invited to volunteer at the food banks to see how their donations are used. Health system leaders will surprise them with the announcement during their volunteer shifts at four food bank locations: Through donations of funds and volunteer time, Northwestern Medicine has provided the Northern Illinois Food Bank $5.6 million worth of groceries to people in need since 2015. "We are grateful for Northwestern Medicine's generous donation and longtime partnership," said Julie Yurko , president and CEO at Northern Illinois Food Bank. "Our network of 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, and direct distribution programs provide 82 million meals a year and serve over 500,000 neighbors a month. Good nutrition is crucial to physical and mental health. These funds will help us continue our mission of providing neighbors and their families access to the nutritious food they need to thrive." Northwestern Medicine has long-standing roots in community service and volunteering, supporting local and national organizations that are committed to building stronger, healthier communities. Northern Illinois Food Bank is dedicated to solving hunger and empowering neighbors. Our vision is for everyone in Northern Illinois to have the food they need to thrive. We serve neighbors in thirteen counties with dignity, equity, and convenience, providing 250,000 meals a day. For more information, visit: SolveHungerToday.org View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inspired-by-employee-donations-northwestern-medicine-makes-its-largest-gift-to-area-food-banks-302069392.html SOURCE Northern Illinois Food Bank World Hearing Day: Changing Mindsets about Hearing Aids FARMINGTON, Mich. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Hearing Society (IHS) will celebrate World Hearing Day (WHD) on Friday, March 1, 2024 , to raise awareness of hearing healthcare and address the stigma that is often attached to hearing loss and hearing aids. 430 million1 people globally (five percent of the world's population) and 60.7 million U.S. individuals2 experience some degree of hearing loss. In response to this healthcare challenge, IHS spotlights its members, licensed Hearing Aid Specialists and allied hearing health providers, as an exceptional pathway for individuals to discover their hearing baseline and determine the best way forward for enhanced hearing. IHS' celebration of World Hearing Day is designed to help connect the public to licensed hearing healthcare professionals who can provide hearing solutions. Join International Hearing Society in celebrating World Hearing Day on March 1 . Changing mindsets about hearing aids! IHS Executive Director Alissa Parady said, "International Hearing Society is honored to partner with the World Hearing Forum (WHF) to celebrate World Hearing Day and work to, "Change Mindsetslet's make ear and hearing care a reality for all," the theme of WHD 2024. IHS is hosting an open house at its newly opened headquarters in Farmington, Michigan , on March 1 , Friday, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm , to spread awareness about hearing care and the profession of Hearing Aid Specialist. Consumers are welcome to visit and learn more about the importance of discovering their hearing baseline and how hearing care can improve their lives. IHS also welcomes hearing health professionals to learn more about the many products and services IHS produces to help professionals help more people achieve better hearing. "We also will celebrate WHD with an online campaign that shares what IHS members are doing to break the stigma of hearing aids. This WHD initiative aligns closely with IHS' consumer awareness campaign that launched one year ago, "Stay Connected With Life." Individuals in need of a licensed hearing healthcare provider can find one through our free directory: www.ihsinfo.org. Hearing protection and communication solutions are available to so many who will take the first step in visiting a hearing healthcare provider." IHS President Patrick Kochanowski , BS, ACA, BC-HIS, said, "IHS members are making a difference around the world in sharing the gift of hearing healthcare with individuals in more than 18 countries. We are proud to stand with the World Health Organization and World Hearing Forum in combatting the stigmas that hold back many from seeking accessible solutions to hearing issues. I hope you will join us, either online @ihsinfo.org on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram, or in person at our newly rebuilt world headquarters in Farmington, Michigan , on March 1 , as we celebrate World Hearing Day and work to make hearing care accessible to more people. If you are in need of a hearing aid specialist near you to determine whether you have hearing loss or hearing aids may be helpful, visit www.ihsinfo.org to learn more." World Health Organization Global Key Facts1 By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation. Over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. An annual additional investment of less than US$ 1.40 per person is needed to scale up ear and hearing care services globally. per person is needed to scale up ear and hearing care services globally. Over a 10-year period, the above investment promises a return of nearly US$ 16 for every US dollar invested. for every US dollar invested. Over 5% of the world's population or 430 million people require rehabilitation to address their disabling hearing loss (including 34 million children). It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million people or 1 in every 10 people will have disabling hearing loss. U.S. STATISTICS: Check out these statistics from the National Council on Aging2 and move into action to enhance and protect your hearing today! Hearing loss affects about 60.7 million Americans aged 12 and older. About 15.5% (44.1 million) of American adults aged 20 and older have some level of hearing loss. Of people aged 65 and older, 31.1% experience hearing loss, while 40.3% of adults aged 75 and older experience hearing loss. Around the world, about 70 million people are deaf (complete hearing loss). Studies show approximately 28.8 million American adults could significantly benefit from wearing a hearing aid. Only 16% of people aged 2069 have ever used a hearing aid, while just 30% of those aged 70 and above have done so. Hearing loss is on the rise in the United States and is expected to almost double by the year 2060. and is expected to almost double by the year 2060. Our hearing ability can greatly impact our health. Hearing loss is currently the third-leading chronic health condition in the United States and cases are rapidly increasing. NOTE: World Hearing Day is officially held on March 3 each year. #stayconnectedwithlife #worldhearingday #hearingcare Media Contact: Sandra den Boer Editorial & PR Director International Hearing Society 33900 W. 8 Mile Road , Suite 101 Farmington, MI 48335 P: 734-522-7200, ext. 114 E: [email protected] About the International Hearing Society The International Hearing Society (IHS) is a membership association that represents hearing healthcare professionals worldwide, including hearing aid specialists. IHS members are engaged in the practice of performing hearing assessments, selecting, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, counseling patients, and providing aftercare services. Founded in 1951, IHS protects, represents, and promotes the interests of hearing healthcare and hearing healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.ihsinfo.org. https://www.ihsinfo.org/hearing-health View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-hearing-society-ihs-302069194.html SOURCE International Hearing Society ATLANTA , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. (NYSE: IVR) (the "Company") today announced it will hold its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET at the Kimpton Shane Hotel , 1340 W. Peachtree Street NW , Atlanta, GA 30309. Stockholders of record of the Company as of the close of business on March 8, 2024 are entitled to attend the Annual Meeting and vote their shares. About Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. is a real estate investment trust that primarily focuses on investing in, financing and managing mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-related assets. Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. is externally managed and advised by Invesco Advisers, Inc., a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., a leading independent global investment management firm. Additional information is available at www.invescomortgagecapital.com . Investor Relations Contact: Greg Seals , 404-439-3323 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/invesco-mortgage-capital-inc-announces-2024-annual-stockholders-meeting-302069148.html SOURCE Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. BEIRUT, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were injured on Thursday due to an Israeli air raid that targeted a residential apartment in Kfar Remen, a city in the Nabatieh Governorate region of southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese medical and military sources. A medical source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the five injured arrived at a hospital in Nabatieh, two of whom were in serious condition. Military sources said four air-to-surface missiles penetrated the upper roof of two adjacent residential apartments and exploded inside them, leading to their complete demolition and causing severe damage to the neighboring buildings. The sources said that several teams from the Civil Defense and the Lebanese Red Cross had headed to the site to remove the rubble and recover the injured. The company emerges from bankruptcy, financially stronger and positioned for growth under new leadership. HALETHORPE, Md. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IronNet, an innovative leader Transforming Cybersecurity Through Collective DefenseSM has completed its restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11 as a private company. IronNet emerges as a stronger business, focused on advancing innovation with their product roadmap for the acclaimed IronNet Collective DefenseSM platform, IronDefense. Since the start of the restructuring, IronNet has continued to evolve its products, particularly its cloud-based solutions, enhancing early threat detection, deep detection capabilities, and secure, anonymous community sharing. IronNet has introduced a new proactive command and control (C2) threat intel feed, IronRadar, and remains at the forefront of addressing complex cyber threats. Linda Zecher , CEO of IronNet, expressed enthusiasm about the future, stating, "At IronNet, we're embarking on a growth journey focused on our customers. We are committed to delivering on our promises, enhancing the IronNet Collective Defense platform, and staying engaged with our clients. With a focus on AI-driven solutions like IronRadar, we aim to lead in proactive cybersecurity, ensuring meaningful expansion and innovation in every step we take." The company has embarked on a new chapter of innovation, resilience, and strategic expansion through the restructuring under the leadership of Linda Zecher as CEO and Cameron Pforr as President. Under the company's Plan of Reorganization, which was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on January 18, 2024 , IronNet has eliminated about $37.7 million in company debt and emerged with a new exit ABL facility of $15 million to support ongoing operations under the Plan. The company welcomes new Board Members including Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mike Hewitt , CEO of IP3, a company that develops sustainable energy and security infrastructure, and John Akridge , Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and CEO of Height Capital Markets, a Washington, D.C. -based capital markets firm that provides investment banking services. General (Ret.) Keith Alexander has stepped down as the Chairman of the Board of IronNet. Commenting on IronNet's influential role in global cybersecurity, Admiral Hewitt stated, "IronNet has positioned itself as the lead technology provider on the ground in Ukraine by standing up the Collective Defense AI Fusion Cell (CDAIC) in Kyiv , which will be led by IronNet and its partners. The CDAIC under IronNet will incubate best-of-breed technologies in a real-world cyber conflict environment." Bill Lane , VP of Product Development of IronNet, highlighted the impact of the IronNet Collective Defense platform, "For the month of January, more than 977 critical cyber alerts were detected across the collective defense community, which were shared and collaborated on. The IronNet collective defense community includes leaders in education, finance, government and Internet services. As we revitalize IronNet, our team is enhancing the platform's capabilities, ensuring it continues to be an indispensable tool across all cybersecurity domains XDR, MDR, NDR, or EDR. Every day, collective defense grows stronger, fueled by new data integrations, directly benefiting our customers and the wider cybersecurity community." IronNet has maintained the support and trust of numerous government and commercial customers, underscoring their confidence in IronNet's unique Collective Defense solutions. IronNet is now poised for smart growth as it looks to the future, focusing on delivering advanced cybersecurity solutions to its customers. This period of renewal strengthens IronNet's capacity to protect enterprises, sectors, and nations from sophisticated cyber adversaries. About IronNet IronNet is dedicated to delivering the power of collective cybersecurity to defend companies, sectors, and nations. By uniting advanced technology with a team of experienced professionals, IronNet is committed to providing peace of mind in the digital world. For more information, visit www.ironnet.com or follow us on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ironnet-successfully-completes-financial-restructuring-reforged-as-a-private-company-powered-by-collective-defense-302068841.html SOURCE IronNet Jasper enters the European market through acquisition, joins vibrant AI community in Paris SAN FRANCISCO and PARIS , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jasper, one of the world's biggest generative AI app companies, has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Clipdrop, an AI image creation and editing platform, from Stability AI. This acquisition signifies a significant step forward in Jasper's capacity to deliver the most comprehensive, multimodal copilot for enterprise marketing teams. Clipdrop is an image creation and editing platform used by millions of creative designers and brands worldwide. Founded in 2020 by Google alumni Cyril Diagne , Damien Henry , and Jonathan Blanchet , Clipdrop enables users to edit existing images, create new ones, and develop an expansive number of variations in size, detail, and style. For marketers and brand leaders, this technology can be a catalyst for accelerating their ad strategies and developing on-brand creative. "Marketing is visual," said Timothy Young , CEO of Jasper. "The addition of Clipdrop to Jasper will advance our vision to be the most comprehensive end-to-end marketing copilot in the industry, powering all the formats, channels, and functions enterprise marketing teams need. A copilot this robust will enable the enterprises we serve to go beyond simple AI prompts to achieve more personalized marketing, better informed automation, and improved optimization across their entire strategy." The Clipdrop team will join Jasper effective immediately and continue to lead research and innovation on multimodality in Jasper from their headquarters in Paris , which has become a hub of AI innovation in Europe . With this acquisition, Jasper expands its footprint to Europe and plans to continue to invest there from both a talent and customer acquisition standpoint. The company is eager to contribute to Paris's vibrant AI community. "Jasper has been a valued partner, leveraging Stability AI models for many years," said Emad Mostaque , CEO of Stability AI. "We're thrilled to see Clipdrop expand their offering by joining forces with Jasper. We will continue to partner with Clipdrop on research and deliver our cutting-edge models to their platform." "We are excited about what Clipdrop technology can do inside Jasper's copilot for marketing teams," said Damien Henry , Clipdrop co-founder. "There are natural synergies between the two companies and a clear focus on creating the best multimodal platform for marketers. We can't wait to get started." In addition to leading further development of AI-assisted image creation and editing, Damien Henry will play a larger leadership role in research and innovation for the entire Jasper product. The acquisition of Clipdrop closed on February 20, 2024 . Business customers will be able to access it through the Jasper API immediately, over time the functionality will be more deeply integrated into the copilot. Individuals can still purchase Clipdrop as a standalone product via Clipdrop.co About Jasper: Founded in 2021, Jasper is an AI copilot for marketing teams that want better outcomes in addition to faster outputs. Jasper securely trains on your brand and strategy, accelerates content and campaign production, and helps marketers measure and optimize for performance all as part of an end-to-end copilot. Jasper has been recognized as "one of America's fastest-growing private companies" by Inc. 5000 and was one of the fastest companies to reach 100M+ users. Customers include Morningstar, Anthropologie, SentinelONE, ZoomInfo, and more. Learn more at jasper.ai. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jasper-expands-by-acquiring-image-platform-clipdrop-from-stability-ai-302068891.html SOURCE Jasper NEW YORK , Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of Students Against Antisemitism, Inc., StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice, and several individual Jewish students, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Columbia University and Barnard College, alleging that Columbia and Barnard are violating the civil rights of their Jewish students, who are subjected to a severe and pervasive antisemitic hostile educational environment, which has worsened since the October 7 Hamas murder, rape, and kidnapping of 1,200 Israelis. In their complaint, plaintiffs allege that Columbia and Barnard's Jewish and Israeli students have been physically assaulted, spat at, threatened, and subjected to relentless intimidation and vilification. Students are forced to traverse mobs of pro-Hamas faculty and students who are given free rein to march through campus screaming, among other things, that "Jews will not defeat us"; "there is only one solution, Intifada revolution"; "f**k the Jews"; "death to Jews"; and "from water to water, Palestine will be Arab." As the complaint alleges, faculty members and students routinely extol Hamas's October 7 atrocities as "awesome" and a "great feat." The complaint further alleges that Columbia and Barnard practice a double standard by which Jewish students are deemed unworthy of the protections afforded to non-Jewish students; hire and promote professors who support anti-Jewish violence and spread antisemitic propaganda; and repeatedly ignore Jewish and Israeli students' safety concerns, even in the face of intolerable abuse. Rather than heeding the pleas of Jewish students for protection, Columbia's President, Minouche Shafik, refuses to act, suggesting instead that the next generation of Columbia students needs to be "more resilient." The complaint asserts claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, New York Human Rights Law and New York City Human Rights Law and seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief requiring Columbia and Barnard to implement institutional, far-reaching, and concrete remedial measures. Partner Marc E. Kasowitz said "Columbia continues to capitulate to pro-Hamas students and faculty, placing Columbia's Jewish and Israeli community at risk. After decades of permitting and enabling rabid anti-Jewish bigotry, Columbia has become a center for academic antisemitism where hate and the promotion of violence is not just allowed but taught. Our lawsuit seeks to protect Jewish students by exposing and expunging the antisemitic virus that permeates Columbia's campus and classrooms." Partner Mark P. Ressler said "Columbia refuses to act to protect its Jewish students, who are routinely tormented with repulsive epithets, intimidation, harassment, and discrimination by other students and faculty. When Jewish students seek protection, they are ignored and mocked. Judicial intervention is required to force Columbia to comply with Title VI, enforce its conduct codes in a neutral manner and protect Jewish students from outrageous abuse." The Kasowitz Benson Torres team is led by partners Marc E. Kasowitz , Daniel R. Benson , Mark P. Ressler and Andrew L. Schwartz , and includes special counsel Danielle F. Moriber , and associates Joshua E. Roberts , Jillian R. Roffer , Zachary N. Josephs , and Erin Ringel . Link to the complaint can be found here. About Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is a leading national law firm with a core focus on commercial litigation, complemented by exceptionally strong bankruptcy/restructuring, employment, and real estate transactional practices. Kasowitz is known for its creative, aggressive litigators and willingness to take on tough cases. The firm has extensive trial experience and is always trial-ready, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in every area of litigation. Kasowitz is committed to pursuing aggressive and innovative approaches to its clients' most challenging legal matters. Headquartered in New York City , the firm also has offices in Atlanta , Denver , Houston , Los Angeles , Miami , Newark , San Francisco , Silicon Valley and Washington, DC . For more information, please visit www.kasowitz.com. Contact: Shannon O'Reilly soreilly@kasowitz.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kasowitz-files-lawsuit-against-columbia-university-and-barnard-college-alleging-egregious-civil-rights-violations-for-their-antisemitic-hostile-educational-environment-302068129.html SOURCE Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP DALLAS , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammoth Holdings LLC, America's premier express car wash platform, announced the recent opening of its newest location, Silverstar Car Wash outside Minneapolis in White Bear Lake, Minnesota . The new site aligns with Mammoth's dual growth strategy of developing greenfield locations while also acquiring existing brands. "Customers in the Greater Minneapolis area will experience state-of-the-art technology and equipment for the highest quality car wash every time," said Dave Hoffmann, Chairman and CEO of Mammoth Holdings. "This location is Mammoth's second opening in Minnesota and builds on our momentum of reaching 500 sites across the country." The site will become a go-to destination for car owners in the White Bear Lake area, providing convenience and top-notch service to every car and every customer. Today's opening marks the 25th Mammoth location under the Silverstar Car Wash brand. Mammoth Holdings is the first car wash platform formed by industry insiders and has 134 operating locations. Mammoth is customer-focused operationally; operator-focused in its approach to acquisitions; and seeks to be the partner-of-choice for car wash operators who desire liquidity, growth capital, and a tax-deferred equity investment opportunity. Mammoth Holdings' multi-brand portfolio includes Busy Bee Car Wash , Coastal Carwash, Finish Line Car Wash , Galaxies Express Car Wash, In & Out Express Carwash, Jax Kar Wash , Lulu's Express Car Wash, Marc-1 Car Wash, Mr. Squeaky Car Wash , Pals Carwash, Pitstop Car Wash, PureMagic Carwash, Silverstar Car Wash, Speedy Clean Car Wash , Suds Car Wash, Swifty Car Wash , Today's Car Wash, Ultra Car Wash, Wash Me Fast, Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash, and Wiggy Wash. Mammoth has significant growth capital available and is actively seeking acquisitions and development opportunities. In October 2018 , Mammoth partnered with Red Dog Equity LLC, an Atlanta -based private equity firm, which, through its partnership with Tom Pritzker's family business interests (advised by The Pritzker Organization), provided the equity for Mammoth Holdings' corporate development initiatives. In December 2022 , Mammoth sold a minority stake to CCMP Growth Advisors that provided Mammoth with additional capital to pursue building new units and making acquisitions. Oak Hill Advisors provides Mammoth Holdings' debt financing through its direct lending partnership with BMO Capital Markets. About Mammoth Holdings Headquartered in Dallas, Texas , Mammoth Holdings, LLC operates 134 conveyor car washes under the Busy Bee Car Wash , Coastal Carwash, Finish Line Car Wash , Galaxies Express Car Wash, In & Out Express Carwash, Jax Kar Wash , Lulu's Express Car Wash, Marc-1 Car Wash, Mr. Squeaky Car Wash , Pals Carwash, Pitstop Car Wash, PureMagic Carwash, Silverstar Car Wash, Speedy Clean Car Wash , Suds Car Wash, Swifty Car Wash , Today's Car Wash, Ultra Car Wash, Wash Me Fast, Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash, and Wiggy Wash brands in Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Kentucky , Louisiana , Minnesota , Mississippi , Missouri , Nebraska , North Dakota , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas , Utah . Mammoth Holdings was founded by Gary Dennis and Chip Hackett in 2002. To learn more, please visit mammothholdings.com. About Red Dog Equity Red Dog Equity LLC is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies poised for strong growth in partnership with driven, entrepreneurial business leaders ("Red Dogs"). To learn more, please visit reddogequity.com. About The Pritzker Organization The Pritzker Organization is the merchant bank for the business interests of the Tom Pritzker family. Additional information can be found at pritzkerorg.com. About CCMP Growth Advisors CCMP Growth Advisors, LP ("CCMP Growth") is a New York based growth-oriented private equity firm focused on making lead buyout and growth equity investments in middle-market companies in the Consumer and Industrial sectors primarily in North America. CCMP Growth leverages the deep investment experience of its team to identify high growth companies in transition, and partners with management to help each platform scale through strategic and operational support. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mammoth-holdings-opens-silverstar-car-wash-in-white-bear-lake-mn-302069008.html SOURCE Mammoth Holdings The inaugural edition of EmTech Digital in London convenes academics, policymakers, and business and technology leaders April 16-17 CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MIT Technology Review, one of the most respected science and technology news outlets in the world, backed by the technology expertise of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will host its celebrated AI event, EmTech Digital, in two locations in 2024: April 16-17 in London and May 22-23 on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts . The event in London is another milestone for MIT Technology Review as it expands its AI coverage and global conference presence. For more than ten years, researchers, policymakers, and business and technology leaders have gathered at the publication's flagship EmTech Digital event in the US to understand the implications of AI breakthroughs from top experts in business, government, and academia. The launch of the conference in London will allow MIT Technology Review to curate the discussions for EMEA audiences, including generative AI's power and potential, AI implementation strategies, and how new regulations will impact key markets like the US, the UK , and Europe . The London agenda features world-renowned speakers from the Alan Turing Institute, Google DeepMind, University College London, Roblox, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Microsoft, the UK government, and more; as well as cross-industry sessions that impart the trusted, credible insights only MIT Technology Review can provide such as: Generative AI from execution to impact : the realistic timelines, new collaborations, and the need for an overall strategy to map out our steps to a safe and productive AI future for Europe and beyond : the realistic timelines, new collaborations, and the need for an overall strategy to map out our steps to a safe and productive AI future for and beyond The AI Act's impact: a deep dive into the practical information, potential risks, and emerging issues that organizations and governments need to understand about new policies and regulations a deep dive into the practical information, potential risks, and emerging issues that organizations and governments need to understand about new policies and regulations The next AI era: a look into the labs of Google DeepMind, Meta, University of Cambridge , and others in search of today's breakthroughs and tomorrow's innovations a look into the labs of Google DeepMind, Meta, , and others in search of today's breakthroughs and tomorrow's innovations AI-enabled work: exploring the possibilities of an AI-powered workforce and workplace and how AI tools may redefine roles, foster collaboration, and drive forward-thinking strategies Anchored by the editorial expertise of MIT Technology Review, EmTech Digital features exclusive keynotes, thought-provoking interviews, and strategy-setting case studies. Attendees sit side-by-side with leaders across all industries in interactive Q&A sessions and experience unparalleled networking opportunities only available at EmTech Digital. Secure your spot to join MIT Technology Review for the first-ever EmTech Digital in London . More information and registration options are available at www.emtechdigital.com/europe. Media who would like to cover the event should reach out to [email protected] to learn more about obtaining press credentials. More information about the flagship EmTech Digital conference being held this May on the MIT campus can be found at www.emtechdigital.com. About MIT Technology Review MIT Technology Review is an independent media company owned by MIT. Established in 1899, it was the first-ever technology magazine; today, MIT Technology Review publishes in multiple digital formats every day, including on our site, in email newsletters, and across all major social channels. We also produce a multi-award-winning, bi-monthly print magazine and run one of the industry's most highly regarded events brands, EmTech. Our goal is to become the destination for those seeking to understand how technology is shaping our world. Subscribe . Attend . Follow: Facebook , LinkedIn , Instagram . Media Contact: MIT Technology Review [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mit-technology-reviews-signature-ai-event-now-in-london-302068843.html SOURCE MIT Technology Review Institute's panel brought together key stakeholders for panel discussion on workforce development in growing semiconductor manufacturing industry, highlights the City of Phoenix's efforts HANOVER, Md. , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the National Institute for Innovation and Technologythe nation's leader in the semiconductor talent pipeline development and U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) national Intermediary responsible for establishing and expanding Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) throughout semiconductor and nanotechnology-related industry supply chainsawarded the City of Phoenix for their work in semiconductor manufacturing talent pipeline development. Presented during the " Arizona's Semiconductor Surge: Building Talent and Capitalizing on Opportunities" live panel discussion in Phoenix , the Institute highlighted the work the city has done to become the first municipality in the nation to serve as a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) group sponsor for the semiconductor industry. The first employer to establish a semiconductor RAP in the state, which is under the city's sponsorship, was TSMC Arizona. The program was announced on January 11, 2024 , and is part of the Institute's Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductor (GAINS) program. The panel discussion featuring industry experts from TSMC Arizona and NXP Semiconductors, workforce training experts from Maricopa County Community College, and a semiconductor supply chain expert delved into the challenges and solutions surrounding workforce readiness in the semiconductor sector. The public private partnership, efforts to establish RAPs, and the value of providing related "learn and earn" opportunities for both individuals and employers were central to the conversation. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego , upon receiving the award, expressed, "This recognition further cements Phoenix as a leader in workforce readiness dedicated to meeting the demands of a booming local semiconductor industry. As we pioneer this apprenticeship with TSMC Arizona, we are laying down the foundation for a thriving economy powered by skilled semiconductor professionals." The City of Phoenix , Maricopa County Community Colleges, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Apprenticeship Office, along with the Institute, worked together to identify the industry needs and align the program goals to develop the framework for the apprenticeship program. The Phoenix Business Workforce Development Board is the first Board in the state to be a sponsor for a RAP. "We have seen time and time again the importance of developing our local talent into our future workforce. The advanced manufacturing apprentice program is just one of the many ways our tremendous team works together at all levels to engage with adult learners and provide resources and opportunities for them to excel in advanced manufacturing careers," said Phoenix Community and Economic Development Director Christine Mackay . "Registered Apprenticeships are an avenue for us as a city and beyond, to expand opportunities for individuals in high-growth, quality careers. We are grateful to have the Institute and TSMC Arizona working together with us to make this program a reality," said LaSetta Hogans , Deputy Economic Development Director for the City of Phoenix . Mike Russo , President and CEO of the Institute, emphasized the importance of the work the City of Phoenix and all involved in the collaboration, stating, "It has been a pleasure working with all of those involved in establishing the state's first semiconductor Registered Apprenticeship Program. The collaborative effort by this team was in full display today where the conversations were not just about filling jobs. They were about building a sustainable, scalable model to provide greater opportunities for individuals to help secure America's technological future. For those unable to attend, a replay will be made available in the days following the event. For additional information about the event or for media comments, contact the Institute's Outreach and Communications Manager Stephanie Frederick at [email protected]. About the National Institute for Innovation and Technology The Institute is a 501(c)(3) with a mission to identify roadblocks to innovation in strategic industry sectors, those important to the U.S. national security and global competitiveness, and ensure they are eliminated. The Institute is responsible for a national strategy to support the development of the talent pipeline required for the Semiconductor Industry, including Advanced Manufacturing and the tech sector. The Institute's National Talent Pipeline Development Initiative represents a comprehensive, nationally integrated approach that enables broader participation by promoting skills-based learning and hiring, connecting the public education system, returning service members and their families and adults from other occupations to related technician and engineering careers. Since work began under the USDOL contract in 2022, the Institute has engaged 79 employers to establish similar RAPs in 17 states and has over 4,500 apprentices committed to its program. The Institute established the first semiconductor-specific RAs in the nation under GAINS, which are designed to better fit the requirements of today's tech-based careers and advanced manufacturing, easing administrative burden and providing opportunities to scale for employers with multiple sites and other job occupations. For more information about the Institute, visit www.niit.org. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-institute-for-innovation-and-technology-hosts-arizona-semiconductor-panel-discussion-awards-city-of-phoenix-for-semiconductor-workforce-development-efforts-302068698.html SOURCE National Institute for Innovation and Technology INDIANAPOLIS , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a strategic move that will reshape the landscape of health benefits solutions, Remodel Health proudly announces the acquisition of PeopleKeep. The acquisition marks a pivotal moment and the combination of two unique sets of offerings. This union of industry leaders will provide employers with broader insurance options while leveraging Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs). Broader options will increase the competitiveness of their health benefits offering at a critical time to attract and retain employees. Remodel Health Acquires PeopleKeep, Transforming the Health Benefits Landscape and Shattering Barriers "Today marks a significant milestone for Remodel Health as we acquire PeopleKeep to further revolutionize the individual market for small businesses," said Remodel Health Co-Founder Justin Clements . "Together, we're driving a new era of innovation in healthcare solutions, simplifying complexities and setting the stage for positive change on a national scale." With the acquisition of PeopleKeep, Remodel Health emerges as the #1 ICHRA provider. ICHRAs are employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) that increase flexibility for both employers and employees to utilize the Health Insurance Marketplace better. The PeopleKeep acquisition allows Remodel Health to make personalized benefits administration even more accessible to small and midsize businesses, further amplifying their capabilities and standards for excellence. "The fusion of Remodel Health and PeopleKeep ensures our clients will experience the best of both worldsthe personalized attention of Remodel Health's white-glove service, now complemented by the efficiency and innovation of PeopleKeep's automated solutions," said Remodel Health CEO Austin Lehman . "This acquisition expands the breadth and scope of our services and software, ultimately enabling us to serve more clients in the various stages of business from when they first start up and as they grow." Small businesses can rest assured that the exceptional service they have come to expect with PeopleKeep will not only continue but will strengthen. Remodel Health's white-glove service, renowned in the large group market, will now be complemented by PeopleKeep's automated solutions tailored for the small group market. This comprehensive approach caters to the entire spectrum of employer needs. "Joining Remodel Health will bring significant advantages to our customers, partners, and employees and positively impact the broader market for health reimbursement arrangements," said PeopleKeep CEO Victoria Hodgkins . "We remain dedicated to creating innovative benefits administration solutions that empower small to midsize employers to personalize their benefits to better meet the needs of their employees and organization." Remodel Health's acquisition of PeopleKeep is a strategic step forward designed to elevate its collective capabilities, enhance client satisfaction, and provide an enriching environment for employees. This marks the beginning of a new era in employee health benefits solutions. "By combining our strengths, we aim to redefine the employee benefits landscape, setting new standards that will positively impact not only Indiana but national markets, empowering organizations to navigate the complexities of healthcare with greater flexibility and efficiency," said Remodel Health Co-Founder Scott Lingle . About PeopleKeep PeopleKeep helps small and midsize businesses thrive by providing hassle-free employee benefits. As the first to market an ICHRA solution in October 2019 , PeopleKeep has learned what the thousands of employers who use its software want: a seamless employee experience, easy-to-use software, and automated compliance. About Remodel Health Since 2015, Remodel Health's intuitive software has seamlessly navigated employers through the process of crafting customized ICHRA health benefits solutions tailored to their organization's needs. Remodel Health strongly focuses on exceptional customer service and is devoted to revolutionizing how health benets are delivered to employees. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remodel-health-acquires-peoplekeep-creating-a-powerhouse-in-health-benefits-solutions-302068249.html SOURCE Remodel Health NEW YORK , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reputation Advisors International (RAI), a worldwide association of distinguished communications professionals, welcomes Nathalie Bergeron of Nota Bene Strategie of Montreal and Eric Rose of EKA PR of Los Angeles as the network's newest members. The addition of Ms. Bergeron and Mr. Rose furthers the network's continuing growth over the past year. Dirk T. Schmitt of Rosenberg Strategic Communications in Frankfurt and Chris Cartwright of Chris Cartwright Communications in Geneva, Switzerland , joined RAI in mid-2023. Earlier in 2023, Kajsa Stenstrom of Stenstrom Consulting in Brussels and Barry Ahern of Business Management Communications (BMC) in Dublin also joined the network, which now boasts members in 16 cities across the globe. Also, in 2023, Ben Haslem of Sydney, Australia rejoined the network, along with his partner Mark Forbes in Melbourne . Ben and Mark are leaders of Icon Reputation , one of Australia's leading integrated communications agencies. "We are excited to see the network grow with the addition of these esteemed professionals," James F. Haggerty , President of Reputation Advisors International, said. "Each new member represents the expertise and professionalism we look for across the globe. "We look forward to adding additional members worldwide throughout the coming year," Haggerty added. New RAI Members Nathalie Bergeron , a certified crisis counselor, brings solid in-house and in-agency experience that helps brands gain thought leadership and win market share. A former journalist, Nathalie is known for her strategic communications, reputation, and issues management. Having provided senior-level counsel to the world's most recognizable brands, she counsels her clients in crisis communications preparedness, crisis management, and reputation management. Eric Rose is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience guiding companies, associations, and individuals across all political, governmental, and public relations challenges. A trusted advisor to numerous Fortune 500 companies, Eric specializes in crisis management, reputation repair, and communications expertise. A court-qualified expert witness in reputation repair, local, national and international media regularly seek Rose for his expert commentary. Eric has also shared his knowledge as a guest lecturer at various universities. Dirk T. Schmitt , who joined Reputation Advisors International in the Summer of 2023, brings extensive experience advising companies on their communication strategy, crises, and mergers and acquisitions. Chris Cartwright, who joined Reputation Advisors International in October 2023 , is the founder of Chris Cartwright Communications, which specializes in helping clients in crises in various industries, including healthcare, technology, and international organizations. Kajsa Stenstrom joined Reputation Advisors International in March 2023 , and is the founder of Stenstrom Consulting in Brussels . Kajsa has more than 25 years of experience providing strategic advice to clients in EU affairs. Barry Ahern , who joined Reputation Advisors International in March 2023 , is the managing consultant of Business Management Communications, an independent consultancy firm that provides both strategic advice and operational execution in financial communications, corporate affairs, and litigation support management. About Reputation Advisors International (RAI) Reputation Advisors International is a worldwide association of senior communications professionals with expertise in high-stakes issues related to reputation management, brand positioning, legal and regulatory communications, crisis planning and response, and related areas. The network currently has members in 16 cities across the globe, including Brussels , Chiasso, Dublin , Frankfurt , Geneva , London , Los Angeles , Melbourne , Montreal , Munich , New York , Oslo , Singapore , Sydney , Toronto , and Zurich . To learn more about Reputation Advisors International, visit: www.reputationadvisors.net View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reputation-advisors-international-welcomes-new-members-302069193.html SOURCE Reputation Advisors International Process Begins for Giant Pandas Potential Return to the San Diego Zoo SAN DIEGO , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) took an important step forward in having giant pandas return to the San Diego Zoo by signing a cooperative agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association and filing a permit application with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. SDZWA has a nearly 30-year conservation partnership with research collaborators in China focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas. These collaborative efforts have had a significant impactincluding, increased scientific understanding of giant panda biology, care and wellness, and what pandas need to thrive in a changing climatecontributing directly to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List downgrading the giant panda from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2021. But there is still much more work to do to secure their safe future. "We are humbled by the potential opportunity of continuing our collaborative conservation efforts to secure the future for giant pandas. As such, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking important steps to ensure we are prepared for a potential return. This includes sharing our detailed conservation plans with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure alignment for the greater benefit of giant pandas," said Dr. Megan Owen , Vice President of Conservation Science. Collaboration between SDZWA and Chinese research partners has contributed to critically important and far-reaching discoveries as well as scientific contributions that have played a meaningful role in China's efforts to bring the iconic and beloved giant panda back from the brink of extinction. These include critical findings on giant panda reproductive behavior and physiology, nutritional requirements, habitat needs and genetic research among other areas of focus. The efforts include developing a giant panda milk formula and other neonatal conservation techniques that dramatically increased survival rates for nursery-reared cubs from 5% to 95%, the first successful artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China and contributing valuable expertise to efforts led by Chinese scientists to track wild giant pandas at the Foping National Nature Reserve using GPS technology. Although the conservation status of the giant panda is improving, there is still much work needed to ensure they remain on the path to recovery with healthy and flourishing populations. Climate change, habitat fragmentation and population isolation are some of the pressures facing giant pandas. SDZWA's proposed conservation strategy aims to improve giant panda population health and resilience in some of the smallest and most isolated populations vulnerable to extinction and loss of genetic diversity. "Pandas in our care and in the care of Chinese colleagues at conservation facilities play an important role as assurance against extinction and loss of genetic diversity in their native habitats, as well as a source population for reintroductions," said Dr. Owen . "Our partnership over the decades has served as a powerful example of howwhen we work togetherwe can achieve what was once thought to be impossible. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is uniquely positioned to collaborate toward a shared goal of creating a sustainable future for giant pandas." About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science expertise and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the Alliance reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park , and virtually in 150 countries through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming in children's hospitals in 14 countries. Wildlife Alliesmembers, donors and guestsmake success possible. Link includes (Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Stock B-roll of pandas at the San Diego Zoo Stock photos of pandas at the San Diego Zoo T07-0544-006 - 7/11/2007, Mei Sheng T08_0957_018 - 12/18/2008, Bai Yun and Zhen Zhen T10_0065_016 - 1/12/2010, Yun Zi T10_0565_002 - 7/20/2010, Yun Zi T12_0777_067 - 12/31/2012, Xiao Liwu T12_0777_115 - 12/31/2012, Xiao Liwu T15_0186_002 - 3/11/2015, Xiao Liwu T15_0186_048 - 3/11/2015, Xiao Liwu T16_0469_016 - 7/22/2016, Bai Yun T19_0223_002 - 4/6/2019, Bai Yun T19_0223_021 - 4/6/2019, Bai Yun PERMITTED USE: Images and video(s) are provided to the media solely for reproduction, public display, and distribution in a professional journalistic non-commercial and non-sponsored context in connection with newspaper, magazine, broadcast media (radio, television) or internet media (ad enabled blog, webcasts, webinars, podcasts). Image(s) and video(s) may not be made available for public or commercial download, licensing or sale. ADDITIONAL LIMITATION: Media acknowledges and agrees that San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance specifically does not grant a right to sublicense any image and/or video without the prior express written consent of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in each instance and at its sole discretion. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image and/or video uses must bear the copyright notice and/or be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in the image metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the San Diego Zoo and/or San Diego Zoo Safari Park . Any uses in which the image and/or video appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park , and/or San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance are subject to paid licensing. AP PERMITTED USE: Specific to the Associated Press ("AP") only, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has provided to the AP one or more photograph(s) and/or video(s) for distribution by the AP to its subscribers and customers solely for editorial publication. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is the sole copyright owner of the photograph(s) and/or video(s) furnished to AP for editorial publication by AP and its subscribers and customers in all media now known or hereafter created. Said content is a factually accurate rendering of what it depicts and has not been modified or augmented except for standard cropping and toning. CONTACT: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Public Relations 619-685-3291 [email protected] sdzwa.org PRESS ROOM: sdzwa.org/pr/pandas-san-diego-zoo-2024 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-diego-zoo-wildlife-alliance-and-china-wildlife-conservation-association-sign-a-new-cooperative-agreement-for-giant-panda-collaboration-302068429.html SOURCE San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance LOS ANGELES , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PARRIS Law Firm filed a class action lawsuit against Southern California Edison alleging that the utility giant violated state law by overcharging its customers due to a "delayed-billing" error. According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, SoCal Edison failed to timely bill roughly 1% of its customer base because they "fell out of processing." This 1% could amount to more than 50,000 customers getting delayed bills. Many of those who "fell out of processing" were not billed for upwards of 15 months like the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. SoCal Edison spokesperson, Ron Gales , confirmed that there is a regulation in California which states that if a bill is delayed by more than three months, a customer is only responsible for the most recent three months of charges. He even quoted the regulations on live television. "The law is clear . . . Edison isn't allowed to charge customers for more than three months because of the delayed-billing issue," said PARRIS Law Firm Founder R. Rex Parris . "Edison knows this; in fact, they cited the rule on their website," Parris added. However, after not being billed for a 15-month period, the lead plaintiff received a delayed bill for the entire time his account "fell out of processing." Adding further stress and anxiety, the utility threatened to shut the plaintiff's power off if he did not pay the outstanding balance. The complaint goes on to say the bill was in excess of $1,340 and that a 24-month installment plan was issued to pay off the full amount instead of just the most recent three months. "Tens of thousands of people were likely overbilled as a result of SoCal Edison's attempt to salvage their losses," said Kitty K. Szeto of PARRIS Law Firm. "I have no doubt that Edison's use of scare tactics allowed them to recoup above and beyond what is allowed," Szeto added. The case is Lindsay Wellman v. Southern California Edison Company, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. 24STCV04185. About PARRIS Law Firm PARRIS Law Firm is recognized as one of America's top personal injury, employment, and environmental law firms. With a proven track record of fighting for justice on behalf of families and individuals, the firm boasts numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. To learn more about the firm, please go to: www.parris.com. Contact Dante Hickles (661) 949-2595 dante@parris.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/socal-edison-faces-class-action-lawsuit-alleging-illegal-billing-practices-302069359.html SOURCE PARRIS Law Firm SANAA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's armed Houthi group claimed responsibility for launching missile attacks against a British cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday. "The naval forces of the Yemeni (Houthi) armed forces carried out an attack against a British ship (Islander) in the Gulf of Aden, with several missiles," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a televised statement aired by the group's satellite TV channel al-Masirah. The missiles directly hit the ship, causing a fire on it, said Sarea. "We also targeted an American destroyer in the Red Sea with several drones," he said. He said that his group also fired several ballistic missiles and drones towards the Israeli city of Eilat. This is the latest of Houthi attacks since mid-November last year in support for Hamas. Telecommunications operators Cell C, MTN, and Telkom welcome launch of two universal network APIs, that will be available in South Africa , to help combat fraud and digital identity theft in sectors including banking, finance, insurance, and retail JOHANNESBURG , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the global GSMA Open Gateway initiative, South African operators will now be able to implement world-class Number Verification and SIM Swap Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) to coincide with the start of MWC 2024. They will be available to all mobile commerce, financial institutions, and developers to create new services to combat digital fraud and protect South Africa's 47 million mobile subscribers. South Africa saw a 24% surge in reported incidents of digital banking fraud in 2022, according to a report published last year by the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC). The rise, which resulted in cybercriminals stealing over R740 million from unsuspecting victims, was primarily attributed to the growing number of fraud cases related to banking applications and online banking. Given the alarming surge in digital banking fraud in South Africa , standardizing APIs by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) presents a promising avenue for mitigating such threats. By leveraging their infrastructure and expertise, MNOs can enhance security measures within banking applications and online banking platforms. They are also able to implement robust fraud detection and prevention mechanisms, bolstering overall resilience of digital banking systems against cyber threats. The standardization of APIs allows developers to implement: Number Verification offers seamless verification of a user's mobile number by providing the next generation of strong authentication and user experience. It is a simple evolution path for any business that uses mobile numbers and SMS One-Time-Passwords. Instead of relying on SMS, Number Verification can be seamlessly and automatically activated to verify a user's identity. offers seamless verification of a user's mobile number by providing the next generation of strong authentication and user experience. It is a simple evolution path for any business that uses mobile numbers and SMS One-Time-Passwords. Instead of relying on SMS, Number Verification can be seamlessly and automatically activated to verify a user's identity. SIM Swap used to check whether a given phone number has recently changed SIM cards. This helps to prevent account takeover attacks, in which fraudsters take control of the account owner's SIM card using social engineering techniques and stolen personal data. For example, at the time of a financial transaction, a financial institution can check whether the relationship between the customer's phone number and SIM card has recently been changed, helping them to decide whether to approve the transaction or not. Continue reading the full press release here. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1882833/GSMA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/south-african-mobile-operators-announce-new-services-to-combat-fraud-as-part-of-gsma-open-gateway-initiative-302068858.html SOURCE GSMA NEW YORK , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Synechron, Inc., a leading global digital transformation consulting firm focused on financial services and technology organizations, is proud to be Great Place To Work Certified for 2023-2024 within 12 countries. Synechron achieved this prestigious certification based solely on the direct, anonymous feedback from its regional teams of 14,700+ global employees. This marks the first time that Synechron elected to participate in the Global Great Place To Work survey (versus previous participation in country-specific surveys) as testament to its significant growth as an organization. Synechron was proudly certified a Great Place To Work in the following countries: Australia Canada France India Luxembourg Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Switzerland UAE UK USA Overall, Synechron received high marks in the following five categories based upon the Great Place To Work Trust Index Survey which measures the employees' level of trust in and organization and the consistency of the employee experience. The Trust Index assesses companies against these five key measures: Credibility Employees perceive management and leaders to be credible, competent and have integrity Employees perceive management and leaders to be credible, competent and have integrity Respect Employees feel respected by management in terms of professional support, collaboration and decision-making Employees feel respected by management in terms of professional support, collaboration and decision-making Fairness -- Employees experience management practices that are fair based upon equality, impartiality and justice -- Employees experience management practices that are fair based upon equality, impartiality and justice Pride Measures how employees feel pride about their own work impact, pride in their team's work, and pride in the organization as a whole Measures how employees feel pride about their own work impact, pride in their team's work, and pride in the organization as a whole Camaraderie Measures employees' beliefs that their organization forms a strong community where colleagues are supportive and where everyone is pulling in the same direction The latest certifications for Great Place To Work follow multiple previous individual country awards Synechron has won in recognition of being an exemplary employer of choice. Synechron has always strived to recognize, support and provide its teams with the tools, support and resources to enhance their skills, thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, and take their careers to the next level. The firm is continuously seeking to enhance its full array of programs, all designed to attract and retain the best talent who will work with great passion and dedication to bring clients innovative, digital transformation solutions, such as advanced Artificial Intelligence-led tools. Faisal Husain , Co-founder and CEO of Synechron, commented, "We are incredibly honored by this global acknowledgement, proud of our company's culture and being repeatedly recognized as an outstanding employer. We take great pride in providing a collaborative, inclusive workplace where our dedicated teams of amazing individuals can leverage their talents and demonstrate to clients how modern solutions and cutting-edge tools can evolve their businesses. Our people are the cornerstone and very essence of Synechron." "Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin , the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. "By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Synechron stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees," she added. About Synechron At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,700+, and has 48 offices in 19 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community . About Great Place to Work Certification Great Place To Work Certification is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified. For more information please contact: Rashmi Joshi Synechron +91-9560694654 [email protected] / [email protected] Zoe Forbes-Pyfrom (+44) 7718 599666 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/synechron-earns-a-great-place-to-work-certification-in-12-countries-globally-302067406.html SOURCE Synechron On Heels of Software Recall, CPUC Suspends Waymo's Proposal for Expansion At Least 120 Days LOS ANGELES , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters commend the decision today by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to suspend Waymo's application to expand its robotaxi operations in Los Angeles and San Mateo counties for a minimum of 120 days or at least until June 2024 . The decision comes just one week after Waymo recalled its robotaxi software following two crashes involving Waymo robotaxis in Phoenix, Arizona , in December 2023 , and less than one month after a Waymo robotaxi crashed into a cyclist in San Francisco , leading to an investigation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). "While today's decision by the CPUC marks a step in the right direction, Waymo's application to expand its robotaxi operations should never have been on the table not when we've seen the chaos and destruction that autonomous vehicles can cause," said Chris Griswold , Teamsters International Vice President At-Large and President of Teamsters Joint Council 42. "The CPUC and DMV have failed to listen to community members who are fearful of these dangerous vehicles and proven they're not willing to take action to protect the public from dangerous AVs until after incidents occur. Autonomous vehicles are not ready for prime time, and do not belong on our streets." Despite robotaxis running over pedestrians, blocking first responders from their jobs, reportedly coming within seconds of colliding with children, and causing traffic pile-ups, the CPUC and DMV have refused to implement significant AV safety measures. In an effort to put regulatory control in the hands of local governments and protect public safety and good jobs, the Teamsters are advocating for the passage of Assembly Bill 2286 (AB 2286), which would require a trained human operator behind the wheel of self-driving trucks weighing more than 10,000 lbs, and Senate Bill 915 (SB 915), legislation that will allow California's local governments to regulate autonomous vehicles. Both bills have strong bipartisan support and are part of the CARS legislative package on autonomous vehicles. "We can't trust companies like Waymo and Cruise to operate in the public's best interest when they're just trying to rake in profits and appease shareholders. That's why bills like AB 2286 and SB 915 that protect public safety and good jobs are so critical," said Peter Finn , Teamsters International Western Region Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 7. "The Teamsters are calling on all California elected leaders to protect their constituents and pass this legislation." Local AVs control continues to be a key issue, and that's why the County of San Mateo and the City of Oakland have both passed resolutions in support of SB 915. In addition, the City of Los Angeles has introduced a resolution of support, and the City of San Francisco plans to introduce a similar resolution next week. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S. , Canada , and Puerto Rico . Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Zoe PiSierra , (603) 339-0042 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamsters-respond-to-waymo-application-suspension-for-robotaxi-operations-in-la-san-mateo-waymo-expansion-should-never-have-been-on-the-table-302068934.html SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Realtor of the Year Mario Arriaga honored at 2024 Winter Meeting AUSTIN, Texas , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mario Arriaga of the Houston Association of Realtors was named the 2023 Texas Realtor of the Year at the Texas Realtors Winter Meeting . Arriaga started his real estate career in 1974 and has made invaluable contributions to the Realtor association, the real estate industry, and the greater Houston community. "Texas Realtor of the Year is awarded to an individual who embodies unwavering dedication to our industry and the public," said Jef Conn , chairman of Texas Realtors. "In this regard, Mario is the epitome of excellence. His decades of tireless effort reflect his commitment to professional excellence and community service." After studying electrical engineering at the University of Houston, Arriaga became an engineer at Houston Lighting & Power. During his three-year tenure there, he took an interest in real estate and practiced part time until deciding to make a career change. During his early years in real estate, Arriaga became a founding member of the National Bank of Conroe, which led him and other organizers to open banks in Tomball , Willis and Decker Prairie before selling to what later became Wells Fargo. Arriaga has been a driving force in real estate, specializing in the commercial sector. He has earned the Certified International Property Specialist designation. Arriaga has served on numerous advisory groups and committees, including the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Board of Directors and the NAR Global Business and Alliances Committee. He also is a member of the NAR RPAC Hall of Fame. Among Arriaga's contributions at Texas Realtors include him leading the Public Policy Oversight Committee, receiving the Texas Realtors Strike Force Award for Grassroots Advocacy twice, serving as a TREPAC trustee, and being a champion for the association's Data Relevancy Project. Arriaga was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry as an advisory board member for the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M. In addition to serving as 2016 chairman of the Houston Association of Realtors, he played a pivotal role in the association's merger with Montgomery County Realtors. "Real estate has been an amazing career choice," said Arriaga. "It has afforded me the opportunity to meet and advise so many clients in their quest to own and invest in a variety of real estate properties." Arriaga continues to serve as a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Houston Gulf Coast CCIM chapter. He resides in the Woodlands with his wife, Cristina, and their five children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Texas Realtors looks forward to Arriaga's continued leadership and involvement in his community. About Texas REALTORS With more than 150,000 members, Texas REALTORS is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas . We are the advocate for REALTORS and private property rights in Texas . CONTACT: David Gibbs , Hahn Agency, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-realtors-announces-2023-realtor-of-the-year-302069075.html SOURCE Texas Realtors The 10-year-old non-profit organization highlights $64 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine WASHINGTON , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As February 24 th marks the 2nd anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine , United Help Ukraine (UHU), a leading U.S. -based nonprofit organization, announces that together with its partners, it will host a mass rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, February 24, 2024 , at 2 pm EST . UHU calls on all who support Ukraine's fight for its independence and democratic values to join in the rally, showing unity for Ukraine's cause and standing with its people. United Help Ukraine to Hold a Mass Rally on the 2nd Anniversary of Russia's Invasion. Deeply grateful for the support and generosity of American people and its partners, UHU also appeals to all Ukraine's supporters to contact their Members of U.S. House of Representatives and House Speaker Mike Johnson to urge them to approve currently stalled legislation authorizing much needed aid to Ukraine . "America has been a great partner and ally of Ukraine both at the level of government aid and individual contributions. As the current situation on the ground is difficult, the assistance is needed more than ever," said President of United Help Ukraine Maryna Baydyuk. She added, "Our team and volunteers are doubling down on fund-raising efforts and delivery of the critical aid. We know the humanitarian and medical aid we provide to civilians and the frontline defenders saves precious lives in Ukraine every day." Since its inception a decade ago, and particularly during the two years of Russia's full-scale invasion, UHU has provided over $64 million in aid. Ongoing contributions to United Help Ukraine will ensure that its work continues, offering invaluable support to the people of Ukraine in their effort to end the unjust war and bring victory over the aggressor. UHU continues to focus on its key programs, which include: Defender's Aid Program: provides essential humanitarian supplies, including protective gear, first-aid kits, tactical medicine training, satellite communications devices, and evacuation vehicles for those on the frontlines. Medical Aid Program: supports healthcare infrastructure with supplies and equipment and the well-being of wounded individuals and their families by providing prostheses, physical therapy, and emotional support. Humanitarian Welfare Program : provides vital assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Ukraine affected by the war, including internally displaced people, residents of liberated and frontline territories, and families with children. United Help Ukraine's team and volunteers are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be contributing to Ukraine's victory and nearing the peace. As Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his most recent visit to the United States , "There is not a soul in Ukraine that does not feel gratitude to you, America." About United Help Ukraine Founded in 2014, United Help Ukraine (UHU) is a US-based 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to provide the people of Ukraine with critical support enabling them to survive in the face of adversity, defend and regain their sovereign territory, and rebuild and thrive in the future. UHU provides humanitarian, medical, psychological, and other assistance to those harmed by Russia's unprovoked aggression. We also advocate for a free, democratic, and independent Ukraine . Since the war in Ukraine began, United Help Ukraine has provided more than $64 million in humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine . For Additional Information Please Contact: Maryna Baydyuk : [email protected]/202-320-8294 or David Bakelman : [email protected]/404-623-5415 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-help-ukraine-to-hold-a-mass-rally-on-the-2nd-anniversary-of-russias-invasion-302068057.html SOURCE United Help Ukraine PHOENIX , Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Freedom Fest, a premier event hosted by Fundamental and moderated by Zach Haptonstall , CEO, and Co-Founder of Rise48 Equity is set to take place at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas on March 9 th, 2024. This action-packed half day event is designed to provide attendees with valuable insights into passive investing, capital raising, real estate, marketing, and more. Financial Freedom Fest promotes an engaging lineup of featured speakers, informative panels, networking opportunities, and an upgraded VIP lunch experience, all geared towards empowering individuals to achieve their financial goals. Whether you're a seasoned investor or capital raiser, or just starting out, this event offers something for everyone. Zach Haptonstall is a featured speaker and moderator for the event. Zach is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rise48 Equity. With a track record of over $2 billion in multifamily transactions since 2019, Zach is a leading figure in the industry. His expertise in acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic partnerships will give attendees insight into how he built his company and what he has learned along the way. Joining the roster of distinguished speakers is Jason Mitchell , the founder of Jason Mitchell Group & Sunbelt Multifamily. With accolades including being named the #1 Broker in the United States and featured on the Forbes 40 under 40 list, Jason Mitchell brings unparalleled expertise to Financial Freedom Fest. His insights into real estate, capital raising, and entrepreneurship are sure to inspire attendees. In addition to the keynote speakers, Financial Freedom Fest features a panel of experts in the field, including: Andrew McNair, CEO & Founder of Swan Capital Randy Smith , Founder of Impact Equity , Founder of Impact Equity Natalie Teramoto , Founder of Tera Investment Group , Founder of Tera Investment Group Kathleen Nguyen , Real Estate Investor & Connector Aaron Rocha, Co-Founder of MultiVestors Group , Real Estate Investor & Connector Aaron Rocha, Co-Founder of These respected panelists will offer valuable perspectives on topics such as passive income, capital raising, multifamily real estate, scaling businesses, fund management, branding, and networking. The event is hosted by Fundamental, a capital raising consulting and networking organization. Fundamental is dedicated to providing you with all the comprehensive education and resources that you need to thrive in the world of capital raising. Through expert guidance, Fundamental teaches you how to compliantly raise capital for various types of alternative investments and offers all the back-office support and marketing services that you need to succeed. This event is sponsored by: MW Law, Rise48 Equity, Iridius Capital, Avant Garde , Zumper, SunBelt Multifamily, JMG Group, & Fundamental. Tickets are on sale now! For more information and to secure your spot, visit: www.financialfreedomfestphx.com Contact: [email protected] Fundamental Raisers Event Website: financialfreedomfestphx.com Company Website: fundamentalraisers.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unlock-financial-freedom-at-financial-freedom-fest-in-phoenix-arizona-on-march-9th-2024-302068119.html SOURCE Fundamental NEW YORK , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Specialty Food Association hosted eight graduate students and three professors from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), William F. Harrah College of Hospitality during the 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show. Featuring more than 1,000 companies and thousands of products from around the world, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Winter Fancy Food Show ran from January 21-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center . The Winter Fancy Food Show Junior Trendspotters identified three top trends exemplified by many exhibitors at the Show. "We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Specialty Food Association in Las Vegas and it is a valuable learning experience to connect with the people and companies who contribute to the innovative trends that are happening in the industry today," said Joseph Lema , Ph.D, Professor, Doctoral Program Coordinator. The Winter Fancy Food Show Junior Trendspotters identified the following top three trends exemplified by many exhibitors at the Show: Environmental Impact - Burroughs Family Farms regenerative organic nut butters; Nutraberry seed powders; IBIDEN Bussan Co., Ltd. plant-based animal-free shrimp; SoMeat Aburiyaki Karaage Mince; Hiddenfjord sustainably farmed salmon; upcycled Confetti Black Truffle Mushroom chips. Beverage Innovation - Club Mate low sugar energy drinks; Bolero & Co. Ltd. watermelon-flavored drink mix; TOST Rose Alcohol-free sparkling beverage; White Coffee Snickers, Twix and M&Ms coffees; Unity Wellness Co. organic energy drinks; Artly robot coffee maker. True to Culture - Fukuroya Co., Ltd. low-salt miso; SR Foods Corporation Avocado Fritter Garlic Tempura; Vandersterre Prima Donna cheese; Miscela d'oro Italian coffee; Caplansky's Deli mustards; Donika olive oil from Albania ; Macoritto Valentino S.r.l. breadsticks. The SFA 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show Junior Trendspotter Panel was composed of nine UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality participants, under the guidance of Professor Lema and Seyhmus Baloglu , Ph.D. Professor, Associate Dean of Research: Angelika Bazarnik Dennis Baloglu Sooyeon Lee Inyoung Jung Xinyue (Cindy) Hu Yuze (Crystal) Ji Niansong (Harry) Zhang Wai (Sunny) Sun Samuel Lee , Assistant Professor in Residence "It is exciting to network with industry professionals, share cutting edge ideas, and to participate in recognizing trends to help inform our research in a real life setting that is like no other considering the large scale and size of this unique event," said Yuze (Crystal) JI, Hospitality Doctoral Studies. A full Trendspotter Panel report from the Winter Fancy Food Show can be found online here. The next Fancy Food Show will be held June 23-25 in New York at the Javits Center. Open only to the trade, the Summer Fancy Food Show requires registration and qualification. For additional information visit specialtyfood.com. About the Specialty Food Association The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $207 billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 3,800 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by developing resources, information, education, and events that celebrate innovation and inclusivity. SFA owns and operates the Fancy Food Shows as well as the sofi Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. The SFA also produces the e-newsletter SFA News Daily, the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions and Fancy Food Show reports, the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, Today's Specialty Food Consumer research, and the Spill & Dish podcast. Find out more online and connect with SFA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. About UNLV Harrah School of Hospitality The UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality is consistently ranked as one of the top hospitality programs in the world (#1 in the nation and #2 globally by QS Top Universities). Studying just blocks away from the epicenter of the hospitality industry -- the Las Vegas Strip, Hospitality College students enjoy unparalleled access to hands-on, industry-relevant professional experience. Each year the college helps organize nearly hundreds of internships, welcomes more than 100 national hospitality brands to recruitment events, and pairs an average of 175 industry mentors with students. And with the completion of the college's state-of-the-art academic building Hospitality Hall, students are ushering in a new era of excellence in hospitality education. Visit unlv.edu/hospitality to learn more. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unlv-william-f-harrah-college-of-hospitality-students-reveal-top-three-trends-from-specialty-food-association-2024-winter-fancy-food-show-302068950.html SOURCE Specialty Food Association JAKARTA, Indonesia , Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VinFast is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 3 Indonesian Business clients to provide 600 electric vehicles (EV) for their corporate fleets. The MOU, which was signed at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2024, where VinFast had earlier introduced a complete lineup of right-hand drive electric vehicles, opens up an avenue for the Vietnamese EV maker to tap into the strong potential of the local market, as well as promote the green transportation development in the region. Under the terms of MoU, VinFast will provide 600 EVs to 3 Jakarta-based companies, PT. Energi Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi, PT. Sumber Amarta Jaya and PT. Teknologi Karya Digital Nusa Tbk. The first two EV models in A & B-SUV segments that are opened for order, and soon to be launched on the Indonesian market, will serve the companies' goal of expanding their respective corporate fleets, and cultivate the growth potential of the local green mobility industry. At the IIMS 2024, VinFast captured the interest of thousands of visitors and received hundreds of reservations from individual consumers. Following its market debut, the orders from corporate clients strongly demonstrates VinFast's credibility in the Indonesian market. Mr. Tran Quoc Huy CEO of VinFast Indonesia, shared: "VinFast is honored to be the selected supplier for our esteemed corporate clients, PT. Energi Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi, PT. Sumber Amarta Jaya and PT. Teknologi Karya Digital Nusa Tbk. This MoU reflects not only the great potential of the EV market in Indonesia , but also VinFast's competitiveness on the international market. We are committed to constantly making innovative efforts to support Indonesian customers on their journey towards sustainable mobility for a green future for everyone." Mr. Thomas Agung Utomo , CEO of PT. Energy Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi, said: "We highly valued VinFast's green vision and its contribution to electrifying the global transportation market. VinFast is also a reputed electric vehicle supplier, offering a diverse product range along with outstanding after-sales policies. These are the key drivers in our collective efforts to make electric mobility a preferred choice for everyone and steer toward a future of sustainable transportation in Indonesia and the region." VinFast's expansion into Indonesia represents a strategic enhancement of its global presence and distribution network, bolstering its position in the global EV industry. By entering one of Southeast Asia's largest EV markets, with its dynamic economic prospects and plentiful resources, VinFast is laying robust foundations for its development and expansion globally. About VinFast VinFast a member of Vingroup envisions driving the advancement of the global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90 percent automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam . Strongly committed to the mission of a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.id. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vinfast-signs-mou-at-indonesia-international-motor-show-2024-to-supply-600-electric-vehicles-to-3-indonesian-business-clients-302068259.html SOURCE VinFast VANCOUVER, BC , Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Western Copper and Gold Corporation ("Western" or the "Company") (TSX: WRN) (NYSE American: WRN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sandeep Singh as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Singh will work closely with Dr. Paul West-Sells , who will continue in the role of President in connection with the succession process. Further, Mr. Kenneth Williamson has retired from his role as Director and Interim Chairman. Current board member, Dr. Bill Williams , has taken on the role of Interim Chairman as the Company searches for a replacement. As a highly respected mining professional with 20 years of sector expertise, Mr. Singh adds meaningful capital markets and strategic expertise to the Company. He was previously the President and CEO of Osisko Gold Royalties, where he led the successful turnaround of the company. For the fifteen years prior, Mr. Singh was an investment banker focusing on the North American metals and mining sector with BMO Capital Markets, Dundee Securities, and ultimately co-founding Maxit Capital, a leading independent M&A firm. He has advised numerous mining companies on financing alternatives and strategic matters as well as having acted on some of the most complex and value-enhancing M&A transactions in the mining sector. Mr. Singh holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Concordia University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Oxford University. Dr. Bill Williams , Interim Chairman, commented "The Board would like to thank Ken for his dedication, and contributions to the Company. We wish him the best as he focuses his energy on his family and retirement. I'd also like to commend Paul on playing an active role in the succession planning efforts that led to the appointment of Mr. Singh . Paul has been the driving force behind the Casino project since the very beginning and we are hopeful he will continue to play an important role as we build out the management team necessary for the next phases of the Company's growth. The Board is delighted to have someone of Sandeep's caliber joining the team. Throughout his impressive career, he has shown a dedication to stakeholder value, above all else, and will be aligned with shareholders through a significant personal investment into the Company. With Sandeep's addition, we are strengthening the Company's management capabilities to better unlock the value potential of the Casino project." Mr. Singh commented "I see tremendous value in Casino as one of very few viable assets in the copper-gold development space. Casino strikes a unique balance of important scale, attractive commodity mix, low jurisdictional risk, and quick payback through the higher-grade core of the deposit. The credible data, underpinning a thorough feasibility study, and remaining upside from additional resources or optimizations to the project provide tangible upside potential. I am excited to be joining the Western Copper and Gold team at a pivotal time for the Company." The Company also announces a C$3 million private placement (the "Placement") with Mr. Singh for the purchase of 2.22 million common shares at a price of C$1.35 per common share. The closing of the Placement is subject to entering into a customary subscription agreement and the receipt of approvals of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American LLC. The shares issued pursuant to the Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION Western Copper and Gold Corporation is developing the Casino Project, Canada 's premier copper-gold mine in the Yukon Territory and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world. The Company is committed to working collaboratively with our First Nations and local communities to progress the Casino project using internationally recognized responsible mining technologies and practices. For more information, visit www.westerncopperandgold.com. On behalf of the board, "Dr. Bill Williams " Dr. Bill Williams Interim Chairman Western Copper and Gold Corporation Cautionary Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in Western's operations in future periods. Statements that are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" as that term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 ("NI 51-102") of the Canadian Securities Administrators (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: strengthening the Company's management capabilities to better unlock the value potential of the Casino project, the remaining upside from additional resources or optimizations to the project and the expected closing of the Placement; or other statements that are not statement of fact. The material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include prevailing and projected market prices and foreign exchange rates, exploration estimates and results, continued availability of capital and financing, construction and operations, the Company not experiencing unforeseen delays, unexpected geological or other effects, equipment failures, permitting delays, and general economic, market or business conditions and as more specifically disclosed throughout this document, and in the AIF and Form 40-F. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual results, performance or achievements of Western and its subsidiaries may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks involved in fluctuations in gold, copper and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; risks related to joint venture operations; risks related to cooperation of government agencies and First Nations in the development of the property and the issuance of required permits; risks related to the need to obtain additional financing to develop the property and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Western's AIF and Form 40-F, and other information released by Western and filed with the applicable regulatory agencies. Western's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and Western does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/western-copper-and-gold-appoints-sandeep-singh-as-ceo-302069363.html SOURCE Western Copper and Gold Corporation FILE PHOTO: Test tubes are seen in front of a displayed Abbvie logo in this illustration taken, May 21, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) - AbbVie is looking to sell at least $13 billion of corporate bonds to help fund its acquisitions of ImmunoGen and Cerevel Therapeutics, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The sale is expected to be announced as soon as Thursday, following fixed-income investor calls on Wednesday, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions were private, according to the report. The size of the offering is subject to change and will be determined on the day of the sale. AbbVie did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment. In December, AbbVie announced back-to-back acquisitions - a $8.7 billion plan to buy Cerevel and its $10.1 billion deal for ImmunoGen, which was recently completed. AbbVie has since said that it plans to focus on smaller deals to support its growth through the next decade. On Tuesday, the drugmaker named Robert Michael to replace Richard Gonzalez as CEO in July. (Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) An exhibitor arranges cosmetics during Cosmetica Algeria, an international beauty trade show in Algiers, Algeria on Feb. 21, 2024. Dedicated to sectors of beauty industry, the trade show kicked off on Wednesday and will last till Feb. 24. (Xinhua) People visit Cosmetica Algeria, an international beauty trade show in Algiers, Algeria on Feb. 21, 2024. Dedicated to sectors of beauty industry, the trade show kicked off on Wednesday and will last till Feb. 24. (Xinhua) A visitor talks with an exhibitor during Cosmetica Algeria, an international beauty trade show in Algiers, Algeria on Feb. 21, 2024. Dedicated to sectors of beauty industry, the trade show kicked off on Wednesday and will last till Feb. 24. (Xinhua) By Krystal Hu (Reuters) -U.S. writing assistant startup Jasper has acquired Clipdrop, an artificial intelligence-powered photo application from Stability AI, the company told Reuters, as Jasper expands its offerings beyond text editing to photos. The deal, the terms of which were not disclosed, marks a reversal in strategy for Stability AI, a London-based startup known for its image generation AI model, which acquired Clipdrop under a year ago. In an emailed statement, Emad Mostaque, CEO at Stability AI, said the deal will allow the company to continue to focus on developing "cutting-edge open models". Founded in July 2020, Paris-based Clipdrop uses open source AI models to allow users to generate and edit photos. It had raised seed investment from Air Street Capital before being sold to Stability AI in March 2023 for an undisclosed amount. At the time, Clipdrop said it had more than 15 million users. "This is a great way for us to not only expand the product capabilities, expand our AI talent, but also expand our footprint into Europe," said Timothy Young, Jasper's CEO. Jasper and Stability AI are among users of and investors in generative AI, an area populated by OpenAI's ChatGPT. Both companies have raised over $100 million from venture investors at billion dollar valuations, and are now trying to prove they can sustain the growth in the fast-moving race with other startups and big tech companies. Jasper, known for its AI-based writing tool, has seen layoffs and CEO changes as it tries to focus on serving enterprises, instead of consumers, in the past year. It plans to offer Clipdrop through its platform, while keeping it available as a standalone product. (Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York; editing by Miral Fahmy, Kirsten Donovan) FILE PHOTO: Logos of Airbus are seen at the Milipol Paris, the worldwide exhibition dedicated to homeland security and safety, in Villepinte near Paris, France, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo By Brenda Goh and Praveen Menon SINGAPORE/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Airbus faces delays in introducing an ultra-long-range version of its A350-1000 jet designed for Qantas Airways' non-stop Sydney-London flights because a regulator has asked it to redesign an extra fuel tank, a senior executive said. "The regulator has asked us to redesign the centre tank on the ultra-long-range airplane for Sunrise," Christian Scherer, the CEO of Airbus' commercial aircraft business said on Thursday on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow, referring to the airline's "Project Sunrise" flights from Sydney to London. Qantas said on Thursday the delivery dates for its first A350-1000 planes capable of the ultra-long-range flights had been pushed back by about six months to mid-2026. "We have to redesign the centre tank, the extra fuel tank, that will allow the Sunrise mission, and that's what explains the shift," Scherer said. Global aviation regulators have been more closely scrutinising design changes on aircraft variants since two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, in which a new anti-stall system was a contributing factor. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it was working with Airbus to define the requirements and means of compliance for the fuel tank to be installed on the ultra-long-range version of the A350-1000. "This is a collaborative process aimed at achieving the required level of safety for this new design feature," an EASA spokesperson said in a statement. "EASA is confident the certification process in place will achieve its goals, thanks to the good level of cooperation between all stakeholders." Airbus had faced delays in its A321XLR long-range narrow-body programme after concerns were raised with regulators that a novel type of fuel tank could pose fire risks. The issues have since been resolved. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A350-1000 delay was due to certification of the first aircraft taking longer than expected. "However, we believe that the fleet for the 12 aircraft that will come, will come relatively quickly after that," she told reporters. Hudson added that demand for non-stop flying remained strong, as shown by the carrier's Perth-London flights and new Perth-Paris services. "So we are more than ever confident that the business case still stands, and that the aircraft's six-month delay is not a concern," she said. (Reporting by Brenda Goh in Singapore and Praveen Menon in Sydney; additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Singapore; Writing by Jamie Freed. Editing by Gerry Doyle) Members of the Albanian parliament from the opposition protest inside the parliament during a session that will include a vote on the migrant deal between Italy and Albania that will let Italy build migrant processing centers on Albanian territory, in Tir By Fatos Bytyci TIRANA (Reuters) -Albanian lawmakers on Thursday ratified a migration deal with Italy under which Rome will build processing centres for migrants that it will send on to its Balkan neighbour across the Adriatic Sea. It is the first example of a non-European Union country accepting migrants on behalf of an EU nation, and is part of an EU-wide campaign to clamp down on irregular immigration that has fuelled a rise in the popularity of the far right. The accord has drawn comparisons with Britain's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in East Africa as a deterrent to further migrant journeys in small boats across the Channel from France organised by human traffickers. Seventy-seven deputies in the 140-seat parliament voted in favour of the deal, announced in November, under which Italy will open two camps in EU-candidate Albania, one of Europe's poorest and least developed countries. "Albania is standing together with Italy by choosing to act like an EU member state," Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on social media platform X following parliament's vote. "No country can solve such a challenge alone. Only a stronger, braver and more sovereign Europe loyal to itself can." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni replied on X, thanking Rama, Albania's institutions and people "for their friendship and collaboration". One of the camps Italy plans to set up on the Albanian coast would screen sea migrants on arrival, and a second nearby would hold them while asylum applications are processed. Migrants would then either be allowed to enter Italy or be repatriated. An Italian government source said Rome aimed to have the centres in Albania operational by this spring. CRITICISM The deal has drawn international criticism from human rights advocates, and domestically from those who fear its impact on Albania's security and on its financially vital tourist industry. This (tourist area) will not be the same again once the migrant processing centres are built," said Arilda Lleshi, an activist who protested in front of parliament during the vote. "We have reasons to believe that these (migrant centres) will be a security problem for the whole area." The agreement was challenged before Albania's Constitutional Court by the main opposition Democratic Party, which argued that it broke the constitution by ceding sovereignty over Albanian soil to another country. The Constitutional Court rejected the claims and gave a green light last month. While UN officials have criticised the Italy-Albania deal, the European Commission has said it does not appear to breach EU law as it falls outside its jurisdiction. Rights experts warn it might be hard for Italian courts to promptly process asylum requests or appeals against detention orders from people hosted in another country, and lengthy procedures could put an unjustified burden on migrants. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Ivana Sekularac, Hugh Lawson, Sharon Singleton and Aurora Ellis) FILE PHOTO: Signage for the London Stock Exchange Group is seen outside of offices in Canary Wharf in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo By Danilo Masoni MILAN (Reuters) - Growing demand for megacap stocks that tap global secular growth trends has catapulted European shares to fresh highs, although some say their star may wane as investors seek value elsewhere. Obesity drug superstar Novo Nordisk, AI-darling ASML and luxury giant LVMH have been pivotal in Europe's post-pandemic STOXX 600 ascent, just as smaller, less-liquid stocks have struggled to lure funds. The 12%-26% gain in their shares so far this year has boosted their relative weighting yet further. Together, the megacaps now make up 12% of the $11 trillion index, compared to their 2.7% weighting a decade ago, LSEG Datastream data shows. The rise in popularity of Europe's stock market leaders contrasts with underlying economic weakness. Germany is in recession and fund managers are wary of tariffs on European imports should Donald Trump become U.S. President again. "While the European economy faces headwinds on several fronts... many of the largest stocks in the index are globally facing and benefit from far broader trends," said Lindsay James, strategist at British wealth manager Quilter in London. The export-oriented nature of many European-listed companies has also helped shield local benchmarks from economic weakness, while rising military spending in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has lifted defence stocks. Other standouts in Europe this year include sportscar Ferrari and Germany arms maker Rheinmetall. The STOXX was last up 1% on Thursday, after surging as high as 495.81 points to breach the previous peak in January 2022, bringing year-to-date gains for the index to 3.6%. Helped by continued U.S. economic strength, the latest uplift for European equities came after blockbuster numbers from chipmaker Nvidia validated bets that Wall Street's artificial intelligence-driven rally has room to go. That reverberated across markets in different geographies. "The share rally is a global phenomenon, but Europe is part of it," said Samy Chaar, chief economist at Swiss private bank Lombard Odier in Geneva. "When you think about the improvement in the growth picture ... it's not like we've got the situation last year with U.S. exceptionalism and the rest doing poorly. We are seeing a bottoming process everywhere," he added. A survey on Thursday showed the downturn in euro zone business activity eased in February as the dominant services sector broke a six-month streak of contraction and offset a deterioration in manufacturing. The STOXX 600 equal-weighted index has lagged the benchmark in recent years, another illustration of investor preference for larger stocks. The index is up barely 1% over the past three years, a 17 percentage point underperformance. Some expect that concentration to ease, which could pose a risk for the more highly crowded megacaps. "I would expect that rally to broaden ... and people may come out of the bigger cap stocks to fund that," said James Rutland, equities fund manager at Invesco. "That's where I see the opportunity; when I look at tech or luxury, they still look quite elevated relative to history." Morgan Stanley says Novo Nordisk and ASML are the two most over-owned stocks in Europe by global funds. Aerospace and defence is the most crowded by sector, with allocations four times the benchmark. Data from securities lending firm Hazeltree, however, show that investors betting on a drop in prices have favoured the shares in smaller companies to do so. In 2023, stocks borrowed for shorting purposes were 11% for large caps, versus 39% for small firms. (Additional reporting by Alun John and Nell Mackenzie in London; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Alexander Smith) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) -Chipmaker TSMC formally opens its first Japanese plant on Saturday, highlighting the Taiwanese firm's critical role in Tokyo's multi-billion dollar efforts to reboot its once-mighty semiconductor manufacturing industry. That Japan turned to TSMC for help on an industry it once dominated reflects the Taiwan chipmaker's dominant position in the foundry business and Tokyo's heightened concern over China's growing prowess in a wide swathe of technology. The arrival of TSMC, the world's leading contract chipmaker, in Japan is seen as having sparked investment across a sector vital to economic security even as the government eyes a greater prize with its backing for homegrown foundry venture Rapidus. "The possibility of having TSMC build a fab in Japan really rallied support from disparate parts of the semiconductor industry," said Damian Thong, head of Japan research at Macquarie Capital Securities. "They have built a snowball effect around it," he said. By 2027, Taiwan is projected to control two-thirds of foundry capacity for advanced processes as its lead is eroded by aggressive expansion in the U.S., according to research firm TrendForce, with Japan increasing its global share to 3%. TSMC, which is also building capacity in the U.S. and Germany, is targeting mass production at the fab later this year and has announced plans for a second plant, bringing total investment in the venture to more than $20 billion. Partnering with companies including Sony and Toyota, monthly capacity across the two fabs will exceed 100,000 12-inch wafers, strengthening Japan's access to chips, which are essential for the electronics, automotive and defence industries. TSMC sees Japan as a natural fit with an industrious work culture suited to chipmaking and a government that is easy to deal with and generous with subsidies, Reuters has reported. Japan has also benefited from Taiwan's willingness to approve the export of foundry and supply chain technology, particularly for advanced node technologies below 16 nanometres, said David Chuang, an analyst at Isaiah Research. "With the prospect of fabricating more advanced roadmaps in Japan, it's reasonable to expect that foundry customers may be more inclined to commit to long-term development and procurement of capacity," said Chuang. Japan can leverage its expertise in areas such as photoresists - chemicals that are needed for chipmaking - image sensors and packaging, which is becoming increasingly important to eke out chip performance gains, said Joanne Chiao, an analyst at TrendForce. Momentum in Japan's chip sector is growing, with Taiwan chip companies arriving in Japan not only to support the TSMC plant but also being attracted by the industry's renewed dynamism, Reuters has reported. ECONOMIC BOOST In the chipmaking hub on the southern island of Kyushu where TSMC's plant is located, companies ramping up investment include power chip maker Rohm, wafer maker Sumco and equipment maker Tokyo Electron. The regional economic boost is forecast to hit 20.1 trillion yen ($134 billion) over a decade, according to the Kyushu Economic Research Center, with activity rippling out from fabs being constructed and run, and from consumption by workers. A major bottleneck is labour shortages, said Soei Kawamura, a researcher in the business development department at the centre. "Large companies like TSMC and Sony will be able to secure the necessary personnel, but the economic development of the Kyushu region will change depending on how many people can be recruited in the local semiconductor-related and other industries," he said. The number of workers in Japan's chip-related businesses has declined by around a fifth over the last roughly two decades. Leading domestic chip firms need to find 40,000 workers over a decade, according to estimates from the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). Tokyo's grander vision is of building a homegrown champion through foundry venture Rapidus, which is headed by industry veterans and targeting mass production of cutting-edge chips on the northern island of Hokkaido from 2027. A potential rival to TSMC, which has spent decades honing its processes, Rapidus is partnering with IBM and chip research organisation Imec. But its prospects for success are viewed with scepticism by many in the industry. "I don't doubt TSMC will be dominant, but Japan will seek to prove that they are valid as a number two," said Macquarie's Thong. ($1 = 150.3100 yen) (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka; Additional reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) A man stands next to the logo of Verizon at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo By Aditya Soni and David Shepardson (Reuters) -AT&T said late on Thursday an outage that disrupted calls and text messages for thousands of U.S. users and prompted federal investigations was not caused by a cyberattack. The carrier had restored wireless service for all affected customers, several hours after an outage that affected more than 70,000 users at its peak. "Based on our initial review, we believe that today's outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network," the wireless carrier said in a statement on its website. AT&T, whose 5G network covers around 290 million people across the United States, has been grappling with interruptions to its service for more than 10 hours. "We are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future," AT&T earlier said on its website. The Federal Communications Commission said it was investigating the incident, while the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said it was working with AT&T to understand the cause. White House spokesman John Kirby said the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were looking into the AT&T outage. CISA is a unit of DHS. "We are being told AT&T has no reason to think this was a cyber or security incident," said Kirby, adding that the FCC was in touch with the company. "But the bottom line is we don't have all the answers," he said about the cause of the outage. AT&T declined to comment on the FCC's investigation into the incident. The company did not provide further details on the reason for the outage and the number of affected users. AT&T shares were down 2.4% in afternoon trading. The number of outage incidents to about 3,255 by around 2:47 p.m. ET (1947 GMT), according to tracking website Downdetector.com. The FBI also said that it was in touch with the company about the network outage. "Should we learn of any malicious activity, we will respond accordingly," it said in a statement. Doug Madory, the director of internet analysis firm Kentik, said it was unclear from the outside what exactly had happened at AT&T, although he said he doubted it was the result of malicious activity. "I'm skeptical this was some kind of an attack," he said in a telephone interview. "Most of these things end up being some kind of a software push that got screwed up somehow." The outage affected people's ability to reach emergency services by dialing 911, according to posts on the X social media platform by government departments in several U.S. cities. "We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911), the San Francisco Fire Department said on X. The Prince William County Police Department in Virginia and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina posted similar statements on the platform. Users of Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular also faced disruptions, but they were more limited than the AT&T reports, Downdetector showed. The other companies said their network was operating normally and the outage was potentially related to customers trying to connect with other networks. U.S. Senator Rick Scott of Florida said in a post on X that he had contacted AT&T for an update. "Florida law enforcement is doing everything it can to keep people safe, and I expect AT&T to keep us informed on what it is doing to get 911 services fully back online ASAP," he said. In 2021, regulators settled for $19.5 million a probe into a T-Mobile outage during the pandemic that lasted over 12 hours and led to more than 20,000 failed 911 emergency calls. (Reporting by Aditya Soni and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru, David Shepardson, Raphael Satter and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Additional reporting by Nilutpal Timsina, Kanjyik Ghosh, Arsheeya Bajwa and Priyanka G; Editing by Alexander Smith and Stephen Coates) By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) - A retired Roman Catholic bishop appeared in court in remote Western Australia on Thursday on charges of sexual offences against children, including two counts of rape. The charges against Christopher Saunders were presented on Thursday morning in Broome Magistrates Court, said a court spokesperson, who declined to say whether Saunders had entered a plea. Western Australia police said Child Abuse Squad detectives charged a 74-year-old Broome man, whom it did not name, with 19 offences, including two of sexual penetration without consent, 14 of unlawful and indecent assault and three of a person in authority indecently dealing with a child. Footage from TV network Seven showed Saunders being led away by police after his arrest on Wednesday. Police said the man was refused bail. Saunders, emeritus bishop of Broome, a diocese bigger than Texas in northwest Australia, was not reachable for comment. He has previously denied wrongdoing. It was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said the church would continue to cooperate with the police. "Allegations against the former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, are very serious and deeply distressing, especially for those making those allegations," Costelloe said in a statement. Saunders was ordained a priest in 1976, becoming a bishop in 1995, according to the Catholic News Agency. He stood down in 2020 after the allegations emerged. A police investigation at the time found insufficient evidence to charge him. Pope Francis accepted his resignation in 2021. The Vatican launched its own investigation into Saunders in 2022. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard) KIGALI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Rwanda has announced that it will begin accepting nominations for the positions of president and members of the lower chamber of deputies from May 17-30. "We have started training on electoral laws and regulations governing the presidential and lower chamber of deputies elections," NEC executive secretary Charles Munyaneza told reporters Wednesday evening. The commission has already released guidelines for the July 2024 presidential and lower chamber of deputies elections, he said. A provisional list of approved candidates will be published on June 6, while the final list will be published on June 14, Munyaneza said. Campaigning for the July 15 presidential and lower chamber of deputies will be conducted between June 22 and July 13, he said. Rwandans living outside the country will cast their votes a day earlier, on July 14. According to Munyaneza, provisional results of the presidential and lower chamber of deputies elections will be released no later than July 20, while the final results will be published no later than July 27. U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) disembark Marine One in San Francisco, California, U.S. February 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque By Trevor Hunnicutt and Nandita Bose SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB" during a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, warning there is always the threat of nuclear conflict but that the existential threat to humanity remains climate."This is the last existential threat. It is climate. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin and others and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate," Biden told a small group of donors. Biden has previously cursed "son of a bitch" at others. In January 2022, he was caught on the hot mic using the same term of abuse against a Fox News White House reporter. Biden has a tendency to go off script during election fundraisers and in recent months has dug into the Chinese government, the Republican Party and U.S. ally Israel for its bombing of the Gaza Strip. Biden's verbal attacks against Putin have also sharply intensified at the White House and on the campaign trail. Last week, the U.S. President blamed Putin and "his thugs" for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did," Biden said at the White House after Russian prison officials announced that Navalny had died. The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny's death and said Western claims that Putin was responsible are unacceptable. Biden and Putin remain deeply at odds over Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, over which Russia has been sanctioned by the United States and other Western nations. Biden's reactions have put a further chill into already bitter U.S.-Russian relations. On Tuesday, Biden said the U.S. will announce a major package of sanctions against Russia over Navalny's death and the Ukraine war. Biden's expected Republican opponent in November, former President Donald Trump, has expressed admiration for Putin both during his 2017-2021 White House tenure and afterward. However, he also recently compared himself to Navalny, implying that they both had faced politically motivated prosecutions. "I don't know where the hell this comes from," Biden said on Wednesday reacting to Trump comparing himself to Navalny. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in San Francisco and Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Sonali Paul) FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks after it was reported Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most formidable domestic opponent, fell unconscious and died at the "Polar Wolf" Arctic penal colony where he was serving a three-decade j By Trevor Hunnicutt SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday met the wife and daughter of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died last week in a prison camp, and called him "a man of incredible courage". Biden, speaking to reporters in California, reiterated that Washington plans to impose a wide array of sanctions on Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin following Navalny's death. Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" penal colony above the Arctic Circle where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said. "He was a man of incredible courage and it's amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that," Biden said after meeting Navalny's wife Yulia and daughter Dasha. "I know that we're going to be announcing the sanctions against Putin, who is responsible for his death, tomorrow." Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said on Thursday that some of the "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of sanctions to be unveiled in the coming days would target those responsible for Navalny's death, but most would hit "Putin's war machine" and close gaps in existing sanctions regimes. The new measures are timed to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a statement released before Biden spoke to reporters, the White House said the president conveyed his "heartfelt condolences" to Navalny's family. During the meeting in California, he expressed his admiration for Navalny's "extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone", the White House said. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by David Ljunggren and Daniel Wallis) FILE PHOTO: Hyundai logo is seen at a Hyundai City Store, a company operated outlet, in Karachi, Pakistan, February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Automaker Hyundai Motor is planning to invest more than $1.1 billion in Brazil by 2032, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday. The announcement came after a meeting between Lula and Hyundai's Executive Chair, Euisun Chung, in Brasilia. The investment would be focused on technology, in particular hybrid, electric and green hydrogen cars, said a statement from the presidential office. Hyundai, which owns a factory in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo with capacity to produce 220,000 cars per year, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Lula's administration has been focusing on reigniting the country's domestic industry. In the last few weeks both Volkswagen and GM have announced major investments in Brazil. (Reporting by Peter Frontini; Editing by Gabriel Araujo and Frances Kerry) FILE PHOTO: Rescuers get ready to search for survivors in the aftermath of a deadly migrant shipwreck in Steccato di Cutro near Crotone Italy, February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli//File Photo ROME (Reuters) - A group of charities accused Italy's right-wing government on Thursday of obstructing life-saving sea missions and contributing to a sharp rise in migrant deaths, with tough immigration laws it adopted last year. More than 2,600 migrants died or went missing in the Central Mediterranean in the period from February 2023 to February this year, compared to just under 1,600 in the February 2022-2023 period, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). The charities linked this rise to a migration decree adopted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government in January 2023 and ratified by parliament a month later, which included restrictions on the activities of sea rescue charities. "In light of the increasing death toll in the Central Mediterranean since early 2023, coinciding with the adoption of a new law by Italian authorities and the systematic assignment of distant ports to humanitarian rescue ships, we call on the Italian government to bring an immediate halt to the obstruction of our life-saving activities at sea," they said in a joint statement. A spokesman for the Italian interior ministry declined to comment. Meloni said in December 2022 that a clampdown on charity ships was needed to stop them from acting as "ferry boats" for migrants, going "back and forth with human traffickers to shuttle people from one country to the other". Several groups running rescue ships in the Central Mediterranean, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Open Arms and Mediterranea Saving Humans, were among the 22 signatories of Thursday's statement. Among other things, the Italian decree forces charity ships to head to port immediately after a rescue, rather than stay at sea to look for other migrants in distress. 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 migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. NGOs that do not comply with Italy's new law face a fine of up to 10,000 euros ($10,850) and the temporary impounding of their ship. This has happened 16 times to nine NGO ships, the charities said. "In many cases, we must choose between complying with the Italian regulation while knowing we might leave behind people at risk of drowning, or fulfilling our legal duty to carry out rescues, and subsequently facing fines, detention and the possible confiscation of our ships," the NGOs said. The charities said that under international maritime law, captains have a duty to rescue people in distress at sea. The number of migrants arriving in Italy by sea jumped to more than 157,000 last year, from around 105,000 in 2022, but the pace of arrivals has slowed in recent months. People making the journey often do so in crowded, unseaworthy vessels. ($1 = 0.9214 euros) (Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Keith Weir and Frances Kerry) A view shows a fire, following the spread of wildfires in Vina del Mar, Chile February 3, 2024. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido/ File Photo By Alexander Villegas SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Deadly wildfires like those that burned through central Chile and killed at least 133 people this month will become more likely in the South American country as climate change makes the world hotter and drier, according to a report released on Thursday. The fires were Chile's deadliest natural disaster since a 2010 earthquake that killed about 500 people. Strong winds and high temperatures helped drive the rapid advance of the blazes into populated areas around the cities of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. The report from World Weather Attribution, an international group of scientists that studies the effects of climate change on extreme weather events, analyzed that spike in conditions that feed fires - temperature, wind speed and atmospheric moisture - as measured by a metric called the Hot Dry Windy Index (HDWI). The report found that neither global warming nor the El Nino climate phenomenon drove that recent increase in the HDWI during the fires, as that coastal region of Chile is actually cooling while temperatures are warming inland. But that will change with global warming, the scientists said. "We expect a lot of these fires to happen in the future," Joyce Kimutai, a researcher at Imperial College London's Grantham Institute and co-author of the study, told reporters. In the current global scenario of 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming compared to pre-industrial times, the scientists said that a four-day period with an HDWI similar to the recent fires would be expected once every 30 years. "However, if warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), it's likely the fire-prone weather will become more intense around Vina del Mar and Valparaiso," said Tomas Carrasco, a researcher at the University of Chile and co-author of the report. Temperatures are on track to rise up to 2.9 degrees Celsius (5.2 degrees Fahrenheit) this century, based on current climate pledges, according to the United Nations. The report's authors also found that urban growth and land use change were big factors that led to the fires being so deadly. Mauricio Santos of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre in Colombia said that expansion of pine and eucalyptus tree plantations has destroyed natural firebreak barriers over decades, while urban areas encroach on forests. "We found that the most devastating fires happened in areas with significant land-use changes and where urban planning was inadequate," Santos said, adding that better warning systems, evacuation planning and fire-proofing systems are needed. (Reporting by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Will Dunham) FILE PHOTO: A man waves a Palestinian flag as people protest on the day of a public hearing held by The International Court of Justice (ICJ) to allow parties to give their views on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories b AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - China asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday to give its opinion on Israel's occupation of the Palestinian Territories, which it said was illegal. "Justice has been long delayed, but it must not be denied," China's Foreign Ministry's legal adviser Ma Xinmin told the court in The Hague, in the Netherlands. "Fifty-seven years have passed since Israel began its occupation of the OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The unlawful nature of the occupation and sovereignty over the occupied territories remain unchanged," he said. The U.N.'s top court, also known as the World Court, this week is hearing arguments from more than 50 states following a request by the U.N. General Assembly in 2022 to issue a non-binding opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation. The hearings are part of a Palestinian push to get international legal institutions to examine Israel's conduct, which has become more urgent since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel, which killed 1,200 people, and Israel's military response that has since killed about 29,000 Palestinians. Israel, which is not taking part in the hearings, said in written comments that the court's involvement could be harmful to achieving a negotiated settlement. On Monday, Palestinian representatives asked the judges to declare Israel's occupation of their territory illegal and said its opinion could help reach a two-state solution. The judges are expected to take roughly six months to issue an opinion on the request. (Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Alex Richardson) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives at the Itamaraty Palace before a meeting with Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Brasilia, Brazil January 18, 2024. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo BEIJING (Reuters) - China said it sees Europe as increasingly viewing the country with a "rational perception," and that Europe should "not be afraid of it," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. "I feel that Europe's rational perception of China is increasing, believing that China's development is in line with the logic of history and that Europe should not be afraid of it, let alone reject it," Wang said in an interview transcript his ministry released late on Wednesday. Wang, who recently visited and met with a host of leaders from Germany, Spain and France, told Europe that in the bloc's move to de-risk and cut dependence, it should not eliminate cooperation or reduce mutual trust. "Interdependence based on mutual trust is conducive to the complementary advantages of all parties and is conducive to accelerating common development," he said in the interview with Chinese media. Europe has been pursuing a de-risking strategy and reducing dependency on China particularly for critical minerals, citing a lesson from reliance on Russian gas which Moscow cut after its invasion of Ukraine. The bloc has reiterated it does not mean to decouple from China. Wang said the European side is positive about strengthening China-European Union exchanges at all levels, and is "very enthusiastic" about deepening practical cooperation. He said Europe hopes for more concrete outcomes from cooperation in economy and trade, energy, green, digital, education and people exchanges. "China will continue to make efforts in relaxing market access, benchmarking international trade rules, and clearing up barriers for foreigners to come to China," Wang said. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Chris Reese) FILE PHOTO: A view of the interior of a Comac C919 plane displayed at the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore February 21, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo By Brenda Goh and Lisa Barrington SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Chinese state-owned planemaker COMAC upstaged industry leaders Airbus and Boeing at the Singapore Airshow this week, showing off its self-developed C919 and ARJ21 jets as it pursues international certifications and foreign orders. "A reliable new choice," proclaimed an advertisement on COMAC's large booth in the centre of the show's event hall. Aviation, government and investment professionals thronged to its display, demonstrating the keen interest from trade delegates in learning more about a company with limited public engagement outside its home market to date. The C919, a rival to the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo family single-aisle jets, flew for the first time outside Chinese territory. Show attendees said they saw it as a opportunistic coming out for COMAC, which took centre stage with a 50-plane order from China's Tibet Airlines on Tuesday. COMAC was able to seize a moment when the two dominant Western planemakers are dealing with supply chain issues that have frustrated airline customers and Boeing is wrestling with a series of crises, including a mid-air panel blow-out in January. "I generally absolutely welcome COMAC coming to the party," said Michael Szucs, CEO of Philippine budget airline Cebu Pacific, adding the Chi nese firm had sent a large delegation to visit the carrier eight months ago. "I'd rather it was a three horse race rather than a two horse race," he said. But the predominant view among aviation industry leaders attending Asia's biggest aviation gathering was that COMAC had a long road ahead to become a serious competitor and it would largely operate in China's domestic market in the near term. "I think people will take a second look because of all these delivery problems that Airbus and Boeing are having, but we have to be realistic because the C919 has not been certified by certain authorities so the call to action is limited," said Subhas Menon, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. COMAC, in contrast to Airbus and Boeing, did not take media questions at order announcements and declined to make executives available for interview to discuss its show presence and other plans. CERTIFICATION ISSUES The C919 has attracted more than 1,000 orders so far, largely from Chinese airlines and lessors, according to Chinese state media. Aviation executives at the show said there was definitely interest in the model, but potential buyers and lessors wanted to see U.S. and European regulatory approval. The plane's design is only certified by China. China's aviation authority has said it would promote the plane internationally this year and pursue European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. GallopAir, a new Brunei-based airline backed by Chinese investors that has ordered 30 COMAC planes including the first overseas C919 purchases, told Reuters it was working with COMAC to get the approvals needed to start flying the ARJ21 jet in Brunei. But a certification process for the C919 in Brunei was at least two to three years away, managing director Cham Chi said. "COMAC needs to operate more hours...We need to wait and then we have the confidence to deliver." Indonesian low-cost carrier TransNusa already operates two ARJ21 aircraft, a regional jet predecessor to the C919. Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus commercial aircraft, said the European planemaker welcomed the competition but noted the C919 looked like Boeing and Airbus' existing offerings and would not rock the boat in a significant way. "It's really not bringing any particular differentiation to the market," he told reporters. Boeing welcomed the competition from COMAC, which was "good for the industry," a spokesperson said. WESTERN VS DOMESTIC PARTS Another major uncertainty around the C919 is its reliance on Western suppliers for key components such as its engines and avionics systems, exposing it to geopolitical risk, especially as Beijing's ties with Washington and Brussels come under pressure. Those parts also face the same supply chain issues hampering production rates at its Western rivals that have far greater economies of scale and longer relationships with key suppliers. COMAC has said it will invest tens of billions yuan over the next three to five years to expand C919 production capacity and analysts expect it to be working on domestic substitutes for Western parts, but say it could take decades. "I think they're further advanced as far as airframe, and they're further behind on engine technology. Engine technology is very, very difficult," Ewen McDonald, Rolls-Royce's civil aerospace chief customer officer said in an interview. "They will need Western engines in the near term." The C919 engines are supplied by CFM International, a joint venture between GE and Safran, but Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) is developing a domestic substitute, the CJ-1000A that has not yet been certified. (Reporting by Brenda Goh and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Jamie Freed) DODOMA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzanian government has warned businessmen against hoarding sugar, saying those implicated in doing so will face the full force of the law. Mohamed Mchengerwa, minister of state in the President's Office responsible for regional administration and local governments, ordered regional and district commissioners to crack down on sugar hoarders. "The regional and district commissioners should work closely with the Sugar Board of Tanzania in unearthing the unscrupulous businessmen who hoard sugar to sell it at skyrocketing prices," Mchengerwa told a news conference Wednesday in Dodoma, the capital. Prices of sugar have been rising dramatically due to a shortage of the commodity across the East African nation. Mchengerwa said there is no need to hoard, the country recently imported 100,000 tonnes of sugar. He said dishonest traders have been selling sugar at twice the indicative price released by the Sugar Board of Tanzania. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen speak during a press conference about Denmark entering a ten-year agreement with Ukraine on continued military support and the security situation COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark announced a new 1.7 billion crown ($247.4 million) military aid package for Ukraine on Thursday and made an urgent appeal to allies to step up donations to help the country in its war with Russia. The package will bring total donations by Denmark to Ukraine to 33.3 billion crowns since Russia's invasion two years ago. The NATO member has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and is among the biggest contributors of military aid relative to the size of its economy. "It is necessary to emphasize that if they (Ukraine) are to succeed on the battlefield, more donations must come now," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters. "It's in this light that we continue to make further Danish donations in the hope that more countries will do the same, not in six or 12 months, but now when the need is very, very big." Denmark, which together with the Netherlands and the United States is spearheading a coalition to help Ukraine establish a future air force, expects to make its first delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this summer, Frederiksen said. Funds for the new donation will be taken from the 7 billion crowns that the Nordic country allocated to a fund set up for civil, military and business donations to Ukraine in March last year. Denmark has also joined other allies including the UK and Germany in signing a 10-year security agreement with Ukraine. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, editing by Nick Macfie) A view from the Belarusian side of the frontier shows Polish and EU flags behind a fence at Bruzgi-Kuznica checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border amid the migrant crisis in the Grodno region, Belarus, December 23, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Pho WARSAW (Reuters) - European Commission representatives will on Friday announce that Brussels has unblocked COVID-19 recovery funds for Poland, its prime minister said on Thursday. "Tomorrow we will hear from European Union representatives that Poland has finally had National Recovery Plan funds unblocked," Donald Tusk told parliament. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen plans to visit Warsaw on Friday along with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Poland's previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party government was embroiled in a dispute with the EU over judicial reforms and alleged erosion of rule-of-law standards, resulting in billions of EU funds for Poland being frozen. The new pro-EU government led by Tusk has pledged to regain access to the money by shoring up the rule of law, but faces resistance from PiS supporters and allies, including President Andrzej Duda and some high-profile judges. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; editing by Mark Heinrich) FILE PHOTO: Reddit logo is seen in this illustration taken November 7, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Anna Tong, Echo Wang and Martin Coulter SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Social media platform Reddit has struck a deal with Google to make its content available for training the search engine giant's artificial intelligence models, three people familiar with the matter said. The contract with Alphabet-owned Google is worth about $60 million per year, according to one of the sources. The deal underscores how Reddit, which is preparing for a high-profile stock market launch, is seeking to generate new revenue amid fierce competition for advertising dollars from the likes of TikTok and Meta Platform's Facebook. The sources were not authorized to speak to media and declined to be identified. Reddit and Google declined to comment. Bloomberg previously reported Reddit's content deal without naming the buyer. Last year, Reddit said it would charge companies for access to its application programming interface (API) - the means by which it distributes its content. The agreement with Google is its first reported deal with a big AI company. San Francisco-based Reddit, which has been looking at a stock float for more than three years, is preparing to make its initial public offering filing this week, which would detail its financials for the first time to potential IPO investors. The filing could be available as early as Thursday, two of the sources said. The company, which was valued at about $10 billion in a funding round in 2021, is seeking to sell about 10% of its shares in the offering, Reuters has previously reported. Reddit's stock market launch would mark the first IPO of a major social media company since Pinterest floated its shares in 2019. Makers of AI models have been busy clinching deals with content owners in recent months, aiming to diversify their training data beyond large scrapes of the internet. That practice is rife with potential copyright issues as many content creators have alleged that their content was used without permission. Founded in 2005 by web developer Steve Huffman and entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, Reddit is known for its manifold niche discussion groups, some of which boast tens of millions of members. (Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco, Echo Wang in New York and Martin Coulter in London; Additional reporting by Jeffrey Dastin; Editing by Anirban Sen, Krystal Hu and Edwina Gibbs) PARIS (Reuters) - France has expelled a Tunisian Muslim cleric for "radicalism" and "unacceptable remarks", Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a statement on Twitter. "The radical Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi has just been expelled from the national territory, less than 12 hours after his arrest. We will not let people get away with anything," Darmanin said in a statement on X. In an earlier statement, Darmanin said he had given instructions to issue a ministerial deportation order against "this radical 'imam' with unacceptable remarks". "Firmness is the rule," he added. In a post that went viral on social media and was widely reported in French media, the imam referred to "the three-coloured flag" as "satanic". Mahjoubi, who preached in the Ettaouba mosque of Bagnols-sur-Ceze, southern France, has denied any wrongdoing. He told French media that his comments had been taken out of context and that he had not meant to disrespect the French flag. The French flag has three colours: blue, white and red. His lawyer told French media he will appeal the expulsion procedure. French media published excerpts of the expulsion order, which stated that Mahjoubi had "conveyed a literal, backward, intolerant, and violent conception of Islam, likely to encourage behaviors contrary to the values of the Republic, discrimination against women, identity retreat, tensions with the Jewish community, and jihadist radicalization'." BFM reported that Mahjoubi was being held in administrative detention in the Paris region. Darmanin did not specify where the imam had been held nor when, how and where to he was expelled. Franceinfo reported that Mahjoubi was on a plane headed to Tunis on Thursday evening. Darmanin said that the French government's new immigration law, voted earlier this year, had allowed for the quick expulsion of the imam. With the far-right RN party leading in polls for European elections in June, President Emmanuel Macron is under pressure to be tough on immigration and identity issues. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Alistair Bell) FILE PHOTO: Figurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of the words "Artificial Intelligence AI" in this illustration taken, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Sheila Dang (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google said on Thursday it will integrate its Gemini artificial intelligence models into an existing product for advertisers, bringing its advanced AI capabilities to more of the tech giant's customers. The integration is part of an ongoing effort by Google to infuse generative AI, which can produce conversational text and realistic images, into more parts of its services. On Wednesday, Google said it would bring Gemini to enterprise tools that it offers businesses. Google said Gemini will improve a product called Performance Max, which automatically finds the best placements for a brand's ads across Google services including email, search and YouTube. In November, Google introduced AI tools in Performance Max to create images and text for ads, such as descriptions for a brand's products. With Gemini, brands will now be able to generate longer headlines for ads to capture a consumer's attention, with headlines of up to 90 characters versus 30 characters previously. Google said its image generation tool for advertisers will also be improved with its AI model called Imagen 2. That will give brands the new capability of creating images that include people. For example, a florist could generate a photo of a person arranging a bouquet of flowers in seconds, said Brendon Kraham, vice president of search and commerce global ad solutions at Google. The tool will include safety measures to prevent brands from creating any images of known people, including celebrities and other public figures, or images that depict violence or illegal activities, Google said. As generative AI has exploded across the tech industry, it has heightened fears that the content could be used to mislead people or result in deepfakes of real people. Photos created by AI will be watermarked to identify them as synthetic images, Google said. (Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Ros Russell) FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Heidelberg Materials is weighing a listing in the United States as a way to potentially tackle a geographical gap in valuation, its chief executive told analysts on Thursday. While ruling out a corporate split in the vein of larger rival Holcim, Dominik von Achten said the company was looking at all other options to raise value, including a local listing. "For me whether you list in the U.S. or whether you split your business completely and make two different players out of it is a difference," Dominik von Achten told analysts after presenting full-year results. (Reporting by Christoph Steitz, Editing by Rachel More) FILE PHOTO: Flag-wrapped coffins are seen outside the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, during a funeral of the Afzaal family that was killed in what police describe as a hate-motivated attack, in London, Ontario, Canada June 12, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos O By David Ljunggren and Ismail Shakil OTTAWA (Reuters) -A self-confessed Canadian white nationalist who deliberately ran over and killed four members of a Muslim family with his pick-up truck in 2021 was given a life sentence on Thursday with no chance of parole for 25 years. Nathaniel Veltman, 23, had been found guilty of first-degree murder last November for an attack that shocked Canada. He showed little reaction to the decision, the London Free Press newspaper reported. The judge in the case said Veltman's attack represented an act of terrorism, the first time that the term has been used to describe white nationalist violence. Veltman ran over five members of the Afzaal family, originally from Pakistan, in the Ontario town of London when they were out for an evening walk in June 2021. The victims were Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah, and Afzaal's 74-year-old mother Talat. "We don't know if it's closure, or justice. What we do know is that the verdict will not bring back what was stolen," said Tabinda Bukhari, Salman's mother. "This trial wasn't just about one act. It was a stark reminder of the fault lines that run deep within our society," she told reporters outside the court. It was the worst assault against Canadian Muslims since a man gunned down six people at a Quebec City mosque in 2017. Crown attorney Sarah Shaikh, who helped prosecute the case, said Veltman had committed a "uniquely abhorrent" crime aimed at Muslims as a whole. "Hatred and ideologically driven violence towards an entire community can never be tolerated in a free and democratic society," she said. The dead couple's nine-year-old son suffered serious injuries in the attack. Shortly after the assault, Veltman said: "I did it. I killed those people." Veltman pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder. His defense, citing what it called Veltman's mental challenges, said the actions amounted to a lesser charge of manslaughter. But Justice Renee Pomerance, who presided over the case, disagreed. "I find the offender's actions constitute terrorist activity," the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. cited her as saying. Prosecutors noted Veltman had written a manifesto entitled "A White Awakening" in which he outlined hatred of Islam and opposition to mass immigration and multiculturalism. Defense lawyer Christopher Hicks said he felt the terrorism determination had been inevitable, given the circumstances of the case and what he called a long and difficult trial. Asked about a possible appeal, he said "elements of an appeal are present," adding he would need to consult with Veltman first. (Reporting by David Ljunggren and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Josie Kao) CAIRO (Reuters) - Israeli forces raided Nasser Medical Complex, the biggest functioning hospital in Gaza, on Thursday shortly after withdrawing from it, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said. The World Health Organization says the hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza's second largest and crucial to the territory's crippled health services, stopped working last week after a week-long Israeli siege followed by the raid. Nasser Hospital is the latest health facility to become a theatre of war in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, now in its fifth month. Israel says Hamas, the Islamist group that has run Gaza since 2007, uses hospitals for cover. Hamas denies this and says Israel's allegations serve as a pretext to destroy the healthcare system. The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has responded with an air and ground assault that according to Gaza's authorities has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 69,000. The war has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million people and reduced much of it to rubble. (Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi and Enas Alashray; editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean) Palestinians ride a donkey cart through a destroyed beach road, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kosay Al Nemer/File Photo By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in areas of the Gaza Strip designed as testing grounds for post-war administration of the enclave, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday. But Hamas said the plan, which the Israeli official said would also exclude anybody on the payroll of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority (PA), would effectively mean an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza and was doomed to failure. The Israeli official said the planned "humanitarian pockets" would be in districts of the Gaza Strip from which Hamas has been expelled, but that their ultimate success would hinge on Israel achieving its goal of destroying the Islamist faction across the tiny coastal territory that it has been governing. "We're looking for the right people to step up to the plate," the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head." The plan, the official added, "may be achieved once Hamas is destroyed and doesn't pose a threat to Israel or to Gazans". Israel's top-rated Channel 12 TV reported that the Zeitoun neighbourhood of northern Gaza City was a candidate for implementation of the plan, under which local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid. The Israeli military would provide peripheral security in Zeitoun, Channel 12 said, describing renewed troop incursions there this week as designed to root out remnants of a Hamas garrison that was hit hard in the early stages of the war. There was no official confirmation of the Channel 12 report. 'SIGN OF CONFUSION' Asked about the Israeli official's comments and the Channel 12 report, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said such a plan would be tantamount to Israel reoccupying Gaza, from which it withdrew troops and settlers in 2005. Israel says it will have indefinite security control over Gaza after the war, but denies this would be a reoccupation. "We are confident this project is pointless and is a sign of confusion and it will never succeed," Abu Zuhri told Reuters. The Israeli official also made clear the Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, would also be barred as a partner in the "humanitarian pockets" on account of its failure to condemn the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The militants killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in that attack, Israel says, prompting an Israeli ground offensive and aerial bombardment of Gaza in which nearly 30,000 people have been killed, according to Gazan health authorities. "Anyone who took part in, or even failed to condemn, October 7 is ruled out," the official said. Wassel Abu Yousef, a senior official with the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation of which the PA is part, also appeared dismissive of the Israeli plan on Thursday. "All of Israels attempts to change the geographic and demographic features of Gaza will not succeed," he told Reuters. The United States has called for a "revitalised" PA to govern Gaza after the war. But Israel has been cool to the idea, noting that the PA provides payouts to jailed militants. Still, the official said, Israel would be willing to consider "humanitarian pocket" partners with past links to the PA's dominant Fatah faction, a more secular rival to Hamas. (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Dan WilliamsEditing by Gareth Jones) FILE PHOTO: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani holds a press conference with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron (not pictured) after attending the 16th Conference of Italian Ambassadors in the World, in Rome, Italy December 19, 2023. REUTERS/Rem By Angelo Amante ROME (Reuters) - Italy is set to sign a security agreement with Ukraine to help Kyiv strengthen its defence industry and fight hybrid threats such as cyber warfare, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven major democracies (G7), will sign the bilateral deal after Germany, France and Britain announced similar pacts to help Ukraine resist Russia's invasion. "Never before has it been so important to emphasise the will to ensure that the attacked David has the resources to defend himself against the Russian Goliath," Tajani told parliament. He said Italy, which has approved eight military aid packages for Ukraine since Russia's invasion two years ago, expected to finalise the pact in the coming days, adding that helping Kyiv was crucial to ensure a "just and durable peace". Under the deal, Italy will reiterate commitments to humanitarian assistance and protection of critical infrastructure, and will pledge support for Kyiv's efforts to adopt reforms required to join the European Union. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will chair a video conference meeting with fellow G7 leaders to discuss support for Ukraine on Feb. 24, the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will join the meeting, which Italian diplomatic sources say will result in a joint statement reiterating the group's support for Kyiv. The recent deals signed with France and Germany last for 10 years and involve commitments to deliver more arms and to train soldiers. Paris also committed to send up to 3 billion euros ($3.26 billion) in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Minister Tajani gave no financial details of Italy's agreement but said: "At a time when Ukraine is under constant attack by Russia, it sends a clear message that we defend international law." ($1 = 0.9203 euros) (Reporting Angelo Amante, editing by Giulia Segreti and Crispian Balmer) COLOMBO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) on Thursday urged the public to use water sparingly due to the declining water level in the rivers used as sources for piped drinking water. Anoja Kaluarachchi, deputy general manager of the NWSDB, said the country is not expecting any rainfall for at least two more months. Kaluarachchi expressed particular concern over the declining water level in the Kelani River, a critical source of water for Colombo and surrounding areas. This is one of the areas with a large population density and the highest water demand in the South Asian country, according to the official. He added that the country has been experiencing dry weather for about six weeks and the water level of other rivers too has dropped, impacting the water intake for distribution. Kaluarachchi said the NWSDB is erecting a temporary intake barrier across the Kelani River to ensure continued distribution during the dry season. Lara Trump holds a "Team Trump" event on behalf of her father-in-law, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, ahead of the South Carolina Republican primary election, in Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S. February 21, 2024. R By Nathan Layne NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) -Lara Trump, who Donald Trump has endorsed to be the new co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said on Wednesday that the organization needed to raise $500 million for the 2024 general election and did not rule out using raised funds to pay her father-in-law's mounting legal fees. Warning that the Democratic Party was flush with cash, Trump's daughter-in-law said the party needed a strong fundraising push to help Trump in his bid to return to the White House and for congressional races also up for grabs. Lara Trump made the comments at the Trump campaign's headquarters in North Charleston where she sought to rally supporters ahead of South Carolina's Republican primary on Saturday. Trump is the frontrunner on track to win the party's nomination and face President Joe Biden in November. "We need to raise about half a billion dollars between now and November 5th," she told the gathering. "We gotta make sure that people understand when they donate their money to the RNC, indeed it's going go to causes that they care about." The RNC, which is off to a slow start this election cycle, took in about $890 million during the 2020 cycle. Earlier this month Trump endorsed North Carolina Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley as the next RNC chair and Lara as co-chair as part of a leadership shakeup. The move came amid a flurry of media reports indicating he had grown frustrated with the current chair, Ronna McDaniel, over lackluster fundraising and the party's performance at the ballot box. Lara Trump was asked by media at Wednesday's event whether she would use funds raised by the RNC to pay legal fees for her father-in-law's numerous criminal and civil cases. In response, she said she didn't know whether it would be allowed under RNC rules but could see such payments as being in line with the interests of the party's rank-and-file members. "I think that is a big interest to people. Absolutely," she said, arguing that many Republicans believe the cases against Trump are politically motivated and therefore want to help. "They feel like it's an attack not just on Donald Trump but on this country." Earlier this month Trump was found liable for nearly $355 million in penalties in a civil fraud case in New York that dealt a significant blow to his family business. Trump has denied wrongdoing and derided the case as politically motivated. (reporting by Nathan Layne in North Charleston; Editing by Michael Perry) A man enters a Lloyds Bank branch in central London, Britain February 25, 2016. Lloyds Banking Group rewarded investors with a surprise 2 billion pound payout on Thursday, underlying its intent to be the biggest dividend payer among Britain's banks and it By Iain Withers and Lawrence White LONDON (Reuters) -Lloyds Banking Group reported a 57% jump in profit for 2023 on Thursday, as Britain's faltering economy and a charge for potential costs from a regulatory review into motor finance failed to put a major dent in its performance. Lloyds reported pre-tax profit of 7.5 billion pounds ($9.5 billion) for the 12-month period, up from 4.8 billion pounds the prior year and slightly above the 7.4 billion pounds average of analyst forecasts compiled by the bank. The group - which also spans the Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows brands - announced a final dividend of 1.84 pence and a share buyback of 2 billion pounds. As Britain's biggest domestic lender, Lloyds' fortunes are inextricably linked with those of the wider economy - which official data showed this month entered a recession in the second half of 2023. But like its rivals, Lloyds has enjoyed a huge boost to lending revenues from higher Bank of England interest rates - which underpin borrowing costs - while containing losses from potential bad loans as more borrowers feel the pinch. Lloyds set aside 308 million pounds to cover potential unpaid loans, well down on 1.5 billion pounds the prior year. The bank also set out muted performance guidance for the year ahead, amid tougher competition for mortgage and deposit pricing. The bank reported a net interest margin - a key measure of underlying bank profitability - of 2.98% in the final three months of the year, down on 3.08% in the third quarter. Lloyds said its NIM was forecast to fall to 2.9% this year. That in turn drove guidance for returns for 2024 to just 13%, down from 15.8% in 2023 before recovering to 15% by 2026, the bank said. PROVISION One potential major risk ahead for Lloyds lies in an ongoing regulatory review into suspected historic overcharging by car finance lenders - a market in which the bank is a big player through its subsidiary Black Horse. Lloyds set aside 450 million pounds to cover possible redress. Some analysts estimate the bank's potential costs could rise as high as 2 billion pounds. Analysts at RBC have estimated the sector's total compensation bill could reach 16 billion pounds, which would make it the costliest banking scandal since mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI). Lloyds also announced it had appointed former Banco Santander executive Nathan Bostock to its board, after deputy chairman Alan Dickinson said he would step down on completing nine years of service. Bostock was chief executive officer of the Spanish lender's UK arm from 2014 until 2022, and before that served briefly as finance director for RBS. ($1 = 0.7907 pounds) (Reporting by Iain Withers and Lawrence White, Editing by Sinead Cruise) A Maldives national flag flutters as pigeons fly past during the morning in Male February 8, 2012. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/Files By Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese research ship arrived in the Maldives on Thursday, global ship-tracking data showed, just three months after a similar vessel visited the Indian Ocean and sparked New Delhi's security concerns. The visit follows January comments by a U.S. think tank that China's navy could "leverage the insights gained from these missions" for deployment of naval forces, a claim Beijing calls part of a concocted image-smearing "China threat" narrative. Xiang Yang Hong 03, owned by a research institute that reports to China's natural resources ministry, made a port call in the Maldives capital of Male, data from MarineTraffic showed, more than a month after leaving its home port of Xiamen in southeastern China. Prior to its arrival, the civilian ship had spent more than three weeks surveying waters just outside the exclusive economic zones of India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the ship-tracking data showed. China's foreign ministry has said research by the vessel was "exclusively" for peaceful purposes to benefit scientific understanding. In recent years, India has voiced concern about the presence of China's research vessels in the Indian Ocean, even if they do not belong to the military. An Indian security official has previously said the vessels were "dual-use", meaning the data they gather can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Xiang Yang Hong 03 has visited the Indian Ocean multiple times. It sailed through the Sunda Strait in Indonesia in 2021, alarming Indonesian authorities, who said it had switched off its tracking system three times. Chinese research vessels have also stopped in nearby Sri Lanka. In 2022, Yuan Wang 5, a military vessel capable of tracking rocket and missile launches, arrived in Colombo, alarming India. The last time a Chinese research vessel docked in Sri Lanka was in October 2023, reviving India's concerns. But in January, the island nation imposed a year-long moratorium on foreign research ships, effectively denying China a port of call. Xiang Yang Hong 03's arrival follows a January visit to China by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu that upgraded ties, with Beijing offering 920 million yuan ($128 million) in "free aid". The Maldives has said the vessel would do no research in its waters, stopping only for personnel rotation and replenishment of supplies. ($1=7.1951 yuan) (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Ola Ola Kaellenius, CEO of Daimler AG, speaks at the Automobilwoche car summit in Ludwigsburg, Germany, November 10, 2021. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) - Any move by the European Union to increase protectionism against China would be a destructive move for an economic region like Europe, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius said on Thursday after the carmaker published its quarterly results. (Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Writing by Rachel More; Editing by Madeline Chambers) FILE PHOTO: People are seen behind a logo of Meta Platforms, during a conference in Mumbai, India, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo JAKARTA (Reuters) - Facebook parent Meta Platforms on Thursday said it believes that a new Indonesia law does not require it to pay news publishers for content they voluntarily post to its platforms. Indonesia's president this week signed into law a requirement that digital platforms pay media outlets that provide them with content. It is due to take effect in six months. "Following multiple rounds of consultations with the government, we understand Meta will not be required to pay for news content that publishers voluntarily post to our platforms," said Rafael Frankel, Meta's director of public policy for Southeast Asia. The law stipulates that digital platforms and news publishers should strike partnerships that could take the form of paid licences, revenue sharing or data sharing but much remains unclear about how these new agreements will work in practice. Governments around the world have long been concernd about what they see as a power imbalance between digital platforms and publishers of news and other content. Australia has led the way with its News Media Bargaining Code that took effect in March 2021. Meta and Google have since signed deals with media outlets that compensate them for content that generates clicks and advertising dollars. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Martin Petty and Edwina Gibbs) Ines Lafi, sister of Mohammed Lafi who she says was one of 40 people who went missing in January when their boat disappeared after setting off from a beach near the port of Sfax for the Italian island of Lampedusa, carries his pictures as she attends an i By Tarek Amara and Jihed Abidellaoui SFAX, Tunisia (Reuters) - Mohammed Lafi was a young man whose possession of a taxi meant he had a decent income and fair prospects by Tunisian standards. But that made little difference when he took the fatal decision to risk it all by crossing the sea for a new life in Europe. He was one of 40 people who went missing in January when their boat disappeared after setting off from a beach near the port of Sfax for the Italian island of Lampedusa, only a few hours away. As Tunisia's economy has floundered over recent years, ever more young people have gone to seek their fortune in prosperous Italy or France and the record numbers have led to a spike in deaths, with Sfax morgue regularly filling with drowned bodies. "Our situation is normal. My brother didn't suffer financial problems and he had a car to work with," said his sister Ines Lafi, still bewildered by her 30-year-old brother's decision to leave. Over the last year, the number of missing and dead people off Tunisia's coast has reached more than 1,300, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries. In the first month of 2024 alone, more than 100 people drowned off Tunisia, including 60 Tunisians whose bodies have yet to be found. Although there were more people crossing the Mediterranean during the height of the 2014-15 migration crisis - and dying at sea - the numbers are unprecedented for voyages from Tunisia. The increase comes despite a crackdown by Tunisian authorities, with police dismantling smuggling networks and stopping thousands of people on shore and at sea as they tried to cross to Lampedusa. Potential migrants are pushed by a growing disillusionment among Tunisians about their country's future and lured by social media tales of compatriots who portray their new European lives as easy and successful. "Mohammed was influenced by videos on social media that pushed him to sacrifice what he owns here in search of a better quality of life in Europe," said Ines Lafi. Migration boats once attracted only the unemployed and desperate but they increasingly carry middle class Tunisians, sometimes entire families. Last year, a video circulated widely of a 63-year-old man who made the journey with his wife and ten of his children and grandchildren. Tunisia is suffering an economic crisis with shortages of basic items such as bread and sugar, leading to long queues in shops and widespread frustration. MISSING Bereaved families are starting to make their voices heard - holding protests at the poor conditions that they believe drove their loved ones to their deaths at sea and demanding more work to retrieve their bodies. At recent protests in Sfax and the northern port of Bizerte, families blocked roads and held up photographs of the dead and missing, prompting authorities to announce they would start helicopter searches for bodies. For months, Mohammed Issaoui has made a daily 120 km (75 mile) journey from his home in Kairouan to Sfax to spend hours searching hospital morgues and even local beaches for news of his brother Montassar who disappeared last year. While Montassar only had precarious employment, he was still living decently, said his brother. The agony may be most intense for parents of the missing. Monia Gmati still holds on to hope that her son Sofian somehow survived his crossing to Europe, though she has had no news of him for months. "My life has turned into hell. I can't accept the idea that he died. It's killing me," she said. Twenty-one-year-old Sofian had amassed 7,000 dinars ($2,240) to pay for his trip, seeking to make a new life and send money home. But his boat sank. There were reports of many deaths, but his body was never found. His mother has searched every hospital and morgue, contacted journalists and sent his picture to authorities to Italy, but with no result. "I can't accept the idea the fish ate him at sea," she said. (Reporting by Tarek Amara and Jihed Abidellaoui, editing by Angus McDowall and Ros Russell) A displaced Palestinian child, who fled due to Israeli strikes, eats, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 20, 2024. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that medical teams in the Gaza Strip have come up with a new acronym: WCNSF - wounded child, no surviving family. "Children who do survive this war will not only bear the visible wounds of traumatic injuries, but the invisible ones too," MSF International Secretary General Christopher Lockyear told the 15-member council. "There is a repeated displacement, constant fear and witnessing family members literally dismembered before their eyes," he said. "These psychological injuries have led children as young as five to tell us that they would prefer to die." Lockyear slammed the United States, saying he was appalled it had repeatedly used its veto power to block the council from demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza. "The people of Gaza need a ceasefire, not when practicable, but now. They need a sustained ceasefire, not a temporary period of calm," Lockyear said. "Anything short of this is gross negligence." The U.S. has vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions since the start of the current fighting on Oct. 7, most recently blocking on Tuesday a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as it instead pushes council to call for a temporary ceasefire linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas. China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council he felt "appalled" by Lockyear's briefing. "We hope the tragic picture that he painted of Gaza for us can touch the conscience of a certain member of this council," Zhang said. 'WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO RISK?' The United States had said it was concerned that the draft resolution it vetoed on Tuesday could jeopardize talks between the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar that seek to broker a six week pause in the war and the release of hostages. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood did not acknowledge Lockyear's briefing. He said the U.S. was pushing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and had told its ally it should not proceed with a ground offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza "in the absence of a viable plan to protect civilians." "We all want to see a durable end to this conflict," Wood said. "The pace of hostage talks can be frustrating ... council support for this diplomacy is critical to increase pressure on Hamas to accept the agreement on the table." Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward described Lockyear's briefing as "harrowing." Britain abstained on Tuesday's vote, while the remaining 13 council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted resolution. Slovenia's U.N. Ambassador to the Security Council, Samuel Zbogar, asked: "What kind of a council have we become if we remain untouched by the tearful briefing that we heard today by the secretary general of Medecins Sans Frontieres?" The war began when fighters from the Hamas militant group that runs Gaza attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In retaliation, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that health authorities say has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians with thousands more bodies feared lost amid the ruins. "Today our staff are back at work risking their lives once again for their patients. What are you willing to risk?" Lockyear asked the council. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) By Maya Gebeily and Emilie Madi BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has no "plan B" past March should donor countries that withheld funding following Israeli allegations uphold their suspensions, the head of its Lebanon office said on Thursday. Israel accused 12 of UNRWA's 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip of taking part in the Hamas-led assault on Israel last year. The claims came after years of Israeli calls for the agency to be disbanded, and as Gazans face widespread hunger and only a trickle of aid into the bombarded strip. Sixteen countries suspended funding pending an investigation by the U.N.'s oversight office that Lebanon chief Dorothee Klaus said would be ready in a few weeks. "We hope that as many donors as possible indicate to the agency that they are reconsidering the funding freeze, and that funding will be restored to the agency, hopefully in such a way that we don't have a cash flow issue, and services continue uninterrupted," she said. "We do not have a plan B." Already, her office may not be able to finance its quarterly cash distribution to 65% of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. "This will be the first indicator to the community that UNRWA is cash-strapped, and this would be the first service that we will not be able to provide in quarter one," Klaus said. While UNRWA has faced cash crunches before, the collective suspension has prompted an unprecedented crisis and it would be wrong to think other agencies could fill the gap, she said. In Lebanon, UNRWA manages 12 camps for refugees, providing services from healthcare and schooling to garbage collection. If funding dries up, within a couple of days there would be trash filling camp streets, Klaus said. Israel's allegations have also prompted a separate review process by UNRWA that she said would examine safeguards protecting its neutrality and independence. Asked if that would involve an examination of possible affiliations to armed groups of UNRWA staff in Lebanon's camps, Klaus said she expected her branch would be consulted. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Emilie Madi; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) A local resident walks by the power grid towers at Bair Island State Marine Park in Redwood City, California, United States, January 26, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo (Reuters) - PG&E Corp posted fourth-quarter profit above analyst estimates on Thursday, as the electric and natural gas utility got a boost from higher rates for its services. In December, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to pass the alternate proposed decision (APD) raising prices for customers by nearly 13% in the company's General Rate Case. Utility companies use General Rate Case (GRC) proceedings to increase consumer electricity prices. The proceedings are initiated by utility firms with utility commissions when they have a revenue shortfall and ask for an increase in rates based on the total cost of providing service. On an adjusted basis, PG&E reported a profit of 47 cents per share, beating analysts' estimates of 45 cents per share, according to LSEG data. PG&E also raised its 2024 adjusted core earnings forecast to $1.33 - $1.37 per share from its previously expected range of $1.31-$1.35 per share. Shares of the company rose 1% in premarket trade. PG&E is the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an energy company that serves 16 million Californians across a 70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. The company has previously been linked to major wildfires, causing it to face several fines and bankruptcy. It emerged from bankruptcy in 2020. "Our story of progress continued in 2023, including further reducing wildfire ignitions and burying more powerlines than any prior yearall while achieving overall non-fuel operating and maintenance cost savings of more than 5%," PG&E CEO Patti Poppe said in a statement. (Reporting by Roshia Sabu in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid) Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador delivers a speech to present a package of constitutional reforms, including on the judiciary, electoral system, salaries, and pensions, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico February 5, 2024. REUTERS/ MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's freedom of information body INAI said on Thursday it was initiating an investigation after the country's president disclosed the phone number of a New York Times journalist looking into alleged ties between his allies and drug cartels. The disclosure took place during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's daily news conference. "During said event, the president made reference to an investigation by the aforementioned international newspaper and read, in front of everyone, the correspondent's telephone number," according to an INAI statement. The New York Times criticized Lopez Obrador's move on social media. "This is a troubling and unacceptable tactic from a world leader at a time when threats against journalists are on the rise," the media outlet wrote in a post on X. After the incident, the New York Times published its investigation revealing that U.S. law enforcement officials spent years looking into allegations that allies of Lopez Obrador met with and took millions of dollars from drug cartels after he took office in 2018. Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists outside active war zones as reporters investigate its criminal gangs and wide-spread corruption. International free-speech organization Article 19 has documented 163 journalist murders in Mexico since 2000. In January, the theft of the personal data of hundreds of journalists in Mexico, including addresses and copies of voter ID cards and passports, raised fresh safety concerns in one of the most dangerous countries for media professionals. (Reporting by Raul Cortes Fernandez, Ana Isabel Martinez and Anthony Esposito; Editing by David Alire Garcia) Nextracker, a global provider of intelligent solar tracker and software solutions, has been chosen by ACWA Power and Larsen & Toubro to provide its all-terrain tracker NX Horizon-XTR for a 1.17 GW installation at Al Kahfah Solar Power Plant in Saudi Arabia. Al Kahfah is one of the three major solar PV Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects being led by Badeel and ACWA Power. This solar plant will provide clean energy to the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) as part of the renewable energy projects essential to meet the targets of Vision 2030 and the Ministry of Energys National Renewable Energy Program to increase renewables in the nations energy mix to 50 per cent by 2030. Global construction giant L&T has also been awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the Al Kahfah Solar Power Plant. The Al Kahfah project will deploy Nextrackers NX Horizon-XTR smart solar tracker systems. The area the solar plant will occupy is dominated by a hilly, hard-soil land surface that would typically require a combination of explosives and grading machines to flatten the land the new solar tracking system will cover. First delivered in 2018 and proven on dozens of utility scale projects successfully operating around the world, Nextrackers all-terrain solar tracker system can conform to the natural terrain to reduce the need for costly land grading while significantly reducing environmental impact. The Al Kahfah project in Saudi Arabia represents Nextrackers largest deployment of its NX Horizon-XTR solar tracker technology in a single order to date. This planned Al Kahfah installation has also contributed to Nextracker achieving a significant milestone in the growing Middle East, India, and Africa (MEIA) solar energy market. This 1.17 GW order further reinforces Nextrackers commitment to this market, having over 10 GW of smart solar trackers either operational or under fulfilment across the region. As part of its support to ACWA Power and the Al Kahfah project, Nextracker has extended its domestic content and capacity development program in the Kingdom. Nextracker has engaged a range of local partners in providing raw material and manufacturing support for its trackers at plants across the region. Nextracker previously partnered with ACWA Power and L&T on the Sudair Solar PV Plant (906 MW) to provide its intelligent solar trackers boosting energy generation for these plants. Dan Shugar, Nextracker founder and CEO said: We are honored to partner again with both ACWA Power and Larsen & Toubro Ltd for another significant project in the region. Our partnership with these two industry leaders has contributed greatly to Nextrackers local commitment with over 10 GW of solar trackers already installed or under fulfilment across the MEIA regions rapidly expanding solar energy market. We are confident that Nextracker will contribute greatly to the Al Kahfah plantyet another example of Saudi government leadership in the energy transition and to the dominance of solar technology driving the transition to renewables in the region. Marco Arcelli, ACWA Power CEO, added: We are looking forward to a successful commissioning of this important new plant to ensure ongoing delivery of reliable, low-cost clean energy for families and businesses. Our partnerships with technology providers such as Nextracker are essential in supporting our role in Saudi Arabias ambitious National Renewable Energy Plan to increase the share of renewables in the countrys energy mix to 50 per cent by 2030. Bharathi Kumar, General Manager (Renewable International) of Larsen & Toubro Construction said: Nextrackers solutions offer great flexibility to configure solar tracking systems at project sites for premium performance. The pre-assembled components, single-row architecture and robotic cleaning compatibility ensure efficient operations and management over the lifecycle of every project. Nextrackers robust design with keen emphasis on wind engineering make its trackers most suitable for the region. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service NEW DELHI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A young farmer was killed and some others injured Wednesday after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on marching farmers in the northern Indian state of Haryana, officials said. The killing took place at Khanauri, a border point between Punjab and Haryana, about 121 km from the national capital New Delhi. According to police, the 20-year-old identified as Shubhkaran Singh was killed during the police action, a charge refuted by police in Haryana. "Three patients have come to us from Khanauri. One of them was dead on arrival, the other two are stable and seem to have sustained bullet injuries ... but it can't be confirmed," Rekhi, senior medical officer of Patiala's Rajendra hospital, was quoted as saying. "The person who was dead on arrival had a bullet injury on his head, but more details such as the size of the bullet can only be confirmed after postmortem." Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the death. Police also fired dozens of tear smoke shells at another border point Shambhu near Ambala district to stop the farmers' march. The farmers resumed their march to New Delhi Wednesday after rejecting a government's proposal to buy pulses, maize, and cotton crops from farmers at the minimum safety price for the next five years as an offer to end the ongoing protest. India's federal government on Wednesday urged farmers to maintain peace and said it was ready to hold the fifth round of talks to find a solution. The farmer protest has erupted at a time when India is due to hold general elections this year and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a record third term. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov in Kazan, Russia February 22, 2024. Sputnik/Sergei Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Joe Biden's "crazy SOB" remark showed why the Kremlin felt that for Russia, Biden would be a preferable future U.S. president to Donald Trump. "We are ready to work with any president. But I believe that for us, Biden is a more preferable president for Russia, and judging by what he has just said, I am absolutely right," Putin told state television, with a slight smile. "It's not like he can say to me, 'Volodya, thank you, well done, you've helped me a lot,'" Putin said. "You asked me which is better for us. I said it then that, and I still think I can repeat it: Biden." The Kremlin earlier said that Biden had debased the United States by calling Putin a "crazy SOB" at a San Francisco fundraiser on Wednesday. The Russian president said earlier this month that he preferred Biden to Trump as America's president because Biden was "more experienced" and "predictable." (Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan/Guy Faulconbridge) Smoke billows following a fire at a residential area in Valencia, Spain February 22, 2024, in this still image obtained from social media video. @clinomano_ via X/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO MADRID (Reuters) - Firefighters battled a blaze that engulfed an entire apartment building in the Spanish city of Valencia on Thursday, with local media reporting several residents still trapped inside. Television images showed the entire facade of the building ablaze as burning segments fell to the pavement below and small explosions were heard inside. Sixteen firefighting units and five ambulances had been deployed to the scene, in an affluent neighbourhood north of the city centre, local emergency services said. The fire began on the fourth floor of the building and spread to other apartments, emergency services said on X. Local media reported several residents calling for help from the balconies of their apartments. Ana Mari Gonzalez, who works in a nearby clinic, told TVE she could see firefighters working to rescue a teenage boy trapped on the building's first floor. (Reporting by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Frances Kerry) (Reuters) - A Texas judge ruled on Thursday that a Houston-area school district did not violate a newly enacted state law when it punished a Black student for refusing to change his hairstyle, local media reported. The case involved Darryl George, who wears his dreadlocks braided on top of his head, and Barbers Hill Independent School District, which had claimed the 18-year-old's hairstyle violated its dress code, Houston Public Media reported. It suspended him in August and sent him to an off-site disciplinary program for the entire school year. During the first day of the trial, Chambers County Judge Chap Cain III ruled that Barbers Hill did not violate the state's Crown Act, which prohibits race-based discrimination on hair, the news outlet reported. There's been a lot of emotions on me - anger, sadness, George said as he entered the courthouse on Thursday, according to Houston Public Media. "It feels very lonely when you're the only one stuck in a room for a whole semester, a whole year." Support has grown across the United States recently for legislation banning race-based discrimination on hair, specifically textures or styles associated with a particular race or national origin. Texas is one of 24 states to have passed a law banning such discrimination, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Texas passed its law in May 2023. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas wrote on social media on Thursday that the Barbers Hill school district "has repeatedly disrupted the education of Black students in the district because of their discriminatory dress codes." The ACLU pointed to a report it published earlier this month that it says showed that 80% of Texas schools "have vague hair policies that may be used to disproportionately punish Black students." In its lawsuit filed in September, the school district asked the court to weigh in on the issue. Barbers Hill claimed that George's hair violated its dress code, which says that a male students hair cannot be "below the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down." Greg Poole, the superintendent of Barbers Hill ISD, recently took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle defending the position, saying the policy is legal and teaches students to conform as a sacrifice benefiting everyone, local television reported. Lawyers for George and the school district were not immediately available for comment. After the court proceeding, an attorney for the family said she planned to file an appeal and request a federal injunction against the school district, Houston Public Media reported. In September, the family filed a separate lawsuit against the school district in federal court, claiming its dress code policy violates George's civil rights. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: People fish in a pond on the outskirts of Buriram province, Thailand, January 28, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's parliament voted unanimously on Thursday to loosen regulations on the fisheries industry, responding to concerns from its multibillion dollar seafood sector that the current rules are too tough. Lawmakers approved eight draft fishery bills in the first reading in a 416-0 vote to amend regulations that were introduced in 2015 as part of the country's crackdown on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. A parliamentary committee will study the eight drafts and propose a new draft that must pass a second and third reading and approval from the Senate before becoming law. Thailand is the world's fourth-largest seafood exporter with an annual exports estimated to be worth 200 billion baht ($5.59 billion) according to government data. It cracked down on the industry after the European Union threatened to ban Thai seafood exports while the United States scrutinised the country's fishing industry for slavery, trafficking and labour abuses on fishing boats and at onshore processing facilities. Thailand changed its regulations to match international standards and improve its management, monitoring and inspection system, and in 2019 ratified an international convention that sets binding rules and standards for conditions on fishing vessels. Many Thai fishermen have complained the changes were too sudden for them to adjust and have pressured the government to change the regulations. Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao said the government's draft bill, among the eight that parliament has approved, aims to urgently address those concerns. Opposition lawmaker Pita Limjaroenrat said the changed fisheries law must also taken into account Thailand's international legal obligations while allowing time and compensation for fishermen to adjust to the changes. Ninety civil society groups last year submitted an open letter to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last year, asking him not to roll back the reforms Thailand has made in the sector. ($1 = 35.8000 baht) (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Frances Kerry) Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his welcome, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 12, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo By Muvija M and William James LONDON (Reuters) -Britain announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, saying it was seeking to diminish President Vladimir Putin's weapons arsenal and war chest two years after the invasion of Ukraine. The package, covering more than 50 individuals and entities, was announced two days before Saturday's second anniversary of the full-scale invasion and is part of a coordinated Western effort to restrict the Russian economy. "Our international economic pressure means Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion. Our sanctions are starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war," Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement. The European Union on Wednesday approved its own package of sweeping sanctions, banning nearly 200 entities and individuals accused of helping Moscow procure weapons or of involvement in kidnapping Ukrainian children. Britain sanctioned companies linked to the Russian ammunition industry, including what it said was the largest, the Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise, and targeted sources of revenue in the metals, diamonds and energy industries. That included a Turkish company Britain said was supplying electronics to Russia, three electronics companies in China and executives at Russian diamond producer Alrosa. It also added managers of copper producer UMMC to the list. Alrosa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The foreign office also imposed sanctions on what it said were key Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools used to manufacture defence systems and components ranging from missiles and engines to tanks and fighter jets. The government also said it was preparing to strengthen its powers to target "malign Russian shipping activity and individual 'shadow fleet' vessels used by Russia to soften the blow of oil-related sanctions". China called the sanctions "unilateral acts that have no basis in international law", and argued that it has "always adhered to an objective and fair position" on the Ukraine issue while actively committed to promoting peace talks. "We would like to inform the British side that any action that undermines China's interests will be resolutely countered by the Chinese side," a spokesperson at the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom said in a statement. Britain this week imposed sanctions on six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died. There are more than 2,000 Russian individuals, companies and groups on Britain's sanctions list. (Reporting by Muvija M and William James, Additional reporting by Farouq Suleiman and Alexander Marrow, and Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Kylie MacLellan, Timothy Heritage and Michael Perry) FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (not pictured) during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany February 17, 2024. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/Pool/File Photo (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy downplayed Ukraine's loss of the eastern town of Avdiivka to Russian forces and called for faster support from allies as the war against Russia neared the two-year mark, in comments broadcast on Wednesday. Russian troops took control of Avdiivka last week in Moscow's biggest battlefield gain since its forces captured Bakhmut last May. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin says Russia will press on with its drive through eastern Ukraine. Zelenskiy, in excerpts from an interview with Fox News to be aired on Thursday, acknowledged that last year had been "complicated" for Ukraine, particularly as 2023 came to a close. But, speaking in English, he pointed to earlier gains, particularly in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where the Fox interview took place. "During these two years we got (back) part of the Kharkiv region. Now we are in this region ... and we unblocked the Black Sea. There are grain routes and we destroyed a lot of their ships of the Russian fleet," Zelenskiy said. "That is what we did over two years. And what they could do? Only this one place. But what for?" Avdiivka lies 15 km (nine miles) northwest of the Russian-held main town of Donetsk region, also named Donetsk. Russian analysts say its capture will keep Donetsk safe from Ukrainian shelling as Moscow considers how to pursue its drive to capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In his comments, Zelenskiy expressed new discontent with the slowdown in Western aid for Ukraine's war effort, without singling out the United States. U.S. President Joe Biden's request to extend a big aid package has been held up by wrangling in the U.S. Congress. "We have to be more quick. That means to lose all the bureaucracy. Otherwise we will not have any chance," he said. The president acknowledged that finding an alternative to U.S. support would not be easy. "Of course, we will find. We will not stay in the same place. We have to survive. We have to find some parallel steps," he said in the interview, conducted in part on a hospital ward. "You understand that this help is crucial. So without it, sorry, we will have more and more such heroic guys who will be in the hospitals. If you don't have a real defending shield and similar powerful artillery with rounds, of course you will lose people." The U.S. Senate has passed a $95 billion aid package that includes funds for Ukraine, but House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has declined to bring it up for a vote on the floor of the House. (Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Stephen Coates) CEO of VTB bank Andrei Kostin attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, August 10, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo By Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Thursday charged the CEO of Russian-state owned VTB Bank Andrey Kostin and two U.S.-based associates with sanctions violations as part of a flurry of enforcement actions aimed at Russia two years after it invaded Ukraine. Kostin, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2018, is accused of money laundering and sanctions violations through his maintenance of two yachts worth more than $135 million and a home in the resort town of Aspen, Colorado, according to an indictment in Manhattan federal court. Two associates, Vadim Wolfson and Gannon Bond were arrested in the United States on charges of helping to take care of the $12 million Colorado property while concealing that Kostin owned it, U.S. Justice Department officials said. Kostin, who is believed to be in Russia, remains at large. The indictment was one of five criminal and civil actions the Justice Department unveiled on Thursday as part of an effort by U.S. authorities to crackdown on people with ties to the Kremlin. The Justice Department is more committed than ever to cutting off the flow of illegal funds that are fueling Putins war and to holding accountable those who continue to enable it, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. The other cases include charges against pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko for allegedly using shell companies to sell metal products in the United States. Kurchenko, an associate of former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich, was sanctioned by the United States in 2015. Kurchenko, who is believed to live in Moscow, is not in U.S. custody. U.S. authorities also moved to seize two Florida condominiums allegedly linked to the founders of a sanctioned Russian construction company and indicted a resident of Switzerland accused of operating a superyacht owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. The Justice Department launched a "KleptoCapture" task force in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in hopes of straining the finances of Russia elite and hampering funding for the war. The effort has since yielded criminal charges against more than 70 individuals and five corporate entities, Justice Department officials said. (Reporting by Andrew GoudswardEditing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell) Takeshi Ebisawa poses with a rocket launcher during a meeting with an informant and two undercover Danish police officers at a warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark February 3, 2021, in a photograph from a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) criminal complai WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities on Wednesday charged the leader of a Japanese crime syndicate with conspiring to traffic nuclear materials from Myanmar for expected use by Iran in nuclear weapons, the Justice Department said. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, and co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, 61, trafficked in drugs, weapons and nuclear material, "going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons," said Anne Milgram, who heads the Drug Enforcement Administration. Both men have been ordered detained, the department said in a statement. Ebisawa is accused of conspiring to sell weapons-grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Myanmar and to buy military weapons on behalf of an armed insurgent group, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said. "It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded," Olsen said. The two men were charged in 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses. The new charges were contained in a superseding indictment. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Scott Malone and Chris Reese) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chair of a U.S. House Committee on China and the top Democrat on the panel urged Volkswagen to halt operations in Xinjiang after thousands of vehicles with a small Chinese-made electronic component were held at U.S. ports. Representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican, and Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote to VW CEO Oliver Blume raising "deep concern" about the reports that VW Group models were blocked from entry into the United States because the vehicles "contained parts made by forced labor in" China, according to a copy of the Feb. 21 letter reviewed by Reuters. The Financial Times reported last week that about 1,000 Porsche vehicles, several hundred Bentleys and several thousand Audi vehicles were held at U.S. ports because a Chinese subcomponent breached anti-forced labor laws. Volkswagen, which declined immediate comment on the letter, said Thursday it "promptly notified authorities as soon as we learned of the issue from our supplier and held the vehicles in port. We have begun to replace the unit containing the relevant component and are making shipments of conforming vehicles to our dealers." Volkswagen said last week it is in talks with its joint venture partner in China over its presence in Xinjiang, after a German newspaper reported what it said was evidence of the carmaker's involvement in forced labor. The report in business newspaper Handelsblatt said independent researcher Adrian Zenz found evidence of the use of forced labor in the construction of a test track in Turpan, Xinjiang, which is operated by a subsidiary of the joint venture of SAIC and VW. The lawmakers' letter said in "light of evidence of forced labor within Volkswagens supply chain as well as its continued operations in Xinjiang, we call on Volkswagen to immediately cease all operations in Xinjiang." The issue adds to pressure on Germany's biggest corporations to rethink ties with China, specifically in the Xinjiang region, where rights groups have documented abuses including forced labor in detention camps. Beijing denies any such abuses. VW said last week it takes allegations of human rights violations very seriously, and its investigations could result in the end of a supplier relationship if a serious violation is confirmed. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Potter) TOKYO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo District Court on Thursday held the first hearing on the Japanese government's request to issue an order to dissolve the controversial religious organization Unification Church, local media reported. In the hearing that lasted for about an hour, Presiding Judge Kenya Suzuki heard arguments from Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Japan branch of the organization, and the government, Kyodo News said. The behind-closed-doors session on the request made in October came after a months-long probe into Unification Church's activities, including claims it systematically and repeatedly solicited financially ruinous donations from followers, the report said. Tanaka told the judge that donations from believers are used for missionary work in and outside Japan, and that receiving donations was part of religious activities, according to Nobuya Fukumoto, a lawyer representing the Unification Church. The Unification Church has been under renewed scrutiny since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot by Tetsuya Yamagami during a July 2022 election campaign stop. The attacker claimed he targeted Abe over his perceived links to the religious organization. Yamagami told the police his mother's vast donations to the church brought financial ruin to his family. Ford Motor Co. unveils the new 2020 Escape SUV during a celebration at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S., March 28, 2019. Picture taken March 28, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook (Reuters) - U.S. new vehicle sales are expected to rise 1.4% in February from a year earlier, driven by robust demand and a better supply of vehicles, according to a joint report by industry consultants J.D. Power and GlobalData on Thursday. Total new vehicle sales in the United States, which include retail and non-retail transactions, are estimated to touch 1.2 million units in February, according to the report. The report said the volume growth was helped by higher inventory levels, higher manufacturer incentives and lower retailer profit margins which led to lower average transaction prices. The report also added the number of buyers considering an electric vehicle for their next purchase dropped to 25.6%, a full percentage point lower than in December. Consumers are expected to spend $40.80 billion on new vehicles, up $1.40 billion from last year. The average incentive spend per unit for the month is estimated to be around $2,565, up from $1,464 from a year ago. "Despite the landscape shifting towards increased volume with diminished per-unit profits, retail customers will still spend more on new vehicles this month than in any other February on record," said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. The average transaction price (ATP) for new vehicles in February is expected to be $44,045, down $1,919 from the same period in 2023. (Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) from the U.S. visit a farm cooperative on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, February 21, 2024. REUTERS/Norlys Perez By Marc Frank HAVANA (Reuters) - The leader of an association of top U.S. state agriculture officials on Wednesday said his country might want to take advantage of reforms underway in Cuba, possibly through investments. There seems to be a new Cuba that is emerging and it may represent a pathway toward greater collaboration, Ted McKinney, chief executive of the Association of State Departments of Agriculture told Reuters at a farm cooperative on the outskirts of Havana. Cuba is mired in its worst economic crisis in decades, resulting in shortages and soaring prices for food, medicine, fuel and other basics. The Communist-run country is slowly implementing market reforms in response. The cooperative was the last stop of a five-day visit by top farm officials from seven states and who met with President Miguel Diaz-Canel and others and visited various sites. The United State has maintained comprehensive sanctions on Cuba since Fidel Castros 1959 Revolution. However, Congress in 2000 authorized agricultural sales to Cuba for cash which to date have amounted to more than $7 billion. Commissioners from Louisiana, Indiana, South Carolina, Michigan and Montana all told Reuters at the cooperative they sensed Cuba was changing. They cited the emergence of more than 10,000 non-farm small and medium-sized businesses over the last two years, some linked to farm supply and food processing. The trend is a positive one, Hugh Weathers of South Carolinas Department of Agriculture, said. Indiana's Don Lamb said he viewed Cuba's emerging private sector as "interesting and exciting. Cuba has also opened its agricultural sector, which for decades has included some 200,000 private farms and thousands of cooperatives, to foreign investment. No U.S. investment has been authorized to date, but some has begun to come in from other countries. McKinney said it was not the states role to pass bills but that the commissioners would report back to legislators and federal agencies about the market's potential. (Reporting by Marc Frank; additional reporting by Reuters television; Editing by Christian Plumb and Marguerita Choy) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland attends a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, April 7, 2022. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/File Photo By Jonathan Landay and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A senior U.S. diplomat said on Thursday the United States will impose "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of sanctions against Russia in a new package marking the second anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and responding to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said some of the sanctions would target those responsible for the killing of Navalny, but most will hit "Putin's war machine" and close gaps in existing sanctions regimes. They also will target countries that help Russia evade sanctions it currently faces, and banks that allow that evasion. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Washington would announce a major package of sanctions against Russia on Friday, without giving details. Russia's invasion of Ukraine started on Feb. 24, 2022. "We will have a crushing new package of sanctions, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them in the next couple days ... and some of them will be targeted at folks directly involved in Navalny's death," Nuland said in remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. She said the vast majority are designed to further weaken "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's war machine to close gaps in the sanctions regime that he has been able to evade. But I anticipate that as time goes on, we will be able to put forward more and more sanctions," she said. Nuland acknowledged that sanctions already in place have not stopped Russia's defense industry. "He (Putin) and his tricksters have found a lot of gaps," she said. But she said the new sanctions would address that. "When you see this package in a couple of days, it is very heavily focused on evasion, on nodes and networks and countries that help evade - willingly or otherwise - and on the banks that support and allow that kind of evasion and some of the inputs for the weapons." Nuland noted Russia's use of Iranian drones, that Moscow has an agreement with North Korea, and Moscow's growing economic integration with and dependence on China. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Patricia Zengerle; editing by Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: Houthi followers hold a Palestinian flag during a parade in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and to show support to Houthi strikes on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, in Sanaa, Yemen January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled By Jonathan Saul and Nayera Abdallah DUBAI/ADEN/LONDON (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a UK-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on an American destroyer on Thursday, and they targeted Israel's port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones. The statement by a Houthi representative on social media site X came shortly after the group's leader said it was ramping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters - including with new "submarine weapons" - to mirror Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip. Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November in support of Palestinians, as the Israel-Hamas war continues and the Gaza death toll reaches almost 30,000. "Operations in the Red and Arabian Seas, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden are continuing, escalating, and effective," Abdul Malik al-Houthi added in a televised speech. He gave no details of the submarine weapons. The group's strikes are disrupting the vital Suez Canal trade shortcut that accounts for about 12% of global maritime traffic, and forcing firms to take a longer, more expensive route around Africa. The Houthis on Thursday sent shippers and insurers formal notice of what they termed a ban on vessels linked to Israel, the U.S. and Britain from sailing in surrounding seas, seeking to reinforce their military campaign. The Houthis' communication, the first to the shipping industry outlining a ban, came in the form of two notices from the Houthis' newly dubbed Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center sent to shipping insurers and firms. The aim is to force sailing companies to collaborate with the Houthis to guarantee the safety of their ships, Ships owned by individuals or entities in Israel, the U.S. and U.K. or sailing under their flags are banned from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, Thursday's notices said. "The Humanitarian Operations Center was established in Sanaa to coordinate the safe and peaceful passage of ships and vessels that have no connection to Israel," a senior Houthi official told Reuters on Thursday. RISK PRICED IN The months of attacks have upset global trade and reset shipping rates at a higher level. Insurance sources on Thursday said there was no change in rates since the issuance of the advisories because marine underwriters had already restricted coverage availability or increased rates. "In terms or marine war insurance availability and pricing, we don't see a significant effect from the Houthi group's recent announcement since it echoed similar announcements from last year to target Israel, U.S. and UK-linked vessels," Marcos Alvarez, managing director, global insurance ratings, Morningstar DBRS, told Reuters. Militant leader al-Houthi said retaliatory strikes by the U.S.-British coalition have failed to stop its campaign. Earlier on Thursday, two missiles set ablaze a ship some 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. The vessel and crew were reported safe and are proceeding to the next port of call, it said in a later update. That UK-owned, Palau-flagged ship, the Islander, was en route to Egypt from Thailand, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey and ship tracking data. The U.S. military's Central Command said in a social media post that the U.S. shot down six Houthi drones in the Red Sea after they were identified as an imminent threat to U.S. and allied warships. No ships have been sunk nor crew killed during the Houthi campaign. However there are concerns about the fate of the UK-registered Rubymar cargo vessel, which was struck on Feb. 18 and its crew evacuated. The Houthis said the Rubymar was at risk of sinking but a U.S. defence official said it remained afloat. Rubymar is "sitting lower still in the water," Ambrey said. A salvage attempt was aborted and a navigation warning to nearby ships was in place, the firm said. Other options are under consideration, the vessel's security company ISS-SAPU said. Earlier on Thursday, Israel's military also said it intercepted a target in the area of the Red Sea after sirens warning of incoming rockets and missiles sounded in the southern city of Eilat. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah, Ahmed Elimam, Tala Ramadan and Jana Choukeir in Dubai, Jonathan Saul, Natalie Grover and Robert Harvey in London, Mohammed Ghobari in Aden, Yomna Ehab in Cairo and Sinead Cruise in London; Writing by Nayera Abdallah, Paul Carsten and Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Michael Georgy, Jason Neely, William Maclean, Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman) Smoke rises above Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel, February 13, 2024. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/ File photo By Aidan Lewis and Nidal al-Mughrabi (Reuters) -Aid agencies hope to evacuate roughly 140 patients stranded in Gaza's Nasser hospital, a World Health Organization official said on Thursday, as Palestinian authorities reported that Israeli troops withdrew from the complex and then stormed it again. Medical teams had buried on the grounds of the hospital 13 patients who had died because the facility had no power or oxygen, Gaza's health ministry said. The WHO says the hospital in Khan Younis, which is Gaza's second-largest and is crucial to the territory's crippled health services, stopped working last week after an Israeli siege followed by a raid. The WHO and partners have so far carried out three evacuations from the hospital, the latest on Wednesday, transferring a total of 51 patients to southern Gaza, the U.N. agency's Ayadil Saparbekov told a press briefing. "The WHO will continue to try evacuation of those critically ill and critically wounded patients from the Nasser hospital to other hospitals in the south, including the field hospitals that have been established in Rafah," Saparbekov said. "However it's a very difficult and high-risk mission." Israeli forces had withdrawn from the hospital, positioning themselves nearby and preventing movement to and from it before storming it once more, the Gaza health ministry said. There was no immediate comment from Israel. The number of patients remaining in Nasser hospital had been changing by the hour as some people left to escape the fighting and others succumbed to their wounds, Saparbekov said. Gaza's health ministry had said in an earlier statement on Wednesday that 110 patients were waiting to be evacuated. It said eight patients at Nasser had died due to the lack of power and oxygen four days previously and that their bodies had begun to decompose, posing a risk to other patients. When the WHO carried out the evacuations so far, it observed four doctors and nurses at Nasser hospital along with about a dozen volunteers helping medical staff keep patients alive, Saparbekov said. Staff had not yet managed to reconnect the main generator. The Gaza health ministry said there was a lack of food, drinking water and medical supplies at the complex, and that the ground floors were flooded with sewage water. Four-and-a-half months after Israel began its campaign in Gaza in retaliation for a major Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, just 13 of the Palestinian enclave's 34 hospitals are functioning on a partial or minimal level. Gaza's population of 2.3 million faces acute hunger and the spread of disease in a humanitarian crisis that aid officials describe as unprecedented. Most Gaza residents have been displaced and are crammed into the south of the strip around Rafah, close to the border with Egypt. Israel says Hamas, the Islamist group that has run Gaza since 2007, uses hospitals for cover. Hamas denies this and says Israel's allegations serve as a pretext to destroy the healthcare system. (Reporting by Aidan Lewis in London and Nidal al-Mughrabi in CairoEditing by Alex Richardson, Frances Kerry and Matthew Lewis) Women take part in a ritual event of naked festival, for the first time in its 1250 years of history, at Owari Okunitama Shrine, also known as Konomiya Shrine, in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan February 22, 2024. REUTERS/Chris Gallagher By Chris Gallagher INAZAWA, Japan (Reuters) - Women officially joined a so-called "naked festival" at a shrine in central Japan on Thursday for the first time in the event's 1,250 year history, donning purple robes and chanting excitedly as they bore a large bamboo trunk as an offering. Seven groups of women took part in the ritual which is said to drive away evil spirits and where participants pray for happiness. Despite its name, those taking part are not naked. Many women wore "Happi Coats" (robes that reach to the hips) and shorts that are typically worn at Japanese festivals, although men just wore loincloths similar to those worn by sumo wrestlers. "I heard that women could participate so I definitely wanted to take part to help bring excitement to this town and festival," said 59-year-old civil servant Emi Tachibana, one of the participants. Naruhito Tsunoda, a priest at the shrine, said there had never been a ban on women participating, and some had even made small offerings as individuals before. However, when a women's group inquired last year if they could join, saying 'yes' was easy. "I believe the most important thing is for there to be a fun festival for everyone. I think God would be happiest about that too," he said. The women did not join the festival's main event where a large group of men clash together to drive away evil spirits. Tsunoda said it would be difficult to open up that part of the festival to women due to the physical aspect. Japan's government last year said it would push to improve women's participation in society, after an annual report showed the country was struggling to narrow the gender gap. The World Economic Forum report measuring gender parity ranked Japan 125th out of 146 countries in 2023, down from 116th in 2022. (Reporting by Chris Gallagher; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Jan.19, 2024. (Jovan Banks/U.S. Air Force) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea An F-16 Fighting Falcon jettisoned two external fuel tanks Thursday during an in-flight emergency over the Yellow Sea, according to the 8th Fighter Wing. The F-16 assigned to the wing at Kunsan Air Base, about 115 miles south of Seoul, was on a routine flight when the pilot dropped the tanks around 10 a.m., 7th Air Force spokeswoman Rachel Buitrago told Stars and Stripes in an emailed statement Thursday. The pilot landed safely at Kunsan; search and recovery operations for the tanks are underway, according to the statement. No further details were immediately available. Pilots in the Indo-Pacific have jettisoned fuel tanks previously, most recently over Japan. In December 2021, two fuel tanks jettisoned by an F-16 pilot during an emergency over northeastern Japan fell onto Fukaura, a coastal town about 100 miles west of Misawa Air Base, the jets home field. No one was injured and the pilot landed safely at Aomori Airport, but one of the tanks came down near homes and the town hall. On March 24, 2017, an F-16 experienced an in-flight emergency and dropped its auxiliary fuel tanks into a lake two miles west of Kunsan. Recovery of the 600-gallon fuel tanks were halted due to the low likelihood of finding them, a 7th Air Force spokeswoman said at the time. Thursdays incident happened about three weeks after another Kunsan-based F-16 experienced an emergency over the Yellow Sea. That jet went down in the sea Jan. 31. The pilot ejected and was safely recovered less than an hour later. Yet another Kunsan F-16 crashed in the Yellow Sea on Dec. 11. Seven months earlier, a Fighting Falcon from the base went down on a farmers field near Osan Air Base, roughly 30 miles south of Seoul. When natural disasters strike in the U.S., the National Guard will be ready to help. That was the aim of PATRIOT, an annual, joint interagency exercise sponsored by the Air National Guard Bureau and conducted Sunday through Thursday at Camp Shelby, Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center and Camp McCain, Miss. The exercise allows civilian emergency management and responders to work with the military in the same manner they would during disasters such as strong storms, according to a National Guard news release announcing the exercise. Training jointly allows National Guard members to provide a synergistic response to any disaster, Lt. Col. Sarah Ashley Nickloes, exercise director, said. The National Guard serves a dual role, to protect the homeland in addition to serving alongside the active duty forces across the globe when called upon. Air National Guard Security Forces members participate in a mass casualty role play exercise at PATRIOT 24 exercise at Combined Arms Collective Training Facility, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. PATRIOT is a domestic operations disaster-response training exercise conducted by National Guard units working with federal, state and local emergency management agencies and first responders. (Jessica Hulbert/U.S. Air National Guard) More than 300 civilians, volunteers, National Guard soldiers and airmen from across the country were expected to participate at exercise venues at and around Camp Shelby, the release said. I like the communication and integration of multiple units, said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Javier Barron of the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas National Guard, in a post on the National Guard Patriot Exercise Facebook page. Barron served as a role player in a civil unrest and mass casualty exercise Monday at Camp Shelby. Its interesting to see how much we have evolved in the Security Forces career field. I have enjoyed getting to work with other local agencies. Team BUSAR (Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue), a search and rescue organization based in the Great Smoky Mountains, and Air National Guard Security Forces work together to conduct search and rescue operations during PATRIOT 24 exercise at Camp McCain, Grenada, Miss., Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Jessica Hulbert/U.S. Air National Guard) Also during the exercise, Team BUSAR (Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue) and Air Force Security Forces squadrons from multiple states conducted search and rescue exercises at Camp Shelby. BUSAR tends to specialize in backcountry operations, such as in the Smokies, but the invitation to PATRIOT allows us to expand our scope and skills to civil disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes and search and rescue operations that we have not had a lot of exposure to, said Tech. Sgt. Wells Holbrook, 134th Air Refueling Wing, in an Air Force news release. Kato, a 6-year-old multipurpose K9, assists Team BUSAR with search and rescue operations during the PATRIOT 24 exercise. (National Guard Patriot Exercise/Facebook) Air National Guard Security Forces members participate in a mass casualty role play exercise at PATRIOT 24 exercise at Combined Arms Collective Training Facility, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Michelle Brooks/U.S. Air National Guard) Senior Airman LaKeisha Williams with the 174th Attack Wing, Syracuse, N.Y., coordinates via radio with team members during a PATRIOT 24 search and rescue exercise at Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) Mississippi National Guard Staff Sgt. Tres Dobbins, CH-47 Chinook crewman, Company B of the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, Meridian, Miss., supports aerial transportation of participants during PATRIOT 24, Camp Shelby, Miss., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Jessica Hulbert/U.S. Air National Guard) Airmen place an injured role-play victim on a gurney from aeromedical evacuation via helicopter during a PATRIOT 24 search and rescue exercise, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) Service members on a UH-72 Lakota helicopter prepare to land for injured role-play victims during a PATRIOT 24 search and rescue exercise, Camp Shelby, Miss., Feb. 19, 2024. PATRIOT is a Domestic Operations disaster-response training exercise conducted by National Guard units working with federal, state and local emergency management agencies and first responders. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) An airman bandages an injured role-play victim during a PATRIOT 24 search and rescue exercise, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) Air National Guard Security Forces airmen deliver an injured role-play victim to a UH-72 Lakota helicopter for transport during a PATRIOT 24 search and rescue exercise, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) Airmen participating in PATRIOT 24 survey an area for radiological hazards and notify a role-play homeowner on proper precautions to take during PATRIOT 24, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) Air National Guard Security Forces airmen transport a role-play injured victim during a PATRIOT 24 search and rescue exercise, Camp Shelby, Miss., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Shardae McAfee/U.S. Air National Guard) Army Col. Frank Rubio, a NASA astronaut, addresses the audience after receiving the Army Astronaut Device on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Rubio holds the U.S. record for the most days in space for a single spaceflight, serving 371 days aboard the International Space Station. (Deonte Rowell/U.S. Army) WASHINGTON Army Col. Frank Rubio did not grow up thinking he would end up in space. It was something he gravitated to later in life. You kind of fall in love with the idea of, Hey, I get to go out and explore space, do something really challenging and hard, he said. [There are] few things where you can say my job represents humanity. And thats a pretty powerful thing to be a part of. Rubio has been back on Earth for nearly five months and Thursday received the Army Astronaut Device, making him only the third active-duty soldier authorized to wear it, according to the service. The biggest honor for me about this badge is that, to me, it is the ultimate team badge, he said. You absolutely cannot get to space on your own. Rubio was in space for 371 days, which set the U.S. record for longest continuous spaceflight when he landed Sept. 27. Rubio graduated from West Point in 1998 and earned his doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2010. Prior to attending medical school, he served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and flew more than 1,100 hours, including more than 600 hours of combat time during deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Army Col. Frank Rubio checks tomato plants growing inside the International Space Station for a space botany study in November 2022. (Koichi Wakata, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency via NASA) Expedition 69 NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is carried to a medical tent shortly after he and Roscosmos cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev landed in their Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 27, 2023. The trio returned to Earth after logging 371 days in space. For Rubio, his mission was the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut in history. (NASA courtesy photo by Bill Ingalls) (Bill Ingalls/NASA) Prior to being selected by NASA as part of the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class, Rubio was a surgeon for the 3rd Battalion with the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colo. He spent two years training as an astronaut candidate to be a flight engineer and member of the Expedition Crew 68, according to his NASA biography. Rubio, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, launched Sept. 21, 2022, on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station. He and his crew members were only supposed to be in space for six months. A coolant leak on the vessel required NASA and Russian space agency Roscosmos to send the three men a replacement spacecraft for their ride home, delaying the arrival of a new team of astronauts to relieve them. During the mission, Rubio traveled more than 157 million miles, according to his NASA biography. He conducted three spacewalks, totaling more than 21 hours of space walking time. I will just say, clearly, we have an underachiever, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth joked at a ceremony. In all seriousness, Col. Rubio has a powerful U.S. Army story to tell. You are a stellar example of the Armys core values and what it means to lead a life of service. Rubio told reporters after the ceremony that he will remain a part of NASA and hopes to fly again in the future. Just getting on a rocket and being on 300 tons of rocket fuel is a pretty incredible feeling, he said. I got to fly with 28 other people in space. And given that theres been a little over 600 human beings that have ever been to space, to fly with that many and get to know them on a personal level up there, that was a pretty unique experience and something that Ill always treasure. Pfc. Andrii Sydoruk, a Ukrainian immigrant who joined the U.S. military in late 2022, has earned two Army Commendation Medals for his work translating for Ukrainian forces and the Americans teaching them to operate air defense systems. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany Pfc. Andrii Sydoruk traded the night shift at a California grocery store for an unexpected role in preparing soldiers from his native Ukraine for their fight against Russia. The 21-year-old immigrant enlisted with the U.S. Army to manage fuel supplies. But soon after he arrived at his first duty station in Germany in July 2023, he took on assignments as a translator between American trainers and Ukrainian troops learning to operate advanced defense systems. The equipment and the training Sydoruk supported are part of the more than $40 billion in military assistance that the U.S. has given Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country two years ago. As the conflict enters its third year on Saturday, military leaders say more assistance is needed to help prevent a Russian victory, which they argue would have global security implications and could make the U.S. less safe. Sydoruk has pledged to offer his linguistic assistance whenever its needed. The work I do with the Ukrainian soldiers is going to be 1,000 times more important than if I just stay here, Sydoruk said recently at Rhine Ordnance Barracks, where he carries out his regular work as a petroleum supply specialist. Pfc. Andrii Sydoruk fuels a machine during a training exercise Feb. 9, 2024, in Landstuhl, Germany. The petroleum supply specialist has served as a linguist for Ukrainian soldiers learning to operate American air defense systems. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) So far, he has helped the Ukrainians learn to operate air defense systems, including Patriot missiles, which Ukraine is using to protect its cities and infrastructure. Though Sydoruk is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, hes not a trained linguist. Hes also not an air defense specialist, meaning he had to learn about the systems and the highly technical terms associated with them, terms hed never used before in any language. Its been stressful, Sydoruk said. If I translate something wrong and they learn something wrong, it could be very bad. Not only could they die, but a thousand people could die. The work with Ukraine is deeply personal for Sydoruk, who grew up in the western city of Mohyliv-Podilskyi. He moved to Southern California with his mother and brother in 2018 in search of a better life. When Russian troops invaded Ukraine from three sides on Feb. 24, 2022, he was employed at a Los Angeles grocer and continuing a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend Sonia, who lived in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Before he immigrated, Sydoruk used to ride 18 hours on a train to see her there. A three-month siege killed thousands and destroyed most of Mariupol. Clashes forced the survivors to stay indoors, where they didnt have heat, running water or electricity. Eventually, Sydoruk lost contact with Sonia. She managed to flee the city for the Czech Republic. Sydoruk quit his job to go see her but couldnt stay long because of green card restrictions. Pfc. Andrii Sydoruk and his fiancee Sonia. (Andrii Sydoruk) Back in California, he was so desperate to find a way to be closer to her that he considered doing something he thought hed never do: become a soldier. His mother, Ganna Kravtsova, had been encouraging him to join the military before he was even old enough to enlist. But he never believed he had it in him. The lifestyle seemed too strict and physically demanding. He changed his mind when he learned that the Army would allow him to start his service in Europe. It also would provide him with a quicker pathway to citizenship, meaning fewer travel restrictions. He deployed to Germany to support the headquarters detachment for the 519th Hospital Center, a subordinate of the 30th Medical Brigade and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command. Many soldiers in the 21st, the largest American overseas command of its kind, are doing work that supports Ukraines defense efforts. This work is often linked to the movement of American weapons, equipment and supplies from European ports to transit points on NATOs eastern flank for delivery to Ukraine. Capt. Christopher Lee, the headquarters detachment commander, helped Sydoruk find supplemental linguist missions. Im always looking at something that is touching that conflict in some way, Lee said, referring to the Ukraine-linked missions he finds for soldiers. I try to brief them that what were doing is very important, because really, were looking at the potential destabilization of Europe. Similar sentiment has been expressed at higher levels within the U.S. military. Still, as Ukrainian forces remain hindered by low ammunition and supplies, additional U.S. aid for the country hasnt been approved by Congress. Last week, Russia captured the eastern city of Avdiivka, and there are fears that more territory could be lost if U.S. funding doesnt come through. Andrii Sydoruk, right, poses with his mother, Ganna Kravtsova, and older brother Igor Kravtsov in the United States after the family immigrated there from Ukraine in 2018. Sydoruk joined the U.S. Army in 2022 and is stationed in Germany. (Andrii Sydoruk) Sydoruk said most of the Ukrainian soldiers he worked with werent afraid of death but worried about what would become of their families without them. Many have young children. Still, they always were eager to complete their training and return to the battlefield, he said. Sydoruk has earned two Army Commendation Medals for his translation work, making him one of the most decorated soldiers of his junior rank in the 21st Theater Sustainment Command. The awards underscore the importance the Army gives to the Ukrainian training missions. Meanwhile, Kravtsova gets to be proud of her sons role without having to worry about his safety. This is his contribution to the future, for a future Ukrainian victory, she said during a recent phone call from California. Hes made that contribution while also being able to use long weekends to go see Sonia, who recently became his fiancee. His U.S. citizenship, earned in July, should allow her to follow him to his next posting in a couple of years. When asked how it felt to have earned his medals after less than two years served, Sydoruk smiled and downplayed the accomplishment. The best thing is just being able to participate in missions like those (with the Ukrainian soldiers), he said. Whenever I see on the news what theyre doing, it makes me happy. COLOMBO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Forty countries from the Asia and Pacific region agreed on Thursday that transforming agrifood systems was imperative to providing food security for their children's generation and beyond, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said here on Thursday. The agreement was reached at Thursday's close of the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC37), which was hosted by the Sri Lankan government. Forty countries of Asia and the Pacific attended the event, with the vast majority attending in person, including some 20 government ministers. It was the first time since 2018 that a large in-person gathering of the region's food and agriculture ministers and other policymakers was convened by FAO. The event showed the attention needed to recover from the pandemic and disruptions caused to food production and distribution that have plagued many countries in the region ever since, according to the FAO. The global pandemic, coupled or followed closely with a shortage of food, feed fuel, fertilizer and access to finance, caused food prices to jump significantly, said the FAO. "Food and agriculture are now at the center of the global development agenda and this is an opportunity for all of us, including civil society and private sector organizations to decisively reimagine and reshape agrifood systems for global economic, social and environmental benefits," said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO's assistant director-general and regional representative for Asia and the Pacific. Lt. Col. David Griffith, Lt. Col. Benjamin Maher, and U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald, from left, discuss U.S. Army operations in Lithuania during the ambassadors visit to Camp Herkus, Feb. 14, 2024. Lithuania's defense minister Arvydas Anusauskas pledged this week to improve living conditions for U.S. troops deployed to the country. (Alex Soliday/U.S. Army) Lithuanias top defense official pledged this week to improve living conditions for U.S. troops carrying out missions in the country, where American units have stepped up their presence in recent years to deter Russia. Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said following a meeting with the new American ambassador to the country, Kara McDonald, that the steady presence of rotational U.S. troops is vital for regional security. You have come in the times of tensions and multiple challenges in our region. We will provide better conditions and new infrastructure to the U.S. troops, Anusauskas said Wednesday in a statement. For U.S. forces carrying out rotational missions on NATOs eastern edges, living conditions can be austere compared with the well-established Army garrisons found in Germany. But in places such as Poland and Lithuania, the U.S. military and its hosts have been spending money to improve base life. New mobile modular housing at Camp Herkus, Lithuania, that was turned over for use by the U.S. Army, June 4, 2021. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas pledged this week to improve living conditions for U.S. troops deployed to the country. (Lithuanian Defense Ministry) U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald poses with Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas at a meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, Feb. 22, 2024. Anusauskas pledged to improve living conditions for U.S. troops on rotation to Lithuania. (Lithuanian Defense Ministry) McDonald credited Lithuania for modernizing its own armed forces while hosting American soldiers. Since 2019, U.S. Army battalions have been positioned in Lithuania, where a base in the town of Pabrade serves as a hub. The move was part of a broader push by the U.S. and other allies to reinforce NATOs eastern flank, especially in the vicinity of Russia-aligned Belarus and the Russian military exclave of Kaliningrad, which is wedged between Poland and Lithuania. Other allies also are expanding in Lithuania. Within the next three years, Germany is expected to put a brigade of about 4,800 soldiers there, the first permanent deployment of German troops in a foreign country since World War II. Soon, when the military infrastructure is expanded, we look forward to being able to better meet the military readiness needs of the Lithuanian and allied troops, Anusauskas said. U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. (David M. Santos/U.S. Coast Guard) WASHINGTON A yearslong cover-up of sexual assault at the Coast Guard Academy is prompting lawmakers to align the Coast Guard with other military services in protecting cadets and service members who report sexual abuse. A proposed Senate bill would establish safeguards for victims in the Coast Guard and its academy and codify into law a new Coast Guard policy that ensures survivors are not punished for minor infractions, such as underage drinking or curfew violations. Congress in 2021 required all military services to implement a so-called safe-to-report policy but the Coast Guard, a branch that operates under the Department of Homeland Security and can transfer to the Navy in times of war, was omitted from the legislation. Survivors are now understandably afraid theyll be punished when reporting cases of sexual misconduct, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a co-sponsor of the new bill. This legislation holds the Coast Guard Academy accountable by enshrining safe-to-report policies and ensuring proper protections. Companion legislation was introduced in August in the House by Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn. He said the bill affords cadets the same protections as other members of the military when reporting sexual assault and harassment. This is one step in the process to care for our cadets, Courtney said. Lawmakers have searched for ways to reform the Coast Guard after CNN revealed last year that the service concealed the results of an investigation into 102 cases of rape or sexual assault at the Coast Guard Academy from 1988 to 2006. The six-year internal review, dubbed Operation Fouled Anchor, identified 43 alleged perpetrators and 63 victims and found the Coast Guard routinely dismissed serious sexual misconduct. Many alleged victims left the academy after reporting their assaults. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said it was devastating to think of how many more incidents went unreported due to fear of reprisals. Cadets and midshipmen at every other military academy are protected by a safe-to-report policy, and those at the Coast Guard Academy deserve those same protections, he said. While Coast Guard leadership is finally taking steps to improve oversight, training and support for survivors, this bipartisan legislation is necessary to protect cadets and ensure accountability. The Coast Guard earlier this month announced a new policy requiring commanders to disregard minor offenses by victims or witnesses in sexual assault cases in hopes of encouraging reporting of such incidents. The misconduct can include breaching of school standards or policies for barracks and berthing. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said the enshrining of a safe-to-report policy into law is one immediate action lawmakers can take in response to Operation Fouled Anchor and the suppression of its existence. Congress and the public learned of the report three years after it was completed. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subpanel on investigations is examining the coverup. Documents recently provided to the subpanel showed Coast Guard officials worried releasing the report would risk the initiation of comprehensive congressional investigations, hearings and media interest. The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, in August 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan A U.S. sailor assigned to a warship based here has been charged with espionage and communicating classified information to an unidentified foreign national. Chief Petty Officer Bryce Steven Pedicini, a fire controlman aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, is accused of handing off classified national defense information to a foreign national at least seven times between November 2022 and February 2023, according to a charge sheet obtained by Stars and Stripes. Pedicini, of Tennessee, is suspected of mishandling classified documents and information, according to Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesman for Naval Surface Forces Pacific. The Navy alleges Pedicini handed documents to a foreign national first at Hampton Roads, Va., and later attempted to pass information at Yokosuka in May, according to the charge sheet. He is also charged with failure to report contact with a foreign national. Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia is home to major military installations and commands, including Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Langley Air Force Base. Pedicini had reason to believe that those documents would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation, according to the charge sheet. The incident remains under investigation and legal proceedings continue, Abrahamson told Stars and Stripes in an email Wednesday. USNI News first reported the charges against Pedicini on Wednesday in the United States. The charge sheet refers to the classified information only as documents such as Article 1112 or 1223 Updates, but they contained information related to national defense. Authorities allege Pedicini also attempted to hand over photographs of a computer screen connected to the Defense Departments network used to transmit classified information. The document identifies the alleged recipient or recipients only as a citizen and employee of a foreign government. The charge sheet lists seven specific allegations of espionage and one of attempted espionage, seven for communicating defense information, two for failure to obey a lawful order and two for violating a lawful general order. The document indicates that Pedicini has been in pre-trial confinement since May 19. He was still confined in San Diego as of Wednesday, Abrahamson wrote. On Jan. 18, the case was referred for a general court-martial under the authority of Naval Surface Forces Pacific, according to the charge sheet. A motions hearing for Pedicini was scheduled Wednesday in San Diego, according to the Navy Judge Advocate Generals Corps trial docket. As a fire controlman, Pedicini would have worked with everything from radars, fire control systems and computer systems to the Navys most advanced missile system, Aegis, which is used aboard guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, according to the Navys description of the job. Pedicini enlisted in January 2008 and served aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur and USS McFaul, according to a biography provided by Abrahamson. His awards and decorations include three Good Conduct Medals, two Navy E Ribbons, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin. The USS Carl Vinson transits the Philippine Sea on Feb. 2, 2024. (John A. Miller/U.S. Navy) (Tribune News Service) The USS Carl Vinson will return Friday to San Diego Bay from the Indo-Pacific, where the carrier and its strike group operated amid deepening tensions with China. The carrier will be wrapping up a four-month deployment that included a headline-grabbing moment in January when the ship and the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, also based in San Diego, sailed in formation in the Philippine Sea with ships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The formation was intended as a show of power to China, which has been threatening to invade Taiwan, a partner of the U.S. The Biden administration has said it will come to Taiwans aid if such an invasion occurs. Sailors render honors to the USS Arizona Memorial as Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) pulls into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a scheduled port visit on Feb. 13, 2024. Vinson, flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, was underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (Larissa T. Dougherty/U.S. Navy) The Chinese Navy also has been shadowing and harassing American warships working in the South China Sea, the Defense Department said. The Vinson strike group included, among other ships, the cruiser USS Princeton and the destroyer USS Sterett, both based in San Diego. Flight deck crew members stand by during recovery as several E-2 Hawkeye aircraft return to land on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on July 12, 2023. (Nelvin C. Cepeda, The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) The Roosevelt is still operating in the Indo-Pacific. The Navy has not indicated when it will return. A third San Diego carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is preparing to deploy and will likely leave in the spring. 2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Courtroom 600 in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, hosted the proceedings of the International Military Tribunal, which convened in November 1945 to try senior Nazi officials. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) The phrase trial of the century has been used often enough for high-profile defendants. But if any instance of criminal justice ever deserved that title, it took place in Nuremberg, Germany, between Nov. 20, 1945, and Oct. 1, 1946. American prosecutor Robert Jackson was the leading light of the International Military Tribunal, the first of the landmark Nuremberg trials. He appears throughout the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition in the east wing of the city's justice complex. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Officially called the International Military Tribunal, the first of the landmark Nuremberg trials made defendants of 21 leading Nazis, a veritable whos who of incarnate evil that included Rudolf Hess, Hermann Goering and Joachim von Ribbentrop. Proceedings were held in Courtroom 600 in the east wing of the Palace of Justice. For visitors in the present, the courtroom and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition in the same building yield a powerful and indelible experience. Boston architect Dan Kiley oversaw an enlargement of Courtroom 600 in 1945 for the Nuremberg trials at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany. The courtroom was later restored to its previous configuration. (National Archives) In American prosecutor Robert Jacksons opening statement, footage of which is shown in the exhibition, he intoned: The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant and so devastating that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive their being repeated. The 21 defendants in the first of the Nuremberg trials were among the foremost Nazi war criminals. They are portrayed on two information boards at the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition in the German city. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Those wrongs were encapsulated in the groundbreaking counts of the indictment such as crimes against peace and crimes against humanity. The defendants were also charged with war crimes and conspiracy to wage aggressive war. Nazi organizations including the Gestapo and the SS were named as conspirators along with individuals. Courtroom 600 thus became the cradle of accountability for atrocities the world over. I felt reverence as I gazed around it from the gallery, taking particular note of the imposing bronze crucifix and the exquisite wooden wall panels and ceiling. The magisterial scene is completed by a marble-encased door topped with a bronze cartouche and statues representing Roman and Germanic law. Light streaming in through the four windows cast a glow on the marble. U.S. soldiers were key in most aspects of the first Nuremberg trial, from collecting evidence to guarding prisoners. The middle photo on the left shows the Grand Hotel, which the U.S. Army refurbished to accommodate International Military Tribunal personnel. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) One floor up, the exhibition traces the development of war crimes jurisprudence from the Geneva Conventions to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Between those bookends is a collection of imagery and artifacts offering an immersion into the marquee event. A world map with accompanying information cards at the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, shows the extent of armed conflicts and war crimes between 1945 and 2000. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) One noteworthy aspect of the exhibition for me was its portrayal of the U.S. Armys indispensable role before, during and after the International Military Tribunal. It had stood in the forefront as far as the collecting of evidence was concerned and in addition, it had taken care of security and the whole logistics of the trial process, according to a booklet sold on site. Benches in the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, represent the prisoners dock. Scenes of Nazi defendants in the first trial are projected on the wall behind the benches. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Two benches mimicking the prisoners dock are placed between panels depicting the defendants, while scenes from the trial are projected on the walls behind them. American soldiers stand guard as the accused follow the proceedings in front of them. The U.S. Army also handled all the accommodations challenges, renovating the landmark Grand Hotel across from the central train station and putting up the press corps in Stein Castle. Luminaries who covered the International Military Tribunal in 1945-46 included Walter Cronkite, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. Media members were housed in Stein Castle, shown in the second picture from the top on the left side of this exhibit. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) American GIs shuttled a young Walter Cronkite, author John Steinbeck and reporters from around the world between the courthouse and the castle, which is owned by the family that operates the adjacent Faber-Castell pencil manufacturing empire. The International Military Tribunal press camp was at Stein Castle in suburban Nuremberg, Germany. The castle is the ancestral home of the Faber-Castell family, of pencil-making fame. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Some of the film footage entered into evidence before the tribunal is screened in the exhibition, which additionally weaves in bits of witness testimony and citations of the immense trove of incriminating documents that Army investigators scouring Europe had unearthed. The record amassed by the International Military Tribunal and displayed in part in the Memorium offered irrefutable proof of the Holocaust and a litany of other crimes. It was and is an unvarnished look at the Hitler regimes depraved indifference to human life. As a result of the trial, Goering, Ribbentrop and 10 others went to the gallows. Hess and Albert Speer received prison sentences, while Hans Fritzsche, Hjalmar Schacht and Franz von Papen were acquitted. Jackson and his colleagues paved the way for a permanent legacy, as demonstrated by the final portions of the exhibition, titled Follow-up Trials and From Nuremberg to The Hague. The Grand Hotel in Nuremberg, Germany, provided exclusive lodging for Nazi Party rallies. The U.S. Army requisitioned and rebuilt it to accommodate the International Military Tribunal delegations. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) A lineage of international justice, they touch on the 12 subsequent Nuremberg trials, the Tokyo Trial and assorted war crimes tribunals of recent decades. In addition to engendering new legal forums and concepts such as the famous Nuremberg Principles, the tribunal served as the birthplace of simultaneous interpreting. The necessity of seamless, real-time communication in English, French, German and Russian spurred IBM to develop the system that now facilitates business at the United Nations. The Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibition includes a 1946 poster that helped inform the German public about the rationale for bringing the Nazis to justice via the International Military Tribunal. The headline reads "The world accuses." (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) Speaking of translation, although the Memorium visuals are in German only for the most part, all their information is furnished in other languages via audio guides. Handset codes at each exhibit allow visitors to choose between audio presentations geared toward adults or children. The east wing of the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, houses Courtroom 600 and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials. The courtroom's four large windows are visible in this exterior shot. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes) I concluded my Palace of Justice stopover with a walk along the Pegnitz River, following Reutersbrunnenstrasse behind the justice complex past the prison. The cellblock where the original 21 Nazi defendants were detained no longer exists, however. On the banks of the Pegnitz, I sat down for a snack and a bit of reflection on the poignant testimonial to what Jackson called one of the most significant tributes that power has ever paid to reason. On the QT Address: Baerenschanzstrasse 72, Nuremberg, Germany Hours: Through March 31, Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Tuesday Cost: Admission is 7.50 euros for adults, 2.50 euros for students and children ages 4 and up. The Nuremberg Trials: A Short Guide costs 6.80 euros. A gift shop book about the exhibition is sold for 8 euros. Nearby street parking is paid on weekdays, free on weekends. Info: https://museums.nuernberg.de/memorium-nuremberg-trials/ Starbucks rolled out its limited-time Sakura Matcha with Sakura Jelly drink at convenience stores in Japan early this month. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) Its time again in Japan for Starbucks to roll out popular seasonal drinks to celebrate the cherry blossoms that herald spring. This years blooms are expected March 24 in Tokyo and earlier in the southern portions of the country, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Starbucks launched its limited-time Sakura Matcha with Sakura Jelly at convenience stores early this month, according to a company news release. The drink is sold in an approximately 6-ounce cup for 248 yen, or about $1.70, tax included. Starbucks rolled out its limited-time Sakura Matcha with Sakura Jelly drink at convenience stores in Japan early this month. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) This chilled, sweet-tasting beverage with the essence of the Japanese spring flower, sakura, is also infused with green tea and a surprise of sakura jelly bits on the bottom. The small cup comes in vibrant colors and a straw to poke through the foil seal on top. On the first sip, the blast of sweetness could be a little overwhelming but to my sweet tooth it was manageable. Instead of the pink color associated with cherry blossoms, the drink takes on the hue of green tea with milk. It also includes 7% peach juice to enhance the flavor. Starbucks rolled out its limited-time Sakura Matcha with Sakura Jelly drink at convenience stores in Japan early this month. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) Although Im not huge a fan of the jelly that sometimes comes in drinks in Japan, the jelly bits in this drink went down easily. Beyond that, I did not relish the floral essence combined with matcha and would rather have my green tea by itself. My conclusion is while this latest Starbucks offering is not something I would normally pick up, it is part of so many takes on the sakura theme found at convenience stores throughout Japan that it was worth a try. Spring is on the way, and if you can handle this drinks sugary sweetness, you may want to give it a go. WELLINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Australia's top finance officials met on Thursday to discuss ways to lower business costs and increase the ease with which businesses and people can operate across the Tasman. "We agreed the Single Economic Market is the best model for close integration of two sovereign independent countries anywhere in the world, and we need to keep it that way," New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis said in a statement after meeting with Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Australia. New Zealand and Australia have a strong trade and investment relationship, with the Closer Economic Relations and Single Economic Market being powerful engines for growth on both sides of the Tasman, Willis said. New Zealand also confirmed the commitment to the Australia-New Zealand Climate and Finance 2+2 Dialogue, to be held in Australia in mid-2024, Willis said, adding that working together to tackle the challenges of clean energy transformation is critical if both nations are to maximize the substantial benefits of the transition to net zero. The two sides stressed the importance of responding to the region's shared economic challenges, including banking challenges. The two officials agreed to collaborate on opportunities to support ongoing efforts improving the operating environment for financial services in the region, she said, adding that her trip helped build positive relationships with New Zealand's largest trading partner. Rep. Mike Gallagher speaks during a House hearing in Washington on July 18, 2023. (Drew Angerer, Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) A delegation of U.S. lawmakers led by House Republican Mike Gallagher (Wisc.) arrived in Taiwan, a visit that may exacerbate an already fraught relationship between the island and China. The group will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te and the incoming No. 2 Hsiao Bi-khim during their three-day trip, the Foreign Ministry in Taipei said in a statement Thursday. Gallagher, who chairs the Houses China committee, has previously called for bolstering the islands defenses and curbing U.S. economic ties with the Asian nation. The ministry will host a banquet for the delegation, according to local media reports. It will also meet Han Kuo-yu, the new legislative speaker, the Financial Times reported last week. The visit by the U.S. lawmakers comes amid tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Two Chinese fishermen died last week when their speedboat capsized as they were being pursued by the islands Coast Guard near an offshore Taiwanese outpost. Two other Chinese fishermen were rescued, and were deported. Beijing responded by increasing patrols in the narrow stretch of water that separates the Taiwanese island of Kinmen from China, at one point boarding a tourist boat. The U.S. called for the dispute to be handled calmly, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller saying Tuesday that Washington was closely monitoring Beijings actions. Last month, Lai secured a historic third straight presidential term for the Democratic Progressive Party. His victory will likely frustrate Chinas efforts to bring Taiwan under its control. Beijing sees the island as part of its territory, to be taken by force if necessary, and has condemned Lai as a troublemaker who seeks formal independence. China tends to respond to visits by U.S. lawmakers by sending warplanes and ships into sensitive areas around Taiwan, forays that wear down the islands smaller military. The Peoples Liberation Army held major exercises around the island of 23 million people twice since August 2022 because Tsai met top U.S. lawmakers. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Visits from U.S. officials to Taipei are fairly common. Representatives Ami Bera (D-Calif.) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, traveled to Taiwan and met senior officials including Tsai and Lai last month. The latest delegation includes representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), according to a statement from the American Institute in Taiwan, the U.S. representative office in Taipei. Their visit is part of a wider trip to the region. Gallagher, who has said he wont seek re-election, has expressed support for Taiwan in the past. He called on Washington to arm the island to the teeth against Chinese military intimidation in an op-ed last month. The select committee on competition with China was formed last year to counter Beijings rising geopolitical influence. Krishnamoorthi is the ranking Democrat on the panel, which recently met to discuss ways to reduce the U.S. biotechnology industrys vulnerability to its top geostrategic rival. That approach should include vetting inbound investments, barring federal contracts with designated Chinese firms, curbing outbound investments in Chinas biotech supply chain and applying export controls, Krishnamoorthi said. Lucille Liu contributed to this report. 2024 Bloomberg LP Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC The Rev. Vasyl Sendeha of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Palos Park with his family in Aug. 2021. (Family photo via TNS) (Tribune News Service) As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches the two-year mark, the Rev. Vasyl Sendeha, priest at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Palos Park, said Ukrainians remain hopeful but are anxious about their countrys future. Sendeha said his major worry is who will rebuild Ukraine. The longer the war lasts, he said, it becomes that much harder to answer the question. I do hope that the war will be over, but who is going to be there? How many lives have been lost, young people have been lost, how many children who werent born who were supposed to be born? How is the future of Ukraine going to be? Not the same, for sure, Sendeha said. Olena Levko-Sendeha, Sendehas wife, said thinking about the second anniversary of the war is heartbreaking. When the war just started two years ago, nobody would ever have thought that two years later we would still be there, Levko-Sendeha said. But people are strong. The will is strong. They dont want to give up their motherland. They are protecting it and they dont want to surrender. While Russian President Vladimir Putin said the plan was to conquer Ukraine over the course of a weekend, Sendeha said the Russian armys strategy over the course of two years has shifted. At the start of the war, Russias goal was to take control of Ukraine as Russian territory, Sendeha said. But the more Ukraine has defended itself, Sendeha said it appears the Russian army has changed tactics with the aim of destroying cities and towns. The U.S. Senate passed an emergency spending package Feb. 13 that includes about $60 billion for Ukraine. The House has not yet voted on the package. Ukraine depends on support from the United States, the European Union and Canada, Sendeha said. If it wouldnt be for the U.S., the situation would be very, very different, Sendeha said. If it wouldnt be for the U.S., probably the war would be over and Ukraine would be conquered and destroyed. Sendeha said while he isnt a political person, it looks like political games are being played with aid for Ukraine. Its unfortunate because peoples lives were lost and now we dont see the end of this war, Sendeha said. Sendeha said church leaders have helped many refugees fill out government paperwork, find jobs and housing and learn English. About 25% of the refugees the church helped returned to Ukraine, he said. Sendehas father and brother are still in Ukraine, he said. He offered multiple times to sponsor them and extended family members to come to the U.S., but they want to stay in Ukraine. I say, We help others, not even family members, and here we are able to help you, and they say no. They just want to stay there, Sendeha said. Levko-Sendeha, who works for Selfreliance Association, an organization that helps refugees and immigrants with comprehensive services to become self-sufficient in the U.S., said Ukrainians are still coming to the U.S. to avoid war, but the number has decreased. The anniversary also marks two years for Ukrainians who came to the U.S. under the Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed Ukrainian refugees to stay in the U.S. for two years, Levko-Sendeha said. Levko-Sendeha said shes hopeful the U.S. government will extend the program. Right now, people dont know what to do. Its not safe to return, its not safe to bring their families back home yet, so they have to stay here, Levko-Sendeha said. Theyre just in this not knowing, not being able to see whats going to happen with them in six months. Ukrainians arent losing hope that the war will end, Sendeha said, but it looks like it wont be over soon. As of right now, it seems like its probably going to go at least a for year. I hope not. I keep on praying that its not going to happen, Sendeha said. Sendeha said support for Ukraine appears to have died out, and he encouraged everyone to pray for the country. The war is still there. The problem is still there. People are still dying, Sendeha said. A prayer service for peace will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 8410 131st St., Palos Park. A prayer followed by dinner fundraiser and viewing of Freedom on Fire will be held at noon Sunday at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 8410 131st St., Palos Park. 2024 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Howard Oster with Amichais photo. The family moved from Cleveland to Israel when Amichai was 1 year old, and he had been visiting the United States on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ofir Berman for The Washington Post) JERUSALEM Amichai Oster was in Salt Lake City when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct 7. Within days, the 24-year-old was on a plane, among thousands of Americans and American Israelis who rushed to join the fight in Gaza. Three months later, he was dead. Oster was killed when an explosion hit his combat unit in northern Gaza on New Years Day, one of at least 23 American citizens to be killed in recent months while serving in the Israeli military or police, according to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Though U.S. citizens make up less than 2% of Israels population, they account for almost 10% of the countrys war dead since the start of the ground invasion in Gaza. I didnt serve in the army, said Howard Oster, Amichais father, who moved his family from Cleveland to Israel in 2000. But my sons did. We feel the need to have a good army, and my kids felt very strongly to be part of that. The Washington Post talked to three families of U.S. citizens killed while fighting for Israel. They were united in their fierce commitment to the Jewish state, having found in their adoptive country an identity that largely transcended their American passport. U.S. immigrants are prevalent among religious, nationalist and Zionist communities in Israel and the West Bank, experts said. Families tend to be large and often have multiple members serving in the military or as reservists. An estimated 23,380 American citizens currently serve in Israeli ranks, according to Israel Defense Forces. Its not surprising to see Americans disproportionately represented, said Sara Hirschhorn, a visiting professor of history at Haifa University. Many American Jews who have immigrated to Israel are very idealistic. Tens of thousands have come in recent decades, she said, inspired by Zionist or Jewish aspirations they couldnt fulfill in the United States. Their commitment to Israel and to its military grew deep. Pesi Gordon with daughter Livi at their home in Jerusalem. Naftali Yonah Gordon, Pesis husband, was killed Dec. 7 while fighting in Gaza. (Ofir Berman for The Washington Post) Israeli flags hang in the Gordons building in Jerusalem. Being American is part of our identity, Pesi Gordon said. But he was very, very connected to Israel. He gave his life for it. (Ofir Berman for The Washington Post) Naftali Yonah Gordon was born in Queens and worked each year at a Zionist summer camp in Pennsylvania. Being American is part of our identity, said Gordons wife, Pesi Gordon, whose own mother grew up in New York. But he was very, very connected to Israel. He gave his life for it. Gordon, 32, had been working as a physiotherapist and raising two daughters in Jerusalem when he rejoined his former armored unit after Oct 7. His tank was hit by a missile on Dec. 7. Oster moved to Israel with his parents and older sisters when he was a year old. The family settled with other relatives in a West Bank settlement. We came for Zionism, said Howard, a physician. After 2,000 years of yearning for a state, we felt that we had to be part of that. Last autumn, Oster completed his military service mandatory for most Israelis except for ultra-Orthodox and Palestinian citizens and was making a long swing through the United States, visiting family and national parks, sometimes sleeping in the decommissioned Crown Victoria police car he bought in Boca Raton, Fla. Howard Oster in the library of the hospital where he works in Tel Aviv. He was at work when he learned this his son Amichai had been killed on New Years Day while fighting in the Gaza Strip. (Ofir Berman for The Washington Post) It took him a week after Oct. 7 to make it back to Israel. Only when his mother, Marcy Oster, a journalist, caught a glimpse of his face on CNN, among Israelis boarding an emergency flight from Los Angeles, were they sure he was on his way determined to take his place on the front lines. On Jan. 1, Howard was working at his hospital in Tel Aviv, where he would often hear helicopters arriving with wounded soldiers. But he had heard nothing that day. Then he was called to an office; two soldiers were waiting to deliver the news. Other soldiers met Marcy at the same time. Family and friends in Ohio, Utah and California joined Amichais funeral the next day by Zoom. Twenty-one Americans in IDF units have been killed inside Gaza. Another died along Israels northern border with Lebanon, where soldiers exchange fire with Hezbollah militants on a near-daily basis. A 23rd U.S. citizen was killed in Jerusalem while serving in Israels border police. At least 32 Americans were killed during the initial Hamas rampage. At least 11 others were among those taken hostage that day from communities in the south, where numerous American families lived some of them left-leaning peace activists who came to Israel decades ago after being part of the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. The State Department said six U.S. citizens are still held in Gaza. Americans in Israel reflect the diversity of the nation itself and its activist culture, both on the religious right and the secular left, said Hirschhorn, the history professor. Hundreds of Palestinian Americans fled from Gaza in the first weeks of the war. None of those who remained have been confirmed to be among the more than 29,000 people killed. The Gaza Health Ministrys count does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. But two American teenagers have been killed recently in the West Bank, part of a surge of violence linked to Israeli military raids and settler attacks since Oct. 7. Wherever they live, Americans in the region have become immersed in an intractable conflict where sudden death has long been a part of life. Pesi Gordons 15-year-old sister, Malki Roth, was killed in the bombing of a Sbarro pizza restaurant in Jerusalem in 2001. Her parents have campaigned for years to have one of the convicted conspirators, a Palestinian woman freed in a 2011 prisoner swap, extradited from Jordan. Living here, I felt that was normal, Gordon said, speaking of her sisters death a few weeks after her husbands funeral. Like, Oh, I guess everybody loses people to tragedy. Its only when you think about it rationally that you realize lightning isnt supposed to strike twice. Robert and Jen Airley in the room where their son Binyamin slept when he came home to Beit Shemesh, Israel. (Ofir Berman for The Washington Post) Binyamins mother holds his tefillin. The American-Israeli dual citizen was killed in November. (Ofir Berman for The Washington Post) Binyamin Airley was 4 when his parents moved the family from Long Island. He maintained dual citizenship but seldom wanted to travel to the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, said his father, Robert Airley. He never wanted to leave Israel, Robert said. He was into the holiness of the land. He was more Israeli than the Israelis, echoed his mother, Jen Airley, who grew up in Hollywood, Fla. Airley was on leave from his unit on Oct. 7, spending the Jewish holiday of Sukkot on a West Bank farm where he regularly volunteered. By the evening, he had rejoined his unit, deploying to the small towns where Hamas fighters had killed about 1,200 people. Bodies were everywhere. Clearing the area of militants took nearly a week. Airleys unit was among the first to enter Gaza after the ground offensive began on Oct. 27. Three weeks later, he was one of three Israeli soldiers killed in a firefight in the north. He was buried on Mount Herzl the next day. Among those who came to sit shiva were dozens of friends and relatives from Texas, Florida, New York and New Jersey. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, right, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, and Angolas Economic Cooperation Minister Jose Massano, left, attend the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (Bruna Prado/AP) RIO DE JANEIRO The U.S. opposition to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza came under repeated criticism during a two-day meeting of the chief diplomats of the worlds 20 largest economies in the latest sign of Washingtons isolation on the issue. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, the host of this years annual Group of 20 gathering, began the meeting by decrying the paralysis at the United Nations Security Council, where Washington vetoed a third resolution for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza earlier in the week. This state of inaction results in the loss of innocent lives, Vieira said. The top diplomats at the gathering, which included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, offered their views on various geopolitical issues in a session that was closed to the media so officials could express themselves more candidly. But by mistake, a small group of journalists, including from The Washington Post, were able to listen in on the session because the audio headsets continued broadcasting the remarks, unbeknownst to the Brazilian hosts. Australia, a close ally of the United States, supported an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and strongly warned about the further devastation that could result from Israels announced military campaign in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter. We say again to Israel do not go down this path, said Australias representative, Katy Gallagher. This would be unjustifiable. South Africa, which has accused Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel strenuously denies, said world leaders had allowed impunity to hold sway. We have failed the people of Palestine, said Naledi Pandor, South Africas minister of international relations and cooperation. The accidentally broadcast remarks created a sharp contrast with the G-20 gathering in India last year, where Blinken sought to unite world powers in condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Blinken found a more receptive audience when he invoked the United Nations Charter and the principles of sovereignty to criticize Moscows land grab. But in Brazil, diplomats invoked those same principles to criticize the ongoing war in Gaza, where the United States has provided Israel political cover and billions of dollars worth of bombs and military equipment. If, for example, we had been united behind the principles set out in the U.N. Charter, said South Africas representative, the tragedy in Palestine will not have lasted over three months. Analysts said the contrast between Washingtons global standing from one year to the next was stark. A year ago, the U.S. had Russia on the back foot over Ukraine, said Richard Gowan, an expert on multilateral affairs at the International Crisis Group. Now the Biden administration looks like it is losing its grip on events in Ukraine and Gaza, and could lose its grip on the November elections too. Among Latin American countries, the United States received a rare reprieve during the remarks by Argentina, whose recently elected libertarian leader, Javier Milei, is staunchly pro-Israel. While acknowledging that the conflict has caused a humanitarian disaster, Argentinas representative condemned the terrorist acts of Hamas and demanded the unconditional release of hostages. U.S. officials said they remained focused on working toward Brazils goals for the G-20, including coordination on labor practices, climate change and food security. They said they hoped that differences over Gaza would not derail those efforts, but comments from Brazils president days before Blinkens arrival comparing the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza to the genocide of Jews during World War II provided another obstacle. During the top U.S. diplomats meeting Wednesday with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Blinken made clear that we disagree with those comments, said a senior State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive hour-and-a-half discussion between the two leaders. I would say the two had a frank exchange. As president of Latin Americas most populous country and host of the G-20, Lula has taken on an outsize role as a voice of the developing world when it comes to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, in both cases criticizing Washingtons opposition to an immediate cease-fire. In the meeting, Blinken made clear his view that the United States did not support an immediate cease-fire because it would leave Hamas in place to repeat attacks against Israel, said the senior official. U.S. intelligence officials say Israels forces have significantly degraded Hamass capabilities but estimate that they are not close to eliminating the group after more than 100 days of war and nearly 30,000 Palestinians killed, according to figures from Gazas health ministry. The assault began Oct. 7 after Hamas fighters invaded southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostage. Lula weighed in Sunday on the large number of civilian casualties in the war, accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide and comparing it to when Hitler decided to kill the Jews. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media that Lula was trivializing the Holocaust and trying to harm the Jewish people and Israels right to defend itself. Blinken relayed to Lula U.S. efforts to broker a deal between Hamas and Israel that would see the release of prisoners in exchange for a humanitarian pause in fighting and an increase in humanitarian aid. TOKYO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Train services on Japan's JR Yokosuka line between Tokyo and Yokohama stations were suspended on Thursday due to fallen objects in a tunnel. East Japan Railway Company, or JR East, said multiple pieces of concrete were confirmed to have fallen onto the tracks in the tunnel between Tokyo and Shinagawa stations, and operations were suspended starting from the first train on Thursday morning. Officials said the closed section was extended from Tokyo to Yokohama stations due to restoration work. JR East's Narita Express trains, which connect Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture and the greater Tokyo area, have consequently been suspended from the first departure on all routes, but are expected to resume in the afternoon. Kristopher and Summer Haskins have a reunion at Fire-Rescue Station 21 in Pacific Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Diego, California. After Summer experienced sudden cardiac arrest in her home, her husband Kristopher called 9-1-1 and performed CPR while first responders arrived. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Tribune News Service) Summer Haskins remembers opening the front door as her husband carried a pizza inside. Then she collapsed. The next thing she remembers was waking up in the hospital days later. Kristopher Haskins immediately called 911. His wife, then 38 years old, was unconscious, barely breathing and turning purple. Dispatcher Juliana Rubio told him how to start CPR. Keep on doing it, keep on doing it. One, two. One, two. It should be hard work, Rubio said during the recorded call. If youre doing it hard, youre doing it effectively. On Wednesday, the couple went to Fire Station 21 in Pacific Beach to thank the dispatcher and firefighters who helped restart her heart after her sudden cardiac arrest in May 2022. Rubio, who has been a dispatcher for 36 years, said it was only the second time a patient has sought her out. The other was a new mother who brought her a bottle of wine after she helped with the babys delivery. Rubio frequently instructs callers how to give CPR as many as a dozen times a shift. She doesnt remember all the calls, but she did remember that one. Because that day, all the stars aligned. It was just serendipity, she said. Rubio initially dispatched a crew from Bay Park but then, she saw the much-closer Pacific Beach engine being released from a call and sent it instead. Within minutes, the crew was at the Navy housing where the Haskinses lived. Rubio said it was also lucky that Haskins medical emergency happened in front of her husband, not when she was out somewhere or alone. That meant Kristopher was able to start CPR immediately after calling 911. He said he learned CPR in the Navy, and that training kicked in once Rubio gave him instructions. Youre very lucky, Rubio told Summer after they met at Fire Station 21. And you did a good job, she told Kristopher, who gave her a bouquet. While many calls run together in first responders minds San Diego firefighters typically respond to more than 109,000 life-threatening emergency medical aid calls a year this one left an impression on everyone. Fire Capt. John Brubaker remembers how he felt for the Haskinses teen son, who had witnessed his mothers medical emergency. Brubaker has a child whos a similar age. Engineer Albert Moreno, who was a firefighter/paramedic at the time, and Engineer Ruben De La Toba, also a firefighter at the time, both remember how they were able to get Haskins pulse back before she was taken to the hospital. That doesnt always happen. Summer, now 40, learned after she was out of the hospital that she has a rare genetic condition, long QT syndrome, a heart signaling disorder. She said shes recovered completely and now takes a pill a day and has an implanted defibrillator. Medical tests showed her sons didnt inherit the condition, she said. Haskins said shes glad she got a chance to thank those who helped her. They work so hard for our communities and they see a lot of bad stuff. Maybe this might change their life and show them that they are making a huge difference, she said. And we are super thankful for what they do. 2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In this screenshot from video, Tanya Bradsher, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, watches on Feb. 22, 2024, as new headstones are unveiled for 17 Black soldiers buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. The men were executed following the 1917 Houston Riots. The Army overturned the convictions last year and the men were granted honorable discharges. (Screenshot from Department of Veterans Affairs livestream) AUSTIN, Texas New headstones for 17 Black soldiers sentenced to death more than a century ago were unveiled Thursday at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio after the Army deemed their trials unfair and granted each an honorable discharge. During a ceremony to honor them, people dressed in the historic uniforms of Buffalo Soldiers, the nickname given to Black soldiers in some regiments beginning in 1866, lifted gold material from each of the headstones as the soldiers name was spoken aloud. They revealed a gray marble marker bearing the soldiers name, rank and home state. The 17 soldiers honored Thursday were among 19 executed and 110 convicted of murder and mutiny in an event known as the 1917 Houston Riots or the Camp Logan Mutiny. The race riot occurred Aug. 23, 1917, as tensions between the Black enlisted soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, a Buffalo Soldier unit, and white Houston police officers and residents boiled over. It left 19 people dead. After revealing the stone marking the grave of Pfc. Thomas C. Hawkins, his nephew Jason Holt knelt before it while holding the American flag that he received to honor his uncles service more than 106 years after his death. Holt, an attorney from New Jersey, has been working toward this day along with other descendants of the executed veterans, though he said he still questions whether it balances the scales of justice. His uncle was among the first 13 men who were executed in secret on Dec. 11, 1917 one day after the guilty verdict was approved. How do we in 2024 understand what it was like to be a soldier in 1917 in Houston, Texas? he asked the crowd gathered for the ceremony. They did what they needed to do as soldiers to support our nation and come home and not enjoy the same freedoms that they were out there in various military campaigns protecting for each and every one of us. All the men convicted were tried in three mass courts-martial at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. One attorney was appointed to represent all 118 soldiers charged. It led the Army to significantly overhaul its court-martial system and require the president to sign off on all executions. Defendants on trial during the first court-martial at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in November 1917. The Army reversed the convictions of 110 Black soldiers charged more than a century ago for mutiny, murder and assault in the 1917 Houston Riot. (National Archives and Records Administration) The executed men were first buried near Salado Creek, the location where they were hanged. Each was buried with a glass bottle with their name inside. Eventually 17 men were reburied at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with headstones bearing only their name and date of death. Two mens bodies were returned to their families. The Department of Veterans Affairs placed a sign near the graves two years ago explaining the history of the Houston Riots, the impact the trials had on military justice and the reason for the unusually bare headstones. Along with the new headstones, the VA also provided full military honors Thursday and presented a folded flag to each of the three families present. Aside from Holt representing Hawkins, the crowd included descendants of executed soldiers Cpl. Jesse Moore and Sgt. William Nesbit. These headstones will not erase history or right the wrongs of the past, but they will ensure that future generations can understand that history and remember their names, Tanya Bradsher, the deputy VA secretary, said during the ceremony to commemorate the headstones. The Army began its review of the trials in 2022 and decided three months ago to overturn the convictions because it found these soldiers were wrongly treated because of their race and were not given fair trials. Each mans service record now bears an honorable discharge. The new headstones unveiled Thursday acknowledge that reversal and allow their grave sites to match those of the other honorably discharged veterans in the rows around them. The historical sign has also been updated. It took us a while to get here, and we do ask for forgiveness for the injustice that was perpetrated on these soldiers. Were doing everything we can to make this right, Yvette Bourcicot, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, said during the ceremony. The Army is a learning institution, and we are learning as we go. The PTI announced on Thursday that it would hold the intra-party elections on March 3 which was due after the Supreme Court stripped the party of its bat symbol and upheld the countrys top electoral authority decision. Polling would be held at the partys central office and all four provincial secretariats. According to the schedule, candidates can submit the nomination papers on February 23 and 24. Scrutiny of papers would be conducted on February 25 and a decision on the papers would be announced on February 27. In January, the Supreme Court on Saturday set aside the Peshawar High Court order that reinstated bat as the partys electoral symbol and upheld the December 23 order of the Election Commission of Pakistan that nullified the intra-party elections of the PTI. A three-member SC bench comprising CJP Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musrat Hilali announced the decision on January 12, 2024. Many experts and journalists have expressed concerns over the decision. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had said: Denying a political party its electoral symbol not only significantly hinders its ability to freely participate in elections, it also effectively disenfranchises its voters, who rely on electoral symbols to choose their representatives, it said. Lisa OHara and James Walsh are named in the case in which CAB want a house at Wheatfield Avenue house in Clondalkin declared the proceeds of crime. THE ex-partner of a man caught red-handed with a Kinahan Cartel weapons stash is to seek free legal aid in a case brought by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Lisa OHara and James Walsh are named in the case in which CAB want a house at Wheatfield Avenue house in Clondalkin declared the proceeds of crime. Her defence lawyer was told by Judge Alex Owens that a hearing for a free legal aid application will now go ahead on 20 March. Last November CAB were set to allow the sale of the former couples home to go ahead, and the money be held by a solicitor But then in December it emerged the planned 340,000 sale fell through, and Judge Alex Owens agreed to revert to the previous interim order to prevent the property being sold. The house was the scene of garda searches in 2017 following a raid at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole as gardai acted on information from their British colleagues investigating Thomas Bomber Kavanaghs drugs gang. James Walsh Walsh, who was not represented in court this week, was previously convicted of his role in a weapons stash organised by Bomber Kavanagh in 2016. Also convicted over the lethal underworld armoury was key Cartel man Declan Brady aka Mr Nobody and Jonathan Rocket Man Harding. Walsh also pleaded guilty in July 2021 at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to laundering 62,000 in crime cash. Walsh (39) and his former partner Lisa OHara had both been charged with a total of 44 money laundering offences, which include using crime cash for a deposit on a house. He was also charged with stashing 19,000 in a wardrobe at his home. OHara given a suspended sentence, after pleading guilty to multiple counts of laundering more than 100,000 that was the proceeds of crime. The Special Criminal Court found that she didn't know where the money came from but was reckless in not asking questions of her then partner and father of her child. When the gardai had raided their home they also found financial documents which showed 136,000 had been lodged in various bank and credit union accounts over a three-year period, It included a 60,000 cash deposit on the house and another 62,000 in cash paid to a builder for renovations on the house. Walsh, was serving an eight-year sentence for the weapons offences when he was given another sentence of four years and nine months for money laundering. O'Hara, who had never been in trouble before, said she presumed Walsh worked every day like she did. The raid at Greenogue Business Park in Rathcoole came at the height of the Hutch-Kinahan feud in January 2017. Walsh was standing in the reception area of the industrial unit where gardai found 15 firearms, including an AK47, and 1,300 rounds of ammunition. Mr Baldwin faces prosecution where he is charged with assaulting Anne Rabbitte on January 4, 2023, at a public meeting Joseph Baldwin (pictured with microphone) faces charges over the incident at a public meeting in Gort in January. Photo: Irish Independent A south Co Galway farmer alleged to have thrown a bag containing cow dung in the direction of Minister for State, Anne Rabbitte at a public meeting is to contest the charge of assaulting the Fianna Fail deputy. At Gort District Court today, solicitor for Joseph Baldwin (38) of Ballyaneen, Gort, John Nash told Judge Alec Gabbett that a hearing date is required in the case. In the case, Mr Baldwin faces prosecution where he is charged with assaulting Anne Rabbitte on January 4, 2023, at a public meeting at OSullivans Royal Hotel, Gort. The assault charge against Mr Baldwin is contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. As Mr Baldwin has through Mr Nash confirmed that he is to contest the charge, Galway East TD and Minister of State at the Dept of Health and at the Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, will be required to provide her sworn eye witness account from the witness box of what occurred on the night as part of the State case against Mr Baldwin. Mr Nash will be able to cross-examine Minster Rabbitte on her evidence on behalf of his client. Minister Rabbitt was attending the meeting to hear locals concerns over a planned biogas plant for Gort. Galway East colleague Deputy Ciaran Cannon of Fine Gael was also in attendance at the same meeting, which was called to discuss taking a judicial review against the planning decision permitting the biogas plant and 20,000 was pledged to the fight by those present. Mr Baldwin is also contesting a second charge where he is accused of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace of being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. The charge is contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The summons for the alleged assault and the public order breach is being brought by Sgt Diarmuid Cloonan of Gort Garda Station. CCTV evidence is to also form part of the States case and Judge Gabbett asked Mr Nash: Do I need to bring this to a court where CCTV can be shown? Judge Gabbett asked Mr Nash: You dont want to come to Ennis to see the CCTV on the big screen? Mr Nash said that he was happy for the case to remain at Gort District Court and that a court laptop would be sufficient for the showing of the CCTV. Mr Nash asked that the contested case take place on May 23 at Gort District Court and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to that date for hearing. Those who are convicted of Section 2 assault charges in the district court face penalties of a prison term of up to six months or a fine not exceeding 1,905. The claim alleged Byrne had sold or disposed of lobsters and crabs to his own benefit A fisherman who was alleged to have raided another fishermans lobster pots over a period of weeks has agreed to pay 55,000 compensation to the owner of the lobsters and crabs taken. Paddy MacAuley of the The Irish Popcorn and Snackfood Company Limited, of Rathnew, Co Wicklow, (Popcorn) sued rival fisherman Mark Byrne in the Circuit Civil Court for 60,000 damages for loss of lobsters and crabs taken from his lobster pots and financial loss through disruption of his business. Barrister Mary-Jo Butler, counsel for Popcorn, told Judge Jennifer OBrien that Byrne, of Castle Terrace, Wicklow, had also agreed to the making of a court order restraining him from taking lobsters and crabs from Popcorns pots or interfering with them. Ms Butler, who appeared with Gus Cullen of Augustus Cullen Law, Wentworth Place, Wicklow, told the court that Byrnes settlement included acceptance of Judge OBrien making an order directing that he pay The Popcorn and Snackfood Company Limited 55,000. She said the agreement included the granting of a permanent stay on the court orders providing Byrne paid Popcorn 20,000 within six weeks and 15,000 within six months, completion of which would reduce the settlement figure to 35,000. MacAuleys company had claimed that Byrne, a licensed fisherman owning two boats, had over several weeks in 2012 raided a number of Popcorns 600 lobster pots which the company had baited and laid along the coast between Wicklow and Bray. The claim alleged Byrne had sold or disposed of lobsters and crabs to his own benefit. Popcorn, alleging that on numerous dates between March and August 2012 it had observed Byrne tampering with and lifting its pots, claimed it had been obliged to carry out almost 24-hour surveillance on its pots and send boats out to watch them. The pots would later have been found empty and abandoned in an entangled manner away from their original marked GPS positions. Owing to the alleged huge cost of watching the pots MacAuleys company had abandoned fishing for crabs and lobster for the remainder of the 2012 season and had estimated losses of up to 150,000 Popcorns allegations were denied by Byrne who had put the plaintiff company on full proof of its claims. At Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court at Bray in December 2020, following a plea of guilty to theft of 34 lobsters and 100 crabs, Byrne was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment which was fully suspended on his entering a bond to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for two years and to pay Popcorn 5,000 within a period of two years. The trial judge at Bray, Judge Gerard Griffin, directed that Byrne be given credit for 1,450 he had already paid and emphasised that this amount was to be taken as a token of remorse and was not to be considered as compensation or part payment in any civil proceedings. Michael Dickson (59) of Thornywood Rise, Nottingham, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Four Courts Luas stop Michael Dickson (59) of Thornywood Rise, Nottingham, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Four Courts Luas stop on February 6, 2016. Pic Collins Courts A man who was involved in causing an explosion in Germany in 1996 was today given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a violent disorder on a Luas almost eight years ago. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Michael Dickson (59) of Thornywood Rise, Nottingham, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Four Courts Luas stop on February 6, 2016. The court heard the offence occurred on a day a demonstration was due to take place outside the GPO on OConnell Street. Dickson was taking part in a counter demonstration. Dickson has seven previous convictions, one of which is from Germany, where Dickson was sentenced to six years and six months for attempted murder and causing an explosion. Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said, political violence is never acceptable, and this man and the co-accused had a different view of the men going to a demonstration, but there was no reason to attack them. Judge Nolan said he was familiar with this case as he had dealt with the co-accused in this case. The judge said this must have terrified other Luas travellers. He noted that Dickson has a serious conviction dating back to 1996, which was dealt with in Germany. Judge Nolan sentenced him to two years in prison, which he suspended in full. He also ordered Dickson to pay 2,500, which would be donated to charity. Detective Sergeant Colm Davison told Kate Egan, BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, a demonstration was due to take place outside the GPO on OConnell Street. Three men were travelling on the Luas to the demonstration and one of them was due to give a speech. Det Sgt Davison said a group of ten men got on the Luas at Smithfield and surrounded the three men. The group of ten began to interact with the three men, and shouting, punching, and kicking were carried out on the men. CCTV footage from the Luas was obtained by gardai and shown to the court. The group of ten men exited the Luas at the next stop at the Four Courts. The court heard that the incident lasted for 30 to 40 seconds, and as it happened between two Luas stops and passengers were unable to get off the Luas. The accused was identified and interviewed twice, but nothing of value came from either interview. Det Sgt Davison agreed with Paul Murray SC, defending, that the incident occurred in 2016 when an anti-Islam demonstration was taking place, and his client and the co-accused were taking part in a counterdemonstration. The Det Sgt agreed with counsel that his client was interviewed in 2017 and gave no difficulties to the gardai. He further agreed that no charges were brought against him until October 2018, and at this point, Dickson had returned to the UK. Mr Murray said an extradition application was made in 2023, and his client was arrested in the UK and returned to Ireland voluntarily. Counsel said Dickson was granted bail, and has adhered to all bail conditions. Mr Murray said with regards to the previous conviction in Germany in 1996, it related to a bombing. He said his client was sentenced to six years and served three. He said Dickson was released under the Good Friday Agreement. HELSINKI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish right-wing coalition cabinet under Prime Minister Petteri Orpo won a vote of confidence Wednesday over its revision of labor law. The government's plans to weaken the legislative framework for labor rights, along with reductions in unemployment and welfare benefits, have triggered the most extensive strikes by Finnish unions in several decades. With all the coalition parties backing the cabinet, the government won the vote of confidence by 89-73, with 36 members of parliament absent and one blank ballot. The government comprises the Conservatives, the Finns Party, the Swedish People's Party (SDP) and the Christian Democrats. The first signatory of the interpellation of no-confidence, SDP chair Antti Lindtman appealed to the cabinet that it would start frank talks to solve the crisis. It appeared that Andrew Hartigan had been nursing them (the dogs) back to health but he had become overwhelmed by the number of dogs he had taken on A man convicted today of failing to properly care for dogs has not been banned from looking after animals after the State acknowledged in court that he had been trying to nurse the dogs back to health. Andrew Hartigan (35), of Olivers Flats, Old Pallas, Co Limerick, was arrested by Gardai at his home on January 17th last year. During a search at the home Gardai seized 19 dogs, including (15) Pit Bull Terriers, (2) Alsatians and (2) Rottweilers, under Section 45 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Today, Kilmallock District Court heard that a previous application brought by Mr Hartigan under the Police Property Act, in which he sought the return of all of the dogs, had been withdrawn and Mr Hartigan was pleading guilty to four counts contrary to Section 45 12 (1) (a) and (b), of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, namely (a) not do, or fail to do, anything or cause or permit anything to be done to an animal that causes unnecessary suffering to, or endanger the health or welfare of, an animal, and, (b) neglect, or be reckless, regarding the health or welfare of an animal. Inspector Barry Manton told the court that the dogs were found by Gardai in overcrowded and unclean kennels. It should be said that the likelihood is the conditions were created by overcrowding rather than absolute neglect, Insp Manton said. Andrew Hartigan The Inspector said it appeared that Mr Hartigan had been nursing them (the dogs) back to health but he had become overwhelmed by the number of dogs he had taken on. Mr Hartigan had built kennels to home the dogs, but there were too many dogs to each kennel, the court heard. He had taken them from others who werent able to deal with them, and the unsanitary conditions were largely due to overcrowding, Insp Manton said. Mr Hartigans solicitor, Ian McNamara, said it was an unfortunate set of circumstances which he suggested were at the lower end of offending under the Act. He (Mr Hartigan) took in more dogs than he was adequately able to take care of. Some of the dogs were his, some belonged to others, he thought he was helping, added Mr McNamara. The solicitor said Mr Hartigan had previously worked in the constriction industry, and that following media publication of the court case he had to travel away from home to find work, and was on Jobseekers Allowance provided by the State. Mr McNamara said the keeping on dogs is Mr Hartigans main hobby. He took in the dogs in poor condition and he was attempting to improve their health, he added. Inspector Manton, answering a query from Judge Patricia Harney, said the State was not seeking to ban Mr Hartigan from having dogs. Inspector Manton confirmed that at least four of the dogs, which had been seized from Mr Hartigan, had been returned to him, and he has been adequately looking after them. Six of the dogs had been returned to their owners and the remaining nine dogs were still in the care of the State. The court heard Mr Hartigan had 13 previous conditions, including 11 for road traffic matters, one involving a hit and run incident and driving without insurance or a license. Mr Hartigan also had a prior conviction for supplying drugs into a prison and a conviction for possession of knives, said Insp Manton. The court heard Mr Hartigan had no prior convictions in respect of animal health/safety. Judge Harney said she had to mark her disapproval of the Mr Hartigans actions, but she said the defendant was entitled to credit for his guilty plea. The court heard the maximum stance the court could have applied was one six months in prison and or a fine of up to 5,000. The judge convicted Mr Hartigan on one count under the Act, fining him 200 with four months to pay, and she took the remaining three counts into consideration. Judge Nolan jailed Brock for three and half years after noting that as an English national, he would doubt that he would have too many visitors in prison An English teenager who carried just over half a million euro worth of cannabis into Ireland from America has been jailed for three and half years. Aaron Brock (19) who is from Manchester, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the drugs, 29.3 kg of cannabis worth an estimated 586,000, at Dublin Airport on July 9, 2023. He had just come off a flight from Los Angeles. He has no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan said Brock had been under financial debt due to his own activities. Pressure was applied and he succumbed to that pressure, he said. He took into account Brocks young age at the time. He said sometimes young people do very stupid things and this was a huge misjudgement. He said he didnt believe Brock would re-offend in the future. Judge Nolan jailed Brock for three and half years after noting that as an English national, he would doubt that he would have too many visitors in prison. Garda Tanya Shinkins told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that Brock told gardai on arrest that he had run up a 10,000 debt due to a gambling debt. He said he was under threat to pay the money back and he was worried for his safety and that of his family. Brock claimed he had no other way out. Gda Shinkins said she believed Brock was due to hand over the drugs to someone in Dublin before returning home to Manchester. Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, said his client accepts that it was a substantial amount of drugs. He asked the court to take into account his very young age at the time, the fact that he has no previous convictions, he co-operated with the garda investigation and pleaded guilty at an early stage. There appears to be a battle of wits underway A dissident republican group have released text messages they claim were sent by British Secret Service agents in a bid to recruit informers. Republican party Saoradh claim there has been a barrage of approaches by MI5 officers trying to recruit insiders. The group have also released images of disguised men carrying out truck searches in Belfast. British secret service have long history of infiltrating both republican and loyalist groups. Saoradh said an attempt was made to infiltrate their organization, which led to a subsequent arrest. I am your new point of contact in 5, the alleged MI5 officers text reads. My objective is to catch you, or for you to walk away - either works for me and one or the other of these is going to happen, its just a matter of time - you decide? Alleged message Saoradh have claimed that people linked to the party have been approached overseas, including a member who was detained by Spanish cops in the Basque Country. The man was reportedly led away at Bilbao airport earlier this month and questioned by Spanish and possible British secret service staff. The party claims a south Armagh member was also approached at home by two plain clothed men, who left a phone and told him to give Miriam a ring. In a separate incident, photos were posted of a dramatic truck search at the DVA test centre at Mallusk, on the outskirts of north Belfast. Saoradh have published images of trucks being searched A PSNI spokeswoman said: This would be best directed to MI5. We do not comment on intelligence matters and no inference should be drawn from this. Late last year, the same Republican group said its members were being tracked with Israeli-designed spyware that can activate mobile phone cameras even when the device is off. The group widely believed to have links to the New IRA said Pegasus software had been found on devices owned by a number of its people. Security expert Philip Ingram told the Belfast Telegraph this was used by governments in the Middle East, not MI5. He added that if Saoradh had attracted the attention of any of the countries that do use it, theyre screwed. Mr Ingram explained: If theyre being tracked by Pegasus, it is not MI5 because the British dont use it. It is very sophisticated spyware and not cheap to get the licence. It gives complete access to a phone, even if switched off and thats just the software we know about. If a government agency wanted to track someone and not have fingerprints go back to that agency, this is the way to do it. It could be the Saudis, it could be UAE, it could be the Egyptians [tracking them]. They are all paranoid about anyone with links to that region, and [Saoradhs] associations with Palestinians and potentially Hamas put them in that category. If they are on those countries radars, theyre screwed because if they or their families go into any of these countries and get arrested, they will be begging to be in the hands of MI5. The drugs seized comprise 500 cannabis plants and 13.5kg of cultivated cannabis herb Donegal gardai have busted a massive weed growing facility in the north west. The Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit seized cannabis valued at more than 600,000 during searches at an industrial premises in Donegal town on Wednesday. The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara with assistance from gardai in the Ballyshannon District. Plant haul During the course of the search, a large scale grow house was located, with cannabis plants at various stages of growth. The drugs seized comprised 500 cannabis plants and 13.5kg of cultivated cannabis herb. The suspected drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI). A Garda spokesperson said: Gardai in Donegal are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to this grow house and seizure, to contact the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit on 074 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Cannabis plants Operation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2nd July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs. Investigations into the large scale facility are ongoing. Mobster McCarthys cousin jailed over coke and attack A MAN once regarded as the of top Limerick mobster Red Larry McCarthy has been jailed over a 5,000 cocaine stash and using a knife to threaten a woman over 20. Larry Tuohy, who got a three-year and eight months jail sentence last week at Limerick Circuit Court, once posed for a photo with his infamous cousin Red Larry. Tuohy had knocked the woman to the ground, held a large knife to her throat and threatened to slit it in what the court heard was a frenzied attack in March 2021. Then while he was on bail for the attack, gardai found cocaine worth 5,800 at his home after a tip-off that drugs were being sold from the property. The Sunday World previously reported how Tuohy was known to be close to his elder cousin following Red Larrys return from a UK jail in 2011, according to sources. 'Red Larry McCarthy Red Larry had long been regarded as the head of the McCarthy clan after being anointed leader by his dying grandfather. He is on bail awaiting sentence at the Special Criminal Court later this month for his part in an attempt to murder rival gang boss Christy Keane in 2015. Red Larry had been acting as a mentor to his young cousin at the time, according to sources. Tuohys father, also called Larry McCarthy, is a first cousin of Red Larry McCarthy. Tuohy, who has long list of criminal convictions, added to his rap sheet last week after the attack on the woman, which began when he shouted at her on the street that she owed him 20. The victim told gardai Tuohy then called to her home and threatened her with the knife telling her hed cut her throat and asking do you know who I am? She thought she was going to be killed and said Tuohy told her hed get a notorious person to sort her out, it was heard. After escaping her attacker, the woman contacted gardai who found Tuohy drunk and in possession of the knife in an off-licence. Larry Tuohy was found in possession of the knife in an off-licence After pleading guilty to the attack, and while on bail, his home was raided by gardai who found the cocaine and a mobile phone under floorboards with drug dealing messages. Tuohy told gardai he was storing the cocaine for someone else to pay off a drug debt of 1,200, and maintains he was not selling it. Tuohy was given 20 months for possession of the knife, and a consecutive three-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended for the cocaine. His former mentor Red Larry has been banned from travelling to his native city without permission while on bail from the Special Criminal Court. Last October, just as his trial for his part in the attempt to kill Christy Keane had been due to start, he changed his plea at the last minute. What had been listed as 10-week trial with 101 witness was over in a matter of minutes as he admitted to a single charge of providing a car used by the gunmen. Images show OShea Salazar who grew up in Killorglin and Partner Yuliana Brand strolling around in the Spanish sun. Yuliana Brand - partner of Morris O'Shea Salazar - and inset images of the couple obtained by police Private moments between Kerry man Morris OShea Salazar and his glamorous girlfriend were viewed by police as he ran the European and Irish branch of the Sinaloa Cartel throughout 2020. Images show the couple as they relaxed at home, laughing and joking on the sofa. They were just some of the images and messages leaked to cops thanks to the Encrochat hack which gave international police forces access to thousands of messages from the app used by criminal gangs. The Enrcochat messages were detailed in Spanish police files - obtained by the Sunday World on the massive drug-smuggling operation into Europe by the worlds most dangerous drugs gang. Further images show OShea Salazar who grew up in Killorglin and Partner Yuliana Brand strolling around in the Spanish sun. OShea Salazar was recorded having meetings with other Sinaloa Cartel gang members. A silver BMW and truck were then placed under surveillance. Relaxing at home In other images, Morriss uncle - Ricardo Salazar - who was recently convicted in Chile on drugs charges, is seen sitting in a car in an unknown location with his pandemic mask on. Screenshots of trans Atlantic messages between gang members as well as invoices of Irish bound shipping containers appear in the secret files exclusively obtained by the Sunday World. Some conversations describing international drug smuggling are relatively curt. "Confirmation from Sweden is missing, reads one message. "It would be good to start the Rotterdam thing, says another Car trip So how did Irish branch of the Sinaloan Cartel become exposed? PGP-or Pretty Good Privacy- cryptographic concealment for communication was first introduced by Blackberry, but cops quickly got a handle on it. Along came Encrochat which offered users the ability to also make encrypted calls (EncroTalk) and write encrypted notes (EncroNotes). This was achieved through modifying Android phones that routed data through a server in France which provided end-to-end encryption. EncroChat phones included a panic button which could wipe content, and kill pills to make them self-destruct. Alleged Irish Sinaloan gang member under surveillance in Barcelona Military Grade Encro phones were the no.1 choice for criminals such as the Shamrock Sinaloans and the Kinahan cartel until 2020. Three years ago, specialist I.T cops cracked EncroChat. As a result, it is now known that on May 11, 2020, Encro user RoughDiamond, Sin City Gold (OShea) and another gang member discussed having the capacity to introduce cocaine through the port of Valencia, and for it to arrive at (a) specific Terminal. Guardia Civil specialists detailed a wide variety of chats in their surveillance application to a Spanish judge. Officers are sure that a container to Dublin that arrives on June 16 needs confirmation and photos sent. He has spoken with Liverpool and they have told him that it can only be dry containers that arrive at Terminal 1 of the Port of Liverpool. Surveillance of Morris O'Shea Salazar We need to confirm if they are waiting for the photos of if they are going to send without confirming that, police stated. With regard to Scandinavia, police wrote about the Irish Sinaloan gangsters method of transport: The response from the soy export company remains to be confirmed, but if they do not receive it shortly, they will bring the cocaine with the chilli nut company. A container bound for Dublin which transited through Antwerp, arrived in Dublin on June 12 and left South America on May 9, Guardia Civil confirm. Mexi in slang term is a very sexy male or female from Mexico. This word crops up repeatedly in the Encro hack, with what appears to be drugs in the background. Mexi There is a cable to highlight that on the date of the signing, the target is in Mexico having travelled there on a flight dated November 17. Hacked images reveal massive warehouses where drugs were stored, or intended to be stored. Silver BMW driven by Shamrock Sinaloan Spanish police had set up real time surveillance. Gang members daily comings and goings were observed, including at airports. Guardia Civil had seats, passport numbers, dates of birth. "It is observed how the majority of this organization would employ third parties to carry out a series of transactions, the obtaining plane tickets, etc, in order to avoid detection, such as we have been observing throughout the investigation. "(Name removed) would carry out most of his transactions through his partner and currently from an unknown but possibly related third person whose identity corresponds to (Name removed), they wrote. The investigation of this type of organization is especially complicated due to the large amount of resources and measures of security they use to avoid being detected and to have collaborators in almost all the phases through which merchandise passes until its distribution to the final buyers. For this reason, it is considered appropriate to maintain the technological research, which will be combined with operational activity and realization of efforts in the police field, wrote intelligence officers, seeking further resources from the Spanish State to combat Irish Sinaloan gangsters. This revelation was uncovered for the first time exclusively in the Sunday World. The Railway on Manchester Road, in Broadheath, Altrincham, was ordered to shut after police recently raided the premises. An Irish pub in Manchester has been shut down after police discovered that it was being used to offer sexual services. The Railway on Manchester Road, in Broadheath, Altrincham, was ordered to shut after Greater Manchester Police and Trafford Councils Community Safety Team raided the premises. They found significant evidence that the pub was being used as a sex work hub, including the discovery of a vulnerable woman who was trafficked into the area to work there. Two people have been arrested for crimes relating to controlling prostitution for gain while the pub has been hit with a three-month closure notice. In a statement, a GMP Trafford spokesperson said: Officers from GMP have carried out a search warrant on the Railway Pub on Manchester Road in Altrincham accompanied by colleagues from Trafford Councils Community Safety Team. Significant evidence was found on the premises indicating that the premises were being used to offer sexual services for reward and a vulnerable woman, trafficked from outside Trafford to work there was found on the premises. Two persons have been arrested for crimes relating to controlling prostitution for gain and today, the magistrates issued an order on application from the council closing the premises for three months. A review of the premises licence will now be requested. Magistrates court papers published on Wednesday morning read: The Railway Inn, 153 Manchester Road, Altrincham. Application for a closure order (nuisance or disorder). Application for a closure order following service of a notice on 14/02/2024 in respect of The Railway Inn. Pursuant to section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Councillor Rose Thompson, Trafford town hall's executive member for communities and safety, said: "Trafford Council's Community Safety officers and Greater Manchester Police carried out a raid on the premises after complaints from members of the public. "We applied for and were granted - a closure order for three months by magistrates. We will continue to work with our partners to crackdown on criminal behaviour and keep our communities safe." Kells man Anthony Allen was diagnosed with the debilitating illness in January 2023 Catherine D'Arcy and her beloved Anthony Allen in happier times and before the well-respected Kells man was struck down with illness. Catherine D'Arcy has made a desperate plea for government bosses to devise a homecare package to allow her partner Anthony Allen, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) to live out the rest of his days at home. The family of a county Meath man confined to an ICU bed with Motor Neurone Disease for over a year have spoken of their heartache at how health chiefs have been unable to tailor a specialised care programme to allow him spend his last days at home. Kells man Anthony Allen was diagnosed with the debilitating illness in January 2023 and has remained under the care of medics in Cavan General Hospital ever since. The 60-year-old father of three, though on a ventilator and in need of round the clock care, wants to come home and live out his remaining days alongside his beloved partner of 20 years Catherine DArcy and his extended family. Anthony Allen with Catherine D'Arcy and family members at home in Kells. In an emotional interview with the Irish Independent, Catherine told of how being away from the man she has dedicated her life to is impacting family life at home. Its been all over the place, it has been a very, very stressful time for all of us, she said, when recalling learning of Anthonys devastating diagnosis. We were all in shock and obviously Anthony was. He is my partner for over 20 years. I have four children and seven grandchildren which Anthony considers his. Anthony Allen with Catherine D'Arcy as the couple enjoy a special moment celebrating Anthony's 60th birthday in Cavan General Hospital. We all went up on December 28 when the hospital organised a Christmas get-together and before that we went up in September for Anthonys birthday and you saw all the kids lining up to give him a kiss, it is heartbreaking, it really is heartbreaking. Catherine, herself, makes the near 100km round trip up the N3 from her home to visit Anthony every second day and has even managed to renovate her garage by converting it into living accommodation in the hope Anthony can come home. Despite those efforts and hopes that a specialised homecare package can be tailored for Anthonys needs, he remains in Cavan under the care of Cavan General Hospitals ICU staff. He cant walk anymore and it is a hard job to get him out of the bed, she said. He can talk to you, his brain is fully functioning, but it is very hard to get him out onto the commode and back into bed. Anthony Allen with his long time partner Catherine D'Arcy. You cannot fault any of the staff up in ICU in Cavan. They are just brilliant people but he wants to come home himself and it is very, very draining on all of us. The grandkids miss him something terrible. Local Sinn Fein TD Darren ORourke raised the issue in the Dail recently, imploring health chiefs to step in and grant Anthonys final wish to spend the rest of his days surrounded by his loving family. Since March of last year, 11 months ago, his medical team have supported the plan to discharge Mr Allen home but because of his high level of need this will require a specialised home care package, he said. They have not been able to secure this. In the meantime, Mr Allen continues to occupy a much-needed ICU bed and he and his loving family grow increasingly frustrated. Junior Health Minister Mary Butler said while 56,000 people nationwide currently receive home care, the Waterford TD vowed to have the matter investigated by her department. For Catherine, however, the strain and anguish of seeing her much loved partner and soulmate languish on an ICU bed goes on. Catherine D'Arcy and her beloved Anthony Allen in happier times and before the well-respected Kells man was struck down with illness. If you see him up in the hospital, he gets very depressed and anxious, she said. Some days you dont know what way he is going to be. We were always close and we always went everywhere together and its hard to see an active man go downhill so quick. It just feels like there is no support. Help him get home and put more funding and support in place for people like us. I know he is not the only one and that there are children out there that need support as well but Anthony is my family, he is my life and I am trying to fight for him. I want him home so he can have some sort of quality of life while he is still here and while he is capable of seeing and enjoying the kids and make the most of the time we have left. This is embarrassing, but more importantly this is a serious screw-up, accusing a man a family man of one of the worst crimes imaginable The PSNI is in the spotlight once again after it emerged that a former republican prisoner was falsely accused of possessing child abuse images. The accusation came after there was a computer error on a PSNI laptop and an investigation was launched to discover how the devastating blunder occurred. The man, who does not want to be named, was arrested at his north Belfast home and taken in for questioning before being released on strict bail conditions. Those conditions included that the youngest of his children was removed from the family home to stay with relatives before he could return. Less than 24 hours later, he was contacted by police to say there had been a glitch on the computer and he would not be prosecuted. The victim had been accused of the most serious of crimes possessing category A,B and C of indecent images of young children between the ages of seven and 11 years old. This occurred in 2020 but legal proceedings are now in process and the Sunday World understands the man and his traumatised family are now seeking compensation. The matter has already been referred to the Police Ombudsman and his complaint was upheld 100 per cent. The PSNI officer involved in the life-changing mistake was taken off operational duties and ordered to undergo further training. It is unclear if he was subject to any disciplinary actions. fiasco One source said the PSNI had hoped the embarrassing fiasco would not become public. This is just another example of the failures of the PSNI, in the past and current day, said a police source. It was swept under the carpet, but now there are legal proceedings taking place and it has come out. This is embarrassing, but more importantly this is a serious screw-up, accusing a man a family man of one of the worst crimes imaginable. The man falsely accused was so traumatised by the accusations that it affected his mental health and at one stage he contemplated suicide. He had to seek counselling to help him cope with the trauma of being accused of one of the most heinous of crimes. His legal representative, James Morgan from Phoenix Law, confirmed the PSNI had yet to apologise to his client and legal actions have been launched. To date, the police have not issued our client with an apology and legal proceedings are ongoing, the solicitor said. When contacted in relation to the false accusations, the PSNI said: As the matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to make any comment at this time. The business has said their decision was nothing to do with the tip Waitress Linsey Boyd says she is now without a job for the first time since she was 15 A waitress who received a $10,000 tip on a $32.43 bill has been fired from her workplace after she split the generous sum with her co-workers. Linsey Boyd was sacked from the Mason Jar Cafe in Michigan after sharing the $10,000 (9,200), but the business has said their decision was nothing to do with the tip. The restaurant has since been inundated with dozens of negative reviews as Boyds supporters criticised the cafe for letting her go. I was willing to share a $10,000 tip, but was reciprocated with hate and rumours, Boyd wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post. The alleged problems began with the seemingly positive event, when a middle-aged benefactor, who wanted to remain anonymous, made the generous donation. The mystery man had just attended a friends funeral and wanted to honour his memory and brighten someones day, according to general manager Tim Sweeney, who spoke to the Detroit Free Press. The Mason Jar Cafe in Michigan. Photo: Google He requested that the tip be split among staff, which worked out to around $1,600 per person for the eight servers on the premises. But drama ensued following the act of kindness, according to Boyd, who did not go into details on the nature of the problems. Rumours have circulated that disagreements were sparked by employees who did not work on the day and expected to receive a cut of the donation. Drama ensued, and in an attempt to diffuse the situation and resolve any rumors, things became even worse, wrote Boyd as she shared her emotions on Facebook. She said she then received a phone call on Tuesday to say she had been sacked. Finally... I got the call... I got the call, that I am fired... Now, Im without a job for the first time since I was 15, she said. The call came after she was asked to take a mental health break for a couple of days. More people than I can count thought I should have just kept all the money and not shared. The thought hadnt even occurred to me, but hindsight is always 20/20. Here we are a week later, and Im out of a job. I was willing to share a $10,000 tip, but was reciprocated with hate and rumours. Because I was not willing to disclose a name that I heard the rumour through. This amazing act of kindness has brought out some serious ugliness, and I am taking the fall for it all, she wrote. Restaurant owners Able Martinez and Jayme Cousins said they could only share limited information on what led to the dismissal. This amazing act of kindness has brought out some serious ugliness, and I am taking the fall for it all Waitress Linsey Boyd In a Facebook post, they said: A claim has been made about a recent employee of ours. We cannot comment on the nature of her losing her job due to labour laws and to protect the staff involved. 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. We do truly care about our staff. Weve had the same crew for five to six years. We have college girls that come home every summer and have been for four years now, we take our staff up north at the end of every summer season, we give donations for college funds for them, we kept them employed through Covid, we do everything in our power not to lose staff. We hope it is clear this was not a decision made lightly or hastily. This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows a scene at the 27th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkiye. The summit, organized by the Istanbul-based Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, kicked off here on Wednesday with a focus on solutions to the challenges in global growth. (Photo by Safar Rajabov/Xinhua) ISTANBUL, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 27th Eurasian Economic Summit kicked off on Wednesday in Turkiye's cultural and financial hub of Istanbul, with a focus on solutions to the challenges in global growth. Titled "From Crises to Stability, Building an Inclusive World," the summit organized by the Istanbul-based Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation aims to address global issues such as peace, climate change, water supply and artificial intelligence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message to the event, highlighting its importance at a time of uncertainty caused by crises across the globe, particularly as ongoing conflicts are undermining global economy. In his message to the summit, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev emphasized the summit's contribution to economic development of regional cooperation. Speaking at the summit's opening, Akkan Suver, head of the host foundation, called on the international community to enhance dialogue and cooperation to find solutions to the world's crises. According to Suver, the world is experiencing a storm of conflicts, problems related to climate change and economic stagnation. "Under these conditions, the Belt and Road Initiative, extending from Asia to Europe, Africa and Latin America, would be our roadmap for peace, unity and cooperation," he said. More than 300 political figures, diplomats, academics and business people from around 40 countries are attending the two-day event. This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2024 shows a scene at the 27th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkiye. The summit, organized by the Istanbul-based Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, kicked off here on Wednesday with a focus on solutions to the challenges in global growth. (Photo by Safar Rajabov/Xinhua) Akkan Suver, head of Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, speaks at the 27th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkiye, Feb. 21, 2024. The summit, organized by the Istanbul-based Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, kicked off here on Wednesday with a focus on solutions to the challenges in global growth. (Photo by Safar Rajabov/Xinhua) A New Zealand/Ireland joint research programme starting this month aims to better understand methane emissions from pasture-based farm systems. The four-year programme will see researchers, students, professors and database technology experts from DairyNZ (NZ) and Irelands Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), University College Cork and Irish Cattle Breeding Federation working together to quantify methane emissions from dairy cows in pasture-based systems. DairyNZ principal scientist Jane Kay says they aim to determine the effect stage of lactation and pasture species, management and seasonal growth have on base methane emissions, and how these factors influence cows response to methane-reducing technologies. The joint programme strengthens our connection with Ireland and enables NZ to leverage current and future research. It also fits within DairyNZs wider research programme. This wider programme sees our world-leading scientists working with NZ farmers, research organisations and commercial companies to develop workable and scalable mitigation solutions that can be widely adopted on-farm to reduce emissions in a sustainable and viable way. DairyNZ was awarded funding in 2023 for this work, as part of a pilot joint research initiative between New Zealand and Ireland. The programme will also develop a methane database for pasture-based systems to ensure emissions and mitigations are accurately accounted for at a farm and national level in NZ and Ireland. Both countries face national and market targets to reduce methane. Kiwi farmers are among the worlds most emissions-efficient. Consumer and dairy supplier expectations are a driver for dairy farmers to continue reducing emissions, so NZ can remain competitive in the market. DairyNZs continued research supports that. Finding solutions to help farmers reduce emissions while maintaining on-farm profit remains a research priority, says Jane. Over the past 20 years, potential technologies to reduce methane emissions have emerged from all over the world. DairyNZ is focused on potential technologies that fit within NZs pasture-based systems, such as early life intervention, which involves feeding a natural product to young calves, with the aim of reducing methane emissions for the animals lifetime. This is an attractive delivery mechanism for NZ, as its cost-effective and occurs well before product processing, such as milk harvesting." \Most of the research on methane mitigation technologies is completed at Lye Farm, one of DairyNZs two Waikato research farms. Lye and Scott Farms are an important sector resource, enabling scientists to carry out pasture, animal, and farm systems trials under relevant conditions. This ensures the technologies and tools developed are practical and can be widely adopted into different farm systems. Farmers are involved in all the projects, to provide their thoughts and advice on opportunities or barriers for adoption of these solutions into NZ farm systems. Were excited about our continued work alongside farmers and other sector and research organisations to develop mitigation solutions for our unique pasture-based farm systems and to get ahead of the environmental challenges farmers face,says Jane. Visit www.dairynz.co.nz/lessmethane for more information. Today, February 22, will always be a reminder to many New Zealanders of the Christchurch earthquake of 2011, when lives were lost and buildings came down in the garden city. Dame Anna Crighton, a steadfast defender of Christchurch's heritage, is sharing her unexpected life journey, developing resilience in the face of adversity. For decades, Dame Anna Crighton has defended Otautahi Christchurch's architectural legacy against the threat of demolition. Yet, beneath her public persona lies an unexpected and extraordinary life story, now shared for the first time in her memoir, 'Still Standing'. Anna recounts a childhood bereft of parental affection, a turbulent adolescence, and an enforced stay at the Mount Magdala Convent to straighten her out an experience which she still struggles to make peace with. Despite these and other hardships, including unsuitable relationships and a violent marriage, Anna persevered. Following the birth of her son, determined to give him a secure and loving start in life, Anna embarks on a remarkable journey of self-discovery. She rebuilds her life, restoring a magnificent Victorian home and pursuing higher education as an adult at Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. Her resilience and determination culminated in her ultimately earning a PhD and later being appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 in recognition of her contributions to heritage preservation and governance. By sharing her story, Anna hopes to inspire others to overcome their own challenges and find strength in adversity. Through all the good and bad she has experienced, Anna says she is most proud of her son. I didnt want him to be influenced by the horrors of what we went through, and hes come out of it a lovely person - hes my greatest achievement. History, classics, art and architectural history have been at the heart of Annas careers in the public and private sector. Before graduating in these subjects later in life from Canterbury and Otago universities, she was registrar of Christchurchs Robert McDougall Art Gallery for 20 years. She then embarked on a career in local politics as a Christchurch city councillor for 12 years and a member of the Canterbury District Health Board for a further 12. Over three decades, she was a trustee and director of many trusts and companies. Anna has lived in Wellington, Sydney and England but has always returned to the city of her birth. In 2020 she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to heritage preservation and governance. 'Still Standing: A memoir' by Anna Crighton, has been published by Canterbury University Press in February 2024, and has 240 pages including 48 pages of photographs. About the author Rich, breath-taking stories, art, music, performances and delicious line-up of cuisine from a range of Asian cultures will be on offer at this weekends Tauranga Asian Food Show & Lunar New Year Festival. The Historic Village will host the festival on Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25, allowing locals and visitors to immerse themselves in Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese and other Asian cultures as the broader community comes together in a family-friendly event. Food show Hosted by the Tauranga branch of the New Zealand China Friendship Society, with a food show component and Lunar New Year celebration, there will be something for all ages to enjoy. The festival will have calligraphy, traditional clothing showcases, kids games, and endless Asian cuisines, from savoury dumplings to Thai rice noodles. The weekends highlight will be the Lunar New Year celebration, where attendees will send out wishes of prosperity and good fortune for all. Tauranga China Friendship Society president Tina Zhang says the festival will serve as a cultural bridge, allowing Tauranga residents to immerse themselves into the rich and diverse tapestry of Asian cultures. The festival fosters cross-cultural understanding, appreciation, and harmony, making our community more inclusive and globally aware, says Tina. Celebrate diversity We are looking forward to our community members coming together to celebrate diversity and enjoy the festivities, share stories and create new memories. More than 30 ethnic groups will share aspects of their culture with thousands from Tauranga and beyond expected to attend. Festival-goers will be exposed to a world of traditions, art and cuisines they may not encounter otherwise, says Tina. This, in turn, will encourage more people to learn about new cultures and broadening their understanding. The 2024 Tauranga Asian Food Show and Lunar New Year Festival is 11am-8pm on February 24-25 at Tauranga Historic Village. Entry is gold coin donation. For more details, see the Tauranga NZ Chinese Friendship Society Facebook Page. State Highway 2, just south of Waihi, is reported to be closed, reports NZTA. The roading agency has issued an alert saying the highway is closed due to a serious crash. "Due to a serious crash on Coronation Bridge, near Heath Rd, SH2 is closed just south of Waihi. "Expect delays. "Detour information will be provided as soon as more details are available." A police spokesperson says the crash was reported around 10:45am. "One person is in a moderate to serious condition, and one person is in a moderate condition. "The road is blocked, and diversions are in place. "Motorists are advised to take the alternate route." Image: NZTA. At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz Ignacio Lillo Malaga Thursday, 22 February 2024, 13:31 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram An intense warm Terral wind has already set upon Malaga province this Thursday as morning joggers and walkers swapped leggings for shorts with the temperature set to reach 24 degrees today. From the early hours of the morning thermometers were already over 18 degrees in Malaga city, with a top of 24 and 25 degrees almost guaranteed in the city, Torremolinos, the Guadalhorce Valley, Velez and Estepona. Nighttime temperatures were also very mild, with minimum temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees recorded. "The air is hot, at around 10am it was already 20 degrees, and tomorrow at the same time it will be cold," warned Jose Luis Escudero, SUR's specialist in Malaga meteorology. Radical change But the burst of spring-like weather will be short-lived as a cool blast is set to hit Malaga province tomorrow. A deep squall that will be located on Friday to the north of the United Kingdom, together with a powerful anticyclone in the Azores, will bring icy cool air, causing maximum and minimum temperatures to drop considerably. Aemet, Spain's met office, forecasts two phases of the cold front: the first on Friday, where the mercury will drop from 24 to 18 degrees in Malaga city and the Costa (from 19 degrees to just 13 in Antequera and other inland areas). The difference will be even greater on Saturday, with a maximum of 16 degrees on the coast and 11 inland. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store delivers his speech at the Kirkenes Conference in Kirkenes, Finnmark County, Norway, Feb. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang) KIRKENES, Norway, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Wednesday voiced his administration's keen interest in expanding cooperation with China in various areas such as energy and climate change. "We want to have a broad set of cooperation with China. We have a number of areas where we bilaterally can enhance cooperation," Store said in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the Kirkenes Conference, a significant yearly fixture in Northern Norway. Highlighting China's global influence, he said that with its role in the world economy, China is a country Norway must work with in order to deal with energy issues, climate change issues and also big issues concerning peace and security. Located within the Arctic Circle, Kirkenes serves as the central hub of the Sor-Varanger municipality in Finnmark county, Northern Norway. First held in 2008, the Kirkenes Conference endeavors to shed light on various developmental facets within Northern Norway and its adjacent regions, touching upon political, business and social progress. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store delivers his speech at the Kirkenes Conference in Kirkenes, Finnmark County, Norway, Feb. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang) Ballston Spa, N.Y. A man accused of abducting a 9-year-old girl from a state park in September pleaded guilty to felony kidnapping and sexual assault charges Wednesday. Craig N. Ross Jr., 46, agreed to a plea deal with Saratoga County prosecutors that would lead to a 47-year-to-life prison sentence, the Albany Times-Union reported. On Sept. 30, a statewide manhunt was launched after the girl disappeared while riding her bike at Moreau Lake State Park. She was found two days later hidden inside a cabinet at Ross camper in the nearby town of Milton. Ross was identified as a suspect after investigators lifted a fingerprint from a ransom note demanding $50,000 left at the girls home. Investigators are also determining his potential role in unsolved abductions and homicides in the area, including the cases of 18-year-old Jennifer Hammond and 19-year-old Christina N. White, the Times-Union reported. Ross has never been identified as a suspect in those cases, and police confirmed to the Times-Union that investigators had no evidence linking him to the earlier abductions. Ross sentencing is scheduled for April 17. Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com. Kate Benoit has worked at the Anheuser-Busch brewery just outside Baldwinsville for 16 years, following in fathers footsteps at the company. She hopes a third generation of her family might join one day. On Wednesday, she brought her school-age kids, Brielle and Bryce, to the plant on Route 31 in the Radisson business park. They joined a rally by dozens of fellow Teamster union workers ahead of a possible strike against Anheuser-Busch. Like the others at the rally, Benoit and her kids carried signs with slogans like Respect Brewery Teamsters: Save American Jobs, Anheuser-Busch, This Rounds On You, and Raise The Bar on Wages. Another popular sign was No Contract. No Beer, which was also a popular chant from the workers at the plant that produces Budweiser, Bud Light and other beers and beverages. They could be the next generation to work here, Benoit, of Central Square, said of her kids. But we have to save the jobs. Thats why were out here. The Teamsters represent more than 5,000 workers at the 12 breweries operated by Anheuser-Busch InBev in the United States. The union said in December its members will walk out at all 12 plants if there is no new contract when the current deal expires at midnight on Feb. 29. A strike by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters would include the 373 members of Teamsters Local 1149 working at the Baldwinsville brewery. The plant, the largest brewery in New York state, has a total workforce of more than 500. Kate Benoit, a second generation Anheuser-Busch employee, marches with her children Brielle, 9, and Bryce, 7, as Teamster union members rally ahead of a possible strike at the Lysander plant Wednesday, February 21 ,2024. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.comN. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Workers at Wednesdays rally said wages, health benefits and job security are all major issues, with job protection being the top priority. Wages are important, because, you know, everything is more expensive, said Kyle Toney, who has been with the company for seven years and works on the packaging floor. But we want them (the company) to know that its important to keep our jobs. They need to show they value what we do. Benoit said she and the other workers stand in solidarity if the company should decide to cut jobs or close any of the breweries. We have 5,000 jobs now, she said. There should be 5,000 jobs, at least, in the future. Joe Farrance the principal officer at Local 1149, noted there were once 14,000 union jobs in Anheuser-Buschs U.S. breweries. Much of the loss in union jobs came through automation of things like bottling and canning lines. Farrance said the company as of now is only guaranteeing to keep all 12 breweries open through the end of 2024. Not more cuts, he said. Thats what were here for. On Feb. 1, the Teamsters General President Sean M. OBrien issued a statement demanding the company make an better offer and warning that a strike against the company seemed imminent and unavoidable. An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson provided this statement to syracuse.com about Wednesdays union rally: Were aware of the Union demonstration at our Baldwinsville Brewery, which is common during labor negotiations, and our top priority remains securing a contract that recognizes and rewards the talent, commitment and drive of our employees and continues to provide the best jobs in the beer industry; as a precautionary measure, we have a robust continuity plan in place to ensure we will continue bringing our industry-leading brands to our valued customers and consumers across the country. Last week, 400 Teamsters members went on strike against a Molson Coors brewery in Fort Worth, Texas. which could have impacts on distribution of those products, especially in the west. If the Anheuser-Busch strike happens, that would mean workers walking out at two of the nations largest beer-makers. Strikes against food and beverage producers put pressure on those companies because their products typically have a short shelf life, said Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse Universitys Whitman School of Management. Thats why strikes against such companies usually dont last for a protracted time, he said. Their products are perishable for beer its about four months to a year in many cases, he said. The dilemma is they (the companies) have products in the pipeline, but its not going to last them forever. That, coupled with a recent general turn toward labor in contract negotiations, leads Penfield to think that the Teamsters are likely to get what they want. Anheuser-Busch employees rally ahead of a possible Teamsters union strike at the Lysander plant Wednesday, February 21 ,2024. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.comN. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com The plant in the Radisson business park, known within the company as the Baldwinsville Brewery, opened in 1976. It was initially operated by Schlitz Brewing Co. Anheuser-Busch bought it in the early 1980s, and after a brief shutdown for renovations reopened it in 1983. In 2008, Anheuser-Busch was taken over by InBev, a Belgium-based global beer conglomerate, creating the new company, Anheuser-Busch InBev. It is the largest beer company in the world. The Baldwinsville brewery makes about 75 different beverages, totaling around 6 million barrels per year (the equivalent of 82 million cases). It is larger than the next two big New York state breweries, Genesee in Rochester and F.X. Matt (Saranac) in Utica. As recently as 2021, about 60 percent of the brewerys total output was Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Michelob Ultra and other classic A-B lagers. Another 10 percent were craft beers under brands purchased by A-B, and the remaining 30 percent includes flavored alcohol beverages, seltzers and other non-beer drinks. It continues to branch into more hard seltzers and other specialty products. Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. The launch of the rocket that will take Syracuse native Jeanette Epps into space later this month has been delayed. Liftoff will take place no sooner than 12:04 a.m. EST on Friday, Mar. 1. The delay comes after the successful launch of the Intuitive Machines IM-1 lander, a robotic mission to land on the moon. Adirondack lakes are turning browner, warmer, and less oxygenated according to a new study by researchers at Cornell University. The phenomenon, known as lake browning, has dark implications for cold-water fish species central to the Adirondack regions identity and economy, particularly brook trout, the official New York State fish. Brook trout prefer cold, well-oxygenated water, which is why theyre most often found in fast running streams and rivers amply shaded by trees. New York is one of only two statesthe other being Mainewith lakes that support wild brook trout populations. But if current warming and browning trends continue, 95% of Adirondack lakes wont support brook trout populations in the near future, said Stephen Jane, lead author of the study and a post-doctoral fellow at Cornells Atkinson Center for Sustainability from 2021-23. It may not take a whole lot of warming or browning to really put fish into a real squeeze, he said. If its bad enough theyre just not going to be able to survive. Stephen Jane, a post-doctoral fellow at Cornells Atkinson Center for Sustainability from 2021-23, published a paper in January showing that 95% of Adirondack lakes won't be able to support brook trout in the near future due to a phenomenon called 'lake browning.'Thomas Detmer Lake browning Most Adirondack lakes have a sepia tint similar to weak tea, a byproduct of dissolved organic matter leaching into aquatic systems from the surrounding landscape. Think of it as tea brewed from leaves decaying on the forest floor. Just like you put a tea bag in a cup of water and the water becomes brown, its the same concept, Jane said. The brown water that becomes tea is dissolved organic matter. Lake browning is an accelerated version of this otherwise natural process. Let a tea bag steep too long and you get a darker brew. That brown water traps heat at the surface and prevents light from penetrating into the water column, expanding the volume of cool water near the bottom. The result is lakes divided into hot and cold zones that dont mix. Oxygen cant reach lower depths. Thats bad for brook trout, Atlantic salmon, and other cold-water fish species. Surface waters become too hot, and deep water has no oxygen, forcing fish to seek refuge somewhere in the shrinking middle. Jane calls this dynamic the oxythermal squeeze and estimates that about half of all Adirondack lakes already contain no hospitable zone for brook trout in late summer. Jane found that deep lakes over 30 meters seem to be resistant to both warming and browning, but theyre extremely rare. Less than one percent of Adirondack lakes fall into this category, he says. The best-case scenario for Adirondack brook trout is to be in one of the 1% of lakes that are big and deep and well-oxygenated all the way to the bottom. Most fish are not that lucky, said Peter McIntyre, an aquatic biologist at Cornell. Theyre in the other 99% of the lakes that show these browning trends. Apart from a handful of deepwater lakes, researchers determined that less than five percent of Adirondack lakes host a hospitable zone for brook trout year-round. And that zone is typically no thicker than five feet during the warm season. If the inhospitable layers touch at some point, then youre likely to see some mortality of the fish, said McIntyre. Evidence shows that climate change is super charging the problem by prolonging the time period that lake bottoms remain anoxic, and by flushing ever more organic matter into lakes through extreme precipitation eventslike pouring hot water on a tea bag. Currently [brook trout] are hanging on, Jane said, but theyre certainly going to get squeezed into a smaller and smaller space, and thats going to likely reduce populations sizes. A new Cornell University study shows that Adirondack lakes like the one shown here are growing darker, warmer, and less oxygenated due to climate change and a phenomenon called 'lake browning.'Eileen Randall Acid rains legacy When scientists began studying the impact of air pollution on Northeast ecosystems in the 1970s, the public was confronted with alarming images of denuded Adirondack forests and crystal-clear mountain lakes bleached of all life. The phenomenon had a sinister name: acid rain. If you thought the problem of acid rain was solved decades ago, youd be half right. Amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1990 greatly curtailed pollutants that caused acid rain. Ecosystems began to recover. Once dead Adirondack lakes came back to life and regained their natural sepia hue. What scientists didnt fully understand until now is that acid rain had altered the regions soil chemistry, causing dissolved organic matterthe stuff inside the tea bagto leach into aquatic systems at very high levels. Researchers might have overlooked lake browning altogether if Jane and his team hadnt dropped high frequency oxygen sensors into 15 remote Adirondack lakes in the spring of 2021 to explore another legacy of acid rain: mercury contamination. It quickly became obvious that several of the lakes had extensive anoxia, Jane said. Janes sensors revealed for the first time the full extent of a problem that had been growing unnoticed for decades and has no end in sight. These sorts of processes never continue forever, said McIntyre. Itll be reined in at some point, but we have no idea what that point will be. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: READ MORE State pays $9.3 million to protect 14K acres of pristine Adirondack wilderness - newyorkupstate.com Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors. NEW YORK (AP) A woman who struck and killed a New York City police detective after speeding through an NYPD roadblock while driving drunk was sentenced Wednesday to more than 20 years in prison. A jury convicted Jessica Beauvais, 35, of Hempstead of aggravated manslaughter and other charges in October. She was arrested in April 2021 following the death of 43-year-old Anastasios Tsakos. Tsakos, a father of two and 14-year veteran of the police department, was struck and killed around 2 a.m. on April 27, 2021, while assisting officers at the scene of another fatal crash on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Beauvais had a blood alcohol content that was nearly twice the legal limit for driving two hours after the accident, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, and she also was without a valid license. Jessica Beauvais enters the courtroom for her sentencing at the Queens Criminal Court on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in New York. Beauvais who struck and killed a New York City police detective after speeding through an NYPD roadblock while driving drunk was sentenced Wednesday to more than 20 years in prison. (Olivia Falcigno/Newsday via AP)AP Her license had been suspended, she was drunk and had smoked marijuana, Katz said in a news release Wednesday. For everyones safety and wellbeing, including her own, the defendant should not have been behind the wheel of a car. A Supreme Court justice sentenced Beauvais to consecutive sentences of 20 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter and 2 1/3 years to 7 years for leaving the scene of an incident. PHOENIX (AP) The Republican prosecutor of Arizonas most populous county took a thinly veiled swipe at a Democratic counterpart in the East on Wednesday, saying she would not agree to extradition of a suspect in the death of a woman who was fatally bludgeoned in a New York City hotel room, and that he should be tried first in Arizona for stabbing two women here. Raad Almansoori, 26, is being held without bond while Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchells office decides how to charge him in connection with the stabbing of two women in the county in recent days, Mitchell said at a news conference. Those two women survived. RIGA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Latvian lawmakers on Thursday adopted a ban on imports of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products. The bill, adopted through a fast-track procedure, also prohibits products from Russia and Belarus imported into Latvia from third countries. It still needs approval from the president of Latvia before it comes into force. The ban will be effective until July 1, 2025, but can be extended in the future if necessary, according to the parliamentary press service. In 2023, Latvia imported 423,732 tons of grain products from Russia, an increase of 59.9 percent from 2022. Meanwhile, the value of grain imports from Russia rose 11.7 percent year-on-year to 89 million euros (96 million U.S. dollars), according to data from the State Revenue Service. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. A sign showing support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a protest outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. Assange, 52, is wanted in the United States on allegations of disclosing national defense information following WikiLeaks's publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked military documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars a decade ago, which included an Apache helicopter video footage documenting the U.S. military gunning down Reuters journalists and children in Baghdad's streets in 2007. Assange has been held at southeast London's high-security Belmarsh Prison since 2019. Lawyers for the United States said earlier that he would be allowed to transfer to Australia, his home country, to serve any prison sentence he may be given. The UK approved his extradition to the United States in 2022 under then Home Secretary Priti Patel after a judge initially blocked it on Assange's mental health concerns. Assange was absent from the two-day proceedings due to illness as two judges at the UK High Court, namely Victoria Sharp and Justice Johnson, heard arguments from his legal team and lawyers representing the U.S. government. Clair Dobbin, a lawyer for the United States, said during Wednesday's hearing that the WikiLeaks founder "indiscriminately and knowingly published to the world the names of individuals who acted as sources of information to the U.S." Assange's lawyers referenced alleged U.S. plot to kidnap or kill the WikiLeaks founder reported in 2021. If the two judges at the UK High Court rule in Assange's favor, a full appeal hearing will be scheduled to consider his challenge and could lead to a new decision about his extradition. If he loses the case, Assange could be extradited within weeks unless his legal team can get an emergency injunction at the European Court of Human Rights in time. Hundreds of supporters of Assange gathered outside the High Court in central London on Wednesday despite rain, holding signs that read "Free Julian Assange" and chanting "Free Julian!" and "No extradition!" A sign showing support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a protest outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's wife Stella Assange speaks outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) A banner showing support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a protest outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) A sign showing support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a protest outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) A sign showing support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a protest outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) A sign showing support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a protest outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) A supporter of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange attends a protest with a placard outside the United Kingdom (UK) High Court in London, Britain, on Feb. 21, 2024. The United Kingdom (UK) High Court on Wednesday concluded its two-day hearing on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges, but the judges said they would give their decision at a later date. (Xinhua/Li Ying) jacobsam BHPian Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Harda, M.P. Posts: 54 Thanked: 134 Times Re: Honda City Hybrid Review As suggested by Kevinrevvz, posting my experiences with Honda Car services. Please do keep in mind that I am a repeat customer for Honda Cars India I belong to a tier 4 city. Buying a hybrid itself is a lot questionable around here but the team-bhp influence keeps ticking you to new things. So with lots of excitement and joy, I bought a Honda City Hybrid ZX e-hev on 19th October 2023. Paid a huge premium over a normal Honda City believing that its a premium product with premium service availability. Come 27th of November 2023, we met with an accident. Would get it into the details of ADAS and its effectiveness later in another thread pertaining to it. Immediately contacted the Service team and RSA team from Honda as it was part of the package. The vehicle was picked up by the RSA vendor and taken to the authorized service centre of the same dealership it was bought from on the 29th of November 2023. Subsequently, I received a call from the service advisor pertaining to the process and I gave the go-ahead. The insurance company were contacted and the process was initiated. The speculated time frame mentioned to me by Honda was around 25 days and I was ok with it. There was some delay by the insurance company and the dealership asked me to give a go-ahead to start the repair work irrespective of the pending approval which I did. In the meantime, I was informed by the service advisor that since its a hybrid, the Honda team is also informed about the parts requirement and they are in the loop pertaining to the repairs. 25days passed. Again started following up with the Abhikaran Honda, Indore and the service advisor told me that some parts are not available and the orders were also pending with the Honda Team. Today 70 days have crossed. The service advisor is saying that the painting and all the requisite work is done except some hybrid dedicated parts are required are not provided by the Honda team. He is clearly saying that we have sort of repaired these parts and checked the car and its running ok. Since he is still not getting clarity from Honda when the parts would be provided and this would delay the delivery more, he is suggesting to collect the car and use it till the parts are provided by the Honda which he doesnt know when would happen. This is a new car. Not an extinct one. Not an old car which is not under production but a car which is under production for the past year or so. Shouldn't there be a reasonable inventory of parts with the service provider or at least the car manufacturer? I am saddened and frustrated by this kind of behaviour. Have sent an email to the customer service team and waiting for an update from them. Please advice the future course of action. Regards Last edited by Aditya : 23rd February 2024 at 04:59 . Reason: Typos Forward-looking: As consumers increasingly turn toward digital distribution and data center operators try various storage methods, optical discs haven't stopped evolving. A recently published paper explains how manufacturers could make DVD-like discs that hold the equivalent of hundreds or thousands of Blu-rays. Researchers at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology have developed an optical disc with a capacity of over a petabit of data, equivalent to well over 100 terabytes. Although the technology is primarily proposed for enterprise use, it could potentially become accessible to consumers after overcoming significant obstacles. The scientists were able to significantly increase the capacity of an optical disc by implementing a 3D planar recording architecture. The technology uses a highly transparent, uniform photoresist film doped with aggregation-induced emission dye and stimulated by femtosecond lasers. Related reading: Anatomy of a Storage Drive: Optical Drives This allows hundreds of layers to be packed one micrometer apart on a disc with the same thickness as a DVD or Blu-ray. The most advanced Blu-ray discs support up to four layers, typically carrying around 100 gigabytes of data. By comparison, the researchers claim that their new format can record 100 layers on both sides of the disc for a capacity totaling 1.6 petabits, or around 200 terabytes. Stacking many petabit discs together could reduce exabit data centers to a fraction of their current typical size. Consolidating servers would also drastically lower heat and energy consumption. Additionally, utilizing extreme-capacity optical discs simplifies data migration and minimizes the need for it. Another potential advantage is longevity the researchers claim the petabit discs can last 50 to 100 years. Although the new medium could be made compatible with current optical disc technology, the researchers haven't yet developed a fast, affordable drive for it. If one emerges, the new discs could store data comparable to dozens of hard drives, 2,000 PlayStation 5 game discs, or a similar number of 4K Blu-ray discs. Thinking beyond media playback, the developers suggest that petabit discs could allow individuals or families to own data centers, storing all of their important information on one drive at home instead of multiple devices and cloud servers. Other novel methods of mass storage are also under investigation. In 2021, researchers from the University of Southampton proposed a "5D" method of stowing data on glass discs. Using an energy-efficient laser, the technology could pack 500TB onto a DVD-sized disc, but improvements in read and write speed are necessary. Facepalm: Generative AIs are often accused of being biased, but it appears that Google went a bit too far in trying to address this problem with Gemini. The company has apologized after the tool produced images showing people of color and women in historically inaccurate contexts, such as Nazi-era German soldiers and the Founding Fathers. It's led to complaints about Gemini being "woke," and Google has now paused the feature while it makes changes. Social media users have been posting the images created by Gemini on sites such as X. Some of the more striking ones include a prompt to generate the Founding Fathers showing a woman of color and a man of color wearing a turban. "Can you generate images of the Founding Fathers?" It's a difficult question for Gemini, Google's DEI-powered AI tool. Ironically, asking for more historically accurate images made the results even more historically inaccurate. pic.twitter.com/LtbuIWsHSU Mike Wacker (@m_wacker) February 21, 2024 Another memorable example was someone asking Gemini to generate an image of a 1943 German soldier. The results were not your typical Nazis. "We're aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions," Google said in a statement, posted this afternoon on X. "We're working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Gemini's AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that's generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it's missing the mark here." Google said it will be pausing the feature until changes are made. Woke AI Gemini is awkward it keeps inserting the word "diverse" into its responses even though the prompt isn't for such content. And look what it did for the 1800s request. pic.twitter.com/CBdoP5gIN0 Marina Medvin AAAA (@MarinaMedvin) February 21, 2024 Users have also highlighted the strange way that Gemini keeps inserting the word "diverse" into its generated content even though it isn't specified in the prompt. Also read: Forget hallucinations, ChatGPT has developed full blown dementia Debarghya Das, a computer scientist who used to work at Google, said on X that "it's embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist." Das' prompts to generate pictures of Swedish and American women overwhelmingly or exclusively showed women of color. It's embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist pic.twitter.com/4lkhD7p5nR Deedy (@debarghya_das) February 20, 2024 It was earlier this month when Google confirmed weeks of rumors that its Bard AI was being renamed. The company unveiled the Gemini AI large language model, a direct competitor to OpenAI's GPT LLMs, in December, and had decided to change Bard's name to fall into the same Gemini branding. The company also revealed its most advanced AI model to date, Gemini Advanced. It seems that Google has gone too far in ensuring its AI avoids any allegations of racial bias, leading to people calling it laughably woke, which in turn has led to serveral conspiracy theories. It's all a far cry from 2015 when the company had to apologize after its photos app labeled a photo of a black couple as "gorillas." Nextracker, a leading provider of intelligent solar tracker solutions, has been selected by a consortium of Acwa Power, a leading Saudi utility project developer and a leader in energy transition, and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India's leading engineering and construction conglomerate, to deploy its all-terrain tracker NX Horizon-XTR for a 1.17 GW installation at Al Kahfah Solar Power Plant in the kingdom. Al Kahfah is one of the three major solar PV Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects being led by Badeel and Acwa Power. This solar plant will provide clean energy to the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) as part of the renewable energy projects essential to meet the targets of Vision 2030 and the Ministry of Energys National Renewable Energy Programme to increase renewables in the nations energy mix to 50% by 2030. Global construction giant L&T has also been awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the Al Kahfah Solar Power Plant. NX Horizon-XTR The Al Kahfah project will deploy Nextrackers NX Horizon-XTR smart solar tracker systems. The area the solar plant will occupy is dominated by a hilly, hard-soil land surface that would typically require a combination of explosives and grading machines to flatten the land the new solar tracking system will cover. First delivered in 2018 and proven on dozens of utility scale projects successfully operating around the world, Nextrackers all-terrain solar tracker system can conform to the natural terrain to reduce the need for costly land grading while significantly reducing environmental impact. The Al Kahfah project in Saudi Arabia represents Nextrackers largest deployment of its NX Horizon-XTR solar tracker technology in a single order to date. This planned Al Kahfah installation has also contributed to Nextracker achieving a significant milestone in the growing Middle East, India, and Africa (MEIA) solar energy market. 1.17 GW order This 1.17 GW order further reinforces Nextrackers commitment to this market, having over 10 GW of smart solar trackers either operational or under fulfilment across the region. As part of its support to Acwa Power and the Al Kahfah project, Nextracker has extended its domestic content and capacity development programme in the kingdom. Nextracker has engaged a range of local partners in providing raw material and manufacturing support for its trackers at plants across the region. Nextracker previously partnered with Acwa Power and L&T on the Sudair Solar PV Plant (906 MW) to provide its intelligent solar trackers boosting energy generation for these plants. Dan Shugar, Nextracker founder and CEO said: We are honoured to partner again with both Acwa Power and Larsen & Toubro Ltd for another significant project in the region. Our partnership with these two industry leaders has contributed greatly to Nextrackers local commitment with over 10 GW of solar trackers already installed or under fulfilment across the MEIA regions rapidly expanding solar energy market. We are confident that Nextracker will contribute greatly to the Al Kahfah plantyet another example of Saudi government leadership in the energy transition and to the dominance of solar technology driving the transition to renewables in the region. Low-cost clean energy Marco Arcelli, Acwa Power CEO, added: We are looking forward to a successful commissioning of this important new plant to ensure ongoing delivery of reliable, low-cost clean energy for families and businesses. Our partnerships with technology providers such as Nextracker are essential in supporting our role in Saudi Arabias ambitious National Renewable Energy Plan to increase the share of renewables in the countrys energy mix to 50% by 2030. Bharathi Kumar, General Manager (Renewable International) of Larsen & Toubro Construction said: Nextrackers solutions offer great flexibility to configure solar tracking systems at project sites for premium performance. The pre-assembled components, single-row architecture and robotic cleaning compatibility ensure efficient operations and management over the lifecycle of every project. Nextrackers robust design with keen emphasis on wind engineering make its trackers most suitable for the region.--TradeArabia News Service MEXICO CITY, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed in a confrontation between rival criminal gangs in Mexico's southern state of Guerrero, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday. Investigation into the incident began Tuesday and is ongoing, with National Guard troops already at the site, Lopez Obrador told reporters at the National Palace in Mexico City at a daily press conference. The president said the authorities will provide more details later on the deadly clash, according to local media. Forward-looking: While we still don't have skies filled with flying taxis, that sci-fi vision of the future might not be too far away. Wisk, an autonomous aircraft startup backed by Boeing, says it expects its autonomous aircraft to be operational by the end of the decade, starting with operations in Texas. Wisk is hoping that a prototype of its Generation 6 autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will make its first flight by the end of the year the company is currently assembling the latest version. The eVTOL, which is able to hold four passengers and their luggage, will fly between 2,500 and 4,000 feet, have a 90-mile range, a speed between 110 and 120 knots, and a charge time of just 15 minutes. The plan is for Wisk's air taxis to transport riders at a cost comparable to an UberX ride, said APAC VP Catherine MacGowan (via The Reg). "There's a very comprehensive process for us to go through to be approved, to be certified, and approved to conduct autonomous operations, so we won't be carrying passengers and we won't be undertaking operations until the [US Federal Aviation Authority] FAA and other regulators as appropriate have been fully set aside," MacGowan admitted at the Singapore airshow. Wisk said it has an agreement with the city of Sugar Land, Texas, to develop its autonomous air taxi services in the Houston area. Brian Yutko, Wisk's chief executive, said the greater Houston location is experiencing some of the highest population growth in the country, worsening its traffic conditions. Wisk has been testing its eVTOL prototypes since 2010. There have been at least 1,750 flights across five iterations of the craft, which have resulted in "no significant incidents," according to MacGowan. Those words don't seem to placate everyone's fears of using autonomous flying taxis, though, with MacGowan admitting that younger people are a lot keener to use them than older generations. The flying taxi industry is advancing at a rapid pace. A Paris service could be ready for the 2024 Summer Olympics, while China became the first country to approve autonomous flying taxis last year. Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Why it matters: Xiaomi's upcoming Pad 6S Pro appears to be trying to attract iPad buyers to its growing tablet ecosystem, especially in China. However, it remains to be seen whether the company's innovative cross-device features and HyperOS software, which resembles iOS, can genuinely entice Apple's loyal user base. Xiaomi has unveiled its latest flagship tablet, and it's evident that the company has Apple directly in its sights. The new Pad 6S Pro 12.4 delivers a significant performance boost, with features that seem to surpass even Apple's premium iPad Pro models in some aspects. Under the hood, the Pad 6S Pro features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, providing ample power for gaming and multitasking. Paired with up to a massive 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the hardware is complemented by an impressive 10,000mAh battery with rapid 120W wired charging support. The standout feature is undoubtedly the tablet's 12.4-inch display, boasting a crisp 3,048 x 2,032 resolution and a buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate specs that, on paper, surpass Apple's latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Xiaomi is clearly targeting power users and creative professionals with this portable canvas. During the Pad 6S Pro's Chinese launch event, Xiaomi took direct shots at Apple. The company claims that its new tablet outshines the iPad Pro with superior screen technology, faster Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and a more competitive starting price. The Pad 6S Pro introduces innovative productivity features inspired by Apple's ecosystem. It can wirelessly extend your desktop to other Windows PCs, allowing seamless drag-and-drop file transfers and the use of the same keyboard and mouse across devices offering iPad Pro-meets-SideCar versatility at a lower cost. Xiaomi aims to attract iPad and Galaxy Tab buyers, as these two brands dominated global tablet sales last year with nearly 60% combined market share, according to research firm IDC. The Pad 6S Pro represents the company's most significant effort yet to challenge this duopoly. Additionally, the device is the first Xiaomi tablet to come with HyperOS out of the box, succeeding MIUI. The microsite claims that HyperOS enhances animations, overall fluidity, and app load times while introducing new iOS-style lock screen customizations. Currently, the tablet is limited to a China-only launch, starting at around $460 for the base model. However, a global debut has been teased on X, possibly alongside the Xiaomi 14 flagship phones at MWC next week in Barcelona. Money Money Money: The CHIPS and Science Act was officially signed into law on August 9, 2022, authorizing around $280 billion in federal subsidies to boost domestic research and manufacturing of advanced semiconductor technology. The United States Secretary of Commerce says that the nearly $300 billion is still insufficient to achieve world dominance in the field. Speaking at Intel's recent foundry event, United States Secretary of Commerce (SecCom) Gina Raimondo said that federal subsidies are essential for the US to become a new world power in microchip technology. Bloomberg notes that the SecCom believes the US likely needs to prepare a second CHIPS Act to keep funding domestic initiatives in the semiconductor business. "I suspect there will have to be whether you call it Chips Two or something else continued investment if we want to lead the world," Raimondo said in her speech on Wednesday. "We fell pretty far. We took our eye off the ball." SecCom recently spoke with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who is seeking federal subsidies to build a new chip venture. Demand for AI chips is increasing, Raimondo said, and it will soon become overwhelming for even the most prominent foundry operations in the world. New investments and a potential new CHIPS Act could help build new US chip foundries and semiconductor startups. Aside from fulfilling the ever-growing demand for AI accelerators, the additional funds would lead to a surplus of specialized chips, enabling more companies to use artificial intelligence algorithms and services. More AI chips and companies using AI for their business would provide a competitive advantage for the US at least, that's Raimondo's theory. The US government still hasn't allocated or delivered the billions of dollars already funded with the original CHIPS Act. Washington recently announced a $5 billion investment to finance a new chip research initiative (NSTC), while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicted that the US could achieve chip manufacturing independence in 20 years. The US CHIPS Act forced other world powers to prepare similar plans to fund domestic semiconductor initiatives. Europe promised to invest 43 billion ($46.53 billion) in its version of the Chips Act to boost the Old Continent's competitiveness and resilience in the microchip business. So far, Washington has only allocated $39 billion in direct funding and $75 billion in loans and loan guarantees to help domestic chip manufacturing a little over one-third of the allocated funds. The first major players in the semiconductor industry to receive these subsidies include the US subsidiary of British contractor BAE Systems, GlobalFoundries, and Microchip Technology. Intel is also trying to get its slice of the state funding cake, with a new announcement expected soon. A new 3D-printing ink, inspired by the color-shifting capabilities of chameleons, has been developed by scientists, offering the ability to change colors within a single print job. This innovative ink employs ultraviolet light to selectively modify the surface structure of the material during printing, resulting in dynamic color transformations. "By designing new chemistries and printing processes, we can modulate structural color on the fly to produce color gradients not possible before," said Ying Diao, an associate professor of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. UV Direct-Ink-Write 3D Printing Method Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, based at the Beckman Institute, have devised a UV-assisted direct-ink-write 3D printing method capable of altering structural colors across the visible spectrum, ranging from deep blue to orange. This approach not only enables the creation of vibrant colors but also holds promise for more sustainable color production methods, according to the research team. Ying Diao emphasized the potential of this technique in achieving unprecedented color gradients through innovative chemistry and printing processes. The study outlines the methodology behind the UV-assisted direct-ink-write 3D printing approach, which involves manipulating light to control the assembly of specially designed crosslinking polymers. In contrast to conventional colors derived from chemical pigments or dyes, the structural colors produced by this method originate from nano-textured surfaces that interact with visible light, resulting in richer and potentially more eco-friendly coloration, according to Sanghyun Jeon, the lead author and a graduate student in the Diao Lab. "Unlike traditional colors which come from chemical pigments or dyes that absorb light, the structural colors abundant in many biological systems come from nano-textured surfaces that interfere with visible light. This makes them more vibrant and potentially more sustainable," Jeon said in a statement. Read Also: 'Chameleon Robots:' These Robots Can Change Colors and Mimic Their Surroundings Through 3D Printing From Deep Blue to Orange Jeon also emphasized the broad spectrum of structural colors achievable through this technique, ranging from deep blue to orange. The research team achieves a diversity of color gradients using a single ink, modified in its printing process. "In this work, we demonstrated that integrating cross-linking chemistry with out-of-equilibrium processing based on additive manufacturing allows for dynamic control of structural color across the visible light spectrum and creates color gradients using a single ink," the researchers wrote. "This approach demonstrates the power of non-equilibrium processing in dynamically modulating self-assembled structures and their functional properties during additive manufacturing." The paper, titled "Direct-Ink-Write Crosslinkable Bottlebrush Block Polymers for On-the-fly Control of Structural color," is available in PNAS. Related Article: 3D-Printed Roller Coaster: YouTuber Shares Model of Amusement Ride Which Took Over 900 Hours to Create 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Physicians across the United States are facing significant challenges, including burnout, staffing shortages, and excessive administrative tasks. However, a recent survey suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) could offer a glimmer of hope in alleviating these issues. Physician Burnout and Administrative Overload The survey, commissioned by Athenahealth, a provider of cloud-based healthcare tools, reveals alarming statistics. Over 90% of physicians report experiencing burnout regularly, with excessive administrative tasks being the primary cause. A staggering 64% of doctors feel overwhelmed by paperwork and clerical requirements, contributing to their burnout. Related Article: Atalan Tech Raises $2.5 Million to Predict and Prevent Clinician Burnout Via AI Workload and Patient Interaction Physicians are spending an average of 15 extra hours per week outside their regular schedules to keep up with administrative tasks, often referred to as "pajama time." Moreover, nearly 60% of doctors feel they lack sufficient in-person time with patients, while over 75% are overwhelmed by patients' excessive communication demands, such as constant texting and emailing. Challenges for Healthcare Organizations The survey also highlights challenges faced by healthcare organizations. Around 78% of physicians express concerns about poor staff retention and shortages within their organizations. Additionally, less than 40% of doctors are confident in their employer's financial stability. "In order for physicians to fully benefit from technology as a care enhancement tool, they need to experience more advantages and fewer added complexities or burdens. If we get this right, we'll be using the technology to reduce administrative work and increase efficiencies in ways that allow physicians to refocus on their patients," Athenahealth's chief medical officer Dr. Nele Jessel, said in a release. The Role of Artificial Intelligence Despite these obstacles, 83% of surveyed physicians believe that AI could offer solutions. They envision AI streamlining administrative tasks, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and analyzing patient data for patterns and anomalies, CNBC reports. Some Doctors Are Optimistic Over AI Use While some doctors express concerns about AI potentially diminishing the human touch in healthcare and its role in the diagnostic process, twice as many participants view AI as part of the solution. This optimism extends to the broader use of technology in healthcare, with nearly 80% of AI optimists believing that technology helps them manage patient workloads effectively. Hope for the Future Although AI won't solve healthcare challenges overnight, it offers hope for the future. Thirty-seven percent of AI optimists believe that the healthcare field is moving in the right direction, signaling a positive outlook for the integration of AI technology. Survey Methodology The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Athenahealth, involved 1,003 physicians surveyed between October 23 and November 8. Notably, only 5% of respondents reported using Athenahealth's technology, ensuring diverse perspectives in the survey results. In our previous report, even hospital robots like Moxi can help nurses deal with burnout. They are helpful because, since the pandemic, healthcare workers have often worked outside the usual working hours. Read Also: How to Cope With Holiday Burnout After Christmas and New Year 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The California Public Utilities Commission has officially suspended Waymo's application to extend its robotaxi services in parts of Los Angeles and San Francisco's peninsula until June 19. The decision, announced through a notification on the commission's website, cites mounting safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles. The application is currently "suspended for further staff review," as per the notification posted on an unspecified date. Waymo, which is already operational in San Francisco and Phoenix, submitted the expansion request on January 19, emphasizing its commitment to collaboration with policymakers, first responders, and community organizations for the launch of its ride-hailing service. Due to recent accidents involving Waymo and its rival, General Motors' Cruise, there is a growing wave of skepticism towards robotaxis. The move underscores the heightened scrutiny of the safety aspects of autonomous vehicle deployment. (Photo: JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images) A Waymo autonomous vehicle on Steiner Street in San Francisco, on November 17, 2023. Waymo Robotaxi Set on Fire In a recent incident in San Francisco reported by TechTimes, unidentified individuals vandalized and set ablaze a Waymo One driverless car. A Waymo Jaguar I-Pace electric car, part of the Waymo One robotaxi service, was targeted after waiting for the crowd to disperse. Social media footage showed the automobile being assaulted, defaced, and burned. The attacked Waymo One had no passengers. Consequently, no injuries were recorded at the location despite the violent nature of the incident. Eyewitnesses described dread as some rushed away and others approached the car to destroy it. They said that an individual jumped on the car's hood and broke its windshield. Read Also: SpaceX Senior Executive Tom Ochinero Resigns: Report Earlier this month, Waymo's driverless car struck a cyclist at the intersection of Mississippi and 17th streets in the well-lit Potrero Hill neighborhood. Law enforcement officials reported that the cyclist sustained minor injuries while the passenger inside the Waymo driverless car remained unharmed. The incident happened at a four-way intersection, where the Waymo vehicle was waiting for a truck to complete its maneuver. However, it failed to detect a cyclist closely following the truck. Cruise's Challenges In October last year, General Motors' autonomous vehicle division, Cruise, announced a suspension of its self-driving operations in the US following the withdrawal of its license by California authorities due to safety concerns. This comes after a Cruise driverless taxi was involved in an incident where a pedestrian was dragged on October 2. The decision to halt operations nationally comes as investigations into potential risks to passengers and pedestrians raised alarms. Cruise stated that the decision aims to facilitate a comprehensive review of procedures, tools, and systems to restore public confidence. Following the decision, Cruise experienced a significant shakeup in November as CEO Kyle Vogt resigned amid safety concerns and an ongoing investigation into the company's US fleet. The decision came shortly after Vogt, a co-founder of Cruise in 2013, issued an apology to Cruise's staff, acknowledging recent challenges. Related Article: Uber Eats to Launch Autonomous Food Delivery Robots in Japan 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Who knew that using Grammarly could become a massive debacle in school? No one, and certainly not Marley Stevens, 21, who was recently flagged by her college professor at the University of North Georgia for an alleged "AI violation." Stevens claimed that she only used Grammarly to check her grammar, punctuation, and the like, but was said to violate another checking tool. Moreover, the college student said that she did not seek help from Grammarly's generative AI to write the paper she submitted, but it was still flagged and considered to be a form of cheating. College Student Given 'AI Violation,' Probation for Using Grammarly From releasing a TikTok video about how the University of North Georgia flagged her paper about "unintentional cheating" when using Grammarly, now turned into academic probation for Marley Stevens. This saga, coined by Stevens as the "Grammarly Debacle" saw the narration of the events that took place after she was regarded to have an "AI violation" for her submission. The student said that the paper she submitted did not use content from generative AI, but she admitted to using Grammarly to check her content's grammar and other aspects like punctuation, clauses, and the like. After submitting it via Turnitin, it led to an AI violation, initially getting a zero grade on the said paper-and after connecting with the department head, her professor only wrote comments instead of an updated grade. Stevens also regarded that the university's website also recommends Grammarly use. Read Also: UPenn to Launch AI Degree, Becomes World's First Ivy League School With New Major Marley Stevens' Grammarly Debacle on TikTok Further down the line, Grammarly reached out to Stevens and the university regarding this issue, but after the company's connection with the school, not much changed for her grades, specifically with that paper. Over the TikTok playlist regarding this debacle, Grammarly was said to help her and provide explanations about their tech, but this did not help with her "academic misconduct charge." Stevens is still on academic probation as of this writing. Grammarly and Generative AI For several years now, Grammarly presented itself with a tool to help correct grammar and other aspects of written content for users, with the ability to set the tone they want to use, as well as the guidelines they need their paper to be in. It presented massive features, and from using an algorithm down to employing AI to help with its corrective features, it was a trusted tool. Last year, Grammarly presented a new feature called GrammarlyGo, it is powered by generative AI that learns more about a specific user's writing style and context, one that could help empower their compositions. The AI aspect of GrammarlyGo would help give suggestions on how to better improve the content, but not necessarily writing the entire paper, unlike other tools like ChatGPT. However, the recent issue from the University of North Georgia and Stevens only shows how its assistive and corrective AI is still subject to being flagged, even when only using it for correcting the grammar on the paper. This debacle between Stevens, her professor, and the university is not yet over, and now, recently getting academic probation despite her evidence for the tool's use. Related Article: Google Docs' AI vs. Grammarly-Which Is the Better Content Checker? 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The supposed deal that would have PLDT, Inc. (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company) buying Sky Cable Corporation is no longer happening, said ABS-CBN Corp. In this deal, Sky Cable, a known cable TV and internet company in the Philippines would join the more known telco giant, with the initial deal drafted by both companies in 2023. The specifics of what happened in this update were not revealed by ABS-CBN Corp., only saying that it was a mutual decision from both sides. ABS-CBN Corp.'s Sky Cable Deal with PLDT No Longer Selling ABS-CBN News announced via their Facebook page a massive update regarding the Sky Cable Corp.'s sale to PLDT, a company owned by the First Pacific Company under business mogul Manuel V. Pangilinan. It was recently revealed by the ABS-CBN Corp. in a stock exchange disclosure that this deal will no longer push through, being a mutual decision from all parties. According to ABS-CBN News, after the decision on Thursday, February 22, Sky Cable already notified its cable TV subscribers that their subscriptions to the service could continue. Sky Cable is also known for providing internet services, with bundles including its cable TV offers to the Filipino community. Read Also: AI or Human? Viral Video of Student Newscaster Confuses People Online Sky Cable-PLDT Deal Fell Through, But Why? ABS-CBN Corp. and the First Pacific Company did not reveal the reason behind their withdrawal from the deal that would have sold Sky Cable Corp. to PLDT. It is known that back in March 2023, a Sale and Purchase Agreement was signed by ABS-CBN and PLDT regarding the Sky Cable deal. Philippine Telco and Media Companies Telecommunications and the internet saw a significant ramp-up in the Philippines in recent years, with top companies and renowned conglomerates known for their operations in the country. One of the startups that made headway on Fiber internet years ago, Converge, recently partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to provide free WiFi to Ilocos and La Union municipalities. Moreover, it is known that Elon Musk's Starlink reached the Southeast Asian archipelago in 2022, providing the renowned satellite internet service to the region. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) gave the go signal to SpaceX and Starlink back in 2022 to bring their high-speed, satellite-based connections to the country, empowering its connections and internet performance. Two of the top telcos in the Philippines, both known for their ties to media companies signed a deal last year for the possible sale of Sky Cable Corp. to PLDT, one that could have brought significant connections and better reach for all Filipinos. However, this deal did not push through, with both sides having a mutual agreement on ending the deal, going their separate ways in their services now. Related Article: Philippine Defense Chief Bans Military Use of 'Seemingly Harmless' AI-Generated Photo Apps Over Security Concerns 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), tasked with the controlled release of contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean as part of Fukushima Daiichi's decommissioning process, faces government scrutiny after another incident of radioactive water leakage from the nuclear plant. (Photo : PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images) A shoreline is pictured from Futaba-machi, Fukushima Prefecture, around 5 km away from the crippled Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant on August 24, 2023, the day on which Japan's government plan to begin releasing wastewater from the stricken plant into the Pacific Ocean. Issuing Warning Over Fukushima Fallout The breach raises concerns about the safety of the decommissioning efforts, prompting officials to demand immediate action to rebuild trust and safeguard local communities and the environment, as reported by Nikkei. TEPCO disclosed that approximately 5.5 tonnes of water containing an estimated 22 billion becquerels of radioactive substances had leaked from a facility designated for treating contaminated water. The recent incident has raised questions about TEPCO's capability to carry out the decommissioning process with safety and efficiency. According to the company, the leak occurred due to human error, specifically a worker's failure to adequately close a piping valve. However, TEPCO maintains that no negative impacts on the health of its personnel or the surrounding environment have been observed. Raising Doubts Over TEPCO's Safety Measures Despite these assurances, doubts remain regarding TEPCO's compliance with safety measures and regulatory standards. In October of the previous year, an alarming incident unfolded at the nuclear power plant when two workers were hospitalized due to accidental exposure to liquid containing radioactive substances. The occurrence took place during a cleaning procedure at the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), a pivotal facility tasked with treating radioactive wastewater at the plant. Ken Saito, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, voiced serious apprehensions regarding the recent incident. Saito pledged to direct TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa to prioritize the safety of decommissioning operations. Presently, TEPCO is engaged in the process of releasing accumulated contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean. This decision has not only provoked outrage among local fishing communities, whose livelihoods rely on the ocean, but has also drawn international criticism from nations such as China, South Korea, and the Solomon Islands. Also Read: Japan's Earthquake Sparks Renewed Debate on Nuclear Power Resumption Investigating the Incident Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has investigated the incident, spotlighting TEPCO's purported shortcomings in effectively managing decommissioning work. The NRA criticized the company for its ambiguous delineation of departmental responsibilities, casting doubt on its adherence to established safety protocols. As Japan continues to grapple with the repercussions of the Fukushima disaster, the recent leakage incident underscores the persistent challenges surrounding nuclear decommissioning and radioactive material management. With regulatory bodies closely overseeing TEPCO's activities, the company faces escalating pressure to prioritize safety and restore public confidence in its endeavors to address the enduring environmental and health ramifications of the catastrophe. TEPCO has erected over 1,000 tanks to accommodate 1.32 million metric tons of wastewater. The substantial radioactivity of the contaminated water necessitates its release, as storing large quantities on-site amplifies radiation exposure for workers. The release of stored water has occurred in three phases thus far. The upcoming fourth batch, comprising 7,800 cubic meters of water, is scheduled for release in late February. Related Article: Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Plant Faces Tougher Challenge Beyond Water Release: Removing Melted Nuclear Fuel 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order and created a federal rule to bolster the security at US ports from potential cyberattacks. The move comes amid growing concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyberattacks. Cybersecurity Regulations for US Ports The administration is introducing a set of cybersecurity regulations that port operators must adhere to nationwide, similar to standardized safety measures designed to mitigate physical risks. The White House is set to issue an executive order focusing on enhancing the security of the nation's ports, accompanied by additional measures aimed at fortifying maritime cybersecurity, strengthening supply chains, and reinforcing the US industrial base. These actions reflect the administration's commitment to investing in America, securing supply chains, and safeguarding critical infrastructure against modern threats. The security of the nation's ports is crucial, given the integral role of maritime trade in the US economy. The Marine Transportation System (MTS) supports trillions of dollars in economic activity annually and sustains millions of jobs. However, as digital systems become increasingly integral to port operations, they also introduced new vulnerabilities that could disrupt maritime shipping and supply chains. Joe Biden's New Executive Order Joe Biden's executive order will empower the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address maritime cyber threats more effectively, including by establishing cybersecurity standards to ensure the security of ports' networks and systems. The US Coast Guard will be granted explicit authority to respond to malicious cyber activity in the MTS and mandate cybersecurity mitigation measures for vessels and waterfront facilities. The executive order will also require mandatory reporting of cyber incidents endangering vessels, harbors, ports, or waterfront facilities. The Coast Guard will be authorized to control the movement of ships posing cyber threats and conduct inspections of vessels and facilities to mitigate cybersecurity risks effectively. Furthermore, the Coast Guard will also issue a Maritime Security Directive concerning cyber risk management for ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by the People's Republic of China. Owners and operators of these cranes will be required to take necessary actions to secure their equipment and associated IT and OT systems. Read Also: Biden's Electric Vehicle Shift Loosens Up on Rules, But EVs Are Still the Endgoal Proposed Rulemaking To strengthen digital systems in the marine transportation sector, the US Coast Guard has proposed a rulemaking on cybersecurity. This proposed rule establishes minimum cybersecurity requirements aligned with international standards to manage cyber threats effectively. To revitalize domestic manufacturing capacity, the Biden administration also plans to invest over $20 billion in US port infrastructure over the next five years. As part of this effort, PACECO Corp., a US-based subsidiary of Mitsui E&S Co., Ltd., intends to onshore manufacturing capacity for crane production. "Today's actions are clear examples of the President's work to invest in America, secure the country's supply chains, and strengthen the cybersecurity of our nation's critical infrastructure against 21st century threats - priorities his Administration has focused on relentlessly since taking office," the White House's fact sheet reads. Related Article: High-Speed Internet On its Way to North Carolina Says President Biden 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi: Delhi, February 22: Today the Foreign Ministers of Finland and India jointly unveiled a special logo commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both the countries. The unveiling took place when the two foreign ministers met at the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi. The logo, designed by a talented Indian student, serves as a testament to the deep friendship, cultural exchange, and collaborative spirit shared between the two nations over the past 75 years and heralds a future of continued partnership, innovation, and mutual growth. Ms. Elina Valtonen, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, said, The 75-year journey of Finland-India relations has been remarkable. This logo beautifully symbolizes our strong friendship and growing partnership. I am honored to join my Indian counterpart in its unveiling. Aman Narayan, a student at the World University of Design (WUD) in Haryana, created the logo after drawing inspiration from Indias cultural ethos as well as aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights - the natural phenomenon for which Finland is famous for. Mr. Kimmo Lahdevirta, Ambassador of Finland in India, remarked, "The logo unveiling by the Foreign Ministers underscores the significance of the Finland-India partnership globally. Today, we celebrate the winning design and the talented young artist who created it." In collaboration with WUD, the Embassy of Finland in India launched a logo design competition on January 15, 2024, inviting students of the university to showcase their creativity. The overwhelming response yielded numerous unique and thoughtful designs reflecting shared values, cultural fusion, and the strong bonds that have flourished over the past 75 years. A jury, composed of Finnish and Indian graphic designers, embassy representatives, and Business Finland, evaluated submissions based on criteria such as creativity, relevance, visual impact, conceptual strength, and adaptability. Aman Narayan's logo design won the competition. Prof (Dr.) Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor of the World University of Design, expressed pride in Aman Narayan's winning design, stating, "This logo effectively captures the essence of India-Finland ties. We are delighted that it will be used to commemorate this historic occasion, showcasing the creativity and talent of our students on the international stage at the Raisina Dialogue." Report: Madhurendra For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Samsung is set to broaden the reach of its Galaxy AI features with the introduction of the new One UI 6.1 update slated for release in late March. This update will extend the availability of Galaxy AI capabilities to a wide range of devices, including the Galaxy S23 series, S23 FE, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, Tab S9 Ultra, Tab S9+, and Tab S9. Samsung Extends Galaxy AI Features to More Devices Initially introduced for the Galaxy S24 series, these AI features will now be accessible to a larger user base, marking Samsung's efforts to democratize its mobile AI technologies. According to Samsung's official announcement, the integration of Galaxy AI into more devices aims to enhance users' mobile AI experience by employing a hybrid approach that combines both on-device and cloud-based AI functionalities. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, emphasized the company's commitment to making AI more accessible to users, stating that their goal with Galaxy AI is to pioneer a new era of mobile AI while empowering users. "Our goal with Galaxy AI is not only to pioneer a new era of mobile AI, but also to empower users by making AI more accessible," Roh said in a statement. "This is only the beginning of Galaxy AI, as we plan to bring the experience to over 100 million Galaxy users within 2024 and continue to innovate ways to harness the unlimited possibilities of mobile AI," he added. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Ring, Possible New Foldables Coming this July? What to Expect From the New One UI 6.1 Update of Samsung With the new One UI 6.1 update, a broader spectrum of Galaxy users will have access to communication-enhancing features powered by Galaxy AI. These features include adjusting message tone and translating messages in 13 different languages using Chat Assist. Additionally, users can engage in real-time conversations with Live Translate, which provides voice and text translations for phone calls, and Interpreter, which facilitates spontaneous conversations with locals by generating text translations for live discussions. The expanded integration of Galaxy AI across the Galaxy ecosystem is designed to streamline day-to-day tasks for users. Enhanced search functions like Circle to Search with Google allow intuitive search results with a simple circle-motion gesture. Productivity is further enhanced with features like Note Assist, which assists in note organization and translation, and Browsing Assist, which provides comprehensive summaries of news articles to keep users informed. Samsung is also doubling down on its commitment to unlocking users' creative potential with the new update. The suite of Galaxy AI tools included in the update encourages creative freedom, offering features like Generative Edit for photo manipulation and Edit Suggestion for quick and easy photo editing. Moreover, Instant Slow-mo generates additional frames for slow-motion videos, easily capturing action-packed moments. The update also introduces AI-generated wallpapers, allowing users to personalize their Galaxy devices. The new One UI 6.1 update was announced on February 22, but its rollout will occur by the end of March. Related Article: Samsung Plans to Add Auracast Support to Galaxy Phones, Tablets, Including Galaxy S24 Series 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new study presents a stark warning about the future of mangrove forests and their contribution to climate change. According to a study published in Environmental Research Letters, carbon emissions from destroyed mangrove forests are expected to increase by a staggering 50,000% in the coming decades. Destruction of Mangrove Forest Mangrove forests, found in southern India, southeastern China, Singapore, and eastern Australia, are important ecosystems known for their ability to store carbon. According to several studies, mangrove loss is primarily caused by the deforestation of existing mangrove areas. Land-use conversion, specifically aquaculture, agriculture, and urbanization, is estimated to account for 62% of global mangrove loss. Over the last two decades, global mangrove carbon stocks have plummeted, emitting a massive 158.4 million tons of carbon. The study by Professor Jennifer Krumins of Montclair State University emphasizes the alarming link between human population density and mangrove carbon stocks. The research team investigated how population density affects carbon storage in urban mangrove forests and discovered a concerning trend. Read Also: AI Study Says Global Food Demand Could Surge Up to 110% by 2050 Amid Shrinking Croplands Rising Mangrove Soil Carbon Levels Their findings show that as human population density rises, the retention of carbon in mangrove soils decreases. Specifically, when population density reaches 300 people per square kilometer, which is comparable to the average density of the United Kingdom or Japan, mangrove soil carbon levels could drop by 37%. However, when climate factors are taken into account, the relationship between population density and carbon storage weakens, implying a more nuanced understanding of human impact on mangrove ecosystems. Mangrove forests, which account for only 0.1% of the Earth's land surface, outperform expectations in terms of carbon sequestration. These coastal forests are hailed as nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, capable of capturing and storing carbon at up to four times the rate of other tropical forests. Their muddy soils function as carbon sinks, accumulating sediment and storing carbon over time. Preserving Mangrove Systems The study's conclusions are clear: preserving mangrove ecosystems is critical in the fight against climate change. Professor Krumins emphasizes the importance of protecting existing mangroves, particularly those in densely populated areas. Mangroves not only provide essential wildlife habitat, but they also play an important role in regulating global climate stability. This study emphasizes the critical need to prioritize mangrove conservation efforts worldwide. With mangrove destruction contributing to an impending increase in carbon emissions, the stakes have never been higher. Protecting these invaluable ecosystems allows us to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and ensure a sustainable future for future generations. According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the world has made progress in halting the loss of mangrove forests. While a large area of mangroves was lost over the last 20 years, the rate of disappearance slowed by nearly a quarter (23%) in the second decade. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Research Reveals Decades of US Reforestation Resulted in Successfully Cooling Temperatures 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a gesture of renewed friendship between the United States and China, the San Diego Zoo is set to welcome a new pair of giant pandas from China, AP reports. The decision comes after a period of uncertainty, with several US zoos returning pandas to China amid deteriorating relations between the two superpowers. Now, the San Diego Zoo is preparing to welcome these iconic black-and-white bears once more. New Pandas Coming to San Diego Zoo The China Wildlife Conservation Association has reached agreements with the San Diego Zoo and the Madrid Zoo in Spain to strengthen international cooperation on giant panda conservation. Talks are also being held with other prominent institutions, such as the National Zoo in Washington and the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna. "We are humbled by the potential opportunity of continuing our collaborative conservation efforts to secure the future for giant pandas," stated Megan Owen, Vice President of Wildlife Conservation Science at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. If all permits and requirements are met, the new pair of pandas, one male and one female, may arrive at the San Diego Zoo as early as the end of the summer. One of the potential female pandas is a descendant of the zoo's beloved former residents, Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Giant Panda Conservation Efforts Decades of conservation efforts have helped to save the giant panda species from extinction, and their wild and captive populations now exceed 1,800. However, breeding pandas remains a significant challenge due to their limited reproductive window. Bai Yun, who lived at the San Diego Zoo for more than 20 years, was instrumental in panda conservation efforts. Her offspring, including the first panda born through artificial insemination outside of China, helped to advance the understanding of panda behavior and maternal care. Pandas have long been symbols of friendship between the United States and China. The tradition began in 1972, when China donated a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., before the normalization of bilateral relations. The subsequent panda loans to various zoos were intended to promote breeding and conservation efforts. Read Also: Terrifying 'Monster' Robot Wolves Unleashed in Japan to Ward off Wild Bears The Return of Pandas However, concerns arose last year when several American zoos returned pandas to China following allegations of mistreatment and mistreatment-related deaths. Social media campaigns in China demanded the return of these "national treasures," highlighting the significance of public sentiment in panda diplomacy. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping unexpectedly informed Biden administration officials in November that pandas might return to California during a state visit. Despite challenges, the return of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo represents renewed international cooperation in the conservation of endangered species. Chinese experts will accompany the bears to San Diego to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration in panda conservation efforts. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Scientists Dissect 3,500-Year-Old Bear, Found in Siberian Permafrost as Perfectly Preserved 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Following allegations of breaking sanction rules, the United States has recently taken decisive action against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), China's leading chipmaker. The crackdown comes after SMIC produced a sophisticated chip for Huawei's Mate 60 Pro smartphone, which has raised eyebrows and concerns in Washington (via Reuters). Controversial Huawei Mate 60 Pro Chip Huawei, based in Shenzhen, was once a global leader in smartphone technology, but has suffered significant setbacks as a result of US trade sanctions. However, thanks to the success of its Mate 60 Pro 5G smartphone, Huawei has recently regained its throne in China's smartphone market. The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, which was unveiled amid US sanctions against China and Huawei, has attracted attention for its advanced technology, particularly its chipset. According to reports, SMIC's involvement in the production of a 5nm chipset for the Mate 60 Pro has prompted US officials to take action, with plans to restrict SMIC's access to American imports, including critical chipmaking materials and components. According to sources familiar with the situation, the US Commerce Department has sent numerous letters to American suppliers of SMIC, suspending permission to sell to the company's most advanced plant. This action has halted shipments worth millions of dollars, affecting companies such as Entegris, a major supplier to the chipmaking industry. Despite claims of compliance with export regulations, Entegris is caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions, resulting in disruptions in sales to China. While SMIC has yet to respond to requests for comment, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington has condemned the US actions as "economic bullying." Read Also: Teardown Reveals Huawei's Latest Laptop Comes with 5-nm TSMC Chip, Defying China's Tech Sanctions Crackdown on US Tech The crackdown on SMIC coincides with the Biden administration's broader efforts to halt the flow of US technology to Chinese companies, particularly those with alleged ties to China's military-industrial complex. Critics of the US government's approach say the measures against SMIC and Huawei are insufficient. Republican Congressman Michael McCaul has chastised the Commerce Department for what he sees as laxity in addressing national security concerns. The Trump administration had previously imposed restrictions on Huawei and SMIC, citing sanctions violations and ties to the Chinese military. While some shipments were permitted under certain conditions, the Biden administration has taken steps to further limit Chinese firms' access to US technology. The consequences of the crackdown on SMIC go beyond bilateral tensions between the United States and China. With China accounting for a sizable portion of its sales, companies like Entegris face difficulties in navigating the changing regulatory landscape. The disruption in the semiconductor supply chain could have an impact on global tech markets, potentially affecting production timelines and product availability. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Huawei Set to Revive Kirin Chipsets for Smartphones Despite U.S. Restrictions 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google recently faced criticism after its new artificial intelligence model, Gemini, produced images depicting historical figures inaccurately. The tool generated images of German soldiers from the Second World War and Vikings with varying ethnicities, prompting backlash from social media users. With the recent incident that happened with its AI image generator, the search engine giant paused it for a while. Temporary Block on Image Generation In response to the controversy, Google announced a temporary halt to Gemini's image generation feature, specifically for images of people. This decision comes as the tech giant acknowledges the need to address issues with accuracy and bias within its AI models. We're already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation feature. While we do this, we're going to pause the image generation of people and will re-release an improved version soon. https://t.co/SLxYPGoqOZ Google Communications (@Google_Comms) February 22, 2024 Related Article: Google Renames Bard AI Chatbot to Gemini, Introduces Subscription Model for US Users Google Wants to Roll Out Improved Version of Gemini While Google did not cite specific examples, the company emphasized its commitment to resolving the recent issues with Gemini's image generation. Jack Krawczyk, a senior director at Google, acknowledged that adjustments were necessary for the model to accurately reflect its global user base. "We're working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Gemini's AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that's generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it's missing the mark here," Krawczyk said in a report by CNBC. Challenges in Historical Context Krawczyk further highlighted the complexity of historical contexts, noting that nuanced adjustments were required to ensure accurate portrayals of historical figures. Despite the challenges, Google remains dedicated to refining its AI tools to mitigate bias effectively. Addressing Bias in AI The incident underscores broader concerns regarding bias in artificial intelligence, particularly its impact on marginalized communities. Previous investigations have revealed instances of bias in image generators, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to eliminate prejudice from AI systems. Continued Research and Improvement Andrew Rogoyski, an expert from the Institute for People-Centered AI, emphasized the difficulty of mitigating bias in deep learning and generative AI. He noted that while mistakes are inevitable, ongoing research and the implementation of diverse approaches offer hope for improvement in the future. Earlier this month, Gemini, along with Microsoft's AI chatbot appear to be hallucinating when it comes to the stats of the Super Bowl LVIII. Based on the previous report, the chatbots fabricate the data whenever it is asked with a question. The above samples only show that AI is far from being perfect. It is flawed to the point that its hallucinations are considered "pervasive and disturbing," Stanford University study wrote. There's nothing wrong with using AI tools, but if they compromise the authenticity of the subject, it's about time to alert the companies to improve them to a better version. Read Also: Google Gemini to Fix Issues, Bring Selected Assistant Features Back for All 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) In a bid to enhance efficiency and cut costs, major corporations are increasingly deploying AI-driven chatbots for customer service despite concerns over costly errors and the need for clear guidelines on balancing AI suggestions with human judgment. In 2022, customer Jake Moffatt contacted Air Canada to discuss the costs of a bereavement fare. According to The Guardian, the bot told Moffatt all he needed to do was fill out an online form within 90 days of the issued ticket so he could get a refund for his trip. He went to a family member's funeral in Toronto. He followed the bot's directions only to discover this was untrue, and Air Canada doesn't apply bereavement fees after completing trips. The inaccurate information prompted Moffatt to sue Air Canada. Canadian courts ruled in his favor, meaning that the airline must honor the arrangements made by its AI chatbot. In their official report, the judge in Moffatt's case wrote, "Air Canada argues it cannot be held liable for information provided by one of its agents, servants, or representatives - including a chatbot. It does not explain why it believes that is the case. In effect, Air Canada suggests the chatbot is a separate legal entity that is responsible for its own actions. This is a remarkable submission. While a chatbot has an interactive component, it is still just a part of Air Canada's website. It should be obvious to Air Canada that it is responsible for all the information on its website. It makes no difference whether the information comes from a static page or a chatbot." The Canaads case is one of the first in the world to hold a corporation liable for the actions of an AI chatbot, and it begs the question: what will other countries do in the future? Canada's ruling promises that legal systems will hold AI assistants to the same standards as human staff, which bodes well for customers worldwide. In the end, Moffatt received a $200 coupon for future trips, which Ruth Susswein, Director of Consumer Protection for San Francisco-based Consumer Action, found to be insufficient given the amount of money Moffatt spent on his ticket. "It's good to know that Air Canada ultimately took responsibility for the information its chatbot imparted," she told Tech Times in an interview. "Companies must be accountable for the information that they instruct customers to follow. In future cases of AI mistakes and misdirection, we would hope that consumers would not have to sue companies to get the refunds they should be entitled to. Consumers need to be able to rely on the directions a company provides to successfully resolve disputes--even when they are provided by artificial intelligence." Countries around the world are taking steps to regulate AI. According to The Washington Post, Brazil, China, Japan, and the European Union (among others) are discussing different degrees of regulation. So far, only China has explicitly stated that AI developers are directly responsible for the outcomes of their inventions. Neighboring Japan, for example, has allowed AI to train itself using previously copyrighted data and is waiting to see how AI continues to develop before continuing to legislate. Customers are left to their own devices if they receive inaccurate information. We don't know how the ruling on Air Canada's liability for its AI chatbot will affect consumer protection laws. However, there are still things concerned consumers can do to hold companies accountable in case they should deal with something similar Taking screenshots of interactions with AI bots can help you make your case with companies that provide inaccurate information. If efforts to work directly with a company don't go well, you can use these screenshots to seek help from a third party. If legal help is needed, consumer protection lawyers and nonprofits can represent you. Additionally, you can file a complaint with organizations such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if you're from the U.S. In Canada, you can work with Consumer affairs. About the author: Ingrid Cruz is a freelance writer covering e-commerce, pop culture, and our relationship to all things internet. You can follow her work and adventures on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram at ingridquerubina. 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Reddit has reportedly reached an agreement with Google to provide its content to train artificial intelligence (AI) models owned by the search engine behemoth. According to a Reuters report citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of the deal, Alphabet, Google's parent firm, allegedly pays Reddit $60 million each year for the agreement. In the face of severe competition for advertising revenues from TikTok and Meta's Facebook, Reddit seeks to create extra earnings as it prepares for an initial public offering (IPO). The $10 billion San Francisco corporation will sell 10% of its shares in the IPO. As of present reporting, Reddit and Google have not yet commented on the agreement. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images) In this photo illustration, the Reddit logo is displayed on a cell phone and computer monitor on February 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. Reddit revealed its first significant AI firm contract last year, charging companies for API access. As Reddit plans to charge data users for API access, copyright problems arise in the wider AI field with content owners. Founded in 2005, Reddit, known for its diverse discussion groups, is among the companies exploring new revenue streams amid the evolving AI landscape. US House Addressing AI Risks The increasing access of AI to personal data, a top concern in the industry, has prompted Reddit to charge fees for its API access, effective since last year. This aligns with a broader industry debate over AI companies' ethical use of personal data. In a related development earlier reported by TechTimes, the leaders of the US House of Representatives this week launched a bipartisan task force to address concerns related to the risks posed by artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to produce a comprehensive report, exploring "guardrails that may be appropriate to safeguard the nation against current and emerging threats" linked to AI. Read Also: Putin Denies Russian Space-Based Nuclear Weapon Development Amid US Claims The formation of the US House AI task force comes amid heightened excitement and apprehensions surrounding generative AI, which can create text, photos, and videos in response to open-ended prompts, raising concerns about societal impacts. US House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus Hakeem Jeffries has emphasized the necessity of establishing safeguards to protect the American people, which artificial intelligence's particular challenges highlight. Balancing Innovation and Investment The forthcoming AI task force report will encompass guiding principles, forward-looking recommendations, and bipartisan policy suggestions developed in collaboration with Congressional committees. Chairing the 24-member task force, Representative Jay Obernolte, a Republican, noted that the report will delineate regulatory standards and propose Congressional actions to safeguard consumers while encouraging AI investment and innovation. Last week, tech giants Adobe, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and TikTok signed a pact at the Munich Security Conference. They pledged to take "reasonable precautions" to avoid AI abuse, misinformation, and disruption of the global democratic election. US President Joe Biden signed an executive order addressing AI risks in October last year. Related Article: Biden Administration Imposes Import Restriction on China's SMIC After Producing Chip for Huawei's Mate 60 Pro: Report 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Businesses in every industry are under threat of data breaches as threat actors discover new ways of pinpointing weaknesses in the IT infrastructure. Companies are under pressure to fortify their defense before cybercriminals can exploit them. They need the help of penetration testing companies who know the right tools and methods to ensure the defenses remain strong. Why is penetration testing important? Penetration testing involves simulating cyberattacks on a company's systems and network. It verifies the security controls to assess if a company is ready for real-life cyberattacks as the service uncovers vulnerabilities and weaknesses before threat actors can exploit them. Penetration testing services help companies obtain information about the different ways cybercriminals conduct their malicious activities, which can cause irreversible damage to the financial health and reputation of an organization. IT personnel can learn how to handle any type of break-in with insights into which channels or applications are most at risk, thereby preparing an effective and appropriate response to a cyberattack. Read further to learn how the top 5 best penetration testing companies in 2024 address security concerns and fortify their clients' security posture. 1 Silent Breach Overview Silent Breach specializes in network security and protection of digital assets. They provide cutting-edge services and expertise across many industries in the private and public sectors. They are an award-winning provider, delivering a level of service that far exceeds industry standards. Silent Breach employs real-world methods that closely mimic the behavior of determined hackers, including a blend of automated and manual testing to provide the broadest coverage. Their penetration testing services support a wide variety of tests, including web apps, mobile, wireless, physical, social, cloud, and more. Back in 2021, Silent Breach launched their next-generation attack surface and cloud security management platform called Quantum Armor. It provides robust security monitoring capabilities while retaining an incredible degree of simplicity and usability. Quantum Armor utilizes a range of proprietary algorithms to manage cybersecurity trends or issues at the click of a button. Features Wide Range of Services Silent Breach is committed to protecting businesses as new zero-day exploits and bugs emerge every day. They offer a wide range of services across multiple markets, like cloud security, which involves reviewing and hardening the existing architecture setup and monitoring of your cloud platform. Silent Breach also performs a comprehensive dark web audit. They work with NATO to offer real-time notifications and access to the latest attack vectors. When paired with its Quantum Armor platform, customers benefit from round-the-clock accessibility. The company's experts are trained in intelligence gathering, ensuring visibility of any threats originating from the Dark Web. Silent Breach also recognizes that people are more likely to become the target of hackers. Their social engineering solutions prepare companies against the best social hackers, with experts trained in social psychology and tactical cybersecurity. Silent Breach is the only major cybersecurity firm to offer a free refund in the event that their security engineers are unable to find a vulnerability during the test. Furthermore, Silent Breach has launched a suite of next-gen penetration testing add-ons such as Pivot & Exploitation, Dark Web Recon, and GenAI-enabled hacking. Together, these reinforce Silent Breach's ability to help their clients best prepare for today's real challenges and ensure a robust cyber defense system. Certifications and Training Programs The security engineers of Silent Breach are highly skilled and hold multiple certifications, which prove their ethics, loyalty, and qualifications to handle sensitive data and attempt to perform penetration testing services. They also invest heavily in training programs and send their staff to leading IT security trainings held at conferences like Blackhat and DEFCON. Silent Breach also invests in uncovering zero-day exploits and develops its own tools to find vulnerabilities and security holes to help penetrate a company's network. They offer comprehensive testing programs that ensure that all the latest security patches are in place to keep businesses safe. Comprehensive Approach to Security Silent Breach adopts a comprehensive approach to security. They conduct a thorough analysis to determine the exposed parts of an attack surface and correlate them with a risk value. This vulnerability assessment complements its penetration testing services since it considers the overall security configuration while the latter focuses on attack vendors. The service helps businesses sanitize their network environment and reduce the attack surface, thereby strengthening their security posture. A full understanding of the exposure and security posture allows Silent Breach to place the best security measures in the most relevant order to protect its clients' digital assets. By identifying the weak points beforehand and performing attack simulations, companies are prepared to mitigate the risks of threats and take action in the event of a real-life attack. 2 UnderDefense Overview UnderDefense provides cyber resiliency consulting and technology-enabled services to defend businesses against cyber threats. It is a globally top-ranked firm by Gartner and Clutch with certifications to prove its credibility and qualifications. It partners with tech giants like Microsoft, Splunk, and others to offer customers high-quality services to improve the digital economy and provide it with continuous development. The company performs all tests manually. It has a team of experts who can deliver penetration testing services and provide a comprehensive report covering all vulnerabilities and actionable steps to remediate them before they get exploited by malicious actors. UnderDefense engages ethical hackers, IR, MDR, and vCISO teams to give clients a sophisticated overview of the business ecosystem and clear guidelines to build a solid security perimeter. Features Personalized Pen Testing Services Clients can choose from three box options to tailor the penetration testing services they receive from UnderDefense. The company operates based on the conditions and value of the box chosen. It also offers all types of testing like web app pen tests, internal pen tests, etc. Full Security Visibility and Control UnderDefense can provide a comprehensive, real-time security view of external risks through its MAXI platform. It also calculates the potential financial loss, offers alert-to-fix timelines, and stores all reports in one place for easy access. Proven and Globally Recognized Methodologies UnderDefense follows proven and globally recognized methodologies like OWASP Top 10 Web Application Security Risks, Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES), and the Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM). They determine how well an organization can defend itself against an array of attack vectors, which inform the provider how to address the security gaps before threat actors can find and exploit them. Highly Affordable The company offers a 5-star service at an affordable price, regardless of the size of the business. It uses a "pay as you go" model, so clients only pay for services they use, with additional free services for better outcomes. They can scale as they grow. UnderDefense offers a flexible business approach depending on the needs of its clients. ISO 27001 Penetration Testing UnderDefense can also conduct a penetration test in line with ISO 27001:2013 standards. This service is also inclusive of a detailed report with clear remediation guidelines and a professional attestation letter. The letter can serve as proof to partners, auditors, and customers that the business is proactive against cyber threats by leveraging the pen testing services of an award-winning and globally ranked firm. 3 FRSecure Overview FRSecure provides security solutions that make a measurable difference. It has won national awards based on customer satisfaction and has a technical team that dominates world hacking challenges at Defcon. However, its priority lies in fixing the broken system with the mission to help people through training, resources, or threat intelligence to improve protection over their mission-critical assets. Features Expertise The pen testers of FRSecure have OSCP (OffSec Certified Professional) training, which equips them with industry-leading methodologies, tools, and techniques for penetration testing. They have also participated in numerous competition awards against the best hackers. Armed with experience, certifications, and unwavering commitment, these ethical hackers have the expertise to help a business improve its security posture. Security Focused FRSecure doesn't do IT, sell hardware, or provide telco services. All of its work is focused on information security; hence, it can provide unbiased recommendations that leave a lasting impact on its clients' security practices. The company also ensures the in-house team is educated to make improvements moving forward once the engagement is completed. Custom Approach FRSecure gets an idea of the business objectives before conducting its penetration testing service. From intelligence gathering to post-exploitation analysis and reporting, it customizes its approach based on the client's goals. Solid Reporting The penetration testing company provides a full report detailing the attack surface and attack narrative, including an executive summary of the test. It also provides appropriate and doable recommendations based on its findings to address the vulnerabilities and mitigate the risks in the event of a cyber-attack. FRSecure can identify existing security weaknesses by emulating real-world attacks. The company's team of ethical hackers works to uncover architectural and conceptual issues around systems, applications, and assets to identify the gaps attackers would enter. They help organizations test their reactive controls and attack detection capabilities to prevent real-world cyber-attacks. 4 Berezha Security Group (BSG) Overview Berezha Security Group (BSG) empowers its clients to defeat modern digital threats. It is a cybersecurity firm focused on application security, penetration testing, information security consulting, and professional training. It has customers in all major business sectors, helping develop a mindful approach to cybersecurity and integrating security principles into all aspects of their businesses. Features Cybersecurity Certifications All mid to senior-level professionals of BSG have esteemed cybersecurity certifications. The majority of them are OSCP-certified. These validate their expertise across the services they offer. BSG has been in the business for over seven years and completed over 200 projects for 100+ customers. Manual Assessments BSG prioritizes manual testing over automated scanners. It has developed a unique software platform that integrates the best practices and the best tools with a report generator. The reports contain clear recommendations and strong evidence of discovered vulnerabilities. The company also provides a high-level executive summary for top management and clients and a non-confidential attestation letter, including the evidence, descriptions, and steps to reproduce all findings. Professional Insurance BSG also provides insurance from outages caused by its action by having its penetration testing services covered by professional insurance. The company ensures all risky exercises are performed under close control of the customer and done by experienced security experts. Transparent BSG is highly transparent when it comes to the delivery of its penetration testing services. The company discloses its terms and conditions with a free retest within the 90-day grace period and a discount for all recurring services. It also states the duration, quote, and number of pen testers involved in the project, which is managed by the leader and coordinated by a project manager. 5 Iterasec Overview Founded in 2019, Iterasec provides penetration testing, security audits, application and cloud security, including DevSecOps and security compliance services for IT companies. It has a team of 20 cybersecurity specialists who are focused on improving the security of digital products and helping development teams build more secure software. The company serves clients ranging from small startups to global multinational companies. It has successfully delivered 50 pen testing projects on average and helped 3 of its clients achieve ISO and SOC certifications. Features Iterasec combines innovative penetration testing tactics and its experience to uncover exploitable vulnerabilities and strengthen the security posture of its clients. The company has highly skilled and certified security experts who perform manual tests to analyze the business applications. The penetration testing company performs an efficient and agile test of the full system. It provides the security findings with demonstrated business impact and the support to properly fix the identified vulnerabilities. Cooperating with Iterasec, clients can get compliance with PCI, HIPAA, SOC2/3, OWASP, and increased software quality. Iterasec can discover and help prioritize vulnerabilities in internal or external networks and infrastructures. It provides a detailed report that outlines the issues identified with steps to reproduce, including how these issues could be chained in more powerful attacks. Conclusion Cybersecurity is a complex and dynamic process. Businesses need to consult professionals to simulate a real-world attack. Penetration testing is a proactive technique that prepares organizations in the face of emerging security threats. Choose from the top 5 best cybersecurity companies of 2024 to identify the vulnerabilities in the security postures and address them before malicious actors can exploit them. 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. * This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of techtimes.com 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 Second trial of residents who evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident also does not accept national responsibility Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water Love and family are more important than money: what is the comedy series Inheritance about? 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 "Watch me overcome difficulties step by step and fight back." This Chinese golden flower keeps his word. 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 Real estate crisis: Number of building permits also fell significantly at the beginning of the year The "egg-smashing" trend is blowing into a small town in Zhejiang, how to play the cards in your hand? 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 Borrell hopes the EU can agree on the use of Russian assets China: the increase in sales and industry does not cancel out the effects of the real estate crisis They record the attack of a bear that left two injured in the Slovak city of Liptovsky Mikulas CEC: Putin scored 87.28% of the votes based on the results of processing 100% of the protocols Anyone who moves will be stabbed. Al-Shifa Hospital is again under occupation bombing Palestinian official: Israel has increased its repression of prisoners since the beginning of Ramadan Saldo reported to Putin about the shelling of the Kherson region during the elections Lukashevich called on the OSCE to condemn the indiscriminate shelling of Russian cities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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 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. Faced with the risks of war with Russia, Latvia restores its military service for men 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 Second trial of residents who evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident also does not accept national responsibility Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water Love and family are more important than money: what is the comedy series Inheritance about? 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 "Watch me overcome difficulties step by step and fight back." This Chinese golden flower keeps his word. 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 Real estate crisis: Number of building permits also fell significantly at the beginning of the year The "egg-smashing" trend is blowing into a small town in Zhejiang, how to play the cards in your hand? 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 Borrell hopes the EU can agree on the use of Russian assets China: the increase in sales and industry does not cancel out the effects of the real estate crisis They record the attack of a bear that left two injured in the Slovak city of Liptovsky Mikulas CEC: Putin scored 87.28% of the votes based on the results of processing 100% of the protocols Anyone who moves will be stabbed. Al-Shifa Hospital is again under occupation bombing Palestinian official: Israel has increased its repression of prisoners since the beginning of Ramadan Saldo reported to Putin about the shelling of the Kherson region during the elections Lukashevich called on the OSCE to condemn the indiscriminate shelling of Russian cities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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 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. Faced with the risks of war with Russia, Latvia restores its military service for men 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 Second trial of residents who evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident also does not accept national responsibility Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water Love and family are more important than money: what is the comedy series Inheritance about? 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 "Watch me overcome difficulties step by step and fight back." This Chinese golden flower keeps his word. 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 Real estate crisis: Number of building permits also fell significantly at the beginning of the year The "egg-smashing" trend is blowing into a small town in Zhejiang, how to play the cards in your hand? 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 China: the increase in sales and industry does not cancel out the effects of the real estate crisis They record the attack of a bear that left two injured in the Slovak city of Liptovsky Mikulas CEC: Putin scored 87.28% of the votes based on the results of processing 100% of the protocols Anyone who moves will be stabbed. Al-Shifa Hospital is again under occupation bombing Palestinian official: Israel has increased its repression of prisoners since the beginning of Ramadan Saldo reported to Putin about the shelling of the Kherson region during the elections Lukashevich called on the OSCE to condemn the indiscriminate shelling of Russian cities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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 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. Faced with the risks of war with Russia, Latvia restores its military service for men 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. Hispanolistic / Getty Images For many Americans, retirement savings are coming up short. While financial advisors/experts and commentators often recommend investors to shoot for a nest egg of at least $1 million, there is not a single state in which the average retirement balance is even close to that figure, according to data from Personal Capital. In fact, the highest average balance in any state Connecticut- barely tops $500,000. Here are some other highlights from the research done by Personal Capital: The wealthiest state in terms of average retirement savings is Connecticut, at $545,754, with Alaska and Vermont following closely at $503,822 and $494,569, respectively. North Dakotas average retirement savings of $319,609 are the lowest in the country. Average retirement savings, not surprisingly, rise with age. The average balance for those 45 to 52 is $179,200, rising to $256,244 for those 55 to 64 and $279,997 for those already retired. Among ethnic groups, white household groups have the highest median retirement savings, at $79,500, with Latinx households having the lowest at $23,000. Men on average have more than double the retirement savings of women, at a median of $91,000 vs. $43,000. Find Out: Retirement Planning: How Much the Average Person 65 and Older Spends Monthly Try This: Do This To Earn Guaranteed Growth on Your Retirement Savings (With No Risk to Your Investment) While there are numerous factors dragging down the averages, perhaps the biggest is simply the low participation rate Americans have when it comes to retirement accounts. According to the Federal Reserves Survey of Consumer Finances, only 54% of Americans even had a retirement account in 2022. This means that nearly half of Americans didnt have a retirement account at all. As the average Social Security payout for retired workers was just $1,909.01 as of January 2024, this leaves a lot of ground to make up. PUBLICIDAD Simple math shows that the power of compounding returns makes building a seven-figure account balance easier the younger you are. But its never too late to start. If youre already in your 30s, 40s or even 50s, youll be playing catch-up for sure, but there are some steps you can take to leverage your savings rate. Continuar leyendo la historia The first is to begin contributing as much as you can by making some changes to your budget and lifestyle. Prioritize your retirement plan by saving first and then living off your remaining funds, rather than trying to save whats left over after all your spending. No matter how tight your budget is, you can always turn up a few extra dollars somewhere. Eating out less, trimming your streaming subscriptions, even walking to work or taking public transportation may save you enough to help fund a viable retirement plan. For an even bigger impact, consider downsizing your home, moving to a cheaper location in town or even living in another state. These types of steps could potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars off your monthly budget. Next, take advantage of the many advantages that retirement accounts offer. All tax-advantaged accounts, from traditional and Roth IRAs to 401(k) plans, offer tax-deferred growth while your money is in the account, and Roth IRAs also allow for qualified tax-free distributions. Money you take out of a traditional IRA or 401(k) is fully taxable, but youll get a tax break on the money you contribute. And 401(k) plans offer the closest thing there is to free money in the form of the employer match, in which your company will deposit a certain percentage of your own contributions directly into your account. All of these factors can help to ramp up your balance quickly. But the benefits dont stop there. Once you reach age 50, the IRS allows you to kick in even more to your retirement accounts. For example, if you have an IRA account, in addition to the maximum allowable contribution of $7,000 for tax year 2024, you can sock away another $1,000 if youre 50 or over. For a 401(k) plan, the benefit is even greater. On top of 2024s maximum contribution of $23,000, youre allowed a catch-up contribution of $7,500, meaning you can put up to $30,500 per year in your 401(k). Where you live can also play a big role in terms of how far you can stretch your retirement savings. While North Dakota may have the lowest average retirement savings of any state, at $319,609, it also has a very low cost of living compared with states like Connecticut or Hawaii. A nest egg even a few hundred thousand dollars less may be enough to live a comfortable retirement in these types of states, or even in lower-cost areas of more expensive states. Lastly, deferring your retirement date by even a few years can pay big dividends when it comes to the quality of your retirement lifestyle. With more years to earn, youll have both more time and more income to contribute to your investment accounts, which in turn will have more time to compound in value. Working longer can also potentially raise your ultimate Social Security benefit, as its based in part on your 35 highest-earning years. Waiting to file for benefits past the current full retirement age of 67 can also boost your payout by a significant 8% per month for each year, up until age 70. With all of these factors in mind, heres a look at the average retirement account balances on a state-by-state basis, as determined by Personal Capital. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Alabama Average retirement balance: $395,563 Check Out: 10 Worst Places in Illinois for a Couple To Live on Only a Social Security Check Read More: 9 Ways Frugal Retirees Spend Their Social Security Checks Sponsored: $20k or more in credit card debt? Lower the amount you owe in just 3 simple steps. Alaska Average retirement balance: $503,822 Discover More: Heres the Cost To Retire Comfortably in Every State by Age Arizona Average retirement balance: $427,418 Arkansas Average retirement balance: $364,395 California Average Retirement Balance: $452,135 Colorado Average Retirement Balance: $449,719 Read Next: Why Floridas Retirees Are Fleeing And Where Theyre Going Instead Connecticut Average Retirement Balance: $545,754 Delaware Average Retirement Balance: $454,679 Florida Average Retirement Balance: $428,997 Georgia Average Retirement Balance: $435,254 Explore More: 3 Ways Upper-Middle-Class Retirees Stay Rich in Retirement Hawaii Average Retirement Balance: $366,776 Idaho Average Retirement Balance: $437,396 Illinois Average Retirement Balance: $449,983 Indiana Average Retirement Balance: $405,732 Discover More: 10 Ways for Retirees To Cut Back on Expenses in 2024 Iowa Average Retirement Balance: $465,127 Kansas Average Retirement Balance: $452,703 Kentucky Average Retirement Balance: $441,757 Read More: 9 Things Frugal Retirees Never Waste Money On Louisiana Average Retirement Balance: $386,908 Maine Average Retirement Balance: $403,751 Maryland Average Retirement Balance: $485,501 Massachusetts Average Retirement Balance: $478,947 Find Out: How a Trump Win in 2024 Could Impact Your Retirement Savings Michigan Average Retirement Balance: $439,568 Minnesota Average Retirement Balance: $470,549 Mississippi Average Retirement Balance: $347,884 Missouri Average Retirement Balance: $410,656 Learn More: Suze Orman: Parents, Get Roth IRAs for Your Kids So They Can Retire Millionaires Montana Average Retirement Balance: $390,768 Nebraska Average Retirement Balance: $404,650 Nevada Average Retirement Balance: $379,728 New Hampshire Average Retirement Balance: $512,781 Check Out: Ramit Sethi: 5 Easy Steps To Getting Rich in 2024 New Jersey Average Retirement Balance: $514,245 New Mexico Average Retirement Balance: $428,041 New York Average Retirement Balance: $382,027 North Carolina Average Retirement Balance: $464,104 Explore More: The 5 Levels of Wealth and How To Get There North Dakota Average Retirement Balance: $319,609 Ohio Average Retirement Balance: $427,462 Oklahoma Average Retirement Balance: $361,366 Oregon Average Retirement Balance: $452,558 Read Next: 6 Ways To Build Wealth in Less Than Five Years Pennsylvania Average Retirement Balance: $462,075 Rhode Island Average Retirement Balance: $392,622 South Carolina Average Retirement Balance: $449,486 South Dakota Average Retirement Balance: $449,628 For You: Grant Cardone: Heres How To Become Rich If Youre Earning an Average Salary Tennessee Average Retirement Balance: $376,476 Texas Average Retirement Balance: $434,328 Utah Average Retirement Balance: $315,160 Vermont Average Retirement Balance: $494,569 Try This: How Rare Coins Can Fund Your Early Retirement Dreams Virginia Average Retirement Balance: $492,965 Washington Average Retirement Balance: $469,987 Washington D.C., Average Retirement Balance: $347,582 West Virginia Average Retirement Balance: $370,532 Find Out: 7 Best Cars for Retirees on a Budget Wisconsin Average Retirement Balance: $448,975 Wyoming Average Retirement Balance: $381,133 More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Average Retirement Savings in Every State France announces 10 bn euro budget cuts as growth slows Paris, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 The French government on Thursday announced budget cuts of 10 billion euros ($11 billion) as it seeks to rein in its budget deficit after growth failed to meet expectations. The cuts controversially include 2 billions euros that were to be spent on environmental and energy transition programs. Other cuts are being made to previously budgeted spending on education, justice, defence and regional development. The decree was published in France's official journal and signed by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who was recently named by centrist President Emmanuel Macron in a cabinet reshuffle. The government had warned of the cuts Sunday to hold its 2024 deficit to 4.4 percent of GDP, after revising downward its growth forecast to one percent amid international tensions and slowing economies in major trading partners such as China and Germany. The government has indicated it is concerned about French debt being downgraded by international rating agencies. The new budget cuts come on top of 16 billion euros of reduced spending already inscribed in the 2024 budget, largely due to the phase-out of energy subsidies introduced when gas and electricity prices soared after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sources in the French finance ministry have also warned that the 2023 deficit might have overshot its target of 4.9 percent of GDP. In this article, we look at 10 countries with the most military drones in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on the technological advancements in this segment of military warfare and head over directly to the 5 Countries with the Most Military Drones in the World. The wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia first in 2020, and then later involving Russia and Ukraine have been the kind of conflicts that western powers had been worrying about, and are now scrambling to prepare themselves for a future that already seems to be here. Demand for military drones have surged over the last few years with countries actively using their unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and target operations. Drones were a prominent feature of the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and have been clouding the skies in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Borodyanka among other towns and cities in Ukraine, in what is being seen as the arrival of a new threat in the aerial defense space. These uninhabited aerial vehicles have made it difficult for enemy targets to move and hide on the battlefield with their aerial footages offering unprecedented birds-eye views of the war. The Americans have been operating drones for about a century now, having deployed them first during World War II, between 1939 and 1945, and then more recently in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Defense experts believe the proliferation of military drones is a concern for US policymakers who worry about China taking a leaf out of Russias book (strikes on Ukraine), and launching similar attacks against US interests in the Pacific. Moreover, US troops have also come under drone attacks from non-state actors in the Middle East in recent years most notably from ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Considering the rapidly evolving threat, the Americans are taking initiatives to stay a step ahead of their foes. In August 2023, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced to build attritable autonomous systems in mass over the next two years. Moreover, under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, the US Air Force plans to develop drone wingmen to fly alongside its premier fighter and bomber jets Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s F-35 and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)s B-21 Raider. Story continues These unmanned combat air vehicles will be used to perform several missions, such as surveillance, striking enemies and jamming their signals. The Air Force expects about a thousand CCAs to enter service by 2028, which will mean that they would be ready for deployment with the sixth-generation of fighter jets that are currently being developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. According to a report, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), and General Atomics, are all vying for contracts for the classified CCA initiative. All of these companies have played a significant role in the development of the United States current fleet of drones. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is the manufacturer of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-4 Triton and the RQ-180 fleets of drones operated by the US military. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s RQ-170 Sentinel was introduced in 2007, and is operated by the Air Force for CIA missions. On the other hand, the MQ-9 Reaper built by General Atomics is one of the most potent drones operated by the US, and serves as the primary offensive strike uninhabited aerial vehicle of the Air Force. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is currently overseeing the development of the MQ-25 Stingray drone, which will become the first unmanned aerial refueling vehicle that will be carrier-based and will extend the range of the US Navys aircraft carriers. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) received a $805 million contract in 2018 for four MQ-25 Stingrays to be delivered by August 2024. Another prominent defense contractor that builds unmanned aerial vehicles in the US is AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV). It is the manufacturer of the RQ-11B Raven, a small drone, that is the most widely used unmanned aerial vehicle in the world, with more than 19,000 units produced. While originally designed for the US military, AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)s RQ-11B Raven are used by air forces of several other countries as well now including the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Pakistan. According to figures released by The Center of the Study of the Drone at Bard College in 2020, about 60% of the American drone fleet comprises RQ-11B Raven. Recently, AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) reported a revenue of $180.8 million in its second quarter results for the fiscal year 2024 up 62% year-to-year. Wahid Nawabi, the Chairman, President and CEO of the company shared the following remarks in AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)s Q2 2024 Earnings Call on December 5, 2023: Were very pleased with our performance through the first half of this fiscal year, which included significant topline revenue acceleration and record EBITDA. We remain optimistic about our future exemplified by higher growth, improving operating results and enhanced value creation for our shareholders. As we said last quarter, this reflects not only near-term demand dynamics related to global complexity but also a long-term shift in military strategy to the more frequent use of intelligent multi-domain Unmanned Systems which are either use, highly effective and provide a compelling value proposition. Our differentiated portfolio offers the greatest breadth and depth of unmanned solutions to meet the growing demands of our country and allies. We are an industry leader in contested environments as well as AI-enabled autonomous operations and governments around the globe are witnessing these unmatched capabilities effectively perform on real and highly contested battlefields. As a testament to the incredible effectiveness of our innovative solutions, we now have nine different unmanned platforms deployed in Ukraine, all receiving high levels of praise. We could not be prouder and more honored of how our solutions and team members are helping our customers successfully achieve their vital missions. 10 Countries with the Most Military Drones in the World Pixabay/Public Domain Methodology Countries with the most military drones in the world are ranked in ascending order of their fleet size of drones. Data has been sourced from Power Atlas, a joint publication of the European Council of Foreign Relations and Stiftung Mercator, released in December 2021; and The Drone Databook published by The Center of the Study of the Drone at Bard College in March 2020. If interested, you can also take a look at the 15 Countries with the Highest Number of Military Satellites in Orbit. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. Lets now head over to the list of countries that have the most military drones. 10 Countries with the Most Military Drones in the World: 10. Finland Drones: 412 More than half of Finlands large fleet of military drones consist of Orbiter 2-B manufactured by Israels Aeronautics Defense Systems. These are lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles that are designed for military and security purposes, and are integrated into all eight brigade-level formations of the Finnish Army. Another potent aerial vehicle operated by Finland is Ranger, which was built as part of a joint venture between Switzerlands RUAG Aviation and Israel Aerospace Industries. 9. South Korea Drones: 518 South Korea is among countries with the most military drones in the world, with a sizable fleet of 514 unmanned aerial vehicles that are used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering missions. Majority of the drones that are currently in operation of the South Korean military are locally produced, while some were acquired from foreign countries including four RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV from the United States. These are manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC). 8. Australia Drones: 557 Australia has a fleet of 557 drones used for military purposes, according to Power Atlas and The Drone Databook. These include 161 PD-100 Black Hornet and 350 Phantom, which are unarmed but used for military needs such as battle planning, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. The Australian Air Force also possesses between 12-16 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured by General Atomics. Moreover, there are six MQ-4C Triton drones that are in use by the countrys Navy. 7. France Drones: 591 France is one of the countries with the most military drones in the world. Its fleet of uninhabited aerial vehicles include 210 mini SpyRanger UAVs developed by Thales, 11 Safran Patroller aircraft made by Sagem, and 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones it procured from the United States. According to The Center of the Study of the Drone at Bard College, Frances Systeme de Drones Aerien de la Marine (SDAM) program is working to develop an unmanned rotorcraft for frigates operated by the French Navy. 6. India Drones: 625 Next up on sixth spot is India, which has a sizable fleet of 625 drones, at least. These include 600 Spylite, which were introduced in 2019, according to The Drone Databook. In addition to this, the country procured 10 Heron 1 drones from Israel for a deal worth $400 million in 2015. India also operates 15 Harop unmanned aircraft. All of the drones operated by India are of Israeli-origin. It is among countries with the most military drones in the world. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries with the Most Military Drones in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 10 Countries with the Most Military Drones in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. UK to quit 'outdated' fossil fuel friendly treaty London, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 The UK will join a string of European countries in leaving a controversial energy treaty that has allowed fossil fuel giants to sue governments over their climate policies, the government said on Thursday. The decision to quit the 1990s-era accord comes after efforts to negotiate a modernised treaty ended in stalemate. France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands are also pulling out of the Energy Charter Treaty, while the European Parliament has called for the entire 27-nation European Union to withdraw. Italy, which lost a costly arbitration case against British oil company Rockhopper under the treaty, announced it was leaving in 2015. Established in the 1990s when the world energy system was heavily dominated by fossil fuels -- coal, gas and oil, the treaty was originally intended to encourage international energy investment. In practice, it has allowed foreign companies to challenge energy policies that threaten their investments under a secretive arbitration process. This has led to a number of countries facing costly legal challenges over reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and boosting renewables. "The Energy Charter Treaty is outdated and in urgent need of reform but talks have stalled and sensible renewal looks increasingly unlikely," UK Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart said. "Remaining a member would not support our transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, and could even penalise us for our world-leading efforts to deliver net zero," he added. The treaty, which the EU and Euratom, the European atomic energy community, signed on to in 1994 came into effect in 1998. - 'Explosion' of claims - It initially it sought to bring post-Soviet eastern European energy sectors into a cooperative framework with western European ones. To do that, it allowed energy companies -- many of them using coal and other fossil fuels -- to sue governments over policies putting their investments at risk. But as countries have shifted towards renewable and more sustainable energy sources, European governments have increasingly baulked at remaining part of the treaty. The United Nations' Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and Environment, David Boyd, warned in December that an "explosion" of multibillion-dollar claims by fossil fuel and extractive firms through shadowy investment tribunals was blocking action on climate and nature. "When governments bring in these stronger laws and policies, they're ending up paying millions -- and sometimes billions -- of dollars in compensation," Boyd told AFP. Developing nations were increasingly being targeted, he said, adding that fossil fuel and mining industries had won over $100 billion in awards. Shaun Spiers, executive director of environmental think-tank Green Alliance, welcomed the UK government's decision. "Civil society organisations and parliamentarians from all political parties have been clear that the Energy Charter Treaty is an out-of-date agreement and undermines our efforts to tackle climate change," he said. "We welcome the UK's decision to leave, which will strengthen global efforts to roll out cheap, clean renewable energy," he added. har/gil NGOs urge Greece to scrap coastline reform: statement Athens, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 WWF, Greenpeace and six other environmental NGOs called on Greece on Thursday to withdraw a bill that will remove a coastal protection zone designed to limit seaside construction. The finance ministry's bill, which is being debated in parliament, "is abolishing the already inadequate setback zone of 30 meters (about 100 feet) from the shoreline," the group of NGOs said in a joint statement. "Unfortunately, in Greece, coastal ecosystems are treated as land for housing and tourist development," the statement added. "The bill also fails to provide necessary safeguards and improve the framework for the immediate removal of illegal buildings along the coastline," it said, citing a recurring problem in the country known for its beaches. The text of the conservative government's bill, which will be put to a vote soon, states that it aims to "improve the management of the coastal regions" and will be "beneficial for the national economy and protection of the environment." But George Hasiotis, a lawyer with the WWF, told AFP: "The lack of any criteria for the definition of a coastline, such as a minimum exploitation threshold, does not guarantee environmental protection." The NGOs are calling for Greece to ratify the EU protocol on "Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean" which sets a minimum protection zone of 100 metres (about 330 feet). The NGOs also complained that "crucial provisions related to climate change adaptation are missing" from the bill, which they said makes "no reference to other natural or man-made risks" to coastal zones. Illegal construction is rampant in Greece where the building industry is one of the main sectors of the economy. In 2020, the European Court of Justice judged that Greece had violated its obligations under EU law for not protecting some of its vulnerable ecosystems. Colombian city of Cali to host UN biodiversity talks Bogota, Feb 22 (AFP) Feb 22, 2024 The Colombian city of Cali has been selected to host this year's UN biodiversity negotiations in October, the country has announced, as nations face pressure to make progress on their plan to halt nature loss. Colombia was officially confirmed in December as the host of the COP16 biodiversity summit, after Turkey backed out. The talks will follow up on a landmark deal at the last meeting in 2022 in Montreal, at which nations promised to preserve 30 percent of the planet's land and seas by 2030. With the planet facing its biggest loss of life since the dinosaurs and climate change threatening further extinctions to come, the United Nations has warned that the stakes have never been higher. Announcing the decision to hold the meeting in Cali at a ceremony in Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the region embodies "the power of human cultural diversity and the power of natural biodiversity." The Montreal summit's landmark agreement was designed to be a blueprint for global action on nature to 2030. It also raised pledges to commit $30 billion a year for developing countries to halt human-caused extinction of threatened species. COP16 -- scheduled from October 21 to November 1 -- will be an opportunity for the 190 signatory countries to demonstrate their commitment by presenting their national biodiversity strategies. It is expected to attract some 13,000 people to Cali, the country's third-largest city. Colombia is the world's second most biodiverse country after Brazil, but it is also one of the most dangerous countries for activists. Global Witness named Colombia the country with the most murders of land and environmental activists in 2022, with 60 people killed. Most of these murders were linked to agriculture, mining and forestry, access to water, poaching and drug trafficking. Unlike the climate COP, the biodiversity COP -- which stands for Conference of Parties -- takes place every two years. Turkey pulled out of hosting duties citing the need to recover from earthquakes. BING-JHEN HONG / Getty Images Nvidia, also known right now as the most important stock on the planet, delivered record-breaking earnings on Feb. 21, with revenue rising to an eye-popping $22.1 billion, up 265% from a year ago according to the earnings report, thanks to its artificial intelligence (AI) business. Learn More: 8 Best Cryptocurrencies To Invest In for 2024 Find Out: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money This is what some analysts, such as Wedbush Securities Dan Ives, deemed it the biggest moment for the market and tech sector in many years, and a game-changing moment for the tech bulls. To put this into perspective, as of Feb. 13, shares of Nvidia were up 17,044% in the past 10 years, according to an Investors Business Daily analysis. Read Next: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon In turn, that means that if you had invested $10,000 in the stock 10 years ago, your investment would now be worth an eye-popping $1.7 million. Thats more than youve made on any S&P 500 stock in that time. The S&P 500 itself is only up 176% in that time, only turning your $10,000 investment to $27,604. Youd be more than $1.6 million richer by going with Nvidia over just the S&P 500, according to the analysis. However, some experts said that while data and statistics regarding what stocks have returned the most over elapsed periods are interesting, they are materially insignificant. Hindsight is always 20-20, said Peter C. Earle, senior economist for the American Institute for Economic Research. He added that 10 years ago, there were undoubtedly as many reasons not to invest in Nvidia as there were reasons to put money into it. Earle argued that when Nvidia went public in 1999 it was a promising firm, but its headline business was supporting the graphics of video games becoming increasingly sophisticated. And from 2004 to 2014 there were plenty more reasons to invest in Amazon for instance, than in Nvidia, since over that period, Amazons stock appreciated at an average rate of 21% per year while Nvidias was averaging just over 10% per year, Earle added. Story continues Over the next five years Nvidias stock rocketed ahead of Amazons, even before AI became the focus of so much anticipated growth, continued Earle. My point is only that explosive asset price appreciation of this sort is next to impossible to see in advance. Fortunately, even though most of us didnt own Nvidia stock (other than indirectly in our 401Ks), we will all benefit hugely from the innovation its products are making possible. Yet, the stocks skyrocketing ascent doesnt seem like it will be stopping anytime soon as shown in the companys financial forecast, which predicts revenue to be $24 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. We guide one quarter at a time. But fundamentally, the conditions are excellent for continued growth calendar 24, to calendar 25 and beyond, said Jensen Huang, Nvidia founder and CEO, according to a Feb. 21 earnings call transcript. And let me tell you why? Were at the beginning of two industry-wide transitions. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Will Nvidia Continue to be a Winner? Following the earnings release, many analysts significantly raised their price target for the stock. For instance, Angelo Zino, CFA and senior industry analyst for CFRA Research, said in a research note that the company lifted its 12-month target to $840 from $700, as it sees a slew of growth drivers that will support demand in CY 24/CY 25 and beyond. And as Joe Camberato, CEO of National Business Capital, noted, the companys quarterly sales now make up a whopping 90% of last years revenue. Thats not just impressive; its a clear sign of the AI frenzy were witnessing. Were on the brink of a tech revolution, and Nvidias set to be a key player, he added. Yet, some experts are against putting all your eggs in the same basket, warning [Ten thousand dollars] invested in any stock is like throwing darts at the board and saying you have the crystal ball in forecasting what to expect with any one company. Instead, try other options to take advantage of Nvidias explosive growth such as investing via exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Most regular traders and investors are not that savvy nor do they have the patience or experience to be a top stock picker, explained Sean Kozak, CEO of Neurostreet. This is where having a dual tech strategy comes in. Using tech ETFs would be a better replacement as it allows you to not only play the bull market but also the bear market. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: $10K Invested in Nvidia 10 Years Ago Would Have Made You This Eye-Popping Amount of Money The familiar aroma of peppery, clove-struck spice is rising from the boiling sheds behind seafood markets and restaurants around New Orleans. Parking lots are filling and customers queuing up. With another Mardi Gras over, the customary start for serious crawfish season is upon us. In this article, we will take a look at 12 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to the 5 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World. In light of greater connectivity across countries through digitization, the concept of international work has gained momentum. This global village is now filled with diverse and innovative possibilities, ranging from self-employed work to jobs in almost all industries. The developed nations of the world have attracted expatriates for various reasons, with one of the strongest being better career prospects. Their economic growth has spurred the need for a larger workforce, especially one that is more qualified. However, it must also be kept in mind that extensive industrialization and mass production in developed countries have prompted them to explore alternative avenues for labor, including the international labor market. It is, then also not surprising that a great number of countries in the world exist that provide easy work visa. Labor Migration Whether low-skilled or high-skilled, labor migration has far-reaching impacts on both receiving and sending countries. Developed and emerging economies alike are in constant need of low-skilled workers, a demand expected to increase, while their countries of origin lack job opportunities. In 2021, there was a 26% increase in permanent migration in OECD countries, primarily attributed to the rise in labor migration due to labor and skill shortages. According to the Migration Data Portal, the year 2019 saw an estimated 169 million international migrant workers worldwide, accounting for 4.9% of the global labor force in destination countries. They also constituted 69% of the worlds international migrant working-age population (15 years of age and above). It is also noteworthy that high-income countries were the major recipients of this migration, hosting about two-thirds of all migrant workers. Other regions, including Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, accounted for a 24.2% share, Northern America received 22.1%, and 14.3% landed in the Arab States. While men constituted 58.5% of all labor migration, European areas saw a 50% share of women migrants. The report also highlighted a greater flow of migrants in the service sector (66.2%), followed by industry (26.7%) and agriculture (7.1%). Story continues Job Market for Skilled International Labor With growing economies, the need for labor is bound to rise and therefore, there will be a lot of countries where work visa can be easily obtained. The 'land of opportunity,' the United States, has attracted foreign workers in large quantities over the years and continues to do so. As the largest economy in the world, the country offers many work visas. Sectors with the greatest demand for labor include IT and software, engineering, accounting and finance, STEM professions, and nursing, among others. Europe is also attracting a fair amount of immigrants due to labor shortages, especially in fields like medicine, and engineering. For example, the number of Indian immigrants working in engineering fields in Germany has grown by 558% in the past decade. Asian countries are also seeking workers in hospitality, IT, tourism, education, and engineering sectors, among others. In the midst of such vast opportunities, the presence of multinational corporations (MNCs) is yet another attraction for immigrants hoping to find work abroad. Sponsorship by the employing company can greatly facilitate the work visa process. Some of the best international companies to work for include Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), and Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB). Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is an American multinational company and a prominent name in hotel, residential, and timeshare properties. The company boasts more than 30 brands and operates in 139 countries with over 8,700 properties. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) prioritizes maintaining a positive work culture and placing their people first. They are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in all their global enterprises. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and medical technologies corporation that continues to innovate and develop. Recently, the US FDA approved a bi-weekly dose of Johnson & Johnsons (NYSE: JNJ) blood cancer therapy. The company has also been named the 2024 Fortune Worlds Most Admired Company. Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB) is an online platform for hospitality services. The company provides a mobile app through which customers can list, discover, and book accommodations across countries. With a presence in various regions and countries, Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB) is headquartered in California, USA. The company is renowned for its positive work culture and places a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusiveness, actively fostering such values. 12 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World 12 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World Methodology In order to compile our list for 12 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World, we have scoured through various sources to shortlist countries that provide the easiest way for obtaining work visa. Then we use a scoring system based on the number of times each place appeared on a source. For this reason, we have used a total of 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) sources. Each place got 1 point every time it appeared on our list of sources. The scores were totaled, and places were ranked from the lowest to the highest scores. For places with the same scores, tie-breaking was done based on cost of living index. 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. Now that we have combed through our sources, lets move to the shortlisted potential 12 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World. 12. Estonia Insider Monkey Average Score: 2 As a country experiencing reported labor shortages in professions like medicine, agriculture, farming, and manufacturing, among others, Estonia can be a viable option for finding new work. With approximately 12,040 vacancies estimated in the third quarter of the last year, the country is looking towards foreigners to fill the demand, making it one of the countries for obtaining an easy work visa worldwide. A D- visa can be helpful in gaining short-term employment, allowing one to work a maximum of 270 days out of 365 consecutive days. The country also offers digital nomad visas; however, applicants must establish their ability to support themselves in the country. 11. Canada Insider Monkey Average Score: 3 A thriving and developed country, Canada is a haven for people looking to move for work. It is also one of the fastest and easiest countries to get second citizenship. There are numerous job opportunities across various industries, including tech, finance, natural resources, health, etc., in the country, offering many perks and competitive salaries. Obtaining a temporary work visa in the country is relatively easy, with few requirements and affordable fees, averaging around $88. Canada is known for its immigrant-friendly attitude, high quality of life, and a diverse workforce. Various work programs, such as the Express Entry System, the Entrepreneur Program, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), are available for immigrants seeking easy work visas. 10. South Korea Insider Monkey Average Score: 3 Offering various job opportunities, especially in technology, engineering, and education, this Asian country provides many work visa options for individuals looking to relocate. Teaching English is particularly lucrative in this country with a low cost of living. The Employment Permit System, E-2 visa, and E-7 visa are the most preferred ways for immigrants to find work in South Korea. As of January 2023, the country has bilateral working holiday visa agreements with 25 countries. With such vast opportunities and an average work visa fee cost of $65, South Korea stands out as one of the countries with easy work visa processes in the world. 9. Czechia Insider Monkey Average Score: 3 Czechia is a country with enormous potential for providing work opportunities for immigrants. Sectors such as information and communication technologies, healthcare, hospitality, education, and social work boast great job prospects. The country's employment visas are particularly enticing for immigrants, and even tourists can explore job opportunities during their stay. Offering various forms of work visas such as the employee card, EU blue card, Intra-company employee transfer card, and business visa (type D), Czechia stands out as one of the countries to get easy work visa in the world. 8. China Insider Monkey Average Score: 3 For English speakers, China has emerged as one of the easiest countries to obtain a work visa worldwide. With a high demand for English teachers, job seekers proficient in the language, especially those with TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, have ample opportunities. Additionally, there are various other areas where people can explore job opportunities, including trade, commerce, IT, journalism, engineering, and the hotel and restaurant sector. Work visas become even more accessible when sponsored by employers. 7. Singapore Insider Monkey Average Score: 4 As a developed and robust Asian nation, Singapore is a veritable hub for business and technology, boasting a thriving job market and strategically positioned as a gateway for Asian markets. The country is especially conducive to highly skilled individuals and entrepreneurs, offering the Singapore Employment Pass (EP), S Pass, and Singapore Entrepreneur Pass as possible entry methods. Known for their business-friendly environment, Singapore encourages executives to apply, and their visa processes are extremely efficient, making them one of the countries with easy work visa procedures worldwide. Additionally, Singapore provides Americans in the age bracket of 18-25, who are either full-time college students or recent graduates, the opportunity to apply for work holiday visas, which often lead to sponsorship. 6. Ireland Insider Monkey Average Score: 4 Placing no age restrictions on work visas, encouraging skilled workers, and making working holiday visas extremely accessible (requiring only being a student or recent graduate), Ireland stands out as one of the easiest countries in the world for obtaining a work visa. The country has an agreement with the US, allowing visitors to obtain one-year working holiday visas in both countries. Many multinationals in Ireland offer great sponsorship opportunities, and career prospects in the education, hospitality, and services sectors are robust. The prosperous tech and pharma sectors have enabled Ireland to encourage foreign skilled workers in these areas to apply for work visas. The Critical Skills Employment Permit and General Employment Permit are some ways to obtain work visas for Ireland, and the country maintains a minimum expat requirement, solidifying its position as an easy destination for work visas. Click to continue reading and see our 5 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 12 Countries to Get Easy Work Visa in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. Pascal Mitchell, center, speaks about his father Johnny Mitchell, one of the first two black officers for the Lafayette Police department, during the dedication of a plaque honoring his father and Officer James Benoit at the Lafayette Police Department Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the police department in Lafayette, La. To Perth now where wrestling fever has reached such a bizarre crescendo that Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has uploaded a letter addressed to Dwayne The Rock Johnson to his social media accounts pleading with him to appear at the WWE Elimination Chamber event on Saturday. The state has paid an undisclosed amount to bring the WWE to Optus Stadium this weekend, and in the lead-up, fans were hopeful The Rock would make a surprise appearance. In a video posted to the WWEs official X account, The Rock said he would fly to Perth if fellow wrestlers Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins trash talked him while there. In his tweet, Cook said he felt compelled to inform The Rock there had been a lot of out-of-towners talking trash in the lead up to the Elimination Chamber. I am sorry to have to inform The Rock, I feel much of this trash talk has been directed at The Rock himself, he said. WA Premier Roger Cook has made a plea for Dwayne Johnson to visit the state this weekend. Credit: AP On behalf of the people of Western Australia, I thought Id let The Rock know. The State of Western Australia stands ready to assist The Rock in making magic happen and provide logistical support so you can respond to this outrageous trash talk. Western Australians would love to smell what The Rock is cooking. But hopes of a surprise appearance were dashed by wrestling legend Triple H on Triple M who said The Rock would not appear in Perth. Im not gonna spin that because I dont want people expecting that and not see that. The show will be spectacular, I believe when its done, nobody will miss The Rock, he said. Three former state Labor ministers have been committed to stand trial for misconduct in public office. The charges against the three former ministers, Joe Tripodi, Tony Kelly and Eddie Obeid, stem from a corruption inquiry that alleged that Tripodi and Kelly were involved in the doctoring of a cabinet submission that could have provided a financial windfall to the family of their colleague Obeid. Facing charges: Former Labor ministers Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly. Credit: Dean Sewell, Rob Homer In 2014, the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard that the allegedly doctored cabinet minute had been signed by then-infrastructure minister Kelly in May 2010. It painted a glowing picture of a water infrastructure company with links to the Obeid family. Queensland Rail received more than 800 complaints last year about etiquette on trains, including one passenger dropping a banana peel on a seat, and others playing music, vaping or painting their nails. More than 200 complaints by commuters related to alcohol, drugs or smoking, while 191 complained about noise in the quiet carriage, QR said. How do I report a grub for dropping a banana peel on a seat on the train? one commuter asked QR, sending this photo. Feet and bags on seats was the third-highest complaint, with 68 reporting they, or others, were unable to get a seat on their journey. This was followed by more than 40 complaints about people playing music or using their devices loudly. Victorians spend up to $240 million a year on heroin and the governments response to its use is costing $24 million annually, leading a Victorian MP to call for expanded treatments, including potentially medically prescribing the dangerous drug to people trying to get off it. Health advocates agreed with the call to expand Victorias pharmacotherapy network, where drug dependency is treated through other medication, before fentanyl becomes more common in Australia. Melbourne is the heroin capital of Australia, according to Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association boss Chris Christoforou. Credit: iStock The costings, provided to Libertarian MP David Limbrick by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), estimate the amount of money spent on heroin in Victoria in 2022 was between $120 million and $240 million. This was based on the state consuming 479 kilograms of the illicit drug that year, an increase from 452 kilograms the year before. The price of a single-dose bag of heroin was estimated to be $50 while a gram was valued at $250. Shortly after 8pm, the small town of Lexton 30 kilometres north-east of Beaufort and with a population of about 300 people was told to evacuate. Amphitheatre, a little further north-west and with an official population of 223, was also under the watch and act warning. There had been no reports of houses lost on Thursday, but emergency services expected more information about property damage throughout the night. Earlier on Thursday evening, Heffernan said the fire situation would get worse before it gets better. He said he expected the strong winds to continue until midnight and that more communities would come under threat. Heffernan said additional firefighters would join the firefight in western Victoria over coming hours and days. They will be principally coming out of the Melbourne metropolitan area and surrounds, he said. Relief centres were established at Ballarat and Ararat and about 100 evacuees were briefed on the fire situation at the CE Brown Reserve in Wendouree on the outskirts of Ballarat on Thursday evening. CFA Wests community engagement coordinator Chris Carey told residents the Beaufort fire front was about 20 to 30 kilometres long and heading north-east following the wind change. He said the fire was around 6700 hectares in size and mainly burning in state forest, but some spot fires had occurred in the township of Beaufort. [The fire is] going to stay fairly active through the night until the temperature drops a fair bit, he said. Carey told residents to settle in as roads to Beaufort and other nearby hamlets would remain closed. Its still very dynamic, and its still very dangerous up there. Beaufort residents Tina Koeleman and her partner Rebecca Brunner and their dog Chief at the Wendouree emergency relief centre in Ballarat on Thursday evening. Credit: Eddie Jim Rebecca Brunner and her partner Tina Koeleman are two of the people staying at the evacuation centre. They left their Beaufort home about 3.30pm on Thursday with some important documents and medications and their dog, Chief. Brunner described the terrifying scenes in Beaufort. Loading From our place I looked outside and it was just black. It was unbelievable, she said. So dark, it was, and it just kept moving through the town. The couple initially went to an evacuation point at Beaufort Lake but after 30 minutes police told them to move on to the Wendouree relief centre as the fire bore down. They actually closed that evacuation centre, Koeleman said. Embers were landing everywhere and there were spot fires everywhere. The couple had to leave their pet cat in Beaufort. We didnt have anything to put her in, Brunner said. We left her outside because we figured shes got more of a chance [of survival] outside than locked in the house. Beaufort bird rescuer Jasmine Broadbent was wrangling more than 100 wild and domestic birds including macaws, lorikeets, cockatoos, pigeons and canaries at the Wendouree centre on Thursday night. Theres anywhere between 100 and 150 birds we got out, she told The Age. Jasmine Broadbent (left) and Mel Vincent at the Wendouree emergency relief centre in Ballarat with their rescued birds as smoke blots the sky. Credit: Eddie Jim The exhausted Broadbent who only recently moved her bird rescue organisation, AviRescue Victoria, to Beaufort spent hours on Thursday getting the birds from their aviaries to the safety of Wendouree oval. Short of cages, Broadbent said a number of the birds were loose in the minibus that was driven by her cousin to the relief centre. One was sitting on his shoulder, she said. Two other rescuers Mel Vincent and Lisa Redford heeded the call for help and made their way from Melbourne, while other volunteers arrived at the reserve to take some birds home temporarily. The birds are affected by smoke theyre very sensitive, said Broadbent. We knew we had to act early. Pyrenees Shire councillor David Clark, whose home is near the Beaufort fire, said council offices had been evacuated and staff told to go home at his municipality. He said the blaze was the biggest he could remember in the area. Weve had fires around here but never this close to home, he said. A relief centre set up in Beaufort earlier on Thursday was later closed. That came under direct threat, Clark said. He was unaware if any houses or sheds had been burned, but he expected there could be some property losses. Im pretty worried for Beaufort, he said. The fire resulted in the closure of the Western Highway in both directions between Ballarat and Ararat. Some V/Line services were also suspended. The premier said the fire near Beaufort was of grave concern and it had been a difficult day for fire conditions. Our thoughts are with those Victorians who are directly impacted, she said. Almost 30 hospital patients were evacuated to Ballarat from small urgent care and aged care beds from the Beaufort and Skipton Health Service. And while many parents of students at Beaufort Primary and Beaufort Secondary picked their children up early on Thursday, the state government reported 29 students remained at the schools when the evacuation notice was issued. As a result, 29 students were bussed to the Ballarat relief centre. The government said there were no preemptive Friday school closures, but that would depend on weather overnight. Navalnys mother has filed a lawsuit contesting officials refusal to release her sons body. A closed-door hearing has been scheduled for March 4. Earlier this week, she appealed to Putin to release her sons remains so that she could bury him with dignity. In the video released Thursday (Friday AEDT), Navalnaya said that she was told by officials that they have determined the politicians cause of death and have the paperwork ready, but she has to agree to a secret funeral. Alexei Navalnys wife Yulia, left, and his daughter Daria Navalnaya posing for a selfie somewhere in US. Credit: AP They want to take me to the outskirts of the cemetery to a fresh grave and say: Here lies your son. I dont agree to this. I want you too, to whom Alexey is dear, for whom his death was a personal tragedy, to have the opportunity to say goodbye to him, she said. Navalnaya accused the authorities of threatening her: Looking into my eyes, they say that if I do not agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my sons body. Investigator Voropayev openly told me: Time is not on your side, the corpse is decomposing, she said, reiterating her demand to release her sons body immediately. Navalnys death has deprived the Russian opposition of its best-known and inspiring politician less than a month before an election that is all but certain to give Putin another six years in power. Many Russians had seen Navalny as a rare hope for political change amid Putins unrelenting crackdown on the opposition. Since Navalnys death, about 400 people have been detained across Russia as they tried to pay tribute to him with flowers and candles, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors political arrests. Authorities cordoned off some of the memorials to victims of Soviet repression across the country that were being used as sites to leave makeshift tributes to Navalny. Police removed the flowers at night, but more keep appearing. Earlier, imprisoned opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza urged Russians not to give up after Navalny s death, and he alleged that a state-backed hit squad was taking out the Kremlins political opponents, according to a video posted to social media. Loading Kara-Murza, a British-Russian citizen, is serving a 25-year sentence for treason at Penal Colony No. 7 in the Siberian city of Omsk. His comments came as he appeared via a video link in a court hearing over a complaint against Russias Investigative Committee for what he believes were two poisoning attempts against him. He alleges the committee didnt properly investigate the attempts. Kara-Murza is one of multiple opposition figures who have either been imprisoned, forced to flee the country or killed. He was convicted over publicly criticising Russias invasion of Ukraine and was handed a stiff sentence as part of a crackdown against critics of the war and freedom of speech. We owe it ... to our fallen comrades to continue to work with even greater strength and achieve what they lived and died for, Kara-Murza said in the video, which was shared by the Russian Sota telegram channel. Kara-Murza says the attempts to poison him took place in 2015 and 2017. In the first, he nearly died of kidney failure, although no cause was determined. He was hospitalised with a similar illness in 2017 and put into a medically induced coma. His wife said doctors confirmed he was poisoned. According to the video shared by Sota, Kara-Murza alleged there is a death squad within the Federal Security Service, a group of professional killers in the service of the state, whose task is to physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime. He said investigative journalists had shown the group of FSB officers participated in his poisoning, as well as Navalnys poisoning with a nerve agent in 2020 and the surveillance of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov before he was shot and killed in 2015 on a bridge near the Kremlin. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the illnesses and deaths of the opposition figures, including Navalny. Before meeting with Biden, Navalnys widow said on her Instagram account that she had flown to visit her daughter, who is a student at Stanford University. My dear girl, I came to hug you and support you, and you sit and support me, she wrote under a photo of herself and Dasha lying on a carpet. Describing her daughter as strong, brave and resilient, Navalnaya said the family would definitely cope with everything. She also has a 15-year-old son, Zakhar. In a video on Monday, Yulia Navalnaya also accusing Putin of killing her husband and alleged the refusal to release his body was part of a cover-up. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegations, calling them absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state. 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 South Carolina: Nikki Haley loves Joan Jett. On the campaign trail against Donald Trump, she often cites her adoration for the trailblazing musician, whose classic hit I Love Rock N Roll can usually be heard blasting from the speakers of a Haley rally before she hits the stage. Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event in North Augusta, South Carolina. Credit: AP Jett was one of the first true rockers, the Republican presidential hopeful says, but she was constantly rejected by record label executives who didnt like the way she looked, didnt like the way she acted, and didnt look at the talent. But she never gave up, Haley told the audience a recent town hall event. What a lesson that is, right? People will discount you all of your life. But the fact that she persisted, the fact that she continued to go forward, and the fact that she was just a badass I love every bit of that. Decades after Jetts uphill battle with the titans of the US music industry, Haley is facing what she describes as a David & Goliath contest of her own. Advertisement This weekend, the former UN ambassador goes head-to-head against Trump in her home states primary election in South Carolina, but trails the former president by about 30 percentage points, according to most polls. A hometown defeat would be humiliating for Haley, who grew up in the South Carolina city of Bamberg as the proud daughter of Indian immigrants, began her political career in the state legislature and later became a two-term governor. Then-US president Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House with Nikki Haley, who was US ambassador to the United Nations, In 2018. Credit: Bloomberg Yet, despite Haley running an impressive campaign even outdoing Trump in donations last month most political observers believe she is on track for a drubbing, which would add to her losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Whats more, many cant name another state where she will beat Trump and secure enough delegates to win the nomination to run against President Joe Biden in November. So, is this Haleys last stand? I think, from her perspective, if she doesnt get a lot closer in South Carolina or on some of the Super Tuesday races [in March] and I dont see that happening I think she will clearly recognise theres really no chance to win, says Danielle Vinson, a professor of politics and international affairs at South Carolinas Furman University. Advertisement And the only reason for her to stay in it, at that point, is to try to convey to the party that if, for some reason, Trump has to be removed as the nominee before November comes around, that she would be a good option for them. However, for now, Haley insists she is not going anywhere. Indeed, this week, just as the Trump campaign put out a memo titled The End Is Near for Nikki Haley and called on her to quit, she summoned the national press to an event at Greenville and spent an entire speech explaining why she wasnt backing down. Some of you perhaps a few of you in the media came here today to see if Im dropping out of the race, she said with a slight smile. Well, Im not. Far from it. Her reasons vary. Most voters do not want a rematch between Trump and Biden and, said Haley, they deserve a better choice than two old men who are only getting older. Also, there are still many primaries to go, and quitting this early would consign the country to a bad case of Biden-Trump fatigue, and a chaotic future regardless of who won, she said. As for Trumps iron grip on the party? Some Republicans had given into the herd mentality, Haley said, but she would not. Advertisement I feel no need to kiss the ring, she said. I have no fear of Trumps retribution. Im not looking for anything from him. It was a forceful rebuke from a woman who started her presidential campaign just like most of Trumps other challengers: taking tepid jabs at the former president for fear of alienating his base. Loading But those who know Haley say she doesnt mind a fight, pointing to the time she beat an almost 30-year incumbent to the South Carolina state house and later knocked out a string of male political heavyweights to become the states first female governor in 2010. Now, with little to lose against Trumps momentum, the gloves are off. On the campaign trail this week, the 52-year-old Republican pushed a new slogan Make America Normal Again in a nod to the chaos she says surrounds the former president. She highlighted his string of court cases, and the money he has spent funding them. And at a recent rally, her staffers even handed out mental competency tests something she says every presidential candidate over the age of 75 should take. That would include Trump, who is 77, and Biden, who is 81. Weve all seen them fumble their words and get confused about world leaders. Thats not who you want in the Oval Office when Russia launches a nuclear weapon at our satellites, or China shuts down our electricity grid, she said. Were talking about the most demanding job in human history. You dont give it to someone whos at risk of dementia. Advertisement Not surprisingly, Trump has also escalated his attacks. Having spent the past few months calling his former UN ambassador birdbrain and spreading conspiracy theories about her heritage, Trump this month questioned why Haleys husband Michael, who is currently deployed in Africa with the South Carolina Army National Guard, wasnt by her side. In a country where military members are generally met with universal gratitude, Haley and her supporters were furious. On social media, the hashtag #WheresMelania also started trending a reference to Trumps wife, who has been noticeably absent ever since he left office. Donald Trump poses for a photo during an event in Greer, South Carolina this week. Credit: AP A president that cant honour its fallen and those that have served our country is someone who should not be president of the US, said retired brigadier general Don Bolduc, a friend of Haley who ran as a Republican candidate for Congress in 2022. But while the Trump campaign insists Haley has no path to victory, others hope there are enough anti-Trump voters to help her narrow the margin and thwart his momentum as they head towards Super Tuesday, which takes place on March 5 when about 16 states and territories hold their primaries and a third of all Republican delegates will be at stake. South Carolina also has an open primary system, which means that any registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, can vote in this contest as long as they did not cast a vote in the states Democratic primary earlier this month. Among them is Chris Richardson, a former diplomat and traditional Democrat supporter who is planning to vote for Haley in a bid to thwart the former presidents potential comeback. Advertisement Toyota Recalls Certain 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra, Sequoia and Lexus LX 600 Models PLANO, Texas (Feb. 21, 2024) Toyota is conducting a safety recall involving certain 2022-2024 model year Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid, 2023-2024 model year Sequoia and 2022-2024 model year Lexus LX 600 vehicles in the U.S. Approximately 280,000 vehicles are involved in this recall. Certain parts of the transmission may not immediately disengage when the vehicle is shifted to the neutral position. This can allow some engine power to continue to be transferred to the wheels and can allow the vehicle to inadvertently creep forward at a low speed when it is on a flat surface and no brakes are applied, leading to an increased risk of a crash. For all involved vehicles, Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the transmission at no cost to customers. Owners of involved vehicles will be notified by late April 2024. Information about automotive recalls, including but not limited to the list of involved vehicles, is current as of todays filing date and is subject to change thereafter. To see if your vehicle is involved in a safety recall visit Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information. For any additional questions, Toyota customer support is also available by calling the Toyota Brand Engagement Center (1-800-331-4331) for Toyota vehicles. Customer support is also available by calling the Lexus Brand Engagement Center (1-800-255-3987) for Lexus vehicles. Updated February 22, 2024. In this article, we will take a look at 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from the US. You can skip our detailed analysis about language barrier and countries with the greatest share of English-speaking population and go directly to the 5 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from the US. In the aftermath of extensive exposure to multifarious cultures and languages through digital life, stark boundaries between cultures and across countries have been greatly blurred. However, this does not necessarily mean that one has absorbed the deep-rooted nuances of all cultures, becoming immune to diversity and gaining competence over various languages. While the idea of packing bags and making a life-altering decision to move abroad does not seem outrageous based on our remote digital experience, the ground realities of cultural shock and language barriers, among other issues, do indeed exist. Therefore, for US residents hoping to relocate, easy English-speaking countries for immigration would be an ideal situation. Language Barrier Immigrating to a country where the local language is different can be an extremely challenging experience. Regardless of the reason for the move, immigration itself is a grueling process, and complicating it further by adding a communication problem can be debilitating for the immigrant. According to a recent study, language is, in fact, the biggest challenge that expats have to deal with. The inability to communicate properly can have far-reaching adverse impacts on many aspects of life, including work productivity, healthcare, and travel, among others. Immigration to English-Speaking Countries for US Residents Given the relevance of the language barrier in the immigration process, the decision to choose countries where English is spoken seems highly appropriate and achievable, considering the widespread use of the language worldwide. Approximately 1.35 billion people in the world speak English, in which 350 million people speak English as their first language, and more than 430 million people use it as a second language. It is also the most commonly studied foreign language in the world. Story continues The European nations account for about 212 million English speakers, and almost all countries in the EU have a fair share of the population speaking the language. In Africa, approximately 237 million people speak English-- considering both native and non-native speakers -- with the greatest number found in Nigeria. In the Americas region, it is estimated that about 350 million people speak the language. Although many countries in the Caribbean have declared English as their official language, very few people actually speak it properly. While Asia does not have a large number of native speakers, English is spoken as a second or foreign language in many countries, bringing the estimated number to 460 million. In the Oceania region, there are over 30 million people who speak English. Equipped for Language Barrier While choosing to immigrate to an English-speaking country can significantly aid integration into society, it can also be advantageous to learn local languages for smoother immigration. Learning a foreign language can be daunting, especially when dealing with various aspects of immigration after the move. However, in this tech-oriented world, solutions to various problems are only a few clicks away. This holds true for learning a new language as well. Numerous online platforms provide an interactive experience, enabling people to acquire the necessary skills. These include Chegg Inc. (NYSE:CHGG) and Udemy (NASDAQ:UDMY), among others. Chegg Inc. (NYSE: CHGG) is a prominent American education technology company focused on providing students with affordable and accessible study resources. The company recently acquired Busuu, a leading online language learning platform offering 12 different language courses. Chegg Inc. (NYSE: CHGG) has also integrated AI-based learning solutions into their services, aiming to provide a personalized learning assistant for students. Their dedication is evident through the remarkable results, with a 2.2 million solutions increase in automated answers for the month of January 2024 alone. Udemy (NASDAQ: UDMY) is another prominent education technology company, offering an online learning and teaching platform. The platform provides a wide array of language courses, encompassing languages such as French, German, Indonesian, Chinese, Dutch, English, and many more. Here are some comments from Udemy's (NASDAQ:UDMY) earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2023, overlooking their performance and strategies: As a company, we made meaningful progress in 2023. I stepped into the CEO role last February, and we further bolstered our leadership team with new chief marketing, people, and product officers, who all bring deep experience within their respective functions to Udemy. On our Q4 call last year, we laid out our strategic priorities for investors and other stakeholders. Im proud to say that we delivered on each of those priorities, which included, first, establish Udemy as the platform of choice for professional learners and increasing skills development through new learning modalities. Last year, we significantly grew our learner base, adding 10 million new learners to our platform and more than 1,800 net new Udemy Business customers. We leveraged generative AI technology to create more personalized learning experiences, including capabilities that enable microlearning. 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from US 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from US Methodology To compile this list of the 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from the US, we referenced our lists of the 15 Best Countries to Move to from the US that Speak English and the 20 Best English Speaking Countries to Retire, Live, or Visit. After compiling a list of potential destinations from these sources, we further evaluated them based on their rankings for quality of life index, ease of settlement index, personal finance index, and expat essential index from the Expat Insider Index 2023. This analysis provides insights into how these countries are rated by expats as potential immigration destinations. Rankings of countries on these different pillers from Expat Insider Index were averaged, and the countries were then ranked in descending order of their average rankings, with final rankings adjusted on the basis of average rankings. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. Lets move to our list of 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from US. 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from US 15. Belgium Insider Monkey Average Rank: 33.5 As an English-speaking European nation, residents in Belgium are generally fluent in English. According to expats view, Belgium stands out as an excellent choice for effective financial management and prospects, particularly in terms of housing. While establishing friendships and building a social life might pose some challenges in this country, the overall quality of life is enticing enough to attract numerous expats. 14. France Insider Monkey Average Rank: 31.75 France is among the European states where English is spoken, particularly in major cities like Paris and other urban centers. However, this prevalence decreases in other regions of the country, with an estimated 39% of the French population having some level of proficiency in the language. The country also boasts a high ranking on the quality of life index, particularly in healthcare, making it an attractive destination for many expats. With favorable rankings on ease of settlement and personal finance, France assures a relatively easy overall experience for immigrants. However, expats often express dissatisfaction with bureaucratic processes. Despite this, France stands out as an accessible English-speaking country for immigration in the overall ranking. 13. Cyprus Insider Monkey Average Rank: 31.5 As far as English goes, Cyprus is one of the easiest English-speaking countries to immigrate to from US. The country is also one of the easiest to settle down roots and various essential expat requirements like digital life and housing are also available and affordable. Most expats find Cyprus as a financially reasonable place to live. In the quality of life index, Cyprus has been linked with great healthcare, while safety and environment conditions decrease the rank for this category. 12. Netherlands Insider Monkey Average Rank: 30.5 As a developed nation, Netherlands can provide its immigrants with a good quality of life as well as many essentials required by expats. The safety and security situation in the country is excellent and traveling inside and outside the country is also very easy. Language barrier is not an issue here and dealing with bureaucracy as well as experiencing a digital life is not a problem. While cultural adjustment can take time here, overall the country depicts an easy English-speaking immigration destination from US. 11. Austria Insider Monkey Average Rank: 30.25 Austria, as a country where English is widely spoken, offers a very high quality of life, particularly in healthcare and environmental quality. With a low cost of living, the country facilitates a comfortable lifestyle for immigrants from the US, allowing their disposable income to go a long way. However, expats may encounter challenges in navigating the language barrier, as learning the official language can be somewhat tough. 10. Czechia Insider Monkey Average Rank: 29.75 With a significant proportion of the younger generation proficient in the English language, Czechia possesses qualities that can make it one of the easiest English-speaking countries to immigrate to from the US. The quality of life in the country is quite good, especially in terms of leisure options, travel and transit, and safety and security situation. Expats from the US would find the country meeting their financial needs very adequately. 9. Switzerland Insider Monkey Average Rank: 29 English is commonly spoken in the country, more so in some areas than others. The nation is renowned for its exceptional quality of life, a key factor that attracts expats to consider it as an easy English-speaking immigration destination. With top-rated safety and security rankings, it proves to be a highly feasible choice for relocation. Travel and transit within the country are also quite convenient. While the cost of living is slightly higher than in other European nations, it remains affordable for US expats. 8. Greece Insider Monkey Average Rank: 28 The prevalence of the English language is fairly good in Greece, with about half the country being conversant in it. Expats have reported a high level of satisfaction with their financial situation, attributed to the low cost of living and the ability to stretch disposable income. Greece is considered one of the easiest countries to settle down in, primarily due to the warm and friendly local culture, ensuring an easy integration into society. Overall, Greece presents a favorable option for expats hoping to move to an English-speaking country with ease. 7. Sweden Insider Monkey Average Rank: 27.75 A large proportion of Swedish people, especially the younger generation, are proficient in English. The digital life experience is excellent in the country, bureaucracy is easy to navigate, and the language barrier does not pose significant challenges. The cost of living is low, especially when compared to the US. As with most European countries, immigrants can enjoy a high quality of life. However, certain social elements can make settling down challenging. 6. Estonia Insider Monkey Average Rank: 27.25 For US residents immigrating to this country, several elements make it one of the easiest. English is widely spoken as a second language, and expats would not encounter a lot of red tape. The digital life is also excellent. In addition, immigrants in Estonia can enjoy a high quality of life, especially regarding traveling inside and outside the country, safety and security, as well as the environment and climate situation. Click to continue reading and see our 5 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from the US. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Easiest English-Speaking Countries to Immigrate to from the US is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we will look at 20 states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to 5 States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income. American Income Taxes: An Analysis The taxes paid by US citizens across all the states are different. The states with the highest income taxes in the US are the ones where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. The US tax system has made legislative changes and several states have gone through income tax cuts in 2024. Overall, thirty-four states went through notable tax changes, which took effect on January 1, 2024. Two states including California and Michigan have increased their income tax rates from 13.30% and 4.05% to 14.40% and 4.25% in 2024, respectively. Most of the states in the US have taken legislative measures to reduce their taxes and will gradually bring them into effect in the coming years. There are already several states in the US with no sales tax or income tax. In 2023, the US federal government collected a total revenue of almost $4.44 trillion, as per the US Treasury. The primary source of revenue was personal income taxes. In fiscal year 2024 so far, the US federal government has gathered $1.58 trillion in revenue from October 2023 to January 2024. Almost 51% of the revenue is contributed by personal income taxes, which accounts for $808 billion of the total revenue in 2024 so far. Corporate income taxes have added nearly 10.70% to the federal government revenue in 2024. Compared to the fiscal year 2023, the federal government collected $1.47 trillion in revenue between October 2022 and January 2023. The federal government has spent nearly $2.12 trillion since the start of fiscal year 2024 compared to a total spending of $1.93 trillion for the same period in fiscal year 2023. The deficit in this fiscal year has added to the countrys national debt of $34.27 trillion through February 15, 2024. To cover the deficit, the federal government borrows additional funds that lead to a further increase in national debt. Story continues For the tax year 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has gone through approximately 60 tax provisions. The changes in tax year 2024 will apply to tax filers in 2025. The individual taxpayers continue to have the same top tax rate at 37% from 2023 with income greater than $609,350. Married couples filing jointly also have a top tax rate of 37% with income higher than $731,200. The minimum income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 10% with an income of $11,600 or less. Other tax rates for individual taxpayers and married couples filing jointly are 35%, 32%, 24%, 22%, and 12%. Among the 60 tax provisions for 2024, the IRS has raised the standard deduction to $14,600 for individual taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, rising by $750 from tax year 2023. The IRS has increased the standard deduction to $29,200 for married couples filing jointly, an increase of $1,500 from tax year 2023. The personal exemption stays at zero for the tax year 2024. American Tax Services Providers Tax services providers offer a wide range of consultancy and other services. H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB), Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU), and CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:CBZ) are some of the leading tax services providers in the world. H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) is a top tax preparation company based out of the US. On February 6, H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) announced that Chief Financial Officer Tony Bowen has decided to retire. Bowen will stay at the company until September 2024, committed to a smooth transition. On February 6, the company also reported its second quarter results for 2024. H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) reported a revenue of $179.08 million, beating consensus estimates by $9.63 million. Here are some of the comments from the Q2 2024 earnings call: Turning to Q2 results, performance continues to meet expectations, and, today, we reaffirmed our fiscal year outlook. In the quarter, revenue grew 8% as we had a strong finish to the extended filing season. In addition, we saw consumers in need of cash, and many turned to H&R Block to meet their financial needs with our new Emerald Advance offering, which we believe bodes well for the tax season. CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:CBZ) is a leading provider of financial, insurance, and advisory services. On February 7, CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:CBZ) announced that it has acquired tax and accounting services provider, Erickson, Brown & Kloster, LLC (EBK). EBK offers tax and accounting services to various business segments including wholesale, real estate, automotive, and medical services, among others. In 2023, EBK reported a revenue of approximately $8.9 million. Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) is a leading global financial technology firm that owns Intuit Credit Karma, TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp. On February 7, Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) announced that it is collaborating with Khan Academy to provide free financial education tools to educators and students. Through this initiative with Khan Academy, Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) is planning to engage 50 million students with free learning resources by 2030. Now, lets take a look at the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 20 States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income 20 States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income Our Methodology To compile our list of the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income, we shortlisted the top 20 states with the highest personal income tax rates, as of 2024. We have used top-end personal income tax rates. Secondly, we have used the per capita income of states which gives an idea of the income level of the state. We have ranked the lists based on their top personal income tax rate. We have used per capita income of states as a tie-breaker. The data for personal income tax rates was taken from the Tax Foundation and the per capita income for each state was taken from the US Census Bureau database. The data for per capita income was available till 2022. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using different consensus approaches, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. Note: Though The District of Columbia (DC) is not a state, it is not part of any state either. We have listed DC among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 20 States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income 20. Idaho Per Capita Income (2022): $34,919 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 5.80% Idaho has a per capita income of $34,919 and a personal income tax rate of 5.80%. Idaho ranks 20th among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 19. Nebraska Per Capita Income (2022): $38,585 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 5.84% Nebraska has a per capita income of $38,585 and a personal income tax rate of 5.84%. Nebraska is one of the top states with a high income tax rate. 18. New Mexico Per Capita Income (2022): $32,667 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 5.90% New Mexico has a 5.90% personal income tax rate and a per capita income of $32,667. New Mexico is one of the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 17. Montana Per Capita Income (2022): $37,837 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 5.90% Montana is placed 17th among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. Montana has a personal income tax rate of 5.90% and a per capita income of $37,837. 16. Rhode Island Per Capita Income (2022): $43,324 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 5.99% The taxpayers in Rhode Island have to pay a top tax of 5.99% on their personal incomes. Rhode Island has a per capita income of $43,324 and ranks among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 15. South Carolina Per Capita Income (2022): $36,072 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 6.40% South Carolina has a per capita income of $36,072 and a personal income tax rate of 6.40%. South Carolina is one of the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 14. West Virginia Per Capita Income (2022): $31,462 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 6.50% West Virginia has a personal income tax rate of 6.50% and a per capita income of $31,462. 13. Delaware Per Capita Income (2022): $42,180 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 6.60% Delaware has a per capita income of $42,180 and a personal income tax rate of 6.60%. Delaware is one of the top states with the highest income tax rates in the US. 12. Connecticut Per Capita Income (2022): $52,034 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 6.99% Connecticut has a per capita income of $52,034 and a personal income tax rate of 6.99%. Connecticut is one of the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 11. Maine Per Capita Income (2022): $39,718 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 7.15% Maine has a per capita income of $39,718 and a personal income tax rate of 7.15%. Maine ranks 11th among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 10. Wisconsin Per Capita Income (2022): $40,130 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 7.65% Wisconsin has a per capita income of $40,130 and a personal income tax rate of 7.65%. Wisconsin is one of the top states with the highest income tax rates in the US. 9. Vermont Per Capita Income (2022): $41,680 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 8.75% Vermont has a personal income tax rate of 8.75% and a per capita income of $41,680. Vermont is placed ninth among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. 8. Massachusetts Per Capita Income (2022): $53,513 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 9% Massachusetts ranks eighth among the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. Massachusetts has a personal income tax rate of 9% and a per capita income of $53,513. 7. Minnesota Per Capita Income (2022): $44,947 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 9.85% Minnesota has a per capita income of $44,947 and a personal income tax rate of 9.85%. Minnesota is one of the top states with the highest income tax rates in the US. 6. Oregon Per Capita Income (2022): $41,805 Personal Income Tax Rate (2024): 9.90% Oregon has a per capita income of $41,805 and a personal income tax rate of 9.90%. Oregon is one of the states where tax filers are paying the highest percentage of their income. Click here to see 5 States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 20 States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income is originally published on Insider Monkey. NAPA74 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Not too long ago, it was possible to live in relative luxury if you earned six figures annually. However, as more affluent cities produce higher salaries and basic cost of living expenses continue to increase, this is no longer the case across many U.S. cities. Read More: Barbara Corcoran Says, Forget About Florida, Move Here for Cheap Homes Find Out: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work) GOBankingRates conducted a study to identify cities where $100,000 wont cover the average cost for a home and basic necessities. Using Sperlings BestPlaces to source the overall cost of living indexes and the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the average overall cost of expenditures in each city, the study found 24 cities where even six-figure earners need to find ways to make ends meet. In these 24 cities, youll break the bank even if youre making bank. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto San Francisco Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Average home value: $1,334,145 Annual cost expenditure: $179,134 Amount left over from $100,000: -$79,134 Check Out: Housing Market 2024: Zillow Predicts 5 Hottest Home Trends That Homebuyers Will Be Looking For See More: 10 Things Frugal People Always Do When They First Buy a House Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images San Jose, California Metro area: San Francisco-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Average home value: $1,411,757 Annual cost expenditure: $168,554 Amount left over from $100,000: -$68,554 Read Next: Housing Market 2024: Avoid Buying a Home in These 4 California Cities DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Oakland, California Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley Average home value: $839,381 Annual cost expenditure: $142,650 Amount left over from $100,000: -$42,650 Mike Liu / Getty Images Fremont, California Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley Average home value: $1,498,632 Annual cost expenditure: $142,650 Amount left over from $100,000: -$42,650 OlegAlbinsky / Getty Images/iStockphoto New York Metro area: New York-Newark-Jersey City Average home value: $760,964 Annual cost expenditure: $125,868 Amount left over from $100,000: -$25,868 Story continues Explore More: 7 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Live in Florida Art Wager / Getty Images Honolulu Metro area: Urban Honolulu Average home value: $1,257,145 Annual cost expenditure: $125,138 Amount left over from $100,000: -$25,138 MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto Anaheim, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $875,310 Annual cost expenditure: $120,323 Amount left over from $100,000: -$20,323 MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto Santa Ana, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $797,161 Annual cost expenditure: $120,323 Amount left over from $100,000: -$20,323 Find Out: I Retired Early: Why Real Estate Investing Was the Secret to My Success Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Irvine, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $1,568,825 Annual cost expenditure: $120,323 Amount left over from $100,000: -$20,323 Lee Walters / iStock.com Huntington Beach, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $1,287,514 Annual cost expenditure: $120,323 Amount left over from $100,000: -$20,323 f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto Arlington, Virginia Metro area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Average home value: $943,569 Annual cost expenditure: $119,885 Amount left over from $100,000: -$19,885 Learn More: Im a Real Estate Agent: 5 Cities Where Homes Will Be the Best Bargains in 2024 frankpeters / Getty Images/iStockphoto Los Angeles Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $984,007 Overall annual expenditures: $117,988 Amount left over from $100,000: -$17,988 Ron_Thomas / Getty Images Long Beach, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $862,414 Overall annual expenditures: $117,988 Amount left over from $100,000: -$17,988 Brian / Getty Images/iStockphoto Santa Clarita, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $817,318 Overall annual expenditures: $117,988 Amount left over from $100,000: -$17,988 Check Out: Barbara Corcoran: If You Buy a Home Now, Its To Your Advantage Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Glendale, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Average home value: $1,272,562 Overall annual expenditures: $117,988 Amount left over from $100,000: -$17,988 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Seattle Metro area: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Average home value: $891,570 Overall annual expenditures: $115,361 Amount left over from $100,000: -$15,361 bigapple / Getty Images/iStockphoto Yonkers, New York Metro area: New York-Newark-Jersey City Average home value: $652,703 Overall annual expenditures: $114,558 Amount left over from $100,000: -$14,558 Be Aware: These 5 Cities Are Becoming Popular With Baby Boomers: Should You Consider Them for Your Retirement Years? Ron_Thomas / Getty Images San Diego Metro area: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad Average home value: $1,075,228 Overall annual expenditures: $113,026 Amount left over from $100,000: -$13,026 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Chula Vista, California Metro area: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad Average home value: $855,119 Overall annual expenditures: $113,026 Amount left over from $100,000: -$13,026 benedek / Getty Images Oxnard, California Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimOxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura Average home value: $724,278 Overall annual expenditures: $112,369 Amount left over from $100,000: -$12,369 Explore More: Barbara Corcoran Says Now Is the Best Time To Buy a House: Heres Why SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Washington DC Metro area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Average home value: $706,416 Overall annual expenditures: $110,837 Amount left over from $100,000: -$10,837 Sharon Hahn Darlin / Flickr.com Santa Rosa, California Metro area: Santa Rosa-Petaluma Average home value: $725,845 Overall annual expenditures: $110,764 Amount left over from $100,000: -$10,764 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Boston Metro area: Boston-Cambridge-Newton Average home value: $745,611 Overall annual expenditures: $110,034. Amount left over from $100,000: -$10,034 Find Out: How Far a $100,000 Salary Goes in Americas 50 Largest Cities Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto Jersey City, New Jersey Metro area: New York-Newark-Jersey City Average home value: $586,681 Overall annual expenditures: $101,789 Amount left over from $100,000: -$1,789 Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: In this study, GOBankingRates started by gathering the [1] top 150 most populated cities as sourced from the total population in the US Census American Community Survey. For each city the [2] overall cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and multiplied by the [3] overall average national expenditure cost for all consumers as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the average overall cost of expenditures for each city. The cities with expenditures costing over $100,000 were kept for this study. The average total expenditure cost was subtracted from the $100,000 savings to find how much more the expenditures cost and sorted to show the cities the farthest away from the savings amount. The [4] livability index was included as supplemental information as sourced from AreaVibes. The [5] average single-family home value from December 2023, the [6] metro area, and the [7] county name were also included for supplemental information as sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index. All data was collected and is up to date as of February 7th, 2024 More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 24 Cities Where Earning $100,000 Is Not Considered Rich Dubai-based carrier flydubai announced on February 22, 2024, record-breaking annual results for its financial year ending December 31, 2023, marking the carriers strongest-ever performance. Commenting on the airlines full-year results for 2023, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said: In its 15th year of operations, flydubai has emerged as one of the key players in the UAEs aviation industry and a major contributor to Dubais economy. Its solid business model has enabled the carrier to grow exponentially even during challenging times, doubling its operating fleet and expanding its network since the pandemic. The decision to accelerate its aircraft deliveries during the pandemic, preserve its workforce and to move forward with its ambitious network expansion plans has proven to be the correct strategy for the carrier resulting in its strongest-ever performance. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, commenting on flydubais Full-Year Results for 2023, said: Building on the momentum from our previous strong performance, we continued to grow surpassing all pre-pandemic levels to achieve the most profitable year in the history of the airline. More than 108 million passengers have chosen flydubai since our first flight took off in 2009, proving the attractiveness of our offering and the city we carry in our name. Cost and Revenue Performance EBITDA was reported at 33% of annual revenue. Closing cash and cash equivalents position, including pre-delivery payments for future aircraft deliveries, is AED 4.8 billion compared to AED 4.3 billion last year. Fuel Cost continues to be the single highest operating cost for the airline accounting for 32% of total annual operating costs, due to elevated fuel prices. The airline continues to explore fuel hedging options and last year it hedged 12% of its fuel requirement. Operational Performance Network expansion: flydubai launched 17 routes and ended 2023 with a network of 122 destinations in 52 countries including Ashgabat, Cairo Sphinx, Corfu (seasonal), Kabul, Milan, Mogadishu, Neom, Olbia (seasonal), Poznan, Shymkent and St. Petersburg. The launch of operations to Krabi and Pattaya in Thailand marked flydubais return to Southeast Asia. flydubai carried 13.8 million passengers across its network; an increase of 31% compared to 2022. The carrier recorded an increase of 32% in demand for Business Class in the GCC as well as Central Asia and the Caucasus. flydubai recorded a 56% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers on its GCC network and a 36% increase in Europe. Fleet size: flydubai took delivery of 13 new aircraft and ended 2023 with 84 aircraft: 29 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800, 52 Boeing 737 MAX 8, and 03 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Three Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft were returned to the lessors at the end of their lease term. flydubais 737 MAX 8 aircraft is 14% more fuel efficient than its predecessor and has enabled the airline to reduce its average fuel burn per block hour by 1.3% year-on-year. Ongoing challenges with the aircraft manufacturers delivery schedule have resulted in four fewer aircraft being delivered in 2023. To mitigate the delays in aircraft deliveries and to meet the surge in demand for travel and add capacity, particularly during peak travel periods, flydubai entered another Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement with Smartwings for six wet-leased aircraft. At the Dubai Airshow 2023, flydubai placed a $11 billion order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to be delivered from 2026. This marked the airlines first wide-body order, diversifying its current fleet of all-Boeing 737 aircraft. Codeshare partnership with Emirates: In its sixth year, Emirates and flydubais strategic partnership has enabled more than 3.7 million passengers in 2023 to enjoy seamless connectivity across the joint network of 222 destinations. Recruitment: flydubais workforce reached 5,545 employees with more than 1,000 new colleagues joining in 2023 across various departments, 73% of the new joiners were pilots, cabin crew and engineers to support the airlines growing fleet and network. The carrier more than doubled the number of UAE nationals in its workforce, attracting more skilled young UAE Nationals to join its cadet, engineering and work placement programmes across the business. Outlook statement for 2024 Ghaith Al Ghaith, commenting on the outlook for 2024, said: We are dedicated to supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to solidify its position as one of the worlds top three cities for tourism and business over the next decade. We will continue with our strategic network development plans that will see more destinations join the flydubai network this year starting with the five new routes announced since the start of 2024 including Basel, Riga, Sochi, Tallinn and Vilnius. Additionally, we will take delivery of 12 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft allowing us to add capacity on existing routes as demand for travel across our network returns to pre-pandemic levels. Looking ahead, we are renewing our commitment to further enhancing our customer experience and providing the right product at the right time. This year will see more investment in technologies across the business and the retrofitting of our fleet of Next-Generation Boeing 737 aircraft to provide a more cohesive customer experience. Since our inception, efficiency and sustainability have been core values for flydubai. We are committed to supporting the UAEs plans to achieve net zero by 2050 and this year we will continue to identify areas across the business to enhance our sustainability efforts complementing the fuel and carbon emissions reduction that our fleet of Boeing 737 MAXs provides. Our commitment to innovation, operational efficiency and customer-centricity will remain the focal points in the coming years as we lay the foundations for another chapter of our journey marked by the arrival of the first wide-body aircraft from 2026. TradeArabia News Service In this article, we will look into the 25 largest economies in the world by 2100. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Largest Economies in the World by 2100. Global Economic Prospects The global economy presents sluggish near-term progress, with the ongoing geopolitical crises and enduring effects of the pandemic. Climate change is another major factor, leading to resource and economic losses due to significant changes in its trajectory. However, the future predictions paint a rather hopeful picture for the global economy. In 2024, the global economy is expected to grow at 3.1% and is expected to grow at 3.2% in 2025, according to the latest economic outlook by the IMF. The recent forecasts are slightly higher than the previously estimated GDP growth in the October 2023 economic outlook. This can be attributed to the strong performance depicted by several countries such as the United States, and policy interventions such as fiscal support in China. The forecast, however, is still below the historical growth average of 3.8%. Inflation is expected to decrease faster than expected and reach 5.8% in 2024, and 4.4% in 2025. This downtrend in inflation, coupled with steady growth, minimizes the risk of a severe economic downturn. The declining inflation presents an opportunity for countries to shift their focus toward fiscal consolidation and targeted policies to improve productivity and long-term growth. Despite the resilient growth projections, several challenges can affect this trajectory, such as a declining population growth rate. The projected population represents a substantial slowdown, compared to previous decades. This shift is expected to impact economic growth, along with factors such as weakened productivity, as predicted by economists. On the contrary, the long-term outlook paints a rather stable picture, especially for Asian economies. According to the forecast by Fathom Consulting, Asian economies such as China and India are expected to lead the global economy with the highest GDP share. The report forecasts China to have a share of 22.68% and reach $101 trillion by 2100. Moreover, Asian countries such as Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines are some other nations, that are expected to emerge as global leaders, in terms of GDP. These countries are also ranked among the largest economies in the world by 2050. Story continues Role of Companies in Driving Economy The long-term economic landscape presents the potential supremacy of Asian nations such as China and India, along with the established influence of the US. While these macroeconomic trends provide us with a broader picture of the economy, it is pertinent to acknowledge the crucial role that major corporations play in these countries and around the world. Among other factors, businesses across major economic regions are a driver of growth globally. Leading companies such as Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELIANCE) are some of the most valuable companies from the biggest countries in the world. Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) is a technology leader in China, operating across Asia and the Pacific, North America, and Europe. The company's stock has surged nearly 8% over the past month, as of February 21. The company has a diverse portfolio of brands including Tencent Pictures, WeiShi, QQ Wallet, Q Zone, QQ Browser, Weixin/WeChat, and QQMail. As of February 21, Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) has a market cap of $349.4 billion. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is an established leader in the global market, boasting a market cap of $1.78 trillion, as of February 21. The company reported its earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2023 on January 30. It reported earnings per share of $1.64, beating the estimates by $0.04. Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) revenue for the quarter amounted to $86.31 billion and outperformed estimates by $1.03 billion, with a year-over-year increase of over 13%. Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELIANCE) is one of the most valuable Indian companies, boasting a market cap of $240 billion, as of February 21. The company is home to 170 in-store brands and has millions of customers all over the country. On January 19, Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELIANCE) announced its results for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported gross revenue of $29.8 billion, with a 3.2% year-over-year increase. Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELIANCE) also witnessed a growth of 11.4% and 22.8% in its Jio Platforms division and Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. Now, let's have a look at the 25 largest economies in the world by 2100. 25 Largest Economies in the World by 2100 25 Largest Economies in the World by 2100 Methodology To compile our list of the 25 largest economies in the world by 2100, we consulted 'Economics in the Year 2100' by Fathom. It provides data for the estimated percentage share of countries in the global GDP in 2100. It also reports the GDP PPP of the top ten economies. We utilized the data for the GDP PPP value of the top countries and percentage share to calculate the total global GDP value in 2100. Our calculation yielded that the global GDP is projected to be approximately $449 trillion by 2100. After calculating the global GDP in US dollars, we estimated the GDP PPP for the countries to provide insight into their projected values. Our list ranks the 25 largest economies in the world by 2100 in ascending order of their GDP share. We used the population projections for 2100, by the UN, as a tie-breaker for the countries with the same percent contribution to the global economy in 2100. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 25 Largest Economies in the World by 2100 25. Pakistan Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 0.86% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $3.86 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 487,017,000 Pakistan is ranked among the largest economies in the world by 2100. The country is expected to hold a 0.86% share of the global economy by 2100. The population of the country is projected to reach 487,017,000 in 2100. The country is projected to have a GDP of $3.86 trillion in 2100. 24. Australia Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 0.89% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $3.99 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 38,089,000 Australia is ranked 24th on our list. The country is projected to have a 0.89% share in the global economy by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country is expected to reach $3.99 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, its population is projected to reach 38,089,000 by 2100. 23. Brazil Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 0.89% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $3.99 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 184,548,000 Ranked 23rd on our list, Brazil is projected to contribute 0.89% to the global economy by 2100. The country's population will reach 184,548,000 by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $3.99 trillion in 2100. 22. Vietnam Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 0.90% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $4.04 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 91,037,000 Vietnam is ranked among our list of the largest economies in the world by 2100. The country is expected to hold a 0.9% share of the global economy by 2100. The population of the country is projected to reach 91,037,000 and it is projected to have a GDP of $4.04 trillion in 2100. 21. Kazakhstan Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 0.91% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $4.09 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 34,093,000 Kazakhstan will be one of the largest countries in the world by 2100. The country is expected to have a share of 0.91% of the global economy. The population in the country is projected to reach 34,093,000 in 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $4.09 trillion in 2100. 20. Canada Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 0.99% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $4.45 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 53,904,000 Canada is ranked 20th on our list. The country is projected to have a 0.99% share of the global economy by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country is expected to reach $4.45 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, the population in the country is projected to reach 53,904,000 by 2100. 19. Tanzania Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.02% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $4.58 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 244,819,000 Ranked 19th on our list, Tanzania is projected to contribute 1.02% to the global economy by 2100. The country's population will reach 244,819,000 by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $4.58 trillion. 18. South Korea Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.20% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.49 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 24,103,000 South Korea ranks 18th on our list. The country is projected to have a 1.20% share of the global economy by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country is expected to reach $5.49 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, the population in the country is projected to reach 24,103,000 by 2100. 17. France Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.25% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.61 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 60,852,000 France is ranked 17th on our list of the largest economies in the world by 2100. The country is expected to hold a 1.25% share of the global GDP by 2100. The population of the country is projected to reach 60,852,000 in 2100. The country is projected to have a GDP of $5.61 trillion in 2100. 16. Iran Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.25% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.61 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 79,906,000 Iran will be one of the largest countries in the world by 2100. The country is expected to have a share of 1.25% of the global economy by 2100. The population in the country is projected to reach 79,906,000 in 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $5.61 trillion. 15. Malaysia Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.29% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.71 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 39,474,000 Malaysia is ranked 15th on our list. The country is projected to have a 1.29% share of the global economy by 2100. The GDP of the country is expected to reach $5.71 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, the population in the country is projected to reach 39,474,000 by 2100. 14. Egypt Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.31% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.88 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 205,225,000 Ranked 14th on our list, Egypt is projected to contribute 1.31% to the global economy by 2100. The country's population will reach 205,225,000 by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $5.88 trillion in 2100. 13. Bangladesh Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.32% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.93 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 176,366,000 Bangladesh is ranked 13th on our list of the largest economies in the world by 2100. The country is expected to hold a 1.32% share of the global economy by 2100. The population of the country is projected to reach 176,366,000 in 2100. The country will have a GDP of $5.93 trillion in 2100. 12. Philippines Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.33% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $5.97 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 180,148,000 The Philippines ranks 12th on our list. The country is projected to have a 1.33% share of the global economy by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country is expected to reach $5.97 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, the population in the country is projected to reach 180,148,000 by 2100. 11. Nigeria Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.54% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $6.91 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 546,092,000 Ranked 11th on our list, Nigeria is projected to contribute 1.54% to the global economy by 2100. The country's population will reach 546,092,000 by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $6.91 trillion in 2100. 10. United Kingdom Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.55% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $6.96 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 70,485,000 The UK is ranked among our list of the largest economies in the world by 2100. The country is expected to hold a 1.55% share of the global economy by 2100. The population of the country is projected to reach 70,485,000 by 2100. The country is projected to have a GDP of $6.96 trillion in 2100. 9. Japan Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.59% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $7.14 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 73,644,000 Japan is ranked 9th on our list. The country is projected to have a 1.59% share of the global economy by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country is expected to reach $7.14 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, its population is projected to reach 73,644,000 by 2100. 8. Germany Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.65% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $7.41 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 68,936,000 Germany will be one of the largest countries in the world by 2100. The country is expected to have a share of 1.65% of the global economy. The population in the country is projected to reach 68,936,000 in 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will be $7.41 trillion. 7. Ethiopia Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 1.88% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $8.44 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 323,742,000 Ethiopia ranks 7th on our list. The country is projected to have a 1.88% share of the global economy by 2100. The estimated GDP of the country will reach $8.44 trillion by 2100. According to the UN, the population in the country is projected to reach 323,742,000 by 2100. 6. Indonesia Estimated Share in the Global GDP (2100): 2.35% Estimated GDP PPP (2100): $10.55 trillion Population Forecast (2100): 296,623,000 Indonesia is ranked 6th on our list of the largest economies in the world by 2100. The country is expected to hold a 2.35% share of the global economy by 2100. The population of the country is projected to reach 296,623,000 in 2100. The country is projected to have a GDP of $10.55 trillion in 2100. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Largest Economies in the World by 2100. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 25 Largest Economies in the World by 2100 is originally published at Insider Monkey. City recalls memories with Ameen Sayani Staff Reporter THOUGH Ameen Sayani, legendary anchor and Radio announcer, visited Nagpur on only a few occasions, the city has preserved his fond memories. There are a few personalities with whom Sayani had a connection but Kishan Sharma, noted anchor and author, shared a special bond with him. I met Ameenji last time two months ago in Mumbai regarding work on his biography, Sharma told The Hitavada with a choked voice. I met him first at Bhopal when I was working there at All India Radio. Sayani had come to anchor a fashion show. He had come with Meher Mistry, Persis Khambata, Veena Sajnani and others for a beauty pageant. We were known to each other by name but had never met. It was our first meeting, said Sharma. Ameen Sayani had to leave for Mumbai the next day because of some reason. He handed over the duty of anchoring of the fashion show to me. In our first meeting I got an opportunity to anchor in his place with the help of his own script. I did the duty in my style. This occasion led to strengthening our bond, added Kishan Sharma. Sharma admits the anchoring he did was not of the level of Sayani. The meeting that took place at Bhopal continued afterwards. Sharma and Sayani both kept meeting each other. When Sharma was transferred to Mumbai by AIR, their meetings became a regular feature. During my marriage, he gave special treatment to Binaca Geetmala. I am very proud to share that he was so magnanimous that whenever he narrated stories to the listeners on radio, he used to attribute it to me, recalled Sharma. The words Bahno aur Bhaiyo with which Ameen Sayani used to start his announcement was his special style. His style became a benchmark for every announcer or anchor. The anchors or announcers world over always tried to copy his style. Sharma feels, Sayani taught people to talk. Sayani had started writing his biography through one author Ambarish. He had asked Sharma to record his details for which a long video of Sharma was prepared. But Sharma feels regret that there is nobody who could carry the legacy of Sayani. Sayani had his presence in a programme at Nagpur almost over 30 years ago when Dhanwate Rang Mandir existed. Dr Sagar Khadiwala, noted literatteur of Nagpur also met Sayani twice at Mumbai. I did not have any personal bond with him but I was his die-hard fan. My both meetings with him were memorable.We did not have radio so we used to go at the neighborhood to listen to his Binaca Geetmala. During Indias moon mission in 1969, I distinctly remember Ameenji had translated in Hindi whatever being broadcasted in English. It was fantastic to listen to him. DOUBLE IMPACT WHILE launching projects worth Rs 32,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has reiterated commitment of the Central Government led by him to the transformation of the Kashmir Valley into a tourist destination. Beyond the Valley also, the Government under him has ushered in an era of development in Jammu as well as Ladakh areas. This process has been pretty consistent in the past few years, since abrogation of Article 370. The developmental push will go a long way in bringing about a positive change in what was the State of Jammu and Kashmir, before trifurcation into Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. What the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing is extremely significant. For years, the infusion of funds for development was more into the separatism-ridden Kashmir Valley and the other two regions - - Jammu and Ladakh got smaller shares. The entire focus of the earlier Governments was on the Valley. The leaders of the Valley, who mostly belonged to a chosen few families, got all the attention and hospitality of the Government of India. Despite that they often tended to speak a language that did not fully favour the Indian identity of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Fortunately, the present-day Government of India under Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has been resolute in certain actions. The biggest and the most significant actions have been the abrogation of Article 370 and trifurcation of the State into Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh regions. Now, each region is getting equal attention. Being the Union Territory now, the developmentally backward Ladakh region with difficult terrain has been getting better attention. These two steps have ended the era of isolation of the erstwhile State, from the rest of India. Due to revocation of special status, now, the people-to-people exchange has become more seamless and smooth. The development process is not facing technical, political, and separatist hurdles. As a result, Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing never-before development. At the same time, the Central Government has been alert as far as curbing terrorism and cutting down terror financing in the Valley is concerned. While all these things are progressing well, an area of concern is also emerging. The terrorists have started focussing on areas outside of the Valley. As has been the case, there has been a spurt in terror activities in parts of otherwise peaceful Jammu region, and especially in Poonch area. So, while giving a big-time push to development in Jammu and Kashmir, and sending out positive message to the population, the Government needs to stay on alert as far as security dimension is concerned. For, as long as Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism targetting India, India cannot afford to allow any laxity in approach towards the sensitive territory. When a massive investment is being made in road network and other infrastructure, schools, institutions of higher learning, healthcare, and even entrepreneurship, no country can afford to be negligent towards security aspect. In fact, security and development form the two-pronged weapon against terrorism and secessionism. If people reap the benefits of development and employment, their chances of falling prey to terrorist and secessionist elements reduce. Similarly, the area with sense of security fetches more investment, which ultimately ensures overall progress. The present Government has to implement this two-pronged strategy for long-term results. The long-vacant Acapulco Restaurant building in Walker's Point is to be redeveloped. The former Walker's Point home of a longtime Mexican restaurant would be redeveloped under a new $2 million proposal. The three-story, 6,400-square-foot building, 606-608 W. National Ave., housed Acapulco Restaurant from the early 1970s until it closed in 2007. Diverse Ventures I LLC, led by Willie Smith, plans to renovate the building into a mixed-use property, with two upper-floor apartments and a new ground-floor restaurant. Smith, who also serves as Northwest Side Community Development Corp.'s executive director, outlined his plans Thursday before the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. The committee recommended the full council approve a city application to seek a $250,000 grant from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to help fund the project. Other financing would include federal and state historic preservation tax credits. Smith's plans include retaining the historic features of the building, which was constructed around 1900 with a Romanesque Revival architectural style. The redeveloped building also would include such environmentally sustainable features as solar panels, an electric vehicle charging station and a green roof. Smith's group bought the building in September for $250,000, according to city assessment records. Smith told committee members the redeveloped building would be "a great addition to the area" which includes Zocalo Food Truck Park located nearby on South Sixth Street. He's working with an unnamed operator for a brunch-style restaurant. Acapulco Restaurant was "a mainstay of the Walker's Point social scene" before it shut down, said Matt Rejc, of the Department of City Development. "Especially at bar time," said Common Council President Jose Perez, whose district includes the site. "It was a go-to spot." Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook. Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's former Acapulco Restaurant to be redeveloped with eatery Algert Global LLC grew its position in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI Free Report) by 2.2% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 93,394 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 1,976 shares during the period. Algert Global LLCs holdings in Armstrong World Industries were worth $6,724,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 182.0% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 392 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the period. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 68.7% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 410 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 334.2% in the 2nd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 495 shares of the construction companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Armstrong World Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Armstrong World Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at $79,000. Institutional investors own 98.93% of the companys stock. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Armstrong World Industries Price Performance NYSE:AWI remained flat at $119.06 during midday trading on Thursday. 105,795 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 347,145. The firm has a market cap of $5.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.83, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.31. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a one year low of $62.03 and a one year high of $120.16. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $85.40. Armstrong World Industries Announces Dividend Armstrong World Industries ( NYSE:AWI Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The construction company reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.18. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.56% and a net margin of 17.28%. The company had revenue of $312.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $305.44 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.08 EPS. Armstrong World Industriess quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 5.66 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is presently 22.40%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Victor Grizzle sold 22,914 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.02, for a total transaction of $2,268,944.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 332,435 shares of the companys stock, valued at $32,917,713.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AWI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Truist Financial raised their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. UBS Group upgraded shares of Armstrong World Industries from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $103.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Armstrong World Industries from $111.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $98.50. Get Our Latest Research Report on Armstrong World Industries Armstrong World Industries Profile (Free Report) Armstrong World Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells ceiling and wall systems in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments. The company offers suspended mineral fiber, soft fiber, fiberglass wool, and metal ceiling systems, as well as wood, wood fiber, glass-reinforced-gypsum, and felt ceiling and wall products; ceiling component products, such as ceiling perimeters and trims, as well as grid products that support drywall ceiling systems; ceilings and walls for use in commercial settings; and facade and partition products. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AWI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Equity Investment Life Holding (NYSE:AEL Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the six brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $50.00. A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of American Equity Investment Life in a report on Friday, February 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped 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 report on Friday, February 16th. Get American Equity Investment Life alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on AEL American Equity Investment Life Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:AEL opened at $55.24 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.37 billion, a PE ratio of 25.80 and a beta of 0.80. American Equity Investment Life has a 1 year low of $31.57 and a 1 year high of $56.08. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $55.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.24. The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $673.53 million. American Equity Investment Life had a net margin of 7.42% and a return on equity of 25.15%. American Equity Investment Lifes revenue for the quarter was up 61.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.64 earnings per share. Analysts expect that American Equity Investment Life will post 7.1 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Equity Investment Life Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of American Equity Investment Life by 178.4% during the 2nd 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 in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in American Equity Investment Life by 12.6% in 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 period. Shell Asset Management Co. bought a new stake in American Equity Investment Life in the second quarter valued at about $157,000. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund bought a new stake in American Equity Investment Life in the third quarter valued at about $1,941,000. Finally, Alpine Associates Management Inc. bought a new stake in American Equity Investment Life in the third quarter valued at about $51,012,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.98% of the companys stock. American Equity Investment Life Company Profile (Get 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. Further Reading 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. Taylor Wimpey (OTCMKTS:TWODY Get Free Report) and Yara International ASA (OTCMKTS:YARIY Get Free Report) are both mid-cap construction companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, valuation and earnings. Risk and Volatility Taylor Wimpey has a beta of 1.88, meaning that its share price is 88% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Yara International ASA has a beta of 0.97, meaning that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Taylor Wimpey alerts: Earnings & Valuation This table compares Taylor Wimpey and Yara International ASAs revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Taylor Wimpey $5.47 billion 1.21 $796.07 million N/A N/A Yara International ASA $15.55 billion 0.54 $48.00 million $0.10 165.00 Profitability Taylor Wimpey has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Yara International ASA. This table compares Taylor Wimpey and Yara International ASAs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Taylor Wimpey N/A N/A N/A Yara International ASA 0.32% 3.65% 1.70% Dividends Taylor Wimpey pays an annual dividend of $1.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.8%. Yara International ASA pays an annual dividend of $0.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Yara International ASA pays out 140.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations for Taylor Wimpey and Yara International ASA, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Taylor Wimpey 0 0 0 0 N/A Yara International ASA 1 0 1 0 2.00 About Taylor Wimpey (Get Free Report) Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom. About Yara International ASA (Get Free Report) Yara International ASA provides crop nutrition and industrial solutions in Norway, European Union, Europe, Africa, Asia, North and Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. The company offers ammonium- and urea-based fertilizers; compound fertilizers that contain plant nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; coatings; biostimulants; organic-based fertilizers; green fertilizers are nitrate-based mineral fertilizers, as well as foliar and fertigation solutions; and nitrate, calcium nitrate, micronutrient, and fertigation fertilizers. It also offers digital solutions, such as variable rate application solutions; N-Sensor, a tractor-mounted hardware; N-Tester, a hand held nitrogen measurement tool; and Atfarm, a digital toolbox for farmer. The company sells its products under YaraBela, YaraMila, YaraLiva, YaraVita, YaraRega, YaraTera, YaraSuna, and YaraVera and brands. Yara International ASA was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Receive News & Ratings for Taylor Wimpey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taylor Wimpey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. By Brenda Goh and Praveen Menon SINGAPORE/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Airbus faces delays in introducing an ultra-long-range version of its A350-1000 jet designed for Qantas Airways' non-stop Sydney-London flights because a regulator has asked it to redesign an extra fuel tank, a senior executive said. "The regulator has asked us to redesign the centre tank on the ultra-long-range airplane for Sunrise," Christian Scherer, the CEO of Airbus' commercial aircraft business said on Thursday on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow, referring to the airline's "Project Sunrise" flights from Sydney to London. Qantas said on Thursday the delivery dates for its first A350-1000 planes capable of the ultra-long-range flights had been pushed back by about six months to mid-2026. "We have to redesign the centre tank, the extra fuel tank, that will allow the Sunrise mission, and that's what explains the shift," Scherer said. Global aviation regulators have been more closely scrutinising design changes on aircraft variants since two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, in which a new anti-stall system was a contributing factor. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it was working with Airbus to define the requirements and means of compliance for the fuel tank to be installed on the ultra-long-range version of the A350-1000. "This is a collaborative process aimed at achieving the required level of safety for this new design feature," an EASA spokesperson said in a statement. "EASA is confident the certification process in place will achieve its goals, thanks to the good level of cooperation between all stakeholders." Airbus had faced delays in its A321XLR long-range narrow-body programme after concerns were raised with regulators that a novel type of fuel tank could pose fire risks. The issues have since been resolved. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A350-1000 delay was due to certification of the first aircraft taking longer than expected. Story continues "However, we believe that the fleet for the 12 aircraft that will come, will come relatively quickly after that," she told reporters. Hudson added that demand for non-stop flying remained strong, as shown by the carrier's Perth-London flights and new Perth-Paris services. "So we are more than ever confident that the business case still stands, and that the aircraft's six-month delay is not a concern," she said. (Reporting by Brenda Goh in Singapore and Praveen Menon in Sydney; additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Singapore; Writing by Jamie Freed. Editing by Gerry Doyle) AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB Get Free Report)s stock had its neutral rating reiterated by stock analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $191.00 price target on the real estate investment trusts stock. The Goldman Sachs Groups target price would suggest a potential upside of 7.14% from the stocks current price. A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on AVB. Barclays upgraded AvalonBay Communities from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $194.00 to $204.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $183.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded AvalonBay Communities from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $201.00 to $194.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Piper Sandler upgraded AvalonBay Communities from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $197.00 to $194.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $185.00 price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Ten equities research 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.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $196.44. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on AvalonBay Communities AvalonBay Communities Trading Up 1.1 % NYSE AVB opened at $178.27 on Thursday. 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 has a twelve month low of $153.07 and a twelve month high of $198.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.32 billion, a PE ratio of 27.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.93. The stocks 50 day moving average is $181.05 and its 200 day moving average is $177.41. AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB Get Free Report) last released 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 firm had revenue of $704.71 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $701.67 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.59 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that AvalonBay Communities will post 10.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of AvalonBay Communities A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Clarius Group LLC increased its position in AvalonBay Communities by 4.0% in the second quarter. Clarius Group LLC now owns 1,425 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Vanderbilt University grew its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1.6% during the third quarter. Vanderbilt University now owns 3,728 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $640,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Wexford Capital LP grew its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1.9% during the second quarter. Wexford Capital LP now owns 3,347 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $633,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1.4% during the third quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 4,387 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $753,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 42.3% during the second quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 222 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock. AvalonBay Communities Company Profile (Get Free Report) As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 299 apartment communities containing 90,669 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development. 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. Featured Articles 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. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xerox Holdings Co. (NYSE:XRX 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 firm acquired 477,672 shares of the information technology services providers stock, valued at approximately $7,495,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned 0.39% of Xerox at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Xerox by 15.1% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,540,136 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $239,318,000 after buying an additional 2,033,262 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Xerox by 1.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,383,602 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $161,977,000 after buying an additional 176,526 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management lifted its position in Xerox by 4.5% during the third quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 6,240,257 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $97,910,000 after buying an additional 271,302 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in Xerox by 1.1% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,790,757 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $74,965,000 after buying an additional 52,043 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Xerox by 5.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,435,033 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $36,258,000 after buying an additional 133,551 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.53% of the companys stock. Get Xerox alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth XRX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Xerox from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered Xerox from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Xerox from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Xerox Price Performance XRX opened at $18.61 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.34 and a beta of 1.59. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $17.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $15.84. Xerox Holdings Co. has a 52-week low of $12.06 and a 52-week high of $19.78. Xerox (NYSE:XRX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The information technology services provider reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.52 by ($0.09). Xerox had a net margin of 0.01% and a return on equity of 9.41%. The business had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.79 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.89 EPS. Xeroxs revenue for the quarter was down 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Xerox Holdings Co. will post 2.27 EPS for the current year. About Xerox (Free Report) Xerox Holdings Corporation, a workplace technology company, designs, develops, and sells document management systems and solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and internationally. It offers workplace solutions, including desktop monochrome, and color and multifunction printers; digital printing presses and light production devices, and solutions; and digital services that leverage workflow automation, personalization and communication software, content management solutions, and digitization services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XRX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Xerox Holdings Co. (NYSE:XRX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Xerox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xerox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 26,029 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 315 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for approximately 0.7% of Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $13,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Thompson Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Retirement Group LLC grew its position 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 purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Family CFO Inc bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $815.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed 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 target price for the company. 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 report on Friday, February 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $663.33. Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 14,388 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the insider now directly 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 accessible through this hyperlink. In the last quarter, insiders sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 3.4 % Shares of NYSE:LLY traded up $25.09 during trading on Thursday, reaching $771.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,704,677 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,419,891. 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 12 month low of $309.20 and a 12 month high of $794.47. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $646.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $598.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $731.92 billion, a PE ratio of 131.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.32. 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. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 50.78%. The firm had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.09 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The firm 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 $1.30 dividend. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.67%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 89.66%. 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 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. Alior Bank (OTCMKTS:ALORY Get Free Report) and Barclays (NYSE:BCS Get Free Report) are both financial services companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends and risk. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Alior Bank and Barclays gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Alior Bank alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Alior Bank N/A N/A N/A C$1.48 1.40 Barclays $30.88 billion 1.04 $7.33 billion $1.71 4.93 Barclays has higher revenue and earnings than Alior Bank. Alior Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Barclays, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership Analyst Recommendations 3.4% of Barclays shares are held by institutional investors. 0.0% of Barclays shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Alior Bank and Barclays, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Alior Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A Barclays 1 1 2 0 2.25 Profitability This table compares Alior Bank and Barclays net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Alior Bank N/A N/A N/A Barclays 21.21% 7.73% 0.35% Summary Barclays beats Alior Bank on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Alior Bank (Get Free Report) Alior Bank S.A. provides banking products and services to individuals, businesses, and enterprises in Poland. The company offers personal and savings accounts; investment loans; mortgage; and insurance services. It also offers bills and cards, trade finance, deposits, internet banking, and treasury related products and services. In addition, the company provides commercial bonds, pension, and investments fund services, as well as operates trading platforms. Alior Bank S.A. was founded in 2008 and is based in Warsaw, Poland. About Barclays (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. The company also engages in securities dealing activities. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985. Barclays PLC was founded in 1690 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Alior Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alior Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold Co. (TSE:ELD Get Free Report) (NYSE:EGO) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the five ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$17.64. A number of brokerages recently commented on ELD. National Bankshares raised their price target on Eldorado Gold from C$19.00 to C$21.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on Eldorado Gold from C$16.00 to C$17.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 7th. Stifel Canada cut Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. National Bank Financial restated an outperform spec overweight rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Eldorado Gold from C$17.00 to C$18.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on ELD Eldorado Gold Trading Up 0.5 % Insider Activity ELD stock opened at C$15.34 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.04, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a current ratio of 4.00. Eldorado Gold has a 52 week low of C$11.19 and a 52 week high of C$18.30. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.11 billion, a PE ratio of 37.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 56.20 and a beta of 1.17. The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$16.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$14.83. In other news, Senior Officer Karen Christine Aram sold 7,362 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$17.50, for a total value of C$128,840.15. In other news, Senior Officer Mehmet Yilmaz sold 10,195 shares of Eldorado Gold stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$17.63, for a total transaction of C$179,737.85. Also, Senior Officer Karen Christine Aram sold 7,362 shares of Eldorado Gold stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$17.50, for a total transaction of C$128,840.15. 0.66% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Eldorado Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru gold mines located in western Turkey; Lamaque gold mines located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fastly, Inc. (NYSE:FSLY Get Free Report) insider Artur Bergman sold 9,646 shares of Fastly stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.09, for a total value of $155,204.14. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,040,613 shares in the company, valued at $97,193,463.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Artur Bergman also recently made the following trade(s): Get Fastly alerts: On Monday, February 12th, Artur Bergman sold 21,875 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.19, for a total value of $551,031.25. On Monday, January 29th, Artur Bergman sold 21,875 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.03, for a total transaction of $460,031.25. On Monday, January 22nd, Artur Bergman sold 74,375 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.25, for a total transaction of $1,506,093.75. On Tuesday, January 16th, Artur Bergman sold 17,500 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.51, for a total transaction of $306,425.00. On Monday, January 8th, Artur Bergman sold 17,500 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.82, for a total transaction of $311,850.00. On Tuesday, January 2nd, Artur Bergman sold 17,500 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.53, for a total transaction of $306,775.00. On Tuesday, December 26th, Artur Bergman sold 17,500 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.78, for a total transaction of $328,650.00. On Monday, December 18th, Artur Bergman sold 17,500 shares of Fastly stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.67, for a total transaction of $326,725.00. On Monday, December 11th, Artur Bergman sold 17,500 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.28, for a total value of $302,400.00. On Thursday, December 7th, Artur Bergman sold 100,000 shares of Fastly stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.87, for a total value of $1,687,000.00. Fastly Stock Down 2.8 % NYSE FSLY opened at $14.43 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $19.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 3.85 and a quick ratio of 3.85. Fastly, Inc. has a 1-year low of $11.61 and a 1-year high of $25.87. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently issued reports on FSLY shares. Craig Hallum cut Fastly from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $20.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Citigroup raised Fastly from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price objective for the company from $11.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised Fastly from an underperform rating to a sector perform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $12.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $20.56. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on FSLY Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fastly Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of FSLY. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of Fastly by 5.8% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 77,873 shares of the companys stock worth $1,387,000 after purchasing an additional 4,268 shares in the last quarter. Faithward Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Fastly by 17.4% in the 4th quarter. Faithward Advisors LLC now owns 20,260 shares of the companys stock worth $361,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Fastly by 278.9% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 280,255 shares of the companys stock worth $4,990,000 after purchasing an additional 206,294 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Fastly by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,924,190 shares of the companys stock worth $230,051,000 after purchasing an additional 192,076 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Fastly by 10.7% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 642,872 shares of the companys stock worth $11,443,000 after purchasing an additional 62,336 shares in the last quarter. 65.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Fastly Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fastly, Inc operates an edge cloud platform for processing, serving, and securing its customer's applications in the United States, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The edge cloud is a category of Infrastructure as a Service that enables developers to build, secure, and deliver digital experiences at the edge of the internet. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Fastly Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fastly and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of WEX Inc. (NYSE:WEX Free Report) by 5.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 343,224 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 18,571 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. owned about 0.80% of WEX worth $64,557,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in WEX in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Fred Alger Management LLC bought a new stake in WEX in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in WEX in the 3rd quarter worth $37,000. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in WEX in the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in WEX in the 1st quarter worth $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.47% of the companys stock. Get WEX alerts: WEX Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of WEX stock traded up $0.32 on Thursday, reaching $221.36. The stock had a trading volume of 30,797 shares, compared to its average volume of 351,129. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $201.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $191.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. WEX Inc. has a 1 year low of $161.95 and a 1 year high of $224.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.60. Insider Buying and Selling at WEX Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades In related news, CAO Jennifer Kimball sold 574 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.24, for a total value of $127,565.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 1,297 shares in the company, valued at approximately $288,245.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other WEX news, CAO Jennifer Kimball sold 574 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.24, for a total transaction of $127,565.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 1,297 shares in the company, valued at $288,245.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Melissa D. Smith sold 41,107 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.00, for a total transaction of $8,426,935.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 81,998 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,809,590. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 61,368 shares of company stock worth $12,934,810. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of WEX in a report on Thursday, February 8th. TheStreet raised shares of WEX from a c rating to a b rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of WEX from $185.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of WEX from $205.00 to $239.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of WEX from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 17th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, WEX currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $227.08. Get Our Latest Report on WEX WEX Company Profile (Free Report) WEX Inc operates a commerce platform in the United States and internationally. The Fleet Solutions segment offers fleet vehicle payment solutions, transaction processing, and information management services. It also provides account and account retention services; authorization and billing inquiries, and account maintenance services; account management; credit and collections services; merchant services; analytics solutions; and ancillary services and tools to fleets to manage expenses and capital requirements. See Also Receive News & Ratings for WEX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WEX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund decreased its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG Free Report) by 44.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 183,200 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 144,300 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned about 0.34% of Scorpio Tankers worth $9,915,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of STNG. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Scorpio Tankers by 1.7% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,774,405 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $178,256,000 after acquiring an additional 61,452 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Scorpio Tankers by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,068,462 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $128,998,000 after buying an additional 55,817 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in Scorpio Tankers by 94.4% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,334,754 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $126,357,000 after buying an additional 1,133,900 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP increased its stake in Scorpio Tankers by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 1,072,792 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $60,409,000 after buying an additional 58,571 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Scorpio Tankers by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 956,815 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $53,878,000 after buying an additional 27,300 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.82% of the companys stock. Get Scorpio Tankers alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Scorpio Tankers from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a $90.00 price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers from $85.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers from $89.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $74.00. Scorpio Tankers Stock Down 2.1 % Shares of STNG opened at $65.19 on Thursday. Scorpio Tankers Inc. has a 52 week low of $40.34 and a 52 week high of $72.89. The firm has a market cap of $3.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.70 and a beta of 0.22. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $65.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.13. Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The shipping company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.62 by $0.13. Scorpio Tankers had a net margin of 40.78% and a return on equity of 22.86%. The business had revenue of $336.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $335.70 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.24 EPS. Scorpio Tankerss quarterly revenue was down 31.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Scorpio Tankers Inc. will post 12.07 earnings per share for the current year. Scorpio Tankers Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This is an increase from Scorpio Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Scorpio Tankerss dividend payout ratio is 16.10%. Scorpio Tankers Company Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STNG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG Free Report). 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. Hexcel (NYSE:HXL Get Free Report) had its price objective raised by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $69.00 to $73.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a market perform rating on the aerospace companys stock. BMO Capital Markets price objective suggests a potential upside of 1.40% from the companys current price. Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $80.00 target price on shares of Hexcel in a research note on Wednesday. Northcoast Research assumed coverage on shares of Hexcel in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $80.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Hexcel from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the stock from $57.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Hexcel from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Truist Financial raised shares of Hexcel from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $62.00 to $96.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Hexcel currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $77.46. Get Hexcel alerts: View Our Latest Report on Hexcel Hexcel Stock Down 1.3 % Shares of NYSE:HXL traded down $0.93 during trading on Thursday, reaching $71.99. The stock had a trading volume of 274,746 shares, compared to its average volume of 807,998. Hexcel has a one year low of $58.81 and a one year high of $79.08. The company has a market capitalization of $6.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 58.06, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a current ratio of 2.74, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $71.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.04. Hexcel (NYSE:HXL Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $457.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $474.01 million. Hexcel had a return on equity of 9.31% and a net margin of 5.91%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.40 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Hexcel will post 2.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total transaction of $322,335.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 50,371 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,608,074.73. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Hexcel news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total value of $62,294.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares of the companys stock, valued at $243,337.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total transaction of $322,335.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,608,074.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hexcel A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in Hexcel by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 136,908 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $10,098,000 after buying an additional 3,866 shares in the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main lifted its holdings in Hexcel by 840.6% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 65,422 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,825,000 after buying an additional 58,467 shares in the last quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. acquired a new stake in Hexcel during the 4th quarter worth approximately $516,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in Hexcel by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 74,150 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $5,469,000 after buying an additional 8,009 shares in the last quarter. Finally, High Falls Advisors Inc acquired a new stake in Hexcel during the 4th quarter worth approximately $221,000. 94.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Hexcel Company Profile (Get 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. Read More 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. West African Resources Limited (ASX:WAF Get Free Report) insider Stewart Findlay purchased 30,906 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 19th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of A$0.86 ($0.56) per share, for a total transaction of A$26,579.16 ($17,372.00). West African Resources Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 2.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.37. Get West African Resources alerts: About West African Resources (Get Free Report) Further Reading West African Resources Limited engages in the mining, mineral processing, acquisition, exploration, and project development of gold projects in West Africa. The company has 90% interests in the Sanbrado Gold Project covering an area of 116 square kilometers located in Burkina Faso; and Kiaka gold project located in Burkina Faso. Receive News & Ratings for West African Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West African Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. When you shop at Almadina International Foods at 2325 Parade St., the family that runs it is happy to show you what you are looking for. Got an international recipe and can't find the right ingredients at the supermarket? They probably have it, and you might want to throw in a box of Turkish delights or baklava while you're there because they're so good, too. Almadina is just one of many international food markets that have popped up in the city in the past 10 years, many filling vacancies on Parade Street, according to Murtada Alsaad, 19, a graduate of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy. Alsaad, who studies biology at Penn State Behrend, is general manager of the store owned by his uncle, 34-year-old Mohammed Alnasari. The family is Iraqi and several members have followed Alnasari to Erie from the region of Basrah, Iraq, starting in 2001. Ali Alsaad, 16, weighs produce for a customer at Almadina Supermarket in the 2300 block of Parade Street in Erie on Jan. 27, 2024. Change is happening Alnasari's family is far from alone. Erie's population has changed dramatically in that time. The Economic Research Institute of Erie, housed at Penn State Behrend, released a study in September of 2021 that found the following: "Erie Countys population growth ceased about 1976, and in more recent years the population has begun to decline. Immigration of the foreign-born has helped keep Eries population from falling as much as it would have," the study reads. "Just between 2000 and 2019, Eries population loss would have been about 67% worse if immigrants had not come here during that period." Those immigrants have surged as a share of Erie's population. "In Erie, 4,268 foreign-born residents first entered the U.S in 2010 or later, 3,177 entered from 2000 to 2009, and 4,474 entered before 2000," the study reads. "The foreign-born have increased as a share of Eries population from about 2.7% in 2000 to about 4.4% in 2019." Mark Owens, one of the authors of the study, said families like Alsaad's are contributing to the Erie economy to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Story continues "We estimate the sum of the labor income earned directly by the foreign-born, and also the additional jobs that result from the foreign-born spending their earned income, to be at least $273 million and as much as $385 million in Erie County," the study concludes. "The jobs performed by the foreign-born and the additional economic activity they generate may raise as much as $19.63 million in local tax revenue for Erie County." The study was based on census data for 2015-2019. More recent analysis bears that out, Owens said, according to raw census data, though the institute has not studied the subject further. Almadina International Foods Supermarket general manager Murtada Alsaad, 19, left, and his uncle, store owner Muhhamed Alnasari, 34, are shown at the Parade Street business in Erie on Jan. 27. At home in Erie Alsaad and his family consider Erie their home, as he was born and raised here, speaking both fluent English and Arabic. He says he's working to learn Pashtun, a regional dialect of Arabic spoken in Eastern Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "I think Erie is very diverse," Alnasari said. "There are many refugees here, but before there weren't many international food markets with complex ingredients that aren't easy to find. But now more are opening up. Every day we see new people." He said recently that he's had customers from Ukraine and Afghanistan, who have come to Erie fleeing conflicts in those regions. Ten-year-old Marwan Mohamad chooses a pack of ramen at Almadina Supermarket in Erie on Jan. 27. Alsaad said the shop is frequented by new Americans, including Bosnians, Turkish, Indians, Iraqis, Afghans, as well as Erie natives looking to cook foods that require the ingredients only available at international stores. "Our most popular items are pita bread and halal foods," which refers to meat and other foods blessed by a cleric during processing, Alsaad said. "We feel we are at home," said Alsaad. "We have our people and customers and foods and keep incense burning. We are very comfortable here." Loving Erie Alsaad said in his experience, Erie natives don't know what they have. "People talk bad about Erie," he said. "Mostly because of the weather, but I think it's a unique place and you can get used to the snow." That and the summers are a nice change from the desert conditions in Iraq, where he said the temperature frequently tops 120 degrees. Alnasari said he gets most of his groceries from Dearborn, Michigan, which has grown into another hub for Asian and Middle Eastern refugees. "Dearborn is the halal center of the U.S.," he said. "They have everything you can't find in Tops or Walmart." He said the business helps the new Americans in town who used to have to travel to Dearborn to get their groceries. Alsaad said the family plans to offer even more diverse items, as well as typical American fare as well, as soon as they can build out into an adjacent former car wash they've recently purchased. "We want Americans to come here, too," Alnasari said. Employee Ali Alsaad, 16, checks stock at Almadina Supermarket in the 2300 block of Parade Street in Erie on Jan. 27. Alsaad said he thinks Americans have a distorted view of his ancestors' country. "People think of the Gulf War," he said. "But that was years ago. Things are better now. There is more stability. They welcome Americans there. You hear a lot about the politics, but most people don't care about that." Revitalizing Parade Street Alsaad said he feels his family is part of a larger movement happening on the near eastside of Erie, such as Parade Street and even State Street, which is also home to international markets and restaurants serving authentic food from new Americans' native lands, such as Bosnia, Nepali, Bhutanese and Indian. "I think (some Erie natives) have to move out to know how good they have it," Alsaad said. "People are actually coming here because it's a nice place to live." Parade Street, he said, is now home to not just international markets but cultural hubs, such as the Islamic Cultural Center of Erie, a car dealership and more. "Parade Street isn't vacant anymore," he said. "There are a lot of local businesses being opened by new Americans." A sample of baklava sold at Almadina Supermarket is displayed at the Parade Street business in Erie on Jan. 27, 2024. Sitting in the small office at the back of Almadina's, which features a large picture of a bald eagle and a U.S. flag on the wall, Alsaad, a U.S. citizen, talked about how he will vote in his first presidential election this fall. He couldn't be more excited. "It makes me feel like an adult, contributing to the country and being an involved citizen," he said. "I think we need more people involved." He doesn't consider his family unusual in the new American communities. "We're a good example of what refugees come here and do in general." Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com or at 814-870-1885. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Iraqi family runs Almadina's in Erie PA, which caters to immigrants Stifel Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH Free Report) by 8.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 548,965 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 43,722 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corps holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $110,370,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,703,935 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,065,841,000 after acquiring an additional 743,824 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,859,128 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,863,118,000 after acquiring an additional 106,063 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,876,144 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $451,580,000 after acquiring an additional 33,093 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in 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 worth $360,441,000 after acquiring an additional 1,288,574 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in 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 worth $310,319,000 after acquiring an additional 218,161 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.37% of the companys stock. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LH has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research report on Friday, February 9th. They issued an in-line rating and a $240.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $257.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. They set an equal weight rating and a $222.00 target price on the stock. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of Laboratory Co. of America from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $241.86. Insider Activity at Laboratory Co. of America In related news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 237 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.45, for a total value of $53,668.65. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,637 shares in the company, valued at $1,729,398.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,695,872.22. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 237 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.45, for a total transaction of $53,668.65. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,637 shares in the company, valued at $1,729,398.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.65% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Laboratory Co. of America Stock Down 1.2 % LH traded down $2.59 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $215.34. 71,899 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 678,355. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a 1-year low of $174.20 and a 1-year high of $234.09. The stocks 50-day moving average is $223.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $213.55. The stock has a market cap of $18.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.65, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The medical research company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.02 billion. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 3.24% and a return on equity of 13.99%. The companys revenue was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.14 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 14.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 27th will be given a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 26th. Laboratory Co. of Americas payout ratio is presently 61.67%. Laboratory Co. of America Profile (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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH Free Report). 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. Mariner LLC grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) by 121.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 282,109 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 154,587 shares during the period. Mariner LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $25,655,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. ICW Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.3% in the second quarter. ICW Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,922 shares of the companys stock worth $3,548,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Stone House Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 55.3% in the second quarter. Stone House Investment Management LLC now owns 177 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Chilton Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.6% in the second quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 10,063 shares of the companys stock worth $1,628,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Red Wave Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 2.3% during the second quarter. Red Wave Investments LLC now owns 3,068 shares of the companys stock valued at $496,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 2.0% during the second quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 3,555 shares of the companys stock valued at $575,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 6.41% of the companys stock. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance NVO opened at $123.22 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $109.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $90.06. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 1 year low of $67.66 and a 1 year high of $124.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $552.95 billion, a PE ratio of 44.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a $0.664 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. This is a positive change from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is 22.92%. Several brokerages have recently commented on NVO. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They set an overweight rating and a $120.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen raised 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. UBS Group began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.25. Check Out Our Latest Report on Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease. Featured Articles 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. Gallacher Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Free Report) by 6.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 68,152 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 4,257 shares during the period. Gallacher Capital Management LLCs holdings in Nokia Oyj were worth $255,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lifted its position in Nokia Oyj by 10.8% during the third quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 101,681,755 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $380,290,000 after buying an additional 9,908,461 shares in the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Nokia Oyj by 13,524.2% during the third quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 42,791,256 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $160,039,000 after buying an additional 42,477,173 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its position in Nokia Oyj by 15.9% during the third quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 36,624 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $137,000 after buying an additional 5,019 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Nokia Oyj by 112,149.9% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 830,649 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,455,000 after purchasing an additional 829,909 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC lifted its position in shares of Nokia Oyj by 3.5% during the second quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 138,206 shares of the technology companys stock worth $575,000 after purchasing an additional 4,653 shares in the last quarter. 5.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Nokia Oyj Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of NYSE:NOK traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $3.55. The company had a trading volume of 5,043,209 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,292,849. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.42. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $3.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.42, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.09. Nokia Oyj has a one year low of $2.94 and a one year high of $4.97. Analyst Ratings Changes Nokia Oyj ( NYSE:NOK Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The technology company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.14 by ($0.03). Nokia Oyj had a return on equity of 7.60% and a net margin of 2.99%. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.66 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.16 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Nokia Oyj will post 0.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of research firms have recently commented on NOK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Nokia Oyj from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Nokia Oyj from $4.50 to $4.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Citigroup reissued a sell rating on shares of Nokia Oyj in a research report on Friday, December 15th. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of Nokia Oyj in a research report on Friday, January 12th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5.06. Read Our Latest Research Report on NOK Nokia Oyj Profile (Free Report) Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. It offers products and services for radio access networks and microwave radio links for transport networks, and solutions for network management, as well as network planning, optimization, network deployment, and technical support services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Free Report) by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,595,162 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 50,265 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corps holdings in McKesson were worth $693,656,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of McKesson by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,514,039 shares of the companys stock worth $4,920,064,000 after purchasing an additional 122,156 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in McKesson by 3.0% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,508,134 shares of the companys stock worth $2,784,399,000 after acquiring an additional 187,371 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in McKesson by 16.0% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,148,794 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,238,953,000 after acquiring an additional 708,438 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of McKesson by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,486,792 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,059,447,000 after acquiring an additional 22,726 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of McKesson by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,152,581 shares of the companys stock worth $807,477,000 after purchasing an additional 213,343 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.69% of the companys stock. Get McKesson alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at McKesson In other McKesson news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 14,026 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $480.00, for a total value of $6,732,480.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 43,445 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,853,600. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Leann B. Smith sold 186 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $496.00, for a total value of $92,256.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 1,511 shares in the company, valued at $749,456. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 14,026 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $480.00, for a total value of $6,732,480.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 43,445 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,853,600. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. McKesson Stock Up 0.4 % Shares of MCK stock traded up $2.08 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $509.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 119,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 759,126. McKesson Co. has a fifty-two week low of $331.75 and a fifty-two week high of $519.75. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $482.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $456.78. The company has a market capitalization of $66.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.96, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.44. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $7.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.05 by $0.69. The business had revenue of $80.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $77.93 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 262.63% and a net margin of 0.99%. McKessons revenue was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.90 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that McKesson Co. will post 27.64 earnings per share for the current year. McKesson Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. McKessons payout ratio is 11.24%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. TD Cowen lifted their price target on McKesson from $508.00 to $563.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on McKesson from $495.00 to $514.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of McKesson from $459.00 to $480.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of McKesson from $530.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of McKesson in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $502.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, McKesson has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $511.54. View Our Latest Report on McKesson About McKesson (Free Report) McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McKesson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McKesson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE Free Report) by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,567,921 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 282,963 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corps holdings in Intercontinental Exchange were worth $832,623,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange during the third quarter worth $25,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange in the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Halpern Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 545.6% in the third quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. now owns 368 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 311 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange in the second quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.91% of the companys stock. Get Intercontinental Exchange alerts: Insider Transactions at Intercontinental Exchange In related news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 58,388 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.90, for a total transaction of $7,351,049.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,152,375 shares in the company, valued at $145,084,012.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, General Counsel Andrew J. Surdykowski sold 2,364 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.00, for a total value of $297,864.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 43,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,480,118. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 58,388 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.90, for a total transaction of $7,351,049.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,152,375 shares of the companys stock, valued at $145,084,012.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 121,846 shares of company stock valued at $15,550,365. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Rosenblatt Securities raised their price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $154.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Intercontinental Exchange from $142.00 to $151.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Raymond James increased their price objective on Intercontinental Exchange from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 5th. UBS Group upped their price target on Intercontinental Exchange from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price target on Intercontinental Exchange from $135.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $144.00. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Intercontinental Exchange Intercontinental Exchange Trading Up 1.6 % Intercontinental Exchange stock traded up $2.22 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $138.91. 554,716 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,308,729. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a 12-month low of $94.16 and a 12-month high of $139.27. The firm has a market cap of $79.54 billion, a PE ratio of 32.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $128.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.04. Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.20 billion. Intercontinental Exchange had a return on equity of 12.91% and a net margin of 23.91%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 24.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.25 EPS. Research analysts expect that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 5.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Intercontinental Exchange Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This is a boost from Intercontinental Exchanges previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Intercontinental Exchanges payout ratio is 40.00%. Intercontinental Exchange Company Profile (Free Report) Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ICE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Intercontinental Exchange Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intercontinental Exchange and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, February 14th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be given a dividend of 0.06 per share on Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. Nu Skin Enterprises has increased its dividend by an average of 1.3% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 23 years. Nu Skin Enterprises has a dividend payout ratio of 65.5% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Nu Skin Enterprises to earn $1.58 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.56 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 98.7%. Get Nu Skin Enterprises alerts: Nu Skin Enterprises Trading Down 2.8 % NUS opened at $12.67 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $18.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $19.72. Nu Skin Enterprises has a 1-year low of $12.38 and a 1-year high of $42.34. The company has a market cap of $626.02 million, a P/E ratio of 70.39 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Insider Activity at Nu Skin Enterprises Institutional Trading of Nu Skin Enterprises In related news, Director Andrew D. Lipman sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.11, for a total value of $34,220.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 35,225 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $602,699.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Insiders have sold a total of 6,000 shares of company stock valued at $110,100 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock. Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises by 37.1% during the second quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 809 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 20,205 shares of the companys stock worth $875,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,657 shares of the companys stock worth $158,000 after buying an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 2.0% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 28,472 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,363,000 after acquiring an additional 555 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 9.7% in the first quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 6,493 shares of the companys stock valued at $255,000 after acquiring an additional 572 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.62% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Nu Skin Enterprises from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. DA Davidson lowered their price objective on shares of Nu Skin Enterprises from $29.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of Nu Skin Enterprises from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $23.67. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on NUS About Nu Skin Enterprises (Get Free Report) Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops and distributes various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO, ageLOC Body Spa; and nutricentials skin care products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nu Skin Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nu Skin Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Optiver Holding B.V. raised its stake in WPP plc (NYSE:WPP Free Report) by 732.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 119,986 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 105,577 shares during the quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. owned 0.06% of WPP worth $5,349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in WPP by 3.6% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 27,982 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,832,000 after buying an additional 963 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in WPP by 67.6% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 14,658 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $960,000 after buying an additional 5,913 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in WPP by 12.4% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 6,060 shares of the business services providers stock worth $397,000 after acquiring an additional 668 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in shares of WPP by 9.8% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 3,811 shares of the business services providers stock worth $250,000 after acquiring an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC increased its holdings in shares of WPP by 12.3% during the first quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 17,421 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,140,000 after acquiring an additional 1,909 shares in the last quarter. 4.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get WPP alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on WPP shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of WPP from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of WPP from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, UBS Group lowered WPP from a buy rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $46.00. WPP Stock Down 7.0 % Shares of WPP traded down $3.43 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $45.74. 136,194 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 131,968. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $48.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $46.46. WPP plc has a 1 year low of $41.13 and a 1 year high of $64.07. WPP Profile (Free Report) WPP plc, a creative transformation company, provides communications, experience, commerce, and technology services in North America, the United Kingdom, Western Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates through three segments: Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations, and Specialist Agencies. See Also Receive News & Ratings for WPP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WPP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Optiver Holding B.V. cut its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) by 77.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 164,003 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 567,348 shares during the period. iShares Russell 2000 ETF comprises about 0.0% of Optiver Holding B.V.s portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Optiver Holding B.V. owned approximately 0.06% of iShares Russell 2000 ETF worth $28,986,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in IWM. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 22.7% during the third quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 319 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC now owns 881 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $156,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 3,668 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $648,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. Hill Island Financial LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Hill Island Financial LLC now owns 23,637 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $4,427,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Burney Co. increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2.4% in the second quarter. Burney Co. now owns 2,673 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $501,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the period. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Price Performance Shares of IWM traded up $1.54 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $199.48. 22,117,741 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 42,581,859. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $197.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $185.33. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 52 week low of $161.67 and a 52 week high of $205.49. About iShares Russell 2000 ETF iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC grew its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 36.3% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 24,760 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,588 shares during the quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLCs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $1,842,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in CP. WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 21.8% in the 3rd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 38,100,632 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,835,068,000 after purchasing an additional 6,819,305 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 31,001,865 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,304,549,000 after purchasing an additional 553,163 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,249,662 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,496,807,000 after purchasing an additional 695,215 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,136,503,000. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,164,873,000. 67.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Price Performance Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $85.50. 716,732 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,369,666. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $80.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $76.73. The company has a market capitalization of $79.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.21, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.94. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 12-month low of $68.92 and a 12-month high of $86.61. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $0.1415 per share. This is an increase from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $0.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.66%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.15%. A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CP. Raymond James raised Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $85.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Monday, November 27th. Susquehanna Bancshares cut Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a positive rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $90.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Monday, January 8th. StockNews.com raised Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $121.00 to $116.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $92.94. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Pacific Kansas City Canadian Pacific Kansas City Profile (Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC increased its position in shares of RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 17.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,098 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,054 shares during the period. Personal CFO Solutions LLCs holdings in RTX were worth $1,447,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P grew its holdings in shares of RTX by 94.5% during the first quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 322,180 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,918,000 after buying an additional 156,550 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of RTX by 9.2% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 11,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,091,000 after buying an additional 931 shares during the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in RTX by 1.2% during the first quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 10,761 shares of the companys stock worth $1,066,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in RTX by 53.1% during the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 35,502 shares of the companys stock worth $3,517,000 after purchasing an additional 12,316 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in RTX by 1.4% during the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 141,700 shares of the companys stock worth $14,038,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.06% of the companys stock. Get RTX alerts: RTX Stock Down 0.1 % RTX stock traded down $0.08 during trading on Thursday, hitting $89.54. 2,970,767 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,769,459. RTX Co. has a 1 year low of $68.56 and a 1 year high of $104.91. The firms 50 day moving average is $87.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.30. The stock has a market cap of $118.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.78. RTX Dividend Announcement RTX ( NYSE:RTX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $19.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.74 billion. RTX had a net margin of 4.64% and a return on equity of 10.34%. RTXs revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.27 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that RTX Co. will post 5.39 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. RTXs payout ratio is 105.36%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total value of $3,233,232.64. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 6,741 shares of the companys stock, valued at $614,711.79. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other RTX news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total transaction of $3,233,232.64. Following the sale, the insider now owns 6,741 shares in the company, valued at approximately $614,711.79. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Ramsaran Maharajh sold 312 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.17, for a total transaction of $28,757.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,676 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,076,176.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 37,680 shares of company stock valued at $3,438,681. 0.11% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently weighed in on RTX shares. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of RTX from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. DZ Bank lowered shares of RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $94.00 price objective (up previously from $88.00) on shares of RTX in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic lowered shares of RTX from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $91.71. Read Our Latest Stock Report on RTX RTX Profile (Free Report) RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation; and for defense and commercial space operations. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RTX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SINGAPORE, February 22, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a" (Excellent) of Energas Insurance (L) Limited (Energas) (Malaysia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is negative. The ratings reflect Energas balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. In addition, the ratings factor in the neutral impact from the parent, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), which is the national oil and gas company of Malaysia. Energas balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term. AM Best views Energas investment portfolio as conservative, with a majority of investments allocated to cash and deposits, and the remainder invested in good quality government and corporate bonds. Capital requirements arising from underwriting risks are viewed to be low given the companys low net underwriting leverage, though the accumulation of high severity losses from multiple policies may still lead to moderate balance sheet volatility. An offsetting balance sheet strength factor is the companys reliance on reinsurance to manage its exposure to accumulation and large single risks. Nonetheless, credit risk is partially mitigated by the use of a good credit quality reinsurance panel. AM Best views Energas operating performance as strong, supported by its five-year average combined ratio of 68.4% (2018-2022). The companys net underwriting margins have historically benefitted from favourable reinsurance commission income and low management expenses relative to net earned premium. However, higher than expected frequency of large losses, accompanied by recent increases in its stop loss reinsurance programmes aggregate retention level has led to increased volatility in its underwriting performance in recent years. Consequently, the company is expected to report a single digit negative return on equity ratio for financial year 2023, notwithstanding a planned turnaround over the near to medium term. Investment income is expected to be a key contributor to the companys bottom-line over the medium term. Story continues AM Best considers Energas business profile as neutral. As a single-parent captive to PETRONAS, Energas benefits from business access to the groups insurance risks. However, the companys underwriting portfolio shows concentration by line of business and geography, with a significant focus on upstream and downstream energy risks located in Malaysia. Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222648769/en/ Contacts Ong Xin Ya Associate Financial Analyst +65 6303 5024 xinya.ong@ambest.com Chris Lim, CFA, FCII Associate Director +65 6303 5018 chris.lim@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 al.slavin@ambest.com Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nine brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $16.90. A number of research analysts have issued reports on PAA shares. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Plains All American Pipeline from $17.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. StockNews.com upgraded Plains All American Pipeline from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Plains All American Pipeline from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, TD Securities boosted their price objective on Plains All American Pipeline from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Get Plains All American Pipeline alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Plains All American Pipeline Hedge Funds Weigh In On Plains All American Pipeline Plains All American Pipeline Price Performance Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in Plains All American Pipeline by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 5,226 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $80,000 after acquiring an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Plains All American Pipeline by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 42,727 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $602,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in Plains All American Pipeline by 49.9% during the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,376 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 791 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its stake in Plains All American Pipeline by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 92,381 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,152,000 after acquiring an additional 976 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Plains All American Pipeline by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 127,118 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,792,000 after acquiring an additional 1,002 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 41.13% of the companys stock. PAA opened at $16.52 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $15.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.36. Plains All American Pipeline has a 1 year low of $11.28 and a 1 year high of $16.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.58 billion, a PE ratio of 11.35 and a beta of 1.59. Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE:PAA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The pipeline company reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.06. Plains All American Pipeline had a return on equity of 10.52% and a net margin of 2.39%. The company had revenue of $12.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.33 earnings per share. Plains All American Pipelines revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Plains All American Pipeline will post 1.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Plains All American Pipeline Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were issued a $0.3175 dividend. This is a boost from Plains All American Pipelines previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 30th. Plains All American Pipelines dividend payout ratio is presently 91.37%. Plains All American Pipeline Company Profile (Get Free Report Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the pipeline transportation, terminalling, storage, and gathering of crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL). The Crude Oil segment offers gathering and transporting crude oil through pipelines, gathering systems, trucks, and at times on barges or railcars. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Plains All American Pipeline Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Plains All American Pipeline and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Reduce from the five ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $68.57. RHI has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Robert Half in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. They issued a sell rating and a $60.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Robert Half from $66.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Robert Half from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Get Robert Half alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Robert Half Institutional Investors Weigh In On Robert Half Robert Half Price Performance A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in shares of Robert Half by 6.7% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 14,574,944 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,281,429,000 after purchasing an additional 917,311 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Robert Half by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,674,644 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,561,370,000 after buying an additional 42,681 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Robert Half by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,238,115 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $770,111,000 after buying an additional 266,298 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Robert Half by 116,277.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,941,582 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $586,327,000 after buying an additional 7,934,758 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its holdings in Robert Half by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,647,446 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $349,581,000 after buying an additional 113,299 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.63% of the companys stock. Shares of RHI stock opened at $79.98 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $82.86 and a 200-day moving average of $78.59. The company has a market cap of $8.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.67, a P/E/G ratio of 19.94 and a beta of 1.28. Robert Half has a one year low of $64.65 and a one year high of $88.39. Robert Half (NYSE:RHI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The business services provider reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.47 billion. Robert Half had a net margin of 6.43% and a return on equity of 25.73%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.37 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Robert Half will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Robert Half Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. This is a positive change from Robert Halfs previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.65%. Robert Halfs payout ratio is presently 54.78%. Robert Half Company Profile (Get Free Report Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Robert Half Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robert Half and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rock Creek Group LP lessened its position in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 37.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 83 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 49 shares during the quarter. Rock Creek Group LPs holdings in BlackRock were worth $54,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BLK. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new stake in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new stake in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BLK has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BNP Paribas upgraded BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. TD Cowen upgraded BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. UBS Group raised their price target on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $785.73. BlackRock Stock Performance BLK traded up $5.65 on Thursday, reaching $811.10. The company had a trading volume of 95,412 shares, compared to its average volume of 600,176. BlackRock, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $596.18 and a fifty-two week high of $819.00. The stock has a market cap of $120.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.38. The companys fifty day moving average is $794.96 and its 200 day moving average is $719.70. 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 quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.84 by $0.82. BlackRock had a net margin of 30.81% and a return on equity of 14.85%. The business had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.65 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $8.93 EPS. BlackRocks quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.63 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. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th will be paid a $5.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.52%. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is 54.78%. Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock In other BlackRock news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the businesss 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other BlackRock news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the businesss 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen Cohen sold 950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $805.55, for a total transaction of $765,272.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 4,437 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,574,225.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 33,474 shares of company stock valued at $17,275,900 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. 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. Featured Stories 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. Rock Creek Group LP reduced its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 32.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,188 shares of the companys stock after selling 563 shares during the period. Rock Creek Group LPs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $110,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock worth $11,342,014,000 after buying an additional 4,368,323 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its position in Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 106,291,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,376,231,000 after acquiring an additional 1,092,991 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 95,439,062 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,316,761,000 after acquiring an additional 1,056,110 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Philip Morris International by 3.1% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,592,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,793,812,000 after acquiring an additional 1,745,868 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in Philip Morris International by 4.9% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 51,558,741 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,033,166,000 after acquiring an additional 2,430,519 shares during the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have issued reports on PM shares. Societe Generale upgraded Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group cut Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $105.00 to $86.50 in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $105.40. Philip Morris International Price Performance Shares of NYSE:PM traded down $0.44 during trading on Thursday, reaching $90.13. 451,716 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,980,463. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $87.23 and a 1-year high of $101.92. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $92.69 and a two-hundred day moving average of $93.01. The firm has a market cap of $139.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.63. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last issued 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). Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.39 earnings per share. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.4 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.77%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 103.59%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $942,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Philip Morris International Company Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Featured Stories 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. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 26.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 140,022 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 28,910 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in RTX were worth $10,077,000 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 stock. AlphaCore Capital LLC grew its position in RTX by 13.9% in the third quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 14,973 shares of the companys stock worth $1,078,000 after acquiring an additional 1,826 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in RTX by 1.9% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,726,154 shares of the companys stock worth $987,871,000 after acquiring an additional 256,215 shares in the last quarter. Security National Bank of SO Dak grew its position in RTX by 6.3% in the third quarter. Security National Bank of SO Dak now owns 24,520 shares of the companys stock worth $1,765,000 after acquiring an additional 1,453 shares in the last quarter. LGL Partners LLC grew its position in RTX by 23.5% in the third quarter. LGL Partners LLC now owns 7,963 shares of the companys stock worth $573,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vista Investment Management grew its position in RTX by 6.8% in the third quarter. Vista Investment Management now owns 13,122 shares of the companys stock worth $944,000 after acquiring an additional 838 shares in the last quarter. 79.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get RTX alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of RTX stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total value of $3,233,232.64. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,741 shares in the company, valued at $614,711.79. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of RTX stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total value of $3,233,232.64. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,741 shares in the company, valued at $614,711.79. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Ramsaran Maharajh sold 312 shares of RTX stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.17, for a total transaction of $28,757.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,676 shares in the company, valued at $1,076,176.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 37,680 shares of company stock worth $3,438,681 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on RTX. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Redburn Atlantic cut shares of RTX from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of RTX from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Bank of America upgraded shares of RTX from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $78.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of RTX from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, RTX presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $91.71. Get Our Latest Stock Report on RTX RTX Stock Down 0.1 % RTX traded down $0.05 during trading on Thursday, reaching $89.57. The company had a trading volume of 2,567,604 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,757,951. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.78. RTX Co. has a 12 month low of $68.56 and a 12 month high of $104.91. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $87.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.30. The company has a market cap of $118.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.27, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.89. RTX (NYSE:RTX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.04. RTX had a net margin of 4.64% and a return on equity of 10.34%. The firm had revenue of $19.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.74 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.27 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that RTX Co. will post 5.39 EPS for the current year. RTX Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 105.36%. About RTX (Free Report) RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation; and for defense and commercial space operations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE:TPH Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The construction company reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.24, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Tri Pointe Homes had a return on equity of 11.75% and a net margin of 9.37%. The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.20 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.98 EPS. Tri Pointe Homess revenue was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. Tri Pointe Homes Stock Up 2.1 % Shares of NYSE TPH opened at $35.51 on Thursday. Tri Pointe Homes has a 12-month low of $22.95 and a 12-month high of $36.43. The company has a market cap of $3.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a current ratio of 2.11, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $34.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $30.86. Get Tri Pointe Homes alerts: Institutional Trading of Tri Pointe Homes Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TPH. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 1,387.8% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,906,274 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $48,267,000 after purchasing an additional 1,778,149 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Tri Pointe Homes in the 4th quarter valued at $17,632,000. Balyasny Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 404.3% in the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 704,772 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $10,649,000 after purchasing an additional 565,011 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 73.2% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 883,736 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $17,745,000 after purchasing an additional 373,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,230,217 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $245,584,000 after purchasing an additional 329,990 shares in the last quarter. 97.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on TPH shares. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Tri Pointe Homes from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday. Wedbush reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $32.00 target price on shares of Tri Pointe Homes in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and set a $41.00 price target (up previously from $36.00) on shares of Tri Pointe Homes in a research note on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Tri Pointe Homes currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $38.20. Read Our Latest Analysis on Tri Pointe Homes Tri Pointe Homes Company Profile (Get Free Report) Tri Pointe Homes, Inc engages in the design, construction, and sale of single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through a portfolio of six regional home building brands comprising Maracay in Arizona; Pardee Homes in California and Nevada; Quadrant Homes in Washington; Trendmaker Homes in Texas; TRI Pointe Homes in California, Colorado, and the Carolinas; and Winchester Homes in Maryland and Northern Virginia. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tri Pointe Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tri Pointe Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. (Bloomberg) -- Argentina must pay a large deposit in a case brought by hedge funds seeking $1.5 billion in compensation for losses in the nations growth-linked securities, Londons Court of Appeal ruled. Most Read from Bloomberg The South American nation must pay down 310 million ($337 million) before a full appeal is heard. Hedge funds, including Palladian Partners LP, won the case for compensation in a lower court last year. Argentina has until April 5 to deposit the cash in a trustee account, a judge ruled Thursday. Whilst I understand and am sympathetic to the impact any additional financial burden will have on a distressed economy, I am unpersuaded by the evidence and argument as to irremediable harm on the population, Judge Stephen Phillips said in his decision. The ruling comes as Argentina is heading into another recession this year provoked by President Javier Mileis economic shock therapy, including a 54% currency devaluation and major austerity measures to tackle a chronic fiscal deficit. Milei still enjoys high approval ratings and market praise, but poverty estimated at 57% of the population in January is driving speculation about how long people will tolerate his approach. Argentinas central bank currently has more liabilities than cash on hand, known locally as negative net reserves. That reality dims any investor hope that the country can repay the GDP warrants anytime soon. Seeking the deposit, the lawyers for the hedge funds alleged Argentina is unlikely to pay up voluntarily and will obstruct and delay enforcement. At the root of the case is the countrys default on $95 billion of debt in 2001 amid one of the worst financial crises in its history. GDP-linked bonds that pay out when the economic expansion reaches a set threshold, were part of a restructuring program. Story continues A dispute arose after Argentina changed the base year for calculating growth in 2013. The four funds, including HBK Master Fund LP, Hirsh Group LLC and Virtual Emerald International Ltd. had petitioned the UK court in 2019 alleging Argentina avoided payments on the bonds by making the change. The changes were necessary to avoid the returns on the warrants to be guided by outdated measure of growth until 2035, lawyers for Argentina had argued. Lawyers for Argentina and a spokesperson for Argentinas Economy Ministry did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Aidan ORourke, a lawyer representing the four funds said in a statement he was gratified by the courts ruling and is confident that the final court of appeals hearing will uphold the 2023 judgment requiring Argentina to pay the money owed on its GDP warrants. --With assistance from Manuela Tobias. (Updates with comment from funds lawyers in last paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. That release could not be found. ARN Media (ASX:A1N) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: AU$378.2m (up 9.7% from FY 2022). Net loss: AU$9.77m (loss narrowed by 95% from FY 2022). AU$0.032 loss per share (improved from AU$0.57 loss in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period ARN Media EPS Misses Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates. Looking ahead, revenue is expected to decline by 3.4% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Media industry in Australia are expected to grow by 1.5%. Performance of the Australian Media industry. The company's shares are down 3.1% from a week ago. Risk Analysis We should say that we've discovered 1 warning sign for ARN Media that you should be aware of before investing 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. Arras Minerals Corp. Figure 1 Drone photo showing outcropping argillic alteration at Berezski Central target (Elemes Licence) Figure 2 The 8.8 km copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes Licence. Also shown are the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively. The location of the medium sulphidation epithermal system sampled by Arras and announced on 11 July 2023 is also shown. Lastly a wide zone of intense kaolinite alteration at Berezski Central is also shown that is co-incident with the strong molybdenum anomaly that has been identified and shown in Figure 4. Figure 3 Soil anomaly maps showing copper results and the alteration map. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly (see figure 4). Figure 4 Figure 4. Soil anomaly maps showing molybdenum, and arsenic results. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly. Table 1 Summary table for the re-assay of historical drill holes for Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East Figure 5 Arrass License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as Package A and Package B as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, & Ekidos licences which are 100% owned by Arras. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK) (Arras or the Company) is pleased to announce the initial results of its 2023 soil sampling program conducted over the Berezski Target located within the Companys Elemes 425 square kilometer (km) exploration licence (Elemes or the Licence) in northeastern Kazakhstan. The Elemes licence is not included in the Teck-Arras Strategic Exploration Alliance announced on December 7, 2023. Highlights from the Soil Sampling program 8.8 km x 1.5 km NE-SW trending coherent copper (Cu) anomaly (>150ppm) linking two zones of shallow (<298m) high-grade historical drilling that sit 5 km apart and include re-assayed results of 108m @ 0.94% CuEq (including 30.8m @ 2.21% CuEq), and 132.6m @ 0.80% CuEq (including 57.1m @ 1.00% CuEq) starting from surface. Bulls eye 2.8 km x 1.6 km coherent Molybdenum (Mo) anomaly interpreted to be the core of an at surface porphyry system that is untested with drilling. An Arsenic (As) peripheral to copper-molybdenum anomaly thought to be associated with an intermediate-sulphidation epithermal system which recent sampling by Arras has returned gold and silver grades up to 29g/t Au & 287g/t Ag. Results confirm a multi-kilometer-scale system, delimited by several mineralized zones which may be contiguous under surface cover. Arras collected 31,000 soil samples over the Elemes Licence in 2023. The results presented in this news release cover only the western half of the Elemes Licence and represent approximately 60% of the soil samples collected. The results of the remaining 14,000 soil samples are expected in the next 3 to 4 weeks. Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals stated, The coherence and continuity of the copper soil anomaly over 8.8 kilometers is impressive. The results of our soil sampling program combined with widely spaced historical drilling, some of which we have been able to re-assay, all points to a very large and intact porphyry system that starts at surface and has unknown extent as it continues under recent cover to both the northeast and southwest. The re-assay results we put out at the start of this year on some of the historical shallow drillholes in the area show strong copper-gold mineralization grading up to 0.94% CuEq over 108m, and 0.80% CuEq over 132.6 meters, ending in mineralization in some cases. What is even more exciting is that in addition to the copper soil anomaly, our soil results were also able to delineate a 2.8 kilometer by 1.6 kilometer bulls eye molybdenum anomaly that has yet to be drill tested. The significance of the molybdenum is that it may point towards the core of the porphyry which typically holds high grade copper and gold mineralization. In summary, we now have a confirmed second large porphyry system within our extensive licence package in NE Kazakhstan. Story continues Drone photo showing outcropping argillic alteration at Berezski Central target (Elemes Licence) Figure 1. Drone photo showing outcropping argillic alteration at Berezski Central target (Elemes Licence) infographic Figure 2. The 8.8 km copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes Licence. Also shown are the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively. The location of the medium sulphidation epithermal system sampled by Arras and announced on 11 July 2023 is also shown. Lastly a wide zone of intense kaolinite alteration at Berezski Central is also shown that is co-incident with the strong molybdenum anomaly that has been identified and shown in Figure 4. Soil anomaly maps showing copper results and the alteration map. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly (see figure 4). Figure 3. Soil anomaly maps showing copper results and the alteration map. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly (see figure 4). infographic Figure 4. Soil anomaly maps showing molybdenum, and arsenic results. Also shown are the locations of the re-assayed drillholes located at Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East as well as Karagandy-Ozek, a high-grade gold-silver epithermal zone. The intensely altered Berezski Central zone is also shown which is co-incident with the 2.8 kilometer x 1.6 kilometer molybdenum soil anomaly. The Soil Sampling Program: In 2023, a comprehensive soil sampling program was undertaken across the Elemes Licence area. This program specifically targeted the well-developed "B soil horizon" utilizing a 50-meter sample interval and 200-meter line spacing grid. A total of approximately 31,000 samples were collected. This press release announces the findings from the initial batch of 17,000 samples, which cover an area of 189.3 sq. km (approximately 11.5 km by 18.2 km) situated on the western side of the Elemes Licence. The results from the remaining 14,000 samples, covering the eastern portion of the Elemes Licence, are anticipated to be available within the next 3 to 4 weeks. The soil analysis was conducted utilizing a Portable X-ray fluorescence device ("pXRF"), a widely employed instrument for determining the elemental composition of samples. Due to the limited sampling area of the pXRF, the results presented in this release are considered "indicative" rather than fully quantitative regarding mineralization. Despite this limitation, the results have revealed a substantial and coherent copper-in-soil anomaly, with copper concentrations exceeding 150 ppm. Background copper in the area is considered to be less than 20 ppm. This anomaly stretches over a remarkable distance of more than 8.8 km from north to south and extends to approximately 1.5 km in width from east to west. Notably, it connects the Quartzite_Gorka and Berezski East historical drilling areas, which are situated over 5 km apart. These areas have previously confirmed high-grade porphyry copper-gold mineralization starting at the surface. The continuity of the copper soil anomaly strongly suggests that the Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East areas represent only a small part of a much larger porphyry copper-gold system. Re-Assay of Historical Core: The Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski East areas were drilled between 2007 and 2010. All available drill-core have been re-logged in detail by Arras for lithology, structure, alteration, and mineralization. The mineralization seen at both locations is interpreted to be the upper part of a porphyry copper-gold mineralizing system. The mineralization comprises of sheeted and/or stockwork veining of quartz-magnetite A veins with minor chalcopyrite-bornite k-feldspar halos; magnetite-only M veins; and quartz-chalcopyrite veins. Locally disseminated patches of chalcopyrite, bornite and pyrite occur. Anhydrite veins and late epidote-carbonate veins are also observed. The host diorite intrusion is fine-grained, equigranular and typically highly magnetic. Strong potassic (k-feldspar-quartz-magnetite-secondary biotite) alteration of the host diorite has been variably overprinted by intermediate argillic (illite-chlorite) alteration. Arras also sent 6 holes, three each from Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East for re-assay. The summarized results of these re-assays are provided in Table 1 below and were disclosed in news releases on January 8, 2024, and January 22, 2024, respectively. Notably, the findings showcased zones of exceptionally high-grade mineralization, including sections measuring 30.8 meters grading 2.21% CuEq and 62 meters grading 1.53% CuEq. For further details, please visit www.arrasminerals.com. Table 1 Table 1. Summary table for the re-assay of historical drill holes for Quartzite-Gorka and Berezski-East Notes: Copper Equivalent (CuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Quartzite Gorka were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.8264) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0107) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 6.0000). Gold Equivalent (AuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Quartzite Gorka were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.2100) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0129) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.0334). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.00/lb. Copper, US$1,700/oz Gold, US$22/oz Silver, US$18/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 90% for Cu and Au and 50% for Ag and Mo. Intervals are core-length weighted and original core recovery is estimated to be > 90 %. The Berezski Target: is located within the 425 square km Elemes mineral exploration licence. The Licence benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 km from Arras operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, northeastern Kazakhstan. A paved highway runs through the licence, and within 1 km of the Berezski target. 1100 KVA power lines and heavy rail all lie within a 15 km radius of the project. The Berezski target is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (www.kazminerals.com) approximately 60 km to the northwest. Arrass License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as Package A and Package B as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, & Ekidos licences which are 100% owned by Arras. Figure 5. Arrass License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as Package A and Package B as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, & Ekidos licences which are 100% owned by Arras. Sampling Methodology Samples were collected on a 50m (East-west) by 200m (north-south) grid spacings. Samples were collected from hand-dug pits, trying to consistently sample the B horizon. Approximately 500 grams of material was collected and sieved (5mm mesh size) to review larger particles and organic matter. Following collection, the samples were bagged, dried, and analyzed by the company with a Portable Niton XL5 X-ray fluorescence analyzer at the companys core storage facility in Ekibastuz. Assay, QAQC Procedures: Analysis was conducted using the companys two Niton XL5 portable XRF units. Units were calibrated at the start and end of each work shift as well as after every 100 samples to verify accuracy. In addition, a measurement from a certified reference material was taken every 20 measurements to ensure accuracy and repeatability of data. In addition, prior to commencement of the measurements, 100 duplicate samples were analyzed using both units to confirm that both units were producing accurate results and that no bias was present in either of the units. All soil material is stored at Arras warehouse in Ekibastuz, and the company plans to send a proportion of these samples to ALS Chemex in Karaganda, Kazakhstan for reanalysis with a 4-acid digest ICP-MS61 analysis and for trace gold analysis (using Au-ST43). Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for the Elemes Project included in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Arras Minerals Corp., who is also a Member and Chartered Professional Geologist (MAusIMM CP(Geo)) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Barry has sufficient experience, relevant to the styles of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 info@arrasminerals.com Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on X, formerly known as Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Images accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c450f63-f326-4ad3-8d8f-413b85fcdd9a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9294db4f-21a1-4206-a544-23eac20dcc2b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7153df83-e825-4ed3-8157-eec2e8408cb2 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8196924f-1022-4e64-ad45-d6896647bc6f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fa34fde-af3a-4e8c-8aa7-70c4da318f89 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4c764bcc-42c4-4bee-8d7c-3a0023e25d33 Growing call to abrogate SoO pact Ultimately it is Delhis call | Ultimately it is Delhis call, but that has not stopped the demand that the Suspension of Operation pact signed with the Kuki militant groups, which come under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United Peoples Front (UPF), be scrapped. The Kuki-Zo community on the other hand must be banking hard on the SoO dialogue to realise the Separate Administration call, although the integrity of Manipur is clearly mentioned in the clause of the tripartite agreement signed between the Centre, the State Government and the Kuki outfits in 2008. Note the stress on 2008 for it was only in 2008 that Imphal was convinced to come on board, while the SoO agreement was actually inked between the Kuki outfits and the Government of India in 2005. Again the italicised was convinced should tell the story of how Imphal was made to come on board the SoO pact. This is the story of the SoO pact for the past 15 years or so and the most stupefying point is there is no visible reason to understand why a peace pact should be signed with a bunch of renegades who have never ever raised the battle cry against the security forces or raised any demand outside the Constitution of India. This is where rooms have been created for conspiracy theories to fly thick and fast and the more one tries to understand the rationale of the peace pact with the Kuki militants the more it seems to come close to the understanding that the Kuki militants are being fed and nurtured to help neutralise the armed groups of Manipur and the Naga rebels, particularly the NSCN (IM). Plus remember the Zomi Revolutionary Army is headed by a gentleman who has come from Myanmar and set up shop here in Manipur. Now with Manipur up in flames since the evening of May 3, 2023 and with more than enough indications that cadres of the SoO outfits are in the thick of it all, having killed State police personnel as well as Central security personnel, the demand that the SoO pact be abrogated is gaining ground. The urgency in the Scrap SoO demand can be understood in the backdrop of the fact that the pact is set to be reviewed by the end of this month, probably by the 28th or 29th of February and this demand should be viewed in the backdrop of the recent decision to do away with the Free Movement Regime (FMR) as well as the announcement that the Indo-Myanmar border would be fenced. The rationale behind the decision to do away with the FMR and fence the Indo-Myanmar border should be understood and stretch this understanding a little bit, it should be clear that these two steps would not mean much as long as the armed outfits are engaged in a political dialogue with the Government. This is the line of thinking for Manipur and it is not without reason. It was with a reason why Imphal decided to withdraw from the SoO agreement with the Zomi Revolutionary Army and the Kuki National Army and it would do good for Delhi to try and understand why Imphal decided to take this line. Again it is with a reason why Imphal sees the hands of the SoO groups in the infiltration from across the border as well as the emergence of new settlements in Reserved and Protected Forests, with B Sonjang village emerging as the right example. Remember the massive protests and rallies organised across all Kuki dominated places to decry the eviction of the said village from a Protected Forest and things should fall into place. Using the illegal immigrants as labour force for poppy plantations as well as for arms running and drug trafficking under the influence and directives of the SoO outfits are charges that have been raised and perhaps these charges can be validated by what a Kuki gentleman, a certain Paolienlal Haokip, wrote back in 2002 in a publication of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies under the heading Suffering in oblivion : Burmese refugees in North East Region of India. Citing many factors, Mr Haokip in the said article underlined, some among them took to drugs and arms trafficking across the border and capped this off by assessing that 20,000 Kukis entered Manipur as refugees. This was in 1967, as mentioned in the said article and there is nothing to suggest that things have changed. It is against this reality that the call to scrap the SoO pact has been raised and which Delhi should note. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The Biden administration announced plans Wednesday to forgive $1.2 billion in student loans for 153,000 borrowers participating in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program. Rolled out last summer in the wake of the Supreme Courts rejection of an earlier plan that would have eliminated up to $20,000 in student loan debt for millions of borrowers, the SAVE program focuses on debt forgiveness for those who have been making payments on their loans for at least 10 years a big reduction from the 20 or 25-year term previously required to qualify for forgiveness in most cases. Borrowers can claim up to $12,000 in debt forgiveness at the 10-year mark and earn an additional $1,000 in forgiveness for every year of payments after that. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Tuesday that the latest round of student loan debt forgiveness reflects the Biden administrations unapologetic commitment to deliver as much relief as possible to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible. He added that the program provides real, immediate breathing room from an unacceptable reality where student loan payments compete with basic needs. The Biden administration says the SAVE program will cost $156 billion in total, while the Congressional Budget Office estimated that a similar plan would cost roughly $230 billion over 10 years. A personal message: With White House officials expressing frustration that President Joe Biden isnt getting the credit he deserves for his economic program, which includes substantial amounts of student loan forgiveness, the Department of Education will make sure that all of those who have their debts forgiven will know whom to thank. Congratulationsall or a portion of your federal student loans will be forgiven because you qualify for early loan forgiveness under my Administrations SAVE Plan, says an email message from Biden that will be sent out to beneficiaries. I hope this relief gives you a little more breathing room. (Politico has a copy of the full message here.) Story continues More than $100 billion forgiven so far: According to the White House, the current administration has now forgiven nearly $138 billion in student loan debt for about 3.9 million borrowers through a variety of programs. The U.S. Department of Education provided a breakdown of the major forgiveness efforts so far: * $56.7 billion for more than 793,000 borrowers through fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program; * $45.6 billion for 930,500 borrowers through improvements to income-driven repayment plans; * $11.7 billion for 513,000 borrowers with a total and permanent disability; * $22.5 billion for 1.3 million borrowers through closed school discharges, borrower defense and related court settlements. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. A section of Bangladeshi nationals have been trying to manage visas from Nepal to go to other countries for livelihood. Such practice continues unabated, a senior Nepal official said today. The BSF officials have come to know after they got Malaysian currency Ringgit from the possession of an apprehended Bangladeshi national, identified as Md Hassan, resident of Comilla in Bangladesh, during search operation. Before handing him over to the police, the BSF officials interrogated Md Hassan thoroughly, managed several information from them and finally apprehended two Indian touts Md Zakir and Ramzan Ali, who were involved in cross-border illegal human trafficking. The BSF is looking for another one, who is a mastermind behind a group of Indian touts. Advertisement It may be noted that 93 Battalion BSF, posted within the area of Chanakya Border Outpost in Jalpaiguri district under North Bengal Frontier, apprehended Md Hassan, who was trying to return to Bangladesh from an Indian village with the help of a tout on 19 February. According to the BSF officials, Md Hassan came to Kathmandu in Nepal by flight, three months ago and contacted a broker in Nepal to manage a visa to go to Malaysia for work. His maternal uncle has been working as a motor mechanic in Malaysia for more than four years. As the broker failed to manage visa, he planned to return to his country, Bangladesh via India, illegally, though his maternal uncle supplied a huge amount of Ringgit for this purpose, with the help of a group of touts, who have been working in both Nepal and India. Md Hassan stayed in Haldibari in Cooch Behar for two day with the help of an Indian tout. The BSF also got information that the broker received nearly Rs 3 lakh for issuing visa and then Indian touts received Rs 30,000 to cross Indo-Bangladesh border illegally. Significantly, Md Hassan, during interrogation, provided the phone number of Md Jakir, who helped him in Indian part for crossing the border illegally. The BSF officials trapped Md Jakir and apprehended him. After interrogation, the BSF got information about one Ramzan Ali, who is allegedly involved in human trafficking. The 93 Battalion of BSF finally apprehended Ali, who is the resident of Natun Basti under Kotwali police station in Jalpaiguri, yesterday. The BSF is looking for another kingpin, who has kept baggage and papers, including the passport of Md Hassan. In another incident, the 15 Battalion of BSF, yesterday apprehended 23-year old Byzidul Islam, resident of Mymensingh in Bangladesh, as he was returning to Bangladesh from India. On 16 February, 164 Battalion of BSF, apprehended an Indian woman, resident of Goalpokhar in North Dinajpur, who was illegally crossing an unfenced border area under Tapan police station in South Dinajpur district. She was carrying Rs 83,350. The BSF seized the amount and other items from her possession and handed her over to Tapan police station. On 15 February, the BSF apprehended 20 year old Md Alamin, resident of Faridpur, and handed him over to Hilli police station in South Dinajpur. In a significant development, director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar reached Sandeshkhali this afternoon to take stock of the situation. Arriving by boat and then on toto, he made his way to the Sandeshkhali police station, accompanied by additional director general of police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar and superintendent of police of Basirhat region Hossain Mehedi Rehman. Discussions commenced at the police station, addressing various issues with the police force and CCTV installation amid the law and order challenges. The DGP was engaged in talks with the police, emphasizing discipline and addressing multiple concerns. This is the first time the DGP arrived in Sandeshkhali since the turmoil began on 9 February. Prior to the meeting, he refrained from making any statements in front of the media. Already, a team of 10 police officers have been formed to investigate the area, venturing from village to village to address complaints. Despite skepticism, the presence of the DGP is considered crucial. Advertisement Notably, the police arrested two Trinamul Congress leaders, Shibhu Hazra and Uttam Sardar along with leaders from the CPM and the BJP. Following a media interaction by the DGP, Shibhu Hazra was arrested, but TMCs Sandeshkhali-2 block president, Shahjahan Sheikh, remains at large. In a turn of events, Shahjahan faced aggression at his residence on 5 January in connection with a ration corruption case. However, discontent among locals against the ruling party has been brewing since the first week of February, leading to incidents like the arson at Shibus poultry farm and house burglary. The region continues to witness daily incidents, from Najat to Sandeshkhali. Against this backdrop, DIG Rajeev Kumar visited Sandeshkhali on Wednesday, signalling potential shifts in the ongoing developments. Meanwhile, police from Sandeshkhali lodged an FIR complaint following a rape case against Bhanu Mandal, Amir Ali Gazi and Shibu Hazra. This is the second complaint of rape. Today the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has sought reports from West Bengal chief secretary B P Gopalika and DGP Rajeev Kumar on the ongoing crisis at Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas district over sexual harassment allegations against local Trinamul Congress leaders. NCST has also communicated to the state secretariat that a field-inspection team of the commission will visit Sandeshkhali on Thursday. In a letter to the CS and DGP, the commission has clearly stated that unless a detailed report on the Sandeshkhali crisis is available within the next 72 hours, both will have to personally appear in front of the commission in New Delhi. The commission has sought details of the action taken by the state government over complaints of harassment at Sandeshkhali. The NCST is the fourth central commission after the National Commission of Scheduled Castes (NCSC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) visited Sandeshkhali. Political observers are of the opinion that the nature of the ongoing crisis at Sandeshkhali is so varied that it has opened the avenues for multiple central commissions to intervene in the matter. Since principal case is allegation of sexual harassment, the NCW has rightly stepped into the matter. Secondly, since many of the victims both in cases of illegal land grabbing and sexual harassment hail from the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe community, the factor has opened avenues for both NCSC and NCST to intervene. In a shocking incident on Monday, a youth in Ward 6 of South Dum Dum Municipality met an untimely death under suspicious circumstances, prompting the police to initiate a murder investigation based on the familys complaint. The accused, including the husband of the local representative for Ward 6, Trinamul Congress leader Abhi Debnath, are now under scrutiny. The victim, identified as Nayan Saha (25), was initially rescued in critical condition on Monday morning and rushed to Dum Dum Municipality Hospital and later to R G Kar Medical College Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries later last night. The family alleges that the accused had recorded the incident on their mobile phones. No arrests have been made yet, and the police are taking necessary steps to nab the culprits. Nayan, a former student of higher secondary, had pursued hotel management after graduation and worked for an online supplies company presently. After returning home on that fateful day, Nayans father Nibash Saha and mother Shefali, lodged a murder complaint against the accused. Family sources reveal that Nayans elder brother, Nintu Saha, a TMC activist, claimed that the accused had a long-standing grudge against Nayan, exacerbated by political differences. Local sources report that Nintu had been inactive in politics since the last municipal elections but was provoked by the accused during the incident. The family further alleges that Nayan was brutally beaten, causing severe injuries on his head. Despite the political implications and calls for police intervention from Trinamul Congress leaders, the local Trinamul leader, Sukant Sensharma, emphasized the need for a thorough police investigation and refrained from involving politics in the tragic incident. Advertisement However, police actions are awaited as the community awaits justice for the untimely death of Nayan Saha. With tensions rising after the Khalistani slur on a Sikh police officer by BJP workers yesterday, protests and counter-allegations kept flying throughout Wednesday. A large group of the Sikh community members today staged demonstrations outside the BJPs state party office in Muralidhar Sen Lane. They demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for the alleged Khalistani remarks made against IPS officer Jaspreet Singh by Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari. The protest outside the BJP office also led to slogans against the saffron party, and BJP Murdabad banners emerged, indicating growing dissatisfaction within the Sikh community. Sikh people from Gurdwara Muni Lal Sikh Sangat in Burrabazar took out a procession to the state party office of the BJP. Adding to the turmoil, Amit Malviya, BJPs national spokesperson and IT cell in-charge and co-observer of Bengal unit, took to his Twitter handle, stating that TMC youth leader from South Kolkata was the mastermind behind the protest to divert the attention from the Sandeshkhali incident. The controversy, however, has not only engulfed Kolkata but has spread to various parts of the state, with anti-BJP demonstrations being organized. Earlier, a video of a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted in West Bengal went viral on social media on Tuesday, when BJPs Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari reportedly labelled him a Khalistani during the saffron partys protest against the Sandeshkhali incident. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have joined in the anti-BJP chorus, further intensifying the political situation. Advertisement The officer in-charge of Kotshila police station, SI Toofan Dawn and another civic volunteer have been removed from their posts and closed at Belguma police lines allegedly for manhandling a tribal girl during a search operation. Kalyan Singha Roy, additional superintendent of police (headquarters) of Purulia has been entrusted to conduct a probe and send reports to Purulia district superintendent of police. Already, a DSP-rank officer has started a probe. Talking to The Statesman, Abhijit Banerjee, SP of Purulia said that already the OC and the civic volunteer have been suspended and departmental proceedings are initiated against them. Advertisement The tribal girl has alleged that the OC and other cops raided their house on suspicion that her father runs an illicit country liquor shop in the village and even snatched away Rs 40,000 cash from her house after beating her with sticks. The issue took a political turn after the BJP Purulia MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato accompanied her to the police station to lodge a case. On the basis of the allegations levelled by the tribal girl, Purulia district police has taken a complaint and started investigations. Incidentally, chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Purulia district during her official tour from 27 February. The three-day World Universities Summit organised by the International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building at O.P. Jindal Global University concluded on Wednesday with an on-site Higher Education Leaders Conclave. Over 100+ University leaders, including Vice-Chancellors, Deans and Heads of Departments from various Universities across Delhi NCR, Haryana and UP participated in the Conclave. Prof. Philip Altbach, Professor and Founding Director of the Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, US, delivered the keynote address. Advertisement He spoke about the crisis of internationalisation and the six Cs: The new Cold War with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the challenges to mobility posed by Covid, Climate change, the rise of China as regional higher education hub and new modes of Communications and Collaborations, particularly with IT and AI which will affect higher education internationalisation going forward. He emphasised the fact that India needs to think through how Indian higher education institutions would function within this changing geopolitical and socioeconomic context. He highlighted the importance of internationalisation at home by internationalising the curriculum to increase access to internationalisation for all students and to minimise the impact of physical international mobility on climate change. Altbach stated that: To me research collaboration is the key and here is where India offers lot of potential. There are about 20 western universities that has research offices and collaborations in the country. I think that is to be encouraged and very useful for Indian universities. He further advised, Not to think about branch campuses but research collaborations with countries with whom India has soft-power interest like Africa, the Middle East and so on. During the conclave, the Founding Vice-Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Prof. C. Raj Kumar welcomed the audience by providing an overview of the proceedings of the first two days of the 4th World Universities Summit in virtual mode with twenty-five thematic sessions, 225+ Education Leaders from 20 Countries and 6 Continents. He narrated the humble journey of O.P. Jindal Global University fifteen years ago to the organisation of the summit while reflecting on his own professional journey over the past fifteen years. President and Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at MICA Institute, Ahmedabad, Prof. Shailendra R. Mehta delivered his inaugural address by talking about his decade-long research on the origin and development of the university in India between 600 BC and 1200 AD and its transmission to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe (via Jerusalem) and how it influenced the founding of European Universities including Oxford and Paris. Mehta will be joining O.P. Jindal Global University as a Distinguished University Professor later this year to develop his research findings into a book. The former Vice-Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, Prof. N.V. Varghese also delivered a special address at the Conclave. In his speech, Varghese highlighted the challenges of diversified objectives of higher education with massification of higher education and how labelling and credentialing are becoming important with the growth of the private sector in higher education. He further stated: Market-friendly reforms are very important, but markets often are not people-friendly. So, the challenge for the future is how do we make markets people-friendly in the higher education field. The conclave concluded with a roundtable discussion. Several Vice-Chancellors, faculty members and students present as audience participated in this discussion with Prof. Philip Altbach to reflect on the broader theme of the 4th World Universities Summit Universities of the Future: A Global Partnership for Social Justice and Sustainable Development. Global cab aggregator Uber on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) with an aim to democratise digital commerce, the ride hailing services firm said on Thursday. The MoU was signed in the presence of Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at an event. Khosrowshahi spoke with the Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani on the subject of Building Population Scale Technology. Advertisement Our vision for Uber in India is to serve the mobility needs of all Indians. This is in line with ONDCs objective of democratising digital commerce, he said. India is one of the toughest markets out there; they are so demanding and do not pay for anything. If we can succeed here, we can succeed anywhere else, he said. Khosrowshahi said despite the challenges, the company plans to expand its low-cost service segments, particularly two-wheeler and three-wheeler services in India. One of the strategic single biggest opportunities is lower cost products like two-wheeler and three-wheeler We are also getting into buses in some countries, he added. Speaking on the development, MD and CEO of ONDC, T Koshy said, As the Open Network is continuously evolving, MTT (Mobility, Transport and Travel) is certainly a critical sector for us. Different players together on the network foster innovation and newer business models. Todays MoU is a major step forward, and one we hope will enable a diverse range of mobility solutions to benefit every Indian. It is worth highlighting that the announcement by Uber comes after its rival, Ola, joined the government-backed initiative in September last year to provide food delivery services. Uber posted its first annual net profit last year since the company went public in 2019, and had free cash flow of USD 3.4 billion in 2023, up from USD 390 million a year earlier. Announcing the results, Uber said that in the next three years, it expected gross bookings growth in the mid to high teens percentage and adjusted core profit growth in the high 30 to 40 per cent. Andrii Dodonov / Getty Images/iStockphoto President Joe Biden has been fighting for student loan debt forgiveness over the past few years of his term. In 2023, the Supreme Court rejected his initial plan to wipe student loan debt totaling $400 billion for borrowers. Recently, President Biden has been working on another plan, which would forgive student loans for some with older loans, high amounts of interest or those experiencing financial hardship. Find Out: How Much Money Do Americans Have in Their Bank Accounts in 2024? Try This: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work) Older loan forgiveness pertains to those who have been paying off the loan between 20 and 25 years, depending on the type of loan. Those with high amounts of interest would potentially be eligible for forgiveness of $10,000-$20,000 of their loan total. Hardship would include those who are most likely to default on their loans based on repayment history and current income. That plan is still in talks and has not been passed as of yet. Even with the rejection by the Supreme Court, President Biden has still managed to significantly lower or eliminate the burden of student debt for some. While hes been president, more than 3.7 million student loan borrowers have had more than $136 million worth of debt forgiven due to executive actions. If President Biden wins reelection this November, will this momentum continue? GOBankingRates reached out to experts on the topic. Heres what they had to say about the future of student loan forgiveness. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Democrats Need To Control the House of Representatives As it stands, the House has a Republican majority, with 219 representatives. Democrats have 212 representatives. Jacob Channel, the U.S. housing and student loan repayment expert at LendingTree, said that, no matter what action President Biden takes toward relieving student loan debt, Democrats need to retake control of the House for him to be successful. Story continues Given Congress current makeup, any bills designed to implement broad student loan forgiveness would almost certainly be dead on arrival, Channel said. Its for this reason that we shouldnt expect any direct legislation on student loans anytime soon. Channel added that part of President Bidens campaign for reelection might incorporate his plans to forgive some student loans. Theres no guarantee, but, given that hes attempted to offer broad student loan forgiveness in the past, and because the issue remains very relevant for millions of Americans, it could make sense for Biden to more frequently and publicly reaffirm his commitment to getting student loan borrowers relief. Because Biden has already done work to provide relief for those with student loans, Channel thought it would make sense that hed continue to trend in that direction and that more people will receive assistance. As even more people take advantage of forgiveness offered through new and modified income driven repayment and public student loan forgiveness programs, the numbers will likely rise. Read Next: How a Trump Win in 2024 Could Impact Your Retirement Savings Politicians View of Biden Could Change How Policy Gets Made Kathleen Boyd is a student loan advisor at Student Loan Planner. Boyd said that even if Biden wins reelection, what his colleagues think of him might play into changes in student loan policy. If President Biden is re-elected to a second and final term, theres always the risk that he could be viewed as a lame duck, Boyd said. From there, Boyd said that his actions could turn drastic in order to prove hes not a lame duck. We could see one of two extremes: he does nothing for student loan policy because he doesnt have to, or his administration goes all out and pushes the most progressive student loan agenda weve ever seen. Boyd felt that Biden will ultimately split the difference between the two extremes and continue to work with the Department of Education to get more forgiveness passed. Who Has Experienced Debt Relief? If youre wondering who has already had some or all of their student debt forgiven, heres a breakdown. Those who have qualified for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program typically government workers and those working for nonprofits have had $56.7 billion worth of loans forgiven. Others who have experienced forgiveness are those paying on an income-driven repayment program. That makes up $45.7 billion in loan forgiveness. Borrowers who took out less than $12,000 on a Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) loan and have been paying it back for at least 10 years also qualified for loan forgiveness. Those with disabilities have also qualified for about $22.5 billion worth of loan forgiveness all together. In addition, students who went to schools with marketing defined as deceptive have also seen loan forgiveness. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Would a Biden Win in 2024 Mean for Student Loan Debt? Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called an all-party meeting on Thursday to discuss the one time settlement scheme with regard to the pending water bills of the Delhi Jal Board. The meeting was attended by Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely and former Delhi minister Haroon Yusuf. However, the BJP boycotted the meeting stating that they would have joined if other issues like alleged air flow meter scam would also had been discussed. According to the AAP, the Congress leaders extended unwavering support to the proposed measures in the meeting. Advertisement Delhi Water Minister Atishi and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj dwelt on the intricacies of the One Time Settlement Scheme for inflated water bills during the meeting. Kejriwal said the absence of the BJP in the meeting indicated their opposition to the scheme even though it would waive off the bills of 90 per cent of the people upon its implementation. The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the government in alleviating the burden on Delhiites. We should expose the BJP in front of the people of Delhi because they are engaging in very dirty politics. If BJP has any suggestions, we will consider them, the CM said. Elaborating on the scheme, the Delhi CM said, Our assessment is that with the implementation of the One-Time Settlement Scheme, water bills of nearly 90 per cent of the people will be waived. However, the Delhi government will have to provide subsidy money to the Delhi Jal Board, and after this scheme revenue will come to the Delhi Jal Board. After the all-party meeting, the Delhi urban development minister and the Congress president jointly addressed the media. We have also discussed this policy with LG Sahab and raised the matter in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. A resolution has also been passed in the assembly. Despite this, the One-Time Settlement Scheme has not yet come to the cabinet. Because this is a big issue related to the people of Delhi. Therefore, a decision was taken a few days ago to hold an all-party meeting so that major political parties could discuss and deliberate on this public interest issue beyond their party lines, Bharadwaj said. Regarding Delhis water bills, we received an invitation for an all-party meeting from the chief ministers side. As a responsible political party, Congress participated in this meeting. I believe that in the matter of providing relief to the people of Delhi, no political party should show any weakness or reluctance fundamentally, said the Delhi Congress chief while addressing the media. A thirty-nine-year-old vegetable store owner has been arrested by the Delhi Police on the charge of sexual assault on a minor girl aged 14 years, a police official said on Thursday. Initially, the girl was allegedly assaulted by the accused in 2021. The survivor has informed her parents about her ordeal only now. After receiving a complaint on Tuesday, the police registered a case in the matter under section 376 IPC and 06 POCSO Act. According to the police, the accused is a neighbour of the survivor. Advertisement The case was pursued by the police after the complainants approached the Anand Parbat Police Station in this matter. Earlier in the first week of the month, an 18-year-old woman from Delhis Madangir was drugged and gang-raped by two men belonging to Meerut, whom she had met through social media. The incident took place in Delhis Malviya Nagar after the woman and the men had a meal at Malviya Nagar following which she felt dizzy, and she was sexually assaulted. Sidharth Malhotra is gearing up to unveil the first track, Zindagi Tere Naam, from the much-anticipated action-drama Yodha. Taking to Instagram, Karan Johar shared posters of Sidharth from his previous films, including Sau Aasmano, Ishq Wala Love, Zehnaseeb, Bolna, Raataan Lambiyaan, culminating with the latest poster of the upcoming song from Yodha. In his caption, he expressed excitement, A history of bonafide swoon-worthy love songs with the one & only @sidmalhotraexpressing every emotion of love felt. And a new one coming soon.!! #ZindagiTereNaam#Yodha in cinemas March 15. See the post here: Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) After his debut in Karan Johars Student of the Year, Sidharth has worked on several films under the same banner, including Hasee Toh Phasee, Baar Baar Dekho, Kapoor & Sons, and Shershaah. Now, he returns with Yodha. Recently, the makers unveiled the much-awaited teaser of the action thriller. Sidharth shared the teaser on Instagram, writing, Weve taken off! Gear up for the high-octane action on its way. #YodhaTeaser out now. #Yodha in cinemas March 15. In the teaser, Sidharth portrays a commando on a thrilling rescue mission, fighting terrorists to save a hijacked flight. Disha Patani, in a lead role, portrays a cabin crew member. Directed by Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha, Yodha is set to hit theaters on March 15. Speaking about the film, Sidharth expressed, As an artist, you would want to work on scripts that bring out the best in you. This truly unveiled a newer version of me, which I am very thankful for. The amount of love I have received from audiences and fans is magical. I cant wait to showcase what Yodha has for them. Initially slated for release on November 11, 2022, the films release date was pushed multiple times, with the current release date set for March 15, 2024. Meanwhile, Sidharth recently appeared in the web series Indian Police Force alongside Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty. Helmed by Rohit Shetty, the series is streaming on an OTT platform. (ANI) Natalie Portman, renowned for her roles on screen, has recently addressed the swirling rumors encircling her marriage to Benjamin Millepied. During an interview, the acclaimed actor opted for brevity, expressing her disdain for the invasive media chatter. Its terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it, Portman firmly stated. Journalist Keziah Weir, sensing the discomfort, empathized, remarking that she too found the subject uneasy to broach. Portman concurred with a simple, I can imagine. Portman and Millepied embarked on their marital journey in 2012, a union forged amidst the captivating drama of Black Swan. Their love story transcended continents, with homes nestled in the romantic realms of Paris and Los Angeles. Two cherubic blessings, Aleph and Amalia, further enriched their lives. Yet, the tranquility of their union was besieged by whispers of infidelity. Last June, murmurs intensified when French media alleged Millepieds dalliance with Camille Etienne, an environmental advocate. Amidst the turmoil, murmurs of reconciliation surfaced, asserting Millepieds earnest efforts to mend the fraying bonds of their familial fabric. Advertisement Public silence enveloped Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied, cloaking their private turmoil from prying eyes. Speculations mounted when the couple, photographed in Paris sans wedding bands, appeared to signify a chapters end. A subsequent profile by The Wall Street Journal offered a glimpse into Portmans Parisian existence, noticeably absent of mention of Millepied. Nevertheless, amidst the tumult, Portmans affection for Paris endured unwaveringly. She extolled the citys virtues to Vanity Fair, describing her life therein as a reverie. Im so lucky to get to live here and have an enormously stimulating city life with incredible friends, she shared, encapsulating the enduring allure of the City of Light. Portmans steadfast love for Paris serves as a poignant reminder amidst the turbulence of her personal life. As the curtains of speculation draw close, her unwavering affection for the city stands as a testament to resilience and grace in the face of adversity. Sounding the poll bugle, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday highlighted the BJP governments achievements across various fronts, including the abrogation of Article 370, surgical strikes, and economic progress. He was speaking during the BJPs Vijay Sankalp Shankhnaad rally in Chhattisgarh. The long-standing dilemma over Ramas temple in Ayodhya has found its resolution. Congress, over 75 years, failed to resolve the lingering issues, but Modi has, asserted Shah, promising electoral victories for the BJP. Shah articulated the BJPs ambitious goal of positioning India as a global leader under Modis leadership, envisioning a future where the nation serves as a beacon of enlightenment across the globe. Advertisement Assuring the electorate, Shah pledged, Every guarantee Modi makes will be honored, highlighting substantial advancements in healthcare infrastructure and the construction of over 3.8 million toilets in Chhattisgarh. Amit Shah reiterated Indias unwavering stance against terrorism, citing surgical strikes and the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir as testament to the nations resolve. He also commended Indias strides in space exploration, solidifying its position as the third-largest space power globally. Addressing the menace of Maoist insurgency, Shah applauded government efforts, affirming that initiatives have spurred development from Bastar to Bilaspur. Reaffirming welfare commitments, Shah promised monthly grain allocations, distribution of LPG cylinders, and housing provisions under the PM Awas Yojana. Encouraging support for PM Modis leadership, Shah highlighted Indias robust economic growth under his tenure, urging the nation to repose faith in Modis vision for propelling India to global economic prominence. Earlier in the day, Shah chaired a Lok Sabha election meeting in Kondagaon district, focusing on the Bastar cluster, and received a warm welcome at Raipur airport from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma. Shah passionately urged Chhattisgarh residents to secure all 11 Lok Sabha seats for the BJP, citing past electoral mandates. In 2014, the BJP secured 10 out of 11 seats, and in 2019, it won 9 seats, reflecting the states steadfast support. As Chhattisgarh braces for significant electoral battles, the BJPs pursuit of a sweeping victory echoes Amit Shahs rallying cry, underscoring the stakes as the nation prepares for the polls. YS Sharmila, the Andhra Pradesh Congress chief and sister of state Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Thursday said that she had to spend the night at party office amid fears of house arrest. In a video shared on X, Sharmila who recently joined Congress is seen sleeping at the floor of the Congress party office in Vijayawada. This comes a day after she led a protest at Andhra secretariat against his brothers government over unemployment and other issues. Advertisement Speaking to mediapersons, Sharmila said that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh has failed to address the issues of youth, unemployed and students. She had also expressed fears that his brothers government is planning to put her under house-arrest. If we call for protest on behalf of the unemployed, will you try to keep us under house arrest? Dont we have the right to protest in a democracy? Is it not shameful that as a woman I have been forced to evade the police and spend the night in the Congress Party office to avoid house arrest? she wrote on X. Last month, the Congress party had appointed YS Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as the president of the state unit in a bid to revive the party and its fortunes ahead of the general elections. The move came just two weeks after Sharmila merged her party, YSR Telangana Party with the Congress. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. It is going to be a bipolar contest between N Chandrababu Naidus TDP which is in alliance with Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena, and Jagan Mohan Reddys YSRCP. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday launched four transformatory portals that promise to revolutionize the media landscape in India. This initiative is aimed at ensuring ease of doing business by fostering a more conducive business environment for newspaper publishers and TV channels, enhance transparency and efficiency in government communication, and provide easy access to authentic Government videos. A comprehensive database of Local Cable Operators (LCOs) will be created, enabling the Government to streamline regulatory processes in the cable television sector in future, Mr Thakur said. Advertisement Addressing an audience, the Minister said today, India is viewed as an attractive destination for investment, with global companies eager to establish businesses here. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modis emphasis on transformative governance and economic reforms has greatly improved the ease of doing business in India. This has led to increased investment from both existing businesses and new entrepreneurs. The ecosystem of start-ups, in particular, has flourished, with a significant increase in the number of start-ups and unicorns, he stated. Elaborating on recognition of the Governments achievements in ease of doing business, Mr Thakur said that these have been recognized globally, as evidenced by improved rankings in international indices like the World Banks Ease of Doing Business Index and the Logistic Performance Index. He said the success of platforms like the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) reflects the governments efforts to create a level playing field for MSMEs and small businesses. The Prime Ministers leadership has not only focused on economic reforms but also on fostering a mindset transformation, recognizing entrepreneurs as partners in national development. This approach has led to increased wealth creation, job opportunities, and higher incomes, benefiting the countrys overall welfare and development, the Minister said. I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju said that todays initiatives will help the Government streamline and increase its engagement with the media. These will foster not just transparency and innovation, but help improve the functioning of the departments. The Press Sewa Portal will streamline newspaper registration. Developed under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 (PRP Act, 2023) by the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI erstwhile RNI), it is a monumental step towards complete automation of the process for newspaper registration and other related processes. This portal, designed under the PRP Act 2023, aims to simplify the cumbersome registration procedures that were prevalent under the colonial PRB Act, 1867. The Press Sewa Portal will allow publishers to file applications for title registration online, using Aadhar-based e-signatures. A Probability Meter will indicate the likelihood of title availability. There will be real-time tracking of applications status, accessible through an intuitively designed dashboard. A dedicated DM Module will enable District Magistrates to manage applications received from publishers in a centralized dashboard. The new website will offer easy access to relevant information, featuring an AI-based chatbot for user-friendly interactions. There will be benefits of automation. There will be online services for Title Registration, paperless processes with e-sign facilities, integration of a Direct Payment Gateway, QR code-based digital certificates, module for Press Keepers/owner enabling online intimation about Printing press, efficient tracking of newspaper registration, and quick grievance resolution through a chatbot-based interactive Grievance Resolution Software. There will be transparent empanelment of Media Planning and eBilling System. This will revolutionize Media Planning. The Ministry is introducing this for the Central Bureau of Communication. The CBC provides comprehensive 360 degree media and communication solutions to Ministries, Departments, PSUs, and autonomous bodies. The new system of CBC is designed to enhance transparency and efficiency in media planning processes, and provide an end-to-end ERP solution for the media industry for doing business in a paperless and faceless environment. The new CBC system will have a streamlined empanelment process. An online system for empanelment of newspaper, periodicals, TV, Radio and digital media to ensure transparency and efficiency. NaViGate Bharat Portal will be a National Video Gateway of Bharat. It will offer dedicated pages for Ministries, Sectors, Schemes, and Campaigns. With detailed descriptions for all videos, these pages provide a holistic view of Government initiatives. There will be a National Register for Local Cable Operators (LCOs) to streamline the sector and bring registration of the LCOs currently with Post Offices spread across the country, under a Centralised Registration System. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted raids at several locations, including premises linked to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik in hydel project case. Malik, a former BJP leader, has been criticising the Narendra Modi government over several issues. He had also alleged that the Modi government fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on bodies of our soldiers and claimed he was asked to keep quiet when he sought investigation into the Pulwama attack. He had also attacked the Modi government over Wednesdays killing of a protesting farmer at Khanauri border in Punjab during their Delhi Chalo protest march. Advertisement Reacting to the raids, Malik said he is not scared of these raids and will continue to stand with the farmers of the country. I have been ill for the last 3-4 days and am admitted to the hospital. Despite this, my house is being raided by the dictator through government agencies. My driver and my assistant are also being raided and harassed unnecessarily. I am a farmers son, I will not be afraid of these raids. I am with the farmers, Malik wrote on X. The hydel project case pertains to the alleged corruption in awarding contract of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) worth Rs 2,200 crore. Interestingly, Malik, who served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 2018 and October 2019, had claimed that he was offered Rs 300-crore bribe for clearing files, including one related to the Kiru project. Following Maliks claims, the CBI had launched an investigation and conducted searches at several locations in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir last month. The central probe agency claimed it recovered incriminating documents and cash of over Rs 21 lakh during the raids. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at the residence of former governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satyapal Malik, along with around 30 locations, in connection with an alleged corruption case. The searches were conducted by the Central agency as part of a probe into alleged corruption in awarding civil works for the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) in 2019, sources said. Way back in 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir government had called for a CBI probe in this connection. The CBI is conducting a probe into allegations of unfair practices adopted while awarding civil contracts to the tune of approximately Rs 2,200 crore. Advertisement Reacting to the development, Malik said, through a post on X, the searches are conducted by the agencies at his place in his absence despite that fact that he was unwell for three-four days and has been hospitalised. I am a farmers son, will not be scared from such raids. I am with the farmers, he wrote on X. He said while the Central agency was conducting searches at his premises, those people against whom he had complained were spared. The federal probe agency has also booked other officials and a firm in this regard. According to the sources, the operation started on Thursday morning with the sleuths conducting searches across multiple states at the locations of Malik and others linked to the case. Barely three days after resigning from the Samajwadi Party, Swami Prasad Maurya launched a new political party, Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party, on Thursday. The party was announced at an event at the Talkatora Stadium in the national capital Delhi. On the occasion, a large number of supporters of Swami Prasad Maurya together pledged to raise their voice for the Dalits and backward people. The senior Uttar Pradesh leader resigned from Samajwadi Party membership and the post of MLC on February 20 accusing the party of discrimination. Advertisement Mauryas move is being linked to the Lok Sabha elections. According to political experts, he has the potential to inflict the biggest loss on the Samajwadi Party politically. Although the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party, a party led by Dalit and OBC leaders, formed in 2013 by Saheb Singh Dhangar in Aligarh, it failed to leave its mark in electoral politics. With Maurya taking the charge, the party is expected to be revived and could even put up a challenge to Akhilesh Yadav in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Earlier on February 13, Swami Prasad Maurya resigned from the post of SP general secretary accusing the high command of discrimination. He held senior positions in the BSP for 20 years and served as a cabinet minister in the Mayawati government. Before the 2017 elections, Swamy switched sides and joined the BJP. He was made a cabinet minister when the party formed its government under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath. However, after just five years of his stint with the BJP, he was disillusioned with saffron party and joined the SP before the 2022 elections. Mainland urges Taiwan to publish truth of fatal boat incident Xinhua) 08:08, February 22, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Chinese mainland on Wednesday urged Taiwan to make public the truth of a recent incident in waters near Kinmen that led to the death of two people on a mainland fishing boat. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, also called on relevant parties in Taiwan to hand serious punishments to those responsible for the incident, satisfy reasonable demands of the bereaved families, and issue a formal apology to them. "We are resolute in protecting our compatriots' legitimate rights and interests, and allow no recurrence of such an incident," Zhu said. Taiwan authorities' brutal treatment of the fishing boat from Fujian Province on Feb. 14 led to all four people on board falling into the sea, and two of them died. However, relevant authorities in Taiwan denied any wrongdoing, and attempted to conceal the truth. Certain individuals in Taiwan have also made irresponsible remarks concerning the incident, Zhu said. She noted that it was not until the bereaved families and compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait made a strong push for the truth that relevant authorities in Taiwan admitted that a vessel from Taiwan had rammed into the fishing boat, causing it to capsize and leading to the casualties. Despite this, the Taiwan side continues to attempt to cover up the truth of the incident and shirk its responsibilities. Zhu said that the incident was not a sporadic case. Since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in Taiwan in 2016, similar incidents have occurred on multiple occasions, seriously harming the interests of those in the mainland fishing industry and the sentiment of mainland compatriots, she noted. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Wall Street banks really needed dealmaking to make a comeback. It may finally be happening. The volume of US mergers and acquisitions is up 130% so far this quarter, to $288 billion, according to data from Dealogic. Worldwide M&A is up 56%, to $453 billion. That surge includes three major deals announced this week in the US. Credit card lender Capital One (COF) said it would acquire rival Discover Financial Services (DFS) for roughly $35 billion. Charlotte-based regional bank Truist Financial (TFC) said it would sell its remaining $15.5 billion stake in an insurance arm. And retailing giant Walmart (WMT) confirmed plans to acquire smart TV maker Vizio (VZIO) for $2.3 billion. The pacts could mean hundreds of millions in new fees for some of the biggest banks at a time when their traditional lending profits are expected to decline. Morgan Stanley (MS), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), and Citigroup (C) all had a hand in at least one of the transactions. That trend "we think will bode well for the balance of the year," Citigroup CFO Mark Mason said Tuesday at a Bank of America Securities conference. Big banks have been waiting two years for M&A to pick back up again. Last year was supposed to be the year things turned around; instead, 2023 was the worst year for dealmaking in a decade as clients turned cautious about everything from the direction of interest rates to relations with China to the larger US economy. Investment banking revenue at the five big banks with sizable Wall Street operations fell by an average of 9% last year. The portion of these fees tied to advice given on mergers or acquisitions declined even more, by 21% on average. Some executives even had to walk back their talk of "green shoots" after the hoped-for surge in deals failed to materialize. A lot is riding on a Wall Street revival that sticks in 2024. That's because banks expect to see their traditional lending income drop as demand falls and margins get squeezed. The Federal Reserve is expected to begin cutting rates at some point this year, and that could hurt the giant banks that were able to charge a lot more for their loans when rates were higher. Story continues "Loan growth is [a] dog fight right now," Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said at a Bank of America Securities conference Wednesday, speaking to commercial borrowing usage by his companys large corporate clients. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams via Getty Images) Mason, the Citigroup CFO, added a note of caution about the M&A pickup. Even though "we are seeing a significant increase in announced deals," the number of deals actually closing in the first quarter has "not been that high." There are many uncertainties still about the prospect for M&A throughout 2024, including what the Fed does on rates and how far the Biden administration goes in its campaign to scrutinize consolidations across a number of industries. Last month a federal court sided with the Justice Departments request to block JetBlues (JBLU) $3.8 billion acquisition of rival Spirit Airlines (SAVE). A lot of other mergers also hang in the balance due to antitrust reviews, from the tie-ups of air carriers Alaska (ALK) and Hawaiian (HA) to grocery chains Kroger (KR) and Albertsons (ACI) to amusement park giants Six Flags (SIX) and Cedar Fair (FUN). "The one thing we can be confident of is that the Biden administration will be tougher on mergers than the Trump administration so if I were trying to pull off a big merger, I'd wait until November," said Cornell Law School professor George Hay. But clearly, some companies are clearly willing to roll the dice on buying rivals, including Capital One. Its purchase of Discover would create one of the largest US credit card companies and a formidable new rival to American Express (AXP), Visa (V), and Mastercard (MA). Capital One headquarters in McLean, Va. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images) Capital One predicts the deal will close in late 2024 or early 2025 if it gets that regulatory approval. "We doubt the timing is a coincidence. The deal is unlikely to close before the elections," Ian Katz, a managing director for Capital Alpha Partners, said Tuesday. "If the Republicans win, approval becomes more likely. We think approval is also possible under Biden-appointed regulators, but the proposed deal will take many months and receive intense scrutiny." Another regional lender, PNC Financial Services Group (PNC), has also been making some noise about getting bigger as a way of surviving long term. Its CFO, Rob Reilly, made it clear Wednesday that the bank is not that concerned about regulatory pushback. "We think should an opportunity arise for us ... we think that there would be a large degree of regulatory support under the current setup," said Reilly, noting that he met with acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu last week. 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 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called an all-party meeting on Thursday on the issue of increased water bills in Delhi. The meeting will be held today at 4 pm at CMs residence. The Kejriwal government wants to bring a one-time settlement scheme regarding increased water bills, this will be discussed in the all-party meeting, the party source added. Earlier on June 14, 2023, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the One Time Settlement Scheme for pending water bills of consumers in the national capital. With approximately 27.6 lakh consumers in Delhi, 11.7 lakh consumers have been burdened with outstanding dues amounting to a total of Rs 5,737 crore, the CMO stated. Under the new scheme, effective August 1, the government will completely waive off the pending water bills of 7 lakh consumers. This initiative aims to provide immense relief to those who have been struggling to meet their obligations. Addressing a press conference, CM Kejriwal had said, We are announcing a major scheme for the residents of Delhi. I think that the people of Delhi have been waiting for this for several months now. The water bills of some residents have been accumulating for a while now. Advertisement There are several reasons for this. The major reason is that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the meter reading for several households was not possible. There were also some cases of people who were supposed to note down the water metre at the time, providing incorrect data as they could not physically carry out their duties. In some households, wrong bills were sent, and so on, CM Kejriwal said. He said that there are 27.6 lakh domestic water metres in the city. He said that out of this there are arrears on 11.7 lakh water bills. Due to some reason or another, the people residing in these 11.7 lakh households have refused to pay their bills. The total amount that these bills add up to is Rs 5,737 crore. If we tried to fix all these bills and get into the reasons for the anomaly, then it would take us over 100 years to sort this out. So, it was not possible to do that. Therefore, we have come out with a one-time settlement scheme for such households., he said. All the bills have been divided into two categories. The first category is the one in which there are two okay readings in these, the metre reader has gone and read the bill twice at least and both parties acknowledge this. The second category is the one in which there is either one or nil okay reading, the CMO release added. He further expressed the belief that the one-time settlement scheme will go on to benefit most of the consumers in a major way. This scheme has been approved by the DJB in their meeting today. Now it needs to come to the Cabinet and there are some other formalities to be completed. We believe that by 1st August it will all be done and we will be able to implement it after that. It will be applicable for a period of three months, he said. The Delhi CM further added that the new bill that will be generated after August 1 will be based on this and the consumer will have three months to pay and clear off the bill. If the consumer fails to pay the new bill within the three-month period then they will fall back to the old policy. Then the consumer will have to pay the pending bill and cannot avail the facility provided by this one-time settlement scheme, he said. Kejriwal added, A lot of these problems have been caused either by incorrect meter readings or because the meter readers did not do their job properly. The government is in the process of formulating policies that will bring an end to this problem and the details would be provided to the public in the due course of time. One organ donor, another recipient patient is a very common phenomenon in medical science. For the first time, the surgeons at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here have transplanted dual lobe liver (two donors) into one patient with 126 kg body weight and battling chronic liver failure for a long time. In a remarkable display of courage and medical innovation, the 20 experts of Digestive Science and Organ transplant surgeons have accomplished the first-ever dual lobe liver transplant for liver failure in Rajasthan, Dr Naimish N Mehta, renowned Transplant Surgeon and Chairman Centre for Digestive Sciences told a press conference here today. Dr Naimish said, This historic procedure offers renewed hope to patients like Indra Pal, a 50-year-old man weighing a whopping 126 kgs battling chronic liver failure, and underscores the power of resilience and familial support in the face of adversity. Advertisement Dr Naimish who introduced the two donors and patient to the media said, Indra Pals journey to recovery began when he was admitted to with advanced liver failure, necessitating a life-saving liver transplant. However, the challenge arose in finding a suitable donor liver of adequate size for transplantation. Mrs. Taravati, Indra Pals wife, offered a portion of her liver for donation. However, her partial liver alone was insufficient for transplantation for his weight. This procedure becomes necessary in situations where a portion of the liver from a single living donor is insufficient for the patients needs and if the adequate volume is not implanted it becomes detrimental for the recipients health. In such cases, a groundbreaking solution emergestwo different individuals contribute parts of their livers, which are then skilfully joined in a single patient. This transformative approach not only addresses the intricacies of organ compatibility but also provides a renewed chance of cure for those facing otherwise limited options, according to Dr Naimish who has performed over 2000 successful liver transplants. This dual lobe liver transplant represents a major breakthrough in our mission to enhance patient outcomes in liver transplantation, remarked Dr. Naimish claiming, Through innovative surgical techniques and advancements in transplant medicine, we are able to offer a lifeline to patients grappling with end-stage liver disease. The major surgery and procedure done late last month continued for 18 hours by a team of 20 experts and surgeons of the concerned fields. Dr M L Swarankar, MGMCHs founder and first test baby surgeon of Rajasthan, said the meticulous optimization of both the donors and the recipient was conducted under the watchful care of our in-house Hepatologist, Dr. Karan Kumar and whose attentive expertise ensured a seamless transition into the operating room, setting the stage for a meticulously executed procedure led by the skilled hands of Dr. Mehta and his surgical team. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the International Tour for Teachers programme here on Thursday. In the first batch, 102 teachers selected from across the state are being sent on a five-day tour to Singapore on February 24. The Chief Minister also provided foreign tour kits to the selected teachers. Advertisement On March 15, the second batch of 98 teachers will be sent on tour abroad. During their exposure visit abroad, the teachers would get an opportunity to be familiar with new technologies in the education sector besides being acquainted with new methods of teaching and education which would ensure better coordination between teachers and students, the Chief Minister said. Himachals ranking has adversely lowered to 18th position in terms of providing qualitative education due to the lack of interest of the previous government, he charged, adding that the present government was making every possible effort to improve the standard of education so that the students could become competent to meet the future challenges. He said that the Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools being opened in the state were a unique initiative towards providing qualitative education and in the coming ten years, these would emerge as the best schools, where along with education, all other adequate facilities would be available. The Chief Minister said that English medium education would be introduced from Class 1 in government schools in the next academic session. The Chief Minister further said that the vision of self-reliant Himachal has been presented in the second budget of the congress government, which would yield positive results in the next few years. Himachal will move forward on the path of progress with new policies and a few tough decisions, which will be fruitful in times to come. He said that the state government has announced a four per cent dearness allowance to its employees. Old pension has also been restored, benefiting lakhs of government employees. Also, the state government has announced to provide LTC facility to the state employees at least twice during their service period from the next financial year, he said. Education Minister Rohit Thakur said, Today is a historic day as the first batch of teachers embarks on an exposure visit abroad. This will give teachers an opportunity to learn new methods of education. He said that since the formation of the present government, concrete efforts have been made to improve the quality of education. The state government is filling the vacant posts in the education department on a priority basis to ensure quality education in government schools, he remarked. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated, dedicated and laid foundation stones of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 8,350 crore in Gujarats Tarabh. Speaking at the launch event, Modi said, Today, every effort being made in the new India is creating a legacy for the future generations. The new and modern roads and railway tracks that are being built today are the paths of developed India only. He said that it is an unprecedented Kaal Khand in Indias development journey when Dev Kaaj (work of gods) and Desh Kaaj (works of nation) are being done at a pace faster then ever. Advertisement It is an unprecedented and wonderful Kaal Khand in the Vikas Yatra of Bharat. It is a time when both Dev Kaaj and Desh Kaaj have been at a pace faster than ever!, the PM said. The prime minister also offered prayers at a newly consecrated temple at Tarabh and highlighted his recent experiences of inaugurating several temples, including the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Exactly a month ago today, on 22 January, I was at the feet of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. There I had the privilege of participating in the historic event of consecration of the idol of Lord Ramlala. After that, on 14 February (Vasant Panchami), I got the opportunity to inaugurate the first Hindu temple of Khadi countries in Abu Dhabi. Just 2-3 days ago, I also got the opportunity to lay the foundation stone of Kalki Dham in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. Now today I have the privilege of worshiping after the Pran Pratistha in this grand, divine temple here in Tarabh, Modi said. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to reach Navsari, where he will initiate work on multiple development projects worth about Rs 24,700 crore. At around 6.15 pm, he will visit the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay bilateral visits to the Republic of Korea and Japan on 5-8 March. He will be first on a two-day visit to Seoul from 5 March to co-chair the 10th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Tae-yul. During the visit, he is expected to meet Korean dignitaries, heads of think-tanks and the Indian community. The IndiaRepublic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership has expanded to diverse areas of cooperation, which include trade, investments, defence, education, S&T and culture. Advertisement The JCM is expected to comprehensively review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for further strengthening it. It will also provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. EAM will then visit Japan from 6th March to 8th March for the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue with the Foreign Minister of Japan Ms Yoko Kamikawa. The two Ministers are expected to discuss issues of bilateral, regional and global importance, and exchange views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-pacific. The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership has further deepened in the last decade in areas such as defence and digital technologies, semiconductor supply chains, clean energy, high speed rail, industrial competitiveness and connectivity. The EAMs visit and meetings in Tokyo will provide strategic guidance to functional cooperation in these areas. The EAM will also participate in the first Raisina Roundtable@Tokyo. The Roundtable is a key step towards enhancing track-2 exchanges between India and Japan. He is expected to interact with business leaders, think tanks and academia, building upon strong cultural and people-to people ties. The EAMs visits to the Republic of Korea and Japan, two of Indias major partners, will impart further momentum to bilateral exchanges and set the agenda for future cooperation. The Kerala BJP blamed its IT cell for a goof-up in the promo song released by the partys state unit. The song calls upon the people to defeat the government at the Centre that is known for corruption. The promo song by the Kerala BJP released for its month-long statewide Padayatra (foot march) led by K Surendran contained the lines Lets join our hands to defeat the union governments rule, which is famous for corruption putting the party in an embarrassing situation. The partys state leadership hastened to put the blame squarely on its IT cell and sought an explanation from cell convener S Jayashankar for the faux pas. Advertisement The goof-up came to light on Wednesday when songs were played during a break to BJPs Kerala Padayatra on reaching Ponnani in the Malappuram district. Since the event was live-streamed, videos of the incident were recorded and shared by several social media users. The goof-up came to the notice of the state party leadership after it went viral on social media, inviting all kinds of reactions. The saffron party in Kerala is now being mocked on social media. Following this, the BJP leadership clarified that it was a mistake on the part of its IT cell. Later, the party removed the song from its official social media handles. The song was written in 2013 against the Congress-led Union government. During one of the breaks in the rally in Ponnani, this old song came up in the playlist, BJP sources said The embarrassment came a few days after the Kerala BJP courted controversy for a poster for the Padayatra in the Kozhikode district that said Kerala BJP president K Surendran would have lunch with SC and ST leaders on February 20. Out of 193 member states of the United Nations only eight countries have a Uniform Civil Code the United States, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt and Ireland. All these countries have one set of personal laws for all religions and there are no separate laws for any particular religion or community. Additionally, some countries like France, Germany, and Japan have aspects of uniformity in their civil codes that apply to all citizens, regardless of their religion or beliefs. In India before the recent legislation in Uttrakhand, only Goa had a Uniform Civil Code which was implemented by the Portuguese in 1867 and continued after 1961. Mentioned in the Constitution of India as Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, framers of the Constitution had proposed that the adoption of Uniform Civil Code would replace personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community with a common set governing every citizen. The subject is not new it has been hotly debated in Parliament with respect to the Shah Bano case in 1985 at which time the Supreme Court regretted that Article 44 of the Constitution of India in relation to bringing of Uniform Civil Code in India remained a dead letter and held that a common civil code would help the cause of national integration by removing disparate loyalties to laws which have conflicting ideologies. Here I would also like to add that in July 2019, the Parliament of India abolished the practice of Triple Talaq and made it a punishable act. However, much more needs to be done for removal of disparities within personal laws of various religious communities concerning womens rights. Before proceeding it is important to understand how different religions and their personal laws might be impacted by the formulation and implementation of a Uniform Civil Code: i) Hinduism: Existing laws like the Hindu Marriage Act (1955) and the Hindu Succession Act (1956) would need amendments; Uniform Civil Code would not allow exceptions based on customary practices. ii) Islam: the Muslim Personal (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 currently guides marriage, divorce, and maintenance under Islamic law; if a Uniform Civil Code is introduced, the minimum age for marriage and the practice of polygamy could change. iii) Sikhs: Sikh marriage laws are governed by the Anand Marriage Act of 1909, but there is no provision for divorce; under Uniform Civil Code, a common law would likely apply to all communities, including marriages registered under the Anand Act. iv) ZoroastrianParsis: the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 currently restricts rights for women who marry outside their religion; Uniform Civil Code could abolish this provision and impact the recognition of adoptive daughters. Advertisement Since Jains and Buddhists in the country are governed under Hindu personal laws, as per the religion of the parties concerned, adherents of these religions also fall into the ambit of a common law applicable to all citizens throughout India. Likewise, two other smaller minority communities, the Jews and the Bahais. Let me elaborate. Currently, Jewish personal laws are governed by their religious customs and traditions. If the Uniform Civil Code is enforced these specific laws would be replaced by a uniform legal framework. For example, provisions related to marriage, divorce, and inheritance would no longer be guided solely by Jewish religious practices. Although the personal laws of the Bahai Faith are not yet officially recognized in India, the followers are guided by personal laws given by their Founder, Bahaullah. If the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, Bahais would also come under its purview. Their personal laws would be replaced by the common civil code. Issues like interfaith marriages, inheritance, and guardianship would be governed by the same legal provisions applicable to all citizens. In summary, while the Uniform Civil Code aims for uniformity, its impact on minority religions would involve a transition from religious-specific laws to a secular legal framework. No one can say when the Uniform Civil Code would be adopted in the country but it is clear that the process has begun. There are critics across the country who argue that a Uniform Civil Code could undermine Indias rich religious, ethnic and cultural diversity. They fear it might impinge upon the multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic ethos of the country and curtail the freedom of belief and practice of minority and tribal communities as granted in Articles 25-28 and 29 of the Constitution, and various judgments by the Courts of Law in the country. Therefore, the Government needs to ensure harmony in plurality rather than blanket uniformity for a flourishing democracy. As a member of the Bahai Faith, I may share that its Founder, Bahaullah, while affirming the validity of the great religions of the past has formulated laws and ordinances addressing the needs of entire humankind. In his Book of Laws, titled the Kitab-i-Aqdas, which is also regarded as the charter for a new world order, Bahaullah has addressed three areas: i) the individuals relationship to the Divine, ii) physical and spiritual matters which benefit the individual directly, iii) relations among individuals and between the individual and society. These precepts can be grouped under the following headings: prayer and fasting; laws of personal status governing marriage, divorce and inheritance; a range of other laws, ordinances and prohibitions, as well as exhortations; and the abrogation of specific laws and ordinances of past religious codes that now constitute obstacles to the emerging unification of the world and reconstruction of human society. Set in the context of an ever-advancing civilization, the Kitab-i-Aqdas is the kernel of a vast range of laws that will arise in the centuries to come and supplemented by the legislations of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council that Bahaullah ordained for the progressive application of what could be regarded as the universal civil code. It is further elaborated in the Bahai writings that for the time being only the spiritual laws are universally binding upon the followers, the civil laws formulated by Governments in their respective countries should be obeyed as loyal citizens. The hope is expressed that as the society emerges from the chaotic conditions that prevail today the need for a universal civil code would be recognized by the governments of the world. From an interfaith perspective, followers of all religions must understand the fundamentally spiritual character of the laws and ordinances contained in their Sacred Scriptures. The variations and peculiarities in different religious communities may be attributed to the socio-historical exigencies of diverse peoples in different regions of world when the means of communication were limited; access to knowledge was confined to a small section of the population, and multiple interpretations by religious leaders of the actual utterances of the founders respective religions. In this Age, when peoples of all races, nations, religions, and ethnic backgrounds are being challenged to subordinate all lesser loyalties and limiting identities to their oneness as citizens of a single planetary homeland, Bahaullah points out that through obedience to the laws and ordinances that are universally beneficial we can perceive the fragrance of Divinity. For, the real purpose of Law is to enable every human being to ascend unto the station conferred upon ones inmost being; understand the full measure of ones destiny on earth, and willing instruments for the maintenance of order in the world and security of its peoples. (The writer is a social worker, an independent researcher and a member of the Bahai community of India. Views expressed are personal.) In the sprawling archipelago of Indonesia, where democracy has been a beacon of hope in a region plagued by autocrats and juntas, the recent victory of controversial former General Prabowo Subianto in the presidential election casts a shadow over the nations democratic trajectory. Despite his rebranding from a chequered past to a seemingly cuddly grandad, Mr Subiantos ascent to power is tinged with concerns that ripple through the very fabric of Indonesias democratic credentials. The path to victory for him was not without its controversies, and the most unsettling aspect lies in the erosion of democratic institutions under the tenure of his predecessor, Joko Widodo, who remains immensely popular and backed Mr Subianto in a move that some argue contributed to the perceived undemocratic nature of the election. Accusations of interference in the electoral process, arbitrary cancellations of opposition rallies, and intimidation of critics only serve to deepen the democratic fissures that have widened in recent years. Mr Subiantos platform, framed as one of continuity with improvements, includes key policies championed by Mr Widodo, such as the ambitious plan to relocate the capital from Jakarta. However, the concern lingers that these policies might come with a more worrying continuity ~ a crackdown on civil society and press freedom. This apprehension is not unfounded, given Mr Subiantos past, including allegations of kidnapping pro-democracy activists in the 1990s and ordering massacres in East Timor in the 1980s. Human Rights Watchs revelation that Mr Subianto was the only candidate who did not respond to a questionnaire on human rights issues is deeply troubling. It underscores a reluctance to address crucial aspects that are important to voters and crucial for the countrys democratic health. While some argue that fears of Indonesia descending into full autocracy are overblown, the weakening of democratic institutions during Mr Widodos presidency leaves the nation vulnerable. Mr Marcus Mietzner of the Australian National University suggests that Mr Subianto might not need to completely overturn Indonesian democracy, given its current fragility. The question then beckons ~ what will be the true cost of this victory for Indonesia? Economic growth, a hallmark of Mr Widodos administration, may continue, but at what expense to democratic principles? The delicate balance between progress and the protection of fundamental democratic values is at stake. Advertisement As Indonesia navigates this uncertain political terrain, the international community must remain vigilant. The worlds third-largest democracy could be at a crossroads, and the choices made in the coming years will determine whether it continues to stand as a beacon of democracy or slides into a more authoritarian trajectory. In the face of these challenges, Indonesians, civil society, and the media must stand united to safeguard the hard-fought gains of the reformasi era. The strength of Indonesias democracy lies not solely in the hands of its leaders but in the collective resilience of its people to uphold the principles that have defined the nations post-Suharto journey. We call him Shakespeare of India. We regard him as the greatest poet and playwright of ancient India. The world recognises him as one of the greatest poets of all time. Yet, few people have read his exhilarating poems and plays and very few know about his life and work.This is mainly because he wrote in classical Sanskrit,once the pride of India but now designated as a dead language and also because there was no recorded history about his time. He is none other than our one and only Kalidasa, the legendary poet and dramatist of ancient India.Like Englands Shakespeare,Kalidasas life is also shrouded in many mysteries. A few miles from the city of Nagpur in Central India can be seen a sleeping town, Ramtek, known for its ancient Ram Temple and a Kalidas Smarak (Memorial) to commemorate Kalidasas writing of Meghadootam, one of his famous works. It is believed that Kalidasa composed the exquisite long poem Meghadootam sitting on the hillocks of Ramtek and looking at the advancing dark monsoon clouds from there. In recent time, a university, Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University has been established at Ramtek in memory of Kalidasa. This gives credence to the theory that poet Kalidas perhaps lived in this region, within the periphery of Ujjain, the capital city of a thriving empire ruled by the legendary king, Vikramaditya. But owing to the absence of any historiography and recorded evidence, this remains in the realm of speculation. Stories with considerable embellishment exist about Kalidasas early life, partly as folklore without any authenticity. One of the most popular stories has been that in his childhood, he earned the name of murkh Kalidas (Kalidas the fool) after he was found cutting the branch of a tree sitting on the wrong side, which could have resulted in a fatal fall. Another interesting story surrounds his marriage and his attainment of poethood. It is believed that, as part of a conspiracy hatched by some courtiers, the uninitiated young Kalidasa got married to an intelligent princess named Vidyottama and when she found out that her husband was not educated, Kalidasa was banished from the palace and asked to return only after he became a scholar. Advertisement Spurned by his wife, Kalidasa travelled to various places and finally came to the Gadkalika Temple (which still exists) on the bank of the river Shipra (Kshipra) in Ujjayini, where he started his tapasya. Here, he received the grace of goddess Kali and became a poet. It is also believed that Kalidasa was not his original name (which still remains unknown) and he was given the name Kalidasa because he received the blessings of goddess Kali. Nothing is known about whether the learned Kalidas returned to his wife in the palace or whether he married somebody else. There are several versions of this story involving various places including Varanasi. Notwithstanding recent research and debates among scholars, no conclusive evidence has been found about Kalidasas origin. Another dimension has been added to the confusion by several scholars saying that there were at least three poets with the name of Kalidas during the same period and that many works are falsely attributed to poet Kalidasa. William Shakespeare also faced similar accusations and became a victim of speculation. The theory of multiple Kalidasas should be discounted in the absence of any credible evidence. There is endless controversy about his origin and the place of his literary activity. Some scholars, based on the flora and fauna mentioned in his works, believed that he lived in the Himalayas while some others thought he lived in Ujjayini (modern Ujjain) and there were still others who speculated that he belonged either to Magadha or Kalinga. According to Lakshmi Dhar Kalla (1891-1953), a Kashmiri Pandit and Sanskrit scholar, Kalidasa was born in Kashmir and later moved southwards to Ujjayini. Kalla in his book The Birthplace of Kalidasa (1926) supported this view by citing Kalidasas mention in his work about Kashmirs flora-fauna (saffron plant, deodar trees, and musk deer), geographical descriptions (valleys and glades), some legends (Nikumbha in Nikumbha Purana) and Kashmiri Shaivaism (Pratyabhijna philosophy reflected in Sakuntala). Kallas theory of Kalidasa being a Kashmiri Pandit migrating to Ujjayini appears to be a plausible one because it matches the most common belief that poet Kalidasa, the genius, served as one of the Nav Ratnas (nine gems) in the court of the great king Vikramaditya at Ujjayini. Here again there is a twist. According to some historians, Vikramaditya was a common title given to many powerful kings and since Kalidasa was supposed to belong to the Gupta era, in all probability, this Vikramaditya belonged to Magadha, so also Kalidasa. So the confusion remains. According to the majority of historians of ancient Indian history, poet Kalidasa lived during 4th to 5th century CE in the Gupta era and that he had been one of the nine gems in the court of Chandragupta II (375- 415 CE) who ruled north India from his capital Magadha. If true, this will mean that poet Kalidasa lived in the Magadha region (modern Bihar) and not in Ujjain and the legend of his being a Ratna in the court of Malwa king Vikramaditya at Ujjayini would be a myth. Another confusion ~ a Sinhalese tradition says that Kalidasa died in Sri Lanka during the reign of Kumaradasa and died there being killed by a courtesan named Kamini. It is a mystery as to why and how Kalidasa landed in the distant island of Sri Lanka! It is a sad reflection on us that no records are available about the place of birth, death, life and chronology of creations of the greatest poet of ancient India. It is also a tragic commentary on the Indian genius (the Rishis and Gurus) that unlike the Greeks who built academies and institutions to perpetuate their arts, culture science and philosophy, the great Indian kings, Rishis and scholars never bothered to create institutions, solely depending on the AshramGurukul system, although ancient India had been a treasure house of the highest forms of art, culture, literature and philosophy and produced a galaxy of great men and women in science, arts, literature and science. Kalidasa was one of them and he would have gone into oblivion but for his re-discovery by the Western scholars like Sir William Jones, Montgomery Schuyler Jr, Goethe, and Sir Monier Williams. Kalidasa wrote in classical Sanskrit. In an age when writing paper, pen, pencil, printing technology, indelible ink etc. were unknown and even the Devanagri script of Sanskrit was not fully developed, one can imagine how difficult it was to write and preserve the manuscripts. The writing materials consisted of mostly bird-feather pen, charcoal ink, vegetable colours, bhurjapatra, taalpatra and taamrapatra or cotton cloth. To preserve, make copies and popularize the manuscripts for generations must have been a herculean task and therefore, the literary creations were necessarily confined to the authors family or a small coterie of friends and royal patrons. It is suspected that Kalidasa who had been a prolific writer must have produced a lot more wonderful poems and dramas many of which must have been lost and only a handful of them that received royal patronage and were performed before royal audiences finally survived. Kalidasas works which have survived through centuries and are indisputably attributed to him have been two epics, three plays (dramas) and two long poems. These are: 1. Kumarasambhavam (Mahakavya or Epic): It is about the birth, adolescence and marriage of goddess Parvati with Shiva and birth of their son Kartikeya. 2. Raghuvamsam (Mahakavya): It is an epic poem about the kings of the Raghu dynasty. 3. Abhijnanasakuntalam (Play): Regarded as a masterpiece, it tells the story of King Dushyantas falling in love and gandharva marriage with Shakuntala, daughter of Viswamitra and Menaka, abandoned at birth but adopted by sage Kanva, during a hunting trip in the forest. Owing to a curse of sage Durvasa, the king completely lost his memory and refused to accept her when a pregnant Shakuntala went to the palace to be united with the king. She could not show the royal ring given to her as she had lost it while taking a bath en route in a river. When the ring with the royal seal was found by a fisherman from the mouth of a fish and returned to the palace, King Dushyanta remembered everything and the remorseful king sets out for the forest to be united with Shakuntala and his son Bharat. 4. Malavikagnimitram (Play): King Agnimitra falls in love with an exiled servant girl Malavika. After the queen comes to know about it she tries to get her killed but it is discovered that Malavika is actually a princess. The queen accepts her and agrees to marry her with king Agnimitra. 5. Vikramorvashiyam (Play):Following an unfortunate incident in heaven, the celestial nymph Urvasi, was sent back to earth as a mortal with the curse that the moment her lover lays his eyes on the child she will bear, she will die and being immortal, return to heaven. However, after coming to earth, Urvasi and king Pururavas fell in deep love and she didnt wish to return to heaven. Following various mishaps which she overcame with courage, the curse is lifted and the lovers are allowed to remain together on earth. 6. Meghadootam ( The Cloud messenger ~ a khandakavya): This long poem tells the story of Yaksha trying to send messages to his lover through the dark monsoon clouds. This is one of the most popular and most sublime poems, unparalleled in Sanskrit literature 7. Shyamaladandakam (long poem): In this long poem, the poet describes the wonderful beauty of goddess Matangi. (The writer is former DY.Comptroller and auditor general of India and former Ombudsman of reserve Bank of India. He is also a writer of several books and can be reached at. brahmas@gmail.com) The Israel Minister without portfolio and member of War Cabinet in the government, Benny Gantz has said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was prepared for a military operation in Rafah during the month of Ramadan if a hostage deal is not successful. In a statement on Wednesday, Gantz said, If there is no hostage deal, we will operate during Ramadan. The Minister, who was the former Chief of Armed staff, however, said that there were signs of a hostage deal coming through. Advertisement Gantz said, There are attempts these days to promote a new framework (for a deal) and there are initial signs that indicate the possibility of moving forward. He also added that the Israel government would not miss any opportunity to bring the hostages home and added that the IDF was indeed preparing for a military operation in Rafah, which will commence only after the Palestinian civilians are evacuated from the region. Gantz also said that such an evacuation was necessary for the IDF to move against the Hamas forces in that area. The US Presidents top advisor to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, was in the region to hold talks in Egypt and Israel as part of a push to close a deal that could see a pause in the fighting by the start of the month-long Ramadan holiday. A top delegation of Hamas led by its political head, Ismail Haniyeh, is in Cairo for mediatory talks for a ceasefire during the Holy month of Ramadan, which is likely to commence on March 10. Neil Rasmus / BFA / Shutterstock.com Activist investor Carl Icahn a Wall Street legend and chairman of publicly traded Icahn Enterprises has a net worth standing at $6.11 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Check Out: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon Read Next: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money As The Motley Fool reported, Icahn similarly to fellow billionaire investor Warren Buffett believes in a value investing strategy. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Buying a Stock When No One Wants It Generally, Icahn is interested in investing in stocks whose prices dont fully reflect the businesses full potential. Icahn has said he buys into a company when no one wants it,' The Motley Fool indicated. Yet, unlike Buffett who is known for his holding strategy, Icahn is willing to sell his stocks to lock in profits once the market figures out a companys true value, The Motley Fool added. I dont know that we disagree completely, Icahn told CNBC about Buffett in 2022. I think were to a certain extent in a different business with Warren. Im an activist, Icahn said. I look for a company thats, in my mind, way undervalued such as [Southwest Gas], and theres something I can do about it. Thats what I enjoy doing. Thats why I come to work every day. While he has long-term holdings, his strategy is more oriented toward making shorter-term bets on stocks. Learn More: 8 Best Cryptocurrencies To Invest In for 2024 Being an Activist Investor Icahn has a reputation as a famed activist investor. An activist investor is someone seeking to acquire a controlling interest in a company by gaining seats on the companys board of directors. In turn, they make significant changes to the target company and unlock perceived hidden value within the target company, as the Corporate Finance Institute explained. Some of these changes include giving more cash back to shareholders or shedding divisions that the activists think are driving down the stock price, demanding board seats, replacing CEOs, and advocating specific business strategies. Story continues I have come to believe that activism, on a risk-reward basis, is the best investment paradigm that exists, Icahn told Bloomberg on Feb. 21. The reason activism works so well is that, somewhat unfortunately, many public companies are not well run. As Bloomberg reported, just last week, Icahn Enterprises won four board seats last week at JetBlue Airways Corp. and American Electric Power Co. Refusing To Focus Too Much on Hot Trends As The Motley Fool noted, part of investing like Icahn is refusing to focus too much on hot trends in stocks or about buying the fastest-growth businesses. There are lots of hidden gems out there that are simply unloved or forgotten companies with stocks trading for a discount. Buying a solid business for a fair price can lead to handsome returns for the patient investor, The Motley Fool added. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Billionaire Carl Icahn Shares 3 Investment Traps and Tips Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 41F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with rain and snow showers this evening. Remaining cloudy overnight. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%. NED BRISTOL, a retired editor of The Sun Chronicle, contributes columns on items of local interest. Reach him at news@thesunchronicle.com . The New BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) will offer SANS training courses to help grow and upskill cyber workforces across the country and the Indo-Pacific region KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) and the SANS Institute (SANS) today announced a new partnership in Malaysia, offering SANS training courses through the soon-to-be-opened BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Kuala Lumpur. In an effort to help bolster national cybersecurity capacity in Malaysia, the partnership will offer advanced technology and training to help upskill Malaysia's cyber-defenders, with a particular focus in critical areas like forensics and incident response. Now open for registrations, the SANS Secure Malaysia 2024 inaugural training will take place from March 11 16, and the first featured course will be " SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling ." BlackBerry Logo Black This new partnership with SANS marks the first major milestone in BlackBerry's landmark cybersecurity deal with the Government of Malaysia, announced at the APEC Summit in San Francisco in November 2023 . In addition to Malaysia's deployment of the full suite of trusted BlackBerry cybersecurity solutions, BlackBerry is opening its world-class CCoE in the first half of 2024 in an effort to help Malaysia educate, train and upskill cyber professionals and grow the cybersecurity ecosystem. Matthias Chia, Director of Strategy & Business Development, Asia Pacific, SANS Institute added, "As a leading provider of cybersecurity education, SANS knows first-hand that training, upskilling, and establishing a culture of continuous learning and innovation is crucial for any nation to build adequate cyber-resilience in our complex digital age. We are proud to partner with BlackBerry in Malaysia to offer our globally accredited training programs to help upskill cyber-workforces and enhance technical capabilities among cyber professionals, but also train new students wishing to carve out a career in this exciting field." Story continues In addition to the SANS programs, BlackBerry will offer its own curriculum at the new CCoE, as well as partner with Malaysian Universities and other institutions to offer a wide range of courses, certifications, and other programs to help build skilled cybersecurity workforces in Malaysia and across the Indo-Pacific region. John Dimitropoulos, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Business Development and Operations, BlackBerry Cybersecurity concluded, "With nearly 40 years' experience in protecting global governments from cyber-attacks, espionage and data leaks, BlackBerry has seen global demand for cyber skills and expertise explode, particularly in specialist areas such as Machine Learning and AI. We are pleased to announce SANS Institute's training courses will be offered through our BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Malaysia, delivering upon our shared goal to establish a globally competitive skills and learning ecosystem in Malaysia and the Indo-Pacific region for years to come." For more information about the new BlackBerry CCoE and to register interest for the SANS courses, please visit here. For more information about SANS Institute's training, table top exercises, cyber ranges and security awareness, please reach out to: SEA@sans.org or register interest for SANS Secure Malaysia 2024 courses here. About SANS Institute SANS Institute is the world's largest provider of cyber security training. For over twenty-five years, SANS has provided cutting edge training to governments and organisations across the world. Technology may have changed in that time, but SANS' core mission has remained constant: to protect through sharing cyber security knowledge and skills. SANS offers over 85 cyber security courses, operates across dozens of countries and has over 300,000 alumni. SANS training is built around a promise: students will be able to put into practice what they've learned as soon as they get back to their desk. For more information, please visit us at www.sans.org and follow us @SANSAPAC. Contact us at SEA@sans.org to connect with our sales rep and receive more information on training events around you. About BlackBerry BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 235M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust. BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere. For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry. Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services. Media Contacts: BlackBerry Media Relations +1 (519) 597-7273 mediarelations@BlackBerry.com Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/blackberry-and-sans-institute-partner-to-bolster-cybersecurity-skills-in-malaysia-302066951.html SOURCE BlackBerry Limited Job Title: Administration Officer Organization: Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About ERA: The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) is a statutory body established in accordance with the Electricity Act, 1999 (Chapter 145, Laws of Uganda). The Act empowers ERA to regulate the Generation, Transmission, Sale, Export, Import and Distribution of electrical energy in Uganda. Job Summary: The Administration Officer will provide administrative support to the Administration unit to ensure that ERAs operations are effectively supported. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Keep track of vehicle servicing and take daily mileage recordings, Ensure optimal utilization of vehicles by keeping maintenance and other operational costs low, Allocate and monitor the work of Transport Facilitators, Maintain an accurate record of all motor vehicle log books, driving licensees of Transport Facilitators and ensure timely renewal of licensees and insurance, Prepare monthly progressive reports, Develop and implement guidelines for outsourced service providers. Be in charge of the ERAs stores function, Perform any other duties as may be reasonably assigned by the supervisor or Management. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold an Honours degree in Logistics, Office Management, Development Studies or other relevant qualification. A minimum of three years of relevant working experience in a reputable organization. Age: Above 35 years How to Apply: If you believe you have the relevant qualifications and experience, please send your detailed application and CV demonstrating possession of relevant competencies, current position, names and addresses of the referees via email as One Document to pila2consultants@gmail.com Deadline: 1st March 2024 by 5:00pm. NB: Applicants who do not meet the stipulated minimum requirements need not apply. For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Job Title: EFM Management Analyst (Administrative Assistant, FSN 105) Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Salary: USD $47,419 /Per Year Position Number: Kampala-2023-089-RA1 About US Embassy: The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador. Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Peace Corps Job Summary: The EFM Management Analyst (Administrative Assistant) will coordinate special projects to include VIP visits, including POTUS and CODELs. The position coordinates the preparation of Annual Management Reports that include Financial Filers, COLA and Post differential, consumables and education reports. The position will manage the Collaborative Management initiative (CMI), and will be responsible for monitoring, coordinating, evaluating and reporting metrics. The position is supervised by the Management Counselor. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. The applicants for the United States US Embassy EFM Management Analyst (Administrative Assistant, FSN 105) job opportunity should have completed two years of college studies. Required. At least three years of administrative or clerical working experience in project coordination/project management is required. Must be able to demonstrate the ability to quickly acquire knowledge and understanding of not only the Management Offices role in the Embassy, but the Management Offices functional relationship with the Missions other sections and agencies. Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Must have excellent writing, proofreading and editing skills. Must be able to effectively use computer software (Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project or similar software) and the Internet. Must be able to manage multiple tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention-to-detail, cope with various personalities in addressing competing requests, keep tight deadlines, function in a stressful environment, and manage large numbers of people. Ability to obtain Top Secret Clearance. Language: Level IV (Fluent, speaking/reading/writing) in English is required. This will be tested. How to Apply: All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 15th March 2024 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Brady Corporation Sales for the quarter decreased 1.1 percent. Organic sales increased 1.6 percent, foreign currency translation increased sales 0.8 percent and divestitures decreased sales 3.5 percent. Gross profit margin increased to 50.2 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 48.0 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. Diluted EPS increased 18.4 percent to $0.90 in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $0.76 in the same quarter of the prior year. Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items* increased 14.8 percent to $0.93 in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $0.81 in the same quarter of the prior year. Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $36.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $29.4 million in the second quarter of last year. The low end of the Earnings per diluted Class A Common Share guidance was raised for the full year ending July 31, 2024 from the previous range of $3.70 to $3.95 to the new range of $3.80 to $3.95 on a GAAP basis, and was raised from the previous range of $3.85 to $4.10 to the new range of $3.95 to $4.10, excluding after-tax amortization expense. MILWAUKEE, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC) (Brady or Company), a world leader in identification solutions, today reported its financial results for its fiscal 2024 second quarter ended January 31, 2024. Quarter Ended January 31, 2024 Financial Results: Sales for the quarter ended January 31, 2024 decreased 1.1 percent, which consisted of organic sales growth of 1.6 percent, an increase of 0.8 percent from foreign currency translation, and a decrease of 3.5 percent from divestitures. Sales for the quarter ended January 31, 2024 were $322.6 million compared to $326.2 million in the same quarter last year. By region, sales decreased 3.8 percent in the Americas & Asia and sales increased 4.5 percent in Europe & Australia, which consisted of organic sales growth of 1.2 percent in the Americas & Asia and organic sales growth of 2.5 percent in Europe & Australia. Story continues Income before income taxes increased 15.1 percent to $55.8 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2024, compared to $48.5 million in the same quarter last year. Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items* for the quarter ended January 31, 2024, which was adjusted for amortization expense of $2.4 million, was $58.2 million, an increase of 12.4 percent compared to the second quarter of last year. Net income for the quarter ended January 31, 2024 was $43.6 million compared to $38.0 million in the same quarter last year. Earnings per diluted Class A Nonvoting Common Share were $0.90 in the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to $0.76 in the same quarter last year. Net Income Excluding Certain Items* for the quarter ended January 31, 2024 was $45.4 million and Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items* for the quarter ended January 31, 2024 was $0.93. Net Income Excluding Certain Items* for the quarter ended January 31, 2023 was $40.5 million, and Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items* for the quarter ended January 31, 2023 was $0.81. Six-Month Period Ended January 31, 2024 Financial Results: Sales for the six-month period ended January 31, 2024 increased 0.9 percent, which consisted of organic sales growth of 2.2 percent, an increase of 1.1 percent from foreign currency translation and a decrease of 2.4 percent from divestitures. Sales for the six months ended January 31, 2024 were $654.6 million compared to $648.8 million in the same period last year. By region, sales decreased 1.2 percent in the Americas & Asia and increased 5.3 percent in Europe & Australia, which consisted of organic sales growth of 2.3 percent in the Americas & Asia and organic sales growth of 2.0 percent in Europe & Australia. Income before income taxes increased 16.6 percent to $115.2 million for the six-month period ended January 31, 2024, compared to $98.8 million in the same period last year. Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items* for the six months ended January 31, 2024, which was adjusted for amortization expense of $4.7 million, was $119.9 million, an increase of 13.4 percent compared to the same period of the prior year. Net income for the six-month period ended January 31, 2024 was $90.9 million compared to $77.4 million in the same period last year. Earnings per diluted Class A Nonvoting Common Share were $1.86 for the six months ended January 31, 2024, compared to $1.55 in the same period last year. Net Income Excluding Certain Items* for the six months ended January 31, 2024 was $94.5 million and Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items* for the six months ended January 31, 2024 was $1.94. Net Income Excluding Certain Items* for the six months ended January 31, 2023 was $82.7 million, and Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items* for the six months ended January 31, 2023 was $1.65. Commentary: We are delighted with the progress of our reorganization to a regional structure, which we announced in December of 2022. We are realizing operational savings while reinforcing our organization through our investments in R&D and sales and marketing initiatives. Even in this challenging manufacturing environment, we continue to grow with our Europe & Australia region performing particularly well, said Bradys President and Chief Executive Officer, Russell R. Shaller. We believe our pipeline of new products will allow us to grow sales and profit as we integrate our businesses and execute our best go-to-market strategies in each geography. Our financial strength enables us to fund organic and inorganic growth initiatives to position ourselves for future success and increased shareholder value. Brady is financially strong and we once again reported both organic sales growth and profit improvement. This quarter, we grew organic sales by 1.6 percent, we grew GAAP earnings per share by 18.4 percent, and cash flow from operating activities increased to $36.1 million from $29.4 million last year, said Bradys Chief Financial Officer, Ann Thornton. Our capital expenditures increased to $60.8 million through January 31, 2024, which was primarily due to the purchase of a previously leased manufacturing facility. We are still in a net cash position of $95.8 million at January 31, 2024, which provides us with the flexibility to fully fund our organic growth investments, return funds to our shareholders in the form of dividends, and continue to be opportunistic with share buybacks and strategic acquisitions. We believe that our disciplined approach to capital allocation will continue to drive increased shareholder value over the long term. Fiscal 2024 Guidance: The Company raised the low end of its GAAP earnings per diluted Class A Nonvoting Common Share guidance for the year ending July 31, 2024 from the previous guidance range of $3.70 to $3.95 per share to the new full year guidance range of $3.80 to $3.95 per share. The Company also raised the low end of its Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items* guidance for the year ending July 31, 2024 from the previous range of $3.85 to $4.10 per share to the new full year guidance range of $3.95 to $4.10 per share. The assumptions included in fiscal 2024 guidance include a full-year income tax rate of approximately 22 percent, depreciation and amortization expense ranging from $30 million to $32 million, and capital expenditures of approximately $75 million, which are inclusive of approximately $55 million related to the purchase of previously leased manufacturing facilities. Fiscal 2024 guidance is based on foreign currency exchange rates as of January 31, 2024 and assumes continued economic growth. A webcast regarding Bradys fiscal 2024 second quarter financial results will be available at www.bradycorp.com/investors beginning at 9:30 a.m. central time today. Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places. Bradys products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels, signs, safety devices, printing systems and software. Founded in 1914, the Company has a diverse customer base in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, medical, aerospace and a variety of other industries. Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as of July 31, 2023, employed approximately 5,600 people in its worldwide businesses. Bradys fiscal 2023 sales were approximately $1.33 billion. Brady stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRC. More information is available on the Internet at www.bradyid.com. * Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items, Net Income Excluding Certain Items, and Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items are non-GAAP measures. See appendix for more information on these measures, including reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. In this news release, statements that are not reported financial results or other historic information are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company's future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. The use of words such as may, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, should, project, plan or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain and are subject to risks, assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond Bradys control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For Brady, uncertainties arise from: increased cost of raw materials and labor as well as material shortages and supply chain disruptions; decreased demand for our products; our ability to compete effectively or to successfully execute our strategy; our ability to develop technologically advanced products that meet customer demands; difficulties in protecting our websites, networks, and systems against security breaches; Bradys ability to identify, integrate, and grow acquired companies, and to manage contingent liabilities from divested businesses; risks associated with the loss of key employees; extensive regulations by U.S. and non-U.S. governmental and self-regulatory entities; litigation, including product liability claims; adverse impacts of regional epidemics or global pandemics; foreign currency fluctuations; potential write-offs of goodwill and other intangible assets; changes in tax legislation and tax rates; differing interests of voting and non-voting shareholders and changes in the regulatory and business environment around dual-class voting structures; numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including major public health crises and government responses thereto and those of a political, economic, business, competitive, and regulatory nature contained from time to time in Bradys U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, those factors listed in the Risk Factors section within Item 1A of Part I of Bradys Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2023. These uncertainties may cause Brady's actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in its forward-looking statements. Brady does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. For More Information: Investor contact: Ann Thornton 414-438-6887 Media contact: Kate Venne 414-358-5176 BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited; Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 322,624 $ 326,249 $ 654,607 $ 648,818 Cost of goods sold 160,541 169,809 320,805 337,114 Gross margin 162,083 156,440 333,802 311,704 Operating expenses: Research and development 16,832 15,377 32,534 29,310 Selling, general and administrative 91,325 92,282 187,612 182,227 Total operating expenses 108,157 107,659 220,146 211,537 Operating income 53,926 48,781 113,656 100,167 Other income (expense): Investment and other income 2,684 968 3,122 811 Interest expense (790 ) (1,239 ) (1,556 ) (2,133 ) Income before income taxes 55,820 48,510 115,222 98,845 Income tax expense 12,192 10,524 24,353 21,418 Net income $ 43,628 $ 37,986 $ 90,869 $ 77,427 Net income per Class A Nonvoting Common Share: Basic $ 0.90 $ 0.76 $ 1.88 $ 1.55 Diluted $ 0.90 $ 0.76 $ 1.86 $ 1.55 Net income per Class B Voting Common Share: Basic $ 0.90 $ 0.76 $ 1.86 $ 1.54 Diluted $ 0.90 $ 0.76 $ 1.85 $ 1.53 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 48,374 49,745 48,440 49,806 Diluted 48,725 50,009 48,768 50,049 BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands) January 31, 2024 July 31, 2023 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 143,860 $ 151,532 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,531 and $8,467, respectively 185,569 184,420 Inventories 164,944 177,078 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 12,147 11,790 Total current assets 506,520 524,820 Property, plant and equipmentnet 190,777 142,149 Goodwill 590,535 592,646 Other intangible assets 57,108 62,096 Deferred income taxes 14,899 15,716 Operating lease assets 24,686 29,688 Other assets 23,079 22,142 Total $ 1,407,604 $ 1,389,257 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 80,114 $ 79,855 Accrued compensation and benefits 56,408 71,470 Taxes, other than income taxes 13,345 13,575 Accrued income taxes 8,228 12,582 Current operating lease liabilities 12,758 14,726 Other current liabilities 66,449 65,828 Total current liabilities 237,302 258,036 Long-term debt 48,090 49,716 Long-term operating lease liabilities 12,510 16,217 Other liabilities 70,970 74,369 Total liabilities 368,872 398,338 Stockholders equity: Common stock: Class A nonvoting common stockIssued 51,261,487 shares, and outstanding 44,792,328 and 45,008,724 shares, respectively 513 513 Class B voting common stockIssued and outstanding, 3,538,628 shares 35 35 Additional paid-in capital 353,794 351,771 Retained earnings 1,090,045 1,021,870 Treasury stock6,469,159 and 6,252,763 shares, respectively, of Class A nonvoting common stock, at cost (305,714 ) (290,209 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (99,941 ) (93,061 ) Total stockholders equity 1,038,732 990,919 Total $ 1,407,604 $ 1,389,257 BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited; Dollars in thousands) Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 Operating activities: Net income $ 90,869 $ 77,427 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 15,008 17,117 Stock-based compensation expense 5,263 4,381 Deferred income taxes (3,640 ) (5,234 ) Other 947 (908 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (5,030 ) 280 Inventories 10,078 (1,287 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,187 ) (3,502 ) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (9,754 ) (29,156 ) Income taxes (4,203 ) (1,734 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 98,351 57,384 Investing activities: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (60,832 ) (8,167 ) Other 11 Net cash used in investing activities (60,832 ) (8,156 ) Financing activities: Payment of dividends (22,694 ) (22,793 ) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 5,366 2,688 Payments for employee taxes withheld from stock-based awards (2,362 ) (1,509 ) Purchase of treasury stock (21,797 ) (17,861 ) Proceeds from borrowing on credit agreement 69,145 71,036 Repayment of borrowing on credit agreement (70,771 ) (88,755 ) Other 149 66 Net cash used in financing activities (42,964 ) (57,128 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (2,227 ) 2,041 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (7,672 ) (5,859 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 151,532 114,069 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 143,860 $ 108,210 BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited; Dollars in thousands) Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 NET SALES Americas & Asia $ 211,643 $ 220,067 $ 433,269 $ 438,562 Europe & Australia 110,981 106,182 221,338 210,256 Total $ 322,624 $ 326,249 $ 654,607 $ 648,818 SALES INFORMATION Americas & Asia Organic 1.2 % 6.9 % 2.3 % 5.4 % Currency 0.1 % (1.0 )% % (1.2 )% Divestiture (5.1 )% % (3.5 )% % Total (3.8 )% 5.9 % (1.2 )% 4.2 % Europe & Australia Organic 2.5 % 5.2 % 2.0 % 8.9 % Currency 2.0 % (8.9 )% 3.3 % (12.8 )% Total 4.5 % (3.7 )% 5.3 % (3.9 )% Total Company Organic 1.6 % 6.3 % 2.2 % 6.6 % Currency 0.8 % (3.7 )% 1.1 % (5.1 )% Divestiture (3.5 )% % (2.4 )% % Total (1.1 )% 2.6 % 0.9 % 1.5 % SEGMENT PROFIT Americas & Asia $ 43,895 $ 40,174 $ 93,792 $ 81,319 Europe & Australia 15,054 13,459 31,798 30,217 Total segment profit $ 58,949 $ 53,633 $ 125,590 $ 111,536 SEGMENT PROFIT AS A PERCENT OF NET SALES Americas & Asia 20.7 % 18.3 % 21.6 % 18.5 % Europe & Australia 13.6 % 12.7 % 14.4 % 14.4 % Total 18.3 % 16.4 % 19.2 % 17.2 % Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Total segment profit $ 58,949 $ 53,633 $ 125,590 $ 111,536 Unallocated amounts: Administrative costs (5,023 ) (4,852 ) (11,934 ) (11,369 ) Investment and other income 2,684 968 3,122 811 Interest expense (790 ) (1,239 ) (1,556 ) (2,133 ) Income before income taxes $ 55,820 $ 48,510 $ 115,222 $ 98,845 GAAP to NON-GAAP MEASURES (Unaudited; Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) In accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions Regulation G, the following provides definitions of the non-GAAP measures used in the earnings release and the reconciliation to the most closely related GAAP measure. Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items: Brady is presenting the non-GAAP measure, "Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items." This is not a calculation based upon GAAP. The amounts included in this non-GAAP measure are derived from amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and supporting footnote disclosures. We do not view these items to be part of our ongoing results. We believe this profit measure provides an important perspective of underlying business trends and results and provides a more comparable measure from year to year. The table below provides a reconciliation of the GAAP measure of Income before income taxes to the non-GAAP measure of Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items: Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Income before income taxes $ 55,820 $ 48,510 $ 115,222 $ 98,845 Amortization expense 2,364 3,258 4,719 6,889 Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Certain Items (non-GAAP measure) $ 58,184 $ 51,768 $ 119,941 $ 105,734 Income Tax Expense Excluding Certain Items: Brady is presenting the non-GAAP measure, "Income Tax Expense Excluding Certain Items." This is not a calculation based upon GAAP. The amounts included in this nonGAAP measure are derived from amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and supporting footnote disclosures. We do not view these items to be part of our ongoing results. We believe this measure provides an important perspective of underlying business trends and results and provides a more comparable measure from year to year. The table below provides a reconciliation of the GAAP measure of Income tax expense to the non-GAAP measure of Income Tax Expense Excluding Certain Items: Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Income tax expense (GAAP measure) $ 12,192 $ 10,524 $ 24,353 $ 21,418 Amortization expense 548 769 1,094 1,634 Income Tax Expense Excluding Certain Items (non-GAAP measure) $ 12,740 $ 11,293 $ 25,447 $ 23,052 Net Income Excluding Certain Items: Brady is presenting the non-GAAP measure, "Net Income Excluding Certain Items." This is not a calculation based upon GAAP. The amounts included in this non-GAAP measure are derived from amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and supporting footnote disclosures. We do not view these items to be part of our ongoing results. We believe this measure provides an important perspective of underlying business trends and results and provides a more comparable measure from year to year. The table below provides a reconciliation of the GAAP measure of Net income to the non-GAAP measure of Net Income Excluding Certain Items: Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income (GAAP measure) $ 43,628 $ 37,986 $ 90,869 $ 77,427 Amortization expense 1,816 2,489 3,625 5,255 Net Income Excluding Certain Items (non-GAAP measure) $ 45,444 $ 40,475 $ 94,494 $ 82,682 Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items: Brady is presenting the non-GAAP measure, "Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items." This is not a calculation based upon GAAP. The amounts included in this non-GAAP measure are derived from amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. We do not view these items to be part of our ongoing results. We believe this measure provides an important perspective of underlying business trends and results and provides a more comparable measure from year to year. The table below provides a reconciliation of the GAAP measure of Net income per Class A Nonvoting Common Share to the non-GAAP measure of Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items (Note that certain amounts will not foot due to rounding): Three months ended January 31, Six months ended January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income per Class A Nonvoting Common Share (GAAP measure) $ 0.90 $ 0.76 $ 1.86 $ 1.55 Amortization expense 0.04 0.05 0.07 0.10 Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items (non-GAAP measure) $ 0.93 $ 0.81 $ 1.94 $ 1.65 Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items Guidance: Fiscal 2024 Expectations Low High Earnings per diluted Class A Common Share (GAAP measure) $ 3.80 $ 3.95 Amortization expense 0.15 0.15 Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items (non-GAAP measure) $ 3.95 $ 4.10 Albania has three million people, but gets nearly four times more tourists last year 10 million people landed in the country, but Foreign Minister Igli Hasani says Albania can host more. Some 50,000 Indians landed in the country that is known in India as the land that sent us Mother Teresa, but again, Hasani says, more would be welcome to climb its mountains, frolick on its beaches, swim in its lakes and look down into its canyons. He would like to run even direct flights between Delhi and Tirana. And not just tourists. He would also like Indians to invest more. Our aim is to further strengthen economic ties with India as we see immense potential. We need to create the necessary mechanisms to make things happen, he said after meeting a few industry captains and entrepreneurs in Delhi where he had landed to take part in the Raisina Dialogue. Plans are afoot to open an Alabanian embassy in Delhi; currently honorary consult-general Dikshu Kukreja represents Albania in India. Kukreja too would like more Indians to visit Albania where they have their version of Atithi Devo Bhava in the form of besa which literally means guest is god. Albanian language traces its roots in Sanskrit and has a strong connect with India. The beauty of the country and peace loving nature of Albanians go hand-in-hand. Albania, already a member of NATO, has been knocking at the doors of the European Union for membership. Hasani is looking for business partnerships in infrastructure building, information technology, agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Hasani feels that the past has not been kind to Alabania. We had the fiercest form of communism; we were called the North Korea of Europe, said he. But the past three decades have been an era of openness and freedom, which Albania is now fiercely defending. We had 33 years of democracy. We condemned Russias aggression on Ukraine from day one, and have been supporting Ukraines defensive efforts militarily and otherwise. Next week Albania will host a meeting on southeast European nations to review and reassess their approach to the Ukraine conflict. The war showed that peace is still fragile in the Balkans, admitted the minister. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi feels that India is one of the toughest markets for the company to grow. During an interaction with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani in Bengaluru on the subject of Building Population Scale Technology, Khosrowshahi explained why India is a challenging market. "India is one of the toughest markets out there; they are so demanding and do not pay for anything. If we can succeed here, we can succeed anywhere else," he said. This is also the best of times for Uber in India and I am proud of the team here. This is my first visit to India in four years and it is absolutely extraordinary as things have changed here and India is racing forward in many things. Khosrowshahi said he has been running Uber for the last seven years and when came to the helm of affairs in 2017, it was having a very tough time, including facing problems like cultural issues and leadership transformation. The Uber CEO said before he joined, there were 14 CEOs, and when he joined although the company was undergoing a rough patch, the talent in the organisation was extraordinary, and that helped the company perform well. Recalling his conversation with Uber staff members Nilkeani said he was told by an Uber staff member that he got a smartphone because of Uber. I was in New York in Feb 2008 and I had gone to meet a friend of mine who was a geeky guy who kept a tab of new things. He requested a cab for me by just tapping on his phone and a cab appeared in the next two minutes. Post that I really got hooked on to Uber and I use it whenever I travel outside the country though in India I have the luxury of traveling with a driver, said Nilekani. Khosrowshahi said companies and governments around the world can learn from the scale and ambition of Indias digital public infrastructure. He added that as a technology company, Uber views open-source tech stacks with a lot of interest and recognizes the opportunities they bring for everyone. One of the unique elements of India is this digital public infrastructure that has been built but continues to be built on top of. He praised the effort of Nilekani as the man behind the digital public infrastructure. He said companies such as Uber can engage better with customers because of this infrastructure. During the event, Uber signed an MoU with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to explore an integration with the network to expand the range of mobility offerings on the Uber app. The agreement with ONDC, a private non-profit organisation established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Government of India, is aimed at strengthening the company's mission of bringing safe, affordable and reliable rides to all Indians. The MoU was signed in the presence of Khosrowshahi and Nilekani by Prabhjeet Singh, president, Uber India and South Asia, and T. Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC. Uber entered India in 2013 and over the last decade, it has completed 3 billion trips in the country. It is available across 125 cities in India. Actor Trisha is suing AIADMK politician AV Raju over vulgar remarks he made recently. The remarks were made on February 17. The actor, yesterday, took to social media platform X to express her disgust over the remarks. She wrote, It's disgusting to repeatedly see low lives and despicable human beings who will stoop down to any level to gain attention. Rest assured, necessary and severe action will be taken. Anything that needs to be said and done henceforth will be from my legal department. The actor's legal team has sent a defamation notice to the politician. And the actor shared the same on her X account. In the legal notice, her lawyers have asked the politician to compensate the actor monetarily for the mental agony the remarks caused her. She has also asked the politician to take steps to remove all the articles published on various publications and social media, apart from the one where he apologises to the actor 24 hours after he receives the notice. The notice also said that if Raju failed to take these actions, she would proceed with criminal and civil action against him. Soon after Trisha posted her comment, the politician said the media misinterpreted his comments, I said about a woman who looks like actress Trisha and not actress Trisha. I apologise to everyone in the film industry including Trisha." Trisha is currently shooting for Vishwambhara, co-starring Chiranjeevi. She will soon be seen Vidaa Muyarchi with Ajith Kumar. After a series of setbacks, the INDIA alliance has something to cheer with regard to stitching up seat sharing arrangements for the coming Lok Sabha elections. A day after the seat sharing arrangement between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh was announced, the principal opposition party is learnt to have finalised a tie-up with the Aam Aadmi Party for the seats in Delhi and beyond. According to sources, an announcement of the seat sharing deal between the Congress and the AAP will be made anytime. It is learnt that the AAP will contest four seats in Delhi, while the Congress three. The AAP is expected to contest from South Delhi, West Delhi, New Delhi and Northwest Delhi. The Congress is likely to contest from East Delhi, Northeast Delhi and Chandni Chowk. It is learnt that as part of the understanding the two parties have arrived at, the Congress has agreed to give up its claim on Bharuch in Gujarat, which used to be the Lok Sabha seat of late party leader Ahmed Patel. The Congress has also agreed to let the AAP contest from Bhavnagar in Gujarat. The AAP had even before the seat sharing talks began, declared the candidature of party MLA Chaitra Vasava from Bharuch. The Congress was earlier reluctant to give up Bharuch, claiming an emotional connect with the seat since it was in the past represented by Patel. Amongst the contenders in the Congress for Bharuch was Patel's daughter Mumtaz who has been working in the constituency. According to sources, the AAP will get to contest one seat out of the ten in Haryana and one out of the 14 in Assam as part of the seat sharing deal. The AAP had announced three Lok Sabha candidates from Assam. The AAP, it is learnt, will give up its claim on South Goa constituency from where it had already declared a candidate. The Congress has a sitting MP in the constituency. Chandigarh seat, it is learnt, will have a Congress candidate as part of the alliance. As per sources in the Congress, the alliance discussions in Bihar are also in the final stages, and the seat sharing arrangement amongst the INDIA members would be announced before March 3, when the alliance leaders are scheduled to hold a joint rally in Patna. The AAP, meanwhile, today claimed that the ruling BJP has threatened to arrest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal if the AAP gets into an alliance with the Congress. Delhi Minister Atishi, addressing a press conference, claimed that the ruling BJP at the centre has through various individuals conveyed to Kejriwal that if the AAP-Congress alliance is formalised, the chief minister would receive a notice from the Central Bureau of Investigation either on Saturday or Monday, and that in the following one or two days, he would be arrested by the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate. The Congress has reacted to several of its leaders from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district joining the BJP, stating that it was not affected at all. Interestingly, the move comes amid speculations over Kamal Nath's switch to the BJP. Besides state Congress general secretary Ujjwal Singh Chauhan, several councillors, sarpanches, janpad members, and workers from Chhindwara joined the BJP on Wednesday. Chhindwara district BJP president claimed 1,500 Congressmen, including over 700 from the newly-created Pandhurna district, joined the BJP. The new entrants are Pandhurna Nagar Palika chairman Sandeep Ghatode, Nagar Palika councillors, Pandhurna district janpad members, 16 sarpanchs, and others. Pandhurna is one of the seven assembly segments under the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency. Congress spokesperson Anand Bakshi said the party and the organisation will not be affected if some workers cross over to other parties. "However, the question is what will be the position of such people in other parties? They derived strength from the Congress organisation," he said. Bakshi's remarks come as BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav visited Chhindwara on Wednesday where he took potshots at the Congress for the Kamal Nath fiasco, stating that the minds of various people are wavering and they would join the BJP if not today or tomorrow. "In the flow of time, the minds of many people are wavering. If not today, then tomorrow they will join our family. No one can stop in this world because there is only one truth that some will come today and some will come tomorrow. People joining the party are welcomed, not because we want to expand the political party, but we welcome because we want to serve India and to bring Madhya Pradesh forward," the CM said. He also appealed to the people to ensure the BJP's victory in the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency. "I came to Chhindwara today to thank the people of Madhya Pradesh for electing the BJP to power with a mandate of 163 seats (in assembly elections)," Yadav said. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the speculation of Nath joining the BJP is not true and claimed that such talks were a creation of the media and the saffron party. A party leader had said Nath would participate in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra after it enters Madhya Pradesh on March 2. One Russian skier died and several others were trapped by an avalanche that hit Kashmir's Gulmarg on Thursday. According to officials, six others including a local guide were rescued. Authorities had issued an avalance warning for the area after Gulmarg recorded about 5 feet of snowfall. The avalanche struck the Kongdoori slopes of Gulmarg at around 2 pm, trapping several skiers under its debris. One of the Russian skiers has died and six are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, the officials said. #WATCH | Search and rescue operation is underway at Gulmarg as one foreign national is missing in the avalanche which hit the area today; Ambulances also stationed at the base pic.twitter.com/kjZCtLiRK7 ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 "A collaborative effort between the Gulmarg Ski Patrol of Tourism Department and Police resulted in the successful rescue of a group comprising six Russian skiers and one local guide following an avalanche at the higher reaches of Gulmarg, known as Army Ridge," a government spokesperson said. "Despite the valiant efforts of the rescue team, one Russian skier tragically lost his life due to the avalanche," the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Waseem Raja, CEO of the Gulmarg Development Authority, said a "massive rescue operation" had been launched to save those trapped. In February last year, two Polish skiers died and 19 were rescued after an avalanche swept through the same Gulmarg region. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council secretary Nuzhat Gull said all athletes participating in the ongoing 4th Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg were safe. "All Khelo India athletes are safe after the avalanche hit Khilanmarg area of Gulmarg... All the fixtures are being run as per schedule," Gull posted on X. The Winter Games is set to conclude on Sunday. A day after they put on hold the 'Delhi Chalo' march following the death of a farmer in Khanauri, the protesters will decide on their future course of action on Friday evening. The clashes between the farmers and security personel on Wednesday had also injured 12 police personnel at Khanauri, one of the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border. Following the death, Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has gone to Khanauri to take stock of the situation. The clashes have also prompted the opposition to target the government with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann warning of legal action against the Haryana police. Sharing his pain over the death of the 21-year-old Subhkaran Singh, Mann said the Centre had to answer why the farmer of Punjab could not go to the capital of his own country. "We assure to help the family financially and socially in all aspects. After the post-mortem, appropriate action will be taken against the responsible officials," he added. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal too hit out at the Centre. "Was it for this day that we fought for independence, that one day the governments elected by us in our own country will martyr our own sons like the British? We are completely with Shubhakaran and will ensure strict punishment to his murderers," Kejriwal said in a post on X. Meanwhile, Union Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters on Wednesday evening that dialogue as the only way to address farmers' concerns. "Earlier also we were ready for discussions, still we are ready and in the future also we will be ready. we don't have any problem, they are our 'Annadatas'...," he said. He also batted for the Modi government, stating that the NDA has allocated more funds for farmers compared to the UPA's expenditure during its tenure. "Despite the increase in the prices of fertilizers across the world, we prevented the rise in fertilizer and urea costs for farmers. The Government of India provided subsidies amounting to Rs 3 lakh crore. We worked continuously in the last three years and brought Nano Urea and not only this, I want to tell you that in the 10 years of UPA, Rs 5.50 lakh crore were spent on MSP for wheat, paddy, and oilseeds. The Modi government has allocated Rs 18 lakh 39 thousand crores, which is more than 3.50 times," Thakur said. "If I give you the example of pulses, the UPA government spent Rs 1936 crore, the Modi government spent more than Rs 55,000 crore," he added. The Union Minister continued his attacks on the UPA government and said that during the time of Congress, there was neither respect for farmers nor funding. The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to change the names of lion 'Akbar' and lioness 'Sita' to avoid controversy. The Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of the Calcutta HC asked the government to take a "prudent decision, avoid this controversy". The Bench was hearing petitions filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad's north Bengal unit and two other individuals. During the hearing, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya asked whether animals can be named after gods, mythological heroes, freedom fighters or Nobel laureates. The Judge asked, "Why should you draw controversy by naming a lioness and a lion after Sita and Akbar?" The VHP filed the petition claiming that a lioness transferred to Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri from Tripura was named Sita and prayed that the name be changed. Two lions were brought from Tripura's Sepahijala Zoological Park on February 12. The lion was named Akbar, the VHP said. The Judge verbally said that such naming of the animals should have been shunned to avoid controversy. The Judge said he did not support the names of both animals. The court in its dictated order said that the writ petition in its present form is not maintainable, holding that it can, however, be reclassified as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Since the naming of the two animals has already been done, Bhattacharyya granted leave to the petitioners to reclassify the petition as a PIL. The court directed that if the reclassification is done by Friday, the registry will transmit the same to the regular bench hearing PIL matters for consideration within 10 days. (With PTI inputs) With hundreds watching, the Taliban on Thursday executed two murder convicts at a stadium in southeastern Afghanistan. Supreme Court official Atiqullah Darwish read aloud the death warrant signed by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. These two people were convicted of the crime of murder...after two years of trial in the courts of the country, the order has been signed, said Darwish. The pair were responsible for the stabbing deaths of two victims in separate attacks, said the court statement. The deceased were identified as Syed Jamal from central Wardak province and Gul Khan from Ghazni. However, it was unclear who did the stabbing, the two convicted men or others. Three lower courts and the Taliban's supreme leader, had ordered the executions in retribution for their purported crimes, said the statement. Though the people crowded outside the stadium in the Ali Lala area of the city of Ghazni pleaded with relatives of the victims to forgive the convicts, but they refused to do so. Abu Abu Khalid Sarhadi, a spokesman for Ghazni police, said that relatives of the victims executed the two men. The executions started shortly before 1 pm. 15 bullets were fired, eight at one of the men and seven at the other. Later, ambulances took their bodies away. Since Taliban seized power in 2021, this is the third and fourth public executions that took place in Afghanistan. In the late 1990s, the Taliban used to regularly carry out public executions, flogging and stonings. Even as promising hostage deal is close by, Israel does not seem to be backing out from the Rafah offensive on Gaza border. According to residents the bombing was the heaviest since an Israeli raid on the city ten days ago that freed two hostages. Meanwhile, UN Secretary general Antonio Guterres said that in north Gaza, one in six children under 2-years-old is acutely malnourished. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Wednesday had said there were "promising early signs of progress" on a new deal to release hostages from Gaza amid regional talks for ceasefire in the region. According to The Times of Israel, the White House special envoy Brett McGurk will meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi in Israel this afternoon to discuss potential hostage talks and Netanyahus proposed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in Rafah. "There are ongoing attempts to promote a new hostage deal and there are promising early signs of possible progress," Gantz said in a televised press briefing. "We will not stop looking for a way and we will not miss any opportunity to bring our girls and boys home," he added. Meanwhile, Guterres said that in north Gaza, one in six children under 2-years-old is acutely malnourished. In north Gaza, 1 in 6 children under 2 years old is acutely malnourished...An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to scale up the delivery of aid to those who need it most," he wrote on X. As many as 29,410 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes since October 7 attacks, as per the health ministry. At least 97 people were confirmed killed and 130 wounded in the last 24 hours of Israeli attacks. Yemen's Houthi on Thursday said they have banned Israeli-linked and US, UK-flagged vessels from the Red Sea. "Ships that are wholly or partially owned by Israeli individuals or entities and Israel-flagged vessels are banned from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea," said statements from an agency controlled by Yemens Houthi group. Israel has threatened to launch a full-blown attack on Rafah if Hamas does not release the hostages. Two weeks ago, talks to reach ceasefire had failed after Netanyahu rejected a four-and-a-half month truce. The arrival of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Cairo this week for his first publicly announced visit since December was the strongest sign for weeks that negotiations have not been abandoned. Haniyeh has met Egyptian officials involved in mediating. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Brazilian mining company Vale SA is seen in Sao Goncalo do Rio Abaixo SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian miner Vale said on Wednesday it had received a letter from the State of Para's environmental secretary informing it that its operating license for its Sossego mine has been suspended. The company said in a filing it was evaluating the necessary measures to re-establish the full validity of the mine's operating license. Vale, which did not give details of the reason for the suspension in the filing, said it complies with conditions and socio-environmental controls of its activity. Vale produced 66,800 metric tons of copper in 2023 in Sossego, its second largest mine of copper in output terms, only behind Salobo, also located in Para. Para's environment secretary did not immediately respond to request for comments sent outside normal business hours. (Reporting by Steven Grattan; additional reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler) In a volte-face, a former senior bureaucrat who alleged that 13 candidates from Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners in the elections, on Thursday withdrew his allegations and said he made the false charges after ex-prime minister Imran Khan's party offered him a "lucrative position". "I take full responsibility for my actions and surrender myself before the authorities for any kind of legal action," Liaquat Ali Chattha, the former Commissoner of Rawalpindi, was quoted as saying by Geo News. On Saturday, Chattha resigned from his office after "accepting responsibility" for manipulation of poll results. 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 had said. He had also accused Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja of facilitating the rigging of votes. Retracting his allegations in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday, Chattha said that all of this was done in coordination with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which had promised him lucrative positions. Chattha, who has been a civil servant for 32 years, said that after the February 8 elections, he had secretly and discreetly travelled to Lahore to meet a PTI leader on February 11. It was in this meeting, that he made an offer to me that if I play a role in supporting the PTI's ongoing narrative of rigging in elections and maligning state institutions, he would ensure a lucrative position for me in future. Chattha said that the PTI leader told him that the entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of the party. This proposal was made by the said individual in consideration of the fact that I was about to retire from service. He was also aware of the fact that I was under pressure due to this forthcoming retirement. After having remained a part of the services for 32 years, it is naturally hard for any civil servant to let go of all perks, privileges, and authorities, he said in a statement available to the media. Initially, it was proposed by me that I would write the entire narrative and submit the same as part of my resignation. However, this proposal was dropped by the said prominent PTI leader as such written resignation would not create any sensations for their narrative building, he said. After detailed discussions, he said, it was agreed that a press conference would be conducted by him at a time and date to be conveyed after consultation and approval of the senior PTI leadership. The primary aim of this proposed press conference, Chattha said, was to create sensations and drama augmenting false narratives being built by the PTI. He said that the name of Isa, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, was taken to create mistrust in the general public against him. The chief justice did not have any role in the entire election process. However, I was specifically asked by said prominent leader of PTI to name the CJP. He told me that he had been specifically asked by his top leadership to do so. The aims behind naming the CJP were manifold. Similarly, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja was named to raise questions on the entire elections process throughout Pakistan, he said. "In the end, I feel extremely ashamed and embarrassed for making totally false, concocted, anti-state, and malicious statement in the press conference. This activity caused embarrassment for me as well as for the entire bureaucratic fraternity," he added. Reacting to the development, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, poised to form a coalition government with the help of the Pakistan Peoples Party and others, accused former prime minister Imran Khan's party of trying to make the elections controversial. "Shame on PTI, behind every propaganda it is PTI!! They tried to make the elections controversial! Tarnished the image of Pakistan!" the party said in a post on X. His allegations came amidst Khan's party's nationwide protests against alleged rigging and stealing of its mandate in the February 8 elections. Chattaha's allegations came in handy for the PTI to back up its claim that its candidates failed to win due to vote rigging. Pakistan's election commission had formed a high-level committee to probe the explosive allegations levelled by him. The Election Commission of Pakistan has strongly rejected the allegations against the chief election commissioner made by Chattha. As Alexei Navalny tragically died in harsh Russian custody for daring to expose Putins corruption, Donald Trumps latest self-pitying comparison/complaint is unconscionable. As Navalny sacrificed his life to expose tyranny, Trump spat on his body with a self-glorification that portrayed himself as a messianic martyr on the same level. By equaling his 91 criminal indictments and civil action against him for financial crimes and sexual assault allegations that resulted in multi-million-dollar fines to the murder of a dissident, Trump once again reveals a distorted authoritarian worldview, and a willingness to cross the extremes of reality for his own puffery. Trump managed to equate the enforcement of adjudicated civil cases and criminal indictments as interchangeable with sacrificing everything to fight for democratic freedoms. He did so without eliciting even a minor shock from the FOX host or the audience, even as he indulged in the false equivalence of the application of law to him and those in power with the brutal silencing of those speaking truth to power. The scary truth is that millions of Americans cannot tell the difference and have begun to parrot his words. Unlike the bravery of Navalny who went to Russia knowing he would face arrest, the only persecution Trump has faced is due scrutiny for his actions and for abusing his office and evading consequences through privilege. Prosecuting fraud and sexual misconduct is not oppression of a political leader, as Trump frames it; rather, it is the social contract in actionthe powerful facing the same justice as citizens. Trumps false martyr complex is an insult to every activist who has fought for democratic ideals against repressive regimes, it should be an insult to every thinking human being. From Gandhi to Mandela to Liu Xiaobo to Navalny, true reformers have endured jail, torture, and death for their values. Trump shares nothing in common with those heroes beyond his relentless self-promotion as a messianic figure. In actuality, the legal inquiries Trump faces stem from a lifetime of using his wealth to mold the law to his benefit before and during the presidency. For decades, Trump has treated the law as an inconvenience to be circumvented through intimidation lawsuits, tax evasion and corporate bankruptcy. His presidency was no different. Critics point out that unprincipled self-dealing has characterized his life even in the role of a public servant. For Trump, even public service is an avenue for self-service, and he has managed to convince millions of Americans that that is the American way. Now, in perhaps the crowning irony of his shameless projection, Trump actually dares to compare himself to reformers who have sacrificed everything for their principles. At its most, accountability for Trump so far means parting with a minuscule fraction of what the counts have determined are ill-gotten billions, or finally facing consequences for one act of sexual misconduct amid accusations from over 20 women. For Navalny, Mandela and others, accountability meant years stolen away in squalid prisons, subjected to conditions they knew might cost them their lives. They endured this persecution as a price for exposing crimes against humanity in their nations. By equating global paragons of justice with his own petty legal nuisance, Trump demeans the concept of fighting for greater freedoms. His rhetoric implies that what the courts have determined were multi-decade illegal enrichment schemes should go unpunished to avoid persecuting the perpetrator who decided to run for the US presidency. Trump complains that there were no victims to his fraudulent overrepresentations of his wealth to obtain loans and favorable terms, to the applause of the classes that were robbed of the opportunity to obtain those funds by his false claims. This upside-down framing treats universal rights as a threat to the powerful rather than protection for the vulnerable. Of course, this distorted narrative is perfectly consistent for a man who paints historically marginalized groups as the real oppressors in modern society. For Trump, social justice reformers working to dismantle systemic racism, sexism and class barriers represents the same intolerant force as the authoritarians those movements struggled against. No one has exploited false moral equivalencies more cynically or dangerously than Donald Trump. By casting common legal processes as persecution and himself as the embodiment of truth, Trump delegitimizes the very idea of accountability for the powerful. His rhetoric implies any consequence for elite misconduct must flow from a shadowy political agenda, not impartial justice. Let us take a look at how the world and the media responded to Brazilian President Lula's controversial comparison of Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the Holocaust rightly provoking intense backlash from Jewish groups, Western leaders, and mainstream media outlets. Critics accused Lula of trivializing the Holocaust and went so far as to say that he was promoting anti-Semitic attitudes by equating the systemic genocide of 6 million Jews with the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In contrast, Trump's self-aggrandizing analogy between his legal troubles and Navalny's assassination attempt has been met with far less outrage anywhere, especially from those who enable Trump's demagoguery. While some international voices have lightly ridiculed Trump's callous rhetoric, his loyal followers continue excusing his false martyrdom narrative. Major right-wing media outlets perpetuate his distortion, whereas Lula's comments were swiftly rebutted across the global spectrum. This muted response to Trump reveals a normalization of his authoritarian maneuvering that poses grave dangers. By failing to resoundingly reject this false and insidious equivalency, we invite further erosions of truth and assaults on democracy across the globe. There has been no mass denouncing Trump's cynical exploitation of Navalny's suffering, instead, news reports accept it, and their repetition of the statements regularizes it as just another thing to consider. The vigorous condemnation of Lula's insensitive Holocaust comparison is at the very least a model for the firm global repudiation of Trump's dangerous self-aggrandizement. The media coverage and global response is instead emboldening the betrayal of universal liberal values. Trumps brand of corrosive demagoguery erodes basic notions of right and wrong, allowing criminality in high places to proliferate. It is the worldview of dictators, strongmen and mafia bosses who treat legal restraints on their power as categorically unjust. Of course, Trumps Theater of the Oppressed is aimed at white rural Americans and it should fool few outside his unshakeable base. But broader America and the global community have failed to forcefully reject this twisted narrative and its thinly veiled authoritarian goals. The idea that no leader should enjoy impunity for corruption or sex crimes because jailing them is political persecution cannot be allowed to take hold in the ranks of the young in a democracy. This cynical mindset treats the privileged as exempt from moral and legal codes that bind normal people. It is the opposite of what leaders should model. By voicing faux outrage that the powerful ever face consequences, Trump reveals he does not actually believe his Law and Order rhetoric. Like most authoritarians, laws and justice in Trumps worldview are cudgels to be used against enemies and inconveniences for his supporters to ignore. His complaints of persecution communicate that norms and ethics are for the little people, not ensconced elites like him. This privileged disposition mocks the very concept of equal protection under the law. It is sadly unsurprising that Trump seeks to reframe accountability as injustice. More alarming is how many self-proclaimed conservatives find this dangerously anti-democratic charade convincing. These warped tactics resonate because the American right has abandoned principled notions of law and order in favor of authoritarian power. Pesky details like facts, ethics and logic can be subordinated if the messaging feeds grievances and culture war bloodlust. This devolution of conservatism into an ends-justify-the-means movement should trouble all who care about sustaining liberal democracy. So should the relativistic mindset of might equals right embodied by Trump and his enablers. Their entitlement to flout laws and demonize reformers as the true threat to freedom represents a complete inversion of just governance, and it is one step too far to now remain quiet as Trump twists the fate of a principled defender of democracy and values into something even remotely similar to his sordid tale. Trump may be an extreme specimen when it comes to cultivating persecution and victimhood delusions. But he is far from alone among modern strongmen practicing the dark arts of distortion and projection to amass unjust power. The global resurgence of far-right nationalism rides similar waves of manufactured grievance and subversion of truth. It is a precarious moment for global democracy; silence or acquiescence equate to complicity. No healthy civil society can allow leaders to portray systemic corruption as heroism, and legal accountability as persecution. Trumps obscene comparison of his legal troubles to Navalnys death should summon the world a moral turning point as this self-pitying false equivalency exposes to the entire planet a rampant and pathological lack of integrity that cannot be accepted by civilized nations. It summons ghosts of despots and demagogues who consolidated power by hook or by crook, confusing constituencies with demagoguery that numbs thought. The danger is that the arrogant lawlessness that Trump embodies is already infecting our global culture, perhaps irreparably so. It may be that millions of Americans are too enamored by his rhetoric that they are ready to give Trump a pass for this latest outrage and hand him the keys to the White House again; but for all the world, the future of accountable government and human rights depends on it. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. The Seattle police officer who struck and killed Jaahnavi Kandula, a graduate student from India, will not face felony charges, said prosecutors in Washington state on Wednesday. Officer Kevin Dave, while responding to a drug overdose case, was speeding at 119km per hour on a street, when he ran over 23-year Kandula in a crosswalk on January 23, 2023. The case garnered widespread attention after another officer identified as Daniel Auderer was heard on body camera commenting that Kandula's life had "limited value" and that the city should just write a check for $11,000. Auderer was set to face action for his comments, which the Civilian OPA said "undermined public trust in the department, himself, and his colleagues." However, in a memo to the Seattle police department on Wednesday, the King County prosecutors office said there was a lack of sufficient evidence under the Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. The memo added that Dave had on his emergency lights and that other pedestrians reported hearing his siren, reported Guardian. It added that Kandula appeared to try to run across the intersection after seeing his vehicle approaching. "She might also have been wearing wireless earbuds that could have diminished her hearing," they noted. For those reasons, a felony charge of vehicular homicide was not warranted. However, the city prosecutors could file lesser charges, such as negligent driving. About Auderer's comments, the prosecutor's office added that his comments were appalling and deeply troubling. "Officer Auderers comments were also unprofessional and served to undermine the publics trust in the Seattle Police Department and law enforcement in general. As egregious as Officer Auderers comments are, they do not change the PAOs legal analysis into the conduct of Officer Dave," the office added. However, Tim Robinson, a spokesperson for the Seattle city attorneys office, said the case had not been referred to it for possible misdemeanour prosecution yet. The Seattle police department did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry about whether it might refer the case to that office. Meanwhile, the Kandula family expressed shock and disappointment at the King County prosecutors office statement. "She was a college student, who did nothing wrong. The officer was speeding and going 74 miles per hour on a street (construction zone) with a speed limit of 25 mph. It was dark and he did not use his siren. Jaanhavi was in a marked crosswalk when she was struck. We are pursuing our legal rights to obtain justice for Jaahnavi even though the city of Seattle has failed to do so," a statement from the family added. PISCATAWAY, N.J., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TechDemocracy: The leading cybersecurity services provider for enterprises, proudly announces the launch of its cutting-edge Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) in Hyderabad, India, to provide managed cybersecurity services offering. It highlights the company's commitment to innovation by introducing new portfolios and services to augment its already robust cybersecurity offerings. This is poised to serve as a beacon for TechDemocracy's state-of-the-art Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) services, with a focus on providing comprehensive solutions to combat evolving cybersecurity threats. TechDemocracy is committed to leveraging advanced technologies and industry-leading expertise to redefine cybersecurity. Mr. Sri Patibandla, CEO of TechDemocracy, highlighted the importance of this expansion, stating, "The inauguration of our expanded CSOC reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. We are also amplifying our capability to support organizations worldwide in combating cyber threats." "TechDemocracy's expanded CSOC services will play a pivotal role in enhancing cyber-security protection for organizations in the Indian Sub-continent and other global regions" said Dr. Sriram Birudavolu, CEO of DSCI, Telangana, India. TechDemocracy stands out among cyber security services providers, by prioritizing continuous innovation, bespoke strategies tailored to each client's requirements, and a steadfast dedication to fostering long-term cybersecurity resilience. Mr. Sushil Madhukar, Chief Principal of TechDemocracy, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and business expansion. "This strategic expansion aligns with our broader business expansion goals and reinforces our position as an industry leader. It will open new avenues for companies that cannot build their own SOC to monitor threat detection, thereby fortifying organizational cybersecurity postures effectively." About TechDemocracy: TechDemocracy is a solution-agnostic, security-focused firm committed to delivering tailored identity and other cyber security services to enterprises globally. With over two decades of hands-on experience, TechDemocracy is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions. Operating with a global presence in the US, India, Canada, and the Philippines, TechDemocracy specializes in fully managing identity and cybersecurity solutions that integrate and operate the entire solution under one umbrella. For more information about TechDemocracy and its innovative cybersecurity solutions, visit https://techdemocracy.com/ For media inquiries, please contact: Phone: +1 732 404 8350 Email: marketing@techdemocracy.com Addresses: US: 1 Corporate Place South, Suite 110, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Canada: #846, 8th Floor Mississauga Toronto Airport Corporate Center 2425 Matheson Blvd East Mississauga, ON L4W 5K4 Canada India: No 83/1, The Skyview 20, Raidurgam, Hyderabad 500081 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2344731/TechDemocracy_CSOC.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR The multi-million-dollar partnership will enable widespread adoption of AI and digital solutions across insurance, banking, shipping, and manufacturing industries Mumbai, Maharashtra, India & Athens, Greece Business Wire India LTIMindtree [NSE: LTIM, BSE: 540005], a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eurolife FFH, a leading insurance company in Athens, Greece powered by Fairfax Digital Services, to establish first-of-its-kind Gen AI and Digital Hub in Athens and dedicated facilities in Poland, Europe and Mumbai, India. The MoU was signed by Sudhir Chaturvedi, President and Executive Board Member, LTIMindtree, Alexandros Sarrigeorgiou, Chairman & CEO, Eurolife FFH Insurance Group and Sanjay Tugnait, President & Chief Executive Officer, Fairfax Digital Services, in the presence of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece at the residence of Greek Ambassador in Delhi. This announcement also aligns with the Government of Indias newly introduced "Anusandhan" scheme, aimed at catalyzing innovation and research within the technology and startup ecosystem. As a part of this association, Eurolife FFH will set up Generative AI and Digital Hub in Athens to develop innovative solutions for insurance businesses in Greece and LTIMindtree will provide deep domain expertise and support from its dedicated facilities in Poland and Mumbai. Professionals from both the companies will jointly undergo specialized training in Generative AI and Digital Transformation to develop cutting edge products and services that will enhance customer experience and operational efficiency for businesses across insurance, banking, shipping, and manufacturing industries. Alexandros Sarrigeorgiou, CEO of Eurolife FFH, said, "This partnership is aligned with our ambition of leveraging the power of advanced technology to deliver innovation for our customers and partners. Our goal is to innovate; specifically in the insurance space, and push boundaries to create solutions that meet evolving needs of customers across various other industries. This collaboration is a step towards a future where Gen AI and digital innovation will drive business success and enhance customers experience. Sudhir Chaturvedi, President and Executive Board Member, LTIMindtree, said, "Our collaboration with Eurolife FFH forms a crucial part of our strategic roadmap, aimed at driving transformative growth for businesses by unlocking the true potential of Gen AI. By merging LTIMindtrees innovation capabilities with Eurolife FFHs domain expertise, we are staging a platform for an accelerated adoption of new technologies to address the industrys most pressing challenges, while establishing new benchmarks in both domestic and international markets. Sanjay Tugnait, President, and CEO of Fairfax Digital Services, said, "As Greece and India unite in establishing a Gen AI and Digital Hub, our collaboration transcends borders and algorithms. Together, we engineer a convergence of technological prowess, laying the foundations for creating leading edge industry solutions to enable revenue generation and cost optimization for businesses with a focus on enhancing customer experience. This partnership exemplifies the fusion of diverse cultures and shared visions, which will shape the future landscape of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. About LTIMindtree: LTIMindtree is a global technology consulting and digital solutions company that enables enterprises across industries to reimagine business models, accelerate innovation, and maximize growth by harnessing digital technologies. As a digital transformation partner to more than 700 clients, LTIMindtree brings extensive domain and technology expertise to help drive superior competitive differentiation, customer experiences, and business outcomes in a converging world. Powered by 82,000+ talented and entrepreneurial professionals across more than 30 countries, LTIMindtree a Larsen & Toubro Group company combines the industry-acclaimed strengths of erstwhile Larsen and Toubro Infotech and Mindtree in solving the most complex business challenges and delivering transformation at scale. For more information, please visit https://www.ltimindtree.com/. About Eurolife FFH: Eurolife FFH aspires to be right by the people, designing insurance products that respond to every need they have. Member of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., it is one of the top organizations in the Greek insurance sector. It offers integrated insurance solutions for individuals and companies that cover every aspect of life and business activity. Eurolife FFH has a broad network of insurance partners all over the country and works with them closely, in order to support its customers so that they can achieve more every day. Eurolife FFH aims to be a catalyst for positive change not only through its insurance products and services, but also through important initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Having people in the epicentre, it designs and supports purposeful actions that focus on low birth rate and quality of life in remote areas, gender equality and inclusion, culture, entrepreneurship, etc. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The government on Thursday permitted traders to export 54,760 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, Mauritius, Bahrain and Bhutan till March 31. "We have allowed export of 50,000 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, 1,200 tonnes to Mauritius, 3,000 tonnes of Bahrain and 560 tonnes to Bhutan with immediate effect," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. Traders are allowed to export this quantity till March 31. The modalities are being worked out, he said. Singh said the decision has been taken following a recommendation from the external affairs ministry. Currently, there is a ban on onion exports till March 31. The ban was imposed on December 8, 2023, in order to boost the domestic supply and check price rise. Islamabad, Feb 22 (PTI) A Sikh woman of Indian origin from Germany has married a man from Pakistan's Punjab province, the latest case of marriages between people in the two estranged neighbouring countries, according to a media report on Thursday. Jaspreet Kaur, now known as Zainab, exchanged vows with Ali Arsalan, as confirmed by the certificate of acceptance of Islam issued by the Jamia Hanafia, Sialkot, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Kaur hails from Ludhiana in Punjab and embraced Islam at Jamia Hanafia Sialkot before the marriage, where she adopted her new Islamic name. Reports suggest that the couple became acquainted while abroad, leading to Arsalan extending an invitation for Kaur to visit Pakistan, culminating in their marriage, according to the report. The marriage took place during Kaur's visit to Pakistan for a religious pilgrimage, which began on January 16. Kaur, who also holds an Indian passport, was granted a single entry visa until April 15. Administrators of the Jamia Hanafia said that Kaur is one of the over 2,000 non-Muslims who have embraced Islam at their institution. Marriages between the nationals of Pakistan and India, the two estranged neighbours, often make headlines as the two countries have strained relations, especially over the issue of Kashmir. Last year, an Indian girl, Anju, travelled to Pakistan to marry a Muslim man. Before that, a Pakistani woman, Seema, went to India to tie the knot with a Hindu man. Islamabad, Feb 22 (PTI) A social media user suspected of allegedly threatening to defame Pakistan's Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on the internet has been arrested by the authorities, according to a media report on Thursday. Abdul Wasay -- a resident of Rawalpindi -- ran a threatening campaign against Chief Justice Isa on social media and attempted to tarnish the image of the judicial head of Pakistan, Geo News reported. "A social media user suspected of being involved in a threatening campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has been arrested," the report said. Police said that Wasay ran a threatening campaign against CJP Isa on social media. The rest of the people involved in the campaign will be identified and legal action will be taken against them, police were quoted as saying in the report. Meanwhile, the government has constituted a joint investigation team to probe the elements involved in defamatory campaigns on social media against the Supreme Court judges, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and government officers. Led by the Federal Investigation Agency's Cybercrime Wing's additional director general, the JIT would start its work on February 22. The forum would comprise an officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), an officer of the Intelligence Bureau, an Islamabad Police deputy inspector general, a representative of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and any other co-opted representative, including an IT expert. The JIT would submit a preliminary report to the Interior Ministry within 15 days. Islamabad, Feb 22 (PTI) A high-level committee formed by Pakistan's election commission has completed its inquiry into the allegations of poll rigging in the garrison city of Rawalpindi levelled by a senior government officer and will submit its report to the electoral body, a media report said on Thursday. On Sunday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) formed the committee to probe the explosive allegations levelled by former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha that widespread rigging aided by the judiciary and the top election body took place against jailed former prime minister Imran Khans party in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Chattha alleged on Saturday that the candidates who were losing the February 8 elections were made to win in the city. Before resigning from his post, he claimed that 13 candidates from Rawalpindi were forcefully declared winners. The ECP's inquiry committee formed to investigate the allegations completed its work within the stipulated period of three days and will submit its report to the election commission later in the day, the Dawn newspaper reported. The committee has recorded statements of the District Returning Officers (DROs) and Returning Officers (ROs) of Rawalpindi division, an official was quoted as saying. The official said the DROs and ROs denied the former commissioner's allegations of rigging and the manipulation of results. This comes amidst consistent allegations by the 71-year-old former prime minister Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party that government and ECP officials were involved in what the PTI founder called the Mother of All Rigging. A coalition which could effectively keep Khan out of power was reached by PTI's arch-rivals almost two weeks after the controversial elections marred by rigging allegations. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) struck a power-sharing deal to form a coalition government led by ex-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. Khan's party has rejected the attempts by the PML-N and the PPP to form a coalition government, warning that robbing its public endorsement by the "mandate thieves" will result in the worst political instability. Independent candidates - a majority backed by the PTI party -- won 93 National Assembly seats. The PML-N won 75 seats, while the PPP came third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has 17 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. Islamabad, Feb 22 (PTI) A Pakistani court was on Thursday informed by the authorities of Adiala jail that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi cannot be shifted to the prison due to 'security threat', said a media report on Thursday. The information was submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) while it was hearing a petition filed by Bushra seeking transfer from the Bani Gala sub-jail to Adiala, The Express Tribune reported. "The jail authorities submitted to the IHC that Adiala jail is short of space and has 250 women incarcerated on the premises. There is a security threat," said the report. Bushra, 49, is imprisoned at Khan's Bani Gala residence after an accountability court sentenced the couple to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana corruption case last month. Khan, 71, is lodged at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Both of them have been convicted with multiple years sentences in the Toshakhana expensive gift case and the iddat case which declared their marriage as un-Islamic. During the hearing on Thursday, Advocate Usman Gul represented the former first lady. However, another report by Chief Commissioner Islamabad was not submitted in court, following which, the public prosecutor requested more time. The court accepted the prosecutors request and adjourned the hearing for two weeks. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has recently expressed grave concern regarding the alleged feeding of "poisonous food" to Bushra Bibi, during her incarceration at Bani Gala Sub-jail, asserting that she has been in severe pain for the past six days. "Bushra Bibi's health and life are being seriously endangered by the denial of her constitutional right to medical examination," the PTI spokesperson said in a statement. The party officials have also alleged that Bushra's family had been barred from visiting her, a move they deemed to be a violation of both the Constitution and jail regulations. They assert this restriction is part of a "deliberate plan" to cause harm to her. "Despite the filing of a petition in the Islamabad High Court, the decision to keep Bushra Bibi in solitary confinement at the Bani Gala 'sub-jail' is a shameful and malicious attempt to undermine Imran Khan," the PTI spokesperson added. Earlier, Bushra, whose residence was declared a sub-jail after her conviction in a gift repository case, requested the IHC to allow her to serve her time at Adiala Jail in the interest of justice, the report said. Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE:BKD) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: US$3.02b (up 9.9% from FY 2022). Net loss: US$189.0m (loss narrowed by 21% from FY 2022). US$0.84 loss per share (improved from US$1.25 loss in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Brookdale Senior Living EPS Misses Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 29%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 4.2% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 6.6% growth forecast for the Healthcare industry in the US. Performance of the American Healthcare industry. The company's shares are down 11% from a week ago. Risk Analysis It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Brookdale Senior Living, and understanding this 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. Islamabad, Feb 22 (PTI) Pakistan's top election body was on Thursday on the verge of missing the legal deadline to upload key post-election documents on its website for masses to see the results of the elections mired in controversies, including vote rigging. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Section 95 of the Elections Act 2017 should publish comprehensive election results within 24 hours of vote consolidation and then make Forms 45 and 47 publicly accessible 14 days after the polling. As the elections were held on February 8, the two forms, respectively dealing with the count of results of individual polling stations and consolidated results of each constituency, should be uploaded on the ECP website by the end of February 22. The ECP has so far uploaded only Form 47 of each constituency but Form 45 has not been uploaded. A senior ECP official told the Dawn newspaper that the electoral watchdog was unlikely to place the documents on its website today (Thursday) due to legal challenges by the candidates. He said that around 300 petitions alleging differences between Forms 45 and 47 had been forwarded to the commission by high courts, setting timelines for decisions. He said many petitioners were carrying Forms 45, which were different from the ones possessed by the respondents. He said it would take some time to verify the authenticity of these documents. Meanwhile, lawmakers have urged the ECP to meet the legal deadline. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami told the paper that the ECPs failure to meet the legal requirement would put a question mark on the legality of the Feb 8 elections. He warned that any attempts to tamper with the Forms 45 would make it a fit case of high treason. He, however, agreed that this would not be the first time the ECP would miss a legal deadline. Senator Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party also demanded that the mandatory requirement of the law be met, suggesting that the ECPs failure to timely upload the key documents on its website would add fuel to the fire and exacerbate existing tensions and doubts surrounding the election results. He, however, regretted that the law and Constitution existed only on paper. He said the elections were already controversial, alleging that results had been prepared before voting and that the electoral exercise was just a formality. Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, however, said that organised efforts were underway to make the elections controversial. He recalled that the same had also been done after the 2013 general elections, which were held to be in line with public opinion by a judicial body headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk. "That time they alleged 35 punctures and now they are talking about variations between Forms 45 and Forms 47, he said. San Diego, Feb 22 (AP) China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears on loan to US zoos were sent back as relations soured between the two nations. San Diego Zoo officials told The Associated Press that if all permits and other requirements are approved, two bears, a male and a female, are expected to arrive by the end of summer, about five years after the zoo sent its last pandas back to China. We're very excited and hopeful, said Megan Owen of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and vice president of Wildlife Conservation Science. They've expressed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to re-initiate panda cooperation starting with the San Diego Zoo. The China Wildlife Conservation Association said Thursday it also signed cooperation agreements with the zoo in the Spanish capital of Madrid, and is in talks with zoos in Washington, DC, and Vienna. The partnership will include research on disease prevention and habitat protection, and contribute to China's national panda park construction, the organization said. We look forward to further expanding the research outcomes on the conservation of endangered species such as giant pandas, and promoting mutual understanding and friendship among peoples through the new round of international cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing. Fears over the future of so-called panda diplomacy escalated last year when the zoos in Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee, returned their pandas to China, leaving only four pandas in the United States, all at the zoo in Atlanta. That loan agreement expires later this year. But in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping raised hopes his country would start sending pandas to the US again after he and President Joe Biden convened in Northern California for their first face-to-face meeting in a year and pledged to try to reduce tensions. China is considering a pair that includes a female descendent of Bai Yun and Gao Gao, two of the zoo's former residents, said Owen, an expert in panda behavior who has worked in San Diego and China. Bai Yun, who was born in captivity in China, lived at the zoo for more than 20 years and gave birth to six cubs there. She and her son were the zoo's last pandas and returned to China in 2019. Gao Gao was born in the wild in China and lived at the San Diego Zoo from 2003 to 2018 before being sent back. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and captivity. The black-and-white bears have long been the symbol of the US-China friendship since Beijing gifted a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, DC, in 1972, ahead of the normalisation of bilateral relations. China later loaned pandas to zoos to help breed cubs and boost the population. Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million a year for two pandas, with the money earmarked for China's conservation efforts, according to a 2022 report by America's Congressional Research Service. The US, Spain and Austria were among the first countries to work with China on panda conservation, and 28 pandas have been born in those countries, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. Demands for the return of giant pandas, known as China's national treasure, grew among the Chinese public as unproven allegations that US zoos mistreated the pandas flooded Chinese social media. Many loan agreements were for 10 years and often were extended well beyond. But negotiations last year to extend the agreements or send more pandas did not produce results. China watchers speculated that Beijing was gradually pulling its pandas from Western nations because of deteriorating diplomatic relations with the US and other countries. Then on Nov 15, 2023, a week after the National Zoo's pandas departed for China, Xi spoke at a dinner in downtown San Francisco with American business executives and signaled that more pandas might be sent. He said he learned the San Diego Zoo and people in California very much look forward to welcoming pandas back". I was told that many American people, especially children, were really reluctant to say goodbye to the pandas and went to the zoo to see them off, Xi said. The San Diego Zoo continued to work with their Chinese counterparts even after it no longer had any pandas. Owen said China is particularly interested in exchanging information on the zoo's successful breeding of pandas in captivity. Giant pandas are difficult to breed in part because the female's reproductive window is extremely narrow, lasting only 48 to 72 hours each year. Bai Yun's first cub, Hua Mei, was also the first panda born through artificial insemination to survive into adulthood outside of China, and would go on to produce 12 cubs on her own after she was sent to China. Bai Yun, meanwhile, remained at the zoo where she gave birth to two more females and three males. With cameras in her den, researchers monitored her, contributing to the understanding of maternal care behaviour, Owen said. We have a lot of institutional knowledge and capacity from our last cooperative agreement, which we will be able to parlay into this next chapter, as well as training the next generation of panda conservationists, she said. Chinese experts would travel with the bears and spend months in San Diego, Owen said. She said the return of the bears is not only good for San Diego but the giant panda's recovery as a species. We do talk about panda diplomacy all the time, Owen said. Diplomacy is a critical part of conservation in any number of contexts...If we can't learn to work together, you know, in sometimes difficult situations or situations that are completely out of the control of conservationists, then we're not going to succeed." (AP) SCY SCY Thane, Feb 22 (PTI) The services of three staffers of a private school in Thane were terminated on Thursday in connection with the molestation of children in a bus while they were on their way to a picnic. The incident took place on February 20 when students of a private school had gone to a theme park in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai in the private bus. The attendant of the bus was arrested on Wednesday. So far, six persons have been relieved of their duties by the school, including three on Wednesday. Those who were sacked during the day include the principal and COO of the school, sources said. A letter issued by the school's trustee said an internal committee had been formed to inquire into the February 20 incident. Thane MLA Sanjay Kelkar visited the school on Thursday in connection with the incident. Panaji, Feb 22 (PTI) A delegation under Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday to discuss the issue of reservation in the state Assembly for Scheduled Tribes, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said. Speaking to PTI, he said the delegation will also have state minister Govind Gaude, MLA Anthony Vaz besides ST representatives. Earlier, on February 18, a delegation from the state had met Shah on the issue. No seat in the 40-member Assembly is reserved for STs, who have been demanding that at least four seats be earmarked for them. One seat is reserved for Scheduled Castes. ST groups have been demanding that the 2027 Assembly polls be held with reservations. Earlier, CM Sawant had said efforts were on to form a delimitation commission before the Lok Sabha polls for seat reservation for STs. Thane, Feb 22 (PTI) A 17-year-old boy from Navi Mumbai township in Maharashtra has allegedly gone missing after leaving home to appear in the Class 12 board examination, police said on Thursday. The boy left his home in Ghansoli area at around 8.45 am on Wednesday to go to a college in Vashi for the exam, an official from Rabale police station said. He did not return home till late night following which his parents carried out a search and later approached the police, he said. Based on a complaint by the boy's father, a case was registered under sections 363 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code, the official said, adding that efforts were on to trace him. Kolkata, Feb 22 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of four minors who died allegedly after a mound of earth caved in during drainage expansion work near the India-Bangladesh border in Uttar Dinajpur district, a senior official said. Banerjee gave instructions in this regard to the officials concerned, he said. "The chief minister decided that compensation would be provided to the families of the children who died in Chopra. She gave instructions in this regard to the officials concerned," the official said. Incidentally, Governor C V Ananda Bose also announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased after visiting Chopra on Tuesday. On February 12, four children, aged between five and 12, were buried alive when a mound of soil caved in and fell on them when an excavator was digging a trench in Chetanagach village in Chopra block. The construction work was carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF). The mishap took a political turn when Banerjee held the BSF responsible for the incident, alleging negligence leading to the deaths of the four minors. A team of TMC leaders had met Bose at Raj Bhavan and demanded an investigation into the incident and also urged him to visit Chopra. Kohima, Feb 22 (PTI) Unidentified gunmen barged into the house of an NSCN-IM leader and shot him dead in Mon district of Nagaland, an official said on Thursday. Khampei Opeiham Konyak suffered bullet injuries on the chest and died on the way to hospital on Wednesday night. The police found three empty cases of cartridges from the spot. The official said a case has been registered in this connection and investigations are on. Aizawl, Feb 22 (PTI) The Mizoram government has decided to disburse all pending healthcare bills under the state healthcare scheme before the new financial year 2024-25, the assembly was informed on Thursday. Health minister Lalrinpuii said more than Rs 45.59 crore is due for release to beneficiaries under the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme(MSHCS). She said that the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government has earmarked Rs 40 crore from funds allocated under the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) of the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government to clear the pending bills. Apart from Rs 40 crore, Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who also holds the finance portfolio, has released Rs 15 crore for clearing the pending bills, she said. "All the pending healthcare bills will be paid to the beneficiaries before the start of the new financial year 2024-25," the minister said while replying to a query from an opposition MNF member, K Laldawngliana. The healthcare bill was one of the major political issues before the assembly polls in 2023. The MNF government headed by former chief minister Zoramthanga drew severe flak from different quarters as it failed to pay pending healthcare bills. Lalrinpuii also informed the house that the state government will borrow Rs 1,000 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement the healthcare scheme. This was initiated by the MNF government and even though the loan agreement was on the verge of signing during the MNF rule, it was delayed due to the state assembly polls held in November last year, she said. "The loan agreement will be signed after the Lok Sabha polls this year," the minister said. The health minister also informed the assembly that there are 391 health and wellness centres in the state. She said that the government is making efforts to overcome the shortage of doctors and health workers in various hospitals in the state. Ranchi, Feb 22 (PTI) Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto on Thursday held an all-party meeting to discuss the strategy for smooth functioning of the House during the Budget session beginning Friday. The Champai Soren government will table its first budget on February 27. The session will have seven working days and conclude on March 2. Chief Minister Champai Soren, Leader of Opposition Amar Bauri and senior leaders of other parties attended the meeting. The budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly is beginning from Friday. So, a formal meeting was held with leaders of the political parties and various issues were discussed, the Speaker told reporters. Bauri and independent legislator Saryu Roy demanded that the Speaker raise the number of days of the session. This is the first budget of the Champai Soren government. This is an opportunity for the new chief minister to present his vision, direction and policies before the people of the state. We have requested the Speaker to increase the working days, Bauri told reporters. Roy said, During the budget session, there should be a debate on the demands of every department. Earlier, there were budget sessions for 25-26 days. Then, it was reduced to 17-18 days. Now, it has been curtailed further, which is not good. The chief minister, however, said that the budget session was kept short due to political circumstances in the state. The session will be fruitful and the budget will be in the interest of the state, Soren said. He added that the ruling coalition government is ready to reply to every question of the opposition in the House. Senior JMM leader Champai Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister after his predecessor Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31, shortly after he resigned as the chief minister. Champai Soren won the trust vote garnering the support of 47 MLAs in the 81-member assembly. New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to appear before it on February 26 for questioning in the excise policy linked money laundering case, official sources said Thursday. The central agency, while issuing the seventh summons under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has rejected his contention that a fresh notice for his attendance was wrong as the matter is sub judice before a local court. Kejriwal has been asked to depose on February 26 and record his statement in the excise policy linked money laundering case, the sources said. The ED had recently filed a fresh complaint against the 55-year-old national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for disobeying its summons in this case. The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 16 as it exempted him from personal appearance last week. The court also said that from the contents of the complaint and the material placed on record (by the ED), 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 (Kejriwal). The ED believes that the local court has prima facie held Kejriwal guilty of "disobeying" the earlier notices issued to him in this case, warranting the seventh summons, official sources said. The question in front of the court is not about the validity of the summons rather the illegal act on part of Kejriwal of intentionally disobeying the said three summons, the sources had said. Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in charge sheets filed by the ED in the case. The agency has said that the accused were in touch with him regarding the preparation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh apart from communications in-charge of the party Vijay Nair have been arrested in this case by the ED till now. The ED had claimed in its charge sheet that the AAP used "proceeds of crime" to the tune of about Rs 45 crore in its Goa election campaign. The agency is also expected to file a fresh supplementary charge sheet in the case and may name the AAP as a "beneficiary" of the alleged kickbacks that were generated through the excise policy. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Key Insights The projected fair value for CDL Investments New Zealand is NZ$0.56 based on Dividend Discount Model With NZ$0.67 share price, CDL Investments New Zealand appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value CDL Investments New Zealand's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -94% Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of CDL Investments New Zealand Limited (NZSE:CDI) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for CDL Investments New Zealand The Model We have to calculate the value of CDL Investments New Zealand slightly differently to other stocks because it is a real estate company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.6%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.8%. Compared to the current share price of NZ$0.7, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. Story continues Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = NZ$0.03 / (8.8% 2.6%) = NZ$0.6 dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at CDL Investments New Zealand as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.351. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for CDL Investments New Zealand Strength Currently debt free. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Real Estate market. Current share price is above our estimate of fair value. Opportunity CDI's financial characteristics indicate limited near-term opportunities for shareholders. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine CDI's earnings prospects. Threat Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For CDL Investments New Zealand, there are three fundamental elements you should explore: Risks: Be aware that CDL Investments New Zealand is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those is concerning... Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every New Zealander stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate has upgraded its Look out Circular (LC) issued against BJYU's founder and CEO Byju Raveendran in connection with a FEMA probe, seeking to stop him for going abroad. The earlier such alert meant that immigration authorities had to just intimate the agency about his movements through various ports. Official sources said that the over an year old LC was revised sometime back in light of investors' concerns and ongoing adjudication of a FEMA contravention case against Raveendran and some others. BYJU's did not comment on the development. Raveendran is currently stated to be in Dubai. The ED has asked the Bureau of Immigration to upgrade the LC against Raveendran so that he is not allowed to go abroad from any Indian land, air or land port before the investigating officer (IO) of the case is informed. Under the new LC, it will be the decision of the IO to either totally stop his foreign travel or allow him to do so after asking some questions and getting assurances, the sources said. The LC in operation till now against Raveendran only stipulated the immigration authorities to inform the ED about his entry and exit from the country.The agency, in November last year, had slapped a foreign exchange violation show cause notice of more than Rs 9,300 crore against BYJU's and Raveendran. The federal probe agency spelled out multiple grounds for charging the ed-tech company and its chief promoter that included charges of "failing" to submit documents of imports against advance remittances made outside India; failing to realise proceeds of exports made outside India by delayed filing of documents against the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received into the company, among others. The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday had refused to stay an emergency shareholder meeting called by select investors of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd -- the owner of BYJU'S -- to oust Raveendran and his family from the leadership in the edtech firm. The court gave an interim relief that any resolution passed at the EGM scheduled on Friday cannot be implemented before the next court hearing. Select shareholders of BYJU'S have issued an EGM notice to be held on February 23, demanding a change in leadership of the edtech firm while alleging several anomalies in their functioning. Meanwhile, Raveendran issued a letter to shareholders on Wednesday appealing all investors to participate in the USD 200 million rights issue floated by the company. He later shared that the rights issue has been fully subscribed. New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday escalated its attack on the BJP-led Centre over the farmers' protest and demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened to discuss the pressing issues of the tillers. The opposition party also urged the Punjab government to convene a similar session of the state assembly to deliberate on the issue. A farmer was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on Wednesday. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades. Subhkaran Singh (21), hailing from Bathinda district, died at Khanauri on the Sangrur-Jind border. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Farmers are the backbone of our country. It was only on the strength of the 'Annadaata' that we were able to bring about the green revolution and the white revolution. It was because of their hard work that India became self-reliant in the field of agriculture." "Today, when the same farmers are demanding guarantee of MSP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving them 'guarantee of bullet'. Using tear gas shells and firing against farmers is the height of injustice. They are respecting 'donors' and insulting 'annadaatas'," Ramesh said. He said something similar was happening with the youth as when they demanded employment, they were allegedly beaten with sticks. "Their future is being ruined by schemes like Agnipath," he alleged. "But now the end of the last 10 years of injustice is near. The Congress is committed to providing them their right to justice through the two main pillars of its five justices agenda -- farmer justice and youth justice," Ramesh said. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress Sukhpal Singh Khaira condemned the "brutal" use of force by the Haryana government on farmers. Khaira asked why the Punjab government had not registered an FIR so far over the killing of a farmer "in its own territory". He alleged that the Haryana Police was violating the Punjab borders and shelling the farmers inside the Punjab territory with tear gas and rubber pallets. He claimed that about 200 farmers have been injured so far since February 12 when the protests started. The Kisan Congress chairman alleged that it appeared to be a "joint operation" by the Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar and the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann against the farmers. Khaira claimed that besides the death of one farmer, some more farmers were missing or had been detained by the Haryana Police. He asked what stopped the Punjab Chief Minister from getting the internet in various districts of the state restored. He said this will help in preventing rumour mongering. Khaira asked the chief minister to recommend suspension of all the social media handles, which were spreading hatred against the farmers. Bahraich (UP), Feb 22 (PTI) Two members of a human trafficking gang were arrested and a 17-year-old Nepalese girl was rescued here, officials said on Thursday. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Deputy Commander Dilip Kumar said the personnel deployed at the Rupaidiha check post bordering Nepal in Bahraich district on Wednesday arrested two Nepalese nationals Shashiram Khatri and Surendra Khatri. A girl was with them on a motorcycle. On suspicion, the SSB personnel stopped and interrogated them, he said. During the victim's interrogation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and NGO, she told that she came in touch with Shashiram via Facebook a year ago, Kumar said. Shashiram revealed they had lured the victim on the pretext of providing better living conditions and money and they were taking her to Shimla to sell her, officials said. Kumar said that the NGO contacted the Nepal police at the border and described the case as suspected human trafficking, following which both the accused and the victim were handed over to the Nepal police. New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) Investigators probing the Mephedrone seizure worth over Rs 3,000 crore in the national capital and Pune on Thursday said two makeshift godowns in south Delhi, taken on a paltry rent of Rs 10,000 each under the guise of salt trade, were used to store 970 kg the banned drug. In operations carried out in Pune and Delhi, a whopping 1,700 kg of Mephedrone, also called "Meow Meow" have been seized which was valued at around Rs 3,500 crore in the international market. So far eight people have been arrested after multiple raids in the two cities were conducted, police said. Delhi Police has also started an investigation to find out the route from where the drug entered the national capital and what quantity was supplied to local drug dealers, officials said. Police said that a West Bengal-native man had taken two different rooms in south Delhi on rent for Rs 10,000 each in Kotla Mubarakpur and Masjid Moth areas of Hauz Khas from a local property dealer. A team of the Pune Police's Crime Branch contacted Delhi Police and requested a joint raid in connection with a narcotics case in which three persons had been arrested from Pune and some quantities of Mephedrone had been seized. A case has been registered on the matter in Pune under the NDPS Act. Based on information received from those arrested, a raid was conducted at Delhi's Kotla Mubarakpur on Tuesday, a police officer said. Around 300 kg of Mephedrone was seized and two more people were arrested in the raid, the officer said. "Around 600 kg of Mephadrone was seized and recovered from a rented shop in Masjid Moth in Hauz Khas. The room and the shop were recently taken on rent," the officer said. Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant often associated with the "rave party culture" for its euphoric effects, a senior police officer said. Police said seizures in Pune and Delhi totalled 720 kg and 970 kg, respectively, with a combined value estimated to be around Rs 3,500 crore. Police sources said many teams were formed to investigate the matter and to keep a strict vigil for information on local drug suppliers. Olde Mistick Village will host its annual Cabin Fever Charity Chowder Cook-Off on Saturday, Feb. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. Over a dozen local restaurants will serve chowder with proceeds benefitting Always Home in Mystic. Sun file photo. A new analysis by Fox News reveals staggering statistics regarding illegal immigration across the southwest border during President Bidens tenure. According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), nearly 7.3 million migrants have unlawfully crossed into the United States since Biden assumed office a figure that exceeds the populations of 36 states. CBP data indicates that in the current fiscal year, spanning from October to September, there have already been 961,537 border encounters. If this trend persists, fiscal year 2024 is projected to surpass last years record of 2,475,669 southwest border encounters. The cumulative number of southwest land border encounters under the Biden administration now stands at 7,298,486. When compared to the populations of even the largest US states, the 7.3 million figure represents a significant portion, equivalent to about 18.7% of Californias population, 23.9% of Texas, 32.3% of Florida, and more than half the size of Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio combined. If the illegal immigrants who entered the United States under President Biden were gathered to form a city, it would be the second-largest city in America, trailing only New York City. These numbers do not even include an estimated additional 1.8 million known gotaways who evaded law enforcement, potentially making the total number of migrants crossing illegally even larger than the population of New York City. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) by Chaim Weber Of course, we arent able to fulfill many of the 613 mitzvos nowadays. We dont have a beis hamikdash. We dont have the Sanhedrin. But in theory, is there an opportunity for one person to fulfill all 613 mitzvos? At first glance, it seems impossible, as many mitzvos can only be performed by certain people: Many mitzvos can only be performed by Kohanim Some can only be performed by the kohen gadol (not marrying a widow, performing the Yom Kippur service) Some can only be performed by the king (not having too many wives; not owning too many horses; owning an extra sefer torah) Some can only be performed by men (time-bound mitzvos) Some can only be performed by women (the obligation for a zavah or yoledes to bring sacrifices) Some are commandments upon the community as a whole (building a beis hamikdash, appointing a king) But among the mitzvos equally applicable to all members of the Jewish people, does one have the opportunity to perform them all? Consider the following: There are 248 positive commandments and 365 negative commandments. Among these negative commandments, some are a lav hanitak laseh a negative commandment attached to another positive commandment. For example, someone who steals violates a negative commandment. What follows is a positive commandment on the thief to return the stolen item. Rashi (Makkos 4b) explains that by a lav hanitak laseh, the positive commandment acts as an atonement for the previously violated negative commandment. But herein lies the issue: If someone was careful not to transgress the prohibition against stealing, is there an opportunity to ever fulfill the positive commandment of returning a stolen item? The First Way The Inheritor The Gemara in Bava Kamma (104b and 67a) states that if a thief passed away, his children are liable to pay back the principle and were it not for a specific exclusion, they would have been potentially liable to pay an additional fifth if they falsely denied the claim (the penalty for falsely swearing in denial). Why? They didnt steal! R Shach ztl, in his notes at the end of Avi Ezri, explains that a thief passes on the rights and responsibilities to the stolen item to his children. Based on this, it would appear that although a thiefs inheritors didnt steal, they have the opportunity to perform the mitzvah of returning the stolen item. Sure enough, the Sefer Hachinuch (Mitzvah 130) says clearly that the mitzvah applies to one who inherits a stolen item, thus allowing them to have kept both of these mitzvos. That said, there are many other cases of lav hanitak laaseh they all need to be explored to see if their positive commandments can be fulfilled without previously violating a negative commandment. The Second Way Coercion Another way one can fulfill a positive mitzvah without violating the attached negative commandment is if one was coerced to perform the negative commandment. While the simple understanding of coercion is that it exempts the violator from punishment, R Elchanan Wasserman ztl suggests further (Kesubos 5) that someone who is coerced to perform a prohibition is not considered to have performed the prohibition at all. The Question of the Mabit All that said, the fact stands that its impossible for one individual to perform all 613 mitzvos. Based on this, the Mabit raises an interesting question in his introduction to his commentary on the Rambam, Kiryat Sefer. When Yaakov returned to eretz yisrael to face Esav, he famously said: Im lavan garti, taryag mitzvos shamarti though I dwelled with Lavan, I kept the 613 mitzvos. The Mabit asks: how could Yaakov have fulfilled all 613 mitzvos? As weve established, its impossible for one person to fulfill all 613 mitzvos! Furthermore, the Mabit quotes a Medrash saying that the 248 positive commandments correspond to the 248 limbs in a persons body and that each limb tells a person perform a mitzvah with me. This implies that every person does have the capacity to perform all of the mitzvos! One Approach of the Mabit Learning The Gemara (Menachos 110a) says that when we learn about the halachos of korbanos, its considered as if we brought them. The Mabit learns from here a general idea that whenever we learn about a mitzvah with the mindset of accepting the mitzvah upon oneself, its considered as if we performed the mitzvah. Therefore, although its impossible for one person to perform all of the mitzvos, one can learn about the mitzvos and thats considered as if one fulfilled them. However, Rashi appears to disagree with this. Firstly, Rashi on the Gemara in Menachos implies that this concept applies exclusively to areas of atonement that although we dont have the capacity to bring korbanos to atone for our sins, we can still achieve atonement by studying the laws of korbanos. Rashi in Bava Metzia (114b) makes this clearer. The Gemara there tells the story of Rabbah bar Avahu, who due to limited time, prioritized learning four of the six sedarim of mishnayos. Rashi explains that he prioritized the sedarim containing halachos that apply nowadays, excluding Zeraim and Taharos. Why isnt Kodshim excluded as well? Rashi answers based on the Gemara in Menachos that we can fulfill the mitzvos of Kodshim nowadays, as learning about korbanos deems the korbanos as if they had been brought. Clearly, Rashi is limiting this concept to the realm of Kodshim! Thus, according to Rashi, the question of the Mabit returns: How can Yaakov Avinu and the Medrash imply that we have the power to fulfill all 613 mitzvos? The Mabits Other Approach Arvus The Mabit presents another approach. He notes that kol yisrael areivim zeh lazeh all members of the Jewish people are responsible for each other. Although one person may not be able to do all the mitzvos, he can help others fulfill their own mitzvos and caution others not to violate negative prohibitions. Through this, we can all be considered as if we personally fulfilled the 613 mitzvos. At this time of war for klal yisrael, we are all trying to do the mitzvos that we can do. Some of us are learning. All of us are davening. Some are doing chessed. Some are trying to make shidduchim. And some are fighting on the front lines, fulfilling the sacred duty of lo saamod al dam reecha. Hopefully Hashem sees all of our combined efforts and will send geulos and yeshuos. JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group. MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY AS UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LIVE TIME THERE IS NO NEED TO REFRESH THIS PAGE AS UPDATES WILL APPEAR AUTOMATICALLY (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDF announced the discovery and subsequent raid of another major tunnel network operated by Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip, near Khan Younis. During a meticulously coordinated effort, members of the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit alongside additional forces from the 98th Division engaged in a comprehensive operation to infiltrate the subterranean complex. The IDF detailed encountering multiple reinforced blast doors and diverse obstacles devised by Hamas operatives to thwart any incursions. Israeli eliminated multiple Hamas gunmen positioned within the labyrinthine tunnel system, taking them out in close-quarters combat, during which the IDF said it employed specialized tactics. Further exploration of the tunnel revealed it to be over a kilometer in length, featuring not just pathways for movement but also living quarters complete with water and electricity supplies. According to the IDF, the investment in the tunnels infrastructure amounted to millions of shekels, highlighting the strategic importance placed on this network by the terror group. The IDF said the tunnel was a critical component of a larger, strategic network of underground passages beneath Khan Younis. This network, according to Israeli military intelligence, was instrumental for the concealment and mobility of senior Hamas officials as well as for the operations of the Khan Younis Brigade, facilitating both shelter and a platform for launching attacks. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDF launched an investigation of the incident in which 13 Israelis being held hostage by Hamas terrorists at a home on Kibbutz Beeri on October 7th were killed when an IDF tank shelled the house. The order to fire at the house was issued by the commander of Brigade 99. It should be noted that many Israelis have expressed anger about the investigation, saying that the commander, who heroically led the battle against the terrorists on the kibbutz, should not be blamed for a decision he made in the heat of the battle. Some say if he hadnt issued the order to fire at the house, many more Israelis would have been killed. The only survivors of the incident, Yasmin Porat and Hadas Dagan, testified that the house was shelled by a tank. It is suspected that the commander, who led the battle against the terrorists on the kibbutz, ordered the tank crew to fire at the house despite knowing that hostages were being held there. The incident became known after the commander was interviewed by the New York Times, in which he said that after negotiations with the terrorists failed, he ordered the tank to break in, even at the cost of civilian casualties. In footage captured from an IDF helicopter published by Channel 12 News, the IDF tanks are seen firing shells at the house. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi appointed Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even to lead the investigation and compiled an investigative team that will work in coordination with the Chief Military Prosecutor, ensuring it is not subject to the Chief of Staffs authority. Yasmin Porat, one of the two survivors of the incident, told Army Radio that the terrorists were not planning on murdering them but wanted to take them as hostages to Gaza: They kept on telling us that they wanted to take us to Gaza, she said. They didnt try to scare us, on the contrary, the children when they heard the word Gaza began crying, and they said: Calm down, everything is all right, were not killing you.' At one point, one of the terrorists decided he was going to surrender to the police. He stripped down to his underwear [so it was apparent he was not concealing weapons or explosives] grabbed Yasmin and ordered her to go outside while he used her as a human shield. Yasmin continued: The gunfire continued, I screamed stop the fire! Im Israeli! Everything stopped. He took me out as a human shield and surrendered to the police together with me and thats how I was saved. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Key Insights The projected fair value for Samaiden Group Berhad is RM1.12 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Samaiden Group Berhad's RM1.28 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate The RM1.51 analyst price target for SAMAIDEN is 34% more than our estimate of fair value Does the February share price for Samaiden Group Berhad (KLSE:SAMAIDEN) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Samaiden Group Berhad The Model We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM25.1m RM27.4m RM29.5m RM31.4m RM33.1m RM34.8m RM36.3m RM37.9m RM39.4m RM40.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 11.75% Est @ 9.29% Est @ 7.56% Est @ 6.36% Est @ 5.51% Est @ 4.92% Est @ 4.51% Est @ 4.22% Est @ 4.01% Est @ 3.87% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 9.8% RM22.9 RM22.8 RM22.3 RM21.6 RM20.7 RM19.8 RM18.8 RM17.9 RM16.9 RM16.0 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM200m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM41m (1 + 3.5%) (9.8% 3.5%) = RM673m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM673m ( 1 + 9.8%)10= RM264m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM463m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM1.3, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Samaiden Group Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.990. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Samaiden Group Berhad Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Threat No apparent threats visible for SAMAIDEN. Looking Ahead: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Samaiden Group Berhad, there are three relevant elements you should consider: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for Samaiden Group Berhad you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does SAMAIDEN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Channel 4's departing marketing boss will become the next chief executive of M&C Saatchi, the advertising agency said on Thursday. Zaid Al-Qassab is set to join in mid-May, replacing Moray MacLennan, who quit last September, having been with the ad giant since its breakaway from Saatchi & Saatchi in 1995. Al-Qassab announced in January that he would leave Channel 4 after five years as its chief marketing officer, where he oversees in-house agency 4Creative and digital brand 4Studio. Appointment: Zaid Al-Qassab (pictured) will become the next chief executive of M&C Saatchi The departure was announced on the same day the broadcaster unveiled plans to cut around 200 jobs and shift to providing more digital services due to challenges in the advertising market. Before working at Channel 4, Al-Qassab was head of branding at BT Group and worked for two decades at consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble. His roles at the latter firm included managing director of its British Isles beauty and grooming division, and commercial and operations director in Greece. Al-Qassab said: 'I have long admired M&C Saatchi's creativity and industry-leading work, and I am delighted to be joining one of the most recognised advertising brands in the world.' AIM-listed M&C Saatchi is one of Britain's most prominent advertising companies, with over 2,500 employees and operations across 23 countries. Known for its close association with the Conservative Party, the group's corporate clients include Amazon, McDonald's, Uber and flag carriers KLM and Air France. Under the leadership of Moray MacLennan, the company endured a massive downturn in trade during 2020 when businesses slashed their marketing budgets due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It also suffered the repercussions of an accounting scandal involving certain divisions in its UK arm overstating income and the amounts owed by clients. The Financial Conduct Authority later dropped a probe into the matter. Two years ago, M&C Saatchi fended off takeover approaches by Vin Murria's investment vehicle Advanced AdvT and marketing consultancy Next Fifteen Communications. MacLennan was replaced last autumn as temporary CEO by Zillah Byng-Thorne, the former boss of Future, the publisher behind magazines MoneyWeek, Country Life and Marie Claire UK. Following Al-Qassab's appointment, Byng-Thorne will return to being M&C Saatchi's non-executive chairman. She told investors that Al-Qassab 'has proven leadership qualities, has managed global teams, and his client-centric focus, dynamism and commercial acumen will be highly valuable as we look to accelerate our growth trajectory'. She added: 'The advertising and marketing landscape is fast-moving, and a modern, forward-thinking, agile leader like Zaid will help shape M&C Saatchi for excellence on the global stage, supported by our exceptional regional leaders across the UK and globally.' M&C Saatchi shares were flat at 176p on late Thursday afternoon and have risen by around 12 per cent since the beginning of the year. The head of UK weapons maker BAE Systems said it had been boosted by investors casting aside ESG worries to recognise the importance of the defence sector in upholding democracy. As the company delivered a bumper set of annual results, Charles Woodburn said that in the past BAEs value was marked down due to environmental, social and governance concerns. But those anxieties are starting to be overtaken by the acknowledgement of the key role of arms makers in protecting the West and democracy from aggressors such as Russia. Woodburn told the Mail: Theres been more balance brought back into that debate. What its led to is a more sensible debate around the importance of defence and security as a national priority. Spoils of war: BAE has benefited from rising global defence spending in the wake of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine while demand has also been stoked by conflict in the Middle East Its the first role of government and often people say that but it hasnt always been reflected either in national priorities or investor sentiment. That balance has now got into a much more reasonable place. BAE has benefited from rising global defence spending in the wake of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine while demand has also been stoked by conflict in the Middle East and US-China tensions. Meanwhile, BAE is also building new frigates for the Royal Navy, leading a fighter jet programme in which Britain is collaborating with Italy and Japan, and working at the heart of a submarine project bringing together Australia, UK and the US. In an update to the stock market yesterday, BAE posted a 9 per cent increase in underlying profits for 2023 to 2.7billion as sales rose by 9 per cent to 25.2billion and new orders hit a record 37.7billion. The results come almost two years to the day since Putin rolled his tanks into Ukraine. BAEs share price has since doubled. Woodburn said that the elevated threat environment has driven defence spending up the list of national priorities for many countries. Israels war on Gaza, in response to atrocities and kidnappings by terrorist group Hamas, has added to tensions. But amid the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and a humanitarian crisis, Western support for Israel has proved far more controversial than backing for Ukraine. BAE does not sell military equipment directly to the Israeli government but has been targeted by campaigners because it is a supplier to Lockheeds F-35 combat aircraft, which are used by Israel. Woodburn said: It is a very complicated situation and we, like many others, would like to see an end to the violence as soon as possible. The controversy has not stopped BAEs share price advance and Woodburn said that the company has gone a long way to closing the valuation gap with US defence sector peers, whose shares have for years attracted better prices than their UK counterparts. He said that has been helped by a reappraisement of the ESG debate. Woodburn said: Sadly, prior to the conflict, we were finding ourselves on the wrong side of that debate. And particularly our involvement in the UKs nuclear deterrent, categorised by a number of ESG funds in the same category as chemical weapons, meant that we were facing quite significant headwind there. Woodburn said BAE was entirely supportive of aspects of ESG such as being a good employer and contributing to the communities where it operates. But we also have long believed that defence and security is the foundation of the things that we take for granted in the West freedom of speech, democracy. BAE shares fell 0.9 per cent, or 11.5p, to 1241.5p on the results, as it forecast slightly slower earnings growth for 2024. Vauxhall owner Stellantis will start making electric vans at its Luton plant next year. In a major boost for the UK motor industry, the company will today outline plans to start production in spring 2025. Stellantis, one of the biggest carmakers in the world, said it was a sign of 'confidence' in the plant's future. It comes after it made its Ellesmere Port factory its first site globally to produce only electric cars. But the Citroen and Peugeot maker urged the Government to do more to stimulate demand. Concerns over insufficient charging infrastructure and the cost-of-living crisis have dampened demand. Production drive: Vauxhall owner Stellantis announced it will start making electric vans at its Luton plant from Spring 2025 This month, the British arm of electric car firm Arrival collapsed into administration, putting nearly 200 jobs at risk. Electric lorry firm Volta filed for bankruptcy in October, affecting 600 British jobs. It said it was unable to produce as many trucks as it expected after the collapse of battery maker Proterra, a key supplier. And Elon Musk's Tesla and Chinese giant BYD have been in a price war to win customers. Last year BYD overtook Tesla as the biggest maker of zero-emission cars in the world. In January there were 60,517 new electric vans on UK roads since 2018. Electric models accounted for 5.9 per cent of the van market in 2023 expected to grow to 9.4 per cent this year Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders data showed, as it added that lack of charging points 'remains the biggest barrier to faster rollout'. Stellantis UK group managing director Maria Grazia Davino said: 'While this decision demonstrates Stellantis' confidence in the plant, this first step in its redevelopment towards a fully electric future requires the UK government to stimulate more demand in the electric vehicle market and support manufacturers that invest in the UK for a sustainable transition.' Work to prepare the plant in Bedfordshire, which opened in 1905, will start this year. The site will produce medium-sized electric vans for Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat Professional. The company will continue to make petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles at Luton. It will manufacture mainly for the UK, and make left-hand drive vans for Europe. Stellantis had a 47.9 per cent electric van market share in 2023, it said. A senior MP branded the IMF infuriating, just weeks after it waded into UK politics by advising Jeremy Hunt not to cut taxes The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was last night accused of dodging scrutiny as it sits on its perch in Washington to criticise the UK. A senior MP who chairs the Treasury select committee branded it infuriating, just weeks after the IMF waded into UK politics by advising Chancellor Jeremy Hunt not to cut taxes in the Budget next month and increase public spending. The Washington-based fund also intervened after the mini-Budget in 2022. Critics contend its gloomy forecasting record on the UK is lamentable. Against this backdrop, the Treasury committee invited the IMF and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to give evidence to MPs ahead of the Budget. Both refused. But while Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin, who chairs the committee, said that she was heartened by the positive intent and engagement shown by the OECD during our discussions, she added: The IMFs outright refusal to let us scrutinise their forecasts of the UK economy in public is infuriating. Yet they continue to utter public pronouncements about the UK from their perch in Washington. As the IMF is a public body partly funded by the UK as a shareholder, I find this incredible. Further cost cutting is on the cards at mining giant Anglo American, as the group licks its wounds from a heavy downturn in annual profit. The company slashed its dividend in half and reported underlying earnings before nasties for 2023 of $9.96billion, down 31 per cent on the previous year. Revenues fell 13 per cent to $30.65billion. It came as the group took significant writedowns across its diamonds and nickel units worth more than $2billion in total. Duncan Wanblad, Anglo American's chief executive, said: 'We are systematically reviewing our assets and will take further actions as needed to ensure their competitiveness.' The review is expected to take around one year. The London-listed miner's 2023 profit attributable to shareholders fell to $283million from $4.5billion a year earlier, marking a drop of 94 per cent. Cost cutting: Anglo American said it is planning on cutting annual run rate costs by $1bn He added: 'We have also this week set out the difficult but necessary reconfigurations of our PGMs and Kumba operations to set them up on a far more sustainable footing, building on the recent 25 per cent cost reduction from our consolidation of senior head office roles.' Wanblad plans to 'reduce complexities' across the business and manage its assets, capital and portfolio 'dynamically and for value'. He said: 'This includes syndicating large greenfield projects for value, as we did with Quellaveco, and as we plan to do for Woodsmith at the right time. 'We also look to identify opportunities with adjacent assets where there is significant value to be unlocked, while progressing our sequence of organic project options that offer considerable value growth, predominantly in copper, crop nutrients and high quality iron ore.' Anglo American said it is planning on cutting annual run rate costs by $1billion and capital spend by $1.6billion over the next three years, while also cutting out unprofitable volumes, as it streamlines in the face of cost pressures. The miner announced a $1.6billion impairment charge on its De Beers diamond business owing to faltering demand, and an impairment of $500million at its Barro Alto nickel mine, amid lower prices triggered by slowing demand from the electric vehicle sector. Anglo American declared a full-year shareholder payout of $0.96 per share, totalling $500million, down from $1.98. Net debt swelled to $10.6billion from $6.9billion, slightly below the $10.93billion forecasted by analysts. Anglo American declared a final dividend of 41 cents per share, down 45 per cent year-on-year, resulting in a total dividend of 96 cents, down from 198 cents. In a separate announcement, Anglo American revealed it had agreed to acquire and integrate the Serra da Serpentina iron ore resource owned by Vale SA into Anglo American's Minas-Rio mine in Brazil. Anglo American will continue to control, manage and operate the Minas-Rio operation, including any future expansions that relate to Serpentina. Anglo American shares were up 3.35 per cent or 57.60p to 1,775.40p on Thursday afternoon, having fallen over 40 per cent in the last year. When it comes to buying their first home, most people tend to stick to where their family and job are located. But if they had the whole UK to choose from, which locations would come out on top? The Co-operative Bank has ranked 30 UK cities using metrics such as average house price, crime rates, traffic levels and life satisfaction, in order to work out the top destination for first-time buyers. Swansea tops the list as the most attractive city in the UK for first-time buyers to settle down According to its research, Swansea is the best city in the UK to get on the property ladder. Wales' second city has an average total cost of buying a house of 195,687, marking it as one of the most affordable cities in the UK. The costs used in the research include the price of the house as well as conveyancing, surveying and stamp duty - although first-time buyers will not pay the latter if their home costs less than 425,000. Why is Swansea a top location? Matthew Barry, director of Swansea-based estate agents Astleys, told This is Money: 'Swansea stands out as a fantastic choice for first-time buyers due to its diverse housing options and reasonable pricing. 'The city offers a variety of housing types ranging from apartments to detached houses, catering to different preferences and budgets. 'One of Swansea's key attractions for first-time buyers is its affordability compared to larger cities, making property ownership more accessible.' Meanwhile, Ben Davies, managing director of Belvoir Swansea estate agents said: 'Swansea offers first-time buyers a lifestyle choice that many of the big cities can't compete with. We're lucky enough to have an incredible coastline here in Swansea that stretches from the city all the way around the Gower peninsula, as well as plenty of green spaces and world renowned beaches.' 'The beautiful area we live in, coupled with affordable house prices, makes Swansea a very attractive option for people looking to get on the housing ladder for the first time.' Beyond just affordability, Swansea delivered a low crime safety index score, and a life satisfaction rating of 7.5 out of 10. The city also had a traffic index score of 93.6, lower than eight of the cities in the top ten, only losing out to Sheffield at 90.3 and Stoke-on-Trent at 83.5. Dawsons Property senior partner Chris Hope added: 'Swansea is a true City by the Sea, offering such a variation of lifestyle with coast, country, village and city living available to all.' 'In just a small 20 mile radius you will find a wide range of property styles ranging from high rise apartments, small cottages... along with your typical terraces, bungalows, semi and detached properties within the suburbs, something for everyone and their budget.' Buyers typically need to save at least 10% of the cost of the property they are looking to buy What other locations made the list? Despite having an average house buying cost of 346,293 the third highest after Bristol and London, Edinburgh ranks as the second-best location for first-time buyers to settle down. The Scottish capital, however, has the lowest crime safety index score of just 30.9, and the highest life satisfaction score at 7.7 out of 10. The cheapest city in the top 10 was Blackpool, which placed as the seventh best option for first-time buyers, with an average buying cost of 135,995 - well under half what it costs to buy a house in Edinburgh. While house prices are considerably lower in Blackpool, it has a crime safety index score of 59.1, the highest out of the top ten destinations. Even so, it still delivered a satisfaction rate of 7.5 out of 10. Alongside Blackpool, Kingston upon Hull, Stoke-on-Trent and Sunderland all made it into the top ten cities, with average buying prices of 140,814, 143,642 and 147,319 respectively. This compares to a massive 547,360 average buying price for homes in London, the most expensive city. Of the 30 cities analysed, London comes out as the second-worst option for first-time buyers to settle down, with only Southend-on-Sea proving to be a worse option for buying your first house. The third best city for those purchasing their first home was Plymouth, The Co-operative bank said, with an average buying price of 225,060, a crime safety index score of 41.5 and a satisfaction rate of 7.5 out of 10. Leeds and Newport were also among the most favourable locations. Of course, despite the benefits of low crime, minimal traffic and high life satisfaction, for most first-time buyers the decision on where to put down roots often comes down to a question of cost. A spokesperson for the Co-operative Bank said: 'Typically, you'll need to save a minimum of 10 per cent of the cost of the property you want to buy. 'There are Government schemes available to help you do this, like the Lifetime Isa which lets you earn up to 1,000 extra a year through a 25 per cent Government bonus. 'You'll also need to figure out how much you can afford to spend and create a budget. 'Finally, first time buyers especially could benefit from using a broker. They can help you find the best mortgage to suit your needs, and explain how the market works.' From day one, easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou said his dream was to make the brand a household name in as many sectors and in as many countries as possible. He certainly succeeded, and has become a household name himself in the process. In its 30th anniversary year, the easy family of brands now includes not only airlines, car rental and hotels but has expanded into many more sectors with businesses such as easyStorage.com, easyCleaning.biz and easySim.global. A huge part of the success of these enterprises is the instantly recognisable 'easy' name and signature orange and white branding. A stroke of marketing genius, it has become a global symbol of great value for money. Sir Stelios Haji-Ionnou is offering his mentorship and a cash prize as part of his Young Entrepreneur Awards Sir Stelios now spends a significant proportion of his time on his charitable foundation. This includes helping young entrepreneurs to follow in his footsteps through the foundation's annual awards program, which offers cash prizes of 300,000 to entrepreneurs younger than 35 who started their own company in the last five years and have a turnover of more than 1million per year. So how did he do it, and what can those starting their own businesses learn? Here, Sir Stelios offers five nuggets of marketing wisdom. Pick a great name At its inception in 1994, the original working name of easyJet was Stelair, a brand extension from Sir Stelios' existing shipping company, Stelmar. But Stelios decided he could do better, and started brainstorming words that customers would instantly associate with value for money. What's in a name? The 'easy' brand is now known by customers all over the world The easy name was born on the back of a napkin in a bar in 1994. Sir Stelios first applied it to his airline, and from 1995 onwards to many other easy brands, both through the company's own start-ups and through licensing deals with carefully selected business partners. While customers in 1995 may not have heard of Sir Stelios, they certainly welcomed easyJet's proposition that flying should be affordable - and putting aside his own name, Stelair, in favour of easyJet has worked well ever since. Thank heavens for a moment of sanity in not allowing myself to be completely self-centred by going down the 'Stel' road 'Thank heavens for a moment of sanity in not allowing myself to be completely self-centred by going down the "Stel" road,' he says. Instead the name Stelios is now reserved for his charitable foundation, and will be part of his legacy as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He advises entrepreneurs to think hard about what their business offers customers, and how they can reflect that in the brand name. If the original idea isn't quite working, then don't be afraid to switch to a better brand name that makes it clearer what is it that you are selling. Tongue-in-cheek marketing stunts Sir Stelios is no stranger to the publicity stunt. In 1998, when British Airways launched a rival budget airline, 10 easyJet staff turned up in their distinctive orange uniforms and boarded the first flight as customers - stealing the limelight from their much bigger competitor in what Sir Stelios describes as 'A true David versus Goliath story.' Sir Stelios says PR stunts are a great way for small businesses to gain huge exposure at a relatively small cost. It is certainly cheaper than paying an advertising agency to mastermind a major campaign. If the PR stunt goes well it will gain much more media coverage - especially today in the era of social media. Attention-grabbing: PR stunts can be a valuable part of a business's marketing plan Boost your profile by entering awards The majority of profits from Sir Stelios' company easyGroup are donated to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. It runs charity initiatives for community and environmental causes, as well as providing scholarships to business schools and grants to entrepreneurs. The Foundation also runs an annual awards programme. This offers a prize fund of 300,000, including a top prize of 150,000, to an entrepreneur under the age of 35 who impresses Sir Stelios with their business idea. In recent years winners have included entrepreneurs running diverse businesses from Christmas tree farming to conservatory design, to the development of a mental health app. With these awards we are hoping to the find and support the next big UK business success story The easy family of brands has won awards over the years, and Sir Stelios recognises the impact these can have on a company's profile. Entering the awards will not only give the winner cash to invest in their business, but also the chance to boost their company's profile and get recognition from industry peers. The deadline for entries is 29 February 2024, and you can find the full criteria on the foundation's website: www.stelios.foundation. 'With these awards we are hoping to the find and support the next big UK business success story and help create new jobs in the UK economy,' Sir Stelios says. Be different from your competitors Part of the reason that the easyJet's branding is so iconic is that it instantly stands out among other airlines - and this was no accident. When working with agencies to come up with the design, Sir Stelios noticed that almost all other airlines used some combination of the colours red, white and blue. This is why they were called flag carriers. EasyJet's trademark orange colour was born out of a desire not to fit the existing mould. Sir Stelios also decided that the lettering on the logo would be lower-case, standing out from other carriers' more formal upper-case designs. Sir Stelios suggests that entrepreneurs are not afraid to go against the grain. He says they should think about the situations where customers might see their branding - in his case on the side of a plane or on a departures board at an airport - and think about how to make it noticeable. Standing out: The orange easyJet branding marks it out as different from its airline rivals Don't take yourself too seriously Easyjet's brand has a strong sense of humour, which has helped it gain favour with customers. Sir Stelios says this is important, as presenting an image that is too polished and manufactured can make a business seem less relatable to customers. In 1998, against the advice of his lawyers and executives, Stelios allowed ITV cameras behind the scenes of the easyJet business for the series Airline. He did so knowing that the show would include some footage where things didn't go as planned and customers got angry. Sir Stelios himself was even filmed trying to placate them by offering free drinks on board planes. But the show was a huge success, attracting up to 12 million viewers and ranking third in the viewing figures behind Coronation Street and Eastenders. This massively boosted easyJet's brand recognition. 'It is inevitable that when you become such a strong brand you invite humour and parody. So it's important not to take yourself too seriously,' says Sir Stelios. Mystic Asset Management Inc. reduced its stake in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,140 shares of the companys stock after selling 565 shares during the quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $1,333,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Kahn Brothers Group Inc. increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Kahn Brothers Group Inc. now owns 2,000 shares of the companys stock worth $292,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Lavaca Capital LLC increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 14.6% during the 3rd quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 5,742 shares of the companys stock worth $837,000 after buying an additional 730 shares during the period. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 984.3% during the 3rd quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 354,136 shares of the companys stock worth $51,654,000 after buying an additional 321,477 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 54.7% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 178,060 shares of the companys stock worth $25,972,000 after buying an additional 62,983 shares during the period. Finally, Mariner LLC increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 2,298,257 shares of the companys stock worth $335,224,000 after buying an additional 144,970 shares during the period. 63.43% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PG has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $177.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, January 28th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $178.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $167.50. Procter & Gamble Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSE PG traded up $1.20 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $159.71. 4,004,592 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,715,583. The company has a market capitalization of $375.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.73, a P/E/G ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.45. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52-week low of $136.10 and a 52-week high of $160.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $151.45 and a 200-day moving average price of $150.93. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.70 by $0.14. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 17.60% and a return on equity of 34.04%. The business had revenue of $21.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.48 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.59 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 19th were given a $0.9407 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 18th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.36%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is presently 62.98%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total value of $7,020,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 973 shares of the companys stock, valued at $151,788. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 45,000 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total transaction of $7,020,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 973 shares of the companys stock, valued at $151,788. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 101,704 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total transaction of $15,618,683.28. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 163,428 shares in the company, valued at $25,097,637.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 258,997 shares of company stock valued at $39,904,358. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Company Profile (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Meritage Hospitality Group (OTCMKTS:MHGU Get Free Report) and CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk and institutional ownership. Institutional and Insider Ownership 61.8% of CAVA Group shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Meritage Hospitality Group alerts: Profitability This table compares Meritage Hospitality Group and CAVA Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Meritage Hospitality Group 0.57% 3.17% 0.47% CAVA Group -1.12% -13.72% -0.97% Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Meritage Hospitality Group 0 0 1 0 3.00 CAVA Group 0 4 9 0 2.69 This is a summary of recent ratings for Meritage Hospitality Group and CAVA Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Meritage Hospitality Group presently has a consensus price target of $24.00, suggesting a potential upside of 28.34%. CAVA Group has a consensus price target of $48.60, suggesting a potential upside of 0.19%. Given Meritage Hospitality Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Meritage Hospitality Group is more favorable than CAVA Group. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Meritage Hospitality Group and CAVA Groups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Meritage Hospitality Group $626.04 million 0.20 $8.48 million $0.12 155.85 CAVA Group $564.12 million 9.77 -$58.99 million N/A N/A Meritage Hospitality Group has higher revenue and earnings than CAVA Group. Summary Meritage Hospitality Group beats CAVA Group on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Meritage Hospitality Group (Get Free Report) Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. operates quick-service and casual dining restaurants. The company operates restaurants under the Wendy's, Morning Belle, and Stan's Tacos, as well as Taco John's brand names in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The company was formerly known as Thomas Edison Inns, Inc. and changed its name to Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. in May 1996. Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. About CAVA Group (Get Free Report) CAVA Group, Inc. owns and operates a chain of Mediterranean restaurants. The company offers salads, dips, spreads, toppings, and dressings. It sells its products through whole food markets and grocery stores. The company also provides online food ordering services. Cava Group, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Receive News & Ratings for Meritage Hospitality Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meritage Hospitality Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Free Report) are set to split on the morning of Monday, February 26th. The 3-1 split was announced on Tuesday, January 30th. The newly created shares will be distributed to shareholders after the closing bell on Monday, February 26th. Walmart Stock Performance NYSE WMT opened at $173.73 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $162.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $160.98. Walmart has a twelve month low of $136.09 and a twelve month high of $181.35. The company has a market capitalization of $467.72 billion, a PE ratio of 28.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Get Walmart alerts: Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The retailer reported $1.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.15. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.20% and a net margin of 2.55%. The firm had revenue of $173.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $170.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.71 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Walmart will post 6.48 earnings per share for the current year. Walmart Cuts Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.2075 dividend. This represents a $0.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is currently 37.81%. Several research firms have recently weighed in on WMT. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Walmart from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Walmart from $170.00 to $168.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Walmart from $163.00 to $176.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday. Tigress Financial lifted their price objective on Walmart from $182.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $168.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $183.53. View Our Latest Stock Report on WMT Insider Activity In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 2,406,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.72, for a total value of $379,487,095.32. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 227,622,943 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,900,690,569.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 2,406,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.72, for a total transaction of $379,487,095.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 227,622,943 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,900,690,569.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 539,437 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.78, for a total value of $85,112,369.86. Following the transaction, the director now owns 230,029,024 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,293,979,406.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,735,615 shares of company stock worth $743,574,483. 46.51% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Kozak & Associates Inc. boosted its position in Walmart by 1,490.0% during the 3rd quarter. Kozak & Associates Inc. now owns 159 shares of the retailers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the period. Partnership Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Able Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.18% of the companys stock. Walmart Company Profile (Get Free Report) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Sunway Berhad fair value estimate is RM2.45 Current share price of RM2.71 suggests Sunway Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value Our fair value estimate is 14% lower than Sunway Berhad's analyst price target of RM2.85 Does the February share price for Sunway Berhad (KLSE:SUNWAY) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Sunway Berhad What's The Estimated Valuation? We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) -RM34.0m -RM441.9m RM445.0m RM692.9m RM970.5m RM1.25b RM1.52b RM1.77b RM1.98b RM2.18b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 55.71% Est @ 40.06% Est @ 29.10% Est @ 21.44% Est @ 16.07% Est @ 12.31% Est @ 9.68% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% -RM30.4 -RM354 RM319 RM444 RM557 RM643 RM699 RM726 RM730 RM716 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM4.4b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.5%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 12%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM2.2b (1 + 3.5%) (12% 3.5%) = RM27b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM27b ( 1 + 12%)10= RM9.0b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM13b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM2.7, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Sunway Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.293. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Sunway Berhad Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Industrials market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Sunway Berhad, we've compiled three essential factors you should assess: Risks: For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for Sunway Berhad (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does SUNWAY's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Taylor Morrison Home Co. (NYSE:TMHC Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the five ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $57.20. A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TMHC. StockNews.com lowered Taylor Morrison Home from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday. Seaport Res Ptn lowered Taylor Morrison Home from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Taylor Morrison Home from $57.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Taylor Morrison Home from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $50.00 to $57.00 in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Taylor Morrison Home from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Get Taylor Morrison Home alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on TMHC Insider Activity Institutional Investors Weigh In On Taylor Morrison Home In other news, Director William H. Lyon sold 20,896 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.01, for a total transaction of $1,170,384.96. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 2,837,020 shares in the company, valued at approximately $158,901,490.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . In other news, Director William H. Lyon sold 20,896 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.01, for a total transaction of $1,170,384.96. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 2,837,020 shares in the company, valued at approximately $158,901,490.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, Director William H. Lyon sold 33,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.04, for a total value of $1,871,736.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 71,570 shares in the company, valued at $4,010,782.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 196,339 shares of company stock worth $10,726,432 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 5.50% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Taylor Morrison Home by 14.6% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 16,885,291 shares of the construction companys stock worth $823,496,000 after buying an additional 2,146,779 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Taylor Morrison Home by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,404,759 shares of the construction companys stock worth $485,957,000 after buying an additional 217,222 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Taylor Morrison Home by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,252,382 shares of the construction companys stock worth $207,389,000 after buying an additional 39,920 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in Taylor Morrison Home by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 3,299,615 shares of the construction companys stock worth $126,243,000 after buying an additional 73,272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Taylor Morrison Home by 117.0% in the 3rd quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,180,341 shares of the construction companys stock worth $135,514,000 after buying an additional 1,714,897 shares during the last quarter. 95.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Taylor Morrison Home Stock Performance Shares of TMHC stock opened at $55.55 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.96 and a beta of 1.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 6.00 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The business has a fifty day moving average of $53.02 and a 200 day moving average of $47.29. Taylor Morrison Home has a 1 year low of $34.10 and a 1 year high of $57.35. Taylor Morrison Home (NYSE:TMHC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The construction company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.82 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $2.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.85 billion. Taylor Morrison Home had a return on equity of 16.21% and a net margin of 10.37%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 19.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.93 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Taylor Morrison Home will post 7.1 earnings per share for the current year. About Taylor Morrison Home (Get Free Report Taylor Morrison Home Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public homebuilder in the United States. The company designs, builds, and sells single and multi-family detached and attached homes; and develops lifestyle and master-planned communities. It also develops and constructs multi-use properties consisting of commercial space, retail, and multi-family properties under the Urban Form brand name; and offers title insurance and closing settlement services, as well as financial services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Taylor Morrison Home Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taylor Morrison Home and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Ltd. lessened its holdings in shares of Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS Free Report) by 0.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,659,311 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,724 shares during the quarter. Invesco Ltd.s holdings in Webster Financial were worth $187,817,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 0.7% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,679,692 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $799,122,000 after acquiring an additional 116,092 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 2.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,498,723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $689,800,000 after acquiring an additional 362,728 shares during the period. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 18.2% in the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 9,297,676 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $521,886,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433,204 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 9.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,904,283 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $311,587,000 after acquiring an additional 707,001 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 22.6% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,258,411 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $292,587,000 after acquiring an additional 1,339,862 shares during the period. 86.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Webster Financial alerts: Insider Activity In related news, insider Charles L. Wilkins sold 3,966 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.56, for a total transaction of $204,486.96. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,553,663.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Charles L. Wilkins sold 3,966 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.56, for a total transaction of $204,486.96. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,553,663.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jack L. Kopnisky sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.18, for a total value of $250,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 310,041 shares in the company, valued at $15,557,857.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 32,941 shares of company stock valued at $1,701,282 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock. Webster Financial Stock Down 0.1 % WBS opened at $47.14 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a 50-day moving average of $49.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $44.53. Webster Financial Co. has a 12 month low of $31.03 and a 12 month high of $54.29. Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $1.46 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.48 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $996.96 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $674.82 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 13.05%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.60 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Webster Financial Co. will post 5.92 earnings per share for the current year. Webster Financial Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 2nd. Webster Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 32.72%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WBS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Webster Financial from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the company from $60.00 to $65.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Bank of America began coverage on Webster Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. They issued a buy rating and a $60.00 price target for the company. Piper Sandler raised their price target on Webster Financial from $53.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Webster Financial from $61.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Webster Financial from $51.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $56.23. Read Our Latest Research Report on Webster Financial About Webster Financial (Free Report) Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking. The Commercial Banking segment provides commercial real estate and equipment financing, business banking, asset-based lending, and commercial services; public sector finance; mortgage warehouse financing; treasury management services; credit, deposit, and cash flow management services; and wealth management solutions to business owners and operators, including trust, asset management, financial planning, insurance, retirement, and investment products, as well as derivative, treasury, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade products and services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WBS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Webster Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Webster Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX Free Report) by 52.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,431 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 5,995 shares during the quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in VanEck Gold Miners ETF were worth $469,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 128.4% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 8,274,174 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $215,045,000 after acquiring an additional 4,652,260 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 47.1% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,715,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $378,982,000 after buying an additional 3,748,454 shares during the period. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda purchased a new stake in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $53,593,000. Vanderbilt University purchased a new stake in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,612,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 120.2% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,965,337 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $75,370,000 after acquiring an additional 1,072,726 shares during the last quarter. Get VanEck Gold Miners ETF alerts: VanEck Gold Miners ETF Trading Down 0.7 % NYSEARCA GDX opened at $26.81 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.81. The stock has a market cap of $10.74 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72 and a beta of 0.77. VanEck Gold Miners ETF has a twelve month low of $25.62 and a twelve month high of $36.26. VanEck Gold Miners ETF Profile The Fund seeks to match as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the AMEX Gold Miners Index. The Fund, utilizing a passive or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Index by investing in a portfolio of stocks that generally replicate the Index. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for VanEck Gold Miners ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VanEck Gold Miners ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rock Creek Group LP reduced its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 19.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,636 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 627 shares during the period. Rock Creek Group LPs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $153,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 30th. TheStreet lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Redburn Atlantic lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $77.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Finally, William Blair lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, October 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $61.17. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 2,000 shares of the businesss 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 purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at $4,115,412.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 2,000 shares of the businesss 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 purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at $4,115,412.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 3,071 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $48.86 per share, with a total value of $150,049.06. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 79,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,878,702.24. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance Shares of BMY traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $50.44. 1,905,502 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 15,304,115. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $50.39 and a 200-day moving average of $54.06. The firm has a market cap of $102.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.19, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $47.58 and a one year high of $71.98. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations 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 period in the prior year, the business earned $1.82 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current fiscal year. 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 given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.76%. This is a boost from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is 62.18%. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. 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. Mariner LLC decreased its position in shares of Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY Free Report) by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 559,521 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,303 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC owned 0.11% of Sysco worth $36,956,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wealthfront Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sysco by 263.4% during the third quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 34,007 shares of the companys stock worth $2,246,000 after purchasing an additional 24,650 shares during the period. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sysco by 2.8% during the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 8,685 shares of the companys stock worth $644,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Liberty One Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Sysco by 5.8% in the second quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC now owns 276,159 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,491,000 after acquiring an additional 15,106 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems acquired a new position in Sysco in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,598,000. Finally, First Foundation Advisors lifted its holdings in Sysco by 10.2% in the second quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 6,516 shares of the companys stock valued at $483,000 after acquiring an additional 605 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.60% of the companys stock. Get Sysco alerts: Sysco Price Performance Shares of SYY opened at $79.70 on Thursday. Sysco Co. has a 1-year low of $62.24 and a 1-year high of $82.89. The stock has a market cap of $40.20 billion, a PE ratio of 19.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.17. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $76.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $71.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.00, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Sysco ( NYSE:SYY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $19.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.32 billion. Sysco had a net margin of 2.69% and a return on equity of 105.22%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.80 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Sysco Co. will post 4.3 EPS for the current year. A number of brokerages have issued reports on SYY. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Sysco from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Sysco from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Barclays boosted their price target on Sysco from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Stephens boosted their price objective on Sysco from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com cut Sysco from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $85.44. View Our Latest Stock Report on SYY Sysco Company Profile (Free Report) Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of various food and related products to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. It operates through U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other segments. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sysco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sysco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mariner LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 5.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 290,608 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 13,802 shares during the period. Mariner LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $25,079,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in EFG. Paladin Advisory Group LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Paladin Advisory Group LLC now owns 19,981 shares of the companys stock worth $1,906,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 10,509 shares of the companys stock worth $1,003,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Keel Point LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Keel Point LLC now owns 11,297 shares of the companys stock worth $975,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 8,682 shares of the companys stock worth $749,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 7,669 shares of the companys stock worth $662,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Stock Performance BATS EFG opened at $100.09 on Thursday. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $67.58 and a twelve month high of $85.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.41 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.68 and a 200 day simple moving average of $91.83. About iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AlphaCore Capital LLC boosted its stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 6.6% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,364 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. AlphaCore Capital LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $882,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Archer Investment Corp bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. 77.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BlackRock alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock In other BlackRock news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $805.55, for a total transaction of $765,272.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 4,437 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,574,225.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $805.55, for a total transaction of $765,272.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,437 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,574,225.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Martin Small sold 7,036 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $786.36, for a total value of $5,532,828.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 5,259 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,135,467.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 33,474 shares of company stock worth $17,275,900 in the last three months. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. BlackRock Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of BLK traded up $2.63 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $808.08. The company had a trading volume of 200,206 shares, compared to its average volume of 603,356. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $794.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $719.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 3.72 and a current ratio of 3.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $120.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.38. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52-week low of $596.18 and a 52-week high of $819.00. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.65 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $8.93 EPS. BlackRocks revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Increases Dividend 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. This is an increase from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. BlackRocks payout ratio is currently 54.78%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BLK shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Friday, December 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $785.73. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BLK 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. Featured Stories 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. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 3.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,339,851 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 104,424 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp owned approximately 1.02% of The Goldman Sachs Group worth $1,080,676,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GS. Synovus Financial Corp grew its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 13,338 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,302,000 after buying an additional 1,605 shares in the last quarter. First Foundation Advisors lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.4% during the 2nd quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 1,771 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $571,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 51.8% during the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 4,668 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,506,000 after acquiring an additional 1,592 shares in the last quarter. Operose Advisors LLC lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 195.7% during the 2nd quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 2,215 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $715,000 after acquiring an additional 1,466 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TBH Global Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. TBH Global Asset Management LLC now owns 3,676 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,190,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Performance NYSE:GS traded up $5.63 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $393.90. 634,844 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,324,328. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $382.85 and a 200-day simple moving average of $346.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.43. 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 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $289.36 and a 1 year high of $396.35. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement 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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The firm had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.32 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a $2.75 dividend. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is currently 48.20%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently issued reports on GS shares. Barclays increased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $437.00 to $493.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. UBS Group increased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $440.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on 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, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $357.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $409.93. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group Insider Transactions at The Goldman Sachs Group In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.15, for a total value of $1,634,645.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 11,463 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,357,659.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total transaction of $1,129,170.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $380.15, for a total transaction of $1,634,645.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 11,463 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,357,659.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 14,734 shares of company stock worth $5,529,824 over the last 90 days. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About The Goldman Sachs Group (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. Read More 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. Optiver Holding B.V. lowered its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:EWZ Free Report) by 70.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 716,569 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,717,491 shares during the period. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF makes up 0.0% of Optiver Holding B.V.s portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Optiver Holding B.V. owned approximately 0.44% of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF worth $21,977,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of EWZ. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its stake in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 48.2% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 121,568 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,729,000 after purchasing an additional 39,565 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 288.4% during the third quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 61,270 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,879,000 after acquiring an additional 45,493 shares during the period. Access Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,672,000. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $217,000. Finally, Csenge Advisory Group acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $486,000. Get iShares MSCI Brazil ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Price Performance EWZ stock traded down $0.11 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $33.58. 11,926,656 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,521,096. The company has a market cap of $5.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.86 and a beta of 0.97. The firms 50-day moving average is $33.76 and its 200-day moving average is $32.37. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF has a 12 month low of $25.00 and a 12 month high of $35.74. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Profile iShares MSCI Brazil Capped Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Brazilian market, as measured by the MSCI Brazil Index (the Index). Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Brazil ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TrueBlue (NYSE:TBI Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The business services provider reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.15) by $0.23, Briefing.com reports. TrueBlue had a negative net margin of 0.23% and a positive return on equity of 4.78%. The firm had revenue of $492.17 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $472.53 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. TrueBlue updated its Q1 2024 guidance to EPS. TrueBlue Price Performance NYSE:TBI traded down $0.92 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $11.51. The companys stock had a trading volume of 422,158 shares, compared to its average volume of 204,413. TrueBlue has a fifty-two week low of $10.15 and a fifty-two week high of $19.30. The firms 50 day moving average is $14.25 and its 200-day moving average is $14.17. Get TrueBlue alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On TrueBlue Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of TBI. Norges Bank acquired a new position in TrueBlue in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,745,000. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in TrueBlue by 129.7% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 306,422 shares of the business services providers stock worth $6,000,000 after buying an additional 173,004 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its holdings in TrueBlue by 86.1% in the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 350,842 shares of the business services providers stock worth $6,280,000 after buying an additional 162,275 shares during the period. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in TrueBlue in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,281,000. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its position in TrueBlue by 213.9% in the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 159,343 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,836,000 after purchasing an additional 108,580 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.32% of the companys stock. About TrueBlue TrueBlue, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides specialized workforce solutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Puerto Rico. It operates through three segments: PeopleReady, PeopleManagement, and PeopleScout. The company's PeopleReady segment provides general, industrial, and skilled trade staffing services for construction, transportation, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and renewable energy industries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TrueBlue Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TrueBlue and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) proudly announces the call for nominations for the eighth consecutive year of the AIBP Enterprise Innovation Awards. Established in 2017, the awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of Southeast Asian enterprises in their digital transformation journey. Last year, IOI Corporation Berhad and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) stood out as winners from Malaysia, receiving their accolades at the 2023 AIBP Conference and Exhibition, held at the InterContinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The event was supported by key Malaysian institutions including the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI), the then Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD), and CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM). From left to right: Irza Suprapto (CEO, AIBP), Dato Ts. Dr Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab (CEO, CyberSecurity Malaysia), Datin Ts. Habsah Nordin (Chief Data Officer, PETRONAS), Mr Mohd Haris Shukri Jahabar (Head, Data Architecture Management, PETRONAS), Mr. Alvin Lee (Head of Business Systems and Information Technology, IOI Corporation Berhad), Mr. Kong Kian Beng (Group CFO, IOI Corporation Berhad), Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman (Former President and CEO, MIGHT) This tradition of excellence is set to continue at the 2024 awards ceremony, a feature of AIBP's annual conference scheduled for 3 - 4 September 2024. Advocates for Digital Transformation: A Platform for Growth The awards serve as an open invitation for ASEAN organisations to share their success stories in digital transformation. Notable winners like IOI, with its "ONE IOI Integrated Platform," and PETRONAS, with its Enterprise Data Hub, demonstrate the impactful use of digital technologies in business optimisation. In its 8th year, the Enterprise Innovation Awards continue to offer a unique platform for ASEAN businesses to gain recognition for their digital transformation projects. IOI and PETRONAS join other winners from the region which include Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, Megaworld Corporation, VPBank, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, Sampoerna, Bank Mandiri, Kasikorn Business Technology Group and PTT Global Chemical Public Company. Nominate Your Enterprise We invite all enterprises based in Malaysia that have embarked on digital transformation projects to nominate themselves for the 2024 awards. Deadline for nominations: 11 March 2024 Story continues Nominations for the 2024 AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards are free, and can be submitted via the awards' website https://www.aibp.sg/aibp-awards-nominations-2024 About ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) AIBP serves as an avenue for public and private organisations in Southeast Asia to access information about enterprise growth and innovation. With a current network of over 30,000 stakeholders in Southeast Asia, AIBP continues to develop ecosystems by engaging in activities which create value-adding information for our stakeholders seeking to make transformative impacts within their organisations. For additional information about AIBP, please visit www.aibp.sg ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) (PRNewsfoto/ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP)) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/call-for-nominations-2024-enterprise-innovation-awards-celebrating-eight-years-of-digital-excellence-in-asean-302066841.html SOURCE ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) Personal CFO Solutions LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IQLT Free Report) by 56.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 55,918 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 20,079 shares during the period. Personal CFO Solutions LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF were worth $1,879,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. MCF Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Element Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 58.3% during the second quarter. Element Wealth LLC now owns 1,048 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 386 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $71,000. Get iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IQLT traded up $0.39 on Thursday, reaching $38.79. The company had a trading volume of 449,161 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,044,254. iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $32.28 and a 52-week high of $38.81. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $37.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $35.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.21 billion, a PE ratio of 13.88 and a beta of 0.87. iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks in developed countries, outside of the US. The index is selected and weighted for exposure to fundamental quality metrics. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 37.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,925 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,728 shares during the quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $6,771,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cambridge Trust Co. increased its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 82.0% in the third quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 91 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group during the first quarter worth $33,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the first quarter worth $33,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the second quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the second quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on GS shares. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $440.00 price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Barclays boosted their price target 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. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $357.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $409.93. The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Up 0.6 % Shares of NYSE:GS traded up $2.39 during trading on Thursday, reaching $390.66. 1,290,215 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,344,536. The firms 50-day moving average price is $382.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $346.38. The firm has a market cap of $127.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.43. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $289.36 and a 12-month high of $396.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.14. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $1.86. The company had revenue of $11.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.80 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 7.82%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.32 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a $2.75 dividend. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.20%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Kathryn H. Ruemmler sold 7,277 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $379.81, for a total value of $2,763,877.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,501 shares in the company, valued at $2,469,144.81. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Kathryn H. Ruemmler sold 7,277 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $379.81, for a total value of $2,763,877.37. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 6,501 shares in the company, valued at $2,469,144.81. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.15, for a total value of $1,634,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 11,463 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,357,659.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 14,734 shares of company stock worth $5,529,824 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. The Goldman Sachs Group Company 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. Read More 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. Merko Ehitus AS Mr. Andris Bismeistars, Chairman of the Management Board of SIA Merks Majas, Latvian real estate development company belonging to the AS Merko Ehitus group, has announced about his decision to leave the company and continue his career as an entrepreneur. Mr. Andris Bismeistars' term as a Member of the Board of SIA Merks Majas will end on 31 March 2024. Mr. Mikus Freimanis will continue as a Member of the company's Management Board. On 31 March 2024, Mr. Andris Bismeistars will also leave the Management Boards of other Latvian subsidiaries of the Merko Ehitus group. The Management Boards of the companies will continue to work with the other current Board Members. Mr. Andris Bismeistars has worked in different positions in Merko Ehitus group since 2005 and the group is grateful to his contribution. Merko Ehitus has started a search for a new Chairman of the Management Board of Latvian subsidiaries. Urmas Somelar Head of Finance AS Merko Ehitus +372 650 1250 urmas.somelar@merko.ee AS Merko Ehitus ( group.merko.ee ) group companies develop real estate and construct buildings and infrastructure. We create a better living environment and build the future. We operate in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. As at the end of 2023, the group employed 635 people, and the groups revenue for 2023 was EUR 466 million. China enjoys the best of both worlds, benefiting from the global stability that the United States has fostered even as it undermines that stability in areas where it suits its interests, a senior US State Department official said on Wednesday. The comments by Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made at the start of a two-day Atlantic Council conference on China and the Global South come as the People's Republic of China and the US vie for influence among developing countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. "The PRC has itself benefited from the stability and the opportunity that the international order provides. But unfortunately, the PRC often takes actions that undermine those principles, rather than reinforcement," Kritenbrink said, citing Beijing's expansion into the South China Sea, economic coercion of smaller states and programmes opposing "universal" human rights. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "The PRC has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad," he told the conference. "The PRC is advancing an alternative vision for global governance." Panellists pushed back, however, including those from developing countries, arguing that the battle for influence is too often framed as a binary choice between Beijing and Washington - when the reality is more nuanced. "The developing world conceals a multiplicity of interests," said Bilahari Kausikan, chairman of the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute. "We have concerns about both certain aspects of Chinese behaviour and certain aspects of American behaviour." Kritenbrink said that US policy toward the Global South is not defined in opposition to China, nor does it force countries to choose. Rather, he contended, it promotes the vision of "a world where rules, norms and institutions prevail over outdated and dangerous concepts of might making right". Story continues He added, however, that it would be naive to believe that China doesn't enter into US calculations. "Of course, we can't deny that strategic competition is also a critical part of this moment," Kritenbrink, a former US ambassador to Vietnam, said. "Our relationship with the PRC is one of intense strategic competition. At the same time, the United States is committed to managing this competition responsibly, so that it does not veer into miscalculation, or conflict." Kritenbrink criticised the major elements of China's outreach - the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative - as programmes that undercut collective defence and environmental standards and seek to reframe human rights as a privilege of the West. Panellists at the conference said the "Global South" phrase is baggage-laden - a replacement for the now-discredited "Third World". Countries concentrated in the southern hemisphere often have little in common other than some vague sense that the Global North is too dominant even as Beijing and Washington jockey for their loyalty - and UN votes. "It doesn't mean that these countries, however resentful they may be about different aspects of Western policy, are going to drink deeply of Chinese Kool-Aid," Kausikan said. But, he added, China "understands the mood that constitutes the Global South better than the West and avoids what I will call sanctimonious diplomacy, insisting that its interpretation of values is the only possible interpretation". China's recent economic slowdown - fuelled by a property crisis, rising youth unemployment, battered confidence and swooning financial markets - is likely to shift Beijing's Global South emphasis, panellists said. Since 2015, China's spending on Belt and Road Initiative projects has been tapering off. Its slowing economy will also see it place more focus on less expensive programmes, experts said, including more training of foreign militaries, joint defence meetings, telecommunication infrastructure projects and use of the People's Liberation Army in quasi-political foreign outreach roles. "Because Chinese feel more cornered in a way, with reduced options, it's going to use more diversity of tools for influence that are cheaper than just investing in big infrastructure projects," Nadege Rolland, a China fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, said, adding that this would not change Beijing's focus on countering the US. "It's not like these countries are pawns in the hands of Beijing, but Beijing certainly sees them as such and so it's a very binary vision of the rejection of the existing order." China's adaptive tactics are particularly evident in Africa, said Paul Nantulya, an African studies research associate with the US National Defence University. "The Chinese side educates more African officers than any other industrialised country. And this becomes extremely important," he said. "I don't think that the Chinese government puts all its eggs in one basket." Officers and soldiers of the 42nd Chinese naval escort fleet wave to the crowd at the Port of Richards Bay, South Africa, on February 19, 2023, in advance of joint maritime exercises held by China, Russia and South Africa. Photo: Xinhua alt=Officers and soldiers of the 42nd Chinese naval escort fleet wave to the crowd at the Port of Richards Bay, South Africa, on February 19, 2023, in advance of joint maritime exercises held by China, Russia and South Africa. Photo: Xinhua> As the stakes and rhetoric mount between the world's two largest economies, Kritenbrink said that Washington remains focused on convincing - not arm-twisting - developing countries with revitalised alliances, financing projects and ties involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Summit for Democracy, US-Pacific Island Country Summit and Africa outreach programmes. "We don't want countries to have to choose between us and the PRC," he said. "But we want to help ensure that they have a choice and that they can make their decisions free from coercion." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. (Bloomberg) -- Chinas equity futures market has restored some sense of normalcy after a period of extreme discounts, a sign that relentless bearishness may be fading as policymakers step in to calm investor nerves. Most Read from Bloomberg The CSI1000 Index futures settled at 5073.80 Wednesday, returning to a small premium against the underlying small cap index. Just a month ago, the discount had widened to a record -179 points, when market watchers suggested that the feverish selling was largely triggered by hedging needs from holders of a derivatives product called the snowball. The shift reflects a return to buying of futures partly by investors who had earlier sold to cover their positions. Stock trading volumes in China have picked up in recent days, as state-owned funds went on buying sprees in supportive measures. During the peak of this kind of snowball worry, a lot of people were just shorting the futures to hedge their losses elsewhere, said Jason Lui, BNP Paribas head of APAC equity & derivative strategy. But now (they) have kind of moved halfway back. The benchmark CSI 300 Index closed higher for the seventh consecutive session on Wednesday- the longest such streak in more than a year - and turned positive for the year. Read: Chinas National Team Is Back at Work as Stock Trading Resumes Another reason for the futures discount snapping back may have involved hedge fund activity. When they typically buy small stocks in China, theyd also sell small-cap index futures to hedge any potential downside of their purchases. But policymakers intervention and the subsequent rebound in the markets would have forced them to unwind these hedges, further supporting the surge in the futures contracts. Story continues When the futures discounts normalize, it indicates that the market pessimism is subsiding, said Jiang Qin, chief researcher at Citic Futures Co. Ltd. Investors predict that the index is going to the bottom area, and the necessity of using futures to hedge and protect reduces. Hedgers would choose to close their short positions, leading to the convergence of the futures discounts. --With assistance from Jeanny Yu and Abhishek Vishnoi. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- A rally in Chinese stocks extended into the eighth session as a growing list of support measures helped ease bearish sentiment. Most Read from Bloomberg After a choppy start, the benchmark CSI 300 Index ended Thursday 0.9% higher, capping its longest run of gains since July 2020. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index jumped about 2%, close to wiping out its losses for the year. Beijing has deployed a wider range of policy levers including restrictions on equity net sales, underscoring authorities desperation to revive the $8.7 trillion stock market. While this months rebound suggests the steps which also include stock purchases by state funds and a clampdown on quant trading have put a floor under the rout, many still see it as a technical upswing that may wind down if supports taper. We dont rule out the possibility that the latest restrictions could contribute somewhat to a technical rebound in the Greater China market in the near-term, said Homin Lee, senior macro strategist at Lombard Odier. But the markets long-term trajectory will be driven by fundamentals, not technical tweaks of this nature. Read: Greed Returns to Chinas Stock Market as Policy Buoys Confidence Efforts to boost market confidence have ratcheted up since a new chief took control of the China Securities Regulatory Commission earlier this month. The regulator has banned major institutional investors from reducing equity holdings at the open and close of each trading day, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. Foreign funds added 3.7 billion yuan ($515 million) of onshore shares through the trading links with Hong Kong on Thursday, boosting holdings again after scooping up more than 13 billion yuan in the previous session. The CSI 300 has now turned positive for the year, but remains down about 40% from a 2021 peak. Story continues In the short-term, these moves should at least stop the downward spiral of the market, said Kerry Goh, chief investment officer at Kamet Capital Partners Pte. Machine-led, large and rapid transactions should be curtailed so we dont cause an unexpected crash. In another positive development, Beijing has also started drafting a law to promote the development of the private sector economy. The law will focus on the core concerns of private companies, including protecting their property rights and guaranteeing the interests of entrepreneurs, state media reported. The equity rout a few weeks ago was exacerbated by quant funds stampeding to exit position, according to an analysis by Man Group fund manager Ziang Fang, who said in a note this week that the unwinding of these positions was so massive that it spurred small-cap stocks to underperform by a historic margin. Beijings tightened grip on trading activity, however, risks upending popular strategies used by hedge funds and other institutional investors, and may further alienate foreign funds who have already left the market in droves. Rising short interest in China and Hong Kong equities amid this months market uptrend implies that investors sentiment on average is still cautious, Morgan Stanley strategists including Gilbert Wong and Laura Wang wrote in a note, citing IHS Markit data. People have had this hazy sense of anticipation and optimism ever since the authorities demonstrated their resolve to change the state of the market with the CSRC head change, said Liu Xiaodong, fund manager at Shanghai Power Asset Management Co. The new chief has so far proven true to his word with a heavy hand to rectify some of the long standing, fundamental issues that have plagued the market. --With assistance from April Ma. (Updates with indexes moves for the year.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese liquefied natural gas importers are hunting for cheap shipments from the spot market after prices fell to the lowest level since 2021. Most Read from Bloomberg LNG buyers, including Shenzhen Energy Group and China Gas Holdings Ltd., are in talks with potential suppliers for additional cargoes for the next several months, according to traders with knowledge of the matter. China Resources Gas Group purchased a shipment for mid-March delivery, the traders said. The interest in additional supplies from China the worlds biggest LNG importer is emerging after a drop in spot prices made the fuel more cost competitive with local gas options and oil products, the traders said. Still, Chinese LNG spot demand remains subdued, especially when compared to a flurry of buying last month ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, traders added. Asian LNG prices are expected to continue sliding as ample supply outstrips the spot purchases, especially as the peak winter demand season ends. Chinese LNG imports are recovering from a slump in 2022, when virus restrictions and high prices dashed demand for the super-chilled fuel. January imports jumped nearly 30% year-over-year, but were still about 8% lower than the same month in 2021, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Chinas domestic trucked LNG prices are down about 16% so far this year, indicating weak domestic gas consumption. Other market news: Eesti Gaas is seeking to purchase three LNG cargoes on a DES basis for April-June delivery into Finlands Inkoo import terminal Oman LNG offers to sell a cargo on an FOB basis for March 30-April 1 loading Inpexs Ichthys LNG export facility in Australia sold a cargo for March 12-14 loading to a portfolio player Story continues Buy tender: Sell tender: (Updates with additional details from the spot market after sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Chinas economy faces a multitude of challenges according to a detailed analysis by CNBC. The nations property market is in distress; deflationary pressures are widespread; and the stock market has experienced significant volatility. The CSI 300 index has seen a drastic reduction in its value, losing around 40% from its 2021 peaks. Recent data from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics paint a grim picture, with manufacturing activity contracting for the fourth consecutive month because of declining demand. The trend has led to a change in perception among investors and economists regarding Chinas economic health. Allianz, for instance, revised its growth forecast for China, now expecting its economy to grow by an average of 3.9% between 2025 to 2029, a significant downgrade from the pre-pandemic estimate of 5%. Eswar Prasad, an ex-International Monetary Fund official, expressed concerns to Nikkei Asia about Chinas economic future, "The likelihood of the prediction that China's GDP will one day overtake that of the U.S. is declining." This sentiment is echoed by Mohamed El-Erian, an Allianz adviser, who highlighted the differences in stock market performances between China, the U.S. and Europe. Despite these challenges, Chinese leadership remains optimistic. Xi Jinping, on New Years Eve, claimed that Chinas economy has become more resilient and dynamic this year. Some data supports this optimism, with factory activity expanding and the luxury sector showing signs of recovery. However, the consensus on Chinas economic outlook is far from uniform. Paul Krugman, winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, expressed a bearish stance, suggesting that China is entering an era of stagnation and disappointment, especially after the lifting of its zero-Covid measures did not lead to the expected economic boom. The property market, a significant component of Chinas economy, is facing severe troubles. Kyle Bass, founder of Dallas-based Hayman Capital, compared the situation to the U.S. financial crisis, but on a much larger scale, saying, This is just like the U.S. financial crisis on steroids. According to him, the country's real estate sector was too debt-reliant and is heading toward 2008-era financial conditions. He warned of worsening conditions despite regulatory assurances, concluding, The basic architecture of the Chinese economy is broken," according to a GB News report. Story continues Yet, not all views are bleak. The Institute of International Finance maintains a more optimistic forecast, suggesting China has the policy capacity to achieve its growth potential, with a prediction of 5% growth for 2024. This outlook, however, hinges on effective demand-side stimulus measures. The latest GDP figures, which fell short of expectations, underscore the ongoing challenges facing Chinas economy. Chinas economic slowdown and the challenges it faces have significant implications for the global economy, including the United States. The relationship between the U.S. and China is at a critical juncture, influenced by trade tensions and tariffs that have impacted billions of dollars in goods between the two nations. This economic interdependence means that developments in Chinas economy can have wide-ranging effects on global markets, including those in the U.S. As China navigates these hurdles, the global community watches closely, recognizing the significant impact Chinas economic trajectory will have worldwide. Read Next: Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers. Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here are 3 high-yield investments to add significant income to your portfolio. Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Jeff Bezos gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started. "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article China's Economic Instability Worsens And Heads Towards 2008-Era Conditions 'Like The U.S. Financial Crisis On Steroids' Says Hedge Fund Titan Amid Real Estate Meltdown originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Assessing the Sustainability of CMWAY's Upcoming Dividend Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CMWAY) recently announced a dividend of $1.39 per share, payable on 2024-04-08, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-02-23. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Commonwealth Bank of Australia's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does Commonwealth Bank of Australia Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with CMWAY. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? Commonwealth Bank is Australia's largest bank with operations spanning Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Its core business is the provision of retail, business, and institutional banking services. The bank has emphasized its focus on banking in recent years with a number of asset divestments in wealth management and insurance. Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Dividend History Commonwealth Bank of Australia has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2010. Dividends are currently distributed on a bi-annually basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Dividend Analysis Breaking Down Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Commonwealth Bank of Australia currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.83% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 3.64%. This suggests an expectation of decreased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's annual dividend growth rate was -0.90%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to -3.10% per year. And over the past decade, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at -0.70%. Story continues Based on Commonwealth Bank of Australia's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Commonwealth Bank of Australia stock as of today is approximately 3.27%. The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's dividend payout ratio is 0.75, which may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable. Commonwealth Bank of Australia's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Commonwealth Bank of Australia's profitability 4 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting the dividend may not be sustainable. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Commonwealth Bank of Australia's growth rank of 4 out of 10 suggests that the company has poor growth prospects and thus, the dividend may not be sustainable. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Commonwealth Bank of Australia's revenue has increased by approximately 6.50% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 51.28% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Commonwealth Bank of Australia's earnings increased by approximately 12.80% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 41.74% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 4.10%, which underperforms approximately 65.86% of global competitors. Next Steps Given Commonwealth Bank of Australia's dividend payments, dividend growth rate, payout ratio, profitability, and growth metrics, investors should closely monitor these factors to determine the long-term sustainability of the dividends. While the bank's history of consistent dividend payments is commendable, the negative dividend growth rates and lower growth ranks raise questions about future dividend stability. Investors may want to consider these factors in the context of their overall investment strategy and risk tolerance. For those seeking high-dividend yield opportunities, GuruFocus Premium users can utilize the High Dividend Yield Screener to find stocks that meet their dividend criteria. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. The same expression may be used now, in a very different sense, considering OBrien a real lady, for the high quality of her literary work; her love for Spain; her interest in Spanish literary and historical figures such as Teresa de Jesus, Ana de Mendoza, Jacinto Benavente and Miguel de Cervantes; her courage approaching certain subjects provoked that two of her novels, Mary Lavelle (1936) and Land of spices (1941) were banned in Ireland for opposing the rigid parameters of sexual moral imposed by Eamon de Valera government and another one, Farewell Spain (1937), were banned in Spain, for her support to the Republic values and her criticism against Francos military coup; and the feminist character of her literature, presenting independent transgressive women, who take their own decisions and fight for their convictions, as it happens in the novel we are discussing in this article. Kate OBriens contribution to Irish literature has been receiving a due acknowledgment in her country for the last years. She was featured in a 2015 Irish Times celebration of Irish women writers, and since that date several studies about her work have been published. However, Spain, and specifically the cities of Pastrana, Avila and Madrid, have still an unpaid debt with Kate OBrien. Luckily, J. Antonio Sierra[1]s efforts made it possible that the small town of Gotarrendura (Avila) gave her name to one of its streets in 2007, and, in 2011, also a street in the city of Avila (capital of the province) was named after her. In her novel Teresa de Avila (1951), OBrien highlights Teresas genius and literary quality and her capacity to fight for her ideals, without theological or mystical considerations. This novel would be enough to make Kate O Brien deserve the honour of being awarded the title of Adoptive Daughter of the Town of Avila, in the fiftieth anniversary of her death, something that Sierra has requested from all the political parties which make part of Avila Town Council. This anniversary would also be a perfect occasion to organise cultural events around Kate OBriens work, as it already happened in September 2011. I would like to briefly speak about her novel That Lady, a novel which would also deserve a homage to the writer in Pastrana and Madrid, the two main places where Ana de Mendozas story takes place. In That Lady, Kate OBrien vindicates the figure of a woman, made prisoner and psychologically tortured by the King Philip II, without being judged or sentenced, just to satisfy the revengeful feelings of a man who is divided between the most extreme cruelty and the obsessive prosecution of an unattainable redemption through religion. In this novel, Ana de Mendoza appears as an intelligent woman, who efficiently manages her lands, including her industry of silk production. A woman full of political insight; good friend of her friends; with a talent for conversation, full of irony and sense of humour. Ana has been the victim of numerous limitations imposed by a deeply patriarchal society: being almost a child she was married to a much older man; while he lived, she depended on his criteria and decisions, as expected from a submissive wife; she fulfilled the inescapable obligation of providing heirs to her husband, giving birth year after year, even if she acknowledged not to feel very maternal; after her husbands death she had to dress in black for the rest of her life and, as the widow of a respectable noble man, her independence and freedom of choice was highly limited. Fate imposed on her another challenge, an attack to her beauty, a womans only assets at the time, when she lost her right eye being very young, already betrothed to Ruy Gomez, but before marrying him. But, in spite of all these limitations, Ana de Mendoza knows how to enjoy life; establishes a caring and affectionate relationship with her youngest children, her daughter Anichu and her son Fernando; shares a sincere friendship with Bernardina, her housekeeper and companion. Ana is a woman who consciously takes the free decision of starting a sexual relationship with Antonio Perez, even knowing he is married and she is acting against her own religious beliefs, at an age when she may be considered an old woman at her time. With Ruy Gomez, she had known an affectionate, friendly relationship, exempt from passion; with Antonio she will enjoy sexual pleasure and will involve herself in a love story which will compromise her health, her freedom and her life. She will never accept the kings dominant and wicked imposition about her private life, in spite of the friendship and good relationship they had shared for many years. She will not submit to his threats, his moral blackmail, the humiliations and tortures imposed on her while her incarceration in the Tower of Pinto, or in her own house of Pastrana, changed into a gloomy prison of walled windows during the last time of her life. She will stay faithful to the defense of her moral freedom, her right to her private life, and will even protect her lover, Antonio Perez, helping him flee from Spain. OBrien highlights Anas vitality, independence, clarity of judgment, integrity, and dignity, in the context of deep injustices and discriminations against women in the sixteenth century. She is a woman victim of the jealousy and contradictions of a man who exerts all his power upon his kingdom and upon her. At the same time, Kate OBrien makes a deep criticism of the political turn of the king towards absolutist positions, as opposed to more liberal ones represented by Ana de Mendoza, Ruy Gomez, Antonio Perez and the cardinal Quiroga, archbishop of Toledo. Once again, Kate O Briens novel tackles both political and social criticism together with the defense of womens freedom and capacity of decision-making. [1] Former Director of the Spanish Cultural Institute of Dublin, now Instituto Cervantes Enviada por Jose Antonio Sierra An ongoing cybersecurity breach that hit the health technology company Change Healthcare this week has led to prescription delays for at least a few small pharmacies in the U.S., with some interruptions reported by bigger institutions like Walgreens, according to the pharmacies. Change Healthcare a technology company based in Tennessee that is part of the health services provider Optum, Inc. and owned by the massive conglomerate UnitedHealth Group first reported experiencing company-wide connectivity problems on Wednesday morning. By Thursday, both the subsidiary and UnitedHealth acknowledged that a cybersecurity issue had caused a network outage that was expected to last 24 hours or more. "Change Healthcare is experiencing a cyber security issue and our experts are working to address the matter," a spokesperson for UnitedHealth said in a statement to CBS News on Thursday. "Once we became aware of the outside threat, in the interest of protecting our partners and patients, we took immediate action to disconnect our systems to prevent further impact." "At this time, we believe the issue is specific to Change Healthcare and all other systems across UnitedHealth Group are operational," the spokesperson added. "The disruption is expected to last at least through the day." The company said it would share additional updates as more information becomes available. A family-owned pharmacy and two military pharmacies, in the Midwest and California, all reported on Wednesday and Thursday that network outages impacting national healthcare providers had prevented them from filling prescriptions. Canadian Lakes Pharmacy in Stanwood, Michigan, initially said in a social media post on Wednesday that it was unable to bill most insurance companies for prescriptions filled there due to what the pharmacy called a "nationwide outage of some of the largest prescription processors" in the country. Story continues By Thursday morning, Canadian Lakes said in an updated post that it was able to fill prescriptions and bill them to most of its customers' insurance plans as usual. But at least two other pharmacies alerted customers about prescription delays linked to network outages later on Thursday. In a social media post, 22nd Medical Group, which services the McConnell Air Force base in Kansas, said "an unexpected enterprise-wide" system outage meant the pharmacy could not process new prescriptions, though it would continue dispensing already-completed prescriptions. The Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, a U.S. Marine Corps base in California, also reported issues filling prescriptions. "Due to an ongoing enterprise-wide issue, all Camp Pendleton and associated pharmacies are unable to process any prescription claims," the hospital wrote in a social media post. "We are only able to assist patients with emergency and urgent prescriptions from hospital providers at this time." A spokesperson for Walgreens said in a statement to CBS News that the pharmaceutical giant was not experiencing significant barriers to filling prescriptions, although a "small percentage" of prescriptions may be affected. For the small percentage that may be affected, we have procedures in place so that we can continue to process and fill these prescriptions with minimal delay or interruption," the Walgreens spokesperson said. CBS News homeland security and justice reporter Nicole Sganga contributed reporting. I'm not sure anybody was asking for pardon . . . Still, a Republican stalwart and statesman of the past is still giving interviews. The upshot: Apparently, his opinion of the current Senator THAT HE SUPPORTED hasn't improved. Here's the word . . . "U.S. Senator Jack Danforth (R-Missouri). Danforth filed a legal brief with a U.S. Supreme Court warning justices not to grant Trump immunity because the precedent might invite a usurper's military coup in the future. "Danforth had previously expressed concerns about the precedent it might set for the federal government to prosecute an outgoing president. " 'What bothers me is the notion that one party comes in power and prosecutes the other party,' Danforth told 5 On Your Side back in July of 2022. "I don't know, maybe it's called for in this case." "Whatever reservations he had at the time appear to have dissipated as he now strongly urges the Supreme Court against shielding Trump from criminal charges. "Danforth said he wants to see consequences for the conspirators of the Jan. 6 attempt to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election results. During an interview on 'The Record,' Danforth said he hopes voters ultimately hold Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) responsible for his role in the events around that day, too. "Danforth, a former Missouri Attorney General, now regrets his past support of Hawley, and said his actions leading up to Jan. 6 were 'unforgivable.' " Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The local homicide count is slowly creeping up along with higher temperatures. An arctic blast cooled the numbers early in the year but now the pace quickens. Last year at this time there were 21 homicides reported . . . In the past week KCMO has recorded more than half a dozen killings including this one. Here is the first report: Homicide 3200 Blk E 32nd Tonight at around 9:40pm officers were dispatched to the 3200 block of E 32nd street on a sound of shots. While en route, the call was upgraded to a shooting. Upon arrival officers located an adult male victim at the fire station nearby. He was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non life threatening injuries. To the west of the fire station officers located an additional adult male victim also suffering from apparent gun shot wounds. EMS was summoned and declared him deceased. Preliminary investigation indicated the victims were possibly in a disagreement with other unknown individuals. Detectives are canvassing for witnesses and crime scene investigators are processing the scene for evidence to try to give detectives more information about what led up to the incident. If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline. We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency. We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents. ################## Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Kansas City police investigating fatal shooting on 32nd Street, Linwood Boulevard Kansas City police are investigating a fatal shooting on E. 32nd Street and E. Linwood Boulevard. KCPD investigating homicide in 3200 block of Indiana The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened in the 3200 block of Indiana Ave. on Wednesday night. 1 dead after 2 shooting victims arrive at fire station in east Kansas City One person is dead and a second was critically injured after arriving with gunshot wounds to a fire station in east Kansas City, Missouri, police said. Developing . . . Right now hottie actress & fashionista Bella inspires our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Small Carrier Hype Today Eastern Airlines chooses to move headquarters to Kansas City near MCI A new airline has chosen to move its headquarters to the City of Fountains near the Kansas City International Airport as expansion continues within the area and the company. Still Waiting On Snail Mail Independence man says slow mail service delayed product shipments last month John Kramer of Independence says one package took more than a month to arrive in Texas from Independence Kansas Artsy Food Fight The Cozy restaurant owner sues the City of Salina over mural restrictions - The Sentinel The Cozy Inn owner's lawsuit contends Salina is violating his First Amendment right to free speech by prohibiting a depiction of a hamburger in his mural. Show-Me Heroic Patriotism Missouri Firefighters Rescue Injured Bald Eagle While on Another Call Missouri firefighters dispatched on another call found a bald eagle trapped in a ditch line. The bird is now being cared for by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Branding The Kingdom Royals announce first uniform ad patch with QuikTrip This space for rent! Low Expectations Offered Again In The Dotte 'It's not going to be The Legends' - UG closes in on plan for Indian Springs Mall site - Kansas City Business Journal The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas will issue a request for proposals for the former Indian Springs Mall property. Home Team Memories Fade Former All-Star Hosmer announces retirement Eric Hosmer, who helped the Kansas City Royals win the 2015 World Series, announced his retirement Wednesday. Fashion Diva Shares Sneak Peek Bella Thorne ensures all eyes are on her in a sheer thong bodysuit The actress, 26, ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived at Diesel's fall/winter 2024 show at Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday. White House Buys Love Biden will email 153,000 student loan borrowers: I'm canceling your debt "I hope this relief gives you a little more breathing room," the message says. MAGA Money Confiscation Letitia James says she will seize Trump's assets if he doesn't pay $355m fraud fine New York attorney general says she may seek enforcement mechanisms in court if ex-president doesn't have funds to pay The Don Looks For New Deuce Trump confirms names on VP shortlist: 'They're all good, they're all solid' Former President Trump confirmed a list of names floated to be on his vice presidential shortlist Tuesday, during a town hall event in Greenville, S.C. Trump joined Fox News Channel's Laura Ingraham to discuss the upcoming Palmetto State's primary - which takes place on Feb. 24. Case Against Prez Cont'd Jordan: Informant's indictment 'doesn't change fundamental facts' of GOP case against Biden House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is brushing aside the indictment of the FBI informant at the center of the GOP's allegations against President Biden, arguing that the source's arrest "doesn't change the fundamental facts" of the Republican case against the president. The Justice Department indicted Alexander Smirnov last week on allegations that he... Iron Curtain Revived?!? Russia arrests US dual national over alleged $51 Ukrainian charity donation Ksenia Khavana faces up to 20 years in prison for treason amid Kremlin crackdown Holy Land Vote Disputed US vetoes call for immediate Gaza ceasefire at UN Washington has proposed its own draft resolution calling for a "temporary ceasefire as soon as practicable". Corporate Dude Jettisoned Boeing removes head of 737 Max programin wake of safety incidents Boeing removed executive Ed Clark, the head of its 737 Max passenger jet program, after a dramatic - and terrifying - midair blowout in January underscored ongoing problems with the jet. Good Life Around The World Travis Kelce On Private Jet to Sydney to Go See Taylor Swift Travis Kelce is currently airborne and on his way to link up with Taylor Swift in Australia. Wedding Regret Sets In Early Couple married at Chiefs parade does their best to remember wedding day fondly amid tragedy No one imagines their wedding day will be taken over by a mass shooting. Unfortunately, that is now the story that will forever be tied to the Whyldgrrs' memory of the day. Building Up Urban Core Event Space seeks to fill vacant lot | Northeast News Michael BushnellPublisher A new concept destination in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood that is based on a mash-up between KC Bier Company's outdoor space and North Kansas City's Iron District may... Local Biz Celebrates Hipsters KC Chamber adds honor for artists, creatives to its awards lineup; emphasizing arts' impact on economy, culture A new award planned for the KC Chamber's Small Business Celebration in June is expected to honor an entrepreneur who has put their artistic talent to work as a small business, said Vicky Kulikov. Another Cowtown Eat Out Guide What's new in Kansas City food and drink . . . From new dishes to new restaurants, KC is hopping. Global Climate Change Fear Restarts . . . Nearing record high temperatures in the metro today Highs could hit over 70 this afternoon in Kansas City Kylie Minogue - Tension is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. This town's top writer on faith & morals shares this big picture perspective on history, science and the ongoing struggle to affirm human life. Here's the word . . . "That this faith-based decision came from Alabama is not surprising. The state's history is full of private and government examples of defense of white supremacy, especially instances of churches advocating for slavery before and during (and even after) the Civil War, as this NPR analysis makes clear. So in some ways, the state court is simply inappropriately reflecting the narrowest variety of thinking to be found among Alabama's citizens. The good news in the embryos decision is that it recognizes that all human beings are of ultimate worth -- thinking that should have made slavery unthinkable." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Faith Matters Blog: THE TROUBLE WITH ALABAMA'S RULING ON FROZEN EMBRYOS Related reading . . . The Alabama Supreme Court opinion holding that embryos are children, explained Did Alabama's Supreme Court just ban IVF treatments? Developing . . . Right now we share more than a few reports on rising local crime as the weather warms up and in the aftermath of a local tragedy that garnered international coverage. Check TKC news gathering . . . 1 man dead, 2nd critically injured in KCK shooting Tuesday evening One man is dead and a second was critically injured in a shooting Tuesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, police said. Vintage KC store trying to recover after break-in A Kansas City vintage store was the target of an alleged break-in on Sunday night and now the owner is left picking up the pieces. Man pleads guilty to 2022 crash that killed Overland Park woman A man pleaded guilty last week in Johnson County court in a 2022 crash that killed an Overland Park woman. Johnson County man charged with attempted murder in road rage shooting An Overland Park man has been charged with attempted murder following a road rage shooting Tuesday morning near Shawnee Mission Parkway and I-35. Does Missouri law or Kansas City ordinance prohibit minors from carrying firearms? What the laws say about concealed and open carry of guns by juveniles within city limits following Chiefs parade shooting. KCKPD seeks information from public on shooting Monday One person was critically injured in a shooting Monday in the 200 block of S. 11th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. Gladstone police searching for missing teen Gladstone Police Department searching for a missing 15-year-old. Delaney Elkin was reported missing on February 20 near 5200 N. Central Street. KCK police tout success of driver's education program run by officers Kansas City, Kansas, police officers are closing the divide between teens and officers with a free driver's education program. Kansas launching foster care Family Treatment Court court The Family Treatment Court will help parents with substance use issues complete treatment and get their kids back. New app, website allows crime victims to report incidents to Lawrence police online Certain crimes may now be reported to the Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department (LKPD) through a new app, according to a LKPD press release. Chief Stacey Graves Statement Regarding New Union Station Shooting Charges A statement by Chief Stacey Graves Kansas City, Missouri, advocates for youth describe culture of violence that leads to tragedy If you ask youth advocates about the cause of youth violence in the area, you're bound to get a lot of different answers. But all agree on one thing: It starts young. Developing . . . Frangoulis April 12 concert will feature an enchanting collaboration with up-and-coming soprano Theresa Carlomagno, known for her timeless vocal artistry The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) will mark its Golden Jubilee with a concert by the internationally acclaimed classical crossover tenor Mario Frangoulis at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, DC, on Friday, April 12, at 8 PM. Mario Frangoulis, born in Africa and raised in Greece, celebrated a milestone year in 2023, marking his 35th anniversary on stage. Discovered by Sir Cameron Mackintosh in 1988 and signing with Sony Classical New York, his international career took off vying for the top three positions with Andrea Bocelli on the Billboard charts for 52 weeks. He continues to captivate audiences with 22 albums and 7.5 million in sales, showcasing his mastery in classical crossover music to popular musical theater and other genres, all whilst singing in five different languages. Having performed on some of the most prestigious stages worldwide including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall (London), Dallas Opera, Orchestra Hall Chicago, La Scala (Italy) to numerous collaborations, Sarah Brightman, Placido Domingo, Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Smokey Robinson and others, Frangoulis now returns to Washington to perform a variety of emblematic and favorite songs of some of the greatest composers. As the Global Ambassador for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans since 2005, Frangoulis advocates for scholarships to support young people facing adversity in pursuing higher education. Frangoulis commitment to humanitarian causes extends to organizations such as UNESCOs Youth in Greece, WCCCI, UNICEFs Fostering a Child and cancer awareness programs. Frangoulis April 12 concert will feature an enchanting collaboration with up-and-coming soprano Theresa Carlomagno, known for her timeless vocal artistry. Carlomagnos repertoire includes notable portrayals of characters such as Adele in Die Fledermaus and Adina in Donizettis LElisir DAmore. Her recent acclaimed portrayal of Adina in Norma for the Maria Callas centennial opposite Frangoulis as Pollione, demonstrated her deep reverence and respect for the composers intent, infusing her performances with emotional depth and musical finesse. This magical performance promises to be a very memorable experience as Frangoulis, renowned for his powerful and emotive vocals, takes the stage accompanied by the Warner Theatre Studio Orchestra conducted by Maestro Stathis Soulis. His rich resonant voice and warm personality will undoubtedly draw the audience along on a musical journey unlike any other. Tickets for this enchanting evening filled with extraordinary music are available on Ticketmaster: https://shorturl.at/sESZ4. The American Hellenic Institute will celebrate its Golden Jubilee with the 50th Anniversary Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner, scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 6 PM, at The Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. This prestigious black-tie event will honor outstanding individuals for their exceptional contributions, including Angelo K. Tsakopoulos, Founder, CEO, and Co-Chairman of AKT Development Corporation, and Caterina Papoulias-Sakellaris, a distinguished retired business executive and philanthropist. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Fox News Channel Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel. Tickets are available online: https://shorturl.at/qvxzI. For more information, visit: https://americanhellenicinstitute.org/. Read more at thenationalherald.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The opening of the 45th International Tourism Fair took place on Wednesday night in Belgrade, with Greece holding the title of "Partner Country" this year. The fair was inaugurated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, ANA reports. "The friendship of our two peoples has its roots in common history, cultural ties, the struggle for freedom, and our ambitions for a secure future," Kefalogianni pointed out in her speech. She also stressed the importance of cooperation in tourism for the economic development and well-being of the people of the two countries. "The International Tourism Fair in Belgrade is one of the most important tourism events in our region, a global gathering that allows countries and participants not only to promote their tourism product, but also to communicate, collaborate, create partnerships and to build strong relationships. And this is precisely the essence of tourism," Kefalogianni noted. On his part, Vucic pointed out that Greece is the favorite tourist destination of the Serbs, while he also noted the increase in the number of Greeks visiting Belgrade and other tourist destinations in Serbia. Kefalogianni will meet on Thursday with her Serbian counterpart Husein Memic, with whom she will examine the possibilities and perspectives of strengthening the cooperation between the two countries. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Izmir lee Bell media recently announced it was laying off 4,800 workers, including hundreds of journalists. The outcry to this surprise announcement was severe. Layoffs of this magnitude and financial consequences to employees can cause many to worry about their future job possibilities. In the short term, it can leave many wondering how they'll keep up with the normal costs of living after their paycheque stops. Many Canadians have very little access to emergency funds. Without a regular employment income, it can take only weeks before some won't be able to pay their bills. This is tragic; it is devastating on individual workers and their families. A few years from now some of these employees might look back and think their new life is better than it was before they lost their job. I had a conversation with a journalist about the journalists that were laid off. The layoffs leave many communities without access to stories and opinions about local issues. In many cases, there is still a local appetite for receiving local news. Will some of these journalists start their own business to fill the market that Bell Media vacated? Local journalism obviously wasnt profitable enough for Bell to continue, but they are a large firm with high overhead. A new entity made up of one or several journalists would have a competitive advantage of lower operating costs and, with modern technology, those entrepreneurs could create news stories and distribute them digitally. This reminds me of an article I read many years ago on a study that found that almost half the workers that were laid off ended up starting their own business. Being handed a termination notice can be a motivating force to have your income dependent on your own business versus that of a corporation. Right now, workers are likely distraught and that is understandable. But for some, the future may look brighter. Strengths highlight Allstate Corp's robust market presence and innovative growth platforms. Weaknesses point to challenges in competitive pricing and the need for technological advancements. Opportunities for Allstate Corp include expansion into new markets and leveraging telematics. Threats involve regulatory changes and intense competition in the insurance industry. On February 21, 2024, Allstate Corp (NYSE:ALL) released its 10-K filing, offering a comprehensive view of its financial health and strategic direction. As one of the leading property and casualty insurers in the United States, Allstate Corp reported a substantial portfolio with 194 million policies in force as of December 31, 2023. The company's financial tables reflect a strong balance sheet, with a focus on sustainable profitable growth through sophisticated pricing algorithms and risk management strategies. This SWOT analysis delves into the details of Allstate Corp's internal and external factors, providing investors with a nuanced understanding of the company's position in the market. Decoding Allstate Corp (ALL): A Strategic SWOT Insight Strengths Market Position and Brand Recognition: Allstate Corp's status as the second-largest personal property and casualty insurer in the United States, according to A.M. Best, is a testament to its strong market position. The company's well-known slogan, "You're In Good Hands With Allstate," has contributed to a powerful brand image that resonates with consumers. This brand strength is supported by a broad suite of protection solutions and a competitive value proposition across various distribution channels. Allstate's strategic partnerships, such as the equity investment in NEXT Insurance, further bolster its standing in the commercial insurance sector. Innovative Growth Platforms: Allstate Corp has embraced innovation, particularly in telematics and identity protection, to enhance its customer value proposition. The company's investment in technology ecosystems has enabled more flexible and efficient customer experiences. Allstate's proprietary database and sophisticated pricing algorithms allow for more accurate risk pricing, which is crucial for maintaining profitability and competitiveness in the insurance market. Story continues Weaknesses Competitive Pricing Pressures: Despite Allstate's strong market presence, the company faces challenges in maintaining competitive pricing. The insurance industry is characterized by intense price competition, and Allstate must continuously adapt its pricing strategies to keep pace with loss cost trends and regulatory limitations. This dynamic environment requires constant vigilance and innovation in pricing and underwriting to sustain growth and profitability. Technological Advancements: While Allstate has made strides in technology, the rapid pace of digital transformation in the insurance industry necessitates ongoing investment in tech ecosystems. The company's future success will depend on its ability to deploy new technologies that meet evolving customer expectations for digital engagement and seamless service delivery. Opportunities Market Expansion: Allstate Corp has significant opportunities to expand its market share through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. The acquisition of National General has already enhanced Allstate's position in the independent agency channel, and further expansion into new geographic markets could drive organic growth. Additionally, the company's investment in telematics-based pricing and claims capabilities presents opportunities to attract a new customer base interested in usage-based insurance products. Product and Service Innovation: The company's focus on innovation positions it well to develop new products and services that meet changing consumer needs. Allstate's Protection Services segment, which includes a range of products such as Allstate Protection Plans and Allstate Identity Protection, is well-placed to capitalize on emerging market trends and consumer preferences for comprehensive protection solutions. Threats Regulatory Changes: Allstate Corp operates in a highly regulated environment, with extensive oversight at the state level. Changes in regulations or the introduction of new requirements could impact the company's business model and profitability. The potential sale of the Health and Benefits business, as announced on November 1, 2023, reflects the company's proactive approach to navigating the complex regulatory landscape. Intense Industry Competition: The insurance market is fiercely competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. Allstate's ability to differentiate itself through product offerings, brand recognition, and customer experience is crucial for maintaining its competitive edge. However, the company must continuously innovate and adapt to stay ahead of competitors, including new entrants that may disrupt traditional business models. In conclusion, Allstate Corp (NYSE:ALL) exhibits a strong market position and brand recognition, bolstered by innovative growth platforms and a commitment to customer-centric solutions. However, competitive pricing pressures and the need for technological advancements present ongoing challenges. Opportunities for market expansion and product innovation are ripe for exploration, while regulatory changes and intense competition pose significant threats. Allstate's strategic focus on leveraging its strengths and addressing its weaknesses, while capitalizing on opportunities and mitigating threats, will be critical for its continued success in the dynamic insurance industry. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Traveling to Montserrat, Spain's sacred mountain, is an experience filled with cultural and natural beauty. Just an hour northwest of Barcelona, this destination offers a mix of religious history and striking landscapes. As you arrive in Montserrat, you are welcomed by the peaceful surroundings of the Benedictine monk retreat, reflecting the area's spiritual past. The beauty of Montserrat goes beyond its religious significance. The mountain features remarkable rock formations and views of the Catalonian countryside, perfect for nature lovers and photographers. With Travelers Today, you will learn how you can enjoy your leisure trip to Spain's sacred mountain and guide you to its beautiful areas with the beautiful view of Catalonia. The Choir Boys of Montserrat One of the key experiences in Montserrat is listening to the Montserrat Choir Boys. These performances, held in the grand Basilica, are captivating. The choir is known for its excellent renditions of Gregorian chants and other religious music. The daily performances, except on certain holidays, are a treat to the ears and soul, echoing throughout the Basilica. Montserrat's Natural Wonders Montserrat is also a paradise for nature lovers. The mountain, with its distinctive rock formations, offers a range of trails leading through breathtaking landscapes. If you take a relaxed walk or a challenging hike, the views of the Catalonian countryside are stunning. The funicular to the summit makes these views accessible to everyone. History and Legends The history of Montserrat is filled with stories and legends. The Holy Grotto, in particular, is an important site. Legends say that visions of the Virgin Mary occurred here, making it a revered spot for pilgrims. Walking to the Holy Grotto, visitors can feel a connection to the past, adding depth to the Montserrat experience. Related Article: Why Spain is the Perfect Destination for Digital Nomads and Retirees Explore the Trails The trails of Montserrat are journeys through a landscape of history and spirituality. Each trail leads to quiet spots with beautiful views. So, if you want a short walk or a long hike, Montserrat's trails are welcoming. The well-marked paths ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Planning Your Visit When planning your trip to Montserrat, spending at least a full day there is a good idea to fully appreciate all it has to offer. It's conveniently close to Barcelona for a day trip, but staying overnight in the area can provide a more relaxed and in-depth experience. Accommodations like the Abat Cisneros offer a comfortable stay right in the heart of Montserrat. A Place for Everyone Montserrat appeals to a wide range of interests. If you are drawn by the spiritual significance, the natural beauty, the cultural aspects, or you are intrigued with its history, Montserrat has them! Families, solo travelers, and groups can all find aspects to enjoy, making it a versatile and rewarding destination. As your visit to Montserrat ends, the memories of this sacred mountain will stay with you. The combination of spiritual calm and natural beauty makes Montserrat a special destination. The peaceful atmosphere, the stunning views, and the echoes of history and music create a truly unforgettable experience. Read Also: These are the Things You Can Do in Nong Khiaw, Laos for Your Unforgettable Leisure Trip Garmin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN) showcases robust product innovation and market presence in GPS-enabled technology. Despite strong market positioning, Garmin faces intense competition and supply chain vulnerabilities. Opportunities for Garmin include expansion into emerging markets and advancements in GPS technology. External threats such as market saturation and technological disruptions pose challenges for Garmin. Garmin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN), a leader in GPS-enabled hardware and software, has recently filed its 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023. The company, which operates across five verticalsfitness, outdoors, auto, aviation, and marinehas a strong presence in over 100 countries. With a diverse product portfolio tailored for niche activities and a commitment to innovation, Garmin has delivered over 282 million products to date, including more than 16 million in fiscal 2023 alone. The company's financial health, as reflected in the filing, demonstrates its ability to maintain a competitive edge in the market, with an aggregate market value of approximately $15.973 billion as of mid-2023. This SWOT analysis delves into the intricacies of Garmin's business operations, highlighting the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as it continues to navigate the dynamic tech landscape. Decoding Garmin Ltd (GRMN): A Strategic SWOT Insight Strengths Brand Recognition and Market Presence: Garmin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN) has established itself as a reputable brand in the GPS technology space, known for its high-quality, innovative products. With a history spanning over three decades, Garmin has built a loyal customer base across its diverse markets. The company's strong brand recognition is bolstered by its commitment to product excellence and customer service, which has allowed it to maintain a significant competitive edge. Garmin's market presence is further reinforced by its strategic partnerships with OEMs and its expansive distribution network, enabling it to reach a wide range of consumers globally. Story continues Vertical Integration and Manufacturing Capabilities: Another key strength of Garmin is its vertically integrated manufacturing process. With facilities in Taiwan, China, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, Garmin controls the design, manufacturing, and distribution of its products. This integration allows for rapid prototyping, efficient production, and stringent quality control, contributing to lower costs and faster time-to-market for new products. Garmin's manufacturing prowess is a critical factor in its ability to innovate and respond to market demands swiftly. Weaknesses Dependence on Single or Limited Sources for Key Components: Garmin's reliance on single or limited sources for certain critical components exposes the company to supply chain risks. While the company has managed these risks effectively, any prolonged disruption could impact its ability to meet customer demand or lead to increased product costs. This dependence on a few suppliers for essential parts is a vulnerability that could affect Garmin's operational efficiency and profitability. Intense Competition: Garmin operates in highly competitive markets, facing off against tech giants and specialized manufacturers alike. Competitors such as Apple, Fitbit, and Huawei in the fitness space, and companies like Honeywell Aerospace & Defense and Raymarine in the aviation and marine sectors, constantly challenge Garmin's market share. The company must continuously innovate and differentiate its offerings to stay ahead, which requires significant investment in research and development. Opportunities Expansion into Emerging Markets: Garmin has the opportunity to further expand its global footprint by tapping into emerging markets. With increasing interest in health, wellness, and outdoor activities, coupled with rising disposable incomes in developing regions, Garmin can leverage its strong brand and product portfolio to capture new customer segments. Strategic partnerships and localized marketing efforts could facilitate this expansion and drive growth. Advancements in GPS Technology: The ongoing evolution of GPS and GNSS technologies presents significant opportunities for Garmin. By staying at the forefront of technological advancements, Garmin can enhance its product offerings with features like improved accuracy, connectivity, and user experience. Investments in next-generation satellite systems and software development can lead to new product lines and services, further solidifying Garmin's position as an industry innovator. Threats Market Saturation: As the market for GPS-enabled devices becomes increasingly saturated, Garmin faces the threat of diminishing returns on new products. Consumers have a wide array of choices, and brand loyalty can be fickle in the face of new, potentially disruptive technologies. Garmin must navigate this saturation by continuing to innovate and by identifying untapped niches within its verticals. Technological Disruptions: The rapid pace of technological change poses a constant threat to Garmin's business model. Emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT) could disrupt Garmin's traditional markets. The company must remain agile and adapt its strategy to incorporate these new technologies or risk being left behind by more adaptable competitors. In conclusion, Garmin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN) exhibits a strong market presence and brand recognition, supported by its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities. However, the company must address its reliance on limited sources for key components and the intense competition it faces across its markets. Opportunities for growth lie in emerging markets and technological advancements, while threats include market saturation and the potential for technological disruptions. Garmin's ability to leverage its strengths and address its weaknesses while capitalizing on opportunities and mitigating threats will be crucial for its continued success. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Those people are our people too. The words of UNC Senator David Nakhid, following the deadly Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE:INVH) showcases a robust market presence with a portfolio of nearly 83,000 single-family rental homes. Strategic focus on high-growth markets with a significant presence in the Western U.S. and Florida. INVH's financial health is underscored by an aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates at approximately $21.1 billion. Challenges include market concentration risks, regulatory pressures, and the need for continuous innovation in property management. Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE:INVH), a leading player in the single-family rental homes market, filed its 10-K on February 21, 2024, revealing a comprehensive overview of its financial health and operational strategies. With a portfolio that spans across 16 target markets, INVH has established a strong foothold in the starter and move-up segments of the housing market. As of June 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of INVH's common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $21.1 billion, reflecting the company's substantial market capitalization. The company's financial tables indicate a robust balance sheet, with 611.96 million shares of common stock outstanding, signaling investor confidence and a solid equity base. This SWOT analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as disclosed in INVH's latest SEC filing, providing investors with a data-driven perspective to inform their investment decisions. Decoding Invitation Homes Inc (INVH): A Strategic SWOT Insight Strengths Market Presence and Brand Equity: INVH's expansive portfolio of nearly 83,000 single-family rental homes is a testament to its significant market presence. The company's focus on high-growth markets, particularly in the Western U.S. and Florida, positions it well to capitalize on regional economic and household formation growth. INVH's brand is synonymous with quality and reliability, appealing to a resident base that values stability and community. This brand equity is further reinforced by the company's commitment to high-touch customer service and sustainable practices, which resonate with consumers and enhance loyalty. Story continues Financial Robustness: With an aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates at approximately $21.1 billion, INVH demonstrates financial robustness that underpins its operational capabilities. The company's strong balance sheet, as evidenced by the number of shares outstanding, provides it with the financial flexibility to pursue growth opportunities, manage debt effectively, and navigate economic fluctuations. This financial health is a cornerstone of INVH's strength, enabling it to maintain a competitive edge in the market. Vertically Integrated Platform: INVH's vertically integrated, scalable platform allows for greater control over the resident experience and operational costs. The company's resident-centric focus, local presence, and expertise, coupled with a scalable, centralized infrastructure, enable it to drive rent growth, occupancy, and low turnover rates. This integration fosters significant brand equity over the long term and positions INVH as a leader in the single-family rental market. Weaknesses Market Concentration Risks: INVH's investment concentration in certain markets and the single-family properties sector exposes it to seasonal fluctuations in rental demand and downturns in specific markets or the sector as a whole. This concentration could limit the company's ability to diversify risks and may lead to volatility in earnings, particularly if one or more of its core markets experience an economic downturn. Regulatory and Legal Challenges: INVH operates in an industry that is subject to extensive governmental laws, regulations, and covenants. The expanding tenant rights laws, restrictions on evictions and collections, and rent control laws present a complex regulatory landscape that INVH must navigate. Compliance with these regulations may negatively impact rental income and profitability, and any legal or regulatory proceedings could result in significant litigation expenses and reputational harm. Operational Inefficiencies: While INVH's vertically integrated platform offers many advantages, it also presents challenges in maintaining consistency and efficiency across its operations. The reliance on third-party services for key operations could lead to disruptions if these parties fail to perform. Additionally, the company's business model, with a limited track record, may pose difficulties in evaluating its long-term viability and scalability. Opportunities Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships: INVH has the opportunity to further expand its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, particularly with homebuilders. These relationships enable INVH to commission the construction of homes in high-demand areas, catering to the needs and preferences of its target customer base. By leveraging its proprietary database and local market expertise, INVH can identify and capitalize on acquisition opportunities that align with its investment strategy. Technological Advancements: Investing in technology to enhance operational efficiency and the resident experience presents a significant opportunity for INVH. The adoption of smart home technologies, property management software, and data analytics can streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. This technological edge could differentiate INVH from competitors and drive long-term growth. ESG Initiatives: INVH's commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives offers an opportunity to strengthen its brand and appeal to a growing segment of socially conscious consumers and investors. By integrating sustainability efforts into its business strategy, INVH can drive positive change and create value for stakeholders, while potentially benefiting from incentives and favorable financing terms linked to ESG performance. Threats Economic and Market Volatility: INVH's operations are susceptible to unfavorable global and U.S. economic conditions, financial market uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions. These external factors can lead to fluctuations in rental rates, declining real estate valuations, and impairment charges, adversely affecting INVH's financial condition and This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). It will be up to each ally to decide whether to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but the country has the right to self-defense, including striking legitimate Russian military targets outside Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Brussels, Ukrinform reports. Stoltenberg believes that the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and the first Russian gains on the battlefield in months should help focus the attention of NATO and its allies on the urgent need to support Ukraine. The NATO chief said the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city of Avdiivka after months of intense fighting demonstrates the need for more military aid "to ensure that Russia doesn't make further gains." "I strongly believe that the best way to honor the memory of Alexei Navalny is to ensure that President Putin doesn't win on the battlefield, but that Ukraine prevails," Stoltenberg said. Ukraine's allies have been focused on a $61 billion U.S. military aid package, Stoltenberg said, but while that remains stalled in the House of Representatives, other countries, including Sweden, Canada, and Japan, have stepped up their aid. "Of course, we are focused on the United States, but we also see how other allies are really stepping up and delivering significant support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said. When asked when Ukraine will be able to deploy F-16 fighter jets, Stoltenberg said it was not possible to say. He reiterated that Ukraine's allies all want them to be there as early as possible but said the effect of the F-16s will be stronger if pilots are well-trained and maintenance crews and other support personnel are well-prepared. "So, I think we have to listen to the military experts exactly when we will be ready to or when allies will be ready to start sending and delivering the F-16s," he said. "The sooner the better." According to Stoltenberg, it will be up to each ally to decide whether to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, and allies have different policies. But at the same time, the war in Ukraine is a war of aggression, he said, and Ukraine has the right to self-defense, including striking legitimate Russian military targets outside Ukraine. Ukraine is working to expand its representation in the world, this year, in particular, in Latin America. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address, Ukrinform reported. By the way, we are also working to expand our representation in the world. Last year, we opened new Ukrainian embassies in Africa and generally achieved a higher level of interaction with leaders and countries on the African continent. For this year, we aim to increase our engagement and potential for cooperation, particularly in Latin America, Zelensky said. He reminded that today he had met with representatives of partner countries - members of the diplomatic corps working in Ukraine. According to him, it is very important that in Ukraine, even during the war, "normal diplomatic work continues, one might even say routine work between Ukrainian diplomats and foreign representatives, between our institutions and international organizations." I am grateful to every state, every leader whose representatives are in Ukraine and with Ukraine. This is a testament to faith in our country, respect for the Ukrainian people, and trust in our strength and ability to achieve Ukrainian goals, Zelensky said. He informed that during the meeting, they discussed, among other things, the need for clear and principled cooperation for the implementation of the Peace Formula, greater security for both Ukraine and each of the partner countries, as well as for the internal transformation of Ukraine. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with diplomats, representatives of states, and international organizations on February 22, where he outlined Ukraine's main tasks for 2024. Among these tasks, Zelensky identified the protection of Ukrainian citizens from Russian terror through military and financial assistance from partners, the return of deported children and the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity, the implementation of the Peace Formula, as well as active international cooperation, in particular in terms of defense production, the imposition of international sanctions against Russia and the confiscation of Russian assets. The ambassadors of the EU member states agreed on February 21 on the Council's negotiating mandate on two legislative proposals which aim to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian and Moldovan exports to the EU for another year. That's according to a statement posted on the website of the European Council, Ukrinform reports. "The proposal concerning autonomous trade measures for Ukraine aims to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas for another year (from 6 June 2024 to 5 June 2025), while reinforcing protection for sensitive agricultural products, by beefing up the safeguard measures already included in the current regulation (EU) 2023/1077 and including a new automatic safeguard for certain sensitive products," the statement reads. The proposal concerning autonomous trade measures for Moldova aims to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas for another year (from 25 July 2024 to 24 July 2025), while reinforcing protection for sensitive agricultural products, by beefing up the safeguard measures already included in the current regulation (EU) 2023/1524. "Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine continues to have a profound negative impact on Ukraine as well as Moldova. By agreeing to renew these measures, we are showing our steadfast support to Ukraine and Moldova, while protecting the internal market from excessive increases in imports of certain sensitive agricultural products," said Hadja Lahbib, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade. According to the statement, by renewing these measures, the EU will continue to support and foster the trade flows from Ukraine to the EU and the rest of the world, and will contribute to establishing the conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Ukraine's gradual integration in the EU internal market. On January 31, 2024, the European Commission (Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis) submitted to the Council the two proposals to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian and Moldovan exports to the EU for another year. The Permanent Representatives Committee approved the text of the Commission's proposal without any modifications, with a view to reaching an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament. The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA) intends to hold a vote on the proposal at its meeting on March 7, 2024. The European Parliament aims to adopt its position at first reading in one of its plenary sessions in April 2024. The regulations are then to be adopted by the Council, signed by the representatives of the Council and the European Parliament and published in the Official Journal, before entering into force. Germany's Bundestag has supported a resolution filed by the government coalition, which includes an obligation to supply Ukraine with "additionally necessary long-range weapon systems and ammunition." The vote took place on Thursday, February 22, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. During the roll-call vote, 382 deputies voted for the resolution "Ten years of Russia's war against Ukraine - resolutely defending Ukraine and Europe," 284 voted against it, and two abstained. At the same time, the resolution does not specify which long-range weapon systems are in question. At the same time, German deputies earlier on Thursday rejected the requirement from the opposition's CDU/CSU bloc to transfer Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, said that while preparing the document, some German MPs "meant" the Taurus missiles while others did not. During the debate, German lawmakers called Russia's attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 "the most drastic step to date in an increasingly aggressive policy against free and democratic Europe in recent years." They also pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin was waging this war to stay in power and implement his imperial superpower fantasies. The deputies noted in their speeches that if the Russian leadership is not stopped, it will try to continue its imperial policy outside of Ukraine. In view of this, it is necessary to support Ukraine in its right to freely choose alliances and move towards NATO membership. Strengths highlight NiSource Inc's robust infrastructure investments and commitment to safety and environmental sustainability. Weaknesses underscore the challenges of supply chain disruptions and dependency on technology. Opportunities focus on the potential for growth through renewable energy projects and technological advancements. Threats include competitive pressures, regulatory changes, and the evolving energy market landscape. On February 21, 2024, NiSource Inc, a leading natural gas distribution company, filed its annual 10-K report, revealing a comprehensive view of its financial health and strategic direction. With a customer base of approximately 3.2 million across multiple states and a significant electric utility presence in northern Indiana, NiSource Inc stands as a formidable player in the energy sector. The company's financial tables from the filing indicate a strategic focus on infrastructure investments and a commitment to safety and environmental sustainability. This SWOT analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as presented in the 10-K filing, offering investors a nuanced understanding of NiSource Inc's market position and future prospects. Decoding NiSource Inc (NI): A Strategic SWOT Insight Strengths Infrastructure Investment and Safety Commitment: NiSource Inc's dedication to infrastructure investment is a cornerstone of its strength. The company's strategic focus on enhancing safety and reliability through substantial utility infrastructure investments has positioned it as a leader in delivering safe and reliable service. The conformance certification to the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 1173, which guides NiSource's Safety Management System (SMS), underscores its commitment to operational excellence. This focus on maintaining and improving safety protocols not only enhances customer trust but also reduces operational risk, contributing to the company's strong market reputation. Story continues Strategic Partnerships and Financial Stability: The strategic partnership with Blackstone, resulting in a minority interest investment in NIPSCO, has fortified NiSource Inc's financial stability. The transaction, which closed with Blackstone contributing $2.16 billion in cash for a 19.9% membership interest, reflects investor confidence and provides NiSource with additional capital to pursue growth initiatives. Furthermore, the company's market capitalization of approximately $11.3 billion as of June 30, 2023, demonstrates its robust financial position in the competitive energy market. Weaknesses Supply Chain and Technology Challenges: NiSource Inc faces challenges related to supply chain disruptions and an increased dependency on technology. The company acknowledges the impact of supply chain challenges, including labor availability issues, which affect its ability to obtain materials for gas and electric projects and ensure timely completion. Additionally, the reliance on technology for critical operations, while a strength in efficiency, also presents a vulnerability. Failures or disruptions in technology could hinder business operations and have adverse financial consequences, highlighting the need for robust risk management and contingency planning. Workforce Management: Despite efforts in talent development and retention, NiSource Inc must continuously adapt to changing workforce dynamics. The company's hybrid work model and talent attraction initiatives, such as the NiSource Candidate Relationship Management (CRM), are innovative responses to the evolving labor market. However, the need to attract, retain, and re-skill a qualified, diverse workforce remains an ongoing challenge, particularly in a competitive industry where specialized skills are in high demand. Opportunities Renewable Energy and Technological Advancements: NiSource Inc is well-positioned to capitalize on the shift towards renewable energy and technological advancements. The company's transition of its generation portfolio to primarily renewable sources, with projects like Rosewater and Indiana Crossroads Wind, presents significant growth opportunities. These initiatives align with global trends towards sustainability and can attract environmentally conscious investors and customers, potentially increasing market share and profitability. Regulatory and Customer Initiatives: The company's proactive pursuit of regulatory and customer initiatives offers opportunities to expand its service accessibility and enhance customer experience. By aligning tariff structures with cost structures and driving value in an evolving energy ecosystem, NiSource Inc can leverage these initiatives to foster long-term customer relationships and secure a competitive advantage in the energy market. Threats Competitive Pressures and Regulatory Changes: NiSource Inc operates in a highly competitive environment where it faces pressure from other energy providers, including electric utilities and alternative fuel sources. The company's ability to maintain its competitive edge is contingent upon its response to these pressures and its adaptability to regulatory changes that could impact its business model and revenue streams. Market Dynamics and Environmental Concerns: The energy market is subject to rapid changes driven by technological innovations, environmental concerns, and consumer behavior. NiSource Inc must navigate these dynamics while managing the financial and operational risks associated with achieving its carbon emission reduction goals. The company's Net Zero Goal reflects its commitment to environmental sustainability, but it also presents challenges in balancing investment with profitability in a transitioning energy landscape. In conclusion, NiSource Inc's SWOT analysis reveals a company with a strong foundation in infrastructure investment and safety, a strategic approach to partnerships and financial management, and a clear vision for leveraging opportunities in renewable energy and technology. However, it must address weaknesses related to supply chain and technology dependencies, as well as threats from competitive pressures and market dynamics. By continuing to focus on innovation, customer engagement, and sustainability, NiSource Inc is poised to navigate the complexities of the energy sector and drive future growth. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. 02/22/2024 Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus , director of media relations and Nancy Cicco , assistant director of media relations Tuesdays Alabama Supreme Court ruling that stated embryos in test tubes be considered children defies common sense and logic, according to Associate Professor Heidi Collins Fantasia , chair of the UMass Lowell Solomont School of Nursing A board-certified womens health nurse practitioner with more than 25 years of experience, Fantasia said the decision lacked scientific understanding and will have a lasting impact not only for families experiencing infertility but the states health care system writ large. Politicians and judges, who have no expertise in medicine or science, should not be making decisions that directly affect the health of individuals. Not only will this decision cause confusion and additional distress among people experiencing infertility, but health care providers who work in reproductive medicine may not provide services in the state of Alabama, increasing the burden on those seeking this specialized care, she said. The Alabama ruling, Fantasia continued, marks the latest curtailment of reproductive rights and privacy since the U.S. Supreme Court nearly two years ago overturned Roe v. Wade, which allowed for a constitutional right and access to abortions. We are starting to see the beginning of a chaotic era of illogical state decisions that intrude on the privacy of sensitive health care decisions that should only involve individuals and their health care provider, she said. Robust recurring revenue streams from a diverse public sector client base. Strong competitive position with integrated software solutions and platform technologies. Opportunities for growth in a fragmented public sector IT market. Challenges from cybersecurity threats and intense competition. On February 21, 2024, Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL) filed its annual 10-K report, providing a comprehensive overview of its financial performance and strategic positioning. As a leading provider of integrated software and technology solutions for the public sector, Tyler Technologies reported a solid revenue backlog of approximately $2.03 billion, up from $1.89 billion the previous year. This backlog, with nearly 46% expected to be recognized in 2024, underscores the company's strong financial foundation and the recurring nature of its revenue streams. With a market capitalization of over $17 billion as of June 30, 2023, and a workforce of approximately 7,300 team members, Tyler Technologies is well-positioned to capitalize on its strengths and navigate its weaknesses in the dynamic public sector IT landscape. Decoding Tyler Technologies Inc (TYL): A Strategic SWOT Insight Strengths Market Leadership and Recurring Revenue Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL) has established itself as a market leader in the public sector IT space, with a broad range of software solutions and services designed to meet the complex needs of government entities at various levels. A key strength lies in its deep, long-term relationships with state and local government agencies, which have translated into a significant base of recurring revenue. The company's revenue backlog, which has increased to approximately $2.03 billion, is a testament to the enduring demand for its offerings. This backlog not only provides visibility into future earnings but also reflects the trust and reliance that government clients place in Tyler Technologies' solutions. Comprehensive Product Portfolio and Services Story continues Tyler Technologies' strength is further bolstered by its comprehensive product portfolio, which includes transformative platform technologies such as its market-leading payments platform, data platform, low-code application development platform, and digital resident experience solutions. The company's ability to offer an integrated system of applications for several government offices or departments often serves as a competitive advantage, distinguishing it from competitors who may offer more fragmented solutions. This integration facilitates seamless operations for clients, enhancing Tyler Technologies' value proposition and fostering client loyalty. Weaknesses Dependence on Public Sector Market While Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL) benefits from its specialization in the public sector, this focus also represents a potential weakness. The company's reliance on government contracts exposes it to the risks associated with public sector budget constraints, changes in political climate, and legislative shifts that could impact funding for IT projects. These factors can lead to fluctuations in contract awards and renewals, which may affect the company's financial stability and growth prospects. Moreover, the long and complex sales cycles typical of government contracts could result in delays in revenue recognition and cash flow challenges. Intense Competition and Technological Advancements The IT industry is characterized by rapid technological advancements and intense competition. Tyler Technologies faces stiff competition from both specialized firms and large national companies with greater financial and technical resources, such as Oracle Corporation and SAP AG. The company must continuously innovate and enhance its product offerings to maintain its competitive edge. Failure to keep pace with technological changes or to anticipate client needs could lead to obsolescence of its products and services, potentially eroding its market share and weakening its competitive position. Opportunities Expansion into New Public Sector Markets The fragmented nature of the public sector IT market presents significant opportunities for Tyler Technologies to expand its client base. With thousands of potential clients across federal agencies, states, counties, cities, towns, and school districts, the company can leverage its existing relationships and reputation to penetrate new segments and increase market share. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions could also facilitate entry into new markets, enabling Tyler Technologies to diversify its revenue sources and reduce dependence on any single market segment. Growing Demand for Cloud and Digital Services There is a growing trend among government entities to modernize their IT infrastructure and embrace digital transformation. Tyler Technologies is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, with its cloud-based software deployment and digital government services. The company's investments in AWS cloud certification training for its team members and its focus on developing cloud skills across the workforce indicate a strategic commitment to meeting the evolving demands of the public sector. By expanding its cloud and digital offerings, Tyler Technologies can attract new clients and deepen engagement with existing ones. Threats Cybersecurity Risks In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, Tyler Technologies must navigate the risks associated with data breaches and IT security disruptions. The company's handling of sensitive government data makes it a potential target for cyber-attacks, which could compromise client trust and result in financial and reputational damage. Proactive measures and investments in cybersecurity are essential to mitigate these threats and ensure the integrity of its services. Economic and Political Uncertainties Economic downturns and political uncertainties can lead to reduced public sector spending and delayed IT projects, posing a threat to Tyler Technologies' revenue growth. Government budget cuts or reallocations can impact the funding available for new contracts and the renewal of existing ones. Additionally, changes in administration or policy priorities could alter the landscape in which Tyler Technologies operates, necessitating agility and adaptability in its business strategy. In conclusion, Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL) exhibits a robust combination of strengths, including a strong market position and a comprehensive suite of products and services, which provide a solid foundation for growth. However, the company must remain vigilant This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. FILE PHOTO: People take photos during an aerial display at the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore By Gerry Doyle SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Russia's absence from the Singapore Airshow, as its companies struggle with sanctions and the demands of sustaining the invasion of Ukraine, shows an opportunity for rivals to step in with some Asian customers, experts and industry sources say. Defence giants such as UAC and Russian Helicopters have historically had large presences at Asia's biggest air show, where companies show off a range of systems, from sensors and small arms to massive transport aircraft, missiles and satellites. This year, however, no Russian companies were listed among attendees - which competitors said was a sign the door was open in Asia. "In this region you have seen a shift away from Russian equipment already," said Robert Hewson of Sweden's Saab . "Of course there are some natural client countries... who stay where they are" in terms of suppliers. Sangshin Park, regional manager and chief of international business development for Asia at Korea Aerospace Industries , noted that his company had sold its FA-50 light fighter aircraft to Malaysia in a deal worth more than $1 billion. Malaysia also operates Russian-made aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30. Several other Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, also use Russian-made or Soviet Union-vintage equipment, sometimes alongside Western-made gear. Russia's largest arms exporters did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. "I think there will always be opportunities for Western defence companies, and in particular, South Korea would be a highly visible exporter in the region," said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. "It largely depends on the needs of the customer - but I'd imagine maritime and naval capabilities, UAS and drone systems, and combat aircraft and helicopters that can respond to challenges in a maritime and archipelagic environment would be a priority," he added. Story continues A senior executive at a U.S. defence contractor said support for purchased systems was a crucial part of arms sales in Asia and elsewhere. He said that was a selling point for his company, and other Western and Asian industry officials said their firms also saw this as an advantage. India has been trying to move away from Russian arms imports as munitions and parts are expended in the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported last month. "As you grow and your needs grow ... you can build upon what exists, and you know that there will be support," said the U.S. company executive, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. No major Asian defence deals have been announced at the air show so far. The trade portion ends on Friday. (Reporting by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Jamie Freed) A former administrator at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has been sentenced to 20 months in prison and ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Misuse of Funds Uncovered Sandra Eileen Le, who served as an academic program officer for UCSF's School of Nursing's post-master's and special studies certificate programs, was found guilty of misappropriating tuition funds. Le instructed students to make tuition checks payable to her or a designated merchandiser, or to leave the payee line blank. These checks were then deposited into her personal or joint accounts, and the funds were used for personal expenses, including luxury items, gambling, and home improvements. READ MORE: How Much Does It Cost To Study in the US? The scheme came to light through an investigation initiated in 2019, which involved interviews with numerous students and scrutiny of Le's financial records. The findings of the investigation led to Le's indictment in 2021, and she ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges in 2023. Sentencing and Restitution Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick ordered Le to begin serving her prison sentence by May 10. Additionally, Le was directed to pay restitution totaling at least $1,536,089 to compensate for the funds she embezzled from UCSF. The severity of the sentence underscores the seriousness of Le's actions and aims to provide restitution to the university and affected students. Implications for Higher Education Institutions Le's case highlights the importance of robust financial oversight and internal controls within higher education institutions. Despite being entrusted with administrative responsibilities, Le exploited her position to deceive students and divert tuition funds for personal gain. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for universities and colleges to implement stringent measures to prevent and detect fraudulent activities. Rebuilding Trust and Safeguarding Finances In response to the embezzlement scandal, UCSF has vowed to strengthen its financial controls and oversight procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Measures may include enhanced verification processes for financial transactions, regular audits, and mandatory ethics training for staff members handling financial matters. Moreover, the university is committed to rebuilding trust with its students and the broader community. Transparent communication about the steps taken to address the embezzlement and reassure stakeholders of the institution's commitment to fiscal integrity will be crucial in restoring confidence. Moving Forward With Accountability As Le begins her prison term, UCSF and other higher education institutions must remain vigilant in safeguarding their financial resources and upholding ethical standards. By holding individuals accountable for financial misconduct and implementing proactive measures to prevent fraud, universities can maintain the trust and confidence of their students, faculty, and stakeholders. In conclusion, the sentencing of Sandra Eileen Le sends a clear message that financial malfeasance within higher education will not be tolerated. As universities strive to uphold their reputations and fulfill their educational missions, ensuring the integrity of their financial practices is paramount. Through diligent oversight and a commitment to accountability, institutions can protect their resources and preserve the trust of their communities. RELATED ARTICLE: Fraud Concerns Emerge in Biden's Initial Student Loan Forgiveness Attempt In a contentious move reminiscent of previous legislative battles, state lawmakers in various parts of the United States are advancing bills that not only undermine tenure protections but also target diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within public colleges and universities. Indiana's Senate Bill 202: A Threat to Academic Autonomy The Republican-dominated Indiana State Senate recently passed Senate Bill 202, a piece of legislation that has ignited fierce debate within the academic community. This bill, currently under consideration in the state's House of Representatives, takes direct aim at tenure protections and diversity programs in Indiana's public higher education institutions. Central to its provisions is a redefinition of diversity, shifting the focus from traditional notions, such as racial diversity, to what it terms "intellectual diversity." READ ALSO: Texas Ban on Diversity Initiatives Reflects Trend Across GOP States Under Senate Bill 202, boards of trustees would assume the responsibility of defining intellectual diversity within various academic disciplines, evaluating faculty members' adherence to these definitions, and determining punitive measures for those deemed non-compliant. The bill's proponents argue that it seeks to foster a more politically diverse environment within institutions of higher learning, addressing concerns that conservative viewpoints are marginalized within academia. Backlash and Concerns from Academic Community However, critics of Senate Bill 202, including university presidents and chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), have raised significant alarm. They argue that the legislation poses a severe threat to academic freedom and autonomy, creating a chilling effect on free inquiry and expression within academic institutions. Moreover, they contend that tying faculty evaluations to political criteria undermines the fundamental principles of higher education and jeopardizes the recruitment and retention of top-tier faculty members. Indiana University president Pamela Whitten expressed deep concern about the potential impacts of SB 202, highlighting its implications for academic freedom and the university's ability to attract world-class faculty. Similarly, chapters of the AAUP at Purdue University and Indiana University emphasized the importance of tenure as a safeguard for academic freedom and raised objections to the bill's intrusive measures. Potential Ramifications and Pushback If enacted, Senate Bill 202 would not only impact tenure and promotion decisions but also mandate new post-tenure review policies, subjecting faculty members to heightened scrutiny and potential disciplinary actions. Concerns have been raised about the politicization of faculty reviews and the establishment of a surveillance system that stifles intellectual discourse and academic freedom. Despite assurances from the bill's authors that safeguards are in place to protect against arbitrary or politically motivated decisions, skepticism remains widespread. Critics argue that the vague language of the bill leaves room for abuse and could result in faculty members being penalized for expressing dissenting viewpoints or engaging in legitimate scholarly activities. A Battle for Academic Integrity As Senate Bill 202 continues to face scrutiny and debate, the future of academic freedom and autonomy in Indiana's public universities hangs in the balance. The outcome of this legislative battle will not only shape the academic landscape within the state but also set a precedent for similar efforts across the country. At its core, the struggle over Senate Bill 202 represents a fundamental clash between competing visions of higher education: one that embraces diversity, inclusion, and academic freedom, and another that seeks to impose ideological conformity and restrict scholarly inquiry. RELATED ARTICLE: Clash Between Politics and Education at Indiana University Threatens Academic Freedom The recent initiation of the US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (Upskill) program represents a monumental leap forward in transforming the landscape of higher education in the Philippines. With a financial commitment of P1.6 billion ($30 million) over the next five years, this collaborative effort between the United States government and its Filipino counterparts aims to significantly enhance the quality, innovation, and global competitiveness of higher education institutions in the country. A Transformative Partnership Unveiled The Upskill program emerged as a result of the joint announcement by Presidents Joseph Biden and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during Marcos's visit to the White House in May 2023. This collaborative initiative targets key pillars of higher education, focusing on innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship within Philippine colleges and universities. READ ALSO: Crimson Education Launches Financial Aid Program for Filipino Students Eyeing US Universities The partnership brings together a consortium of leading US universities, including Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, under the leadership of RTI International. Adding to the collaborative effort are prominent Philippine partners such as Edukasyon.ph and the Philippine Business for Education, reinforcing the shared commitment to driving positive change in the higher education landscape. Strategic Implementation for Holistic Impact The Upskill program sets a strategic agenda to uplift higher education institutions in the Philippines by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. This involves multifaceted interventions, including faculty and staff training, curriculum enhancements, and a heightened focus on community outreach and technology transfer. By integrating these efforts, the program aspires to not only elevate the qualifications of graduates but also enhance their career prospects, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the dynamic demands of the evolving workforce. Sara Borodin, USAid Deputy Assistant Administrator for East Asia and the Pacific, emphasized the timeliness of this program, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that confront the younger generation in today's workplace. Borodin stressed the critical role of college education in shaping the future success of individuals and reaffirmed the commitment of the United States government to collaborate closely with Filipino partners in transforming the higher education sector. Empowering Institutions for Continuous Innovation Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro expressed her optimism about the Upskill program, emphasizing the unique opportunities it offers to colleges and universities. This collaboration empowers educational institutions in the Philippines to embark on a journey of continuous innovation, aligning their strategies with the aspirations of the nation and its students. Benitez-Jaro highlighted the program's potential to demonstrate the compelling value of internationally recognized training, cooperative research, and lifelong learning modalities within the Philippine higher education landscape. The launch of the US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (Upskill) program signifies more than just a financial commitment-it marks a transformative collaboration that holds the promise of reshaping the higher education narrative in the Philippines. By addressing critical areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, this initiative sets the stage for a more competitive, responsive, and globally relevant higher education sector in the country. The strategic implementation of the Upskill program is poised to leave a lasting impact, contributing to the development of a skilled and adaptive workforce that meets the challenges of the 21st-century global economy. RELATED ARTICLE: Five Shifts to Revamp Higher Ed: Insights from Education and AI Expert David E. Goldberg (@Abdulla99267510) A report submitted before the Islamabad High Court has revealed that there are certain challenges including logistical and security, therefore shifting her from Bani Gala to Adiala is not feasible. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Feb 22nd, 2024) The adiala jail authorities have shared the reasons as to why they kept Bushra Bibi at Bani Gala instead of jail. The jail officials submitted a report before the Islamabad High Court seized with the hearing of a plea seeking directives for shifting of Bushra Bibi from Bani Gala to Adiala jail. Justice Mian Gul Hassan was hearing the case. The jail officials submitted a report and said that shifting Bushra Bibi from Bani Gala to Adiala jail was not practical. They said that there are reasons including logistical and security challenges that preclude Bushra Bibi's transfer to the facility. With Adiala Jail already accommodating 250 female inmates, accommodating Bushra Bibi posed significant constraints, said a report submitted by the relevant officials. Bushra Bibi, convicted in the Toosha Khana and illegal marriage case, remains resolute in contesting her sentence. She argues that transferring her to Adiala Jail is imperative for parity with other political detainees, asserting that refusal would contravene principles of legal equality. The Islamabad Commissioner is yet to submit his report and he made a request for more time. The court accepted his request and put off further hearing for two weeks. Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, WADA Mitsuhiro, hosted a reception on Thursday to celebrate the 64th birthday anniversary of the Emperor of Japan, Emperor Naruhito ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2024) Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, WADA Mitsuhiro, hosted a reception on Thursday to celebrate the 64th birthday anniversary of the Emperor of Japan, Emperor Naruhito. Jamal Shah, the Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture attended the event, Ministers, Parliamentarians, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community and other dignitaries from the public and private sector attended the event, said a news release. Ambassador WADA together with the distinguished guests cut a cake to mark the Emperors Birthday, which is on February 23. Since his accession to the throne on May, 1 2019 as the 126th Emperor of Japan, Emperor Naruhito stands as the symbol of Japan and the unity of the people. While welcoming the guests on the occasion, Ambassador WADA conveyed his gratitude to the government and the people of Pakistan for sending their best wishes on the 64th birthday celebration of His Majesty the Emperor. Expressing his appreciation for the long-standing friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan, the ambassador lauded the contributions of all the people who had helped to further strengthen our mutual ties in individual, business or official capacity. APP/fur-zah Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday pledged to safeguard aid deliveries to Ukraine as the two countries are set to hold talks on their shared border where farmers' protests have soured ties Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2024) Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday pledged to safeguard aid deliveries to Ukraine as the two countries are set to hold talks on their shared border where farmers' protests have soured ties. Disgruntled Polish truckers and farmers have been blocking the border checkpoints in recent months over Ukrainian competition and farming imports, igniting tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv. Ukraine warned on Wednesday that the delays at the border could impede weapons deliveries to the country as it fights off the Russian invasion which is nearing its second anniversary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday offered to meet Poland's premier at the border to discuss the blockades, which he called a matter of "national security". But Tusk told reporters on Thursday that he would only chair talks between the two governments planned for next month in the Polish capital. "The meeting of both governments will be held in Warsaw on March 28," Tusk told reporters, adding that it was "better to continue these talks at the technical, organisational level". Tusk also confirmed no such talks are planned before March 28, adding that in the meantime negotiations at ministerial level would take place. Polish lawmakers voted on Thursday to liberalise access to the morning-after pill, made prescription-only by the right-wing populist government ousted from power in October elections Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2024) Polish lawmakers voted on Thursday to liberalise access to the morning-after pill, made prescription-only by the right-wing populist government ousted from power in October elections. Poland saw a rollback of women's reproductive rights during the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party's eight-year rule, targeting access to abortion as well as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and emergency contraception. The pro-EU coalition came to power on pledges to ease those restrictions and passed a bill intended to remove obstacles by providing free access to the morning-after pill from the age of 15. But the change, passed in the parliament by 224 votes to 196, will still need to be signed into law by Poland's President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally. Duda has not spoken publicly on whether he would back easing the restrictions. His aide, Malgorzata Paprocka, said earlier this month that Duda had "doubts... regarding the age indicated in the legislation", adding he would make the decision once the law is adopted in the parliament. Last month, the ruling coalition also submitted a bill in the parliament to liberalise the country's near-total abortion ban and allow legal abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy. There is no date for parliament to vote on the proposal, but it faces an uphill battle as only two out of three coalition parties back such changes. The minor coalition partner, the centrist Third Way, said it would submit its own draft to change abortion laws, but only after holding a national referendum on the matter. Political Science Professor Joseph Weinberg to Speak on Gene Taylor Exhibition at USM Thu, 02/22/2024 - 09:26am | By: David Tisdale In conjunction with the exhibition, Gene Taylor: South Mississippis Choice for U.S. Congress, 1989-2011, University of Southern Mississippi (USM) political science professor Dr. Joseph Weinberg will discuss the issues and events defining the era in which Rep. Taylor served in a lecture set for Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in McCain Library and Archives, room 203 on the Hattiesburg campus. The exhibition highlights major themes of Rep. Taylors tenure with select documents and artifacts. A listening center and research table are also installed in the gallery allowing visitors to spend more time learning about the congressmans perspective on the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Taylor exercised Congressional oversight for conflicts from Kosovo-Bosnia to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is widely known for his support of servicemen and domestic military bases, championing shipbuilding and defense-related industries in the state. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he worked tirelessly to bring federal emergency relief to his devastated district and continued to lobby on behalf of his constituents who had lost their homes and businesses. Dr. Weinberg is a faculty member in USMs School of School of Social Science and Global Studies. He earned a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a masters degree from North Carolina State University at Raleigh, and an undergraduate degree from American University. He served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Charles H. Taylor from 1998-2001. His lifelong interest in Congressional policy has led to his extensive research at the intersection of agriculture, federal policy, and economics. He has been awarded three grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to host joint economic-political conferences fostering scholarly research of agriculture policy. The gallery will remain open for additional viewing of the exhibition following the lecture. For more information, contact Lorraine Stuart at 601.266.4117. (Bloomberg) -- German food delivery group Delivery Hero SE said negotiations to sell part of its Foodpanda business in some markets in Southeast Asia have failed after it couldnt reach a final agreement on deal terms. Most Read from Bloomberg The company had confirmed on Feb. 2 that talks to sell the business in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries were continuing. Those discussions have ended, Delivery Hero said Wednesday in a statement. Business in Asia, Delivery Heros largest market, has stagnated since pandemic-era lockdowns eased. In September, the company said it was in talks to sell the Foodpanda brand in some countries in Asia without naming potential buyers. The shares fell 7% to 21.07 at 10:09 a.m. in Frankfurt trading after earlier dropping as much as 10% on Thursday. The stock has declined 14% this year. Delivery Heros Chief Executive Officer Niklas Oestberg said in a press release that the decision to terminate negotiations was taken with careful consideration after the Asian business showed strength in the final quarters of last year. Speaking to Bloomberg earlier this month, Oestberg said that while Asia was lagging about a year behind other regions in rebounding from a post-Covid slump, he sees the growth pattern normalizing to pre-pandemic levels. Now we can run it without it being a heavy drag down on our profitability, Oestberg said. Delivery Heros termination of talks with Grab to sell the unprofitable assets of Foodpandas Southeast Asia businesses likely due to valuations raises concerns about reaching its 725-775 million 2024 Ebitda target. Management stated earlier theres no urgency to sell, with sufficient liquidity in place (about 1.55 billion in cash at the end of January) even after repaying almost 4 billion in convertible bonds, and with the APAC business expected to have reached Ebitda breakeven in 4Q23. Story continues Tatiana Lisitsina, Bloomberg Intelligence retail analyst Southeast Asias biggest ride hailing companies, Grab Holdings Ltd. and GoTo Group, restarted talks about potential combinations of their businesses, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month. Around the same time, a report from Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times said that Delivery Heros talks to sell part of the Foodpanda business to Grab had collapsed, citing people familiar with the matter. Delivery Hero at the time denied that talks to offload the operations had failed. (Updates with CEO comments and shares) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. An Investors Guide to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Ba Ria-Vung Tau is becoming an increasingly important manufacturing hub in Vietnam with a slew of big firms starting new projects in the province in 2023. Heres why. Located around 90 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is a coastal region buzzing with economic activity. Just a stones throw from Vietnams financial hub, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has access to a huge, youthful workforce, and its well connected to the city and one of Vietnams biggest ports in Tan Cang Cai Mep International Terminal. Furthermore, it is just a short, two-hour drive away from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. This puts it in good stead with neighboring foreign direct investment (FDI) hotspots like Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City. With this in mind, the Vietnam Briefing looks at how Ba Ria-Vung Tau stacks up in terms of doing business in Vietnam. Public Administration Performance Index The Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI), initiated by the United Nations Development Programs, benchmarks Vietnams 63 provincial governments. In 2022, Ba Ria-Vung Tau scored 41.99 on the PAPI Index. It achieved its best scores in public service delivery and Public Administrative Procedures. It did, however, perform poorly in environmental governance and e-governance. On environmental governance, in particular, its 2022 score of 3.20 signified an ongoing slide from 4.22 in 2018. PAPI, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 2018 to 2022 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Participation at Local Levels 4.32 4.27 5.17 5.32 5.15 Transparency 5.18 5.04 5.80 5.78 5.63 Vertical Accountability 4.25 4.24 5.16 5.05 5.20 Control of Corruption 6.95 6.46 7.07 6.89 6.25 Public Administrative Procedures 7.08 6.75 7.55 7.37 7.36 Public Service Delivery 7.86 8.00 7.63 7.73 7.29 Environmental Governance 3.20 3.08 3.23 3.27 4.22 E-Governance 3.15 2.77 2.84 3.84 3.19 Total 41.99 40.61 44.45 45.25 44.29 Source: The Viet Nam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index Provincial Competitiveness Index The Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was first conducted in 2005. The PCI measures the competitiveness of each of Vietnams provinces and ranks them against each other. In 2022 Ba Ria-Vung Tau came in 4th place trailing only FDI heavyweights Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hai Phong. This was a marked improvement from 2020 when the province came in position 15. Time costs has been one key stand-out metric in Ba Ria-Vung Tau. From a score of 7.03 in 2018 it reached 7.81 in 2022. This was its highest score on any of the ten key metrics included in the PCI. PCI, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 2018 to 2022 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Entry Costs 6.95 6.48 7.10 5.86 7.57 Access to land 7.66 7.01 6.85 6.95 6.41 Transparency 5.93 6.07 5.64 6.87 6.18 Time Costs 7.81 8.00 8.45 7.30 7.03 Informal Charges 7.79 7.23 7.04 6.46 6.37 Policy Bias 6.99 6.52 6.16 6.31 5.42 Proactivity 7.21 6.77 6.03 6.02 5.49 Business Support Policy 6.03 7.81 6.22 6.87 6.59 Labor Policy 6.31 6.56 7.07 6.82 6.47 Law & Order 7.41 7.08 6.52 6.32 6.37 PCI Scores 70.26 69.03 65.48 66.96 64.02 Ranking 4 9 15 16 21 Source: The Provincial Competitiveness Index 2022 Foreign direct investment In 2023, Ba Ria-Vung Tau recorded US$2.52 billion worth of new investment in the province. This included 21 new projects alongside an increased investment in 29 existing projects. Key projects announced for Ba Ria-Vung Tau include: Japanese chemical maker, Tosoh, put forward a proposal for a 12-hectare factory in southern Vietnams Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Vietnam exported US$4.9 billion in chemicals and chemical products in 2022 and imported US$17.6 billion in chemicals and chemical products in 2022. Swedens Trelleborg Group announced in 2023 that it plans to build a US$37 million factory in Ba-Ria-Vung Tau that would be operational by 2026. South Koreas Hyosung announced plans to build a US$1 billion carbon fiber factory in the province. Hyosung, founded in 1966, is an industrial production conglomerate with business interests in a broad range of sectors, including chemicals, machinery, information technology, and construction. More information Ba Ria-Vung Tau, though less well known than some of its neighbors, has become a hub of manufacturing and investment activity. Firms from all over the worldSweden, Japan, and South Korea, for exampleare establishing themselves in the province. This is for a number of reasons including its public service delivery, public administrative procedures, and time costs. Foreign firms considering a Vietnam market entry would do well to think seriously about Ba Ria-Vung Tau as an option. That said, there are a number of similar, good-value options among Vietnams other provinces. With this in mind, foreign firms should contact the business advisory experts at Dezan Shira and Associates for an on-the-ground assessment of which location is right for them. Net Income : $11.0 million for Q4 and $86.6 million for the full year. Comparable Revenues : Increased by 4.0% year-over-year to $1.1 billion. Comparable RevPAR : Grew by 3.1% over 2022 to $203.41. Adjusted EBITDA : Decreased by 15.0% for Q4 and 3.2% for the full year. Adjusted FFO : Declined to $38.6 million for Q4 and $198.5 million for the full year. Capital Expenditures : Approximately $86.3 million invested in hotel improvements. Dividends: Quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per common share paid on January 11, 2024. On February 22, 2024, Diamondrock Hospitality Co (NYSE:DRH) released its 8-K filing, detailing its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023. As a lodging-focused real estate investment trust with a portfolio of 36 premium hotels and resorts across the United States, DRH's results reflect the company's strategic positioning and operational focus. Diamondrock Hospitality Co (DRH) Reports Mixed Results for Q4 and Full Year 2023 Company Overview Diamondrock Hospitality Company operates in the competitive lodging sector, focusing on full-service hotel properties in key U.S. cities such as Chicago, Boston, New York, and Denver. The company's revenue streams are primarily from room sales, which contribute the most to the total revenue, supplemented by food and beverage services and other sources. DRH's customer base includes leisure transient, business transient, and group customers, with a portfolio that predominantly features Marriott, Starwood, and Hilton brands. Financial Performance and Challenges DRH reported a net income of $11.0 million for Q4 2023, translating to earnings per diluted share of $0.04. This represents a decrease from the previous year, highlighting the challenges the company faces in a dynamic market. Comparable total revenues for the full year were $1.1 billion, marking a 4.0% increase over 2022 and an 11.3% increase over 2019. However, Comparable Hotel Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 saw a significant decrease of 16.5% from 2022 and a 2.1% decrease from 2019. The Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted FFO also experienced declines, indicating pressure on profitability despite top-line growth. Story continues Financial Achievements and Industry Significance The company's ability to achieve a year-over-year increase in comparable revenues and RevPAR is significant, especially considering the broader economic context and the competitive nature of the REIT industry. These metrics are crucial indicators of the company's operational efficiency and its ability to attract and retain customers. The growth in revenues and RevPAR suggests that DRH's strategic initiatives, such as hotel acquisitions and rebranding efforts, are contributing positively to its financial health. Key Financial Metrics Important financial metrics from DRH's earnings report include: Metric Q4 2023 Full Year 2023 Net Income $11.0 million $86.6 million Comparable RevPAR $193.69 $203.41 Adjusted EBITDA $57.3 million $271.7 million Adjusted FFO $38.6 million $198.5 million These metrics are essential for investors as they provide insight into the company's revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key performance indicator in the hospitality industry, and its ability to generate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which is a measure of a company's operational efficiency. Analysis of Performance While DRH's revenue growth is a positive sign, the decline in profitability metrics such as Adjusted EBITDA and FFO is a concern. This could be attributed to various factors, including increased operating costs, capital expenditures, and market competition. The company's strategic investments in property improvements and rebranding initiatives, such as the transformation of the Hilton Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall to The Dagny Boston, are examples of its commitment to maintaining a competitive edge and enhancing guest experiences. The company's balance sheet shows a strong liquidity position, with $623.5 million available, including unrestricted corporate cash and full capacity on its credit facility. This financial stability is crucial for sustaining operations and pursuing growth opportunities. DRH's management remains optimistic about the future, citing a strong group revenue pace and the reintroduction of guidance for the first time in four years. For 2024, the company anticipates a Comparable RevPAR growth between 2.0% and 4.0%, with Adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $260 million and $290 million, and Adjusted FFO projected between $187 million and $217 million. For a more detailed analysis and to stay updated on Diamondrock Hospitality Co's financial journey, visit GuruFocus.com. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Diamondrock Hospitality Co for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. While for many Californians pink donut boxes signal little more than the arrival of a favorite snack, for Cambodian refugees and their children, the ubiquitous, cheerful-looking packaging is often deeply intertwined with their family history of resettling in the United States. So too, for Los Angeles-based artist Phung Huynh, whose parents were among the thousands of refugees who set up donut stores in California State since the early 1980s. They worked day and night to make a living in their new country, while struggling to overcome the memories of the war they fled. Several years ago, Phung Huynh realized the bright pink packaging offered a highly symbolic and visually striking canvas for her drawings. The portraits depict her family and other members of Cambodian and Vietnamese communities in an effort to highlight their stories of hardship, trauma and resilience. The pink donut boxes seem to show sweetness and happiness. However, people who make those donuts are Cambodian refugees and immigrants who survived the [Khmer Rouge] genocide regime in their country. They went through suffering, pain, and family separation, and struggled to build a new life in America, she told VOA Khmer in an interview. Donut Kids Her art, she said, shows the travails of the Cambodian community in recent decades and brings their experiences to the attention of wider American society. I would like to make these pink donut boxes to represent so many stories. I dont want people to forget all those stories, Phung Huynh said. Her most recent solo exhibition, called the Donut (W)hole, ran from March 12 to May 27 at Self Help Graphics & Art in East Lost Angeles. It featured seven hand-drawn portraits of Cambodian-Americans printed onto pink donut boxes, with their old family photos faded in the background. They are second-generation Donut Kids, who grew up in their family's donut shop. These donut shops represent a cultural space where refugees and immigrants reshape their lives in the process of negotiating, assimilating, and becoming American, according to Phung Huynhs personal website. An earlier exhibit, from 2021, also featured a number of portraits of Cambodian- and Vietnamese-Americans drawn on plain pink donut boxes. These include drawings based on late-1970s photos of Phung Huynh as a toddler and her parents, as well as a contemporary portrait of acclaimed Vietnamese-American writer Viet Thanh Nguyen. Promoting discussion and healing In the late 1970s and 1980s, some 150,00 Cambodian refugees came to the U.S. to flee the Khmer Rouge regime and protracted civil war. They were dispersed by the government across the country, often in housing projects, and eventually formed sizable communities in places such as Chicago, Illinois, Long Beach, California, and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Seattle, Washington. Equipped with limited formal education, many refugees struggled to overcome the traumas of war and to find a way to make a living. Opening up a donut store offered a stable, though demanding livelihood for many newly arrived Cambodians, who eventually came to dominate the donut business in California. Phung Huynhs father is from southern Cambodias Kampot Province and fled across the nearby border to Vietnam after Pol Pots forces took over the country around 1975. There, he met her mother and Phung Huynh was born in 1977. Soon after, her parents decided to flee by boat to the Cambodian refugee camps in Thailand, from where they were resettled to the U.S. Art, she said, can help foster discussion of the difficult past and healing within Cambodian communities, as trauma is often not discussed by parents in order to avoid reliving past suffering or burdening the younger generation. I think such silence is detrimental for their children. What I can do is to help encourage those parents to explain their children about that, she said. It is sometimes difficult to tell people about your feelings or reveal your own account, especially your miserable time, to others. Thus, art is one of the ways to reveal suffering and narrate many stories. Phung Huynh is a professor of Art at Los Angeles Valley College and her work includes drawing, painting, public art, and community engagement. Some of her other work challenges beauty standards by constructing images of the Asian female body vis-a-vis plastic surgery to unpack how contemporary cosmetic surgery can whitewash cultural and racial identity, according to her website. Show more Show less New Delhis severe air pollution prompts some to leave Indias capital city. Welcome to VOA Asia Weekly. I'm Chris Casquejo in Washington. That story is just ahead, but first, making headlines: China increased patrols near Taiwans Kinmen islands after two fishermen drowned while being chased by the Taiwanese coast guard. Taiwan officials claim the boat trespassed into a restricted area. China disputes this, condemning Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party for the deaths. Beijing is also denying the existence of restricted waters. Taiwan protested the Chinese coast guards boarding of a tourist boat, causing panic around the Kinmen islands. The Chinese crew boarded the King Xia, carrying 11 crew and 23 passengers, on Monday for about 32 minutes. Taiwans Coast Guard escorted the boat back to Kinmen, and the voyage resumed. Papua New Guinea will give the military the power to arrest after 26 combatants died in tribal violence on Sunday. Villagers and bystanders were also caught in the crossfire. The death toll was initially 53, but security forces revised the number to 26. Prime Minister James Marape condemned the attack, urging the warring tribes to disarm. More than 74 percent of South Koreas trainee doctors have submitted their resignations this week due to a government plan to increase the number of medical students. As of Wednesday, more than 9,200 trainee doctors had submitted their resignations and about 8,000 had left their work sites, a Health Ministry official told reporters. The government ordered striking doctors to return to work. Penalties include up to three years in prison, a 30 million won or $22,000 US fine, and the revocation of medical licenses. A protester died on Wednesday as Indian farmers resumed their march to the capital, rejecting the governments five-year contract proposal for guaranteed prices on select crops. Despite the offer, protest leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said farmers are demanding guaranteed prices for all their crops. Severe air pollution in Indias capital city, which has failed to improve despite efforts, is prompting a small but growing number of people to leave New Delhi to escape the health hazards posed by dirty air. Many are relocating to the western coastal city of Goa, which has witnessed an influx of so-called pollution migrants. VOAs Anjana Pasricha has more. Prashant Kalra relocated from Delhi to the western coastal city Goa five years ago because the citys dirty air was making his then three-year-old daughter sick. Our daughter could not breathe in Delhi NCR. because she needed a nebulizer every night just to go to sleep. NCR refers to Delhi and surrounding districts. Kalra is among a small but growing number of people quitting that urban sprawl as two-decade long efforts fail to clean up the toxic smog that shrouds it every winter. Most are heading to Goa, a popular holiday destination that has become a magnet for so-called pollution migrants from Delhi. For this couple, the trigger for moving two years ago was their daughters persistent cough. She got put on a inhaler and also the nebulizer. That is when I realized it is the air. Delhis pollution is caused by a mix of construction dust, vehicular emissions and burning of crop residue. Doctors say every winter brings a steady stream of patients affected by the air quality. exposure longtime to high pollutants obviously affects everybodys health. The numbers leaving Delhi have accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave the flexibility to work from different locations. When I moved to Goa, I did not know anybody else. Now in a span of two years, I know probably 20 people who moved here for the same reason. Moving out of Delhi is a choice available only to a few. But the trend underscores that cleaning up Indias mega cities will be one of the countrys biggest challenges as the government sets an ambitious goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. Anjana Pasricha, VOA News, New Delhi. Visit voanews.com for the most up-to-date stories. Im Chris Casquejo. Finally, a big milestone for Chinas passenger airplane aspirations. The Singapore Airshow kicked off on Tuesday with aerial displays featuring Chinas COMAC C919. COMAC aims for the C919 to rival Europes Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 MAX. Its the first time Singapore has opened the event to the public since 2020 due to the worldwide COVID pandemic. Thanks for watching VOA Asia Weekly. Transcript: The Inside Story: The Death of Navalny Episode 132 February 22, 2024 Show Open: Unidentified Narrator: This week on The Inside Story Russia's best-known opposition leader dies while imprisoned. And his family says Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible. President Biden agrees and promises more sanctions as punishment. All as Russias war with Ukraine nears its third year. Now... on The Inside Story... The Death Of Navalny. The Inside Story: ELIZABETH LEE, VOA Correspondent: Welcome to the Inside Story. Im Elizabeth Lee in Washington. After 15 years of ringing what he saw as rampant Russian government corruption to light, opposition leader and Putin critic Alexey Navalny (Nuh-VUL-nee) dies in prison. And in neighboring Ukraine, a grim anniversary as Kyiv prepares to mark the beginning of its third year of fighting back against a Russian invasion. All this on todays Inside Story The United States lames Moscow for the death of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny in a snow-covered Russian prison. Navalny had been serving a lengthy sentence on charges that included extremism, which was widely seen as punishment for his years of criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Navalnys influence extended beyond internal politics within Russia to America where political parties are at odds about polices towards President Putin and aid to Ukraine. We begin with White House Correspondent Anita Powell. ANITA POWELL, VOA White House Correspondent: These two men have entered the chat [entered the discussion] about the U.S. presidential election. The death of opposition figure Alexey Navalny in a Russian prison has sharpened U.S. political rhetoric around Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine, exposing a clear divide between President Joe Biden and his top challenger for the job, Donald Trump. Biden has been quick to lay blame and threaten stiff sanctions over Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony, which Russian officials attriibute to sudden death syndrome. President Joe Biden: The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, he's responsible for the circumstances they put that man in. And it's a reflection of who he is. It just cannot be tolerated. I said there will be a price to pay. ANITA POWELLL The Kremlin said the allegation is unfounded and insolent, and authorities have denied Navalnys mother access to his body. Trump and his Republican Party have taken a different line, with Trump saying he would not support NATO as strongly as Biden has. And, in a recent event with Fox News, he cast himself as a victim of political persecution, like Navalny. Donald Trump, Former US President: It's a horrible thing, but it's happening in our country, too. We are turning into a communist country in many ways. And if you look at it, I'm the leading candidate. I get ... I never heard of being indicted before. ... I got indicted four times, I have eight or nine trials, all because of the fact that and you know this all because of the fact that I'm in politics. ANITA POWELL: Trump was vague on how hed end Russia's war on Ukraine instead saying that if he had been president, Putin would never have invaded. Republicans have questioned why they should fund the conflict. Russian forces recently captured a key city, which the White House points to as proof that Ukrainian forces need urgent help. Some Republicans are confident they will pass the stalled $95 billion aid package. Most of it is for Ukraine. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican: I think the slow response from Europe and the United States, of course, that hurts Ukraine. And that's why we can't let this happen, why were going to get something done. ANITA POWELL: Meanwhile, the war has taken on greater significance. Peter Pomerantsev, Johns Hopkins University: This has become about America. Will America continue to play the role of a power that keeps his promises, that respects its alliances and that is capable of projecting strength? Or is America over as a serious power? That's the question now. It's no longer about Russia or Ukraine. ANITA POWELL: Moscow and Washington are nearly 8,000 kilometers [5,000 miles] apart. But as the U.S. hurtles toward November, their fates are more intertwined than ever. Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington. ELIZABETH LEE: Russian authorities have been detaining people mourning the loss of Navalny. As the crackdown continues, world leaders and Navalnys loved ones are reacting to the opposition leaders death, laying lame on Putin. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more. ARASH ARABASADI, VOA Correspondent: Across the world, demonstrators mourned dead Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. From the Russian embassy in Washington To the embassy in London, protesters carried signs denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Chanting Putin is killer outside the Russian embassy in Berlin. They marched and lit candles outside the Eifel Tower. With Barcelona protesters carrying signs simply reading, murderers. Throughout Russia, authorities detained mourners for laying flowers in Navalnys honor. Independent Russian media and human rights group OVD-Info reported roughly 400 detentions at events across dozens of cities after news of Navalnys death broke late last week. Navalny had been a longtime critic, broadly of the Kremlin and specifically of Putin. Russia resisted global calls to return Navalnys body, including from his widow and mother. But independent Russian news outlet Mediazona published footage it says showed an official convoy leaving the prison where Navalny was said to have died. Mediazona says the footage could show Navalnys body en route from prison to the morgue. Russia officially blames Navalnys death on an undisclosed illness at the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence. His family isnt buying it. Yulia Navalnaya, Widow of Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny: Vladimir Putin killed my husband, Alexey Navalny. Putin killed my childrens father. Putin took away the most precious thing I ever had. The closest and most loved man. ARASH ARABASADI: Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, says the 47-year-old was poisoned on Putins order, a charge Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed as unfounded and insolent. His mother, placing flowers at a memorial for her son, called on the president to release Navalnys remains. Lyudmila Navalnaya, Mother of Alexey Navalny: The authorities dont give me his body, and they dont even tell me where it is. Im turning to you, Vladimir Putin Let me finally see my son. I require that Alexys body be immediately given so that I can bury him humanely. ARASH ARABASADI: The White House announced a major sanctions package against Russia to come by weeks end as punishment for Navalnys death. While in Berlin, a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the office summoned the Russian ambassador citing inhumane prison conditions in Russia and the ongoing crackdowns of dissent. At a recent visit to Greek parliament, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened with a message on Navalny. Roberta Metsola, European Parliament President: I want to right away pay tribute to democracys fallen warrior, Alexey Navalny. First, they took his freedom. Then, they took his life. But his legacy and his struggle will live on in people in Russia and in all of us. ARASH ARABASADI: And at the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin, anti-Putin activist and punk band Pussy Riot co-founder, Nadya Tolokonnikova, said the fight for a different Russia must go on despite Navalnys death. Nadya Tolokonnikova, Pussy Riot Co-Founder: I know that if Navalny was here, he would want us to continue fighting, and he would want us to never give up. So, I guess our role is to carry his torch and do whatever we can every one of us to bring the beautiful new Russia of the future into reality. Its a dream Navalny gave us. ARASH ARABASADI: At a recent meeting in Munich, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations observed a minute of silence in memory of Navalny. And as supporters left flowers and notes at memorials around the world people in Moscow did the same calling Navalny a hero who fought for freedom. Arash Arabasadi, VOA News. ELIZABETH LEE: In a 2022 clip from the documentary named after him, Navalny predicted his own death saying, in case I am killed, dont give up. It was Navalnys insistence on holding Russian Government officials accountable that made him such an irritant to Putins Russia. In 2015, Navalny presented a tangled we of allegations linking the sons of Russias top prosecutor Yuri Chaika to a violent criminal gang who conducted business together. Chaika himself told Interfax that the allegations were a hatchet jo... deliberately falsified and has no basis in fact. In 2017, Navalny and his team revealed the sprawling mansion of former Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. The property was alleged to be part of a real estate portfolio worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Navalnys investigation accused Medvedev of paying for the property using charitable funds to collect donations from oligarchs, and that one of the mansions was a gift from Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov. Usmanov later sued Navalny for libel and won in a Moscow court. Navalny alleged that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Prikhodko had spent time on a yacht with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska and logger Nastya Ryka. That trip on the mega yacht was in effect a rie, according to Navalny. Deripaska denied the allegations and sued. Russia locked Navalny's website after he refused a court order to remove information about the investigation. The final Anti-Corruption Foundation probe featuring Navalnys direct participation was released after his return to Russia and arrest. The probe alleged that an enormous, $1.3-illion luxury mansion was constructed for Putin in a town on Russias lack Sea coast. Navalny revealed building plans and digital illustrations of the palaces ornate interior and amenities including an aqua disco and casino. Arkady Rotenerg, a close associate of Putin, later claimed to own the property. Navalnys investigations and the subsequent legal actions taken against him for publishing them resulted in a cumulative 19-year prison sentence he was serving when he died. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin stepped up restrictions on independent reporting, imposing new laws on coverage and forcing news outlets to close. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been jailed in Russia for nearly a year. He is one of two American journalists held there. The other is Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been in custody since October. By the time you see or hear this, Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine may already e in its third year, with the grim anniversary on Feruary 24. Ukrainians say with intense fighting on the eastern front and daily shelling across the country, they are in dire need of global material and financial support. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress is holding up much needed aid. VOAs Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports from Kyiv. MYROSLAVA GONGADZE, VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief: Days before the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine decided to withdraw from Avdiivka, a city in the Donetsk region. In the U.S., the White House blamed the move on Congress failure to provide additional aid, saying that "Ukrainians continue to fight bravely, but they are running low on supplies." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to the Munich Security Conference on the day of the withdrawal. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President: Do not ask Ukraine when the war will end. Ask yourself, why is Putin still able to continue it? MYROSLAVA GONGADZE: Ukrainians in Kyiv are taking it hard and bracing for the prospect of a prolonged war. Kyiv Independent editor Olga Rudenko was at her desk when the Russian invasion began in February 2022, when her online publication was just months old. Olga Rudenko, Kyiv Independent Editor: It was a heavy news day, as you can imagine. Antony Blinken said that the invasion of Ukraine is going to start before dawn. And that was the moment when it suddenly became very real. MYROSLAVA GONGADZE: When Russian President Vladimir Putin finished his speech on the eve of the invasion, she was ready. Olga Rudenko, Kyiv Independent Editor: We prepared a news item, saying Putin announced war against Ukraine, and when he stopped speaking, we published it. And around that time, we heard explosions. MYROSLAVA GONGADZE: After two years of continuous war coverage, The Kyiv Independent became the main English-language publication reporting developments on the ground in Ukraine. Its goal is to help the world understand what Ukrainians are fighting for. Olga Rudenko, Kyiv Independent Editor: It is very frustrating to be here in Ukraine and to watch all the news coming out about the [U.S.] Congress not being able to vote for the aid package for Ukraine because, for them, maybe it is just a number. But for us, it's about real lives and real people. MYROSLAVA GONGADZE: Volodymyr Omelyn, a major in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, once served as Ukraines minister of infrastructure. Standing in Kyiv's central square, he reflected on Ukraine's state of mind. Volodymyr Omelyn, Ukraine Armed Forces Major: We become much stronger by arms, by people. And definitely, it's not a kind of pleasant cruise. And it's not that war will be over in two or three weeks or very soon. It will take a while, unfortunately, but morale is still very high. If there is no will, there is no victory, and in our case will is strong. MYROSLAVA GONGADZE: In Kyiv, people hope the war will end Daniil: I want to see my mother and father, they are abroad. I am here because I can't go to them. Oleksyi: We are scared every day, every night. We want peace in our country. Stop Putin and return our territory. Kateryna: This will be a long war. I feel terrible, Ukraine will not be able to win over this big animal without the international community. MYROSLAVA GONGADZE: The Ukrainians who spoke with VOA said that if drafted, they would join and defend their country. They also said that they hope the world understands they are fighting for common democratic values, and that they need help. Myroslava Gongadze, VOA News, Kyiv, Ukraine. ELIZABETH LEE: A new regulation in Russia would allow authorities to confiscate the property of Russians convicted of deliberately spreading what the Kremlin calls fake news about the countrys armed forces. If signed into law, it would also allow the state to seize the property of Russian emigrants who criticize the war in Ukraine. Kateryna Besedina has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. ANNA RICE, VOA Correspondent: Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign into law a bill that would allow the government to confiscate the property of people whom it convicts of deliberately spreading false news about Russias military. Vyacheslav Volodin, Russia State Duma Chairman: This law is about scoundrels and traitors. About those who spit at the backs of our soldiers, who have betrayed their motherland, who send money to the country that is at war with us, or if they are abroad, get revenue by renting out their Russian property! ANNA RICE: Other offenses that could lead to asset confiscation include failing to comply with an order, deserting the military, calling for sanctions to be imposed on Russia, and participating in the activities of an undesirable organization. Dmitry Gudkov, Russian Opposition Leader: Theyve adopted a very versatile law that can be interpreted however they want to. It allows authorities to make all sorts of decisions regarding property confiscation. This is done to make sure people are afraid to gather in front of embassies, afraid to rally, afraid to vote for anyone but Putin or take part in protests against Putins rule. ANNA RICE: Former Duma deputy and opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov is now a wanted man in Russia for criticizing Russias invasion of Ukraine. Gudkov, who has not lived in the country for several years, says he got rid of his property in Russia. But other anti-government-minded people were not so lucky. Dmitry Gudkov, Russian Opposition Leader: When the war started, so many people left the country journalists, political activists, public figures, celebrities who disagree with the authorities, who disapprove of the war. And its obvious a lot of them havent had time to sell their property in Russia and they are the ones wholl be targeted. ANNA RICE: According to OVD-Info, an independent Russian human rights media project, about 830 people have had cases brought against them for their anti-war position in Russia. About one-third of these cases involve charges of spreading false information about the army. John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, says the measure is just an attempt to hide the truth about Russias war crimes. John Herbst, Atlantic Council: The Russian government wants to project a myth about the Russian Armys activities in Ukraine. They want to deny the war crimes. They want to hide the failures. And so, they will punish people who break those myths. ANNA RICE: Andrew Wood, an expert on Russian policy at London-based Chatham House, says it's important that the authorities create an illusion of mass support for Putin. Andrew Wood, Chatham House: The opinion in Russia of the futile achievements they had from the war and the reasons that it started, the complaints of people who have relatives or husbands on the front against what is being done its increased! And I think Putin himself is a bit more conscious of the fact that his hold is not as big as it has been on the Russian population. ANNA RICE: Experts like Herbst and Wood say mass property confiscation is unlikely, but they expect the government to target individuals who criticize the war. For Kateryna Besedina in Washington, Anna Rice, VOA News. ELIZABETH LEE: During the years since Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways became the country's key means of transportation. With over 22,000 kilometers of track, the state-owned network keeps moving despite constant damage from shelling. Ukraine's railways evacuate people from front-line cities, transport world leaders, and move cargo and troops for the Ukrainian Army. Lesia Bakalets has a story from Kyiv. LESIA BAKALETS, VOA Correspondent: Right after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kyivs central railway station [the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station] became a place of pain and fear as Ukrainians fled the capital ahead of the Russian army advance. Ukrainian Railways conductor Oleg Kobetskyi was on vacation in western Ukraine when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. He decided to return to Kyiv. Oleg Kobetskyi, Conductor: I was shocked but realized I had a job to do. The people needed to be evacuated. Honestly, it was so scary to see all these people on the platform: children screaming, parents screaming. We went to the west. You know, when you get into a carriage, and it's more than full there were about 180 people in each. LESIA BAKALETS: Kobetskyi then traveled to the east and south, close to the front line, evacuating civilians and transporting the wounded on a special medical train. He says he always tries to offer the best service for Ukrainian soldiers. Oleg Kobetskyi, Conductor: I try to make their trip as comfortable as possible. I can even cook for them right inside the carriage. My son is fighting; all my nephews are fighting. And I do what I can. LESIA BAKALETS: Over the past two years, Ukrainian Railways officials say, they have evacuated at least 4 million people. Kobetskyi, along with his fellow workers, never refused to go close to the front lines. Their bravery has earned them a nickname: Iron People. Oleksandr Shevchenko, Ukrainian Railways Head of Communications: We don't have any cases where a conductor, train manager, steward or station worker refused to go to work. In front-line stations, on tracks. LESIA BAKALETS: Since the war began, the Russian army has constantly shelled the railways. During that time, about 600 railway workers have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded either on the job or as a mobilized soldiers, according to the railway company. Oleksandr Shevchenko, Ukrainian Railways Head of Communications: From the first day of the full-scale invasion, we have tried to deliver the message: the railways will not stop. We havent canceled a single trip without a serious war-related reason. LESIA BAKALETS: Since air traffic has been suspended because of the war, world leaders and delegations have relied on the railway for travel into Ukraine. Oleksandr Shevchenko, Ukrainian Railways Head of Communications: For diplomatic trips, we have special algorithms for how to travel during a missile threat or other alarm. We always have backup routes. We can disguise our transportation. LESIA BAKALETS: A lot of top-level guests buy souvenirs in the railway gift shop, which opened last year. Oleksandra Vitoha, Store Manager: Boris Johnson bought and immediately wore our signature hat. Sean Penn and Orlando Bloom have our hoodies. Ursula von der Leyen came to us as well. LESIA BAKALETS: The most popular item in the store is a sweatshirt with the route schedule to the cities still under occupation. And on the tracks is the Train to Victory: rail carriages painted to represent each occupied region. The plan is for it to be the first train in service in these areas when Ukraine regains control. Lesia Bakalets, VOA News, Kyiv. ELIZABETH LEE: Thanks for watching Im Elizabeth Lee in Washington. Stay up to date with all the latest news at VOANews.com. You can follow me on X formerly known as Twitter @ELEETV1 Catch up on past episodes at our free streaming service, VOA Plus. For all of those behind the scenes who brought you todays show, thanks for being here. Well see you next week for The Inside Story. ### The prison death last week of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has elevated fears for the welfare of politically active prisoners in neighboring Azerbaijan, including economist Gubad Ibadoglu. "As his family, we are worried that my brother may be physically destroyed in the conditions of the detention center," Ibadoglu's brother, Qalib Toghrul, told VOA. Toghrul said he last saw Ibadoglu on February 17 and that his health had significantly deteriorated. "Now, I am unequivocally convinced that they are carrying out the process of purposefully destroying my brother's body, part by part," Toghrul said. "Of course, after Navalny's death, we are under great tension and anxiety that the level of danger, the risk of danger to my brother's life, has increased even more." Ibadoglu, chairman of the Democracy and Prosperity Party, has been in pretrial detention since July 2023, charged with the acquisition or sale of counterfeit money or foreign currency by an organized group and the preparation, storage, or distribution of religious extremist materials. Ibadoglu denies the accusations and says his arrest is a political order related to his political activism. Bahruz Maharramov, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, told VOA that neither Ibadoglu nor any other person is subjected to any illegal or unnecessary procedural coercive measures. "In this sense, it should be noted once again that the arrest of Ibadoglu is not a political issue," he said. "A criminal prosecution has been initiated on specific facts, and the main goal of the state structures during the investigation is to ensure the implementation of this process on the basis of equality of rights before the law and the court in the criminal process." According to Toghrul, Ibadoglu suffers from several health issues. Ibadoglu receives IV treatment at the medical unit of the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center, "but after the IV is done, they immediately take him to his cell without allowing him to lie down and rest for even a minute," said Toghrul. He said that though the Penitentiary Service has a specialized treatment facility for IV therapy and "other complex inpatient treatments," authorities refuse to transfer Ibadoglu there. VOA sought comment from the Penitentiary Service, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Baku Detention Center and the investigative body conducting the criminal case but have yet to receive a response. Opposition leader's family concerned The family of opposition leader Tofiq Yagublu is also voicing concern about his deteriorating health. "We are very worried about his weight loss. Now, he is being examined at the initiative of the Penitentiary Service," his daughter, Nigar Hezi, told VOA. Hezi believes the deaths of Navalny and other political prisoners in Russia and neighboring countries warrant extra attention to be paid to political prisoners in Azerbaijan. "Navalny's death in Russia has created a trend in the post-Soviet countries," she said. "After Navalny, a journalist died in Belarus. All this is cause for concern." Yagublu has been arrested numerous times and is being held in pretrial detention on charges of "massive fraud." International organizations have recognized him as a prisoner of conscience. International calls "If [President Ilham] Aliyev attends, other leaders must press him to release Gubad Ibadoglu from illegal detention," former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Kauzlarich wrote on X, before the Munich Security Conference. "Otherwise, like Navalny, Gubad may die in prison." A number of countries and international organizations, including the U.S. State Department and U.S. senators and representatives, have called for Ibadoglu's release. U.S. Representative David Rouzer introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives last week condemning Ibadoglu's treatment. The resolution also urges the secretary of state to "continue prioritizing Dr. Ibadoglu's well-being and release in all engagements with the Government of Azerbaijan." On February 15, Ibadoglu's pretrial detention was extended by three months. This story originated in VOA's Azerbaijani Service. Chinese-born Australian writer and businessman Yang Hengjuns recent suspended death sentence on espionage charges is likely to add to growing concerns about the risks foreign nationals face living in, working in and visiting China, analysts say. Yang, a democracy advocate and spy novelist, was sentenced earlier this month. On Wednesday, his family released a statement saying that they would not file an appeal to the ruling due to a lack of trust in Chinas judicial system and the hope of securing adequate and supervised medical care for him. Yangs decision to forgo the appeals process does not in any way change the fact that he is both innocent and morally unbreakable, [and] we, family and close friends, strongly support Yangs decision to waive his legal right to appeal the suspended death sentence handed down to him, they wrote in the statement. Feng Chongyi, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Technology Sydney and Yangs former academic adviser, told VOA in a phone interview that the case will have ripple effects. The Chinese governments decision to give Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence will create a chilling effect among democratic countries and discourage foreign nationals from doing business in China, Feng said. He added that under Chinas anti-espionage law, which was amended in July 2023 to give Chinese authorities more power to punish threats against national security, the Chinese government categorizes commercial information and news as state secrets, and that any foreigner could be treated as a spy under the law. What led to Yangs detention and the espionage charges remains unclear. Some observers say Yang, who previously worked for the Chinese government and is a novelist who maintained a blog on China affairs, is a prominent liberal intellectual in China. He called himself the democracy peddler and has played a positive role in facilitating the spread of ideas related to liberal democracy and constitutionalism in China, Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer and the Pozen Visiting Scholar at the University of Chicago, told VOA by phone. Feng in Sydney said he believes Beijing views Yang as a political opponent who poses a serious threat to the Chinese governments rule over China and regime security. They want to make an example out of Yang by imposing a heavy sentence on him, he told VOA, adding that Beijing hopes to suppress dissent in civil society and the communist party through Yangs case. China has dismissed criticism of the ruling, reiterating that China is a country that upholds the rule of law. Chinese judicial authorities handle the case in accordance with the law and will continue to protect the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned in accordance with the law, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during the regular press conference on Wednesday. Despite Beijings assurances, Teng Biao said Yangs case is raising awareness of the risks foreign nationals face, particularly among the Chinese diaspora community. While many overseas Chinese dissidents, including those with foreign nationalities, already try not to go back to China, some of them are now also avoiding passing through some countries neighboring China, such as Vietnam, Cambodia or Nepal, due to concerns of being abruptly abducted back to China, he said. Japan and the United States have reported cases of citizens being detained under suspicion of espionage in China after amendments to Chinas anti-espionage law came into force last July. Since 2015, the year that China first introduced the anti-espionage law, a total of 17 Japanese citizens have been detained in China, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. On the U.S. side, at least three American citizens are currently wrongfully detained in China, according to information shared by the U.S. State Department last November. Some analysts say as China continues to securitize the country in the name of safeguarding national security, the severity of Yangs prison sentence reflects both the increasingly arbitrary nature of Chinas judicial system and the growing prices that foreign nationals may have to pay for overstepping the red line. With no clear definition of what constitutes a violation of national security in China, no one can predict the potential risks that they may face when they do anything, Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Taiwan and Hong Kong at Freedom House, told VOA by phone. While the bilateral relationship between Australia and China has improved in recent months, Feng said Yangs case now puts Canberra in a tough position. When the Australian government deals with China, it must prioritize Yangs case, he told VOA. Canberra should pressure China about the case on different occasions and ask Beijing to make concessions in order to allow bilateral economic and trade relations to return to normalcy, Feng said. Britain Thursday imposed sanctions on more than 50 individuals and entities connected to Russia, a move that targets what British officials say are "key sources of Russian revenue," such as diamonds, metals and energy trade. In a statement, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron reiterated his support for Ukraine, nearly two years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. "Our international economic pressure means Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion," Cameron said, adding that the latest sanctions are "starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war." Among those sanctioned are importers and manufacturers that produce machine tools for defense systems as well as fighter jets, engines, tanks and missiles, according to a statement issued by Britains Foreign Office. The sanctions also aim to target "malign" Russian shipping activities, such as the use of "shadow fleet" vessels to circumvent oil sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, along with its partners from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, the G7. The statement added that new measures are in place to expand the list of items blocked from reaching "Russia's war machine." The foreign office said sanctioned individuals and entities include companies linked to munitions manufacturing, including Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise, the largest Russian ammunition business. Oil trader Niels Troost and his company, Paramount Energy & Commodities, have also been sanctioned because Troost is believed to facilitate the Russian oil trade outside the reach of sanctions. Other entities involved in Russia's shadow fleet operations have also been targeted, as well as those that produce copper, diamonds, steel and zinc. The European Union announced its own sanctions package on Wednesday, targeting nearly 200 entities and individuals. Cameron is set to visit New York for a special U.N. session on Saturday, dedicated to Ukraine, in which he will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The meeting comes on the anniversary of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia has described its invasion as a special military operation. Britain has sanctioned more than 2,000 Russian individuals and entities. At the U.N. meeting, Cameron is expected to further express the U.K.'s continued support. Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Albanian Canadian scholar Olsi Jazexhi seemed to be the perfect foreign writer for the Chinese government to invite to Xinjiang, its westernmost province and home to the ethnic Uyghur Muslim minority so mistreated by Beijing that its critics have called it cultural genocide. "My initial intention was to visit Xinjiang myself to investigate and to prove the West wrong," Jazexhi tells VOA. During an interview for a journalist visa at the Chinese Embassy in Tirana, Albania, in 2019, he says he told the consular official, "I want to produce a story where I can show the world that all this talk about the Uyghur is in a way orchestrated, and by people in the West. And there is nothing true about it." Since 2018, Beijing has been inviting diplomats, journalists, and writers like Jazexhi on controlled tours of western Xinjiang province as part of its efforts to tell the world that all is well, despite what the U.N. says are Chinas possible crimes against humanity committed against the Uyghurs. Chinese state media says that more than 1,200 people from 100 countries and regions, including officials from international organizations, diplomats, journalists and religious leaders, have visited Xinjiang from the end of 2018 to February 2021. State media often quote those who go on the tours as they extol what is presented to them as the regions economic development and religious freedom, while attacking Western media and governments for peddling disinformation and publishing fake news about re-education camps where Uyghurs are tortured and forced to abandon their religious and cultural practices. Jazexhi should have been one of them. The Chinese government took him and 19 other writers, mainly from Muslim countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE, on an all-expenses paid, 10-day trip in Xinjiang to visit factories and farms and show China's efforts in Xinjiang's economic development. Ilshat Hassan Kokbore, director of China affairs at the rights group World Uyghur Congress, told VOA that Chinese authorities invite foreign media to visit Xinjiang and ensure "they will only see the singing and dancing performances of Uyghurs on the stage, but not the blood and tears of Uyghurs struggling in concentration camps and prisons." But in Beijings effort to dismiss the allegations of abuse, they also took Jazexhis group to what they called a vocational training center where ethnic Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Uzbeks were not allowed to leave and told him they were taken there for practicing Islam. "So what the Chinese government was doing, it was jailing these people. And in this, the vocational centers there were forcing them to renounce Islam," Jazexhi said. Jazexhi said the group also saw posters of Chinese President Xi Jinping in mosques in Aksu and Kashgar, which violate Islamic precepts against images of idolatry. While in Urumqi they saw a mosque converted into a shopping mall. Jazexhi said he was not the only Muslim in his group, which included Turkish and Arab reporters, who were shocked. But he was the only one who condemned the detention conditions while others told the outside world there were no rights violations in Xinjiang. Jazexhi said several Arabs in his group told him they wouldn't publish stories about what they saw because it could create a diplomatic crisis between their countries and China. He said that after he complained about the treatment to Chinese authorities, they called him a "fake journalist" and interrogated him as a suspected intelligence agent before he was released and left China. VOA was not able to independently confirm Jazexhis account of the trip, which he told to media and published on his YouTube channel. Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, denied that any so-called re-education camps exist in Xinjiang. In an email response to VOA, Liu called the vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang schools that are no different from the Desistance and Disengagement Program of the U.K., or the de-radicalization centers in France. Liu said in 2019 all trainees at the vocational education and training centers have completed their training, secured stable employment in the society and are living a normal life. He then denounced anti-China forces in the West, including the United States, for fabricating and spreading a large amount of groundless disinformation about Xinjiang by distorting facts to smear Chinas image and welcomed interested foreign friends to visit Xinjiang to see with their own eyes all the changes and development that are truly happening there." Jazexhi teaches history and civilization courses at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. A year since The Carter Center announced that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was receiving end-of-life hospice care, Carter continues to defy the odds. He quietly celebrated his 99th birthday on October 1, and last appeared in public on November 29 to attend the funeral of his wife, Rosalynn Carter. "He is very old and very frail," said author Jonathan Alter, who chronicled Carter's life in the book "His Very Best." "When you are 99, various systems in your body start breaking down, but it's very important to understand that he does not have any underlying health condition like heart failure or cancer." The Carter family's decision to announce that the 39th president was entering hospice care has raised awareness about end-of-life care giving, which Alter compares to the decades-long efforts of the former president and first lady to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. "They did this very intentionally to give a boost to the hospice movement," Alter told VOA in a recent Skype interview. "I don't think there was any expectation that he'd still be in hospice a year later, but they were very, very interested in spreading the word about hospice." "Once again leading by example, [the Carter family] is showing us how to embrace a stage of life that people don't want to think about that people don't want to talk about," Ben Marcantonio, interim CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, explained during an event his organization sponsored in New York's Time Square in August, recorded live on Facebook. "They're showing us how hospice helps patients live life to the fullest to the end of life, and that's why we're gathered here today to publicly thank President Carter and his family." While now out of the spotlight, the global nonprofit Carter Center continues to "wage peace, fight disease and build hope" around the world. One of Jimmy Carter's key efforts leading the center the complete eradication of parasitic Guinea worm infections marked a steady number of infections in the last several years. "Thirteen human cases reported in 2023," said Adam Weiss, director of The Carter Center's Guinea worm eradication program. "With such few human cases, the biggest risk is about the reinfection of humans from some of the animal infections that are occurring primarily in Chad, Mali, Cameroon and Angola." "While nine of those 13 cases were in Chad, four of those nine cases were in one family," explained Dr. Donald Hopkins, one of the architects of The Carter Center's Guinea worm eradication efforts. Hopkins encouraged Carter to take on the neglected tropical disease in the center's early days and added that while the annual number of infections did not decrease this year, the total number of infections globally are dramatically different from where they were when the effort began in the 1980s. "There were an estimated 3 million cases, mostly in Africa, but some also in India, Pakistan and Yemen," said Hopkins. "Having only 13 human cases now annually means that a lot fewer people are suffering." Middle East conflicts In recent months, The Carter Center has called for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, which threatens to undo a pillar of Jimmy Carter's legacy. The genesis of the center's efforts to promote peace and democracy around the world was the success of the Camp David Peace Accords, which Carter brokered between Egypt and Israel during his presidency in the 1970s. "This treaty between Egypt and Israel is the most successful, durable treaty of the postwar era," Alter told VOA. The tense and difficult negotiations Carter hosted at the Camp David Presidential Retreat for 12 days in September 1978 between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin resulted in a treaty that ended decades of conflict between Israel and one of its most powerful neighbors. "Israel turned back hundreds of thousands of acres of land in the Sinai Peninsula and pulled the Israeli settlements in the Sinai Peninsula as they turned that land back to Egypt. In exchange for that, they received a promise from Egypt it would not attack Israel as it had four times in the previous 30 years. It was understandable why it would be durable. It was a land for peace swap," Alter said. But as Israel presses its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza strip, the Egyptian government has threatened to suspend the 45-year-old treaty. "Given the stakes, this is a big deal and obviously very much on the mind not only of the Israelis who understand its importance, but also the United States," Alter said. He said it also underscores Carter's unrealized dream of broader peace in the Middle East. "If Jimmy Carter were just a few years younger, you can bet he would be in the region right now trying to make peace," Alter said. While Carter holds the records for the longest-living occupant of the White House and the longest marriage of any president and first lady in U.S. history, he marks another first this year. The White House Historical Association unveiled its annual Christmas ornament on Wednesday, this year featuring Carter the first time a living president is honored with an ornament. "Both the front and reverse side of the ornament feature peace doves, symbolic of President Carter's work for peace in the Middle East, and perhaps most significantly, the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty signed on the North Lawn of the White House on March 26, 1979," the association describes on its website. On the reverse side of the ornament is the Seawolf-class USS Jimmy Carter. Commissioned in 2005, it is the only submarine to be named for a living president. The globe at the center refers to Carter's lifelong work on environmental conservation. At the base of the anchor is a garland of peanut flowers, a reminder of Carter's years as a farmer and businessman in Plains, Georgia. (Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part series from Capital & Main.) Mike Balog says his landlord is wearing him down and may soon force him out of the apartment in Hollywood where he has lived for 29 years. Balog has fought off multiple eviction efforts for nearly a decade; his diligence in those legal battles has kept him in his rent-controlled one-bedroom unit through numerous other hardships. But consulting with lawyers, gathering receipts, filling out documents and facing off in court have added up to the ultimate stress cocktail, he said. I wasnt worn down before, but now Im getting there. This year, Balog will turn 70, and he is no longer the vibrant man he used to be. His body has endured major surgeries on his knees and hip, and he has undergone treatment for an unsteady heartbeat amid congenital heart failure scares that landed him in the emergency room. Amid such challenges, he said he suffers from insomnia, anxiety and depression. He is one of millions of people who have been evicted or face its threat, often after falling behind on their rent because of declining income during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2022 Preventive Medicine Reports study found that vulnerable tenants living with the threat of eviction are facing an additional burden of mental health deterioration. Balog has only recently come to grips with the real possibility that he may need to gather up a lifetime of worldly possessions from his crowded apartment and leave even if he doesnt know where else he can afford to live in his hometown of Los Angeles. Neighborhood apartments similar to Balogs cost about 2 times the roughly $1,300 per month he pays, or tries to. He once thrived in various careers and entrepreneurial efforts. But in recent years he has been reduced to taking part-time work as a night security guard at a private school for $20 per hour. That pay plus Social Security and disability payments might sustain a decent life in low-cost parts of the country. But in LAs Hollywood neighborhood, it has at times, made it impossible for him to pay his bills. Story continues Sitting in the apartment he has rented for nearly 30 years, Michal Balog, pauses to catch himself from crying as he explains how stressful his pending eviction has been for him. After getting knocked off his feet during the pandemic, Balog joined the 627,000 households in California that fell behind on their rent, according to the National Equity Atlas research group. He twice jumped through bureaucratic hoops to secure pandemic rental assistance. The second time, Balog said his landlord refused to sign off on the third-party payment that would cover his back rent, preventing the payment from going through. In an eviction trial scheduled to begin in March, Balog knows that a judge could require him to pay tens of thousands of dollars in back rent of which he said he has only a fraction or move out. Balog hopes the judge will instead require his landlord, who owns the 47-unit building worth an estimated $22 million, to accept Balogs second round of pandemic rental relief. He also wants the landlord to accept money in back rent that Balog set aside once his landlord stopped accepting his checks in spring 2023. Lastly, he would like an agreement on a long-term payment plan to make up the remaining back rent. Such concerns keep him up at night. He obsessively dusted and oiled his wood furniture last August before a reporter visited. Depression is very powerful, he said. And it's a beast you have to fight off. Eviction worries crowd out other fears On a blistering summer afternoon after that August visit, Balog unlocked the door of his 18-year-old Jeep Grand Cherokee to let me into the passenger seat. As he pulled out of the parking lot of his apartment building, he said he had even more pressing concerns on his mind than housing. It was 3:30 in the afternoon, but Balog had awakened only a half-hour earlier after spending all night with his ailing 88-year-old mother in Calabasas in northwestern Los Angeles County. When he woke up, he discovered phone notifications from his sister saying that their mother might not live through the day. Panicked that he wouldnt be with her if she died, Balog sped out of his apartment complex without fastening his seat belt. A safety warning chimed over and over. During the 22-mile drive, he revved, braked and sped past cars and even passed a slow-moving tour bus on a narrow canyon road. Holding his cellphone close to his ear with the volume up so high it may as well have been on speaker, he listened as his sister said a priest was in his mothers room. Im on my way, Balog said. He hung up and tossed the phone on the dashboard of the car. Everybody's in shock, he said, tears forming in his eyes. This could be the last time Im riding here to see her. Balog said there was nothing simple about having a mother suffering from Alzheimers disease and going back and forth from Hollywood to Calabasas to tell her he loved her. On that August day, he feared that his mother, Rosalie Davis-Cavanaugh, might leave the world without him in the room, though parts of her had been gone for a while. In recent years, she often forgot his name or failed even to recognize him as family. Balog came up with a ritual to help ease the pain of being forgotten. When he walked into her room at the assisted-care living facility over the last five years, he would warmly greet her by saying, Hey, mom, its your sonny boy! Thats how she remembered me, he said in the car, tearing up again. It was the first time he spoke about her in the past tense. I dont know what Im going to do if she leaves. A big part of my life has been there, with her. But even as he raced up the 101 Freeway through the San Fernando Valley, Balog became fidgety and distracted as the eviction battle intruded into his mind even in the last painful moments of his mothers life. I should be focused on spending time with my mother, he reminded himself. Moments later, he pulled up to the beige Belmont Village Senior Living building, his body visibly tensing up. Inside, a kind employee recognized Balog as a frequent visitor and told him, Go see your mom. In the hallway, tears welled up in his weary brown eyes as he turned toward the room where his mother lay. His mother did not die that day, or the next. During eviction battles, tenants lives continue. People try to simultaneously navigate the legal issues amid the challenges of parenting, starting or losing jobs, ending relationships, or enduring health crises. For overmatched and often isolated older people especially those worn down by long-standing court battles that require meticulous attention to complicated documents and complex laws the stress is often more intense, eviction experts said. For Balog, the battle with his landlord played out in recent years as he returned from visits with his mother, whose mental decline left her struggling with the most basic physical tasks, such as getting dressed. Back home, he said, he would pick up the struggle to stay in his apartment again and again, even when his health was too bad to allow him to work. Eviction threatened via email The seeds of the first eviction effort against him were planted in 2015 in an email from QuantumPrime Realty, the management company for the buildings owner, Hillside Courtyard LLC. The message included both a carrot and a stick. The carrot was an offer to pay Balog an unspecified amount to voluntarily move out; he refused. The stick was a tacit threat a few sentences later that the landlord would get long-standing tenants out one way or another. The message from QuantumPrime said that there are several areas in the lease where the tenant may have been in violation or where the owner will find something to use to evict or turnover a specific unit. Many landlords have room to pressure tenants over unpaid rent, given the nearly 4.9 million households behind on their payment, according to National Equity Atlas research group calculations. Like Balog, 76% are low-income households. The research group also found that 45% of renter households said they faced significant pressure from landlords to move out. Family photos on display in Mike Balogs Hollywood apartment. The Eviction Lab at Princeton University has tracked eviction filings since March 2020 in cities across the U.S. to monitor the effect of COVID-19 policies. In the 34 cities in 10 states that researchers observed, landlords filed more than a million evictions in the previous year, including 24,500 in Columbus, Ohio, 84,196 in Houston and 124,057 in New York City. Legal experts in housing said that landlords are often willing to forego the rent that current tenants owe if they believe they can recoup it elsewhere in a fast-rising rental market. In many markets, we are seeing landlords trying to get rid of tenants who have been there for a long time, and (they) see the potential for more rent with a new tenant, especially in markets like Los Angeles, said John Pollock, coordinator for the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel. As a tenant youre vulnerable. Pollock said renters like Balog, who live in housing where the law limits rent increases to small, set amounts for as long as a tenant lives there, should feel protected, but in reality, they arent. He added that the housing crisis in costly counties such as Los Angeles is partly due to laws that prevent cities from implementing more rent stabilization. All of this makes for an unstable housing situation, he added. Can my landlord raise rent?: Here's how much they can increase it, plus your tenant rights. That is very much the case for Balog, whose life and perhaps health seem likely to endure continued instability. The duration and intensity of some landlords' efforts to oust older tenants from rent-controlled units are a strategic choice, according to Randy Shaw, a housing rights activist and tenants rights attorney in San Francisco. Shaw has seen such circumstances many times before, from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in other cities nationwide. What often happens is that seniors have stressors in their lives, health issues, and now youre adding a major stress factor, said Shaw, who works to help renters understand and use their legal rights to remain in their homes. Even when people have a good chance of winning an eviction case, the stress of fighting it in court can be so harmful to their health that it can be less onerous for them to give up and move out, Shaw added. They are so vulnerable. Ive seen people deteriorate dramatically, he said. They can't take the stress. It is unclear how many of Balogs neighbors in the building, some of whom are also older, have accepted cash-for-keys payouts to leave since the landlords representatives first queried him about the possibility in 2015. Charlie Stein, an attorney and partner with Davidovich Stein Law Group, who represents Hillside Courtyard, offered general responses about housing and eviction law in a phone interview. But he declined to discuss specific details of Balogs situation, Hillsides most recent eviction efforts, or other actions that took place before he began representing the landlord. Balog said that he was only one of many people in his apartment building who received an offer to leave. Some of Balogs long-term neighbors have also opted to stay. Several tenants declined Capital & Mains request to be interviewed for this story. As for Balog, he believed he lasted this long in his home because of his diligence. Among other things, he enlisted the help of Cherilyn Davis, a housing investigator with the Los Angeles Housing Department, who sent a letter to the management company and Stein on Jan. 4 to remind the landlord about anti-harassment rules that protect renters. Prohibited activities include attempts to coerce a tenant to move out with offers of payment, lying or intimidating a tenant to drive them out, threatening or serving eviction notices based on false pretenses, and intentionally disturbing a tenants peace and quiet. The list also includes an action that stood out to Balog: refusing to accept legal payment from a renter. This Is Where I Lick My Wounds. Balog lives on a fixed income, has no pension and earns far less than he did when he provided security on film productions. He now plans on asking his current employer if he can get full-time hours at the private school, and he expects to pick up a couple of weeks of extra security shifts working at the Oscars ceremony in March at $25 per hour. But that money wont materially improve his financial situation. He fears that despite working as much as he can, he could wind up as another drop in a sea of urban homelessness. Such a thing was once unimaginable, Balog said. But he now understands that a person like himself can lose his home. Unable to pay, he could be forced out and have to give most of his possessions away and throw out the rest. If that happened, he said, Where do I go now? I'm homeless. For the time being, Balog still has the home he has found comfort in for nearly three decades. When he has been hurting in recent years, he said, This is where I lick my wounds. On Aug. 31 three days after the harried drive to visit his mother he stayed up all night as his mother squeezed his hand. Finally, in the morning, he departed for his apartment, and then his mother died. It happened 15 minutes after I left, he said. My sister waited a half-hour to call me because I was driving home, and she didnt want to shake me up. Overcome by grief, Michael Balog weeps on his Mothers bed on Aug. 31, 2023. Rosalie Davis died earlier in the day at Belmont Village an assisted living center in Calabasas. Balog decided he would pack up his Mothers belongings. My sister said she thinks (our mother) waited until I left. A week later, Balog received a court summons in the mail, which required another visit to the courthouse. Toward the end of the following month, he discovered the latest eviction summons hanging from the knob of his front door. Even as he grieved his mother, it felt like the outside world was closing in on him. Michael Balog weeps as he looks at a photo of his Mother, Rosalie Davis, from her second marriage, at Belmont Village an assisted living center in Calabasas, Calif. who died earlier in the day on Aug. 31, 2023. Balog decided he would pack up his Mothers belongings. His place to heal could soon disappear, and he feels as fragile as ever, he said. This case goes to show you how they can wear people out over a long period of time. This is the second article in a two-part series. Ethan Ward is a contributing writer for Capital & Main, a nonprofit publication that reports on economic, environmental and social issues. The article is co-published with permission. Copyright 2024 Capital & Main This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How an eviction battle is wearing one elderly California renter down For years, French President Emmanuel Macron has argued for a stronger, more independent European defense. What Europe, Defense Europe, lacks most today is a common strategic culture, he said in a 2017 speech at Sorbonne University in Paris. His address, just months after taking office, called for such unity in countering a raft of threats, including climate change. Our inability to work together convincingly undermines our credibility as Europeans, Macron said. Today, it seems, other European Union countries are finally listening. Not necessarily because of Macron, but because of events taking place far from the French capital: a menacing Russia and struggling Kyiv as the war in Ukraine heads into its third year; and fears of waning U.S. support for both the conflict and the Atlantic alliance, especially if former president Donald Trump returns to power. The Europeans will have to get their act together on defense no matter what and that requires a sustained effort for five, 10 years, says Camille Grand, who leads defense issues at the European Council on Foreign Relations policy institute. While some European Union members had already begun moving in that direction, he said, it took the full-scale invasion of Ukraine to get that massive shift. Recent weeks have seen Europes defense take center stage in meetings and commitments. At the Munich Security Conference that wrapped up Sunday, Denmark announced it would send its entire ammunition stock to Ukraine, calling on other European countries to also step up. During back-to-back visits to Berlin and Paris, Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy secured fresh security pacts from both countries and billions of dollars more in aid. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for the European Union to become a military power in its own right, while the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed last month to set up a common defense zone on their borders with Russia and Belarus. Last week, too, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Europe, for the first time, had collectively met the alliances 2% GDP target for defense spending. But whether Europes wakeup call will translate into a common defense strategy remains uncertain, observers say, as doing so would entail moving beyond the EUs traditional glue of France and Germany to include central and eastern member states and working together in new ways. All weve been able to construct since the beginning of this century were specific cooperations to manage peripheral crises in the Middle East, Africa or the Balkans, said Dominique David, defense specialist at the French Institute of International Relations. Not to make war or defend against a threat on our territory. Others warn against going it alone. We should not pursue any path that indicates that we are trying to divide Europe from North America, the alliances Stoltenberg said. Challenges ahead While their aims may differ, the wave of recent European defense commitments reflects an old French argument. The idea that the Europeans, even within NATO, should represent a more autonomous and independent force vis-a-vis the United States was always a French idea, analyst David said one also taken up by Macron's predecessors. The other Europeans thought the real security guarantee came from the United States, he added, and constructing a more-or-less autonomous European defense would weaken the American guarantee. Those beliefs are crumbling as a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine gathers dust in Congress and after former President Donald Trumps suggestion he may not protect a NATO member delinquent on its military spending, and instead encourage Russia to attack if back in office. The French, like other Europeans, are faced with a situation in which Ukraine has become their exclusive responsibility, a situation which nobody was expecting, said French defense analyst Francois Heisbourg. Were not in a point-scoring situation anymore, he added, referring to earlier debates over how autonomous Europes defense should be. We are now in a more existential world. What's clear, analysts say, is Europe has serious catchup to do, after years of spending little on defense. Some fear it may be just a few years before Russia sets it sights beyond Ukraine. While the bloc has earmarked billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, including $54 billion earlier this month, it is lagging behind in other areas. The EU has moved a March deadline to deliver a million artillery shells to Ukraine, for example, to years end. Its astonishing that the European abilities to supply Ukraine are not either physically strong enough or dont exist, said Judy Dempsey, a defense specialist at Carnegie Europe policy institute. This is the tragedy of the post-Cold war era; that the defense structures were downsized. France, too, hasnt always walked its security talk. It ranks 14th, behind Germany and the Netherlands, in terms of defense commitments to Ukraine, according to Germanys Kiel Institute research group, although French government figures are higher. Its fallen just shy of NATOs 2% spending target in recent years compared to Polands nearly 4% last year although French authorities say that spending goal will be met this year and rise after that. The Poles, the Balts and the Nordics have been investing more rapidly and more significantly in defense than many of Europes more western and southern countries, said analyst Grand. They have become high-profile defense players, which traditional EU heavyweights France and Germany need to account for. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who hopes to win another term this year, has called for creating a new post of EU defense commissioner. Some suggest the job should go to an eastern European country like Poland, with a focused understanding of Russias threat. The bigger goal of forging a common European defense strategy and bloc within NATO will be a key challenge, some say. I would say the answer is no, said analyst David, referring to the prospect of that happening anytime soon. Were many, were divided, were in a situation thats very complicated we dont know how to emerge from the war in Ukraine. What Europe can do now, he said, is open these discussions, and hope to progress fairly quickly. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a U.K.-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on a U.S. destroyer on Thursday, and they targeted Israel's port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones. The statement by a Houthi representative on social media site X came shortly after the group's leader said it was ramping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters including with new "submarine weapons" to mirror Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip. Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November in support of Palestinians, as the Israel-Hamas war continues and the Gaza death toll reaches almost 30,000. "Operations in the Red and Arabian seas, Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden are continuing, escalating and effective," Abdul Malik al-Houthi added in a televised speech. He gave no details of the submarine weapons. The group's strikes are disrupting the vital Suez Canal trade shortcut that accounts for about 12% of global maritime traffic, forcing firms to take a longer, more expensive route around Africa. The Houthis on Thursday sent shippers and insurers formal notice of what they termed a ban on vessels linked to Israel, the U.S. and Britain from sailing in surrounding seas, seeking to reinforce their military campaign. The Houthis' communication, the first to the shipping industry outlining a ban, came in the form of two notices from the Houthis' newly dubbed Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center sent to shipping insurers and firms. The aim is to force sailing companies to collaborate with the Houthis to guarantee the safety of their ships. Ships owned by individuals or entities in Israel, the U.S. and U.K. or sailing under their flags are banned from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, Thursday's notices said. "The Humanitarian Operations Center was established in Sanaa to coordinate the safe and peaceful passage of ships and vessels that have no connection to Israel," a senior Houthi official told Reuters on Thursday. Risk priced in The months of attacks have upset global trade and reset shipping rates at a higher level. Insurance sources on Thursday said there was no change in rates since the issuance of the advisories because marine underwriters had already restricted coverage availability or increased rates. "In terms or marine war insurance availability and pricing, we don't see a significant effect from the Houthi group's recent announcement since it echoed similar announcements from last year to target Israel-, U.S.- and U.K.-linked vessels," Marcos Alvarez, managing director, global insurance ratings, Morningstar DBRS, told Reuters. Militant leader al-Houthi said retaliatory strikes by the U.S.-British coalition have failed to stop its campaign. Earlier on Thursday, two missiles set ablaze a ship some 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency. The vessel and crew were reported safe and were proceeding to the next port of call, it said in a later update. That U.K.-owned, Palau-flagged ship, the Islander, was en route to Egypt from Thailand, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey and ship tracking data. The U.S. military's Central Command said in a social media post that the U.S. had shot down six Houthi drones in the Red Sea after they were identified as an imminent threat to U.S. and allied warships. No ships have been sunk nor crew killed during the Houthi campaign. However, there are concerns about the fate of the U.K.-registered Rubymar cargo vessel, which was struck on February 18 and its crew evacuated. The Houthis said the Rubymar was at risk of sinking, but a U.S. defense official said it remained afloat. Rubymar is "sitting lower still in the water," Ambrey said. A salvage attempt was aborted and a navigation warning to nearby ships was in place, the firm said. Other options are under consideration, the vessel's security company, ISS-SAPU, said. Earlier on Thursday, Israel's military said it had intercepted a target in the area of the Red Sea after sirens warning of incoming rockets and missiles sounded in the southern city of Eilat. The heads of 19 United Nations agencies and partner organizations expressed their frustration in a joint statement Wednesday, calling on Israel "to fulfill its legal obligation" to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations to Gaza, and for world leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening. "Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming. Water is at a trickle. Basic infrastructure has been decimated," the humanitarian coalition wrote. "Food production has come to a halt. Hospitals have turned into battlefields. One million children face daily traumas." U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee a consortium of humanitarian organizations along with the heads of the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, the U.N. Children's Fund UNICEF, CARE International, Mercy Corps and others, wrote that Palestinian civilians are displaced, traumatized, hungry and have little support. "We are calling on Israel to fulfill its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world's leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening," they said. Their statement comes a day after the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, and as the Palestinian death toll climbs toward 30,000 in less than five months of war between Israel and Hamas. The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7 terror attack inside Israel, which officials there say killed 1,200 people. About 250 others were taken hostage, and about 130 of them remain in captivity. 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 man holds the body of his daughter who was killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital morgue in Rafah, Feb. 21, 2024. The U.N. officials said their relief operation is "already on its knees" with only 12 hospitals partially functioning, and their staffers are working in unimaginable circumstances. The officials said no amount of aid will make up for the months of deprivation Gazans have endured, but they remain committed to trying to alleviate the suffering despite the dangers. "This is our effort to salvage the humanitarian operation so that we can provide, at the very least, the bare essentials: medicine, drinking water, food, and shelter as temperatures plummet," they said. The committee appealed for an immediate cease-fire, the release of the hostages, and the protection of civilians. They also called for more reliable entry points into Gaza for aid convoys, including into northern Gaza, which has been mostly cut off from aid and where famine is believed to be looming. Israel denies it is hindering or limiting the delivery of aid and has accused Hamas of diverting it. Israel's agency for coordinating aid, known as COGAT, says on its website that it has facilitated the entry of more than 250,000 tons of relief, including food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment to Gaza since the war started, as well as some fuel and cooking gas. On Tuesday, for example, COGAT says 98 aid trucks were inspected and allowed to enter Gaza. The U.N. says that the current flow is inadequate for the scale of the emergency. Before the war, it says, an average of 500 trucks a day would enter Gaza with aid and commercial supplies for the 2.3 million residents. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee also made an appeal for funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, but it has faced an existential crisis in recent weeks after Israel accused a dozen employees of participating in the October 7 attacks. At least 16 countries, including top donor the United States, have suspended their funding to the agency. The staffers were fired, and the U.N. is conducting an internal investigation, as well as commissioning an independent external probe headed up by the former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have called for UNRWA to be dismantled. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has defended the agency, saying there is no other organization that has a presence in Gaza that could replace it. Indian farmers paused their protest march for two days after clashes with police left one protester dead, the protest leaders said Wednesday. Indian police used tear gas and water cannons earlier Wednesday to disperse thousands of protesting farmers as they attempted to resume a march to the capital, New Delhi, after negotiations with the government failed to resolve a deadlock over their demands for guaranteed crop prices. A young farmer, Subhkaran Singh, 21, died of what appeared to be a bullet wound to his head. He arrived at a local hospital with two other protesters, who also appeared to have bullet wounds. They are in stable condition. Farmers' leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters one person had been killed and others injured, but Haryana state police denied anyone died. It is the second time the police used tear gas to thwart attempts by farmers to reach Delhi since they launched their protest on Feb. 13. Farmers mounted on tractors came equipped with masks and gloves to protect themselves from the tear gas at Shambhu, about 200 kilometers from Delhi, where thousands have gathered. Some had also brought bulldozers and excavators to dismantle barricades erected along highways, but hundreds of security personnel lined both sides of the highway and prevented them from moving ahead. Using loudspeakers, farm leaders urged them to fight for their rights. Local media showed police using water cannons at farmers at another protest site. Highways leading to Delhi have been heavily barricaded with concrete blocks, barbed wire and iron spikes to prevent the farmers from laying siege to key roads on the capitals outskirts as they did during a yearlong mass protest in 2021. The farmers' leaders have urged the government to let them enter the capital. "We will remain peaceful, but we should be allowed to remove these barriers and march towards Delhi," Pandher told reporters. Farmers launched their protest last week, accusing the government of failing to meet some promises it made when they called off the protest two years ago. Four rounds of talks in recent days have failed to break an impasse over their key demand for legislation that would guarantee prices for all crops. The farmers say that would buffer them from market fluctuations and help improve their incomes. Currently, the government announces subsidized prices for about two dozen agricultural products each year and buys some crops, such as rice and wheat, at guaranteed prices a system that began in the 1960s to encourage farmers to sow food grains at a time when India faced severe shortages. At the last round of talks, which broke down on Monday, the government had offered to extend price guarantees to some more crops such as pulses, maize and cotton, but that failed to satisfy the farmers. The government is urging the farmers to continue negotiations. "After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues," Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda posted on X. "I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace." Farmers in India complain of stagnant or dwindling incomes, saying that crop prices have failed to keep pace with rising costs of inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. More than two-thirds of the country is dependent on farm incomes. The protest is being held months before India holds national elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party is widely seen as winning a third term in office. Political analysts said the government is using heavy security to prevent the farmers from reaching the capital because images of tens of thousands of farmers sitting around the capital were bad optics. If farmers reach the capital, they would get much more media attention just as they did during the last protest in 2021, political analyst Rasheed Kidwai explained. Anything happening around Delhi becomes magnified. That is why the government wants to control the protest away from the city. German police, assisted by French and Belgian authorities, have busted one of the largest migrant smuggling networks operating across the English Channel, Europol said Thursday. "The investigation focused on an Iraqi-Kurdish network suspected of smuggling Middle Eastern and East African irregular migrants from France to the U.K. with the use of low-quality inflatable boats," a statement issued by Europe's policing agency said. The investigation involved Europols Operational Task Force Wave with coordination by Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. The probe stemmed from a French and Belgian judicial order, initiated in Germany, that resulted in 19 arrests in Germany and raids at 28 locations. The probe, which began at the end of 2022, revealed the intricate structure and operational methods of a significant criminal network, all of whose suspects were in Germany, investigators said. Since 2019, the prevalence of migrant smuggling via small boats has steadily risen, becoming the primary method for transporting migrants from the EU to the U.K. in 2021. Criminal networks orchestrating these activities remain highly active and sometimes violent while finding new ways of crossing the channel, according to Eurojust. When used legally, such as for fishing or sailing, each of the small, inflatable boats should hold no more than 10 people, Europol said. However, smugglers were charging the equivalent of $1,000 to $3,000 dollars per migrant to ride on a boat with up to 50 passengers. According to Eurojust, the investigation found that the network facilitated at least 55 departures. The intensified law enforcement efforts have resulted in a notable decrease of more than 30% in incidents and smuggled migrants in 2023 compared with 2022. In 2023, authorities counted nearly 61,000 migrants attempting to illegally cross the English Channel via small boats, down from approximately 79,000 in 2022. Still, British authorities say that in 2023, 30,000 irregular migrants reached the U.K. Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse and the Reuters news agency. On February 20, 2024, Iranian authorities imprisoned three activists who called for an election boycott and criticized the Islamic Republic in the run-up to Iran's parliamentary elections, set for March 1. Khamenei, who holds the final authority on all matters in Iran, has impeded "essential structural reform" and held back "the contributions of capable individuals." Forty-five years ago, in 1979, Islamist revolutionaries overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and established an Islamic republic. Since then, Iran has held presidential elections every four years, with a new president elected each time. Sayyid Ali Khamenei, who served as the country's third president from 1981 to 1989, is also supreme leader, Iran's most powerful political authority. On February 5, Meta removed Khamenei's accounts on Facebook and Instagram, citing "repeated violations of our Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy." On X, formerly Twitter, users also advocated for removing Khamenei's account, sharing the hashtag #banKhameneiAccounts. There was no reaction from X administrators by the time of this writing. Meanwhile, Khamenei keeps utilizing the Western platform he could still use to spread anti-U.S. disinformation. In a post on X, he claimed the U.S. was trying to disrupt the elections in Iran: "A US president once called on the Iranian nation to boycott elections. In opposition to him, people participated with even more enthusiasm. After that they stopped saying this directly, but they still try to distance people from the elections using various methods." That is false. There is no evidence that the U.S. is trying "to distance people from the elections" in Iran or that a "US president once called on the Iranian nation to boycott elections." Polygraph.info and other publications found that Khamenei's claims are "conspiracy theories" and pre-election disinformation. Commenting on Khamenei's allegation that the U.S. is trying "to distance people from the elections," Arash Azizi, a historian and senior lecturer at Clemson University, told Polygraph.info: "The main thing that has helped 'distance people from elections' in Iran is the fact that thousands of candidates, even sitting and former MPs and the Islamic Republic's own political factions, have been disqualified from running." As for Khamenei's claim that a U.S. president "once called on the Iranian nation to boycott elections," Azizi said: "I am not sure what particular president he has in mind. I can't think of such a call. Khamenei has long tried to create a narrative according to which the U.S. and other Western powers are enemies of Iran and its progress. It's a hackneyed narrative that few take seriously anymore." Even without calls from outside Iran to boycott its March 1 election, a recent survey suggests a majority of Iranians will do just that. Iran International, a London-based Persian-language television news channel, reported that the survey, conducted by the Netherlands-based Gamaan Institute among 58,015 Iranian residents between January 31 and February 7, found that 77% of those polled said they would not vote in the March 1 election. In the same survey, 74.6% of the respondents said they would vote "no" in a hypothetical referendum on whether Iran should remain an Islamic republic. On January 4, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-FAC), a Paris-based opposition umbrella group, posted a video with the caption: "Watch and judge how #Khamenei now resorts to direct threatening those who boycott the regime's sham #iranelection." The NCRI-FAC video featured footage of Khamenei saying: "Anyone who opposes the elections is opposing the Islamic Republic and Islam. Voting in the election is a duty." While Iranian authorities have accused other countries of interfering in Iran's elections, the reality seems to be the other way around. In November 2021, U.S. authorities charged two Iranians with launching a cyber disinformation campaign to meddle in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Last November, Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center warned that Iran, Russia and China were likely to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which it said could mark the first time "multiple authoritarian actors simultaneously attempt to interfere with and influence an election outcome." The Mexican army is mobilizing troops across the country to combat organized crime and strengthen public safety. The largest contingent of soldiers has been sent to Tijuana, a city with one of the countrys highest homicide rates. Vincente Calderon has the story, narrated by Veronica Villafane. The mother of Russias late opposition leader Alexey Navalny said Thursday that she has finally seen his body and that she is resisting intense pressure from authorities to agree to a secret burial away from public attention. In a video statement from the Arctic city of Salekhard, Lyudmila Navalnaya said she was permitted to view her sons body in the city morgue on Wednesday evening. According to the law, they should have given me Alexeys body right away, but they have not done so until now. Instead, they are blackmailing me, setting me conditions on where, when and how Alexey should be buried. This is illegal, she said, dressed in black. They want this to be done secretly, with no farewell. They want to bring me to the edge of a cemetery, to a fresh grave and say, 'Here lies your son.' I dont agree to this, she added in the YouTube video. Navalny unexpectedly died in an Arctic penal colony last week at age 47. His family, colleagues and many Western nations have alleged that the Russian government murdered him. The Kremlin has denied that accusation and said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. The White House has said that on Friday, the U.S. would be announcing a major sanctions package to hold Russia accountable for Navalnys death. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday met Navalnys wife and daughter and reiterated plans for additional sanctions on Russia. He was a man of incredible courage, and its amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that, Biden told reporters in California after meeting Navalnys wife, Yulia, and daughter, Dasha. I know that were going to be announcing the sanctions against Putin, who is responsible for his death, tomorrow, Biden added. During the meeting in California, Biden expressed his admiration for Navalnys extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone, the White House said in a statement. Back in Russia, Navalnys mother also said she saw her sons death certificate. His aides said the certificate attributed the death to natural causes. Since Navalnys death, about 400 people have been detained around the country for trying to pay tribute to the opposition leader, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors political arrests. Authorities are also blocking some memorials to victims of Soviet oppression around Russia that people were using as impromptu tributes to Navalny. The opposition leaders mother said authorities had threatened her over the burial process. Im recording this video because they started threatening me. Looking into my eyes, they say that if I dont agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my sons body, she said. I dont want special conditions, she said. I just want everything to be done according to the law. I demand that my sons body be returned to me immediately. Navalny had been imprisoned since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from a nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He received three prison terms since then, on charges he rejected as politically motivated. Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. Kazakhstan has a new government with a big mandate from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to clean up the fallout from years of corruption while delivering a huge boost in the size of the economy over the next five years. Tokayev accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and his government on Feb. 5 in what was seen as a bid to consolidate his power two years after deadly unrest rocked the country. The next day, Tokayev replaced Smailov with his 43-year-old chief of staff, Olzhas Bektenov, who had previously served as the countrys corruption czar. Smailov became prime minister in January 2022 after an earlier government was dismissed for increasing fuel prices, a move that sparked protests that turned violent and resulted in at least 238 deaths. Smailov was considered a compromise figure to ease the transition from a political setup in which long-time ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev still exercised enormous powers through his chairmanship of the Security Council a body that had the power to overrule presidential decisions despite having resigned the presidency in 2019. Tokayev replaced Nazarbayev as chairman of the Security Council days before Smailovs appointment. Bektenov is seen as having been picked because of his loyalty to Tokayev, although he has no experience holding executive posts in the government; his anticorruption position was not part of the government. Moreover, although Tokayev has highlighted Bektenovs vast knowledge in the economic sphere and other spheres and great organizational skills, others expressed doubts. Hes loyal to the president and enjoys his trust, Shalkar Nurseitov, director of the Almaty-based Center for Policy Solutions think tank, told VOA. With an eye on his own legacy, Tokayev is placing his confidence in Bektenov to deliver an economic revolution that will boost the size of the economy to $450 billion by 2029, when he is due to leave office. For this to happen, the government calculates that the economy would have to grow, considering exchange rate changes and other factors, by at least 6% annually over the coming years an ambitious target that the former government was clearly not going to deliver, experts say. The countrys gross domestic product grew by 5.1% last year. After Smailovs government resigned, the president leveled a host of criticisms at the former Cabinet, complaining about the low efficiency of the budget, tax policies, and government spending of public funds. He also accused it of focusing too much on immediate problems rather than pursuing long-term strategies. The efficiency of the budget and tax policy should be radically improved. This means the government still faces an objective of efficiently managing budget and making quality forecasts for budget parameters, Tokayev said. Another systemic problem is the way the budget is spent, because it doesnt promote economic activity, but money is spent on solving immediate problems, while strategic goals take a back seat, he said while chairing the new governments meeting Feb. 7. Retreat from tax reform proposal Bektenovs government has already retreated from one key proposal of the old Cabinet, to raise Kazakhstan's value added tax to reduce the budget deficit, estimated at $6.2 billion in 2023. That proposal would have raised the rate from 12% to 16% but without eliminating provisions that allow large companies to claim it back. Kassymkhan Kapparov, the founder of the Ekonomist.kz economic analysis website, told VOA that the VAT structure benefits mostly large corporations, such as oil giants Chevron and Shell, because as foreign investors or exporters they can claim it back. Tokayev criticized the plan to boost the tax because of opposition from business and called for reforming it. Bektenov subsequently said the plan would be abandoned, although he did not say what would replace it and he has not said how the government will meet its ambitious growth target. Tokayevs criticism of VAT sends a message to them [Chevron and other exporters and investors] that this loophole would be closed or their contracts should be renegotiated, Kapparov said, noting there had been discussions about replacing it with a sales tax. Sales tax is more transparent than VAT and it works in the U.S., he said. Bektenovs performance in his former role as anti-corruption czar, when he was charged with recouping assets illegally appropriated during Nazarbayevs rule, evidently pleased his boss, who said efforts to claw back illicit assets would continue. As of late last year, the state had recouped some $2.2 billion, including $600 million from abroad, according to government figures. However, skeptics are not convinced by the Tokayevs anticorruption drive, which officials tout as part of their efforts to rid Kazakhstan of the legacy of Nazarbayev. The former president fell into disgrace after the violent unrest in 2022, in which some of his associates are believed to have been complicit. Nurseitov, from the Center for Policy Solutions, pointed to a lack of transparency in the asset return program, with neither the public nor parliament provided with specifics about what the assets are, who appropriated them, and whether those who engaged in wrongdoing faced any repercussions. The main issue is where these assets are being returned to. It looks more like the redistribution of property rather than return of assets to the state coffers because there is no transparency or any information, he said. Tokayev now has to solve all the problems in the system and while attempting to clean all that mess up, placing responsibility on the old regime, Kapparov said. Everything that was stolen during Nazarbayevs rule he would try to bring to light to show that he is different from his predecessor and cares about the state and people. With the change of government, Tokayev is trying to emphasize the difference between the old regime and what he bills as his New Kazakhstan. Part of his strategy is to tackle some of the economic problems that sparked the socioeconomic grievances that brought the public out onto the streets in 2022. Although he has instituted some political reforms over the last two years, analysts say he is not rooting out the authoritarianism that is Nazarbayevs main legacy. We dont see the main fight against the most important legacy authoritarianism. On the contrary, the current authorities aim to benefit from this system, Nurseitov said, Only the frontman and his entourage have changed. In the two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities say they have documented more than 125,000 war crimes committed by Russian forces. And in 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on a war crimes charge involving the alleged deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack, in an interview with VOA's Ukrainian Service, says there might be additional ICC arrest warrants to come for Russian leadership, as well as more U.S. court cases involving alleged Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine against American citizens. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and length. VOA: Ahead of the second-year anniversary of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities documented more than 125,000 war crimes. This is double the number that we saw one year ago. Did this year bring justice any closer? Van Schaack: Yes, it has. We have now established with the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group a very solid basis of assistance to the prosecutor general in Ukraine. So those cases are moving forward. We've also seen activity at the International Criminal Court two arrest warrants for [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin himself and for Maria Lvova Belova, who's the "children's rights commissioner." And then finally, we've seen the establishment of the International Center for the Prosecution of Aggression in The Hague. This is a group of prosecutors who are looking to prosecute the crime of aggression, which many in Ukraine call progenitor crime, the original crime that unleashed all of the war crimes and crimes against humanity we've seen since. VOA: As you noted, the International Criminal Court this year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. And we haven't seen him traveling abroad much. But how much closer is the world to actually arresting Putin and prosecuting him for war crimes? Van Schaack: We have to understand that these justice processes take time. These cases are complicated. The ICC has no ability to do in-absentia trials, so they need the custody of the accused to proceed with a full adversarial process. But there is much that they can do in the meantime to prepare their cases, prepare their witnesses to give testimony, to collect documents, to work with prosecutors around the world. We have already seen the impact of these warrants. Putin was invited to attend the BRICS conference in South Africa and the South African judicial system, the civil society, actors, everyone mobilized and made it very clear that South Africa has legal obligations under the Rome Statute. Any ICC member state is under cooperation duties to adhere to the rulings of the ICC and to execute arrest warrants that the court issues. VOA: Do you expect more arrest warrants against Russian leadership to come? Van Schaack: We are very aware that this investigation is ongoing in The Hague, in the prosecutor's office. We imagine that they are looking at attacks on civilians, potentially mistreatment of prisoners of war. We have every confidence that there will be additional charges either brought against the original defendants or we may see new defendants emerging and new arrest warrants against additional individuals within the Russian chain of command. VOA: The U.S. recently started the first investigations of Russian war crimes against American citizens. Why is it important and do you expect more cases like that to come? Van Schaack: It's a remarkable development. I think it really demonstrates how committed the United States, the Department of Justice and its War Crimes Accountability Team are to doing our part in the larger effort to bring justice for the war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. I am very hopeful that this is the first of many charges. Now, again, our system is such that we need custody of the accused. Anywhere those individuals will travel, they are vulnerable to being brought into custody and ultimately extradited to the United States to stand justice. VOA: The United States declared support for the creation of an international tribunal to investigate Russia for its crime of aggression against Ukraine. Did the U.S. and its partners come to a common understanding on this question? Van Schaack: We're definitely closer to seeing the emergence of this tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression. The European External Action Service itself has put forward some very creative proposals that try and bridge the gap between the two models that had emerged of a true international tribunal and then more of a hybrid model that would be fully embedded within the Ukrainian system. So, every month, a group of very experienced international criminal lawyers and diplomats are getting together to try and hammer out the finer final details. CRA Manager Melissa Dickson of First Federal Bank of Louisiana, left, presents a $75,000 ceremonial check under FHLB Dallas Heirs Property Program to Executive Director Charla Blake of Project Build a Future, center, and Executive Director Genia Coleman-Lee of Southwest LA Law Center. (Photo: Business Wire) Funds to Support Clients With Legal Assistance and Consumer Education LAKE CHARLES, La., February 22, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded a $75,000 Heirs Property Program grant to Project Build a Future (PBAF). The funds, which were awarded through FHLB Dallas member First Federal Bank of Louisiana, will be used to help locals clear heirship or title issues on their properties and secure a will. In 2023, FHLB Dallas awarded $905,200 which will assist more than 900 residents resolve an estimated 442 titles. Heirs property refers to property inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. As property is passed down, each successive generation generally results in more heirs being added to the inheritance. The absence of a deed or will can make it more complicated to obtain a clear title to land or homes as time passes. Lake Charles, Louisiana-based PBAF will allocate $50,000 to Southwest LA Law Center (SWLLC) in the form of direct client assistance. The remaining funds will be used to create educational material for public information sessions. "Unclear titles on homes and property are a big problem in this part of Louisiana, especially in the low- to moderate-income population," said Charla Blake, executive director of PBAF. "By clearing the title, this program helps those who have worked hard to purchase and own their homes pass on their assets, clearly and legally, as generational wealth." Frequent hurricanes have damaged many Louisiana properties, and a lack of funds for repairs or complications with insurance companies stall rebuilding, pushing many residents to relocate. While PBAF qualifies and matches people with funds, the SWLLC will provide legal counsel and help people secure the title to the properties. "As attorneys working at reduced fees, the funds will cover the core costs incurred in the process, allowing us to move properties to the heirs and bring Louisiana residents back to their communities," said Genia Coleman-Lee, executive director of SWLLC. "These funds provide more than just a place to stay; they help people return home." Story continues A partner since the earliest days of PBAF, First Federal Bank of Louisiana is always on the lookout for ways to grow its relationship. "Partnering with Project Build a Future and the Southwest Louisiana Law Center on the Heirs Property Program empowers people in our community to create a better tomorrow for themselves and future generations," said First Federal Bank of Louisianas CRA Manager Melissa Dickson. "It reflects our aim to help our communities grow through homeownership and financial fitness." In the inaugural 2023 Heirs Property Program funding round, organizations could receive up to $75,000. Awardees included affordable housing associations, community development groups, legal aid organizations and a university. In 2024, FHLB Dallas has increased its allocation to $2 million with organizations eligible to receive up to $100,000 each. "I am delighted that a bank as large as FHLB Dallas really listens to its representatives and provides for the needs of all the communities it serves," said Ms. Blake. "The Heirs Property Program was developed for people having challenges acquiring or succeeding to properties and it will truly help nonprofits and people living in smaller or rural communities." The next application window for the Heirs Property Program awards opens September 3 and closes on September 30. Recipients must be in FHLB Dallas five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico or Texas and meet the programs requirements. All funds are disbursed through an FHLB Dallas member institution. "The Heirs Property Program was developed based on feedback from community-based organizations during our Affordable Housing Advisory Council meetings. We are delighted that members like First Federal Bank of Louisiana are using the program to help their communities build a secure future by settling heirship issues," said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. For more information about the Heirs Property Program, visit fhlb.com/heirs. About the First Federal Bank of Louisiana First Federal Bank of Louisiana is a full-service, locally owned community bank that has helped build the communities we serve for over 70 years. With 16 offices currently serving multiple parishes across Southwest and Central Louisiana, it offers customers comprehensive retail and commercial products as well as investments and insurance services to meet all of their financial needs. Visit www.ffbla.bank to learn more. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $128.3 billion as of December 31, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. About Project Build a Future Project Build a Future (PBAF) is a nonprofit corporation committed to revitalizing its target area through quality, affordable home-ownership initiatives. Its target area encompasses the sections North of Broad Street in Lake Charles, LA. In addition, PBAF offers homebuyer counseling services that lay a solid foundation for financial success of homebuyers which strengthens their ability to be successful over the long term. In fact, PBAF has seen no foreclosures on any of its homes since its inception in 2001. About the Southwest LA Law Center The Southwest LA Law Center (SWLLC) is a "Modest Means" law firm which provides affordable legal assistance to those persons who do not qualify for free legal services. A sliding fee scale is used to determine the cost for representation. The Law Center has been serving the underprivileged communities of Southwest Louisiana since 1967 with measurable success and are proud of the deep tradition of excellence, ensuring only the highest quality of service to clients. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222759343/en/ Contacts Corporate Communications Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas fhlb.com, (214) 441-8445 Ukraines military said Thursday that Russian forces attacked overnight with 10 drones and a missile. The Ukrainian air force said the countrys air defenses destroyed eight of the drones, with the intercepts taking place over the Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions. Late Thursday night, a Russian drone attack triggered a fire at Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. The number of people injured was still being determined, Kiper added. Russias invasion of Ukraine began February 24, 2022, and as the two-year anniversary arrives, leaders from the Group of Seven leading industrial nations are to hold a virtual meeting Saturday to discuss their support for Ukraine. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also participate in the talks, and that the group will address "steps we can take together to continue holding Russia accountable." The United States is also preparing to unveil Friday a new round of sanctions against Russia for both its invasion of Ukraine and the death in custody of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. The new sanctions will be against more than 500 targets, Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Reuters. "Tomorrow we'll release hundreds of sanctions just here in the United States, but it's important to step back and remember that it's not just America taking these actions," Adeyemo said. "We are always looking at additional ways that we can choke off the Russian war machine, that we can deny the Russian military industrial complex components that it needs to use to fund its war effort, as well as to hold accountable those involved in it," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Wednesday. The European Union agreed Wednesday to enact its own new sanctions against Russia. The sanctions include about 200 people and entities being banned from doing business with companies in the EU or traveling there. "With this package, we are taking more action against entities involved in circumvention [of sanctions], the defense and military sectors," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Borrell said there was no indication that Moscow would accept a cease-fire. "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to continue this war," he said. In addition to Russian firms, the EU's sanctions target Chinese companies providing military technology to Russia. "We must keep degrading Putin's war machine," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "With 2,000 listings in total, we keep the pressure high on the Kremlin. We are also further cutting Russias access to drones." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Russia has taken center stage in American political discourse after the death of a prominent opposition figure there, putting congressional Republicans under increased pressure to support Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden has highlighted in his recent statements one of the differences between him and his challenger, former U.S. President Donald Trump. At a recent rally, Trump said that if he were president and a NATO member fell short of its financial commitments to the security bloc, he would not protect that ally. "In fact, I would encourage them" meaning Russia "to do whatever the hell they want," Trump said. "Every president since Truman has been a rock-solid supporter of NATO, except for Donald Trump," a stentorian male voice intones in an ad released this week by the Biden campaign. "Trump wants to walk away from NATO. He's even given Putin and Russia the green light to attack America's allies. No president has ever said anything like it. It's shameful. It's weak. It's dangerous. It's un-American." The divide was further compounded by the death last week of opposition leader Alexey Navalny in a Russian prison. Biden has been quick to lay blame and threaten stiff sanctions over the 47-year-old's death in an Arctic penal colony, which Russian officials say was caused by "sudden death syndrome." "The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible," Biden said. "Whether he ordered it, he's responsible for the circumstances they put that man in. And it's a reflection of who he is. It just cannot be tolerated. I said there will be a price to pay." The Kremlin said Biden's allegation is "unfounded" and "insolent," but authorities have denied Navalny's mother access to his body. A different line Trump and his Republican Party have taken a different line, with Trump saying he would not support NATO as strongly as Biden has. And, in a recent event with Fox News, he cast himself as a victim of political persecution, like Navalny. "It's a horrible thing, but it's happening in our country, too," Trump said Tuesday night. "We are turning into a communist country in many ways. And if you look at it, I'm the leading candidate. I get ... I never heard of being indicted before. ... I got indicted four times, I have eight or nine trials, all because of the fact that and you know this all because of the fact that I'm in politics." Trump was vague on how he'd end the war, instead saying that if he were president, Putin would never have invaded Ukraine. Republicans have grown more vocal in questioning why they should fund the conflict. Russian forces recently captured a key Ukrainian city, Avdiivka, which the White House points to as proof that Ukrainian forces need urgent help. In urging members of Congress to pass a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine, national security adviser Jake Sullivan argued it is "in our cold-blooded, national security interest to help Ukraine stand up to Putin's vicious and brutal invasion." "We know from history that when dictators aren't stopped, they keep going," Sullivan told reporters this week in a briefing. "The cost for America rises, and the consequences get more and more severe for our NATO allies and elsewhere in the world." Some Republicans are confident that they will pass the stalled $95 billion aid package, most of which is for Ukraine. "I think the slow response from Europe and the United States, of course, that hurts Ukraine," Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said on a recent visit to Ukraine. "And that's why we can't let this happen, why we're going to get something done." War's symbolism grows Meanwhile, as Ukraine nears the second anniversary of the invasion and U.S. aid hangs in the balance, the war has taken on greater symbolic meaning. "This has become about America," journalist and author Peter Pomerantsev told VOA's Russian Service via Skype. He is also a senior fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. "Will America continue to play the role of a power that keeps its promises, that respects its alliances and that is capable of projecting strength? "Or is America over as a serious power? That's the question now," he said. "It's no longer about Russia or Ukraine. Now all eyes of the world are on America, and the way America decides will have epic consequences." VOA's Rafael R. Saakyan contributed to this report from Washington. A new outbreak of unrest in northern Mozambique, scene of a jihadi insurgency, has forced thousands to flee their homes, according to United Nations figures and sources in Cabo Delgado province. An alert from the U.N. migration agency IOM said recent attacks in the Macomia, Chiure and Mecufi districts had displaced 13,088 people, most of them children, by bus, canoe and on foot. Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi confirmed there had been new population movements but played down the threat and insisted security forces had the situation under control. "There are a significant number of people who move from one area to another and complain about support," he said, after a meeting with military commanders. "Terrorists try to recruit in this province, which is why we see these movements," he said. A recent flight of people from the town of Ocua, he said, was a result of revenge attacks after Mozambican and Rwandan forces had thwarted an attempt to kidnap children. "The last month recorded significant movements by non-state armed groups towards the southern districts of Cabo Delgado" a spokesperson from the U.N.'s refugee agency, UNHRC, told AFP. "This wave of attacks has essentially been characterized by a high level of destruction, namely residences, churches and social infrastructures as schools and health centers." Forces from Rwanda and countries of the Southern African Development Community, deployed to Mozambique in July 2021 after years of jihadi attacks. They have helped the country retake lost territory in Cabo Delgado, but unrest continues. One civil servant in Cabo Delgado confirmed to AFP that the situation had deteriorated. He spoke anonymously on government orders. "It seems they have returned with great fury," he said, of the armed groups behind the attacks. Tobias Miguel, a researcher following the crisis, said those displaced seem to be seeking refuge in the northern town of Pemba or crossing out of the province to neighboring Nampula. "We have received reports that terrorists have stopped some cargo transport vehicles to demand monetary payments," he said. The secretary of state for Nampula Province, Jaime Neto, confirmed that the National Institute for Disaster Management was seeking to open a transit center to accommodate displaced people. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is reassuring Ukrainians that Washington intends to help them finish the job as the country enters another year of war against Russian invaders. Since the onset of Russia's full-scale assault on Feb. 24, 2022, Brink said the U.S. has earmarked billions of dollars to Ukraine's war effort, all under what she says is strict oversight. In an interview with VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze, the U.S. diplomat reaffirmed that the U.S. remains committed to supporting Ukraine, despite the growing debate in Washington and in European capitals about the future of funding for military aid to the country. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. VOA: You arrived in Ukraine as a U.S. ambassador a few months after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. How did you find Ukraine back then? And how do you find Ukraine now? U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink: I found Ukraine and Ukrainians tough and resilient. And I find it exactly the same today. And I'm really proud we have supported Ukraine. We just have to help you finish the job. VOA: Today, Ukraine is in dire need of military support. There are delays in Congress for this support. How are you explaining to Ukrainians why it's taken so long for the U.S. to decide when and how they will support Ukraine? Brink: Well, what I've been explaining to Ukrainians is that there's bipartisan support for Ukraine in America and in our Congress. I have been doing and the president and everyone in the administration has been doing everything possible to communicate to Congress and also to the American people why it's important to support Ukraine. And we will continue to do that. VOA: Despite Congressional inaction to send much needed support, Pew Research Institute had research [showing] 73% of Americans supporting Ukraine as a national security interest for the United States. There is bipartisan, as you said, support in Congress as well. Is Ukraine winning in the U.S. national interest Brink: Absolutely, yes. As President [Joe] Biden said, we support Ukraine winning this war, making sure that it's a strategic defeat for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And I think there's broad support for that in the Congress and among the American people. VOA: Conservative voices in [the U.S.] Congress are asking about accountability on U.S. aid for Ukraine. U.S. inspectors recently visited Kyiv. Can you give us some insight [into how their audits went]? How [does] the accountability process work here in Ukraine? Brink: I can tell you we're watching like a hawk from the Embassy. About a third of my team is devoted to oversight. We also have three inspectors general who are at the Embassy, as well. And they have a staff of 400 people around the world. So, there is oversight happening, both with the Ukrainians, with us at the Embassy, and also just generally. VOA: Do they have access to the facilities where those weapons and other ammunition are held? Brink: They have access to every place that we can get to physically, and to places where they can't have access, for example, on the front lines, we have developed some alternative means to account for things like weapons. VOA: What are [those] alternative means? Brink: I probably can't say specifically, but we have found ways that we can adhere to the policies and the law, without putting people at risk. VOA: In the last two years, the United States helped Ukraine a lot militarily, but a lot of money actually stays in the United States. In the rural [communities] that produce those weapons. Do you have some insights into how the money is spent? Brink: Actually, the money that we are allocating to Ukraine is spent in 31 states across the nation, and that includes Patriot missiles in Arizona. It includes artillery in Pennsylvania. It includes even vehicles from my home state of Michigan. So, this is actually also very important to Americans and American jobs while it also supports Ukraine. VOA: [The] Ukrainian economy, despite the war and significant downturn, [has] survived. The U.S. helped a lot. What is the outlook for the next year for [the] Ukrainian economy, from your perspective? And what new mechanism are you planning to use to help Ukraine to survive economically? Brink: This is actually, maybe, one of the biggest successes that Ukraine has had outside of the military sphere. Your economy, the Ukrainian economy, has grown by 5% in the last year. It's phenomenal. [A] big part of that is Ukrainian ability to continue exports. And that was done even though Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain initiative. Through incredibly brave and creative efforts, a new corridor was created out of the Black Sea ports. And now 760 ships and over 23 million metric tons of goods have set sail safely. And that's important to the world because it's getting grain and other supplies out, but also very important to Ukraine's economy. VOA: I talked to Ukrainian business, and they are really appreciative of, especially, [the] insurance mechanism the Western financial institutions are using. Are you planning to expand that effort? Brink: Yes. We're working together with Ukrainian government as well as other partners to support in every way we can. Increasing exports out of the Black Sea ports, out of the Danube ports, and also improving border crossings and other things to facilitate these exports and ultimately bring money back into state coffers. This is a big part of our assistance, and it's supporting Ukraine's ability to sustain itself. VOA: What is your outlook for the next year, for Ukraine, and for the region? Brink: It's the same as when I started. Ukraine must win. The United States, together with partners and allies, are going to continue to support Ukrainians in this objective. And what that means is to reclaim their territories, to move closer to Europe, to the EU and ultimately to NATO; to move toward what Ukrainians want, which is a sovereign, independent, prosperous country that's integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions, that will be a strong and important partner for the United States. And that's what we support. Anna Chernikova contributed to this report. Detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is in "good health and remains in good spirits," despite his denied release appeal, according to a statement from U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, who met with Gershkovich on Tuesday in the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. Gershkovich and the newspaper have denied allegations of espionage against Russia and have based their appeal on the fact that Russia has not provided evidence to support the charges. The U.S. also has declared the journalist unjustly detained and has called for his release and return. "We condemn the Kremlin's continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing attempts to corrupt the truth," Tracy said in her statement. Gershkovich will remain in pretrial detention until March 30, despite being arrested nearly a year ago while on a reporting trip to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. The statement from the U.S. Embassy also called for the immediate release of Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan who has been jailed in Russia since December 2018 on similar charges. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press. U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher, who chairs the House of Representatives select committee on China, arrived in Taiwan on Thursday with a delegation of other lawmakers and will meet senior Taiwanese leaders. Gallagher, who is being accompanied by four other lawmakers on a trip ending Saturday, has been a strong friend of Chinese-claimed Taiwan and a fierce critic of China. "The delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders and members of civil society to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant issues of mutual interest," the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan said in a statement. In December, his committee issued an extensive list of bipartisan recommendations to reset U.S. economic ties with China, setting out legislative goals for 2024 that it said would prevent the U.S. from becoming the "economic vassal" of its chief geopolitical rival. Gallagher, who said this month he will not run for reelection, is likely to meet both President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te, who won election as Taiwan's next president at elections last month and will take office on May 20. Gallagher, a member of both the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, has spent much of his time this year chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, a bipartisan panel charged with investigating U.S. relations with China and developing strategies to improve the country's ability to compete with China. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory. The government in Taipei rejects that position, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Beijing routinely denounces visits by foreign lawmakers to Taiwan, believing it seeks to stoke tensions and interferes in China's affairs. Taiwan says it can invite whomever it wants, and that China has no right to speak for Taiwan's people. The U.S. military said it carried out four airstrikes Wednesday targeting anti-ship cruise missiles located in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. U.S. Central Command said the strikes hit seven mobile cruise missiles and a missile launcher that were ready to launch toward the Red Sea. U.S. forces also shot down a one-way attack drone, CENTCOM said. The strikes were carried out in response to what CENTCOM called "an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy ships in the region." Houthi militants have conducted dozens of attacks since November, disrupting the key Red Sea shipping route. Many shipping companies have opted to avoid the area, taking the longer and more expensive route of sending ships around Africa. Wednesdays strikes came a day after the Pentagon confirmed the Iran-backed Houthis shot down a MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen. The United States on Wednesday condemned the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, saying they are delaying and increasing the costs for food and medicine deliveries to parts of the world in need of humanitarian aid. "Contrary to what the Houthis may attempt to claim, their attacks do nothing to help the Palestinians," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "Their actions are not bringing a single morsel of assistance or food to the Palestinian people." The Houthis have said they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. Miller reiterated that the United States is not seeking conflict in the Red Sea, where U.S. forces have intercepted Houthi attacks in addition to multiple airstrikes against Houthi missiles sites in Yemen. "We and our partners will continue to take appropriate action, as needed, to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi attacks in this critical international waterway and to safeguard vital economic and humanitarian assistance to countries in the region," Miller said. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is one step closer to becoming the next secretary general of NATO after an endorsement by the United States and Britain on Thursday. "President (Joe) Biden strongly endorses PM Rutte's candidacy to be the next secretary general of NATO," a U.S. official said. Tthe new NATO secretary-general will take office at a pivotal moment in October, balancing continued support for Ukraine in its ongoing defense against Russia, while also preparing for outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in November. Former president Donald Trump, who is expected to face off against incumbent Joe Biden, has repeatedly drawn criticism for not fully committing to defend NATO allies, suggesting earlier this month that Russia could do whatever the hell they want to NATO countries that do not meet their defense spending payments. Rutte said in response to Trumps statements that Europe should stop focusing on Trump, and instead direct energy toward supporting Ukraine. "We have to work with whoever is on the dance floor," Rutte told the Munich Security Conference. In July, 57-year-old Rutte unexpectedly announced he was leaving Dutch politics after the collapse of his government last year. Rutte is one of Europes longest-serving heads of government and the longest-serving leader of the Netherlands. He has been lauded as being practical and personable, making him a competent caretaker for NATO, according to some member states. While there has been a movement to diversify NATO leadership, which has always been held by European men, Rutte is currently the only official candidate to succeed Jens Stoltenberg. He requires supportor at least no oppositionfrom all 31 NATO members in order to assume the position. Two diplomats have confirmed he currently has the backing of 20 members so far. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press. The United States is rolling out new charges and actions aimed at hampering what U.S. officials describe as the Russian war machine just days before the world marks the second anniversary of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The Justice Department announced progress Thursday in five separate cases against key Russian oligarchs and their financial associates, including two arrests of U.S.-based facilitators and a guilty plea for money laundering. In addition, the U.S. moved to seize $2.5 million worth of luxury condominiums in Miami, Florida, as part of a civil forfeiture case against Russian oligarch Viktor Perevalov. While some of the actions, including new charges against oligarchs and others linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, may not yield immediate results, officials said the message to Ukraine is clear. We will do whatever we can do, actions big and small, to show our support as they defy Russian aggression and defend their homeland, said Michael Khoo, a co-director of the Justice Departments Task Force KleptoCapture. Khoo said there is also a message for the Kremlin. We're not going away, Khoo said, briefing reporters. We can play the long game as well. We fully intend to continue with these sorts of actions for as long as the Russian aggression continues in Ukraine and as long as they continue to take malign and malicious actions worldwide, he said. Among those charged Thursday is Andrey Kostin, the CEO of Russias state-owned VTB Bank. U.S. Justice Department officials allege Kostin, who was previously sanctioned in 2018, tried to evade sanctions and launder money to support two super yachts valued at more than $135 million. The 67-year-old Kostin is also charged with trying to evade sanctions in connection with a luxury home he owns in Aspen, Colorado. Officials said Kostins accomplices in the second scheme, 56-year-old Vadim Wolfson and 49-year-old Gannon Bond, were both arrested in the United States early Thursday. Wolfson is a legal permanent resident of the U.S. and lives in Austin, Texas. Bond is a U.S. citizen from New Jersey. All three face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. In a separate case, the U.S. charged pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Sergey Kurchenko with a multiyear scheme to evade sanctions and sell $330 million worth of metal products, including items produced in the Donbas region of Ukraine, to a U.S. company. The Justice Department on Thursday also unveiled new charges of bank fraud against Vladislav Osipov, a 52-year-old Russia national living in Switzerland. He is accused of helping sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg operate a luxury yacht, which was later seized by U.S. officials. In the final case, the Justice Department said 42-year-old Feliks Medvedev, a Russian citizen living in the U.S. state of Georgia, pleaded guilty to making more than 1,300 unlicensed financial transfers through shell companies to hide more than $150 million. The Justice Department created Task Force Kleptocapture in March 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to lead the fight against corrupt Russian oligarchs. In early 2023, it began focusing on those aiding or enabling Russias oligarchs in their efforts to access Western markets and financial systems. The task force brought charges against more than 70 people and several corporate entities over the past year. In addition, the task force worked to restrain or seize about $700 million worth of assets. Transferred funds to help Ukraine Just last week, the U.S. Justice Department transferred almost $500,000 in forfeited Russian funds to Estonia, to be used to assist Ukraine. Additionally, the U.S. transferred another $5.4 million in forfeited Russian funds to Kyiv last year through the State Department. That money is not anywhere near sufficient to help Ukraine rebuild, said David Lim, Task Force KleptoCaptures co-director. What it, however, highlights is the department's commitment to finding all creative solutions to take forfeited assets to be transferred to Ukraine, he said. We're working with Congress to expand that authority. But in the meantime, we're not just going to sit by. We're going to find new ways of getting forfeited funds to Ukraine." Other senior U.S. officials expressed optimism that the task forces work is having an impact. Every little bit counts, a senior FBI official told reporters Thursday, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Justice Department. It will wear on Russia, and it has worn on Russia in ways that aren't always obvious, said the FBI official. Even Russan oligarchs and facilitators who have not been arrested are not going to be comfortable no matter where they go outside of Russia, the official said. They know that we will have tentacles to be able to have the host country arrest them. Israel says new attempts are underway to reach a cease-fire with Hamas to temporarily halt fighting in Gaza and secure the release of the 100 or so hostages still being held by the militants. Those attempts include sending negotiators on Friday to truce talks in Paris, Israeli media reported. The head of Israels Mossad intelligence service will lead the group. Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Mideast envoy Brett McGurk on Thursday that the government will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators. His comments came after Benny Gantz, who sits on Israels War Cabinet with Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said late Wednesday that new attempts are being made to reach a cease-fire deal. It was the first Israeli indication of new efforts since negotiations in Cairo among Israel, U.S., Egyptian and Qatari officials stalled a week ago. But Gallant said release of the hostages was paramount and that unless Hamas agrees to free them, Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gazas southernmost town, Rafah, on the Egyptian border, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins March 10. Rafah has been the focus of international concern for the safety of Palestinian civilians. At the G20 group of nations meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said involved parties should prioritize reaching an agreement to release the hostages. The Algeria resolution has not in itself resulted in a cease-fire, Blinken said, referring to the weeklong cease-fire in November. The best way to do that is to do exactly what were doing right now, which is to work intensely on an agreement on the hostages. Watch related video by Linda Gradstein: Hamas captured about 240 hostages during its shock October 7 attack on Israel, while killing 1,200 people. About 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November and the Israeli military has said it believes about 30 of the remaining hostages have since died or been killed, leaving about 100 that Hamas is still holding. While holding off on a full-scale ground attack on Rafah, Israel for days has launched airstrikes on Rafah, an area where nearly 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge. The Israeli military carried out airstrikes early Thursday in Rafah, an area of the southern Gaza Strip that has been the focus of international concern for the safety of Palestinian civilians. U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said Wednesday that a rise in airstrikes in Rafah has heightened fears that they will further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations in the area. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Thursday that nearly 100 people had been killed by Israeli forces throughout the Gaza Strip in the past day, bringing the total in Israels counter-offensive to 29,410 people. Israels military said Thursday its forces conducted offensives in the Zeitoun area of Gaza City, in the northern part of the strip, and in western Khan Younis in southern Gaza. In an opinion piece first published Wednesday in the Brazilian newspaper Folha, U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths urged officials in the Group of 20 industrialized countries meeting in Rio de Janeiro this week to use their political leadership and influence to help end the war in Gaza. The atrocities befalling the people of Gaza and the humanitarian tragedy they are enduring are there for the world to see, documented by brave Palestinian journalists, too many of them have been killed while doing so, he wrote. No one can pretend not to know. At the G20 meeting in Brazil, the foreign ministers were almost unanimous in their support for a two-state solution as the path to peace in the conflict, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said at the end of the summit. There was virtual unanimity in the two-state solution as the only solution to the conflict, he said. Blinken said he found commonality with G20 members on Gaza at the summit. There may be differences over tactics, and there may be differences over this Security Council resolution, but were trying to focus on actually getting results, he said. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that Gaza has become a death zone. Much of the territory has been destroyed, more than 29,000 people are dead, many more are missing, presumed dead, and many, many more are injured, he told reporters in Geneva. WHO has worked this week with the Palestine Red Crescent Society to evacuate patients from the besieged Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to two field hospitals in southern Gaza. Tedros said they have carried out several emergency missions. Around [111] sick and injured patients and at least 15 doctors and nurses remain in the hospital, he said. Israeli forces raided the hospital on Thursday not long after withdrawing from it, the enclaves Health Ministry said. Israel has accused Hamas of operating in and under hospitals, which the militants have denied. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A Canadian company has been paid $45 million by Florida to transport migrants out of state and provide disaster recovery services while defending itself in court against accusations of insurance fraud involving storm clean-up efforts. ARS Global signed a contract with the Department of Emergency Management in May to provide migrant relocation services, six months after donating at least $99,980 to Gov. Ron DeSantis reelection campaign. It definitely strikes me as pay to play and awarding contracts based on campaign donations, said Michael Barfield, lead investigator for the non-profit Florida Center for Government Accountability. Political opponents of DeSantis have called migrant relocation flights a taxpayer-financed political stunt to bolster his failed presidential campaigns anti-immigration platform. Between making the DeSantis donation and getting the state contract, a storm of lawsuits were filed against ARS Global and Houston law firm McClenny Moseley & Associates, accusing them of generating huge legal fees by filing inflated damage claims for hurricane victims in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The fallout from the lawsuits has left thousands of homeowners waiting on claims to pay contractors so they can finish repairing their homes while the courts sort out the legal mess. And its led to multiple legal filings involving ARS, the law firm and former employees. U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Michael North of New Orleans said the law firm had engaged in a pattern of misconduct never before seen here. The record in these cases establishes that they have undertaken a brazen, multi-faceted campaign to enrich themselves with ill-gotten contingency fees paid to them by unwitting insurance companies ostensibly on behalf of named insureds that they and their firm did not represent, North said. The McClenny law firms founding partner, Zach Moseley, did not respond to a request for comment. The Louisiana Department of Insurance has fined the law firm $2 million. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon called it an illegal insurance scheme. Story continues This is massive illegal insurance scheme like no other, said Matthew Monson, a New Orleans area attorney. He represents an insurance company in a lawsuit alleging a scheme by MMA to recruit clients. The department has also turned over its investigative file to the FBI, said David Caldwell, general counsel for that agency. And the Louisiana State Police force has launched its own criminal investigation. Monson wondered if anyone in the DeSantis administration knew of these allegations or developments when they decided to award this contract. Did Florida know? Kevin Guthrie, Florida Emergency Management director, wouldnt say whether he knew about the lawsuits when he signed the contract with ARS last May. But a spokesman for Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whose office is responsible for overseeing insurance fraud investigations in Florida, said the agency is aware and closely monitoring the situation to see if it affects Florida. If and when the department has information to share regarding a specific case, we will make that available, spokesman Devin Galetta said. The governors office didnt respond to a request for comment. In the nine months since the contract with ARS Global was signed, the company has received $44.98 million, state records show. At least $3 million was for undocumented migrant relocations and $41.97 million for the broad category of public assistance state operations. ARS received another $1.46 million on Feb.12, shortly after the Orlando Sentinel reported that it was behind a group distributing flyers advertising relocation services for migrants at Latino churches. The total includes $18.5 million for the Israel evacuation flights conducted after the war with Hamas broke out and ground transportation, said DEM spokeswoman Alecia Collins. It also includes nearly $13.9 million for several temporary base camps for recovery operations following Hurricane Idalias rampage through North Central Floridas farm and fishing communities, Collins said. A key figure in the lawsuits is Nathan Normoyle, a former vice president of ARS Global who signed the state contract for migrant relocation services in May. He declined to answer questions from the Orlando Sentinel. Normoyle deferred all comment to Scott Jacobi, chief financial officer for ARS Global. Jacobi referred questions to a public relations firm, which provided a statement saying Normoyle stepped down in light of the misconduct allegations. Given the ongoing legal proceedings, we are unable to provide further details at this moment, the statement said. Guthrie said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel that he didnt recall when he first met Normoyle, but it could have been (during) Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. He also said they could have met during a hurricane conference in New Orleans. But Guthrie said they didnt discuss hiring ARS Global. When I am engaged by an individual that wants to do business with us, I send them to the following link on our website, Guthrie said. ARS made the $99,980 donation to Friends of Ron DeSantis, the governors political committee on Nov. 3, 2022, four days before Floridians went to the polls and re-elected DeSantis by a 20-point margin. Two months later, ARS Global hired lobbyist Brian Ballard, a DeSantis ally, and his colleagues Adrian Lukis and Courtney Coppola, who both previously worked in the governors office. Since then, ARS Global has paid Ballard partners between $100,000 and $139,996 to represent its interests before the Florida Legislature, records show. On May 10, Guthrie signed the contract with Normoyle. In June, Normoyle donated $2,500 to DeSantis presidential campaign. Normoyle said he didnt recall that and if he did, it was done by someone else in his name. In Fort Myers after Ian ARS Global and their business partners came to Fort Myers the day after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, 2022. They set up their base camp near the Fort Myers airport to process hurricane claims, according to court filings. They swept in like they were our saviors, said Edna Luther, a condominium unit owner whose board of directors hired ARS to remove the smashed boats, cars and other debris, muck out their units and gut their damaged buildings. ARS Global sought out customers among the severely damaged condominiums along Sanibel Harbor and Fort Myers Beach and recommended they use McClenny Moseley as their lawyer, Luther said. But before Fort Myers, ARS Global and the law firm were working together in Texas and Louisiana to drum up clients from hurricanes Delta, Laura and Ida. McClenny Moseley opened offices in Louisiana in 2021, after the deadly Category 4 Hurricane Ida swept through the state that August, eventually signing up more than 4,000 clients. ARS Global, which has been in the disaster response business for decades, invested $3 million with McClenny Moseley to generate client leads in return for profits of up to $17 million, according to court records. ARS Global set up shop in Texas and created a subsidiary, Global Estimating Services, to generate property damage estimates, court records said. It hired Velawcity, a Phoenix-based company that specialized in legal advertising, to generate clients whose homes were damaged by hurricanes Ida and Ian. By the time the law firm was forced by court order to shut down its operations, it had spent $13.9 million on Velawcity and filed thousands of claims in Louisiana and Texas, and 700 in Florida, court records say. By late 2022, federal judges across Louisiana had seen their dockets filling up with hundreds of hurricane-related claims filed by McClenny Moseley, much more compared to other law firms. In less than three months, it had filed 1,600 cases compared with the 200 to 300 filed by other firms in the Western District of Louisiana. Tell your partners in Houston to stay the frick out of my court with this kind of trash, U.S. Judge James D. Cain of the Western District of Louisiana told lawyers in November 2022, according to a transcript reported by the Times-Picayune/Advocate. A review of those cases found that McClenny Moseley had filed duplicate claims, some against the wrong insurance company, or on behalf of clients who didnt retain them as counsel, or who had already settled with their insurance companies, court records say. Lawyers disbarred Within the first few months of 2023, federal courts issued sanctions against the firm and the Louisiana Supreme Court disbarred its Louisiana-based lawyers. Global Estimating Services fired its field inspectors, who in turn sued for overtime and bonuses they allege were promised to them. Legal action from homeowners, contractors and investors quickly followed suit, including class action litigation in Texas claiming damages of more than $5 million. No such lawsuits have been filed to date in Florida. ARS Global and its partners sued each other as well. ARS Global sued the law firm over its $3 million investment, accusing it of fraud. Global Estimating Services sued McClenny Moseley over the $10 million it claims it is owed for field inspections. Seventeen of those field inspectors in turn sued ARS and Global Estimating Services over unpaid overtime and bonuses, claiming their boss willfully violated federal labor laws. I just think theyre vultures who will do whatever it takes to make money, Luther said. _______ Some Zanu PF leaders, including Vice President Kembo Mohadi, have endorsed a third-term bid for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is currently serving his last lap after winning two disputed elections. Mohadi, Zanu PFs Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa, regional minister Ezra Chadzamira and the partys local Youth League called for the extension of his term Wednesday at a National Youth Day event in the southern city. The day formerly known as the 21st February Movement is the birth date of the late former President Robert Mugabe, whose long stay in office was always sustained by Zanu PF in the same manner Mnangagwa may remain in office. He toppled Mugabe in a defacto military coup in 2017. Chadzamara said, We all want you (Mnangagwa) to stay in office beyond your presidential term. You will be there in 2030. This has become a chorus in the Zanu PF ranks with youth spearheading the move and vowing to stop anyone who will attempt to block his third term. Reacting to calls for him to remain in office, Mnangagwa said only God knows when he will leave office. I dont have the power to say so as this matter is in the hands of God. Zimbabwes constitution clearly limits a presidents stay in power to two terms. For any constitutional changes, the country needs to hold a referendum after a motion has been initiated in parliament. Currently Zanu PF has a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly but falls short of the required numbers in the Senate. Constitutional law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, said a third term for Mnangagwa will be tragic for Zimbabwe. This idea of a third term is totally undemocratic and ought not to be pursued ... A person is better off in the first 10 years if they are lucky to be in office twice but to just think of a third term it would be to be very retrogressive in our country because we used to have a constitution that didnt limit the number of terms that a person could serve as a president, said Madhuku, who is also leader of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly. Mnangagwa was once quoted by Cable News Network as saying he will leave office when he completes his two-terms. Im a part of the last generation to experience the D.A.R.E. program in its heyday; I remember filling out the questionnaires that many people accused of turning children into informants. Looking back as an adult, it is weird to think about those D.A.R.E. conversations that emphasized surveillance and obedience through the lens of my childhood self. Once, after being picked up early for a doctors appointment and being treated to the obligatory McDonalds run for my treat, I remember the internal ethical battle in my 5-year-old mind about what I was witnessing my own mother doing. She was drinking and driving. I built up the courage to say something because this could be life or death. I told her to pull over and asked why she would drink and drive. Her laugh filled the car when she said, This is Sprite? While I had no concept of what made a beverage alcoholic or not (neither of my parents drank alcohol at all when I was growing up; we didnt even have wine in the house), I trusted the adults in my life who told me to watch out for certain behaviors. Now, I can clearly see how D.A.R.E. was birthed during the war on drugs, but I also understand how hard it is to teach children about the gray areas between the ever-changing binary of right and wrong, especially when it comes to indulging in vices. We all have one, including the teachers at Abbott. So when a student named Curtis gets caught smoking a cigarette in the bathroom, the teachers scramble to find an appropriate course of action. They look to the districts code of conduct and realize there arent any rules about cigarettes; it seems like so many new hazards have popped up over the years that theyve forgotten to add smoking cigarettes to the laundry list of banned activities. Perplexed that they would even catch a student smoking a cigarette in this day and age, Janine points out to Jacob that his vape habit isnt that much better, initiating a round of finger-pointing in which everyone reveals each others vices. Janine smokes weed at night to calm her down; Gregory consumes a cannabis-infused protein bar on weekends; Ava is addicted to hookah; Melissa snorts liquid marijuana, according to Barbara (she uses CBD oil on her joints). After telling them to turn to Jesus, Barbara is targeted by Melissa, who proclaims to the group that Barbara is known to demolish mini-bottles of chardonnay. Before they can wrap up their break-room conversation, Janine catches a student recording their illicit substance confessions. By the time they catch him, its too late, as hes already uploaded the video online. With the entire student body looking at their instructors sideways Janine gets it the funniest; when she greets a student with hi! in the hallway, he replies: Bet you are. Janine has to call in the big dogs for damage control. Janine calls in a favor with F.A.D.E., Abbotts version of a modern D.A.R.E. Unfortunately, we dont get a performance from Tariq, but a protege of his steps up to give us the white-man-cosplaying-as-a-rapper version of Tariqs anti-drug rap from last season. He prances around the stage as a caricature of a rapper, performing in front of a silently cringing crowd while rapping and dancing about fatal overdoses. It barely rhymes, none of it makes sense, and no one claps as he dougies off the stage and F.A.D.E.s spokesperson, Caroline, takes her place at the microphone. During the Q&A session, the children ask questions about the reasonable substance use they witness the adults in their lives partake in, like casual drinking in moderation, cigarettes after the work day, and medicinal weed use. Caroline approves of all these exceptions, effectively muddling the just say no message she preached. One student asks, So, some drugs are worse than others? leading to a discussion about the hierarchy of drug dangerousness, confusing the kids even more. Eventually, the students start spouting off their parents prescriptions, one of which is a herpes medication, and Caroline blurts this fact out to the room before the rapper stumbles back on stage, followed by a cloud of smoke, ending the program on the funniest note possible. With no other choices, Ava implements a zero-tolerance policy (for students and teachers) that includes mandatory bag and locker checks. Under this policy, Ava would need to suspend Curtis. Were living in a time where many brain-altering substances are being de-stigmatized, and children are very aware of the clandestine adult world happening behind closed doors and hushed voices, making it increasingly difficult for teachers of this time to know how to handle these situations. Gregory makes a great point Curtis is a great kid, and no one bothered to ask why he smoked the cigarette. Instead of focusing on the crime, Gregory made it a lesson in intuition, which is more important for young people to learn than the archaic just say no approach that has been proven unsuccessful. Gregory and Melissa put on their Cool Teacher hats and sit down with Curtis, who admits he was just curious but didnt like the experience. He apologizes again, and Gregory teaches him about how life will present him with many situations, both good and bad, and they want to ensure hes being careful and that he should not forget how gross that cigarette tasted. Though the conversation goes well, and Curtis is adamant that hell never smoke again, no one wants to see the school suspend him. Gregory asks Janine to get Curtiss suspension lifted, and at the end of the episode, reflects on how attitudes and societal standards change, but its important to keep an open mind as teachers about how to stay within the appropriate bounds. Theyre even inspired to get Jacob to quit his vape, a feat that lasts approximately two seconds before he leaps into the trash can to retrieve his addiction. As the school embarks on its war on cigarettes, Janine gets to peep in on her classroom, whose latest substitute is Jessca (the i has been removed), played by the wonderful Sabrina Brier. Sabrina has found social-media fame with her TikTok videos and effortless humor. The New York Times described the persona in her videos as a 20-something in New York whos trying to shed her basic suburban past. You might know her from the Oh! reaction meme. Shes much more than a meme-able TikTok creator; shes a professional comedian, trained actor, and experienced writers assistant. As a fellow funny woman who got her start online, its unsurprising that Quinta and her team would find a place for Sabrina on the show. As Jessca, Brier plays a somewhat foil to Janine; if Jessca is TikTok, then Janine is Instagram. Those born in the mid-to-late 90s, like Sabrina and I, know that subtle difference between ourselves and those just a few years older than us, like Quinta. We tend to have one foot firmly situated in both the worlds created by millennials and Gen Z we know the slang and can keep up with the trends, but we still remember life pre-social media. Were old enough to be the new professionals but young enough to relate to the youth authentically. The writers play heavily with this dynamic in the episode as Jesscas teaching methods rub Janine the wrong way. Jesscas laissez-faire methods include letting the children choose their own homework assignments and allowing them to call her (and Janine) by her first name without an accompanying Ms. She calls the students besties and calls their breaks vibe time. Still unable to fully let go of her class while away at her fellowship, Janine tries to confront Jessca, passively offering her help and gentle guidance because of her lack of experience. Jessca declines Janines assistance, creating a palpable chill between the two that Barbara notices. After Barbara asks Janine about this uncharacteristically cold behavior, Janine admits that Jesscas disregard for the rules of grammar and unorthodox methods stresses her out. Barbara gives her signature advice, reminding Janine that at one point, she questioned Janines methods as well. She urges Janine to accept that every teacher has their own unique way of teaching, and regardless, its no longer Janines class. They share a knowing laugh over the missing i in Jesscas name, solidifying the fact that Janine is of an older generation. Janine apologizes to Jessca for overstepping, but Jessca truly doesnt care, nor did she even notice Janines discomfort. She says, Youre talking as if theres some sort of interaction I was supposed to remember nevertheless, I accept your apology, which Im sure I humbly deserve, with the classic Sabrina Brier delivery. I cant wait to see who is subbing next! Teachers Notes Sabrina Brier was everything and more; Im such a fan of her videos. As sad as I am that Jessca said she only accepted the job for one week (attention Hollywood, we want more Sabrina!), I love the idea of having a revolving door or guest stars filling in for Janine. Jacobs vaping storyline was hilarious because we all know someone who will go absolutely feral without their vape. I hope we see him hitting his $200 nothing-but-air vape in later episodes. This week, it was exceptionally hard to choose only a few, but here are my favorite lines: Barbara: I do not want to live in a world where white people explain dance moves to me. Jacob, after Melissa admits to her CBD oil: Its a gateway ointment! Barbara: I suggest you all DROP your vices and take a hit of my drug of choice: J-E-S-U-S! Street name, Christ! Thank God for Sheryl Lee Ralph. Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC via Getty Images Ever since Law & Order first went to air in 1990, the crime drama has been a revolving door of zealous cops and overworked prosecutors. Amid them all, Sam Waterstons Jack McCoy has been the undeniable backbone, face, heart, eyebrows, voice, and every other embodiment of the franchise since his arrival in season five. Executive producer Dick Wolf (of L&O title sequence fame) said as much in 2022 when he ordained Jack McCoy as the ultimate conscience of the show. Now, Jack McCoy is finally hanging up his tie. NBC announced on February 2 that Sam Waterston is leaving Law & Order and will be succeeded by actor Tony Goldwyn as the shows Manhattan district attorney. Waterstons final episode, The Last Dance, airs tonight, February 22. Though NBC is keeping the contents of Waterstons 405th L&O episode under wraps until it airs, the promo teases the possibility of McCoy prosecuting one final case. (Though, of course, there is always the possibility that Waterston as McCoy could return as a guest star down the road.) As district attorney, Ive tried to act fairly and ethically, McCoy remarks in the trailer. Its been a helluva ride. In honor of that ride, here are the episodes that represent the best of Jack McCoys time as executive assistant district attorney and district attorney in the Manhattan DAs office. Law & Order (seasons 1223) is streaming on Peacock. Second Opinion (Season 5, Episode 1) First impressions are everything. While it might be easy to forget that Hang Em High Jack McCoy hasnt been a part of Law & Order since the beginning, his introductory scene is absolutely one to remember. McCoys first case on the job is prosecuting Dr. Haas, a holistic medicine practitioner who may be responsible for the deaths of patients to whom she fraudulently promised a cancer cure. The viewer meets Jack McCoy as Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) does, and clearly, the ADA isnt impressed. Kincaid tells McCoy that shes heard he has a reputation for sleeping with his assistants. Jack clarifies that it was only three relationships, they were all mutual, and that he wont apologize for having a good time with his coworkers. Woof. Still, Claire, ever the staunch feminist, insists that their relationship will be strictly professional. (Despite having slept with a colleague herself in the past.) Well check in on how that goes later Corpus Delicti (Season 6, Episode 11) To be successful in the Manhattan District Attorneys office of Law & Order, ADAs have to be quick on their feet. Corpus Delicti epitomizes Jack McCoys ability to re-strategize and play the long game. The mysterious death of a horse named Mr. Wickets lead the police to Lyle Christopher, a con man who likely murdered a wealthy widow. The only problem? The police have no body, and what little evidence they do have doesnt hit without a shadow of a doubt levels of convincing. So McCoy gets tricky. A hot-headed Jack brings up his fraud schemes again and again during cross-examination, resulting in a mistrial. (The judge had previously ruled Christophers previous crimes as inadmissible.) A month later, McCoy is in DA Adam Schiffs (Steven Hill) office when they learn that the widows body has been found. In that moment, Schiff realizes that McCoys case mistrial was deliberately, giving himself more time for the body to be found and allowing him to build a stronger case. He tells McCoy that the defense lawyer and the judge will see right through his plan and dismiss the case. But Jack disagrees. You know how emotional I get, McCoy says slyly to his boss. Is it totally ethical? No. Does it get the job done? Absolutely. Another one in the win column for McCoy. Aftershock (Season 6, Episode 23) Aftershock is a masterpiece of television and the best episode Law & Order has or will ever produce. The narrative follows McCoy, Kincaid, and detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) as they all spectacularly self-destruct after witnessing an execution. Aftershock itself has no central investigation or trial the only such episode of its kind in L&O history which allows for the characters inner emotional worlds and backstories to shine through. For Jack McCoy, his spiral goes something like this: On the way back into Manhattan following the execution, he and Claire bicker over the legal and ethical implications of the death penalty. Shes against it, hes for it; theyve clearly argued about this before and theyre even more clearly sleeping together. Jack suggests that Claire take a sick day and she does. They will never see each other again. After work, Jack ends up drinking at a blue-collar bar, chatting up the regulars who remind him of his working-class roots. They reminisce about their old men. Boy, I wanted to wear the blues, walk a beat, carry a gun, be the toughest guy on the block with his big, thick hands. But no, he said. You, Jack, you are going to law school, he drunkenly recounts to his new buddies. You shouldve seen him the day I graduated, chest was out to here. He hung my diploma in his den, right above his bowling trophy. The night goes on and the beer keeps flowing. Soon its just McCoy and a construction worker named Mike to whom Jack admits that his father was also abusive, beating his mother so hard she would have to lock herself in the basement. For a character who is always so confident and so work focused, its a deeply humanizing moment. Soon after, McCoy leaves the bar. We never see his reaction to learning that Claire Kincaid was hit by a drunk driver that same night. Under the Influence (Season 8, Episode 11) Claire Kincaids death isnt confirmed on Law & Order until season nine, but Under the Influence showcases how the resonances of her accident still deeply affect Jack. When drunk driver Bernard Dressler kills three people in a hit-and-run, McCoy becomes obsessed with penalizing him beyond the extent of the law. Has [McCoy] said, This ones for Claire Kincaid? No. Briscoe tells ADA Jamie Ross (Carey Lowell), adding that the drunk driver who killed Claire only received a 12-month prison sentence. But McCoys actions are crystal clear. He charges Dressler with murder not vehicular manslaughter and argues that he was on a homicidal rampage. McCoy then hides witnesses and evidence that prove the defendant was too drunk to form intent to kill. With the help of a biased judge, it looks like McCoys plan to get Dressler the death penalty will be successful. But the EADAs moral compass wont let him go through with it. McCoy torpedoes his own murder case by revealing the evidence he hid, despite threats of misconduct from the judge. Dressler takes a fair deal of five to 15 years, and McCoy, on the precipice of going too far, does the right thing. Sideshow (Season 9, Episode 14) Law & Order partnered with Homicide: Life on the Street for three, two-parter crossovers before the latter was canceled in 1999. The L&O half of the third crossover is an episode overflowing with complicated intrigue. A murdered employee of the federal government and her married lesbian lover, a hit woman, an assassination, and a bothersome independent counsel from D.C. all play a role in the investigation. The most gripping part of McCoys story line is when he gets into a standoff with the independent counsel, William Dell. Dell tries to compel McCoy to reveal information that could compromise the case, including the name of the victims lover. McCoy refuses to give him any answers but is particularly staunch in not revealing his witnesss name. If shes outed, it could ruin her career. McCoy holds strong even when hes subpoenaed to testify in front of a grand jury, resulting in his arrest and brief detention for contempt of court. (If youre keeping score, McCoy is found in contempt of court 80 times throughout his career.) Gun Show (Season 10, Episode 1) Despite airing in 1999, Gun Show is an episode that still hits far too close to home. After a gunman kills 15 people in Central Park, McCoy needs the cooperation of the gun manufacturer to make his case, which refuses and he is forced to make a deal with the gunman. [The victims families are] entitled to an eye for an eye, McCoy tells DA Schiff and ADA Abbie Carmichael (Angie Harmon). We couldnt deliver because Rolf Firearms got in the way. The least we can do now is give them the sense that their kids didnt die for no purpose. What results is a legal battle fueled by McCoys own righteousness. Jack argues in court that Rolf Firearms is liable for the gunmans rampage because they knew their product was easily modified into an automatic weapon. He cross-examines the CEO of the company with ire and slowly pours out a container of bullets to represent the exact number shot by the gunman. Its a compelling, emotional case and the jury finds Rolf Firearms CEO guilty. In a deeply frustrating move, the judge throws out the verdict, claiming it wouldnt stand up on appeal. Still, it makes you wish there were more real-life prosecutors like McCoy. Blood Money (Season 10, Episode 8) The murder of an elderly Italian immigrant unfurls a decades-old insurance scam that defrauded Holocaust victims of millions of dollars. Instead of just prosecuting the murderer, however, Jack McCoy takes on yet another righteous mission: going after an insurance companys executive for grand larceny. McCoys fury is palpable in his questioning of defendant Hamilton Stewart. When Stewart tries to claim he didnt know his companys agents were selling thousands of life insurance policies to European Jews with the knowledge that they would soon be murdered, McCoy is incensed. Didnt know! You were All-Atlantics director for Eastern European operations in 1938, werent you?! He spits. The numbers dont lie, Mr. Stewart. Are you telling us that you suspected nothing?! In the end, Stewart agrees to a plea deal that gives the DAs office documentation of all the policies. Hell spend four to 12 years in prison, and descendants of the defrauded Holocaust survivors will be able to receive reparations. Open Season (Season 13, Episode 7) Jack McCoy strongly believes that the law should apply to everyone. Open Season tests that resolve. After defense attorney Danielle Melnick (Tovah Feldshuh) is caught couriering messages out of prison for a dangerous client, whom a judge disallowed from communicating with the outside world, and a lawyer is murdered, McCoy must decide whether to prosecute his longtime friend. He doesnt flinch. He tells Danielle to surrender herself to the police and she does. The attorney is arraigned on charges of conspiracy and manslaughter. Holding to her own principles, Melnick refuses to break attorney-client privilege and help the DA convict her client for reduced charges. McCoy doesnt let her client, a white supremacist named Proust, know that, though. Sympathetic to the fact that Danielle had no intent to commit a crime and was sticking to her own principles in neglecting a gag order she found unconstitutional, McCoy lies to Proust. He tells the white supremacist that Danielle gave him up. In exchange for a slightly better deal, McCoy asks that Proust testify that Melnick had no criminal intent. He does, and the DAs office offers her a deal that includes no jail time. Absentia (Season 13, Episode 13) When a key witness and victim in a jewelry-store armed robbery goes missing, McCoy realizes that its none other than Levi March (Mandy Patinkin). Twenty years earlier, March, a political activist nicknamed The Griffin was the prime suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Abby. March skipped out on bail, but McCoy was able to try him and find him guilty in absentia a legal rarity wherein a trial takes place without the presence of the accused. If youre thinking that sounds constitutionally dubious, the appellate court in the episode agrees. Once March is found and taken into custody, his previous conviction is almost immediately thrown out. We convicted him once, Im confident well convict him again, McCoy tells Abbys sister after the hearing. You that sanguine?, DA Arthur Branch (Fred Dalton Thompson) asks him later. McCoys response is immediate. Of course not. Twenty-year-old case, evidence goes astray, witnesses die As McCoy predicts, the trial is an uphill battle. But half the fun of the episode is watching McCoy exude confidence, while he and ADA Serena Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) struggle behind the scenes to get the conviction. The other half of the fun is a master class of a scene between Mandy Patinkin and Sam Waterston. During McCoys cross-examination, the narcissistic Griffin spins a wild yarn that the U.S. government murdered Abby and framed him. Waterstons growing incredulity pairs beautifully with Patinkins matter-of-fact demeanor as he alleges crazier and crazier conspiracy theories. Criminal Law (Season 16, Episode 9) Jack McCoys commitment to the cause of justice is clear throughout his time on on L&O. But is he willing to put his life on the line for it? This episode says yes. Despite finding his name on a hit list and a chilling veiled threat from death-row convict Leland Barnes Its a terrible feeling waiting to die. Dont you think, Jack? is definitely up there in terms of the shows most haunting lines McCoy absolutely refuses to step down from a case. Im not going to be intimidated, Arthur. If hes coming for me, Im going after him, Jack tells his boss when Branch suggests he do just that. Later, ADA Alexandra Borgia (Annie Parisse) and McCoy disagree over whether intimidation from criminals should affect their work. Im not talking about intimidation. Im talking about getting killed, Borgia argues. Doesnt make a difference, McCoy responds, not letting on his fear. Its about the law. Doesnt work if we dont make it work. Invaders (Season 16, Episode 22) McCoy partnered with six different ADAs during his time as EADA: Claire Kincaid (killed), Jamie Ross (resigned), Abbie Carmichael (resigned), Serena Southerlyn (fired), Alexandra Borgia (murdered), and Connie Rubirosa (resigned). As weve already established, Claires death devastated McCoy and impaired his ability to prosecute at least one case. The murder of Alex Borgia has a similar effect. In Invaders, McCoy goes to frankly ridiculous lengths to find the two men who abducted and tortured Borgia, leaving her to choke on her own vomit in the trunk of a car. When he doesnt have enough leverage to get an accomplice to name and locate the murderers, McCoy sets up a sham prosecution to get him to talk. The operation itself is legally and ethically questionable, and shows that McCoy is once again willing to jeopardize the integrity of the justice system when he decides the cause is just. Rubber Room (Season 20, Episode 23) Pre-reboot Law & Order didnt get the satisfying, loose-ends-tying, tear-inducing farewell typical of franchise series finales. Had the writers known it was the last episode of the show (at least until 2022), McCoy probably wouldve played a larger role in Rubber Room. Instead he gets less than three minutes of airtime. He makes them count. When an anonymous blogger threatens to commit a Columbine-esque school massacre, its all hands on deck. Cutter (Linus Roache), Rubirosa (Alana de la Garza), Lupo (Jeremy Sisto), and Bernard (Anthony Anderson) work around the clock and finally meet a teacher who can point them to the culprit. But when she and her union lawyer remain tight-lipped, McCoy swoops in. Just how far up your ass is your head? A member of your union is threatening to shoot up a school, he yells, as feisty as ever. Kralick, the union lawyer, bites back, responding by listing all the ways public-school teachers could be sent over the edge. You get no argument from me there. But if your obstruction allows a massacre to happen I will crucify you, Mr. Kralick, McCoy goes off. I will charge you with negligent homicide and after I convict you, I will resign my job and represent the families of the victims in a wrongful death suit against you and the union. By the time Im done, youll be finished. So my advice to you is get out of my way! Ultimately, the teacher tells Bernard and Lupo about a colleague whose career was ruined by a student and the police manage to arrest him at a Queens high school before anyone gets seriously hurt. Open Wounds (Season 22, Episode 22) Viewers learn that McCoy has a daughter in the premiere of season 17 when a case inspires Jack to reach out to Rebecca for the first time since 1997. Its not until Open Wounds that we get to witness Jack interact with Rebecca in a meaningful way. What happens is bittersweet and adds a dimension to his character weve never seen before. After a survivor of a deadly school shooting goes on to murder a senator who voted against a gun-control reform bill, defense attorney Rebecca McCoy (played by Sam Waterstons daughter, Elisabeth) takes up his case. In the courtroom, Rebecca is much more even-keeled than her father and better at playing to the jurys emotions. But even she cant overcome the classic McCoy passion. In a scene in her fathers office, Rebecca asks Jack to be lenient on her client, who is suffering from PTSD. When he tells her that its inappropriate for them to discuss the case, she throws their tumultuous relationship in his face before storming out. Ultimately, her client is convicted. Outside the courthouse Rebecca rebuffs her fathers attempts to reconcile the moment. Jack McCoy, the once young, hotshot EADA, suddenly seems so much older and more fragile than he ever has been on the show, realizing the full effect of what years of overtime in the DAs office has wrought on his child. As Rebecca gets into a cab, she offers a bright spot: McCoys grandson Linc was accepted to law school at Columbia. Last Dance (Season 23, Episode 5) After serving the people of New York for over two decades, its only right that Jack McCoy leaves the DAs office and Law & Order on his own terms. When a woman is murdered by a tech billionaire who happens to be friends with the mayor, things get sticky for EADA Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy). (No, unfortunately for us all, Eric Adams does not play the mayor. Instead, its Bruce Altman.) The only evidence they have against billionaire Scott Kelton is circumstantial, and the mayors son who knows that Kelton sexually assaulted the victim years prior refuses to testify to motive. Worse, the mayor calls Price into his office and threatens to pull his support for McCoys reelection campaign if they dont leave his son alone. But Jack McCoy would never allow himself to be the reason a murderer walks. In a shocking move, he pulls Nolan from the case, deciding to prosecute it himself, and calls the mayors son to the stand anyway. The ploy works. McCoy makes quick work of Mayor Jr. and gives a simple yet authoritative closing argument, and Kelton is found guilty. Case closed. Later, McCoy and Price share a glass of Scotch and the DA drops another bombshell: Hes resigning. Its time; it just is, he says with finality. Mayor Payne is going to bury everyone who wronged him, including you especially you, McCoy goes on. If I step aside now, the governor will be able to appoint someone someone with integrity. McCoy raises his glass to his own career and to Price, the next generation. In the final moments of the episode, McCoy walks in front of the courthouse, staring up at its columns and perhaps the words etched into the frieze above them: The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government. He smiles and walks away. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed over 40 million acres of U.S. farmland are owned by foreign investors, some of whom may be linked to America's strategic rivals such as China and Iran. The report shows that there has been a 40% increase in foreign land ownership in the US since 2016. These foreign-owned properties are spread throughout the United States, and perhaps more alarmingly, they include some of America's most valuable farmland as well as numerous properties near U.S. military installations. The GAO's findings raise concerns about America's food supply and its vulnerability to foreign intelligence operations. The reaction on Capitol Hill was one of bipartisan concern. A Massive Blindspot At The US Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a legal obligation to collect data on foreign ownership of American farmland. The requirement has existed since the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) of 1978, which has a provision requiring foreign people who purchase or transfer agricultural land in America to report the transaction to the USDA. Although the USDA has much of this data, the GAO report found significant issues with its data collection and record review process. The USDA "does not sufficiently verify and conduct quality reviews to track the accuracy and the completeness of its collected data," the report states. What that means is that the USDA probably lacks a complete picture of how much U.S. agricultural land is under foreign ownership. Latest in private markets: Equity offering for a portfolio of almost and pistachio orchards is targeting a 13.8 cash yield. Is The 40 Million Acres A Drop In The Bucket, Or Is There More? According to the USDA, America has 1.4 billion acres of privately held farmland. On the surface, the fact that 40 million acres of that land is under foreign ownership would not seem like cause for alarm. However, the USDA's tracking and data-sharing methods are so antiquated that the GAO report found no USDA record of the $85 million purchase of 200,000 acres of land in Oregon forest country by Chinese billionaire Chen Tianqao. Story continues The purchase makes Tianqao, who allegedly has links to the Chinese Communist Party, one of the largest private landholders in America. The news of his purchase, and the fact such a large acquisition happened right under the USDA's nose despite the reporting requirement, has prompted a flurry of proposed legislation at both the state and federal levels to try to restrict or more effectively monitor foreign ownership of agricultural land inside the United States. Montana Senator's Proposal U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) has proposed legislation called the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) of 2024, which would strengthen the USDA's recording and reporting requirements. He has also sponsored the Promoting Agricultural Safeguards and Security Act, which would stop strategic rivals such as China, Russia and Iran from owning agricultural land in the United States. The long-term implications of foreign buyers owning agricultural land in the United States are not known, but it has the potential to be problematic. If for example, there was a global food shortage of a key U.S. crop, would farms owned by foreign interests sell those crops inside the United States or export them out of the country? The fact that the question has no clear answer underscores the necessity of legislative action. Read Next: Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. Passive income investments are one of the most trusted methods for riding out a recession, so it's no surprise that people are turning to this multifamily portfolio fund that's targeting an 8% cash yield. Miami is expected to take New York's place as the U.S. Financial Capital. Here's how you can invest in the city with as little as $500 before that happens. "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Foreign Buyers With Ties To American Strategic Rivals Are Gobbling Up American Farmland And Real Estate Near US Military Installations originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Well, it was perhaps too good to last. Ive been thoroughly enjoying Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, and have found many of the structural and aesthetic choices, like that black-and-white episode, to be inspired ways of fleshing out a rather slim petty dispute between a writer and his muses. But I may have to draw the line at the level of fictionalization in The Secret Inner Lives of Swans. Were back in 1975, the day after the Esquire excerpt of Answered Prayers came out. Babe is furious at her husband and at that other love of her life, Truman himself. And Truman is adrift, at a loss how to move on. Weve seen this before, Trumans inability to have anticipated how his swans (Babe in particular) would react. But here were finally shown what pulled Truman out of his funk: none other than James Baldwin (Chris Chalk), who spends a day talking and dining and drinking with Capote, eventually getting him on track to understand what it was about Answered Prayers that called to him in the first place. By the end of the episode, the In Cold Blood writer is ready to pick up his pen again, to slay and feast upon the swans he once so loved. I had to go back and sift through Laurence Leamers Capotes Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era the book this series is based on to make sure I hadnt missed this juicy bit of writerly buddy-comedy interaction. Had I forgotten some anecdote about how the public (if put-on) rivalry between two gay American literary titans somehow helped push Truman out of his funk? I had not. There is nothing, in the public record at least, that would suggest such a meeting took place, let alone at the narratively convenient time Feud places it. And with Trumans many drunken escapades, we cant discount the possibility that this whole encounter is meant as a fever dream, a way for Feud and its fictional Capote alike to imagine an all-too-didactic dialogue while advancing the idea that our Truman is slowly losing his mind, yet remains cognizant enough of what he needs to do if he is to finish Answered Prayers. (It involves a sacrificed swan at the dinner table.) Listen, a series like Feud was always going to take artistic liberties. I lauded it for doing so during the masquerade-ball episode: Using the Maysleses footage as the structuring conceit to stress how Capotes swans were the OG housewives avant la lettre was inspired. But I am conflicted about what to make of arguably the most celebrated Black gay author of his generation being reduced to a narrative device through which our southern white protagonist finds his way. When Truman is at his worst, Baldwin arrives first via telephone, and then at La Cote Basque at the most opportune time to remind Truman that he is, and here I quote, the toughest little faggot in town. He serves no other purpose than helping his friend and sometimes-catty rival remember he is an author worth fearing which is, in a way, what Babe and the other swans are really responding to. Now, having dispensed with the obvious complaint about this episodes central conceit, there are, Ill admit, certain elements of these two literary figures wholly fictional day together that are effective. It would take someone like Baldwin to so artfully articulate how class and especially race not to mention sexuality are central to the way Trumans swans are able to move through the world, to jab at Truman enough to get him to admit that his whiteness got him into rooms that remain shut to Baldwin. (It is impossible for a white person or, an American white person to not be in some fundamental sense a racist, Baldwin expounds at one point.) Theres an ambitious goal here, which is to filter Trumans insights through the lens Baldwin used to understand the United States. If what Truman struggled with after publishing La Cote Basque was how to collect his thoughts on his swans into something memorable (something worthy of Proust), then it would require going not just for the gossip, but for the jugular to portray how Babe and all those other swans were representative of an America as rotted and rotting as the European society they so desperately emulated. Feud understands Baldwin is better positioned to distill Trumans tidbits into broader critiques, and just as with Albert Maysles in the masquerade episode, Baldwin serves as a foil to whom Truman can vocalize the very things that filled his letters and notebooks: utterly bitchy remarks about the swans that, to hear Feuds version of Truman tell it, he kept out of La Cote Basque precisely because he was going after the men, not the women. With Baldwin as his interlocutor, we get an eloquent Capote who could, perhaps, have made Answered Prayers into something as glorious and astute and truthful as the writer hoped it would be. And so The Secret Inner Lives of Swans leverages Baldwin as a figure that allows Capote to unearth everything hed been omitting from Answered Prayers and, in so doing, accomplishes in an hour of television what the original short story did to Babe and her ilk: airs their dirty laundry with a vicious hatred, with no love, just a desire to lay bare how empty and vapid the swans really were. (Could we have done without Baldwins biology lessons on actual swans, in particular his factoids about how strong gay swans really are? Yes. Mostly because they feel lacking in the sort of elegant prose the writer was so well known for then and especially now.) As Baldwin and Capote dine at La Cote Basque, peruse abstract paintings at the MoMA, and have drinks at the Library (a famed cocksucker bar in Manhattan), their conversation opens up the lives of Babe, Slim, Lee, Ann, and C.Z. more than any episode before this one. Narratively, its as if Feud began merely presenting the swans through Trumans adoring eyes, allowing only their most beautiful faults (like Babes perfection) to be sketched. Now, though, with Baldwins stewardship, were finally given an unvarnished look. We see a crass Slim using self-deprecating humor (Formidable excellence is code for a dry hump!) to illustrate how the gossip they share is a way to maintain their own social status. We see a vain Lee opting to go under the knife (Everything the swans do is skin deep) and encouraging Truman to take better care of himself; hes looking awfully weathered, especially when hes been on television. We see a drunken Babe disrupting her daughters birthday party (All my swans are terrible mothers), all that perfection crumbling. And we also see Babe and Lee ganging up on Ann, cutting her down to size in an ungodly display of social cruelty (They have no ounce of humility or compassion), which leads to the most delicious use of the F-word Feud has deployed yet. The day serves as a way to replenish Trumans talent and insight, to have him forgo any fears of what he might do to his swans, and it ends in a rightfully operatic manner: Not only has Truman allegedly finished writing Answered Prayers (hes read much of it to Joanne Carson), but hes somehow convinced a handsome Tavern on the Green waitercumwannabe chef to kill a swan and cook him for him. All while Didos Lament from Henry Purcells Dido and Aeneas opera trills in the background. Again, its all a bit on the nose, but theres no denying its an efficient way to showcase Capotes return to form. Except we know where that eventually leads him Wit vs. Beauty After comparing himself to Prometheus last week, Capote now gets compared to that American Prometheus himself: Oppenheimer! Oscar FYC campaigning is getting out of hand! Anyone whos watched Capote (2005) surely remembers the key mention of Baldwin that tees up Truman taking on In Cold Blood: After telling an assembled party of guests that he lunched with Jimmy the other day, he piquantly teases what he thought of him: Hes lovely, hes a lovely man. And he told me the plot of his new book. And he said, I just wanted to make sure its not one of those problem novels, you know. And I said, Jimmy. Your book is about a Negro homosexual whos in love with a Jew. Wouldnt you call that a problem. Philip Seymour Hoffman managed to imbue the quip meant to be cutting even as it felt so carefully self-directed with the necessary bitterness. Which brings us to the one line about Baldwin Capotes readers may be more familiar with. In 1962, in a letter to Newton Arvin, he expounded expansively on what he thought of his fellow writer: I loathe Jimmys fiction: it is crudely written and of a balls-aching boredom. I do sometimes think his essays are at least intelligent, although they almost invariably end on a fakely hopeful, hymn-singing note. At least Feud hints at this kind of rivalry, with both Truman and Jimmy admitting maybe its because they so respected each others work that they came so hard for one another. As for other gay writers of the time, like, say Gore Vidal? Gore? Truman mumbles. Hes dancing in joy at my misfortune. Voodoo doll in hand. If nothing else, this episode should get someone in Hollywood interested in making a full-blown limited series about the coterie of mid-century gay writers and artists: Who doesnt want to see Truman interacting with Vidal? With Williams? With Auden? With OHara? With Isherwood? With Cadmus? (The list goes on!) Cazares stages their own burial on Instagram. Photo: Courtesy of Victor Cazares On December 1, instead of taking their daily dose of the HIV medication Dovato, the playwright Victor I. Cazares filmed an Instagram video of the pills funeral. They burned the small white tablet on a miniature pyre inside a geode their grandparents had brought from El Apache, a mountain in Chihuahua, Mexico, across the border from their hometown of El Paso, Texas. They gave their second pill a burial with a flower on top in their parents backyard. The third received a drop of Cazaress own blood while Lucia Mendezs Amor de Nadie, the theme song of their favorite telenovela growing up, played as the soundtrack. Theyre planning to do a final video in which their last four pills get kidnapped by Pilgrim Barbie and turned to dust. It has been almost three months since Cazares last took their meds, a strike they say will continue until the New York Theatre Workshop the downtown Off Broadway institution they once considered their artistic home calls for a cease-fire in Gaza. They decided to stop while waiting to fly to El Paso to see family after receiving the news that their grandmother was critically ill. They had almost left the pills behind while packing: How could I have forgotten those? they thought. They began taking Atripla over a decade ago when they received a positive HIV diagnosis as a graduate student at Brown University and then formed a religious, mystical attachment to their medication a miraculous thing that transformed a death sentence into a manageable condition. Lately, the siege in Gaza was all Cazares could think about, and the theater worlds silence had been weighing on them. At that moment, they thought about the queer radicals who had screamed and staged die-ins to get those drugs to begin with. If they were going to stage their own protest, it felt right to root it in a history that had allowed for their existence. I am using the particular history of HIV and the New York Theatre Workshop, they say, referencing Rent, a pivotal production in the Workshops history. HIV has always been a part of my presence. So it became inevitable it would then become a protest. Cazares first arrived at NYTW as the Tow playwright in residence in January 2020 and immediately felt in step with the theaters creative and political values. I felt like part of the family, Cazares says from their home in Portland, Oregon. I found my place both as an artist and a theater professional. In Cazaress plays, two of which have been staged at the Workshop, mortality clings to the characters like dust. Their protagonists are on the run or looking for a way out. Annihilation perches on the edges: poverty, genocide, catatonia, addiction. Ghosts hang around. Cazaress 2022 play, american (tele)visions, flits in and out of media (live camera, recorded video, video games) and states of fantasy, reality, and the afterlife; one actor plays both a dead brother and that dead brothers lover. NYTW has a reputation for prioritizing artistic vision and has nurtured directors like Ivo van Hove, Sam Gold, and Rachel Chavkin, more recently premiering Jeremy O. Harriss Slave Play and staging Heidi Schrecks What the Constitution Means to Me. The nonprofit enjoys challenging its audiences, and none of its shows feels like another. (The current production, I Love You So Much I Could Die, alternates between monologues read by a text-to-speech computer program and acoustic-guitar songs performed by the playwright, Mona Pirnot.) Victors work feels aligned with what they try to foster, says Shana Gozansky, who directed Cazaress Religiones Gringas at Brown, productions that ask the audience to have an intimate experience with the work and not just observe. This artistic limberness has gone hand in hand with the Workshops political identity. When Black Lives Matter activism resurged in the wake of George Floyds death, the theater opened its lobby as a way station so protesters could get water and use the bathrooms. It posted statements on social media supporting the protests, writing, Only when all members of our community are truly safe when their lives and humanity are valued above their artistic contributions will we experience the community we aspire to be. Afterward, it released occasional accountability updates with the goal of becoming a fully anti-racist organization. In 2017, NYTW launched Core Team, a working group in which members (including Cazares during their time there) discuss the Workshops values and how to translate them into specific policies. When someone at the Workshop committed a microaggression toward another person, Cazares recalls, it launched a thousand restorative-justice meetings. Surely, an institution that prints land acknowledgments in its programs would recognize the settler-colonial violence at play in Gaza, they thought. But when it came to calls for a cease-fire, Cazares encountered a stubborn silence. Its a cognitive dissonance, they say. Palestine has always had a fraught existence in the New York theater world. In 2016, the Public Theater canceled without comment the premiere of The Siege, a production by the Freedom Theatre, a Palestinian group based in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. A few years before that, the Metropolitan Opera had canceled a live broadcast of The Death of Klinghoffer, which narrativizes the terrorist hijacking of a passenger liner, owing to pushback led by the Anti-Defamation League. In 2006, NYTW was set to host the Stateside debut of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, a one-woman play about a 23-year-old from Olympia, Washington, who was killed by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer while trying to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home in Rafah. After her death, the actor Alan Rickman and The Guardian editor Katharine Viner created a show based on her journals and emails. The play had an acclaimed run at Londons Royal Court Theatre, yet less than a month before it was set to premiere, NYTW indefinitely postponed its own production. At the time, James Nicola, the Workshops artistic director, told the New York Times hed had discussions with Jewish leaders who were very defensive after the 2006 election in which Hamas won control of the Palestinian legislature. It seemed as though if we proceeded, we would be taking a stand we didnt want to take, he said. During a panel about the Workshops history last year, he referred to the controversy as the darkest moment in his 34-year tenure. (Nicola declined to speak for this piece.) Rickman decried the theaters decision as censorship born out of fear, and Tony Kushner called the situation ghastly. A group of Jewish writers, including Harold Pinter and Stephen Fry, wrote a letter to the Times asking, What is it that New York audiences must be protected from? In the aftermath, the Workshop sought out Palestinian partners, including Najla Said, the daughter of the renowned Palestinian American academic Edward Said; she co-founded an Arab American theater collective called Nibras as a theater in residence at NYTW. (It has since dissolved.) The Workshop formed a partnership with the Freedom Theatre and visited the company in Jenin. It later hosted Freedoms production of The Island, a South African play about apartheid, in its smaller black-box studio at 4th Street Theatre, which it also gave to Said for her one-woman show, Palestine. In 2012, NYTW produced Food and Fadwa, by Lameece Issaq and Jacob Kader, the second and most recent work by a Palestinian writer staged in its main theater. My experience with them has been excellent, says Said. I know of plenty of other theaters, which I will not name, which refuse to even consider work on the subject that comes from us. In its current relationship with the Freedom Theatre, the Workshop is threading a small needle. On December 13, the Israeli army ransacked and vandalized the theater, detaining the artistic director, Ahmed Tobasi, and imprisoning the theaters general manager, Mustafa Sheta, and recent graduate Jamal Abu Joas. (Sheta has yet to be released.) The Workshops artistic director, Patricia McGregor, spoke at a rally held about a week later demanding their release, saying, We will not be silent until the leaders of the Freedom Theatre are freed to be in continued conversation and do their invaluable work. She did not mention Israel or the war in Gaza. Since Cazaress med strike began, the Workshop has turned off comments on its Instagram and blocked Cazares from seeing its Stories. Friends and collaborators have called and written emails asking it to support a cease-fire and end Cazaress strike but have received no response. No one in senior leadership, past or present, would speak for an interview. In an email, McGregor wrote that NYTW is committed to theater that expands our empathy, which includes work of Palestinian artists with whom we have deep relationships. Photo: Clayton Cotterell for New York Magazine Cazares grew up about 20 miles outside El Paso in a shantytown called a colonia, an unincorporated neighborhood that doesnt receive city services. It was a real-estate scam from the 80s, they say. Most of these places had no water from the city. We still dont have a sewage line. Its another form of apartheid. When they were 14, they dug a dike so their family could access water. The architecture was creative and beautiful; residents were building their dream homes from whatever materials they had. Growing up, Cazares would go back and forth across the border to Juarez and the surrounding pueblos, where they would wait in interminable lines, their goods confiscated, their papers scrutinized, their uncle detained. When they learned about the experience of Palestinians the Israeli-issued documents called hawiya that allow Palestinians passage in and out of Palestine; the humiliating security checkpoints they could see a reflection of their own familys history. Theres something about being from the border that is incredibly linked to whats happening in Palestine, Cazares says. One of their transformative experiences with theater occurred as a Dartmouth undergraduate studying abroad. They saw Ariane Mnouchkines Le Dernier Caravanserail (Odyssees) in Paris, a two-part epic constructed from interviews with refugees. They can still see the opening: Long stretches of shimmering blue fabric transformed a bare stage into a raging river with a huddle of people trying to get to the other side. Just instant tears. I remember that feeling and that sense of theater, says Cazares. This impossible thing: creating a river onstage. No words but the recognition of a family wanting to get from one side to the other and what they must be running from that crossing this dangerous river is better than not. Since the siege on Gaza, Cazares hasnt been able to write. Instead, their strike has taken on the dimensions of theater with Instagram as their stage. As in their plays, death hovers nearby with a specter of inevitability; they draw strength from it by keeping it close. On New Years Eve, they began digging a shaft tomb about three feet deep in their parents backyard. Their partner and friends helped them dig. They enjoyed the process of seeing the various layers of earth. I start realizing my bodys the one thats going to be buried, Cazares says, that I have to start confronting quite possibly the reality of my own death. Burials, they add, were the first form of theater, a way to channel grief and memory. Their great-grandmother died in 2010, and they remember spending the night at her house in Chihuahua with friends and family, her body in a simple wood coffin. The next day, they walked behind a pickup truck to the campo santo, the cemetery just outside town. They imagine doing a protest-cum-performance like that. If I come back to New York, Im going to come back in a coffin in front of the Workshop, still alive, they say. Still, the strike has gone on longer than they expected. On day 41, for the first time since they seroconverted, they were no longer undetectable. The longer this goes on, the higher their risk for stroke, kidney failure, and heart disease. Some of their friends and family have asked them to stop. Their sister-in-law told them, No ones asking you to do this, Victor. We need you here. Others have asked, Why are you risking your life for a white institution that is never going to care about your life? But Ive given my life to theater, Cazares responds. This is my life. They persist in their belief that the New York Theatre Workshop will do the right thing. I believe they can do it. I believe they can do it, they repeat. I believe they believe it. I believe they know that calling for a cease-fire is the moral thing to do. I ask Cazares how far theyre willing to go. Oh, hospital bed, they say. The way I view my strike is physicalizing their inaction. If the suffering of Palestine is a faraway, abstract concept, they hope their body becomes a bridge across that gulf: Maybe they dont feel much for Palestinians. They cant imagine. But theyve spoken to me. They can visualize my life. Theyve seen me be among them. What Im hoping is that my life means something. Correction: A previous version of this story stated that NYTW cancelled the production of I Am Rachel Corrie. According to the Workshop, it was indefinitely postponed. Imax is very often seen as a format of vistas and landscapes, Nolans cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema says. But the face is a landscape. Its essentially a beautiful three-dimensional shape that has emotions and depth. Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures Christopher Nolan was a teenager when he first fell in love with Imax, watching documentaries at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industrys five-story wraparound dome theater. Like many of us, he was transfixed by the massive screens and the crystal-clear images projected on them. Imax was not only a lot bigger than ordinary movies, it had higher resolution. You could lose yourself in those images, which made the format ideal for immersive documentaries like Ring of Fire, The Living Sea, and, later, Blue Planet. Back in those days, the idea of feature films shot or presented in Imax seemed like an odd, maybe even foolish, idea. Imax was a hugely expensive format shot on gigantic and unwieldy cameras that required massive amounts of celluloid. Projectors could only handle so much Imax film running through them, so Imax movies tended to run under 40 minutes. And what about the viewer? Exhibitors worried that audiences would get nauseous looking at huge Imax images for too long, especially if the cuts were too quick or the camera moved too fast. Obviously, such fears turned out to be unwarranted. With Nolans three-hour Oppenheimer, shot entirely in Imax and 65-mm., and his 2020 action thriller Tenet returning to Imax, its worth looking at how we got here. Hollywood began releasing big features in Imax in the early 2000s. Disneys Fantasia 2000 was a pioneer, and several other animated Disney pictures followed. As Imax the company itself courted more mainstream productions, other studios entered the fray, including Warner Bros. with The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. These pictures hadnt been shot in Imax; they were shot on 35-mm. film, the standard film format before digital took over. But because the Imax image is 70-mm., digital remastering (DRM) from 35-mm. to Imax required a careful process of grain removal; otherwise, the movie at that size would look distractingly fuzzy. In removing the grain, one had to make sure that the process didnt accidentally remove actual information (dust in the air, stray hairs) from the original image as well. David Keighley, a 50-year veteran of Imax who is now the companys chief quality officer, remembers going through this process with Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister on Batman Begins (2005). During the DRM conversion of Batman Begins for Imax release, Keighley suggested to Nolan that they do a higher-resolution test on a couple of minutes of existing footage of that film, to see how it would look. Remember the blue flower at the beginning of the movie? Keighley asks, referring to an early moment when Christian Bales Bruce Wayne picks up a rare and strikingly blue flower on his way to meet Liam Neesons Ras al Ghul. We did about three minutes of that in 6K as opposed to the standard Imax upconversion at the time, 4K. Most people couldnt tell the difference, but Chris and I could. Impressed, Nolan decided to shoot one effects sequence in Imax for his subsequent feature The Prestige, during the scene where Christian Bale, playing identical twins, sacrifices one of his fingers to ensure that nobody will be able to tell him and his brother apart. The Prestige never actually screened in Imax, but when Nolan began work on his Batman sequel The Dark Knight, he was prepared to shoot several key sequences in Imax including the opening bank heist, which he thought could also make a good teaser for the film. Keighley says that Imax did four months of testing to prove they could handle such a task. Nolan and Pfister themselves conducted tests in Nolans backyard and garage with a 65-pound Imax camera. Knowing that Nolan wanted to shoot car chases in Imax, Pfister put the camera on a tripod in the back of a pickup truck and sped down Sunset Boulevard to see what the footage would look like. In the summer of 2008, The Dark Knight became the first feature film to include multiple scenes shot in Imax (six, to be exact). While viewers seeing the movie on regular theater screens might not have noticed much difference, those watching in Imax theaters were treated to something quite striking: During the Imax-shot scenes, the aspect ratio of the film would suddenly change. Imax film has a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, meaning the image is a bit more boxy, with more information on the top and bottom of the frame. The effect was enthralling, as if the movie were opening up and becoming more immersive before our eyes. Amid its already massive box-office bonanza, The Dark Knight made $6.3 million on opening weekend from 94 Imax venues, a resounding exhibition success. Since then, more and more of Nolans pictures have been shot in the format, including his 2017 masterpiece Dunkirk, about 70 percent of which was filmed on Imax. When I interviewed him last year, the director told me that when hes discussing a new project with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema (whos shot all of Nolans films since Interstellar), the decision to shoot on Imax is not automatic. The films that weve done so far, theyve all begun with the same conversation: Well, maybe we should do this 16 millimeter, grainy, or whatever, Nolan said. Then, his eyes brightened. Or maybe we should do it in Imax. In the end, we just cant resist Imax, because it gives you the finest immersion in the story. With Dunkirk, Interstellar, the Dark Knight movies, and Tenet, Nolan has mastered shooting action and wartime spectacle in Imax, but Oppenheimer, aside from a couple of admittedly large explosions, was a different type of movie a historical drama filled with scientists and politicians arguing. Imax is very often seen as a format of vistas and landscapes, van Hoytema says. But the face is a landscape. Its essentially a beautiful three-dimensional shape that has emotions and depth. So, for this film, we wanted the human face to have exactly the same wideness, epicness, and bigness that you normally would shoot landscapes in. The cinematographer admits Oppenheimer was the biggest challenge of his career. Technically speaking, the large-format film cameras were not designed for shooting in intimate settings. In order to shoot a close-up in Imax, you need to stand farther away from the actor and use a longer lens, which has the effect of flattening out the subject. You could never, ever put your camera as close as you wanted to your subject, van Hoytema says. For this reason, he and others have worked to create new lenses that allowed them to heighten a sense of closeness within scenes. Weve built lenses that could be brighter, that needed a lot less artificial light in order to do the same thing. Because Oppenheimer switches between color and black-and-white, the filmmakers also needed to find a way to shoot black-and-white in Imax, which had never been done before. Keighley says that the emulsion used for black-and-white Imax is actually the same 5222 black-and-white emulsion thats been around since the 1950s (also known as Double X) and has been used in films like Raging Bull, Schindlers List, and The Lighthouse. What makes it different is its adaptation for Imax cameras. Kodak makes film in wide rolls, Keighley explains, and then they slit it for cameras depending on what gauge film it is, whether its 16-mm., 35-mm., or 65-mm.. This is the first time theyve slit black-and-white for the Imax camera. That too required some reengineering on van Hoytemas part. Black-and-white celluloid film has thicker emulsion, and running it through an Imax camera could have scratched the footage. New gates and pressure plates had to be made for the Imax cameras. Meanwhile, FotoKem labs (which processes Imax film) had to reconfigure their color developer so that they could process the black-and-white negative. If you get the chance to see Oppenheimer again in a theater in Imax, pay close attention to the black-and-white images of Robert Downey Jr.s Lewis Strauss, particularly in the early scene where hes watching Cillian Murphys Robert Oppenheimer and Tom Contis Albert Einstein by the pond in Princeton. The clarity of the image is downright supernatural. Black-and-white has always looked crisper than color film, but in Imax, the effect is multiplied you can read every single detail of Strausss expression. Its like being back in the science museums dome theater again, watching a nature documentary about Robert Downeys face. Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures Besides being massive and unwieldy, Imax cameras pose another problem on set: They are way too loud. Deafening is how Emily Blunt, who plays Kitty Oppenheimer in the film, put it. This makes shooting sound takes with Imax nearly impossible. Pay close attention to the scenes in action movies shot on Imax film; very often, they hide the spoken dialogue in clever ways as in The Dark Knights opening bank heist, during which most of the characters are wearing masks. Pretty much all the sound in such scenes is added later. Benny Safdie, who plays Edward Teller in Oppenheimer, recalls that on his first day on set shooting with an Imax camera, the machine was so loud that he thought something had malfunctioned. Im just like, Oh my God, something is going wrong here! Safdie says. So I turn around and I make eye contact with Chris like, Are you going to cut? He just gave me the most gentle look. His hands were like, Just go forward, just go forward. So I realized I had to act like its not happening. My first film with Chris was Tenet, and I was just like, Oh my God, how are we going to do this? says Willie Burton, the two-time Academy Awardwinning sound mixer on both that film and Oppenheimer. Nolan and his team have managed to solve this problem in a couple of different ways. For starters, they will sometimes film key dialogue shots in 65-mm., which uses quieter cameras. He and his sound crew will also record wild tracks after shooting on Imax which is to say, theyll have the actors repeat a scene just as they did during the take, only without the film cameras. We do it right away once we do the Imax take and we have it and were good to go. Okay, lets do a sound take right away. The actors are in there, theyre in the zone, says Burton. Nolan prefers doing this to the more common ADR (automated dialogue replacement) method, which requires actors to come back months later, sit in an empty recording booth, and redeliver their lines. (Indeed, sometimes, what we think of as a bad performance in a given movie is just too-obvious ADR work.) Thats one of the reasons Nolan films have sometimes famously had dialogue thats hard to make out; his brother Jonathan even quipped about it earlier this year while presenting Christopher the Best Director Award from the New York Film Critics Circle. But supervising sound editor Richard King (whos won four Oscars, three for his work with Nolan) puts it a different way, noting that Nolans movies have a big sound to match the size of the image the audience is encountering. That may result in dialogue getting swallowed up, though King insists we hear what Nolan wants us to hear. A lot of Chriss movies, its the whole experience that hes going for, says King. Youre not just following word for word, like youre reading something. Its a whole-body experience. In Oppenheimer, King admits that with so much science, history, and characters to keep track of, it was important to make sure the dialogue scenes were extra clear. Such scenes are also cleaned up in post by dialogue editor Gary Rizzo, who works to take any background camera noises out of the footage, be it Imax or 65-mm. Software to help clean audio tracks has developed quite a bit over the past decade, but this still remains a very delicate operation. Its kind of a broadband noise, so you really risk changing the frequencies and the tonalities of the dialogue, says King. Garys a master at finding that razors edge of clarity. Then theres the additional challenge of mixing that dialogue with the music and sound effects while maintaining its clarity. On Oppenheimer, that task fell to postproduction sound mixer Kevin OConnell. He was able to do a little bob and weave with the music especially, says King. He would just do tiny imperceptible moves in the music to keep a word audible, or a syllable even. It was a real dance in the mix to make that work. Photo: Universal Pictures Its worth asking, even now, why Nolan does things this way. King feels that Nolans now-famous fondness for all these tangible things shooting on celluloid, finishing on film, screening on film, creating practical visual effects and real-world sound effects stems from a desire to make sure the viewer connects to his work on an intuitive level. He feels theres a natural human connection to actual photographed images, King says. This extends to the natural sound as well, King feels. As animals, I think we subconsciously recognize a lot of this. It sounds almost mystical, but Nolan takes the philosophy even further. He and his editor will watch a cut of a film every Friday. A few weeks into this process, once theyre somewhat comfortable with their result, theyll invite one or two other people to screen it. Nolan finds that he watches his films completely differently when someone new is present in the room. He believes a necessary exchange of narrative information is taking place not verbally, but by hearing and feeling other peoples reactions to his work. When youre watching a film, youre very aware of the audience, and youre aware that theyre seeing the same thing that youre seeing. And knowing that other people are watching the same thing at the same time has a very different effect on the way you watch it, Nolan says. At the end of the screening, youll ask them what they think and they will say the things that you were thinking as you watched it, nine times out of ten. Thats the process of audience empathy. Thats the basis of cinema. Thats what distinguishes it from streaming or anything else. Related Real estate in Greater Cincinnati is booming. The Enquirers Going Up series is here to introduce you to need-to-know development projects around the region. In our regular Going Up column, we feature need-to-know projects from around the region. Feel free to ask us about land or development projects youre curious about. Pitch us the places we should cover next. Submit suggestions to sfranklin@enquirer.com or tag @Enquirer on social media. Please include the address or cross streets of the project you want us to look into. The basics of the Forest Park Next Generation branch library Address: 660 Northland Blvd., Forest Park, Ohio. Building type: Contemporary style free-standing public space. Developer/contractor/architect/consultants: Cincinnati-Hamilton County Public Library/Turner Construction /Megen Construction/SHP Architects / Interior Project Management. Size: 26,440-square-foot building on a 2-plus acre site. What you need to know about the new Forest Park Next Generation branch library: It's big and will have lots of amenities The new building will be a Big Next Generation Library, a 26,440-square-foot facility to serve Forest Park, Springdale and surrounding communities. The new location was previously an office park in a residential area owned by the city of Forest Park. The new branch is next door to the post office and also near several restaurants and businesses. There is public transportation to the new location. The new branch replaces the current library at 655 Waycross Road in Forest Park, which was known as the Parkdale branch. That building was dedicated on Sept. 14, 1969, and at the time of its construction, was the largest suburban library in the county. The new branch will feature a drive-thru window for convenience and offers double the parking spaces of the current branch. This project is part of the "Building the Next Generation Library" plan, which includes $190 million in buildings and renovations at all 41 branches of the library system in 10 years. Story continues Beth Yoke, chief strategy officer for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, said there were meetings at all branches to get community input before plans began. There have been three community sessions in Forest Park and Yoke said they were well attended. Construction on the new Forest Park branch of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Public Library started in May last year and is expected to be completed during this summer. The project is estimated to cost $19.2 million and replaces the old branch library on Waycross Road. Architecture of the Next Generation Forest Park library branch: Contemporary, open concept A modern facade draws library patrons in and, paired with the library's branding, will help create a strong identity for a community landmark. The branch will integrate technology throughout the building and the planned children's area will feature nature-inspired decor. Yoke said many of the new buildings and renovations are open concept, but the design intentionally separated high-use areas, which can be noisy with quiet zones. The idea is to keep the space flexible because communities and their needs change over time. There are also multipurpose conference and meeting rooms intended for after-hours group use, making the library an ideal hub for community activity. Heres where the project stands Construction is underway with an eye to an opening in 2024. The shelving plan for the branch hasnt been finalized yet, although it is likely that the size of the collection will be the same as the current branch. While the new branch is larger, the additional space is being used for things library officials heard the community wanted: a dedicated teen space, more meeting and study spaces, a MakerSpace, a drive-thru, and just generally a more open, spacious feel and not a cramped facility. This embedded content is not available in your region. . This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Forest Park's Next Generation library nearing completion | Going Up Strike to affect public and private sector. A national general strike scheduled in Italy on Friday 23 February is set to disrupt various sectors including schools, public offices, factories and public transport. The 24-hour strike was called by Si Cobas and other trade unions to demand a "ceasefire in Palestine and all wars", linking increased job insecurity with military spending. However the reasons for the dispute vary according to unions, with some striking to demand greater safety in the workplace following the death of five workers at a construction site in Florence. Trenitalia has published a list of guaranteed services while at the time of writing Italo had yet to publish travel information relating to Friday's strike. The industrial action is also set to disrupt Trenord rail services in the northern Lombardia region around Milan. Essential medical services will be guaranteed but scheduled medical visits, non-urgent tests in health clinics and appointments in public offices may be subject to disruption. For official information about public transport strikes in Italy see the transport ministry website. 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. Its hard not to see that opposition, however, as a mix of economic nationalism, protectionism, xenophobia and hypocrisy. US Steel is almost entirely a domestic steel producer, has minimal contracts with the US military, has been more often loss-making than profitable in the past decade and a half, has been mothballing plants and shedding workers and hasnt invested significantly in advanced steelmaking technologies in recent decades. So terrible: Donald Trump has slammed Nippon Steels planned acquisition deal. Credit: AP Nippon Steel, which already has plants and employees and therefore a track record of operating within the US, is one of the worlds largest and most sophisticated steelmakers. The combined company would have a much bigger balance sheet and access to more advanced technologies. It would be, behind Chinas Baowu Group, the second-biggest steelmaker in the world. The deal is being driven by Nippon Steels desire to have a bigger presence in a market that is arguably the most protected of any US industry. Theres no thought that it would somehow offshore US Steels production. In the aftermath of the pandemic, there has been a lot of talk about and considerable moves of concepts like friend-shoring, re-shoring and near-shoring as countries seek to secure and future-proof supply chains that were severely disrupted by the pandemic. Loading The increase in tensions between the West and China, and the West and Russia, in the past few years has provided an additional motivation for countries to seek economic and military security in blocs of reliable allies. Japan is with Europe, the UK, South Korea and Australia a key member of Americas trade and defence bloc and arguably, given its strategic location and the size and nature of its economy, the most important. If America cant trust a major, publicly listed Japanese company as the owner of a business that effectively put itself on the block last year because of its declining fortunes, then it can trust no-one and no one in its bloc could trust a demonstrably isolationist US as an economic or defence partner. They would question its commitment to free trade and capital flows within its bloc. If, of course, Trump were to regain the presidency and implement the trade policies he is espousing a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all imports, including those from US allies, and a 60 per cent rate on imports from China cynicism about Americas approach to trade and its treatment of allies would be borne out. The larger picture confronting US Steel and Nippon Steel is that China dominates global steelmaking, claiming more than half the global market for traded steel. The United Steelworkers is urging US regulators to scrutinise Nippon Steels takeover of US Steel. Credit: Bloomberg Its steel industry dwarfs that of Americas, whose output has halved over the past half century. Chinas cheap exports have flooded the global market, and its probably only the protectionist measures in the US and relatively cheap access to energy (mainly coal-fired) that have enabled a much-diminished domestic industry to survive. The collapse of Chinas property sector, the excess capacity in Chinas factories as its economy has slowed and the reduced reliance on infrastructure investment to stimulate the economy has occurred even as Chinas steel production has been maintained at just over a billion tonnes a year. If there is less domestic demand, inevitably that will increase the amount of cheap steel available to the global market, which will make the Europeans, Japanese and South Koreans very nervous. Loading It makes sense for Nippon Steel to secure access to the US market, to get behind its tariff wall and gain access to energy that is far cheaper than that in its home market, and to look to improve its own competitiveness through increased scale and capabilities. The highly political response to the notion of a Japanese company acquiring US Steel may have something to do with the companys history, which dates back to 1901. It was JPMorgan that organised and funded the mergers of Andrew Carnegies Carnegie Steel Company with eight others to form the US Steel Corporation, which was the worlds largest industrial company and was the first business anywhere to achieve a market capitalisation of more than $US1 billion. (Bloomberg) -- A $1.6 billion uranium mining deal between France and Mongolia that is part of French efforts to diversify supplies to power its fleet of nuclear reactors is running into political hurdles. Most Read from Bloomberg A debate about protecting strategic resources in Mongolia risks delaying the finalization of the agreement until after elections in June, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. Progress has also been hampered after the Asian countrys chief negotiator stepped down, a third person said, meaning the deal had to be redrafted. French uranium producer Orano SA reached an outline accord to develop and operate the Zuuvch-Ovoo mine in Mongolia in October during a trip by the nations president, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, to Paris to meet with counterpart Emmanuel Macron. A final investment agreement was expected to be signed by the end of last year, with production due to start in 2028. A long delay or even cancellation of the project would be a blow to state-controlled nuclear group Orano, which has said the plan is a key step in widening supplies as global demand picks up. It has uranium mining operations in Canada and Kazakhstan, as well as in Niger, where its business has been put in jeopardy by last years military coup. Mongolian government representatives were not immediately able to comment on the contract delays. Orano said in an emailed statement that talks are continuing and that authorities have expressed strong motivation to finalize the agreement as soon as possible. A series of supply setbacks in the past year including the Niger coup, which disrupted shipments to Europe, has pushed spot uranium prices to 15-year highs. The worlds biggest producer of the metal, Kazakh state-owned miner Kazatomprom, cut its production forecast last month, citing a shortage of acid needed to process the ore. Thats happening amid a revival of interest in nuclear power as governments try to decarbonize their economies to meet emissions targets. Story continues France said in October it wants to give landlocked Mongolia, which is situated between Russia and China, the means to benefit from greater strategic sovereignty in the face of two extremely powerful neighbors. Russia supplies more than 80% of the petroleum products Mongolia needs, while China is the main buyer for Mongolian exports. Beijing is adding atomic plants at a rapid pace. Tensions around access to critical raw materials and strategic equipment have flared up between the West and Russia after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine two years ago. The US and Europe have imposed severe sanctions on the Russian economy, prompting the Kremlin to turn to China, Turkey and Arab countries to keep its industry afloat. Russia has also become much more hostile to any Western influence on its neighbors, including Central Asian nations and Mongolia. Meanwhile, Moscow has displaced Paris as a leading partner in several African capitals in the wake of military coups, including in Niger. Soon after Mongolias president returned from Paris in October he was paid a visit by a Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko. In December, Russia also agreed with Mongolia on a plan to build a small modular reactor, according to state news agency TASS. When Russia cut energy supplies to its neighbor in December, citing an incident at a hydro power plant, Mongolia had to limit daily power consumption, highlighting its dependence. Mongolian Energy Minister Battogtokh Choijilsuren visited Moscow the same month to discuss the possibility of uninterrupted supply of petroleum products with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Earlier in February, Russia said its treating Mongolia in a preferential manner when it comes to oil-product prices. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Apparently, the nations chief executives and other top people are groaning under the weight of the tax they pay. Is it any wonder theyre doing such an ordinary job of running the countrys big businesses? When you see whats left of their pay after tax, its a wonder they bother turning up. I know this will shock you just as it does every time the business media remind their readers of it. According to the latest available figures, for 2020-21, the top-earning 1 per cent of taxpayers paid more than 18 per cent of the total income tax take. Illustration by Matt Davidson Taxpayers in the top 10 per cent paid 46 per cent of the total income tax collection of $237 billion. Think of it. Just the top 10 per cent pay almost half of all the taxes. Do you know that the bottom 50 per cent of taxpayers pay less than 12 per cent? Talk about lifters and leaners. Those lazy good-for-nothings have no idea how easy they get it. And still, they whinge unceasingly about the cost of living. A handful of Victorian and NSW private schools together outspent 3300 of the nations public schools on new facilities in just one year, analysis of the latest financial data shows. State education ministers are calling for the Commonwealth to close the gap in capital infrastructure spending, with a one-off $215 million public school upgrade program set to expire, and new analysis by the Australian teachers union revealing twice as much money is being spent on private infrastructure per student as public. State education ministers are calling for the Commonwealth to close the gap in capital infrastructure spending. Credit: Erin Jonasson In a report to be released on Friday, Australian Education Union researchers analysed school spending on capital works via Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority data, taking in both government funding and money spent by non-government schools from other large revenue sources such as parent fees, investments and donations. Five private schools Cranbrook School, Barker College and Abbotsleigh College in NSW, and Caulfield Grammar and Loreto Mandeville Hall in Victoria spent a combined $175.6 million on capital works in 2021. Thats more than all governments spent that year on capital works at half of the nations 6699 public schools. A Broome bishop has been charged with a string of alleged historical sex offences. Following the acquittal of Cardinal George Pell by the High Court in 2020, Bishop Christopher Saunders on Thursday became the most senior Catholic in the country accused of sex crime offences after police arrested him at his West Australian home. Bishop Christopher Saunders has been arrested overnight. Credit: AAP The 74-year-old spent the night in custody and will appear in Broome Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with two counts of sexual penetration without consent, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault and three counts of indecently dealing with a child as a person of authority. The events over which charges have been laid allegedly occurred in Broome and Kununurra, in WAs north-west, between 2008 and 2013. A highly impactful leak Jon Condra, an analyst with Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company, called it the most significant leak ever linked to a company suspected of providing cyber espionage and targeted intrusion services for the Chinese security services. He said organisations targeted by I-Soon according to the leaked material include governments, telecommunications firms abroad and online gambling companies within China. Loading Until the 190-megabyte leak, I-Soons website included a page listing clients topped by the Ministry of Public Security and including 11 provincial-level security bureaus and some 40 municipal public security departments. Another page available until early Tuesday advertised advanced persistent threat attack and defence capabilities, using the acronym APT one the cybersecurity industry employs to describe the worlds most sophisticated hacking groups. Internal documents in the leak describe I-Soon databases of hacked data collected from foreign networks around the world that are advertised and sold to Chinese police. The companys website was fully offline later on Tuesday. An I-Soon representative refused an interview request and said the company would issue an official statement at an unspecified date. I-Soon was founded in Shanghai in 2010, according to Chinese corporate records, and has subsidiaries in three other cities, including one in the south-western city of Chengdu that is responsible for hacking, research and development, according to leaked internal slides. The offices of I-Soon, which Chinese authorities are investigating after an unauthorised online dump of documents. Credit: AP I-Soons Chengdu subsidiary was open as usual on Wednesday. Red Lunar New Year lanterns swayed in the wind in a covered alleyway leading to the five-storey building housing I-Soons Chengdu offices. Employees streamed in and out, smoking cigarettes and sipping takeaway coffees outside. Inside, posters with the Communist Party hammer and stickle emblem featured slogans that read: Safeguarding the Party and the countrys secrets is every citizens required duty. I-Soons tools appear to be used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media and flood them with pro-Beijing content. Authorities can surveil Chinese social media platforms directly and order them to take down anti-government posts. But they lack that ability on overseas sites like Facebook or X, which millions of Chinese users use to evade state surveillance and censorship. Theres a huge interest in social media monitoring and commenting on the part of the Chinese government, said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund who reviewed some of the documents. To control public opinion and forestall anti-government sentiment, Ohlberg said, control of critical posts domestically is pivotal. Chinese authorities, she said, have a big interest in tracking down users who are based in China. The source of the leak could be a rival intelligence service, a dissatisfied insider, or even a rival contractor, said chief threat analyst John Hultquist of Googles Mandiant cybersecurity division. The data indicates I-Soons sponsors also include the Ministry of State Security and Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army, he said. Lots of targets, lots of countries One leaked draft contract shows I-Soon was marketing anti-terror technical support to Xinjiang police to track the regions native Uyghurs in Central and South-East Asia, claiming it had access to hacked airline, cellular and government data from countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Thailand. It is unclear whether the contract was signed. We see a lot of targeting of organisations that are related to ethnic minorities Tibetans, Uyghurs. A lot of the targeting of foreign entities can be seen through the lens of domestic security priorities for the government, said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. Loading He said the documents appeared legitimate because they aligned with what would be expected from a contractor hacking on behalf of Chinas security apparatus with domestic political priorities. Cary found a spreadsheet with a list of data repositories collected from victims and counted 14 governments as targets, including India, Indonesia and Nigeria. The documents indicated that I-Soon mostly supported the Ministry of Public Security, he said. Cary was also struck by the targeting of Taiwans Health Ministry to determine its COVID-19 caseload in early 2021 and impressed by the low cost of some of the hacks. The documents show that I-Soon charged $US55,000 ($84,000) to hack Vietnams Economy Ministry, he said. Although a few chat records refer to NATO, there is no indication of a successful hack of any NATO country, an initial review of the data by the AP found. That doesnt mean state-backed Chinese hackers are not trying to hack the US and its allies, though. If the leaker is inside China, which seems likely, Cary said that leaking information about hacking NATO would be really, really inflammatory a risk apt to make Chinese authorities more determined to identify the hacker. Mathieu Tartare, a malware researcher at the cybersecurity firm ESET, says it has linked I-Soon to a Chinese state hacking group it calls Fishmonger that it actively tracks, and which it wrote about in January 2020 after the group hacked Hong Kong universities during student protests. He said it has, since 2022, seen Fishmonger target governments, NGOs and think tanks across Asia, Europe, Central America and the United States. A cybersecurity researcher said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X. Credit: AP French cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert also combed through the documents and said it seemed I-Soon had found a way to hack accounts on X even if users have two-factor authentication, as well as another for analysing email inboxes. He said US cyber operators and their allies are among potential suspects in the I-Soon leak because its in their interests to expose Chinese state hacking. A spokeswoman for US Cyber Command wouldnt comment on whether the National Security Agency or Cybercom were involved in the leak. An email from the press office at X responded: Busy now, please check back later. Western governments, including the US, have taken steps to block Chinese state surveillance and harassment of government critics overseas in recent years. Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, an advocacy group that focuses on human rights in China, said such tactics instil fear of the Chinese government in Chinese and foreign citizens abroad, stifling criticism and leading to self-censorship. They are a looming threat that is just constantly there and very hard to shake off. Loading Last year, US officials charged 40 members of Chinese police units assigned to harass the family members of Chinese dissidents overseas as well as to spread pro-Beijing content online. The indictments describe tactics similar to those detailed in the I-Soon documents, Harth said. Chinese officials have accused the US of similar activity. American officials, including FBI director Chris Wary, have recently complained about Chinese state hackers planting malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure. On Monday, Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the US government has long been working to compromise Chinas critical infrastructure. She demanded the US stop using cybersecurity issues to smear other countries. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) After years of refusing to expand Medicaid, some of Mississippis Republican leaders now say they are open to the policy if they can require new enrollees to have a job. That approach could hinge on presidential politics and an ongoing legal battle in Georgia. In a statement to The Associated Press, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said Mississippi must consider all options to improve its labor force participation rate and poor health outcomes, both of which are among the worst in the country. Hosemann said Georgia, the only state that requires Medicaid recipients to meet a work requirement, could be a model for Mississippi. We need healthy working Mississippians, Hosemann said. "Georgias successful implementation of a work requirement cleared a path for this conversation in Mississippi. Georgia and Mississippi are among 10 states that haven't expanded Medicaid eligibility to include people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or $20,120 annually for a single person. In 2023, Georgia created a less generous program that offered expanded coverage to adults earning up to 100% of the poverty level, or $14,580 for a single person. Georgia's program only offers expanded coverage to able-bodied adults if they are working, volunteering, studying or in vocational rehabilitation. The state developed its plan after the Trump administration permitted 13 states to impose work requirements on some Medicaid recipients. The Biden administration revoked all those waivers in 2021, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said people should not face roadblocks to getting health care. But Republican Gov. Brian Kemps administration won a federal court fight in 2022 to preserve Georgias plan, partly because it applies to new enrollees and not current Medicaid recipients. The program is set to expire at the end of September 2025. Earlier this month, Georgia sued the Biden administration to try to keep its plan running until 2028. Story continues A bill that would tie a work requirement to Medicaid eligibility has also passed the South Dakota Senate and is awaiting a House hearing. Even if a Republican is elected president in November, new Medicaid waivers granted by CMS could face legal challenges, said Robin Rudowitz, director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF, a health policy research group. "While former President Donald Trump would likely look favorably on work requirements, he has also vowed to try again to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which would include Medicaid expansion, Rudowitz said. Georgia's narrow coverage expansion with a work requirement waiver has seen limited Medicaid enrollment, far short of the coverage levels that could be achieved if the state adopted the full expansion allowed under the ACA, Rudowitz said. That is because most Medicaid recipients are either working or face barriers to work, which limits enrollment, she continued. Georgia's Republican House speaker, Jon Burns, signaled at the start of this years legislative session that Republicans may be open to expanding Medicaid further. But GOP lawmakers on Tuesday indicated that the idea was likely off the table in 2024. Mississippi House Speaker Jason White, also a Republican, said in an interview that the state has shown it will refuse to expand Medicaid without a work requirement. I think weve proved to CMS and the folks in Washington that we will be stubborn and not do it," White told The AP. So I think they would be more amicable to listen to the idea of, hey, weve got a maybe a little different model here. Debate over Medicaid expansion has stalled for years in Mississippi because of opposition from Republican leaders, including Gov. Tate Reeves. On Tuesday, Reeves said he was still opposed to expansion and shared Trump's disdain for Obamacare. If lawmakers vote to expand Medicaid, Reeves would be likely to veto the bill. Legislators could override his veto with a two-thirds vote from both the House and Senate. Mississippi lawmakers are also considering the impacts of a financial incentive for expanding Medicaid provided by Congress in the American Rescue Plan. The bonus helped with the passage of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. In Mississippi, it would pay for the program for about four years, even without accounting for other cost offsets like increased tax revenues, House Medicaid Committee Chairwoman Missy McGee, a Republican, said at a Tuesday legislative hearing. Morgan Henderson, a data scientist at Hilltop Institute, a health care research organization, said expansion would be a economic boon to Mississippi, but every state has a unique program. If you know one states Medicaid program, you know ones states Medicaid program, Henderson said. ___ AP reporters Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, and Sudhin Thanawala and Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed to this report. Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research The construction sector's growth is expected to drive the roofing tiles market over the forecast period. The government's goal to finish several infrastructure projects will likely lead to growth in the construction sector throughout Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. New York, United States, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The roof is protected from the elements, including rain, hail, heat, and cold, by roofing tiles. There are many kinds of roof tiles, including clay roof tiles, concrete roof tiles, metal roof tiles, solar roof tiles, plastic roof tiles, and others. The use of roof tiles in residential buildings is expected because of their durability, fire resistance, and other benefits. Improvement in the Building Industry Drives the Global Market According to Straits Research, The global roofing tiles market was valued at USD 31.96 billion in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 49.58 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period (2023-2031). The market for roofing tiles is anticipated to be driven by the expansion of the building industry. The government's objective to complete several infrastructure projects will probably cause the construction industry to expand across Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. These projects entail building regional companies, houses, and other buildings. For instance, in October 2019, the South Korean government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) collaborated to invest more than USD 1.30 billion in Latin American smart city programs. The construction sector is predicted to restart its rising trend in most emerging countries in 2021 after enduring a period of sluggishness brought on by low consumer confidence and a lack of investment over the past few years. As a result, the construction sector has recovered, especially in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, which is projected to promote market expansion. Download Free Sample Report PDF @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/roofing-tiles-market/request-sample Story continues Technological Progress Creates Tremendous Opportunities Manufacturers' technical advancements, such as green roofing, energy-efficient roofing, solar roofing tiles, eco-friendly roofing materials, and drones for roof inspections, have increased the demand for roofing tiles. In reaction to rising air pollution, declining biodiversity, and urban heat islands, green and environmentally friendly roofs help slow environmental deterioration. Due to the lack of a physical inspection required by drone technology for checking roofs, a significant increase in demand was also seen. For instance, in October 2019, the American clean energy business Tesla, Inc. unveiled the Solar Roof tiles V3. The essential advantage of solar roof tiles is that they offer an alternative to conventional solar panels. Report Scope Study Period 2019-2031 CAGR 5% Historical Period 2019-2021 Forecast Period 2023-2031 Base Year 2022 Base Year Market Size USD 31.96 billion Forecast Year 2031 Forecast Year Market Size USD 49.58 billion Largest Market Asia Pacific Fastest Growing Market Europe Regional Analysis Asia-Pacific roofing tiles market shareholder is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is currently the world's largest market for roofing tiles due to the region's general economic growth and the highest adoption of flat refurbishment and replacement products in countries like China, Japan, and India. Increases in industrialization, urbanization, and numerous infrastructure projects are the main drivers of market expansion. Additionally, the market grows due to population expansion and new commercial and residential infrastructure construction. Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.80% during the forecast period. The roofing tile market in Europe is established, and moderate expansion is predicted throughout the projection period. In Europe, the construction industry is an essential economic driver. Europe's exports had already been falling due to the global recession and bank lending had already been declining due to a lack of liquidity before the financial crisis hit. Construction enterprises experienced financial difficulties due to the economic and financial crisis, with some declaring bankruptcy. The slow post-recession recovery of the European building sector is expected to benefit the market for roofing tiles. Key Highlights Based on material type, the global roofing tiles market is bifurcated into clay roof tile, concrete roof tile, and others. The concrete roof tile segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.10% during the forecast period. Based on construction type, the global roofing tiles market is bifurcated into new construction and renovation and replacement. The new construction segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.10% during the forecast period. Based on the end-user industry, the global roofing tiles market is bifurcated into residential and non-residential. The residential segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.95% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is the most significant global roofing tiles market shareholder and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. Competitive Players The global roofing tiles market's major key players are Boral Limited, Crown Roof Tiles, Dachziegelwerke, Eagle Roofing, Ecostar LLC, Ludowici Roof Tile, Marley Ltd, MCA Clay Roof Tile, Shital Potteries, and Terreal Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Market News In November 2022, Uganda Baati launched Orientile steel roof tile. In December 2022, GAF Energy, a Standard Industries company and a leading provider of solar roofing in North America, announced the launch of its Timberline Solar roof in New Jersey. Global Roofing Tiles Market: Segmentation By Material Type Clay Roof Tile Concrete Roof Tile Others By Construction Type New Construction Renovation and Replacement By End-User Industry Residential Non-residential By Regions North America Europe Asia-Pacific LAMEA Get Detailed Market Segmentation @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/roofing-tiles-market/segmentation About Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. Straits Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. provides actionable market research data, especially designed and presented for decision making and ROI. Whether you are looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with the clients purchase. We overcome our clients issues by recognizing and deciphering the target group and generating leads with utmost precision. We seek to collaborate with our clients to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches. For more information on your target market, please contact us below: Phone: +1 646 905 0080 (U.S.) +91 8087085354 (India) +44 203 695 0070 (U.K.) Email: sales@straitsresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Good Drinks Australia (ASX:GDA) First Half 2024 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: AU$58.8m (down 2.2% from 1H 2023). Net income: AU$1.10m (down 41% from 1H 2023). Profit margin: 1.9% (down from 3.1% in 1H 2023). EPS: AU$0.009 (down from AU$0.015 in 1H 2023). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Good Drinks Australia Earnings Insights Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 6.0% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 7.9% growth forecast for the Global Beverage industry. Performance of the market in Australia. The company's shares are down 8.1% from a week ago. Risk Analysis What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Good Drinks Australia (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) 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. Investing app Grifin today officially launched its anticipated investing model called Adaptive Investing, which enables you to automatically invest in your favorite brands that you frequently shop from. Grifin was founded in 2017 with the hope of making investing less intimidating and normalizing it for people who arent that financially savvy. To date, Grifin has raised more than $11 million from a notable list of investors, including TTV Capital, Rise of the Rest, Gaingels, NevCaut Ventures, Mana Ventures, Sidecut Ventures, Miami Angels and Playtap Media Ventures, along with Witz Ventures co-founder Austin Hankwitz and GGV Capital managing partner Hans Tung. The company says it sees about 20,000 unique new app installs per month. Grifin's new patent-pending technology is an evolution of its original model, which follows the premise of Stock Where You Shop, giving you a chance to explore the intimidating world of investing by aligning your shopping habits with stock choices. Investing, and even having a healthy positive relationship with money, is an incredibly difficult thing to do and achieve, co-founder Aaron Froug tells TechCrunch. The current system simply isnt geared towards the individual, even with mobile access and 0% commission apps claiming to open up investing to all. It still requires a lot of emotional energy, confidence and an understanding of how investing works. Most people still dont feel like they have enough money to get started and even the most financially adept people I know dont know what is inside most ETFs [exchange traded funds]. All of it is cloudy and complicated. None of it is centered around the individual. Image Credits: Grifin The Adaptive Investing model aims to give users more flexibility by integrating new functionality into the app, including the ability to pause automatic payments, increase/decrease how much you want to spend and manually invest more money in a company. It also introduces a "Secret Cash function, allowing for non-public purchases and putting more money away as cash for their future. Story continues This patent-pending technology builds on the original premise by integrating new functionality to allow for a more intuitive and adaptive approach to investing, centered not just around peoples daily spending habits, but how much they want to invest, Froug adds. By default, Grifin automatically invests $1 per transaction. For instance, when you buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks, the app withdraws $1 from your bank account, and you get $1 of SBUX stock. You can also manually increase the investment amount to a maximum of $99. Image Credits: Grifin However, just because you enjoy a certain brand, it doesnt necessarily mean its a smart investment. Grifin now added a new Disable Company feature, allowing you to stop or avoid investing in certain companies. Theres also an option to pause your investments for a week. We are also keenly aware that just because a person spends at a specific place, they might not want to invest there By investing in small amounts, as low as $1 at a time, the aim is to help people to learn to navigate the world of investing without incurring too many negative consequences if they dont get it right, Froug says. Plus, Froug argues that Adaptive Investing reduces the impact of single-stock exposure since it encourages a diverse profile as consumers usually spend money across a wide range of companies -- phone/internet bills, gas, monthly subscription services and so forth. Ive been personally using our app for a little over two years and Ive invested in 115 unique companies, he notes. Additionally, Grifin is planning a redesign of its app, which will include a premium version as well as an AI chatbot to help people learn how to invest. Gordon Deegan A south Co Galway farmer alleged to have thrown a bag containing cow dung in the direction of Minister for State, Anne Rabbitte at a public meeting is to contest the charge of assaulting the Fianna Fail TD. At Gort District Court on Thursday, solicitor for Joseph Baldwin (38) of Ballyaneen, Gort, John Nash told Judge Alec Gabbett that a hearing date is required in the case. In the case, Mr Baldwin faces prosecution, where he is charged with assaulting Anne Rabbitte on January 4th 2023 at a public meeting at OSullivans Royal Hotel, Gort. The assault charge against Mr Baldwin is contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. As Mr Baldwin has through Mr Nash confirmed that he is to contest the charge, Galway East TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Anne Rabbitte will be required to provide her sworn eyewitness account from the witness box of what occurred on the night as part of the State case against Mr Baldwin. Mr Nash will be able to cross-examine Ms Rabbitte on her evidence on behalf of his client. The minister was attending the meeting to hear locals concerns over a planned biogas plant for Gort. Fine Gael Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon was also in attendance at the same meeting, which was called to discuss taking a judicial review against the planning decision permitting the biogas plant and 20,000 was pledged to the fight by those present. Mr Baldwin is also contesting a second charge where he is accused of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting word or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace of being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. The charge is contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The summons for the alleged assault and the public order breach is being brought by Sgt Diarmuid Cloonan of Gort Garda Station. CCTV evidence is to also form part of the States case and Judge Gabbett asked Mr Nash do I need to bring this to a court where CCTV can be shown? Judge Gabbett asked Mr Nash that you dont want to come to Ennis to see the CCTV on the big screen? Mr Nash said that he was happy that the case remain at Gort District Court and that a court laptop would be sufficient for the showing of the CCTV. Mr Nash asked that the contested case take place on May 23rd at Gort District Court and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to that date for hearing. Those who are convicted of Section 2 assault charges in the district court face penalties of a prison term up to six months or a fine not exceeding 1,905. There are no plans to house asylum seekers in a building in the North Mayo village of Attymass, members of Mayo County Council were told last week. Independent Cllr Seamus Weir said local people were concerned about rumours around the issue and he has been "inundated" with enquiries. Locals in Attymass contacted me and said they heard that there are going to be refugees in the area, he told the monthly meeting of the council. It is being spread around and people are talking about it and they are being told that refugees are going to a certain place in Attymass." Noting that communication is very important, Cllr Weir asked Tom Gilligan, Director of Services, if there was any substance behind the speculation. However, Fine Gael Cllr Neil Cruise then interjected and said he had made enquiries and had an update on that matter. In relation to talk of a premises in Attymass being used, I have been in contact with the owners of that premises and they want to clarify it here that they are not in any negotiations with the Department of Integration in relation to that premises. Last month, the council passed a motion to withdraw cooperation with the Department of Integration over the housing of asylum seekers. In normal times, the national conventions of political parties in the United States are a routine enough business. The party be that Republican or Democrat meets up in some big city for a hullabaloo just before the presidential election. There are days of speeches by party worthies. These speeches outline in the vaguest terms what their party stands for while denouncing the other side in the greatest of detail. Normally, nobody outside the Convention and few within pays much heed to any of that. The party who are in office usually chant four more years. There are lots of balloons. The only serious business the conventions do is formally nominate the partys candidate for president. Thats usually a straightforward matter as the parties have chosen their candidate out in the primaries, where party supporters vote to decide who their state should support at the convention. So, if a candidate wins a primary in New Hampshire, all the delegates from New Hampshire vote for that person at the convention. Its a little more complicated than that sometimes truth be told, but its easy when the result from the primaries across all the states are clear. Generally speaking, the person who got most votes and won most states in the primaries gets the nod. When you have a sitting president, its usually very straightforward indeed. On the last night of the convention, the nominated candidate makes a speech of acceptance. A fair few people pay attention to that, and then everyone goes home, ready for the main election in November. That is what happens in normal times. But as we all know, the US presidential election of 2024 is a long way from normal. Leaving aside for today the question as to whether the Republican candidate will be a convicted felon by the time he runs for election again, there is a recurring question about the Democrats, and most especially about their candidate. However much Democrats want this question to go away, it is not likely to do so. Is Joe Biden too old to run again for US President? Will he be able to govern for four more years? Will he and this is the big question for Democrats lose if he does run? If there was some moderate Republican running against him, people might be a bit relaxed about that. But that is certainly not what is coming if Biden loses. That last consideration is what is driving the big question: will the President have to step aside before the election in November? The question of Joe Bidens age and capacity for a second term has been swirling around since he was first elected, even before it. But it went into overdrive lately. The context was that President Biden was being investigated in respect of some documents he took with him while leaving office as Vice President back in 2017. An independent special prosecutor, Robert Hur, was appointed to look into it and make a decision as to whether the President should be prosecuted or not. He concluded that he could not recommend prosecuting the President good news for Biden. But, in the report submitted to explain his decision, Hur argued that Biden would be impossible to prosecute because a jury would find him a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory. That would be a bad report for a man in his early eighties who was trying to renew his driving licence, but it is devastating for a man who is currently President of the United States, and most especially for one who wants to keep doing it for another four years. Many on Bidens side were quick to point out that the form of words chosen by Mr Hur was designed to be devastating. In effect, they argue that this was a judicial officer doing overtly political work to damage a sitting president. But, once said, the words have done damage. And this is why so many are now wondering whether it will prove possible for President Biden to run again. Many point out that Biden and Trump are in and around the same age. Many point out that Trump can forget things too. But those saying those things miss the obvious point. One man looks and acts and talks a lot older than the other. Painful and all as that is for those who support and even love him, that is what is counting. If the President cannot move the dial on this in the coming months, the pressure on him to step aside will grow even louder. If Trump keeps leading in the polls, then the Democrats will start to panic. That panic will spread and eventually someone who really matters in the party will say it openly that in the interests of the country, the President should not run. If the pressure mounts so much that the President does that (and it is a big if), what on earth would happen? The problem would be that the primaries are how the parties pick their candidate. But the primaries are on right now. Trump has already essentially won his one. The Democrats are going through the motions, holding primaries in different states a process that will continue until about May. No one pays much heed to them right now because the President is easily winning all of them. But what happens if President Biden decides or is forced to withdraw sometime between May and the convention, which takes place from August 19 to 22 in Chicago? If that happens, there would be no primary elections to decide who should be the candidate and so the Democratic National Convention would decide it. What on earth even is it? The easiest way to describe it is as the Ard Fheis. The Democratic National Convention is made up of delegates from the Democratic Party all across the country. Each state in the Union sends delegates to it. The number of delegates from each state is decided by the size of the state and this is quite the rule! how many times that state has voted Democrat in recent presidential elections. On top of that, there is a whole set of people party officials and elected representatives who get to be a delegate and vote. With nothing to guide them outside the convention centre, these delegates would decide who should face Donald Trump for the US Presidency. Candidates will be nominated, they will make speeches, and deals will be done. The Democrats are too politically correct these days to have actual smoke-filled rooms, but that is what they will be smoke or not! The convention will keep voting until the party has a nominee. The current Vice President, Kamala Harris, will surely run. Others will appear the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, among them. If it is an entirely new candidate, that person will run in the presidential election on the slogan time to turn the page, arguing that it is time to leave the era of divisiveness behind. That may prove a compelling argument. If it comes about, it may be Donald Trump who comes to regret those words of Robert Hurs. But maybe none of this will happen, and President Biden will run. But just in case he doesnt, put August 19-22 into your diary. The Democratic National Convention might be the most watched event in television history and if so, you and I will be in the audience. (Bloomberg) -- Investors in West African countries are enjoying the best returns on the continent, and are shifting money flows to a region thats performed well despite coups, radical economic overhauls and debt restructurings. Most Read from Bloomberg Over the past year, holders of dollar bonds have made 8.5% in Ivory Coast, 8.7% in Gabon, 11.4% in Senegal, 14.2% in Ghana and 28.2% in Nigeria, all beating the 8.3% average for sovereign emerging and frontier countries in a Bloomberg index. The western region is now home to the fastest-growing economies in Africa, which have diversified their sources of funding and mostly have debt loads investors see as relatively well-managed. And while Nigerias currency has been devalued, many of its neighbors particularly francophone countries which have pegged their currencies to the euro offer lower currency risk and more stability to investors wary of being burned by steep depreciations and devaluations that have occurred elsewhere. Economic reforms in countries such as Ivory Coast and Benin have made the region a magnet for support from international lending institutions like the International Monetary Fund. And while political upheaval has taken its toll there have been seven military coups in West and Central Africa over the past four years, and Senegals president attempted to delay an election this year stronger institutions have allayed some of investors worst fears, according to Sren Mrch, portfolio manager at Danske Bank Asset Management. I think some investors are underestimating the huge support from IMF, World Bank, African Development Bank and many other IFIs, Mrch said, referring to international financial institutions. The fact that lenders in the west are eager to help is clearly a credit positive, and also the technical picture is very much in favor of these countries, he said. Story continues China has also taken note. In 2021 and 2022, it signed off on 16 loans worth a combined $2.22 billion to African countries, according to data compiled by Boston Universitys Global Development Policy Center. Of that, $1.92 billion, or 86%, went into projects in West Africa, with Senegal, Benin, and the Ivory Coast receiving the largest amounts. Chinese investment had traditionally been concentrated in Southern and East Africa. Investors are also looking to capitalize on geographic advantages, particularly as trade routes shift away from the Red Sea amid attacks related to the Israel-Hamas war, and as developed nations seek to near-shore supply chains. Hubs in West Africa are increasing their appeal as solid bases for manufacturing companies, said Yvette Babb, a portfolio manager at William Blair Investment Management in The Hague. Ivory Coast is an example as it has expressed a desire to move up the value chain of some of its agro-processing and has seen some foreign direct investment related to that, she said. Political Risks For now, the promise has been enough to encourage many investors to overlook the risks. Volatility surged in Gabons bonds after a coup last year, and Senegals took a hit from President Macky Salls short-lived bid to delay an election. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are now junta-led and plan to withdraw from the regional economic bloc ECOWAS, adding potential risks, according to S&P Global Ratings. None of the three countries has eurobonds. In Eastern Africa, Ethiopia was long the continents fastest-growing economy and in 2019 the worlds fastest-growing, until a civil war broke out in 2020. It defaulted in December. The downgrade last year of the regions largest economy, Kenya, put a little bit of a damper on interest in the east, according to Gerhard Zeelie, head of property finance Africa at Nedbank Group Ltd. Interest in Southern Africa has also dimmed. According to the African Development Bank Group, the region is expected to to expand just 2.7% in 2024, dragged down by the performance of South Africa, the continents most industrialized economy. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Gordon Deegan Pre-tax profits at the Co Galway-based Chanelle Pharma group decreased by 42 per cent to 13.7 million last year due to higher costs. Earlier this month, vet-turned businessman, Michael Burke sold Chanelle Pharmaceuticals he founded more than 40 years ago in a deal understood to be about 300 million to British private equity group, Exponent. Now, in new consolidated accounts for Chanelle Pharma Ltd, they show that the group recorded the 10 million decrease in pre-tax profits to 13.7 million as revenues increased by five per cent from 162.77 million to 171.12 million in the 12 months to the end of April 30th last. Profits were hit after the cost of sales increased by 15 per cent rising from 108.13 million to 124.66 million. The group last year paid out dividends of 5.75 million and this followed a dividend payout of 10 million in the prior year. The accounts were signed off on December 8th ahead of the Exponent deal and sounding an upbeat note on the business's prospects, the directors state: "Trading since the start of the new financial year has been encouraging. The indications at this stage are positive with strong market demand for our products and delivery pipeline. They state: "We believe in the capability of our people and our ability to execute our strategy and therefore remain confident in our future growth prospects. On the groups future developments, the directors state that "the company will continue to pursue new opportunities to grow its products and customer base, through a combination of organic growth, product delivery and expansion of our manufacturing capabilities in our facilities. They state: "Numerous marketing authorisations for product approvals have been achieved throughout the year as well as a number of licence and supply agreements. Although none are material in their own right, they all strengthen the existing product portfolio. The profit takes account of non-cash depreciation charges of 3.76 million and Research & Development costs of 3.3 million. Numbers employed by the Michael Burke founded group increased from 595 to 660 as staff costs increased from 28.9 million to 33.39 million. The main activity of Chanelle Pharma is the manufacture and sale of veterinary and medical pharma products worldwide together with associated research and development. Shareholder funds at the end of April 30th totalled 55 million that included accumulated profits of 52.8 million. The group's post-tax profit last year was 11.07 million after incurring a corporation tax charge of 2.6 million. Directors pay last year increased sharply from 468,4082 to 764,784. Key management personnel were paid 1.65 million. A breakdown of the group's revenues show that it generated revenues of 83.07 million in the Republic, 76.4 million in Europe and 11.6 million in rest of world. David Raleigh Tributes have been paid to two young men killed and two others who were injured in a road crash in Co Limerick on Tuesday night. The four men, aged in their late teens and early 20s, were students in an agricultural course run jointly by Technical University of the Shannon (TUS) and Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry. They had been travelling in a car that struck a wall on the N69 at Ballyengland, near Askeaton, at around 7.25pm on Tuesday night. Two of the men, Darragh Dullea, (20), from Clonakilty, Co Cork, and Cillian Kirwan, (19), from Piltown, Co Kilkenny, who were passengers in the car, were killed in the incident. The two other men, including the driver, from Charleville, Co Cork, and Birr, Co Offaly, were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick, where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The four young men had been in their final year of their two-year course in agricultural mechanisation, gaining qualifications for working with farm machinery. I would like to send my condolences to the families of the two students that have tragically lost their lives, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and their friends and classmates, and I also wish the two students who are in hospital a speedy recovery, Salesians College principal Derek ODonoghue said. Mr ODonoghue added the four men returned to Pallaskenry in January after eight months' placement, so they are really just five weeks back here in college. Its very unfortunate, he said. Exemplary students Paying tribute, Mr ODonoghue described the four men as exemplary students, hardworking [and] diligent. Mr ODonoghue said staff from TUS were providing counselling and other psychological supports to students. The four occupants of the car were all on the same course together, and they were all residential students here in Pallaskenry, he explained. Adam Teskey a local Fine Gael councillor, offered his sympathies to the four mens families and said the local community was left absolutely stunned and in a total state of shock after this immense tragedy. Two families have suffered the ultimate loss of life and for that I want to express my sincere sympathies to them. Cllr Teskey described the N69 as a dangerous road that is no stranger to fatal road collisions. The road was closed throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday while a forensic examination of the scene was carried out. Gardai have appealed for witnesses of the crash to contact Askeaton Garda station 061-601 630 or any Garda station. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Yemen's Houthi rebels launched attacks Thursday on both Israel and a ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden, setting the vessel ablaze and again demonstrating their ability to launch assaults despite facing U.S.-led airstrikes targeting their forces. The rebels' supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced an the escalation in sea operations conducted by his forces as part of what they describe a pressure campaign to end Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But the Houthis' targets have grown more random since their attacks began in November, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments traveling from Asia and the Middle East onward to Europe. The attack Thursday in the Gulf of Aden saw two missiles fired at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, the U.S. military's Central Command said. A European naval force in the region described the attack as sparking a fire and wounding one sailor on board the vessel, though the ship is continuing on its way. The Islander had been coming from Thailand bound for Egypt and previously sent out messages saying SYRIAN CREW ON BOARD to potentially avoid being targeted by the Houthis. Other vessels similarly have sent messages identifying their crews as Muslims or not affiliated with Israel to try and avoid rebel attacks. Meanwhile, sirens sounded early Thursday morning over the southern Israeli port of Eilat, followed by videos posted online of what appeared to be an interception in the sky overhead. The Israeli military later said the interception was carried out by its Arrow missile defense system. Israel did not identify what the fire was, nor where it came from. However, the Arrow system intercepts long-range ballistic missiles with a warhead designed to destroy targets while they are in space. The system successfully intercepted a launch which was identified in the area of the Red Sea and was en route to Israel, the Israeli military said. The target did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to civilians. Eilat, on the Red Sea, is a key port city of Israel. On Oct. 31, Houthis first claimed a missile-and-drone barrage targeting the city. The rebels have claimed other attacks targeting Eilat, which have caused no damage in the city. Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks in a statement late Thursday night. The Houthis persist in upholding their religious, moral and humanitarian duties towards the Palestinian people and in defense of their beloved Yemen in the face of American-British aggression, Saree said in a prerecorded statement. Military operations will not stop unless the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted. Saree also claimed a drone attack on a U.S. warship in the region. Central Command said it and an allied warship shot down six Houthi drones in the Red Sea. France's military claimed downing two of the Houthi drones. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over the Israel-Hamas war. Those vessels have included at least one with cargo for Iran, the Houthis main benefactor, and an aid ship later bound for Houthi-controlled territory. Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks. This week, they severely damaged a ship in a crucial strait and downed an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. The Houthis insist their attacks will continue until Israel stops its combat operations in the Gaza Strip, which have enraged the wider Arab world and seen the Houthis gain international recognition. Al-Houthi, the rebels' leader, gave a televised speech in which he described an escalation in their attacks. "Missiles, drones and military boats have been activated, and submarine weapons have been introduced into our operations at sea, which is worrying to the enemy, he said. Central Command in recent days acknowledged destroying an underwater bomb-carrying Houthi drone. Al-Houthi also denied his forces were allowing some vessels pass through the waterways by Yemen unharmed after paying protection money. The enemy failed in the face of our operations at sea," he said. He was not able to prevent them, nor was he able to deter them, nor was he able to limit or reduce them. The Houthis, a Zaydi Shiite group, seized Yemen's capital in 2014 and have battled a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. Their Zaydi people ran a 1,000-year kingdom in Yemen up until 1962. The U.S. State Department has criticized the reckless and indiscriminate attacks on civilian cargo ships by the Houthis that have delayed humanitarian aid including food and medicine bound for Ethiopia, Sudan and Yemen. That includes the Sea Champion, a ship carrying corn and other aid to both Aden and Hodeida that was recently targeted. Contrary to what the Houthis may attempt to claim, their attacks do nothing to help the Palestinians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Their actions are not bringing a single morsel of assistance or food to the Palestinian people. READING, Pa. - The YMCA of Reading & Berks County will hold its 18th annual St. Pattys Marsh Madness Polar Plunge on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Blue Marsh Lake. Registration begins at 10 a.m. at the lake's Dry Brooks Day-Use Area. Organizers say the plunge starts promptly at 11 a.m. and an after-party and an awards ceremony for door prizes, crazy costumes, and top fundraisers will immediately follow the plunge. Whether youre dipping a toe in the lake or doing a deep dive, our Polar Plunge event is a fun and entertaining way of chilling with friends, families and neighbors who rally together to support Berks County youth. March Madness Polar Plunge makes it possible to give children foundational tools and experiences that help them grow academically, physically, mentally and spiritually, said Phillip Borup, president and CEO of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. All proceeds from Marsh Madness benefit the Ys Open Doors scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to children and families based on need and circumstance, regardless of their ability to pay. The program gives families access to programs including youth sports, childcare, summer day camp and swim lessons. To participate, individuals and/or teams can pre-register HERE or by contacting kdanner@ymcarbc.org Organizers say last years event raised more than $55,000. READING, Pa. The Berks County Board of Elections was updated on Thursday in regard to recent litigation filed against the Department of State and all 67 County Board of Elections. Board solicitor Cody L. Kauffman explained the lawsuit was recently filed in the Commonwealth Court by Republican State Representatives David H. Zimmerman and Kathy Rapp. Zimmerman of the 99th District serves a portion of Berks County. Kauffman said the lawsuit is asking the court to declare statutes regarding absentee ballots as unconstitutional. The statutes set forth the parameters that absentee and mail-in ballots are to be returned to the county boards and then subsequently canvassed by the county boards, Kauffman said. There is a provision of the Pennsylvania State Constitution regarding absentee voters, which states that the legislature shall provide for the return and the canvasing (accounting, computing, and tallying) of their absentee ballots in the election district in which they respectively reside. So the basis for the unconstitutionality argument is that those statutory provisions are contrary to the requirements in the Constitution. Kauffman said what the lawsuit is seeking to do is have the counties return absentee ballots to their specific precincts for canvassing. The constitution only mentions absentee ballots and not mail-in ballots, so the lawsuit is only applicable specifically to absentee ballots. Wyomissing attorney Jeff Butkowski is representing Berks County in the case. Butkowski explained that the issue was previously addressed in a 1968 case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court determined that the statute on the counting of the absentee ballots centrally was constitutional and that we shouldn't read the constitutional requirements as requiring absurd results, Butkowski said. Butkowski added that the 1968 decisions stated the constitutional amendment never intended the actual counting of absentee ballots to be performed in the local districts. Board chairman Michael S. Rivera noted that the chain of custody of the absentee ballots would be almost impossible to maintain. It would be a logistical nightmare apart from breaking that chain of custody with those ballots and also apart from that, there could be possible inconsistencies in how these ballots would be handled because you have 202 precincts, Rivera said. In other business, Director of Elections Anne Norton said Shoemakersville is in need of a new polling place as an elementary school within the Hamburg School District wants the school removed as a polling site for safety concerns. Norton said the borough has offered the use of the borough hall, but is non-compliant based on its parking lot and ADA requirements. The board voted to notify the Hamburg School District that the polling place can be changed when the borough makes the necessary improvements to its facilities. Norton noted the request was to have the school removed, but did not specify a specific date or election for the matter to be resolved. READING, Pa. The Berks County Commissioners on Thursday presented Shirley Moyer, Oley Township, with a certificate of recognition for her long-time association with the Oley Fair, which is held each September. Moyer, who has had a lifetime involvement with the fair, is the full-time secretary/treasurer for Oley Township. In January, Moyer was named the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs Person of the Year during the organizations annual convention in Hershey. Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach said he was privileged to attend the convention and be present for the award. What made that event unique and special, not just for me to be there, but special for Berks County, is that one of our own was recognized as the 2023 Fair Person of the Year and that is Shirley Moyer, Leinbach said. Shirley Moyer has been involved with the Oley Fair for many, many years, as well as a number of other community events. Leinbach quoted comments from Moyer following the award: Agriculture is all around us each day, even though we may not live on a farm. It is in the food we eat, the milk we drink, the clothing we wear, the landscaping around our homes and many other places. This is why I feel that fairs are important, an important part of educating the public about how important agriculture is in our daily lives and the need to preserve the disappearing farmland across the nation. Leinbach called the award a big win for Berks County, as there are 67 counties in the state. Moyer said she was very honored by the award since there are a total of 108 fairs across the state of Pennsylvania. We have some great community fairs throughout Berks County, but consistently, I believe the best run and attended fair year after year over decades has been the Oley Fair, Leinbach said. It's just very impressive to see what you do; it's a pretty incredible event and you should be proud for all of your involvement. Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration on Wednesday announced a $1 million tuition assistance program for emergency medical services professionals. Those who have obtained a state certification as an emergency medical technician or paramedic could have a portion of their tuition reimbursed. "Paramedic programs cost up to $9,000 to go to paramedic school," said Anthony Tucci, chief executive director of the Western Berks Ambulance Association. "With a reimbursement of about $5,000, that's great news." It will be funded from the state Fireworks Tax Act over the next three years. The program is meant to help recruit and retain staff. "This is the first time that it's happened," said Tucci. "This is going to be a great reimbursement tool, not only for the services to get that reimbursed, but get those people on board." The state Department of Health said people living in Pennsylvania who have obtained any of the following certifications after July 1, 2023, are eligible: Emergency medical responder. Emergency medical technician. Advanced emergency medical technician. Paramedic. "Since COVID, we've had a very drastic drop in EMTs that are not only coming into the field, but that are also leaving the field EMTs, paramedics and all of that," said Tucci. Tucci said he's hopeful the tuition reimbursement will encourage more interest in EMS careers. "It's on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funding has been exhausted," Tucci said of the reimbursement. State-licensed EMS agencies are also eligible for a reimbursement of up to $1,250 per fiscal year. "I would encourage everyone to apply for this once they get it," Tucci said. "The benefit is you can start class now. Once you graduate after July 1, you'll be able to get this reimbursement." People can apply through the EMS registry website. Those who obtain any emergency medical professional certification after Feb. 1 will receive an email with information to also apply. READING, Pa. - Two men were found guilty Wednesday for their roles in a 2022 double murder in the City of Reading. Jonathon Rodriguez and Emanuel Soto were convicted by a jury of two counts of 1st degree murder and related charges. On March 10, 2022, Rodriguez and Soto shot and killed Taurice Green and Marques Sudler in the 600 block of Miltimore Street. A third defendant in the case, Darrian Kreitz, does not have a future court date scheduled at this time, according to online court records. Both Soto and Rodriguez remain incarcerated pending sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25. ALLENTOWN, Pa. Allentown City Council voted Wednesday night to adopt a resolution that will prevent any members of city administration from being part of the scoring process to select a service that will conduct an investigation into the administration. The resolution states: "Outside of the purchasing agent (from the city), neither the director of finance nor anyone from the administration should participate in the scoring process or be present during the process to select a response to the request for proposals for selecting investigatory services." City Council voted on Sept. 20, 2023, to adopt an ordinance to authorize an investigation by an outside agency for the purpose of examining procedures related to the hiring, terminations and discipline of employees. The ordinance was an outcome of public complaints by members of the city's NAACP branch, alleging discrimination and harassment against city employees. In addition, the city's former human resources director, Nadeem Shahzad, alleged Mayor Matt Tuerk fired him over issues involving minority employees. One of the legal problems with the resolution is that the city charter requires someone from the finance department to be present during the request-for-proposal process. The city solicitor had made correspondence recommending the mayor not sign the resolution if it does not conform with the requirements of the charter. Tuerk did not attend the council meeting on Wednesday. Councilmember Ed Zucal reminded council and the public that the city charter gives council the power to make or cause investigations, audits or studies of the city. He also said that when the matter was brought up in October, the mayor said the administration welcomes the investigation. "Since that time, we have been met with nothing but resistance with regards to this investigation," Zucal said. "The issue I have is an inherent conflict of the finance director being a part of that group of people meeting with our committee to choose the evaluation. I'm surprised that that they would even think that this isn't a conflict." Charles F. Smith Jr., solicitor to council, said council will have to decide what path to take should the mayor refuse to sign the resolution. Karen Ocasio, one of three city employees who had been fired, spoke to council saying, "Can we just focus on the fact that the administration is the one that's being investigated?" "There's a lot of opposition from the administration, and that's clearly showing that they're hiding something because if they weren't hiding anything, they would be completely open," Ocasio said. "But so much opposition is clearly showing something." "They violated my rights, they violated me, they violated other employees," she alleged. "We do not need to have anybody from the administration scoring on anything." Barbara Redmond, secretary for the Allentown Branch of the NAACP, spoke about how she claims the City of Allentown is treating employees of color. "It is pitiful, and they need to be investigated, and the administrator does not need to be involved, and if the mayor decides he doesn't want to sign it, then that says a lot about him," Redmond said. "That shows that he has something to hide." Remote participation In other business, Councilmember Candida Affa introduced a proposed resolution that would prohibit councilmembers from participating in or voting at council meetings remotely. "Especially when it comes to voting, I'd like to have that councilperson here," Affa said. "I don't know where this councilperson is, who's sitting next to this councilperson, if someone is influencing this councilperson, and I believe it's our duty as an elected official to come to the meetings." The proposed resolution will be discussed by the rules, chambers, intergovernmental and strategy committee. Councilperson Ce-Ce Gerlach appeared to not be in favor of the proposal. "I think this is going to be an important conversation because this will affect all of us," Gerlach said. "I can't think of one person who hasn't had to call in." Unused ARPA funds Also Wednesday, council referred a proposed resolution to the budget and finance committee that would direct all unused American Rescue Plan Act money to be used to offset any potential tax increases and used for critical infrastructure projects. Allentown Rescue Mission Clean Team Council also voted to table a proposal to reauthorize a contract with Allentown Rescue Mission Clean Team LLC for an estimated cost of $349,127 a year. The group provides maintenance services for the city's Central Business district, special events assistance, snow cleanup and a special cleanup project. Allentown tables contract with 'Clean Team' over questions about wages, practices Allentown City Council voted to table a contract for maintenance services due to questions raised about the company's religious ties and employee wages. The Clean Team is a separate entity from the rescue mission and is a secular workforce with no religious affiliation. Council agreed to postpone a vote because some councilmembers and members of the community criticized the organization for discrimination against some individuals based on it being a Christian organization. The Allentown Rescue Mission says it has not received any charges from anybody of discrimination. The mission says it provides work force training for the men who work for the Clean Team. Council asked for more information on the practices of the organization before a vote on the contract takes place. Public comment 3:02 Allentown City Council hears intense public comment on Israel-Hamas war It wasn't on the agenda, but community members took to the podium to express different viewpoints on whether City Council should support a ceasefire in Gaza. Wednesday's meeting also featured an intense public comment period, during which large number of community members implored City Council to adopt a resolution supporting a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Several speakers representing the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley also spoke to offer opposing viewpoints, saying anti-Semitism is on the rise in Allentown and that Jewish gatherings or religious services require heavy security. (Bloomberg) -- Guyana wont approve oil exploration in waters near Venezuela at least until the United Nations highest court rules on the countries borders, a government official said. Most Read from Bloomberg Venezuelas maritime claim rests north of a projected 70-degree line out to sea from Punta Playa on the border with Guyana. The Guyanese government, along with most of the international community, rejects that claim, and the matter is being considered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Venezuela rejects the courts authority. Even so, Guyana will restrict oil-related activities to south of that unverified border to avoid inflaming the situation, the official, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, said in an interview. The ministers comments come amid growing rhetoric from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on his claims to the Essequibo region, which makes up about two-thirds of Guyanas land territory. Exxon Mobil Corp. has been accelerating development of massive oil discoveries off the Guyanese coast that are transforming the sparsely populated South American nation in recent years. The Texas oil giant produces about 645,000 barrels a day from Guyanese waters, up from nothing five years ago. Because of our respect for international rule of law and the International Court of Justice, weve refrained from issuing approvals to Exxon to do any exploration activities above that 70 degree line, he said. We will hold off on that at least until that decision is made formally. We are not a country that is in the habit of aggravating any situation. Read More: Exxon Is Not Going Anywhere as Venezuela Threatens Guyana Story continues The part of the Stabroek Block north of Venezuelas projected 70-degree line is under force majeure, Exxon country manager Alistair Routledge said in an interview. We cant access it, we cant follow through on our obligations or our rights until such time as that force majeure is lifted by the Guyanese government, he said. Were not going to push to do activity in that area. Exxon last accessed the area in 2018 to conduct seismic surveys but exited after encountering Venezuelan vessels. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. ALLENTOWN, Pa. A scene that played out at Tuesday night's Bethlehem City Council meeting repeated itself Wednesday night in the city of Allentown. Public calls on Bethlehem City Council to support ceasefire in Gaza Bethlehem City Council heard input from over 30 people Tuesday, asking the body to create a resolution supporting a ceasefire of the fighting in Gaza. A large number of community members implored Allentown City Council to adopt a resolution supporting a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The issue was not on the evening's agenda, but that did not stop dozens of people from commenting on it. Hopewell Drive resident Mohammed Khaku said the images coming from Gaza are disturbing and distressing to Palestinian Americans. "We are not against Jewish people; it is against Zionism," Khaku said. "I hope you people will vote for this resolution because silence or abstaining is a crime to humanity. If you do not vote for this resolution, look into your soul and maybe reconsider." Jose Armando Jimenez said he believes it is important for City Council to listen to the immigrant community in Allentown. "I understand when you are saying, 'How is this a local issue?" Jimenez said. "Look around, Allentown is made up of immigrants and of Palestinians." "I don't think we're saying that, that anybody hates towards people," he said. "We're just saying that the state of Israel is committing genocide in Palestine. They're using our tax dollars, and we don't want that money to go to genocide instead of investing here in in Allentown." "I join you today as a representative of Lehigh Valley Artist Alliance and as a signatory of 'Lehigh Valley Artists for a Free Palestine,' a letter signed by over 100 artists and local community members who are joining global calls for a ceasefire, as well as local calls for this council to immediately put a ceasefire resolution on the agenda," said Drew Swedberg, film manager at the Civic Theatre of Allentown. Other speakers claimed to have family members in danger due to the war. "Israel bombed Syria today, so Israel is bombing the surrounding countries, and I have family still in Syria who are still considered Palestinian refugees, and my heart stopped when I saw that today," said Raya Abdelaal. A man who identified himself only as Omar said the U.S. government has made this a local issue when they chose to fund and support the government of Israel. "The Pennsylvania treasury department has invested over $50 million in Israeli government bonds," Omar claimed. "That's $50 million of our hard-earned money that could be used here for a billion different things." "Amnesty International, an independent humanitarian organization, said Israel's continuing oppressive and discriminatory system of governing Palestine in Israel and the occupied territories constituted a system of apartheid, and Israel officials committed the crime of apartheid under international law," he claimed. "We're not talking about Jewish people or religion or ethnicity," Omar added. "We have a right to criticize governments as we criticize our local governments and other governments like China and Iran and many others for their violations of human rights and other abuses." "Unconditional aid should not be furnished to any government, including the government of Israel," he said. Opposing viewpoints Representatives of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley gave opposing viewpoints, saying anti-Semitism is on the rise in Allentown and that Jewish gatherings or religious services require heavy security. "It will be a never-ending process for the City of Allentown to dedicate each of these sessions to passing resolutions for each international conflict occurring around the world, and it will be even worse to only pass one resolution out of all of these conflicts merely because it's more present on the media," said Aaron Gorodzinsky, with the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. "And it will be incredibly hurtful to the Jewish community that the one resolution that gets passed is against the Jewish community who is very much active in this community," Gorodzinsky said. "We ask, on our behalf for our community, that City Council does not give into the pressure and open the door to pass any resolutions that have very little to do with the functioning of the city, will very much damage the citizens of the city of Allentown." "The Jewish community has been targeted by multiple bomb threats in the city of Allentown," Gorodzinsky said. "Two of our synagogues were targeted during funeral and religious services." Robert Wax, who is the president of the board of directors for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, reminded council that Hamas uses human civilians as shields to protect terrorist activities. "What should a city council be focused on?" Wax asked. "A city council should be focused on the shootings of four people in the city of Allentown yesterday." "Foreign affair issues should be taken up with our federal legislators, with Representative (Susan) Wild, with our senators, and yes, with our president," Wax said. "And if they're not happy, there are elections coming up." What's next City Council members did not comment on whether they intend to create a resolution regarding the war in Gaza, but it's clear that whether they do or don't, the issue is dividing members of the community. "I don't approve of my federal tax dollars going to fund a genocide to displace more people," said Abdelaal. "I represent a community that's fearful, and I would like to remind you of your responsibility by not allowing any type of resolutions to take a position that does not belong here in the city in the first place," Gorodzinsky said. "It's a foreign policy issue that only belongs at the state department and Congress." City investigation bids Allentown adopts resolution to block city administration from investigation bids The resolution keeps the director of finance and members of the Allentown administration from selecting services related to an investigation into the city. City Council did unanimously pass a different resolution Wednesday, requiring that no member of the city administration be involved in the selection process of the contractor that will ultimately investigate city hall over claims of discrimination in the workplace. BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - A staff member confirms Bethlehem Township's Notre Dame High School is virtual because of a flu outbreak. A quarter of the students were out sick Thursday. We also spoke to someone impacted by the norovirus, a virus where there is no vaccine and washing your hands is the best protection. All of a sudden, he just went in, vomited here now, and then he had a lot of diarrhea, Bethlehem's Jennifer Jones said as she described the weeklong fall fight her 8-year-old son Dallas had with the norovirus. It was just constant cleaning up after him and constant showers, she said. Current CDC data show the Northeast region of the country has the highest positivity rate of the very contagious stomach bug which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. You could be feeling fine one minute, and just feeling completely nauseated the next minute, said Dr. Michael Kimzey, the head of Infectious Disease at Doylestown Health. Kimzey says there is no vaccine for the typically two-to-three day highly contagious virus, that severely dehydrates the body, and can be contracted by touching a tabletop or shaking a hand. Alcohol rinses that we use, they will not protect you, they don't get rid of this virus. So really the only way to cleanse your hands is going to be using soap and water, he said. The norovirus uptick comes during flu season, according to staff. Bethlehem Township's Notre Dame High is virtual Friday due to the flu. Luckily, we rarely see both at the same time, you're just struck with one or the other. But both can cause severe disease, Kimzey said of the flu and norovirus mixing. As for Dallas, he's back to full strength. He has a lot of allergies, like seasonal allergies. Other than that, he's fine. Yeah, he's fine, he said. Doctors say get the flu vaccine, and drink a lot of liquids if you have the norovirus. L. SAUCON TWP., Pa. At its three-and-a-half-hour meeting Wednesday night, Lower Saucon Township Council was again plagued by personal attacks and the partisan battles that have become common in recent months. Right away, Councilmember Jason Banonis, who is also a former council president, brought up the ongoing solicitor issue. The township has already employed two solicitors since council voted not to reinstate longtime attorney Lincoln Treadwell at the beginning of 2024. Treadwell's immediate replacement, interim solicitor Mark Freed, was replaced after just weeks on the job by current interim solicitor Steven N. Goudsouzian, of Palmer Township-based Goudsouzian and Associates. According to Banonis, Goudsouzian's position as solicitor of the Hellertown Zoning Hearing Board poses a "conflict of interest" for the interests of Lower Saucon Township, as it is currently involved in litigation with Hellertown Borough over library-related issues. "I believe that Mr. Goudsouzian cannot represent this township as well as Hellertown Borough," said Banonis, a Republican. As he did for much of Wednesday's meeting, fellow GOP Councilmember Tom Carocci echoed Banonis' comments. Carocci said that Goudsouzian holding solicitor positions in both municipalities was "disgraceful" and akin to "taking his neighbors' money." Banonis charged that the board's three Democrats council President Priscilla deLeon, Vice President Laura Ray and member Victoria Opthof-Cordaro had violated Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act by discussing matters related to Goudsouzian during an executive session. The three women denied his claims, with Opthof-Cordaro arguing that Goudsouzian only represented Hellertown's zoning hearing board and not the borough itself. A motion to prepare a request for permanent township solicitor applications to eventually replace Goudsouzian as interim solicitor failed 3-2 along party lines. A resident who spoke during a later public comment session claimed that Goudsouzian had resigned from the Hellertown Zoning Hearing Board, but the interim solicitor did not confirm or deny his employment status with the borough on Wednesday night. Settlement with Hellertown library In other Hellertown news, council passed a motion made by Opthof-Cordaro related to last month's approval of a $98,000 settlement with the Hellertown Area Library. Passed by a 3-2 vote, the motion directs the township solicitor to pursue a potential settlement to the Hellertown Area Library and Pennsylvania's Office of Commonwealth Libraries, with the goal of terminating outstanding litigation between the library and Lower Saucon Township. Banonis railed against the motion, arguing there was no enforceable contract to make the township pay any money to the library. "The dumbasses on this council want to prop up this malfeasance," Banonis said. Repeatedly interrupting his fellow councilmembers, Carocci said the township approving the motion made Hellertown Area Library "guilty of fraud." As council president, deLeon used her gavel when she deemed Carocci's interruptions made him out of order. Carocci responded by name-calling her "Gavel Nazi" and "Vladimir deLeon," drawing audible gasps from the public (Watch around 02:08:55 in the meeting video.). 2024 budget Later, the meeting's focus turned to issues related to the township's 2024 budget. According to Banonis, the budget had more than $9 million in reserves well over the 25% of "future year's expenses" required by Pennsylvania's second-class township municipal code. The township should only have about $2.7 million in its reserves under this threshold, so the excessive reserve funds are illegal and must be addressed, Banonis claimed. Banonis made three motions to council to address the issue, all of which were rejected by a 3-2 party line vote. The motions would have authorized a Lower Saucon Township Police Department investigation into the funds, as well as authorizing notification of both the township's insurance carrier and Goudzouzian's malpractice insurance provider of any impending legal claims brought against the township as a result of any wrongdoing. Lower Saucon Township Council will next meet on Wednesday, March 6. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG, Pa. In his state budget pitch, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro called for the Pennsylvania legislature to legalize recreational marijuana. Shapiro is not breaking new ground. His predecessor, Democrat Tom Wolf, came out in support of legalization in 2019 and unsuccessfully pushed for it in his final years in office. But while Wolf faced a completely Republican-controlled legislature, Shapiro has the benefit of a Democratic-led state House. And it appears attitudes in the still GOP-dominated state Senate are shifting. The state senator who controls a key committee supports legalization, and the lawmaker in charge of setting the chambers agenda has expressed a willingness to explore the topic despite his belief that Pennsylvania should wait for the federal government to act. The real question is: What are the details of how he sees that [proceeding]? state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) said of Shapiros pitch at a news conference in February. Shapiros call kicks off what will be a heavily lobbied debate with a lot at stake for the state's coffers, for people who want to take part in a potentially multibillion-dollar industry, and for tens of thousands of marijuana users, many of whom have suffered legal consequences for using the drug in the past. A lot of stuff we do, the general public would find it not so interesting, state Sen. Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia), a prominent legalization supporter, told Spotlight PA. This is interesting to the public. People are interested. People want it to happen. Proponents of legalization argue the commonwealth has fallen behind its neighboring states and misses out on hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue while wasting law enforcement resources. They also note the increasingly unpopular ban on the drugs use has disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. Opponents argue that cannabis legalization runs afoul of current federal law, lacks supporting research, and opens the door to a burgeoning industry that could quickly accumulate market power without proper guidelines to protect public health and safety. Shapiro offered a rough outline of his vision for legalization, leaving most of the details up to the legislature. The industry, he said in his February budget address, should be regulated and taxed responsibly. The final proposal, he continued, should create jobs and invest in the communities that have been disproportionately harmed by criminalization. He also asked that individuals convicted for nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana have their records expunged. His executive budget assumed taxes on legalized recreational sales would bring in about $250 million in annual revenue within five years. Should Pennsylvania lawmakers take up Shapiros call and move toward legalizing marijuana, they would be in charge of hammering out essential details like who can grow and sell the drug and how to regulate the market. State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R., Erie), who with Street has introduced a legalization bill, told Spotlight PA that he was highly doubtful that any existing legislation would pass without changes. Moving through the process, he said, theres going to be a lot of people who want to influence what the final product is like. Building the industry State lawmakers have already presented dueling visions of how marijuana legalization should work in Pennsylvania. A bill in the state House and another in the Senate would allow recreational usage at 21 years of age and expunge nonviolent cannabis convictions such as possession, a priority for Shapiro and legislative Democrats. The proposals otherwise differ, with one putting the state in charge of sales, and the other giving the existing industry a green light to expand. The state House bill, sponsored by 20 Democrats, would direct the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to establish state-run cannabis shops similar to the retail stores that sell wine and spirits. That provision is backed by United Food and Commercial Workers International, an influential labor union that represents some medical marijuana workers as well as state liquor store clerks. The union has argued that state-run retail will allow a quicker start to commercial sales and bring in more revenue by taxing marijuana growers and processors in addition to customers. Pennsylvanias marijuana industry opposes this idea. In an email, Meredith Buettner, executive director of the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition, said that state-run retail stores could put Pennsylvania on a collision course with the federal government and undercut an industry that has already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commonwealth. The state Senate bill, introduced by Laughlin and Street, would use Pennsylvanias existing medical marijuana infrastructure which includes 178 dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis. This is the path favored by Cresco Labs, Trulieve, and many of the other publicly traded, multistate companies that sell medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. The current dispensary infrastructure is the best way to add an adult-use market safely and swiftly, Angela Zaydon, a lobbyist for Trulieve, told state House lawmakers at a February hearing on recreational cannabis. Cannabis is already a lucrative business in Pennsylvania. Dispensaries reported almost $5 billion in total sales through July 2023, according to the state Department of Health. Spotlight PA has identified at least 24 marijuana companies or trade organizations that employ at least nine lobbying firms. Among those registered to lobby are at least seven multistate operators, whose growing market share could give them an outsized role in crafting marijuana policy. Industry executives told state House lawmakers that they want the commonwealth to keep cannabis possession illegal until the recreational industry is off the ground, crack down on unregulated sales in gas stations and convenience stores, and create a new agency solely charged with regulating sales. They oppose Shapiros proposed 20% tax which would be on top of the states 6% sales tax because it would make Pennsylvania uncompetitive with neighboring states, they argue. That tax rate would likely drive consumers to cross state lines or purchase from the black market, they add. That outcome would defeat the point of legalization, which is to get consumers into safe, regulated products, not somebody buying something down the street, Shelly Edgerton, a former Michigan regulator who now lobbies for PharmaCann, told the state House panel. The company is a marijuana grower and retailer that operates in eight states, including Pennsylvania. Lawmakers, particularly the Democrats who run the state House, insist that legalization must spread the economic benefits among small-business owners and people who have been harmed by marijuana criminalization. Allowing medical marijuana businesses to immediately jump into recreational sales would give those larger and publicly traded companies a competitive advantage, argued Shaleen Title, a former Massachusetts marijuana regulator turned cannabis consumer advocate. Those companies usually can conflate their profit motive with the legitimate desire of marijuana consumers to be able to access legal products more quickly, Title said in an email. But giving themselves an advantage reduces competition and hurts consumers in the long term by increasing prices and reducing the number of distributors, she said. Their influence has raised some mumbles of discontent from grassroots legalization advocates and some lawmakers. But lobbyists jockeying is par for the course, argued legalization champion Street. "Members of the General Assembly are big boys and girls, he told Spotlight PA, and we can handle a little bit of discussion from lobbyists. The state House bill would allow adults to grow limited amounts of cannabis in their homes. Lawmakers who support such a change say that this will lower costs, increase accessibility for users, and bypass the current cannabis sellers that dominate the industry. Will everybody grow? No, they won't, Cherron Perry-Thomas, who runs a marijuana marketing firm and has advocated for racial equity within the industry, told Spotlight PA. However, I think people should have the right. This exception is part of a wider wishlist of social equity policies tied to marijuana legalization, such as expunging criminal records of those convicted of marijuana-related crimes and exclusive access to a pool of industry licenses. Lawmakers and racial justice advocates say that such policies need to be included in any deal that would legalize recreational marijuana. Shapiro proposed that $5 million of revenue be funneled into a restricted account for restorative justice efforts annually. Other states have earmarked far more. Unanswered questions Critics of legalization have focused on the unknowns namely, the impact of higher potency products on consumers and the additional costs to deal with unintended consequences, from increased addiction and mental health treatment to increased policing of the states roads. Studies have suggested some connection between increased marijuana consumption and car crashes, and law enforcement officers have expressed concerns about how they will be able to survey high drivers. For every dollar that we realize revenue, what are we going to pay? asked Scott Bohn, executive director of the state police chiefs association and member of the states Medical Marijuana Advisory Board. What would the expense of this public policy be? Theres questions we would like answered. Those concerns have been echoed inside the Capitol, mostly by conservative Republican lawmakers. From what I'm seeing across the nation, I am not one at this time to jump on the bandwagon, state Rep. Kathy Rapp (R., Warren), ranking Republican on her chambers Health Committee, said at a hearing. Some lawmakers and advocates have pushed to decriminalize marijuana possession and further expunge nonviolent cannabis convictions in the short term while policymakers debate the details of legalization especially as theres no guarantee that any such legislation will pass. No state has gotten this perfect, and we're not going to get it perfect in Pennsylvania, marijuana activist Chris Goldstein told Spotlight PA. But what every state has done right is that they started out with the justice aspect, and that means stopping simple possession arrests. Pennsylvania State Police arrested more than 10,600 people in 2022 whose highest-graded offense was possession, according to state data Goldstein analyzed. We could certainly live with decriminalization, Bohn, the former police chief, told Spotlight PA. Under state law, possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days of jail time and a $500 fine. Street and state Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R., Washington) have introduced legislation that would make possession a summary offense, similar to a speeding ticket, and reduce the penalty to a maximum fine of $25. The fine would be $100 for smoking in a public place such as on the street or in a park. Street told Spotlight PA that decriminalization was within the realm of possibility. But Laughlin, his GOP partner on the legalization bill, said he was worried decriminalization would create a black market and might detract from the larger goal. It would actually delay the legalization push, Laughlin said, because then there would be the argument: Why bother? BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. When France hosts grandiose ceremonies commemorating D-Day, the heroic role of Missak Manouchian and other foreigners among French Resistance fighters in World War II is often overlooked. French President Emmanuel Macron sought to change that Wednesday by inducting Manouchian into the countrys Pantheon national monument. Manouchian was a poet who took refuge in France after surviving the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks. He was executed in 1944 for fighting fascism and being a leader in the resistance to Nazi occupation. Armenia's prime minister also attended Wednesday's ceremony. The Pantheon is the final resting place of France's most revered figures. Former President Jimmy Carter has another distinction to his name. The 99-year-old is the first of the U.S. presidents to be honored with an official White House Christmas ornament while still living. The ornament was unveiled Wednesday and is the latest in a yearly series issued by the White House Historical Association. Carter's ornament is shaped like an anchor in a nod to his Navy service. Other aspects of Carter's presidency are represented by doves, a globe, a submarine and peanuts. Carter remains in hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia. His wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, died in November. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Partly sunny, breezy, and noticeably colder; gusty winds add a chill. A sprinkle or flurry possible, mainly north and west. . Tonight Partly cloudy, windy, and cold. Brisk winds add a chill. There could be an early flurry, especially north and west. Total Revenue: Increased by 7% year-over-year to $295.9 million in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA: Grew significantly to $11.0 million, a 543% increase from the previous year. Technology Revenue: Rose by 6% year-over-year, driving the company's growth. Professional Services Revenue: Saw a 14% increase compared to the previous year. Net Loss: Improved by 14%, with a reduction in loss from operations by 9% year-over-year. Dollar-based Retention Rate: Remained strong at 100% for the year ended December 31, 2023. On February 22, 2024, Health Catalyst Inc (NASDAQ:HCAT) released its 8-K filing, announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023. The company, a leader in providing data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, reported a 7% increase in total revenue to $295.9 million for the year, surpassing the midpoint of its guidance. Adjusted EBITDA also saw a remarkable increase, reaching $11.0 million, which aligns with the company's expectations and represents a 543% increase from the previous year. Health Catalyst operates two segments: Technology, which is the primary revenue driver through cloud-based subscription arrangements, and Professional Services, which combines analytics, implementation, and advisory services. The Technology segment's revenue grew by 6% to $187.6 million, while Professional Services revenue increased by 8% to $108.4 million for the year. Health Catalyst Inc (HCAT) Reports Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion in Q4 and Full Year 2023 Results Financial Performance and Leadership Changes Health Catalyst's CEO, Dan Burton, expressed satisfaction with the company's performance and the progress made in Adjusted EBITDA margin relative to 2022. He also announced leadership changes, with Bryan Hunt transitioning from CFO to a Strategic Advisor role, and Jason Alger stepping in as CFO, effective March 1, 2024. Dan LeSueur will be promoted to Chief Operating Officer, overseeing both the Technology and Professional Services business units. Story continues "For the full year 2023, I am pleased to share that we achieved strong performance across our business, including total revenue of $295.9 million, with this result beating the midpoint of our most recent guidance, and Adjusted EBITDA of $11.0 million, with this result in line with the midpoint of our most recent guidance. Additionally, I am pleased by our meaningful 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin progress relative to 2022, and I am excited that we anticipate material year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA growth again in 2024, at a rate of approximately 125%+." - Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst. Key Financial Metrics The company's GAAP financial measures showed a net loss improvement of 14% year-over-year, with a decrease in loss from operations by 9%. Non-GAAP measures also reflected positive trends, with Adjusted Technology Gross Profit increasing by 4% and Adjusted EBITDA surging by 543% compared to the previous year. However, Adjusted Professional Services Gross Profit declined by 31%, indicating a challenge in maintaining profitability in this segment. Health Catalyst's balance sheet remains solid, with $106.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and $211.5 million in short-term investments as of December 31, 2023. The company's Dollar-based Retention Rate stayed at a robust 100%, reflecting strong customer loyalty and product stickiness. Outlook and Conference Call Details Looking forward, Health Catalyst provided guidance for Q1 and the full year of 2024, expecting total revenue between $72.5 million and $76.5 million for the first quarter, and Adjusted EBITDA between $2.0 million and $4.0 million. For the full year, the company anticipates total revenue between $304 million and $312 million, with Adjusted EBITDA ranging from $24 million to $26 million. The company will host a conference call to discuss the results, providing an opportunity for investors and analysts to gain further insights into the company's performance and strategic direction. Health Catalyst's commitment to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement is evident in its financial results and operational achievements. The company's focus on data and analytics technology, along with its strategic leadership changes, positions it well for continued growth and operational excellence in the dynamic healthcare industry. For more detailed financial information and disclosures, please refer to the full 8-K filing. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Health Catalyst Inc for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Rathbones Group PLC purchased a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 6,100 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $943,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 15.0% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 750,914 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $116,099,000 after buying an additional 98,144 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 38.5% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,625,565 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $251,329,000 after buying an additional 451,876 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 86.8% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 44,960 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,951,000 after buying an additional 20,889 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $251,000. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $973,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.49% of the companys stock. Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts: Applied Industrial Technologies Price Performance Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock opened at $186.26 on Thursday. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $122.24 and a 52-week high of $190.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.54 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a fifty day moving average of $176.16 and a 200-day moving average of $163.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a current ratio of 3.74. Applied Industrial Technologies Increases Dividend Applied Industrial Technologies ( NYSE:AIT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The industrial products company reported $2.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.11 by $0.13. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.39% and a return on equity of 24.59%. The company had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.06 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.05 EPS. The firms revenue was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 9.49 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.79%. This is a boost from Applied Industrial Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Applied Industrial Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 15.53%. Insider Buying and Selling at Applied Industrial Technologies In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, Director Peter C. Wallace sold 1,130 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.19, for a total transaction of $184,404.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 23,641 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,857,974.79. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, Director Peter C. Wallace sold 1,130 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.19, for a total transaction of $184,404.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 23,641 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,857,974.79. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total transaction of $364,680.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 57,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,421,642.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, KeyCorp boosted their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $182.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. View Our Latest Stock Report on AIT About Applied Industrial Technologies (Free Report) Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Free Report) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor purchased 12,204 shares of the oilfield services companys stock, valued at approximately $494,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of HAL. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Halliburton by 259.5% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 166,407 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $6,281,000 after purchasing an additional 120,122 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its stake in shares of Halliburton by 70.5% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 128,001 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $4,847,000 after acquiring an additional 52,933 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Halliburton during the 1st quarter worth approximately $696,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its stake in Halliburton by 81.5% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 2,347 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $89,000 after acquiring an additional 1,054 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in Halliburton by 83.7% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,384 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 1,542 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.09% of the companys stock. Get Halliburton alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have commented on HAL. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Halliburton from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Susquehanna reiterated a positive rating and issued a $49.00 price target on shares of Halliburton in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Halliburton from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. Barclays decreased their target price on Halliburton from $55.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James lowered their target price on Halliburton from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $48.63. Halliburton Price Performance Shares of NYSE HAL opened at $35.13 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.99, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 2.01. The stocks fifty day moving average is $35.44 and its 200 day moving average is $38.07. Halliburton has a 52 week low of $27.84 and a 52 week high of $43.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 2.06. Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The oilfield services company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $5.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.78 billion. Halliburton had a net margin of 11.46% and a return on equity of 31.59%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.72 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Halliburton will post 3.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Halliburton Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 5th. This is a boost from Halliburtons previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. Halliburtons dividend payout ratio is presently 21.84%. About Halliburton (Free Report) Halliburton Company provides products and services to the energy industry worldwide. It operates through two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The Completion and Production segment offers production enhancement services that include stimulation and sand control services; cementing services, such as well bonding and casing, and casing equipment; and completion tools that offer downhole solutions and services, including well completion products and services, intelligent well completions, and service tools, as well as liner hanger, sand control, and multilateral systems. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Halliburton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Halliburton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walmart (WMT) investors are gearing up for a stock split. For the 12th time in 50 years, Walmart will conduct a stock split in an effort to make shares more affordable for its employees. Walmart last carried out a 2-for-1 stock split on April 20, 1999. This time, it will be the company's first 3-for-1 stock split. Here's how it will work: Shares issued in the stock split will be payable after market close on Friday for investors who own shares of the retailer "at the close of business" on Thursday, Feb. 22. On Monday, Feb. 26, at market open, Walmart will begin trading on a post-split basis. This split will increase the number of shares of Walmart's outstanding common stock to approximately 8.1 billion from 2.7 billion shares before the split. Although the stock will trade at a lower price, it won't change the underlying value of existing investments in the company. In a note to clients, CFRA analyst Arun Sundaram explained that the action is "purely cosmetic" with no "impact to fundamentals." However, he noted, stock splits "are perceived as a shareholder-friendly move and a sign of confidence." The Walmart company logo is displayed as traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on May 30, 2023, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images) Why Walmart chose to issue stock now Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the timing of the stock split made sense given Walmart's growth future plans, which it announced at its last annual meeting. Sundaram pointed to other recent announcements from the company, like a pay increase for store managers from $117,000 per year to $128,000 per year, with bonuses of up to 200% of base salary. Walmart also announced a $9 billion dollar investment to modernize stores, which he said "should help drive traffic and volume growth ... and help offset waning average ticket growth." Paying homage to founder Sam Walton, McMillon said he wants all employees to feel a part of Walmart's story, writing in a statement, "As Sam said, 'Were all in this together. Thats the secret.'" Story continues Babson College director Laurie Krigman said there are three reasons why the company would decide on a stock split. First, it signals "confidence" in the future of the company. Second, it brings the stock price down to the "preferred trading range." The third reason is liquidity, where "more shares are trading, even though it's the same dollar amount that's trading," Krigman said. "It just kind of made sense to do a stock split," Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe said to Yahoo Finance. "And this way, it just becomes a little bit more accessible for further employees, and it's all about value and affordability, which is really core to their their culture." What it means for Walmart stock As of late, Walmart stock has gotten a lot of buzz. Shares of the retailer closed at a record high on Tuesday following the company's earnings report and stock split announcement. The stock continued to gain on Friday and was on track to surpass Tuesday's high. Some see the stock split as a positive catalyst since more retail investors are able to afford the lower-priced stock post-split. "We view [the stock split] as incrementally positive to WMT's growth and multiple expansion prospects," Tarlowe said. However, it hasn't always played out that way. Since 1975, Walmart stock has seen positive returns in the three months following a stock split six out of nine times. And overall, the record is pretty mixed. For instance, Walmart saw a 73% return in the three months after its July 1982 stock split. But shares of Walmart declined by 20% in the three months after the 2-for-1 split in February 1993. In the end, Krigman offered a warning to potential investors: Be sure you understand the fundamentals and how the company is performing first. "It really doesn't mean anything," Krigman said about the stock split. "It's an accounting gimmick." Krigman reminded investors who own shares that, after the split, they "are economically in exactly the same position." Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Algert Global LLC boosted its position in Louisiana-Pacific Co. (NYSE:LPX Free Report) by 90.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 130,493 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock after purchasing an additional 61,920 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC owned about 0.18% of Louisiana-Pacific worth $7,212,000 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 LPX. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of Louisiana-Pacific by 4.1% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 47,998 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock valued at $2,982,000 after buying an additional 1,898 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Louisiana-Pacific by 116.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 28,113 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock valued at $1,746,000 after acquiring an additional 15,115 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Louisiana-Pacific by 50.3% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 9,505 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock valued at $590,000 after acquiring an additional 3,179 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Louisiana-Pacific by 34.1% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 57,184 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $3,552,000 after purchasing an additional 14,544 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in shares of Louisiana-Pacific by 33.0% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 38,787 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $2,409,000 after purchasing an additional 9,615 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.94% of the companys stock. Get Louisiana-Pacific alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Lizanne C. Gottung sold 3,313 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.00, for a total transaction of $221,971.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 28,495 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,909,165. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Lizanne C. Gottung sold 3,313 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.00, for a total transaction of $221,971.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 28,495 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,909,165. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Michael W. Blosser sold 4,060 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.00, for a total value of $272,020.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,858 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,340,486. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.26% of the companys stock. Louisiana-Pacific Trading Up 1.8 % Shares of LPX stock traded up $1.24 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $68.82. The company had a trading volume of 151,821 shares, compared to its average volume of 726,888. Louisiana-Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $49.47 and a fifty-two week high of $79.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 3.00 and a quick ratio of 1.54. The companys fifty day moving average is $68.57 and its 200 day moving average is $62.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.97 billion, a PE ratio of 27.69 and a beta of 1.83. Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The building manufacturing company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $658.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $618.60 million. Louisiana-Pacific had a return on equity of 15.65% and a net margin of 6.90%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.61 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Louisiana-Pacific Co. will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Louisiana-Pacific Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a $0.26 dividend. This is an increase from Louisiana-Pacifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. Louisiana-Pacifics payout ratio is currently 39.18%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently commented on LPX shares. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Louisiana-Pacific from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. TD Cowen reissued a hold rating and set a $75.00 price target on shares of Louisiana-Pacific in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Louisiana-Pacific from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. TheStreet upgraded shares of Louisiana-Pacific from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Louisiana-Pacific from $57.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.71. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on LPX Louisiana-Pacific Profile (Free Report) Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides building solutions primarily for use in new home construction, repair and remodeling, and outdoor structure markets. It operates through: Siding, Oriented Strand Board, and South America. The Siding segment offers LP SmartSide trim and siding products, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish trim and siding products, LP BuilderSeries lap siding products, and LP Outdoor Building Solutions; and engineered wood siding, trim, soffit, and fascia products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LPX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Louisiana-Pacific Co. (NYSE:LPX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Louisiana-Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Louisiana-Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ALLETE (NYSE:ALE Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The utilities provider reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.97 by ($0.08), Briefing.com reports. The business had revenue of $402.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $425.21 million. ALLETE had a return on equity of 7.31% and a net margin of 13.15%. The businesss revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.90 earnings per share. ALLETE updated its FY 2024 guidance to 3.600-3.900 EPS and its FY23 guidance to $3.60-3.90 EPS. ALLETE Price Performance NYSE ALE opened at $57.13 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $59.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $56.91. The company has a market cap of $3.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.77. ALLETE has a 1 year low of $49.29 and a 1 year high of $66.69. Get ALLETE alerts: ALLETE Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.705 per share. This is an increase from ALLETEs previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. ALLETEs dividend payout ratio is currently 65.58%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have commented on ALE. Sidoti downgraded shares of ALLETE from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $64.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Guggenheim raised shares of ALLETE from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $58.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of ALLETE from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, ALLETE has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $58.60. Read Our Latest Analysis on ALE Hedge Funds Weigh In On ALLETE Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ALE. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its stake in ALLETE by 105.4% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 460 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new position in ALLETE during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in ALLETE by 921.4% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 715 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in ALLETE during the 2nd quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, KBC Group NV acquired a new position in ALLETE during the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. 75.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. ALLETE Company Profile (Get Free Report) ALLETE, Inc operates as an energy company. The company operates through Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and Corporate and Other segments. It generates electricity from coal-fired, biomass co-fired / natural gas, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The company provides regulated utility electric services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 150,000 retail customers and 14 non-affiliated municipal customers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ALLETE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ALLETE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI Get Free Report) and American Strategic Investment (NYSE:NYC Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, earnings, dividends, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations. Volatility and Risk Douglas Emmett has a beta of 1.08, indicating that its share price is 8% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Strategic Investment has a beta of -0.09, indicating that its share price is 109% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Douglas Emmett alerts: Profitability This table compares Douglas Emmett and American Strategic Investments net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Douglas Emmett -4.62% -1.06% -0.44% American Strategic Investment -66.36% -13.55% -5.40% Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Douglas Emmett $1.02 billion 2.21 -$42.71 million ($0.26) -52.04 American Strategic Investment $64.00 million 0.25 -$45.90 million ($20.12) -0.34 This table compares Douglas Emmett and American Strategic Investments revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Douglas Emmett has higher revenue and earnings than American Strategic Investment. Douglas Emmett is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than American Strategic Investment, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership 97.4% of Douglas Emmett shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 40.6% of American Strategic Investment shares are held by institutional investors. 14.0% of Douglas Emmett shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of American Strategic Investment shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Douglas Emmett and American Strategic Investment, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Douglas Emmett 2 6 2 0 2.00 American Strategic Investment 0 1 0 0 2.00 Douglas Emmett presently has a consensus target price of $14.11, suggesting a potential upside of 4.29%. American Strategic Investment has a consensus target price of $8.00, suggesting a potential upside of 16.62%. Given American Strategic Investments higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe American Strategic Investment is more favorable than Douglas Emmett. Summary Douglas Emmett beats American Strategic Investment on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Douglas Emmett (Get Free Report) Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities. About American Strategic Investment (Get Free Report) American Strategic Investment Co. (NYSE: NYC) owns a portfolio of high-quality commercial real estate located within the five boroughs of New York City. Receive News & Ratings for Douglas Emmett Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Douglas Emmett and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the ten analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $77.40. A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on KMX shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on CarMax from $80.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of CarMax in a report on Friday, February 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on CarMax from $70.00 to $60.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on CarMax from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Get CarMax alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CarMax CarMax Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:KMX opened at $70.62 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 2.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01. The business has a fifty day moving average of $72.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $72.37. The stock has a market cap of $11.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.42, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.60. CarMax has a 52-week low of $55.76 and a 52-week high of $87.50. CarMax (NYSE:KMX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, December 21st. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.42 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.29 billion. CarMax had a return on equity of 7.72% and a net margin of 1.87%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.24 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that CarMax will post 2.88 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at CarMax In other CarMax news, CEO William D. Nash sold 102,775 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.09, for a total value of $7,717,374.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 177,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,304,446.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO William D. Nash sold 102,775 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.09, for a total transaction of $7,717,374.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 177,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,304,446.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Jill A. Livesay sold 14,199 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.89, for a total value of $1,006,567.11. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,068 shares in the company, valued at approximately $642,830.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 151,704 shares of company stock valued at $11,233,876 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.66% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On CarMax Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of CarMax by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,076,909 shares of the companys stock worth $1,387,222,000 after acquiring an additional 222,132 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in CarMax by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,633,886 shares of the companys stock worth $683,546,000 after buying an additional 184,104 shares during the last quarter. Akre Capital Management LLC grew its stake in CarMax by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Akre Capital Management LLC now owns 7,339,952 shares of the companys stock worth $708,159,000 after buying an additional 49,780 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in CarMax by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,220,212 shares of the companys stock worth $520,632,000 after buying an additional 193,111 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in CarMax by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 5,665,047 shares of the companys stock worth $474,172,000 after buying an additional 104,560 shares during the last quarter. CarMax Company Profile (Get Free Report CarMax, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It operates in two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. The company offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CarMax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CarMax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 7.2% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 107,740 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,231 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $6,253,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Herold Advisors Inc. raised 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 valued at $1,954,000 after buying an additional 1,051 shares during the last quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. lifted 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 in the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC boosted its holdings in 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 worth $8,115,000 after purchasing an additional 12,121 shares during the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 14.8% in the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 101,772 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,907,000 after buying an additional 13,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jmac Enterprises LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jmac Enterprises LLC now owns 12,171 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $706,000 after buying an additional 1,245 shares in the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Redburn Atlantic lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the company from $77.00 to $54.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Barclays lowered their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 27th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Friday, October 27th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.17. Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at $4,115,412.16. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 3,071 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $48.86 per share, with a total value of $150,049.06. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 79,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,878,702.24. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the purchase, 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. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock traded up $0.05 on Thursday, reaching $50.96. The stock had a trading volume of 5,083,120 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,408,016. The businesss 50 day moving average is $50.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.31 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 company has a market cap of $103.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its 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 business had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.19 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.95%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.82 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 5th were paid a $0.60 dividend. This is a positive change from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.71%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 62.18%. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. 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. CI Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST Free Report) by 33.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,493 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after buying an additional 618 shares during the period. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $935,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. RVW Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the third quarter worth $38,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the third quarter worth $53,000. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 37.9% during the third quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 142 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 37.4% during the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 147 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.23% of the companys stock. Get West Pharmaceutical Services alerts: West Pharmaceutical Services Price Performance NYSE:WST opened at $356.20 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 3.70 and a quick ratio of 2.89. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $362.60 and a 200-day moving average price of $367.95. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $303.79 and a 1-year high of $415.73. The firm has a market cap of $26.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.65 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services Dividend Announcement West Pharmaceutical Services ( NYSE:WST Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.78 by $0.05. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 20.12% and a return on equity of 21.77%. The company had revenue of $732.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $740.43 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.77 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 7.69 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 24th will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 23rd. West Pharmaceutical Servicess payout ratio is currently 10.15%. Insider Activity In other news, CAO Chad Winters sold 1,013 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $349.00, for a total transaction of $353,537.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 1,270 shares in the company, valued at approximately $443,230. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.13% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes WST has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stephens lowered their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $420.00 to $390.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Jefferies Financial Group raised West Pharmaceutical Services from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $323.00 to $536.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $440.00 to $470.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. StockNews.com cut shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $400.00 to $375.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued 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 $411.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WST West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile (Free Report) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its stake in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) by 601.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,998 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 1,713 shares during the quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLCs holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $243,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXR. NewEdge Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 3rd quarter valued at $341,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its position in Extra Space Storage by 110.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 11,914 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,448,000 after purchasing an additional 6,262 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Extra Space Storage by 39.4% in the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 392,036 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $58,312,000 after purchasing an additional 110,811 shares during the last quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NY grew its position in Extra Space Storage by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NY now owns 35,730 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,344,000 after purchasing an additional 22,335 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. grew its position in Extra Space Storage by 49.3% in the 3rd quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 27,259 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,314,000 after purchasing an additional 9,003 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.40% of the companys stock. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have issued reports on EXR shares. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from an underweight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $120.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Extra Space Storage in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. They set a sector underperform rating and a $131.00 target price on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Extra Space Storage from $138.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 28th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Extra Space Storage from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Extra Space Storage has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $149.75. Extra Space Storage Trading Up 1.2 % EXR opened at $143.11 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.50 and a quick ratio of 0.50. The company has a market cap of $30.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.75. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $150.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $132.88. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $101.19 and a fifty-two week high of $170.30. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Joseph Saffire sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.10, for a total transaction of $3,852,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 42,344 shares in the company, valued at $6,525,210.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Extra Space Storage Profile (Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of September 30, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,651 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.5 million units and approximately 279.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its holdings in Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Free Report) by 1,602.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 475,539 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 447,606 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. owned about 0.54% of Owens Corning worth $64,868,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in OC. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in Owens Corning during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in Owens Corning during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its holdings in Owens Corning by 78.1% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 244 shares of the construction companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the period. Power Corp of Canada purchased a new position in Owens Corning in the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Owens Corning in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. 90.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Owens Corning alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have weighed in on OC. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Owens Corning from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $130.00 to $180.00 in a report on Friday, December 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Owens Corning from $130.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Owens Corning from $183.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Barclays cut Owens Corning from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their target price for the company from $170.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on Owens Corning from $115.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Eight 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, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $157.43. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Brian Chambers sold 9,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total transaction of $1,397,487.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 269,696 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,417,214.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Brian Chambers sold 9,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total transaction of $1,397,487.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 269,696 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,417,214.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Gunner Smith sold 7,442 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.99, for a total value of $1,108,783.58. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 36,140 shares in the company, valued at $5,384,498.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 17,907 shares of company stock valued at $2,715,869. Company insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Owens Corning Stock Performance NYSE OC traded up $0.51 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $144.18. The company had a trading volume of 76,560 shares, compared to its average volume of 680,685. Owens Corning has a fifty-two week low of $88.86 and a fifty-two week high of $160.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $149.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $138.98. The firm has a market cap of $12.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.47. Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The construction company reported $3.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.82 by $0.39. Owens Corning had a return on equity of 25.88% and a net margin of 12.36%. The firm had revenue of $2.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.25 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.49 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Owens Corning will post 14.08 EPS for the current year. Owens Corning Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. Owens Cornings dividend payout ratio is presently 18.29%. About Owens Corning (Free Report) Owens Corning manufactures and sells building and construction materials in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Roofing, Insulation, and Composites. The Roofing segment manufactures and sells laminate and strip asphalt roofing shingles, oxidized asphalt materials, and roofing components used in residential and commercial construction, and specialty applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Owens Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Owens Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund increased its holdings in Deckers Outdoor Co. (NYSE:DECK Free Report) by 13.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,483 shares of the textile makers stock after acquiring an additional 1,683 shares during the quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned approximately 0.06% of Deckers Outdoor worth $7,446,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Deckers Outdoor by 20.9% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,951,309 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $1,557,288,000 after buying an additional 510,292 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 15.0% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 838,595 shares of the textile makers stock worth $442,493,000 after purchasing an additional 109,341 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in Deckers Outdoor by 213.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 613,351 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $244,825,000 after acquiring an additional 417,917 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Deckers Outdoor by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 456,957 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $234,917,000 after acquiring an additional 37,194 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 18.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 433,426 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $118,658,000 after buying an additional 66,072 shares during the period. 95.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Deckers Outdoor alerts: Deckers Outdoor Trading Up 0.1 % DECK stock opened at $861.66 on Thursday. Deckers Outdoor Co. has a 1-year low of $395.90 and a 1-year high of $903.70. The firm has a market cap of $22.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.99. The businesss 50 day moving average is $751.98 and its 200-day moving average is $631.87. Analyst Ratings Changes Deckers Outdoor ( NYSE:DECK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The textile maker reported $15.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $11.40 by $3.71. The firm had revenue of $1.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.45 billion. Deckers Outdoor had a return on equity of 38.77% and a net margin of 17.57%. 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 $10.48 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Deckers Outdoor Co. will post 26.85 EPS for the current year. Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James raised their target price on Deckers Outdoor from $585.00 to $845.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Deckers Outdoor from $650.00 to $750.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Evercore ISI began coverage on Deckers Outdoor in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. They set an outperform rating and a $960.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group boosted their target price on Deckers Outdoor from $950.00 to $1,150.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Wedbush upped their price objective on Deckers Outdoor from $825.00 to $895.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $854.86. View Our Latest Analysis on DECK Insider Activity In related news, CEO David Powers sold 17,978 shares of Deckers Outdoor stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $716.52, for a total transaction of $12,881,596.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 98,218 shares in the company, valued at $70,375,161.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Deckers Outdoor news, insider Angela Ogbechie sold 313 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $844.13, for a total transaction of $264,212.69. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,027 shares in the company, valued at $3,399,311.51. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO David Powers sold 17,978 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $716.52, for a total transaction of $12,881,596.56. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 98,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at $70,375,161.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 44,009 shares of company stock worth $32,659,800 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock. Deckers Outdoor Company Profile (Free Report) Deckers Outdoor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and distributes footwear, apparel, and accessories for casual lifestyle use and high-performance activities in the United States and internationally. The company offers premium footwear, apparel, and accessories under the UGG brand name; footwear and apparel for ultra-runners and athletes under the Hoka brand; and sandals, shoes, and boots under the Teva brand name. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DECK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deckers Outdoor Co. (NYSE:DECK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deckers Outdoor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deckers Outdoor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in shares of Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YMM Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 1,663,100 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,708,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned 0.15% of Full Truck Alliance as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Full Truck Alliance by 22.8% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 356,407 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,377,000 after buying an additional 66,094 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Full Truck Alliance by 200.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 720,279 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,804,000 after purchasing an additional 480,768 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Full Truck Alliance by 20.8% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 70,874 shares of the companys stock worth $473,000 after purchasing an additional 12,182 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in shares of Full Truck Alliance by 29.1% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 2,129,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,202,000 after purchasing an additional 479,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Full Truck Alliance by 628.3% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,293,950 shares of the companys stock worth $135,361,000 after buying an additional 17,507,555 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.02% of the companys stock. Get Full Truck Alliance alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets YMM has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TheStreet upgraded Full Truck Alliance from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Full Truck Alliance in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. They set an overweight rating and a $10.00 price objective for the company. Full Truck Alliance Stock Up 1.9 % Full Truck Alliance stock opened at $6.45 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $6.59 and a 200-day moving average of $6.84. Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. has a 1 year low of $5.41 and a 1 year high of $8.52. Full Truck Alliance (NYSE:YMM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 20th. The company reported $0.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.01. Full Truck Alliance had a net margin of 22.77% and a return on equity of 5.63%. The firm had revenue of $310.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $301.74 million. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. will post 0.31 EPS for the current year. About Full Truck Alliance (Free Report) Full Truck Alliance Co Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates a digital freight platform that connects shippers with truckers to facilitate shipments across distance ranges, cargo weights, and types in the People's Republic of China. The company offers freight listing, matching, and brokerage services; and online transaction services, as well as various value-added services, such as credit solutions, insurance brokerage, software solutions, electronic toll collection, and energy services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Full Truck Alliance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Full Truck Alliance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Events gather 4,000+ Exhibitors With Top Brands Presenting the Latest Trends Twin jewellery events restore two shows, two venues' format for the first time since the pandemic. Themed Be Part of the Splendid Legacy, the 40th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 10th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show are expected to attract over 4,000 exhibitors from more than 40 counties and regions, drawing enthusiastic responses. Over 60% of exhibitors from overseas, reaffirming international popularity of the shows. More than 30 seminars, events and parades, including analysis of jewellery market trends by FRED, an LVMH jewellery brand Hong Kong's Fine Jewellery Exports rebounded 23% to HK$87.8 billion last year, 40% higher than pre-pandemic. HONG KONG, - (NewMediaWire) - February 21, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - The 40th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 10th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will return to the two fairs, two venues format for the first time since the pandemic, presenting the world's premier jewellery trade platform. The Diamond, Gem & Pearl show will run at AsiaWorld-Expo from 27 February to 2 March, while the Jewellery Fair will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 29 February to 4 March, bringing sourcing and global trade opportunities for industry players. Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "The theme of this year's jewellery shows is Be Part of the Splendid Legacy, and the events are expected to attract over 4,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions. The overall scale of the fairs is close to pre-pandemic levels, with more than 60% of exhibitors coming from outside Hong Kong, accentuating Hong Kong's status as an international trade and jewellery sourcing centre. The shows attract over 90 buyer missions from 65 countries and regions." Story continues Fine jewellery exports rebound Hong Kong's fine jewellery exports rebounded significantly last year, rising 23% to HK$87.8 billion (US$11.2 billion) compared to 2022, and 40% higher than pre-pandemic 2019, with strong growth in exports to Mainland China, which recorded a year-on-year increase of more than 20%, and the United States and Switzerland, which increased 16% and 82% year-on-year respectively. Twin shows feature 36 pavilions Supported by jewellery trade associations and organisations from all over the world, the fairs feature 36 geographic and industry pavilions from Belgium, Brazil, Mainland China, Colombia, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Trkiye while Malaysia debuts. Industry pavilions returning include the Tanzanite Foundation, Asia Pacific Creators Association and International Coloured Gems Association, while the T-GOLD+METS Pavilion (co-organised by Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers' Association and Italian Exhibition Group) will debut to focus on jewellery manufacturing machinery. Dedicated zones feature international brands, cultural and creative designs The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show contains 18 zones, including the Hall of Extraordinary, which features 78 global exhibitors showcasing stunning diamond, gemstone, jade and pearl jewellery. These include Hong Kong exhibitor Hatta New World Company Limited (Booth: CEC GH-D06) which will showcase a jewellery set that carries about 110 carats of Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline pieces (a necklace, a ring and a pair of earrings), worth over HK$15 million. The bright-blue Paraiba is one of the rarest precious stones on Earth. The Designer Galleria showcases collections and a number of culturally inspired creative designs this year. Japanese exhibitor Jewellery of Raden & Urushi (Booth: CEC 1CON-032) presents Mizuhiki, a brooch incorporating traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Inspired by the Japanese art of knotting, the brooch is decorated with a black pearl, diamond and green garnet with knotted lacquerware, giving its traditional design a fashionable touch. Hong Kong exhibitor Charming Jewellery Ltd (Booth: CEC 1C-A36) brought its La broderie brand, which features embroidery, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Hong Kong embroidery masters used silk threads to create vivid illustrations of butterflies, dragonflies and orchids, sewn together with gold accessories and jewellery pieces, crafting exquisite workmanship and elegant pieces. The Hall of Fame will feature international brands including Giorgio Visconti from Italy, Chete from Hong Kong, Carrera Y Carrera from Spain and Lao Feng Xiang from Mainland China. Rare diamonds in spotlight The Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show will bring together a wide range of diamonds, gemstones and pearl exhibitors in 11 zones, including three high-end product zones Hall of Fine Diamond, Treasures of Nature and Treasures of Ocean which will showcase top-quality white diamonds, coloured diamonds, high-end gemstones, rare pearls and other raw materials from all over the world, including Color Diamond Trading Co's rare orange fancy colour diamond (Booth: AWE 5-G06) weighing 1.03 carats, believed to be highly sought-after by collectors and jewellery traders. Participating countries and regions include Zhuji (Zhejiang) from Mainland China, once again bringing freshwater pearls to the show, while the Vice Governor of Henan will personally lead the province's pavilion. The Japan Pavilion will continue to bring a wide range of quality pearls to the show. Forums, events and parades facilitate industry exchange More than 30 seminars, exhibitor forums and parades at the twin jewellery shows will showcase the latest design trends and facilitate industry exchange. The Future of Chinese Jewellery Design and AI Empowerment, co-organised by the Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' Association of Hong Kong Limited, will explore the latest development of AI and jewellery design. Valentin Andres, representative of FRED, an LVMH Group jewellery brand, will analyse the market trends at the Buyer's Forum. Three industry standard and authentication bodies Gemmological Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification and The World Jewellery Confederation will outline details on the international Fei Cui benchmark at the Seminar on International Fei Cui Standard. At the same seminar, a senior gemmologist at the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute will speak on advanced gemmology and scientific analysis on gemstone testing; and a leading authority on gemstones, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), will present solutions to industry challenges. Digital platforms create effective trade-fair experience This year, the HKTDC Marketplace App and official websites of the two shows will allow buyers to register before the fair, authenticate themselves through the App and download their verified eBadge for direct entry, greatly reducing queuing and waiting times, and enhancing sourcing efficiency. Buyers can also use the Scan2Match function to scan exhibitors' unique QR codes during the physical exhibition, bookmark favourite exhibitors, browse product information and continue discussions with exhibitors online during or after the show. Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid mode, buyers can make purchases on-site and search for products and services on the Click2Match smart business-matching platform and hktdc.com sourcing platform. From now until 11 March, buyers and exhibitors can conduct online discussions through Click2Match. For the convenience of visitors to both fairs, free shuttle buses will take buyers to and from AsiaWorld-Expo and the city (including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai). Please refer to the fair website for details. Photos Download: https://bit.ly/49CYH1a Websites: Hong Kong International Jewellery Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkjewellery/en Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkdgp/en Selected Products: https://bit.ly/3wvmX71 Shuttle Bus Arrangement: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkdgp/en/travel-to-fairground-awe https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkjewellery/en/travel-to-fairground-hkcec Activity list: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkjewellery/tc/intelligence-hub HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department: Jane Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4137, Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw, Tel: (852) 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn Personal CFO Solutions LLC increased its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (NYSEARCA:RYH Free Report) by 1,110.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,806 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 18,170 shares during the period. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF makes up 1.1% of Personal CFO Solutions LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Personal CFO Solutions LLC owned 0.06% of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF worth $5,686,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF by 900.0% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 200 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF in the second quarter worth about $118,000. Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF by 906.5% during the 3rd quarter. Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV now owns 463 shares of the companys stock worth $133,000 after purchasing an additional 417 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $173,000. Finally, Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF by 900.0% in the 3rd quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 620 shares of the companys stock valued at $178,000 after buying an additional 558 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF Stock Up 0.1 % NYSEARCA RYH traded up $0.03 during trading on Thursday, hitting $30.87. The companys stock had a trading volume of 126,693 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,174. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF has a 52 week low of $248.94 and a 52 week high of $304.15. The firm has a market cap of $1.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.11 and a beta of 0.85. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $50.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $35.73. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF Profile The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (RYH) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in health care equity. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of US health care companies taken from the S&P 500 Index. RYH was launched on Nov 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RYH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (NYSEARCA:RYH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CI Investments Inc. reduced its stake in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (NYSEARCA:KSA Free Report) by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 34,662 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,101 shares during the quarter. CI Investments Inc. owned approximately 0.15% of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF worth $1,343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KSA. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 205,925 shares of the companys stock worth $8,511,000 after purchasing an additional 9,651 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 3.1% in the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 218,122 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,015,000 after acquiring an additional 6,603 shares during the period. Florin Court Capital LLP acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF in the second quarter worth $8,711,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its position in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 4.5% during the third quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 121,590 shares of the companys stock worth $4,710,000 after acquiring an additional 5,270 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 38.7% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 56,396 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,185,000 after purchasing an additional 15,732 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of KSA opened at $44.57 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $42.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $40.49. iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF has a 12-month low of $35.78 and a 12-month high of $44.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.03 and a beta of 0.56. About iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Saudi Arabia IMI 25-50 index, a market-cap-weighted index of Saudi Arabian firms covering 99% of the market cap spectrum. KSA was launched on Sep 16, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KSA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (NYSEARCA:KSA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mariner LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 290,608 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 13,802 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC owned 0.22% of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF worth $25,079,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EFG. Visionary Wealth Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 10,709 shares of the companys stock worth $924,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Cardiff Park Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cardiff Park Advisors LLC now owns 9,627 shares of the companys stock valued at $831,000 after acquiring an additional 874 shares during the period. Bison Wealth LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,774,000. Stokes Family Office LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC now owns 19,202 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,657,000 after acquiring an additional 587 shares during the period. Finally, Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 8.8% in the 3rd quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 329,067 shares of the companys stock worth $28,399,000 after purchasing an additional 26,544 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Trading Down 0.1 % EFG opened at $100.09 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $13.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.89. The companys 50 day moving average is $96.68 and its 200 day moving average is $91.83. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $67.58 and a 12-month high of $85.81. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MSCI (NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at Redburn Atlantic from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $470.00 target price on the technology companys stock, down from their previous target price of $620.00. Redburn Atlantics price target suggests a potential downside of 15.41% from the companys current price. Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Oppenheimer increased their target price on MSCI from $572.00 to $601.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Barclays upped their price target on MSCI from $600.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on MSCI from $588.00 to $638.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com upgraded MSCI from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on MSCI from $544.00 to $617.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $578.21. Get MSCI alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MSCI MSCI Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE MSCI opened at $555.65 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $561.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $534.25. MSCI has a twelve month low of $451.55 and a twelve month high of $617.39. The company has a market capitalization of $43.95 billion, a PE ratio of 38.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.10. MSCI (NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The technology company reported $3.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.39. MSCI had a negative return on equity of 111.17% and a net margin of 45.42%. The firm had revenue of $690.11 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $662.64 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.84 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 19.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that MSCI will post 14.75 EPS for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSCI Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. GLOBALT Investments LLC GA purchased a new stake in MSCI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $295,000. Wellington Wealth Strategies LLC. purchased a new stake in MSCI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,545,000. SageView Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in MSCI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $499,000. Harbour Investments Inc. increased its holdings in MSCI by 18.3% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 265 shares of the technology companys stock worth $150,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its holdings in MSCI by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 39,586 shares of the technology companys stock worth $22,392,000 after purchasing an additional 5,143 shares during the last quarter. 88.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. MSCI Company Profile (Get Free Report) MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MSCI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MSCI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board grew its stake in Kinross Gold Co. (NYSE:KGC Free Report) (TSE:K) by 611.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 447,784 shares of the mining companys stock after acquiring an additional 384,836 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Kinross Gold were worth $2,041,000 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. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its stake in shares of Kinross Gold by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 150,701,196 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $718,851,000 after acquiring an additional 4,529,091 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Kinross Gold by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 44,115,866 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $165,876,000 after acquiring an additional 1,717,190 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in Kinross Gold by 207.3% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 16,449,766 shares of the mining companys stock worth $67,244,000 after purchasing an additional 11,097,512 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia increased its stake in Kinross Gold by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 14,898,937 shares of the mining companys stock worth $71,079,000 after purchasing an additional 245,265 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in Kinross Gold by 374.2% during the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 11,766,352 shares of the mining companys stock worth $68,230,000 after purchasing an additional 9,285,284 shares in the last quarter. 49.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Kinross Gold alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently issued reports on KGC shares. TheStreet cut Kinross Gold from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Raymond James lowered their target price on Kinross Gold from $6.00 to $5.50 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. CIBC increased their target price on Kinross Gold from $7.00 to $8.15 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. TD Securities increased their target price on Kinross Gold from $6.50 to $7.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Kinross Gold from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Kinross Gold presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $6.00. Kinross Gold Price Performance Shares of KGC opened at $4.97 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Kinross Gold Co. has a twelve month low of $3.40 and a twelve month high of $6.34. The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.62 and a 200-day moving average of $5.32. Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC Get Free Report) (TSE:K) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The mining company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.09 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. Kinross Gold had a return on equity of 8.85% and a net margin of 9.82%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.09 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Kinross Gold Co. will post 0.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. Kinross Gold Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be issued a $0.03 dividend. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 5th. Kinross Golds payout ratio is presently 35.29%. About Kinross Gold (Free Report) Kinross Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties principally in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Canada, and Mauritania. The company operates the Fort Knox mine and the Manh Choh project in Alaska, as well as the Round Mountain and the Bald Mountain mines in Nevada, the United States; the Paracatu mine in Brazil; the La Coipa and the Lobo-Marte project in Chile; the Tasiast mine in Mauritania; and the Great Bear project in Canada. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KGC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kinross Gold Co. (NYSE:KGC Free Report) (TSE:K). Receive News & Ratings for Kinross Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kinross Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lessened its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report) by 12.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 27,027 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,963 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Aflac were worth $2,074,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Baystate Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac by 24.1% in the third quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 675 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. raised its position in shares of Aflac by 0.5% in the third quarter. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. now owns 24,969 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,916,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac by 2.3% in the third quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,156 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $472,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Aflac by 3.7% in the third quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,779 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $290,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SVB Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac by 1.4% in the third quarter. SVB Wealth LLC now owns 10,370 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $796,000 after buying an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.75% of the companys stock. Get Aflac alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AFL has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $74.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report 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 report on Tuesday, February 6th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Evercore ISI downgraded shares of Aflac from an in-line rating to an underperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $76.00 to $78.00 in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, 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 report on Tuesday, January 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $80.36. Aflac Trading Up 0.6 % AFL opened at $79.26 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.32 billion, a PE ratio of 10.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.93. The firms fifty day moving average price is $81.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $60.20 and a 12-month high of $86.20. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.47 by ($0.22). The company had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 24.92% and a return on equity of 17.59%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.29 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.43 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CFO Steven Kent Beaver sold 3,114 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.71, for a total value of $257,558.94. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,729,796.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Steven Kent Beaver sold 3,114 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.71, for a total value of $257,558.94. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,729,796.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 30,493 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.91, for a total transaction of $2,436,695.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 86,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,879,451.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Aflac Profile (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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report). 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. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its position in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 497.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,504 shares of the conglomerates stock after buying an additional 13,740 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in General Electric were worth $1,824,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in General Electric by 4.4% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 70,480,887 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $7,742,325,000 after purchasing an additional 2,974,946 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in shares of General Electric by 0.3% during the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 54,261,585 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $5,960,462,000 after purchasing an additional 156,054 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of General Electric by 3.5% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 50,207,805 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $5,515,327,000 after purchasing an additional 1,717,793 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in General Electric by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,748,382 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $2,162,919,000 after acquiring an additional 476,355 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in General Electric by 122,242.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,438,063 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $878,644,000 after acquiring an additional 13,427,079 shares during the period. 74.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get General Electric alerts: General Electric Stock Up 0.3 % GE opened at $149.50 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $162.71 billion, a PE ratio of 17.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. General Electric has a 52 week low of $81.65 and a 52 week high of $150.36. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $132.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $120.25. General Electric Dividend Announcement General Electric ( NYSE:GE Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $19.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.27 billion. General Electric had a return on equity of 10.88% and a net margin of 13.95%. The firms revenue was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.24 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that General Electric will post 4.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 28th were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 27th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.21%. General Electrics payout ratio is 3.82%. Analysts Set New Price Targets GE has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on General Electric from $124.00 to $136.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on General Electric from $150.00 to $148.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. TheStreet upgraded General Electric from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com upgraded General Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, General Electric presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $132.00. Get Our Latest Stock Report on General Electric Insider Buying and Selling at General Electric In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total transaction of $3,195,107.85. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total transaction of $3,195,107.85. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total transaction of $1,843,615.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,552,351.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. General Electric Profile (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lessened its position in shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report) by 18.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 44,341 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 9,705 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board owned about 0.07% of Black Hills worth $2,243,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Black Hills by 16.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,344,162 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $68,001,000 after buying an additional 188,266 shares in the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. grew its holdings in Black Hills by 456.1% during the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 3,587 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $181,000 after buying an additional 2,942 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Black Hills by 15.6% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 786,811 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,805,000 after buying an additional 106,464 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 51.9% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 259,564 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $13,131,000 after purchasing an additional 88,742 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 151.8% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 35,205 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,781,000 after purchasing an additional 21,221 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.64% of the companys stock. Get Black Hills alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BKH has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America dropped their target price on Black Hills from $60.00 to $49.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 20th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Black Hills from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Black Hills from $61.00 to $57.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Mizuho raised Black Hills from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.80. Black Hills Trading Up 1.2 % BKH opened at $52.91 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $3.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.50 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Black Hills Co. has a 12 month low of $46.43 and a 12 month high of $66.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $52.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $52.62. Black Hills (NYSE:BKH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.11. Black Hills had a return on equity of 8.09% and a net margin of 11.25%. The firm had revenue of $591.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $863.67 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.11 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Black Hills Co. will post 3.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Black Hills Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This is a positive change from Black Hillss previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio is currently 66.33%. About Black Hills (Free Report) Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 220,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,482 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,024 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Optiver Holding B.V. lifted its holdings in Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG Free Report) by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,537,894 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 52,395 shares during the period. Optiver Holding B.V.s holdings in Lloyds Banking Group were worth $14,155,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in LYG. Spire Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Lloyds Banking Group by 31.5% in the second quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 19,515 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 4,670 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its stake in Lloyds Banking Group by 5.7% during the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 87,891 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $204,000 after buying an additional 4,744 shares during the period. West Family Investments Inc. increased its position in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 6.7% during the first quarter. West Family Investments Inc. now owns 81,755 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $197,000 after acquiring an additional 5,124 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 24.3% in the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 26,930 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 5,264 shares during the period. Finally, Optas LLC boosted its position in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 13.5% during the 3rd quarter. Optas LLC now owns 47,374 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 5,636 shares during the period. 2.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on LYG shares. Morgan Stanley raised Lloyds Banking Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Bank of America lowered Lloyds Banking Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Lloyds Banking Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $63.29. Lloyds Banking Group Price Performance NYSE:LYG traded up $0.15 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $2.28. 9,239,041 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,348,729. The firm has a market cap of $36.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.87, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.30. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.23 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.14. Lloyds Banking Group plc has a 52-week low of $1.88 and a 52-week high of $2.56. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Free Report) Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC boosted its stake in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report) by 13.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,898 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 1,375 shares during the quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLCs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $2,629,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 6.5% in the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 687 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $152,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT raised its position in General Dynamics by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 2,706 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $598,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Rock Creek Group LP lifted its stake in General Dynamics by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter. Rock Creek Group LP now owns 623 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $134,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. PSI Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of General Dynamics by 40.4% in the 3rd quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 160 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Autumn Glory Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 0.9% in the third quarter. Autumn Glory Partners LLC now owns 5,246 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,159,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the period. 86.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get General Dynamics alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GD has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on General Dynamics from $243.00 to $264.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Citigroup upped their price objective on General Dynamics from $283.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. StockNews.com cut shares of General Dynamics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 3rd. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $286.00 to $296.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, General Dynamics currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $271.69. Insider Transactions at General Dynamics In related news, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total transaction of $8,551,750.05. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 773,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $204,569,860.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total transaction of $8,551,750.05. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 773,977 shares in the company, valued at $204,569,860.87. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Mark C. Roualet sold 73,330 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.75, for a total value of $19,414,117.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 149,205 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,502,023.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.52% of the companys stock. General Dynamics Price Performance General Dynamics stock traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $271.69. The company had a trading volume of 180,845 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,234,921. General Dynamics Co. has a 12-month low of $202.35 and a 12-month high of $272.28. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $259.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $242.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The company has a market capitalization of $74.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.68. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $3.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.68 by ($0.04). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 16.61% and a net margin of 7.84%. The firm had revenue of $11.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.39 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.58 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.62 EPS for the current year. General Dynamics Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 19th were given a $1.32 dividend. This represents a $5.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. General Dynamicss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.93%. General Dynamics Company Profile (Free Report) General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Dynamics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Dynamics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HomeServices of America can preserve some of its legal war chest for now, at least. The residential brokerage was dismissed this week from one of the early real estate commission lawsuits, known as Batton 1 after its lead plaintiff, a homebuyer named Mya Batton. Judge Andrea Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed a claim made by the plaintiffs under a federal antitrust law. But Wood, who is also overseeing the Moehrl commission lawsuit, preserved nearly all of the plaintiffs claims under state antitrust laws (with exceptions in Tennessee and Kansas). In her dismissal ruling on Tuesday, Wood wrote that the plaintiffs request for injunctive relief under the Sherman Antitrust Act essentially mirror the allegations made in the original 2021 complaint that she dismissed in May 2022 (which was previously known as the Leeder case). Wood wrote on Tuesday that home sellers were better suited to seek injunctive relief. Wood also cited the $5.36 billion Sitzer/Burnett verdict, in which the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Keller Williams and HomeServices affiliates were found to have conspired to inflate or stabilize commissions paid by sellers. To the extent a putative class member faces a significant threat of injury from Defendants alleged antitrust violations in their capacity as a buyer, they would likely be simultaneously exposed to injury as a seller too i.e., they would be threatened with the same injury as that suffered by the home seller class certified in Moehrl and Burnett, Wood wrote. In the Batton 1 case, the plaintiffs alleged that the NAR, a trade association with 1.4 million members that advocates for the interests of real estate brokers, conspired with brokerages to adopt and enforce anticompetitive rules applicable to the vast majority of real estate brokers, resulting in homebuyers paying supracompetitive rates of commission to the brokers they retained to assist with their home purchases. At issue are the NARs rules and policies that govern MLSs, which are enforced by local Realtor associations that own the MLSs. Effectively, the plaintiffs argue that access to the MLSs by brokerages and individual Realtors is conditioned on their compliance with the NARs rules, and given the commercial necessity of MLS access, the brokers have little choice but to comply. In her ruling yesterday, Wood dismissed the claims without prejudice, which will allow the plaintiffs to refile if they choose. Because HomeServices and its affiliates are not based in Illinois, the federal claim was dismissed, but state claims can continue. Rathbones Group PLC grew its holdings in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM Free Report) by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 29,261 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 949 shares during the quarter. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile were worth $1,746,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in SQM. Capital International Investors bought a new stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile in the 1st quarter worth approximately $184,773,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 29.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,642,918 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $264,549,000 after acquiring an additional 831,423 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 44.0% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 2,445,971 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $177,626,000 after acquiring an additional 747,037 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 373.7% in the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 926,507 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $77,391,000 after acquiring an additional 730,931 shares in the last quarter. Finally, abrdn plc boosted its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 34.5% during the second quarter. abrdn plc now owns 2,523,381 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $183,248,000 after buying an additional 646,862 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 14.94% of the companys stock. Get Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile alerts: Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Stock Performance Shares of SQM stock opened at $42.93 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $12.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.14 and a beta of 1.03. The businesss 50 day moving average is $49.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.94. The company has a current ratio of 2.28, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. has a 12-month low of $38.50 and a 12-month high of $90.82. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently commented on SQM shares. TheStreet cut Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from a b- rating to a c rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $54.50 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $64.00 to $55.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $58.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.11. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile 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 Stories 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. Regal Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX Free Report) by 52.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,431 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 5,995 shares during the quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in VanEck Gold Miners ETF were worth $469,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 47.1% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,715,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $378,982,000 after purchasing an additional 3,748,454 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 128.4% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 8,274,174 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $215,045,000 after acquiring an additional 4,652,260 shares during the last quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 6.5% in the third quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 8,108,154 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $218,190,000 after purchasing an additional 493,627 shares during the last quarter. Twin Tree Management LP lifted its position in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 33.0% in the second quarter. Twin Tree Management LP now owns 2,698,874 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $81,263,000 after purchasing an additional 670,102 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 3.1% in the second quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,338,208 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $70,403,000 after purchasing an additional 69,759 shares in the last quarter. Get VanEck Gold Miners ETF alerts: VanEck Gold Miners ETF Trading Down 0.7 % VanEck Gold Miners ETF stock opened at $26.81 on Thursday. VanEck Gold Miners ETF has a 1-year low of $25.62 and a 1-year high of $36.26. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.81. The company has a market cap of $10.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.72 and a beta of 0.77. VanEck Gold Miners ETF Company Profile The Fund seeks to match as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the AMEX Gold Miners Index. The Fund, utilizing a passive or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Index by investing in a portfolio of stocks that generally replicate the Index. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for VanEck Gold Miners ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VanEck Gold Miners ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Renaissance Group LLC increased its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report) by 1.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,667 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Renaissance Group LLCs holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies were worth $1,958,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AIT. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 13.1% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 14,939 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,534,000 after buying an additional 1,726 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $271,000. Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 38,917 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,995,000 after buying an additional 1,262 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 35.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 16,704 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,702,000 after buying an additional 4,388 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 53.9% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 20,446 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,099,000 after buying an additional 7,164 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.49% of the companys stock. Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, KeyCorp lifted their price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $182.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Insider Activity In related news, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total transaction of $364,680.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 57,155 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,421,642.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total transaction of $364,680.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 57,155 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,421,642.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Peter C. Wallace sold 1,130 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.19, for a total transaction of $184,404.70. Following the transaction, the director now owns 23,641 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,857,974.79. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock. Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSE:AIT traded up $1.47 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $187.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 15,559 shares, compared to its average volume of 192,973. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $122.24 and a 52 week high of $190.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 3.74 and a quick ratio of 2.59. The company has a market capitalization of $7.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.54 and a beta of 1.07. The firms fifty day moving average price is $176.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $163.67. Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The industrial products company reported $2.24 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.13. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.39% and a return on equity of 24.59%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.06 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.05 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 9.49 EPS for the current year. Applied Industrial Technologies Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. This is a positive change from Applied Industrial Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Applied Industrial Technologiess payout ratio is currently 15.53%. Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RXO, Inc. (NYSE:RXO Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Reduce from the fourteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $20.42. Several analysts recently issued reports on RXO shares. Oppenheimer decreased their target price on RXO from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Vertical Research downgraded RXO from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $23.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on RXO from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. TD Cowen raised their price target on RXO from $16.50 to $19.50 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their price target on RXO from $18.00 to $15.00 and set a negative rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 9th. Get RXO alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on RXO Insider Transactions at RXO Institutional Investors Weigh In On RXO In related news, major shareholder Mfn Partners, Lp bought 747,424 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $20.25 per share, for a total transaction of $15,135,336.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 13,755,649 shares in the company, valued at $278,551,892.25. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Company insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of RXO. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of RXO during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new stake in shares of RXO during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of RXO by 6,329.0% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,993 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 1,962 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of RXO during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Ramirez Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of RXO during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $45,000. 92.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. RXO Stock Up 1.9 % NYSE RXO opened at $21.33 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $22.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. RXO has a 52 week low of $16.94 and a 52 week high of $24.33. The company has a market capitalization of $2.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 533.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.02 and a beta of 1.12. RXO (NYSE:RXO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $978.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $996.33 million. RXO had a return on equity of 6.11% and a net margin of 0.10%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.28 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that RXO will post 0.24 earnings per share for the current year. RXO Company Profile (Get Free Report RXO, Inc provides full truckload freight transportation brokering services. The company also offers brokered services for managed transportation, last mile, and freight forwarding. RXO, Inc was founded in 2022 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read More Receive News & Ratings for RXO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RXO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seven West Media Limited (ASX:SWM Get Free Report) insider James Warburton sold 1,500,000 shares of Seven West Media stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of A$0.23 ($0.15), for a total value of A$351,000.00 ($229,411.76). Seven West Media Price Performance The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 111.74. Get Seven West Media alerts: About Seven West Media (Get Free Report) Read More Seven West Media Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated media company, engages in the free to air television broadcasting and digital streaming in Australia and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Television; The West; and Other Business and New Ventures. Receive News & Ratings for Seven West Media Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seven West Media and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Staffline Group plc (LON:STAF Get Free Report) insider Thomas Spain sold 66,155 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 31 ($0.39), for a total value of 20,508.05 ($25,822.27). Thomas Spain also recently made the following trade(s): Get Staffline Group alerts: On Tuesday, January 23rd, Thomas Spain sold 75,968 shares of Staffline Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 22 ($0.28), for a total value of 16,712.96 ($21,043.77). On Friday, December 22nd, Thomas Spain sold 70,997 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 23 ($0.29), for a total value of 16,329.31 ($20,560.70). On Wednesday, December 6th, Thomas Spain sold 8,657 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 23 ($0.29), for a total transaction of 1,991.11 ($2,507.06). On Thursday, November 30th, Thomas Spain purchased 13,580 shares of Staffline Group stock. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 24 ($0.30) per share, with a total value of 3,259.20 ($4,103.75). On Tuesday, November 28th, Thomas Spain purchased 350,000 shares of Staffline Group stock. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 24 ($0.30) per share, with a total value of 84,000 ($105,766.81). On Friday, November 24th, Thomas Spain acquired 2,000,000 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 24 ($0.30) per share, with a total value of 480,000 ($604,381.77). Staffline Group Trading Up 1.0 % LON STAF traded up GBX 0.30 ($0.00) on Thursday, reaching GBX 31.80 ($0.40). The company had a trading volume of 2,480,245 shares, compared to its average volume of 558,569. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.40, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The firm has a market cap of 45.75 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3,170.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.76. The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 25.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 26.87. Staffline Group plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 21.10 ($0.27) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 43.64 ($0.55). Staffline Group Company Profile Staffline Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment and outsourced human resource services, and skills and employment training and support services. It operates through three segments: Recruitment GB, Recruitment Ireland, and PeoplePlus. The company provides solutions to the agriculture, supermarkets, drinks, food processing, manufacturing, e-retail, driving, and logistics sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Staffline Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Staffline Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stifel Financial Corp lessened its holdings in Huntsman Co. (NYSE:HUN Free Report) by 16.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,779,291 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 940,162 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp owned about 2.74% of Huntsman worth $116,615,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Huntsman by 69.8% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,556,712 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $170,921,000 after purchasing an additional 1,873,388 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Huntsman in the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,780,000. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Huntsman by 6,167.6% in the 1st quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 784,954 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $29,444,000 after acquiring an additional 772,430 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Huntsman by 16.0% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,522,380 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $96,795,000 after acquiring an additional 486,885 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new stake in shares of Huntsman in the 4th quarter worth approximately $11,043,000. 83.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Huntsman alerts: Huntsman Stock Up 0.9 % HUN traded up $0.23 on Thursday, reaching $24.86. 556,214 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,807,634. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.88 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $4.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.51 and a beta of 1.13. Huntsman Co. has a 52-week low of $22.14 and a 52-week high of $30.51. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $24.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.89. Analyst Ratings Changes Huntsman ( NYSE:HUN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported ($0.21) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by ($0.07). Huntsman had a return on equity of 2.90% and a net margin of 1.27%. The business had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.33 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.04 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Huntsman Co. will post 0.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. HUN has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Huntsman in a report on Monday, December 11th. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Huntsman from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Huntsman from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Huntsman from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Huntsman from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $25.30. Get Our Latest Report on Huntsman About Huntsman (Free Report) Huntsman Corporation manufactures and sells diversified organic chemical products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, and Advanced Materials. The Polyurethanes segment offers polyurethane chemicals, including methyl diphenyl diisocyanate, polyether and polyester polyols, and thermoplastic polyurethane. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Huntsman Co. (NYSE:HUN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Huntsman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huntsman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CI Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT Free Report) by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 11,013 shares of the retailers stock after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the quarter. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in Target were worth $1,218,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Tower View Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Target by 82.8% during the third quarter. Tower View Wealth Management LLC now owns 234 shares of the retailers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the period. Sittner & Nelson LLC grew its holdings in shares of Target by 150.6% during the second quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 213 shares of the retailers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Target during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Target in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Target during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 78.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Target alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently commented on TGT. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Target from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Target from $161.00 to $157.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Target from $117.00 to $142.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Morgan Stanley raised Target from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $140.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Target from $113.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Target currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $155.31. Insider Activity at Target In other Target news, insider Matthew L. Zabel sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.33, for a total value of $525,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 16,486 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,165,106.38. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.23% of the companys stock. Target Price Performance TGT opened at $148.80 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Target Co. has a 1 year low of $102.93 and a 1 year high of $172.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $142.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $128.21. The stock has a market cap of $68.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.98, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.11. Target Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be issued a $1.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.96%. Targets dividend payout ratio is currently 56.12%. Target Company Profile (Free Report) Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TGT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Target Co. (NYSE:TGT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Target Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Target and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund boosted its position in shares of TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Free Report) (TSE:T) by 22.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 537,959 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock after purchasing an additional 97,850 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Funds holdings in TELUS were worth $8,788,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Forsta AP Fonden increased its stake in shares of TELUS by 23.9% in the second quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 304,100 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $5,918,000 after acquiring an additional 58,600 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its stake in shares of TELUS by 4,575.7% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,150,224 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $22,383,000 after acquiring an additional 1,125,624 shares during the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp increased its stake in shares of TELUS by 2.7% in the third quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 14,354,382 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $235,054,000 after acquiring an additional 382,845 shares during the last quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of TELUS by 1.2% in the third quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,194,542 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $68,494,000 after acquiring an additional 48,040 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its position in TELUS by 4.6% during the second quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 30,864,424 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $600,622,000 after buying an additional 1,364,319 shares during the last quarter. 49.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get TELUS alerts: TELUS Price Performance Shares of TU stock opened at $18.03 on Thursday. TELUS Co. has a 52-week low of $15.47 and a 52-week high of $21.34. The stock has a market cap of $26.38 billion, a PE ratio of 41.70, a PEG ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.67. The firms 50 day moving average price is $17.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.40. TELUS Increases Dividend TELUS ( NYSE:TU Get Free Report ) (TSE:T) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.24 billion. TELUS had a net margin of 4.18% and a return on equity of 7.81%. The companys revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.17 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that TELUS Co. will post 0.78 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a $0.2793 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.20%. This is a positive change from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. TELUSs dividend payout ratio is 258.14%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of TELUS from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. StockNews.com cut shares of TELUS from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of TELUS from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 12th. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TELUS TELUS Profile (Free Report) TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; healthcare services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services, as well as mobile and fixed voice and data telecommunications services and products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TELUS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TELUS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lowered its holdings in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,902 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 211 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $1,617,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC bought a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Northwest Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in Travelers Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.12% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Travelers Companies news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 270 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.00, for a total transaction of $48,060.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,421,684. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Travelers Companies news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 270 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.00, for a total transaction of $48,060.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,421,684. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 26,633 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.76, for a total transaction of $5,666,437.08. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $54,291,671.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 110,045 shares of company stock worth $23,391,963. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TRV has been the subject of a number of research reports. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $220.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Janney Montgomery Scott began coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They set a buy rating and a $215.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $204.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $205.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Travelers Companies presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $201.38. Read Our Latest Research Report on TRV Travelers Companies Price Performance NYSE TRV opened at $219.48 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $157.33 and a 12-month high of $221.38. The company has a market capitalization of $50.29 billion, a PE ratio of 17.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.58. The firms 50 day moving average is $201.80 and its 200-day moving average is $179.70. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 19th. The insurance provider reported $7.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.10 by $1.91. The company had revenue of $10.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.18 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.23% and a return on equity of 13.68%. The firms revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.40 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.82%. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is 31.27%. Travelers Companies Profile (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hyundai's Supernal's CEO Shin Jaiwon speaks to The Associated Press during an interview along the Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. As the aviation sector seeks ways to make air travel less polluting and more sustainable, aerospace company Embraer and South Korean automaker Hyundai are among the companies betting on a new form of air travel, air taxis. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) SINGAPORE (AP) As the aviation sector seeks ways to make air travel less polluting and more sustainable, aerospace company Embraer and South Korean automaker Hyundai are among the companies betting on a new form of air travel - air taxis. Hyundais Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility are developing electric aircraft that take off and land vertically. The idea is that such air taxis might provide a sustainable form of air transport for densely populated cities and areas with less developed public transport networks. Experts say they could help offset carbon emissions from the traditional aviation sector, but there are plenty of technological and regulatory challenges to making air taxis commercially viable. Falling battery prices, advancements in technology and the participation of big players like Hyundai mean that such aircraft could soon be a reality, experts say. Hyundais advanced air mobility unit Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility hope to officially launch electric-powered air taxis within the next two to four years. Ground transportation is evolving and improving, but to support all the mobility demands of people in urban areas, ground transport will not be sufficient, Supernal's CEO Shin Jaiwon said in an interview. We have to open the skies above the cities. Supernals S-A2 electric aircraft, equipped with eight rotors, is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers. The battery-powered air taxi will have a range of about 25 to 40 miles and will be able to take off and land vertically. It's similar to a helicopter, but quieter and more sustainable in that it can help offset carbon emissions generated from traditional air travel, Shin said. Supernal plans to test its first full-scale technology demonstration version in California this year and is in contact with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the E.U's aviation safety agency about policies and certification issues. Story continues Earlier this week, Supernal and Singapores civil aviation authorities and officials in economic development formed a partnership to jointly develop the advanced air mobility sector in terms of research and regulatory frameworks. Brazilian firm Eve Air Mobility, a spin-off of the third-largest aircraft manufacturer Embrarer, also is testing and developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which it hopes to launch by 2026. Like Supernal's S-A2, the Eve Air Mobility's aircraft is also expected to carry between four to six passengers with a range of 60 miles, without generating any local carbon emissions. Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility, says that the electric-powered aircraft could a new alternative for getting around in cities or areas lacking good public transport but they're not replacements for traditional aircraft. Were going to be putting more people in the air, were giving an alternative - just like electric vehicles are on the ground in 2D, we want to make sure that we can make the same thing that happens but in 3D, Bordais said. Air taxis are just one of many ways that the aviation sector is considering to improve sustainability. Airlines are moving toward using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel made from renewable sources, with the industry aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. Aviation firms are also designing more fuel-efficient aircraft and engines. The effort also requires regulatory changes. For the aviation industry to really take off in a sustainable manner, we have to look at how government policies can help create a conducive environment for new technologies and industries to take shape on a global level, said Mabel Kwan, managing director of Alton Aviation Consultancy. For now, the air taxi industry and other forms of air mobility still have hurdles to cross, such as the battery costs, devising new regulatory and safety frameworks for such travel, and certifying such aircraft. With suitable regulatory changes, the technology has developed to the point, however, where air taxis are feasible, said Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst based in Singapore. Theres the feasibility of operating in various environments, various air spaces, various cities and urban environments, said Brendan Sobie. Supernals Shin acknowledged that battery costs are still high for vehicles like air taxis. However, as battery technologies continue to improve and further develop over time, we believe that manufacturing will also be improved and developed, so the overall cost of making such vehicles will be going down, he said. Supernal can tap into Hyundai's know-how and mass production capabilities to achieve high quality and bring down the costs of making its air taxis, Shin said. Eve Air Mobilitys Bordais was also upbeat, saying his company can draw on Embraers decades of certifying and manufacturing aircraft. We know what were doing, weve done it, he said. We dont want to be the first one. We want to be the right one, Bordais said. Were here for the long run. Youll see these (aircraft) flying around in 2026. 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. [Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua] Women wearing Chinese costumes are pictured in a street in Valletta, Malta, Feb. 17, 2024. [Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Russias invasion of Ukraine two years ago was a shambolic mess. Instead of the quick surrender Russian President Vladimir Putin expected, Ukraine stood firm, and an alliance of Western nations clapped back with military aid for Ukraine and unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia. In the first months of the war, it looked as if Putin had made a colossal mistake. Two years later, Russia has surprised the world with its economic resilience and its ability to absorb horrific losses that would paralyze most other nations. Ukraine and its allies arent losing, but they arent winning either, and Putin could yet win a battle of wills with the West. Perhaps more daunting, Russia is demonstrating that the capitalist might of the United States and Western Europe may not be able to defeat a militaristic petro-state unbound by pesky democracy. Russia is feeling quite comfortable within the economic dynamics, Maria Snegovaya of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said during a Feb. 14 panel discussion. They are ramping up domestic production of weapons, including tanks, rocket launchers, artillery, and missiles, by more than twofold, and in some instances by more than tenfold. One can hardly describe the sanctions as a success. Yet they remain the punishment of least resistance. The Biden administration announced a whole new set of sanctions against Russia on Feb. 23, following the death of Putin critic Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison, likely murdered by Putin operatives. The new measures go deeper than prior efforts to constrict Russia's financial system, squeeze oil and gas revenue, and impede weapons production. All told, these punitive measures have certainly challenged the Russian economy, which shrank by 2.1% in 2022, the first year of the war. But growth rebounded last year, and the International Monetary Fund expects Russia's economy to grow another 2.6% this year. A surge in defense spending is offsetting a decline in Russias civilian economy and keeping growth going. Story continues Energy exports are Russias largest source of revenue, and theyve held up well enough for Russia to finance a surge in defense spending. Russias energy revenue actually soared after the 2022 invasion because energy prices spiked. By the middle of 2023, Russias energy revenue had dipped to about 70% of prewar levels, according to Finlands Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. It has since recovered to about 75% of prewar levels. In 2023, the United States, the European Union, and other nations imposed a price cap on each barrel of Russian oil. That plan requires any purchaser of Russian oil cooperating with the plan to pay no more than $60 per barrel if Russia ships the oil using any infrastructure or service, such as insurance, provided by one of the participating countries. The price cap has reduced Russias oil revenue, but Russia has also found ways around it. It has purchased a shadow fleet of tankers not dependent on Western services and also found some buyers in the participating nations simply willing to flout the price cap, which is spottily enforced. Plus, huge energy purchasers such as China, India, and Turkey dont abide by the cap, and theyve become Russias biggest energy customers. The vessel CRIUS, before receiving a cargo of oil, on March 5, 2023, in Ceuta, Spain. The oil tankers located in the waters near Ceuta are transferring crude oil from Russia to get the product to Asian markets despite Western sanctions. (Antonio Sempere/Europa Press via Getty Images) (Europa Press News via Getty Images) Russia has also formed new alliances with North Korea and Iran, which are supplying it with artillery shells, combat drones, and other types of military equipment Russia would rapidly burn through without reinforcements. China is helping too, by selling Russia many types of technology products now banned by Western sanctions, including dual-use technologies such as computer chips that can be used in weapons production. Finally, Russia gets a lot of banned Western technology through third-party countries, including Iran. Drop Rick Newman a note, follow him on Twitter, or sign up for his newsletter. Ukraine has allies too, obviously, and as the war enters its third year, Germany and other European nations that have shirked defense spending for decades are finally starting to boost it. But for anybody expecting capitalist industrial might to muster a new arsenal of democracy able to vanquish an axis of nettlesome dictators, the results, so far, are thoroughly discouraging. With help from the stunted economies of North Korea and Iran, Russia has developed something like a 5-to-1 artillery advantage over Ukraine, which may be Ukraines biggest battlefield shortcoming at the moment. That likely contributed to Ukraines recent loss of Avdiivka, a key crossroads in eastern Ukraine. Europe is ramping up production of artillery shells, but it takes a year or more to get those into the field in Ukraine. Americas role in the war has become an embarrassing nihilistic exercise. Until this year, the United States was Ukraines indispensable ally and biggest military supporter. A cabal of isolationist Republicans in the House of Representatives, goaded by Putin sympathizer Donald Trump, the former president, are now blocking another $60 billion in assistance President Biden has asked for, despite broad support for a new aid package from majorities in both houses. That aid might still come through, but the opposition validates Putins belief that Western democracies and their fickle politicians will tire of the war before he does. Without US aid, Ukraine might be able to keep most of the terrain it now holds but probably not dislodge Russia from seized terrain. Theres no end to the war in sight but a sort of timetable is forming. Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds of the British research group Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think Russia will use 2024 as a year to rebuild its tattered army and amass the artillery, tanks, missiles, and other weapons it will need to make major territorial gains in 2025. If that happens, Putin might feel hes reached a high-water mark and consider some sort of cease-fire, which he certainly isnt serious about now. But pressures will continue to bear on Russias ability to rebuild its war machine, which could make Western resolve more important than ever. The International Monetary Fund's managing director recently said the shrinkage of Russias civilian economy means very tough times are ahead. Watling and Reynolds think Russias defense production will peak in 2025 but then start to degrade as the accumulating effects of sanctions and battlefield losses pile up. Around the same time, Europes own defense production should finally be gathering steam. Ukraine may finally be operating F-16 fighter jets by then. All the while, Russia is losing an astounding number of troops, with perhaps 350,000 killed and wounded so far. Russia is a large and populous country, but its running out of convicts to fill infantry units, and young people are fleeing the country. The pool of troops is far from bottomless. So theres hope for Ukraine if its allies can stop wobbling and begin to match Russias industrial mobilization. If the [US] funding is passed, I would be quite optimistic about Ukraines potential in 2025, Max Bergmann of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said at the Feb. 14 panel discussion. Russia, in its hubris, [is] launching constant offensives [and] losing lots of people. If US aid continues and European production ramps up, Ukraine will be in a very strong point to continue this war into 2025. The real question is whether its capitalist allies will stay in the fight or retreat. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance 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. cadbury chocolate The boss of Mondelez, the owner of Cadbury, has claimed that investors do not morally care about it continuing to do business in Russia. Dirk Van de Put, chief executive of Mondelez, which has owned Cadbury since 2010, defended its decision to keep doing business in Russia despite criticism from campaigners. Mondelez is one of the worlds largest food and drink companies, with global sales of $36bn (28bn) in 2023. It also owns Toblerone, Maynards Bassetts and the Philadelphia cream cheese brand. Russia accounted for 2.8pc of Mondelezs global sales last year, falling from 4pc in 2022. It employs almost 3,000 people in the country across three manufacturing plants, and has begun operating its Russian business as a separate, standalone entity. Mr Van de Put said in an interview with the Financial Times that there had been no shareholder pressure whatsoever to quit doing business in Russia. He added that he had faced some questions from a handful of European funds but there had been no request to leave Russia from any of our investors. I dont think [investors] morally care, he said. However, he added: If you have an important Russian business, the hit on the company would be huge, and that becomes a different discussion. He defended his stance on the basis that the assets of Western companies exiting Russia could end up in the hands of people and entities close to Vladimir Putins regime. Mr Van de Put added: I wonder what happened with the companies that were sold, who got them and what are they doing with the cash that those companies generate? They all went to friends of Putin. Mondelez chief Dirk Van de Put says there has been no shareholder pressure to quit doing business in Russia - Andrew Fox Western companies that have continued to trade in Russia have faced mounting anger from campaigners, who have accused them of indirectly contributing to the Kremlins war effort by paying taxes in the country. A spokesman for B4Ukraine, a group of more than 80 nonprofits who are urging multinationals to leave Russia, said: The comments of the CEO of the Cadbury maker Mondelez highlight complete moral bankruptcy of the American snacking giant. We are not surprised as our numerous attempts to engage with the company have fallen on deaf ears. Story continues Such comments ignore over 125,000 war crimes committed by Russia in this illegal invasion and the responsibility of business to protect human rights under the UN Guiding Principles. There is no mention of the appeal from over 1,200 of Mondelezs global staff to exit Russia and the extensive boycott of its products across Scandinavia. Mondelez has been called an international sponsor of war by Ukraines National Agency on Corruption Prevention. It has also faced boycotts from companies in Scandinavia, which stopped selling its products over its stance on Russia. Christopher Ford, secretary of the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, said: Any company that operates in Russia should have UK contracts rescinded and put on notice of public boycott and disinvestment. The lives of Ukrainians have greater value than the immoral profiteering of such investors. The Telegraph has approached Mondelez three biggest shareholders, the investment firms Vanguard, Blackrock and The Capital Group for comment. The Capital Group and Vanguard declined to comment. Blackrock did not respond to the request to comment. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP who has called for seized Russian assets to be used to rebuilt Ukraine, said: Just as we dont want companies trading with North Korea, we dont particularly want companies trading with Russia, either. Youve got to make it clear to the Russian government and Russian people that what theyre doing in Ukraine is completely unacceptable. Unilever chief Hein Schumacher says remaining in Russia is the least bad option for the company - UNILEVER/FRIESLANDCAMPINA Other consumer giants such as Unilever and Bacardi have been criticised on similar grounds, while some Western companies that have tried to sell their Russian businesses have had them confiscated by the state. Carlsberg and Danones Russian subsidiaries were both commandeered by Russian authorities last year after Mr Putin signed a decree giving Russia fresh powers to take control of Western assets. Hein Schumacher, the chief executive of Unilever, said in July that continuing to do business in Russia was the least bad option for the company. He said at the time: The first option is to abandon our business. We feel that, in effect, that could result in it being nationalised, given all of the developments that have recently taken place. The second option is to sell the business, but the reality is, we have not found a viable solution that meets our stated objectives. None of the options are actually good, but the final option of operating our business in a constrained manner is the least bad and that is where we are. Mondelez was approached for further 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. Council use external consultants to make large business rates savings at museum Wrexham Council have paid external consultants to help gain business rates refunds for the museum. The detail eventually emerged following several queries on the topic after a 289k business rates saving was referenced as part of budget documents around the ongoing council hunt for savings. Questions have been raised why such external work was needed when the reason for a saving was widely known in the the museum sector following a landmark England and Wales ruling. The debate around use of external providers to help the council make savings is not a new one in Wrexham. Back in 2016-2017 there were large public concerns about consultants PWC making savings for public bodies and the fee model they charged. The so called risk reward timeframe was of specific concern around what would be billable time, so for example work done say this year could result in an invoice. There were some commercial agreements possible that could mean that the savings made this year could create bills several years into the future based on the current savings made. Back in 2015 we asked Council Leader Mark Pritchard about those PWCs reshaping cuts and billing, and if cuts made were linked to the fees generated for the external consultants and was firmly told no, no.. In 2017 it emerged from Cllr Pritchard for every pound they saved they get 10 pence. After the PWC contract finished there was a large local bun fight between the Council Leader and the Labour Group Leader over who procured, and supported them, to carry out the work. Due in part to the pricey dalliance with PWC there was a local inference such arrangements were now politically off limits and out of favour. With the recent budget process looking for millions of pounds of cuts in a short period of time lots of information has been made public, including per-department lists of efficiencies, savings, revenue increases and cuts. One such sheet is below from a recent meeting pack, with light explanatory notices for some of the figures. As readers will have seen Wrexham.com has queried several such items to give more insight to how the UK Government and Welsh Government budgets are affecting local budgets on the ground, and also examine areas of local council policy. Item 5 above details how 289,000 is attributed to a NDR , or Non-Domestic Rates (more commonly known as business rates) refund for Wrexhams Museum. This, the report states, is due due a rating list appeal. At the start of the month we verbally queried the budget line, and specifically asked if the saving and work had been conducted in-house, noting fees charged by business rates firms on savings identified. Often such fees from business rates companies can be large double digit sums (as high as 40-50%), and some companies even bill for savings years into the future (again, as high as 40-50%) a practice some rating firms have been highly criticised for. The response then was no stone has been left unturned in the quest for budget savings, and a further note would be provided to give some context. We clarified the query, asking if the appeal / rates work has been taken internally and that there were no external consultants getting a percentage, or future invoices to pay. The response then provided read, Wrexham Council works closely with a firm of specialist Rating Agents to deal with appeals on all of the Councils commercial portfolio, and significant savings have been achieved over the years as a direct result. The latest success relates to the Wrexham Museum where, following a landmark ruling by The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), the appointed Agents were able to negotiate with the Valuation Office Agency and secure a reduction in the rateable value of the museum for the period 1 April 2017 31 March 2022, to a nominal value of 1.00. The Council expect formal confirmation of this change from the Valuation Office Agency within the coming weeks and once processed, this will result in a budget saving of approximately 289,000 which is in addition to 239,000 achieved following a successful appeal against the 2010 rating list entry. Last week we re-asked the question, pointing to local history with PWC around external entities charging on savings made with the Council Leader reassuring we havent used any external providers to give us the information. Weve done everything in house. At that point the Chief Executive noted, Our approach on the budget is generally we try and utilise the skills and expertise we have, and then we add on external support where its needed, not to drive this process. We were give assurance that a further explanatory note would be provided. After the briefing the Council Leader got to the bottom of the issue, and confirmed that Wrexham Council was infact paying a fee to external consultants for the savings made. Cllr Mark Pritchard shared an update he had been given from the finance department , The Council uses rating agent specialists to engage with the Valuation Office. A small fee is paid for the service provided and this has been included in the projections in the report. It represents very good value for money, given the level of rate reduction achieved. There has been no indication of which consultants were used, what the fee was, or what other properties owned by Wrexham Council have been subject to similar arrangements. The huge news in the world of museums was the landmark case in 2020 that saw Exeter City Council get 1.5m back after successfully reducing the rateable value of their museum to a nominal pound something it appears Wrexham has now done with outside assistance. Due to this the, again, huge news in the world of museums was new business rates changes announced by the Valuation Office and in museum related trade media. One business rates expert who looked at the matter (above data for Wrexhams museum) has told Wrexham.com , The council could have done it themselves, and did not need a rating agent to do it. The expert also noted, A budget saving of approximately 289,000 is listed, but 289,000 is also exactly one of the the refund amounts, if the council is paying a fee on this amount then the budget saving might not be the full refund amount stated. They also will have received an additional refund of around 235,000 for another business rates reduction for the museum and a fee will most likely have been payable on this figure as well. If the firm employed to carry out the appeals are carrying out work across similar commercial council sites, this implies other savings have been made on sites owned by the council. With more fees payable to the company, and potentially on future years savings as well as any refunds issued, a small fee payable across multiple sites could soon become large amounts owed to the rating agent. If the fee is 10%, which would be low in the trade, on these two savings alone the council could be paying a significant five figure sum in fees. With the change to Museums being such big news and having such a landmark case in your favour, where is the need for an agent to deal with this? [email protected] Prime Minister set for North Wales Levelling Up tour today Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit North Wales today to see how the Levelling Up agenda is helping to spread opportunity, create jobs and revitalise local communities across North Wales. UK Government have said the PM will today meet engineers in Anglesey to see the work that goes on behind the UK Governments rollout of faster, more reliable broadband, as well as visit communities and businesses across the two-day tour of the region They are also highlighting growth in gigabit coverage in Wales over the past year is among the fastest in the UK with nearly 70 per cent of Welsh premises have access to a gigabit capable connection. Before our rollout, only seven per cent of Welsh premises had access five years ago. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Levelling Up is about providing people with better opportunities to work, travel and feel proud of where they live. Upgrading one million premises with high-speed gigabit broadband is part of our long-term plan to deliver a brighter future by connecting people, businesses and regions across the entire United Kingdom. Were breathing new life into communities across North Wales through greater connectivity, a brand new freeport, more cash for high streets and a 1 billion investment into North Wales rail. A range of major projects to spread jobs, prosperity and investment right across North Wales have also been showcased as part of the visit: The new Anglesey Freeport, visited by the Prime Minister and First Minister last year, is expected to bring forward over a billion in private and public investment and create thousands of new, high-skilled jobs. A major upgrade and electrification of the North Wales Main Line backed by an unprecedented 1 billion investment will bring parts of North Wales within an hour of Manchester. A further 20m from the Levelling Up Fund will go to projects to develop and boost areas in Denbighshire, which will include regenerating Rhyl town centre, creating more community centres, improving cycle and footpaths, and improving routes between the town and coast. The investment in Denbighshire is one of seven projects across Wales which have been allocated a total of 111 million from round three of the Levelling Up Fund. [email protected] Thousands of protesters marched to Downing Street from the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday in support of imprisoned WikiLeaks journalist and publisher Julian Assange. The march through central London to the official residence of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came at the end of a two-day hearing that saw Assanges lawyers seek leave from the High Court to appeal his extradition to the United States. The High Court judges have reserved their decision. The march goes down the Strand after leaving the Royal Courts of Justice, February 21, 2024 Assange faces 17 trumped-up charges under the Espionage Act, carrying a prison term of 175 years, in retribution for his courageous journalism exposing US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and human rights abuses throughout the world. Behind a lead banner held by Assanges wife Stella, father John Shipton, brother Gabriel, and WikiLeaks colleagues and supporters including editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, marchers arrived at Downing Street shortly before 5.30pm. Earlier that day, Assanges family, colleagues, and supporters addressed protesters during the proceedings lunchtime recess, speaking from a platform erected opposite the court. Gabriel Shipton, Assanges brother, said the arguments that morning by US prosecutors amounted to a declaration that day was night, and night was day. That Chelsea Manning was not a whistleblower, and Julian is not a journalist. Their case had effectively asserted that journalism is a threat to democracy, and whistleblowing is a threat to democracy, and our right to know is a threat to democracy. Shame on them, free Julian Assange! Australian independent MP Andrew Wilkie addressed the rally. He sponsored a cross-party motion passed by the Australian parliament last week calling for Assange to be brought home. Citing the Collateral Murder video exposing the gunning down of Iraqi civilians and Reuters journalists by a US Apache helicopter, Wilkie said, The man who told the truth, who provided hard evidence of US war crimes, hes the one in front of a court. Wilkies conclusion, shielding the US government, was that It shouldve been the pilots of that helicopter who were charged. He concluded, Regardless of what you think of Julian, this matter must be brought to an end, the extradition must be dropped, the charges must be dropped. He must be busted out of Belmarsh, he must be allowed to be reunited with his family. Because Julian Assange is the hero here, not the villain. Hrafnsson said the Department of Justices lawyers had added absolutely nothing new to their threadbare legal arguments of the past decade, comparing their presentation in court to a lunch of leftover smorgasbord from last month. The US government allegations against Assange had all been refuted, not just in the court rooms but with new evidence that was totally disregarded. He urged supporters to seize on what he described as a glimmer of hope at the hearing, suggesting the High Courts judges were being forced under public pressure to consider the arguments made by Assanges lawyers. Craig Murray, ex-British diplomat and human rights activist who has reported extensively on Assanges case, was more explicit in promoting hope in the High Court. He told protesters at Downing Street that for the first time in five years, I saw judges who were actually listening intelligently and paying attention to what the defence says. And we have done that. We have done that because they can no longer ignore us. They can no longer scorn us. Murrays remarks epitomise the complacent class orientation of the official campaign to free Assange, based on appeals to and confidence in so-called enlightened sections of the state. Such a perspective may appeal to ageing Corbynites and Stalinists, but it is incapable of rousing mass popular indignation and opposition in the working class and among young people against war, austerity and the evisceration of democratic rights. The British state has demonstrated ruthless determination to crush Assanges democratic and legal rights. The highest levels of the judiciary have rubber-stamped measures aimed at destroying Assange physically and mentally, holding him captive while preparing to deliver him to the clutches of state agencies, including the CIA, that have been exposed as plotting to assassinate him. Throughout the two days of hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice, the protest for Assange elicited heartfelt support from passing London bus drivers, couriers, lorry drivers and other city workers. The potential exists now for a mass movement in the working class to win Assanges freedom, a fact underscored by deepening global opposition to the genocide in Gaza. As Stella Assange told the rally opposite the court, How pathetic the UK case is. They have to rely on lies. Fourteen years on, and all they can do is repeat the lies from the very first Pentagon press conference talking points sheet. Stella Assange speaking outside the court, February 21, 2024 What they are trying to argue is that state secrets trump revealing state crimes In that court room, they are having to make their position increasingly clear. They have to admit that what they are doing is criminalising journalism, criminalising the truth. They are liars, they are criminals, and they are persecuting a journalist who exposed them. Julian is a truth teller, hes a political prisoner, and the world is watching these courts and how they deal with this case. FILE PHOTO: The logos of Nippon Steel Corp. are didplayed at the company headquarters in Tokyo (Reuters) -The Biden administration is examining Nippon Steel's China connection, in relation to the Japanese company's planned acquisition of American rival U.S. Steel, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The administration sees protecting the U.S. industry as its priority and is worried about Nippon Steel's exposure to China, the report said. It is not clear whether the China assets of Nippon Steel will be an explicit part of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review, the report said. The world's fourth-largest steelmaker's $14.9 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel has drawn criticism from some of the Democratic and Republican lawmakers and the powerful United Steelworkers union. The White House has also promised "serious scrutiny" of the deal given the company's role in U.S. steel production, which the government regards as critical to national security. When contacted by Reuters, Nippon Steel said its operations in China are very limited representing less than 5% of the company's global production capacity. "Our goal is to enhance U.S. Steel's competitiveness in the global steel market and address the industry's overproduction and overcapacity issues largely driven from China," it added. (Reporting by Kannaki Deka and Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) The second and concluding day of journalist Julian Assanges High Court hearing in the UK took place Wednesday. He is seeking leave to appeal his extradition to the United States to face charges under the Espionage Act for publishing leaked US government documents containing evidence of war crimes and human rights abuses. After hearing arguments from Assanges representatives Edward Fitzgerald KC and Mark Summers KC on Tuesday, the court began with submissions from lawyers for the United States government and UK Home Secretary, followed by responses from Fitzgerald and Summers. Julian Assange [AP Photo/Matt Dunham] Clair Dobbin KC spoke for the US, presenting a series of deeply anti-democratic arguments aimed at dressing up the interests of US and British imperialism in the language of legal principles. Speaking against the attempt made yesterday to try and minimise the impact of the WikiLeaks disclosures of classified documents, she stated they had damaged the work of security and intelligence services thereby endangering the interests of the United States of America as well. This had broader consequences as regards the United States ability to gather information from individuals earlier described as providing information to further peace and security, based in countries including Iran, China and Syria. These were profound consequences, extending beyond the real human costs and to the broader ability of the United States to gather evidence from human sources. Assange and WikiLeaks receiving and publication of these documents, Dobbin claimed, was activity well outside the activities of a journalist, a responsible journalist. The power to make this distinction was asserted to rest with the US government, which did not regard the appellant as being akin to a journalist. Dismissing the arguments presented by Assanges lawyers that the US case is part of a politically motivated campaign of persecution, Dobbin said that the starting position must be, as it always is in these cases, the fundamental assumption of good faith on the part of those states with which the United Kingdom has long established extradition relations, especially the United States, as one of the most longstanding partners of the United Kingdom. Addressing Assanges assertion of his right under the European Convention on Human Rights to freedom of expression (Article 10), Dobbin made the extraordinary claim that a fundamental hurdle he faced in resisting extradition on this ground was that In equivalent circumstances in this jurisdiction, his prosecution would not be incompatible with Article 10 there is no public interest defence available as concluded by [Regina v] Shayler. Mr Justice Johnson was moved to ask on this point, If, in this country, a journalist had information of very serious wrongdoing by an intelligence agency and incited an employee of that agency to provide information and information was provided and was then published in a very careful way, do you say that a prosecution would be compatible with Article 10? Dobbin answered, Im not sure that gives way to a straightforward answer, before floundering for several minutes. Summers delivered a crushing rebuttal. He began by noting that Dobbin had during the course of two and-half hours made no challenge whatsoever to the fact that the subject matter of these exposures is the exposure of state-level crime. It was an impressive feat to spend two-and-a-half hours on your feet promoting the prosecution of materials disclosing war crimes without acknowledging it or even mentioning it. Turning to her arguments, Summers explained how Dobbins insistence that the lead US prosecutor on the case was acting in good faith was irrelevant. Prosecution and extradition here is a decision taken way above his head. You cant focus on the sheep and ignore the shepherd. What happened in this case is state retaliation ordered from the very top. This was, Part of a state-level practice of securing unlawful impunity for the very conduct Mr Assange was exposing It was then followed by demonstrably political denunciations of Mr Assange. The response to that was that President Trump praised Mr Assange, at the timeignoring completely that he was plotting to kill him. It was submitted to you that the US government has acted at all times in good faith in respect of bringing this prosecution. We simply dont understand how that submission can be advanced with a straight face in the face of evidence that the president of America was entertaining plans to kidnap, rendition and murder Assange. Regarding Dobbins apparent submission that Article 10 was off limits in this case completely because Shayler says so, Summers explained that the reason she had such difficulty answering Mr Justice Johnsons questions when pressed on the implications of that position for the press was because Shayler says nothing of the sort so far as the press is concerned. It related to a whistleblower who had signed the Official Secrets Act, rather than a journalist and publisher. David Shayler (later Delores Kane) was an MI5 officer who was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act and sentenced in 2002 to six months in prison for revealing to the media that MI5 was paranoid about socialists, had investigated senior Labour Party figures and had made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gadhafi in 1996. In the years since the Shayler case was decided, the Human Rights Act has come into force and the European Court has unambiguously and repeatedly said that there must be an Article 10 balancing exercise in these cases, weighing the public interest served by publication against any harm caused. What did you hear, Summers then asked, in relation to the balance that needs to be undertaken? With respect, not much. If such a balance were properly undertaken, what would be left in the scales against Assange would be harm to [US intelligence] sources, mitigated by the fact that Assange and WikiLeaks made extensive efforts to redact names and were not responsible for their initial release to the public, and further caveated by the fact that there is no proof at all that any harm actually eventuated. On the other side of the scales, Summers continued, would go the horrendous penalty meted out in this case that would shock the conscience of every journalist around the world. Also, the vast public interests in the exposure and prevention of harm on a titanic scale. Lets be clear about this: rendition, torture, murders, black sites, waterboarding, strappado, war crimes. The crimes being disclosed here were real, ongoing and the disclosure had the capacity of stopping that happening, and did The war in Iraq came to an end. He concluded that leave to appeal could only logically be withheld in this case under Article 10 if the court concludes that it is completely unarguable that real harm in the form of ongoing colossal, outrageous international criminal wrongdoing outweighs the creation of a risk, ultimately unproved to have occurred, of some harm to those criminals performing or facilitating all of that criminality. Responding to the Home Secretarys attempt to wriggle out of their duty to ensure Assange will not face the death penalty, by claiming a careful evaluation had been made of that risk, Summers answered that the relevant section of the Extradition Act allows no room whatsoever for a risk assessment of the sort being proposed. It is mandatory. If the facts could be recharged as a capital offence, it is engaged. In response to questions from [Mr Justice Johnson], it was accepted that it could happen Thats the end of the inquiry, as a matter of law. He concluded, We dont understand why there is no usual, normal death penalty assurance in this case. The judges said briefly at the close of the hearing that they would reserve their decision, with no indication given of a timeframe. On February 6, the Central Student Government (CSG) at the University of Michigan voted to launch an investigation into the U-M administrations halting last November of a campus-wide referendum which the CSG had authorized on two competing resolutions concerning the Israeli war on Gaza. One of the resolutions, drawn up by Zionist supporters of Israel, defended the mass slaughter of Palestinians by the Israeli military; the other called on the university to acknowledge that Israel was engaged in genocide against defenseless Palestinian civilians and to divest from companies implicated in the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian enclave. The CSG authorized the referendum last October, with voting on the rival resolutions to take place in conjunction with student government elections conducted online last November 28 through November 30. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at U-M distributed a leaflet calling for a yes vote on the anti-genocide, pro-Palestinian resolution. On November 30, only hours before the official end of voting and with a record 10,000 ballots having already been cast, U-M Vice President and General Counsel Timothy G. Lynch issued a statement announcing that the university was disallowing the referendum on the Gaza resolutions and would not reveal the results to that point of the vote. Lynch cited as the pretext for the unilateral and anti-democratic suppression of the vote a mass email sent out the previous day by supporters of the anti-genocide resolution, which had been falsely denounced by Zionist forces as an improper use of the campus email system. University of Michigan students rallied on Friday, December 1, to denounce the administrations cancellation of a student referendum vote on Israel's genocidal war in Gaza and to divest from the war profiteers. The real reason for the ham-fisted action was the administrations realization that the anti-Zionist, anti-genocide resolution was headed for victory, which would have delivered a significant political blow to the campaign of propaganda and lies mounted by both the Israeli government and the US government and media in support of the bombing and starving of Palestinian men, women and children. A few days later, on December 5, U-M President Santa Ono issued a public letter acknowledging that there was nothing improper about the email sent out by supporters of the anti-genocide resolution, thereby undercutting the entire rationale advanced by the university for shutting down the referendum. Nevertheless, Ono upheld the disallowing of the referendum and announced a permanent ban on any such vote on the Gaza war in the future. University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono in 2015. [Photo by U423310 / CC BY-SA 4.0 The CSG at the time denounced the shutting down of the referendum on Gaza, making clear that it had no role in the attack on free speech and political expression. The resolution passed by the CSG on February 6 resolves to elect an Inspector General to lead an investigation based on a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to be filed by the student government. The CSG plans to compile weekly reports and issue a final public report at the conclusion of its investigation. The move by the CSG reflects the continuing anger and disgust among students and sections of university faculty and staff, along with working people all around the world, over the Nazi-like mass killing of Palestinians, carried out with the full and active support of the US Biden administration and allied imperialist governments. Just this week the US once again vetoed a cease-fire resolution in the UN Security Council, even as Israel prepared to attack Rafah in southern Gaza where a million Palestinian survivors of carpet bombing, executions, starvation and homelessness have been forced to flee. The mass anger has been intensified by the nationwide effort of both capitalist partiesDemocrats and Republicansthe corporate-controlled media, and university donors and governing boards to criminalize campus opposition to the bloodbath in Gaza and expanding US war in the Middle East and smear it as antisemitic. In December, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan issued a public protest against U-M for cancelling the Gaza resolution, arresting peaceful student protesters and carrying out other acts of intimidation. The ACLU linked the U-Ms repressive policies to what it called McCarthyite attacks on campuses across the US, including the forced resignations of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. On January 29, the U-M Faculty Senate approved a resolution calling on the university to cut its financial ties with companies involved in the Israeli genocide in Gaza. The resolution cites evidence from the Gaza Ministry of Health, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that documents the horrific loss of civilian lives in Gaza and the United States shared responsibility with the Israeli state for the mass slaughter of defenseless Palestinians. As the WSWS wrote in response to the U-M Faculty Senate resolution: To support the humane and democratic spirit of the faculty resolution requires that it not be used to promote illusions that the governments, universities, political parties and other official institutions such as the UN that uphold the world capitalist system can be forced by pressure from below to halt the genocide and end the decades-long oppression of the Palestinian masses. It would be a disastrous mistake to believe that simply passing more such resolutions and making more appeals to the powers that be will either stop the mass murder in Gaza or halt the rapidly expanding US-led war that is engulfing the Middle East... The official response to the worldwide wave of mass protest has been: More genocide in Gaza, an ever-widening war in the Middle East that now targets Iran, escalation of the US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia, and repression, intimidation, lies and slander within the US and its imperialist allies against the popular opposition. This is joined with an intensifying assault on the jobs and living standards of the working class, with mass layoffs of autoworkers, UPS workers and other sections of the working class... Conclusions must be drawn! Mass layoffs are compelling millions of workers in the US and around the world to expand their struggles. This is the social force to which students and youth must turn to halt the descent into capitalist world war and barbarism. The same contradictions that threaten mankind with destruction in nuclear war, a climate catastrophe, genocide and fascism drive masses of workers all over the world into struggle against capitalism, creating the objective conditions for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of world socialism... We repeat: It is necessary to mobilize the only social force that can put an end to war, genocide, fascism and oligarchy by putting an end to their sourcecapitalismand establishing international socialism. That force is the American and international working class. Wild storms in the Australian state of Victoria last week cut the electricity supply to more than 530,000 homes and businesses. Strong winds brought down high-voltage transmission lines and resulted in the automated shutdown of one major power generator. The blackout was the largest in the states history surpassing the figure of 520,000 customers who lost power during storms in October 2021. Extreme storms destroy high-voltage electric power towers in Victoria, Australia [Photo: Facebook/COMMUNITYPete] The wild weather also led to widespread damage that is still being assessed. As of yesterday, the states emergency authorities confirmed the storm destroyed 37 homes, leaving them uninhabitable. In Mirboo North to the southeast of the state capital, Melbourne, dairy farmer Bruce Manintveld, was killed when extreme winds sent a large sheet of metal towards him as he was attempting to herd his cows. The huge blackoutthe second in just over two yearshas exposed the fragility of the power system that is both ageing and inadequately maintained. At around 2 p.m. on February 13, high winds brought down six high-voltage transmission towers at Anakie to the west of Melbourne. That event tripped four units at Loy Yang, some 200 kilometres east in the Morwell Valley, and the power loss threw the electricity system out of balance. As a result, the Australian Energy Market Operator called on the electricity distributor AusNet to cut off power, or load shed, to about 90,000 customers in order to prevent further damage. While power was restored to many of those homes and businesses, more than 12,000km of powerlines and poles were damaged in the storms that brought down a large number of trees. Powercor workers clear fallen trees and power lines from roads near Lara, in Victoria [Photo: powercor.com.au] The distribution networks of AusNet and United Energy were the hardest hit. AusNet, serves outer eastern and outer northern Melbourne, as well as eastern and north-eastern Victoria. It had some 262,601 customers without power on the evening of February 13. United Energy, which covers south-east Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, had 134,579 customer outages. Of the 530,000 customers that initially lost power, 127,743 still had no supply a day later at 5 p.m. on February 14 and 44,000 were still without power at 5 p.m. on February 15. As of this Tuesday, that is a week later, some 2,620 homes and 500 businesses were still without powerthe overwhelming majority AusNet customers located in Victorias east. The loss of power also impacted mobile phone and internet networks across the state. As of last Thursday, around 230 phone towers were still offline. Mobile phone provider Telstra warned that 22 communities were potentially completely isolated from all public telecommunications and unable to make emergency triple-zero calls. The triple-zero emergency number and emergency services were overwhelmed by those able to make calls. Based on internal reports, the Herald Sun revealed that at one point on February 13, emergency callers had to wait more than a minute to speak to fire services, up to six minutes for police and 23 minutes for the State Emergency Service. A relief point had to be set up at Mirboo North to provide information, electricity generators and satellite internet for residents who were without power or telecommunications and completely cut off by the storm damage. Facing a groundswell of anger, the state Labor government has announced an inquiry by a panel of experts. While the terms of reference were not released, the Age stated the review will investigate how the electricity distributors managed the incident and how effective they were at getting power restored quickly. APP reported that the review will examine complaints about AusNets crashed outage website, as well as reports of inconsistent and lacking information and whether homes and businesses could have been reconnected quicker. Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio said that the process would copy the review into Victorias devastating storms in 2021. The previous report made eight recommendations and 35 sub-recommendations aimed at reducing the likelihood and impact of prolonged power outages. The government, however, did not introduce two recommendations, including the establishment of a regulatory mechanism to push privately-owned distribution companies to create greater resilience in the electricity grid. One glaring problem with the grid is the state of the high voltage transmission towers. The Age reported on a study by AusNet Services in 2020 which showed that 14 percent of the states 13,000 towers are damaged by rust and that their average age is now about 57 years. Around 8,000 will reach their designed service life of 70 years within the next decade. In addition, the report found 45 transmission towers had been knocked over by extreme wind since 1959, before the six that fell last week. Significantly the rate of these collapses is increasing with 25 of the towers coming down just in the past 15 years. A separate report by energy analyst Dan Lee said that 1.5 percent of the towers were in poor condition and that the increase in tower collapses since 2020 was due to the combination of increasing frequency of severe convective winds, and the aging state of transmission structures. The collapse of the six towers at Anakie last week is a graphic demonstration of the vulnerability of the entire grid. Those towers were inspected in July 2023, just eight months ago, and found to be in good condition with only surface rust. That raises further questions about the state of the 86 percent of towers categorised as being in very good or good condition. Power production and distribution were privatised in Victoria in the mid-1990s as part of the process of creating an energy market throughout the eastern states to drive down the cost of electricity for big business and open up profitable opportunities for private power generators and distributers like AusNet and United Energy. Thousands of jobs were destroyed. The private companies maximize profits at the expense of investing in infrastructure to guarantee supply for extreme events. The power grid is run on the basis of breakdown maintenance, where failures are expected and then patched up. Working people have borne the brunt through rising power bills and greater uncertainty in supply. Ukrainian soldiers fire a French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions near Avdeevka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Dec. 26, 2022. [AP Photo/Lib's] Ukrainian forces withdrew from the destroyed eastern city of Avdeevka on Saturday, following months of bloody fighting that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and ended in a clear debacle for the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The fall of the formerly Ukrainian-controlled city was first announced by Ukraines newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Oleksander Syrsky on Facebook. Syrsky wrote that he had given the order to retreat in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen. Syrskys claims of concern for the well-being of Ukrainian soldiers are self-serving and cannot be taken seriously as the risk of encirclement was already well known by early February. Syrsky, who recently replaced former General Valery Zaluzhny as head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reportedly continued to hold on to the city and send in reinforcements on direct orders from Zelensky. According to Russian sources, at the height of fighting this past month, Ukrainian forces were suffering casualties of up to 1,500 soldiers a day. Russias Defense Ministry later confirmed that Russian forces had taken control of the city on Sunday, marking its most significant victory since the similarly bloody battle over the city of Bakhmut in May 2023 that became known as a meat grinder due to mass casualties on both sides. Syrsky similarly led Ukraines defense of Bakhmut on direct orders from Zelensky, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, many of them experienced veterans. Released videos from Russian drones in Avdeevka also appeared to show Ukrainian soldiers haphazardly retreating while under attack from Russian artillery fire and air strikes, leaving behind multiple military vehicles. The videos clearly contradict Syrskys claims of an orderly withdrawal as they were recorded a day before Syrsky ordered the retreat. On Tuesday, further evidence of a debacle emerged as the New York Times reported that hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers had in fact been encircled and captured despite assurances of an orderly withdrawal from Ukrainian officials. In the days prior to the botched retreat, Ukraine ordered its 3rd Separate Assault Brigade into battle in a last-ditch effort to hold on to the city. While pro-NATO Western media outlets such as the New York Times reported on the deployment of the brigade as a heroic act, they failed to mention that the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade is composed of far-right Azov Battalion soldiers. It is led by the neo-Nazi Andry Biletsky, the founder of the Azov Battalion, who has called for a crusade of the white nations of the world against the Semitic-led subhumans. Of the prewar population of approximately 30,000, just 900 civilians remain in the largely flattened city. Most of them are living in basements and underground shelters. Following the outbreak of full-scale war in February 2022, Ukraine stationed over 10,000 soldiers in Avdeevka, which is strategically important due to its proximity to Donetsk. Control by Kiev granted Ukrainian forces the ability to hit the heavily populated Donetsk with artillery and potentially attempt to retake the city, which had been under the control of Russian-backed separatist since the NATO-backed coup ousted elected President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. As usual, both Ukrainian and Western officials blamed the loss of Avdeevka on insufficient funding from its imperialist backers. At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Zelensky blamed Republicans in Congress for holding up additional military aid over demands to crack down on migrants at the US southern border. Please, everyone remember that dictators do not go on vacation. Hatred knows no pause. Enemy artillery does not fall silent due to procedural issues. Warriors standing against the aggressor need sufficient strength, Zelensky said. In a clearly rehearsed joint PR stunt, US President Joe Biden echoed Zelenskys comments. According to a readout of a phone call with Zelensky on Saturday, Biden stated, Ukraines military was forced to withdraw from Avdeevka 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. As predicted by military experts, with the war dragging on, Russias numerical and military superiority is growing over Ukrainian forces that are suffering from severe manpower and ammunition shortages. With the loss of Avdeevka, the risk of further losses by Ukraine is now being openly acknowledged by the Western media outlets. If the Russians had the strength, they would blow through and try to go all the way to the Dnipro River if they could at this point. Apparently, thats not happening, retired General Wesley Clark, former NATO commander, told CNN. Avdeevka was protecting a series of road junctions that held an eastern front together for the Ukrainians. And so, when it falls and theres no easily defensible ground to the west of Avdeevka, it opens a hole in the Ukrainian defenses. Theyre using their airpower much more effectively in the Avdeevka battle than they have in the past. They could initiate a war of movement east of Dnipro River. They could move many, many miles and seriously dislocate defenses that are protecting Kharkiv and even Kiev itself. So, its a very dangerous time in the war, Clark warned. The original motto of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Peace through dialogue, has always been a sham. The gathering of high-ranking representatives from politics, the military, the intelligence services and the defence industry from all over the world, which took place for the 60th time last weekend, has always been a hotbed of intrigue, conspiracies and preparations for war. The speeches and debates in front of the cameras are mainly for propaganda purposes, while the actual work of the conference takes place in back rooms. Meeting in close quarters facilitates discussions and agreements that could otherwise hardly take place. This years meeting in Munich went further than any previous one. It served directly and immediately to intensify ongoing wars. It did not concern itself with peace through dialogue, but with demonising the opponent and promoting military escalation. Russia and Iran, NATOs two current main adversaries, were not even invited to the conference. A delegation traveled from China and the Chinese foreign minister met with the American secretary of state, but this was to survey the terrain before the next military escalation. The conference was characterised by a mood of despair and bitterness. The participants reacted to the devastating course of the Ukraine war, which is deadlocked after two years and hundreds of thousands of deaths, and to the growing global outrage over the genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza by grabbing the bull by the horns, arming themselves even more and preparing for a nuclear war. Izchak Herzog, President of Israel, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, shake hands at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on February 17, 2024. [AP Photo/Sven Hoppe] The official motto of the conference was Lose-Lose, the opposite of Win-Wina blunt admission that there can only be losers in this race for arms and expanding wars. Lose-lose, that is a situation in which there is no way out. And thats how some things seem in Munich, commented the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The Munchner Merkur wrote: The West has never been as insecure, even desperate, as at the 2024 Security Conference. David E. Sanger and Steven Erlanger, two long-time correspondents for the New York Times, described the atmosphere at the conference as follows: 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 defence strategy for 75 years. Escalation of the war against Russia In 2007, President Vladimir Putin traveled to Munich in person and warned the US and NATO in urgent terms against continuing to strive for world domination by force. He particularly opposed a further expansion of NATO to the east, which he described as a provocative factor, and recalled the guarantees that the Soviet Union had received before its dissolution. NATO not only ignored this, but accelerated its expansion eastward. In February 2014, Washington and Berlin helped a regime dependent on them to come to power in Ukraine, which shares a 2,000-kilometre border with Russia, and began to systematically arm the country. Moscow responded with a military attack on Ukraine in February 2022. Although the Western powers have since supported Ukraine with 250 billion, the war is at an impasse. While the initial military successes of the Ukrainian army were celebrated at the 2023 Munich Security Conference, the army is now on the defensive. At the start of the conference, news broke of the Ukrainian withdrawal from the fiercely contested city of Avdiivkaa serious defeat. In addition, there are growing difficulties in replacing the up to 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers who have so far been expended as cannon fodder, as well as a lack of ammunition due to the blockade of funds by the US Republicans and the inability of the Europeans to ramp up their own production in the short term. A few days before the conference, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump threatened to withdraw American support from European states that do not invest sufficient funds in the military and to encourage Putin to do whatever the hell he wants with these allies. Die Zeit asked: Will Europe soon find itself without American protectionor with a promise of support that nobody takes seriously any more? The Munich Security Conference reacted to this crisis not with a retreat, but with a further escalation. Although Putin has repeatedly signaled his willingness to negotiate, most recently in an interview with the right-wing US presenter Tucker Carlson, no such solution was considered. The mere thought of an end to the war without the military defeat of Russia, a nuclear power, is now considered treasonous in NATO circles. The conference opened with an impromptu appearance by Yulia Navalnaya, who had learned of the death of her husband Alexei Navalny three hours earlier. Although the death, let alone its cause, had not yet been confirmed, she was greeted by the assembled heads of government and military leaders with standing ovations and rhythmic applause for several minutes. Putin and all those who work for himI want them to know that they will be punished for what they have done to the country, my family and my husband, Navalnaya shouted. I call on the world to fight evil. After the conference, she announced in a video that she would take her husbands place and continue his political work. Apparently, she had been convinced in Munich to take this step, which she had previously always rejected. Zelensky and Scholz denounce Putin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was present in person, devoted most of his speech to denouncing Vladimir Putin. He accused the Russian president of the murder of Navalny and said that there were only two options for him: a trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague or assassination by one of his accomplices. Zelensky accused Putin of threatening the whole of Europe and many other countries. The Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago marked the end of the world as we know it, he said. 2024 was the year in which the rules-based world order had to be re-established. Zelenskys speech culminated in a call for further military aid and sanctions. He urged his audience not to be afraid of what might happen if Vladimir Putin were to suffer a defeatin other words, not to be afraid of a possible nuclear war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz likewise focused his speech on the war in Ukraine and fiercely attacked the Russian president. It is obvious to me that Navalny was killed, he claimed, without a shred of evidence. Two years after the start of the war, he declared, everyone should be asking: Are we doing enough to signal Putin? He added, We are in for the long haul. A Russian victory in Ukraine would mean the end of Ukraine as a free, independent and democratic state and the destruction of our European peace order, said the chancellor. The political and financial price we would then have to pay would be many times higher than all the costs of our support for Ukrainetoday and in the future. Scholz proudly pointed out that the EU and its member states had so far provided almost 90 billion and had agreed to provide a further 50 billion. Germany alone had provided or pledged 28 billion in military support. Although the money was lacking elsewhere, he said: Without security, everything else is nothing. Immediately before the security conference, Scholz and Zelensky had signed a bilateral security agreement in Berlin that guarantees Ukraine permanent military support until its planned admission into NATO. The significance of this document can hardly be overestimated, emphasised Scholz. It is the first time that the Federal Republic of Germany has acted as a guarantor state in this form. Among other things, the agreement provides for the supply of weapons, the training of Ukrainian soldiers and support for demining and reconstruction. Should war break out again after a ceasefire, the German government undertook to discuss rapid and effective military support within 24 hours. Zelensky had also reached a similar agreement in Paris with President Macron, who did not come to Munich himself. There is already one with Britain, which includes a secret additional section. Genocide in Gaza The second key topic at the security conference was the Middle East conflict. Here, the representatives of the NATO powers endeavoured to involve the Arab regimes in their plans for a reorganisation of the region under their domination, and to develop the necessary formulas that would allow them to save face in the midst of genocide against the Palestinians. The foreign ministers of the US, Germany, Britain, France and Italy met for confidential talks with their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey was also included in the talks. As the Saudi foreign minister subsequently reported, the talks focused on normalising relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel in exchange for the promise of a Palestinian state and reform of the Palestinian Authority. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was also in Munich, described the normalisation of relations with Saudi Arabia as a game changer for the region. However, he added, there would be no Palestinian state if we do not find real solutions to the issue of Israels security. In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly rejected any international dictates regarding a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians. Call for nuclear weapons In his speech in Munich, Scholz also spoke indirectly about the rise of the European Union as a nuclear power. He mentioned that talks were being held with France and Britain about the development and introduction of stand-off precision weapons. As the German governments national security strategy from last summer already announced the development of medium-range weapons and Scholz is now linking this to the nuclear powers France and the UK, experts assume that these weapons will be capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In recent weeks, representatives of all the establishment parties in Germany have made demands to this effect, including Liberal Democrat (FDP) leader and Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the recently deceased Christian Democrat (CDU) politician Wolfgang Schauble, former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (Greens) and European MPs Manfred Weber (CSU) and Katarina Barley (SPD). The Polish head of government Donald Tusk and the head of the Airbus Group Rene Obermann are also in favour. There is talk of using the French nuclear arsenal for the whole of Europe, as President Macron has offered. Unlike the British, the French nuclear weapons are completely independent of the US. Sixty-four of the almost 300 warheads are stationed on four submarines and have a range of up to 6,000 kilometres. They could be launched even if France were destroyed by nuclear weapons, and are therefore considered a particularly effective deterrent. The armament, the financing of the war against Russia, the support for Ukraine and the development of a European nuclear force are swallowing up huge sums of money. There are calculations that Germany will have to spend four percent of GDP instead of two percent in order to meet all the targets that have been set. This would mean doubling the defence budget by adding a further 85 billion a yearwhich would be recouped through cuts in social spending. The war madness goes hand in hand with a huge intensification of the class struggle. British historian Tim Mason wrote about the dynamic that drove Germany into the Second World War in the 1930s: The only solution open to this regime of the structural tensions and crises produced by the dictatorship and rearmament was more dictatorship and more rearmament, then expansion, then war and terror, then plunder and enslavement. The stark, ever-present alternative was collapse and chaos, and so all solutions were temporary, hectic, hand-to-mouth affairs, increasingly barbaric improvisations around a brutal theme. Today, the deep global crisis of capitalism is setting the same dynamic in motion, which no party that defends capitalism can escape. The Greens, whose emergence in the early 1980s was closely linked to mass protests against the deployment of medium-range Pershing II nuclear missiles, are today calling the loudest for the nuclear bomb. Only an independent movement of the working class that combines the struggle against exploitation and war with a socialist programme to overthrow capitalism can break this dynamic. A section of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, February 5, 2023. [Photo: National Transportation Safety Board] Residents of East Palestine, Ohio were deeply skeptical of President Bidens stage-managed appearance last Friday in the small working class community, more than a year after the catastrophic train derailment and chemical spill which poisoned the towns air, water and soil. Biden used the event to make a few perfunctory remarks to local officials, firefighters and a small group of handpicked residents. He praised the response and work supposedly done by the government, with vague statements that the cleanup would continue without making any real commitments. Last February, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, including 11 cars containing highly toxic chemicals, several of which ruptured and caught fire. Three days later, the railroad, backed by the state and local governments and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), conducted what it described as a controlled burn of 1.1 million pounds of highly toxic vinyl chloride released in the crash. This decision, made in order to return the railroad to operation as soon as possible, polluted the ground, water and air for miles around. While Norfolk Southern, the EPA and the Biden administration want to close the book on East Palestine, residents of this small eastern Ohio community want everyone to know that they are still suffering the health effects of the deliberate polluting of their town. Shelby Walkers house sits along the Norfolk Southern tracks that run through East Palestine. She lives just 900 feet from the site of the derailment. Shelby Walker with her daughter Baylee, son and grandaughter Brooklyn. Shelby feels the EPA has been lying to them and wants to have health care paid for. We want the Biden administration, the media and everybody to know that we are still here and that it is not safe for us. That we are still getting sick. The EPA is saying that everything is safe. It definitely is not! We are still getting sick. Everybody is still getting sick. On the night of the derailment a few of us were home. We heard it and we came outside. We saw the fire down the tracks. We came back into the house and watched from the windows. We saw that track light up like a fuse. So, we packed up our belongings and gathered everyone up and headed out. Some of us went to my mothers. My husband and I stayed back to see if our house caught on fire. Now I wish it would have, because we wouldnt have had a home to come back to that made us sick. All that smoke, we didnt know it at the time, but it was the vinyl chloride that was on fire that made us sick. No one told us what was on that train. Vinyl chloride is a highly toxic chemical used in the making of PVC plastic pipes and other industrial materials. It is a known carcinogen, causing cancer of liver, brain and other organs. The burning of vinyl chloride produces dioxins, a class of highly toxic chemicals which does not decompose and accumulates in living organisms. We get headaches really bad, nosebleeds, memory loss, my teeth hurt really bad, Shelby said. When I go into the back yard, I get pain in my mouth, my lips feel like they are really chapped, they just get burnt. My mother gets nosebleeds. There are a lot of symptoms that weve been dealing with throughout the year. It feels like Im getting dementia. Sometimes I cant remember, cant concentrate on the things that Im thinking about. I still cant go in the backyard because it is so contaminated. My husband has the onset of Parkinsons disease. He was never diagnosed with Parkinsons before. Now he has it and he is on medication for it. He is only 49 years old. Asked about the role of the Environmental Protection Agency, she said: I feel weve been lied to, they kept telling us that its safe to come back. But clearly its not with all the symptoms weve been having and all the tests weve been getting back. The EPA refuses to test our property. So how can they tell us its safe when they dont test the ground here? They wont test inside our house or the soil in our yard. They say theyre waiting until the mitigation is done. Whats the point of that? You should test now so you know what needs to be cleaned up. Shelby said the testing was done a few weeks after the explosion. Contractors with Norfolk Southern came by. We knew that testing was no good everybody got the exact same results. Shelby feels that the EPA is still not telling them the truth. They tell me one thing in private but then they say something completely different to the media. They need to keep cleaning up and provide people with healthcare for the rest of our lives. You dont know what the long-term effect of these chemicals are going to be. A report from the Government Accountability Project found evidence that the Environmental Protection Agency had detected elevated levels of dioxins in testing done as early as February 9 and 17, 2023, but did not share that information with the public or order further testing. The February 17 testing showed dioxin levels of 91.9, which is 19 times higher than the 4.8 screening level, which requires more testing, according to independent testing expert Scott Smith. We should never been made to come back here, concluded Shelby. The disaster was completely preventable. Norfolk Southern along with all the major rail carriers have been pushing for longer trains, crewed by only a single engineer, with less maintenance on tracks, locomotives and cars. The train that derailed in East Palestine on February 3 was a mile-and-a-half long. More than 40 miles out of East Palestine, a track-mounted wayside detector automatically notified Norfolk Southern that one of the wheel bearings was overheating on the train. Failure of that wheel is what led to the accident. Another wayside detector 20 miles out showed the temperature continued to rise, and security video near the town shows the axle in flames. Yet according to Norfolk Southerns procedure, the train was not stopped. Many residents who live near the crash site came out to speak with the media and hoped for a chance to speak with Biden or at least for him to see their message. Shelbys neighbor William Hugar also wanted to talk about what happened. William Hugar, a resident who lives along the site of the derailment. I had to go live in the high school for a while. It wasnt bad, they fed us very well. The night the derailment and fire happened I was in the house. It was just a few yards down the line. My backyard is right up against the tracks. We were breathing all those chemicals and smoke. They told us it was safe to come back, but it wasnt. Everybody was getting sick. You cant treat people like this. All the railroad cared about was getting trains rolling again. You can go out into this creek and all you do is poke the bottom with a stick and all those chemicals float up to the top. They need to dredge the creek and clean this up. This never should have happened if they were paying attention to their own safety equipment. Norfolk Southern says this [cleanup] is costing them a lot, but what does it cost the people of this town? Ashley McCollum and her family lived one block from the crash site. Over the past year they have been living much of the time in a hotel. Ashley McCollum, who has lost her home and been living in a hotel for much of the last year. We cant go back to our home, we get sick. My boyfriend lost his job, he cant work with his symptoms. Nobody will rent to us and without any income we cant get a mortgage to buy a house. My seven-year-old son is staying with us in the hotel. It is a nice place, but it is hard not to have a home. They know that the air and water is not safe. Yet they told everyone to come home. Nobody knows how bad these chemicals are or what it is going to do to us 10 or 15 years down the road. From Gaza to East Palestine A group of about 50 people, mostly from nearby Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio, came out to the town to protest the Biden administrations involvement in Israels genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, and to demand an immediate ceasefire. We came here to show Biden that we dont support his genocide in Gaza, said Mark who attended the rally with his daughter. Israel is using bombs and weapons supplied and paid for by the United States to murder innocent people. The United States likes to talk about human rights and freedoms but what theyre doing in Gaza is genocide. Mark and his daughter There are three families in our group who have lost over 50 family members in Gaza. We come from the Arab American Community Center in Youngstown; others are from Cleveland. At our center alone, one family has lost 65 members of their family, another 60, and another over 50. Another person has lost 15 members of their family. This is just from the Youngstown area. We want the murder to stop. We are not against the Jewish religion. We are against the state of Israel and the support that they are getting from the United States. We are against genocide Joe and their murder of the people of Gaza. The United States says that it is for human rights. But what about the rights of the Palestinian people> They are being bombed, starved and killed every day. This is mass murder, and it must be stopped. At no point did Biden meet the protesters, who were kept at a distance by local, state and federal authorities. Last nights debate in parliament prompted by a Scottish National Party (SNP) motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza was plunged into chaos after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle agreed to a spoiler amendment from Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party to debate alongside the Conservative governments own counter motion. This prompted a walkout by the whole of the SNP, joined by many on the government benches. Commons leader and Tory MP Penny Mordaunt announced the government had abandoned its involvement in the Opposition Day debate, denouncing Hoyle for having hijacked proceedings. Jeremy Corbyn (left) and Sir Keir Starmer at an event during the 2019 General Election when Corbyn was party leader. [AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File] Hoyles decision followed a personal intervention by Starmer. According to the Guardian, Starmer visited Hoyle in his office behind the House of Commons chamber. Those briefed on the meeting said the Labour leader warned Hoyle that Labour MPs security was at risk. Many had been deluged by criticisms, threats and abuse since abstaining on a similar SNP motion in November. With hundreds of protesters congregating outside parliament, they worried worse might be to come. After a tense meeting, and with Labour MPs desperately stalling inside the chamber, Hoyle eventually agreed. Starmer was faced with a possible rebellion by 100 of his MPs, including two frontbenchers, who had stated they would vote for the SNP resolution if Starmer did not shift his position on a ceasefire. Hoyle, who had absented himself from the first part of the debate run by his deputy, was forced to return and deliver a grovelling apology after a rare vote was called on whether the Commons should sit in private for the first time since 2001, which did not pass. He faced demands for his resignation, accused of having colluded with Labour. Tory MP William Wragg then tabled a parliamentary motion expressing no confidence in Hoyle which, by Wednesday evening, had been signed by 33 MPs, mostly from the SNP. This has now risen to 60. With no government or SNP participation, Labours amended resolution formally supporting an immediate humanitarian ceasefire but negated by pro-Israeli caveats was passed without a formal vote. It is non-binding, and the government will not accept it. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said in reply to an apology by Hoyle that it was a disgrace that Sir Keir Starmer and the Speaker colluded to block Parliament voting on the SNP motion. Starmer, a barrister and former Director of Public Prosecutions, was prepared to risk compromising the supposed impartiality of the Speaker to avert a major crisis of his leadership and of the entire Labour Party. After months of boasting of having crushed the left, transforming Labour to prepare for government, he was forced to fend off the impact of mass hostility and opposition over his partys naked support for Israels genocide. On November 15 last year, the SNP had put an amendment to the Kings Speech calling for a ceasefire, prompting Starmer to whip his MPs to abstain. Close to three quarters (142) did so, with just 56 voting for a ceasefire and eight members of Labours frontbench resigning. After months of slaughter, and with a ground assault on Rafah announced by Israel for March 10, Starmer feared that much bigger divisions in his party would trigger a crisis for the entire ruling class. This Tuesday, accompanied by the shedding of crocodile tears by Starmer and other Zionist apologists such as Wes Streeting, Labour announced its shift, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza, rather than its previous humanitarian pause, and appealing for Israel to not procced with its planned ground invasion of Rafah. However, this was made conditional on Hamas agreeing to return the hostages it took on October 7 and lay down its weapons, i.e., surrender and await imprisonment and death, because Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence. Aside from its use of the word ceasefire, Labours new position remains in line with the US, giving Israel veto power over any ceasefire. Labours motion was reportedly discussed with Starmer during his attendance at the Munich Security Conference. That conference saw the Biden administration formulate its own spoiler resolution supporting a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable, to justify blocking an Algerian call for a ceasefire at the UN Security Council Monday, on which the UK abstained. It was the readiness of reportedly dozens of Labour Party rebels to accept this transparent fraud and for the rest to do the same when offered the chance by Hoyle, that allowed Starmer to claim victory. This met no real opposition from the Labour left. Jeremy Corbyn issued his usual moral bromides, while refusing again to mention Starmer by name, describing only an appalling day for British Parliament. His former shadow chancellor John McDonnell boasted on X/Twitter that he had used a point of order to record that I wouldve voted for both SNP motion & Labour amendment as they both contain call for immediate ceasefire. Hoyles intervention also meant that parliament did not have to formally back a Tory motion that could have been written by Benjamin Netanyahu. This called for negotiations to agree an immediate humanitarian pause while again explicitly supporting Israels right to self-defence, condemning the slaughter, abuse and gender-based violence of October 7 and stating that support for moves towards a permanent sustainable ceasefire depend on both the release of all hostages and the removal of Hamas from power with the formation of a new Palestinian government. There were reports of Tory MPs not supporting the government, and even that its motion might have fallen. Now the government can focus on demands that Hoyle resignsfor breach of a convention that was only established in 1979 and in furtherance of supporting continued genocide in Gaza. The main lesson to be drawn from the grotesque display of cynicism in parliament yesterday is that it offers no basis through which to oppose the genocide. Hundreds of thousands of people march through central London in protest at the genocide on Gaza and UK involvement in the bombing of Yemen, January 14, 2024 The SNP complains of being treated with contempt, but this contempt is directed at the millions of workers and youth who have demanded a ceasefire, the tens of thousands of Palestinians already murdered and the hundreds of thousands facing a death sentence in Rafah. Outside parliament, thousands were gathered in a protest called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War Coalition. Both organisations have sought to corral mass protests behind the Labour Party, with claims it can be convinced to back a ceasefire. The sordid manoeuvres in parliament yesterday demonstrate the opposite. The Tory government, the Labour Party, its backers in the trade union bureaucracy and all the institutions of the capitalist state are determined to back Israel as part of a broader effort to redivide the world and its resources through waging war against Russia in Ukraine, against Iran in the Middle East and preparing to take on China. This is not the time for any further appeals to parliament, but for the systematic mobilisation of the working class against all the parties of the ruling class and its repressive state apparatus as part of a worldwide socialist movement against genocide and war. Thousands again took to the streets across Australia over the weekend, opposing Israels ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. The protests took aim at the Israeli offensive on Rafah, in southern Gaza, which marks a new stage of the ethnic cleansing operation aimed at killing as many Palestinians as possible and driving the rest into the Sinai Desert of Egypt. Part of the Sydney rally on December 23, 2023 As many as 10,000 took part in Melbourne, together with several thousand in each of Sydney and Brisbane. Smaller events were held elsewhere. In keeping with its complicity in the genocide, the Australian media again blacked out the mobilisations, as it largely has over the past four months. Instead, significant coverage was given to a pro-Israel rally in Sydney on Sunday. Many in attendance there appeared to be from Evangelical Christian denominations. The motley crowd, including these fanatical Christians and hard-line Zionists, were addressed by far-right speakers, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison (associated with the charismatic Christian Hillsong church), who denounced the United Nations as antisemitic. In contrast to the pro-Israel rally, the protests defending Gaza have been attended by broad layers of workers and young people. One of the main speakers at the Gaza event in Melbourne was John Shipton, father of persecuted journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is in court in the UK this week for hearings which could see him imminently extradited to the US. Assange, an Australian citizen, faces charges under the US Espionage Act with a potential 170-year sentence for exposing American war crimes and other human rights abusesmost infamously during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Assange is being used to set a precedent for all those who would dare to tell the truth about imperialist crimes. Under conditions where US imperialism and its allies in the UK, Australia and others, are supporting and funding Israels genocide against Gaza and preparing even greater war crimes against the worlds population, Assange represents the exposure of and opposition to imperialist militarism. Shipton noted the threat of his sons extradition to the US. He condemned the 30 years of US-led wars in the Middle East and Central Asia, noting that they had laid waste to entire regions in a process that was continuing and deepening. Rally participants engaged in chants of Free Palestine! alongside Free Assange! Some of the protesters held hand-made signs calling for Assanges freedom. Sech Sech, who has just completed a teaching degree, attended the rally in Melbourne. She told SEP campaigners: Im here because I want Palestine to be free and the people are suffering immensely. I see that their lives are not valued. Its reflected in how governments act. Ive been coming to the rallies since they started. I come all the way from Geelong [50 kilometres southwest of Melbourne], she said. Why this is happening has to do with money. For the people in Palestine, they dont care, but the Middle East has a lot of resources and if the Palestinians are wiped out, they can get in there. As long as the rich remain at the pinnacle, they dont care what happens to anyone else. Its greed. Stephen, who is 75 years old and retired, also joined the protest in Melbourne. Im here to support a ceasefire and to highlight there are so many people against the genocide in the public, he said. Ive seen the persecution of the Palestinian people, the removal from their homes in the West Bank while this is going on in Gaza. Stephen He said the protests are not against the Israeli people, its just against the government. Stephen condemned the continued support the imperialist governments, including in Australia, have given to the genocide and broader wars in the Middle East. The government doesnt care. The invasion of Iraq, millions and millions of people stood up to say that they didnt want the invasion to happen. What did they do? Carried on. Its the governments responsibility to listen to the people and what they want. He also raised the link between the drive to war and the attack on freedom of speech epitomised in the plight of Assange. Thats why Im here: for Julian Assange as well as the protest for Palestinians, he said. Ive been writing to [Labor members of parliament] Penny Wong and Albanese and Clare O Neil for years now. You get a message back saying Thank you very much for thatan automatic messageand you dont hear a thing. He denounced Labors complicity in Assanges ongoing persecution, saying: I mean the Labor party were always protesting when the Liberals were in, but now theyre saying: Oh, were working behind the scenes. Leyla In Brisbane, Leyla, a Year 11 student, said she had come to the rally because I believe that everybody should have the equal right to live and other human rights like housing. Asked about the major governments supporting the genocide, Leyla said: I just think that if you dont support everybodys right to live, its cruel and its shameful. Ive always been inclined to think that everyone is entitled to equal rights. I am a Muslim and I have had my fair share of cruelty. I just want everyone to be happy with themselves, and not cause harm to other people. Leyla, whose mother came from Bosnia, said she agreed with socialism. The capitalist ideology is really elitist and not empathetic at all to everyone. Its racist as well. Speaking about the mass killing of children in Gaza, she said: Ive seen quite a lot of videos of the children passing away in Gaza. I saw one of a young boy, aged around seven, getting his younger brotherI think he was about threeto recite a prayer before he died so he could go to heaven. Its horrible. Mahraj, a kindergarten teacher, originally from Bangladesh, said she had joined the rally to support the Palestinians against all the big countries that were responsible for the genocide. This is not fair for the people of Gaza and, as well, its not peaceful for the world, because when a fire is sparked in one place, it will spread. We need to stop this, not add more fuel. Israel is just a front. Who is putting the fuel there? It is the US, the UK and all the big old countries, for their own interests, including to sell their weapons. It is business, nothing else. Im so upset and angry when big leaders are two-faced, like when Biden is crying about one countrys children with a sad face, but not caring to see that other countries kids are dying. Hypocrites and fake people are leading our world. We are people around the world. I am afraid for my generations future. Am I going to live through a third world war? We need to step up and raise our voice. We want peace and equal lives. The leaders are not listening to us like they are supposed to. We elect them to listen to us, but they listen to the money. None of them are real peoples leaders. In Sydney, Alice, a British born teacher, explained: This is the first week weve come to the rally. Thats partly the logistics of bringing a small child to the event. But I feel powerless and horrified by what we are seeing and hearing about. And anything we can do to try to show some solidarity is the least we can do. I dont think theres anything you can read on what has happened in Gaza in the past 19 weeks as an empathetic person and not see yourself and see your family and think how horrendous it is. The fact that health workers, hospitals, civilians have been targeted on such a huge scale and that safe places are now becoming targets is just horrifying. As a parent to see images of small children that have been murderedI cant imagine the feelings of the parents. Its just horrifying, theres no other word. Speaking of the British governments backing of Israel, she said, I wasnt surprised that the conservative government was trying to weaponise peaceful democratic action as being a threat to the wider society. That is consistent with the way they have worked over the last years. Labours backing of this is hugely disappointing. In the UK it is a two-party race so it is quite scary because Labours stance is not going to help any change in the UK. I think a lot of the motivation of Starmers comments and actions has been to try to move away from the reputation the party got as an antisemitic party, which was something that Corbyn got through his support for Palestine. Discussing the slander that opposition to Israeli war crimes is tantamount to antisemitism, Alice stated, I think that is absolutely untrue of course. You can be against the actions of a government and that isnt about the people. Im certainly not in favour of the British government but Im not against British people. I think there is a lot of conflation between being against the occupation and the actions of the Israeli government but that is not reflective of every Israeli person or all Jewish people. Ethan, who is studying Engineering at UNSW, said: I came to this rally because for the past 130-something days, theres been an active and blatant genocide that almost every Western government has turned a blind eye to. About three days ago the Canadian, New Zealand and Australian governments released a memo telling Israel, maybe dont do Rafah after, you know, over 30,000 people have died. Its far too little, far too late. A lot of people have been drawing the comparison of Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Palestine. It's not perfect because Palestine is far more vulnerable, far less able to defend itself and is receiving next to zero support from any other government in the world. With Russia theres been huge amounts of sanctions to the detriment of a lot of innocent civilians, but they were like, were going to be harsh, try and dissuade them from the war. With Israel its a finger wag and then another hundred billion in aid from Biden. Its genocide being carried out with Australian, American and other Western powers equipment. Ethan If youre still trying to work within the system, you are bound to kneel to the powers that be. When Albanese was in his twenties he was very happy to use progressive rhetoric to be popular in the marches and talk about Palestinian rights and economic rights. As he realizes it wasnt going to help his career anymore he shirked that pretty easily, which makes you think if he ever really believed in it. Its pretty clear that the quote unquote leftist parties and right parties in basically any Western nation are two sides of the same coin. New organizations and systems need to be made in order to fight the genocide. Its deeply disappointing that unions, decades old institutions of workers rights, are pretty corrupted and people have to go build from the ground up. Asked what he thought about a direct war by the US against Russia and China, Ethan said, Its a really grim prospect. Most Western governments are kind of excited for it, especially the US with their military industrial complex. They dont want a war that theyre personally involved in, but they want these proxy wars that they supply the funds to and make money from. The US wants to prolong the war in Gaza as long as possible. They are fighting against certain Israeli motives so the public eye doesnt get too negative but thats purely self interest. They want it to be another forever war. Look at Afghanistan, it went for over 20 years and they knew it was completely unfeasible to win in 2008 and then it continued for another, what, 14 years. Its really disgusting. I dont see these imperial powers changing their tune anytime soon, but I do see the citizens developing a stronger resistance. When asked what he thought about a socialist perspective to end capitalism, he said, Youll find a lot of activists on a lot of very important issues who are not explicitly socialist or leftist and theyll be very passionate about climate change or social justice or institutionalised racism, and those are very important causes, but dont see that the hunger of capital fuels all those things. To be truly anti-colonial, to be truly pro-Palestine, to be truly for freedom for everyone, you have to be against the current world system of capitalism and exploitation. The fault of almost every serious problem in our society is capitalism. Former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and the current incumbent, Ranil Wickremesinghe, have imposed the Essential Public Services Act (EPSA), the countrys repressive anti-strike law, 32 times in the past 26 months. Ceylon Electricity Board workers protesting against privatisation in Colombo on January 4, 2024. The figures were reported in last weekends edition of the Colombo-based Sunday Times which published a month-by-month breakdown of EPSA proclamations. While this escalating attack on the working class has taken place not one trade union, opposition parliamentary party or fake left group, including Frontline Socialist Party, has demanded the withdrawal of this repressive law. The Sunday Times reported that the Rajapakse administration imposed the anti-strike law four timesbetween February 11 and July 8 in 2022before it was ousted in a nationwide mass movement involving protests, demonstrations and strikes. Incoming President Wickremesinghe and his government proclaimed the EPSA seven times between July and December 2022, 17 times during 2023, and four times so far this year. Workers in key sectors, such as health, electricity, petroleum, port, transport and postal service have been targeted. Under the EPSA, strikes and any other industrial action affecting essential services can be banned and workers that do not comply can be convicted after a summary trial before a Magistrate. Anyone found guilty is liable to rigorous imprisonment of two to five years or a fine of between 2,000 and 5,000 rupees ($US11$US25) or both. Health workers from Colombo National Hospital protest outside health ministry on 14 February 2024 [Photo: Facebook/Unions Lanka] The movable and immoveable property of anyone convicted can be seized by the state and his or her name removed from any register maintained for the relevant profession or vocation. Individuals found guilty of inciting, inducing or encouraging any one not to attend work through a physical act or by any speech or writing are similarly punishable. Rajapakse used these laws at the beginning of 2022 to try and suppress mass industrial action involving hundreds of thousands of workers against his hated government. On February 7, 2022, over 60,000 health workers began mass strike action to demand a wage rise and better working conditions. They walked out again on March 2 over these issues. On March 14, tens of thousands development officers and employed graduates held a one-day national strike over similar demands. These struggles were a harbinger of the multi-million strong movement against Rajapakse and his government during AprilJuly as the country was engulfed by an unprecedented economic crisis. Mass protests erupted across the country over shortages of fuel and cooking gas, the rising cost of essentials, and lengthy daily power cuts. While Rajapakse imposed the EPSA and Emergency Regulations, these repressive measures were ignored as masses of people began occupying Galle Face Green in central Colombo demanding Rajapakse and his government go home. The ongoing protests and general strikes involving millions of workers on April 28 and May 6 led to the collapse of the government and saw Rajapakse flee the country and resign. Trade unions controlled by the opposition parties, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), supported by the Frontline Socialist Party, however, derailed and then betrayed this mass movement by subordinating it to the parliamentary opposition parties. This paved the way for long-time US stooge Ranil Wickremesinghe to be appointed executive president by the discredited parliament. President Wickremesinghe intensified the harsh austerity measures first imposed during Rajapakses tenure in order to qualify for an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout loan. Wickremesinghe then listed state-owned enterprises to be immediately privatised, increased the VAT (value added tax) and other taxes while allowing the continuous depreciation of the rupee. Following the presentation of Wickremesinghes 2023 austerity budget, the IMF announced a $US3 billion bailout loan in March 2023. Later that month, on March 28, Wickremesinghe used EPSA to stop an anti-privatisation strike by Petroleum Cooperation workers. His administration ruthlessly deployed hundreds of military personnel to break up a demonstration and suspend 20 activists, including trade union leaders. These workers remained suspended until early 2024. Early this year the government again activated EPSA and cancelled the leave of all Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers in response to their three-day industrial campaign, starting on January 3, against the privatisation of the strategic corporation. Sixty-six CEB employees have been suspended for allegedly violating leave regulations. In January and February, the Wickremesinghe government also declared the health sector an essential service in response to workers striking for a higher special allowance. While workers have taken action in defiance of these laws, the trade unions have not demanded or campaigned for the repeal of these repressive laws in the past two years, or for that matter at any time in the decades since they were first introduced. In 1977, the government of President J.R. Jayawardene began imposing open-market policies, starting with privatisations and the elimination of social subsidies. Public sector workers responded to these brutal social attacks with a general strike in July 1980. The Jayawardene government reacted by imposing Emergency Regulations and EPSA. While trade unions declared the essential services regulations to be invalid, they politically disarmed their members and isolated the general strike. This betrayal opened the way for the government to sack about 100,000 striking public sector workers. Today, the unions are completely silent about these repressive laws and oppose any genuine fight against Wickremesinghes IMF austerity measures because they know that mobilising workers against these attacks will quickly develop into a political confrontation with the government. CEB workers protesting near Kelanithiss plant on February 7, 2024 over government victimisation of 66 workers. [Photo by CEB workers] Tied to the defence of Sri Lankan capitalism and its state apparatus, the trade unions have no fundamental differences with the IMFs demands and function as an industrial police force to prevent a unified movement of the working class against the ruling elite. Trade unions controlled by the JVP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are totally committed to the austerity measures and have not called for the withdrawal of Sri Lankas anti-strike laws. SJB leaders were part of previous United National Party governments and supported the use of these laws to break workers struggles. As the historical record shows, the JVPin government or in oppositionhas backed the use of these draconian measures, and will readily do so again if it comes to power. Along with the unprecedented increases in the use of EPSA during the past 26 months, Colombo is stepping up its use of the military to break strikes. Last week about 1,000 army soldiers were deployed as strike-breakers after tens of thousands of health employees took national industrial action. The government is also increasing its use of police and military personnel to crackdown on protesting workers and students. This week the media reported that the police have ordered 1,500 helmets, 750 gas masks and 1,000 rubber batons to bolster their anti-riot squads, with plans afoot to establish another 60 units. The refusal of the trade union bureaucracy to fight the Wickremesinghe governments expanding use of EPSA and the mobilisation of the military and police shows once again that in order to defend their jobs, wages and democratic rights, the working class have to take matters into their own hands. This means building action committees in every workplace, the estates and all major economic centres, as well as in the rural areas. The fight against state repression involves a struggle against capitalism. This requires the development of a political movement of the working class, independent of every faction of the ruling class, which rallies the rural toilers and the youth on socialist and internationalist policies. This is the perspective advanced by Socialist Equality Party. Palestinians line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. The World Food Program said Tuesday it has paused deliveries of food to isolated northern Gaza. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair] The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced Tuesday the suspension of all humanitarian aid to the northern parts of the Gaza Strip. The estimated 400,000 people still languishing in Gaza City and the surrounding areas have barely received any aid for months due to Israels blockade. Reports have surfaced of families surviving on animal feed. Deliveries only resumed Sunday after a three-week pause prompted by the bombing of an UNRWA truck by Israel. The WFP statement announcing the latest suspension observed, The plan was to send 10 trucks of food for seven straight days, to help stem the tide of hunger and desperation and to begin building trust in communities that there would be enough food for all. On Sunday, as WFP started the route towards Gaza City, the convoy was surrounded by crowds of hungry people close to the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. First fending off multiple attempts by people trying to climb aboard our trucks, then facing gunfire once we entered Gaza City, our team was able to distribute a small quantity of the food along the way. On Monday, the second convoys journey north faced complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order. Several trucks were looted between Khan Younes and Deir al Balah, and a truck driver was beaten. The remaining flour was spontaneously distributed off the trucks in Gaza City, amidst high tension and explosive anger. After predicting in December that inhabitants would face a famine by May if the situation did not radically improve, the agency reported unprecedented levels of desperation for residents in the north this week. A report released by the WFP and UNICEF Monday revealed that one in six children in the northern Gaza Strip under the age of two are acutely malnourished. This horrendous situation is the deliberate outcome of Israels genocidal onslaught on Gaza, which has already claimed the lives of well over 30,000 people. The official death toll rose above 29,300 Wednesday, with another 7,000 people declared missing and presumed dead. Since the beginning of the bombardment last October, Israel has intentionally prevented aid from reaching Gaza, using food as a weapon of war. In November, Giora Eiland, the former head of Israels National Security Council, published an article in which he advocated the use of starvation and disease to decimate the population. He wrote, The international community warns us of a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and of severe epidemics. We must not shy away from this, as difficult as that may be. After all, severe epidemics in the south of the Gaza Strip will bring victory closer and reduce casualties among IDF soldiers. As the World Socialist Web Site noted at the time, this policy is akin to the strategy of the Nazis during World War II towards the Jews, who were left to rot in the ghettos, where many died of starvation and disease before the survivors were shipped to concentration camps. While the levels of hunger and disease in the north are especially extreme, the situation facing Gazas entire population is horrific. World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described Gaza Wednesday as a death zone. He added, The health and humanitarian situation in Gaza is inhumane and continues to deteriorate. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese referred to a total collapse of civil order across the enclave. Noting the WFPs decision to suspend aid to the north, she added, Imagine as a parent having to fight to get food for your child who is dying of hunger. Shame on all of us for allowing this betrayal of humanity. Al-Jazeera spoke to a mother living in the playground of an UNRWA school in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza who is being forced to feed her eight-person family on fried pancakes made from ground animal feed. She said, This food is insatiable. My little one wakes up at night screaming from hunger because only bread fills the childrens stomachs. Today I found this corn flour, and maybe I wont find it tomorrow the situation is getting worse day by day, our situation is very miserable. At the al-Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, a joint mission by the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), WHO and Palestinian Red Crescent uncovered appalling conditions while evacuating the most seriously injured patients after a weeks-long siege by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). OCHA official Jonathan Whittall remarked, There are 150 patients in one of these buildings. They have no food and water, no electricity. Theres very few doctors and nurses that are remaining inside this hospital There are dead bodies in the corridors. Patients are in a desperate situation. This has become a place of death, not a place of healing. Amid this misery, Israels daily bombardments continue. A strike on a family home in Rafah Tuesday night killed a human rights lawyer with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Nour Naser abu al-Nour, and seven members of her family. The organisation said she played a role in documenting human rights abuses and fighting injustice. Strikes on the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City and Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip killed at least 12 people Wednesday, including a journalist and his wife. The catastrophe confronting the Palestinians in Gaza continues to worsen due to the unrestrained support extended to Israel by US imperialism and its European allies. On Tuesday, as the reports of mass starvation were pouring out of Gaza, Washington used its veto in the UN Security Council to block a resolution calling for a ceasefire. The vaguely worded text proposed by the US instead of the original text submitted by Algeria called for a ceasefire as soon as is practicable, i.e., at the discretion of Israels far-right government that has repeatedly declared its intent to conduct a genocide against the Palestinians. War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz reiterated Wednesday Israels readiness to launch an all-out offensive on Rafah during Ramadan. At least 1.4 million people are crammed into the city, which was home to just 280,000 prior to Israels bombardment. A ground offensive would force the Palestinians from their last refuge in Gaza, realising Israels plan to ethnically cleanse the enclave in order to establish Jewish settlements and direct security control. The imperialist powers endorsement of this savagery is linked to their pursuit of a region-wide war targeting Iran and its allies. The Middle East is rapidly emerging as one front in the imperialist powers redivision of the world, which is being driven by the intractable contradictions of the capitalist profit system. Further US air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen were reported Wednesday, while Israel carried out a strike on Damascus that was allegedly aimed at a senior Hezbollah official. Washington is determined at all costs to consolidate its dominance over the energy-rich Middle East against its rivals, above all, China and Russia even at the cost of a regional bloodbath. The only social force capable of bringing an end to the misery of Gazas population and stopping the descent of the Middle East into war is the international working class. Mobilising the mass opposition to Israels genocide that has been expressed by millions of people in demonstrations around the world over recent months, workers must fight to halt all military supplies and production destined for Israel. The urgent task is the building of an international anti-war movement to stop the genocide and the imperialists escalation of a third world war by advancing a socialist programme to put an end to crisis-ridden capitalism. Jeff Bezos. Cooper Neill/Getty Images Jeff Bezos has finished selling off 50 million shares in Amazon. The Amazon cofounder disclosed plans to offload the shares, worth roughly $8.5 billion. His last big Amazon selling spree was in 2021 when he prepared to step down as CEO. Jeff Bezos has finished selling off 50 million shares in Amazon days after he announced plans to do so. Earlier this month, it was disclosed that the Amazon founder and executive chairman intended to offload up to 50 million shares, worth roughly $8.5 billion, before January 31, 2025. It turns out he didn't need anywhere near all that time: He wrapped up his sell-off of exactly 50 million shares in just nine trading days this month, securities filings show. At the end of December, Bezos owned 988 million shares, or just under 10% of Amazon, according to the company's proxy statement. At today's share price, that stake is worth more than $165 billion. Bezos still has about 938 million shares in Amazon after his sell-off. Bezos' net worth is $191 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His move to Miami could save him $600 million in taxes on the sell-off, as CNBC previously reported. While Washington has a 7% capital gains tax on sales of stocks or bonds worth upwards of $250,000, Florida doesn't have a capital gains tax. For the last 29 years, Bezos has lived in Seattle, where he built Amazon, before he announced in November that he was packing up and heading to Miami. Bezos' last big Amazon selling spree was in 2021, as he prepared to step down as CEO after 27 years. Read the original article on Business Insider The world premiere of the documentary No Other Land took place last Saturday at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) to sustained applause from the audience and shouts of Free Palestine. The film, by the Palestinian-Israeli collective of Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, recounts the brutal expulsion of Palestinian villagers from Masafer Yatta, a settlement of 19 villages south of Hebron in the West Bank. Adra, a young Palestinian law student who grew up and lives in the area, and Abraham, an Israeli journalist from Tel Aviv, convey the harrowing events intimately and in real time. They film everything they experience, exchange material with each other, try to spread it via social media and gain attention in the international media. They are compelled to protect themselves from the aggressive actions of the Israeli army and the fascistic settler militias allied with it. Friends and relatives help repeatedly to hide them and their footage. No Other Land Anyone opposing the evictions is mercilessly attacked. Adras cousin is one of those. He initially survives, but is paralyzed. In a cave, he lies on a mattress on the ground, guarded day and night by his desperate mother. His fate triggers significant protests by his friends and the villagers. They demand medical help, but there is no place in a health care facility, and the familys house and beds are destroyed. He ultimately dies, as the film reveals at the end. After the eviction of the Palestinian inhabitants, the bulldozers come and demolish everything people need to livetheir houses, their furniture, lamps, electrical equipment, sheep and chicken sheds, the power supply, roads. Shocking footage shows the destruction of a modern, well-kept bathroom by a bulldozer, followed by two or three Israeli soldiers cutting the water pipe with a saw. The refugees find refuge in nearby caves, which date back to ancient times, with the few belongings and blankets they were able to salvage. Without water and electricity, they try to manage in the most primitive conditions, collecting wood for heating and cooking. Finally, the Israeli occupiers also destroy the school that the villagers built themselves after their school buses were repeatedly attacked and stopped on the way to the next town. Friends of Adra demonstrate for a peaceful coexistence of Palestinians and Jews: From both sides of the wall, they sing. They refer to the high concrete wall that the Israeli regime built in the West Bank between the settler areas and the Palestinian villages, and which they are not permitted to call a wall, but only a security fence. Abraham is allowed to move freely as an Israeli and drive his car through this military border, but the Palestinians can only do so with special permits. One group has yellow license plates, the other green. Abraham is not the only Israeli who repeatedly seeks contact with the Palestinians, as Adra later explains in an interview. But going to the area as a journalist with a camera is forbidden, and Abraham is denounced as a traitor by the Israeli authorities. Abraham and Adra want to shake up the world with their filmin Israel as well as in Germany, the US and the other Western countries that support the Netanyahu government with weapons and money. Abraham uses his social media contacts. I only had about 170 clicks today, he tells his friend, disappointed. Adra encourages him: The expulsions have been happening for decades, and you expect changes in a day. Later, Abraham asks his friend, Dont you want to leave here? He may have opportunities elsewhere with his legal studies. Shaking his head, Adra explains that he has lost hope in the law. If he wants to work in Israel, as a Palestinian, he can only get a job on a construction site anyway. He doesnt want to go away, he has to help his people. If they give up their land, they are lost. And what will you do? Build a new house, start a family? Abraham asks further. Adra is skeptical, commenting, Actually, just a little stability, even democracy, in order to be able to live at all. No Other Land (2024) Adra and Abrahams idea that, by distributing the material on the Internet, they could exert pressure on the US and other Western governments that might call Israel to order, turns out to be an illusion. Their hopes for help from international media outlets are also shattered, although some reports make it onto television, and a media team is driven through the village. One day, Tony Blair, former Labour Party leader and British prime minister, pays a visit to the affected area and the school amid great media hype. The brief film comment: his visit lasts a full seven (!) minutes. And the school and the associated village are spared from army attacks for only three daysafter which they continue. Heavily armed personnel take the children out of the classrooms in the middle of class, scream at them to get them into the street and destroy the building. At the end, in the summer of 2023shortly before the beginning of the Gaza warAdras family home is also destroyed. Since October 7, the right-wing radical settler militias, with the support of the army, have been intensifying their crackdown on the remaining Palestinian residents. In No Other Land, we experience a veritable battle of armed gangs beating up Palestinian residents, including many women and children, drowning out their cries of We are human beings, we also have rights, we do not want another country with cries of This is our country. Army soldiers stand by and join in the coarse bellows of the far-right thugs. The film ends on October 23, 2023, when the genocide in Gaza has already claimed thousands of civilian victims. In conclusion, the film informs us about the disclosure of a secret evacuation order by the Israeli government from 2022, Demolition Order 1455, codenamed Ilan after the name of the responsible commander. It is a license for the army to expel people by force and to destroy everyones livelihoods to create a training ground for soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. A fact sheet from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), dated June 6, 2022, confirms that Israeli policy and army leadership have specifically prepared this operation. Portions of the Masafer Yatta area were already declared a military restricted area, Fire Zone 91, in the early 1980s, but the attacks on the population after that were considered illegal, leading to international protests by UN representatives and courts in Israel itself. However, on May 4, 2022, the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) declared forced evictions and demolitions of the homes legal, to create a training ground for the military. A year later, the Israeli army, trained and brutalized in action against the residents of Masafer Yatta, launched its ground invasion of Gaza and unleashed the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian population. In an interview in the Berlinale Talk by radio eins, Adra and Abraham accuse the German government of supporting this genocide. When RBB reporter Knut Elstermann addresses the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7, which leaves little hope for a peaceful solution, Abraham, who himself lost friends on October 7, replies that hope for peace has declined further, especially in the 135 days since then. Israels bombing war has now killed more than 13,000 children in Gaza, destroyed 70 percent of the homes, turned nearly two million people into refugees. And I know that Germany fully supports this war, Abraham emphasizes, even after 135 days ... after this total destruction! When Elstermann protests and points out that the German government has provided money for the civilian population from the outset and the Foreign Minister has very often called for respect for human rights, Abraham furiously interrupts him. This only means feeding people first and then bombarding them. As an Israeli journalist, he has spoken to over a dozen contacts in the Israeli security forces who are well informed about the targets of the bombing in Gaza. This war is the most brutal war in modern human history, he says, and totally immoral. It is high time to enforce a ceasefire, but Germany does not! No Other Land is a courageous and unsparing indictment of the German, American and other Western governments, whose support for Israeli crimes expresses an abysmal and fatal moral decline. At the same time, the film collective deserves great credit for not limiting themselves to the cinematic documentation of the terrible acts of violence. They let the local people speakthe Palestinian workers, farmers, their families and also Israelis, whose disgust at the crimes of the Netanyahu government and army is increasing. As Abraham says, he feels responsible, we pay the taxes that stabilizes this apartheid system. We are allied with the Palestinians, but they are under military law, cannot move freely, unlike me. They want to fight for a vision of full equality and justice for Palestinians and Israelis. The film deserves a wide audience among workers and young people, who are also facing the destruction of their livelihoods, growing social inequality and war in other countries. Residents of the Northern Rivers region of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) are planning a convoy to the states parliament to demonstrate against the state and federal Labor governments broken promises since the devastating floods and landslides of 2022. One of the thousands of wrecked homes in the 2022 floods. The planned protest was one of the outcomes of a community-led disaster recovery forum and workshop in the regional town of Ballina on February 12, which was joined by about 60 people. The event was co-hosted by two groupsthe Northern Rivers, Reclaim Our Recovery in the nearby regional city of Lismore, and the Byron Flood Emergency Action Groupthat emerged to organise against the ongoing failure of governments to protect people from the floods and similar future disasters. The forums outcome was a resolute demand for a fully-funded flood recovery in the Northern Rivers region, specifically addressing the critical $700 million shortfall in the Resilient Homes Program, the organisers said. That was a reference to the flouting of the specific flood relief vows made by the federal and state government leaders after thousands of homes were destroyed or badly damaged in the floods of February and March 2022. In October 2022, Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then Liberal-National NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet jointly visited Lismore to attempt to appease angry residents over the lack of government assistance. Together, they announced the Resilient Homes scheme to buy back, lift or repair flood-damaged homes and promised to provide $1.5 billion for it if necessary. Across the six local government areas impacted by the floods, 6,700 homeowners initially expressed interest in buy-backs. But the state and federal governments, now both Labor, last year halved the scheme from the promised $1.5 billion. As a result, only 1,100 buy-backs are budgeted for, plus 400 house raisings or retrofits to either lift homes above flood levels or renovate them to supposedly withstand flood damage. Organisers of Mondays forum said only 8 percent of flood-affected homes in the Byron Shire, one of the regions municipal council areas, had been deemed eligible for a buyback, retrofit or raise. Only four homes out of 977 applications in the shire had been approved as of September 29. NSW government officials had said that applications were prioritised based on the greatest risk to life in most future floods, adding that the majority of the Byron Shire is outside the highest risk area. By October 27, the officials claimed, 34 properties in the shire had been deemed eligible for buyback, 46 for raising or retrofits, with floor level surveys happening at another 21 properties. That is still a tiny fraction of the applications. Organisers of the February 12 forum quoted from Noelle Maxwell, a participant in the town of Mullumbimby who said the floods were deeply traumatic, yet she was coming up on two years of being kept in limbo. Maxwell explained: My house was flooded so badly that I have not been able to return, but Ive been told multiple times that Im not eligible for house raising. So even if I did fix my house, it would be devastated in the next inevitable flood. The slow and woefully inadequate government response, slashed by budgetary cost-cutting, is not confined to Byron shire. According to Premier Chris Minns state Labor government, about 700 buy-back offers have so far been approved for flood-affected properties across the Northern Rivers, and nearly 500 have been accepted. That is just 10 percent of the 5,000 applications made in the Tweed, Byron and Lismore municipal council areas for a buy-back. In the latest government betrayal, on February 9, Minns unveiled a yet-to-be detailed plan to set aside supposed flood-free land for about 400 new dwellings in East Lismore. The announcement said the land is not expected to come onto the market until 2026. Residents immediately objected, this is too late to help most of the flood victims. In addition, only 20 percent of the land has been designated for affordable housing, plus some unknown number of plots for participants in the slashed buy-back scheme. That means many people offered buybacks will not be able to afford to purchase any of the land, let alone build homes. Moreover, this is the first project to be even foreshadowed under the state governments $100 million Resilient Lands Program, which was promised more than 16 months ago. That program was supposed to cover the entire region, which includes Ballina, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah and other towns and villages in the flood-prone Tweed and Richmond river valleys, as well as Lismore, a city of about 45,000 people. Plus, the thousands of tenants who were flooded out of their homes have received virtually no assistance, while landlords have taken advantage of the crisis to buy up ruined houses at cheap prices, and more than double rents in Lismore and other affected areas. Commenting on Minns February 9 announcement, a Lismore resident told the World Socialist Web Site: Sadly it falls into line with the modus operandi of the government to date. As if written by AI with the instructions to appear to promise everything we have wanted, but with minimal detail, to entice with hyperbole. The end result of which is to further divide usthe winners who cant understand why the losers still complain, and those who are part of the Resilient Homes Program from those left out altogether. She said it was another Claytons plan that neither attends to context or takes account of the connection between all the issues. It was neo-liberal reductionism and risk management, posing as concern for our future. The Labor governments betrayals of the flood-affected residents across the Northern Rivers, on top of that by the previous federal and state Liberal-National governments, is not at all unique. It is a microcosm of the contempt, indifference and deception with which capitalist governments of all stripes treat the victims of the increasingly disastrous consequences of their policies. While pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into military spending in preparation to join barbaric US-led wars, particularly against China, and into rejigged income tax cuts that still overwhelmingly favour the wealthy, they are approving new fossil fuel projects and failing to seriously address climate change, making floods and other catastrophes, such as bushfires, rising sea levels and droughts, more frequent globally. When disasters strike, invariably hitting hardest the poorest and most vulnerable people, governments basically leave the victims to fend for themselves. Paramedics in Victoria are currently voting on whether to take industrial action as part of an enterprise bargaining dispute with the state Labor government. The ballot comes after workers overwhelmingly rejected a nominal wage increase of 3 percent per annum, plus yearly lump sum payments of $1,800. Victoria Ambulance in regional city of Ballarat in June 2021. [Photo by Ed Dunens / CC BY 2.0 As well as opposing what amounts to a massive wage cut in relation to the soaring cost of living, paramedics are seeking improvements to the dire conditions they confront as a result of the broader crisis across public health. Workers want improved end-of-shift management to allow them to finish on time. Currently they are frequently forced to go into overtime at the end of a long shift in order to respond to an emergency call. Paramedics are also seeking increased staffing resources to allow workers to take meal breaks and improve crew welfare. Ambulance Victoria has rejected these demands, and is trying to cut sick leave, overtime and travel allowance entitlements. Paramedics are also raising concerns over severe short-staffing in rural areas, leaving sick people unattended for hours at a time. The governments new operating model for specialist mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA) paramedics could leave many regional areas without any MICA coverage at all. Despite the bluster of hard industrial action from Victorian Ambulance Union (VAU) secretary Danny Hill, the actions proposed are minimal to say the least. The 26 ballot options consist largely of administrative bans, work-to-rule actions, and public relations exercises, with stoppages of ten minutes or one hour the most substantial possibilities. These limited actions are designed to cause as little disruption as possible to Ambulance Victoria and the Labor government, while wearing workers down in preparation for a sell-out. The ballot does not close until March 12, meaning the earliest workers could begin action is halfway through next month, although their existing enterprise agreement expired in January. The delay is particularly significant in light of ongoing industrial action by Victorian emergency services call centre workers. The VAU, which covers some of these workers, along with the Communication Workers Union, United Firefighters Union and United Workers Union, are trying to keep the struggles of different sections of emergency services workers isolated. But all of these workers confront the same opponentthe Labor government and its punitive public sector wage policy. Under the cap, any pay increase over 3 percent per annum must be paid for through productivity improvements, that is, cuts to working conditions or jobs. Labor governments throughout the country and at the federal level all have similar policies in place. Last month, after paramedics rejected the governments offer, Victorian Treasurer and Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas reaffirmed Labors commitment to the wage cap. He declared: If I make a special exception for ambulance workers then we have to do exactly the same for everybody else, otherwise, quite frankly, it wouldnt be fair. The union has called for a nominal pay increase of 6 percent per annum or the consumer price index (CPI). Even if granted, this would fall far short of what is needed to keep up with the real increase in the cost of living for working people, let alone make up for past losses. But the more likely scenario is what has been carried out time and time again by the unions: An initial wage figure, based on the demands of workers, is quietly rebranded as an ambit claim and a far lower compromisei.e., selloutis promoted as a victory and forced through. In exchange for its meagre demand, the VAU bureaucracy has proposed a set of productivity and efficiency measures to cut costs for management. These include reducing the length of night shifts, so that part-time workers can be rostered at that time, saving management the cost of overtime. The union has also suggested that Ambulance Community Officers (ACO), who have far less training than paramedics, could be allowed to work full shifts in patient transport. These compromise proposals and the pitiful wage claim underscore the fact that the VAU leadership is totally on board with Labors austerity agenda. The union is committed to delivering what the government demandsfurther cuts to wages and social spending in order to impose the burden of its $135.5 billion and growing debt on the shoulders of the working class. The overtime and staffing crisis at Ambulance Victoria is a product of cuts imposed across the entire public health system over decades by successive state and federal governments and enforced by the unions. Worsening conditions for Australian ambulance workers [Photo: Australian Medical Associations "Ambulance Ramping Report Card"] According to a Productivity Commission report released on January 31, Victorias annual expenditure on public hospital services$3,330 per person compared to the national average of $3,484has been the second lowest (ahead of South Australia) in the country since 201920. With just 2.3 public hospital beds per 1,000 people, Victoria shares bottom place with Western Australia, behind the already grossly inadequate national average of 2.5. In 1992, Victoria had 3.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. While it was the Liberal government of Jeff Kennett that initially slashed this to 2.5, the cuts have been continued and deepened under Labor, which has been in power for more than 20 of the past 25 years. The result is that emergency departments are overflowing with patients who cannot be transferred to wards, forcing paramedics to spend hours caring for patients in hospital driveways and car parks rather than responding to emergency calls. The Australian Medical Associations (AMA) 2023 Ambulance Ramping Report Card revealed increased delays in patient transfer from ambulances to emergency departments in every jurisdiction except Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. In Victoria, just 61.3 percent of patients were transferred within 40 minutes in 202122, 11.4 percentage points lower than the previous year and 20.5 points down on 20182019. The rapidly worsening conditions for ambulance workers are causing high levels of stress and burnout. A 2022 Swinburne University survey found that 45 percent of Victorian paramedics often think about quitting (up from 29 percent in 2020) and 16 percent intended to leave the profession within a year (up from 9 percent in 2020). While sharply expressed in Victoria, paramedics and other health workers across the country confront the same dire situationa public hospital system in a constant state of crisis as a result of decades of government cuts. This underscores the need for a unified struggle of health workers, across Victoria and throughout the country, directed against Labors austerity agenda. This is impossible under the dominance of the VAU bureaucracy or that of the other unions, which are all complicit in the evisceration of public health, and which have the closest of ties with the Labor government. To take forward their fight for real improvements to wages and conditions, paramedics will need new organisations of struggle, rank-and-file committees, independent of the union apparatus and democratically controlled by workers themselves. These committees will need to reach out to broader layers of workers, throughout health and emergency services in Victoria, across the country and around the world, who all confront similar attacks. The crisis in public health has been, and continues to be, massively exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the pro-business abandonment by (primarily Labor) governments of almost all public health measures against the virus, including in hospitals. Again, this has been enforced at every stage by the unions, including in health, which are now silent on the ongoing pandemic, in line with the official government line that COVID is a thing of the past. The entirely preventable social murder of at least 25,000 people from COVID in Australia alone is a stark illustration of the fact that capitalism is incapable of satisfying even the most basic needs of the working class. Therefore, the fight for a high-quality public health system, with adequate resources and decent pay and conditions for workers, is inseparable from the struggle for socialism, and an end to the subordination of all human needs, including life itself, to the profit demands of the financial and corporate elite. The latest report from the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states that around 300 million of the worlds eight billion population need humanitarian assistance and protection due to conflicts, climate emergencies and economic factors. This has forced the agency to appeal for a record $56.7 billion to help 245 million people. It warns that funding for humanitarian relief has declined, resulting in the largest funding gap on record, leaving millions at risk of starvation. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), every one percent cut in food assistance, risks pushing 400,000 more people to the brink of starvation. Women wait in line for food donated by the Covid Without Hunger organization in the Jardim Gramacho slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 22, 2021. [AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo] OCHA says the world is seeing a growing number of more deeply entrenched conflicts, disrupting food systems and agricultural production, hampering aid delivery, and creating a burgeoning population of displaced people. The consequences for civilians, particularly children, are devastating. Almost one child in every five around the world is living in or fleeing from conflict zones, many barely mentioned in the international corporate media. One in every 73 people have been forced to flee their homes, a ratio that has almost doubled in the last decade, with 71.1 million people internally displaced at the end of 2022, a 20 percent increase in just a year and the largest year-on-year increase since 2013. The number of refugees is at a record high of 36.4 million, with over half coming from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine, the product of imperialist-fuelled wars. Most devastating is the situation in Gaza. In the first five weeks of 2024, the number of civilians killed there was equivalent to almost 60 percent of the total number of global civilians killed in 2022, itself the deadliest year since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Already last December, a UN report warned that 93 percent of people in Gaza face crisis levels of hunger and that a quarter of the besieged enclaves population faces catastrophic hunger and starvation. The UN special rapporteur on the right to food said that all children under five in Gaza, 335,000, are at high risk of starvation, while WPF spokesperson Steve Taravella said, The scale and swiftness of this crisis is unprecedented in modern times, adding If current predictions continue, we will reach famine by February. Israel rejected this out of hand, saying There is no starvation in Gaza, period. The catastrophe has worsened since. But the Palestinians are a fraction of the 53.8 million requiring assistance in the Middle East, with 32.5 million in need in Syria and neighbouring countries, along with 21.6 million people in Yemen as 80 percent of its population struggles to put food on the table and access basic services. This humanitarian crisis is set to worsen following repeated missile strikes by the US and Britain on the Houthis who control much of the war-torn country. By far the largest number of people in need of assistance are in Africa. The eruption of civil war in Sudan in April last year between two rival factions of the military has left 30 million of the countrys 49 million population in desperate need of assistance. The crisis in Sudan accounts for almost 40 percent of the 74.1 million in need in East and Southern Africa. In West and Central Africa, centred on Burkina Faso and Niger, 65.1 million people require humanitarian assistance. There are 50.8 million people in Asia and the Pacific in need, predominantly in Afghanistan (30.6 million of its 43 million population) and Myanmar (18.6 million of its 55 million population). The Latin America and Caribbean region are now home to 38.9 million people in need, with 15.9 million impacted by the Venezuela crisis. In Eastern Europe, 16.8 million people are in desperate need of assistance because of the war in Ukraine. As well as conflicts and wars, the global climate crisis is wreaking destruction with tropical cyclones in southern Africa, wildfires in Europe and Storm Daniel in Libya. Some 8.7 million people were internally displaced due to more frequent and extreme weather events by the end of 2023. But pre-existing poverty, social inequality, official discrimination, and economic policies were also significant drivers of humanitarian need in several countries, including Afghanistan, Syria and Venezuela. Acute food insecurity is the reality for 258 million people in 58 countries because of armed conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes, poverty and inequality. Of particular note is that wasting threatens the lives of 45 million children under 5 (a shocking 7 percent of all children), with nearly one third or 13.6 million suffering from severe wasting, meaning that they are at imminent risk of death. Disease is also causing significant suffering and loss of life. Twenty-nine countries reported outbreaks of cholera, a water-borne disease easily preventable and treatable. Outbreaks have grown deadlier due to overstretched health systems, vaccine shortages, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, and the presence of multiple, parallel disease outbreaks, while most communities remain under-vaccinated for COVID-19. Crucially, as OCHA points out, in the absence of concerted international efforts, food security will deteriorate further in 2024 with Burkina Faso, Mali, Gaza and the West Bank, South Sudan and Sudan of particular concern. Hunger hotspots include the Middle East where Israels genocide in Gaza is spiralling into a wider regional war, and in the Sahel where instability and violence continued to surge, according to the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It warned that food insecurity would deteriorate further amid reduced donor support, lower economic growth and sharp rises in domestic food prices. Food prices rose following the start of the US/NATO proxy war in Ukraine, and, as at the end of last month, 15 countries had implemented 21 food export bans, while 11 had introduced export restrictions that, along with the re-routing of shipping around southern Africa, are pushing up transportation costs, exacerbating the global food crisis. A separate report, The Funding Gap, by Action against Hunger, revealed that 17 countries with a hunger burden at crisis levels or above in 2022-23, had just 35 percent of their urgent requests for hunger relief funding met. It would have taken just $8.86 billion to fully fund the hunger-related appeals of all 17 of these countries, loose change for the worlds 2,600 billionaires. The funding gap was about 23 percent larger at the start of 2024 than it was a year earlier. Approximately 88 percent of hunger appeals received less than half the funding requested in last year. Only 12 percent of hunger programs in countries with crisis levels of hunger received half of what they needed. None were fully funded, compared with just 3 percent in 2022. This year, the UN and its partner organisations are appealing for $46.4 billion to assist 180.5 million of the 300 million people who it says need humanitarian assistance. The world produces enough food for everyone, and the resources exist to end global hunger and poverty. Humanitarian appeals to the oligarchs, corporations and banks that control the planets wealth and to the capitalist governments that defend their massive profits, will never secure the necessary funds. Without a frontal assault on the wealth and power of the corporate and financial oligarchy, there can be no solution to the crises confronting mankind. Only a massive social movement of the working class, which has as its aim the conquest of state power and the reorganization of social and economic life based on human need, equality and socialism, can end the scourge of global poverty and hunger for good. As President Joe Biden continues to hemorrhage support among broad layers of the population over his unyielding support for the US/NATO-backed Israeli slaughter and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, pseudo-left forces have been activated in an attempt to save Bidens presidential campaign. President Joe Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost Michigan and its 16 votes in the Electoral College to Donald Trump by just over 10,000 votes. In the 2020 election, Bidens victory over Trump in Michigan was roughly 154,000 votes. This battleground state has the highest percentage (2.2 percent) of Arab Americans in the United States and the second most in the country by population (221,631), behind California (272,485). A 2020 exit poll conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations found that 69 percent of registered Muslim voters selected Biden, while only 17 percent chose Trump. In the 2016 election, Trump received a similar margin, 13 percent. However, since October 7, polling by major media organizations and political groups has shown that at least two-thirds, if not more, of Muslim and/or Arab Americans indicate that they will not vote for Biden, with many open to a third party candidate. Sections of the ruling class are terrified that widespread disgust with Biden and the Democratic Party over the genocide in Gaza will result in masses of workers and youth not only refusing to vote for Biden, but breaking with the Democratic Party entirely and looking for new, independent forms of struggle. While the Socialist Equality Party fights to develop the anti-genocide protests into a conscious movement of the working class against the government and the capitalist systemthe source of inequality, war and fascismpseudo-left elements respond to the historic breakdown of the capitalist system with cynical political maneuvers aimed at rescuing the Biden campaign and channeling disaffected workers and youth back behind the Democratic Party. Leading the cheering section for Genocide Joe is Democratic Socialists of America member and Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Since the start of the new year, the phony socialist from New York has appeared on podcasts and cable news shows to trumpet the alleged accomplishments of the Biden administration and tell the world that her support for Bidens reelection in November is an easy decision. Ocasio-Cortezs fulsome support for Biden was recently profiled by Philip Elliott for Time magazine in an article published February 16 titled, How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Became One of Joe Bidens Most Valuable Boosters. AOCs main job in 2024 may be President Joe Bidens most valuable pinch-hitter, Elliott wrote. He continued: As mainstream Democrats were tearing their hair out over new questions about the Presidents mental acuity, there was Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday not only reaffirming her backing of Biden, but not-so-subtly slapping down those in her wing of the party screaming for him to step aside. I know who Im going to choose. Its going to be one of the most successful Presidents in modern American history, she told CNN. Elliott added that when needed the most, Bidens allies include Ocasio-Cortez as part of the Establishment defense. While AOC is overt in her support for Genocide Joe, other members of The Squad (self-declared progressive and left-wing representatives in Congress) are supporting Biden through less overt means. In the state of the Michigan, which is scheduled to hold its Democratic primary on February 27, this has taken the form of the Vote Uncommitted campaign. Unlike many other states, Democratic primary voters in Michigan have the option to choose Uncommitted on the ballot, in addition to Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips. There is no question that, despite widespread anger, Biden will win the Michigan primary on Tuesday. Williamson has already suspended her campaign, and Phillips, who has marketed himself as a younger version of Biden, has yet to garner any support beyond the margin of error. Fearful that disgust with the support by Biden and the Democrats for ethnic cleansing will lead to widespread abstention not only in the primary but also in the general election, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, former Michigan Rep. Andy Levin, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and what remains of Our Revolutionwhich emerged out of Senator Bernie Sanders 2016 political revolutionhave called on Michigan voters to select Uncommitted on February 27. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks during a news conference on May 25, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib] Our Revolution Calls for Protest Vote Against Biden In Michigan, the New York Times reported on February 14. Speaking to the Times, Levin, the scion of a Michigan Democratic dynasty that included his father, Representative Sander Levin, and his uncle, Senator Carl Levin, spelled out the purpose of the campaign. I am working with some people who feel like they will never vote for Joe Biden, but there are many, many, many I feel will vote for Joe Biden on Nov. 5 if he changes course, Levin told the Times. This is the best way I can help Joe Biden, he said. Doing her best to help Joe Biden, in a video posted on February 17 from Dearborn, Michigan, Rep. Tlaibwho was censured by her fascistic Republican colleagues as well as some fellow Democrats after October 7 for meekly speaking out against the Israeli slaughter of Palestinians in Gazasaid it was important to create a voting bloc by voting Uncommitted in the primary. This is the way you can raise our voices, Tlaib said, adding, 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. It should be noted that Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, on the eve of her censure vote made a point in an interview with the Detroit Free Press of denouncing Hamas October 7 incursion into Israel as a war crime just like the collective punishment of Palestinians right now is a war crime. The DSA and its various social media and graphics teams released several copy/paste statements declaring their support for the Uncommitted campaign. We can and must fight back, right inside the halls of power, wrote the DSA. Thats why we call upon all comrades to call their Congress members. To this end, the DSA has scheduled virtual phone banks to get out the vote for Uncommitted. Additionally, the youth section of the DSA held a rally at the University of Michigan on February 20. Despite heavy coverage of the Uncommitted campaign on cable television and promotion by various pseudo-left forces, only a few dozen students participated in Tuesdays rally at the college. Addressing the small crowd, Levin said it was time to turn from war to diplomacy. He continued, At long last, Joe Biden, you can become a much greater president by leading the turn to peace. After a muted response, Levin pleaded, Text all your friends ... all across the state ... all the campuses across this state. Get out there and vote. Dont stay home. The same day the rally was held in Ann Arbor, the New York Times, the unofficial press organ of the Democratic Party, published an opinion piece by the Democratic mayor of Dearborn, Abdullah Hammoud, in support of the Uncommitted charade. Hammoud wrote: My greatest fear is that Mr. Biden will not be remembered as the president who saved American democracy in 2020, but rather as the president who sacrificed it for Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024. It is for that reason, Hammoud continued, that I will be checking the box for Uncommitted on my presidential primary ballot next Tuesday. In doing so, I am choosing hope. The hope that Mr. Biden will listen. If the last four months of global mass protests have proven anything, it is that hope and moral appeals to the perpetrators of the slaughter are less than useless. No matter how many people vote Uncommitted on February 27, the US government and the Biden administration, the Democratic and Republican parties, will continue to supply the genocidal Zionist regime with all the political, military and economic support it needs to carry out the Final solution of the Palestinian question. The question for workers and youth disgusted with the US/Israeli genocide is not how to register a protest vote, but what is the social force capable of putting a stop to the slaughter. Protesters oppose Israel's genocide in Gaza at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, on November 30, 2023. The fight to end war and genocide requires a turn to the working class, the international social force comprised of billions of people all around the world that not only produces all of societys wealth, but can also stop the production and transfer of weapons through a mass general strike. L.A. County is suing Grubhub, alleging that the company violated state laws that prohibit false advertising. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) The price of the turkey on rye half-sandwich from Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant in Los Angeles, purchased through the delivery app Grubhub, starts around $17. But at checkout, the costs mount. With additional fees and sales tax, the cost of a sandwich delivery can hit over $26.00. Plus tip. L.A. County says it amounts to an illegal bait-and-switch. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday against Grubhub, county lawyers argue the food delivery company has repeatedly flouted a state law barring false advertising by promoting meals at a cheaper price than what customers see at the checkout page. Read more: These food delivery drivers will get the nation's first minimum wage for app-based workers Grubhub has built this vast marketplace through practices that mislead consumers and restaurants and put the squeeze on the companys delivery drivers, the lawsuit says. Multiple aspects of Grubhubs business and every transaction for food delivery are suffused with deception. A Grubhub spokesperson said in a statement the company plans to "aggressively defend" itself in court. "We've sought to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Los Angeles County Counsels office to explain our business and identify any areas for improvement," a company spokesperson wrote. "We are disappointed they have moved forward with this lawsuit because our practices have always complied with applicable law, and in any event, many of the allegations are incorrect or have been discontinued." The lawsuit refers to a Grubhub webpage with a banner that says customers can order online for free at Los Angeles restaurants near them. In reality, the lawsuit says, they cannot. Grubhub said it is working on removing the language "from all existing materials." "This lawsuit sends a clear message: Los Angeles County will not tolerate businesses that deceive consumers, take advantage of restaurants, and exploit the drivers who work hard to provide a valued service," said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the board chair, in a statement. Story continues Its the latest government action aimed at preventing companies from hitting consumers with surprise charges. A new state law goes into effect this summer prohibiting last-minute junk fees across a long list of businesses, including delivery apps. Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, who co-sponsored the measure, has promised the price Californians see will be the price they pay. The attorney generals office has said that once the law goes into effect, delivery apps cannot tack on miscellaneous fees at the end of the transaction. The county's lawsuit argues the status quo hurts not only Grubhubs customers, but also the drivers and restaurants who serve them. According to the lawsuit, restaurants signing up for Grubhub were not properly warned that they would have to refund money to dissatisfied customers even if the restaurants didn't believe they had made a mistake with the order. Restaurants are also at a disadvantage if they dont pay the company extra marketing fees, the county alleged. Grubhub gives more search prominence to restaurants that pay more in marketing fees, though most customers likely dont realize this, the suit alleges. Instead, customers may believe the restaurants theyre seeing higher in the search ranking are the closest or the most popular. Read more: Shape Your L.A. at the county level "These practices inflict financial harm on L.A. County's residents, restaurants and workers and are unacceptable while so many of them struggle to make ends meet, Rafael Carbajal, director of the countys Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, said in a statement. Grubhub came under fire from its California delivery drivers in 2020 after the company rolled out a new charge called the driver benefits fee to help cover the costs that came under Proposition 22, a voter-approved ballot measure that guaranteed delivery drivers who clock a certain number of hours a healthcare stipend, among other benefits. As part of the rollout, the company defaulted to no tip. Drivers said their earnings were slashed as a result. The lawsuit alleges the way Grubhub explains the driver benefits fee continues to deter customers from tipping. Grubhub explains the fee to consumers as helping guarantee minimum wage and healthcare benefits for our drivers so they dont have to depend on tips, the lawsuit says. In reality, many drivers dont qualify for the stipend and are fully dependent on tips, the county alleges. Grubhub said the company has worked to make it easier for restaurants to dispute refunds and plans to clarify the benefits drivers receive as a result of Proposition 22. It also said marketing fees only affect the searches customers see in "certain, limited circumstances." In 2022, Grubhub settled a similar suit with Washington, D.C., for $3.5 million after the district's attorney general accused the company of manipulating customers with hidden fees. Under the settlement, Washington received $800,000, and $2.7 million went back into the accounts of Grubhub customers. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Lenovo Group Ltd.s shares gained more than 3% after the worlds largest PC maker reported a return to growth, reflecting a gradual pickup in demand after a prolonged slump. Most Read from Bloomberg It reported a better-than-projected 3% rise in revenue to $15.7 billion, the first quarterly sales growth for Lenovo since late 2022, when Covid-era demand evaporated. Net income slid a less-than-expected 23% to $337 million in the three months ended December. The results show PC demand, while coming back only slowly, is returning to a more positive trajectory, Chief Executive Officer Yang Yuanqing told Bloomberg News. The business should improve, though a migration away from traditional servers toward higher-end setups for training and developing AI may pressure profitability in the short term, Yang said in an interview. Lenovo is betting on artificial intelligence to propel hardware sales this year. Its executives have been bullish about the prospects for AI-empowered devices and the company is slated to introduce products with such functions. Roughly 170 million so-called AI phones will be produced worldwide this year, almost 15% of total shipments, IDC estimates. But Lenovos Infrastructure Solutions Group, which sells servers and yields about 15% of sales, is scrambling to buy Nvidia Corp. graphics processors to build AI-training farms, which are in hot demand. Very unfortunately we dont have enough supply on GPU-based servers. That impacted on not just our revenue but also profitability, the CEO said. Lenovos shares have slid more than 20% this year after hitting a two-year-high in late 2023, tracking market routs in Hong Kong and mainland China. Story continues Roughly 75% of Lenovos sales come from the Intelligent Devices Group a unit that sells electronics from PCs to smartphones while the server and services units contribute the rest. It grew PC shipments about 3.9% in the December quarter, maintaining its lead over long-time rivals HP Inc. and Dell Technologies Inc., according to IDC. The Beijing-based company managed to grow market share even as overall PC shipments dipped 2.7%, suggesting a full recovery was a ways off. A rebound in the hardware business and more sales of higher-margin services should help Lenovo improve its profitability, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Steven Tseng wrote in a note ahead of the results. Strong adoption of as-a-service offerings and robust growth of customized solutions for select sectors should support a double-digit increase in its services revenue over the next two to three years, he wrote. Read More: Nvidia Surges After AI Boom Shows No Signs of Letting Up (Updates with share price reaction) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the death of Russian democratic opposition leader, Alexey Navalny, who died in Russian custody while unjustly incarcerated, Freedom House joins partners in requesting the Biden Administration to accelerate efforts to free imprisoned Russian democracy advocate, Vladimir Kara-Murza. The letter is included below and can be read here. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden: We the undersigned write to express a two-fold request of your administration. As we all mourn the loss of Russian democratic opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died in Russian custody while unjustly incarcerated on February 16, 2024, we request that you accelerate your efforts to release imprisoned Russian prodemocracy advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza. Kara-Murza is an extremely vulnerable prisoner, and we fear that he may be the Kremlin's next victim if the United States does not act swiftly. Kara-Murza is a US lawful permanent resident (which the Levinson Act defines as a US national), a historian and Washington Post opinion writer, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, a deeply principled man, and a passionate advocate for political and civil rights in his native Russia. He is also currently being held as a political prisoner by Russian authorities. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kara-Murza chose to return to his country of origin in April 2022, saying that he must go back to stand with Russian antiwar protesters and against Putin. He was arrested just days after his return to Moscow, and has remained in prison since. In April 2023, Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison , the maximum possible sentence, on bogus charges for his criticism of Putin's corrupt and repressive government and the Kremlin's ongoing, devastating war against Ukraine. Story continues Kara-Murza's health has rapidly deteriorated while in custody. His wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, has reported that he has lost more than 50 pounds in the last year and is facing paralysis in both of his feet due to untreated polyneuropathya condition brought on as a result of the poisonings carried out by Putin's government in the 2015 and 2017 attempts on his life. He was kept in solitary confinement for several months and is being held in a maximum-security facility. Many of our organizations have been assured that his release is a "high priority" by several members of your administration; as a concrete demonstration of this claim, we request that Kara-Murza: Be immediately designated "wrongfully detained" under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. Be included in any ongoing negotiations with Russia. First, as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) with significant ties to the United States, Kara-Murza meets the legal criteria to be designated "wrongfully detained" under the Levinson Act, and the US State Department should do so expeditiously. On August 14, 2023, the State Department confirmed that LPRs have been designated "wrongfully detained" under the act; Kara-Murza should be also. One notable example of a US LPR being designated "wrongfully detained" under the Levinson Act is Paul Rusesabagina of Rwanda, the famed "Hotel Rwanda" activist. Rusesabagina was designated "wrongfully detained" by the US government after his August 2020 flight to Burundi was redirected to Rwanda, where he was subsequently arrested, tortured, and sentenced to 25 years in prison in a sham trial. Kara-Murza meets 10 of the 11 criteria in the law, which makes him readily eligible for the "wrongfully detained" designation. The law clearly states that designations can be made on criteria "which may include" the 11 enumerated provisions, but nowhere does it state that all 11 criteria must be met. The Kremlin clearly considers Kara-Murza to be a high-value political prisoner, shown by virtue of the fact that he received the maximum possible sentence for the fabricated crimes pinned on him simply for his opposition to Putin and the Kremlin's illegal war in Ukraine. For this, we want to stress that "wrongfully detained" designations may be private (as opposed to public). If the State Department considers a public designation to be too incendiary, a private designation is a suitable option. Second, it is critical that Kara-Murza be included in any discussions with Russian officials regarding prisoner releases. As a US national, as defined under the Levinson Act, and a person who is seen by Putin as a significant prisoner, it is crucial for both Kara-Murza's well-being and American foreign policy that he be released. We feel strongly that the United States has a clear obligation to prioritize the release of all unjustly detained American nationals, which includes citizens like Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Marc Fogel, as well as Kara-Murza. Kara-Murza is a hero who has courageously dedicated his life to advancing freedom and democracy. For his vision of a democratic and peaceful Russia, which is deeply in line with US strategic interests, he has suffered greatly at the hands of Putin and his cronies. Kara-Murza continues to sacrifice to defend the principles we hold so dear in the United States, and he is extremely vulnerable in prison. The tragic death of Navalny underscores the risks political prisoners, especially high-profile ones, face in prison. We urge the Biden administration to act swiftly to bring Kara-Murza home and to increase efforts to seek the release of all Russian political prisoners. Regards, Individual Signatories: Michael J. Abramowitz, President, Freedom House Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Paige Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, the Carter Center; Vice Chair, Free Russia Foundation Natalia Arno, President, Free Russia Foundation John R. Beyrle, former US Ambassador to Russia and Bulgaria George C. Biddle, Trustee and Chairman, Civil Courage Prize Stephen E. Biegun, former US Deputy Secretary of State Michael Breen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Human Rights First Ellen Bork, Fellow, the George W. Bush Institute William Browder, President, Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign Agnes Callamard, PhD, Secretary General, Amnesty International Christian Caryl, Independent Journalist Michael Chertoff, former US Secretary of Homeland Security; member, Freedom House Board of Trustees Honourable Professor Irwin Cotler, PC, OC, OQ, AdE.; former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Uriel Epshtein, Chief Executive Officer, Renew Democracy Initiative Evelyn N. Farkas, PhD, Executive Director, the McCain Institute at Arizona State University Jennifer Finney Boylan, Author Jane Harman, Cochair, Freedom House Board of Trustees; former Congresswoman from California Tirana Hassan, Executive Director, Human Rights Watch John E. Herbst, former US Ambassador to Ukraine and Uzbekistan; Senior Director, the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council Patrick Gaspard, President, Center for American Progress; former US Ambassador to South Africa Carl Gershman, Former and Founding President, National Endowment for Democracy Jon Huntsman Jr., former US Ambassador to Russia, China, and Singapore; former Governor of Utah Garry Kasparov, former World Chess Champion; Russian opposition leader; Chairman, Renew Democracy Initiative Jonathan Katz, former Deputy Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau, US Agency for International Development Ian Kelly, former US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and to Georgia; Ambassador in Residence, Northwestern University Mikhail Khodorkovsky, founder, the Russian Anti-War Committee Peter Kovler, member, National Democratic Institute Board of Trustees David J. Kramer, Executive Director, the George W. Bush Institute Joanne Leedom-Ackerman, Author Leopoldo Lopez, Freedom Activist; Cofounder and General Secretary, World Liberty Congress Tom Malinowski, former Congressman from New Jersey; former US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Felix Maradiaga, Nicaraguan opposition leader; President, Foundation for the Freedom of Nicaragua; member, Freedom House Board of Trustees Michael A. McFaul, former US Ambassador to Russia Sarah E. Mendelson, former US Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council Alfred H. Moses, former US Ambassador to Romania Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer, PEN America Steven Pifer, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Pedro Pizano, Assistant Director for Democracy Programs, the McCain Institute at Arizona State University Alina Polyakova, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for European Policy Analysis Maria A. Ressa, Chief Executive Officer, Rappler; 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Randy Scheunemann, Strategic Counselor, Halifax International Security Forum Natan Sharansky, former political prisoner in the Soviet Union; recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom John Shattuck, Professor of Practice in Diplomacy, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; former US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; former US Ambassador to the Czech Republic Brandon Silver, International Human Rights Lawyer; Director of Policy and Projects, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights Gary Shteyngart, Author Timothy Snyder, Richard C. Levin Professor of History, Yale University John J. Sullivan, former US Ambassador to Russia; former US Deputy Secretary of State William B. Taylor Jr., former US Ambassador to Ukraine Daniel Treisman, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles Daniel Twining, PhD, President, International Republican Institute Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum Alexander Vershbow, former US Ambassador to Russia; former Deputy Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Melanne Verveer, former US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues; Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security Wendell L. Willkie II, former Associate Counsel to the President of the United States; former General Counsel, US Department of Commerce; Cochair, Freedom House Board of Trustees Damon Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Endowment for Democracy Marie Yovanovitch, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Organizational Endorsements: Civil Courage Prize Free Russia Foundation Freedom House The George W. Bush Institute Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign Human Rights First Human Rights Foundation Human Rights Watch The McCain Institute National Democratic Institute National Endowment for Democracy PEN America Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights Renew Democracy Initiative Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights World Liberty Congress cc: The Honorable Antony J. Blinken Secretary of State US Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Mr. Jake Sullivan National Security Advisor The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/letter-biden-administration-must-accelerate-efforts-to-free-kara-murza-302068925.html SOURCE Freedom House The North Carolina child was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead Google Maps 2300 block of Eastway Drive Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC, where the accidental shooting occurred Feb. 21. When Police Officer Caitlin Figueroa arrived at the Charlotte, N.C., apartment Wednesday evening, she found a 3-year-old child bleeding from the head. The little boy was still alive she wrote in the incident report obtained by PEOPLE but seriously injured with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe the child accidentally shot himself with his mothers unsecured gun, Mike Allinger, a spokesman for the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Department, tells PEOPLE. Police have narrowed down the time of the shooting to within six minutes, around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the incident report. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police/Youtube Reporting Officer Caitlin Figueroa The child whose name has been withheld from the report because of his age was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the departments press release Wednesday night. The 3-year-old was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. 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. The mother was home with her son at the time of the shooting, according to Allinger, who notes that charges are pending in the case and could be filed as early as today. North Carolina is one of 26 states with laws dealing with gun safety pertaining to child-access and/or secure storage, per Everytown for Gun Safety research. Everytown Child-Access and/ or Secure Gun Storage Laws State-by-State Allinger confirms to PEOPLE that the state has such a law regarding childrens access to guns, which only goes into effect if the child actually obtains the firearm. A tragedy like this should wake us all up on understanding the importance of the responsibility we all have, Major Bret Balamucki said at a press conference outside the apartment complex Wednesday night. He added: Wherever you think you may have hidden that weapon if its loaded and it doesnt have a lock on it that the child cant defeat then potentially they could gain access to it." The investigation remains ongoing. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Flight 1219 was heading to Chicago from Albuquerque, New Mexico when the incident occurred on Tuesday DonnieDoesWorld/X Passengers restrain the man after he tried to open the emergency exit door. A Chicago-bound American Airlines flight had to return to Albuquerque International Sunport on Tuesday after a man tried to open the emergency exit mid-flight. Multiple passengers had to work together to duct tape the mans legs and tie his hands behind his back in an effort to restrain him. The plane returned safely to Albuquerque where law enforcement officials took over. American Airlines passengers had to hold a man down and duct tape his legs after he attempted to open one of the emergency exit doors mid-flight. Flight 1219 was heading to OHare Airport in Chicago from Albuquerque, New Mexico on Tuesday when a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer prompted the plane to turn back shortly after takeoff, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE. Related: United Passenger Films Wing Coming Apart on Boeing Plane, Alerts Crew Leading to 'Emergency Landing' In a video of the disturbance captured by a fellow passenger, a man can be seen attempting to open the emergency exit door as multiple other passengers surround him and try to hold him down. A child can be heard crying in the background and another flier asks, Whats going on? After successfully tying his hands behind his back and duct taping his legs together, at least four passengers then drag the man through the aisle. They got him, they got him, another flier can be heard saying. After the flight returned safely to Albuquerque, local law enforcement took over, the airline spokesperson added. Another video, shows the aftermath: the man is seen being escorted off the plane by law enforcement officers with his hands still restrained behind his back. Related: Family Sues United Airlines for $75K After Hot Food Allegedly Severely Burns Daughter 30 minutes after departing Albuquerque I was shaken out of my Panda Express and Tequila induced stupor by a man trying to aggressively open the airplane door 4 rows back. Me and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle, duct tape his legs, and throw flexi-cuffs on him. pic.twitter.com/zkrtEveYgQ The Wonton Don (@DonnieDoesWorld) February 20, 2024 X user @DonnieDoesWorld documented the incident in a post and says he was one of the passengers to help restrain the man. Along with sharing a photo of the chaos on the plane, the user wrote: 30 minutes after departing Albuquerque I was shaken out of my Panda Express and Tequila induced stupor by a man trying to aggressively open the airplane door 4 rows back. 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. He adds that he and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle after duct taping the mans legs and throwing flexi-cuffs on him. Just safely landed back in ABQ but HOLY S, he concluded in the post. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the incident, per their website. The Albuquerque Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "We knew a lot about each other and we have mutual friends and colleagues," Butler said of meeting Chalamet in an interview Niko Tavernise Timothee Chalamet and Austin Butler in Dune: Part Two (2024) Austin Butler and Timothee Chalamet were fast (onscreen!) enemies. Asked about how they established chemistry on the set of Dune: Part Two during an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Butler, 32, said, "We basically said hello and then got down to work on the fight, trying to kill each other." But they weren't exactly strangers before beginning production on the upcoming sequel, either. As the Academy Award nominee recalled, "We knew a lot about each other and we have mutual friends and colleagues." "But the first time that we met was in Hungary in the stunt-rehearsal room," Butler added of Chalamet, 28. "Thats the best way to meet," said director Denis Villeneuve with a laugh. 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. Marc Piasecki/WireImage Timothee Chalamet and Austin Butler at the Paris premiere of Dune: Part Two on Feb. 12, 2024 Related: All the Out-of-This-World Looks from the Cast of 'Dune: Part Two': See the Photos! Villeneuve, 56, explained that, as part of their preparation, they "did some readings by Zoom because everybody was all over the planet and I wanted to hear the words just before locking everything." "And I did feel that there were some sparks between both actors. And I mean, theyre professional. Its their job to get along," he added in his and Butler's conversation with the outlet. Dune: Part Two will "explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides (Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family," according to an official synopsis. "Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee," the synopsis adds. In the second trailer for the movie, the galaxy's emperor (Christopher Walken) enlists Butler's Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in getting rid of Paul before he and the Fremen reclaim Arrakis. A major battle rages throughout the desert planet, and the trailer ends with Paul declaring himself the "Duke of Arrakis" and hints at a duel between him and Feyd-Rautha. And while Butler, with his titular role in Elvis, previously "explored living within that world for three years and that being the only thing that I think about day and night," that wasn't the case for his Dune: Part Two character. "With Feyd, I knew that that would be unhealthy for my family and friends," he said. "So I made a conscious decision to have a boundary. It allowed for more freedom between action and cut because I knew I was going to protect everybody else outside of the context of what we were doing." "Thats not to say that it doesnt bleed into your life. But I knew that I wasnt going to do anything dangerous outside of that boundary, and in a way that allowed me to go deeper, I think," Butler added. Dune: Part Two is in theaters March 1. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Creepy Nuts Bling-Bang-Bang-Born holds atop the Billboard Japan Hot 100 on the chart dated Feb. 21, extending its record to four consecutive weeks at No. 1. The MASHLE Season 2 opener continues to rule downloads and streaming, with the former increasing by 21.4% from last week to 19,980 units and the latter by 8.4% to 21,812,337 streams. The hip-hop banger also climbed 13-7 for radio airplay and jumped 32-9 for karaoke. The songs momentum continues to grow as it draws increasing attention, with overall points gaining 11.7% from the week before. More from Billboard Snow Mans LOVE TRIGGER debuts at No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100 after launching with over a million CDs. The boy bands 10th single called LOVE TRIGGER / Well go together dropped on Valentines Day and sold 1,224,902 copies in its first week, a record for the nine-member group. The CD is also the first by the group to launch with more than a million copies. The two tracks are the theme songs for drama series featuring members Hikaru Iwamoto and Shota Watanabe, respectively in their first starring roles. The single is off to a good start, coming in at No. 3 for radio and No. 7 for video views. Hikaru Utadas A Flower of No Color debuts at No. 4. The theme song for Fuji TVs latest getsu-ku (Monday nights at 9:00) drama series is the J-pop superstars first new release after celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut. The song was unveiled during the dramas premiere, then digitally released on Feb. 12. It launched at No. 2 for downloads with 11,704 units, No. 1 for radio, and No. 10 for video views. Its still at No. 40 for streaming with 2,793,660 weekly streams, but the track is expected to gain in this metric as well in the coming weeks. Omoinotake snags its first top 10 hit with IKUOKU KONEN, the theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama Eye Love You. The track moves 13-8 this week, coming in at No. 10 for downloads with 4,441 units, No. 7 for streaming with 6,058,030 streams, No. 11 for radio, and No. 25 for video, collecting points in a balanced way. The piano trio performed this love song on YouTubes THE FIRST TAKE and the video has racked up 1.36 million views in four days after dropping Feb. 16. WOLF HOWL HARMONY from EXILE TRIBEs Frozen Butterfly debuts at No. 9. The four-member groups second single hits No. 2 for physical sales with 40,160 CDs sold in its first week, No. 4 for radio and No. 39 for downloads. The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data. See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from Feb. 12 to 18, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japans English Twitter account. Best of Billboard Emma Stone is leaving a blank space the next time she wants to make a joke about Taylor Swift. The Poor Things actor spoke to Variety in a story published Wednesday about jokingly calling her longtime friend an asshole at the Golden Globes back in January. I definitely wont make a joke like that again because I saw headlines that really pulled it out of context, Stone said. Variety said Stone then pointed to herself and added, What a dope. The joke in question came up when a reporter asked Stone about Swifts huge applause for her after she won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy award for her role in Poor Things. What an asshole, am I right? the actor said before sauntering away from the mic as the press room laughed. No, Ive known her for almost 20 years, Stone said, returning to the mic. And I was very happy she was there. And she was also nominated tonight, which was wonderful and, yes, what an asshole. Swift and Stone attend the Montblanc Cocktail Party at Soho House on Feb. 26, 2011, in West Hollywood, California. Swift and Stone attend the Montblanc Cocktail Party at Soho House on Feb. 26, 2011, in West Hollywood, California. Stone said during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show back in December that she and Swift have been friends since they were teenagers. We met at this thing that they had called the Young Hollywood Awards when I was 18 in LA, she said. We just kept in touch ever since and became great friends. When Norton asked Stone if she was the Emma in Swifts song, When Emma Falls in Love, Stone played it coy. Youll have to ask her, she said. Related... Fox News Fox News host Greg Gutfeld seemed particularly aggrieved on Wednesdays episode of The Five, urging his employer to relocate to Florida because Donald Trump lost his bank fraud trial in New York state court last week. Gutfeld began with a full-fledged defense of Trumps activities that earned him a $355 million finenot including interestand a three-year ban from running a New York corporation. He broke no laws, Gutfeld said, echoing the Trump family line. He went on to falsely insist that inflating the value of assets to get favorable loans and then deflating those same assets values for tax purposes cant be fraud because there is no victim. When people bring up Trump, they always say, No one is above the law. Gutfeld continued. Its about being below the law. Trump is below the law, meaning you can punish him for not crossing into illegality, much like the rest of us. Alvin Braggs Case Against Trump Is Stronger Than You Think The former president, Gutfeld added, is 100 percent innocent, and the massive civil fraud judgmentwhich is expected to test Trumps pocket bookis all an act to keep Trump off his game. Thats all this is, he claimed, before citing Trumps latest legal development as the reason his employer should set up shop somewhere else. This is why we all need to move to Florida, Fox! Gutfeld said. Because I never thought that my politics [and] political choices would affect my privacy, my speech and my livelihood What they did to Trump, theyre going to do to you and me. Gutfelds request follows far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones urging truckers to not enter New York City in light of Trumps substantial fine, which he hasnt directly explained how hell pay. 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. Preliminary data from 472 nine-month-old infants confirm favorable safety and tolerability profile and demonstrate significant immunogenicity for the four most common pathogen serotypes Results support further development with LimmaTech expecting to initiate the next clinical trial in 2024 Topline results from the completed Phase I/II will be reported in the first half of 2024 SCHLIEREN, Switzerland, February 22, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LimmaTech Biologics AG announced positive interim data from its Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating Shigella4V (S4V), a tetravalent bioconjugate vaccine candidate against shigellosis, an infectious disease caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigellosis is a serious infection and remains the second leading cause of fatal diarrheal disease, particularly in infants in low- and middle-income countries. In the nine-month-old target population, administration of S4V demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile as well as robust data on immunogenicity against the four most common pathogenic Shigella serotypes, S. flexneri 2a, 3a, 6, and S. sonnei. Topline data from the now completed Phase I/II trial, conducted in Kenya, are expected in the first half of 2024. LimmaTechs S4V vaccine candidate demonstrated initial safety in all age groups evaluated already in the first part of the clinical trial. The current data update from the second part of the clinical trial includes 472 infants (nine months one month) who received two intramuscular injections at one of four different dose levels with or without the addition of an adjuvant. S4V was well tolerated with the majority of local and systemic reactions reported being mild in intensity and similarly distributed between the different groups. No vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. A statistically significant increase in serum IgG levels was obtained after either the first or the second injection, depending on the dose and formulation used. Story continues "These positive interim results with S4V establish the very good immunogenicity that our bioconjugate vaccine candidate can generate in nine-month-old infants, a population that needs it the most," commented Patricia Martin, PhD, Chief Operating Officer of LimmaTech. "Shigellosis is a serious disease caused by a pathogen continuously evolving and becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Our vaccine candidate has the potential to prevent an infection that threatens the lives of many children as well as protect travelers and military personnel traveling to Shigella-endemic countries. We look forward to continuing its clinical development in a study we plan to initiate in 2024." The interim Phase I/II data were previously presented at the BactiVac 4th Annual Network Meeting 2023 held in Birmingham, UK. About the Phase I/II study Conducted in Kenya, the Phase I/II study is a randomized, double-blind, dose-finding, and age-descending clinical trial designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of Shigella4V (S4V). The clinical trial is divided into two parts. The Part 1 age-descending study evaluated the vaccine candidates safety in adults, children (two-five years), and infants. The Part 2 dose-finding study evaluates S4Vs safety and immunogenicity in the nine-month-old target population to identify the preferred vaccine dose. In 2015, LimmaTech signed a research collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop novel, bioconjugate antigen-based vaccines, including a monovalent Shigella vaccine to be developed with the support of the Wellcome Trust. Following positive results from the proof-of-concept clinical trial with the monovalent Shigella vaccine, LimmaTech and GSK initiated the development of a multivalent Shigella vaccine funded in part by a Wellcome Trust grant. In July 2023, LimmaTech announced that it had in-licensed the S4V Shigella bioconjugate vaccine candidate from GSK to lead the further development of the program. About Shigellosis: Shigellosis is a global health threat caused by the Gram-negative Shigella spp. bacteria. It is estimated that about 188 million infections are due to Shigella of which 62.3 million cases occur in children younger than 5 years. Diarrheal infection is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in numerous countries as well as in travelers and deployed military personnel in endemic regions. There are 600,000 deaths attributed to Shigella each year and it is the second leading cause for diarrheal deaths. The standard treatment for shigellosis is oral rehydration and antibiotic therapy, however, the bacteria have acquired resistance to many antibiotics with numerous reports of outbreaks of multidrug-resistant strains, making treatment extremely difficult. Currently, no licensed Shigella vaccine is available. About LimmaTech Biologics LimmaTech Biologics is at the forefront of combating the global antimicrobial resistance epidemic based on its unparalleled track record in vaccine technology and clinical candidate development. The company is leveraging its proprietary self-adjuvanting and multi-antigen vaccine platform alongside additional disease-specific vaccine approaches to prevent increasingly untreatable microbial infections. With decades of expertise and an expanding, robust pipeline, the LimmaTech team is dedicated to generating protective solutions to deliver transformative value worldwide. For more information, please visit www.lmtbio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222411799/en/ Contacts LimmaTech Biologics AG Franz-Werner Haas, CEO E-Mail: media@lmtbio.com For media enquiries Alison Opalko or Alexander Siebert Trophic Communications Phone: +49 1511 0619905 Email: limmatech@trophic.eu The House Hunters franchise is expanding with a new spinoff. HGTV has ordered House Hunters: All Stars, set for premiere on Thursday, March 21. The 12-episode series will feature some of the networks top real estate experts helping prospective buyers find dream properties in their own hometowns. Featured in the series are Galey Alix (Home in a Heartbeat, Fort Lauderdale, Florida); Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas (Bargain Block, Detroit, Michigan); Chelsea and Cole DeBoer (Down Home Fab, Sioux Falls, South Dakota); Heather Rae El Moussa (The Flipping El Moussas, Long Beach, California); Mina Starsiak Hawk (Good Bones, Indianapolis, Indiana); Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt (100 Day Dream Home, Tampa, Florida); Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis (Unsellable Houses, Snohomish, Washington); Rico Leon (Rico to the Rescue, Denver, Colorado); Jasmine Roth (Help! I Wrecked My House, Orange County, California); Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson (Married to Real Estate, Atlanta, Georgia); Page Turner (Fix My Flip, Los Angeles, California); and Veronica Valencia (Revealed, Los Angeles, California). More from Deadline House Hunters is a strong ratings driver that continues to attract more than 36 million viewers each quarter and is a top 10 cable program every night of the week, according to HGTV. House Hunters: All Stars will follow the mothership series format. In the series, each HGTV star will showcase desirable residential options in the city they know best, taking hopeful clients on multiple house tours and offering guidance on which home is a smart investment and match for their wishlist. For the first time ever, House Hunters fans are getting the star treatment, teaming up with their favorite HGTV experts to lead the hunt, said Loren Ruch, Head of Content, HGTV. The series has been a perennial hit for nearly 25 years, and we were inspired to marry the successful format with our incredible lineup of talent in this new iteration of the series. Now we can enjoy all the things we love about House Hunters as the networks stars get buyers into their perfect home. The series will launch with back-to-back episodes at 8 and 8:30 pm ET/PT March 21 on HGTV. In the 8 p.m. premiere, Mina Starsiak Hawk will meet Sienna, an artist looking to purchase an Indianapolis fixer-upper to call home. To give Sienna a fresh start, Indy native Mina, who is passionate about giving new life to older properties, will assess her priorities, including historic character, a backyard and rental income potential, finding three promising options in popular neighborhoods. At 8:30 p.m., Chelsea and Cole DeBoer will help couple Tim and Angie search for a larger home in Sioux Falls that fulfills his need for a home theater and her desire for a cat patio. House Hunters: All Stars is produced by Pie Town Productions. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The former talk show host has been living under a legal guardianship since 2022 and now her family is shedding light on the situation in this week's PEOPLE Lars Niki/Getty Wendy Williams in 2019 Wendy Williams is working to regain control of her future. Since May 2022, the former Wendy Williams Show host, 59, has been living under a legal guardianship that oversees both her finances and health. And for the past 10 months, she's been in an unknown facility to address cognitive issues. Williams' family says her court-appointed legal guardian (whose identity remains private) is the only person who currently has unfettered access to her. They say she can call them, but they cannot call her themselves. "How did she go from this aunt or sister that we love and is healthy one minute to this person whos in and out of the hospital? Williams' sister Wanda Finnie asks in this week's PEOPLE cover story. How is that system better than the system the family could put in place? I don't know. I do know that this system is broken. I hope that at some point, Wendy becomes strong enough where she can speak on her own behalf." Related: Wendy Williams' Family Break Their Silence on Her 'Shocking and Heartbreaking' Struggles Over the Past 3 Years (Exclusive) PEOPLE's Wendy Williams cover story Williams who has struggled with alcoholism and health issues including Graves disease (an autoimmune disorder that can cause bulging eyes), and lymphedema (a condition that causes swelling in her feet) was appointed her legal guardian months after Wells Fargo froze her accounts in 2022. The decision to freeze the accounts was made after Williams' financial adviser at the time alleged that she was of unsound mind, according to Williams court filings. In January 2022, Wells Fargo successfully petitioned a New York court to have Williams placed under a temporary financial guardianship, reportedly because she was at risk of financial exploitation due to cognitive issues. Related: Where Is Wendy Williams? Shocking Doc Reveals Star's Struggles with Money Woes, Health Issues and Alcohol Williams 23-year-old son Kevin Hunter Jr., whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Hunter, came under scrutiny for his spending, but he strongly denies that he exploited her in the upcoming Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams? "Ive never taken [money] without her consent," he says. (Kevin Jr. declined to comment for this story; Wanda says he is still financially supported by his mother.) When the guardian was appointed to Williams in May 2022, her family says they were kept in the dark as to why the court made the decision. The court papers have also been sealed. All I know is that Wendy and her team walked into the courtroom one way, and they walked out, and the family is completely excluded, says Wanda, 65. Lifetime Wendy Williams with her niece Alex in the Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams? A month after the guardian was appointed, Williams was caught on camera passed out at a Louis Vuitton store, drunk. She entered a wellness facility for two months starting in September 2022, but the next March, after she took a trip to L.A., her manager and jeweler Will Selby says in the documentary that she was disheveled and adamant about drinking. "I think the film is a great illustration of what, in this one particular case, life looked like for someone that was under a guardianship," says Where Is Wendy Williams? executive producer Mark Ford. "Just because you're under a guardianship doesn't mean that you're getting 24/7 care, and I think just leaving someone in their apartment isn't care. When we got to know Wendy's family, it was clear to us this was a nice family, and the question remained in our minds: Why is the family not able to be a part of Wendy's life? Why is the family not able to serve as her guardian? I still don't fully have those answers." Related: Wendy Williams Is in a Facility to Treat Cognitive Issues, Doing 'Really Great,' Says Family (Exclusive) While Ford says the documentary crew attempted to get the guardian to speak to them, they were "hung up on every single time" they reached out. "So, we weren't able to really ask the questions that we would've loved to have asked, like, 'What's going on here on a daily basis? And why is there no food in Wendy's apartment, for example?' Simple things that we were able to see just because we were there so often," Ford says. Neither Williams' guardian nor Wells Fargo have responded to PEOPLE's request for comment. BACKGRID Wendy Williams being pushed in a wheelchair in September 2021 Producers stopped filming the documentary in April 2023 after they found Williams in her apartment with her eyes rolled back into her head and worked with Selby to urge the guardian to get Williams help. Ford says, The guardian did come around and was responsive to our pleas ... to get her into a safer place. Right now, the power over when Williams can leave the facility, if at all, remains in her guardians hands. After high-profile cases like Britney Spears, the legal guardian and conservator systems in the U.S. are being reexamined. A New York State Assembly bill was proposed in 2022 to expedite the hearing process when an appeal is filed in a guardianship. (Williams family is not currently contesting her case.) Related: Sherri Shepherd Says She's 'Truly Concerned' for Wendy Williams: 'She's Going Through a Lot' Ford says filmmakers proceeded with the documentary to shed light on Williams situation: We asked ourselves almost every day, Is this helping Wendy or is this hurting her? And in the end we felt like it was helping her. This is about the guardianship system and how it can be improved. For more on Wendy Williams, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday, or subscribe here. Investigative journalist Diane Dimond who released a book about the guardianship system, Were Here to Help: When Guardianship Goes Wrong, in September says an estimated 2 million people are living under the court's control at present. "A guardian can be a family member, it could be your best friend, it could be a perfectly trustworthy commoner, so to speak," Dimond says. "More and more, I have discovered, after investigating this for eight or nine years now, judges are overlooking family members, they're overlooking friends, and they're going immediately to these professional, for-profit appointees, and they're complete strangers to these wards of the court. So within that, the ward of the court loses all their civil rights. They have no more rights to decide anything about their personal life or their financial life." T.JACKSON / BACKGRID Wendy Williams in March 2023 Since guardianship proceedings happen in a court of equity and not in criminal or civil court, Dimond says "there's no due process." "There's no trial, there's no right to present opposing witnesses," she says. "Usually, the judge will just take the petition, rubber stamp it, appoint the guardian or conservator and wash his or her hands of the case." Under the guardianship, "you can no longer decide where you live, you can't spend your money, you can't vote, you can't marry, you can't decide what doctors you're going to see or what friends can come," says Dimond. "You have no rights. Somebody on death row has more rights than a person put under a guardianship. I'm not exaggerating because at least they can hire their own attorney, and they can make phone calls." Related: Wendy Williams Takes Off Wig, Tears Up During Emotional Reunion with Blac Chyna in New Lifetime Doc (Exclusive) Once a person is placed under a guardianship, Dimond says it can be hard to get out of. "I frankly worry that Wendy will never get out of guardianship because when a judge establishes a guardianship, it is most often for life," she says. "If we were a society that really cared about protecting at-risk people, vulnerable people, then tell me why there's so many people sleeping out on the streets in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago? We only seem to care about putting people who've got some money in guardianships, and Wendy Williams has got money." Still, Williams' family remains hopeful for the day they can reunite. "[Wendy's] desire, as I understand it, is to be in Florida with her family," Wanda says. Wendy Williams with her son Kevin Jr. in Florida in 2021 Its hinted at in the documentary that Williams wants to get out of her current situation, as Wanda is shown instructing her over the phone to write down every time her calls go unanswered, presumably to her guardian. During recent phone conversations with Williams, Wanda's daughter Alex, 33, says her aunt has been sounding "really great." "I have not heard my aunt sound this good in years," she says. "To hear my aunt now in terms of just how clear she is, just how focused she is on the importance of family and the reality in terms of facing and understanding where she's at physically and mentally and emotionally, it is like a 180. I'm always just reminding her when I'm on the phone with her that she has a world of people here that love you, are supporting you and want to see you back." 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. Where Is Wendy Williams? premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. and concludes at the same time the next day on Lifetime. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. After the credibility of House Republicans much-hyped FBI informant for their impeachment of President Joe Biden fell to pieces last week, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) dared to claim Wednesday that the person actually wasnt an important part of this investigation. On Newsmax, Comer tried to downplay the significance of Alexander Smirnov, who the Justice Department charged last week for lying to the FBI when he asserted that Biden received a $5 million bribe from a Ukrainian oligarch. According to the DOJ, Smirnov admitted after his arrest that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story about Bidens son, Hunter, and a Ukrainian gas company he worked for. In his appearance Wednesday night, Comer claimed that despite Smirnov being one of the most trusted, highest paid informants with the bureau for over a decade, he wasnt an important part of this investigation because I didnt even know who he was. All I knew was there was a 1023 [form] that alleged bribery. Newsmax host Eric Bolling failed to probe Comer with the type of incisive questioning that CNN reporter Manu Raju had earlier in the day for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), another vocal proponent of Smirnovs disproven allegations. Instead, Comer was allowed to claimwithout any resistancethat its actually Democrats who are playing the Russia card. Thats what Dan Goldman has done, Comer insisted after being shown a clip of the New York Democrat saying on CNN Tuesday that, if House Republicans continue to pursue an impeachment in light of Smirnovs arrest, they are simply doing the work of Vladimir Putin to help Donald Trump win an election in November. Comers comments on Newsmax are notable given the breathless hype that he and some other congressional Republicans gave to Smirnov. House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, in a post on X, responded to Comer with a compilation aired by MSNBC of Comer, Jordan, Sen. Ted Cruz and others talking up the 1023 form, with Comer saying last May that its a very crucial piece of our investigation. He wasn't an important part of this investigation pic.twitter.com/nXhHSfzsqg House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) February 22, 2024 Such comments were unwise, one GOP colleague said on CNN Wednesday. We were warned that the credibility of this statement was not known, and yet my colleagues went out and talked to the public about how this was credible and damning, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) said on The Source. It appears to absolutely be false and really undercuts the nature of the charges. 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. Teen Mom alum Jenelle Evans' family drama with sister Ashleigh is back on again. On February 21, 2024, she made her brief but dramatic return to social media to bash her sibling, and now fans want to know more about Ashleigh and what she's been up to. Who Is Jenelle Evans' Sister Ashleigh Evans? Ashleigh is Jenelle's older sister. She was born on October 16, 1987, in Oak Island, North Carolina. The siblings also have a brother, Colin Evans, and all three share the same parents, Barbara and Robert Evans. Is Ashleigh Evans a Parent? Ashleigh is the mother to three children. Her oldest child, Gabriel Wilson, was born in 2012 during her first marriage, which she left in 2013 due to alleged domestic abuse. She has another son, Atlas Karnauk, who came along in 2015 and whom she shares with her second husband, Lee Karnauk. The former couple divorced in 2016 and were involved in a bitter custody dispute over the boy, who as of 2018 was living with his dad in New Jersey. In a May 2018 Facebook video, Ashleigh and Barbara discussed an update in the case. "My daughter Ash has done nothing wrong but take care of her child, Barbara said, adding, The babys being neglected, and nobody cares. But we will fight this, and fight it until the end. "If we gotta go up there to New Jersey and fight it, well fight it until we cannot fight no more," she added, as Ashleigh had tried to get the case moved to North Carolina. Its unclear what the current custody status is involving Atlas. Ashleigh also reportedly added a daughter to her family, although her name has not been revealed. Was Ashleigh Evans Featured on 'Teen Mom 2'? She appeared sporadically despite her feud with Jenelle. In a 2016 MTV special focused on their mom, titled Being Barbara, Ashleigh went off on her sister's relationship history and how it was affecting her oldest son, Jace. I think that she always has these boyfriends and they really dont stick around for a long time and then its just constant chaos, Ashleigh explained to Barbara. I think that Jace should stay with you at least until hes old enough to make the decision of who he wants to live with. Youve been raising him since hes been a baby and I know Jenelle has tried to be in his life, but shes been given like, what, seven years to get her s--t together?" Jenelle and Barbara eventually came to an agreement in March 2023 for Jace to move in with his mother. During the special, viewers got a glimpse of Atlas, marveling over the toddler's bright red hair. What Has Ashleigh Said About Jenelle? Ashleigh laid low on social media since roughly 2020, except to make a comment about Jenelle to a post by YouTuber @ElleBee in September 2023, which The Ashley's Reality Roundup caught. I try really hard not to comment on these videos about my family. However, I will say that my sister has not changed, she is still the same person she was years ago, Ashleigh wrote. She still neglects her children, has a lot of mental health issues, starts trouble with my mother all the time, doing drugs." Shes only upset because the truth is coming out, she continued. Not by my mother [but] by her own actions and being a neglectful parent. Thats why she got a restraining order. Its most likely going to be dropped." If only everybody seen what goes on behind closed doors everyone would be shocked. My sister is out of control. Unfortunately, she will never change," Ashleigh concluded. Why Did Ashleigh Return to Social Media? Ashleigh made a brief return to social media, but quickly deleted her account after slamming her sister. So tonight, Im coming out of hiding. Its been four years since I havent had social media due to my sister, Ashleigh began in a 7-minute clip originally posted to TikTok in February 2024, which has since been taken down. I am making this video to tell everybody that my sisters nothing but a liar. Shes always been the same. She has not only lied and destroyed my mothers reputation, she has destroyed my reputation and said horrible things about our family over the past 15 years. Ashleigh went on to claim Jenelle doesn't properly care for Jace, saying that her sister doesnt care about anybody but herself and operates on toxicity. 'The World of Tim Burton' exhibit is on tour, currently in Italy Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin Johnny Depp at the World of Tim Burton Exhibit in Italy Johnny Depp got an up-close look at a museum exhibit dedicated to his frequent collaborator Tim Burton. Depp, 60, shared a photo of himself posing at the touring World of Tim Burton exhibit, currently at the National Museum of Cinema at the Mole Antonelliana in Torino, Italy, writing on his Instagram Story, "Thank you for having me." The movie museum shared photos from the recent visit on Instagram and wrote in the caption (roughly translated to English): "Now we can tell you: on the occasion of his short stay in Turin, yesterday we had the honor of hosting Johnny Depp for a private visit to the exhibition." "... Depp immersed himself in the Burtonian imagination and was excited to see, among the treasures on display, the letter in which Tim Burton proposed some modifications to his jokes in the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so much that I want to take a picture and send it to the director, companion of thousands of unforgettable stories." "The great actor could only end his visit at the top of the Mole, aboard our panoramic lift so similar, in his opinion, to Willy Wonka's glass one." Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin Johnny Depp at the World of Tim Burton Exhibit in Italy Related: Johnny Depp Shares Photos with Al Pacino from Set of Their New Movie Modi: 'Incredibly Fulfilling' 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. In addition to 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Depp has worked with director Burton, 65, on several films over the years, starting with 1990's Edward Scissorhands. Some others include Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/GettyImages Tim Burton and Johnny Depp in 2012 When Burton was given the Lumiere lifetime achievement award at the Lumiere Film Festival in 2022, he said of his collaborations with Depp, according to Variety, "I connected with him when I met him for Edward Scissorhands. He was similar to me, kind of suburban white trash. It was not even a verbal understanding." "It was something I could feel," Burton continued at the time. "He liked the characters. He was interested in acting for the art of it, not the business of it. It was exciting to see somebody play different things, the idea of this transformation from film to film always excited me." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "Happy Birthday Robert. You would be so proud of our kids and I know you are always with us," wrote Kris Jenner on her Instagram Story Kim Kardashian/Instagram Robert Kardashian Sr. with his kids Khloe, Kourtney, Kim, and Robert Kardashian Jr. The Kardashian family was full of love and happy memories about patriarch Robert Kardashian Sr. on what would have been his 80th birthday. Robert was born on Feb. 22, 1944, in Los Angeles and died at age 59 on Sept. 30, 2003 nearly two months after he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. On Thursday, Robert's same-named son Rob was among of the loving tributes. The typically social media-shy sock entrepreneur, 36, shared a vintage photo of Robert Sr. with his then-wife Kris Jenner. "Happy Birthday Dad! Thank You for giving me only good memories with you. I miss You every day. I Love You so much ," he captioned the image. Related: Who Was Robert Kardashian Sr.? Everything the Kardashians Have Said About Their Late Father Before that, older Khloe Kardashian shared a birthday post captioned: "I will forever hold space for you. Happy birthday daddy I love you thank you for everything Every memory. Every lesson. Every laugh. Every ounce of love. Thank you!" She set a photo slideshow of Rob Sr. to the viral sound called "Hold Space" which some creators use in sad contexts. "This audio can be viewed as sad or beautiful. I choose beauty. I am not sad anymore," wrote Khloe, 39. "Of course I miss him every single day and wish he were here to meet our babies but Im not sad. In fact, I feel blessed that I was chosen to have 19 years with the most incredible Man I have ever known." Related: Kim Kardashian Snuck Kris Jenner to Robert Kardashian Sr.'s Death Bed Where They 'Professed Their Love' Kim Kardashian echoed the same sentiments while reminiscing about their ski trips. She shared one of the photos from their memorable vacations on Instagram, writing, "I cant ski without thinking of you. Ill always remember the trips and memories you created for us and never ever take those moments for granted. God really blessed us with the most amazing thoughtful, patient, funny, charismatic, loving, and kind dad." The SKIMS founder, 43, ended the post by sharing that her late dad is "the best example of the purest love." Kim Kardashian/Instagram Kim Kardashian wishes Robert Kardashian Sr. a Happy Birthday Related: Kris Jenner Shares Old Video Footage of Robert Kardashian Sr. with Their Kids on His 'Heavenly Birthday' Family matriarch Kris, 68, shared a photo of her ex-husband (to whom she was married to from 1978 to 1991) on her Instagram Story, writing, "Happy Birthday Robert. You would be so proud of our kids and I know you are always with us. We all love you and miss you endlessly." 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. On Wednesday night, Kourtney Kardashian, 44, was the first to offer a tribute to the famed lawyer via Instagram. "What I would give to sing him Happy Birthday and hear one of his funny jokes just one last time," the Lemme founder wrote Wednesday on Instagram. "He had the best sense of humor and made life so much fun, like every car ride, every meal, watching movies (we had a movie date every Wednesday night, and he would show me an old movie each week) he made it all so fun and special," she continued. "Happy Birthday to the best Daddy in the world." The post included photos of Kourtney posing as a child with her dad and many supportive messages in the comment section. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Los Angeles Ethics Commission has unanimously voted to reject the proposed settlement by the city with Les Moonves, the former president and CEO of CBS. The settlement, made public last week, stated that Moonves tried to influence now-retired LAPD Captain Cory Palka amid a sexual assault investigation against the executive. The legal documents noted that Moonves agreed to pay an $11,250 fine on Feb. 5 for violating the citys ethics code. More from The Hollywood Reporter Moonves admits that he violated City law by aiding and abetting the disclosure and misuse of confidential information and by inducing a City official to misuse his position to attempt to create a private advantage for Moonves, the settlement read, which is why they recommend settling this case by approving the stipulated order. However, the Ethics Commission, including all four commissioners, voted down the proposed settlement, 4-0. Its not immediately clear how the case will proceed. The citys ethics law allows for a maximum fine of $15,000 for Moonves ($5,000 per each of the 3 counts). During the same meeting Wednesday, the Ethics Commission unanimously voted down a proposed $2,500 fine for former CBS senior vp talent relations and special events Ian Metrose, who, the settlement stated, admits that he violated City law by aiding and abetting the disclosure and misuse of confidential information. According to the settlement, Palka first made contact with Metrose to discuss the claims against Moonves, and Metrose acted as a go-between on the matter for the LAPD captain and his then-boss Moonves. The rejection of the proposed settlements was based on the egregiousness of the alleged facts, committee president Jeffery J. Daar said in a statement Wednesday night. The Ethics Commission is committed to enforcing the Citys laws. These two cases underscore the need for the City Council to place a measure before the voters to strengthen the Ethics Commissions independence as well as increase the maximum monetary penalties for violations of City ethics laws, which have not been changed in more than 30 years. The settlement found that Palka who was the commanding officer of the Hollywood Division in 2017 personally gave Moonves confidential information about the sexual assault probe after a former employee, Phyllis Golden-Gottlieb, filed a report against him in late 2017. According to the legal documents, Moonves and Palka communicated (often via Metrose) over the phone and text messaging and met at an in-person meeting. These allegations of interference first came to light in a bombshell 2022 New York Attorney Generals settlement with Paramount Global and Moonves. The $30.5 million settlement was announced alongside results of an investigation that found that not only had Moonves been tipped off to the LAPD investigation by Palka, but also that former CBS communications chief Gil Schwartz allegedly sold millions of dollars worth of stock before the sexual assault claims went public. Phyllis children, Cathy Gottlieb Weiss and Jim Gottlieb, shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter following the news of the proposed settlement. We were surprised and disappointed by the size of the fine issued by the Ethics Commission, as it was disproportionate to the damage that was done to the integrity of the inquiry into our mothers police report. Our mother placed her trust in the police department to conduct a fair and thorough investigation and never imagined that a police captain would allow the accused to use his connections in an attempt to derail the investigation. Moonves, who resigned from CBS in 2018 following sexual assault allegations from multiple women, has denied all allegations against him. Metrose exited CBS in March 2023, a few months after the New York Attorney Generals report went public. Updated Feb. 21 at 9:32 p.m. PT: Statement from Daar Updated Feb. 22 at 2:43 p.m. PT: Statement from Phyllis Golden-Gottliebs children Best of The Hollywood Reporter Life, Death, Memory, Fate, Loss Christian Boltanski The artists explorations of emotion wrought by the Holocaust and the horrors of war profoundly resonate today more than ever. by Rochelle Steiner Autel Chases, 1987, Six Framed Black And White Photographs, 28 Tin Boxes, 6 Tin Lamps, Electric Wire Photo: Rebecca Fanuelle Courtesy Fonds De Dotation Christian Boltanski And Marian Goodman Gallery For more than 50 years until his passing in July 2021, artist Christian Boltanski was preoccupied with the most profound and challenging themes, both personal and collective. Life, death, memory, fate, loss, the Holocaust and the atrocities of war are subjects that consistently drove his creative output. It is difficult not to draw parallels between his haunting imagery and conditions today. War, genocide, migration, deportation, the search for asylum and exponential suffering experienced and witnessed across the world are all called to mind by his art. Christian Libert. Boltanski was born in Paris in September 1944, shortly after the city was liberated from Nazi occupation, accounting for his middle name. His own origin story is at the heart of his work. According to the artist and his family lore, during the occupation in France, his parents-to-be staged an argument, giving rise to the belief that his father had abandoned the family. His Roman Catholic mother perpetuated this narrative, while his Jewish father hid under the floorboards of their home. On one of his fathers rare ventures out of hiding, Christian was conceived. The re-telling of this and other accounts as well as a childhood marked by the aftermath of the Holocaust and World War II were catalysts in Boltanskis artistic career. Beginning first in painting and then utilizing photographs and objects to create dramatic sculptural installations, he developed what became his haunting art. Comprising images, found materials, lights and sounds, his work is both disturbing and riveting in equal measure. Abundant are headshots from newspaper obituaries, family albums, postcards, police registries and other picture sources. They are typically manipulated through cropping, shading, enlarging, re-photography and other distortions, resulting in generalized rather than identifiable facial features. A sense of age, gender and time period can often be deduced, but these images are not presented as portraits of individual people. Rather, through artful visual storytelling, Boltanski conveys unknown histories that hover between reality and fiction. Entre-temps (2003) (detail) Installation, Dvd + Polyurethane Courtesy Studio Christian Boltanski And Marian Goodman Gallery He also regularly incorporated mementos, clothing and other personal items into sculptural installations, resulting in remembrances of and memorials to lives lost. In an enormous 2010 installation Personnes at the Grand Palais in Paris (recreated later that year at the Park Avenue Armory in New York as No Mans Land), the artist filled the space with more than 50 tons of used clothing, grouped in rectangular plots across the floor. The space was punctuated by a 25-foot-tall mound of garments piled high, over which a mechanical arm suspended from a crane repeatedly picked up, released and scattered sweaters, pants, jackets, dresses and the like, each item suggestive of a body. Boltanski described the act of selection from the multitudes as a metaphor of chancereferencing fate or the finger of God. In both Paris and New York, the installations were accompanied by soundtracks of thousands of human heartbeats, part of another project by the artist began in 2008 to record and archive heartbeats worldwide. (They are permanently archived in the artists project Les Archives du Coeur at Benesse Art Site Naoshima in Japan, actively added to by visitors.) Most of Boltanskis installations are darkened, with light emanating from bare bulbs or fixtures that suggest surveillance, interrogation or truth-seeking with varying degrees of intensity. At the same time, the haunting light, suggestive of votives on altars or Jewish Yahrzeit candles used to mark the anniversary of ones death, also brings forth religious undertones. Consistently and dramatically, Boltanski mined life and loss to create ghostly, emotional and immersive installations. Unfortunately, and sadly, the insurmountable processes of remembering, grieving, memorializing and marking time at the center of his work are again and now as resonant as ever. Coeur (2005) Installation; Light Bulb, Sound, Electric Cable Edition Of 2. Installation View At The National Museum Of Art, Osaka, Japan Courtesy Fonds De Dotation Christian Boltanski, The National Museum Of Art Osaka And Marian Goodman Gallery Depart -Arrivee, 2015 86 Red Light Bulbs, 99 Blue Light Bulbs, Electric Wire. Photo: Rebecca Fanuele Courtesy Studio Christian Boltanski And Marian Goodman Gallery Personnes (2010) Monumenta (2010) Grand Palais, Paris Photo: Didier Plowy, Courtesy Of The Fonds De Dotation Christian Boltanski And Marian Goodman Gallery The post Life, Death, Memory, Fate, Loss appeared first on TheWrap. The Morehouse College Glee Club and the Spelman College Glee Club perform with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square at their weekly Sunday broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023. The Tabernacle Choir will perform at Morehouse Colleges Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel in September 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News As the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square get ready to perform in the Philippines for the first time, theyve added another region to their multiyear Hope world tour: the southeastern United States. On Feb. 21, the choir announced the third stop of a world tour that so far has taken them to Mexico City and the Philippines. In September, the 360 members of the choir and the 85-piece orchestra will travel to Florida and Georgia for three concerts the choirs first performances in these states in 23 years. Related Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square heads to Florida, Georgia The southeastern U.S. leg of the tour begins Sept. 7 with a performance at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. The stadium, which seats more than 19,000, is the largest indoor arena in Florida, according to a news release shared with the Deseret News. Two days later, the choir and orchestra will perform at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta. This performance marks the latest collaboration between the Tabernacle Choir and Morehouse College. The Rev. Lawrence Carter, dean of Morehouse Colleges Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel, is a longtime fan of the Tabernacle Choir and presented Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize last year. Six months later, the glee clubs from Morehouse College and Spelman College traveled to Salt Lake City to take part in the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast. The Morehouse College Glee Club and the Spelman College Glee Club perform with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square at their weekly Sunday broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News Now, nearly a year after that performance, the Tabernacle Choir will bring its music to Atlanta. When the Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs performed with the Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, the music was unforgettable, the choirs president, Michael O. Leavitt, said in a statement. When these great choir organizations perform together, the result is both beautiful and culturally significant. The third concert will take place at the 16,000-seat State Farm Arena in Atlanta. All three concerts are free to the public, but tickets are required, according to the news release. Guest artists for the concerts and information on ticketing will be announced at a later date. Below are the dates and locations for the choirs three performances in the southeastern U.S.: Sept. 7 Amerant Bank Arena; Sunrise, Florida. Sept. 9 Morehouse Colleges Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel; Atlanta, Georgia. Sept. 11 State Farm Arena; Atlanta, Georgia. More on the Tabernacle Choirs Hope tour The choir is currently in the Philippines performing a series of concerts with guest artists, including Lea Salonga, who is well known as the powerful singing voice behind Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan. Salonga, who is from the Philippines, was a guest artist for the choirs annual Christmas concert in 2022. Related The choir launched its Hope tour last year with performances in Mexico City, as the Deseret News previously reported. Over the next four years, the choir and orchestra plans to travel twice a year to different parts of the world. Our goal is to magnify the choirs impact throughout the world by helping people feel Gods love for his children, Leavitt previously said in a statement. Danny Masterson, who was convicted on rape charges, continues to grab the public's attention over his bizarre prison transfers. The entertainer best known for his time on "That '70s Show" recently settled into his third prison in two months. This move came amid reports claiming his transfers were linked to concerns about his well-being. However, sources with direct knowledge about the situation shared a different narrative. Insiders Say Danny Masterson's Transfers Are Part Of Prison Procedures Following his fall from grace in 2023, Masterson received a 30-year prison sentence that began at the start of the year with his stay at North Kern. At the end of January, he was moved to the Corcoran State Prison, infamously known as one of California's worst prisons. Weeks later, he made headlines for leaving the maximum security prison to a more humane facility: the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. As stated, this shuffling sparked renewed interest in the convicted entertainer as reports claimed his safety was at risk. Despite this viral narrative, sources close to the situation refuted the speculations. They explained that Masterson was in no way threatened or attacked during his stay at the Corcoran State Prison. Instead, his prison transfers are linked to standard procedures. MEGA The insiders told TMZ that Masterson's first detention facility, the North Kern State Prison, serves as a medium security reception center. Here, inmates are processed into the California prison system, so it is a starting point for convicts before they are moved to their permanent prisons. In Masterson's case, he had a primary and secondary prison designation where he would be sent after being processed at North Kern. His primary prison was the California Men's Colony, and the secondary facility was the Corcoran State Prison. Naturally, the 47-year-old would have been transferred to the California Men's Colony after his brief stay at North Kern. However, when it was time to move him, there were no available slots at the facility, and he was placed in his secondary option. It is unclear if Masterson chose his primary and secondary prison destinations or if the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was responsible. Nonetheless, the shuffling followed the regular procedure as he was immediately moved to the California Men's Colony once there was an opening. Inside Danny Masterson's Transfer From The Infamous 'Manson' Prison As stated, Mastersons move from the Corcoran State Prison to the California Men's Colony made headlines, given the differences between the detention facilities. The CSP is famous for housing some of the most dangerous inmates in the state, while the CMC is characterized as a medium to minimum security prison. MEGA The Corcoran State Prison gained its nickname Manson prison because it was once the residence of the infamous cult leader Charles Manson, who served a life sentence for the notorious Tate-LaBianca murders. Compared to the California Men's Colony, Mastersons new home is a dream come true. The "Men at Work" alum is expected to find his new detention facility easier to live in as the CMC has fewer restrictions and rules. The prison also provides academic programs for inmates to acquire vocational and other skills, as well as notable self-help programs. If everything goes as planned, Masterson will spend his 30-year sentence at the California Men's Colony. As stated, he received a heavy punishment after being found guilty of having non-consensual intercourse with his victims between 2001 and 2003. The incidents occurred at the height of his fame on the Fox network sitcom "That '70s Show." One of his victims claimed Masterson drugged the drinks that he gave them when they visited his home in Hollywood and violently assaulted them once they passed out. "When you raped me, you stole from me. Thats what rape is, a theft of the spirit. You are pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison," a victim declared during the emotional trial. Another victim noted that Masterson did not show "an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused." She said, "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." (Bloomberg) -- Follow Bloomberg India on WhatsApp for exclusive content and analysis on what billionaires, businesses and markets are doing. Sign up here. Most Read from Bloomberg A consortium of shipping companies is considering converting two liquefied natural gas tankers into floating storage units to help meet rising demand for the fuel in India, according to two people familiar with the matter. Petronet LNG Ltd. currently uses the units, with a capacity of 138,000 cubic meters each, to import LNG from Qatar, but doesnt plan to renew a lease beyond 2028. The consortium called India LNG Transport Co. could put the vessels to use on Indias east coast after retrofitting them in South Korea, said the people, who asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak with the media. India LNG Transport is a collaboration between state-owned Shipping Corp of India Ltd. and Japan-based Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen KK and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. The companies didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. India, currently the worlds fourth-largest LNG buyer, is investing heavily in import infrastructure to help meet Prime Minister Narendra Modis target for gas to reach 15% of the energy mix by 2030, from less than 7% now. Imports could rise to 150 million tons by 2030, a seven-fold increase from 2023, Petronets Chief Executive Officer Akshay Kumar Singh said in February. (Adds attempts to reach companies for comment in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. If Renate Reinsve hadnt been offered the lead in Joachim Triers 2021 feature The Worst Person in the World, she was planning to quit acting and become a carpenter. After years of frustration with the roles being offered her in Norway, Reinsve had decided to try out Plan B: Learn woodworking and set up a carpentry school for young girls and women. I had just finished renovating my house, Reinsve recalls, and I really loved it, doing things with my hands, making something physical and real. So I thought: Maybe this is what I should be doing. More from The Hollywood Reporter But that call from Trier put Plan A back on the table. The Worst Person in the World, which Reinsve describes as an anti-romantic romantic comedy, premiered in Cannes and was an instant breakout. Reinsves performance as Julie, a funny and flawed, charming, chaotic and profoundly relatable 30-something who tumbles through jobs and relationships, uncertain what she wants, won her the best actress award and launched her international career. In the old line, she spent 10 years to become an overnight success. (Reinsves first film role was a one-line delivery Lets go to the party! in Triers 2011 feature Oslo, August 31st). Just over two years later and Reinsve is the queen of Berlin. The Norwegian actress has been the red carpet darling of the 74th Berlinale, with two films in competition: the sci-fi drama Another End from Italian director Piero Messina, and Aaron Schimbergs A Different Man, a twisted New York-set fable about beauty and identity, which first premiered in Sundance. Critics have been split on both movies but theres been universal praise for Reinsve, whether as the radiant Ingrid in A Different Man, a sort-of love interest for the two male leads (Sebastian Stan as Edward and Adam Pearsons Oswald). Or as Ava in Another End, a woman who takes part in a futuristic treatment designed to ease the trauma of a lost loved one, and hosts the memories of Zoe, the dead wife of Sal (Gael Garcia Bernal). These were my first two English-language movies since Worst Person in the World, says Reinsve, and I was a bit scared. Not because of the language barrier but in trying to understand the culture and the codes of America, where we shot A Different Man and of Italy for Another End. Im just starting and I have to practice, but Im getting used to it and, I think, Im getting better and better at it. Coming up, Reinsve has a trio of Norwegian movies Armand from director Halfdan Ullmann Tndel, Henrik Martin Dahlsbakkens X, and a re-team with Joachim Trier for his next feature, Sentimental Value as well as two more American movies: The horror film, Weapons from Barbarian director Zach Cregger and The Governess from The Last Black Man in San Francisco helmer Joe Talbot. Carpentrys loss has been cinemas gain. Youve had a phenomenal career since Worst Person in the World launched in Cannes three years ago. But has your carpentry been suffering? Unfortunately, yes. Ive had very little time to do woodwork. Its been a lot of acting instead. I still have a house and do some stuff, carrying in the firewood and things and I try and stay grounded. But not much carpentry these days. Whats been the biggest change for you working outside Norway for the first time in your career? I think that the biggest difference is that I get to work with people Ive admired from a distance and now, suddenly, Im meeting them in a work situation, learning and experiencing a way of working outside of Norway. Im always kind of asking myself that question because I dont want things to change too much. You hear stories about how this kind of sudden success can change people and watching yourself from the outside, you can start to believe it, believe those narratives about you. But my career is only part of me. I feel like Im appreciating whats happening right now, and I know its real, but Im also telling myself, its not really real so I can concentrate on my work and then concentrate on my friends at home. Im still living in Oslo. I have the same life I had before The Worst Person in the World. Which is important. Renate Reinsve at the A Different Man premiere in Berlin 2024 Are you finding a big difference in the way of working between Norway and the U.S.? Not really. Its more of a different challenge because both of these movies [A Different Man and Another End] were my first two English-speaking movies. So a lot of my focus went into that and I was a bit scared. Not because of the language barrier but in trying to understand the culture and the codes of America, where we shot A Different Man and of Italy for Another End. Im just starting and I have to practice, but Im getting used to it and, I think, Im getting better and better at it. What are the biggest differences between how people work in films in Norway compared to the U.S. and to Italy? The big difference between Norway and America is, in Norway, there is a very flat structure in work. You have everyone just doing everything together. Of course, everyone has their own tasks but its not so separated or hierarchical. In America, its more separated and more technical and precise, where [the approach] in Norway can be very messy, where you let things happen and its more out of your control. I liked that way of working a lot. But it was interesting to work in a more structured, separated set as well. The other difference is America is just a lot bigger. You have the same things on set but just more of them. And then in Italy, the difference was more cultural. In Norway, if you get in a fight or youre angry with someone you keep it in, and you have this passive-aggressive tone the whole time. But in Italy, they scream at each other, like instantly! Theyre super angry and then its gone. But thats very liberating, actually. I loved being in Italy, I really loved it. Its also very messy. Almost like how they make food. It looks like they are just throwing something together, and you taste it and its the best food ever. These might seem like small things but it makes a big difference because maybe 85 percent of doing a movie is finding out how you are going to work with people, finding what everyone else expects and your own way of working with that. So when you add a different culture on top of that, it makes it even harder. The Another End cast in Berlin. From left: Olivia Williams, Berenice Bejo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Renate Reinsve Do you see a link between these two films? On the surface, they both seem to have something to do with identity. A Different Man is about an aspiring actor (Sebastian Stan) afflicted with neurofibromatosis who is cured, literally given a new face, only to find the change triggers a personal identity crisis. Another End imagines a future where people can have the memories of their dead loved ones implanted in a new person. Your character, Ava/Zoe, seems to be a dual personality, caught between the person she was and the identity of the dead woman whose memories she now carries. I didnt think about that but its a good point. They are a bit similar in their themes and in how they handle things in a weird, atmospheric way. For me, deciding to do the two films more came from a love of these kinds of movies that are very dark and light at the same time, and also ask a lot of questions, but do so in a way that surprises you. Like the films of Charlie Kaufman or David Lynch or Lars von Trier. Films when you read the scripts you think: Am I reading this right? This is so strange, but it resonates. The questions in A Different Man resonated with me, and then I met Aaron and he felt so whimsical and free, but also had a very specific way he wanted to make the movie. After The Worst Person in the World, I was offered a lot of romantic comedies and while I appreciate the genre, I wanted to do work that goes into something deeper, existential, that challenges how we live our lives or our identities. Otherwise, I wouldnt know how to do it, and I wouldnt know how to talk about it afterward. So I ended up doing these two movies because they came to me and these were the scripts that talked to me the most. Do you see a parallel between Eds experience after he has his operation and people start treating him differently, and your own, after the success of Worst Person in the World? You went from being publically anonymous to becoming part of celebrity culture. I dont know. I didnt think about that aspect. But Sebastian has talked a lot about it walking around in New York with that mask on [that simulated neurofibromatosis] and how he could really feel a difference in how people responded to him. Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in A Different Man Do you think your character, Ingrid, goes through an identity crisis similar to that of Ed in the film? Yeah, because my character changes a lot. In the beginning, she kind of a girl next door: Very curious, very open, very kind. Then she begins to start to take Sebastians story and make her her own, becoming obsessed with it, in telling his story. She becomes a little distorted and loses herself a little bit. The empathy gets removed a bit and she becomes borderline sociopathic. She has a sort of subconscious battle between letting herself feel what she feels about Edward shes very interested in him, likes him a lot and they get along so well, I think she falls a little bit in love with him, but wont let herself go. Because shes never seen herself as being with someone like that. So when he disappears, she takes his story and makes it her own. When she sees Oswald [Pearson] for the first time, he fits into her project and is like a second chance. And hes so free and has much self-esteem and confidence, she kind of lets herself be who she is. On a subconscious level, that is what the Edward character should do. Thats probably the core of the story: Celebrate yourself, no matter what. Be confident and be your weirdest self. How was it to act across from Stan and Pearson? With Adam, hes also like a European actor so we had a lot of banter back and forth and we had a lot of text to learn, so we had a different chemistry than between me and Sebastian. But I dont really know how to answer that question because, for me, its more about the situation, about how the character changes than about differences in acting between the two. I really see it from the characters perspective, which is very different between Edward and Oswald. A Different Man director Aaron Schimberg with his actors Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan If A Different Man is a bit of a fairy tale, Another End is high-concept science fiction, with a central technology, that allows people to have the memories of their loved ones transferred to a living person. If such a service existed, would you be tempted? I wouldnt do it. I think in our society now, its so easy to hide behind technology and hide behind everything else, to not be close to someone and not go through your emotions. We already struggle to go through emotions [of grief] because they are so painful. You can see it with the epidemic of painkillers and drugs in America too. Its so easy to not be present in your body, and not feel the pain. But thats the universal struggle and the only way is through. I think Ava [in Another End] is the only person in the movie who chooses to be in her grief, even though its painful and even though she lives a very destructive life. She is in her grief so, for me, shes the most hopeful character in that in that story. How did you approach the role? Youre playing someone with a particular backstory who gets the memories of someone else implanted in her. How did you bring the two characters of Ava and Zoe together in one performance? That, on a meta-level, is what the movie is about. For me as an actor, it was about how to build two characters at the same time, looking at what makes them different. Is it something in their bodies? It it something in their thought patterns or behaviors, in their state of mind? We were testing out different aesthetics for my appearance, but for me, I felt it would be obvious that Avas different thoughts and her different situation would lead her to move her body differently, almost the opposite of Zoe, who represents life and joy. I also loved this, very Italian, dual image of the Madonna and the whore, this very clear pathos in the film. But it was hard to do. And I didnt have much time. I had maybe three weeks. So I had to get it defined very quickly. But it was a lot of fun, going from one to the other, Ava to Zoe, and seeing the difference. Renate Reinsve in Another End What were the differences, physically, in your performance? Zoe has a higher voice and Ava a deeper voice. Ava, who is carrying this grief, has become so heavy, so her eyes are heavy. She smiles less and when she smiles, its in a sad way. Zoe is a lot more alive, shes very happy and hopeful, looking out into her environment for life and experience. In the end, it was a very physical thing. And it had a real impact on me. I had the feeling after every Ava take that I needed a cigarette. After Zoe, I didnt want to smoke. Do you think of yourself as more of an intellectual actor or a physical one, or are the two inseparable from one another? For me first come the thoughts and the analysis: What does this script mean? What does it need? What does the movie need? Then: What links all these scenes together? I do a very thorough analysis of the whole thing, which I love doing, and then it all goes into the body. Little by little, I test things out and see how this or that aspect can be translated into my body, into movements. Until Im like: There she is. I guess it comes from working in theater. Ive actually worked as an actor for 27 years and thats how Ive always done it and Ive never stopped loving the process. Do you write out a diary of your characters, their backstory, that sort of thing? I never write anything. Its all in my head. But its almost written in my head, this analysis in the script, and then I forget everything and I just put it in my body. I studied a lot of Meisner technique when I was young. And then I was taught by a descendant of a teacher of Stanislavski. So I have very much have both techniques to draw on. Renate Reinsve attends the Another End premiere in Berlin. But you dont go full method, staying in character the whole time on set? No, just when the camera is going. Otherwise, its resting in between. You have several projects announced, both Norwegian and international. What will you be doing next? Im doing another film with Joachim Trier [Sentimental Value] that Im really looking forward to, that were going to shoot in the fall. Its hard to know where things are going, because, as an actor, you kind of have to choose from what you get offered, you dont get to create by yourself. I just really hope I can keep working on projects that really mean something, where afterwards you can have good conversations about them, projects that really ask questions. And I hope I can keep working with really great people. Thats my dream. Well see how it goes. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Viewers of Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1 are wondering how many episodes are in the series and when each new episode comes out. It is a reality TV series wherein Geolier, Rose Villain, and Fabri Fibra mentor aspiring artists in Naples, Milan, and Rome. Contestants showcase talent, overcoming challenges like stage fright, guided by judges towards success in the music industry. Heres how many episodes are in Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1 and on what day new episodes come out. How many episodes are in Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1? Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1 has 8 episodes. In this season, Geolier, Rose Villain, and Fabri Fibra offer opportunities to aspiring artists in Naples, Milan, and Rome. As the auditions progress, artists face challenges such as stage fright and pressure. Some artists leave, while others compete in the cypher, demonstrating their talent. Throughout the episodes, the judges provide assistance and guidance to the artists on their journey towards success in the music industry. The cast of Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1 includes Fabrizio Tarducci, Rosa Luini, and Emanuele Palumbo are in the show, each for eight episodes. When do new Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1 episodes come out? New episodes of Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1 typically come out every Friday. The official synopsis for the series reads: In this music competition show, Fabri Fibra, Geolier and Rose Villain hit the streets of Rome, Naples and Milan to find the next Italian rap superstar. Lionsgate has revealed the new Ballerina release date for the Ana de Armas-led John Wick spin-off movie. Per Deadline, the Movies Tyler Treese 8 hours ago GKIDS announced on Wednesday that the 1997 anime sci-fi film The End of Evangelion will be making its way to Movies Anthony Nash 9 hours ago Long live the fighters. After over two years of waiting, its time for audiences to return to Arrakis in Dune: Movies Jonathan Sim 9 hours ago According to Variety, Golden Globe nominee Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs) has signed on to join the Butterfly cast for Prime TV Maggie Dela Paz 10 hours ago The post Rhythm + Flow Italy Season 1: How Many Episodes & When Do New Episodes Come Out? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. The high-profile trial of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed began today, and as predicted given some of the information going around Hollywood after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, the opening statement from the prosecution was largely based around allegations that Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in her dudes and behaved in an unprofessional and sloppy in the lead-up to the shootingwherein a gun held by producer/star Alec Baldwin unexpectedly went off after being loaded with a live round (the origin of which remains unknown). Baldwin is also facing charges related to Hutchins death. This comes from Deadline, which says that prosecutors explained that they will introduce testimony about how Gutierrez-Reed allegedly routinely left guns and ammunition lying around the set unattended and that her gun safe and ammo cart were constantly disorganized. The Deadline story also mentions that Gutierrez-Reed received evidence tampering charges (in addition to existing involuntary manslaughter charges) after refusing to take a plea deal that wouldve required her to give more information about how live ammo got onto the Rust set (in their opening statement, prosecutors said that they will also share evidence that supposedly shows that Gutierrez-Reed brought the live rounds to set when she came to New Mexico from out of state. Gutierrez-Reeds defense, meanwhile, argued that shes being set up as a scapegoat for Hutchins death, noting that, just because there was a tragedy doesnt mean a crime was committed. Echoing a point made by The Hollywood Reporters Rebecca Keegan last week, the defense argued that they are trying to blame it all on Hannah because she is an easy target and was the least powerful person on that set. Rather than Gutierrez-Reed, then, the defense suggests that the blame falls on the producers, namely Baldwin, who really controlled the set and violated some of the most basic gun safety rules you can ever learn for the sake of profit. The defense also noted OSHA reports that pinned the blame on producers and highlighted the stories of crew members leaving Rust because of safety concerns, intending to show that there were problems on the set that could not possibly be blamed solely on Gutierrez-Reed. The trial is expected to continue through early March, with the first witnesses being called this afternoon. Dance royalty will be in town next month when Misty Copeland visits Indianapolis. But the history-making prima ballerina wont be performing during her March 20 appearance at the Madame Walker Legacy Center. Copeland will be The Indianapolis Public Librarys featured speaker at 2024 Marian McFadden Memorial Lecture. Who is Misty Copeland? Misty Copeland made history as the first Black woman promoted to principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Misty Copeland, of the American Ballet Theatre, speaks during a session of the Southern California Ballet Intensive at the Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. See Misty Copeland speak for free Tickets to the lecture are limited, but free to the general public; and available at 5 p.m. on March 1, 2024, at indypl.org/mcfadden. The event will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Madame Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave. Copeland will participate in a book signing after the lecture. Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter: @cherylvjackson. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Where to see American dance royalty in Indianapolis Monica White dated Anthony Robinson months before his Nov. 2021 arrest and accusations that he's a serial killer Cheriss May Monica White Monica White feels lucky to be alive. She was dating a man and saw troubling signs. Months later, that man was arrested and accused of being a serial killer. "I knew something was wrong with him, White, 56, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. Something snapped. It was crazy." In late 2020, White met Anthony Robinson on the dating app, Tagged. Robinson is now known as the alleged "Shopping Cart Killer" and is the suspect in the deaths of at least six women in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., with most of the bodies dumped next to the killers signature calling card a shopping cart. After they met, Robinson started calling White and video chatting every day. I wasn't really thinking romantically. It was just companionship, says White, who'd been divorced for three years and wanted to try out online dating. Robinson told her he had a daughter and worked in waste management removal. At first, she says, "I thought he was normal." In January 2021, Robinson traveled from Harrisonburg, Va., to Mechanicsburg, Penn., to meet White in person, but things felt wrong from the minute she picked him up at the bus station. There were things that went up as red flags at the first visit, she says. He was like, 'Please don't judge me straight off the bat. Let's get to know each other. I don't like when women reject me. So that was a red flag right there. Anthony Robinson Still, she decided to get to know him. But she was unsettled by what she learned. In bed, in particular, he made her very uncomfortable. For more on the case of the alleged "Shopping Cart Killer," subscribe now to PEOPLE, or pick up this week's issue, on newsstands Friday. He tried to tie me up," she alleges. "But I wouldn't let him. I was like, 'I'm not into it.' He pulled my arms behind my back and then grabbed me by my neck. During that first visit, Robinson told White he wanted to move in with her. I told him, No. You're moving too fast, man, White says. Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Harrisonburg chief of police Kelley Warner announces Anthony Robinson's arrest Robinson asked if he could visit again the following month, to celebrate White's 54th birthday. He arrived a week before the party. He bought himself a one-way bus ticket and told her he had good news because he had job offers in the area. Alarmed, she refused to be physically intimate with him again. He peed in my bed on my birthday. I could not believe it, she alleges. I allowed you to sleep in my bed, and you pee in my bed?" Ultimately, White told Robinson she didn't want to be in a relationship with him. Courtesy Smith Family; Courtesy Destiny Livingston; Courtesy Nicadra Brown; Facebook; Harrisburg Police Department; Facebook The alleged victims: Clockwise, from top-left: Tonita Smith, Stephanie Harrison, Cheyenne Brown, Sonya Champ, Allene Redmon, Skye Allen He started snapping," at that point, she says. "I'm like, 'Get your stuff and let's go.' She gave him $20 to get to the train station. White later learned that Robinson did not leave town, but was staying at a motel in nearby Harrisburg, Penn. He propositioned her to come to his motel room. He offered me $500, she says. I refused. I said, 'No way.'" One day, she was driving by the motel and saw him outside. 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. He looked like a totally different man. Something snapped in him. I don't know whether he was doing drugs, and ended up totally flipping out, she says. It was like I seen a ghost, a monster. Months later, after Robinson's Nov. 2021 arrest, White's cousin showed her a news article with Robinson's mugshot and the shocking allegation that he was a serial killer. Cheriss May Monica White Cheriss May Monica White and her family Once I started putting the puzzle together, of course, when the pieces fit, they fit, White says. White doesnt believe that Robinson wanted to kill her, but she worries that her rejection of him might have sparked his rage. I felt like I might've been the reason why he might have snapped, she says. I had actually allowed this man into my home, allowed him to stay overnight in my home. Then to find out later on, you started killing people? Robinson has pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and is currently awaiting trial in a Virginia jail. He has not been charged in the four other womens deaths, which remain under investigation. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Spy Who Loved Me is a 1977 spy film, the tenth in the James Bond series. The plot involves Karl Stromberg, a reclusive megalomaniac who wants to wipe off humanity and establish a new civilization beneath the sea. Bond, under pursuit by Strombergs formidable goons, teams up with a Soviet operative to foil the plans and save humanity. Heres how you can watch and stream The Spy Who Loved Me via streaming services such as HBO Max. Is The Spy Who Loved Me available to watch via streaming? Yes, The Spy Who Loved Me is available to watch via streaming on HBO Max. When a British and a Soviet ballistic missile submarine mysteriously vanished. MI6 agent 007, James Bond, is called in to look into the matter. He eludes an ambush by a group of spies en route to his briefing in Austria. Bond learns that plans for a high-tech submarine tracking system are at stake in Egypt and plans to retrieve the blueprint. Bond along with Anya Asamova traverses Egypt and comes across Jaws, a towering assassin with steel teeth as sharp as knives. They team up to find proof that connects the schemes to reclusive scientists and shipping magnate Stromberg. Stromberg hires two scientists to develop the tracking system and intends to use the submarines to launch nuclear missiles that will destroy the planet, forcing any survivors to live in his dream underwater realm. To stop Stromberg from starting World War III, Bond and Anya need to act swiftly. Produced by Eon Productions, the main cast includes Roger Moore as James Bond, Barbara Bach as Major Anya Amasova, Curd Jurgens as Stromberg, Richard Kiel as Jaws, Caroline Munro as Naomi, Walter Gotell as General Gogol, Geoffrey Keen as Minister of Defence, Bernard Lee as M and Desmond Llewelyn as Q. Watch The Spy Who Loved Me streaming via HBO Max The Spy Who Loved Me is available to watch on HBO Max. HBO Max is a streaming service that provides a diverse selection of television series, movies, and original content. It is owned by Warner Bros. HBO Max offers a plethora of captivating shows across various genres You can watch the movie via Max, formerly known as HBO Max, by following these steps: Go to HBOMax.com/subscribe Click Sign Up Now Choose your plan: $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (with ads) $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year (ad-free) $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year (ultimate ad-free) Enter your personal information and password Select Create Account Max With Ads provides the services streaming library at a Full HD resolution, allowing users to stream on up to two supported devices at once. Max Ad-Free removes the services commercials and allows streaming on two devices at once in Full HD. It also allows for 30 downloads at a time to allow users to watch content offline. On the other hand, Max Ultimate Ad-Free allows users to stream on four devices at once in a 4K Ultra HD resolution and provides Dolby Atmos audio and 100 downloads. The Spy Who Loved Mes synopsis is as follows: Russian and British submarines with nuclear missiles on board both vanish from sight without a trace. England and Russia both blame each other as James Bond tries to solve the riddle of the disappearing ships. But the KGB also has an agent on the case. NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing. Uncut Gems star Julia Fox has joined Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers in sporting horror movie Goat from Jordan Peeles Movies Neil Bolt 51 mins ago The trailer for The Girls on The Bus has been revealed, previewing the upcoming Max drama thats led by Supergirl star Melissa Benoist. The Max TV Abdullah Al-Ghamdi 59 mins ago Lionsgate has revealed the new Ballerina release date for the Ana de Armas-led John Wick spin-off movie. Per Deadline, the Movies Tyler Treese 14 hours ago GKIDS announced on Wednesday that the 1997 anime sci-fi film The End of Evangelion will be making its way to Movies Anthony Nash 15 hours ago Read more The post The Spy Who Loved Me Streaming: Watch & Stream via HBO Max appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. In the front rows at New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion week, celebrities are trying their hand at the sheer trend that has taken over runways in the past year. The sheer, naked trend is nothing new, weve seen endless stars in stunning naked dresses on the red carpet for years now. However, when [] View comments The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home from the 'Summer House' star is open to guests this March, and PEOPLE has all the details Ford Fairchild; @fordfairchild Lindsay Hubbard in her new Nashville rental property, 'Hubb House' Lindsay Hubbard is giving PEOPLE a sneak peek at her newest venture. The Summer House star is opening Hubb House, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, four-story rental property in Nashville, Tennessee, designed for guests looking to get away in style. "It's perfect for a Summer House-type group of friends, just without the cameras," she jokes. "I'm so excited for people to see it." Hubbard, 37, bought the property back in January, just months after ex-fiance Carl Radke called off their engagement. "Turns out 2023 wasnt ALL that bad for me, she wrote on Instagram at the time, captioning a photo of her signing the paperwork. News that Hubbard was entering into this venture came as a surprise to Bravo fans, and to Hubbard herself. "It all happened very fast," she tells PEOPLE. "I still can't believe it." Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House Related: Lindsay Hubbard Picks Up Wedding Dress and Jokes That It's Up for Grabs Months After Ending Engagement She first got the idea when she visited Nashville in October. "I completely fell in love with the city," she says. "And when I learned there were big group vacations here every single week with demographics of people coming, without fail, to celebrate birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, friend trips, family reunions I saw an opportunity to target this built-in income system for rental properties and build a business." From there, Hubbard reached out for advice to a friend of hers at Hallson, a Nashville vacation rental management company. He connected Hubbard with a real estate agent, who linked her to a mortgage lender to help her handle the sale. "I did BravoCon in Vegas from November third to fifth, then came down to Nashville for the CMA Awards on November 8. And the very next day, I looked at three places and chose one. It was like House Hunters, except I was extremely hungover and running on no sleep. I was like, 'I'll take that one!' " Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House The place she picked had plenty of potential, with lots of spaces to sleep guests, a two-car garage, and hangout spots like an open-concept kitchen/living room combo, and roof deck with views of the city. But to get it ready for guests, there was lots of work to be done and quickly too. "We had a very specific quick turnaround time," says Hubbard. "And thank goodness for Somerled Designs, because I definitely couldn't have done it without them." Somerled Designs is an interior and exterior design firm that specializes specifically in short-term rentals. They came to Hubbard via her contact at Hallson. "My rental property manager at Hallson was like, 'Here's a design team that I think is a great fit for you' and they knocked it out of the park," Hubbard says. "Not only did they have such great ideas and create such great spaces, but they were so organized, stuck to the timeline, and really kept the project on track to make sure we reached that goal. With my background in PR, I'm naturally a very organized, deadline-driven person, and they had that exact energy. It was a great working match." Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House Related: Sofia Vergara Shows Off L.A. Home She Designed at a Crossroads in Life Amid Split from Joe Manganiello The spaces Somerled Designs helped create have a blend of Nashville charm mixed with plenty of easter eggs for Summer House fans, including a neon sign of Hubbard's infamous "How many sandwiches have you made for me?" line. There's even a confessional room, for guests to recap their fun (and gossip about their other housemates, 'natch). "I mean, how awesome is that?" says Hubbard. "I don't know any other rental property that has a confessional room, where these groups of people and guests can come home from a night out on Broadway and talk about their feelings and emotions and drama that happened that night. Like, "Oh, Susie met a guy and went home with him. Hopefully we'll see her in the morning,' or whatever the case is. Trust me, I've done my fair share of those they're a blast." Paul Nicol Hubb House's confessional room Natural elements like wood and brick give the space an industrial feel, while textures like velvet and faux fur add depth. Accents of bright-colored, patterned wallpapers and other neon signs (with phrases like "Giddy up" and "Yeehaw") provide a sense of whimsy to the design. "Every room is better than the last," says Hubbard. "You're not going to want to leave." The best part just might be the roof deck, where guest can lounge by a fire pit, enjoy drinks with a view or relax in a hot tub. "That was really important to me, to have a moment up there," she notes. "It really just takes the whole space to that next level." 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. Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House Crafting this all was something that came naturally to Hubbard. "I was a hospitality publicist for the better part of my adult life," Hubbard tells PEOPLE. "Part of that is understanding hospitality how to entertain, going out, restaurants, lounges, bars, clubs, hotels, et cetera. I'm still a party girl, but I like to do a lot more entertaining at home. So having a house that is so inviting and comfortable and cozy and feels like home to people with the inviting aspect, is really important to me." "When it came to the design, I really did work hand-in-hand with Somerled Designs to create an environment, that when these groups of people go out in Nashville and they come home, they feel good and comfortable and at home and want to be there," she adds. "Maybe there's a night that they're like, 'You know what? I really just want to stay here tonight.' And I wanted everyone to just feel at home with that." Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House Related: Christina Hall's Newport Beach Home Features Backyard Spa and a Car Lounge in New Photos (Exclusive) As for the name, Hubb House, that's something extra special for Hubbard. "When I was growing up, my grandparents owned a bed and breakfast in North Carolina called The Hubbard House," the Bravo star says, "And then, when I started my PR firm, I named it Hubb House PR as an homage to my grandparents, but with a little modern update." That term, as Summer House viewers will know, became a nickname for Hubbard on TV. But naming this property Hubb House was less about that callback and more about following in the footsteps of her grandparents. "This is ingrained in my blood," she says. "It started with my grandparents and now I'm part of that legacy." Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House Pulling this all off as fast as Hubbard did is impressive on its own, but even more so when you consider all this came together after her relationship with Radke, 39, ended in late August. "When everything happened six months ago, I pivoted," she explains to PEOPLE. "I thought my future in life was going to go a very different direction for this year. Then, when it didn't, I decided to focus on my own individual successes and what I deem as a personal success in my life. So that has really been my focus." She goes on to trace how her version of success "changed" as the years went on. Related: Lindsay Hubbard Buys First House After Split from Fiance Carl Radke: '2023 Wasnt All That Bad for Me' Paul Nicol; www.paulnicol.com Hubb House "In my early 20s, it was [to] graduate from college and move to New York and start my career in PR. Then, it was like, climb that ladder and work as hard as you can, get all the knowledge and experience you can in the field of PR," she recalls. "Then, my early 30s, it was like, OK, start my own PR firm and then keep it afloat and make it successful in the hardest city that there is to possibly ever own a business in. And have clients and make a name for myself and make money and learn the business side of things. By my mid-30s, I was like, 'OK, well, then my version of success is like now. I'm ready to think about my actual future and settling down.' And that famous line 'Engagement, marriage, babies!' or whatever I said." "But engagement, marriage, babies that's not the only thing I deem as successful for myself," Hubbard says. "I am a very hardworking, strong-willed and strong-minded girl. ... I want to own a home. I want to start a business. I want to focus on my financial future and success." Adds Hubbard: "My individual financial success is what I deem as success right now. I always feel stronger when I'm on my own two feet, and I'm not having to think about picking someone else up." Ford Fairchild; @fordfairchild Lindsay Hubbard in her Nashville 'Hubb House' As for a future in Nashville herself, Hubbard isn't ruling it out. "I love it here," she says. "It's a great, great city and I have a lot of friends who are here. You know, it was always very hard for me to answer questions like, 'Would you ever move out of New York? Where would you go?' But Nashville is now my answer. Nashville is the only city I would ever go to if I ever left New York. And I certainly have a lot more space here in Nashville than I do in New York..." "What can I say Nashville looks good on me." Summer House premieres Thursday (9 p.m. ET) on Bravo. All episodes can be streamed on Peacock. To learn more about Hubb House, visit hubbhousenashville.com. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Amid news of Gisele Bundchen's budding romance with her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valente, sources close to her ex-husband, Tom Brady, have come out to slam claims regarding their dating timeline. Brady allegedly disagrees with reports suggesting that Bundchen and Valente only started dating in June 2023, after her divorce from the NFL legend. Gisele Bundchen & Joaquim Valente's Dating Timeline Called Into Question MEGA Following reports of Bundchen and Valente kissing on Valentine's Day, a source close to the supermodel confirmed to People Magazine that they are actually in a relationship but are "taking it slowly." "They have been dating since June. They're taking it slow. They started out as great friends first. She's very private about this and wanted to keep it quiet while they got to know each other," the insider told the news outlet. However, sources close to Brady disagreed with the report, claiming that the pair had been romantically involved way before June. "They should add 2021 after June. Then the headline would be accurate," a source said. Another source said, "When they announced divorce in October 2022, Gisele fled to Costa Rica for 2 months. Joaquim flew there with her for 2 months. She takes her jiu-jitsu training seriously..." Despite the conflicting reports on the relationship timeline, both Brady and Bundchen have moved on from each other and have been co-parenting their kids amicably. Bundchen has known Valente for years as he has helped give her kids and herself jiu-jitsu lessons. Before their romance was confirmed, they were photographed at various locations in Costa Rica and, at one time, were seen enjoying a horseback ride together. On the other hand, Brady is in an on-and-off relationship with supermodel Irina Shayk. Gisele Bundchen Previously Shut Down Rumors Of A Romance With Joaquim Valente MEGA Before the recent confirmation, Bundchen claimed in an interview with Vanity Fair that there was nothing going on between her and Valente. The mother of two told the publication at the time: "I think, at this point, unfortunately, because I'm divorced, I'm sure that they're going to try to attach me to anything." Bundchen praised the jiu-jitsu instructor and his brothers Pedro and Gui, who co-manage the Valente Brothers Jiu-Jitsu studio, and highlighted how much he helped train her kids. She said: "I'm so grateful to know all of them because not only have they helped me and helped my kids, but they have become great friends, and Joaquim especially." "He's our teacher and, most importantly, he's a person that I admire and that I trust. It's so good to have that kind of energy, to have my kids around that type of energy," Bundchen added. How The Supermodel Feels About Tom Brady & Irina Shayk's Romance MEGA After news of Brady and Shayk's relationship made headlines, reports claimed that Bundchen was initially "upset" due to the unforgettable memories she had with her ex-husband before their 13-year marriage came to an end. "The emotions from that, especially after sharing children, were as emotional as it gets," a source told the Daily Mail. However, Bundchen only wishes for Brady to find happiness, even if it entails being with another person. "She knew she couldn't hold on to something that was never going to return, she knew this day would come, and she honestly would love nothing more than for Tom to be happy," added the insider. They also noted that Brady kept Bundchen in the loop about his romance with Shayk, stating that they are still in contact due to their co-parenting obligations. "Tom is not stupid either, he made sure that Gisele was in the know, and they still have that communication as co-parents," the insider said, adding that she is "in a good place with it all and is hoping for the best." A source also spoke with TMZ about the supermodel's feelings, stating, "Why wouldn't she be happy for Tom? She divorced him. It is helpful to her freedom that he moved on." If youre wondering how to catch The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 Episode 9, your search ends here. Weve got all the streaming details for you. The Undead Unwanted Adventurer series, produced by Connect, draws inspiration from a Japanese light novel series written by Yu Okano and illustrated by Japan. The series, centered on Rentt Faina, unfolds a unique narrative as he spends a decade hunting monsters. Heres where you will be able to watch The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 Episode 9. Is The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 Episode 9 streaming online? Yes, you will be able to watch and stream The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 Episode 9 on Crunchyroll. The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 boasts a stellar cast of voice actors, contributing to the immersive storytelling of the anime. The main cast includes Ryota Suzuki as Rentt Faina, Ikumi Hasegawa as Sheila Ibarss, Mikako Komatsu as Lorraine Vivie, and Sayumi Suzushiro as Rina Rupaage. How to watch The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 Episode 9 and stream online The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 is available to watch via Crunchyroll. However, you will be able to watch its episodes by signing up. Crunchyroll is a widely popular streaming service known for its focus on anime distribution and licensing, along with a diverse selection of films and television series. The platform provides fans with three subscription tiers, catering to different preferences and viewing needs. These subscription options offer users a range of features and benefits based on their chosen plan. The Fan Plan costs $7.99 monthly, the Mega Plan costs $9.99, and the Ultimate Fan Plan costs $14.99. All three plans come with a 14-day free trial at the start. The official synopsis for The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 is: Rentt Faina has hunted monsters for the last 10 years. Sadly, hes not great at his job and is stuck hunting slime and goblins for a few coins each day. His luck turns when he finds an undiscovered path. At the paths end, he meets his demise in the maw of a legendary dragon. But he wakes up as an undead bag of bones! He sets out to achieve existential evolution and rejoin the land of the living. 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 5 days 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 5 days 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 5 days 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 5 days ago The post The Undead Unwanted Adventurer Season 1 Episode 9 Streaming: How to Watch & Stream Online appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken a firm stance in the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump and his company, signaling a readiness to seize Trumps properties should he fail to pay a nearly $355 million fine. This development follows Judge Arthur Engorons ruling, which found Trump and his co-defendants liable for fraudulently inflating the value of assets, making Trump personally responsible for $354.9 million of the amount, plus interest. The total fine, with interest, reached $453.5 million as of Friday, with the amount accruing at a 9% annual rate. In an interview with ABC News, James emphasized the severity of the fraud, saying, Financial frauds are not victimless crimes. Trump engaged in this massive amount of fraud. It wasnt just a simple mistake, a slight oversight the variations are wildly exaggerated, and the extent of the fraud was staggering. She highlighted the discrepancy in treatment between average New Yorkers and high-profile figures, arguing that the same legal standards should apply to former presidents. "We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and, yes, I look at 40 Wall St. each and every day," James said during the interview. According to Forbes, Trump's net worth was $2.6 billion in September 2023. However, his ability to pay the sum has been called into question, with his cash and liquid assets estimated at $426 million insufficient to cover both the fraud fine and an additional $83.3 million owed in a separate defamation case. The ruling also restricts Trump from obtaining loans from New York-registered financial institutions for three years, potentially complicating his payment options. There is speculation that Trump might seek support from wealthy financiers, raising concerns about potential obligations to these individuals. Elena Cardone, married to real estate mogul Grant Cardone, launched a GoFundMe for Trump that has amassed over $500,000. The campaign drew criticism from several social media users, who argued it violated GoFundMes policies and supported their claims with screenshots of the platforms terms of service. Addressing these concerns, GoFundMe Director of Public Affairs Jalen Drummond told Newsweek that the fundraiser complies with its terms of service. Story continues James filed the lawsuit in 2022, accusing Trump, his sons and his company of over 200 instances of asset value misrepresentation to secure favorable business deals and inflate Trumps net worth. Trump and his co-defendants have denied any wrongdoing, attributing discrepancies to the subjective nature of real estate valuations. Engorons ruling was clear, finding overwhelming evidence of intentional fraud and imposing additional penalties, including barring Trump and his sons from running any New York companies for specified periods and requiring oversight of The Trump Organizations activities by an independent monitor and director of compliance. Don't Miss: Miami is expected to take New York's place as the U.S. Financial Capital. Here's how you can invest in the city with as little as $500 before that happens. Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. Passive income investments are one of the most trusted methods for riding out a recession, so it's no surprise that people are turning to this multifamily portfolio fund that's targeting an 8% cash yield. Photo: State Attorney General Letitia James seen during public safety announcement to prevent gun violence at City Hall in New York on July 31, 2023 Send To MSN: Send to MSN "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article 'I Look At 40 Wall St. Each And Every Day' New York Attorney General Letitia James Says She'll Seize Trump's Real Estate To Collect The $355 Million Fine Plus Interest Owed For The 'Massive Amount Of Fraud' Committed originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Zendaya attends the London premiere of Dune: Part Two (center). The rest of her looks across Europe, Asia and the Americas are equally jaw-dropping. (Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media/Getty Images, Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images, Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) While fans eagerly await the U.S. premiere of Dune: Part Two on March 1, the cast is stealing the spotlight with a fashion-filled press tour across the globe. Standing out among the pack of A-listers who star in the film, including Timothee Chalamet, Austin Butler and Florence Pugh, is Zendaya, whose bold red carpet outfits continue to make headlines as she steps out for the films premieres across Europe, Asia and the Americas. A sequel to the 2021 film Dune, which is an adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, Dune: Part Two is the second installment in director Denis Villeneuves franchise. As mystical as the sands of Arrakis, where the film is set, Zendaya, 27, is turning every red carpet into her personal catwalk. See her best looks. Mexico City: Torisheju In Mexico City on Feb. 5, Zendaya wore a stunning ensemble custom designed by London-based brand Torisheju. She was styled by Law Roach. Zendaya wears Torisheju in Mexico City. (Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media/Getty Images) Mexico City: Bottega Veneta For her second look in Mexico City on Feb. 6, Zendaya wore head-to-toe chocolate brown in a daring custom Bottega Veneta cropped turtleneck and matching skirt. The actress wears Bottega Veneta at the Dune: Part Two premiere in Mexico City. (Medios y Media/Getty Images) Paris: Alaia In Paris on Feb. 12, Zendaya wore a dress by designer Alaia called La Robe Spirale. The singular piece winds around the body and recently debuted on the brands catwalk as part of its Summer/Fall 2024 collection by Pieter Mulier. Zendaya wears a new design by Alaia, pulled straight from the catwalk where it debuted in January. (Marc Piasecki/Getty Images) Paris: Louis Vuitton Zendayas second Paris look was a custom rose-embroidered dress designed by Louis Vuitton, with a hooded top and voluminous skirt. She accessorized the look with Bulgari jewels. Zendaya stuns in a Louis Vuitton ensemble in Paris. (Marc Piasecki/WireImage ) London: Roksanda In London on Feb. 14, Zendaya went topless under a three-piece eggplant suit by Roksanda that featured a structured blazer, matching pants and a skirt overlay. She topped it off with Bulgari jewelry and a long braided ponytail. The actress wears a Roksanda three-piece suit in London. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures) London: Thierry Mugler Can we talk about Zendayas epic chrome bodysuit? On Feb. 15, the actress wore the jaw-dropping look at Dune: Part Two's world premiere in London. The suit is from the Fall/Winter 1995 Mugler Couture collection, originally worn by model Jo Krasevich. It was the first time the suit had been worn on the red carpet, according to the brands Instagram account. Zendaya in Londons Leicester Square for the world premiere of Dune: Part Two. (Samir Hussein/WireImage) London: Thierry Mugler For her third look in London, Zendaya changed from her robot aesthetic to a Mugler black floor-length gown, highlighted by its one-shoulder detail. Zendaya wears another Mugler piece in London. (Samir Hussein/WireImage) Seoul, South Korea: Juun.J Zendaya got matchy-matchy with her Dune: Part Two co-star Timothee Chalamet. The pair wore jumpsuits from Korean designer Juun.J, with Zendaya opting for a peach-colored version while her leading man wore gray. Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet in Juun.J jumpsuits at the press conference for Dune: Part Two in Seoul, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) Seoul: Givenchy In Seoul for the films South Korean premiere on Feb. 21, the actress wore a vintage wool two-piece Givenchy skirt suit from the brands Fall/Winter 1999 collection, which imagined women as robots, according to Entertainment Tonight. The ensemble came to life with a red laser-cut electric circuit pattern. Zendaya in a vintage Givenchy skirt suit in Seoul, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) Dune: Part Two premieres in theaters March 1. A Missouri couple married in an impromptu wedding at a hospital last week, hours before they welcomed a baby boy on Valentine's Day. Sara and Brandon Perry were originally supposed to say "I do" on Feb. 16, but their plans were sidetracked just a couple of days before the big day. Sara Perry, a police officer, was 35 weeks pregnant at the time and she told "Good Morning America" that on Feb. 13, she woke up and realized her water had broken. "We were like, 'OK, I guess we're not going to make it to Friday,' so we went to the hospital," the 39-year-old said. MORE: Kindergarten teacher gets married in front of her students Sara Perry was admitted to Saint Luke's East Hospital in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and while there, she mentioned to hospital staff that she and her then-fiance were likely going to miss their wedding. "One of the nurses was talking to another nurse from down the hall, and I guess her patients were in there also getting ready to have a child and the husband is an ordained minister," Perry explained. "And he's like, 'Well, hey, I could do it before I have my baby.' And so their nurse came back and told our nurse [and] our nurse came in and told us. She was like, 'I know this sounds crazy. But if you'd like, we can have an ordained minister that's having a baby down the hall come and marry you two.'" The Perrys said they were immediately on board with the idea, especially since they had already secured their marriage license the day before and had it in their truck. "It's what we both wanted so there's no reason to delay it," Brandon Perry said. PHOTO: Sara and Brandon Perry married on Feb. 13 at Saint Lukes East Hospital, where Sara had been admitted after her water broke at 35 weeks. (Courtesy of Saint Lukes East Hospital) Their wedding festivities, complete with a bouquet toss, unfolded quickly -- within about 30 minutes -- since Sara Perry was already in labor and was having contractions at the time. PHOTO: Sara Perry wore a wedding gown and veil fashioned from hospital linen and even had a bouquet toss with hospital nurses participating in the tradition. (Courtesy of Saint Lukes East Hospital) "While we were trying to get everything ready and I was trying to fix my hair, the nurses had made up a veil out of gauze. And then they got a bouquet of flowers together and they'd wrap that with gauze and I made a toga white dress out of a sheet that was on my hospital bed," Sara Perry recalled, adding that it was "all fun." PHOTO: The staff at Saint Lukes East Hospital helped celebrate the couple with Just Married decorations at their room and a wedding cake from the hospital cafeteria. (Courtesy of Saint Lukes East Hospital) PHOTO: The Perrys had planned on marrying on Feb. 16 but moved their wedding date to Feb. 13 ahead of their babys arrival on Feb. 14. (Courtesy of Saint Lukes East Hospital) PHOTO: Sara and Brandon Perry married hours before welcoming their baby boy Oliver on Feb. 14. (Courtesy of Saint Lukes East Hospital) PHOTO: Two Saint Lukes East Hospital nurses served as the Perrys witnesses and signed their marriage license. (Courtesy of Saint Lukes East Hospital) MORE: Groom battling cancer gets married in hospital About nine hours after their wedding, the Perrys said hello to their newborn, a boy named Oliver, who was born at 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 14. He is the first child for the couple and the second for Sara Perry, who is also a mom to a 5-year-old son named Sebastian. PHOTO: Sara and Brandon Perry married hours before welcoming their baby boy Oliver on Feb. 14, 2024. (ABC News) Now 8 days old, Oliver had to spend his first week in the neonatal intensive care unit, but is now healthy and was discharged Thursday morning. "He's officially the sweetest valentine I've ever received and we'll get to celebrate that for years to come, which is wonderful," Sara Perry said. The Perrys said they still plan on having a destination wedding, either in Mexico or in a Caribbean country later this year. Couple marries at hospital hours before welcoming baby originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com After a missile struck her home in Khartoum, Sudan, last April, Dallia Mohamed Abdelmoniem said she was forced to flee and has not been back since. "I literally packed for a week thinking I'll come back, you know, we'll be coming back home," Abdelmoniem, a journalist-turned-activist who is currently based in Egypt, told ABC News. She added, "I have no idea if my house is still standing or not." Her century-deep roots in Sudan were ripped from the ground last year during the outbreak of the civil war, she said, scattering her family across the globe. "We have no family in Sudan anymore," Abdelmoniem said. A humanitarian "perfect storm" is brewing in Sudan as hunger looms, health systems collapse and millions are displaced, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned last week in a briefing. Just over 10 months since the start of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary group (RSF), aid organizations say Sudan is being plunged into a "humanitarian crisis of epic proportions." PHOTO: Sudanese refugees and ethnic South Sudanese who have fled the war in Sudan carry their belongings while boarding a boat at the shores of the White Nile River in the Port of Renk on Feb. 14, 2024. (Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images) "Sudan is now one of the largest displacement crises globally, with nearly 8 million people displaced due to the ongoing conflict," Peter Graaf, the WHO's representative to Sudan, said in last week's briefing. "About 25 million people in Sudan need humanitarian assistance, 18 million of whom are facing acute hunger 5 million at emergency levels of hunger." The conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary group (RSF) and the Sudanese Army (SAF) after weeks of tensions linked to a plan for returning the country to civilian rule after the dissolution of Sudan's government, has killed at least 12,000 people according to the U.N. Local groups, however, say the true toll is likely much higher. Speaking to ABC News over the phone, Dr. Arif Noor, Save the Children's country director for Sudan, says the impact of the war on Sudan has been "devastating." Noor said, "Almost 50 percent if not more of the nation is witnessing active conflict. There have been indiscriminate attacks on hospitals, schools, and public services, irregular water and electricity access, and large-scale internet blackouts." PHOTO: Sudanese refugees who have fled from the war in Sudan get off a truck loaded with families arriving at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, on Feb. 13, 2024. (Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images) Niemat Amhadi, a Sudanese activist based in Washington, D.C., told ABC News during she did not speak to her family in Sudan for six months during the country's first communicate blockade. Since the conflict broke out, the two warring factions have utilized internet shutdowns to block communication in areas controlled by the opposing side, activists say. A major communication blockade has currently been in place for the past two weeks, sources told ABC News. Ahmadi, who survived the early-2000s Darfuri genocide, said the current conflict in comparison "is the worst in our lifetime," citing not only these communication blockades, but also aid blockades. Ahmadi told ABC News that "both sides are using humanitarian aid as a tool also to control people's survival," by preventing necessary aid from reaching those it is intended for. "The health system is on the brink of collapse if not already collapsed in some areas," added Noor. "And women and children especially are facing the brunt." The outbreak of the conflict has led to the displacement of nearly 3 million children, in addition to 2 million displaced in previous crises in Sudan, leading to the 'world's largest internal displacement crisis for children,' UNICEF said. While the needs of the ravaged nation continue to mount and organizations persist in sounding alarms calling to address them, funding for the crisis is not adequately flowing, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said in a February press briefing. "Despite the magnitude of needs, last year, the funding UNICEF sought for nearly three-quarters of children was not forthcoming," Elder stated. PHOTO: Sudanese refugees who have fled from the war in Sudan line up during a cash assistance program at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, on Feb. 15, 2024. (Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images) UNICEF has been appealing for $840 million to provide multi-intervention humanitarian assistance to Sudanese families since last year. Abdelmoniem also lamented the lack of funding. "It's not even a trickle, I wouldn't even call it a trickle. It's bread crumbs. I don't know what it is, but no, there's no money coming in whatsoever," she told ABC News. Elder, in his briefing, also urged the public to consider the generational repercussions of the crisis. "The true cost of war isn't just measured in casualties but also in the loss of intellectual capital, and this war risks condemning Sudan to a future bereft of learning, innovation, progress, and hope," he advised. MORE: Nearly 8 million displaced by war in Sudan: UN Abdelmoniem agreed, telling ABC News, "A lot of the youth, those who are under the age of 30, in their life they've seen nothing but war and destruction. How can you guarantee for them that, you know what, there's a future here?" The Sudanese Armed Forces last week announced it had regained control of the city of Omdurman from the Rapid Support Forces following intense fighting in its first major advance since the onset of the war. But fighting between the RSF and SAF continues, with clashes between the two sides in Sudan's capital Khartoum, West, North and Central Darfur, Kordofan as well as Sudan's breadbasket state, Al Jazirah. As the war approaches its one-year anniversary, Noor tells ABC the nation is in "dire need for peace" as the State Department calls on parties to abide by their responsibility to protect civilians and humanitarian staff. In a statement, a State Department spokesperson told ABC News: "We urge SAF General Burhan and RSF General Hemedti to hold those responsible for attacks on civilians to account, and to abide by their IGAD summit commitments of an unconditional ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting between them." The spokesperson added, "All parties to the conflict have a responsibility to protect civilians and humanitarian staff, who are risking their lives to help people in need. Any interference or theft of humanitarian goods is unacceptable and keeps lifesaving aid from reaching those that need it most." Sudan faces 'perfect storm' as civil war sparks humanitarian crisis, aid groups warn originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Voters in South Carolina are getting ready to weigh in on Saturday's Republican presidential primary: a matchup between former President Donald Trump and former Gov. Nikki Haley. With Haley significantly trailing Trump in the polls, ABC News asked her supporters over the past three weeks why they're still pulling for her despite her being so far behind. After his wins in previous primaries, Trump is expected to beat Haley handily in her home state of South Carolina with 538's polling average showing Haley trails Trump by 30 points. But Haley says she isn't deterred. Earlier this week, she vowed to stay in the race for South Carolina and beyond, saying she feels "no need to kiss the ring." MORE: 'I feel no need to kiss the ring' of Trump, Haley says as she refuses to drop out Voter Ed Kosinski said it will be challenging for Haley, despite being the state's two-term governor, to win in the state. "I think it's going to be tough. Yeah, it's tough to dethrone the king. And that's what [Trump] wants to be," said Kosinski -- who moved to Kiawah, South Carolina, a year ago from Connecticut. PHOTO: Donald Trump and Nikki Haley (Getty Images) "I think she can do it and I think we can't give up that right. She's got to do it. The prospect of four years of Trump or Biden is really scary." Kosinski said Haley is what America needs right now. "America really needs a thoughtful, strong leader. And we've reached this critical time, I think, for the United States. We've got to have someone that we have confidence in. That's going to lead us where we need to go. Nikki's got that." Haley has sharply ramped up her criticism of Trump, recently calling the former president "unhinged" and "more diminished." On Tuesday, she said politicians know Trump is a "disaster." MORE: As Haley vows to fight on, Trump's team says he's weeks away from clinching Republican nomination She has also turned up the heat on her campaign ads -- attacking Trump for his past comments mocking military veterans. More recently, the two have sparred over Trump's mocking jabs at Haley's husband, who is serving a one-year deployment in Africa with the South Carolina National Guard. Trump implied during a campaign event in South Carolina, earlier this month that Haley's husband is in Africa to get away. Haley said his comments "cut deep" for military families who sacrifice for the United States. Several voters who spoke with ABC News said they supported Haley and hope she stays in the race to prevail over Trump -- and eventually Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. PHOTO: Republican Presidential hopeful and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event, Feb. 21, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (Julia Nikhinson/AFP via Getty Images) "Whenever elections come around, people always say that they have to choose between two different [candidates] and which one is the less evil. But in this election, I don't really think there is an evil when you look at Nikki Haley versus the other two evils," said 21-year-old independent Lilli Taylor. Several people who voted for Trump in 2020, are considering changing their votes this time around, hoping Haley can win. Rebecca Jones said she has soured on Trump and is "very impressed" with Haley. MORE: Nikki Haley's plan to fight Trump for the Republican nomination? Win over non-Republicans PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley greets supporters during a campaign visit at Clemson University, Feb. 20, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (Alyssa Pointer/Reuters) "I did like the way he did things in the beginning, but I think what happened is I think he kind of turned, and now it's all about him. It's not about us. It's all about him. If we don't think the way he does, it's not good, and I don't like that," Jones said. Pat Sanders, a Republican who voted for Trump in the last election, said he thinks Haley can win in the South Carolina primary. He said Trump's behavior, attitude and comments led him to consider Haley, who he said had "wonderful ideas" as the state's governor. "I like what Nikki has to say," Sanders said. " I was on the cusp." Haley, who has attacked both Trump and Biden over their age, brings some much-needed youth to the race, Kosinski said. "I'm in my 70s and I can tell you, I'm too old to be president. And I'm younger than both [Biden and Trump]. So, it's time for them to move aside. Let's get some youth in line," he said. "I love the idea that we have a woman as a candidate for president, a thoughtful, strong woman. I think it's great for America." ABC News' Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report. 'I think she can do it': Why some South Carolina voters are sticking with Haley despite polls originally appeared on abcnews.go.com February is what Id not-so-scientifically describe to be a blobby month. By that I mean, it hints at spring, if youre lucky, and then quickly scorns you with a few cold, wet days just when you think you can flirt with the less wooly corner of your wardrobe. Each year of college, some friends and I used to celebrate making it through the Blobbiest Month with a party on February 28. My bedtime these days is earlier now, so I go ahead and keep up the tradition in my own way by loading up on Trader Joes groceries (I swear, Im really fun!). Thankfully, TJs got the memo this month. The shelves are stocked with new snacks, toiletries, and pantry items that will bring the party to the kitchen again. Even if youre looking for a reliable weeknight dinner shortcut or a treat to make Tuesday a bit brighter, I think youll agree that all of these will make you feel like spring isnt too far away (and perhaps scare a shadow-sighting out of Punxsutawney Phil). Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson undefined Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson undefinedundefined Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson undefined Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson undefinedundefined Which new Trader Joes items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below. This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: 6 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joes Groceries That Just Hit Stores, According to a Former Employee Salsa macha loosely translates to "brave sauce" and is made from dried chile peppers suspended in oil. Some varieties also contain peanuts, garlic, and dried fruit. If you're feeling brave and want to try a new salsa, this might be the one for you. This spicy, oily alternative to traditional tomato-based salsa hails from the state of Veracruz on Mexico's east coast. Salsa macha is a proud celebration of the chile pepper, which has been a vital component of Mexico's culinary landscape for thousands of years. The salsa hasn't been around nearly as long as the pepper and is still making its way into mainstream American grocery stores. Considering its rising popularity, we wanted to get a taste for ourselves and see what all the buzz is about. While some are sweet and mild, other salsas are nutty, savory, and diabolically spicy. We researched the salsa macha market and rounded up several jars that represent what's available in stores and tasted each one alongside a hot, fresh batch of homemade tortillas. We paid particular attention to texture and flavor to give you a sense of what to look for when you go shopping for a great salsa macha. Read more: 12 Different Ways To Cook Chicken 9. Sauce Up Pineapple And Mango Salsa Macha Sauce Up salsa macha - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table The fact that Sauce Up's pineapple and mango jarred salsa macha is at the bottom of our list indicates the generally high quality of the salsa machas on the market. Although we ranked this salsa low, it wasn't so bad. Texture-wise, Sauce Up hit it out of the park. Chewy chunks of dried pineapple and mango balanced out the light crunch of dried chiles, and the sauce wasn't bogged down by too much extra oil. Sauce Up's salsa macha was among the sweetest salsas on the list, with a sugar content that, on top of the dried fruit, detracted from the overall experience of the sauce. This brings us to our next issue: the pineapple and mango. We were expecting the fruit to bring a discernible tropical flavor to the salsa, but when we bit into a chunk of dried fruit, it was difficult to tell whether it was pineapple or mango because some of the other ingredients eclipsed it. Sauce Up's ingredient list was also longer than many of the other salsas that made the ranking, and we felt like some of the components, like ginger and cumin, unnecessarily complicated the flavor profile. 8. Don Chilio Habanero Salsa Macha Don Chilio habanero salsa macha - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table We wanted to include a range of sweet, fruity, nutty, and, of course, spicy salsas on the list. But if you get your hands on a jar of Don Chilio Habanero Salsa Macha, consider yourself warned. This salsa is unfathomably spicy. With habanero in the name, we knew what we were getting into. After all, you'd need five jalapeno peppers to substitute for the heat of one habanero. While there were things to like about this salsa macha, like the crunchy texture and intense, slightly sweet undercurrent of habanero, the super pared-down ingredients list did not deliver the delightfully complex harmony of flavors that we came to expect from a salsa macha. With only four ingredients listed (habaneros, olive oil, salt, and spices), we found that this salsa lacked some of the sweetness and nuttiness that bolstered the flavor combinations of some of the other sauces. We also noted that while most of the other salsas used a neutral oil like grapeseed or canola as a base, Don Chilio used olive oil, which has a more robust flavor. While we had our reservations about this decision, we found that the olive oil stood up nicely to the intense habanero heat and didn't detract from the sauce's intended flavor. If you're a spice fanatic looking to add some serious zing to your next dish, this may be the sauce for you. 7. Deliz Macha Sauce Deliz macha sauce - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table For those of us who are just dipping our toes in the proverbial pool of jarred salsa machas, Deliz may be a good starting point. Although this salsa certainly has a distinct taste, it's not quite as spicy as many other brands. Rather than a punch of umami heat, it delivers a subtle, nutty flavor that gently envelops the tastebuds. Sesame seeds were once deemed as valuable as gold, and in this context, we see why. The ingredient adds a sweet, mild, and nutty flavor that goes beautifully with the slight smokiness of the pumpkin seeds. The seeds do wonders for both the taste and texture by providing a bit of crunch to counterbalance the rest of the salsa, which we found a bit mushy. Also, the oil took up more than half of the jar, which we felt was too much compared to the other ingredients in the salsa. While we enjoyed the more subdued flavors of this jar, we were looking for a bit more of an intense, concentrated flavor than Deliz was able to deliver. 6. Masienda Salsa Macha With Guajillo, Cherry, And Cacao Nibs Masienda salsa macha with cacao - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table We found this to be the lesser of the two Masienda salsa machas on our list. Even though this product ranked lower, there was plenty to like about it. Most notable was the inclusion of cacao nibs, which we found was a creative way to incorporate a traditional Mexican flavor that doesn't typically make its way into salsa macha. Cacao nibs have a bitter, slightly astringent taste that provides an unexpected mouthfeel outside the typical sweet-spicy spectrum that encompasses most salsa machas. Much of the sweetness was provided by dried cherries, and although we had high hopes for this particular ingredient, the cherry flavor tasted a tad medicinal. We found it to be the biggest flaw in this sauce. The texture, however, was near perfect. With every crunch of cacao, there was a corresponding chew of cherry that made every bite interesting. Plus, the sauce was chock full of all the ingredients listed without too much extra oil to dilute the flavor or texture. 5. Gran Luchito Salsa Macha Gran Luchito salsa macha - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table Not unlike the masked wrestlers that inspired Gran Luchito's name and distinctive packaging ("luchito" means "little fighter"), this salsa packs a serious punch. Although the jar is the smallest one in our lineup, don't judge a book by its cover. Gran Luchito will knock you flat off your feet with its combination of intense heat and garlicky tang. Its super-concentrated texture allows it to make the most of its limited real estate with a punchy roster of ingredients, including a mixture of Mexican chiles that makes up a whopping 30% of the total product. While Gran Luchito contains some agave syrup, it remains one of the least sweet sauces on our list. Instead, the focus is on the bolder, more savory end of the salsa macha flavor spectrum. The chunky texture isn't diluted by too much oil but rather just enough to make it the perfect vessel for umami flavors and oily peanuts. The bold inclusion of garlic chunks pairs well with the hot chiles and ensures no vampires will knock on your door tonight. Gran Luchito, which is handmade in Mexico, is the real deal regarding a hot, savory salsa macha. 4. Kuali Salsa Macha Clasica Kuali Salsa Macha Clasica - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table Kuali was founded on the idea that "salsa is life," and we can't agree more. After tasting Kuali's perfectly tuned balance of spicy, sweet, and smoky, it's clear that the brand's founders are seasoned veterans in the art of Mexican cooking. And we're not the only ones who think so; it's also been awarded recognition from the Good Foods Foundation. There were plenty of things we loved about Kuali's Salsa Macha Clasica, but what stood out most to us was the inclusion of roasted pumpkin seeds. It added a pale green color that contrasted nicely with the deep crimson of the chile mixture. The seeds also provided contrast against the soft, pasty texture of the peppers. Sea salt (sourced from Colima, Mexico) also gave this spicy salsa just enough of a bite to enhance the oily, smoky, and nutty flavors. The only gripe we had with Kuali was the unbalanced proportion of oil to chile mixture. Even so, we'd recommend this salsa to even the most discerning of palates. 3. Xilli Salsa Macha Xilli salsa macha jar - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table For a jarred salsa macha with only four ingredients, Xilli delivered a huge, complex flavor that exceeded our expectations. The first sign of greatness was the umami flavor of chipotle chiles, which hit you with an intense smokiness that sets the tone for the unique tasting experience. After settling into smokiness, the flavor journey continues with a heat that settles on your tongue, subtly increases in intensity, and lingers in a way that makes you want more. Peanuts, the other key ingredient to this macha masterpiece, bring an oily crunch and a nutty undertone that blends perfectly with the flavor of the smoky chipotle. While many of the salsas on the list contain a sweet component, this salsa macha is boldly savory. Texture-wise, Xilli delivers a crispness that you can feel even when you put your spoon in the jar, and it drags along the crags of dried peppers and peanuts. The mixture could have been a bit more concentrated, with less canola oil and more of the wonderfully simple ingredients that graced our tongues with their presence, but overall, we recommend this sauce to spice seekers without a sweet tooth. 2. Don Pepe Morita Macha Don Pepe morita macha - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table With a perfect balance of raisins for sweetness and morita peppers for a smoky heat, it's clear that Don Pepe is "raisin" the bar for what's possible with salsa machas. We'd rank this salsa reasonably high on the heat scale, with a spiciness that lingers long after you've had your last bite -- which is difficult to do because this salsa is dangerously addictive. We also loved the chunkiness of this salsa, which seemed to make each bite a unique experience depending on the ratio of chiles, garlic, and raisins that we happened to scoop up. Overall, the sauce has a concentrated, crunchy texture that made us appreciate each time a sweet, chewy raisin made its way into our mouths. It's one of our favorites on the list, and we felt that Don Pepe nailed the balance of salty, sweet, and smoky to give us a salsa macha that we'll eat whenever we need a spicy crunch. 1. Masienda Guajillo, Cranberry, And Hazelnut Salsa Macha Masienda hazelnut salsa macha - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table From the first bite, we could tell that every ingredient in Masienda's guajillo, cranberry, and hazelnut salsa macha had been carefully thought out and included in just the right proportion. Masienda upped its salsa macha game with hazelnuts and cranberries, which boldly break from the mold of traditional ingredients like peanuts and raisins. It's a creative touch that awarded this product first place on our list. Hazelnuts provide a slightly funkier, earthier flavor than peanuts, which pairs perfectly with dried cranberries. The fruit has an unexpected but welcomed touch of tartness, making for a festival of flavors. Each ingredient was also added in relatively large chunks so we could discern each one and appreciate how it all came together to form a whole greater than the sum of its parts. This salsa is not the spiciest, and it's anything but traditional, so we'd recommend it specifically for seasoned salsa macha lovers looking to expand their palates. Our Methodology Freshly made tortillas - Fletcher Huntley/Tasting Table Although salsa macha is relatively new to the mainstream American culinary scene, we were impressed with the variety of salsa machas on the market and wanted to get a taste of each flavor profile available -- from salty and spicy to sweet and mellow. Once we solidified our list of samples and purchased salsa machas, we examined each sauce's texture, color, and smell before diving in with a spoon to taste the flavors. As an accompaniment, a fresh, homemade batch of fresh corn tortillas was waiting in the wings, along with several glasses of water to cool things down when it got spicy. We ranked these salsas based on texture and consistency, as well as flavor and creativity. Overall, we were impressed with the quality of the salsas on the list, and as salsa macha becomes more popular, we're excited to see what other flavors will hit the shelves. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Recently an article in the Cut entitled The Day I Put $50,000 in a Shoe Box and Handed It to a Stranger went viral, telling a first-hand account of a personal finance columnist who was convinced by a cold caller claiming to be a CIA agent that she needed to give him money or risk her accounts getting frozen. It started a massive conversation about scammers, who are far more numerous and dangerous than most realize. They usually pull their scams off over the phone or online, but sometimes the scammers are people you know in your own life. Amazon Prime You may think it could never happen to you, but last year alone scammers bilked a staggering 10-plus billion dollars from Americans. So we asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share their disturbing brushes with scammers...here are their stories: 1."My aunt Pat thought she had a Facebook friend and they arranged to meet and go on a holiday together, mind you she only knew this lady over Facebook and didnt even know her age or anything about her. She agreed to meet and go on a holiday to Spain (we live in the UK) that would cost around 45k. This lady said that she would book the flight and everything they would do so Pat sent 4-5k to this lady's bank account. Long story short, she never went to Spain and her friend never spoke to her again." aria7 2."A scammer sent me an email saying he had hacked into my computer and made a video of me masturbating to porn. He said he would send this video to ALL my contacts if I didn't send him money. The thing is, I'm asexual and sex-repulsed. I never, ever watch porn so I could tell he was lying. I laughed and never answered. And to all the people who get that kind of email, just don't answer. It's a trap." anonymous 3."I got a call from the local police department saying that I had a bench warrant out for my arrest after not showing up for jury duty. They told me that I had to stay on the phone and could not talk to anyone and if I immediately got in my car and came to the police station that I would be able to put my case forward and hopefully get it taken care of but I couldnt get off the phone in case I was fleeing. They knew my address, and when I stated I had served recently they knew the dates. I had two children at home and was scared that going through the court process to get this situation resolved would take so much time and money. I work full time and I was so exhausted that I got totally sucked in." "The person on the line started getting aggressive and would yell when I asked questions or seemed to push back. When I wrote the number down and called it on another line, the local police voicemail picked up. It felt very elaborate. Once I got into the car they had me stop by a local store that sold a certain type of cash card and they were claiming that was the only way to pay them since the police dont accept cash to pay off the warrant while they investigate the mistake as I hadnt received a notice of selection. I decided on a Walmart that I knew would have a police officer. When I arrived I found the kindest Walmart employee who quickly realized I was being held ransom over the phone. They held my hand and walked me to the officer who assured me that I didnt have a warrant and took the phone. The second the person heard police on the other line they immediately hung up. I am a highly educated individual. No, they didnt get any of my money but the stress and time taken away from me cannot be fixed and it was incredibly scary. I can see how anyone can fall for this." anonymous 4."My grandmother got a call from an unknown number, she answered and a caller claiming to be me said I was in Mexico for a quick last minute vacation but had been kidnapped and needed money for ransom. Then another guy told her not to call the cops or they'd kill me...all while the actual me was sitting next to her. She hung up and told me what happened, and I took her cellphone and blocked the number. The nerve of some people, preying on the elderly, thankfully she's wasn't as old then, but I am sure other little old ladies would've fallen for that." e41f520302 5.My father-in-law, who is in his late 60s, got a call for a week visit to stay in San Lucas, Mexico. For just 35,000 pesos ($1,800 US) he could have the two bedroom suite at X hotel and all inclusive for up to four people. After about 10 minutes on the phone he was given a bank account number to transfer the money to and told he would receive an email with the bank info and then an email with the confirmations. He got the first email with the bank info and sent the money, then got the confirmation with the hotel logo and everything. He printed the email and two weeks later flew to Cabo from Mexico City. The hotel had no record of the reservation and had no idea who he spoke with or what the bank account number was. He ended up spending the night in the airport as there were no rooms available that he could afford at that time." "We contacted the bank and they said the account was closed. And that they had no idea what we were talking about even though we sent copies of the transfer and the account number. They said the account never existed. But they would look into it. That was the last we ever heard." anonymous 6."My auntie doesnt really know how to work a phone and isnt confident with any type of technology. She is an older lady and quite shy so she will just go with what other people say. One day she got an email from her 'bank' saying that someone had been on her account and spending her money. They asked for her account details like passwords, card number, CVC, etc. Later that day she got a message warning her about spending over 5k a day she had been scammed." aria7 Dragon Claws / Getty Images/iStockphoto 7."Luckily I didn't get scammed, but I could have been. My mom's laptop wasn't working so I went online to find a company that would help fix computers. I found some 1-800 number and called them up. I paid with a credit card, and the issue seemed to be taken care of. To my surprise, I received a call from them some time later on telling me they'd been audited and were deemed to have overcharged so they were told to refund their customers. They asked me to pull up my banking information while they were in my computer and this is when I had a sinking feeling. I immediately logged out and disconnected them, told them not to worry about it, and immediately called my bank." "Looking back it's such a stupid mistake to make. Being newly sober I was still overly trusting and learning how to trust my gut instinct, and in hindsight, I should have probably scanned their website a hell of a lot closer." ambermelon 8."I had my card cloned around 10 years ago. Unfortunately for the scammer, I was poor so they could literally only take 10 out my account. I would have paid the 10 to see their face when they saw the account balance." jeady51 9."My mom got scammed by a financial advisor we considered a close family friend so it was somewhat reasonable she trusted him without questioning his advice. But she is also too trusting and doesnt have a gut instinct for when something should be questioned. He offered her an opportunity to invest in a building development that would guarantee a significant return she had no idea what kind of development and just sent him $10,000 because he claimed to be investing in it himself. A few months later he was under investigation by the licensing board, got arrested, then charged with defrauding clients for hundreds of thousands by claiming he was investing their money and just taking it for personal use. Hes about to be sentenced." "She did get a call from his attorney because he is being ordered to pay restitution so she might get lucky and get back her money." jbdnco CBC 10."I'm a graduate student, and my supervisor who is absolutely amazing once got an email from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police saying he is being investigated for child pornography and pedophilia, etc. He did laugh and give the scammers credit for 'targeting the statistically correct demographic group' (middle-aged white men) lol." anonymous 11."Someone called me claiming to be a sheriffs officer telling me I had a warrant out for my arrest due to a failure to appear as an expert witness. I was already under a lot of stress that day (was in the ER for pain after a car accident the day prior) so I wasnt as discerning as I probably would have been otherwise. I was CONVINCED that if I didnt do what I was told I was going to go to jail. At one point my husband took my phone (I was on speaker phone with the guy) and hung up and I freaked out at him because I was so scared of getting arrested." "It was finally resolved for me when he went to the sheriffs office and confirmed that there wasnt an officer by that name or badge number and that theyve heard of this scam numerous times before. After that, my husband took me off of a lot of our joint bank accounts because he said he couldnt trust me anymore. Things surrounding money have been really tense ever since." wittymoon36 12."Two years ago I followed a lot of ferret accounts on Instagram, and struck up a 'friendship' with a guy who had a lot of pictures of his ferrets on his account. He treated me like a guy, especially shortly after I came out as transgender to my unsupportive parents. One day, the guy asked for $150 for his ferrets' vaccinations, telling me that if he fails to make the payment by the following day, his pets will be taken away. Although I asked him for papers from the veterinarian to make sure, my foolish 19-year-old self still sent him the money." "Later, when I realized thanks to a friend that he was a scammer, I reported him to my bank, but they failed to return my money to my account. Thanks to him, I no longer trust others, and even sending money to reliable accounts triggers my trauma. I would give anything to go back in time and tell my younger self to think twice. Last year, I reported him to the Federal Trade Commission, and I pray every day that he will eventually get arrested and punished for what he did to me." anonymous Jason Khoo / Getty Images 13."I'm from China, and 10 years ago I was an international student in the US. At the time we used a platform called QQ for online communication. Someone either faked my account or hacked my account and told my grandparents I got in trouble with the police and needed money to get out. At the time I was in an archaeological field school in the middle of central Illinois valley so communication with family was not daily. My grandparents believed the scammer and, on top of sending money, they were obviously extremely worried. People who prey on vulnerable elderlies deserve a special place in hell." anonymous 14."My aunt was scrolling through Facebook when somebody messaged her named 'Brad Pitt.' It was not Brad Pitt, it was a fan account. But she didnt know that. Anyway, she ended up sending $2k to this person and has been going around telling everyone that she is friends with Brad Pitt." aria7 15."My partner got a call from our bank (the actual phone number as it was spoofed). We were out shopping and it was in the evening (should have tipped us off!), so he's talking to the 'rep' on the phone. She's telling him there are issues with our joint bank accounts and security and she just needs a bit of security info to fix it. In retrospect, I think she was leading for more info than she was providing, but she had some basic info like our names, phone number, address, etc. He mistakenly gave her some security info but at the same time was feeling weird about it, as was I, so I called the bank on my cell at the same time after about 10 minutes." "The call I had with them was a bit similar to the person who called my husband, so these scammers were good (I suspect a former employee of the bank helped them with the script). They told me to hang up as they would absolutely never do this type of call, had no record of this issue, etc. so we cut the call off and bounced. We immediately locked our cards and accounts down online and the next day, went into the bank to close those accounts and open new ones, get new cards, the WORKS. I can only imagine what would have happened if I didn't make the backup call and/or we hadn't sprung right into action. They almost got us for SURE so hopefully this story helps someone else not get tricked, too. ALWAYS TELL THEM YOU'LL CALL THEM BACK AND CALL YOUR BANK." anonymous And lastly, this explanation of how this can happen is important for us all to remember: "It's so easy to slap your forehead and wonder how people could fall for this, but remember that scammers are good at what they do. The secret of their success is to get you up to an eleven, an utter panic. At that level of anxiety, rational thinking goes out the window and they make sure to keep you there, and stress urgency. They don't let off the brakes, they don't let you catch your breath, they don't let you stop for a moment and think." anonymous It depends on your health concerns, say experts, who recommended options to help with apnea, acid reflux, and other common conditions. Whether you like to starfish in the middle of the bed or face-plant in a pillow, your go-to sleeping position is deeply personalbut it's not just a quirk. Research indicates that the way you spend those 7 to 8 hours a night could have a 24/7 impact on your health. Here, sleep specialists weigh in on various positions and the potential benefits of each. On Your Back Can reduce back, neck, and shoulder pain This position helps keep the back and neck in alignment, says Devin Burke, founder of Sleep Science Academy in Delray Beach, Fla., and author of The Sleep Advantage: Optimize Your Night to Win Your Day. For additional back pain relief, try placing a pillow under your knees. May soothe dry eyes A small 2018 study published in the journal Cornea found that those who suffered with dry eyes were more likely to sleep on their sides or stomachs than on their backs. One possible explanation is that when we lie on our back, our eyes arent pressing against our pillow, which could compress the glands that make natural tears. Could help prevent wrinkles Okay, this one's more about vanity than health, but still: You've heard that sleep is beneficial for the skin (that's why they call it beauty rest), but when it comes to your complexion, how you sleep matters too. When we lie on our backs, gravity is our friend, leaving our skin nice and smooth. Side and stomach sleeping can cause compression that may lead to wrinklesand we're not just talking about the crease marks from your pillowcase. On Your Side May improve sleep apnea Side sleeping helps keep our airways open and enables easier breathing; back sleeping, on the other hand, allows the muscles in the upper throat to relax, making it more difficult for oxygen to reach the lungs and worsening obstructive sleep apnea (along with plain old snoring), says Abhinav Singh, MD, director of the Indiana Sleep Center and a medical review expert for SleepFoundation.org. Can ease digestive issues and heartburn According to a small study recently published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, sleeping on the left side may enable you to clear excess stomach acid more efficiently than in other positions, easing heartburn pain. Could possibly prevent Alzheimer's Though more research is needed, a 2015 study at Stony Brook University in New York indicated that side sleeping may most effectively remove waste from the brain, which contributes to Alzheimers disease. On Your Stomach Can reduce snoring and some apnea That's the good news. The bad news for stomach sleepers is that the position can also cause neck and back strainsomething to keep in mind if that's your favorite way to snooze. How to Train Yourself to Switch Positions Try changing your side of the bed or switching to a different mattress or pillow, Singh says. (Back sleepers generally need firmer support, while squishier options tend to suit side sleepers.) It can also help to arrange your pillows into a physical barrier that keeps you from rolling into your old familiar pose, he adds: Those body pillows that pregnant women use can work really well. For more Real Simple news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Real Simple. It's a happy day for one pet owner in Maui, who was reunited with their cat after more than a year apart. The cat, Mahina, was lost after wildfires tore through Hawaii. Miraculously, the cat was both found and reunited with her owners earlier this week. It seems almost impossible to believe, but after surviving 100 days in the burn zone Mahina finally went home. All really had seemed lost. According to a TikTok from CBS Evening News, Mahina's family moved to Montana after the fires ravaged their family home. Mahina's family had pretty much given up hope that they'd ever find her again. Related: Hawaiian Dog Leads Rescuers To Owner Stranded 170 Feet Below Trail But the 3-year-old managed to stay alive despite the circumstances. Mahina was recently found by the MHS' Fire Task Force in Hawaii trapping team and her owners were located through the cat's microchip, the Maui Humane Society explained in a post on Facebook. "Needless to say, they were overjoyed to learn that Mahina was a survivor," the post states. Mahina's journey didn't end there, however. It took "a village" to get Mahina back to her owners. The cat had to be flown to the mainland, despite an oncoming snowstorm. "MHS covered the cost of Mahina's health certificate and travel, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines made sure she was safe and sound in her flight, and a trusted transporter brought her from Seattle to Montana," the statement reads. Maui Humane Society also shared a statement from Mahina's owner, who seemed absolutely thrilled to have their best friend home. "Mahina is doing soooo so good," they said. "She is a happy kitty and loves to play with her feather toy and watch TV with us. She stays strictly inside now, but since we are in Montana, she hasn't wanted to go outside because of the snow! She's so goofy and is so happy to be home with her parents!" People online were thrilled to see that Mahina made her way home. "This is the news I want to hear," wrote one person, before adding a crying emoji. "Mahina has some stories to tell to her family! So happy shes home," another commenter added. "This is why I sent money to this very humane society after fire!!!" one person exclaimed. "Cats always come back we see it after hurricanes earthquakes. They come back months later," a third person pointed out. We guess that's why they say cats have nine lives! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Workers at a Michigan restaurant were left in complete shock after an unexpected act of kindness from a customer. NBC Chicago reports that earlier this month, a highly generous person left a $10,000 tip on a $32 bill after dining at The Mason Jar Cafe in Benton Harbor, Michigan. According to the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based station WOOD-TV, the manager of The Mason Jar Cafe revealed that he was so taken aback by the kind gesture that he approached the man to confirm the enormous tip. Absolute disbelief to begin with. We went back and forth. I had a conversation with him. He wanted to proceed. [The server] was absolutely shocked," manager Tim Sweeney told WOOD-TV. What makes this story even more moving is the reason behind the $10,000 tip. The mystery tipper stopped by The Mason Jar Cafe while in town for a friend's funeral, and it turns out that the tip was his way of paying tribute to his friend's memory. The Instagram account for The Mason Jar Cafe shared a photo of the receipt, as well as a heartfelt caption. "In a time where so much is happening, we wanted to share and thank the person who did this life changing act. Things can feel real heavy sometimes, but this was such an amazing act to have seen first hand in our restaurant," they wrote. Although the tip was given to the man's server, she opted to share the money with the other eight people on staff at the time. "It was just really an act of kindness that impacted so many people," said server Paige Mulick. Update: According to the Detroit Free Press, the inspiring story of generosity has taken a turn, and the server who received the tip has been fired. "The employee said in a now-deleted Facebook post that 'drama ensued' after the $10,000 tip was shared, 'and in an attempt to diffuse the situation and resolve any rumors, things became even worse.'" In a since-deleted Facebook post, the cafe owners said that the decision to terminate the server's employment was unrelated to the $10,000 tip. You Might Also Like The Frasers Group founder is suing Morgan Stanley for around 40m - Eddie Mulholland for the Telegraph Mike Ashley has claimed to be a victim of Morgan Stanleys abuse after the Wall Street bank demanded $1bn (790m) from his retail empire. Mr Ashley, who is suing the lender for its attempts to force his company, Frasers Group, to abandon share price bets in May 2021, suggested that the cash call was unfair and motivated by snobbery. Giving evidence in the High Court, the billionaire said that he did not have funds readily available to pay the money and it risked causing his company serious harm as a result. He said: Ive said it before, I dont have it under the bed. I cant have done more than I did thats not fair. Mr Ashleys stock bets on German retailer Hugo Boss were at risk of being closed out by Morgan Stanley using a process known as a margin call, where parties are asked to deposit extra cash to backstop their investment positions. The Wall Street bank did not deal directly with Mr Ashley but instead passed the margin call to Saxo Bank, an intermediary, after learning that he was ultimately behind the trades. Frasers is now suing Morgan Stanley for about 47m (40m) over allegedly lost trading profits and the costs of transferring the trades to rival lender HSBC. In court filings quoting bank staff, Frasers said Mr Ashley was viewed as an upstart, who would have zero respect to the norms of the way in which we do business. When asked by Morgan Stanleys lawyer whether he actually believed these allegations, Mr Ashley on Thursday said: I do believe that theres an element of truth in that. Mr Ashley, who has a net worth of about 5bn, said that Morgan Stanley threatened to close the positions even after he offered to post Hugo Boss stock and 100m in cash as collateral. He said: Im a victim of Morgan Stanleys abuse. The tycoon argued that if Frasers had borrowed money from HSBC to meet the margin call then Morgan Stanley would have come back with further demands for collateral and added another nought on. Story continues He told the High Court: Ive offered them the world and thats not enough this is really starting to annoy me. The retailer has so far spent between 3m and 5m on its legal battle against Morgan Stanley, which Mr Ashley said is not a sizeable sum of money in relation to Frasers. He argued the main object of the lawsuit is to show how grotesquely and unfairly Morgan Stanley acted. These costs include Frasers applications to US courts to compel James Gorman, former Morgan Stanley chief executive, to testify and produce evidence in its UK lawsuit. Morgan Stanley rejects the claim as contrived and without merit, arguing that the margin call was to protect it against a potential 400pc rise in Hugo Boss shares. Mr Ashley said that Frasers is also covering the separate costs of his own data protection lawsuit against Morgan Stanley, filed in the High Court earlier this month. The case continues. 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. Caring for three dogs while living in a tent on a beach in Southern Gaza isnt easy, but its one thing that brings immense joy and solace to 17-year-old Hassan Abu Saman. The teen and his entire family were forced to flee their home due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Amid challenging circumstances, Saman is finding comfort in the company of his furry friends Mofaz, Dahab, and Lucy who mean the world to him. Gaza teen living in tent in Rafah cares for and comforts dogs According to Fox News, Saman has loved dogs since he was a child. In fact, he owned 16 of them while they were still living in Central Gaza before the war broke out. Unfortunately, he only managed to bring along three dogs while fleeing their wrecked home. His efforts to find the remaining dogs bore no fruit. When things settled, I was able to secure a car to go and get the rest, but when I got back, I did not find any of them, they were lost, Saman shared. I went back a second time to look for them and found the house bombed, he added. Saman and his family are among the estimated 1.5 million displaced Palestinians living in tent camps in Rafah. Interestingly, his three canine friends have won the hearts of children in the camp, who enjoy petting the dogs. The teen also stated that the war has had a negative impact on his beloved dogs. For this reason, he tries to comfort them as much as he can. According to Saman, his largest dog, Mofaz, has been feeling so down because of the war. He also revealed that his two other canines, Dahab and Lucy, have lost weight due to limited food options. Saman explained the two would eat a special type of dog food, which he no longer has access to. The post Displaced Gaza Teen Finds Comfort in 3 Dogs During Wartime appeared first on DogTime. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for what it deems discriminatory enforcement of the states aggravated prostitution law against people living with HIV. Announced in a press release by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJs Civil Rights Division on Thursday, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, marking a significant challenge to state practices under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Clarke emphasized the unjust treatment of individuals based on HIV status. The enforcement of state criminal laws that treat people differently based on HIV status alone and that are not based on actual risks of harm discriminate against people living with HIV, she said in the statement. She further articulated the lawsuits objective to ensure individuals living with HIV are not unjustly targeted due to their medical condition. The lawsuit asserts that Tennessees aggravated prostitution law subjects individuals with HIV to unduly harsh criminal penalties based solely on their HIV status, irrespective of any actual risk of harm. This approach, according to the DOJ, contrasts starkly with the penalties for individuals without HIV engaged in similar conduct, revealing a discriminatory practice rooted in outdated perceptions of HIV. At the heart of the DOJs complaint is the aggravated prostitution statute, Tenn. Code Ann. 39-13-516, which elevates prostitution a misdemeanor offense to a Class C felony for individuals known to be infected with HIV. The law mandates that individuals convicted under this statute face severe penalties, including imprisonment of three to 15 years and fines up to $10,000, and categorizes them as violent sexual offenders, requiring lifetime registration on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry in most cases. The lawsuit further details the enforcement practices in Shelby County, where the majority of aggravated prostitution prosecutions occur, often as a result of decoy operations by the Memphis Police Departments Organized Crime Unit. The DOJ argues that these practices not only discriminate against individuals with HIV but also fail to consider advancements in HIV treatment and the significantly reduced risk of transmission for those with undetectable viral loads. Those with undetectable viral loads are unable to transmit HIV. In seeking relief, the DOJ requests that the court declare the enforcement of Tennessees aggravated prostitution law in violation of the ADA, order the cessation of its enforcement, and mandate the removal of individuals convicted under this statute from the sex offender registry. Additionally, the DOJ seeks compensatory damages for aggrieved individuals, including Complainant A, a Black transgender woman whose experience exemplifies the laws detrimental impact on the lives of those it targets. Amidst these legal battles, legislative efforts are underway in Tennessee to amend the law. A bill passed by the Tennessee Senate aims to remove the sex offender registration requirement for those convicted of aggravated prostitution and offer a path to expungement. While the bill maintains the aggravated prostitution law within Tennessees criminal code, it reflects a step toward addressing the criticisms levied by the DOJ and advocacy groups, the Commercial Appeal reports. Additionally, separate legislation seeks the complete removal of the law. The DOJs lawsuit not only seeks to halt the enforcement of the aggravated prostitution statute against individuals with HIV but also to secure compensatory damages for those adversely affected, including reimbursement for registry fees, court costs, and other related expenses. Donald Trump, the former president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, surprised the sneaker community and footwear industry at large when he made an unexpected campaign stop at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia on Saturday and introduced his new line of signature sneakers. The appearance came at an interesting time for Trump, who is facing a number of legal battles as he moves closer to the nomination. It also represented an ironic move for the politician who, during his presidency, introduced the burdensome Section 301 tariffs on China that have had a direct negative impact on the footwear industry in the U.S., which largely relies on imports from China. These tariffs have contributed to soaring footwear prices in the U.S. and have hurt American businesses and working class consumers. More from Footwear News In 2023, full-year footwear prices were up 0.2 percent from 2022. This followed a 4.6 percent increase in 2022 over 2021, which marked the fastest growth rate in four decades, according to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). [Trump] had a direct hand in driving up costs for consumers and sneakerheads alike that added an additional upwards of $20 billion in costs to those shoes, Matt Priest, president and chief executive officer of FDRA, told FN in an interview. The FDRA and other industry groups, like the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) have been vocal about the need to eliminate these harmful footwear tariffs moving forward. Steve Lamar, president and chief executive officer of the AAFA also noted the irony of the former president entering the very industry he disrupted. We always love a good sneaker launch, and we wish the former President well in this new endeavor, Lamar told FN in a statement. Of course, Americans also love affordable and authentic fashion, and that is why we continue to urge for a commonsense approach to tariffs not the reckless tariff increases proposed by former President Trump should he be re-elected, or the reckless tariff increases former President Trump imposed when he was last in office. In January, a joint study from FDRA, AAFA and other retail groups called out detrimental economic impacts that the Section 301 tariffs on China had effected on American businesses and consumers. Section 301 tariffs of 15 percent were imposed on about half of the footwear imported from China on Sept. 1, 2019. Those tariffs were later reduced on Feb. 14, 2020, to 7.5 percent. As for the potential success of Trumps new footwear line, that will depend on several factors, including the willingness of his support base to buy into the messaging of the product as well as how successful the shoe can be outside of a gimmicky context. Here, a former President launched the blingiest kick in history of kicks, and in fact, it was well received, said Marc Beckman, co-founder and CEO of marketing agency DMA United. That said, consumers will remain true to the old formula: Is the influencer (in this case President Trump) someone who you would like to look like? If the answer is no, the endorsement will fall flat. Launch Gallery: Presidents' Sneaker Game: Donald Trump in 'Air Trump' Sneakers, Bill Clinton in New Balance, Barack Obama in Asics & More Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Kenyan officials are looking to make travel easier between neighboring counties, but the voices of scientists have given them pause. Whats happening? The Kenyan government wants to construct a 32-mile tarmac road connecting Nyeri and Nyandarua counties, the Associated Press reported. The proposed route would cut through 15 miles of the biodiverse Aberdare Ranges cloud forest and moorland ecosystems a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate boasting endangered wildlife such as mountain bongos and African cherry trees. Its also home to one of Kenyas main water systems. On the positive side, the route would improve trade on both sides of the Aberdare Range. Kenyas van drivers are especially excited for their livelihoods to improve. We feel very happy, and we thank the countrys leaders for coming together and deciding to open this road, driver Patrick Maina said. Why does the Aberdare Range matter? The Aberdare Range provides over half the water consumed in Nairobi and helps power Kenyas electricity as one of five major water towers. Preserving this ecosystem preserves human health and welfare. Its tourism also employs hundreds of thousands of people. Yet many farmers eagerly await an easier route to transport goods to Nyeris bustling markets. Balancing these interests is difficult but vital. While residents welcome the business opportunities new infrastructure may bring, the countrys environmental agency, the National Environment Management Authority, warns that such roads have irreversibly harmed similar ecosystems by deforestation and increasing traffic in animal paths. This is the one road that a lot of people that come here to see the wildlife will take, Isabelle Aron, a tourist visiting the park, told the AP. Turning that into commercial is going to be taking away from why people come to the Aberdares. Still, President William Ruto insists construction should proceed immediately, calling objections frustrating. What can be done to protect the Aberdare Range? If road construction proceeds, strict mitigation measures must be enforced, including elevated wildlife crossings and barriers limiting off-road access. Most importantly, open-minded dialogue and cooperation among vested parties are vital for optimal solutions. We all share an interest in balanced progress. Citizens can advocate for environmental impact policies that benefit communities long-term and take small daily actions such as conserving water. Leaders willing to have thoughtful discussions while safeguarding the Aberdares can pave the way to prosperity for both Kenyas economy and irreplaceable natural heritage. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. It's an election year...yay. That means your feeds will be saturated with weird stories about both parties trying to win over voters. Allison Joyce / AFP via Getty Images Which leads me to this ignorant at best, horribly racist at worst, take by Fox News analyst Raymond Arroyo. Jason Koerner / Getty Images In case you missed it, former President and leading 2024 GOP candidate Donald Trump pulled up to Sneakercon in Philadelphia this past weekend. His mission? To sell his new sneakers, called the Never Surrender Gold High-Tops (probably to help pay off his hefty legal fees). Donald Trump isnt a sneakerhead. But at Sneaker Con, a frenetic streetwear fair held in Philadelphia on Saturday, the former president and current Republican front-runner introduced his $399 Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker. https://t.co/jYY8N4x6B3 WSJ. Magazine (@WSJMag) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @WSJMag The shoes, which sold for $399 and had a limited production, sold out. However, it's worth noting I cannot find a pair on StockX or GOAT, which is the best way to gauge if sneakerheads actually care about the shoe. Twitter: @Hami_On_X The Never Surrender Gold High-Tops were the topic of Arroyo's Fox News segment, where he claimed that Black voters are hopping off the Biden train to join MAGA because, you guessed it, Black people love sneakers. "This is connecting with Black America because they love sneakers," Arroyo stated. "This is a big deal, certainly in the inner city," he continued. "So when you have Trump roll out his sneaker line, they're like, 'Wait a minute, this is cool.' He's reaching them on a level that defies and is above politics. The culture always trumps politics. And Trump understands culture like no politician I've ever seen." #FoxNews says #trump new sneakers connect to #BlackVoter because we love #sneakers . I thought this was fake until I heard it! pic.twitter.com/vpgII3XKin BMB Empower Network (@BmbEmpower) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @BmbEmpower Of course, the internet had some thoughts. Oh no, not the "Air Defendant." #Trump really out here selling sneakers? They must be called the #AirDefendant, you don't wear them on the court, you wear them to court! #TeamDl DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) February 18, 2024 Twitter: @RealDLHughley It's pretty clear what they think of Black people. These MAGA racists think black people will move to Trump because black people love sneakers. This is what they think of us. pic.twitter.com/hx8kLUiJHv Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @acnewsitics I couldn't agree more. This melanin deficient talking head thinks Black people are going to vote for Trump because Black people love sneakers.He also thinks all Black people live in the inner cityRacists say the dumbest things. pic.twitter.com/CXn5NdsvHX Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @TalbertSwan The streets of NYC have spoken. .@JoshJohnson hits the streets of NYC to see what the real sneaker experts think of Trumps sneakers pic.twitter.com/KqNnDNTR8P Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) February 21, 2024 Twitter: @WUTangKids These must be the volume 2s. Twitter: @OurSkiesApp That actually has a nice ring to it. This guy on TikTok called Trumps sneakers the January 6s and the Air Fraud Ones pic.twitter.com/akholKdjvp Linds (@LinnyPee) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @LinnyPee The Trump family photo I didn't know I needed. Please Lordy let Trump and his children be photographed wearing his golden sneakers. reverendD (@reverendD10) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @reverendD10 Is this a plot twist, though? trump sneakers plot twist: theyre made in Mexico from Chinese materials JUNE (@June_sKinnyBlak) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @June_sKinnyBlak This is probably how they think the Black community is going to respond. Yum. Yum. Cant wait for that Trump/ Popeyes chicken special. Ill run down there in my Trump sneakers and pick up a watermelon on the way. pic.twitter.com/PeFlrtsWOi Why *Anti-Racist Baby* Gee (@SheWhygee) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @SheWhygee Preach! I'm a Black woman, and I will NOT be voting for Donald Trump. Nor will I spend a dime on those ugly ass sneakers. Sonya Ramos (@sdbeckrum66) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @sdbeckrum66 Feels more like 1984 to me. I cannot believe that on Fox News said that a news reporter said that a black voters will move to trump black people loves sneakers. WHAT THE FUCK. WE ARE IN 2024. THE FUCKING IRONY. Jordie Hendrix (@JordieHendrix) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @JordieHendrix I can smell the hot glue from here. trump sneakers?They look like they reek of fake leather, hot glue, and bad decisions. Mess. TheeCodingQueen (@ChildPleez007) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @ChildPleez007 Yikes. Would you pay $399 for something if the seller told you he's not sure when it will be delivered to you, what exactly it will look like, and you can't get a refund?'We are not liable': Fine print says Trump gold sneakers won't ship for months https://t.co/67jaMWW2gM Allen Rozansky (@EstProtector) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @EstProtector Are we even shocked this was Fox News's take? That shit fox put out about trumps sneakers getting black people to vote for him has gotta be one of the most offensive things Ive ever seen that shit was crazy The Most High (@Mason_Mcvey) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @Mason_Mcvey The Trump game plan. Blacks are voting for Trump because he came out with sneakers and black LOVE sneakers according to Fox News. Tune in next month when Trump hands out chicken and watermelon pic.twitter.com/CyB414Fo9J Power in the People (@NFLfam100) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @NFLfam100 Even rocks can't be THAT dumb. This just shows you how out of touch fox and cronies are with black Americans. We dgaf about no gold sneakers especially to vote for Trump Ed zefic (@Cantankerous_ed) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @Cantankerous_ed Never shocked, but forever appalled. Im not shocked Trump sees black people as simpletons that will vote for him based on his new sneakers. But the craziest part to me is not recognizing those sneakers are UGLY af. nope (@PrinceHAK33M) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @PrinceHAK33M We are truly an unserious nation. Saying black people will vote for Trump cuz they like sneakers is on another type of level Just cant take nothing too serious anymore. Wade Wilson (@KymGotti) February 22, 2024 Twitter: @KymGotti What do you think about the Never Surrender High-Tops and the Fox News segment? Let me know in the comment section below! On a cold winter day in 2020, the journalist Marianna Spring sets out to join an anti-lockdown rally in Brighton. Shes there to speak to people who view journalists as the enemy of the people, and the BBC as Satans advocates. Many of them hate her personally. For not only is Spring a successful young and female journalist which in itself makes her a target for online trolls but to those inhabiting Conspiracyland, as Spring calls it, she has one of the most controversial jobs in the world: she is the BBCs first disinformation and social-media correspondent. Among the Trolls, Springs first book, takes the reader on a journey to that land, which, she explains, might seem a faraway place to some of us. It investigates both what conspiracy theorists believe and why, and it offers a powerful account of the connections between online and offline harms. The digital world is complex and challenging enough to navigate, but Spring also goes outdoors to mingle with conspiracy theorists at demonstrations, to confront propagandists and to interview victims of disinformation. Not only is her book an excellent piece of investigative journalism, but it may be the first extensive ethnography of trolls. The personification of evil is one of those trolls principal tactics. Just as Bill Gates has served the anti-vaccine movement as the great villain, and Greta Thunberg has become the lead target of anti-environmentalist hate, Spring has in certain quarters become the face of the demonised mainstream media. The hate she experiences from people denouncing, discrediting and abusing her will give even the most thick-skinned reader goosebumps. In the first half of 2023, she tells us, 80 per cent of the 14,488 abusive messages escalated in the BBCs hate-tracking system were directed at her personally. She had a stalker waiting for her outside the BBC building to harass her every day. It isnt surprising that the book is dedicated to those whom she loves but cannot name. Spring distinguishes between two types of trolls: the true believers, who show deep ideological involvement, and the non-believers, who are driven by a desire to feel intellectual superiority, to achieve fame and power, or to benefit financially. Both types, it seems, have multiplied since the Covid-19 pandemic. For many of the believers Ive met, Spring writes, the pandemic totally altered their world view and left them vulnerable to a whole range of conspiracy theories. She mentions a recent study by Kings College London that showed that, for many Britons, the pandemic has been a gateway to darker conspiracy theories. Among the Trolls is the first book by the young journalist Marianna Spring - Atlantic/BBC Spring also confronts those who make money at the expense of the most vulnerable, such as victims of terrorism or war crimes. Conspiracy theories are essentially an industry, Spring explains. Those in charge can gain profit and fame, power and agency. One of her most remarkable encounters is with Richard D Hall, who claims that the Manchester Arena attack was fabricated. He earns money by selling books and DVDs, imitating the tactics of the American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Can the trend be reversed? Despite all the misanthropy Spring witnesses, she doesnt lose hope. Among the Trolls provides some examples of individuals who managed to leave behind their radical past: for example, Brent Lee, a Briton who ended up apologising to a survivor of the 7/7 bombings for spreading conspiracy theories about the attack. For all the abuse she receives, you never find Spring demonising or humiliating conspiracy theorists; instead she highlights their inner struggles, fears and desires. She doesnt tap into the same black-and-white fallacies to which so many of her interviewees are prone. (You believe all people are good. I believe almost everyone is bad, an anti-lockdown protester told her at that 2020 Brighton demonstration.) Spring concludes that real human interaction is one of the most effective remedies against hate, as it rehumanises both the offender and the victim. She writes of the shame and stigma attached to conspiracy theories, and the lack of forgiveness on both sides that makes it hard to escape Conspiracyland. Former conspiracy theorists can also help those caught up in the rabbit holes to climb out again. Yet, while Among the Trolls is comprehensive on the need to hold influencers and social-media platforms accountable, one dimension it misses is how Western politicians give ammunition to the spread of disinformation. The recent mass protests in Germany against the far-Right Alternative fur Deutschland are a good example: several leading political figures have claimed that the pictures of the protests were manipulated or AI-generated. Among the Trolls is worth your time, whether someone you love is a permanent resident in Conspiracyland or youve never heard of the place but feel courageous enough to visit. It would be most rewarding for those who crossed the borders during the pandemic, but now seek to escape. Spring is offering a perspective for conspiracy refugees. Julia Ebners books include Going Mainstream: How Extremists are Taking Over and Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists. Among the Trolls is published by Atlantic at 18.99. To order your copy for 15.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books 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. When the American actress Kelly Rutherford agrees to speak to me over Zoom, I enthusiastically text a few friends to share the news. One word comes back from all three: obsessed! Theyre not the only ones. Rutherford, who starred in cult television show Gossip Girl as New York socialite Lily van der Woodsen (AKA the ultimate Birkin mum to Blake Livelys character Serena), has a dedicated fanbase but now shes on track to becoming an Instagram fashion icon, with two million followers and counting. Whats more, shes achieved this new-found status quite effortlessly by posting stylish selfies to Instagram often taken in her elevator. Her regular wardrobe updates have gone viral, and everyone wants a piece of her. 'I noticed the lighting was pretty good in there': Rutherford started taking elevator selfies on the way to her morning dog walk Indeed, Rutherford has claimed her place on fashions front row and shes done so with panache. At London Fashion Week, she exuded chic in Emilia Wickstead florals and relaxed glamour in Mithridate tailoring this was after a busy New York Fashion Week which saw her grace a Tods cocktail party in preppy beige and the Tommy Hilfiger front row in a red and cream graphic-print dress. Rutherford wore an eye-catching red and cream graphic print dress to Tommy Hilfiger's London Fashion Week show - Dave Benett/Getty Images It was during the couture shows in January that Rutherford became fashions new favourite frow fixture. For Simone Rochas couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier, she wore a voluminous pink satin dress from the Irish designers own SS24 ready-to-wear range, paired with red pumps to match the gowns long draped scarlet ribbon, channelling the balletcore trend as she happily rubbed shoulders with Kylie Jenner. Their unlikely interaction became the shows most memed moment on TikTok, reimagined as a mother-daughter Gossip Girl scene, set to the high jinks of haute couture. With Kylie Jenner at the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show - Marc Piasecki/WireImage The star's pink satin dress was from Simone Rochas SS24 ready-to-wear range - Marc Piasecki/WireImage That same week, the 55-year-old actress-turned-influencer wore a cream Dior skirt suit to the maisons couture show at the Musee Rodin, a vision of old-school glamour and furthering her reputation as a true style chameleon. When I speak to her on Zoom, shes wearing a slouchy chocolate knit with large brown framed glasses by LRG, a boutique Italian brand specialising in handmade frames. Her blonde hair is gathered in a messy bun and her skin has the luminous look of a sustained skincare routine with barely-there make-up. Wearing a cream Dior skirt suit to the maisons couture show at the Musee Rodin - Jacopo Raule/Getty Images Rutherford is the ultimate Comeback Queen. She endured a much publicised six-year custody battle with her ex-husband over their two children following the couples divorce in 2009. He won and the children moved overseas, leaving the actress emotionally bereft and financially crippled with legal fees. She managed to bounce back, travelling back and forth to Monaco and France to see her kids at every opportunity, working intermittently to make ends meet. Then came her Instagram reinvention and a real-life elevator pitch. I always take my dogs for a walk in the mornings and I noticed the lighting was pretty good in there, so I began taking pictures on my way out, purely from a practical standpoint, says Rutherford of her tiny-yet-effective elevator-cum-studio, stylishly retro in its own right with a mirrored frame, stainless steel features, and what looks to be a wooden floor and marquetry panels. Rutherford's wardrobe includes independent boutique finds and luxe ready-to-wear items - @kellyrutherford I ask her if she ever saw the elevator as a metaphor for potential, a life in the spotlight going places again. Well yes, it is symbolic, thats true, she concedes. Theres a certain mystery and anticipation attached to it. You could be going to dinner, to a cafe, to meet friends who knows! If you ask me, no one has made better sartorial use of a retro lift since Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore tap danced their way up to the 12th floor dressed in flapper dresses for the 1969 musical movie romp Thoroughly Modern Millie. But Rutherford doesnt make a song and dance about her style, instead she usually tilts her head to one side and strikes a stately pose for her mirror shots, channelling her very own combination of Scandi chic, Upper East Side glamour and Parisian garconne elegance with a pinch of eccentricity just enough to stay on the cool side of quirky. Scandi chic meets Upper East Side glamour - @kellyrutherford Mixing independent boutique finds with luxe ready-to-wear, along with a healthy supply of vintage furs, the actress shakes up the polished look in her own unique way. I think theres a part of me thats always wanted to be a magazine editor or a creative director, she reveals. Ive always loved putting images together and creating mood boards. My Instagram is just an extension of that. Plus, I want to share, when I find a brand I love, I want to support it. Its true that Rutherford is a devoted tagger, allowing her followers to easily shop her style. Her shoutouts are genuine recommendations from the fashion grapevine, not paid-for endorsements plugging big brands. At Tod's cocktail party in New York on February 13 - Getty Images/Gilbert Flores So far, shes name-checked an international smorgasbord of fashion newbies and independents, most recently Ukrainian label Kulakovsky noted for its luxury leather aviator jackets, Italian luxury denim company Darkpark, Portuguese sustainable sneaker label Hirundo and Irish knitwear designer Colin Burke. Shes fond of chunky boots and ruffled collars, but above all shes big on neutrals. I actually love prints but only in the summer. For me, winter is about brown, taupe, grey, camel and black. Although I do love tweed and of course lots of woolly woolly things, she says, smiling. In fact, if youre into statement jumpers, Rutherfords a go-to reference. Her new favourites include handcrafted sweaters by Mr Mittens based in Perth, Australia; Items14 from Antwerp; and Mumshandmade, a tiny operation which ships from Thessaloniki in Greece. She favours cable patterns and is partial to a pouffy sleeve. Everything she models looks lovingly crafted, never fussy. Rutherford's wardrobe is the envy of jumper lovers Rutherford says her love of fashion stems from the same place as her love of acting, namely from watching foreign films growing up. That blending of cultures was something I connected to from a young age, plus my grandmother was Danish, she says, adding, its about moving energy really. We all get into a rhythm of wearing a certain thing, so its good to switch things up. As proven by her haute couture appearances, Rutherford often dresses in the spirit of Parisian chic. So much so that last year she designed a capsule collection with French footwear brand Carel. Currently, she can be seen in Apple TVs Escort Boys too, a raunchy comedy set in the Camargue, which also stars former Chanel model Carole Bouquet and Spanish cinema star Rossy de Palma. Wearing a white dress with blue flower print outside Emilia Wickstead during London Fashion Week - Getty/Christian Vierig Even though she hasnt quite mastered the art of the French rolling R, fashionistas across the Channel see her as an honorary French muse. She epitomises effortless chic, seamlessly blending sophistication with a touch of nonchalant elegance. I was so thrilled seeing her wearing our coat, says Jeanne Damas, the model-turned-entrepreneur who founded hit Parisian label Rouje. Rutherford posed in the said camel overcoat whilst cuddling one of her beloved pet dachshunds. The actress prefers symbols to words to demonstrate her appreciation of a brand or designer the squirrel, shooting star, coffee cup, dove and dog emojis feature regularly in her irreverent rating system, which has also endeared her to a younger demographic. The gossips true, this stylish comeback queen is climbing high in that elevator of hers. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. In a tragic incident, a puppy boarding at a doggy daycare chain in Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., died after being hit by an employee, the daycare announced on Tuesday. The staff member responsible for this mishap has been terminated. Specific details about the incident or the identity of the employee involved were not disclosed by the company. Puppy struck by District Dogs employee in Navy Yard dies District Dogs, in their statement, mentioned that the puppy was quickly taken to a nearby veterinary facility following the incident. Unfortunately, efforts to revive the animal were unsuccessful. The Humane Rescue Alliance has started an investigation into the matter. Moreover, District Dogs has confirmed their full cooperation with the authorities. The doggy daycare officials expressed their heartfelt condolences to the dogs family in a statement to The Washington Post on Wednesday. The District Dogs family is heartbroken over this incident and extends its sincere condolences to the family of the dog, and we grieve their loss at this profoundly difficult time, they said. DC doggy daycare chain made headlines for August 2023 flooding incident This is not the first time District Dogs has found itself at the center of controversy. In August 2023, the doggy daycare chain made headlines after 10 dogs died in a flood at another facility located on Rhode Island Avenue. A significant delay in emergency response, allegedly attributed to miscommunication about the severity of the situation, led to the disaster. The aftermath of the flood stirred debates on preparedness and safety protocols. Some pet owners pointed fingers at the establishments owner, Jacob Hensley, for the lack of a robust evacuation strategy. Criticism also revolved around the companys decision to operate in a known flood-risk area without enough preventive measures, despite previous incidents and warnings. In response to the ensuing backlash, Hensley made the decision to close the Rhode Island Avenue location. Currently, District Dogs has six operational facilities with plans to open another, as per the companys website. The post Puppy Dies After Being Hit by DC Doggy Daycare Worker appeared first on DogTime. When it came time for open houses and viewing appointments, potential buyers of this Northeast Washington, D.C., row house were in for a surprise. Thats because instead of the usual neutral staging items and colors, this one was filled with color and personality. The pro behind this stage was Michelle DeLucia, designer and owner at Sub Urban Staging + Design in Silver Spring, Maryland. DeLucia has gained a stellar reputation for embracing color, texture, and turning empty rooms into welcoming spaces that buyers can actually imagine their families settling into. A lot of stagers keep things fairly neutral, but spaces start to look and feel the same, and thats typically not the way people live, says DeLucia. Infusing objects of interest from my travels or things I think might tap into peoples curiosity can be a bit of a gamble, but Ive been in a lot of homes and people like to show their interests and personalities and I think staging should as well! When the broker of this three-bedroom, two-full-bathroom row house turned over the keys to DeLucia, the home had been freshly painted, but was empty and uninspiring. The sellers were a family with children and DeLucia knew that it was likely the buyers could also be people with young families. She scoured her staging inventory for the right pieces to add some interest and casual coziness. I have a really hard time not incorporating color and texture into a home, she notes. Of course, I always hope it resonates with people, but I feel like it gives the home some soul. Credit: Michelle DeLucia Credit: Michelle DeLucia One of the most important rooms for DeLucia to tackle was the front parlor, which is right off the entrance to the home and one of the first spaces potential buyers would see. She opted to bring in warm browns in the form of a leather sofa, a large piece of artwork, and wood-toned coffee and side tables. Using leather on the sofa reads a little hipper, and as usual, we did not shy away from color, says DeLucia. The biggest pop came from a shag rug in a saturated blue hue that contrasted nicely with the homes light floors and walls. A pair of rounded chairs across from the couch completed the seating area, making it perfect for relaxing as a family or entertaining friends. When pulling together a room, DeLucia is a firm believer that details matter. Case in point: The black radiator near the front of the room influenced her choice of a coffee table with black legs. Credit: Michelle DeLucia Credit: Michelle DeLucia Besides injecting some personality into the property, DeLucias parlor setup showed potential buyers that the long, fairly narrow room could easily handle a full-size sofa and offered plenty of space for a comfy conversation area. Within 30 days on the market the home was sold and DeLucia destaged the property. Once all the staging items were removed, the new owners were left with a blank canvas ready for them to introduce their own favorite colors and personal style. We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what's "you"? These are some of the questions we're putting to prominent figures in our column "How I Shop." There are a few different avenues through which you might've come across Paige DeSorbo. Maybe you've seen her on Bravo's "Summer House," its spin-off "Winter House" or during one of her trips down to Charleston, South Carolina to visit boyfriend Craig Conover on "Southern Charm." Perhaps you've come across her fashion-focused Instagram content or a clip from "Giggly Squad," the podcast she co-hosts with comedian and best friend Hannah Berner, and that sent you down a rabbit hole. (I'm in the latter group, and now a proud Giggler.) No matter how you ended up here, it's hard not to be drawn to the 31-year-old's energy, whether you describe it as "black cat," New York or just Scorpio. She's dry and quick-witted, but also sincere and down to have fun. That's as true for her life as it is for her style. "To see people critique my outfits or have an opinion on my personal style is two parts," she says. "Obviously, it's very flattering; then there's another part where it's like, 'Hey, that's so mean. I love this outfit.' But I don't ever get bogged down by that. I just always think, 'Well, there's a seventh-grade girl somewhere who's saving my outfit and saying, 'I want to recreate this.'' That's who I get dressed for." We caught up with the Bravo breakout about packing for (televised) summers in the Hamptons, New York versus Charleston style, her influencer career and the most Scorpio thing about her fashion. Read on for highlights from our conversation. Paige DeSorbo at the Brandon Maxwell Fall 2024 show during New York Fashion Week. Photo: Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images "I feel like there has to be a term for my mom she's not an 'almond mom,' but she's 'the outside is your runway'. You go out of the house looking presentable. She would never leave the house without lipstick. Watching her get ready, watching her do her hair and makeup, that's when I started really loving fashion. "When I was younger, my mom would get Vogue delivered to our house every month, so I would flip through and tear out pages of outfits I liked. We literally only had Forever 21 and Marshalls I'd ask her to bring me to the mall, and I would recreate whatever outfits I saw, whether I knew the celebrities or not. As I got a little bit older and Pinterest came about, that's where I would find outfits to recreate. "My family and I go to Italy once a year, and I pick one day of the trip that's my shopping day... I'm a 'come home, show your dad what you bought, give a fashion show' girl at my core. Shopping, to me, is a lot more sentimental. I like to do it with someone else that I love. This sounds so girly, but there truly is nothing like that bond of shopping with someone. You're looking for something, you find it, you fall in love that's girlhood to me. With "Summer House" and "Winter House" cast mate Ciara Miller at 2023 Bravocon, wearing Valentino. Photo: Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty Images "Last year, I went into the Prada store. Even if it's a really expensive store, I still like to go in and see. I walked in and was like, 'I'm not buying anything.' Then I saw this white backless dress that didn't say Prada anywhere just the little triangle which I liked. I looked at my mom and was like, 'Bury me in this dress.' And she was like, 'You have to get it.' "Now, when I do buy very expensive things, like certain items from Miu Miu or Prada, rather than being like, 'Oh my God, I'm spending so much money on clothes,' I genuinely do think that my daughter's going to have the sickest vintage archives when she's in college. If she needs a dress, I whip out this white Prada. "I really don't shop that much in person. I'm a big online girl. Zara's at the top of that list. I shop a lot on Shopbop, Amazon, Fwrd, Mango, H&M and Farfetch. Even now, as I'm older, I'm still budgeting how much I should be spending on clothing. I'll go on the really expensive websites, like Moda [Operandi] or Net-a-Porter, look at what they're selling, screenshot it and be like, 'I can find this cheaper.' It's my sport. "Charleston is such a different vibe of shopping I have so many more cardigans than I ever thought I would have... I remember one of the first weekends when I first started going down there, it was my birthday and I wore a full red leather matching set flare pants and a crop top and a fur coat. I don't know who I thought I was, doing that down there. But I love their style, so it's fun to go down and play. Girls like Madison [LeCroy] and Venita [Aspen] dress so fricking cute; it's incredible and so Charleston. I always look to them. Madison's really good when we're filming ['Southern Charm']; she'll text me and be like, 'Let's just do jeans.' That's when I know you're my friend. I just bought this blue cardigan from Gap and I was like, 'I can't wait to wear it in Charleston.' Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images Photo: Emma McIntyre/Variety via Getty Images "I think black is the most flattering color for anyone to wear, so I'm very Scorpio in that sense. Scorpios are dressing a little bit more sexy than I personally am obviously, I do love a sexy outfit, but I feel like my day-to-day isn't that. But it is definitely all black. "The way I figure out if I'm going to wear something or not [is based on something] my mom has said to me for years. She would try to put me in outfits and, as a kid, I'd be like, 'I can't. It's too much. People are going to make fun of me.' She's the person that first convinced me to wear skinny jeans, before anyone was wearing skinny jeans, and I'll never be able to repay her for that. My mom would always say, 'You don't want to wear it, but if another girl walked in wearing it, would you feel bad that you weren't confident enough to wear it?' And I would always be like, 'Yes.' I still do that... My mom and my dad are Scorpios. "When I was in college, I was right at the cusp of [influencing] really becoming a thing, but by no means did anyone think that was a suitable profession at all. People still aren't thrilled about it. I just never thought of it as a career... I wasn't a fashion designer. I knew I wasn't interested in sewing or making my own clothes, but I loved putting things together. For it to be my job now is so crazy, because it's always just been a hobby and something I love. Promoting season 7 of "Summer House". Photo: Clifton Prescod/Bravo via Getty Images "The term 'personal style' stresses me out so badly, because it puts you in this box of, 'If you don't have good personal style, then you don't have style at all.' That's not true. There are days that I want to wear Miu Miu sparkly underwear, then there are others where I'm like, 'Can I channel my best Renee Rapp and wear cargo pants?' There's definitely going to some misses, and it's because I like it so much, I'm going to wear it. "Before I started [on Bravo], I wasn't really a fashion influencer at all. I only had 3,000 followers. I had this clean slate, and I knew that when I first appeared on the screen, people were going to go to my Instagram. I wanted them to think, 'Oh, she does outfits.' So, after we were done airing, all I cared about was posting outfits to my Instagram. DeSorbo on season seven of "Summer House". Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Bravo via Getty Images "Everyone packs very differently on 'Summer House.' Kyle and Amanda pack for the full summer, which I think is bonkers. We usually know what our schedule is on Wednesday, so I pack per activity, plus extra outfits. I'll leave some basics there. "My style [on 'Summer House'] has evolved truly just from getting older and growing up. I still like the same stuff: I love a mini-skirt set, and I love to dress [in a] super girly, preppy, Meredith Blake vibe. I've stayed true to that. Genuinely, the only thing that has changed is I can splurge a little more than I could that [first] summer I mean, I wore full Forever 21 and Nasty Gal. My biggest concern was that we were all going to show up in the same Zara stuff. But I had a very different style than any of the other girls on the show. Her cast photo for "Summer House" season 8. Photo: Felix Kunze/Bravo via Getty Images "When I first started, it wasn't like [the girls] were talking about their outfits before they packed... I really only had Amanda to be like, 'What's the vibe?' She helped me that first summer on what to pack, what we usually do. It's funny to see everyone's style evolve. Everyone was very jeans, T-shirts and wedges, and that's just not me. So I was like, 'I'm going to wear a mini skirt.' And I definitely dressed a lot dressier than the other girls. Then, slowly, throughout the summers, everyone started to dress up a little bit more. "When I get ready for my Bravocon outfits It's really more like, 'What's so out of the box that I haven't worn yet, that people haven't seen yet? What's so crazy and fun and fashion-y?' And it's sparkly underwear. The now-famous Bravocon/2023 birthday Miu Miu outfit. Photo: Mindy Small/Getty Images "It was definitely discussed with multiple people. There was a roundtable involved. I think being well-dressed is truly wearing the appropriate outfit to the appropriate place. We were in Vegas, and I wanted to be Vegas-y. And Saturday was my 31st birthday, so I felt like I needed an outfit that was not only the Saturday of Bravocon the big day but also my 31st birthday in Vegas. "I had already done a no-pants look a couple months prior on 'Watch What Happens Live,' and it didn't get any bad backlash at all. People were like, 'That's a cool outfit.' DeSorbo's first underwear-as-pants look, for "Watch What Happens Live" in April. Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images "I love a '60s vibe and glamour. I loved the clips. Miu Miu's the hottest brand right now in fashion. So I was like, 'I have to wear a full Miu Miu look.' I loved it, and I stand by that outfit until the day that I die. I felt good in it. It felt very me. Also, fashion is a conversation. I'm happy that there are certain people that hated it because there are certain people that don't truly understand the fashion world, and that's fine. I don't need them to. I knew they weren't getting it. It actually made me happy, because I was like, 'Oh, this is actually so fashion-forward.' "The 'Mean Girls' red carpet was a very full-circle moment for me. I knew exactly what I was looking for in terms of my outfit. When I found the black velvet Nana Jacqueline [jumpsuit], I was like, 'That looks like the dress [Lindsay Lohan] wore [in the original 'Mean Girls'].' In a "Mean Girls"-inspired Nana Jacqueline playsuit for the film's premiere. Photo: John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures "I'm very particular about buying certain things for myself first. I waited to buy my first Chanel bag. I wanted to do it for my 30th birthday. In my 20s, I was dating a guy and he was like, 'I'll buy you a Chanel bag.' I was like, 'Don't piss me off so badly.' I went into a vintage store in Saratoga, where I'm from, that had this black patent leather Chanel boy bag with silver hardware. It was exactly what I wanted. I was going back and forth did I want to get patent leather, regular leather, gold, silver? I couldn't make a decision... So, when I saw it, I was just like, 'That's my bag.' "My number one rule that I would want to tell people is: If you like it, wear it. If you truly love it, who cares? If it's out of style, who cares? There's never been someone's outfit that I have thought about for more than two days, good or bad. So if you like it, wear it." This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way does this affect our editorial decision-making. Want the latest fashion industry news first? Sign up for our daily newsletter. (Bloomberg) -- Chinas equity rout a few weeks ago was exacerbated by quantitative funds stampeding to exit positions, akin to a 2007 episode in the US when such investors suffered an abrupt meltdown that roiled markets. Most Read from Bloomberg Thats the analysis of Man Groups Ziang Fang, who said in a note this week that the unwinding of these funds positions was so massive that it spurred small-cap stocks to underperform by a historic margin. Chinas intervention to stem the turmoil also caused significant market dislocations, compounding the losses for these funds, according to Fang, a portfolio manager at the worlds largest publicly listed hedge fund. Crowded positioning and high leverage contributed to the Chinese quants woes, resembling the events of August 2007 when a number of US model-driven hedge funds saw similarly sudden losses, he said. Chinas recent quant quake has revealed systemic financial risks as a series of interconnected events and highlights the perils of crowding and leverage, according to Fang, a Boston-based manager responsible for China and emerging-market strategies at Man Numeric, a quant investment division at Man Group. A spokesperson at the firm declined to comment on details of their China strategies. In the US in August 2007, as the subprime mortgage market was starting to deteriorate, some long-short quant funds saw sudden, large losses. Subsequent research found that the declines may have been the result of a chain of events, where quantitative portfolios being unwound fueled the unraveling of other similar portfolios. Read more: Goldmans Quant Unit Rebuilt on Lessons Learned in 2007 Meltdown Now Chinese quant funds are drawing increasing scrutiny from regulators around whether they amplified a stock selloff that has wiped out more than $6 trillion of market valuation in China and Hong Kong since a peak in 2021. In the past, such funds have countered that they bought the dip in the nations stocks. Chinas benchmark CSI 300 Index sank to a five-year low this month. Story continues On Tuesday, Chinas two main stock exchanges froze the accounts of a major quantitative hedge fund for three days after the money manager dumped 2.57 billion yuan ($360 million) in shares within a minute. China has also banned major institutional investors from reducing equity holdings at the open and close of each trading day, part of steps to bolster the market. In the note, Man Groups Fang laid out how these funds were caught up in the selloff and examined their role in deepening the slide. A popular strategy for these model-driven funds involves buying small-cap stocks, which are seen as more prone to mispricing relative to their underlying value, and therefore, more profitable for computer programs to exploit. To hedge their broad market exposure, the funds would sell short index futures, such as the CSI 500 Index. The trouble for the long-short strategy with leverage ratios sometimes reaching more than 3:1 started to emerge in early February as equities tumbled, Fang said. The slump triggered some features of financial derivatives that prompted issuers of the instruments to sell index futures for protection. As the futures tumbled and volatility skyrocketed, so did hedging costs for the quant funds, and their long-short strategy suddenly faltered, the portfolio manager wrote. Read more: China Snowballs and Their Role in This Years Stock Selloff: Q&A Adding to their struggles, Fang wrote, state-affiliated funds swooped in and bought large-cap and mid-cap equities to stabilize the market, leaving small stocks behind. The intervention had unintended consequences, he said. Investors flocked to large stocks as havens, exacerbating the declines for smaller stocks. That led to large-scale dumping of both long and short positions by quant funds. Read more: Chinas Small-Cap Crash Shows What Happens Without Market Rescue For several days, stocks with the smallest market valuation trailed those with the largest market-cap by more than 10%, according to Fang. In Wall Street parlance, it was a 10-sigma move, he said, an event that, in theory, would almost never have happened. Even more striking, the divergence between mid-cap stocks and the rest of the markets represented a 16-sigma move. State-backed funds later appeared to have expanded their support to small-caps, buying exchange-traded funds targeting the sector and putting a floor under the market. The CSI 300 has rebounded 9% from the five-year low touched Feb. 2. Small-cap stocks fared even better, with the CSI 1000 rising 18% from the Feb. 5 close. Fang, however, said that it remains to be seen whether the governments rescue is enough to revive market confidence, noting that similar efforts in 2015-2016 didnt lead to a V-shaped recovery. Even after this months rebound, the CSI 300 is still down about 40% over the past three years on concern that authorities arent doing enough to boost the economy and market confidence amid a years-long housing slump. Ultimately, a revival in the Chinese economy and an upturn in corporate earnings are essential for overcoming this crisis, Fang said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Spirit will be launching a new route from Houston to Travel + Leisure's 2024 Destination of the Year. Sean Arena/Travel + Leisure Spirit Airlines is making it easier to get to Costa Rica thanks to a brand-new flight launching next month from Houston. The new route, which will launch on March 6, will operate daily between George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and San Joses Juan Santamaria International Airport, the Costa Rica Tourism Board shared with Travel + Leisure. The flight will complement Spirits other service to Costa Rica from both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. "San Jose is the gateway to all the beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica, and this new route will open up new travel opportunities for U.S guests to enjoy Pura Vida, John Kirby, the vice president of route planning at Spirit Airlines, said in a statement shared with T+L. The flight will depart Houston at 2:40 p.m. each day and arrive in San Jose at 5:35 p.m. local time. William Rodriguez, Costa Ricas minister of tourism, said in the statement the new flight will bring benefits and quality of life for many Costa Ricans. It is the institutions commitment to maintain ongoing negotiations with airlines to increase frequencies and establish direct connections to U.S. cities hosting the largest number of potential tourists extremely interested in traveling to Costa Rica," Rodriguez added. Costa Rica was named T+Ls Destination of the Year for 2024, known for its pristine beaches, incredible resorts, wellness offerings, and endless adventure. The launching of a new route to Costa Rica comes weeks after Spirit postponed flights to the brand new airport in Tulum, Mexico, due to ongoing mechanical issues with engine parts. Those flights were originally scheduled to take off from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale on March 28. Spirit is a low-cost airline, offering bare-bones tickets and charging for perks like baggage and seat selection. The carrier offers a paid yearly membership program, the Saver$ Club, which includes discounts on those extras, as well as offers a status-matching program to give travelers access to those same types of perks for a fee. JetBlue had an agreement to buy and merge with Spirit, but a federal judge last month blocked that merger. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Those undergoing IVF may have embryos they don't plan to use; here's what happens when those embryos are donated to others. (Image: Getty; designed by Quinn Lemmers) Each year in the United States, fertility treatment centers perform hundreds of thousands of assisted reproductive cycles in which eggs or embryos are handled. In 2020, for example, there were 326,468 such procedures. And of those procedures, 75,023 births resulted, accounting for approximately 2% of the country's live births. Another 123,304 of those procedures involved the banking of eggs or embryos (a fertilized egg), meaning they were frozen for use at a later time. A ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court in February has brought new scrutiny to what happens to these frozen embryos, which the court determined could be considered children under state law. As such, it would be illegal to destroy any leftover embryos. The ruling has raised concern about the future of IVF, and prompted some fertility clinics, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to pause IVF treatments rather than expose their patients and providers to legal risk. While there is no hard data on the outcome of cryogenically preserved embryos in the U.S., some people in recent years have chosen to donate their unused embryos to others who may not be able to create their own. Instead of storing their embryos indefinitely or authorizing them to be destroyed, these donors whether privately or through an agency pay it forward to others going through the painful infertility journey that they themselves experienced. Before we started our fertility journey, I made it really clear to my wife that I was not going to be destroying any embryos, says Estelle, a mother of three who asked to not use her last name. I never cared about donating. It never bothered me. I had no hang-ups or moral compunction, no this is my child feelings. When a good friend confided that she wanted to have children but that her own biological embryos were not succeeding, Estelle thinking that she and her wife were finished having children after their first two had no hesitation in offering her the remaining three embryos from her own experience using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Because this was a privately arranged donation, Estelle was able to designate her friend as recipient without any further testing or legal issues. While the transfers were unsuccessful and her friend was unable to carry a pregnancy to term, Estelle always knew that had a child resulted, she would have been in that childs life. We planned to be open with the child, she says. Had the baby been born, we would have made a more regular effort so that the kid knew its genetic family. After Estelle donated her remaining embryos to her friend, she decided to have another child. This time, given her age and delays caused by COVID, she opted to use a donated embryo. There were four or five in the donor bank and I was given a choice after reviewing the profiles of the parents. I paid a $1,000 administration fee to cover paperwork and testing, Estelle says. After implanting the donated embryo, Estelle went on to have a successful pregnancy and delivered a son. He is 100% mine, no question, she says of the boy, who is genetically different from her other children and a different race. We didnt know what he would look like before he was born. But there is nothing of him not mine, she says. While the donor process in this case was anonymous, Estelle has requested that her fertility doctor convey a message to the donor parents that their child is healthy and happy and loved. We really want them to know, she says. And if they decided to meet him, we would say yes. But Estelle recognizes that just because the process was anonymous does not indicate indifference. Theres a level of care required to donate embryos, because its not so easy. The embryo bank requires psychological counseling, FDA testing and a lot in order to donate which wouldnt be necessary if you were to discard them, she says. Much like other paths to pregnancy, age is a contributing factor to the success of IVF in general as well as embryo donation. There are, however, no distinctions between regulations for donor embryos and traditional IVF. According to Dr. Beth McAvey, who is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as obstetrics and gynecology, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine says that embryo transfer is not recommended past the age of 50, with some exceptions made for patients up to 55 with no medical comorbidities. We will engage with a high-risk ob-gyn to obtain pre-conception advice in older recipient patients, McAvey says. Individual clinics may also adhere to their own set restrictions for donors at the age of embryo creation, although there is no national standard or requirement and most clinics rely on embryo testing to determine whether or not the embryo is healthy. When Christie and her husband tried to start their family, they were unable to conceive on their own. We tried to have children like everybody else, but after a long time, we decided to get help with it, says Christie, who also opted to not disclose her full name for privacy reasons. We did IUI [intrauterine insemination] three times, and when that didnt work, I gave up hope for a few years. But four years later, in 2017, our doctor said if we were willing to try IVF, now was the time. Due to genetic factors, Christie was unable to stay pregnant using her own genetic materials. After a miscarriage, she spent a year grieving the loss of her own fertility and the inability to have biological children. She and her husband switched physicians, and the fertility specialist offered them donor material both sperm and egg to create embryos. On their second try, they found compatible donors and were able to create 16 healthy embryos. My first pregnancy, the doctor transferred two embryos, and I was able to successfully deliver two babies, Christie says. And on the second attempt at age 42, the doctor transferred two more embryos, though this time only one pregnancy resulted. I would have liked to have four children, but three was the total number we have, she says. At this point Christie and her husband had 12 embryos left over, and they needed to decide how to proceed. They did not want to have more children, but Christie also didnt want the embryos to be destroyed. For me, I want them to be a person and be on this earth and live their life, Christie says. Thats my faith belief. While the embryos were not genetically related to Christie and her husband, they are biologically connected to their children, and so she had some requests when donating. We wanted the children to grow up with a faith tradition like their siblings, she says. Christie and her husband know the realities of modern-day DNA-matching websites, and they have always been transparent with their own children about their origins, so they plan on also sharing the news that other siblings may exist. Through her doctor, Christie learned of Embryo Connections, a concierge embryo donation program that connects donors with intended parents. They facilitated the donation of Christies embryos. At present, her remaining four embryos are being placed with a receiving family. Embryo Connections was started by Deb Roberts who started her own family using donor embryos. For donors, Roberts says that the matching process is completely cost-free, while those receiving donor embryos pay between $9,000 to $11,000 to cover legal, medical, shipping and counseling fees. Embryo connections has specific parameters for donated embryos that differ from other services. We go up to age 42 for egg contributor and 62 for the sperm contributor, she says, But all the embryos are tested. Additionally, because Embryo Connections requires the embryos to be full blast and vitrified, meaning at least four days old, most of the embryos they receive were created after 2010, when freezing technology made this possible. This age increases the chance of a successful implantation and pregnancy for intended parents. Roberts sees her service as a life-affirming one that provides intended parents with the chance to have children. The fertility industry has a big gap because they dont want to consider anything other than moving human tissue where it needs to go, she says. Its extremely clinical. But Roberts created her agency with the wishes of donor-conceived persons in mind, and to fill a gap for those who dont fit into the parameters of other donor agencies. Faith-based organizations have restrictions on marital status, sexual orientation and age, she says. We just want to give people the opportunity to parent without these restrictions. This article was originally published on July 19, 2023 and has been updated. Besides drinking green beer, there's no better way to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day than eating a dish made with corned beef. The salty, tender meat is commonly put on sandwiches with sauerkraut or eaten alongside cabbage. For another tasty way to incorporate corned beef into your St. Patrick's Day feast, try mixing it into your potato salad. Simply dice your cooked corned beef and mix the bits into your favorite potato salad recipe for an upgraded, meat-filled side dish that your friends and family will be sure to love. It's kind of like putting bacon in your salad, but with a heartier, meatier bite that will fill you up and prepare you for any St. Paddy's Day-related activities. Corned beef is typically a cut of brisket that's been cured for several days in salt water, spices, and herbs, which typically include black peppercorn, mustard seed, coriander, red pepper flakes, anise seeds, and bay leaves. Despite the name, there's no corn involved in this brined and roasted meat. The name "corned beef" dates back to the 17th century and refers to the large kernels of rock salt that were used to preserve the meat. The salty, slightly sour flavor of the beef pairs perfectly with earthy vegetables like potatoes and carrots. Try adding ingredients like shredded cabbage and dill pickle as well to your potato salad to complement the spiced meatiness of the corned beef. Read more: The Unexpected Meat You Need To Avoid Grilling At All Costs Why Do We Eat Corned Beef On St. Patrick's Day? Corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots - Fotek/Getty Images Corned beef came out of the Cattle Acts of the 1660s, in which the English parliament outlawed cattle exports to England, keeping more cows in Ireland and making meat more affordable for the Irish (via Food & Wine). Thanks to a significantly lower salt tax compared to their English neighbors, Ireland was able to produce higher-quality corned beef using excellent salt imported typically from Spain and Portugal. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Irish city of Cork was the hub for the corned beef trade. As a cured meat, it was perfect for long-distance travel and grew in demand across oceans and continents, causing prices to skyrocket until rural Irish people could no longer afford to eat it and turned instead to pork and potatoes. When Irish immigrants arrived in the United States, they found beef to be more plentiful and accessible than in their homeland and were able to recreate the dish. Today, corned beef is eaten more in the U.S. than in Ireland, but it is still considered a food representative of Irish heritage and culture. Potatoes are commonly served alongside sliced corned beef. One could argue, then, that adding the brined meat to a creamy potato dish just makes sense. Besides the salty, meaty flavor boost, adding corned beef to your potato salad is also like doubling your Irish pride. Potatoes are a well-known Irish staple, with deep roots dating back to the late 16th century, when the crop was first introduced to Ireland and became one of the most commonly eaten and available foods for the nation. Eating potatoes is a great way to celebrate Irish culture and commemorate the Great Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s, which resulted in a large number of Irish people migrating to the U.S. to avoid starvation and start a new life. Other Tasty St. Patrick's Day Foods Colcannon in wooden bowl - vm2002/Shutterstock For another way to incorporate corned beef in your St. Paddy's Day feast, try adding some to another traditional Irish side dish called colcannon. While potato salad consists of boiled chunks of potato and a creamy dressing, colcannon is a mixture of mashed potatoes and greens like cabbage, kale, or chard. You can mix in bacon or serve it with sliced or diced corned beef. This is also a great way to use your leftover corned beef in another dish that can be served post-St. Patrick's Day. Of course, the meal wouldn't be complete without a tasty green drink. If you're not a green beer fan, try making a refreshing green cocktail for your St. Patrick's Day party. You don't have to use food dye in your cocktails (or mocktails) -- the green color can come from fruits and vegetables like spinach, basil, pear, honeydew melon, cucumber, and lime, for something that not only looks festive, but also tastes invigorating and scrumptious. Read the original article on Daily Meal. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Peanut butter is one of the hardest working ingredients in your kitchen. It's a reliable, affordable source of protein. You can use it in savory recipes and in sweet, nutty desserts. And it does the majority of the heavy lifting in a classic PB&J. Just like there are many ways to use peanut butter, it comes in many forms. There's smooth and creamy, crunchy and chunky, and a whole spectrum of textures in between. Some peanut butter brands have a sweet and nostalgic flavor, while others are made from pure, unadulterated peanut. And don't even get us started on the "stir vs. no stir" debate. Many peanut butter lovers are fiercely loyal and refuse to deviate from their favorite brand. But the market has grown, and there are so many different types of peanut butter out thereand one of these might become your new go-to. That's why we decided to do the hard work for you to determine which peanut butter brands are the best. We sampled over a dozen brands, and our team of food experts ranked them from worst to best. We considered everythingtexture, sweetness, ease of use, and versatility. So if you're looking to expand your peanut butter horizons, you can choose the right brand for you. Want to stock the rest of your kitchen with the best of the best? Check out our favorite tortilla chips, barbecue sauces, and frozen chicken nuggets. Fix and Fogg Fix & Fogg talks a big game: their high-oleic peanuts are sourced from Argentina, steel cut, and seasoned with New Zealand sea salt before going in the jar. But sadly, the finished product is pretty disappointing. One of our editors said the "actual flavor isn't great," while another said it tasted vaguely like plastic. And from a purely practical perspective, the neck of the jar is way too small to properly stir the peanut butter. Shop Now Fix and Fogg amazon.com $20.90 Amazon Once Again The "salt free" label on this peanut butter told us all we needed to know. This peanut butter is super bland. Our tasters absolutely hated the texture, with some saying that it "coats your mouth like mud and sticks to the back of your throat." Another one of us said that it has a "gummy and strangely gooey texture." Shop Now Once Again amazon.com $12.89 Amazon Smart Balance You may know Smart Balance for their alternative butter spreads, but you probably haven't heard of their peanut butter. And there's a reason why: it's gross. Something about it is just off. We're not sure if the flaxseed oil has something to do with it, but this peanut butter tastes like it shouldn't even be edible. Shop Now Smart Balance amazon.com $6.68 Amazon Peter Pan Peter Pan has overcome some tough PR in its nearly 100-year history, yet it's still the worst legacy PB brand on the market. Don't get us wrong: we don't have a problem with the added sugar. What we do have a problem with is that the peanut flavor is overwhelmed by the other ingredients. There are other nostalgic peanut butter brands that are better. Shop Now Peter Pan target.com $1.99 Target Brad's Organic At their peak, no-stir peanut butters taste like a pure expression of peanut. But at their worst, they're greasy and bland. Brad's Organic hovers somewhere in the middlebut it's closer to the latter. Their peanut butter doesn't lacks the right amount of salt that highlights the natural flavors of the nut. The nuts themselves could also benefit from a darker roast. Shop Now Brad's Organic amazon.com $11.49 Amazon Smucker's Natural The king of jelly also has their own line of peanut butter (how else are they going to make Uncrustables?). Their no-stir peanut butter is relatively easy to combine and have a deep, peanut-forward flavor. But just like with Brad's Organic, this peanut butter is in dire need of some salt. Even adding a pinch would take this PB to the next level. Shop Now Smucker's Natural target.com $2.99 Target Reese's When it comes to Halloween candy, Reese's is king. So it's only natural that they'd expand their peanut-based products to come in jar form. We absolutely love how creamy and rich this peanut butter is. The salt and sugar level is also pretty intense in this jar. We think it's perfect peanut butter to use for baking projects (buckeyes, anyone?), but we wouldn't want to spread this on a stalk of celery. Shop Now Reese's walmart.com $3.38 Walmart PB2 The brand PB2 is a pioneer in the recent innovation of powdered peanut butter. You can rehydrate it, use it in shakes and smoothies, and even incorporate it into your baking. We love that it's naturally lower in fat than traditional peanut butters, and we love the many possibilities for using it. But on its own, it still doesn't compare to the real thing. Shop Now PB2 amazon.com $18.99 Amazon Skippy You can't have a peanut butter taste test without including Skippy. It's ubiquitous, it's accessible, it's affordable, and it just tastes like childhood. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Skippybut we have some notes. We love that it's cheap, but as one tester says, "it tastes like it." We love to use it when we're baking or when we want to enjoy a spoonful of peanut butter as a treat, but it's just not the best brand out there. Shop Now Skippy amazon.com $5.14 Amazon Peanut Butter & Co. Peanut Butter & Co. is basically like Skippy's fancier cousin. This brand technically sells "peanut butter spreads," so you can expect more of that sweet and salty flavor that you'd normally find with legacy PB brands. But something about it also just feels more elevated. You taste more of the peanut butter, and you have the extra peace of mind knowing that they use higher-quality ingredients. Shop Now Peanut Butter & Co. amazon.com $4.12 Amazon Justin's Since first launching in 2004, Justin's has grown to become one of the most recognizable peanut butter brands. They also offer a wide variety of products using different nuts and flavorings. Justin's strikes the ideal balance between a traditional peanut butter and a natural recipe. You don't have to stir it, yet it still tastes like peanuts. Our only gripe is that it's on the expensive side. Shop Now Justin's amazon.com $6.74 Amazon Crazy Richard's Crazy Richard's is another brand offering a natural peanut butter with a pure peanut-y taste. In fact, everything about it just screams peanut. Their creamy offerings still have some texture and heft to them to remind you of what actually went in the jar. There's a solid amount of seasoning that draws out the best possible flavor too. Our only gripe is that it's kind of pain to stirbut not impossible. Shop Now Crazy Richard's amazon.com $8.91 Amazon Jif Of all the old school peanut butters on the market, Jif is the GOAT. Just like with other nostalgic brands, there's enough sugar and salt to make the peanut butter taste like a special treat. What sets it apart from competitors, however, is the balance of flavor. It's more neutral and less salt-forward than similar brands, which makes it infinitely more versatile. Shop Now Jif amazon.com $8.49 Amazon Teddie This is the best natural peanut butter on the market. Beyond the adorable bear on the label, Teddie's recipe is seriously solid. The texture isn't too thick, which means it's super easy to stir and eat. Most importantly, Teddie tastes like pure, unadulterated peanut. It's intense and super concentrated, and it comes with just the right amount of salt to let the flavors sing. It's like eating a pack of airplane peanuts in the best way possible. Shop Now Teddie amazon.com $29.99 Amazon Santa Cruz Santa Cruz has a lot of different peanut butter options, and they're all very solid choices. Their natural varieties are reliable and well-seasoned. They offer both light and dark roasted recipes so everybody's happy. But one jar in particular swept the entire competition: their dark roasted, no stir peanut butter spread. It's arguably the best peanut butter of all time. Santa Cruz's no-stir version is perfectly creamy, perfectly seasoned, and has the most intense peanut flavor of all the brands we tried. Do yourself a favor and buy a jar (or three). Shop Now Santa Cruz amazon.com $21.57 Santa Cruz You Might Also Like The U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition by the South Carolina Ports Authority to hear a long-running labor dispute case over who gets to operate cranes at the Port of Charlestons Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, giving the ports union dockworkers a major victory during their on-and-off contract negotiations with their maritime employers on the East Coast. With the court making its decision Tuesday, dockworkers with the International Longshoremens Association (ILA) will continue to operate Leatherman cranes. More from Sourcing Journal The Supreme Courts decision not to hear the Leatherman case secures a victory for the ILA, affirming our master contract, said ILA president Harold Daggett in a post on Facebook. Now, any new terminal falls under ILAs jurisdiction, and if not then the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) ocean carriers cant call that terminal. The dispute dates back to 2020, when the S.C. ports revealed plans to operate the then-newly constructed $1 billion terminal in the Port of Charleston, using non-union state workers as crane lift operators, while ILA members performed other duties. A year later, in response to the hybrid employment model established at Leatherman, the union filed a lawsuit against the USMX and container shipping lines Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL. At the time, the ILA alleged that the USMX violated the terms of their master contract by allowing non-union members to perform unloading tasks at a newly built terminal. Both ocean carriers were wrapped into the suit as well for not employing ILA members for all master contract work at the terminal. The suit sought $300 million from the carriers, effectively spooking other shipping lines into avoiding the terminal even as vessels saw increasing congestion at other U.S. ports. The South Carolina ports subsequently filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that the ILAs action was an attempt to prevent one company from doing business with another in order to acquire additional employment, which violated the National Labor Relations Act. But last July, the NLRB dismissed the complaint, ruling that the union workers could fill all the jobs at Leatherman. That decision was later upheld by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, affirming the NLRBs conclusion that work for the union employees involved the loading and unloading generally at East and Gulf Coast ports. We are disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court did not decide to take up the issue regarding S.C. Ports jobs at Leatherman Terminal, said Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, in a statement. We will work together with the ILA to bring forward a solution that unlocks much-needed terminal capacity and prioritizes caring for our workforces and providing excellent service for our customers. The petition denial could impact potential new terminals at ports in both South Carolina and Georgia, both of which are right-to-work states that are typically not friendly to unions. As a result, ports like Charleston and Savannah have to run the hybrid models that employ both non-union state and union employees alike. With the high court denial, ILA workers will exclusively operate the cranes at Leatherman. The two other terminals at the Port of CharlestonWando Welch and North Charlestonwere not affected by the courts decision, and will continue the hybrid model since neither is newly built. The South Carolina Ports Authority is in favor of the hybrid model, having long argued that a solely unionized workforce would burden the terminal by increasing operational costs. ILA wages are governed by their master contract with the USMX, unlike those set for state employees, and tend to be higher. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who voted to fight pro-union policies to the gates of hell in his State of the State address in January, is another party that isnt too keen on the Supreme Courts decision. We wish that they had agreed to take it and decided our way, but they didnt take the case, McMaster said during a Tuesday briefing. Were going to fight on this, of course. This is big enough to have an impact on our portthe fact that the Supreme Court did not take the case means that theyll have an opportunity to take a case later, perhaps when the issues are more thoroughly developed. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the only justice who said he would have approved a formal request for the court to consider the case. To move forward, at least four justices must agree to hear the case. The airline will resume flights from Newark first with the goal to gradually increase service in the coming months. Michele D'Amico supersky77/Getty Images United Airlines will resume flights to Israel this spring for the first time in months, becoming the first major carrier in the United States to do so since the start of the war in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Starting next month, United plans to resume daily flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and Tel Aviv, the airline announced. The first couple flights on March 2 and March 4 will stop in Munich to ensure all service providers are ready to support non-stop service to and from Newark with the goal of resuming daily nonstop service on March 6. Per the announcement, the airline hopes to increase its schedule with a second daily flight between Newark and Tel Aviv as soon as May, and would evaluate resuming flights to the country from San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Chicago in the fall. United conducted a detailed safety analysis in making this decision, including close work with security experts and government officials in the United States and Israel, the airline wrote in a statement. We also worked closely with the Air Line Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants to develop the protocols to ensure they are safe and well-informed. The U.S. Department of State, which designates Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization, has issued an advisory for U.S. citizens in Israel and the West Bank to reconsider travel due to terrorism and civil unrest, and to not travel to Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict. Airlines in the U.S. and around the world first suspended flights to Israel in October after Israel declared war on Hamas following a violent invasion of the country's borders. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Content is created by CNN Underscoreds team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, CNN and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Learn more Kate Blanc Cosmetics If youre looking to simplify your hair care routine, theres one catchall ingredient you should consider incorporating: argan oil. This natural oil nourishes all hair types yep, even fine and thin textures while also offering a slew of other benefits including heat protection, damage repair and enhanced shine (well get into all its advantages in a bit). Hairstylists have sung argan oil treatments praises for decades, but people arent as familiar with how to use the ingredient at home. So, to clear the confusion once and for all, we tapped three professional hairstylists to explain exactly what argan oil is and how to properly implement it into your at-home hair regimen. Plus, our experts share some of their favorite argan oil-infused formulas from the best hair oils to shampoos and stylers that you can use to have a great hair day every day. What is argan oil? Argan oil is a natural oil that is cold-pressed from the kernels of argan trees, a plant native to Morocco. Its an extremely popular ingredient in skin and hair care products because its full of fatty acids, explains Wes Sharpton, a professional hairstylist and lead brand educator at Hairstory. Along with fatty acids, the oil is rich in antioxidants and offers seemingly endless benefits to hair. Argan oil serves as a potent moisturizer, offering hydration and nourishment to dry and damaged hair, says Rogerio Cavalcante, stylist and owner of the Second Floor Salon in New York City. Additionally, it helps control frizz, acts as a protective shield against heat styling tools, prevents split ends and imparts a radiant shine to the hair, contributing to an overall healthy appearance. Whats more, Sharpton adds that some studies show that argan oil can guard against sun damage too. What hair types can use argan oil? The word oil might deter those with oily hair from using argan oil, but celebrity hairstylist Annagjid Kee Taylor assures that all hair types can use the ingredient. That said, Cavalcante says that those with thick, coarse or coily hair will reap the most benefits from the ingredient because these hair types are usually prone to dryness and require extra hydration and nourishment. Thick and coily hair types can use the oil as part of their daily routine, Taylor says, while those with fine and straight hair should use less to avoid a greasy effect. Applying argan oil two to three times a week is a good sweet spot for finer hair types. Can I apply argan oil directly on my hair? The short answer is yes, you can apply pure argan oil directly to wet or dry hair or you can use argan oil-infused hair products, like shampoos and conditioners, masks, detanglers and more. If you opt for pure argan oil, there are a few ways to use it. Argan oil is most effective when applied after washing your hair, while the hair is still wet, Taylor says. Besides helping the hair to dry and detangle faster, it nourishes from the roots to the ends and promotes shine. Some may prefer applying argan oil to damp hair for easier distribution, while others may use it on dry hair for a finishing touch, Cavalcante adds. It really comes down to personal preference. Regardless of whether you choose to use it on damp or dry hair, he says to apply a small amount to your palms (about pea-sized for fine and thin hair types and nickel-sized for thick and coarser hair) then distribute it through the mid-lengths to ends. If you have thin or fine hair and are nervous of applying too much, consider using it as a rinse-out treatment before washing your hair. Administer the oil in the same way, then let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes before hopping in the shower. Best argan oil hair products Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream Best for curly hair Amazon While all hair types can benefit from argan oil, the nourishing ingredient works especially well for coarse, curly hair. Curly and textured hair needs extra hydration, Cavalcante says. This curl cream leverages the hydrating powers derived from argan oil, leaving hair soft and shiny, and curls well defined. $36 at Amazon $36 at Sephora OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner Best for thick hair Amazon This deeply hydrating argan oil-infused shampoo and conditioner duo enhances glossiness, strength and softness on top of cleansing and conditioning from the jump. Continued use can also protect and repair hair from UV rays and heat damage. $14 at Amazon Kate Blanc Cosmetics Certified Organic Argan Oil Best for fine hair Amazon For an affordable pure argan oil thats especially suitable for fine hair, Taylor recommends this one from Kate Blanc Cosmetics. This light version leaves hair silky smooth, she says. As a bonus, it can also be used on skin. I love that its multiuse because it saves money and space, Taylor says. From $10 at Amazon Kerastase Elixir Ultime LHuile Originale Best for damaged hair Amazon My clients love this [product] and tell me how much [it] has changed their hair with consistent nighttime use, Cavalcante says. Powered by a mix of marula, camelia and (of course) argan oil, this supercharged serum intensely hydrates, softens and smoothes unruly strands. If you are struggling with dry hair and breakage due to excessive use of heat tools, or if you went through a bleaching process that left your hair fragile, adding this to your routine will help manage the damage. From $28 at Amazon From $28 at Sephora NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Repair Leave-In Conditioner and Detangler Best for color-treated hair Ulta If your hair is especially brittle from excessive heat styling and coloring, Taylor suggests adding this leave-in conditioner to your routine. Its super affordable, contains argan oil and works on color-treated hair to moisturize and make it easier to detangle. $19 at Ulta Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil Best for dry hair Amazon For those looking to splurge a little, Taylor raves about Josie Marans Pure Argan Oil. The best part about this product is that the sole ingredient is the argan [oil], she says. You can use as much or as little as you like, and it leaves your hair feeling super hydrated. $49 at Amazon Hairstory New Wash Deep Best for oily hair Amazon Oily hair types may think they need to avoid argan oil, but thats far from the truth. It all comes down to using products specially formulated for their hair type, like this detergent-free cream cleanser from Hairstory. The formula cleanses hair without stripping it of the natural protective barrier and then uses argan oil and other ingredients to moisturize and condition, so you dont need to follow up with a conditioner, Sharpton says. $54 at Amazon Better Not Younger No Remorse Heat Protection and Taming Spray Best styler Amazon This multitasking spray not only shields hair from temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit but it conditions strands with a mix of argan oil, avocado oil and vitamin E, and tamps down frizz for silky smooth, healthy dos. $24 at Amazon $33 at Ulta Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Who doesn't love a good at-home neck massage? This picture might look normal, but using a massage gun on your neck is actually incredibly dangerous for your health. Andrey Popov / Getty Images Recently, over 5 million people watched a now-viral TikTok video of a 27-year-old content creator named Sophie, who shared her recent health scare experience after using a massage gun on her neck for hours. @sophie.dolce / Via tiktok.com In her video, Sophie explained that she woke up with a kink in her neck, and decided to use a massage gun to relieve the pain. "I'm getting my neck, underneath my skull, I'm getting my shoulder, my back, and I'm using it every 30 minutes because it helps temporarily, but the pain comes back. I'm using it from like 8 a.m. until 5 p.m." Sophie said. "I end up getting super sore, red, inflamed like all over where I was using it and I was like, 'Oh god, I feel like worse,'" Sophie explained. "I'm feeling my neck, and I'm like 'Holy shit, there's a lump...' and I can move it around...and it's protruding," Sophie said. After rushing to the doctor, Sophie said that her doctor believed she had developed swollen lymph nodes and warned her about the dangers of using a massage gun on her neck. "I just got out of the doctor's office and my doctor was like, 'Don't you dare ever use a massage gun on your neck'....You've got your jugular, you've got your carotid here, you've got a lot of stuff. But what it can do if you use it on your neck is it can actually stop the blood flow from going to your brain." sophie.dolce / Via tiktok.com People rushed to the comments to share their own experiences with using massage guns on their necks, with one writing: "Not me having a mystery stroke at 28 and constantly using a massage gun on my neck..." This user said: "Within like two seconds of using a massage gun on my neck, I got so dizzy and nauseous." This user shared their experience developing vertigo: "I gave myself vertigo for two weeks doing that." "Yes! My aunt had a stroke from her massage gun," another user wrote. "I've definitely used a massage gun on my neck and my fiance's neck, so thank you for the PSA!" this user wrote. To learn more about the risks of using massage guns on the neck and other areas of the body, BuzzFeed reached out to Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, a doctor of physical therapy based in Los Angeles. Dr. Jeffcoat "You should not use the massage gun on your neck if you are unfamiliar with the anatomy," Dr. Jeffcoat told BuzzFeed. "In addition to lymph nodes, you have your carotid artery, jugular vein, and cervical vertebrae all of which need to be avoided." Westend61 / Getty Images Dr. Jeffcoat explained that a trained physical therapist using a massage gun would know to avoid "dangerous structures" that could cause potential health problems. pipat wongsawang / Getty Images "It is feasible that the lymph vessels can become inflamed, as occurs when deep lymphatic drainage techniques are applied. If the blood vessels become inflamed, this is known as vasculitis, and can lead to narrowing of the blood vessels," Dr. Jeffcoat told BuzzFeed. "When this occurs, it restricts blood flow to the organ it is supplying (or restricts blood flow away from the organ it's leaving). In this case, if the carotid artery is impaired, that means less blood flow to brain, and less oxygen to the brain, which could lead to loss of movement or sensation or brain cell death." Sebastian Kaulitzki / Science Photo Library / Getty Images "If you receive any adverse event (pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, visual changes), you should discontinue immediately," Dr. Jeffcoat warned. "Medical attention may be warranted in some cases. If you are unsure if yours is severe enough, better to be safe than sorry and get to a physician that can rule out the serious issues, like a stroke." bymuratdeniz / Getty Images Dr. Jeffcoat also advised avoiding using massage guns in areas where there are "high nerves, arterial or vein pathways, especially where there is not a lot of muscle mass to protect it, such as the groin, clitoris, behind the knee and armpits." "Keep massage guns off the bones. You can tell because it will get louder and produce a greater 'thumping' action. Please also keep that massage gun away from the clitoris! It's a highly sensitive structure and may not respond well to massage guns. Also, don't use a massage gun over your gut. It can hyper-stimulate your bowels and lead to loose stools." AndreyPopov / Getty Images "Typically we see injuries of patients going too long and at too high of a speed, leading to prolonged muscle soreness," Dr. Jeffcoat told BuzzFeed. Boy_Anupong / Getty Images "Massage guns have become incredibly popular, but you should have some level of instruction as nothing is without risk," Dr. Jeffcoat said. "There are many ways you can use a massage gun, so go in to it understanding what your purpose is. Then seek the right professional help that can help guide you." After a visit to her own physician, Sophie said: "My doctor thinks that what happened is that its a lymph node that got inflamed from me using it so much on that area...so Im getting an ultrasound next week." "So yeah, don't use massage guns on your neck, okay? Let's all stay safe!" sophie.dolce / Via tiktok.com You can keep up with Sophie on TikTok. Have you had a health scare while using a massage gun? Let us know in the comments below. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." What has Zendaya worn on the international press tour for Dune: Part Two? It might be more productive to ask what she hasnt worn. To no ones surprise, the Emmy winner and longtime stylist Law Roach have used the slate of red carpet events, premieres, and photo calls to roll out a fashion extravaganza, with Zendayas wardrobe teeming with sci-fi-themed outfits that pay homage to the expansive world-building of the interstellar Dune universe. Nothing is off the table when it comes to method dressing, as Roach put it in an interview with Bazaar earlier this month. Thus far, this has involved a chrome suit of armor (with cheeky see-through panels), a slouchy menswear set that resembled a literal sand dune, and a dystopian-esque knotted dress slashed with cutouts across the abdomen. Zendaya clearly has no qualms about stretching the limits of what it means to dress like a movie star. But in her latest appearance, in Seoul, South Korea, she proved that even her quieter looks possess an uncanny ability to make the fashion world salivate. Chung Sung-Jun - Getty Images Chung Sung-Jun - Getty Images All this is to say, Zendaya and Roach took a more subdued route with her Seoul outfit, sourcing a vintage ensemble from Alexander McQueens Givenchy Fall/Winter 1999 ready-to-wear collection. The look in question is a stone-gray set composed of a structured zip-up turtleneck and a form-fitting pencil skirt with a center leg slit on the back. These descriptors alone are enough to make any office siren want to get their hands on a similar set, but its the bright red, glow-in-the-dark circuit-board design that takes it to the next level. The glitchy motherboard design covers the entirety of the jacket, as well as the bottom half of the skirt, imbuing the set with the same sense of sci-fi fantasy that has permeated the rest of Zendayas Dune press tour wardrobe. The Euphoria star polished off the look with transparent black tights and shiny black Louboutin pumps with a crystallized red sole. Han Myung-Gu - Getty Images Just a little something for the people.. Roach later teased on Instagram. He added, @zendaya wearing archival @givenchy designed by the Genius Lee McQueen . You Might Also Like A 16-month-old girl died after Ohio officials say she was left alone in a Pack-N-Play for more than a week while her mother went on vacation. On Feb. 22, 32-year-old Kristel Candelario, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder and one count of endangering children in connection with her daughters death, according to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. OMalley. McClatchy News reached out to Candelarios attorneys for comment Feb. 22 but did not receive an immediate response. This case is one of those truly unimaginable cases that will stick with me for many years to come, OMalley said in a Feb. 22 news release. Candelario left her daughter home alone on June 6 to travel to Detroit and Puerto Rico, and did not return until June 16, officials said. She found her daughter unresponsive when she came home and called police, the prosecutor said. The toddler was pronounced dead, and and investigation by the Cleveland Division of Police found that the child was extremely dehydrated at the time of death, officials said. The child was discovered in a Pack-N-Play pen on a liner soiled with urine and feces with soiled blankets, according to OMalley. Candelario was arrested June 19, court records show. She will be sentenced March 18. Mother let 16-month-old waste away and die, AZ officials say. Shes going to prison 2-week-old dies after mom falls asleep while breastfeeding, cops say. I did it again Babies kidnapped during Ohio car theft, then abandoned, feds say. Woman pleads guilty HEALDSBURG, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Maze Row Wine Merchant announced today that it has been appointed the exclusive U.S. importer of Alto Adige's Girlan, effective immediately. Founded in 1923, Cantina Girlan is a revered producer of terroir-focused Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Today, Cantina Girlan is comprised of 200 deeply committed winegrowers and their families, farming an area covering approximately 220 hectares of vineyards in the best wine-producing areas of the Alto Adige. Girlan joins a portfolio of esteemed wineries from Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and California's Central Coast. (PRNewsfoto/Maze Row Wine Merchant) (PRNewsfoto/Maze Row Wine Merchant) "We are excited to expand our portfolio to include Girlan," said Joseph C. Gallo, Founder of Maze Row Wine Merchant. "Girlan has just celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is an honor to represent them in the United States. Their wines truly reflect the character and traditions of high elevation viticulture in Alto Adige. We welcome Girlan to the Maze Row community." Girlan is known for its award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Girlan's hillside vineyards overlook the city of Bolzano, with elevations ranging from 450 to 550 meters. All the Girlan grapes are hand-harvested in alignment with a precise harvest calendar and are gently processed according to their quality, variety, and origin. In 2010, the winery underwent an extensive modernizing project, transforming into a state-of-the-art winemaking facility. From the Girlan portfolio, Maze Row will import Trattmann Pinot Noir Riserva, Patricia Pinot Noir, Marna Chardonnay, Indra Sauvignon, and from the Classici tier, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. Girlan wines will be available in select markets across the U.S. beginning May 1. About Maze Row Wine Merchant Maze Row Wine Merchant is a U.S. importer and exporter of fine wines. Maze Row shares the best in wine and wine culture through a portfolio of acclaimed artisan producers, each selected for their uncompromising devotion to craft. At its core are the dedicated artists and producer families creating truly singular, terroirdriven wines. The portfolio includes Bodega Lanzaga from Spain; Allegrini, Argiano, Brancaia, Girlan, Jermann, Pieropan, Poggio al Tesoro, Ratti, and Tornatore from Italy, Saint Clair in Marlborough, NZ and The Language of Yes, a collaboration with Randall Grahm from California's Central Coast. Please visit mazerow.com for more information. Story continues Press Inquiries Please contact: Lon Gallagher Email: Lon.Gallagher@ejgallo.com Girlan logo Photo credit: Girlan Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maze-row-wine-merchant-grows-portfolio-in-the-us-with-the-addition-of-alto-adiges-cantina-girlan-302068311.html SOURCE Maze Row Wine Merchant JACKSON TWP. The quick action of two Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and a retired trooper saved the life of a Sugar Creek Township man who admitted he's still struggling to figure out how to thank them. The three men were honored Thursday by the patrol at the Canton post. Sgt. Johnnie H. Maier, Trooper William B. Kanters and retired Trooper Matthew L. Mossor received the patrol's Certificates of Recognition. "I'm here because of the result of their actions," 61-year-old Walt Neff said. "Those are three names I will never forget." The three were on the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving an ATV on Dec. 8 in Sugar Creek Township when Neff arrived. Neff's son was driving the ATV. After speaking with troopers, Neff collapsed. The troopers and Mossor, who was operating a tow truck for Luthi's, ran to Neff's aid. Sugar Creek Township resident Walt Neff, center, thanks Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper William B. Kanters while Sgt. Johnnie Maier, right, and Lt. Kaitlyn Kowicki, post commander of the Canton post, look on. Kanters, Maier and retired Trooper Matthew L. Mossor were honored Thursday for their quick action and lifesaving efforts when Neff collapsed at an accident scene. "We were in the right place at the right time," said Mossor, a North Lawrence Fire Department firefighter. Ohio State Highway Patrol Col. Charles Jones: 'It's a happy day' Col. Charles A. Jones, patrol superintendent, explained the troopers had responded to many accident scenes but on that day the situation changed quickly. The men sprung into action assessing Neff and beginning CPR. They used the automated external defibrillator before paramedics from Brewster Fire arrived. "Citizens of Ohio expect when bad things happen, we bring order and calm to chaos," Jones said. "It's a happy day so we can smile." Maier described the scene that day. They had just directed Neff to a safer area as downed power lines made the crash scene unsafe. They were waiting for the utility company to deal with the lines before they could remove the vehicles from the scene. "I looked over and he was lying on the ground," the sergeant said. It wasn't clear what had happened. Had Neff tripped and fell? Upon assessing him, they realized it was more serious. He had no pulse and was struggling to breathe. "I feed off of Mossor. He is a paramedic," Maier said. The men worked as a team. Mossor began CPR while Kanters ran to his vehicle for the AED machine.Mossor guided the others to prepare the machine while continuing compressions. "Everything happened so fast. I just relied on my training and listened to my sergeant," said Kanters, who has been on the job four years. "It's so rewarding [to see Neff]." Mossor said the outcome was amazing, adding, "It's what we do." In his 20-year career with the patrol, Maier had never had to administer CPR. He was grateful that Mossor and Kanters were with him when Neff suffered his cardiac arrest. It wasn't until hours later when Maier and Kanters visited Neff at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital that the sergeant sighed in relief. "I was kind of a nervous wreck," he laughed. "We met with the family and he was sitting up in bed and kind of lifted his hand. That's the moment when I relaxed. I'm so grateful and thankful we were all there. It was a team effort." Col. Charles A. Jones, patrol superintendent, second from right, presents Certificates of Recognition to, from left, retired Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Matthew Mossor, Trooper William B. Kanters and Sgt. Johnnie H. Maier during a ceremony Thursday at the Canton post in Jackson Township for providing first aid to a man who had a cardiac event in Sugar Creek Township at an accident scene. 'I thank them from the bottom of my heart.' Neff doesn't recall much of that day. He remembered getting a call from his wife that his son was involved in a crash. He visited his son at the hospital and then went to the scene of the crash. He recalled talking to the troopers about the unsafe conditions and the crash but then "it was just lights out." The next thing he remembered is waking up in a hospital room. "The accident became a plus one, and it was me," Neff said. "They were mentally and physically prepared. I thank them from the bottom of my heart." Months after his medical emergency, Neff is still trying to figure out what happened. He didn't have any indication of heart trouble that day. Before that day, Neff said he was "healthy as a horse." Other than some soreness from the compressions of CPR, Neff has no outstanding medical problems. His son also recovered from injuries sustained in the crash. Neff's wife, Shari, is grateful for the troopers and Mossor, and happy they were recognized for their lifesaving efforts. "God's blessed us in so many ways with so many people," she said. "It's overwhelming. They did an amazing job. We don't realize what they do on a day-to-day basis. Every day someone needs to go up to them and thank them for the things they do." Neff isn't sure there is any way to repay the men but said he will take every opportunity he has to share the story of how they saved his life. "I have a new respect for what they do and can do," he added. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com. Ohio State Highway Patrol retired Trooper Matthew L. Mossor, left, Trooper William B. Kanters, second from left, and Sgt. Johnnie H. Maier, second from right, were presented Certificates of Recognition on Thursday for providing lifesaving aid to Walt Neff, center, at a crash scene in December. Neff collapsed and did not have a pulse. The three performed CPR and used an AED until paramedics arrived. This article originally appeared on The Independent: Ohio Highway Patrol honors men who saved Walt Neff's life Dozens of archaeological sites in Afghanistan have been bulldozed to allow systematic looting, according to researchers at the University of Chicago. They say their analysis of satellite photos provides the first definitive photographic evidence that looting patterns that began under the previous government have continued since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Ancient settlements dating back to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age - some earlier than 1000BC - are among those they say have been damaged. Most of the sites identified are in northern Afghanistan's Balkh region, which more than two millennia ago was the heartland of Bactria. It was one of the richest and most populous regions of ancient Afghanistan under the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th Century BC. By 327BC, Alexander the Great had conquered the region and married a Bactrian woman named Roxana, after defeating the Achaemenid ruler. Map graphic showing locations of sites identified by Chicago University researchers as bulldozed, most are clustered in the Balkh region west of Mazar-i-Sharif Located on a major east-west Silk Route, the region's central city Bactra - later called Balkh - has been a centre of both the Zoroastrian faith and Buddhist learning. It later became an important Islamic city. The researchers from the University of Chicago's Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation have identified more than 29,000 archaeological sites across Afghanistan, helped by satellite imagery and other tools. But they spotted a new pattern in the Balkh region from 2018 onwards. They say they have identified specks on the images that they are confident are bulldozers because of the way they appear and disappear over time, and the tracks they leave in their wake. These freshly bulldozed areas then appear in later images, covered with pits dug by looters, Prof Gil Stein, the centre's director explained. "Basically, the people were clearing out vast areas to make it easier to loot the site systematically," he told me. This image was sourced by the BBC and corresponds to a location and dates provided by the University of Chicago researchers His team say 162 ancient settlements were "devastated at an astonishing rate of one a week" between 2018 and 2021, and the practice continued at 37 sites after that, under the Taliban. The researchers are not publishing the exact locations to avoid giving information to potential looters. Work documenting many of the sites is in its early stages. This means researchers simply don't know what is buried in the sites, which are mainly mounds, fortresses, early roadside inns known as caravanserais and canal systems. But only 97km (60 miles) away lies Tela Tepe, where a hoard of 2,000-year-old Bactrian gold was discovered in 1978. The "Hill of Gold" contained 20,000 rare items including gold jewellery, an intricate crown and coins, dubbed the Lost Treasures of Afghanistan. An intricate crown was part of the hoard of 2,000-year-old Bactrian gold found at Tela Tepe "You can unearth layers of a civilisation in each mound," says Said Reza Huseini, a research fellow at Cambridge University. Born in Balkh, he spent time in his 20s as a volunteer surveying archaeological sites in northern Afghanistan, including some of those the researchers say have been bulldozed. He was shocked to see the images from the University of Chicago. "When I hear about it, I feel as if my soul is dying," he said. There are no clear answers about who is behind the apparent destruction. Prof Stein says it is significant that the pattern began under the previous government - led by former President Ashraf Ghani - and continued under the Taliban. Mr Ghani's government was weak and did not have full control of some parts of the country. Balkh, including northern Afghanistan's largest city Mazar-i-Sharif, was among the first areas to fall to the Taliban before they captured the capital Kabul in August 2021. Graphic showing satellite images of an archaeological site in Balkh, Afghanistan, showing what researchers say is evidence of bulldozing in April 2021 and pits dug by looters in October 2022 Prof Stein believes the sites may be being looted by people who are wealthy and powerful enough to be able to buy or rent earth-moving equipment, and to move it to rural areas "with nobody interfering". Mr Huseini says some archaeological sites in the area were being looted before he left the country in 2009. "No-one could do excavations and digging without the permission of local strongmen and militias," he told me. "For them, the historic value is not important, they dig and destroy to see what they can find. I've seen it with my own eyes - they even used a soil sieve to check for stuff." He says he was once part of efforts to secure archaeological access to an ancient site where a militia commander was planting opium. Back in 2001, the Taliban caused shock around the world when they blew up the 1,500-year-old Bamiyan Buddhas, once the largest standing Buddha statues in the world, during their first stint in power. But when they returned two decades later, they said they would respect the country's ancient heritage. The Taliban's acting deputy minister for information and culture, Atiqullah Azizi, rejected the claims that looting is taking place, saying an 800-strong unit has been assigned to look after historic sites. He told the BBC some organisations had sent images to the ministry regarding "bulldozer movements and people moving soil" but said that "we sent various teams to check the sites and I can reassure you that there hasn't been a single incident in any of those sites". Said Reza Huseini - pictured here in Balkh in 2007 - helped to survey archaeological sites in the area during his early career The Taliban's defence ministry also said three people were arrested in September, accused of trying to smuggle a stash of antiquities worth about $27m (21.4), including statues, mummies, a golden crown, a book and swords. It says the items were handed over to the national museum and the investigation is continuing. I shared Mr Azizi's response with Prof Stein. He said he couldn't speculate as to why he denied the looting claims, but added: "We can show there was continuity even across two very different political regimes." Prof Stein believes looted artefacts are smuggled out of Afghanistan through Iran, Pakistan and other countries and then end up in Europe, North America, and east Asia. There is a chance some could be showcased, undated and untitled, in auctions and museums around the world. He points out it is hard to track them down if they have never been catalogued, but he believes it is important to try - and to protect the locations where many more could be found. "The heritage of Afghanistan is really part of world heritage and something that honestly belongs to all of us," Prof Stein says. This story was updated at 2:05 p.m. Friday The city of Salem named the two developers it selected to redevelop and revitalize Block 50, the vacant patch of land in north downtown Salem that was once home to the Union Gospel Mission shelter. Edlen & Co. and deChase Miksis were selected to jointly redevelop the property, which comprises nearly a city block north of Chemeketa Street between Commercial and Front Streets, according to agenda for the the Urban Renewal Agency Board meeting on Monday. Developing BLOCK 50 is a milestone for our downtown revitalization," Salem Mayor Chris Hoy said. "Its an exciting project that I hope sparks even more development in the future. We are working tirelessly to support housing and economic development in this city, its great to see it pay off." The concept for the site is a mixed-use development that includes two phases of blended market rate and affordable multi-family housing with retail and public space. City officials said the development team brings decades of urban mixed-use development and operating experience and a long track record of successfully completing public-private partnerships. The city bought the properties on the block to revitalize the site. UGM relocated its shelter to a new, bigger location a couple of blocks north, Saffron Supply moved north, Runaway Art and Craft Studio moved and ABC Music Company closed. The UGM properties were purchased by the city for $1.57 million. The Saffron properties cost $2.09 million. The ABC Music property cost $410,530. Demolition of the structures once housing the Union Gospel Mission of Salem, ABC Music and Saffron Supply Co. began in late 2022. Some of the buildings were fire-damaged and in poor condition from years of deferred maintenance, and demolition and abatement had to be undertaken before the city could open the land to developers. Crews razed the buildings in late 2022. City leaders dubbed the project Block 50 and opened the site up for offers from developers. Late last year, Kristin Retherford, Salem's director of Community Planning and Development, told the Statesman Journal the development would change the profile of the city's center and add vitality and energy to the northwest corner of downtown. The city outlined several goals for the site, including a mix of affordable housing, public open space, retail and commercial uses. Retherford said this could include a grocery or other business that would address a needed service to the growing downtown residential population. This is a key site within the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area and the acquisition, site preparation, and redevelopment of the property has been a goal of the Downtown Advisory Board for nearly a decade," Retherford said Friday. "Its both exciting and rewarding to see their vision move from concept to reality, and for our urban renewal program to bring new life and opportunity to this area." Edlen & Co. is based in Portland and has a portfolio of projects across Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. They were involved in the Pearl District's Brewery Blocks, a five-block, mixed-use historical preservation project that includes apartments, offices, a theater, restaurants and a Whole Foods store. The developer also has been involved in affordable housing projects like the Nick Fish building in Portland. DeChase Miksis is a northwest developer with offices in Eugene, Bend and Boise. Their projects include working with the city of Eugene on the adaptive reuse of the historic EWEB Steam Plant and renovation of the 1940s-era warehouse on 1203 Willamette into retail and commercial development. Salem's evaluation process to select a developer for Block 50 The city of Salem opened up applications for developers for Block 50 in July. According to city documents, an evaluation committee comprised of Downtown Advisory Board Members and city staff reviewed seven proposals. Based on the development team responses, the top three highest-scoring teams moved on through the selection process. "Edlen & Co. and deChase Miksis, along with two other development teams, were invited to participate in an in-person interview opportunity and were asked to share more details on their project vision and answer six additional questions," city staff said in a report to the Urban Renewal Agency Board. The evaluation committee for the in-person interviews included two councilors, the executive director of Salem Housing Authority and city staff. "The results of the second evaluation committee scoring concluded that the project concept/vision, and development experience provided by Edlen & Co. best aligned with the redevelopment goals for the site," city staff said. At the Monday meeting, the agency board is set to vote on whether to execute a memorandum of understanding to formally memorialize the results of the evaluation process to select Edlen & Co. and deChase Miksis as this development team for Block 50. The terms of an agreement will be presented to the Urban Renewal Agency Board for consideration at an unnamed future date. Other items on the Salem City Council agenda Other agenda items for the Salem City Council meeting on Monday include: A vote on whether to authorize the city manager to apply for and accept a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant funds for security and infrastructure improvements at the Salem Municipal Airport. An information report on commercial air service at the Salem Municipal Airport. A vote on whether to authorize the city manager to apply for grant funding to develop a transportation corridor plan for Front Street NE, from the Front Street NE Bypass to South Street NE, through the U.S. Department of Transportation's RAISE program. The transportation corridor plan, which is expected to cost $2.5 million to $5 million, could be key for the revitalization of the Truitt Bros. Cannery project into the mixed-use Cannery development. A plan for transportation improvements is needed due to safety issues resulting from the railroad alignment in the middle of Front Street NE. An update on the Revenue Task Force, which is set to meet seven times, to consider feedback from eight focus groups, three town halls and a statistically valid poll, and deliberate revenue options for the city before presenting a recommendation to Salem City Council in July. How to participate in the Salem City Council meeting The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person in the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and also can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish. Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting. Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom. For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem announces 2 developers for former UGM site in downtown Semafor Signals Insights from The Montgomery Advertiser, Politico, and The Washington Post The News Alabamas highest court last week ruled that embryos are children, and destroying them could constitute wrongful death of a minor. One dissenting justice wrote that the ruling almost certainly ends the creation of frozen embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Alabama. So far, two clinics in the state have paused IVF treatment, citing legal risks to their patients and physicians. The state Supreme Courts ruling raises questions around whether all IVF embryos can be considered children and might have to be transferred to the uterus even though not all embryos produced in the IVF process are viable and could result in miscarriages. Reproductive rights advocates said this decision will make already costly infertility treatments more expensive and difficult to access. The ruling has also left conservative politicians scrambling to react to the policy, which is not in line with public opinion on IVF and that some GOP analysts have warned could alienate more moderate or swing voters. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Ruling could increase wrongful death suits against clinics and those who freeze embryos Sources: Slate, The Montgomery Advertiser If applied consistently, the Alabama courts ruling would fundamentally expand the reach of wrongful death statutes, with serious and unanticipated consequences, law professor John Culhane argued in Slate. Courts in other states have allowed wrongful death claims in cases when a fetus was viable, but have never permitted a claim in the case of a destroyed frozen embryo, until now. Clinics and people who freeze their embryos should be worried about suits brought on behalf of these embryos, Culhane wrote. One lawyer and IVF mother told the Montgomery Advertiser that she was worried about the rulings implications for couples who create embryos and then divorce specifically whether a man could have legally obtained embryos birthed by a surrogate and then sue his ex-wife for financial support. GOP grapples with how to thread the needle on IVF rights Sources: Politico, The Tennessean, CBS News, Semafor, NBC News Alabamas ruling is another hot potato for Republicans in an election year, one GOP strategist told Politico, which reported that candidates want to avoid talking about reproductive rights-related issues as the party tries to appease suburban women and other voters who remain unconvinced about abortion bans and those who oppose abortion but support IVF. Former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway has warned Republicans against limiting IVF and, in fact, is advising congressional candidates and lawmakers to advocate for expanded access to fertility treatments, according to her teams memo obtained by Politicos Playbook. Some Republicans previously took pains to assure voters that post-abortion bans would not affect IVF, and prominent GOP figures including former Vice President Mike Pence have talked about their families personal experiences using the treatment. But some Republicans have backed the courts decision, inducing Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who told Semafor that the justices were one hundred percent correct in their ruling. GOP presidential candidates will have to also field the question: Are embryos babies? NikkiHaley, for one, says yes. Ruling indicates a tilt toward theocracy, reproductive rights advocates warn Sources: The New York Times, The Washington Post In his concurring opinion, the Alabama Supreme Courts chief justice, Tom Parker, invoked the wrath of God, the Book of Genesis, and 16th- and 17th-century theologians to justify considering embryos as children, The New York Times reported. Conservative legal groups and anti-abortion advocates have long hailed Parker for his religiously-guided legal opinions, the Times reported, as reproductive rights activists warned against the tilt to theocracy. Control of womens bodies is the endgame, The New York Times Opinion columnist Charles M. Blow argued. To those advancing these ideas, the will of God counts more than the will of the American people, he wrote. Alabamas court appears to have ignored the First Amendment and veered into theocratic ideology, Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus wrote. The danger now, she argued, is that the state could raise and expand the definition of unborn personhood, to go after birth control methods and reproductive technologies that involve fertilized eggs. A giant anaconda species thought to be the largest in the world has been captured deep in the Amazon of Ecuador by a team of scientists from The University of Queensland. The group of scientists, led by professor Bryan Fry, uncovered the nearly 10-million-year-old species with help from the Indigenous Huaorani people while filming "Pole to Pole with Will Smith," a National Geographic series streaming on Disney+ and hosted by the Oscar winner. The size of these magnificent creatures was incredible," Fry said in a news release. "One female anaconda we encountered measured an astounding 6.3 meters (20.8 feet) long." Northern green anaconda on a riverbank. The invitation by Huaorani Chief Penti Baihua to enter the Baihuaeri Huaorani Territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon was "one of only a handful granted since the tribes first contact in 1958," Fry told USA TODAY. Our team received a rare invitation to explore the region and collect samples from a population of anacondas." The journey into the jungle Northern green anaconda "breeding ball." Chief Baihua led Fry's team on a 10-day search for the anacondas, which are considered sacred to the tribe. The team took canoes downriver in the Bameno region, where they found "several anacondas lurking in the shallows, lying in wait for prey," Fry said. The group then captured several specimens of the species, which they named the northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima). "The key to understanding the discovery is the difference in the geographic range of anaconda species," Fry told USA TODAY. The Amazon has two separate basins. The larger basin in the south (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and parts of French Guiana) is home to the green anaconda, from which the northern green anaconda comes. The smaller basin in the north (Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela and parts of French Guiana) is home to the newly discovered northern green anaconda. The two species differ genetically by 5.5%, Fry said. Its quite significant to put it in perspective, humans differ from chimpanzees by only about 2%." Rumors of larger snakes A northern green anaconda eating a deer. There are anecdotal reports from the Huaorani people of other anacondas in the area measuring more than 7.5 meters long (24.6 feet) and weighing around 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds)," Fry said, sharing with USA TODAY that Chief Baihua's son Marcelo Tepena Baihua has scars from a snake about that size. "The scars were clearly from a truly massive snake. They say that one wasnt even the biggest theyve ever seen," Fry said. "So it's clear that the snakes in the Huaorani lands are indeed the biggest of all anacondas." Details on the snakes found have been published in the journal MDPI Diversity. Future work Northern green anaconda head Fry says his team's work in the Amazon is far from done. Pollutants such as cadmium and lead have woven their way into "the delicate fabric of this ecosystem as consequences of the frequent oil spills plaguing the Yasuni Amazon," Fry said. Fry's team hopes to keep an eye on the reproduction of the northern green anaconda to gain greater insight into the health of the ecosystem at large. "Our future expeditions will focus on the collection and analysis of soil, water and biological samples, employing cutting-edge techniques to trace the pathways of these contaminants," Fry said. "By understanding how these metals affect the endocrine systems of the Amazon's wildlife, we can begin to unravel the long-term consequences of exposure and devise strategies to mitigate these effects." Though the future of the newly discovered species is insecure, the journey through the jungle was full of "wonder," even where there were challenges, Fry said. "I like nothing better than being overheated and underwashed while wading through swamps in search of giant snakes. This discovery is the highlight of my career. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New anaconda species said to be largest ever found in the Amazon Portsmouth, like many cities across the country, is facing a housing crisis driven by factors such as population growth, limited land availability, and rising construction costs. However, a significant hurdle in our efforts to address this crisis is Dillon's Law, which restricts our city's authority to mandate affordable or workforce housing in new developments. Andrew Bagley Dillon's Law, originating from an 1868 Iowa court case, limits local governments' powers to actions explicitly permitted by state law. In terms of housing policy, this restriction impedes Portsmouth's ability to enact measures promoting affordability and housing diversity. Consequently, developers do not have requirements to include affordable housing in projects, exacerbating the shortage of such homes. Unlike our neighboring states of Massachusetts and Maine, which have Home Rule status and greater flexibility in housing requirements, New Hampshire operates under Dillon's Law. The connection between housing options and supply-demand dynamics is clear. With demand outpacing supply, housing prices skyrocket, rendering homeownership unattainable for many, including essential workers like first responders, teachers and nurses. Addressing this issue necessitates a reassessment of our housing policy approach and advocacy for reforms that empower local governments. This includes advocating for changes to state laws that hinder the implementation of inclusionary zoning policies, such as mandating a percentage of affordable units in new developments. By incentivizing diverse housing, we can increase the supply of affordable homes and cultivate inclusive communities. Moreover, the lack of affordable housing has widespread implications, impacting our economy, social fabric and future. Businesses struggle to attract employees, families endure substandard living conditions, and younger generations are priced out of their communities. Effectively tackling the housing crisis requires bold action at both the local and state levels. Overcoming Dillon's Law constraints and advocating for reforms can facilitate the implementation of effective housing policies in Portsmouth, fostering inclusive, sustainable communities where housing is a right for all. Fortunately, our local state Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka and the local House delegation support modernizing housing laws in New Hampshire. However, achieving meaningful change on these issues in the New Hampshire legislative bodies is challenging, and residents may consider becoming local advocates by reaching out to state house representatives through emails or participating in hearings in Concord. At the local level, the City Council is actively making significant changes to our zoning code with the assistance of a grant-funded housing navigator staff position at City Hall. Our zoning regulations have evolved over the decades, sometimes unintentionally, to greatly restrict housing supply and walkable neighborhoods. Under our current regulations, many desirable neighborhoods such as Atlantic Heights, the South End, Middle Street, Islington Creek, etc., would be illegal to build today. It is imperative that we change these regulations to encourage smart, sustainable growth. Andrew Bagley is a Portsmouth city councilor. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Bagley: To increase affordable housing, NH needs better laws President Joe Biden is supporting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next NATO secretary general, a U.S. official said Wednesday. Bidens support is likely to sway more allies to get on board with Rutte's nomination, after months of jockeying between him and several other European leaders for the job. The U.S. official was granted anonymity to reveal the president's support on a matter he hasn't backed publicly. POLITICO reported earlier on Wednesday that two-thirds of NATO countries are backing Ruttes nomination to take over leadership of the military alliance later this year. The term of current NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who has steadily navigated the political-military bloc through a tumultuous time in transatlantic politics since 2014, ends in October. Pressure is mounting to approve Ruttes leadership bid before the NATO summit in July, which will be held in Washington to celebrate the alliances 75th anniversary. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas expressed interest in the NATO top job during an event hosted by POLITICO in November. But NATO officials say she's not in the mix since she has not declared her candidacy. The same goes for Latvia's Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins, who did a mini media tour last year to test the waters. Ruttes path to the secretary general role puts him on a collision course with Russia, as the alliance steels itself against Vladimir Putins aggression two years since the full-scale Ukraine invasion. And should former President Donald Trump get back to the Oval Office, the Dutch leader would have to navigate the Republicans skepticism of NATO and collective security. Rutte wouldnt discuss his bid to lead the alliance at this past weekends Munich Security Conference gathering world leaders, saying hed learned his lesson back in October when he suggested he was interested in the job. I made the mistake in October talking about, I might be interested in that role and then that mushrooms, he said during a small media scrum. I shouldn't have done that, so I decided not to talk about that anymore. Rutte has a ways to go before any decision is made. Under NATO rules, the secretary general has to be decided by unanimous consent, meaning that Rutte still has to win the backing of all 31 member nations. Any candidate for the job must get through Turkey and Hungary, which have proven the biggest hurdles to accepting new members. Turkey has reportedly asked for reassurances before backing Rutte, while Hungary has had longstanding disagreements with the Dutch premier. Speaking with Dutch television over the weekend, Dutch Chief of Defense Gen. Onno Eichelsheim said it was very likely that Rutte would get the top job. Defense spending remains a major concern of the alliance, with countries struggling to hit the decade-old 2 percent of GDP defense spending target that the alliance established in the wake of Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014. This year, 18 of the 31 NATO countries are set to finally meet the 2 percent standard, compared with only seven last year. The Netherlands has yet to reach that mark, but is on track to spend 2 percent this year. As much as he dodged questions about potentially leading the transatlantic alliance at Munich, Rutte still sounded every bit the presumptive NATO leader. He told reporters in the same scrum that the threat of Russia attacking a NATO country is real, but the best way to prevent it is to make sure that we have done everything to invest in our defense, making sure that the alliance stays strong. Part of that means keeping Washington in the fold, something that outgoing NATO chief Stoltenberg invested plenty of time and energy into ensuring during the Trump years. With Stoltenberg who has already had his term extended twice leaving in October just weeks before the next U.S. presidential election, his successor might face a similar task. Whoever occupies the White House, NATO will have to contend with what many expect to still be a shooting war in Ukraine, and a push by many Republicans in Washington to leave Kyivs war to Europe, refocusing American attention on China in the Indo-Pacific. One of the big concerns of the alliance in 2024 and beyond is how to work with individual nations that are restocking their warehouses after two years of funneling weapons and equipment to Ukraine, and had previously spent relatively little on defense after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The alliance has big decisions to make in long-term investments for new, often expensive, precision-guided munitions. It also must strike a balance between calls in Washington to buy American and Europe's own ambitions to build up the continent's defense manufacturing capabilities. Under Rutte, the long-serving Dutch prime minister and one of Europes longest-serving leaders, the Netherlands has already committed to send Ukraine 24 of its F-16 fighters the most of any country and is helping train Ukrainian pilots. The Dutch military has also sent tanks, artillery systems, ammunition and Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv over the past two years. The government has pledged another $2.1 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine over the coming year. Rutte said in Munich that the need for Europe to invest more in its own defense has more to do with Russia than it does who sits in the White House. Let's stop moaning and nagging and whining about Trump, he said. We need to invest in our defense expenditure. We need to massively ramp up arms production and then we need to massively do more in support to Ukraine. A flyer attacking Scott Lassiter, who is running to represent southern Wake County in the state Senate, has reignited the conversation on his driving record and lawsuit he filed against powerful House Speaker Tim Moore over an extramarital affair. The flyer mailed to voters, which says it was paid for by Vicki Harry Committee, Lassiters opponents campaign, features a picture of Lassiter alongside text that references a 2012 driving while impaired conviction and claims that he threatened the career of his former wife and abused her. Harry, who is running against Lassiter in the Republican primary for the newly drawn Senate District 13, did not respond to a call and voicemail from The News & Observer. Neither did the treasurer of the Vicki Harry Committee listed in state campaign finance reports. Lassiter, who is a former Apex Town Council member and current vice chair of the Wake Soil and Water District, and who shared the mailer with The N&O, pushed back against these claims. He said in a phone interview with The N&O on Thursday that aside from the flyers allegations being totally false and a misrepresentation of the truth, he would like to remind voters that this election is not about a previous marriage. And it shouldnt be about a single mistake I made in my college days, almost 15 years ago. Im trying to continue to be the issues candidate that speaks about the needs of Wake County, the district and the state, he said. I made some powerful enemies and embarrassed some powerful people when I sort of refused, well, when I fought for myself and my family. Abuse allegations The flyer says that just last year, Scott Lassiter lashed out at his estranged wife who said he had abused her and threatened her career. The flyer also quotes Lassiters former wife, Jamie Liles, as having said Lassiter has serious mental health and substance abuse issues. This appears to be referencing comments Lassiters former wife made through her attorney last year to The N&O and other media outlets following the alienation of affection lawsuit, based on a law in North Carolina that permits jilted partners to sue. She said that Lassiter had serious mental health and substance abuse issues, which I can only assume led him to file this outrageous and defamatory suit and to be clear, Im a strong professional woman, and the only person who has ever abused me or threatened my career was my soon to be ex-husband. Lassiter had sued Moore accusing him of breaking up his marriage by sleeping with his wife, who is a state employee. He also accused Moore of trading sex for political favors. Attorneys for both parties said in July that the case was resolved but did not provide details. Moore in an interview with The N&O acknowledged having an on-again, off-again relationship with Lassiters former wife since 2019 but denied using his influence in exchange for sexual favors. He also said he believed she was separated. Social media photos show the Lassiters together through December 2022 enjoying Christmas parades and sitting on Santas lap, as previously reported by The N&O. Moore, who is running for Congress in a redrawn Charlotte-area district, did not reply to a call or voicemail on Thursday. Neither did his attorney for the alienation of affection lawsuit. Settlement details In response to this attack ad, Lassiter, an assistant principal in Wake County Public Schools, said he also texted out a message to over 10,000 people on his campaigns phone list that said that despite the lies, Ive never abused anyone, much less a woman. If I had, the school system wouldve fired me, Id have lost my firearms license, and I certainly wouldnt have received an unequal distribution of marital assets (and a substantial settlement check). Asked about these marital assets and substantial settlement check, Lassiter told The N&O he thought readers are savvy enough to understand why lawsuits would be dropped prior to going into trial. Asked to confirm the comment was referencing the alienation of affection lawsuit, Lassiter said Im gonna let the statement from text speak for itself but I had no other legal actions going on. Lassiter also said in his text that his campaign was in the process of serving notice to the reckless Harry campaign over these lies. He told The N&O it was a cease-and-desist letter and that he had not yet received any response. Lassiters former wife declined to comment. But she appears to be in favor of Harrys campaign, as she is featured in a photo from January posted by Vicki Harrys Instagram account as having attended a fundraiser for her. Harry, who was a Wake Christian Academy teacher for seven years as well as a small business owner, has several endorsements from Republicans. Those include Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Holly Springs Mayor Sean Mayefskie and Rep. Erin Pare, according to Harrys website. DWI conviction Wake County district court records show that in February 2011, Lassiter who was at the time running for Apex Town Councilor was stopped by an officer for failing to maintain lane control. Lassiter was breathalyzed and test results showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.11. The legal limit to drive is 0.08. Indy Week reported that Lassiter initially attempted to blame indigestion for the failed breath test but ultimately accepted a guilty verdict on the misdemeanor DWI charge. Sales Growth : Q4 sales rose by 13% to $214.9 million, with full-year sales up 7% to $836.5 million. Gross Profit Surge : Gross profit for the year increased by 20% to $304.7 million, representing 36.4% of sales. Net Income : Q4 net income climbed 38% to $31.0 million, while full-year net income saw a slight decrease of 2% to $107.1 million. Earnings Per Share (EPS) : Adjusted basic EPS for Q4 increased to $1.64 per share, with full-year adjusted basic EPS up to $5.90 per share. Adjusted EBITDA: Q4 adjusted EBITDA jumped 60% to $56.2 million, with a 20% increase to $202.5 million for the full year. On February 22, 2024, MGP Ingredients Inc (NASDAQ:MGPI), a distinguished producer and supplier of distilled spirits and specialty wheat protein and starch food ingredients, announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023. The company's 8-K filing revealed significant growth in sales, gross profit, and net income, underscoring the success of its strategic initiatives across its Distillery Solutions, Branded Spirits, and Ingredient Solutions segments. MGP Ingredients Inc (MGPI) Reports Robust Growth in Q4 and Full Year 2023 Earnings Financial Highlights and Segment Performance MGP Ingredients Inc's robust performance in Q4 and throughout 2023 is a testament to the company's resilience and strategic execution. The Distillery Solutions segment, which is the largest revenue contributor, saw an 8% increase in Q4 sales, with a notable 22% rise in premium beverage alcohol sales. The Branded Spirits segment experienced a 19% surge in Q4 sales, driven by a 50% growth in premium plus price tier spirit brands. The Ingredient Solutions segment also reported a 15% increase in Q4 sales, highlighting the growing demand for specialty wheat proteins and starches. The company's financial achievements are particularly significant in the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, where competition is fierce, and consumer preferences are rapidly evolving. MGP Ingredients Inc's ability to deliver premium products and maintain a strong gross margin expansion is indicative of its competitive edge and operational efficiency. Story continues Challenges and Outlook Despite the impressive financial results, MGP Ingredients Inc faced challenges, including the planned closure of its Atchison, Kansas distillery and the impact of inventory levels at distributors on the industry. The company's CEO, David Bratcher, expressed confidence in the long-term sustainability of the business model and the company's unique position to grow amidst these challenges. Looking ahead to fiscal 2024, MGP Ingredients Inc anticipates sales to range between $742 million and $756 million, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $213 million and $217 million. The company's adjusted basic EPS is forecasted to be in the $6.12 to $6.23 range, reflecting continued optimism for growth despite industry headwinds. Investor and Analyst Information MGP Ingredients Inc will host a conference call for analysts and institutional investors to discuss these results and current business trends. The call and webcast details are available on the company's investor relations website. For value investors and potential GuruFocus.com members, MGP Ingredients Inc's strong financial performance, coupled with its strategic focus on premiumization and innovation, presents a compelling investment narrative. The company's ability to navigate industry challenges and its positive outlook for 2024 further reinforce its position as a resilient player in the Beverages - Alcoholic sector. For more detailed financial information and to explore the full potential of MGP Ingredients Inc as an investment opportunity, readers are encouraged to visit GuruFocus.com. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from MGP Ingredients Inc for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. The Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Utah could allow volunteer school chaplains in public neighborhood and charter schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Utah could allow volunteer school chaplains in public neighborhood and charter schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year under legislation endorsed by the House Education Committee. Under HB514, sponsored by Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, school district or charter school boards could place volunteer chaplains in public schools. The legislation requires chaplains to pass background and reference requirements and complete all training required by the district or charter board, the Utah State Board of Education and state statute. Stratton said chaplains have played a very critical and integral role in the nations history. The founding fathers understood the importance of the support and guidance chaplains could provide in multiple different ways. We see that reflected today with many of our law enforcement, first responders. Certainly the most notable would be our military that have refined and worked this process, Stratton said. HB514 establishes a process for local education agencies, or LEAs, that would like to draw upon this tradition, he said. Thus far, 13 states have introduced school chaplain bills, so this is not new. But this is unique in that its voluntary. Its local, LEA-driven, Stratton said. Jennie Earl, who serves on the Utah State Board of Education but said she was speaking on her own behalf, expressed support for HB514. If a parent or employee wants to participate, they can opt into it. I think of health education. I think of mental health screenings. All of these things are proclaimed as opt-in if a parent chooses. I think its the same here, she said. I think theres some positive benefits from this. There may be some complications we run into but I think providing additional resources, and a voluntary basis, to me really makes sense for our schools, she said. Others said religious training and support are the purview of parents and childrens respective religious communities. We have concerns about the constitutionality of this bill as it runs afoul of separation of church and state principles, said Ellie Menlove, legislative and policy counsel for ACLU Utah. Allowing chaplains in public schools will likely lead to unconstitutional promotion of religion in school settings. We recognize that the student participation is voluntary under the bill, but we worry that allowing chaplains to serve in official positions in schools creates an inherently coercive context for students regardless of the intent. Parents and faith communities should provide religious guidance instead of school chaplains, Menlove said. Although the legislation requires school districts and charter schools to develop policies and requirements for school chaplains, some educators raised concerns about how volunteer chaplains would interact with school counselors or the possibility that they would supplant them. My concern after reading this bill and hearing about some of the ramifications where it has been put in place in other states is that counselors are losing their jobs because you know theyre paid a salary and these chaplains are coming in as volunteers and I just think the two dont mix, said Rep. Carol Moss, D-Holladay. Moss, a retired high school teacher, said school counselors and school psychologists provide specialized services such as helping students attain their educational goals and counseling students who are in conflict with their peers. Many have several years of experience and graduate-level education. I respect religious counselors as well but right across the street from every high school, junior high, is a place where they go to seminary for many kids. Others that arent that religion can go to their spiritual adviser. I just think this is a policy thats going in the wrong direction for our schools, Moss said. Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, said she supported the bill, recalling remarks of a legislative colleague who was a service member who had great appreciation for the service of their chaplain and shared that there were long lines of these big tough service members who just needed someone to talk to. She continued, If thats a tool that we can use for kids in the school, then Im grateful to have that tool. Birkeland took issue with the remarks of Rachel Chambliss, executive director of operations for The Satanic Temple, who told the committee that she would strongly prefer that Utah and other states do not enact bills that mingle religion with state functions. Chambliss added, Im enthusiastic about the possibility of our satanic clergy contributing to the educational and emotional development of Utahs youth. Birkeland urged Stratton to draft the bill in a way that blocks chaplains who have satanic beliefs from volunteering in schools. I dont want someone who professes their loyalty to Satan in our schools, and I would like to make sure youre going to work on ensuring that cant happen, Birkeland said. The House Education Committee voted 10-2 to give HB514 a favorable recommendation, sending it to the Utah House of Representatives for further consideration. Moss and House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, voted no. North Nashville will become the city's first "Wellness Opportunity Zone" with the launch of a new program to reduce high blood pressure among the neighborhood's residents. The "Heart of Nashville" program is seed-funded by a $1 million grant from the city and will be run by a coalition of Nashville-based organizations called the Nashville Wellness Collaborative. The Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center will act as a hub for patient care, while other participating organizations will provide patients with resources like heart-healthy meals and transportation services to reduce barriers to wellness. North Nashville is a vibrant community known for its history as Nashville's "Black Wall Street" and a midcentury entertainment hub. It's home to three historically Black colleges and universities, and families who have lived in the neighborhood for generations, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center CEO Katina Beard said. The neighborhood has also borne the pressures of the city's rapid growth, facing disparities in health, food access and investment. "Nearly half the adults in this community are living with a preventable disease that's often called a 'silent killer,'" Beard said. Nearly a third of Nashville adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, according to a countywide survey conducted by the Belmont Data Collaborative. Almost half of North Nashville residents have hypertension. Mark Yancy, chief executive officer of NashvilleHealth, speaks with other Nashville leaders following a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. Nashville has a reputation as a health care hub because of its "great infrastructure around health and health services," said Mark Yancy, CEO of NashvilleHealth, an initiative founded by former Sen. Bill Frist. But when compared to competing cities like Denver, Austin and Raleigh, Nashville residents' life expectancy is lower. "In Nashville, your ZIP code, where you were born, can determine how long you live, even if those ZIP codes are less than five miles apart," Yancy said. North Nashville, specifically within 37208, is a food desert, an area lacking access to healthy, affordable food options. But it's also a "food swamp" where high-sodium, processed foods the kind linked to higher chances of developing hypertension are readily available, Yancy said. A Food Insecurity Index released by Vanderbilt University Medical Center last year found Davidson County's highest rates of food insecurity are concentrated in ZIP codes in and around North Nashville, including 37208. Research published by Tennessee State University's David Padgett in 2003 demonstrated the relationships between health outcomes like hypertension to food access in North Nashville neighborhoods, historic disinvestment and segregation. A team of researchers from Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt found these factors to be persistent in 2023. Metro's pilot grant funding will support Heart of Nashville's launch over the next two years. The program will pair clinical treatment providers with non-clinical partners who can provide wellness support services around food, housing and transportation after patients leave the doctor's office. The end goal: improving wellness in North Nashville and building a framework that can be used to bolster health throughout the city. The Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center will handle patient care as part of "Heart of Nashville," a pilot program to reduce hypertension in North Nashville residents. Other Nashville organizations will provide wellness support services. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, who served parts of North Nashville as District 19 council member for two terms, said the "reality that high blood pressure disproportionately affects North Nashville hits close to home because these are not just statistics they're my neighbors and friends." "By uniting our resources and expertise we're increasing our capacity to combat systemic health disparities and we're closer to a future where every Nashville resident, regardless of ZIP code, has equitable access to quality health care," O'Connell said. The Nashville Wellness Collaborative includes: NashvilleHealth Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center The Nashville Food Project Belmont Data Collaborative Meharry Medical College Sycamore Institute Urban League of Middle Tennessee Center for Nonprofit Management Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee Juice Analytics STARS American Heart Association Senior Ride Nashville AgeWell Middle Tennessee Raphah Institute Metro Parks Nashville The Housing Fund Metro Public Health Department Second Harvest Food Bank This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: City-backed program aims to reduce blood pressure in North Nashville From a 20-year-old Jackson State University accounting major who was stabbed and left in a wooded area, to an 18-year-old who died just 24 days into his freshman year at Louisiana State University, the deaths of university students can be especially tragic. The new season of ABC News Studios' "Death in the Dorms" follows the stories of six young people who were in the prime of their lives, set to embark from college life to the "real world," when their lives were cut short. Fun, curious Haley Anderson grew up on Long Island as a straight-A student. "When she was setting out looking at colleges, we went to Binghamton University and she walked in on the campus and she fell in love with it," her mom, Karen Anderson, said. "She applied to the nursing school at Binghamton University for her junior year and she got accepted," her mom said. "She thrived in that program and she loved it." Watch the ABC News Studios six-part series, "Death in the Dorms," which tells the tragic stories of six college students whose lives were cut short by violent crime. The series begins streaming exclusively on Hulu on Feb. 22. PHOTO: Anderson and her mother, Karen Anderson. (Courtesy of Anderson family) A few years into college, Haley Anderson started dating Kevin Ocampo. "They had a lot of fun together," Karen Anderson said. "But when it started getting closer to her graduation time, she started thinking about if she wanted to be in a serious relationship, so there were a couple times with Kevin that they talked about putting it on hold for a while." Haley Anderson met student Orlando Tercero in her nursing program sophomore year. "He had dual citizenship with [the] United States and Nicaragua," Karen Anderson said. "His mother and his father were living in Nicaragua. His father was a doctor, so he wanted to kind of follow in his footsteps and become a nurse." The friendship between the two nursing students did become romantic, but they were never in a committed relationship, according to Haley Anderson's friends. "Haley was just ready to start her independent life free from anything that was gonna keep her attached to one area," Karen Anderson said. "She wanted to have a career and really embrace the career and embrace the perks that come from having that salary and ability to travel. She had a job lined up at Northwell [Health system in New York], as long as she passed her nursing boards. So that would have been the next step -- she would have graduated and studied for her nursing board [and] taken those in June." PHOTO: Haley Anderson in a photo posted to Facebook. (Haley Anderson/Facebook) With her busy spring underway, on March 8, 2018, Haley Anderson was due to meet her friends at a poetry reading -- but she never showed up. Her friends eventually tracked down her iPhone to Terceros apartment. They went over there on March 9. No one answered the apartment door, so the friends climbed through the window -- and found Haley Andersons body on Terceros bed, officials said. The 22-year-old's death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation, officials said. PHOTO: Haley Anderson in a photo posted to Facebook. (Haley Anderson/Facebook) MORE: Where is Suzanne Lyall? 25 years after college student vanished, her mom isn't giving up As police searched Terceros home, they found evidence of an apparent failed suicide attempt, Binghamton police Lt. Cory Minor said. Police also found a handwritten note in Spanish. "The note translated [to], 'Im really sorry about this, I never felt I could be capable of doing this,'" Minor said. "At that point Orlandos our person of interest -- we have to find him." PHOTO: Orlando Tercero appears in court during his trial in Managua, Nicaragua, Oct. 11, 2019. (Oscar Duarte/AP) Investigators spoke to Haley Andersons friends and learned "Orlando was obsessed with Haley, and jealous that she was with other people," Minor said. "Orlando was jealous of Haley dating Kevin, dating other people, dating in general," her friend Sydney Matuszak said. "Sometimes he would show up on her doorstep uninvited, and when asked to leave multiple times, he wouldnt, her friend Melanie Heney said. "He had the way with his words where he could make a sob story out of his life. And the type of person Haley was, felt for those type of people, because she just had such a kind heart." PHOTO: An undated photo of Haley Anderson. (Courtesy of Anderson family) Authorities started their hunt for Tercero and learned he'd flown to Nicaragua, where he had dual citizenship. Tercero was arrested in Nicaragua -- but prosecutors faced hurdles trying to extradite him. "There came a point in time when the authorities in Nicaragua made it clear to our local government and our federal government that he was going to be tried down there, based on the fact that he was a citizen of Nicaragua," Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak said. MORE: Death in the Dorms: Inside the shocking murder of 21-year-old UCLA student Andrea DelVesco In Nicaragua, Tercero was charged with femicide -- the murder of a woman due to her gender. "We dont have that law in New York state -- we have murder in the second degree, thats what he was charged with in this case under New York law," Korchak said. PHOTO: An undated photo of Haley Anderson. (Courtesy of Anderson family) New York prosecutors used Skype and translators to keep the Anderson family involved in the criminal proceedings. "We did everything that we could to help Haleys family through the process, but we were learning the process ourselves at the same time, trying to explain it to them," Korchak said. In Nicaragua, the judge has "the authority to make the decision as to whether someone is guilty or not guilty," Korchak said. "So we didnt know anything about this judge, we didnt know what the judge was gonna do, it was a very stressful time for everyone involved." In November 2019, Tercero was convicted of femicide and was sentenced to the maximum of 30 years in prison. "Im glad he got what he deserved to the fullest extent of the law, but death is forever and hes not gonna be there forever," Karen Anderson said. As Tercero sits in prison in Nicaragua, theres a standing warrant for him in New York state. "Would we bring him back to be tried a second time? Decisions would have to be made down the line, Korchak said. "His defense attorney in New York state as well as down in Nicaragua would argue that double jeopardy attaches -- our position is that it doesnt attach, its a separate country, and he could be tried here. But the decision obviously wont be made by me if he continues his 30-year sentence, but the family would be contacted, and we would want their input on to whether you would bring this guy back to the United States." For Karen Anderson, the grief never stops. But shes channeled her pain into pushing for change, and said shes on a "mission to bring awareness to femicide." PHOTO: Anderson and her mother, Karen Anderson. (Courtesy of Anderson family) Haley Anderson's friend Melanie Heney said she started volunteering at RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. "I hope that Ive saved at least one person from a situation like Haleys," she said. There was so much more of life for Haley to live, her mom said. "Shes never coming home, and that is the saddest part." Death in the Dorms: How the murder of SUNY Binghamton senior Haley Anderson led to an international trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is facing criticism from Republican and Democratic rivals over comments he made at a candidate forum this weekend calling into question the fairness of special benefits for veterans. During a panel for gubernatorial candidates at the annual Missouri Republican Party Lincoln Days in Kansas City over the weekend, Ashcroft was asked how the state can better support veterans and active duty military personnel. Ashcroft said we need to do what we promised them, before acknowledging he was about to say something that probably isnt what you want for the answer to your question. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft discusses an audit of his office that accuses him of not cooperating and violating state law in his elections division. I dont think we ought to treat people based on classifications, he said. I think we ought to treat everybody equally. And I dont think we ought to say that if you live here, were gonna charge you this, but if you live here, we charge you this. I dont think we ought to say if youre in the military, well give you this discount, but everybody else has to pay twice as much. I dont think thats good government. When someone is a member of the military and moves into the state, Ashcroft said, its harder sometimes to get licensed and make sure you have licensing reciprocity. What I always said was, why dont we just make that rule for everybody? Why dont we just say that government is the problem, and lets get government out of the way, let people make their own decisions and not keep picking and choosing winners and losers. He concluded: I appreciate veterans. I have veterans in my family. I like what theyve done. But what we ought to do is say, if its good for veterans, its good to do it for everyone. This answer from @JayAshcroftMO was the most discussed answer from the @MissouriGOP forum yesterday. Jay Ashcroft comes out against military discounts for our states veterans. Shameful. #MOGOV pic.twitter.com/g1iUBym36a West STL Republican (@WestStLouisGOP) February 18, 2024 State Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican who served in the Air Force, responded to Ashcrofts comments during the forum by saying he was stunned to hear one of the candidates here say hes not interested in looking into veterans issues or helping them out. He continued his criticism Wednesday, as footage of Ashcrofts comments began to spread on social media. I lost friends. I saw the struggle upon returning to the states, he said. I disdain the ruling elite who send our men and women to die in their wars, all while doing nothing to ensure their sacrifice is honored when they return home. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City who also participated in the candidate forum, said Wednesday evening that for Jay Ashcroft to treat our veterans as anything less than heroes is disrespectful to all veterans and their families. Communities across our state value our nations heroes and their service and sacrifice to our country, and they would want their governor to do the same. Democrats also piled on. Emma OBrien, press secretary for the Democratic Governors Association, called Ashcroft an insider politician who only looks out for himself, but wants to rip away benefits from members of the military and veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. In a statement to The Independent Wednesday evening, Ashcroft did not address the criticism but said it is shameful that we have failed to fulfill our commitment to our veterans. No Americans make a greater sacrifice for our freedoms and security than the men and women who wear the uniform of our armed forces, the statement read. The sacrifices that they and their families make are unimaginable for those of us who have not served. I honor that service and as governor will make our commitment to them a priority, without qualification. Ashcroft a two-term secretary of state whose father served as auditor, attorney general, governor and U.S. Senator of Missouri has consistently led both Kehoe and Eigel in polls of the GOP gubernatorial primary. This story was first published at www.missouriindependent.com. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Jay Ashcroft draws bipartisan attacks over veterans benefits remarks Phone companies are moving to cut the cord with wired telephone landlines in a move to transition to advanced technology. Earlier this month, the California Public Utilities Commission considered an application by AT&T to give up and abandon their copper-wire landline service Carrier of Last Resort citing that the technology is in low-demand, per USA Today. While the request is currently under review, per CBS News, this could be a high risk for multiple people, over multiple situations. 1. The elderly population This waiving of responsibility could harm a major part of the countrys population. Theres lots of concerns, particularly for older people, about how they will connect to people without having that landline, said Susan Weinstock, CEO of the Consumer Federation of America, reported USA Today. For instance, 80-year-old California resident Patricia Pereira spoke with CBS News that she, relying on a wired landline for 58 years, had to obtain a cellphone after her landline was disconnected. The problem was, the town she lives in, Campo Seco, is a cellphone dead zone. Local reporters of CBS13 tested this and tried contacting Pereira through her cellphone. Every attempt led to a disconnection, per CBS News. Tim Morstad, the government affairs director for AARP, shared to USA Today, Traditional landlines have provided reliable service for over a century, and while many consumers have adopted new technologies, not all have access to affordable alternatives to landlines. Weinstock noted that multiple senior citizens, although capable of learning the new technology, prefer the cheaper option of a landline. 2. Small businesses and medical buildings Medical facilities and smaller businesses in particularly rural communities would be significantly altered by the change. Patrick Blacklock, president and CEO of the Rural County Representatives of California said in a statement to CNN, Traditional landline telephone service is the most dependable communications tool currently available in rural communities and is vital to reliably accessing 9-1-1. 3. Consumer/business equipment Its not only small corporations and medical buildings getting affected by the proposal: It could potentially lead to multiple types of equipment challenges. Gartner research vice president Lisa Pierce stated to USA Today that 2022 data estimates this year that 20% of all U.S. voice connections are through landlines. That percentage represents approximately 88 million lines across the nation. Pierce added that most home-alarm systems, call boxes and elevators need and rely on copper-wire landlines. And it wouldnt be easy to replace them. Will McKeon-White, a senior analyst at Forrester Research ,told CNN that landline systems can be difficult to access for phone service workers because they can be sealed in walls or stored in hard-to-reach areas if their locations are known. Landlines are slowly being removed and replaced, but its a spectrum, and hard to calculate the volume of copper wire devices because of how many different forms these take and the fact that organizations seem to discover dozens of these devices during replacement operations, McKeon-White told CNN. 4. Events of disaster USA Today shared a story about 72-year-old Charlene Hopey, who reportedly lives in region of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over periods of California wildfires and earthquakes, Hopeys friends who all switched over from copper-wire landlines to wireless landlines or cellphones couldnt be contacted during the calamities. People could not communicate in an emergency, said Hopey, reported USA Today. Blacklock said to CNN, It is essential to retain affordable, safety net services especially in disaster-prone areas with fewer market options and comparable service quality that copper-based landline phone service provides. Regarding when the power goes out, CNN claimed that copper-wire landlines are regularly more reliable than Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, services, as they can still function during a power outage as opposed to internet-based programs. Related How many times does the United States have to veto a misguided UN Security Council resolution on the Israel/Hamas war until the other countries on the council understand that Hamas must be condemned by name, the fighting should stop and all the Israeli hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 have to be released? The answer is at least three, as this week U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield correctly cast another U.S. veto on the war, following ones in October and December. The problem with this current resolution, offered by Algeria, is that again Hamas went blameless and there was no causation between a pause in the combat and freedom for the hostages. Thomas-Greenfield says that she is working on a draft resolution to do just that, but it faces a veto threat by the peace loving Chinese and Russians, who jointly vetoed an October resolution because it was too harsh on the murderers and rapists of Hamas. Beijing and Moscow are striving to sow as much discord as they can while Washington is trying to achieve a ceasefire and the return of the hostages. American diplomacy, working with Qatar and Egypt, succeeded earlier and negotiations are still underway. War is horrible and Hamas started this war, bringing death and destruction to the people of Israel, which has brought death and destruction to the Gaza Strip as the cowards of Hamas hide among the innocent Palestinian civilians. Hamas has had thousands of its terrorists killed, but along with those dead terrorists, there have been too many Palestinian civilians killed and wounded. While Hamas doesnt care about the Palestinian civilians, as they see every death as another martyr in their holy war to annihilate the Jews, they do want the fighting to stop before all of the terrorists and the ring leaders have been taken out. So how to make sure that every hostage is released when the guns go silent? That is what Thomas-Greenfield is seeking. Time is short. The last of Hamas (and likely the remaining hostages) are in Rafah in the southern corner of Gaza, with the IDF poised to enter the city, swollen with refugees who fled the fighting to the north. It could be a humanitarian nightmare on top of the other humanitarian nightmares of this war, and the U.S. is trying to find a way to avoid the potential catastrophe of the Israeli army hunting for desperate Hamas fighters amid the innocents. But the Algeria plan would not work. Hamas would use the quieting of the fighting to retrench and rearm, extending the war instead of ending it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also has in mind the March 10 start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. That date is just 2 weeks away, adding to the pressure on all sides, in the Middle East and in East Midtown at the UN headquarters. The best outcome would be for Hamas to immediately surrender all remaining Israeli hostages and leave Gaza. The terrorists 17-year reign over Gaza ended in disaster for Palestinians, as well as for death for Israelis. Instead of freedom, prosperity and liberty, they brought on a war which has ruined the lives of everyone in the Gaza Strip. The long-suffering Palestinians must be freed from Hamas. ___ Sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein hired men to monitor what was happening in his New York mansion from a CCTV control room and provided his victims with car services and cellphones so he could track their movements, according to a new lawsuit filed by two accusers in Manhattan federal court. To ensure the womens silence, Epstein and his enablers also gathered dirt to use against them and threatened anyone who might cooperate with police. And they paid the victims hundreds of dollars in hush money after the perverted financier abused them or they recruited other young women and girls into the scheme. All of this would not be possible, the lawsuit says, without Epsteins right-hand men: his longtime personal lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, whove long denied any wrongdoing in connection with their former boss. Epsteins Creepy Phone Logs Show Calls From Harvey Weinstein, Schoolgirls Danielle Bensky and another victim referred to as Jane Doe 3 are suing Indyke and Kahn, accusing them of advancing the late sex offenders cult-like trafficking network for more than a decade. Indyke joined Epsteins inner circle in 1995 while Kahn arrived around 2005, the complaint says. The Epstein Enterprise would not have existed for the duration it did and at its scope and scale, without the collaboration and support of others, the legal filing states. No one, except perhaps Ghislaine Maxwell, was as essential and central to Epsteins operation as these Defendants. (Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend, is serving prison time after a jury convicted her of child sex trafficking in December 2021.) The lawsuit seeks class action status and comes on the heels of two multimillion-dollar settlements from JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, which victims sued in late 2022 for providing the financial mechanisms for Epsteins sex-trafficking ring. As The Daily Beast reported, Kahn and Indyke served as co-executors of Epsteins estate and have shunned interviews with the press, keeping a low profile and avoiding social media. In 2020, one source told us that Indyke was plucked out of obscurity by Epstein and If he had a life outside of Epstein, it was a very private life. Meanwhile, another insider connected to Kahn claimed: Richard worked out of the office. Did Epstein appear at those offices? Yes. Did Richard see any of the activities that were the focus of press attention? No. But the new lawsuit says Indyke and Kahn were well aware of Epsteins predations and accuses them of aiding, abetting, and facilitating his battery and obstructing the governments enforcement of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Knowing that they would earn millions of dollars in exchange for facilitating Epsteins sex abuse and trafficking, Indyke and Kahn chose money and power over following the law, the complaint alleges. It adds that the men intentionally concealed the extent of their personal involvement in the sex-trafficking venture including specific false denials of their role in the Epstein Enterprise, making themselves out to be mere outside advisors to Epstein. The lawsuit sheds light on two more victimsand the inner workings of the trafficking operation. Epstein and his lawyers would gather information about the girls to use against them if they ever disobeyed him, the complaint says. His homes were also under constant surveillance, and his New York mansion had a room in which men that Epstein hired monitored what was happening in the home. Over the years, victims including Maria Farmer and Jennifer Araoz have spoken out about Epsteins surveillance system, with Araoz describing it in a lawsuit: Inside the front door, there were many security cameras pointing in all directions. On little TVs, Ms. Araoz could actually see herself on the camera walking inside. Bensky was an aspiring dancer in 2004 when a woman recruited her to give Epstein a massage for $300 and his enablers encouraged her to return to his New York home. Having been in awe of Epsteins mansion and Epsteins wealth and power, Bensky was terrified of what would happen to her if she refused, the complaint says. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in New York Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Epstein bragged about his connections to powerful people, on one occasion telling her he was on the phone with actor Kevin Spacey. Epstein also told Bensky that he had friends in high places, but he knew how they liked to party so they would never betray him, the lawsuit alleges. (In 2002, Spacey flew on Epsteins plane with former President Bill Clinton, actor Chris Tucker, and others in Epsteins orbit for a humanitarian trip to Africa.) Jane Doe 3, a citizen of the European Union who used a pseudonym for her safety, alleges Epstein flew her to New York and kept her at one of his apartments at 301 East 66th Street. In 2014, Epstein lured Jane Doe 3 to travel with him to several locations where either he or Ghislaine Maxwell had homes, the complaint states. David Boies, the victims attorney, said: As detailed in the Complaint, Defendants Indyke and Kahn received millions of dollars from Epstein and his entities. In exchange, they provided the cash necessary to make Epsteins sex trafficking work, hid what was going on behind a maze of corporate shells, structured Epsteins financial transactions to conceal their real purpose, and arranged sham same sex marriages to fraudulently provide a basis for keeping victims from Europe in this country. Epstein Would Call His New York Office if He Wanted a Cup of Juice in Florida For their part, Indyke and Kahn say they were extraordinarily surprised and disappointed by last weeks filing by the Boies Schiller firm. Neither Mr. Indyke or Mr. Kahn has ever been found in any forum to have committed any misconduct, and they emphatically reject the allegations of wrongdoing contained in the complaint, their lawyer, Daniel Weiner, said in a statement. Weiner added that it was Indyke and Kahn who established the first-ever victim compensation program by an estatea widely acclaimed procedure through which the Estate paid out more than $121 million to 135 womenand resolved claims on behalf of the Estate brought by 50 other women who either did not participate in that compensation program or sought more than they were awarded. According to the lawsuit, Indyke and Kahn helped to set up Epsteins complex financial infrastructure, which included dozens of bank accounts across multiple banks and which were linked to corporate entities with no legitimate business purpose. They also played a role in creating and managing some of Epsteins sham entities, which include his purported nonprofits the C.O.U.Q. Foundation and Gratitude America Ltd. The men ensured Epsteins access to cash, personally withdrawing or arranging the withdrawal of thousands of dollars at a time several times a month in a way that avoided banks running due diligence reports and detection by law enforcement, the legal filing alleges. They had power of attorney or signatory authority over virtually all of the accounts held by Epstein, the lawsuit says, which allowed them to personally authorize and sign off on payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Epsteins victims, including but not limited to recruiting compensation, legal fees, apartment rent, and tuition. One account, on which Indyke was a signatory, paid over $2.5 million to dozens of women with Eastern European surnames and an immigration lawyer who allegedly helped Epstein to arrange forced marriages to keep immigrant victims in the country. In the case of one "arranged marriage, Indyke allegedly worked with an immigration lawyer to prep the victim for contact with U.S. immigration officials, and Kahn is accused of providing a letter of reference for the immigration matter. When the victim inquired about getting divorced and leaving Epstein, Indyke tried to talk her out of a divorce and threatened that she would lose Epsteins protection, the suit alleges. Indyke and Kahn were richly compensated for their loyalty, and Epstein paid for the former to attend law school and obtain a license, the complaint says. Weiner, the co-executors lawyer, said that all women who received compensation from Epsteins estateincluding one of the plaintiffs in the latest lawsuitreleased the estate and others including Indyke and Kahn from any and all future claims. David Boies himself negotiated the terms of that release, and specifically agreed on the unassailable legal protection it affords the Co-Executors, Weiner said. These newly-filed claims are factually baseless and legally frivolous. The co-executors, Weiner added, would seek sanctions against Boies, his firm, and his law partner Sigrid McCawley, who personally co-signed the release executed by Ms. Bensky, the lead plaintiff in this action. In a statement, Boies and McCawley cast doubt on their claims of being blindsided by the suit: They were told repeatedly that they would be sued if they refused Plaintiffs offer of mediation. If there was any surprise or disappointment it was only that they were finally being held to account for their crimes after avoiding it for so long, they said, adding that any release of Defendants procured through their control of Epsteins Estate would be invalid under New York law, including as procured by fraud and duress. The lawyers also took aim at the sanctions warning. Threats and intimidation may have been an effective tool for silencing vulnerable young girls alone and without anyone to represent or support them, they continued. That time has past. Bensky and Jane Doe arent the only ones pursuing justice years after Epsteins 2019 death. Last week, 12 accusers sued the FBI in Manhattan federal court for failing to properly investigate Epstein as early as the 1990s. 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 Eugene motorist looks over a parking violation he received in Eugene when his trailer was impounded in March of 2023. Eugene city councilors are considering rule changes to make vehicles easier to impound or fine, just 10 months after a Register-Guard report highlighted how the city of Eugene impounds hundreds of vehicles every year, many of which double as peoples' homes. Kelly McIver, spokesperson for the city's unhoused response, said the rules would "apply to any vehicle operators who violate the code, regardless of housing status," but at both the November work session and Tuesday's public hearing for the proposed rule changes, councilors' conversations centered around car camping. "I've got a number of (car campers) in my ward that basically move between three spots," Councilor Randy Groves said. "We should lead with compassion, and that's the safe sleep sites and places like that. But the bottom line is we also need to have accountability, responsibility and consequences." According to data from Lane County, 3,574 people were unhoused in Eugene in January 2024 and 2,446 (68%) of those people were unsheltered. For unsheltered people with cars or RVs, the city funds 33 spots of St Vincent de Paul's car camping program. Lane County funds six more. Joel Gorthy, spokesperson for the nonprofit, told the Register-Guard that this program has a 324-person waitlist as of Monday morning. In June 2021, Eugene established stricter parking rules in response to complaints from home and business owners who didn't like to see cars camping near them. The city limited where people could park recreational vehicles overnight and required people to move at least two blocks every three days. Unhoused people and their advocates criticized the rules and the resulting car and RV impoundments for being punitive and adding greater cost, stress and instability to people who are already struggling. Heather Marek is an attorney for the Oregon Law Center, a nonprofit that provides free legal aid to low-income Oregonians. Marek often represents unhoused Eugene residents who had their car or RV impounded. "(Parking rules) don't alleviate the causes of vehicle residency and homelessness, which are just lack of housing and poverty. And so the ordinances have no deterrent effect because people can't help but violate them," she told the Register-Guard. According to a Register-Guard public records request, Eugene impoundments increased from between 14 and 52 per month in 2021, to between 42 and 116 per month in 2022. According to a city staff presentation, the number of complaints the city received about people camping in vehicles decreased from between 800 and 1,300 per month in the first half of 2021 to between 200 and 500 per month in 2022. The number of camping complaints the City of Eugene received each month from March 2019 to October 2023. Provided by City of Eugene That staff presentation, and a public records request Marek shared with the Register-Guard, showed similar numbers for 2022 and 2023. Marek also pointed out that of the $43,420 in parking fines the city had given out for "storage on the street" from January 2022 to mid-November 2023, just 15% had been paid. "If people can't pay the fine, if they can't avoid violating the law, it really brings to question why we're imposing them," she said. "Fines affect people's credit (and) affect people's ability to get into housing." But at Tuesday's public hearing, councilors and the one resident who came for public comment focused on a desire to limit car camping's impact on housed Eugene residents. "It's a big problem. You have a lot of RVs," Councilor Emily Semple said. "They usually leave garbage behind and I hope that we can help this situation." A flag flutters on the antenna of a vehicle at a campsite in west Eugene on March 28, 2023. The proposed code changes would: Add a once-per-day parking time limit. Currently, people are allowed to park in a two-hour parking space, move at least two blocks, and later park again on the first block. This rule would make it illegal to park more than two hours total on the same block face within one day if that block face is in a 2-hour parking zone. Make RV parking near residences an impoundable offense. Currently, it's punishable by a fine to park an RV in front of or across from a house, hotel or apartment complex between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The proposed code would let the city impound RVs caught violating this rule three times within a 90-day period. Make parking in front of a mailbox punishable by impoundment without warning. Empower neighborhood and parking officers to impound RVs if they catch the owner draining a waste tank onto a street, sidewalk, accessway, shared-use path, stormwater drainage system, or wetland. This is already an impoundable offense, but the proposed change would expand who has the authority to carry out that impoundment. Remove the rule that the city can charge no more than $2 per hour for on-street parking. Increase the city's maximum parking fines and double fines that aren't paid within 30 days. These maximum fines vary depending on the violation. "Prohibited Stopping, Standing and Parking," which includes most of the above rules, would have its max fine increased from $100 to $500. The city council is tentatively scheduled to vote on these code amendments on March 11. Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene city council considers stricter parking regulations Multiple law enforcement officers who responded to the Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers have been ordered to appear before a grand jury investigating the botched police response, the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV have learned. The subpoenas for in-person testimony, set to begin at the Uvalde County Courthouse next week, mark an acceleration in a 21-month investigation that could result in criminal charges against officers for failing to urgently stop the gunman in May 2022. Officers from multiple agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, are expected to be called in front of the 12-member panel during what could be a monthslong process. The subpoenas indicate that grand jurors will potentially consider both previously recorded statements and be given the opportunity to question the officers themselves. Crosses stand outside Uvalde's Robb Elementary School as a memorial to the 19 children and two teachers killed in the May 24, 2022, mass shooting. A Uvalde County grand jury has subpoenaed multiple law enforcement officers who responded to the attack. The grand jurors also are likely to consider a trove of forensic evidence gathered at the scene, audio radio traffic and videos that help provide a minute-by-minute account of what happened that day. Three sources familiar with the investigation, but not authorized to speak, confirmed the subpoenas but declined to provide an exact number or to identify who received them. All told, 376 officers from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting. It is unclear if the officers who received court orders to appear are possible witnesses or the subjects of the criminal investigation. Texas law requires that a subpoena or summons relating to a grand jury relating to a proceeding or investigation must be kept secret to the extent and for as long as necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of a matter before the grand jury. Dig deeper: How a false tale of police heroism in Uvalde spread and unraveled How grand juries work: Will Uvalde grand jury indict officers who responded to school shooting? The grand jury investigation comes as the DPS continues to fight the release of records from the failed response, despite state District Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle ruling that the DPS must unseal the records. In December, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton came to the aid of the DPS and filed an appeal to prevent the release of the records. The American-Statesman is part of a consortium of news organization that sued the DPS for the release of all records. Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell has for months said that she planned to take the shooting response to a grand jury amid calls for accountability from parents of victims, calls that started almost immediately after the massacre. It is unclear what charges officers could face, although it is possible that the grand jury could consider child endangerment. Nine of the 12 grand jurors must vote to obtain an indictment. Mitchell has cited the ongoing investigation for withholding a mountain of evidence that many in the community believe would provide greater transparency about what happened that day. Some of the evidence has come to light, including a hallway video from inside Robb Elementary School that the Statesman and KVUE obtained in July 2022. The hallway video undid a false narrative of police heroics, initially accepted as fact by top government leaders including the Texas governor, the homeland security secretary and Border Patrol chiefs in Texas. The video and subsequent reports corroborated what the families of the victims had long known: Police failed to react, a delay that cost lives. Mitchell did not immediately respond to an email sent to her office Thursday. The day after the U.S. Justice Department released a report Jan. 18 on the handling of the Robb Elementary shooting, Uvalde prosecutors and Judge Camile DuBose seated a grand jury to investigate the botched police response. Uvalde prosecutors and Judge Camile DuBose seated the grand jury in January, the day after federal officials released a U.S. Justice Department report that condemned the response. The federal report described a chaotic, unorganized scene in which there was no command and control by officers during a period when trapped children were calling 911 for help and it put blame on the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, who tried negotiating with a killer, who had already shot his way into the classroom, while having his officers search for keys to unlock the rooms. By the time a Border Patrol tactical team entered the classroom, 77 minutes had passed from when the gunman first walked into the school. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Multiple officers involved in Uvalde shooting called to a grand jury An Owasso teen whose death has drawn international attention was bullied because of their gender identity, friends of the teen told an advocacy group, according to that organizations executive director. Family members also confirmed Nex Benedict used the pronouns they and them. The 16-year-old was injured in an altercation inside an Owasso High School bathroom Feb. 7 and died the next day. Police are investigating what led up to the incident. It remains unclear whether or not Nex was targeted because of their gender identity. Medical examiners havent disclosed their complete findings, but police said on Wednesday that an autopsy determined Nex did not die as a result of trauma. In Nex's obituary, their family recounted that they loved to draw, read and play Ark and Minecraft. They were a wonderful child, and they were important to us in ways that are really difficult to articulate at this time, said Malia Pila, the teens sister, in a brief conversation with The Oklahoman. They were really great, and we are incredibly sad. More: Who attacked Nex Benedict? Will charges be filed? What we know about investigation process Owasso student Nex Benedict Questions surrounding Nex Benedict's death spread on social media Questions and grief over Nexs death at a time when debates over gender and sexuality are becoming increasingly common at school board meetings and legislative hearings nationwide have spread far beyond Oklahoma. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said on the social media site X that he was devastated after learning about Nex's passing. Violence has no place in our school, Cardona said in a post Wednesday. It is our responsibility to protect all students by creating spaces where they feel safe to be their true selves. More: Officials speak out after Oklahoma student dies: 'Nex should still be alive' Nicole McAfee, who leads Freedom Oklahoma, said her organization has been working with some of Nexs friends and others in Owasso as they process their grief over Nexs death. The group is focused on making Oklahoma a safer place for people of all genders and sexualities. McAfee, whose pronouns are she/her and they/them, said none of Nexs friends currently felt comfortable being quoted directly in news stories. But McAfee said the friends have told them Nex was gender expansive using they/them pronouns with some people and he/him pronouns with those closest to him. Other students made fun of Nex because of it, friends told McAfees group. Nex had been bullied for their gender identity for well over a year, McAfee said. Jordan Korphage, a spokesman for the school district, did not respond to questions about whether the school had received prior reports of bullying involving Nex. He also would not say what grade Nex was enrolled in or whether the school had any groups aimed at supporting students of various gender and sexual identities. McAfee said many 2SLGBTQ+ children in Oklahoma have described facing growing hostility at school in recent years. They said they had heard concerns in the past about student safety at Owasso schools, particularly after a teacher who was viewed as an advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ students left the district in 2022. The teacher has said he was harassed after he was criticized by Libs of TikTok, a far-right social media platform. Little information provided by Owasso police, school officials In a statement issued Wednesday, Nex's family said they believed Nex was attacked at school, a place they should have been safe. They asked for privacy as they continued to grieve Nex. "The Benedicts know all too well the devastating effects of bullying and school violence and pray for meaningful change wherein bullying is taken seriously and no family has to deal with another preventable tragedy," the family said in a statement issued by its attorney. Owasso police and school officials have released sparse details about what happened, citing privacy laws and the ongoing investigation. The information void has added fuel to a torrent of online speculation and criticism, especially over the lack of charges filed in the case. Investigators have said they plan to spend several more days talking to students and school employees before they share their findings to prosecutors. They also are waiting on more information from the state medical examiners office, including a toxicology report, said Lt. Nick Boatman, a spokesman for Owasso Police. He declined to release the incident report about the altercation, citing the ongoing investigation. He also said privacy laws limit police from disclosing information about cases involving children. All students who were involved in the altercation are younger than 18, Boatman said. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said his office does not become involved in any criminal case until investigators submit reports. Based on that information, prosecutors will then decide whether to file charges and what those charges will be, he said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Nex Benedict death: Family, friends mourn while questions remain Two of the biggest names in artificial intelligence (AI) of late have been chip powerhouses Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM) and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Shares of the former have soared 70% so far this year while the latter is coming off an exceptional 2023 during which its value skyrocketed by nearly 239% en route to making it one of the most valuable companies in the world. For investors looking to take advantage of the growth opportunities within AI, it may seem like it's too late to invest in the best players. Both Arm and Nvidia are likely to keep growing, but investors may not be too keen on buying them at their current valuations. But not all AI stocks trade at a huge premium today. One that still looks relatively cheap is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), better known as TSMC. Is TSMC an underrated AI play? TSMC is the world's leading third-party semiconductor foundry, and its business can benefit significantly from an uptick in demand for chips. The company projects that this year, its top line could grow by more than 20% as it benefits from strong demand for higher-end chips. CEO C.C. Wei sees the business playing a big role in the future of AI: "We are a key enabler for AI applications. So far today, everything you saw for AI comes from TSMC." TSMC's projected revenue growth is encouraging. The company has been battling headwinds due to a slowdown in demand for consumer electronics, and AI could give it a much-needed growth catalyst. Its revenue for Q4 2023 totaled $19.6 billion -- down 1.5% year over year. But on a quarter-over-quarter basis, revenue and profits were up 14% and 13%, respectively. The company does appear to be on a much stronger trajectory. TSMC's stock trades at an attractive valuation Based on analysts' expectations of future profits, TSMC's stock is fairly cheap, trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of just 20. That looks like a bargain compared to both Nvidia and Arm. Story continues NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) Chart There are, however, a couple of reasons investors may have chosen shares of Nvidia or Arm instead of TSMC. The first is that TSMC is based in Taiwan, so there's some geopolitical risk there to consider. That may be keeping investors away despite TSMC's potential. Secondly, the company recently pushed back the timelines on the new factories it is building in Arizona. TSMC is investing $40 billion to build two manufacturing facilities there. The first, originally intended to be operational in 2024, won't be until 2025 -- due, the company says, to its inability to find enough workers with the specialized skills the fab requires. The second fab now won't come online until 2027 or 2028; it was previously expected to be operational by 2026. While these factories are still being built, the delays may have dissuaded investors from investing in TSMC stock right now. Should you invest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing? Whether you're a frequent tech sector investor or are simply bullish on AI stocks, TSMC can be a great way to invest in technology. The semiconductor giant has been facing headwinds due to slowing consumer demand, but those aren't long-term issues. Once they subside, the company could benefit from both strong AI demand and a resurgence in demand for consumer electronics. In the long run, TSMC has the potential to join Nvidia and others in the $1 trillion market cap club. At a relatively modest valuation, it could be one of the better AI stocks to buy right now. Should you invest $1,000 in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now? 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This AI Stock Still Looks Cheap was originally published by The Motley Fool Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall prior to the State of the State address by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 in Montgomery, Ala. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) A former Montgomery police officer convicted of manslaughter in the 2016 death of a Montgomery man will be released from prison after reaching a plea deal with Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Marshalls office announced the deal with Aaron Cody Smith, convicted in the 2016 death of 59-year-old Gregory Gunn in a press release Wednesday. Today, my Office and former Montgomery Police Officer Cody Smith reached a plea agreement that has been approved and entered by the court. Mr. Smith pleaded to manslaughter and will now be released from prison on time served, Marshall said in a statement released Wednesday. Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said in a statement reported by al.com that he was very disappointed (Smith) is being released early, which is a privilege not afforded to most convicted killers. Smith was incarcerated at Limestone Correctional Facility, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Smith, who is white, stopped Gunn, who was walking home from a friends house, at about 3:20 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2016. Smith asked Gunn, who was Black, to submit to a stop-and-frisk, but Gunn fled during the pat down. Smith chased, tased and beat Gunn, who later picked up a painters pole and charged at Smith. Smith shot at him seven times. Five bullets hit Gunn, who died near his family home. The Montgomery County District Attorneys Office charged Smith, and a Dale County jury found him guilty of manslaughter in 2019. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Alabama Supreme Court rejected his appeal in 2022. Earlier in February, the Alabama Attorney Generals Office took over the case from the district attorney without offering an explanation, according to WSFA. I firmly believe that Mr. Smith was due a new trial, but after eight years of watching this protracted litigation, I exerted my authority to bring this case to a close, Marshall said. Mr. Smith has pleaded guilty to the offense for which he was convicted, in exchange for returning to his family. I believe that this is a fair and appropriate outcome. Marshalls statement said he was acutely aware of the pain and suffering the Gunn family had experienced, and that he hoped they would find some closure and healing with this matter finally resolved. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Updated at 8:43 a.m. Friday. Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story said Gunn, not Smith, was incarcerated at Limestone Correctional Facility. The post Former cop convicted of manslaughter to be released after plea deal with Alabama AG appeared first on Alabama Reflector. DIGHTON Setting up a major change in the makeup of the Dighton Select Board, incumbent Selectman Leonard Hull announced he is not running for re-election. The news means Mark Pacheco, the former Dighton town clerk and now the city of Taunton's director of elections, will likely replace Hull as selectman. He is the lone candidate for Hull's seat in the April 6 town election, and the last day to submit signed nomination papers to Dighton Board of Registrars for certification of names was Friday, Feb. 16. Hull, in fact, acknowledged Pacheco as his apparent successor as he read from a written statement at the tail end of a Feb. 14 select board meeting. After thanking the residents, town officials and his fellow selectmen for their support over his three-year term and announcing he was not be seeking re-election, he said, "I would like to wish Selectman Mark Pacheco the best in his quest to serve on the BoardI am confident that he will serve the people of Dighton with the same diligence as he did as town clerk." Taunton Director of Elections Mark Pacheco, seen here with his 3-year-old daughter Margo, is running for Dighton selectman in the Saturday, April 6, 2024 election. Who is Mark Pacheco? Pacheco, a Dighton resident since 2018, was town clerk from March of 2021 until July of 2023, when he resigned to become the director of elections for the city of Taunton. He filed his signed nomination papers for Dighton selectman on Jan. 8. A Taunton native, Pacheco grew up near Lake Sabbatia. Before becoming town clerk, he was a property manager for the Harborside Condominiums, Mariner's Bay, Quincy. Dighton's rural nature is one of the reasons he and his wife were drawn to the town, he said back in 2021. 'True meaning of a small town' What Dighton town clerk learned from assistant Pam Tenglin Dighton Selectman Leonard Hull announced on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 that he is not seeking another term. Why is Hull not running for re-election? To explain his decision to leave the select board, Hull said, "I want to go in a different direction. "Public service is what I'm all about. God, family, country are what I'm all about. Those who know me know my service to others. I'm not leaving town service. I'm not going anywhere. My life needs more balance." To explain the latter point, he noted he recently donated funds for a home in Honduras under a program operated by his church, the St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Dighton. People from his church travel to Honduras to volunteer there. He would like to have the time to join them. He elaborated that his current day job is manager of a group home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and brain injuries in Rehoboth. He has received invitations to join the Lions Club and other organizations that he can't accept because of the time he spends as a selectman. Life is about balance, he said, and devoting more time to one thing over another puts a person out of balance. He wants more balance back in his life, he said. 'Three things I believe in' Taunton-area officials with ties to 'alt-lite' group say they are not members Why is Pacheco running? So why is Dighton's former town clerk running for Hull's seat? Pacheco said better planning to address the issues facing the town would be at the top of his to-do list as a selectman. Scheduling and planning and attention to detail are all part of his daily work as Taunton's director of elections, and he'd like to use those skills addressing the town's future. Dighton's former Town Clerk Mark Pacheco, seen here in 2021, is running for selectman in the April 6, 2024 election. Forest Hills development inspires impact fee proposal The first example he notes is the massive Forest Hills development that is currently stalled in court. He believes being stalled there doesn't mean the project will die there. "The residents in the area are nervous, on edge," Pacheco said. "We need a plan for the next potential Forest Hills development. I want to be part of that conversation. I would like to see impact fees that will hold the next developer accountable for the impacts their development will cause us." Dighton Elementary rehab a priority His second example is the need to rehab or replace the Dighton Elementary School. "I am strongly looking forward to being a part of that discussion," he said. "I would be a good candidate to participate in that. We have to explore all our options. Not just say this or that plan can't be done." Where do I vote? The election is scheduled for April 6 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dighton Elementary School, 1250 Somerset Ave. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Mark Pacheco running for Leonard Hull's Dighton Selectmen's seat After the first-of-its-kind conviction of Jennifer Crumbley, found guilty last month of involuntary manslaughter for a mass school shooting committed by her son, her husband's legal team is fighting to block some of the testimony that helped convict her ahead of his own trial for the same charges. With his trial just two weeks away, James Crumbley is asking a judge to block jurors from hearing any testimony or evidence involving his teenage son's mental health, journal or text messages he sent to a friend and his mother several months before the boy shot up Oxford High School. Jennifer Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four students murdered by her son, Ethan Crumbley, at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021: Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17. Six more students and a teacher also were wounded in the rampage. James Crumbley now faces the same potential fate as his wife, as he goes to trial March 5 on identical charges for buying his son the gun the teen used in the massacre and for not disclosing that information to school officials when given the opportunity. James Crumbley, father of the Oxford High School shooter, makes his way into the Oakland County Courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on Dec. 13, 2023, for a procedural hearing. His lawyer, meanwhile, is fighting to keep out evidence that legal experts have argued should never have been allowed at the wife's trial specifically the shooter's journal and text messages he sent to a friend, in which he claimed his parents ignored his mental health troubles. The shooter won't testify, so the defense can't question his messages James Crumbley's lawyer is working against time to keep out evidence that she believes could unfairly hurt her client. In a Tuesday filing, defense attorney Mariell Lehman challenged the admissibility of the shooter's texts and journal, arguing it is wrong to let jurors see these excerpts if the defense cannot challenge them because the shooter has refused to testify. The shooter has a right not to testify. But it means that the defense can't challenge what the boy wrote to his friend or in his journal, including this claim: "I have zero help for my mental problems and it's causing me to shoot up the f------ school. The jury foreperson in Jennifer Crumbley's trial noted in media interviews that the teen's journal "played a huge part" during deliberations. Multiple legal experts have argued that the shooter's journal and text messages are grounds for overturning the mother's conviction. Lehman argued that James Crumbley has a constitutional right to confront his accuser in this case, his son. Jennifer Crumbley, sat to the left of attorney Mariell Lehman as her husband, James Crumbley, sat to the right in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on March 22, 2022. James Crumbley not only never saw his son's journal and texts, Lehman said, but was never aware of the claims the boy was making. "As someone accused of multiple crimes, Mr. Crumbley has a right to confrontation which is granted by the United States and Michigan Constitutions," Lehman wrote in her latest filing. "Admitting evidence, without Mr. Crumbley having the opportunity to cross-examine the writer, violates his constitutional rights to due process, confrontation, and to present a full and complete defense." Defense wants to admit some medical records of shooter The shooter, who was 15 at the time of the massacre, pleaded guilty to all his crimes last year and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His parents, who were charged just days after the shooting, had planned on calling him as a witness in their trials. But on the eve of his mother's trial, the shooter's new attorneys disclosed that he would be invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The shooter not testifying hamstrings the defense's ability to challenge the boy's claims that his parents ignored his mental health troubles, laughed at him and told him to "suck it up." But Lehman is urging the judge to let her admit as evidence information that was discovered in December in a box of confidential medical records involving the shooter. According to court documents, the Crumbleys' son allegedly told a psychiatrist that he lied in a text to his friend when he stated that he asked his parents for help and that they ignored him. The jury in Jennifer Crumbleys trial never got to hear that because the judge didn't let it in, concluding it was confidential medical information that belongs only to the shooter, and that the shooter invoked privilege over those protected documents. The jury did hear the text messages to the friend, however. The Jennifer Crumbley jury also never heard that the shooter told a psychiatrist that when he was texting a friend that he was hallucinating, he was watching horror movies at the time, according to testimony from the shooter's case. Nor did the jury see a journal excerpt in which the shooter wrote he had to find where his dad hid the gun. Storage of the gun is a key issue in this case, as the prosecution has argued the Crumbleys gave their son easy access to a gun that he used to kill people, while the Crumbleys maintain the gun at issue was hidden in an armoire, unloaded, and that the bullets were in a separate drawer hidden under some jeans. They also say their son was only allowed to use the gun at shooting ranges with his parents. Defense is trying to change the judge's mind The journal entries have become a sticking point for Lehman, who argued in a filing that admitting some portions of the journal but not others violates James Crumbley's rights and will "mislead the jury." Lehman also said that if damning information is put before the jury about her client, then she should have a right to refute it with information she believes can do just that. Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews has previously ruled that the shooter's medical records are off-limits, but Lehman is trying to change her mind. Lehman also wants to exclude from trial text messages the shooter sent his mom eight months before the shooting, when he texted her about hallucinating and seeing demons throw bowls around the house. At her trial, Jennifer Crumbley testified that those texts were part of a family joke in which her son and husband pretended there were ghosts in the house, and that she didn't respond right away because he was "messing with us." Jennifer Crumbley stands as the jury is seated in the Oakland County courtroom before guilty verdicts were read on four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Feb. 6, 2024. Lehman said the texts with the mother have nothing to do with her client, and shouldn't be admitted at trial. "If the court is inclined to allow portions of the journal ... texts between the shooter and his friend, and texts between the shooter and his mother, despite there being no evidence that Mr. Crumbley was aware of any of them, then the court must also allow the defense to cross-examine witnesses with information learned from the protected records received in December 2023," Lehman wrote. More: James Crumbley may come off as more sympathetic than his wife. But is it enough? Prosecutors have long argued that the Crumbleys, more than anyone else, could have prevented the massacre had they disclosed to school officials that their son had access to a gun when they were summoned over a troubling drawing he had made on the morning of the shooting. On his geometry worksheet, the shooter had drawn a picture of a gun, a bleeding human body, and the words, "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." The parents never disclosed to school officials that just days earlier, they had gifted their son a gun. School officials determined the boy was sad, but not a threat to the school, and allowed him to return to class, concluding he would be better off with peers than home alone. His parents returned to their jobs. Two hours later, he fired his first shot. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: James Crumbley fights to keep son's journal and texts out of trial Supporters of Julian Assange march against his extradition to the United States at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday. The two day hearing in front of a judge is the last chance for Julian Assange to gain an appeal to stop his extradition. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A British court will decide the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after closing arguments were made in his two-day extradition trial Thursday. Attorneys for Assange argued he is a journalist and that publishing classified documents provided by U.S. army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning was an act of journalism, the BBC, U.K. Independent and Al Jazeera reported. At London's Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday his attorneys also argued the United States is retaliating against Assange and it would violate U.K. law to extradite him to the United States. Attorney Mark Summers argued the United States wants "retribution" for Assange's political opinions, which amounts to state retaliation due to Assange's views regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Summers also argued the United States allegedly planned to kidnap or kill Assange while he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy for seven years prior to his imprisonment in 2019. The United States on Wednesday argued its case to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on espionage charges. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI Summers argued that Assange only inadvertently published the unredacted documents and that public interest regarding the U.S. war crimes would justify the release of the information. Summers added that the people whose names were released were "agents in the criminality that has been exposed" and there was not sufficient proof they had been harmed. Supporters of Julian Assange protested against his extradition to the United States where he will potentially face life behind bars. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI U.S. attorneys said Assange "put lives at risk" and should not be treated like a journalist, nor should WikiLeaks be treated as a journalistic publication. The attorneys said Assange encouraged and helped Manning obtain about 400,000 classified documents and 250,000 State Department communications regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he published on WikiLeaks. Publishing the unredacted documents in their entirety created significant consequences for many who were identified in the documents, attorney Clair Dobbin argued. She said they were threatened with arrest, lost assets, and endured harassment after Assange created a "grave and imminent risk" of bodily harm. Lawyers for Julian Assange argued the U.S. prosecution was politically motivated and a threat to journalism. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI "These are people who had to leave their homes, flee their homelands, because they had been identified in the State Department cables," she said. Dobbin added that some individuals who "lived in war zones or under oppressive regimes" had "subsequently disappeared" since the documents were published. The United States argued that Julian Assange harmed the people whose names were exposed in the leaked documents and went beyond the role of a journalist in obtaining them. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI Dobbin and attorney James Lewis argued the WikiLeaks exposure amounts to one of the worst cases of compromising classified information in U.S. history. The United States wants Assange, 52, extradited to the United States to face espionage charges for publishing hundreds of thousands of classified documents on WikiLeaks. He has spent the past five years fighting extradition from inside Belmarsh prison in the United Kingdom. Stella Assange talks to the media about her husband Julian Assange's extradition to the United States. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI Assange is from Australia and did not attend either day of the trial or view its proceedings remotely via a video link from Belmarsh prison due to illness, his attorney told the High Court in London. A district judge in January 2021 ruled Assange was a suicide risk if deported to the United States and should not be extradited. The judge also ruled that Assange was not acting in a journalistic capacity when publishing the classified materials on WikiLeaks. Supporters of Julian Assange march against his extradition to the United States at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday. The two day hearing in front of a judge is the last chance for Julian Assange to gain an appeal to stop his extradition. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI U.S. attorneys appealed that decision to the High Court in London, which overturned the district judge's ruling and made it possible for the United States to extradite Assange and try him for conspiracy. Assange appealed the lower court's ruling that he isn't a journalist and sought protection against extradition as a journalist. MANCHESTER, N.H. Adam Montgomery, the New Hampshire father accused of killing his daughter, 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday. Montgomery was also found guilty of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and witness tampering. "This isn't about winning or losing. This is about a 5-year-old girl that was murdered by her father and I can think of no worse crime," said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. Jurors deliberated for about seven hours after getting the case on Wednesday. They asked the judge one question Thursday about the legal definition of the word "recklessly." Montgomery was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read. He chose not to be in the courtroom for the entirety of the trial. Harmony's birth mother Crystal Sorey and foster mother Michelle Raftery were both in the room when the verdict was read. They were joined by more than a dozen Manchester police officers, who showed up to hear whether their hard work delivered justice. "He's a coward. He's a coward, he's always been a coward," Sorey said. "That's why he did what he did. He took her away from the people that loved her because he couldn't hack that he didn't have control. That's all he cared about, control, everything in his life. She wasn't anything to him." Montgomery will be sentenced some time after April 1. Sorey said she plans to be in court when Montgomery is sentenced and will give a victim impact statement. "I hope that what he did plays over in his mind every single waking moment that he lives on this earth," Sorey said. "And I hope that he never falls asleep without seeing her beautiful face." Harmony Montgomery. (Photo Credit: Manchester NH Police) The verdict comes after about two weeks of emotional and, at times, gruesome testimony. "It's a very big relief that they have seen through and that they have held him accountable for the actions that he's committed," prosecutor Benjamin Agati said on Thursday. Jurors heard closing arguments Wednesday before starting deliberations. Harmony was first reported missing in December 2021. Police believe she was killed in December 2019, though her body was never found. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu called Adam Montgomery "a monster" after the verdict was read. "I am grateful to the judge, jury, and Department of Justice for delivering justice for Harmony. Adam Montgomery is a monster and deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison," Sununu said in a statement. Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester, N.H, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. / Credit: David Lane/Union Leader via AP, Pool The jury deliberated for about two hours Wednesday and for about four more hours on Thursday before reaching a verdict. Adam Montgomery is already serving a 30-year sentence for a gun conviction in another case. During that trial, Montgomery said he loves Harmony "unconditionally" and denied killing her. Montgomery's defense attorney argued throughout the trial that his client's estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, was responsible for the young girl's death. Kayla Montgomery was the star witness for the prosecution and said Adam Montgomery beat Harmony to death after she had a bathroom accident in the car the family was living out of. She said Adam Montgomery then stuffed Harmony's body in a bag that he hid for months before disposing of it in 2020. Sorey said she last saw Harmony in April 2019 and tried to contact Adam Montgomery about her after but never heard back. She reported Harmony missing in 2021. "The people who know me that I've known my whole life, they know how much I love my daughter," said Sorey. "And they know how much I fought for her and I did everything I could and when I didn't have anything left, I still tried." Historic lunar landing: U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon AT&T customers report widespread cellular outage A look at what caused the massive AT&T outage nationwide For many Black students choosing where they want to go to college, a diverse and welcoming environment is top priority. Attending a state university, like the University of Kentucky, can bring opportunities like scholarships and organizations for minority students. But choosing a predominantly white university also brings challenges or instances of racism on campus. Still, Black students interviewed by the Herald-Leader said they had found UK to be an overall positive experience. If you want to see change, youve got to make it, and by going here, youre starting that chain reaction, said Brandy Jackson, a senior. Isaiah Henderson, a senior from Chicago, said he felt part of the UK community from his first week in Lexington. As soon as you walk on campus, people are welcoming you, Henderson said. He chose to leave Chicago and come to UK in search of new experiences. He picked UK because of the campus environment and on-campus opportunities for freshmen, he said. He felt a sense of home at UK. Isaiah Henderson, a senior at the University of Kentucky, is photographed at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. UK has 33,885 students enrolled as of the fall 2023 semester. Its the largest-ever enrollment for UK, and the most diverse: nearly 17% of students enrolled are from underrepresented populations, the university said last fall. At UK, we work every day to model a community where everyone belongs and everyone feels accepted for who they are and what they, uniquely, contribute to this place, President Eli Capilouto said last fall. Black students make up 6.9% of the UK population, the largest minority population at UK, according to university data. The number of Black students increased from 1,997 in the fall 2014 semester to 2,345 in fall 2024. Campus environment: Make the best of it Henderson, who is president of the Black Student Union, said his experience has been positive. Hes found a sense of community through organizations like the Black Student Union and his fraternity, the Epsilon Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically Black fraternity which has existed at UK since 1965. The Black Student Union is a student organization whose goal is to help Black students find a sense of community, Henderson said, by planning events and being active in the UK community. Several students, including Henderson, talked about the importance of organizations at UK, specifically the Martin Luther King Center, which works with students from all backgrounds and hosts events centered around cultural awareness, leadership and community. But it hasnt been a perfect college experience, students said. Henderson said more funding for student organizations would have made outreach and growing the groups hes involved with easier. For Jackson, the universitys response to certain incidents, like when a white student physically attacked and used racial slurs toward a Black student in 2022, could have been stronger. Still, Jackson said she would recommend UK to Black students making a decision on where to go to college. I had a positive experience here, Jackson said. I think its probably one of those situations where youve got to make the best of it, and to really make a good, positive, loving, supportive community here. Joy Jerome, a first-year graduate student from Nigeria, said she was able to connect with other Nigerian and international students via social media before she started at UK. Once she arrived on campus, they were the ones who helped her find her way. I really feel at home here, Jerome said. I really love UK. Joy Jerome, a graduate student at the University of Kentucky, is photographed at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Sophia Rosing incident shook the Black community In fall 2022, the UK community was shaken when an intoxicated student, Sophia Rosing, physically assaulted and spouted racial slurs at a student desk clerk, Kylah Spring. Spring, who is Black, was working at the front desk of Boyd Hall at the time. Video of Rosings attack and arrest went viral, making headlines around the world and putting a spotlight on UK. Rosing, a white student, entered Boyd Hall and began taunting, using racial slurs and making derogatory comments toward Spring. After police arrived, Rosing continued using slurs, resisted arrest and bit a police officer, according to the arrest report. It was definitely an event that shook the Black community as a whole here at UK, Henderson said. Personally, Ive experienced my fair share of racism being here at the University of Kentucky, and just seeing that broke my heart. Rosing was arrested and charged with first and second offenses of public intoxication, third-degree assault of a police officer, fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct. She was banned from campus, and withdrew from UK shortly after being arrested. Rosing was indicted by a grand jury last February and has a status hearing scheduled for March 1 in Fayette County Circuit Court. While she doesnt know either of the students involved, Jackson said it was heartbreaking to see how some people reacted to the incident and were defending the physicality and defending the situation. It is hard being a Black student at the University of Kentucky, Jackson said. Its difficult because you know theres always going to be that prejudice or (stigmas) or stereotypes that surround you solely for the color of your skin. But its not always in your face at the University of Kentucky, but that just made it at the forefront. It was the topic on everybodys mind, and thats when you can really see a lot of peoples true feelings. Brandy Jackson, a senior at the University of Kentucky, is photographed at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Jackson said she thought the university responded as well as they could with the processes they have in place. But she said they left one question unanswered: Where do we go from here? It was very emotional for a lot of people at the end of the day, Jackson said. Right is right and wrong is wrong. But it was definitely difficult having to go to class and just go about your daily life because everybody was talking about it. Following Rosings arrest in 2022, and a march organized by Black students at UK, the university reaffirmed its intention to remove a controversial mural located in Memorial Hall. The mural depicts Black workers who are possibly slaves planting tobacco and a Native American holding a tomahawk. The announcement came after years of back-and-forth with students, a lawsuit and protests surrounding the content of the mural. In recent years, students organized protests and called for more on-campus opportunities for Black students, along with the removal of the mural. However, in 2020, Kentucky poet Wendell Berry sued UK to stop the removal of the mural. The lawsuit is ongoing, which has paused UKs efforts. GOP lawmakers target DEI in Kentucky Several students said they found community through events and organizations that are focused on diversity at UK, like the Martin Luther King Center. Scholarships for minority students also made attending UK an easier choice, they said. Multiple bills introduced in the Kentucky legislature could halt diversity, equity and inclusion, commonly called DEI, initiatives at UK and other public universities. Senate Bill 6 from Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, would block all DEI initiatives that promote so-called discriminatory concepts. It was passed by the Senate, and now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote. House Bill 9 from Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, would force public colleges and universities to dismantle and defund DEI offices and positions. Several amendments to the bill have been filed, though it has not yet passed out of the House as of Feb. 20. I think its an insensitive bill, Henderson said. Just thinking of some of the backgrounds Black students come from, not all Black students have the resources or the opportunities that other students may have, even if they are in the same impoverished tax bracket. Most of the time, Black students are discriminated against, and they arent offered the same opportunities just because of the color of their skin. Capilouto, in a rare public rebuke of state legislators, called the bills deeply concerning and opposed both DEI bills, along with a bill that would affect the university tenure process. UK president to legislature: Proposed DEI, tenure legislation is deeply concerning We dont speak out as an institution on public policy unless the issues will impact our entire community in potentially significant ways, Capilouto wrote in a campus-wide email on Feb. 14. This is one of those moments. Lets not extinguish the thirst for knowledge because certain questions arent allowed because they are uncomfortable or challenging. The universitys work towards supporting students of color should be valued and supported, not undermined, he said. Jaren Burge, a freshman at the University of Kentucky, is photographed at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. When asked about the DEI bills earlier this month, UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said it was too early in the legislative process to comment on potential impacts of the bills. Most students interact with DEI initiatives through their individual colleges and programs at UK. The Office for Institutional Diversity has 20 employees. Other offices on campus also serve as hubs for students to have access to events, programming and opportunities related to DEI, Blanton said. I think its hard enough to be a minority student, a Black student, at the University of Kentucky, Jackson said. I think the DEI office, especially at the College of Communication, is very impactful for students, and always trying to put on events and make things more accessible. I dont think its doing any harm. I think if anything, its creating more positive change on campus. Other students, including freshmen Zane Marshall and Jaren Burge, said they werent familiar with the recent DEI legislation, but didnt necessarily think it was a bad thing. I couldnt care too much for it, Burge said. For me, everybody has their own equal chance. I feel like everybody gets their chances, Marshall said. If race-based scholarships were no longer allowed in Kentucky, Jackson said she worries about how she would be able to pay for college. By taking away programs that help minority students, Jackson said it creates more barriers to education in the state. It just makes it a lot harder for them to get an education, Jackson said. As we know, education is very important to being a successful member of society. Most jobs now, you need a college degree. Its going to make it way harder for students to just get these opportunities. Zane Marshall, a freshman at the University of Kentucky, is photographed at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A man sentenced to life for a Gaston County murder has been paroled. According to the North Carolina Post-Release Supervision & Parole Commission, Brian D. Worthy will be released on parole on April 1. He was convicted as an 18-year-old in August 1994 for first-degree murder in Superior Court. . RELATED: NC rapists, killers freed as impacts of 1993 sentencing reform realized According to court documents, Worthy was 17 when he killed Robert Burns on Aug. 5, 1993. Worthy was reportedly selling crack cocaine, when two customers took cocaine from him and drove off without paying for it. Worthy then asked two witnesses to ride in the car with him, telling them he was going to kill a white person. The trio continued to drive along Wilkinson Boulevard and eventually encountered the victim, Burns, who was riding a bicycle. Worthy pulled his Chevrolet into a parking lot beside a launderette and asked the victim for directions to Camelot Apartments. The victim gave Worthy the correct directions, but he later told him, That wasnt the right directions. Worthy pulled out a 9-millimeter handgun, and shot Burns once in the chest, and then drove away. Burns dropped his bicycle in the road and ran to a nearby house where he collapsed and died on the porch. Lose part of yourself: Mother waiting for justice 10 years after sons murder in Huntersville; killer still at-large Worthy, now 48, was previously reviewed for parole in June 2021. Thats when the NC parole commission freed and opened parole reviews into 17 killers and rapists in the Charlotte area. All were sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed before Oct. 1, 1994. Worthy is being held in the Anson County Correctional Institution. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A 25-year-old Nampa man being sought in several shootings was found after a multiday search that involved more than half a dozen Treasure Valley law enforcement agencies, as well as help from authorities in Nevada. Anthony Erasmo Madrid fled from Idaho into northern Nevada, where he died by suicide Tuesday afternoon after leading several law enforcement agencies on a chase, according to a news release from the Nampa Police Department. Madrid was said to be involved in four shootings, three of which happened in Canyon County, over the course of several days. The Caldwell Police Department began looking for Madrid after he allegedly shot into an occupied vehicle Friday night in Caldwell, striking a woman in the upper torso, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting. The womans injuries werent life-threatening, a news release said. The two other people in the vehicle, including a 6-year-old child, werent harmed. The next day, after Caldwell police notified the Nampa Police Department, an officer located Madrids vehicle at around 11 p.m. in Nampa, according to the release. Police said the officer attempted to stop Madrid, who fled in his vehicle and crashed into a structure near 19th Avenue North and 4th Street North. While running away, Madrid shot at officers, police said. None of them were injured, and no one was injured in the crash. At around noon Monday, police were notified about a shooting at an apartment in the 1900 block of 1st Street North in Nampa, according to the release. Madrid had fled the scene before police arrived, but officers were able to determine that he was the suspect after witnesses reported seeing him leave out a window. No one was injured in the shooting, though bullets went through several walls, police said. After tracing Madrid through Idaho and into northern Nevada, Nampa police notified Nevada law enforcement agencies and asked them to stop Madrids vehicle. At around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said they used a device to puncture the tires of Madrids vehicle, but he kept driving while shooting at officers. After Madrids vehicle crashed, officers found him inside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the release. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead there. The cooperation and teamwork of the multiple agencies involved was necessary to stop this crime spree, Nampa police said in the release. We are incredibly grateful that none of the victims, community members or police officers were badly injured or killed during the course of these actions. The North Carolina Supreme Court is weighing whether to reverse a 2022 decision that allows judges to order the transfer of hundreds of millions and potentially billions of dollars to fund public schools. In November 2022, the Supreme Courts former Democratic majority ruled that the courts can order state officials to transfer funds to try to provide students their constitutional right to a sound basic education. During oral arguments Thursday, an attorney for Republican legislative leaders Sen. Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore asked the courts current GOP majority to overturn that 2022 ruling. The court has recognized time and time again that if a decision is wrongly decided, if it conflicts with the constitution, if it conflicts with prior precedent .... then it should be overturned and corrected at the next possible moment, said attorney Matthew Tilley. This is the next possible. Will court overturn precedent? But attorneys representing school districts, the State Board of Education and the state urged the justices to stand by the 2022 decision. It has been the rule of this court for over 100 years that the court will not disturb its prior holding in the same case, even if it would have overturned that holding on a properly presented petition for rehearing, said attorney Melanie Dubis. We do not have a properly presented petition for rehearing in this case. Nevertheless, that is what the defendant-intervenors are blatantly asking this court to do, to go back and overturn Leandro IV, which is binding precedent cited merely 14 months ago. That view was echoed Thursday at a rally held across the street from the court hearing and in statements from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and the states Democratic legislative delegation. Public school children are at the most important crossroads in our history, Cooper said in a statement Thursday. Will our Supreme Court be courageous enough to protect those children, or will it once again protect the power of the politicians who would rather give billions in tax breaks and private school vouchers for the wealthy? The court is expected to issue a ruling this year. Amanda Bizune from Apex, center, cheers during a rally for education funding on the grounds of the N.C. State Capitol in Raleigh Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. The rally happened as the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the long-running Leandro school funding case. Leandro case is now 30 years old This weeks court hearing is the latest chapter in the now 30-year-old Leandro school funding lawsuit that was initially filed in 1994 by low-wealth school districts to get more state funding. Over the years, the state Supreme Court has ruled that the state constitution guarantees every child an opportunity to receive a sound basic education and that the state was failing to meet that obligation. In November 2021, Superior Court Judge David Lee ordered the state treasurer, controller and budget director to transfer $1.75 billion to fund the second and third years of an 8-year plan developed by a consultant. The plan is meant to try to provide every student with high-quality teachers and principals. The eight-year plan is estimated to cost at least $5.6 billion. Just days before the 2022 midterm elections flipped the court from Democratic to Republican control, the Supreme Court upheld Lees order. The Democratic justices said that the courts had deferred long enough for the state to implement a plan to provide a sound basic education. Can courts order statewide remedy? Soon after taking control, the courts GOP majority blocked enforcement of Lees order. Lee has since passed away. In April, Superior Court Judge James Ammons issued an updated court order saying $677.8 million is still owed for the second and third years of the Leandro plan. Berger and Moore are appealing both Ammons authority to issue his order as well as the constitutional authority of the courts 2022 decision. On Thursday, Tilley said that the courts didnt have the authority in this case to issue a statewide remedy. Instead, he said a remedy would have only applied to Hoke County, which was one of the school districts in the lawsuit. The case is about whether the trial court, when presented only with district specific claims, had jurisdiction to issue sweeping statewide orders that required the comprehensive remedial plan, Tilley said. A plan which dictates virtually every aspect of education and policy and funding not just for the districts that were plaintiffs but for all 115 school districts across the state, effectively removing those decisions from the political and democratic process. But Dubis said the GOP legislators didnt follow court rules for seeking an appeal and that their gamesmanship could deprive students the right to a sound basic education. She pointed to the 480,049 students in grades three through eight who are not considered sufficiently proficient in reading. (That is) 480,049 children who will become the third generation of children since this lawsuit was filed to pass through our states school system without the benefit of relief if this court takes away from them the relief that it finally delivered them 14 months ago, Dubis said. Nex Benedict had been bullied for at least a year at Owasso High School in Oklahoma, their mother says (Courtesy of Benedict family) The death of non-binary Oklahoma student Nex Benedict after they were allegedly beaten up by three older kids in a school bathroom has led to an outpouring of grief and anger from their family and the LGBTQ community. On 7 February, Nex suffered severe head injuries during a physical altercation in a bathroom at Owasso High School, according to the Owasso Police Department. Nexs mother Sue Benedict told The Independent they were badly beaten in a fight with three older students in a bathroom and hit their head on the floor. Nex collapsed at home the next day and was later pronounced dead in hospital. The exact cause of death is currently unknown. Owasso Public Schools officials said in a statement they did not call for medical help or notify police about the fight, based on district protocols. On Monday, the Owasso Police Department said they were interviewing staff and students at Owasso High School, and were awaiting toxicology and autopsy reports from the medical examiners office before deciding whether to lay charges. On Wednesday 21 February, Owasso police issued an updated statement that an autopsy had been completed which indicated Nex had not died as a result of trauma. While the investigation continues into the altercation, preliminary information from the medical examiners office is that a complete autopsy was performed and indicated that the decedent did not die as a result of trauma, police said. The family later released a statement through lawyers saying they would conduct an independent investigation into Nexs death. The family said that the facts surrounding Nexs death, some of which have not been released publicly, were troubling at best. The 10th-grade student, who used them/they pronouns, had been bullied by students at Owasso High School for more than a year for their transgender identity, Ms Benedict told The Independent. The bullying had begun at the beginning of the 2023 school year after Republican state lawmakers passed a bill that required public school students to use bathrooms that matched the sex listed on their birth certificates. LGBTQ advocacy groups in Oklahoma have linked Nexs death to the rise of hateful rhetoric and anti-trans legislation that the state legislature has passed. Freedom Oklahoma described Nexs death as a hate crime, and blamed the hateful rhetoric spewed by leaders in our state and far-right social media influencers. Nex Benedict, 16, died one day after being assaulted in a bathroom at Owasso High School in Oklahoma, police say (GoFundme) Nex should still be alive, Freedom Oklahoma stated. Owasso schools failed to create that environment for Nex. And we know that is the story for too many kids across our state. Ms Benedict told The Independent that Nex was a courageous, smart teenager who had simply been living their true identity. What we know about the assault Nex had faced taunts and insults at school due to their gender fluid identity for over a year, Ms Benedict said. I said youve got to be strong and look the other way, because these people dont know who you are, Ms Benedict told The Independent in a phone interview. I didnt know how bad it had gotten. Owasso Public Schools acknowledged that a physical altercation broke out in a restroom at Owasso High School west campus. The incident lasted less than two minutes, the school said in a news release, and was broken up by other students and a teacher. The school district said it determined that an ambulance service was not required. Out of an abundance of caution, it was recommended to one parent that their student visit a medical facility for further examination. Ms Benedict told The Independent she arrived at the school to find Nex with bruises over their face and eyes, and with scratches on the back of their head. Nex told her they had been knocked to the ground during the fight and hit their head on the floor. Nex Benedict stood up to bullies who tormented them due to their non-binary identity (Courtesy of Benedict family) Ms Benedict was informed by the school that Nex would be suspended for two weeks, and took them to the Bailey Medical Center in Owasso for treatment. Nex was given an MRI and discharged. Ms Benedict said Nex went to bed with a headache that night. The next day, Nex collapsed at home. Ms Benedict called 911, and said Nex had stopped breathing by the time Owasso Fire Department medics arrived. Nex was taken to St Francis Pediatric Emergency Room where they later died. Text messages published by a Fox affiliate in Oklahoma showed that Nex told a relative the night of the fight that theyd tipped water over three girls who had been bullying them. Nex texted that they got jumped by the three students, and that they felt dizzy and nauseous and if it continued it could be a concussion. Ms Benedict told The Independent she understands the messages are genuine, but were released without her permission by a young relative. Owasso PD spokesperson Nick Boatman told The Independent that detectives were interviewing school staff and students and would be submitting their investigation to the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office for prosecution review. Mr Boatman said that police were awaiting the results of toxicology and autopsy reports from the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office before determining whether anyone will be charged. Ms Benedict said she remains furious at the school for failing to call police or seek medical attention for Nex, and wants to see the children who allegedly assaulted Nex punished. After widespread outcry, the Owasso Public Schools defended its decision not to notify police or call for an ambulance, saying it had determined that emergency medical treatment was not required. The Owasso school district said extra counselling services were being made available to affected students and staff. In a statement released through their lawyers on Wednesday night, the Benedict family urged police to investigate all potentially liable parties to do so fully, fairly and expediently. On February 7th, 2024, the Benedict Family sent their child, Nex Benedict, to Owasso High School, trusting, like any parent or family member should be able to, that it was a safe environment for their loved one, Oklahoma City-based Bibi Law Firm said in a statement. While at Owasso High School, Nex was attacked and assaulted in a bathroom by a group of other students. A day later, the Benedicts beautiful child lost their life. The Benedict family called on school, local, state and national officials to join forces to determine why this happened, to hold those responsible to account and to ensure it never happens again. Notwithstanding, the family is independently interviewing witnesses and collecting all available evidence. Who was Nex Benedict? Nex was born in El Paso, Texas, on 11 January 2008. Ms Benedict is Nexs biological grandmother, and raised them since they were two months old along with her five other children. She formally adopted Nex a few years ago. Ms Benedict said that Nexs biological father was in prison, and had relinquished all rights to them when they were young. Ms Benedict told The Independent that Nex had identified as non-binary from an early age, and that she and her husband Walter at times struggled to understand the nuances of Nexs gender fluidity. Nex did not see themselves as male or female, Ms Benedict said. Nex saw themselves right down the middle. I was still learning about it, Nex was teaching me that. When youre old school, you dont always understand it, Walter told The Independent. But it would be very boring if we were all the same. Its on the inside that matters the most. Nex Benedict with their cat Zeus. The straight-A student was going places (Courtesy of Benedict family) The family encouraged open discussions about questions of gender and identity, and traced their roots to the Choctaw Nation. I was very open with my children to be who and what they thought was best, Ms Benedict said. They could talk to me about anything, as long as that respect goes both ways. A child needs to figure out who they are and what they want to be, and you cannot force it upon them. Nexs sister Malia Pila, who is also a member of the LGBTQ community, told The Independent in an interview that Nexs fluid gender identity was not an issue nor anything that anybody cared about within the family. Nex was a straight-A student who enjoyed drawing, reading, playing video games Ark and Minecraft, and was devoted to their cat Zeus, Ms Benedict said. I was so proud of Nex. They were going some place, they were so free, she said. Nexs funeral was held at the Mowery Funeral Service on 15 February. After the service, police officers from Owasso and the neighbouring city of Collinsville accompanied members of the local chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse as they provided an escort from the service to the graveside. Ms Benedict told how Nex was close with members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, and members had attended their adoption service. Nex had a light in them that was so big, they had so many dreams, Ms Benedict said. I want their light to keep shining for everyone. That light was so big and bright and beautiful, and I want everyone to remember Nex that way. A GoFundme page set up to help with funeral costs has raised more than $100,000 and Ms Benedict said she plans to donate most of the money to LGBTQ anti-bullying organisations. The family said in a statement that it graciously accepts and appreciates the outpouring of support, thoughts and prayers from across the nation for the loss of their child. The Benedicts know all too well the devastating effects of bullying and school violence, and pray for meaningful change wherein bullying is taken seriously and no family has ot deal with another preventable tragedy. It further asked that any threats of violence against students and employees of the Owasso Public Schools cease immediately. What have lawmakers said In a statement on Tuesday, Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt said: Our hearts go out to Nexs family, classmates, and the Owasso community. The death of any child in an Oklahoma school is a tragedy and bullies must be held accountable. Mr Stitt has been at the forefront of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state, and last year signed an executive order defining an individuals sex as the biological sex at birth Oklahoma state representative Mauree Turner, who is the states sole non-binary lawmaker, held a minutes silence in the Oklahoma City capitol building on Monday in honour of Nexs death. In an Instagram post , representative Turner wrote: this one hurt. They added that trans Oklahomans deserved less compromising of our identities because its just not comfortable for you. More unquestioned community advocacy. More tenderness and care. My brain is still spinning about it all and Im not sure Ill have enough words to really do Nex justice. Im so sorry, they wrote. Senator John Fetterman posted a link to an article about Nex on X, along with the words: If we continue to normalize cruelty in deeply intimate issues in hyper-local spaces, the most vulnerable will pay the tragic price. The states superintendent of public schools Ryan Walters has been accused of inflaming anti-trans bigotry towards students. In June 2023, he put out a public service message describing transgender students as a threat in schools. Mr Walters appointed Chaya Raichik, an anti-LGBTQ activist who runs the Libs of TikTok social media account, to a state library board last month. Ms Raichik posts edited, anti-trans videos that target LGBTQ friendly public school teachers and librarians. In a statement to The Oklahoman, Mr Walters said he mourned the loss of our student in Owasso and pray for Gods comfort for the family and the entire Owasso community. What indigenous leaders have said Nexs family also take great pride in being Native American. Their mother Sue Benedict is a registered member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. In a statement, Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton told The Independent that Nexs death weighs heavily on the hearts of the Choctaw people. The loss of a child is always difficult for a community and a family to accept, Chief Batton said. We pray Nexs family and their loved ones will find comfort. Media reports incorrectly stated that Nex was affiliated with the Cherokee Nation, and Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr released a statement offering the support of the tribal police to the Ossawa police. Nex was a child living within our reservation and deserved love, support and to be kept safe, Chief Hoskin Jr said in a statement. As a partner with all law enforcement agencies across the reservation, I have asked the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service to offer its support to the Owasso Police Department in investigating Nexs case. What have advoacy groups said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, described Nexs death as a gut-wrenching tragedy that exposes the chilling reality of anti-trans hatred. The depths of this cruelty is sickening. Nex's life demands justice. We are reaching out to the DOJ, we are encouraging the community to speak out. We are determined to fight for Nex and their family. Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Oklahoma issued a joint statement saying they were gravely heartbroken about Nexs death. The assault on Nex is an inevitable result of the hateful rhetoric and discriminatory legislation targeting Oklahoma trans youth. We challenged Oklahomas law requiring schools to discriminate against students like Nex because we believe every student should have the safe and affirming environment they need to thrive, and policies that put transgender students in danger make schools less safe places for all students. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport garnered international attention this week for its punctuality. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, presented MSP with its 2023 On-Time Performance award Tuesday, marking the second stateside win in the awards history, according to a news release from the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Delta Air Lines at MSP was honored with the Platinum Award as the top global performer for the third consecutive year, per the release. Delta is also the most on-time airline in North America. Last winter challenged our region with heavy and frequent snowstorms, yet our teams showed their dedication keeping equipment, facilities and the MSP airfield in prime condition to achieve the best possible operational capabilities that contributed to achieving this rare industry honor, said Brian Ryks, CEO of MAC, in the release. The airport logged an on-time departure rate of 84.44 percent calculated across 289,817 flights in 2023, according to the release. Other top-finishers include Indias Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Kempegowda International Airport, El Dorado International Airport in Colombia and Salt Lake City International Airport. The only other U.S. recipient of the global award was the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2011. These awards affirm the trust and expectations that MSP has earned over many years in helping millions of people travel easily and efficiently across the globe to strengthen regional business connections and support personal and leisure travel, said Rick King, chairman of MAC, in the release. The award comes on the heels of one of MSPs busiest years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with nearly 35 million passengers traveling in 2023, up 11 percent from 2022. One of the largest contributing factors in 2023 came from international travel, which accounted for 2.98 million passengers, a 47 percent increase compared to 2022. The airport also announced this month that two additional gates are coming to Terminal 2 to increase the airports ability to support additional flights. The $240 million project is expected to begin midyear and be completed in 2026. Related Articles It was a hard week to be a strawman in Montgomery. At every turn, the strawman was thrown under the proverbial bus, held to account, beaten senseless by politicians who needed a way out. A hard week to be a strawman indeed. Let me suggest that those who dont say what they mean are some of the first to lose the respect of those they serve. Let your yeses be yes, and your no's be no is a character issue. That said, if you are an elected official who wants to see the expansion of gambling in Alabama, then just say so. But to pretend that you dont really want it, but youre willing to hide behind a strawman and vote for it anyway is the height of disingenuousness. It was indeed a hard week to be a strawman in Montgomery. But hey, it was not about gambling. It was about giving the citizens the right to decide what they want. Sure, thats all it was. Never mind the people of the various House and Senate Districts who voted for elected officials to go to Montgomery and make decisions. Phil Williams This was their job, but they deflected and deferred and demurred. The first strawman argument was we cant do our job until after the people do theirs. Weve also heard the question before the Alabama Legislature is really one of public safety. This is for our own good they say. Its high time we got in there and regulated illegal gambling. Aside from the fallacy that legalizing that which is illegal makes us safer, you have to wonder why the attorney general of Alabama would call that a really bad idea. Apparently, the chief law enforcement officer of the state doesnt agree that legalization is the way forward. In fact, this bill stands to bring reward to those who have been violating our laws for years. The second strawman argument was its too hard to enforce existing laws so were just going to make it all legal and call it done. We heard quite clearly that Republican leadership wants this bill, so we need to move it forward. It must be a Republican thing. One team standing with locked arms of conservatives. Never mind that when it came to the floor 43% of Republicans voted against it. The bill only passed when all Democrats joined the other Republicans to get it across the line. Well, when you bury Medicaid expansion into a gambling bill youre sure to gather up the Democrat votes without much trouble. The third strawman argument was We were just supporting our leadership because thats what good Republicans do. But this is about good government they said. This is what we were elected by our Republican constituents to do. Never mind that one cursory review of the bill indicates that it conflicts in multiple ways with the platform positions of the Alabama Republican Party. Expansion of government it's in there. Increased taxation? thats in there, too. More regulation? Yep. Violation of free market principles? Yes, sir, and yes, ma'am. Curtailing constitutional liberties? Absolutely. Has there ever been a less Republican piece of legislation? If this were a bill about something benign like book stores or food trucks, it would be laughed out of every GOP caucus meeting as being everything that Republicans say they dont stand for. But when you add gambling to it, suddenly the fourth strawman emerges and This is a very Republican thing to do. We were also told that this was the most important thing the Legislature could do. House Republican leadership claimed it was a priority for the session. Has a controversial bill requiring an amendment to our state constitution ever flown through the legislative process with greater speed and alacrity than this one? What about school choice? Well get to that later. What about tax relief? Not today, were busy. How about veterans care, mental health, budgeting, election integrity, overcrowded prisons? Those are being considered, sort of. Does anybody know anyone who called their legislator and said, the most important thing you can do for me when you come into session is to pass a major piece of gambling legislation before anything else? Strawman No. Five was that the blistering speed with which this bill came out of the House, because it was the most important thing for the people of Alabama. Well, at least we can rest easy when told that this was an open and transparent process. After all, Gov. Kay Ivey is big on transparency. Never mind the fact that the bill was actually hidden from state legislators until just before being introduced. In the final days they were allowed to travel to Montgomery to review a copy of the 139-page bill, but no one was allowed to take a copy with them for further review. Never mind the fact that it flew out of the House committee on a voice vote so that there will not be a comprehensive record of the "ayes" and "nays" that got it to the floor. Never mind the fact that it lasted less than two hours in floor debate on one of the first possible days it could come to a vote of the body. No one studied it in advance. No one called for a roll of the "ayes" and "nays" in committee. Strawman No. 6 was Dont worry, were just doing the peoples business out in the open. Again, if youre an advocate for the expansion of gambling in Alabama then just say so. Nothing but respect for those who will fight for what they believe in and vote their true consciences. But if you say one thing and vote another it taints the process. Lets leave the poor strawman alone. At this pace there wont be any strawmen left in Montgomery to pummel on. Phil Williams is a former state senator from District 10 (which includes Etowah County), retired Army colonel and combat veteran, and a practicing attorney. He previously served with the leadership of the Alabama Policy Institute in Birmingham. He currently hosts the conservative news/talk show Rightside Radio on multiple channels throughout north Alabama. The opinions expressed are his own. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Phil Williams on the strawmen behind the gambling issue in Montgomery Tom McClintock recalls his first anti-hunger, anti-poverty campaign, a 20-mile walk through Boston, in 1968, reminiscing as he walked through the Boston Common Wednesday. BOSTON - It was as he was walking through the Boston Common, passing the Paulist Center with his two young grandsons, that Tom McClintock reminisced about his first experience with poverty and hunger. It was in 1968, when he was a junior in high school that he was sent with a group of other students attending St. Marys in Brookline to the center to help prepare for a community march against hunger, one of the first in Massachusetts. We were making signs, McClintock told his grandsons, Jack, 7, and Sam, 5. Someone said we needed footprints, so I stuck my foot in paint and walked across the sign. Its 56 years later and grassroots groups are still organizing to address hunger and food insecurity and to call attention to the depth of poverty in the United States. On Tuesday, a group that claims its roots in the 1968 Poor Peoples Campaign and March on Washington gathered on the Massachusetts State House steps. The new group, dubbed the Poor Peoples Campaign, a National Call for Moral Revival, rallied to call attention to national policies that foment poverty, as well as issues specific to the Bay State. We live in the richest nation, and we refuse to accept the fact that poverty is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, said Savina Martin, one of three leaders of the Massachusetts Poor Peoples Campaign. Together, we can ensure that the days of poverty and low wages, and the unnecessary cruelty of abandonment amidst abundance, are numbered. Together we can revive the heart and soul of this democracy to ensure dignity and justice for all. Savina Martin announces the 40-week voter drive Feb. 20, aimed at "awakening the sleeping giant," the block of poor and low-wage earners, in an effort to motivate them to cast ballots in favor of those who support anti-poverty measures and policies. Organizers announced a nationwide voter mobilization day of action planned for March 2 at the Tuesday rally. Groups across 32 states and in Washington, D.C., have scheduled rallies and marches in their state capitals. The Massachusetts group will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old State House, and march to Beacon Hill at 10 a.m., with a rally organized for 11 a.m. at the 54th Regiment Memorial across from the State House. Demands include a living wage of more than $15 an hour, full voting rights across the country, workers' and labor rights, womens health care rights, health care for all and accessible and affordable housing. Also included are environmental justice including clean air and water, fully funded education through university, just immigration laws and an end to gun proliferation, profits and related violence. "It is immoral to have 37 million people without health care," said the Rev. William Barber II, founder of Repairs of the Breach, during a 2018 interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. He listed other immoral situations inflicted on the American people: not paying a living wage, not having single-payer health insurance, not having universal access to education and higher education, and not stopping the resegregation of the nation. The revival group was launched in 2018 by two faith organization leaders under the banner of Repairs of the Breach, building on the work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The project was initiated before his 1968 assassination and carried on by his widow who led the March on Washington on May 12, Mothers Day, less than a month after his death. The first wave of marchers, mostly women, gave way to a second wave that built Resurrection City, a tent-and-shack encampment that spent a month advocating for the Economic Bill of Rights. The demand was to prioritize $30 billion for anti-poverty measures, including guaranteeing jobs, a fair minimum wage, unemployment insurance and access to education, including higher education. The current iteration of the group is advocating for similar policy changes that would lift the portion of the U.S. population, estimated at 140 million of the countrys 334 million residents, out of abject poverty. Awaken 'the sleeping giant' Their aim is to wake the sleeping giant, across the 32 states of millions of poor and low-wage workers to cast their ballots in this election cycle. The organizers are counting on an estimated 85 million eligible voters nationwide to cast ballots and elect representatives who would advocate for anti-poverty policies. In Massachusetts, the organizers estimate there are more than 1.3 million poor and low-income voters. Poverty equals death, we wont be silent anymore, said the Right Rev. Alan M. Gates, a bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Poverty, he asserted, is a political decision. Organizers expect the push to last 40 weeks. One of the local organizers is Janice Guzman, of Worcester, a personal care worker, a member of Service Employees International Union 1199, one of the organizations in the coalition forming the campaign. The Central Massachusetts organizer came to the position naturally, attending meetings with her mother since she was t3. My mom was an activist, Im an activist, Guzman said. A union member since 2007, Guzman was invited to the 2018 march on Washington by the organization as a representative of the low-wage workers impacted by federal, state and local policy decisions that keep Americans impoverished. Thats when she recognized her calling and mission to involve her peers in the struggle for economic and political equity and justice. Guzman is concerned with the budget proposed by Gov. Maura Healey that would affect her job, her peers and some 40,000 residents, disabled or elderly, who depend on personal care assistants to complete daily tasks of living, from bathing to dressing and preparing meals. The governors proposal would flat-fund the line item, which analysts believe would be tantamount to de facto cuts. Low wages, cuts to services 'immoral' The proposed budget would affect the length of time attendants were authorized for meal preparation and change eligibility for residents accessing the service for less than 10 hours a week. Thousands of residents could be expelled from the program, costing thousands of jobs for attendants. Cuts to the PCA program are despicable, unfair and immoral, Guzman said. Some consumers (of the service) dont have family, someone to come in a few hours a week to help with meals, or chores. Even if its only 10 hours a week, theres someone to talk to them, keep them company. Union leaders contend that the program allows Massachusetts residents to remain in their homes and to age in place with independence and dignity. Guzman vows to keep advocating for her peers and plans to attend the March 2 rally in Boston. At the end of each day, 800 people in the United States die of poverty, Guzman said. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Unions, faith-based & grassroots organizations launch 40-week project NEW YORK Phoenix-area county attorney Rachel Mitchell, caught in a political war of words with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over her refusal to extradite an alleged killer to NYC, may be a familiar face to many Americans. The Maricopa County attorney is a 57-year-old Republican who gained national attention when she was brought in to question Brett Kavanaugh and his sexual assault accuser Christine Blasey Ford during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 2018. Mitchell, who has long been focused on sex crimes and crimes against children, became the county attorney in Maricopa in 2022. She has not been viewed as a partisan warrior and has earned praise from both sides of the aisle but she is up for reelection, and her campaign platform highlights her record fighting the Biden Administration. Currently, she is in a public tug-of-war with Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, over the extradition of Raad Almansoori, a 26-year-old accused of killing a sex worker in a Manhattan hotel room before fleeing to Arizona, where he is alleged to have assaulted and stabbed a woman in a McDonalds restaurant in suburban Phoenix. Mitchell has said she will not immediately extradite Almansoori to New York, citing concerns about the progressive Braggs approach to violent criminals. Braggs office has responded angrily, issuing a statement accusing Mitchell of playing political games, and releasing data showing that Phoenix has a far higher violent crime rate than New York City or than Manhattan in particular. The Manhattan district attorneys office has not formally issued an extradition request. Theres been no conversation between Mr. Bragg and Ms. Mitchell, Jeanine LEcuyer, the chief of staff in the Maricopa County attorneys office, said by phone Wednesday night. What is Mitchells background? Mitchell was born in Phoenix and raised in Arizona. She studied public administration and justice studies at Grand Canyon University and earned her law degree at Arizona State University. She lives in Phoenix, according to public records. Her dad grew up on an Arkansas farm, her mother in a small-town in Pennsylvania. Neither of her parents completed college. In the 1980s, Mitchell worked at the Arizona News Service/Arizona Capitol Times. She later wrote in a 2014 judicial application that the job brought valuable lessons, pushing her to be a neutral listener and report information accurately as to all sides of an issue, according to a 2018 report in The Arizona Republic. After leaving journalism, Mitchell launched into her decades-long career as a prosecutor. She has served at multiple levels in the GOP-dominated Maricopa County attorneys office, including a spell leading the sex crimes bureau. She is an observant Christian and plays percussion in her churchs orchestra. What is Mitchells reputation in Arizona? Mitchell has been seen in Arizona as a serious, professional prosecutor with a victim-centered approach, said Bill Richardson, a retired police detective in Mesa, Ariz. As county attorney, Mitchell has sought to stabilize a scandal-plagued office and to tighten its bonds with city, county and state law enforcement, Richardson said. Shes no bullst, said Richardson, a 72-year-old political independent. Shes not seen as overly political. He said he was surprised Mitchell would find herself in a political firestorm, but added that he thought Mitchell made a practical judgement that moving Almansoori might allow him to exploit gaps in the legal system. Shes a professional prosecutor, he said. But she will defend herself. Shes not going to back down. When the Republican Party selected Mitchell to question the conservative Kavanaugh and his accuser in 2018, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa hailed her experience and objectivity. She was recognized by Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, as Arizonas outstanding sexual-assault prosecutor in 2003. It was one of several awards she has received including 2006 prosecutor of the year in the Maricopa County attorneys office according to her campaign website. Maricopa is a sprawling swing county that went narrowly for President Biden in the 2020 presidential election. How did the Kavanaugh confirmation questioning go? Mitchells questioning during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings drew mixed reviews. Some hailed her restraint and persistence. But her steady probing also was hampered by the format of the proceeding, in which she was limited to five-minute rounds of questioning. During the hearing, she acknowledged that the process was a flawed way to interview a victim. Would you believe me if I told you that there is no study that says that this setting in five-minute increments is the best way to do that, Mitchell told Ford with a smile. The best way is to have a trained interviewer talk to you one-on-one in a private setting and to let you do the talking. Many saw Mitchells selection as a thinly veiled effort by the GOP to avoid the awkward optics of having 11 men on the Senate Judiciary Committee questioning Ford, a California professor who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her three decades earlier, when they were teenagers. Why is Mitchell under fire in New York? Mitchells announcement that she would not extradite Almansoori to New York was a highly atypical move, and has been viewed as political grandstanding by some in New York. Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan DA there, Alvin Bragg, I think its safer to keep him here and keep him in custody so that he cannot be out doing this to individuals either in our state or county or anywhere in the United States, Mitchell said in a news conference Wednesday. In a statement, Emily Tuttle, a spokeswoman for Bragg, described Mitchells approach as deeply disturbing and said it was a slap in the face to New York law enforcement that would halt the Manhattan district attorneys efforts to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorkers death. In her extradition decision, Mitchell has cited Braggs handling of migrants who reportedly fled New York after their involvement and arrests in a melee with the police. Much about the incident has been contested. Mitchell said some of the migrants wound up in Arizona, a claim that is at odds with news reporting. In an appearance on Fox News on Thursday morning, Mitchell insisted that she was not casting aspersions on the New York City Police Department and said that her sympathy is with the family of the victim in New York. Since we have serious offenses here, we have the right to keep him where he is, she said of Almansoori. Were not saying he will never be prosecuted in New York for what he did. But were saying were going first. _____ (New York Daily News staff writer Molly Crane-Newman contributed to this story.) _____ A study of Google reviews has identified customers favorite and least favorite grocery stores nationwide, and the results show North Carolina shoppers have access to some of the best. And some of the worst. Raleigh hosts seven of the 10 favorite chains, and North Carolina is home to five individual grocery stores that scored highest in customer reviews. Some of the chains customers like least also are found here, though none of the 50 individual stores that frustrate shoppers the most are located in the state. The study was conducted by Solitaired, part of Unwind Media, which makes card and word game apps that give players something to do while waiting in checkout lanes, for instance, and provide advertisers a way to connect with them. We analyzed Google reviews from 3,000 individual grocery stores across 100 cities to highlight which ones stand out in customer service, food quality, prices, and yes, even the speed of their checkout lines, Solitaired developer Neal Taparia wrote in releasing the findings. The study ranks chains and individual stores as overall best and worst, and on customers perceptions of their performance in the categories of service, food quality, price and how long shoppers have to wait to check out. The best grocery store chains in the US Based on those reviews, the company ranked these as the 10 overall best grocery store chains in America: Trader Joes Costco Wegmans Publix Central Market H-E-B WinCo Foods Lidl ALDI The Fresh Market On that list, only Central Market, H-E-B and WinCo Foods are missing from Raleighs grocery-store offerings. H-E-B and its subsidiary, Central Market, are only in Texas. WinCo is mostly in the western U.S. The Fresh Market was founded in Greensboro and still has its headquarters there. A new survey used reviews to identify individual grocery stores that stand out as customers favorites. Five of the top 50 are in North Carolina, and theyre all Trader Joes stores. Chase Karacostas/The Sun News File Photo Best individual grocery stores in the US: NC picks The developers also used to the reviews to identify individual stores that stand out as customers favorites. Five of the top 50 are in North Carolina, and theyre all Trader Joes stores: No. 4: Trader Joes, Arbors Drive, Charlotte No. 15: Trader Joes, Wake Forest Road, Raleigh No. 26: Trader Joes, Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte No. 33: Trader Joes, Stratford Road, Winston-Salem No. 46: Trader Joes, Battleground Avenue, Greensboro Trader Joes spokesperson was not immediately available to talk about the North Carolina stores appearance on the list. The worst grocery chains in the US Solitaireds study found these were the 10 overall worst grocery store chains according to customer reviews: King Soopers Save A Lot Kroger Walmart Giant Eagle ACME Safeway Piggly Wiggly Jewel-Osco Fred Meyer Of those, Save A Lot, Kroger, Walmart, Safeway and Piggly Wiggly have stores in North Carolina. Raleigh is getting a new Trader Joes. What we know + why you might want to work there Which stores have the highest and lowest grocery prices in Raleigh? Heres our research. Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee, the current chair of the Republican Governors Association, said he will support the eventual GOP nominee for president but avoided officially backing former President Donald Trump. Lee was asked about Trump during POLITICOs Governors Summit. He said hell will be wholeheartedly supportive of the Republican nominee once one is picked but wouldnt commit to either Trump or former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is trailing the former president in most polls. For me, as the chairman of the Republican governors, I've said from the beginning, and I think it's important: I have an obligation to not engage in the primary, Lee said. We have a lot of members. We have a lot of interests, folks from all across the state and our focus really is not on the presidential race. Lee also avoided addressing the age concern that many voters have about both Trump, 77, and President Joe Biden, 81. While sidestepping his own opinion on the issue, Lee said voters will pick the nominees. The voters decided who our nominees are going to be, Lee said. The people that will decide, they care and decide to go out and vote to choose their candidates, we leave it to the people in this country to decide and we can say what we will about that. Russias security chief and former president has wasted no time in trash-talking a Russian pilot who was found murdered in Spain last week after he defected to Ukraine and publicly condemned Moscows war against the country. Asked by reporters on Thursday to comment on the death of Maksim Kuzminov, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council, switched on his best tough-guy voice and replied: For a dog, a dogs death. Asked who was responsible for Kuzminovs murder, Medvedev declined to comment, saying hed already said everything he wanted to say. His comments come after Sergei Naryshkin, Vladimir Putins spy chief, blasted Kuzminov as a traitor and criminal earlier this week, saying the slain military pilot had been a moral corpse ever since he decided to switch his allegiance to Ukraine and defect with a high-profile helicopter hijacking that humiliated the Kremlin. In the wake of his shocking defection last September, Kuzminov famously revealed that hed duped his own crew members to fly their Mi-8 chopper into Ukraine and switch sides, saying nobody could put up any resistance because he was the only one who knew how to fly the helicopter. He admitted that his two crew members had apparently been liquidated by Ukrainian forces after they refused to surrender, a fact that Ukrainian intelligence later confirmed. Kuzminov went on to publicly urge other Russian troops to defect so as to not enable the Kremlins war crimes. After disappearing from public view for several months, he suddenly turned up dead in the Spanish beach town of Villajoyosa last week. Spanish media first broke the news that hed been murdered, and Ukrainian military intelligence later confirmed it. Law enforcement sources were quoted by Spanish media earlier this week describing Kuzminovs killers as a group of professionals, though a new report out Wednesday from the Levante-EMV newspaper noted that the killers appeared to deliberately leave behind shell casings that showed the ammunition used was Russian-made. Kremlin propagandists and pro-war military bloggers have already begun circulating unfounded claims that Ukraine was behind Kuzminovs murder, seizing on a report from a local Spanish news outlet that the pilot had been using a fake identity provided by Ukrainian authorities to conceal his whereabouts. In a telling sign, however, Russias state-run media on Thursday published a piece about the traitor Kuzminov serving as an example to others, helpfully reminding readers that masked special forces troops for Russian military intelligence literally went on state TV last October to report theyd already been given orders to assassinate Kuzminov. Of course well find him. We can reach anyone, we have long arms, one of the troops said, adding that it was just a matter of time. 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. Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian pilot who dramatically defected to Ukraine by flying his helicopter across the border, is dead, according to Ukraines Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR). The news comes after the Spanish Civil Guard in Alicante province told CNN that a man had been shot to death on February 13 inside the parking garage of an apartment building in Villajoyosa, a seaside resort on the Mediterranean Sea. Initially, the Civil Guard said the victim was a 33-year-old Ukrainian but later said the identity of the body was still to be determined and part of an investigation, which had been sealed by a judge. A source at Ukraines GUR confirmed to CNN the body of the man found in Spain was that of Kuzminov, but would not comment on how he had died. The remains of the man shot inside the garage are thought to still be in Alicante province under the supervision of forensic examiners. The shooting took place in a neighborhood where some Russian and Ukrainian expatriates have settled since the war began, according to the Villajoyosa city hall press office. Asked Tuesday whether Russia had any knowledge of the death, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had no information on the matter. Russian Foreign Intelligence Director Sergey Naryshkin would also not comment directly on Kuzminovs death, but told reporters the defector had become a moral corpse the moment he began planning his dirty and terrible crime, Russias RIA Novosti reported. Shortly after Kuzminovs defection, Russian TV aired a segment about him on the Vesti Nedeli program, which carried a clear threat to the defectors life. In the program, a reporter said that Russias own military intelligence agency had already received their order with regard to Kuzminov, adding that, its fulfillment is only a matter of time. Kuzminov's body was reportedly found in a garage in Spain. - Rafa Arjones/Informacion/Reuters Later in the segment, a man in a military uniform, whose face is shown covered, says: We cant let such a thing go, we will punish him for such actions. The Freedom for Russia Legion a group associated with Ukraines GUR made up of Russian nationals fighting for Ukraine - expressed their condolences to family and friends of Kuzminov, saying he was a real warrior and honest man. Ukraine fulfilled all its obligations to Maxim, he received the promised monetary reward for the delivered equipment and had the opportunity to choose to stay in Ukraine and live in peace, continue serving in one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or go to the EU, the Legion said in a statement. Lets give it a try Kuzminov defected in August after Kyiv got his family out of Russia undetected, the head of the GUR, Kyrolo Budanov, told Radio Liberty last year. Budanov said it was the first successful operation of its kind. When Kuzminov flew into Ukraine, the two other Russian service members on board the Mi-8 helicopter with him did not know what was happening. The pair were killed while trying to escape after they realized they had landed in Ukraine. We would prefer (to take) them alive, but it is what it is, Budanov said at the time. In an interview published by the GUR in September, Kuzminov recounted the defection. He told reporters he fled Russia because he was opposed to the war. I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, explained my situation, to which they offered this option: Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward, the pilot said. His defection seemingly came last minute during a flight near the border. After relaying his location, he said lets give it a try, Im not that far away. Having made a final decision, I flew at an extremely low altitude in radio silence mode. No one understood what was going on with me at all, Kuzminov said. CNNs Victoria Butenko and Andrew Carey reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Al Goodman from Madrid For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sleeves have been rolled up for some time in Honesdale, as various community members, business and governmental leaders have invested time and energy seeking grants, launched a study and made plans for downtown revitalization and pedestrian safety. They received affirmation for their efforts Feb. 16 as Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger came to call. Visiting three local businesses as they walked about with local leaders, they heard of the plans for the borough and shared the interest of the Shapiro Administration in creating economic opportunity for Pennsylvania communities. That interest, the state leaders emphasized, is reflected as part of the 2024-25 budget proposal made by Shapiro and pending consideration by the state legislature. "Having him come to visit us was wonderful; it was truly an honor to have him in town today," said Sandi Levens, executive director of the Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP). Their walking tour started at Art's for Him & Her, an apparel and tailoring shop at 843 Main St. in business for over 75 years, owned by Tom Fasshauer. They then went up the street to Gather, a boutique owned by Olivia Santo at 1019 Main, in business for five years. Lastly, they arrived at Runaway Train Brewery which opened last year at 1 Chapel St., owned by Vince Benedetto, and managed by Settlers Hospitality. Gov. Josh Shapiro, at right, visited Art's For Him & Her, an apparel and tailoring shop in Honesdale on Feb. 16, 2024. He speaks with owner Tom Fasshauer, whose late father Art Fasshauer began the business in 1948. Shapiro also visited Gather, a boutique shop, and Runaway Train Brewery. The governor discussed local economic opportunities and Honesdale's current revitalization project supported by his proposed state budget. GHP was pleasantly surprised at the press conference held at Runaway Train with the announcement that their application for a $100,000 Keystone Partnership grant had been approved. Levens explained that there are two parts. $50,000 is for a second round of facade improvements, which local businesses can apply for. The other $50,000 will be for a new program GHP will run, where businesses can apply for funds to help sustain or grow their business. Examples include marketing, training, large equipment purchases or interior renovations. There will be a 50% match needed for the sustainability grants, Levens said. If they cannot afford it, GHP will offer a low-interest revolving loan. On top of the $50,000 from the state for this program, Levens said that a private donor has contributed another $50,000. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger went on a walking tour of downtown Honesdale on Feb. 16, 2024, promoting the governor's proposed budget. From left: Sandi Levens, executive director of Greater Honesdale Partnership; Shapiro; Mary Beth Wood, executive director of WEDCO; and Sigar. Over the last five years, the Commonwealth has invested $630,000 in Honesdale to improve main street signage, storefronts, and infrastructure. Shapiro commented, Thanks to the strategic investments weve made in partnership with local leadership and small business owners, Honesdales main street continues to be a thriving place of opportunity. I want to expand our impact on main streets all across Pennsylvania and give more local leaders the chance to realize the full potential of their economies thats why Im calling for major investments to create the Main Street Matters program to invest in the success and prosperity of Pennsylvania small businesses, downtowns, and main streets. This program would be administered through DCED and build on the existing successes of the current Keystone Communities Program in supporting communities. Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at the press conference held at Runaway Train Brewery in Honesdale on Feb. 16, 2024. In back, from left are Vince Benedetto, owner of Runaway Train; DCED Secretary Rick Sigar; and Honesdale Mayor Derek Williams. Governor Shapiros $25 million investment into the Main Street Matters program will give Pennsylvania communities a much-needed resource to make their main streets better places to live, visit, and work, said Secretary Siger. This focus on strong communities and small businesses is especially important today, as Pennsylvania faces more competition than ever as we seek to attract and retain new residents and businesses. Levens and Mary Beth Wood, executive director of the Wayne Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO), accompanied the governor, explaining the downtown streetscape project on Main Street and along the river on 12th Street. The design and grant funds for Main Street improvements remain in progress. She said this spring a full design is anticipated for 12th Street. More: Walkway, green space planned along Lackawaxen River in Honesdale Honesdale Mayor Derek Williams said, "I was pleased to learn more about his economic initiatives that can support our downtown and small businesses. We've got a lot of momentum building in Honesdale around transformational projects like our streetscapes design plans. I'm really proud of everyone who has been working so hard for a very long time to get these extra spotlights shining brightly on our lovely borough." The Wayne County Community Foundation, where Williams is employed, holds a fund for the GHP to activate a transformational streetscape plan. This important project will shift the vibe of our downtown to the slower, safer, and more accessible place it deserves to be, he said. During Gov. Josh Shapiro's Honesdale visit on Feb. 16, Mayor Derek Williams introduced Honesdale senior Seth Buckwalter. Seth is the first participant in the Mayor's Office Student Leadership Program. "This is a new thing I'm trying out where I work with an engaged local student to add some extracurricular learning opportunities," Williams said. From left are Buckwalter, Shapiro and Williams. Commenting on Main Street Matters, Williams stated, "So why does Main Street matter? And why does downtown Honesdale matter? For starters, people have been here for many countless generations.... Main street also matters because it's a place for everybody." "People live and love here. People work and manage businesses here. People play and dream here," he continued. "Honesdale is the seat of county government, commerce, and culture. Everyone is welcome to be here. Someones connection to Main Street extends far beyond local residency. Our downtown belongs to everyone who cares about this place. "We need to support our Main Street whenever and however we can because it affects a heck of a lot of people," Williams said. "It carries the lifeblood of our community. This means small business support so financial independence is achievable for local families. This means housing support so having a place to live is attainable for our neighbors. This means social support for those down on their luck and those who aren't treated fairly because of who they happen to be. This means infrastructure support so walking across the street is safe for everyone." Sandi Levens, executive director of Greater Honesdale Partnership, at the press conference, Feb. 16, 2024, commented, Governor Shapiros Main Street Matters initiative is essential for downtown communities to preserve their identity, enhance livability, and build resilience to challenges many small downtowns like Honesdale often face. State Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-111) stated, Highly enthused that Governor Shapiro took the time to visit idyllic downtown Honesdale. I love my hometown, and the fact that others see the same wonderful qualities that we all work so hard to foster is evidence that our small town is on the right track. Honesdale truly is Norman Rockwell-esque Americana, complete with sincerely good and generous people. Honesdale may be small, but it is a mighty town. The passion this town has and the vision the Greater Honesdale Partnership has put forth for its future growth is inspiring, said Benedetto. We are so pleased that Governor Shapiro has come to visit our downtown to bring attention to the importance of entrepreneurialism and the economic development of our area and were so thankful he has prioritized initiatives and funding opportunities to help communities and main streets like ours achieve their fullest potential. For more information on the governors proposed budget, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov. Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588. This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Shapiro takes tour of Honesdale, promotes budget proposal Elliot Kolkovich is Summit Countys new prosecutor at least for now. The Summit County Democratic Partys Central Committee appointed Kolkovich to fulfill the remainder of Sherri Bevan Walshs term through the end of the year. Walsh, the countys longest-serving prosecutor, retired last week for health reasons. Elliot Kolkovich, the newly appointed Summit County prosecutor Kolkovich will have to run in the November election to hold the seat and faces serious competition from John Greven, a former assistant prosecutor who is now a prominent defense attorney. The Democrats also chose Brandon Ford for the open District 5 seat on Summit County Council. Veronica Sims, who held that seat, was appointed to the 33rd Ohio House District to replace Tavia Galonski who recently was tapped to be the Summit County Common Pleas Court clerk. Sims is the only candidate who has filed to run for the 33rd district seat in the Nov. 5 election. Galonski, though, will face competition to keep the clerk seat. More: Election is already heating up; here's what we know about March primaries in Summit County Ford has competition in the March 19 primary from Ralph Paulk. The winner will run against Cynthia Blake, a Republican, in the November election. Sherri Bevan Walsh, Summit County's longest-serving prosecutor who retired last week. Walsh, 63, had pulled petitions to run again but announced last month that she would retire Feb. 16. She had heart surgery in January because of COVID-19 complications and said she was no longer able to give the job the high level of devotion it demands. Walsh will have a retirement party in March. More: Craiglist killer and sledgehammer slayings: Highlights from Sherri Bevan Walsh's tenure Kolkovich also pulled petitions in case Walsh decided against running. Who is Elliot Kolkovich? Kolkovich began his law career with the Summit County Prosecutor's Office in 2010, where he interned while waiting to take the bar exam. After passing the bar, he accepted a position in the Summit County Prosecutor's Office's juvenile division, where he handled abuse, neglect and dependency cases. In February 2012, Elliot moved to the criminal division, where he spent more than 10 years prosecuting felony offenses. Elliot Kolkovich, then an assistant Summit County prosecutor, points to a surveillance camera photo during a murder trial in April 2022. Kolkovich has been appointed to fulfill the remainder of Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's term through the end of the year. Walsh retired because of health concerns. Kolkovich served as an assistant U.S. attorney for eight months. In May 2023, he returned to the Summit County Prosecutor's Office as the community outreach prosecutor. Kolkovich ran for a Statehouse seat in 2018. Tom Bevan, the chairman of the Summit County Democratic Party who also is Walshs brother, has said he would have been happy to see her run again but supported her decision to concentrate on her health. He said he thinks Kolkovich will do a great job in her stead. Kolkovich will have a public swearing-in ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the atrium of the Summit County Courthouse, 209 S. High St., which is just outside of probate court. Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Democrats pick Elliot Kolkovich as Summit County's new prosecutor Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland dig into Coxs initiative as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in organizing and hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News When Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, agreed to film an advertisement for Utah Gov. Spencer Coxs Disagree Better initiative, he knew just who he would ask. It was a Republican from the western side of his state, Mayor Jack Coburn of Lonaconing, who Moore had visited shortly after assuming the governorship. The town was having a water crisis at the time. Moore said when they first met, the mayor said, Can you do me a favor? He said, Turn 360 degrees. So I turned 360 degrees. And he said, The only guarantee that youre getting is you wont see a Democrat within five miles of anywhere you just looked. The two men struck up a friendship despite their political differences, and Moore said Coburn taught him the importance of friendship and of showing up. Although the governors represent different parties, Cox and Moore have also struck up a friendship, and it was what led the two men to sit side by side in one of the nations most revered institutions, where they praised each other, and sought shared connection despite their differences Cox, a self-described farm boy from Utah, and Moore, the first Black governor of Maryland and all but pleaded with Americans to do better. They spoke at a forum held at the soaring National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., filled with more than 800 people, while another 1,800 attendees watched online. The event was called, With Malice Toward None, With Charity for All, and was hosted and organized by the Washington National Cathedral, the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University, the Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine. The evening brought together religious leaders, political operatives, scholars and the two governors, all trying to model what a revival of American community could look like if people were willing to move past their anger and disagreement. In addition to those who spoke, attendees included David Blankenhorn, head of Braver Angels, Keith Allred, executive director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, and a group of Scott Scholars students from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Several of the speakers were involved in the latest issue of Deseret Magazine, which was focused on solutions for the nations divisions. Cox is in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association conference. He is currently chair of the association, and, like leaders before him, established an initiative to undertake. But instead of focusing on a typical public policy, Cox decided to tackle something a little less orthodox. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland and Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah dig into Coxs initiative as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in organizing and hosting an evening forum highlighting Coxs Disagree Better initiative in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Why Disagree Better? At the forum, the Utah governor explained the genesis of his Disagree Better initiative. When he was growing up in Fairview, Utah, Cox said he didnt know the politics of his neighbors. And then something started to change, it started to change about 12 years ago, 15 years ago, and then it just got worse and worse and worse. People started defining themselves by their party affiliation. Politics was becoming a religion for many people, and then politics infiltrated their religion. During his first run for governor in 2020, Cox said a friend approached him and expressed concern about the state of the country. With a contentious presidential election, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country felt like it was coming apart at the seams. She said, Im worried if (Donald) Trump wins again, the left is going to burn it down. And Im worried if (Joe) Biden wins, the right is going to shoot it up. This led Cox to film a commercial with his Democratic opponent, where they said even though they disagreed, in the end they both loved their state and country. That commercial went viral, and planted the seed for Coxs later initiative. Moore, a combat veteran and rising star in the Democratic Party, said he agreed to work with Cox on the initiative because he believes in it. You cant love your country if you hate half the people in it, Moore said. Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in organizing and hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Left to right: Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah, political strategist Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Moore: I believe that service will save us As one of his first priorities after getting elected in 2022, Moore launched a public service year option for high school graduates. Moore praised Utah, which leads the nation in volunteering and charitable giving, as an example for the service program, which is the first of its kind in the country. Besides helping to develop job skills and prepare young people for the workforce, Moore said he wanted to create this program because service is sticky, and those who serve together will stay together. And in this time of political divisiveness and political vitriol, and where people seem to care more about where an idea comes from rather than is it a good idea, I believe that service will save us. Moore praised Utah for having the lowest rate of child poverty in the country, and he asked Cox how the state made that happen. It says something about the humanity of the state, Moore said, because no humane society allows children to live in poverty. It comes back to community, said Cox, adding that it cant be just a government solution. He said faith-based partners, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Charities and other faith-based institutions in the area, in addition to private philanthropy and a dedication to service among the states corporate community, provide assistance to children and families. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland dig into Coxs initiative as Wheatley Institute joined Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21, 2024. The event supported Coxs initiative through the National Governors Association followed by a conversation of leaders, including political strategist Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. Columnist Peter Wehner joined Joshua DuBois, director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Obama administration, to uncover how to aim higher and do better. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Cox: There are some people rolling their eyes It isnt always easy to put aside differences, Cox acknowledged. Politics includes issues that can be deeply personal and difficult. He addressed recent changes Utah made to its diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the states public institutions, including colleges and universities, replacing DEI programs with student success offices. Cox said after he signed the change into law, he was approached by a friend who disagreed with him. I had a friend who came up to me. Shes Black, weve been friends for a long time. She disagreed with what was happening. She came up to me, and she gave me a hug, and she said, Im mad at you, and I love you, and can we talk? I want you to read some things. And I said, Yeah, will you read some things? And she said yes. We have this friendship that allows us to do that. Cox said to Moore, Look, there are some people rolling their eyes at us. He asked Moore how he deals with those who dont think the two sides should even talk. Moore said by the end of his term in office, he doesnt want people to say we didnt listen and we didnt understand the assignment. At the end of their conversation, the two governors embraced as the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, his wife, Abby Cox, and daughter, EmmaKate, watch as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in organizing and hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Fighting fear and contempt After Cox and Moore spoke, Cox moderated a panel discussion with Donna Brazile, former chair of the Democratic National Committee and a longtime political strategist, Ruth Okediji, a Harvard law school professor, Rachel Brand, an executive vice president at Walmart who was previously associate U.S. attorney general, and Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics and an impact scholar at the University of Utah. At the beginning of the discussion, Cox noted that what they all had in common was they all know Judge (Thomas) Griffith, a former federal judge and now a Wheatley Institute fellow who was instrumental in planning the evenings forum. Shriver, whose mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics, said watching the struggles faced by athletes with disabilities when he was young taught him people shouldnt be treated with fear and contempt. Over 30% of Americans have ended a relationship in their own family as a function of political contempt. ... Its not that they disagree, its that they demonize the person, he said. Brazile, who was the campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, described how she started working with his opponent, former President George W. Bush, after Hurricane Katrina ravaged her home state of Louisiana. I found myself in a position where I knew people in the Bush administration. And rather than go on national TV and offer criticisms about the failure to get people off their roof, or not rescue people, or not provide them with water, I went on national TV and I basically said, Mr. President, how can I help? On the 10th anniversary of Katrina, Brazile said she went with Bush and then-President Barack Obama to Louisiana, bringing both my presidents back home. After a long career in politics, which Brazile said shes enjoyed every day of, she said, I pray for everybody, describing her lengthy prayer sessions for the nations political leaders. But repairing this rift in Americas culture doesnt just involve working across the political aisle, said Brand, it also involves not defining people by their politics. We have to stop reducing everyone to their politics, she said. Your life is going to be a lot richer if youre willing to be friends with people who are not at the same point on the political spectrum. Brand and Okediji serve together on the board for International Justice Mission, and, before Wednesday night, both said they were completely unaware of the others political leanings. Okediji said she teaches her students they have to listen to one another in order to understand each other. Cox asked Okediji about the importance of faith-based institutions in the work of bringing people together. If we dont encourage and teach and preach and pray and speak about the strength of institutions that can be gathering places for us, then we leave this generation with nothing but contempt and hate, she said. These institutions are important vitally important because they give us hope. Related Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in organizing and hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington DC on February 21, 2024. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox (Utah) and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore (Maryland) dig into Gov. Coxs initiative, followed by a conversation of leaders, including political analyst Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji, and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. Columnist Peter Wehner joins Joshua DuBois, Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Obama Administration, to uncover how to aim higher and do better. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Audience members watches as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. The event supported Coxs initiative followed by a conversation of leaders, including political strategist Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. Columnist Peter Wehner joined Joshua DuBois, director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Obama administration, to uncover how to aim higher and do better. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. The event supported Gov. Spencer Coxs initiative followed by a conversation of leaders, including political strategist Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. Columnist Peter Wehner joined Joshua DuBois, director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Obama Administration, to uncover how to aim higher and do better. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. The event supported Gov. Spencer Coxs initiative followed by a conversation of leaders, including political strategist Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. Columnist Peter Wehner joined Joshua DuBois, director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Obama Administration, to uncover how to aim higher and do better. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. The event supported Gov. Spencer Coxs initiative followed by a conversation of leaders, including political strategist Donna Brazile, attorney Rachel Brand, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and activist Tim Shriver, who are trying to model a new kind of politics. Columnist Peter Wehner joined Joshua DuBois, director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Obama Administration, to uncover how to aim higher and do better. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Democratic Gov. Wes Moore (Maryland) says goodbye after Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Legal scholar Ruth Okediji says goodbye after Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News ABCs Donna Brazile and activist Tim Shriver listen to speakers as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington DC on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Audience members listen to speakers as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington DC on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Audience members listen to speakers as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington DC on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News ABCs Donna Brazile listens to speakers as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Republican Gov. Spencer Cox from Utah (left) talks with Catherine Ballinger as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Attorney Rachel Brand, activist Tim Shriver, legal scholar Ruth Okediji and Republican Gov. Spencer Cox from Utah say goodbye as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Legal scholar Ruth Okediji (middle) and Republican Gov. Spencer Cox from Utah (right) greet others as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Republican Gov. Spencer Cox (Utah) speaks as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News Democratic Gov. Wes Moore (Maryland) greets former federal Judge Thomas Griffith as Wheatley Institute joins Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary and Deseret Magazine in hosting an evening forum on Disagreeing Better in Washington D.C., on February 21, 2024. | Carol Guzy, for the Deseret News People are seeking meaning through politics The final panel of the evening included the Rev. David McAllister-Wilson, president of Wesley Theological Seminary, Joshua DuBois, who was director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under Obama, and Peter Wehner, a writer for The Atlantic and The New York Times who was a speechwriter for Bush. Wilson asked DuBois and Wehner how people of faith should step forward to repair the breaches in American culture. DuBois said at the root of so many of the challenges we face today are people who are hurting, and who are broken, and who are seeking meaning in their lives. He included in that category the people who descended on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and people on the left who cancel others. The place where too many people are trying to find meaning is sinking sand, DuBois said. He added that faith leaders can call out and name the idols people are replacing true meaning with, and then call people into something thats more lasting. Wehner called on religious leaders to attend to their own communities rather than turning to politics. One of the purposes of religious institutions is to heal wounded people, he said, and fill the human need for transcendence. At the end of the forum, the Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, left the attendees with a benediction. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who persecute you. Pray for those who abuse you. Do good and lend, expecting nothing in return. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you, for the measure you give will be the measure that you receive. (Bloomberg) -- The hottest European stocks are rising because of strong profits, not because of a speculative frenzy, according to Adrien Bommelaer, who manages one of the best performing funds from the past year. Most Read from Bloomberg His Echiquier Major SRI Growth Europe, which has 1.36 billion ($1.48 billion) in assets, has a heavy weighting in Novo Nordisk A/S, LVMH and ASML Holding NV, which has helped the fund beat 94% of its peer group over the past 12 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. I dont think theres any over-valuation, he said in an interview. I certainly dont see a bubble like back in 2000. The difference between the rally now and the dotcom bubble is that todays stocks are highly profitable, he said. Indeed, Nvidias eye-popping sales forecast seems to have momentarily quashed any concerns, triggering a fresh rally for the worlds most valuable chipmaker. The interview was conducted before Nvidias results were released. Still, the heavy dependence of equity benchmarks on a handful of stocks, such like the Magnificent Seven, remains a concern for many investors. Bommelaer said that Nvidias valuation is justified by the insatiable demand for artificial intelligence chips and theres a compelling rationale behind the surge in Europes top three stocks. Novo Nordisk has shown investors the potential of the huge market opened up by its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, he said. The company is worth about 500 billion and the shares have soared 70% in the past 12 months. ASML has almost a monopoly on extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, which are key for the most advanced semiconductors, he added. The stock trades with a forward earnings multiple of 46 times earnings per share, more than three times the Stoxx 600 Index. Story continues Luxury companies, such as LVMH, Hermes International and Ferrari NV, have pricing power due to the demand and scarcity of their products, Bommelaer added. More broadly, he said European stocks should do well this year as the economy starts to recover. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Tens of thousands of Floridians could see changes in their pay under legislation moving in the Republican-controlled Legislature. The proposed legislation which has the backing of some of the most powerful business groups in the state would strip the ability of counties and cities to set wage standards for private companies they hire for publicly-funded work that go beyond state regulations. Local governments would still be able to dictate what they pay city and county employees, but the measure would block them from controlling what contractors pay their employees. Counties, for example, would not be able to require contractors to pay more than the states minimum wage which is currently set at $12 per hour and is expected to increase to $15 an hour by September 2026. Eleven municipalities including Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties as well as the cities of Miami Beach and St. Petersburg currently have ordinances that would be impacted by the proposal, state Rep. Tiffany Esposito, R-Fort Myers, the sponsor of the House Bill 433, said during a committee hearing on Thursday. The bill is now ready for the House floor. Will workers get paid less? When asked if the measure would lead to pay cuts, Esposito said those decisions would be up to private employers. If they want high-quality employees, they are going to have to pay accordingly, Esposito said. They could still very much pay above the minimum wage if they choose so, it is just not mandated. Esposito, however, said the bill would continue to give local governments the authority to determine what they pay city and county employees because she wants to ensure they are able to remain competitive in their ability to hire. In addition to preempting wage ordinances, the proposed measure would also block any city or county from setting standards to protect workers from the increasing risk of extreme heat. The wide-ranging bill the latest in a string of bills moving in the Legislature that aim to preempt local control has drawn criticism from workers rights advocates and Democrats. Most of Democrats criticism has touched on the idea that the state should not restrict local governments ability to determine what is a fair wage for workers in their communities. In Miami-Dade County, it is unaffordable to live. At least 30,000 families will be impacted by this bill, state Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, said earlier this month when the bill was being considered in committee. This bill shows the people of Florida that they dont matter and I hope they show up to the voting polls and show that they do matter. Miami-Dades ordinance applies to companies with contracts with the county worth at least $100,000. It ensures more than 28,000 employees, including healthcare professionals, airport workers and custodians, are making at least $15.03 per hour with health benefits or $18.73 per hour without health benefits. In Broward, about 5,000 employees earn at least $15 per hour with health benefits under the countys own ordinance. Business groups, worker advocates clash Rich Templin, a lobbyist for the labor union AFL-CIO, has lashed out against the Republican-led effort, calling it a pure insider lobbyist game. There is no reason for this, Templin said in a committee hearing earlier this month. There are no business entities that are good corporate players in communities that are asking for this. There are no governments that are asking for this. There are no constituents asking for this. Bob McKee, a representative with the Florida Association of Counties, chastised the effort to limit local governments ability to control wages in their communities to benefit entities that are already receiving benefits from the government. As a local government, one of the things that is important is the ability to look in our communities to give them the dignity that comes with a living and earned wage, McKee said. A representative with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, argued that the measure will make it easier for small businesses to compete for government contracts and that the effort could lead to more cost-effective government agreements. Several other business groups, including the Florida Homebuilders Association, the National Utility Contractors Association and the Aluminum Association of Florida, supported the local preemption bill. In the Senate, the idea has yet to gain traction. But Senate President Kathleen Passidomo recently told reporters that the idea merits a discussion. I dont know where it would end up but I would like to hear what people have to say, Passidomo said. I think there are so many challenges with one community doing something that other communities dont. The Senate bill sponsor, Sen. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City Beach, has not responded to requests seeking comment on whether he intends to adopt the language onto his bill. EL PASO, Texas Every day, Ruben Garcia's cellphone dings with text messages from U.S. Border Patrol. With each text, agents tell Garcia how many migrants will be lawfully released and need a meal, a shower or a place to sleep. The executive director of the nonprofit Annunciation House a Catholic evangelist who once brought Mother Teresa to the Texas border has specialized in meeting those needs for more than 40 years through a network of faith-based shelters. He calls the work "hospitality." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton now alleges it's "human smuggling." In a new lawsuit, Paxton claims the Annunciation House "appears to be engaged in the business of human smuggling," charges its shelter network amounts to an illegal stash house and is threatening to terminate the nonprofits right to operate in Texas. Annunciation House director Ruben Garcia speaks at a roundtable discussion with officials from the City of El Paso, local non-profits, law enforcement officials, businesses and other stakeholders at the Emergency Migrant Operations Facility located in the recently shuttered Bassett Middle School in El Paso, Texas, on Monday, Jan 9, 2023. Experts say the litigation against a Catholic migrant aid organization is a serious expansion of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts sprawling crackdown on immigration and border communities. Should the state prevail, it could have wide-ranging implications for churches, hospitals and other organizations that provide humanitarian assistance. "We are now witnessing an escalating campaign of intimidation, fear and dehumanization in the state of Texas," said Bishop Mark Seitz of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. The city's identity as "a place of welcome and dignity" is at stake, he said. A network of faith-based migrant shelters Annunciation House isn't a place, per se. It's a community of like-minded people, driven by their faith to help the most vulnerable regardless of circumstance. Depending on the year, Garcia's network of faith-based shelters stretches from Dallas to Denver, from Albuquerque to southern New Mexico. The shelters are staffed largely by volunteers, including college students and retired seniors. Two of the El Paso shelters serve as convalescent homes for migrants who have been severely injured on their journey, including those who have fallen from the 30-foot border fence. Churches open their doors to migrants when they can, and Garcia tries to ensure that every migrant processed and lawfully released by Border Patrol in El Paso has somewhere to go a task that has gotten harder as the number of migrants arriving at the border has risen in recent years. But his work has been rendered newly political as Texas' elected leaders and national politics veer further to the right on immigration. Paxton said in a statement this week that organizations assisting migrants are responsible for worsening illegal immigration. The chaos at the southern border has created an environment where NGOs, funded with taxpayer money from the Biden Administration, facilitate astonishing horrors including human smuggling, he said. More: So many deaths, not enough ways to track them: Migrant deaths surge at US-Mexico border Pete Hermansen, a former Border Patrol agent-in-charge who also directed the agency's national special operations, said he witnessed "both sides of it" during his 21-year career in the agency. "I saw organizations that crossed the line and organizations that were there to help people," he said. "Regardless of how provocative Texas is getting, Texas is sharing with the nation the pain of this immigration problem so there is visibility to it." Border Patrols daily calls and text messages to Garcias cellphone each day have come during successive presidential administrations Obama's, Trump's, Biden's as the make-up of migrants arriving at the border has shifted from individuals sneaking into the country to look for work, to families with children asking for asylum at the border Agents who process asylum-seekers and other migrants have often prioritized keeping them off the street once released. In El Paso, that means texting Garcia and sending migrants to an Annunciation House shelter instead of a street corner. "Faith-based organizations have been picking up the pieces of a broken system for decades," said Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, another El Paso-based Catholic migrant aid group. Paxton's lawsuit "is designed for political effect and also to have a chilling effect." Annunciation House attorney Jerry Wesevich said Paxton's litigation is "a gimmick lawsuit to try to shut down" the nonprofit. You have a bunch of church ladies trying to help people, Wesevich said. Annunciation House is not an immigration outfit. It doesnt decide who is in the country legally or illegally. Today, Im suing to end NGO's operations in Texas. The chaos at the southern border has created an environment where NGOs, funded with taxpayer money from the Biden Administration, facilitate astonishing horrors including human smuggling. While the federal government https://t.co/KFg9O809mW Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) February 21, 2024 Texas pursues border crackdown in the courts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sought to clamp down on migration at the Texas border through his Operation Lone Star and the office of his attorney general. Since 2021, Abbott has deployed hundreds of Texas National Guard troops to the Mexican border, installed reams of razor wire along the Rio Grande and bused more than 100,000 migrants to Democrat-led cities around the country at a cost of roughly $10 billion. He recently announced plans to build a military facility to house 2,300 troops at the borderline. Paxton has pursued the governor's border crackdown through the courts. He has sued to force the Biden administration to continue building a barrier along the 2,000-mile border and defended Abbott's placement of a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande after the Department of Justice sued. He has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the Biden administration, including many targeting the administration's immigration policies, according to a count by the Texas Tribune. On Feb. 7, Paxton's office ordered Annunciation House via email to provide "immediate access" to the nonprofit's records, including "all logs" identifying the migrants it has served, according to court documents. Annunciation House sued in Texas 205th District Court, asking a judge to review which of its records must be turned over by law. "The AG threatened criminal sanctions and forfeiture of (Annunciation House's) right to do business in Texas if the AG, in his sole discretion, decides that (Annunciation House) has not complied, the nonprofit stated in its lawsuit filed Feb. 8. Paxton counter-sued on Feb. 20 to revoke Annunciation House's registration to operate in Texas. "All we want is a court ruling," Wesevich said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas targets Catholic migrant shelter for alleged 'human smuggling' Turkey first domestic fighter jet completed its maiden flight on Wednesday. A new video shows the jet's flight, which lasted 13 minutes. Turkey was previously part of the F-35 program but was expelled. Turkey's first domestically made fighter jet successfully completed its maiden flight, and a new video captured the moment for the new fifth-generation aircraft. It's a major step forward for Turkey's efforts to acquire a fifth-generation fighter. The country was previously kicked out of the US-led F-35 program in 2019 as a consequence for purchasing S-400 air-defense systems from Russia. Turkish Aerospace Industries confirmed Wednesday that the plane, Kaan, had completed its first flight. And a video shared on social media showed the jet's takeoff, flight, and landing at Akinci air base. Turk muhendislerinin eseri Turkiye'nin Savas Ucag Kaan goklerde! @TUSAS_TR yi kutluyor, basarlarnn devamn diliyoruz. TRMOTOR olarak bizler de Kaan'n motor ve guc sistemleri icin calsyor, yerli ve milli motorumuzla ucacak Kaan' gormek icin sabrszlanyoruz.#KAAN pic.twitter.com/sGjYzTRO36 TRMOTOR Guc Sistemleri (@TRMOTOR) February 21, 2024 Turkish Aerospace Industries CEO Temel Kotil said the flight took 13 minutes and the aircraft reached an altitude of 8,000 feet. Kaan is the result of well over a decade of effort from the Turkish Air Force, which prioritized developing domestically made combat aircraft beginning in December 2010. Turkey's aim is to field fifth-generation fighter jets that will eventually replace the country's F-16 fleet. Turkey's President Recep Erdogan posted Wednesday that his country had cleared a "very critical stage on the way to producing its own fifth-generation warplane," noting that the aircraft will inspire confidence in friends and strike fear in enemies. Wednesday's flight heralds a promising step forward for Turkey, especially after it was expelled from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The decision followed the country's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. US officials characterized the weapon as a "Russian intelligence collection platform," that could gather data on and threaten F-35s in development. "Turkey's decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible," a 2019 White House statement said, noting that "the F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities." An F-35 Lightning II streaks across the sky while doing maneuvers to the Eglin Air Force Base runway. US Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr. A key concern was the F-35's stealth. "Much of the F-35s strength lies in its stealth capabilities, so the ability to detect those capabilities would jeopardize the long term security of the F-35 program. We seek only to protect the long term security of the F-35 program," a senior Defense Department official said on the expulsion of Turkey, a NATO ally, from the program. Turkey provided significant funding and support for the development of the F-35, planning to buy 100 F-35As. Upon kicking Turkey out of the program, the US said it would prevent any jets from being moved to Turkey and promptly removed all Turkish personnel associated with the program. The decision to go with the S-400 at the expense of losing access to the F-35 cost the Turkish economy around $9 billion over the life of the program, a Pentagon official said previously. It remains unclear whether or not Turkey will be able to rejoin the program in the future should it return the S-400s, but the country, if the Kaan's maiden flight on Wednesday is something to judge by, appears to be making progress on its own homegrown fifth-generation fighter. Fielding this advanced capability, however, will likely still be years away though. Read the original article on Business Insider Wendy Williams family has spoken out on the health issues the former talk show host has reportedly faced behind the scenes in recent years including alcoholism and Graves disease. The former talk show hosts loved ones spoke to People ahead of the Feb. 24 premiere of the two-night Lifetime special Where Is Wendy Williams? The project, executive produced by Williams, 54, was filmed from summer 2022 until last spring. It was then that the New Jersey native entered a facility to address the cognitive issues linked to alcohol use, as her son Kevin Hunter Jr. notes in the film. The people who love her cannot see her, her sister, Wanda, told People. I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here? Williams, who is still in said facility, can contact her family but they cannot reach out to her. They tell People they dont know where she is. Multiple sources told the magazine that Williams suffered a problem with drinking, with one source from the show saying, She would be drunk on air. I knew she was struggling, co-executive producer Suzanne Bass told People. As her situation grew worse, she pushed us away. In addition to battling alcohol addiction, Graves disease and lymphedema have added to Williams struggles. Graves is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid, while lymphedema causes swelling in the feet and legs. Weve all seen the images over the last few months and, really, few years of what has seemed like a spiral for my aunt, Williams niece and Wandas daughter, Alex Finnie, told People. It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state. Williams health and finances have been overseen by an independent legal guardian since May 2022. Its that guardians call whether or when Williams can leave the facility. While executive producer Mark Ford said those working on the doc regularly wondered whether the project was helping Wendy or is this hurting her, they ultimately felt like it was helping her. This is about the guardianship system and how it can be improved, he told People. In a trailer for Where Is Wendy Williams? the former shock jock tells viewers she has no money. Im gonna tell you something: If it happens to me, it could happen to you, she warns. A 31-year-old Riegelsville woman is facing misdemeanor charges after she triggered a two-hour search-and-rescue effort last month when she jumped into the Delaware River. Pennsylvania State Police troopers in Dublin allege that Deanna Attinello jumped from a canal path ledge into the river on Jan. 15 in an attempt to escape arrest on an outstanding warrant, according to a probable cause affidavit. Attinello was missing for several hours before she was found uninjured in Riegelsville, police said. Blue Flash Light Of Police Car Against Red Fire Truck More Bucks County news Plumstead Police break up cockfighting ring operating on Easton Road property; what we know The incident started shortly after 6:30 p.m. when state police were sent to a home in the 800 block of Durham Street in Riegelsville Borough for a domestic situation. Before arriving a trooper learned that Attinello left the property with her three children after an argument with someone at the home, according to a probable cause affidavit. The troopers also learned that Attinello had an active warrant for her arrest out of Northampton County, the affidavit said. The troopers confirmed that Attinello was seen on the Delaware Canal path with her children. Troopers caught up with Attinello on the path north of the Riegelsville Inn near Delaware Road. She confirmed her identity and told the officers that she was homeless and taking her children to a hotel. More: Woman who jumped into Delaware River in Upper Bucks found by police. What we know When troopers told her that she had an active warrant for her arrest, Attinello jumped off the ledge of the canal path into the Delaware River to avoid apprehension, the affidavit said. Im not going back to jail, she yelled before jumping, authorities said. After landing in the river, arrest documents said that Attinello swam downriver until she was no longer visible. The three children were secured by the troopers.After two hours, search operations for Attinello were called off. The next day authorities announced that Attinello had been found uninjured in Riegelsville and taken into custody. Attinello faces misdemeanor charges of evading arrest and flight to avoid apprehension, though she has yet to be arraigned, according to the court docket. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Riegelsville woman who jumped into the Delaware trying to avoid jail Pammy Maye, who is being charged with the murder of 5-year-old Darnell Taylor at her Columbus South Side home, is expected to be extradited n Thursday from the Cleveland area, where she was arrested after she fled. The woman accused of kidnapping and killing a 5-year-old boy who was the subject of last week's statewide Amber Alert has been extradited to Franklin County, where she will be facing a murder charge in addition to felony kidnapping and child endangerment counts. Pammy Maye, 48, has been charged by Columbus police with murder in the death of Darnell Taylor, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records. Although Columbus police and the Ohio Amber Alert website have identified her as the boy's foster mother, Franklin County Children Service reported later reported that Maye and her husband were his legal guardians. According to a probable cause affidavit, Maye suffocated the boy on the morning of Feb. 13 at her home in the 900 block of Reeb Avenue in Columbus' South Side. The affidavit states that after her Feb. 15 arrest in a Cleveland suburb, Maye admitted to disposing of Darnell's body in a curbside storm sewer in the 1600 block of Marsdale Avenue, where Columbus police later found his body at 1 a.m. Feb. 16. Maye had fled Columbus in her husband's 2015 Jeep Cherokee on Feb. 14, driving to Brooklyn, a Cleveland suburb, where the abandoned vehicle was found around 6 a.m. that day. She was later arrested on Feb. 15 in the 4000 block of Tiedeman Road in Brooklyn and taken to the Cuyahoga County jail to await extradition. Court records indicate Maye has been extradited and is now being held at Franklin County's Jackson Pike jail. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday morning in Franklin County Municipal Court, according to court filings. Darnell and Maye reported missing The body of Darnell Taylor, 5, was found early Feb. 16 in a Columbus storm sewer after Pammy Maye admitted killing him two days earlier and disposing his body there, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records. Darnell was first reported missing on Feb. 14 when Maye's husband called 911 around 3 a.m. to say his wife had told him the boy was dead, and he couldn't find the boy in the Reeb Avenue house. The father told a 911 dispatcher that he had searched the home for the boy before calling police. According to the court records, Maye held her hand over his mouth when he tried to make the call, saying she had a plan. She then fled the home and took the Jeep. Officers searched Maye's family and friends' homes looking for her and the child before requesting a statewide Amber Alert, which was issued after 5 a.m., though delivery issues were reported with the system. After the Amber Alert, Brooklyn police found the Jeep Cherokee. Police found Maye the next day wandering the streets in her nightgown and arrested her. After being arrested, Maye told police where they could find Darnell's body. Why was Darnell Taylor in Maye's custody? Maye and her husband took custody of Darnell in May 2023, according to information provided by Columbus police. The Mayes gained legal custodianship of Darnell sometime between then and the day he disappeared. Franklin County Children Services provided information to The Dispatch last week saying there was a substantiated allegation of physical abuse and/or neglect related to Darnell from March 2022, more than a year before the Mayes had custody of Darnell. A summary report from Franklin County Children Services filed on March 24, 2022, says that the department received a referral from another agency to look into the allegations of physical abuse and/or neglect. The report doesn't disclose which agency made the referral. Children Services did not provide The Dispatch any information about who had custody of Darnell in March 2022 or who may have been accused of abusing the toddler. Darnell had also been referred to several service agencies, including Nationwide Children's Hospital behavioral health and Kinship Care. Kinship Care provides services for children and families who are working through county Children Services as a way to ensure smooth transitions and some material or monetary assistance, depending on eligibility. Nationwide Children's Hospital's behavioral health practices provides care and guidance for children with "emotional, behavioral or developmental problems." "We continue to work with police investigators and prosecutors," Scott Varner, director of communications for Franklin County Children Services, said in an email to the Dispatch. "As such, our agency will be limited in any additional release of information about Darnells history, his family, or his custody with the Maye family. As with the fatality of any child in our community, we will fully participate in the review of this case with the Franklin County Child Fatality Review Board." @ShahidMeighan smeighan@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pammy Maye, foster mother accused of murder, due in court today One of the worlds first fully-driverless taxi firms has been blocked from expanding its business in California, where several of its vehicles have recently been involved in accidents. Waymo, which is the driverless car division of Google parent Alphabet, currently operates in parts of San Francisco. Attempts to roll-out its robotaxi service to Sunnyvale and Los Angeles were suspended for up to 120 days following a ruling by the California Public Utilities Commissions Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division (CPED). This will provide the opportunity to fully engage the autonomous vehicle maker on our very real public safety concerns that have caused all kinds of dangerous situations for firefighters and police in neighbouring San Francisco, David Canepa, vice president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, wrote in a statement. Waymo has experienced significant pushback since introducing its driverless taxis on public roads in San Francisco, with city officials blaming them for causing traffic and blocking emergency vehicles. Taxi driver unions have also warned that they will cost human drivers their jobs. Earlier this month, a crowd surrounded an unoccupied Waymo taxi and attacked it after it reportedly was causing a holdup. Videos shared on social media showed people smashing the cars windows, placing fireworks inside and torching it. Police are still investigating the incident. A Waymo driverless robotaxi was torched in San Francisco on 10 February, 2024 (Screenshot/ YouTube/ Frisco Live 415) The decision to suspend Waymos expansion comes just one week after Waymo was forced to issue its first recall for its fleet of self-driving cars. The company blamed the recall on a rare scenario that saw two of its vehicles crash into the same truck within minutes of each other in Phoenix, Arizona. This voluntary recall reflects how seriously we take our responsibility to safely deploy our technology and to transparently communicate with the public, Mauricio Pena, Waymos chief safety officer, wrote in a blog post last week. As we serve more riders in more cities, we will continue our safety first approach, working to earn trust and foster transparent communication with our riders, community members, regulators, and policymakers. FILE PHOTO: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi speaks to the media at an event in New Delhi By Indranil Sarkar and Akash Sriram BENGALURU (Reuters) - Uber is exploring offerings such as intercity bus and metro rail ticket bookings in India as part of a partnership with a government backed e-commerce initiative, a source told Reuters on Thursday. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was in India's Bengaluru earlier in the day when Uber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC). The partnership could allow Uber to win more users, compete better with local rivals and help boost public transport use in the world's most populous country. ONDC, launched in 2022 by the government, operates a non-profit network that enables the display of services from all participating platforms. Partner apps include Paytm, Dunzo and Delhivery. Uber and its CEO, however, offered sparse details on what the partnership with ONDC would entail. Last year, ONDC forayed into the mobility segment by partnering with Namma Yatri, a Bengaluru-based auto-rickshaw hailing mobile app, to offer more options to users of ride-hailing gaints Ola and Uber who had been facing frequent cancellations and surge pricing. As a technology company, Uber views open source tech stacks such as ONDC with a lot of interest and recognizes the opportunities they bring for everyone, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on Thursday. Chennai metro also is a part of the ONDC network, which is in discussions to onboard more metro operators across cities. Bus ticketing platform redBus, earlier this month, became the first independent mobility company to join ONDC. Uber's direct ride-sharing rival, Ola, also joined the platform last year, but to test its food delivery services for select users. (Reporting by Indranil Sarkar and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) The UK's venerable financial pink paper, the Financial Times, reckons that Samsung and LG have decided to stop fighting each other for OLED display dominance and work together. The reason for this unlikely outbreak of fraternal cooperation? The looming threat from China. Exactly what this all means for OLED panels in PC monitors is complicated. Hold that thought for a moment. The FT points out [paywall] that China is already well on the way to forcing Samsung and LG out of the LCD display market. Apparently, Samsung closed its last LCD panel factory in China in 2021 while LG is said to be looking to sell its last LCD plant in the China. Moreover, the FT has data showing that China expanded to owning around 60% of the global market for LCD displays by the first half of last year, with Taiwan next on about 25% and South Korea having shrunk from over 30% in 2018 to around 10%. For now, South Korea remains dominant in OLED manufacture, but the trend lines are obvious enough. In 2018, China had but a mere few percentage points of the market with the rest almost all owned by South Korea. By the first half of 2023, it had nearly 25% market share, that growth coming entirely at the expense of South Korea. Going by the current trend, you'd expect China to be the dominant player in OLED in about five years. So, what do we make of all this? There are reasons to worry, for sure. The FT claims that China's strategy has been to massively subsidise its display industry, effectively making huge losses in the pursuit of market share. The idea is that once China owns the market, it can begin to crank pricing up to profitable levels. That all implies the current display market is artificially skewed and that, eventually, screens could become more costly once China's masterplan is achieved. Then there's the question of quality. China's OLED panels offer nowhere near the performance of those from LG and Samsung, the FT says, but they are far, far cheaper. We can't comment on thatall of the OLED monitors we have reviewed have been either LG or Samsung based. But in devices like smartphones, it's easy to see how lower cost would help win market share. Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 G93SC The upshot is you could argue that the likely influence of China will be cheaper but worse screens in the short run, followed by an increase in pricing once the competition has been stamped out. The situation is complicated by the complex symbiotic if not parasitic relationship between China and South Korea when it comes to screen tech. Currently, Samsung sources around 55% of its LCD panels from China. It plans to reduce that dependency, but that can't be done overnight. For now, to an extent South Korea is paying China to cannibalise its own display industry. Anyway, the FT doesn't provide any details on how Samsung and LG will work together on OLED tech. Currently, the two firms offer their own bespoke take on OLED, with Samsung's QD-OLED panels having certain advantages and weaknesses and LG's WOLED tech likewise. Screen queens Best gaming monitor: Pixel-perfect panels for your PC. Best high refresh rate monitor: Screaming quick. Best 4K monitor for gaming: When only high-res will do. Best 4K TV for gaming: Big-screen 4K gaming. So far, it's felt like LG and Samsung have been pushing each other on to produce ever better OLED screens, to everyone's benefit. Already, we've seen some decent advancements in OLED panel tech, with second-gen OLED PC monitors like Samsung's Odyssey OLED G9 G93SC and the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM already offering some clear improvements over first-gen models. What happens to that dynamic if LG and Samsung are working together to cut costs in order to fend off cheap Chinese panels isn't clear. You could argue it implies the focus will be less on quality and performance. And you might expect at least some technological convergence and therefore less choice and competition. Then again, maybe the Chinese threat will focus South Korea's efforts to make their OLED panels both better and cheaper and ensure that China doesn't take over? Watch this space. What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Nordic American Tankers' (NYSE:NAT) returns on capital, so let's have a look. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? 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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Nordic American Tankers: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.19 = US$141m (US$836m - US$73m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). So, Nordic American Tankers has an ROCE of 19%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Oil and Gas industry average of 15% it's much better. Check out our latest analysis for Nordic American Tankers roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Nordic American Tankers 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 analyst report for Nordic American Tankers . What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us Like most people, we're pleased that Nordic American Tankers is now generating some pretax earnings. While the business is profitable now, it used to be incurring losses on invested capital five years ago. Additionally, the business is utilizing 27% less capital than it was five years ago, and taken at face value, that can mean the company needs less funds at work to get a return. Nordic American Tankers could be selling under-performing assets since the ROCE is improving. Story continues The Bottom Line In a nutshell, we're pleased to see that Nordic American Tankers has been able to generate higher returns from less capital. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. Therefore, we think it would be worth your time to check if these trends are going to continue. If you want to continue researching Nordic American Tankers, you might be interested to know about the 1 warning sign that our analysis has discovered. While Nordic American Tankers isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. A letter from the American Civil Liberties Union warns Yakima City Council members against any effort to implement at-large elections or a strong mayor form of government. Yakima City Council members said they are squarely focused on hiring a new city manager and there are no such plans. In January, the Yakima Herald-Republic asked city council members whether they would support a strong mayor to oversee city operations, as opposed to the current system, where city council members hire a city manager. Such a change would need to be voted on in Yakima and could be put on the ballot by a city council vote or via petition. Deputy Mayor Matt Brown emphasized the council is not planning to take any steps in that direction. I'll say again, there are no plans to change Yakima to an elected-mayor form of government. No one on or off council that I know of is planning such an effort, he said. We are busy hiring a city manager and reorganizing how we work. "This is a busy time for the Yakima City Council and no one, except the ACLU and the newspaper, is thinking about an effort to change Yakima's form of government." Mayor Patricia Byers said she agreed with Browns statement. ACLU letter The ACLU said in a Feb. 20 letter that any efforts would violate a 2015 order from U.S. District Court that prevented Yakima from holding at-large elections. The order came in a lawsuit where the ACLU and several Yakima residents alleged that at-large elections diluted the power of Latino voters. ACLU Attorney David Montes said any at-large elections today would lessen the voice of Latino voters in Yakima. The lawsuit resulted in the city paying $1.8 million and altering its city elections to comply with the Voting Rights Act by having seven city council members elected from seven districts. The district court already told them that they cant do this, Montes said. The majority in the city is going to win these at-large seats every time. The ACLU is prepared to take legal action to maintain the order, Montes said. Background Yakima has a council-manager form of government, where a city manager runs the day-to-day operations of the city with oversight by the council. In the past, city council has debated a council-mayor form of government, where residents elect a mayor with executive authority. Making a change requires a vote of the people. A ballot question can happen through a council resolution or a petition. In 2020, efforts to push forward a council-mayor form of government failed in a 4-3 city council vote. At the time, Byers supported putting the question to voters. A new, more conservative council took office this January, and one of their first actions was to remove former City Manager Bob Harrison. Responding to questions from the Herald-Republic following the decision, new council members Rick Glenn, Reedy Berg and Leo Roy said they would not oppose an elected mayor form of government. Contacted this week, Berg said the council is busy hiring a new city manager and balancing the budget. Council member Janice Deccio does not support a strong mayor form of government. The City of Yakima, by court order, is prohibited from conducting at-large elections, and an election for a mayor would need to be an at-large election, Deccio said. The city would be sued for millions if that were to happen. I believe the voters rejected this before, and for good reason. Council members Danny Herrera and Glenn did not comment this week. Roy did not respond. Central Washington could have new voting boundaries in time for this election Inside Kroger-Albertsons would-be merger: Do we have to say that we wont close stores? This western WA city was ranked among the top 10 best cities in the country for partying If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. Delving into the Dividend Dynamics of Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:NOC) recently announced a dividend of $1.87 per share, payable on 2024-03-13, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-02-23. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Northrop Grumman Corp's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does Northrop Grumman Corp Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with NOC. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, missile defense systems, and conducts maintenance and upgrades on numerous military aircraft. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Finally, space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and manufactures long-range missiles and rocket motors. Northrop Grumman Corp's Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at Northrop Grumman Corp's Dividend History Northrop Grumman Corp has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1986. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Northrop Grumman Corp has increased its dividend each year since 1997. The stock is thus listed as a dividend aristocrat, an honor that is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 27 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Story continues Breaking Down Northrop Grumman Corp's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Northrop Grumman Corp currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.61% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.64%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, Northrop Grumman Corp's annual dividend growth rate was 9.00%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 9.30% per year. And over the past decade, Northrop Grumman Corp's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at an impressive 12.10%. Based on Northrop Grumman Corp's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Northrop Grumman Corp stock as of today is approximately 2.51%. Northrop Grumman Corp's Dividend Analysis The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Northrop Grumman Corp's dividend payout ratio is 0.54. Northrop Grumman Corp's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Northrop Grumman Corp's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Northrop Grumman Corp's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Northrop Grumman Corp's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Northrop Grumman Corp's revenue has increased by approximately 5.60% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 55.68% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Northrop Grumman Corp's earnings decreased by approximately -12.90% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 31.05% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -2.60%, which outperforms approximately 30.47% of global competitors, indicates a potential for future stability and growth. Concluding Insights on Northrop Grumman Corp's Dividend Profile In conclusion, Northrop Grumman Corp's consistent dividend history, robust dividend growth rate, and prudent payout ratio paint a picture of a company committed to rewarding its shareholders. With a strong profitability rank and promising growth metrics, the company appears well-positioned to sustain its dividend payments. Investors considering Northrop Grumman Corp for its dividends would be wise to consider these factors, alongside the broader market and industry trends, to make a well-informed decision. Will Northrop Grumman Corp continue its legacy as a dividend aristocrat in the years to come? GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. An Nvidia earnings blowout could actually be bad news for the stock, JPMorgan says Investor expectations for Nvidia's upcoming earnings report are sky-high. JPMorgan said Nvidia's stock price could negatively react to a blowout earnings report. "The bigger the beat," the more the market will "think that supply is getting better," JPMorgan said. All eyes will be on Nvidia after the market close today as the company releases its fourth-quarter earnings report, and investor expectations are sky-high. And even if Nvidia exceeds investor expectations when it reports results and guidance, the stock could see a negative reaction, a Wednesday note from JPMorgan's trading desk said. "If Jensen's GPU behemoth is able to report great numbers, and by 'great' I mean 4Q DC revs north of $20 billion with implied acceleration for Q1 DC," JPMorgan said, referring to data-center revenues, "stock might be fine but it will also beg the question as to whether or not supply is getting better." Nvidia has been supply-constrained for its H100 GPU chips for months as demand has soared. The supply-demand mismatch was so bad over the summer that Elon Musk said Tesla couldn't buy them fast enough. "We're using a lot of Nvidia hardware," Musk said on Tesla's second-quarter earnings call. "We'll actually take it as fast as they'll deliver it to us. Frankly, if they could deliver us enough GPUs, we might not need Dojo. But they can't. They've got so many customers." But if supply constraints are starting to ease, it could be a bad sign for Nvidia, as that could lead to a supply glut, which is not uncommon for the semiconductor industry. "The bigger the beat on guidance, the more the market is going to think that supply is getting better, and that there could be an inventory correction in 2H24," JPMorgan said. With risks skewed to the downside for Nvidia's stock following its massive surge over the past year, it appears to be a lose-lose situation for the stock in the short term, with the bank saying that Nvidia's implied move of 11% is "definitely more than scary" if it misses analyst expectations. Story continues "Soooo, bad is bad, good is fine/bad, but too good might be not good," JPMorgan said. Here's what other Wall Street analysts are expecting from Nvidia's upcoming earnings report. Read the original article on Business Insider By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] EWEN The Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District, based in Ewen, has a new way of informing the public. Its podcast, called The Chalkboard, is part of what Alan Tulppo calls the districts multifaceted means of sharing news. As superintendent of GOISD, Tulppo explained the approach in a Feb. 16 interview with The Globe. We, as the ISD, felt that were providing a lot of services and classes that we wanted to raise awareness of with parents and the public, he said. Were using it to raise awareness of whats av... You might be interested in: WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Sally Louise Tourville, 90, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield. A lifelong resident of Gogebic County, Sally was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. Sally was born on Oct. 29, 1933, in Wakefield, to Arvo and Marion Torkko. She met and married Ronald Tourville, and they spent 51 wonderful years together before his passing on Dec. 14, 2007. Sally and Ron owned the Dandee Bakery in downtown Bessemer for many years. Sally was well-known for her own home baked goods, especially the holiday decorated cut out cookies she created for her family and others. There was always something sweet that she lovingly prepared to offer to her frequent visitors at her home. After retirement, Sally began a career of child care at Big Powderhorn Ski Resort's kinderschool and continued at the Ark Christian Daycare where she was affectionately called "Grandma Sally" by all the children she cared for. Sally is survived by a son, Tim (Chris), Manchester, New Hampshire; a daughter, Julie (Mark) Raulie, Athens, Tennessee; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her sister-in-law. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Jill Marie; and her sister. The family of Sally would like to express their appreciation to the staff at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility, who for the past seven years loved and cared for our mother like she was a member of their own families. Thank you to the family and friends who continued to visit Sally over the years at the nursing home. The love she showed to others throughout her life came back to her tenfold in her later life. A celebration of life for Sally and interment of her and Ronnie's cremated remains will be held in the spring. Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel, Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements. To send online condolences or to share a memory, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Profituri record pentru traderii de materii prime Traderii au avut profituri record! Anul 2023 a fost al doilea cel mai bun an din istorie pentru firmele din intreaga lume care se ocupa cu tranzactiile cu materii prime, care la nivel de sector au inregistrat profituri de peste 100 de miliarde de dolari si au acumulat un munte de lichiditati pe care il [citeste mai departe] Oradea a izbutit iar O noua inagurare importanta. Drumul de 19 kilometri, dintre care 13 kilometri cu profil de drum expres, care va face legatura intre centura municipiului Oradea si autostrada Transilvania (tronson dintre Biharia si frontiera cu Ungaria), este aproape finalizat, urmand sa fie inaugurat in perioada imediat urmatoare, dupa cum va decide CNAIR, a declarat luni, pentru [citeste mai departe] Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) rocketed higher on Thursday after the company reported Q4 earnings and revenue that beat Wall Streets lofty expectations, thanks to sky-high data center graphics chip sales. But CEO Jensen Huang isnt just banking on selling AI chips to companies. Hes also looking at selling to entire countries as part of a concept known as sovereign AI. The language, the knowledge, the history, the culture of each region are different, Huang said during Nvidias earnings call. And they own their own data. They would like to use their data, train it to create their own digital intelligence, and provision it to harness that raw material themselves. Sovereign AI boils down to a single country or region setting up its own AI capabilities, allowing its AI to meet its own needs. In regions outside of the US and China, sovereign AI has become an additional demand driver, said Nvidia CFO Colette Kress. Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia Corp., speaks during the Hon Hai Tech Day in Taipei on Oct. 18, 2023. (I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images) (I-HWA CHENG via Getty Images) Countries around the world are investing in AI infrastructure to support the building of large language models in their own language on domestic data and in support of their local research and enterprise ecosystems, she added. According to Huang, Japan, Canada, France, and a number of other regions are already setting up their own sovereign AI systems. Of course, sovereign AI isnt the only thing driving Nvidias sales. In fact, the company said that more than half of its Data Center sales, which accounted for $18.4 billion of the firms $22.1 billion in overall revenue, came from large cloud providers. A number of those large cloud providers, however, are working on their own specialized AI chips that will prove more efficient in terms of performance and power compared to Nvidias chips. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft already have or are developing their own chips as a means of weaning off of their dependence on Nvidia. Subscribe to the Yahoo Finance Tech newsletter. (Yahoo Finance) But Nvidia isnt taking the challenge lying down. According to Reuters, the company has reportedly reached out to the three cloud providers with the hopes of producing those custom chips for them. Story continues Its not as though Nvidia is hurting at the moment, though. The chip giant raked in nearly as much revenue in Q4 as it did in all of last year: $27 billion. And its expected to bring in even more next quarter, with guidance calling for revenue of $24 billion plus or minus 2%. And if it can sell to entire countries the way its been selling to Big Tech companies, theres no telling how much higher Nvidia could go. Daniel Howley is the tech editor at Yahoo Finance. He's been covering the tech industry since 2011. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHowley. For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. Following the mass issuance of fake work permits in an eastern Hungarian county, the national economy ministry issued a statement on Wednesday vowing to take the strictest possible action against any foreigner working illegally in the country. In Hajdu-Bihar, the county in question, the local authorities informed the police about the illegal employment of third-country nationals involving the falsification of official documents, a crime which carries a three-year prison sentence. The ministry emphasised that Hungarian workers enjoyed priority, noting that MPs recently tightened up immigration rules. It is up to the state to decide whether conditions have been met before foreigners can take up temporary residence and work in Hungary, the statement said. Further, foreigners can only be employed in a particular job if a Hungarian worker is not available to fill it, the ministry added. ********************************************************************************* 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! Two men have been identified as the victims of a double homicide at a bowling alley in the small northeast Nebraska town of Bloomfield. Curt Strom, 77, and William Reffett, 49, died after being shot inside the bowling alley and restaurant Curts Lanes and Dining at 112 W. Grant St. Tuesday morning, Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Dain Hicks said in a press conference Wednesday. According to Hicks, citing details from a preliminary investigation, the incident occurred when Alias Reed, a 25-year-old Bloomfield resident, went to the bowling alley with a shotgun and initiated an argument with Reffett. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Hicks said Reed shot Reffett and, moments later, shot Strom, who was not a party to the argument. Strom owned the bowling alley. The context and substance of the argument is still under investigation, Hicks said. Were still working on motive and trying to get a better understanding of this crime, he said. Authorities later found the shotgun believed to have been used in the shooting in a ditch along a county road several miles west of Bloomfield, Hicks said. Hicks added investigators believe Reed and a woman, 27-year-old Kaylyne Sweazy, traveled to that location to dispose of the weapon. Reed and Sweazy were found at their home shortly after the fatal shooting occurred, according to a State Patrol press release. Reed faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery stemming from investigators finding money stolen from the bowling alley, according to Hicks. Hicks added Sweazy faces one count of tampering with evidence. A representative from the Knox County Attorneys Office said charges are pending. The fatal shooting has shaken the town of Bloomfield, which has about 1,100 residents, Knox County Sheriff Don Henery said at the press conference. Law enforcement placed schools on lockdown and a number of businesses in Bloomfield reportedly closed following the shooting on Tuesday. I dont remember there being a homicide in Bloomfield for years. We dont have a lot in Knox County quite truthfully, Henery said. To say its not shocking would be an understatement because it is. This isnt what human nature does. Court records indicate that Reed and Sweazy have been the focus of child neglect allegations in the past including in recent days. On Feb. 10, the Knox County Attorney's Office petitioned to have an infant removed from the care of its parents, Reed and Sweazy, due to a "lack of support." The petition filed in Knox County District Court said the child lived in a home at 210 W. Grant St. in Bloomfield that "does not have gas, heat, or hot water." The petition said that "one bedroom of the home is heated with a space heater, which poses a potential fire hazard due to the condition of the bedroom." Any water that needs to be warmed is boiled first, the petition said. "The family does not have necessary supplies to take care of a newborn baby," the petition said. "There is no crib or safe sleep space for the infant." Sweazy allegedly told authorities that she would be formula feeding the baby. "However, there were no bottles in the home aside from one bottle sent with the parents from the hospital," the petition said. "Therefore, Petitioner asks the Court to adjudicate the child to be as alleged and enter such orders as may be warranted." The infant was placed in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, with court proceedings scheduled for March 21. In 2022, the Knox County Attorney's Office successfully petitioned to have another child removed from the care of Reed and Sweazy. The couple later relinquished parental rights to the now 5-year-old child. The Bloomfield Police Department requested assistance from the State Patrol to investigate the incident. Bloomfield is located about 167 miles northwest of Omaha and 30 miles southwest of Yankton, South Dakota. Hicks said the incident remains under investigation. YORK A union leader who is running for U.S. Senate as an independent against Republican Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska spoke at Kilgore Memorial Library in York on Saturday. In 2021, Dan Osborn led a strike at the Kelloggs Omaha plant, as president of the plants local, which had about 500 members. The strike gained national attention and support from politicians like Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, who was at that time governor of Nebraska, and Democrat Joe Biden. After 77 days of striking, the union agreed to a contract, which included a pay raise and stopped any of Kelloggs four cereal production plants, such as Omahas, from closing before 2026. I love working on machinery, I love problem solving, Osborn told a group in York on Saturday, and getting things up and running again, which is part of the reason Im running for United States Senate. After graduating from Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School, Osborn served in the U.S. Navy for four years, before joining the Nebraska National Guard and later working at Kelloggs, where he was an industrial mechanic starting in 2004. There is nobody like me in the United States Senate, said Osborn, who works full time in addition to campaigning, though he stopped working at Kelloggs in March 2023. Osborn recently told Bloomberg he was terminated [from Kellogg] for having Netflix history on his computer a charge he attributes to his having been a union president. He now works as a steamfitter, making $48,000 a year, he said on Saturday. His wife, Megan, works as a general manager of a bar and grill in Omaha. About 15 people were in the audience at Osborns talk in York, which was organized by the York County Democratic Party. This was the first of many community events Osborn plans to hold in counties throughout Nebraska. [Washington] is run by country club members, millionaires, business execs and lawyers theres no one in the United States Senate like me, or, like you folks here, Osborn said in York. Osborn discussed a wide range of issues on Saturday in response to voters questions, including climate change, the national debt, abortion, gun rights, Ukraine, Israel, and an issue that is especially dear to him: the right-to-repair, the idea that consumers should have the legal right to repair consumer products, including cars and electronics, rather than having to replace them. On foreign affairs, Osborn approvingly quoted a friend who had said: funding Ukraine is America First. It is helping our national security by stopping Russian aggression there before it gets anywhere else, he said. About Israel, Osborn said countries have the right to defend themselves when theyre invaded, but the way it has escalated now it has gone too far. How many deaths do you have to have for your retribution? He said that the U.S. should put pressure on Israel to stop the violence. On domestic social issues in the U.S., Osborn said, I support individual freedoms, I think the government should stay out of a lot of things. He said abortion was between a woman and her doctor. He said that he was a supporter of the Second Amendment, though added that he supports common sense gun laws like red flag laws. And he said that the government should not be signing things defining gender that is not their role. Osborn also expressed support for the landowners in McCool Junction who have signed up to lease their land for solar energy. If you own a piece of land, you should be able to do whatever the hell you want on that land and there is no scientific evidence to prove that your solar panels are warming up your neighbors property, he said. In terms of economic issues, Osborn said he wanted to go after corporate greed and make sure multinational corporations pay their fair share. They want us divided, Osborn said of country club politicians. They want us talking about wedge issues instead of talking about the economy, talking about the border, things that really truly matter to us, and talking about things that could put real money in our pockets, like cutting taxes for the middle class, he said. Osborn explained that he decided to run at the request of railroad workers who were upset with Fischer for joining a bipartisan group in the Senate that voted to stop a railroad strike. Though a December 2023 poll administered by a former Democratic operative and paid for by Nebraska Railroaders for Public Safety showed Osborn two points ahead of Fischer, the polls accuracy has been questioned by experts. Osborn called the poll legitimate on Saturday, but said, Were trying to get enough money to run another poll but its not cheap. The Cook Political Report has the seat labeled as solid R which it says are races not considered competitive and are not likely to become closely contested. Osborn pointed to his experience as a union leader and said, Im going to bring somebody who is going to learn and who is going to vote with integrity and vote their conscience and vote with their heart, not with who is paying. Thats how Im going to win. Fischer campaign managers recently told the New York Times that Deb Fischer has actual, strong and deep support all across the state, including 93 bipartisan county chairs and over 1,000 endorsements. She is proud of her longstanding support from members of Nebraska labor unions and is willing to work with any Nebraskan to make life easier for working families across our state, the manager said. In order to have his name on the ballot as an independent, Osborn will need to collect 4,000 signatures of registered voters in Nebraska, including 750 from each of Nebraskas three congressional districts, according to Nebraska statute. On Saturday a member of Osborns team said they plan to collect 20,000 signatures in total so they cant keep us off the ballot. Osborn has passed the threshold in the first and second congressional district, the aide said, but Osborn still needs signatures in the 3rd Congressional District Nebraskas geographically largest and most conservative. In 2022 Dave Else, a farmer who became a Democrat in part because Obamacare saved my daughters life, ran a campaign with less than $5,000 in the 3rd District in 2022. He ultimately won 16% percent of the vote, while the Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith won about 78%, according to Ballotpedia. Else said that he had thought about running for Senate, but after learning about Osborns campaign, decided against it. I dont want to pull votes from Osborn, Else said over the phone on Sunday. Instead, Else said that he plans to run in the Democratic primary for the 3rd District again. Longtime York County resident Willard Petersen attended Saturdays event and added his name to Osborns petition because Petersen is all about people having the opportunity to run. That does not mean Im going to vote for that person, he said. Petersen expressed frustration at the high financial barriers of entering a race and said that although he has historically leaned Republican, I am ashamed to admit I would belong to any party anymore the way it is. Theyre not parties, theyre just arguers. On Saturday Osborn stated, I am not taking corporate money, though he said it takes money to get elected. Osborn encouraged those in attendance to donate, even if it was only $5. Osborn had about $75,000 on hand at the end of 2023, according to Federal Election Commission filings, while Fischer had nearly $3.3 million. A New York Times profile of Osborn, which came out the day after he visited York, indicated that Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb may endorse Osborn in March. As of Wednesday, no Democrat has entered the race for Fischers seat. I want endorsements from the Republican Party, Libertarian party, the Marijuana Party and the Democratic party. Im an independent and thats what Im focusing on because thats what I believe in, Osborn told the News-Times. Osborn said that he became an independent in 2016 because he couldnt fully get behind a party line. There are certain things I like about both parties. Osborn said that he wanted to create a blueprint for independents to get elected into the federal government. Looking ahead, Osborn said that he hopes to take a leave of absence from work in the summer and make it out to every single county we can possibly get to even if only 10 people show up. At the end of the meeting, Osborn and his wife, Megan, drove west of York on I-80, though not for more campaigning. They were driving out to see their daughter in a dance performance in Grand Island. In December, President Bidens team shut down two border rail crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas. The administration also falsely implied the closures were necessary for enforcement. In reality, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were reassigned to quickly process individuals who had crossed the border illegally. Prioritizing the processing of illegal immigrants over facilitating critical trade routes is unacceptable. Shutting down train traffic cost $250 million in commerce per day. This week, I introduced legislation with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to prevent that from happening in the future. CBPs decisions directly and immediately impacted rail carriers ability to move goods. Mexico is Nebraskas largest export partner. Eagle Pass and El Paso accounted for 35.8% of all cross-border rail traffic to and from Mexico. According to Nebraska Farm Bureau, this move blocked as many as 60 trains or 10,000 rail cars per day. Farmers and ranchers depend on these trains to get their products to market. Our economy should not have a $250 million per day penalty because Joe Biden refuses to secure our border. Nebraska producers deserved better. While its good news that the CBP reopened rail operations, it should have never happened. We cannot allow American consumers, businesses, and producers to continue paying the price for President Bidens refusal to secure our border. The Keeping International Land Ports of Entry Open Act I introduced last week would fix this. My bill would stop the Biden administration from diverting staff away from ports of entry, except in specific circumstances. For example, CBP could divert staff to secure the border. The CBP could not divert staff for administrative work, like processing illegal immigrants. Any staff diversion should not negatively impact the processing of trade through ports of entry. These exceptions codify the common-sense idea that closing a port of entry should be a last resort. The bill also includes a built-in accountability mechanism. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify Congress and the American people if the Secretary closes a port or relocates staff. The Secretary would also be required to disclose the exception used. This will force the Biden administration to justify its decisions in writing so Congress and the American people can evaluate those decisions. Fighting for Nebraska agriculture is a top priority as your Senator. That means protecting our critical trade routes and supply chains. It also means providing critical oversight of any Biden administration decisions that may impact American commerce. We must secure our border. We must also keep freight moving. Im committed to fighting for the policy solutions we need to accomplish all these goals. My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224 or on my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact. In his 1954 State of the Union address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced his intention to protect the vital interest of every citizen in a safe and adequate highway system. Eisenhower claimed that the U.S. government must play central role in this task, advocating federal funding for an Interstate Highway System. Establishing this system was no simple feat. The Senate rejected President Eisenhowers initial proposal, which relied on state and local governments to contribute most of the Interstates cost. Lawmakers believed that more federal funding should address the safety risks of the 1950s roads system. The House of Representatives also rejected the initial proposal, instead creating a fund that drew on the gas tax to support construction of the highway system. Two years later, the Senate and House reconciled their versions of the Federal-Aid Highway Act, and President Eisenhower signed the final version into law. That law joined disparate roads into the connected Interstate we drive on today. Several decades later, Congress still recognizes the federal governments irreplaceable role in maintaining and modernizing our countrys infrastructure. And while the media may focus on divisive and controversial issues, many of us in the Senate and House still work together to accomplish good on behalf of the American people. One of the best examples is infrastructure. In 2021, I joined many of my colleagues from both parties in supporting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. This legislation invests in our national infrastructure to ensure safety, connect communities, and grow local economies on a national scale. It funds core infrastructure from airports to broadband to roads and bridges. As we crafted the bill, my colleagues and I negotiated funding to be directed to Nebraska specifically. To date, Nebraska has received $2.4 billion for various infrastructure products, including $1.4 billion for roads and bridges and $174 million for clean water. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill has also provided grants to airports across our state, in Omaha, North Platte, Grand Island, Kearney, Kimball, and Western Nebraska. This week, I spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of Eppley Airfields Build OMA Terminal Modernization Program, a project funded in part by those federal grants. The Build OMA program will meet the demands of increasing traffic at Nebraskas premiere airport. It will nearly double the terminal in size and build several first-rate amenities: an updated entrance, centralized security, expanded gates, and larger waiting areas. I also secured funding for a new Customs and Border Protection facility that will allow families and products to travel internationally, directly from Omaha. This comprehensive overhaul will ensure Eppley remains a modern, world-class airport that Nebraskans can be proud of for years to come. The groundbreaking followed the announcement of a new $3 million federal grant to support terminal improvements at Eppley, as well as a $7 million grant for the North Platte Airport Authority to construct a replacement terminal building, among other projects. Three years on, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is still paying dividends to Nebraska for transportation and infrastructure updates like the Build OMA project. To date, that legislation has granted more than $50 million to upgrade and modernize Eppley. The Build OMA program at Eppley is a perfect example of the sweeping improvements infrastructure legislation can fund. As long as Congress can continue to do the hard but quiet work of true legislating, our state will only see more projects like these in the future. Ill keep doing my part in the Senate to support improvements that serve Nebraska families and make our Good Life even better. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. In a scene straight out of an action movie, a driver in Ghaziabad a driver resorted to a daring evasion strategy. He skillfully maneuvered his vehicle in reverse gear for almost two kilometers on the busy elevated highway, successfully evading capture by diverting from the main road. This happened Wednesday night, February 21, on Elevated Road, where police officials attempted to intercept an i20 car for rash driving.This whole incident was captured in a video which is getting a lot of attention on social media platforms. Reckless Evasion by i20 Driver As police officers deployed on the elevated road moved to stop the i20, the driver refused to comply and instead engaged the vehicle in reverse gear. What followed was a jaw-dropping maneuver as the driver skillfully navigated the car in reverse for nearly two kilometers along the bustling highway, leaving the pursuing police vehicle trailing behind. A video capturing the adrenaline-pumping chase quickly went viral on social media, drawing comparisons to scenes from blockbuster movies. In the footage, the i20 car can be seen moving in reverse against the flow of traffic on the elevated road, with the police vehicle in hot pursuit. Despite the determined efforts of the police to apprehend the driver, the congested traffic on the highway forced them to exercise caution. Sensing the risk of a potential accident, the police eventually slowed down their pursuit. Seizing the opportunity, the elusive driver made a swift maneuver, veering away from the main thoroughfare and escaping into the night. In the aftermath of the daring escape, authorities have launched a concerted effort to identify and apprehend the culprit. CCTV footage from the area is being meticulously examined in hopes of obtaining crucial leads that could lead to the perpetrator's capture. In a significant development, the investigation into the pursuit of the i20 car has been entrusted to ACP Indirapuram. Outfront Media Inc. (NYSE:OUT) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript February 21, 2024 Outfront Media Inc. misses on earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $0.4 EPS, expectations were $0.64. OUT isn't one of the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds at the end of the third quarter (see the details here). Operator: Hello, and welcome to the OUTFRONT Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. My name is Harry, and I'll be coordinating your call today. [Operator Instructions] And I will now hand you over to Stephan Bisson, Vice President of Investor Relations at OUTFRONT to begin. Stephan, please go ahead. Stephan Bisson: Good afternoon, and thank you for joining our 2023 fourth quarter earnings call. With me on the call today are Jeremy Male, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; and Matthew Siegel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. After a discussion of our financial results, we'll open the lines for a question-and-answer session. Our comments today will refer to the earnings release and slide presentation that you can find on the Investor Relations section of our website, outfront.com. After today's call has been concluded, an audio archive replay will be available there as well. This conference call may include forward-looking statements. Relevant factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are listed in our earnings materials and in our SEC filings, including our 2022 Form 10-K as well as our 2023 Form 10-K, which we expect to file this week. We will refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures on this call. Any references made to OIBDA will be on an adjusted basis. Reconciliations of OIBDA and other non-GAAP financial measures are in the appendix of the slide presentation, the earnings release and on our website, which also includes presentations of prior period reconciliation. Let me now turn the call over to Jeremy. Jeremy Male: Thanks, Stephan, and good afternoon, everyone. We're pleased to be here sharing our fourth quarter results and 2024 outlook. Before digging into Q4, I'd like to quickly highlight some of our accomplishments from 2023. Revenues finished up 3% year-over-year on an organic basis with both U.S. Media and other, which is essentially our business in Canada, up by the same rate. Our U.S. billboard business, by far, our largest in terms of revenue, was up 4% for the year on an organic basis. As has been the case for the last couple of years, this growth was predominantly driven by higher rates resulting from robust demand for billboard advertising and our expanding digital revenue. Also contributing significantly to our billboard growth was the continued impressive performance of our automated sales platform, including programmatic. Story continues These channels comprised approximately 16% of our digital revenues in the fourth quarter, up from 10% in the first quarter and single-digits in 2022. In October, we announced the sale of our Canadian business to Bell for CAD410 million or around $300 million, subject to certain adjustments. We expect this transaction will close in the first half of this year. I'd also like to mention the achievements of our creative team, XLabs, which was born in 2 catalogs, one gold and one bronze at the International Festival of Creativity for our partnership with Google and Gorillas. The awards honored the team for transforming Times Square into a live stage for a revolution in music performance by the award-winning virtual band Gorillas. This event truly showcased the evolutionary potential of the out of home industry. So now let's turn to our fourth quarter results, and you can see the headline numbers on Slide 3. Consolidated revenues grew 1.3% towards the higher end of the guidance we provided in November, while OIBDA was $152 million and AFFO was $108 million. Slide 4 shows our segment results. Total U.S. Media revenue increasing 1.1% year-over-year. Other, which consists mostly of Canada, was up 5.9%. On Slide 5, you can see our U.S. media revenues in more detail. Billboard revenues were up 3% with growth in all 4 of our regions, but stronger performances in the East and South, and I'm pleased to call out our New York Huston Dallas, Orlando, Kansas City and national teams as these markets displayed extemporary growth leading our billboard geographies. Transit revenue was down 4% versus the prior year. The entire decline in the quarter was due to weaker tech, financial and entertainment. Though the media strike finally ended in early November, the fall Prime Time TV season was effectively pushed entirely over the quarter. On a consolidated basis, our best-performing categories in Q4 were CPG, legal services, education and retail. On the weaker side were technology, government political, financial services and, of course, entertainment. The breakdown of local and national revenues in our U.S. business can be seen on Slide 6. Local grew 4.5% during the quarter, while national, which was more heavily impacted by the weaker tech and entertainment verticals I noted earlier, declined by 3%. As a result, at 43%, 57%, national local split during the quarter was a bit more locally skewed than our more typical 45-50. Slide 7 shows our solid U.S. billboard yield growth up around 3% year-over-year and shopping 3,000 a month for the first time. The largest drivers of this yield growth remain our digital conversions, rate and higher programmatic and other automotive transaction revenue. Slide 8 highlights our strong digital performance with revenue growing 9% in the quarter total revenue representing nearly 36% of total digital revenues, up to 33% last year. Automotive Digital billboard was up a robust 10.6%, again, fueled by our automated sales channels and new inventory, while transit was up 4.5%. Let me now hand over to Matt to review the rest of our financials. A digital billboard on a bustling street corner, showing the modern way of advertising. Matthew Siegel: Thanks, Jeremy, and good afternoon. For a deeper dive into our financial statements. Please turn to Slide 9 for a more detailed look at our expenses. Total expenses were up about $8 million or 2.5% year-over-year. Billboard lease expense decreased 9% year-over-year in Q4. As has been the case throughout the year, this increase reflects annual rent step-ups, acquired billboard sites and higher variable expense on a portion of our billboards that continued revenue share agreements. Transit franchise expense was down 3.5% with lower revenue share payments for franchises, partially offset by the higher net into the MTA. Posting, maintenance and other expenses was down 2% versus the prior year with these features related to higher business activity were offset by reduced maintenance and utilities expenses. SG&A expense increased by 1% to $4 million versus last year. The entire increase was related to higher professional fees, partially offset by lower compensation expenses. Corporate expense was essentially flat in the quarter as lower compensation related expenses were offset by the unfavorable impact of market fluctuations on an unfunded equity index rate repairment plan and higher professional fees. Slide 10 provides additional detail on the sources of OIBDA. U.S. billboard OIBDA was just over $145 million and represented over 95% of our consolidated OIBDA. U.S. billboard OIBDA margin was 39.5%, down versus a year ago but up again versus 2019. Transit OIBDA was $13.7 million compared to last year's $16.6 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower revenues as Jeremy described earlier. While on Transit, I'd like to take a moment to discuss some of our expectations for the New York MTA. Our Meg payments of the MTA will step up by 1.3% this year to about $150 million given the CPI escalator contained within the contract. We will continue to account for a New York MTA franchise expense on a streamlined basis throughout the year. On the MTA deployment front, we are pleased to say we are very close to the completion of our initial build. Specifically, we expect to spend around $50 million on deployment in 2024 finishing our installation of advertisings being our non-staff. The annual capital investment will step down in 2025 as we look forward to replacement commences where our capital commitment. Turning to capital expenditures on Slide 11. Q4 CapEx spend of just over $23 million, including about $6 million of maintenance spend, both essentially flat with last year. For the full year, total CapEx was about $87 million, just below our historical 5% of revenue benchmark. Including this total was almost $9 million of spending related to the moves of 3 odd offices in New York or San Francisco. 2024, we expect to spend approximately $75 million of total CapEx with about $70 million to be spent in our U.S. business. Of the total amount, around $25 million will be maintenance CapEx. Looking AFFO on Slide 12, you can see the bridge to our Q4 AFFO of $108 million. The improvement is principally driven by the non-cash effective streamline rent AFFO line item, which was an $18 million swing versus last year. 2024, we currently expect reported consolidated AFFO growth in the high single-digit range with 2023 to AFFO of $271 million, driven principally by improvement in OIBDA. Notably, this guidance assumes a June 30th close for the sale of our Canadian business. Please turn to Slide 13 for an update on our balance sheet. For July store in November, we completed a new $450 million senior secured note offering and utilized the proceeds to repay our $400 million of senior unsecured notes in 2025, pushing this maturity out of our 6 year to 2031. Turning to liquidity is slightly over $600 million included around $20 million of cash, nearly $70 million available by our revolver and $85 million available by our accounts receivable securitization store. As of December 31, our total NAV leverage was 5.4x, and we remain comfortable with our debt stack with our next maturity other than AR Facility, not being due until 2026 with less than 25% of total gas -- rigs. As Jeremy mentioned, we reached an agreement to sell our PD business to Bell Canada $110 billion laws subject to certain adjustments -- which equates to that in $300 million related exchange rate. We continue to expect this transaction to close in the first half of 2024 and intend to use the proceeds to pay down debt, fee lever, and reduced annual interest expense by approximately $20 million. Turning to our dividend. We announced today that our Board of Directors has maintained $0.30 cash dividend payable on March 28 to shareholders of record to close the business on March 1. Based on our current operational expectation and the taxable gain created with the sale of our Canadian business, we believe we will need to pay a large dividend we ended the year for rigs off. We spent $3 million on acquisition during the quarter, bringing our total to 2023 to about $34 million. And looking at our current acquisition in the pipeline, we expect our 2024 deal activity to similar to that in 2023. In closing, we accomplished a lot in quarter and we are fully focused on delivering growth in 2024. We remain excited about our business in the future, and we look forward to seeing many of you at various comments and events in the coming weeks. With that, let me turn the call back to Jeremy. Jeremy Male: Thank you, Matt. While we are pleased with our billboard revenue performance and what ultimately proved to be a rather challenging 2023, we're happy to turn the page to 2024, which we expect will be a significantly improved year. We'll be starting off on the right foot in the first quarter as based on our trends of today, we estimate the reported Q1 total revenue growth will accelerate to the low to mid-single-digit range with billboard and transit growing at similar rates. Importantly, we expect this growth despite our first quarter 2023 billboard revenues, benefiting from around $6 million of non-recurring condemnation revenue, which we highlighted last May. Further, as I just mentioned and implied by our full year AFFO guidance, we are encouraged by the early signs we are seeing for the remainder of the year. We see numerous tailwinds for our company in 2024, including the continued ramping of our acquired inventory and additional recovery in our transit business. We also expect that we and in fact, the entire out-of-home industry will benefit from the crowd out effects of the Olympics and the 2024 election as well as the return of a Prime Time TV season in the second half. I'd like to close our prepared comments today by reiterating how proud I'm with the OUTFRONT team for their performance last year. And then does that continue effort of position us for success in 2024. And with that, operator, let's now open the lines for any questions. See also Top 15 Wheat Producing Countries in the World and 20 Most Valuable Belgian Companies in 2024. To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here. New Delhi: Rajkumar Santoshi's next directorial, 'Lahore 1947', is one of the most highly anticipated films. Ever since its announcement, the film has caught the eyeballs of audiences. The film is all set to bring the massive collaboration of Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Aamir Khan together, along with Preity Zinta, who will be headlining the film as the lead heroine. Besides this name joining the forces, the cast of Lahore 1947 gets more excited as, in recent developments, it has been revealed that actor Ali Fazal has come on board to play an important role in the film. Last week, it was revealed that the solid actor Abhimanyu Singh who has worked in Sooryavanshi, Dhol, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Kisi Ki Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan has joined to play the antagonist opposite Sunny Deol in the film. Ali Fazal is one of the most promising talents in Indian cinema and leaves an impression with his remarkable performances in Bollywood as well as Hollywood. The actor is primarily known for his performance as Guddu Bhaiya in the blockbuster show 'Mirzapur' seasons 1 and 2, and he was also surprised with his performance as Zafar Bhai in the most loved comedy franchise, Fukrey 3. He has always won the audience with his performances, and now with his addition to Lahore 1947, the excitement is sure to go high. Talking about 'Lahore 1947', Aamir Khan will take over the charge as producer under Aamir Khan Productions, while accomplished director Rajkumar Santoshi will helm the project, and Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta will be leading the film as the main actors. New Delhi: India's biggest aerial action spectacle, Fighter, had its grand theatrical release on the big screens last month, on January 25th, 2024. Since its release, the thrilling action drama has captured the hearts of the masses. Audiences have praised the film immensely for its enthralling visuals, nail-biting action, essence of patriotism, and stellar performances by Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. With opening day collections of 24.60 crores, even on a working day, the film has now attained the status of the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide, breaching collections of a whopping 356 crores. As the glorious run of the film in worldwide cinemas continues with pride, exciting news for fans and audiences emerges, promising to elevate the excitement even further. As Indian cinema celebrates "Cinema Lovers Day" tomorrow, February 23rd, 2024, the makers of Fighter have decided to offer tickets for the film at a flat rate of just Rs 99 across national chains. Sharing the exciting news on social media, the makers posted: "Cannot miss this Grab your #Fighter tickets at 99/- only. #FighterBlockbuster #FighterBaapEntertainer" This offer of Rs 99 ticket rates is set to add another feather to the blockbuster run of 'Fighter'. The aim of the makers is to provide an adrenaline rush and thrilling experience to the masses at feasible ticket rates. Directed by Siddharth Anand and presented by Viacom18 Studios in association with Marflix Pictures, 'Fighter' epitomizes cinematic brilliance. This film seamlessly intertwines heart-thumping action and patriotic fervor, promising an unparalleled cinematic experience. Fighter is now showing in theaters. New Delhi: Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu have indeed left an indistinct mark of their brilliant acting prowess in Dunki. Having made her strong hold on the craft, the talented actors proved their presence. Netizens loved Taapsee as a mainstream heroine with the film being a blockbuster. While the actress received tremendous love from all across, her chemistry with Shah Rukh Khan was also been loved unanimously. Now, as Dunki releases on OTT, netizens hail the chemistry of Taapsee and SRK. Here's how netizens took social media by storm and expressed their love for this fresh on-screen couple. Manu & Hardy deserved so much better !! ___ this version of O Maahi went so well with the scene! #Dunki#TaapseePannu _ #ShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/EH8siGcIY3 February 19, 2024 Taking to social media, a user commented, "Their acting & chemistry together <33 they were just too cute in #Dunki." Another user appreciated the story and wrote, "Their Love Story!" "Manu & Hardy deserved so much better !! this version of O Maahi went so well with the scene! #Dunki" While talking about the film and his collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, director Rajkumar Hirani said, "You always want to make a movie with a meaningful and good story. Shah Rukh liked the story from the beginning. After doing action movies, as an actor, he also wanted to do something different and this is the reason he was very involved and happy about it. I also wanted to work with SRK for so long and, 'mere liye vo baat puri ho gayi' and finally we worked together and 'bahut maza aaya'. New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has asked the Bureau of Immigration to issue a look out notice against Byju Raveendran, the founder of the in-crisis edtech company Bjyu's, according to sources. The aim is to prevent Raveendran from leaving the country. Reportedly, this development comes ahead of a high-stakes Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) scheduled for this Friday, where it was reported that certain investors were seeking to oust Raveendran from his position. On Wednesday, the Karnataka High Court had passed an order asking Byju's shareholders not to bring in effect any resolutions during the EGM until the final hearing. The order was on a petition filed by Byjus asking the court to restrain shareholders from holding the EGM. While the court has not stayed the EGM it has kept any resolutions in abeyance till the final hearing. The court will next hear the matter on March 13. Among the issues facing Byju's is the allegation of foreign exchange violations, which has likely prompted the central agency to push for the LOC against Raveendran The Enforcement Directorate had in November 2023 issued show cause notices to Byjus for violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations amounting to Rs 9362.35 crores. ED had initiated the investigation on the basis of various complaints regarding the foreign investment received by the company Think and Learn Private Limited and the business conduct of the company. The company was also stated to have made significant foreign remittances outside India and investments abroad which were allegedly in contravention of provisions of FEMA, 1999 and caused loss of revenue to the Government of India, ED had earlier stated. "On conclusion of the investigation, it was found that Think & Learn Private Limited & Byju Raveendran have contravened the provisions of FEMA by failing to submit documents of imports against advance remittances made outside India, by failing to realize proceeds of exports made outside India, by delayed filing of documents against the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received into the company, by failing to file documents against the remittances made by the company outside India and by failing to allot shares against FDI received into the company," the ED had earlier stated. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its go-ahead for the amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for the space sector, allowing up to 100 percent FDI in the space sector. The FDI policy reform will enhance Ease of Doing Business in the country, leading to greater FDI inflows and thereby contributing to growth of investment, income and employment, said the Cabinet note. The proposed reforms seek to liberalize the FDI policy provisions in space sector by prescribing liberalized entry route and providing clarity for FDI in Satellites, Launch Vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, Creation of Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft and manufacturing of space related components and systems. Under the amended FDI policy, 100% FDI is allowed in space sector. The liberalized entry routes under the amended policy are aimed to attract potential investors to invest in Indian companies in space, it added. The satellites sub-sector has been divided into three different activities -- Launch Vehicles, Satellites and Satellite Components. Under the amended policy, up to 49 per cent FDI is allowed in launch vehicles, 74 per cent in satellites, and 100 per cent in satellite components. "As per the existing FDI policy, FDI is permitted in establishment and operation of Satellites through the Government approval route only. In line with the vision and strategy under the Indian Space Policy 2023, the Union Cabinet has eased the FDI policy on Space sector by prescribing liberalized FDI thresholds for various sub-sectors/activities," the cabinet note said. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for Sugar Season 2024-25 at Rs 340/quintal at sugar recovery rate of 10.25%. "This is historic price of sugarcane which is about 8% higher than FRP of sugarcane for current season 2023-24. The revised FRP will be applicable w.e.f. 01 Oct 2024," said a cabinet release. At 107% higher than A2+FL cost of sugarcane, the new FRP will ensure prosperity of sugarcane farmers. It is noteworthy that India is already paying the highest price of sugarcane in the world and despite that Government is ensuring the worlds cheapest sugar to domestic consumers of Bharat. This decision of Central Government is going to benefit more than 5 crore sugarcane farmers (including family members) and lakhs of other persons involved in sugar sector. It re-confirms fulfilment of Modi ki Guarantee to double farmers income, it added. With this approval, sugar mills will pay FRP of sugarcane @ 340/quintal at recovery of 10.25%. With each increase of recovery by 0.1%, farmers will get additional price of 3.32 while the same amount will be deducted on reduction of recovery by 0.1%. However, 315.10/quintal is the minimum price of sugarcane which is at recovery of 9.5%. Even if sugar recovery is lesser, farmers are assured of FRP @ 315.10/quintal, the CCEA release said. "In last 10 years, Modi Sarkar has ensured that farmers get Right Price of their Crop in Right Time. 99.5% cane dues of previous sugar season 2022-23 and 99.9% of all other sugar seasons are already paid to farmers leading to the lowest cane arrears pending in history of sugar sector. With timely policy interventions by the Government, sugar mills have become self-sustainable and no financial assistance is being given to them by Government since SS 2021-22. Still, Central Government has ensured Assured FRP and Assured Procurement of sugarcane to farmers," it said. New Delhi: The government on Thursday granted permission to traders for the export of 54,760 tons onions to Bangladesh, Mauritius, Bahrain, and Bhutan until March 31st. "We have allowed export of 50,000 tonnes of onion to Bangladesh, 1,200 tonnes to Mauritius, 3,000 tonnes of Bahrain and 560 tonnes to Bhutan with immediate effect," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. (Also Read: Stocks Rebound: Sensex Jumps Over 500 Points, Nifty Hits Fresh) Traders can export this amount until March 31. The modalities are being worked out, he said. Singh said the decision has been taken following a recommendation from the external affairs ministry. (Also Read: Elon Musk Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize By Norwegian MP Marius Nilsen) Currently, there is a ban on onion exports till March 31. The ban was imposed on December 8, 2023, in order to boost the domestic supply and check price rise. Singh mentioned that the decision was made based on a suggestion from the external affairs ministry. "Ban on onion exports has not been lifted. It is in force and there is no change in the status," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. (With PTI Inputs) New Delhi: Kang Ji Won( Park Min Young) stares outside the window of the hospice she is admitted into, mesmerized by a floating cherry blossom petal. She is terminally ill and bidding her time. In walks Soo Min( Song Ha Yoon) her best friend encouraging her to be strong. Ji Won is unable to continue cancer treatment since her husband Park Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung) has not paid the hospital fee. She leaves the hospital and heads home to the shock of her life. Her husband and best friend are in an illicit love affair and looking forward to her death. To her horror when they see her staring at them, there is no remorse, instead, they push her to her death. As Kang Ji Won dies her last thoughts are about how she could never get the one thing she wanted most from life, Happiness! As they say, be careful about what you wish for, Ji Won to her shock sees she is back in her office, and the year is 2013 exactly ten years from the day of her death in 2023. Is this the second chance she so wanted, can she rewrite her life, she possibly can. I need someone to steal my fate, she thinks to herself. Well aware of how things will pan out, she charts her plan from Soo Min who always gaslighted her, wanting to covet things Ji Won had to Min Hwan who was an abuser and spineless man. Ji Won finds a willing accomplice in the awkward and reticent manager at U& K, Yoo Ji Hyuk (Na In Woo). Ji Hyuk finds his fate entwined with Ji Won, and she is shocked to find how he too, has traveled back in time. But, it will not be as easy as they thought, since several other factors will derail their plan. Ji Won who has always been pushed around finally starts taking things into her own hands, realising how being naive has led her to be manipulated by Soo Min and Min Hwan. You applaud her as she busts their happiness and plots her revenge. Park Min Young a popular face in K Dramas had recently had her share of controversies and seems to have channelled her angst into her character. Her makeover, learning skills, and being unapologetic despite the lingering feelings of self-doubt. Na In Woo as the complex Ji Hyuk shines in his role, getting all the beats right of a man who can sacrifice himself for the woman he loves. But the star of the show is Song Ha Yoon as the disdainfully detestable and conniving Soo Min. She is convincing in her turn as the insufferably manipulative woman who would go to any lengths. Playing an antagonist is a first for actor Song Ha Yoon and she excels in her role and gauging by the extreme reactions to her character, she is unlikely to be forgotten in a while. Actor BoA who plays the evil Yu Ra the former fiancee of Ji Hyuk was another surprise. However, she lacked the grit of Soo Min, even though her villainy is more or less at par. Marry My Husband was a show which showcased the many shades of women, they lead, they were the Avengers, the saviours, the antagonists as well as the ones who provided comic relief. Though the show at times did get stretched and was very similar to the recently concluded Perfect Marriage Revenge, Marry My Husband came with its strength and weaknesses, but managed to keep one hooked. Where To Watch: Prime Video. New Delhi: As part of the Gram Parikrama Yatra program, the Bharatiya Janata Party is engaging in a crucial dialogue with the farmers of 1.25 lakh villages all over the nation. This program, which began on February 12 and will last for a month, will end on March 12. In the meantime, the government has declared a hike of Rs 25 in the sugarcane FRP to Rs 340 per quintal for the 2024-25 season that starts in October. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price that the mills are required to pay to the sugarcane growers. The Bharatiya Janata Party is fully prepared to win over the farmers before the Lok Sabha elections and that is why it is constantly organizing various programs to connect with them. The National President of the BJPs Kisan Morcha, Rajkumar Chahar, said, We are reaching out to the farmers through Gaon Parikrama Yatra and Kisan Chaupal. Our aim is to get feedback from the farmers and to understand what they expect from Modi ji so that we can prepare the Sankalp patra. We can include these things in our manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. We can make them part of Modis promise. The programs that took place across the country were shown on 900 screens, that is, by setting up one screen in each district, the village parikrama yatra and Kisan Chaupal were broadcasted live to the workers and farmers. We have communicated with the farmers by distributing pamphlets about the work done by the Modi government for the welfare of farmers and by walking around the village under the Gram Parikrama yatra. Under Kisan Chaupal, we have established communication with the workers and farmers, and we have also honoured the ex-servicemen or martyrs families in the village and those who are progressive farmers. A Gram Parikrama Yatra kicked off on February 12 in Sukh Teerth of Muzaffarnagar in Western Uttar Pradesh. In this journey, around 20,000 farmers joined the first rally. The program was addressed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP Kisan Morcha National President Rajkumar Chahar, BJP Uttar Pradesh chief president Bhupendra Yadav, Dharampal Singh, and local leaders. We also had a dialogue with the villagers. There is no resistance of any kind anywhere in the Gaon Parikrama Yatra because of the work done by the Modi government in the last 10 years, from the Kisan Fasal Yojana, Kisan Samman Nidhi, crop insurance, Kisan Rail Deep Irrigation, Nano Urea and its 50 per cent subsidy to 300 units of free electricity. Farmers are very enthusiastic about electricity, and MSP is given on crops. Under Modis government, MSP has gone up by 1.5 times and 2 times. We are reaching 1.25 lakh villages. BJP Kisan Morcha National President Rajkumar Chahar said. MSP seems to be the main issue right now. There is a lot of buying on MSP on some crops in Punjab. MSP has kept increasing in production. Exports are also high and the government is continuously sitting in Chandigarh for talks. The solution will be found through talks. The government has been taking decisions in the interest of farmers before and will continue to do so in the future as well. Some issues need good discussion in the interest of farmers, like the issue of MSP he added. Centre Hikes Sugarcane Procurement Price The decision to raise the FRP of sugarcane was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hike of Rs 25 per quintal is the highest by the Modi government and the move comes before the general elections. Sugarcane is mainly cultivated in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. "Keeping in view interest of sugarcane farmers (GannaKisan), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar season 2024-25 (October - September) at Rs 340 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25 per cent," I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said at a media briefing. The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with state governments and other stakeholders. Chandigarh: In a continued display of discontent, thousands of farmers are set to observe 'Black Day' or 'Aakrosh Diwas' on Friday, further intensifying their ongoing agitation against the Centre over Minimum Support Price (MSP). Nationwide Tractor March On Feb 26 Apart from the Black Day protest, the agitating farmers have announced a nationwide 'tractor pradarshan' (demonstration) on February 26. The primary aim is to exert pressure on the government to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait shared the plan, stating, "On 26th February, we will take tractors to the highway, towards the way that goes to Delhi, we will enter into the state highway and central highway. It will be a one-day programme, and then we will return." #WATCH | Chandigarh: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait says, " On 26th February, we will take tractors to the highway, towards the way that goes to Delhi, we will enter into the state highway and central highway. It will be a one-day programme and then we will pic.twitter.com/nNgG3JjDlp ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Mahapanchayat On March 14 Looking ahead, the farmers have decided to convene a 'Mahapanchayat' on March 14th at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, focusing on MSP and other crucial issues. The event, organized under the aegis of All India Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat, is anticipated to draw a turnout of over a lakh people. BKU leader Balbir Singh Rajyawal highlighted, "On 14th March, there will be a programme at Ram Leela ground in Delhi for one day. People will go without tractors to that event. Govt keeps saying they are not stopping us, so let's see if they will stop us or not." Demand For Action Against Haryana Authorities Addressing a press conference, BKU leader Balbir Singh Rajyawal demanded action against Haryana authorities, stating, "Haryana Police entered Punjab, fired at us, and also broke our tractors. A case under section 302 IPC should be registered against Haryana CM and Haryana's home minister." #WATCH | Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Balbir Singh Rajewal says, "Haryana Police entered Punjab, fired at us and also broke our tractors. A case under section 302 IPC should be registered against Haryana CM and Haryana's home minister. Judicial inquiry should be conducted (into pic.twitter.com/SqWGXdHm8B ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Call For Justice And Protest In Wake Of Farmer's Death The call for justice resonates as farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demands a murder case be filed for the death of a protesting farmer at the Punjab-Haryana border. In response, farmer leaders have called for black flags to be displayed on homes and vehicles as a mark of protest. VIDEO | Heres what farmer leader Avik Saha (@aviksahaindia) said after the meeting between SKM National Coordination Committee and General Body in Chandigarh earlier today. Starting from tomorrow, we are launching all-India mega programmes. First programme is Black Day or pic.twitter.com/EhjSWQrc5J Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 22, 2024 The ongoing struggle faced a temporary halt after clashes at Khanauri resulted in the death of a farmer, Shubhkaran Singh (21). Farmer leaders are determined to resume their march, with Sarwan Singh Pandher stating that they will decide on the next course of action on Friday evening. Punjab farmers continue to press for various demands, including the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, a pension for farmers and farm labourers, no increase in electricity tariffs, the withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh. They also demand the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-21 agitation against the three farm laws. Physicians Realty Trust (DOC) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.26 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to FFO of $0.26 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. A quarter ago, it was expected that this health care real estate investment trust would post FFO of $0.25 per share when it actually produced FFO of $0.25, delivering no surprise. Over the last four quarters, the company has not been able to surpass consensus FFO estimates. Physicians Realty Trust , which belongs to the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry, posted revenues of $135.47 million for the quarter ended December 2023, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.82%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $132.57 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future FFO expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Physicians Realty Trust shares have lost about 14.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 4.3%. What's Next for Physicians Realty Trust? While Physicians Realty Trust has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's FFO outlook. Not only does this include current consensus FFO expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Physicians Realty Trust: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus FFO estimate is $0.25 on $140.95 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.04 on $566.79 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, REIT and Equity Trust - Other is currently in the top 40% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, VICI Properties Inc. (VICI), is yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. The results are expected to be released on February 22. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.55 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +7.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. VICI Properties Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $926.06 million, up 20.3% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Physicians Realty Trust (DOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report VICI Properties Inc. (VICI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research NAVSARI: Addressing a fervent crowd in Navsari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Congress party, accusing it of lacking any substantial agenda beyond vilifying him. PM Modi asserted, "You have seen how people of Congress abuse caste of Modi. They forget that the more they abuse, the resolve for 400 seats will become stronger." He emphasized, "Congress has no agenda for the future of the country except abusing Modi." #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, "You have seen how people of Congress abuse caste of Modi. They forget that the more they abuse, the resolve for 400 seats will become stronger. Yeh jitna keechad fekenge, 370 kamal utni hi shaan se khilege...Congress has no agenda for the future pic.twitter.com/OWbmqJMi8i ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 PM Modi's Vision For Development Reflecting on his vision for Gujarat, PM Modi delineated his comprehensive approach encapsulated in the '5 F' strategy - Farm to fibre, Fibre to factory, Factory to fashion, Fashion to foreign. He elaborated, "My goal was to have a supply & value chain for the textile sector," highlighting his commitment to fostering holistic growth and development. #WATCH | Navsari: PM Modi says, "When I was in Gujarat, I used to talk about the 5 F. It means Farm, Farm to fibre, Fibre to factory, Factory to fashion, Fashion to foreign. This means that farmers will grow cotton which will go to factories and the fabrics made in factories pic.twitter.com/v4JAfL3FD4 ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Mega Roadshow In Navsari Prime Minister Modi's visit to Gujarat culminated in a grand roadshow in Navsari, where he was warmly received by enthusiastic locals. Thousands of residents, spanning different age groups, thronged the streets to extend a hearty welcome to the Prime Minister. Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Navsari MP CR Patil, PM Modi waved at the jubilant crowd, acknowledging their support and enthusiasm. Inauguration of Various Projects During his visit, PM Modi is slated to inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stone of several crucial projects in Navsari, encompassing vital sectors such as road infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and tourism. These initiatives underscore the government's commitment to holistic development and improving the lives of citizens. PM Modi's Busy Itinerary Prior to the Navsari roadshow, PM Modi engaged in various activities, including participation in the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation in Ahmedabad and visiting the Valinath Mahadev Temple in Mahesana. He also inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 13,500 crore in Mahesana. PM MITRA Park As part of his agenda, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the country's first PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (MITRA) Park in Navsari. This initiative aims to bolster the textiles sector, attract investment, stimulate innovation, and generate employment opportunities, furthering the government's vision of a self-reliant India. NEW DELHI: Barely three days after resigning from the Samajwadi Party, Swami Prasad Maurya launched a new political entity, the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party, signalling a significant shift in Uttar Pradesh's political landscape. The announcement took place at a grand event held at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, where Maurya's supporters gathered in large numbers to express their commitment to advocating for the rights of Dalits and backward communities. Former Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya launches 'Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party' in Delhi "We will strengthen the INDI alliance to remove BJP. We will talk to their leaders. To make sure that BJP is defeated, I am ready to make all sacrifices if needed." pic.twitter.com/3C9jkYnUXh ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Mission Against BJP: Maurya Addressing the crowd, Maurya articulated his party's mission to strengthen the INDIA alliance to challenge the BJP's dominance. He emphasized the need to engage with other political leaders to ensure the BJP's defeat, demonstrating his readiness to make any necessary sacrifices. ''We will strengthen the INDIA alliance to remove BJP. We will talk to their leaders. To make sure that BJP is defeated, I am ready to make all sacrifices if needed," Maurya said on the occasion. Maurya's sudden departure from the Samajwadi Party, accompanied by his resignation from the party membership and his position as a Member of the Legislative Council, stemmed from allegations of discrimination within the party. Political analysts speculate that Maurya's move could significantly impact the Samajwadi Party's electoral prospects, particularly in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Revival Of Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party While the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party, founded in 2013 by Saheb Singh Dhangar, initially struggled to make a mark in electoral politics, Maurya's leadership is expected to rejuvenate the party and potentially challenge Akhilesh Yadav's influence. In his resignation letters addressed to the Chairman of the State Legislative Council and Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya cited moral grounds for his decision, stating his resignation from both the Legislative Council membership and the Samajwadi Party's primary membership. Akhilesh Yadav's wife and SP MP Dimple Yadav expressed gratitude for Maurya's contributions to the party, highlighting the support extended to him despite electoral setbacks. Shivpal Singh Yadav acknowledged Maurya's decision as a matter of personal conscience, indicating a degree of uncertainty within the Samajwadi Party regarding the motives behind Maurya's resignation. Maurya's Political Journey Maurya's political trajectory, marked by shifts between various parties, reflects the volatile nature of Uttar Pradesh's political landscape. His journey from the BJP to the Samajwadi Party and now to the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party underscores the dynamic alliances and realignments characterizing the state's politics. After the farmer unions halted their 'Dilli Chalo' march yesterday for two days after violent clashes at the Khanauri border, they held a media briefing today at the Shambhu Border making serious allegations against the paramilitary forces and Haryana police. The farmer leader claimed that the security forces crossed the border and attacked tents set up inside Punjab. They also claimed that their six people had been taken away by the forces. "We condemn the move of paramilitary forces crossing into Punjab and attacking the tents of the farmers. Punjab government should answer this how it allowed Haryana police and paramilitary forces to cross the border," he said. The leader added that six people were missing in action. "Our six people whom the security forces took away are missing in action. Even during a war, paramedics and doctors are not attacked as per humanity. But in Khannauri, they attacked medical camps and doctors treating the injured and looted the people. This government has crossed the limits of barbarism," the farmer leader alleged. VIDEO | Paramilitary forces and Haryana Police forces crossed the (state) border and attacked the farmers camp in Punjab. Our six people are missing after the action. Punjab government should give the answers, says a farmer leader while addressing a press conference at Shambhu pic.twitter.com/DF6f5HohLX February 22, 2024 Farmers and security forces clashed at the Shambhu and Khannauri border of Haryana and Punjab as the agitators were not allowed to enter Delhi. After rejecting the governenment proposal for purchasing certain crops on MSP for five years, the farmers resumed their 'Dilli Chalo' protest call yesterday but due to clashes, they had to halt the march for 48 hours. On the other hand, the government has invited farmers for further talks. The farm leaders and the Union minister held four round of talks which remained unsuccessful. General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor, Sarwan Singh Pandher, reiterated the demand for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) and assured a 'peaceful' approach going ahead. The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border near Ambala since the start of the march on Tuesday, February 13. New Delhi: The Congress government in Karnataka faced a fierce backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday after it passed the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024 in the state assembly. The bill, which imposes a tax on donations received by Hindu temples, was likened to the Jizya Tax (a historical tax imposed on non-Muslims under Islamic rule) by several BJP leaders. The passage of the bill sparked a heated exchange of words between the BJP and Congress leaders. According to the bill, the government will collect 10 per cent from temples that have revenue exceeding Rs 1 crore and 5 per cent from those that have revenue between Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 1 crore. The BJP accused the state government of implementing Anti-Hindu policies and exploiting the temple revenues to fill its own coffers. Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples and religious institutions in order to fill its empty coffers, said State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa on X. Corrupt, inept #LootSarkaar with its penchant for anti Hindu ideology in the guise of secularism, has cast its evil eyes on the Temple revenues. Through the Hindu Religious Endowments amendment act, it is trying to siphon off donations as well as offerings from Hindu temples pic.twitter.com/Vzf9RQTaP4 Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) February 22, 2024 Under this, the government will collect 10% of the income from temples earning over Rs 1 crore, this is nothing but robbery. The offering made by the devotees for the worship of God and the development of the temple should be used for the renovation of the temple and the convenience of the devotees. If it is diverted for any other purpose, it is an assault on the faith of the people. There will be violence and fraud, he added. Yediyurappa also questioned why only Hindu temples are being targeted and not the incomes of other religions. BJP's Amit Malviya Calls Cong 'New Muslim League BJP leader and IT Cell Head Amit Malviya also lambasted the Siddaramaiah governments move and compared the taxation of Hindu temples to Jizya tax. Taking to X, Malviya said, "In a shocking move, Congress Govt in Karnataka has amended the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment bill, allowing, among other things: to appoint non Hindus to Temple trust. What kind of nonsense is this? Are Hindus incapable of managing the affairs of the community? it also mandates that Hindu Temples pay tax up to 10% of the donation received. It is like Jizya . In a shocking move, Congress Govt in Karnataka has amended the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment bill, allowing, among other things: - to appoint non Hindus to Temple trust. What kind of nonsense is this? Are Hindus incapable of managing the affairs of the pic.twitter.com/JQDNjGibp2 Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 22, 2024 "The above two amendments imply that Temple income can also be used for anything. For instance, the Temple fund could potentially be used for building walls of a kabristan. If this doesnt wake up the Hindus to the reality that Congress is the new Muslim League, nothing else will. Stop voting for the Congress!," Malviya added. Congress Defends Bill, Questions BJPs Track Record In response to the BJPs allegations, Congress leader and Karnataka government minister Ramalinga Reddy defended the bill and questioned the BJPs track record of protecting Hindu interests. He accused the BJP of playing religious politics and branding the Congress as anti-Hindu. Reddy claimed that Congress has always been the true champion of Hinduism and has safeguarded temples and Hindu interests over the years. Sri Vijayendra Yediyurappa, It is clear that BJP always pursues political gains by alleging that Congress is anti-Hindu. However, we, the Congress, consider ourselves the true advocates of Hinduism because, over the years, Congress governments have consistently protected temples and Hindu interests, he said. Did your BJP government neglect its duties between 2008 and 2013, as well as from 2019 to 2023? It seems they ignored the revenues of Hindu religious institutions and charitable endowments, despite the existence of acts or bills in place since 2001, he added. So, werent you also careless regarding Hindu temple revenues? Ramalinga Reddy asked. Allegations Misrepresented: Siddaramaiah CM Siddaramaiah said that the allegations regarding the Karnataka government's amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Bill "appear to be misrepresented", "aiming only at misleading the public" and "polarizing people along communal lines for political leverage." CM, in a series of long tweets, said, "The allegations regarding the Karnataka government's amendments to the Hindu Religious appear to be misrepresented for political gain". "The baseless allegations by BJP leaders are aimed only at misleading the public and polarizing people along communal lines for political leverage. BJP leaders should be ashamed of their unethical practices. Their disservice to the people of Karnataka will never be forgiven. By misleading the public, BJP leaders want the youth of the country to abandon their jobs and fight an imaginary war, solely to benefit the BJP politically," alleged Karnataka CM. New Delhi: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will seal its seat-sharing deal for the 48 Lok Sabha seats at its last meeting on February 27-28, AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala said here on Thursday. He said that the seat distribution talks with the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and other allies are nearing completion without any obstacles and the seats pact will be announced next week. On Wednesday, NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar had declared in Kolhapur that the allotment of 39 constituencies has been done and the remaining 9 seats will be finalised by the weekend. Addressing the media along with state Congress President Nana Patole, Mumbai chief Prof. Varsha Gaikwad and other senior leaders, Chennithala reaffirmed that the MVA is going strong and will aim to win maximum number of seats in the state. Discussions with all friendly parties are going on smoothly. We have agreed to all the points for the manifesto suggested by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar, he said. Patole Accuses BJP Of Targeting Opposition On the occasion, Patole said that as the elections approach, the Opposition parties and their leaders are being systematically harassed by various central investigation agencies, but no action is taken against BJP leaders facing serious corruption charges. He mentioned the examples of former MVA leaders like Ajit Pawar, Ashok S. Chavan, who faced accusations in various scams but after they joined hands with the BJP, they have been rewarded in different ways. Patole said that the BJP is claiming to win 400 seats in the next Lok Sabha polls, but of its current 303 MPs, 165 are from different opposition parties, including 67 from Congress who were charged with corruption by the BJP but are now protected by the same BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Gujarat today where he will unveil development projects worth Rs 60,000 crores for the people of the state. This is Prime Minister Modi's second visit to the state in February. Earlier, PM Modi visited the state on February 10 when inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for over 1 lakh houses. PM Modi's Programs In Gujarat Today Prime Minister Modi will participate in the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The Golden Jubilee celebration of GCMMF will witness the participation of more than 1.25 lakh farmers at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad. PM Modi will also address two public functions in Gujarat at Mahesana and Navsari where he will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects encompassing important sectors like road, rail, energy, health, internet connectivity, urban development, water supply, tourism, petroleum & natural gas, tribal development across Gujarat. PM Modi In Mahesana At a public function in Tarabh, Mahesana, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate to the nation important projects including Bharat Net Phase-II - Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited, which will provide high-speed internet to more than 8000 gram panchayats; multiple projects for rail line doubling, gauge conversion, new broad-gauge line in districts of Mahesana and Banaskantha; multiple road projects in Kheda, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, and Mahesana; Main academic building of Gujarat Biotechnology University at Gandhinagar; multiple water supply projects in Banaskantha, among others. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of several important projects including a new district-level Hospital & Ayurvedic Hospital in Anand district; the development of Rinchhadiya Mahadev Temple and Lake at Ambaji region in Banaskantha; multiple road projects in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, and Mahesana; Runway of Air Force Station, Deesa; Human and Biological Science Gallery in Ahmedabad; Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) new building at GIFT city; multiple projects for improving water supply in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Banaskantha, among others. Program In Navsari In Navsari, PM Modi will dedicate to the nation several development projects including multiple packages of Vadodara Mumbai Expressway; multiple road projects in Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad; rural drinking water supply project in Tapi; underground drainage project in Bharuch, among others. Prime Minister Modi will also initiate work commencement for the construction of PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Navsari. During the programme, Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of important projects including the construction of the Bharuch-Dahej access controlled expressway; multiple projects at S.S.G. Hospital, Vadodara; Regional science centre in Vadodara; projects for railway gauge conversion in Surat, Vadodara and Panchmahal; multiple road projects in Bharuch, Navsari and Surat; several water supply schemes in Valsad, school and hostel building and other projects in Narmada district, among others. Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of several development projects of Surat Municipal Corporation, Surat Urban Development Authority, and Dream City. PM Modi will dedicate to the nation two new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) Unit 3 and Unit 4. Built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), at a cost of more than Rs 22,500 crore, the KAPS-3 and KAPS-4 projects have a cumulative capacity of 1400 (700*2) MW and are the largest indigenous PHWRs. They are first-of-its-kind reactors and with advanced safety features comparable with the best in the world. Together, these two reactors will produce about 10.4 billion units of clean electricity per year and benefit consumers of multiple states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, Goa and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Lok Sabha Polls In Focus The BJP is working towards its mission to win more than 400 seats this Lok Sabha elections and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are aimed at wooing the voters by making them aware of the NDA government's development work and policies. The saffron party's focus is to clean sweep states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra while it looks to enhance its tally in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Thus, PM Modi will not only dedicate development projects but will also address public rallies thus pitching for 'Teesari Baar, Modi Sarkaar'. New Delhi: The West Bengal Police detained and later released the state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday after he staged a protest demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in the violence-affected Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district. The BJP leader was taken into custody by the police while he was protesting in front of a police station in Sandeshkhali. After his release, Majumdar said that the police forcefully picked me up and arrested and detained me. The BJP state chief alleged that the police lifted them forcefully". "I was arrested, then made to sign a bail bond and later released. We were arrested for sitting on a dharna here. We will continue to raise our voices and protest until our workers are allowed to visit Sandeshkhali," he added. "We were sitting on a protest and they were saying that we were breaking 144. This partial 144 will not work. We will have to go to court if needed. There was a fight with our security forces. The media was stopped and cameras were turned off. The voice of the opposition is being suppressed. The police can fight as much as they want. We will sit here," the Bengal BJP chief added. #WATCH | West Bengal: Police detained West Bengal BJP President Dr. Sukanta Majumdar after he sat on a protest demanding the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh, in Sandeshkhali https://t.co/0UuBy718RU pic.twitter.com/zx9kRXrkKH ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Majumdar had received permission from the police to visit the troubled area in Sandeshkhali on Thursday. He was accompanied by a large number of security personnel and interacted with the women of Sandeshkhali who have been agitating against the alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader and his associates. Earlier in the day, Majumdar had also visited the jailed party workers in the Basirhat area of the district. Speaking to news agency ANI, Majumdar said that he was not allowed to go inside the jail and meet the party workers. They (jail administration) didnt permit me to go inside. I will meet them (party workers) from outside just like a common family, he said. He also said that he had given a written request to meet Vikas Singh and 11 other party workers who he claimed were innocent and had done nothing wrong. They (administration) said that only local MP is allowed to meet. I asked them to show me the Act where it is written. As an MP, it is my legal right to visit the jail. I am here till the jailers sense prevails, but it seems those who are on the other side of the call arent allowing it. For Mamata Banerjee, her will is the constitution, he said. Majumdar also raised questions about why the TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan had not been arrested yet and said that he wanted to ask the DGP about it. He said that the ST Commission must visit the area as the majority of the victims of the Sandeshkhali violence were STs. On Monday, Majumdar had announced that the BJP would hold a 72-hour-long protest in the coming days demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan amid the unrest in the state over the Sandeshkhali issue. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Majumdar said, We will hold a minimum 72-hour long protest in the coming days demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan. The probable day of protest is February 22. He also criticized Mamata Banerjee for accusing the BJP of instigating violence in the state and said that she should be more sensitive towards the women in the state and refrain from making such statements. SC Stays Privileges Committee Proceedings Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee proceedings against West Bengal senior officials in the matter relating to the Sandeshkhali protest. The Privileges Committee notice came on a complaint filed by BJP Member of Parliament Sukanta Majumdar for alleged misconduct, brutality, and causing life-threatening injuries by the police officials and district administration of Basirhat, North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. West Bengals Sandeshkhali area has been witnessing massive unrest for over 10 days as women protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his aides. New Delhi: The unrest in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali region has now become a major political controversy after the BJP and the National Women's Commission (NWC) accused Trinamool Congress members and local police of systematic abuse and crimes against women. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has already taken suo motu cognizance of the ongoing unrest and sent a notice to Chief Secretary B.P. Gopalika and acting DGP Rajeev Kumar on Wednesday, seeking a detailed report within the next four weeks. Meanwhile on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party released a video documentary accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to hide the truth of Sandeshkhali. Releasing a a 20 minute 41 second documentary on the condition of Sandeshkhali on social media platforms, BJP attacked Mamata for state crimes against women and stated, "It reveals shocking truths that will pain us and shake our conscience. Mamata Banerjee is attempting to conceal the truth of Sandeshkhali." West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar spent a night in Sandeshkhali on Wednesday to assess the situation and interacted with the victims. After his visit, he assured that action would be taken against all those who took the law into their hands. "Action will be taken against all those who took the law into their hands. The allegations of locals are being heard and looked into. Everyone should cooperate with the police and administration. Action will be taken against anyone who broke the law," said West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar. A team from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is also scheduled to visit Sandeshkhali today. Prior to the visit, Vice Chairman Ananta Nayak stated, "The Commission received a complaint from Sandeshkhali. We are going there in the same context. It is a rule of the Commission that we ask for a report from the DGP and the Chief Secretary. We have given them a three-day time. We are going to see the ground reality based on the complaint. We are going to meet the complainant." Once upon a time, in a land far beyond the horizon, where sands stretched endlessly under the golden sun, there existed a world veiled in tales of ancient kingdoms and mysteries waiting to be unveiled. Picture yourself amidst this enchanting realm, where the whispers of Khaybar and Tayma beckon, promising a journey that transcends time itself. Khaybar, nestled in northwest Arabia, stands as a geological wonder shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Its enchanting landscape, adorned with freshwater springs and 'wadis,' fosters a thriving ecology, supporting diverse native plant and animal life. 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For comprehensive details on all AlUla has to offer, explore Experience AlUla's main site, where every corner of this captivating destination awaits your discovery. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.) MUMBAI: Zeeshan Siddique, son of Baba Siddique, who recently defected from the Congress to join Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, spoke out against the Congress and the close circle of party leaders surrounding Rahul Gandhi in a press conference. This comes in the wake of his removal from the post of Mumbai Youth Congress chief. Allegations Of Body-Shaming By Rahul Gandhi's Team During the press conference, Zeeshan revealed a shocking incident during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. He claimed that a person close to Rahul Gandhi advised him to lose 10 kilograms of weight before arranging a meeting with Rahul. Expressing his dismay, Zeeshan criticized the body-shaming approach, stating, "I am your MLA, chief of Mumbai Youth Congress. And you are body-shaming me? I am still walking, no? Do I eat on your money?" #WATCH | Zeeshan Siddiqui, former Mumbai Youth Congress President says, "Mallikarjun Kharge is such a senior leader but even his hands are tied...Rahul Gandhi is doing his work, but it looks like his team has taken 'supari' from other parties to finish Congress. During Bharat pic.twitter.com/wK7uLxwx0J ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024 Concerns About Rahul Gandhi's Team Impacting Party Dynamics Zeeshan didn't hold back in his criticism, asserting that Rahul Gandhi's team is causing more harm to the leader and the party than any rival political group. He described the team as ''rude'' and blamed them for damaging the party's reputation. Despite expressing his admiration for Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Zeeshan questioned the party's treatment of minorities. Uncertain Future With Congress Amid uncertainties, Zeeshan expressed his confusion over his removal from the Mumbai Youth Congress chief position. He highlighted the contradictions within the party, citing examples of other leaders with family members in different political affiliations. He questioned if his surname, Siddique, was the issue behind his removal. 'Congress And Shiv Sena Ideologically Different' Zeeshan pointed out ideological differences between Congress and Shiv Sena, emphasizing that they are not aligned despite being in an alliance. He cited instances where he raised concerns against Shiv Sena's claims, indicating a lack of ideological coherence within the coalition. In a significant turn, Zeeshan hinted at considering other political alternatives and praised Ajit Pawar as a ''secular'' leader. He acknowledged the recent exits from the party, stating that Congress members felt suffocated. While he hasn't decided on joining another party, Zeeshan questioned his relevance within the Congress, raising doubts about his future with the party. Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Pollen Street Group's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions 53% of the business is held by the top 4 shareholders Insiders have been buying lately To get a sense of who is truly in control of Pollen Street Group Limited (LON:POLN), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 51% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Pollen Street Group. View our latest analysis for Pollen Street Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Pollen Street Group? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that Pollen Street Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Pollen Street Group, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Pollen Street Group is not owned by hedge funds. With a 18% stake, CEO Lindsey McMurray is the largest shareholder. Wafra Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 16% of common stock, and Quilter Investors Limited holds about 14% of the company stock. Story continues To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Pollen Street Group The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Pollen Street Group Limited. Insiders own UK114m worth of shares in the UK340m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership With a 11% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Pollen Street Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 5.0%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: 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. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Pollen Street Group you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. New Delhi: Elon Musk owned social media platform X has accused the Indian government of ordering them to take down certain accounts and posts. The company has not received any official response from the government yet. On Thursday morning, Xs Global Government Affairs published a post expressing their opposition to the order, saying that it violated the principle of freedom of expression. They said they would follow the order, but only in India. The Indian government has given us executive orders to remove specific accounts and posts, or face severe consequences such as huge fines and jail time. We will obey the orders and block these accounts and posts only in India; but we do not agree with these actions and believe that these posts should be free to express, the post read. The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) February 21, 2024 The Global Government Affairs of X also said that they had filed a legal appeal against the governments orders and had notified the affected users of their actions as per their policies. Because of legal limitations, we cannot share the executive orders, but we think that they should be made public for the sake of transparency. This secrecy can result in a lack of responsibility and random decision-making, they added. Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over X's Claims Reacting to X's statement, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocking his 'mother of democracy' remark. Taking to X, Gandhi accused the BJP government of silencing dissent from farmers, opposition and media. "If farmers ask for MSP, shoot them - this is the Mother of Democracy? When the youth ask for appointment, then refuse to even listen to them - this is the Mother of Democracy? If the former governor tells the truth, then send CBI to his house - this is the Mother of Democracy? Freeze the bank account of the most prominent opposition party is this the Mother of Democracy? Section 144, internet ban, sharp wires, tear gas shells this is the Mother of Democracy? Be it media or social media, suppressing every voice of truth - is this the Mother of Democracy? Modi ji, the public knows that you have murdered democracy and the public will answer!," the Congress MP said in his tweet. Earlier in 2022, X's account with the Pakistan government was withheld in India. This was reportedly the second such incident in recent months. This account was withheld earlier in July 2022 as well but had been reactivated and was visible. Later in October, based on the inputs from intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had directed YouTube to block 45 YouTube videos from 10 YouTube channels. Orders to block the concerned videos were issued on October 23, under the provisions of the Information Technology. The blocked videos had a cumulative viewership of over 1 crore 30 lakh views. The content included fake news and morphed videos spread with the intent to spread hatred among religious communities. Examples include false claims such as the Government has taken away the religious rights of certain communities, violent threats against religious communities, declaration of civil war in India, etc. The diplomatic relations between India and Greece were established in May 1950 while India opened its resident Embassy in Athens 28 years later in March 1978. Five years later, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Greece in 1983. But, the bilateral relations between the two nations progressed gradually with no successive Prime Ministers visiting the European nation for the next 40 years until 2023 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the country on his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis' invitation. Since then, the two nations have been working to develop closer and stronger ties. To further bolster ties and combat regional challenges, India invited Greece's PM on a state visit. PM Modi On Greece Ties Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is currently on a state visit to India. India and Greece have formed a working group to increase mutual coordination on common challenges like defence, cyber security, counter-terrorism, and maritime security. The joint working group on defence could lead to India's larger presence in the Mediterranean Sea, thus making India the third key partner in the Sea along with Italy and Egypt. In the words of Prime Minister Modi, "New opportunities for co-production and co-development are being created in defence manufacturing in India, which can be beneficial for both countries. We have agreed to link the defence industries of both countries. India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism. We discussed in detail how to further strengthen our cooperation in this area." Had a productive meeting with PM @kmitsotakis earlier today. Our talks covered key areas like technology, pharmaceuticals, skill development, space and innovation. We also agreed to boost cooperation in areas like shipping, connectivity and defence. pic.twitter.com/cYzj3OtMHQ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2024 India A Great Power, Says PM Mitsotakis On the other hand, PM Mitsotakis termed India as a great power on the world stage. He said that India is an important ally in the pursuit of peace and security. "Greeces geographic and strategic proximity makes it an interlocutor between India and Europe, and between the Global North and the South....Greece presents vast opportunities as a logistics centre and international gateway, facilitating connectivity and trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe," said PM Mitsotakis. He added that India and Greece must work together to promote peace and stability through projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, which can bring about prosperity for all participating countries. Why Does Greece Matter To India? India is currently the world's fastest-growing major economy and if it wants to maintain the pace of its growth, then foreign trade becomes a crucial factor. With China growing its influence in the Indian Ocean as well as in the Mediterranean Sea, India cannot sit back and watch the developments like a wallflower. Counter To China China has extended its influence in the region, notably by fostering connections with Greece. Through its Belt & Road Initiative, China has invested in infrastructure projects such as Greece's Piraeus port, ranking among the world's largest ports. Concurrently, India is actively pursuing an increased presence in the area, with reports indicating that companies like Adani are exploring investment opportunities in Greek ports. Unpredictable Turkey The relationship between India and Greece with Turkey, a regional heavyweight, is marked by complexity. Turkey's proximity to Pakistan and its opposition to India's Kashmir policy have acted as obstacles to closer ties between India and Ankara. Similarly, Greece has a historically challenging relationship with Turkey, characterized by conflicts over maritime boundaries and energy resources. The two nations have faced tensions as they contend for control in these strategic areas. These intricate dynamics contribute to the nuanced geopolitical landscape involving India, Greece, and Turkey. Growing Trade, Solidifying Presence Greece stands as one of the significant maritime forces bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This sea serves as a vital conduit for global trade, linking Europe and America with key economies such as India, China, and Japan. Approximately 12-15% of the world's maritime traffic traverses the Mediterranean Sea, underscoring its strategic importance. Notably, Russia, the United States, and France uphold robust military presences in this region, contributing to its geopolitical dynamics. With India's growing economy, European markets have gained heightened significance. In response, India is actively progressing with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, establishing a connectivity network linking New Delhi to these regions via a combination of ship and rail routes. In this ambitious project, Greece assumes a pivotal role as a crucial link. A shared objective is to double bilateral trade between India and Greece by the year 2030. Additionally, reports indicate that India is seeking Greece's collaboration in the modernization efforts within its shipping sector, further strengthening the ties between the two nations. New Delhi: The initial public offering (IPO) of Kolkata-based hospital chain GPT Healthcare Ltd opens for subscription today. With the IPO, the company aims to raise approximately Rs 40 crore from the fresh issue and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to 2.61 crore shares. The company has set price band at Rs 177-186 per share. Of the proceeds from the fresh issue, Rs 30 crore will be earmarked for debt repayment, with the remainder allocated for general corporate purposes, said the company. BanyanTree Growth Capital II LLC, a Mauritius-based private equity fund, will be divesting its entire shareholding of over 2.60 crore equity shares, representing 32.64 percent of the paid-up equity. GPT Healthcare IPO: Subscription Date The IPO subscription window will be open from February 22 to 26. GPT Healthcare IPO: Expected Allotment Dates IPO share allotments are expected on February 27, while refunds are slated for February 28. GPT Healthcare IPO: Expected Listing Dates The shares GPT Healthcare is expected to be listed on exchanges on February 29. GPT Healthcare operates a chain of mid-sized full-service hospitals under the ILS brand, focusing on integrated healthcare services with an emphasis on secondary and tertiary care. The company has recorded significant growth, with a 21.95 percent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in revenue from FY21 to FY23, reaching Rs 361.04 crore in FY23. Profit after tax and EBITDA also saw substantial growth during the same period. New Delhi: Chinese smartphone maker iQOO has finally launched Indias most affordable iQOO Neo 9 Pro smartphone in India today. The newly launched smartphone will be available in two colour options: Fiery Red and Conqueror Black. The handset is available for storage options. For the 8 GB RAM + 128 GB base model, the smartphone is priced at Rs 33,999. This model is available for purchase via Amazon India and the official iQOO India website, starting March 21. The 8GB+256GB variant is available at Rs 34,999, while the 12GB+256GB version is priced at Rs 36,999. Both these models are available for purchase starting February 22 for users who pre-booked the device, and February 23 for all users. iQOO Neo 9 Pro Bank Offers and Discounts The company is also offering a limited-time special memory upgrade offer which is valid until February 26. During this period, customers can enjoy a Rs 1,000 discount on both the 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variant and the 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage model of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5G. After this offer, the prices stand at Rs 36,999 and Rs 38,999, respectively, until the specified date. The moment you've been waiting for is here, sale is live (for pre-book customers) #iQOONeo9Pro is now available for just Rs. 34,999*! Get your hands on the Dual Chip Powerhouse @amazonIN and https://t.co/7tsZtgDjuv #iQOO #PowerToWin #iQOONeo9Pro pic.twitter.com/N4xOe1mQ6e February 22, 2024 Furthermore, iQOO has introduced exclusive bank offers in collaboration with HDFC and ICICI Bank, offering a Rs 2,000 discount to buyers using their debit or credit cards. iQOO Neo 9 Pro Specifications The new launch comes with a stunning 6.78-inch AMOLED display, offering a remarkable 144Hz refresh rate and an impressive 3000 nits of brightness, ensuring vibrant visuals and smooth transitions. Users will receive three years of Android updates and four years of security updates with Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box. Running on the latest Android 14 operating system, users can expect a seamless and intuitive experience. On the rear, it features a powerful 50MP main camera coupled with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, promising exceptional photography capabilities. Powering this device is a robust 5160mAh battery, supplemented by rapid 120W FlashCharge+ technology, ensuring prolonged usage without compromising on speed. (Also Read: Realme 12+ 5G Launch Officially Confirmed In India; Check Date And Time) Under the hood, it's driven by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, delivering unmatched performance and efficiency. Moreover, the newly launched smartphone packs a Supercomputing Chip Q1 for enhancing the gaming experience. To keep temperatures in check during intense gaming sessions, it incorporates a sophisticated 6k VC cooling system, ensuring optimal performance even under demanding conditions. New Delhi: Meta is partnering with the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) to combat the spread of fake news and misinformation on its platform in India. As part of this initiative, it has introduced a helpline service to address these issues. Starting from March, users in the country will have access to this helpline through a WhatsApp chatbot. Access To Service in different languages The helpline aims to inform and warn users about potential deepfake dangers and content circulating on WhatsApp from various origins. Without providing specific information about the chatbot/helpline, WhatsApp users in India will have access to the service in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and other languages, with additional regional languages to be introduced later on. WhatsApp is highly popular in India serving as a platform where content and news can quickly spread. In an election year, Meta and WhatsApp aim to avoid the platform promoting fake news and deepfake content which could attract unwanted attention from government agencies. WhatsApp Message Restriction To address this, WhatsApp has restricted message forwarding to five in India to limit virality especially for contentious content. Chatbots are increasingly relied upon for providing information and WhatsApp plans to utilize its team of fact-checkers to filter content and prevent the spread of fake news. The helpline will be tested next month to assess its effectiveness in combating misinformation. New Delhi: Thousands of Indian farmers are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana as part of the "Delhi Chalo" protest march. Not just India but farmers accross European union nations are protesting too. For months, Europe has witnessed waves of protests by farmers who are unhappy with their situation. They have taken to the streets, blocked roads and even surrounded the capital of France with tractors. While the farmers in India are demanding a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during the agitation against the three farm laws in 2020-21 are the other demands of farmers in India. Here are some of the main factors behind the European farmers' discontent: Squeeze Of Low Prices, High Costs One of the biggest challenges facing farmers is the gap between what they spend and what they earn. Many of their costs, such as energy, fertiliser and transport, have gone up, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Meanwhile, their prices have gone down, as governments and retailers try to keep food affordable for consumers. According to Eurostat, the average farm-gate price - the price farmers get for their products - fell by almost 9% between the third quarter of 2022 and the same period in 2021. Only a few products, such as olive oil, which faced shortages, saw an increase. Threat Of Cheap imports Another source of frustration for farmers is the competition from foreign imports, which they see as unfair and harmful. In some parts of Europe, such as Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, farmers have protested against the influx of cheap produce from Ukraine, which benefited from EU trade concessions after Russias invasion. The EU imposed some limits on Ukrainian exports, but they were not enough to satisfy the farmers. In other parts of Europe, such as France, farmers are worried about the impact of trade deals with other regions, such as Mercosur, the South American bloc. They fear that these deals will expose them to products that do not meet the same standards as EU products, such as sugar, grain and meat. Climate Change Challenge Farmers are also feeling the effects of climate change, which is making their work more difficult and unpredictable. Extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods and wildfires, have damaged crops and livestock in many countries. For example, in Spain, some water reservoirs are only 4% full, while in Greece, fires destroyed about 20% of the annual farm income in 2023. Farmers in southern Europe have not protested much so far, but that could change if their governments impose water restrictions or other measures to cope with the crisis. Pressure Of EU Regulations Farmers also complain that they are over-regulated by the EU, which imposes rules and standards that they find burdensome and unrealistic. They feel that they are caught between the conflicting demands of providing cheap food and protecting the environment. The EUs common agricultural policy (CAP), which provides 55bn a year in subsidies to farmers, has traditionally favoured large-scale and intensive farming. This has led to consolidation and concentration in the sector, with the number of farms dropping by more than a third since 2005. Many small and medium-sized farms struggle to survive in a low-profit market, while many large farms are heavily indebted. The EU has recently adopted a new strategy, called farm to fork, which is part of its ambitious green deal to make the bloc carbon-neutral by 2050. The strategy aims to make farming more sustainable and healthy, by setting targets such as reducing pesticides by 50%, fertilisers by 20%, and increasing organic farming to 25% of the land by 2030. However, many farmers are sceptical and worried about the impact of these targets on their productivity and competitiveness. They argue that they need more support and incentives to make the transition, and that they should not be penalised for their contribution to food security and rural development. Patrons have overwhelmed the phone lines for Alexanders Steakhouse, trying to secure one last meal before the restaurant that has anchored the corner of Bruns Lane and Jefferson Street for four decades closes Feb. 29. And this time, parent company Mercedes Restaurant Inc. which has operated three different restaurant models from the 620 Bruns Lane address since 1979 doesnt have a second act planned. Every restaurant has its lifespan. Unfortunately, ours is coming to an end, Ron Helms said earlier this week. Helms is the current president of Mercedes Restaurant Inc., but in 1984 he was a manager with the Peoria-based restaurant holding company and he oversaw converting the casual dining V.O. Peabodys into Alexanders Steakhouse. Prior to that, Mercedes Restaurant Inc. operated the seafood restaurant Vonachens Landing from the single story, green roof building. Natalie Morris More: Prominent Springfield steakhouse to close after nearly 40 years There wont be another brand, Helm said. Right now, were just trying to survive the business market doing what we do. Helm said regular operations will continue for Alexanders Steakhouse locations in Peoria and Normal. The steakhouse invited customers to be hands-on with the dining process, first selecting a cut of steak from the display case and then cooking it themselves over a real charcoal pit. Timing for the Springfield closure was tied to the lease expiring on the property. The closing was the second blow of the month for Springfields fine dining aficionados. Loukinens on 4th closed without any advance notice with owner/operators Keith and Laurie Loukinen calling the decision temporary in an online post Feb. 13. The Loukinens purchased the 517 S. Fourth St. building in 2017 shortly before opening their namesake restaurant later the same year. The business has been listed for sale since the fall 2023. Community Loan Servicing holds the loan for the property and has begun foreclosure proceedings. Story continues Sonic opening soon in Taylorville Sonic is bringing its signature cherry limeades and dashboard dining back to Taylorville. The Las Vegas-based Guernsey Sonic LLC is behind the brands revival in the Christian County seat. Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry said the holding company is aiming for a spring opening. The building at 929 W. Springfield St. hasnt housed a restaurant since 2002 when the state closed the Sonic for the previous franchisees failure to pay taxes. Extensive renovations are planned, including the addition of a two-lane, drive-through window to the original, drive-in format. It will be among the first facilities for Guernsey Sonic that hasnt been a turnkey operation, considering the franchise has rapidly grown its Sonic portfolio entirely through acquiring operating stores. Parent company Guernsey Holdings LLC operates 87 Sonics spread across Illinois, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana and Washington as well as 40 Little Caesars. Taylorville will mark Guernsey Holdings' entry into central Illinois with all its other Sonic locations south of Mt. Vernon. Originally the Springfield and Taylorville Sonic stores were part of the same franchise family under BDK Industries. The state closed the drive-ins in 2002 for unpaid sales taxes and employee withholding taxes. The Ark.-based Esch Sonic Group reopened the Springfield Sonic addresses at 3001 W. Iles Ave. and 2000 N. Dirksen Parkway later the same year and eventually added a third location at 1312 Wabash Ave. St. Patrick's Day St. Patricks Day parade is preparing to roll through downtown Springfield March 16 while the official day falls on March 17. A la Carte will run a list of local St. Patricks culinary specials March 10. Deadline to submit information is March 4. The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings, closings, renovations and relocations, as well as personnel changes and business news. Natalie Morris can be reached at 217-737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Sonic prepares to open while Springfield's Alexander's Steakhouse closing ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the United States has acquired CRIMPCO, a security alarm and monitoring company in Baltimore, Maryland. This addition increases Pye-Barker's capability to provide full-service fire and life safety to Maryland and the broader Mid-Atlantic region, complementing Pye-Barker's fire protection offerings in the area and widening its customer base. The CRIMPCO team joins Pye-Barker Fire & Safety. CRIMPCO was founded in 1968 by a recent college graduate, Bob Jolson, who realized his knack for selling businesses panic button systems. Jolson expanded to include security systems, access control, CCTV, video monitoring and fire alarms for customers from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to northern Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. From the beginning, CRIMPCO has been a family business, as Bob started CRIMPCO with his father Marv Jolson and expanded with sons Todd and Ryan Jolson. In addition, partners John Cromwell and Chris Graham, who joined the company in 1982 and 1992 respectively, have been instrumental in the company's growth and success. "When you are hired at CRIMPCO, you are a member of the family," said Bob Jolson, CRIMPCO Founder. "While weighing the options of the next step for our company, our team's future was top-of-mind. I'm confident that joining Pye-Barker is the best choice for them, our family and our customers." "Like Pye-Barker, CRIMPCO and the Jolsons recognize the two keys to success: team and customers. Fostering a family-like, supportive company culture while upholding the highest standards of customer service has fueled CRIMPCO's success and made them a great addition to our family," said Bart Proctor, Pye-Barker CEO. CRIMPCO's highly qualified team will continue to serve customers in the region. The transaction was coordinated by Philip Gardner, President of B Safe, which merged with Pye-Barker Fire & Safety in 2022. Barry Epstein of Vertex Capital represented CRIMPCO in the transaction. Story continues About Pye-Barker Fire & Safety The U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 200 locations and 6,000 team members nationwide, Pye-Barker ranks No. 954 on the Inc 5000 and No. 9 on the SDM 100. Pye-Barker remains actively engaged in exploring strategic acquisition opportunities. We welcome the opportunity to share why we are the acquirer of choice. Visit pyebarkerfs.com/acquisitions to learn more. Contact: Eric Garner President, Pye-Barker Alarm Division 801.395.8738 eric.garner@pyebarkerfs.com (PRNewsfoto/Pye-Barker Fire & Safety) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pye-barker-fire--safety-provides-security-services-to-baltimore-area-with-acquisition-of-crimpco-302068919.html SOURCE Pye-Barker Fire & Safety In a positive development for investors, two real estate investment trusts (REITs) recently announced dividend increases. This signals potential opportunities in the real estate market, as these companies strive to deliver enhanced returns to their shareholders. Lets check out each dividend raiser to see if there's a spot for one or both in your portfolio. American Homes 4 Rent American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH) owns and manages a portfolio of over 58,000 single-family homes, positioning itself as one of the largest homeowners in the United States alongside Invitation Homes. Its portfolio spans 21 states in the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Mountain Regions, encompassing markets like Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. On February 21, American Homes 4 Rent announced an 18% increase to its quarterly dividend. It now pays a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, equating to an annualized rate of $1.04 per share and giving its stock a yield of about 3% at the time of this writing. American Homes 4 Rent is now on track for 2024 to mark the fourth consecutive year in which it has raised its annual dividend payment, making it a quality dividend-growth stock. Don't Miss: Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Dara Khosrowshahi-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000. Plymouth Industrial REIT Plymouth Industrial REIT (NYSE:PLYM) owns, operates, and manages a portfolio of 211 single and multi-tenant industrial properties totaling over 34 million square feet. Nearly all of its properties reside inside the "Golden Triangle" region of the United States, which contains over 70% of the U.S. population. It's also worth noting that it counts FedEx (NYSE:FDX) as one of its ten largest tenants. Story continues In its fourth-quarter earnings release on February 21, Plymouth announced a 6.7% increase to its quarterly dividend. It now pays a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share, equating to an annualized rate of $0.96 per share and giving its stock a yield of about 4.4% at the time of this writing. Plymouth is now on track for 2024 to mark the fourth consecutive year in which it has raised its annual dividend payment, making it qualify as both a high-yield and dividend-growth play. Read Next: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000. Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Dara Khosrowshahi gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started. Image Credit: Shutterstock "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article These REITs Just Hiked Their Dividends - Again originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2024 /CNW/ -- Reputation Advisors International (RAI), a worldwide association of distinguished communications professionals, welcomes Nathalie Bergeron of Nota Bene Strategie of Montreal and Eric Rose of EKA PR of Los Angeles as the network's newest members. Reputation Advisors International logo The addition of Ms. Bergeron and Mr. Rose furthers the network's continuing growth over the past year. Dirk T. Schmitt of Rosenberg Strategic Communications in Frankfurt and Chris Cartwright of Chris Cartwright Communications in Geneva, Switzerland, joined RAI in mid-2023. Earlier in 2023, Kajsa Stenstrom of Stenstrom Consulting in Brussels and Barry Ahern of Business Management Communications (BMC) in Dublin also joined the network, which now boasts members in 16 cities across the globe. Also, in 2023, Ben Haslem of Sydney, Australia rejoined the network, along with his partner Mark Forbes in Melbourne. Ben and Mark are leaders of Icon Reputation , one of Australia's leading integrated communications agencies. "We are excited to see the network grow with the addition of these esteemed professionals," James F. Haggerty , President of Reputation Advisors International, said. "Each new member represents the expertise and professionalism we look for across the globe. "We look forward to adding additional members worldwide throughout the coming year," Haggerty added. New RAI Members Nathalie Bergeron, a certified crisis counselor, brings solid in-house and in-agency experience that helps brands gain thought leadership and win market share. A former journalist, Nathalie is known for her strategic communications, reputation, and issues management. Having provided senior-level counsel to the world's most recognizable brands, she counsels her clients in crisis communications preparedness, crisis management, and reputation management. Eric Rose is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience guiding companies, associations, and individuals across all political, governmental, and public relations challenges. A trusted advisor to numerous Fortune 500 companies, Eric specializes in crisis management, reputation repair, and communications expertise. A court-qualified expert witness in reputation repair, local, national and international media regularly seek Rose for his expert commentary. Eric has also shared his knowledge as a guest lecturer at various universities. Story continues Dirk T. Schmitt, who joined Reputation Advisors International in the Summer of 2023, brings extensive experience advising companies on their communication strategy, crises, and mergers and acquisitions. Chris Cartwright, who joined Reputation Advisors International in October 2023, is the founder of Chris Cartwright Communications, which specializes in helping clients in crises in various industries, including healthcare, technology, and international organizations. Kajsa Stenstrom joined Reputation Advisors International in March 2023, and is the founder of Stenstrom Consulting in Brussels. Kajsa has more than 25 years of experience providing strategic advice to clients in EU affairs. Barry Ahern, who joined Reputation Advisors International in March 2023, is the managing consultant of Business Management Communications, an independent consultancy firm that provides both strategic advice and operational execution in financial communications, corporate affairs, and litigation support management. About Reputation Advisors International (RAI) Reputation Advisors International is a worldwide association of senior communications professionals with expertise in high-stakes issues related to reputation management, brand positioning, legal and regulatory communications, crisis planning and response, and related areas. The network currently has members in 16 cities across the globe, including Brussels, Chiasso, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Montreal, Munich, New York, Oslo, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Zurich. To learn more about Reputation Advisors International, visit: www.reputationadvisors.net Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reputation-advisors-international-welcomes-new-members-302069193.html SOURCE Reputation Advisors International Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2024/22/c3977.html Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Rio Tinto Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 25 shareholders own 44% of the company Insiders have sold recently To get a sense of who is truly in control of Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 58% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Rio Tinto Group. Check out our latest analysis for Rio Tinto Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Rio Tinto Group? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Rio Tinto Group. 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 Rio Tinto Group, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Rio Tinto Group. Aluminum Corporation of China is currently the company's largest shareholder with 11% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 8.7% of common stock, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. holds about 3.1% of the company stock. Story continues On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest. While 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Rio Tinto Group While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our information suggests that Rio Tinto Group insiders own under 1% of the company. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own UK35m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership With a 29% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Rio Tinto Group. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 12%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Rio Tinto Group better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Rio Tinto Group that you should be aware of. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 503A and 503B Compounding Expertise To Fuel Safety, Compliance, and Expansion EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Curexa Pharmacy (Curexa), a leading national pharmacy based in Egg Harbor Township (EHT), New Jersey, proudly announces Robert Cimorelli, RPh., as the new Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Strategic Operations. Robert Cimorelli, Curexa Pharmacy Cimorelli brings extensive expertise in pharmaceutical research, product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, strategic planning, and operations. His compounding proficiency spans sterile and non-sterile processes for human and veterinary markets, including nuclear medicine. With valuable experience from a top mail-order pharmacy company, Cimorelli is well-equipped to enhance Curexa's operations. Curexa, an API-connected 503A compounding pharmacy, partners with direct-to-consumer telemedicine wellness brands to offer customized pharmaceutical products. Cimorelli's background with The Ritedose Corporation, Boothwyn Pharmacy, and Pentec Health uniquely positions him to drive growth in the 503A and 503B compounding markets. Mark K. Taylor, RPh. MBA, President, and CEO of Curexa, expressed excitement about Cimorelli's addition, stating, "Robert's expertise reinforces our commitment to patient safety and FDA compliance." John Pouschine, Chairman of the Board and Managing Member of Pouschine Cook Capital, a significant shareholder of Curexa, highlighted Cimorelli's role in elevating operational safety, quality, and compliance standards, as well as his contribution to facility design to improve customer service during Curexa's planned expansion. Originally from Philadelphia, Cimorelli holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. He also completed professional certificates in Executive Leadership Principles and Drug and Medical Device Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With pharmacist licensure in fifteen states and membership in the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Cimorelli is dedicated to advancing healthcare solutions at Curexa. Story continues For more information, visit www.curexa.com . ABOUT CUREXA PHARMACY Founded in 2003, Curexa Pharmacy has become a leading provider of compounding, packaging, labeling, and digital and traditional pharmacy solutions for telemedicine and medical providers, veterinarians, manufacturers, and clinical research organizations across the nation. Curexa's broad range of services includes pre-launch support, customized formulations, API integration, packaging/branding, and pharmacy regulatory compliance. For additional information on the company, please visit curexa.com. CONTACT: MARK K. TAYLOR, RPh. MBA PRESIDENT AND CEO mtaylor@curexa.com (855) 927-0390 x146 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-cimorelli-rph-svp-of-regulatory-and-strategic-operations-joins-curexa-pharmacys-executive-team-302068889.html SOURCE Curexa In the Free State of Florida, Republicans have banned woke public investments, woke racial education, and woke books in school libraries. Now theyre trying to ban woke meat. Legislation that would criminalize the sale of cultivated meat grown from animal cells is wending its way through the state House and Senate, even though cultivated meat is not currently for sale anywhere in Florida or, for that matter, anywhere else. Governor Ron DeSantis, eager to start owning libs again after his fiasco of a presidential campaign, has said hes on board with banning the new technology, even though the federal government has already signed off on meat grown in fermenters rather than feedlots as safe. So whats the beef? The cattle industry has always had outsized clout in Florida politics the term cracker originated with whip-wielding Florida cattlemen and some Republicans hope to curry favor with the states ranchers by strangling potential competition in the cradle. But the crusade against cultivated meat is mostly just the latest skirmish in the DeSantis culture war against what he considers a progressive plot to make Americans feel guilty about the status quo. In his only public comments about cultivated meat sometimes described as lab-grown meat, although the ultimate goal is to grow it in breweries DeSantis made it clear that his main objection to the nascent industry is that its leaders hope to limit animal agricultures damage to the climate and the environment. To the governor, growing meat outside an animal is just like taking environment-social-governance considerations into account in investment decisions or teaching critical race theory in the classroom, a left-wing assault on tradition. They really want to go after agriculture because they blame agriculture for global warming, DeSantis said. You need meat, OK? Like, were gonna have fake meat? That doesnt work. Theres a whole ideological agenda thats coming after a lot of our society. Story continues Setting aside the merits of the governors anti-woke crusade against ESG, CRT, and gay-themed books in public libraries, the cultivated meat and seafood entrepreneurs trying to harness capitalism and technology to disrupt a trillion-dollar industry notorious for government influence-peddling dont see whats left-wing about innovation or competition. They dont want to be part of any culture war, and as the legislative ban has been moving through Tallahassee on party-line votes, theyre trying to remind Republicans that theyre supposed to be against the nanny state. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, for instance, a key supporter of the ban, actually boasts on his website that hes stood up to politicians who treat Floridians like children incapable of making their own choices. How does banning our products promote consumer choice? Blue Nalu CEO Lou Cooperhouse, whose San Diego startup is cultivating bluefin tuna toro, told me. Its un-American and un-Floridian to stifle innovation and attack free-market principles. It is true that cultivated meat has extraordinary potential to limit the impacts of animal agriculture, which now uses one quarter of the land on Earth and is by far the leading driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss. But even if you dont care about the climate or the environment or the looming public health crisis created by the overuse of antibiotics in livestock, or the tens of billions of animals who get slaughtered every year theres a compelling business proposition behind cultivated meat: Animal meat is inefficient. Why waste feed, land, water, energy and other resources helping livestock stay warm, poop, burp methane, have babies and do other things that dont produce meat? Thats why a part-time futurist named Winston Churchill, not usually considered a wokester, predicted in a 1931 essay titled 50 Years Hence that we shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing. But its now 93 years hence, and while more than 150 startups around the world have begun growing chicken cutlets, burgers, pork meatballs, salmon nigiri and even woolly mammoth meat from cells, theyre not yet doing it inexpensively enough to compete with conventional meat and seafood. Last year, the Bay Area startups Upside Foods and Good Meat served Americas first cultivated chicken to restaurant patrons in San Francisco and Washington, but only for a limited time to a very limited number of diners. (Some journalists have tried it, too, and I can report that both companies make chicken that tastes like chicken.) For now, you cant buy cultivated meat anywhere on Earth, and while its costs have plunged more than 99% in a decade, many skeptics doubt that it will ever get cheap enough to make a dent in the 350 million tons of animal meat that the world consumes every year. In the past few months, Wired, Bloomberg, and The New York Times have all published quasi-obituaries for the industry. Plant-based meat, hailed five years ago as the next big thing in food, is also struggling mightily. Global sales have stopped soaring and are actually declining, and industry darling Beyond Meats stock price is down more than 95% from its peak. Meat substitutes have faced a flurry of attacks some from meat-industry water-carriers, some from natural-food ideologues, and some reflecting genuine discomfort with the idea of eating so much technology as ultra-processed foods with long ingredient lists. But the problems meat substitutes are designed to address are not going away. Cattle burps (and, to a lesser extent, farts) produce methane, while manure is a major source of nitrous oxide and water pollution, and the world is on track to deforest another two Indias worth of land by 2050 to satiate humanitys meat tooth. DeSantis may think its silly to blame agriculture for global warming, but overall, it generates a fourth of global greenhouse gas emissions, most of them from livestock. Its not yet as big a problem as fossil fuels, but it is a big problem. And since meat consumption is expected to rise at least 50% by 2050, the problem is getting worse. Meat alternatives made from plants, fungi, or animal cells can use far less land and generate far fewer emissions than meat made from slaughtered animals, which is why supporters see them as the agricultural equivalent of solar, wind, and other clean-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Cleaner meat should receive the kind of public support that governments have long provided to cleaner energy, they argue which has started to happen in the European Union, China and even the United States, which provided $10 million for a cultivated meat research center at Tufts University early in the Biden Administration. Obviously, it isnt happening in Florida. Cultivated meat lobbyists have been passing around a clip from a Chinese newspaper gloating about the Sunshine States restrictions, saying they will help ensure Chinese domination of the new industry. Rini Greenfield, who runs an ag-tech venture fund called Rethink Food in Miami, told me the ban would send a clear message to technology companies to take their operations elsewhere. In fact, every venture that testified against the bill was based in California, the state DeSantis constantly cites as the epitome of woke. But culture wars are bad for business, no matter where youre headquartered. The industry doesnt want to be making Bidenburgers any more than the electric vehicle industry wanted to manufacture Obamamobiles. Today, theyre not selling to anyone, but someday, they want to sell to everyone. Read more at Heatmap News: The Quest to Ban the Best Raincoats in the World We Fact Checked Everything Trump Has Said About Climate Change Since 2021 Or sign up to receive our best story in your inbox every day here. Insight into Royal Caribbean's strategic positioning and financial health. Analysis of the cruise industry's competitive landscape and Royal Caribbean's market adaptability. Exploration of Royal Caribbean's innovative ship features and environmental commitments. Examination of potential risks including economic conditions and geopolitical factors. On February 21, 2024, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL), the world's second-largest cruise company, filed its 10-K report, revealing a diverse portfolio of brands and a strategic focus on innovation and sustainability. The company's financial tables indicate a robust balance sheet, with significant debt repayment and liquidity measures in place. Royal Caribbean's commitment to delivering exceptional vacation experiences is reflected in its recent introduction of three new vessels, including the technologically advanced and environmentally friendly Icon of the Seas and Silver Nova. With a workforce of approximately 98,200 employees, the company emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, and maintains strong relationships with travel advisors to enhance consumer outreach and e-commerce capabilities. This SWOT analysis will delve into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as presented in the latest SEC filing, providing investors with a comprehensive understanding of Royal Caribbean's market position and future prospects. Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) Uncovered: Key Opportunities and Threats Ahead Strengths Brand Recognition and Innovative Fleet: Royal Caribbean Group's brand power is a formidable strength, with its registered trademarks recognized globally. The company's innovative fleet, including the introduction of three new vessels in 2023, positions it as a leader in the cruise industry. The Icon of the Seas, Celebrity Ascent, and Silver Nova not only enhance the guest experience with unique features but also represent a commitment to environmental sustainability. The new ships are expected to generate higher revenue yields and operate more efficiently than older vessels, providing a competitive advantage in the market. Story continues Customer Loyalty and Engagement: Royal Caribbean's loyalty programs, such as the Crown & Anchor Society, boast approximately 19.2 million members worldwide, demonstrating a strong, loyal customer base. The company's focus on customer engagement, through targeted marketing and the use of data analytics, allows for personalized vacation experiences. This strategy has led to increased repeat booking rates and a deepened relationship with customers, which is crucial for long-term revenue growth. Weaknesses Debt and Financial Leverage: Despite a strong liquidity position, Royal Caribbean's balance sheet reflects a high level of debt, with approximately $4.0 billion repaid in 2023. The company's focus on maintaining a balanced debt maturity profile and achieving lower leverage is ongoing, indicating that debt management remains a challenge. High financial leverage can limit the company's flexibility to respond to market changes and may impact its credit ratings and borrowing costs. Dependence on Economic Conditions: The cruise industry is highly sensitive to global economic conditions. Adverse economic factors can lead to reduced demand for cruises and lower passenger spending, impacting Royal Caribbean's operating results. The company's reliance on consumer discretionary spending makes it vulnerable to economic downturns, which could affect its profitability and the value of its assets. Opportunities Market Expansion and Itinerary Diversification: Royal Caribbean's strategic deployment of ships to new and stronger markets presents significant opportunities for growth. The company's ability to offer a wide selection of itineraries that call on over 1,000 destinations in more than 120 countries allows it to cater to diverse consumer preferences and tap into developing markets. This flexibility in ship deployment optimizes profitability and positions Royal Caribbean to capitalize on changing market demands. Technological Advancements and Digitalization: The company's investments in technology, such as the partnership with SpaceX to launch Starlink for enhanced shipboard connectivity, demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to improving the guest experience. Royal Caribbean's focus on digital capabilities, data analytics, and artificial intelligence supports operational efficiencies and revenue management, offering a competitive edge in the industry. Threats Competitive Landscape and Alternative Vacation Options: Royal Caribbean faces intense competition from other cruise lines and land-based vacation alternatives, including all-inclusive resorts, hotels, and theme parks. Competitors such as Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. offer similar products and services, which can impact Royal Caribbean's market share and pricing strategies. Geopolitical Factors and Health Concerns: The cruise industry is susceptible to geopolitical events, such as terrorist attacks and war, which can adversely affect consumer confidence and travel patterns. Additionally, health concerns, including pandemics and outbreaks, pose significant risks to the safety and security of guests and crew, potentially leading to cruise cancellations and reduced demand. In conclusion, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL) stands out in the cruise industry with its strong brand recognition, innovative fleet, and loyal customer base. However, the company must navigate challenges such as high levels of debt and sensitivity to economic conditions. Opportunities for growth lie in market expansion, technological advancements, and digitalization, which can enhance the guest experience and operational efficiency. Nevertheless, threats from a competitive landscape and geopolitical factors require vigilant risk management. Royal Caribbean's strategic focus on sustainability, customer engagement, and technology positions it well to leverage its strengths and opportunities while addressing its weaknesses and threats. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia speaking at a conference in 2014. . Saurabh Das/AP Russia's record revenue in 2023 was partly attributable to India's huge appetite for Russian crude. India took in $37 billion of Russian oil last year, 13 times what it bought before the Ukraine war. India, however, is under growing pressure to comply with Western sanctions. Russia has never been this flush with cash and it's partly thanks to India, which snapped up a monster amount of Russian crude last year. Russia's federal revenue soared to a record $320 billion in 2023 an amount partly attributable to India's huge appetite for cheap Russian oil, according to a new report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shared with CNN. The nation bought $37 billion of crude from Russia last year, the report said, around 13 times what it purchased from Russia before the war in Ukraine. India has been a huge customer of Russian crude since Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine. After being slammed by Western trade restrictions, Moscow has doled out hefty discounts to its allies, like India and China, who have since gobbled up huge amounts of oil from the nation. The two countries have replaced most of Russia's Western customers, with Russia diverting nearly all of its oil shipments to China and India alone, a top official said last year. In particular, Russia accounted for 35% of India's oil purchases in 2023, according to an analysis from S&P Global. India, one of the largest oil refiners in the world, is also known to process Russian crude before passing it off to Western nations, which banned Russian crude in late 2022. India likely exported around $1.3 billion of oil products of Russian origin to the US from December 2022 to the end of 2023, the CREA analysis found. Meanwhile, $9.1 billion of Russian oil products were indirectly purchased by nations who are enforcing sanctions on Russia 44% more than the amount purchased the previous year, the think tank said. India, though, is facing mounting pressure to comply with Western trade restrictions a possible reason Indian exports of Russian oil just slumped to their lowest level in a year in January. There are also signs that the nation is turning away fully loaded tankers of Russian oil. A sanctioned tanker holding Russian crude was reported to drift off the coasts of India late last year as Indian officials considered whether to let the ship dock. Five other oil tankers turned away from India after idling near its shores for about a month, Bloomberg reported. Read the original article on Business Insider When DunRite Windows & Doors owner Sal Sucato decided to start his own business in the spare bedroom of his home, he chose to walk away from not only a steady career but also the family business. Twenty-three years later Sucatos Scottsdale-based residential window and door replacement company has outgrown its original space. It recently opened a 6,000-square-foot Phoenix warehouse and showroom featuring high-profile brands such as Anderson, Pella and Arcadia. In 2015, the companys growth led to the purchase of a facility in North Scottsdale for DunRites operations. His wife Tyler Deason runs accounting and human resources. The brand-new showroom is the companys first retail space and allows customers to see and touch the products as they explore the possibilities for their homes. Tyler Deason (left) and Sal Sucato (right), owners of DunRite Windows & Doors, pose for a portrait at their business in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2024. Leaving the family business Before Sucato started DunRite in 2001, he was working for his fathers masonry company. Most of his family are in construction doing either masonry or stucco, and he was expected to follow suit. But he started eyeing another career path while working with his dad on custom homes and doing the windows. I really enjoyed the window and door aspect, Sucato recalled. The design, the operations and how the skys the limit of what you can create it definitely appealed to me so much more than masonry. Sal Sucato (left) and Tyler Deason (right), owners of DunRite Windows & Doors, pose for a portrait at their business in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2024. Sucato left his familys company and set up his home office, funding his new business on a credit card. His initial investment was $4,800. He knocked on doors and made sales calls. Hed order the doors and windows and after they were delivered to his home, he went out and installed them. He was a one-man operation. When Sucato first started, he did eight windows a week and one door in the first six months, he said. Today, the company does around 125 windows and 20 doors every week. 'I don't like to take risks' Over the last two decades, Sucato has held his own amid big box competitors and educated customers on trends. Story continues For instance, black-framed windows that are bold and lovely to look at but dont always hold up well in Arizonas extreme heat. Hes adjusted to regulations such as New Energy Star Requirements that went into effect last October, the first energy change since 2006 done to create a greener future. Sal Sucato (left) and Tyler Deason (right), owners of DunRite Windows & Doors, pose for a portrait at their business in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2024. Im always looking at new products, new materials to see whats the best, Sucato said. When we started, Low-E was just introduced, he added, referring to energy-efficient glass that keeps heat out. While much has changed over the last two decades, some things remained, like Sucatos business approach which he said mirrors his personal life. Im afraid to disappoint, I want to impress, and I want to do the right thing. I dont like to take risks. And thats how the business is geared, he said. "That is how I run the business, and my life. Keeping a hands-on approach Early on, Sucatos lean company required him to be very hands-on. Success hasn't dampened that personal touch, which sticks with Sucato today. When Laura Krushak needed a set of French doors installed in her Scottsdale home about a year ago, she called several companies representing all the big-name brands. Her inquiries either went ignored or the replies were lazy. The customer service she did receive wasnt good. However, when she called DunRite, the response was, When can we come out to see you? Krushak had specific requirements. Living in the Rio Verde area, she wanted the doors but did not want to lose any of her view. She wanted bifold doors with a screen that allowed her to let the cross breeze in. A view inside DunRite Windows & Doors in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2024. The plans were made but supply chain issues meant a delay in getting the materials. But she was never left out of the loop as Sucato himself either called or emailed her weekly, even to tell her that there was no movement or progress yet. He checked in with me to let me know they didnt forget about me. Thats pretty amazing in this day and age, Krushak said. At one point, Sucato decided to get things moving. He did research on what would work for Krushaks specifications and sent her drawings of different doors. The option she chose happened to be doors Sucato had in his warehouse left from a previous unfulfilled order. They are customer service personified, Krushak said. Born and raised in Phoenix, Sucato is a second-generation Phoenician. His family has always owned many construction sites throughout the Valley and a career in masonry was assumed to be his iron-clad destiny. He started working on sites while in high school. Sometimes planned. Sometimes as a consequence. If he stayed out too late one night, Sucato had to work with his dad the next day. And the day started early. It builds character and work ethic, that is for sure, he said. He went into the family business but discovered his own calling. A view inside DunRite Windows & Doors in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2024. DunRite is part of a North American doors and windows market that is expected to reach $84.9 billion by 2028, according to market research report firm Arizton Advisory and Intelligence. Over the years, DunRites biggest job was installing 50 windows on a single house. Sucato also oversaw a 32-foot long by 11 -foot high door, the largest item DunRite has installed. Some customers come to Sucato with a glossy photo in an architecture magazine and want him to duplicate that in their home. Whatever their wish, Sucato relishes fulfilling that command. "What makes me happy is being around the customers, getting the job complete and seeing them happy," Sucato said. "That's what I really enjoy about everything we do." What: DunRite Windows & Doors Where: 4626 E. Thunderbird Road, Ste. 105, Phoenix Employees: 20 Interesting stat: The North American doors and windows market is expected to reach $84.9 billion by 2028, according to market research report firm Arizton Advisory and Intelligence. Details: 602-362-9514, azwindowreplacement.com This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: He was born into stucco but started DunRite Windows & Doors instead Lejilex, a digital asset company, along with the Crypto Freedom Alliance of Texas (CFAT), has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Texas court, challenging the SECs authority to regulate digital assets. The suit, filed on Feb. 21, contends that the SEC has overstepped its jurisdiction by treating nearly all digital asset transactions as investment contracts under federal securities laws. The lawsuit argues that the SEC has not been granted explicit authority by Congress to regulate digital assets and that the agencys enforcement actions have been based on an overly broad interpretation of its powers. Lejilex, which plans to launch a new digital asset trading platform called Legit.Exchange, fears potential SEC enforcement actions based on the regulators recent stance. CFAT, advocating for responsible crypto policy development in Texas, claims the SECs current approach hinders other authorities from properly regulating digital assets. The complaint, spanning 57 pages, criticizes the SEC for not proposing any regulations for public comment that would clarify its regulatory domain over digital assets. The plaintiffs are seeking a court ruling to confirm that secondary-market sales of digital assets facilitated by Legit.Exchange does not constitute securities sales. They also want the court to declare that Legit.Exchange will not operate as an unregistered securities exchange, broker, or clearing agency. Shares of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) have been declining for multiple months now. And over the past year, the stock is now down around 6%. This has been a fairly safe stock to own amid inflation, because the soft drink and snack company has been able to pass along rising costs to consumers. However, there is now some cause for concern given more challenging conditions that could be on the horizon for the business. Let's see what might be best for investors to do now. PepsiCo's sales were down last quarter PepsiCo isn't normally a fast-growing stock. But over the past few years, it has generally had no problem generating year-over-year growth. In its most recent quarterly results, however, that changed. For the last three months of 2023, PepsiCo's net revenue declined by 0.5% to $27.9 billion. The company's expansion rate hasn't been in this bad shape since the early stages of the pandemic. PEP Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) Chart PEP Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts Demand for PepsiCo's products slumped in all segments Consumers have typically continued to buy PepsiCo's products even as the company has increased prices. After all, at just a few dollars, they still aren't terribly expensive items to buy. But over time, those price hikes add up, and consumers do eventually reach a breaking point. What was perhaps more concerning about PepsiCo's recent earnings report was that volumes were down across the board. In each one of the company's segments, demand had declined versus the same period last year. Organic volume fell 4% overall, which offset the effects of price increases. Exacerbating those problems was a recall related to the company's Quaker brand granola bars and cereals due to possible salmonella contamination. Could things get worse? Another possible problem for investors to worry about is retailers fighting back against the price hikes. Carrefour, a major French multinational retailer, recently stopped carrying PepsiCo's products, saying that its price hikes have become excessive. While it may be a negotiating tactic with PepsiCo, it could have an impact on its pricing strategy and possible demand for its products. Story continues France accounts for a fairly modest 1% of PepsiCo's top line, but given the overall picture of volumes declining in multiple markets, it could be a sign of greater pushback from not just consumers, but retailers as well. For PepsiCo, which normally doesn't generate much significant revenue growth, even small headwinds could collectively make a noticeable impact on the company's top and bottom lines. For now, it's too early to tell if the spat with Carrefour will prove to be material or not, but it could nonetheless lead to a tough path ahead for PepsiCo as it goes up against some stronger numbers from last year. Is PepsiCo's stock too expensive? Currently, PepsiCo's stock trades at 25 times trailing earnings. That is a bit high for a company that may only generate single-digit growth, but it's in line with PepsiCo's five-year average. PEP PE Ratio Chart The consensus analyst price target is almost $188, implying upside of around 13% for the food stock. Investors have been paying a bit of a premium for the shares in recent years given strong consumer spending, but if PepsiCo's growth rate struggles to stay in positive territory, even maintaining this valuation could prove to be a challenge. Is PepsiCo stock a buy? PepsiCo has some strong brands in its portfolio and it could be a good long-term investment, especially when you consider it pays a dividend that yields 3%. But it is a bit pricey, and there are arguably better stocks to choose from that have more modest valuations. While PepsiCo isn't a bad buy, investors may want to consider other options. Should you invest $1,000 in PepsiCo right now? Before you buy stock in PepsiCo, 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 PepsiCo 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 20, 2024 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is This a Sign PepsiCo's Stock May Have Peaked? was originally published by The Motley Fool By Shivansh Tiwary (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines has reached a tentative five-year agreement with a local unit of the Transport Workers Union that represents nearly 18,000 operations, provisioning, ramp and cargo agents, the company said on Thursday. The agreement, which is subject to a ratification by the members of TWU 555, includes average pay increase of more than 18% on the date of ratification and a 3% annual wage increase beyond that. In the past two years, unions representing pilots, flight attendants and maintenance workers have sought higher wages, better scheduling and other benefits against the backdrop of a tight U.S. labor market. The agreement constitutes a wage rate of $38 per hour at the top of the wage scale, which is 6.6% above United Airlines' current industry leading rate, TWU said. The deal also allows workers to reach the top of the pay scale after 10 years of service from 11 years currently. "This tentative agreement provides much needed raises and quality-of-life benefits for our hardworking members at airports across the country," TWU International Executive Vice-President Alex Garcia said in a statement. Southwest, which is in talks with its cabin crew members, has ratified contracts with nine worker groups since October 2022. The cabin crew members approved a strike mandate in January after rejecting a tentative contract. Last month, Southwest pilots approved a labor contract, which will offer about a 50% raise over a five-year period. Bumper pilot contracts have driven up operating costs across major airlines and have also encouraged other groups to demand similar gains. (Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Sriraj Kalluvila) The Star Tribune has hired Mary Mayer, who built a subscription system for the national news site Daily Beast, as its senior vice president of consumer growth. Before five years at the The Daily Beast, where she also managed product growth, Mayer worked on digital marketing for the mattress technology company Eight Sleep and meal delivery service Blue Apron. "Mary brings with her significant expertise in growing audiences in subscription-based businesses," said Star Tribune CEO Steve Grove in a news release. "We're thrilled to welcome her to the Star Tribune as we continue to grow our subscriber base and create a sustainable growth model for local news." Mayer spent the last decade on the East Coast but is from Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and also attended the University of Iowa. "Local journalism has never mattered more, and I'm so excited to be part of growing it in my home state," Mayer said. Mayer is the latest in a string of hires for senior positions at the Star Tribune. In November, the company announced Stephanie Ness, who came from Target Corp., as chief financial officer and Chris Iles, who previously worked for the Minnesota Twins, as vice president for brand and communications. Media industry veteran Aron Pilhofer started in January as chief product officer. Storied Collection member estates work together to drive better guest experiences and drive additional bookings. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2024 / Storied Collection, the esteemed consortium of privately hired estates in the UK and Ireland, today announced the launch of an innovative Lead Sharing Program, aimed at fostering collaboration and mutual growth among its members. This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionize the way historic estates such as Dunskey Estate in Scotland and Gilmerton House in Athelstaneford, Scotland, operate within the luxury rental market. Storied Collection Members Retreat The program, embodying the mantra "strength in numbers," encourages member estates to share leads and referrals, thus maximizing occupancy rates and revenue potential. This collaborative approach not only benefits individual properties but also strengthens the collective brand of Storied Collection. Dunskey Estate, a 25-bedroom Edwardian estate in Portpatrick, and Gilmerton House, a luxurious Georgian manor near Edinburgh, both inaugural Storied Collection members, are at the forefront of this initiative. These estates serve as exemplary models of how collaboration can enhance the visibility and appeal of historic properties, offering unique experiences to guests seeking luxury, history, and exclusivity. Anne Tristine Nguyen, owner of Dunskey Estate, says, "There are only so many high-quality estates across the UK and Ireland. Because we can all only take one booking at a time, it makes sense to introduce our fellow Storied Collection members, when appropriate for the client, to ensure they have a great experience. This provides not only immense value for the estates in Storied Collection, but also the travelers that are seeking out these truly unique stays." "The Storied Collection's Lead Sharing Program weaves a new thread of collaboration, uniting historic estates like Gilmerton House and others in the collection in a shared vision of excellence. By joining forces, we not only enrich our individual legacies but also elevate the collective essence of the group, ensuring that every guest encounter is world-class - offering history, luxury, and unparalleled hospitality," states Graham Booth, Gilmerton House. Story continues Justin Hauge, CEO of Storied Collection, adds, "The Lead Sharing Program is expected to create a more cohesive and supportive network among the Storied Collection members, fostering a community spirit that benefits all involved. It's a step forward in ensuring the preservation and success of these treasured properties, each with its own unique story and heritage." About Storied Collection Storied Collection is a prestigious brand offering exclusive access to some of the most historic and luxurious privately hired estates in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Each estate in the collection is carefully selected for its historical significance, unique character, and the exceptional experience it offers. Contact Information: Justin Hauge CEO hauge@storiedcollection.com 847-980-6764 SOURCE: Storied Collection . View the original press release on newswire.com. Suncor Energy (SU) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.93 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.79 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.33 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 17.72%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this energy company would post earnings of $0.88 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.13, delivering a surprise of 28.41%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Suncor Energy , which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - Canadian industry, posted revenues of $10.39 billion for the quarter ended December 2023, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.70%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $10.21 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Suncor Energy shares have added about 1.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 4.3%. What's Next for Suncor Energy? While Suncor Energy has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Suncor Energy: unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.97 on $8.34 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.58 on $33.48 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Oil and Gas - Integrated - Canadian is currently in the bottom 12% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the broader Zacks Oils-Energy sector, Smart Sand (SND), has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.07 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -216.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Smart Sand's revenues are expected to be $57.7 million, down 21.9% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Smart Sand (SND) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Bloomberg) -- The Metra express train from Chicagos southern suburbs into downtown's Loop Thursday morning was a very odd scene. People were reading books or just staring out the window few were actually getting work done. Most Read from Bloomberg For a minute I thought it was the apocalypse, said Emma Smits, a public relations account executive who generally spends the hour-long train commute prepping for client calls, pitching reporters and catching up on overnight tasks. Every so often, her fellow commuters turned their phones off and on to try and catch a cellular signal in a futile attempt to send some emails or get work done. But one never came, thanks to a nationwide service outage on AT&T Inc. that disrupted millions. I couldnt cross anything off my work to-do list, Smits, an AT&T customer, said. Only that one person who brought a book was satisfied. Missed meetings, frustrated clients, staffers left in the dark the outage sent American workers into a tailspin Thursday. Chris Gormley, chief executive officer of a health-care startup, missed an important fundraising call. Nikita Walia, owner of a brand strategy agency in Brooklyn, was panicked about not being able to reach clients or access accounts requiring two-step authentication. Jonathan Huntress, a construction manager in Texas, couldnt reach his crews or find files in his Dropbox account. Ria Michelle couldnt get picked up for work in Miami Beach this morning as her ride couldnt access GPS. Meanwhile, return-to-office holdouts worked blissfully uninterrupted using at-home Wi-Fi. Remote work proponents argue that the vagaries of the daily commute are what often keep people working from home for extended periods. Working remotely saves people in the US 55 minutes a day on average, according to research led by Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom. Many daily commuters make up for the lost time by getting work done on their phones. On Thursday that wasnt entirely possible for AT&T customers. Story continues My phone is the most important tool for my business, said Mick McKeown, who runs a government contracting firm in Washington. I couldn't connect via phone with my clients and staff. Workarounds to the problem abounded, sending some back to simpler times. Vanessa Stowe had to screenshot directions to a morning meeting like its 2009 Mapquest. Sarah Kittel, a communications strategist, had to connect to a nearby restaurants Wi-Fi to pay for parking. So much of our work and lives depend, sadly or otherwise, on our ability to be reached or reach others at a touch of a button, Kittel said. That simply didn't happen this morning. Cate Luzio, traveling from New York to Washington for a big client event, was more blunt: It was a mess. It wasnt immediately clear how many wireless customers were affected by the outage. AT&T is the third-largest US retail wireless carrier with about 87 million subscribers. Problems spanned New York, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and Dallas. Customer service representatives for the company said on X that they had confirmed an active nationwide outage. AT&T said that three-quarters of the mobile network has been restored, but some are still without access. The cause of the hours-long disruption is not yet clear. Its impossible to say how much productivity was lost so far, but certainly some. I definitely feel like Im a step behind today, Smits said. --With assistance from Charlotte Hampton and Ella Ceron. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- AT&T Inc. said a widespread outage that took hours to resolve Thursday was caused by an incorrect process while expanding the wireless network. Most Read from Bloomberg The software issue interrupted wireless service for hundreds of thousands of subscribers and prompted the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security to investigate the outage. Based on our initial review, we believe that todays outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack, an AT&T spokesman said in a statement. We are continuing our assessment of todays outage to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve. AT&T said all wireless service was restored Thursday afternoon, capping a day of frustration that began in the early hours of the morning New York time. AT&T customers filed more than 1.5 million outage reports on service-tracking website Downdetector. The federal government began investigating whether the network failure was caused by a cyberattack, according to two US officials familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information. The Federal Communications Commission also has been in touch with AT&T to try and ascertain the cause, White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters earlier. DHS and the FBI are looking into this as well, working with the tech industry, these network providers, to see what we can do from a federal perspective to enhance their investigative efforts to figure out what happened here, Kirby said. Read More: AT&T Outage Turns Start of US Workday Into the Apocalypse Early Thursday, mobile-phone customers from multiple carriers started reporting problems, but it soon became clear that AT&Ts network was the culprit. Outages were reported from cities including New York, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and Dallas. The service disruption upended communications with emergency responders, and officials took to social media urging AT&T customers to use landlines to call 911 for emergencies. Story continues With about 87 million subscribers, AT&T is the third-largest US retail wireless carrier, behind Verizon Communications Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc., according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Verizon and T-Mobile both said their services were working normally. AT&T shares fell 2.4%. The impact was felt far and wide. Emma Smits, an AT&T customer, was on the Metra express train into Chicago. Normally, the public relations account executive spends the hourlong commute prepping for client calls, pitching reporters and catching up on overnight tasks. Not on Thursday. I couldnt cross anything off my work to-do list, said Smits, who watched her fellow commuters turn their phones off and on to try and catch a cellular signal in a futile attempt to send emails or get work done. Workarounds abounded, sending some back to simpler times. Vanessa Stowe had to screenshot directions to a morning meeting like its 2009 MapQuest. Sarah Kittel, a communications strategist, had to connect to a nearby restaurants Wi-Fi to pay for parking. So much of our work and lives depend, sadly or otherwise, on our ability to be reached or reach others at a touch of a button, Kittel said. That simply didnt happen this morning. Cate Luzio, traveling from New York to Washington for a big client event, was more blunt: It was a mess. Among those impacted were employees of the FBI. In an email to all staff reviewed by Bloomberg, the agencys Information & Technology Branch said a nationwide cell service outage is preventing some Google Pixel devices from connecting to cellular coverage. Some users have been able to reconnect to the network by rebooting their Pixel (press and hold the Power button, then press Restart). The public safety network FirstNet was the only government entity impacted, and service there has been restored, said Kirby, the White House spokesman. FirstNet provides communications services to about 27,500 public safety agencies in a partnership with AT&T. Ken Corey, a former Chief of Department for the New York City police, said the outage at FirstNet has impacted 911 response and public-safety communications across the country. Corey, who spoke via email, leads a group that opposes letting FirstNet manage additional airwaves. Its not the first time AT&T has suffered a widespread outage. In 2008, the company dealt with an extensive wireless internet failure in the US Northeast. In that incident, a glitch in the way the companys network was routing traffic was identified as the culprit and the service failure was relatively short-lived. In 2020, AT&T internet and phone service was knocked out in Nashville by an explosion in the citys downtown area. T-Mobile also has been hit with widespread outages, including one last February and another in 2020 that prompted the FCC to launch a probe. In my experience, this type of outage can negatively impact financial results in the quarter in which it occurs and cause short-term lost goodwill with customers, David Heger, an analyst at Edward D. Jones & Co., said in an email. However, it does not have a longer term impact on the business. --With assistance from Brendan Walsh, Antonia Mufarech, Jamie Tarabay, Matthew Boyle, Akayla Gardner, Brendan Case and Miranda Davis. (Updates with comments from AT&T beginning in the first paragraph. A previous version of this story corrected the spelling of AT&T in seventh paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. By Sam Nussey, Fanny Potkin and Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's efforts to rebuild its semiconductor industry are getting a shot in the arm as more and more Taiwanese chip companies expand here - not only to support a new TSMC plant but also excited about the Japanese sector's prospects. The influx comes amid shifting alliances and priorities in the global chip industry as the United States pushes to limit China's progress in cutting-edge semiconductors and strengthen partnerships between its allies. Fabless chipmaker Alchip Technologies, which specialises in customised chips known as application-specific integrated chips (ASICs), is illustrative of the China decoupling trend. In 2022, the bulk of its research and development engineers were based in China but Alchip has begun moving roles overseas, many to Japan, said a source who was briefed on the matter. The company said it is hiring in Japan, North America and Taiwan but declined to comment further on personnel matters. "We're expecting Japan semiconductor market growth, we're continuously capitalising on Japan ASIC opportunities and already engaging in several good projects," said Hiroyuki Furuzono, general manager of Alchip Japan. At least nine Taiwanese chip firms have set up shop or expanded operations in Japan over the past two years, according to a Reuters count. Chip design company eMemory Technology, for example, opened an office two years ago in Yokohama, which neighbours Tokyo, and has 11 employees after hiring from Japan conglomerates which once dominated the industry. "After we built the office there we are receiving more frequent communication with the customers and they are more willing to talk in Japanese with our local people, so we see business is booming," eMemory President Michael Ho told Reuters. More Taiwanese chip sector firms are also looking at increasing their presence or making their first foray into Japan, said the source and another person with knowledge of the matter, adding that a weak yen has made such decisions easier. Story continues The sources declined to be identified as the information was not public. PROACTIVE SUPPORT While Japan still boasts leading semiconductor material and equipment makers, it has seen its share of the global chip manufacturing market shrink to 10% from around 50% in the 1980s after trade tensions with the U.S. and competition from South Korean and Taiwanese rivals. But in recent years Japan has thrown huge sums to rebuild its chip manufacturing sector, recognising that semiconductors are vital for economic security and spurred on by the global chip shortage during the pandemic as well as encouragement from Washington. This Saturday, TSMC, formally known as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, will hold the opening ceremony for its first plant on the southern island of Kyushu, a chipmaking hub. The on-track plan contrasts with the troubled construction of TSMC's Arizona factory. It has also just announced plans for a second fab in Japan, bringing total investment in the venture to more than $20 billion. The chipmaking giant, Reuters has reported, sees Japan as a natural fit in terms of an industrious work culture and a government that is easy to deal with and generous with subsidies. "The core strength of a strong semiconductor country lies not just in leading firms but in a robust ecosystem," said Nori Chiou, investment director at White Oak Capital. "Japan's proactive government support, marked by substantial subsidies and minimal political interference, sets it apart, fostering superior progress compared to many other countries." In addition to TSMC, the Japanese government-backed chip foundry venture Rapidus plans to mass produce chips on the northern island of Hokkaido from 2027. Taiwan's Powerchip is also seeking government subsidies to set up a $5.4 billion foundry in Japan. Taiwanese firms boosting their presence in Japan include TSMC-backed Global Unichip Corp (GUC), another fabless designer of ASICs, which said it is attracted by both the engineering talent and business opportunities. Additionally, Materials Analysis Technology (MA-tek), which inspects semiconductor materials and cites TSMC as its biggest client, opened a new lab in Kyushu late last year. Semiconductor equipment and maintenance firm Finesse Technology, another key TSMC contractor, is building a factory in Japan. TSMC supplier Marketech is also expanding in Japan, the sources said. Marketech declined to comment. "The trend will continue for the foreseeable future as part of decoupling," said Takamoto Suzuki, head of China economic research for trading house Marubeni. He warned, however, that Japan may not have sufficient young science industry workers to meet demand. The number of workers in Japan's chip-related businesses has declined by around a fifth over the last roughly two decades, although the government and universities have ramped up efforts to encourage students into the field. (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka in Tokyo and Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) 'Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul': Economists propose axing 401(k), IRA tax benefits to help fund Social Security but some retirement experts are lashing back A new brief from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College makes the case for scrapping tax benefits on retirement plans like 401(k)s and IRAs, potentially adding billions of dollars in U.S. tax revenue each year. Economists Alicia Munnell and Andrew Biggs argue how subsidies for these retirement plans, which they say fail to significantly boost national saving, could be diverted to fund Social Security instead which is set to run short of cash by 2033. Don't miss It makes little sense to throw more and more taxpayer money at employer plans and IRAs, the duo wrote in the brief. In fact, the case is strong for eliminating the current tax expenditures on retirement plans and using the increase in tax revenue to address Social Securitys long-term financing shortfall. The price of deferred taxes Americans saving up for their golden years get to defer taxes on contributions to retirement plans, like 401(k)s and IRAs, which they only pay on withdrawals in retirement. But deferring their taxes not only squeezes the future savings they get to enjoy in retirement, it also leaves potential tax revenue on the table. The brief points to Treasury estimates that the tax preference for employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs reduced federal income taxes by about $185 billion in 2020 equivalent to about 0.9% of gross domestic product. Whats more, the tax expenditures for retirement savings plans are actually more likely to benefit higher earners. The Tax Policy Center estimates nearly 60% of those benefits went to taxpayers earning at least $167,000 annually, while more than 38% went to those making $245,000 or more in 2020. Story continues Why? Higher earners are more likely to have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, are more likely to participate in them and contribute more when they do participate, the brief states. Read more: Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds The researchers also calculated, based on Federal Reserve data, that between 1989 and 2022, the share of workers aged 25 to 64 who participate in employer-sponsored retirement plans rose by a meager two percentage points, from 51% to 53%. Meanwhile, Social Security benefits are a major source of income for low-income seniors, many of whom rely on these checks to cover the cost of essentials. Additional financing would allow the program to continue paying beneficiaries in full for an extended period of time. Some retirement experts oppose nixing tax incentives Not everyone is convinced by Munnell and Biggss proposal to reduce or eliminate tax preferences for retirement plans. Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul, Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association, told the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). Its absurd to take away the incentives from a system thats actually working to give money to a system that has fundamental challenges. Some experts challenge whether retirees indeed face major financial headwinds with Social Security checks in the future. However, The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that without their benefits, a stunning 38.7% of older adults would have incomes below the poverty line. In fact, even with a 3.2% cost-of-living bump to Social Security benefits in 2024, a survey from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) found over half of respondents worry their retirement income wont cover the cost of essentials. The Social Security benefits are modest, only replacing about 30% of one's earnings during working years, Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at TSCL, told Moneywise in an email. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Tampa media consultant Tim Burke was charged Thursday with 14 federal crimes related to alleged computer hacks at Fox News. Federal law enforcement officials arrested Burke, 45, on Thursday morning. He appeared in handcuffs in a Tampa federal courtroom Thursday afternoon, wearing a brown sweater, white collared shirt and dark jeans, and was released on his own recognizance shortly thereafter. The indictment charges Burke with one count of conspiracy; six counts of accessing a protected computer without authorization; and seven counts of intercepting or disclosing wire, oral or electronic communications. Burke runs Burke Communications, a media and political consulting company. He produces a wide range of video content, including for high-profile media clients like HBO and ESPN. He previously worked for the online news outlets Deadspin and the Daily Beast. According to the indictment, Burke and an unnamed person used compromised credentials to access and save protected commercial broadcast video streams, then disseminate specific clips after taking steps to mask where they came from and how they were obtained. Burke is married to Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak, who was present when Burke was led into the courtroom. In a statement provided by an aide, Hurtak defended Burke, who also managed her 2023 campaign for office. I am confident in my husbands innocence, and I support him completely, Hurtak stated. I will not be making additional statements regarding this matter. FBI agents last May searched the Seminole Heights home where Burke and Hurtak live. The agents took electronic devices and computers he used for his media business. A letter from a Tampa federal prosecutor to Fox News, obtained in May by the Tampa Bay Times, described an ongoing criminal probe into alleged computer hacks at the company. The letter did not mention Burke, but the Times confirmed with two people close to the investigation that it related to the search on his home. The letter said the hacked material related to footage of an antisemitic rant from Kanye West and behind-the-scenes footage of Tucker Carlson on his now-canceled show, which was later published in online news outlets. Story continues Fox, Carlson and West are not named in the indictment. But the charges say Burke accessed a video stream of an interview featuring a show host for a multinational media company based in New York City on Oct. 6, 2022 the same day Carlsons interview with West aired on Fox News. Other streams mentioned in the indictment include footage of a host for the same network discussing the potential threat to his house posed by Hurricane Ian. Burke reported in September 2022 that Carlson owns a house on Gasparilla Island in Southwest Florida. The indictment also accuses Burke of accessing a file transfer protocol server for one of the major sports leagues in North America. In a direct Twitter message included in the indictment, Burkes alleged co-conspirator described the server as the main location for all of their footage they post to social, send to partners, etc. In a statement, Burkes lawyers, Michael Maddux and Mark Rasch, defended their clients intrepid and perfectly legal reporting on Wests reprehensible remarks, and compared his use of login credentials to the same way users share their Netflix passwords without having been authorized by Netflix. While we, like anyone else, condemn computer hacking, we emphatically insist that the facts of this case will demonstrate that there was, in fact, no hacking whatsoever, Maddux and Rasch stated. This case will have a significant impact on how people in general access and use the Internet, how they use shared passwords to access websites, and how online journalism is conducted. Rasch said in a July letter to federal prosecutors that Burke obtained the videos by following a hyperlink to the live video feeds. Rasch said those feeds didnt require a username or password and were not encrypted, and no special digital tools were used to access the material. Once content is made public on the internet, it doesnt require special legal permissions to access, Rasch said. The lawyers argued that Burke didnt violate any laws because finding and helping publish the videos is digital journalism and protected by the U.S. Constitution. Its not hacking, its just good investigative journalism, Maddux told the Times before entering the courthouse Thursday afternoon. We obviously emphatically deny these charges and were looking forward to the opportunity to defend him and exonerate him. Prosecutor Jay Trezevant asked for Burke to be held on a $30,000 bond, and for conditions that would limit his access to computers and websites that require logins not directly issued to him. Maddux argued that limiting Burkes internet access and flagging certain behaviors as unauthorized would curtail his First Amendment rights and ability to do his job. What they view as unauthorized, and what we view as unauthorized, I think is incredibly debatable, and is going to be a question for a jury, Maddux said. U.S. Magistrate Amanda Arnold Sansone said limiting Burkes internet access would be difficult to police, and decided Burke should be released on his own recognizance, provided he have no contact with his alleged co-conspirator. She said she does not believe hes a flight risk. In July, Maddux and Rasch demanded the return of Burkes devices, including two iPhones, two hard drives and 16 computers, and said that the seizure of his equipment violated the law. Trezevant wrote in a July court paper that returning the items would compromise an ongoing investigation. But he said Thursday that the government would file a motion to unseal part of the affidavit that federal officials used to obtain the warrant to search Burkes property. The Freedom of the Press Foundation said in a statement Thursday that the indictment threatens journalists ability to gather information online by implying that they have a previously unrecognized duty to ask for express permission to use information they find posted on the internet. In January, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said Burkes case has a chilling effect on journalism. Things that are publicly addressed on the internet are part of what investigative journalists use every day to obtain their stories, Maddux said. And if every digital journalist has to go ask permission when they find something available on the internet that doesnt have any type of multi-factor authentication or other things, its not hacking. Its just good, investigative hard work. Times staff writer Christopher Spata contributed to this story. KAMPALA, Uganda, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a leading global cross-border payments network company, and Diamond Trust Bank Uganda (DTBU), a prominent member of the Diamond Trust Bank Group, today, announced a strategic partnership to expand international money transfers and strengthen financial inclusion in Uganda. Together, both firms will deliver unparalleled benefits to customers worldwide. The key attributes of this partnership include the ability to facilitate direct account deposits from any part of the world and leverage DTB's renowned brand name to optimize advantages for customers across the globe. TerraPay_Logo This partnership is poised to significantly narrow the financial inclusion gap, streamlining the processes of money transfer, savings, and credit accessibility for individuals. By forging this collaboration with TerraPay, Diamond Trust Bank Uganda will witness an expansion in its customer base for international money transfers, consequently bolstering direct international investments within the nation. Notably, this initiative will greatly benefit customers and expatriates residing in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Kenya, Germany, Qatar, Canada, and Europe, granting them the capability to execute real-time money transfers to their loved ones in Uganda, a pivotal hub within this partnership. Simultaneously, TerraPay will extend its global outreach through this association with DTBU, simplifying digital cross-border money movement for both individual consumers and businesses alike. As a result, individuals will enjoy swifter and more seamless person-to-person remittances, while businesses can anticipate streamlined payouts spanning an extensive network of 140 recipient countries. This strategic partnership is set to fuel the anticipated growth in digital transactions within Uganda, a market projected to surge to a staggering USD 1.3 billion by 2027. Talking about the partnership, Willie Kanyeki, TerraPay's Vice President, East and South Africa, said, "We are excited to partner with Diamond Trust Bank Uganda to expand our reach in East Africa and make it easier for people to send and receive money across borders. This partnership will help us achieve our goal of providing everyone with access to affordable, reliable financial services. Diamond Trust Bank Uganda is a well-respected bank with a strong track record of providing excellent customer service. We are confident that this partnership will be a success and will help promote financial inclusion in the region, by simplifying global money movement for both individuals and businesses, making it easier than ever to connect with loved ones and also, empower global commerce." Story continues Commenting on the collaboration, Varghese Thambi, Managing Director, Diamond Trust Bank Uganda said, "We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible banking experience. This partnership with TerraPay will allow us to offer our customers faster, more convenient, and more secure money transfers, with lower fees. We are confident that this partnership will be a win-win for both, our organizations and the people of Uganda. TerraPay's agile technology will allow us to reach a wider network of customers, making it easier for them to send and receive money across borders. We are certain that this partnership will have a positive impact on the lives of many people in Uganda." About TerraPay TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 30 global markets and enabling payments to 140 receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore, Bangalore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. For more information visit: terrapay.com About DTB Diamond Trust Bank Uganda (DTBU) is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development with offices in Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda. DTBU has 37 branches, 54 ATMs and over 800 Agents across the country. Founded in 1946, DTBU is regulated by the Bank of Uganda and offers an array of banking services to the population. DTB is an equal opportunities employer with over 57% female staff. DTB is a multiple award winner for service excellence in the Uganda's service industry. DTB is a leader in the money transfer services space with over 200 Money transfer outlets in Uganda. For more information please email: Marketing@dtbuganda.co.ug Contact Juveria Samrin juveria.n@terrapay.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terrapay-joins-forces-with-diamond-trust-bank-uganda-to-simplify-global-money-transfers-in-uganda-302067492.html SOURCE TerraPay (Bloomberg) -- Italian-Thai Development Pcl is considering selling its 90% stake in Asia Pacific Potash Corp., which has mining rights in Thailand, and is seeking about $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The Bangkok-based construction company is working with an adviser and talking with potential buyers, including from China, one of the people said. Talks with potential interested parties are ongoing and may not lead to a deal, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Asia Pacific Potash referred queries from Bloomberg News to ITD, which didnt respond to a request for comment. ITD, one of Thailands biggest construction firms, acquired Asia Pacific Potash in 2006. The company has exploration and development rights to high-grade potash deposits in the northeastern Thai province Udon Thani. Asia Pacific Potash applied to the government for rights to the 10,500-acre site in 2003, but it took until 2022 for it to receive official approval to operate the project for 21 years, according to the companys website. It has annual capacity of 2 million tons of potash, the company said. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin inspected the main mine on Feb. 19, according to a government statement. He asked about the source of funds for the project and also met citizens opposed to the potash mine, it said. ITDs market value has shrunk since reaching around $3 billion in the 1990s, falling to $100 million now. The company, which was founded in 1954, reported a net loss of 44.7 million baht ($1.2 million) in the third quarter of 2023 and a 4.76 billion baht loss for full-year 2022. Story continues The companys president and biggest shareholder, Premchai Karnasuta, was released from prison on parole last year after being sentenced for wildlife poaching, including, according to the Bangkok Post, a rare black panther. Krungthep Turakij newspaper reported in January that ITD planned to delay payment of 2 billion baht in bonds due the following month. Bondholders later agreed to approve extending redemption dates for two years. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A rising economic situation, a moderation in the rate of inflation, and the prospect of lower interest rates later this year all of these have a positive effect on the bedrock support of the US economy, the average consumer. They have felt a pinch recently from high inflation and high interest rates, but wages and job creation remain strong and the positive mid-term outlook bodes well for consumer discretionary spending. Airline carriers are likely to see gains in such a scenario. The airline industry has faced some idiosyncratic headwinds lately, in the form of airliners being grounded (think Boeings 737 MAX series, or Airbuss A320/A321neo planes), but is rethinking its capacity for 2024 and finding that a moderate outlook may still support profitable operations. A note from Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Linenberg, focused on the airline industrys US domestic outlook, lays out the case clearly. Linenberg says, We believe more moderate domestic ASM (available seat mile) growth for 2024 will have positive implications for domestic unit revenue performance, and by extension, should translate into solid top-line performance for the domestic-focused names. Getting to specifics, Linenberg is willing to tell investors that its time to hit buy, and he points out two airline stocks that investors should keep in mind for solid upside potentials. Lets take a closer look. Southwest Airlines (LUV) Well start with Southwest Airlines, the leading low-cost carrier in the US domestic air travel market. Along with its reputation for low ticket prices, Southwest has maintained a wide network of routes, across the US and into several nearby international regions. The company operates a fleet of 817 aircraft, and these are exclusively Boeing 737 models but not the MAX versions that have recently been grounded. From an investors standpoint, Southwest has always been a return-oriented company. The airline has a long-standing policy of sending capital back to shareholders, through both regular dividends and share buybacks. The aggregate capital return since 2010 has totaled over $13.3 billion. The company suspended dividend payments during the COVID pandemic, but restarted the payments last year and in 2023, paid out a total of $428 million in dividends. The current common share dividend payment, of 18 cents, annualizes to 72 cents per share and gives a modest forward yield of 2.08%. Story continues Southwest finished its last quarter 4Q23 with a set of solid results. The companys top line came to $6.8 billion, a company quarterly record and a figure that was up more than 10% year-over-year and beat the forecast by $80 million. The companys bottom line non-GAAP EPS was reported at 37 cents per share, 24 cents better than had been anticipated. In another metric, showing the companys strength going forward, Southwest reported total liquidity at the end of Q4 of $12.5 billion balanced against a total debt of $8 billion, giving the company a stable base to work from. Turning to the Deutsche Bank view, we find analyst Linenberg basing his upbeat view of Southwest on several factors, including the companys large market share in the low-fare category, and its lack of exposure to the recent safety-related aircraft groundings. Linenberg says of the stock, Our confidence stems from the fact that Southwest is the largest low-fare carrier domestically, and in a very good position to benefit from both its own network restructuring as well as that of its competitors. Furthermore, Southwest has not been impacted by any of the issues that have led to grounded aircraft among its competitors (e.g., MAX 9 and GTF powered A320.321neos). Lastly, Southwest has run a very good operation of late following numerous investments and initiatives to improve reliability. We note that our target multiple is still very much below the low end of the stocks mid-cycle historical trading range of 6x 8x forward EV/EBITDAR as investors question whether LUV deserves to trade at a premium multiple (our target multiple is low enough that we can refrain from that debate for the time being). Summing up, the DB analyst upgrades LUV shares from Hold to Buy, and raises the price target from $28 to $42, implying a 22% gain in the next 12 months. (To watch Linenbergs track record, click here) Overall, its clear that Wall Street is not yet ready to jump on this airline. The stock has a Hold consensus rating, based on 11 recent reviews, including 1 Buy, 9 Holds, and 1 Sell. The stock is trading for $34.54 and its $30.09 average price target suggests a one-year downside of 13%. (See Southwests stock forecast) JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) Next up, JetBlue, is another well-known name in the low-fare air carrier niche. The company, which began operating in February of 2000, now boasts over 1,000 daily flights to more than 100 destinations and employs over 22,000 people. JetBlue is consistently counted among the top ten largest US domestic carriers, by total passenger numbers, and has hubs at Boston, Fort Lauderdale, LA, NYC, Orlando, and San Juan. Where Southwest, above, flies Boeing aircraft, JetBlue works mainly with Airbus. The company operates a varied fleet of aircraft, including A321 and A321neo models, A320 and A220 planes, and Embraer E190 aircraft. As noted above, Airbus has been dealing with engine issues that have grounded many of the A320 and A321 aircraft; JetBlue has been impacted by those groundings, with at least 6 aircraft already out of operation. In another item that has impacted JetBlue, the company in 2022 entered a $3.8 billion agreement to acquire Spirit Airlines but that agreement has been blocked in US courts since late last year, on anti-trust grounds. The case is still moving through the court system. In other news, this month, JetBlue entered into an agreement with Icahn Enterprises, which is one of the airlines major shareholders, under which two of Icahns top-level officers will join JetBlues Board of Directors. Turning to the financials, the company brought in $2.3 billion in revenue for 4Q23, a total that was down 3.7% year-over-year although it beat the forecast by $40 million. The companys Q4 earnings came to a net loss, of 19 cents per share by non-GAAP measures. However, this loss was 8 cents narrower than had been expected. Deutsche Banks Linenberg sees reason for optimism here, particularly in the companys valuation and the accession of the new Board members. He writes of JetBlue, We view the change in senior management and the involvement of an activist (who recently secured two Board seats) as a positive development for the stock. Furthermore, JetBlues $2.3 billion of equity value pales in comparison with its unencumbered asset base which we estimate is approximately $11 billion. We note that our target multiple is still very much below the low end of the stocks mid-cycle historical trading range of ~6x 8x forward EV/EBITDAR as JetBlue still faces uncertainty with its appeal of the courts ruling blocking its merger with Spirit and the fact that approximately 11 aircraft, on average, will be grounded during 2024 due to GTF engine issues. Quantifying his stance on JetBlue, Linenberg gives the shares an upgrade from Hold to Buy, and raises his price target from $4 to $9, which points toward a 34% share appreciation for the coming year. Again, this is a stock that Wall Street is showing caution on. The shares have 6 recent analyst reviews, breaking down to 2 Buys, 3 Holds, and 1 Sell, for a Hold consensus rating. The stocks $6.08 average target price and $6.71 current trading price together imply a 9% downside for the next 12 months. (See JetBlues stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. After more than 200 years in Ilion, New York, Remington Arms (RemArms) is moving its operations to Georgia where the firearms industry has more support. Two hundred and eight years of history. Gone, gone. Ilion is Remington. Remington is Ilion, Ilion Mayor John Stephens told Fox Business. Scheduled for March, the transition severs a deep-rooted connection between the company and Ilion, a village about 230 miles northwest of New York City. Residents and employees are mourning the impending move, with retired Remington worker Jim Conover and technician Frank Rusty Brown voicing the emotional and economic void the departure will leave. Brown, whose family ties to Remington span generations, faces the reality of job loss as do his wife and other family members. The factorys closure will displace roughly 300 workers in a town of approximately 7,600, precipitating a $1 million revenue shortfall for Ilion and adverse impacts on local businesses. Its like the town is losing its soul," Stephens said. "Its almost like losing a family member. Thats the thing that people are struggling with, the nostalgia, the history. It feels like we are losing the identity of the town. Remingtons challenges have included financial distress, leading to bankruptcy filings in 2018 and 2020, and a $73 million settlement in 2022 related to the Sandy Hook mass shooting in Newton, Connecticut. Political figures such as Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, and GOP state Sen. Mark Walczyk criticized New Yorks stringent gun laws, arguing that the regulations contributed to Remingtons decision to relocate. The states gun industry liability law, in particular, has been a point of contention, blamed for pushing the company out of New York. RemArms CEO Ken DArcy expressed excitement over the move to Georgia, highlighting the states business-friendly climate and strong support for the firearms industry. Georgia has established itself as a gun-friendly state, with policies and a business environment that supports the defense and firearms manufacturing sectors. Over the past years, Georgia has become one of the top states for gun manufacturing, attracting companies with its skilled workforce, robust infrastructure and a significant population of hunting enthusiasts Story continues The move is part of a broader trend of gun manufacturers leaving the Northeast for Southern states, exemplified by Smith & Wesson Brand Inc.s relocation from Massachusetts to Tennessee. As Remington transitions to its new home in Georgia, the community of Ilion confronts the departure of a historical cornerstone and economic mainstay, reflecting the intricate relationship between industry decisions, regulatory environments and the fabric of local communities. Read Next: Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers. Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Jeff Bezos gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started. Miami is expected to take New York's place as the U.S. Financial Capital. Here's how you can invest in the city with as little as $500 before that happens. "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article 'It's Like The Town Is Losing Its Soul' Nation's Oldest Gun Manufacturer Is Ditching New York And Moving Operations To Georgia, A More Supportive State '208 Years Of History. Gone, Gone' originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UPS (NYSE: UPS) customers in southern Malaysia can now have deliveries to over 50 countries and territories in the Americas including the United States, Canada and Mexico completed in as little as two business days. UPS (PRNewsfoto/UPS) This is after the global logistics leader introduced an enhancement to its Worldwide Express services from the state of Johor. "The U.S. is Malaysia's third largest trading partner and by far the largest outside Asia, so it's an attractive opportunity for Malaysian businesses looking to grow internationally," said Ingrid Sidiadinoto, managing director UPS Malaysia. "Johor is home to several high growth industries, such as high tech, healthcare and manufacturing and continually attracts high levels of foreign direct investment. This enhancement allows us to connect businesses in these sectors and others with customers across the Americas faster than ever." In a separate enhancement to its services in Malaysia, UPS has also reinstated its noon delivery time for worldwide imports of time-sensitive letters and documents to certain postal codes in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. These announcements are the latest in a series of network and facility enhancements by UPS in its Asia Pacific network. In late 2023, the company announced a boost in global delivery times for a wide range of customers in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. This followed earlier investments in Japan, mainland China, Vietnam, South Korea and most recently Hong Kong where UPS will be opening a new state-of-the-art facility in 2028. According to official data, Malaysia's exports to the U.S. were worth RM161 billion ($34 billion) in 2023 with the electrical and electronic products industry accounting for over 60% of this total. There were also notable increases in trade with Mexico, Brazil and Puerto Rico, which are all now accessible to UPS customers in southern Malaysia in just two business days. Story continues For more information on delivery times within UPS's global network, refer to the UPS time and cost calculator. About UPS UPS is one of the world's largest companies and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 200 countries and territories. Focused on its purpose statement, "Moving our world forward by delivering what matters," the company's more than 500,000 employees embrace a strategy that is simply stated and powerfully executed. Customer First. People Led. Innovation Driven. More information at www.ups.com, www.about.ups.com and www.investors.ups.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ups-speeds-up-delivery-times-from-malaysia-to-over-50-countries-across-the-americas-302066937.html SOURCE UPS Upskilling. Thats what El Pasos workforce needs to increase wages and grow the economy, said Leila Melendez, chief executive officer of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, this areas public employment agency. Sixty-seven percent of our (area) workers are in the bottom half of skills and wages. Ninety thousand of them have at least a high school diploma, plus some college, but are in entry level jobs and earn less than the living wage, Melendez said. She shared the grim insight about a majority of El Paso workers on Feb. 21 at the El Paso Chambers first State of the Workforce event at the Downtown El Paso convention center. El Paso Countys living wage is $18.09 per hour for a single person, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology living wage calculator. Leila Melendez, Workforce Solutions Borderplex CEO, speaks Feb. 21 at the El Paso Chamber's first 'State of the Workforce' event at the Downtown El Paso convention center. Imagine what our economy and our community would look like if we just upskilled those 90,000 workers, she said. It would increase wages and also open more jobs at lower-skill levels as workers move into higher-skilled positions, she said. The way to do this is to get employers to focus on providing more training for current and new workers, she said. Employers often need financial help to provide training, Melendez said. Thats why officials at Workforce Solutions and the city of El Paso hope they can land a $50 million, five-year federal grant to provide training for jobs in aerospace, health care, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. The goal is to provide job training for 5,000 to 10,000 people during the five-year-grant, Melendez said after her speech. Leila Melendez, Workforce Solutions Borderplex CEO, talks to Niki DaSilva, an U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation official, at the El Paso Chamber's first 'State of the Workforce' event Feb. 21. Andrea Hutchins, El Paso Chamber CEO, is in the background, right. El Paso is one of 22 finalists for the U.S. Department of Commerces Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program. Six to eight cities are expected to be selected for the grants later this year, Melendez said. She called on area employers to sign letters of commitments with Borderplex and the city to show federal officials that we have the jobs for the workers with the approved skills and support. Story continues More: UTEP-led coalition wins second big federal grant to grow aerospace, defense manufacturing El Pasos job market has mostly recovered from the damage done by the pandemic, Melendez said after her speech. She became Workforce Solutions CEO in March 2020, just as the pandemic began. "The message is we're really back to good employment numbers," Melendez said. "But where we still have room is getting more people to be looking and interested in jobs," because some people have dropped out of the job market, she said. "And getting (more jobs) closer to a living wage." Alejandra Gonzalez, a recent UTEP grad, takes part in a 'reverse job fair' Feb. 21 at the El Paso Chamber's first 'State of the Workforce' event. She and 17 other job seekers displayed their resumes to spark interest from companies' recruiters. Alejandra Gonzalez, 23, who graduated in December with a business degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, said she's found El Paso-area "wages a little lower than I expected" in her search for a human relations job. Gonzalez has seen friends move to Arizona, Dallas, and Austin for better wages, she said. But she wants to remain in her hometown with her family, she said. Gonzalez was one of 18 El Paso job seekers who took part in a "reverse job fair" as part of Wednesday's event. The job seekers sat behind tables with their resumes prominently displayed. It was up to companies' representatives to recruit them. Melendez in her speech said she understands employers "can't pay higher wages just because. Better wages come with better skills." More job training by employers and increased wages can help reverse El Pasos brain drain, she said. "Let's keep our kids here. Let's bring them back home," Melendez said. "Let's be the city of brain gain." Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Upskilling key to raising El Paso wages, Workforce Solutions CEO says AUSTIN, Texas, February 22, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USA Compression Partners, LP (NYSE: USAC) ("USA Compression") today announced that its senior management will attend the J.P. Morgan High Yield & Leveraged Finance Conference in Miami Beach, Florida. Senior management expects to participate in a series of meetings with members of the investment community on February 26 and 27, and presentation materials used during these meetings will be posted to USA Compressions website prior to the investor meetings. Please visit the Investor Relations section of the website at usacompression.com under "Presentations." About USA Compression Partners, LP USA Compression Partners, LP is one of the nations largest independent providers of natural gas compression services in terms of total compression fleet horsepower. USA Compression partners with a broad customer base composed of producers, processors, gatherers, and transporters of natural gas and crude oil. USA Compression focuses on providing midstream natural gas compression services to infrastructure applications primarily in high-volume gathering systems, processing facilities, and transportation applications. More information is available at usacompression.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222804341/en/ Contacts USA Compression Partners, LP Investor Relations ir@usacompression.com Vencora Leading Swiss technology firm joins global collective of financial services software companies as Vencora finalizes acquisition of CREALOGIX with 99% ownership TORONTO and ZURICH, Switzerland, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VENCORA UK LIMITED (Vencora) today announced the settlement of its public tender offer (Offer) for all publicly held registered shares of CREALOGIX Holding AG (CREALOGIX) with a nominal value of CHF 8.00 each. The Offer was completed successfully on February 21, 2024. With a proven track-record of providing quality solutions to its customers and a history of successful transactions, the acquisition of CREALOGIX greatly expands Vencoras presence within the banking technology industry. CREALOGIX was founded in 1996 and was listed on the SIX Swiss Stock Exchange in 2000. Since then, it has successfully grown its customer base, and serves more than 600 customers in 15 countries around the globe. CREALOGIX is recognized as a Swiss Fintech 100 company, and its solution set includes CREALOGIX Conversational AI, CREALOGIX Funding Portal and CREALOGIX Lending Origination Hub. We are incredibly excited to have CREALOGIX become part of Vencora, said Ateet Patel, Banking Portfolio Manager at Vencora. CREALOGIX is an incredible company with an outstanding team, and we look forward to enabling them with resources and guidance to help drive even greater success. CREALOGIX becomes Vencoras sixteenth brand in its growing portfolio. Under Vencora, CREALOGIX will gain access to new best practices and have ongoing opportunities to network and learn from leaders from the entire portfolio of companies. The Vencora portfolio helps its companies and leaders become stronger together. The acquisition of CREALOGIX demonstrates Vencoras strengthening position within the banking industry and positions us for further growth in the European region, said Patel. CREALOGIX will continue to operate independently under the leadership of Oliver Weber, CEO of CREALOGIX. Vencoras decentralized business model offers its portfolio of businesses the ability to maintain their independence, which allows them to focus on the needs of customers and employees post-acquisition. Story continues We are proud to be now part of the Vencora family. We share Vencoras value-based culture with a clear focus on investing in our people through continuous learning, said Weber. CREALOGIX has a proven track record in acquiring companies with a long-term focus and a wealth of experience in acquiring software companies in the banking and financial services sector. Our specialisation in vertical markets with international distribution and our history of successful acquisitions make us a very a good fit for Vencora. Vencora is a global collective of technology companies passionate about changing the face of the financial services industry. Headquartered in Toronto Canada, Vencora acquires, strengthens and grows vertical market technology companies in the banking, insurance and financial services sector. Terms of the Offer Following the settlement, Vencora directly and indirectly holds 1,391,622 CREALOGIX shares in aggregate, representing 99.07% of the issued share capital and voting rights of CREALOGIX. Vencora intends to initiate squeeze-out proceedings and to have the shares of CREALOGIX delisted from SIX Swiss Exchange, and to have CREALOGIX apply for an exemption from certain disclosure and publicity obligations under the listing rules of SIX Exchange Regulation AG. Media Contacts: Vencora: Jonathan Denbok Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer jonathan.denbok@vencora.com Media Contacts: CREALOGIX: Manuela Wanzek Head of Group Marketing & Communication manuela.wanzek@crealogix.com About Vencora As an operating group of Constellation Software Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Vencora acquires, strengthens and grows vertical market technology companies in the banking, insurance and financial services sector. Vencora has a presence in 70 geographies with 15 collaborative brands, 1,300+ employees and 1,800+ clients across banking and insurance industries. At Vencora, we build legends and preserve legacies. Vencora provides new acquisitions with business opportunities and the resources to pursue them. We are focused on bringing together a strong family of software businesses in the area of financial services in order for them to grow and continue serving the best interests of their customers and employees. Vencora is all about strengthening businesses within the markets they compete in and enabling them to grow whether that growth comes through organic measures such as new initiatives and product development, day-to-day business, or through complementary acquisitions. For more information, visit vencora.com About CREALOGIX CREALOGIX is a global leader in digital banking technology and a Swiss Fintech 100 company. For 25 years now, CREALOGIX has partnered with some of the worlds leading banks and wealth management firms. CREALOGIX provides them with in-depth sector expertise and innovative technology. For more information, visit crealogix.com JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VinFast is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 3 Indonesian Business clients to provide 600 electric vehicles (EV) for their corporate fleets. The MOU, which was signed at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2024, where VinFast had earlier introduced a complete lineup of right-hand drive electric vehicles, opens up an avenue for the Vietnamese EV maker to tap into the strong potential of the local market, as well as promote the green transportation development in the region. Representatives of VinFast and corporate clients at the signing ceremony Under the terms of MoU, VinFast will provide 600 EVs to 3 Jakarta-based companies, PT. Energi Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi, PT. Sumber Amarta Jaya and PT. Teknologi Karya Digital Nusa Tbk. The first two EV models in A & B-SUV segments that are opened for order, and soon to be launched on the Indonesian market, will serve the companies' goal of expanding their respective corporate fleets, and cultivate the growth potential of the local green mobility industry. At the IIMS 2024, VinFast captured the interest of thousands of visitors and received hundreds of reservations from individual consumers. Following its market debut, the orders from corporate clients strongly demonstrates VinFast's credibility in the Indonesian market. Mr. Tran Quoc Huy CEO of VinFast Indonesia, shared: "VinFast is honored to be the selected supplier for our esteemed corporate clients, PT. Energi Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi, PT. Sumber Amarta Jaya and PT. Teknologi Karya Digital Nusa Tbk. This MoU reflects not only the great potential of the EV market in Indonesia, but also VinFast's competitiveness on the international market. We are committed to constantly making innovative efforts to support Indonesian customers on their journey towards sustainable mobility for a green future for everyone." Mr. Thomas Agung Utomo, CEO of PT. Energy Mandiri Bumi Pertiwi, said: "We highly valued VinFast's green vision and its contribution to electrifying the global transportation market. VinFast is also a reputed electric vehicle supplier, offering a diverse product range along with outstanding after-sales policies. These are the key drivers in our collective efforts to make electric mobility a preferred choice for everyone and steer toward a future of sustainable transportation in Indonesia and the region." Story continues VinFast's expansion into Indonesia represents a strategic enhancement of its global presence and distribution network, bolstering its position in the global EV industry. By entering one of Southeast Asia's largest EV markets, with its dynamic economic prospects and plentiful resources, VinFast is laying robust foundations for its development and expansion globally. About VinFast VinFast a member of Vingroup envisions driving the advancement of the global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90 percent automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam. Strongly committed to the mission of a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.id. VinFast (PRNewsfoto/VinFast Automotive) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vinfast-signs-mou-at-indonesia-international-motor-show-2024-to-supply-600-electric-vehicles-to-3-indonesian-business-clients-302068259.html SOURCE VinFast Rapid urbanization & industrialization and surge in residential & non-residential construction activities drive the growth of the wall cladding market PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Wall Cladding Market by Type (Fiber Cement & Concrete, Ceramics, Metal, Wood, and Others), Construction Type (New Construction and Renovation), and End User (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 ". According to the report, the global wall cladding market was valued at $102.55 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $168.12 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.1% from 2023 to 2032. Allied Market Research (PRNewsfoto/Allied Market Research) Request PDF Sample Copy @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A125745 Prime determinants of growth Asia-Pacific stands out as a primary user of wall cladding, owing to the expansion of the construction industry and increased demand of wall cladding. The surge in urban development in emerging nations, such as India, China, and Brazil, has notably propelled the wall cladding market. Furthermore, rise in demand for wall cladding within the renovation segment plays a pivotal role in fostering market growth. Growth in construction sector fosters the wall cladding market. Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2020 $102.55 million Market Size in 2032 $168.12 million CAGR 5.1 % No. of Pages in Report 220 Segments covered Type, Construction Type, End User, and Region. Drivers Rapid urbanization & industrialization. Surge in residential & non-residential construction activities. Restraint Fluctuating raw material prices. Opportunity Government investments in the building infrastructure sector. COVID-19 Scenario The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the wall cladding market, owing to the temporary closure of manufacturing firms during the lockdown. The production and sale of wall cladding was hampered due to the closure of transportation, construction, and other industries across the globe, especially in the initial period of the pandemic. Story continues Buy This Research Report ( 220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/a6fa87301e2fa23e6379093caef4553e The fiber cement and concrete segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. By type, the metal segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the wall cladding market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period and ceramics segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.2% from 2023 to 2032, owing to high demand and their associated benefits such as prolonged durability, resistance to fire, easy availability and cost effective. The renovation segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. By construction type, the renovation segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the wall cladding market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period and is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.3% from 2022 to 2032. This is attributed to increase in demand for wall cladding to renovate and give best aesthetic look for old properties. The commercial and industrial segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. By end user, the commercial and industrial segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to more than four-fifths of the wall cladding market revenue, and the residential segment is expected to portray the highest CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2032. Growth in developing countries such as China and India drive the commercial and industrial segment for wall cladding market. Such factors have positive impact on the wall cladding market. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the wall cladding market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, and Middle East and Africa is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032. This is owing to the rise in urbanization and industrialization in Africa and the Middle East. Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/A125745 Leading Market Players: - Alcoa Corporation Arconic Architectural Products LLC Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA Etex Group (Belgium) James Hardie Industries PLC (Ireland) Nichiha Corporation Rockwool Group Swisspearl Group AG Tata Steel Europe Limited Westlake Royal Building Products The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the wall cladding market. These players have adopted different strategies such as investments and acquisitions to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Trending Reports in Cladding Industry (Book Now with 15% Discount): Hygienic Cladding Market at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2023 to 2032 Roof Cladding Market at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2022 to 2031 Aluminum Cladding Panels Market a CAGR of 5.0% from 2022 to 2031 Rainscreen Cladding Market a CAGR of 6.0% from 2021 to 2030. Concrete Wall Saw Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Heavy-Duty Paper and Multiwall Shipping Sack Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast: 2021-2030 About us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact us: United States 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wall-cladding-market-to-reach-168-12-billion-globally-by-2032-at-5-1-cagr-allied-market-research-302068762.html SOURCE Allied Market Research In the aftermath of a landmark ruling that mandated former President Donald Trump to pay $355 million for fraudulently augmenting the values of his properties a judgment that prohibits him from assuming the role of director in any New York-based company for three years the Warren Buffett's insights during a series of lectures at Notre Dame in 1991 are uncannily accurate. Buffett, whose reputation as a legendary investor and the guiding force behind Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is well-established, used the lectures to articulate a critical examination of Trumps business methodologies, specifically targeting his penchant for leveraging debt. His analysis, preserved on TilsonFunds.com, pointed to Trumps overreliance on leverage as a fundamental flaw. The big problem with Donald Trump was he never went right, Buffett said, adding that Trumps strategy of heavily borrowing money to finance acquisitions was flawed from the start. According to Buffett, Trump managed to secure loans for properties at prices well above their value, creating a significant disparity between his assets actual worth and the debt incurred to acquire them. He was terrific at borrowing money. If you look at his assets and what he paid for them and what he borrowed to get them, there was never any real equity there, Buffett said, highlighting the precarious financial foundation on which Trump built his empire. More on Buffett: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." These high-yield real estate notes that pay 7.5% 9% make earning passive income easier than ever. Buffetts reflections during the lecture went beyond financial critique to encompass a broader view of success and failure in business. He pointed out that intelligence alone does not guarantee success; rather, it is the ability to use capabilities effectively and avoid critical mistakes. I've seen all sorts of people with terrific IQs that end up flopping in Wall Street or business because they beat themselves, he said. Story continues This commentary underscores Buffetts belief in the importance of self-awareness and the avoidance of overleveraging, which he identifies as a key factor in business failures. The wisdom Buffett imparted to his audience also included caution against the allure of leverage, a principle he adhered to throughout his illustrious career. You really don't need leverage in this world much. If you're smart, you're going to make a lot of money without borrowing, Buffett said, advocating for a conservative approach to finance that prioritizes sustainability over rapid expansion at the cost of increased debt. While Buffetts critique of Trumps business strategies applies today, Trump had already encountered several significant business challenges by the time the speech was given. His ventures into the casino and hotel industries, notably in Atlantic City, New Jersey, were marked by financial strain and eventual bankruptcies. The Trump Taj Mahal, one of his most ambitious projects, filed for bankruptcy in 1991, following a pattern of overleveraging and financial mismanagement that Buffett had warned against. This was not an isolated incident; the Trump Plaza Hotel also filed for bankruptcy around the same time, a recurring theme of financial overextension in Trumps businesses. Read Next: Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers. Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Jeff Bezos gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started. Photo by Fortune Live Media on Flickr "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Warren Buffett Exposed The Reason For Trump's Failed Business Ventures Decades Before The Fraud Case 'Where Did Donald Trump Go Wrong? The Big Problem With Donald Trump Was He Never Went Right' originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Thames Water Water suppliers such as Thames Water are at risk of collapsing into administration if they are fined for bad behaviour, MPs have warned, potentially landing taxpayers with a multi-billion pound bailout bill. In a letter to Ofwat, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee indicated that the watchdog has been rendered powerless to crack down on misdemeanours because of suppliers financial instability. MPs said that the situation at some water companies is now so precarious that a penalty for breaking rules on sewage or leaks would be enough to tip them over the edge. It comes amid concerns over a long-running debt crisis at Thames Water. The Telegraph revealed on Friday that Whitehall officials are drawing up contingency plans to prepare for the possible collapse of Britains largest supplier, which serves 15 million customers across London and the South East. Sir Robert Goodwill, the Conservative chairman of the committee, said MPs are concerned that it may not be in Ofwats interest to use the full extent of its powers given the impact that the failure of a major business would have on the stability of the sector and the public purse. He said: We have real concerns that Ofwats enforcement powers place it in a situation whereby enforcing regulations and issuing fines against consistently failing entities will place a further financial burden on these entities and increase the risk of corporate failure. If Thames, which has borrowings of nearly 19bn, is put into special administration, it is estimated that as much as 5bn of financial support would be needed to keep customers connected. The utility giant is currently reliant on massive investment from its shareholders, which include Canadian pensions business Omers and the China Investment Corporation. However, cash is dependent on Thames being able to hike household bills, a proposal that could be blocked by Ofwat if the supplier continues to perform poorly against sewage and leakage targets. Story continues As a result, Ofwat holds considerable sway over Thames future. Sir Robert said: In the case of Thames Water, shareholders of the parent company have made it clear that future infrastructure funding is contingent on Ofwat taking a positive view of its proposed bill rises and taking a lighter touch on its regulatory enforcement measures. Specifically, he said enforcement action against Thames, such as blocking dividend payments to its parent company Kemble, could undermine its business and require Government action through a special administrative vehicle. Thames previously announced that it had secured an initial 750m of new equity into the company by 2025 subject to conditions. However, in December, finance director Alastair Cochran was forced to admit that the funds were still to be confirmed. At the time, Mr Cochran said: Investors are looking for some comfort from Ofwat that it will support that business plan. They will take a pragmatic view depending on the feedback they get. Following the latest revelations, rockstar turned campaigner Feargal Sharkey called for the regulators chief executive, David Black, to resign. He said: Finally, the intestine of the black beast that is Ofwat has been exposed. It is incompetent, unwilling and unable to do the job it has been tasked with. Its cowardice and paranoia have left our rivers and seas polluted and suppliers teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The committee also addressed the prospect of suppliers introducing higher bills despite poor performance. Sir Robert said increases will produce a justifiable perception of unfairness from consumers who are being asked to shoulder the burden of improvements by companies that have consistently and publicly failed on delivering their core obligations. He added: Increase bills to fund investment regulatory leniency should only be preceded by a demonstration of a willingness to invest and a change in corporate culture that places public good at the heart of decision making. As well as Thames, Southern, SES and South East have also recently been singled out as the water companies with the worst financial performance in the UK. Ofwat said the four firms were being closely monitored late last year, although it said they were all taking action to strengthen long-term financial resilience. However, Ofwat has also since launched investigations into whether Thames has breached rules by paying out a 37.5m dividend to Kemble. Prior to that, Thames was also hit with a 101m fine for lagging in its efforts to clean up pollution, plug leaks and improve customer service. The penalty was later reduced to 73.8m. An Ofwat spokesman said: We are grateful for views on our forward plan and the support for the work we have in train to drive better outcomes for customers and the environment. We remain fully committed to doing all we can to hold companies to account for their delivery. Thames declined to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BRI drives strong Africa-China relations, Ghanaian expert says Xinhua) 08:36, February 22, 2024 Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2019 shows the Shenzhen Energy Gas Turbine Power Plant Project in Tema city, east of Accra, capital of Ghana. (Photo courtesy of Shenzhen Energy/Handout via Xinhua) The strong and growing Africa-China relations could be partly attributed to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a Ghanaian expert has said. ACCRA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The strong and growing Africa-China relations could be partly attributed to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a Ghanaian expert has said. Paul Frimpong, executive director of the Africa-China Center for Policy and Advisory, a think tank based in Ghana, told Xinhua in a written interview that Africa has been benefiting from the BRI to boost infrastructure development. The BRI is important for Africa because primary infrastructure bottlenecks in energy, water, sanitation, telecommunications, and transportation, and low access to electricity need to be removed for the continent to achieve its goals of boosting intra-African trade, Frimpong said. "African infrastructure and economic growth may be unified and expedited due to China's participation in infrastructure projects on the continent. Multiple countries across the continent have benefited tremendously from these relations with China," he said. This photo taken on May 8, 2022 shows a section of the Nairobi Expressway built by China Road and Bridge Corporation in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) "BRI is already helping Africa to improve infrastructure to make it easier to conduct more intraregional and international trade, lower business costs, increase Africa's domestic and international competitiveness, and thereby experience economic success and sustained growth," Frimpong added. Frimpong said the interconnectivity on the continent provided by Chinese-built projects aligns with Africa's ambitions for the next 50 years, including achieving inclusive social and economic growth by ending poverty, inequalities of income and opportunity, and creating decent jobs, among others. Besides the economic cooperation, he said, China and African countries are connected by their shared desire to advance the South-South agenda. "Countries of the Global South broadly applaud China's resolve to forge partnerships based on equality and respect and its commitment to refraining from meddling in domestic issues," Frimpong added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Shares of data storage software and hardware company Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), charged higher Thursday, climbing as much as 5.5%. As of 2:53 p.m. ET, the stock was still up 5.2%. The general market updraft no doubt helped provide momentum, but the catalyst that drove the data storage specialist higher was some positive commentary by a Wall Street analyst. Playing catch-up Analysts at Bank of America addressed Pure Storage ahead of the company's fourth-quarter results, which are scheduled to be released later this month. BofA analyst Wamsi Mohan maintained a neutral rating on the stock but raised the stock's price target to $42, up from $36, according to The Fly. Before you get too excited about the price target bump, consider this: Pure Storage stock was already trading above $39 yesterday, so the analyst was playing catch-up. In fact, after today's rally, the stock is on the verge of surpassing the price target issued just this morning. By way of commentary, Mohan noted that the spending environment for storage solutions is "slowly recovering," which bodes well for Pure Storage. The analyst went on to suggest that Wall Street's consensus estimate for 11% growth for the company in fiscal 2025 -- which began earlier this month -- may be too low, "discounting a somewhat optimistic scenario." Mohan expects Pure Storage to grow in a range of 8.5% to 15.5%, or roughly 12% at the midpoint -- a full point ahead of consensus. Another potential driver There are those who believe that Pure Storage will benefit from the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), as users will need to beef up the amount of available storage, which sheds a whole new light on the subject. The company could gain ground with its strategy of providing memory systems offered as a service. In doing so, users get the flexibility of a consumption-based subscription service for their growing mountains of data. That said, Pure Storage will still need to prove it's up to the task. Story continues The company is definitely worth watching and investors should have more clarity when Pure Storage reports its results on Feb. 28. Should you invest $1,000 in Pure Storage right now? Before you buy stock in Pure Storage, 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 Pure Storage 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 20, 2024 Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Danny Vena has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Pure Storage Stock Rallied on Thursday was originally published by The Motley Fool The wife and son of Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones combined to earn more than $120,000 in 2023 while working for or on behalf of the city, public records show. Saprina Jones made $92,538 for her roles while Thaddeus Jones Jr. made $32,250, according to records showing the money they made from the city from Jan. 1 to Dec. 4 of last year. Saprina Jones apparently was chosen by city officials to work for programs in Calumet City paid for by state funded grants while Thaddeus Jones Jr. worked directly for the city. Mayor Thaddeus Jones and Saprina Jones did not respond to requests for comment. Thaddeus Jones Jr. could not be reached. City spokesman Sean Howard said Saprina Jones manages three state-funded grant programs regarding violence prevention, summer school opportunities and youth development. Her salary does not come from the general fund of the City of Calumet City, Howard said in a written statement. Saprina Jones is paid from state grants through the Reimagine Public Safety Act, Howard said. The Illinois Department of Human Services website lists her name as part of the Calumet City portion of the violence prevention services program. Andre Thomas, a program contact, said Saprina Jones was hired by Calumet City leadership, not a state body. If the city of Calumet City was awarded the grant, then the city of Calumet City is responsible for who they hire, Thomas said. The onus is on them to hire the people who are capable of doing what it is that they are asking. The state does provide oversight to vet candidates and ensure the work is getting done, Thomas said. Howard defended Saprina Jones hiring, highlighting her bachelors and masters degree in human resources and business, as well as other certifications in the field. Her experience also includes work as an assistant vice president and branch manager of a bank, he said. Howard did not reply to requests for specific information, including how many other applicants were considered, if there was a public job posting and what portion of the state funds cover Saprina Jones position. Story continues Neither Howard or Saprina Jones responded to requests for more information on her work on summer school opportunities and a youth development program. I would think that Calumet City has plenty of residents qualified to do those jobs that are not family members of the mayor, 6th Ward Ald. James Patton said in a January interview. Patton didnt know Saprinas title or duties until the Daily Southtown relayed Howards statement to him. But he said questions remain. I still really dont know what the job does. I know what the title is but I dont know what shes doing, Patton said. So I would not say that I know now. I would say I know a title. He said this situation is not exclusive to Saprina Jones, explaining aldermen are often kept in the dark about the job descriptions of new hires. City Clerk Nyota Figgs said, to her knowledge, Mayor Jones, who is also a state representative, did not appoint Saprina Jones to a position. Thaddeus Jones Jr. did work for the city directly with the public access cable television division, Howard said. The written statement said this is a role he performs daily for the city of Calumet City and his salary is $38,000. The public record shows Jones Jr. worked for only about half of 2023. He was paid for work from May to November and made $32,250 during those six months. Figgs said she reviews hiring decisions in her role as clerk and said Jones Jr. was hired on a part-time basis as summer help, not for the public access cable television department. Summer help; they are not paid that much, she said. Figgs said employees hired for seasonal help jobs are usually paid minimum wage, which is less than $14 an hour in most of Cook County. Jones Jr. earned $2,500 every two weeks according to the financial records. Patton also recalled Jones Jr. was hired as part of a summer jobs program which was used for high school and college aged kids to help out with grass cutting and curb painting and all that stuff during the summer time. First Ward Ald. Michael Navarrete, 4th Ward Ald. Ramonde D. Williams and 5th Ward Ald. DeJuan Gardner declined to comment. Ald. DeAndre Tillman, 3rd, and Ald. Anthony Smith, 7th, did not return calls. Ald. Monet S. Wilson, 2nd, said it was shameful when she was told how much Saprina Jones and Thaddeus Jones Jr. made. The mayor, who is also the state rep and the liquor commissioner, thats three paychecks right there, now has his wife on the payroll, said Wilson. Thats a fourth paycheck. And his college aged son thats a fifth paycheck. Howard said it is unfortunate former Calumet City Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush did not receive the same scrutiny as Jones and his family. It is important to note that the previous Mayor of Calumet City had numerous relatives on the Calumet City payroll including the former Mayors husband, mother and her two sons, Howards email stated. Markiewicz Qualkinbush could not be reached for comment. hsanders@chicagotribune.com Most readers would already be aware that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's (KLSE:YOCB) stock increased significantly by 15% over the past month. Since the market usually pay for a companys long-term fundamentals, we decided to study the companys key performance indicators to see if they could be influencing the market. Specifically, we decided to study Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's ROE in this article. Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders. View our latest analysis for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad How Is ROE Calculated? The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad is: 12% = RM36m RM311m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. One way to conceptualize this is that for each MYR1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made MYR0.12 in profit. What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth? We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a companys earnings growth potential. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features. Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's Earnings Growth And 12% ROE To begin with, Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad seems to have a respectable ROE. Even when compared to the industry average of 10% the company's ROE looks quite decent. This probably goes some way in explaining Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's moderate 14% growth over the past five years amongst other factors. Story continues As a next step, we compared Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's net income growth with the industry and found that the company has a similar growth figure when compared with the industry average growth rate of 14% in the same period. Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. Is Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide. Is Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad Efficiently Re-investing Its Profits? With a three-year median payout ratio of 28% (implying that the company retains 72% of its profits), it seems that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad is reinvesting efficiently in a way that it sees respectable amount growth in its earnings and pays a dividend that's well covered. Additionally, Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad has paid dividends over a period of at least ten years which means that the company is pretty serious about sharing its profits with shareholders. Summary On the whole, we feel that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's performance has been quite good. In particular, it's great to see that the company is investing heavily into its business and along with a high rate of return, that has resulted in a sizeable growth in its earnings. If the company continues to grow its earnings the way it has, that could have a positive impact on its share price given how earnings per share influence long-term share prices. Remember, the price of a stock is also dependent on the perceived risk. Therefore investors must keep themselves informed about the risks involved before investing in any company. You can see the 2 risks we have identified for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform 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. A public open house and forum hosted Tuesday night by the Fremont Public Schools (FPS) and officials from the Fremont Middle School as a way to discuss recent safety concerns and issues was attended by only 13 parents, a smaller group than hoped, who heard updates on several issues. The event on Feb. 20 at Johnson Crossing Academic Center (JCAC) is one of two forums scheduled this week the second is slated for 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb 22, also at JCAC intended to both update parents on school district safety measures as well as to gather feedback and hear input on how parents are feeling. In the 15 minutes before the meeting began, there were no parents present and only a few school district employees at JCAC. But, slowly a handful of parents some who brought their children arrived and sat down at one of numerous numbered tables to hear district officials and the FPS game plan for enhanced safety. The forums were hastily created by district officials in the aftermath of two recent incidents at the Fremont Middle School (FMS): a massive early morning brawl between two groups of Latino and Hispanic students on Monday, Feb. 5, as well as an unverified and debunked rumor of an alleged school shooting may occur at FMS on Thursday, Feb. 8, which led to an estimated 600 students being removed from the school by worried parents. Following the Feb. 5 brawl, middle school Principal Todd Niehaus said eight students were expelled from the district for the remainder of the school year while one student was given a lengthy suspension. The ninth student who was suspended, said Superintendent Mark Shepard, will be transferred to another campus for the rest of the 2023-2024 school year and not return to FMS. On Monday, Feb 12, at the districts monthly board of education meeting, board members and district administrators heard from nearly a dozen frustrated parents, who vented about safety worries as well as allegations of unchecked inappropriate behavior in middle school bathrooms. Few parents present for forum, feedback session Tuesday night, Niehaus opened the forum by reading from a prepared statement, explaining what happened during the Feb. 5 brawl, and also subsequent actions by both the middle school staff and school district to enhance safety. Among the things Niehaus told parents included the revelation that the FPS district currently does not have any school resource officers (SRO) from the Fremont Police Department (FPD) because the FPD has a shortage of officers and cannot provide a designated SRO to the district. The FPS district is normally serviced by one SRO formerly FPD officer James Butts, but he is no longer working on school campuses. Butts was removed from the district in March 2023 for several months during an investigation that he alleged shared inappropriate photographs of himself with students. Butts was fully cleared of those allegations and briefly returned to campuses before the end of the 2022-2023 school year, however, he has been absent from patrolling district campuses this school year due to being on medical leave since mid-August. According to Niehaus, the city has reportedly budgeted for a second SRO, but as had no applicants for the position. Niehaus also said district officials have contacted Dodge County Sheriff Dustin Weitzel about the sheriffs office providing a SRO, but the sheriffs office is also too short-staffed to be able to provide any help. The district began pursuing a private security option and we are currently waiting on a pricing proposal, Niehaus told the few parents present. District officials have not named which security companies they have contacted about possible security services. The main private security company in Fremont is Signal, formerly known as Signal 88, and owned by FPD Capt. Shane Wimer and his wife. The company currently provides security patrols for Midland University and Lincoln Premium Poultry among other businesses. Niehaus also said that after several parents had complained about alleged illegal cannabis vaping as well as tobacco vaping being done in middle school bathrooms, the district decided to install electronic vape detectors in all middle school bathrooms. On Monday, Feb. 19, district maintenance workers installed all the needed wiring for the new detectors, and, Niehaus explained, the detectors were scheduled to be delivered Wednesday night, Feb. 21, and installed as soon as possible. Among other safety changes Niehaus said have been put into place are: All students enter through one door at the main entrance. Students who eat breakfast are assigned to the cafeteria. The cafeteria is divided in half by a partition with seventh grade on one side and eighth grade on the other side. The students who eat breakfast are required to stay in this location until dismissed to class to limit the movement of students in the morning. Seventh grade students who do not eat breakfast are assigned to the large gym. These students are also required to stay in this location until dismissed to class. Eighth grade students who do not eat breakfast are assigned to the small gym. These students are also required to stay in this location until dismissed to class. There is only one door unlocked to enter each gym in the morning. There are multiple staff members assigned to supervise each gym with one assigned to the doorway to limit traffic in and out of the gyms. At approximately 8:05 a.m. students are dismissed to go to their first class. Small groups praise FPS, offer ideas for better safety Following Niehaus presentation, the 13 parents and four students in attendance broke off into small groups at four different tables. At each table, moderators from several community aid organizations such as the Fremont Area United Way and school district employees posed questions and recorded answers. At one table, two sets of parents said they felt that the communications about the two incidents on Feb. 5 and Feb. 8 sent to parents via the Remind app were good, and that they appreciated those efforts at outreach. One mother said, I think (school officials) did a great job with communication. That womans husband also spoke, stating that he believed social media is a major problem with the students who he said share rumors. I know (social media) was the fanning of the flames from outside the school that started this, the father said of the Feb. 8 unfounded scare that a shooting may occur. A third mother, who was at the table as both a moderator and a parent of a student at the school, said her daughter was frightened after the internet rumors. My daughter called me (on Feb. 8) and said, Im scared, come get me, the third mother recalled of the unfounded rumors that led to a massive removal of students from the South Johnson Road campus on Feb. 8. In response to questions about how to improve safety in the schools, all three sets of parents at the table told the school district moderator that building community in Fremont and stressing more parent interaction and involvement with schools and staff was key. One mother said that there is good family engagement at FMS, but, she added, the family engagement needs to happen at all of the elementary schools. That womans husband said the issue of enhancing safety involves more than just school staff. This is not an FPS or a school issue, alone, the father said. This is a societal issue. After the information gathering session, officials announced a special event being hosted at JCAC at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27, called Screen Sanity Parent Night. The Screen Sanity Parent Night is a joint effort with US Cellular to teach parents about the dangers and safety concerns around cellular phone use, the internet and social media. To attend, registration is required via the website: bit.ly/3SMfrfI. The following incident was responded to by the Fremont Police Department. All information is received directly from FPD Capt. Kurt Bottorff. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. On Tuesday, Feb. 20, at about 8:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to a physical disturbance in the 2400 block of North Nye Avenue. An investigation was conducted resulting in the arrest of Christian H. Alarcon-Reyes, 53, of Fremont for third-degree domestic assault. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 D.J.s Hero Awards Scholarships. Select Nebraska high school seniors who have overcome adversity will be chosen to receive the awards named in honor of the late D.J. Sokol for commitment to others and to their communities. Honorees will be selected by a panel of metro-area civic leaders. This year, a minimum of 16 scholarships will be awarded. 2024 is a milestone for the D.J.'s Hero Awards, as it marks the 25th year of the program. Each Hero Awards Scholarship winner will receive a $12,000 scholarship toward their selected college or university. Honorees will be recognized at the D.J.'s Hero Awards event in Omaha on May 7. Among the criteria for selecting honorees are the following: Nebraska residency High school senior Having overcome challenges/adversity Commitment to others and to the community Nominators and their nominees must submit scholarship applications (nominations) online at djshero.org. Applications must be submitted by March 13. Call 402-898-7669 with any questions. A gray wolf is seen in a trail camera image on the Sherman Creek Ranch, March 26, 2023, near Walden, Colorado. As state officials prepare to reintroduce wolves in western Colorado, a small number of the animals already have wandered in from Wyoming. (Don Gittleson via AP) An arrest affidavit of the man accused of 13 incidents of invasion of privacy and sexual assault reveals a dark past of similar crimes, and an intention to conceal his contact information from authorities, according to records obtained by The Gazette. Troy Deck, 54, was arrested in late December, with more charges added in January. His charges include repeated instances of 'peeping Tom' trespassing for sexual gratification, stalking, sexual assault, intentionally providing law enforcement with an incorrect phone number and failing to include an active email address while registering as a sex offender in Colorado Springs. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, detectives with the Colorado Springs Police Department launched an investigation into Deck following a report of a man peering into a residential window in the area of Colorado College in the summer of 2023. An evening in June On June 14, 2023, a 25-year-old female resident of downtown Colorado Springs made her way back to her apartment after a long day of work. The multiplex unit has somewhat of an unusual layout the proclaimed row house, features eight residential units positioned next to each other a safe, protective community of residents who tended to look out for each other. Were all very close and very connected, the resident said, I felt safe living there on my own. In speaking with The Gazette, the young woman wished to remain anonymous to protect her identity and safety. The evening turned to night, and the resident remained on her couch for hours as she waited for her girlfriend at the time to join her. When she did, they both heard a second, unexpected knock at the door at around 11 p.m. I was there with my girlfriend at the time, and we get a knock at the front door and its my neighbor Katie, and she comes in and shes like, white as a ghost, the resident said. Katie proceeded to show her neighbor a disturbing series of security camera footage she collected of an unknown man, peering into her neighbors living room window. The couple and neighbor watched with anxiety as the man approached the apartment from the street, put on a ski mask, and watched the resident alone in her home for over an hour. And I didnt see him. I didnt see him at all, she said. The cops came. My girlfriend at the time called them because I was not well. I was so f---ing scared. According to arrest records, at roughly 11:30 p.m., police arrived on the scene and observed a black SUV parked on the street in proximity to the residents apartment. Police observed a single individual inside the parked vehicle. The arrest affidavit for Deck indicates that police did not approach or question the individual at that time, but did later check the vehicle's plates, which showed the SUV to be registered to Deck, an active registered sex offender in Colorado Springs with peeping tom convictions going back to at least 2004. The resident recalled that once the police had left her apartment, she noticed the black SUV had left the area as well. Once the cops left my apartment, the car was gone, the victim told The Gazette. He watched my neighbor come into my house, and watched the cops pull up. Featured Local Savings Start of investigation Police had a lot to consider after tying Deck to the scene of the peeping tom. A look at Deck's rap sheet showed that in 2004, he was convicted of a class two misdemeanor of sexual contact - peeping Tom - attempted. Additionally, in 2017, Deck was convicted of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, a class six felony. On June 15, investigators attempted to contact the suspect at his listed address along Logan Drive in Colorado Springs according to his arrest affidavit. Officers noted Deck was not home at the time of the visit, but confirmed with a roommate that Deck did live there. Through more investigation, police began to suspect multiple other incidents of peeping toms, criminal trespassing, and sexual assault reported from the North End area of downtown Colorado Springs to be connected to Deck. Lasting impacts The victim from the June 14 incident told The Gazette she has suffered lasting impacts from the series of events that unfolded that night. Up until a few months ago I would have to call people if I got home from work late, just to be on the phone with me as I walked into my house because I was so petrified that he would be behind my car. the resident told the Gazette. I just constantly had the thought of like he knows I called the cops; he saw the cops get to my house. It just made me scared that he was going to come after me for it. I slept with a knife by my bed and a mirror in front of my door, in case he decided to come back. Pursuit of justice continues In his Jan. 25 court appearance, Deck pleaded not guilty to his current charges. At last check, he is facing 17 charges including stalking, sexual assault, first-degree burglary, menacing, and 11 counts criminal attempt, and invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, along with the two counts of failure to register as a sex offender. Police said they are still searching for additional victims, and multiple similar incidents in the area of Colorado College remain under investigation. Potential victims, witnesses or anyone carrying pertinent information to the investigation can reach detectives by calling 719-444-70000. Contact the Writer: 719-636-0362 Victoria Turner, a 2023 graduate of Liberty High School, is preparing to move into a 1,200-square-foot modular home with her twin sister. The house will allow the sisters plenty of space to spread out, though Victoria has staked a claim on the master bedroom. Its only fair, said Turner, 18. I mean, I helped build the house. The home build was the culminating project of Liberty High Schools building and construction class, which is part of Academy School District 20s growing Career and Technical Education program. In partnership with Careers in Construction Colorado a Springs-based nonprofit that brings construction industry vocational education into classrooms D-20s Home Build Program allows students to construct a house on district property while earning industry certifications and acquiring a host of skills including carpentry, plumbing, electrical and HVAC work. The program was practically tailor-made for Turner, who has wanted to work in construction since she was little. When I was 5 or 6, I wanted to be a firefighter, she said. But at the same time, my brother was going into middle school and was starting to think about what he wanted to do. He wanted to get into construction, and I wanted to be like him. By the time Turner started at Liberty, her brother had become a music major. But the idea of a career in construction still intrigued her. I heard about the CTE construction class, and I decided to sign up, she said. You have to apply and be accepted. I had to take a quiz, and I passed. Thats when I thought, OK, I can do this. For the construction, nearly all the hands-on work is performed by students, under the supervision of skilled tradespeople, including Jaime Hernandez, Libertys building and construction teacher. CICCs industry experts provide materials, curriculum and guidance throughout the project, but the students provide the lions share of the labor. We have the kids do as much of the work as possible, Hernandez said. Its the best way to get them workforce-ready. Featured Local Savings A home typically takes about two years to build. Libertys latest project took closer to three years because of instructor turnover and COVID delays, and Turner graduated before it was completed, she said. Turner and her mother discussed the idea of buying the completed home and asked Hernandez if it was a possibility. By December, her family owned the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house she helped build. I like to joke with my mom that its the biggest take-home project ever, Turner said. Students who complete the building and construction course can earn a number of professional certifications, allowing many of them to begin careers in the building trades, right out of high school. Other students use their newly acquired skills as a springboard into related disciplines, including architecture, engineering and landscaping. The possibilities are nearly endless, according to CICC school liaison Keira Conley. It actually takes 85 separate trades to build a home from the ground up, Conley said. And thats just for a residential home. For an office building, or an apartment building, it takes even more. In Turners case, she was able to use her skills and certifications to land a job at a roofing company in Colorado Springs. Now, shes working in the trade shes dreamed about since kindergarten. Im a roofer, she said. Its a lot of fun; I love being up on a roof. And I was able to get a job and start making money right away, which is nice. It will be a few months before Turner is able to move into her new place. Electricity and plumbing hookups need to be installed, as well as a breezeway that will connect her house to her parents home, which is next door. But shes already making furnishing and decoration plans, including turning a third bedroom into a home gym. And she cant wait to move into her new master bedroom. It is a pretty nice room, Turner said, and smiled. While the circumstances and motive leading up to last week's double fatal shooting at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs remain a mystery, the possession of a firearm by the alleged gunman on campus might not have violated university rules had he registered it. Colorado Springs police arrested 25-year-old Nicholas Jordan on Monday in the shooting deaths of UCCS senior Samuel Knopp, 24, and Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, who did not attend the school, in an on-campus Alpine Village apartment. According to officials, Knopp and Montgomery suffered at least one gunshot wound each. Jordan, who was Knopp's roommate, is being held on a $5 million, cash-only bond. His next scheduled court appearance is Friday. According to UCCS spokesperson Chris Valentine, members of the public are permitted to carry a concealed weapon on campus. We dont really care about that, Valentine said. According to UCCS gun policy, students living on campus are allowed to keep firearms on campus if they have a valid concealed carry permit, as long as they register their permits with the school. The UCCS website states that university officials must be kept informed on the statuses of students with concealed carry permits and abide by all state requirements. The most recent residential housing contract for the university states that students with a concealed carry permit residing in the Alpine Village apartments would need to get written consent from roommates to keep a firearm in the living space and provide a copy of the permit to the residence hall director. The contract also says that the firearm would need to remain concealed at all times while being stored in the apartments. According to the contract, firearms are not allowed at all in first-year housing. According to Valentine, at the time of the shooting Friday, there were no students on campus with an active concealed carry permit registered with university officials meaning the presence of a firearm in the apartment would be a rules violation . Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Details like who owned the weapon, or where it came from, have not been released by investigators. Jordans arrest affidavit was requested to be sealed prior to his arrest by Colorado Springs police and the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office, according to officials. It remains sealed for now, pending a ruling by the judge in the case. Other campuses University of Colorado Boulder, CU Denver and the university's Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora all abide by similar gun policies, recognizing the student's right, per state law, to carry a concealed weapon if permitted to do so. Colorado State University operates under similar policies, allowing students and faculty to carry a concealed firearm on its campuses in Fort Collins and Pueblo. Colorado's Concealed Carry Act, passed in 2003, allowed for concealed carry of firearms in all but a few locations statewide, and prohibited local governments from passing laws or rules to the contrary. The Board of Regents for the University of Colorado system (of which UCCS is a part) attempted to ban firearms on campus and all university buildings under the control of campus police. Three students in El Paso County, however, opposed the regents' decision. Operating as the group called Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, the three students sued the University of Colorado system, arguing the ban violated the Concealed Carry Act and the Colorado Constitution. In 2012, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in favor of the group, saying the Concealed Carry Act was meant to apply statewide, including public colleges and universities. Pikes Peak State College, for example, requires that individuals have a valid concealed carry license and register their weapon with campus police. Meanwhile, Colorado College, a private institution located near downtown Colorado Springs, has an active ban of firearms on campus. According to CCs website, The possession or use of any weapon including but not limited to firearms, ammunition, pellet guns, air guns, paintball guns, stun guns, tasers, smoke devices, bows/arrows, swords, large knives (defined as a knife with a 3.5-inch blade or longer), explosives, and fireworks is prohibited on College property because of the potential for personal injury, theft, unauthorized use of such items, and disruptive impact on the College community. New research from Colorado State University is challenging the widely accepted narrative that the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park in the mid-1990s resulted in restoring the habitat that degraded after the apex predators were removed roughly a century ago. That narrative is one of the main arguments put forth by supporters of the 2020 initiative that paved the way for wolf restoration in Colorado. The CSU researchers, drawing from a 20-year study, concluded the changes that occurred in Yellowstone in the intervening decades after the absence of wolves, cougars and grizzly bears ultimately led to overgrazing of willows by the elk population produced a new, stable, elkgrassland ecosystem, but it was not because of the wolves. "Our results led us to reject the hypothesis that the effects of restoration of apex predators to the food web were reciprocal to the effects of their removal on Yellowstone's northern range," the researchers said. "We conclude that the restoration of apex predators to Yellowstone should no longer be held up as evidence of a trophic cascade in riparian plant communities of small streams on the northern range," they added. Trophic cascade The dominant view of wolves restoring the pre-extirpation ecosystem arose out of the concept called trophic cascade, which occurs, biologists say, when apex predators indirectly benefit plants by changing the abundance of herbivores or their foraging behavior, causing plant biomass, for example, to increase. The return of wolves to Yellowstone in 1995, this theory goes, triggered such a cascade. The predators, some postulated, changed the behavior of the elk population, which, in turn, allowed willows to recover from intense browsing. That provided beavers with an abundant food source, and, as the beavers returned, they built dams and began to change the habitat. Another study offered a similar conclusion, finding increases in the height, stem diameter and stem establishment, and canopy cover of deciduous woody plants in riparian areas following the wolves' introduction. That is, the theory claims, the wolves halted or reversed the decimation of vegetation as a result of intense grazing. That decimation occurred, to a lesser extent, in Rocky Mountain National Park in the early 2000s, where a herd of more than 1,500 elk wintering in the park denuded vegetation along streams engineered by beavers, destroying their habitat. N. Thompson Hobbs, a professor emeritus at Colorado State Universitys Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, examined this theory of trophic cascades. His research noted that before extirpation, communities of willows dominated the riparian zones of the northern range, and that beaver dams punctuated the stream network, flooding large areas and creating "hydrologic and soil conditions particularly well suited to the life-history requirements of willows." After the extirpation of predators, an overabundance of elk destroyed critical stream-side riparian habitat by browsing on various species of willows, some of which the beaver relied on. Once the food and dam-building resources of the beaver were destroyed, they abandoned their dams and ponds and moved elsewhere. When the abandoned dams failed, the streams picked up speed and incised channels, replacing the leisurely pace of dammed pools. That, in turn, lowered water tables and created a new ecological state along the streams. In their research, Hobbs and his team looked at two hypotheses: One suggested that reintroducing apex predators would reverse the elk-grassland habitats that emerged after their extirpation and overgrazing, and return the food web to historic willow-beaver habitats, which are favorable to beavers and wildlife that flourish where beavers build dams. The second hypothesis predicted that the alternative "elkgrassland state" was resilient to the restoration of apex predators, and the latter had not restored the "beaverwillow" state. Their conclusion? The elk-grasslands now comprise a new normal for the stream ecosystem, even with the wolves' return. Seemingly simple 'causal' relationships, for example, 'wolves caused the decline in the elk population,' turned out to be excessive simplifications of a more complex truth, the researchers said. Passive restoration Other researchers offered differing opinions. In a 2011 paper, William J. Ripple and Robert L. Beschta of the Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society concluded that, in ecosystems where wolves have been displaced or locally extirpated, their "reintroduction may represent a particularly effective approach for passive restoration. After wolf reintroduction, elk populations decreased, but both beaver (Caster canadensis) and bison (Bison bison) numbers increased, possibly due to the increase in available woody plants and herbaceous forage resulting from less competition with elk, their paper said. Michael Robinson, senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, embraced that view. He said that elk behavior is an important factor when it comes to ecological effects. As an illustration that elk behavior can be as instrumental in ecological effects as elk numbers, in Yellowstone National Park after wolves were reintroduced, elk changed their behaviors to avoid valleys with steep embankments where they could not see wolves approaching, Robinson said. Those are the riparian areas that have witnessed profound ecological resurgences, and that began to occur well before elk numbers were at all affected by wolves but elk behavior did change. Featured Local Savings That view was one of the animating arguments in favor of Proposition 114, the 2020 citizen initiative that mandated wolf reintroduction in Colorado. That year, supporters told voters that gray wolves "perform important ecological functions that impact other plants and animals. Without them, deer and elk can overgraze sensitive habitats such as riverbanks, leading to declines in ecosystem health. Hobbs research said wolves in Yellowstone have not resulted in restored beaver habitat in the 20 years he has been studying the issue. While vegetation recovered with reduced browsing, it is not the kind of vegetation beavers need to survive and flourish, the research said. I think we showed pretty conclusively that for the riparian areas of the small stream network of the (Yellowstone) northern range, that very little has changed since wolves were reintroduced, Hobbs told The Denver Gazette in an interview. The second point is we can't really know the extent to which the decline in elk populations was due to wolves or to other carnivores. We do absolutely know this that during the 10 years after wolves were reintroduced, so from about 1995 to 2005, wolves had very little to do with it. Elks, willows and wolves Nearly a century without predators in Yellowstone led to an enormous expansion of elk herds in the northern range of the park, which encompasses nearly 250,000 acres heavily used by the herbivores in winter. Hobbs said in 1995, when wolves were reintroduced, there were more than 19,000 elk in the park, and, as of 2023, there are fewer than 2,000. The enormous increase in elk numbers began in 1970 after the parks policy of culling elk ended and extended through 1990, when a precipitous decline began. Hobbs said contrary to popular opinion, the primary predator between 1990 and 2022 were not wolves, bears, or mountain lions but humans, who were hunting outside the parks boundaries. When hunters took a large number of female elk, rather than antlered trophy males, the reproduction rate dropped. That is not to say that predators were not killing elk. Hobbs pointed out that the population of mountain lions quadrupled between 1987 and 2016 and the return of grizzly bears also caused mortality among newborn elk. The research noted that the per capita kill rate of cougars on elk was double the kill rate by wolves, and that cougars killed more elk than were killed by wolves in 19982004. That period saw a steep decline in elk numbers, the research also noted. A large multi-state analysis of elk mortality in western North America published in 2013 concluded that the largest elk mortality factor was hunting, which was responsible for 54.8% of all deaths. Wolves were responsible for 6.8% and mountain lions for 6%. Unknown causes applied to 27.3% of elk mortality. The elk population declined precipitously after the mid-1990s, creating the appearance of a causal mechanism for a trophic cascade from wolves to plants with effects that purportedly extended throughout the ecosystem, the research said. Experts: No reason to worry about overgrazing in Colorado In Colorado, wildlife experts said there is little reason to worry about overgrazing, such as what Yellowstone experienced, thanks to decades of careful management of deer and elk herds through hunting. At over 280,000 animals, Colorados elk population is the largest in the world, Colorado Parks and Wildlifes website noted. Here, most of the riparian bottomlands, where elk might congregate and damage beaver habitat, are privately owned, except in the national forests. If a landowner is having problems with too many elk, the state can increase hunting tags in that area, creating a very granular elk management system, said former Colorado Wildlife Commissioner Rick Enstrom. Colorado has wisely managed their elk herd magnificently through the use of the North American model of big game management, which is much more highly regulated than packs of wolves wandering willy-nilly all over the state of Colorado, Enstrom said. You can dial it down to numbers of the licenses by game management unit and allow hunters to take those elk. And it has worked magnificently in Colorado for generations." "Adding an unregulated predator that you cannot control is really poor public policy, he added. The exception to Enstroms general observation is Rocky Mountain National Park, where hunting is not allowed. The park was suffering the same sort of damage as Yellowstone along streams caused by an overabundant elk population in the early 2000s. The parks Elk and Vegetation Management Plan, implemented in 2008, addressed overgrazing in Colorado caused by a peak in 2001 of more than 1,500 overwintering elk in the park. Over the course of Rocky Mountain National Park's plan, the herd was reduced to 124 animals as of 2019. Declines in the overwintering elk population may be best explained by increased cow elk harvest outside of the park, and, most notably, by a change in seasonal migration patterns and habitat use that have elk moving to lower elevation wintering areas following the fall rut, the 10-year report on the plan stated. From 2009 to 2011, Rocky Mountain National Park personnel and trained, supervised volunteer hunters culled 131 elk from the park. That culling has not been repeated because, according to a park spokesperson, the wintering elk population is within its herd size objectives since 2011. Restoration of beaver habitat in the park is an active plan by park personnel to protect riparian areas with fencing and replanting of willow and aspen species that beavers need for both food and dam building. Hobbs, who consults with the park on this plan, says that has been extraordinarily effective. I would say the causal relationships here are activity by beaver allow a stream to provide good habitat for willow, Hobbs told The Denver Gazette. So, good dam building by beaver creates great habitat for willow. And once willow thrives there, they can sustain the beaver. Hobbs said that while beaver populations in Yellowstone have increased, their behavior changed they stopped building dams on small streams and started making dens in the banks of Yellowstones big rivers, ones too large for them to dam. I want it to be clear that our ecological monograph does not make the case that wolves should not be reintroduced to landscapes, Hobbs added. Those benefits are well established, but they may take a long time to accrue. Thirty years after wolves were reintroduced, we really can't see ecosystem benefits. Can we say in the fullness of time those benefits won't come? No. Republican candidate Nikki Haley, who has vowed to keep fighting presumptive nominee Donald Trump, is hosting a rally in Colorado on Tuesday. Colorado voters began receiving presidential primary ballots last week. Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will host a rally at Wings over the Rockies Exploration of Flight at 13005 Wings Way in Centennial at 1:30 p.m. The two-hour event is free and open to the public but requires a reservation. Haley on Tuesday told The Associated Press that she will not leave the Republican primary election regardless of Saturday's result in South Carolina. And backed by the strongest fundraising numbers of her political career, she vowed to stay in the fight against Trump at least until after Super Tuesday's slate of more than a dozen contests on March 5. Sign up for free: Weekly 7 Catch up with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Ten days after South Carolina, another 20 states vote. I mean, this isnt Russia. We dont want someone to go in and just get 99% of the vote, Haley said. What is the rush? Why is everybody so panicked about me having to get out of this race?" The latest data from the Colorado Secretary of States Office puts unaffiliated voters at 48%, Democrats at 27% and Republicans at 24%. Trump remains the lead GOP candidate in the state, even closing the gap in a head-to-head match against President Joe Biden compared to his performance in 2020, according to a poll. In a head-to-head matchup between Biden and Trump, the Democrat won 47% of the vote, compared to Trumps 40%, according to the annual Colorado Political Climate Survey. In 2020, the Colorado Political Climate Survey painted a different picture, with Biden winning 47% of the vote and Trump finishing with 37%. A pair of hikers and their dogs walk through a snow-covered North Cheyenne Canon Park on Thursday, Dec. 14 2023. Overnight snow and icy morning conditions prompted multiple delays and closures in Colorado Springs on Thursday. Warmer temperatures are predicted to move into Colorado Springs throughout the weekend, potentially reaching the 50s on Saturday and Sunday. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette) Sweet Home police were recognized at the Capitol this week for the agencys role in arresting a man suspected of making threats involving firearms. Sweet Home Police Department collaborated with Portland FBI field office after the man allegedly made statements about using firearms against the Eugene Police Department and Riverbend Hospital security staff. A Place to Sleep, episode 4: Sweet Home In Sweet Home, you'll find the region's only designated sleeping place for folks actively self-medicating with alcohol and narcotics. Initially, I was unaware of the full significance and all the details related to the arrest, police Chief Jason Ogden said via email. It was only several days later that I was contacted by the FBI, informing me about the extensive investigation and the commendable efforts of Detective (Sean) Potter in handling this case. Ogden added he received a letter of gratitude from Eugene police Chief Chris Skinner, thanking the Sweet Home department for its diligent work, which had a direct impact on Eugenes operations as well, Ogden said. On Jan. 4, Detective Potter was contacted by the FBI about concerning statements allegedly made by 40-year-old Sweet Home resident Ryan Randall Carbon, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Potter. An associate of Carbons described him as being frequently under the influence of narcotics, randomly showing up at the persons residence with numerous firearms and ammunition, including handguns, AR-15 rifles and body armor, according to the affidavit. During a visit with the associate, Carbon allegedly said he was seeking revenge against Eugene police and Riverbend security because of a driving under the influence arrest on Christmas Eve, according to the affidavit. Carbon allegedly told his associate he was armed to the teeth and going to split the world in two. Carbon also said he was headed to Lebanon to kill some gangbangers, according to the affidavit. Shortly after leaving the associates residence, Carbon was pulled over by a Sweet Home police officer and arrested under the suspicion of DUI, the affidavit states, noting a search of the vehicle yielded a concealed, loaded Smith & Wesson pistol tucked between the drivers seat and center console. Further searching revealed another seven firearms, including a 12-gauge shotgun that was reported stolen, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition along with numerous loaded magazines, according to the affidavit. Carbon is charged with felony unlawful weapon use and misdemeanor unlawful possession of firearms, according to court records. The state is seeking an enhanced sentence if hes found guilty, citing great risk or harm as the defendant expressed intent to commit multiple mass shootings. Carbon was held at the Linn County Jail on $250,000 bail, according to jail records. A trial date of Tuesday, Feb. 27 was rescheduled for April 16. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today. During a City Council meeting last week, Sweet Home Mayor Susan Coleman read appreciation letters from the FBI and Eugene Police Department. The mayor also presented a plaque on behalf of the council to the Sweet Home Police Department for its dedication and service. Ogden, Potter, and Capt. Ryan Cummings posed for photos in the Oregon Senate Chamber on Tuesday, Feb. 20. They also met up with eighth graders from Sweet Home Junior High School on a field trip to Salem that day. North Iowans gathered together Monday evening at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mason City to celebrate Black history and to look back on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. The evening program was created to celebrate Mason City's living history makers as well as those who paved the way for new generations. Rev. Le Anne Clausen de Montes welcomed the group, and Deacon Regan Banks gave a short presentation on the restoration efforts underway at St. John Baptist Church located on Sixth Street Southwest. Attendees held a moment of silence for Mason City native Dr. Deborah Turner, an esteemed doctor and activist who died earlier this month. At the time of her death, Turner sat as the national president of the League of Women Voters. The reverent evening was punctuated with song. Attendee Marilyn Brown sang an a capella version of "Amazing Grace" with the crowd joining in. Then, Brown and local artist Yvonne Willis each sang for those who had gathered. Rev. Metric Giles is the son of Rev. Robert Giles, who served St. John Baptist Church in the 1950s. He and his family greeted and thanked attendees for coming. "I am so glad to see the people who are looking to restore and rebuild St. John Baptist. I have so many memories of riding bikes with my cousins here in North Iowa," Giles said. Giles lived in Mason City for part of his childhood, attending Grant Elementary School. Banks and his wife, Annette, recited King's famed "I Have a Dream" speech, highlighting the assassinated activist's vision for the future. Tavien Banks, grandson of Regan and Annette Banks, received a commemorative plaque presented by Clausen de Montes for having been voted homecoming king at Mason City High School in 2021. Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, High Point Universitys Entrepreneur in Residence, mentored students during his visit to campus on Feb. 18-19. A dozen students pitched their business ventures to Randolph in HPUs Entrepreneurship Center and gained valuable feedback to move forward with their projects. The students in this center are already starting the process of trying to make their ideas actually happen, said Randolph. High Point University has done a good job of getting students started. In some ways, the more advanced lesson now is to literally go out and try to collide your idea with real customers. You can do surveys and research all you want, but fundamentally you have to actually get a customer to say yes to something and see if youre really solving their problem. James Fakunle, assistant professor of entrepreneurship, said HPU students benefited from Randolph having a conversation with them about their business models instead of simply hearing a quick elevator pitch about their business ideas. Randolph also shared lunch with students and spoke to Fakunles family business class about how a new generation can effectively infuse fresh ideas into a family business. He participated in an interview and a meet-and-greet session on Feb. 18 at HPUs Innovation Summit. Vivian Love, a senior entrepreneurship major from San Francisco, California, said she was grateful to hear Randolphs reaction to her aircierge business, for which she won first place and received $7,000 in start-up funds in HPUs annual Elevator Pitch Competition last November. She said she recognized the need for this product while spending three months abroad. While others complimented her idea of a virtual concierge to elevate guest services for Airbnbs, Randolph challenged her conviction that a cube would be needed for the AI service rather than simply a printed QR code personalized for the site. I have a tremendous amount of respect for his idea of grassroots testing because you dont know what you dont know, said Love. The more that you test and get the product out there to see how the market reacts, the better chance you have of successfully understanding how your customer will react. Ultimately, it keeps innovation going forward. Randolph encouraged two entrepreneurship majors to think of their spring-loaded nicotine patch holder as a wholesale product that could be promotional for a manufacturer. Sean Martin, a senior from Baltimore, Maryland, and Andrew Bilick, a junior from Long Island, New York, said they felt validated after hearing Randolphs remarks. Its good to know were doing the right things, especially when it comes to where we are transitioning between ideas, said Martin. If you have something thats moving forward and going fast, its OK to leave other ideas behind and push forward on that one. Its motivating to just keep going and continue pushing it to where it has to be, said Bilick. Maura Malichio, a sophomore from Westchester, New York, also was encouraged by Randolphs reaction to her Retreat product, an app incentives system to reward people who disconnect from their cellphones to spend uninterrupted time with family, friends and in nature. Randolph found her idea interesting but noted some people are addicted to their cellphones. He advised her to test the concept on friends. I thought it was insightful when he told me to see whether people would actually utilize my service for what its offering and not cheat the system or simply not use it, said Malichio. EDEN Loparex, the leading global producer of release liners and engineered films, will suspend manufacturing at its plant here over the next six months, meaning 91 people will lose their jobs by Sept. 1, company officials said in a news release on Thursday. City officials said they received the news mid-morning on Thursday and were caught by surprise. The operation, located at 816 Fieldcrest Road, has been home to an average of about 120 workers since it opened in 1995 under its former name, Rexum. A 165,000-square-foot building was the companys original manufacturing site. In 2013, Lovarex purchased the 50,000-square- foot former Liberty Mills building across the street as part of an expansion. The countys head of economic development said the space should be easy to fill with another industry. Weve already had people calling today interested, said Leigh Cockram, director of Rockingham County Economic Development. Its a really nice rail-served location. Cockram said she did not know why the manufacturer decided to leave Eden. The 98-year-old company, originally a Finnish pulp operation, seemed focused on North Carolina in 2009 when it moved its national headquarters from a Chicago suburb to Cary. That year Loparex further announced a $16.9 million expansion in Rockingham County that created nearly 70 jobs and paid an average of $52,000 at the time. An updated average Loparex salary was not immediately available. An average annual salary today in Rockingham County is about $26,000, according to state statistics. Eden workers will be let go in two phases with the first scheduled for May 1, the release said. The balance of employees will see jobs end on Sept. 1, according to the release. A handful of positions will remain at the Eden site to maintain assets and the facility, the release said. Loparexs products, many of which are silicone lined, are important features of medical equipment, including backings for heart-monitor electrode pads and transdermal patches that deliver medicine through the skin. The automotive industry also uses Loparex products, and they are featured in things like wind-generating turbine propellers and die-cutting for mobile phones and digital cameras. Existing Loparex manufacturing sites in Hammond, Wis., and Iowa City, Iowa, will remain in operation, the release said. This decision was a difficult one and has been given significant thought and consideration. I recognize the deep history of the Eden site and the dedication of our employees there. Providing transition support to these employees is a top priority for us, said Rich Holder, Loparex CEO, in the release. Along with providing advance notice to employees, Loparex will offer assistance to them in their search for new jobs, the release said. This includes connecting them with local employers and agencies that can help them secure new employment, the release said. Guilford Countys school board gave Superintendent Whitney Oakley the go-ahead Tuesday to look into contracting with a company or organization to provide substitute teachers for the district, potentially starting July 1. The vote was 7-1. T. Dianne Bellamy-Small, who had voiced reservations at the boards retreat earlier this month, was the only board member to vote no. Oakley said the vote does not commit the district to using a third-party provider and any contract she might recommend would need board approval. We understand there are pros and cons to it, this is just to explore what the options are out there, Oakley said. Her hope is that an outside company could help the district fill vacancies and operate more efficiently. The idea is that using a private company to recruit, hire and manage subs could save time for school principals, treasurers and other district employees, and that it could help the district be more attractive to substitutes by offering benefits and weekly pay. Substitutes in Guilford County can wait as many as seven weeks to get paid for an assignment, Oakley said. A couple of people voiced concerns about outsourcing substitutes during the public comment period of the meeting, before the vote. Amy Harrison, a special education teacher at Reedy Fork Elementary and member of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said shes been speaking with substitute teachers from Forsyth County, which has outsourced its substitute hiring to a private company. Substitutes mentioned benefits and more frequent pay as positives, she said. However, she said, one person told her that its a lengthy process to get hired and its difficult to get in touch the companys recruiters or human resources department when they have questions. Another person, she said, told her the district is paying hefty fees for the service, but still has vacancies going unfilled by subs. Quite a few people said that they quit working in Winston-Salem and came to Guilford because we havent done that yet, she said, referring to using a private company for substitutes. She urged the district to take these perspectives into account before making a final decision. Michael Olesko, another speaker during the public comments, told board members he had been substituting off and on for Guilford County Schools for 24 years, but has also worked as a substitute elsewhere, including with a private company contracting with a district in Florida. His experiences with that company included low pay and exasperation, he said. He urged the board to reject the proposal, or, failing that, at least ask subs and teachers for their input. What subs want are money, discipline, to be part of the education process, and respect, he said. What subs dont want is to be rent-a-subs, which outsourcing will make them feel. Prior to the vote, school board member Alan Sherouse asked Oakley to confirm the district could still seek out input, like Olesko and Harrison were urging, prior to a final decision. I think thats what we want to do, is learn that information, but we cant do that until we explore what solutions are out there and decide if they are the right fit or not, Oakley said. For Presidents Day, the House is taking two weeks off. But first the Republicans who misrule the place honored their favorite president by blocking desperately needed aid for Ukraine just as Donald Trump demanded. That fealty to the former president, and the resulting gift to Ukraines Russian invaders, was a terrible look even before Fridays news that Vladimir Putins brave nemesis, Alexei Navalny, had died in an Arctic prison. Navalny joins the long list of Putin foes whove died behind bars, fallen from windows or been felled by bullets or poison. Every president since Franklin D. Roosevelt would be appalled at the Republicans acquiescence to Russias aggression. Except Trump. And President Biden has to manage the mess that Trump and his America First disciples in Congress are making of U.S. reliability within the global alliances created after World War II. Hes the one who has to reassure NATO allies after Trump falsely and repeatedly to disturbing applause at his political rallies depicts those allies as deadbeats and invites Russia to attack them. History is watching, Biden repeated five times last week in a speech urging the House to follow the bipartisan lead of the Senate, which had just voted 70 to 29 for more assistance to Ukraine, along with aid to both Israel and Gaza, as well as Taiwan. History is watching. Not that it matters to MAGA Republicans. After all, if Trump and his followers had any sense of history, they wouldnt have revived the America First mantle, associated as it is with the isolationist, pre-World War II America First Committee. That Nazi-friendly organization opposed the U.S. coming to the aid of Britain and other allies besieged by Germany after 1939. Nonetheless, seven years ago Trump proudly proclaimed in his inaugural address. That rancid cry remains a prominent theme in Trumps reelection repertoire, because it resonates not just with his MAGA minions but with other Americans justifiably disillusioned by two decades of costly misadventure and spilled blood in Iraq and Afghanistan and by the economic disruptions of globalization. The slogan is now a central pillar of the Republican Party because it is, after all, Trumps party. And a once-Grand Old Party that long defined itself by its opposition to Russia/the Soviet Union now plays Putins patsy. This swing away from global leadership and multilateralism is dangerously wrongheaded. If the U.S. steps back, Russia likely plows forward. So will China and Iran. Deciding whether to aid or abandon Ukraine is hardly as dramatic an inflection point as, say, 9/11. Yet the response will be as consequential. In the nearly 14 madcap months that Republicans have had a House majority, theyve retreated from several impossible positions to avoid calamity, in those cases a debt crisis and several government shutdowns. (Another shutdown looms three days after the House returns Feb. 28.) Even so, its hard to see them backing down this time. To allow a vote on the Senates foreign aid bill, Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson of Louisiana would have to be willing to forfeit the job hes had for under four months. Republican extremists have said theyd move to dump him just as they did his predecessor if the House approves aid to Ukraine. Everyone knows the bill would pass, by a bipartisan margin, if it came to a vote. Republicans and Democrats have dismissed calls for a rarely used workaround a majority of House members could sign a petition demanding a vote, thus forcing one. Many Republicans dont want to defy their House leaders in that way, or their ultimate leader: Going against Trump right now is a death sentence, one said. And progressive Democrats wont sign because they oppose the aid for Israel, given its horrific attacks on Gaza. In a second ploy to try to salvage Ukraine aid, a small bipartisan group drafted a pared-down compromise. That, too, is likely doomed. The only answer, it seems, is the least likely one: Shame Johnson into allowing a vote. Yet, even after Navalnys death, the speaker was silent about aiding Ukraine. Biden has tried shaming: Are you going to stand with Ukraine, or are you going to stand with Putin? Will we stand with America or or with Trump? I fear we already have the answer. Whats worse, many Republicans would like nothing better than to make a liar of Biden, who swore to Ukraine in his State of the Union address last year: We will stand with you as long as it takes. If Republicans do kill Ukraine aid, theyll be on the wrong side of history. The judgment will not be kind. Their Trumpian America First talk will get the same treatment as the original version: nearly universal damnation. () One of the top unchecked items on my bucket list has been to experience Osaka in Japan, and since its only a short 4-hour flight from Guam, I decided to finally make the trip. United Airlines flies direct from Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) to Kansai International Airport (KIX) twice a week. We left Guam in the morning and arrived by noon Japan-time. Once we cleared customs, we jumped on one of the convenient express trains to Hankyu Respire Osaka Hotel in downtown Osaka. Osaka is the third largest city in Japan with a population of 2.7 million and is known for its local dialect and casual attitude, which sets it apart from Tokyo. Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky Building After checking in, we took another train to see the famous Osaka Castle. Like many historical Japanese buildings made of wood, Osaka Castle has burned down and been rebuilt many times over the years. The current castle was rebuilt in 1935. Until you complete the walk from the main entrance to the actual castle, it is difficult to understand the scale and elaborate stonework of the Osaka Castle property. The castle itself has eight floors with intricate screen displays and artifacts reflecting how the resident shoguns lived. From the observation deck on top, we could see the famous golden carp on each side of the rooftop. Next, as the sun set, we made our way downtown to see the famous Umeda Sky Building observatory, which consists of two connecting 40-story towers. The vertigo-inducing towers are 173 meters tall, and from the round rooftop atrium we could see every corner of Osaka as night fell over the city a perfect ending to our first day in Japan. Memorable walking path Early the next morning, we took a train to Koyasan Station to visit the Mount Koya, UNESCO World Heritage Site and mausoleum of esoteric Buddhist founder Kobo Daishi whose grave has been the site of pilgrimages for over 1,000 years. At the station, we hopped on a bus to the entrance of the Ichonohashi walking path where we met with our English-speaking monk guide Tamura-san. As we crossed the bridge and ascended the snow-covered stone path going up the mountain, it seemed as though we had entered a different realm as all sound was muffled with no wind. The ancient stone path was lined on both sides with rows of ancient stone gravestones of old Daimyo feudal lords with tall forest cedars growing in between making a natural roof over the path. As we hiked up, our guide explained the symbolism of the trees and rocks around us in addition to the history of many of the larger recent graves, including the location of many large famous Japanese company plots purchased by their founding presidents for personal and employee use. Tamura-san went on to explain how his sect believes everyone is the same in death so petty differences in life are pointless. After reflecting on this and the incredible scenery around us, several of my friends were overcome with emotion and started to cry. As we continued our ascent, we passed the famous Sugatamo no Ido, a well where legend says if you cannot see your reflection on the water inside, you will die within three days. Fortunately for those of us dared to do so, we saw our faces. We climbed about 45 more minutes to reach the final Torodo lantern hall where photography was prohibited from that point. Our guide walked us to the front of Kobo Daishis mausoleum, which is actually a 3-meter-deep cave sealed by a door. Kobo Daishi is said to have locked himself inside where he is not dead but in a state of eternal meditation. We lined up before the door, closed our eyes and bowed while our guide chanted verses of enlightenment. Terrific Tsutenkaku Tower After, we made the trek back down the mountain to our bus and next stop to Tsutenkaku, or the 108-meter-tall Eiffel Tower of Osaka. Tsutentaku Tower was built in 1956 and is famous for its illumination, which changes color based on what the weather will be like the next day. If you have the guts, the tower has a slide that snakes around the building from the top. The 94-meter level floor is made of class, offering a great view of the city from above. Inside Tsutenkaku, each floor had shops and restaurants with Osaka-themed souvenirs and more. After exploring, we left to enjoy some famous Osaka Kushiyaki fried meat and vegetables for dinner. We made it back to the hotel to rest in time for our next days big adventure in Kyoto. More information: Flight package information Kansai Tourism Bureau Koyasan guide Nobuhiro Tamura Hotel Hankyu Respire Osaka Musicians perform during a concert celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year by the New York Philharmonic in New York, the United States, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) The New York Philharmonic (NY Phil) illuminated Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall in New York on Tuesday with a vibrant concert, marking the Year of the Dragon in glorious fashion. This marked the 12th consecutive year of the NY Phil celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, a tradition introduced in 2012 by Chinese conductor Yu Long. Tuesday's celebration brought the orchestra in "a full dragon to dragon lunar cycle, and we're so happy about this," said Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the philharmonic, in an earlier interview with Xinhua. The annual event is one of the high points on NY Phil's schedule every year as it welcomes people from all over the world, he said. "We are sort of connecting the United States and China through our music. Regardless of what's happening in the world, around us, or the challenges between our countries, this connection between music is so important to us and will remain so," said Ginstling. The centerpiece of the evening was the world premiere of "Lunar Overture" by acclaimed film composer Elliot Leung, a piece that encapsulated the spirit of the New Year festivities. Additionally, excerpts from Zhou Tian's "Transcend," composed in 2019 to honor the 150th anniversary of the First Transcontinental Railroad, further enriched the program. Classical violinist Clara-Jumi Kang graced the NY Phil stage for the first time as the soloist in Bruch's beloved "Violin Concerto No. 1." Adding a touch of whimsy, Saint-Saens's "Carnival of the Animals" came to life with narration by Jamie Bernstein, accompanied by pianists Clayton Stephenson and Serena Wang. "I thought it was incredibly energetic and exciting," Hayley Bond, a vocalist and NY Phil enthusiast, told Xinhua, reflecting on the evening's program. "I do think that celebrating the Lunar New Year in New York is a really special thing," said Bond. "The more people can exchange their experience and their traditions and their heritage and their stories, the better music and art becomes." Bond purposefully wore red for the occasion, a ceremonial color for the traditional Chinese festival that calls for good fortune. Dancers alone on the stage followed by their shadows, brass sparkling in the light and voices which filled the air showcased talent that Helena and East Helena teens had to offer at the 31st annual Stockman Bank Night to Shine. The annual Night to Shine was held at the Helena Civic Center on Tuesday night, where students showed off a broad range of talent. Students from both Helena high schools as well as St. Andrew School and East Helena High performed to a crowded audience of family and friends. The talent-filled night was presented by Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) student members in the Helena area. DECA is an organization divided into two student divisions, high school and collegiate levels, to address learning styles, interests and focuses of the members, according to the organization. Capital High School DECA adviser Jessica Freeman said the organization has started in Helena High School and has been involved with the local high schools for about 50 years. She added that the night gives DECA students an opportunity to work hands on in their desired fields that the program offers by creating marketing plans, engaging with the community and helping with every aspect of the show. The organization has 254,194 high school members with 3,917 high school chapters, while there are 4,035 collegiate members and 180 college chapters. Its website states DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges globally. Night to Shine is open to all Helena area high school students wishing to participate and had 28 acts audition and 21 were selected. Freeman said the panel of judges who select the acts tries not to cut any, but they have to make sure the performers are stage ready. For the first time in its 31-year history, awards were given to the top three performances judged by the events top sponsor, Stockman Bank. Lily Pierson received first place for her rendition of the song "Bluebird" by Sara Bareilles, where she controlled the stage with a voice that had the audience in a trance. Her performance was the second act in act two, when she started off center stage, sitting on the floor. Slowly, she rose to her feet walking onto the stage hitting high notes and low notes standing out against the black back drop. Second place went to the Tiernan Irish Dancers. Clicking and clacking of shoes in the darkness started their performance as the lights rose, showing the dancers moving synchronously throughout the stage. The dancers with crossed legs and swinging feet brought the crowd into the performance with clapping on rhythm and dancing to a variety of songs. In third place, Avery Sanders and Katie Flowers performed "Always Remember Us This Way" by Lady Gaga during the show, with Sanders playing the piano and Flowers singing and swaying. Harmonizing with the notes, Flowers controlled the stage as the crowd was silent during their performance. Another act not only showed their talent, but also advocated for the Lewis and Clark Humane Society and their views on why its important to donate to the animal shelter. Jackson Littrup performed five flat ground bike tricks and for every trick he landed he would donate $5 to the shelter. Littrup landed four out of five tricks, but at the end of his performance he said he would still be donating the $25 and added he knows it may not sound like a lot of money, but if others donated, collectively it would be a lot more. A pawrtner in crime performed with its owner, Mckenna Danielson, by leaping through hoops and swerving through a doggy obstacle course. Page the dog and Danielson received a room full of awes, smiles and laughter as their performance went on during the first act of the talent show. Two performances later, through the slats of a black Steinway & Sons piano, first-time performer at Night to Shine Bennet Woodward played a piano medley, leaving the crowd in a silent gaze. He was seen staring at the ivory keys as his notes rang through the Civic Center. Freeman said the event has seen growing attendance over the past couple of years and is excited for next year. Students viewed it as a great way to engage with the community and help DECA within Helena schools. Capital High School junior Kynzie Belcher said the event overall was great to see students showcasing their talents. It is seen as a positive impact on the community and students, according to Capital High School senior Kate Berg. Berg said Night to Shine helps raise money for the club so the students can pursue their futures in their desired fields within the program. Photos: Teen talent shines in 31st annual Night to Shine Benefis Health System gave the public an early peek Thursday at its Helena Specialty Center, a $44 million three-story medical facility that is 64,000 square feet and stands on property that was once home to an indoor shopping mall. The day was capped by a celebration and ribbon cutting. It is expected to have about 50 employees when it opens March 1. The center, at what is now 1645 Vandelay Ave., is on 3.25 acres where the Capital Hill Mall used to stand, between Prospect and 11th avenues. Construction started March 2022 and Sletten Construction is the contractor. The building features four state-of-the-art operating rooms for outpatient surgeries, including total joint procedures; an infusion suite; the most advanced imaging available, including cardiac-specific equipment; and laboratory services. Other services at the center will include cardiology, ear, nose and throat, family medicine, gastroenterology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, podiatry, pulmonology and sleep medicine. It offers brightly lit rooms, tall ceilings, warm murals and panoramic views of Helena. Its amazing, a woman who asked only to be identified as Annie said as she exited the building after a tour. It seems to be very well done. The center is the latest incursion by Great Falls-based Benefis into Helena, which is already the home of St. Peters Health and PureView Health Center, among others. Judy Morgan and Paul Stahl toured the Benefis building as well Thursday. Morgan described the building as beautiful, saying she liked how she could see the Sleeping Giant, a mountainous landmark. I would certainly go there for future therapy, she said. Stahl said he was impressed with the space. He said the increase in doctors may increase competition and make it easier to schedule an appointment at nearby St. Peters Health. They echoed comments made earlier by Annie. She called Benefis a wonderful addition to Helenas health care options. Its good to have competition, she said. It keeps them on their toes. Benefis Chief Executive Officer John Goodnow was at the new digs Thursday afternoon for a reception and ribbon cutting sponsored by the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce. "I am tickled with how it came out," he said. "I think it's gorgeous. It's a fantastic facility." He said Benefis has felt welcomed in Helena and he said he heard several positive comments from people touring the site. Goodnow said giving people different health care options was a good thing and that competition makes everyone work a little harder. Calle Aschim, president and CEO of the chamber, said this was a good day for the Queen City. "In Montana, where health care options are limited, we are so fortunate to have quality options in Helena," she said. "Benefis is committed to their patients and we are so excited to see their contributions to the Helena area." James Bisom, director of operations, was among the Benefis staff leading a steady stream of tours of the building. The parking lot was full and people munched on oversized cookies as they walked around the building. I knew wed have a good turnout but its better than I expected, he said, adding people were excited about having another health care option, the space and what Benefis is offering. Benefis in 2021 opened Benefis Northeast, an urgent care clinic at 2960 Washington St., across the street from Costco in a building that one time was home to the International House of Pancakes. It 2022, it opened an office in the Great Northern Town Center that offered internal medicine and gastroenterology care. It also operates a free-standing MRI imaging facility on the citys northside. Benefis officials said earlier this month they would be closing the internal medicine and gastroenterology care office in the Great Northern Town Center and relocate it to the new specialty center. They said they have always served patients from Helena. A 2021 study by the Montana Hospital Association and Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana looked at Cascade County and Benefis Health System and Great Falls Clinic. Photos: A first look inside the new Benefis Specialty Care Center The report found that in-county billing accounted for 66% of its billing in 2019. That was followed by Hill County (6%), Glacier (5%) and Teton (4%). Lewis and Clark County was 3.8%. In Lewis and Clark County, the study found that St. Peters Health and Shodair Childrens Hospital had an in-county billing rate of 76% in 2019. Benefis is not alone on the old mall property. Opportunity Bank opened a building on the site and Panera Bread is expected to build a store there as well. State legislators have set course to resurrect the compensation program for wrongfully convicted people after disagreements between the governor and lawmakers tanked the original program in just two years. The program's expiration last year was a topic of discussion Wednesday before the Legislature's Law and Justice Interim Committee. Members asked staff to prepare previous versions of the bill and the governor's points of contention with the program so they can consider whether they want to take another swing at passing a policy with staying power. The dispute that spanned two legislative sessions was the program's assignment of who foots the bill in cases of wrongful convictions. The Legislature in 2019 began work on a program that would see the state pay exonerees a set amount per year spent in prison and on parole or probation. By making the state the sole payor, proponents said the program would avoid protracted and costly litigation. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, elected the following year, opposed that arrangement despite widespread support among lawmakers, including those in his own party. The version of that legislation that survived his veto pen in 2021 set the state's liability at 25% of the compensation payouts, while counties would be on the hook for 75%. As predicted by the program's supporters, that arrangement prompted one county to defend itself against paying for wrongful conviction costs in a program it had no part in enacting. Only one person whose conviction has been overturned filed for compensation under the new program. Cody Marble abandoned his civil rights case, as was required in order to file a claim with the compensation program, to pursue the new program. Missoula County abandoned its criminal allegations against him in 2017 but has since reversed course and now has spent more than two years contending in court that his conviction was sound. A jury convicted Marble of rape during a trial when he was a teenager; the Montana Innocence Project worked to eventually overturn that conviction based on new evidence, including the alleged victim's recantation. The 2021 bill required the Legislature to take action again in 2023: either maintain the program, amend it or, in the case of no action by lawmakers, let the program sunset. Lawmakers determined to regain the program's original intent again sent Gianforte a bill that did not require counties pay into the program. Again Gianforte vetoed the bill, and any opportunity to amend the bill to meet the governor's demands died in a chaotic conclusion to the 2023 session. A subsequent attempt to override Gianforte's veto failed. "At this point we've come to see that there's no way that this bill is going to go forward without a cost-sharing structure between state and county," said Amy Sings In The Timber, executive director of the Montana Innocence Project, a key supporter of the program. "What we're concerned about was exactly what's happening right now, was that this was going to be exploited as a mechanism to re-try somebody on the basis of their innocence, drag them through a very dramatic process and in the end still end up costing a lot of money." The Innocence Project suggested a model where the state pays the claimant, and then invoices the county for 50% of the cost, a system where the financial dispute does not involve the exoneree. Sings In The Timber said in the waning hours of the 2023 legislative session, the Montana Association of Counties had agreed to a similar proposal. Eric Bryson from the Montana Association of Counties said Thursday the organization agrees that exonerees should be paid first and removed from the financial dispute, but disagree to a pre-determined 50% liability in any case. The counties would seek due process to determine what share, if any, they would be required to pay in each individual case, he said. Legislators on the committee Wednesday recalled the program as "a great bill" and asked their staff to pull together past materials for another round of deliberations as they gather drafts ahead of the 2025 session. Marble, meanwhile, is awaiting a May trial date for his claims that were originally required to include only a few court filings. His case has partly been drawn out because it is the first; there's no well of precedent to draw from, so each argument and turn in the proceedings are novel. In a phone call Wednesday, Marble said he supported any change that could make the program workable. "I don't want anybody to go through what I'm going through," Marble said. The law and justice committee's next meeting date has not yet been set. This story has been updated with additional context from the Montana Association of Counties. Sean Steinebach describes acreage included in the Pintler Face project on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest as a forest health disaster. Steinebach works as a forester for Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge. Chris Marchion says historic logging by the Anaconda Company, followed by timber cutting in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s had logged the bejesus out of much of the area and left a network of high-standard roads. Many were later closed. In many places, large, even-aged, over-mature stands of lodgepole pines remain, Marchion said. Marchion is an inductee into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame, a longtime advocate for wildlife and public lands access and a member of the Anaconda Sportsmens Club. Both Marchion and Steinebach live in Anaconda-Deerlodge County. Both are members of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Working Group, a citizens group representing diverse interests. Members represent conservation, hunting and fishing, timber, outfitters and guides, agriculture/ranching, recreation and more. One goal is to resolve issues on the forest that might otherwise trigger litigation. Marchion participated in the review of the Pintler Face timber project and he was generally satisfied with the decision green-lighting the project. The Forest Service worked really well with us, Marchion said. We had a lot of input. Marchion also complimented the efforts of Vanna Boccadori, Butte-area wildlife biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He said she worked hard to provide information to the Working Group. He said the project details outlined in the Pintler Face decision, related field trips and collaborative work led him to believe the project offered a constructive thing to do with the landscape. Yet that collaboration did not thwart litigation. Three environmental groups filed suit Friday in U.S. District Court in Missoula to halt the Pintler Face project. The lawsuit was filed well after the Forest Service project decision released in September 2021. Logging has already begun. One plaintiff is the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, based in Helena, for which Mike Garrity is executive director. We couldn't find a lawyer until now, he said, referencing the timing of the lawsuit In a news release, Garrity alleged the project will basically deforest the south face of the Anaconda-Pintler Range, which is bordered by the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness area. The Forest Service reports that the project area is 73,624 acres and located about 10 miles northwest of Wise River on the south face of the Anaconda Range on the Wisdom Ranger District. The project would involve logging, burning or other vegetation treatments on about 11,224 acres. Environmental analysis for the Pintler Face project began in July 2016. During the summer of 2017, the Forest Service held public open house meetings in Anaconda, Wisdom, Wise River, Dillon and Butte. The lawsuit filed by Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection and Native Ecosystems Council contends that the Forest Services analysis for the Pintler Face project was inadequate especially when considering potential impacts on grizzly bears, Canada lynx and wolverines all threatened species. The Yellowstone to Uintas Connection is based in Paris, Idaho, and the Native Ecosystems Council is based in Willow Creek, Montana. The plaintiffs lawsuit reports that their members use the project area for hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and a variety of other recreational, scientific and spiritual pursuits. Plaintiffs members intend to continue to use and enjoy the area frequently and on an ongoing basis in the future, the lawsuit observes. Defendants include Leanne Martin, regional forester for the Forest Services Region One, Lisa Timchak, supervisor for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lawsuit alleges that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to complete either an environmental assessment, EA, or environmental impact statement, EIS, when remapping lynx habitat on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge in 2020. In addition, the plaintiffs allege that the Forest Service should have completed an EIS instead of a less comprehensive EA for the Pintler Face project and faults the biological opinion contributed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The plaintiffs ask the court to either reject the project decision or block its implementation. They also seek compensation under the Equal Access to Justice Act for costs, expenses, expert witness fees and reasonable attorney fees. Marchion and Steinebach both said environmental groups like the Alliance for the Wild Rockies are invited to be part of the collaborative process that refines a project but often elect not to participate. Steinebach said Sun Mountain Logging already has work underway within the Pintler Face project. Its extremely frustrating, Steinebach said. Its not part of how they operate to be part of the process. It makes me think they dont care about whats happening on the ground. It has significant impacts on what we do. The Forest Service reports that the Native Ecosystems Council and Alliance for the Wild Rockies did not respond to an invitation to attend resolution meeting in July 2021. On Wednesday, Garrity described two prolonged collaborative efforts in years past in which he actively participated that yielded nothing yet required sacrificing countless hours of time. Meanwhile, Steinebach described the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Working Group as a diverse group of people trying to improve forest health and reduce fuels and keep jobs. A Chicago-to-Seattle passenger rail route that passes through some of Montanas most populous counties has been included in a list of 15 long-distance routes tapped for restoration by the federal government. The development marks the second time federal regulators have spotlighted the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authoritys efforts to bring additional passenger train service to Montana. During a meeting on Feb. 8, the Federal Railroad Administration also provided a bit more detail on where the North Coast Hiawatha service might stop if Amtrak ultimately restores the route, landing on service through Helena rather than Butte. Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, which was formed in 2020 under an obscure, century-old piece of Montana law to advocate for expanded passenger rail service through southern Montana, said the development is a very strong signal that federal authorities are invested in a restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha route. Theres a lot of momentum building behind restoring this route, BSPRA vice chair and Dawson County Economic Development Council member Jason Stuart told Montana Free Press. Were really excited about where were at. Stuart said the North Coast Hiawatha Route was one of the strongest candidates for restored service because it stands to benefit sparsely populated communities with few options to connect with hospitals, colleges, urban centers and veteran services beyond getting in a car and driving hundreds of miles. In terms of connecting rural, disadvantaged communities and tribal communities, it shows the best performance metrics of any of the routes in achieving those goals, Stuart said. This is going to be such an enormous boost for rural communities to have this service restored. Stuart, who also serves on the Glendive City Council, noted that the North Coast Hiawatha route was the only one identified in the long-distance study that was also chosen for the FRAs Corridor Identification and Development Program, which came with $500,000 of initial funding that will enable BSPRA to start getting a handle on the logistical, financial and ridership details required to restore the route, which was discontinued in 1979. Stuart said the BSPRAs inclusion in that program puts BSPRA in the funding pipeline for millions of dollars of funding as the project advances. Put those two developments together, he said, and it means a lot. Stuart said he anticipates that the FRA will present its report on the long-distance study to Congress by the end of the year. Thats very important because this is the Federal Railroad Administration the agency that handles both passenger and freight rail traffic telling Congress, We think you should restore this route, he said. Both the Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study and the Corridor ID program are funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included more than $8 billion for passenger rail projects. Once completed, the report will demonstrate the economic and social benefits of new and restored Amtrak service and provide guidance on implementation, according to FRA spokesperson William Wong. Theres been some uncertainty as to the precise location the North Coast Hiawatha route might take as it travels between Glendive and Missoula, and that piece of the puzzle is coming into focus. Per the FRAs presentation, which includes a further-analysis-is-needed disclaimer, the preferred route will pass through Helena rather than Butte. The line east of Butte, over Homestake Pass, has been out of service for decades, meaning it would be a heavier lift to get that section of railroad in shape for regular use. Stuart said BSPRA intends to continue to advocate for rail service to Butte as part of a larger goal to bring passenger rail service to as many Montana communities as possible. At the end of the day, we wont consider our work completed until both Helena and Butte have access to rail service, and we would even include Great Falls and Shelby on that list, as well, Stuart said. The North Coast Hiawatha route isnt the only proposal expanding Montanans access to passenger rail that was incorporated in the FRAs presentation: a route between Billings and El Paso, Texas, also made the cut. Stuart said he anticipates that the Long-Distance Service Study Working Group will meet again within the next four months. The FRA is taking comments on its list of preferred routes through March 8 at contactus@fralongdistancerailstudy.org. Parks and Recreation board to meet The Montana State Parks and Recreation Board will meet virtually through Zoom at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 26. The meeting will also be streamed live on the FWP website. To make a comment via Zoom, register on the FWP website before midnight on Feb. 25. The board will take action on the acquisition of property adjacent to the Missouri Headwaters State Park. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks proposes to accept in fee title 26.36 acres of privately held property adjacent to Missouri Headwaters State Park by donation from the Montana State Parks Foundation. FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with special needs. To request arrangements, call the FWP Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division at 406-444-3750. For the full agenda and background on the scheduled topics, go to the State Parks and Recreation Board page. License applications begin March 1 The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2024 hunting, fishing and conservation licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Applications for most species deer, elk, antelope, deer B licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey can be made beginning March 1. A new online feature this year is the option for applicants to reapply for the same offerings as last year with just a simple click, eliminating the need to search through previous applications. Hunters and anglers can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website beginning at 5 a.m. on March 1; click on Buy and Apply. Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Comment sought on Benyo review Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several draft environmental assessments, emergency closures and private pond licenses applications. For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices. In the Helena area, comment is being taken on the Benyo Private Pond License Review will be taken. A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock westslope cutthroat trout or rainbow trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is a 0.53 surface acre pond located east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir in the Cottonwood Creek drainage of the Big Belt Mountains. The pond is fed by a combination of groundwater and seasonal surface runoff. The pond has a screened outlet, which will prevent escapement into a normally dry channel below the pond. There are no documented Montana Species of Special Concern in the drainage. Risk of escapement is low and the associated risks are minimal. Deadline: Comments will be accepted from Feb. 14, 2024, through Feb. 29, 2024. Written comments can be mailed to: Ron Spoon Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks P.O. Box 1137 Townsend, MT 59718 Comment period extended on bear plan Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is reopening the public comment period for the 2024 Grizzly Bear Management Plan and Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan to ensure Montana counties, Tribes, and state and federal agencies have a chance for input. The new deadline is March 9. The extension will ensure that Montana statute requiring FWP to notify county commissioners of opportunities to comment on management plans for grizzly bears, wolves and other large carnivores has been met. It will also allow for more time for tribal partners and other state and federal agencies to provide input. The new grizzly bear plan will inform management statewide, focusing on the 30 counties where grizzly bear presence has been documented in recent years or may be documented in the near future. Since grizzly bears are still listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the plan is designed to inform state management while this species remains federally listed. The wolf plan shifts a key counting metric from the number of breeding pairs to the number of wolves representing at least 15 breeding pairs. The plan establishes that 450 wolves would ensure 15 breeding pairs. Population estimates will continue to be determined by the peer-reviewed Integrated Patch Occupancy Modeling method, or iPOM. The plan also describes the current depredation prevention and response program. To comment on the Grizzly Bear Management Plan, go to fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/grizzly-bear-management-plan. To comment on the Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, go to fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/draft-wolf-mgmt-plan. If you have already commented on the plans, your comments are captured and there is no need to comment further at this time. State seeks comment on recreation plan Over the next few months, FWP will be gathering input from the recreating public as it updates its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). A Helena workshop is scheduled for 6-8 p.m., March 4, Montana WILD Auditorium, 2668 Broadwater Ave.SCORP serves as a guide for local, state and federal agencies as they work with FWP to develop future outdoor recreation opportunities across the state. SCORP also outlines outdoor recreation goals for the state over the next five years. "Were going to reach out to people who love the outdoors, no matter how they choose to recreate, said FWP Director Dustin Temple. We want all viewpoints and ideas incorporated in this document that will really help guide how we develop outdoor recreation opportunities over the next five years. SCORP is updated every five years and is required for the state to receive funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which provides matching grant funds to state, tribal, and local government entities to develop outdoor recreation. The first step in updating the SCORP, FWP will host nine public workshops around the state, including a virtual option, in February and March. These workshops are designed to answer questions from the public and get feedback on outdoor recreation ideas from communities around the state. The insights and ideas gathered from these public workshops will help shape the goals and objectives of the 2025-2029 SCORP. HAMMOND, Ind. A man who led officers in northwestern Indiana on a chase died after crashing a stolen U-Haul truck into a river, police said. The incident began around 4:10 a.m. Wednesday when Hammond police were notified by its license plate recognition system of a stolen U-Haul in the city, police said. Officers on patrol spotted the vehicle and when they attempted to stop it, the driver fled, police said. The pursuit ended in Chicago, police said. "Tragically, as the U-Haul approached a curve in the road, it failed to negotiate the turn and went over the edge, landing in the Little Calumet River," Hammond Police Lt. Steve Kellogg said. "The driver hastily exited the U-Haul and attempted to evade capture by swimming away," Kellogg said. Officers went into the river to rescue him, but they could not find him after he went underwater, he said. Chicago Fire Department divers responded to the scene and found the body. The identity of the man has not been released. A female passenger who jumped from the vehicle during the pursuit was apprehended and had active warrants related to charges of possessing cocaine, Kellogg said. CHICAGO The City of Chicago is suing five oil and gas companies and a trade group that represents them over their role in contributing to climate change and its effects, arguing that the companies have misled the public about how the use of fossil fuels affects city residents well-being. The suit, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court, accuses BP, Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil and the American Petroleum Institute of mounting a climate deception campaign about burning fossil fuels to protect their profits. Chicago is the latest in a slew of government bodies taking legal action against fossil fuel distributors over how climate change has affected cities and states. Cities in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina and Puerto Rico have taken similar actions since 2017, according to a release from the Center for Climate Integrity. Chicago, represented by its own attorneys and lawyers from Chicago firm DiCello Levitt and San Francisco firm Sher Edling, is not seeking a specific sum from the defendants. However, it is demanding they reimburse the city on the costs incurred from climate change-related events such as infrastructure and property damage. Since 1980, Chicagoans have faced warmer winters, less ice coverage on Lake Michigan and other lakes, heat waves, a decrease in snow and more heavy rain events as well as climate change-related damage to the citys infrastructure and housing, attorneys argue. That damage has been greater in in low-income communities and communities that have historically experienced racial, social, health, and economic inequities, the lawsuit reads. The suit also cited the finding that 2023 was the hottest year on record and points to predicted increases in extremely hot days. To prepare for those forecasts and other weather events, Chicago must build new infrastructure to withstand more intense weather and fix damage that has occurred: the city plans to invest almost $200 million to protect the citys most vulnerable areas from the results of climate change, the lawsuit said. Attorneys argued in the filing that the companies have known for decades that their products would produce atmospheric warming. The companies subsequent efforts to retain the widespread use of fossil fuels in spite of that knowledge drove up greenhouse gas emissions, accelerated global warming, and brought about devastating climate change impacts to the city of Chicago, the suit said. The lawsuit compares the companies advertising efforts to those of the tobacco industry in response to public health research about the effects of smoking. In parallel to the companies own marketing efforts, the suit argues that the American Petroleum Institute helped run campaigns meant to sow doubt about the causes of climate change, prolonging the use of fossil fuels and intensifying climate change to the detriment of Chicagoans. In a statement, the institutes lawyer Ryan Meyers called the action meritless and an enormous waste of taxpayer resources, arguing climate policy was the domain of Congress, not cities. Chevron lawyer Theodore Boutrous echoed Meyers characterization of the lawsuit in a statement as meritless local litigation over lawful and essential energy production and said climate change policy was the domain of international policymakers. A case management hearing is set for June 20, according to court records. Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Shi Taifeng met with Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po on Wednesday in Beijing. Shi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, extended greetings for the Spring Festival and the Tibetan New Year to Panchen Rinpoche and all Tibetan Buddhism believers. Panchen Rinpoche presented Shi with a hada scarf. Acknowledging the achievements made by Panchen Rinpoche over the past year, Shi expressed the hope that Panchen Rinpoche can conscientiously study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core ideologically, politically and in action. Shi also expressed the hope that Panchen Rinpoche can uphold the principle of developing Tibetan Buddhism in the Chinese context, and actively contribute to advancing the adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism to the socialist society. Panchen Rinpoche said he would continue to improve political standards and religious knowledge, inherit and carry forward the patriotic and religious tradition of the Tibetan Buddhist community, and resolutely safeguard national unity and ethnic solidarity. Count on Ron Rash to use his stories to take his readers on a trip back in time, usually to some place in North Carolina, as he did most famously in his novel Serena when he took us to the North Carolina forested mountains in the early 1900s. He has done it again in his latest book, The Caretaker, which mostly takes place in and around the mountain town of Blowing Rock in 1950. However, Rashs book opens on a frozen river in Korea where an American soldier from Blowing Rock, Jacob Hamilton, and a North Korean combatant are engaged in a brutal hand-to-hand knife fight. In what may be the best description of the horrors of war that I have ever read, Rash describes in his first chapter how the two warriors fought each other, their own desperate exhaustion, and the frozen river. On the ice above the river, the soldier lunged, not to stab but to knock Jacob off balance. Jacob fell and the ice cracked. The other man was on top now. Jacob raised his left arm, and their forearms locked a moment before the Koreans blade raked Jacobs wrist. Another stab sent the knife into Jacobs left shoulder and his arm went limp as more ice fractured. Jacob felt a sudden distance from everything around him, even his own heaving breaths. The bayonet slipped out of his hand. World and time unbuckled into a luminous vanishing, his body a burdensome shell so easily shredded. Let it all go, it wont hurt long. As the North Korean raised his knife, Jacobs right arm shoved the man off balance. The blade tip pierced the ice as Jacob twisted free. Inside the moons circle of light, the soldier pried his knife from the ice and Jacob picked up the bayonet. Almost ceremonially, they knelt before each other. Their breathing stopped, widening the silence. Rising into a crouch, the North Korean slipped, fell backward, his flexed elbows breaking the ice and plunging him into the water. Half-submerged but still wielding the knife, the man sought purchase, lifted one arm into the ice, and then the second. Jacob dropped his bayonet, crawled forward, and shoved the Korean under. When the head thrashed to the surface, Jacob, flat against the ice now, grabbed a fistful of hair and shoved harder, deeper. The wounded American soldier, Jacob Hamilton, is a central character in Rashs book. Back in Blowing Rock, before he was drafted and sent to fight in Korea, Jacob built a friendship with Blackburn Gant, the caretaker of a church graveyard. Because of a severe bout with polio, Gants face became disfigured to the extent that people found it impossible to look at him. Jacob befriended Blackburn, and the two established a firm friendship. Jacob fell deeply in love with Naomi, but his parents never accepted her and, in fact, had essentially disowned both Jacob and Naomi. Before he left for Korea, he begged his parents to help take care of Naomi while he was away. But they refused. With Jacob in Korea, Blackburn became Naomis only friend. As he recovered from his wounds in Korea, Jacob was anxious to return to Blowing Rock and to Naomi, and their child who was growing in Naomis womb. Before arriving home, he learned from his parents that Naomi had died in childbirth and was buried in a casket placed in a grave dug by his friend Blackburn. But with Naomi believed to be dead, Jacob found it impossible to settle into anything close to a happy life. Ron Rash and his great story-telling gifts give his readers a satisfying end to Jacobs struggle. One that is not to be missed. Spearman Police Chief Ortiz Statement On February 9 Incident Spearman Police Chief James Ortiz spoke with the High Plains Observer Monday, February 12 with the following information concerning the events that occurred on Friday, February 9 at Gus Birdwell Elementary School and Spearman Junior High. "We did receive call on the threat of two juveniles traveling from Wyoming to a city in Texas and a threat toward the schools. With the possibility that these two juveniles could travel through or near Spearman, the PD immediately contacted SISD Superintendent Gist, as well each school principal to take precautions as needed. We also advised them that we would be patrolling school zones until school let out, at which time we would be on scene at the elementary school and Jr high. The police department was on scene the entire time from school letting out early and up to an hour later as the high school games began their preparations for the night. The school staff did an excellent job informing the parents of the concern and were extremely efficient in coordinating the early dismissal. It was very impressive how the community was able to work together with law enforcement and school personnel in following protocols with such short notice." Community BRIDGE at Crossover Kannapolis The Community BRIDGE Project was begun by a group of area ministers, lay leaders and city of Kannapolis representatives after the civil unrest stemming from George Floyds death. The groups purpose is to serve as a bridge to build positive and healthy relationships among diverse groups within the Kannapolis community. As a result, with February being Race Relations Month, the group is taking part in the 26th annual Crossover Kannapolis service Sunday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. The worship service will be held at Centerview Baptist Church, 415 Walter St., Kannapolis. Crossover Kannapolis is an annual worship service among Kannapolis area churches that seek to cross over barriers, i.e. race, denomination and worship styles, that sometimes divide churches. One of the goals of the Crossover Kannapolis service is to demonstrate that unity is possible even in diversity. This goal fits well with the purposes of the Community BRIDGE Project. The Crossover Kannapolis service will consist of special music from various church choirs and praise teams, Scripture readings about unity, prayers for revival and spiritual awakening. A mass choir with representatives from all the churches will conclude the service. Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant and Kannapolis Police Chief Terry Spry will participate in the service. The participating churches include Marable Memorial AME Zion, Centerview Baptist, Living Water Church of God and Macedonia Baptist. The dozen pastors and church leaders from the Community BRIDGE Project in Kannapolis will take part in the service as well. For more information about the Community BRIDGE Project or the Crossover Kannapolis service, contact Pastor Willie Rash at centerviewbaptist@gmail.com or call 704-933-2331. Duke professor at Houston Preaching Mission The Houston Preaching Mission will feature Dr. Luke Powery, dean of the chapel and professor of Homiletics and African and African-American Studies at Duke University as the guest preacher on Sunday, Feb. 25, at Central United Methodist Church. Powery is a national leader in the theological study of the art of preaching and is often a keynote speaker and lecturer at educational institutions, conferences, symposia, and retreats. Sunday school classes will meet with Powery at 9:30 a.m. in the Youth Room and he will be speaker at the 10:30 a.m. worship service. It will be followed by a congregational meal of baked chicken, green beans, macaroni and cheese, green salad, rolls, and sheet cake, which will be catered by Second Course. The meal is offered as a gift of the Houston Preaching Mission, but reservations are requested. Tyro puppets coming to Cold Springs The Tyro Methodist puppets will perform at Cold Springs Methodist Church at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25. All ages are invited. There is no charge for this exciting show, but a donation to the Tyro puppet ministry is appreciated. Calvary Lenten retreats A Lenten Retreat will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 24. All are welcome to attend this first of two Lenten Retreats as we learn about incorporating healing actions into our lives. Calvary Lutheran Church is at 950 Bradley St., Concord. Refreshments will be served. The second retreat date is March 23. Lowesville Gospel Concert Lowesville Gospel Concerts will hold their next concert Saturday, Feb. 24, and will be featuring The Mylon Hayes Family from Hudson. Hazel Sain and her grandson Dominick will be opening the program Saturday. All concerts are no admission cost, so bring a friend and come enjoy. The concert will be at Vineyard Church, 1062 NC 16 Business Highway, Stanley (Lowesville). Everest Grill will be open to serve you before or after the concert. New GriefShare program A GriefShare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist on Sundays through April 21, from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register, go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811. Oak Grove starting GriefShare program GriefShare Support Group spring sessions will be on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23, through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is located at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763. Community breakfast The first Saturday monthly community breakfast will be held at Cold Springs Global Methodist, 2550 Cold Springs Road, Concord, from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, March 2. The cost is a donation to help support the community. Soup and Sandwich Lunch Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be holding a Soup and Sandwich Lunch on Saturday, March 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Free with donation.) The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis. For more information, call 704-933-0155. Mt. Mitchell Hot Dog Sale Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be holding a Hot Dog Sale on Wednesday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis. For more information, call 704-933-0155. Apocalyptic Bible study James Fore hosts Uncovering Apocalyptic weekly Bible study every Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the parlor at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. How Great Thou Art drawing class James Fore leads a weekly drawing class, How Great Thou Art, every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. Fresh produce and more The Bulb Market at Grace Lutheran Church is open every Friday from 3-4 p.m. with fresh produce for the community. Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center will be offering primary care and basic health screenings on-site at the church on the second Friday of each month. Grace Lutheran is at 58 Chestnut Drive, Concord. Sportscenter weekly Bible study Join Calvary Lutheran Church for its Sportscenter weekly Bible study. Pastor Debbie Frye hosts the study every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter, 233 Country Club Drive NE, Concord. Centering Prayer weekly via Zoom This Centering Prayer Group meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. All are welcome. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923. All Peoples Church of Jesus Christ Worship at 11 a.m. Sunday at American Legion Post 172. Pastor: Prophet Roland Jordan delivers the message. Ann Street United Methodist Church 335 Ann St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Randy L. Wall. In person and Facebook Live worship at 11 a.m. Sermon: All in the Family. Scripture: John 19:25-27. Bethpage United Methodist Church 109 Fellowship Ave. at West C Street, Kannapolis. 704-932-5296. Pastor: Rev. McKenzie Sefa. Christian Education at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Bogers Chapel United Methodist Church 1775 Flowes Store Road E., Concord. Pastor: Eric Shaver. Sunday school at 9 a.m. Worship service at 10 a.m. (in person or on Facebook). Opening Reading: A passage from The Lives We Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica Ritchie. Sermon: Your Path. Scripture: Mark 8:31-38. Calvary Lutheran Church 950 Bradley St., Concord. 704-782-6923. Pastor: Rev. Debbie Frye. In-person worship at 8:30 a.m. (Casual Worship) and 11 a.m. (Traditional Worship with Childrens Church). Coffee/Cookie Social from 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday school for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Childrens Area and Nursery available at all times. All services livestreamed and available anytime on the Calvary Lutheran Concord YouTube channel easy access through our website at www.clconcord.org or church app Calvary Lutheran ChurchNC. Sermon Series: For the Healing of the World. Sermon Theme: Invitation to Deny Self, Take Up the Cross, and Follow Jesus. Center United Methodist Church 1119 Union St. S., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Brian Crady. Sunday school for In Betweens and young adults at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Nursery is provided during the worship service. Website is www.centerumcconcord.org. Sermon: Having Hope, Against All Hope. Scripture: Romans 4:13-25. Cold Springs Global Methodist Church 2550 Cold Springs Road, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Cliff Wall. Worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Visit online at https://youtube.com/@coldspringschurchconcord. Crossroads Church 220 George W. Liles Parkway, Concord. Pastor: Lowell McNaney. Live worship streamed on Facebook, Crossroads Concord Church app or mycrossroads.co website at 9:30 a.m. and 11:11 a.m. Crown Pointe Baptist Church 703 Tennessee St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Doug Crawley. Sunday school at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary, or view online at our Facebook page. Eastside Missionary Baptist Church 199 Elgin Drive, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Stephen Burrow. In person services: Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Worship services at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Recorded worship services and other information at EastsideMissionaryBaptist.org. You will be welcomed. Practice social distancing. Epworth United Methodist Church 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Dennis Marshall. Sunday school at 9 a.m., followed by worship at 10 a.m. We welcome all to join us in person, or you may livestream or watch the recorded service at our website at www.epworthnc.com. First Presbyterian Church 201 Vance St., Kannapolis. 704-938-4623. Pastor: Eddie Spencer. Coffee fellowship at 9:30 a.m. Sunday school at 10 a.m. Worship service at 11 a.m. in person and also livestreamed on YouTube. www.firstpresb.org. Forest Hill United Methodist Church 265 Union St. N., Concord. Senior pastor: Rev. Mandy Jones. Associate pastor: Rev. Wes Judy. We are open for in-person worship. Contemporary worship at 9 a.m. Sunday school/small groups at 10 a.m. Traditional worship at 11 a.m. Both the contemporary and the traditional worship services will also be livestreamed at foresthillumc.org or facebook.com/foresthillumc Grace Church of Concord A Global Methodist Community 28-B Branchview Drive NE, Concord. Lead pastor: Michael Dominick. Worshipping every Sunday at 10 a.m. Celebrating Grace Churchs one year anniversary today. Sermon: At Gethsemane. Scripture: Luke 22:39-46. Series: Places of the Passion. Topic: In Gethsemane, Jesus faced and won the temptation to avoid the Cross. We are delighted to invite you on a special journey with us over the next seven weeks, as we explore the profound significance of the journey toward Easter Sunday, through Paster Mikes sermon series Places of the Passion. To learn more about the church, visit www.graceconcord.org, where you will find links to our Sunday Morning Livestream and more. Harmony Church Concord 101 White St. NW, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Thad Brown. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. followed by our worship service in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sermon: How Did This Happen? Scripture: Hosea 11:1-2, Isaiah 2:6-8, Proverbs 2:6-8, Ephesians 4:17-25, Psalm 139:13-16. Matthew 19:14, Matthew 18:3-5, Jeremiah 19:3-6. We welcome you to join us in worship! Service is live on Facebook.com/HarmonyUnitedMethodistChurch and we welcome all who are unable to join us in person to worship with us online. For more information, call 704-791-2883. Jackson Park United Methodist Church 715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor: Laurie Knoespel. Adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Worship at 10:30 a.m. Nursery will be provided during worship service. Kirkwood Presbyterian Church 900 Klondale Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Dennis B. Craft. Worship at 11 a.m. in church sanctuary on Sundays. No mask restrictions. McGill Baptist Church 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, in-person services. Pastor: Rev. Steve Ayers. McGill will stream a worship service Sunday at 10 a.m. on www.facebook.com/mcgillbaptistchurch/ and on YouTube. The services will be live and also available on recording afterward. Second Sunday in Lent. Sermon: Knowing the Important Things. Scripture: Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38. Midway United Methodist Church 108 Bethpage Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Craig Allen. Come join us on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for Sunday school and 10:30 a.m. for worship. Our service is also livestreamed on the web at midwayunitedmethodistchurch.org or facebook.com/midwayUMC. Second Sunday of Lent. Worship theme: Denial (Mk 8:34). Sermon: Nows the Time for Reflection. First Reading: Psalm 22:23-31. Second Reading: Mark 8:31-38. Suggested Hymns: UMH 159, Lift High the Cross, TFWS 2129, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Joel Locklear. Office phone: 704-933-0155. Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. (Adult and Children classes.) Worship at 11 a.m. in person or on Facebook. Nursery for children up to 5 years old. Sermon: The Way of the Cross. Scripture: Mark 8:31-38. Multiply Church Concord 150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. N., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Douglas Witherup. 8:30 a.m. service held at 280 Concord Parkway S., Suite 15, Concord. Services at 150 Warren C Coleman Blvd. N., are worship and sermon at 9:30 a.m. and worship and sermon at 11:15 a.m. New Gilead Reformed Church 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road. 10 a.m. Sunday school followed by 11 a.m. worship in the sanctuary or worship live on YouTube. We hope that you can connect with us online if you cant be with us in person. Oak Grove Baptist Church 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. Pastor: Rev. Franklin D. Watkins. 10 a.m. In-person worship service. Also available on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Youth Sunday. Youth Preacher: Minister Tracie Powell. Rodgers Park Baptist Church 309 E 24th St., Kannapolis. Weekly message from KJV Bible, by Pastor Joel Ervin. Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. Worship at 10:45 a.m. Facebook Live at 11 a.m. Second Presbyterian Church 1578 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis. Pastor Sue Black, minister. Assistant minister: Rev. Aaron Price. Sunday school at 10 a.m. Worship at 11 a.m. Sermon: What Are You Looking For? Scripture: John 1:59-41. St. Johns Reformed Church 901 N. Main St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Chris King. Sunday school for all ages at 9 a.m. Worship service at 10:30 a.m. Website: www.ourstjohns.org. Email/phone: ourstjohns@gmail.com / 704-932-3656. Sermon: A Good Name and a Great Faith. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7. Trinity United Church of Christ 38 Church St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Nathan King. Worship at 11 a.m., in person or on Facebook (live or watch later). Website: commachurch.com. Youre invited! Generative AI has fuelled the imagination of companies worldwide, along with other forms of AI. Everywhere you look companies are infusing their products with AI to make our lives smarter and easier. Behind AI is hardware - pure grunty, beefy hardware, and Nvidia is riding the wave. Nvidia released its Q4 earnings this week and Australian business consulting advisory Digital Smoothie has helped decipher what it all means. "Every NVIDIA chip sold is fueling an AI dream and opening possibilities and challenges beyond imagination," said Digital Smoothie CEO Rania Awad. The Nvidia Q4 results showcase unprecedented growth and solidify its position at the forefront of the AI boom, Awad said. Key statistics from the Q4 results are: revenue of $US 22.1B, exceeding forecasts of $US 20.4B $US 12.29B net profit, up from $US 1.41B a year prior 3X sales growth, tripling from $US 7.19B in January 2023 to today's massive numbers Digital Smoothie's analysis of the Nvidia results also brings out the interesting nugget that Nvidia's gaming revenue - while still up 56% - is no longer Nvidia's primary revenue source. Instead, that title now goes to data centre revenue, with Nvidia seeing a whopping 5x increase in this area alone. This is undoubtedly due to the unprecedented rise of generative AI interest and applications, with everything from ChatGPT to GitHub Copilot, to Google Gemini, Google Vertex, Adobe FireFly, and so many more. Check out the rest of the Digital Smoothie analysis on LinkedIn, and follow Rania Awad and Digital Smoothie for more insights and analysis. Montreal-based unified security provider Genetec has announced its new Security Centre SaaS product, built with cybersecurity and privacy at its core. The product enables management of a vast array of devices with a straightforward subscription price. The world of physical security and its intersection with technology can be paradoxical; technologists might only sometimes consider cameras, door access systems, boom gates, and the ilk as part of the network infrastructure on their properties. Yet, the physical security team might only sometimes appreciate the days are long gone when their hardware is connected by coaxial cable, and instead is now made up of IoT devices on the network. Such equipment needs patching, sound password hygiene regimes, and more, to prevent your humble camera above the back door from being an intrusion vector by a malicious party who uses it to move laterally within your network. At the same time, the operators of these security systems need fast, reliable access to information when it matters. This isn't only the live image on a camera, or the log of who has come in and out of a door, but also the ability to rapidly search through historical events based on snippets of information. "A white vehicle around midday," for example. Or, "a man in a red shirt." Traditionally, hardware manufacturers do a great job of making hardware, and anecdotally less of a great job in making software. So, your security operators might well be running a plethora of crusty and arcane desktop apps with one for the cameras, one for door access systems, one for boom gates, and on and on. Or, alternatively, you could use the Genetec platform and bring all these divergent devices and concerns to a single platform and single pane of glass, namely the Genetec Security Centre and the associated suite of other Genetec offerings. The platform unites video management, access control, license plate recognition, IP communication, and a host of other things, and is heavily channel-focused. Genetec's customers are integrators, managed service providers, and other channel partners, and it is their customers who are the office buildings, prisons, roads, arenas, concert halls, warehouses, airports, schools, and so on who seek their help in designing and implementing physical security solutions. Pictured: A Genetec sample control centre in the Washington DC Experience Centre (DCXC). At the time of the photo, this is running the traditional Windows-based Security Centre, not Security Centre SaaS, but illustrates what a security operations centre using Genetec's products may look like. That's Genetec in a nutshell, and its unification is resonating with the market. The company has seen its headcount grow 77% since 2019, its ranking in the video space move to the number one spot, and its ranking in access control and license plate recognition rise from number 10 back in 2016 to number two as of 2022. Genetec reports that many customers adopt their product for one specific purpose, and then find they can grow by leveraging many other features already embedded in the platform. This new announcement by Genetec continues to disrupt the physical security marketplace by providing the world's first enterprise-grade unified security system that blends physical security and cybersecurity. Disruption is core to Genetec's DNA, coming from the top; Genetec President Pierre Racz (pictured at the top of the page) says his company is "the wrecking crew" - #WreckingCrew - that takes as its mantra the famous Pablo Picasso quote, "every act of creation is first an act of destruction." It is with this philosophy Genetec has announced its new Security Centre SaaS offering. It's a cloud-based product that requires no on-premises server hardware and can work with direct-to-cloud IP cameras and systems. Genetec says its new SaaS offering can be summed up in one word - "easy." It makes equipment easy to find, easy to procure, easy to deploy, easy to use, and easy to maintain, according to Genetec VP product marketing Christian Morin. It's designed to give customers connectivity anytime, anywhere, to improve their cybersecurity posture, and to ensure continued access to innovation along with resiliency, Morin said. Security Centre SaaS takes Genetec's previous cloud offerings and brings them together with new features in an all-in-one unified offering. Technically, it is made up of these components: the cloud piece, namely all the back-end services to make it work appliances like cameras and access systems that are physically installed in your buildings, that are integrated either as direct-to-cloud or managed appliances with edge computing user experience, with web, mobile, and desktop options ordering, deployment, and management tools Under the hood, Genetec has reworked its software in modular ways that work equally well whether on-premises or on the cloud, allowing individual components to reside wherever it makes sense for the business. For the customers and channel partners it means a lightweight, rapidly deployed product, that can be up and running in minutes. New hardware can be ordered quickly, and existing items can be discovered and added on the fly. Security Centre SaaS will be available globally, out of four data centres at launch: Canada, the USA, the Netherlands, and Australia. Genetec has a partnership with Microsoft and indicated it can light up other regions based on demand, taking advantage of Microsoft Azure's regions. The product is expected to be available in mid-April and will be launched during the ISC West 2024 conference, the International Security Conference and Expo, held at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Pricing comes in two forms, with premium and standard plans. Premium pricing is $US 199 per device per year, and standard pricing is $US 149 per device per year. This means even a small business can easily take up Security Centre SaaS without a significant outlay; 10 cameras and two door access controls, for instance, will run you not even $US 2K for the year - obviously, the hardware itself excluded. For this price, you could run an enterprise security product for your personal home camera, unironically. And, if you're running a stadium or an airport you get the benefits of an enterprise-grade system with storage, resilience, and ongoing innovation across your security hardware fleet. The standard pricing provides device connections, unified monitoring, cybersecurity and privacy, automation, and global sync. The premium plan brings in ID and access review, case management, a REST API, and single-sign-on (SSO). "Less is more," said Genetec senior product marketing manager Laurent Villeneuve. The new Genetec Security Centre SaaS means "less time spent on certification, manual quoting and ordering, installation, maintenance, and lifecycle management," he said, "and more projects, more continuous engagement, and more happy customers." Genetec says its new Security Centre SaaS is aimed squarely at three separate audiences. One of these is, of course, enterprise end-users, who it says can now have the richness of enterprise-grade unified security solutions deployed fast and with continuous value. However, as Genetec is primarily a channel-driven company, its other two audiences are the partners, whom it breaks up into SaaS-hesitant channel partners and SaaS-ready channel partners. For the SaaS-hesitant crowd, Genetec says the shift to the cloud is happening but does not need to be scary; the benefits outweigh the risk. For the SaaS-ready crowd, Genetec says the new Security Centre SaaS will provide new perspectives into the end-user needs that will help them adapt and grow their offering. Either way, Genetec states Security Centre SaaS will help channel partners generate more margin per unit of effort. "It's modern SaaS with continuous value delivery that reduces consumption gap and churn," Villeneuve said. "It is fast, non-stop, radically easier," he said. "And most importantly, it's Genetec." "Its enterprise-grade feature set is built on 25 years of experience connecting millions of devices and securing organisations around the world," Villeneuve said. Genetec country manager ANZ George Moawad said Current approaches to SaaS have undercut the role of channel partners, whom we see as central to customer and project success. Security Center SaaS represents an important opportunity for our systems integrators. It means better margins and long-term customer satisfaction, with no additional investment in time or resources on the part of partners." Security Centre SaaS will be available in Australia and New Zealand, as well as globally, in April 2024 from certified Genetec partners. It will be offered in tiered subscription plans based on the number of connections. It will be showcased for the first time at ISC West at booth #13062. Telecom service provider Tangerine Telecom disclosed it suffered a cyber breach last 18 February, estimating 232,000 current or former customer accounts were impacted dating from June 2019 to July 2023. According to the telco, its customer database was accessed by an unknown party via exploitation of a contractor's credentials. In a statement, the telco said "the unauthorised disclosure of certain personal information occurred on Sunday and the management team was informed of the incident on Tuesday. It quickly notified the customers affected. Tangerine claimed no sensitive data was compromised as it does not store credit or debit card numbers, driver's licence numbers, ID documentation details, banking details, or passwords. But the following personal information was disclosed: full name, date of birth, mobile number, email address, postal address, and Tangerine account number. "We know that the unauthorised disclosure relates to a legacy customer database and has been traced back to the login credentials of a single user engaged by Tangerine on a contract basis," Tangerine said. Tangerine said it took steps to prevent any unauthorised access to data. "We have taken precautionary steps to fully revoke network and systems access for the individual users credentials and we have also changed all other team usernames and passwords." "Access to the affected legacy database has also been closed." The company has hired an external cyber specialist to investigate the incident. It is in contact with the Australian Cyber Security Centre, and notified the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. "Thankfully, over recent years weve taken multiple pre-emptive steps which have included reviewing what data we really need to keep and what we can live without. Thats why we dont hold any driver's licences, any ID documents or any credit card numbers," said Tangerine Telecom CEO Andrew Branson. "Moving forward, we are fully committed to learning from this incident and implementing necessary improvements to prevent similar occurrences in the future. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Last week, Russian political activist and dissident Alexei Navalny died in a Siberian prison camp, where he was serving a 30-year sentence for what most observers agree were specious, purely politically motivated convictions. Navalny had been an opponent of Vladimir Putin, the country's current president, and one of Putin's most vehement critics, calling Putin's political party one of "crooks and thieves." Young and charismatic, Navalny had repeatedly tried to run for elected office in Russia, but the Russian government attacked him at every turn, accusing him of being a political "extremist"; charging him with various crimes, including "organizing illegal demonstrations," corruption, embezzlement, fraud and contempt of court; placing him under house arrest; censoring his access to the internet and social media; imposing huge fines on him (and his family members) and liquidating his assets. As might be expected, Navalny's death has produced renewed outrage against Putin, and U.S. President Joe Biden has announced new sanctions against Russia in response. Stories like that of Navalny have traditionally served as cautionary tales about the concentration of power and the superiority of the U.S. system of government. Dictators are laws unto themselves, but America is "a country of laws and not of men," or so the saying goes. And yet, what we are seeing in case after case at the federal, state and local levels of government is the radical abandonment of that principle in favor of shredding the law to "get" whoever the government has decided the desired target is. And in many (though not all) of these cases, that target is Donald Trump. In Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis is prosecuting Trump for "election interference" under a statute written to go after the Mafia. The case has holes in it big enough to drive a truck through, but no matter. Willis has been accused of serious misconduct, including conspiring with the Biden White House to prosecute the current president's chief political rival, using public funds for lavish vacations and paying her lover hundreds of thousands of dollars to be co-counsel, despite his lack of experience. A motion to disqualify Willis is pending at this writing. Then there's New York Attorney General Letitia James, who decided to sue Trump for fraud. In this remarkable case, James argued that Trump overvalued the properties he used as collateral for loans he received. This, despite the fact that the banks that issued the loans used their own property appraisers (as banks always do), and Trump paid all loans back on time and with interest. It gets worse. He Who Is Both King and Court(room) Jester in the case, Judge Arthur Engoron, ruled on a summary judgment motion (in other words, before any trial) that Trump committed fraud as a matter of law. Engoron justified this by declaring that Mar-a-Lago the massive estate Trump owns in Palm Beach, Florida is worth only between $18 million and $27 million. Go to your favorite real estate app and look up housing prices in Palm Beach. Three-bedroom, single-family homes on quarter-acre lots start in high single- and double-digit millions, and there are plenty listed for $20 million, $30 million, $50 million and even higher. Mar-a-Lago is 62,000 square feet on 17 acres of land that runs from the Intracoastal Waterway on the west side to the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Trump's defense team introduced evidence from financial experts supporting Trump's estimates of his properties' value, including accounting professor Eli Bartov of New York University, who testified that there was "no evidence whatsoever of any accounting fraud." Engoron not only rejected Bartov's testimony but basically accused him of taking bribes, saying, "Bartov is a tenured professor, but the only thing his testimony proves is that for a million or so dollars, some experts will say whatever you want them to say." Nor was Engoron swayed by the fact that Deutsche Bank the purportedly "injured" party testified in favor of Trump. So, despite a ridiculously low property value that was contradicted by expert testimony, the lack of an injured party and the timely repayment of all loans with interest, Engoron ordered Trump to pay more than $450 million in "damages" (to whom?) and banned him from doing business in the state for three years. Understandably, other companies doing business in New York are concerned that they could face similarly bankrupting litigation if a rogue prosecutor and biased judge decide that properties provided as collateral for commercial loans are worth a fraction of their actual value. But not to worry! Indomitable Gov. Kathy Hochul cheerfully assured everyone that "law-abiding, rule-following New Yorkers" have nothing to worry about; this was just about Trump. Well, that should make everyone feel better. Yes, legal experts like George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley have sharply criticized these cases. (Turley referred to them as "recreational use of the laws to pursue unpopular persons.") Yes, Trump will appeal. And hopefully, these travesties will be overturned to the appellate courts or even the United States Supreme Court, should it go that far. But the message sent is nevertheless loud and clear: There are powerful people in this country who believe the law is whatever they need it to be, and there are those in the legal profession only too happy to butcher the legal process to give those people what they want. At the moment, that seems to be limited (using the word loosely) to destroying their opponents' reputations, their political careers, their businesses and their financial wherewithal. At the moment. But remember: If Vladimir Putin has his enemies murdered, it's because he knows he can get away with it. The rule of law is supposed to protect us from abuses of power. If we allow it to be eroded, what's to keep those in power here from reaching the same conclusion? (COMMENT, BELOW) Laura Hollis is an attorney and academic. She resides in Indiana with her husband and their two children. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. The poet Robert Frost once said a liberal is someone too broad-minded to take his own side in a fight. What would he say about those on the right who seem confused about the same question? Over the last few days, Donald Trump told a rally he'd supposedly warned the leader of a NATO nation that he'd encourage the Russians "to do whatever the hell they want" against countries that weren't spending enough on defense, while the former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson broadcast videos from Moscow praising its grocery stores and subways as superior to those in the United States. For its part, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is refusing to approve another tranche of aid to Ukraine as it runs short of artillery shells in a defensive war against Russia. What's notable about all this is people who, in other contexts, are fierce about the need to defend Western civilization are unenthusiastic about a core institution of the modern West namely NATO and feel little urgency about checking the aggression of a country that is an avowed and longtime civilizational adversary of the West. There are legitimate policy disagreements about NATO and the Ukraine war, but there shouldn't be any doubt about the larger significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin's challenge to the West's interests, values and resolve. In his classic book "The Clash of Civilizations," the late social scientist Samuel Huntington wrote of an "Orthodox civilization, centered in Russia and separate from Western Christendom as a result of its Byzantine parentage, distinct religion, 200 years of Tatar rule, bureaucratic despotism, and limited exposure to the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, and other central Western experiences." There's some ambiguity about this, as Russia has always had a conflicted relationship with the West. In the early 18th century, Peter the Great grabbed his country by the neck and forced it to adopt more Western ways. He built St. Petersburg as a European-style city and pursued a dizzying array of military, administrative, educational, legal and cultural reforms. Peter's mode of Westernizing, though, was profoundly Russian an exalted ruler wielding brutish, centralized power. It also caused an anti-Western reaction, as the historian Orlando Figes points out in his book "The Story of Russia," among the so-called Slavophiles who believed Russia had turned away from what should be its true, distinctive path. For his part, Putin made a nod toward the Petrine tradition upon taking power. He stated his ambition to become "part of Western European culture." But this gave way, under the pressure of NATO expansion and Russia's traditional resentments and insecurities, to a determinedly anti-Western view that draws on Slavophile thought. Putin believes in authoritarianism, in a strong Russian state, in the rehabilitation of the country's Soviet past and in a Russian civilization that is superior to a West corrupted by secularism and individualism. He seeks to reunite "the Russian world," a concept, according to Figes, he got from the patriarch of the Orthodox Church. He wants to protect the "family" of Slavs and the "tens of millions of our citizens" lost to the Russian state after the supposed disaster of the fall of the Soviet Union. It's the misfortune of Ukraine, which straddles the line of Western and Orthodox civilization, to use Huntington's terms, to be in the firing line of these grandiose ambitions. Ukraine's desire to be a sovereign state of its own and, in particular, align itself with the hated West is intolerable for Putin. He's explained at great length why he believes Ukraine has no legitimacy as an independent nation, and his model of a neo-czarism where elections are fake and opposition leaders die in Arctic prisons would be threatened by a Ukraine that successfully embraced a version of the Western model. Give Putin this at least he's defending what he considers his civilizational birthright of despotism and illiberalism. Any true friend of our own should be appalled. (COMMENT, BELOW) This photo taken on June 19, 2023 shows an electromagnetics compatibility laboratory of a private enterprise in Zhangzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. [Photo/Xinhua] China's Minister of Justice He Rong said at a symposium on Wednesday that the country had started drafting a law on promoting its private economy. The symposium was jointly held by the Ministry of Justice, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee to discuss the legislation concerning promotion of the private economy, attended by representatives of private enterprises and academics. He said the drafting work would widely solicit opinions from the public and reach a consensus among different parties so that the law can effectively promote the healthy development of the private sector. The attendees agreed that the major concerns of private enterprises should be well addressed, including protecting the property rights of private businesses, ensuring their equal participation in market competition, and resolving overdue payments owed to small and medium businesses. They emphasized the necessity of boosting confidence, energizing business entities and stimulating their creativity, and promoting the development of new productive forces. You can read the full text of this article if you: Select an option Log In Buy Article Content & Permissions Access through Ovid The American Urological Association (AUA) describes the roles of NPs and physician associates/assistants (PAs) in a urologic practice using a supervisory/collaborative model that describes the evolving relationship between a PA or NP and the physician-led healthcare team.1 The physician must detail the delivery of care and be available for consultation with the PA or NP. By mutually agreeing on guidelines for patient care and supervision, the PA or NP can practice delegated autonomy. This natural growth in independence for the PA or NP allows the physician to care for complex cases.1 This supervisory/collaborative model is highly dependent on the optimization of negotiated performance autonomy, which can be achieved by the PA or NP and physician building trust, using effective communication, and having a common direction in their practice of medicine.2 The safety and feasibility of using PAs and NPs have been evaluated in several surgical subspecialties. In 2021, the AUA reported that PAs and NPs are more likely to work in urology specialty areas such as oncology, erectile dysfunction, and endourology.3 Specifically, NPs are more likely than PAs to work in urology specialty areas such as oncology and pediatrics.3 Recent studies have examined the safety and feasibility of PAs and NPs in office-based and OR adult urological procedures. Langston and colleagues reported a dramatic growth in PA- or NP-conducted office-based procedures such as cystoscopy, transrectal prostate biopsy, indwelling urinary catheter placement, urodynamic testing, and renal ultrasounds.4 Similarly, Sapre and colleagues showed that an NP-led flexible cystoscopy service was safe and feasible.5 The trend of using PAs and NPs in OR procedures, specifically robotic and laparoscopic surgeries, is increasing.6 The role of PAs and NPs in pediatric urology remains to be further detailed. More recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of well-trained PAs and NPs conducting pediatric circumcisions with low complications.7,8 Further, Giramonti and Kogan show that well-trained NPs can safely perform minor penile procedures in the OR with indirect supervision.9 Although the operative role of PAs and NPs has been evaluated, their clinical role in pediatric urology can be further expanded. This study evaluated the concordance between procedures evaluated and scheduled for surgery by a single PA and the preoperative and intraoperative clinical evaluations by a single pediatric urologic surgeon. We hypothesized that the PA's surgical knowledge and diagnostic skills, combined with the collaborative relationship with the physician, would prevent surgeon revision of the PA's assessment in the preoperative area. The study explored a specific direction in which the roles of PAs and NPs can expand in pediatric urology. METHODS The Nemours Children's Hospital institutional review board approved this study. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients ages birth to 18 years who were independently evaluated by a single PA at Nemours Children's Health in Orlando from April 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020. Nemours Children's Health is a freestanding children's hospital affiliated with a medical school. The facility does not have a urology residency or fellowship. Surgeons are paired with a PA in clinic and the OR and cross-cover as needed. The physician-PA dyad in this study started working together in 2017. The PA, who had extensive surgical training before starting in urology, began working independently after working 3 to 4 months with the surgeon in the OR and the clinic. Patients are evaluated by the PA or surgeon in the clinic and are scheduled for surgery. On the day of surgery, they undergo preoperative evaluation by the urologist. Patients were included in the study if they were assessed in clinic and scheduled for surgery by the PA and underwent surgery by the surgeon. Patients were excluded if they were seen by the PA for postoperative follow-up, not scheduled for surgery, or did not complete surgery. Additionally, patients who underwent an office-based procedure by the PA were excluded. Clinical diagnosis, scheduled procedure, and actual procedure performed were collected from the surgical booking sheet, PA office notes, preoperative notes and consent, and operative reports. The clinical diagnosis in the PA office notes and the procedure scheduled in the surgical booking sheet were compared with the diagnosis and procedure listed in the preoperative notes and operative reports by the surgeon. Concordance was measured between the clinical evaluation of the PA and that of the surgeon. Discordant cases were stratified based on when the procedure change occurred. Procedures listed in the PA's office note that did not match the procedure listed in the surgeon's preoperative note were classified as a preoperative procedure change. Procedures listed in the PA's office note that did not match the procedure listed in the operative report were classified as an OR procedure change. Concordance was measured with respect to both preoperative and OR procedure changes, as well as preoperative changes alone. Statistical analysis was performed with Pearson chi-square testing. Additionally, distribution of concordant diagnoses made by the PA was determined for each year. RESULTS The PA evaluated 1,848 patients from 2017 to 2020. These patient visits were categorized as new-patient visits and postoperative follow-up visits. Of the new-patient visits, 242 patients were scheduled for surgery (55 in 2017, 86 in 2018, 75 in 2019, and 26 in 2020). There were 241 males and 1 female, with an average age of 3.95 years (Table 1). Of the 242 patients scheduled for surgery, 11 underwent a preoperative procedure change and an additional 11 underwent an OR procedure change. Concordance increased from year to year, ranging from 89.09% in 2017 to 92.31% in 2020. Removing the patients who underwent an OR procedure change also resulted in an increasing concordance over the duration, ranging from 94.23% in 2017 to 100% in 2020 (Table 2). Differences in concordance of each year were analyzed statistically with a Pearson chi-square test and were found to be not statistically significant (P = .230). TABLE 1. - Patient demographic data and concordance by year, including pre- and intraoperative procedure changes Patient demographic data and concordance by year, including pre- and intraoperative procedure changes Year Total patients Average age (years) Male Female No procedure change Preoperative procedure change OR procedure change Concordance (%) 2017 55 4.62 55 0 49 3 3 89.09 2018 86 3.76 85 1 77 5 4 89.53 2019 75 4.02 75 0 70 3 2 93.33 2020 26 2.98 26 0 24 0 2 92.31 Cumulative 242 3.95 241 1 220 11 11 90.91 TABLE 2. - Patient demographic data and concordance by year only, excluding intraoperative procedure changes Patient demographic data and concordance by year only, excluding intraoperative procedure changes Year Total patients Average age (years) Male Female No procedure change Preoperative procedure change Concordance (%) 2017 52 4.5 52 0 49 3 94.23 2018 82 3.8 81 1 77 5 93.9 2019 73 4.12 73 0 70 3 95.89 2020 24 2.88 24 0 24 0 100 Cumulative 231 3.96 230 1 220 11 95.24 Among the patients who underwent a preoperative procedure change, the most common discordant finding was the addition of buried penis repair, accounting for 7 of the 11 (63.6%) procedures. The remaining procedures consisted of revision circumcision, orchidopexy, and hydrocelectomy. Of the patients who underwent an OR procedure change, eight of the procedures were not scheduled by the PA and were added intraoperatively, and three procedures were scheduled but not performed in the OR. Similar to the patients who underwent a preoperative procedure change, the most common discordant finding was the addition of buried penis repair, accounting for 5 of the 11 (45.5%) procedures. In these cases, buried penis was not identified by the PA or the surgeon during clinical evaluation before surgery. Similarly, urethromeatoplasty was performed on one patient for a stenotic urethral meatus that was not identified preoperatively because of tight phimosis. Additionally, orchidopexy was performed because of an intraoperative finding of retractile testes during an inguinal hernia repair. Hydrocelectomy was performed on one patient after hydrocele was noted on examination during prepping and draping after intubation in the OR. Table 3 shows the distribution of concordant diagnoses made by the PA over the time period. There was an increasing variety in the complexity of urologic conditions assessed and scheduled for surgery. The proportion of patients diagnosed with phimosis decreased from 52.5% in 2017 to 25.6% in 2020, and diagnosis of more complex conditions such as hypospadias increased from 0% in 2017 to 2.2% in 2019. TABLE 3. - Distribution of conditions independently diagnosed by the PA Distribution of conditions independently diagnosed by the PA 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total Phimosis 52.5% (42) 43.2% (64) 36% (49) 25.6% (11) 40.8% (166) Buried penis 25% (20) 37.8% (56) 33.1% (45) 39.5% (17) 21.3% (138) Penile torsion 2.5% (2) 1.4% (2) 7.4% (10) 9.3% (4) 3.5% (18) Penile adhesions 0 2.7% (4) 6.6% (9) 4.7% (2) 3% (15) Scrotal webbing 6.3% (5) 2% (3) 2.2% (3) 0 2.3% (11) Undescended testicle 5% (4) 2.7% (4) 2.9% (4) 9.3% (4) 3.4% (16) Chordee 0 3.4% (5) 1.5% (2) 2.3% (1) 1.8% (8) Hydrocele 2.5% (2) 2% (3) 1.5% (2) 0 1.6% (7) Retractile testicles 2.5% (2) 1.4% (2) 0.7% (1) 0 1.1% (5) Hypospadias 0 0 2.2% (3) 0 0.7% (3) Meatal stenosis 0 0.7% (1) 2.2% (3) 0 0.9% (4) Hernia 2.5% (2) 1.4% (2) 0 2.3% (1) 1.2% (5) Elective circumcision 0 0% (0) 2.2% (3) 0 0.7% (3) Incomplete circumcision 1.3% (1) 0% (0) 0 0 0.2% (1) Prominent frenulum 0 0.7% (1) 0 0 0.2% (1) Vaginal discharge and bleeding 0 0.7% (1) 0 0 0.2% (1) Penile stitch tracts 0 0 0.7% (1) 0 0.2% (1) Hooded foreskin 0 0 0.7% (1) 0 0.2% (1) Balanitis 0 0 0 2.3% (1) 0.2% (1) Megameatus 0 0 0 2.3% (1) 0.2% (1) Total 80 148 136 43 407 DISCUSSION The role of PAs and NPs in medicine continues to evolve. The AUA addressed the current status of PAs and NPs in the recent white paper Current State of Advanced Practice Providers in Urologic Practice.3 The article describes the supervisory/collaborative model as an interactive process involving trust, excellent communication, mutual goals, and common direction in practice as well as dynamic process dependent upon the skills and competencies of both the [PA or NP] and the physician.3 The paper supports a mentorship and training approach for PAs and NPs similar to that used for urology residents. Optimal use of the PAs' and NPs' scope of practice can be achieved by fostering professional relations that value individual skills to provide the best patient outcomes. Highly skilled PAs and NPs are eligible for indirect supervision, enabling the physician to attend to more complex patient care.3 Thus, as the roles of PAs and NPs continue to expand, it is important to critically evaluate patient outcomes, ensuring that quality care is being delivered and that progression in autonomous delivery of care is supported. An important consideration is the scope of practice for PAs and NPs. State guidelines that detail the level of supervision required from a physician should be followed in defining scope of practice.10 PAs and NPs can fulfill many roles, including evaluating patients in clinic; first-assisting in the OR; and performing inpatient consults, specialty clinics, and postoperative follow-ups.11-13 In pediatric urology, PAs and NPs traditionally have been involved in enuresis/incontinence clinics for children. More recently, this role has expanded to include independent performance of newborn circumcision, among other minor penile procedures in the OR. Recent studies have analyzed how expansion of these roles has affected patient outcomes in pediatric urology. Giramonti and Kogan demonstrated success in pediatric penile procedures (initial and revision circumcision) conducted by a well-trained NP in the OR.9 Most of the procedures analyzed were conducted independently under indirect supervision of attending surgeon.9 Gerber and colleagues demonstrated similar success in office-based minor penile procedures.7 No statistical difference was seen between the complication rate of circumcisions performed by a well-trained PA or NP and that of a pediatric urologist.7 Colon-Sanchez and colleagues demonstrated a low complication rate in office-based neonatal circumcisions conducted by a PA.8 In this study, a well-trained PA achieved an average concordance of 95.2% between initial clinic evaluation and physician preoperative assessment over the 4-year study period. The preoperative and intraoperative concordance (which included physician and PA preoperative assessment) was 90.9% over this 4-year period. A variety of factors may contribute to this concordance, including patient compliance with examination, patient erection during the time of examination, variability of presentation of condition, as well as intraoperative findings at the time of surgical procedure. Although it was not the intent of the study to assess diagnostic trends, there was a decreased proportion of simpler diagnoses, such as phimosis, suggesting an increase in the PA's diagnostic skill. Although the dramatic decrease of diagnosis of phimosis between 2019 and 2020 follows this trend, it is better explained by the acute onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown of the hospital. When surgical cases were resumed, urgent cases were prioritized. This resulted in the delay of cases scheduled for circumcision in the absence of comorbidities such as recurrent urinary tract infection, balanoposthitis, or paraphimosis. A supervisory/collaborative model between the PA and the surgeon augments the PA's skills, especially through the PA assisting with surgical procedures and seeing new surgical patients in the clinic. Our data support increasing awareness of the role of PAs in pediatric urology practices and therefore increasing diversity in the roles PAs and NPs have in these practices beyond enuresis/incontinence clinics and postoperative follow-ups. LIMITATIONS This was a retrospective study that assessed the patients of a single PA-pediatric urologist pair. This limits the study as only one PA's diagnostic ability was evaluated. In addition, no NPs participated in the study. Thus, further studies are needed to apply these findings to all PAs and NPs. Although the PA did not have any pediatric urology experience before starting at Nemours Children's Hospital in 2017, the PA had about 8 years of surgical and clinic experience (5 years of orthopedic surgery, 1 year of neurosurgery, and 1.5 years of general pediatric surgery). We did not separately assess the surgeon's clinical diagnosis concordance with intraoperative diagnosis because this was not the intent of the study. Furthermore, the patient population in clinic differed between the surgeon and the PA, reflecting the goal of using the physician's time more effectively by scheduling more-complex patients with the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS The use of PAs and NPs in surgical subspecialties has been steadily increasing as the shortage of physicians continues. The AUA supports the use of PAs and NPs in urological practices, modeling a supervisory/collaborative role. This surgeon-PA or NP relationship can foster PA and NP autonomy and over time increase the complexity of diagnosis seen and procedures performed, ultimately maximizing the PA's or NP's scope of practice and allowing the surgeon to manage and care for more complex patients. In our experience, the supervisory/collaborative model has allowed for more PA autonomy as well as further expanded the role of the PA in pediatric urology. This further delineates and expands the PA or NP role in pediatric urology. Our study demonstrates that the expansion of complex diagnosis and procedures over time by a single PA was directly proportional with the length of time with the surgeon. Further studies including NPs as well as clinicians with different levels of skills and training would be recommended. The Lincoln Airport may be losing a flight to Houston, but United Airlines' cancellation won't mean any lost jobs at regional carrier CommuteAir's Lincoln base. In fact, a planned expansion will likely mean the addition of jobs. CommuteAir currently has 47 workers in Lincoln. The plan is to add at least 50 new positions and as many as 60, said Rachel Barth, the airport's director of air service development and strategic marketing. CommuteAir this week finalized details for the establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at its Lincoln hangar. The facility will enable CommuteAir to conduct its heavy aircraft maintenance operations in house as well as offer aircraft maintenance services to other airlines and aircraft operators. Lincoln Airport Executive Director Dave Haring said that while no plans have been etched in stone, "CommuteAir has talked of the expansion on more of a long-range basis." "This is big for us," Haring said. "The jobs created not only reflects the exciting development within the airport but also underscores the increasing importance of aviation infrastructure in driving economic prosperity." CommuteAir is not only a strong company, it has become a strong member of the airport community, Haring said. "They have showed their dedication to the community by assisting with our outdoor movies and allowing LNK to use their hangar for tours and events, Haring said. Lincoln's hangar will be the largest in CommuteAir's network, making it uniquely equipped to accommodate the airline's new E170 charter aircraft, which seats 70 passengers. The company already has an operation in Lincoln that it opened in 2021. "As our airline continues to soar, we are creating more employment opportunities for the very community that has embraced us since our arrival in August 2021," said Rick Hoefling, CommuteAir president and CEO, in a written statement. "Along with our partners at United Airlines, we look forward to making Lincoln a hub of possibilities for our extended CommuteAir family." Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 An inmate who went missing from the Community Corrections Center in Lincoln last week while on a work assignment has been arrested in another state. Police in Little Rock, Arkansas, arrested 47-year-old Jonathan King on Wednesday. King had been missing since Friday, when he failed to return to the center after work. His electronic monitor was found near 84th and O streets after he left his job. Inmates at the low-level custody facility where King had been housed are allowed to work off site and attend school and religious services in the community without direct supervision. King was serving 30 to 40 years on two counts of robbery out of Douglas County and began serving his sentence in January 2009. He had a parole hearing set for November 2024 and a tentative release date in September 2028, according to a news release. Corrections officials did not say when King, who is being held in the Pulaski County Jail in Arkansas, will be returned to Nebraska. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 For years, Lincoln Public Schools has utilized outside collection agencies to help receive payment from families with outstanding lunch balances, but after a recommendation by its board, the district is now looking to change that. The Lincoln Board of Education on Tuesday will hear proposed changes to the policy on school lunch payment that would alter the way the district handles unpaid lunch tabs. With the proposed changes, families with negative balances would no longer be sent to debt collectors a practice the district has followed for around 15 to 20 years. Currently, families are able to use a software system that allows them to make deposits into an account intended to pay for school meals. If the deposit falls below $10 or becomes negative, the family will receive automatic notification. Once the balance has been negative by $50 or more for 30 days, the district sends a letter to the family and the balance could be referred to the collection agency if left unpaid, said Liz Standish, associate superintendent for business affairs at LPS. LPS is proposing to do away with the collection agency portion of the policy and continue to follow a federal guideline that mandates money from the general fund be placed into the nutrition services fund to account for outstanding balances that are three years old. Families would still be responsible for paying negative lunch bills, although it's not clear how the district would enforce that. Standish said LPS would be developing processes internally to do that and also will "reach out to other school districts to research best practices. The district has followed the federal policy for many years, Standish said. That's not new, she said. We've always done that. But LPS now will have to increase the amount allocated to cover this cost in the budget for the 2024-25 school year from $10,000, which Standish said has been sufficient for the balances under the current model, to $100,000. If the board approves the proposal, LPS would immediately stop referring families to collectors and would recall the current accounts with collections. An analysis done by the Flatwater Free Press showed LPS had sent nearly 1,700 families to collection agency Professional Choice Recovery last school year alone. The analysis also showed three other large school districts in Nebraska Kearney, Scottsbluff and Columbus have similar policies. The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools set up an account in November of 2022 specifically intended to help families struggling with financial hardships pay overdue lunch bills. Last school year, the organization raised over $21,000 for the fund, which was used to support around 1,700 students at 35 schools, according to Kayla Jacox, marketing director for the foundation. So far, the foundation has raised $11,000 this school year. "So it's a really big impact," Jacox said. LPS began work to alter its policy shortly after the introduction of Sen. Danielle Conrads LB855 at the beginning of January, which would prohibit school districts from using debt collection agencies to collect money for unpaid lunch bills or collecting any interest on late lunch payments. But after finding out LPS is one of only four of the 20 largest school districts in the state to use debt collectors, Standish said they sped up the process to get a proposed change in front of the board as soon as possible. We just really got to work on formalizing that alternative and getting it to the board, she said. Standish said that no matter whether families have unpaid debt or not, every student will continue to have access to school lunches. Learning is our first priority, and we know that students who are nourished are ready to learn, Standish said. Our school district has, and will continue to have, a practice of providing all students with a meal even if their count is zero or negative. Photos: Lincoln Public Schools' 36th annual spelling bee LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 The city will begin replacing lead pipes that connect older Lincoln homes to city water mains this summer as part of an initiative to replace at least 6,000 of them by 2035. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird announced the launch of the initiative Thursday, an effort funded in part by a $32.6 million loan from the federal government. The loan is part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which included $145 million to Nebraska for a revolving loan program, said Jim Macy, director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. Hastings, Grand Island and Kearney have also gotten loans for lead pipe replacement. Lincoln is eligible to have much of the loan forgiven, and the city will use money it has been setting aside in the capital improvement program to repay the remainder of the loan, so Lincoln homeowners will not be responsible for any of the cost. In December, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule change that would make water utilities responsible for replacing lead pipes within 10 years, which includes an estimated 53,230 lead pipes in Nebraska. Environmental advocates worry that in some cities across the country, a portion of that cost will fall to homeowners. Liz Elliott, director of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, said that wont happen here, because the city has been setting aside about $2 million for the last few years to help make up the cost of replacement. Elliott said the city will release a request for proposals for plumbing contractors, and hope to have two or three companies on board so they can start work this construction season. They hope to get at least 200 pipes replaced this year, and about 500 annually after that. The federal loan will cover about 2,200 pipes and the city will continue to apply for grants or loans to continue the work, Elliott said. The city will prioritize homes based on EPA recommendations, including areas with the denser areas of lead pipes where older homes are located, and where bloodwork data shows lead levels are higher in children. The citys plans are part of an initiative called Lead Safe Lincoln spearheaded by the urban development and health departments, which includes testing children for lead poisoning and inspection and remediation of homes. From October 2022 to September 2023, the health department provided more than 4,500 lead tests and 82 children tested positive, said Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Director Pat Lopez. The citys Urban Development Department has done inspections on 94 homes and remediated 42 properties using a $3 million grant from the federal Housing and Urban Development, plus another $400,000 grant that allows the city to fix non-lead problems they find during the inspection, said director Peter Hind. At an earlier news conference, Elliott stressed that Lincolns water already falls well below the regulatory limit for lead. The city water system itself does not have lead pipes, which means the pipes identified by the city run from private property to city lines. Some homes also have lead fixtures, Elliott said. In Lincoln, most of the lead pipes are found in homes built before 1950, mostly from the 20s and 30s. The city has identified about 2,000 lead pipes and close to 4,000 galvanized pipes, which run downstream from lead pipes and also need to be replaced. They are still working to identify all the pipes that will need to be replaced. Because the pipes are on private property, the city will need permission from property owners to replace them. Owners of properties that have lead pipes the city plans to replace this year will be contacted by the plumbers the city has contracted with and theyll have to take a photo of their service line, sign an agreement and allow plumbers access to the home. For more information, or to look up your own property to see if it has lead or copper pipes, go to the citys Lead Safe Lincoln site. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 It looks and feels like a long-odds, union organizing drive. Workers, coordinated by a union, are holding rallies, signing petitions and making demands for higher wages, better safety and improved work conditions at the nearly 2,000 locations operated by Norcross, Georgia-based Waffle House across dozens of states in the South and Midwest. But no one is talking about getting workers to vote on a union at Waffle House. At least not yet. Typically, a union drive aims to raise enough support to trigger a federal law that requires a vote of workers. Sometimes in particular locations, sometimes across an entire company. This is a different kind of campaign, said Inez ODonnell, spokesperson and organizer for the Union of Southern Service Workers, an affiliate of the national Service Employees International Union. We are in the South and the law is not friendly to workers, and we are trying to counteract that. A spokeswoman for Waffle House declined comment. The Waffle House campaign does follow several years of growing union action, some of it successful, including high-profile national contracts with American automakers, the film industry, American Airlines and Kaiser Permanente. At the same time, legislators in Georgia where laws already tilt against unions are now pushing a bill that would further crimp efforts at organizing. With Waffle House, an effort just aimed at a vote would have been wasted, said ODonnell. We have definitely gotten more results than if we had tried to do that. Weve got people jobs back, gotten people restitution of wage theft. Moreover, winning a union vote is only a step toward a better contract. Starbucks Workers United won votes in about 360 locations but has yet to negotiate a contract with the company in any of them. In contrast, the USSW, which says it has about 4,000 members, pulls together workers from hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other service jobs as a kind of chorus to amplify complaints from Waffle House workers. The way organizers see it, organizing the entire company would require far more resources than they have. They also worry that trying to pick off individual Waffle House locations could be a doomed strategy. Each restaurant has a relatively small number of employees and many have rapid turnover. That means fewer people have long-term ties, knowledge and camaraderie, but it also lets employers challenge a successful vote just months later if there are enough new employees. So the USSWs plan is to raise public awareness hence, the rallies while engaging ever-more Waffle House employees and creating both inside and outside pressure on the company to make changes. There are plenty of ways to answer worker complaints without recognizing a union, said Cindy Smith, 50, who has been a waitress at Waffle House in Georgia for 29 years. Better pay, for example. I love my job, I love what I do, she said. But if I was making more, I could afford to live on my own. I have to live with my kids father. I get $2.92 an hour, plus tips. If theres nothing going on, you are not making any money. Workers also want better security at the always-open restaurant. Smith has been held up at gunpoint, and many workers talk about the times theyve seen violence or the threat of it. Jojo Dickson, who worked at Waffle House until a few months ago, said health conditions can also be a problem. We have to clean up feces, she said. People throw up in cups and we dont get paid enough to clean it up. The Waffle House campaign is smart not to focus on a union vote, said Kate Bronfenbrenner, a senior lecturer at Cornells School of Industrial and Labor Relations. They are building unions in a very hostile environment, she said. So they do it by focusing on issues that resonate with the workers. Wages, safety, benefits, access to child care, access to training. Either way, its an uphill battle, said Dan Bowling, former corporate attorney and now a visiting law professor at Georgia State University. He compared it to the Fight for $15 movement that pressured McDonalds to raise pay in many restaurants without ever negotiating with a union. Its a long, difficult road to get a union and a contract, he said. This is more about public awareness, getting the companys attention and getting some things to change. Workers suffer the most injuries in these 25 jobs Workers suffer the most injuries in these 25 jobs #25. Physical therapist assistants #24. Registered nurses #23. Medical and health services managers #20. Respiratory therapists #19. Animal caretakers #18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners #16. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors #13. Bus drivers, transit and intercity #12. Firefighters #11. Health information technologists, medical registrars, surgical assistants, and health care practitioners and technical workers, all other #10. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses #9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers #8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers #7. Correctional officers and jailers #5. Occupational therapy aides #4. Psychiatric technicians #3. Nursing assistants #1. Dietetic technicians #22. Recreational therapists #21. Pest control workers #17. Occupational therapy assistants #15. Refuse and recyclable material collectors #14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers #6. Orderlies #2. Psychiatric aides Nebraska schools now can receive more funding to fortify their security measures with a new statewide grant program. The Nebraska Department of Education announced the launch of a $10 million Safety and Security-Related Infrastructure Grant program on Tuesday. The funds were approved by the Legislature last year for public and private schools to upgrade security materials in order to improve student and staff safety. "The grant aims to address the critical need for improved physical security measures across educational settings, allocating funds towards advanced technology, essential safety equipment and significant infrastructure enhancements," the department said in a Tuesday press release. Eligible uses for the funds include the purchase of bleeding-control kits, door-locking mechanisms, bulletproof window film, ground lighting, screening devices, visitor management systems and more. David Patton, superintendent of Auburn Public Schools, said during a Jan. 3 public hearing about the grant program that the money will be crucial for his district to make the appropriate safety upgrades. "Many of us in schools use as much of our local funds as possible to address security needs. But this approach is haphazard and fragmented," Patton said. "Having additional funds will free up local funds for other district needs, such as instruction." School districts in the Omaha metro area have been upgrading security measures in the past few years, including after the 2022 mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Elkhorn Public Schools updated cameras and its alert system later that year. It also installed security film, which keeps people from seeing inside, on every glass entry and egress window. Most metro districts also changed their locks in the past year and bulletproof film is part of the Papillion La Vista bond issue that was approved in 2023. Now more schools can access funds for similar upgrades, no matter how rural or if they are public or private. Districts are invited to submit their applications for a share of funds by March 14. Awards will be announced by April 3. "The NDE strongly encourages all eligible institutions to seize this critical opportunity to augment their safety protocols and infrastructure," the department said in a statement. "By working collectively, we can ensure a safer and more secure learning environment for our students and educators." Best public high schools in Nebraska Best public high schools in Nebraska #30. Valentine High School #29. Milford High School #28. Crofton High School #27. Gordon-Rushville High School #26. Platteview Senior High School #25. York High School #24. Wood River Rural High School #23. High School at Syracuse #22. Seward High School #21. North Bend Central Junior/Senior High School #20. Pender High School #19. West Holt High School #18. Elmwood-Murdock Junior/Senior High School #17. Chadron Senior High School #16. Bellevue West High School #15. Central High School #14. Diller-Odell Secondary School #13. Bennington Secondary School #12. Millard South High School #11. Lincoln High School #10. Papillion La Vista Senior High School #9. Papillion La Vista South High School #8. Lincoln Southeast High School #7. Westside High School #6. Southwest High School #5. Millard West High School #4. Elkhorn High School #3. Lincoln East High School #2. Elkhorn South High School #1. Millard North High School Correction SCC's board voted to keep its property tax levy flat at 7.37 cents per $100 of valuation. An earlier version of this story said the board had voted to increase its levy. Southeast Community College students will pay an additional $1 per credit hour next year after the Board of Governors voted to increase tuition on Tuesday. Nebraska residents attending SCC will pay $105 per credit hour in tuition starting in the 2024-25 school year. The board also voted to add $1 to the facility fee, bringing that total to $15 per credit hour, but the board kept the student activity fee at $3 per credit hour. In all, in-state students will pay $123 per credit hour in tuition and fees to take classes at SCC's campuses in Lincoln, Beatrice or Milford. Out-of-state students will also pay more in tuition starting next school year after the board approved raising the per-credit-hour rate by $2 to $126. With fees added, nonresident students will pay $144 per credit hour starting in August. The increases follow four straight years of flat tuition at SCC dating back to the 2019-20 school year. Like other two-year community colleges across Nebraska, SCC is funded through tuition (15%), state aid (29%) and property taxes (55%). Last year, the Legislature passed a bill (LB243) that will replace property taxes collected by community colleges with state appropriations through the "Community College Future Fund" beginning in the 2024-25 school year. SCC's board voted to keep its property tax levy flat at 7.37 cents per $100 of valuation to serve as a baseline for funding. But college administrators said the growth allowed under LB243 would likely not keep up with SCC's needs over time, which would necessitate spending cuts or increases in funding through tuition hikes. In other SCC news: * SCC reported a 12% increase in students for the 2024 spring semester over the previous year. A total of 9,505 students are enrolled across SCC this semester, up from 8,463 last year, which also marks the highest enrollment number since before the pandemic. The vast majority (94%) are from Nebraska, while 83% hail from SCC's 15-county service area, the college said. President Paull Illich said the enrollment boom is the largest since he arrived at SCC in 2014. "This increase is consistent with our transformative initiative to expand our capacity to produce a skilled workforce and strengthen our communities," Illich said. Enrollment at SCC's campus in Lincoln and Beatrice both rose 8% over the previous year. SCC-Lincoln reported an enrollment of 6,816, up from 6,262 last year. SCC-Beatrice reported 1,042 students on campus this spring, which is up from 964 last year. SCC-Milford has experienced the greatest growth over the last several years. This semester, there are 1,486 at the Milford campus, according to SCC, which rose from 1,237 students last spring. Since the spring of 2020, enrollment has grown by nearly 49% at SCC-Milford. There also are 161 students in SCC's prison education program this semester. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 A giant panda cub is seen at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The China Wildlife Conservation Association has inked agreements with Madrid Zoo Aquarium of Spain and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance of the United States concerning cooperation on the conservation of giant pandas, as part of efforts to step up the protection of the species on a global level. Currently, the association is also holding consultations with another U.S. zoo and an Austrian zoo on such cooperation, it said. Spain, the United States and Austria were among the first countries to carry out international cooperation with China regarding giant panda conservation. Thanks to the joint efforts of their research teams, China and these three countries have managed to breed a total of 28 giant panda cubs. "Ensuring the health and safety of giant pandas living abroad is the most important premise and foundation of international cooperation," said a source with the association. The association said it will further strengthen daily health monitoring and physical examinations of giant pandas living abroad and ensure the full coverage of field inspections and assessments in 2024. Giant pandas have been playing the role of "ambassadors," fostering bridges of friendship between China and other countries. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries, and successfully bred 68 giant panda cubs in 41 litters. After nearly four hours of debate across two days, Nebraska's Legislature gave first-round approval Thursday to a bill that would enhance penalties for drug dealers tied to overdoses and, critics said, contribute to the overcrowding that plagues the state's prisons. The Legislature ultimately voted 35-2 to advance the bill (LB137) after a small group of lawmakers spent hours Wednesday and Thursday urging their colleagues to oppose the measure championed by Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, casting it as an overly broad and ineffective approach to respond to drug overdoses. If made law, the bill would increase the potential prison sentence dealers might face if drugs they're accused of distributing kill or seriously injure a drug user, allowing for a prison sentence of up to 50 years. Omaha Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney led a group of urban lawmakers who repeatedly lined up to speak out against Bosn's bill, which was initially introduced last year by former Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, whom Bosn replaced after Geist resigned from the Legislature in April. Wayne repeatedly grilled Bosn, a former prosecutor, on the "overly broad" language in the proposal, which he suggested could be seized upon by prosecutors to target defendants Bosn wasn't intending to crack down on. After hours of debate Thursday morning, Wayne and Bosn agreed to add an amendment to the bill to make clear that the enhanced penalties could only be deployed against defendants who supplied drugs that "directly and proximately caused" the death or serious injury of a drug user. The Legislature adopted Wayne's amendment on a 40-0 vote and, shortly after, voted to advance the bill from the first of three rounds of debate. McKinney and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha were the only two lawmakers to vote against the bill's advancement, while Wayne and others who had opposed the legislation including Sens. Danielle Conrad and George Dungan of Lincoln opted not to vote at all. It had been clear since Wednesday morning that Bosn's bill had ample support to survive a potential filibuster in Nebraska's formally nonpartisan, 49-member unicameral Legislature. And a bid to indefinitely postpone the bill failed on a 36-8 vote halfway through Thursday's three-hour morning session. But the group of urban lawmakers spent hours railing against the proposal anyway, pointing to prior penalty enhancements that have left Nebraska's prison system among the most overcrowded in the country. "Instead of learning those lessons from our sister states, we have before us efforts to double down on bad policy, to perpetuate a war on drugs and to look tough on crime," Conrad said. "Enhanced penalties and additional penalties don't get after the root of the problem." Bosn, meanwhile, said the proposal was among a series of steps the Legislature could and should take this year to combat drug overdoses, specifically those involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, which killed at least 256 state residents between January 2018 and November 2022. "We have a responsibility," she said. "This is our exact job. Picking license plates, doing all those things we do that, too. This is our obligation. This is why people send you here. This is why they vote. Respond to the crises that we're facing." Bosn, too, questioned her colleagues over why opposition against her bill had "become partisan," particularly after the conservative-dominated Legislature had advanced a bill in January that would give sterile needles to drug users to reduce the spread of infectious disease. "This is a bill that every single person in here on both sides of the aisle should be saying, 'Heck yes. Let's attack this problem,'" she said. "I cannot think of another example where we have lost hundreds of children and people in our state and we have turned around and said, 'You know, we just we aren't the people to make that decision on how to fix that problem. We don't really want to get involved with that.' "Hundreds of people are dying and we are sitting here saying, 'This might not be the solution that we need.'" The bill's detractors all of whom are registered Democrats insisted that their opposition stemmed not from their political party, but from genuine concerns with the potential impact of the legislation. Cavanaugh said she was "displeased and offended" by Bosn's implication, calling penalty enhancements "bad policies" and warning her colleagues to "not start throwing mud at each other." Wayne agreed with Bosn's assessment that lawmakers were sent to the Capitol to pass "sound bills," suggesting LB137 didn't qualify. He noted that the case that prompted the proposal the November 2021 overdose death of Taryn Griffith, a 24-year-old Sarpy County woman who died after unknowingly taking a fentanyl-laced tablet at a Lincoln club would not have ended any differently had Bosn's bill been law. Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara read a letter amid Thursday's debate from Griffth's parents, who told lawmakers that the state "cannot continue to punish drug dealers and distributors with barely a slap on the wrist," calling for a mandatory minimum sentence and a change to how police handle overdose investigations. Bosn's bill creates an enhancement with no mandatory minimum that can be added to felony drug delivery charges. But the Lancaster County Attorney's Office never filed charges in Griffith's overdose meaning there's no defendant to face the enhanced penalty created by the bill. "We're reacting to a situation, but we're not actually addressing the situation that we're trying to react to," Wayne said. "We're creating a bill, a new enhancement penalty, that doesn't solve the problem of the individuals who brought the bill. If we're gonna pass legislation to fix problems, let's actually fix the problem." If the bill is made law, its passage would mark the Legislature's latest step to increase potential sentence lengths for criminal defendants in Nebraska. An academic report released in January blamed overcrowding in the state's prisons on lawmakers who, both broadly and incrementally, have increased minimum sentence lengths for a host of crimes over the past two decades, manufacturing the overcrowding crisis the state faces now. Part of the prison population's increase can be traced to tougher penalties for gun crimes passed by the Legislature in 2009 in response to an epidemic of gang violence in Omahas inner city. The Legislature passed seven laws between 2015 and 2018 that brought increased penalties for pandering, prostitution, human or labor trafficking, assaulting police officers and sexually assaulting or sexually contacting students, in some cases making felonies out of former misdemeanors. And lawmakers have created new offenses for threatening someone via text or email, distributing a private image of another person and grooming while defining health care officials as peace officers, making it a felony to strike them, too. As his colleagues considered Bosn's bill Thursday, McKinney said it would ultimately add to the prison system's crowding problem, pointing to the measure's fiscal note, in which the Department of Correctional Services said the bill "could increase the length of stay of persons in prison, thereby increasing the overall prison population." He questioned why the Legislature would advance a criminal penalty enhancement after the body created a sentencing reform task force last year. "This is jumping the gun. But y'all don't care, because you've got the votes and you can do what you want," said McKinney, who said that he would resign from the sentencing task force if the Legislature passed Bosn's bill, minutes before 35 senators voted to advance it. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 A small group of Nebraska lawmakers launched a filibuster Wednesday against a bill that would enhance the penalties that alleged drug dealers could face for providing substances linked to overdoses. Initially introduced by former Sen. Suzanne Geist but taken up this year by her successor, Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, the bill (LB137) would increase the potential prison sentence dealers might face if drugs they're accused of distributing kill or seriously injure a drug user. The Legislature's Judiciary Committee advanced the bill to the full body Tuesday on a 5-2 vote, with Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington joining Bosn and the committee's three other conservative lawmakers to push the bill onto the floor. The bill initially called for some dealers to be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison putting the crime on the same plane as second-degree murder in Nebraska's criminal code. But the committee added an amendment that would cap a dealer's potential prison sentence at 50 years. "We have lost too many young people in this state and middle-aged people, quite frankly to a death resulting from use of a controlled substance that is so much more dangerous than any of the controlled substances out there," Bosn said Wednesday, targeting fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that killed at least 256 state residents between January 2018 and November 2022. "We can attack this from every angle simultaneously and I've done just that," she said. "So this is not just Sen. Bosn coming in and wanting to enhance a penalty and put more people in jail. That couldn't be further from the truth." Bosn, a former prosecutor who was appointed to the Legislature midway through last year's contentious session following Geist's resignation, pointed to her support for drug courts and a bill the body advanced in January that would give sterile needles to drug users to reduce the spread of infectious disease, among other measures, to tackle "the fentanyl crisis." "This war will not be fought on my bill alone," she said Wednesday, which marked the 31st day of 2024's 60-day legislative session. "We have got to come at this with every tool in the toolbox." But a group of urban lawmakers including Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh, Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney of Omaha joined by Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln repeatedly lined up to speak out against Bosn's bill on the legislative floor Wednesday, while some members of the group filed motions and amendments, signaling the start of a filibuster. Cavanaugh, who engaged in a monthslong filibuster last year over objections to a measure the Legislature ultimately passed restricting access to gender care for transgender youths, filed a motion to indefinitely postpone Bosn's proposal but said she didn't intend to filibuster it. The Omaha senator said she opposed the penalty enhancements outlined in Bosn's bill, casting them as an ineffective tool to administer criminal justice and address broader opioid use. "I don't think that it's going to deter crime," said Cavanaugh, whose comments were echoed by Dungan, a former public defender. "And if we really want to deter crime we need to get to the root causes of crime and focus our energy on the root causes of crime." But, she said, "it does appear (Bosn) has the votes that would break a filibuster, so to that end, I'm not going to take eight hours, because it's gonna end in the same result of moving the bill forward regardless." Her colleagues from Omaha made no such promises, though. McKinney and Wayne the chairman of the Judiciary Committee who indicated he would continue to stall a vote on Bosn's bill both repeatedly cautioned Wednesday that Bosn's bill would bring unintended consequences to the state's judicial system and mark the Legislature's latest contribution to the overcrowding plaguing Nebraska's prisons. "It's easy to get behind what we would deem tough-on-crime bills," Wayne said. "It's easy to say that there is a drug problem and we have to be harder on drug dealers. I don't disagree with those statements. The problem is this bill is too broad." Wayne said prosecutors in the state are already capable of charging reckless drug dealers with manslaughter if the substances they deliver result in fatal overdoses. And he noted that fatal or serious injury overdoses can be litigated in federal court, where one of the state's most infamous overdose cases went after a former Nebraska State Patrol evidence technician and her then-boyfriend stole pounds of cocaine and fentanyl from the patrol's evidence storage facility and sold a mixture of the drugs, leading to a string of local overdoses. Wayne also took issue with the language in Bosn's bill that would allow prosecutors to deploy the penalty enhancement in cases where an alleged drug dealer's supply was "connected with" an overdose, suggesting it could broaden the pool of defendants eligible to face the enhancement. He cast the proposal as "overly broad" and suggested prosecutors would use it stacked with additional felony charges against defendants whom Bosn isn't intending to crack down on. "We are going to actually punish people for not knowing something's in there," said Wayne, a practicing criminal defense attorney. "That goes against the fundamental aspects of criminal law: that they have to know what they're doing." McKinney, meanwhile, pinned his opposition to the bill on the impact it will have on Nebraska's prison system, pointing to the measure's fiscal note, in which the Department of Correctional Services noted the bill "could increase the length of stay of persons in prison, thereby increasing the overall prison population." He also highlighted an academic report released in January that blamed overcrowding in Nebraska's prisons on lawmakers who, both broadly and incrementally, have increased minimum sentence lengths for a host of crimes over the past two decades, manufacturing the overcrowding crisis the state faces now. "If my calculations are right, the United States of America and the state of Nebraska has probably been trying to be tough on crime for 30-plus years," McKinney said. "I would ask you: Has that worked? Has that approach worked? Has the punitive approach to addressing crime worked? "Honestly, ask yourself, has it worked? Because if it worked, I don't believe we would be this state would be building a $350 million new prison if being tough on crime actually worked." The fledgling filibuster took the Legislature to lunch Wednesday without a vote on Cavanaugh's motion to postpone the bill, which will come before a vote on the proposal itself. Lawmakers are scheduled to restart debate on the bill at 9 a.m. Thursday. A county board in Nebraska rejected an application from an Iowa company seeking to build a carbon dioxide pipeline across the northeast corner of the state. On a 3-0 vote Tuesday, the Stanton County Board of Commissioners denied Summit Carbon Solutions a conditional-use permit to lay a little more than 8 miles of pipeline in the county. Commissioner Dennis Kment said too many questions remained unanswered about the safety of the pipeline, which seeks to carry carbon dioxide from about 30 ethanol plants across the Midwest to a sequestration site in North Dakota. I didnt know enough about it to vote yes, said Kment, who is in his 26th year on the board. I have never dealt with carbon dioxide before, and we didnt have all the information we needed to answer the questions about safety. The Midwest Carbon Express, as originally proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions, included a network of 2,000 miles of pipeline across Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota at a cost of $4.5 billion. When it was first proposed in Nebraska, the pipeline would have stretched 315 miles across two main lines, connecting biofuel refineries in Atkinson, Plainview, Norfolk, Wood River, Central City and York. Those plans appear to have been scaled back after Summit announced it was delaying the project, however. A map dated August 2023 available on Summits website shows plans for 164 miles of carbon dioxide pipelines linking ethanol plants in Holt, Madison and Pierce counties. Summits plan to run an 8-inch pipe across a sliver of northeast Stanton County ran into opposition from residents of Woodland Park, a housing development of roughly 1,400 just to the northeast of Norfolk, who said it came too close to their homes and an elementary school. Commissioner Doug Huttmann said the residents of the county who reached out to him were all opposed to the pipeline project, with some even continuing to text him their opposition as the meeting was taking place Tuesday morning. The only people at this meeting in favor of the pipeline were either on the board of an ethanol plant or an employee, Huttmann said. All of my constituents in the county were opposed to it. I am their voice, so thats the reason why I voted against it. Huttmann said opposition to the project centered on safety, with many pointing to the Feb. 22, 2020, rupture of a CO2 pipeline in Satartia, Mississippi, that forced 200 people to evacuate and sent 45 to the hospital. On Wednesday morning, Summit Carbon Solutions posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that there are more than 5,300 miles of CO2 pipelines in existence in the U.S. today, with a 99.99% safety rating. Huttmann said others were turned off by a lack of engagement from Summit officials in Stanton County, while one person who lives along the proposed route but has not signed an easement said they were concerned about foreign ownership in the company. Summit did not respond to an email on Wednesday seeking comment, but the company told the Nebraska Examiner they planned to address concerns raised by Stanton County residents. Both commissioners said they believed carbon dioxide pipelines would benefit ethanol companies, and by extension, local farmers, and that they were not opposed to the project in principle, but signaled they werent ready to sign off on the permit quite yet. Stanton County isnt going to be the first county to give them a permit, Huttmann said. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 UNION GROVE Bryn Koszyczarek was shocked when she found out. Koszyczarek saw an email from her high school art teacher saying that her painting received a Gold Key award in the 2024 Wisconsin Scholastic Art Awards. The art teacher had encouraged Koszyczarek to submit the painting, the first time she had entered her artwork in a competition. Koszyczarek said she was extremely excited to read the congratulatory email. I did not expect it all. The Union Grove High School sophomore said she has drawn her entire life. Thats the one thing Im really interested in and really good at, she said. Ever since I was born, I was drawing. Koszyczarek was one of four UGHS students who was recognized in the state Scholastic Art Awards. Students worked on their pieces for a few weeks in class and at home before submitting them in December. UGHS senior Aiden Schroeder received an honorable mention for a drawing. UGHS senior Maggie Ludvigsen received an honorable mention for a sculpture. UGHS senior Mehlia Michna received honorable mentions for two illustrations related to outer space, one of the creation of the Milky Way and one of a comet shower rally. Koszyczarek won recognition for her Watercolor Cats painting, which includes three colorful portraits of her cat. Her cat means a lot to me, so I wanted to honor him in some way, Koszyczarek said. The painting will be on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum from Feb. 24 to April 7 along with work from other Wisconsin middle school and high school artists. Koszyczarek plans to visit the museum with her family and see her work. Its going to be crazy, Koszyczarek said. Ive never had anything like that happen, win something so big. Ludvigsen thought about what to sculpt for several days before deciding to create a hand reaching out of a book. She created a mold of her hand, papier mached that mold and placed it on top of a book. As a self-described perfectionist, Ludvigsen wanted to make the piece as good as possible. Im always trying my best, which I guess makes it look good, Ludvigsen said. Michna, who had her work displayed at a local coffeehouse in fall 2023, enjoys making original art, which both of her illustrations were. I love creating things, and I love bringing things to life that a lot of times I wouldve never seen when I was younger, Michna said. She is interested in attending the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Michna aims for a career in illustration or design, such as making childrens books drawings or designing clothes. Ludvigsen is interested in a radiography career but said she will continue creating art in her free time. She has always been creative and enjoys artistically expressing herself. Koszyczarek said she will probably not pursue an artistic career, but will keep it as an enjoyable hobby. She appreciates that drawing can provide a creative outlet for her emotions. It gets me to think more outside of the box, Koszyczarek said. Thats the one thing I can be most creative on, so if I have things to get out, Ill draw. Koszyczareks creativity was recently recognized, and her painting will soon be on public display. Eleven photos of the Union Grove HS agriculture program Weighing an egg A student weighs an egg as part of an egg dissection at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. The egg dissection occurred in the Agricu Katie Hagemann Teacher Katie Hagemann works with a student Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Teachers aim for students to be educated Carrie Jacobs Agriculture teacher Carrie Jacobs talks to students at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. When the agriculture program started in fa Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building The Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave., was funded as part of a $7.85 millio Shannon Roberts Shannon Roberts is a Union Grove High School senior and FFA officer. Roberts wants to be an agriculture instructor in part because of the ag c Katie writing on egg carton Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, helps students during an egg dissection Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Col Bearded dragon A bearded dragon is among the animals in Union Grove High School's companion animal class, which involves taking care of small animals like ra Katie Hagemann and student Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, center, works with a student during an egg dissection at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Ashley Gunderson Ashley Gunderson is a Union Grove High School senior and FFA officer. Gunderson, who lives on a grain farm, said the school's agriculture clas Katie Hagemann with eggs Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, prepares for an egg dissection Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Union Grove High School Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Union Grove HS agriculture program RACINE The high schoolers quickly became close. Aided by a fall barbecue, Horlick High School students connected over similar experiences. In a comfortable setting for their Black Student Union meetings, they found it easy to joke with one another and be productive. I think were all comfortable with each other, said CaVana Wade, BSU secretary. We all just have that bond where we know we can all click and connect. This school year, the second for the BSU, has involved more planning and active participation in events at Horlick and the community. Members have recruited students, are making announcements at school for Black History Month and planning for an upcoming school spirit week. They also have taken field trips, including recently visiting Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, to learn about potential careers. I think weve grown a lot, Wade said. I think the most rewarding part for us is all the different things we do and all the different opportunities we got to see. The group is open to all students and meets every Thursday after school at Horlick, 2119 Rapids Drive. Meetings usually involve 15 to 20 students. Having consistent attendance can be difficult, but BSU members said that is the only challenge so far with the club. Zemirah Hunter, Horlick BSU president, was in the Case BSU before transferring to Horlick last school year. She usually leads the weekly meetings, and students often have discussions. Meetings also include a lot of humor. We just always laughing, Wade said. Its something new every day with us. Every day. Chefon Person has been the BSU adviser for about a year and supports students where needed. Person took on the role because she wanted to help students gain a better understanding of options after high school and to make them feel heard. There were some students who dont always feel included here at Horlick, African American students, Person said. It only felt right for me to come over here and help them figure out other ways that they can be involved, pick a career. Areas of emphasis going forward for the group include recruiting more students and being more active in the community. Horlick students participated in a Martin Luther King Day community event last month, and they all read a quote from King. They talked with Black Student Union members from Case and Park high schools and enjoyed connecting with people from outside Horlick. Amir Spencer, BSU vice president, was pleasantly surprised with how well we can execute a plan if we really stick to it and how well the different schools can come together, he said. I didnt expect it to be as smooth as it has been. BSU members said the group has also assisted their personal growth. It definitely helped me step out of my comfort zone, Spencer said. Going out to these different opportunities and volunteering here for other things, it helps me. Students communication skills and self-confidence also have improved. Its given me a lot more confidence when I speak and more self-pride, Hunter said. Adrianna Ivory, BSU member, agreed. Ive learned how to speak up more and be more bold, she said. Students take pride in seeing their planning efforts come to fruition and turn into positive events. Its like watching a flower blossom, Spencer said. Close Students Juan Soto, left, and Andrew Clemons talk with an attendee during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Soto and Clemons are two of 35 students in the engineering and manufacturing pathway that offered its first class last year at Horlick. Student Andrew Clemons talk with an attendee during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Clemons is in the Horlick engineering and manufacturing pathway and appreciates the chance to merge technical skills with creativity. Alex DeBaker, Racine Unified executive director of academies and transformation, talks during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Horlick, Case and Park high schools all use SME curriculum that is implemented over three years in their engineering and manufacturing pathways. Horlick Principal Tangella King speaks during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. King said the school aims to provide tools for students to use in their next life phases, and the SME materials are great ways to do so. Teacher Jeffrey Trinka talks during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Horlick, Case and Park high schools all use SME curriculum that is implemented over three years in their engineering and manufacturing pathways, the classes Trinka teaches. Students talked about materials in classrooms like a 3D printer during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Six photos of a Horlick HS manufacturing pathway event Students Juan Soto, left, and Andrew Clemons talk with an attendee during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Soto and Clemons are two of 35 students in the engineering and manufacturing pathway that offered its first class last year at Horlick. Student Andrew Clemons talk with an attendee during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Clemons is in the Horlick engineering and manufacturing pathway and appreciates the chance to merge technical skills with creativity. Alex DeBaker, Racine Unified executive director of academies and transformation, talks during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Horlick, Case and Park high schools all use SME curriculum that is implemented over three years in their engineering and manufacturing pathways. Horlick Principal Tangella King speaks during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. King said the school aims to provide tools for students to use in their next life phases, and the SME materials are great ways to do so. Teacher Jeffrey Trinka talks during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Horlick, Case and Park high schools all use SME curriculum that is implemented over three years in their engineering and manufacturing pathways, the classes Trinka teaches. Students talked about materials in classrooms like a 3D printer during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. When is it right to lie and cheat your way to the top? Why would you want to vote for someone like that into office? Dont we teach our children to be compassionate and caring, doing acts of kindness instead of discontentment, bullying, and corruption? I married into a European family who immigrated from war torn Europe. My in-laws learned the language, got involved in their little community. They read the newspapers and learned about the candidate that they thought would be the best for their new country. They saw what a dictator does and is about. They did their civic duty and voted. P eople don`t trust mainstream news. They say that it is all fake news. Thats because Trump has great contempt for them. He calls them enemies. He uses words to call non-whites vermin. Isn't this what Hitler did to take over the country of Germany? He had Joseph Goebbels as his minister of propaganda. The more the lie is told the more people will believe it to be true. He wants to be an authoritarian. He has already laid out plans on day one of a return to office to go after his political enemies and put them in jail. I wonder about the evangelicals who support this thing. They think he is a man of God. When and where again in the Bible does it say that hate and anger, lies and distrust will be you salvation. I thought it was love, compassion and acts of kindness. I`m reminded of John Lennon`s song Gimme some truth. We need that in today`s world. My prayer for the future is Please Lord, let the light and goodness shine. Please don`t let the darkness take over our country. Let love, kindness and benevolence surpass the evil that wants to take over. Amen! Di Michalski, Kenosha 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 people were arrested following a shooting that left two men dead Tuesday at a bowling alley in the northeast Nebraska town of Bloomfield, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. Alias Reed, 25, of Bloomfield and Reed's girlfriend Kaylyne Sweazy, 27, were arrested after the fatal shooting at Curt's Lanes and Dining at 112 W. Grant St, the State Patrol said in a news release. The State Patrol and Knox County Sheriff's Office are holding a news conference Wednesday morning. Local authorities received the report of the shooting at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Investigators believe it happened during an altercation between Reed and the victims, the State Patrol said. Reed and Sweazy were found at their home a short time later. Reed, who was lodged in the Knox County jail, faces two counts of first-degree murder, according to the State Patrol. Sweazy, who was taken to the Antelope County jail, was arrested for tampering with evidence. The State Patrol, along with the Knox County Sheriff's Office and Bloomfield Police Department, is investigating. More details on the male victims were not released Tuesday. Officials said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Troopers were posted around Bloomfield on Tuesday to ensure community safety. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 KENOSHA The Civil War Museum is hosting its Civil War Medical Weekend, with the 17th Corps Field Hospital the largest Civil War Medical unit in the Midwest hosting activities and demonstrations. The free event will feature interactive displays, including making pills with Doctor Milam using an 1800s pill roller. This free event is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the museum, 5400 First Ave. in Downtown Kenosha. It will, no doubt, make visitors appreciate antibiotics and anesthesia. Activities include: Watching surgical demonstrations, offered both days. Viewing hundreds of original surgical instruments up close. Hearing about the different diseases that affected soldiers during the Civil War. Learning how women nursed the wounded and sick. Free programs "Light in the Darkness: A Civil War Chaplain Study," 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Rodney Miller will talk about the spiritual and secular roles of chaplains during the Civil War. Whatever their denomination, the best chaplains were available to help in any situation. A chaplains formal religious work included holding services and preaching, visiting hospitals, hosting Bible study, performing funerals and praying with soldiers. Informal duties included letter writing, delivering mail, nursing the sick and wounded, handing out reading materials and transporting money home for men of their regiment. "A Desirable Citizen: The Complicated Lives of James and Ann Ellis," 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. Jeff Kannel will talk about James Ellis, who was born enslaved on a plantation near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and escaped to the Union Army during the Civil War. He served as a cook and rostered private in the 29th Wisconsin Infantry. Coming to Wisconsin with his regiment after the war, he became an important figure among the small, scattered community of African Americans in post-war Jefferson County. His wife, Ann, managed to get to Wisconsin in a very different way. Together, they found a place for themselves in Fort Atkinson. For more information, go to museums.kenosha.org/civilwar/ A committee of Viterbo University faculty and students meet for weeks every fall to choose shows for the coming season, taking into account a wide range of factors. Bat Boy: The Musical has been in the running to be produced for many years but always came up just short until this year. This was especially welcome news for Teddy Eck, a music theater faculty member in his third year who was tapped to direct Bat Boy, which runs March 13 in the Fine Arts Centers LaCroix Black Box Theatre. Eck vividly recalls the week the Bat Boy hit the cover of the Weekly World News. In late June 1992, Eck and people in line at supermarkets across the country were captivated by the grotesque image of a bald boy with oversized ears, his gaping mouth displaying jagged, pointy teeth. Nine years later, Eck moved from Topeka, Kansas, to New York City to study theater, arriving just as Bat Boy: The Musical made its off-Broadway debut, bringing the wildly popular Weekly World News character to life in a story that had the Bat Boy trying to fit into society instead of running away as he had in the series of tabloid stories. We went to see it many times, so I have a deep fondness for the show, Eck said. In this comedic musical tinged with horror, the half boy/half bat is found in a cave near a small town in West Virginia and brought to the local veterinarian, Dr. Parker, and his wife, Meredith. They add the boy to their family, which also includes a daughter his age, Shelley. The townsfolk (and gradually Dr. Parker) are not so accepting, and their zeal to be rid of him eventually elicits the unveiling of the shocking story of Bat Boys unholy origin. Eck worked with Los Angeles-based scenic designer Teena Sauvola, a 2008 Viterbo graduate, to create a production that evokes the tabloid vibe and immerses the audience in the show. Theres even a two-row section known as the blood zone, where audience members get ponchos to protect them from splattering stage blood. Seats in that section are sold out for all four performances. Teena and I really worked on how to make the audience feel a part of the show, said Eck, in his third year on the Viterbo faculty. The blood zone came out of that, and we removed some seats to allow the cast to get closer to the audience. A month ago, cast members first began gathering for table reads. The way Teddy directs is so educational for us, said Reagan Kettner, a junior music theater major from Wausau who plays Shelley. He asks us what we want to do. Its a different approach from what Ive had with previous directors, and it really helps bring yourself into a character more deeply. Its not stand here or go over there, added Jake Aune, a junior music theater major from Elk River, Minn., who plays Edgar. He wants us to be able to interpret our characters. Its more guiding than telling. I leave the rehearsal more confident in my abilities as an actor rather than in my capacity to follow orders. The music in Bat Boy has a high degree of difficulty, said Music director Matt Salvo, with frequent instrumental accents on lines that require precise timing for the actors and musicians, and the harmonies are so unusual that cast members give an audible sigh of relief when Salvo reminds them they are all singing the same note in one scene instead of harmonizing. It takes nearly 50 people to get Bat Boy to the stage, from more than a dozen students sewing costumes a couple of hours per day to set builders to lighting designers and sound mixers to makeup and hair artists. In the span of five weeks, Eck and his Bat Boy team go from reading the script and singing the songs around a table to giving audiences an immersive experience they wont forget. The people putting on the show wont forget it, either. It has been a joy bringing this story to life and sharing this adventure with the stellar production team, cast, and crew, Eck said. For Claire Lasecki, it was summer school that got her back into the classroom this year after she missed 78% of her freshman year at Middleton High School. Lasecki, 15, said the smaller number of students during the summer term allowed her to get to know the school and some of her peers and reduced the anxiety she had experienced when she was in class last year. I dont feel anxious at school anymore because I know some of the people around here, and I know what to do, she said. Im keeping up with classes pretty well. Chronic absenteeism which the state defines as missing more than 10% of scheduled school days increased significantly at schools across the country in the years after pandemic-related classroom closures that in some cases lasted more than a year. Chronically absent after COVID Dane County districts were not immune, with rates of chronic absenteeism especially high among Black, Latino and poor students. Data from the state Department of Public Instruction show that in Madison, for example, chronic absenteeism increased from less than 35% of Black students in the two years prior to the pandemic to 62.5% in 2021-22. Just more than 43% of Hispanic students in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District were chronically absent in 2020-21, with that percentage dropping to 30.8% in 2021-22. Those figures were less than 15% prior to the pandemic. In Sun Prairie, where officials declined to comment for this story, the percentage of students considered economically disadvantaged who were chronically absent rose slightly from 2020-21 to 2021-22, going from 42.4% to 44.4%. Before the pandemic it was under 30% of such students. Since students fully returned to in-person learning in the fall of 2021, two of those three districts the countys largest say theyve made progress improving school attendance. The latest formal measure of just how much will come this spring, when the Department of Public Instruction releases data on chronic absenteeism for the 2022-23 school year. Lasecki said her parents werent happy about her missing so much school last year, but neither they, school staff nor a mental health wraparound program for students run through the county Department of Human Services were able to get her to go. School officials were repeatedly in touch with Lasecki and her family, she said, and after meetings with school staff shed go to school for a while but then stop, discouraged at how far behind shed become academically. It was mostly that it was a lot of new people and a different kind of schedule throughout the day, she said. It was a bigger school with a ton of people. School district officials encouraged her to go to summer school, though, and attending at the beginning of sophomore year felt like a fresh start, she said. She said shes open to attending the summer term again. State law allows school officials to refer habitual truants to juvenile court and their parents for prosecution, but Middleton-Cross Plains district spokesperson Shannon Valladolid said the districts goal is to effectively intervene and support families before we involve the court system. Positive trends a first since COVID The Madison School District which with 25,000 students is the states second-largest has seen rates of chronic absenteeism fall, according to Kira Hicks, assistant director of student and staff support, although she declined to provide district data before the state release. Attendance was better in the second quarter of this year than the second quarter of last school year, she said, and there was improvement across student groups, save for one she declined to identify because it was so small that revealing it might inadvertently identify specific students. We are not yet quite at our pre-COVID levels, but we actually are seeing positive trends in our attendance data at (the district) for the first time since COVID, she said. District lead social worker Laura Glaub said the reasons she hears from absent students and their families for not attending school include trouble finding reliable transportation, unstable housing, and financial problems that might mean a student has to work or stay home and watch younger siblings while a parent works. Those were problems before the pandemic, according to assistant superintendent for teaching and learning Cynthia Green, but the pandemic exacerbated them. The district is also dealing with more medically fragile students now, she said, and attendance can be affected by rules requiring students to stay home when sick with COVID or some other illness. Anecdotally, shes seen less stamina among student and adults post-COVID. There seems to be more mental health issues, more issues around the stamina to push through on any given day, she said. Theres a difference between learning online and learning on your couch versus now coming back and learning in person and the length of the day that is something that we are building back towards. Glaub said district schools have attendance teams made up of staff that can include student-engagement specialists, family liaisons, psychologists, counselors and others. When she spoke with the State Journal on Jan. 29, she had just been meeting with a group to talk about home visits to a student who hadnt been coming to school regularly since the fall. We have different tiers of support based on what that family and student say they need, she said. One of the less tangible things students and their families need to ensure good attendance is a connection with school, she said. When were doing that attendance support plan, one of the first questions we ask is, Who are your childrens trusted adults at school or who do you know thats at your childs school? she said. If we hear no one, we know thats our first priority is connecting students and families to build relationships within that school. Middleton sees fewer days missed Middleton-Cross Plains was likewise reporting significant improvements in our attendance data, including 31 fewer students receiving letters during the first part of this school year for missing between 10 and 15 days, as compared to the same period in 2022. There were also 670 fewer days missed, the district said, although it saw a 26% increase in tardiness. In a statement, the district said it has implemented various programs and initiatives to address chronic absenteeism especially among marginalized students, including: Staff to work with non-English speakers. Better messaging campaigns to emphasize the importance of being in school. Daily, weekly and monthly monitoring of attendance and tardiness to catch and address problems early. Personalized outreach measures such as letters, texts and home visits. Development of attendance contracts and individualized student plans. Middleton-Cross Plains, which had 7,263 students last year, also pointed to a need to form connections between students and their families and the schools, with staff known as student and family engagement specialists at the middle and high schools working to promote a sense of belonging so that every student feels valued and encouraged to participate in their educational journey. In-person learning during COVID Post-pandemic absenteeism was less problematic at three Madison private or charter schools that offered in-person learning in the 2020-21 school year, although exact comparisons are difficult because two of the schools dont fall under the same state reporting requirements as traditional public schools. Chronic absenteeism at Lighthouse Christian School on the citys Southwest Side was 8.5% in 2019-20, 10.2% in 2020-21, 23% in 2021-22, 17% last school year and 1.5% so far this year, according to principal Tia Sierra, who said the school uses the same definition of chronic absenteeism as traditional public schools. Sierra said most of the absences in 2021-22, when the school stopped offering an online schooling option for all students, were related to anxiety or mental health issues among children and families. The vast majority were families just afraid to send their kids to school, which was an interesting thing because in our mind, science had proven that schools arent the biggest spreaders of COVID, she said, referencing research as early as the fall of 2020 that in-person schooling did not create an elevated risk for getting COVID for students or employees. About 80% of the schools 285 students in grades 4K through eight use state-funded vouchers to attend, according to Sierra. About 90% are non-white the largest percentage, at 60%, are Latino and about 90% are low-income, Sierra said. At public charter One City Schools which does have to report data to the state Department of Public Instruction and which has 203 students this year in grades 4K through seven chronic absenteeism was about 39.1% for Black students and 42.9% for low-income students in 2018-19, when it offered only 4K and kindergarten. Those figures had dropped to about 31.7% and 37%, respectively, by 2021-22, when the school served students in 4K through fourth grade. Still, One Citys founder and CEO Kaleem Caire said absenteeism is a consistent problem at One City, where currently about 90% of students are non-white and about 61% are low-income. The private Catholic Edgewood Campus School, which serves grades K4 through eight, is not suffering from chronic absenteeism, according to principal Lauren Costello, who didnt provide data. No county deaths linked to in-person schooling Researchers knew from early in the pandemic that children were less likely to have serious complications from the disease than the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions. In Dane County, one school-age person died of COVID-19: 16-year-old Madison East High School student Isai Morocho, on Nov. 25, 2020. According to the last update Public Health Madison and Dane County made to its COVID dashboard, on Oct. 11, there were a total of 624 COVID deaths in Dane County and 3,694 hospitalizations, and 532 of the deaths were of people age 60 and older. The most recent analysis the agency did of COVID hospitalizations or deaths linked to in-person schooling in Dane County was released in October of 2022 and showed there had been no deaths and eight hospitalizations six of students and two of teachers. The White House on Sept. 13 released a statement pointing to the increase in chronic absenteeism in the wake of COVID-19 and its role in falling test scores, and calling for an all hands on deck approach to getting children consistently back in the classroom. Editor's note: This story was updated on March 4 to correct information provided by the Middleton-Cross Plains School District that it later determined was incorrect. Police and eastern Wisconsin residents were searching Wednesday for a missing 3-year-old boy who was last seen Tuesday morning at a home by a caregiver. An Amber Alert issued Tuesday in Manitowoc County for Elijah Vue remained active Wednesday, the FBI's Milwaukee office said in a Tuesday post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The FBI's post said Elijah weighs about 45 pounds (20.4 kilograms), is about 3 feet (.9 meter) tall and has sandy hair, brown eyes and a birthmark on his left knee. He was last seen in the city of Two Rivers, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Green Bay. The Two Rivers Police Department said Wednesday morning that the search for Elijah was continuing and there was no immediate update. An adult caregiver last saw Elijah about 8 a.m. Tuesday at a residence in Two Rivers, and the child was last seen wearing gray pants, a long sleeve dark shirt and red and green dinosaur shoes. He is possibly carrying a red and white plaid blanket, the police department said. The department asked residents Tuesday to search any outbuildings, vehicles or any other concealed area on their properties to try to locate Elijah, and to also check any surveillance cameras or video doorbells. Residents organized a search party Wednesday morning in the area where Elijah was last seen, with one participant, Sue Hett, saying there had been an unbelievable response. "Ive never seen such an outpouring ... we just got to find some answers, she told WLUK-TV. Nation advances in protection of tech-related IP 08:48, February 22, 2024 By Cao Yin ( China Daily More foreign enterprises have chosen Chinese courts to settle their patent and technology-related disputes, due to the equal protection offered to them in the handling of such cases, said an official with China's top court. In 2023, the Intellectual Property Court of the Supreme People's Court filed 421 cases involving foreign litigants 267 more than in 2019, the year it was established, said He Zhonglin, first deputy chief judge of the IP Court, in an exclusive interview with China Daily. "The growth means market players have attached great importance to technology and IP rights as part of their core competitiveness, with foreign investors optimistic about the dynamic Chinese market," he said. "It also indicates that Chinese courts are becoming one of the preferred venue for resolving international IP litigation." The IP Court, which opened in January 2019, was established mainly to handle civil and administrative appeals related to invention patents, new varieties of plants, integrated circuits, technical secrets, computer software and monopolies. Since the court's establishment, litigants dissatisfied with rulings made by intermediate courts at the city or prefecture level, or by other specialized IP courts, have been allowed to appeal directly to the national-level IP Court instead of first appealing to provincial high courts. The streamlined appeal process has helped prevent inconsistencies and improved the efficiency and quality of difficult technical and patent hearings, according to He. Although the number of cases has soared, the court continues to provide equal protection to all litigants, regardless of whether they are domestic or foreign, state-owned or private, inventors or scientific research institutions, he said. In November 2021, for example, the IP Court supported a litigant from Switzerland, increasing compensation for the foreign patent holder from 1 million yuan ($139,000) to 20 million yuan. The case dated back to 2017, when Synthes, a Swiss company engaged in the development, production and sale of instruments and biomaterials for the fixation, repair and reconstruction of human bones and soft tissue, found that Double Medical, a leading Chinese enterprise for orthopedic implants, infringed on its invention patent on a device to treat femoral fractures. Synthes first sued Double Medical in Changsha Intermediate People's Court in Hunan province, requesting compensation of 20 million yuan. In 2019, the court acknowledged Double Medical's infringement, but only required the company to pay Synthes 1 million yuan. Both sides were unsatisfied with the decision, so they appealed to the IP Court. During the second trial, the two parties disagreed on the method for calculating the infringement profits, but when the IP Court asked Double Medical to provide evidence, it refused to submit its accounting books or all sales data related to the device. In the end, the court deemed that the Chinese company's infringement profits had exceeded 20 million yuan, based on the evidence provided by the Swiss company, and it fully supported the foreign party's claim for compensation. In another medical device patent case, the IP Court sided with a Chinese enterprise, "showing our judicial protection is equal for every technological innovator, no matter where he or she comes from", He said. In 2016, a subsidiary of Echosens, a French company dedicated to liver health, took Wuxi Hisky Medical Technologies to Beijing Intellectual Property Court, claiming that a noninvasive liver fibrosis diagnostic instrument produced by the Chinese enterprise infringed on its patent. Unsatisfied with the Beijing court's verdict in favor of the French party, the Chinese company appealed to the IP Court. The high-tech medical equipment was the result of more than a decade of cooperation between the Chinese company and Tsinghua University, and public information showed that it has become a mainstream tool for liver health screening, disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation around the world. "The IP Court fully compared and deeply studied the technology used in the Chinese instrument and the technology involved in the French patent, determining that the two were different, so we dismissed the claim of the French party," He said. The deputy chief judge pointed out that both cases clearly show the equal protection offered to domestic as well as foreign litigants. "They've also demonstrated China's open, fair, credible and nondiscriminatory environment for technological innovation," he added. He pledged to strengthen efforts to solve foreign-related IP disputes, saying that better handling is a foundation for encouraging innovators and helping to build a sound business environment. "It'll also be a robust and long-term guarantee to serve China's high-quality development and attract more foreign investment," he said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) You are here: World Flash This photo taken on Dec. 25, 2023 shows damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. [Photo/Xinhua] At least 17 Palestinians were killed and more than 34 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, local medical sources told Xinhua on Wednesday. The sources added that rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the casualties include women and children. The recovered victims were all transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir el-Balah, the sources added. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that an Israeli warplane fired several missiles at the house sheltering several displaced families. The massive blast brought down the building and caused severe damage to neighboring houses in the western part of the camp. Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip has risen to 29,313, with 69,333 others wounded, as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Wednesday. The state Constitution should be interpreted to protect a womans right to abortion, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin asserts in a lawsuit filed with the state Supreme Court on Tuesday. The lawsuit seeks to provide long-term protection for abortions in Wisconsin, given providers fear that the law surrounding the procedure could change at a moments notice. Republican legislators have sought to pass abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, but Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has pledged to veto those proposals. The lawsuit asks the high court to declare that abortion rights are protected in the constitutional provision stating, All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. At the sacred core of the inherent right to life and liberty lies the right to determine what one does with ones own body, including whether and when to have a child, the lawsuit states. In response to the lawsuit, anti-abortion group Wisconsin Right to Life stated the Constitution protects the right to life for all, including preborn children. It is sickening and horrifying to see Planned Parenthood calling for a so-called right to abortion to be enshrined in our state, the group stated. Women and children in Wisconsin deserve better. The lawsuit was filed against the three district attorneys in the counties that have had Planned Parenthood abortion clinics: Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. The court isnt guaranteed to take the case. It has the authority to reject Planned Parenthoods petition for original action. But given the high courts liberal majority, along with liberal Justice Janet Protasiewiczs embrace of abortion rights on the campaign trail before she got elected last year, it appears likely the court will hear the lawsuit. It is imperative that we have a clear answer as to whether individuals have a constitutional right to receive abortion care, and whether I and my colleagues have the right to provide that health care, Dr. Allie Linton, associate medical director of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, told reporters. The lawsuit doesnt seek to define when exactly abortion rights are guaranteed. Under current law, abortions are protected until 20 weeks post-fertilization. Current protocols Women seeking abortions have to first get an ultrasound, have a counseling period and wait a full day before the procedure. For pill abortions, patients will have to schedule two visits with the same physician one for a counseling appointment and one to get the pills. Laws prohibit telehealth visits and mailing the abortion pill to the patient. Those laws were put in place while Roe v. Wade still guaranteed abortion access nationwide. Since the federal high court overturned the landmark ruling, Wisconsin Republicans have sought to roll back laws guaranteeing abortion access in Wisconsin. At this point, there is no federal or state ruling or constitutional provision keeping abortions from being banned in Wisconsin almost entirely. Evers challenger in 2022, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tim Michels, said he supported drastically limiting abortion rights. Evers won on a campaign largely centered on defending Wisconsinites abortion access. Clarity sought The new lawsuit comes just days after a Republican prosecutor asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide whether an 1849 law that had been widely interpreted as a near-complete abortion ban applies to the procedure. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanskis petition to the high court comes several months after a Dane County court ruled the law applied to feticide, not abortions. That ruling led abortion services to reopen last September after they had been shuttered for more than a year. Urmanskis lawyers said he thinks the 1849 law applies to abortion but wanted the liberal-controlled court to issue a final judgment. The court has yet to accept that case. The new Planned Parenthood lawsuit alleges that 1849 law violates constitutional protections for abortion rights. Today in history: Feb. 22 1935: White House 1959: Daytona 500 1967: Vietnam 1980: Miracle on Ice 1987: Andy Warhol 1997: Dolly 2010: Najibullah Zazi 2012: Mitt Romney 2020: Bernie Sanders 2021: COVID-19 2021: Mike Lindell 2022: Ahmaud Arbery hate crimes 1997: Dolly 2021: COVID-19 A constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature final say over how the governor uses federal funds allocated to Wisconsin could be coming before voters later this year. The Assembly is scheduled to hold its second vote on the joint resolution on Thursday. The chamber is also expected to vote on a separate proposed constitutional amendment that would bar local and state officials from closing churches in a state of emergency. Assembly Joint Resolution 6, is up for second consideration on Thursday, meaning approval would send the matter back to the state Senate, which is planning to hold at least one more floor period next month. Currently, the measure is set to come before voters on the Nov. 5 presidential election. However, a staffer for resolution author Rep. Robert Wittke, R-Racine, said Wednesday the proposal is expected to be amended Thursday to instead place it on the ballot in the August 9 primary. The resolution would give the Legislature final say over how the governor spends federal funds allocated to the state. Republicans sought to secure more control over the money after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers oversaw the distribution of billions in federal COVID relief funds pumped into the state. Senate Joint Resolution 54 would clarify that local and state officials "may not order the closure of or forbid gatherings in places of worship in response to a state of emergency at the national, state, or local level, including an emergency related to public health." The proposal is largely in response to the state's 2020 stay-at-home order, which limited indoor church gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately struck down that order, but Republicans have since introduced measures to prevent such a thing from happening again. Conservatives also lost a Wisconsin Supreme Court case in 2022 seeking to prevent unelected public health officials from ordering public health mandates without the approval of local officials. Evers in 2021 vetoed a bill that would have banned local public health orders from closing or limiting gatherings at places of worship. In his veto message, Evers said he objected to the measure's intent to take away existing tools available to state and local public health officials to combat COVID-19. The measure already passed its first vote in the Senate. If approved by the Assembly, the constitutional amendment would need to pass both chambers in the next legislative session before going before voters. If it passes both chambers in the 2025-26 legislative session, the measure could come before voters as early as the April 2025 election, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau. Unlike bills, the governor cannot veto constitutional amendments. Such measures must pass two successive legislative sessions before voters have the final say. If enacted, such changes can only be reversed through the same amendment process or by a court order. Some conservative groups have pressed the Legislature to pursue more constitutional amendments to enact or preserve legislation after the Wisconsin Supreme Court shifted to a liberal majority for the first time in more than a decade last year. While they can't be vetoed, constitutional amendments can be challenged in court, which would put the proposals before the same liberal state Supreme Court majority that conservatives are trying to avoid. Another proposed amendment working its way through the Legislature would bar the state from receiving private funds to help administer elections. Republicans proposed it in response to private election grants provided to cities in 2020 by the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life that they say were used to unfairly increase turnout in the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. Another would amend the state Constitution's provision allowing that "Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district" to state that "Only a United States citizen" could vote in that district. That measure is meant to head off initiatives in other states to allow noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Two important news stories last week ought to make even the most ardent Donald Trump supporters stop and think. The first is the launch of a top-secret Russian satellite, adding to national security concerns that its part of another Vladimir Putin scheme to destabilize the West by destroying our communication satellites. The second is the death of Alexei Navalny in Putins prison system. Trumps staunchest followers in our House of Representatives claim to be advocates for freedom and the voice of the people calling themselves the Freedom Coalition and acting like they speak for We the People But it was Alexei Navalny who was a true advocate on behalf of his people. Thats why he fought so hard against Putins corruption, and for a democratic alternative in Russia. His death in Putins prison system is another reminder of what happens to freedom when democracy is lost. Navalnys death and Putins latest launch should remind us all that the only way were going to maintain the freedoms we cherish is by working together in upholding democracy and the rule of law, for ourselves and our allies. Its as basic as "united we stand, and divided we fall". Our first Republican presidents grasp of whats at stake remains as true today as it was at Gettysburg in 1863: that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. To truly defend such freedom for We the People , how about we start by tuning out those loud voices whove been playing right into Putins agenda by withholding support for Ukraine, sowing doubt among our allies, and crippling Congress with their total rejection of compromise. Dan Henderson Holmen A Lake Geneva business is in the running to receive a state award this week. Plas-Tech Engineering, 875 Geneva Parkway North, is a finalist for the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award in the medium business category. The awards, which are sponsored by representatives from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Baker Tilly and Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, are set to be presented Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. The awards recognize businesses for their quality of products, business practices, financial growth, innovative processes and investment into their communities. The awards are presented in four categories small business, medium business, large business and mega business. Previous award winners and retired business executives determine which companies will receive an award. In order to qualify for an award, business representatives must submit an application and their companys safety records, financial information, employee numbers and historical information. Its a rigorous application process, Nicholas Burger, information technology manager for the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said. Robert Fesus, vice president of sales and marketing for Plas-Tech Engineering, said this is the first year his company has applied for a Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award. Fesus said he learned about the award through a local business organization. He admits applying for the award was a long process. It required a rather large document to be written, crafted with certain financial information, our history and our story, Fesus said. Products that help save lives Plas-Tech Engineering manufactures plastic medical devices and components for the bio-tech and pharmaceutical industries. The company has clients throughout the world. Its really nice to see that products made at Plas-Tech Engineering in our relatively small town of Lake Geneva are going to patients around the world, Fesus said. Some are battling ailments, rare diseases and they require expensive biological drugs. Companies all over the world choose to come to Plas-Tech. Plast-Tech Engineering features equipment and technology that allows the company to produce and distribute products to its clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Failure is not an option. Were told by our customers that if were not shipping some people may not survive, Fesus said. So its very important to us that were shipping and maintaining our quality of standards. Plas-Tech expansion Company officials broke ground on a 25,000 square-foot expansion on the Lake Geneva facility last June. The expansion project is expected to be completed within in the next few months. What were doing now is prepping it for additional warehouse space. Were going to be doing some manufacturing at some point. Its all going to be controlled, Fesus said. The building is almost done. We probably have a couple of months before were 100% done. The project is the first phase of the company expanding its headquarter facility in Lake Geneva. A 30,000 square foot expansion is set to be completed as part of the second phase of the project in the future. Aaron Hirschmann, president of Plas-Tech Engineering, said the expansion is needed to handle the clients increase needs for products and the companys growing workforce. Plas-Tech Engineering had about 40 employees in 2021 and currently has about 150 workers. Were healthy and we continue to grow, Hirschmann said. All this growth started before COVID, and it continued through COVID. Fesus feels the information that was submitted about Plas-Techs expansion and growth helped make the company a finalists for a Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award. I think our story is kind of unique. It caught their attention, especially with our growth and the health of our company, Fesus said. Weve been growing at a steady clip for the past five years, and theres no reason that is going to stop with all the business we got. Fesus and Hirschmann recently gave Burger a tour of the Plas-Tech facility. Burger said he is impressed with the companys operations and its growth. Im sure this isnt the last time Im going to be hearing about your guys company, Burger told Fesus and Hirschmann after the tour. Youre doing some cool stuff here. Eventually the word will spread across the state. Fesus said Plas-Tech Engineering representatives plan to apply for the award again next year. If we dont get it this year, theres always next year, Fesus said. This is our first year. Other finalists for the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award in the medium business category include ANGI Energy Systems LLC in Janesville; Beyond Vision in West Allis; Eck Industries, Inc. in Manitowoc; Empire Screen Printing, Inc. in Onalaska; IKI Manufacutring, Inc. in Edgerton; Minnesota Wire & Cable Company in Eau Claire; Muza Sheet Metal Company LLC in Oshkosh; Red Line Plastics, LLC in Manitowoc; Royal Basket Trucks, Inc. in Darien; Winsert, LLC in Marinette; and Wisconin Metal Parts, Inc. in Waukesha. The medium business category includes companies that have between 100 and 249 employees. Flash Israel conducted its second missile attack on areas southwest of the Syrian capital of Damascus within hours on Wednesday, according to reports from a war monitor and local media. The war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israel targeted sites belonging to Iranian militias in the areas, adding there is currently no information regarding any human or material losses as a result of the attack. Additionally, rocket shells launched by Israeli forces landed in Beit Jinn in the western countryside of Damascus, near the border with the occupied Golan Heights, according to the Britain-based watchdog group. The Sham FM radio, a pro-government media in Syria, said that air defenses intercepted missiles in the southern and southwestern countryside of Damascus. Furthermore, Israeli rocket fire was also reported in Mount al-Sheikh of southern Syria. Eyewitnesses in the Mazzeh neighborhood west of Damascus told Xinhua that a thundering sound similar to that of an earthquake was heard when the Israeli strike occurred. Earlier on Wednesday, an Israeli missile attack hit a residential building in the Kafar Sousah neighborhood in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of two civilians, as confirmed by the Syrian Defense Ministry. The observatory suggested that the attack in Kafar Sousah was an assassination attempt targeting individuals associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While Israel has frequently carried out missile strikes on Syrian targets, hitting residential areas is unusual and indicates an assassination attempt. This incident follows a similar attack on Jan. 20, during which five IRGC officers were killed in a missile strike on the Western Mazzeh Villas neighborhood in Damascus. This article appears in the February 23, 2024 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. International Peace Coalition Meeting Humanity Must Have a Vision for the Next Billion Years [Print version of this article] We have reached a point in history, where because we are sitting in one boat, we must step up to the level of reason, of finding a solution for the entire human species. Feb. 16The 37th meeting of the International Peace Coalition (IPC), convened Feb. 16, 2023, was devoted to fighting the pragmatism which infects the minds of most people in todays society, which prevents them from conceptualizing higher-level solutions to the grave crises threatening mankind. People are often blinded by the particulars of the various conflictsGaza or Ukrainerobbing them of the ability to envision a means of resolving them, which would require simultaneously taking into account the needs of every single nation on the planet. This was the challenge taken up with the showing to the IPC of the new video: The Oasis PlanLaRouches Solution for the Middle East, produced by The LaRouche Organization. View full size EIRNS Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute and initiator of the IPC, opened the proceedings with a strategic overview, pointing out that in Germany the annual meeting of the Munich Security Conference was taking place. This conference, in the past a forum for finding solutions to critical security issues, has now degenerated into a public relations event for the military-industrial complexthe tone of the event being that of confrontation, not diplomacy. One exception was Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, who made clear that 1.4 million Palestinians are facing an unimaginable destiny in Rafah. Also, the President of Ghana spoke, demanding a just new economic order, saying it cannot continue that one part of the world lives in wealth and the other part is faced with starvation. Zepp-LaRouche continued by reporting on the 52 countries that will testify before the World Court in The Hague for one full week, starting Feb.19, on the subject of a UN General Assembly resolution of Dec. 30, 2022, alleging human rights violations against Palestinians by the Israelis over a period of 55 years. This is good, she said, but something much more fundamental is needed: Unless the hopelessness of the situation is changed, a solution cant be found. This is why Lyndon LaRouches 1975 Oasis Plan for economic development of the entire region is so crucial. Unless you kick over the table of geopoliticswhich the Oasis Plan would doand go into a new paradigm of development, there is no hope. Zepp-LaRouche emphasized the importance of flooding the zone; getting the Oasis Plan video out far and wide. With that, the video was shown. Jason Ross, Executive Director of The LaRouche Organization and producer of the video, then fielded questions from IPC participants. Ross opened by making the point that charting a path toward peace sometimes requires changing the terrain. Under the current paradigm of hegemonism, there is no possibility of peace. There are two aspects of this paradigm which must be changed: The UN has estimated that it will cost $20 billion to reconstruct Gaza, and that it would take until 2092. This monetarist conception doesnt take into account the necessity of transforming not only Gaza but the entire region in a way that benefits all people. The other aspect is the problem that there are people who oppose war, who also, at the same time, whether they know it or not oppose peace. Ross used energy policy as an example: The Oasis Plan calls for nuclear power as the most efficient means of generating energy. Regrettably, many of the people who oppose war also have a Green, anti-growth Malthusian ideology and are opposed to nuclear energy. This ideology will doom people to poverty and unnecessary death, preventing the establishment of a new paradigm of peace through economic development. Ross concluded his remarks by stressing that the Oasis Plan is not contrary to the necessity of a ceasefire. A participant from the UK sparked a very useful discussion with a question on how to finance development outside the conditionalities that enslave countries to Western finance. Ross explained that there is a new paradigm of lending outside of the IMF/World Bank policy of debt slavery, focused on lending for real physical economic development. This type of lending is being carried out by the African Development Bank, the New Development Bank, and various Chinese banks that are financing the many Belt and Road Initiative projects worldwide. Dennis Small of the Schiller Institute added that, operating under the current bankrupt trans-Atlantic financial system, U.S. and British banks will lend for real development only after Hell freezes over. With $2 quadrillion of financial aggregates on their books, Western banks lend for one purpose: more speculation. The aim of this type of lending is to ensure that no physical economic development occurs and to impose Malthusian genocide particularly on poor nations of the world. Those who attack Chinaan integral part of this new lending paradigmneed to explain how China succeeded in lifting 850 million of its people out of extreme poverty. Bob Cushing of Pax Christi began by reading from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 58, Verses 614, on the topic of fasting. Then, after adding a quote from peace activist and columnist Frida Berrigan, he concluded, Heres the to do list now: Release the prisoners; set free the oppressed; share your food with the hungry; open the doors for the homeless; clothe the naked; end the wars. Now lets get to work! Dennis Speed of the Schiller Institute emphasized that with the proceedings before the World Court starting Feb. 19 on behalf of the UN General Assembly (mentioned above), a field of action has been made available to us for escalating our intervention into the strategic situation. Alejandro Zenteno Chavez of Mexicos Reason and Thought society offered greetings to the IPC and stated his belief that the Oasis Plan provides a path to a solution for the whole world. In her concluding remarks, Helga Zepp-LaRouche took the IPC participants on a tour of the long arc of history, noting that there have been several high periods of human civilization from Confucianism in China through the Greek Classical period to the Italian Renaissance and the American Revolution. However, throughout this historical arc, the dynamic was such that one area of the world could be experiencing a renaissance while another was in a dark age. Today that is no longer the case. Humanity is sitting in one boat: nuclear weapons would destroy everyone; the internet allows global connectivity; because of air travel, pandemics affect the whole world. Zepp-LaRouche expressed her conviction that because of this dynamic, regional solutions to crises wont work. Although nations will continue to be important, a paradigm must emerge that does not allow the interest of any one nation to be put above the interest of humanity as a whole. Common economic development among nations makes this possible. A discourse is necessary to establish a vision for how to preserve our immortality as a speciesnot only here on Earth but throughout the galaxygiven the reality of the inevitable demise of our solar system over the next billion or so years. With the gigantic vacuum of leadership in the North Atlantic, our task is to bring the idea of the new paradigm into the public discourse. This includes flooding the zone with the Oasis Plan. A handful of leading people coming out in support of the new paradigm could spark a renaissance and spread it like wildfire. This editorial appears in the February 23, 2024 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. EDITORIAL Building a Bridge to Peace [Print version of this editorial] Feb. 19The possibility of achieving a peaceful resolution for Israel and the Palestinians can seem downright impossible. The saying You cant get there from here, seems to apply here. Indeed, sometimes you cant solve a problem without solving the bigger one of which it is a part. Thats the case today, where a new paradigm of international relations is required, a new geometry in which actions are taken, a new set of guiding conceptsthat can work in a way that aiming to achieve specific actions cannot. Consider the setting: A supposed peace deal is reportedly being worked on by the U.S. and its regional partners. It is said to call for a Palestinian state, hostage release, and so forth. But the current U.S. leadership is not going to push Israel to make it happen, and much of the Israeli political leadership is dead-set against it. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had this to say about that: Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians. Israels Minister of Finance, Smotrich, was even more blunt: We will in no way agree to this plan, which says Palestinians deserve a prize for the terrible massacre they carried out against us: a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. A Palestinian state is an existential threat to the State of Israel. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice in The Hague responded to a Feb. 12 request from South Africa for additional measures against Israel: The Court notes that the most recent development in the Gaza Strip, and in Rafah in particular, would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences, as stated by the UN Secretary-General. This perilous situation demands immediate and effective implementation of the provisional measures indicated by the Court in its Order of 26 January 2024, which are applicable throughout the Gaza Strip, including in Rafah, and does not demand the indication of additional provisional measures. That is to say, the ICJ has already told Israel not to commit acts of genocide. Turn to the other conflict of potentially civilization-ending scopethe NATO-Russia conflict playing out on the territory of Ukrainea nation that has had the misfortune of being the recipient of nearly two years worth of aid and assistance from Anglo-American NATO leaders who plainly dont care about the countrys future. Ukrainian forces continue to lose men, materiel, and resources, and NATO-land is finding it difficult to maintain funding and supplies of weapons. The reported death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny will provide a new opportunity for finger-pointing and exclamations of false concern about Russian autocracy. Be prepared for many of the same people only too happy to see multi-pronged lawfare against presidential candidate Donald Trump, the same people who will not act for the release of Julian Assange, make bold proclamations of principle on behalf of democratic values in Russia. But this foolishness is not universal! The LaRouche movements promotion of the LaRouche Oasis Plan encapsulates the new paradigm in which a region of chaos and death can become a thriving area of development and connectivity. A new video depicting this alternative is now being distributed widely around the world, and has already been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, German, Danish, and other languages. Demand more than an end to fighting. Demand radical changes in policy and outlook! The hegemonism of Anglo-American NATO comes partnered with its anti-growth Malthusianism, and the cultural tendency, even among people seeking to do good, to replace efforts to solve big problems with tiny improvements that are local in scope. Sometimes you can only win the big fights. This is one of those times. Flash Three people were killed as a helicopter crashed in Indonesia's eastern province of North Maluku, Head of Search and Rescue Office in the province Fatur Rahman said Wednesday. The wreckage of the chopper operated by PT Weda Bay Nickel firm was found by rescuers on Wednesday in a forest of Halmahera Tengah regency, Rahman said. "All the three people on board were dead," he told Xinhua by phone, referring to the pilot, co-pilot and a passenger. The helicopter with the type of Bell 429 PK-WSW lost contact at 13:16 p.m. local time a day earlier when it was flying above the forest in the regency, Rahman said. Rahman said the cause of the crash could not be determined at this moment. "The Transport-Safety Committee would conduct an investigation on the cause of the incident," he said. A joint team comprising 300 personnel from the search and rescue office, soldiers, policemen, and others had been involved in the search and rescue mission, according to him. On 21 February the Venezuelan opposition party Voluntad Popular (VP) accused counterintelligence officials of abducting a Venezuelan citizen in Chile, warning that Venezuelan dissidents are not safe even outside the countrys borders. End of preview - This article contains approximately 399 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 21 February Mexicos Presidentstated that 12 people had been killed in a clash between criminal groups in the Tierra Caliente region of Guerrero state the previous day. End of preview - This article contains approximately 401 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 21 February Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Brasilia before the start of the two-day G20 foreign ministers meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Analysis: With Brazil currently holding the G20s annual rotating presidency, Lula has sought to position Brazil as a leader of the Global South. Critics of Lula have suggested that his recent comments comparing Israels military actions in Gaza to the Holocaust have harmed Brazils international reputation, but Brazilian officials, such as Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Lulas chief foreign policy advisor Celso Amorim, have defended Lulas criticisms of Israel. The US government has disagreed with Lulas accusations that Israel is committing genocide, but Lula and Blinken sought to highlight yesterday that the US-Brazil partnership goes beyond these divergences regarding international conflicts, finding common ground on interests such as tackling the global climate crisis. In their meeting yesterday, Lula reiterated his calls for a ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza as well as in Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine; both issues on which the US and Brazil have diverged. Blinken called for the release of hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas, the increase of humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, and the creation of a Palestinian state, but continued to disagree with Lulas genocide accusations. Regarding Ukraine, Blinken thanked Lula for participating in a peace formula process, although the US is supporting Ukraines defence, while Brazil seeks to remain neutral, reluctant to threaten relations with allies in the Brics group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates). Brazilian media reports have suggested that Lulas Holocaust comparison comments could be part of a strategy to ride the wave of rising international criticism of Israel. Other countries which have condemned Israels actions include South Africa, which has brought a genocide accusation against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, and members of the Arab League; Lula visited the Arab League headquarters in Egypt last week. In Rio yesterday, Vieira reiterated Lulas previous calls to reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), such as removing the veto power of the councils five permanent members (P5). On 20 February the US, a P5 member, exercised its veto to reject Algerias draft resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, even though 13 of the 15 UNSC members voted in favour of the ceasefire. The G20s divisions over Ukraine also loomed over the meeting, with Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov facing criticisms from European foreign ministers over the invasion. facing criticisms from European foreign ministers over the invasion. Before heading to Rio yesterday, Lavrov sought to boost ties with Latin American allies, meeting with Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Lavrov said that he and Maduro agreed to increase their cooperation in oil production and in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He also said that Russia will seek to expand ties between Venezuela and the Brics group. Maduro said that Venezuelan agricultural exports to Russia are expected to increase that he and Lavrov had agreed to fortify strategic cooperation. Looking Ahead: Blinken will travel to Argentina today (22 February) to meet with the countrys right-wing president, Javier Milei. According to the US State Department the two will discuss bilateral and global issues as well as critical minerals and sustainable economic growth. Earlier this week Brian Nichols, a senior US Western Hemisphere official at the US State Department, said that Blinken will engage in discussions with Milei regarding the way forward between Israel and Gaza. Argentina has the largest Jewish population in South America and Milei was recently in Israel, with which he has sought closer ties. For five years, a New York City man lived for free in a famous central New York City hotel. He made use of a little-known housing rule to avoid paying. But government lawyers recently said Mickey Barreto went too far. He turned in paperwork claiming ownership of the whole New Yorker Hotel building. And he also tried to have another person pay him for living there. Last week, Barreto was arrested and charged with turning in false property records, a criminal offense. The 48-year-old man says he was surprised when police showed up at his boyfriends apartment with guns and protective gear. I said, Oh, I thought you were doing something for Valentines Day to spice up the relationship until I saw the female officers, Barreto recalled telling his boyfriend. Valentines Day is a holiday where people celebrate love. The charges against Barreto came after years of legal battles. They began when he and his boyfriend paid about $200 to stay in one of the more than 1,000 rooms in the hotel built in 1930. Barreto says he had just moved to New York from Los Angeles, California when his boyfriend told him about a little-known part of housing law that permits people who stay in single rooms in buildings built before 1969 to demand a six-month contract. Barreto claimed that because he had paid for a night in the hotel, he was counted as a tenant. He asked for a contract to stay and the hotel immediately had him leave. Barreto said he went to court the next day and the judge denied him. But he said, I appealed to the (state) Supreme Court and I won the appeal. But he added that at an important point in the case, lawyers for the buildings owners did not show up, which permitted him to win by default. The judge ordered the hotel to give Barreto a key. He said he lived there until July 2023 without paying for his room because the buildings owners did not want to work out a contract with him. But they could not ask him to leave. New York City prosecutors agree that the housing court gave Barreto possession of his room. But they say he did not stop there. In 2019, he put false paperwork on a city website claiming that the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity had turned over the ownership of the entire building to him. The organization bought the property in 1976. The church was founded in South Korea by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Barreto then tried to charge different groups as the owner of the building. The prosecutors office said they include demanding payments from one of the hotels tenants and demanding the hotel put its bank accounts in his name. The Unification Church took Barreto to court in 2019 over the buildings ownership claim. The case is ongoing, but a judge ruled that Barreto cannot present himself as the owner in the meantime. A Unification Church spokesperson did not comment on his arrest as there is an ongoing civil case. In that case, Barreto argued that the judge who gave him possession of his room indirectly gave him the entire building because it had never been subdivided. I never intended to commit any fraud. I dont believe I ever committed any fraud, Barreto said. He said he never made any money out of this. Barreto said he aims to deny profits to the Unification Church. The church, known for holding large weddings, has been accused of misleading people to gain members and criticized by some over its friendly relationship with North Korea, where Moon was born. Barreto said he has never paid for a lawyer and has always represented himself in civil cases. Last week, he secured criminal defense legal representation. Im Gregory Stachel. Cedar Attanasio reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story Apartment n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live prosecutor n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty spice v. to add interest or excitement to (something) fraud n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person tenant n. a person, business, or group that pays to use another person's property: someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc., from a landlord default n. used to describe something that happens or is done when nothing else has been done or can be done intend v. to plan or want to do (something) commit v. to do (something that is illegal or harmful) South Korea's biggest hospitals canceled medical procedures and turned away patients seeking emergency care on Wednesday. The moves came after thousands of trainee doctors walked off the job to protest a government plan to increase the number of people admitted to medical school. One hospital, the Asan Medical Center in Seoul, had a sign saying its emergency division was only taking heart attack cases. The emergency departments at four other major hospitals were also on "red alert." That means they did not have room for more patients. "It is so frustrating that the resident doctors' strike is happening now," the brother of a cancer patient told the newspaper JoongAng Ilbo. He added that he and his brother had spent 10 hours looking for a hospital bed. The health ministry says 7,813 doctors have walked out of their jobs since protests began this week. The doctors object to a plan by the government to increase the number of medical students. The plan aims to bring more health workers to rural areas and meet the demands of one of the world's most quickly aging societies. The government wants to increase the number of medical students from 3,000 to 5,000 by the 2025 school year. It aims to add up to 10,000 more by 2035. The protesters, however, say South Korea has enough doctors. They say the government needs to improve the pay and working conditions of doctors before increasing the number of medical students. South Korea's population of 52 million had 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022. Those numbers are far below the average of 3.7 doctors per 1,000 people for developed countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Public opinion studies in South Korea show many Koreans support the government plan. Last week, a Gallup Korea study said about 76 percent of South Koreans back the government's plan to increase the number of medical students. One group taking part in the protest called the plan a political measure ahead of a general election in April. "We couldn't just sit back and watch medical policies built only for the sake of winning the general election," the Korea Interns and Residents Association said in a statement. Local media said between one-third and half of scheduled surgeries at five major hospitals have been canceled due to the walkout. The protests have continued despite a government order for the doctors to return to work. Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo told reporters, "The basic calling of medical professionals is to protect the health and lives of the people, and any group action that threatens that cannot be justified. Safety Minister Lee Sang-min later threatened the protest leaders with possible arrest. "The police and the prosecutors' office will consult and take measures against any group or individuals who are leading collective action, including arrest and investigation," he said. I'm Ashley Thompson. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters news reports. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story frustrating - adj. causing feeling of anger and annoyance resident - n. a doctor in training society - n. people in a particular country for the sake of - phrase, out of consideration or regard prosecutor - n. a lawyer who represents the government or the side accusing someone of a crime consult - v. look for information A new study found that a majority of retired people who experienced virtual reality (VR) said they liked using the technology. The study is part of an effort that aims to find ways older adults, known as seniors, can use VR systems. Earlier research has shown the technology can improve emotional health and reduce loneliness in some individuals. It might also help dementia patients better deal with their condition. During the study, VR systems were introduced in 17 different retirement communities across the United States. A total of 245 people between the ages of 65 and 103 took part in the experiment. The seniors chose from different VR environments offering digital experiences that lasted several minutes. They wore headsets providing a full 360-degrees of sights and sounds to recreate realistic digital environments. Examples of the digital experiences included parachuting, riding in vehicles, watching music performances, playing with animals, or visiting famous places. The experiments were led by researchers at Stanford University in northern California. The scientists worked on the project with a Texas-based company called Mynd Immersive, which designs VR products for aging people. The researchers said nearly 80 percent of those taking part in the experiment reported that their emotional state had improved after the VR experience. Nearly 60 percent of the seniors said the VR system also helped them feel less isolated socially. The team recently published the study results in the publication Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. The study also collected information from caregivers of people involved in the study. Nearly 75 percent of caregivers said the moods of the seniors improved after using VR. And more than 80 percent of test subjects and 95 percent of caregivers said talking about the VR experience improved relationships with others. Ryan Moore is a doctoral candidate at Stanford University who led the research. He told The Associated Press that for most of the seniors involved, it was their first time using VR. They enjoyed it, Moore said. He added, They were likely to recommend it to others, and they looked forward to doing it again. Farrell Patrick is a 91-year-old retired Army officer who took part in the VR experiment. He used to teach computer science at the United States Military Academy at West Point and two private universities as well. Patrick now lives in a retirement community in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Patrick experienced the VR flight of a Navy fighter pilot along the coast of Florida. Oh my God, thats beautiful, he told the AP while wearing the VR headset. Terry Colli is a former public relations director at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The 76-year-old told the AP of his 2022 VR experience, It brought back memories of my travels and...brought back memories of my experience growing up on a farm." Anne Selby is a 79-year-old retired counselor and artist. She said her VR experience stimulated every area of her brain as well as all the senses. "I particularly enjoyed the ones dealing with pets because I have a cat and Ive had pets most of my life," Selby said. The Florida community where Farrell Patrick lives, John Knox Village, has carried out VR experiments with seniors suffering from Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. The researchers said the technology helped the individuals remember things from their past that some wanted to share with their caregivers. Hana Salem, a worker at John Knox, told the AP, It is like they come back to life when they tell their story. She added that some dementia patients who normally do not speak a lot, sometimes perk up after going through a VR experience. They'll start laughing and saying, Ooh, Im going to catch the butterflies,'" Salem explained. The catching of butterflies is part of a game Mynd Immersive developed to help seniors improve their movements and flexibility as they stand and reach for objects. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Quiz - Study Finds Majority of Retired People Enjoy VR Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz __________________________________________ Words in This Story virtual reality (VR) n. digital environments that can be entered and controlled by humans isolate v. to separate someone or something from other people or things mood n. the way someone feels at a particular time recommend v. suggest something for a particular purpose counselor n. someone whose job it is to listen to people and give them advice about their problems stimulate v. to make something happen or develop more perk up v. to start to feel happy about something flexible adj. able to easily move and bend body parts Flash A Palestinian girl holds pieces of bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Various parties, including China, expressed strong disappointment by and dissatisfaction with the United States once again vetoing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. "The U.S. veto pushes the situation in Gaza into a more dangerous one," spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on U.S. voting against the Algeria-drafted resolution. According to reports, this is the third time that the United States has vetoed a draft resolution related to the Gaza conflict. Mao said the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in a devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza and severely impacted regional peace and stability. The UNSC must take immediate actions to push for a ceasefire, Mao said. The draft resolution put forward by Algeria on behalf of the Arab states demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages, guaranteed access for humanitarian supplies, and the rejection of forced displacement, Mao said. Urgently required by the situation and based on the minimum requirements of humanity, the draft resolution was supported by the overwhelming majority of Security Council members, and China has voted in favor of it, Mao added. Mao said that China stands ready to work with all parties in the international community to push the Security Council to take more responsible and meaningful actions and work relentlessly for a ceasefire in Gaza at an early date, ease the humanitarian situation, promote the implementation of the two-state solution and achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. The photos taken by investigators at 2716 Alberta Ave. in Bellevue on May 16, 2021, appeared to show a typical family home. Toys scattered across the living room floor. A collage of family pictures pasted on the wall. Kids artwork proudly displayed above the couch. But just feet away from the photo collage and gallery wall, the bodies of two young children a 3-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl were tucked into their beds. They were fully clothed with stuffed animals tucked under their arms and comforters over their chests. The children were dead. Their father, who had custody of the kids for the week, was nowhere to be found. Jurors in Sarpy County heard this evidence and more Tuesday during the first day of trial for 38-year-old Adam Price, who faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his children, Emily, 5, and Theodore, 3. He is alleged to have smothered the children to death in his Bellevue home at some point between May 13 and 14 of 2021 before fleeing the state. Attorneys offered brief opening statements Tuesday, with prosecutors saying Price deliberately and with premeditated malice smothered his children before staging their bodies as if they were sleeping in their beds. In a preview of the states evidence of premeditation, prosecutors said Price withdrew $1,500 from his checking account and called in sick from work May 13. Price appeared at trial wearing a dark gray suit with a blue tie and a shaved head. In opening statements, defense attorneys said law enforcement and prosecutors did not explore other possible causes of death besides asphyxia by smothering, leading to an incomplete and biased investigation. At the time of the deaths, Price and the childrens mother, Mary Nielsen, were in the midst of divorce and custody proceedings. In February 2021, Price and Nielsen were granted joint legal and physical custody of their two children, according to court documents. They were ordered to alternate custody every week, and each party was to have phone or FaceTime visitation with the children every day the children were with the other parent. On May 10, 2021, Nielsen saw her children alive for the last time when she dropped them off to spend a week with their father. Nielsen was living in Illinois at the time and would meet Price at a halfway point in Iowa each week to exchange custody. But on May 13 and 14, prosecutors said, Nielsen couldnt get in touch with Price or her children. She called 911 twice to request a welfare check, but police said they didnt have probable cause to enter the home. Instead, Nielsen turned to Facebook to ask her friends if anyone had heard from Price. Morgan Clark, a close friend who had worked with Nielsen at Nebraska Medicine, responded to the post. Clark was the first witness called to testify Tuesday. According to Clarks testimony: After talking on the phone with Nielsen on the morning of May 16, 2021, Clark decided to drive from her home in Blair to Prices home in Bellevue to check on the children. Clark also called a friend, Kashe Hall, to accompany her. Upon arriving at the Bellevue home, Clark and Hall entered through the unlocked front door and began yelling for Adam or the children to respond. Clark entered Emilys room and saw the girl unresponsive in her bed. Startled by seeing Emilys body, Clark and Hall ran out of the house and went to a neighboring home belonging to a police officer. They rang the doorbell and knocked, but received no answer. Clark called 911. A recording of the 911 call was played in court. The 911 dispatcher instructed Clark to go back into the house to check if Emily was breathing. When she arrived in the bedroom, Clark began crying and pleading for an ambulance. Please, please send an ambulance, Clark said. Shes not breathing. Shes dead. The little boy is dead too. Please, please send help. Why do you think theyre dead? The dispatcher asked. Because theyre dead, Ive seen a dead person, Clark said. Please help before their dad comes home. Photos taken by investigators and published at trial showed Emily and Theodore tucked into their beds with closed eyes and purple lips. Emily was laying under a pink comforter with a stuffed giraffe tucked under her arm. Theodore was underneath a black and red blanket. Jurors also heard from multiple first responders who were at the scene. Former Bellevue Fire Department paramedic Doug Vawter said the smell of death permeated the home. Larry Schwartz, a former Bellevue police officer who performed a welfare check just hours before Clark found the childrens bodies, testified as to why officers didnt enter the home when requested to by Nielsen on May 15 and 16. I didnt have any probable cause to believe there was anything amiss or out of the ordinary, Schwartz said. Nielsen is expected to testify at some point during the proceedings, as are two California priests who Price is alleged to have spoken with after fleeing Nebraska. The trial will last about two weeks. Two senior members of the Philippines government have taken refuge in the defence ministry building in the capital, Manila, after denouncing President Ferdinand Marcos. Yesterday, Defence Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and chief of staff Lieutenant-General Fidel Ramos accused the president of planning to arrest leaders of the opposition. They called on ministers and army officers to help them topple Marcos and then took over Camp Aguinaldo, the defence ministry. Speaking from Camp Aguinaldo, Mr Enrile told the press Mrs Aquino had won the election and Marcos should step down. We had no plans to stage a coup detat. But we are going to defend ourselves from an imminent assault, Mr Enrile said. Lt-Gen Ramos told American TV all 13 regional army commanders had pledged their support for a coup, while Marcos claimed he had control of 99% of the military. Heavily armed troops have surrounded the building and President Marcos has said the situation is under control. He also accused the two men of conspiring to assassinate him and his wife, Imelda, and demanded their surrender. In elections held on 7 February, the main opposition party, led by Corazon Aquino, and President Marcos both claimed victory. The US has attempted to mediate by sending US special envoy Philip Habib who reports back to President Reagan later today. Mrs Aquino, widow of Benigno Aquino assassinated on his return from exile three years ago by Marcos supporters, rejected Mr Habibs proposal last week for a power-sharing government. Mrs Aquino has accused the president of stealing power and called for a one-day general strike next week and a boycott of businesses owned by the Marcos entourage. The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, Cardinal Jaime Sin, is also demanding an uprising. [] The way indicated to us now is the way of non-violent struggle for justice. Courtesy BBC News In context The following day hundreds of thousands of civilians responded to calls for an uprising by surrounding troops at Camp Aguinaldo with barricades of buses, sandbags, logs and rubble. The army put up little resistance to this people power and on 25 February Ferdinand Marcos and his wife were forced to flee to the United States. Marcos died in Hawaii in 1989. Both were indicted by a US court on charges of fraud but Imelda was acquitted in 1990. In 1991 she was allowed home and ran for president but lost. Two years later a Filipino court sentenced her to 18 years for corruption. She appealed and was acquitted. Mrs Corazon Aquino was sworn in as the countrys first woman president the day the Marcos left. She survived six coup attempts before she stepped down in 1992 to support her former Defence Minister Fidel Ramos as the next president. A China-born Australian democracy blogger will not appeal his suspended death sentence imposed by a Beijing court, with his family saying yesterday a legal challenge would be detrimental to his welfare. Yang Hengjun was found guilty of espionage following a closed trial and sentenced two weeks ago to death with a two-year reprieve. Such sentences are often commuted to life in prison after the two years. A statement from Yangs family and close friends said they strongly supported the 58-year-olds decision to waive his right to appeal. There are two practical reasons why an appeal would be detrimental to Yangs welfare, the statement said. First, there were no grounds to believe the judicial system would remedy his unjust sentence, it said. And second, an appeal would only delay the possibility of Yang receiving adequate medical care after five years of inhumane treatment and neglect in custody, the statement added. Yangs supporters urge Australia to pressure China to release him from prison on medical parole or to transfer him to Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia objected to the sentence handed to Yang and would continue to call for his release. We will continue to make representations to China in his interests. The Australian government will always stand up for the rights of Australian citizens, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the courts handled the case in accordance with the law and will continue to protect all the legitimate rights and interests of the person involved. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government respected the difficult decision Yang had made to waive his appeal rights and would continue to advocate for him at every opportunity and at the highest levels. I acknowledge the strength that Dr. Yangs family and friends have demonstrated through this period, Wong said. All Australians want to see Dr. Yang reunited with his loved ones, Wong added. Yang, a former Chinese diplomat and state security agent who became a political commentator and writer of spy novels in Australia, was detained in January 2019 on arrival in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on a flight from New York with his wife and teenage stepdaughter. He was tried in Beijing in May 2021. The details of his case have not been disclosed. Yang, who became an Australian citizen in 2002, has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States. In a letter to his sons in August last year, Yang said he hadnt experienced direct sunlight in more than four years. He told his family he feared he would die in detention after being diagnosed with a kidney cyst, prompting supporters to demand his release for medical treatment. In October last year, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was freed after more than three years in detention in China for breaking an embargo with a television broadcast on a state-run TV network. The plights of Yang and Cheng had frequently been on the agendas of high-level meetings between the countries in recent years. ROD McGUIRK, MELBOURNE, MDT/AP A female domestic helper in her twenties is suspected of stealing eight red packets from her employer, totaling MOP650. The employer has reported his helper to authorities following his discovery that the eight red packets he left at home were missing. The employee denied committing the crime, but the police found three packets out of the eight during investigations. She has been charged with theft. Related Lawmaker Ella Lei is urging the government to take further action to address employability challenges in Macau. Speaking to the press at an event earlier this week, Lei said the government needs to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of training programs, consider the value of internships, and implement targeted initiatives aimed at both fresh graduates and middle-aged individuals. By focusing on practical skills, industry collaborations, and reducing entry barriers, Macau could enhance the employability of its citizens and foster a more inclusive and prosperous workforce. While acknowledging the positive impact of existing initiatives, Lei underscored the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the system to ensure its overall effectiveness. One key criticism she raised about existing initiatives is their short duration, which often lack work experience. For example, one of these classes typically lasts around 10 hours, but participants may not gain actual practical experience. I hope the government can launch more practical training programs this year, which could include the addition of an internship program. Simply providing training is not sufficient if it does not lead to tangible job placements, said Lei. She advocates for the expansion of practical training programs that offer participants valuable hands-on experience and internships directly connecting them with potential employers. She believes that government training and internship programs should help fresh graduates to understand the Macau employment market, development trends, and available job vacancies to enable them to make informed career decisions. Lei suggested that fresh graduates and middle-aged job seekers could benefit from such programs by establishing partnerships with industries such as hospitality. This would allow participants to gain industry exposure and allow employers to assess their capabilities before making hiring decisions. Fresh graduates often face challenges due to their limited work experience. By offering employment programs tailored to their needs and lowering barriers to entry, the government can better facilitate their transition into the workforce. Additionally, middle-aged job seekers who may encounter obstacles in obtaining employment should be given special attention. Incentives for employers to hire workers from this demographic can help bridge the gap between job seekers and available opportunities, said Lei. Lei also highlighted the shortcomings of Macaus existing training programs in comparison to neighboring regions, which have comprehensive employment plans for middle-aged job seekers. She believes that Macau lacks specific employment plans for middle-aged job seekers, and supports the adoption of more targeted initiatives to encourage employers to hire middle-aged job seekers or people with disabilities. Recognizing the value and experience that middle-aged individuals bring to the workforce can help break down barriers and increase their employment opportunities, Lei concluded. Staff Reporter The South Korean government yesterday warned thousands of striking doctors to return to work immediately or face legal action after their collective walkouts caused cancellations of surgeries and disrupted other hospital operations. About 7,800 medical interns and residents in South Korea have walked off their jobs this week to protest the governments push to recruit more medical students. Officials say they want to increase the nationwide medical school admissions cap by 2,000 from next year to brace for South Koreas rapidly aging population. But doctors groups have refuted the plan, saying universities arent ready to offer quality education to that many students. They argue the governments push to have more doctors would lead to increased public medical expenses because physicians locked in competition could perform unnecessary treatments. The 2,000 additional admissions is a nonsensical figure, the Korean Intern Residents Association said in a statement Tuesday. We hope the government will rethink its plan and formulate a policy that reflects the voices of trainee doctors. Junior doctors typically support senior doctors during surgeries and deal with inpatients. Their joint walkouts have burdened hospital operations. The Health Ministry said yesterday that authorities have received 58 public complaints over the walkouts, mostly regarding indefinite delays of surgeries and cancellations of other medical treatments. A collective action holding the lives and safety of the people cannot be justified for whatever reason, Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min told a news conference with other top officials. Lee said the government issued an official order for striking doctors to return to work. He said the government will sternly deal with the doctors walkouts in line with the medical law and other regulations. South Koreas medical law allows the government to issue such back-to-work orders to doctors and other medical personnel when there are grave concerns about public health. If they refuse to abide by the order, they could face up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($22,480) in fines, a punishment that would also lead to the revocation of their medical licenses, according to the law. Justice Minister Park Sung-jae accused some doctors of seeking to protect their vested interests. He said that if they refuse to return to work, authorities will file legal charges against them and arrest others had led their walkouts. Trainee doctors said the governments return-to-work order was intimidation and must be withdrawn immediately. The Korea Medical Association, which represents 140,000 doctors, said it supports the trainee doctors walkouts but hasnt decided whether to join them. Joo Sooho, a spokesperson for a KMA task force, accused the government of demonizing doctors. We strongly condemn the government for holding the people hostage and suppressing doctors, he told reporters. A recent survey suggested that a majority of South Koreans support the governments plan. Some critics say doctors, one of the best-paid professions in South Korea, oppose a steep increase in admissions because of worries they may lose income. As of Tuesday night, about 8,820 out of the countrys 13,000 trainee doctors have submitted resignations to their hospitals. None of the resignations had been approved, but about 7,810 of the doctors have walked off, Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo told reporters. To deal with the trainee doctors walkouts, the government has opened military hospitals to the public, extended the operating hours of public medical institutions and had emergency medical treatment centers stay open around the clock. But observers say if the walkouts are prolonged or joined by senior doctors, that could cause major disruptions in South Koreas overall medical service. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) saw an increase in population in 2023 thanks to a net inflow of residents, official data showed this week. The provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was over 7.5 million at the end of 2023, an increase of 0.4% as compared with that at the end of 2022, the Census and Statistics Department of the HKSAR government said. The population increase was mainly attributable to a net inflow of 51,700 Hong Kong residents recorded during the period, with an inflow of 40,800 one-way permit holders and a net inflow of 10,800 other Hong Kong residents, the department said. Over the same period, a natural decrease of 21,200 was recorded, with 33,200 births and 54,400 deaths. A government spokesperson said the population registered an increase for the second consecutive year since normalcy resumed in Hong Kong. Many Hong Kong residents who stayed abroad during the epidemic have returned to Hong Kong throughout 2023. In the second half of 2023, there was still considerable inflow of Hong Kong permanent residents, the spokesperson said, adding that the increase is also attributable to the successive admission of mainland and overseas persons through various schemes into Hong Kong. MDT/Xinhua Lawyers for the American government are to tell a London court today [Macau time] why they think Julian Assange should face espionage charges in the United States, in response to a last-ditch bid by his defense to stop the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder. Assanges lawyers are asking the High Court to grant him a new appeal his last legal roll of the dice in the long-running legal saga that has kept him in a British high-security prison for the past five years. The 52-year-old Australian has been indicted on 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over his websites publication of classified U.S. documents almost 15 years ago. American prosecutors say Assange helped U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks later published, putting lives at risk. Lawyers for the U.S. have argued in written submissions that said Assange was being prosecuted because he is alleged to have committed serious criminal offences. Attorney James Lewis said Assanges actions threatened damage to the strategic and national security interests of the United States and put individuals named in the documents including Iraqis and Afghans who had helped U.S. forces at risk of serious physical harm. To his supporters, however, Assange is a secrecy-busting journalist who exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They argue that the prosecution is politically motivated and he wont get a fair trial in the U.S. Assanges lawyers argued on the first day of the hearing on Tuesday that American authorities are seeking to punish Assange for WikiLeaks exposure of criminality on the part of the U.S. government on an unprecedented scale, including torture and killings. Lawyer Edward Fitzgerald said Assange may suffer a flagrant denial of justice if he is sent to the U.S. Assanges lawyers say he could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted, though American authorities have said the sentence is likely to be much shorter. Assange was not in court on Tuesday because he is unwell, his lawyer said. Stella Assange, his wife, said Julian had wanted to attend, but was not in good condition. Assanges family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, including seven years in self-exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the last five years in the high-security prison on the outskirts of the British capital. Stella Assange, who married the WikiLeaks founder in prison in 2022 said last week that his health has deteriorated during years of confinement and if hes extradited, he will die. Supporters holding Free Julian Assange signs and chanting there is only one decision no extradition held a noisy protest outside the neo-Gothic High Court building for a second day yesterday. Assanges legal troubles began in 2010, when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women. In 2012, Assange jumped bail and sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy. The relationship between Assange and his hosts eventually soured, and he was evicted from the embassy in April 2019. British police immediately arrested and imprisoned him for breaching bail in 2012. Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November 2019 because so much time had elapsed. A U.K. district court judge rejected the U.S. extradition request in 2021 on the grounds that Assange was likely to kill himself if held under harsh U.S. prison conditions. Higher courts overturned that decision after getting assurances from the U.S. about his treatment. The British government signed an extradition order in June 2022. Meanwhile, the Australian parliament last week called for Assange to be allowed to return to his homeland. If judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson rule against Assange, he can ask the European Court of Human Rights to block his extradition though supporters worry he could be put on a plane to the U.S. before that happens, because the British government has already signed an extradition order. The two justices could deliver a verdict at the end of the hearing today [Macau time], but theyre more likely to take several weeks to consider their decision. JILL LAWLESS, LONDON, MDT/AP Ponte 16 is preparing for a transformative expansion known as Phase 3. The Success Universe Group, a co-investor in Ponte 16, plans to invest between HKD500 million and HKD600 million into the ambitious project. In total, the plans call for the creation of a new shopping mall, open-air plaza, and a makeover of the Sofitel Macau, according to media reports. The proposed Phase 3 includes the creation of a comprehensive shopping mall and an open-air plaza, which has been presented to the Macau government for approval. Situated within Ponte 16, the Sofitel Macau will undergo significant renovations with an allocated budget of over HKD100 million, according to executive director and deputy chairman of Success Universe, Hoffman Ma. The group anticipates that operational revenues from Ponte 16 will play a significant role in funding the expansion. The company will also act as a guarantor in a financial arrangement that supports the propertys promoter in refinancing existing loans and covering the associated costs. Staff Reporter Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivers a keynote speech entitled "Firmly acting as a force for stability in a turbulent world" during the "China in the World" session at the ongoing Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China stands firm as a force for stability in a turbulent world, and it maintains that major countries should promote their cooperation based on mutual respect and trust, tackle hotspot issues via dialogue and consultation, enhance global governance through unity and coordination and boost global growth with openness and mutual benefit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters Wednesday as he wrapped up his 6-day Europe tour. China: Promoter of world peace Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) where he delivered a speech at the event on China and elaborated on China's position on major international issues in light of the conference's theme, visited Spain and France, and held the China-France Strategic Dialogue in France from Feb. 16 to 21. The annual report of the MSC this year reflected Europe's pessimism about the international situation and highlighted significant challenges facing the world today, Wang told reporters on Wednesday. The risk of a 'lose-lose' situation aggravates with heavy global governance deficit, escalation of tensions at regional hotspots, surge of zero-sum games, and impulse to decouple and cut off industrial and supply chains, he said. The MSC held a session dedicated to China, during which we sent a clear message that China will firmly act as a force for stability in a turbulent world, he added. On the sidelines of the MSC, Wang had extensive contacts with officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, the European Union, Canada, Argentina and Ukraine. During the candid, substantive and constructive discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Wang stressed that the U.S. side should view China's development objectively and rationally, adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, and earnestly implement the consensus between the two heads of state reached at the San Francisco summit. When meeting officials of other countries, the Chinese top diplomat reiterated that the development of China means growth of force for peace and stability and more opportunities for cooperation. China stands firm as a promoter of world peace, a contributor to global development and a provider of public goods, Wang said. On the Ukraine crisis, Wang said that political solution is the only way forward. "We should not give up promoting peace talks as long as there is a glimmer of hope," he said, adding that China will continue to play a constructive role in restoring peace and support building a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has already killed nearly 30,000 civilians and displaced some 1.9 million people, Wang said that the root cause of the conflict is the persistent failure to meet the Palestinian aspiration for statehood. The position of China is clear -- cease-fire immediately, ensure humanitarian assistance, release all detainees, convene an international peace conference, and relaunch the two-state solution, with the ultimate goal of peaceful coexistence of the two states and harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Israeli people, he said. Partnership: Keynote in China-Europe relations On China-EU relations, Wang said Wednesday that both sides, should make partnership and cooperation as the mainstay of their relations, seek common ground while shelving and narrowing differences so as to push their relations steadily forward. In Spain, Wang met with King Felipe VI, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, during which the Spanish side expressed willingness to consolidate traditional friendship and deepen practical cooperation. In France, with which China celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, Wang met with President Emmanuel Macron and co-chaired the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue with French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne. Wang also held discussions with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne in Munich. The two sides agreed to exchange high-level visits, strengthen strategic communication, reject "decoupling" and cut off industrial and supply chains, deepen traditional cooperation, and expand cooperation in emerging fields. Wang said that China and Europe have resumed in-person exchanges at various levels and fully activated dialogues and cooperation in various fields since last year, which "demonstrates a stable performance with positive momentum for growth in bilateral relations." "I noticed a growth of rational perception of China among Europeans, as they see China's development in line with the logic of history, which should not be feared or rejected by Europe," Wang said. The European side is positive about strengthening exchanges at various levels with China, and enthusiastic about deepening practical cooperation with China, as it expects more concrete results from bilateral operation in such fields as economy and trade, energy, green development, digitization, education and people-to-people exchanges, said Wang. "We'd like to share the opportunities of the large-scale Chinese market with Europe, and welcome Europe to actively participate in China's high-level institutional opening-up," said Wang, voicing China's continuous efforts in liberalizing market access, benchmarking international trade rules, and clearing up obstacles for foreigners coming to China. Europeans from all walks of life clearly oppose "decoupling," and people of insights have started to reflect on the risks brought by "de-risking," he said, highlighting the fact that interdependence between countries based on mutual trust is conducive to complementary advantages and to faster common development. Europe takes an important place in China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and it is also a key partner for China to realize modernization, he said, adding that stronger China-Europe cooperation will nip a potential new "Cold War" in the bud and stifle bloc confrontation. Law enforcement agencies have infiltrated and disrupted the prolific ransomware syndicate LockBit that has extracted $120 million from thousands of victims around the world, with two people arrested, British, U.S. and European officials said yesterday [Macau time]. Britains National Crime Agency, or NCA, said it led an international operation targeting LockBit, which provides ransomware as a service to so-called affiliates who infect victim networks with the computer-crippling malware and negotiate ransoms. The operation resulted in the arrests of two people in Poland and Ukraine and the seizure of 200 cryptocurrency accounts, officials said at a joint news conference. The Justice Department, meanwhile, unsealed indictments against two more people, both Russian nationals. Authorities said they gained comprehensive access to LockBits systems, taking control of infrastructure and obtaining keys to help victims decrypt their data. We have hacked the hackers, said the NCAs director general, Graeme Biggar. LockBit has been locked out. Hours before the announcement, the front page of LockBits dark-web leak site was replaced with the words this site is now under control of law enforcement, alongside the flags of the U.K., the U.S. and several other nations. The message said the NCA was working in close cooperation with the FBI and the international law enforcement task force, Operation Cronos. The ongoing operation also involves agencies from Germany, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, among others, including Europol, it said. LockBit, operating since 2019, has been the most prolific ransomware syndicate two years running. The group accounted for 23% of the nearly 4,000 attacks globally last year in which ransomware gangs posted data stolen from victims to extort payment, according to the cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks. LockBit has been linked to attacks on the U.K.s Royal Mail, Britains National Health Service, airplane manufacturer Boeing, international law firm Allen and Overy and Chinas biggest bank, ICBC. Ransomware is the costliest and most disruptive form of cybercrime, crippling local governments, court systems, hospitals and schools as well as businesses. It is difficult to combat as most gangs are based in former Soviet states and out of reach of Western justice. The announcement brings to five the number of people the U.S. has indicted since the operation began. Three Russians were previously indicted, with two of those taken into custody, one in Canada and one in the U.S. The rest are still wanted. Authorities said they seized servers that the gang used to organize and transfer victim data, and gained access to nearly 1,000 potential decryption tools. They obtained the Lockbit platforms source code and a trove of intelligence on people the gang worked with. The operation is probably the most significant ransomware disruption to date, said analyst Brett Callow of the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. While it will likely spell the end of the brand, such groups routinely re-emerge under new names. Over the long term, Callow said, this operation alone will not diminish the volume of ransomware attacks. A rare offensive cyber-operation for the U.K. crime agency, the operation aimed to steal all of LockBits data and then destroy its infrastructure, causing a significant major degradation of the cybercrime threat. LockBit is dominated by Russian speakers and does not attack former Soviet nations. Officials suggested that LockBit could have hundreds of members but theres no evidence that a state such as Russia is behind the syndicate, Biggar said. These are criminals, he said, although the lack of a Russian crackdown indicates that Moscow tolerates the gangs activity. Today we have dealt a decisive blow not only to their operation, but also importantly, to their reputation, said Europols deputy executive director of operations, Jean-Philippe Lecouffe. Cybersecurity experts wondered how much detail law enforcement obtained on LockBit affiliates negotiations with victims, including who quietly paid ransoms and how much. Influenced by specialty firms they hire to respond to attacks, victims generally resist admitting publicly that ransomware is to blame. Officials told reporters the gang targeted 2,000 victims worldwide. Biggar said the numbers will be significant underestimates. Last June, U.S. federal agencies released an advisory that attributed about 1,700 ransomware attacks in the United States since 2020 to LockBit and said victims included municipal governments, county governments, public higher education and K-12 schools and emergency services. Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev, the two indicted Russians, are accused of deploying LockBit against manufacturing companies in the U.S. and semiconductor businesses worldwide. Kondratyev allegedly used it against municipal and private targets in Oregon, Puerto Rico and New York and other victims in Singapore, Taiwan, and Lebanon, while Sungatov allegedly deployed it against manufacturing, logistics and insurance companies in Minnesota, Indiana, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, Florida and New Mexico. The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Sungatov and Kondratyev in what was called the first in an ongoing collaborative effort with the Justice Department, FBI and international partners targeting LockBit. Technically, as of 2021, U.S. victims of ransomware extortion could be prosecuted for paying ransoms to sanctioned individuals and groups. That has not happened, however. Law enforcement agencies have scored other recent successes against ransomware gangs, most notably the FBIs operation against the Hive syndicate. JILL LAWLESS & KELVIN CHAN, LONDON, MDT/AP A taekwondo instructor killed a 7-year-old student at his academy and the boys parents before going to a Sydney hospital with stab and slash wounds on his body, police said yesterday. Kwang Kyung Yoo, owner of the Lions Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy and known to his students as Master Lion, will eventually be charged with three counts of murder, Homicide Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said. The crimes were discovered after the instructor admitted himself to a hospital on Monday night suffering stab wounds or slash wounds to his chest, stomach and arms, Doherty said. He said the man told police he had been attacked in a supermarket carpark. Police allege Yoo killed Min Cho, 41, and her son at his academy after a class on Monday before driving to their home, where he killed Chos husband and the boys father, Steven Cho, 39. Police did not officially release the victims names, but the adults were identified in media reports. Police discovered the bodies Tuesday and arrested Yoo at the hospital. Police have yet to reveal a motive. They knew all four were born in South Korea and the slain boy had been a regular taekwondo student. Were still establishing what other connections or what other relationships may have been or may not have been, Doherty said. Unnamed police sources told media the mother and son were strangled. The father was stabbed to death. Police have yet to determine how Yoos injuries were inflicted. Its not only tragic in the circumstances, but the consequences were cataclysmic. Weve just lost three people from one family whove had their lives taken away, Doherty added. Yoo drove the womans BMW sedan from the academy to the family home and then to the Sydney hospital, media reported. He underwent surgery for his wounds and understood that he was under arrest, Doherty said. There was no warnings, from what we have gathered so far. It was out of the blue. It wasnt something that was forewarned or planned, Doherty said. The maximum penalty for someone convicted of murder in New South Wales state is life imprisonment, with a standard non-parole period of 20 years for the murder of an adult and 25 years for the murder of a child. MDT/AP * Crescendo Fitch Ratings estimates a 15% growth of Macaus economy this year, supported by steady tourism recovery * Copyrights | Association condemns karaoke bars use of unlicensed music * Events | First govt-organized short film festival next month * Ponte 16 prepares for a transformative expansion known as Phase 3, which represents an investment of over HKD500 million * Lawmaker Lei calls for more govt support to further job opportunities * Heavy snow hits mainland, disrupting traffic and canceling classes DOWNLOAD PDF Thursday, February 22, 2024 edition no. 4429 After World War II, the U.S. Armys art experts set out to find and return millions of works stolen by the Nazis. Known as the Monuments Men, they included Mary Regan Quessenberry, who from her base in Berlin traveled to examine stolen works, tracked looting cases and investigated suspicious art dealers. Decades later, Quessenberry and the other female members are getting recognition. The Dallas-based foundation honoring the group updated its name in recent years to recognize their contributions, highlighted their work in a new exhibit at a national museum, and is set to publish for the first time in English a memoir in which one of the women describes spying on the Nazis while working at a Paris museum. The Monuments Men were not all men, said Anna Bottinelli, president of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation. The Allied armies Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section included 27 women and about 320 men during and just after WWII. The Army recently revived the concept, with the first new class of monuments officers graduating in 2022. When battles raged during WWII, it was the men who protected works of art and architectural treasures. The women entered the picture after the war, when the focus turned to restitution. Its a pivot that the foundation also has made since Robert Edsel founded it nearly 20 years ago with a focus on the war years. Edsel made the monuments officers a household name, writing books including The Monuments Men, which was made into a 2014 movie starring George Clooney and Matt Damon. As the years passed, the foundation became increasingly involved in restitution, from helping return works taken during the war to producing a pack of playing cards featuring still-missing works. As our mission evolved and as our work developed, then it became really natural to focus more on the postwar efforts, and as a result on the women, Bottinelli said. A permanent exhibit on the monuments officers that is part of a new addition to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans opened in November. The Monuments Men and Women Gallery includes a recreation of a salt mine where monuments officers found stolen art. The exhibit also features the story of Quessenberry, who enlisted in what became the Womens Army Corps when the U.S. entered the war. After the Allied victory in Europe, she learned the Army was looking for art experts. Quessenberry, who had a masters degree in art history, jumped at the chance. When she arrived in Berlin, she was greeted by Lt. Col. Mason Hammond, a Harvard University classics professor she knew from her studies at Radcliffe College, which later merged with Harvard. He opened the door recognized her and threw his arms around her and said, Mary, thank God youre here, Edsel said. She returned to the U.S. as a major in 1948. Quessenberrys friend, Ken Scott, said she described her time as a monuments officer as the most thrilling time of her life. He said she was gleeful when Edsel traveled to Massachusetts to interview her a few years before her death in 2010 at the age of 94. She was an absolute pistol as they would say, just full of stories, Edsel said. Making sure women got the recognition they deserved was important to Quessenberry. She was very strong and vocal about it, Scott said. This fall, the foundation will publish Rose Vallands memoir. In The Art Front, originally published in French in 1961, Valland, a French art expert who became a monuments officer, writes about secretly tracking where stolen works were shipped after the Nazis based their looting operation out of the Paris museum where she worked. It was thanks to her notes and all of her spying that then when the Allies entered Paris in 1944 they were then able to trace the steps of where this art had been taken and who it belonged to, Bottinelli said. Valland, who inspired the role played by Cate Blanchett in the The Monuments Men movie, died at 81 in 1980. Edsel said the last working WWII-era monuments officer was a woman. After operations wound down around 1950, Ardelia Hall carried on the mission into the early 1960s from the State Department, keeping a list of still-missing works and urging museums and art dealers to be on the lookout. A woman, Capt. Edith Standen, also had the forethought while in post-war Germany to record all of her fellow monuments officers names, he said. The Armys first class of the new monuments officers, called heritage and preservation officers, graduated in the summer of 2022. Among them was Capt. Jessica Wagner, who has worked at museums across the U.S. She said being a part of the new version of the group shed studied while getting her masters degree feels a little bit surreal. You always ask yourself the question: Would I be willing to go and do that? I guess the answer is yes, Wagner said. JAMIE STENGLE, DALLAS, MDT/AP A shop that wants to showcase fashion trends from around the world has found a home at the former Willy Street Treasure Shop space on Madisons East Side. La Moda Marie Youth Global Fashion, 1012 Williamson St., opened this month, said owner and sole employee Maricel Gonzaga, who lives on Williamson Street and whose spouse, Mike Kohn, owns the Petinary Clinic next door. Before opening La Moda Marie Youth Global Fashion, Gonzaga would sell her wares at events like the Willy Street Fair and La Fete de Marquette, typically held at McPike Park. When Gonzaga lived in the Philippines prior to the pandemic, she operated a food cart there. Gonzaga said her inventory is sourced from wholesalers in Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand, but she hopes to represent more countries in the pieces she carries in the coming months. La Moda Marie Youth Global Fashion does have a website, but is solely brick-and-mortar, she said. I love South Korean style, Gonzaga said. Her price range for merchandise is $35 to a couple of hundred dollars for a vintage Gucci handbag. And La Moda Maries target market is primarily young adults, for which Asian fashion has become more popular and trendy in recent years. I just want the neighborhood to be open to new styles, to accept the global culture of fashion, Gonzaga said when asked about what she feels her shop brings to Williamson Streets already eclectic flavor. La Moda Marie Youth Global Fashion is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. On days that the shop is closed, you can find Gonzaga working at the East Sides Willy Street Co-op, 1221 Williamson St., one of three grocery store locations around Madison. People have been curious about whats going on here, Gonzaga said. A Minnesota man was convicted Thursday of the 2005 knifepoint rape of a UW-Madison student along an East Side bike path, after a jury found him guilty of three crimes related to the incident. The guilty verdicts against Aidison Yang on three counts of first-degree sexual assault, reached by the jury of seven women and five men, came after deliberations lasting about three hours. Afterward, Circuit Judge Ellen Berz entered judgments of conviction and ordered a pre-sentence investigation, with a sentencing date to be determined. The case against Yang, 42, of Eagan, Minnesota, was brought last year after a DNA profile of the womans attacker, developed soon after the Oct. 15, 2005, attack along Eastwood Drive, matched a DNA profile for Yang that had recently entered into a federal database after criminal convictions in Minnesota. At the time of the assault, Yang was 24 and living with his parents on Madisons Far East Side. The woman, who was 22 at the time and is now a professor at an out-of-state college, was not in the courtroom when the verdicts were read. She testified on Tuesday about the fear she had felt that she might be killed by the knife-wielding man. The woman testified she was walking at night to a coffee shop when a man who had been walking behind her caught up to her, threatened her with a knife and pulled her behind some shrubs, where he assaulted her. Each of the sexual assault convictions carries up to 60 years of combined prison and extended supervision. Before the trial, Yang turned down an offer to plead guilty to one of the three counts, with the remaining two dismissed. Lawyers from the state Attorney Generals Office, which prosecuted the case, said they would have recommended no more than 20 years in prison. Prosecutors said in closing arguments Thursday that Yangs DNA, extracted from samples taken from inside the womans body during a forensic examination, proved beyond a doubt that Yang had committed the crime. The victim told the jury what happened and the DNA says who did it, state Assistant Attorney General Noel Lawrence said. Yangs attorney, Chris Van Wagner, argued that the DNA is not the whole story. He pointed to a police sketch of the suspect created using a description provided by the victim, who said she did not get a good look at her assailant in the darkness. Van Wagner highlighted in particular the length of the mans hair in the sketch. On Wednesday, Van Wagners only defense witness was Yangs brother-in-law, Tue Kong, who said he had taken photos at a family wedding in August 2005 in which Yang appeared in the background in some shots with close-cropped hair. In the sketch, Van Wagner said, the assailant had hair that was close to collar-length. State Assistant Attorney General Stephanie Hilton said prosecutors never discussed the sketch during the trial because it had no impact on efforts to identify the perpetrator. Lawrence said the trial was not about how fast hair grows in two months but about the DNA evidence, which put the likelihood that someone other than Yang left behind the DNA at 1 in 3 sextillion a number that includes 21 zeros, far and away higher than the worlds population of 8 billion. Van Wagner also said the original DNA profile created of the unknown assailant in 2005 might have been flawed, but that possibility can never be tested because all physical evidence in the case had been destroyed in 2016. There was no explanation during trial testimony why that evidence was destroyed, though Hilton said during her rebuttal argument that in cold cases time goes by and things happen. She also emphasized that the State Crime Labs DNA findings were subject to peer review and quality control. Its easy to focus on things you dont have because the evidence we do have points to guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, Hilton said. A vigil to support Middleton residents affected by the shooting deaths earlier this week of two children has been rescheduled for Saturday evening. The vigil was originally planned for Wednesday night but has been rescheduled in light of the incredible outpouring of support and interest, according to a statement from the city. The vigil now will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Park in Middleton. Middleton police confirmed Wednesday that two elementary students, an 8-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy, were killed by their 34-year-old mother Sunday night. Jessica Jessmon also shot the childrens 31-year-old father as he exited the apartment on Maywood Avenue, then turned the gun on herself. Middleton police said the childrens father remained hospitalized Wednesday but was no longer in intensive care. The decision to reschedule was made carefully for the comfort and convenience of all participants and to ensure the vigil can be executed with the dignity and respect it deserves, the city said in its statement. A convicted bank robber on extended supervision was arrested for attempting to rob a Madison bank and then robbing a Fitchburg bank on Wednesday morning, Madison police reported. Shortly before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, a teller at Old National Bank, 5750 Raymond Road, activated a silent panic alarm when facing the robbery attempt, and the woman fled the scene without any money, officer Korrie Rondorf said in a statement. About 30 minutes later, Associated Bank, 3002 Fish Hatchery Road, was robbed and the suspect escaped, Fitchburg police reported. Police later determined that the two cases were related, Rondorf said. Police soon located the vehicle believed to have been involved in the robberies in the town of Dunn, but its driver refused to pull over. There was a pursuit, police said, and, after the use of tire-deflation devices, the suspect, Lisa Harding, 38, was arrested. Police said two squad cars from the Dane County Sherriffs Office, which participated in the chase, were damaged during the pursuit and apprehension of the suspect. Harding in 2017 pleaded guilty to robbing two banks in 2016 while she was more than eight months pregnant and was sentenced to four years in prison. She was released from prison on extended supervision in September 2022, according to state Department of Corrections records. Harding also was ordered to pay back money taken during another bank robbery for which she also was charged, which happened around the same time as the others in December 2016. Assistant District Attorney Tracy McMiller said at Hardings sentencing in 2017 that she had a long adult criminal record that included time in federal prison for a 2006 bank robbery. Harding apologized for what she did, saying that a lot of things were going wrong for her at the time. I have nightmares about it, she said at her 2017 sentencing. I feel bad. I really do. I wish I could take it all back. I really do. Harding told Dane County Circuit Judge Jill Karofsky that after her arrest she gave birth to a healthy boy, who she put up for adoption to a family with whom she has kept in touch. The Green Bay school district on Wednesday released the recording of its first Black superintendents appearance on an Atlanta radio show in which he made blunt comments about race relations, criticized the community and derided one of the districts principals. Claude Tiller Jr. resigned on Saturday after a closed-door meeting with school board members. On the recording, he is caught during a break from speaking on air during a WAOK-AM radio interview on Feb. 6 referring to a female principal as a wicked witch and using a disparaging slang word to describe her. Tiller was in Atlanta on a teacher recruiting trip. During one of the breaks, the shows host refers to Green Bay as about as lily white as I have ever seen. Tiller responds, The lily on top of the lily. Green Bay, a city of about 100,000 people in northeastern Wisconsin, is about 72% white, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in July 2023. People who identify as Black make up about 4.2% of the population. The entire interview, including conversations Tiller had with the host during breaks, was livestreamed on Facebook. The host informed Tiller that his appearance would be streamed. During the interview, Tiller was asked about his conversations with mostly white teachers. Im a bald head man and I wear bow ties, Tiller said. So first all, they think that Im a Muslim. They think I like to fix bean pies. And thats furthest from the truth. So I have to go debunking some microaggressions before I even go into. They think majority of us we like fried chicken and watermelon. I prefer my chicken baked. He added that, as a bald head black man with a bow tie, they get my passion confused with anger. Tillers comments about bow ties and bean pies were a reference to the Nation of Islam, a Black nationalist movement with roots in Detroit whose male followers often wear distinctive red bow ties. Followers also often consume and sell food made from navy beans, including pies, which are promoted as healthy. Tiller didnt respond to a phone message left by The Associated Press on Wednesday evening. In a statement he issued following his resignation, he said his remarks during the interview were specifically directed toward the broader systemic issues within public education that contribute to ongoing challenges. He added that he offered his perspective with candor, anchoring my narrative in both my professional insights and personal experiences as an educational leader of color. Simply put, I spoke my truth. The school boards president, Laura McCoy, didnt respond to a phone message on Wednesday evening. Board vice president James Lyerly declined to comment, saying Tillers resignation was a human resources matter. Tiller became superintendent in Green Bay in July. He had previously served as an assistant superintendent over high school transformation with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, according to a biography on the Green Bay school districts website. During one break he told the host that the mindset in Green Bay, Black and brown folks, its almost like stepping back in time. They dont even realize it til I came along and I have people coming up to me crying saying Dont leave because Im giving voice to the voiceless. At another point during the interview, he said he applied for the job only at his wifes urging, thinking that no all-white board is going to choose an African American male. Associated Press writer Kathleen Foody in Chicago contributed to this report. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Russian politician Alexei Navalny has died in a Russian prison camp after being wrongfully held there for several years. Navalny was the greatest threat to Vladimir Putin's iron grip on the Russian people. The opposition politician was poisoned, arrested and imprisoned for his willingness to stand up to Putin. Donald Trump hasn't blamed the Russian regime for Navalny's death, but he has compared himself to the anti-corruption activist. Trump seems to think the legitimate investigations into his shady business deals, mishandling of classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, somehow compare to the political persecution that Navalny faced for daring to oppose Putin. Flash A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday urged the United States to stop arms sales to and military contact with Taiwan. According to reports, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that the U.S. State Department has approved the sale of a 75-million-U.S.-dollar advanced tactical data link system to Taiwan. In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing that the U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982. "Such sales undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, and harm China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Mao said, noting that China firmly opposes this. Mao said China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop arms sales to and military contact with Taiwan, and stop creating factors that could heighten tensions in the Taiwan Strait. "China will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson added. THURSDAYSATURDAY My Son Pinocchio Jr.JuMP Company presents Disneys My Son Pinocchio Jr. at the Orpheum Theatre in Twin Falls. Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any cast member, at Deseret Book, and Kurts Pharmacy. THURSDAY Country DanceMeet at the TF Brickhouse from 7 to 10 p.m. for Thursday Country Dance Nights. Personal and group lessons mixed with plenty of social dancing. Food and drinks available for purchase. All ages and dance levels welcome. $5 for anyone under the age of 21, bottomless soda included. FRIDAY Adult Mystery NightJoin us for Adult Mystery Night at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Twin Falls Public Library. Solve puzzles and decipher clues to solve the crime and enter a prize drawing. Sign-up is required to attend. Call the reference desk at 208-733-2964 ext. 2 to register! Live MusicThe Aaron Ball Band, an award-winning band, will perform at Koto Brewing in Twin Falls at 9 p.m. Their music includes Americana, roots rock and alternative country styles. Live MusicLive jazz takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. the last Friday of every month at Twin Falls Sandwich Co. SATURDAY Historical Places PresentationJennifer Hills will present the story of the Twin Falls City Park Historic District including local churches, the courthouse, and buildings from the past. Presentation will start at 1 p.m. at the Twin Falls County Historical Museum, 21337 U.S. Highway 30 and is free to the public. Hills, of the Twin Falls Public Library, will present the history of the City Park District including the courthouse, Methodist, Presbyterian, First Christian, and St. Edwards churches, the park bandshell and memorials, American Legion building, Rex Arms apartments, and the library. Plus, she will talk about a few of the buildings that are no longer standing including the Twin Falls High School, Whites Mortuary and more. CSI Parent College Event Come to Jerome High School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 104 Tiger Dr. for the Parent College Event. There will be free breakfast and lunch and classes on family engagement, academic transition, and cash management and education. This free event is aimed at helping parents and students navigate the higher education process. Classes will be available in both English and Spanish. Sunrise SnowshoeWatch the sun rise as the full Snow Moon sets on Mount Harrison near Pomerelle. The bus departs at 3:30 a.m. This trip provides a great scenic reward for the sacrifice of an early morning departure. No prior experience necessary. Transportation and gear is provided through CSI Outdoors. Cost is $35, which includes gear and transportation. Register at https://csi.nbsstore.net/sunrise-snowshoe-mt-harrison. Vinyl Record Pop-up NightJoin Modern Sounds Vinyl and Music at Koto Brewing from 5 to 9 p.m. Classics will be played the old school way. Come early to get first dibs at the latest new arrivals. Budget or BustThis class at the College of Southern Idaho on Feb. 24 and March 16 can be the tool to help get out of debt, grow bank accounts so living paycheck to paycheck is a thing of the past. Cost is $50 plus a $10 fee paid to the instructor. Purchase tickets at https://shorturl.at/aqtFT. Jerome 4-H and FAA Education DayThis event from 10 a.m. to noon at Valley Country Stores, 1466 S. Lincoln Ave., is designed to provide valuable insights into animal nutrition, showmanship, and management. Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into handling and caring for a variety of animals, including dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. RSVP required at www.valleywidecoop.com/edu-days/. Live MusicJoin the Holeinsky Winery in Buhl from 4 to 6 p.m. for live music by Heath Owens. The event is free, but food and drinks are available for purchase. Nathan Castleberry BenefitThis benefit will take place at noon at Happy Hour, 677 Filer Ave. in Twin Falls. There will be a raffle and silent auction to benefit the family. Live MusicJoin Ralph Hecht and Just Riff Music from 6 to 8 p.m. at Train Station Pizza in Buhl for live and unplugged acoustic guitar and harmonica for originals, blues, classic rock, and country music. Live MusicJon, Jenni, and Quin will play a variety of music genres from 6 to 9 p.m. at Idahos Pebble Ponds Bar & Grill, 4035 North 2300 East Road in Filer. SUNDAY Puppy Meet and GreetSportsmans Warehouse in Twin Falls will host event from noon to 3 p.m. filled with wagging tails, puppy cuddles, and the incredible journey of our Service Dog Program. Event will be put on by Hiatus Ranch of Idaho Inc. MONDAY Elementary Kids MinecraftFrom 4-6, well put out extra laptops at the Twin Falls Public Library so that elementary kids can all play together on the librarys very own private Minecraft server! TUESDAY Elementary STEMElementary-age kids, join us Tuesday afternoons at 4 p.m. at the Twin Falls Public Library for hands-on activities designed to get kids excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Children under 8 will need help from a grown-up. THURSDAYFEB. 29 Art ExhibitThe Full Moon Gallery, 195 River Vista Place in Twin Falls, presents the dual exhibitions of Thaw and Gobs & Blobs: Artistic Expressions. THURSDAYMARCH 4 School of RockJoin the Magic Valley Dilettantes, who have been performing in the Magic Valley since 1959, in partnership with the CSI Theater Department as they bring Andrew Lloyd Webbers School of Rock musical to life. Production is held at 7:30 p.m. each night. Get tickets at tickets.csi.edu. Text 208-308-8964 with questions. Police officers searched part of Rock Creek Canyon on Wednesday afternoon after a report of a kidnapping. No evidence of the crime was found, reported Twin Falls Police Lt. Craig Stotts, but police will continue looking into the matter. At about 1:40 p.m. officers were dispatched to Rock Creek Canyon Parkway after a male said his friend had been kidnapped by a black male wearing black clothing and a ski mask. Police searched the area, talked to people nearby and employed a drone but did not find evidence, Stotts said. Officers cleared the area at 3 p.m. and will seek surveillance video of the area when the alleged crime occurred. Every business, interest group, civic organization, legal group, education entity, government agency and living-and-breathing human being in the Gem State should take heed of the chronic shortage of experienced and competent lawyers seeking to be district judges. It has become harder each year to recruit good candidates for district court positions because of a variety of factors low pay, high stress, burnout and the prospect of having to gain the office through a contested election. The situation will only get worse if Senate Bill 1347 is approved by the Legislature this session. For those who may not know how Idahos court system is organized, there are three components. Magistrate courts, which currently have 101 magistrate judges, handle civil trials where up to $10,000 is at stake, plus domestic, traffic, estate, misdemeanor and a variety of other cases. District courts, with 49 district judges, handle the full range of felony and higher-stake civil trials. The appellate courts, with a total of 9 judges, handle and decide appeals from the two trial court components. Candidates for magistrate judge are thoroughly vetted and appointed by regional magistrate commissions. Lawyers seeking positions on the district and appellate court are vetted by the Idaho Judicial Council, which sends a list of the best candidates to the Governor, who appoints from the list. These largely non-political appointment mechanisms have made Idahos court system one of the best in the nation. Former Governor Otter reported on numerous occasions that he regularly received praise from other state governors about the high quality of Idahos judiciary. Former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Burdick also received accolades from his counterparts in other states for the recognized excellence of Idaho judges. To keep an excellent judiciary up and running, lawyers must be incentivized to step forward and apply for judicial positions. Most will take a pay cut of more than 50% from what they can make in private law practice for the privilege of serving as a judge. I did and I do not regret it. But, if it appears to potential applicants that the burdens of the job substantially outweigh the privilege of being able to perform public service, few would be willing to step forward. That is where Idaho is with district court positions. Appellate positions the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals still have enough well-qualified applicants to fill court vacancies, despite the bargain basement compensation package. The same applies to the magistrate courts. The district courts simply dont have enough competent, seasoned applicants to fill and replenish their ranks. That poses a serious danger to the ability of the district courts to do their work, and to the public that depends on those courts to decide cases quickly and competently. Magistrate judge openings often get at least twice as many applicants as district judge openings because they are assured of a merit-based appointment process, the pay disparity is not substantial and magistrate judges do not have to face the prospect of an election contest. On the other hand, district judges presently have a merit-based selection process that the sponsor of Senate Bill 1347 wants to largely disable by requiring district and appellate openings to be filled through contested elections. The sponsor wants to eliminate a retirement benefit that was put in place in 2000 as a recruitment incentive for district and appellate judges, even though she would leave in place a similar recruitment incentive that was adopted for magistrate judges in 2006. Lawyers could be excused for not wanting to apply for a district court position under such uncertainty as to job benefits and whether the benefits would be subject to future revision during their service. The failure of the Legislature to give all Idaho judges the 7% cost-of-living increase that all other state employees received in 2022 did not go unnoticed by those lawyers. But there is yet another significant consideration for district courts the workload. District judges have the highest-pressure job in Idahos court system. They deal with heavy-duty felonies, like the Daybell and Kohberger murder cases, as well as complicated and high-dollar civil disputes that are litigated to the nth degree by deep-pocket parties. Handling the everyday work of managing a complex case and responding to the incessant demands of the lawyers involved takes long hours nights and weekends, which leads to stress and burnout. Who would want to take a pay cut of more than 50% for that kind of miserable job? Legislators should be considering measures to make all court positions more attractive to a broader range of competent, seasoned lawyers. Special emphasis should be placed on getting more applicants for district court positions, because that is where the recruitment problem has reached crisis proportions. Pursuing measures designed to discourage accomplished lawyers from applying for district court positions, where they are needed the most, does not make sense. The Stand up for Courts group, composed of Butch Otter, Patti Anne Lodge, Denton Darrington, Phil Reberger and a host of other concerned citizens, is urging that Senate Bill 1347 be stopped in its tracks in the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee to help preserve Idahos excellent judiciary. - Advertisement - ABS-CBN Corp. and PLDT, Inc. on Thursday jointly announced the termination of their agreement anew for the sale of SkyCable, Inc. despite securing an approval from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). The two companies have mutually agreed not to proceed with the sale of Sky Cable to PLDT under the sale and purchase agreement signed by and among the parties in March 2023. Following this development, Sky Cable is pleased to announce that its cable TV service will continue, assuring its subscribers that they can maintain their subscriptions, ABS-CBN said. Meanwhile, Skys internet broadband service, SKYFiber, remains unaffected, it added. In November 2020, PLDT and ABS-CBN mutually agreed to drop the sale of SkyCable, citing anti-trust concerns. - Advertisement - In January this year, PCC approved the sale of SkyCable broadband business to PLDT. The board of directors of ABS-CBN on March 16, 2023 approved the sale of its interests in Sky Cable directly or indirectly representing 58.7 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the company. The total gross proceeds to be received by ABS-CBN from the sale of shares is about P4 billion. Other stockholders of Sky Cable, Lopez, Inc. and Sky Vision Corp. also agreed to sell their shares in Sky Cable to PLDT, Inc. ABS-CBN said the total purchase price to be paid by PLDT for all the issued and outstanding capital stock of Sky Cable is P6.75 billion. Sky Vision said it would use the proceeds from the sale to settle its debt, including its obligations to ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN said the sale was a strategic decision resulting from, among other things, the significant capital expenditure requirements of Sky Cable to maintain its competitiveness. The broadcast company said the sale of its ownership in Sky Cable would allow it to focus its resources on content creation. PLDT said the transaction is aligned with its mission to narrow the digital divide by expanding broadband connectivity and supporting the governments push to expand the nations digital infrastructure. - Advertisement - A former leader of the House of Representatives asked Senator Pia Cayetano to also think about the livelihood of 3 million Filipinos who are dependent on tobacco farming, manufacture and trade. While the state is conscious and responsible in maintaining the health of its citizens, it should also do so mindful of the general welfare of the people, especially the stakeholders of the tobacco industry. Our two laws advocate for balanced policies, said former Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta. The SAGIP Party-list representative denounced Cayetanos diatribes at the Senate, saying she was pushing the Philippine delegation who attended the global tobacco treaty conference in Panama to dismiss Republic Act (RA) No. 9211 and RA 11900, the two laws passed by Congress regulating tobacco use and regulation. Marcoleta was referring to the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (RA 9211), which regulates tobacco products, and the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act (RA 11900), which regulates smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes such as vapes, heated tobacco and oral nicotine. He said that during the Panama conference, an observer NGO conferred a Dirty Ashtray Award to the Philippines, despite the Philippine delegations defense of the countrys sovereignty and support of tobacco harm reduction as legitimate public health strategy. - Advertisement - Id rather have one thousand Dirty Ashtrays than one coffin to contain the whole tobacco industry, including the farmers and stakeholders who are depending on the tobacco industry in our country, Marcoleta said during his Feb. 19 privilege speech. Marcoleta, in response to Cayetanos comments, said the Philippine delegations active participation in the World Health Organizations Framework Convention on Tobacco Controls (FCTC) 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10) in Panama reflected the countrys laws and balanced policies. He said the Philippine delegation made a national statement. We worked for about two weeks, Mr. Speaker, before we left, to ensure a unified statement based on our national policy, he said. He said the Philippine delegation participated actively in the FCTCs Agenda 9 and 10, which addresses the facilitation of implementation of regulation and disclosure of the contents and emission of tobacco products. Debates were undertaken during the conference about suspending the working group and conceding its mandate to an expert group. Representatives from signatory-countries to the treaty make up the working group, while nominated individuals who do not respresent their respective countries make up the expert group. The Philippine delegation did not agree with the expert group having a mandate over policymaking, saying certain legal principles cannot be compromised under the appeal of flexibility and consensus, according to Marcoleta. We need to assert, Mr. Speaker, that the expert group must be subordinated to the primacy and the dominant role of the working group consisting of state parties. Because they are the ones accountable to and responsible for the interests of their respective nationalities. We have to emphasize, Mr. Speaker, that the working group has the mandate, Marcoleta said. Meanwhile, international harm reduction experts recognized the Philippines for its WHO FCTC position. During the GOOD COP/BAD COP event organized by the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) which tackles consumer issues and global policies, international fellow Martin Cullip said, In COP 9, the Philippines said, we are not going to ban these products, we are going to regulate them. And this sent shockwaves throughout the meeting. Prof. David Sweanor, chair of the advisory board of the Center for Health Law, Policy, and Ethics at the University of Ottawa, expressed support for the Philippines for successfully resisting a well-funded effort to deny consumers safer alternatives to lethal cigarettes. To criticize a country for defending the right of people to access life-saving products shows a frighteningly authoritarian and moralistic agenda. If we are to successfully reduce cigarette smoking, anti-tobacco groups need to learn from countries like the Philippines rather than denigrate them, Sweanor said. - Advertisement - The Department of Finance (DOF) is studying the amendments to the charters of Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines to prepare them for public listing. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the possible amendments of DBP and LandBank charters, including their possible public listing, would broaden the local capital market. This initiative aligns with the DOFs broader strategy to make the Philippine Stock Exchange more accessible to ordinary Filipinos, enabling them to become stakeholders in the nations economic growth, according to Recto. Recto also urged the PSE to collaborate with the government in making the stock market more accessible to ordinary Filipinos. Wider public access to investment opportunities and a broad-based financial system are key conditions for achieving inclusive growth, Recto said. With the help of the PSE, I look forward to building the Philippine capital market into a platform where more small companies and wage earners become shareholders. That will be a measure of how much we have dispersed our economic activities and how inclusive our growth has been, he said. - Advertisement - The PSE is the only stock exchange in the country, a self-regulatory organization that provides and ensures a fair, efficient, transparent and orderly market for the buying and selling of securities. It also offers a convenient and efficient venue for raising capital to support the growth of businesses. Recto lauded the PSE for successfully diversifying the stock market by encouraging ten small companies to list with a total issue size of P29.6 billion. All these underscore the remarkable progress our stock exchange has made in democratizing wealth. It is not only benefitting large companies, but is making it possible for all Filipinos to become investors, actively contributing to capital aggregation, he said. Recto said the DOF would implement capital market reforms to enhance investor protection, corporate governance, shareholder centrality and broader investor participation. The DOF is pushing for the passage of its refined proposal on Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), which aims to harmonize and simplify the tax structure on passive income, financial products and its transactions to spur greater capital inflow and economic activity. The DOF will also pursue the passage of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotion Act which aims to reduce the tax on stock transactions from 0.6 percent to just 0.1 percent of stock value, Recto said. The agency supports the Capital Market Development Act which will address weaknesses of the current private pension system and in the process vigorously develop a dynamic and diversified domestic capital market. - Advertisement - A congressional leader on Thursday lauded the Kuwaiti Court of Appeals for affirming the conviction of the perpetrator responsible for the death of overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara, representing a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for her and her grieving family. Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, thanked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and embassy officials, including the Ambassador and Labor Attache in Kuwait, for their contributions to this outcome. This decision is a testament to the collaborative efforts of both the Philippine and Kuwaiti authorities in ensuring that justice prevails for Jullebee Ranara, Salo said in a statement. The Philippine government remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of our OFWs. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who perpetrate violence against our overseas workers are brought to justice, he added. Ranara is a 35-year-old household worker whose burnt body was found in a desert in Kuwait in January 2023. Her killer was the 17-year-old son of her employer, who was arrested within 24 hours of the discovery of her corpse and has confessed to the crime. - Advertisement - Salo also extended his appreciation to the Kuwaiti Government for upholding the rights of OFWs within its jurisdiction. We commend the Kuwaiti government for its unwavering dedication to justice and its strong stance against the violation of OFWs rights. This conviction sends a powerful message that perpetrators of violence against OFWs will be held accountable for their actions, said Salo. In light of the Kuwaiti Courts decision and Kuwaits demonstrated commitment to justice and in upholding the rights of OFWs, Salo supports the call for the lifting of the deployment ban in Kuwait. The conviction in Jullebee Ranaras case underscores Kuwaits commitment to serving justice and safeguarding the rights of our OFWs. We believe that lifting the deployment ban is warranted as a recognition of Kuwaits efforts to address concerns regarding the welfare and safety of OFWs, he stressed. We hope to put a closure on this tragic incident that strained the diplomatic relationship of our countries, and move forward in giving our people more employment opportunities and in ensuring better protection while working in Kuwait, he added. - Advertisement - President Ferdinand Marcos thanked the Filipino-Hawaiian community, citing his familys experience in the US island state, which took them in after they fled the country in 1986. Addressing the members of the Honolulu City Council delegation as well as participants of the 31st Trade Mission of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Hawaii Philippines Business Economic Council, the President said he is forever grateful to those who helped his family. I am so happy to be able to welcome you here as I can see that the work that you are doing is something thats very important for all of us. Of course, the connection between Hawaii and the Philippines, Mr. Marcos said. In my own experience, and despite the difficult circumstances that surrounded our stay in Hawaii, Hawaiians made it as pleasant and as best as we could make it. And for that, we will never forget and well be forever grateful, he added. He noted the people of Hawaii for their kind treatment of him and his family, citing Hawaii will forever have a special place in his heart. - Advertisement - I have a special place in my heart for Hawaii, especially the people of Hawaii for the kindnesses that we were shown. I mean, it is on a more personal intimate level We will never forget, he said. President Marcos and his family escaped to Hawaii after the 1986 People Power Revolution. They returned to the country in 1991, two years after the death of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. In November 2023, the chief executive set foot in Hawaii for the first time since returning to the Philippines three decades ago and met with the Filipino community there. - Advertisement - LA PARAGUA, VenezuelaAt least 16 people died when an illegal gold mine collapsed in the jungles of southern Venezuela, officials said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) revising down an earlier figure. The incident happened Tuesday at the Bulla loca mine in the state of Bolivar, a seven-hour boat ride from the nearest town, La Paragua, where family members waited anxiously for news. Officials gave conflicting accounts of the number of dead. The Bolivar states secretary of citizen security, Edgar Colina Reyes, said 16 people were dead. President Nicolas Maduro said another 11 were injured. I convey my condolences to the families and friends of these people who unfortunately died in this accident, Maduro said on state television. - Advertisement - But earlier in the day, Yorgi Arciniega, mayor of the Angostura municipality, told AFP that about 23 bodies had been recovered, including 15 that had arrived by boat in La Paragua and about another eight on their way. Deputy Minister of civil protection Carlos Perez Ampueda published a video of the incident on X, and referred to a massive toll, though providing no numbers. Some 200 people were thought to have been working in the mine, according to officials. The video showed dozens of people working in the shallow waters of an open pit mine when a wall of earth slowly collapses upon them. Some managed to flee while others were engulfed. Mayor Arciniega, who had earlier spoken of 15 people injured, said four had been brought by boat to La Paragua by Wednesday afternoon to receive treatment. Colina Reyes said the injured were being transported to a hospital in the regional capital Ciudad Bolivar, four hours from La Paragua, which lies 750 kilometers southeast of the capital Caracas. Desolate relatives waited on the shores for news of their breadwinners. My brother, my brother, my brother, cried one as he saw a body being taken off a boat. We ask that they support us with helicopters to remove the injured, a woman waiting for news on her brother-in-law a father of three told AFP. Reyes said the military, firefighters and other organizations were moving to the area by air to evaluate the situation. Rescue teams were also being flown in from Caracas to aid in the search. We are evaluating the damage and doing a rescue analysis, added Ampueda. In December last year, at least 12 people were killed when a mine in the Indigenous community of Ikabaru, in the same region, collapsed. The Bolivar region is rich in gold, diamonds, iron, bauxite, quartz and coltan. Aside from state mines, there is also a booming industry of illegal extraction. This was bound to happen, resident Robinson Basanta told AFP of the unsafe working conditions of the miners, most of whom live in extreme poverty. This mine has yielded a lot of gold People go there out of necessity, to make ends meet, he said. Activists denounce ecocide in the area and the exploitation of children who work long hours without protection. In the past year, the Venezuelan Armed Forces evicted some 14,000 illegal miners from the Yapacana National Park in the neighboring state of Amazonas. AFP - Advertisement - The Department of Foreign Affairs said 14 repatriates from Gaza arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday night amid the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. The DFAs Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs said it was the eighth batch of repatriation that the Philippine government facilitated since the Oct. 7 attack of Hamas and the subsequent conflict in Gaza with the Israel Defense Forces. We are pleased to know that they safely arrived today in the Philippines, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said Thursday. As with our past repatriates from Gaza, the DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt provided welfare assistance to the families who arrived today. We hope that it can help them start over, he added. The DFA coordinated their repatriation with the Philippine Embassies in Cairo, Amman, and Doha. Rey E. Requejo - Advertisement - Besides the DFA, other agencies that welcomed the arrival of the repatriates were the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Manila office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Welcoming the repatriates is the last part of the DFA-OUMWAs assistance regularly extended to distressed Filipinos and their families arriving from conflict areas. In a way, we are assuring them that they are now safe in the Philippines, De Vega said. Humanitarian agencies warned of looming famine in besieged Gaza as heavy fighting continued on Wednesday. The United Nations (UN) warned that the 2.4 million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine and could face an explosion of child deaths. According to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, the overall death toll in Gaza was at 29,313. Meanwhile, based on official Israeli figures, 1,160 people were killed in Israel. Rey E. Requejo - Advertisement - The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said the Kuwait Appeal Court has upheld the guilty verdict and sentence on the killer of Jullebee Ranara. The charred body of Ranara, married with four children, was found in a desert in the Gulf State on Jan. 21, 2023. An autopsy report showed Ranara was pregnant at the time of her death. Last September, the killer, the minor son of the victims employer, was sentenced to 15-year imprisonment for murder and 1-year jail time for driving without a license. Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the DMW,Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Embassy Officials, including the Ambassador and Labor Attache in Kuwait, for their unwavering dedication in seeking justice and accountability for Julebees case. - Advertisement - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he sees many grand opportunities in boosting the Philippines ties with Hawaii in terms of investments and trade. The President welcomed members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu and Honolulu City Council Trade Mission during their courtesy call at Malacanan Palace. I think I see many grand opportunities and I thank you for coming, and to explore those opportunities and try to make them into a reality for the betterment of both Hawaii and your partners here in the Philippines, Mr. Marcos told his guests. The President also thanked the Filipino-Hawaiian community, citing hisfamilys experience in the US island state, which took them in after they fled the country in 1986. Addressing the members of the Honolulu City Council delegation as well as participants of the 31st Trade Mission of the Filipino Chamber ofCommerce of Hawaii and Hawaii Philippines Business Economic Council, the President said he is forever grateful to those who helped his family. - Advertisement - He applauded their exploration in beefing up the economic and trade ties between the two nations. I think there is a great deal of potential there, as there are so many similarities in terms of what are needed and what needs to be done in terms of the state of Hawaii and the Philippines and in specific areas of the Philippines, the President said. Amid threats from global challenges to the nations economy, Mr. Marcos assured his audience the situation has changed, citing the need to turn all opportunities into reality. I mean, all of these, the supply chain problems that weve been encountering around the world, those are the problems that we have tried to remedy and to alleviate. and I think that we have succeeded to an extent, we will continue to work in that direction because again trade is important to us, the President stressed. In closing, Mr. Marcos thanked his visitors, noting Hawaiis special place in his heart, especially the people who showed kindness to his family. The kindness that we were shown again in difficult circumstances is something that we will be forever grateful for and that we will never forget and therefore you have your number one supporter here in the Philippines, the President said. - Advertisement - Iran is allowing the release of all crew members mostly Filipinosof the seized tanker ST Nikolas once their replacement to man the ship arrives, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday. At least 17 of the 19 original crew members remain on the vessel after a Filipino and a Greek cadet were released early this month and in January, respectively. In a Bagong Pilipinas interview, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said a vessel, even if docked in a port, must have crews attend it all the time. This is a legal seizure according to the Iranian authorities based on an Iranian court order. In other words, these seafarers are treated not as hostages but employees of the agency, he said. Meanwhile, De Vega reported that the Philippines continues to engage with international partners for the safe release of a separate group of Filipino seafarers being held hostage by the Houthis in the Red Sea. - Advertisement - He said the condition of their captors is political in nature, which is for the war in Gaza to end. To compensate the crew managing the vessel in Iran, the concerned manning agency doubled their salary. The first Filipino who was freed, De Vega said, did not take the double pay offer. The official, on the other hand, noted that at least 10 are expected to return soon as their contracts will expire in about a month. Once their contracts end, they can go home and we will make sure they will have a substitute but we will ask the agency not to put Filipinos, he said. The Iranian authorities will allow them all to leave once the replacements arrive, he added. ST Nikolas will remain in Irans custody until its court decides what it will do with it, De Vega said. Yemens Houthi rebels were earlier quoted as saying that they hijacked the vessel over its connection to Israel and that all ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets. The hijacking occurred on Nov. 19. The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas launched a cross-border attack on southern Israel and the latter responded with retaliatory strikes and ground assault in Gaza. - Advertisement - Canada has inaugurated its most ambitious program in the Indo-Pacific, with the Philippines as the headquarters of its operations. Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay led on Wednesday the opening of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office, which will serve as a hub for improving connections between Canadian stakeholders and regional partners in the agriculture industry. Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman stressed that Ottawa chose the Philippines due to the latter being the elbow or the knee as well as the connective tissue of the whole Indo-Pacific. The physical geography that the Philippines occupies, connecting North Asia to South Asia through here in Southeast Asia, just makes eminent sense, Hartman said. So its the ideal conduit for us to be able to grow our footprint in the region, he added. - Advertisement - For the next five years, Canada will be allotting 32 million Canadian dollars for the operations of the said office. That is part of the 2.4 billion Canadian dollars that it has earmarked for its Indo-Pacific Strategy. With Canada exporting half of what it is producing, MacAulay expressed optimism that its Philippine office will play a central role in growing export markets for its farmers and increasing their cooperation with the region. On his first days in Manila, MacAulay already met with Filipino farmers to get insights about the local industry. He noted the poor quality of seeds that they are using, which he saw as one of Canadas top priorities to help improve. The quality of seed they use, how they handle the land itself, what they useThey cost more if the genetics are poor, MacAulay said. [Well] be working with the agricultural sector here in order to make sure that they have the right seed or the right genetics or whatever just to make sure theres more prosperity in the area, Canadian ambassador added. Canada would also like to introduce a new technology to Filipino farmers. But MacAulay, a farmer himself, said farmers would not accept new technology if they do not understand its benefit. What we have to be able to do is make sure that we have the appropriate technology, innovate properly, he said. The first cohort of Canadas agriculture offices staff is already on the ground, working with partners to advance shared priorities, such as food security. They will also create mutually beneficial opportunities, build on strong relationships and enhance technical cooperation, market access and trade, the Canadian embassy said. The offices opening came as the Indo-Pacific region currently accounts for over one-third of the worlds economic activity, in 2023, Canadas agriculture and agri-food exports to the region already reached 22.8 billion Canadian dollars. - Advertisement - A Chinese tech security firm was able to breach foreign governments, infiltrate social media accounts and hack personal computers, a massive data leak analyzed by experts this week revealed. The trove of documents from I-Soon, a private company that competed for Chinese government contracts, shows that its hackers compromised more than a dozen governments, according to cybersecurity firms SentinelLabs and Malwarebytes. I-Soon also breached democracy organizations in Chinas semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong, universities and the NATO military alliance, SentinelLabs researchers wrote in a blog post Wednesday. The leaked data, the contents of which AFP was unable to immediately verify, was posted last week on the online software repository GitHub by an unknown individual. The leak provides some of the most concrete details seen publicly to date, revealing the maturing nature of Chinas cyber espionage ecosystem, SentinelLabs analysts said. - Advertisement - I-Soon was able to breach government offices in India, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea, among others, Malwarebytes said in a separate post on Wednesday. I-Soons website was not available Thursday morning, though an internet archive snapshot of the site from Tuesday says it is based in Shanghai, with subsidiaries and offices in Beijing, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The firm did not reply to a request for comment. Asked by Agence France Presse (AFP) on Thursday about whether Beijing contracted hackers, Chinas foreign ministry said it was not aware of the case. As a principle, China firmly opposes all forms of cyberattacks and cracks down on them in accordance with law, spokesperson Mao Ning said. Hacks for contracts The leak contains hundreds of files showing chatlogs, presentations and lists of targets. AFP found what appeared to be lists of Thai and UK government departments among the leaks, as well as screenshots of attempts to log into an individuals Facebook account. Other screenshots showed arguments between an employee and a supervisor over salaries, as well as a document describing software aimed at accessing a targets Outlook emails. As demonstrated by the leaked documents, third-party contractors play a significant role in facilitating and executing many of Chinas offensive operations in the cyber domain, SentinelLabs analysts said. In one screenshot of a chat app conversation, someone describes a client request for exclusive access to the foreign secretarys office, foreign ministrys ASEAN office, prime ministers office national intelligence agency and other government departments of an unnamed country. Analysts who examined the files said the company also offered potential clients the ability to break into accounts of individuals on social media platform Xmonitoring their activity, reading their private messages, and sending posts. It also laid out how the firms hackers could access and take over a persons computer remotely, allowing them to execute commands and monitor what they type. Other services included ways to breach Apples iPhone and other smartphone operating systems, as well as custom hardware, including a powerbank that can extract data from a device and send it to the hackers. Xinjiang ties Analysts said the leak also showed I-Soon bidding for contracts in Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang, where Beijing stands accused of detaining hundreds of thousands of mostly Muslim people as part of a campaign against alleged extremism. The United States has called it a genocide. The company listed other terrorism-related targets the company had hacked previously as evidence of their ability to perform these tasks, including targeting counterterrorism centers in Pakistan and Afghanistan, SentinelLabs analysts said. The leaked data also revealed the fees that hackers could earn, they said, including $55,000 from breaking into a government ministry in Vietnam. A cached version of the companys website showed the firm also runs an institute dedicated to implementing the spirit of President Xi Jinpings important instructions on developing cybersecurity education and expertise. The FBI has said that China has the biggest hacking program of any country. Beijing has dismissed the claims as groundless and pointed to the United Statess own history of cyber espionage. Pieter Arntz, a researcher at Malwarebytes, said the leak will likely rattle some cages at the infiltrated entities. As such, it could possibly cause a shift in international diplomacy and expose the holes in the national security of several countries. Brazil native Suellen Coelho visited Martinsville to give an art talk on the New Orleans tradition of Second Line parades. Coelho began studying costume design in Brazil before she attended Louisiana State University, where she earned a masters degree in fine arts with a concentration in costume design. She is now an assistant professor teaching costume design and construction, stage makeup and props-related special topics courses in the theatre department at Hollins University. During her time studying at LSU, Coelho ended up doing extensive research revolving around Second Line parades in New Orleans. Since there was already existing literature on the history of the parade, Coelhos purpose was to focus on what the purpose of the costumes are when it comes to creating identity, particularly to one of the Second Line groups called the Undefeated Divas. The Second Line parade, Coelho said, is sometimes compared to Mardi Gras parades because of the similarities of between the two parades in bright colored costumes and general parade ambiance. But the Second Line parade takes place after Mardi Gras, starting in August and taking place each Sunday through May of the next year. The tradition of Second Line parades started shortly after the Civil War, Coelho said. It started as a way to protect themselves when the government couldnt, she added. Communities of Black Americans fraternal societies and neighborhood organizations began holding the parade as a way to raise money to provide insurance and burial services to members of their community. Coelhos experience with parades originated from Carnival, an annual four-day festival in Brazil, which helped her understand the aspect of culture in relation to festival and parade traditions. I knew about Mardi Gras, but I didnt know about this parade that happened every Sunday and the clothes were amazing, Coelho said. Men always wear colorful suits and women wear colorful costume dresses and outfits and everyone is adorned with a variety of different outfit like faux doves, fans, feathers and more. Her research began when she was curious about how the costumes were chosen and created and what part they played in the culture and identity of the people who participate in the parade. She began by going door to door and attending the parade and just asking for interviews. Though she wasnt immediately accepted, she stuck with it and eventually made some connections who would tell her their experience. She was able to build a relationship with the members of the Undefeated Divas group and was eventually invited to be a part of their group. She now participates in the parade each year. She learned a variety of things including that every five years groups burn their costumes and that the different groups are very secretive about the colors of their costumes. The groups arent even fully told until two weeks before the parade and have that short amount of time to plan, design and have someone create their costumes. One year that she participated, her group found out that another team was using their planned colors which resulted in a last-minute revamping of what her costume would be. The idea of how we dress up every day, we choose what we want to present, Coelho said. I chose to wear a shirt that said made in Brazil because I wanted to make sure that you know my identity. You know where I come from. She said what was so interesting about this parade was the way that the participants protect the culture and their costumes. Once she was pulled into the Undefeated Divas, she could no longer write the book that she wanted to because she would have been writing about herself. But any book she would write would have to be more of an autobiographical memoir of her time and experience at the Second Line parade, she said. Piedmont Arts has a variety of talks that revolve around the arts. The next talk by Sothebys representative Lucian Simmons will be at 6:30 April 11 at the museum. A Patrick County man has been sentenced to 10 years in a West Virginia prison for felony conspiracy charges related to drugs. Tommy J. Strothers, of Meadows of Dan, will be eligible for parole after he serves two years and six months. He then will be turned over to Henry County authorities where he is yet to be tried on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone and methamphetamine. Also in Henry County, Strothers is charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a violent felon and in Patrick County he is charged with multiple counts of probation violation. On July 21, 2022, a Fayetteville, West Virginia, police officer conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 19 involving a vehicle that he had clocked going 64 mph in a 50 mph zone. When the officer noticed drug paraphernalia in the car, he searched the vehicle and found digital scales, packaging material, and suspected controlled substances. Tests determined the substances were more than 35 grams of methamphetamine and half a gram of fentanyl. Strothers was a passenger in the vehicle with Jessica L. Roop. Joshua A. Moore was driving the vehicle, a police report stated. In December 2020, Henry County Sheriffs deputies recognized Strothers as he was standing outside of a house in the 400 block of Henry Street in Stanleytown, armed with a rifle. With outstanding arrest warrants, the deputies attempted to arrest Strothers when he ran into the house and barricaded himself, a release stated. After a nearly four-hour standoff, a HCSO tactical unit went into the home and found Strothers hiding in the attic. Strothers was taken into custody without incident, the release stated. Martinsville City Public Schools principals presented their school improvement plans to the city school board on Monday. Albert Harris Elementary School Principal Renee Brown reported that AHES is accredited for the 2023-24 school year. For academic achievement AHES is at a level one for English and mathematics and a level two for science, for achievement gaps AHES is at a level two for English and a level one for mathematics and for student engagement and outcomes AHES is at a level two for chronic absenteeism. On the scale, level one is the best followed by level two and three. AHESs first goal is having 100% of students achieve proficient or advanced scores on reading Standards of Learning assessments with an additional focus on students with disabilities and multi-race children. The second goal is having 100% of its students achieve proficient or advanced scores on the mathematics SOL assessments with additional focus on white students. The third goal is for all students to achieve proficient or advanced scores on the science SOL assessment and the fourth goal is for chronic absenteeism to decrease by 10%. AHES is aiming to meet all of these goals by the end of the 2023-24 school year. Patrick Henry Elementary School Principal Cameron Cooper reported that her school is accredited with conditions for 2023-24. PHES academic achievement for English and mathematics is at a level one and science is at a level three. In achievement gaps PHES is at a level one for English and a level two for mathematics and for student engagement and outcomes PHES is at a level one for chronic absenteeism. PHES main school goal is to increase overall student performance by 10% in English and mathematics and increase science performance by 20% while decreasing the amount of PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) identified students. The schools first measurable goal is to increase student achievement in the black and students with disabilities subgroups on the English Language Arts SOL test by 10%. The second is to increase student achievement in the Black and students with disabilities subgroups on the mathematics SOL by 10% and 12% respectively. The third goal is to increase overall student achievement on the science SOL by 20%. PHES is aiming to meet these goals by the spring SOL tests. Martinsville Middle School Principal Ama Waller reported that MMS is accredited for 2023-24. For academic achievement PHES is at a level two for English, a level one for mathematics and a level three for science. In achievement gaps the school is at a level two in English and a level one in mathematics and for student engagement and outcomes PHES is at a level one for chronic absenteeism. The measurable goals set for PHES are to increase the number of students passing state assessments in English and science to meet state accountability benchmarks; to increase meaningful parent involvement and communication by providing more opportunities for parental engagement; and decrease the number of out-of-school suspensions by 10%. MMS is aiming to meet these goals by May 2024. Martinsville High School Principal Aji Dixon presented his schools plan, reporting that the school is accredited for 2023-24. For academic achievement, MHS is at a level one for English and mathematics and a level three for science. In achievement gaps MHS is at level one for both English and mathematics. In student engagement and outcomes, MHS is at a level three for chronic absenteeism, a level two for CCCRI (College, Career and Civic Readiness Index) and dropout rate and a level one for graduation and completion. MHS first measurable goal is to continue to provide feedback to teachers to ensure implementation and alignment of the curriculum to Virginia SOL. The second is to monitor creation and results of assessments to ensure alignment with Virginia SOL and the third is to provide opportunities for vocabulary development within SOL standards. The fourth goal is to ensure the focus of the lessons align to Virginia SOL and Curriculum Framework Essential Knowledge and Skills on both content and cognitive levels. The fifth goal is to outline and communicate objectives to include the behaviors students will exhibit to show learning, the conditions under which the students will exhibit those behaviors, and the criteria used to determine whether learners have met the objective. The six goal is ensure assessment align to student learning objective and SOL in content and cognition. The seventh goal is to draw clear connections by activating prior knowledge and the eighth goal is to address misconceptions, gaps and cultural assumptions in prior leaning by differentiating instruction. MHSs ninth goal is to designate a school graduation team for each cohort year, the tenth goal is to track student data quarterly and conduct student meetings and the eleventh goal is to utilize student academic and career plan data to provide opportunities in advanced coursework, completion of CTE credentials, work-based learning experiences and service-learning experiences. 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: Study overview. Credit: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (2024). DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocae019 A new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center demonstrates the promise of artificial intelligence to help refine and target the myriad computerized alerts intended to assist doctors and other team members in day-to-day clinical decision-making. These pop-up notifications advise users on anything from drug contraindications to gaps in patient care documentation. However, exclusion criteria and targeting of these alerts are wanting, and up to 90% are ignored, contributing to "alert fatigue." From an information technology perspective, throwing human experts at the targeting problem looks slow, expensive, and somewhat hit-and-miss. "Across health care, most of these well-intentioned automated alerts are overridden by busy users. The alerts serve an essential purpose, but the need to improve them is clear to everyone," said lead author Siru Liu, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics at VUMC. Liu, senior author Adam Wright, Ph.D., professor of Biomedical Informatics and director of the Vanderbilt Clinical Informatics Center, and a research team reported the study in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Liu developed a machine-learning approach to analyze two years of data on user interactions with alerts at VUMC. Based on patient characteristics, a model accurately predicted when specific alerts would be dismissed by users. She then used various processes and methods to peer inside the predictive model, understand its reasoning, and generate suggested improvements to alert logic. This step, termed explainable artificial intelligence, or AIX, involved transforming the model's predictions into rules explaining when users are less likely to accept alerts. For example, "if the patient is a hospice patient, then the user is less likely to accept the breast cancer screening alert." Out of 1,727 suggestions analyzed, 76 were found to match later manual updates to VUMC alerts, and another 20 were found to align with best practices as determined through interviews with clinicians. The authors calculated that these 96 recommendations would have eliminated 9.3% of the nearly 3 million alerts analyzed in the study, cutting disruptive pop-ups while maintaining patient safety. "The alignment of the model's suggestions with manual adjustments made by clinicians to alert logic underscores the robust potential of this technology to enhance health care quality and efficiency," Liu said. "Our approach can identify areas overlooked in manual reviews and transform alert improvement into a continuous learning process." Beyond refining alerts, she added, the methodology uncovered situations indicating problems in workflow, education or staffing. In this way, the approach might more broadly improve quality: "The transparency of our model unveiled scenarios where alerts are dismissed due to downstream issues beyond the alerts themselves." Liu and colleagues have several related projects under consideration, including a multisite prospective study of the effects on patient care of machine learning for CDS improvement; designing an interface for CDS experts to visualize the AIX process and evaluate model-generated suggestions; and exploring capabilities of large language models like ChatGPT for optimizing CDS alerts based on user comments and current research literature. More information: Siru Liu et al, Leveraging explainable artificial intelligence to optimize clinical decision support, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (2024). DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocae019 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: Trial profile. BBPS=Boston Bowel Preparation Score. CAD=computer-aided detection. Credit: The Lancet Digital Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00242-X Annually, over 100,000 people in the Netherlands undergo a colonoscopy, an endoscopy of the colon. During this procedure, a doctor uses a camera to search for colorectal cancer and polyps, protrusions from the colon wall that can be precursors to colorectal cancer. Previous studies have shown that the more polyps a doctor finds and removes, the lower the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer later on. Now, it appears that AI can significantly aid in this process. A doctor finds nearly forty percent more polyps when a smart computer assists in examining the camera images in the colon. "A doctor can miss polyps because they are just briefly in the image, or the attention is focused on another spot," says medical researcher Michiel Maas. "But a computer examines every pixel in the image and is alert every millisecond. That provides significant added value." This added value was demonstrated in a study involving almost 1,000 patients conducted in 10 hospitals in different countries. Participants underwent a colonoscopy because they qualified for colorectal cancer screening or had previous polyps. They received either the standard colon examination or the examination where the computer live-monitored. The computer placed a purple square in the image of an area that looked suspicious, drawing the doctor's attention for closer examination. Although the computer helped detect and remove more polyps, the colonoscopy with digital assistance did not take much time. Additionally, the new procedure did not result in a higher percentage of false positives, i.e., tissue that was removed but later found non-threatening during analysis at the Pathology department. The additionally removed polyps were just as likely to be of a dangerous type as the polyps removed during a standard examination. The smart computer was developed by the company Magentiq Eye LTD. They trained the software to recognize abnormalities using thousands of photos and videos of colonoscopies from around the world. The system is now commercially available but is still limited in use. Maas says, "This system costs money, and reimbursement for medical examinations with AI assistance is still in the development phase." In subsequent studies, researchers will investigate whether the computer can also determine the danger level of a polyp based on its visual characteristics and size. Professor and Gastroenterologist Peter Siersema says, "If we can determine that during the examination, we can leave harmless polyps in place. You then don't need to analyze them in Pathology. Ultimately, this reduces the risk of complications and costs." The paper is published in The Lancet Digital Health journal. More information: Michiel H J Maas et al, A computer-aided polyp detection system in screening and surveillance colonoscopy: an international, multicentre, randomised, tandem trial, The Lancet Digital Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00242-X This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Short and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) air pollution is linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for major heart and lung diseases, find two large U.S. studies, published by The BMJ today. Together, the results suggest that no safe threshold exists for heart and lung health. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, exposure to PM 2.5 accounts for an estimated 7.6% of total global mortality and 4.2% of global disability-adjusted life years (a measure of years lived in good health). In light of this extensive evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated the air quality guidelines in 2021, recommending that an annual average PM 2.5 levels should not exceed 5 g/m3 and 24 hour average PM 2.5 levels should not exceed 15 g/m3 on more than 34 days each year. In the first study, researchers linked average daily PM 2.5 levels to residential zip codes for nearly 60 million U.S. adults (84% white, 55% women) aged 65 and over from 2000 to 2016. They then used Medicare insurance data to track hospital admissions over an average of eight years. After accounting for a range of economic, health and social factors, average PM 2.5 exposure over three years was associated with increased risks of first hospital admissions for seven major types of cardiovascular diseaseischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, valvular heart disease, and thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Compared with exposures of 5 g/m3 or less (the WHO air quality guideline for annual PM 2.5 ), exposures between 9 and 10 g/m3, which encompassed the U.S. national average of 9.7 g/m3 during the study period, were associated with a 29% increased risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular disease. On an absolute scale, the risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular disease increased from 2.59% with exposures of 5 g/m3 or less to 3.35% at exposures between 9 and 10 g/m3. "This means that if we were able to manage to reduce annual PM 2.5 below 5 g/m3, we could avoid 23% in hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease," say the researchers. These cardiovascular effects persisted for at least three years after exposure to PM 2.5 , and susceptibility varied by age, education, access to health care services, and area deprivation level. The researchers say their findings suggest that no safe threshold exists for the chronic effect of PM 2.5 on overall cardiovascular health, and that substantial benefits could be attained through adherence to the WHO air quality guideline. "On February 7, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the national air quality standard for annual PM 2.5 level, setting a stricter limit at no more than 9 g/m3. This is the first update since 2012. However, it is still considerably higher than the 5 g/m3 set by WHO. Obviously, the newly published national standard was not sufficient for the protection of public health," they add. In the second study, researchers used county-level daily PM 2.5 concentrations and medical claims data to track hospital admissions and emergency department visits for natural causes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease for 50 million US adults aged 18 and over from 2010 to 2016. During the study period, more than 10 million hospital admissions and 24 million emergency department visits were recorded. They found that short-term exposure to PM 2.5 , even at concentrations below the new WHO air quality guideline limit, was statistically significantly associated with higher rates of hospital admissions for natural causes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, as well as emergency department visits for respiratory disease. For example, on days when daily PM 2.5 levels were below the new WHO air quality guideline limit of 15 g/m3, an increase of 10 g/m3 in PM 2.5 was associated with 1.87 extra hospital admissions per million adults aged 18 and over per day. The researchers say their findings constitute an important contribution to the debate about the revision of air quality limits, guidelines, and standards. Both research teams acknowledge several limitations such as possible misclassification of exposure and point out that other unmeasured factors may have affected their results. What's more, the findings may not apply to individuals without medical insurance, children and adolescents, and those living outside the U.S. However, taken together, these new results provide valuable reference for future national air pollution standards. More information: Exposure-response associations between chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and risks of hospital admission for major cardiovascular diseases: population based cohort study, The BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076939 www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-076939 Short term exposure to low level ambient fine particulate matter and natural cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory morbidity among US adults with health insurance: case time series study, The BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/384/bmj-2023-076322, www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-076322 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Diabetic patients who take anti-diabetic drugsknown as glitazoneslong term had a lower risk of primary and secondary brain cancer compared with diabetic patients on other medications, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The study, published in BMJ Open, suggests these drugs could be repurposed to prevent brain metastasis in cancer patients who are at high risk of secondary cancers, if the current research is supported by future studies. PPAR- agonists (fibrates) and PPAR agonists (glitazones) drugs are clinically important due to their widespread safe use to treat high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and diabetes. Previous studies have suggested that fibrates and glitazones may have a role in brain tumor prevention. Given the safety and cost of the drugs, they have the potential to be repurposed to prevent brain cancers and reduce the risk of secondary tumors by stopping tumor growth. Using primary care records from the UK GP database Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), which contains data from a network of over 2,000 GPs from more than 670 practices across the UK, the researchers examined if this theory could be supported. The research team carried out two case-controlled studies using primary and secondary brain tumors identified within CPRD between 2000 and 2016. Cases and controls were selected from people who had been treated with any anti-diabetic or anti-hyperlipidemic drug. The study identified 7,496 individuals with any brain tumor (4,471 primary; 3,025 secondary) in total. There were 1,950 cases and 7,791 controls in the fibrate and 480 cases with 1,920 controls in the glitazone analyses. The researchers found long-term glitazone drug use by diabetic patients was associated with reduced primary and secondary brain tumor risk compared with diabetic patients on other medications. No association was found between fibrate use for hyperlipidemic patients and any type of brain tumor. Kathreena Kurian, Professor of Neuropathology and Head of the Brain Tumor Research Centre at the University of Bristol and Honorary Consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust, and one of the study's authors, said, "The anti-diabetic drugs glitazones could potentially be involved in a pathway which prevents primary brain tumors and brain metastasis in diabetic and other patients. "Our research could also be used to understand better pathways which prevent the development of primary brain tumors, such as glioma." Yoav Ben-Shlomo, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS) and corresponding author, added, "This is the largest study in diabetic patients showing a link between long-term glitazone use and decreased primary brain tumor and brain metastasis. "If our research is validated in larger studies and trials, these drugs could be repurposed to prevent brain metastasis in cancer patients who are at high risk of secondary cancers, such as breast and lung cancer." Further research is required to investigate whether these findings are replicated using independent datasets that are larger in size and/or with better data on blood sugar control and other potential causes and effects. If the glitazone association is biologically causal, this could lead to a better understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and potential therapies for the prevention of brain cancers. The researchers suggest this hypothesis could be tested in a future double-blind clinical trial if stronger evidence emerges from other studies, given the safety and current use of glitazones for managing diabetes. More information: Jamie W Robinson et al, Use of drugs for hyperlipidaemia and diabetes and risk of primary and secondary brain tumours: nested casecontrol studies using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), BMJ Open (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072026 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Children whose mothers have received antibiotic treatment during childbirth are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases compared to their counterparts, according to a recent registry-based study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, involving nearly 46,000 children. The most common autoimmune diseases in children include type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and rheumatic diseases. However, the study found that administration of antibiotics during childbirth showed no association with allergic diseases or asthma in the child. Antibiotic treatment given to mothers during delivery effectively prevents rare serious infections caused by Group B streptococcus in newborns, thereby reducing associated mortality. In Finland, antibiotics are administered to mothers during childbirth if Group B streptococcus is detected in the birth canal before delivery, and almost one in four women delivering vaginally receives antibiotic treatment. The research findings play a crucial role in assessing the potential drawbacks of perinatal antibiotic use and investigating the underlying mechanisms of immune-related diseases. Previous knowledge indicated that antibiotics given to mothers during childbirth affect the development of the child's intestinal microbiota. The study supports the idea that a normal gut microbiota may have implications for a child's long-term health. Sofia Ainonen, the lead author of the article and a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu states, "This is an observational study that does not directly establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the antibiotics given to mothers during childbirth and the child's later health. The result is a statistical association possibly influenced by other factors as well." According to Professor Terhi Ruuska, who led the study, the findings encourage the development of precise prevention methods for Group B streptococcus infections. One potential method could be a vaccine administered to mothers that does not impact the child's normal microbiota. The study followed children born vaginally in Oulu University Hospital (OYS) and Oulaskangas hospital in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, between 2007 and 2018. The study utilized national registers from the National Institute for Health and Welfare, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and Statistics Finland, as well as high-quality electronic patient records from the hospitals in the OYS region, which provided comprehensive information on maternal antibiotic exposure. More information: Sofia AINONEN et al, Risk of Immune-related Diseases in Childhood after Intrapartum Antibiotic Exposure, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.02.020 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: Pair of prairie voles. Credit: Aubrey Kelly How does sex relate to lasting love? To answer that question, scientists have long studied a small Midwestern rodent called the prairie vole, one of the few mammals known to form long-term, monogamous relationships. A team of researchers, including Steven Phelps at The University of Texas at Austin, has created the first brain-wide map of regions that are active in prairie voles during mating and pair bonding. The researchers found that bonding voles experience a storm of brain activity distributed across 68 distinct brain regions that make up seven brain-wide circuits. The brain activity correlates with three stages of behavior: mating, bonding, and the emergence of a stable, enduring bond. Most of these brain regions the researchers identified were not previously associated with bonding, so the map reveals new places to look in the human brain to understand how we form and maintain close relationships. Earlier studies concluded that male and female brains often use fundamentally different mechanisms to produce the same behaviors, such as mating and nurturing offspring. But in this study, bonding males and females had nearly identical patterns of brain activity. "That was a surprise," said Phelps, a professor of integrative biology at UT Austin and senior author of the new study in the journal eLife. "Sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone are important for sexual, aggressive and parental behaviors, so the prevailing hypothesis was that brain activity during mating and bonding would also be different between the sexes." Compared with humans, prairie voles have whirlwind courtships. Within half an hour of being together, a male and female begin to have sex, and they will do so repeatedly, often many times an hour. Within a day, their amorousness will lead the pair to form a bond that can last a lifetime. Bonded pairs will groom each other, console each other when stressed, defend their shared territory, and rear their young together. The researchers were able to pinpoint with high resolution which brain cells were active in vole brains at various points over the course of the process that leads to and includes bonding. This is the first time such a method has been applied to prairie voles. By studying more than 200 prairie voles across multiple times during mating and bonding, the researchers produced an unprecedented and foundational data set. The strongest predictor of activity across the 68 brain regions that the researchers identified surprised them. It was male ejaculation, suggesting the experience elicits a profound emotional stateand not only in the affected males. Females, too, had more bonding-related brain activity with males who reached that milestone. "The brain and behavior data suggest that both sexes may be having orgasm-like responses, and these 'orgasms' coordinate the formation of a bond," Phelps said. "If true, it would imply that orgasms can serve as a means to promote connection, as has long been suggested in humans." Phelps cautioned that it's impossible to know whether a female prairie vole is having an orgasm simply by watching its sexual behavior, though previous research has found that some female animals, such as monkeys, have these physiological responses. In addition to Phelps, the study's co-authors are Morgan Gustison, a former postdoctoral researcher at UT Austin now at the University of Western Ontario, Rodrigo Munoz-Castaneda at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Pavel Osten at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. More information: Morgan L Gustison et al, Sexual coordination in a whole-brain map of prairie vole pair bonding, eLife (2024). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.87029.3 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Mayo Clinic Amyloidosis occurs when the body produces abnormal proteins that bind together to form a substance called amyloid. Amyloids can deposit in any tissue or organ, including the heart, kidneys, liver and nerves. When it occurs in the heart, it's called cardiac amyloidosis. Dr. Martha Grogan, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist and director of the Cardiac Amyloid Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, explains what cardiac amyloidosis is, why knowing the type of amyloid is key to treatment, and what's on the horizon to help patients with this rare condition. When amyloid collects in the heart muscle, it causes thickening of the heart wall and disrupts heart function. It reduces the heart's ability to fill with blood between heartbeats, resulting in less blood being pumped with each beat and higher pressures in the heart chambers. "The heart is the most important abnormality in amyloidosis because if the heart is affected, that is the complete driver of how the patient will do and what their prognosis is," says Dr. Grogan. "That's why cardiac amyloidosis is so important to recognize and treat as early as possible. The key thing, once a clinician suspects amyloid, is that it's a medical emergency." Three types of amyloids can affect the heart: Light chain amyloid is produced in the bone marrow, progresses quickly and has the worst prognosis. Wild-type transthyretin amyloid (TTR) is produced in the liver and is the most common. This type typically shows up in men over 60, however women may also develop this condition. Hereditary type transthyretin amyloid is caused by a gene mutation and is considered rare, except in Black Americans. Not everyone with the gene variation will get the condition. Credit: Mayo Clinic News Network Dr. Grogan says amyloidosis is tricky to diagnose. At first, there are no symptoms. Later, the symptoms often imitate other conditions. "We need to get to the bottom of: Does the patient really have amyloidosis or not? And then after, we do a series of tests. We need to figure out for sure what type of amyloid it is. We can't be guessing at what type because the treatment completely depends on the type," says Dr. Grogan. For light chain amyloidosis, treatment is directed at the bone marrow and may include chemotherapy or stem cell transplant with a patient's own cells. Treatment for transthyretin amyloidosis aims to stabilize or reduce the amount of amyloid being produced from the liver. There are current clinical trials of medication that will try to actively take the amyloid out of the heart, but they're not yet approved. However, Dr. Grogan says the future looks bright. "These new medications are very exciting. In fact, that area of amyloidosis research is truly an explosion, there is so much going on. We went from very few options to so many options. We need to keep testing these and studying these," says Dr. Grogan. 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 Roots Community Health Center was slammed in 2020, with lines for its COVID-19 testing stations stretching around the block and exam rooms full of people struggling to breathe. Patient after patient at the East Oakland clinic extended their fingers so that health care workers could clip on a pulse oximeter, a device that measures the degree to which red blood cells are saturated with oxygen. For healthy people, a normal "pulse ox" reading is typically between 95% and 100%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had instructed providers to give oxygen therapy to any COVID patient with a pulse oximeter reading below 90%. Like their counterparts around the country, Roots doctors advised concerned patients to buy inexpensive pulse oximeters so they could monitor their levels at home. As the pandemic ground on, it became clear that Black and brown patients were dying of COVID at disproportionately high rates, both across the U.S. and in Roots' own Alameda County. In the rare hour when she wasn't in the clinic, Roots founder and Chief Executive Dr. Noha Aboelata paged through medical research in search of answers that might help her patients, the vast majority of whom were Black or brown. One paper in the New England Journal of Medicine stopped her cold. University of Michigan researchers examined records of thousands of hospitalized COVID patients and looked for instances of "occult hypoxia"a situation when a patient's pulse oximeter reads in the healthy range, but their actual blood oxygen levels are dangerously low. The researchers found that this happened to Black patients nearly three times as often as it did to white patients. Aboelata recalled the "devastating feeling" of diving further into the literature and realizing that this disparity was not a new discovery. Research dating back to 1990 found that inaccurate pulse oximeter readings were more common in Black patients than non-Black ones. In 2005, detailed lab experiments showed that pulse oximeters frequently overestimated blood oxygen levels in patients with more skin pigmentation. "This device is really used almost like a vital sign, like you would use a blood pressure cuff," Aboelata recalled. "How horrified you would feel if you suddenly found out that your blood pressure cuff didn't work on a certain demographic of your patients?" She alerted colleagues to the findings and investigated the effect the devices had on the fates of COVID patients of color. She asked the Food and Drug Administration to require pulse oximeter makers to test their devices on people of color and to warn consumers about the heightened risk of false readings. Attorneys for Roots sent letters to companies that made or sold pulse oximeters in California asking them to improve their products and disclose their limitations. When little changed, Roots filed a lawsuit in November against CVS, Walgreens, GE Healthcare and nine other companies that make, sell or distribute pulse oximeters in California. "The pigmentation-derived inaccuracies of pulse oximeter readings in people with darker skin consistently skewor are biasedin one dangerous direction: showing that their blood is more oxygenated than it is in reality," the lawsuit states. "Individuals with darker skin who use the devices are no less entitled to accurate readings than individuals with lighter skin." The suit asks that the companies either find a fix or place warning labels on the products to alert users that skin pigment may affect results. Before pulse oximeters were widely adopted in the 1980s, the only way to gauge a patient's blood oxygen saturation was to draw a sample of blood from their arterial vein, a painful procedure that had to be followed by immediate laboratory analysis. The portable, noninvasive oximeters were "a true innovation," said Dr. Phil Bickler, a neuroanesthesiologist who directs the Hypoxia Research Laboratory at UC San Francisco. "It's arguably one of the most important clinical monitors ever devised," Bickler said, second only to the thermometer. A pulse oximeter works by shining a light that passes through skin, blood and tissues in the finger and then measuring how much light comes out the other side. Oxygen-rich blood absorbs more infrared light. So does melanin, the pigment that helps determine skin, hair and eye color. As a result, patients with darker skin tones are more likely to get pulse oximeter readings that show their blood oxygen saturation to be higher than it actually is. Skin pigment isn't the only variable that can skew those results. Cold hands, trembling fingers, incorrect probe placement, even nail polish can throw a reading off by a few percentage points too. Knowing this, doctors traditionally used the pulse ox as one data point among many when determining a patient's course of treatment. Then COVID-19 hit. As emergency rooms filled and oxygen tanks grew scarce, the CDC anointed pulse oximeter readings as the official standard in its guidelines for COVID care: Below 90%, the patient should be started on oxygen therapy. Above that, it was the doctor's call. As the sheer volume of patients grew, so did the number of people with occult hypoxia. Their pulse ox readings were 92% or higher, yet they often had shortness of breath, erratic heartbeats, headaches, confusion and other symptoms of low oxygen saturation. Many providers around the country also noted that patients with occult hypoxia were more likely to have darker-toned skin. "Honestly, we had no idea what to make of it," said Dr. Michael Sjoding, a pulmonologist at the University of Michigan. He and his colleagues initially wondered whether something about the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself made it harder to detect hypoxia. Then Sjoding came across an article by Amy Moran-Thomas, a medical anthropologist at MIT. After spending sleepless nights monitoring her husband's pulse oximeter readings as he suffered through COVID, Moran-Thomas began digging into the history of the device. She found the 1990 paper that noted hypoxic Black patients were more likely to get deceptively high readings. She found the 2005 study from Bickler's lab noting the devices were more likely to overestimate oxygen saturation in patients with dark skin than in those with light skin, results the lab confirmed in a follow-up study two years later. "I was shocked, because I'm a pulmonary critical care physician, I'm a lung doctor, and I didn't know this whole literature," Sjoding said. He and his colleagues pulled data from their own hospital and found Black patients had nearly three times the rate of occult hypoxia as white patients. They published their results in December 2020. After Aboelata read their paper, she scoured her memory for patients the devices might have betrayed. She recalled a Black man she had tried to get approved for home oxygen therapy prior to the pandemic. Medicare only paid for the treatment if a patient's oxygen saturation was below 90%, and "his pulse ox reading just looked too good compared to what I was seeing," Aboelata said. She sent him to the hospital for an arterial blood gas draw. Sure enough, his oxygen was low enough to qualify. Patients shared similar stories, "things like, 'The ambulance didn't take them to the hospital because they said that their reading was fine,' or, 'We were sent home from the emergency department because they said our reading was fine,'" Aboelata said. In normal times, she said, providers are much more likely to err on the side of caution for a potentially hypoxic patient. But in the worst days of COVID, every bed, oxygen tank and minute was precious. Providers relied on what they believed was the pulse oximeter's impartial measure to make extremely difficult decisions, unaware that the device did not evaluate all patients equally well. Aboelata and colleagues from UCSF and Sutter Health's Institute for Advancing Health Equity published their own study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showing that Black patients whose pulse oximeters overestimated blood oxygen levels waited an extra 4 hours, on average, to start supplemental oxygen. They were also slightly less likely to be admitted to the hospital or receive oxygen therapy at all. "There's just no way to really know how far-reaching this impact is," Aboelata said. "The likelihood [is] that people were left home to die, or sent home to die." In February 2021, the FDA issued a safety notice cautioning users that pulse oximeters can be thrown off by a number of variables, including skin pigment. The following year, the FDA convened an advisory committee on the topic. The panel recommended the agency demand better consumer labels and more stringent testing from companies seeking approval for their devices. Currently, the FDA recommendsbut doesn't requirethat pulse oximeter makers ensure that in their clinical trials, either two participants or 15% of total participants are "darkly pigmented" people, a definition open to interpretation. This month, the panel advised the FDA to require that new devices be tested on at least 24 people whose skin tones collectively span the Monk Skin Tone scale, a 10-color palette often used to train artificial intelligences to recognize people of different colors. The proposal would divide the scale into three parts, with each part represented by at least 25% of study participants. To better understand the relationship between skin pigment and pulse ox accuracy, the FDA funded a study at Bickler's UCSF lab. Results are expected this summer. "Some companies have posted data showing good performance with darkly pigmented skin for their devices. But I know that those have been tested under ideal conditions," said Bickler, whose lab investigates the effects of low oxygen on the human body and the devices that measure it. "When pulse oximeters are used in the real world, conditions are not ideal. People are dehydrated, they're in shock, they're moving. There's all kinds of interference that can happen and that get in the way of good performance." For Bickler, it's gratifying to see the government finally address a problem that has been known for decades but that device manufacturers seemed reluctant to address. "There's a lot of inertia and denial in the industry," he said. "It was an inconvenient problem that could be ignored, up until COVID." The Times reached out to all the defendants being sued by Roots. Those that responded declined to comment on pending litigation. Only one company has taken actions to address Roots' concerns. Illinois-based NuvoMed pulled its pulse oximeters from the market in California and agreed to place warning labels on their remaining inventory after receiving Roots' October letter, said Jonathan Weissglass, the clinic's attorney. "Ideally, we'd like the pulse oximeters to be fixed so that the problem doesn't occur," Weissglass said. "In the meantime, we feel there needs to be an adequate warning about the inaccuracies for people with darker skin. ... We've all seen warning labels that say, 'Pregnant women should consult with a doctor before using' or something like that. It's the same basic idea." On a recent afternoon at the clinic, medical assistant Evelyn Rivas clipped a pulse oximeter onto Ja-May Scott's index finger as she checked his vital signs. The devices are still an important part of Roots' toolkit. But "we just view it with more suspicion, frankly, in a lot of our patients," Aboelata said. "We would really like to be equipped with devices that we know can be accurate for all skin tones. And we feel like in 2024, this shouldn't be too much to ask." 2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Cedars-Sinai investigators have discovered why some injured kidneys heal while others develop scarring that can lead to kidney failure. Their findings, detailed in a paper published in Science, could lead to the development of noninvasive tests to detect kidney scarring and, eventually, new therapies to reverse the condition. "The key to this discovery was our ability to directly compare injured kidney cells that successfully regenerated with those that did not," said Sanjeev Kumar, MD, Ph.D., a nephrologist-scientist in the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and the Department of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and senior author of the study. "Injured cells activate a protein called SOX9 to regenerate themselves. When they have healed, the cells silence this protein. Cells that aren't able to regenerate leave SOX9 active, and this leads to a type of scarring called fibrosis. But when we deactivate SOX9 in a timely fashion, the scarring literally goes away." The kidneys, two fist-sized organs that filter waste from the blood, can be injured by diabetes and high blood pressure, serious infections such as COVID-19, and overuse of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications, said Kumar, who is also part of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai. The SOX9 protein plays a major role in organ development but is not active in healthy adult kidneys. In previous work at another institution, Kumar and team found that when kidneys are injured, the surviving cells reactivate SOX9 as part of the healing process. In this study, Kumar and fellow investigators studied kidney damage in laboratory mice. They labeled individual cells at the point of injury, then followed how the cells' progeny evolved over time. "At Day 10, some cells' descendants were fully healed while others were not," Kumar said. "The cell lineage that healed had switched off SOX9 expression, while the unhealed lineage, in a continuing attempt to fully regenerate, maintained SOX9 activity. It's like a sensor that switches on when cells want to regenerate, and off when they are restored, and we are the first to identify this." Further, investigators discovered that cells that were unable to regenerate began recruiting proteins called Wnts, another key player in organ development. Over time, this accumulation of Wnts triggered scarring. And they found that deactivating SOX9 a week after injury promoted kidney recovery. Investigators observed the same process in patient databases from collaborating institutions in Switzerland and Belgium. "We could see that by Day 7, human patients with transplanted kidneys that were slow to begin working also activated SOX9," Kumar said. "And in our collaborators' database, we were able to distinguish that patients who had sustained SOX9 activation had lower kidney function and more scarring than those who did not. Human kidneys with cells that maintained SOX9 were also enriched with Wnts and showed increased fibrosis." These discoveries provide targets for drug development, as well as for noninvasive biomarker discovery permitting diagnosis of kidney fibrosis through the urine, Kumar said. Currently, the only available test for kidney fibrosis is a biopsy, which carries many risks. "Elucidating the mechanisms of scarless healing versus fibrosis has eluded investigators for decades and has implications beyond the kidney, including for certain cancers," said Paul Noble, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine and director of the Women's Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai and a co-author of the study. The findings could also lead to new treatment options for patients, said Clive Svendsen, Ph.D., executive director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai and a co-author of the study. "These findings help us understand for the first time how the kidney's response to injury sometimes leads to fibrosis," Svendsen said. "Future work along these lines could also advance our understanding of fibrosis in the heart, lungs and liver." More information: Shikhar Aggarwal et al, SOX9 switch links regeneration to fibrosis at the single-cell level in mammalian kidneys, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.add6371. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add6371 Journal information: Science 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 Patients brought to the emergency department (ED) under police transport are more likely to be restrained in the ED, a new Yale study finds. And it may explain, at least in part, why racial disparities exist in the use of restraint, the researchers say. The findings were published Feb. 21 in JAMA Network Open. Even among patients with similar medical and demographic backgrounds, Black patients are more likely to be restrained in the ED than white patients, previous research has shown. Uncovering what drives this inequity will help inform interventions to prevent it, explained Dr. Ambrose Wong, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the new study. "We began looking into police transport as a possible mediator of these racial disparities of restraint use in the ED because it was something I and my colleagues had suspected might play a role," said Wong. "It was a potential pattern that we had started noticing, but without data we couldn't be sure if it was true." To assess whether there was a relationship between police transport and patient restraint, the researchers analyzed data from 13 hospital EDs in the southeastern and northeastern regions of the United States. Data included adult ED visits between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2022, totaling over 4.2 million ED visits by more than 1.2 million patients. The researchers found that Black patients were 33% more likely to be restrained than white patients, a finding that was consistent with the results of previous studies. Overall, patients arriving to the ED by police transport were more than 550% as likely to be restrained in the ED as patients arriving by other means, and Black patients were 38% more likely than white patients to be brought to the ED by police transport. These trends were consistent at hospitals in both the southeastern U.S. and the northeastern U.S. To better understand the connections between these initial findings, the researchers performed a "mediation analysis," an advanced statistical technique that aims to determine whether the relationship between two factors (race and restraint use, in this case) might be influenced, or mediated, by a third factor (police transport). They found that the racial disparity in frequency of restraint use in the ED was mediated, in part, by police transport, and they proposed a few explanations. Police transport may lead to a perception of threat that influences decisions made by clinicians, researchers said. And because Black individuals experience higher rates of injury and death during interactions with police, police transport may escalate patients' distress, leading to restraint. Further, racial and ethnic minority populations tend to have less access to outpatient medical treatment. When they do experience a medical emergency or mental health crisis, police are often the first to arrive on scene. "So immediately, minority populations that suffer mental health crises are linked with something criminal," said Wong. "These communities, therefore, are disproportionately labeled as potentially criminalizing, which can perpetuate use of restraint." That this external factor is potentially influencing the ED environmentand that this relationship was observed in multiple hospitals in two regions of the U.S.suggests there are structural drivers underlying this racial disparity, said the researchers. "This is not about a few racist individuals or racist hospital policies, but, rather, evidence of structural and system factors that are present in society and affecting the way patients present to and receive emergency care," said Dr. Jane Gagliardi, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine and a co-author of the study. "While individual training on implicit bias and interpersonal equity may have a role, we are interested in exploring upstream structural factors that may be amenable to modification to improve patient and staff safety and wellness." These upstream modifications could include reducing the role of law enforcement in emergency medical transport, particularly in response to mental health emergencies. Finding ways to address these disparities and reduce the use of restraint overall is important for both patients and clinicians, said the researchers. "Aside from patients sustaining physical injuries from being restrained, there's lasting psychological trauma that comes along with it," said Erika Chang-Sing, a medical student at Yale School of Medicine and lead author of the study. For clinicians and hospital staff, restraining patients can lead to what's known as "moral injury," said Wong, which is a term that describes the feeling of having violated one's own personal ethics. "We as clinicians really thrive on the fact that we are able to help others, and when restraint is used, it's almost like we're being asked to do something that's harmful," said Wong. "Restraint is used in the context of us trying to make sure a patient is safe and the staff around us are safe, and it's something that's done with serious decision and as minimally as possible. But it adds toil and stress, and a lot of times clinicians carry a burden, wondering if they're at fault." Efforts to address these issues can also be made within hospitals and emergency departments, said the researchers. Making strides to reduce ED crowding is one example, as overcrowded EDs are more stressful and can affect decision-making. Another potential solution is reflected in a trial program by Yale's Department of Emergency Medicine, which is adding individuals with lived experience of mental illness to the behavioral crisis response team to see if this type of peer support can better help patients in emotional and psychiatric distress. "We know that racial concordance between patients and people deescalating situations can be more effective, so we're specifically recruiting minorities and folks from indigent populations," said Wong. "We're excited to hopefully see some positive improvements." More information: Erika Chang-Sing et al, Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Patient Restraint in Emergency Departments by Police Transport Status, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0098 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: Ivan Samkoz/Pexels Of women who have had surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, 20% require surgery again. This is usually due to suboptimal wound healing after surgery. The synthetic PIC gel (discovered at Radboud University) might help improve this recovery process. Melissa van Velthoven will receive her Ph.D. at Radboud University on 27 February for research on this topic (in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC). Pelvic organ prolapse occurs in almost half of women aged 50 and older. It involves the bladder, uterus or bowels dropping into the vagina, which can lead to problems with urination, defecation, and sexual function, among others. "The connective tissue of the pelvic floor becomes weaker as a result of childbirth or for other reasons, and the support function of the pelvic floor is reduced," explains researcher Van Velthoven. She carried out her research in collaboration with the group of Jan-Paul Roovers, urogynaecologist at Amsterdam UMC. In response to a prolapse, a small proportion of women undergo surgery to strengthen the pelvic floor. In this kind of operation, the body's own tissue is generally used to strengthen the connective tissue and remedy the prolapse. Van Velthoven states, "Unfortunately, the prolapse may recur after surgery, requiring about 20% of women to undergo another round of surgery. We believe that this high recurrence risk is due to the wound healing process being disturbed." For her research, Van Velthoven looked at how the synthetic PIC gel, discovered and developed at Radboud University, can be used to stimulate cells, residing in the connective tissue, to improve wound healing. "Collagen (for strength) and elastin (for elasticity) are the main components that can help to restore the connective tissue." Van Velthoven's research involved tissue engineering: by using growth factors (proteins that can stimulate wound healing) or hormones combined with a scaffold, tissues can be repaired. A suitable scaffold is the PIC gel. Van Velthoven tested a combination of PIC gel and growth factors, and PIC gel and hormones on cells. "We saw that a specific growth factor did stimulate cell growth, but we did not see a clear effect on collagen or elastin production. When we conjugated a hormone to the PIC gel, we saw that it did increase collagen and elastin production." Van Velthoven then tested the gel on wound healing in laboratory animals. Under anesthesia, an incision was made in the abdomen of rabbits, and the gel was then injected into the connective tissue of the abdomen. "The gel caused only a mild immune response. This is good news, because when you introduce something foreign to a body, there is always an immune response. This immune response could be reduced further by hormones conjugated to the gel. "We also saw that the connective tissue healed over time, characterized by an increase in the amount of collagen. We unfortunately saw no increase in elastin production." The gel is therefore safe to use on laboratory animals. In sheep, the researchers mimicked pelvic organ prolapse surgery and examined whether using PIC gel improved wound healing. This research study is yet to be published. In her research, Van Velthoven also looked for alternatives for animal studies. "Animals are currently used for research for investigating diseases and testing of new therapies. Our research group is trying to prevent this by developing models based on cells in PIC gel. The models I have created seem to mimic the human body much better than what has been available so far. So that looks promising." 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 Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease nearly eradicated 20 years ago, is back on the rise in Florida, particularly in Orange County. The infection increased by nearly 80% in the five years before 2022, the latest year of data available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida data shows the number of cases nearly doubled during that time, with 18,838 Florida residents living with syphilis in 2022. Orange County saw 1,830 cases in 2022. It had the sixth-highest syphilis rate of any Florida county that year, according to state health department data. Experts aren't positive why this increase has occurredtheories include reduced government investment in sexual health programs, decreased condom use, increased drug use and the rise of dating appsbut they're concerned. Serious health effects can occur if the infection is left untreated. To tackle this crisis, efforts must be made to reduce stigma and improve access to testing and treatment, experts say. "In the early 2000s, we were talking about even, possibly, eradicating [syphilis]. And then it came roaring back," said Jill Roberts, associate professor for the USF College of Public Health. "We have similar data for chlamydia and gonorrhea, but syphilis is the one that really scares me." During the pandemic, even more resources were diverted away from sexual health clinics to support the U.S. COVID-19 response, corresponding with a sharp uptick in diagnoses, Roberts said. "What really happened around COVID is we had this large collapse of the health care system and public health," she said. "And so what we're seeing now is we're lacking testing and treatment and education." What is syphilis? Syphilis is a curable disease caused by bacteria. It is spread through direct contact with sores and rashes through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, making condoms crucial to its prevention, though they are not 100% effective. It can also spread from moms to their unborn babies. It's thought to be transmissible only in the first two years of infection, according to the World Health Organization. While it's historically impacted men who have sex with men, heterosexual people are increasingly contracting it, and many don't realize they have it. Symptoms are easy to miss until it's too late. It starts with a small, often painless sore at the site of infection, which pops up anywhere from 10 to 90 days after someone contracts it. Then comes a rash that doesn't usually itch and may be faint. These symptoms will go away without treatment but the disease can then lie dormant for years until horrific health effects, like organ damage, emerge. Syphilis is easily treatable with antibiotics like penicillin. The antibiotics will cure the infection but won't undo any damage. Why Orange County? It's not known for sure why Orange County, in particular, is such a major contributor to syphilis diagnoses in the state, but there may be several factors. For one, Orange has a large population of immigrants and Black and Hispanic residents, who are often at higher risk of contradicting STDs because they are more likely to lack insurance and lack access to health care, said Makella S. Coudray, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida who studies sexual health disparities among marginalized populations. "Orlando is primarily a minority community," Coudray said. "They're inherently at an increased risk." Minorities, particularly Black individuals, are also less likely to trust the medical system to take care of them due to decades of systemic discrimination, Coudray said. This is punctuated by incidents such as the Tuskegee syphilis study during which Black men with syphilis were denied penicillin treatment to study the natural progression of the disease. The study, administered without participants' informed consent, began in the 1930s and ended in 1972 only after it received negative press. Central Florida also is one of the areas most affected by the state's opioid epidemic, Roberts pointed out. Multiple studies have connected drug use to a higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Syphilis is also primarily spreading among young people in their teens, 20s and 30s, and Orange trends younger than most Florida counties. "You have a perfect storm in the Orlando area," Roberts said. What can be done? The Florida Department of Health in Orange County did not respond to questions from the Orlando Sentinel about what factors might be affecting the county's syphilis rates, whether Orange has updated its STD prevention strategy in response to the increase, or how the county is faring given the national shortage of penicillin, caused by increased demand due to rising STD rates, according to the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer. Outside experts say the epidemic requires increased access to care for these vulnerable populations. The health department offers treatment for free or low cost, as do other organizations. But more than that, it requires education. It is easier to get diagnosed and treated in Orange County than in rural areas of the state, but there's not enough public knowledge about how often someone should test and what resources are available, said Daniel J. Downer, executive director of the Bros In Convo initiative. "Stigma is very real and can prevent individuals from wanting to even get tested before they even know what their status is," Downer said. "There are other individuals who aren't engaging at all because they're afraid that this is going to cost them money." Coudray linked the stigma to a larger national attitude. "The U.S. response to STIs has largely been at the individual level, and promoting individual prevention strategies like condom use. However, that has inherently promoted stigma and perpetuated an atmosphere of shame when it comes to STI infection," Coudray said. The Black, queer-led grassroots Bros in Convo Initiative offers free confidential walk-in testing, with referrals to CAN Community Health if a positive test occurs. Hours are available on the initiative's website. Places like The Center, a local LGBTQ hub, also offer free, confidential walk-in testing at Orlando and Kissimmee sites, with hours available on the organization's website. Free or income-based walk-in testing is also offered at a range of other places, including Harmony Healthcare Orlando, a nonprofit focusing on providing PrEP, Hepatitis C, and HIV treatment. 2024 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Physician-researcher Joyce Asseler and gynecologist Norah van Mello examined the ovarian tissue of transgender people who had their ovaries removed as part of their gender-affirming treatment. They had all used testosterone for at least one year prior to and at the time of the procedure. Their analysis shows that 17 of the 52 study participants (33%) show signs of recent ovulation in the ovarian tissue. The results have been published in Cell Reports Medicine. "Trans masculine people are people born female but do not identify as such, for example they feel male, gender fluid or non-binary. Our examination of their ovarian tissue shows that 33% of them show signs of recent ovulation, despite being on testosterone and no longer menstruating," says Joyce Asseler, Ph.D. candidate at Amsterdam UMC. Trans masculine people often use hormone treatment with testosterone to masculinize physically. This hormone usually stops them from menstruating. In that case, it is often assumed that ovulation does not take place. "Testosterone apparently has a heterogenous effect on ovarian tissue. We don't know why one person ovulates and another person doesn't. In any case, we cannot explain this difference by the type of testosterone, or how long someone has been taking testosterone," says Asseler. People who ovulate can, in theory, also get pregnant. This also applies to these trans people. For them, it is therefore necessary to use contraceptives if they are sexually active with someone who produces sperm cells. "The physical and mental consequences of an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy are enormous. It is important that trans masculine people and their health care providers are aware of this risk and act accordingly. Furthermore, this discovery can contribute to better care for trans masculine people who experience abdominal cramping," concludes Asseler. Provided by Amsterdam University Medical Center Here's a quick guide to some upcoming arts and cultural events happening around Missoula in the week ahead. Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Through Sunday, Feb. 25) The 21st annual celebration of nonfiction filmmaking enters its final weekend with movies playing at venues around downtown Missoula and online through the virtual festival. Watch for the announcements of the award-winning movies and bonus screenings of winners in the competitions. Details: At venues around Missoula with a virtual festival online. Go to bigskyfilmfest.org for more information. UMs A Midsummer Nights Dream (Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 22-25) The student actors bring Shakespeares comedy to the big stage in the Montana Theatre, where a colorful set to match the floral language and general sense of mischief make for a long but entertaining evening (or afternoon). Rikky Johnson as Puck and Elise Clayton as the spurned and wronged Helena were particularly compelling, as was Blake Sowers as the jackass Bottom. Details: All performances are in the Montana Theatre in the PAR/TV Center. Tickets are $21-$25 general, $19-$21 children under 12 and seniors, $12-$15 for students, faculty and staff. Thursday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. Collectors show at the MAM (Through May 11) A local couple who have spent decades collecting works by artists from Montana and the broader region are sharing some highlights from their vault. "Critical Eye: Selections from the Kim and Ruth Reineking Collection" includes artists like John Buck, Gennie DeWeese, Bev Beck Glueckert and Stephen Glueckert, Kristi Hager, Trey Hill, Terry Karson, Beth Lo, Jon Lodge, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and more. According to a MAM news release, the Reinekings were "quiet" collectors, but the show includes memories of their art and artists to accompany the pieces themselves. Some of the works have been promised as donations to the museum's permanent collection. Quick hits UM music fundraiser: Neal Lewing, a UM alum and head of the Port Polson Players, is throwing a "50 Years of Montana Gold" concert to raise money for UM music scholarships. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, UM Music Recital Hall. Presented by Black Paw Music and Port Polson Players. The program covers a range of classics with guests of career phases. Further ahead Joshua Redman Quartet in Kalispell (Thursday, Feb. 28) While western Montana draws its fair share of touring acts these days, jazz artists are not one of them. That makes this date by the saxophonist Joshua Redman a rare opportunity to see an artist at the top of the genre without booking a flight. Hes here in part due to the Wachholz College Center and its new 1,000-seat McClaren Hall Performing Arts Center, which is nice enough to attract Yo-Yo Ma later this year. Redman, the son of tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, has released acclaimed solo albums and frequently collaborates with pianist Brad Mehldau. This go-round, hes promoting a studio album, Where Are We, featuring vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa and a band of leaders in their own right: pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Brian Blade. The latter played in Wayne Shorters last quartet, widely considered one the best improvising bands in the world. The new album is a place-based concept album featuring standards and covers like Bruce Springsteens Streets of Philadelphia and John Coltranes Alabama. Details: 7:30 p.m. Tickets at wccmt.org. Missoula Symphonys nature expedition (Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3) The symphonys latest Masterworks concert tunes into nature, as it has sounded to composers from the classical period to the present. The programs centerpiece is Beethovens Pastoral Symphony No. 6, which given the title, is less stormy. Next up is composer Vivian Fungs Violin Concerto No. 1 featuring violinist Kristin Lee. Fung, a Canadian who won a Juno Award, her home countrys version of a Grammy, worked on the piece with Lee and its informed by Balinese Gamelan music, according to her website. Missoula composer Scott Billadeau has a work, Nothing Gold Can Stay. While hes known for his restaurants and coffee shops, Billadeau studied music at the University of Montana and taught there as well. The symphony performed one of his pieces during Darko Butoracs tenure as artistic director. Lastly, youll hear Antonin Dvorak's In Nature's Realm Overture. Details: Saturday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 3, at 3 p.m. Dennison Theatre, UM. Tickets at missoulasymphony.org. Lower-income families with school-age kids can get help from the federal government paying for groceries this summer, unless they live in one of the 14 states that have said no to joining the program this year. The reasons for the rejections, all from states with Republican governors, include philosophical objections to welfare programs, technical challenges due to aging computer systems and satisfaction with other summer nutrition programs reaching far fewer children. The impact falls on people like Otibehia Allen, a single mom of five in Clarksdale, Mississippi, who makes too much to qualify for some public assistance programs. She could have received $480 in aid over three months this summer if her state participated. It would have helped us a whole lot, especially with the boys, Allen said. Theyre growing children. They eat a lot. Many states have rejected federal funds on principle or for technical reasons. In 2021, 26 states cut short the enhanced unemployment benefits people received during the coronavirus pandemic. Twenty-two states have turned down the mostly federally funded expansion of Medicaid eligibility to provide health insurance to more lower-income adults. A dozen of those states have reconsidered and expanded Medicaid. The Summer EBT program, a response to increased child hunger when school is out, involves much less money. The federal government launched pilot versions in 2011, expanded it nationally during the pandemic and then Congress made it permanent within a spending bill adopted in December 2022. States must split the administrative costs 50/50, and the federal government funds the benefits, which are expected to cost $2.5 billion this year and help feed 21 million children. Another 10 million eligible kids live in states that turned down the funding. For each of three summer months, families with children in free or reduced-price school lunch programs will get $40 per qualifying child on an electronic benefits transfer or EBT card. It can only cover groceries and food from farmers' markets. Family size determines the income limits. A family of three making under about $46,000 would qualify in most of the country. States had until the end of 2023 to decide whether they would join this summer. They can enroll in future years even if they skip it in 2024. Vermont plans to do that after replacing a state computer system. The spending measure provided some broad outlines a year earlier and the U.S. Department of Agriculture shared details with the states throughout 2023. But the interim final rules were not published until Dec. 29, timing that some states said proved problematic for deciding whether to join. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission said late rulemaking factored into its opting out, along with needing lawmakers to approve funding for the state's administrative cost share. Texas lawmakers aren't scheduled to convene this year. Spokesperson Thomas Vazquez said via email that Texas would consider joining later. It's the other way around in Tennessee, which opted into the lunch program for 2024 but doesn't plan to continue in 2025. Like leaders in other states, Republican Gov. Bill Lee's office said the initiative is a pandemic-era benefit and that other food programs already exist. Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder said she turned down the Summer EBT card funds because she wanted to prioritize the current summer meals programs, which require minimal state funding. Republican governors currently lead all the rejecting states, but Louisiana had a Democrat with one week left in his term when the deadline hit. In some places, the rejections have had a partisan edge. In Mississippi, one of the states with the most food insecurity for children, some 324,000 children including four of Allen's would have been eligible. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves' office declared it an unnecessary big government program, saying that if D.C. Democrats had their way, "Americans would still be locked down, subjected to COVID vaccine and mask mandates, and welfare rolls wouldve exploded. The rejections have drawn backlash. In Nebraska, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen sparked a firestorm of criticism when he justified rejecting the money by explaining, I dont believe in welfare." But he reversed course on Monday and said the state would join the program after a Democratic lawmaker introduced a bill to require participation. He said he was swayed by hearing stories about hunger from high school students. Lisa Davis, senior vice president of the No Kid Hungry Campaign for Share Our Strength, said she believes all the states can be persuaded to join in the coming years. Childhood hunger is one of the few issues that brings everyone together, she said. The remaining holdouts are Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming. Officials in Iowas two most populous counties are requesting the state-rejected funds anyway, though the program offers no pathway to fund local governments instead of states. In Iowa's rejection, Gov. Kim Reynolds said it was not a long-term solution. "An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic, the Republican said. Community fridges don't just fight hunger. They're also a climate solution. Community fridges don't just fight hunger. They're also a climate solution. MISSOULA A former Bureau of Land Management employee from Butte admitted Wednesday in Missoula Federal Court to stealing agency checks and forging the signature of another employee to obtain cash for personal expenses. Adrian Anthony Aragon, 52, pleaded guilty to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. Aragon faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the theft crime and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft crime. Aragon, who was detained pending further proceedings, will be sentenced on June 26. The government alleged in court documents that Aragon worked for the BLM in 2019 and 2020. In early 2022, a BLM employee, identified as Jane Doe, reported four checks totaling $10,700 were written on a government bank account in her name without her knowledge or authorization. Bank records showed that the checks were written to cash against a Citibank account and presented for deposit into Wells Fargo accounts solely in Aragons name. Aragon used the stolen funds for personal expenses, including cash withdrawals, utility and cell phone bills, restaurants, grocery stores and Amazon purchases. Jane Doe told law enforcement that Aragon had access to her checks during his employment and that Aragon made schedule changes resulting in him being the first or last person in the office. A new class of helicopters will replace decades-old choppers for missile security at Malmstrom Air Force Base, according to Montanas congressional delegation. The first of seven Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters is scheduled to arrive in Great Falls on March 9. Additional new helicopters are coming later, according to Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana. Ive fought for years to replace Malmstroms Vietnam-era fleet of helicopters with new MH-139 Grey Wolves that are more reliable, safe, and efficient, Tester said on Wednesday. Im proud to have worked with the Air Force to deliver these aircraft so that our airmen and women have the certainty they need to do their jobs and protect our country. The MH-139 flies 50% faster, 50% farther and can carry 5,000 more pounds of payload than the UH-1N Hueys, according to Boeing. The company states the new helicopter is designed to protect intercontinental ballistic missiles and transport U.S. government officials and security forces. Its based on a commercial AW139 helicopter design. Malmstrom spokesman John Turner said on Wednesday that Malmstrom flight crews would be the first in the Air Forces intercontinental ballistic missile fields to train on and deploy the new aircraft. Additional MH-139s will then be delivered to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Those three bases each oversee complexes of ICBM silos. Montana has 150 silos and 15 missile alert facilities scattered across about 13,800 square miles between the Rocky Mountain Front and Grass Range. They are currently loaded with Minuteman III nuclear ICBMs. The Air Force plans to replace those with new Sentinel ICBMs over the next decade. Boeings Gray Wolf helicopters are different from the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters flown by the Montana National Guard units in the state. At Malmstrom, the Air Force will use them to escort missile transport convoys and to deliver security forces to missile silos. The use of helicopters was a sore spot at public meetings on the Sentinel upgrade plans in Great Falls and Lewistown. Several landowners complained that the Air Forces flight safety requirements would block opportunities to build wind turbines. Tester said he asked the U.S. Air Force in 2016 to upgrade Malmstroms fleet of UH-1N Huey helicopters. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, joined the push four years later. Montana has the best airmen and facilities in the country and the Grey Wolf will be right at home at Malmstrom, Daines said on Wednesday. I was proud to start advocating for the replacement of the Vietnam-era Hueys back in 2020 and am grateful to see these efforts finally come to fruition. Over 120,000 Montanans lost their Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids health care coverage in the past few months. Shockingly, 70% of those terminations were due to administrative reasons: failures on the part of the Gianforte administration. The administrations poorly thought-out, under-staffed Medicaid redetermination process has hurt thousands of Montanans, especially our elders and children. During the pandemic, in the interest of keeping as many people insured as possible, the federal government suspended the requirement to check individuals eligibility for Medicaid. Now that the emergency is over, states are again required to check the eligibility of people on Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids, a process called Medicaid redetermination. Sadly, Montana has one of the worst records in the country for cutting coverage for likely qualified people during the redetermination process. Advocates and elected officials begged the Gianforte administration to slow down on the redetermination process. The administration ignored these warnings and spurned tools and support available to the state from the federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. As a result, thousands of qualified Montanans lost their health care coverage for no good reason. Due to this catastrophe, 18 Montana nursing homes and assisted living facilities reported through the Montana Healthcare Association that: 154 nursing home residents have been cut off from Medicaid and are in the arduous process of reapplying. Staff trying to help residents reapply wait on hold for an average of 3-6 hours. It takes months to get a caseworker assigned to a Medicaid application. Delayed payments to these 18 facilities because of redeterminations and pending applications total $2.3 million. Similar stories are coming from group homes and agencies that provide services for adults with developmental disabilities, and from substance abuse residential treatment facilities. Most older adults in Medicaid beds have worked their entire lives, contributed to their communities, and raised their families here in Montana. They have already exhausted their lifes savings and assets paying for care. They are unable to navigate the administrative maze required to keep their Medicaid health care coverage. Some of them are veterans. Adding insult to injury, when caregivers or loved ones who are providing care for these folks try to help get them reinstated on their insurance, they are met with bureaucratic roadblocks. After helping residents track down their most recent Social Security statement or last six months of bank statements, some caregivers find out that because they didnt schedule an appointment, the resident has already been denied coverage. Senior long-term caregiving facilities were already reeling from dramatic, persistent shortfalls in state reimbursement rates that eroded their staffing, their capacity and their reserves. Montana lost more than 10% of its nursing homes in 2022. The loss of insurance for clearly qualified patients in nursing home beds is now costing these same care providers millions of dollars at a time when they have no cushion left. The states heedless push to block qualified individuals from retaining their insurance could trigger even more closures in assisted living and skilled nursing home care. This will affect not just Medicaid patients, but others who need skilled nursing facility care to recover from an injury or surgery. The effects on elderly Montanans are just one example of how this process has harmed our people and our economy. What happens to children who cant get immunizations and well-child appointments? Or parents who face medical debt for the care they and their children need? How about people who have lost their mental health counselors and access to needed medications? Montana already has a crisis in mental health care. This will surely make matters worse. Along with the human cost is the major cost to our economy. Three quarters of the funding for Medicaid is provided by the federal government. Due to this loss of eligibility, Montana stands to lose millions of federal health care dollars that support our rural hospitals, local pharmacies, nursing homes and treatment centers. If these places are forced to close or cut services, it will affect thousands of Montanans. Governor Gianforte ignored many warnings and proceeded with a botched Medicaid redetermination process that has hurt untold numbers of Montanans, especially our elders and children. Governor, you are the only one who can step forward and fix this disaster. Please do so. Two candidates are seeking the office of District Attorney for District 32, which includes Iredell and Alexander counties. Incumbent Sarah Kirkman and challenger David Addison address their qualifications, why they are running and plans for the office. David Addison Education: I have an associates degree in Engineering Science, a bachelors degree in Information Technology and a juris doctor in law. I graduated from North Carolina Central Universitys School of Law in May of 2016 and admitted into the North Carolina Bar in August of 2016. Employment, government experience: I am the retired Chief of Police with the City of Statesville. I retired in August of 2022. Family, civic associations: I am a board member with the North Carolina Association of Police and Sherriff Attorneys. I was appointed by Governor Cooper to the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board where I am serving a second four year term. I am a member of the board of directors for the United Way of Iredell County. I am a board member with Piedmont Mediations. I also serve as a trustee for Iredell Health. Why are you running for office? I am running for District Attorney after researching and reviewing the prosecutorial statistics for Alexander and Iredell Counties and learning that from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, almost 85% of the cases closed were dismissed or disposed of (not resulting in a guilty conviction or plea). During the same time period, only 240 cases of the 27,894 cases closed went to trial and 93 cases were concluded not guilty. This disparity was incredible and I knew with my experience serving as the police chief, we could take a harder stance against crime negatively impacting our community. I also realized this information was not shared directly with the community. How do your own politics have an effect on how you would approach this position? I would not approach these issues with my politics. However my character would be my guide. My responsibility is to serve all the citizens in Alexander and Iredell Counties equally so my politics would not have an effect on my approach. What is your message to voters when it comes to explaining how you will approach this position if elected? I would introduce transparency to the office and the position. I will share our statistics on an annual or semi-annual basis so we can work with law enforcement partners and the community to obtain our desired outcomes in reducing crime. We would increase prosecution of career criminals. We would also reduce the use of suspended sentences for career criminals. Sarah Kirkman Education: Graduate of Statesville High School, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campbell University Law School. Employment, government experience: District Attorney since 2009, Assistant District Attorney 1997-2008. Family, civic associations: Husband and three children, three grandchildren; Fourth Creek Rotary Board, Founding Board Member of Dove House, Mooresville/South Iredell Crimestoppers Board, Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell, Domestic Violence Task Force of Iredell, N.C. Domestic Violence Commission, N.C. Child Fatality Task Force, Northside Baptist Church. Why are you running for office? My mission is to stand up for victims and to keep our community safe. I have dedicated my entire career to doing that, and I want to continue that work in another term as District Attorney. I have 27 years of experience as a trial attorney and want to use that experience to prosecute offenders and help victims find justice. How do your own politics have an effect on how you would approach this position? I believe in protecting victims rights and punishing those who commit crimes. I believe in considering each case on its own merit and doing what is fair and right with that case. What is your message to voters when it comes to explaining how you will approach this position if elected? I will continue to be a champion for victims and to work with my law enforcement partners to make a safer community for all of us. I will continue to be engaged in my community as well as the court system. HICKORY -- The Hickory PDQ is one of eight locations to close in North and South Carolina. The Hickory PDQ, which was located on U.S. Highway 70, closed its doors on Tuesday. PDQ locations in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest, Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Columbia and Greenville are also being closed and sold, PDQ Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Jeffrey Kamis said via email on Wednesday. The Hickory location is also being sold. Hickory Planning and Development Director Brian Frazier said the city has not received any applications or plans referencing the PDQ address 2060 U.S. Highway 70 as of Feb. 15. This difficult decision comes after careful consideration and evaluation of market conditions, Kamis said. PDQ locations in Concord, Cornelius and at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport will remain open, Kamis said. Kamis said PDQ will offer severance pay to all employees impacted by the closings. He added that the PDQ executive team is also aiding workers in their search for new jobs. PDQs team members have been an integral part of the PDQ family, Kamis said. And the team is committed to supporting them during this transition. PDQ would also like to thank its loyal guests who have supported the brand over the years and will miss the relationships that have been built. Funny isnt it how important dates sneak up on you and are right there in front of you before you notice it? Just like today! I did not realize the anniversary of Baruch Spinozas home becoming a museum was today, Feb. 22 (1927) in Rijnsburg, Netherlands, until it was right on me. Now some readers might ask Who is Baruch Spinoza? Let me quickly reply that this mostly forgotten Dutch resident (he was originally from Spain) was one of the foremost (and also unappreciated) thinkers of the 17th century. Although he died at the young age of only 46, his writings covered virtually every area of science and philosophy and went on to influence future thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein and Emmanuel Kant as well as open up a much deeper understanding of how to study the Bible. In his own era, few people took the time to understand him or his insights. Because he one time said, The Bible is written in a human language and therefore is subject to human interpretation and intervention, people assumed he was scoffing at the Bible. But he introduced us to a Bible study method based upon archaeology and scientific research. On a deeper spiritual level of the relationship between the person and the everlasting life he said, it is innate in all humans to feel and know that we are eternal. Mostly he was feared by people in positions of high authority be it secular or sacramental. In fact, he, being Jewish, was excommunicated from the local synagogue when he was only 23 (the equivalent of being excommunicated) yet he was deeply appreciated in the Quaker community. Though he was accused of atheism and pantheism, he always denied such. His writings were banned and burned but saved by a few die-hard students and published abroad. The people who feared his thoughts should have read a little deeper like where he wrote, Whatsoever is, is in God and without God, nothing can be or be conceived. I think many of his critics might have actually been jealous of his great insight into the human personality from a spiritual perspective. Note these following quotations: The greatest pride (or despondency) is the greatest ignorance of ones self. The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to listen as they have to speak. Peace is not the absence of war. It is the virtue for benevolence, confidence and justice. Perhaps I am oversimplifying the reasons for the many dishonorable falsehoods laid against this man, but deceitful human behavior throughout history has taught us that for many people it is much easier to condemn another person rather than try to understand them, much less make the effort to read their writings. If it were within my power to solve that last noted worldly fault, every war that ever plagued mankind could be prevented. But, alas, it is not within my capabilities. But there is another insight that is worthy of mentioning here. That is that we need people like Spinoza. We need them because they make us review our own spiritual lives and commitment and force us to dig deeply into our souls to authenticate our relationship to God. Even if we disagree within their view of the Bible or how they define God. All too many of us have come into the church (or whatever our faith community is called) because we grew up within it as a social environment. It becomes difficult to distinguish our culture from our faith. If you have trouble visualizing how your ethnic heritage affects your perspective of worship, try attending a church of a very different background. If you are a Pentecostal, go to a Greek Orthodox church. If you are an Episcopalian, attend a Baptist. If you are a mainline protestant, try an African American congregation, or visa versa. Then you will realize that where you are very comfortable in Sunday morning, a visitor there might be just as uncomfortable. Hopefully, the end result will not be destruction of our faith but a challenge to delve deep with our spirituality to grow even closer to the Lord and seek His will for our living. ROME One of the first women who accused a once-exalted Jesuit artist of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuse went public Wednesday to demand transparency from the Vatican and a full accounting of the hierarchs who covered for him for 30 years. Gloria Branciani, 59, appeared at a news conference with one of the most prominent Vatican-accredited lawyers in Rome, Laura Sgro, to tell her story in public for the first time. She detailed the alleged abuses of the Rev. Marko Rupnik, including his fondness for three-way sex in the image of the Trinity which, if confirmed, could constitute a grave perversion of Catholic doctrine known as false mysticism. Rupnik has not commented publicly about the allegations, but his Rome art studio has said the allegations were unproven and media reports about the case a defamatory lynching. Rupniks mosaics decorate churches and basilicas around the world, including at the Catholic shrine in Lourdes, France, the forthcoming cathedral in Aparecida, Brazil, and the Redemptoris Mater chapel of the Apostolic Palace. The Jesuits kicked him out of the order last year after he refused to respond to allegations of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuses by about 20 women, most of whom, like Branciani, were members of a Jesuit-inspired religious community he co-founded in his native Slovenia that has since been suppressed. The Rupnik scandal has grabbed headlines for more than a year over speculation that he received preferential treatment from a Vatican dominated by Jesuits: From Pope Francis to the Jesuits who headed the Vatican office responsible for sex crimes and sacramental crimes that twice essentially let him off the hook. Under pressure as the scandal grew, Francis in October decided to reopen the case and Branciani is due to soon testify before the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Sgro said that she didnt know what the possible lines of investigation are since the Dicasterys proceedings are secret even to victims and their lawyers. Branciani, who first denounced Rupnik in 1993 and then left the Slovene community, called for the full story of the Rupnik scandal and cover-up to come out in public, including the documentation. She said that she believed that the pope was still in the dark about the details and that even he would be served by the truth. He (Rupnik) was always protected by everyone, and everything that you could accuse him of was either minimized or denied, she said. We hope that our testimony ... will stimulate a greater transparency and a consciousness by everyone, and also maybe the pope, who wasnt really aware of the facts that occurred. Francis, in a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, said he had intervened in the case only on procedural grounds and didn't know the details. Rupniks former Jesuit superior, the Rev. Johan Verschueren, said he had no contact for a lawyer for Rupnik. There was no immediate response to an email seeking comment from his Centro Aletti art studio and ecumenical center in Rome, which has strongly defended him. The Koper, Slovenia diocese, which welcomed Rupnik after he was expelled from the Jesuits, referred to an October statement saying he hadn't been convicted by any tribunal and was presumed innocent. The Vatican press office offered an update on the investigation after Brancianis news conference, saying the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith had just received the latest elements of documentation from several institutions, including some not previously heard from. In the news conference, Branciani described a textbook case of manipulation of conscience, sexual abuse and false mysticism, which the doctrine office has a tradition of prosecuting. After saying she underwent years of psychological manipulation, grooming and sexual advances, including while Rupnik painted the face of Jesus, she said she eventually lost her virginity to him. At one point, she said that according to Rupnik, Our relationship wasnt exclusive but had to be a relation in the image of the Trinity. The Vatican dicastery handles crimes of sexual abuse of minors as well as sacramental crimes. The office actually took the first, and only, Vatican action against Rupnik in 2020, when it declared him excommunicated for having committed one of the most serious crimes in church law, using the confessional to absolve a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual relations. The excommunication was lifted two weeks later and Rupnik paid an indemnization to the woman. The following year, after nine members of the Slovene community accused him of other abuses, the dicastery chose not to prosecute him on the grounds that the alleged abuses occurred too long ago. The office routinely waives the statute of limitations for old cases involving abuse of minors. The outcome underscored how the Catholic hierarchy routinely refuses to consider spiritual and sexual abuse of adult women as a crime that must be punished, but rather a lapse of priestly chastity that can be forgiven. DES MOINES Iowa Senate Republicans advanced a bill Wednesday with the intent to amend it later that would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants with a shorter timeline. Representatives with the Home Builders Association of Iowa, Greater Iowa Apartment Association and Iowa Manufactured Housing Association said the bill aims to standardize and clarify landlord-tenant laws, particularly about notice requirements and unlawful lease provisions, and provide flexibility for landlords and tenants to work out payment plans. Critics said Senate Study Bill 3102 would create more housing instability and weaken tenant protections at a time of rising rents and eviction filings. Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, highlighted the need to address an ambiguous area of state law thats created perceived roadblocks or impediments into the service Iowa landlords provide. Operating off of old case law with Iowa magistrates left to interpret it isn't the best way to go about providing clarity in the law, he said. Lisa Davis-Cook from the Iowa Association for Justice expressed concerns about the bill, including the change in notice provision and the potential for landlords to enforce illegal provisions in leases. The organization, which represents Iowas trial lawyers, is registered opposed to the bill, along with Common Good Iowa. Under current law, landlords must serve a three-day notice for non-payment of rent and their intent to terminate the rental agreement in three days if the rent is not paid. If the tenant does not pay the rent, the landlord may file an eviction case. Under current law, any period ending on a weekend or holiday automatically is extended to the next full business day. The bill would change that to allow the last day to fall on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday. Doing so would put tenants in a bind, shorting the timeline for tenants to respond if the notice is served late on a Friday before a three-day holiday weekend, Davis-Cook said. Andy Conlin, a lobbyist representing the Iowa Manufactured Housing Association, said the change aims to fix a misinterpretation by Iowa magistrates that has created essentially new notice requirements and thrown out evictions as a result. The bill also would allow landlords to include otherwise prohibited provisions in rental agreements as long as they arent enforced, extends the timeline for peaceable possession of a property to 90 days before barring eviction, and changes the definition of rent to include utilities, late fees and other payments made by the tenant to the landlord under the agreement that may be the basis for eviction not just base rent. Prohibited rental agreement provisions allowed SSB 3102 would allow landlords to use prohibited rental agreements so long as they dont actually enforce the prohibited provisions. Under current law, a landlord using a rental agreement known to be prohibited grants a tenant an action to recover damages. Courts would have to determine at what point a provision has been enforced as that is not defined in code, noted Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, and other opponents, Not everybody knows landlord/tenant law. A tenant may see a provision in a lease and not realize it's illegal, Davis-Cook said. And then their landlord enforces it and they have no idea that it shouldn't be enforced in the first place. Conlin said the provision is meant to protect landlords from lawsuits for unenforceable provisions in landlord-tenant agreements due to recent changes in law. He said multifamily rental property owners have been subject to class action lawsuits in other states shortly after purchasing the property because the previous owner had outdated provisions in the lease that hadn't been revised. And typically those happen not because landlords are malicious in any way, but because the law changes and they haven't gotten to updating their leases, or they weren't aware of a law change, Conlin said. Changes to eviction The legislation would extend peaceable possession requirements from 30 days to 90 days. Peaceful possession refers to the legal right of a person to occupy and use a piece of property without interference or challenge. Davis-Cook said 30 days is just long enough for a landlord to provide notice, file eviction and receive judgment from the court. Extending it would allow landlords to make repeated attempts or to pile up insurmountable bills before bringing an eviction action. Meaning that a landlord could sit on an eviction for up to 90 days before they actually take action on it, she said. So it will cause a lot of confusion for tenants who may get a notice, may get caught up (on rent), but there's still that opportunity for the landlord to go out 90 days and still evict them, is my understanding. Conlin argued the bill gives landlords opportunity to work with tenants to come up with some type of rental payment agreement. We think this gives people, both landlords and tenants, more flexibility to work out some type of payment plan without the landlord losing the ability to collect the rent that they're owed, he said. Redefining rent The bill redefines the legal definition of rent to allow landlords to evict tenants for non-payment of utilities, late fees, administrative fees or other fees intended to be paid to the landlord. It would allow landlords if there is money owed (beyond base rent) to collect those fees from their tenant through the eviction process, if it comes to that, Conlin said. And that should make it easier for the landlord to be whole and therefore make the city be whole for unpaid municipal utility bills for water, sewer, garbage and other services. Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, who chaired the subcommittee hearing, said it is almost an impossible for cities to collect unpaid utilities from renters unless they go after the property owner. The rub is the property owner didnt actually accrue the expenses. The tenant accrued the expenses, Klimesh said. Reaction The Rev. Lizzie Gilman, an Episcopal priest in Des Moines, shared her experience witnessing evictions in her neighborhood and worried about the unintended consequences of the bill. I have counseled people who have come into the church during evictions simply because their landlords don't understand these laws, Gillman said. I read the law myself, and as somebody who is just a witness to all of this activity that happens frequently in our neighborhood, I myself do not know if I could adequately talk to my neighbors about this law. Matt Chapman, a mobile home resident and activist from Waukee, urged the subcommittee to consider the impact of the bill would have on vulnerable Iowans on fixed incomes who are elderly and disabled that have seen rents doubled in the last five years under out-of-state mobile home park owners. I would ask you take a really clear eye and sober view of what is happening in these parks and why we're letting out-of-state entities abuse vulnerable Iowans, Chapman said. We keep passing bill after bill after bill for them. It's making it easier and easier for them to hurt Iowans. Klimesh said the bill needs work, but voted with Dawson to advance it to continue the conversation. The bill now heads to the full Senate Ways and Means Committee. 57 US counties where homeownership has become unaffordable 57 US counties where homeownership has become unaffordable US counties where homeownership is recently unaffordable Why housing is becoming unaffordable in the US The Law Society of Kenya (LSK)s attempt to block the government from publishing and distributing advertisements through the MyGov weekly supplement in the Star newspaper has suffered a blow. The High Court, presided over by Justice Chacha Mwita, refused to issue interim orders to halt the agreement, opting instead for a more detailed examination of the case. The LSK had taken legal action against the governments decision to award the MyGov tender to the Star, arguing that this move would undermine media freedom and restrict public access to information, thereby violating constitutional mandates. The legal body sought immediate orders to stop the ongoing contract. During a court session held on Thursday, Justice Mwita instructed both parties involved to prepare and exchange their responses to the petition rather than granting the requested conservatory orders. Representing Star Publications Limited and Convergence Africa Media Limited, Lawyer Kigata highlighted that a contract had been operational for roughly two months. He raised a preliminary objection based on the principles of constitutional avoidance and the doctrine of exhaustion, which suggest avoiding constitutional rulings when issues can be resolved otherwise. The hearing for both the preliminary objection and the arguments regarding the petition has been scheduled for April 26. In defense of the tender award, the government has maintained that the selection process was transparent and competitive, with the Star offering a significantly lower bid for the two-year contract at Sh9 million per weekly edition. This is in contrast to the bids from Nation Media Group and Mediamax, which were Sh28 million and Sh23 million per weekly edition, respectively, as stated by Information and Broadcasting PS Prof. Edward Kisiangani. Should the court eventually rule in favor of The Star, Mediamax is particularly vulnerable, since its People Daily newspaper is distributed free of charge, with the hope that such a massive government tender would offset the cost of production. Struggling Nation Media Group will also suffer a massive blow to their finances, with a huge chunk of their revenue reliant on government advertising. The Stars bid amounts to about Sh360 million per year, as opposed to the more than Sh1 billion the state would have spent on either Nation or Mediamax. MyGov, was previously co-distributed by 3 dailies, namely: Nation, Standard and People Daily. Government advertising meanwhile accounts for around 30% and 40% of the revenues of these newspapers, and they argue that taking it away undermines their ability to keep government in check. The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) is urging parents to actively monitor the content their children watch on television and the internet. Josephine Gitiri, KFCB Western Regional Manager, emphasized that ensuring children are not exposed to harmful film and broadcast content is a collective responsibility. During an outreach program at a Kakamega hotel yesterday, Ms. Gitiri emphasized the significance of media content in character development. She stated that media consumption should align with cultural beliefs, citing the infiltration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) issues in society as an example, noting that they do not reflect African beliefs. As the mid-term break approaches, I urge parents to be vigilant about what their children consume in the media, Ms. Gitiri stated while also urging parents of day school students to be cautious. While emphasizing that KFCB holds the mandate to regulate the creation, broadcasting, distribution, and exhibition of film and broadcast content, she highlighted the importance of parental controls on the content children watch on television and mobile gadgets. Boniface Mwaura, the KFCB Western Region Deputy Manager, explained that the board issues four classification categories: GE (General Exhibition), PG (Parental Guidance), 16 (Unsuitable for Persons Under the Age of 16), and 18 (Adults Only). He urged film exhibitors to adhere to these regulations. President William Ruto lauded the governments initiatives to enhance Kenyas economic situation by diminishing debt and boosting revenue. On Wednesday, February 21, Ruto revealed that the government saved Kes.722 billion in public debt repayment. Addressing the press in Naivasha, Ruto attributed the reduction in debt servicing costs to the Treasurys implementation of stringent monetary policy measures for managing debt liabilities. The head of state noted that robust debt management strategies and comprehensive fiscal and economic management policies implemented by the Central Bank of Kenya bolstered investor confidence. We have pursued a turnaround strategy focused on increasing tax revenue and reducing both spending and the debt accumulation. Our sacrifices and determined efforts have not been in vain, Ruto said. Shilling Appreciation Against Dollar Consequently, this confidence in Kenyas monetary policies led to the appreciation of the shilling against the US dollar, witnessing a shift from Kes.162 to Kes.142 within one week. This resulted in a reduction of Kenyas public debt by Kes.722 billion, according to Ruto. In turn, this has reduced our overall debt by Kes.722 billion and also reduced our debt service costs by Kes.195 billion over the next six years, saving the country almost a trillion, Ruto said. The President reported that the government garnered offers exceeding six billion dollars for the new Eurobond, showcasing investor confidence in the countrys monetary policies. President Ruto further attributed the recent oversubscription of the Central Bank of Kenyas (CBK) infrastructure bonds, raising three times its initial target, to this robust investor confidence. The Treasury successfully raised Kes.241 billion from foreign investors who subscribed to the infrastructure bonds. The auction of the tax-free bonds took place between January 24 to February 14, 2024, with the bonds scheduled to accrue interest semi-annually starting in August. Kenya Clear of Debt Distress Ruto emphasized that the successful turnaround has steered Kenya clear of debt distress, organized the finances effectively, and laid the groundwork for implementing the Bottom-up economic agenda. The Head of State expressed confidence that the economy is on a trajectory poised to generate more jobs, wealth, and facilitate investments. Where we stand today as a nation, especially after the anxiety of the last one year, where many in the international community were worried about Kenyas position and its financial ability to manage our situation, including our debt situation, I can now confidently say Kenya is no longer in the list of the countries that run the risk of debt default, he noted. Our collective efforts that have been made by the Treasury and the whole of government approach that has seen us cut down on many aspects of spending to make sure that we reduce the accumulation of expensive debt and put the country on a trajectory of living within our means. The former Napa State Hospital patient imprisoned for killing his roommate more than two decades ago must stay behind bars for at least three more years. A state parole board recently denied early release to Anthony Clark Gore, who is serving 26 years to life for murder in the 2002 strangulation death of Dennis Wagner, according to the Napa County District Attorneys Office. A panel from the Board of Parole Hearings considered and then rejected Gores parole request Feb. 8 in a virtual hearing at California State Prison Los Angeles County, the Lancaster lockup where Gore, 61, has been held since his conviction for first-degree murder in 2005, the county said in a news release. He can reapply for parole in three years. In denying Mr. Gores parole for the next three years, the Board of Parole Hearings guaranteed that he will not be a danger to the public, Napa County Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero said in a statement Tuesday. We remain committed to keeping the community safe from convicted murderers and will once again attend his parole suitability hearing in 2027. Gore was arrested after the 49-year-old Wagner, his roommate in a Napa State ward, was found dead in his bed on May 3, 2002 with numerous hemorrhages, bruises and scrapes, as well as a broken dental plate, according to the district attorneys office. Both men had been admitted to the Napa hospital Wagner in December 1998 and Gore in January 2000 after they were found not guilty by reason of insanity in separate cases, the Napa Valley Register reported shortly after Wagners death. Gore again cited insanity when he pleaded not guilty in the death of Wagner, and a doctor testified at trial that he had diagnosed Gore as paranoid, schizophrenic and suffering from long-term drug addiction. The doctor also said Gore who had assaulted another Napa State patient a month before the death of Wagner had not received his anti-psychotic medication for 40 hours before Wagner was killed. A Napa County jury convicted Gore of murder on Sept. 8, 2005. The following week, jurors ruled he was sane at the time of the killing, and he was sentenced that October. Aaron Mosley describes his Napa recovery program as a spiritual boot camp, and seeing the daily schedule, its easy to tell why. Residents wake up at 4:30 a.m. Bible study starts at 5 a.m. By 5:30 household chores begin, and at 6:30 the men go to the gym. At 7:45 a.m. theyre off to work. After meals, reading and studying, most are in bed by 7:30 p.m. Called the Bridge Restoration Ministry, the Christian-based program provides a residential setting for those struggling with addictions, providing safety, structure, discipleship, and supervision for the purpose of restoring them back to God, family, work, and community, according to the Bridge website. The Bridge was founded in 2006 by Mike Casey in Pacific Grove, in Monterey County. Mosley, who has a background in law enforcement, launched the Napa Bridge program in 2019. Were trying to break the cycle of addiction, said Mosley, who serves as chief executive of the Napa Bridge ministry. We recognized there was a need for additional support for those facing homelessness and addiction within our own community. This program can change peoples lives, according to Mosley. Even by reaching one person, he said, one can impact multiple people in that persons life from family to children to the whole community. In Napa, up to eight men live in two Bridge homes next to each other on a quiet residential street. The 12-month program is essentially free. However, each resident works for the Bridge Landscape Service. Because the Bridge is a religious-based program, its not eligible to receive government funding, explained Mosley. Instead, it relies entirely on donations and the income from landscape service clients. Residents at the Bridge must also agree to specific rules of conduct. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, weapons or profanity are not permitted. Television is limited to specific hours on weekends. Visitors are only allowed on Saturdays at scheduled times. After completing an initial 45-day blackout period, each resident is allowed one 15-minute phone call per day. Residents do not use computers or cellphones. All books and reading material complement the religious recovery program. The men do all the cooking and cleaning and both the outside and inside of the home, including residents' bedrooms, are immaculate. There is no clutter. Residents dont use their own vehicles unless they are in the final phase of the program and working at an outside job. On a recent afternoon visit, the men sat in small groups, quietly reading or writing in workbooks or notebooks. As part of the Bridge program, the men regularly attend Grace Church of Napa Valley on Solano Avenue. They also volunteer for various nonprofit programs and efforts such as local food banks. Mosley said since the Bridge launched in Napa, about 35 men have entered the Napa program. About 10 have successfully graduated. That number might seem low, but according to Mosley, unfortunately thats the norm. Actually, the guys that have had the greatest success here have been through other programs, some two or three or four times, said Mosley. Its kind of a gradual learning process. The guys that have never been to a program before sometimes tend to struggle a little bit, said Mosley. A lot of these guys leave within the first 30 days. So they're in their orientation phase, and they just decide they don't want to do the work. Because it's not an easy program. But we're willing to serve anybody as long as you're willing to follow the rules," the CEO said. And they have to accept being part of a faith-based program. There are people who maybe say they believe or think they do, but may question or doubt," Mosley said. "Those folks have a harder time sticking around. And that's OK. We can't serve every single person, we understand that. Thats part of a common misconception about the program, he said. You don't have to be a believer but to be successful (at the Bridge), you have to be willing to incorporate those studies into your life for this time, period. Anthony Dixon is another key part of the Bridge in Napa. As program manager, he helps new members get situated and does case management for the residents. That includes not only securing basic needs like a drivers license or other important documents, but also personal financial management, health care or other social services. Basically, how to adult, Dixon explained with a smile. Dixon, who also has a background in law enforcement, works side by side with residents to really tackle the root issues that they have in their life. Toward the end of the program cycle, if residents have an outside job, they are asked to contribute a nominal amount of money for rent. After leaving the Bridge homes, they are eligible to move into a Bridge-sponsored transitional living apartment, also in Napa. James Camel, 55, is a graduate of the Bridge program. Hes currently one house manager at the Napa campus. Yes, the program is strict, said Camel, who is from the Monterey area: Very strict. But after you see yourself make a little bit of progress, you realize I can do it, Camel said. And then you keep doing it. And then next thing, you know, you've done it. Adlahi Castillo, 30, came to the Bridge in Napa after being released from jail. Hes originally from Arizona. He knew he had to be open-minded about the program, said Castillo. You have to be willing to submit, first of all to God and then to the rules," he said. "Which, once you get used to it, it's not that bad. He appreciates how welcoming everyone has been, especially at Grace Church. I would meet people and they were truly interested in my well-being, said Castillo, who described feeling surrounded with love. And to me, that was awesome. They're my family now. Castillo is six months into his year-long stay at the Bridge in Napa. Hes not sure what to expect once he has to leave the program. To be honest, I'm kind of scared to go back out into society, he said. (Right now) I'm really focused on learning about the Bible and about God about how to be a better Christian. I don't really want to think too far. To anyone who might benefit from a program like the Bridge, Castillo had this advice: It's OK to ask for help. And it's never too late to take a step in the right direction. Michael Olivio, 34, said he was sober for about seven years when he started drinking again. I was leaning on alcohol to solve my problems, he said. He got connected with the Bridge program in Monterey and has been at the Bridge in Napa for about 90 days. Olivio said that so far, the program is bringing into perspective what I'm missing: my wife, my daughter. I want to become the man that God sees me to be, and the man that I need to be for my wife and my child. By talking about his journey at the Bridge, maybe that'll help somebody in the long run, said Olivio. God is working tremendously here. Mosley said plans for the Bridge in Napa include building awareness about the program, just letting people know who we are and what we do. We can provide resources to people who are struggling, and with donations and landscaping clients, eventually we can expand and be able to serve more people, said Mosley. The Bridge Restoration Ministry For more information about the Bridge program in Napa: call: 707-312-4923 email: office@thebridgenapa.org PHOTOS: The Bridge, a home for recovery through faith in Napa What does the Napa of 2024 have to do with the Napa of 1820 or even 1920? Immigrants are one answer, explained Sheli O. Smith, the executive director of the Napa County Historical Society. From 1820 to 1920 folks from all over the world from China to Germany, Mexico, Italy, France and elsewhere all made their way across oceans or land and settled in the Napa Valley, Smith noted. The nonprofit historical society is currently showcasing a close look into Napas immigrant past from the newcomers themselves to what they ate, how they worked, what they did for fun, how they worshipped and more. Its newest exhibit, City of Immigrants, is on display at the societys headquarters in the historic Goodman Library at 1219 First St. in downtown Napa. City of Immigrants explores 100 years of historic mass immigration into Napa Valley between 1820, with the advent of Mexicos rancho era, and 1920, the beginning of Prohibition in the U.S., explained an introduction to the exhibit. During that century, the population of the valley dramatically increased from an estimated 1,083 people to 20,678 a growth of 1,809%. People came for the California Gold Rush in the 1840s, to spread out from growing East Coast cities, and to escape conflicts and disasters in other countries such as civil war in Italy and the Irish potato famine. There were of all kinds of things going on all over the world that started to push people (to immigrate) and this was a great place to come, especially for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, said Smith. That growth created new towns, industries and ways of life. People of many ethnicities made Napa Valley their home, according to Smith, bringing with them differing languages, cultural customs, belief systems, skills and cuisines. As these immigrants flocked to the valley, a new diversity could be heard on the streets, tasted in restaurants and seen in newspaper ads and stories, said Smith. Spanish, English, German, Chinese, Italian and French could all be heard within a single business block, she noted. Today, remnants of those immigrants imprints on that Napa Valley can still be seen in place names, foods that are commonly enjoyed to this day, industries, and businesses that continue to flourish, and the vibrant organizations that have persisted through generations of families and neighbors, Smith said. The Napa County immigration exhibit is divided into themes place names, community organizations, religion, leisure, cuisine and skills. With the help of the Napa Genealogical Society, four early Napa transplants have been identified, researched and profiled. They include Joseph Chenette from Canada, Enos Valencia from the Yount Rancho, Araminta Henriette Blake/McComb/Sawyer from Indiana, and Levi Chapman from Connecticut. Copies of census records, marriage licenses, newspaper articles and photographs illustrate each persons story. Display cases at the Goodman Library include artifacts from the 1820 to 1920 immigration eras. For example, a case about cuisine includes a cast-iron camp skillet, a ravioli press, silver serving spoons and a tortilla press. In another case, artifacts of the technology of the times are presented. They include 78 rpm records, an almanac, a washboard and an early-1900s telephone. A case of items about leisure time features keno and playing cards, a cribbage board made of elk horn, vintage Napa Valley postcards and books. Religious artifacts include family Bibles, a photo of an altar from Napas Chinatown, a herbal medicine pot, a Torah and prayer books. Smith said that besides helping people learn about the countys past, the exhibit is also meant to help foster a connection with the community. "Connection helps people feel they have a stake in the valley, said Smith. Which means they get involved, they take care of things, and then they raise their children to do the same. Its also important to visitors, she noted. According to Smith, 70% of visitors who come to the valley are interested in heritage tourism. They want to know context about Napa Valley, and its history, she said. City of Immigrants ends March 24. Admission is free. The next exhibit planned for the Napa County Historical Society will focus on the Napa Valleys historic spas and resorts. If you go Napa County Historical Society City of Immigrants exhibit 1219 First St., Napa 707-224-1739 info@napahistory.org Open Tuesday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission More information: napahistory.org/programs/city-of-immigrants/ PHOTOS: Napa honors Black History Month with speakers, celebration